Disclaimer: Check Chapter 1
WARNING: Violent battle in later part of Chapter. You have been warned!
When we re-emerged in the other Twilight Town's Computer Room, Sora stared.
"Are we back in the same place?" I shook my head, pointing to the computer that DiZ had destroyed.
"No. This is the other Twilight Town. The one that Roxas was trapped in." Sora stared at the totaled computer for a moment, before we walked into the Basement Hall. I nodded to myself when I saw the Dark Portal still there, and pointed towards it.
"There. That's our way in." I turned to Sora.
"Last chance to turn back. You sure you wanna do this?" Determined to see this through to the very end, Sora nodded. He summoned Oathkeeper, and we walked forward. Inside, at Betwixt and Between, Nobody symbols were floating around in all directions. Sora frowned as I looked around.
"Chris? Which way should we go?" Not really knowing, I just shrugged. Sora sighed, then cupped his hands around his mouth.
"Kairi! Riku! If you can hear me, gimme a sign!" Before he could call out again, we were set upon by Dusks, Creepers, and at least a Dozen Berserkers. Sora and I rushed into combat, but it was no use. They just kept coming from all directions. Sora's sides were heaving as we stood back to back, and I could tell he was losing hope.
"Start moving!" I swear, both Sora and I jumped a foot in the air as Demyx came to our rescue, Sitar and water clones swinging. The man turned to us.
"Get going, both of you!" Sora stared.
"Why?" Demyx turned to one of the Berkserkers, strumming a quick tune on his sitar. It suddenly turned on it's fellows, swiping away many Dusks and Creepers. But it was quickly defeated by it's own kind, and Demyx stepped back, looking over his shoulder.
"Don't ask me, just run!" He cried out in pain suddenly as he was hit from behind by an Assassin, and he hit the ground in a heap. Sora raced over, knocking the creature away, straight onto my daggers. He helped Demyx to his feet, then whirled around and took out a leaping Dusk. He snarled.
"Leave us alone!" Demyx's sitar was a constant sound during that long, hard battle. It was comforting, but the moment wouldn't last. We ended up back to back with one another, and Demyx huffed as he shook his hands to relieve the stinging. He smiled wryly at us.
"You know, I liked it better when they were on my side." Sora smiled.
"Feeling a little...regret?" Demyx laughed, shaking his head.
"Nah, I can handle this. Hope you don't mind getting wet." He leapt away from us, fingers flying over his sitars strings as he played a desperate song. All the water in the area suddenly collected around him, forming a whirlwind that collected every single Nobody still attacking. He played the last verse of his song, and looked to me. I nodded. This was his grand finale. He was a dying player, and we were his final audience. The last note of his final symphony played out, and I snapped my arm out to the side, casting Protect to shield Sora and I from the raging water that utterly destroyed every Nobody in the small area. When the wave was gone, Sora stared in awe. I dropped the spell, and ran over to Demyx with Sora on my heels. Sora stared in disbelief as shards of black and grey wafted from Demyx.
"You're...fading away..." Blue eyes crinkling with a smile, Demyx nodded.
"Well, that's kinda bound to happen when you put all you've got into an attack." He winced, then looked to Sora.
"I digress. Go, find Kairi. Apologize to her for me, kay?" Sora nodded, understanding what was happening. Struggling just a bit, Demyx lowered a hand into his cloak's outer pocket, coming up with a silver charm bracelet. He handed it to me, closing my fingers around it.
"Thats...for Namine..." Wincing again, he looked up to Sora.
"Kairi's in the Castle Dungeon. Go." He raised up his hand, and with the last of his strength, opened a portal out of here. He closed his eyes as his hand dropped back to his side. With a smile on his face, he faded away. I offered up a little prayer for him, then stood. Sora turned to face the portal, and squared his shoulders as he stood as well. We shared a look, walking forward into the portal. The strange substance beneath our feet faded to give way to hard stone, and we turned the alleyway corner to see the Dark City and the Nobody Castle in front of us. I flinched as thunder cracked the sky above us, not prepared to be back here after what happened last time. I shook it off, leading the way through the town and into Memory's Skyscraper. Sora suddenly stopped walking as it began to rain, and he looked up to the sky. He tensed suddenly, whirling around to face the Skyscraper.
"Riku...?" My eyes widened. Was he seeing the past? He shook himself, rubbing his arms as he took a deep breath to calm himself. He nodded when I asked if he was all right, and we kept walking through the rain to reach Brink of Despair. My eyes narrowed at the sight of the massive Castle floating above a gigantic pit. Sora peered over the edge, staying a few steps back to avoid falling in.
"Dead end?" I shrugged. We needed Kairi to get in...
"There's gotta be a way in. Let's keep looking."
Kairi sat with her knees to her chest, eyes squeezed shut. What had happened to Demyx since she saw him last? What about Riku, was he still alive? And Christie, her sister in practically everything but blood. Was she still keeping Sora safe? Or was she...no, Kairi was not going to go there. Sora..A tear crossed Kairi's nose. Sora. She missed him so much. Every little quirk. His laughter, the way he'd smile at her, and even how he'd fall asleep on the beach. A wet nose to her hand made Kairi look up, and she smiled slightly as she scratched Pluto between the ears. The dog had been with her ever since the escape from the Islands, and she was grateful for his company. When the dogs black ears perked up, she stared at the bars of her cell. When the blue haired man that had taken her from Demyx appeared, it was all she could do not to snarl like Pluto was doing.
"What are you planning to do with me?" The man smirked cruelly.
"You are the fire that feeds Sora's anger." Kairi's eyes widened, and she ran for the bars to try and question the man further. But he was already gone when she got there, and Kairi slumped to the ground.
"No...Sora's in danger, because of me..." When Pluto began to bark, Kairi straightened and turned around. A hole had opened in the wall, where a man in a black cloak stood. Kairi backed up against the bars in fear, before Pluto nudged the mans hand. He recieved a pat on the head, and Kairi relaxed a little. The man gestured to the hole, and she took one step forward. Meeting aqua green eyes, she smiled in relief. So, he was alive after all. Patting her hip to call Pluto to her side, all three of them walked through the hole in the wall. Unknown to her or to Riku, Kairi had left a residue of Light in the cell. As soon as she was gone, all that Light began to glow brightly, catching the attention of two teens at the entrance of the Castle.
Sora and I winced, covering our eyes with our hands as a bright Light began to shine from a section of the Castle. Oathkeeper appeared into Sora's hand, and he understood. Pointing to the center of the Castle, a beam of Light flashed from the Keyblade, forming a path for us to take. I lowered my hands as Sora stared forward, determination in his eyes.
"Kairi...we're almost there." We ran up the ramp into Nothing's Call, and Sora cupped his hands around his mouth.
"Kairi! Where are you?!" I clamped a hand over his mouth.
"Shush! Remember, we're not here to draw attention!" He nodded, and I let go of my cousin. We both tensed at the influx of Darkness from ahead, and we summoned our weapons as two Sorcerers flew forward to engage us. Sora smirked as we leapt forward.
"Come and get it!"
Barely able to keep up with her companion, Kairi ran down the steps in the Castle with Pluto at her side. Riku suddenly came to a stop near the base of the steps, and Kairi crashed into his back. She shook her head, then clutched at her friends cloak as the man in front of them spoke up.
"So, this is where you were, Kairi." Riku backed up a step, taking Kairi and the snarling Pluto with him. Kairi peeked her head out around Riku's side, fearful but wanting to see what would happen. The man extended his left hand, imploring her to come with him.
"I'll take you to see Sora." When Kairi's head vanished behind her protecter again, the man withdrew his hand.
"You don't want that?" Burying her face in Riku's cloak, she shook her head.
"Of course I do. More than anything, I want to see Sora again. But not with you around." The man in front of them scoffed, rolling his eyes.
"If I had a heart, this is where I'd die of laughter." The man vanished, and Riku turned around. Placing his hands on Kairi's shoulders, he kneeled down to her level.
"You all right?" Sniffling a little, Kairi nodded. Riku nodded once, and they continued to run down the Castle.
Sora clenched a fist as our whirlwind elevator ride came to a stop, and we ran from the platform to enter the Hall of Empty Melodies. Inside, it was empty. For one moment, I thought that Saix just wouldn't show up. But my hopes were dashed quickly, as he portalled into view on a platform high above us.
"Sora, Christina, you've done well." Sora snarled up at him.
"Where's Kairi?!" Saix stared down at us.
"Who can say? I expect she's catching up with her friend from the Darkness. She just doesn't need you anymore." Summoning Oathkeeper, Sora glared at Saix.
"And I'm supposed to believe that?!" Saix shrugged.
"Well, you certianly don't have to. But you can believe this. Organization XII has no further use for either of you. Just look there." He turned around, pointing to the Heart shaped moon high above the Castle.
"Our Kingdom Hearts. Thanks you you, we've collected countless Hearts. Can you hear thier euphoria? Now...all they'll need is one last helping from the Keybearer and the Koukennin no Ariake!" He spun around, snapping his fingers to open at least a dozen Dark Portals, calling forth hundreds of Shadows. I called my daggers, turning to Sora.
"We have to fight!" Sora hesitated.
"But, if they finish Kingdom Hearts!" I never got to answer Sora's desperate question, becuase the girl he'd been searching for so long appeared.
"Sora!" Oathkeeper fell from Sora's hands as he looked up, eyes widening as he caught sight of her. She smiled as thier eyes met.
"Kairi!" We were both sent tumbling to the ground with no time to react as Shadow's attacked from all sides. I heard Kairi call out to the Heartless.
"You leave Sora alone!"
Taking a few steps away from the ledge's railing, Kairi ran forward, leaping to the lower level before Riku could grab her. Cursing, he leapt after the girl in time to save her from the Shadows that were assualting her. She was able to stand with a little help, and he held out a hand. She gasped as her old staff appeared in his outstretched arm, still gleaming with fresh paint. She smiled, Mana beginning to flow into her again. After muttering something to herself, Kairi tapped the staff against one hand as she turned to Riku.
"You know Sora's completlely helpless without us. Come on, Riku!" He stared after her for a moment, smiled, and raced into combat with his blade drawn.
Next time, she's not staying behind.
Further into the Castle, King Mickey ran up a white passage, gloved hand clenched tightly enough around the hilt of his Keyblade to actually hurt. Riku, Sora, Christie, Kairi. Ansem. They were all here. It was the final stand, Xemnas would go down tonight. Knocking away a Creeper with one swipe, he cleared the last turn in time to see Ansem laying face down on the top level, several Dusk's swaying around him. Crying out a battle oath, he leapt forward, knocking them from his old friend before helping him up. Ansem sat back as the bandages fell from his face, and Mickey sighed as thier eyes met. Ansem looked to the Mouse King.
"It's been too long, my friend." Mickey frowned.
"Ansem the Wise. Why in all the worlds didn't you call me before this got so bad?!" Ansem stood, looking up at the moon.
"Xemnas, the Organization's Superior, is the Nobody of Xehanort, my foremost apprentice. The burden was mine alone to bear." Mickey scowled, crossing his arms.
"Is that all?" Ansem shook his head.
"I won't deny that there was more. I was...obsessed with thoughts of revenge, so much so that I forgot my own Daughter. My apprentices may have stolen everything else precious to me, but I should have put more of myself into protecting Kairi..." Mickey frowned sadly.
"I can't help you with revenge, Ansem." The old man nodded.
"I know. Riku and Christina have told me a thousand times." Mickey tilted his head.
"Where are they, anyway? I mean, I know they're in this Castle, but..." Ansem looked down onto the ground.
"They must be reuniting soon. Christina and Riku have both been great aids to me. I found them, wandering in the Darkness, after you lost track of them." Mickey smiled wryly, shaking his head.
"I didn't lose track of them, they...they didn't need me there. But I'm still wonderin' about something. Why is it, that Riku looks like that when he's still Riku at Heart?" Ansem sighed.
"I am to blame. When I first met Riku, he still maintained the appearance of a boy. Either because of his strong Heart, or Christie's presence, I'll never know. I asked them to find a young man named Roxas from Organization XIII, and bring him to me." Mickey nodded.
"And that's when I found them again. He'd transformed, but they had Roxas." Mickey sighed.
"I still don't get it. Why did Riku decide to fight Roxas alone, when he coulda won with Christie's help?" Ansem shook his head in grief.
"That was also my fault. A symptom of all the time they spent in Darkness, both Riku and Christina were able to sense a person's intentions, if the feeling was strong enough. My desire for my revenge, they sensed it and were wary. If living in Darkness was what it took to keep Sora and Christie safe, then Riku was willing to do it. My Heart ached when I saw them again...three more victims of my revenge." Mickey frowned, keeping his eyes on his old friend as he continued to speak.
"And I made one fatal error in my plan to erase Roxas and Namine. I forgot, that I'd brought Christie here from a world where these worlds are simply an amusement. She knew too much, and was able to save them both. In my rage, I shot a dear friend of theirs. I do not even know if the man survived..." Taking a deep breath, Ansem stooped down and picked up the device that was sitting at his side. He turned to Mickey.
"My friend, the time has come. I must make amends to these young people."
I shoved a Shadow off of me in time to see Saix vanish, and hear Sora's muffled curses as he shoved off the Shadow's on his back.
"Get off, dammit!" With a flash of light, the Heartless on top of him vanished. He stood, eyes widening as he saw Kairi fighting alongside Riku. Of course, only I knew it was really Riku. Sora saw him as Xehanort's Heartless.
"What in the world is going on?" We jumped back as a glowing bullet lodged into the floor between us, destroying the Heartless as Xigbar came out the door from the elevator side of the room. He smirked at us.
"Have you two been good kids?" Sora snarled, and Xigbar laughed.
"Oh, it seems that you haven't been a good boy, Sora. Do you want Santa to put coal in your stocking?" Sora huffed, and Xigbar shook his head. He looked up to the moon above, a sad tone to his voice.
"Listen, I don't wanna have to do this. So, we're just gonna walk away from this, and say we fought. How's that sound?" Sora was wary of Xigbar, but he nodded. Dismissing his guns, Xigbar gave us a two fingered salute.
"Be good kids now!" I shook my ponytail from my shoulder with a smile. We'd see him again someday, I just knew it. Turning on our heels, Sora and I ran from the Hall, heading up the path to the upper level. Sora slammed the door open just as Riku and Kairi destroyed the final Shadow with a burst of Fire magic. Kairi smiled, tapping her staff onto the ground. Riku gave a little wave to us, and Kairi turned around to face Sora as I raced past her. Sora licked his lower lip, not sure of what to do.
"Hi, Kairi..." She left her staff leaning against one of the walls, and took a few steps forward.
"You..you never came back for me. So, I decided I'd come look for you." Sora looked away, distressed.
"I'm sorry." Kairi couldn't have cared less about an apology from Sora, and rushed forward to embrace him. Jolting in shock for a moment, Sora stared at the wall behind us. He soon regained his emotions, and embraced Kairi. She buried her nose in his collar.
"This is real...You're really here." Sora nodded, burying his chin in her hair. The sound of footsteps made me look up to a higher ledge, in time to see Ansem and Mickey vanish into the Castle. Sora suddenly looked up, catching sight of Riku trying to make a break for it.
"Wait." In Riku's moment of hesitation, I grabbed his hand to keep him from leaving. Sora took a deep breath, eyes filled with understanding.
"I never thought that I'd ever see you again, after what happened last year. But...you helped Kairi. I'm grateful for that. Thank you." Riku nodded, and I had to dig my feet in to keep him from running away again. I grit my teeth.
"Oh no, you're not leaving now." I looked over my shoulder as Kairi and Sora seperated.
"Kairi! A little help please!" She nodded, half dragging Sora over to us. Riku stopped when she grabbed his hand. Sora frowned.
"Kai, what are you doing?" Kairi smiled, clasping our hands together. She turned to Sora.
"Close your eyes. You'll understand." Sora looked between the three of us, then closed his eyes. After a moment, he opened them again, realizing just who was in front of him. Kairi and I backed away, giving the two best friends a moment to reconnect. Sora's knees buckled beneath him, and he fell to the ground, still clutching Riku's gloved hand.
"Riku...Riku's here." Tears rolled down Sora's face, and he shook his head.
"I looked for you!" Not trying to get Sora to let go of his hand, Riku leaned down to his friend's level.
"C'mon Sora. You've got to pull it together." Sora looked up, tearfully glaring at Riku.
"I looked everywhere for you!" Riku sighed, looking away.
"I didn't want you to find me. Not...not like this." Sora continued to glare at his friend, and Riku shrugged a little.
"I fought with Xehanort's Heartless, when he invaded my Heart..and I won. But to use the power of Darkness, I had to become Xehanort myself." Helping Sora to his feet, both boys-turned-men stood up as Kairi and I walked closer. Kairi turned to Riku, confused.
"Does that mean...you can't change back?" Wrapping an arm around my shoulders, Riku shrugged.
"I really don't know. But I do know that this battle isn't over yet. And until it is, I still need the power of Darkness." Sora wiped his eye with the back of his hand, looking up at Riku.
"Then, let's finish it. You're still Riku, no matter what." Riku sighed, but nodded. As we turned to head up the stairs, I looked over my shoulder at the moon. Soon, it would be gone. Soon, we could return home.
At the Altar of Naught, Xemnas stood, hands raised to the moon as Hearts flowed into it.
"Yes...Kingdom Hearts...Rejoice, and feast upon these Hearts we offer to you. Shine your pale light on this empty realm...Share your power, with all Nobodies!" Xemnas turned as Saix Portalled in behind him. The blue-haired man spoke.
"Xemnas. Is Kingdom Hearts ready?" Xemnas nodded.
"Very soon."
"Then, I can end this charade?" Xemnas nodded again, smirking.
"Indeed. Kill the girl, if you wish." Saix smirked evilly, full of desire.
"How I've waited to hear that."
Deeper in the Castle, Mickey and Ansem stood on a ledge at Twilight's View. Ansem looked up towards the moon, and nodded.
"This spot will do." He set the device down on the ledge, setting up a stand and flipping various switches. Mickey frowned.
"What's this gadget for?" Ansem frowned, making some last minute adjustments.
"It's a device to reclaim Kingdom Hearts, and encode it as data." Mickey stared at his old friend, then shook his head.
"I'm not sure I get it..." Ansem nodded, smiling wryly.
"I do not claim to know the outcome of this venture, either. After all...Heart's are unpredictable." Flipping a switch, the device started up, firing a steady green beam at the moon above. Unknown to just about everyone in the Castle, the device was unsteady. The man holding it would not be leaving this world alive.
As we climbed up another flight of stairs, Kairi paused. We turned back to face her, and she laced her fingers.
"I think...I think that my father is here." I nodded, looking out a small window to the Moon above, a beam of green light piercing it's center.
"Yeah, he's here all right. Mickey's here too, I think." Riku's eyes widened a little, and I shrugged. We continued walking through hallways and up many flights of stairs, until Sora stopped this time. We turned to face him, and I flinched at the look in his eyes.
"All right, I've had it. You said you would explain once we found Riku. Well, we found him. Explain." I frowned, letting my breath out as Sora stood firm. Cursing, I turned to my cousin.
"Fine. You really wanna know, Sora?" When he nodded, I clenched a fist. This could change everything...I shook my head. There was no getting out of this. Taking a deep breath, I relaxed my hand.
"On Earth, everything that's happened to us so far, and everything that will happen, is a video game. I played that game a lot." Sora's eyes widened, and he took a step back.
"Wait...so you're saying...that you knew what would happen to Kairi...to all of us?" I nodded, looking to the ceiling as Sora and Kairi processed the information. When she noticed that Riku wasn't shocked by this turn of events, Kairi turned to Riku.
"You're not surprised?" My boyfriend shrugged.
"I already knew. She told me a couple days before you woke up, Sora." Sora frowned, then laced his hands behind his back and smiled.
"Well, it does explain why we're still here. You knew what would happen, and helped us avoid it, right? So, you were using what you knew to help us. That's no crime." Riku and I stared at Sora, then laughed. He frowned, and I caught my breath.
"It's just..I thought you'd be mad..." Sora shook his head with a smile.
"No, I'm not mad. I was curious on how you knew so much, but now that I know, it makes sense." Kairi smiled, taking his hand as Riku put his arm around my shoulders. We continued upwards towards Proof of Existance, and I sighed when I saw Demyx's unlit stone. Only Luxord and Saix's stones were still lit and whole, the rest were broken. Even Axel and Roxas, who's stones were still lit up, were broken straight down the middle. I kneeled near Axels, examining the broken edge.
"Definitley Claymore. I'd say Saix did this." Riku winced, and we turned towards Luxord's stone, heading to Havoc's divide. Near the edge of the platform, Sora looked up at Kingdom Hearts, catching sight of the beam. He crossed his eyes, confused.
"What's that?" Riku looked up, cursing.
"That'd be Mickey and DiZ--I mean, Ansem the Wise. They must be higher up. We'd better hurry." Sora nodded, and we turned to leave. Sora ran on ahead, but Luxord suddenly appeared in a Dark Portal, snapping his fingers to make large cards rise up from the floor, seperating us. I could hear Sora curse, before my world went pitch black. When the color came back, Sora stood with Oathkeeper in hand, looking a little banged up as Luxord faded away. Kairi ran over to him, taking his free hand into her.
"You ok?" Sora nodded, patting her on the back.
"Yeah, no worries! Let's keep going." We returned to the Proof, and Riku stopped before we entered Saix's stone. He spoke up when Sora and I turned to him.
"I can sense Saix. He's using something to boost his power. If we can fingure out what he's using, we could turn it against him." Sora and I nodded, and we headed through the stone. My heart lurched for a second as we entered Addled Impasse, but I shook it off as Sora and I stepped forward, catching Saix's attention. Claymore in hand, he turned.
"Only you both could have made it this far in one piece, Keybearer, Christina." Sora and I glared at him, and he laughed.
"You dare defy me?" I snorted, planting my hands on my hips.
"What's there to defy?" Looking back on it, I really shouldn't have done that. Regardless, I don't think it would have made any difference. Saix's claymore extended to it's full length, and he swung it. The wind it created swung Sora backwards, past a recently formed Barrier. I whirled around, then back to Saix. I was trapped in here with a madman bent on killing me. Wonderful...I called up my daggers, wincing as my Heart lurched again.
"Child, you're almost out of time!" I swallowed, ducking out of the way as Saix lunged at me from in front. If I lost here...it was over.
Riku cursed, pounding on the Barrier as Christie and Saix locked one another in a deadly dance. Sora and Kairi stood beside him, watching the fight with wide eyes. Realizing that all the pounding he was doing was only hurting Christie's chances of making it out alive, Riku let his hands drop to his side as the fight continued. Ducking another swipe from Saix's weapon, Christie threw one dagger towards the far wall, giving Saix an impromptu haircut but not actually injuring him. The Nobody snarled, attacking with more force. Becuase of that, Christie was forced to dismiss both daggers and go on the defensive, bobbing and weaving around Saix's thrusts and swings. One fierce swing kicked up a wind that sent her flying towards the window, but Christie managed to catch onto the metal bars that crisscrossed the glass overlooking the city below, kicking off of it and hopping off Saix's shoulders to come to a safe landing. She stood up straight as he recovered.
"If that's the worst you can do, Saix, I dunno why I'm so worried. " She suddenly winced, and Riku's heart lurched.
Chris? What's happening to you...? Her one moment of weakness was all it took for the fight to turn, and Saix lunged forward. Christie couldn't react in time, and was sent flying into the far wall. Crying out in pain as she impacted with the hard stone, Christie hit the ground. Saix stalked over as she managed to stand on shaky legs, and he smirked.
"Worst I can do? Perhaps, if you were dreaming!" He lunged forward, Claymore swinging. Barely dodging his attacks, Christie rolled over to the wall closest to the Barrier, panting as she cast a Dark Shield of her own. Saix leapt forward, Claymore impacting with the shield. Christie bared her teeth, forcing more power into the Shield. With almost all his attention on the battle in front of him, Riku barely noticed Kairi drop to her knees and prey to Leviathan for Christie's safety. It wouldn't have made a difference, becuase Saix upped the power of his attack, sending cracks through the Shield. It snapped, sending shards of Mana throughout the room. For one moment, it was if Time itself stood still. Kairi praying, Sora watching his cousin in fear, Saix smirking down at his cornered prey, Christie's eyes widened in fear, and Riku panicing beyond the barrier, wanting to help so badly, but trapped away from the Battle. Time began to move again, and Christie didn't have time to react before the blue-haired Nobody reached down, lifting the wounded girl up by the collar of her vest. He smirked cruelly.
"Revenge is sweet." Not even giving her a chance to scream, Saix threw the girl through the wall. Whether the sound that followed was bones or the concrete breaking, the Worlds would never know. The dust cloud that followed was too thick to see through, and by the time it cleared to reveal a massive hole in three thin walls, Saix was gone. Kairi stopped praying, and Sora began to pound on the Barrier as Riku's legs gave out beneath him. The bond he shared with Christie was slowly fading away, he could feel it.
She was dying, and there was nothing he could do about it.
The Darkness all around them un-nerved Axel, but he continued to run. Xigbar had suddenly appeared out of nowhere to warn them that Sora and Christie had made it to the Castle, and that Saix was going to kill the girl the first chance he got. Axel had bolted for a portal, with Namine and Roxas straight on his heels, begging for an explaination. Throwing one over his shoulder as they ran scared Namine, but the two blondes continued to run with him. Axel made a note to give them the biggest hug he could when this was over, and leapt through the portal in time to see Saix lift Christie's near lifeless body up above the ground. Roaring a battle cry, Axel lunged forward. He startled Saix back out the massive gaping hole in the wall, and the blue-haired man dropped Christie to the ground. Roxas raced after Saix to keep him away, as Namine ran for the Barrier to knock it down. Axel kneeled down, fingers jammed onto Christie's neck to try and find a pulse. When he found one, however weak it was, Axel sighed in relief. He gathered up the girl in his arms, walking forward towards the Barrier. The three on the other side gasped at the sight they saw when he stepped through, but Axel couldn't have cared less. He kept his eyes on Saix and Roxas, locked in combat. When it became obvious that the Keyblader Wielder would win, Axel turned his attention to Christie. Her breathing was shallow and labored, and it seemed that she was fading in his arms. Fearing for her life, Axel clutched the girl just a little tighter.
"Come on, Squirt. Don't you dare die..." Roxas's cry of warning made Axel look up, and he barely managed to step aside as Saix lunged forward, getting his claymore stuck in the wall. Abandoning his weapon, Saix whirled on Axel, eyes having gone red with anger.
"Give me the girl, 8!" Axel backed away, shaking his head. Seeming to calm down a little, Saix's eyes returned to thier normal amber color. He glared at Axel.
"What's that?" Taking another step back, Axel snarled.
"I told you. I won't leave Christie to die here. I refuse to let her go!" For a moment, the jealousy that poured off of Roxas could have kept Saix's anger going for a very long time. But when he actually looked at the girl in Axel's arms, he banished the feeling from his mind. Saix took a few steps forward, but was forced back as a Firaga spell from Axel appeared at his feet. Green eyes filling with rage, Axel looked up at the man who had once been his commanding officer.
"I don't claim to know why you want her so badly, but I'll never hand Christie over to you!" Snarling, Saix summoned his Claymore from the wall. But it was too late. With a sound of breaking glass, the Barrier that seperated Christie from her friends broke, and the Keyblader's surged forward against Saix. Three different blades against Saix proved to be too much to handle, and he backed towards the window as he clutched at his non-existant heart. The glass broke, and he tumbled to the city below. Riku ran over to Axel, gently taking Christie into his arms.
"Chris? Come on...don't leave me..."
"Wake up, you goof." Kia? I groaned, opening my eyes a little. Kia huffed in front of me, tossing long light brown hair over her shoulder.
"Bout time. I thought you'd never wake up." She gestured around the area we were in. Floating in silver fog, there was no place to stand. I spun around, then turned back to face her.
"What is this place?" Crossing her arms, Kia sent me a blank stare.
"Your Heart. It's basically falling apart at the seams, since I've been been on Earth." She shrugged, crossing her legs. I frowned, looking around as the fog lightened a little. Kia cursed, "standing" up in a flash.
"Damn...we're out of time." She lunged forward, and I understood. Clasping my hands with hers, I closed my eyes. Almost two years of memories suddenly flowed into me, all the emotions Kia felt during that time, every heartbreak, every smile, every frown...they were mine now. I looked up at her, shaking my head.
"You don't have to do this..." Kia smiled, shrugging a little as she held on tighter.
"You're right, I don't have to. I want to." She closed her eyes, and the world around me changed. White fog was slowly pushed away by a pale blue sky, with grass and flowers turning into sand and ocean water. I felt solid ground beneath my feet, and looked up in time to see Kia begin to fade away into the sky. She smiled, arms crossed on her stomach. Smiling, I saluted her as she faded away into my heart. I could feel her and Griever get settled with one another, and closed my eyes.
To be completley honest, I wasn't expected to see Riku hovering over me when I woke up again. We stared at one another for a moment, before I smiled.
"Hey, handsome." There was more than one sigh of relief in the room, including one I didn't think I'd hear. I sat up against Riku's chest, letting him cling to me for a few moments. Axel smirked, walking over to his blondes as Riku and I stood. Sora walked over, Oathkeeper in hand.
"You ok?" He sighed in relief when I nodded, dismissing his blade. Namine walked over to Sora, looking a little apprehensive. He tilted his head, biting his lip in thought as he looked her over.
"Namine, right?" She nodded, lacing her fingers. Sora smiled.
"Thanks, for whatever you did." She nodded with a smile, and introductions were made. The sound of metal in my pocket jogged my memory, and I walked over to Namine. She looked up in surprise, tears filling her eyes as I placed the charm bracelet from Demyx in her hand. Axel and Roxas cursed, looking away. I shook my head.
"I'm sorry. There was nothing we could have done." Namine nodded, slipping the bracelet onto her wrist as she wiped the tears away. We turned from the broken window, all seven of us returning to the Proof. Inside, the main path towards Twilights View was open, and we all ran up the path in time to see Ansem's device begin to shake. Sora ran on ahead, calling out to King Mickey.
"Majesty!" Ansem turned to us, meeting Sora's eyes.
"Sora, the rest is up to you." He looked to Axel, Roxas, and Namine, then looked away.
"No apology I offer now will ever take away the pain I caused you, but know that I am sorry." Axel shook his head.
"There's not a need to apologize. We're all still here, that's what matters." Kairi suddenly lunged forward for her father, and I snapped my arm out to stop Sora from running after her. When he protested, I looked over my shoulder at him.
"Wait. Give her a chance to say goodbye." Kairi embraced her father tightly, and Ansem lifted one arm from his machine to hold his daughter close. They exchanged words, and Kairi let go, backing away. She ran back to Sora, and Ansem turned to face the boy who'd won his daughter's heart.
"Sora, she is in your hands now." Sora nodded. The machine began to rattle more, and Mickey lunged forward to try and grab his friend. But Riku leaned down, grabbing his friends arm. Having noted the disturbance, Ansem turned to his oldest friend.
"My Heart is telling me what I must do. Please, allow me to do what it commands!" Mickey shook his head, leaping out of Riku's hold.
"No!" Before Mickey could reach Ansem, Riku and I managed to pull him back. Riku kneeled down to the tiny king's level.
"His Heart's decided, we can't change that!" Before anything else could be said, a Dark Portal opened up on a higher ledge, and Xemnas stepped through. He glared down at Ansem.
"I was wondering who would dare interfere with my Kingdom Hearts. And look, here you all are. How convenient for me. Ansem the Wise...you are pathetic." Ansem scoffed.
"Have your laugh. I deserve as much for failing to see you for the fool you really are." Xemnas smiled cruelly.
"Students do take after thier teachers. Only a fool would ever been your apprentice. After all, none of this could have happened without your foolish mistakes. You are the source of all Heartless. It was your research that inspired me to go further than you ever would have gone." Ansem closed his eyes, shaking his head.
"I admit...my disregard brought chaos to more worlds that one. But..what were you seeking? You erased me from the world, only to take my name and continue the research better left forgotten. Was this the answer you were searching for?" Xemnas nodded.
"All that, and more. I'm carrying on what you yourself began, and I'm creating a brand new world, free of pain and strife." He crossed his arms, disappointed.
"I thought that you'd praise me, but all you ever did was hold me back. I understand though. Unlike me, you are imperfect, you have a Heart. You're powerless to control it, and are comsumed by the jealousy for the student who surpassed you." Ansem's shoulders straighted, and he looked up.
"Xehanort. Foolish apprentice of a foolish man. You have surpassed nothing, only proved how little we truly know. We may profess to know the Heart, but it's essence is beyond our reach. We're both ignorant, and still as oblivious as when we began. I'm afraid that any world you try to creath...any world of yours...would be an empire of ignorance. That is why you and your creation...are destined to fall!" Unable to hold the Hearts it had collected, the device in Ansem's hands began to spark and smoke, sputtering as it slowly gave up the ghost. Ansem snarled at Xemnas.
"We've said enough!" He turned to Riku and I, eyes kinder.
"Riku, Christina, you know what to do!" We nodded, and Ansem turned to Mickey.
"King Mickey, my friend, forgive me! Farewell!" With one final spark, the machine in Ansem's hand just...blew up. Xemnas portalled away as the Hearts chambered in the machine turned to pure Light, tunneling up to create a massive hole in the Heart Moon above. Before Sora and Mickey could run forward to try and save Ansem, Kairi and Riku had grabbed them. We took a few steps back, but there was no time to get away from the blast that followed. The Light tunnel shook, spreading outwards, then imploded on itself. Sora grabbed Kairi as Axel shielded Roxas and Namine, while Riku shielded Mickey and I from the blast. The last I saw of him before passing out was a smile on his face. The next thing I knew, I was face down on the floor, waking up as my friends did the same around me. I smiled when I saw that Riku had returned to normal, but my heart stopped when I didn't see his chest rising and falling with any sign of breath. Sora got up and ran to his friend, trying to rouse him.
"Riku, wake up. Come on man, this isn't funny...Riku?" I ran forward, skidding on the tile as I dropped to my knees. Placing two fingers on his neck, I jumped back when there was no pulse beneath my fingertips. Sora put his fingers on his friends neck, mouth dropping and eyes widening when there was nothing to say he was still alive. Putting my head to his chest, I waited for a heartbeat. After a few moments when there was none, I buried my hands in the cloak he was still wearing. Sora put his hand on my shoulders, and I looked up into wide blue eyes. I shook my head, and Sora looked away. Kairi took a step forward, and Sora looked up at her as I buried my head into Riku's cooling shoulder and cried.
"Riku's dead."
Yeah. See ya next time.