Chapter Twenty Six

When The Light Just Isn't Enough

Myde was oblivious to the world around him. He hadn't felt Leon pulling him away from Zexion nor did he see Roxas lead a screaming Axel into the house.

All that mattered, all he could see, was Zexion's broken body and the sound of an insane Flurry of Dancing Flames being tended to by Roxas. Aerith and Merlin were trying to cure Zexion's wounds and broken bones while Roxas and Cloud tried to help Axel. Leon was conversing with Yuffie but Myde could care less about their conversation.

His sea green eyes fell on the prone Cloaked Schemer while Aerith cast a few Curaga spells on him. Leon was pulling out bandages and other medical supplies when the Potions and Cures barely helped to heal the wounds inflicted upon the two Nobodies.

Zexion had collapsed after opening the dark portal and Axel started scratching his arms when he tore off his cloak sleeves. When his nails broke the skin Roxas had to physically restrain the red head.

An hour passed and Zexion was now sleeping peacefully on the bed while Axel had his back pressed to the wall. Roxas was sitting beside him, trying to get him to talk and prevent him from banging his head against the wall.

His jade eyes were empty of anything except the madness he was now trapped in. He would mutter things, his gaze distant and haunted then he would try to scratch his skin again.

Roxas had to remove Axel's ruined cloak leaving the pyromaniac wearing only his pants, boots and a red tank top. His arms had to be cured and Leon had fixed his broken hand up as best he could.

Roxas held onto Axel's left hand while the red head sobbed and screamed and begged the darkness not to take him away again. Myde heard him calling out for his master and the blond's hatred for Sokar grew with each word Axel said.

"Myde..." Aerith's soft voice broke through his voice. "We've done all we can for him. We just have to wait now."

"We have to stop Sokar." Myde said hoarsely. His throat was in agony after all the crying he had done.

"We'll find a way but for now you should rest." Aerith said soothingly.

"Where did Sora go?" Myde asked quietly. He held one of Zexion's hands in his own, his eyes never leaving the lavender haired Nobody.

"Myde...Sora's gone to get Reno." Leon spoke up. Shocked aqua orbs glanced up at the scarred brunet.

"He knows where Reno is?" Myde breathed out.

"They've gone to Agrabah." Cloud put in as he helped Roxas get Axel to his feet.

"Vincent and Seifer are with him." Leon nodded and he noticed tears gather in Myde's eyes.

"My big brother...he's ok?" Myde whispered.

"Yeah, Zexion helped me bring him here." Leon murmured. He didn't like seeing the blond so upset and that alone annoyed the stoic warrior.

"Oh Zexy..." Myde couldn't help it, he burst into tears again. "I'm so sorry."

"All gone...all gone...bad man...I'm a bad man!" Axel cried out as he slammed his head hard against the wall.

"Axel, stop it!" Roxas yelled and the red head went quiet. His emerald eyes swam in unshed tears and Roxas felt his new heart break at the sight.

"Get him on the chair." Cloud motioned to the empty seat at the table.

"Come on Axel." Roxas murmured as he drew the red head onto the chair. Cloud moved away while Roxas placed a hand on Axel's bandaged one.

"Where's Cid anyway?" Yuffie questioned when things finally settled down for the moment.

"I don't know. I assume he's at the computer room looking for advice on how to create a system against Sokar." Merlin answered the ninja as he looked through his books.

"When Sora gets back we'll think up a plan." Leon rubbed his temple.

"You need to rest up Leonhart." Cloud stated simply. Stormy eyes met mako blue and the brunet felt a shiver go through him as the blond man stared at him.

"I'm fine Cloud. It's just been a really long day." Leon sighed heavily as a headache made its unwelcome appearance.

"The world won't end if you decided to sleep for a few hours." Cloud snorted. The blond pulled Leon into a quiet corner of the house.

"Now that we have a pissed off Hell-God walking around I can't afford a few hours." Leon crossed his arms over his chest.

"You'll feel better after getting some sleep. Besides...I worry about you." Cloud felt his face go hot at that whispered admission.

"I didn't know you cared Strife." Leon couldn't keep the tiny smile off his face.

"Don't let it go to your head." Cloud snorted. His cheeks were still painted red with that blush and Leon thought the blond looked quite delectable like that.

Leon was unable to answer when the door burst open and Sora and his group arrived into the house. Cloud quickly moved away from the tall brunet while Seifer emerged with an unconscious red head in his arms.

Vincent was right beside Seifer while Zell stood beside Donald and Goofy. When Sora and the others arrived Myde glanced away from Zexion only to see his big brother carrying Reno. For the first time in a while Myde felt true happiness burst within his heart. His brother was back as well as his Knight and Reno. They were all together again.

"Oh god, what happened?" Sora gasped when he saw a battered Zexion and Axel who was now sobbing about the darkness.

"I'll explain everything Sora." Leon led the boy away before he could protest.

"Seifer?" Myde approached his brother after he gave the slumbering Reno to Vincent.

"Hi little brother..." Seifer murmured then he was enveloped in a tight hug.

"Oh god Seifer I'm sorry!" Myde was sobbing so hard Seifer was afraid he'd choke. "I only did it to protect you! I'm sorry!"

"It's ok Myde." Seifer tried to calm the hysterical man down. "We're together again right, so everything's ok."

"When I got my memories back I missed you so much." Myde cried. "And now this is happening!"

"What happened to them?" Seifer asked Cloud as he held his weeping brother.

"Sokar tortured Zexion. He wanted Myde to give up the Key." Cloud explained. "Axel went in to try and help but Sokar got him. He took his mind."

"Sokar loves leaving his mark." Zell said through clenched teeth. "Before he killed them Sokar drove half the Watchers insane. He said there's something about the suffering of humans that seemed to right to him."

"He's a sick fucker." Seifer snarled.

Myde let go of his brother and approached Vincent. The Sorcerer stared at the handsome red head Vincent was holding as he ran his fingers through the silky ruby red tresses.

This was something Myde could fix. He could give Reno his heart back and restore Seifer to who he should be. The Sorcerer asked Vincent to put Reno on the spare bed near Zexion. Nobody spoke as Myde got on his knees and closed his eyes. Red light spilled from his outstretched hands then the light began to take on a shape.

The object was long with a spiked tip and a black hilt. The light continued to pour from Myde's hands, his sea green eyes glowing brightly as he continued to create the object.

Black mist spilled from his fingertips next as the object became solid and Sora finally recognized just what he was staring at. It was a red and black Keyblade, exactly like the one Riku used to stab Maleficent with. This Keyblade could release and unlock hearts. Sora swallowed as he stared at the object.

"You'll have to stab Seifer in the heart." Myde spoke as he handed Sora the Keyblade.

"What?" Sora stammered.

"It's the only way to extract the heart safely." Myde explained. He approached Seifer and placed his hand over his heart.

"What are you doing Myde?" Vincent cocked an eyebrow.

"I'm making sure Seifer will be protected from the blade." The Sorcerer answered as he poured golden light into his brother's chest.

"Will Reno awaken once his heart is restored?" Vincent asked.

"Yeah. Unlike me he doesn't need to have his Nobody joined back with him." Myde replied as he let his hand drop once the spell was completed.

"Axel…" Roxas' whisper drew everyone's attention to the sobbing red head. "I'm gonna help you ok. I promise."

"Bastard!" Axel screamed as he slapped Roxas hard across the face. "You left me alone!"

"Axel!" Sora cried and he moved to stop the red head. Vincent reached out and grabbed the boy's arm, shaking his head at Sora.

"I-I'm sorry…" Roxas felt hot tears spill down his cheeks.

"I'm all alone…in here, trapped, so sick…help me." Axel murmured as he reached up and gently touched the place he had slapped Roxas seconds before.

"Sora," Myde said gently. The brunet boy nodded then swallowed thickly as he approached Seifer.

"Are you sure about this Seifer?" Sora questioned.

"Make it quick kid." Seifer shrugged.

The Keyblade Master nodded then he lunged forward with the black and red blade, thrusting the tip deep into Seifer's chest. The tall blond let out a cry of pain as he stumbled backwards, both hands clutching his chest.

Everyone stood their ground despite the need to help the blond who was now on his knees. When he arched his back red light spilled from his chest and Seifer cried out when a red heart emerged from the red light. Vincent grabbed hold of Seifer while the heart floated in the air, unmoving.

"Now what?" Yuffie murmured.

"We let the heart find its home." Myde answered softly.

"This is extraordinary." Merlin watched in awe as the heart hovered directly above Reno's chest.

"So pretty…the light…such pure, green energy." Axel smiled brightly at the other red head. Myde went pale at Axel's words.

"What does he mean by that?" Roxas demanded.

"Before Reno was created the Key was green energy. When Sokar drains their minds his victims must be able to see the Key for what it really is." Myde felt his rage for the Hell-God return tenfold.

"Reno?" Vincent knelt down beside the slowly awakening Key.

"What…?" his voice was raspy and Roxas felt his heart constrict when he heard a voice that sounded like Axel's.

"Welcome back." Vincent murmured as he helped Reno sit up.

"My head hurts." Reno muttered. Green eyes slowly opened then fell on the red eyed gunman. "Vinnie?"

"Hi Reno." Vincent smiled.

Green eyes clouded over with confusion as images of so many things passed through his jumbled mind. He remembered the castle, growing up with Myde, the Heartless attacking and then…he fell asleep.

It felt like he was waking up from a dream. Reno glanced around slowly and he felt his heart beat widely when he saw Seifer with Vincent. His green eyes took in everyone else in the room but he stopped when his eyes fell upon a beautiful blond with sea green eyes.

"Myde?" Reno whispered. There he stood, the Sorcerer he fell in love with. "You're here?"

"I'm sorry." Myde whispered as tears fell from his beautiful eyes. "I missed you so much Ren." The red head smiled at the use of that name. "But I have to do this."

"Myde, what are you doing?" Leon moved towards the blond but stopped when he ran into an invisible barrier.

"Myde!" Seifer called out.

"The Light isn't enough this time." He said softly as he pulled out various books, all on black magic.

"What are you doing Myde?" Sora cried as he banged his fist against the barrier.

"He's going to use black magic. Not even I dare use that level of power." Merlin tried to repeal the barrier but it was too strong.

"Don't!" Reno cried out. "Myde, you can't use the darkness!"

"The Light didn't save Zexion or Axel!" Myde cried as he opened the books and laid them out on the table.

"We can find another way." Leon tried to talk to the blond but he only shook his head.

"I'm so sorry." Myde murmured then he dipped his fingers into the pages of the largest book.

The pages rippled like water and the words on the pages began to glow red. The words glowed and started to move off the pages and onto Myde's skin. The words, incantations and dark symbols climbed up his arms, his skin glowing red and black as more words from the others books flowed into his body.

The words travelled up his arms, onto his throat and across his face. The veins in his face and arms were black, his skin pasty white and the words finally sank into his flesh. His hair was black and when he opened his eyes black and red eyes glanced upon the group. When he spoke is voice was simply in a monotone drawl.

"That's better."

Note-More on Reno in the next chapter and Sokar begins to close in. Stay tuned my lovelies!