The last chapter… I can't believe it

The penultimate chapter… (for those of you that didn't just go look that up, it means second-to-last. Don't overwork yourselves.)

Lauren, I left you another present, for old times' sake.

And everyone that hasn't already, you should go read A Worthless Nobody by RockOnRose. I'm not a huge Demyx fan (sorry, Lauren, he's basically a pansy) but this one's pretty good, and you'll get your Bruixe fix near the end. (Although Bruixe is responsible for Demyx's death… hm…)

Enjoy the last chapters. Make the most of them. I know I will.


"Comfortable?"

Bruixe opened her eyes to see Riku standing over her, smiling.

"Mm-hm," Bruixe told him. She'd been laying like this for who-knew-how-long, sprawled in the sand, boots kicked off, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her skin and the island breeze on her face. The receding tide tickled her bare feet with every wave. "It's nice," she said, squinting up at him. "Even if there aren't mountains."

Riku laughed at that and sat down next to her. "It won't be so nice once you get up and figure out there's sand everywhere." He considered this. "But then, I could help you with that…"

Bruixe punched him.

"Kidding," he amended, rubbing his arm. "Jeez."

Kairi had offered Bruixe the spare room of her house, but truth be told Bruixe couldn't bear that much pink for that long. She'd moved out as soon as she could, living in a little room in the back of the bar where she worked. At first Riku had protested her working with potential drunks, but he couldn't deny it suited her, and Bruixe was the best person the tavernmaster could find for kicking people out. Besides, she wasn't one to listen to people when she had an idea in her head. She had also refused to let her new friends call her 'Rubie', deciding that Bruixe fit her better even if it was a Nobody's name.

"Hey, Riku," she said, sitting up and shaking the sand out of her black hair.

"Yeah?"

"D'you think you can handle a while without me?" she asked.

He cocked his head. "What do you mean?" he asked warily.

Bruixe held up her hands. "I'll come back, promise. It's just that… there's some things I want to do – things to clean up – before I settle down here all the way. And I figured you'd follow me unless I asked nicely… so I'm asking."

"Why can't I come?" Rikku wanted to know.

She smiled softly. "Riku, you… well, I… jeez," she sighed. "How do I say this… Riku, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me, and I've told you about my life so you know I'm not lying. But… just like defeating Xehanort, there are some things I have to do on my own. Cleaning up my own damn mess… and I'm doing it right this time. I will clean this up. But I have to do it alone." Bruixe turned her silver gaze on him, knowing he couldn't say no.

He tried. But in the end, he shook his head. "I understand. No way I wouldn't. Do what you have to do." Riku held her gaze firmly. "But be careful, right? The Chasers may be gone, but who knows what kind of trouble you could get into."

Bruixe didn't even hit him for it. "Thanks," she told him. "Be looking out for me."

"'Till your heart stops beating," Riku said seriously.


Terra was waiting for her at the entrance to Kingdom City.

"Welcome back, Changeling," he said in his deep, slow voice.

Bruixe crossed her arms. "Well, that's no fun. I was going to surprise you and everything. How'd you know I was coming?"

Terra pointed a finger upwards, towards the Citadel. Bruixe noticed that he no longer wore his giant greatsword, and smiled. Peace had come to the Eternal Kingdom at last.

"I never thanked you for helping us in the war," Terra told them. "You and your friends.. Without you, I fear we would have been destroyed."

Bruixe shrugged. "We couldn't exactly not help," she said.

"Still, Kingdom City thanks you," the big man maintained.

"You're welcome," she allowed.

Terra looked at Bruixe for a long time, peering deep into her silver eyes. Finally he smiled. "I am glad you came back, Changeling," he told her. "You have grown up. You do not have the anger you once carried."

Bruixe returned the smile. "I owe a lot of that to Riku," she said honestly. "Things are changing, Liberator… Terra. I don't have to prove myself anymore. I'm moving on, but I have to fix things here first. Terra, can I ask you a favor?" she wanted to know.

"Anything," Terra answered.

"I need an audience with the Council."


She looked over their faces, recognizing most of them, but not all. Garrison and Isalena, her former foster parents; Velkin, the man who had tortured her into becoming a Nobody; Aeson, Laurene, and Striask, older now, but still good friends; and of course Danthus, Terra's former master and the commander of the Watch. Others, she knew, must be replacing those who had died. Terra pointed them out as Nester and Rondot, both new to the Council in the last two years.

Bruixe met each pair of appraising eyes before she spoke.

"I know a lot of you probably don't recognize me," she began. "I… well… it's been a while since I've been here, and I've changed… but once upon a time you knew me as Rubesia."

A few gasped; Velkin growled angrily, but Garrison nodded in understanding. Bruixe held up a hand for silence.

"My name is Bruixe, now. I am the daughter of Xehanort the Cruel," she said bluntly, voice steady. "You all thought I was evil. Now that I think about it, I didn't give you much reason to think otherwise. I stole, I lied, I made your lives living hell… and I killed one of your own."

She looked at Velkin now, the man who had loved Demetre.

"I know… I know that my apology means nothing. That there is no way anything I say or do could ever bring her back, or atone for the crimes I committed here. I'm not asking for your forgiveness, even. I just wanted to say… I'm sorry, for everything." She lowered her head for a moment, then looked up again.

"But I wanted you all to know… Xehanort is long dead, and now his Chasers are finally gone too. It's my belief that you'll never need the Citadel again. This world will be peaceful again, like it hasn't since the age of the Keybearers. And I… I've learned that trying to prove myself didn't get me anywhere. I had a chip on my shoulder for a long time, but… I can't live like that anymore. I won't," she said, more forcefully. "You all know I gave up my heart. Well, it took a long time and a lot of hurt… but I've got it back now, and I know what I was missing. So… well, I know it doesn't make anything better. I just… I just wanted you to understand, even if you can't forgive me."

Bruixe fell silent. Her heart was pounding, but she welcomed it; it made her whole.

Finally Isalena spoke up.

"I believe I speak for all of us when I say that your words are meaningless," she said regally.

"I know that," Bruixe whispered. "I –"

"Peace," Isalena interrupted. "As I was saying, your words are meaningless. But your actions… we have all heard the story of your valour in protecting our kingdom. You have proven yourself far beyond what any of us had expected you to. Words may be meaningless… but your actions mark you as a fine young woman… Bruixe."

The Councilors murmured their agreement. Bruixe was speechless. "I – I… thank you," she managed.

Danthus stood.

"I have been a Councilor for longer than any of you," he addressed his fellows. "Therefore the final decision is mine." He turned to Bruixe. "You are not the angry child you once were," he told her. "You even bear a different name… moreover, you are a Keybearer, are you not?"

Bruixe nodded.

"That alone proves your heart," Danthus said gently. "Go in peace, young Bruixe. Do not carry any regret for us."

Bruixe's eyes swam with tears, and she blinked furiously. "Thank you," she whispered again. "Thank you…"

Terra ruffled her hair as she left the Council room. "Well done, Changeling."