"Any luck?"

I shook my head, rubbing a kink out of my neck, "Nothing but empty rooms. I really don't know how to get to the computer…"

"Couldn't you just create a portal thingy?" I glanced warily at Pence, "I could, but we'd be going through the realm of Darkness. You wouldn't survive."

"Then we won't go—you, Sora, Donald, Goofy, and the King can go instead."

No way around it, then. Damn. With a heavy sigh I stretched an arm out, calling a portal to Betwixt and Between, "Be on your guards. We'll need to stay in the realm between until I can find a way into the other Twilight Town."

"Can't be any worse than The End of the Worlds, right?"

"Your optimism is refreshingly idiotic as always," I sneered, grabbing Sora's forearm before he could boldly walk through, "We're going straight into Darkness, idiot! You can't just go waltzing through!"

"But—you've got a heart, and you do that all the time!"

"That's because my heart was born of darkness," I sighed; this really wasn't the best time for this, "Look, just prepare yourselves, okay? Be on your guard—Darkness will be everywhere, and no amount of cheery disposition can save you from it. It will tempt you."

Releasing my hold on the boy I marched in first, knowing they would follow.

After all, what good is the mission if they didn't?

…Except I hadn't expected to be overcome by millions of lesser Nobodies—Samurai, Dusks, Sorcerers, Snipers, Dragoons, Berserkers, Assassins, Dancers, Gamblers—every single one of them armed and ready to fight.

None shall pass.

I growled at the universal statement echoing from each Nobody, "You'd throw your lives away? Willingly?"

Milady would not understand. We must fight for Superior. None shall pass.

"You don't have to do this. You have a choice! You don't have to die!"

None shall pass. We must protect our home.

"You don't have to die!" I walked foreword stubbornly, willing them to see reason. "Please, I beg of you—don't fight. Don't throw your lives away! Too many others have—" but before I could finish a Samurai struck, slicing my arm. It wasn't too deep a cut—a warning, nothing more. I dropped to my knees, feeling a stab of betrayal. Xemnas knew I hated their deaths. He knew I would spare their lives at all costs. Why would he force them—force me—to fight?

"It's for the mission." I looked up, surprised to see Axel walking calmly out of the sea of Nobodies. I couldn't reply, however, for at that moment the Denizens of Light came through.

Sora took one look and glared, summoning his Keyblade, "You! What did you do to Aanyx?"

"Concerned?" Axel deadpanned before returning his gaze to me and murmuring, "Don't get attatched. Superior's lesson of the month, it seems." I winced—he was taking Xcaiyet's death much worse than I had. Steeling myself I stood, directing my attention to the lesser Nobodies.

'I am Aanyx, Twilight Morph and Number XVI of Organization XIII. As is my mission, I will take the Denizens of Light to Neon Town—you are in my way. You will either step down or perish.'

Milady is brave. But none shall pass.

"What did you tell them?" Mickey asked. I didn't reply right away, "This is Axel. He is my friend—"

"And I'll be your personal guide through this mayhem." The pyro finished. I nodded past the lump in my throat, "We will fight them—together."

"But—"

I snarled at the Keybearer, rounding on him, "Look, you won't last at this rate. I said I'd take you there, so I'm taking you there! Fight!"

Calling my weapons forth accepted the Darkness, allowing Dark Matter to spiral around me. The Storm hit, white forms flinging into the fray at alarming numbers. I ignored their cries, their deaths, their pain—all that mattered was the mission.

Don't get attatched.

Hard orders for a girl with a heart—no matter how Dark that heart may be.

"I think I liked it better when they were on my side…" I whirled, noticing Sora and Axel trapped in the middle of them all and still fighting. The Disney Trio were nowhere to be seen. I morphed my whips into a boa staff once more, fighting my way through to the two.

"Feeling a little…regret?"

"Nah…I can handle these punks. Watch this!"

Not for the first time, time seemed to slow down. The fight blurred into the swirling colors of the background as Axel jumped into mid-air, focusing his energy into raw fire. His Chakrams spun on either side of him, fire intensifying.

In a flash of heat and pain, it was over—all the lesser Nobodies were gone. I let out a cry, dropping my staff into nonexistence, and raced to his side. "Not you too." I heard myself whimper, "Kingdom Hearts, not you too!"

"Hey…" His voice was weak as I pulled my second brother into my lap, shaking uncontrollably—but with rage or grief, I wasn't sure. "Life without her…really isn't all that great after all…"

Sora knelt sadly on Axel's other side, "You're…fading away…"

"Well, that's what happens when you put your whole being into an attack. You know what I mean? Not that Nobodies actually HAVE beings…right? Anyway, I digress. Go, find Kairi." Axel summoned a Chakram and looked at me pleadingly. I bit my lip and nodded, covering the Chakram with magic. I morphed it into a keychain and handed it to Sora. "For…what I did…to Kairi…" I could tell he was barely holding on as he looked at me again, "Kairi's in the castle dungeon. Go."

I wiped stubbornly at my tears and nodded, setting him gently to the ground and standing, "So passes a fiery warrior of Darkness. May Her Darkness watch over you." But he was gone before I could finish. I willed my emotions to calm, allowing Sora to place a hand on my shoulder, "You okay?"

"I'll see him again." Dropping the matter I opened a portal, "C'mon…The sooner we get you outta here the less likely you are at joining him."

We walked out together—The Denizens of Light and the Nobody. The familiarity of Neon Town washed over me, and I allowed the feeling of home to resurface. "Welcome, gents, to The World that Never Was."