Kingdom Hearts III: Eternal Light
Chapter 96: The End of A Nightmare
Xehanort stood before Sora and the others, growing a sly grin as he merely stood there. Sora and Ven growled, remembering all the chaos Xehanort caused for both of them. As he looked on, he saw Aqua and Ven standing side by side.
"Well, if it isn't Aqua and Ventus...oh. Wait. Where's Terra?" he asked. Xehanort started to laugh after that, provoking Ven.
"You know where he is! He went chasing after you! Why? Because YOU stole his body!" Ven shouted. Kairi gasped.
"He...He really did? I didn't know that." Kairi thought. When Xehanort asked how Ven knew, he said that Aqua told him and Sora once. Xehanort smirked.
"Yes. How ironic that your friend, the very one who thought he could defeat me, instead becomes the one to help fuel my ambitions for so many years." Xehanort chuckled. Ven growled more.
"Ven...calm down. He's trying to egg you on." Aqua said. But the more Ven looked at Xehanort, the more he imagined the suffering Terra had when his body was taken from him. Sora drew his Keyblade.
"Well, listen up Xehanort. Today, here and now, is where your psycho ambitions are finished!" Sora cried.
"That's right! And we're gonna be the ones that do it!" Mickey called. Xehanort grinned.
"Why would they be? I've finally made it to Kingdom Hearts, a world in which multiple others failed to ever reach. You think you can just kick me out? Never." Xehanort said. He started to float in the air and raise a hand, summoning his Guardian behind him. Ven yelled and charged for him.
"Ven! No!" Aqua called.
"Xehanort! I don't care if you're a Keyblade Master or not! What you did to Terra is UNFORGIVABLE!" Ven yelled. He lunged for Xehanort and swung his blade. However, the Lifeless countered with his own Keyblade.
"Begone wretched child!" he called. The Guardian snarled and slammed Ven to the floor. The others gasped and rushed onto the platform, soon trapped by Xehanort's barrier around the level.
"Ven! Are you okay?" Riku called. Ven groaned and stood back up.
"Xehanort...you heartless monster. I don't know what sick ideas were going through your head back then, but I swear that this will be your LAST battle. And I MEAN it this time!" Sora shouted. Xehanort chuckled.
"Oh? Then come...and SUBMIT to the darkness!" Xehanort yelled. He suddenly came charging with his Guardian leading the way. He dashed around the field, either missing or striking down any of Sora's friends.
"Look out!" Donald squawked before the Guardian struck him down. As it rounded the corner, it came at Goofy. But Riku leaped in and swung his blade, knicking Xehanort's shoulder and causing him to stop. When he did, Sora and Ven swung away at him with all their might. Their final blows knocked Xehanort back.
"Hmph. Come Guardian!" Xehanort shouted. Sora and Mickey lunged for him, but the Guardian intercepted. And as Sora was held in place, Xehanort summoned the sabers from his sleeves and went on the offensive after the Guardian released Sora.
"Leave Sora alone you jerk!" Kairi called. She came charging and caught Xehanort inbetween swings. The two stayed in a stalemate, locking eyes with each other.
"Princess Kairi...if you value your life, stay out of this fight." he said. Without effort, Xehanort struck away Kairi's Keyblade before the Guardian socked her in the gut and knocked her to the floor. Sora gasped.
"Kairi!" Sora exclaimed. He turned back to Xehanort with anger in his eyes.
"Why you...! Don't hurt Kairi!" Sora called. Xehanort laughed and floated back from Sora. He rose one palm into the air and faced Sora.
"She chose to stick her nose into the fray. Nothing I can say will change that." Xehanort said. As he made a fist, his hand began glowing with black energy. Sora and Aqua gasped.
"Sora! Look out!" Mickey cried.
"Now...let me show you a new TRICK I've picked up. SUBMIT!" Xehanort exclaimed. He swung his fist and a powerful black beam surged from his fist. It came rocketing towards Sora, but he quickly got out of the way. However, Ven saw the attack was now rocketing towards Aqua.
"No! Aqua! Look out!" Ven exclaimed. He dashed for her and pulled out his Keyblade. Aqua prepared to shield herself before Ven shoved her aside and, even though shielding himself with his blade, took the full hit and was slammed hard into the barrier. As she tumbled to the ground and dropped her blade, Aqua gasped.
"Ven! NO!" she exclaimed. Ven groaned and collapsed, dropping his Keyblade. Aqua quickly rushed to Ven's side. Xehanort smirked.
"Well, isn't someone playing the "hero" today." Xehanort said, giving a laugh shortly after. Sora and Riku groaned. Ven was starting to get back up, but Xehanort suddenly warped to his side and grabbed him.
"Ven!" Aqua cried. Ven was grasped by his throat as Xehanort raised him up. He tossed him aside before drawing out his sabers. He suddenly started to slash and hack away at Ventus, striking him with each blow. Aqua could only watch. With the final strike, Ven went stumbling down again and Xehanort laughed.
"Ven! Are you all right?" Aqua gasped, hurrying to him. But as Xehanort continued to laugh, something came leaping down from the sides of the volcano and bypassed the barrier to land behind him.
"T...Terra!" Mickey gasped.
"What the?" Sora asked. Xehanort sensed the feeling and quickly turned around. In what was only a brief flash, he saw the Lingering Sentiment behind him. The armor suddenly swung its Keyblade, delivering a sharp slash down his back. But before the Guardian could react, Terra's armor suddenly opened and surrounded Xehanort.
XEHANORT !
Xehanort yelled as the armor clamped down onto him. His muffled yells could be heard as the armor struggled to hold onto him. He dropped his Keyblade and clutched his head, frantically trying to rip the armor off him.
"What in the world?" Riku asked. Kairi, Donald, Goofy and Mickey merely stood and watched.
"Terra!" Aqua gasped. Ven sat up and rubbed his head, seeing Terra's armor wrestling control of Xehanort. He quickly gasped.
"Terra!" Ven exclaimed. Xehnaort's muffled scream radiated from the armor as suddenly, the armor gave a giant flash of light.
"NO!" Xehanort's voice yelled. The surge of light blinded everyone, forcing them to cover their eyes. Everyone down on the battlefield below could see the flash radiating from the platform Sora was on.
"Oh man. What's going on up there?" Lloyd asked. Richter looked on, still being able to see the faint figures of Sora and his friends.
"Sora...what's happening?" Richter thought. Emil looked on also, holding back a Heartless with his blade. Back on the platform, as the light began to fade, everyone looked on and saw the armor now just casually standing.
"W...Wait. Where's Xehanort?" Riku asked. Suddenly, the armor rose its hand and slapped its shoulder. The armor started to recede and, in the same spot as where the armor stood, there was no longer Xehanort. Ven and Aqua looked on, gasping at the sight of the armor's new wearer, a restored Terra.
"T...Terra?" Aqua muttered. Ven was in total shock. Terra's eyes opened, showing his original blue eyes and flashing his Keyblade. Ven could only smile and stand up before rushing to Terra.
"Terra! It's you! Terra!" Ven exclaimed. Ven hugged Terra tightly as the others hurried over. Terra saw the look on Ven's face and chuckled, patting his head.
"Come on Ven. Don't tell me you're still acting like a little kid." Terra teased. Ven looked up at Terra and started to wipe the tears from his eyes. Sora looked on at Terra, surprised to see his real form.
"Terra...how did you do that?" Sora asked. Terra looked at himself.
"I followed Xehanort here. And...I learned that if I could overpower his will with the remains of me that was inside that body's heart...I could kick him out and reclaim it." Terra said. Aqua just smiled, looking at both of her friends.
"I'm...I'm just so glad you're back Terra. Both of you." Aqua sniffled. Terra smiled.
"But...wait a minute. Whatever happened to that Xehanort guy?" Goofy asked. Donald curiously wondered the same thing, but Terra shrugged it off.
"Don't worry. I booted Xehanort's heart back to its cold, dark body. He won't be back anytime soon." Terra said. But suddenly, dark dust started to form around them. Sora and Terra gasped, looking behind them to see something forming. They were forming a human body.
"Uhhh...Terra?" Mickey asked.
"No. Don't tell me..." Riku said. The black dust continued to form and soon solidified into a real human form. It was Xehanort, his elderly form from Ven's time.
"Who...Who's that?" Kairi asked.
"No. It's...It's Xehanort." Terra said. The others gasped, shocked to see the elderly man before them was Xehanort's real body.
"What? You mean...THAT'S Xehanort?" Sora exclaimed, joined by his friends at the end. Xehanort looked at himself and gasped, riddled with shock.
"No. NO!" Xehanort roared. He suddenly eyed Terra and his friends, snarling as he stood back up.
"Wak! What's going on?" Donald squawked.
"Gawrsh! When Xehanort was booted from Terra's heart, his Lifeless must've became his body!" Goofy exclaimed.
"That means...when Xehanort's Lifeless met Xehanort's real heart, it brought him back!" Sora shouted. Xehanort growled.
"Terra...do you realize what you've DONE? You fool!" Xehanort shouted. He suddenly summoned his Keyblade and eyed Terra. Terra took his battle stance, holding his blade firmly.
"Yeah. I've realized. I realized that I've taken back my body! Now get lost you psychopathic nut!" Terra called. Xehanort growled and glowed black, the suddenly appearing Guardian was behind him. Terra gasped.
"Wh..What? Isn't that the Guardian from earlier?" Kairi asked.
"Great. It seems that when Xehanort was reborn from his Lifeless' body, he got their powers too!" Riku shouted. Xehanort yelled and came charging, led by the Guardian. Everyone ducked and dodged. Ven luckily avoided, even after fumbling from the earlier battle.
"Xehanort!" Terra yelled. He swung his Keyblade and struck down Xehanort at the right moment. Xehanort growled.
"You imbecile! I was so close to my goal! And you had to butt in!" Xehanort shouted. He suddenly charged at Terra and their blades started to clash.
"Well, if you didn't take my body to begin with, this wouldn't have happened!" Terra shouted. Suddenly, Xehanort looked and saw Sora and Riku charging at him. He sent a clone of himself, powers from Xemnas, to stall them. But Riku took the clone and Sora leaped at him.
"This is for all the trouble you've caused us Xehanort!" Sora shouted. Xehanort was suddenly onslaughted with blow after blow from Sora's Keyblade. He groaned with each strike. Terra stepped back. Sora's last hit blew Xehanort back a bit, leaving him open for Mickey to counterattack.
"Just give up Xehanort! You're clearly outnumbered and outpowered now!" Aqua exclaimed. But Xehanort didn't listen and attacked again, this time drawing one of Xemnas' sabers from his palm as well as his Keyblade.
"Never! I am a Keyblade MASTER! You amateurs can't hope to beat me!" Xehanort shouted. But when he clashed with Ven, Ven quickly disarmed him of his Keyblade and struck him.
"You forget that we have a Keyblade Master too! And that's Aqua!" Ven called. After that, Xehanort was ambushed by everyone and sent flying back after each strike. He suddenly dropped to the ground and clutched his chest, gasping for breath. He looked on at Aqua and growled.
"Ah. Yes. I...I forgot. You are a Keyblade...Master too, young Aqua." Xehanort muttered. Growing a devilish smile, he quickly called his Keyblade and suddenly stabbed himself with it. Everyone gasped.
"Wow! What's going on?" Goofy gasped. Xehanort started to rise up towards the sky, giving an evil laugh. Suddenly, the Guardian vanished and appeared behind Aqua and grabbed her arms.
"What? Hey! Let go of me!" Aqua shouted. She looked up and gasped, seeing Xehanort's eyes facing her.
"From what I understand Aqua, because of me, you've spent quite some TIME in the Realm of Darkness. That makes you PERFECT...as my NEW HOST!" Xehanort exclaimed. Everyone gasped.
"What? NO! AQUA!" Terra exclaimed. Xehanort laughed and prepared to merge with her as he did Terra. Aqua didn't do anything but stand, riddled with fear.
"Aqua! Get out of there!" Kairi screamed.
"Aqua! AQUA!" Ven cried. Aqua could only hear her own heart beat, too frightened to move. But suddenly, Terra stepped in the way.
"Xehanort! No! Don't take Aqua! If you want, take MY body instead!" Terra cried. Riku and Donald gasped.
"No! Terra! Don't give Xehanort your body back! We won't be able to stop him then!" Riku shouted. Everyone was shouting to Aqua and Terra to get out of there. But suddenly, one of Xehanort's clones came rushing directly for Terra.
"Very well! Come back and join me...TERRA!" Xehanort exclaimed. But when the clone attacked, the body it struck wasn't Terra, but a sudden appearance from Ven, shielding his friends with his arms out wide.
"What? YOU?" Xehanort gasped. Suddenly, Ven's body started to light up and Xehanort's body glowed even darker.
"What? No. NO! Not with HIM!" Xehanort exclaimed. Ven groaned.
"Xehanort! You used me just so Vanitas and I could make your precious x-Blade! Well, I think it's time for my former "master" to see just how strong...my heart really is! Because...your darkness is now MY darkness!" Ven shouted. Xehanort screamed, watching as his body broke down and went into Ven.
"Ven! What are you doing?" Sora called. Ven looked back at Terra and Aqua.
"Protecting my friends...and finally silencing...Xehanort forever." Ven said. The Guardian released Aqua and hurried to Ven, trying to tear them apart. But Ven's light ejected the Guardian away, leaving him open to Xehanort completely.
"This is for what you've done Xehanort! This is for Master Eraqus, this is for Terra, this is for Aqua...this is for everyone's lives that you've RUINED!" Ven shouted. Xehanort yelled.
"No! NO! I will NOT merge with you! V...Vanitas! HELP!" Xehanort called. He struggled to undo the merging, but even though Xehanort knew Vanitas was there, he never showed.
"V...Vanitas! You TRAITOR!" Xehanort yelled. Ven continued to hold his ground, not stopping until all of Xehanort was pulled into him. When it did, Ven screamed and grabbed his chest. His aura started to shift between light and dark, struggling for control. But as the dark aura glowed around him, it was suddenly shattered and Ven fell to the floor. Aqua gasped.
"VEN!" Aqua screamed. Terra hurried to Ven's side, rolling him over and seeing the unconscious look on his face. They looked ahead, seeing the only part of Xehanort still left was his Keyblade.
"Ven! Ven! Come on pal! Wake up! Ven!" Terra shouted. Sora, Donald and Goofy looked on, unable to say a word. Kairi quietly cried as Riku was silent as well. Mickey looked away, unable to see Ven the way he was now.
"No. This can't be happening." Aqua sniffled. She started to cry, leaking tears on Ven's face.
"Xehanort's darkness...must've been too much for Ven to handle. The two powers clashed each other out and destroyed his heart." Mickey thought. Xehanort's barrier fell and opened the path back up. Sora and the others gathered at the start of the stairs, looking back at Terra and Aqua. Aqua held Ven in her arms.
"Terra...Aqua? I'm so sorry." Sora said. Suddenly, Terra stood up.
"That knight...he caused all of this. He...He's gonna PAY." Terra growled. He clutched his Keyblade tightly and approached Sora.
"Aqua? Watch over Ven. I have to go do something." Terra said. Aqua looked on, asking what it was.
"I'm gonna find that knight...and make him pay for putting Ven through this. Just please do me a favor...and don't let Ven out of your sight." Terra said. Aqua nodded, looking back at Ven. Sora and the others hurried on ahead, now accompanied by Terra. They could see one last platform ahead of them before they reached the volcano's top.
"One more platform to get through and we'll be there! Don't let up now everyone!" Mickey called. Terra's eyes locked firmly on the pathway before him.
"Ven...I swear I'll bring this "Dark Knight" down. You gave your heart for me...now I'll return the favor...by making sure Aqua and I leave this battle ALIVE." Terra thought. But as they reached the final platform, another barrier suddenly shot up.
"What? D'oh! What now?" Sora groaned. Suddenly, a strong dark feeling was sensed approaching from the other stairway. Everyone looked ahead, causing Sora to gasp.
"Uhhh...Sora? Who's that?" Kairi asked.
"Oh no." Sora muttered. It was everyone's worst nightmare, the final minion of the Dark Knight's forces. It was Sephiroth.
"That's enough. Your road up this path ends...here." Sephiroth said, drawing his blade.
TO BE CONTINUED...