Fyer had fallen asleep without even realizing it. Now the frozen world of ash was cold and dark. Dusky shapes created a jagged landscape through the still trees. Not a sound permeated the heavy silence. Fyer sat up, shaking her head to dislodge the soot from her hair and face. She blinked and then whistled softly, checking that her voice had indeed returned after her odd dream.

She hadn't moved from her position on the hill, overlooking the deep valley. Behind her was the seat-shaped tree that stirred something deep inside her locked memories. She went to stand and found her strength had still not fully returned. She caught herself on one knee and looked down. She brushed her hand across her chest, barely able to see. The wound was still there, but she couldn't see enough to tell if it had healed at all. She squinted up at the sliver of a moon, confused. She had always been able to see in the dark, but now she felt blinded.

She forced herself to her feet and began to make her way down the hill. Her footing was unsteady and she used the trees as support, feeling their bark crumbling under her touch. After an eternity, she reached the bottom and walked out onto what was left of the road. Before her were the ruins of the city that haunted her subconscious with its whispers of things long past. Tonight, though, all was silent.

It was like everything had left her; her strength, her fleeting memories, even the people who had chased her. All gone, and all alone.

She trudged slowly down the street and deeper into the jagged structures. She focused on the ground around her feet, her footing unsure in the darkness. Her chest ached and she was having trouble keeping her legs moving. She looked up at the clear sky and sighed deeply. She had nowhere to go, and was only wasting her energy. She stopped and moved out of the road. She eased herself down carefully onto a curb. She crossed her arms over her chest, wishing she could sleep again. At least there it was just darkness and no pain. She'd tried to end it, but he'd been too strong. Now she was stuck here, weakened and injured, no further along than she had been before.

She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her arms and face, closing her tired eyes. Her mind pushed her fruitless worries back into the darkness and she was left with the searing emptiness that had once become the fire in her spirit. Now it was only pain that she had to live with.

She heard something in front of her and looked up slowly, lacking the will to be wary. A figure stood over her, looking down. She blinked a few times, unsure if she was seeing a pillar of stones in the distance, or truly a person there. They didn't move, and her interest began to fizzle out. She blinked again, and for a second, there was a street lamp there, shining over them both. A hooded figure stood a few feet away, looking down at her silently. Then the vision was gone, and only the silhouette remained. She took in a shuddered breath as the memory was drawn back into the darkest recesses, her mouth struggling to move.

"Is it really you?" she whispered, forgetting so swiftly that she didn't understand what she was saying. As confirmation, the dark shadow moved toward her, fast. Someone grabbed her shoulders from behind, and she jolted, completely unaware that there was more than one figure. This wasn't right. The figure in front of her lunged and pressed something against her mouth. She coughed as a powerful odor overtook her senses. She tried to fight back, but the movement sent her spiraling into a dizzy cloud of pain. She could only gasp futilely as the sleep she'd so desperately wanted came crashing down over her senses.

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.

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In different worlds, the Nobodies clashed.

Axel drove Vexen back, away from the hidden bunker. They'd danced this dance so many times before, always against each other. Fire and ice, clashing in an intense flurry. They were close in strength. Vexen was blunt and powerful, and Axel was swift and keen. Axel kept fighting, eyes narrowed and flames burning hot, but it was different this time. He knew no matter what, there was no winning for him. His success or his failure would have the same outcome. He didn't care, because the outcome would be different for someone else. He thought of Fyer and her eyes filled with happiness instead of misery, and that was the only consolation he needed.

.

Larxene chased a gleeful Marluxia, a red-hot fury stoking her fervent attacks. She had always taken Marluxia's side, sharing much of his vision for the Organization. She'd supported his ideals, no matter how insane they seemed. She had suffered so much for him. Finally, when she'd found solace with someone who doused the fires within her, Marluxia had slipped in and stolen her happiness away. There was no remorse at what he'd done, only that maddening laughter as he dodged easily out of reach. He'd destroyed her only chance at peace. She chased Marluxia through the dark and dank world they had entered, giving Marluxia no chance to open a portal and run. He would pay for what he'd done to her, even if it killed her.

.

.

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As soon as Xemnas saw Fyer, her form dissolved like a living mist, leaving nothing behind. He looked forward at Ansem, shaking furiously. Ansem's eyes were wide; he had seen her too, so Xemnas wasn't imagining things. There was no way she could be here; he couldn't feel her. But he did sense something else, whispering quietly through the walls.

He'd brought Ansem here so he could use the castle's power to his advantage against him, but something else was happening.

Ansem took advantage of Xemnas' shock and lunged without warning, nearly ending everything right there. Xemnas barely saw Ansem in time and dodged, managing to escape with the lightest of grazes. Xemnas glanced over his shoulder at his adversary, unable to shake off the distracting presence coursing through the castle. Ansem laughed.

"Pick whatever battlefield you wish. No matter what, I will win," Ansem promised, turning and coming for him once again.

Xemnas could do little but avoid the attacks. The power he'd hoped to take hold of when he came here was indeed reaching out to him, but it felt…strange. He hesitated. He heard a ghostly voice call out his name and his head snapped to attention, forgetting his dangerous skirmish. He saw some of the Organization members gathered in the commons area, but their figures began to dissolve as soon as he looked. He only had time to make out one face and he gasped. It was Xemnas himself.

Ansem struck him down, and Xemnas forced himself to immediately roll to his feet, fighting through the pain. Ansem laughed again, dark eyes drinking in Xemnas' agony. Xemnas barely noticed the injury as he straightened, eyes scanning the room for more strange images. His mind was working furiously. He didn't understand what the castle was doing. Never in his time as leader of Organization 13 had the castle created apparitions like this; except they weren't apparitions. He recognized what little he'd seen of the vision because it had been painfully burned into his mind. What he'd just seen could only be possible if…

Xemnas met Ansem's gaze, hoping he was right. He reached out to the Castle's power gingerly, letting his mind take hold. As soon as he did, the muffled murmurs became clear and he felt a pain far greater than his injury clench his chest. Ansem smirked at Xemnas' lost expression and attacked again.

Xemnas led Ansem through his castle, barely out of reach of his grotesque black claws that had formed from the darkness. Xemnas knew one slip-up would end in agony, so he had to make his moves count. He wasn't sure if what he was planning would work, but he had no other ideas. He feinted left, then vaulted himself right. He pushed off the wall as he came in contact, propelling himself halfway up the staircase in a second. Ansem snarled and black spines blasted through the steps beneath. Xemnas vaulted off the wall again, throwing himself up another flight. He turned the corner and ran, daring to look over his shoulder. Ansem was following, and behind him darkness swallowed everything.

Xemnas' footsteps echoed, but something was off. He looked at the wall flying by, and there were two shadows. It wasn't Ansem's; he was too far behind. This was Xemnas' confirmation that it was beginning to work. He held his breath as he approached another bend in the corridor. He leapt and drew his blades, summoning all the power he could. As stone shattered beneath him, it echoed around him like his footsteps had. Clouds of dust billowed up around him. Xemnas saw Ansem as he crashed down through the floor, landing in a familiar place.

Xemnas stumbled back and jumped when he backed into something. He had only a second to examine his surroundings before he had to drop to the floor and slide under his bed. The nostalgia in some places had filled his chest with a longing ache, but here it was unbearable. Here he'd come back from his long missions to where Fyer lay sleeping. Here he could get close and reach out and touch her, and hold her. He closed his eyes and brought them all back, and the pain grew. It was torture, but he had hope that this was not all in vain.

Ansem dropped in, entangling black tendrils and all. He stood amid the settling dust and debris, eyes as black as night, but he didn't move. He was staring at Xemnas, but not the one that was lying under the bed.

"Fight me," the phantom Xemnas growled, and Ansem narrowed his eyes, studying the Xemnas that was standing before him.

Xemnas had felt something strange when he had been here before, but he'd never paid attention to his surroundings. Only this time when he was faced with total annihilation, did he understand it. The memories that had been made here were still here. They were still trapped within these walls, coming to life under Xemnas' control. He didn't understand what was causing it or why they were here; he'd never had this kind of power over the castle before. Regardless, he had to use it however he could.

"Saix, you don't have to be like this," a voice whispered. Ansem's eyes widened and he whirled around to see the phantom memory of Fyer cowering in the face of feral Saix. Xemnas came back to his senses and shot out from under the bed. He attacked Ansem from behind, stabbing through the hissing tendrils of black. To his surprise, Ansem cried out in pain.

Xemnas didn't have time to feel victory. Ansem lashed out, throwing Xemnas against the far wall. He gasped at the pain as he remembered the wound in his chest.

"You'll regret that, love," a voice laughed overhead. Xemnas looked up to see Marluxia facing Ansem. Ansem was frozen, appearing to be mid-strike. Marluxia had materialized between he and Xemnas, blocking him from view. Xemnas blinked, just as bewildered. These were memories; just not his own.

"My feisty little Fyer," Marluxia hissed, throwing both hands out before him. Vines covered with thorns burst from his hands and shot out towards Ansem. He flinched and brought the darkness around himself like a black shell. Marluxia faded from view and Xemnas dragged himself to his feet, unsteady and just as confused as Ansem. He thought through it quickly; he'd seen this memory when he'd reached into Fyer's mind later on. It was the only explanation that made sense.

"Enough of this," Ansem snapped, letting the dark barrier fall. "If this was your last effort to defeat me, I pity you. Memories do nothing but remind us of what once was. The sight of your weakness is sickening."

As Ansem spoke, Xemnas saw another vision materialize. It blocked Ansem from view again and Xemnas tensed. He sensed an attack imminent, but he wasn't through yet. He gripped his blades tight and started to move forward when he saw it.

"Doesn't matter. Like I said, if I had found you first, things would be different. But they're not, and that's the way it goes." It was Axel, looking across at Fyer on Xemnas' bed. She was ill, but she still leaned up and looked at Axel in confusion. Xemnas looked between them, eyes wide. He didn't have a clue about what was going on. This was definitely not his memory. What was happening?

Ansem cut through the phantoms at full force, claws at the ready. Xemnas didn't have time to collect himself when he saw Ansem coming for him. He stiffened, knowing he hadn't acted in time. To his utter surprise, Ansem missed him entirely. Xemnas looked to his right, and a phantom of Xemnas stood unfazed with a clawed hand through his chest, looking past Ansem to Fyer. Ansem blinked as the memory faded, and Xemnas acted as quickly as he could

Xemnas brought his white blades up into Ansem's middle. Once again, he hissed in pain. Ansem jerked back and stumbled unsteadily, but his eyes still burned with a powerful hatred. Xemnas picked himself up off the floor and stared across at his enemy silently, mind whirling. Something wasn't right. He'd been here before and this hadn't happened. When he'd heard the echoed voices, he'd thought his own memories could serve as a distraction for Ansem.

Ansem growled and came at him again, seeming to have regained his fervor. Xemnas fled through the door and back down the corridor to the main hall. Memories murmured and flickered, blocking Xemnas from Ansem's view. More and more began to materialize, and their hum began to grow in volume. Xemnas glanced about, unable to keep track of everything that the memories were reviving.

"These apparitions are repulsive. To see that you would submit yourself to such a weak mortal is sickening. Even now, you're willing to give your last breath for her," Ansem laughed, though it was a weak cackle. Xemnas looked back and saw him falling behind. Ansem was finally slowing down. Xemnas skidded to a stop and watched him thrash through the whispering phantoms. He didn't understand how this was happening, but it was taking a toll on Ansem. If he could keep up an onslaught, he could bring Ansem to his knees, but he wouldn't be able to kill him. Only destroying the Castle while their two hearts were one, would end him once and for all. Xemnas considered this, calculating his odds of being able to reach the heart before Ansem recovered and came after him.

He watched Ansem stumble, barely recovering. His knee touched the floor for a brief second before he stood. Ansem's eyes locked onto his, finally spotting him through the fray. As long as Ansem was trapped here, he wouldn't be able to harm Fyer or anyone else, but Xemnas would be trapped here too. If he tried to leave through a tunnel, he wouldn't be able to keep Ansem from entering it too. Fyer was still trapped under a blinding spell that prevented her from remembering, so she wouldn't know what to do to end him. She would remain wandering; lost, alone and confused. She was suffering even more in this form than she had before. If Xemnas didn't help her, she would remain that way for what was left of her immortal eternity.

Xemnas touched his chest, feeling the painful ache growing. Every time he tried to save her, he only made things worse; but if he did nothing, she would still suffer. Xemnas growled silently, still unable to speak. Ansem walked forward, through the odd phantom memories that refused to relent now that they'd woken. Xemnas was distracted when a vision of Fyer walked by, eyes wide and unsure. Axel was walking beside her, looking at her curiously. She seemed frightened. It must have been one of her first days at the castle, when Xemnas was still focused on the mission. He longed for a way to turn back time and protect her properly. He wished he could go back and prevent her transformation into a Nobody. No, even further back. He would have never left her side and allowed her to be taken. He would have destroyed that facility long before the scientists even knew Fyer existed.

Since that was impossible, he had to make a decision on what he made of her future. If there was even anything he could do. Ansem spotted his still figure through the apparitions and narrowed his eyes. Xemnas clenched his silent jaws and reflected the hostility in Ansem's eyes. He'd made Fyer's life a living hell, and she would be the first thing he'd go after if he was able to leave the castle. He couldn't take any chances. He'd failed her twice trying to save her; maybe doing nothing would be the best thing he could do for her. Keeping Ansem here for an eternity would be better than watching her suffer by his hands anymore.

Just as soon as he'd decided, there was a quiet crackle, and a portal opened up among the glass wall of the commons behind Ansem. Xemnas saw him turn in place and search for the source of the noise, unable to see the portal through the phantoms. Xemnas tensed as a head appeared through the portal, glancing around quickly. The green eyes landed on Xemnas a second later, not seeming to see the memories dancing about. Xemnas mouthed his name, stunned.

"Yep, he's here…but so is Ansem. Shit," Demyx said, voice rising in pitch. He gestured to Xemnas. "Let's go!" Around Demyx, another figure appeared, stunning Xemnas even further. King Mickey stood at the edge of the portal, watching the confused Ansem turn in place. None of them seemed to understand what was going on, as if they couldn't see the hazy images of Fyer and the others moving about. Xemnas didn't move from where he was. When Demyx looked at him again, he motioned for them to leave. Demyx cocked an eyebrow.

"He doesn't want to come," Demyx announced, catching Mickey's attention. The mouse turned to him, a matter-of-fact look on his face.

"Fyer's fate depends on your cooperation. Unless you'd prefer to do things your way," Mickey said calmly, gesturing to Ansem. "By the look of him, we don't have much time left. If the Castle lends itself entirely to Ansem, not even Fyer will be able to stop him."

Xemnas still hesitated. He couldn't help her. He had tried so many times before, and even this time he couldn't make her remember. Going to her again was only going to make things worse. Demyx glanced at Ansem, then back to Xemnas.

"Xemnas, if you stay here, Ansem isn't going to stop growing in power. He looks rough now, but the Castle is waking up. I felt it, and it's worse than I've ever felt it," Demyx said, eyes worried.

"Look…if Ansem gets that power, she'll die, and so will all of us. We need you now, or we lose. Do this for Fyer," Sora pleaded

Ansem suddenly froze, eyes locking on the open dark corridor. Demyx, who had been looking between the two, noticed immediately.

"Decide, like right now!"

Damned if he did, damned if he didn't; no matter what he chose now, Ansem would not be kept from the corridor that Demyx had opened to his freedom. Xemnas let out a deep, silent sigh and his shoulders drooped. This would be his last chance, and he already knew he couldn't help her. It all ended today, and he had yet to tell Fyer aloud that he was sorry. He would die alongside her, all his regrets and his words unheard. Still, her suffering would finally end tonight no matter what the outcome was, and that's all that mattered.