"Why are you hesitating?" King Mickey asked Xemnas, gesturing to Fyer. "She's your lover; the only reason she's been resistant to you is because she doesn't remember. From what we can understand of Namine's hidden message, this will fulfill the conditions and break her memories free."

"And she's unconscious, so she can't punch your lights out right now," Demyx added, looking up and realizing he'd read the room wrong. He subdued and plucked guiltily at his guitar.

Xemnas stared at her unconscious form, unable to make himself move. After everything he'd done, he had no right to ever touch her like that again. Even if she remembered who he was, he had no doubt she would be pushing him away all the same. What they were asking of him went against everything he felt. The last thing he wanted to do was complicate things further.

"All you have to do is try. This could be all it takes to give her back her sanity," Sora said, breaking through Xemnas' thoughts. He looked over at his once enemy, insides churning. He was right. Xemnas owed it to Fyer to set her free from this tormenting seal. Xemnas shivered, barely able to keep his composure.

Xemnas moved forward and dropped to his knees next to Fyer's limp form. He reached under her shoulders and gently lifted her closer, feeling his nerves beginning to jitter. He'd done this countless times before, but it felt so wrong now. He brushed stray hair out of her face and hesitated again. She'd suffered because he'd brought her into his world. He'd kept so much from her and she'd deserved better. He felt so unworthy.

He sighed in the uncomfortable silence and leaned closer to her. Even in her unconscious state, she looked exhausted. She was worn thin from the tragedy that followed her every step. What he had to do was simple, but he knew the moment he did, she would hate him even more than she did now. Perhaps this hesitation was to savor the last moments he could touch her. He gritted his teeth guiltily and closed the gap between them.

Xemnas did as he was asked. He kissed her, with all the love he had for her brimming at his core. He had doubted King Mickey's discovery in the blank pages, but no longer. The moment his lips touched hers, he felt something inside him shatter. A great weight lifted away and he leaned back a hair's breadth, suddenly able to hear his own breathing. He gazed down at his love's closed eyes.

"Fyer?" he asked softly, the sound of his own voice seeming foreign to him. Sora reached out and grabbed Mickey's arm on instinct, not believing what he was seeing. The black veins that had spread beneath her skin were receding, and the wounds she bore began to heal. The weak and defeated look on her face smoothed to one of peace. Xemnas' glowing eyes faded until only his beautiful golden eyes were visible. Mickey nodded.

"Xemnas and Fyer, when you drift apart, a kiss will heal all wounds and help you remember what it was to have a love that traverses time and life," Mickey recited, glancing over at Sora and Demyx. "Namine was no fool. She didn't erase Fyer's memories. She simply sealed them up until it was safe for Fyer to shine again."

Xemnas shifted and touched her face, taking in her familiar presence. It still wasn't quite right, but it was so close to what she'd felt like before. Her core was still empty, but she shone like a star nonetheless.

Finally, Fyer moved and everyone fell silent. Her eyes opened, no longer glowing. They were the same ice blue that they'd become when Vexen had finished his experiments on her; before she'd become a Nobody. She blinked several times, not seeing them at first. Her eyes flitted back and forth, taking everything in as her memories poured in from the dark recesses of her mind.

Fyer's eyes suddenly became still and they darted to Xemnas. Before anyone knew what was happening, she sat up and punched Xemnas in the jaw. He stumbled back and stood with the momentum, and Fyer followed without missing a beat. He gasped as she grabbed his collar, hands seizing her wrists as he prepared to shake her off. Fyer swept her leg out beneath Xemnas and knocked him from his feet with little effort.

When they both fell, a pitch-black portal snapped open on the ground, swallowing them both and reclosing in the blink of an eye.

The remainder of the circle gaped, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Demyx recovered the quickest, staring at the spot where the pair had disappeared.

"Well, we're fucked."

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Ienzo paced, muttering softly. Isa sat on the floor, eyes unseeing. Just like that, he'd lost his best friend again. The lab was so well protected that he couldn't hear the battle he knew was ensuing just outside. Axel had been reborn in Lea's body, and there had been nothing Isa could do to stop it. There was nothing he could do about anything.

Isa looked over at Ienzo, barely able to see him as he moved through the lab, speaking rapidly to himself. He moved from shelf to shelf, pointing to files as he muttered to himself. He paused for a moment, then continued, growing more distressed by each passing moment. Isa dredged himself out of his sinking pit of despair and stood, watching Ienzo moving away across the lab. He followed, eyes moving to the idle machine; the thing that was supposed to save them.

"Ienzo," Isa called. Ienzo didn't seem to hear him. Isa sighed and moved into his path, snapping him out of his constant movements. Instead of trying to give him a false sense of security, Isa crossed his arms. "Tell me what you think we should do now."

Ienzo was taken back for a second. He glanced around, still on edge.

"It's…it's difficult to think of anything we can do, especially in this form. We can do nothing to help Axel against Vexen. We can do nothing against Ansem, so our machine is useless. We can't leave this place lest we miss Fyer or any other ally seeking us out," Ienzo counted off, running his hands through his hair. "I've seldom felt this useless. I fear we are at the end of this road. Ansem is like a ticking time bomb; if he isn't stopped before the Castle wakes and gives its unyielding power to its master, we are all doomed."

Isa felt himself sinking again. Ienzo turned and put his hands on the countertop with a sigh. Ienzo was one of the most brilliant people he'd ever encountered, and if he was at a loss, they truly were doomed.

"How did this all go so wrong?" Ienzo asked softly. Isa looked over, at a loss for comforting words. He turned away, studying the open spaces of the hidden lab. There had to be something else they could do. They couldn't be cornered this far into the game; all they needed was Fyer to use the machine and destroy the heart of the Castle. It seemed so simple, but Fyer was no one's ally.

"If only we had a way to make Fyer understand that we need her," Isa mused aloud, crossing his arms again. He didn't notice Ienzo stiffen and look up, eyes wide. He tilted his head, waiting a moment to be sure he wasn't imagining things.

"There's….something has changed," Ienzo whispered, and Isa whirled to face him. Ienzo looked astonished. "That presence…suddenly it's like a beacon. She's in this world, but so far away, somewhere on the horizon. And yet…her aura is shining like fire. Something is happening, Isa."

He was shaking, unable to shake himself from the scent of her aura that permeated everything. Isa barely understood him, unable to sense what Ienzo could. He frowned in uncertainty.

"I only hope that whatever's happening, it's something in our favor."

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Axel and Vexen paused for the merest second as Fyer's presence burst to life like a lightning bolt. Axel felt a shiver down his spine, as the quivering air calmed. He could still sense her somewhere in this world, far away. He wondered what had finally cut through the seams around her lost memories.

Vexen blinked, uneasy. This light had awakened like a bomb, sending shockwaves across this world. As it faded, her presence this glowed, cutting into his concentration. That glowing white hot light was her purity, and her power. One touch would dissolve darkness like a branch turned to ash. It was a matter of time before this tortured soul took revenge upon those who had suppressed her. Vexen knew he had to sever her path before she could come to that conclusion. The end of the Castle and Ansem meant his end too.

Axel refocused on the task at hand when Vexen suddenly slipped past him, going toward the bunker. Axel stopped him with a lash of fire, calling it with such force that it blazed blue, nearly devouring the planks in an instant. Vexen turned to him, looking disgusted.

"Don't tell me you're suicidal, Axel. You felt that, too. Fyer will be along shortly to end each and every one of us. It doesn't matter whose side she's on. When she strikes, both her allies and enemies will fall," Vexen reminded, flicking a hand out. Ice encased his flames, melting immediately and extinguishing the blaze. Axel shrugged.

"I'm not suicidal, I just don't care. If it ends you and the rest of Ansem's minions, I'm okay if I have to be collateral damage," Axel answered, raising his wall of fire again.

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Marluxia skidded to a halt, suddenly frozen like a statue. Larxene topped the rock ridge behind him and immediately dodged away, suspicious at his sudden halt. He looked around, gazing at the stars overhead.

"What a lovely luminescence," Marluxia said aloud, eyes moving about the skies. "No light here can compare."

Larxene kept her weapon on the ready, wondering if she'd finally hit him hard enough to jostle his sanity. Marluxia suddenly looked over his shoulder and caught her gaze.

"Can you not sense it?" he asked, seeming miffed that she hadn't reacted to whatever he'd sensed. She'd never been the most sensitive to auras and such, but even less so that her focus was trained on Marluxia's suffering. Now that they'd paused, she could feel something far away, glimmering like an ember. She dared a glance toward the horizon, shocked. This presence was so far away, and yet it glowed with such a brilliance that it could not be ignored.

"What…?" she started, looking toward Marluxia as he started to move again. "Don't even think about it!"

Larxene threw herself in his path, menacing him with her daggers. Marluxia's mocking grin and maniacally laughter had vanished completely. Now he only looked at her with deadly intent.

"I've played with you long enough. I have other useful allies waiting to be reawakened. Too bad you were tainted by your human life; I always believed you'd be the one I would end it all with," Marluxia said softly, an edge to his tone. He started to walk around her and she moved to block his path again. She saw the anger flare up in his eyes. "I won't warn you a second time; out of the way."

Larxene stood her ground. Marluxia 'awakening' of the others would be on her if she didn't stop him now. She owed it to them to try afte what she did while she was a Nobody previously. Marluxia studied her for a few seconds, then lashed out with blinding speed. Larxene was quick, but Marluxia had always been a close second. She escaped the heavy blow, but the scythe he summoned was long and he swung it in a wide arc as she dodged away. The blade skimmed her, but his quick follow up with the staff struck her across the chest, knocking her clean off the cliff.

Larxene reached out and snagged a ledge, the shock of the strike echoing through her body. She looked up as he peered over, pondering whether she was worth pursuing or not. She narrowed her eyes and swung to the side, positioning her footing and crouching against the jagged rocks. Marluxia saw her preparing for an attack and disappeared from the ledge. Larxene crawled deftly across the rock wall and threw herself upward, arms held forward defensively.

Marluxia was several strides away with a portal forming before him. Larxene summoned all her strength and threw her daggers in a barrage. Marluxia heard them coming and sidestepped, but he took too long to draw himself out of his concentration. Two buried themselves in his back and he hissed, stumbling to the side. Marluxia shook as he straightened. The fury was evident on his face.

"You're making a grave mistake," Marluxia warned. His eyes pierced through her, and she felt the familiar fear beginning to creep up through her. She silenced it and shrugged.

"You've already done your worst to me; there's nothing else you can threaten me with," Larxene answered, seeming to surprise Marluxia. He summoned his scythe, feeling uncertain for the first time since he could remember.

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Xemnas fell through the portal and landed hard in what felt like crisp grass. He sat up, braced for the onslaught. He stayed on the ground, looking up at Fyer as she landed at his feet. At first he wasn't sure she remembered, but her eyes locked on his and his breath froze in his lungs. The fury there was undeniable, burning like a white flame. Something there in her gaze told him she knew who he was, and she was angrier than he'd ever seen her. There was a long, unblinking silence.

There were so many things he wanted to say, now that his voice had returned. But the eyes of frost that held his hostage silenced him once more. There was nothing he could say to hush this righteous rage.

"You," Fyer hissed, eyes beginning to glow again. Xemnas said nothing, knowing he had no excuse. He forced himself to hold her painful gaze. Her snarl twisted her beautiful face. "How many times were we going to meet for the supposed first time before you were going to tell me? Was this place in the woods even our first meeting?"

The silence stretched and Xemnas knew his answer would not satisfy her, but he had no choice. She wasn't going to move until he spoke.

"This is where it all began; there was nothing before this. I didn't recall at first who you were when I found you on the beach. I only remembered this place after your injury-induced slumber caused by Marluxia, when I found the journal here. You were so fragile then, in mind and body…I could never find the right time to tell you who you truly were. To tell you what you'd already suffered through…and what we shared together…and then it was too late," Xemnas explained, his own voice sounding strange to him. Her eyes narrowed and he continued. "The longer I waited…I knew the day would come that you would hate me. I deserve it. I should have told you, but I…I'm sorry. I don't know how to make something like this right."

Fyer stared him down, and Xemnas felt his last moments were at hand. He'd deceived her for so long, and he'd let her down over and over. He was watching her intently, waiting for the precise moment her patience ran out and she ended him. Xemnas felt his chest clench painfully from the despair pouring into him. He wanted so badly to be forgiven, but he knew it was selfish to hope for that. The unwavering glow of anger in her eyes was almost too much for him to look at. He'd turned her into this.

He felt something tickle his face, but he didn't dare move to brush it away. Fyer blinked and he saw the rigidity leave her body. The glow of her eyes faded until her icy eyes were visible again. Her gaze slid away from his, all emotions closed tight behind her unfeeling expression.

When she shifted at last, he flinched. She walked past him, seeming to completely dismiss him. Fyer walked down the ash covered hill, toward her incinerated city. Xemnas looked over his shoulder, mouth open wordlessly. He felt the tickle again and brushed his hand across his face as he stood. His hand came away wet, and he realized he'd shed tears in the face of his imminent separation from Fyer.

He turned and watched her, eyes following her figure as she reached the empty street. He didn't know what to do. He'd expected her to rightfully take her vengeance, but she'd chosen this instead. He tilted his head, mind buzzing with confusion. He studied her, noticing the slouched shoulders and the lowered head. He'd seen her do this before. Even if she wanted him dead, he would not leave her when she was like this.

Xemnas clambered hurriedly down the hill and followed her down the street, maintaining what he considered a safe distance. She suddenly stopped and looked down. Xemnas watched as she turned and sat down carefully on the debris covered curb. The skeletons of houses seemed to lean menacingly behind her, but he recognized instantly where they were. He hesitantly came closer and turned, looking down at her.

It was the same place he'd finally shown himself to her as existent. It'd been his first step out of the darkness, and her first step in. She stared down at the concrete between his feet, unblinking. Xemnas knew he deserved her disdain and hatred, but this was wrong; she seemed utterly lost. She looked like the same girl he'd seen twice; once with a gun, and again staring out at the ocean.

He moved down carefully to his knees, waiting for her to look at him. She didn't seem to see him. He began to reach out to touch her and hesitated. He opened his mouth to speak and found himself unable to find anything comforting to say. He was the cause of her pain now, even though he'd done his best to shield her from harm. In the end it was always him who hurt her most.

Xemnas straightened and stepped away from her. When he'd tried to help her, he'd done as much damage as when he'd done nothing. He was poison to her. Even now when she should be tearing him to shreds, she sat in the debris of her home, a husk of what she should be. He turned in a circle, running his hands through his hair. He put a hand to his aching chest and found a sudden clear thought.

"Fyer," he said suddenly, facing her. She didn't look up. "Your heart…you need your heart to become whole once more. When you were dying, your heart called out to me, and I shielded it from the darkness…only recently I realized that it's been with me since. It has slumbered here, but now that you remember, you must take it back. You will be able to escape this darkness if it returns to you.

The corner of Fyer's mouth twitched, but she still didn't look at him. That faint movement told him she was listening. He continued, growing desperate.

"I'm sorry for what I've done to you. I never meant for it to be like this. Every time I thought I could tell you…I didn't know how to. I…." Xemnas couldn't find his words for a moment. "I know it's too much to ask for forgiveness, Fyer. I am not worthy of this heart you once gave me..please…it is the only way I can atone for making you this way. You must end me."

"Shut the fuck up!" Fyer snapped suddenly, leaping to her feet. Xemnas blinked in shock. Fyer hissed out a furious breath and it clouded into the cold air like a dragon's snarl. "Holy fuck Xemnas, what kind of monster do you think I turned into with this form? It's still me, Xemnas. Or are you pretending not to remember who I am, too?"

Xemnas blinked, unable to respond. She took in his expression and let out an exasperated sigh.

"I'm really fucking mad at you right now. I don't even want to look at you. Stop fucking talking to me."

Xemnas obeyed, confused. Her eyes were burning holes into the depths of his being, but she wasn't menacing him anymore. He stood completely still, unsure what to do. She seemed to be back to the same Fyer, but he'd never seen her like his before. Doing nothing seemed yet again the most feasible option. She studied him in silence and then sighed tiredly.

"I guess I should get this over with," Fyer said suddenly, breaking Xemnas free of his thoughts. She didn't look back at him as she opened a dark portal, unconcerned about the danger that lay ahead. Xemnas took a step forward, as though to stop her. She raised a hand toward him, expecting this. "Don't follow me. Let me do this alone…I need to be alone."

"Fyer, if you do this now, without your heart, it will mean your death. If you're a Nobody when the Castle dies…so will you," Xemnas cautioned, hoping desperately she would do what he asked of her. The dark corridor didn't waver as she looked over her shoulder at him. Her eyes searched his for something, and didn't seem to find it. To his utter shock, she turned her back on him and entered the pitch-black portal.

"Fyer!" he called out, running forward. The corridor closed before him, leaving him alone in the cold, desolate ruins. He backed away and blinked, trying to take it all in. He deserved this and more, but his mind was a bewildered jumble. She should have been angry enough to end him, but he was still breathing, unscathed save his aching jaw. He didn't understand.

He knew where she was going, and knew that Ansem would be waiting, expecting her. She had already dismissed him; ignoring her request to leave her be wouldn't change his sentence. She wanted to be alone, but he couldn't leave her at a time like this. He would shield her until she was safe, and then…

Xemnas cast open a dark corridor, feeling the familiar tickle on his face again. Their story was ending, but he still had one more part to play. Xemnas left the ashen world once more, ready to accept his fate at last.