The four head through the door behind where Xigbar had been. They ignore the spot though and move on. Heading through the door and walking through another short corridor; straight outside. They run forward and see a few Nobodies appear. They take them out and turn right. There see a clear path going up and run along it. A few more Nobodies appear but again, they take them out easily. It still felt too easy. They knew the remaining members of the organization would be here but there should be more lesser enemies here to stop them from getting any further. As they get higher, they find a door at the top. Running right through as it slides open to see they reached the second level of the room they had just left. They also see Demyx and Riku just ahead, fighting off Nobodies and a few Heartless.
Taken
Chapter 95
Xemnas smiles as heart after heart flies to his Kingdom Hearts. Power pulsating towards him with each second passing. Even if he couldn't feel, the sight of seeing the power gathering in one place has a smile and a distant memory of pride and joy over accomplishing a goal. Soon, his backup plan would be complete and this universe would be made in his image. He raised an arm and with one hand, gestures to the heart shaped moon above him.
"Almost, you are almost ready. My perfect Kingdom Hearts. Yes, soon...you will be shining down on a new world. A world created in my image. A world reborn." He says, his hand slowly going back to his side. "All I require now, is our Light. The last light you have sent to us. Give me time, watch and rejoice as your world is brought forth for you to shine your power down upon us all."
A portal behind him has him listen.
"Xemnas, is Kingdom Hearts ready?" Saix spoke up.
"Very soon, it will be. I take it our Light has finally arrived." He asks.
"Yes, I will be getting him into our custody soon but I need to know if you are ready for the main plan." The blue hair man says.
Xemnas slowly turns to face Saix and nods, "I am." He raised a hand towards his second in command. "Bring the Light here. Let the worlds begin anew."
"Finally, a world where we will all be equal." Saix smirks.
"Riku...Demyx, you are really here." Axel sighed, crossing his arms.
"Yeah, you three are late." Riku says then got nudged. "Four, are late."
"Sorry, we have been working on his attitude towards Sora. Gotta respect and remember, he is alive and well Cupcake." Demyx cooed, kissing Riku on the cheek and getting the man to turn red. "What did take so long anyways?"
"We had to go the long route." Roxas tells him. "But now that we are here. We need to get going. We have no time to waste."
"Agreed. We can discuss traveling troubles later." Riku says.
"We will also discuss attitudes later," Ventus spoke up. "For now, let's just get going."
The group moves to the next room and for a moment is taken by surprise. Well, everyone except Roxas, Demyx and Axel are. There were doors in the room. Thirteen Doors to be exact. These were the battle rooms they used to train everyone to their specific weapon. Roxas's door was broken but active still. Many were just closed and broken or gone with only two left intact. One had Luxord's card symbol and the other closed one had Saix's symbol on it. There was no way out of the room but the three tell the others why. They would have to clear the battle rooms in order to progress further up. Seeing as Luxord's door was the only one open and active; they had to go through. Everyone walks through and see a blue light now attached to the moon.
Sora could feel power being drained yet also flowing into it still. A struggle of power had begun with whatever the blue light was coming from. He hoped it didn't cause too much trouble but it didn't matter. No one was on this balcony to fight so there was no point in staying. Riku speaking up and saying that the blue light had to deal with the King and Diz got his attention. He knew better than to ask. The brunet would find out when they open the door to the room.
"What exactly is that man planning?" Roxas scoffed, crossing his arms. "Another virtual trap?"
"I don't know but we can't linger. Let's go and meet up with him." He says heading towards the door.
A portal opening between Riku, Demyx, Ventus and Axel got them on edge as Luxord appeared. With a snap, cards gathered around the four and in seconds take them away. Leaving Roxas and Sora alone with him.
"Seems it is my turn to gather our Light. Though those marks are undesirable, I can still sense your power. It will be enough to fulfill our needs." He says. "But first, seems I must take out your remaining guardian."
"Like hell I am going to let you take him Luxord." Roxas says, standing between him and Sora now.
"Very well, then I purpose...a game." He says, hands in the air, then snaps his fingers again.
"Roxas!" Sora is shot far away and then trapped by a spell in that one corner.
"Sora! Luxord, what did you do!" The blond yells.
"A simple spell. A barrier spell to keep our precious Light safe and sound. It was intended to trap enemies but I learned of it and now, it'll give us space to fight and him; a show." The card user gives him a smile. "The rules are simple, the first to run out of time wins."
"Then you can bet the loser in this game isn't going to be me." The duel wielder says, ready for a fight. "Let's go!"
He ran at Luxord and missed. The card user going into a card and into the actual ground beneath them. Sliding under his feet with ease and popping back up with a card in each hand. Throwing them like a weapon and barely hitting him thanks to a quick dodge. Roxas ran at him again but missed cause of the same trick. Jumping back, he looks around but sees no card at all. Only to get hit in the back with one and hit in the front by another.
"Roxas!" Sora yells, banging on the barrier. "He is to your left!"
The blond jumps back and is missed by a card flying by. The brunet kept shouting where Luxord was at. Helping land hit after hit and dodge attacks. The card user caught on though and looks to Sora instantly. With a snap of his fingers, a card appears next to him. It allowed Heartless into the area and the Neoshadow overpowers him instantly. One arm pinning him by the arms against the barrier and the other arm over his mouth.
"Silence Light. I can't have you be with these lackluster guardians anymore." He says to a silenced and pinned brunet.
"Luxord!" Roxas jumps at him then.
It has him stunned and with both keyblades and cause of the distraction from Sora, he is able to end the stupid game. Making the Neo Shadow fade and the barrier to go down. Freeing the brunet completely who caught his balance easily.
"How…" gasps Luxord, slowly turning to face the two.
"You took someone from me." Roxas smiles at Sora as he walks over to him and then looks at Luxord. "In your next life, remember this: never take what I care about from me." Got it?"
Sora looks at Luxord in time for him to fade, allowing the four to return. Ventus ran over and hugged him. Panicking when he saw a few cuts that he easily healed in seconds. Both telling them what happened and that they were now down to two members left. They leave and the door they come through closes and breaks in half. The top part falling back onto the floor. The only door now open had Saix's symbol. Roxas and Axel warned that he was not to be mocked or teased. The second in command to Xemnas wasn't just tough but powerful. They would need everyone to fight, including Sora. Axel, Ventus and Demyx agree but Riku crossed his arms and looks at the brunet.
"Can you handle fights?" He asks.
"Can you be less of a dick?" Sora growls back, actually causing Riku to take a step away. "Didn't think so."
They walk to the door and walk through. The room is different this time. A wall blocked part of the room but it wasn't fully solid. A clear glass pane allowed them to see into the room and walk to a wall that was just one big window. The heart shaped moon shining down upon them all. Sora could still feel power emanating from it but it did lose a fraction of what it once had and hearts had finally stopped flowing into it at last. Once again, no one was there so they turn to leave. This time though, Saix is blocking their path. A clear, magical barrier behind the blue haired man and a scowl on his face. One pointed at Sora.
"Who has tainted you?" He asks.
"No one here, I can assure you that." Sora tells him. "If you are here for a fight then I will not hesitate to do so but if you aren't, then I suggest you move."
"And let our Light get away from us? Luxord may have failed in his capture but I will not. It is only a matter of weakening your guardians and then you will be mine." He summons his weapon. "With the moon shining down, I'll have more than enough power…" He raised his arms and began to hover above the floor, power radiating off him. "To subdue all of you!"
Seconds after they saw him start to hover. Saix is in their space in seconds. Slamming a weapon down and sending everyone off balance and in different directions. Ventus and Axel slide straight into the window, cracking the parts they hit. Riku and Roxas got sent opposite directions. Riku hit the wall and Roxas slide and then rolled to a stop. His dragons hovering over him with worry. Sora got slammed into the window and cracked it as well. His dragons hovering by him.
"If I must rough you up first Light then I will. I can't have you fight Xemnas. You will come with me." He jumped at him and hit a light barrier. "Is this all you plan to do?"
"No..way in hell." Sora kicks him away and lands where he last stood.
He casts curaga on everyone and they aren't just healed up all the way. Each got a surge of power.
"Thank you baby!" Axel ran at Saix. "Isa, If we can't talk you down then we have to weaken you so we can." His weapons get blocked. "Remember, I am not the only one fighting."
Roxas and Ventus got a hit on Saix's back and side. Stunning him so he gets sent sliding by Axel's hit. Riku used a thunder spell but it is easily dodged. Ventus tried wind but that is dodged as well. The man once again stand with his arms raised and taking power from the moon. Allowing him to hover above the ground once more. Before he could even get enough, Sora was on him. The dragons helping over to knock him off balance with a simple punch to the face and then a swift kick to his chest.
"Nicely done bro." Ventus used wind to trap him in one place.
It let Riku, Axel and Roxas cast different spells to make the battle end before it could get worse. It seemed odd to end so soon though. Even his farewell was, quiet. He just faded away. No retorts, no words. Acting as if he just ran out of time and leaving them alone in the room.
"Okay, I am saying it. Something has been off since the time we arrived here." Axel spoke up. "Why aren't there more enemies? Why are they not trying as hard? Why are they just trying to weaken us and get you even more?"
"I don't have an answer." Demyx says. "I didn't even have to fight. He ignored me."
"You ran to a corner." Riku points out.
"Hey~" the musician whines.
"The point remains," Roxas says, groaning. "Axel is right. They were and are focused on getting you so much Sora that they aren't even trying to fight back. They have hardly any defense here. It's as if they want you to not just conserve power but be safe here."
"If this is safe then they really are messed up in the head." Sora sighs. "Let's move on. We wasted enough time."
They leave Saix's training room and return the previous room. The door shut and it simply crumbled into dust. Joining the now inactive doors around them. This time though, a stairwell was now leading up and they could hear voices of Mickey and Diz or as Riku finally called him; Ansem the Wise. They follow the voices and overhear what Wise man had in store. That he used data copied from real hearts to make the fake Twilight Town, in the hopes they would act as he envisioned yet got proven wrong. His stubborn mind didn't accept it and moved on to getting Sora back in action, with many plans in store. Yet the moment he was active, they too fell apart. The king shouted something about a machine but by then, they saw the two.
An odd machine at the end of the blue ray, doing its best to turn hearts into data. Either for Ansem the Wise to study or it was his attempt to help them unravel this version of Kingdom Hearts. It wouldn't work though and from how the machine was shaking in the man's arms, wasn't going to be lasting much longer. Ansem the wise then turns to face them and has an expression of regret.
"Sora...a mage of power I attempted to control, please find it in your heart to forgive me. I attempted to use you for my gain. So much so that I have hurt those you love." He looks at the machine. "Even now, I am using a mechanized version of your magic to encode many hearts. I am but a stubborn old fool, who never learned anything."
Roxas just crossed his arms.
"Roxas...the man whom I mocked poorly," He sighs. "I am sorry. I should have done right by you and I didn't."
"Ansem, the machine!" Mickey panics.
"My heart is saying what I must do. Please, allow me to do what it says." Ansem begs his friend.
"But…" Mickey is stopped by Riku.
"Let him, he is following what he believes." Riku starts. "You…"
A portal opening has him stop and they see Xemnas appear.
"Ah, so it is you, who dares to disturb my perfect Kingdom Hearts." Xemnas stares at Ansem then sees the rest of them. "Its seems Saix has been taken out as well. I suppose it was inevitable that he fall to such power. Even if you are corrupt, you will still be safe. Once I have handled everything else."
"What the…" Roxas whispers and looks at Axel.
Xemnas looks back at Ansem the Wise, "You truly are a pathetic man, Ansem."
The wise man let a sigh out, "Have your laugh. I deserve it for failing to see what an utter fool you were."
"Is the kettle calling the pot black? Students learn from their teachers. If you are a fool then I was once a fool myself." Xemnas spoke. "It was your research into hearts that inspired me to delve further. It was your research that created the base for all Heartless."
"You are right. My disregard brought this upon us all but I knew what I sought. What did you seek? Was it this?" Ansem nods his head to the moon. "Was this the answer you craved to find?"
"All that and more. With this moon and the power I have looked into, I'll be creating a new world." He says. "Why can't you ever praise me for furthering your research? Are you consumed by your jealousy that much? Can you not handle the idea that I, your student; have surpassed you?"
"Xehanort." Ansem let a long sigh out. "You have only proved one thing. That we both are fools, fools who believed in ideals that would never come to be."
The machine began to shake even more. Electricity shooting off it as the power inside began to overload the system within, yet Ansem continued to talk.
"The world you create with the powers you seek. It would never be balanced. There would be no light, no darkness. It would simply be a void. A void of ignorance." He looks at Riku. "We have said enough, we have run out of time. Defend them. King Mickey, my friend...I am sorry. Please...forgive me. Farewell!"
After that final word, the machine finally blew. Expelling pure white magic from the machine towards everyone. Riku went to defend them but instead Sora pulled him behind him. The magic wouldn't hurt him. He even created a barrier for them. The light became too blinding and the force of the explosion didn't just throw them back but knocked them out. The first one to wake is Sora. He wasn't sure how long they had been out but he took a gander towards Kingdom Hearts and sees the moon now had a large gaping hole in it. Hearts spilling out everywhere. He looks down and sees everyone passed out still as well.
"Ro…" He stops when he realizes he couldn't move anything but his head and looks at himself.
There was no patch of darkness on his hands and then he realizes why he was so stiff. The magic from the machine entered him. Healing the wounds but in the process, made it so he couldn't move very well. His body knew that it was beyond the limits of light magic and the injuries were being healed by that magic too. It meant he wouldn't be able to move while it performed its task. He could move his head but that was it.
"Roxas," He says. "Roxas." The blond slowly woke up and blinks as he looks at him. "Hey, careful now."
"Hmm...Sora? What happened?" He pushed himself up then looks him over. "Hey...what...the patches, they are gone!"
"Yeah, but now I can't move. My body can't handle this much power anymore. It's also injured from that explosion. I need a moment." Sora laughs.
"Then I will take this moment to help you," Xemnas's voice says.
A portal under Sora makes him fall. Closing when Roxas tried to follow. The blond stood up and looks to where Ansem once stood and saw Sora behind held up by Xemnas.
"Hey! Let him go."
"No, my back up plan may have been ruined but my main plan will not be. I am beseeching you, Light mage to aid me in a spell. One to recreate this land, the worlds and our universe. So allow me to take you to where you will be casting it." Xemnas opened a portal around them.
"NO!" Roxas did his best to speed his way over and jump at them.
He was late by a second and slid against the ground instead..
"Sora! NO!" He yells. "Xemnas!"