This chapter HURT TO WRITE y'all...SERIOUSLY. Being a writer, one of the hardest things I have to do is inflict damage to my characters. I get so wrapped up in their stories that they become part of me. They become like family! So when the moment comes when devastation is needed, it's hard to write. Even as I read through the chapter for edits, I still teared up.

Yeah, I'm one of those writers that gets emotionally attached to his/her characters. However, that's why, I believe, I can write them correctly. Becoming attached to them means I'm able to understand them better.

So...here goes guys...I didn't want to post this yesterday because I didn't want to spend the day with a depressed mood but it's gotta come sooner or later.

Disclaimer: The Kingdom Hearts Franchise, Dragonball and all its incarnations, and Final Fantasy XV, their characters, settings, etc, belong to their respective creators. All original characters, settings, etc., belong to ME!

Chapter 19: Reveal

Joining Noctis on his journey had been good for Hikari. The entity had not appeared yet, nor had its followers, the Nothings. Because of this, she was able to train and get better at wielding not only her own blade, but the realm blades she now possessed. It gave her peace knowing that even someone born into their responsibilities, like Noctis, was having trouble accepting them. With this she had grown into the responsibility she had been given. No matter what it took, she would save her birth parents and Bulma's realm from the entity, even if it meant her life in the process.

The very thought that Noctis and his retinue could very well end up being their enemies was wiped clean from Hikari's mind. No way...They were the good guys! They were just trying to save their home! Just like Hikari was! It made no sense to her that their missions could collide!

"So...We're heading for some kind of sewer system in your home?" They had taken a rest at Hammerhead for a bit, gathering some gill (the money in this world) to help them continue on their journey. After retrieving the Regalia, Hikari, Max and Shin required a ride as well...Thankfully at the base there was a sweet motorcycle with a side passenger car just waiting to be nabbed. Max proclaimed himself the driver of the wicked ride and was now getting on his helmet.

"Yeah." Prompto nodded. "Cidnie said the headlights are somewhere in the Crestholm Channels...It'll be good to have some bright lights at night. We can't move as fast as you guys can."

Max grinned at him. "Well...it isn't my fault you got a car and not a motorcycle."

"Alright enough." Ignis chimed in, carrying a bag of supplies. "Prompto, put this in the trunk."

"Right!" Prompto rushed to do his task, Ignis went to Max.

"This might take a bit to complete, best go prepared."

"Got it." Max nodded. "Shin and Hikari should be here in a second." He chuckled. "I hope your guy isn't being too hard on her."

"Hah! I kicked your butt! Admit it!"

Hikari's shout could be heard as she, Noctis, Shin and Gladio approached. On occasion the four would disappear to train.

"You barely had me!" Noctis protested. "I let you win!"

"Uh, huh, yeah right old man!" Hikari grinned at him.

Gladio added to the prince's embarrassment. "Noct...Admit it, you got beat up by a teenager."

"Oh come on! Not you two Glady!" Noct huffed. "You're supposed to be MY shield!"

Gladio chuckled. "Then get better."

"How can I get better when my opponent is from another realm!?" Noct whined.

"Hah! See? You can't!" Hikari giggled and Noctis gave her a glare.

"Why you little-"

Ignis smiled at the banter he witnessed. It was a constant in their large group...Hikari had become quite the little light in their dark times. Noct had begun to treat her like a little sister and as such, the others did the same. She was definitely a beacon of hope.

"Before an all out war can commence…" Ignis put himself between Noctis and Hikari. "We should use that energy for the next task at hand."

"Right." Noctis sighed then eyed Hikari. "I'm going to beat more bad guys than you!"

She smirked. "I'll take that bet! The loser has to do the winner's chores!"

"You're on!" Noctis agreed.

And so their group headed towards the conquered city of Insomnia. Their destination was not the city itself, but the waterway underneath called the Crestholm Channels. It was merely a small chore to deal with the Imperials outside of the city gates then into the channels themselves they went. The channels proved to be quite difficult to not only navigate but the deamons inside were no joke. Thankfully the headlamps were not too deep within the channels themselves.

"I found them!" Prompto rushed over to the find, thankful they didn't have to press any further.

"Great, now let's get out of here." Max hated this place. It was dark, damp and swarming with enemies. "Hikari-"

The only girl within their group had gone silent, staring out into space. Shin approached her and as he placed a hand on her shoulder, the trance was gone.

"I...What?" She blinked at Shin who understood completely what occurred.

"It's here, isn't it, Hikari." He approached the subject carefully. "The key we seek...You can feel it, can't you?"

The realm's key had become a taboo subject in their group...hardly spoken about until now.

This was the moment of truth for their group…

"Well...I guess there's no way around it.." Prompto's shoulder slumped.

"We won't know anything until we get this thing, right?" Noct asked. "And you need it, Hikari...So…"

Hikari took a deep breath. "I've got a responsibility…" She stared down the way where an empty passage lay waiting. "And it's that way...deeper into the channels."

Nodding Noctis willed a sword to appear. "Alright then...Let's go. You lead this time, Hikari."

Nodding, Hikari plunged forward. Guided by the pulsing of light in her mind, she guided them deep, deep into the channels, where hardly an ounce of natural light lay. They were met with deamon after deamon, each one tougher than the last until they came to the guardian of the channel. The huge beast nearly wiped them all out for good but thankfully they managed to best it just in time. Shin went quick to work healing everyone from their wounds, the party resting a bit before they continued on.

It didn't take long for the end of channels to come to them...And what was there filled Hikari with absolute dread…

A door...A royal tomb door.

Without a word Noctis unlocked his ancestor's tomb and the group entered. There, resting in the center of a flooded room was the tomb of a royal Lucian ancestor…Laying in the hands of the stone statue...Was an unmistakable weapon.

The blade itself was black as night, a crescent moon at the end. The handle guard was square shaped and gave off a silver sheen, the handle itself black as coal.

It was this realm's Keyblade.

Immediately Hikari rushed out of the tomb and into the darkness of the channel, Max going after her. She collapsed there, in the water, a crying heap of depression. Max held her close, to distraught himself to even speak, Hikari's wails were too hard to handle even for himself.

Shin watched the two with a silent pause. He regarded Noctis and his retinue who had also gone quiet and still.

"I believe this is the end of our comradery." He spoke to them kindly, knowing what this meant. "You can be sure...We will not take from you this weapon. That is not the way of light."

"There's...No other way...Is there?" Prompto frowned and Shin shook his head.

"No…" He looked at Max and Hikari again. "Hikari knows without that key, her loved ones will die but...To take it will mean the destruction of this realm...To a being of light, especially one of the seven, that is a most horrible feeling to have."

"One of the seven?" Noctis asked.

"Hikari's mother is a princess of heart...One of the seven most purest of hearts in all existence." Shin explained. "Hikari does not wish to lose her loved ones, but she will not doom others for their sake." He looked at Noctis. "Good luck on your journey...I hope you will be able to reclaim that which is lost to you."

He came to his own companions, knelt to them. He placed a hand upon Max's shoulder.

"Hold onto her tightly." Shin told him. "And I will hold onto you."

"Thanks…" Max managed to mutter out. "What...What are we…?"

"Do not speak…" Shin said. "For now, I believe we need to leave this place. It is too much for beings like you…"

It was Shin that took command of their small group, getting Max and Hikari back into the sunlight and away from this horrible truth. It was he who drove them to Hammerhead where great rest was needed for their souls. For, most likely, these two would never see their homes again.

Meanwhile, the king and his retinue left the channels themselves and got into their own ride, completely silent.

"So...Where to now?" Prompto hated this atmosphere completely. It was totally depressing. This road trip was going to hurt for a bit, he was sure of it.

"Iggy, stopped the car." Noctis' word had the car come to an abrupt halt. He tore out of it in a bad mood.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" The ever faith shield he was, Gladio went after his king, Ignis and Prompto at the rear.

"Somewhere, anywhere!" Noctis was beyond pissed. "This whole mess isn't right! This is wrong! Completely and utterly wrong!"

"Your duties are with Lucis, Noct." Ignis, the advisor, knew very well Noctis' struggle. "What happens to other kingdoms is not of your concern."

"Right, so I'm supposed to just watch as someone's family dies for a country they don't even belong to!?" Noct shouted at his advisor.

"YES." Ignis retorted. "And you must. These are the hard decisions rulers must make, Noctis. You cannot allow the woes of other countries dissuade you from your own." Ignis approached his charge cautiously. "They will be hurting for a while...And it is obvious they will be stuck here from now on. They need your strength to get them through this, Noct. This is NOW their home, and seeing as that they will now be the residence of Lucis, it is your duty to make sure they have a home to keep. Do not let their sacrifice be in vain."

"The hell it is!" Noct screamed at him.

"You need to get over this and fast Noct." Gladio approached as well.

"I don't give a crap! I am NOT letting others suffer!" Noct was determined in his steps as he headed to the Regalia. "I'm going to Hammerhead. If any of you stop me I'm going to knock you out MYSELF!"

"How do you even know if they're there, Noct?" Prompto finally spoke up and his friend paused.

"I don't know how...But...I can feel it…" Noctis gripped his heart. "I...I can feel their pain...It hurts! It's worse than when my father died...I can't let this go!" He turned to his retinue that was shocked to discover tears forming in his eyes.

"If I turn my back on a child of light, then I'm no better than the Empire. I refuse to be like that." He swore. "Now, are you coming or not?"

The three stared at each other for a long moment. Ignis adjusted his glasses.

"Hammerhead it is then...Though we should hurry…" He rushed to the driver's seat. "There is no telling how long they will remain there."

Noctis nodded, thankful his brothers had his back. With passengers buckled up and ready to go, Ignis put the pedal to the floor and off they sped to Hammerhead, hoping with all their hearts that Hikari and the guys were still there.

Next Time: Crownsguard