Antipode Act 3: All That's Left

by MegaFlameHedge

After a year's absence, Riku has finally returned, joined by friends both old and new. However, much has changed. Twilight Town is in ruins, the Organization's hold on the worlds has increased, and as the final clash with the Nobodies draws near, a bitter truth will come to light. AU. Current World: Arendelle

61. The Devil in the Mirror

Chapter 61: The Devil in the Mirror

A breeze swept over the rolling, stone hills. The clouded sky above sparked to life with a glistening aurora. Straight ahead, the face of a rocky ledge sparked, and the outline of the Keyhole cleaved through the stone. With her target sighted, Xion hopped back, twirling her Keyblade and thrusting it straight toward the Keyhole, while a choir shattered the silence like cannon fire.

A quick glimpse over the shoulder revealed the source; the entire mob of trolls all huddled together, singing surprisingly on key. But while their added ambience brought a vaguely amused smile to Xion's face, Jim groaned and buried his own face in his palm.

Soon, her Keyblade's light flooded the Keyhole in its entirety, and in a flash, only a smooth rock face remained. The singing ceased, and Xion banished her Keyblade with a sweep of the arm. She even bowed to the crowd for good measure. Whether that was her own confidence speaking or some inherited showmanship from Riku remained to be seen. She didn't wanna think about it.

After some cheers, Xion brushed her hands together and said, "Well, that's that. But where's Grand Pabbie?"

A tap on the shoulder brought her attention to Jim, who squinted across the clearing. "Uh…is he that sleeping, old rock-guy propped under the Gummi Ship?"

"Wait? There's a Gummi—" Oh. Huh. Leaning forward, she joined Jim in squinting, and while the mossy coating initially made the gigantic ship blend in with the surrounding hills and greenery, there was no mistaking the sharp, angular shapes underneath…or the snoozing troll lodged in a gap where a landing gear probably once stood.

That loud, lady troll stomped her foot and pointed an accusatory finger at her sleeping leader. "EUSTACE! You turned Grand Pabbie into a LOAD-BEARING TROLL!?"

Yelping, Eustace skittered back into the crowd, which gasped in unison at the singular, tiny Shadow nibbling at one of Pabbie's arms. Didn't seem to be actually hurting him, though.

With the distance and the awkward positions of Pabbie and the Heartless, this would be a great time to use a spell like Magnega or Zero Graviga…if she knew them. But, of course, Xion wasn't Kairi. Or Aqua. And she'd never pulled them aside to ask for pointers. Never really had that luxury.

So, what then? Looking at her Keyblade, she frowned. Maybe a weak Fire spell would work? But that risked hurting Pabbie. But he was made outta rock. On the other hand… "Why do you guys even have a Gummi Ship?"

"It's what our old friends, the Great Gummis, came to this world in 'bout four weeks or three-hundred years ago. I lost track," said the lady troll. "We made 'em honorary members of our tribe and they gave us a neat ol' book and some of their delicious juice."

Eustace blurted, "I STILL THINK IT'S CODSWALLOP HOW THEY GOT TA BOUNCE AROUND! IT ONLY TURNED ME KEYHOLE-SHAPED!"

"Only 'cause ya tried to fit yer whole body into the thing," one of the other trolls muttered.

"But enough about that! CAN'TCHA HURRY AND SAVE PABBIE?!"

"Psst. Xion." Jim gestured to Pabbie. "You can move rocks, remember?"

Xion smacked her hand over her face. Right. Rocks. And trolls were rocks. Yes. That made sense. And it sure beat potential injuries…even if she still lacked finesse. But, given the circumstances…

She grit her teeth and tentatively aimed her Keyblade at the dozing troll. Just…a little bit of power. She just needed to focus, then slowly lift her arm, and—

The ground rumbled. A sharp quack sounded off from behind, jerking Xion's focus from Pabbie to the parting troll crowd behind her, revealing Donald, Goofy, Kairi, and…some snowman, a reindeer, and a buff guy holding a…

Oh.

Was that a frozen arm?!

Well. Suffice it to say, their sudden appearances shattered any scraps of focus she had left. The ground trembled even more violently than before, making both the trolls and her friends stumble into each other's paths. Worse, the sharp, ear-grating screech of old machinery assaulted her ears. A loud CRASH preceded a POP, and that old Gummi Ship collapsed in a heap of rubble, right over the little Heartless and Grand Pabbie!

And Xion's body froze in place, because not only did her friends stumble upon her looking more like Riku than ever, but they also caught her botching a spell that totally crushed a sleeping old man!

The tremor ceased, but the damage was done. On pure impulse, Xion ducked behind Jim. …Well, he was already falling over from the interrupted earthquake, and she had to catch and stand him right back up and then hide behind him…as if doing so would somehow erase the chaos she just unleashed. Oh, she was in for it now.

Gulping, she brought a hand to her cheek. Any second, she'd get an earful. Voices would erupt all around her, crying—

"Xion!"

"Gawrsh, I can't believe it!"

"Wak! You better not run off again!"

But louder than all of them was that loud lady troll, who whistled to the others and shouted, "YO, KRISTOFF'S BACK, AND HE BROUGHT A GIRL WITH HIM!"

"…What?" asked Xion and Kairi simultaneously.

And the buff guy, presumably Kristoff, winced. "Oh no."

Under normal circumstances, Xion would've asked what the problem was, but the moment Kristoff shut his mouth, a tidal wave of trolls dived at the newcomers, kicking up a cloud of dust along the way.

Then came more singing, punctuated by yelps and even more quacking.

SO HE'S A BIT OF A FIXER-UPPER, HE'S GOT A FEW BUGS, SOMETHING, SOMETHING, SOMETHING, SOMETHING—LITTLE BIT OF LOVE!

Did they seriously not know the lyrics to their own song?!

At that last note, the chaotic crowd leaped apart, revealing Kristoff and Donald smack-dab in the middle of the clearing, standing at a makeshift altar made of dirt, pebbles, mushrooms, and grass. Both Kristoff and Donald wore long, grassy capes and crowns made of sticks.

And one of the troll kids gestured at the two while singing, AND HE WANTS TO BEEEEEEE A CAT!

Jim and Xion exchanged very confused glances. This…made absolutely no sense. And yet, off to the side, the snowman sniffled and blotted his eyes with a leaf. The reindeer grumbled and shook his head. Kairi and Goofy shared puzzled looks, and Donald tore off the crown, tossed it to the ground, and stomped all over it.

"WAK! I'M NOT A GIRL!"

All the trolls froze, then dashed closer to the, um…'couple.' They climbed on top of each other, leaning in and squinting, poking Donald with crude approximations of stethoscopes and tongue depressors…before one troll's shaky footwork sent them all tumbling to the ground.

After helping two of her peers up, the troll lady from before ran a hand over her head. "Sorry, honey. Been a while since we've seen a human female."

Though she probably didn't mean it, her words pierced Xion's heart like a dagger. Her gaze dropped to her feet, and she shrank back, wringing her hands. Was she really…? …Did she look so much like Riku that they couldn't tell…?

Jim must've caught her distress, because he stepped in front of her and said, "Hey! What about—"

One of the trolls spun around. "Oh! Sorry, Jimmifer. Didn't mean to forget about ya!"

SNRK!

OH WAIT, SHE DID THAT OUT LOUD.

Jim grumbled and glared at Xion while she guiltily shoved her hands over her mouth, because…okay, on one hand, Xion probably should've been offended on Jim's behalf, just like he was for her. But on the other hand…Jimmifer. She bit her lower lip and pressed her hand harder against her mouth in a desperate bid to fend off giggles. It wasn't working.

Jim only pouted and gave a disgruntled, "Gee, and here I was, trying to stick up for you."

Donald, in the meantime, heaved a loud and grumbly sigh. "Kairi's the girl! Not me!" Maybe if he'd just said her name, what came next might've been avoided, but he just had to point to her, too.

And just like that, the trollnado sprung to life once again, dragging Donald out of the way before surrounding the others. A squeak of a shriek, and they plopped Kairi right where Donald once stood, clothing her in his comically tiny cap and half-broken stick-crown.

This was getting ridiculous.

Worse yet, one of the trolls started reading a flat stone tablet. "Dearly beloved, do you—"

"No," Kairi and Kristoff said in unison.

"And besides, she's, like, twelve!" Kristoff added.

Kairi huffed. "For the THIRD time, I'm at least sixt—"

A sharp, cracking noise silenced her. Xion's shoulders jumped up and she turned toward the source of the noise to find a stony hand bursting from the Gummi Ship's wreckage. Then another hand. And then a mane of shaggy, grass-like hair, followed by an old, rocky face gasping and wheezing for air.

In all the commotion, she'd almost forgotten about Pabbie.

Jim monotoned, "Oh, cool, he's alive."

Xion sprinted toward Grand Pabbie, taking one of his stony hands to help him out of the wreckage. The others scrambled behind her soon after.

Kairi reached an armored hand out, grabbing Pabbie's other arm. "It's okay, Xion. We've got your back."

Well, at least Kairi knew it was her, but…well.

Just one Xion-tug was all it took to yank Pabbie out of the pile, nearly dragging Kairi along with him. Thankfully, she let go just in time, wobbling backwards until Goofy caught her. But then Goofy tripped right over Donald, who was right behind him, and the three landed in an awkward pile. Xion winced. She felt like she'd been doing that a lot lately.

But still, Kairi whistled at the feat. "Whew. Xion, when did you get so strong?"

Pabbie butted in, "Could the questions please wait until I'm back on solid ground?"

"…Oh. Right." Tittering, Xion placed Pabbie onto a nearby stump. "Sorry about that."

The little Shadow from before stumbled just behind Pabbie, covered in gunk and Gummi parts. Xion reached down and flicked its forehead with her finger, sending the Heartless crashing back into the wreckage and out of sight.

Shaking his head and probably unaware of what just happened, Pabbie dusted off his mossy garments. "No, no. It's quite all right. That ship is a relic. After so many years wasting away, it was destined to collapse at some point or another." Hopping down from the stump, he looked over the group and stroked his stony chin. "More to the point, you are all outsiders, are you not?" Pausing, he turned to Kristoff. "Well, familiar faces aside. And you…" He looked at snowman.

"I was born outside. Doesn't that count?"

"…Not quite. I can tell you are born of Queen Elsa's magic. But you, on the other hand…" Pabbie toddled over to Kairi, sizing her up.

"She's the girl," said Donald emphatically.

"I'm one of the girls," said Kairi. Donald quacked madly.

But Pabbie kept his eyes locked on her. "I'd recognize that armor anywhere. You're a Keybearer, aren't you?"

"Yep." She cracked a crooked smile before motioning to Xion. "But I'm not the only one!"

Raising a finger, Goofy added, "Nope! And we got another Keybearer at the palace, too!" He paused, looking Xion in the eye. "'Course, I'm just glad you're doin' all right!"

Xion ducked her head and fiddled with a lock of hair. "That's debatable, but…thanks. I'm glad you can still tell…"

Snickering, Donald said, "Of course we can tell! Riku'd never be caught dead in a dress."

She knew it was probably just a joke, but she flinched anyway. The sudden reaction made his eyes fly wide open, and he held up his hands, adding, "Wak! I didn't mean it like that, Xion! And growth spurts are a normal part of pubert—"

"Donald, stop talking," said Kairi with a groan.

Clearing his throat, Pabbie said, "I hate to intrude on such an intimate reunion, but I fear that time is of the essence. If you have journeyed this far, then I can only assume you're here for the Keyhole."

Finally, a way out of that awkward topic. Xion zipped over to the now smooth cliff face, patting where the Keyhole once stood. "Oh, we already did that. The Keyhole thing."

"And now we're doin' a wedding thing!" said one of the trolls.

To this, Kairi and Kristoff once again gave a resounding, "NO!"

Pabbie ignored the outburst. "You already sealed it? When was this?"

Strutting up to Xion's side, Jim shrugged and said, "'bout three minutes ago."

Donald dropped his staff, and his jaw for good measure. "You mean we came all this way for nothing?!"

"Not nothin', Donald!" Kneeling beside him, Goofy nudged Donald's head in Xion's direction. "Now, don't ya think you owe her an apology? We ain't seen her in months, and ya already hurt her feelings once. Try to be more considerate!"

"Hey! I'm considerate! And of COURSE I'm happy to see her! But now we're all the way out here, and—"

"Just in time for our little Kristoff's big day!" The lady troll flung a handful of flower petals over her shoulder, beaming and oblivious as they smothered Kristoff and Sven's faces.

And Kristoff, no doubt sick of all this, took his head in his free hand and practically roared, "For the LAST time, I'm not marrying anyone here!"

All the surrounding trolls murmured, mumbled, and whispered to one another. One even stomped up to Kristoff in a huff.

"Y' mean to tell us that you brought this lady all the way out here, and ya ain't even gonna marry her? Just what're ya tryin' to pull, sonny?!"

"Nothing!" Kristoff swept that gross, frozen arm over his head, probably in a defensive gesture, but all the trolls besides Pabbie scattered and shrieked at the sight.

Amidst this panic, the little snowman nodded along with a dopey grin. "Y'know, Kairi did have the hots for that Rico guy. Maybe they can get married!"

And just like that, Kairi's face burned bright red. For some reason, heat surged in Xion's cheeks, too, and she turned the other way to hide that stupid blush. It's not like this affected her!

Kairi, all the while, threw up her hands and said, "Hey! I can't get married! I'm, like, twelve!"

And though Xion had no say in this, she added, "And I'm only a little over a year old, so I'm out!"

The snowman raised a twiggy hand. "I was born yesterday."

But Jim, off to the side, lowered the pitch of his voice and said, "I…uh…I'm totally old enough to drink. You guys got anything?"

"Look, we're getting off track!" said Kristoff, patting the icy arm despite the cowering trolls around him. "Forget weddings, forget age. Aren't you guys forgetting the other reason we came here?"

Ah. So it wasn't just the Keyhole. The others fell silent, save for some shaky laughter, while Xion and Jim exchanged looks with each other.

Then Jim stepped forward. "Hey, wait a sec. What's that sticking outta the hand?"

"Glass. And not just any glass."

Xion's heart dropped to the pit of her stomach. Nahxs. It had to be.

"Sheesh, what happened? Hans amputate his own arm or something?"

"No. That's not Hans' arm. It's Xaldin's," said Kairi.

Xion felt her heart sink. She needed to absorb Xaldin's powers if they were gonna have a shot of infiltrating Castle Oblivion, and they needed to do that to get her back to normal. If Xaldin was already dead… She tried to look stoic, cupping her chin in her hand. "So, did Nahxs attack his own teammate?" And…severed Xaldin's arm? Maybe Elsa froze it first… What even happened out there?

Pabbie once again cleared his throat. "Perhaps it would be best if we slowed down for a moment." He patted the ground, like a teacher ordering students to sit in a circle. "Kristoff, why don't you start from the beginning?"

The snowman jumped in. "Aw, but why tell him when we can show him?" The snowman stuck his stick arm in his mouth and whistled. As he did, a carrot flew out from under Kristoff's hat, sprouting little googly eyes and shifting into…a very pink, very giggly blob.

...Right. Morph had gone with Xaldin. In all the commotion, Xion had almost forgotten. …And this Kristoff guy apparently stored carrots in his hat. She would not be forgetting that.

Kristoff crossed his arms at the little snowman's question. "In what world do you think turning an ongoing tragedy into a traveling roadshow would be a tasteful and sensitive thing to do?"

"THIS ONE! HIT IT, MORPHY!"

What followed was a strange blend of a one-blob pantomime narrated by the snowman's offbeat commentary that, apparently, nobody thought to interrupt. First, the little blob split himself into a table and tiny images of Riku, Xaldin, and Elsa. Then Riku left the scene, leaving Xaldin and Elsa alone. Morph mimed out some conversation between the two, with a couple high-pitched 'DARKNESSES' thrown in. The snowman's bad lip-reading made it sound like Elsa and Xaldin were arguing about the ethics of wearing socks with sandals and how many seagulls they could fit in a clown shed. Then, Elsa's hands crackled with magic. Xaldin threw his tiny wine glass, which shattered on one of the trolls' noses before breaking into little pink droplets that flew back into the little Xaldin.

Xaldin pounced. Xion squeaked. The sight of him pinning Elsa down, stabbing her heart with a shard of magic glass… If only Xion had been able to kill him in Amelia's office, this wouldn't have happened!

A tiny mirror flew from the tiny Xaldin's pocket, turning into a glove that poked his eyes. Xaldin staggered back, summoned a lance, and took a swing for a tiny approximation of Morph until Elsa seized his wrist, stabbed his palm with a shard of that awful glass, and froze his arm seconds later, snapping it off with a superhuman grip.

All eyes drifted back to Kristoff and the arm in his clutches.

"Honey, you be careful with that thing!" cried one of the trolls.

Kristoff ignored the warning, flailing the arm around. "Why? It's frozen! It's not gonna bite anyone!"

"Yeah, and Kristoff doesn't have any superpowers for the glass to evil-fy," said the snowman. "Unless you count his BO." He paused. "HEY! Let's throw Kristoff at that evil prince guy! Then his evil reflection powers will make him stink even worse and then the prince will smell it and die, just like I have inside!"

The tiny Elsa and Xaldin halted their act, staring at each other, and then at the snowman. Xion couldn't blame them for that.

Kristoff used Xaldin's arm to gently push the snowman's head off his body and face-first onto the ground. Xion couldn't blame him for that, either.

But then a second passed. And then two. And the snowman still didn't move. Xion grew uncomfortable. "Um…is he oka—"

A very loud and high-pitched gurgly-scream-sound exploded from nearby, and everyone jolted at finding that Morph had resumed his one-blob play with the tiny Xaldin screaming at losing his forearm. Black smog oozed from the remaining stump as Elsa fell to her knees. A tiny portal opened behind Xaldin, and he tumbled inside.

"Aw, phooey!" said Donald. "So he did get away…"

Good…but Xion wouldn't dare say that out loud. This meant that Xion hadn't failed Chrysanthemum and Éclair yet again. Xaldin was still out there. She could still find him and absorb him. Xion's hands curled into fists. Her shoulders tensed.

But Jim gently gripped her sleeve, calming her down. She looked at him beside her, and he whispered, "It's okay. We'll get him soon."

…We? Just how far was Jim willing to go for her sake? He'd never survive against—

"And what of Queen Elsa?" asked Pabbie while Morph continued his show. The snowman picked up his head and plopped it back on his body in the meantime.

With Xaldin gone, the tiny Elsa dropped to her knees. A wild, thrashing aura enveloped her. Black veins crawled down her face. Her eyes burned bright red. A wicked smile crossed her face, and she cackled, spewing a bombardment of ice all around…

Then the tiny Elsa reformed into Morph, and he and the snowman did some weird, shaky hand gesture.

"And that's how Elsa turned evil! But if you want, we could do a dramatic reenactment of her castle falling into lava. Ooh! And I could be the giant, angry snow monster!"

But Pabbie raised a hand, shaking his head. "No, thank you, I believe we've seen enough." Moving closer to Kristoff, he extended his arms. "May I take a closer look?" Anything to stop seeing that show, probably.

"You got it." Crouching down, Kristoff passed that severed Xaldin arm into the elder troll's hands.

The second the arm touched Pabbie's hands, he staggered back, fumbling the arm before dropping it on the stony ground. The icy appendage shattered at his feet, dislodging the glass shard in the process. A writhing, dark aura emanated from its reflective surface, foretelling its power.

Kristoff fell to his knees in alarm, scooping up the pieces of the shattered ice-arm despite the disturbed stares from those around him, Xion included.

"Wow," said the snowman to the reindeer. "Kristoff must really like collecting people's limbs, huh?"

The reindeer snorted and snapped his jaws at the snowman's carrot nose in retort, but Kristoff paid them no mind. He just muttered to himself, "All that time lugging that stupid thing around…"

"At least the glass is okay!" said Goofy, which Xion couldn't dispute. The arm was just a fancy, if disturbing package. And at least now it wasn't so recognizable.

"I would not celebrate," said Pabbie, nudging the glass with a twig. "Even this tiny shard contains a deeply corrosive power…"

Kairi peered over Pabbie's shoulders, eyes locked on the glass. "And that's the same kind of glass that 'mystery Nobody' attacked me with, too."

"Not a mystery anymore!" said Jim, smirking despite the circumstances. "While you guys were off on your rescue mission, the rest of us did some serious recon. Turns out that 'Nahxs' is actually—"

"Prince Hans?" said Kristoff, making Kairi, Donald, and Goofy all wince, while Jim deflated.

"Geez. Way to steal my thunder…"

"Sorry, Jim." Kairi offered a strained smile. "We only just figured it out, though. And…it's still a lot to take in. I mean, Hans was nothing but kind to us since we met! I trusted him."

"We all did," said Goofy.

But Kristoff just scoffed, crossing his arms. "I didn't. Knew this was all too good to be true."

And just like that, Jim perked back up and flashed Kristoff a grin. "About time someone got the memo!"

Xion would've chimed in, but…what was she supposed to say? On one hand, she couldn't blame Jim for his relief, but on the other… She set her sights back on Kairi, Donald, and Goofy, each silent, sullen, and slumped over at the news. Broken trust was no laughing matter.

So she kept her head down and waited for the others to carry the conversation.

Luckily, Pabbie took the baton seconds later, carefully picking up the glass with one hand and stroking his chin with the other. "And you say that Elsa was afflicted by this tainted glass?"

Morph floated over to him, nodding before transforming back into the cackling, evil Elsa from before.

"She even turned her ice castle all topsy turvy," said Goofy, though his voice lacked the perkiness from earlier. "It was a real mess back there. We all coulda died!"

Donald nudged bits of shattered ice with his staff, his voice just as subdued as Goofy's. "Yeah… Didn't help that my magic was still wiped out. I'm lucky I even got that Graviga spell off!"

"Good thing you did, though," said Kristoff. "You really saved our necks back there." Donald puffed up proudly in response.

"…I'm sorry I wasn't there to help." Xion probably shouldn't have blamed herself. They had enough to deal with back at the palace, between Xaldin, the duke, and everything else that followed…

Kairi must've read between the lines, because she moved beside Xion and said, "Don't worry about it. I'm sure you two had your hands full, too. Recon, right?"

"Well…I tried to kill Xaldin, too, but…" She caught herself, remembering her lecture about manners in Amelia's office. "Wait, Jim? How do I kill people nicely, again?"

Jim gave her a look. Everyone did. But Jim just stared with eyes squinted and his mouth crooked and slackening more by the second. "…Wha–?" His voice was just so hoarse with disbelief.

Xion tried so hard not to grumble from sheer embarrassment. "Y—you know, that thing Delbert said?"

"…'Retire'?"

She snapped her fingers. "Yeah! I tried to retire Xaldin! But…well, I failed…and he got to Elsa first…"

"Hey, hey," said Jim. "Look. We're alive. Keyhole's sealed. We're all here, and we're all on the same page. That's gotta count for something, right?"

"Yes, a small silver lining," said Pabbie, though he had a distant look in his eyes as he stared into the glass shard in his hand. "But I fear this is all still very dire. Elsa's powers are directly linked to her emotions. Fear and negativity are enough to send them raging out of control…as I'm sure you have all experienced." A heavy silence followed. Even the other trolls kept their mouths shut.

Except for Eustace. "Hey, wait, is this that same Elsa girl that shot her baby sister in the face that one time?"

What?

Grand Pabbie sighed. "Yes. And that leads me to the gravest matter at hand." He looked back to Kairi's group and asked solemnly, "Did she hit anyone?"

More silence followed. Kristoff pointed to the icy pile that used to be Xaldin's arm.

But it seemed that wasn't enough, and Pabbie's voice rose from the softer whispers to a firmer, more commanding tone. "This is crucial. Did Elsa strike anyone with her ice?"

The snowman hopped up, raising his hand. "Ooh! That Ricky kid got blasted right in the chest! If he didn't have that armor on, he might've been—" The snowman's head lurched around 180 degrees, making a very disturbing cracking sound, and he glared at Donald and finished, "IMPALED…"

Donald flailed his arms in frustration "I SAID I WAS SORRY ABOUT THE MUSHROOMS! And besides, we already healed Riku! ...Well, he healed himself, anyway. But what's the big deal? It's just ice."

"Were it only so simple," said Pabbie, his expression filled with dread. "Elsa's magic is no ordinary ice. If there is even a slim chance that she struck his heart, then your friend may be in grave danger…"

x.x.x

Riku pressed his palm against the cold, stone wall, fighting back a shiver. A shroud of darkness consumed the dungeon, save for the dim flickers of the nearby torchlight. The dungeon doors glistened with a translucent sheen, courtesy of the magical barrier sealing Elsa in her cell. But though once silent in slumber, her muffled grunts, growls, and shrieks pierced through the seal. Already, razor sharp, red icicles jutted from the walls, the floor, and even the ceiling of her cell. The black veins on her face had spread down her neck, while her eyes glowed even brighter than before.

"Elsa…" He gazed through the shimmering barrier. She glared right back, then blasted the barrier with a barrage of icy daggers…

To no avail. The fortification stood strong.

And Riku, perhaps foolishly, called to her. "Elsa, c'mon! I know you've got the strength to push through this. You're not alone!" His voice wavered as another chill overtook him. His breath fogged despite the heat from the nearby torches. Didn't matter, though. He had to try.

But the frog, Glenn, strode beside him and said, "I fear she may already be too far gone."

"No!" Riku struck the barrier's surface with his fist. "I've been in Elsa's shoes before. We can't just leave her! If I could just get closer, then maybe…" His fist slowly uncurled over the barrier's surface, and a small pool of shadow began to expand beneath his fingers. If he could just open a corridor inside…

But Marle took his hand, pulling him back and making the darkness disappear. "Listen. I don't like giving up on people, either, but you're in no condition to barge in there!"

Glenn nodded. "To do so would be a death sentence."

Logically, Riku knew they were right. He'd already had a close call before, but even still, he couldn't just abandon her! He never should've left her with Xaldin in the first place!

So, stubborn as he was, he jerked his hand free…

Until another stabbing pain brought him to his knees.

Another warm glow cloaked his body, as Marle chanted and Glenn raised his hands in the air. But despite their efforts, Riku's heart still throbbed. Mist still materialized from his haggard breaths. He shakily climbed back on his feet, trying to shrug off the pain.

Glenn and Marle looked at one another.

"I don't understand," said Marle. "Why isn't it working?"

"It's fine." Riku waved his hand, trying to brush the whole thing off. "It's just…kinda muggy in here. Think I need some fresh air."

He turned the other way, ready to storm out the door, but the second he budged, the agony of a million daggers skewered his heart all at once. He fell to the ground, gasping and wheezing. Everything blurred. So…cold. So much pain…

More glowing. No dice. Still throbbing. Why…?

Something black tore through the air. Footsteps like cannonballs. Slow, ear-pounding ticking…

And then the pain…slowed. Softened, though the cold, the aches, the misty breath still remained.

A familiar figure loomed over him, his form draped in black and his yellow eyes boring into Riku's.

Voices from behind broke out.

"What is the meaning of this?!" cried Glenn.

The boy…tan skin. Silver hair. Riku knew him…and he glared, struggling—and failing—to sit back up.

And the boy scoffed, grabbing Riku's arm and yanking him off the ground. "You should be thanking me." He glanced at Frog and Marle. "Had I not interfered, this boy might be dead at your feet."

"You…" Riku rasped out, too weak to fight back. Arms like limp potato sacks. Hall too…tilty. "Sora… You're…"

"Your friend lives, but save your breath. I may have subdued whatever magic ails your heart, but you are far from cured."

"But you can help him?" asked Marle.

"I will do everything in my power." He…lifted Riku in both his arms. How…embarrassing. Ugh. "Provided there are no objections? By all means, if you'd rather expend your energy on futile spells…"

"No," said Glenn. "It is clear that this ailment is beyond us. Please, do what you will."

"A wise answer. I can see why His Highness holds you in such high regard." He…bowed, maybe. Dipping down. Still held Riku. As if this wasn't degrading enough.

But, somewhere in the back of his mind, Riku understood something very terrifying. The boy who abducted Sora was powerful enough to halt an entire planetary explosion…and strong enough to carry him in his full suit of armor without any signs of difficulty. But even that was secondary to the mystery of this boy's identity and his intentions.

"Why…?" It was all Riku could manage. World…still fuzzy. Couldn't read the boy's face.

But his voice…so calm, so… almost smug, made Riku wish he had the strength to fight back.

"Because your destiny is too pivotal to end here…"

x.x.x

So that was it. Anna…had married Hans. And now they sat side by side, basking in the fire's glow. Was it right to be here, with Elsa on the brink of losing her heart? Sure, Hans said she'd find recovery as a Nobody, but how long would that take? Conflicting feelings clashed inside her. Should she have celebrated finding true love after spending so many years alone? Dreaded what would happen when the others returned? And what about Riku? Was he really gonna be okay?

Hans draped an arm around Anna's waist, pulling her closer. Oh. Did he want another kiss? Maybe that wouldn't be so bad. That first one was…wow. And a good distraction from all the horrible, awful stuff unfolding all around her. Anna thought about it. Even leaned in.

Then a loud SWOOSH jolted her from the couch with a shriek, and one of those creepy dark portal things gushed up from the ground. Or. Maybe not so creepy. Maybe Riku was back? Anna slowed her breathing and ran a hand over her hair, slightly frazzled from that last kiss.

But the figure who strode out of the portal, despite his silver hair and black attire, certainly wasn't Riku. His face was too narrow, skin too dark, and instead of armor, he wore a long, black coat. Piercing gold eyes made Anna shrink back, although on further inspection, this stranger carried a familiar, armored teen in his arms.

"Riku!"

…Wait, this guy could just carry a knight in shining armor?

She rushed forward, but Hans cut her off, extending an arm in front of her and shaking his head. "Anna, it's all right. That coat means he is with the Organization." Though the tone of his voice sounded…off. Almost confused?

And the other boy, his eyes were narrowed. His hands shook beneath Riku's armored body. "Nahxs! Is this your doing?!"

Hans cocked his head to the side, raising an eyebrow. "And what makes you think it is?"

"His heart…something is clearly wrong! I have slowed the progression for the time being, but that alone will not spare his life."

"I see." A scowl worked its way across Hans' face. How tense! Weren't they supposed to be allies? Even so, he stepped aside, making room on the couch.

The other boy nodded and placed Riku on the cushions.

Grasping his chest, Riku muttered, "Hans… He's… Don't…"

Hans sighed, kneeling beside him. "You're in no condition to speak, Riku." He ran his hands over Riku's armor, feeling around until one hand landed on his pauldron, making a distinct click. Within seconds, the suit vanished in a flash that flooded Anna's vision with dancing spots. But before she could get lost in a daze, her eyes darted back to Riku's torso.

A light frost covered his shirt. Squinting, she leaned in and…frosty breath? Even with the fire still burning?

"Another victim of the ice queen's wrath, I wager?"

The sudden, if familiar voice made Anna jump. Spinning on a heel, she turned to find Dilan in the doorway, and…

And…his arm…

She gulped, stumbling back and covering her mouth. His left arm—or what remained of it— hung in a sling. And Kristoff was carrying a frozen arm before, so was this…?

Anna's stomach twisted into knots. Her legs trembled, and she fell onto the cushions beside Riku. "W—what happened…?"

Dilan cracked a wry smirk, sauntering deeper into the room. "The same as the boy, I imagine."

"No." Anna gripped at her skirt, posture tense. "There's no way that Elsa would…"

"Princess, I understand that your sister means a great deal to you, but if I'm not mistaken, she nearly immolated you and your companions in a sea of lava. And that is only her most recent attempt on your life."

Anna…couldn't dispute that. And Riku…

"Wait. Back at the castle, Elsa tried to shoot me with her ice, but Riku jumped between us. You don't think…?"

"Given the boy's condition? It's a foregone conclusion."

The other boy brought a hand to his chin. "…A frozen heart, perhaps?"

Hans looked to the boy. "Are you familiar?"

"Only in passing. As a Keybearer in training, it was pertinent to know the heart both on a physical and metaphysical level. Naturally, that included potential curses and otherworldly maladies. Of course, the information was vague at best beyond a warning to always shield one's heart from both internal and external threats…" He paused, watching Riku writhe with a creepily calm expression. "It's a pity. Riku would make a fascinating case study…were his life more expendable."

…Ugh. Just what was with this kid? Anna had half a mind to chew him out for sounding like such a creepazoid—but Hans beat her to it.

"Xehanort, you will not speak that way in front of a queen."

The boy—Xehanort—only seemed amused at Hans' rebuke.

Then Dilan cleared his throat and said, "Well, there are other matters worth considering, my liege. Particularly with regards to the recent insurrection." He peered at Anna, but only for a moment. "Though, with no disrespect to Her Highness, I'd rather continue this discussion in private."

Anna flinched. On one hand, it made sense. Hans was better equipped for these things. He knew how to talk to people. He kept a cool head through everything from Elsa's rampage to the news of that coup.

Maybe it would be better if Anna left…

A green glow spread from Hans' palm to Riku's body, but it only slightly slowed his heavy breathing. To Anna's surprise, he said, "No, Xaldin. Anything you have to say, you can say to me and my wife."

Xehanort raised an eyebrow. "…That is a new development."

And Dilan, Xaldin, whatever his name was, snickered under his breath. "Is that so?"

Hans nodded. "We did it for Arendelle…and for each other." He placed his other hand over Anna's, squeezing it gently. "Anna already knows what I am. Why shelter her from the truth?"

It was…nice, knowing that he still wanted her here with all the craziness unfolding around them. The fact that he'd trust her so openly didn't hurt, even if the memories of the coup, of that Duke's body draped in cloth…

She shivered but kept quiet. Best to let the others carry the conversation.

"Well then," said Xaldin, "I regret to inform you that 'Count Ienzo' is currently in critical condition. When Saïx treated me for my impromptu amputation, I saw the boy's flesh marred with myriad plasma burns, doubtlessly the work of those spacefaring interlopers." He brushed his fingers over his sling, eyes shut. "To think that he'd take matters into his own hands…"

'Count Ienzo.' There was a name Anna didn't recognize. A friend of theirs, maybe? Anna hesitated. Maybe it wasn't her business, but, "I don't get it. Why did this all happen? And what's going on now?"

"Ah, allow me to elaborate." Xaldin bowed before making his way over to one of the frost-coated windows. "After you ventured to rescue your sister, Arendelle was left in your husband's care. And, when he set out to save you, he entrusted the kingdom to one of the Keybearers' allies. A certain Captain Amelia. It seemed the right thing to do. They didn't yet know the full truth of who we are, and so wouldn't act rashly to destroy us before we'd saved this world."

That…made sense. Someone had to keep charge while everyone was away…

Xaldin peered over his shoulder, his eyes narrowed and voice sharp. "But they did learn. The captain conspired to assassinate me, and I'd received urgent word of your sister's worsening condition. But I was too late. By the time I arrived, she'd already given into the darkness, recklessly effloresced by that boy on the couch. He couldn't fathom the dangers he flirted with, and so he and I both paid the price of his and the queen's insanity." Once again, he gestured to his sling, and Anna shrank back, wishing she could slip between the gaps in the cushions.

This was the last thing she wanted to hear.

"As for the palace, our ally, Count Ienzo, sought to remove the mad captain from power. He failed. Dozens of lives were lost, including our mutual acquaintance, Duke Weselton."

Anna squeezed her eyes shut tight, trying to shake from her mind the image of the duke's arm dangling out from that sheet of cloth. But…that was just one life, out of dozens lost. People with homes, hopes, dreams, families and loved ones…

All gone.

Xaldin continued, "But the deaths won't end there. The Keybearers know everything now. Including your husband's true identity. They'll stop at nothing to destroy us. Even if that means destroying Arendelle."

This was too much. Anna grasped her head in both hands, squeezing her eyelids shut to try and stave off a river of tears. This all started because she pushed Elsa too far. If Elsa hadn't left, Anna never would've had to chase after her. Hans never would've had to leave Arendelle alone, leaving the kingdom vulnerable. It was an avalanche of mistakes, all on her hands…

But…she couldn't give up now. If worse came to worst, she…she had to try and be a good queen. Cool, collected. Stronghearted and wise. So she sucked in a breath through her teeth and straightened her posture. She wiped the tears from her eyes and watched as Hans bathed Riku in more of that green, healing magic, while Xehanort stood behind him, watching in silence.

There were so many questions Anna could ask, but one thing stood out, clear as day. "So, what happened to Captain Amelia?"

"I have already relayed the order to arrest her and her co-conspirators," said Xaldin.

Just then, the doors creaked open, and one of the castle guards marched into the room.

"Apologies for the intrusion, Your Highnesses," he said with a bow.

"Ah, you're just in time," said Xaldin. There was something reassuring yet unnerving at how naturally he assumed leadership when there were already leaders present. He was probably much more than just an advisor in the Organization. "Tell me, have you any word on the captain's whereabouts?"

"None, I'm afraid. We have swept the entire castle, but to no avail. It seems Amelia and her conspirators used the commotion to their advantage."

Hans rose from Riku's side, glowering. "Then search the city. They can't have gone far…"

x.x.x

They'd traveled far, though such feats became trivial when using corridors of darkness. Now Marluxia reclined at the edge of a couch, in a cozy little inn on the outskirts of town. Across the room, Captain Amelia hovered by the window, peering out at the now distant castle. Larxene grumbled from the edge of a bed, flinging her kunai at a dart board mounted on the wall. Their two Dusk disciples, 'Zippy' and 'Booper' as Xion had charmingly taken to calling them, wobbled at a coffee table across the room, offering tea to the one called Delbert, though their wavy limbs splattered droplets on the table's surface as they struggled to fill his cup.

What made this more peculiar was the way they alternated between pouring the tea and tinkering with the still-compressed robot's body. Every now and then, BEN would open his mouth to speak, but a glare from Larxene silenced him each time.

Marluxia, having filled his own cup, took a sip and then gazed at the Captain. "In short, we've been trailing the Organization for quite some time now. At first, our plan was to simply eradicate them, but after Xion obtained Lexaeus' abilities, it dawned on us that she could do the same to the others. Thus, our plans shifted, and we'd hoped she would obtain Xaldin's abilities in a similar manner."

Amelia's ears flicked, but her focus remained on the window. "That is a lot to ask of a child, Chrysanthemum."

Larxene rolled her eyes, scoffing. "Please. Xion's not some snot-nosed toddler. She's a Keybearer. And, sure, she's a total klutz with Lex's super strength, but if we can keep building her up, we'll have the perfect little Nobody-killer."

"That is to say," Marluxia added, "that we hope to equip Xion with the means to eliminate even the Organization's leader, Xemnas. However cutthroat it may seem, we've no longer the time nor the luxury to fight fairly. Or let children be children."

The two Dusks ceased pouring Delbert's tea (most of it pooled in and dripping over the edges of his saucer, rather than his cup) and started pouring cups of their own…with equally sloppy results. Wincing, Delbert took his own cup and blew on it a few times.

After taking a sip, he, too, joined the conversation. "I have to ask. Since you're both former members of the Organization…what exactly are they planning?"

Ah, there was the million munny question. Marluxia had contemplated it many times, of course, both before and after his 'resignation.' His grip on his teacup tightened, and he glared down at his reflection. "Allegedly, Xemnas intends to create an artificial Kingdom Hearts, so as to bestow new hearts upon all of Nobodykind and thereby restore our humanity and emotions. However…"

He took another sip. "Even prior to our departure, an immense conglomeration of hearts hovered above the castle, and in our intermittent returns to the outskirts, I have found that that collection has only grown…and to what end? Xemnas never once specified how many we need, let alone why we need so many to begin with."

To everyone's surprise, BEN interjected. He spoke while trying to hammer his limbs back into place with the tools that Zippy and Booper left nearby while they served tea. "Oh, easy! There's gotta be millions of you Nobodies, right? One for each Heartless? Your old buddy, Xemnas, is probably saying he needs all those hearts so he can fix all of you at once. But if you ask me, he just wants them for himself. Think about it! The heart is a vital organ, and the more organs you have, the more human you are! Now, imagine Xemnas stuffing himself with all those organs—"

A bolt of electricity to his head knocked BEN on his back. Marluxia saw Delbert and Amelia's worried expressions melt away the moment BEN hopped back on his metal rump with what little limb control he still had in his trash-compacted form, his copper face splotched with black but otherwise all right.

BEN glared at Larxene, still reclined on the bed and lazily threatening to shoot him again with a pair of kunai that she held less like a wand and more like chopsticks. The robot blurted, "Listen, sister, you say you're beefing up that nice Xion kid because you got a problem with Nobodies. If it was one or two Nobodies, I'd understand, but all of them?! You ever think the problem might be you?"

Larxene fumed and sat up in bed. To her credit, she didn't shoot the robot again. "Oh, give me a BREAK! Worst thing I ever did was kick that stupid duke guy out the window—but, let's face it, you woulda done the same! But Xemnas? Stop pumping hearts inside his stupid moon for five minutes and he levels an entire city!"

"Indeed," said Marluxia. "The Organization has little regard for collateral damage. They spread Heartless throughout the cosmos with the expectation that the Keyblade will slay them, regardless of who ends up caught in the crossfire. And worse, they would rather send their members to die in ignorance than let us know what we're really fighting for."

This seemed pertinent enough to pull Amelia from the window, as she turned to face the Nobody duo, ears flat and a frown across her muzzle. "To what end?"

"Simply put, Éclair and I cannot recall our lives prior to losing our hearts. And while it's true that this is outside of Xemnas' control, there was a time when the Organization sheltered a girl named Naminé, gifted with a mastery of memory. Likewise, one of their secondary strongholds, Castle Oblivion, contains a peculiar link to the memories within oneself…yet, time and time again, Xemnas refused to grant us access to these resources. As far as he knows, we died without ever learning who we really are."

And what a waste. Naminé held so much potential. Her handiwork with both XIII and the Replica were proof enough of that. And that castle, so often left in seclusion. What was the point of a second stronghold if left abandoned?

THUNK. Larxene hurled two kunai at the dartboard this time. "So, now do you get it? We've got plenty of reasons to hate Xemnas' guts."

"And if our word isn't enough," Marluxia added, "I should think the state of this world speaks for itself. The coup alone is proof of their depravity, and all the more reason to overthrow them…though, I preferred the days when the Organization was a complete unknown, or a public enemy, rather than the saviors of worlds, and the Keybearers and their allies the enemies of the people."

Amelia's pupils became slits, and a wrinkle formed along her snout. "Yes. This entire kingdom rests comfortably in the palm of the Organization's hand. The people, both native and foreign to this world, hold the prince in such high regard that we cannot risk further recklessness." Her focus shifted to the window once more, and her shoulders sank. "…It is my greatest shame, knowing that my leadership yielded such senseless casualties."

"But it isn't entirely hopeless," said Delbert. "There is the king's journal, after all. And if my calculations are correct, Jim and Xion will have already reached the trolls by now!"

"…True. And Riku has returned, and surely Kairi and the others are not far behind."

"That's another thing!" said Larxene. "What's with all the Keykids here? Xaldin sure wasn't counting on you guys crashing the party. If anything, you just made his plans a million times harder."

The faintest laughter slipped from Marluxia's lips. "You've uncovered the prince's identity. And, despite all odds, you left Zexion at death's door. The delicate power structure they spent the last year establishing now teeters on the brink of collapse…all because you all crash-landed in the heart of Elsa's storm. Curious, isn't it?"

Amelia's eyes narrowed in contemplation, while her ears perked straight up. "…Quite curious."

"It definitely wasn't in any of their case files." Larxene pointed her thumb at the two Dusks, who both shook their heads in an eerie, twitchy fashion. "Funny how that turns out. Why would Xigbar and some unknown newbie throw Riku and his buddies out here? Why go out of their way to sabotage their own handiwork?"

"By all accounts," Marluxia said, "it seems as though the internal stability of the Organization now hangs by a thread. New members are joining, their credentials enigmatic. The old guard dwindles in number whilst stabbing each other's backs. That Xigbar would take such a calculated risk raises a myriad of questions… And yet, perhaps his objectives align with ours…"

Amelia's eyes widened. She turned fully toward him, tense and alert. "Chrysanthemum, how well did you and Éclair know Xigbar when you worked for the Organization?"

Marluxia chuckled. "You wish to warn me that my ex-coworker is a wildcard?"

"Xigbar joined as my second mate on our voyage to Treasure Planet. He mutinied against us with Silver's pirates, and then turned against them the moment it became convenient. I'd assumed after the fact that he was a triple agent in league with the Organization all along, but—"

"But then he dumped your butts here and blew that fake prince's whole operation," said Larxene. "We get it. Xigbar sucks for everyone." She threw another kunai at the board.

"OW, MY HEADLIGHT FUEL!" cried BEN.

…Rather, she threw the kunai near the board. It wound up breaking the teapot that one of the Dusks carried, and the remaining tea spilled on BEN's face. Larxene wasn't looking, anyway. …Or perhaps she was.

Marluxia cleared his throat. Best to get back to business. "Make no mistake. A man on no side but his own is not to be trusted. And so, I have no intention of trusting the old mutineer. Rather…shepherding his warpath. Xigbar is no world-class intellect, but, with my guidance…" He chuckled, satisfied with himself. "Xemnas had better learn to sleep with one eye open."

x.x.x

Slumber washed over Riku, but as his chest still rose and fell, life yet lingered within him. But for how long? Xehanort's forehead pinched, and his chin ached from how tightly he'd clutched it over the past few minutes. This was certainly a conundrum. But even through his gloves, the chill from Riku's forehead reached him, proof enough that his condition was indeed linked to Elsa's abilities. Logically speaking, the solution was to thaw the ice, but how? Literal heat clearly wasn't enough, and…

Across the room, Nahxs whispered to three more of his guards. They saluted him in unison, then marched off. With that, the wolf in king's clothing swiveled around.

"Well. That should cover those treacherous outsiders."

"Are they really that bad?" said Anna. "You said before that they're friends with Riku."

"They are. But they are also desperate beyond the point of virtue and reason. You've already seen what happened to the kingdom the moment we turned our backs on them."

"…Just promise me you won't kill them. There has to be a better way to handle this!"

At first, Nahxs averted his gaze. No doubt the princess' sentiment proved inconvenient for his intentions. And yet, within seconds, he placed a hand on her shoulder and said, "Of course, darling. This kingdom has seen enough bloodshed for a lifetime."

This seemed to put the princess at ease, as she leaned into his touch and placed her hand over his. "…Yeah. And I'm just so tired, Hans."

"Then, get some rest, Anna." He kissed her on the forehead. Disgusting. "There is something else I need to discuss with my associates, anyway, and I think we've burdened you enough with our personal drama."

"…You sure? I thought the whole point of marriage was sticking together, you know, through better or worse. Sickness and health."

"And that includes your health. Have you rested once since setting out to find your sister? Braving the frozen wilderness, evading the Heartless Sköll, wrestling your sister in a castle designed to destroy you, and escaping death by burning in a volcano…Anna, my love, you've gone through so much today. You've earned this rest. So, please…take care of yourself. I promise this castle will still be standing when you wake up."

Anna blew a small puff of air, like a pouting, pitiful child. "Okay, okay. You're the boss, after all." It sounded as though she was…attempting playful banter, but even Xehanort could detect the resignation in her voice.

Nonetheless, she left, as requested, though not without giving her husband one final, lingering glance.

What a bleeding heart. So easily exploited. No wonder Nahxs took so 'fondly' to her.

But now that she was gone, that raised an ever-pressing question. "So. What did you wish to disc—"

A sharp impact to Xehanort's face sent him tumbling back. The back of his head crashed into the arm of the couch. Pain seized his skull, throbbing. So sudden. So…bold.

And when he opened his eyes, one hand grasping his temple, Nahxs towered over him, the flames casting deep shadows on his face.

"What were you and Xigbar thinking?!"

From behind, Xaldin exclaimed, "Nahxs, have you gone mad?! That is the Superior's younger self!"

"Consider the circumstances! You've lost an arm. Zexion nearly lost his life. Riku's life hangs in the balance, as does our command of this kingdom. None of this would have happened, were it not for their intervention. It seems that I'm the only sane Nobody here. His identity means nothing to me."

Xehanort's eye twitched. He pressed one palm against the arm of the couch, climbing back on his feet…and then his fingers contorted and crackled with energy, summoning a ring of blue, ethereal blades that flared to life behind Nahxs' back, each one aimed directly at the disgraceful prince. Xehanort's lips twisted into a smirk, and despite his still aching cheek, he laughed.

"How charming, but you are clearly out of your depth. Do you even realize who you are dealing with?" The blades shuddered in the air. A warning. "Do you really think you stand a chance against the greatest Keybearer in all of history?!"

But Nahxs, despite Xehanort's presence and despite the threat, laughed right back. The air around him…shimmered, and he pointed over Xehanort's shoulder. "Do you?"

The air behind Xehanort buzzed. Blue light glinted in the corner of his eye. Slowly, cautiously, he looked to the source…and found his own blades mirrored, aimed directly at his back.

"You wouldn't dare."

"Oh, I would. So, if you value your life, explain yourself. Now."

To further pour salt on Xehanort's wounded ego, Xaldin snickered and said, "This should be interesting."

Well. This certainly complicated matters, didn't it? Xehanort gritted his teeth, trying to steady his breathing, lest he do anything…impulsive.

Even still, he managed to speak with a steady tone. "It was Xigbar who altered the map's trajectory. I merely halted the flow of time long enough to detain Sora."

Nahxs stepped closer, twirling one of his fingers. One of the mirrored energy blades shot down, directly over Xehanort's shoulder. It landed a hair's breadth from his feet. He tried not to shudder.

"But you let Xigbar change the Legacy's destination. You could have intervened at any time, yet you knowingly allowed him to send two Keybearers and their entire cabal of interstellar circus freaks to our doorstep."

Xehanort suppressed a growl. How dare this neophyte treat him like a cornered animal? He seemed so confident in his control, inching ever closer. Were Xehanort a brasher sort, he would have gladly returned the prince's punch tenfold…

But that would be reckless. This was a battle of wits. A tactical matter.

Heh. Well, there was one way out of this.

"Time sto—"

Nahxs lunged forward and slapped a hand over Xehanort's mouth, and…something shot down his throat. Small. Stiff. Gasping for breath, Xehanort retaliated by jabbing Nahxs with his elbow.

He stumbled away, yet a grin remained on Nahxs' face. "Oh, Xehanort. Did you really think I wouldn't account for that?"

Xehanort coughed again, but whatever the prince had lodged down his throat refused to budge. "Wh—what did you…do to me?"

"I simply provided an incentive. If you try to fight, flee, or freeze time, that shard of glass will tear you apart from the inside. And no, I don't care what repercussions this would have on the flow of time."

…Well. That… Oh dear. A fatal mistake on Xehanort's part. He should have never underestimated Nahxs' abilities or depravity. Once more, he coughed, placing a hand over his throat. But that shard squirmed further down. He could feel it pressing into vulnerable tissue…not enough to cut, but enough to make its presence known.

"…And what of you, Xaldin? If I die, so too does my entire legacy. The Organization, all that it has accomplished…reduced to dust in the wind." A bit of a bluff, perhaps, but surely Xaldin's loyalty would prevail.

"Well, at least I would have my arm again. Perhaps even my heart."

"And I became a Nobody of my own accord," said Nahxs. "My alliance with the Organization is merely one of convenience."

"…So you would knowingly commit treason."

Xaldin, in the blink of an eye, stormed straight into Xehanort's personal space, making him stumble back against the arm of the couch. Xaldin glared daggers into his eyes, snarling out his words. "Bold of you to accuse us of betrayal, boy. The only Xehanort I answer to is Lord Xemnas himself."

"So, explain yourself," said Nahxs. "You've no luxury for excuses."

…So that was it, then. Outnumbered, cornered, with no room to retaliate. Even without that shard nestled within him, the cramped quarters, Riku's fragile form, and Nahxs' abilities presented far too many hurdles. For better or worse, they had placed Xehanort in check.

Well. Best to give them what they wanted.

He took a moment to allow the shard to settle more deeply inside him. A temporary danger, but he needed it further down so he could speak more clearly, and he knew he could talk his way out of this. "Allow me to make one thing clear. I did not anticipate that Xigbar would send Riku and his friends to this particular world. Our primary objective was to capture Sora, whilst Xigbar's act of rebellion was done in a chaotic bid to set the Keybearers back. After all, Riku and Kairi would doubtlessly pursue their friend, or at least make an attempt. And even with the castle's protective shell, they've allies and resources all throughout the cosmos. I would not see yet another attempted siege on our world out of their desperation to rescue their pet Heartless."

Xehanort paused, watching the two Nobodies closely. Each of them wore scowls, but that alone was not enough to decipher the machinations of their minds…

So he continued. "Furthermore, grounding them in Arendelle meant stranding them with no safe means of escape, and Riku, in his frantic state, would surely flee, leaving the rest of them at your mercy." He spread his arms in a grand gesture, in spite of his current state. "If anything, Xigbar had faith that your silver tongues and gifts of charisma would be enough to blind them in the dark."

Simple. To the point. Were Xehanort feeling coy, he would have punctuated his statement with a bow, but as it stood, he needed to plan his moves carefully. There was still no telling how they would take his explanation.

Perhaps better than Xehanort anticipated? A softer, more earnest laugh escaped Nahxs, and he even waved his hand. That little glass shard slid upward in tandem with his hand, no doubt to make its escape.

And then a sharp surge of pain sent Xehanort down to his knees. He wailed at the burning sensation, choking and gasping anew.

A green aura swept over Xehanort of his own accord, dulling the pain, but the little shard remained. Worse yet, Nahxs seized him by the front of his coat.

"I'm not Xemnas. I know when you're lying. So, tell me the truth, or I will silence you permanently."

Xehanort's hands quivered. His teeth clenched so tight that his jaw ached, and yet… What more could he do, in his present state? Still in check, inches from checkmate. The only blessing was Eraqus' absence. Who knew what he would think if he saw Xehanort in such a pitiful state?

Sighing heavily, Xehanort nodded in reluctance. With no further options, he opened his mouth, and—

"LOOK OUT!" Xaldin cried, diving in front of both Xehanort and Nahxs. Several streaks of light cascaded their way, but an explosive breeze scattered the salvos, thrusting them at the walls. The shimmering bolts exploded through intricately-detailed earthenware and tore cinders across several priceless paintings. Even parts of the fireplace broke away as the bolts pierced the hard marble.

Hans relinquished his hold on Xehanort, spinning about. Heart hammering, Xehanort turned as well.

There, reclining on the couch next to Riku's unconscious body…was Xigbar, his body still entangled with small slivers of darkness. A shark-like grin overtook his face, and he blew on the tip of his arrowgun before aiming it at Nahxs' chest.

"Here's a tip, genius. Don't commit treason in front of the TV."

At that, both Xaldin and Nahxs' eyes fell directly on Riku. Even Xehanort followed their gaze. In the heat of the moment, how could he have forgotten the sigil? Everything that happened in Riku's presence lay bare for the entire Organization to see.

Including Nahxs' treason. Ah, perhaps it was unwise to chuckle at the thought, particularly with the glass still lodged inside of him, but Xehanort couldn't help it. Finally, a new piece to alter this match's trajectory…

Once the shock wore off, Xaldin snarled at Xigbar. "You accuse us of treason?!"

"Hey, I'm not the one jamming broken glass down Nort Jr's throat. Now, you wanna see treason…" Xigbar brought his arrowgun to Riku's head.

Xehanort leaped to his feet, crying, "Don't! We need the seven!"

…Perhaps it was unwise to mention that in hindsight, as both Nahxs and Xaldin exchanged puzzled glances before turning their sights back on Xehanort.

"Come again?" said Xaldin.

Xigbar snorted and waved his free hand. "It's a buyer's market, kid. Lose one Riku, we still got two more."

But that was unacceptable! "My Heartless chose him. You will not harm—"

Pain. Burning. Legs gave out. Xehanort gagged, choked, wheezed. More green light. Pain dulled. Cuts healed.

And Nahxs dared to retort with, "Be silent now. The grownups are talking."

How dare he condescend? Xehanort would have given anything to put that neophyte in his place…but instead, he merely knelt there, caressing his neck. A dull pressure inside, likely the flat side of the glass at play, kept him dead silent.

He'd think of another way, under better circumstances.

Thankfully, Xaldin stepped in soon after. "With all due respect, the boy has a point. Disregarding the deceased, Lord Xemnas places a great value upon Riku. And lest we forget, Riku is our key to monitoring the other Keyblade wielders. It would be foolish to eliminate him."

Xigbar snorted, seemingly unfazed. "All this fuss about some spyglass named Riku. But my eye has no name."

Oh, charming. Another hint for the uninitiated.

But it seemed to go over their heads, as Nahxs only sneered. "This is hardly the time for games, Xigbar."

"Eh." Xigbar withdrew his gun from Riku's head, though it remained firmly in his grasp. "You got a problem? Say it to my face. Leave the kid out of this."

Nahxs said nothing. But, with a flick of the wrist, the glass piece lessened its pressure. But for how long? For now, Nahxs turned his back on Xehanort and addressed Xigbar in his stead. "I'll say it again. What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking there's nothing better than live bait."

"Just what are you insinuating?" said Xaldin, his voice razor sharp.

"Lemme put it this way, Dreads. Droppin' the white-haired wonder and his posse here was an open invitation for little ol' Poppet to show up. Just think about it. Xion figured out our scheme back at the arcade. Lexaeus croaked even after he bailed on the mouseketeers. And you already had two run-ins with Xion in the past twelve hours." Xigbar rested his free hand under his head, twirling his arrowgun. "Seems to me like she's got it out for us."

"So, we're the bait?" The indignation in Xaldin's voice spoke volumes. No doubt he took it as an insult, but Xigbar carried on, crossing his legs and snickering to himself.

"Naw. You're the snare. Plan was, soon as the bloody puppet learned her friends were in danger, she'd blow her cover to come and save them. And here she is. But she's not working alone. This ain't her MO. Now that she's here, all that's left is to weed out the ones pulling her strings."

"And why weren't we informed of this?" Xaldin brushed his fingers over his sling. "Not even Zexion knew, and look at what became of him!"

Xigbar jabbed his arrowgun toward Xaldin. "You two got yourselves taken hostage. The prince had to keep up appearances out in the wilderness, and you were held at ice-point over dinner. Can't just pop in and give a status update in front of the enemy. And, as for Zexion…heh. This'll teach him to remember his place." He looked down at Riku, at the sigil, and shouted, "Ya hear that, mophead? Go over the Superior's head, and you lose yours."

Excellent. Judging by the lack of immediate retort, Xigbar's words yielded their desired impact. Both Nahxs and Xaldin shared another look. Nahxs stroked his chin, a crease in his brow, while Xaldin grumbled at his wound before ultimately deflating with a sigh.

So far, so good. Now if only Nahxs would—

A snap of the fingers, and Xehanort lurched over. Hacking and gagging, he clutched his neck even tighter than before, until the shard finally flew from his mouth to the floor and shattered into slivers of darkness.

Even still, Xehanort gasped for breath, prompting ill-timed laughter from Xigbar.

"Heh. Remind me to never get on his bad side, Skippy."

Xehanort growled between gasps, but that was all he had the energy to answer with. What he'd give for a glass of water. Or a gallon. Perhaps he could acquire one from the servants later…

As it stood, neither Nahxs nor Xaldin offered him so much as a glance or a word of regard.

Instead, Nahxs addressed Xigbar directly. "Now, despite the setbacks you imposed on us…" He sent Xigbar a particularly sharp glare. "I think we're doing rather well. That fool, Anna, has already surrendered her heart and her kingdom to me. And these ignorant subjects still believe we have their best interests at heart. It doesn't matter how many Keybearers storm the palace doors; this is checkmate. Arendelle belongs to the Organization, and it will not be the last world that we claim."

He clasped his hands behind his back, striding over to the window. Inside, the fire crackled and danced, painting the walls with convulsing shadows. Outside, a light snowfall began anew.

TO BE CONTINUED

x.x.x

A/N: Four months later… A lot happened, between RL work, work on other projects, and the continued harassment situation involving a friend of mine. To those who left supportive reviews, I just want to say thank you!

Small trivia: The Great Gummis refer to the ancestors of the main Gummi Bears in Adventures of the Gummi Bears. They had great technology and magic, and I thought it'd be neat if they were some of the first non-Keybearing folks to figure out world travel.

Now, to address the anon reviews…

First, thanks for the kind words, you food-named anons! The Xemnas twist is definitely one of my favorite aspects of this series and it's so great to finally be able to be open with it. I do see how the Terra voice could be a bit off-putting. There was technically prior buildup in that he was the Terra that encouraged Riku at the end of The Year Between, but this isn't outright confirmed until the following chapter, if memory serves.

Funnily, I had a side stories scene planned that included Alternis briefly. I should look into going back and finishing that at some point. Zexion had done some reconnaissance on Luxendarc before it fell to darkness, though, as there was some interest in getting the Eternian Forces on the Organization's side.

I hope to start the next chapter this weekend, if all goes well. I just have a few commissions and other things to tackle first. Special thanks to chickenscrews and another anonymous editor for their contributions to the planning and editing process! :)