The three look out the cockpit window and see the familiar-looking world of Beast's Castle below. Roxas and Xion grab some supplies before they prepare to leave. Roxas looks back to see Namine instinctively grabbing her sketchbook. She quietly sighs and opens it up. Roxas gets an idea and decides to roll with it.
"Hey Namine," Namine turns to look at him. "Wanna come with?" asks Roxas, motioning for her to come over. Xion quickly looks over at Roxas, wide-eyed.
"Roxas, what are doing?" Asks Xion quietly, Roxas ignores her.
"Are you sure?" asks Namine. "I- I won't be able to do anything though. . ." Namine says, dejected.
"It'll be fine. Besides, would you rather stay cooped up in this ship all day?" Namine looks around the familiar ship. She knows the layout like the back of her hand, being stuck in it for so many hours, or even days at a time. She looks over at Roxas and smiles.
"Alright, I'll come with you guys then." She says. She puts her sketchbook away before she takes Roxas and Xion's hands. She tries to hide it, but her excitement shows. Xion looks over at Roxas Nervously, but he nods, silently requesting for her to trust him. She softens her expression and nods her head before the three disappear in a flash of light. The three quickly reappear in a flash of light, outside the front of the castle.
"So. . . What should I do if we get in a heartless battle?" asks Namine. "I don't exactly have a keyblade. . ." She says as she rubs the back of her neck.
"Don't worry, I already planned for that," says Roxas. Xion looks at Roxas with surprise, Roxas doesn't usually form plans, he just wings everything and it sort of just works. "Open your hand," Namine obeys and opens her right hand. Roxas materializes Fallen Kingdom and puts it in her hand.
"Wait! Roxas, what are you doing?" says Namine "I can't use your Keybladem, won't it just disappear?" she asks.
"As long as I don't actively try to re-materialize it in my hand, it won't disappear, don't worry," Roxas reassures her.
"But what will you use?" asks Namine
"Don't worry, I can improvise." Says Roxas. He begins to approach the door to enter the castle when Xion interjects.
"Roxas."
"Yes Beautiful?" says Roxas, Namine looks at him funny, as he says it in more. . . persuasive way? Deceptive way? Whatever it is, it's not how he'd normally talk to Xion.
"Drop the stick." Says Xion.
"What do you-"
"Drop the stick, Roxas.
"But it worked last ti-"
"Drop. The. Stick." Roxas sighs before accepting defeat at his partner's hand. He reveals the stick he had been hiding inside his jacket, before throwing it far away.
"Both sticks." Says Xion, growing impatient. Roxas takes another stick from out of his jacket, and throws it away as well, before opening up his jacket to reveal that there are no more sticks.
". . . Okay, I don't know what THAT was but, if it's that inconvenient, I can always go back to the-" Roxas cuts off Namine before she can finish.
"No, it's fine Namine. I can always use Plan B." Says Roxas. Xion gives him a funny, look. Not one plan but two plans? This is getting interesting. Roxas clutches his necklace before engulfing himself in a familiar bright-red energy. He dawns the red cloths of Valor Form yet again, as well as the two keyblade, Oathkeeper, and Oblivion.
"Is this a good idea?" asks Namine.
"We've grown a lot stronger since the last time we've been here, I'm more than confident that I can stay in Valor form the entire time while we're here." Says Roxas,
"Alright well, if you ever need to revert, don't hesitate to take your keyblade back." Says Namine nervously.
"Don't worry, I won't need to." Roxas smiles before finally turning to the door. "Ready?" asks Roxas. The two nod before opening the door, and immediately they see a sight to behold. It's The Beast! Though he looks quite different. His fur is well brushed, and he stands with great posture. But most impressive of all, he wears incredibly fancy clothing. "Hey there!" says Roxas, making sure their presence is known. The Beast turns to face them. Xion looks around cautiously.
"Woah, no Heartless or Nobodies!" normally there would be quite a decent pack lounging around in every room of the castle. The Beast turns away from them.
"Beast? Is something wrong?" asks Namine.
"Why are you three here?" asks the beast, getting straight to the point.
"We're trying to find a friend of ours, his name is Axel." Says Xion. Suddenly, the sound of steps is heard approaching from the east wing of the castle. The beast turns to the three and points them in the direction of a side room. Before Roxas can ask what's up, Namine and Xion quickly grab him by the hand and drag him into the room, having a pretty good idea of why Beast is so well dressed. The three peak from an opening in the side room and they're able to make out what's going on.
Belle comes walking down the stairs. Her hair is well done and she wears a beautiful yellow dress. The beat climbs up the stairs to join her in front of the entrance to the ballroom, where Roxas had first entered Anti-form and awoke his inner nightmare. The two bow at each other, before walking hand in hand into the ballroom.
"Well, we came at a bad time." Says Xion.
"Maybe it's not too late for us to leave." Says Namine worryingly. "I wouldn't want to interrupt them."
"Yeah. . .But Axel may be wandering around here. Or Xaldin if we're unlucky." Says Roxas.
"What should we do?" asks Namine.
"Stay here, and wait. Something could happen at any mom-" Suddenly Xion is cut off as an incredible roar is heard coming from the ballroom. The three quickly storm out of the side room and practically kick the door open, too which they see Belle and the servants standing behind the beast, who faces many dragon-like Nobodies that wield spears, known as dragoons.
"Those Nobodies! Xaldin's here!" Exclaims Roxas, before Sprinting to aide the beast in battle, to which Xion and Namine do the same. A dragoon prepares to stab at Roxas, but he blocks it with his two keyblades, Namine quickly dishes to the side and slashes at the nobody, creating an opening long enough for Roxas to finish it off.
Another dragoon jumps high into the air, before diving spear-first at Xion, she jumps back and dodges the attack before slashing the spear out of the Nobody's hand and using its own move against it, killing it instantly. Finally, The Beast grabs the two remaining nobodies with his bare hands and crushes them. Once the room is clear of nobodies, they turn to face Belle and the servants, who had ran off to the safety of the balcony.
"Phew~ they're safe. I was worried for a second," says Roxas.
"Wait, if he didn't take her. . . then-" Beast's eyes open wide before he quickly turns to run out of the ballroom. Belle quickly chases after him
"Beast! Wait!" Belle exclaims as she exits the ballroom.
"What's going on?" asks Namine
"Don't know, let's find out," says Roxas, chasing after Belle and The Beast. Xion and Namine follow closely behind. Heartless attack from every nook and cranny as the three dash through the halls, They deal with what they can while continuing to run after The Beast and Belle. They enter the Beast's room and find the beast stomping back and forth, he slams his fist to the ground and lets out a roar.
"Please, calm down!" Belle says as calmly as she can. The Beast's rage only grows as his roars becoming louder
"You just had to have a party, didn't you Don't you see what's happened?" the beast snaps
"Hey! What's with you-?" Roxas steps by Belle's side, Xion and Namine join him.
"The rose. . . My rose. . ." The three look near the back of the room and see an empty table, where a protected rose once stood.
"Surely you can get another Rose?" asks Belle, this only makes him angrier
"Silence! You know nothing!" He yells, getting right in Belle's face. Namine puts herself in front of Belle, using herself as a sort of meat shield.
"That's not fair, Beast. Don't take it out on her. It's not like she took it." the beast stops for a moment and covers his eyes as he steps back and looks to the ground, and then behind him.
"You four. . . I want you all to leave the castle." says the beast, dejected. Roxas, Xion, and Namine's expressions soften, while Belle's fades to worry. "Look at me. This is what I am. When you first got here, I tried to change." Beast looks at his claws. "But I was only fooling myself. I can't be any different. I'll always be a beast. So, I should live like one. With no one, alone." Belle tries to speak, but he insists. "Goodbye, Belle." He says as he turns to face away from them.
"You can't mean that," says Belle with worry, the beast turns his head a little before continuing to look away.
"Belle, don't worry. If we can get that rose back, he'll calm down." Xion whispers. Belle nods before leaving the room. Roxas, Xion, and Namine leave soon after, but they only leave the beast be for a moment. Choosing to stand outside his room and formulate a plan.
"If he doesn't break the spell before the rose dies, he and his servants will be like this forever." Says Namine with worry
"Yes, which is why he's grown to obsess over it over time, it's a grim reminder of how little time he has left," says Roxas depressingly
"There's so much more on the line than Belle and Beast's bond," says Xion.
"If it's his responsibility though, is it really worth doing this if he won't even put the effort himself?" asks Namine. Roxas and Xion look at her with some shock, they'd never considered just not helping anyone before. Xion thinks for a second, before speaking.
"I mean, you are right. It's his responsibility to try and break the curse, but we can't just leave them like this." Says Xion.
"Then. . . We'll just have to convince The Beast to help us get the rose back." Says Namine confidently. She turns and reaches out to open the door, but she stopped. The three clutched their skulls as an intense pain coursed through them, before collapsing. They open their eyes and get off the ground, they look around and find themselves inside the walls of castle oblivion.
"Wait- what's going on?" asks Namine. Xion's eyes grow wide, as she begins to recognize this familiar scenario, but it's too late, as they hear the sound of laughter coming from behind them, emerging from a corridor of darkness is a tall man, in a black cloak. Roxas and Xion are unable to recognize the man, but Namine has no such trouble, the way he stands, his height, she couldn't forget him even if she wanted to.
"No. . ." Namine says, stepping back and tightening her grip on Fallen Kingdom, she can't hide her fear as she trembles at the sight of the long-dead man. The man's laugh echoes throughout the arena, finally pulling away at his hood, he reveals his long flowing pink hair and bright blue eyes. He opens his hand and from a burst of petals and thorns comes a large green and pink scythe. It's unmistakable now. The man in front of them is number eleven of organization thirteen. The Graceful Assasin, Marluxia.
He swings his scythe back and forth, the long-range making it impossible for the three to get in close enough to attack. He spins his scythe in the air, as if winding for an attack, creating gusts of wind the pull the three closer to him, before slashing around, slashing in a large circle formation. Namine and Roxas are sent flying back, but Xion managed to cast a reflect spell just in time. The spell stuns Marluxia, allowing Xion to quickly parry the scythe from out of his hand. She slashes at him three times with incredible strength, knocking him away, before throwing the scythe right at him, sending him to the ground.
Namine and Roxas get back on their feet and charge at Marluxia, attacking him with all their strength. Marluxia retaliates and slashes at Roxas, who manages to block the attack, creating an opening for Namine to attack from behind, Marluxia turns his attention to his ex-prisoner and prepares to attack, only to be met the notched-end of Oathkeeper and Oblivion. Xion prepares to join them in the barrage of attacks when Marluxia disappears in a burst of petals, before reappearing behind Namine and slashing through her and Roxas, knocking them away, before teleporting away yet again, this time to the center of the arena. He slams the end of his scythe to the ground, creating large pools of darkness on the ground.
He winds his scythe as he slides and slashes across the ground, The three barely dodge the attack before Marluxia's momentum slows to a crawl, giving them some time to strike him with their blades. He manages to throw them off after some time. They get back on their feet and see wind swirl around Marluxia as he begins to float into the air. The area goes dark as Marluxia disappears in a burst of petals and thorns. Columns of darkness appear from the ground, blasting away anyone who stands atop them once they arise. The three dodge to the best of their abilities before Marluxia reappears and throws his swirling blade at Namine, striking her multiple times before grabbing his blade and diving down at the girl, ready to finish her, but Xion dives and grabs Namine just in time, before casting a reflect, knocking the graceful assassin away. Roxas charges at Marluxia and finishes him off with one cross slash from his keyblade. The absent silhouette writhes and groans before disappearing in a burst of petals and thorns, leaving nothing behind but black dust. Roxas quickly turns and runs to Xion and Namine's sides.
"Are you okay?" asks Xion. Namine nods, before attempting to stand up. She falls to her knees before clutching her skull, alongside Roxas and Xion. The intense pain is too much for them, and they all collapse simultaneously. They open their eyes moments later and find themselves back at Beast's Castle.
"Is everyone okay?" asks Roxas. Xion nods, while Namine nods shakily.
"Are you sure you're okay Namine?" asks Xion.
"Yes, I'm fine. It's just-" Namine sighs, calming down. "I don't think I fully explained why I was imprisoned at Castle Oblivion." Says Namine. "While I was responsible for the removal of Sora's memories at Castle Oblivion, Marluxia and Larxene were the ones who kept me prisoner there" Namine explains. "They threatened to lock me away in that place forever if I didn't. . ." she says as she begins to choke up. Roxas and Xion quickly come to her side and hug her, reminding her that she's safe, and far from that prison. "I- I was so alone. I just wanted people who cared about me. . ." the tears begin to flow as she "That's why I went along with it, why I replaced his memories of Kairi with myself. . ." she confesses Roxas and Xion hold her as she begins fo calm herself. "But now, I'm not alone. You two found me, and brought me with you, even though I caused all of your problems. I can't thank you enough for that." She says finally letting go and looking into her friend's eyes.
"You're our friend Namine, It wouldn't feel right to leave you behind," says Xion. Namine smiles, and the three turn to the closed door to The Beast's room.
"Let's go. We have another friend waiting for us." Says Namine. They open the door and enter Beast's room. The Beast turns his head, only to turn away again upon seeing it's them.
"Leave me alone." says the Beast in a saddened tone.
"No. You need to hear what she has to say." Xion says, before turning her attention to Namine.
"Sora said you were fearless. That you would have given your life to save Belle. You gave him the courage to go on even after losing the keyblade. Are you really gonna throw away your own happiness over a single loss?" asks Namine. The Beast is silent. "The rose isn't just your only hope. It's the hope of Cogsworth, Chip, and everyone else!" says Namine. "So, don't throw away your last chance. Do you remember how your life was like before Belle here? How much you hated it?" asks Namine. It seems she did some sifting through his memories. The beast finally looked up and away from the ground, and out the window. "You see? You need to take back what's yours. Your courage, and your happiness." says Namine. The Beast growls, not at her, or even Roxas or Xion.
"You forgot one more." Says Beast. "This castle belongs to me! I let him wander all this time, but I will take back what's mine like you said." Beast says confidently. "Xaldin will never be welcomed here." Namine, Xion, and Roxas smile and nod.
"I bet Belle will be happy to hear that." Says Roxas. The Beast smiles and nods.
"Yes. I should go and talk to her. It seems I must apologize yet again." Says The Beast. The four quickly leave the Beast's room and make their way to the entrance of the castle, but they're stopped by an ugly sight. On a landing, above the door to the ballroom, stands a large hooded figure, carrying the enchanted rose in the glass case
"So, Beast. . . you came after all. You had me worried. I was afraid you'd given up for good."
"What do you want Xaldin!?" asks Roxas
"Don't you fools remember? Kingdom Hearts." Roxas's brow lowers as he stares down his old comrade. Xaldin removes his hood to reveal his black dreadlocks and deep blue eyes. "As you know. When Kingdom Hearts is ours, we can exist fully and completely. That's why we need Beast, or rather, his Heartless AND Nobody!" Xaldin exclaims as multiple dragoons appear. They deal with the nobodies in a similar manner they had previously, before looking back to see Xaldin is gone. They turn towards the exit, just in time to see him leave the castle.
"After him!" Shouts Roxas, as the four sprint to the exit. They enter the courtyard outside the castle, but they don't find Xaldin. The four are so preoccupied with him that they don't even notice Belle on the balcony. She looks down at the courtyard to see the four looking around quickly. She stands up, her reading having rested on the balcony's railing a moment earlier. And she prepares to go down to meet them when she notices something on the balcony with her. It's the enchanted Rose, in its glass casing. She picks up the case and smiles before putting it on the balcony's edge and shouting to get the group's attention.
"Look! I found the rose!" says Belle, holding it closely to make sure it doesn't fall and to the courtyard. The group looks on and for a moment, has a sigh of relief, before their eyes open wide. They try to warn her, but it's too late, as Xaldin appears behind her and grabs, and covers her mouth, making it harder for her to breathe.
"Belle!" Shouts the beast Xaldin grabs Belle and the Rose before leaping a great distance, from the balcony, all the way to the bridge leading out of the castle.
"Hurry!" says Namine as the four kick down the door to the bridge. They finally catch up to Xaldin, who stands on the bridge holding Belle tightly with a lance in the same hand, holding it just right to where the tip could be pushed into her neck at any moment.
"You! Get out of my castle, now!" demands the beast
"With pleasure," says Xaldin snarkily "but I'd rather travel light. . . What shall I leave behind? Belle? Or the rose?" Xaldin's smile grows wider. The beast growls, while Xion, Roxas, and Namine tighten their grips on their keyblades, they all stare at Xaldin with fury in their eyes.
"Belle!" shouts the beast, as he runs towards Xaldin. Xaldin is taken aback by The Beast's sudden movement, giving Belle the opportunity she needed to elbow him in the ribs, before grabbing the Enchanted Rose and running off back to the castle.
"Hmph! Where's the fun in this?" asks Xaldin, as he wraps his arms around himself creating five small dusty whirlwinds that appear around him. He opens his arms and the winds disappeared revealing five more lances. He summons his sixth lance to his side and he grabs it with his left hand, he grabs two other lances with his right, and casts a wind spell, allowing the other four to hover around him.
Xion responds by raising her keyblade to the sky, calling down great amounts of lightning to smite Xaldin. The great thunder reigns from the sky and striking Xaldin many times, but Xaldin endures and charges at the four, Roxas and Beast attempt to attack Xaldin, but the wind and his four orbiting lances make a melee attack impossible to land. Xaldin charges and stabs at Namine, knocking her back a great distance. He turns to slash the four spears at Roxas, but Roxas leaps over the attack and parries two lances into the air. He grabs them and leaps high into the air before diving down at Xaldin, destroying his wind barrier and stunning him in time for Roxas to dive in the air yet again and strike Xaldin with the other lance.
Namine and the Beast attack the vulnerable Xaldin, slashing and stabbing at him, Xaldin manages to push them away a little with strong winds, before pulling two lances to his side, he slashes at the two twice, before charging at Namine and slashing at her many times. He gets two more lances and connects the two with the other two, to make two large weapons that he swings around in one large circular manner. He gets his other two lances and jumps off the bridge, he lands on three floating lances, before using the other three to cast an incredibly powerful wind blast. The Xion quickly dives for Roxas and grabs him, and creates a reflective shield to protect them, while The Beast, who is closer to Namine, dashes to try and protect her, but he's just a tad too slow as he gets blasted away by the wind.
Namine rushes to his aide, but the wind catches up to her and she's forced to put up Fallen Kingdom and try to absorb the wind into the keyblade. She manages to capture the wind's force and enters a battle of wills against Xaldin. She stands her ground as best as she can, while Xaldin focuses as much magical energy as possible. Suddenly, a strange metallic sound is heard, before Namine can even realize what's going on, Fallen Kingdom, Roxas's keyblade, shatters into hundreds of pieces. Namine is sent flying back as she takes the full force of Xaldin's powerful magic. She's knocked into the castle wall at the end of the bridge and is knocked unconscious.
"Namine!" Roxas and Xion shout. The wind disappears and the two get up to run to their friend's aid. The Beats tries to get up and reach her side, but Xaldin intercepts all of them with his lances, knocking them back before he sends the lances towards Namine, but rather than finish her off, he entraps her in a formation of lances, one of which is pointed in a way to where she could be executed at any moment if necessary.
"You have a choice." says the greatly injured Xaldin. "Finish me off and she dies. . . Or" he says "Kneel. . ." Xaldin says, practically commanding them to drop their weapons and kneel. He knew well before he gave them their choice what they would pick. Begrudgingly Roxas and Xion kneel. Xaldin smirks as he approaches the two. Before turning his attention to Roxas.
"You've become like Demyx after your betrayal Roxas, foolish," states Xaldin, before quickly grabbing Xion by the throat and lifting her into the air. Roxas looks up and prepares to attack Xaldin but he stops as Xaldin moves his hand in the direction of Namine, moving the fatal lance ever so slightly closer to her body. Roxas stops and reverts back into his kneeling position. "You know, a one-eyed birdy told me something interesting the other day." Xaldin taunts. "Have you two really tricked yourselves into thinking you can feel?"
"It's no trick. . . You just wouldn't know because you lack bonds, because you lack love. . ." says Roxas, clenching his fist.
"Oh? So this love is real?" Xaldin sneers. "Well then, allow me to remind you of one singular truth," says Xaldin, summoning one of his lances. Roxas's eyes widen as he jumps from his kneeling position and reaches for his special one, but he's knocked away but another lance. "Love is no more than a worthless emotion, only good for using against others!" Xaldin shouts as he shoves his lance through Xion, piercing her body. Xion's eyes widen for a moment, before going limp. Black dust rises from her body as Xaldin pulls out his lance and drops her to the floor. Roxas stares unblinking at the love of his life. Her motionless body only filling him with dread. That dread is short-lived, however, as he turns to Xaldin, his dread turning to rage.
"You. . . Will die for that!" Shouts Roxas as he gets to his feet and materializes Oathkeeper and Oblivion.
"Oh, will I?" Xaldin smirks, he stretches his hand out behind him, but only the sound of metal meeting rock is heard. He turns to see that Namine is gone, he looks around and realizes his fatal error, The beast limps away towards the castle, carrying the unconscious Namine. Xaldin charges at the beast, but Roxas cuts him off and blocks the attack, Beast turns to face him.
"Go! Take her somewhere safe!" Shouts Roxas.
"What about-?" asks The Beast, but Roxas cuts him off.
"Just go!. She can make it through this. . . I know she will." Says Roxas, before using his strength to launch Xaldin back.
"Make it through this? Not even Demyx is that foolish! She'll disappear! Just like Demyx! And soon, just like you!" Xaldin sneers as brings his six lances forth.
"You still don't understand. . ." Says Roxas
"Hmm?" Xaldin grows tired of this talking.
"You still don't understand. . . Love is not something for you to toy with! Love is not a weakness!" Shouts Roxas, before charging at Xaldin. The two clash as they put all their strength in this battle, but more importantly for Roxas, it distracts Xaldin from something important. It distracts him from noticing, that Xion stirs. . .
Xion opens her eyes and gets off the ground. Around her is a vast empty darkness that stretches as far as the eye can see. The only exception to this being the stain-glass platform she stands on.
"Is this . . . Sora's heart?" Xion asks looking down at the stained glass to see an image of the slumbering keyblade wielder, as well as those who are close to him. "Am I. . . Gone?" Xion looks down at her hands "Roxas. . ." her voice chokes up, believing she's lost everything, but soon she realizes that she is not alone.
"Promise. . ." says a voice of a thousand whispers. Xion snaps out of her sadness and turns to see the armored man from her nightmares.
"Who are you? Why are you here?" Xion begins to shout.
"Keep . . . Promise. . ." says the nightmare, as it materializes a keyblade, The Kingdom Key. Xion responds by materializing her own Kingdom Key and preparing for battle. The two dash at each other and meet at the center of the platform, entering a blade lock. The nightmare gets the upper hand and pushes Xion back before striking at her with its keyblade. Xion retaliates and casts a reflect spell, returning all that kinetic force back to her assailant. The nightmare is sent flying back as Xion rushes to it, casting thunder spells as she does so to keep the nightmare distracted. She reaches her destination and rapidly strikes at the nightmare multiple times, before casting a blizzard spell right in the nightmare's face.
The nightmare goes flying, before landing on its feet and dashing at Xion, it takes its keyblade and forms a stabbing motion before dashing at her, Xion puts up her shield the nightmare flies through it, it dashes and strikes again and again, Xion focusing her energy into keeping the barrier up. Finally, the nightmare dashes and strikes one last time as Xion breaks her barrier, a massive white blast of light sends the nightmare far away from Xion. She raises her keyblade to the sky and calls through thunder to reign upon her foe. The Nightmare writhes as the electricity courses through its dark body.
The nightmare gets up as the lightning ceases, The two keyblade warriors charge at each other. Xion prepares for another blade lock, but is instead meant with many slashes from the nightmare, Xion is sent flying back, but she manages to land on her feet. The nightmare dashes back and aims its keyblade, before shooting many light projectiles. Xion weaves around the projectiles before dashing at the nightmare, the projectiles still following her.
The nightmare stabs at her but she leaps over it, The nightmare is pierced by its own light stunning it before Xion finishes it off by stabbing it with her own keyblade. The nightmare is still. Xion pulls out her keyblade and steps back. Xion buts her hand on her chest as she gets a strange feeling, before noticing something, the image on the stained glass isn't of Sora anymore, but rather, of herself. The nightmare slowly gets to its feet, before turning to her.
"Keep promise. . . meet again. . ." the nightmare begins to fade away.
"Wait a minute! Who are you!?" asks Xion.
"I am. . . what you seek. What all of you seek. . ." says the nightmare, before disappearing. Xion doesn't understand what that means, but that doesn't matter anymore, as she hears a voice of distress.
Namine opens her eyes to see The Beast, holding her up and keep her safe. Namine looks to the end of the bridge and notices Xion lying on the ground, she then looks to over to see Roxas, and her eyes widen. Roxas is backed into a corner, he holds his two keyblades in an X-formation as he holds back four of Xaldin's lances.
"Roxas!" Namine cries, she reaches out for him but is pulled back by Beast.
"No. . . you're hurt. . . we both are. . ." says the beast weakly.
Namine looks down and knows he's rise. They're both bleeding, with multiple cuts and injuries seen visibly, and she can barely stand. She looks on in horror as Xaldin grabs his last two lances and approaches Roxas, he laughs.
"Look where those bonds have gotten you now Roxas," Xaldin says, his smirk growing wider. "You'll die as you were born, alone, and forgotten." Xion's eyes begin to open as she looks over to her beloved. "Now watch! And wear the face of despair!" shouts Xaldin, as he pulls back his lance and prepares to stab Roxas. Xion's eyes widen as adrenaline flows through her veins. She jumps to her feet and materializes her keyblade, before dashing and piercing Xaldin's body with her keyblade. Xaldin stops as his eyes widen, shocked at the sudden change of events, Roxas smirks before parrying away Xaldin's four lances, before stabbing Xaldin with Oathkeeper and Oblivion. He steps back a bit, though he can barely move with the three keyblades in his body. Roxas and Xion pull out their keyblades before Xion quickly comes to Roxas's side before Xaldin falls to his knees, black dust rising from his body. "I don't understand, how?" Xaldin looks at the two.
"I already told you," says Roxas. "You wouldn't know because you lack bonds and love." Xaldin is still before he laughs, perhaps at himself.
"Maybe you're right, maybe I am the one who doesn't understand. . ." Xaldin admits, before he collapses to the ground, and disappearing, his only remains being the black dust in the air. Roxas and Xion turn to The Beast and Namine. They run over to their side and allow Namine to use them as support.
"You're castle and everyone in it is safe now." Says Roxas, trying to hide his exhaustion.
"Yes, thanks to you three." The beast smiles weakly.
"Come with me, I can find a place for you all to rest while tending to your wounds." Says the beast.
"Sorry, but we can't stay for long." Says Xion, "We have other people who need our help."
"Yeah, just tell Belle we said goodbye" Roxas adds on. The beast looks concerned but trusts them with their decision. He waves farewell as Roxas and Xion raise their keyblades, and the three disappear in a flash of light. They reappear in the gummi ship moments later. Roxas and Xion guide her to the front cockpit seat and set her down.
"Alright. . .your okay now. . . get some. . .rest" Roxas says between gasps of breath, before suddenly reverting from valor form and collapsing, Namine reaches out to him and Xion manages to grab him before he hits the ground. "I'm . . . fine. I'm okay. . ." Roxas tries to play it off, but Xion has none of it and puts him in his seat.
"Roxas, You were in Valor form for a long time, please just rest." Xion puts her hand on his shoulder. Namine looks to the ground.
"This is my fault. . . isn't it?" asks Namine, the two look at her with concern. "If I hadn't come with, Roxas would be fine, I wouldn't have been used . . ." Namine remembers everything The beast said happened in between getting knocked out and waking up. "Xion wouldn't have . . ." tears begin to fall again. "I wouldn't have broken Roxas's" She covers her face, and the two quickly rush to her side, forgetting their exhaustion.
"That's not true! It's not your fault Namine. You tried your best." Roxas says
"But, your keyblade. . . Without it you cant. . ." Namine hyperventilates
"It's fine Namine. We'll find a way, we always do." Xion says calmly. "Just rest, for now," Says Xion. Namine looks at her two friends, and nods, before closing her eyes, and falling asleep. Xion helps Roxas back to his seat, before going to the terminal and typing away
"Hollow Bastion?" asks Roxas.
"Yes. We need somewhere to go where we know we'll be safe," says Xion, before setting the ship to autopilot, and taking her seat before blasting off. Roxas and Xion grasp each other's hands.
"Hey, Xion."
"Yeah Roxas?"
"When you. . . you know. . ."
"Yeah?"
"Did you see somebody familiar when waking up in that strange place?
"Yeah. I recognized him from my nightmares."
''Me too."
"Did the stain glass change for you too?"'
"Yeah. I don't know what it means."
". . . me neither Roxas. Me neither." The two finally close their eyes and let the warmth of their palms remind themselves of what they can't afford to lose.