In a certain room in Daybreak Town...
"The world is going to end?" Luxu asked his Master who was thumbing through the Book of Prophecies.
"Haven't I told you? There's no way for us to win against the darkness. That's why we needed to use the time we had to get all those Keyblade wielders ready to pass the torch to the next generation."
The Master of Masters turned around. "This world exists to nurture the Dandelions, our little seeds of light, so they can be sown into the future, where they can stop the darkness. Then, the sun will finally set on this duskless dawn." He placed a hand on Luxu's shoulder. "And our plan will have succeeded at last."
Luxu approached the box. "I'll get started then."
"Oh, wait, I almost forgot."
"There's more?"
"Like I said, we've been fighting the darkness for a long, long time. During this battle, darkness shed its form and began attacking our hearts instead of our bodies, claiming countless allies of mine along the way. But at some point, darkness realized that without form, they would eventually lose their individual will. Which brings us to now."
"Darkness has no form?"
"'From seven, all is fulfilled. From thirteen, chaos is born.' As it states, darkness began as thirteen."
The Master began to walk around the room restlessly.
"Without form, they spread throughout and became a whole. The ones that continued to spread and derived their own forms became the Heartless, while those without forms developed individual will. And now the formless yearn to take over the bodies of those with strong hearts."
"Strong hearts...?"
Suddenly, the Master's tone became more grave. "You can't destroy darkness if it has no form, which is why you need a vessel with a strong heart. That's where you all come in."
"Wait a minute..."
"I know how it sounds, but believe me when I say that I didn't train you all just to turn you into vessels. I pushed you to become resilient—resilient enough to withstand darkness even if it were to take over your hearts."
Luxu could hardly believe what he was hearing. "This was your plan..."
"This war—between people and something entirely different. You can't afford to get sentimental; you need to be pragmatic. I chose this fate for you because I believed you could bear it. Now, listen. There are thirteen darknesses. Of those thirteen, we'll trap the deadliest seven inside the hearts of each of us."
Each of the Master's disciples was an exemplary model of one of the heavenly virtues, which was why he thought they would be able to host one of the deadly sins and endure it.
"And so the reliable Ira, who wore the mask of the unicorn, was given his role to take over for the Master and to lead the others."
Ira - Wrath. Inordinate and uncontrolled feelings of anger and hatred.
Patientia - Patience. The state of endurance under difficult circumstances.
"Similarly, the virtuous Invi, who wore the mask of the snake, was given her role to watch over the others with a fair eye."
Invidia - Envy. Discontent toward someone else's abilities, rewards, status, or traits.
Benevolentia - Kindness. Being considerate, humane, sympathetic, and warmhearted.
"The fearless Aced, who wore the mask of the bear, was given his role to support their brand-new leader, Ira."
Acedia - Sloth. A failure to do things that one should do.
Industria - Diligence. Conscientiousness, determination, or perseverance.
"The prudent Ava, who wore the mask of the fox, was given her role to prepare exceptional Keyblade wielders for the world after."
Avaritia - Greed. Excessive or rapacious desire and pursuit of material possessions.
Caritas - Charity. An attitude of tolerance and understanding toward others.
"The coolheaded Gula, who wore the mask of the leopard, was given his role to uncover the mystery of the Book of Prophecies."
Gula - Gluttony. Overconsumption and overindulgence of anything to the point of waste.
Temperentia - Temperance. Moderation or voluntary self-restraint.
The Master continued his explanation, "We'll all go our separate ways and destroy the darkness wherever we end up. That's the true purpose of the Keyblade War."
"Is it really necessary for the Unions to betray each other? Is the War the only way?"
"It is. I used the passage in the Book about the traitor to plant doubt inside all of you for darkness to feed on. For them to take the bait, we all need to harbor true, real emotions. And when emotions grow and clash, they'll get stronger, and eventually the seven shadows will try to take over our hearts."
"And you want them to succeed?"
"Yes."
Luxu lowered his head. "You can't do this!"
"I told you not to let sentimentality cloud your judgement. It's a tragedy when darkness takes over someone's heart. I know that all too well because I've seen those that I cared about, my closest allies, drown in darkness. This isn't some heroic tale about the battle between light and darkness. It's about honoring the dignity of those with hearts."
But Luxu was still unsure.
"Besides, I'm not planning on sacrificing anyone. I have a safety plan."
Having nothing left to say, Luxu decided to place his trust in his Master and departed.
The Master placed his hand on his chest. "May your heart be your guiding key. Your thoughts, your feelings, your actions...You are they key to the future. I'm counting on you, traitor Luxu."
Luxuria - Intense and uncontrolled desire.
Castitas - Chastity. One's behavior, desires, and emotions in control.
The traitor walked across the wasteland along with a black box. On it was written χSuper.
Superbia - Pride. Believing that one is essentially better than others.
Humilitas - Humility. Having a clear perspective and respect for one's place in context.
The Lost Master chose his final disciple in the future. He would be the scapegoat.
Nine heroes stepped onto a barren, windswept land.
"It's time. The Keyblade Graveyard is up ahead," Mickey informed them.
Everyone nodded, directing their eyes toward their destination.
"Someone's coming," Sora announced softly.
Beyond a cloud of dust, Master Xehanort approached them across the wasteland, his pace calm and unhurried.
He stopped before the assembled heroes and began to speak:
"Legend has it that darkness once covered the world. We know so little about the Keyblade War—only that it was just the beginning. If ruin brings about creation, what, then, would another Keyblade War bring? When the darkness falls, will we be found worthy of the precious light the legend speaks of?"
Ansem appeared beside Master Xehanort. "Or will all of creation be instead returned to the shadows? Today, we will re-create the legend and see."
Next, Xemnas stepped forward, taking his place on the other side of Master Xehanort. "But first… Your light shines far too brightly. It must be extinguished in order for the truth to be seen."
Vanitas appeared in front of the previous three. "Only when your hopes have been broken by battle upon battle can the key be claimed to Kingdom Hearts."
"And break you is what we shall do," said Young Xehanort, who had appeared next to Vanitas. "It has been etched."
That next Xehanort arrived. Terra's hair was white and his blue eyes had turned to gold.
"Terra!" Ventus shouted.
"He is their thirteenth," Mickey said softly.
"Today is the day you all lose," Terra-Xehanort quietly told the nine heroes.
"What?!" Aqua cried.
A dark fog began to congeal behind Terra-Xehanort, and the sky darkened. "Before you even face the thirteen, every last one of you will be torn heart from body. But fear not. The χ-Blade will still be forged."
Xigbar chose that moment to make his entrance. "A real test for the Mark of Mastery. We gotta make sure you're not blundering your way toward a second failure," he said with a sneer.
Ven and Aqua couldn't help but glare at him.
Lea answered with a snarky comment of his own, "Blundering? I'll have you know we failed with style, chief."
"At least you admit it. Well, if you guardians think you brought the goods, you'll have to prove it to the old guy one last time," returned Xigbar.
Darkness flowed from the seven deadliest villains, causing the dark figure looming behind them to swell even larger. The darkness surrounded the whole area, blocking out the sky itself. The cloud opened, and countless Heartless, began raining down upon Sora and the other guardians of light. Several Demon Towers burst from the ground around Sora and his friends.
"Look at how many there are!" Sora summoned his Keyblade and prepared to defend himself.
"Okay, gang, get ready!" Mickey cried out as the number of Heartless grew and grew.
The Shadows were so great in number that it was hard to tell if they were a tower, a tide, or even individuals at all. One thing was certain: There were enough of them to consume the world. The creatures attacked haphazardly, and while Sora and the other guardians dispatched any that came their way, there was no end in sight.
"This isn't good," said Mickey nervously.
"Form up! Now!" Aqua shouted.
Everyone gathered in a circle, but they were being pressed back in on one another. Within the defensive ring, Mickey looked down at the Keyblade in his hand.
Is this it for us…? No, we can't fall here!
Mickey started to raise his Keyblade—only to be stopped short by Riku.
Mickey looked up at him, but Riku only shook his head quietly.
"If you try to use time magic against these numbers, you won't have enough strength for the final battle."
Noticing how weary the others were getting, Mickey lowered his eyes sadly.
"I'll try and break through," Aqua called. "Everyone, get ready!"
"Alone? That's crazy! I'll help!" said Ventus.
Both of them struck at the Heartless, but no more than that.
"Two is no better," said Kairi.
"Yeah, splitting up's a bad idea!" Lea added, punctuating the statement with a swing of his Keyblade. Even as they argued, more and more Shadows were falling from the sky like a black rain.
"There's way too many!" Goofy yelped, dropping into a fearful crouch.
"We're finished!" Donald quickly joined him.
It's over…
Or so Sora thought, until an orb of light lanced through the gloom overhead and fell upon their foes. The light grew into a radiant column that sent the Shadows flying every which way, and the guardians had to shield their eyes against it. When they opened them again to see what had happened, standing before them was Yen Sid.
"Master Yen Sid!"
The sorcerer, who was also a Keyblade Master, clapped his glowing hands together, then quickly held them aloft, releasing a burst of light that destroyed any Shadow it touched and created a pathway straight through the horde. It was as if he were parting a great sea.
"Go, my young champions. I will hold them all here for as long as I can."
"We're not gonna leave you behind!" Mickey cried.
Donald and Goofy looked at each other and then, with a nod, ran over to Yen Sid's side.
"You guys go on!"
"Me and Donald will stay here. The two of us'll back up Master Yen Sid!"
The two of them readied their weapons to protect the sorcerer's back.
"Donald… Goofy…" Sadness filled Sora's voice. They had stuck by his side through all his adventures thus far, and he hated to leave them.
"You're a whole pint by yourself, Sora," Donald said in reply.
"Don't worry. We'll catch up with ya in just a bit!" Goofy added with a smile.
Sora and Mickey looked at their friends.
"Okay!"
"We'll regroup later!"
Yen Sid then shouted, "Make haste!"
Sora and the rest of his companions ran down the glowing path the sorcerer had cleared for them.
The seven guardians of light eventually reached a crossroads in the wasteland marked out by countless Keyblades thrust into the reddish-brown soil. Aqua, Ventus, and Terra had been here once before.
Sora and the others came to a halt in the middle of the crossroads. Thirteen figures clad in black coats were walking toward them with Master Xehanort at the center.
"Today, we join these other wielders and leave our mark on fate. I have waited patiently…but together, we shall unlock the Keyblade War's secrets. Now we forge it. The ultimate key… The χ-Blade!" he said, calling his Keyblade to his hands and plunging it into the ground.
With a deafening rumble and huge clouds of dust, thick walls engraved with arcane symbols rose up from the wasteland, cutting off any other possible paths for Sora and his companions and trapping them in a labyrinth. The guardians of light found themselves surrounded on all four sides, and beyond the maze they could see Master Xehanort standing atop a solitary stone pillar in the distance. Just below him, the remaining twelve figures in black coats stood before him like a barrier on top of a wide, square platform.
"Here we go," Sora said to his friends, and then they stepped into the maze that beckoned them onward. After a short time, they reached a fork in the path. Sora was wondering how to best make their way through the narrow corridors of the maze with so many people when Riku offered an idea:
"Looks like splitting into two groups might be our best option."
"Yeah, I agree."
Riku walked down one passage, while Mickey walked down the other. Aqua and Ventus followed the king, while Kairi and Lea joined Riku.
"Be careful, everyone," called Kairi.
"Same to you," Sora said back, then let out a deep breath. Donald and Goofy aren't with me anymore, but that doesn't mean I have to do this alone. I just have to choose carefully…
Everyone nodded, then ran ahead. Master Xehanort watched from above, satisfied.
Ansem roared as he created a barrage of black orbs. While Riku and Sora weathered the attack, Ansem put some distance between them and unleashed a murky fog. With a mocking smile, he turned to make his exit.
"Wait!" Riku shouted as he raced to catch him. "Ansem!"
But then a voice called out, "Where are you going?" and sent Riku crashing to the ground.
"You!" Riku shouted, taking a step forward.
"I see you remember me."
"How could I forget?" Riku said half to himself, lowering his head for a moment. "You're my past self, from when Ansem possessed me."
Amused by his chagrin, the other Riku—Dark Riku—opened his eyes wide, bared his teeth, and laughed loudly.
"I'd say that was our finest hour."
Riku returned the gaze of his younger self. "Wrong. My hour of weakness."
"You sure? How about we find out?!"
Riku and his dark version were in the midst of a fierce exchange. Sora hurried over to assist his friend with Keyblade at the ready.
"Let me handle this, Sora. You go with the King and take on the others."
Sora took one more look at Dark Riku.
Riku will be fine, he told himself. That guy may look like him, but he doesn't even come close.
"Okay."
After a fierce battle, Riku finally delivered the coup de grâce and sent his foe flying.
Dark Riku rose on unsteady feet as black vapor began to seep out and shroud his form in darkness. "You're not…real," he said, faltering. His face was contorted with agony.
"Huh?" Riku inhaled sharply.
"I'm…the real one…" Dark Riku said again. His breathing was labored, and he seemed on the verge of losing consciousness.
"He accepts the darkness...just like you once couldn't help but accept me. But now you are afraid. Perhaps YOU are the one who is being fake. Fake when you pretend to have no fear."
Ansem was right.
"This Keyblade, it's a sham—worthless."
"You're the real sham."
And so was Xion.
"I'm sorry that I called you a fake."
When the Riku Replica looked up at Riku, he was still glaring.
"You weren't the fake. I was."
"Once we step through, we might not be able to come back. We may never see our parents again. There's no turning back. But this may be our only chance. We can't let fear stop us! I'm not afraid of the darkness!"
"I said I wasn't afraid of the darkness. That was a lie. I was terrified of the darkness. Of never seeing my parents or my friends ever again. I had no idea what would happen once I opened that door. I was horrified when the islands started being consumed. That was when I met him. That Robed Figure called to me and told me to have no fear. His voice...it reminded me of Terra. I thought I'd be able find the strength I needed by following him."
"Riku, why are you siding with the Heartless?"
"The Heartless obey me now, Sora. Now I have nothing to fear."
"You're stupid. Sooner or later they'll swallow your heart."
"When I found Kairi, she was in Neverland—the fantasyland where the dreams of children are born. Maybe there was a reason her body ended up there of all places. My dream was always to leave the islands and see what was out there. And when I finally did, I found her in that state. I was afraid that she'd never wake up."
Riku's expression became very sad.
"She had lost her heart because of the darkness in me. I thought that if I could just let go of my fear and control that darkness, I could save her and atone for my sin."
"You showed no fear in stepping through the door to darkness. It held no terror for you. Plunge deeper into the darkness, and your heart will grow even stronger."
"What should I do?"
"It's really quite simple. Open yourself to the darkness. That is all. Let your heart, your being become darkness itself."
"I didn't give myself over to darkness because I had no fear. It was because I was a coward. I lost the Keyblade to Sora. The one thing that made me special. Because my heart was weaker than his."
The Robed Figure's aura was blue, indicating calmness. However, Riku's was green, a sign of envy, jealousy, or guilt.
"Stop it, Sora! Don't you recognize me?"
"Yeah, I recognize you. I can see exactly what you've become!"
"How can the light hurt you? Riku... Have you really become a creature of the dark? You're not Riku anymore... You're just a pawn of the darkness. So be it. It's time for you to face the light!"
"I turned away from the light. No—not from the light exactly. From Sora. Because Sora shone too brightly… He became the Keyblade hero of light, and I had given myself over to the darkness. After that, I was afraid to face him. I was too ashamed."
The Replica looked his other self in the eye and the real Riku held his gaze.
"All of the emotions I felt back then—they were real. Just like you are. I'm sorry that I denied you. You're me. And I'm you. Without you, I wouldn't have found the strength I needed to protect those who matter."
Riku Replica smiled back at Riku as he disappeared, this time in a bright light, rather than a puddle of darkness. "Thank you."
"What happens when a fake like me dies? Where will my heart go? Maybe it'll just disappear."
"It'll go somewhere. Maybe to the same place as mine."
Riku held his hand to his heart. You did find your way back to me, because you are me.
Avoiding the onslaught by a hairbreadth, Sora landed a swift Keyblade strike on Larxene as she returned to the ground.
The desperate blow knocked the fight right out of her.
"Are you kidding?" Larxene sank to her knees in pain as the darkness fled her body.
"You're gonna be recompleted," Sora reassured her.
Ughhh, I don't want to be human again. It's easier to have no heart. It means I don't have to like or dislike anyone in particular. It's painful to really like something. That's why I was always good at exploiting feelings like that.
"I didn't ask you for your garbage opinion. I lost! To a bunch of losers like you!"
Larxene cast her gaze up toward the sky.
"But…could be worse. Become that geezer's heart tank? No thanks."
"Then why help him?"
"I was really just along for the ride," she said offhandedly.
"With…?" Sora asked.
Looking at the boy, Larxene recalled the first thing she said to Roxas on the seventh day he had been a member:
"Eww. You're awake?"
And then on her day that she was assigned to train him:
"You can do today's mission WITHOUT your Keyblade."
"What? Why!?"
"Because I said so, that's why! Saïx told you to practice magic today, didn't he? Well, sink or swim."
Larxene shot him a quick glance from the corner of her eye. "My secret," she said with a finger pressed to her mouth, then faded to oblivion.
After the pillar of darkness left his body, Demyx looked up at a familiar face.
"Heya, Roxas. Man, it's nice seein' you again. Ya know, just for the record, I always liked you."
Demyx sounded so utterly sincere that, this time, Sora didn't quite have it in him to explain that he wasn't Roxas. In truth Demyx was aware, but he wanted to talk to Roxas again so badly that it didn't matter to him.
"How's Axel doin'? I hear he's on your guy's side now. Tell him I said hi, would ya?"
Sora never could make heads or tails of this guy. Why was he always acting all nicey-nice?
"You're the last person I expected to see here, Demyx. No offense, but you didn't seem all that strong when I fought you in the last Organization XIII."
Demyx hung his head. "This again, seriously? Like I was tellin' Larxene, I am extremely imposing when I want to be. As you just saw."
It was true, he was quite the formidable opponent for Sora.
"I don't get it. You were quivering in fear before we fought in Hollow Bastion and before that, you ran away."
"Let's see, here... 'If the subject fails to respond, use aggression to liberate his true disposition'... Right. Did they ever pick the wrong guy for this one..."
"Well, duh. How would you react if they ordered you to attack one of your old buddies? I don't really wanna do anything that painful, you know? Well, sometimes you gotta do stuff like that to stay alive, but I wanna have a fun life if I can."
Sora was completely at a loss for words.
"Then perhaps he bet his NON-existence. Either way, he came out a winner. Oh, Axel. A grifter to the end."
"That's absurd. He won nothing and is nothing. He couldn't stand the emptiness of being without a heart, and that led to his demise. He was foolish and weak."
"But... Weakness has the power to awaken that which is dormant. It is clear that through his actions, however foolish they may have been, Axel has touched Sora's heart. Perhaps HE will soon awaken."
"But they said they wanted me to awaken Roxas within you. If you didn't respond, then I'd have to fight you. I'm not that smart, so I didn't know, but Luxord said Xemnas sent me after you because he was hoping that you'd destroy me. Oh! He knew that because Xemnas was hoping Roxas would wake up when Axel bit the dust, too."
Sora was totally horrified by how casually he was telling him all of this. "That's so... But I never—"
"It is what it is. Yeah, so it doesn't really mean much, and that's that. I'm not cut out for fighting. It's more fun to play my sitar."
Demyx was no longer making eye contact. Sora always thought he was obliviously carefree, but now, he couldn't help but see his sitar strumming as a self-soothing mechanism.
"Is that why you stole that Replica from Even and Ienzo? Because the Organization also wanted to bring Roxas back?"
Sora knew that they needed him to complete Vanitas's heart.
"Hey, I didn't steal it. Zex—ugh, Ienzo gave it to me."
"What? But he told us that you stole that Replica!"
"I love days when Larxene is out. I can sit around playing sitar...instead of gopher!"
"Well, yeah, that's what Larxene ordered me to do. But I wound up havin' a long chat with him, and he wound up givin' it to me."
Demyx was always the Organization's gopher. He was the junior member who received the most mundane and thankless work. He was also Larxene's personal gopher. She'd always ask him to do tasks or fetch her items and she asked him to get the Replica without telling him the reason why.
"They knew they weren't havin' much luck with Roxas, but ya see, Xehanort managed to nab Ansem the Wise. He said he wanted to atone, and we all knew he would be able to bring him back. I asked 'em not to tell you guys 'cause it was a top secret mission."
Sora was speechless.
"Weren't things fun back in those days? Except for the old guy's bunch, a lot of people had a good buddy in the Organization. Like Axel and X-face, or Marly and Larxene, or Zexion and Vexen, or Xaldin and Lexaeus? And I guess in the end, I hung out with Luxord a lot. A lot of 'em ended up being part Xehanort, though."
Demyx's smile did not reach his eyes.
"Demyx... Why are you here?" Sora asked softly.
"Well, you know, it's kind of a long story... oh, yeah, maybe I wanted friends? Ehhh, well, I know it's kinda uncool, but now that I think about it, yeah, maybe that really is why."
"Are you telling me you decided to let an evil maniac possess you and cause the end of the world, just so you could be with your old comrades again!?"
He produced a Gummiphone from his pocket, hoping to dispel any doubt.
"Oh right, here. See? All the cool kids have one, right? Zex…er, Ienzo got me this. Enough proof for ya?"
That Gummiphone was proof enough that Ienzo at least trusted him.
"Aaaaaanyways, now that that's outta the way, I asked Ienzo to get Marly, Larxene, and Luxord their own Gummiphones, too. So do you and the other Roxas and Axel wanna, like, be my friends? Ienzo and I are already mutuals."
A bright smile formed on Sora's face. "You got it, Demyx."
"Rock on!" He chirped with what could only be called childlike enthusiasm.
And with that, Demyx slowly vanished in a dark mist.
Hatred, anger, and sadness... That's exactly what they want. You have to let it go. What happened to my kind and loving brother?
As had happened with his comrade, a dark haze began to stream into the sky from Marluxia's body as he sagged to his knees. His scythe vanished in a shower of petals as it hit the earth beside him.
"Oh… So now it all comes back to me." Marluxia chuckled sadly.
"Hey. Is that a real laugh?" Sora asked.
Marluxia placed a hand against his own chest and turned his gold eyes toward Sora.
"Yes… My heart is remembering how to feel."
"What are you feeling?"
"Sadness, anger, hatred—no, that's not all. Even love is coming back to life in my heart."
"Really? That's good," replied Sora, returning the gaze. "Marluxia. What were you trying to do?"
There was no way I could accept such a future. I couldn't accept the future at all. That wasn't Strelitzia. It was just an empty husk.
Just like those Replicas...
"Xehanort doesn't care about you or me. To him, we're nothing but empty husks. The old Organization was the same. Xehanort needs thirteen vessels to hold his essence."
Just like I became again as a Nobody... No, the truth is, I've been an empty husk ever since that day. That's why...it made no difference to me.
"I only wanted her to blossom forever. My dear little flower—Strelitzia. My younger sister. She was such a precious gift."
"Lucky Number XIII... At last, a chosen wielder of the Keyblade amongst our ranks. With power like yours—"
Marluxia's weapon, crafted out of his human memories, was a scythe. And a reaper, of course, needed the power to harvest hearts.
"I thought if I had the Keyblade's power, I could use it to reclaim her heart. And once I acquired the Replica Program...I could give her a new vessel and bring her back to life once more."
Sora couldn't help but feel incredible pity for Marluxia. "So you joined the True Organization XIII to get a Replica?"
"Yes. However, the Organization decided to use the vessel I intended for Strelitzia to bring back Roxas."
"Roxas..." That's what Demyx said, too.
"I suppose...that is how it should be."
"What do you mean?"
"When Strelitzia was alive, she told me she had a certain 'someone' she wanted to get to know. She denied that it was a crush, but, well, it was written all over her face. I tried to encourage her to talk to him, but she was too shy. She didn't tell me who he was, but I figured it out while I was searching for her. A boy in her class. Quiet, always sitting by the fountain by himself, gazing up at the stars. Master Xehanort had decided to take him on as his pupil, and he was going to be leaving our home world to train. Strelitzia died on the day she planned to talk to him for the first time. The boy's name was Ventus."
"Ah—!"
"When I first met Roxas in Organization XIII, Larxene told me it was the same boy. It wasn't his fault, but...I blamed him for taking my sister away. Perhaps if she had never ran off to find him, that never would have happened. I just needed someone to blame. My anger needed a simple tangible target. Selfish of me, I know. But some emotions are too much to bear. However, I am certain it would have been Strelitzia's wish. I am...glad that he has come back to life."
He smiled gently, although there was sadness in his eyes.
"I...know that Strelitzia has moved on. A weak heart which turns its back on the truth... I see now that it was I who bound my heart in a chain of memories and cast away its freedom. But now, I am on the cusp of reclaiming my identity... My purpose for being... Thanks to you, Sora," Marluxia said.
I suppose for me, to find is to lose, and to lose is to find.
With that, he faded away into black mist.
Sora looked away sadly. "Marluxia..." Ventus came back in his own body. He didn't need that Replica...
Well, I'll be damned. I lost. Sora, you actually give me hope that fate can change.
"Impressive. You were born for these sorts of games." Luxord gasped as the blow sent him to his knees. The rotating cards scattered, and a black miasma flowed out from him.
Sora noticed that he didn't seem too unhappy with his defeat.
"Luxord, why did you decide to side with Master Xehanort?" Sora asked gently.
The Gambler of Fate snorted with laughter.
'On that fated land, a great war shall transpire. Darkness will prevail and the light expire.'
"I wonder, do you know the sure-fire way to win a wager?"
"Huh?"
"If you know you're going to win, there's no need to make a bet, is there? I'm always thinking about the likelihood of losing. That's what being a true gambler is. And the strongest gamblers don't bet at all. Some might say it's because they're already putting their very existence on the line—and those types have considerable influence. But most likely it's because they're not truly playing the game. I recommend that you never play a game against such an opponent."
His voice sounds so...sad.
"Of course, the true thrill of strategy is that you can sometimes beat those kinds of people, but I'm not sure I could say I've done it much, especially these days. Never did find that black box."
"You said you looking for the black box to find 'hope'."
Luxord must have been hurting all this time, too. Just like Demyx, Larxene, and Marluxia.
Luxord then threw a card to Sora, who caught it.
"What's this?"
"The Fool. You've earned it."
"The...Fool?"
Uh, is that supposed to be a compliment?
"It is like the number zero... Empty, yet it holds infinite possibilities. It's the wild card. Could turn the tables... Offer us a new beginning."
"Play ya again sometime," said Sora, observing the card. "When we're just guys."
Luxord grinned and replied, "I should like that very much, Sora."
With that, he transformed into pure darkness and faded from view, leaving behind only a single card, the one bearing Mickey's image.
With a flash, the king was released from his prison.
With their combined efforts, King Mickey and Sora defeated four members.
"Sora!"
"Your Majesty!"
The two friends shared a smile.
"I'll go after Xemnas while you find the others," said Mickey.
"Okay!"
Sora left him and headed back to the initial fork in the maze. This time he took the other path. While the walls were more aggressive in their attempts to stop him than before, Sora made clever use of the cover available as he proceeded.
"Riku!"
Glowing bolts fired from Xigbar's Arrowguns harried Sora as he ran to his friend. Sora shielded Riku from the stream of projectiles using his Keyblade.
Now it was Sora and Riku versus Xigbar.
The battle ended when he finally couldn't take any more. A black miasma began to rise from his body, just as it had when Demyx, Luxord, Marluxia, and Larxene had fallen.
"Figures. If I had a Keyblade, it'd be different…" he muttered.
"Like you're actually worthy to use one," Sora said skeptically.
"Oh, I am worthy," he shot back. Using his Arrowguns for support, Xigbar pushed himself back to his feet.
Sora and Riku exchanged a glance, confused by his extremely confident response.
"Whaddaya mean?"
The cocky smirk never left his face. "Well, Riku, let's just say...we're the same."
"In what way am I possibly like you?"
"The Keyblade can only be wielded by those with strong hearts, right? Didn't you plunge your heart deep into the darkness when your heart was too weak to wield anymore?"
Riku had no retort for that.
Still, Sora found that to be insane. "Is that why you became half-Xehanort!? Just to wield a Keyblade?"
"The old coot promised to bequeath me his. Why else do you think I would ever put up with all his nonsense?"
"What would you even need a Keyblade for after you caused the end of the world!?" Sora retorted.
"What does the 'end of the world' even mean? No one knows what will happen. Remember when Xemnas opened the door to the Kingdom Hearts of this world? When and where exactly was that? How long have you believed that time has passed since then? Does time even pass in the first place?"
Sora and Riku were completely puzzled by that comment.
"What, don't believe me?"
But there was also a certain sadness in Xigbar as he knelt on the ground, despite his smirk.
Just then, Sora remembered something.
"Maleficent and Pete were in Herc's world looking for a black box. Were you also looking for it, too, like Luxord?"
Xigbar began to chuckle. "Who do you think it was who told Luxord about it in the first place?"
"So, then...were you looking for hope, too?"
He kept chuckling until eventually, he burst out in a loud cackle.
Riku and Sora simply stared in bewilderment.
"Mind letting us in on the joke?" said Riku.
"You wanna know what's really in that box? You could say it's a surprise."
The two boys exchanged an intrigued look.
"Here, I'll tell you kids a little bedtime story. Once upon a time, people lived in peace, bathed in the warmth of light. But one day, they began to fight over the light, and everything returned to the void from whence it came. However...legends tell of a mysterious black box that that's been protected by Keyblade wielders since way back when. See? Doesn't that pique your curiosity?"
Sora and Riku's gazes were locked to Xigbar's in anticipation.
"But here's the catch. No one knows how long ago this took place. It might be happening at this very moment, or it might have happened a very long time ago."
Neither Sora nor Riku knew what he was getting at.
"You do realize that judging something by its shape or appearance is the height of foolishness, right? Take a box, for example. What kind of black? Is it even black at all? How do you know if you've found the right one?"
"Be quiet and dig, you imbecile. I must find that Book of Prophecies and make it my own. His was the only clue we have. We cannot afford to dismiss it without a thorough investigation."
"I'm just sayin', a shot in the dark ain't gonna get us any closer to—Ooh? Wow!"
"What is it? Have you found something? Show me at once, fool."
"Those fools are simply looking for a black box. They don't know what kind of box it really is. There's a big difference between 'knowing' and 'understanding'."
"Quit talking in riddles! Just spit it out already," Sora said impatiently.
"All right, it's fine if you know. I'll tell ya what's in that box. Absolutely nothing. It's empty."
Neither Sora or Riku could hide the shock on their faces.
"What!? No, that can't be true! Luxord said the Organization sent him to find it because it contains 'hope'!"
"Precisely."
"Huh?"
"Say, if someone told you the world would end tomorrow, what would you do? Would you think there's nothing you can do about it, or would you try to do something about it? Remember what I said about that black box. No one knows what shade of black it is or anything else about it, really, let alone what's inside. It's so mysterious, you can project all your hopes onto it. Maybe it's the Book of Prophecies, who knows."
Xigbar recalled his conversation with Luxord:
"Picture this: A black goat stashes away a letter, then orders a white goat to search for it. What could his intentions possibly be?"
"Great, a riddle. Just what I need."
"There are many possibilities. Perhaps he forgot where it's hidden, or he's playing a prank, or the letter has truly gone missing. I can think of several reasons offhand; guessing…is simply useless."
"Some say it contains information that's vital to all Keyblade wielders—secrets. Could be a letter. The possibilities are infinite. Doesn't change the fact that it's empty."
"So, you fooled Luxord into joining you by giving him false hope about an empty box!?" Riku gave him an angry glare. "A Keyblade would be wasted on you."
I guess angry glares were the only reward destiny ever had in store for me.
"As if."
With a defiant grimace, Xigbar vanished in a swirl of darkness. Sensing someone watching him from above, Sora looked up to see that he had teleported to the top of one of the stone walls.
"Oh!" He reached out his hand.
Xigbar wasn't a Nobody like Marluxia, Larxene, Demyx, and Luxord. Unlike all of them, he had been implanted with Xehanort's heart while he was still the human known as Braig. He was fully human even now, just like the rest of Ansem the Wise's apprentices. After a fall from that height, he wasn't going to be recompleted.
I was the fool. For ever desiring the power of that cursed Keyblade.
He then slowly staggered backward and toppled from the opposite edge.
His Arrowguns remained for a time, but eventually they, too, dispersed into dark mist.
Despite how rotten he was, Sora and Riku couldn't help but feel incredibly sad for him and how empty he must have been inside.
I think...you probably were looking for hope, Xigbar, thought Sora.
But it was time to get a move on.
"I'm going after Ansem. He may have run off somewhere, but we can't just ignore him."
"Okay. I'll go help the others."
Sora knew there were others who still needed help up ahead, so he hurried off to find them.
After leaving Mickey to go down the left-hand path, Aqua and Ventus soon found Terra—or rather, Terra-Xehanort.
"Terra!" Venus shouted.
Aqua still had her arm in front of him. "Look closely. That's not Terra!"
That's Xehanort, and he's just wearing Terra's form. Any slipups here could spell the end of us.
"Maybe not, but I'm still going to keep calling his name. We have to light his way home," Ventus protested as he looked at his silver-haired friend.
"Ven..." He was so sincere about it, Aqua wasn't sure how to respond. "Let me handle Terra. You have to another darkness to defeat."
"If it's darkness you're looking for, Ventus," said Terra-Xehanort, "then I have more than enough to go around."
Ventus gave one last longing glance to Terra before running off.
She's right. Vanitas came from me. He's my responsibility.
In another part of the maze, he came face-to-face with his other half.
"Well, well, well. Just when I was beginning to feel a little left out."
Today was the day. He'd finally win back the part of himself that slipped away.
"Vanitas. You're coming home, too," Ventus informed him, summoning his Keyblade.
But Vanitas wasn't through. "Huh? But my home is in you. You know what'll happen, right? I'll just disappear inside of you forever. Don't you have any love at all for your own brother?"
"We're not brothers. We're the same," Ventus declared.
Laughter rang out from inside Vanitas's helmet. "You believe that? Then you really are naive."
"Huh?" That wasn't the response Ventus was expecting.
"This may come as a shock to you, but we're not the same like you think. I was just hidden deep inside of you for a really long time. All Xehanort did…was tear me right out of you."
But no matter what the truth was, it all came down to the same thing.
Ventus thrust his Keyblade out at Vanitas. "Then go back to where you came from!"
"Hmm… Make me," Vanitas taunted.
The battle waged on.
Ventus looked straight at Vanitas as his helmet cracked. It was exactly the same face that he saw sleeping in the pod that day.
"Vanitas. You said that we're brothers who, together, make a greater whole. So why stay in the darkness?"
"Because I am darkness. Just as you are light."
"But I didn't ask for this. To be sifted apart, nice and neat. We should be free to choose. Not just light, not just darkness. We decide what we are."
Vanitas lowered his gaze for a moment. "But… Ventus, I did decide who I am. You see?"
"And what you are is darkness?" Ventus asked.
Did I really have a choice? No, of course I did. Why wouldn't I choose darkness?
"What I am is darkness," answered Vanitas quietly.
Living as darkness, alone and incomplete—it wasn't right.
"How is that okay!?"
Vanitas then met Ventus's gaze with a hateful glare. "Shut up!"
Ventus was slightly taken aback. Vanitas always maintained an almost playful demeanor. He had never seen him lose his cool like this.
"Empty creature from Ventus riven...to you, the name Vanitas shall be given."
"Yes, Master."
"Right after I separated from you, I was left standing alone in the Badlands. Right from the moment we separated, I knew how I came to exist. Because I was a mass of darkness from a heart—a vessel for negative emotions. I took off my mask and all that was underneath was a doll-like face with jet-black skin and red eyes."
Ventus just listened in silence.
"In the Badlands with its fiercely blowing wind, I clenched my fists and closed my eyes at that feeling resembling pain. Then a black shadow emerged behind me. When I looked up, the shadow's red eyes glowed, and it turned into a monster. I stretched my hand toward it, and the monster pranced around me like a playful kitten. I swung my Keyblade down at the being—an Unversed—that had just been born and was like me. The Unversed vanished without a word."
"What exactly are Unversed?"
"Ones who aren't well versed in life. They've also been called Unbirths. Those who hail from the void. Hey, isn't that like me and you? I don't care which one is the real deal." He clenched his fist. "I wonder how much negative emotion there is in this world. If you think rage is the only negative emotion out there, you're wrong. There's sadness, loneliness, uneasiness, jealousy, anger. But they all feed into hatred." He glared at Ventus. "Feel hate. Feel anger. Why not hate your own existence, too, while you're at it? You experienced it too, didn't you? You hated yourself. I hated you—Ventus. And I tried to absorb you and then disappeared for a while."
Vanitas continued, still looking at Ventus as he spoke, "Was it you I hated? Or maybe it was me? It doesn't matter anymore. I disappeared once, but now I'm back, being used by someone again. Seems like just forcing me to exist wasn't enough for Xehanort. I hate Xehanort, I hate you, I hate all the rest of you guardians, I hate the world, and now I'm disappearing again. That's how I choose to live. I live on my own terms. I came from the void and now I'm returning to it."
"What is the void?" asked Ventus.
"It's neither darkness nor light, more like an abyss. So, good night, Ventus. It's far better than going back inside of you. You pushed all your darkness off on me while you went scampering off with your friends! How dare you say we're the same!"
His voice was cracking with unmitigated rage.
"For the seven days since my arrival—the name Roxas, and the number thirteen were all I had. Who the people around me were, what they wanted, or what they were trying to do, I had no idea..."
It was finally Ventus's turn to respond.
"After I lost you, I was incomplete and my heart fused with Sora's. I became a part of him. Like you, I was an empty creature given a name and nothing else. I had no idea why I was born or what purpose there was to my existence. But even though I was a Nobody who wasn't supposed to exist, I still had friends. Sora was the big secret that came between me and Axel and ruined our friendship. His face was the last thing I saw before I had to destroy Xion with my own hands. Everything I ever had was lost to me."
"He holds half of Sora's power within him. In the end, he'll have to give it back."
"After that, my memories were wiped and I was placed in the Datascape. I lived out an ordinary life there with my friends. But it was all fake. When I was in the Organization, I always saw three kids playing together. I envied them. I wanted to be one of them. But I wasn't. My virtual life was created based on my memories of watching them from the sidelines. They were never my friends. I was really just the missing part of Sora that he needed in order to be whole again. I wasn't supposed to exist. My fate was to disappear forever just so he could wake up. Sora's face was the last thing I saw. Then my summer vacation was over."
"I envied him."
"It's time you learned what real hurt feels like!"
"No. I hated him. I wanted him to suffer like I had."
"I hate you so much..."
"You should share some of that hatred with Sora. He's far too nice for his own good."
"No! My heart belongs to me!"
"But even then, I had to give all of that hatred back. Because my heart didn't even belong to me."
Vanitas simply stared at Ventus.
"So, you're wrong, Vanitas. I do understand how you feel. Because I am you. And you're me."
Vanitas was still quiet.
"How about this. You can share all your hatred with me and I'll share all my friendships with you. You won't disappear. You'll be whole."
Vanitas lifted his head toward the sky and smiled. His expression was similar to Roxas's on the day that his summer vacation ended. But instead of sadness, his smile was one of total catharsis.
"You make a good other."
For Ventus, the end of his fated counterpart was the end of a long, exhausting fight.
"Aqua. Are you really so heartless that you would attack your dear friend just for succumbing to the darkness? The one you were once willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for?"
Only your heart is hollow enough to be a demon's.
Aqua called forth her Keyblade. "Stop! Quit using my friend for your games."
"A Keyblade Master wielding your key in anger? Shameful," Terra-Xehanort sneered.
Are you really worthy of being a Keyblade Master?
Aqua lowered her weapon. "We have unfinished business."
You'll never see the realm of light again.
"I fell into darkness, and for ten years I wandered through the dark realm. Now…I'm finally here."
Terra-Xehanort smirked at her grave reply.
"And I want only one thing, with all my heart. Xehanort… I'm casting you out of Terra forever!"
With a smirk at her challenge, Terra-Xehanort launched himself at Aqua, closing the distance in a single moment. Though he wore Terra's body, his moves and skill with a Keyblade were all Xehanort. The fierce battle raged on and on for what felt like an eternity.
Aqua recalled what she told Mickey when she encountered him in the Realm of Darkness:
"Well, wherever he is, he's fighting. He'll beat his darkness. And I know he wants me to fight, too."
After a long fight, his Keyblade met Aqua's with terrible momentum, enough to drive her to one knee.
Is there any point in continuing this fight?
"Just shut up!" Aqua shouted at the voice inside her head.
"What's the matter? Has the darkness taken you, Aqua?"
The fight continued.
He's gotta be wearing down now…
Terra-Xehanort let out a roar, calling the Dark Figure forth to attack Aqua.
"Darkness awaits you!" he shouted with rage as the Dark Figure grabbed Aqua and lifted her off the ground. She could see the darkness billowing upward from her enemy's body.
Just let go of everything and fade into the darkness.
Maybe I should...
His groans turned to a howl as a wave of darkness erupted from his body, turning into chains that lashed around Aqua, like whips and held her suspended in the air.
At the center of the chains, Terra-Xehanort continued to writhe.
"You'll never be able to break these chains. They're our bonds." He laughed as the chains holding Aqua came to life, swinging her around violently.
Your bonds of friendship only tie you down.
It's true...
Aqua was helpless as Terra-Xehanort prepared to send her crashing down from a great height.
No one can save you. And no one wants to.
I know...
But someone then intercepted the attack.
"Who are you?"
It was a man clad in armor, forcing the possessed figure back.
"Terra?" Aqua said softly, still suspended in the air.
That armor had once belonged to her friend. And what lay within it now…was Terra's lingering will. Though there was no one physically in the armor now, the thoughts and desires dwelling within it were still fighting to protect everyone.
"This is impossible! You fell to the darkness!"
How I've waited for this moment.
Terra-Xehanort was then forced to fend off a furious assault.
"Terra!"
"Wretched spirit!" Terra-Xehanort spat.
The Lingering Will responded by holding out its Keyblade.
As long as Master Xehanort resides within you, you're a threat to Aqua and Ven.
"How noble. You would give your life for theirs?" Terra-Xehanort sneered.
You must be removed from existence…at all costs.
The Lingering Will charged, Terra-Xehanort did the same, and the two came together with a vicious clash.
"Begone!" Terra-Xehanort shouted. In the same instant, the Dark Figure directly behind Terra-Xehanort rose up behind him and seized the Lingering Will by the head, trying to crush its helmet.
"Now you are finished."
"Terra!" Aqua shouted.
"What are you waiting for!? Finish him off!"
Behind him, the Dark Figure tore the bindings covering its mouth off and spoke in a hoarse, gravelly voice. "One day…I…will…"
What were previously just thoughts were now audible. Terra's heart had found its voice after being silenced for so long.
That's Terra's voice!
"One day…I will set…this right… I will return to this land…and protect…my friends!"
The Dark Figure crushed the Lingering Will's helmet, and the rest of the armor fell to pieces that vanished in a brilliant burst of light. Then it grabbed the chains and crunched them in its palm, shattering them. As Aqua fell, he caught her and set her on the ground.
She noticed that the hollowed-out heart indentation in the center of the Dark Figure begin to glow.
"Ah—!"
Seizing the opportunity, she readied her Keyblade.
A beam of light shot from it and hit the Dark Figure.
Black vapors began to pour out of Terra and his limp body fell to the ground. His heart and soul were now both back inside of their rightful vessel. The man was bathed in light as his hair darkened from silver to brown, and his old appearance returned.
Aqua ran over to her dear friend who had fallen on the ground. But he wouldn't wake, at least not yet.
Deep within the labyrinth, Lea and Kairi were locked in a face-off with an old adversary.
"Kairi, if things start getting ugly, I want you to stay behind me, all right?"
"No. I've been training just as long as you have. I promise I won't get in your way."
"I didn't mean it like that..."
"You don't have to worry about me. The only reason you got involved with Organization XIII is because you were trying to rescue me. I'm going to stand by your side and help you save your friend."
Lea nodded. "All right then. Thank you."
Saïx fought very similarly to the Berserkers he once commanded. Were those Nobodies really swinging their hammers? Or were the hammers swinging the Nobodies? In actuality, those Nobodies were being dragged around by their cursed weapon, and Saïx was no different. He only turned berserk and lost control when he gripped his giant blade.
Saïx repelled an assault from Kairi using a particularly powerful blue energy wave, knocking her unconscious.
No sooner had Lea parried the strike than Saïx charged in with his Claymore, its blue edge clashing with the red of Lea's Keyblade. The impact knocked Lea into the air, forcing him to do a flip before he landed some distance away.
Lea ran over to where Kairi had fallen and intercepted Saïx as he moved in to finish her off, shouting Saïx's human name. "Stop it, Isa!"
The incredible force of Saïx's attack drove Lea to his knees and Saïx held the large Claymore high above his head.
"I know I won't forget you. Believe me. I try all the time."
Saïx's eyes glowed with a sinister light as they looked down upon Lea. It was clear that his former friend didn't even recognize him anymore.
This is it. It's over. I'm too weak. Isa, I'm sorry.
But Saïx didn't move. Instead, he just stood there motionless. Then, he lowered his arm.
He...stopped. He isn't going to attack me...?
"Isa! You remember me?"
But before he could revel in the moment, another man arrived.
"Xemnas..." Lea could hardly mask his contempt.
The former leader of Organization XIII looked none too pleased by the lack of fighting taking place.
"There was a time when I trusted you to deal with traitors. And now, your betrayal outstrips them all. What final words do you have for your superior?" he said imperiously as he strode over to Lea, ignoring the stationary Saïx.
Now that Isa was no longer on the offense, Lea thought this was the perfect opportunity to tell Xemnas how he always felt. "Well, let me think about it. How about 'You were never my superior'."
It felt incredibly satisfying to finally tell him that to his face.
"Ah, ever the rogue pawn. Knocked from the board early in the game. Utterly useless and forgotten."
Xemnas didn't seem the least bit surprised, though.
"So, you knew all along that Saïx and I were plotting behind your back, huh? You knew we were traitors from the very start. So, why wait 'til now to eliminate me? Why not do it back then?"
"Our experiments creating Heartless were attempts to control the mind, and convince it to renounce its sense of self."
Xemnas clutched his chest, as something that resembled the letter X emerged from within him.
"X bore the sigil. It is what connected us from the start. It is the foundation of the bond we share. It was placed directly over the third eye. This eye being shut was why Saïx could not perceive Number XIV as anything but an empty puppet. It was a puppet itself with no mind of its own. We were always of one mind. Our goals were the same, whether the puppet realized it or not. All it had was your friend's memories, thanks to that fool Ansem the Wise's experiment."
Saïx was the same as Xemnas, who had all of Terra's memories. Both of their eyes were orange after Ansem the Wise restored their memories.
Lea could feel the ire bubbling up in his chest, waiting to explode. He had agonized over how he had changed, but all that time Isa was nothing but Xemnas's sock puppet.
"Believing it was for the sake of your 'friendship', you faithfully carried out any task you were given by it. Therefore, you were never a traitor in my eyes."
Lea began trembling with rage.
"Indeed I was quite lenient with you. I did not intend to punish you, despite your failure to eliminate Roxas."
The shock was visible on Lea's face upon hearing that.
"There's something I've meant to ask."
"About Axel? The poor fool. How long will he keep chasing the illusion of friendship, when he himself lacks emotion? Trying so hard to retrieve what he has lost, when it may never have existed in the first place. He deserves nothing more than our pity."
"You had been hopelessly pursuing your 'friendship' for so long that I had developed...pity for you."
Lea remembered his many encounters with Saïx on the previous journey. "That's a lie! You sent Saïx after me to eliminate me! He was following me everywhere after I left!"
Saïx had not been much different than Pluto in that regard. In fact, they both had a tendency to show up at the same time, right on cue.
"Wrong," asserted Xemnas.
"...What?"
"Your whereabouts were of no concern to me. It was Saïx himself who insisted on tracking you down, so you would receive the maximum punishment. Perhaps it was jealousy after his 'friend' left him in the dust and replaced him with new ones."
"Do you know what happens to those who lose their true purpose? Inevitably, they destroy themselves."
"After you left, he said he had lost all sense of purpose," Xemnas continued.
Lea remembered the last thing Saïx said before he plunged his Claymore into his chest, mortally wounding him:
"You will lose everything!"
"Xemnas!"
He glared up at Xemnas's cruel words with total defiance and unstoppable fury. He sprang forward and swung his crimson Keyblade straight at Xemnas's face. But the villain stopped it with one hand.
"Is this supposed to be a Keyblade? Or is it some sort of joke?" With a wave of his hand, Xemnas shattered Lea's Keyblade.
No! My Keyblade! Without that, I'm completely defenseless! No... No...
"The time for leniency is over. Now you shall receive maximum punishment."
Xemnas extended his arms, creating a dome of glowing orbs around him that began to bombard Lea.
Saïx was standing at Xemnas's right hand, merely staring blankly. His normal aura was blue, indicating a sense of calm. But as Lea cried out in pain, he seemed to be watching intently. Hints of purple could be seen in his aura. It was a sign of reflection and self-awareness. His third eye was beginning to open. Perhaps foolishness and weakness really did have the power to awaken that which was dormant.
Xemnas slowly made his way toward the former Number VIII. "Our plans have been dashed by you far more times than I care to count..."
Lea helplessly waited on his knees for the finishing blow.
I'll be waiting for you...Isa...
"Now it ends. I will purge that light in you…with darkness!"
Xemnas materialized his Ethereal Blade and slowly raised it over Lea's head.
But before he could deliver the final blow, a black-gloved hand seized the blade. Smoke slipped between its fingers with a sizzling sound.
"What?"
From behind, Saïx had grabbed Xemnas's blade with his right hand.
"Isa...!"
As soon as he let go of his giant Claymore, Saïx tumbled to the ground, like a marionette whose strings had been cut.
"Useless puppet."
Xemnas turned around and turned his blade on Saïx.
Like Braig and Terra, Isa had been implanted with Xehanort's heart when he was still a human. He was not a Nobody anymore. If he were to be eliminated now...
There's nothing I can do. I'm totally at his mercy...
Lea prostrated himself totally flat on the ground near Xemnas's feet, an act of absolute submission to one's superior.
"As foolish as ever I see. If I recall, you groveled in this same manner during that experiment ten years ago. You are nothing if not pitiful."
"I am pitiful, Lord Xemnas. Please, have mercy." Xemnas ignored him, but Lea quickly grabbed his foot. "Xemnas...please..."
Xemnas coldly dismissed Lea's efforts, kicked his leg free, and then drove his heel down on the would-be hero's hands. "You can wait your turn…recusant."
"...Isa..."
Lea could only reach out helplessly as he turned to Isa and prepared to end him with his Ethereal Blade. His eyelids were quivering as tears began to well up.
That was when Kairi came down from above with her Keyblade.
Xemnas was barely able to avoid her blistering series of attacks with a quick backstep.
"Kairi!" said Lea in a voice filled with hope.
Kairi looked over at Lea with a smile.
Lea couldn't contain how grateful he was toward her and got up off the ground. "Nice to see ya."
"Ah, the sleeping princess finally awakens."
"If I'm a traitor," Lea retorted, "then I guess Kairi here is the trump card."
Kairi smiled confidently, and gripped her Keyblade tighter. "Hands off my friends!"
But Xemnas did not fight fair. Brambles of dark energy emanated from his hands and bound Kairi in place.
"No! I-I can't move!" She wriggled and struggled.
"Now watch…as your friends slowly vanish into nothing," Xemnas said, his eyes on Lea and Isa.
"Nooo!"
I'm trapped...
I can't break free...
There's nothing I can do but watch Lea get hurt...
That's how...it always is for me...
This all I am... Weak. Helpless. Trapped.
"Believe in yourself. C'mon on, hurry!"
It was Naminé's voice that snapped Kairi out of her negative spiral.
"NO!" she shouted. "I am NOT that helpless little girl anymore! This time, I WILL help Lea!"
In an instant the dark bonds around her were dispelled as her body emanated light. She jumped and attacked Xemnas.
"How!?" He shot her a glare. "Ah, I see... The power of the New Seven Hearts."
She had Xemnas backed into a corner.
Seeking to make a hasty retreat, he floated in the air.
"Oh…but that's right. You were 'friends'. Then…you take his life."
He held out his palms and released a black light that poured over Saïx and infused his body with its power, just as he had done earlier with Demyx, Larxene, Marluxia, and Luxord.
"This useless pawn must be cleared from the board!" he shouted.
With one final conceited laugh, Xemnas released the dark barrier and vanished.
"Xemnas!" Lea yelled.
But Saïx was the only one who remained. Several Claymores floated around his body without him needing to grip them.
"Looks like we're gonna have to do this the hard way… C'mon, Isa, snap out of it!"
Kairi readied her Keyblade for battle, while Lea got up and tried to join in as well. He was clutching his side and looked like he was still totally incapacitated from the earlier beating. She wasn't even sure if he had enough strength yet to summon his Keyblade again.
Kairi stopped him with an outstretched arm. "Rest, Lea. This time, I'll fight for you."
Up until now, Lea had been doing all the fighting for her. But now it was her turn.
"But..."
"Friends get to lean on each other now and then. Right?"
That was what Axel told Xion when she lost her ability to use the Keyblade temporarily and Roxas carried her weight on their missions. It was the moment Xion first became friends with Axel. From that moment on, he was able to see her face. Ever since, he had always been helping her out.
"Yeah… When it comes to the Keyblade, you're the old hand," he acknowledged with a grin, which got a gentle nod from Kairi.
After a grueling fight, Kairi finally brought the battle with Lea's onetime friend to an end.
The pillar of darkness finally exited his body, and Lea ran over to his fallen friend who slumped to the ground. But for now, he remained in the clutches of sleep.