PART THREE - When Dreaming Ends.
'How did I. do that? Who am I?!'
One who knows nothing can understand nothing.
'Tell me!! Please, tell me who I am!'
The source of all the heartless.
'Please, I need to know..'
He looks. just like you.
Without realising it, the scene before Zell had changed. He was in a market, in a crowded world. There were many people in the square, moving around in their daily business. One in particular caught his eye. a boy. A boy of four, walking down the road with his mother. They walked dressed in black, towards a temple at the end of the world.
'We're going to see the summoner,' said the woman, presumably his mother. The boy nodded, wiping away a tear.
'Do you know why?' she asked.
'For father,' replied the boy. They entered the temple, and Zell followed.
Within was a coffin, with a dead man resting on top. He died of a heart attack, Zell could tell, but he did not know why. He was this boy's father, he left him alone in the world to fend for himself. It made him angry, angry at everything.
Another woman entered, wearing ceremonial dress and holding a staff. The summoner. She walked over to the body, and began to dance. It was beautiful to look at. and sad. Small flickers of light emerged to the body, travelling off somewhere in the wind. He knew where. the kingdom hearts. The light in this man's heart was emerging, and travelling to the kingdom, leaving the darkness behind. He was going to heaven. Yet he doubted the boy knew this. he was upset and slightly angry, too much so for his age.
The boy got up and ran over to the summoner, snatching her staff from her.
'The ritual is not complete. give it back, and then I can finish it.' Said the summoner.
'No,' said the boy. 'No, he won't die. I'm going to bring him back.'
'John, you can't bring him back. He's gone.'
John. that name is familiar, is it not?
'I can. And I will.'
John held the staff and shook it from side to side, aiming it at the man. It began to glow black, the opposite of white hot metal. And then total darkness. Tendrils emerged from the end. How could this boy hold such power at such an age? How could he do it?
Because its not him. he has been possessed.
Yes, that was true. The darkness flew out like a spirit, filling the room, and bringing the dead man up to full height. His eyes opened, normal white.
'Please. John. not like this.' said the man, in a very soft voice.
John smiled, working harder. 'Don't worry. you're going to come back to me.'
And then his eyes turned yellow, his skin black. He was beginning to lose his human appearance, growing smaller and stunted, total darkness. He had become a shadow, and something told Zell that it was the first of its kind.
The boy John looked aghast, and walked backwards, clearly upset. The darkness fell from his completely, flying away in the wind. Yet the summoner did not see it like that. She saw darkness incarnate.
What would they do with the little boy, wondered Zell. What would become of him? He knew as soon as he thought of the question. He would be imprisoned, sent away. He would lose all that he loved. and meanwhile, the heartless would spread. Slow at first, the shadows would devour the world, all because of the actions of that boy, John. He had the power to destroy the heartless, no doubt, using the summoner's staff and his own energy. yet he could not live without them. Part of them had gone into him, and they could not destroy him either. The heartless, once they had destroyed that world, would go on to imprison the heart of the boy in a place that no-one could get to, that would feed the heartless and allow them to multiply. In an obsidian statue.
Yet what did this have to do with him? Why was he seeing this?
'You still haven't answered my question. Who am I?'
'Zell. You are Zell.'
Zell turned around to see a little boy standing by the entrance to the square. It was John, or at least his heart.
'How can I be? That name was given to me.'
'And thus you became that person.' The boy nodded.
'Who was I before I was Zell? Where did I come from?'
'You expect me to have all the answers,' said the boy, sighing. 'Yet you know them already. You are Zell.'
'I know that already. Yet where did I come from?'
'You came from nowhere in particular, Zell.'
'What do you mean nowhere? What does this all mean?.'
'Well, the most accurate answer would probably be 42,' said John, laughing.
'What's so funny?'
'Ah, never mind. A joke from a world far from here. Anyway, as I have shown you, I created the heartless through my own ignorance and emotions, here on this world. I am now imprisoned within that statue you see over there.'
'Ansem said that it was wrong, that it should be destroyed.'
'And he was right. As long as that exists, so will I.'
'But aren't you the only one who can defeat the darkness? Aren't you the only one who can defeat the heartless?'
'There may be others who can do the same, others who can fight the darkness. For me to escape my prison would mean the destruction of not just darkness, but of light. And that would mean the end of everything. Do you understand?'
'Yes.'
'But it can't remain there, or Kingdom Hearts itself will be destroyed. The heartless, feeding upon the darkness within this world and others, aspire to bring all hearts to one. But they are ultimately controlled by Baell.'
'Who's he?'
'It would like to be known as darkness incarnate, yet that would not be true. It is the spirit that possessed me that day, as it will have done elsewhere at other times to other hearts. It has existed as long as kingdom hearts, and despises it, for it has no heart. But it remains within this statue, within me, and can do nothing. Yet soon, because of the talisman, he will be able to escape, destroying the kingdom. If you destroy the statue, he may well survive, but without my power. And that is acceptable.'
'What talisman? Why is this so confusing.'
'You saw it once, in a dream I showed you. a dream of the future, of the keybearer and his friend Cloud. They bore the talisman away from the one winged angel, Sephiroth, the servant of both darkness and Baell. With the talisman he can bring about the ultimate darkness and merge with the spirit of Baell, bringing an end to Kingdom Hearts and bringing us to what he calls 'the promised land'.'
'What does the talisman do?'
'It in itself is meant for someone else, for another story. Yet its awesome power can unlock this statue like a key, freeing what is within.'
'And. what about Riku? What is he to do with me?'
'The shell of that boy's heart, the body, was taken to the other side, neither of darkness or light. I used that shell to make you, Zell. Do you know what you have to do?'
Zell bowed his head for a few moments, in thought.
'Ansem said that if I destroy the statue, I will die. why?'
'Because you were made from nowhere. You were made by me, to complete this task. And as you were made by my dream, my death will mean your own.'
Zell didn't know why, but it all made perfect sense. And he felt no remorse or emotion about it. For the first time, he knew what he had to do. He had to destroy the statue, and with it this spirit. He ran towards the statue, and as he touched it he disappeared for the final time, arriving in another world.
------
The heartless raged around the city, attacking the once populated Traverse Town and killing its remaining inhabitants. The very ground was now cracked, the cobblestones and paving torn up after years of war. They had finally broken into the Citadel at the heart of the city, the Citadel which had become the home to most of the surviving humans from numerous worlds.
Among the debris of the old town, the first district to be more precise, two warriors leapt amongst buildings, cutting down the heartless as they went.
'Wait, slow down!' said Sora, trying desperately to keep up with the man before him.
'Can't keep up with an old man like me?' the man laughed, destroying a swarm of shadows with his long blade. 'Hurry up. You may not be a boy anymore, but you can still go faster than that.'
'I can't' whimpered Sora, turning his head. Behind him he could see the warrior, running after them.
'We can't let him have it, Sora. Its more important than my life, your life, or even Leon's life. He died to save it from my blade, yet it must be destroyed. Don't you see that?'
Sora shook his head, cutting down some shadows with his Keyblade. 'What do you mean Leon died? I don't remember you telling me that.'
'It's not important! I told you!' The man ran forward up to a boulder and leapt over it with ease.
'Why are you being so heartless Cloud? I remember you fighting me twenty years ago, in Olympus. You weren't so cocky then.'
'Very funny, Sora. Hurry up. Cids ready with the airship, all we have to do is get there in ti-'
A bolt of energy came from behind Cloud, towards them both, rotating with enormous power. Sora turned to see it just in time, and moved out of the way, but Cloud did not... it continued on towards him, almost touching his armour... but it never did.
'No' said a voice from behind the two, a powerful yet quiet voice. Sora could not believe his eyes. The bolt of energy had stopped in mid air, freezing. Behind them both, he could see Sephiroth, the source of the weapon... and a boy. A young boy. Cloud turned, and saw them as well.
'Sephiroth,' said Cloud. His opponent nodded, turning towards the boy.
'Well done,' he said, smiling. 'You are here.'
Zell nodded, and they both drew weapons.
'Wait... what does he have to do with this? Fight me instead!' said Cloud.
'He has everything to do with this,' said Sephiroth, and he ran forward, as did Zell and Cloud.
They all reached the center point of the district at the same time, all clashing swords... but Sephiroth pulled free first, slashing his long blade round at Cloud, puncturing his lungs with its tip. He fell to the ground, leaving Zell facing Sephiroth.
The Angel bent down to Cloud's corpse, and examined it, searching for something. He looked angry.
'Where is it? Where has the idiot hidden it?'
He looked over at Zell, who smiled.
'Tell me! Tell me or I will cut you down.'
Zell shook his head, continuing to smile.
'Then let us fight,' he said, running forward to hack Zell down.
-----
Sephiroth... didn't know what had happened. Something, something fundamental had changed within him during his duel with Zell. As they crossed their silver blades with murderous intent and battled amongst thousands of heartless, he began to feel a slight twinge within him, something he mistook at first for a sickness. But it was something else, something that transcended the body. It was... his heart.
It was impossible he knew. Long since he had ascended to Kingdom Hearts he had lost his heart, becoming one with the Divine Heart of all Worlds. Yet there it was plain before him. His heart... was beating. But how could this be? He did not know the answers, he could not know them, this is what angered Sephiroth. An emotion that he had not felt for quite some time... anger. And regret for his anger. So many questions swirled around his mind, all wanting to be answered while all remained silent...
'And now for the end,' said Zell, standing up above him. Sephiroth was lying on the ground now, his head bloody and his hair tainted with redness. His beloved blade had fallen from his hand. The abomination that stood above him, he would kill him now... but why? What was the need? His heart... that changed everything. He tried to speak out as Zell brought down his murderous blade towards his heart, he tried to tell him to stop... yet he was paralysed. He could not move. It was his end. As his heart was punctured and blood began to pour from his open chest, he staggered slowly away, towards his blade. It was not over, it couldn't be over, he had not done everything he had done to die from the wound of a small boy... had he?
As the sun set upon the once proud city of Traverse Town, the once feared One Winged Angel died upon the steps of the first district, crawling towards his weapon and muttering words under his breath. His last, perhaps the most meaningful.
'I'm sorry.'
-------
Zell turned and fled towards Sora, his cloak shaking in the darkness.
'Where is the talisman? There isn't much time.'
Sora shook his head, staring at the fallen Cloud. 'The. ship.'
'Where? Where is this airship?'
Sora turned and pointed towards a door, a massive door. 'Do. I know you?'
'Once, perhaps, but you wouldn't remember,' he said, running away. 'Good luck'
2.
Zell was aboard the ship, the engine rumbling in the background as it got going. He could hear a man swearing and ranting in the cockpit, and a gentle voice trying to soothe him. He walked forward, and opened the door.
'Hello,' said Zell. Cid and Aerith turned to see him, and such was their surprise that Cid's cigar fell right out of his hands.
'Zell?' said Aerith, looking astonished.
'Where's Leon? Is he here?'
'You. are alive?'
'Of course I am, I'm right here. So, where's leon?'
'You don't understand,' said Cid, getting up. 'We saw you die, killed by Cloud. Why wouldn't you give it to him? Why didn't you give him the talisman?'
'I don't have any talisman' said Zell, shaking his head. 'And what do you mean, killed? When was I killed?'
'A few days ago. Leon tried to protect you, but.'
'He's dead?' asked Zell, sitting down.
'Exactly. Which begs the question - how can you be alive?' Cid struck a match and lit his cigar. 'And why are you so young? You were at least twenty when you died.'
'I can't explain' said Zell, getting up. 'But you have to trust me. I need you to take me somewhere, somewhere hard to get to.'
'Can't you teleport there? We've seen you do it before.'
'No, not to this place. I need to go to.'
'The End of the World,' said a voice from behind them. Zell turned to see Tidus, smiling behind them.
-----
A world that is not a world, a gateway to the darkness that lies beneath all reality. Like the web of a spider it catches its prey, changing them and ruining them into beings beyond comprehension. As a small gummi ship flies above in the dark void of the sky, thousands upon thousands of heartless rear up their heads to look. They senses that the time was coming for change.
And so did their Master.
-------
Cid and Aerith watched while Tidus and Zell walked on up ahead to scout out their path. The kid had gotten so far, knowing the darkness within him and yet fighting it. Through death, through grief, through war and in the midst of confusion, he had kept true to his path from the very beginning. And he was to be commended for it.
Cid smiled, through his cigar of the floor, and launched the ship, leaving Tidus and Zell alone in the darkness of the End of the World.
--------
Zell and Tidus walked in silence for a while, both not wanting to be the first to speak. They did not discuss the thing on their minds just then, but before the end, when they were trapped behind the door and shapes approached in the darkness, Zell whispered what he had wanted to say, and Tidus replied 'Through the love of a friend,' and would say no more.
For now, however, they just walked, feeling the floor beneath them but just seeing darkness. Not just the absence of light, the degradation of it. This whole place stank of its filth. Tidus was the first to hear the Gummi Ship take off, the first to see their only hope and escape disappearing off into the depths of space. Zell had attempted to go back, but it was no use. They had been deserted before the end. And who could blame them? The heartless were stronger than ever before, darkness seemed to swallow the lands, and all hope lay in the destruction of the statue. What was it anyway? What was it that seemed to contain the spirits of darkness and light together? Was that Kingdom Hearts? Was that the true reality of the world?
Zell stood there for a few moments, looking up into the sky, and then ran to catch up with Tidus.
Within the darkness just a few feet away, stood a man in a black hood and cloak. A few moments later he was gone from that world, and where he had stood before a red mark was left within the darkness.
------
Zell and Tidus walked on, unable to see where they were going and not caring. All around them, dark yellow eyes flickered and danced as if in anticipation. Past the fallen ruins of the world-pattern they walked, the keyholes of each world long since fallen into darkness. Beyond there was a ray of red light falling into the depths of the heartless world, and there Zell knew that their fate would be decided. How could he go on knowing what would happen to him if he was successful, what would happen to both of them?
'Well here we are,' said Tidus, walking forward. 'Are you ready?'
Zell knew that he wouldn't have another go at this, that if he wasn't successful then everything that has ever been will be undone. He knew that even if they won then they wouldn't escape with their lives, certainly not Tidus. He was dooming not just himself but both of them
'As I'll ever be,' said Zell, and they both walked forward into the red flame. Zell emerged on the other side, right before the door of Kingdom Hearts. He gazed up in wonder, and stepped forward. He felt the power of the kingdom before him, all of the endless hearts of those taken by the darkness over the years. He glanced back towards the Talisman, and realised that his destiny was not to destroy the statue, but to save it. He could use its power against the darkness and continue to live, bringing back whoever he chose. He could bring back Leon.
He advanced forward to the Door to Darkness, and as he did so it began to open very slightly, with tendrils of darkness escaping from its sides. Zell touched the edge of the door, and the spell was temporarily lifted. Would he save the statue and live, or destroy it and die? Life or death? Salvation or damnation?
Zell pulled the door open and entered, and it was not until a few moments later that he wondered where Tidus was.
----
The door snapped shut almost as soon as it had been opened, leaving Zell alone in the darkness, and in a flash of light the talisman within his hand disappeared.
Eyes began to open in the darkness around Zell, sensing his presence.
--What's happened to me?
A few metres away an enormous darkside emerged from its sleep.
--Why can't this all just end happily?
The heartless were a little closer now, edging forward and relishing the moment of their victory.
--What about me?
Worlds away, the darkness took the heart of Traverse Town
--I didn't ask for this!
A great beast called Sin defeated the Summoner Yuna.
--and neither did anyone else...
Zell heard a noise from far away, the distant shouting of someone for help. It was Tidus. If he couldn't save himself, then the least he could do was to give everyone else the chance.
'I'm coming!' shouted Zell, and began to wade through the darkness. The yellow eyes within it began to retreat and scatter, as if afraid of him. Ahead of him he could see the shape of Tidus, somehow illuminated within this dark place. The heartless were all around him, edging forward. Zell didn't care if he had to fight on his hands and knees - Tidus gave up his life once for Zell, and if need be he'd return the favour.
Zell began to run, and the heartless fled from him as if he was death incarnate. The remaining few scattered as soon as they saw him, their dim yellow eyes beholding him as a dark shape illuminated with a red flame.
Tidus opened his mouth to speak, but Zell shook his head. 'I chose the door as well. We failed our test.'
'Don't be so sure,' said Tidus.
A door before them both had just appeared, and within their hearts both knew that those who made it to the other side would not be returning.
---
Zell began to approach the door, but Tidus remained behind.
'Are you coming?' he asked, knowing the answer before he even said it.
Tidus smiled, and shook his head. 'The door is for you, not for me. Whatever part in this I had, its now over.'
'What will happen to you now? Do you know how to get back?'
'No, but it won't matter. My fate, your fate, everyone's fate depends on you. If kingdom hearts is destroyed, all worlds will diminish with it. No more darkness or light. Only nothingness.'
'I would have stayed with you to the end, you do know that, don't you? You know that whatever happens, you probably won't see Spira again?'
'I know. And it doesn't matter. Now go. Go for all our sakes.'
Zell waved goodbye, and turned to run towards the door. As he approached it, he felt rain hit his skin. He could see the night beyond the door, the all powerful darkness. And in a twisted way, he felt akin to it. With a final leap, he passed through the light of the door, and fell from the sky of a world far from where Tidus lay in the darkness, far from Traverse Town and even far from the Destiny Islands. He landed bruised and hurt next to the statue of the Obsidian Square.
----
Zell looked around, and in a flash of intuition remembered. He remembered his father dying, and the spirit taking him and forcing him to resurrect him. He remembered allowing the heartless to take hold of not just his world, but all worlds. While he remembered being John, he also remembered being another. He remembered the island, and trying to make a raft. He remembered Kiari and his rivalry with Sora. He remembered the witch Maleficent, and his possession by Ansem. He remembered dying, and passing away to the other side. He held the memories of both John and Riku, and also of his creation. He remembered a pain so great it felt like being torn apart from inside, he remembered being spat out from the statue like vomit, falling onto the cold paving beside the statue.
He looked up to see a Gummi Ship landing in the distance, and at once all became clear to him. He put on the Talisman round his neck, and with a silent prayer to all those he had ever met, even those who had fallen to darkness, he smashed the talisman's centre. As the Spirit of Baell was released from the statue and attempted to possess the young boy, Zell held onto the memory of Leon giving him a name and befriending him.
As the owner of the Gummi Ship walked slowly through the city towards the Square, about half a mile from his destination, Zell fell unconcious upon the floor of the square, and thus began the battle for control of Zell's body and mind.
-----
WHO ARE YOU? said the great dark shape before him, approaching slowly yet steadily within his mind.
I'm Zell, he said, And you're Baell, right?
YOU WHO ARE ABOUT TO DIE, GIVE ME FORM
Alright, said Zell, and the darkness took shape. It took the form of a giant beast within the darkness, something that Zell was sure he could not defeat. Something that Zell had thought of on purpose.
As Zell grappled with Ifrit/Baell, the gummi-ship's owner had nearly reached his destination.
-----
WHY DO YOU FIGHT? PLEASE EXPLAIN
I fight for them.
WHY? YOU WILL DIE EVEN IF YOU ACHIEVE YOUR DESIRED OUTCOME.
I fight for everyone.
YOUR VERY NATURE IS DARKNESS. YOUR HEART IS WEAK, ONLY THERE BECAUSE OF A PATHETIC NAME THAT A FALLEN WARRIOR GAVE YOU.
I fight for him.
DARKNESS IS THE TRUE NATURE OF THE HEART. I AM THE TRUE NATURE OF THE HEART.
Then finish it. Show us all your power.
Zell felt the presence of the visitor within the square, and lept upon the beast Ifrit. Within the caverns of Zell's mind they grappled, both locked in terms of force and power. Zell knew he could not continue for much longer, however, and the part of him that was not fighting looked out at the Square.
------
The old man Tidus stood at the entrance to the square, his cloak shaking gently in the rain. If his old friend Auron had been next to him, the resemblance would have been very striking indeed. Before him was a great statue wrought of Obsidian, retaining the very essence of the old world. Quite literally in fact. Darkness had taken even King Mickey's castle, and in its destruction he had sent Tidus on his quest. It had been thirty years since Zell had died in the darkness of kingdom hearts, and the talisman had been lost. The great marvel before him was not his goal, despite its beauty. The abomination must be destroyed at all costs - he remembered the King telling him this, yet still the words echoed around in his head.
From where he was, the so-called abomination lay in a heap by the statue, asleep and badly bruised. It was only a boy, a small little boy - he certainly did not look like something to be afraid of, and as the king would not go into any further detail, he remained doubtful of his mission. In a strange way, looking at him conjured up memories of Zell running through a door of light, but he dismissed the vision quickly. There had been no door. Zell had been killed by heartless and he himself had only just made it out. This boy who reminded him of Zell apparently was their last hope, and must be killed. He was doubtful, but orders were orders, and so he drew his sword.
At first nothing happened as the blade lay motionless in the grip of his muscular arms, but soon the dim light of the moon began to catch the edge, and as it did so the blade grew hotter in his arms, lighting up. The pain was almost unbearable, but as he had complained before - the weapon was not made for one like him, but was the Gunblade of Leon, passed down along the years until it had ended up in the hands of Tidus, had survived even to this fateful era.
The blade finally gave in and a great beam of light entered the square from the dark sky, causing the whole area to appear as in day. The boy did as the King said he would - he rose from his position and began to scream with pain, shaking around the square in agony. Yet he made no attempt to harm the boy - was he really an enemy? As the old man raised his sword and ran forward to deliver a blow to the boy, the child dodged it and threw Tidus back with a bolt of Darkness. He let out another scream, and in a bloodcurdling voice said - 'GIVE IN NOW OR YOU WILL DIE'. Tidus replied that he could not, although the boy ignored him. He placed his hands against his head and fell again.
'I fight for them I fight for them I fight for them I fight for them,' he repeated again and again, almost holding himself down on the floor of the square. With renewed vigour, Tidus ran forward again to cut him down in his moment of weekness. 'KINGDOM HEARTS IS DARKNESS. ALL ARE BORN INTO DARKNESS AND SO ALL MUST RETURN.' screamed the child, and rolled out of the way.
'I fight for Leon!' he boomed, and once again attempted to hold himself down on the ground. Tidus ran forward again, doubtful once more. Who was this child who avoided him and spoke of Leon and Darkness? Who was he? As he tried to cut him again, the boy disappeared in darkness, and appeared once more at the other end of the square.
'LET ME ESCAPE. LIVE IN DARKNESS OR DO NOT LIVE AT ALL. YOU ARE THE PROTEGE OF DARKNESS. ACCEPT YOUR FATE.'
'I fight for the kingdom' screamed the child, and ran forward madly towards Tidus. The old warrior held out his sword, and swung it as the child came upon him. Even as the blade cut through his centre, his heart, the boy screamed 'I fight for the light!', and in the split second that followed Tidus realised that the boy was Zell, and he had murdered him. Overcome with emotion, Tidus through his sword down in disgust and ran from the square.
--------
Within the caverns of his mind, the darkness finally defeated Zell, consuming him with dark flame.
--------
Zell/Baell lay screaming upon the floor of the square, alive and yet at the same moment dead. Thick, black blood ran from his/its heart where he/it had been punctured by the gunblade, and the undeath of the boy/thing would not last for long.
The statue not three metres from the writhing creature/boy was suddenly fulled with a corona of fire, and light erupted from the sky. The heartless around the world evaporated within it, unable to stand the force of its rays. It was more than just light, it was the complete and utter absence of darkness, it was Light.
The creature screamed out again, the shell of the boy it inhabited failing. All that was left was the dark spirit within. It moved to inhabit the statue nearby, but the obsidian was falling apart, the light causing it to crack. It tried to possess Tidus, but he lay dead under a fallen building nearby, beyond the reach of darkness. With a primal scream that would be familiar to all those taken by the dark over the years, to all those that had ever been the victims of evil or malice, to all those who had chosen the darkness as a way of life, the spirit of Baell was pulled apart by the overwhelming rays of light, and his darkness was no more, lost to both the kingdom and all the worlds that had ever been.
Soon after the dark heart of that world was finally consumed by the light, and fragments of it spread out throughout the cosmos in the form of a meteor-shower, or perhaps a rain of 'gummi blocks'.
Far away, the world of Traverse Town suffered a similar explosion, the heartless within it evaporating instantly. Nearby Wonderland, the Colliseum, and even Destiny Islands exploded in similar rays of light, the darkness leaving them and the world falling apart. All worlds that had ever been, ever are, or ever will be fell apart, the rain of light filling the darkness of the skies with a spectacular display of light.
Near the vicinity of where the obsidian statue had once been, the spirit of John struggled to keep itself together. Soon it too would pass away, he knew, but he needed to finish what he had started. Crying out the names of those he had ever loved, his father among others, he allowed himself to be consumed by the light, his heart not passing to the kingdom but simply released, and its energy was great. The darkness within him struggled against the light, and in a titanic explosion the Kingdom itself passed from existance, causing all the darkness and light that had ever been to merge with the cosmos in a spectular display that no-one except one would ever be lucky enough to see.
Soon enough, however, the explosions ended, and the World was remade. Kingdom Hearts returned in its place, the balance between light and dark restored. All worlds returned in their rightful place, even the End of the World. The heartless reappeared within the kingdom, existing not because someone made them but simply because the balance required them. Within the light titanic blades were forged in opposition, Keys to both the darkness and the light, representing the power to destroy the world or to save it. People reappeared on each world, while those taken but remade temporarily, Spira among them, disappeared.
The world had been remade, and its true form had been revealed. The balance had been restored, and Zell passed from existance. None of those he had saved remembered him or even knew that anything had happened, because in effect it hadn't. He had stopped the balance from being disturbed. Zell had won. They had won. Hope had been restored.
'How did I. do that? Who am I?!'
One who knows nothing can understand nothing.
'Tell me!! Please, tell me who I am!'
The source of all the heartless.
'Please, I need to know..'
He looks. just like you.
Without realising it, the scene before Zell had changed. He was in a market, in a crowded world. There were many people in the square, moving around in their daily business. One in particular caught his eye. a boy. A boy of four, walking down the road with his mother. They walked dressed in black, towards a temple at the end of the world.
'We're going to see the summoner,' said the woman, presumably his mother. The boy nodded, wiping away a tear.
'Do you know why?' she asked.
'For father,' replied the boy. They entered the temple, and Zell followed.
Within was a coffin, with a dead man resting on top. He died of a heart attack, Zell could tell, but he did not know why. He was this boy's father, he left him alone in the world to fend for himself. It made him angry, angry at everything.
Another woman entered, wearing ceremonial dress and holding a staff. The summoner. She walked over to the body, and began to dance. It was beautiful to look at. and sad. Small flickers of light emerged to the body, travelling off somewhere in the wind. He knew where. the kingdom hearts. The light in this man's heart was emerging, and travelling to the kingdom, leaving the darkness behind. He was going to heaven. Yet he doubted the boy knew this. he was upset and slightly angry, too much so for his age.
The boy got up and ran over to the summoner, snatching her staff from her.
'The ritual is not complete. give it back, and then I can finish it.' Said the summoner.
'No,' said the boy. 'No, he won't die. I'm going to bring him back.'
'John, you can't bring him back. He's gone.'
John. that name is familiar, is it not?
'I can. And I will.'
John held the staff and shook it from side to side, aiming it at the man. It began to glow black, the opposite of white hot metal. And then total darkness. Tendrils emerged from the end. How could this boy hold such power at such an age? How could he do it?
Because its not him. he has been possessed.
Yes, that was true. The darkness flew out like a spirit, filling the room, and bringing the dead man up to full height. His eyes opened, normal white.
'Please. John. not like this.' said the man, in a very soft voice.
John smiled, working harder. 'Don't worry. you're going to come back to me.'
And then his eyes turned yellow, his skin black. He was beginning to lose his human appearance, growing smaller and stunted, total darkness. He had become a shadow, and something told Zell that it was the first of its kind.
The boy John looked aghast, and walked backwards, clearly upset. The darkness fell from his completely, flying away in the wind. Yet the summoner did not see it like that. She saw darkness incarnate.
What would they do with the little boy, wondered Zell. What would become of him? He knew as soon as he thought of the question. He would be imprisoned, sent away. He would lose all that he loved. and meanwhile, the heartless would spread. Slow at first, the shadows would devour the world, all because of the actions of that boy, John. He had the power to destroy the heartless, no doubt, using the summoner's staff and his own energy. yet he could not live without them. Part of them had gone into him, and they could not destroy him either. The heartless, once they had destroyed that world, would go on to imprison the heart of the boy in a place that no-one could get to, that would feed the heartless and allow them to multiply. In an obsidian statue.
Yet what did this have to do with him? Why was he seeing this?
'You still haven't answered my question. Who am I?'
'Zell. You are Zell.'
Zell turned around to see a little boy standing by the entrance to the square. It was John, or at least his heart.
'How can I be? That name was given to me.'
'And thus you became that person.' The boy nodded.
'Who was I before I was Zell? Where did I come from?'
'You expect me to have all the answers,' said the boy, sighing. 'Yet you know them already. You are Zell.'
'I know that already. Yet where did I come from?'
'You came from nowhere in particular, Zell.'
'What do you mean nowhere? What does this all mean?.'
'Well, the most accurate answer would probably be 42,' said John, laughing.
'What's so funny?'
'Ah, never mind. A joke from a world far from here. Anyway, as I have shown you, I created the heartless through my own ignorance and emotions, here on this world. I am now imprisoned within that statue you see over there.'
'Ansem said that it was wrong, that it should be destroyed.'
'And he was right. As long as that exists, so will I.'
'But aren't you the only one who can defeat the darkness? Aren't you the only one who can defeat the heartless?'
'There may be others who can do the same, others who can fight the darkness. For me to escape my prison would mean the destruction of not just darkness, but of light. And that would mean the end of everything. Do you understand?'
'Yes.'
'But it can't remain there, or Kingdom Hearts itself will be destroyed. The heartless, feeding upon the darkness within this world and others, aspire to bring all hearts to one. But they are ultimately controlled by Baell.'
'Who's he?'
'It would like to be known as darkness incarnate, yet that would not be true. It is the spirit that possessed me that day, as it will have done elsewhere at other times to other hearts. It has existed as long as kingdom hearts, and despises it, for it has no heart. But it remains within this statue, within me, and can do nothing. Yet soon, because of the talisman, he will be able to escape, destroying the kingdom. If you destroy the statue, he may well survive, but without my power. And that is acceptable.'
'What talisman? Why is this so confusing.'
'You saw it once, in a dream I showed you. a dream of the future, of the keybearer and his friend Cloud. They bore the talisman away from the one winged angel, Sephiroth, the servant of both darkness and Baell. With the talisman he can bring about the ultimate darkness and merge with the spirit of Baell, bringing an end to Kingdom Hearts and bringing us to what he calls 'the promised land'.'
'What does the talisman do?'
'It in itself is meant for someone else, for another story. Yet its awesome power can unlock this statue like a key, freeing what is within.'
'And. what about Riku? What is he to do with me?'
'The shell of that boy's heart, the body, was taken to the other side, neither of darkness or light. I used that shell to make you, Zell. Do you know what you have to do?'
Zell bowed his head for a few moments, in thought.
'Ansem said that if I destroy the statue, I will die. why?'
'Because you were made from nowhere. You were made by me, to complete this task. And as you were made by my dream, my death will mean your own.'
Zell didn't know why, but it all made perfect sense. And he felt no remorse or emotion about it. For the first time, he knew what he had to do. He had to destroy the statue, and with it this spirit. He ran towards the statue, and as he touched it he disappeared for the final time, arriving in another world.
------
The heartless raged around the city, attacking the once populated Traverse Town and killing its remaining inhabitants. The very ground was now cracked, the cobblestones and paving torn up after years of war. They had finally broken into the Citadel at the heart of the city, the Citadel which had become the home to most of the surviving humans from numerous worlds.
Among the debris of the old town, the first district to be more precise, two warriors leapt amongst buildings, cutting down the heartless as they went.
'Wait, slow down!' said Sora, trying desperately to keep up with the man before him.
'Can't keep up with an old man like me?' the man laughed, destroying a swarm of shadows with his long blade. 'Hurry up. You may not be a boy anymore, but you can still go faster than that.'
'I can't' whimpered Sora, turning his head. Behind him he could see the warrior, running after them.
'We can't let him have it, Sora. Its more important than my life, your life, or even Leon's life. He died to save it from my blade, yet it must be destroyed. Don't you see that?'
Sora shook his head, cutting down some shadows with his Keyblade. 'What do you mean Leon died? I don't remember you telling me that.'
'It's not important! I told you!' The man ran forward up to a boulder and leapt over it with ease.
'Why are you being so heartless Cloud? I remember you fighting me twenty years ago, in Olympus. You weren't so cocky then.'
'Very funny, Sora. Hurry up. Cids ready with the airship, all we have to do is get there in ti-'
A bolt of energy came from behind Cloud, towards them both, rotating with enormous power. Sora turned to see it just in time, and moved out of the way, but Cloud did not... it continued on towards him, almost touching his armour... but it never did.
'No' said a voice from behind the two, a powerful yet quiet voice. Sora could not believe his eyes. The bolt of energy had stopped in mid air, freezing. Behind them both, he could see Sephiroth, the source of the weapon... and a boy. A young boy. Cloud turned, and saw them as well.
'Sephiroth,' said Cloud. His opponent nodded, turning towards the boy.
'Well done,' he said, smiling. 'You are here.'
Zell nodded, and they both drew weapons.
'Wait... what does he have to do with this? Fight me instead!' said Cloud.
'He has everything to do with this,' said Sephiroth, and he ran forward, as did Zell and Cloud.
They all reached the center point of the district at the same time, all clashing swords... but Sephiroth pulled free first, slashing his long blade round at Cloud, puncturing his lungs with its tip. He fell to the ground, leaving Zell facing Sephiroth.
The Angel bent down to Cloud's corpse, and examined it, searching for something. He looked angry.
'Where is it? Where has the idiot hidden it?'
He looked over at Zell, who smiled.
'Tell me! Tell me or I will cut you down.'
Zell shook his head, continuing to smile.
'Then let us fight,' he said, running forward to hack Zell down.
-----
Sephiroth... didn't know what had happened. Something, something fundamental had changed within him during his duel with Zell. As they crossed their silver blades with murderous intent and battled amongst thousands of heartless, he began to feel a slight twinge within him, something he mistook at first for a sickness. But it was something else, something that transcended the body. It was... his heart.
It was impossible he knew. Long since he had ascended to Kingdom Hearts he had lost his heart, becoming one with the Divine Heart of all Worlds. Yet there it was plain before him. His heart... was beating. But how could this be? He did not know the answers, he could not know them, this is what angered Sephiroth. An emotion that he had not felt for quite some time... anger. And regret for his anger. So many questions swirled around his mind, all wanting to be answered while all remained silent...
'And now for the end,' said Zell, standing up above him. Sephiroth was lying on the ground now, his head bloody and his hair tainted with redness. His beloved blade had fallen from his hand. The abomination that stood above him, he would kill him now... but why? What was the need? His heart... that changed everything. He tried to speak out as Zell brought down his murderous blade towards his heart, he tried to tell him to stop... yet he was paralysed. He could not move. It was his end. As his heart was punctured and blood began to pour from his open chest, he staggered slowly away, towards his blade. It was not over, it couldn't be over, he had not done everything he had done to die from the wound of a small boy... had he?
As the sun set upon the once proud city of Traverse Town, the once feared One Winged Angel died upon the steps of the first district, crawling towards his weapon and muttering words under his breath. His last, perhaps the most meaningful.
'I'm sorry.'
-------
Zell turned and fled towards Sora, his cloak shaking in the darkness.
'Where is the talisman? There isn't much time.'
Sora shook his head, staring at the fallen Cloud. 'The. ship.'
'Where? Where is this airship?'
Sora turned and pointed towards a door, a massive door. 'Do. I know you?'
'Once, perhaps, but you wouldn't remember,' he said, running away. 'Good luck'
2.
Zell was aboard the ship, the engine rumbling in the background as it got going. He could hear a man swearing and ranting in the cockpit, and a gentle voice trying to soothe him. He walked forward, and opened the door.
'Hello,' said Zell. Cid and Aerith turned to see him, and such was their surprise that Cid's cigar fell right out of his hands.
'Zell?' said Aerith, looking astonished.
'Where's Leon? Is he here?'
'You. are alive?'
'Of course I am, I'm right here. So, where's leon?'
'You don't understand,' said Cid, getting up. 'We saw you die, killed by Cloud. Why wouldn't you give it to him? Why didn't you give him the talisman?'
'I don't have any talisman' said Zell, shaking his head. 'And what do you mean, killed? When was I killed?'
'A few days ago. Leon tried to protect you, but.'
'He's dead?' asked Zell, sitting down.
'Exactly. Which begs the question - how can you be alive?' Cid struck a match and lit his cigar. 'And why are you so young? You were at least twenty when you died.'
'I can't explain' said Zell, getting up. 'But you have to trust me. I need you to take me somewhere, somewhere hard to get to.'
'Can't you teleport there? We've seen you do it before.'
'No, not to this place. I need to go to.'
'The End of the World,' said a voice from behind them. Zell turned to see Tidus, smiling behind them.
-----
A world that is not a world, a gateway to the darkness that lies beneath all reality. Like the web of a spider it catches its prey, changing them and ruining them into beings beyond comprehension. As a small gummi ship flies above in the dark void of the sky, thousands upon thousands of heartless rear up their heads to look. They senses that the time was coming for change.
And so did their Master.
-------
Cid and Aerith watched while Tidus and Zell walked on up ahead to scout out their path. The kid had gotten so far, knowing the darkness within him and yet fighting it. Through death, through grief, through war and in the midst of confusion, he had kept true to his path from the very beginning. And he was to be commended for it.
Cid smiled, through his cigar of the floor, and launched the ship, leaving Tidus and Zell alone in the darkness of the End of the World.
--------
Zell and Tidus walked in silence for a while, both not wanting to be the first to speak. They did not discuss the thing on their minds just then, but before the end, when they were trapped behind the door and shapes approached in the darkness, Zell whispered what he had wanted to say, and Tidus replied 'Through the love of a friend,' and would say no more.
For now, however, they just walked, feeling the floor beneath them but just seeing darkness. Not just the absence of light, the degradation of it. This whole place stank of its filth. Tidus was the first to hear the Gummi Ship take off, the first to see their only hope and escape disappearing off into the depths of space. Zell had attempted to go back, but it was no use. They had been deserted before the end. And who could blame them? The heartless were stronger than ever before, darkness seemed to swallow the lands, and all hope lay in the destruction of the statue. What was it anyway? What was it that seemed to contain the spirits of darkness and light together? Was that Kingdom Hearts? Was that the true reality of the world?
Zell stood there for a few moments, looking up into the sky, and then ran to catch up with Tidus.
Within the darkness just a few feet away, stood a man in a black hood and cloak. A few moments later he was gone from that world, and where he had stood before a red mark was left within the darkness.
------
Zell and Tidus walked on, unable to see where they were going and not caring. All around them, dark yellow eyes flickered and danced as if in anticipation. Past the fallen ruins of the world-pattern they walked, the keyholes of each world long since fallen into darkness. Beyond there was a ray of red light falling into the depths of the heartless world, and there Zell knew that their fate would be decided. How could he go on knowing what would happen to him if he was successful, what would happen to both of them?
'Well here we are,' said Tidus, walking forward. 'Are you ready?'
Zell knew that he wouldn't have another go at this, that if he wasn't successful then everything that has ever been will be undone. He knew that even if they won then they wouldn't escape with their lives, certainly not Tidus. He was dooming not just himself but both of them
'As I'll ever be,' said Zell, and they both walked forward into the red flame. Zell emerged on the other side, right before the door of Kingdom Hearts. He gazed up in wonder, and stepped forward. He felt the power of the kingdom before him, all of the endless hearts of those taken by the darkness over the years. He glanced back towards the Talisman, and realised that his destiny was not to destroy the statue, but to save it. He could use its power against the darkness and continue to live, bringing back whoever he chose. He could bring back Leon.
He advanced forward to the Door to Darkness, and as he did so it began to open very slightly, with tendrils of darkness escaping from its sides. Zell touched the edge of the door, and the spell was temporarily lifted. Would he save the statue and live, or destroy it and die? Life or death? Salvation or damnation?
Zell pulled the door open and entered, and it was not until a few moments later that he wondered where Tidus was.
----
The door snapped shut almost as soon as it had been opened, leaving Zell alone in the darkness, and in a flash of light the talisman within his hand disappeared.
Eyes began to open in the darkness around Zell, sensing his presence.
--What's happened to me?
A few metres away an enormous darkside emerged from its sleep.
--Why can't this all just end happily?
The heartless were a little closer now, edging forward and relishing the moment of their victory.
--What about me?
Worlds away, the darkness took the heart of Traverse Town
--I didn't ask for this!
A great beast called Sin defeated the Summoner Yuna.
--and neither did anyone else...
Zell heard a noise from far away, the distant shouting of someone for help. It was Tidus. If he couldn't save himself, then the least he could do was to give everyone else the chance.
'I'm coming!' shouted Zell, and began to wade through the darkness. The yellow eyes within it began to retreat and scatter, as if afraid of him. Ahead of him he could see the shape of Tidus, somehow illuminated within this dark place. The heartless were all around him, edging forward. Zell didn't care if he had to fight on his hands and knees - Tidus gave up his life once for Zell, and if need be he'd return the favour.
Zell began to run, and the heartless fled from him as if he was death incarnate. The remaining few scattered as soon as they saw him, their dim yellow eyes beholding him as a dark shape illuminated with a red flame.
Tidus opened his mouth to speak, but Zell shook his head. 'I chose the door as well. We failed our test.'
'Don't be so sure,' said Tidus.
A door before them both had just appeared, and within their hearts both knew that those who made it to the other side would not be returning.
---
Zell began to approach the door, but Tidus remained behind.
'Are you coming?' he asked, knowing the answer before he even said it.
Tidus smiled, and shook his head. 'The door is for you, not for me. Whatever part in this I had, its now over.'
'What will happen to you now? Do you know how to get back?'
'No, but it won't matter. My fate, your fate, everyone's fate depends on you. If kingdom hearts is destroyed, all worlds will diminish with it. No more darkness or light. Only nothingness.'
'I would have stayed with you to the end, you do know that, don't you? You know that whatever happens, you probably won't see Spira again?'
'I know. And it doesn't matter. Now go. Go for all our sakes.'
Zell waved goodbye, and turned to run towards the door. As he approached it, he felt rain hit his skin. He could see the night beyond the door, the all powerful darkness. And in a twisted way, he felt akin to it. With a final leap, he passed through the light of the door, and fell from the sky of a world far from where Tidus lay in the darkness, far from Traverse Town and even far from the Destiny Islands. He landed bruised and hurt next to the statue of the Obsidian Square.
----
Zell looked around, and in a flash of intuition remembered. He remembered his father dying, and the spirit taking him and forcing him to resurrect him. He remembered allowing the heartless to take hold of not just his world, but all worlds. While he remembered being John, he also remembered being another. He remembered the island, and trying to make a raft. He remembered Kiari and his rivalry with Sora. He remembered the witch Maleficent, and his possession by Ansem. He remembered dying, and passing away to the other side. He held the memories of both John and Riku, and also of his creation. He remembered a pain so great it felt like being torn apart from inside, he remembered being spat out from the statue like vomit, falling onto the cold paving beside the statue.
He looked up to see a Gummi Ship landing in the distance, and at once all became clear to him. He put on the Talisman round his neck, and with a silent prayer to all those he had ever met, even those who had fallen to darkness, he smashed the talisman's centre. As the Spirit of Baell was released from the statue and attempted to possess the young boy, Zell held onto the memory of Leon giving him a name and befriending him.
As the owner of the Gummi Ship walked slowly through the city towards the Square, about half a mile from his destination, Zell fell unconcious upon the floor of the square, and thus began the battle for control of Zell's body and mind.
-----
WHO ARE YOU? said the great dark shape before him, approaching slowly yet steadily within his mind.
I'm Zell, he said, And you're Baell, right?
YOU WHO ARE ABOUT TO DIE, GIVE ME FORM
Alright, said Zell, and the darkness took shape. It took the form of a giant beast within the darkness, something that Zell was sure he could not defeat. Something that Zell had thought of on purpose.
As Zell grappled with Ifrit/Baell, the gummi-ship's owner had nearly reached his destination.
-----
WHY DO YOU FIGHT? PLEASE EXPLAIN
I fight for them.
WHY? YOU WILL DIE EVEN IF YOU ACHIEVE YOUR DESIRED OUTCOME.
I fight for everyone.
YOUR VERY NATURE IS DARKNESS. YOUR HEART IS WEAK, ONLY THERE BECAUSE OF A PATHETIC NAME THAT A FALLEN WARRIOR GAVE YOU.
I fight for him.
DARKNESS IS THE TRUE NATURE OF THE HEART. I AM THE TRUE NATURE OF THE HEART.
Then finish it. Show us all your power.
Zell felt the presence of the visitor within the square, and lept upon the beast Ifrit. Within the caverns of Zell's mind they grappled, both locked in terms of force and power. Zell knew he could not continue for much longer, however, and the part of him that was not fighting looked out at the Square.
------
The old man Tidus stood at the entrance to the square, his cloak shaking gently in the rain. If his old friend Auron had been next to him, the resemblance would have been very striking indeed. Before him was a great statue wrought of Obsidian, retaining the very essence of the old world. Quite literally in fact. Darkness had taken even King Mickey's castle, and in its destruction he had sent Tidus on his quest. It had been thirty years since Zell had died in the darkness of kingdom hearts, and the talisman had been lost. The great marvel before him was not his goal, despite its beauty. The abomination must be destroyed at all costs - he remembered the King telling him this, yet still the words echoed around in his head.
From where he was, the so-called abomination lay in a heap by the statue, asleep and badly bruised. It was only a boy, a small little boy - he certainly did not look like something to be afraid of, and as the king would not go into any further detail, he remained doubtful of his mission. In a strange way, looking at him conjured up memories of Zell running through a door of light, but he dismissed the vision quickly. There had been no door. Zell had been killed by heartless and he himself had only just made it out. This boy who reminded him of Zell apparently was their last hope, and must be killed. He was doubtful, but orders were orders, and so he drew his sword.
At first nothing happened as the blade lay motionless in the grip of his muscular arms, but soon the dim light of the moon began to catch the edge, and as it did so the blade grew hotter in his arms, lighting up. The pain was almost unbearable, but as he had complained before - the weapon was not made for one like him, but was the Gunblade of Leon, passed down along the years until it had ended up in the hands of Tidus, had survived even to this fateful era.
The blade finally gave in and a great beam of light entered the square from the dark sky, causing the whole area to appear as in day. The boy did as the King said he would - he rose from his position and began to scream with pain, shaking around the square in agony. Yet he made no attempt to harm the boy - was he really an enemy? As the old man raised his sword and ran forward to deliver a blow to the boy, the child dodged it and threw Tidus back with a bolt of Darkness. He let out another scream, and in a bloodcurdling voice said - 'GIVE IN NOW OR YOU WILL DIE'. Tidus replied that he could not, although the boy ignored him. He placed his hands against his head and fell again.
'I fight for them I fight for them I fight for them I fight for them,' he repeated again and again, almost holding himself down on the floor of the square. With renewed vigour, Tidus ran forward again to cut him down in his moment of weekness. 'KINGDOM HEARTS IS DARKNESS. ALL ARE BORN INTO DARKNESS AND SO ALL MUST RETURN.' screamed the child, and rolled out of the way.
'I fight for Leon!' he boomed, and once again attempted to hold himself down on the ground. Tidus ran forward again, doubtful once more. Who was this child who avoided him and spoke of Leon and Darkness? Who was he? As he tried to cut him again, the boy disappeared in darkness, and appeared once more at the other end of the square.
'LET ME ESCAPE. LIVE IN DARKNESS OR DO NOT LIVE AT ALL. YOU ARE THE PROTEGE OF DARKNESS. ACCEPT YOUR FATE.'
'I fight for the kingdom' screamed the child, and ran forward madly towards Tidus. The old warrior held out his sword, and swung it as the child came upon him. Even as the blade cut through his centre, his heart, the boy screamed 'I fight for the light!', and in the split second that followed Tidus realised that the boy was Zell, and he had murdered him. Overcome with emotion, Tidus through his sword down in disgust and ran from the square.
--------
Within the caverns of his mind, the darkness finally defeated Zell, consuming him with dark flame.
--------
Zell/Baell lay screaming upon the floor of the square, alive and yet at the same moment dead. Thick, black blood ran from his/its heart where he/it had been punctured by the gunblade, and the undeath of the boy/thing would not last for long.
The statue not three metres from the writhing creature/boy was suddenly fulled with a corona of fire, and light erupted from the sky. The heartless around the world evaporated within it, unable to stand the force of its rays. It was more than just light, it was the complete and utter absence of darkness, it was Light.
The creature screamed out again, the shell of the boy it inhabited failing. All that was left was the dark spirit within. It moved to inhabit the statue nearby, but the obsidian was falling apart, the light causing it to crack. It tried to possess Tidus, but he lay dead under a fallen building nearby, beyond the reach of darkness. With a primal scream that would be familiar to all those taken by the dark over the years, to all those that had ever been the victims of evil or malice, to all those who had chosen the darkness as a way of life, the spirit of Baell was pulled apart by the overwhelming rays of light, and his darkness was no more, lost to both the kingdom and all the worlds that had ever been.
Soon after the dark heart of that world was finally consumed by the light, and fragments of it spread out throughout the cosmos in the form of a meteor-shower, or perhaps a rain of 'gummi blocks'.
Far away, the world of Traverse Town suffered a similar explosion, the heartless within it evaporating instantly. Nearby Wonderland, the Colliseum, and even Destiny Islands exploded in similar rays of light, the darkness leaving them and the world falling apart. All worlds that had ever been, ever are, or ever will be fell apart, the rain of light filling the darkness of the skies with a spectacular display of light.
Near the vicinity of where the obsidian statue had once been, the spirit of John struggled to keep itself together. Soon it too would pass away, he knew, but he needed to finish what he had started. Crying out the names of those he had ever loved, his father among others, he allowed himself to be consumed by the light, his heart not passing to the kingdom but simply released, and its energy was great. The darkness within him struggled against the light, and in a titanic explosion the Kingdom itself passed from existance, causing all the darkness and light that had ever been to merge with the cosmos in a spectular display that no-one except one would ever be lucky enough to see.
Soon enough, however, the explosions ended, and the World was remade. Kingdom Hearts returned in its place, the balance between light and dark restored. All worlds returned in their rightful place, even the End of the World. The heartless reappeared within the kingdom, existing not because someone made them but simply because the balance required them. Within the light titanic blades were forged in opposition, Keys to both the darkness and the light, representing the power to destroy the world or to save it. People reappeared on each world, while those taken but remade temporarily, Spira among them, disappeared.
The world had been remade, and its true form had been revealed. The balance had been restored, and Zell passed from existance. None of those he had saved remembered him or even knew that anything had happened, because in effect it hadn't. He had stopped the balance from being disturbed. Zell had won. They had won. Hope had been restored.