Ultima Part Six

By Jive Maxwell

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

(Escape Vehicle)

The escape pod was carrying the Tall Geese on its back.

Refueled and with much of his ammo re supplied, Zechs was fairly

content. KOS-MOS was also riding the top of the escape pod. She

explained a few things to Zechs and Quatre, that she was an android

built for combating Heartless-like creatures called Gnosis, and that

the A.G.W.S.s were also built to battle Gnosis.

"So that's what those little mobile suits were for earlier!" Quatre

realized. "I wish I had my Gundam here. I could probably help you

fight them, if they really are so evil."

"Gundam?" KOS-MOS repeated.

"Like this Tall Geese," Quatre told her. "Only this is an earlier

model. The more advanced ones are a lot smaller."

"Hey, if you've got anything bad to say about Tall Geese, you

can say it to me, okay?" Zechs grumbled. Blushing, Quatre

scratched the back of his neck, a slight sheepish grin on his face.

"Please do not harm each other," KOS-MOS said.

"Huh?" Zechs wondered.

"Study of human facial and verbal expressions tells me that

there is a 78.565 chance that you are annoyed with Quatre. Is this

not correct?"

Zechs laughed. "Well, of course, but...I wouldn't hurt him. That

would take away the point of saving him."

"Did you rescue him?"

"From some people named Ansem, Seymour, and Sephiroth,

though there may be others. Have you heard of them?"

KOS-MOS stared blankly at him.

"People come and go, but I don't remember having met

anyone by those names in the past, nor have I heard anyone mention

them."

"Oh."

"Are you looking for me?"

"Sephiroth!" Zechs tensed. "Where are you, you bloody baka-"

"Here!" Sephiroth appeared inside the Tall Geese, right

behind Zechs, and grabbed Quatre by the wrist.

"Let go!" Quatre pleaded. Sephiroth knocked him out again

and disappeared as Zechs pulled out a gun.

"Too slow!" Sephiroth taunted, out in space. "And guess what,

Zechs: you can't attack me! I have Quatre!"

"And you can't stay long," Zechs reminded him, smirking.

"Oh yeah?"

Zechs nodded. "Quatre can't breath."

Sephiroth swore, but Zechs was right- Quatre wasn't breathing.

"That's alright, Zechs," he said coolly. "I'll be back for you." He

disappeared.

"Where are you going?" KOS-MOS asked, seeing Zechs

disconnecting the Tall Geese from the escape vehicle.

"I don't want to cause your passengers any trouble. When

Sephiroth returns, he'll be after me. You need to be out of here

before them."

"Affirmative." KOS-MOS agreed. "We will prepare to gate jump

immediately." She turned away, and then seemed to consider

something for a moment before turning back to Zechs again. "Thank

you for your help earlier. If in the case you survive this assault and

would like to meet up with us again, we will be heading for Miltia as

soon as possible."

"Thank you."

The escape pod accelerated and disappeared. Zechs warmed

up his beam cannon for a long moment. It reached its maximum

power level just as Sephiroth reappeared.

Zechs took close aim. "DIE, YOU BAKA!!!"

On board the Durandal, the crew was having a few minor

problems.

"Ah, guys, I think we know what attacked the Woglinde!" Tony

called, gesturing to one of the same oversized Heartless that had

attacked the Woglinde earlier.

"They're not taking us down!" Jr. exclaimed. "All units-"

"Hey," the captain scowled. "Why not let chaos handle this?"

"Are you sure?" chaos asked softly.

"Do you think you could handle it, chaos?" Jr. wondered.

"There's like, a few of them."

"I could try. But I have to touch them. They're all outside. My

powers are limited, you know."

"No need to worry about that!" Tony yelped. "Here it comes!"

One of the Heartless reached and grabbed the bridge of the ship by

the glass.

"This is your chance, chaos, ya moron!" the captain scowled.

Chaos shook his head.

"I still can't touch it: it's outside."

The Heartless solved the problem. It's hand came through the

window.

"Chaos!" Jr. cried.

"I got it!" chaos raced up to it and held up his hand to stop it.

Instead, the Heartless reached and grabbed chaos in its huge fist,

covering him from everyone else's view.

"NO!" People gasped in horror. But then, in a burst of feathers,

chaos reappeared, the wind knocked out of him but otherwise

unharmed, and the Heartless slowly dissolved.

"Is everyone alright?" chaos demanded.

"What is this?" Seymour wondered, from the back of a winged

Heartless. "A boy who can destroy the Heartless? I can't have this...

But Ansem may need this boy alive. Yes, he'll want to know about

this." Seymour glanced at a planet in the distance. "Alright. I'll send

him there." Seymour used a heck of a lot of black magic, and chaos

disappeared from the ship.

"Continue attacking the ship," Seymour instructed the

Heartless beneath him in a whisper. "I'm worn out."

(Kingdom Hearts, Destiny Island)

Riku and Kairi stood on the small cliff of their favorite little

island, connected to the main island by a short bridge.

"Kairi," Riku said after a moment of silence. "I'm beginning to

wonder...if Sora really is coming back. Aren't you?"

Kairi shook her head.

"I know he wouldn't forget about us, Riku, if we don't forget

about him." She gave Riku a reassuring smile.

"You're right," Riku chuckled softly. "It's just... I mean, can we

really trust him to take care of himself? He's immature and

irresponsible...What if he screws up and-"

Kairi laughed.

"Are you that worried about him, Riku?"

"...Yeah. Yeah, I guess I am." Riku blushed a bit. "I guess I'm

just a big worrywart, huh?"

Kairi shook her head with a giggle.

"I worry about him, too. But I know, wherever he is, he's not

alone! He's got us to back him up, and whatever new friends he can

make."

"Aren't you afraid he'll forget about us...someday?"

"Even if he does, if we're really his friends, we'll let him go. And

when he remembers us again, we'll welcome him right back. Like we

did with you. Do you remember, Riku?"

Riku looked away, his face hidden by his hair.

"Too... Too clearly."

"It's okay, Riku. Everyone knows it wasn't your fault."

Riku didn't reply.

"Hey, what? Who's that?" Kairi pointed at the water some

distance for sure. Riku looked. Someone was drifting, back up, in the

deep water.

"Whoever it is," Riku gasped, "they need help! Wait here!"

Riku jumped off the ledge and into the water. He swam to the

person in the water and turned them over. The boy immediately

began to gasp for air.

"Where am I?" he asked, to no one in particular.

"Don't worry about that right now," Riku told him. "Can you

swim?"

"...Yes."

"Good. Come on then. We'll help you." Riku smiled.

"And...who are you?"

"My name's Riku, and that girl over there is Kairi."

"Kairi, huh? She's pretty cute."

"Hands off!" Riku growled.

"Sorry! By the way, I'm chaos."

"Alright then chaos, let's go." Riku ducked beneath the waves.

Chaos slowly paddled after him.

Back on shore, Kairi was waiting for them.

"Hello," she said cheerfully to chaos. "Are you okay?"

"I think so," chaos replied.

"He's fine," Riku grumbled.

"What's wrong with you, Riku?" Kairi noticed instantly.

"Huh? I'm alright."

"Oh! Okay! Well, we should take um, what's your name?"

"Chaos."

"We should take you to my house, just in case. Why were you

just floating in the water like that?"

"I'm not sure. One minute, I was on board the Durandal, and

then these big black creatures attacked us, and I wake up here. I

don't know what happened."

"Big black creatures?" Riku gasped. "The Heartless?"

"I think you know what it is I speak of."

"No..." Riku backed away a step, staring hopelessly at the sky,

then at Kairi.

"It's alright, Riku," Kairi tried to comfort him. "Maybe it's some

other creature-"

"No. It's the Heartless," Riku retorted. "I can tell...Oh no! That

must be why Sora left! Kairi, the Heartless...are back..."

Riku backed against a tree and was downcast. Chaos looked

on worriedly.

"Riku..." Kairi sighed softly. She went to him and wrapped her

arms around him. "It's okay. I'll protect you this time."

(Hollow Bastion)

"He what?" Ansem asked dryly.

"He touched the Heartless, and it was destroyed," Seymour

repeated. "I don't know much more beyond that."

"And...what did you do to the boy?" Ansem asked

dangerously. "You already lost the battle against the Durandal,

sleeping on the job. What more bad news do you have to report?"

"I thought you might like to see the boy for yourself, so I sent

him to the nearest planet in the vicinity. I also rerouted the princess'

teleport magic to avoid that area for some time. I think it's a place

called: 'Destiny Island.' Does that please you?"

Ansem was silent for a moment. Then he laughed.

"Is something funny?" Seymour asked.

"...Yes and no, Seymour," Ansem replied after a moment.

"I don't get it."

"You wouldn't understand. Anyway, it looks like this is the

perfect opportunity to see an old friend of mine. Will you take care of

showing our newest member around? And don't worry, Sephiroth is

tending to Zechs, and we have already retrieved Quatre, so it really

doesn't matter that you lost your battle with the Durandal. Your

findings are much more important."

Seymour nodded. Ansem disappeared, and Seymour went to

meet someone- someone with white hair, dark skin, and purple eyes.

"Sorry for the inconvenience," Seymour apologized with a

smile. "We blew this place up a while ago. What did you say your

name was?"

"I'm Marik."

(Yu-Gi-OH!, Yugi's room)

A little guy named Yugi lay on his bed, hopelessly lost and

confused in the mysteries of ...a math textbook.

"What does 'm' stand for again, Yami?" he asked, though the

room was empty.

"I think it's slope," Yami reminded him gently, with a sigh.

Yugi sat up.

"I'm sorry, Yami. I know you're bored, but I have to get this

homework done or-"

"Not at all, Yugi," Yami said cheerfully. "I understand that your

schoolwork is very important to you."

"Not...really..." Yugi twitched at the thought.

"Huh? Why not?"

"I only do it because grandpa gives me money for high marks."

Yami laughed.

Then the room began to glow. Yugi raised an arm to shield his

eyes from the light. When it faded, he looked up. Sora, Link, and

Ashitaka stood before him, all staring at him blankly and wielding

swords.

"AAAAAAHHHH!!!!" Yugi yelled.

A while later, Yugi had regained consciousness and calmed

down (with some help from Yami.)

"I'm really sorry, Yugi," Sora admitted, sitting on Yugi's bed.

"It's hard to predict where we'll come out when we teleport like that."

"We didn't mean to scare you," Ashitaka agreed. "I guess our

swords must be pretty intimidating."

"That's alright," Yugi said kindly. "I was bored anyhow. What

are you doing here, might I ask?"

They explained the situation to him briefly.

"Sounds serious!" Yugi admitted. "I wish I could help!"

"Well," Link mused. "It would help if you knew the location of

the Keyhole. Ever heard of it?"

"No, not ever."

"I have Yugi," Yami said, from inside the puzzle.

"Where'd that voice come from?" Link wondered.

"What voice?" Sora asked. "Are you hearing things, Link?"

Sora pulled on Link's ears experimentally. Link shook his head,

annoyed.

"Can you hear it, too?" Yugi said in surprise. "That's the spirit of

my Millennium Puzzle. Usually I'm the only one who can hear him."

"Millennium Puzzle?" Sora repeated. "That thing around your

neck?" He stared at the golden, pyramid shaped box that dangled

from a strong chain around Yugi's neck. The Keyblade quivered.

"I sense a strong magic about it," Ashitaka said. "He must be a

powerful spirit."

"He is," Yugi said proudly. "He once helped me beat

Maximillion Pegasus, the evil creator of duel monsters."

"He has the Keyhole inside him."

Everyone turned and looked at Sora. He was pointing the

Keyblade at Yugi, but struggling to hold it down. Yugi made a

frightened face.

"It's alright, Yugi," Yami reassured him. "He's right; the Keyhole

he seeks is in this puzzle."

"Please," Sora growled, "make whatever decision you have to.

I can't hold it back much longer!"

Yugi transformed into Yami Yugi. "I won't fight you," he said

quickly. "But listen to me: you must unlock the Keyhole from the

inside. You have to wear the puzzle."

Sora's eyes widened, but then he nodded. Yami took the

puzzle off and slipped over Sora's neck. When he let go, he turned

back into little Yugi.

Sora passed out.

(In Yami's mind)

"What a strange place," Sora mused. "It looks like a three

dimensional maze."

"Are you alright Sora?" Yami was standing over him.

"I guess so."

"Do you know what you have to do?"

Sora nodded. "Where is it?" Yami pointed to a door.

"Alright!" Sora let loose with the Keyblade and unlocked the

door. There was a Heartstone in there, and the image of Yugi.

"He's always right there with you, huh?" Sora asked, returning

with a Heartstone. Yami nodded.

"He's my best friend."

"I have friends like that, too," Sora admitted.

"I'd like to meet them someday," Yami said with a smile.

"Maybe you can," Sora replied.

"Hm?"

"Why don't you and Yugi come with us? We were looking for a

new partner. You can help us find Keyholes and fight Heartless, and

find out what the evil force is behind all this-"

"But Yugi's schoolwork-"

"This is kind of important," Sora reminded him. Yami smiled.

"You're right. Besides, I know Yugi hates his schoolwork

anyway."

Sora grinned.

"At least let us leave a note for Yugi's grandpa and friends."

"Sure." Sora returned to the 'real' world. "We've got a new

partner," he said pleasantly.

"And I don't have to do my math homework!" Yugi said

cheerfully. "Ah, Sora?"

Everyone stared in amazement at Sora.

"What? Do I like tired? My head feels so heavy..."

"Um, Sora..." Link started laughing hysterically.

"Perhaps you should look in the mirror," Ashitaka suggested.

Sora looked.

"AAAHHH!!! I HAVE YU-GI-OH! HAIR!"

"This sucks," Yugi complained. "I have to work for hours to get

it that way and now you go and copy it!"

Yugi's 'Letter':

Dear Grandpa,

I will be back as soon as I help some friends of mine save the

universe. Sorry to miss supper; I'll do my chores when I get back.

Sincerely, Yugi

P.S. There is a month old sandwich under my bed. If you smell

anything unpleasant, that's probably the reason why.

(Kingdom Hearts, Destiny Island)

Riku was having another nightmare. He'd had them a lot since

he left home last year. He tossed and turned for a long moment

before waking up in a cold sweat, Ansem's voice still ringing in his

memory. Chaos was asleep on the floor, but he woke when he heard

Riku leave.

The night was cold but the light of the moon made everything

as clear as day. Riku appreciated the cool breeze; it reminded him

that he wasn't in a dream anymore. He walked along the side of the

narrow river for a few minutes before settling on a rock to stare into

the river's familiar depths. Riku had come here many times in the

night for months now. It was quiet and peaceful as usual, and his

reflection stared unhappily back at him.

"What am I supposed to do?" he sighed, sitting back and

putting his feet into the river. "Everyone else thinks that everything

has returned to normal, but I can't...I can't keep pretending. I

became a monster, and I'm not as forgiving as they are. I hate

myself." A lone tear slid down his face and fell into the river.

Suddenly, a fish leapt out of it and landed on the shore. There was

something in its mouth. Riku took it, and the fish heaved itself back

into the water. Riku stared after it in surprise, then down at the object

in his hand. It was a pretty stone. Riku held it up to the light, and it

seemed to glow.

"Thanks, I think," Riku said to no one he could think of.

"Who are you talking to?" It was chaos, strolling up behind him.

Riku turned with a start.

"Myself, I suppose," he said dryly. "Pretty crazy, huh?"

"Not at all," chaos said with a smile and shake of his head. "I

think it helps sometimes."

"Yeah, well it's not helping," Riku growled.

"Perhaps you're saying the wrong thing?"

"What do you know anyway?" Riku snapped. "You don't

understand anything about me!" Chaos just stared at him, with a

small smile still on his face.

"I'm sorry, chaos," Riku said with a sigh. "I didn't mean to

sound so angry. It's just that..."

"Yes, Riku?"

"Everyone seems to know more about me than I know about

myself. They all trust me and believe in me; my friends are the

greatest, chaos, and I don't deserve them."

"Maybe you're being too hard on yourself?" chaos suggested

softly.

"What do you mean? Do you know something about me that I

should know?" Riku's voice was bitter.

"Not much," chaos chuckled, shaking his head. "But I do know

that understanding oneself begins with acceptance and forgiveness.

You will never know who you really are or who you can be unless

you're first ready to accept what you may find."

"What do you think I should do?" Riku asked in confusion.

"I can't decide that, Riku," chaos smiled.

"Forgiveness, huh? I've heard the word before, but it didn't

mean much to me then. It may be all I have left now. Hmm..." Riku

stared off into the distance for a moment. Then he pocketed the

stone in his hand and walked away. "Coming, chaos?"

"Where are you going, Riku?" chaos followed after him.

"I just saw someone standing on the small island out there. I'm

going to go see who it is."

Chaos stopped and looked at the island. He could see a lone

person out there, their back turned to the boys. Then he hurried after

Riku, the river bubbling up behind him.

(The Island)

Riku stopped running just several meters behind the lone

figure and came to a complete stop. He was hoping to find Kairi, but

this wasn't her. Who could it be? Yet there was the feeling that he

had known this person very well once. Riku looked hard at the man's

back.

Long white hair, black robes and dark boots...

"Ansem!" Riku gasped it so quietly that he wasn't sure if he had

said it at all, but Ansem seemed to hear and turned, his cold bright

eyes staring into Riku's cool blue ones with a look that was beyond

mere recognition. It was a look of understanding that they shared, for

they did more than just knowing each other. Once, they had been the

same person, sharing in one body, their minds one. To Riku, it was

facing a part of himself that he thought destroyed, and had been

trying to forget.

"I- I'm dreaming..." Riku fell to his knees and shut his eyes

tightly.

"Then so am I," Ansem smirked. "We shared the same

thoughts and dreams for a long time before, Riku; I still feel as

though you are a part of me. Do you feel it too?"

A frightened tear threatened to roll down Riku's face, but he

stood up solemnly, his eyes hidden by his hair.

"...Yes..." he admitted. "IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU THAT I

CAN'T FORGIVE MYSELF!" The gleam in his eye voiced his pain.

Ansem laughed. "You fool, do you really think forgiving yourself

will erase what you've done? Even if your friends could forget, you

cannot, can you?"

Riku lowered his head in shame.

"I suppose it's futile though, trying to make you see the sense

in rejoining me, so I won't try." Ansem smiled understandingly.

"Are you going to kill me?" Riku asked.

"Why would I do that?"

"Why wouldn't you? I'd be better off dead anyway, after what

I've done, wouldn't I?"

"If I'd known you feel that badly about it, I might have."

"Then why don't you do it now?"

Ansem stared off into the distance.

"Because, Riku, we are still connected. You are, I must admit,

almost like a son to me."

"I could never accept that!" Riku snapped. "I'm not a part of

you anymore!"

Ansem's lips didn't move. His voice was in Riku's head as

clear as any of Riku's thoughts.

'Don't be so sure. Our minds are still connected.'

Riku ignored that and tightened his fists so that he was

frighteningly tense.

"Why are you here? Have you come for Kairi?" His voice

cracked.

"No, I'm here for the boy called chaos. I've no use for Kairi

anymore."

"What are you planning, Ansem?" Riku growled dangerously.

"You may find out when it's too late."

Riku glanced over his shoulder. Where was chaos? He sighed

in frustration. He could protect Kairi until he died, but chaos was the

one in danger now, and Riku had been the one to lead him here.

'When will I stop screwing up?' he thought sadly. 'I'm always

the one to lead my friends into danger. Now this, and there's

nothing I can do...unless...!' Riku grew quiet and thoughtful.

(Beneath the bridge, a minute earlier)

Chaos had been following Riku's footprints, having lost sight of

him in the dark, when he bumped into Kairi.

"Kairi, what are you doing here?" he asked in surprise.

"I saw Riku from my house," Kairi admitted. "And I was coming

to see if there was something wrong."

"No, Riku is fine," chaos told her.

"Then why are you out here?"

"I was talking to him only a moment ago. We thought we saw

someone on the island, and were coming to check it out. I thought it

was you, but now I'm not sure. Do you know anyone else who would

be out this late?"

Kairi shook her head.

"Then," chaos mused. "Maybe it would be best if you stayed

here."

"Why, chaos? Do you think someone dangerous is there?"

Kairi smiled jokingly.

"I'm sure of it," chaos replied softly, and Kairi jumped. "Who

could it be?"

"I don't know." Chaos walked away.

"Wait! Chaos, why are you going?"

"I must," chaos told her. "It seems like destiny to me that I

should come to this island, and that I should leave it. Kairi, please-"

chaos turned and took her hand in both of his. "No matter what

happens, you must first think only of protecting yourself, but also,

don't lose hope. Never lose hope. It is your greatest attribute."

Kairi was silent in surprise, flushed.

"You're...leaving?"

Chaos nodded.

"And...Riku?"

"Whatever he does, Kairi, he does to protect you. Remember

that." Chaos turned to go.

"Wait!" Kairi pleaded. Chaos hesitated, a slight smile on his

face. "Tell Riku not to forget...that his friends are always there for

him, no matter what, okay?"

"Riku will appreciate that," chaos smiled.

"And chaos?"

"Yes Kairi?"

"We're there for you, too."

"Thank you, Kairi," chaos admitted, walking away. Then he

called over his shoulder as he broke into a run: "and don't worry-

Sora's friends will come to save you soon."

"Wait! How did you know about Sora?!" Kairi cried. Then she

sighed. She supposed Riku must have told him.

(The Island)

"Are you sure?" Ansem smirked. "You know, I can't promise I

won't be any better than last time."

Riku nodded.

"There's nothing for me here," he said calmly. "It's no use

trying to pretend that I can change, so I might as well."

"There will have to be restrictions at first, of course," Ansem

retorted. "I still think you're just trying to trick me, Riku."

"If I was trying to trick you, I wouldn't have brought the boy

chaos to you," Riku said coolly, pointing to the bridge, where they

could see chaos coming.

"That was an accident on your part!" Ansem snapped. "You

couldn't possibly have known I was coming!"

"You say our minds are connected," Riku snorted. "And yet you

doubt the fact that perhaps I know as much about you as you do I. Is

it embarrassment that makes you so doubtful, Ansem? Maybe you

just don't want to believe that I can see your thoughts."

Ansem ignored Riku and turned his attention instead to chaos,

who approached fearlessly.

"I've been waiting for you, boy," Ansem sneered with a grin.

Chaos sighed and closed his eyes.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," he said softly. "May I ask your

name?"

"I am Ansem, and you are coming with me."

"I see. And Riku?"

Riku stiffened.

"Riku is on my side as well."

"I understand, but before I agree to go with you, I must say

something. Riku: Kairi wants you to know that she believes in you,

and that she'll wait for you, no matter what happens."

Riku sighed.

"What's this?" Ansem growled. "You still have an attachment to

that girl, Kairi?"

"You didn't think I'd give up Kairi now, did you?" Riku sneered

in a way he hadn't in a long time. "Come, Ansem, you know me

better than that. Yes, when I get the power I desire, Kairi will be by

my side."

Ansem snorted and looked away, and Riku relaxed.

"Come quietly, chaos," Ansem ordered, "or there will be

trouble." Chaos slowly made his way over to Ansem, and allowed

Ansem to put his hand on his shoulder.

"That's good," Ansem mused. "You're a smart boy."

Ansem didn't see the fierce glow in chaos' eyes, but he heard

the defiance in his voice.

"I don't mind giving in when I have to, but I promise you, when

the Day of Judgment comes, you'll pay twice over for your crimes."

"I'll have none of that!" Ansem snarled, gripping chaos' collar

and giving him a shake. "You won't speak unless you're told to from

now on, got it?" Chaos sighed and said nothing.

"Good. Come, Riku." Ansem summoned a black portal and

walked into it. Gritting his teeth, Riku followed.

Kairi watched them leave from the shore.

"See ya, you guys!" she called even though she knew they couldn't

hear her. "I'll be waiting, I promise!" She waved furiously until the

portal had disappeared.

To be continued...

JM: Well, that's quite the rivalry Zechs and Sephiroth have going on

there. I wonder why few people choose Zechs as their favorite

Gundam Wing character. Isn't he as cool as the others?

Duo: Jive told me her favorite Gundam Wing character is me.

JM: Needless to say, please review.