Author's note: Here's my second to last chapter! (I'm sooooo happy that I'm almost done with my entire story!!!)

Kingdom Hearts: Return of the Heartless

Chap. 19 Anything for Love

As the blade was coming down, something knocked it from Riku's hands. Maleficant gasped.

"Goofy! Donald!" exclaimed Kairi.

"You thought you could capture us with a trap door, huh?" laughed Goofy.

Donald agreed, "Yeah, Goofy had some rope, and we just had to climb out."

All of Kairi's ice had melted, so she came to join the fight. Riku's blade turned back into his sword.

They all attacked at once, and Maleficant threw her every move at them. But, it wasn't enough, and she couldn't overpower them. As she began to fade away, she warned, "Ansem will defeat you1" She shriveled into nothingness and smoke and flame rose from the earth.

Kairi ran to Sora, the others following.

"Sora, are you all right?" she pondered.

"I…I think so…" he tried getting up, but the pain was too great. Kairi helped him stand.

Riku gave him his keyblade, "You ready for Ansem?"

"I sure hope so…" Sora worried.

On the gummi ship, on the way to The End of the World…..

"Are you sure you can fight Ansem, after what Maleficant did to you?" Kairi asked Sora.

"Kairi, don't worry…"

"Don't worry?!? If he is as powerful as you say he is, we don't have a chance!"

"Kairi….." he held her hands, "We can do it. We just have to believe in ourselves…"

Just then, the ship jolted.

"Heartless!" Riku shouted to them.

The ship shook violently, and Sora bumped his head on something. He fell into unconsciousness.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sora woke up, his head swelling with pain, "Uhhh…what happened?" A heartless held his arms behind his back.

"Our ship…and us, too…were captured," Donald replied.

"Sora…..Ansem is coming here…" Kairi shivered at the thought.

"They took all our weapons," said Riku.

Goofy was disappointed, "…and our ship is wrecked…"

They waited…twenty minutes past and everyone became nervous. Soon, Ansem entered. The heartless pushed them forward, and Ansem spoke.

"Ahhhhh…they're here…heartless, leave," he commanded. He paced back and forth, "So you thought you could defeat me? Well, keyblade master, you thought wrong. You can't destroy me! I am invincible!"

He started walking in the opposite direction, but turned and threw their weapons in front of them.

"Go ahead," he said, "Take them…" his face was stern and he didn't say a word.

Then, Kairi realized that they hadn't taken her whip. It was still in her possession. Ansem stepped closer, and she wrapped her whip around his wrist and pulled tighter, "Now!"

Everybody grabbed what they needed and Kairi loosened her grip.

Ansem crossed his arms, "You still haven't learned anything, have you?" he looked at Sora, "There is no light in any heart. Darkness grows and takes a hold of everyone…"

"That's a lie!" Sora cried.

"Then you must face the consequences!"

A smoke rose behind Ansem, and a heartless ten times his size stood ready.

Kairi was now more uncertain, but said, "C'mon, we can do this…believe in yourselves," she looked at Sora.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"Let's do it."

Riku, Donald, and Goofy attacked first, trying to strike Ansem. But, everytime they were blocked by the heartless, and their efforts were futile.

Then, Kairi and Sora joined in. Sora attacked; the heartless' hand block his keyblade. Soon, Kairi electricuted the hand, drawing it away, "Now's your chance!"

Sora used his combined attack, but Ansem was barely affected, He's grown more powerful… "Everyone, help!"

The others all attacked this time, and Ansem was struck hard…"Heartless, attack!!!"

The heartless closed his hand into a fist, and when in opened, fire spread. He threw it at his enemies, forcing them to fall. But, they all got back up, hitting Ansem twice as hard. A light grew in Ansem's hand, and he threw it with all his might, knocking everybody but Kairi down. The heartless faced her, his fire and lightning ready for attack. He swung…..(A/N: Ooooooh! What's going to happen next???)

Sora looked up, "No!" He ran to Kairi's rescue, and stood in front of her. He used his most powerful blizzard attack…..

…..but, he didn't succeed…..

The blazing fire flew closer and struck Sora with a pain he had never experienced before. Fire burned within his body, and he fell to the ground.

"Sora!" Kairi shouted. She turned to the heartless, her heart filled with anger. She threw her whip at it as hard as she could, and it disappeared in a puff of smoke, to everyone's surprise. Ansem cried out in frustration.

"Sora!!!" Kairi bent down, "Sora…Sora, talk to me!" a tear rolled down her cheek.

"Kairi…it's over…" Sora spoke silently.

"No! No, it's not!" moisture trickled down her face.

"It's no use. I'm…fading…"

"Please, Sora…..don't die…"

"Kai…I must go…it's…my time….." his breaths were short, "You must…let me go…" he couldn't breathe.

"You can't leave me, Sora!"

"Kairi…I….." his last words were spoken, and he died in her arms.

Kairi broke down in tears, "…You can't leave…" she held Sora close and wept uncontrollably, "…..I love you…"

Author's note: Sad, huh? I even cried myself, writing it.Don't panic, though! There's still one chapter left (tee, hee).....The last chapter might take a while to get up, though, because my weekend is really busy. (sorry to leave you in suspense)