Chapter 12

"Are you sure Sora? You don't have to choose Darkness. Are you firmly positive?" asked Serena, her eyes glistening as she stared back at the young vampire. He nodded his head slowly, a decision was made, the decision of his fate.

"I'm sure Serena. I'm already Dark inside. I just don't want to be King of Darkness, I'd rather just be another Dark creature." he replied as he stared far off. He couldn't believe any of this was happening. One day, I'll wake up and this will all be a dream... he thought inside. He looked back at Serena as she nodded.

"Of course, I won't let Ansem get to you Sora, your fate has been sealed though, I won't be able to change it. The only way out of this is through death, even though I don't want to admit it, it's the truth." she said with a frown. She didn't want to see the young boy suffer, he's been through so much as it was.

Sora nodded as he looked at the night sky. He was afraid of the future, what it held for him, but he had to go on, for what his fate held. His time would come, surely it would, but he wished it would come sooner, he never thought that maybe his wish might come true.

"Serena, thank you for your help.. But now, now it's my mission to fight this battle on my own. I have to be alone once more, no matter what you think. It's for the best, trust me. I know what could happen, I don't want it too. So please, just let me go alone. I'll come back, I promise you." he replied as he stared at her, sorrow filling his eyes. He didn't want to leave anyone, but for their sake, he had to.

"What battle? You ARE Darkness Sora. You have nothing to battle anymore. You'll come back though... I suppose I could let you go. It is for the best, I must agree." she said, eyeing him with thought. She had a feeling the battle wasn't against Light or Darkness, but against himself. She dismissed the premonition and tried to smile, handing him a Keychain as a token. "Take this. It's the Dark Chain. It holds much power, which is why you should have it. Take it as a token from the Darkness."

"Not a battle against Darkness, or Light for any matter. But a battle against someone, who deserves to die for everyone's sake. I'll come back, and I'll be different, I will. Thank you for the chain, I shall use it when it comes time for that battle." he said, lying on his return. He wouldn't come back, he was never coming back, and he was never coming home.

"Okay Sora, take care. And remember, everyone will be awaiting your return. Maybe I'll see you in a while. I have a feeling you won't be gone long!" Serena said with a smile. She reminded Sora a lot about Kairi, but no matter what, he was doing this for her as well. He waved a goodbye as he walked down the road, a tear falling down his face.

"I wish I could come back... But I can't now. This is my duty, I have to do this for everyone. I have to..." he said to himself. He stepped through the exit as he went to Hollow Bastion once more, this time to fight for his death.

He looked around as he landed in the Rising Falls, remembering the first time he ever set foot at Hollow Bastion, remembering how he fought for his life, but in the end sacrificing it for Kairi. He headed to th Castle Gates as he saw three small Shadow Heartless appear in front of him. They didn't attack, they didn't even move at all for that matter. They just stared vacantly at Sora as he walked past him, his Dark Keyblade in his hand.

He opened the doors and arrived at the Entrance. He looked around the vacant place, seeming as noone was inside. He headed toward the Grand Hall, where he would fight his battle. He opened the Hall doors and peered inside, seeing not one trace of life. He looked around as he heard soft footsteps from behind him.

"Ah, the Keybearer. It's great to see you again, especially in your new form. Glad to see you became one with the Darkness. Why are you here? You could be somewhere else, so why choose this place for your liking?" came a man's voice, Sora positive it was his old enemy, Ansem.

"I'm here for a final battle. For either life or death. In the end, it doesn't even matter... Whether or not, I still want one last battle Ansem." Sora replied as he looked at his enemy. He grabbed his Dark Keyblade, taking off the Chain and throwing it to the side.

"A battle you say? Fine, I'm up for it. But why Sora? Why still fight the Darkness that resides in you? You must learn to embrace it one day. I wonder where that puppet Riku is. I would love to possess him once more, just for this battle. Oh well, I'll beat you in my form anyway." Ansem said, a menacing grin on his face as he grabbed the Darkblade, Sora looking in shock as he was positive he destroyed it.

"You'll never possess Riku again! He's not your puppet to toy with. His a real human being, just as real as I used to be. Now... let's fight before he even comes. I don't want him seeing you ever again Ansem." he replied as he narrowed his blood red eyes and got into battle stance. Ansem nodded, and so did the last battle begin. One on one, two Dark knights that battled for life, or death.

Sora blocked all of his attacks, trying to make one of his own, but failing as Ansem would block him and attack him right away, always missing just barely where his heart resided. Sora could hear from afar footsteps getting closer and closer. Ansem weakened Sora terribly, a maniacal grin on him as he slashed against him, giving him no time to get up.

Sora finally got to his feet, battered, but healed himself as fast as he could. He eyed Ansem as he tried making a swipe, but having his Keyblade knocked out of his hands.

"Give up Sora! You're going to lose this battle. I don't want to have to kill you! You'd make a perfect ruler, so I don't understand why you must be fighting me." Ansem said, a hand on his hip as he waited for Sora to get up.

"I'm doing this.. For everyone. It doesn't matter, as long as one of us dies. I will go down with a fight at least." Sora responded as he got up and charged at him, reflected by Ansem's attacks. He heard footsteps once more, almost outside the Hall doors as he closed his eyes, knowing who it might be. Don't come in now Riku... wait until this is all over. He thought as he saw Ansem running at him.

Sora tried to block the attack, but failed as Ansem accidentally rammed the Darkblade inside Sora's heart, thinking it wasn't his heart, maybe below it, but he was wrong. Sora gritted his teeth, blinded from the pain. He opened his eyes as his look went vacant and sank to his knees, falling forward as the Darkblade stuck out of him.

The doors opened as Riku looked around, immediately spotting Sora's body and Ansem next to it, leaning down over him, a pretend look on his face that showed sadness.

"Sora! Don't die!" Riku yelled, running toward his body as he knocked Ansem out of the way. "Please don't die on me! I don't want it to happen! Why must you kill yourself? It's... it's not worth it Sora!" he yelled as he rolled him over, taking the Darkblade out of him. "Just hang on Sora, hang on as long as you can, don't give in to the calls of Death!" he cried out as he looked around the room.

"It's... for the best..." Sora whispered as he let his head fall to the side. Riku cried even more as he held onto Sora, not wanting his friend to go as he knew there was no saving him.

"It can't end like this! I won't let it! It's supposed to be who dies! Not you! You had so much to live for Sora, why give it all up!" Riku cried out as he tried feeling for a pulse in his friend's neck, but to his dismay he felt none. "No... not like this.. Not like this!" he cried out, blinded by tears as he let go of his friend. He was on his knees as he stared in front of him, Sora laying in front of him, unmoving...