---CHAPTER IX---

The Heartless were almost to the gates of Disney Castle when Queen Minnie had last checked. Something seemed to be stopping the Heartless, however, and the Queen and Daisy were determined to figure it out. They at once sent out their spies, Chip and Dale. That's right; the two little rodents were not only the royal technicians, but some of Disney's top intelligence agents as well. Queen Minnie and Daisy waited at the throne room for Chip and Dale to return.

In Hollow Bastion, The fight between Leon and Seifer was still continuing. Every time Leon took the advantage in the battle, Seifer immediately turned the tides and fought back. Even more surprising was the fact that neither one of them seemed to be slowing down a bit.

By this time Aerith and Cid had woken up and were watching the battle from inside their crystal prisons. Aerith wished there was some way she could help Leon, but it appeared that the Heartless had intended for this fight to take place. That meant that Ansem still had something up his sleeve.

Finally, Leon found a way to turn the tides. He slashed Seifer across the chest, sending him flying back several feet. Seifer still rebounded and began swinging wildly around Leon. Leon had backed himself around all of the machines at the edge of the raised platform they had been fighting on. If Seifer hit one of those machines the shock should knock him out long enough for Leon to free Aerith and Cid and escape.

Seifer took a swing at Leon and indeed cut straight into one of the machine control panels there. Sparks flew from the machine and were sent straight into Seifer's body. Leon ran toward the large heart-shaped structure at the back of the room to avoid the sparks flying everywhere as Seifer's body became enveloped in smoke. Leon drew his gunblade. He knew it was not over.

The smoke lifted from Seifer's body. He was badly burnt and scarred, but he showed no signs of exhaustion and he certainly wasn't close to dying. "No human could have survived that," said Leon. "Just what have you become?" Seifer didn't answer. He only grabbed his own gunblade and advanced menacingly toward Leon. Leon and Seifer's swords clashed a few more times and the battle continued. Leon spun around to attack Seifer but left a weak spot as Seifer kicked Leon straight in the spine sending him flying into the machines that exploded earlier.

Leon was so injured now he could barely stand up. Seifer continued to not say anything as he advanced once more against Leon. Leon staggered, wondering what was about to happen next. Just then Seifer stopped. The sparks that were coming out from his burns seemed to turn to a form of magic at this point. Seifer got a confused look and then felt himself growing smaller, not only in height but in a youthful sense.

Leon watched as Seifer turned into a small kid, probably about the age of twelve or thirteen. Seifer had become so small he had trouble holding the gunblade and dropped it.

Leon picked the young Seifer up and tied him to one of the pipes in the back as he freed Cid and Aerith.

"What do you think we should do with him?" asked Cid, pointing at Seifer.

"We take him with us back to Traverse Town. Somebody ought to know what to do there." replied Leon. "But first, we need to find a gummi ship." Leon and Aerith walked out of the room while Cid picked up Seifer and carried him out with him.

In the basement Leon indeed found an abandoned gummi ship and piloted it out of Hollow Bastion. Fighting the Heartless there would be a small war and Leon did not want to fight the war alone. For now all he could do was wait for somebody to find out just what happened here. For now his part in the tale of the war between the light and darkness for control of Kingdom Hearts was over.

It had been almost a week since Riku drove Ansem's spirit out of Castle Oblivion, and King Mickey wasn't quite sure he really wanted to go back into that place again so soon. But the keyblade master was in trouble, so Mickey really needed to go.

King Mickey entered the castle and made it to the floor Riku had said he met Naminé and found Sora's capsule. The castle was completely covered in Heartless, but for some reason, when Mickey wore the black robe the Heartless didn't attack. It was if they recognized their masters by this robe.

The room was dark when the King entered the chamber where Naminé was. He hid behind a pillar when he saw a tall man enter the room before him. Mickey followed the man inside and noticed it was, of course, a trap that he and Riku had been led into. Mickey watched as Ansem advanced himself toward Naminé.

Naminé tried to stop Ansem, but Ansem just grabbed the small girl and threw her to the side of the room. Ansem then began walking toward the three large white flower-shaped capsules that even far away Mickey could distinguish as Sora, Donald, and Goofy. Mickey had then remembered he had not seen the trio since they sealed the door to darkness together. This time, however, it would be them that needed his help, and the mouse was certain not to let them down.

Mickey drew his keyblade and fired a beam of light at Ansem. The light beam hit Ansem and sent him back several feet. Mickey jumped into the open, still in his black robe, and showed Ansem who he would be facing.

"So," said Ansem, surprised Mickey had come this far. "The king of the realm of Disney comes to face me. I would be shocked, but I'm used to your usual guinea pigs facing me. Now, in a showdown between the king of light and the lord of darkness, I will show you what the true meaning of darkness is!" Ansem made his black guardian wrapped in bandages appear behind him as he elevated himself about a foot off the ground.

"You're right, Ansem!" shouted the King, "You're not even going to see Kingdom Hearts again! Tonight we end this! Sora isn't the only keyblade wielder!"

Ansem appeared to not be scared at the power of the keyblade, and began to float toward the small king who was at least half his size.

Riku finally managed to find the gigantic green world. Sephiroth had really outdone himself this time to build something this big. There seemed to be a dome with Mako swirling over the entire thing. That's where Riku was betting Sephiroth was. The final battle was about to begin.