Chapter 24:

Final Battle Part One: An Unsuspected Discovery

Zan groaned in pain as she slowly opened her eyes to meet the same aquamarine gaze as hers, "Are you ok?"

"Riku?" she asked, slowly sitting up. Everyone was around her in a circle, except for Riku. They were all gazing at her seriously, and she knew why. It was time to erase fate.

Riku smiled and nodded, "I'm free, so what are you waiting for? Let's go." He held his hand out to her, she quickly took it and he helped her up. She stared at allthe friends around her. Mickey stepped forward, "Only you, Riku, and Sora can stop Ansem."

"Wait a minute, WHAT!" Ryo cried out.

"I'm sorry, but it's the only way."

"But your majesty, with all of us, Ansem's sure to be defeated," Yuri replied.

Mickey nodded, "True, true, but only two Keyblade weilders and the Eternal Heart weilder can defeat him."

"I think you're meaning to say one," Riku said harshly.

Suddenly, Riku noticed something in his hand. He looked down at it. Oblivion...

"You can use it, Riku. You still have a strong heart," Sora grinned.

Riku was speechless. He lifted the majestic blade up to meet his eyes. He couldn't believe this. Zan looked at him and smiled, "Are you ready?"

"Wait!" Ryo cried again. "Don't we get to say goodbye or something?"

Zan raised a brow, "Are you saying that you're expecting us to die or something?"

"N-noooo..." Ryo replied.

"Zan, when you three defeat him, everything will change. Meaning the course of time, so everything will basically disappear like none of these events happened, and you'll be home again; you're real home," Yuri said.

Zan just stood there for a moment in shock. After all of this? She would get to go home and live the life that she never really could? That was extraordinary, but then, she would have never met these people, Akina, Jiro, Ryo, Yuri. . .

"Yuri, that means I-"

"I know, but don't worry, Zan, just keep us somewhere safe. In your heart."

"Yeah!" Ryo exclaimed.

"All of us," Jiro and Akina said in unison.

Zan looked at Riku and Sora, who nodded. She then turned back to them, "Don't worry, I will. I'll miss you guys so much, though."

"We'll miss you, too, and I'll miss my hunny bunny!" Ryo whined.

"Hopefully not too much," Riku muttered under his breath.

Zan laughed and gave Ryo a hug. Soon the others did as well. It seemed like one happy moment, but it was soon to be shattered.

"Let's go, Zan," Riku said. "Before he finds us here and attacks first."

Zan wiped away some of her tears and said her final goodbyes. After that, she gazed at the dark castle of Hollow Bastion. It was time.

xxx

"Keep your eyes open for Heartless. Zan, if you see any tell us quickly. Your weaponless and you need to stay back," Sora instructed.

"Right!"

"It's odd, usually, there would be swarms of them by now," Riku replied.

"I agree. He may not know we're here, or he just wants us to fall to him before we do to Heartless. Like that would ever happen," Zan muttered.

"Couldn't agree more, now, let's hurry up," Riku said.

The trio continued cautiously their way towards the dark castle, keeping their eyes open for any unsuspecting visitors jumping out at them. Luckily, that never happened, Zan felt extremely uneasy, yet amazed by this sight. Hollow Bastion. . .The very world where her brother had ended up, and well, you know the whole story. She couldn't believe her eyes. She turned to look at her brother, who didn't have an ounce of emotion in his eyes. He just wanted everything to be right again, and to get out of this place.

Soon, they were just about to enter the castle gates, but an earthquake-like force shook them and the ground, "What's going on?" Sora shouted.

Heartless,several of them emerged from the ground, followed by ice chilling laughter.

"Ansem and Heartless that's what!" Zan exclaimed.

"How very smart of you, child, too bad your all walking towards your graves," Ansem said casually as he stepped from the mass of Heartless, Eternal Heart in hand. Riku and Sora drew their Keyblades, "Give the sword back," Zan growled.

Ansem chuckled, "Foolish child, you actually believe that I would just give you the sword back just like that?"

"Zan, leave this to us for now," Riku ordered.

"But-"

"Listen to him, Zan, you don't have a weapon right now. There's nothing you can do," Sora said.

Zan huffed. She knew they were right, but still, she was vulnerable to be the first to be taken down, and she couldn't do anything about that, either. What was she going to do?

"Devour their hearts," Ansem smirked before disappearing.

Soon, the Heartless jumped at the three. Sora and Riku took out their Keyblades and ordered Zan to stand back. She wanted to protest, but there was nothing she could do. She was weaponless. Well, as of now.

Sora and Riku slashes away at the mass of Heartless one by one. It was easy, too easy. Soon they were finished and hardly breaking a sweat.

"That was easy," Sora said.

"He's just slowly trying to wear us down." Riku replied.

"Or warm you guys up," Zan concluded. "Let's go."

They began to their main destination again. Slashing every Heartless that now began to jump out at them relentlessy. Now it began getting difficult. They hopped onto the numerous lifts to the castle. It was now becoming a slow and tiresome effort just to get into the grand hall. It didn't help much, either, that Heartless had begun appearing by the dozens. Wyverns, Wizards, and almost any Heartless imaginable, striking at them ferociously, but it didn't mean that they could defeat them. Sora and Riku struck back at them with ease, causing Zan to stare at them in awe and jealously. She really wanted her sword back.

Soon, they made it to a door and stopped. Sora slowly approached it, taking in a long, deep, breath, "Are you guys ready?"

Zan and Riku nodded.

"Zan, whatever you do, stay back. You understand?" Riku advised.

"I know, I know, I kinda figured that one out by myself already, but can I fight once you guys get it back?" she asked.

"Yeah, of course," Sora replied.

"Hurry up and open the door, Sora, the Heartless are coming!" Riku urged.

Sora quickly nodded and swung the door open. Inside was the sinister sight of the grand hall of Hollow Bastion. Zan gazed up at the enormous Heartless emblem that was carved above. She looked around again, the same emblem everywhere, and what else seemed to keep her mystified were the six capsules were. The very same place where those of the purest hearts were held. Zan shuddered, but snapped back into reality when her brother touched her on the shoulder. She looked up at him with an uneasy look in her eyes. He smiled at her reassuringly, "Don't be afraid."

Don't be afraid. . .

As simple as that, and yet, it wasn't going to be so simple for Zan. None of this was to begin with. She had always imagined this cruel place in her mind, but never thought that she would actually see it; that it would come to life. It was finally coming to an end, though, and hopefully she could be at peace, but there was a strong sensation inside of her that was telling her that this wouldn't be the last time that she would have to face this place. In fact, she may have to face so many other places. She would never be at peace.

They cautiously walked up the steps. Ansem, of course, was at the top waiting for them with a sinister smirk on his face, "Ah, so you've gotten passed the Heartless, I see..."

"Enough chit chat, Ansem! Come and fight us!" Riku demanded.

Ansem chuckled at this, "You fool, I have no desire to fight you, or your Keyblade Master friend. I'm here to fight dear Hozannah..."

Sora and Riku quickly glanced at each other, "But that's not fair! She doesn't have a weapon!" Sora shouted.

"Hm, I suppose that's right, but why don't one of you let her use your Keyblade?"

"What are you talking about!" Riku demanded.

"What I'm saying is: She can use one of your Keyblades!" Ansem replied.

"But she can't!" Sora argued.

Ansem laughed, "Oh, but she can. Why don't you just hand it to her? Or are you afraid more of your limelight will be taken away from you, Keybearer?"

Sora's faceflushed with anger, "Shut up! How do you know she can wield a Keyblade!"

Zan turned to Riku with confusion in her eyes. Riku just merely stared at her intently as if he were searching for something deep within her soul. She felt uneasy as Riku walked over to her and gently places the Oblivion in the palm of her hand. It stayed there. Zan and Sora looked baffled as she held up the blade, "How?" Zan muttered.

"What do you mean how, dear girl. You're a chosen one...or perhaps there is some hidden reason of why you can wield a Keyblade," Ansem said, staring intently at her sword in his hand.

"Riku? I don-" Zan began.

"Only you can do this, Zan," Riku whispered.

"But, Riku!" Sora exclaimed.

"Just until she can get the sword away from him, and then we will help," Riku whispered again.

"Well, Hozannah, are you ready to face me?" Ansem snarled.

Zan looked at Riku and Sora nervously. This all was happening too fast, and she didn't even know how to fight with this Keyblade, or any Keyblade for that matter. She either had to face him, or run. Riku nodded to her, encouraging her to step forward. She took in a deep breath and made her decision. . .

xxx

I've decided that the next chapter will be the last chapter unless I change my mind again, but I highly doubt it. Sorry that this one isn't as great. I expected it to be greater, but that didn't happen. Oh well. I put a big cliffie at the end as you can see, so expect a quick update! I promise!

Disclaimer: I don't own KH

R&R!