The Third Epic: Conclusion

by LordCavendish

The quest of Riku and Sora come to an end. But what price was paid for their sacrifice. A rift between the friends has formed again. How will the two keybearers contend with this turn of events? Is hope lost for them?

6. A Friend's Farewell: Riku's Decision

A Friend's Farewell: Riku's Decision

The KH team neared their destination, being only a hundred miles away, until they reached the walls of Gombria. Within those one hundred miles, the vast, high walls of the city could be seen. The city stretched across the flat open basin of the valley.

"There it is." Donald expressed. "The city of Gombria, the sister city of the Dark Empire's own capital, dead ahead."

"Wow," Mickey said. "It's so vast. No wonder this is called the sister city."

"Guys." Sora suddenly uttered. "I think its best that we land for now, before we continue on our way, and get that stealth device fixed up."

"But why?" Donald asked. "We're only a hundred miles away from the city now. Why do you wanna stop?"

"You forget, we're entering Imperial controlled territory now."-

"But that Saiyan General said that they controlled all the airspace from here to Gombria."-

"Sora has a point though." Mickey said. "We don't' know that for sure. It's best to be cautious. Especially, since we're so near to our target."

"Whatever you say, you're Majesty."-

The gummi ship touched down and Donald began completion of installing the stealth drive. With in a few minutes, he had completed his task.

"All done." He said, wiping his hands with a wet cloth.

"Then, let's be on our way." Mickey said. "But make sure to travel low and at a medium pace. The last thing we want is for the Imperials to hear our rocket engines."

"Understood, Your Majesty."-

Donald ignited the rockets, but not to full power. They glided quickly along the tops of trees. They soon began their flight over a vast field that stretched for at least forty miles, or so. Before them, like a large black creature emerging from the ground, the city of Gombria and its high walls emerged from beyond the horizon. As the gummi, now invisible, approached, the team realized that General Eap's words had been incorrect. Imperial troops still had control of the area. From the city's eastern gate, millions of soldiers marched out.

"Gombria is still firmly in Imperial hands." Mickey said.

"Donald." Sora uttered. "See if you can get us into the very interior of the city without us being detected."

"This is just like mission impossible!" Donald complained.

"See if you can land on the flat roof top of that building." Sora said. "That's the closest we can set the gummi ship to the Grand Center building."

"Why don't we just set on the ground?"-

"And have the Imperials spot us entering and exiting out of the cockpit? Are you crazy? Unlike before, we don't have any protection from Arakis anymore. From now on, we're on our own." Sora took with him Riku's keyblade, in case they had to somehow fight their way out. "And from this point on, I'm on my own."

"What do you mean?" Donald asked. "We're going with you!"

"You can't."-

"But why don't you want us to go with you?" Mickey asked.

"I was instructed to come alone. General Ameba relayed his message that if I ever want to see Riku alive again, I have to go in by myself." He opened the box to confirm that Riku's new keyblade was in there. "Alright, I'm off, you guys."

"What about the last half of the senzu bean?" Goofy said. "You better take this."

"I don't think I'll need it." Sora implied. "This is Ameba we're talking about. He isn't much of a threat to Riku, or me. And since I've gained the power of the rave and the strength of the Saiyans, there's no way that Ameba will be able to defeat me."

"But still…"-

"I suggest that you take it!" Mickey said. "It'll make us feel a whole lot better."

"Alright," Sora uttered, "Whatever you say." Goofy gave Sora the bag with the last remaining half of the senzu bean and Sora tied it to one of his belt loops. "Well, I'm off again. Sora was prepared to exit out of the cockpit, until Kairi rushed up to him and took him firmly by the hand.

"Sora!" she cried. Sora gazed at her and smiled.

"Don't worry, Kairi. I'll be alright." Kairi released Sora and the young man went on his way.

"Good bye, Sora. Good luck."-

"I hope he makes it there in time…" Goofy uttered.

"He will." Mickey replied. "I know he will."

Sora made his way into the grand central building without being detected by any Imperials. To them, due to his black outfit, Sora was just another mercenary, looking for work. However, Sora did not take any chance sane hastily worked his way to central area of the building. He eventually reached a series of lift tubes that ascended to the highest and descended to the deepest floor. He stepped into one lift and pressed the down button. At lightning speed, the elevator descended into the darkness of the city.

After three minutes, Sora finally reached the bottom level. The lift opened and Sora stepped into a realm where only a trail of white lights on each side of the different corridors illuminated the final level.

"I can find this lower level at the mouth of the northern corridor." Sora uttered. He moved to the northern corridor and looked about, but there was no door, nor any sign of a nearby entry. He happened to look down when he laid eyes on what looked like a finger slot on the floor. He stuck his fingers in eth slot and pulled. Sure enough a door opened and a series of stairs descended even further underground. Sora took a deep breath and began his descent into the passage way. Unlike the more futuristic style levels, this corridor was made from old fashioned masonry. There was a bizarre stench reeking through the chambers. Sora reached the end of the stairs, looking to a corridor filled with cells and the other leading to a vast chamber.

Sora decided to inspect the cells first. Using a lit torch, he searched each of the dark cells within the dungeon.

"Riku," Sora said, "Riku, are you there?" He reached the end of the corridor and looked at the cells at the very end, but there was no sign. By now, Sora's heart began to thump. There was no sign of Riku in the cells. He thought that maybe Riku was being held in the other chamber. He walked back to the entry way and headed up the other corridor. He gazed around, but there was no one else around.

"Riku!" Sora cried. There was no answer. He gazed at the chamber's entry way. The old torturing devices had been stuffed up, from their original positions, against the wall, leaving a clean floor in the center of the vast chamber. Only a few torches lit the vast area. Sora just about gave up all hope, until he was a figure hanging from a wooden structure at the very end of the chamber. Sora could barely make out what looked like a naked, white figure.

"Who's there?" Sora shouted. There was no answer. He neared the figure, bringing the brightness of the torch closer. Sure enough, as he neared the figure, he realized who it was. It was Riku, hanging limp, still cuffed and chained to the whipping post. His back had been further lashed and blood seeped from some of the open wounds.

"Riku!" Sora cried. He ran to Riku and placed his hand on his bloodied back. "Riku, it's me! It's Sora!" Placing the case that held Riku's new keyblade, down on the base of the whipping post, he unshackled the dying young man from the whipping post. Riku slumped into Sora's arms, his blood covering his jacket. Sora held Riku in his arms. Riku's eyes were still closed and his body was covered in sweat and blood. He was cold and shivered about, but his mouth was dry and parched. "Riku, open your eyes. It's me, it's Sora." Riku still lay still in his friend's arms. Sora's eyes filled with tears. "Please Riku, wake up."

"S…Sora…" Riku uttered. "Is…is that you?"

"Yes, Riku, it's me, I've come to rescue you."-

"I…I can't see you…" Riku uttered.

"Please, open your eyes…"-

"I can't…"-

"Please Riku…"-

But as Riku slowly opened his eyes, Sora was in for a further shock. Riku's eyes had been purged of life.

"What did they do to you!" Sora said. "They've taken your sight away." Sora then felt Riku's blood smear on his hands. "And they've tortured you." Sora then remembered. "I know how to heal you. It's not much, but I'll give you the last half of our last senzu bean. I'll have you back on your feet."

But as Sora reached down, he realized that the sack, holding the senzu bean was gone.

"On no," Sora uttered, "I lost the bean."

"S…Sora…" Riku gasped. He stiffened his back as he took a breath.

"Riku…" Sora held his friend closer. "Stay in there. I'll find that bean."

Just then, from out of the darkness, there was a maniacal cackling echoing throughout the chamber.

"So, you've finally made it, Sora." It echoed.

"Who's there!" Sora demanded. "Show yourself!"

Then, from the shadows, the form of General Ameba appeared.

"Nice to see you again, Sora." He chuckled. Ameba then held up a small sack in his hand. "I assume you were looking for this."

"The senzu bean…How did you get that without me noticing?"-

"I too can lurk in the shadows without being seen." Ameba threw the sack onto the ground and stepped on it, crushing the bean. He then flicked it aside, the bean dust scattering around as it exited the open bag. "Sorry, Sora, but you won't be healing anyone today."

"How could you!"-

"Very easily, I dare to say. And soon, Sora, you will undergo the same torture as Riku did."-

"You mean you did this to Riku?"-

"Well, I don't mean to brag, but yes, I was the one who did this to Riku. Every scar inflicted on his young body was my doing. Either I gave the order, or I did it myself. But I can tell you this much, I enjoyed every second putting Riku through such suffering. Every scream hollered, every gasp of breath, every drop of blood and sweat, every agonizing thrash of pain, I carved into my memory."-

"You're a monster." Sora scowled, tears running down his face. "Riku never deserved that. Because of what you've done, I will see that I take your very life! You couldn't stop at holding him prisoner. You had to make him feel the utter agony of the lash. And to top things off, you took his sight away!"

"Now don't be so brash about that, Sora." Ameba stepped closer. "I may have taken Riku's sight away, but his blindness isn't permanent."

"What do you mean?"-

"With the help of General Kai and his darkness element, I was able to cast a spell that would deprive Riku of his eyesight. So as long as I have a firm grip on him, his sight will never be restored. However, there is one way to break the spell and that is to kill the one who cast it upon the victim in the first place. And since I'm the one who cast the spell in the first place, it is I that you must kill. Take my life and you will break the spell."-

"Don't you worry about that," Sora said, angrily, "I have no argument with taking your life." He gently placed Riku down on the ground, next to the whipping post and the keyblade box. "For what you did to Riku, I will see you dead!"

"Hah! Then, you are free to try and smite me if you want to." Ameba chuckled. "Mind you, there will be dire consequences."

"There will be no consequence in taking the life of a heartless demon like you!"-

"I must beg to differ!"-

Sora stood up and walked towards Ameba, who now had his arms folded in front of him.

"S…Sora…" Riku uttered.

"Don't worry, Riku," Sora said, "I'll make sure that this guy pays for what he's done to you." The key bearer took his stance not more than fifteen feet away from the general. Sora then stretched out his hand and the keyblade appeared in his palm. He gripped it tightly, his eye contact on Ameba never breaking.

"Oh, I'm terrified now!" Ameba chuckled. "The boy has a giant key! Heh! How pathetic is that!"

"You underestimate the power of this keyblade. I will use it to take your life!"-

"Take my life! That's rather harsh for you, Sora! You don't seem like the type that'll harm anyone deliberately!"-

"But you're different! You've caused my best friend pain! But you never seem to be satisfied with that! You couldn't inflict the same type of torture on me, so you had to go for the next best thing to take your rage out on! If you do that just to think that you can beat me, then that only makes you weaker than I am!"-

"Are you simply saying that because you yourself are angry! I really didn't care about the concept of courage! Unlike many of the other lords and officers, I don't really give a damn about expansion! I only care about spilling the blood of my enemy. Long ago, I would kill and kill only to satisfy my taste for pain. But I found that young heroic youths like you always happened to be the ones to aggravate me the most, due to your impetuous and reckless nature. So for them, I would let the pain last. That is the one reason why I established an old fashioned torture chamber beneath this city. That way, I may do with the prisoners as I wish and there is no one to protest to my methods."-

"So that's it, eh? You just do this only so you can hear the screams of your victims? You watch them suffer and die in such agonizing ways just so you can wallow at the sight of their blood! What kind of twisted mind do you have! To fantasize about seeing young men suffer in such savage and barbaric fashions is sickening!"-

"It may be sickening to you, but then again, it's basically the only way to humble such a generation from ever defying the greater power!"-

"Shut up! I've had enough of your sick remarks!" Sora threw his keyblade before him. "You may have tortured thousands before, but it all ends here!"

"Just like a youth to declare vengeance for the scourging of his best friend!" Ameba chuckled. He drew out a massive saber from the scabbard at his side. "However, I made sure to prepare for such an act of vengeance from you!"

"You'll pay!" Sora charged and struck at Ameba. Ameba only blocked with his saber. The two began to clash within the dimness of the chamber. Sora attacked with everything he had. He saw the goal in front of him and his hatred burned with great ferocity. However, Ameba only blocked the attacks as if they were nothing.

"What's wrong, Sora?" Ameba mocked. "Blinded by rage? You put up a much better fight back in the 'Seed Realm.'"

"You're so full of it!" Sora shouted.

"I may be, but that still hasn't changed the fact that you haven't killed me yet!"-

"You just watch!"-

The two continued to clash away for ten minutes. However, in that period of times, it seemed like an eternity. Sora fought as fiercely as he could, but Ameba dodged the attacks as if he could see every move he made. Sora thrust his keyblade forward, attempting to lodge it in Ameba's gut, but Ameba only turned away and struck him at the back of the head. Sora fell to the ground, tumbling along the masonry floor.

"Either you've weakened," Ameba ridiculed, "or I've gotten stronger. I sure do hope that it's the latter."

"I can't allow this guy to mock me." Sora thought to himself. "He's killed so many and he's caused too much suffering already. I must not allow this guy to continue on his rampage."

"Are you finished taking a nap, Sora? If you've had enough, just surrender and allow me to take you and Riku back to the city of Vandor. That way I can be promoted to my rank as lord. After that, when I have achieved my goal and have reached my new esteemed position, then I will torture you to death."-

"I would never allow you to rise to a higher position! You only want the rank of lord so that you can further your influence as well as bringing your twisted methods out into the open without ridicule from the other members of the Empire!" Sora stood up straight, his keyblade still in hand.

"Just make this easier on yourself and Riku. It'll save you a lot of pain."-

"For now at least! But I will never give you such a privilege! The moment I lose to you is the moment I kill myself!" Sora turned to face the demonic general.

"But you're friend Riku would be saddened by that loss wouldn't he, as well as that girl who was so happy to see you when you rescued her!"-

"You keep them out of this!"-

"And what if I refuse to heed your word!"-

"You've gone on long enough!" Sora's eyes suddenly changed. He had dipped into the rage. "Now that I said that I would kill you, your death is assured today!"

"I like those eyes. It must mean that you're angry."-

"Angry at what you did to Riku and angry at myself for not being able to stop you."-

"Am I supposed to beg for mercy now? You're eyes might have changed, but the situation itself hasn't."-

"Die!" Sora suddenly vanished. Ameba was shocked. Suddenly, Sora appeared behind the evil general. Ameba threw out his saber and blocked the attack. Somehow, Sora was even more aggressive.

"He's somehow stronger than before." Ameba thought to himself. "His speed has increased so much and all of a sudden his blows with the keyblade have increased ten fold. To add, there is no hesitation in his actions. He really intends to kill me."

Suddenly, with an upper thrust, Sora broke Ameba's block, knocking the saber out of the way. Then with one great thrust, Sora drove the keyblade into Ameba's gut. There was a sudden silence as the keyblade was lodged into the belly of the general.

"And so you die." Sora uttered.

"I think not!" Ameba chuckled. The keyblade had made a critical blow, but Ameba seemed unaffected by it. In fact, there was no blood, despite the fact that keyblade's head was lodged half way into Ameba's flesh. "Next time you should stab more flesh, less cloth."

"I don't understand." Sora uttered. "How could this be?"

But just then, he heard Riku suddenly cry out in agony. Sora looked to see Riku covering his gut, almost curling up in a ball.

"It hurts!" he cried. "It hurts!"

"Riku!"-

But as Sora turned to Ameba, he saw the general swoop down his saber. Sora saw the attack coming and blocked it. He dodged rolled and stood to face Ameba again. Ameba had been unaffected by the attack.

"Why so glum, Sora," Ameba asked, "Did you think that I would go down that easily."

"Not even a scratch." Sora thought to himself. "But how could that be? I made a solid connection. I saw the blade go in!"

"You said that I was a demon. In most cases, you were absolutely right."-

"I'll find a way to defeat you!" Sora shouted. Sora attacked again, grappling for another five, or ten minutes with the general, but not able to land a shot. However, once again a fatal flaw in an attack was eminent and Sora took advantage of it. He knocked Ameba's saber aside and made a deep slash across the gut. "That should finish you for sure!" But again, there was no damage inflicted. "What? But how can that be! That can't happen!"

Again, Sora suddenly heard Riku screaming out in agonizing pain. He looked to see he friend grasping at his gut. Sora ran to Riku, returning to his normal state in the process. He looked to see a strange red scratch mark streaked across his gut, similar to the wound he inflicted on Ameba. Sora finally realized what was going on.

"You," He shouted, "what have you done to Riku, you bastard!"

"I was wondering when you would figure it out." Ameba explained. "If you recall, I told you that I had prepared for an act of vengeance from you for what I've done to your comrade. Thus, as a precaution, once again with the help of General Kai, I took the liberty of casting a second darkness spell besides the Eternal Darkness spell that was used to deprive your friend of his ability to see. This one is called, The Divided Hearts spell, in which each half of our entities have been placed in the other's body. So in other words, whatever I feel, Riku feels. What pain I suffer, he feels it too. However, it is a special spell that's basically biased to one side. I have taken all the advantages of this technique. Whenever, you strike me, it is Riku that'll feel the pain. Trying to kill me is out of the question because for one to die, the other must perish. So in order to kill me, you must kill Riku. And only through Riku can you ever attempt to kill me!"

"You monster!"-

"Yes, I am a monster aren't I! Am I'm damn proud of it! Such a pity that you have to face such a paradox, isn't it Sora? You want to save your friend, but you also want to restore his eyesight. However in order to restore his eyesight, you would have to kill me. That would've been easy for you if it wasn't for the spell I cast. Now, the only way to kill me is to kill the one you're attempting to save. His side of the heart beats the life source. Thus, I cannot die except through Riku. It's a lose-lose situation, my friend. Either way, you don't gain anything." Ameba sheathed back his sword. "Now that you know, you should know by now that this fight is also one sided. I can inflict pain on you, but you don't dare inflict pain on me because you know of the consequences if you do."

"S…Sora…" Riku uttered.

"You've gone too far this time!" Sora shouted. "I'll eventually find a weakness!"

"Go ahead and try, though I doubt that I'll feel it." Sora hesitated still. Ameba began to chuckle. "Yeah, stand down, you mongrel dog, like the little coward that you are!" Sora then gazed at Riku and the miserable state he was in.

"You say that you can only die through Riku. Well, at the state Riku is in, you may just kill yourself!"-

"Don't worry, I took precautions for that as well. I can only die if Riku dies, but only by sudden death through bodily harm by another's hand. However, if he dies a slow and natural death, the sudden shift in energy wouldn't be radical enough to cause any damage to me. So if he dies a natural death, I will still live." Ameba drew closer to Sora. "Now enough of this nonsense and come with me quietly. I will take you to Vandor and present you before the Imperial council. Then, I can become a lord!"

"Well, since you'll end up killing us afterwards, how about I just save ourselves the trouble of waiting for that! If I can't kill you, I'll just have to deprive you of your lordship!" Sora turned to keyblade on himself. "I'll take my own life!"

"Hah! And if you do that, how will you save your friend? Most importantly, how do you think he and your other friends would feel if you died?" Sora suddenly remembered what Arakis had told him.

"I don't want to kill you knowing the debt I will have to repay that young girl when I tell her that you died in battle. I've seen the look in her eyes when she talks about you specifically. Her teary eyes tells me that she doesn't want anything bad to happen to you. And how could I break such a young girl's heart. She would be utterly devastated by your loss."

He then saw Kairi, Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and the rest of his friends in his mind. They were awaiting his safe return. If he were to take his own life, that would be utterly devastating for those who still waited. Sora drew back his keyblade.

"So you realize the importance of your life now." Ameba chuckled. "That is what makes you weak!"

"It's all over for us then?" Sora uttered. He fell to his knees.

"It's not…over…Sora…" Riku said. "If…you…must stop Ameba…then kill me…"

"Riku, what are you saying!"-

"If you want…to stop Ameba… then you must kill me…"-

"Well, well, well," Ameba chuckled, "such a bold statement from one so young? Are you willing to throw your life away that easily, Riku?"

"Compared to what the consequences will be if you don't die, my life's value is insignificant."-

"If it's so insignificant; then tell that to Sora. Though I doubt he'll even have the courage to deliver the final blow." Ameba folded his arms in front of him. "Go ahead Sora, deliver the final blow, end this madness, and save the universe from certain annihilation."

Sora could only look back at Riku, who gazed about with his blind eyes.

"Do it, Sora!" Riku demanded. "For your sake…as well as mine…"

"I can't…" Sora uttered.

"You have to…Sora…It's the only way…"-

"I can't…"-

"Don't give me that!" Riku tried to stagger to his feet, but his strength had been sapped from his body entirely. He could only lift his head and shoulders up from the ground. "You know the amount of suffering…that will take place…if Ameba…has his way…You can end it all…here and…now…But in order to do that…you must take…my life…"-

"But…I came all this way to save you, Riku. If I kill you, then it would have been all for nothing. I can't lose you, Riku. You're my best friend…"-

"Then as my friend…strike me down…"-

"Riku…" Sora trembled.

"Don't give me that sentiment! Strike me…down!"-

There was silence between within the chamber. It was then broken by Ameba's sinister laughter.

"Ha! You can't do it can you!" Ameba chuckled. "How pathetic! I told you, Riku, Sora will never have enough nerve to strike you down!"

"Please, Sora…" Riku demanded. "You have…to do this…End my suffering. Kill me!"

"I can't!" Sora shouted. "And I won't!" Sora drew out his keyblade and prepared to fight gain. "I know what sacrifice you're trying to make, but think about how all your friends would feel if they found out you died! Think about how Mickey, Donald, and Goofy would feel if your life was taken! They would be devastated to hear of it! And what about Kairi! She longs to see you! She wants to see us go back home alive! All three of us back to Destiny Island! How do you think she would react if she heard that you died! And most importantly, how do you think I would feel, knowing that I not only saw your death, but also was responsible for it! I will bear a burden on my heart that will never go away until the day I die! No, Riku, I will fight Ameba and I will find a way to defeat him!"

"Sora…"-

"Give me that one chance, Riku! And I promise that I will defeat Ameba! Then we all can go home!"-

"You delude yourself, boy!" Ameba chuckled. "You can never defeat me any other way! And I will prove that to you!" Ameba took out his sword and thrust it into his own gut. Immediately after, Riku began to scream out in pain.

"Riku!" Sora cried. "Leave him alone!"

"You are in a position unsuitable to give orders!"-

"I'm warning you! Leave Riku alone, or I'll…!"-

"Or you'll what!" Ameba drew out the sword and thrust it again. Again, the agonizing scream bellowed from Riku. Sora grew angry now. "Go ahead, Sora. Tempt me to do it again!" Ameba again thrust the sword into himself and Riku cried out again.

"Stop it, you bastard!" Sora lunged forward. But as he did, Ameba drew out the sword and knocked Sora away with its hilt. Sora went flying across the chamber, tumbled across the ground and hit to the side of the wall.

"Come now, Sora! You said that you'd defeat me some other way! So far, you've come out with no other alternative!" Ameba held up his sword again and thrust it into his gut. Riku screamed out in pain again. Another thrust and again another scream. Soon enough, Ameba was inflicting damage upon himself. But his body did not suffer the sting of the sword. Instead, the pain reverberated through Riku's being and the boy tossed about violently, as if he were being stabbed to death. Sora was caught in a corner. He wanted to strike at Ameba, but he knew it would only cause Riku more pain. He didn't dare kill himself, fearing of what Ameba might do to Riku. Confused by the incessant cries of his friend, Sora withdrew his keyblade.

"Please!" Sora pleaded. "Don't hurt Riku anymore! He's suffered enough! You wanted to take your anger out on me from the start! Well here I am! If you want to strike me, then go ahead! I won't fight back! Just please don't hurt Riku anymore!"

"You will accept your sentence then?" Ameba chuckled.

"I throw myself upon you tender mercy. I will receive the blows. Just please, spare Riku of any further torment."-

"Then, I will take my revenge upon you a hundred fold! But don't expect any mercy from me!"-

Ameba sheathed his sword and then struck at Sora across the face. He then punched the boy in the gut and then struck another blow to the side of his head. Ameba's grin grew bigger and bigger with every blow he inflicted on Sora.

"Yes, Sora," Ameba chuckled, "You will pay for the humiliation you threw upon me in the 'Seed Realm.' I will make you suffer just as much as your friend did! I will take back every insult, take back every act of insolence, take back every act of defiance against me! Now, I can really unleash my anger!" Sora was given a severe thrashing about by Ameba, but throughout that time, he did not dare to raise his hand to stop his beating. Like a rag doll, Sora was tossed and thrashed about, receiving blows to the head and gut.

In the commotion, Riku could hear the gasps and aching screams of his friend.

"S…Sora…" Riku uttered. Through his mind, he understood that Sora was doing this for him. "Sora's taking a beating for me, so that I wouldn't have to endure further pain. He's taking in every blow Ameba puts on him without complaint. He wishes for me to forgive him, I know, but it is I that should beg for forgiveness. Sora was only placed in this situation because of me, because of my recklessness and selfishness. But now, even though Ameba may kill him from this thrashing, he continues to take on the infliction without further resistance."

Ameba suddenly grabbed Sora by the throat and threw him onto his back on the ground. He held his grip around the boy's throat. Sora however, did not resist. Instead, he allowed Ameba to attempt to suffocate him.

"You know, this would be a lot better if you actually put up some resistance!" Sora had no choice, but to do what Ameba ordered. He started to struggle, thrashing his legs about violently. "That's much better!" Ameba then picked Sora up and kept him in a stranglehold. Sora began to lose consciousness, but still he did not holler out.

"Sora…no…" Riku uttered. "Please Ameba! Stop…this! He's suffered…enough…"

"On the contrary, Riku, he hasn't suffered enough to satisfy me!"-

"Please, leave…him alone…"-

"He does this for you though. The least you could do is be grateful that he suffers for your sake!"-

"I don't want him to suffer… any further than…he already has on account…of me…Please…have pity…"-

"Sorry, but pity isn't what I do." Ameba looked up, Sora's thrashing had ceased. "Aw, you dead already, Sora?" Ameba threw him against the whipping post, Riku close beside him. Sora's mouth dripped blood now and the energy had been sapped from his body.

"Sora…" Riku uttered. "Get up…"-

"I can't…" Sora replied. "My body…feels so heavy…"-

"Sora…"-

"It's over already?" Ameba asked. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. I was hoping for more resistance durability out of you than this, Sora." He then drew out his saber and flicked the sharpened end with his fingertip. "Well, it was fun while it lasted."

"Are you going to kill me?" Sora uttered.

"That's about the size of it."-

"But why would you? You wanted us alive and tried so hard to keep us alive. But now, you want to dispose of us so quickly? If you kill me, then you will never be promoted to lord."-

"That can easily be resolved." Ameba walked up to the platform of the whipping post and stood over Sora. "If not now, I can always try again some other time to be promoted to lord. So I'll remain a general for a few more years. So what? At least I know I had savored my revenge against two young teenagers whom I despise." Ameba turned his back on Sora, continuing to flick the blade with his finger. "I've said it before, my bloodlust always comes before my ambition! And now is one of those times!"

Sora staggered to his feet and hung against the whipping post. The sweat continued to drip down his face as his impeding doom came closer.

"Forgive me, Riku…" Sora uttered. "I am weak…just as you said…"

"Sora…" Riku uttered.

"Mickey…Donald…Goofy…Kairi…Forgive me… I have failed…"-

"Farewell Sora!" Ameba suddenly shouted. He turned and quickly thrust in his sword. Sora's eyes grew wide with fear and everything seemed to flash in an instant. There was the sound of flesh being pierced by hard, cold steel an the spurting of blood upon the ground.

However, Ameba's eyes turned from a look of pleasure to a look of shock. Sora's eyes too were widened with surprise. It was not his body the sword had pierced, but Riku's. Riku summoned the last of his strength to carry out the deed and threw himself in front of Ameba's sword and Sora. The sword had entered just under Riku's left breast, piercing his lung.

"R…Riku…" Sora uttered.

"R…Riku!" Ameba shouted. "But…but that's impossible!"

"Well, well, well," Riku uttered. "I guess you weren't as invincible…as you thought you were…"

Ameba suddenly felt a sharp pain in his left breast. He looked down to see blood spurting from an open wound. He suddenly began to stagger and his energy gave way. Blood dripped from his mouth in streams now and his eyes were still wide with shock and now fear.

"But…how can this be?" he uttered.

"Sora…has sacrificed himself…for me…" Riku uttered. "And…now I…do the same for him…" Riku took hold of the sword and dug it deeper into his gut.

"But how? You couldn't even stand!"-

"You've underestimated…my will power…"-

Ameba's blood spilled onto the ground as he tried to run from the chamber. The pain grew even greater in his breast and the blood continued to drip. He fell to his hands and knees, trying to reach the door way.

"This cannot…be…" he uttered.

"What's the matter…Ameba…?" Riku gasped. "You…seemed to enjoy it…when you made Sora and I…suffer. It's not…so enjoyable…when it happens to you…is it!"

"But how could…you throw your life…away like that?"-

"When…the only…alternative…means that one of us…must die…then so be it…Let this act…be my atonement for abandoning my friends…" Riku gripped the sword and plunged it deeper into his body. "There…is a really big difference between us…Ameba…I can endure…far longer than you…"

"Damn you…to hell…Riku…!"-

"You…first…"-

With a final gasp of breath, Ameba had reached the entryway of the chamber before collapsing upon the ground, dead. Riku smiled and attempted to pull the saber out of his chest. He slowly gripped it and pulled it out a little at a time, before the massive blade fell to the ground.

"Riku…" Sora said, still shocked at what he had witnessed. He watched as Riku swayed back and forth. Riku grasped his wound as soon as the sword hit the ground. He placed pressure on it, but the blood still dripped from his wound. Blood dripped from his mouth now, but it was of no concern for him. Riku was already at the point where he could no longer feel any pain. He withdrew his hand from his ghastly wound and gazed at it. It was then that the color of the blood was eminent to him. His vision had returned. Ameba's curse had been lifted and Riku smiled as he staggered backwards.

"Riku…" Sora whispered again.

"My blood…Sora…" Riku said. "I can…see my blood…" He then suddenly fell.

"Riku!" Sora stood up and caught his dying friend. Placing Riku on his back, Sora held him tightly in his arms. Riku then gazed at Sora.

"Yes…Sora…I can see your face again…"-

"Riku, don't talk. Save your strength…"-

"It's better this way…It's better it's me…instead of you…"-

"Don't say that!" Sora put pressure on the sword wound. Riku gasped for air. His lips still parched and dry.

"I'm so thirsty…" he uttered. "I'm so thirsty…Sora, can I have some water?"

"I don't have any water with me."-

"There…on the post…" Riku pointed out a canteen that hung on the other side of the whipping post. Sora grabbed it and pulled out its cork. He lifted Riku's head up.

"OK, Riku, put your head up."-

Riku lifted his head as best he could and Sora slowly poured the cool water onto his friend's lips. Riku sipped away at the water, little by little, before dropping his head again. Sora placed the canteen aside.

"Thank you…Sora…" Riku uttered. His eyes began to close again.

"Riku!" Sora cried. "Stay in there with me! I gotta get you out of here! You need help!"

"It's too late for me, Sora…You'll never pass the Imperial forces…with me…in this state…"-

The young key bearer desperately gazed around, looking for anything that might stop the bleeding. But even mere bandages wouldn't be enough. He realized that there was nothing to treat the open wound. The dying youth began to shutter from a chill.

"It's so cold…" Riku uttered. "I'm…so…cold…"

"Hang in there, Riku!" Sora cried. He held his friend even closer, trying to keep him warm. Riku continued to shiver. Sora looked about trying to see if he could find something that could help his dying friend. He then decided to look about upstairs to see if he could find any medical supplied. He whispered into Riku's ear. "I have to go back up to the higher levels and retrieve medical supplies." He gazed down at the silver-haired youth. The dying young man could only gaze up into Sora's blue eyes. "Riku, I need to get supplies to help with your wound."

"No…Sora…" Riku pleaded. He grasped onto his comrade's shoulder. "Don't leave me…please…"

"But I have to find something to stop the bleeding."-

"But if you go…I'll die alone…"

Riku's words suddenly struck such strong emotions in Sora's heart. He remembered that time when he himself was in the dying position and pleaded his friend not to leave. Sora grasped tighter onto the key bearer.

"Alright, Riku, I won't leave you." He held him even closer. "But how am I supposed to get help!"

"You don't…"-

"What do you mean!"-

"It's over for me…Sora…"-

"Don't talk like that, Riku! You're gonna make it! You're gonna make it!"-

The youth gasped for air again before uttering his next few words.

"Sora…I'm…sorry for what I've done to you…" he uttered.

"No, don't be sorry. I'm the one who should be sorry." Sora lowered his head, angry at himself. "If I hadn't been so incompetent and weak, none of this would ever have happened."-

"It wasn't your fault. It was my fault for thinking that…I could ever make a difference recklessly charging in. As a result…I suffer this punishment…"-

"Oh God, Riku! Don't say that!"-

"I'm so sorry, Sora…I'm sorry for pushing you away…It was never your fault…It was never my intention to hurt you. I just wanted to rescue Kairi so badly. I wanted us to just go home. But now I see…that I'll never see home…again…"-

"You're wrong! You'll make it back home!" Sora's eyes filled with tears and he began to cry over his friend. "You, Kairi, and I will be back home and we'll lay in the sun on the sandy beaches and hear the crashing of the waves on the shore! The sound of the sea breeze will rustle in the trees and the sound of seagulls with echo in the air! Home is this close to us, Riku! And we're gonna make it! All three of us together!"-

"But I fear that I may never see home again…This is where I shall rest…"-

"Riku…" Sora sobbed. He then took notice of the wooden chest he had brought with him. He reached over Riku and opened the mahogany box. "Riku look. This is yours." The dying young man looked to see a magnificent keyblade, carefully placed in the box.

"That's mine?" Riku uttered.

"Yes."-

"My God…"-

He reached for the keyblade and pulled it out with all his strength. Sora lifted the tip of the keyblade so his friend could hold it high and observe every detail. "This is for me?" Riku looked upon the black, blue, and red design with eloquent embroidery and the magnificent designs upon the keys surface. Tears soon flowed from his eyes. "Beautiful, it's so…beautiful…"-

"You and I have our own keyblades now." Sora said. "Stronger keyblades, compliments of the Universal Alliance. This is the Ginroio Noria, the Way of Justice."

"Yes…" Riku held his keyblade close to him. "Thank you, Sora…"-

Sora could only smile. But suddenly, as soon as he had uttered those words, Riku began to lose sight of Sora. His pupils became dilated indicating that his eye sight was weakening.

"Sora? Sora!" he uttered, grasping at his friends shoulder. "Sora…"

"I'm right here, Riku." Sora said. "I'm right here!"

"I…can't see you…" Riku gazed about blindly, no longer able to see again. His eyes still filled with tears. He took another deep breath. Blood still dripped from his mouth. Sora wiped the blood from his friend's lips. The silver haired boy then gazed in a blank stare at him. "Promise that you'll take care of Kairi...alright?"

"What do you mean, Riku!" Sora asked. "You're gonna be there to watch out for her too."

"I can't Sora…"-

"Please, Riku! Don't talk like that! You have to pull through, buddy! You have to make it out of here! I'll see that you make it! Just please, hang in there!"-

"Sora…you have to let me go…Please let me end my suffering here…let me die in peace…"-

"But Riku, you'll never see home again!"-

"I am home…" Riku reached for Sora's face and placed his hand upon his cheek. He wiped a tear from his comrade's cheek "You are the closest to home…that I'll ever be…" He began to waver in his friends embrace. Sora held him tighter in his arms, cradling him like an infant. He could feel Riku's body grow heavier and heavier.

"Riku…" Sora sobbed again. "Without you…what'll I do?"

"I will always be with you…Even in death…"-

"Riku…"-

"Don't worry about me, buddy…I've finally found my happiness…I'm here with you…You are a true friend and my only comfort so far away from home…" Riku laid his head against Sora's breast. "You're so warm…so warm…"

"But what'll I do now? How can I help you?"-

"Just hold me close, Sora…Hold me tight…until I'm asleep in your tender embrace…" Riku's breathing began to become more labored. He gazed up at the blurry image of his young childhood companion. "Promise me one thing, Sora."

"What is it?"-

"Don't feel bad for me. You must live your life as if I were still there…Live it to the fullest…Do not depress yourself over my death… I'll always be there, watching over you and the others…Never let go of the light…" Such tender words filled the young key bearer with such emotion and the tears further dripped down his face and pelted his wounded comrade.

"I'll hold you close, Riku. I'll stay here by your side till the very end. And I swear that I'll never let go of what you said. I will live my life to the fullest." Riku's breathing became more labored with every passing minute. He looked into Sora's big blue eyes and smiled.

"Sora…?" Riku uttered silently. "Can you still hear me…?"

"I can hear you, Riku…" Sora replied softly. "I'm right here by your side."

"Could you sing that song that you sang…on the gummi ship…?" Sora remembered the melancholy tune he sang on the deep solitude of space.

"I'm sorry, Riku. I don't know the words to that song. I only know one line."-

"It's ok, Sora. I…don't mind."-

"Well…here it goes…" He held Riku close and began to softly sing the lyrics to 'Home Sweet Home' as best he could. "Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home…" While humming those words, he slowly rocked his dear friend in his arms like an infant. After repeating the solemn tune two times at the least, Riku looked up at his friend and smiled softly at his friend.

"Thank you, Sora…" Riku's eyes filled with tears and he nuzzled his head against his friend's chest, his tears mixing with the sweat and blood upon his friend's white shirt. Sora placed his face upon Riku's head and inhaled the youthful scent of his hair. "It's time…"

"Not yet…" Sora's eyes filled with more tears and dropped upon his friend's face. "Please not yet…"

"Don't cry for me, Sora…I don't feel any more pain. Now I can finally die in peace…"-

"Riku…" The youth could only watch as Riku inhaled his final breath.

"Tell Kairi that I'm sorry…" Riku touched Sora's face. "Take care of each other, Sora. It's all up to you now, my friend, my brother…"

"A brother…?"-

"That's right. You were more than just a friend, Sora…You were more like a brother to me, the brother that I never had. Despite my treachery and betrayal, you never hated me…Despite my anger and rage, you never once gave up on me…We had our arguments, but never once did we smite out of loathing. For that I thank you and beseech your forgiveness" The dying key bearer tried to smile with all the strength he had left. "Remember my words, Sora. Forgive me…Please forgive me…"

"I will, Riku. I will."-

Riku placed his hand on his friend's shoulder and grasped it tightly.

"I love you, Sora…" Riku uttered. "I love you all…" Sora's eyes were filled with tears as he heard those tender words coming from his beloved friend.

"I love you too, Riku." He replied. "More so than you think…" There was silence between the two friends and an everlasting smile that came between them.

Riku then stretched out his hand, grasping at the air. With one final gasp of breath and the last ounce of strength he had, he uttered his final word.

"M…mother…" he uttered. With that, his hand fell to his side and his head lay close to Sora's breast. His body grew heavy as his life exited out of his body. After a hard struggle to stay alive, after such stress and devotion, Riku died. But he did not die alone. Though far from home, far from his family and friends, Riku was not alone. Sora was there beside him, to comfort him in his final moments. Though in a strange land, unfamiliar and hostile, Riku could rest in peace now, sheltered by the light.

Sora could only gaze down at his friend's now lifeless body. In a pitch of rage and sadness, Sora wailed out in agonizing pain. His closest and best friend, he had known since childhood now lay dead in his arms. He held Riku's head under his chin, tears running down his face. Memories of times long passed, from when Riku gave him his wooden sword, to when they first began their adventure to other worlds, to when they closed the door to darkness, to this very moment, when it all ended. Sora's heart was filled with sorrow, but somehow, he didn't feel alone.

Suddenly, there was the sound of footsteps descending into the chamber, hundreds of them.

"Sora!" a voice shouted. "Are you down here?"

Sora recognized the voice instantly, but he did not turn from his friend.

"King Mickey…" he uttered.

He then heard a large body enter the chamber. It seemed that Mickey did not come unaccompanied.

"So we meet again, Sora." Another voice uttered. However, it was not a voice of an ally, but an enemy. Sora looked, his eyes still teary, to see Mickey, Donald, and Goofy accompanied by General Durovano and at least a hundred Imperial troops.

"Sorry, Sora…" Donald uttered. "They managed to find us out…"

"Kairi…where's Kairi?"-

"I'm alright, Sora!" Kairi replied, working her way to the front. But as she did, like the other three members of the KH team, she came across a grim and tragic sight. There Riku lay in his arms, lifeless.

"I tried to save him…"-

"Riku!" Kairi cried, rushing to Sora and Riku's side. She knelt beside Riku and placed her hand upon Riku's cold face. Tears began to fall from her eyes. She bent over his body and began to cry uncontrollably. Mickey, Donald, and Goofy slowly edged forward and beheld the sight. Their eyes too filled with tears and there was only the sound of mourning in the air.

"I'm sorry, Kairi…" Sora apologized. Kairi could only look into his baby blue eyes.

"Sora…" she uttered. They both embraced the lifeless body of Riku, their skin dipping into his still warm blood.

In this time, one of the Imperial officers walked up to General Durovano.

"Shall we have them apprehended?"-

General Durovano was silent. He lowered his head.

"As much as I want to see justice served, I believe it has already been carried out." Durovano replied. "There's no need to further their pain. I will abide by His Excellency, Master Arakis, and allow them a safe passage out of the city and this territory. Withdraw the men from here."

"Sir." The Officer turned and dismissed the men. The men withdrew, leaving only General Durovano present.

"Sora!" Durovano walked to him. "Because you have suffered enough, and by word of His Excellency, Master Arakis, you are to leave this city unharmed."

"Thank you…" Sora uttered, his eyes still flowing with tears. Sora stood up and lifted the body of his dead friend in his arms.

Without interference, without threat, the Imperials allowed Sora and the rest of the KH team to walk out of the building without trouble. Taking a transport, they traveled back to the gummi ship. In the process of leaving, the Imperial troops, astounded by what they saw, stood at attention on each side of the main thoroughfare to await the transport's passing. They couldn't believe the bravery of Sora, who had penetrated into enemy territory to save his best friend. As they reached the gummi ship, which was now placed in the courtyard, in the front of the entryway, the Imperials encircled the group as they boarded. There were no hostile actions, nor any shrewd remarks from any of the soldiers, or civilians.

However, from the rear, a voice shouted out, pushing through the crowd. It was none other than General King.

"Get out of my way!" He shouted, being the only noisy Imperial amongst the masses. He saw Sora and his friends entering the gummi. "I want that boy arrested, Durovano! He was the one who halted our progress at Hollow Bastion! I want him arrested! Have him arrested!"

"Stop your chatter, General King." Durovano implied. He watched as Sora boarded the gummi, Riku's body still held tightly in his arms.

"Why are you just standing there, General! This boy is a threat to the Empire! He's sure to strike again! You must have him arrested and put to death!"-

"He's suffered enough. Let him go in peace." General Durovano clicked his heels. "Companies, salute!" The Imperials clicked their heels as well and saluted as Sora and his friends entered the gummi. The gummi closed and the rockets ignited. Suddenly, as the gummi lifted off, a voice began to shout out from the crowd of Imperials.

"Van'car un'isk vigra Sora!" the voice cried. The words meaning 'Forever live Sora the Gallant!' Soon another started chanting. Then another and another and soon all of Gombria was chanting the verse.

"Van'car un'isk vigra Sora!" the crowd continued chanting.

In the meantime, as the gummi left the airspace of Gombria, Sora sat next to Riku's body. He and Kairi buckled the body on the infirm seat and cleaned his body of the blood. Sora's eyes still filled with tears as he gazed into the face of his deceased friend.

"Look, Kairi," he uttered. He pointed to Riku's face. It seemed as if he was smiling because his lips were slightly lifted. "He's smiling, Kairi. Riku is smiling…"

"I know…" Kairi replied.

"We are now leaving Imperial territory." Donald said.

"How long before we're able to jump into warp speed and make a break for Traverse Town?" Mickey asked.

"Coordinates set and warp speed will commence in thirty seconds!"-

"It's best that you two take your seats now."-

"Understood." Kairi said. "Sora…"-

"I gotcha." Sora replied. He and Kairi jumped into their seats and buckled themselves in.

"Are you guys in?" Goofy asked.

"We're ready, willing and able!" Sora wiped the tears from his eyes. He gazed at Riku again and smiled. "He should be alright."

"Warp speed will commence in fifteen seconds!" Donald shouted.

"All seatbelts are secured!" Mickey said. "Prepare for lift off."

"We'll be taking off in ten seconds! Nine…eight…seven…six…five…four... three…" But as he continued to count, there was a sudden rattle that threw the gummi off course.

"What was that?" Sora cried.

"I don't know, but whatever it was, in severed incoming data to the right booster. We won't be able to jump to warp speed!" Donald descended the ship gently to a series of rocks, which stood tall over an open field. The gummi landed gently on the ground and Donald cut the ignition. The party ran out. But unlike what they had feared, the damage was minimal.

"Well, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be." Donald sighed. "Just a little spit job and we'll be back in the air."

"That's good." Mickey said.

"Kairi," Sora asked, "how's Riku?"

"He's still secure." She replied.

"Thank goodness." He then gazed around. "I wonder what cause that explosion?"

But as Sora finished that statement, there came from around them a maniacal laughter. Goofy, Donald, and Mickey, frightened by the sudden laughter jumped up on each other.

"Well, well, well…" the voice said, in a low, mysterious tone. "What have we here? A key bearer and his friends stranded in the middle of nowhere?"

"Who's there!" Sora demanded. "Come out and show yourself!"

"On the contrary, I am showing myself. You're just not looking in the right place." A shadow suddenly descended upon Sora. He turned and saw standing upon the tops of rocky overlook, a mysterious figure cloaked in black. And possibly his next great challenge.

The Final Fight: The Appearance of Lord Cavendish

The figure stood upon the pinnacle of the rocky ledge, gazing over Sora and his comrades. He slowly descended upon the group, like a foreboding, ominous cloud of doom. There was a great feeling of darkness in his soul and Sora could feel the intense fighting aura within him. As the presence descended, Sora realized that the figure was not wearing a cloak, but a black, double-breasted overcoat with wrist length cape and red lining. Upon his head, he wore the same black cavalier style hat with one side bent like an Aussie. The hat's brim shaded the right side of his face and supported three massive feathered plumes, one white and two of read. In the front of his cap was the crest of the Empire. There was another similar symbol on his breastplate which connected two white shoulder straps and another acting as a belt buckle. He wore long white gauntlets and boots with gold tips. He stood there, his hands at his side. He flicked the cape of his coat to one side, revealing that bright red lining.

"I never thought that you would've actually succeeded in this little game of ours." the figure spoke. "Quite impressive, my boy, quite impressive indeed. I never would've guessed that you, a boy that hasn't even reached his twentieth birthday, would get the best of the Dark Empire in one of its trials."

"Enough talking!" Sora demanded. "Just who are you and how do you know me! I've never laid eyes on you before!"

"That's because I've always managed to conceal myself from you! I've watched your every battle, spare the last three duels and bouts with some of the most powerful Imperial leaders."-

"But I can feel incredible energy coming from you. If you were around, no matter how well you would've hidden, I would've sensed that strength."-

"That is because, like Lord Arakis, I too have the ability to conceal the bulk of my strength." The figure began to walk towards Sora. "However, this would not be the first time we've met."

"What're you talking about? I've never seen you before, like I said! When are you gonna get that through your thick skull!"-

"Oh, but you have met me before." The figure lifted his head so that Sora could see his whole face. But there really wasn't a face there, but rather a mask that concealed the other side of his face. And on that side, the other eye began to glow a bright red. "I believe we've met upon the sandy beaches of Destiny Island."

Sora realized who he was. He recalled what Kenshin, Athrun, and the other had said that they had been defeated by a man with a glowing red eye. And this same man was the same man whom he encountered before back on Destiny Island, before this entire ordeal occurred.

"You're the one." Sora uttered. His heart was filled with a great fear as well as a great anger. "You're the one who I saw on Destiny Island that night, lurking in the shadows."

"That's right." The figure replied. "And I am also the one responsible for starting this ordeal."

"I guess I have you to thank then for being responsible for the death of Riku!" Sora drew out his keyblade. "If you hadn't decided to put us through all this, if you hadn't decided to attack our world and kidnap one of my friends, then these circumstances would never have occurred and Riku wouldn't be dead right now! It's all your fault!" Sora delved into the rage and be once again turned into the Keyblade Hound. "And for that I will take your life."

"Your power has risen substantially." The man uttered. "I commend you."

"Before we begin, I would like to know whose life it is that I will be taking."-

"I think you have it the wrong way, Sora. It is I who will be taking your life."-

"And what makes you so confident."-

"Because I have experience on my side! Fourteen thousand years to be precise!" Sora finally realized what he had meant. His mind then rushed back to when Sneer first began his preparation speech about the Empire's lead commanders. He remembered the power of the third, final, and leading member of the three, who ranked above both Viro and Arakis.

"The reason is it did take years…to gain immeasurable strength." said Sneer. "Fourteen Thousand years to be precise."

"Then, you must be…" The young Keyblade Hound shivered with a great fear resonating in his being.

"That is right my boy. I am the last of the Three Excellencies that you have the pleasure of meeting! I am Lord Cavendish, the supreme overseer of the Dark Empire!"

"Lord Cavendish!" Goofy asked.

"Did he just say…?" Donald added.

"It seems that way!" Mickey implied. "That's the big cheese himself!"

"I must admit I admire your courage." Cavendish chuckled. "You are the only boy that has actually succeeded against the Empire. But then again, we were always holding back from the start. Just like Lord Arakis. He knew that you didn't stand a chance against him from the start. That is why he engaged you in a duel instead of a bout. He knew that if he engaged in a bout with you, no holds barred, you would've been dead in less than a second and your entire trek here would've been a complete waste of effort."

"It was his chivalrous nature that made him decide to engage in a duel instead of a bout. He knew I wouldn't stand a chance against him. So that's why he lowered himself to equal my strength."

"Chivalry is always used for those who're weak. It's the only way that they can conceal their weakness." Cavendish folded his arms in front of him. "So it all comes down to this. A final showdown between the master of the keyblade and the supreme overlord of the Dark Empire. Here, you and I stand at the end of an excessively long chess game!"

"It might have been a game to you, but it wasn't for me!"-

"But you played well, Sora, nevertheless! Unfortunately, what counts is whether you win, or lose in the end! And I can guarantee you, you will lose!"-

"We haven't even started fighting yet and already you come to such large assumptions! In the end, however, the power of evil will never win against good!"-

"Don't be so sure! How can you distinguish what is good and what is evil? What is justice and what is unjust! It all depends upon the terms of the victorious! It is the victorious who determine the outcome of history! What may be evil to you may be considered justice in the end!"-

"A man who allows the oppression of people, or allows his officers to make others suffer is evil!"-

"But in order to maintain such vast territory, one must be firm and at times cruel!"-

"Wanting more only makes people more power hungry! And the more power they have, the more heartless they become! A man is a man and he can never be anything more than that!"-

"You're wrong! A man, if he strives hard and long enough, can become not only greater than a man, but can become a god!"-

"Enough talking! If you've come here to fight, then let's fight! But I won't ever back down to the likes of you!"-

"I wouldn't have it any other way. To finish a headstrong whelp like you will be a pleasure for me!"-

There was a moment of pause between the two. Suddenly, Sora made the first strike, moving at an incredible speed, to the point where it seemed he vanished, he struck at the evil lord from behind. However, Cavendish easily evaded the blow and turned to face Sora again. Sora lunged with all his might, but again Cavendish evaded.

"Come now, Sora." Cavendish uttered. "You can do better than that can't you?"

"Silence you!" Sora attacked head on against Cavendish. He used everything he had, every attack he knew, he used. The Ragnarok, the foot stomp, the Galick Gun and lightning grappling. The Sonic blade and Ars Arcanum, teleportation, the Tundra Canister, a barrage of elemental attacks. Everything in his arsenal, Sora used, but still he was not able to hinder, let alone damage the infamous lord.

"Well, as far as I can see, you haven't done any damage to me." Cavendish chuckled.

"Shut up!" Sora shouted. "Instead of buzzing around like a coward, why don't you start fighting me right!"

"If that's what you want, Sora, then so be it! But you will regret ever making such a request! Now that you and I fight, your death is inevitable."-

Suddenly, Cavendish vanished from sight. He then appeared again behind Sora. Sora was shocked to see how fast Cavendish moved.

"He's fast!"-

"This is how a true Imperial fights!" Cavendish cracked Sora over the right side of his head. Sora went flying towards the ground. But Cavendish emerged again and swiped him from the side. Sora flew into the air again only to be met by Cavendish again. Sora crashed to the ground, but was met again by Cavendish who slugged him in the gut. Sora's eyes grew large with pain. Cavendish threw his hands up and fisted Sora to the ground. He then flicked the boy up into the air again and pummeled him in the gut with a multi-punch attack.

"I don't believe it!" Mickey said. "He's not giving Sora a chance to fight back!"

"I can't watch!" Goofy said. He covered his eyes.

Sora was pummeled to the ground and there he lay. Blood dripped from his forehead down his face in streams, his keyblade lay not too far away from him. Sora managed to stand up, he had transformed back into this normal state.

"Sora!" Donald cried.

"I'm alright!" Sora uttered. "I can take him!"

"Let us help you!" Mickey cried.

"No! Cavendish's only concern is for me right now! And I want him to continue focusing on me! If any of you interfere, I can only worry about your own safety as well!"-

"But Sora!"-

"For once, I don't want you to interfere! I've already lost one friend, I don't want to have to lose anymore!"-

"He's right!" Cavendish chuckled. "You should listen to the boy, Mickey! He knows of what he speaks! I have no concern for you and your pitiful band because I know that you're not much of a threat to me! But this boy has proven to be a thorn in the side of the Empire! Therefore, as a threat, he must be eliminated! If a young man like him can take down the seven members of the Cavendish Shinobis, there is no guarantee that he may not do any further damage! Therefore, I lord Cavendish will put an end to his life…Personally…" He turned to Sora. "Pick up your keyblade and let us continue!"

Sora retrieved his keyblade and went to face Cavendish again. There was yet another stand off.

"Get ready for round two!" Sora shouted. He hurled the keyblade at Cavendish, but the evil lord managed to dodge it.

"You'll have to do a bit better than that if you want to hinder me!"-

"I just might!" The keyblade boomeranged back; and attacked Cavendish from behind, aiming for his head. However, Cavendish realized that Sora had broken eye contact, focusing on something that was behind him. He smiled and tilted his head, the keyblade had missed by a centimeter, or two. Sora was shocked again, but he was conscious enough to catch the keyblade. "How did you evade that attack at the last minute? The keyblade would've made a direct hit!"

"The reason is this! I could feel the spinning vibration of the blade as it whipped through the air. To add, the spinning also accumulated a low hum, which I easily picked up with my keen hearing sense. Finally, when you broke eye contact with me, I knew that your little boomerang trick was still in effect!"

"Amazing!" Mickey said. "He figured all that out in only a matter of seconds."

"Remember, Your Majesty," Donald uttered, "This guy has fourteen millennia of experience behind him."

"My turn!" Cavendish shouted. He stretched forth his finger and unleashed a multi-beam barrage.

Sora was caught by surprise and moved as quickly as he could. The explosive sound waves caught Sora and blew him away practically. Sora regained his stance, but saw as the explosions came at him with gusto. He ran for his life, as fast as he could; trying to not only evade the beams, but evade them in the direction that was less hazardous to his friends. The beams continued to fall and Sora continued to run and dodged, evading the incoming beams. However, he suddenly tripped over a rock and the beams came flying into him. He was caught in the barrage of explosions and was sent reeling into the air. He fell to the ground, burned and wounded. His leather jacket was now in tatters and he had lost a kneepad. A hole in his jeans, at the knee joint of his left leg replaced it. Sweat poured down Sora's face as he staggered to his feet. He glared up at Cavendish.

"You think it's over!" Cavendish unleashed a disk-like object from his own energy. The disk came reeling at Sora. He moved his face in time, but the disk caused a cut to form on his left cheek. "Try this on!" Suddenly, Cavendish unleashed a barrage of energy balls again. Sora again dodge rolled and evaded. He blocked some of them, but many struck from the rear of him and knocked him on his face. Sora fell to the ground again. There he lay, motionless.

"Get up, Sora!" Mickey cried. "You have to get up!"

Sora staggered onto his elbows and his knees. He coughed and blood dripped from his mouth. Cavendish landed only a few feet in front of him.

"Is this it!" Cavendish said. "Is this the grand battle I was expecting from the infamous Sora, wielder of the keyblade! How pathetic! I can't believe that you took down the seven members of the Cavendish Shinobis! You are a pitiful sight!"

"This is terrible." Donald uttered. "Cavendish is making fun of Sora now. He knows that Sora is no match for him."

"What're we gonna do?" Goofy asked.

"We have no choice, but to intervene." Mickey said.

"But I thought Sora said that we shouldn't fight."-

"I know, but we can't leave him out there to do this on his own either!"-

"Mickey has a point, Goofy!" Donald said.

"Then, let's give him a hand!" said Mickey.

"Stop right there, you insignificant fools!" Cavendish shouted. He then gazed at the three with that same glowing red eye. He then, without warning, appeared before the three. "If you wish to fight against the might of Cavendish, then you will pay with your lives!"

"If that's the case, then so be it! But we will not allow Sora to handle this alone!"-

"As you wish! Then you will suffer alongside him!"-

"Stop!" Sora shouted. He staggered to his feet. Tearing, the tattered jacket from his back, Sora stood ready to fight. "Your fight is with me and me alone, Cavendish! Mickey and the others are of no concern to you!"

"Sora!" Mickey cried. "We can't let you do this alone!"

"You have to, Mickey! I must face him alone!"-

"We can't let you do that!"-

"We're your friends, Sora!" Donald cried. "We won't let you take this challenge by yourself!"

"He's right!" Goofy added. "If we must fight, then we fight as a team!"

"All for one and one for all!"-

"If you guys die though, it'll all be for nothing!" Sora explained. "If I die today, then it'll be up to you three to continue the struggle! There would be no use to our efforts if we all died today! Let me finish this alone! Please!"

"But Sora…" Mickey uttered.

"I don't want any of you to lose your lives on account of me! Riku already sacrificed himself for my sake! But you don't know how much his loss has affected me! If there is to be any further casualties, then it'll be me and only me!"-

"How touching, Sora." Cavendish chuckled. He then turned to Mickey and the others. "If you value your lives, then don't interfere! But if you decide to get in my way, I will not only take your lives, but I will also consume your souls and have them placed in a hell that can only be described as pure torment! Then, once you're dead, I will kill everyone you know! I will see Traverse Town burned to the ground! I will see Hollow Bastion leveled to its foundations! I will see your kingdom incinerated! All whom you know and love will die! And I will kill and enslave the inhabitants of Destiny Island! And I'm sure you wouldn't want that now would you!"

Mickey could only glare into the eyes of the evil host. There was no lie and no wavering in his look. Mickey could only stand down.

"I knew you'd listen to reasons." Cavendish chuckled. He turned is attentions towards Sora again. "Now before we were so rudely interrupted…"

Sora drew his keyblade into a guarding stance, using the form of Battoujutsu.

"I will use the one attack I used to defeat both Kai and Arakis." Sora thought to himself. "The only way to smite him is to strike before he does."

"Now!" Cavendish came rushed at Sora at full speed. Sora concentrated his energy and awaited the moment when he struck. Then, the time came and he swung the keyblade with all his might, but instead of meeting with Cavendish, the dark lord only fired an energy ball at him at point blank. Sora was completely overwhelmed by energy ball and was sent hurling back. There again, e lay on the ground, the entire left side of his shirt had been incinerated and now revealed his youthful bosom. "That was certainly a waste of energy on your part!"

"Sora!" Mickey cried.

"No!" Donald added.

"Sora!" Goofy cried.

Cavendish folded his arms in front of him.

"Well, that little retaliation didn't last long did it?" Cavendish said. However, Cavendish was surprised to see Sora stagger to his feet again. He rolled over on his belly, stood upon his elbows and knees and began to rise with all the energy he had left. He picked up his keyblade and stood before the evil lord, his vision blurred. He gasped for breath and his body ached. Blood and sweat intermingled and caused his wounds to sting. Cuts and bruises covered Sora's young body, but still he did not waver.

"I…will not…give up…"-

"Then only through death will you learn!"-

Cavendish punched him in the gut again. Sora hurled over, but Cavendish grabbed him by the throat and carried him into the air. Sora grasped at the lord's arm and struggled about, his feet kicking in mid-air. But the more he struggled, the tighter Cavendish's grip became.

"Sora!" Mickey cried.

"Tell me something, Sora?" Cavendish asked. "Is this how you prefer to die, by strangulation?" Sora quickly began to lose consciousness. Cavendish then threw him to the ground. Sora was left prostrated on the ground. But then, the evil lord crashed down and slammed his foot upon Sora's chest. The young key bearer roared out in pain as he felt a couple of his ribs crack. "Or would you prefer that I break a few of your ribs and hope that one of the shattered bones will puncture your lungs and thus you drown in your own bodily fluid? Or perhaps I could just add weight to your chest and slowly suffocate you!" Sora lay on the ground, almost dead. He no longer had the energy to struggle, had no longer had the energy to cry out in pain. His body was numb beyond the point where he could no longer feel pain. Cavendish then backed off and moved twenty yards away. He then turned again, his index finger pointed out in front of him. "No, I have a much better idea. I will just kill you the way I did Kira Yamato in the 'Seed Realm.' By piercing an energy beam straight through your heart." Cavendish began to accumulate his energy. "I told you that your death was inevitable. Now die!"

"No!" a voice cried. Cavendish looked to see Kairi run to Sora. She picked Sora up and held him in her arms.

"K…Kairi…" Sora uttered.

"Don't worry, Sora…" she replied. "I'm right here, I'm right here with you. I won't leave your side." She held him tightly to her bosom and cradled him in his arms. Sora could only lay his head upon her chest. Blood soaked Kairi's shirt, but she didn't care. She was only concerned for Sora.

"K…Kairi…"-

"It'll be alright, Sora. It'll be alright. I'll protect you this time…"-

"K…Kairi…"-

"Get out of the way, girl!" Cavendish demanded. "This does not concern you!"

"Enough is enough!" Kairi declared. "Sora's suffered more than he had to! The only reason why's he's been put into this situation is because of me! He's only trying to protect me! But now, he needs me more than anything and it's my turn to protect him! Please, show mercy!"

"Stand aside, girl, or you will die alongside Sora!"-

"I will not stand aside! I will stay with him as long I am breathing! He and Riku are my best friends! And I would die for them as well! You've already taken one friend from my life. I won't let you take the other! Sora's been my friend since we were kids! I've never lost faith and abandoned him and I won't start now!"-

"And why should you care so much for this dear friend of yours that you're willing to die for him!"-

"Because, because…"-

"Because what!"-

"Because I love him, that's why!" Kairi held Sora tightly. "I love him and I won't let you hurt him anymore!"

"Then you wish to die beside your love! So be it!" Cavendish pointed his finger again. "But don't think that this sentimental rubbish will force me to waver! The spark of young love cannot falter a heart of stone!"

"If I must die with Sora, I will at least die knowing that I was by his side till the very end!"-

"If you wish to play the tragic heroine then, so be it! You and your lover shall perish in flames!"-

"They won't be alone!" a voice shouted. Cavendish turned again to see Mickey, Donald, and Goofy run in front of the tragic duo.

"Sora and Kairi ain't gonna go anywhere!" Goofy shouted.

"Yeah! It's all for one and one for all!" Donald added.

"If you wish to kill Sora and Kairi, then you'll have to go through us first!" Mickey declared.

"Mickey, Donald, Goofy!" said Kairi. Sora's eyes slowly opened.

"Please…don't…" he uttered. "He'll…kill you…"-

"Then if we die, we die by your side, Sora!" Mickey replied.

"It doesn't matter how much you protest, Sora," Donald added, "We won't leave you here to die alone!"

"We will die together as friends!"-

"I guess you're stuck with us, Sora…" Goofy chuckled.

"We'll be here to protect you, Sora." Kairi whispered in his ear. "I will never leave your side. I love you, Sora."

"Thanks…you guys…" Sora uttered.

"Oh isn't that touching." Cavendish mocked. "Friends willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of one. However, what have you proven? Nothing whatsoever, except that you have engaged in a severe act of futility! Not even you King Mickey, the ruler of the 'Disney Kingdom,' is a match for the power of the mighty Lord Cavendish! And I will show you just how vulnerable you really are!"

"We may be weak physically, but our hearts remain as one!" Mickey implied. "And no matter how strong you think you are, you can never break that bond between us! Our hearts will always remain strong as long as we hold on to each other!"

"You misunderstand my intention! I don't care how strong your hearts are! All I care about is eliminating you from the living world and clearing the path for the Dark Empire! I will show you that despite the strength of your hearts, they will not be able to withstand my overwhelming strength! Your gallant act of defense will prove to be a brittle shield when confronting one as powerful as I!"-

"Though you may destroy us! Our hearts will yet influence the actions of others! Even if you destroy our bodies, someone even greater will come and take our place! We represent something that can never been destroyed!"-

"I'm sure you're right." Cavendish fired his energy beam straight at the party and his first target was Sora.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a figure appeared before the group and deflected the powerful beam off its course. The figure stood between Cavendish and the KH team. It was someone who shocked both the KH team and Cavendish with his presence.

"Isn't that…?" Goofy uttered.

"But it can't be!" Donald added.

"It's…it's…it's…" Mickey stuttered. Sora opened his eyes and gazed at the figure.

"It's…Lord Arakis…" he whispered.

"What's he doing here?" Kairi wondered. "Is he defending us?"

"What is the meaning of this, Lord Arakis!" Cavendish demanded. "Why do you stand in my way! Are you defending these enemies of the Empire!"

"No." Arakis replied. "I do not defend them. I am simply fulfilling a promise that I made to Sora."

"What do you mean?"-

"In exchange for defeating me in our duel, I promised Sora that he and his friends would be spared the wrath or any form of retaliation by the Empire, that they would be able to return home safely, and that they would not have to suffer another invasion from the Imperial regime. I made that promise to them and I vow to keep that promise, as an Imperial who has maintained the old code."-

"You fool, Arakis! Don't you realize the consequences that will emerge if we spare his life! He has already proven to be a threat to the Empire and he must be dealt with before he has a chance to strike against us again! There is no guarantee that he'll stop here and just limp off home, knowing the situation that his other friends face, trying to fight us!"-

"That is true, but there is no guarantee that he will want to continue fighting is there? I can promise you this much though, Your Excellency. If Sora does decide to continue fighting against us, then I will see him dead personally. I will take full responsibility for my actions. But please, at least allow me the dignity of sparing him and his friends." Cavendish only smiled.

"I know your sense of judgment, Arakis, and I know that you've never steered the Empire in the wrong direction. You are an impeccable asset to the Empire and are hard to replace. If I were to lose your confidence, then I will lose half of the Empire's support. And that is something I cannot afford to let happen. But despite that, and despite your importance, if Sora intervenes after this, then you will be sure to kill him and all his comrades."-

"I will do as you say, Your Excellency."-

"Then, I shall take my leave." Cavendish turned and vanished from sight, without a trace. The KH group was astounded at what had happened.

"Why…?" Sora uttered. "Why…did you save us…?"-

"I made a promise to you before." Arakis implied. "I said to you that if you managed to defeat me in a duel, then you and your friends will be able to return home in peace and your worlds would no longer have to worry about any threat from the Empire. However, you misinterpret my deed as being a sign of compassion, but it isn't. I've only done this to fulfill my vow. However, if you interfere with the affairs of the Empire again, then I can assure you this much, the next time we meet, I will kill you. In fact, I will not only kill you, but your friends as well. After, the Empire will attack your worlds again and pillage and burn them, and your people will be killed, imprisoned, or enslaved. To further matters, we will make sure that your efforts that have lasted for the past half decade would be in vain."

"What do you mean?" Mickey asked.

"Tell me, Your Majesty. Do you know how the Heartless ever came to be?" There was an ominous silence before Arakis began to speak again. "I'll tell you. You might think that Ansem was the one who discovered the existence of the Heartless. In reality however, Ansem merely enhanced Heartless access to other worlds. But it was Master Cavendish that first unleashed the power of the Heartless." Arakis turned towards the group. "You might have been able to use the power of the keyblades to close the door to darkness and reopen the door to the light, but His Excellency, Master Cavendish obtains the power of the Universal Mandate."

"The Universal…Mandate?" Sora uttered.

"That is correct." Arakis continued. "It is the very essence that created the Universe and determines the fates and destinies of every living thing in all dimensional realms because all realms originated with that single essence." Sora suddenly remembered what Sneer had said back in Traverse Town when this trial began.

"If he were to use the Mandate, he could bend history entirely in his favor. Anyone who manages to wield the power of the Mandate... is invincible."

"You see, when Master Cavendish used the power of the mandate, he somehow unleashed soulless spirits from the shadow realm. Thus, when he did, the power of the Heartless was born. You might say that they act as his army of shadows. If he wanted to, he could reopen the Door to Darkness with just a snap of his fingers and unleash his shadow horde upon all worlds once again."-

"But…why would you…do that…?" Sora asked.

"If necessary, Master Cavendish will unleash the Heartless force upon all worlds as he did in years long past. However, you're lucky that he despises the Heartless and considers them inferior beings. Otherwise, they'd be used more frequently." Arakis glared into Sora's eyes. "I am saying this only as a warning, Sora. Stay out of the way of the Empire. This is your one chance to back away with your lives. Never interfere with the affairs of the Empire ever again. If you want to save your own worlds from suffering the same fate as all the others you tried to protect, turn away from this dimensional realm now." Arakis turned. "Save your friends and your family a lot of grief. However, if the next time I have to hear that you were causing trouble for us again, I will kill you without hesitation. You've been warned."

With that, Arakis flew off into the distance without a second glance, leaving the KH team with their lives and the one decision in their hands.

"Well, what do we do now?" Goofy asked.

"First things first," Mickey said, "We must get back to Traverse Town and take care of Sora's wounds. We also have to take care of Riku's body."

"We have no other choice." Donald said. He jumped up to the gummi and began repairs.

"Sora…" Kairi uttered. "We're alive. We're alright now."-

"Thank…goodness…" Sora closed his eyes and fell asleep in her arms. Kairi stroked his blood-stained forehead and smiled.

"It's over, Sora…It's finally over…"-