Final Fantasy XV - Kingdom Hearts

Part 49

Summary: Two warriors of Light, the Chosen King and Keyblade Master, face an unseen Darkness.

* Zegnautus Keep*

Home to the emperor of Niflhiem, a place of pure power and with the accomplishments to boot. Zegnautus Keep is home to the throne room of the emperor, among its facilities of the most secret of projects, home to some of the empire's most powerful weapons and prosperous soldiers, and even now it is the prison that keeps the crystal of Insomnia locked away.

Now, it was nothing more than a breeding ground for the daemons and heartless to grow in numbers, many hearts were swallowed by the shadows and many were consumed by the blight. The skies darkened had now turned into swirling vortex of red and purple, the spheres that the Darkside heartless once used now rule the skies over the airships. Much of the streets of the capital were devoid of humans, only the daemons walk the streets as the heartless slither in the shadows.

MTs that had long been decommissioned or damaged beyond repair now resurrected to zombie-like beasts, prowling the streets of the citizens once occupied and even in the fortress there was no one to stop them. The people of the empire had fled long ago when the Eternal Night reigned, some fleeing to their enemies lands, many migrating further away from the capital or some have even tried to wait out the long darkness.

It was safe to say Niflhiem had become Eos' realm of darkness.

Many of the highest-ranking generals of the military had all suffered horrible fates, becoming monsters of the dark or worse. The emperor himself had been reclusive, locking himself away in his throne room. Whether he did this out of fear of the darkness that was slowly eating away his kingdom, to preserve himself as the sole survivor of his fallen empire, or as Ardyn believed, just waited for the day his crystal would choose him as the true Chosen King of Light. The man's delusions had reached a truly pitiful level.

The man of the Lucis bloodline cared not for the trifle matters of this fallen empire, it was doomed the moment that foolish emperor trusted Xigbar to give him the power of darkness. Ardyn's giving nature just quickened their end, and soon enough when the time does come the emperor could rejoice that he was the emperor of an empire of the darkness. Least he had that going for him in the long run.

Walking through the corridors of the metallic palace, the dark beings ignoring him out of fear and like a pack, they knew who the alpha is. He looks at his hand and grunted with frustration, the dried spot of his blood still on his palm like a spot he could never wash out. A reminder of why he needed to speak with the former nobody as soon as possible, and a little reminder of what sort of punishment he needed to conjure up for that princess.

At the spiraling elevator, he saw Xigbar leaning against the machine, looking around at his handy work and smirking at the amount of heartless and daemons that were dominating this place. When his eye turned to Xigbar, somehow the smirk turned even more smug. Ardyn knew that look all too well, he was sure he had invented it at this point. 'Back already? Had your fill with the princess and failure?', Xigbar greets with a question.

'The failure can only provide so much amusement, and with that little rule of yours, I can't do much with the princess', Ardyn reminds with a shrug, trying to act aloof but even his performance suffered thanks to his discovery of pain. Xigbar shrugged with his hands in the air, comically. 'Hey now, a deal's a deal', he reminds, 'I help you get your revenge; you make sure she's still alive by the end of it'.

'Yes…about that…', Ardyn stated his tone underlying contempt. He showed Xigbar his blood-stained hand, eyes narrowed with questions. The playful smirk died on Xigbar's scarred face; he gives the man of Lucis a look that suggested he should've known about it. When there were no words exchanged between these two, Xigbar groans and pushes himself off the wall. 'Ok, if ya want me to spell it out for ya, here's the gist', he groaned.

He turned to Ardyn and gestured the world around him. 'Without the crystal, Lucii, and the God of War, this world loses its magic and astrals, ya know that', he explained. His grin returned as he gestures his friend's hand. 'But, without the big dragon, your curse goes down the drain too'. Ardyn looked at his hand, slowly it dawned on him just the price of his vengeance. 'That's right, with the dragon dead, anything he left behind died along with him. Including your immortality', Xigbar says with smugness. 'Only because of the darkness we made together, can you still use your weapons and more'.

Ardyn growls as he threw his hand, glaring at Xigbar. 'And what is Noctis' excuse?', he questioned. Xigbar raised a brow at him, lost. 'The prince is still able to wield his Armiger as well, but he's even more powerful than ever', he revealed. Xigbar cupped his chin and loudly hummed, before his smug looks turned pensive, and even confused by this revelation. Without the Draconian everything that made the Lucis line as powerful as they are feared the prince shouldn't have anything left to fight with.

'And need I mention he now carries a keyblade?', Ardyn added.

This caught his eye and ears, making the previous nobody look at his partner with shock. 'Wait…what did you say?', he grunts. 'A keyblade, in the prince's hands', Ardyn repeats. Xigbar's eye widened before he grins and then…laughs. He lets out a deep laughter that grew more manically. Ardyn isn't sure if the man had lost his mind or he was just told the funniest twist to a punch line he did not see coming.

He reeled on the man of no consequence, arms out with a grin. 'That explains it! The kid is the Chosen King of Light!', he proclaims, uncaring if the emperor hears his statement. 'The keyblade chooses him as the next wielder, restoring his light and becomes a substitute to the crystal, like your darkness'. Ardyn scoffs with a shake of his head, it would seem no matter how much he would destroy it, the light always finds a way to screw him over. Now his previous deflated rival has become even more powerful, and with him being mortal now…

Ardyn looked at his hand, dawning on his face that the prince was on his way to reclaim his friends, and he had the power to do so. A sensation rushed through him, he could feel his heart racing at the thought of facing him once again. He felt…fear…and excitement, all mixed into one. Then as his mind wandered, Xigbar sported a sinister look. 'Well…this changes everything', he says. He turned around and opened a dark corridor, 'I've got to pay a visit to my patient. You'd better get the bouncers ready for the party guests'.

'Oh?', Ardyn asked with a smirk, 'I thought you wanted to make sure they all survive for the war'. 'Well, may as well make them work for their prizes yeah?', Xigbar offered, 'If Prince Charming has what it takes to be a keyblade wielder, then he'll make it here'. Ardyn nodded in agreement, clicking his fingers and calling the Thirteen Phantoms (the corrupted Lucis line) to him. Xigbar enters the dark corridor and leaves Ardyn to order his slaves to do their tasks.

Instructing his puppets to be stationed at certain spots of the keep, more so on the train tracks just in case the party would use that method of transport, the man of the blight pondered on the words Xigbar spoke, and then ruefully grinned.

Ardyn decided it was time to make sure a good portion of the prince's party would be here, but as he and Xigbar went their separate ways, none were aware of the man of mischief had taken keen interest in what Xigbar was doing…

*Crystal Chamber*

Exiting the portal, Xigbar gives Terra a mock salute as the vessel was standing by the entrance with his arms crossed. The man had barely spoken at all these past few days, ever since Altissia it was though he had lost his voice and only communicated through hums and grunts. The man was carrying the former King Regis' sword by the hip, his keyblade nowhere to be seen and for the most part, all he was doing was standing guard at the entrance to the room where Sora was being kept. Least he was being a good guard dog…

Xigbar entered the chamber with Terra in tow, likely in the case of Sora somehow escaping his prison. The room was dull and grey ever since the crystal had lost its power, the giant rock with a massive crater in the core thanks to the empire using lasers to break chunks of it, held up by chains. Above it wrapped in black chains that restricted his light and strength, Sora hanged in the air with his head down. Half a month in and the boy was resilient to not fade away or wither to a husk, the darkness sapping at his strength and will.

Yet the boy resisted the lull of the dark, despite Xigbar trying to manipulate the darkness within his heart. He must have developed a resistance to it after the last time they nearly had him in their ranks, courtesy of Riku or Kairi likely. Xigbar folds his arms as he stared at the boy with a frown. 'You've been pretty stubborn kid, after last time I had ya in this predicament', he states with a small sense of praise in his speech. Sora weakly raised his head to face his captive, straining himself to meet the man's sarcastic looks with defiance.

Truthfully he was extremely hesitant to start this process at first, remembering the old man's clear instructions to only dabble with the dark in his heart but not enough to turn him. For the war to finally come true and with it drawing nearer, all chosen guardians of light must partake in it.

Until now…

'Good news kid, looks like your royal buddy Noctis? He's a keyblade wielder just like you!', he bragged. A chuckle, dark and grim, escaped him as he raised his hand, slowly darkness coating it. 'Kinda surprised myself, but hey, we live in a time of surprises, don't we?', he asked rhetorically. Sora just glared back, prepared for what was about to unfold. His time here had taught him persistence and stubbornness after all.

Xigbar senses this and grinned. 'Oh no kid, this won't be like our usual sessions…with Noctis being a keyblade wielder, I don't have to be gentle this time'. He aimed his hand at him and then a ray of darkness fired from his hand and struck Sora at his heart. Immediately Sora let out a cry of pain, throwing his head back as he cries echoed in the room. He struggled in his bondage of chains as the darkness seeped into his heart, slowly his breathing becomes difficult to perform and as his eyes widened with frantic panic, he feels as if his heart was sinking into the dark realm.

Terra watches as Sora writhes in agony, crying out and gritting his teeth while Xigbar focuses on the torment. The former apprentice of Eraqus had his arms folded and his hands clenching his arms tightly as if he is retraining himself. Watching this unfold before him, seeing the sheer look of pain on Sora's face reminded him of something…something he was trying to prevent…and seeing Xigbar smirking at Sora's pain, only made the older man want to strangle him.

Slowly Sora feels the light within his heart dwindle and waver from the darkness, like a candle being trapped in the middle of a storm. His strength wanes and he feels himself losing pieces of his heart, his friends fading out in the depths of his heart. He wouldn't give in, he couldn't, not until he saw her again. Kairi's face appeared in the darkness like a glowing flame that could never be put out even in the coldest of darkness.

It tore him apart however, his heart held on by stitches at this point from the claws of the darkness trying to rip it apart.

'Well now…this won't do at all'.

As the scene plays out before him, Master of Masters saunters beside Xigbar, cupping his chin and looking between the man and Sora, clicking his tongue and shaking his head. 'So now that the light has a bit of an ante up in the dark, you suddenly decided the kid has to go? Nuh-uh, Xiggy', MOM criticized with a wave of his hand. MOM turned to the boy in question, still crying in pain, slowly the darkness began to surround him, and MOM knew the light within him was struggling even with the thoughts of his friends helping keep him in one piece.

With a sigh, MOM raised his hand at Sora. 'Sorry kiddo…'.

He fired a small grey sphere at Sora's heart and then, Sora let out an inhuman scream of pure pain. MOM disappeared into nothing just in time for Xigbar to watch in horror of what's happening. He stops his dark beam as Sora's body glowed in that strange grey light, his heart encased in the grey. 'W-What the hell is this?', Xigbar demanded as Terra watched Sora. Finally, the light sends off a shockwave as Sora's screams cease and slowly he slumps in the chains. 'No…no…no!', Xigbar growled, he turned to Terra: 'GET HIM DOWN!'.

Terra did so by dispelling the dark chains and levitated Sora to them. Levitating before them they see Sora's eyes were hollow, near-identical to Ventus when his heart was broken. The eyes were nothing more than blank portraits of blue, dull and void of anything. Xigbar growled and cursed, earning Terra's attention. 'What did you do?', he questioned. Xigbar turned on him and looked like he was ready to shoot him out of insult but reeled back his temper and gestured Sora.

'I didn't do anything but try and seep darkness into him! But guess what!? His heart is broken! Shattered!', he listed, furious. Terra looked at Sora and studied his eyes, sensing neither light nor darkness within him. His heart had indeed been shattered into nothing, but remnants of it remained within him. The faint glimmers of his heart were nearly untraceable and if they were destroyed, he would have turned into a heartless.

Sora now is nothing more than a puppet.

Terra scoffed and returned Sora to his spot, only a single chain wrapped around him to keep him above the dull crystal. 'This is going to be a problem…', Terra huffed, crossing his arms. Xigbar seethed a breath of anger before he opened the dark corridor behind him. 'I'll tell the boss what happened…you make sure NO one gets in', he stressed. Without waiting for Terra to reply the right hand of the seeker of darkness leaves this world.

Terra merely watches Sora and for a moment, his eyes shimmered the color blue and his emotionless face shifts into guilt.

'Ven…', he whispers, looking away…

*?*

Falling…falling…into nothing…

It wasn't cold like the darkness, nor warm like the light, it was a place he couldn't fathom that existed. He feels nothing but the descent into nothingness, the world around him were windows of his past, no sound nor any life to it nor was there danger around him. Sora feels pieces of himself slowly disappearing into the void, windows of his past were slowly growing foggy, slowly blanking out the images that he knew.

Places he had been to that hold significance to his heart were growing fainter and unrecognizable, the things he's seen all becoming nothing more than distant memories that sleep eternally within his heart. As he falls deeper and deeper into nothingness, places change to the people he's known and solidified bonds with, yet their names escape his mind. Slowly their faces in the windows of his past grow foggy and disappear from him.

The two companions who have been with him for most of his journey, the boy he went on a second quest to find, a master who he wanted to save even if it meant descending into the darkest realms. Slowly their names begin to fade and faces becoming unrecognizable go him. The royal retinue he grew close to, nothing remained but fuzzy memories of them that were disjointed and clustered, as if his memories were thrown into a blender.

Finally, as more and more the places and people close to his heart begin to fade away to nothing, the last person who left a mark on his heart. As he falls, he sees her standing there with her back turned to him. She turns to him, he sees her beautiful blue eyes and his crown around her neck, but also on her flawless features is pain. The sadness pooling in her eyes with her face devoid of smiles and warmth. He feels his chest tightening, a strange guilt planted in it as he weakly reached out for her.

'Don't let it consume you', she whispers.

Slowly her body glowed with light, encasing her in a crystal-like shine as her flesh and clothes turned crystal. Sora felt his eyes water and strength slowly but certainly seep back into him as he tried to reach for her. The name and memories her in the windows begin to shine and polish, slowly revealing all those precious moments he had shared and created with her, one memory of having her become his and his alone.

'KAIRI!', he cries out, reaching for her.

The girl of his heart smiles before she was encased in the translucent crystal light and then in a shining light she fades away. Sora's tears float as he falls, but slowly his windows of the past begin to polish and became clear as he feels someone holding him. As his raises, his vision fades…

*?*

Sora sits in the center of a station, not his own but rather someone he knew. Footsteps clinked on the flat surface of the mural beneath him, but he couldn't muster the strength to look at this person. The void within him grows and instead of himself fading away into nothing, he was anchored by his light. The footsteps stopped and then he hears shuffling. Before Sora was an old face he didn't know so well but knew enough to call this person a good friend.

'Its weird we keep meeting up like this, huh?', he says in a friendly tone. Roxas stands up before Sora, allowing his somebody to rest on the spot. Roxas has bright blue eyes and golden blond hair. With spiky hair, as the front concentrates the spikes on the right side of his head as if it was swept by the wind, while the back is smoother and flakier. He still wore his Organization XIII robes as he always did.

As happy he is to see Sora again, Roxas genuine wished it didn't require him to have his heart be torn into pieces for him to regain some form of consciousness again. In this place the two were stationed at Roxas' own Station of Awakening, the murals showing Roxas with both keyblades, Oblivion and Oathkeeper in hands as he stood atop a clock tower that was blessed the light of the sun and the shadows of the tower. The colors were orange, gold and bright red with six circles surrounding the boy like a clock.

The six consisted of Naminé, Axel, Hayner, Pence, and Olette, the sixth was blank for some reason that Roxas couldn't explain but whenever he looked at the blank circle he feels a large tug on his heart. After his heart was developed despite having no physical body of his own, this was where Roxas stayed, granted he used his heart to make a replica of his old bedroom from Twilight Town, least being here gave him limitless possibilities. It was only when he felt Sora's heart shatter did he manage to reach out to him and anchor him down.

At least, in part thanks to his bond with Kairi, he used that link to help him track down Sora. Even though he managed to get a hold of the shell of his heart (Sora's body here), it was an empty shell of a heart. The boy knew most of his memories had been scattered within the dark depths of his heart, along with fragments of his memories and light amidst the depths. The former nobody approached the edge of his station, a bridge made from panels with hundreds of colors appeared before him.

He turned back to Sora with a small but confident smile. 'Don't worry, I'll help make you whole again, I promise'. Roxas turned to his path and ran, disappearing into the distance.

As Sora sits still, he is slowly embraced by someone. 'Shh, it's going to be ok', she whispers. This warmth and gentleness reminded him of Kairi, but this person was a total stranger to him. She strokes his hair comfortingly, gently whispering comforting words to him as she held him close. 'He'll put you back together, and soon, you'll be with your friends again', she encourages. She sounded so familiar to Sora, and her voice made his eyes water with guilt. He didn't know why but while she may not be so close to him as Kairi, he knew she was important to Roxas somehow.

All he could do was enjoy and sink into her warming embrace…

Reaching the top of the pedestal as the pathway behind him fades with each step closer to the light, Roxas stands on the blank broken bit of land that once represented Sora's heart. Looking ahead to see islands of broken blank pieces before him, he takes a deep breath when he realizes just how badly damaged Sora's heart had become.

Whoever or whatever caused this destruction may have spared Sora from becoming the seeker of darkness' vessel but the damage could be irreversible. The former shadow of Sora folds his arms as he looked around the floating cracked and/or foggy windows of his past, hovering around and surrounding the pedestal like a wall trying to keep in the final shreds of Sora's heart. So many memories are potentially being lost and bits of Sora would descend into oblivion. But with a nobody like Roxas, he knew, if he remained here to act like an anchor he could keep his memories in place.

At least until the fateful reunion of the somebody and the princess.

He gently placed a hand on his heart and smiled. 'Don't worry…we won't let you face this alone', he said to himself, promising Sora. Roxas jumped onto the centerpiece of the broken island and summoned Oathkeeper and Oblivion. Two weapons representing Sora's light and darkness, together crossed over each other and held up high, chains of black and white flew from these mystical weapons of light.

The chains flew around the pedestal and all linked the windows from the dark depths to the high skies before linking the islands to the centerpiece with Roxas holding them up high still as his body glowed in grey. This was all he could do, become the anchor to keep Sora in place until the time was right. At least while he might be away from him, his friend would keep him safe.

"Just hold on Sora…", he hoped…

*Battleground*

Gritted teeth as he marched through the forgotten sands, the howling winds that sing the old tales of the great war that had taken place here so long ago and with desolation of this world rushed through him. Xigbar could feel every step he had taken in this place grow heavy and the whispers of the lost hearts and slain wielders of the keyblades all whistled into his ear.

He reached the meeting grounds in a short time, having used the dark corridor to transport him a few minutes away from there just to prepare himself for what ramifications would be laid before his feet by the master. Fortunately for him, none of the other vessels were around to witness his grand screw up of the century. Not those old co-workers he dealt with in the past, not that brat apprentice of the master, or even that replica would show his smug face, and bonus even his heartless and nobody were around.

Very least he'd get chewed out in isolation.

Standing on the tall mountain that overlooked the battlefield, the field that soon the battle would take place once more, on the ledge was the man behind the scenes who orchestrated the whole thing from the very beginning.

Master Xehanort, the Seeker of Darkness.

Master Xehanort is bald except for thin eyebrows and a curled, silver goatee. His ears are pointed, and his eyes are yellow. He has broad, hunched shoulders and a crooked back. His clothing is composed of a white and black coat with a red inner lining, which is worn over a white shirt with two thin black belts, as well as white gloves and calf-high black boots.

Even in his winter years and feeble looks, Xigbar knew anyone with any form of strength could just feel the immense power that dwelled within this old man, the most powerful keyblade wielder to ever walk the world. The former nobody himself sweats in fear sometimes of this man's power, and that was when he was just talking. As the wind howls around them with particles of dust flying by them, the old man didn't acknowledge him yet as he stares into the field before them.

Mustering his will, the one-eyed vessel walked toward him. When he was five steps away from the master, he speaks: 'You've returned'. Xigbar stopped walking and straightened himself up. 'Yeah…figured I come and see how things went', he mumbles, hating this pathetic fear he carried that this old man instilled into him. Xehanort doesn't turn around to face him, instead, he raised his head to see the slowly descending sun.

'You've been in Eos for quite some time, Braig', the master remarked, 'And from what I understand, some interesting development has occurred since you arrived'. Xigbar held back that glare that desperately tried to make a place on his face at the mention of his human name. He composes himself however and tries to light of his master's concern. 'Pfft, been a while since I stuck around in a world for a while. Gets pretty dull sticking around here all day'.

Xehanort hums in thought, almost like he agreed with the man before he spoke again: 'And tell me, were you involved with this sudden appearance of a new light…as well the sudden disappearance of Sora?'.

He turned around to his agent, eyes glowing with contempt and conceit as Xigbar's smug looks shifts into a pale look of dismay. 'I-I, well…', he starts before suddenly he was engulfed in black smoke that solidified around him and wrapped around his neck. Xehanort's hand burning with the darkness but it wasn't even a fraction of his true potential as he held Xigbar in the air. There was impatience in his golden eyes as well as that look of restrained murder, the same kind he had when he discovered Terra's will still live on.

'Trust in my words, Braig, I've been far more lenient with you than you realize', he warned, the darkness slowly suffocating the man as Xigbar struggled. 'I sensed one of the guardians had nearly perished because of you, a new light unforeseen had shown up and now Sora's light had vanished into nothing', he listed. 'L-Let me…explain!', Xigbar gasped, clenching the darkness coiled around his neck in a desperate act to keep himself breathing. Xehanort smirks evilly however as he drops the man to the ground with a wave of his hand.

Xigbar falls to the ground and coughs harshly, clutching his throat. He faces his master with a strained look of pain, contempt and even a trace of fear as he said: 'There…there's this prince, he's a keyblade wielder…s-so I thought, *cough*, with him, we could finally make Sora your vessel instead of that failure…'. Xehanort raised a silver brow at the man, intrigued. 'So you must have tried to open his heart to the darkness', Xehanort deduced.

Xigbar grunts, getting to his feet and coughing. 'Y-Yeah…but, something happened. The kid, his heart just…shattered…', he grunts out. He didn't have to wait very long for his master to show how displeased he was by this news. Xigbar now found himself being grabbed by his neck and lifted into the air by his master, keyblade aimed at his head. There was rage within the master eyes, yet he still carried that air of authority and dominance within them. 'You shattered his heart? Meaning the boy is useless to us now!', he growled.

Xigbar could only gasp and wheeze at the tightness of his master as he struggled to fight for his second chance at life as human. The strength behind this grip was monstrous and he almost lost his vision before his master scoffs and throws him back to the ground. Dismissing his keyblade, Xehanort approached his vessel with a glare.

'Tell me what has happened, Braig, and spare no details', he commands, 'And for your sake…you better have something that might change my mind about you'. Xigbar looked at the coldness of his master's eyes. 'Whether or not I should replace you with the backups'.

And with that promise made, and knowing the man always kept his word, Xigbar retold his story to the master.

*Eos, the train*

In the driver's compartment, Goofy and Donald sat there in silence with the former manning the controls for the train while occasionally telling everyone over the intercom they were getting closer to the imperial capital, along with other updates. Occasionally they'd get some visitors to check on them or make small talk yet, for the most part, it was just the two alone.

Donald sitting on a crate while Goofy handled the train's controls, occasionally humming to himself or make some small chitchat with Donald. The air between them was heavy with silence for most of the journey since they left Tenebrae, smiles were vacant and in place of them were looks of true forlorn and doubt. All it took for those feelings of inadequacy and failure was not hearing their companion who had been with them through thick and thin since this started.

Goofy tried his hardest to keep his spirit up, heck everybody's spirits up as best as he could, but he feels a hollow sensation in his heart every time he had some moments to think and ponder about just how bad things had gotten up to now. Losing Sora, truly it never got any easier whenever the boy wasn't around with them. Sure they had gotten separated in fights but kidnapped? That was a situation he was never prepared for and hoped it'd never come to pass.

The moment Xigbar had stolen the kid away, it took everything for him and Donald not to break down and wallow in despair, especially with Kairi and Riku around. Keeping strong for Sora's closest friends became their priority but also an escape for them to hide from their pain by helping mend the other pain that sowed within their hearts. Now, however, when things had finally looked hopeful for them and with morale back up after reclaiming a new arm for Noctis, it all came crashing down like a house built of glass.

Kairi and Prompto were out there alone in the imperial lands, Riku on edge and trying to keep himself from lashing out while Aqua mediates in vain to try and collect herself.

Goofy lowered his head as he looks at the controls, heaving a big sigh. 'Gwarsh…sure is quiet around here, huh?', he asked as the duck clasped his hands. The mage muttered a "yeah" to the captain's questions, twiddling his feathered thumbs. '…Donald, do ya think we can save Sora?', Goofy asked, trying to keep the doubt from plaguing his voice. Donald looks up at his long-time friend with a frown. 'Of course, we can! What kind of question is that?', Donald says shocked Goofy of all people asked such a crazy question.

'No Donald…I mean, if we weren't with Riku and the others…', he clarified. Donald huffs. 'Sure we could! We did it before, remember?', he reminds. 'Back in that data world, we pulled his butt out of the fire!'. 'Yeah…but then he had to save *us* after', Goofy says with a frown. Donald opened his mouth to argue before he muttered something and clicked his fingers. 'But we saved him from Xehanort trying to possess him!'.

'I guess…', Goofy agreed weakly, though he was more certain it was by pure luck and accident they helped prevent Sora from becoming one of Xehanort's vessels. Truly Axel was the one rescued him, they just arrived later to lend a hand. The captain looked away as Donald approached him and patted his back, his confidence faded away as he tried to comfort his friend. 'Goofy…', he starts, before he relents his futile attempts to boost their confidence.

'Shucks Donald…', Goofy sighed, 'We can't keep up with Sora and the others now…what good are we if couldn't keep Sora safe?'.

'Because strength is everything?'.

They both looked behind them to see Noctis entering the room, his face showed sympathy to their insecurities with some form of annoyance. 'Noct…', Goofy started before the king raised a hand. He looks at them both first before he gestured them. 'This the attitude you're gonna carry till we reach Sora and the others? That defeated tone? The sense of uselessness, however, bull crap it is', he says.

'Hey!', Donald called out but Noctis ignored his squawk. 'The two of you have been with Sora from day one, right?', he asked. 'Well yeah, but…', Goofy says, but before he could start the harsh comparison of them and the others like Riku and Aqua, Noctis stops him again. 'Do you think Sora kept the two of you with because of that? He knows you're not as powerful as the rest of them, heck I'm pretty sure I'm still a far cry from what they can do', the king informs, honestly and truthfully. They looked at him as he smiled.

'Strengths great and all, but Sora didn't need that from you two. What he needed was for you guys to be there when he needed you most', he states confidently. He addressed Goofy, 'From the start he knew he could count on you to shield him and be there for moral support and confide in, right?', he questioned. Goofy nods, smiling back softly as the king turns to Donald, 'You and him may have butted heads, but you both carried each other and had each other's backs when it was needed, surely?'. Donald nods.

Noctis faced them both. 'It doesn't matter if you're strong or weak, because Sora needs you two. Keyblade wielders or not, you two always had his back, and now it's time you both show off what you're capable of', he says. They both nodded happily, confidence restored and renewed. 'We're getting them back, Sora, Kairi, and Prompto. And no one is gonna stand in our way, right?', Noctis asked.

'Right!', the two affirmed.

Just as they finished their pep talk, the rest of the party joined in and gathered around. They all turned to the screen of the train as they entered a tunnel that would lead them to the capital, where within the dark realm of this world their friends awaited for them.

The final battle was drawing near…

A/N: Super sorry this took longer than it should, new job and new hours.

We're in the thick of the finale folks, soon the team will enter the capital to fight…pretty much everything so far to rescue their friends and hopefully bring the light back to Eos. I'm gonna try and get one more chapter out before Christmas, wish me luck!

Questions:

ObsidianUnknown66: Verstael's miasma was absorbed by dark Luna instead of the Immortalis. He was killed by Prompto.

My questions:

Q1: Thoughts on this chapter?

Q2: What did you think of Zegnautus becoming Eos' equivalent to the realm of darkness?

Q3: Do ya hate me for what happened to Sora?

Q4: Anyone happy to see Roxas?

Q5: How was Xehanort?

Q6: Donald and Goofy ok? It was brief but there's not a lot I could do for them?

Q7: What are you excited for most in the finale?

Q8: The name of the corrupted kings? Like or hate?

As always everyone, thanks for reading! Stay awesome but more importantly stay safe!