Final Fantasy XV - Kingdom Hearts
Part 69
Summary: Two warriors of Light, the Chosen King and Keyblade Master, face an unseen Darkness.
*Keyblade Graveyard*
Closer…the day of reckoning draws near…
Soon the clash between light and darkness will commence, the battle to decide the fates of all worlds. One would feel the trepidation of such an event, one should wonder just what could happen when all thirteen keys are forged, or what could happen when the door to the heart of all worlds appears.
Such things are meaningless to a man of no consequence, these fanciful fears and speculations are nothing more than minor concerns to him. All that truly mattered to the man who was shunned by the light is the end of the Lucis line. But revenge will come soon, oh it will come soon.
"Might I ask, why are we talking a stroll through these wastelands?", asked the man of Eos, looking at his traveling companion. The young man says nothing, walking on through the vast emptiness of the wasteland as the sun slowly descends once again. Normally Ardyn wouldn't be so patient for answers to his questions even if they were all mostly waiting for the clash to happen and being strung along for potentially nothing does terrible things to one's patience.
But in this case, he was treading lightly for a nice change of pace. Because his companion was nothing like the other vessels of darkness. No, he was much worse. Power coursed through him like water in a canal, full of knowledge beyond his youthful years and carrying a keyblade of his own. Of course, he'd be this strong, he would expect nothing less than Xehanort's youth.
Young Xehanort has mildly tanned skin, golden eyes, and silver hair which both slightly spikes and falls past his shoulders in the back; it is styled similar to Terra-Xehanort's, just with four bangs framing his face, the back two thicker than the front two, and the two backward spikes on the sides are absent, the topmost one slicked back. He wears a black coat like everyone else, nothing distinctive or remarkable.
Soon once they were at a good distance, the young master turns to face Ardyn. "The day of destiny is coming soon…when it comes, there will be no half measures", he instructs, his tone dry and cold. Ardyn raises a brow and rubbed his stubbled chin with interest, wondering if the boy had that youthful confidence to openly patronize him. The young master calls his keyblade, effectively telling Ardyn this is going to another sparring session.
Because he did not have enough of that it seemed…
This keyblade is predominantly colored in different shades of blue and is decorated with elaborate, spiked shapes. The tip is modeled after a stopwatch, while the teeth are diamond-shaped spikes that are connected by a black web structure like the design on the base of the top spire of a skyscraper from the old nobody world. The keychain shares the time theme represented in the blade, with an hourglass as its token. Its shaft resembles his ethereal blades that Xemnas uses with just blue instead of red, as does the blade with its neon-like glow.
With a dramatic wave of his hands to brush the dust off his clothes and flick of his wrist, ruefully Ardyn called for his Armiger and clasps his Raksha blade. "Is it needed? I believe beating your flowery friend and his vixen of a woman is proof enough?", asked Ardyn. The young man scoffs as if he were insulted by such a question. Not that Ardyn could deny it was a bit of a stupid one, did not take much for Sora to defeat them before after all.
"If you intend on fulfilling your vengeance, then wouldn't you make sure history doesn't repeat itself?", asks Young-Xehanort, before a smirk appeared. "Or do you want the chosen king to remind you of your place again?".
With a twitch of a snarl attempting to appear, Ardyn aimed his blade and fires an onslaught of red Armiger spears at the young man. Young-Xehanort huffs as his keyblade shifts into a silvery-grey whip.
Swinging his right hand with his key-whip, the master slashes and smashes the crystalized weapons in an instant. He dashed to Ardyn as his keyblade returns to its original shape, sweeping at the older man. Ardyn, in turn, uses his Armiger to phase through his attacks, sidestepping him and getting around the younger man before warping back to give him breathing room. Young-Xehanort turns on his heels and sweeps again, releasing crescent-shaped waves towards him.
In response, Ardyn aimed his hard to form a violet and crimson ball of flames and launches it at the attack. Their powerful attacks explode on impact, but the younger man hovers across the field, keyblade replaced with ethereal blades in both hands. He swings at the older red-haired man, nary making a sound with every swing while Ardyn meets his attacks with parries and deflections. The powerful blades should have cut through his easily but even Young-Xehanort's powers do little against the Lucis arms.
One of his blades managed to land a hit on the former chancellor's side, earning a yell from the older man. Young-Xehanort then does a high sweep kick and struck him in the side of his neck, throwing the man onto the ground.
Ardyn grunts, the roaring ache in his body filled his senses. He had yet to fully adapt to being in pain again even with some of his "buddies" landing a few hits on him. But that just motivated him to make that smug brat share the same expression of pain. Young-Xehanort tries to stab him in the back, but Ardyn quickly spins and strikes the ethereal blade hard enough to throw the master off balance, and using his right hand, he grabbed the boy's neck.
He slammed him into the ground with a monstrous thud that leaves a body print in the earth and even sends cracks spreading in four directions. The master beneath him grunts in pain, narrow teleporting away from Ardyn's dagger being plunged into his face. Ardyn looked to see the young man reappear a few steps from him, suddenly three vortexes of flames erect around him in a tri-formation as he is levitating from the ground.
Ardyn calls for his crossbow and unloads a barrage of dark arrows onto the master as he soared towards the man. The arrows were consumed by the flames easily and with the young master closing in on him, this forced Ardyn to start warping further away from him, using dark magic to blast him as opposed to using any more Armiger. Young-Xehanort eventually aimed his hand and sends two of the vortexes at the man, sucking up the loose earth and destroying the ground in their charge towards the man.
Ardyn called for violet lightning and struck down the vortexes, destroying them and the ground they were roaming on. He calls for his Sword of the Tall just as Young-Xehanort fires the final vortex at him, he brings down the giant sword and demolishes the flames as if a more powerful hurricane eradicated the vortex.
Ardyn had no time to enjoy his victory over the young man, as the whip returned and wrapped around his waist, yanking him up to the skies. When airborne, Ardyn sees the young master rushing up to him and lands several strikes from his keyblade before with a downward slash, slammed him back down to the ground.
Ardyn bounced off the earth once before he rolled to his feet, growling as his body houses more pain. He simply chuckled tersely, however, snapping his fingers and then being surrounded in green tendrils and light, healing himself. The wonders of magic. He stands up to the boy, now walking towards him as the royal man sensed something is changing, shifting around the master. Ardyn feels the world around him stilling like all had ceased movement, the winds go silent, the dust fluttering in the air stills and even he feels as if he could not move.
He smirks mentally.
Young-Xehanort jumps and brings down his keyblade onto him, only to his utter shock see Ardyn riposte his attack with his Raksha blade and throw him over himself. Ardyn struck the boy's back with a full swing during his fall, cutting into him and with enough force to throw him away. Young-Xehanort falls to the ground, quickly getting to his knees. He grunts in pain, turning to the older man nonchalantly spinning his sword, humming.
When his own golden eyes met Young-Xehanort's, he smirks evilly. "Oh? Come now young man, did you think you were the only one who can do this?", he asks with venom in his tone.
Young-Xehanort scoffs, snapping his fingers and healing himself and returning to his feet. The master and Ardyn raised their weapons and ran at each other, clashing and dueling within frozen time, their weapons making dull roars of steel on steel and sparks barely lighting up for no more than two seconds.
The world around them unaware of what was happening, frozen in place as the two contested in their domes of time. A dual between the keyblade with ethereal weapons against the royal bloodline's royal arms, youthful confidence against wiser experienced combatants. Both taking hits and beatings from each other's weapons, taking breaks to heal and use magic to cover themselves, Ardyn's endless phasing against the young man able to warp time to heal himself, it is as if the battle would continue for centuries.
One final deadlock, however, puts an end to the halted flow of time, both dropping their abilities to hold time in place for themselves. They both warped/teleported away from each other, though the young master was levitating in the skies. With a cruel smile, he raises his hand as fiery portals amass behind him, like a wall hovering behind him. Ardyn sees flaming stones slowly form from these portals until the master drops his arm, firing a horde of meteors down onto Ardyn.
With a dark smile, the darkness of red and violet surges around Ardyn as veins of what appeared to be the blight started to stretch from his jawlines to his eyes, darkening into violet. He laughs at this as a ghostly apparition slowly hovers behind him. Black and violet flames rose in pillars around him, his hands covered in the corrupted flames as he aims them both at the hurtling meteors. Without a single utter of the spell in mind, Ardyn's flames blast a torrent of darkness at the young master.
His meteors obliterated into nothing as Young-Xehanort growls and teleport away from the attack, just barely evading becoming ashes. The master reappears back to the ground in front of Ardyn, his darkening form receding as the flames disappeared. He gave the younger man a smirk, gloating. Young-Xehanort merely scoffs, brushing off the dust from his sleeves. "It seems the gift-giving to you hasn't been a waste of time, after all", the boy remarks.
Ardyn looked at his hand as his weapon disappeared, smirking his new powers. "I suppose I owe your…what was it, heartless version? Thanks for this", he says with amusement. Young-Xehanort huffs dismissively. "At least you'll be of use to us when the time comes", he says, clicking his fingers and called for his dark corridor. Before he goes in though, he says: "How confident are you in your powers now?". Ardyn hummed and clenches his fist. "I was already more than enough to deal with the boy, but with this, it is a guarantee he will join his father", Ardyn replied, arrogantly.
Young-Xehanort scoffed, shaking his head. "Is that so? Noctis has grown as a keyblade wielder, and combined with his royal arms, being mentored by Eraqus' student and having an ally such as Sora, odds are he's exceeded far more than you have". Ardyn hums in turn, holding back the growl in his mouth. With his Armiger and new powers, the boy would stand no chance against him at this point.
So…why did that brat's words bother him so?
"I'd be cautious, were I you", Young-Xehanort says with a smirk, "You've underestimated him before when he wasn't anything more than a fledgling and look how your battle turned out". Wordlessly the man leaves Ardyn alone in the wasteland.
He chuckled mirthlessly as he stares at the space. "Oh my boy, you of all people should know by now", he says to himself as a dark shadow manifests behind him, "The king and Sora both share the same weaknesses…the best way to hurt them is going straight for their hearts…".
With a smile, Ardyn decides to go for a walk…
*Mysterious Tower*
Gathering in the study for what could be the final time, the guardians of the light stand before the master. Aqua had relayed everything to him, her reports on their progress, the lessons, and most importantly the ceremony.
Sora and Kairi had not said a word since entering the room, allowing Aqua to speak without interruptions. While they genuinely did this out of respect for their master, they didn't want to stoke the fires that would consume the old man's patience and goodwill anymore than their actions have burnt. The last thing anyone needed is an angry Yen Sid on their case.
"Thus, we've completed our training and then some", reported the master, her tone was calm and collected, a large difference compared to her stoic and respectful tone she had the last time addressing one of the oldest masters. The old man absorbs the information and has remained silent throughout Aqua's report, mulling. He turned his hard gaze onto the newly promoted masters, frowning deeply but none of the two even flinched at him.
Truthfully, he wasn't angry they had become masters if nothing else he was proud they had. The moment he looked at them he saw a massive change within their eyes compared to how they were last time. In Sora's eyes, he sees confidence and strength not seen since he first took the exam, while Kairi's no longer carried the eyes of one who lacked the faith within themselves. Their light is stronger than ever now, but along with them, he sees the king of light himself had grown.
"And you believe they are ready?", he asks, facing the blue head. Aqua nodded, "We don't know what will happen at the battle, Xehanort will undoubtedly have a plan for every and any outcome that could play out", she says, "But in comparison to how we would have fared then to now? I am more confident that we will win this".
The master hears the confidence within the young woman's voice, not there before. In its place before was a concern for her companions and the harsh truth of being unprepared for the battle. Unknown to them all, Mickey had informed the master of their progress but had detailed most of Aqua's duty to the team. The dedication to empowering her students, to give them that strength to face any challenge that will befall them.
Her eyes showed the wisdom and maturity gained from her year of mentoring, leading the party. Even those without keyblades all felt more powerful than ever, he'd even go so far as to say even one of Xehanort's vessels may prove to be a minor challenge to them at this point. He holds his composure and resists to chuckle at her confidence, believing her. Her master would truly be proud his pupil had gone above the role of a master to such a degree.
"Aqua, you know that should you fall, the realm of light will perish, and the darkness will rule overall", he warned.
"That won't happen", she states firmly, "Not so long as one of us draws breath".
"Aqua's right", Riku affirms, "Xehanort may have his vessels, armies of heartless, nobodies or whatever else, but this time he won't have the advantage of surprise".
"Do keep in mind one of his greatest talents is scheming and planting seeds of doubt between people", Ignis says, recalling the "history" lessons from Aqua about the man. "Without that, all we truly have to worry about is his back up plans".
Yen Sid hums, agreeing to an extent with Ignis. "Xehanort's intellect is only matched by his cruelty and ruthlessness, young man. He will use whatever he can to create the keyblade war". "Meaning we'll just have to beat all his vessels and then take him down altogether", Gladiolus says.
Axel lets out a sigh as he leans against the wall. "You guys make it sound like a walk in the park", he sighed, "We're not going up against anyone like Xemnas or even that heartless version, this is the strongest guy out there". Prompto groaned in reply, saying: "Sheesh…not helping out here buddy…". He turned to the five masters with a smirk: "We've got five keyblade masters and the strongest Lucis here, and they only have one master!".
"Along with Ardyn", Riku reminds, "But if Sora and Noct can beat him at their early state, then I guess we shouldn't worry so much".
"Not to say we shouldn't tread lightly", Ignis says, "It's likely Xigbar and Ardyn have informed him of what Noct's capable of".
"But that was then, remember for all they know we didn't do anything during the seven days", Goofy pipes up, Donald nodding. "Yeah! He doesn't know anything about the Secret Forest!", added the duck.
"That's right", Kairi agreed. "And thanks to Axel and Sora, we know exactly who we're up against".
There is a collection of agreements and confident retorts, nary a trace of fear, doubt, or worry within the guardians. Yen Sid hides a smile from them, their union more powerful and connected than it had ever been. Perhaps he was wrong to doubt them, maybe they could turn the tides…
Perhaps…the realm of light was in good hands after all.
"Then I have no more to add to this", he says, "You all know what you must do". The guardians saluted him for what could potentially be the final time and slowly dispersed from the room. Yen Sid bowed his head just as the door closed behind the final member, feeling the ending of age is upon them. Tomorrow, the final war will commence. Closing his eyes, he uttered one last prayer for his fellow guardians.
"May your hearts be your guiding keys".
*Outside*
Several gummi ships were waiting for the groups to split off and return to their worlds for the final day of peace. By Aqua's recommendation to take their last day in the realm of light in peace, she asked Cindy if she could procure a few ships for everyone to take. She and Ventus opted to remain here, promising together the next time they would return to the Land of Departure would be with Terra, and finally, give their master a farewell he deserved.
After some hard farewells to each other, wishing everyone a peaceful day and hope to see them again when this all ended, more so towards the Oracle who would not be joining them. While Lunafreya was far from a wallflower, she reluctantly agreed in the grand scheme of things she would be nothing more than leverage for their enemies to exploit and feared she would be more of a burden than a beneficial ally.
There were some sad farewells and she prayed for their safety in the battle before she boarded the ship. As everyone boarded theirs, Gladiolus giving Aqua one kiss before he left, leaned into her ear, and whispered: "No matter what happens, we're getting him back". She nods, smiling at him before they would part again. Both carrying unspoken feelings towards each other, that would later be revealed in time.
When all her friends had gone to their worlds for their last day of safety, the master takes her seat on the stairs with Ventus.
"Can't believe the big day's coming", Ventus says, looking up the stars. "Me neither…", Aqua remarks, smiling. The boy takes out his Wayfinder, holding it with both hands while thinking of his brother. Tomorrow he would see him again, but this time on the opposite side, clashing for the fate of all worlds. He bites his inner cheek, mustering the strength to mentally prepare himself for it.
"You're afraid", Aqua says softly, looking at her brother. Ventus looks at her and nodded. "Yeah…I'm, worried about fighting Terra". Aqua nods sadly as she looked at her talisman, dreading the upcoming conflict with him. Once more their keyblades must cross with each other, a battle to the death. She breathes out a weary breath, closing her eyes to compose herself. She may be ready to fight; she had grown numb to the pain of facing him. Third time is the charm after all.
"I know that feeling…the first time I fought him made me sick to my stomach", she confessed, "And the second time where I nearly let the darkness within my heart consume me". Ventus reached for her hand but she shook her head, her smile soft and loving like a sister. "Its ok, I…made peace with that day, my faults are mine alone to bear", she assured. "But we won't leave him alone any longer". Aqua turned to her brother and held her charm up.
"Remember? These charms will always lead us back to each other", she reminds, "And when we see him again, we'll bring him home". Ventus holds his charm up with a cheeky grin. "Yeah, its always up to us to save his butt!".
Aqua raises a brow at him before giggling. "Ahem, "us"? I'm the one who had to save your butts dozens of times!", she says cheekily, "Remember when you and Terra tried your gilders out and broke one of the statuses? Who covered your butts?".
"H-Hey! That was…my idea…", Ventus says as his bravado died out before he says: "Oh yeah? What about that time you froze the entire living room? Who had to take the fall for that little accident?".
Aqua gasps in horror, placing a heart on her chest. "Ventus, are you saying it was my fault the living room turned into an igloo?", she accused. "Do you think me OR Terra could pull that off?", Ventus asked with a smirk. Aqua opened her mouth for a witty retort before she closes it and huffs. "Well…I mean…", she muttered. "Yeah? I saved your butt plenty of times too!", argued the boy with a cocky smile.
They both laughed at their little competition, leaning back on stairs to look up at the stars, smiling. The master looked back on her journey through Eos as Ventus stargazes, remembering both the good and bad times there, looking at her new armored hand. Part of her wondered how much of her had changed during her time there, taking up the role of the leader and slowly maturing as a true master. Back then when she was first announced as a master, she did not perform her role as well as she wanted to believe.
Taking up the role as a mentor to Kairi, then teaching Sora, befriending people close to her heart, meeting Gladiolus, it was an experience she loved. On her first journey, she never had a real chance to just explore a world without worrying about Ventus or Terra, constantly going from one world to the next without so much as taking a souvenir. Memories of the trial scarred her heart, flashes of her shadow looming in the back of her mind.
Facing her fears, her doubts, and coming out stronger than ever from them, she knew a part of the old Aqua had long since passed. She had lost some of her soft edges, had grown more aware of the dangers, and felt older because of it. Looking at her charm to see her reflection, tracing her scar down her cheek with a finger, she sometimes wondered how her master would react to seeing her like this. Aqua truly hoped she at least made him proud of her.
She smiles gently and turned to Ventus. "What do you wanna do when we get Terra back?", she asks out of the blue. Ventus turned to her with surprise but she encouragingly says: "Come on, tell me. We get him back, what should we do?". Ventus looks at his charm and then smiled. He rummages through his clothes to pull out a passport and holds it up to her.
The Disney Town Passport.
She grinned at it, taking her own out and showing it to him. "If Terra still has his, we can all go together!", he says, "They've got all those cool rides and everything!". "And amazing food too!", Aqua says, recalling that delicacy of ice cream the town makes. They both nod and swear to drag Terra if they must, a day of fun for the three of them, no heartless, no monsters, nothing but a good time between three close friends.
Together they stared at the stars and already dream of having their friend by their side…
*Twilight Town*
Taking one small bite out of his ice cream, relishing the cold yet delicious taste of his treat. The never-ending sunset basking the world in gentle light and warmth, the bell tower tolled earlier signifying the day was slowly reaching its end.
Many stories were surrounding this old clock tower, many of them range from heartfelt sweetheart tales, hauntings, to even some speculation that the original creator was from another world. For Axel, however, this clock tower would be the place that held his best memories. Resting atop of the ledge of the tower in his usual sitting position, the pyro stares at the horizon in contemplation and peace.
When everyone else went their separate ways to prepare themselves for the upcoming battle, Axel opted not to go back to Radiant Garden and instead revisit his favorite place. No sooner had he walked around the corner to that familiar spot where his brightest memories were made, he felt a wave of nostalgia hit him. Nothing changed, the spots empty as they always were, and he could hear the voices echo from the past.
He had not been here since his revival as a human, not that he did not have a good reason seeing as he was thrown into the training quickly. Even after he and Kairi had gotten out of their training, the moment Sora went poof and seemingly everyone else was going along with him, he mostly stuck around at the tower. Being back here felt odd, in a good way but also pain tugs on his heart. Again, he believed it was the other one who often joined him and Roxas.
As he finished his ice cream, he chucked the stick behind him and debated if he should eat another. Then he scoffs and chuckled to himself, realizing he was acting like a depressed teenager, drowning his sorrows in ice cream. What would Roxas say if he could see him now?
He was already acting pathetic enough by holding two more in between his fingers on his left hand. Silly as it may seem and sound, he felt this tradition within him. Axel was the one who provided the ice cream after all, and he never let on how he managed to afford all of it.
Just as well his assassins were good a being sneaky as they were at killing.
"Should've been there for you…", he sighed, looking down at the streets below him. Now that he was alone for the first time since his awakening without anything to ponder on, coming back here may have brought him good reminiscing from his happiest times even as a nobody. But they also brought back the worst of him.
All the secrecy between them, every lie he told Roxas just to "keep him safe" and refusing to be upfront with him. Looking back, he hated how he was so dismissive and arrogant to his best friend, wondering if he had been more open to him would things have turned out the way they are? Maybe the poor kid wouldn't have ended up as a pawn by that old asshat Ansem the Wise's tool, maybe they could have escaped the organization.
Yet he blew it.
He let himself choose between friends and ended up losing all of them. Roxas to the worlds and in a way to Sora, the mysterious girl in his memories. Lord knows how he lost her and why he is still unable to recall is beyond him.
And then…
"Shouldn't you say goodbye to your *real* home?".
Axel looked up in surprise to see his former best friend turned enemy waltzing around the corner. Saix simply looked at him with that usual cool and composed expression, even with those eyes. Axel tenses up, wondering if this were a surprise attack or something, he could never be too careful around Saix.
"Why…?", he growled, holding back his anger and pain. Saix takes a spot near Axel, planting himself on the ledge with a small sigh. He turns to Axel, still composed and dare Axel would say, relaxed. "I'm not here to fight, relax", he says, like it was a regular occurrence between the two. Then he easily takes one of the lodged ice creams from Axel, prompting the man to vainly reach for it back, but in doing so would drop the other.
Axel glares at him, yet Saix merely wagged the treat in front of him in a lecturing manner. "You can't eat all this", he says. "Says you…", Axel grunts out, turning away to face the sunset. "Getting stomach cramps before a fight is ill-advised, the last thing you need is a trip to the bathroom during the clash", the blue-haired man says with a coy tone. Axel huffs, begrudgingly allowing him to snake on his treat.
Saix looked at the treat in hand, then back to Axel's and says: "Why did you buy three of them? One for Roxas…and the other two for good luck?". Axel looked at his hand carrying the ice cream, then back to the stick he threw behind him. He scoffs and says: "I dunno. Felt like it!". He clenched his fist, hating that a part of him felt joy in having his old friend back for a while. Even if this was "Saix" and not Isa, it was still his buddy at the end of it all.
This only hurt him more when the two of them part ways, the next time they see each other it will be on opposite sides. Once again Axel would rebel and Saix would be the one tasked to punish him. "Why are you here then?", Axel demands, trying to get this feeling out of his system. He didn't need to feel bad he was going to kick his best friend's backside tomorrow, he already felt like garbage just seeing him like this.
"Got it memorized?", Saix asked, almost mimicking how his old friend used to ask that question. Axel contemplated punching him for that, only Kairi gets a pass for saying it aloud.
"When we were still friends, we used to sneak into the castle, remember?", he says. Axel frowned in recollection; how could he forget? The days when they were nothing more than little brats trying to be "heroes" and rescue a poor damsel in distress by apprenticing to Ansem the Wise. Every time they snuck in they would always visit her, talk, bond, and play with her. The strange girl that had no name, home, nor even her memories. He then turns to Saix. "Yeah, and we failed!", he reminds, "She was just gone! Poof, disappeared!".
"You gave up", accused Saix, facing him. Axel throws his hand up with a yell. "I did not give up!", argues the redhead. He huffs stubbornly and turns his gaze to the sunset. "One day we become his apprentices, then the next Ansem goes away, and then the very next day, we're nobodies", recollects Axel. He still felt chills remembering that day when his life as a human had been snatched away from him and on that day Lea died…Axel was born.
Thinking back to himself as a nobody, he never realized how empty he was to everyone. How he could just take someone's life so easily it did not even take a second thought for him to snuff out someone's life. He cold and laid back he was when things went south, indifferent to the world around him and every day was like a trek through an endless loop of forced living. And on top of that…
"Then we got stuck doing icky jobs for Xemnas…", he spits with tiredness in his voice, "I couldn't keep up with you…".
It was true, Saix was more determined than he ever was when it comes to serving the organization. Axel would do his task and no more, not caring of other agendas and potential leads while his best friend goes the extra mile and then some with his tasks. Though with resentment Axel believed him being the assassin gave him far more gruesome and darker tasks than his best friend.
"Following Xehanort's, nobody was the best lead to discover what had happened to her", Saix argues, arms folded and contemplating. "She was his lab rat after all". "And so? Did you find her? I helped you rise through the ranks, so I hope it paid off", Axel says with skepticism. Saix looks down in thought before he replied: "No. Nary a trace".
He looks to the sunset and continues with his musings: "I started to wonder if we'd imagined her. Maybe she never existed". Axel grits his teeth, something about those words triggered something within his heart. The girl without a name and face flashes for a moment as if somehow she was what he was talking about, and for a moment he considered calling his keyblade and demanding he'd take that back.
"In time…I awakened to a new purpose…I could be stronger", Saix says. "Well, ya blew it! So wise up and quit already!", Axel says. "You know what's coming, you know damn well that bald-faced jackass ain't gonna give two squats about you, so why not just leave and…and…". He falters when Saix turned his gaze back to him.
"You need to face it. Roxas is just like our other friend", Saix says in his usual logical but cold tone. "Gone forever. You need to accept that".
"Screw that! You can say it all ya want, but I am getting him back! And those girls!", he states. He waved the ice cream at his friend and declared: "Hell, I'm even dragging *you* home too!". Saix finished his ice cream, not facing him during his little rant. Not that Axel would have wanted him too, he was close to snapping at him. Saix chuckled with a smile Axel could not tell was real or not. "The marks under your eyes. They're gone", he states, looking at him.
Axel pauses and falters before scoffing. "Yeah? I don't need them!".
Saix gets up with a sigh and stands straight, facing him. "I told you they would stop you from crying. Your upside-down tears", he says with cockiness and knowingly. Axel truly hated how much this guy knew him as well as he does. He could not take any more of it, this moment where for once ever since they lost their hearts, they were bonding again. Trying to hold that piece of their friendship that could have been salvaged had either of them been wiser.
Or in Axel's case, had he not chosen.
"Gah! Would you get lost? I'll kick your ass tomorrow!", promised Axel.
With a light chuckle and smirk just as a dark corridor appeared around him, Saix parts with these final words. "I expect no less", he says before disappearing.
All alone again, Axel huffs and sighs, facing the ground again. The words exchanged hurt him, a pain that never healed aching within him. Yet he unspoken vow remained unchanged. He isn't the same nobody that wouldn't care less for anyone, he isn't alone anymore. Roxas and that other girl are important to him, more than he would have anyone ever know. Looking on the days he spent training with Kairi on their own, how she somehow became important to him too.
He never did forgive himself for how he used her to try and turn Sora into a heartless again, and despite his apologies and constantly feeling like crap he felt like nothing could make up for it. And yet, she had forgiven him from day one.
Even people he was at one-point enemies with, they welcomed him back with open arms and accepted him as a friend. But that did not mean he was leaving anyone else behind. He might have failed Roxas, that girl, and Saix in the past when he could have done more, but the training was more than him becoming a keyblade wielder or a guardian of light. He was doing it all to bring home his friends, old and new.
Maybe that is one of the reasons he would not change his cloak because it is a part of his life he could not part with until he reunites with them all again. This cloak is a part of him as his chakrams and his name.
With a grunt, deciding he is done lamenting on this space alone and promising next time he comes here it'll be with all his friends. He gets up and approaches the discarded stick and is use small embers to burn it away, he stops and reads the stick.
"WINNER" was sketched into it
"…Humph…guess we'll have more to share then…", he chuckles.
Putting it into his pocket, he walks off the tower and leaves…unaware that in an ethereal form sitting on the spot, watching the sunset with tears in her eyes.
*Eos, outskirts of Insomnia*
Never would he ever say it aloud, especially in Gladiolus' company, but sitting here around a campfire made Noctis look back and appreciate these quiet moments. He had not gone camping with his friends in such a long time, even within the forest they used the cottage for sleep. True he appreciates having a bed, an Oracle by his side, and not worrying about accidentally rolling onto a rock or jagged pebble.
But now sitting around the campfire with his brothers in arms, he didn't' realize how much these nights outside had meant to him.
Looking around the campfire he sees Gladiolus doing some squats near the edge of the Haven, more out of killing time than exercising. He wondered how the man was holding up with the upcoming battle that loomed over them, saying nothing relating to it and mostly keeping his thoughts to himself about the whole ordeal. At least that's what Noctis thought, in truth, the shield was mentally preparing himself for the war and thinking on Aqua and her brothers.
With Prompto nesting by on the edge of the Haven with his camera in hands, occasionally from the light, Noctis sees he was going through the gallery. The gunner's robotic limb had gotten a recent cover-up by Cindy, now looking closer to armor with better circuits and some decals Prompto added. He swipes his photos across the screen, smiling at each one while making separate files for albums for his friends, Kairi asking him if he could.
Finally, there is Ignis at his favorite spot in the Haven, the stove. Once they set up the campsite as the dark came he started to work on dinner. While the party offered to help he would have none of it, saying it would be their last meal before they would be thrown into the greatest battle of their lives and deserved one more fantastic meal. The man was content with doing the dinner again for only four, while he admitted having another hand helped, he was relieved to be doing only a meal for a small group again.
The king had already said his farewells to the Oracle after they returned to Eos, opting to let her stay in Insomnia with some of the recently reformed Crownsguard. When they arrived at their old home, Aranea had been promoted to Kingsglaive Commander (a title she made up with the permission of her radiance) and informed his majesty that she had already got recruits to help out rebuilding the city and guard.
Granted by Noctis' opinion she would probably charge him a king's ransom for her work, but he couldn't deny having her as an instructor and commander of his guard was a bad idea. Once Lunafreya had settled into the Citadel and promising to return to her when the war ended, the king sets off with his brothers to the outskirts while Cindy took their ship back to Hammerhead for some final tune-ups. He was mighty grateful the woman even offered to be their pilot to the world.
The king leans back in his chair, quiet and thinking. Surprised at himself that he was not scared of what tomorrow is bringing, nor even feeling nervous. Maybe his training did more to bolster his confidence in himself, or maybe he was just accepting it for what could be the greatest fight or even his last fight.
"Come and get it", Ignis called out.
Stirred from his thoughts, Noctis gets up and is handed a bowl of dinner from the man just as the others join him. All four of them gathered up and settled in their seats, eating quietly while making small talk. The chosen king listens in intently to their chatter, mind wandering about the battle among everything else that is happened to them. He thinks fondly on the day he met Sora, how a meeting with a boy from another world had changed so much.
"Kinda weird…doing this again", says Prompto as he holds his bowl at his lap. The three glanced towards him, seeing him having a rare thoughtful look on his face. "I mean…do you guys think this night feels…different?", he asked, "Just the four of us?".
The trio shares a glance, taking in the meaning behind his words. Ignis hums and says: "It has been some time since it was just us four camping. I dare say I cannot recall when", he answers. Gladiolus makes a low grunt of an agreement, understanding where their friend is going with this. "Yeah. Since we met those three, then add Aqua and Kairi, it was not just us anymore, and then we got Riku, suddenly we're a larger group".
"Imagine our reactions if we knew just exactly what we signed up for", Noctis says with a smile, "I mean Donald and Goofy should've been a warning already but then again…here we are".
"Keyblades, light and darkness, heartless, nobodies and other worlds, sheesh…and there we were worried about getting you hitched", Prompto chuckled with a cheeky smile. Not blushing in the slightest nor even attempting to hide it, the king nodded at his friend's words. Something that at a time was so daunting and surreal feels more like an easy task now, and to think it all started so simple. Hurtled into a battle none had known about, thrust upon enemies that outclass them all and going through so much.
The king frowns softly when he did have to think about what his friends endured while journeying with him through all this. Gladiolus' defeat and scars, Prompto's discovery of his origins and loss of his right arm, Ignis losing his sight and forever scarred by the dark and light all at once. And tomorrow they may lose so much more. The only thing he had lost was is his sword, given to him by his father for his sixteenth birthday, and gained a lot more scars than he had thought possible.
"None of us could dream of what was in store for us", Ignis says, pushing up his glasses slightly, "And even with all our training, we're still venturing forth into uncertainty".
"Up against the worst the worlds got to offer", Gladiolus adds.
"And against a guy who's supposedly the best of the worst", piped Prompto.
Noctis nods to each input of his friends, yet even with all that he still felt no fear. "But we're going anyway, regardless of how scared, nervous, apprehensive or anxious we all feel", he says, staring up to the skies, seeing the stars and/or worlds. "Not just because our home is in danger, or because of what'll happen if Xehanort wins…but more than that, we want to keep those we hold close to our hearts safe".
He placed a hand on his heart, feeling the connections it had created with so many wonderful people. The people at home and out there in the other worlds, people who stayed by his side through the worst even with their struggles. Memories of his father, the people who served him, his subjects that perished because of the emperor and Ardyn's schemes. He's lost so many important people to him, and reflecting on those days without Sora, how they all dealt with losing such a vital friend.
"I dunno about you guys, but I'm not going to lose anyone else", he swore, "We've come this far not just because of Sora and the others by our side, but we've stuck through it together as brothers". He turned to his brothers with a grateful smile, not trying to make light of it nor would he keep his feelings aside.
"I wouldn't have gotten this far without you guys, and…I'm…grateful, for everything you've done for me", he says, suddenly feeling his eyes grow prickly. Gladiolus huffs, but the king sees the man's own eyes shimmer for a moment as Prompto unashamedly lets one tear roll down while Ignis, stoic yet heartwarming smiled back at his king. Noctis clasps his hand and says: "Every time I got nervous, you'd kick me into gear, whenever I needed to face the trials, you were there to support me…and on days I felt like crap, you've been the first to perk me back up".
He did not need to specify who he was referring to, every one of his family knew their roles, and when and where they were needed most. Gladiolus always pushing him to be better than he thinks, Ignis supporting him whenever his doubts reared their heads and Prompto being the person to always put a smile on his face. Without them, Noctis could never say this would have been possible without them, and even with Sora at his side, he still would have needed them.
"No matter what happens…just know, that I can't ask for better brothers to go on this journey with me…and…you guys…are the best", he finishes.
"…don't talk like we're going down…", Gladiolus says, gesturing to himself with a thumb and smirk, "As your new and improved shield, I'm making it my damn mission to get your royal ass back home". Noctis rolled his eyes at the confidence of his big brother, before smirking and pointing. "Well, you better bring your ass back here too! No way am I gonna deal with Aqua if her boyfriend kicks the bucket!", reminds Noctis.
Gladiolus laughed and said: "Who said I'm gonna be done in? I'm more worried about doing the heavy lifting!".
"Hey! Don't forget me and Iggy! You guys wouldn't be able to handle ANYTHING without us!", Prompto says with a beaming smile. "Indeed, you two may be our strength but your plans leave much to be desired", remarks Ignis. "Hey, my plans are fine!", Noctis argued with a smile. "Most of your plans are just "warp strike until you die" and then winging it!", Prompto reminds with a cheeky grin. Noctis rolled his eyes and held his hands up, caught out. Prompto leaned back in his seat with a smile and says: "I dunno how helpful I'm gonna be, but there's nowhere else I'd rather be then with you guys…".
"Plus, after what Axel told me about that girl and how Ven wished he had more memories of Terra before all the garbage happened, I promised them I'd make them an album, so they can look back at those memories".
"I have made my mind up long ago, and if losing my sight did nothing, then this will be no different", Ignis states, "I owe Riku and the others a great deal for giving me a second chance with my sight".
"And no way in hell am I leaving Blue again", Gladiolus states firmly, "And I don't give a damn what that bald bastard has in store, we're getting Terra back".
"They've done enough on their own, this time they'll have friends by their sides", Noctis says. Together the brothers lifted their bowls and all at once cried: "For hearth and home!".
*Destiny Islands*
A small world, yet part of something so much bigger.
Hindsight was something, as Riku started to see more of whenever he had a chance to settle down and reflect. He could not believe how impatient or how ungrateful he had been during his days of ignorance and peace in this small world.
Looking at the sunset while lazing on the beach, the keyblade master watched the ocean waves gently lap over the other, glistening in the low sun descending. The summer breeze, the smells of sea salt, the softness of the sand beneath him, he allowed himself to relax and be at a reasonable sense of ease. He had cast all thoughts of tomorrow aside in favor of basking in the warmth of his homeworld welcoming him back.
"How long did you know I was with you?".
Startled for a moment, breaking him out of his trance of peace, Riku turned with a smile and replied: "You *did* save me".
Sitting near him is an old acquaintance of his, from an enemy turned mutual ally, the other Riku Replica. The younger version of him stared at him pensively and almost attempting to look antagonistic before he cracked a smile and scoffed. The older Riku rolls his eyes, trying hard not to laugh at how cocky he was as a youth. It still perplexes him how Kairi would never tease him for that smug cockiness of his in today's time.
"You've been pretty busy I see…saving a world, discovering more of your power, helping that four eyes get his sight back", lists the other Riku. He smirked and says: "Getting a girlfriend". The older Riku laughed, scratching his neck sheepishly, realizing his replica must have seen everything that occurred since they first met up back in the realm of darkness. The younger boy waved his hand with a sigh. "Sheesh, how much of a sap did Sora make you? Can't even say you're dating without acting like him".
Riku gives his younger self a rude hand gesture, furthering the boy's smirk and teases. "So you here to make fun of me or…?", Riku asks. "Just wanted to say hi, I guess", Replica Riku answers unsure. "Doesn't sound like it to me. You came here for a reason", Riku says wisely. At that, the replica frowns and speaks up. "I didn't make much of myself, as a replica". He faces the ocean and continues: "I was a failure, after all, failing to beat you and take your place. And then, after you and Sora moved on", he explained. Part of Riku felt for his clone, although he was rather relieved he did fail. Not that he was being hurtful but call him selfish, but he'd rather be alive than dead. "My body then fell into ruin, and the darkness took my broken mind".
"And then I showed up in the darkness, and you took that as a sign to what? Say "screw it" and work with me again?", the older boy asks. The replica laughed heartily at that, shaking his head at the humor. "You could say it, it was fate or maybe…if I have to face the end…I'd rather face it with you then the darkness", he admits finally. Riku frowns, a sudden sense of guilt and concern taking over his playfulness.
"That's what you want?", he asked.
"Yeah", replies the replica. "But don't think I'm throwing the towel in yet…I've got one last thing to see through to the end".
Despite saying that, he refused to enlighten the older version and just resumed his gaze back to the ocean. Deciding that his replica deserved to keep some of his secrets, Riku smiled back and joined him in staring at the ocean for a minute before a phone call goes off.
He scrambled for his phone as Replica Riku laughed. "Have fun", he says.
Riku looked to him but finds out he was alone on the beach once more. Frowning with wonder, he looks at his phone and answers it.
"Riku?".
"Iris? Hey there…", he greets the moment he sees the Amicitia girl on the other side. The girl smiles back at him, waving. "Sorry I took so long to get on to you…Aranea's been running me through the wringer like Gladdy on a bad day with Noct", she says with a giggle. The master chuckles in response, easily imagining those scenarios. "Sounds like good old Aranea isn't waiting for you to become the next Kingsglaive, better work harder!", he teases.
"Pfft, easy for you to say!", pouts Iris, "Unlike you I wasn't trained to jump over buildings and run halfway through the city!".
"…she has you running laps through half of Insomnia?", Riku asked, genuinely curious and slightly worried. "Yeah! Heck, she once made someone do FIVE laps because he was staring at her butt!". Riku did not know why but suddenly racing to Eos and bringing Iris to the islands was starting to sound good to him and would be beneficial for her. He just hoped she'd be alive when he gets back from saving the worlds with the others.
The girl smiled at him, yet he sees it was forced and full of concern, her amber eyes dim. He knows that look; it was the same one she had given to him when he left with the others to rescue Sora. Except here felt more sullen and glum, like for all she knew this was going to be the last time they speak. A tug on his heart did occur when he thought about it like that, and with death looming over him like a cloud about to unleash a storm on him, he could understand why she was not all smiles and rainbows.
"Hey, come on, what's with that look?", he asks lightheartedly, hoping to lighten up her day. "You guys said tomorrow is the day you're going after Xehanort, right?", she asked knowingly. "Well, yeah…I mean, he's not given us much of a choice. Either we confront him now or he will attack other worlds, and call me pessimistic, but I'm worried he'll do a hell of a lot worse", confesses Riku. "…right…", Iris says, defeated. Sounds to Riku she was hoping they could have had more time together, even when he got out of training he had only at the very most an hour with her.
"Iris…", he started before she shook her head. "No, sorry. I know I'm sounding like a brat, whining that you've gotta go again…", she rambled. Riku cuts her off and says: "Hey come on now…you're not the only one who wants to spend more time together…", he assured, before saying: "Truth be told, if we did have one more day I'd have been happy to just spend all day with you…".
He then snaps his fingers and says: "Hey, why don't we do that?", he asked. Iris looks at him before he continues. "Pick a day, ANY day after we beat Xehanort, and I promise you, wherever you wanna go, it'll be just you and me. No keyblade duties, no heartless, nothing to distract us, ok?", he offered. Iris grinned and nods. "I'll hold you to that!", she swears. "I'd be worried if you didn't!", laughs Riku. He smiled at her, missing her presence greatly.
"Say, are you doing anything?", he asks.
"I'm here all day for you", she promises.
"Then can we keep talking?".
With a smile, he sees her settling on her bed and they begin to talk…
Watching from a distance, the two closest friends to Riku sat on their familiar tree in silence. Sora was occasionally staring at the older boy with a wondering expression, worried he was losing his mind when he was seen talking to himself before likely Iris rang him.
Kairi had assured him their best just wanted to have some alone time, likely prepping himself what was coming next. After everything Riku had done, Sora would not be selfish enough to take that from his friend, even if he would have preferred it would be the three of them again on their little spot before they would go to their final clash.
The final battle…even thinking that did not sound real to Sora. Of course, throughout his adventures, there had always been one final fight remaining and each one took everything he had to offer to win. Here though, it still felt so strange and worrying to hear it, namely since every major enemy he's ever faced would be there, his worst adversaries and strongest foes. In a place where so many hearts had been lost, where the darkness would be at its absolute worst within the realm of light.
And not only that, he had so much more to lose…
"Here".
He was broken out of his trance with a startle, leaning back and looking down. His heartbeat suddenly increased wildly.
In the hands of the one who owned his heart, was the Paopu fruit.
The boy's cheeks flushed when he managed to roam his eyes upward to Kairi's smile and blushing cheeks and sees in her other hand another fruit. He opened his mouth but does not speak. "Tomorrow is going to be our toughest fight yet…maybe even more than back at Niflhiem…", she explains, her smile never leaving her face. "So…I want to be a part of your life, no matter what happens". Something about that sentence struck Sora…
The way she spoke was soft and loving, yet he could see the underlying sadness and fear in it. He moves his hand to the fruit offered, yet he grasps it while holding Kairi's hand at the same time. She lessens her smile into a small one, ultimately changing it into a look that expressed her fears. None of them were naïve, and no matter what they told themselves, nor with the amount of training that they worked through, there is a chance one of them could perish.
Sora hated to admit it especially with how far she had come from her newbie days and no words would ever be able to express how proud of her he was, but the battle and the looming cloud of death that followed them was one of the reasons, gods forgive him, he wished she'd stay safe. But asking her to remain behind just to be safe was not only selfish of him but a slap to Kairi's face for all she had done to reach his point for them.
Plus, how could he ask her to abandon the others she had grown so close to, people who are counting on her.
Sora sees Kairi's hand slowly droop as she nearly looked away, maybe she had second thoughts or whatever gesture of goodwill had turned sour with his silence and her thoughts of what could happen. But he gently squeezed her hand, making her face him again. This moment between them, memories of their little drawings back in their secret place, once unspoken feelings between them now a symbol of their connection.
He gave her a warm and loving smile as he took his fruit and raised her docile hand to his, offering hers while he offered his own. "No matter what happens, even if we somehow are apart, I will find you again", he swears. Kairi's smile comes back, warmer, and lovingly. Together on the mental count to three, they both take a bite out of the legendary fruit.
The sweetness of the succulent fruit tasted truly beyond these worlds and the next, something had locked between the two.
Slowly they lowered the bitten fruits before the delicacies slipped from their hands and Kairi embraced him. He holds in his arms, letting her rest her head on the heart she ruled over. "We'll keep each other safe, right?", he asks, stroking her back. "Yes…", Kairi promised.
She raised her head to face him, his hand brushing aside a stray of her hair to let him bask in those beautiful eyes. She, in turn, runs a hand up to his cheek and through his spiky hair, pressing their foreheads together and allow the world to fade from their minds. They were scared, none would pretend otherwise, and even though those fears stem from whatever may come from the battle ahead of them, they refused to give into it.
"I love you", Kairi says, "Now, and forever".
Sora cups her cheek with his warm smile only her eyes would ever be blessed to see, the smile that had given her strength to fight whatever came her way. No more would she stand on the sidelines and allow him to bear the weight of the worlds alone, no longer would she let him suffering and silence. Her power had grown not just through fighting with the others but experiencing an adventure with him, seeing the world, and making friends who found places within her heart.
"I love you too…more than anything", he swears.
She closes the gap between them, and as their eyes shut, the warmth of their kiss spreads through their bodies. Whatever happens, they know deep in their hearts, they will be together…
*Next Day, Gummi ship*
The day had finally arrived.
The day where the fate of all worlds will be decided…where if the light would be consumed by the dark, or would it persevere through the bleakest of despair?
The now Thirteen Guardians of Light…vs the Thirteen Darkness…
Hands clasped together as he waits for their pilot to announce their arrival, Noctis stares at the space on the main deck of their ship among his brothers awaiting for their descent to join the others. None in their usual garbs, having returned to their homeworld, they had final donned their Kingsglaive uniforms. They were also given cases containing new weapons for them, made by Cindy and Cid.
The Kingsglaive uniforms worn by his brothers consists of a black frock coat, black pants, black fingerless gloves, and black, knee-high boots. There were noticeable differences between each other, Gladiolus was still wearing Terra's armour for his left arm, Ignis had a silver pauldrons on his shoulders that were lighter with his right sleeve adorned a special etching that enhanced his magic. As for Prompto, he took the usual mask that came with the uniform.
They asked why and he merely replied it made him look cool.
For Noctis, he wears a more formal and sophisticated attire, befitting his regal standing: a black suit with gold jewellery accenting it, a black and gold pauldron on his left shoulder, a golden knee guard around his left knee, accompanied by a cape with intricate gold chains and black shoes. The outfit is like the one worn by his father but without stripes or neck ornaments, as it is tailored to him.
"Fellas, we're here", announced Cindy.
They all faced each other and nodded before proceeding to the transport deck.
Once they arrived, Cindy was already waiting for them to go and save the worlds, making small talk about the whole ordeal. "Sora and the others have just sent the word, they're already waiting for us", she says, "Guess they're more eager to get this whole thing over with".
"Can't say I blame them", Noctis sighed.
The mechanic makes a grunt of the agreement as she starts up the teleporter, giving them the "ok" to start. They thank her and as they approached the machine, she calls for Noctis. When they turned to face her, the woman placed a hand on her chest and bowed to him, saying: "It's been an honor working for you, your majesty".
Noctis stared at the woman, words failing him before he smiled back and bowed to her. "Thanks for everything Cindy…", he says, "I mean…you went above for us". She smiles at him and says: "Ya'll come back, ya hear?". She points at Prompto and says: "Especially you mister! We've unfinished business!".
The gunner salutes with a large grin as his brothers smirk knowingly at the younger man. Noctis turned back to Cindy and nodded, promising to return.
They were then transported to the world below them, leaving Cindy alone on the ship. But the mechanic's services weren't over yet, and she taps into her communicator, calling her boss-lady. "Hiya, they've just been transported".
She nods at the commands and heads back to the main controls. "Don't worry, I'll be there faster than Gladio consuming cup-a-noodles!".
As the Highwind Xv sails to its next destination, the clash is about to take place.
The final clash is about to begin.
A/N:
…THIS IS THE LONGEST CHAPTER I'VE EVER DONE!
This is it folks, no more chills, we're finally…FINALLY, in the final arc! Who's excited!?
QUESTIONS!
Q1: Thoughts on this chapter?
Q2: Which reflection part did you enjoy?
Q3: The fight between Ardyn and Young-Xehanort?
Q4: How do you think this is gonna play out?
Q5: What do you think Cindy's planning?
Q6: What are you looking forward to?
Q7: Do you hate how long this chapter is?
Update: Changed the Chocobro's uniforms to the Kingsglaive with slight alterations. Due to people not liking the new look. Sorry for confusion!
Thanks for reading! As always stay awesome but more importantly stay safe!
