The last couple of chapters have been filled with some warm and fuzzy feelings. Which is definitely nice. These characters deserve a chance to spend time together, bond, and heal from everything that they've gone through. But now it is time to move towards the action again. We have the last chunk of the game to address. Which means that I have to review all those cut scenes and fight scenes in order to properly adjust them for the changes that have occurred.
It was the dawn of the final day. The appointed hour was near at hand. He'd been working towards this moment for most of his long life. The younger version of himself lurking around was proof enough of how long Xehanort had been planning and preparing for this new Keyblade War.
And he'd gone to some rather impressive lengths to put all the pieces into place. For some people, manipulating and possessing Terra would have been challenging enough. Coaxing the young man to embrace his inner darkness by driving a wedge between Terra and Master Eraqus at a key point would have never worked if Master Eraqus didn't have such a blind spot for his old friend that Xehanort used to his advantage. Shifting his heart and will into another's body took planning and power to achieve. But regaining strength and youth in his old age was well worth the effort. The side effect of that possession causing amnesia was a slight hinderance, but even that wasn't enough to derail his life's work.
While Master Xehanort now possessed all the memories of his past and his various components, with the exception of the memories formed when his heart traveled forward in time, he'd spent about a decade scattered and unable to properly remember his ultimate goal. That led to a few… side goals being formed. But his subconscious remembered enough to keep making progress.
The amnesiac apprentice version of Xehanort using Terra's body, with Xigbar's prompting, followed his subconscious urge to seek out darkness. And that led to him splitting into his Heartless and Nobody while also creating the first few members of Organization XIII. Ansem, the Seeker of Darkness, remembered more of his true goal since Terra's remaining influence was nearly nonexistent in that form. He was sent back in time as a heart with the knowledge to prepare his younger self and to cultivate darkness for this day. Xemnas, his memories still a fragmented mess, mostly focused on his own goals. But he remembered the importance of Kingdom Hearts and he remembered enough to start preparing the Organization members as future vessels.
Now he was whole again. His younger selves were brought forward to their future, his present, as hearts to inhabit replica bodies. A far more effective method of filling his ranks that he could have never predicted when he first conceived his plan so long ago. Other versions of his heart from the past were placed within Terra's restored and empty body and within the carefully chosen Organization members. He even brought Vanitas's heart forward in time from before his failed attempt to create the χ-blade, letting the boy reform his body out of darkness the same way that he did originally, just to provide another vessel. Xehanort had shattered and scattered himself across time and worlds… just to reach this moment.
But it would be worth it. There had been a steep price to pay. And soon the decades of work, the lives and worlds that he destroyed, and his own personal sacrifices would finally come to fruition. The moment that he held the χ-blade in his hands, all of it would be finally worth it.
Before the final battle could begin, however, he needed to deal with a minor issue that had been brought to his attention. Hence why he was spending his last few hours approaching the tall stone columns that the real Organization XIII had been using as a gathering place recently. But rather than perching upon the top, he neared the bases of the towering structures.
Hands tucked behind his back, Master Xehanort strode forward to where two figures waited. A few of the vessels were of lesser quality. Secondary choices or even tertiary. They carried versions of his heart, but the Nobodies still carried their original personalities and thoughts. His heart could influence and change them to an extent, but they weren't him. They weren't as reliable as the empty replica vessels.
"You summoned us, Master Xehanort?" asked Saïx evenly as he stood next to Vexen.
Nodding slightly, he said, "Yes. Recent problems have been brought to my attention and it seemed prudent to handle any potential issue before the upcoming Keyblade War."
The dawn light caused the stone pillars around them to cast long and deep shadows. So even while they were surrounded by light, they were engulfed in darkness. And soon, far more would be engulfed, the worlds returning to the darkness from whence they came. And their destruction would inevitably create something new. Something untouched and perfect, just waiting for someone to shape and mold.
"You mean the loss of the replicas," said Saïx evenly. "An unexpected turn of events, but not beyond salvaging. The thirteen darknesses are in place and the guardians of light should have enough members. Everything is proceeding as planned."
"We may be prepared for today's clash, but the loss of the replicas exposed a deeper concern," he said with a slight edge to his words. "I missed the signs of corruption rotting away at the core of the true Organization. Not until it became blatant."
Master Xehanort glared at the two of them. Vexen stared at the ground, already chastised for his mistakes before being turned into a proper vessel. For the moment, he was docile and obedient. He had too much self-preservation instinct and too much influence from Xehanort's darkness to be anything else currently. Saïx, on the other hand, met his eyes without hesitation. But there was a new dullness to his gaze.
"Vexen shared a rather disappointing story when Xigbar brought him in. One that he was reluctant to share, but one that he could not hide when I… pressed the matter. Apparently he is responsible for the theft of the replicas and the destruction of the laboratory where the others were kept." Xehanort watched for any sign of a reaction from his audience. "I have already taken steps to ensure that there will be no further rebellion from that quarter and that Vexen will not be foolish enough to attempt escaping a second time."
Eyes still downcast, Vexen tugged at his upper zipper and exposed part of his chest. Beneath his black coat lay extensive burn scars across his skin. But more important was the red and raw Recusant's Sigil newly carved into his flesh. With Xehanort's heart resting in his chest and the symbol etched into his skin, Vexen would be far more amicable and obedient than before.
What was more concerning was when one of his chosen vessels had both and still managed to rebel without being noticed.
As Vexen pulled the zipper back into place and hid the damage, Master Xehanort continued, "I have also been informed that you played a part in what transpired, Saïx. Something else that he was reluctant to share, but I doubted that he could pull off such a betrayal alone. But I did not expect such treachery from you."
With the restoration of his memories, Master Xehanort remembered his existence as Xemnas. And he remembered Saïx's loyalty. Unsurprising with the sigil carved into his face from the moment he became a Nobody and with over a decade of gradual influence shaping him. He and Xigbar were his most entrusted members when he was Xemnas.
And perhaps that certainty of Saïx's loyalty led to some overconfidence on his part, giving him a bit too much leeway. Master Xehanort did not pay enough attention to the Nobody and that lax behavior allowed this rebellion to fester. He should have considered the possibility. Especially since Saïx once shared a friendship with Axel and those annoying connections had a habit of causing problems.
"Do you have anything to say for yourself after such a blatant betrayal?" asked Master Xehanort.
His eyes still dull, Saïx said, "I made a mistake."
"By turning against me and attempting to forestall destiny?"
"Failing. I made the mistake of failing."
The Nobody's neutral expression remained listless. Practically lifeless behind his eyes. Something was broken. Saïx didn't have enough spirit for further rebellion.
Ah, yes. Marluxia and Larxene reported a certain fatality during the failed attempt to retrieve the replicas. If those strangling bonds of past friendship were responsible for Saïx resisting the darkness planted inside him, then that should no longer be a factor.
The bonds of friendship were an annoyance, but also a weakness. A vulnerability. One that Xehanort's chosen vessel was experiencing firsthand.
But just to be certain…
"Can you give me a single reason," asked Master Xehanort calmly, summoning his Keyblade and swinging it in a move faster than his age would imply, pressing the edge against the Nobody's throat, "why I should not strike you down where you stand?"
Without flinching or showing any sign that he cared about the weapon threatening him, Saïx said, "This is the dawn of your Keyblade War and you need your thirteen darknesses. With the replicas gone and Demyx missing, you have no spares left and no time to seek out replacements. If you want to forge the χ-blade, you need me to fight today."
He smirked before dismissing his weapon.
"Clever boy. You do realize that you and Vexen will be closely watched and controlled during the battle, correct? There will be no chance of changing sides."
"My allegiances will remain steadfast until death," said Saïx.
"That may be sooner than you think."
"I am aware, Master Xehanort."
Appearing in the darkness, Vanitas approached the small gathering. The dark figure with a smooth helmet had been a vessel that Xehanort had carefully groomed for his entire existence. He ripped the darkness from Ventus's heart and, when that darkness wasn't quite enough, he spent the next few years crafting the creature into a better fit. Like refining and forging the strongest steel from raw iron ore. Weakness and imperfection were driven out of his creation. He did not hold back on his efforts. Nor did he allow any outside influence near Vanitas. He could not risk introducing even the smallest spark of light to his pure darkness.
Vanitas was created for a single purpose. He was meant to be pure and perfect darkness to serve as one half of the χ-blade.
And he failed in that purpose.
Well, technically this version of Vanitas hadn't failed yet. He would eventually return to the past, would combine with Ventus for a brief moment, and would then shatter apart. Vanitas couldn't change his failed destiny. He wouldn't remember any of this when he went back. He was trapped in his role.
But even if he was destined to ultimately fail, Vanitas remained loyal and obedient. Even his moments of independence were centered on trying to perform his one purpose of creating the χ-blade, either as a vessel for Master Xehanort or by clashing and combining with his other half. He could never be anything other than a weapon.
Useful traits.
"Ventus is approaching," said Vanitas without preamble. "I can sense him."
Master Xehanort nodded and said, "Then we better go to greet our guests."
Lea had briefly wondered how everyone would get to their destinations. Only some of them had the protective clothes and capacity to create dark corridors. And it would be smarter to save their energy for the fight instead of generating portals. Roxas and Xion didn't even let him create one when they visited Destiny Islands the day before, the pair instantly volunteering to do it themselves when they decided what to do for the evening of their day off. And Lea knew that all the guardians wouldn't fit inside the cockpit of Sora's usual Gummi Ship.
But then Riku brought the one that he used earlier when they went to grab Ventus's body and King Mickey loaned another Gummi Ship (because of course he would have plenty of the things). An ugly green-and-brown-splotchy-looking thing, but with decent shields and weapons. More importantly, it had enough room for Lea, Roxas, and Xion and that was all that really mattered.
Lea also discovered that while he could steer and maneuver the thing relatively well, Roxas and Xion apparently shared a natural talent for piloting. Or inherited the skills from Sora. The line between the two options was rather narrow. Regardless, with Roxas piloting and Xion firing, the trio of Gummi Ships managed to weave their way through the surrounding maze and past the Heartless ships without too much damage.
Sora mostly cleared the path for the other two Gummi Ships, but his half-pints did a good job handling whatever he missed.
His first impression of the Badlands was that at least any fighting wouldn't risk property damage or getting some innocent random person hurt. The desolate landscape stretched out before them before eventually giving way to stone cliffs ahead. Dry brown dirt without a hint of vegetation surrounded them, the wind stirring the dust in thick clouds. It wasn't quite as hot as Agrabah, but just as dry and dusty.
"It's time," said King Mickey solemnly. "The Keyblade Graveyard is up ahead."
Aqua, Ventus, Donald, and Goofy nodded firmly. Their group kept loosely together in two vaguely straight lines. Sora took front and center with the king and Ventus on his right. Donald was on his left. Behind Ventus was Aqua while Riku took up position near King Mickey. Lea kept Roxas and Xion carefully positioned between him and Goofy. And slightly ahead of him and to his left was Kairi, watching the landscape suspiciously.
Good. Lea was half-expecting a sneak attack too. Even if there weren't many places for one to hide.
Sora abruptly startled and said, "Someone's coming."
It took a moment, but Lea spotted the figure approaching through the thick dust. More and more details became obvious as he drew closer. An old bald man with a short white beard walked slowly, his hands tucked behind his back.
The infamous Master Xehanort had apparently decided to grace them with his presence.
He stopped a reasonable distance from them, far enough that no one could attack each other yet. Well, not without using some flashy magic spells. But close enough that Lea could see the moment that Master Xehanort noticed his presence. The old man's smirk melted into a frown. The slight widening of his eyes suggested some surprise. But then his smirk was back, masking his previous reaction.
Lea smirked back. Looks like someone made the mistake of assuming that he was dead before seeing the proof. Well, if they weren't expecting him to be around to fight, that might give him and the others an advantage.
Kairi tried to ignore the way the hairs on the back of her neck stood up when Master Xehanort's eyes briefly passed over her. There was something unnerving about the man that sent a chill to her core. Worse than her brushes with Ansem, the Seeker of Darkness. Worse than Xemnas. Something about him disturbed her on a deep level.
"Legend has it that darkness once covered the world," he recited solemnly. "We know so little about the Keyblade War. Only that it was just the beginning. If ruin brings about creation, what then would another Keyblade War bring? When the darkness falls, will we be found worthy of the precious light the legends speaks of?"
Moving too fast for her eyes to see, a tall figure abruptly materialized on Master Xehanort's right side. Kairi barely kept herself from flinching at his speed and arrival. Ansem, the Seeker of Darkness, crossed his arms as he stared down at their group.
"Or will all of creation be instead returned to the shadows?" Ansem, the Seeker of Darkness, continued the speech smoothly. "Today, we will recreate the legend and see."
She saw Sora grit his teeth a short distance away and Riku's posture shifted into something more aggressive. Master Xehanort might ultimately be responsible for so much suffering, but the humanoid Heartless started things for the three of them. He was the one who plunged their home into darkness, scattered them, and even possessed one of them. It was easier for the three of them to blame Ansem, the Seeker of Darkness.
Appearing just as suddenly with blinding speed, practically teleporting, Xemnas took his place on Master Xehanort's left side. And for someone with no emotions, he looked rather surprised when his eyes locked on Lea. Surprise that quickly vanished behind a more neutral expression. Only the slightest scowl crossed his face to betray the truth. Even when his gaze moved towards Kairi, she knew that his quiet anger was directed towards Lea.
Lea's smirk only widened in response to the hostility.
"But first…," said Xemnas slowly. "Your light shines far too brightly. Your numbers have created a grave imbalance. That light must be extinguished in order for the truth to be seen."
He glanced briefly towards the old man and Master Xehanort gave the smallest hint of a nod. A ghost of a smile flickered across Xemnas's face, a ruthless and humorless expression. Then Xemnas disappeared, moving impossibly fast.
Something suddenly grabbed Kairi's right forearm, wrenching her away from her friends while twisting her arm at a painful angle that she couldn't escape. Too far up and back, almost pulling her weight off the ground. She heard Xemnas's voice right behind her, saying something about "motivation," as he dragged her away and twisted her limb further. She heard her friends shout in shock and horror.
It was too fast. Too much was happening. But Kairi—
"Are you sure about this, Axel?"
"Look, you said you wanted to protect yourself, right? And we both know how many people have tried to kidnap you before."
"I told you that I forgave you."
"Not the point. This is about keeping it from happening again. And trust me. It doesn't matter how powerful or invulnerable they are. Anything that remembers being human will react instinctively to certain threats. Including fire. So we're going to practice until you can do the spell without thinking. Someone grabs you without warning? You hit fast, hard, and hot. No hesitating. And with as much power as you can, even if you risk some damage with the backlash. It's better than letting the Organization get a hold of you again."
"But how are we supposed to practice that without you getting hurt?"
"If you're doing this right, it'll probably sting a little. But I can handle it, Kairi. I've been playing with fire for years. And you have a good handle on that Cure spell now. It's more important for you to master this spell and to commit it to muscle memory. It needs to instinctive. Just… don't mention this to Merlin. I don't think he'd approve of the idea."
"…All right. If you're not going easy on me in sparring, then I guess it's fair not to hold back on you with this either."
"Good. Now, whenever someone tries to grab you, as soon as they do it, don't think. Don't hesitate. And don't hold back. You lash out with everything you have."
—was already reacting.
Summoning Destiny's Embrace in her nondominant hand, she ignored the pain and the vindictive monologuing to swiftly swing the Keyblade up. She wouldn't hit anything at her current awkward angle, but she didn't need to aim.
Within seconds of Xemnas grabbing her, Kairi shouted, "Fire!"
Flames swirled around her like a burning cyclone before flaring out, impossibly hot and intense. More flames than she could easily control. And while it certainly wasn't strong enough to hurt the Nobody, Lea was right about the lasting effects of human nature because the unexpected appearance of fire at close range startled Xemnas enough for his grip to loosen for a second. And that was all that she needed; Kairi was already flinging herself away, breaking free of his hold and falling straight into a dodge roll in the same motion.
With her increased distance from the attempted kidnapper, Kairi rolled to her feet just in time for Lea to force himself between Kairi and Xemnas, his Keyblade drawn. Sora was only a couple seconds slower since he had a few more steps to take. But neither of them needed to defend her. As soon as he realized that his attempt had failed, Xemnas returned to Master Xehanort's side with the same blinding speed as before.
"Are you all right, Kairi?" asked Sora, turning towards her now that the threat had pulled back.
Ignoring the minor burns starting to sting on her arms, the result of diving through her own Fira-level spell, she said, "I'm fine." Kairi then glared at Xemnas defiantly. "No one is kidnapping me this time."
"Or ever again," said Lea rather smugly. "Nicely done, Kairi."
"It's not over." Riku summoned his Keyblade. "Look."
Demonstrating the same impossible speed as the others, two slightly smaller figures materialized in front of Master Xehanort. One wore a smooth black helmet, concealing anything else about himself. There was nothing to identify him by. The second shared the same white hair and facial structure as so many of them, allowing Kairi to figure out that he was a younger version of Xehanort.
"No matter," said Master Xehanort. "There is more than one way to snuff out a light."
The figure with the dark helmet said, "Only when your hopes have been broken by battle upon battle can the key be claimed by Kingdom Hearts."
His voice… It was so familiar and yet so utterly wrong. Could the others hear it? And something about the figure made her uneasy. Like his existence was wrong on a fundamental level.
But Master Xehanort still felt worse to her. More malevolent.
"And break you is what we shall do," said the young Xehanort. "It has been etched."
Darkness started swirling around Master Xehanort and the others. Kairi and a couple others took an uneasy step back. Roxas and Xion summoned their weapons. The darkness started pouring upwards, provoking the guardians to shift into more combative stances. The sky turned black from the forming shadows.
Then Heartless started raining down from above. In impossible numbers.
"Look at how many there are!" shouted Sora in horror.
Kairi edges her way closer to Lea while Xion and Roxas did the same. The three of them had come to a quiet agreement earlier. They would stay close to him. They would watch his back and make sure that he didn't get hurt again. He seemed recovered from before, but they weren't taking any chances.
Needless to say, none of them mentioned their little agreement to Lea.
"Okay, gang," said King Mickey, summoning his Keyblade. "Get ready!"
As Heartless, Nobodies, and a third type of creatures with a new sigil surrounded them, the rest of the guardians summoned their weapons. The others edged their way closer to certain companions, breaking down into smaller groups: the trio of Sora, Donald, and Goofy, the duo of Riku and King Mickey, and the Aqua and Ventus pair. Then, as Kairi took a deep breath and braced herself, they charged.
Not quite my longest chapter, but this was a good stopping point. I was also a little distracted recently (the miniseries adaptation of "Good Omens" was absolutely wonderful and loyal to the book). But hopefully you don't mind too much.