Everyone seems to approve of Vanitas showing back up briefly to smack Master Xehanort in the face. I'm glad to see that went over well. And after tweaking Master Xehanort's dramatic monologue slightly, it is time to adjust Master Eraqus's speech too. Because Ven and Aqua aren't the only ones who deserve to hear him admit that he made mistakes regarding what happened to them. He is not allowed to tell those two that his actions weren't fair to them and then just tell Terra to take care of them. There will be proper apologies to all three of his students. I insist upon it.
The influence of the heart faded enough that Terra could properly control his own body again. And that meant that he could properly appreciate what he was witnessing. That he could see his old master once again. Terra appreciated that precious gift even as it brought waves of guilt. After all, it was Terra's mistakes that led to Master Eraqus's destruction. Shielding his heart within his own, unknowingly at first and then semi-aware of it, didn't come close to making up for his actions.
"It is too late," argued Master Xehanort.
Sounding both regretful and accepting, Master Eraqus said, "For us perhaps… but not for them."
He glanced over his shoulder at Sora, Riku, Kairi, King Mickey, Donald, and Goofy. At three young children who took on the responsibilities of Keyblade wielders and those who supported them. They were their future.
Raising the χ-blade to point at Master Eraqus, the old man said in a firm and deadly voice, "No… I can do this."
Master Eraqus stared at him silently. The look in his eye somehow managing to convey pity and a sense that he was completely finished putting up with Master Xehanort's nonsense. Eventually he walked over and placed a hand on the χ-blade's hilt, forcing the weapon down. Then he laid his other hand on Master Xehanort's shoulder.
"Enough," he said. Quiet, but firm. Then, with a slight smirk, Master Eraqus added, "Checkmate."
Master Xehanort closed his eyes and the fight seemed to drain out of him. As if he finally accepted his loss. Then he slowly walked forward towards Sora. The others drew closer to the boy protectively, but Sora didn't move. He just watched.
Master Xehanort extended the χ-blade towards the boy, the weapon laying horizontally in the old man's hands to ensure that there was no misunderstanding his intent. There was no mistaking the gesture for what it was. He was offering Sora the weapon. Regardless of the circumstances or the strangeness of performing it to someone who had been an enemy for a long time, he was essentially bequeathing the χ-blade to the boy.
"Very well done," he said. "Master Sora."
Looking a little stunned and uncertain, Sora said, "I'm not a master. I didn't pass the Mark of Master exam. I don't need you to pretend otherwise. Riku was the one who did it. I'll earn the title myself someday, but not yet. I'm not ready and that's fine."
"Kid, you just beat up a ton of Heartless, Nobodies, and Unversed. You rode a swarm of Keyblades. You helped defeat thirteen powerful opponents, one right after another without rest. And that includes the guy with the χ-blade thing," said Lea. "And that's just the stuff you've done today. You can't forget everything else that you've accomplished to reach this point. If Yen Sid doesn't think you deserve to be a master after all of that, then the old man has gone senile."
The duck squawked with indignation at the remark but most of the group seemed to support the general idea. Sora smiled slightly before slowing reaching out. He took the χ-blade with all the respect that such a gesture deserved.
Master Eraqus watched the bequeathing with a smile of approval. Then he turned his gaze towards his watching students. Terra immediately felt his heart sink, not knowing what to expect. But what he feared was the look of disappointment that Terra knew that he deserved. He tried to mentally prepare himself to face his mistakes and failures reflected back in his master's judgement.
Instead, looking incredibly apologetic, Master Eraqus said, "Terra. Aqua. Ven. Please forgive your foolish teacher."
Aqua's hands went to her mouth, but Ventus immediately broke into a run. She quickly followed his lead. Both of them nearly tackled the faintly-glowing figure of Master Eraqus in a desperate hug.
"Master!" called Ventus tearfully.
Quieter, but her voice equally heart-aching, Aqua whispered, "Master…"
Master Eraqus wrapped his arms around them as the pair cried into his chest. Terra approached them more hesitantly, doubt and uncertainty gnawing at him. He wasn't certain that he deserved that comfort or kindness. He didn't know he deserved to reach out to him after everything that he'd done. Master Eraqus looked up from the pair to meet Terra's gaze.
Tears filling his eyes, Terra said, "Master."
His resolve broke. Despite everything in him whispering that he wasn't worthy of such things anymore, Terra wrapped his arms around all three. He hugged them tightly even as he wept quietly into master's shoulder. It reminded him of simpler times. And for a moment, his guilt grew quiet.
The trio still crying softly against him, Master Eraqus said in a regretful tone, "Ven, I put you through such a harrowing experience. And Aqua, I left you with such a heavy burden. Terra… Master Terra."
The young man stiffened, the tears coming a little thicker as his throat tightened. Hearing Master Eraqus call him that… It felt so different than when Master Xehanort addressed him with that title. It wasn't a tool to use and manipulate Terra. It was honest and real. It warmed his heart to hear the words that he'd always hoped and dreamed of hearing. It felt like pride, respect, approval, and parental love.
"I made you feel unworthy," he continued gently. "I made you feel undeserving. I made you believe that you'd failed me. I drove you towards someone who manipulated and betrayed you when I should have protected you. All of you. You never failed me, Terra. I was the one who made mistakes. I am truly sorry that I failed each of you and that you suffered because of an old man's blindness and stubbornness." Master Eraqus closed his eyes and briefly tightened the hug. "Terra, look after them for me. Please."
Swallowing hard, he nodded and said, "Always, Master Eraqus."
After a few moments, they reluctantly ended the hug. Terra wished that he could say everything that he wanted. All the apologies and regrets. Master Eraqus deserved to know. But he knew that there wasn't time. And part of him knew that after spending so long in Terra's heart, Master Eraqus already knew how he felt.
Sora was trying to come to terms with being handed the χ-blade by the old man who caused so much destruction and suffering while the clearly-overdue reunion played out in front of them. There had been a lot of those recently. But then he noticed Master Xehanort stagger slightly, the damage from all the battles beginning to catch up with him. And he'd long since passed his limits. But before he could fall, Master Eraqus closed the distance and caught him.
"Here," said Master Eraqus gently, slipping Master Xehanort's arm over his shoulder. "Ready, my friend?"
Quiet, tired, and accepting, he whispered, "Yes…"
Both figures glowed with a blinding light that left the pair with transformed appearances. Instead of two older men, Sora saw a couple of boys close to his own age. A brief glimpse of their lost innocence and youth. Then they floated and dissolved into a pair of glowing hearts. They drifted up towards Kingdom Hearts. The place where hearts gathered. Where they belonged.
Everyone watched as the twin lights orbs faded from sight. Sora hoped that they found peace and comfort in Kingdom Hearts, but he mostly couldn't help feeling a sense of relief that Xehanort couldn't hurt anyone again. After a moment, King Mickey stepped forward.
"Sora," he said, "let's close it."
He gave a short nod. Then Sora held the χ-blade in front of him.
"Everyone, help me out."
Not only because it was a difficult task and it felt natural to include as many of his friends as possible. Not only because it felt right. Sora wasn't certain that he had enough strength to close it on his own. His heart ached too much. He knew that he would shatter apart under that kind of pressure. He needed their help to finish it.
They drew close, forming a half-circle around him. Sora lifted the χ-blade until it was up perfectly straight. Everyone glowed as they shared their strength through their bonds of friendship. Through those powerful connections to his heart. Sora felt their strength and felt better than he had since they started fighting the thirteen darknesses. He gathered that power, letting it swirl around the χ-blade. He fired a huge bluish-white beam up towards Kingdom Hearts. And the light restored Kingdom Hearts to its proper color.
Everyone stared up at the restored Kingdom Hearts, smiling with relief at the sight. A second later, light engulfed them.
His body ached, his head throbbed, and something in his chest weighed heavily with a dull pain. Actually, there were two distinct pains concerning his chest. There was the dull, heavy ache inside it and the sharper one across the surface. Neither were pleasant.
Vexen— Even?— couldn't open his eyes. Couldn't move. He was too tired and sore. And his thoughts kept trying to fall away. He tried to grasp them, but they slipped between his fingers.
"Leon, over here!"
Someone was shouting. He wanted to cringe away from the noise and then the sensation of someone shaking his shoulder. Why couldn't they leave him alone? He was tired. He was tired and everything ached. He wanted to be left alone.
"Can you hear me? Are you all right? I don't think you're dead."
Yes, he could hear the very loud voice. That didn't mean that he had the energy or inclination to answer.
"Look at his lab coat, Yuffie. He's probably from the castle."
"I think he's hurt. We should get help."
He tried to ignore the loud voices and the occasional prodding at his back and shoulders. He tried to focus on anything else.
He seemed to be sprawled on a hard surface. Probably the ground. His face felt like it was resting against paving stones. Why was he lying in the middle of the road? He should move. He wanted to get up and move to somewhere more comfortable. But he was too tired to do anything.
"I'll stay with him while you run up to the castle and tell them that we found one of their scientists knocked out in an alleyway. If you can't find anyone up there, we'll get Aerith."
"Ninja speed, don't let me down."
Unconsciousness beckoned. Maybe when he woke up again, he would feel better. Maybe the aches would lessen and the all-consuming weariness would abate. He wanted them gone. The aches, the sharper pain across his chest, and the heavy feeling of guilt, regret, and loneliness filling his newly restored heart. Maybe with some more rest, he would be all right.
A hand once again touched his shoulder, gently rolling him over on his back. Then fingers pressed against the side of his neck. Checking for a pulse?
"She's right. You're alive at least. Let's hope that someone from the castle recognizes you and can help."
The castle. Dilan. Aeleus. Ansem the Wise. Ienzo.
Why did those thoughts both warm and hurt his restored heart?
Exhaustion won over further attempts at thinking. He gave into his weariness and plunged into sleep.
Donald never thought that he would be thankful to see a barren and lifeless landscape of dust and dull metal Keyblades. But it was a sign that they did it. They were back in the Keyblade Graveyard because they won. Master Xehanort was gone, they'd stopped the thirteen darknesses, and Kingdom Hearts was safe. Everyone was safe.
"It's finally over," said King Mickey.
His words seemed to break the stunned state that had been holding everyone in place in the aftermath. People finally started reacting. There was relieved laughter and hugs among the group. Lea wrapped both arms around Roxas and Xion. Terra, Ventus, and Aqua pulled each other close, equal parts sad over losing their master yet again and happy that threats were finally gone. Riku scooped up the king in a quick hug before King Mickey reached a hand out to tug the replica into the embrace. That particular group hug eventually split to allow Kairi to tackle Riku, who didn't brace himself in time and ended up knocked to the ground. King Mickey watched the pair in amusement as he pulled the uncertain replica to sit next to him, the king resting a hand on his shoulder.
As for Sora? Donald and Goofy tackled the laughing boy to the ground almost immediately. The relief and high spirits were infectious and impossible to resist. They survived. They won. And they were all together.
Maybe not all the Heartless and Nobodies were completely gone, but there would be far fewer now. And no one would be actively sending them to attack people. Sora could spend some time at home, getting to see his family, sleep in his own bed, and maybe get back to school for a while. Donald and Goofy had tried to tutor him during their spare time, but their adventures rarely gave them the chance and Sora was going to end up with crazy amounts of homework if he wanted to catch up with the other kids on his island. But he could do it. They believed in him. And maybe Donald would have a chance to go on a date with Daisy. She was relatively understanding when the fate of the worlds was at stake and when they needed to rescue someone, but he should really spend some time with her before she lost all patience.
He doubted that normality would last forever, but it would be a nice break.
The group hug lasted a little longer than expected. As if Sora didn't want it to end. But eventually Goofy pulled them to their feet before he and Donald took a step back. Riku and Kairi moved in to take their places, wrapping their arms around Sora.
"I'm glad you're all right," said Kairi, her face buried in his shoulder.
"I promised that you would see me again," he said.
Pulling back until he settled into a comfortable one-armed embrace, Riku said, "And Sora isn't the type to let us down."
Sora took a couple of steps back, tucking his hands behind his head. And he grinned brightly at them. A cheerful and reassuring expression, so similar to what his normal smile looked like. Similar, but not exact. Something about the expression felt familiar and yet made Donald worry for reasons that he couldn't explain.
"You're right. I would never let my friends down if they needed me," said Sora, still smiling. "I would try everything possible to help. And I wanted to make sure that all of you made it through this alive."
That didn't help Donald's sense of unease. The words and even how Sora said it wasn't that out of the ordinary for him. But something about it kept making him uncomfortable. It kept reminding him of something horrible. A nightmare. Or a nightmarish memory.
"All of us were trying to protect each other," said Riku slowly, perhaps notice the same things that Donald did and feeling equally uncomfortable.
Sora let his hands drop. And his grin shrank slightly. But it didn't vanish completely.
And suddenly Donald realized where he'd seen that overly bright, cheerful, and reassuring grin before. The realization felt like a Blizzaga to the core. He'd seen it in Hollow Bastion right before the Keyblade of Heart plunged into Sora's chest and in countless nightmares since.
Then Ventus stumbled, causing Terra to reach out a hand to steady him and quietly ask if he was all right. Ventus murmured reassurances before he staggered and nearly tumbled to the ground, Aqua and Terra diving to grab him.
"Hey," said Lea, panicking slightly as he was forced to support two collapsing Keyblade wielders. An arm wrapped around each of them, his only choice was to slowly sink to the ground with them or risk someone falling on their face. "What's happening? Roxas? Xion? No, no, no. Tell me what's wrong."
Almost everyone tried to crowd around the trio who were now inexplicably weak and trying to collapse. But Donald managed to resist the impulse enough to notice that Sora remained in place, a guilty look flashing across his face. Everyone else might be freaking out and trying to figure out what was happening to Ventus, Roxas, and Xion, but Sora knew. He knew what was happening and Donald suspected that it was connected to whatever was reminding him of Hollow Bastion.
"Sorry, Sora," said Ventus, giving a tired and apologetic look. "You might need to tell them now."
Xion gave a weak nod and said, "We tried to give you more time."
"I know you did," he said. "And thank you."
"What did you do?" asked Riku quietly.
He took a step towards Sora, but the younger boy took a step back to keep the distance that had opened up between him and all of his friends. He ducked his head slightly as everyone gave him questioning and uneasy looks.
"Sora, you did it again, didn't you?" shouted Donald, anger winning out over fear and mounting horror. "You— you can't just— What did you do this time?"
What did he do? What metaphorical Keyblade did he figuratively stab himself with? How dare he put them through something like that again?
"They should be all right," said Sora. "Ven, Roxas, and Xion? We had to finish this, so they were helping me." That bright grin reappeared. "My friends are my strength, remember? They were just… giving me a bit more than usual."
"I don't understand," said Aqua, glancing between him and where Ventus was nearly limp in Terra's arms.
Of course, she didn't understand. She barely knew Sora. She didn't know about him and his frustrating self-sacrificing tendencies. But some of the others were gaining faint looks of comprehension. Goofy's devastated expression was proof enough of that. He would remember what happened at Hollow Bastion as clearly as Donald did.
"You remember that something bad happened after we fought the first wave of Heartless, Nobodies, and Unversed," said Sora. "Even if we can't remember the specifics, you remember that things went wrong and I found a way to fix it. To save my friends from whatever happened. It wasn't easy and it wasn't supposed to work like that, but I accepted the price. I wanted to save my friends and I don't regret doing that. I… just went past my limits doing it. But Ventus, Roxas, and Xion made certain that I could finish the rest. They gave me the strength to keep going. And I'm thankful for that." He smiled at them, but none of the trio looked happy about the outcome. "But now it is finally finished. Master Xehanort is gone, Kingdom Hearts is safe, and everyone gets to go home."
"But not you." Tears fell down Kairi's face, the girl understanding exactly what Sora was telling them. "You're not coming with us, are you?"
Sora looked like he wanted to reach out and hug her. Like he wanted to pull her close and comfort her. But mostly, he looked tired. Almost as tired as the limp trio of Keyblade wielders being supported by their friends.
He reached back and gently plucked Jiminy from his hood. The cricket was usually so good at keeping quiet and observing that half the time Donald forgot that he was riding along with Sora. The boy then carefully bent down to set Jiminy on the dusty ground before straightening up and taking another step back. Whatever fate was coming, Sora didn't want to risk anything happening to Jiminy in the process.
Donald wanted to smack him in the head with his staff. He wanted to yell at Sora for being so foolish. He wanted to grab the boy and shake some sense into him. What was he thinking? They could have figured something else out. They could have found another way. Something that wouldn't risk—
Goofy's hand settled on Donald's shoulder, interrupting his frustrated and heartbroken chain of thoughts. And drawing his attention to the fact that his face and beak were growing damp with tears. He hadn't even noticed that he'd started crying at some point. Anger and fury over Sora's actions made it easier to ignore pain, loss, and grief.
A quick glance up showed Goofy with a similarly mournful expression. Sora might have made the choice to save them, but he was breaking everyone's hearts in the process.
"We can fix this," said King Mickey, not as certain as he might normally sound.
Barely conscious as he slumped heavily against Lea's side, Roxas murmured, "No time left."
"He's right," said Sora, starting to sway slightly on his own feet. "I can't keep borrowing their strength. I can't risk accidentally dragging anyone down with me. I'm sorry. I'm out of time."
The bright, cheerful, reassuring, and heart-wrenching grin returned. And Donald hated the expression even more. He already knew it would haunt more of his future nightmares.
"I'll miss all of you," he continued.
"Sora, don't!"
Someone was bound to break out of the paralyzing state of stunned and silent horror that gripped everyone the moment that they realized what Sora did. And it really shouldn't be surprising that it was Kairi.
She dashed forward as soon as the desperate words burst free, the girl trying to reach him like she did years before. But two things happened in the same instant. Donald felt a horrible wrenching snap deep in his chest from something breaking, a sensation clearly shared by the others judging by how everyone flinched. A connection purposefully severed. And in that same moment, Sora let himself fall forward toward Kairi's grabbing arms—
—and dissolved away into dozens of bright sparks that shone briefly before fading from sight.
Falling…
Falling… into darkness…
Vanitas couldn't describe the process of what happened. It felt different than the first time he was ripped from Ventus or the time that his other half shattered his heart in order to drive Vanitas out once more and destroying the incomplete χ-blade. This experience was completely different and beyond words. But regardless, Vanitas found himself released from Sora's shattering heart as they plunged into the deepest and darkest abyss.
And it felt wonderful.
Not just the freedom, though he certainly appreciated that. As grateful as he might be for Sora and the shelter that his heart offered, it was still a prison. A comfortable and protective prison where he spent a decade trapped as he healed. And now he was free from that prison. He could experience everything that he'd only observed through Sora. But it wasn't merely his restored freedom that felt good.
It was the darkness itself. The deepest darkness that kept welcoming him further, pulling him in. A darkness that allowed his released heart to rebuild his body almost instantly. A darkness beyond anything that he'd ever encountered in the Realm of Light. A powerful, soothing, and peaceful darkness that recognized Vanitas as one of its own and embraced him.
He didn't have to fight. He didn't have to obey. He didn't have to do or be anything that he didn't want to be.
It was finally over. Master Xehanort was gone forever. And Vanitas was somewhere that didn't hurt or feel hostile to his existence. He'd always thought that he would only feel complete and whole if he somehow returned to Ventus, but he was wrong. Everything about being in this place felt natural and right. In fact, thanks to his time dwelling in Sora's heart, he knew the word to describe what the Realm of Darkness felt like.
It felt like home.
Vanitas opened his eyes and stared into the deepest shadows that surrounded him. Somewhere out there would be Heartless. They naturally dwelled in the Realm of Darkness. But none of them were close for the moment. He was still sinking, like the darkness was a vast ocean. Someone else might feel like they were drowning, but he felt like he could finally breathe.
A small smile formed on his face. Not a smirk. An actual and honest smile.
He could stay there, explore, and find a purpose of his own in a place that he belonged. There was nothing to stop him. Nothing would hold him back. He could have whatever life that he wanted and could seek out everything that he'd been denied before.
Then he blinked, something catching his attention. What looked like a bright spark in the darkness that was quickly dimming. It took Vanitas a moment to realize that he was looking at the broken fragments of Sora's shattered heart. The light of it being gradually extinguished by the shadows swallowing what was left of him.
"No," said Vanitas quietly.
This was wrong. The peaceful and relaxed feeling that had settled in him broke at the sight. Vanitas refused to accept what was happening. Sora was not allowed to disappear. Not after everything that had happened.
"You protected me, Sora," he said. "And I don't like owing people."
He was darkness. But Sora was right. He could choose what kind of darkness that he wanted to be. And Vanitas wanted to be the soothing, calm, and protective darkness that welcomed him to this place. He wanted to be the darkness that guarded and hide the vulnerable from danger. And at that moment, that included what remained of Sora.
Vanitas reached and pulled the remnants in. Letting what was left of Sora settle into this heart. He hid the broken fragments inside himself, sheltering and protecting the Keybearer the same way that Sora did for him and Ventus so long ago.
As much as Vanitas might wish to remain in the deepest abyss of the Realm of Darkness, he knew that Sora couldn't stay. The place was dangerous for him and would snuff out his light if given a chance. The boy belonged in the Realm of Light. Vanitas needed to take him somewhere safe. And he needed to find someone or something that could restore the boy's heart.
Vanitas couldn't heal him with the light of his own heart; he was darkness and Sora was never meant to have much darkness in him. Barely enough to form a little Shadow Heartless. He could only shelter Sora and nothing more. He would need to find another way.
"Any ideas?" asked Vanitas.
Unsurprisingly, Sora's damaged heart didn't answer. Vanitas was on his own. And since he was in a completely different realm and was at least a decade out of practice at traveling between worlds via darkness, finding a way out and tracking down a solution to Sora's current state was going to take time. A lot of time. Which was annoying, but he didn't have much choice.
Then he remembered that time moved differently in the Realm of Darkness and Vanitas grew even more annoyed. Even more time was going to pass in the Realm of Light before he solved the problem. But no one ever said that playing hero was easy. He might as well get started.
And so Sora doesn't end up fighting Yozora in this one. He didn't end up doing a time loop rescue for Kairi, so he ends up exactly where Young Xehanort warns: at the bottom of a dark abyss. Thankfully, he's not alone. And someone is ready to return the favor by sheltering Sora's shattered heart for a while. That's the power of friendship!
Only one chapter left of this story. Then we get the more domestic fluffy sequel fic with Lea, Roxas, Xion, and everyone trying to deal with actual lives outside of preventing Keyblade Wars (which also involves the characters having to deal with their various traumas and the fallout of everything). Because we can't just immediately dump them and Isa on top of the clocktower and call it day. You've got to work your way up to that. So that's what I have in store for you once I finish this next chapter. Hopefully people will like it too.