Hey guys! I'm back. You know, I actually had this chapter finished a couple days ago. But, I held onto it, because... I dont know. This is probably the last chapter of the year. So, I hope you guys enjoy it, and also hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, or whatever holiday you celebrate. I know I had a blast. But this chapter guys... Well... Things happen. I hope you enjoy. Not much else to say. Other than the obligatory Follow, Favorite if you havent already, you know, and drop a review, let me know your thoughts. See you at the end.

-Aftermath-

"Zack? Are you okay?" Fiona asked, worry etched in her voice. She had just entered the room, with Vani in tow. Zack was currently slumped over his desk. She panicked, and made her way over to him, shaking him roughly, he moaned, and opened his eyes, pushing himself up, and looking at her. She was looking pale, it worried him, even if she was worrying about him.

"Hm..? Yeah, fine…" He answered in an exhausted voice. He had been pouring over reports all night, and day. Working himself to the point of exhaustion. The Children of Darkness were moving, acting in some grand way, but he couldn't figure it out exactly.

"You don't look fine." Vani pointed out, Zack hummed, and stood up straighter than he had before, while Vani's shoulders fell, and a frown became etched on her face, and Zack began to smile, regaining the energy, and life he usually held. Their connection stealing all negativity from him, and transferring it to Vani.

"I am now… Sorry." He told her, she merely shook her head, eyes holding a deep pain and sorrow not her own in them.

"It's fine. Anything for you…" She told him, Zack nodded, he frowned, however no sadness or anger was behind it, just calming things. Fiona smiled, he was naturally very comforting to be around, even when sad. Those times rarely came now that Vani was around more, and more.

"I still don't like it. But if it keeps ZaZick locked away, then I can deal." Zack told her, before his face went blank as he scanned over various reports. "They're doing something… It's big, but I just cant figure it out." Zack told them, Fiona, and Vani moved to look over the reports as well.

"Maybe they're mobilizing to attack? Or take over another world?" Fiona asked, Zack hummed.

"Maybe. They cant get here, they couldn't last time at least… They could just be another takeover happening, but they don't usually bring in an army for that. It's usually just Hake, and his team." Zack said, Fiona furrowed her brow, and suddenly had a coughing fit, Zack turned to her with a questioning stare as she covered her mouth.

"I'm fine." She told him, he just shook his head, as she recovered, pulling her hand away from her mouth, and hiding it behind her back.

"Please don't lie to me." He replied, she frowned, and had another coughing fit, using her hand to cover her mouth once again. Once she finished this time however Zack grabbed her hand, and pulled it towards him, his face becoming very alarmed when he saw the blood from her coughs.

"It's nothing…" She told him, with a weak smile. She didn't want to cause him any more worry, or stress than necessary. He shook his head, and looked at her.

"No, it's something… Why are you sick? What happened?" He asked, she shook her head.

"People get sick, it's just what happens. I'm fine." She told him, he shook his head once again, giving her a serious look.

"People don't cough up blood when they're just sick Fiona, something's wrong with you…" He said, before she smiled weakly at him, tears forming in her eyes.

"My family has a… bad history with fatal diseases. I think it's just my time." She told him, with a weak smile. Zack merely shook his head. He wouldn't let her die, not before him at least. He couldn't deal with that.

"Just tell me when something this serious happens… I can fix it." He told her, before holding out his left hand. A small ball of Light materialized in it, she looked at it worriedly. "The only good thing ZaZick gave me." Zack told her, before he slowly pushed the Light into her chest, she gasped, her face going from pale, back to the usual healthy tan she normally had.

"What is that? I've never seen that before!" Fiona said, Zack smiled a bit, and looked at his hand.

"ZaZick is a parasite, he has the power to take life. It's the Darkness that does it, when I accepted him back into my heart, I sort of learned from him. Like he did me, difference is… Where his power takes life, mine can grant it. I can heal people, more efficiently than others." Zack explained to her. Fiona just stared at him in awe.

"Why didn't you tell me about this before?" Fiona asked him, he shrugged.

"I didn't want to be reminded of him anymore…" Zack told her, she frowned, and hugged him. He had done that for her, put himself in direct danger for her. "It's getting harder to hold him back…"

"I'll ensure nothing happens to you Sir." Vani said, Zack smiled at her, and shook his head.

"You know the deal… If I die, or ZaZick takes over. Make sure you protect Fiona." Zack told her, with a serious look, Vani looked saddened by this, but nodded. Fiona just shook her head.

"I don't think I could handle things without you…" Fiona told him, he smiled at her, before leaning close, and kissing her gently, with a smile. She stared at him with glassy eyes, she really shouldn't be having butterflies at this stage in their relationship.

"Yeah, you can. I know you can. Let's hope it doesn't come to that though." Zack told her, Fiona nodded, smiling at him.

"Right. We'll get through this. Together." Fiona told him, he smiled at her, and nodded. The peaceful moment was shattered once an explosion was heard off in the distance. Zack, Fiona, and Vani moved to the window and watched as the barrier protecting the complex fell, and a large Corridor of Darkness opened up, hundreds of Children of Darkness pouring out of it. Zack clenched his teeth.

"How did they get through?" Zack asked, Vani glared at the scene, and pulled Bianca from her sheathe. Fiona summoned her Keyblade, and Zack materialized several swords around each of them for protection, before he summoned his own to use.

"Doesn't matter. What does matter is ensuring our people survive this. We have to be out there!" Fiona said, Vani shook her head.

"We need to get you, and Zack to safety. Nothing matter until your safety is secured." Vani argued, Zack just shook his head, determination burning in his eyes.

"I'm not leaving them die." Zack told her, before he looked to Vani. "You get to protecting the people in this building, evacuate them to Virtuoso City. Fiona, you get to the families and do the same. I'll make sure they don't kill everyone. Got it?" Zack asked, though the tone of his voice left no room for the women to argue with him.

"Got it." Fiona said, nodding, Vani looked uncomfortable, but agreed as well. Zack opened a Corridor of Light and stepped through, smiling at the both of them, before he entered it, and it closed. Vani raced out of the room, while Fiona summoned a Corridor of Light, and stepped though herself.

Zack emerged from the portal. He stood on the scorched land of the Complex, a place he had grown quite fond of. He had turned this place from a dilapidated couple of buildings, with a handful of hopeful teenagers, into a fortress built to protect the worlds from the crushing weight of Light, and Darkness, with an army of it's own, ready to step up, and fight for what they believe in.

He was quite proud to see his Protectors fighting to protect their home. Each fighting in their own way, ensuring that this land was not taken, or crushed by the forces of Darkness. The large Corridor of Darkness still pouring Children from it, he had to close it.

Zack gripped his sword tightly, and took off, ignoring everyone around him, the clashing of blades, the screams from both sides, pounding against his ears, echoing, as they would be for years to come. Zack jumped high into the air, summoning a ball of Light in his hand, as he prepared to launch it, a powerful Dark Firaga ripped through the air at him. He gasped and leaned back, the ball of Light flying wildly off in the completely wrong direction.

Zack looked down to see Hake glaring at him, large Buster sword on his shoulder, and a dark gleam in his eyes. Zack hummed, and dropped to the ground. Approaching Hake slowly, as the Dark Warrior did the same. Several more swords materialized around Zack, signaling that Vani, and Fiona's had been destroyed. He was sure they were fine though.

"You're behind this then?" Zack asked, Hake glared at him.

"I am! We came to bring my father home, and rip him from your pathetic grasp!" Hake yelled, as he let his buster sword scrape against the ground as he stalked to Zack, who shook his head.

"How did you even get here?" Zack asked him, Hake smirked at him.

"We finally finished developing our magic disrupting device. Enough of that though, I want my father back, and I'm gonna kill you to get him." Hake said, Zack merely shook his head once again.

"You don't want ZaZick back, he's going to destroy everything." Zack told him, the boy just glared at him, before he charged him, swinging his buster sword at Zack's head, it was blocked by four swords of Light that Zack had around him. Two still remained with him.

"Quit using tricks, and fight me!" Hake yelled, Zack hummed, and dematerialized his swords, causing Hake to nearly fall before he recovered. The six blades reappeared behind Zack, joined by seven more. Zack would never be so stupid as to completely dismiss his blades. Hake growled at him, and charged him, swinging his sword at Zack once again, Zack blocked it with ease, glaring at Hake.

"You wont beat me." Zack said, as a fact. Hake glared at him, and jumped back. Zack shook his head, and dashed at Hake, aiming his blade at Hake's leg. Hake blocked it, and pushed back, before spinning, and attempting to hit Zack, only to find his blade stopped by Zacks once again.

"I hate you!" Hake yelled, as he pushed harder, not moving Zack an inch he decided to alter his strategy. He jumped up into the air, and charged at Zack from there. Zack raised his blade, and Hake smirked. With his power that wouldn't nearly be enough to stop him.

Hake slammed his Buster Sword into Zack's blade, making Zack's knees buckle slightly, the ground beneath him cracking, and shockwaves extending from the clash. Hake screamed in frustration. Zack pushed him away, with a glare on his face.

"You should stop all this. All this needless killing. It's me you want, leave my people out of this." Zack told him, Hake laughed darkly, and shook his head, pointing his Buster Sword at Zack.

"Not gonna happen. I'm going to make sure none of them survive. My father and I will ensure they all die! Well… The lucky ones get to die." Hake said darkly, as he looked to Zack, who shook his head.

"How you can live in hate… I will never understand." Zack admitted, a hint of sadness in his voice. Hake glared at him.

"Don't you dare pity me!" Hake yelled as he charged at Zack once again, Zack saw this, and blocked his attack easily, before he moved closer, charging a fist with Light, and punching Hake in the face, knocking him back. Hake screamed in pain, and writhed on the ground, clutching at his face for a few moments in pure agony. The Light burning away part of his flesh.

"It's truly sad that you have to exist as you do." Zack observed, with pity in his voice, Hake glared at him, and stood back up on shaky legs. Before shaking his head defiantly, and snapping his fingers. Two portals opened up behind him. One of Light, and the other of Dark. One man stepped from each, Mark, and Zane, each brandishing their own scythe.

"Fighting this guy wont be fun, but… A jobs a job." Mark muttered, Zane nodded.

"Better than fighting against ZaZick." Zane replied, as he remembered that ZaZick had destroyed their home, as he had many others. The sheer amount of death and destruction he had caused was simply astounding.

"True enough… Practically the same thing though. This one's more forgiving though." Mark said, Zack glared at them.

"You two should get out of here." Zack said, glaring at them, Hake smirked. "Couldn't fight your own battle Hake? So be it." Zack said, as his thirteen blades of Light began swirling around him, as he dropped into a fighting stance, pumping the power of Light into his right hand.

Zane, Mark, and Hake rushed him all at once. Zack dashed towards Hake, four swords broke off from his shield, two going after each Mark and Zane, causing both of them to defend. These swords were actual threats, unlike Ruby's blades of Light.

"Way more dangerous than your daughter Zack!" Mark yelled as he blocked the swords from hitting him. Zack stumbled a bit as his eyes widened, Hake moved quickly, drawing a large cut across Zack's arm, while Zane moved, and embedded his scythe in Zack's shoulder, making him scream loudly. Mark broke through the blades, and stuck his scythe in Zack's foot.

"I'm gonna kill you for getting near her." Zack said, meaning every words of it. He didn't care if they got near Ruby, or Rose. He was going to make sure these two would never have an opportunity to again. A shockwave of Light erupted from him, knocking all three men back. Zack's wounds healed shut, and he glared at the three as his thirteen blades began circling him, and he gripped his sword tighter.

"Way to go asshole!" Zane yelled, Mark shrugged, and summoned his scythe in his hands, as did Zane. Hake summoned his buster sword once again. Zane, Mark, and Hake prepared to rush Zack once again, however before they could move Chains of Light wrapped around Zane's scythe, yanking it from his hands. A slim throwing knife zipped through the air, and embedded itself in Mark's hand, making him drop his scythe.

"Three against one isn't very fair." Fiona remarked, as she dissolved her chain, allowing the Scythe to drop to the ground. She re-summoned her chain, it ended with a spear like blade. Vani chuckled a bit as she stepped up next to Zack, gripping Bianca tightly in her hands.

"I wont let you harm him anymore." Vani told them, Mark smirked at her.

"Oh look, it's the one who defected." Mark said, Vani glared at him. He was an old comrade of hers, from the days she was with her father, the leader of the Desolate Brotherhood. Zack glared at him.

"Vani… You don't have to do this…" He told her, she shook her head, a steely look of determination in her eyes.

"No. He hurt you, so I'll kill him." Vani said, before she dashed forwards, Mark glared at her, healing his wound quickly. Zane glared at Fiona and charged her, while Hake did the same to Zack.

Vani jumped in the air, Mark swung his scythe at her, she simply flipped midair, grabbing his scythe, pushing it down, as she descended on him feet first, planting her foot in his face, before kicking off, and landing on the ground. She prepared a powerful Aero spell, and used it to shield her from damage, when he launched a Dark Firaga at her.

Vani's protective barrier of wind fused with the Dark Fire, and she moved her hand quickly, sending the barrier from her, spinning it, turning it into a tornado of Dark Fire. Mark glared at it, and moved out of the way, jumping high in the air, and throwing his scythe at her. Vani jumped up, grabbing it from the air, and spinning, using Aero magic to make her spin faster and faster.

Mark summoned a Dark Barrier, blocking the multiple hits from his scythe, before she broke out of it, moving quickly, and grabbing Vani's arm, he kneed her in the stomach, and threw her to the ground, taking his scythe, as she released it from her grasp.

Zane charged at Fiona, who simply smirked at him, she whipped her chain around a few times, as he swung his scythe at her, every hit was blocked perfectly by the chain, before she allowed it to wrap around his weapon. She gripped her chain tightly in her hands, and pulled, yanking his scythe from his hands, and making him lose his balance, she brought her foot to his stomach, knocking him back.

"Feeling lucky?" She asked cheekily, as she threw her Keyblade at him, he was about to dodge it when it stopped completely. Fiona had summoned another chain from her right hand, the end of it wrapped around her Keyblade. She jumped in the air, and whipped her chains around, each carrying a different weapon. Zane grit his teeth, and dodged most of the strikes, getting his by his own scythe several times, and her Keyblade other times.

Zane tried to re-summon his scythe, but it wouldn't come to him like usual. Fiona smirked once again, her chains were a very efficient way of eliminating that possibility. From her hands she summoned another chain in each, each one a brilliant gold as all her chains were, but these two had hooks instead of the spear like blades her normal chains had. She normally didn't summon more than one in each hand.

"What? You don't like the odds of this anymore? Shouldn't have tried to kill my husband then." She told him, a dark look crossing her features. She began swinging her chains once again. He swore, and jumped into the air, only to have a hook from a chain puncture his leg, and pull him back down, slamming him into the ground, and cracking it beneath him.

Hake rushed at Zack, dodging two blades the flew at him, he swung at Zack, pumping more Darkness into his body. Zack used his right hand to grab the Buster Sword. Zack glared at him, as blood began to pour from the wound, and cracks of Light began forming in the Dark blade. Hake yelled, and let off, jumping back, examining his blade, the cracks of Light bright against the cold black color of the blade.

Zack wasted no time rushing Hake, he slid behind Hake and swung at him, Hake screamed, and blocked at the last second. Zack just glared at him, pumping more Light into his body. Though in the back of his mind he could feel ZaZick reaching out, trying to reclaim the Darkness he shed long ago. Zack had to end this now.

"You can feel him. Just like I can! I will get him back from you!" Hake screamed, Zack glared at him, and pushed him back. Panting a bit, his thirteen blades vanished entirely. The strain was becoming too much for him. He couldn't keep using the amount of Light he was, and fighting, while also keeping ZaZick contained safely. Hake wasted no time in charging him once again.

"I've gotta end this…" Zack muttered to himself, as he raised his sword, Hake jumped up into the air, and did a flip, before coming down on Zack, who raised his blade to block. Zack glared at Hake, and just before Hake slammed down, Zack pumped a great amount of Light into his sword. As soon as Hake's Buster Sword connected with Zack's sword, it broke in half, the cracks of Light Zack formed in it weakening it's integrity enough for him to break it.

"No!" Hake yelled helplessly, as he fell to the ground. Zack glared at him, and wasted no time in attacking, kicking the dark being in the head, and sending him flying back with a scream of pain. Zack tightened his grip on his sword, and advanced on Hake, who had gotten back up by this point, summoning a blade completely formed by Darkness. As Zack made his way over to him, he heard the sound of a Dark Corridor opening up behind him, but paid it no mind, as he stalked towards Hake.

"Zack!" Fiona yelled, as she whipped a chain quickly, Zack turned to his wife with a questioning look, before a sharp pain ripped through him, earning a scream from him. He looked down to see Victoria, and a knife embedded into his side. She had moved quickly. He coughed up some blood, and gripped the girls shoulder roughly with his free hand, trying to push her away, but finding little strength to do so.

"Game over." Victoria told him, pushing him into a Dark Corridor she had formed on the ground, the two vanished just as Fiona's chain whipped where Victoria's head was. Fiona screamed in frustration, her chains dissolving, as hot tears formed in her eyes. She fell to her knees, unwilling to fight. Zane re-summoned his scythe, and charged at her.

"Zack…" Fiona sobbed, shaking her head. Just as Zane was about to kill her Vani appeared between the two, and pushed him away with a powerful gust of wind, before she readied Bianca in her hands. She refused to break another promise, she would protect Fiona no matter what, just like Zack wanted.

"I know it hurts, but this is no time to mourn. We can still get him back." Vani said, a burning desire in her Heart. She could feel him still, their connection still firmly in place, he was still alive. There was still a chance to save him. Zane, Mark, and Hake all advanced on her. Fiona refused to get up from her knees, shaking her head, and saying how it couldn't be real.

"Don't pick on a lady." Garth said, as he ran between Vani, and the three men. A glare on his face, and a Scythe on his shoulder. He looked over his shoulder, and glared at Vani. "What're you waiting for? Get her out of here now! That's what Zack wanted right? Make it happen!" Garth yelled at Vani, who nodded, and turned around. Vani summoned a Dark Corridor and picked Fiona up, slinging an arm over her shoulder, and leading her into the portal. Before it closed she took one last look at Garth, who simply smirked at her. The Complex main building behind him, burning…

-Aftermath- The Catacombs-

"Get him onto the table." Victoria ordered, one of her scientists nodded, grabbing Zack, and pulling him over to the table. He glared at them, trying to fight, but not finding any magic at his disposal. He was forced onto a table, his arms and legs held down by leather straps. A machine was fitted onto his head, wires extending from it to a large machine.

"You wont get away with this." Zack told them, anger in his voice. Victoria just laughed at him, with a smirk on her face.

"Oh, I think we will. I already ensured that Violet wont be making it back to her world. Now I just have to bring him back, and everything will die." Victoria told him, Zack glared at her.

"Where is she? What did you do?" He roared at her, trying even harder to break free, she glared at him, and punched him in the side, making him cough, and gasp, the fight leaving him once again.

"I would worry more about yourself right now." She told him callously, as a Dark Corridor opened up. Hake walking through it, blood splattered on his clothes. Blood that hadn't been there when he was fighting Zack. Zack glared at him.

"I'm gonna kill you!" Zack yelled, his voice cracking, as tears came to his eyes. Hake just glared at him, while Victoria laughed sadistically. The scientists setting up the machine. Zack looked around frantically, finally taking in his surroundings. He was in a laboratory. Next to him was a table identical to the one he was on, with a few wires connecting it, and the large machine next to him.

"This is gonna hurt." Victoria told him, with a sadistic glint in her eyes. He glared at her before his eyes widened. A pain ripped through him. It was a pain that he hadn't felt before. It wasn't physical, or even mental like when ZaZick split from him. It was different, it ripped through his very soul. He started screaming, begging for it to stop, as he felt his Light being ripped away from him.

"Please! Turn it off! Turn it off!" Zack yelled, he stared at them with pleading eyes, tears forming in them, before they clouded over with blood, instead of tears, blood dripped from his eyes. He shook his head, trying with all his might to get the machine off of him, to escape, to stop the pain somehow. The unbearable pain. There was no way he could defend against it, or stop it. He couldn't even see anymore, the blood clouding his vision.

He coughed, he couldn't even scream anymore, couldn't hear. All that was left was silence, as a thin line of blood ran from each of his ears, his nose bleeding. He coughed to no avail, his throat was filling up, he was choking on his own blood. They didn't just want ZaZick, or to kill him. They wanted to torture him. They wanted him to die alone, and scared. And he did. He stopped fighting, he stopped moving, his eyes remaining open. The bright honest blue being clouded with red.

Time didn't stop however, beside him the machine stopped running. Victoria glared at Zack's body, and shook her head, before she joined Hake near the other table. ZaZick laid there. Pale body completely exposed, breathing quietly, before his eyes shot open. The Dark Red focusing on Hake and Victoria for a moment before he looked over and saw the man who had trapped him for so long.

"How pathetic." He muttered, as he got up, and stretched. A scientist approached him, holding out some Children of Darkness robes. He hummed, and pulled them on. Once he did, he looked over to Hake, and Victoria emotionless, and cold. His gaze making them both shiver, with a mixture of fear, and anticipation.

"Father! I did it, I-" ZaZick held up his hand to stop Hake. He glared at him.

"Don't call me that. You are nothing more than a worthless piece of Darkness I cast out. Your only purpose was to bring me back." ZaZick told him, while he approached. Hake tried to smile weakly at him. Victoria was about to speak up, but ZaZick silenced her with a look.

"But Father I-" ZaZick grabbed Hake by the throat and lifted him into the air, glaring at him once again. Hake tried to break free of the hold, trying with all his might to pry ZaZick's hand from his throat, thrashing around wildly.

"I told you to not call me that." ZaZick said simply, before his look hardened further, and his grip tightened. "Your usefulness is at an end." ZaZick said, before he snapped Hake's neck, Victoria took in her breath sharply as she watched the boy she loved fade into Darkness, that flowed into ZaZick's hand. ZaZick turned to glare at her. "You… I don't know you."

"I'm Victoria, Lord ZaZick. I'm the one who brought Zack here." She told him, hoping to prove her worth. ZaZick hummed, before he glared at her.

"That's the last time you mention that name. But, you aren't lying. I'll let these people dispose of that disgrace. Better yet… Send his body to Radiant Garden. You, Victoria will tell me how much things have changed in the time I've been absent." ZaZick said, Victoria nodded obediently, and opened the door leading out of the room. ZaZick walked through, sending chills down her spine as he passed her. She shook her head, and swallowed anxiously, her eyes holding a glassy shine to them.

"Not much has been altered since your defeat Lord ZaZick. Only a few rooms, what's more interesting is where the people who defeated you are…" She said, he stopped and glared at her for a moment, before he grabbed her head and slammed it against a wall. He used his Darkness to conjure visions of her parents dying, or Emma telling her off, Hake's death, or Violet's face. ZaZick hummed, while Victoria's eyes widened in terror, as hot tears built up in her eyes.

"You are not to mention the past to me. I should kill you right here, but since you can still be a useful pawn I shall allow you to live. Unlike that worthless piece of Darkness you loved." ZaZick said, before he released his grip on her head. Victoria gasped, and nearly collapsed. What he did was horrible. She was no pawn, but she knew better than to speak against him.

"Yes, Lord ZaZick." Victoria said, ZaZick glared at her, as she tried to compose herself.

"How pathetic. You're nothing but a jealous child. An obedient little girl, too broken to know any better. You should be glad I'm back, because soon you will be serving a living God." He said, she just looked at him.

"What about Violet?" Victoria asked. He grunted in distaste, and grabbed her by the throat, lifting her into the air, she struggled against him.

"From now on, you stay far away from that girl. She's mine now, I get to play with her. If you let your pathetic jealously get in the way of that, I will kill you." ZaZick told her, before dropping her on the ground. Victoria coughed, and tried to get her breath back. "You've got me angry, so I shall have a more formal tour later, from someone competent. I shall pay Zack's friends a visit now though… I have a promise to keep after all. Where are they?" ZaZick asked, with a dark glint in his eyes. He had many things to do now that he was back. He would show everyone true fear, and the God these words deserved.

-Aftermath-

Well... There it was. Zack's uh... He's dead. Great. Yeah, so next chapter will be about Violet, and Victoria to some degree. The ending of this, pretty much when Victoria arrives is set after the things you see next chapter. At least everything you see with Victoria. Since it's centered around Violet, it will show her story, after Victoria leaves, in whatever state Violet is in after that. Basically these two chapters take place at exactly the same time, is actually what I'm trying to say, simply. So enjoy that, and I hope you... Enjoyed... This... Anyway, feel free to follow, and/or favorite if you havent already. Leave a review, tell me your thoughts about this chapter. Where's your mind at, where do think this is headed next? What happened with Violet? Any, and all of that is welcome. Until next time... See you in 2017 guys!