Shadows followed her as she moved and silence haunted her mind. It was a sickening feeling, the haunting footsteps being the only sounds in the hall. She had to be silent to escape. But she wouldn't escape. She never did.

"Victoria?"

The girl cringed and looked over her shoulder to the back wall. There he stood; tall and masculine, towering over her small, six year old body. The girl pouted and growled at him, before backing up and trying to run away. With a sigh, he took hold of her shirt and hauled her into his arms, holding her gently.

"Miss Victoria what are you doing?" Orpheus muttered, holding the child.

"I want to see mommy!" She pouted, crossing her arms. Orpheus shook his head at her, chuckling slightly. They both knew it was very dangerous for her to be out at night, or even during the day.

"Your father forbade it for a reason." Orpheus explained as he turned and began carrying the girl back to her room. Victoria sighed.

"Why?" She groaned.

Orpheus slowly ceased walking as they passed a window. "Can't you see why?" He murmured.

Outside was black.

The dark, intimidating castle was a safe haven on a damned world. Only two years before, Hallow Bastion had been absorbed into darkness. The castle had remained.

Father's will and his determination kept his castle free of darkness; but outside, the Door to Darkness remained in the lost castle as the beings of darkness planned. Everything outside was strange; a waterfall before a castle that was run down and full of strange magic and science. Young Victoria had not set foot outside in two years.

"But why can't I see momma?" Victoria murmured as she clutched to her savior, pitiful and sad.

Orpheus sighed as he held the girl tightly. "Because…" He turned and looked out the window. "Your mother's outside, sweetheart."

Victoria seemed confused from his words as he began climbing the spiral staircase. There were few other windows; father did not like looking outside.

Orpheus set Victoria down on her bed and kissed her cheek.

"Good night princess" Victoria blushed. Orpheus stood and turned off the lamps, old fashioned ones that used oil. Victoria watched the flame fade. Shadows engulfed the room.

"I don't like the dark" The child gasped. With a serene smile, Orpheus left one lamp on slightly, so a dull light remained.

"Good night, Victoria" He whispered, leaving her to sleep. Victoria listened to the door gently shut as her charge's footsteps echoed down the stone stairs.

Victoria reached over the bed and down to the floor. Gently she pulled the floorboard away and dug underneath it; the straw easily disappeared and she pulled out a sketch book. Flipping it open, the girl giggled at all the pictures.

They were beautiful pictures of forests and waterfalls, of faeries floating across a purple sky and dragons resting in ponds and lakes as mermaids gravitated to them.

Victoria sighed happily at the picture.

In the corner of each drawing was a name, a signature;

V.W. Cherish

Victoria Wingates Cherish.

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With a gasping sob, Sulhadahne awoke from her dreams.

She was in the old tower that she had called home during her childhood years. It had fallen apart even more during her absence; the wood was destroyed and cracked, bugs crawling out of the walls. She was still in her clothes, above the bed sheets, clinging to them like an anxious child.

With a silent sigh, Sulhadahne realized that if she fell asleep, she would only dream more. Dreams used to be her sanctuary, but ever since she'd joined Rinoa they had become a nightmarish hell. Memories and old thoughts resurfacing in her dreams made her never want to sleep again.

A small set of knocks came at the door and a raspy voice called for her. The girl did not even move, but the door came open.

"What do you want, Hojo?" The nasty, slimy scientist stood at the door, rubbing his hands in nervousness or excitement, but either could not mean anything good.

"Your father requests your presence at dinner, my dear" Hojo taunted lightly, stepping back out the door. Almost like an afterthought before leaving, he whispered, "Victoria"

With an anguished scream, Sulhadahne flipped up and threw her pillow at the door. Hojo was already gone.

Sobbing, the girl collapsed back onto her pillow, her hand falling off the bed. It hit the wood lightly. Remembering, the girl's eyes grew wide as she pulled herself up. Reaching down to the floorboards Sulhadahne removed the wood and dug underneath. Things crawled by her, but she ignored them, digging for something.

Her hand clasped around wood, and she dragged something up. It was old, stained, and worn, but it was the scrapbook she'd hidden away so long ago. The pages were falling apart, almost dust.

Flipping through, she found the old pictures that she knew by heart. A small smile came to her lips.

"Hello, mother…"

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Sounds were coming from down the hall. Her breath came out heavily as she ran, her feet padding through water, her dress flowing behind her in waves.

She was only four years old. The screams intrigued her, as they were new to her. She'd never heard anything like it.

Pausing at the source, Victoria poked her tiny head through the door to the laboratory.

There was a man on a table, and all these things were attached to him. Red liquids were flowing everywhere, from his mouth, out from under his skin. One of his eyes was wide with pain and shock, the pupil stretched like a cat. The other eye was beneath a metal thing, with needles scouring its surface.

Victoria's heart lurched. What was she seeing? The lights flashing, the computers showing these foreign words she couldn't read, the man on the table floundering about helplessly.

Beside the man, at the computer, was the scientist her father had hired; Hojo. In her confusion and helplessness, Victoria flung herself at him.

"What's going on!? Where's daddy?"

The scientist did not seem to acknowledge her at first. Then, so very slowly, he turned down to look at her.

"Child…" he leaned down to her, slowly. "Do not meddle in that you cannot control."

The man on the table choked on his own blood ceasing his screams. But then he spoke.

"Run girl! Run!"

01001101010101010101010100

Sulhadahne awoke again. Outside the storms were rumbling. In the midst of Radiant Garden being saved, she had thought her home would've returned to normal. The house she grew up in had existed outside of Radiant Garden, and had survived the fall into darkness barely through her father's will. But not even since the sun had begun to shine down on the world again, her father's castle still stood in darkness, engulfed in his own anger and hate.

Looking to the watch on her wrist, Sulhadahne knew she was expected to be at dinner in only a few minutes; dinner with her father.

She knew the routine.

Slowly the girl stood and stoically sauntered to the antiquated closet near the door. Dust flowed into the room as she opened the doors, and reached for the back corner. A lovely, despite its age, dress sat there, pure white and dust covered. Sighing, Sulhadahne took the dress from its hiding place and began to change.

White gloves adorned her petite hands. A pale, dusty veil fell over her eyes. White boots, uncomfortable with a small heel, had her balancing dangerously on her toes. The dress was childish yet elegant, decorated in lace and ribbons. Old and dusty, yet sweet and delicately beautiful, Sulhadahne stepped out of the room, knowing that she could not refer to herself as that name once she donned the dress.

Victoria, miserably beautiful, stepped out into the dark castle hall.

020000000002202020202002020100101010

Her footsteps echoed with a hollow sound in the long dining hall. The dress floated behind her, as Victoria stoically bowed to the man who sat at the table, a tall muscular man with a firm scowl and dark eyes.

"Father" Victoria murmured her voice dead and without emotion.

The man stood, rounding about the table and sauntering to his young child. His strong arms enveloped her, as he clasped her to him gently.

"My daughter, my beautiful Victoria" He whispered, holding tight. Victoria's face did not change. Her arms fell limp at her sides. She did not move.

Moving back, the man let his hands rest on his child's shoulders, and he beamed at her. But it was a selfish, ugly look that could send chills down the spine of a demon. Victoria did not respond.

"Come" Crive beckoned. "We have much to discuss."

The two sauntered to the table. Gently, Crive pulled out a seat for his daughter, who sat lady like. He then crossed the room with powerful strides and took a seat in his own chair.

Food was already served before the two, as low lightly reflected off the candles dotting the room. Victoria did not touch her meal; neither did her father.

"I had quite the time trying to find you, my girl" Crive began, his eyes shining in the dim light. "Searched all over the universe. Only to find you in a different dimension! Immediately I set my scientists on the job to find a way to find you."

Victoria's eyes were dead. The light in them gave them an eerie glow.

"We found our chance with that woman, Rinoa. She had been drifting through the realms of Dreams and Darkness and Nothing, and when she found you and took you here, we leapt on the chance to find you. I've been moving the pawns across the board, setting my knights and bishops into play, and you…" A feral grin split his face. "My queen, you are the final piece. My beautiful Victoria"

Victoria showed the first bit of emotion since she'd been taken in by her father, forcefully. With a deep frown, she stood and walked away from the table, to the window.

"We followed you around quite a bit. Orpheus was a bit busy with his own duties, so I myself went to capture you, as you know all too well. That woman Rinoa fought back but was terribly overpowered. You did well, Hojo" He called over his shoulder.

The slimy scientist stepped out of the dark, looking disheveled and nervous. "T – Thank you, sir."

Nodding, Crive turned back to his daughter, and stood as well.

"My ultimate plan is coming to a head. I will have my revenge."

Angrily, Victoria clenched her fist, her back to her father. "You've lost it. First it was revenge, and now you're planning to rip the universe apart?"

Crive shrugged his shoulders. "I will do what I must. I will be there when the gate opens. And you will be beside me."

Tears stung Victoria's checks. "What about Orpheus, and Rinoa? And my friends?"

Slowly, the strong man came up behind his daughter, snaking his arms around her waist. "There, there, my dear…" He whispered soothingly. "Orpheus is alive; he still has a job to do. And I have no qualm with the woman. She may go."

His cheek rubbed against Victoria's smooth skin, and though she tried to pull away, he held her close.

"Everything is coming together" He whispered.

"Everything is going to be tested, just the way you use to, Even"

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Blood clouded his eyes as he stepped down the hallway.

00101010

"You see my daughter" Crive taunted. "My ultimate judgment shall begin today. My Christmas gift to the worlds. The judgment shall end… before the New Year's fireworks can bit lit."

"You will die" Victoria muttered venomously.

Crive laughed with a vicious tone. "I may die, but oh, the glory that I will pull so many down with me!"

01001010

His heartbeat was steady and slow and he trembled as his blood soaked hand took firm hold on the doorknob. Voices came from the room.

"Hold still, you idiot"

"No, you'll never take me alive!"

"You're such a dork, Yuffie!"

"Look who's talking, water boy!"

010101010

Crive took his daughter's hand and gently lifted it to the glass window, placing it against the surface.

"Do you feel it?" He whispered. "Do you feel the thunderous roar of the fabric of the universe splitting? Do you hear the ear crushing shriek as the gate opens wide?"

Victoria closed her eyes. Her heart hammered fast, in anticipation and fear. The glass window was shaking. As if an earthquake had come.

The gate was opening.

010101010

Blood trickled down to the floor as childish laughter met his ears. His heightened senses picked up their heartbeats, their breathing, everything. Slowly, his free hand reached for his tranquilizer gun.

"Hey, what was that?"

The man had begun to turn the doorknob.

00101001

The sound was horrendous. Echoing everywhere in the nothing space, reflecting in the shadows, fading in the canyons, songs played in thousands of languages and words. The deafening roar of metal ripping metal, of the ground shaking terribly and dangerously tore the silence apart. Everything was changing. Things that had been the same were not even familiar. Stars that had shone forever were no longer stars.

Voices that had never been heard began to scream. Flowers that use to exist began to multiply, pouring over the gate.

Standing behind the metal, in shock and helpless grief, was a tall blonde. Slowly, he attempted to fight the songs and the voices, attempted to reach the gate.

Regardless of warnings, the future doesn't scare me at all

Zutto futari de

Nothings like before

Donna toki datte


Soba ni iru nara

"Yuna" He whispered, his very soul glowing.

Everything was changing.

I've been having these weird thoughts lately.


Like, is any of this for real... or not?

01011011001100101

Zexion awoke with a start. An odd scent tickled his nose. It was coppery, yet dark and smooth, like cologne. He only smelt it one other time… when he found the remains of Lexaeus at Castle Oblivion, after Riku had finished him.

His heart skipped a beat.

Blood…?

01001010100101

Sora stepped through the dark portal, yawning. He had spent all night talking to Roxas, and most of the early morning, to Riku and Namine as well. The silver haired boy's temperament had improved from Sora's visit, but the boy couldn't stay too long; he dropped his gifts for the group off, wished them a Merry Christmas, and went off, back to Radiant Garden.

When he arrived, fireworks of red and green color were decorating the sky, and children were happily dancing as the celebrations began to end.

"Sora!"

The boy grinned and looked down the street. Yuna was flying towards him; his grin faded as he saw the dark look on her face.

"What is it Yuna, what's wrong?"

Gasping, she transformed into her human form and looked to Sora, tears threatening to fall. "Tidu's gone!" She gasped, shaking. "And…"

Sora placed a supportive hand on the woman's shoulder. "What is it?"

There's blood. On the wall! As if… blood had been splattered. Not only that…" Sora's eyes, wide, stayed on Yuna as she looked up to him.

"Black feathers." She whispered. "In the room; black feathers."

Sora shook in fear and apprehension. Confusion covered his face.

Sephiroth…?

0101010011

The chains broke. The songs silenced. The earth stopped, and the voices faded. The blackness became stronger, the light dimmer, and Tidus stood in a field of darkness void of anything.

Before him, the gate. In a glimmering moment, the chains disappeared. He watched it with dangerous apprehension, clutching his arms to keep himself warm.

A creak of metal broke the silence. The gate, slowly and tentatively, swung open.

In shock, Tidus slid down to the ground, eyes wide. Everything was gone. He was alone in a wide expanse of emptiness, save for one monument that stood before him, shaking in the wind with a creak.

A form began to walk through the darkness.

"Yuna…?" Tidus pleaded. But when the body came closer, he recognized it as a man.

"Auron!"

00101011010110

Sora and Yuna dashed through the city, rushing to the castle where Leon would be. Children ran by them, laughing and waving sparklers.

When they passed a large bonfire, Tifa ceased her dances when she saw them.

"Did you see that?" She muttered.

"Hell yeah" Cid came up behind her. "Come on, vampire, something's wrong!"

Vincent groaned and followed behind the two as they rushed after Sora and Yuna.

The two rushed by Rikku and Paine as they sat on a bench, eating Sea Salt Ice cream.

"Yunie?" Rikku murmured, confused. She and Paine shared a look before standing and rushing after their friend, ice cream forgotten.

Victoria looked up to her father, contempt in her eyes as she watched the wave of darkness flow towards them.

"So I suppose I will never see you again" She muttered with anger.

"Are you so sure of my failure?" Crive sneered.

In fright, Hojo began to back away from the darkness. "Sir, we must reach the safe room!"

Crive took a firm hold on his daughter's hand. Without a sound, they rushed out of the dinner hall, food untouched.

Sora took hold of Yuna's hand. Both of them took notice of the screams that had begun to erupt around them.

Sora slid to a halt. "Sephiroth…?"

The boy turned when he heard Yuna let out a frightened gasp.

The city was being engulfed in a wave of thick clouds, black as night.

Tifa began to slow as she realized something was going on. Turning, she shrieked when she saw the cloud bearing down on them. Cid took note of it and latched onto Vincent and Tifa's hands, holding for dear life as the cloud fell.

"Hold on to your pants, kiddies, and don't piss in em!"

Sora gawked at the sight. High above in the castle, Aerith looked on in sheer horror.

"It's Ansem the Wises' fall, all over again!"

Rikku and Paine rushed to Sora and Yuna's sides, taking hold of their hands. The four stayed close as the clouds came and the screams faded.

Midnight fell.

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HOLY FRICKEN CRAP!

This is the beginning of a … maybe ten part ending battle thing. It's not ten chapters until the end, but the battle will be over in about the amount of time. Maybe sooner.

Sorry I've been gone so long! But I've been inspired! My parents and I just got back from Disney World, and it was awesome! I bought Cloud, Vincent, and Leon action figures when we were at Japan in Epcot.

I am so happy to be writing this again!

Now I need your help. Only YOU can help! (okay, corny)

Last time, we reached about 380 reviews. At the moment, we have 180. And I think we can make it to 400!

I write better chapters, you guys write more reviews. Sound good? Please help me! I wanna beat my record of 380!!! Thank you guys!

See you soon!

SuLhAdAhNe

(ps, I'm tracked out!!!)