Blood was dripping from her lip as she cough, hacking, and heaving weakly as she lay on the floor. The room was in shambles, the computer cracked and sparkling, books strewn about. Groaning, she tried to take hold of the railing, looking about for any sign of her friends.

"Sora? Paine?" She whispered. No such luck; they had run on ahead. Once they left, that man Crive had decided he'd tire of playing games, and Rikku now laid on the floor in a heap, the man long gone.

Sighing, the girl began to stand with a grimace, pulling on the railing that was jutting out from where she'd crashed into it.

Rikku brushed the hair from her eyes and began to move, using the metal objects in the room to help her to stand.

As she slowly crossed the room, something caught her eye. It was a book, open on the floor.

(This chapter's gonna get crazy, if I were you, I do like Sulhadahne and listen to "The Dragon Boy" from Spirited Away to get you pumped UP!)

It was only a few feet ahead, so the girl stumbled forward and fell to her knees, taking the book into her lap. By the looks of it, it was a diary, old, and cracked, the pages about to fall out.

Scanning the old pages, Rikku carefully flipped through them. One date caught her eye.

"Wow, wasn't that the day …?" She whispered, pulling the book towards her face. Her eyes darted across the page rather quickly, without hesitation. Slowly, as she finished reading, the book fell back to her lap. Rikku sat, confused and shocked. Looking about, she took hold of the book, marking the page, and closed it, pulling herself to her feet.

"Paine! Sora! Guys, you've got to see this!"

Rushing down the hall, blood streaming behind her, the young Princess of the Al Bhed held the book tight, knowing very well it might be the secret to their escape.

All the same take me away
We are dead to the world

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

The castle was rumbling, shaking back and forth as Saix, Gai, and Kakashi raced through it, running in a dead sprint towards the heart of the castle.

"Whoa!" Gai leapt away from the wall as a tall pedestal fell onto its side, fading away before it hit the ground. Gai and Kakashi shared a look, before turning to look ahead once again.

"Hurry, this way!"


The child gave thought to the poet's words, gave comfort to the fallen


(Heartfelt, lovelorn)


Remaining, yet still uninvited


Those words scented my soul


(Lonely soul, Ocean soul)

Stumbling over a large crack in the floor, they raced on, as Saix became even more determined and enraged. Leaping ahead, the ninja had to strain to keep up.

"What's attacking this castle?" Kakashi asked, breaking the silence. Grimacing, Saix didn't answer.

"It's not something natural… is it?" He continued, frowning beneath his mask.

"No" Saix growled, frowning deeply as they all leapt above a high chasm, the castle falling apart. Gai saw the mighty chasm below them, and frowned.

"Hurry, we're almost there!"

Saix pushed himself even faster, some of his old wounds reopening. Kakashi came up beside him.

"Do you know why they're attacking you?" Kakashi muttered, staring.

Unperturbed, Saix shook his head. "They'll always have an excuse to kill you!"

With that, he slid to a halt before a large door. Frowning, Saix placed both hands on it, beginning to push it open. Something was weighing it down; Saix bit his lip as he growled, pushing harder.

Kakashi looked down to the floor. Blood was dripping from Saix's wounds, and as he pushed harder, the blood flow came faster. Sharing a look with his friend, Kakashi ran up and began to push as well. Gai followed after.

Soon enough, it came open, and off the hinges. With a roar, Saix lifted it above his head and threw it into the mighty chasm below.

"Saix!" Gasped a pleasant voice. The blue haired man turned towards the sound, and smiled a bit to see Demyx, bleeding, but in one piece. Beside him, Roxas was leaning, tired, yet determined to stand again. Saix could feel his heartbeat racing, as he grimaced angrily and attempted to stand. Racing over, Saix bent down beside him.

"What's happened?" Saix muttered.

"Some guy invaded the castle, started taking everybody out. Demyx, Zexion, you, and I are all that's left. Everyone else disappeared."

"Disappeared?" Gai muttered. Roxas looked up at him, his eyes shaky.

"Who're they?" Demyx asked, coughing up a bit of blood. Saix acknowledged their presence.

"Allies" He muttered, summoning his weapon. Gai placed a hand on his shoulder.

"The three of you need rest; you're not in any position to fight."

"Yes we are" Roxas argued. "The castle is ours that is the only position we need."

As they talked, Kakashi bent to the floor, his eyes focused on something. Demyx watched him curiously as the three argued. Wiping his finger through a puddle of blood, Kakashi examined the black liquid on his finger, sniffing it. Demyx gulped nervously.

Looking up, Kakashi's one uncovered eye stared into Demyx's nervous eyes. He chuckled.

Standing, Kakashi walked back over to his friends.

Roxas was standing, attempting to walk away as blood trailed from his wounds. Gai stopped him.

"This is mad, you can't fight like this!" He growled. "If you do, you'll only injure yourself, you have to know when to call it quits, Lee!"

Silence reigned after his words, and even as the word came from his mouth, Gai's eyes grew wide. Kakashi smiled contently beneath his mask.

Saix stood.

"We are the only ones left to defend the castle; for the sake of the others, we must." He muttered, brandishing his weapon. Nodding, Demyx stood his sitar in hand.

"Zexion is up ahead, fighting" Roxas mumbled. "Let's hurry"

The others nodded. "Yeah" Demyx smiled.

It's not the monsters under your bed, it is the Man next door


That makes you fear, makes you cry, makes you cry for the child


All the wars are fought among those lonely men


Unarmed, unscarred

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

The room was silent but for the roars of falling metal outside and the heavy breathing of those within.

Zexion stood, limping, with a swollen lip and his eyelids fluttering. Grimacing, he clutched the rod in his hand tighter, as blood trailed down his leg.

His opponent watched him emotionless, his eyes hidden by a helmet. Once again that night, Zexion attempted to smell the air and learn his opponent's identity, but his enemy was soaked in blood, his own, and the black blood of nobodies.

Growling, Zexion pulled another rod out of thin air; both were makeshift weapons he'd had Vexen design for him, just in case, and he hadn't used them much. But he'd use them today.

Holding tight to his weapons, Zexion disappeared in an instant, reappearing behind his enemy, spinning his batons with a roar.

Just as quickly, his opponent leapt away, landing on his knee and rolling out of the way. Zexion was right behind him, swinging a baton towards the wall, and when the man dodged, it created a large concave in the metal.

"Tell me who you are!" Zexion roared, perturbed by the situation, and somehow nervous. Spinning both batons above his head, he dove towards the enemy.

The man placed his arm in front of him, and as he did, a spike came from the metal on his arm; it snapped off and he grabbed it with his hand, using it to deflect. Leaping up, he began an onslaught, swiping through the air with his one good arm, the injured one limp at his side. He could only block one baton at a time, and as he caught one, the other bombarded his body.

Using his leg, the man shoved Zexion back, and the force made him drop a baton. Just as he landed, Zexion used the momentum to send him towards the baton, but his opponent was their first, standing with a foot on the weapon. Changing his direction, Zexion lifted his palm, shooting dark energy at the man. The enemy leapt away, leaping from metal to metal as he came closer to his target.

Zexion roared in anger, building up the dark energy in his baton as he swung it back, preparing for the attack. As his opponent fell, Zexion aimed for his mask.

With a terrible shattering sound and a crack of metal, the baton shattered the helmet, tossing Zexion's opponent to the ground. In an instant he was standing over him, leaning down to attack. Just as he was, the man gasped in shock, leaping back, staring dumbfounded at the man on the floor.

Chuckling, blood came from the man's lips as he wiped the remaining metal helmet off his head. "This wasn't the reunion I had planned" He whispered.

"O- Orpheus?" He muttered, falling to his knees in shock.

Nodding, the man pulled himself up, to sit. "Yeah – It is."

Both sat silent, one confused and shocked the other solemn and stoic. Wiping blood from his eye, Orpheus began moving towards Zexion.

The blue haired man leapt up, his baton ready. He glowered warningly.

Chuckling weakly, Orpheus began to stand. "I can't do anything to you in this state. Calm down" Zexion still stood, but he lowered the baton a bit.

His eyes shone with emotion as he watched Orpheus stumble to him, his feet barely balanced. The man began to fall, but Zexion raced up and caught him, both of them falling to their knees.

"Why?" Zexion whispered, brushing the hair from the man's eyes.

"I - I had to. Don't you see me – what I am?"

Metal was beneath the man's skin. Attachments and wires covered his body at the location of his wounds, and the blood that was seeping from his skin was a dull bluish color. Zexion felt the blue blood on his hands, rubbing it between his fingers. He lifted it to his nose, smelt it.

"I'm not human … Zexy" He muttered, pulling himself up with a groan. "I was… once. But you won't believe how long it's been." Orpheus sighed, his eyes faraway, looking to the sky.

"Try me" Zexion muttered, ignoring the annoying nickname.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

In the beginning, I was a human. A human orphan in the city of Radiant Garden. I knew you actually. But only in passing.

When I was six or seven, the lord of a castle nearby, another scientist like Lord Ansem, offered me a place to live, as long as I watched over his young daughter. By this time, his wife had passed away mysteriously.

At first, it was fine. I finally had food to eat, and the girl wasn't so bad. She was shy, yet adorable. I loved her as a little sister.

But when I grew older, Crive, the castle lord, found it fit to use me in his experiments. He let his scientist Hojo use me in a copy cat study. He tried making me a nobody… by making me a machine.

It worked, in a way. I was empty, but I still loved. Something in me never forgot what love… was like.

The day came when the girl I watched over tried to run away. I knew she was lonely and miserable, but so was I, and she was my only companion. I tried to make her stay. I told her, that if she left, the master would kill me. She told me to go with her.

I don't know why I didn't. I don't think I could. Leaving would be for someone desiring freedom, and you can only desire if you feel. I looked at the sky and it was empty. I did not desire. I did not fear my fate as she escaped.

The master placed within me a ticking time bomb. If I ever disobeyed him again, he'd kill me. I didn't mind death. But the bomb would do more than kill me.

I knew that if I died, then there would be no one left between Crive and his goals. I know everything about him, what he wants, and how he wants to get it. Only I can stop him.

That's why I started this mission, so I could get closer to his goal, simply to put an end to it.

When he told me I needed to get close to the organization, I saw my chance at the Monde Race. I needed to be romantically involved – and I knew Larxene was taken. But I knew from my studies that when he was a child, Ienzo was homosexual. So, I targeted you. Heh… I didn't really have a love preference, since I couldn't love, but I didn't have real feelings for you. I had to pretend, to get closer to my goal.

I just didn't think I would actually grow attached to you. I hadn't counted on it. I knew, to gain his trust, get close to him, I had to capture all of you. I couldn't do that if I loved you. So I told myself – you can't love. You don't love him.

So I came here, and I did this. And now, I'm bleeding on the floor, and I'm still trying to tell myself – I don't love you.

But I do. I wouldn't be bleeding on the floor – if I didn't.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

"You… love me?" Zexion whispered, clutching Orpheus' hands. The man nodded.

"I don't know how… but I do." Zexion nodded.

"I… love you, too." He whispered, letting the words flow like water.

A chuckle broke the romantic silence.

"Here I thought I was coming here to save the day and kick some ass, and instead it's a flowery, gay reunion. Jeez…" Axel complained, sauntering into the room. "You could choose a better time to turn homo fluffy on me, Zexy."

Zexion growled and threw Axel a dark look. Axel looked at Orpheus, who nodded at him. Axel nodded in return, a smirk on his face.

Looking up, the three watched as more warriors raced into the room, prepared to fight and eager. Most were wounded, limping, and bleeding.

"Would you look at that, the rag tag team came just in time to… do absolutely nothing. Battle's over, ladies and gents" Axel commented, being his smart ass self even more than usual. "Good to see you Demyx, nice hair, Wolf boy, hey Roxas! What the hell happened to you?"

Shaking his head, Roxas grinned at his best friend, who was just noticing the newcomers. "And what's with Mister Mystery and the Bowl Cut guy?" Laughing, Demyx looked back to their allies; Kakashi chuckled sheepishly, while Gai gave off a shining, debonair smile.

"You're all right!" Roxas cheered, stumbling forward to his friend. He collapsed in Axel's arms, and he held him gently. Smiling down at his friend, he smirked.

"Did you really think I'd go down so easy?" He muttered with a chuckle. "Gee, thanks for the support."

Smiling up at him, Roxas nodded. Then suddenly, his body twitched, shaking, and he gasped, clasping his lower abdomen. Zexion looked over in confusion, wondering if the boy was going through a spasm. Demyx ran over, concerned.

"Roxas? Roxas!" He gasped as Saix bent down beside them. Zexion helped Orpheus stand, and they moved towards the huddled group.

Gai and Kakashi stood outside it, watching.

"I don't think we're really needed here" Kakashi commented, chuckling to his friend.

"I'm not sure we were really needed in the first place" Gai smiled, shaking his head.

"Time to go?" Kakashi added. Gai nodded.

Just as they were about to be on their ninja way, the castle shook again. Everyone looked up, and around. The shaking was much, much worse. Zexion and Orpheus tumbled to the floor; Kakashi and Gai leaned against the wall, looking about. Leaning down, Kakashi put his ear to the floor.

Zexion was grimacing, shocked. "The castle's falling apart!" His allies looked up to him. "We have to get out of here, now!"

"Oh, yeah, that'll be easy when five of us are injured, and four of those five are bleeding to death!" Zexion sent Axel a glare as the hothead groaned.


I don't want to die a scarless man


A lonely soul (tell me now what to do)


I studied silence to learn the music


I joined the sinful to regain innocence

"We have to try!" Demyx yelled over the earthquake, his innocent eyes shining. "I don't know about you, but I have a girl to get back to!"

Axel's eyes drifted off. "Yeah" He smiled. "Me too"

"My girl's right here, thanks" Orpheus joked, giving Zexion's but a squeeze. The boy shivered, and smacked Orpheus' head.

"Well" Kakashi sighed. "That was disturbing."

"Seriously, come on! Summon a dark portal!" Roxas ordered. Saix nodded and held up his hand.

"No!" Zexion knocked his hand away. "We'd have to pass through Betwixt and Between, and it' falling apart too!"

"I hope Twilight Town's okay" Roxas muttered, thinking back.

"Then what do we do?" Axel demanded, trying to stand, only to fall back again as the shaking increased. The walls were shattering, cracking, slowly fading away. Demyx watched, forlorn.

"I think the castle's going away." He whispered.

Zexion stood, hauling Orpheus to his feet. "We run!"

Just as he spoke, the roof began caving in, and the group all yelled, leaping to their feet to run. Kakashi and Gai were in the lead, leaping to and fro to avoid the fallen metal and stone, as the roof collapsed and the walls shook. A square of the roof fell behind them, and with a roar, Saix carved it in half, and the others followed behind him. Axel was last, giving a look over his shoulder before leaping on. The path behind them was closed as the walls caved in.

"Hurry!" Demyx cheered as shards of rocks scratched his skin. A bit of the wall fell and he leapt on it, using the momentum to push himself ahead.

Roxas came up beside him, breathing hard. "Here, lean on my shoulder" Demyx offered. Roxas shook his head.

"I'm fine" He whispered, blood dripping down his chin. Axel came behind him, wrapping an arm around his waist, hoisting him up.

"Come on!" He yelled loudly, urging them on as the walls fell.

"The stairs!" Saix yelled, leading them, Kakashi and Gai following behind. Zexion leapt after them, as Orpheus bled onto his shoulder.

"I'm dead weight, leave me behind" He whispered. Zexion outright refused.

"You said you were the only one who could defeat Crive, and you're going to do just that!" Zexion roared, kicking a large part of the falling wall aside. Axel burned what was left of it as it fell into the chasm and the night sky became visible.

Heaven queen, cover me in all that blue


Little boy such precious joy is dead to the world


Heaven queen, carry me away from all pain


All the same take me away; we're dead to the world

"Come on!" Saix gasped, his voice faded as they arrived in the lower area. The walls were shaking, the large Nobody symbols falling into darkness, fading away. Saix stood at the bottom of the stairs waiting, watching as first Kakashi and Gai leapt ahead, then Zexion and Orpheus; Demyx followed, then Axel with Roxas.

"Heartless!" Demyx roared, looking over his shoulder to the staircase. It was true; yellow eyes were following them.

With a roar, Saix sliced through a large part of the wall with his claymore, and the wall crashed down in front of the staircase. Saix leapt away, even as shadows melted through the barrier, screeching and reaching out.

"We'll never make it outside the city!" Demyx cried. Axel came up beside him.

"We don't have to!" He answered. Roxas looked up to him.

"As long as we make it to the Tower, we'll be fine!" Zexion told him. Demyx gasped in realization.

"Memory's Skyscraper!"

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Rikku was racing down the hallways of the secret base that was once Castle Oblivion, the words of the diary entry repeating in her mind, over and over.

My name is Victoria Cherish

Tumbling down, she tripped, and raced to get back up, panting and weak. Rikku held the book tightly, some of her blood staining it.

If you are reading this it most likely means I have left this world

"Paine!" Rikku called, catching the sight of her friend far down the hall. The silver haired woman didn't quite hear her. "Paine!"

My dearest, my husband, I'm afraid is meddling in affairs he should not touch. I fear for his safety, my own, and everyone's in Radiant Garden;

"Is that…" Yuffie mumbled, beginning to stand. Ariel looked down the hall towards the figure that was running towards them.

"Rikku!" Paine gasped, running down the hall.

My husband curses the world and everything it has taken from him. His own cousin has left him, now. The two refuse to speak to each other, when they had been so close. I fear it is partially my fault. Crive, the eldest strives to learn everything, and Even strives to learn as well, to study the heart with Master Ansem.

"Paine" Rikku smiled, collapsing into her friend's arms. "You – you've got to read this" She whispered, holding up the diary. The others ran up behind them, concerned.

Crive wants to study the great light, the greatest light of all. But I fear he will wound it in his studies, and he knows this, and he does not care. As long as he gets his research, he does not care for the consequences. He wishes to open the deepest door to darkness, to command the greatest powers of the universe. I fear for him.

I fear it is my fault, for I am ill. I will die very soon, and I can see the strain it puts on him. He was not this way before I became ill.

"I will fix you" He whispers. "I won't let you die"

I tell him he must let me go, but he won't. I'm so scared.

"What is this?" Paine whispered, turning it about in her hands.

"It's the diary of that psycho's wife!" Rikku answered. Paine opened it promptly, as Yuffie read over her shoulder. Aisu sat by Rikku, looking her wounds over.

"Stay still" She whispered, and as she held her hands out, a blue keyblade appeared. The girls gasped as Aisu held it up beneath her chin, like a violin. Rikku noticed there were strings on the key, from the top to the bottom, blue and bendy. Aisu pulled on them with her fingers, creating strange music, a strange cross between a guitar and a violin.

"What…?" Rikku whispered, looking down as her wounds closed. She gasped in delight at the miracle Aisu was making happen with her strange key.

I went into his lab alone yesterday, and I found something terribly disturbing, so terrible I shrieked until my vocal chords gave in.

Unbeknowst to me, my husband took a sample of my DNA while I was still healthy. In his lab, Crive is creating, growing a child like version of me! A clone or a monster of some sort! But it looks so innocent. What does he want with it?

Yesterday I saw him with it, and he had it in one of my white dresses. Does he see this doll as me? As our child? What has happened to my husband?

"Oh my" Yuffie gasped.

"This guys a freak" Paine muttered venomously.

"No wonder he and Hojo got along." Yuffie spat.

"The Victoria we know isn't Crive's kid! She's a creation of his, created from his dead wife!" Rikku told them. "She's some sort of living weapon, a living key!"

"Living key?" Paine asked. Rikku nodded, sitting up as the pain faded away and Aisu ceased to play. Taking the book, Rikku flipped ahead a bit, to a page a few months after the first entry.

Radiant Garden is fading into darkness. They say that Ansem's boys have disappeared. Crive says Even brought the darkness upon us. This can't be true. Both my boys, losing their hearts to science? I can't stand it.

My illness is becoming worse, and I can no longer walk.

I saw it walk by one night, the creature that looks like me. I pity it, for I do not know what he'd ever use it for but to cry for a lost love.

I found a journal of his that he left during one of his studies in my room. He's taken to staying in my room to read, and write, in an attempt to be near me. We no longer talk; there's nothing to say.

"What is wrong with this guy?" Yuffie groaned. Ariel read on, silently, as Paine read aloud.

In the journal, he speaks of keys. One is a keyblade, a weapon. The other is a weapon as well, a key, but he never names it. Could it be the child he spawned from my blood? What could this child do?

I continue to read his journal, and secrets are revealed.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0


Deep, silent and constant, yet always changing


-my favourite view of this world


As he died, he will return to die in me again


Weaving the cloth, giving birth to Century child


Who gave his life not for the world but for me


Innocence reborn once more

"Sora!" Kairi gasped. "Sora!"

The boy was bleeding badly, and could not speak, his eyes dark and wandering vaguely. Yuna began trying to pull the spear free, so she could heal him, but it was deeply embedded in the rocks beneath Sora, pinning him down.

"Sora!" Kairi sobbed, leaning on his shoulder, holding tight to his hand. "Please, be okay, Sora, please!"

"Sora" Tidu whispered, looking on in wonder and somber confusion. What had just happened?

A deep laugh awoke them from their panic, and the group looked back. As Yuna continued to try and help Sora, Kairi stood, seething.

"You!" She roared, summoning her keyblade. The man grinned.

"Crive" Victoria murmured angrily, floating up beside Kairi. Tidu walked behind them, to Yuna, trying to help Sora somehow.

"Ranshin Kairi, the eldest daughter of the Ranshin family, the Princess of Light from the Destiny Islands." The blonde spoke, dark and disturbing. His eyes fell on the bleeding boy, Sora, who was shaking as blood dripped over his lip. His body was in shock, but Yuna was doing her best to help him.

"Yuuchou Sora, the only son of Yuuchou Seidou and Yuuchou Yuki, chosen as the true Keyblade Master. A Prince…"

"Prince?" Kairi whispered.

(an image of four thrones)

Kairi blinked at the sudden image that had floated through her mind, and she glowered at the man before her. His knowing smirk annoyed her, and she charged up towards him, stopping only feet ahead of him.

"I'll kill you for what you did to him!" Kairi shrieked, standing in a battle stance.

"A Princess, killing for her Prince. A strange turnaround. But it has happened before, in the generations before you, I suppose.

(an image of four thrones, and two queens, and two kings)

Kairi growled at the confusion she was in, and for once, she was feeling rash. With Victoria behind her, she prepared to attack him.

"Explain yourself, so I can kill you!" Kairi accused, lifting her blade.

Chuckling, Crive lifted her arms to all that was around him, his head falling low.

"I simply want to gaze on at the True Light. I want to open the door. I want the power to stop death." He gasped as he spoke, his voice raspy. "I want the power to rewind time. I want to control everything."

"Murderer" Victoria whispered.

My husband wants the ultimate power. But there is a price. I think the creature he created from me is the payment he wishes to use to open the door.

It won't work.

"You want to open this gate!" Kairi shouted, using her blade to point back at the gate. "Fine! What's to stop you?"

Crive seemed to laugh silently, his shoulders shaking, his clothes matted and cut from battle. His white lab cloak fluttering in the wind behind him, he stepped up the hill towards them; Kairi lifted her blade in front of her, and Tidu flew up immediately, a feather in his hand sharp as a knife.

"I want to open the door. I must… but there is a price."

There is a price to open the door, and he wants to pay with her. To open the gate, you must open your heart, and sacrifice the one you love most. He won't sacrifice me, he refuses.

"You must let the one you love most, die" Crive whispered. "That is the only way you'll find the Door to Light" As he stumbled up the path, the gate doors creaked in the wind.

Kairi stared on in disbelief. To find the door, someone you love must die?

He wants to kill her instead. He thinks that if she looks like me, and was made from me, that he can love her like he loved me. And then he can kill her, to get to his goal. It sickens me.

"In other words, my friend" Crive began.

"You're not our friend" Victoria spat.

It seemed that, for the first time Crive saw his creation. His eyes grew wide when they fell on her, and he gasped under his breath.

"Victoria…"

"Stay away from me!" Victoria glared, leaping back. Crive seemed shocked at her reaction.

"But, Victoria…" His arms reached out for her, and with a flick of her wrist, a burst of energy sliced open his check. Slowly, almost in shock, his hand reached up to fell the blood trickling down his skin.

Heaven queen, carry me away from all pain


All the same take me away; we're dead to the world

Almost as if it never happened, Crive began to once again ignore the girl, and he turned to Kairi.

"In other words, little girl" Kairi grimaced angrily, but let him speak.

"If you ever want to find the Door to Light, Sora has to die."

Heaven queen, cover me in all that blue


Little boy such precious joy is dead to the world


Heaven queen, carry me away from all pain


All the same take me away; we're dead to the world

"Sora?" Yuna whispered her hands covered in his blood as she tirelessly attempted to lift the spear from him. His lips were slowly moving, almost like he was trying to speak.

"I… see…"

"Sora?" Yuna gasped, leaning down towards him. "What do you see? What?"

"Sora?"

The boy stood, spinning about, trying to remember.

"There was… a river…" He began, clutching his temples. Standing, Kairi watched him pace with interest and concern.

"A city… a really old one, but it was really big and… and…"

"A city and a river?" Kairi asked. Sora nodded, still trying to piece it together.

"And a lot of voices…" Sora mumbled. "So many singing so many different songs that I couldn't tell them apart…"

Sora became silent, his eyes drifting half way shut. Yuna watched in horror, and with newfound determination, as she lifted the spear. It came up a bit, and with that much, Yuna took a small weapon from her pouch and began cutting away at the metal.

"Hang on, Sora, don't die" Yuna whispered.

"I won't" He whispered. Yuna gasped, looking down at him, and then with a small smile, she continued to work. Sora groaned, but stayed awake, looking ahead to Kairi.

"Kairi…" He whispered. Reaching out, his hand trembled.

"Let me open the gate" Crive spoke to her, reaching his hand out. "I'll choose a sacrifice, and go on to the light. You may follow after, and Sora need not die."

Kairi looked in awe and stared at the hand being offered to her.

"Don't do it" Victoria whispered nervously.

"What will it be?" Crive asked, smirking. Kairi looked up, suddenly very scared, and feeling very small.

"What will it be?" Crive repeated. "The Door to Light, or the boy you love?"

(four thrones, but are the thrones empty?)