Can you hear me?

…

Maybe you can. But if you can't I don't know what to do with myself. So for my own sake, I'm just going to pretend you can.

Well… I suppose I should get to the point.

I came here to save you. Or, to trade places with you.

It seems like I've spent my whole life taking someone else's place. I was never someone; I was just someone else, when someone was gone.

But I don't mind taking your place. Because, it means I'm finally free. I can go anywhere, everywhere!

Have you ever heard of the place beyond? They say, beyond the door to light, is another place. It's said that's the place all the light comes from. It was locked away from everything behind the door to light. Separate from everything, another world, much more complex than any you've ever seen.

I think I'll go there. I suppose I don't really have anywhere else to go.

Maybe Orpheus will go with me.

Okay. Here's what I have to say.

Rinoa, I know you're afraid. And I don't know if everything will work out, maybe it won't. But you can't keep running away from happiness just because you're afraid it won't be what you wanted. You've got to try, or you'll never find it at all.

Orpheus… damn, I had really hoped not to take you with me. But then, it was always in your head that you'd follow me anywhere, right? Even into death? I won't lie… I don't want to go alone. I am afraid, even as I speak, blood spilling to the floor.

But you don't have to come with me. You can stay here.

Okay… Kairi, please take care of Sora. I'm placing him in your hands.

If you want to find the door to the light, just follow the water.

And… I'm sorry for what's awaiting you there. Sorry for everything that has happened because of me.

All right… I should probably just shut up and die now. But I don't want to die silently. Maybe I'll scream myself hoarse.

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

Something was coming out of the distant white, sauntering towards her and Sora quietly. Kairi sat up, on alert, watching intently the incomer. As the person came closer, Kairi took in the details; it was a girl, with a simple white gown to her toes, almost as if she were going to bed.

She is.

What Kairi asked herself.

She's going to bed, forever. That's Victoria, Kairi.

Who are you?

Have you already forgotten?

I am the other you, your shadow. Behind the throne you sit on, isn't there another one in your shadow? I sit there, my fingers shadowing yours. There are only two thrones… on your side. But I sit here, on the other side.

"I don't understand" Kairi whispered, watching as the Victoria came closer. Her eyes were pale, not focused on anything. A wandering ghost, her pale skin transparent almost against the white background she was. It almost saddened Kairi when she saw Victoria smile slightly, her eyes falling on the thrones. She was looking straight at the sleeping prince.

This is the way I wanted it to be. I didn't want anyone to remember. I started to erase myself.

"Why?" Sitting tall in her throne, Kairi's eyes darted about, trying to find the mysterious speaker. "You deserve to be remembered, like everyone else"

I will be.

"How?"

Taking in a gasping breath, Kairi pulled her knees up to her chest, watching Victoria float just before Sora. The white surface she stood on rippled as if it were water, her feet never breaking the surface. Slowly, her hand reached up, traced the skin on Sora's face. He did not stir, did not revive.

Backing away, the girl bowed, her dress billowing though there was no wind. "I apologize for the wait" Victoria murmured, her voice rumbling like low waves. "I was simply saying good bye" Smiling, she stood by Sora's side, her hand on his. "But you understand; you said good bye too"

"What is she doing?" Kairi asked; the girl was confused as to why the girl couldn't see her, let alone hear her.

This is what you wished for the most. Victoria has a bit of power here. She was born specially. What she is doing is dying in his place.

Victoria smiled down to Sora's palm, flipping it skyward, tracing the lines. In his palm appeared a small, floating candle that was slowly flickering and dying. Lifting her own palm, she watched a candle appear in her hand, and the girl stared deep into the flame that was young, strong.

"She's taking Sora's candle" Kairi muttered, watching as she took the weak flame from Sora and placed in his hand the strong, burning candle, and she watched it fade away.

"Good luck, Sora" With that, she turned, walking past the throne, holding her hands up to keep the candle high. Kairi turned in her throne, watching the girl pass, her eyes wide in admiration and adoration.

"Thank you" Kairi whispered, feeling weak, light as air, hardly able to breathe.

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

"Hguyh!"

Grasping her throat, the girl screamed, thrashing, clawing at her skin as the black poison spread, and fast.

"Ariel!" Vexen yelled, sweating terribly.

Rikku raced into the room, clutching the wound on her stomach. "Take her to the gate, it might help! Try to offset the poison!"

Nodding, Vexen swung Ariel gently into his arms, and leaping down the stairs, sped towards the faraway battlefield, and the bright light at its peak.

"Damn it, how many of these are there?" Cid complained, spitting blood from his swollen lips.

"At least you can still walk normally." Vincent muttered. He stood with a long gash on his thigh, but at least he stood. Cid chuckled, shaking his head.

"We're done for if those kids don't hurry up and open that damn Closet to Sun!"

"Door to Light"

"It's th'same thing!"

Shaking his head, Vincent shot off the heads of a couple of heartless. "I agree though. If the door isn't opened soon, these things won't stop coming."

"And they can't bleed to death" Cid complained.

Leaping into the fray, Cid kicked at one monster, and stabbed his staff through another. The one heartless was destroyed with a strangled cry as Cid landed with a smirk. His smirk faded a bit as he looked down. The heartless he'd kicked was on his foot, black gunk and all, eating his shoe.

"Damn freaks!" Cid cursed, shaking his foot to knock it off. Once it fell, he stabbed it through, and with a sigh, looked to his boot. It was frayed, covered in dark stuff, and half eaten.

"Arggh!" Tossing his shoe into the fray, Cid screamed in fury. "All right, hell, the gloves're off! Who wants a piece of me? Come get it, ass-suckers!"

The shoe flew to the right and knocked Cloud in the face.

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

"What… what should I do?" Kairi whispered to thin air, wrapping her arms around her knees.

What you have to.

But how do I open the door to the light?

Since the first time it was closed, many have tried to open the door again. Each one failed. Why is that?

Every time, they relied on the light. The darkness is evil! Stay to the light! What did it give them? Blindness?

They never thought, maybe the darkness isn't as bad as it seems. Terrible things come from darkness. But is darkness a terrible thing? Can you tell me?

I… I don't know.

Well, I suppose I don't either. But it is the key to opening the door. You have to have our help. The Prince of light must open the door, and the Prince of darkness stand along with him.

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

Rushing across the earth below, determined, yet weak, Vexen held his screaming, thrashing beloved as his own child ripped her apart, inside, out.

Clutching her tightly, he scaled the hill, his boots creating black marks on the earth from being burned. There was nothing standing between him and the door, but for a young friend, his male lover, and the monster who had hated him since childhood.

Sliding to a desperate halt, Vexen's crazed eyes fell on the one person who'd been with him through his whole life, whether willingly or no. He stood, weakly, yet with a wide grin, cocky and sure of himself. Grimacing, Vexen listened to his beloved's heartbeat calm as she ceased to move, falling into a coma state. The black was not moving, but it was still there.

"It's been a long time" Crive whispered, looking up at his cousin through his light, messy hair. "How many years… since you abandoned me?"

"I did not" Vexen muttered. "You and I traded words and blows, this was not one sided"

"Oh, but your love affair with my wife was!"

"I never touched Victoria!" Vexen seethed, setting Ariel down gently. Feeling the emotions clash, Zexion glanced at his close friend, and began to move Orpheus away from them.

"You never touched her? I could hear her whispering your name as we made love!" Crive spat, thrusting his arm out. "Did she ever even love me?"

"She loved you with all her heart you are blind if you couldn't see it! Or, you were too far away, locked up in your lab."

"What a thing to say, for a man who has stayed in his own lab for most of this precious little time you've had left with your wife!"

"I was trying to save Ariel!"

"And wasn't I doing the same thing!?"

Both stood silent across each other, breathing hard, unsure of what to say. Memories seeping through the cracks, good memories, terrible memories, things long forgotten, and yet, Vexen couldn't bring himself to speak of them. Swallowing dryly, he looked his long time friend over; trying to find any trace of the man he'd once known.

"You've totally fallen into darkness" Vexen spat, stepping away. "You are not the cousin I knew"

"And do you think you are the same man you were, Even? No, that isn't even your name anymore!" Vexen winced at the comeback. Crive saw, chuckling at the sight, the chuckle becoming heavy laughter. "Everything you accuse me of, I can say right back, you hypocritical monster! You took her from me, because of you, she died!"

"I did not!" Vexen insisted, his eyes welling with tears. His legs were shaking, but he did not move, he refused to. Zexion watched with confusion and disbelief.

The last time he'd seen such an exchange between the two of them, he'd been a very young boy. The fight had been about Victoria, who at the time had been a young teenager, healthy.

"I never did anything to her!" Vexen stumbled forward, yet caught himself even as tears fell down his cheeks.

Crive's voice was quieter, more demanding. "You used her in your experiments, didn't you? Took her to the lab. Showed her your data on hearts. Used her in your abominations."

"No!"

"Even now, you continue to hurt those you love!" Crive laughed. "Your wife is dying because of you. Your child will not survive either. And would you look at that?" Standing, Crive strode over to Ariel, and Vexen leapt to stop him. With a single blow to the neck, Crive sent Vexen spiraling back, spitting blood from his lips.

Bending down to the weak woman, Crive brushed some of the hair from her face.

"She even looks like her…" He whispered. "My beautiful Victoria…"

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

Kairi, take Sora. I will watch you go. From here, in my dark, lonely throne, I will watch you disappear. When you find what you seek, you need only open the door. No sacrifice, no details. The Light… is simply light.

We'll have to say goodbye then.

Why?

Kairi, no matter how much I pretend, how much fun we have, it only wakes me up to the truth that it's not real. I cannot stand in the light, the sun, it's not my place. I am trapped here, chained to my throne, princess of the monsters and the damned, and my only comfort is that my sacrifice will save everyone.

Now go, take Sora. He'll awaken soon, so … open the door. My fake existence is over.

It was a lot of fun.

I'll never forget the Destiny Islands, or Twilight Town, everything I've seen. Even Castle Oblivion, I will never forget it. I may never see you or anyone else again, but… I'll have my memories.

This chain of memories will never bend or break. In this darkness, they're all I have.

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

Kairi's eyes flew open, and she spun around in her throne, looking behind her desperately. "Namine?!" She asked loudly, very scared.

The thrones of black were not there. She could not see them, or Namine. Sobbing, Kairi fell back into her throne, her head in her hands.

And so the two thrones sat in a sea of white, the only visitors the ghostly dead, leaving a broken princess, and her boy king, terribly alone.

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

"Don't touch her!" Though he could hardly speak, Vexen leapt, slapping Crive's hand away from his wife.

"Why not? You touched my wife. You went much farther than I did."

"I did not touch her! I… I don't know why she got sick. I don't know what killed her. But I did not touch her!"

Looking his desperate, crazed cousin over, Crive chuckled, if only a little. "Your voice… when you speak of taking her, it is so sure. Maybe you didn't touch her. You loved her, of that… I am sure. But when you speak of her death… I wonder what you hide, Even?"

"That's not my name" Vexen whispered, suddenly feeling very small.

"It was once" Crive spat as he circled his cousin as if he were prey. "That was the name I called you."

"What do you know, Even? What have you hidden from me?" Vexen snapped his hand away when Crive reached out to take it.

"I want to make you suffer, as I have suffered. And see, I have taken everything from you! Your wife and child lay dying, your friends breathing their last, your family on their last wing. What will you do? May you at least die spilling out your darkest secrets?"

Vexen was sobbing, biting his lips, clenching his fists. Zexion had never seen him like that.

Crive stopped circling, his eyes focused on Vexen hard. Zexion listened, holding Orpheus tightly unable to tear himself away, yet hating the state Vexen was in. Remembering their childhood, how Vexen defended him, helped him. Why wouldn't his feet move? Zexion grimaced, looking down at Orpheus one last time.

He knew. And from the small smile on Orpheus face, so did he.

"How dare you leave me here?" Zexion muttered, brushing his hand through the man's dark locks. "Not even a good bye, no last words."

Letting his lips descend on the man in his arms, Zexion pressed tightly, almost afraid to let go. But he had too. He felt the man's mechanical heart slowing down, and there was no returning from where Orpheus was going to.

Zexion felt a tear roll off his cheek and onto Orpheus's skin. "Goodbye" he whispered, and with that, Zexion leapt away. If only he waited to see Orpheus's last words; a wider smile, until he breathed his last.

"Well, boy? What do you have to say?" Crive muttered.

Just at that moment, a blur ran into the area, a short blur, black, and racing towards Vexen. Surprised, the man blinked as Zexion wrapped his arms around the taller man, huffing and wheezing, holding tightly.

"Zexion?" Vexen asked, glancing down in surprise.

Crive blinked, shocked. "… Ienzo?" He whispered his voice almost dry. "It's almost a replay of our childhood, Even. Wasn't he always… at your side?"

Vexen slowly wrapped his arms around Zexion, tears falling from his eyes. Zexion was strong, glaring across the way, supporting the weaker, elder man. Biting his lip, Vexen turned to Crive with anger.

"Yes! I know! I didn't mean to, but it happened!" Gasping for breath, the man grimaced. "She wanted to see my research. And I … wanted to see her. You and I had been in another fight; you were jealous that lord Ansem would not accept you as an apprentice."

"I was jealous of you. You had everything I wanted. I wanted to be with her. So, when she spoke to me, I could not deny her. The lab was empty, so I showed her everything I thought she could handle seeing. It was all beautiful to her, the hearts, and the research. I was in awe, and I was in love!"

"And you…?" Crive muttered.

"I did nothing!" Vexen sobbed, pausing for a moment. "She… it was an accident. All of a sudden, she couldn't walk. I didn't even hear her fall. But the glass shattered, and I spun around and she…"

"What?"

Both Zexion and Crive were watching, one in awe, and one in aggravation. "She… was bleeding. The heart vile, it was broken. She'd touched it, somehow aggravating it… something it felt, it didn't like her. She cut her finger on the glass. So much blood for such a little cut, I knew it wasn't normal. The heart had poisoned her."

"The same disease my beloved has now is the disease the first person I ever loved succumbed to. When darkness enters the body, enters the blood stream, strangling the heart, keeping oxygen out of the body. If the human is not morphed or changed, they slowly die, falling into a deeper, darker state of mind, slowly fading away."

"Just like… Victoria…"

"I couldn't stop it. I tried, I gave her everything I could think of, but after a while, she told me to stop. She didn't want to live the way she was, on a thread. She simply wanted to enjoy what time she had left, with you. And you left her. Insane with your ideas of saving her! I gave in because there was nothing else I could do. And you!"

Crive was shocked at the turn in the conversation. Had he ever seen Even so angry?

"You let her die alone! Absorbed in your study of saving her, you let her go! She never wanted to live! She wanted you!"

Wiping his mouth of blood, Vexen stepped away from Zexion, who watched him walk away. Bending down next to his wife, he picked her up, holding her gently. "I will not make the same mistake. I will… stay with her, for as long as I can."

With that, Vexen stumbled away, the one he loved most in his arms.

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

"How much further must we walk, Sora?"

Holding the boy tightly over her arm, Kairi kept walking, slowly, yet steadily, tired and weak. Her eyes drooped as she hoisted him a bit higher, walking blindly towards an unknown place. She didn't know where the door was. She didn't know how to find it. She carried Sora, and she walked.

Ahead, there was a light. It was dim, and small, like a candle, not overpowering, but small. Kairi saw it, dim, off in the distance. Smiling, she laughed a little.

"I think we'll be at the end soon, Sora" She whispered. "Hold on"

They kept walking towards the small candle as it came closer, became brighter.

"Is this it?" Kairi muttered.

"Are we finally at the end, Sora?"

Collasping to the white surface below, Kairi felt it wave as she hit it, and Sora rolled off her, back to the floor. Watching him, Kairi smiled, weakly reaching out to him.

"Oh Sora" She whispered. "I was a fool to think I could do it alone. I've never been strong enough. Without you, or Riku, I can't do anything. I wouldn't of been able to do what you two did, had one of you fell into darkness, and not me. I'm not strong like you."

Tears falling slowly, Kairi reached for him.

"Sora..."

She felt a hand grasp hers.