Chapter 4
Under the radiant sky of the After-Light, in front of Xehanort's research lab, the three sides of Xehanort stood. Xemnas wielding two crimson blades of light, the Seeker of Darkness acting puppet master over his Demon Shadow, and the new Xehanort brandishing his radiant Keyblade. Xemnas noticed Xehanort was smirking slightly.
Even though he's outnumbered, the bastard thinks he can win…? Xemnas thought angrily, raising his swords and charging. Xehanort quickly raised his Keyblade to counter, and a flurry of sparks rained down as the radiant sword effortlessly deflected the two beam blades the Nobody wielded. Xemnas snarled, increasing the fury of his strikes.
As the two were distracted, Ansem rose up behind them.
"Take THIS!" he shouted, having his shadow lash out with its claws at the armored Xehanort. Seeing this, the Keyblade wielder blurred suddenly, vanishing to the side impossibly fast. Xemnas had to jump back awkwardly.
"Idiot Heartless! You almost hit me with that!" he snarled.
"Shut up! This third can move faster than either of us!" the Seeker of Darkness barked.
Xehanort smiled to himself. The other two wouldn't be able to work together very long. They were a poor team… If he could last long enough, they'd turn on one another, and he could win this fight.
"Not just faster than you… if either of you had took the time to study the light, you would have realized that there is nothing that can move faster!"
Xehanort again glowed, and moved forward too fast for either enemy to follow, nicking both in the sides with his Keyblade. Ansem and Xemnas looked at their wounds, and then at Xehanort.
"What are you?" Xemnas asked, furious at this new development.
"A chaser of the Light."
Ansem snarled.
"You'll soon find out relying on light to run from battle won't save you from the darkness!" He flew forward at considerable speed, an aura of dark energy acting as a shield between him and his target. Xehanort held up his Keyblade lengthwise, and the attack collided with the flat of the blade. Xehanort skidded back several feet. However, to Ansem's astonishment, he soon ground to a halt, stopping Ansem's attack dead.
"There was… no greater tragedy for us… than our foolishness when we turned from the light." Xehanort grunted, his arms shaking, but holding firm. "Your delusional obsession with your… respective elements… and negative generalizations about the heart… are the reason you'll never succeed!"
Xehanort glowed, but this time, Ansem and Xemnas felt it pushing them instead of Xehanort.
"FAITH!" A supernova of light sent Ansem flying back, crying out in agony. Xemnas took a glancing blow from a stray ray of light, falling to one knee.
How is he doing this? This sort of power should not be possible!
Xehanort once more used the speed that he'd previously displayed, dashing over to Xemnas and slashing his chest with the Keyblade. He zipped away as Xemnas counterattacked. Xemnas noticed something as Xehanort came to a stop out of range; his eyes narrowed.
"Get up, Heartless. Our new acquaintance may not be as invulnerable as he's led us to believe," he said to the fallen Ansem. Ansem got up, his expression furious.
"Let me at him! That cheap trick won't fool me again!" Ansem snarled, "He just runs away, and then uses that burst if we get close."
"Once again, it seems you neglect the possibility that you're not all-knowing on the subject," Xemnas said, silencing Ansem, "He glows while running. He stopped glowing when he attacked me… He cannot fight and use that 'speed of light' at the same time. Harry him, so that he has to fight one of us whenever he tries running." Ansem glared at Xemnas.
"Be careful how you address orders, Nobody. I'm not one of your pitiful followers." He then shot towards Xehanort again. Xehanort, however, did not run back, once again choosing to parry the technique. As Ansem began drawing back, he raised his free hand.
"BINDING LIGHT!" A web of light enmeshed Ansem, who cried out in anger and surprise. Xehanort again glowed, and rushed Xemnas. This time, the Superior was ready, jumping back when he felt that Xehanort would break his speed spell to strike. He parried Xehanort's attack, forcing him back. However, to his surprise, Xehanort did an impressive backflip, landing gracefully and launching himself at his Nobody.
"Ars Sanctus!" he shouted, his Keyblade glowing again. Xemnas had been unprepared for the devastating series of attacks Xehanort released, flying back and skidding several yards away on his back from the rapid series of strikes.
Axel and Larxene were watching the fight from a safe distance, both confused and more than a little alarmed.
"What's going on?" Larxene asked worriedly, while Xemnas got up, furious. "There shouldn't be a third form of him… What is he?"
"I dunno," Axel said, shaking his head as the Seeker of Darkness freed himself and charged Xehanort again. "Three of the same guy fighting… Geez, how existential can you get?"
Xehanort was unable to dodge his Heartless's attack this time. He flew back, but righted himself again. "Ansem," he snarled.
"Arrogant little… How did you get this powerful?"
"I won't tell you. You wouldn't be able to accept it," Xehanort replied, "Now… LIGHT BOLT!" Xehanort shot a series of very fast-moving light blasts at his Heartless from the tip of his Keyblade, but Ansem was prepared this time.
"Come, Guardian!" The Demon Shadow appeared in front of Ansem, absorbing the bolts of light. Xehanort waited for the Heartless Guardian to recede.
Xehanort put away his Keyblade as he brought up his fists. "How about this? CHASING LIGHTS!" Xehanort opened his hands, and ten orbs of light suddenly appeared around Ansem and Xemnas. The two quickly jumped back, but the lights followed them.
"What are these?" Xemnas snarled.
"Who knows? They can't be good for us!" Ansem shouted. Xehanort suddenly closed his fists, and the orbs exploded. Xemnas heard Xehanort's voice, although the dust raised by the explosion obscured his vision.
"Cross… RAID!" Xemnas saw Xehanort's keyblade spiral out of nowhere, striking him squarely in the chest and sending him flying back again. Xehanort then made a motion towards Ansem, who also felt the blade tear through his side with an infuriated look in his eyes.
"Now to finish you…" Xehanort jumped back and fired two Light Bolts at his enemies. Normally, they wouldn't have been a problem, but with their high speed and the low visibility in the After-Light, both were again struck.
Although Xehanort fought alone, he was dominating the battle…
Xemnas got up, panting. This scenario didn't agree with him at all... the new Xehanort was much more powerful than either of them, based on this exchange... and he wasn't sure that he could work together with the Seeker of Darkness. He couldn't trust the Heartless... but then again, they would both die if they kept fighting separately.
"Ansem!" Xemnas shouted. "This is getting us nowhere! We need to work together if we want to live through this!" The Seeker of Darkness, at first glaring at Xehanort, turned to Xemnas, finally nodding.
"For once, you may be right, Nobody." He said. His Demon Shadow's focus remained on Xehanort, who was quickly retaking his stance and raising his Keyblade for more lasers.
"He's about to attack. Follow my lead." Ansem said shortly. Xehanort quickly fired, seeing both his counterparts on their feet again. Ansem smirked.
"COME GUARDIAN!" He shouted, and the Demon shadow appeared to intercept the bolts. Xehanort's free hand glowed; it looked like he was trying to guide his lasers, but they were moving too fast, and smashed harmlessly into the Demon shadow.
Xemnas quickly jumped into the air, summoning his blades again. Ansem appeared below him and pushed the Nobody upwards, sending him flying towards Xehanort. The two exchanged blows at lightning speeds, but Xemnas managed to nick Xehanort in the side before the Keyblade struck him several times in retaliation. Xehanort kicked the reeling Xemnas away.
"Not invincible after all..." Ansem said, appearing behind him. "Now... SUBMIT!"
The Demon Shadow grabbed Xehanort, holding him up. Both Ansem and Xemnas appeared in front of him, charging up blasts of Darkness and Nothing. Xehanort gritted his teeth.
"I wasn't expecting you two to put aside your differences long enough... but this still isn't over." His eyes glowed the instant his enemies unleashed their attacks. "FAITH!" A burst of blinding light broke the Demon Shadow's grip on him, while simultaneously turning aside both attacks.
Both Xemnas and Ansem fell back, dazed by the blinding flash. After a moment, Ansem's blurry vision finally allowed him to catch sight of Xehanort directly over them, his Keyblade's tip pointed at them.
"BINDING OF LIGHT!" He shouted, and a web of light enmeshed Xemnas and Ansem. Xehanort altered his grip on his keyblade as he fell towards his struggling counterparts. "Cross Raid!" He flung his keyblade at Xemnas, who was unable to defend himself as it cut into his side. The blade spun, catching Ansem in the arm, back into Xehanort's hands, who quickly dropped down and slashed the Seeker of Darkness. He then brought back his glowing Keyblade. "ARS SANCTUS!" He shouted, cutting both of them out of the bindings and holding them in the air with an incredibly fast series of cuts. The last strike sent the two spiraling back.
Ansem righted himself first, landing not far from Xehanort.
"DAMMIT! Does nothing have any effect on that man?" Xemnas, breathing heavily, alighted next to him, glancing from Xehanort to Ansem.
"He's strong... stronger than either of us... but he's been wounded. He's not invincible... there's no way he can keep this up forever..." Xehanort took his stance.
"Never underestimate the idea that you may be dead wrong." He said.
"Arrogant..." Xemnas and Ansem exchanged a look. "NOW!" Both shouted. Ansem sank into the ground, and Xemnas teleported.
The two appeared either side of Xehanort and striking him, Ansem with his Demon Shadow's claws and Xemnas with his two swords. With astonishing reaction time, Xehanort knocked aside Xemnas's swords and blocked the Demon Shadow's claws, taking several light cuts as the Heartless attempted to press past his sword. The three fought an intense and close battle like this for a time, but Xehanort finally caught Xemnas off guard and kicked off his chest, spinning like a drill to shatter Ansem's attempts to box him in. Xehanort landed behind the two.
"This has gone far enough..." He dragged his Keyblade along the ground, finally bringing it up with considerable force. "UPHEAVAL SLASH!" Several massive columns of explosive light energy shot out in an array of lines from where he slashed.Both Ansem and Xemnas were caught by the pillars, Ansem hit directly from below, and Xemnas was struck from behind as one exploded upwards behind him.
Soon after, Xemnas and Ansem redoubled their efforts against their Keybearing counterpart. Xehanort remained nearly untouchable as Xemnas and Ansem joined forces against him. Xemnas managed to clip him once or twice with his swords, and the Demon Shadow persistantly attempted to rake Xehanort with its claws.
Xehanort kept both his enemies at bay with his sword and lasers, but it was clear that he was not giving it his all. He seemed to be very carefully monitoring how Xemnas and Ansem worked together, especially as he dodged their synchronized attacks and caused them to strike each other. They can't work together long... he thought to himself.
Suddenly, Xehanort knocked both his doubles down and jumped, landing further back. "It's time to finish this."
Xemnas and Ansem both got up, battered by Xehanort's attacks.
"What...is...he...doing?" Xemnas rasped, breathing heavily.
"I don't know... Get ready!" Xehanort began to spin, bringing his Keyblade against the ground, dragging it along. He completed the spin, dragging the blade into an upward slash. Suddenly, many feathers, like the ones that made up the teeth of his Keyblade, were launched from it into the sky. Xehanort took a two-handed grip on the Keyblade, its glow briefly widening as he directed it towards the upheaval of feathers.
He then fired a massive beam from the tip of the Keyblade. It was absorbed by the feathers, which each glowed brightly for several moments, humming with absorbed energy. Xemnas and Ansem's eyes widened.
"Oh, no..." Ansem and Xemnas immediately gathered their power.
"COME GUARDIAN!"
"GUARD!"
The feathers glowed their brightest as the beam ended, unleashing hundreds of smaller beams towards the two combatants. The Heartless and Nothing Barrier both absorbed the attacks for a short time, but soon... they were overwhelmed. For a brief moment, the blasts made Xemnas and Ansem impossible to see. When the light cleared, the two were kneeling on the ground, battered and badly wounded. Xemnas's swords and Ansem's guardian were both gone.
"Grgh... I hadn't expected things to go this far..." Xemnas said.
"Holding back now is suicide. He said it himself," the Seeker of Darkness replied, getting up. "Let's finish this."
Ansem spread his arms, and the light that filled the area seemed to dim. His Demon Shadow reappeared behind him.
Both Heartless's bodies grew dark, and grew slightly in stature as the shadows enveloped them both into a cocoon of shadow, slimming back down onto Ansem's lithe form. The shadows peeled off of Ansem's body, revealing his transformation, the same form he took when battling Sora in the abyss. His coat had apparently combined with his pants; Ansem's legs were in synthetic-looking black and gold armor. However, the true transformation seemed to be taking place behind him as the shadows took form after peeling off of Ansem…
The shadows joined together as they grew into a monstrous form, an inhuman cackle escaping from it. Finally, in a shockwave of power, the new Demon Shadow revealed its form. The creature was now massive, and blues and reds had joined the original black. The thing now had massive shoulders and a horned, doglike head. The same glowing yellow eyes burned in its sockets and on the upper birdlike eyes on its chest as it revealed two rows of blue fangs within its blackened face. Despite its bestial appearance, it also sported an array of sharp bones for its lower rib cage and its claws. Ansem chuckled darkly as his new guardian bared its teeth at Xehanort, summoning the double-bladed, lance-like form of Soul Eater he had formerly used against Sora.
While Xehanort took a step back, regarding this new threat, Xemnas quickly gathered power as well. A blinding white and black aura briefly encircled him; a dead, blank color compared to the golden light surrounding him. As the aura cleared, Xemnas became visible again, now with jagged white streaks running through his now white and black trench coat; the form he'd taken prior to his own death at Sora and Riku's hands.
"This should even the odds…" Xemnas commented sardonically. Xehanort's eyes narrowed.
"So you bare your full strength already…"
"Enough talk." The Seeker of Darkness interrupted. "Let's get this over with." His guardian reared up, and Ansem shot forward, hovering over the ground with much greater speed than he'd previously been capable of. Xehanort quickly raised his Keyblade, staving off several attacks before Ansem's weapon clipped his side, knocking him into the range of the guardian's deadly claws. Xehanort took several strong blows, but then righted himself.
"Even this won't overcome my light!" He said, glowing and dashing away from the guardian's next attack. Ansem laughed.
"You may be able to run as fast as light itself, but you can't fight at that speed. You'll make a mistake soon enough, and then, you're finished!" Xemnas walked over.
"You may be content to wait, Heartless, but I prefer to get things done quickly!" Xemnas launched himself into the air, sending a massive swarm of Nothing Bolts at Xehanort, attempting to trap him within them. To his chagrin, Xehanort dodged through the gaps quickly, making his way towards Xemnas, and breaking his light speed as he entered striking distance.
However, Xemnas easily blocked the attack, and Xehanort heard a whistling behind him. He pushed hard, launching away from Xemnas to evade Ansem's guardian, which snatched at empty air with a howl of frustration. However, a second Xemnas appeared behind Xehanort and slashed at his back with both swords.
"Urgh!" Xehanort grunted, pointing his Keyblade at the clone, which zoomed away as he shot a laser at it.
Xemnas, his double, and the Seeker of Darkness all shared a smirk. Their full power, it seems, had broken Xehanort's dominance. They all quickly charged.
As light, darkness, and nothingness met once more in battle, Axel and Larxene watched from a distance.
"Geez… I've never seen anything like this before…" Axel said nervously. He still didn't understand who or what the Keybearing third form of Xehanort was, but he was aware that he was extremely powerful to still be holding up against these attacks, despite losing the one-sided advantage he previously held.
"This guy is powerful… very powerful." Larxene said quietly. "If he turns this around, and kills the Superior… do you think he'll come after us?" She looked worriedly at the fight, observing that Xehanort was able to move quickly and easily around the larger attacks of his enemies, unable to mount an attack. Xemnas and the Seeker of Darkness seemed to be favoring energy based strikes, keeping the super-fast Xehanort at bay. Xehanort seemed frustrated, as the two attacked in unison before he could make a slash.
Axel was inwardly surprised. Larxene, in life, had been fairly cruel, with a love of violence that had sometimes alarmed him. He'd suspected she would express something akin to delight at watching the bloody fight unfold, but she didn't seem to enjoy the bloodshed at all… she was scared. Then again, watching Xehanort's own Heartless use his guardian to slash at himself, or Xemnas teleporting around, firing huge clusters of blasts at Xehanort…Axel was scared too, but he was reluctant to show it. The fact Larxene was showing her fear drove the gravity of the scenario home quite well.
How much has death changed you, Larx'…? He thought to himself. He shook his head, not letting Larxene have any hint of his thoughts.
"I don't care who wins. This is way too dangerous…" He thought briefly. "If their fight grows, or someone wins and starts looking around, we run for it."
Larxene suddenly stiffened.
"Get down! I hear footsteps!"
Moments later, Ansem the Wise walked around the corner, still not quite in range to realize the fight was going on, but almost entering the same area as Larxene and Axel. The two Nobodies reacted on instinct, Axel quickly grabbing the sage while Larxene came up behind and put a hand over his mouth.
"Don't shout." She breathed in his ear quietly. Ansem the Wise glared, but was quiet as Larxene removed her hand.
"What are you doing here?" He asked quietly but angrily.
"The Superior and his Heartless teamed up and broke in here. We followed them." Axel explained, whispering urgently. "They're fighting some third form of them now, one with a Keyblade! This spot is getting too dangerous!"
"What?" Ansem replied. "The Heartless and Nobody survived?"
"Funny world, isn't it?" Larxene broke in impatiently. "We have to get back, fast!"
"I can't just let those two move unimpeded!" Ansem said.
"You want to walk in on that fight?" Larxene pointed towards the fight around the corner, causing Ansem to look and see the ferocity of the battle unfolding before them, Xehanort frequently using his Light Sprint to hold off his opponents' attacks. "I'd rather live, thank you very much." Larxene snapped. Ansem looked like he was about to say something, but then nodded. He looked at the three warring sides of his student, looking worried as the Keybearer took a heavy blow from the Heartless, barely holding off Xemnas. He recovered after a moment, ensnaring Xemnas's double as he fired several blasts at him, before Light Sprinting away from the Seeker of Darkness.
"You're right. This situation is out of my hands." He followed the two Nobodies back to their hiding spot, still glaring at their backs with an expression of intense dislike.
Back at the fight, Xemnas reveled at the power flowing through him. Even though he'd been defeated and sent here, he seemed to have retained the power he absorbed from Kingdom Hearts. This "chaser" was no match for him now.
In fact… this fight is in my favor so much… Xemnas glanced at Ansem as he charged up a beam to shoot at Xehanort. Perhaps now is the time to get rid of any useless baggage!
Xehanort light dashed suddenly, getting out of Xemnas's range. The nobody swore under his breath and began to realign his attack when a heavy blow struck him from behind.
"Ugh!" He grunted, slammed into the ground by the massive fist of the Seeker of Darkness's guardian.
"You've served your purpose. I don't need you any longer." The false Ansem laughed, turning his attentions back to Xehanort. However, he was caught off guard when Xemnas's clone teleported in front of him and struck him with a shower of energy blasts at point-blank range.
"My sentiments exactly." The Superior snarled at his former partner, jumping at the guardian behind Ansem with his blades extended.
The fight devolved quickly into an almighty free-for-all. Xehanort dashed in and out of range, laying waste with his Keyblade and light energy, while Xemnas and "Ansem" sped around above the ground, unleashing massive blasts at Xehanort and each other.
The fight remained even; alliances as temporary as a spark in the night were forged and broken between the combatants. Xemnas and Xehanort, exchanging glares of mutual loathing, worked grudgingly together on several occasions, the Nobody sending out Nothing Bolts to entangle the slow moving Heartless the Seeker of Darkness was bound to while the Chaser raced across this temporary bridge to attack his own Heartless repeatedly. But mere moments later, Xemnas and Xehanort were at each other's throats again, while the copy Xemnas held off the Seeker of Darkness.
Eventually, the combatants were all bloody and wounded. Xemnas, panting furiously, rose into the air.
"I've had far enough of this game! DIE!" He shouted, forming a massive dome of lasers over Xehanort and his Heartless form. The two looked at the huge attack, and then at each other.
"I'll kill you after I'm done with him." The Heartless snarled.
"You'll try, abomination." Xehanort replied, and the dome began to fire.
Xehanort dodged and blocked to his best ability, personally giving thanks for the small blessing the Heartless behind him couldn't betray him without being killed in this rain of blasts.
After an eternity of blocking the deadly energy, Xemnas's attack was exhausted. The Seeker of Darkness glared up at him.
"That settles it. You die first!" He said. Xemnas smiled.
"You still have to make sure it's the right me." The Heartless suddenly looked down to see the Xemnas copy had come up from beneath him. The two fought fast and desperately in close quarters.
"Guardian!" the Heartless shouted to his companion. It extended a massive arm in Xehanort's direction. Xehanort quickly jumped onto the hand, which threw him up at Xemnas. The Superior was unprepared for a sudden assault, taking several hits before he could unleash a burst of energy to send Xehanort flying back to the ground.
As Xehanort landed, Xemnas came down to ground level. The Seeker of Darkness turned as well, shooting a blast at Xehanort without warning.
"Change of plans; I'll get rid of you first!" the Heartless shouted. Xehanort dodged, but saw Xemnas's double closing in for an attack.
"ENOUGH!" He shouted. In a supernova of light, his Keyblade cut the phantom Nobody in half. The two pieces dissolved into light.
From their hiding place, Axel scooted back in spite of himself.
"Damn. Those three are monsters…" He glanced at the three sides of Xehanort, each glaring at the other two to try and predict the next attack. "They all look near ready to drop dead from all those wounds… but…" Axel shuddered. "I feel really uneasy…"
"I've got a very bad feeling about this, Axel." Larxene said worriedly. "They're all wounded and desperate. Who knows how big their next attack will be?"
Ansem the Wise, although he shared the two Nobodies' foreboding, kept his opinion to himself.