Kingdom Hearts: System X

By Christine Lennoire

Beta: Bakageta

Summery: "Nobodies that heartless.." and no, I didn't make a grammar error. Hearts are corrupted. Heartless nobodies? Who in the hell is System X? It's from the King... But Ansem... Roxas... Sora... But he's my friend! Kingdom Hearts... Keyblade. They're... smart! They came after me... It's him... They're working together... We have to do something...

a new journey has begun

Chapter Fifteen: Master of Shadows, Angel of Death

Xu began to unwrap the medical wrap on his arm slowly. Everyone watched in awe as he unwound it: spiral by spiral. After a few turns, a black mark came into view. Further and further – until they could make out the shape of the entire tattoo-like marking. It was a demonized figure of an angel, with a bird and a snake – one on either side of the dark angel. "We are her guardians... the Angel of Death has asked you... to die!" Xu took a dangerous fighting stance and lunged at the group, who was immediately thrown off guard.

Their shadows began to grow and change behind them. Everyone slowly began to panic, as they watched their shadows jump to attack them. Roxas, Zexion, Axel, and Demyx tried to fight back together. However, the shadows dodged each attack easily. Unguarded, Xu attacked them from behind while manipulating the shadows to capture them.

Sora, Riku, and Kairi, upon seeing their friends being captured, attacked the shadows until the others were free and they all turned their attention to Xu. Together, they were able to push him back, but he was strong and held up. Either way, they were vulnerable to his shadows' attacks. For a while, it just went back and forth – no one budging an inch, though Sora and the others were taking quite a beating... and the 'Angel of Death' had not even moved yet to help him... who knew what would happen if she fought along side him.

"You do not know what we have seen. If you did... perhaps you would agree to stop this silly fight." X said, smirking. "The pain that will come is far more than will come from the ending of the worlds. Can you imagine how hard it is for us to see... to know... what will happen... who will die... when, and how... long before it happens. If I do not stop this now... we will all suffer."

Riku sighed. "Everyone's gonna die someday. You said it yourself... you know long before it happens. So why are you worrying about it now? Instead, you should focus on what you have and the time that's left, instead of looking so far into the future. You will miss out on all that life has to offer." Sora and the others nodded in agreement. Zexion stepped forward.

"Destiny... fate... I do not believe in these things. Fate said that we... the nobodies... were destined to fade back into darkness. But I want to believe that strength and perseverance can change anything that life his in store. I don't want my life to be pre-determined. I want to have a say... I want to live my life my way for once. So I don't want to hear it... I'm going to fight it... for a chance at a future! The future that Xemnas said didn't belong to me. I will not run away! Not any more..."

Demyx grinned and nodded. "That's right!"

X smiled and stepped forward. "Nobel words from someone who doesn't exist. You deserve much... at the least, a quick death." She raised both hands and slowly began chanting, steadily becoming louder and going faster. "I am the master of shadows, I am the bringer of light... I am the giver of life, I am the bringer of death... I am immersed in the twilight, I walk in the wake of the dusk... I am the angel of death." She repeated this about three times, as a large orb of bright energy began forming in her hands that were outstretched in front of her.

In times like these, those who panic, have their greatest ideas...

"RUN!" Sora shouted. All the others followed behind. Soon they found themselves back down in the tunnels. Zexion ran ahead of them all and motioned for them to follow behind.

Zexion closed his eyes and began to prepare. "Nihil ecce dormat somnibus omnis demen tix iiya." he chanted. A crack in the floor appeared and began to glow a bright blue color. "Nihil demen. Nihil demen. Nihil demen iiya." he repeated louder. Demyx began to shake. Zexion's eyes turned black. This was indeed the point of no return. It had never been attempted before... No one knew if it would work. But right now, it was their only hope.

Xemnas had set this up when the Organization was first founded. The ritual was difficult, so the original six were the only ones who were ever informed of the secret. Now it was up to him. Finally, the tunnel came to an end... a dead end. The only thing in the area, was a small podium and an orb that was glowing blue, just like the line on the ground. "I am the sixth. Manipulator of minds... master of darkness... I am Zexion. Nihil demen. Nihil demen. Nihil demen iiya." There was a click, and a blinding light burst forth.

The blackness began to bleed from Zexion's eyes, and marks appeared over his body. "I paid the price for this power... Let me fight... Let me win... When I fight for what I believe in." he chanted some more. Zexion stepped back so that he was distanced from the others. "Goodbye." This one was not a chant... This was for real. The floor dropped out underneath the others, and they were taken away, as Zexion turned to face the path back to X and Xu.

"Give me strength to protect the world... and the people... I love."

COMING UP NEXT:

Chapter Sixteen: Guard Me, Guide Me, Save Me

He can't do it alone!

But how can we...

The airship still works!

If we don't do something, he's going to die!

Please... help...

This world is not for you to destroy! This is not a game!

I'm done for...

Yeah... that took forever. I'm having a little trouble. But it will get better. Please review! Thanks and I hope you enjoyed it, even though it was forced... it was short and not so very exciting so that the ending can be all that much better! Yeah... let's go with that. REVIEW! Thank you!

Christine Lennoire