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 Eighteen: X's Confession: The True Story!

"How disappointing. I thought you would make a wonderful tool. Alas, you turn against me... ME! The one who gave you strength and life out of the nothing-ness that remained. You ungrateful leech. I will make you all pay for your ignorance. You want to know the truth, do you? I don't think you do. But if that is what you ask for, then who am I to deny you this information?" she said, airily, flitting around the room carelessly. Her smile was wicked, and her body language was playful, and not very serious, considering it was the end of the world that they were talking about. 'How can she be so careless and carefree? Doesn't she realize what she is doing?' Sora thought angrily.

X tapped Roxas and Axel on the shoulder at the same time. "Light... and dark." Then Zexion and Demyx, too. "Twilight... and dusk. They are connected to each other, you know. I am from the twilight. You, Keyblade Master, have seen the sandy beaches of what lies in darkness... and the light beyond the door to Kingdom Hearts. Well, Twilight is different. From there, you can see everything that is going to happen: present, past, or future. Knowledge is everything there, and there isn't a piece of knowledge I haven't seen."

"Do you know how hard it is to know everything!? Well, let me tell you! Everyone and everything I cared for or loved – would all turn to dust. My love... I turned him away. I figured it wouldn't be so hard if I didn't have to watch it happen. But it wasn't. I became very bitter. So I decided that I would stop this madness: End the world, and start anew, from scratch, right here."

Sora growled. "But it's not about the future! It's about living for what we have! Since I was a little kid, I knew that I was going to die. At the same time, I'm not going to rush to my death and miss all the opportunities to live. Perhaps it is the cruelest sin of all: to give us something wonderful and take it away again in the next instant. But I want to make the most of what I was given and not die only to realize all the things I could have done. That only leads to regret. And I promised myself two years ago that I wouldn't have any more regrets."

X laughed. "It's too late! You cannot save your world now. Already in motion are the wheels that will destroy everything. I distracted you, in need of time. So I threatened the people you hold closest. You protected them, but I don't need their hearts… I need them. Their powers are what opens the doors. And you brought them all directly to me. So in the end, I got everything that I wanted and more. Now I will open the four doors and summon Chaos to destroy everything. Only then can every human be saved from torment!"

"And if you try to destroy me… I can just suck your powers straight away and then I win. You can't beat me. It's part of my omnipotent existence. I know you are going to lose. I have seen it with my own eyes. Prepare for your death." She said, crossing her arms and smirking. Riku jumped forward and protected Sora. His eyes gleamed in a way they hadn't since they had been little – spending all their time growing up on the beach. Such fond memories, and the last time he had been happy like that had been years ago.

Riku was ready to end this, once and for all. "We went through hell to save the world many times. From that, I learned that only one thing is certain. You can change the future, with determination. A long time ago, I was told that I belonged to the darkness, and I did. But I was able to come back and change everything that I had been told. So we can change the future of the world, too. We're not as weak as you think we are. So I hope you're ready."

Kairi put a hand on his shoulder. She smiled at him sweetly, and also took a fighting stance. "I'm not a fighter. But there are some things that are truly worth fighting for. I am fighting for my friends, so that they can live out the rest of their lives happily. All these years we could have spent together. I just want things to go back to the way they were before. We were happy back then, and I don't mind dying, if only I don't die with regrets… like never getting to tell the guy you like that you've had a crush on him since you were six years old…" she blushed.

"I can't die until I tell him…" she said, twirling her Keyblade in a deadly circle. Sora blinked and laughed.

Sora stood next to them and smiled. "As the Keyblade Master, I have fought for many things. My friends have been a huge part. But this is the first time that I have been able to fight beside them. So I don't know about you guys, but I don't want this to be the end." Roxas, Axel, Demyx, and Zexion also joined them up front.

"I'm fighting for a dear friend…" Roxas said. "For his heart…"

Zexion smiled. "I'm fighting to break the cycle of meaningless ideals."

"I'm fighting to make myself better and stronger." Demyx grinned.

"We all have our reasons… do you feel like your reason is so justified now?" Sora said, glaring at X accusingly. She slowly backed up, with tears in her eyes.

"I used to be pure of heart like you. But my time in the Twilight made me crazy. I would give anything to go back to those days… Xu, I'm sorry. But I just can't go back anymore. You understand… I have to see this out to the end as my decision. That's part of taking responsibility for my reactions. Now, whoever is right, will win. Either way, fate will decide who is just and who deserves to die." She said, raising her arms, and putting up a silver barrier to trap them inside and stop them from running away.

A long and dangerous fight ensued. Her power was one of insight, so she was able to easily dodge and strategize. But she wasn't prepared for Sora's technique. Sora doesn't think. He is wild and unpredictable, and in the end, it came down to a quick blow from him that sent her down on her knees, crying with fear and regret. "I'm sorry." She muttered, fading off into the darkness.

"The truth is… she wasn't a bad person. It just goes to show what the danger of knowledge is. Knowing too much can often drive you crazy. I wonder if that's what happened to all those great philosophers?" Kairi sighed.

On the shelf behind her were two hearts. Upon releasing them, they returned to their respective owners. Axel blinked twice, noticing an intense difference around him. "Woah. I guess I forgot what it feels like." He added sheepishly.

Roxas just laughed, crying for joy, as he hugged Axel close. All around them, her alternate reality was crumbling and returning back to the way it used to be. "I never thought I would see the day…" Zexion smiled. "It feels like home here again." Demyx smiled and laughed, hugging his sitar joyfully.

"I feel inspired." He said, strumming happily.

Sora gulped. "Not yet. We're not home safe yet…"

"Look! It's the Gummi Ship!" Riku shouted, looking through a crack in her reality to see it zooming closer. Everyone cheered and ran for the door. Xu stayed there, sprawled out on the floor.

His tattoo was fading: proof that she was no longer on this plane of existence. "Although I was just a tool… a weapon… I still loved you. I am sorry, but maybe now you can find something great worth fighting for, even in death." He said. "I will join you some day, and then I can apologize for not defending you. Still, never doubt my love." And he stayed in the wreckage, until nothing was left. He was never found again after the destruction of that room…

The Gummi Ship quickly flew them up and out of there. And it took them all to the shores of Destiny Island…

Coming up Next:

The conclusion!

Chapter Nineteen: Forever After

Nothing else to say. Everything will conclude in the next chapter. So now's the time to review! Hope you liked it and will send reviews of love! Thanks. Last chance to get food as thanks from me. Cupcakes for everyone! Because it's almost over! ;;

Christine Lennoire