"What the hell is heart synchronization?" Natsumi asked.
"It's an ability that allows one to enter the heart of another" chisas nobody explained.
"Creepy, but useful" Natsumi said," how do we do it?"
"I need the Phoenix to hear me" Chiaki said.
"Right now it's on the highest tower" Hajime said.
"Could you lure it to the garden?" Chiaki asked.
"We can" chisas nobody said.
"Then I'll wait here with Hajime and natsumi" Chiaki said.
"Is there something you need us to do?" Natsumi asked.
"Yes, when the Phoenix arrives I need you to hold it back while I perform the heart synchronization"
"Alright then" Natsumi said as she picked up her spear.
...
Just as the nobodies promised, they were able to knock the paradox Phoenix into the garden using the abilities from their keyblades. The Phoenix raised its wings in anger before the castle doors to the garden opened revealing Chiaki, Natsumi, and Hajime.
"A scattered dream is like a far off memory. A far off memory that's like a scattered dream" Chiaki said as her keyblade started to glow," I want to line the pieces up. Yours and mine"
Once she finished her spell, the keyblade started to produce music along with lines of light. Then Chiaki sang:
In you and I, there's a new land
Angels in flight
I need more affection than you know (reversed)
My sanctuary, my sanctuary, yeah
Where fears and lies melt away
Music inside
I need more affection than you know (reversed)
What's left of me
What's left of me now?
As chiaki sang, the Phoenix cocked its head and prepared to lunge for chiaki. Using their weapons, Hajime and natsumi held off the Phoenix.
(So many ups and downs)
My heart's a battleground
(I need true emotions)
(I need more affection than you know)
(I need true emotions)
By now, the lines of lights had expanded past Chiaki and started to wrap around the Phoenix.
You show me how to see
That nothing is whole and nothing is broken
In you and I, there's a new land
Angels in flight
I need more affection than you know (reversed)
My sanctuary, my sanctuary, yeah
Where fears and lies melt away,
Music inside
I need more affection than you know (reversed)
As chiakis song came to an end, the lights wrapped around the Phoenix as it started to fall asleep and the rain started to lighten.
What's left of me,
What's left of me now?
My fears, my lies..
Melt away.
Once she finished her song, the strings of light ended and left her body causing her to faint. Both Hajime and natsumi rushed to catch her before she hit the ground. The phoenix fell asleep, causing the cursed rain to stop. Hajime bit his tongue as he tried not to think about what could happen. Natsumi took notice of his stress and placed her hand on his.
"She's strong, remember" Natsumi reassured.
"You're right" Hajime nodded as he looked down at chiaki.
...
When chiaki opened her eyes she found herself in a sanctuary of sorts. The halls were pure white with shining marble floors, yet every part of the pure sanctuary was infested with black vines. All the black vines were covered in thorns as they suffocated the sanctuary and produced an air of uneasiness. Carefully, Chiaki walked through the hall. As she walked she came upon paintings of Nanami, except the faces were blacked out. Despite the disturbing sight, Chiaki continued forward through the hall. She walked for a while until she started to hear voices.
"I have to be perfect"
"Love me"
"I don't want to be alone"
"Everyone, don't leave me"
"I'm scared"
Chiaki recognized the voices as nanamis. Each word sounded so desperate and scared. The voices chattered for a while until new voices emerged.
"You're so beautiful"
"Don't change"
"We love you as you are now"
"You're an Angel"
"I would happily die for you"
"Promise that you'll always smile"
Those voices, Chiaki remembered, belonged to nanamis friends and family. As chiaki continued forward, the voices settled down behind her. She walked cautiously over the thorn vines before she spotted a scarlet door. Facing the door, she took a deep breath before entering.
Inside was a throne room filled with a garden monotone roses. More importantly, Nanami laid trapped in a web of ink and roses between two pillars at the end of the room. She was passed out from the looks of it with a crown of roses on her head. Chiaki stepped forward only to trigger a familiar and sinister laugh. The laugh echoed through the hall before a blob of ink descended from the ceiling. When the ink landed before Chiaki, it started to take form before it became the true Junko enoshima.
"What do we have here?" Junko asked," an insignificant nobody"
"My name is Chiaki" Chiaki proclaimed as she summoned her keyblade," I'm here to stop you and save Nanami"
"Really?" Junko asked before turning into ink and forming behind Chiaki" is that what you really want?"
"Yes" Chiaki said as she turned to face Junko.
"But what will happen after you save her?" Junko asked as she turned into ink and moved towards Nanami.
"Nanami will come back and set everything back to order" Chiaki said.
"True" Junko said after she formed next to Nanami," but once you deliver the final heart fragment, you will disappear from existence and this little flower will take your place"
"I know, but I can't let this world fall to chaos" Chiaki said causing Junko to turn into ink and form right in front of Chiaki.
"I sense their is some emotional attachment in your voice" Junko said," perhaps you have convinced yourself into loving others"
"What does that matter?" Chiaki asked.
"If you were to leave those people you love will fall into despair" Junko said," perhaps so much that they turn into hopeless"
"No, they're stronger than that" Chiaki said," they'll move on and forget about me"
"Right you're a nobody so I'll explain" Junko said," humans are fragile and pitiful creatures that fall to despair as soon as they loose something valuable to them"
"Not them" Chiaki said.
"Even the strongest of heart can be weakened by despair" Junko said.
"No, you're lying" Chiaki said as she raised her keyblade to fight.
"Oh, then I'll guess I'll have to prove it" Junko said.
Junko clapped her hands, causing sixteen coffins to raise up from the garden of roses. With a sinister smile, Junko sank into ink before forming by nanamis side. Delicately Junko tapped nanamis shoulder and whispered into her ear.
"Look Nanami" Junko whispered," everyone you love is dead"
The web and vines tightened till they woke Nanami up. She looked around desperately to see the coffins.
"No" Nanami said.
"They all died because of you" Junko whispered to her like a poisonous snake," it's all your fault"
"No" Nanami cried as she gazed upon the coffins and saw visions of her loved ones.
As nanamis tears fell, the vines grew bigger and stronger as they started to crush the sanctuary. The vines created cracks in the walls causing Nanami to cry out in pain. Unable to take anymore, Chiaki leaped towards Junko ready to strike her with her keyblade. Junko merely grinned before commanding the vines to trap Chiaki.
"You just don't know when to quite" Junko laughed," but don't worry, soon you'll realize that I am the only one left for you and our hearts will become one forever"
"I won't let that happen" Chiaki struggled.
"Just think of all the hearts we can devour" Junko said," we could even one day devour kingdom hearts"
"Please, don't leave me" Nanami cried causing chiakis keyblade to glow.
"Don't worry, soon i'll be with you forever" Junko smiled.
"No, don't listen to Junko" Chiaki said," she's lying to you"
"I don't want to be alone" Nanami cried.
"But you aren't alone" Chiaki said," your loved ones are still with you"
"No, they're dead" nanami said.
"They're right here with you in your heart" Chiaki said as she raised the keyblade," open your eyes and you'll see them"
Sixteen hearts shot out of the keyblade and floated around nanami. With their calming auras, the heart melted away the web and vines that trapped Nanami. Nanami looked up at the hearts with tear filled eyes.
"Mom, dad, everyone" Nanami said.
As Nanami spoke, the vines started to shrink and wither a bit allowing Chiaki to free herself. Junko was about to lunge for Nanami until Chiaki used keyblade to freeze Junko in a block of ice.
"No, this can't be" Junko said," I can't be defeated by a worthless nobody.
"Are you alright?" Chiaki asked, ignoring Junko and walking to Nanami.
"I'm fine now, thank you " Nanami said," who are you?"
"I'm Chiaki" Chiaki said," I have something that belongs to you"
Chiaki summoned the last heart fragment and offered it to Nanami.
"Were you the one that gathered my heart fragments?" Nanami asked.
"I had a lot of help from my friends Hajime and natsumi" Chiaki said.
"Then I'll thank them when I see them" Nanami smiled," but what will happen when my heart is fixed".
"I don't know" Chiaki said," I'm pretty sure I'll disappear"
"Then I can't accept this" Nanami said.
"No, a lot of people need you now" Chiaki said," more so than they need me"
"Isn't there anything I can do for you?" Nanami asked.
"Deliver a message to Hajime and natsumi for me" Chiaki requested.
"I will" Nanami said.
Once the message was heard, Chiaki and Nanami hugged each other. Together they turned into a bright and beautiful light that burned away Junko and her vines.
...
Hajime and natsumi grew increasingly worried with each passing second until they saw the paradox Phoenix burst into a thousand shooting hearts. From among those hearts, sixteen returned to the nobodies while one returned to Mukuro. A heart that shined like the full moon floated forth and entered chiakis body. Soon enough, she started to open her eyes.
"Chiaki, you're okay" Hajime cried as he hugged her.
"You had us worried" natsumi said as she joined in the hug.
"I'm sorry" Nanami spoke," but I'm not Chiaki"
