Wow, long time no talk... or update in this case. ; Heh, sorry about that but nearly all my exams are over. Just one more left and I'm more than prepared for that one. So, Tragedy and I have pulled ourselves back together again to deliver you one of the much awaited penultimate chapters. LOL.

Hope you like it! xxx


Waking Up to My Nightmare

Kairi shot upright in bed, clutching at her swollen stomach protectively as a scream ripped itself from her lips. "SORA!"

Tidus jerked awake beside her and reached for his wife before his eyes opened. "Kai?"

She dissolved into sobs and pulled her arms around herself and her soon to be born infant. "I h-had a n-nightmare!" She hiccupped as her husband righted himself and pulled her backwards into his hold, her back against his chest as he rocked her gently. "S-Sora was dark and evil a-and Riku w-was in a c-coma!"

Tidus frowned and hushed his wife. "It was just a dream, love. It can't hurt you or them; I'm sure they're perfectly fine. Rest, love, you'll do yourself harm worrying over them like this."


Everent nodded from the shadows to the left across the corridor to the shadows on the right from which he only spied a slight glimmer of red eyes in response. As one, the pair leapt out and descended upon the two unsuspecting dark soldiers, finishing them without a moment's hesitation. They left not even a second for their prey to scream. The dark fell like the many others who had fallen at their hands, but the prince was confident these men would be the last.

Waving his keyblade away Everent gestured for the rest of their group to follow; Soku immediately scampering to the dark prince's side, Xikru practically skipping along with ease, and Leon joining Vincent who brought up the rear, constantly wary of an ambush.

"'Rent?" Soku murmured.

"Yeah, 'Ku?" The prince replied.

"When this is all over… will you come home with me?" The light prince blushed lightly, fearful of rejection and reaching for the words necessary to convey his want. "W-will you s-stay? W-with me?"

Everent's eyes widened, his heart touched by the depth of Soku's care for him. He smiled fondly and teased, "You want to ask me this now?"

Soku became flustered. "W-well, I-I t-thought-"

The prince suppressed a deep, rumbling laugh but grinned. "I'd love to, Soku." Turning his head back to their path and was face fell into the necessary, hard-set, determined scowl. "We're here." He turned them down another corner and they faced a black, heavy-set wooden door that bore down on them ominously.

Soku gulped and Leon rested a large hand on his shoulder comfortingly. "You could probably still leave now, you know. You don't need to do this." The brunette warrior murmured, his grandfather nature shining through.

The silveret shook his head firmly, eyes as hard as diamond. "No. I came here for Papa and I won't leave here without him." He grinned suddenly. "Plus, I want to see you confess to Cloud that you love him. His face will be a picture." Leon looked shocked for a moment but he laughed softly and shook his head. Soku was right, Cloud's face would be something to behold once those words were said.

"You're evil, you know that?" Leon chuckled.

Soku just grinned and all five of them braced themselves against the doors and heaved against it. Pushing relentlessly until the door creaked and groaned angrily but buckled under their combined strength, slowly swinging the two sides apart. Grouping together again once they were allowed inside the small collection of strange beings, both mortal and not, drew their weapons with smooth metallic sounds of swords being drawn, bright lights as keyblades were summoned and the clinking of a safety catch being released as Vincent drew his gun as well as his sword; just for good measure.

"And so we begin." Xikru murmured softly. His hands were the only ones free of weapons as he stepped confidently into the room, ahead of the others as he approached the empty throne.

Leon's eyes widened in surprise. "Xikru, get your ass back here now!" He hissed.

Xikru didn't even pause. "Not until I find-"

"Until you find who?" A curious voice inquired from the shadows behind the throne. A small form revealed themselves, creeping from the darkness until they stood in the firelight from the many torches lining the throne room walls.

Dark skin illuminated, yellow eyes alight, it was no hard task to know who it was who stood before them.

"Sora!" Xikru cried, rushing forwards when Sora let out a feral snarl at him.

"Stay back, Xikru." Vincent warned. "He's not Sora right now."

Xikru's hurt expression at the snarl he was given became a face of determination and faith. "I know who he is, Vince. This is Sora. At least, a part of him anyway. Regardless of what he is on the surface, this is my Sora. The man I fell in love with and married. The man whom I share a child with."

The creature that bared such an identical resemblance to Sora faltered, his bared teeth changing to a gasp of emotion as a voice, croaky and pained, slipped free from the black lips. "R-Ri…k-ku…" It staggered and Xikru rushed to catch it when suddenly a large, black feathered wing shot from nowhere and enveloped Sora into it, pulling the dark creature away from Xikru. With a shudder the wing pulled back and revealed not one but three figures.

"Cloud!" Leon cried, rushing forwards in shock when Vincent caught him around the waist with a heavy tug, his red eyes locked on Sephiroth who was smirking maliciously at Leon.

Dull blue eyes blinked and something sparked in the corners of Cloud's mind. "L-Leon…?" Cloud looked again and blue clashed with ice gray. "Leon!" He pressed a hand against Sephiroth's chest, weakly struggling to be free, not even caring he was naked but for a scant loincloth about his hips.

Sephiroth's eyes flashed dangerously and he shook Cloud's beaten body, making the blond cry out in agony. "This is the man to whom you gave your heart?!" The king of darkness demanded. Cloud didn't reply but his hands clasped at the leather covering Sephiroth's sides as he looked away. "Answer me, Cloud!" In rage he gripped Cloud's chin tightly, wrenching his face upwards and claiming his lips in a breathless kiss, making Cloud whimper and Leon roar in rage.

Drawing back, satisfied with the bruised lips and small trail of blood he had left on Cloud from his brutal kiss, Sephiroth thundered. "You are mine, Cloud Strife, and I will have you for eternity."

In an instant Vincent released Leon and like a berserk animal the brunet charged, the red warrior following as Sephiroth released Cloud, throwing him back to be caught at his wrists by tendrils of darkness, chaining him to the wall so Sephiroth could be sure the blond could not leave during the fight.

Everent's eyes narrowed at his father and he swept up and across the stone floor with a battle cry, throwing himself into the fray as Soku turned to his father, Xikru ahead of him, and they descended upon Sora whose darkside had control once more.

Xikru slipped past Sora as Soku raised his keyblade to attack. "No!" The solid form of Riku's heart cried out and snapped his fingers, the keyblade of light vanishing in his clenched hand as Sora's claws descended, slashing Soku across the cheek and chest. Sora scampered back a bit, out of their reach, circling them predator-like.

Soku clutched his face and grunted as Xikru rushed to him. "What the hell did you do that for?!" The prince demanded.

"I'm sorry but if you had attacked with your keyblade Sora would have been killed. Sora may be made of light, but this dark part of him is in control right now. If you use a light keyblade against it the attack will destroy them both." Xikru hurriedly explained as he hauled Soku to his feet.

"Point taken." Soku grunted and wiped the blood dripping off his chin on his slashed shirt, the blood just added to the blood already soaking his chest. They faced Sora with determined eyes. "So, what do you suggest?"

"This." Xikru gripped Soku's hand and they shimmered in the air before appearing directly behind Sora. "Grab his arms!" Soku did so; pinning Sora's clawed arms by the wrist and holding him tightly. He may have been small, but he was not weak. Plus, Light had its advantages too. Sora writhed and roared in his grasp.

On the other side of the room Sephiroth wasn't even sweating as he used his sword to deflect a bullet from Vincent's gun, the small pellet of metal ricocheting to the floor with a 'ping' that was drowned out by the twin 'clangs' of Leon and Everent's swords against Sephiroth's Mesamune.

Throwing the attacking swordsmen back Sephiroth leapt away and snapped his fingers. "Bothers! Aid me!" He cried.

The shadows that danced on the wall flickered and from them emerged three men, all with silver hair and green eyes like Sephiroth and garbed in black. They stepped forward, each readying their weapon. Kadaj drew Souba from its sheath, a satisfying 'shink' sounding as he rushed towards Everent. Yazoo clicked the safety off his gun as Loz raised his arm, his strange weapon ejecting and electric mako dancing along its length as he moved into a martial artist stance facing Leon with a grin.

"Let's play." Loz taunted, Leon snarling and nearly charging until Vincent caught him by the shoulder.


"Get Sephiroth. I can take these two puppets." The red warrior stepped between Leon and Loz and raised his sword, his gun cocked and aiming at Yazoo as they all sprang into action, Sephiroth's sadistic smirk flashing in the dark as he was pursued to the dais on which the throne sat by Leon.

Soku cried out as he felt a dark claw slice his arm and across his stomach, the dangerous limbs frantically scrabbling to get him to release the creature. "Xikru! If you have a plan, do it now!" The teen couldn't believe he was actually pinning his father so that he wasn't hurt by him. It just didn't seem real. "Xikru!" Soku cried again to try and rid himself of the confusing thoughts.

"One moment, dearheart!" Xikru said in a sing-song voice. "There! Got it!"

Soku glanced up to see Xikru swallowed by a blinding light, his hands cupped upwards as if holding something delicately near his chest. There was a soft pulse and the light shot outwards and everyone turned in shock, Leon and Sephiroth caught in a deadlock on the dais as they stared but refused to lower their weapons. As the light faded Soku nearly lost his grip on Sora as Riku collapsed to the floor in front of them, a crumpled mess clothed in a baggy vest top and shorts the medic ward had supplied him with.

"Dad!" Soku yelled in distress, caught between staying put with Sora and helping his dad.

"Riku!" Everent made to go to Riku's aid when Kadaj sliced Souba across his face, a small line appearing down his cheek before the blade was poised at his throat.

Kadaj just waited. Everent breathed heavily, his chest heaving from exertion and fear. "W-what are you waiting for?! Just do it already, dammit!" The dark prince demanded.

Kadaj stared at him with conflicted eyes. "Big brother always favored you… his test tube freak of a son…" There was bitterness but not directed at Everent. "I'm so sick of this…" Kadaj shuddered and lowered his blade. "I'm so sick of all of this…" Throwing Souba to the floor Everent paused a moment to stare at his rather young uncle before rushing to Riku.

"Riku! Are you okay?!" Everent asked, rolling the limp man over and checking his pulse.

Riku grunted. "S-Sora… where's S-Sora?" Shaking like he was frozen Everent helped the king of light up, supporting him.

"Riku… Sora's not… h-he's…" Everent gave up on explaining and just pointed over to Soku where Sora stood still valiantly thrashing in his son's hold. "He's dark now… we don't know what to do but it looks like Xikru thought you would."


Leon brought his blade upwards, wrenching with all his might until Sephiroth was forced back. With a cry Leon was on him in an instant, blind rage fuelling his honed skills with just enough fury to retain technique with a balance of brute power.

"How dare you take Cloud?! He's not something you can just take like he's a possession!" Leon snarled, eyes wide with anger.

Sephiroth was only overpowered for a moment before the mastery of years shone through and he battled Leon back until Leon was against the arm of the stone throne, his precarious position threatening to topple him over the arm and at Sephiroth's mercy. "He gave himself to me years ago; he was mine then and will be mine forever!"

An outcry of disgust and Leon slashed across Sephiroth's chest. "Cloud-" Slash. "-is-" Another slash. "-not-" The sword Leon swung was pulled behind his head and thrust down. "-a toy!"

This persisted for a good while, Leon's sword matching Sephiroth's thrust for thrust, blocking each attack and parrying with one of his own. The clashing of metal sounded heavy in their eardrums, a heavy, loud pounding backed by the distant sounds of the others fighting. Sparks danced along the lengths of their weapons, a testament to their strength as Leon began to show the first signs of waning, sweat sheening him like water.

Cloud cracked his eyes open with extreme effort, his body draped over the wall and aching all over from activities he knew would leave him dirty forever. The first sight to greet him was the awesome scene of Sephiroth and Leon battling like feral dogs, their superior skills forging the blade's they swung as an extension of themselves as they fought. And even Cloud could see Leon tiring. Wanting to cry out to him but unwilling to distract him Cloud struggled weakly against his bonds before resigning himself to a front row seat to the titan of a clash.


Vincent was faring well against the two brothers, their skills great but no where near his level of ability. Slamming his foot down on Loz' armguard of an electrical weapon he vaulted over it to dodge the bullets fired at him only to fire several rounds in return.

Landing gracefully Vincent was surprised when he heard another voice add to their fray. "Brothers! Stop!"

Instantly the two brothers froze at the sound of their third bother's voice. Ever the concerned siblings Yazoo and Loz abandoned their fight with Vincent to rush to Kadaj who was staggering towards them in distress. "What is wrong, Kadaj? Are you hurt?" Yazoo asked softly, his gun resting on his shoulder in one hand as the other tilted Kadaj's face left to right critically.

"What's up, brother?" Loz chipped in.

Kadaj brushed off Yazoo's hand. "I'm… tired. I don't want to fight anymore." He took a labouredly breath. "Big brother doesn't love us and we are stuck here in darkness… I don't like it. I'm tired of it all." Leaning into Yazoo the elder wrapped his arms around Kadaj. "I want to go somewhere… anywhere else. Just… away from here."

"Anything you want, Kadaj." Yazoo promised, kissing the smaller brother's head fondly as Loz joined in their hug.

Presuming their fight over and thoroughly confused from what he'd witnessed Vincent slipped away and went over to Leon and Sephiroth.


Everent allowed Riku to stand unaided and nearly rushed him to the floor as he saw the man begin to approach Sora. Soku cried out and Everent went instead to help his lover, each pinning and arm back as Riku raised a pale skinned hand to touch Sora's darkened skin.

"I know you're in there, Sky. I could hear you calling to me." Riku murmured as if in a trance.

Sora's form seemed to flicker for a moment and Riku's head swam with the amount of energy Sora unknowingly stole from him to try and surface from the darkness. "R-Rik-ku… l-lov-ve y-you…"

The elder man smiled and patted Sora's head. "I know you do…" Inching forwards Riku pressed his lips to Sora's gently, their mouths touching in a chaste kiss as Sora lurched free of his cage within himself, Riku's proximity providing him with the strength necessary to take over. The light illuminated them and Soku and Everent were thrown back, Soku landing heavily onto Everent as the light wrapped around Sora and Riku, bathing them in pure light and goodness. The darkness slipping back into the furthest recess of Sora's mind and heart the light faded and the younger of the two men was swept into a bone crushing hug, the two revitalized entities of light overjoyed at being together again.

Groaning, Everent sat up and felt blood on his hand. Looking down he saw his hand was resting on Soku's stomach. "Soku…?" His eyes widened. "Soku! Goddammit, you idiot, wake up now!" When all he received was a groan he wriggled out from under Soku, cradling the little silver haired teen in his arms.

"Calm down… Everent." Soku grunted as he rubbed his aching head. "It's just a scratch. I'm fine."

Everent flicked the younger male's nose earning a yelp of indignation. "Dammit, Soku! Don't do that! I was so worried!"

Vincent slipped up to the dais, pulling out his sword from its sheath as he neared Cloud. He began to cut the weakened blond down, catching him easily as the blond was freed.

"V-Vince… ng!" Panic entered his voice. "L-Leon!!"

The taller man shushed him gently. "He's fighting Sephiroth." The two turned, Cloud scrabbling at the material over the man's chest as his weak legs refused to support him. They watched, Sora, Riku, Everent and Soku joining them as they stared, unable to engage as they two fought so furiously, and completely in awe of the epic battle.

And then… Leon faltered due to fatigue.

Cloud's breath caught in his throat as he saw Leon's weapon hesitate. He pulled free of Vincent, staggering forward, arm outstretched as if trying desperately to stop what he saw coming.

And true to his prediction Sephiroth saw the momentary weakness, his eyes lighting and sword deftly knocking Leon's aside and pulling back before sliding home with a sickening crunch.

"LEON!" Cloud screamed, falling to his knees.

Sephiroth pulled his blade free and took off. In a flash Everent was off in pursuit, Soku racing after his lover.

"Soku! No!" Sora cried out, making to go after his son.

Suddenly the whole castle shook. Vincent groaned and Sora and Riku looked at him curiously. "I had been wondering why we'd not had to face many guards… now I know why." They nodded for him to continue. "Sephiroth obviously planned to bring down the castle if we somehow managed to win." He laughed at their fortune. "Which we somehow managed…"

"No confidence in us?" Riku demanded.

"On the contrary, I just know how good a fighter Sephiroth is."

The castle shuddered again. "Oh, we gotta go!" Sora cried.

In mutual agreement they moved over to Cloud and Leon.


Cloud clawed his way over the floor as Sephiroth left, his fingers pulling his beaten body over the cold stone to Leon's heaving form, his chest shaking erratically as the hole in his gut made it painful to breathe.

Nearing the elder's side Cloud shakily touched his face. "L-Leon…"

Ice blue eyes looked in cobalt and Cloud began to cry, panic and fear setting in. "D-don't… c-cry… C-Cloud…" Leon gasped between breaths.

The request had the opposite effect and Cloud began to run his hands over Leon's body, desperate to try and remember something from his medical training, anything that would help Leon but his mind drew a blank, only the realization that he could lose Leon setting in. "N-no! L-Leon, y-you c-can't!" He bowed his head in sorrow. "I-I l-love y-you! D-don't l-leave m-me!"

The elder only gave a sad smile. "It's… o-okay… b-baby… I'm… n-not… i-in… p-pain… a-at… a-all…"

Cloud let out another distressed sound. "Y-you liar! Bastard! Stay w-with me!"

Sora, Riku and Vincent came to their sides, each wondering what they should do when a ghostly figure appeared before them, his form shaped from the knees up and a misty cloud beneath. They stared, Cloud and Leon's attention firmly fixed on each other.

"Z-Zack?!" Vincent gasped.

"Yo, Red!" Zack grinned. His spiky hair bouncing as he winked and saluted to the red garbed warrior.

"Who are you?" Sora asked as Leon grunted in pain, Cloud whimpering at his helplessness, oblivious of Zack's presence.

"I'm a friend of Cloud's."

"Fiancé." Vincent corrected.

"Then I died." Zack countered. Changing focus he moved closer as the castle gave another shudder and the ceiling cracked, mortar, brick and stone beginning to fall. "Hold hands; make sure everyone is holding everyone else."

Cloud's head snapped up. "Zack?!" Only just aware of Zack.

"Hey, Spiky." The dark haired man grinned. "You're heads as like a chocobo's as ever, I see." With a small laugh Zack touched an ethereal hand to Cloud's shoulder. "It's okay for you to love him, you know." Zack gestured to Leon. "I will never begrudge you your happiness with him." Cloud nodded and Zack, seeing everyone was ready, squeezed Cloud's shoulder and they vanished in a flash of white as the ceiling fully caved in.


Soku and Everent followed after Sephiroth, their breath the only sound aside from three sets of footsteps. Everent caught hold of Soku's hand mid-run and squeezed it tightly. "This is it, 'Ku. We get rid of him and all our nightmares go away."

The younger nodded. "We can go home."

"As a family."

They stopped before the door Sephiroth had escaped down and took a deep breath. Soku nodded and Everent braced his hand against it and opened it.


LOL, evil cliffie, we know. XD

You'll be pleased to know I have begun work on the next chapter and there should be a couple more, maybe one, two at the most, to finish the fight with darkness, another to decide the conclusion and a final one for their homecoming. XD Now you know at least some of them make it home... yes, I'm evil, now you're going to be worrying about who, if anyone, is going to die!!

Akaiba and Tragedy xxxx