Ever since I posted last chapter, I couldn't stop typing! Hope you like this chapter!

Shoutouts:

xXellesmeraXx: I'm sooo happy to hear that! Thank you so much! And besides, I wanted to see what would happen if Xehanort was also a victim of the darkness.

TWI1IGHTMA3TER: I'm glad you did! Me too though, in the games he's so evil and here I am making him a good guy! Am I crazy or what? :)

TerraKH: I'm excited that I left some people wondering what's next! That's what I was hoping for! Thank you!

1mNobody: That means alot! Maybe I will make a romantic one-shot! But what would it be about is the problem I have! Anyway, you are so nice thanks!

To Chapter 16 and beyond!

Xehanort pulled off his black cloak, leaving it discarded on the sand-like ground. He eyed it with disdain.

"My father never picked the brightest colors, did he?"

One's uneasy chuckle settled his nerve. She looked up at the sky with sadness on her face.

"I still don't believe we have to carry on their war. It was all about grudges, and I don't hold any against people."

"We don't have to. I always thought that we had a choice in the matter."

"But then your father…"

"Don't say anything about that merciless murderer."

Xehanort looked away with pain in his eyes, remembering what his father did to him all those years ago. One came up and hugged him. It was the first time in years that they had met like this.

"You know my offer still stands about taking the darkness from your heart."

Xehanort felt a sense of longing for finally being free of his father's darkness, but he knew that it couldn't be. He had to live with it still, until the time the War comes around.

"You know what would happen if I did One."

"I know, but is it wrong to give the one I love some hope after he lost everything?"

She held him closer. For once in over twelve years, Xehanort felt like he could control his own destiny. But bitterness was still in mind, as his father made him a pawn in this messed up game.

Xehanort gently shrugged One off his shoulder.

"I'm not who I once was."

"Ryker, you will always be you, no matter what."

Her confidence made a small smile appear on his face. Then he realized that he shouldn't even be here, as his inner wall could come crumbling down.

And if that happened it would be catastrophic. Xehanort desperately wanted to just be with One and never want to worry over something like this again. But he knew what would happen if he let his guard down for even a moment. That dark side would come out again.

If it did, he will never get back to the light.

"One, I thought you knew that I'm not Ryker anymore. I'm Xehanort, remember?"

He smiled cruelly. He saw that time when One first freed Sora-Xehanort from the Castle that Never Was. The hatred in her eyes, the burning loathing in her words broke him on the inside.

"Ryker, you weren't in control then. Your father was the one I did that to. If I ever hurt because of that, I am so, so sorry."

Her eyes betrayed the emotion she was trying to cover up. She felt alone.

Xehanort didn't want to see the hurt in her face. So he looked away. But what he saw didn't help. All of the lifeless keys that were forever frozen in the places where they fought.

He fell to his knees, a single tear coming out of his eye. The catastrophic events that took place here so long ago were coming back to haunt him. All because of Fatigo. The reason he, Xehanort, had hurt so many people was because of his father putting his heart into Xehanort's.

His father was in control when he hurt those three keyblade apprentices. When he had killed his best friend. When he was an apprentice to Ansem the Wise. And worst of all, when he made the heartless again.

Those heartless in turn had hurt so many people. Xehanort had so desperately wanted to give back as much as he could to repent. So he could make things right. But one thing that he was in control of was when he put his heart into others.

"Do you know why I put my heart inside Sora's?"

One looked confused. She had thought that Fatigo was in control when that happened. Why had he done that?

"Do you know why I put a piece of my heart in anyone else's?"

"I thought…"

"That my father did that?" Xehanort chuckled with cold humor.

"No, that one was my crime."

"But why? How could you do that to Sora? To anyone?"

Xehanort flinched at the amount of rising anger in her voice. She was actually terrifying if she does that. It was one of her best qualities.

But still, if she gets even madder, then her keyblade would soon start swinging.

"If one of them resists Fatigo's influence, then it helps free both themselves and everyone else."

"But why did you choose Xigbar? Or your younger self?"

"I thought they wouldn't want to risk their freedom. But they gave into the temptation of the power that Fatigo promised them."

"But Sora…"

"I knew that he was a pure Light. He would always fight the darkness. So I put my heart into his and he fought against him every step of the way. No matter what the pain."

At that moment, Xehanort collapsed onto one knee, pain racking through his heart. One ran up to him and immediately started to help him up. Xehanort waved her off.

"Don't worry. It's just a setback to fighting back."

"You're fighting back against him?"

Hope was written all over her face. Xehanort felt happy that he could make her smile again. He smiled too.

"Yes. Even though what I did was stupid and selfish, I don't regret it."

"Why?"

For once, Xehanort's inner demons had left him. He felt free. He knew it was because of Sora. All of it started with Sora.

"Because for once, I have hope again."

Hope this wasn't too cheesy! If it was I'm sorry!

Review Question: Do you think Xehanort made the right choice?

Dragon Out!