Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, its characters or storyline. This story is mine! So, not only do I live in tornado alley, USA, but it's also known as bipolar weather, USA. We had a tornado last week, and now an ice storm! Argh! We ended up with, like, two inches of ice on EVERYTHING, knocking out the power for almost a week, so I couldn't update when I wanted to. Old Man Winter's just messing with us now, I think. Anyway, I'll shut up about that now. Reviews are love!

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Chapter Fourteen: Light's Pariah

Sora brought the car to a screeching halt on the beach, sending sand up in swirls. He killed the engine and started climbing out. I swung the door open and followed him around the car. I had never been prone to motion sickness, but after that ride, all I wanted was to kiss the solid earth under me.

Our little wooden row boats were tethered to the pier, including Riku's. At first, I felt panic. Riku's boat was still here, which meant he hadn't used it to go to the smaller island. Then I remembered what Sora had told me on the drive over. Xehanort had possessed Riku, which meant he could use a stash of dark magic to get somewhere fast.

Sora didn't seem at all discouraged at the presence of Riku's boat, scrambling around the pier to the dock where his father's boat was at port. He climbed up onto the deck, gesturing, "Come on, Kairi."

"Sora, do you know how to sail this thing?" I asked, climbing up after him.

Sora was already untying the rope binding the boat to the dock and moving up behind the helm, "It'll be faster than rowing. How hard can it be?" He flicked a few switches on the control panel.

The boat chugged awake, and apparently didn't like its new driver. It bucked in the water as Sora poked at a few more levers and switches. Eventually, through the system of guess and check, Sora hit the accelerator. The motor gurgled and water bubbled around the rudder as the boat edged away from the dock.

Sora jumped behind the helm again, guiding the boat out into the open water. I staggered for a moment, getting used to my sea legs. I was soon balanced and made my way to the bow, after deciding I wasn't in any more danger with Sora at the helm of a boat than I was with him behind the wheel of a car.

The wind was cold, blustery, and snow laden, but it was strong, and it filled the sails, aiding the motor and urging the boat faster over the choppy waters. Soon the island was looming ahead of us. The cold had numbed my face, but I didn't care.

Right before we would have run aground, Sora dropped the anchor and jerked the boat to an abrupt halt. At least half a dozen planks of wood splintered in protest. Sora moved over to the starboard side, looking ready to dive off and swim to the shore.

"Sora, hold up!" I asked, moving over beside him.

"Kairi, we don't have time. Riku's—"

"I know, but you'll freeze before we get to him if you jump in the ocean." I urged, tugging at his sleeve.

We lowered a dingy into the water and Sora rowed with a ferocity until we'd run up into the sand bank. We both scrambled out and ran up the beach towards the dark cave at the base of the Great Tree. Sora leapt over the rise in the beach, bounding towards the cave. I jogged up the plywood ramp instead, not blessed with Sora's jumping ability.

I felt like I should warn Sora, but my vocal chords seemed to have frozen, because I could hear him. I could hear Riku inside the Secret Place. We both ducked and Sora went first through the vines and undergrowth. I followed suite, ignoring the brambles that snagged on my shirt and bare arms.

We hurried at a crouching run down the winding tunnel that opened into the cave. The voice was growing louder as we drew nearer, though I couldn't make out the words spoken. It was colder here than the last time I remembered. Maybe that was because it was snowy and icy outside. My core told me otherwise and I repressed a shudder.

Sora skidded, slowing down. I slowed as well. We'd reached the mouth of the tunnel, opening into the little chamber beyond. The chalk lined doodles adorning the walls looked suddenly grotesque and sinister in the icy noon light. Sora shifted, motioning me to remain. I touched his back briefly, but he moved forward.

As he was removed from my immediate line of view, I peered into the cave ahead. The lumpy walls of the cave were interspersed with wooden stalks and withering vines. Riku stood with his back to us, still wearing the light blue Indigo patient-ware. There were bloody footprints leading to where he stood, and his palms were equally cut and bleeding, though if he felt any pain, he showed none of it.

Sora straightened, fists clenched at his sides, facing his friend's back. Before he could say anything, Riku…er…Xehanort…spoke.

"It was foolish of you to come." The cold, low tones made my bones tremble.

"You can't control Riku anymore. He's stronger than you." Sora hissed.

Xehanort didn't turn, "Yet here I stand, the victor. Sorry to lend a machete to the thicket of your hopes and dreams, but you forever prove my point again and again. You have come this far and still you understand nothing."

"Stop it!" I stepped out now. "Riku! Snap out of it! Come back to us!"

He turned and the orange glow of his eyes had completely eclipsed the blue of Riku's eyes. "Ah, Princess, what an honor, but you're too late. Riku has surrendered himself to the true essence of his heart. Darkness."

My blood boiled. Sora clenched his fists and took a step forward, "You're the one who still doesn't understand! The heart isn't pure of darkness, it's light. Or didn't your first attempt to open Kingdom Hearts teach you that?"

Xehanort gave a short, mirthless chuckle and faced the door again, "No matter what that little brain of yours keeps repeating in a mantra, the truth is unmistakable. Now, why don't you be a good boy and open the door again?"

Sora's jaw tightened, "No."

Xehanort flexed his arms and oily black tendrils of darkness wrapped around them, "Your cooperation doesn't stop me, it only prolongs your demise. I was hoping you would make this easier and cooperate, but if you won't—"

He spun quickly, lifting both arms. Like whips, the furls of blackness shot forward, lashing at Sora and me. I cried out as the vines of darkness slammed my back against the wall, wrapping around my legs, arms, and body so tightly I couldn't move. On the opposite wall, Sora was in the same predicament.

"Riku! Snap out of it! Fight him!" Sora yelled, struggling vainly against his bonds.

I couldn't speak, the vines wrapping around my throat and constricting my breathing.

Xehanort released the darkness from his arms, but the tendrils didn't fade. Like cold, gnarled fingers they remained, winding in rope-like bonds to pin Sora and me to the rock walls of the cave.

"Now, where was I?" He said, nonchalantly turning to examine the door again.

My lungs were crying out for air and my ribs were groaning as the bonds tightened, depleting my oxygen supply. Sora was wriggling in the darkness, but no matter how I tried, I couldn't even move.

"Riku—" I managed hoarsely, gasping for breath and receiving none, "Riku, please…You're hurting us."

Xehanort ignored me, running his bloody hands over the edges of the door, assessing how to open it and enter the heart of Destiny Islands. He was fading in and out, and the edges of my vision were blurring as my air-deprived body struggled to hold onto consciousness.

"Kairi!" Sora was yelling, though his voice sounded very far away, like a mere echo. "Kairi, hold on! Riku, stop it! You're killing her!"

In the deeper chambers of my mind, I registered that the tendrils gave just a little, offering scarcely an inch or so of slack. That was all I needed. I inhaled. I could only draw a shallow, whisper of a breath, but it was oxygen. Sweet, life giving oxygen like vapor nectar of the gods!

I lifted my head a little, still dizzy from lack of air, but sufficiently aware now. Sora was looking from me to Xehanort, his face flickering from concern to anger.

Xehanort was stepping away from the door, not looking put off or discouraged at all. "I don't need your little Keyblade to open locked doors." His voice was as smooth as silk, dripping with ill intention.

He raised a hand, palm out, facing the door. The frame of the wood began to quiver as wisps of darkness permeated it, penetrating the dimension beyond.

"Yes…" He cooed, eyes lax with satisfaction and desire.

Sora's wrestling with the vines tripled. Finally, he seemed to find a weak spot and managed to get his right arm free. Just as soon as he'd done that, however, the furls moved up his body and clamped around his throat, forcing him to struggle for the ability to breathe.

"Don't…don't do this." Sora was panting, "Riku, you've got to fight him."

Xehanort paused and for the briefest second, I thought Sora had broken through to Riku. However, when he turned to face us, his eyes were still flashing a fiery orange. He lifted a hand. The darkness dragged us away from the wall and deposited us on the ground, still clinging to our skin and making our limbs heavy.

"Submit." He murmured.

That one word, whispered like a puff of smoke in the breeze, attacked like a sword. It felt like my muscles were being forced to move, like my bones were magnets to the dirt floor. I fell to my hands and knees, hardly able to lift my head and gaze up at Riku. Sora remained standing, but I could see him trembling with the effort of it.

"I had enough of that the first time around." Sora snarled, taking one difficult step forward. "You can't open that door and you can't destroy the light. It'll never go out. So stop it already."

Xehanort regarded Sora with a dull curiosity, "Every light must fade. Every heart will return to the darkness whence it came. The Keyblade alone cannot seal the door to darkness. Now submit."

The heaviness doubled as he uttered the word again. I fell to my stomach on the floor, where my limbs trembled, struggling to rise again in vain. Sora stiffened, his knees bending slightly, but not giving any more than that.

The door was still quivering as the darkness tried to overcome it, but it didn't open. The walls of the cave were beginning to shake now too, little trickles of snow drifting in from the cracks in the ceiling.

"It's…already…been sealed." Sora said, taking another step closer to Xehanort.

Xehanort would not allow it, "SUBMIT!"

This time it was bellowed, a command, and the effect was immediate. The air was crushed out of my lungs again and Sora hit his knees, giving a Xehanort a clear shot. Xehanort swung his leg around to contact Sora's neck, but Sora dropped his head and launched forward, with what strength I'll never know.

He tackled Xehanort and pinned him to the door, which hissed and groaned in response. Xehanort lost his hold on the darkness out of surprise, and the darkness lifted, enabling me to get up, however shaky and unsteady.

Xehanort pushed Sora away and advanced on him. From where he'd hit the door, now a large, golden keyhole was visible, glowing brilliantly on the aged wood in the center of the door. There was a loud crash and Sora was flying across the room, pinned against the wall again by the darkness.

"A meaningless effort. Darkness is the eternal force which inhabits all hearts, all worlds, all things. Behold!" Xehanort turned and stretched one arm imploringly towards the door.

Black forks and furls flowed away from his hand at his command, dropping to the floor and slithering up to the door like a serpent.

My body froze of its own accord and my heart started pounding against my already sore ribs.

The door ceased to shudder and a loud, echoing click sounded from deep inside.

With a low creak, it began to open.

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A/N: I hope I did Xehanort okay. He talks so weird in the game, and every time he yelled 'Submit!' I wanted to climb into the TV and shake him until he shut up. Bleh.

Now I get to go clear the frozen tree limbs from the driveway. I HATE ice storms! (dies)