(IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE! The pieces in 1st POV are in XCAIYET'S point of view, NOT Aanyx's! ALSO IMPORTANT: MENTIONS OF CHARACTER DEATH

LESS IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm gonna be skipping a lot of the less-important things from now on. Chapters will be shorter, but I can guarantee that I can actually finish this thing by making them short. So anything that doesn't pertain to the buildup will most likely not be here. I'm really close to finishing, and since this thing is nearing four years old I want to finish it that much more.)

Rage. Hurt. Pain. These were always my weaknesses. I may have sway over emotion, but these were always so…unpredictable. Like trying to capture a tornado into Tupperware. Impossible to master.

It was one thing if someone else felt these things. I saw rage flow off Ikxe for years before the Organization; more recently, I've seen all three fluctuate around Aanyx since the beginning of the mission.

It was another matter if I myself felt any one of them. I had to feel at ease in order to use my power, but now…

She was my sister. My annoying, sparkling partner in life. My partner in crime. My sole aid in the war against Mary Sues. She was the leech that loved, the only one who could understand me without having to say anything.

And now she was gone.

Something stirred in the very pit of my core at the thought. I crouched lower in the shadows and tried to ignore it, but that was proving more difficult to do by the minute. The trademark full moon of Holliday Forest shone through from between the clouds, and the stirring turned into lava, spreading through my whole system.

I let myself transform into full wolf with a howl, letting the emotions out. The dirt was invitingly cool under my paws—I'd always preferred this form to my human one, especially on missions.

That's right, the mission. Judging by the pre-existing pattern, I was in the perfect point to ambush—for the night was on my side, and without fail the Keybearer would arrive through here. Aanyx would no doubt park the gummi nearby, hidden in the thickets of trees, so it was all a matter of patience.

When the group came within range, I could immediately tell that the boy's guard was down completely. Such a fool—Aanyx must have done her job better than her reports hinted if the boy was so completely open to attack in her presence. I chuckled, settling down further to the ground, and decided to have some fun…

"…thought I'd better return them."

There; perfect opportunity! I narrowed my eyes and concentrated, you doubt him. He has done wrong in the past.

Sora frowned skeptically and folded his arms over his chest, "You just happened to find them?"

"Of course, Sora. I'm finished with Christmas fantasies. You know that." Jack Skellington reassured. I concentrated again on Sora, But look at what he's wearing.

It was easier than slicing through pudding—Sora willingly accepted every little adjustment I made. "But…You thought you'd hold onto the suit?"

"Dude, lighten up. If he says he's done, then he's done." Aanyx growled, surprisingly taking the Pumpkin King's side, "It's just a costume, dumbass."

"And Sally worked so very hard making it! Come on, we've got work to do!" I broke my hold for now, deciding to follow them at a distance.

I shook out my newly-acquired winter coat and decided to let them be, instead scoping out the best location for the finale.

(POV SWITCH)

"Remind me why I'm doing this." Aanyx growled, pulling at her annoyingly short Christmastown dress. The large present behind her jumped around awkwardly before Jack's muffled voice floated through, "We have to draw the thief out somehow."

"By using me as eye candy? Oh yes, this was very thought through. Let's just let the girl strut around because someone has a sense of humor and deemed it fit to give me something from the Christmas edition of Playboy…"

"Less talking, more strutting!"

Aanyx narrowed her eyes at the box, knowing he probably couldn't see it anyway, "There will be pain for this, Key-boy."

Hating every second of it Aanyx pulled a pigtail out of her face and turned back around, only to deadpan when she saw what was approaching. Aanyx faltered, "Um…guys?"

"Is it the thief?"

"Yeah…I can attack…right?"

"No! Just let us know when he gets close enough!"

Aanyx opened her mouth to say that it was damn close enough, thankyouverymuch, but screamed as metal claws wrapped around her midsection and pulled. She was flown through the air before suddenly finding herself face-to-face with a robot. It was large. It was ugly. And it was very uncomfortable trapped immobile in the robot's grip. "No way, Robo-freak. I will not be starring in the next King Kong!" She let loose her signature Thundaga and was dropped, landing beside Sora in a crouch. "'Just do it,' he says. 'What's the harm,' he says." She growled. "Uh, I think we've got bigger issues right now!" Donald gulped.

Sure enough, the robot had recovered from the shock and was far angrier than it had been from the start. But before it could so much as advance, a large—and unfortunately familiar—silver-blond wolf pounced, severing the robot's head off with one bite.

Xcaiyet licked her lips predatorily, crouching onto her haunches and ready for a kill. She growled in obvious bloodlust before smacking Aanyx away with one paw. As she sailed through the air, the two locked eyes, an understanding passing mutely through the two. The barrier went up—a dome of solid ice that muffled the fight.

Aanyx slammed a fist into the closest object angrily, showering herself with snow from the top of the lamp post. She stood still for a few moments before deciding to head to Santa's house.

Father Christmas looked at her, surprised, "You dealt with it all ready?"

"Not quite—things turned out a little different than expected. I'm sure they'll be done by the time you get there, though."

"You aren't coming?"

Aanyx stared at the harmless, puppy-shaped sugar cookie on the table and swallowed hollowly, "No. I won't see another one of them fall."

"Suit yourself."

And then she was alone with her thoughts.

(POV SWITCH)

Rage. Hurt. Pain. Emptiness. So this is what it was like—dying. I suddenly realized that I hadn't seen Axel in a while. I wondered if he would ever forgive me…

Well, that wouldn't matter. I would see him on the other side, and then we could move foreword with the rest of the family. Being stuck in one time…never aging…never…well, never able to achieve certain goals…it was better to fade. It was better to be able to wait for them, and mature together after the process is complete.

I would miss those still alive, but I wouldn't mourn, because I'd done what I accomplished. I would be with my other half now, slaying Sues in the Afterlife of Her Darkness' realm…

I latched onto the Keybearer's mind one last time, speaking to him. Regret nothing, Keybearer. Hold onto what you cherish. You'd be surprised how quickly it can fall apart…

(POV SWITCH)

Sora found Aanyx awkwardly asleep in the pilot's seat of the gummi ship, tear streaks still visible on her face. He'd passed by the wolf-shaped statue on his way, immediately recognizing her handiwork, and felt a pang of guilt for what he'd done. Xcaiyet was always a very caring girl—he knew the two girls were very much like sisters.

He gently scooped the girl into his arms, carrying her to her room. Were anyone able to see him, they would see not a brunette carrying the slumbering auburn girl, but, in fact, a blonde—his hair a perfect imitation of one's hair post-swirly, wearing a blue-fabric cloak of similar design to the ones worn in Organization XIII, sapphire eyes gentle and loving as he smiled at his cargo.

When they had entered the girl's room, Wisdom gently set her down onto the bed, smoothing a gloved hand over her bangs before leaning down and kissing her on the nose. "Just a little longer, Aanyx. I'll stay just a little longer—for you."