Body and Soul Chapter 18, a kingdom hearts fanfic

Chapter Eighteen: Day 318: The Wind's Awakening.

They stood in the fields just beyond the chasm and the single path ahead, though even from this distance they could both still make out the tower point of Castle Oblivion. The castle itself glowed eerily in the perpetual twilight it was surrounded in. Neither of the two figures cloaked in black were disturbed by this though and merely stared at the castle in wait for some silent single.

One of the two figures turned and looked at his companion.

"Remember," he said. "We don't strike until they find it. After that…" He smirked, a single amber flare flashing under his hood.

"Do your part and leave everything else to me."

The second cloaked figure didn't reply at first, merely flicking his wrist and beginning to shuffle a deck of cards that appeared in his hands. Then, he turned his hidden gaze towards his companion and replied dryly, "Yes of course. Sully my own hands while yours remain clean." He paused before smirking under his hood.

"Well, relatively clean that is."

His partner chuckled dryly, crossing his arms over his chest as he turned his one eyed gaze back to the castle.

"Clean or dirty, right or wrong. As if. It won't really matter after this. Once we get what's inside…"

His smirk returned.

"We'll all finally get what we've been working so hard for."

The card shuffler was quiet again.

When he next spoke, his voice was much quieter.

"And what of them? What will they earn?"

His partner just laughed loudly, swinging his right arm out and in a flash of violet, called forth his arrowgun, balancing his weapon across his shoulder. He looked at his companion, sneering cruelly.

"The puppets played their parts. Now it's time for their strings to get cut."

Roxas had been to Castle Oblivion only once before.

And no sooner had he stepped through the doors did he collapse unconscious.

That had been three weeks ago, when Xion was still rouge and Roxas had spent so much of his free time trying to find her.

He stood in the middle of the long hallway, slowly turning in place to look at the barren white and blue tiled walls and pillars. Gods, that seems so long ago, he thinks, remembering the one time he had stepped inside.

And here he stood once more, except this time there was no overwhelming pain in his head or sudden confusion. He knew why he was here, and with that came a strange calmness. A clarity.

Xion stood by the steps that led to the only other door in this hallway, deep blue eyes concerned and worried. Coming back here was the last thing she ever wanted to do… She took a deep breath, forcing her racing nerves to settle.

For Roxas, she reminded herself, I'm here for Roxas.

Roxas stopped circling the spot he stood at and stared at the opposite end of the hallway, looking at the double doors they came through. Finally, he turned and looked at the doors Xion stood by. Without looking back he started towards her, his footsteps echoing off the white walls.

When he arrived at the steps he looked at Xion and asked, "So, how exactly does Castle Oblivion work?"

Not replying at first, Xion moved up the small set of steps and towards the double doors, beckoning Roxas after her with a small wave. The blonde quickly moved up the steps, stopping next to Xion when she stood in front of the doors. She reached out, touching her black gloved hand to the white doors' surface. Xion then looked back at Roxas, her expression grave and serious.

Xion, "Roxas… can you tell me what you already know about Castle Oblivion?"

Roxas blinked, caught of guard. He bowed his head, rubbing his chin in thought for a second. Then he looked back at Xion and replied uncertainly, "Well… I'm not sure, exactly."

No sooner had he said that did he blink and gasp in realization, snapping his fingers. Roxas, "Wait! I remember something…Something about…"

Xion nodded.

"Memories…" Roxas breathed.

Xion smiled grimly, nodding once again.

Xion, "That's right. Memories. The Superior wanted to study memories in this Castle. More specifically, the memories of everyone who joined his Organization and his own."

Roxas blinked, looking very confused. Roxas, "But…why?'

Xion gave a little shrug. Xion, "I'm not really sure. The Superior claimed it was because he wanted to see the affects of what becoming a Nobody had on their memories."

She trailed off, touching her hand to the door again.

Roxas decided to ask something that had been pestering him since he found out about Castle Oblivion. Roxas, "So, that's why the Superior had Castle Oblivion constructed?"

Xion looked back at Roxas, shaking her head slowly. Xion, "No, Roxas. The Superior didn't have Castle Oblivion constructed. He found it."

Roxas did a double take. Roxas, "Huh? He found it?"

Xion nodded. Xion, "It was way back when he first founded the Organization, when only the six founders were members. Back then, they scoured worlds for suitable bases. The Superior found Castle Oblivion and made it the second castle under his control."

Roxas frowned. He eyed Xion curiously. Roxas, "Hey, Xion. How do you know all this?"

She smiled slightly. Xion, "Well, when two certain friends of mine were spending all their extra time eating sea salt ice cream or sleeping, I was in the Castle library learning as much as I could about the Organization."

Roxas gave a small chuckle, nodding as he rubbed the back of his neck, fingers brushing his spiky locks. Roxas, "That's right. I remember you used to hang out in the library sometimes after a mission."

Xion nodded, her smile vanishing suddenly. Xion, "I wanted to learn as much about Castle Oblivion as I could…before I left."

Roxas instantly understood and said nothing else, just nodding.

Xion looked back at the door before moving away from it and gazing seriously at Roxas. Xion, "Roxas, there are thirteen floors and twelve basement levels inside Castle Oblivion for a total of twenty five floors and hundreds of rooms. The layout is always changing. That's why they call it Castle Oblivion. Anyone who comes inside and just wanders around…"

"Is lost to oblivion." Finished Roxas, truly understanding the name of the castle for the first time.

Xion nodded. Xion, "Right. But…there is a way to navigate through the upper and lower floors without becoming lost. And it's the same way the Superior conducted his experiments."

Roxas turned away for a second, his right hand shuffling around his cloak's pocket. A moment later he held up what he had been searching for: The three cards that had appeared in his hands three days ago.

Roxas, "Cards…forged out of memories."

Xion nodded. Xion, "It's a unique way- and the only way- to travel the basements and upper levels. When you enter Castle Oblivion you have to take your memories and turn them into cards." She looked back at the door, touching it again. Xion went on. "All you have to do is hold the card up to the door…and a world will be born inside that floor. A world born from memories. The only true floor that really can be called Castle Oblivion is the final floor, the thirteenth."

Xion looked back at Roxas, this time her blue eyes dead set on the cards in his hands. She looked at Roxas face to face and said, "Try one of them. Let's find out what worlds the memories you've received create."

With that said, Xion stepped a little ways back from the door, giving Roxas room to stand in front of it now. Roxas didn't move immediately, instead he looked over the three cards he had gotten. For some odd reason, his eyes were drawn to the dark blue one with the strange criss-crossing black 'X' on it. Roxas grabbed the other two cards and placed them in his cloaks' pocket before moving in front of the door. He looked at the card, hesitating before looking back at Xion.

Roxas, "Just hold it up to the door?"

She nodded, smiling encouragingly…which might have helped Roxas if he didn't see such apprehension in her eyes.

Looking back at the door, Roxas slowly raised the card up into the air, facing the strange symbol embedded on the cards' front towards the door.

There was an extremely tense moment as both waited for something to happen.

Then they waited another.

And another.

Finally, just as his arm was getting sore from being raised so long, Roxas looked back at Xion and asked, "Um…how long does this normally take?"

Xion blinked, perplexed. Xion, "It should just happen instantaneously…it never takes this long."

She paused, thinking for a few seconds. Then she looked back at Roxas and suggested, "Try another one."

Roxas nodded, slipping the blue card into his pocket and taking out a light green card, this one's symbol a swirling tornado of wind. Roxas looked at it for a second and then held it up to the door. Again, nothing happened for several seconds.

Roxas lowered the card as Xion shook her head in confusion. Xion, "I don't understand. The cards should work." Roxas meanwhile was looking over the card, eyes narrowed in thought. Then, acting on a sudden thought, Roxas turned the card over, looking at the back. To his surprise, there was a second symbol engraved on the back.

This one was a blue heart outlined in silver. Roxas stared at the heart symbol. Still acting on that thought, Roxas reached into his pocket and pulled out the blue card with the black criss-crossing 'X' engraved on its surface. Turning it over, Roxas' was surprised yet again. Instead of a blue heart outlined in silver it was a key symbol, also outlined in silver. Roxas looked between the two cards, then back at the door. Xion looked up at that moment, her blue eyes glancing at the cards. She gasped when she saw them.

"Of course," Xion breathed. Roxas blinked, looking up from the cards and back at Xion. "What?" He asked.

Xion didn't reply, instead she moved closer, taking one of the cards and peering closer at the key symbol engraved on the back. Xion then looked at Roxas and said, "These aren't world cards, that's why they didn't do anything when you held them up to the door. They're key cards."

Roxas blinked, expression perplexed. Roxas, "Key cards?" He repeated.

Xion nodded. Xion, "They're used in the floors to unlock certain rooms inside the worlds' memory. In those room you have certain revelations, unique to the one whose memories created that world." She sighed, frowning as she looked back at the door.

Xion, "But this also means we don't have any way of traveling the lower floors."

Roxas looked at the door as well, then back to Xion. Roxas, "Xion, you said the only true floor of Castle Oblivion was the thirteenth, right?"

She nodded.

Roxas looked over the blue card once again. He was getting that feeling again. Then, he looked back at Xion and asked, "Can we use a Corridor of Darkness to travel up to the thirteenth floor?"

Xion blinked, but nodded after a second. Xion, "Yeah, but why, Roxas? The cards would only work in a floor shaped into a world by memories."

Roxas nodded. Roxas, "I know that, but if the thirteenth floor is the only true floor, it's also the only true world inside Castle Oblivion. So there have to be rooms up there that these cards are meant to unlock."

Xion seemed to want to protest more but said nothing else when she the conviction in Roxas' eyes.

The dark haired girl was silent for a few moments, head bowed in thoughtful consideration. Then, with a sigh and a nod, she looked back up at Roxas and said, "Alright, we'll use a Corridor. But Roxas, I have to warn you…using Corridors inside Castle Oblivion…"

Xion trailed off. Roxas leaned a little closer, urging her to continue.

When she finally found the right words Xion looked back at Roxas and replied, "It's…very different from how they normally work."

Roxas shrugged. "Can't be that bad."

Xion sighed, closing her eyes and shaking her head. She looked down the steps past Roxas and extended her hand out, flicking her wrist. Darkness and shadows swirled, forming into an oval shaped Corridor of Darkness.

Xion looked from the new Corridor to Roxas.

Xion, "Don't say I didn't warn you."

With that she moved into the Corridor, letting the smoky tendrils engulf her, pulling her into the darkness.

Roxas stared at the Corridor, a little miffed by Xion's words.

What's so bad about using a Corridor inside the castle? He wondered as he followed after her, stepping into the swirling shadows, letting the darkness engulf him as well.

He was-

-he was running up an endless flight of strange glowing blue stairs.

His keyblade was in his hand and he was hacking and slashing through Shadow Heartless.

He had lost count of how many steps he had climbed and how many Heartless he had slain.

Behind him, his companions struggled to keep up.

The taller, lankier of the two lunged forward, smashing his shield down on one unlucky Shadow, squashing it into black mist. While that was happening, the shorter suddenly jumped up, thrusting his wand into the air with a loud squawking screech. Bolts of yellow lightning fell from the endless darkness around them, striking several Shadows, both lunging and leaping and incinerating them into black mist.

He comes to a grinding stop, stumbling forward from the sudden lack of momentum.

He gazes into the mist, noting it's not dissipating like it should.

And then he sees something inside its' smoking depths.

No not something.

Someone.

Two figures, one garbed in red robes with a bandaged face and the other cloaked in black gaze at him.

The red garbed figure glares dispassionately.

The black cloaked figure smirks.

He is suddenly being pulled forward.

The endless darkness around him collapses, turning into white walls and pillars.

He is blinded for a few seconds, his arms and keyblade shielding his eyes.

When he can finally lower them, he looks around in shock.

He is back in one of those hallways of white.

Ahead of him lies a set of steps and double doors.

In front of them is the man in the black cloak, his hood pulled down revealing curled pink tresses and a sneering face. Balanced across his right shoulder is a scythe with a green colored shaft and a bright pink curved blade. The cloaked man sneers at him, his blue eyes daring.

He meets his glare head on and without another thought charges forward, keyblade held with both hands.

The cloaked man meets his charge with a wide swipe of his scythe, forcing him to jump back and dodge another slash. He quickly rushes back forward and their weapons clash in a flurry of blows. The pink haired man leaps back, almost hitting the wall and ceiling above.

He pulls his keyblade back, reversing it so the blade was held against his elbow-

And throws it forward, the spinning weapon shooting right for the pink haired mans' sneering face as the man quickly brings his scythe up to block-

He feels himself being shaken fiercely and he gasps, the visions fading from his minds' eye as quickly as they came and his real eyes are blurry and heavy, his vision returning slowly, blurry as if he had been asleep and woken up.

The first thing that comes back into focus was a pair of deep blue and concerned eyes and a head of black hair. Xion's voice fills his ears as she calls, "Roxas? Roxas! Roxas, snap out of it!"

He shakes his head, his whole body staggering against a wall as his right hand comes up and clutches at his forehead. He is both exhausted and nauseous. He feels like he just ran up-

Roxas freezes at the thought, his hand lowering, his forehead suddenly sweaty and his features pale. His eyes look around wildly for a spilt second before settling on Xion. To his surprise, she only looks slightly better than himself.

Her face is equally flushed and pale and he can make out a few beads of sweat. Roxas panted slowly, shaking his head a little, one hand on the wall as he tried to support himself. After a few moments he was able to control his breathing and the nausea faded.

Shaking his head, Roxas looked at Xion as he pushed himself away from the wall. Roxas, "Woof. You weren't kidding."

Xion nodded. Xion, "I told you going through a Corridor while inside Castle Oblivion would be weird. The weariness and nausea should wear off in a few minutes."

Roxas nodded, still feeling a little woozy. Xion looked at him for a few more seconds before turning and moving a little ways farther up the corridor they stood in. Roxas saw the walls were dark from the lack of light, the only real source of illumination coming from the opposite end of the hallway. Roxas looked up at the walls, seeing carved symbols that vaguely resembled flowers and other strange objects.

Roxas frowned.

Flowers…

For some odd reason that seemed to stir his memories.

But what did flowers have to do with anything?

And then the faintest flicker of the vision flashed over his eyes.

Pink hair…

Sneering face…

"Marluxia." He gasped in a hush.

Xion stopped up ahead, turning to look back at Roxas in puzzlement. Xion, "Yeah? What about him?"

Roxas didn't respond at first, but he suddenly recalled something very important about Marluxia.

The pink haired, scythe wielding Number 11 had been the one named Lord of Castle Oblivion and made absolute master of the strange castle like fortress. Of course this only fueled the arrogant flower controller's already massive ego. This explained the distinct flower motif of the designs on the walls of this floor. Since Marluxia ruled Castle Oblivion and only the thirteenth floor of said castle was really it's only true floor, the design of the floor must have reflected Marluxia's sense of style.

But Marluxia was long dead, and Roxas wondered why he was suddenly thinking about him.

Then another image flickered in his mind's eye.

An image of Marluxia's pink and green scythe clashing with a keyblade.

A Kingdom Key keyblade.

"Roxas?"

The young Nobody's thoughts were broken by Xion and he looked back at the dark haired girl. Xion looked at Roxas curiously, asking again, "What were you saying about Marluxia?"

Roxas paused for a moment. Should he say something about those visions? Deciding against it, Roxas looked at Xion and replied simply, "I just remembered he was the lord of this place."

Xion stared at him for a few moments before nodding slowly. She started to turn back towards the hallway. Roxas stood there another second, glancing back at the designs on the walls. Then he followed after her, leaving the visions behind without a further thought.

The two young Nobodies stepped out of the dark corridor and into the brightly lit thirteenth floor.

Much to Roxas' growing annoyance this room also held a flower theme, complete with marble stone statues of flowers in pots and vases. The actual room itself was divided up into three levels, the middle level Roxas and Xion currently stood on, an upper level which was basically a huge platform with more flower statues on it and no visible means of getting up there aside from jumping really high. Finally, in the far right corner there was another ledge that led down into what Roxas presumed was the only door out of here, unless said door was up on the platform above.

The two entered further into the room, Roxas looking around, blue eyes scanning around while Xion was just looking at Roxas. Finally he looked back at Xion. Roxas, "Well…"

Xion met his gaze evenly. Xion, "'Well' what?"

Roxas spread his arms around, circling in place while looking around. Roxas, "Where do we go from here?"

Xion sighed, shaking her head a little in annoyance. She looked back up at Roxas and said, "Well there's a lot of ground to cover, Roxas. Castle oblivion's thirteenth floor has about twenty rooms. And that count was from the last time Vexen tried to cont how many rooms the floor had. The count before that was seventeen. And the one before that was twenty one."

Roxas gaped at Xion. When he could finally find his voice again, he asked, "Wait…what?"

Xion shrugged. Xion, "Roxas, Castle Oblivion never has the same layout twice. That's part of the reason I didn't want you to come here. Whatever you think is here will be impossible to find."

Roxas stared at her in disbelief for another moment. Then, he looked back at the room before him, resolve shaken. Xion looked back at him sadly. She didn't want to crush whatever hope he had that the answers to his dreams was somewhere inside this castle…

But the odds of finding whatever it was he thought was here were one hundred to one.

And those were the good odds…

Roxas let out a heavy sigh, head and shoulders slumping. Xion stared sadly at her friend. She stepped towards him slowly, reaching out to him. Xion, "Roxas…"

He didn't look back at her or respond. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the three cards. Roxas stared at them intently, blue eyes narrowed.

Xion frowned. Xion, "Roxas?"

Again no response. Roxas just kept staring at the cards, as if they held all the answers.

And in a strange way, inside Castle Oblivion they did.

Roxas continued to stare at the cards for several moments. What was he supposed to do next? The frustration was starting to build. All the dreams had told him was-

He blinked.

"The Way…" Roxas breathed.

Xion blinked, looking at Roxas in confusion. Xion, "What? Roxas, what did you say?"

He still didn't look back at her, his eyes dead set on the cards. Then, he gasped, eyes widening and he took a step back. Xion quickly moved next to him, asking breathlessly, "What is it? What's wro-"

She trailed off, dark blue eyes widening when she looked at Roxas' hand and the cards he held.

The cards were glowing, pulsing like a heart.

Each one glowed a different color, the blue one pulsing a deep purple, the green one white and the gold a bright yellow.

Both young Nobodies stared at the glowing cards in shock. Xion looked at Roxas, amazed and awe struck. Xion, "What did you do?"

Roxas shook his head. Roxas, "Nothing, all I did was say-"

He stopped, gasping in a sudden realization. Xion looked at him, suddenly anxious and asked quickly, "Roxas? Roxas, what is it?"

He looked at the cards, a strange glow in his eye. Roxas, "The Way…"

At those words, the pulsing glowing quickened, growing brighter. Xion gasped, flinching back slightly but still staying close to Roxas. The blonde teen himself just grinned at the glowing cards. Understanding dawning in his eyes, he went on.

Roxas, "The Way to Awakening…"

The cards glowed even brighter, practically flashing. Roxas instinctively jerked his hand back-

And the cards freed themselves from his grasp and remained floating in the air, slowly circling around in the spot they hovered, each one glowing so brightly now they all gave off a white aura. Xion stared in stunned awe. Roxas stared in grim anticipation.

Xion gripped his arm, her grip strong, her eyes extremely anxious. Xion, "Roxas…" Her tone was nervous.

He ignored her, keeping his crystal blue gaze dead set on the slowly spinning cards.

Roxas reached out again, his black gloved fingers almost touching the glowing white cards. Just before his fingers actually touched the cards, he pulled them back, lowering his hand. Staring up at the floating cards, Roxas knew.

Roxas, "The Way to Awakening…Lies through Oblivion!"

As those words left his mouth the cards stopped spinning, though glowed brighter then ever. Both Roxas and Xion watched in stunned silence as the three cards converged together-

And melded into one glowing orb of pure, pulsing white light.

No sooner had it formed did the orb shoot off and dive down the edge of the rooms' main floor and towards the door. There was a bright flash and a whooshing sound. Then silence.

Both Roxas and Xion blinked, momentarily stunned. Then Roxas took after it, jumping down the edge and bolting through the now open door. Xion blinked, doing a double take before calling out, "Roxas!" and sprinting after him.

Xion jumped down the ledge, landing wit ha soft grunt before forcing herself to run through the open door after Roxas and the glowing orb.

The room she found herself was just a smaller version of the first one with the same white and blue tiled walls and flower statues. Xion didn't see Roxas or the orb but saw the door across from her was open as well and she sprinted towards it and through it, into the next virtually identical room.

She was just a few seconds too late when she spotted a blur of blonde and black dash through the door. "Roxas!" She called but he was already gone. Growling in aggravation Xion kicked it into overdrive and gave chase, bolting across the small room and into the next.

She had almost caught up with Roxas as the blonde did a one eighty and ran through the door to the left, almost stumbling as he turned but righting himself and bolting after the orb. "Roxas!" Xion called again, pushing her legs to run faster after him and into the next room.

This time she saw the orb fly through the rooms doors, causing them to part open in a golden flash and let Roxas bolt through them, Xion hot on his tail.

"Roxas! Roxas, wait up!"

Her cries went ignored as the orb continued to fly ahead, Roxas still chasing after it, Xion still chasing after Roxas. In the next room the orb did another one eighty and this time Roxas didn't stumble, still after it as the orb, Roxas and Xion raced through the door. The next rooms were a singular continuous white walls and flower statues blur, as Xion chased Roxas and the orb through four rooms straight before finally the orb turned again, forcing Roxas to turn suddenly, almost stumbling not once but twice when Xion nearly slammed into him.

Xion reached out to try and grab him while saying, "Roxas, wait we should-"

But still he ignored her, quickly righting himself and sprinting after the orb. With a sigh of both reluctance, annoyance and exhaustion, Xion resumed chasing after her friend and the orb.

In the next room the orb did another turn, Roxas firmly on its' tail with Xion struggling to keep up. Where was he finding the energy to keep up with this thing? She was almost on empty and Roxas didn't appear to have broken a sweat!

In the next room, the orb shot straight forward, Roxas right after it, Xion struggling to keep up with both. She couldn't do this much longer and how no idea where the orb was leading Roxas and her or when it was stopping.

Xion raced after Roxas into the next room where the orb did yet another turn into another room. Roxas skidded to a sudden halt, staring at the opened door, panting slightly. Xion staggered over to him, her pale face flushed, a few drops of sweat on her forehead. When she reached him Xion instantly snapped, "Roxas, what were you thinking? Why did you just run after that thing? We have no idea what it is or where it will lead us!"

Roxas didn't look at her or even acknowledge he had heard her. Xion blinked, her hand clutching his shoulder. Xion, "Roxas?" Her anger had melted into concern.

Roxas, "It stopped."

Xion blinked. Roxas still hadn't looked at her, his blue eyes dead set on what lay beyond the last door. Blinking, Xion looked from him and then followed his gaze, looking towards the door.

Like the doors before it, the orb had unlocked them simply by flying through them or touching them, revealing the next room. And the orb was simply floating there, in the room's center.

Waiting.

Roxas continued to stare for a few more seconds while Xion alternated between looking at Roxas and the stationary orb in the next room. Then Roxas pulled away from Xion's grip on his shoulder and started for the next room. Xion quickly followed after, calling, "Roxas! Roxas, stop!"

She lunged out grabbing his arm and forcing him to come to a halt, making him stumble. Roxas shook his head as if awakening from a trance and looked at Xion, his eyes filed with annoyance and impatience. Roxas, "Xion it finally stopped!"

Xion, "All the more reason to stop and think for a moment! Roxas, we have no idea what will happen if we go in there!"

Roxas tugged at his arm, still moving toward the door and dragging Xion with him closer to the door and the room beyond it. Roxas, "I have to go in there, Xion. I have to-"

His foot passed over the threshold of the door-

And Roxas came to a grinding halt, his mind suddenly on fire and his head felt like it was about to split open.

He let out a loud groan of pain, his right hand clutching at his forehead.

Next to him Xion clutched her head as well, gasping in agony.

Images flashed over their eyes.

Amused winter green eyes met his enraged blue orbs.

He was crouched down, both hands gripping the hilt of his keyblade while his companions readied their weapons behind him as well.

The red head smirked at him, his own weapons, twin steel and red chakrams held passively at his sides.

"Listen, Sora…" The red head started. His smirk turned into a mocking smile.

"We've got a lot more in common than you think."

The pain faded first from the blinding agony to a dull throb. Then it was gone. Roxas lowered his hand, eyes squinting as he waited for the remaining dull throb behind his eyes to fade away entirely. Xion was likewise in the same boat, but still clutched her aching head.

She looked up at Roxas through one deep blue eye. Roxas looked back at her, meeting her gaze with his crystal blue orbs. Xion, "Did you…did you see that?"

Roxas nodded, shaking his head and with it the last vestiges of the headache that had accompanied the vision. Roxas, "It was…Axel…talking to…"

Xion finished for him, "Sora."

Roxas nodded. He didn't say anything else and instead looked at the orb floating in the center of the room. No, not in the center, he realized when he refocused his eyes.

The orb was floating in front of another door. Roxas stepped further inside the room, Xion slowly following after him. When Roxas reached the door the orb floated in front of, he saw something else about it. A blue crown emblem was engraved above the door. The orb remained floating still, pulsing gently and slowly; it's white form almost blending perfectly against the front of the door.

Roxas stepped towards the orb and the door, very slowly and carefully, anxious that it might dart off again. But it did not, just remained floating in place, glowing ever brighter. Even slower then when he had approached it, Roxas raised his black gloved hand towards the orb.

Xion, "Roxas…" Her tone was even more anxious than last time, edging on the verge of frightened.

His hand stopped mere inches from the orb.

Roxas turned and looked back at Xion, his blue eyes shining and desperate.

Roxas, "Xion…I have to do this."

The girl seemed to want to protest even more but one look from Roxas told her nothing she would say would work. She nodded, very reluctantly and stepped back, clutching her hands together and waiting.

Roxas looked back at the orb and took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. Then, he reached out completely, his hand touching the orb. He was stunned by how warm it was…

The orb flashed brightly and Roxas flinched his hand back, his body tensing in alert. Xion also tensed behind him, clutching her hands together tighter. The orb glowed brighter and brighter until finally it flashed once again and divided back into three cards, each once again glowing a separate color.

The cards slowly spun above him, each one glowing brightly in time with the rhythmic pulsing of their auras. When the blue card floated above Roxas the spinning stopped, and the card slowly lowered in front of Roxas. Slowly, but not hesitantly, Roxas reached out, grasping the card. His blue eyes settled on the strange circle and black 'X' on the front, then turning it over to look at the silver key symbol engraved on the back.

He looked at the door before him.

Then, Roxas raised his arm and the hand that held the card. aligning his arm and hand that held the card with the crown symbol. Xion held her breath. Slowly, circling light appeared on the card and the crown above the door.

There was a bright flash and the card vanished. The light from the card entered the door in front of him, glowing and pulsing in time with the light emanating from the crown above. There was a sudden flash of light so great both Roxas and Xion had to shield their eyes with their arms.

When the glow subsided and Roxas and Xion could finally reopen their eyes, they both looked back at the door.

It had changed.

It was no longer made of white stone but instead appeared to form out of rippling clear water. Roxas could see through and peered closely, trying to see inside. And then he did.

Through the door was a dry, dusty looking canyon. Roxas could make out tall pillars of rock and several rising mesas. Roxas extended his hand out, the tip of his index finger brushing the see through surface and making it ripple, like it really was made of water.

Roxas lowered his hand, staring through the rippling surface and out at the canyon beyond. Then, he moved forward to step through it and into whatever lie beyond it-

He came to a jerking stop as something fiercely grabbed at his left arm. Roxas turned and saw Xion gripping his arm with both of her hands, her blue eyes big and frightened. Xion, "Roxas don't."

Roxas met her frightened gaze with his own calm one. Roxas, "I have to."

Xion stared up at him, shocked and flabbergasted, quickly looking between Roxas and the strange see through door and the canyon beyond it. Xion looked back up at him, her grip on his arm tightening desperately as she pleaded, "But you have no idea what's in there! What-What if the cards aren't leading you to any answers? What if they're leading you into a trap?"

Roxas sighed wearily, eyes closing briefly as he seemed to consider her words. When he opened his eyes again, his tone was firm as he replied, "Xion, even if it is a trap, I have to go in there. I have to find out what's behind these dreams and visions."

Xion's eyes watered and her lips quivered. She started to say something but she didn't, closing her eyes in defeat and letting go of Roxas' arm and stepping back. She opened her eyes again, meeting Roxas' gaze with reluctance.

Roxas looked back at his companion and said, "Wait here, just in case…" He trailed off but the implication was clear. Xion nodded slowly, her look still sad and upset.

Roxas offered her a cocky smile. Roxas, "Don't worry. I can take care of myself." To emphasize his point he swung his arm out, calling his Kingdom Key keyblade into existence and balanced the blade across his shoulder.

This seemed to relieve Xion slightly and she offered a small smile in return, nodding and replying, "Ok." Roxas started to turn but stopped when Xion called, "Roxas." He looked back at her, keyblade still balanced across his shoulder. Xion hesitated before smiling again.

"Good luck."

The blonde haired Nobody returned the smile, lowering his hand that held the keyblade and dispelling it in a flash of sparks as he turned to face the rippling see through door, his expression hardening into a fierce stare. Taking a deep breath and not looking back, Roxas slowly stepped forward, holding his hand out and pushing it into the rippling surface of the door. He fought back a shudder.

Whatever this stuff was it was ice cold, freezing his hand straight to the bone through the leather of his glove.

Roxas pulled his hand back, flexing it quickly, trying to get the warmth flowing back in it.

Then, he took another deep breath and closed his eyes as he stepped forward, completely pushing himself through the icy coldness.

Frigid numbness stole all the warmth from his body and he his knees buckled.

And then somehow, even though his eyes were closed, he was still blinded by a bright flash of black light.

Pained winter blue eyes opened slowly, though they snapped shut almost as quickly, blinded by the intense sunlight from above. With a pained grunt and gasp, his right hand quickly moved over his eyes, blocking the blinding light with the cool black of his glove. After several moments his eyes slowly adjusted and he was able to lower his hand away, pushing himself up into a sitting position.

Riku blinked wearily, his eyes scanning the sandy shore and blue waves before him.

He looked around slowly and saw he was alone.

Aqua was gone and she had left him here, alone.

Panting lowly and deeply, his eyes scanned the ground, his look slightly panicked. Relief flooded him when he spotted the long strip of black cloth laying a few inches away from his hand. He picked it up, brushing off small clumps of sand before slipping it back over his eyes and tying a strong knot behind his head, holding the cloth firmly over his closed eyes.

Riku staggered up from the sand, stumbling as he rose, almost falling several times but he finally managed to rise back up onto his feet and stay there.

He had failed, and the physical wounds were nothing compared to the wound his pride suffered.

Riku clenched his fists together, letting out a groaning growl of anger and frustration at himself.

He had failed when it mattered most…

Typical.

Sighing in anger, Riku extended his right arm out, fighting back strong shakes that traveled down the limb and flexed his fingers out.

Shadows formed and gathered ahead of him, rising into an oval shaped form of swirling black miasma. Riku let his arm fall limp back to his side, his strength almost completely drained simply from summoning the Corridor of Darkness.

He took a single step towards it and nearly collapsed, barely able to stay on his feet.

Riku tried to take another step but his feet kept wobbling and he fell onto his knee, barely able to keep himself kneeled upright, jaw hanging open as he took several deep panting breathes.

Aqua had wounded him a lot worse then he thought.

Forcing himself to rise back up on his two feet, but still slightly hunched over, Riku took another single step-

And promptly collapsed onto his hands and knees, gasping in agony.

The pain was so great for one moment he considered giving up and collapsing completely, jut let himself fall over and pass out into sweet darkness.

Then he thought of Namine.

He could picture her clearly, in that white room DiZ kept her locked in, the walls covered in so many pictures, too many, some having fallen to the floor.

With a deep grunt of rage and effort, Riku summoned his last reserves of strength and willpower and forced himself onto his feet, blood running down his jaw, though he quickly wiped it away with the back of his glove. Staggering but no longer stumbling, Riku entered the swirling Corridor of Darkness unafraid.

The miasma of shadows swelled upon his entry before collapsing in on itself and shrinking down into a puddle. Then it vanished entirely.

The island was empty, a pristine, untouched paradise once again.

Unnoticed but slowly revealed as a big wave rolled over the shore, a silver and blue charm shone from under the sand.

It's blue surface blended with the water perfectly.

Roxas blinked several times, his crystal blue eyes showing his confusion.

One moment, he had been surrounded by white and blue tiled walls complete with terrible flower statues…

The next he was standing in a huge open canyon, more specifically, a canyon top with several large rocky mesas jutting up from the ground.

Roxas was standing on the edge of the canyon top he was on, peering down into an endless gully below. Swallowing, he turned away and stepped back from the edge, looking around his new surroundings. As he walked closer into the center of the canyon top, Roxas noticed that the air was extremely dusty and dry, the ground under his feet cracking where he walked. He coughed several times, his throat going dry quickly, his eyes burning.

By the time he stood just outside a circle of rising stone tower like mesas, Roxas had more or less gotten use to the dry conditions and was no longer coughing, though he still blinked a few tears away.

He looked around once more, though the barren wasteland offered no answers or any hints to his location.

Roxas, "What is this place?" He wondered aloud, his quiet whisper almost drowned out by the sudden gust of dusty wind.

The young Nobody was just about to look for another spot to try and get a better view of where he was-

When a sudden chill ran up his spine, his skin breaking out in goose bumps as his whole body shuddered.

Roxas' eyes widened as his instincts suddenly screamed at him, 'DANGER! RUN! HIDE!', but his feet remained stuck, his legs very heavy.

Still shaking, Roxas swallowed once again…

As he realized someone was behind him.

Roxas shook fiercely, eyes wide in terror. Very slowly, he managed to force himself to stop shaking, clenching his hands into fists at his side and then closing his eyes, he too ka deep breath and turned to face whoever was behind him.

Only once before, had Roxas ever been so shocked by who he saw before him.

The first time had been when he had chased after the person he thought was the imposter in the black cloak of the Organization in Twilight Town, determined to corner him and find out where Xion was.

And he had discovered it was Xion herself.

Never had Roxas thought he would experience such a shock again only a few weeks later but he could easily say this time he was easily more surprised and caught off guard.

The person across from Roxas was perhaps only a few inches taller than Roxas himself and slightly more stockier. Or maybe he only appeared this way because the body suit he wore outlined all of the muscles on his chest and arms. The body suit itself was made of two colors, with the arms and gloves red as were the boots while his pants were entirely black yet his chest was a melding of both colors, the red lining his muscles and the black over it. A red belt crossed his waist, two more crisscrossing and hanging over his thighs, holding his black kilt in place. But what drew Roxas' attention and had him so shocked was the youth's face.

He couldn't see it.

The youth's face was hidden behind a black glass like mask, a strange silver lining running over his jaw and neck, binding the mask to the neckline of the body suit and completely obscuring any skin from view.

Roxas stared at the masked boy in a combination of horror and shock at his nightmares given flesh.

Roxas, "Y-you!"

The youth didn't respond at first, just stared at Roxas from behind his mask.

Then, he let out a small snort.

"Heh."

Roxas gasped, flinching back slightly. Then he realized what he was doing and righted himself, glaring at the masked youth across from him and snapped, "Who are you laughing at?"

The youth let out another single snort like chuckle.

"Heh. It's déjà vu all over again."

Again Roxas found himself flinching at the mere sound of the youth's voice, and it took all his willpower to stop himself from stepping back. Growling, Roxas glared fiercely at the youth and snapped back in anger, "What does that mean? Try talking sense!"

Again, the youth only laughed, chuckling quietly, the sound deeply disturbing Roxas.

"You just keep proving my point kid."

Roxas didn't say anything back this time and only glared at the masked youth, his frustration mixing with the lingering terror.

The youth seemed to study Roxas, his masked head inclining down ever so slightly.

Then his head rose and he spoke again.

"You two have a close resemblance. You look almost exactly like he did."

Roxas gasped and flinched back again, caught completely off guard by the masked youth's strange words.

Roxas swiped his arm out, unable to hide the frustration from his words as he cried out, "What are you talking about? Stop talking in riddles!"

The youth chuckled again, but this time the noise wasn't amused but more annoyed. The youth suddenly stepped toward Roxas while saying, "You're about as smart as he was too. Neither of you listened. I say exactly what I mean and that is this."

As the youth stepped closer, Roxas stepped back. Before he knew both of them were standing in the center of the canyon to, the stone mesas surrounding them.

The youth looked right at Roxas, his hidden eyes meeting Roxas' crystal blue orbs.

"You have close resemblance…to my other half."

Roxas gasped as soon as the youth's words sunk in and random images flashed over his eyes before settling on a single vision that had haunted his nightmares for so long.

Of cruel golden eyes burning into his.

"Vanitas…" Roxas breathed.

The masked youth chuckled, slowly raising and extending his right arm out, fingers opening.

Vanitas, "Well…I guess that little witch in white has been playing with memories that don't belong to that snot nosed little kid. Oh well, it really doesn't matter at this point."

Roxas kept getting more and more confused by Vanitas' strange words.

Roxas, "Witch in white? Who are you talking about?"

Vanitas just chuckled once again.

The youth flexed his extended hand's fingers, relishing each joint's pop and crack, as if he had not stretched his hand in years.

Vanitas once again met Roxas' gaze with his own hidden one.

Vanitas, "You will never really know…Because you are a puppet…"

Blue and purple fire erupted in his hand, extending out.

Roxas let out a shocked cry, the growing anger of the puppet comment fading just as quickly as it appeared.

Before his stunned eyes, Roxas watched as the flames faded away and revealed the weapon that appeared in Vanitas' hand.

It was long, easily longer than Roxas' arm and wide, the shaft of the weapon joined together by chains, steel and a bronze gear, the chains binding the end of the blade and the hilt. The blade was wide out, made of gray steel with a blue eye like gem embedded at the end, it's cat eye slit seeming to stare right at Roxas. The blade was not one but several bumpy gear like ones, made of red and black steel, the same red and black of Vanitas' body suit. The hilt was dark gray, the hilt guard itself gear like as well and bumpy like the blade. Another blue eye stared right at Roxas from under the chains that bound the blade to the hilt. The chain was gold bronze gears and the charm was a broken gear, one end going up, the other down.

Roxas stared in shock at the weapon, trying to find a plausible explanation of what it was but found none and could only reach one conclusion.

Roxas gasped out, "A…keyblade?"

Vanitas pulled the weapon back, arching his arm back and extending his left arm out, palm open. Vanitas went on, viciously snarling, "And nothing more…"

Roxas gasped before setting his expression in a fierce glare, swinging his own hand out and calling his own keyblade into existence, crouching down and holding the weapon with both hands. Both keyblade wielders stood there ground, glaring at each other.

Vanitas chuckled once again, clenching his left hand into a fist. Vanitas, "Come on kid… Show me if you are the one destined to open the door and lead to the Awakening!"

And with that he attacked.

Vanitas lunged forward, sweeping his keyblade across and down in a powerful arc that the still very confused Roxas narrowly dodged. Roxas saw the tip of Vanitas' blade cut the air mere centimeters from his face, feeling the hot rush of wind that accompanied the slash-

And was open to Vanitas' back flip and bicycle kick to his jaw, sending Roxas reeling back with a cry of pain. The blonde slid back before righting himself and shaking his head, glaring at Vanitas before charging forward and swinging his keyblade fiercely in his standard three hit combo. Vanitas dodged all three blows by doing a quick cart wheel while saying calmly, "Too slow." and then lunging forward in another vicious twin sweeping slash combo, one powerful swing across then up and down, his keyblade a red blur that Roxas could barely dodge, the last swing grazing his shoulder and forcing him to jump back.

Roxas kept his distance, hand gripping his shoulder and discovering to his shock that Vanitas' blow had actually tore through the black leather of the cloak and blood seeped sluggishly through his fingers. Not a deep cut but not one to be ignored either. Roxas looked from his shoulder to Vanitas, face set in a look of rage.

Charging forward with a battle cry, Roxas furiously slashed his keyblade twice, trying to land a hit across Vanitas' stupid glass mask.

And failed to land either hit as Vanitas once again cart wheeled and dodged his blows, chuckling in amusement at Roxas.

Roxas allowed himself a smirk of his own.

Let's see you laugh at this!

With that thought, Roxas charged forward in a sweeping spin attack that connected against Vanitas' chest. The masked youth let out a cry of shock more than pain and staggered back, leaving himself completely open for Roxas' following attacks. Roxas tore into the masked youth furiously, his Kingdom Key connecting twice, staggering Vanitas both times and leaving him unable to raise his keyblade-

Roxas blinked, eyes widening in confusion.

Vanitas was suddenly frozen in place, his flailing body frozen in a position of being knocked back and hung in mid fall.

Roxas, "What the-"

"Gotcha!"

With a triumphant cry from above, the Vanitas in front of Roxas vanished in a burst of red and black mist while the real Vanitas appeared above Roxas, keyblade pulled back as he crashed down in a powerful over head swing that connected with Roxas' chest and sent him flying back. And while that swing hurt like you wouldn't believe it wasn't the worst part. The worst part was the sudden eruption of ice that burst from the cracked ground where the blade tips of Vanitas' keyblade connected and sending a shockwave of ice at Roxas, the icicles piercing through Roxas' chest and making him scream in pain as he quickly shoved himself farther back and away from the impossibly cold ice.

Clutching his chest, Roxas staggered back, raising his keyblade weakly in a feeble defense.

Vanitas resumed his own battle stance, the keyblade held in his right arm cocked back, left arm raised with the palm of his hand open.

Roxas panted and gasped, clutching his bleeding chest while still managing to glare at the youth's mask.

Alright, he wanted to play with magic?

Roxas was more than happy to oblige.

The hand that held his cut chest closed into a fist before thrusting out, smoke billowing between his fingers. Crying in outrage, Roxas' hand opened and launched a large burning red fireball directly at Vanitas' masked face. The youth easily dodged it by jumping back so far the fireball dissipated, never reaching its target.

Roxas swept his hand out before bringing it back to his chest, fist clenching shut powerfully.

Above Vanitas, bolts of yellow lightning rained down to spear and electrify the youth. But once again Vanitas moved too fast, diving forward and landing standing on his left hand before pushing away in a somersault, completely dodging Roxas' spells as if they had been really slow rocks thrown at him. Vanitas jumped above Roxas, pulling his keyblade back before swinging it out with a scream of, "Suffer!"

With that cry, blue bolts of electricity arched off of the tip of Vanitas' keyblade and rained down on Roxas' prone form.

The blonde Nobody let out a scream of agony, every nerve afire with terrible pain, his spiky hair standing further on its ends. Roxas stumbled forward as the lightning dissipated but had no time to move when Vanitas landed in front of him again, thrusting his keyblade out while holding the hilt with both hands. Orange flames gathered at the tip of the blade before firing out with a call of "Go!"

Roxas flinched, pulling his keyblade back to deflect the fireball.

But when there was no searing, burning sensation on his keyblade and hands, he slowly lowered it and blinked, surprised.

The fireball was just floating a few inches from Vanitas' blade, glowing a fierce orange with a burning white core. Roxas allowed himself his own laugh of derision. Roxas, "What's that supposed to-"

The fireball exploded, becoming three smaller fireballs lined up in a vertical row and flew at Roxas, exploding on contact. The teen screamed in worse agony than before, flying back and landing on is back before bouncing and flipping in midair, slamming onto the ground on his stomach and sliding back a few inches, his right hand still somehow clutching his Kingdom Key.

Roxas weakly raised his head, fingers feebly clutching the hilt of his Kingdom Key when he saw Vanitas slowly walking towards him. The masked youth had lowered his keyblade to his side while glaring at Roxas from behind his mask. Vanitas, "Well I must say…I'm actually more disappointed than I thought I would be."

Roxas grit his teeth, coughing and spitting a little blood, thin lines of it running down his jaw and staining the ground under his chin.

Vanitas stopped approaching him when he was halfway from Roxas, fingers flexing over his keyblade's handle.

Vanitas, "To come this far and still not understand the meaning behind the dreams the little witch sent you in itself isn't that impressive. Stumbling on the correct way to use the cards now… that would have been a feat to impress me…"

He raised his keyblade in front of himself, gripping the hilt with both hands now. A powerful blue and black aura appeared over Vanitas' keyblade, traveling from the shaft of the blade to the tips of its gear like end, erupting into blue and silver fire. Roxas' eyes widened in horror.

"If you had lasted longer…" Vanitas hissed in a dangerous whisper.

Roxas feebly tried to rise back up on his feet but found his limbs refused to work and he only succeeded in stumbling back onto his face and scraping his chin.

Vanitas continued to gather dark power into his keyblade, the fireball expanding slowly. The youth chuckle darkly suddenly. Vanitas, "I wonder…If you're little friend will last longer than you did."

Roxas gasped, his whole body going still at Vanitas' words.

The youth chuckled at Roxas' reaction, his grip tightening on his keyblade one last time, the flames erupting fiercely around the tips of the blade.

Vanitas, "Oh yes…I can't wait to play with her."

Roxas found his whole body shaking…In pure, unfiltered rage. The rage gave him the strength to push himself up onto his knees, his arm resting on his kneecap, keyblade raised slightly with the tip of the blade digging into the cracked and broken soil.

With a loud roar, Vanitas thrust his keyblade out, the weapon kicking back as he launched the huge orb of burning silver and blue flames.

Roxas looked up in time to see it was almost on him-

And with his own roar, swung his Kingdom Key out, deflecting the fireball back to its source.

Behind his mask Vanitas' eyes were no doubt as wide as saucers as his own attack came flying back at him. Vanitas, "What the- UGH!"

Too shocked to react in time Vanitas was blasted back by his own attack, letting out a cry more of outrage than pain as the fireball erupted into a huge burst of blue fire around him. Roxas dragged himself back up, panting but keeping his keyblade raised. He watched the smoke clear…and saw Vanitas was still standing. The youth's mask was cracked, small shards of black glass falling to the ground. A single gold eye glared at Roxas. Vanitas tightened his grip on his keyblade, the red edges of his body suit tinted darker from his repelled his attack. Letting out a snarl, he flexed his arms out.

The wind picked up, becoming gale force in short order.

Roxas looked around wildly, confused. Roxas, "What the-"

Vanitas' voice rose over the wind.

"Play time's over."

With that Vanitas jumped, his whole body flexing as a circle of black energy erupted off of his body, streams of black darkness bursting off of him in an electrical discharge, a dark blue glowing outline appearing around his keyblade as well. Roxas gasped as the wind was literally blown back by the sheer force of Vanitas' dark power, a powerful gale almost knocking the young Nobody flat on his back.

Vanitas let out a roar of, "Darkness Waits!" and back flipped in midair, diving down-

And into the ground.

Roxas blinked, unable to comprehend what he just saw.

One moment was there, floating in midair, his keyblade glowing eerily, the next there was a strange black and red flaming miasma rising out of the ground in his place-

The miasma charged forward, and Roxas gasped, taking a step back when it was almost on him-

And Vanitas leapt out of it, rising up in a swirling column of dark red fire that struck Roxas.

Roxas let out a scream of pain, staggering back and almost dropping his keyblade. Roxas didn't have a chance to catch his breath as Vanitas dived back into the ground in another spiral of fire, striking Roxas again and sending him further back. Roxas blinked numbly, his whole body burning, in the throes of agony the likes of which he had never experienced before. He stumbled back up as the strange red and black miasma reached him again and Vanitas shot up, repeating his rising column of fire and dive of flames. This time Roxas was knocked even farther back, his cloak burnt horribly and there were deep burned cuts on his forehead and left cheek, blood flowing freely.

Roxas used his Kingdom Key as a crutch to raise himself up, glaring at the approaching miasma, his whole body tense with the last of his strength.

Come on…Come on, Roxas thought, teeth gritting down as he watched Vanitas reach him.

Roxas' eyes widened and he cried, "Now!"

Lunging with all of his remaining strength, Roxas rolled over the miasma just as Vanitas shot up, riding another column of fire and dodging the masked keyblade wielders' attack. Roxas rose up, swinging his keyblade to prepare a spell to blast Vanitas' back with the strongest Fire spell he had in retribution-

But Roxas found himself found staring into the youth's single exposed eye as he whirled in midair, the single golden orb glinting in mad glee.

Vanitas screamed in triumph, "There's no escape!"

And with that, he spun in midair, his keyblade glowing hotly as he spun faster and faster.

Raining glowing red and white orbs of super hot fire down on Roxas' prone and shocked form.

Roxas' scream of pain echoed off the empty rocky walls of the canyons and mesas.

When the smoke settled, Roxas was still standing, an expression of numb shock on his face, the front and edges of his cloak smoking, blood smeared all over his forehead and cheek, his blue eyes dull and dark with pain.

Vanitas landed back on the ground, his gold eye watching Roxas expectantly, gleaming cruelly in amusement.

Then, Roxas fell to his knees, and then face forward, his arms flailing out before him, his Kingdom Key clattering by his right hand across the cracked and dead soil.

Vanitas let out another single chuckle as he slowly approached Roxas' prone body, his gear like keyblade still glowing an eerie electric blue.

As he walked towards the prone body of the teen, Vanitas started to speak again.

Vanitas, "I almost feel sorry for you. You're about to die…"

The tips of his red boots nearly touched Roxas' limp hands as he stopped walking, glaring down at Roxas, his single exposed eye narrowing in anticipation while his grip on his keyblade tightened.

"And you'll never even know why…" Vanitas finished in a sinister snarl.

With that, Vanitas raised his keyblade, spinning it and holding it reversed with both hands, the red tips of it gleaming dangerously in the light. Vanitas tightened his grip one last time as his arms tensed. With a loud roar, Vanitas plunged his keyblade down-

Only for Roxas to deflect the strike with a sudden burst of speed, swinging his Kingdom Key up and knocking Vanitas' own blade aside. The youth stumbled back, his eye wide in shock, his defense shattered for one split second-

Allowing Roxas to lunge forward, his Kingdom Key erupting in a brilliant burst of white light and becoming a glowing long sword of pure light. With one last scream of rage and pain, Roxas lunged forward and stabbed his blade of light through Vanitas' chest, piercing through muscle and bone like a hot knife through butter and bursting through his back. Vanitas' eye widened and he let out a choked gasp, arms outstretched at his sides.

Roxas glared up at him, blood running down from one of the cuts on his forehead and into his right eye, forcing it to remain closed while his left burned into Vanitas' right.

For a silent eternity, they stood there, Roxas kneeling, arm thrust out, Vanitas standing, arms outstretched out.

Then, finally, Vanitas' arms went limp, falling at his sides and his keyblade slipped from his grasp, clattering as it hit the cracked and dead ground under them, vanishing in a burst of purple fire and blue light.

Vanitas' body went limp, his hands weakly clutching at the glowing, burning sword of light pierced through his chest. He clawed at it, smoke rising as he burned his fingers through his gloves simply by touching the pristine sword's surface. The youth coughed fiercely, a wet sound echoing inside his mask.

Roxas glared up at Vanitas, grip tightening on his blade.

Finally, Vanitas' arms fell limp to his sides once again.

The youth coughed wetly again, sliding a little ways forward onto Roxas' sword.

Roxas panted a little before finding his voice and saying through deep pants, "What…did you…mean?"

Vanitas coughed again, the sudden deep spasms wracking his body. The force his body shook actually caused the cracks to run deeper across his mask. Part of his cheek was exposed along with a single lock of spiky black hair.

Vanitas opened his golden eye, chuckling, the sound wet and pained.

Vanitas, "Exactly…what I…said…idiot…"

Roxas growled and thrust the blade in deeper. Vanitas jerked, head snapping back in a scream of agony. Roxas shuddered as the scream continued…slowly morphing into a mocking laugh.

Vanitas lunged forward, grabbing the blade and pulling it even deeper into himself. Roxas gasped in shock, flinching back as Vanitas pulled himself even further down the blade, staining its pristine surface with his blood. Vanitas' arm shot out, grabbing the back of Roxas' neck and forcing him to look into his gold eye, the orb wide and mad with pain, filled with a strange humor, as if he was laughing at a joke only he understood.

Vanitas, "You are... nothing but a pawn…And you will… never understand… your role…However…futile…it was…"

Roxas shook his head, left eye wide with shock. Roxas, "Futile? What does that mean?" He demanded, shaking his arm that held the blade, no doubt filling the dark youth with even more pain.

Vanitas grunted but kept himself still, his blood splattering across the ground.

Vanitas met Roxas' gaze once again.

Vanitas, "Your…journey here…was futile…for you…are just an empty shell…like me…"

He coughed fiercely, cracking even more of his mask. Roxas could now see the edges of his mouth.

And the edges of the youth's insane grin.

Vanitas, "I guess…me…and… my… other half…"

His golden eye closed, his body going completely limp, sliding down Roxas' blade, more blood splattering across the ground.

Vanitas let out one last sigh, an exhalation of his last breath.

And with that sigh, his last words to Roxas.

"We aren't quite ready to Awaken…Yet."

Roxas stared at the dark youth's corpse, his one opened eye very confused and at a lost.

He didn't have any time to ponder Vanitas' last words as there was a sudden blinding flash of light.

A single orange eye narrowed in frustration.

The masked figure in red studied the three computer screens before him, his face set in an expression of annoyance.

DiZ was infuriated to discover that Aqua no longer possessed the Star Fragment and thus he no longer had the means to track her travels across the worlds.

Before he had given her the Fragment he had placed a stream of data inside of it, allowing DiZ to monitor her little escapades across the worlds, particularly enjoying watching her defeat his former apprentices and their servants. However the transmission from the Fragment had cut off at…

His fist clenched atop his keyboard.

Hollow Bastion.

DiZ allowed himself a sigh of weariness.

He raised his other hand, rubbing the bridge of his nose, single exposed eye closing.

His hands were quickly becoming tied and he would soon have no choice but to resort to his original plan…

DiZ opened his eye, looking at the computer screen to his left.

Displayed on it was the digital outline of a young boy, no older than fifteen, a head of spiky locks glowing along with the rest of his body's outline.

DiZ, "Sora…"

He had been neglecting checking on the boy's status.

DiZ had been so distracted by Aqua's sudden appearance and the opportunity she presented that he had chosen to ignore Sora's restoration in favor of the chance presented to him. To complete his revenge, DiZ needed a keyblade wielding hero who could move through the Realm of Light to fight Organization XIII. He had thought Sora was the only one who fit that profile.

Aqua's appearance confirmed otherwise.

DiZ had hoped Aqua would posses the power and skill necessary to combat Organization XIII's surviving members.

And when he saw her defeat them one by one, DiZ knew she could be the one that fulfilled his revenge…

Except there was one problem.

Aqua refused to destroy any of the Organization members she combated.

Even the Nobody of Braig, Xigbar, who he had been shocked to discover had some kind of past with Aqua, igniting a fury in her that stunned and amazed DiZ. But still she did not strike him down. She had spared him not out of pity, but disgust.

Frustrating.

DiZ studied Sora's screen, his orange eye thoughtful.

So far, only Sora and Riku showed the willingness to destroy a Nobody who served the Organization.

But Riku refused to challenge the Organization directly, only combating them if they threatened his friends. He also seemed to be trying to…'reason' with that Replica abomination to switch sides.

DiZ snorted in derision.

More frustration.

The Nobodies were fated to fade into darkness and had no right to even be.

A Replica had even less rights.

He did not need sentimental heroes taking pity on such creatures…

He needed them destroyed.

DiZ clicked a key on his board and the screen with Sora's data moved onto his main screen. He looked at it, studying it closely.

If Aqua proved to be as useless as Riku then Sora was his last and most desperate gamble.

And the stakes were simply becoming higher and higher the longer the game was played.

DiZ looked over the screen a few more moments before rapidly hitting more keys. He needed to check on Sora's memories restoration progress.

A readout printed on the main screen.

DiZ stared, his eye widening.

His mind simply couldn't correctly process what he was seeing.

A mechanical female voice confirmed what he was seeing.

"Restoration at 7%"

DiZ stared, baffled and bewildered.

"W-what?"

How was this possible? It had gone down!

Namine had warned him that the process would be extremely due to that abomination Replica's interference and Sora's Nobody as well, taking some memories that the girl claimed were 'too important to leave out'.

But this…this deterioration was unthinkable! How could it have occurred so fast?

DiZ set his jaw, teeth grinding as the frustration bubbled over, becoming a burning rage. He rose from his chair, turning in a swish of his robes, flaming orange eye set on the door to the library above.

"Namine…" DiZ snarled, dark designs forming as he planned how to extract the reasons behind this rapid deterioration from her…

He would try not to enjoy himself…Too much.

White light continued to blind him even when he was finally able to open his eyes again.

There were strange muffled sounds mixed in with the sound and feel of blood pounding in his ears, and he could swear his body was being rocked fiercely.

Slowly, everything began to come back into focus. The blinding white light faded to a more bearable level and he could almost see again. The dull pounding in his ear began to fade and he could start to hear again, though the sounds were deeper and still muffled.

Blinking, Roxas tired to bring everything back into focus, still unable to fight that feeling that his body was being rocked by something.

Or someone, he realized when something dark moved between his line of blurry vision and the white ceiling above.

"Roxas!" Xion's voice cried, no longer muffled and garbled but regular sounding and filled with concern.

Groaning and blinking, Roxas looked up at his friend, weakly murmuring, "Shi…Xion?"

Xion let out a relieved sigh, the worry on her face melting away as pure relief filled her upon seeing Roxas move and talk. The blonde sat up on his elbows before settling in a sitting position, his right hand rubbing his aching forehead. For a few moments he was wondering why his head hurt so much and why his body felt like he had been trampled by a pack of Large Body Heartless.

Then he remembered that cruel golden eye and it all came back to him.

"Vanitas!" Roxas exclaimed shooting up and standing, his body crouched and tensed as he looked around wildly for any sign of the masked youth.

To his surprise, there was sign of the youth's body anywhere.

Nor was there any sign of that canyon he and Roxas had fought in either. Roxas now found himself in a large white room wit ha strange glass sphere situated in the center of it.

Roxas, "What? Where did- Ah!"

Pain spread through out Roxas' whole body, causing him to collapse to his knees, his right hand clutching his cheat in the exact spot where the masked youth's icicle attack had pierced him. Xion was by his side at an instant, the relief once again replaced by concern and worry.

Xion, "Roxas, what happened? Who did this to you?"

Roxas didn't reply, his eyes still scanning the room for any sign of either the body of Vanitas or even a pebble or spot of dust to prove he had been standing in a canyon. Very confused by Roxas' strange behavior, Xion reached out to touch his shoulder. Her fingers barely brushed his arm when he gasped, hissing in pain. Xion jerked her hand back with a gasp while Roxas clutched the spot she had barely touched, eyes closed, jaw grit down in pain.

Xion, "I'm sorry! Where does it hurt?"

Roxas coughed a little, panting out weakly, "Everywhere…"

Xion blinked, caught off guard by that. Nevertheless she nodded and, standing up, summoned her keyblade in a flash of light. With a spin in place and thrust of her blade, Xion cast Cura on Roxas, covering his aching form with a green aura, ethereal green leaves raining down on his body, landing all over him. Gradually, the aches and pain filling Roxas faded with the glow of the spell and he could slowly stand up, his knees wobbling but otherwise he was good.

Roxas still looked around the room, very confused and at a lost. Roxas, "I don't understand…where did it all go?"

Xion stepped closer to her friend and asked, "Roxas, where did what go?"

Roxas let out a frustrated growl, waving his arm out impatiently at the room before him. Roxas, "The canyon! There was this huge, empty canyon here when I came inside!"

He paused, his anger chilling as he remembered that golden eye and haunting laugh.

Roxas, "…well, almost empty…" He muttered to himself.

Xion blinked, looking at him curiously, but he didn't say anything else.

Xion followed his gaze, looking around the room as well. Then she looked back at Roxas, and said gently, "Roxas…what did you mean by a 'canyon'?"

Roxas looked around the room, stepping closer to the glass sphere in the center of it, staring at his reflection on its surface. Roxas stared at it for another moment before finally replying, "There was… a canyon here…Not this room. It was huge…" He looked around the room in a helpless daze.

Roxas, "I don't understand…where did it all go?"

Xion looked at him, her expression sad. Slowly, she stepped towards him until she was right behind him.

Xion, "Roxas…do you remember what I told you earlier? About how the key card unlock certain rooms that lead to a personal revelation?"

Roxas blinked, looking confused for a moment. Then he nodded, remembering. Roxas, "Yeah…I remember now."

Xion went on. Xion, "When you used the key card to unlock this room…The room itself changed. Its form reflected the memories that forged the card."

Roxas blinked, turning to look at Xion in confusion. Roxas, "What are you saying?"

Xion's hand fidgeted as she tried to think of the right words to explain this to Roxas. But in the end, all she really could say was, "Roxas…what ever you saw in here…wasn't real."

Roxas blinked, mouth dropping in shock. Roxas, "Wh-what? What do you mean 'wasn't real'? How do you explain my injuries? Those were real!"

Xion nodded. Xion, "Let me explain. It wasn't real as in 'it wasn't here'. What I meant was… it wasn't really real."

That really didn't help as suggested by Roxas' look of extreme confusion.

Xion, "Let me explain…What I mean by is that what you saw and fought was just something created by the memories in the card you used to unlock the door and shape the room. What you saw wasn't real…it was just a memory."

Roxas blinked, beginning to understand. Roxas, "Memory…So that means…"

He looked around the room again, his eyes once again coming to rest on the sphere in the center of the room.

Roxas, "…He wasn't real."

Xion frowned. Xion, "Who wasn't?"

Roxas turned, about to reply. Then he stopped. Xion felt her anxieties begin to well up again and she stepped closer to Roxas while asking, "Roxas? Who are you talking about?"

Roxas looked around the room one lat time.

Then he turned on a heel, quickly striding towards the door.

Roxas, "Nothing. If it was just a memory…" He stepped through the door and back outside into the last room but Xion heard him clearly as he said, "So that means he was the real empty shell…"

Xion blinked, standing in the room even as Roxas exited. Xion, "Empty…shell?" She stood there for another moment, musing over Roxas' strange words before turning to follow after Roxas-

The air suddenly got colder, dropping perhaps ten degrees.

Little doll…

Xion gasped, whirling around at the sound of those hissed words.

Bu she saw there was no else in the room.

Xion gasped a little, her whole body suddenly very tense and alert.

Xion, "What…what was that? Who's there?"

There was no answer.

The shadows in the corners of the room seemed thicker suddenly. Darker.

Unable to stand it any longer, Xion turned and followed after Roxas, moving a little faster than she should have.

The room was empty…

Save for the sound of low chuckling, and a flash of a golden pupil narrowing in the shadows, watching Xion flee.

Roxas turned when he heard footsteps, watching Xion exit the previous room. As she stepped outside it completely, the door sealed shut in a flash of white.

Roxas looked at Xion, frowning a little. She looked distressed, nervously fidgeting with her hands and looking back at the door as if to make sure it was really closed. The dark haired girl looked back at Roxas, smiling as if to say 'it's nothing'. Roxas nodded slowly before looking back towards the room's other door.

The cards had rejoined into the white orb, though it was smaller now and glowed brighter, pulsing quicker.

Roxas started to move closer to it but stopped, looking back at Xion.

Roxas, "Ready?" He smiled playfully.

Xion returned his smile, moving next to him and nodding.

With Xion by his side, Roxas moved closer to the glowing orb, his hand reaching out to touch it-

And failing as the small ball of light promptly shot off, unlocking the door into the next room.

Roxas and Xion took after it, running next and neck as the orb shot through the door straight ahead of them, unlocking it as well. The two did a better job of keeping up with each other this time though they could barely keep up with the orb in this bout. They charged through the next room, watching the orb disappear through the door across as well. The two teen Nobodies raced forward though, preparing for another intense and dizzying chase after the orb-

But to their mutual surprise it ended just as quickly as it began.

As Roxas and Xion scrambled into the next room, they both looked wildly around, their twin sets of blue eyes scanning the room for where the orb had darted off too-

Xion spotted it first, blinking in surprise. She looked at Roxas who was still looking around. The dark haired girl reached out, gently shaking his arm.

Roxas blinked, looking at Xion. Roxas, "What? Did you see it?"

Xion nodded, replying, "It's there."

And she pointed up ahead, in the northern corner of the room. Roxas blinked. It was indeed still in the room, floating in front of another door and pulsing slowly now. Roxas and Xion stared in confusion. Roxas, "Well…that was easy…."

Xion nodded, though now she looked really apprehensive, not approaching the orb.

Roxas meanwhile boldly moved closer to it. When he was in front of the door, the orb hovered directly over him, glowing and pulsing a little quicker now. Roxas started to raise his hand to touch it once more-

And pain filled his head, stealing his vision once more.

Cruel blue eyes watched them, a sneer of contempt on his lips.

He growled, meeting his sneer with a glare as he and his companions readied their weapons.

His own blue eyes wander towards the frightened girl in the white dress, a stark contrast to her captor's black cloak.

"Namine…"

She gasps as he says her name while he tenses, grip on his keyblade tightening.

The pink haired lord of the castle smirks in triumph as he plays his trump card:

"Erase Sora's memories."

Roxas stumbled back, clutching his forehead and wondering if wasn't going to go five minutes without an overpowering headache or any pain in general while he was here.

Xion was likewise distressed, clutching her own forehead, eyes shut as she winced, a hiss escaping her lips.

Surprisingly, the headache faded much faster this time, and Roxas was able to lower his hand, looking at the orb and door in front of him.

Roxas, "Marluxia…"

He looked back at Xion, realization in his eyes.

Roxas, "Marluxia fought…Sora."

Xion blinked, looking at Roxas with a stunned expression.

The blonde turned back toward the door, looking at it. So these visions he was seeing…These were Sora's memories now? He scowled, fighting back a growl. First Ven, now Sora?

He was getting real sick of these two being in his head.

Xion moved towards Roxas, standing by him as he looked up at the orb floating over the door.

Roxas, "Alright…let's see what behind this door."

With that he reached up to touch the or like he had before.

But once again the orb darted forward and out of his reach, unlocking the door in a golden flash and shooting down a dark, shadowy hallway.

Roxas and Xion gasped but Roxas recovered first, glaring at the fleeing orb and charging after it, calling, "Get back here!" Xion gasped and gave chase once again, calling after Roxas, "Roxas, wait up!"

The two ran down the dark hall ahead of them, the orb's glow the only source of illumination as they ran straight forward.

But like the chase before it was over as quickly as it began, the orb leading them closer and closer to a brightly lit white room.

Just as the two teens reached the end of the dark hallway there was another sudden flash of light, blinding Roxas and Xion who shielded their eyes with the sleeves of their cloaks. Roxas recovered first, lowering his arm and trying to peer ahead through squinting eyes. He gasped lowly, his eyes opening a little wider as he looked ahead. Xion heard his gasp and lowered her arm as well, though her eyes were still practically closed.

Xion, "Roxas? Roxas, what is it?"

Roxas, "It stopped…"

Xion listened, wondering if he was going to say anything else. But Roxas didn't, instead he moved into the new room.

Or maybe the next hallway.

The room before Roxas was long as it was wide, perfectly symmetrical, four pillars in the room's corners and symbols of flowers engraved on the side walls. At the far end of the room was a set of double doors, elaborate and intricate symbols carved into its surface and around it. The orb floated in front of it, even smaller now, but its glow ever brighter.

Roxas completely ignored the orb now though.

His eyes were drawn to the second glowing object floating directly in the center of the room.

Xion slowly followed after him, her eyes being drawn to the room's center as well when she spotted what Roxas was staring at.

The blonde moved closer to the item, unable to tear his crystal blue orbs off of it.

It glowed like the orb did, but instead of giving off a bright white light its aura was more of a greenish gold. Inside the green glow was a card, slowly spinning in place. As Roxas and Xion moved closer to it, it floated down, until it was eye level with the blonde's intense gaze.

He saw the card inside the glow, watching it spin slowly on its axis lined with the bottom and top corners. Roxas could see the silver lined blue heart engraved on the backside and as the card turned, he saw the symbol engraved on its front.

The swirling cyclone of wind but this time there was something else. Roxas squinted, staring at the swirling wind symbol.

There was a green gem embedded in the bottom of the cyclone and it was seemingly the source of the glow emitting from the card.

Slwoly, hesitantly, Roxas raised his hand, reaching out to touch the glowing card, his finger lining up with the green gem. Xion shifted nervously but said nothing. She had to trust Roxas…

Even if he clearly had no idea what was going on.

Roxas' hand paused as it reached towards the card, his fingers closing slightly as he hesitated once again. Then, he suddenly turned, looking back at Xion. The dark haired girl blinked, confused by Roxas' very concerned expression.

Roxas, "Xion, I want you to head back."

The dark haired girl blinked, her dark blue gaze meeting Roxas' lighter one in shock. Xion, "What? But why?'

Roxas turned around to face her completely before he went on talking. Roxas, "If these cards do make these memories into real objects and people…I don't want to let something this one might make hurt you."

Xion frowned, looking up at Roxas with a raised eyebrow. Xion, "Well considering something from those memories worked you over pretty good, you probably need my help."

She had meant to try and joke about it to lighten the sudden tension but it failed miserably. Roxas growled in aggravation. "Xion…"

But the dark haired girl held her ground, not moving.

Xion, "No way Roxas. I saw how hurt you were when you went on your own…There's no way I'm standing on the sidelines this time."

Roxas started to open his mouth to protest vehemently-

But Xion silenced him by placing a finger on his lips.

The blonde found his face flushing from the contact. Xion smiled up at him. Xion, "This time…let me help you, ok? Let's fight together."

Xion lowered her hand, smiling up at Roxas. The blonde sighed, closing his eyes in defeat. Then he met her gaze once again, smiling back and nodding. Xion held her hand to his.

Slowly, but not hesitantly, Roxas took it, encouraged by the warmth and firm squeeze Xion gave his hand.

Xion, "Together…alright?"

Roxas nodded. "Together…" He repeated.

With that, he turned to face the card, not letting go of Xion's hand a he looked into the glowing green gem once again.

Taking a breath, Roxas raised his left hand, reaching out to touch the gem with his gloved hand.

His finger gently brushed the surface of the glowing gem.

Roxas blinked.

It was…really warm.

As his finger brushed over its surface the gem gave off a sudden intense glow and the aura faded away from the card as it stopped spinning, seeming to collapse in on itself as the gem glowed even brighter, a bright green dot of light.

Roxas suddenly felt very tense and alert. He stepped back, pushing Xion back as well as he did. Xion looked at Roxas, very nervous, looking between the card and Roxas.

The two hadn't taken two steps back when the card flashed brilliantly, blinding them. Roxas shielded his eyes and moved his body over Xion's instinctively if something attacked them. But there was only the sound of chains snapping and-

An even brighter flash of green and golden light drowned out the first flash of white light and the whole room seemed to tip, sending Roxas and Xion stumbling into the golden light.

It was a small eternity before the glow faded and became more bearable, allowing Roxas and Xion to lower their arms away from their eyes and slowly open them, blinking away the last few spots that had blinded their retinas. As soon as the two could fully see again, they both did a double take. Where once they stood there had been a long white walled hallway with a set of double doors waiting for them at the end of it…

Now they stood atop a glowing surface surrounded by infinite darkness.

Roxas let go of Xion's hand, stepping forward, his footstep echoing loudly in the empty space. Roxas looked up, his head scanning around the darkness. He could make out wisps of smoky mist floating in the darkness, only revealed through whatever light source emitted from this strange place.

Xion meanwhile stood where she was and looked down at the station they stood on.

Roxas, "Where…where in all the worlds are we?"

His words echoed but at the same time were somehow flat, only carrying as far as the light emanated from and dying once they reached the darkness.

Xion's eyes widened when she realized what she was looking at under her.

She looked back up at Roxas, who continued to peer into the darkness around them.

Xion, "Roxas…"

He rounded quickly, his edginess evident as he expected an enemy to appear any moment. Roxas, "Xion? What is it?"

She didn't respond, instead, she only pointed to the ground under them. Roxas blinked, confused before following her finger. At first he didn't understand what she was trying to tell him, just staring at the strange blue, brown and green glass like plates under him-

Then his eyes moved further up and they widened as they did, finally seeing what Xion had saw and understanding.

Both Nobodies slowly stepped back until they were on the edge of the station, looking down on its surface.

It was a series of circles within circles. The farthest edges were a series of small greenish blue plant leaves like symbols . The further inside was a green circle was filled with smaller lighter green circles, each engraved with that strange heart like symbol inside them, these symbols black. The next circle was a mural of an empty canyon with a blue sky filled with black clouds. Above that mural and all the other circles was a green circle with six white lines peeking through more symbols. There were four more circles engraved in this one each the same thing but a different color. Two were blue, one was orange and the last, the one in the center, was light green.

But all this intricate design didn't shock Roxas and Xion so much.

It was the image that dominated the left half of the station that had their jaws dropped and their eyes so wide.

It was an image of a teenage boy, perhaps around Roxas and Xion's age, maybe younger or older. The boy was asleep, his eyes closed. He was dressed in black and white pants with strange metal looking sneakers along with a jacket that was half white and black, the opposite colored sleeves ending at his elbows, a strange black and white checkered wristband on his left hand. A gold armor pauldron was on his left arm…

And in his hand was a keyblade.

It was predominantly and wing like as it was held reversed in the sleeping teen's hand. It greatly resembled Roxas and Xion's Kingdom Keys and even possessed half the hilt of them, its color however was more of a faded gold than a bright yellow like theirs. A silver chain hung off and both teens saw that its charm was the same symbol engraved on the card Roxas had touched: A swirling cyclone of wind with a green gem embedded at the bottom.

But even the fact the boy held a keyblade was what shocked them so much.

It was the fact the teen looked exactly like Roxas, down to his spiky locks, that shocked the two so much.

Xion looked between the image and Roxas, unable to see any physical differences save their clothes.

Xion, "Roxas…" She gasped out, awed and stunned.

"It's you."

Roxas stared at the mural like image of the sleeping keyblade wielding teen, his shock slowly melting away…into a look of anger. He shook his head, clenching his hands into fists, his whole body beginning to shake. Roxas, "No it's not me…"

Xion looked at him, confused.

Roxas looked up, his eyes narrowing. Roxas, "It's him. Ventus. The one from my dreams."

Xion blinked, looking at the mural and then back at Roxas. Xion, "That's Ventus? But then…" She looked around the endless darkness and the glowing station before asking, "Then where are we?"

Roxas shook his head. Roxas, "I don't know." He trailed off, his eyes scanning the area once again. His eyes widened, his whole body going still and tensing fiercely. Xion blinked, surprised as Roxas glared at something across from them, his expression one of fierce rage…and shock.

Xion turned, following his gaze towards whatever he was looking at. Her own eyes widened in equal shock when she saw the focus of Roxas' rage and surprise. Someone stood across from them.

They hadn't been there five seconds ago.

The person stood across from them with their back to Roxas and Xion, standing directly on the center of the green star symbol engraved in the glass like mural. Neither Roxas or Xion could make out many details, save that whoever it was that stood there was wearing some kind of cape and a helmet with twin wing like prongs jutting up and out. The cape billowed gently and slowly to an unseen wind.

For a small eternity, none of them moved, Xion staring at the person in stunned silence, Roxas glowering in rage and the person just standing still.

Then, the person turned and faced the two teens.

Roxas' eyes narrowed in further rage while Xion's widened in continuous surprise.

The person couldn't have been taller than either of them but any resemblance they could have shared ended there.

The person was wearing a complete suit of armor over a black body suit, his gauntlets blue gray while his shoulder pads were gold and black, his kneepads gold and spiked, while his chest armor was both gold and blue gray. Red lines ran over certain areas of the black bodysuit under the armor. The top of his helm was blue gray while the jaw line was gold, the visor a solid black. The armored figure's hidden eyes settled on Roxas and Xion, his cape slowly moving still to the unseen breeze.

Roxas continuously flexed his fingers, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides as he fought back the boiling rage building.

Roxas, "You…"

Xion blinked, looking at Roxas in confusion. Then she remembered something Roxas told her two days before, about someone giving Roxas the cards during his fit.

The knight looked from Roxas to Xion, then back to Roxas, his hidden eyes meeting Roxas' enraged ones.

Then, the knight spoke.

"So, you braved Oblivion to get this far. Congratulations."

To Xion's wonder, there was no hint of sarcasm or derision or any kind of mocking whatsoever. This knight sounded genuinely impressed that they had arrived here.

Roxas sneered at the knight. Roxas, "Thanks, that means so much." The blonde didn't even try to hide the loathing contempt in his voice.

The knight didn't reply, only stared at them in silence once again.

Then, he asked, "Why have you come here?"

Xion looked at Roxas, who seemed to be using all his willpower to not charge over at the knight. His response was firm and confident. Roxas, "To find out why these dreams have been appearing to me…and why he," Roxas stamped his foot down on the glass mural, jerking his head at the image of the sleeping Ventus.

"Looks like me."

The knight slowly looked from Roxas to the mural, cocking his head slightly. Then he looked back at Roxas.

"They aren't dreams…"

Roxas blinked, his anger fading into true confusion.

The knight went on. "They are memories…lost memories…" He held his hand out to the darkness, peering up into it.

"Lost memories drifting in the wind. They appeared to you when she placed the chains of my sleeping memories into the chains of your sleeping self."

Xion was hopelessly lost and Roxas wasn't any better. He looked away, confused. Then he looked back at the knight, asking, "Who's 'she'? What do you mean the chains of memories?"

The knight didn't respond immediately.

Then he replied simply, "The girl in white…who holds power over his memories. She can unbind the chains or add new ones. She took my memories and gave them to you in the form of dreams. She wanted you…"

He trailed off, his head bowing.

His posture seemed sad as he turned his hidden eyes toward one of the blue star symbols.

"…She wanted you to help…my friend."

Roxas still looked confused but it dawned on Xion in an instant when she saw the blue star.

Xion, "Aqua."

At the sound of the name the knight looked at Xion.

Xion, "She… wanted Roxas to help Aqua."

The knight nodded.

Roxas narrowed his eyes.

Roxas, "Why would I do that? Aqua hurt my friends!"

The knight resumed staring at Roxas.

"…Loyal only to your friends and unwilling to help others if they have wronged you."

Roxas flinched, glaring into the knight's black visor.

The knight looked at the orange star this time.

"…You remind me of him."

Roxas and Xion both blinked in confusion.

Roxas, "'Him'? Who's him?"

The knight looked back at Roxas.

"You've both met him…or…" He trailed off, cape billowing silently.

"What's left of what he has become."

Roxas growled in frustration, swiping his hand out and barking in anger, "What is with you weirdos? Why don't you talk sense? Just give me a straight answer, not these half truths hidden in riddles!"

The knight stared at Roxas, expression hidden and unreadable.

Then, he spoke again. "I am telling you the answers, but you must interpret them yourself."

Roxas growled, crouching slightly, hands clenched into tight fists ready to smash that blank visor right open if not for the fact Xion held his shoulder to keep him back.

Roxas, "Alright…All I wanna know is why I'm here, in this place? What does the 'Way to Awakening Lies Through Oblivion' mean? What is the Awakening Vanitas talked about?"

At the mention of that name Xion looked at Roxas in confusion while the knight suddenly clenched his right hand into a fist.

He met Roxas' glare no doubt with one of his own.

Slowly, the knight unclenched his fist, flexing his fingers.

"I can't answer any of those questions."

Roxas flinched back, his anger igniting into full blown fury.

Roxas, "Can't or won't?" He snapped.

Xion gulped, feeling the first sparks of tension fill the air.

The knight went on, ignoring Roxas' question.

"You were led here because you are him…but he is not you. You're his other half and for that reason you have gotten this far…"

Xion could feel Roxas' anger radiating off of him in waves. It was almost palpable.

The knight went on.

"You both are fragments of my true chosen… the body, soul and memories…but not the heart. Without his heart…" The knight turned on his heel, resuming facing the endless darkness around the glowing station.

"The Awakening will not occur today."

Roxas was silent for several moments, fists shaking at his sides. Then, he suddenly went still. Xion stared, very confused and concerned. Roxas let out a dry but loud chuckle, glaring at the knight's back.

The knight turned his head slightly, glancing back at Roxas.

Roxas, "Sora…" Xion blinked, looking at Roxas in surprise.

Roxas went on. "You're talking about Sora, right?"

The knight was still. Then he slowly nodded.

Roxas took a step towards the knight while still speaking. Roxas, "Then that means…" He stopped when he was standing on the mural of the canyon. Roxas turned his gaze towards the image of the sleeping Ventus. Then he looked back at the knight.

"You're Ven, aren't you?"

Xion blinked. It hadn't occurred to her, but it made sense in a way. The strange armor was what threw her off.

The knight stared at Roxas. Then, he nodded again. "I am Ven…and I'm not. I'm just…one of his Lost Memories."

Roxas glared at Ven's 'Lost Memory', right hand raised slightly and clenched into a shaking fist.

Roxas, "So…I'm not 'worthy' of facing you or this Awakening because I'm not Sora, is that what I'm hearing?"

Ven made no response.

Roxas continued to glare at the armored teen. Roxas, "So I came all this way, fought to get this far…for nothing?"

Xion had to admit when Roxas put it like that, even she felt a little angry. To come this far for nothing? To be told you weren't the one who was really supposed to be here?

It was infuriating and extremely unfair.

Roxas flexed his hand open, the joints popping as he did.

Roxas, "I refuse to accept that…I came here…to find out why these memories or dreams or whatever they are appeared to me…And now that I know they were to do something you say I can't?" Roxas let out another dry and angry chuckle.

Roxas, "Well how about…I defeat you, and prove you wrong?"

With that declaration, Roxas swung his right arm out, calling his Kingdom Key into existence in flash of light and flourish of sparks and charged forward with a loud cry.

Xion reached out, crying, "Roxas!" but the blonde ignored her, jumping high into the air and pulling his keyblade back with both hands to deliver a might overhead swing-

'Clang!'

The sound of metal clashing with metal reverberated off the empty darkness.

Roxas stared into Ven's black visor in shock.

Blocking and deflecting his strike was another keyblade.

Ven had swung his arm out and called his own keyblade to deflect Roxas' strike, swinging the blade up and down, locking blades before shoving Roxas back with a single slash. Roxas slid back and stumbled up, staring at Ven's keyblade in shock.

It was even stranger looking than Vanitas' had been but in a different way. Vanitas' had been dark and twisted while this one was…fragmented…broken looking.

It was longer than the one Ven's mural held and colored silver. The blade tip was forked, the blade teeth was an angel wing with a broken red heart embedded into it. The shaft of the blade where it met the hilt was empty, a second wing rising out of the hilt, a capital 'V' embedded above the black handle. The keychain charm was another broken red heart with two white wings wrapped around it.

Ven held his keyblade reversed, twirling it in his hand while Roxas assumed a crouched a fighter's stance.

Ven, "Don't do this. I am not like Vanitas… I won't be defeated so easily."

Roxas' eyes widened in ever growing rage.

Roxas, "Easily? He was 'easily defeated'?" Unable to control himself any longer, Roxas charged over keyblade pulled back to slam his keyblade into Ven's helm-

The armored teen ducked and slid behind Roxas so fast the blonde teen never realized it even as his keyblade slammed down onto the glass surface of the station. Roxas blinked, looking around in confusion before screaming pain as Ven slashed his silver keyblade across his back. Roxas stumbled, clutching at his back while Ven thrust his keyblade in the air, a green aura rising off of himself before erupting into a swirling vortex of wind. Roxas let out a cry of shock and surprise as he was elevated in the swirling wind and thrown halfway across the station.

Xion gasped, her hands covering her mouth as she watched Roxas get launched across the station.

The Nobody grunted, sliding across the glass and coming to a sudden and painful stop, his Kingdom Key clattering next to him. Roxas gasped, pushing himself up with his hands and looking across the station, seeing Ven wasn't following after him. The armored teen spoke again.

"Just walk away. This is a fight you can't win with brute strength alone."

Eyes narrowing into a glare, Roxas forced himself up and charged back at Ven, keyblade pulled back in a powerful swing. Ven wasn't fast enough to dodge this time but he still managed to block the first blow and the three hit combo that followed. Roxas jumped back, pulling his keyblade back and charging forward in a spinning slash-

That Ven dodged by sliding behind Roxas once again, blade pulled back to slash Roxas across the back once again. Roxas gasped, whirling around just as Ven slashed-

And his blow was met by a flash of silver and black blur. A gloved hand shot out, a large fireball gathering and exploding on contact with Ven's chest. The armored teen stumbled back, dazed. Roxas was equally dazed when he saw Xion standing between him and Ven, her own Kingdom Key out.

Roxas, "Xion! What are you-"

Xion, "He's right Roxas. You won't win with just your strength." She looked back at her friend, smiling. Xion, "But with me helping, you probably have a shot."

Roxas blinked, shocked. Then he smiled and nodded, readying his own keyblade. He and Xion set their gazes on Ven, who had watched silently. The armored keyblade wielder looked at them from behind his visor.

Ven, "Please. Put down your keyblades. I don't want to fight either of you."

Roxas growled and charged forward, Kingdom Key pulled back. Ven blocked his blow just as easily as before but before he could retaliate Xion was charging forward, trying to slash his side and forcing him to jump back, allowing Roxas to charge forward and rapidly slash his blade at Ven's chest. Once again the knight dodged and thrust his keyblade in the air, surrounding himself with a swirling blow of green wind, pushing Roxas back.

Xion mimicked Ven's motions, thrusting her keyblade in the air, her keyblade igniting as another large fireball shot out and at Ven, exploding on contact with the floor. But the armored teen was still faster, dodging the explosion and charging forward at Xion. The dark haired girl gasped, unable to block in time as Ven pulled his keyblade back in a reversed slash-

His attack was intercepted by Roxas appearing between the two, his face a mask of rage as shoved Ven back and proceeded to rapidly slash his blade in a furious combo. Ven met each blow, blocking each strike easily and with no real effort. Ven forced Roxas back with one last swing before whirling to block a slash from Xion as she tried to land a hit on his back. Ven jumped into the air and away from Roxas and Xion, landing halfway across from the station. Roxas and Xion righted themselves, each crouched and battle ready with their keyblades in their hands, faces slightly flushed and sweaty but they were far from out.

Ven however showed no signs of weariness whatsoever, only melancholy.

Ven, "Please…don't do this. I could seriously hurt both of you if you keep forcing me to fight."

The sincerity of Ven's concern made Xion hesitate. But Roxas only tightened his grip on his weapon and shot back, "How about you surrender and let me find this Awakening?"

Ven sighed, shaking his head.

Ven, "I warned you…Now I can't hold back any more."

With that he pulled his keyblade back in a reverse swing, the blade touching his elbow before thrusting himself forward and throwing it out, the keyblade becoming a spinning ivory blur. Both Roxas and Xion jumped away from each other as the keyblade shot between and past them, vanishing into the darkness behind them.

Roxas shot Ven a smirk of contempt. Roxas, "That's it? I was hoping for more!" The young Nobody charged forward, keyblade drawn back while Ven remained still, his arm still stretched out, fingers moving slowly. Roxas was almost on Ven and jumped into the air to try and land that overhead blow he had attempted to use earlier-

Xion's voice called out, making him freeze in midair. Xion, "ROXAS LOOK OUT!"

There was a sound like rushing wind and metal clattering and the next thing Roxas knew something slammed into his back causing him to fall back down flat on his face and Roxasl et out a cry of pain as his already injured back was further tortured. Roxas heard more metal against metal and forced his head to look up. Roxas' crystal blue eyes widened when he saw Ven catch his keyblade, the strange weapon surrounded by swirling winds for a split second before they faded. Ven looked at Roxas for a split second before his head shot up and saw Xion charging at him, her expression one of utter fury.

The dark haired girl screamed as she charged at Ven. The knight merely pulled his keyblade back once again and threw it out. Xion gasped, coming to a skidding halt and thrusting her weapon out in a guard stance. She was too close to dodge in time and would have to try and deflect his attack. Ven's keyblade slammed into hers, pushing the girl back. Xion squinted her eyes in effort to keep her own weapon up to block Ven's. Strangely, Ven's keyblade wasn't surrounded by wind this time but it instead glowed brightly-

The keyblade bounced back and as it did it split into six spinning, glowing blades of light that all shot down and slammed into Xion.

The dark haired girl screamed in pain, her whole body knocked back at the same time the light swords flew back and recombined before Ven caught his keyblade. Roxas watched his friend fall back on the station wit ha cry of pain, her keyblade clattering loudly on the glass surface. Then he snapped his gaze back up at Ven, his eyes filled with uncontrolled rage. Roxas charged up, swinging his keyblade rapidly. As before Ven blocked with a reversed slash and block-

But even the far more skilled keyblade wielder was still shocked as Roxas' keyblade erupted into a blade of pure white light. Ven's eyes widened behind his helm, his shock distracting him long enough for Roxas to rapidly slash his blade, landing a few hits. But Ven overcame his shock and suddenly moved faster than ever, blocking Roxas' strikes with carefully timed guard strikes and sweeping slides behind Roxas. The darkly clad blonde was pushing his own body, forcing himself to keep up with Ven and try to land a hit on him.

But t was clear Ven was too fast and Roxas didn't land another blow from his glowing sword.

Deciding to try a different tactic, Roxas jumped back and swung his blade out, summoning four pillars of light in the shape of the Organization symbol. He slashed his blade again, sending a second pillar after the first. He hoped to overwhelm Ven and for one of the pillars to hit him-

He hoped for too much. Infuriatingly, Ven leapt through the pillars, dodging each of column of light by weaving through them and charging straight at Roxas.

Ven's keyblade became a silver blur, tearing into Roxas with a rapid four hit combo, his armored body becoming surrounded by a glowing green aura of light. Roxas let out a grunt and cry of pain with each hit before Ven suddenly flipped, pulling his keyblade back before sweeping it out-

And releasing fives lines of light that shot at Roxas and exploded upon reaching him, sending Roxas flying back with a scream of pain erupting from his lips.

Xion meanwhile had recovered a little, rising and shaking her head. She gasped, her head snapping up when she heard Roxas' scream of pain. Xion's eyes widened when she saw Roxas was sent flying through the air after an attack Ven used landed and exploded.

Gritting her teeth, Xion forced herself up, her keyblade erupting with a flash of light into a sword of light.

Ven whirled around just as Xion reached him, swinging her sword. Ven quickly raised his own blade to block, thinking he would just repeat what he did when Roxas used this technique. But Ven was in for a surprise.

Whereas Roxas was all power and brute strength, Xion was timed strikes and skill, moving her keyblade and swinging it, each time almost managing to pierce through Ven's guard and burn his armor with the edge of her light sword. Xion kicked her leg out, striking Ven and using him to propel herself back and up, swinging her keyblade twice in rapid succession while still in close range, sending her own pillars of light directly into Ven's face and body. The armored teen was finally forced back, almost stumbling but righting himself and preparing to counterattack Xion-

But failing as Roxas proceeded to charge and hack and slash into his back, bringing in some retribution for the earlier back attacks Ven had used on him. Ven staggered, stumbling over finally and allowing Roxas' knee to shoot up and slam into his visor, cracking Ven's head back with a loud 'crack!'.

Roxas and Xion moved together, hoping to continue and overwhelm with unrelenting blows-

But Ven moved faster, thrusting his keyblade up and spinning in place, kicking up a tornado of glowing green and gold air around himself and catching Roxas and Xion in the midst of it. The tornado struck them again and again as Ventus spun in place twice more before it suddenly exploded out, sending them flying back across the station. Roxas and Xion managed to land on their feet and slide back, though their skin and cloaks were severely torn and blood stained, their skin pale and both were panting in exhaustion.

Ven was evening starting to show signs of exertion, his breathing slightly louder and his shoulders shaking a little.

Xion saw they had an opportunity and didn't waste it. Spinning in place and thrusting her keyblade in the air, a large circle of green magic and ethereal green leaves covered her and Roxas. Almost instantly, their wounds healed over, their skin knitting back together and regaining some of its color. While they were still covered in blood their strength was back up and they had caught a second wind.

Ven watched in silence, never moving to attack.

Roxas tore his intense gaze away from the armored teen and spared Xion a smile.

Roxas, "Thanks…"

Xion returned the smile.

Xion, "Happy to help."

Roxas nodded before returning his glare back to Ven, the knight twirling his keyblade as he reassumed his own crouched fighter's stance, Xion and Roxas following suite.

Roxas looked at Xion out of the corner of his eye, saying, "This time, let's take him together, ok?"

Xion nodded. "Ok."

With that they both charged forward, keyblades drawn back and ready.

Ven thrust his keyblade in the air and just as they reached him another swirling tornado of green and gold wind surrounded him. Roxas and Xion skidded to a halt before they reached him, jumping back and away from the tornado. To their combined shock the swirling wind followed after them, more wind flowing from Ven's keyblade and into it, causing it to grow larger and more powerful, the sheer force of its spinning depths actually drawing Roxas and Xion in closer even as they tried to back up and escape it.

Xion looked at Roxas and called over the roaring wind, "It's too strong! I can't get away!"

Roxas growled, looking at Xion then towards the tornado, which was likewise drawing him in as well despite his struggles to remain grounded. Then, he saw Ven still standing in the center of it, his head raised and concentrating on the stream of wind and magic radiating from his keyblade.

Distracted.

Roxas looked back at Xion, calling over the roaring wind, "Go limp!"

Xion gave Roxas a flabbergasted look of shock and was about to shout over the wind again and question him. But Roxas' sudden grin and gleaming eyes told her he had a plan and wanted her to follow along. Sighing, knowing this was going to hurt either way, Xion let herself go as did Roxas. Instantly, they were both sucked into the swirling vortex of magic and wind, both gritting their jaws and trying to resist its bone breaking force.

Ven saw their bodies in his spell and swept his keyblade down, hoping they were both unconscious-

Only to receive a real surprise as Roxas rode the dying currents and charged down at Ven, Xion following after him once she realized what Roxas was doing.

Ven didn't have time to dodge and was forced to block Roxas once the blonde reached him and this allowed Xion to swing her own keyblade out, slamming it into Ven's side. Ven stumbled back, swinging his keyblade out to try and hit Xion in retaliation but Roxas slashed his keyblade and struck Ven's chest, forcing him back. Roxas and Xion worked together to block Ven's hits and strike him when he was left open. Finally, Ven had no choice but to swing his arm out, calling up another swirling vortex of magic and wind to push Roxas and Xion back and away from himself.

Roxas and Xion righted themselves, Xion swinging her keyblade up to cast another healing wave of Cure over herself and Roxas.

Both teens looked back over at Ven watching him rise up, his armor cracked and burned slightly in several places, a small crack running through his helm's visor as well from where Roxas had kicked him. But other than the damage on his armor Ven himself showed no signs of weakness or exhaustion from using so many spells in succession and with such added power.

Roxas and Xion looked at each other again, gazes meeting.

Roxas, "Ready?"

Xion, "You bet!"

With that declaration both their keyblades erupted in a brilliant flash becoming twin swords of light.

Ven's own body flashed and he was once again surrounded by a green aura, though this one was much more intense than the one before.

Without another word all three charged, leaping in midair with their weapons clashing once again with a loud clang of metal against metal and magic.

Ven's attacks were, impossibly, even faster than before, swiping his keyblade out to meet and block each of Roxas and Xion's own fast swipes and force both of them back when he threw his keyblade out, the weapon surrounded by wind once again and nearly blowing them off the station. Roxas and Xion charged forward, swinging their keyblades out and calling forth their light pillars at the same time, forming a wall of light that forced Ven back, the armored warrior jumping back down onto the station just as Roxas and Xion reached him, keyblades pulled back-

But before they could reach him Ven spun in place, his whole body becoming a glowing diamond of light and wind so fierce Roxas and Xion were sent flying back.

The two teens landed, Roxas grunting in pain while Xion let out a slightly louder cry though both remained standing.

They watched Ven float in place, still spinning like a top for several more seconds before he finally stopped and fell back onto his feet on the station. Ven was finally showing signs of weariness from the continous assault, his whole body shook heavily and his pants for breath were now audible.

Roxas found himself grinning in pre-triumph.

Roxas called to Ven, "I guess brute strength was more than enough, huh?"

Xion looked at Roxas in shock and anger. She was about to say something when Ven looked up, glaring at Roxas from behind his visor.

Ven, "I almost thought you did understand the secret of winning this battle…"

There was a bright flash of light, so bright it almost blinded Roxas and Xion but they managed to force them to stay open and saw the glow was coming from Ven's keyblade, the whole weapon glowing a bright white. Ven twirled it, rising back up to his full height and holding the weapon straight with both hands on the hilt and in front of himself. The glow seemed to spread over Ven's armor and Roxas and Xion could only watch in stunned awe.

Around the station, the air shimmered and rippled, the glow seeming to spread around them.

Ven tightened his grip on his keyblade.

Ven, "But it seems I was wrong."

With that said, Ven thrust his keyblade into the air, a shining orb of light bursting from the tip and seeming to summon a series of sword like columns of light around himself, Roxas and Xion. The two teens gasped, looking around wildly in confusion and finding themselves trapped.

With a loud cry of "LIGHT!" from Ven, the columns of light spun around all three-

Before rapidly closing in on Roxas and Xion and exploding in a brilliant burst.

Neither Roxas nor Xion could make a sound or move as their bodies were overcome and covered in such brilliant, burning hallowed light, the pain the likes of which they had never experienced before. It seemed to last an eternity, burning into them, the pain increasing every second, beyond the level they could bare and searing into their nerves.

But just as soon as it begun, it ended.

The light faded away, swallowed by the darkness around the station. Ven lowered his keyblade, staring at Roxas and Xion who remained standing, their cloaks charred and smoking, blood running down the sides of their faces.

Then, they both fell over, their Kingdom Keys clattering loudly on the glass surface of the station.

Roxas lay on his side, blinking slowly, eyes wide and shocked, his whole body going numb fast. Beside him Xion had curled into a small ball, her whole body shaking fiercely.

With extreme effort combined with overwhelming agony, Roxas managed to force himself up onto his knees, blood spilling from his various wounds and onto the glowing surface of the station. Roxas moved over Xion, partially to shield, partially to check on her.

Roxas, "Shi-Shi-Xion…" He choked out, swallowing some of his own blood just to stop stuttering.

The girl weakly turned her deep blue eyes up at Roxas. Then, despite her intense pain, she offered him a small smile. Xion, "R-Roxas…"

Roxas raised his shaky gaze up towards Ven, still panting and spitting a little blood.

Roxas' eyes widened when he saw the armored teen.

Every scratch, dent, burn or crack that Roxas and Xion had put in Ventus' armor was gone.

In fact the armor looked pristine, shining and new.

He healed himself, Roxas realized.

That huge light attack had not only brought him and Xion to their knees but it had restored Ven, perhaps to full strength.

The darkness around them seemed about to swallow Roxas.

A gentle touch tore his attention away from Ven and a green glow covered Roxas. Roxas jerked, grunting as he felt his wounds begin to heal as glowing leaves touched them. Slowly but surely, Roxas could feel his strength and stamina returning. Blinking, Roxas looked down and saw Xion's hand on his chest before her arm went limp, falling back onto the station.

Roxas, "Xion!" He picked her up by her arms, careful not to hurt her anymore than she already was. Roxas, "Xion, why did you do that? You should have healed yourself!"

The girl smiled through her pain once again and shook her head, very slowly, wincing a little.

Xion, "No…R-Roxas…I'm…tapped out…I can't…keep going…I'm sorry…"

Roxas gently grasped her hand, his eyes narrowed in anguish.

Roxas, "Xion…I don't think I can beat him alone…" Xion's pulled her hand away from his, gently rubbing his bloody cheek and smiling.

Xion, "Yes…you can…because…"

She reached with her other hand, her gloved fingers wrapping around the hilt of her kingdom Key. With extreme effort in her injured state, Xion handed Roxas her keyblade, firmly placing it in his right hand. She met his gaze again, her smile tired, her eyes slowly closing.

"You're…not alone…"

With that last exhalation, Xion went limp in his arms. Roxas gasped, panic rising in his chest as he assumed the worst. But the panic instantly cooled when he heard Xion's continued breathing, slow and a little uneven…

But she wasn't gone yet.

Feeling his strength returning to his limbs, Roxas jammed Xion's Kingdom Key into the station and scooped her up in his arms. Not even sparing Ven another glance, Roxas moved towards the edge of the station and gently placed Xion well out of range of any attack he and Ven might throw at each other. As he placed her down, Roxas brushed a single lock of her ebon hair from her face, smiling down at her.

Then, his expression hardened and he turned back towards Ventus.

The armored teen had been watching silently and continued to do so as Roxas walked back over to Xion's keyblade. The teen ripped it out and held it upright, swinging his left hand out and summoning his own Kingdom Key in a flash of light and flourish of sparks.

Ven actually flinched a little in surprise.

Ven, "…Two?"

Without a response or even a battle cry, Roxas charged forward, crossing both keyblades in front of himself as Ven thrust his left hand out, blasting Roxas with a powerful gust of green and gold wind. Roxas swung the blades out, deflecting the strike just as he reached Ven-

And the armored teen sent him flying back with an even stronger gust.

Roxas was sent flying back with a cry of pain, landing on his knees and sliding back, dropping his and Xion's Kingdom Keys. The twin blades vanished in a burst of sparks.

Ven lowered his hand, staring at Roxas, his body language emitting both frustration and anger.

Ven, "Why don't you understand? You cannot win with brute strength alone!"

Ven's words echoed off the empty darkness.

Roxas sat hunched over, his whole body shaking so fiercely his cloak's hood fell over his head. Then, Roxas forced himself to stand shakily, his hidden eyes glaring at Ven from under his hood. Slowly, the teen extended his arms out to his sides.

Ven watched, annoyed he would have to probably seriously injure this boy to get him to stop.

But then Ven noticed something.

Sparks of light discharged from between Roxas' fingers.

In his right, the sparks were a bluish black.

In his left hand, they were pure white.

Ven tightened his grip on his own keyblade.

Roxas took several deep breaths, calming his breathing before declaring with conviction, "I heard you…but it's you who doesn't understand."

Roxas clenched his fists, the sparks discharging around his hands.

Roxas, "I'm not fighting alone this time."

With that, Roxas' arms moved like a quick drawer, his right shooting towards his left hip while his left shot towards his right.

His right arm moved back first, black light flashing around his hand as-

"Giving up already? Come on Sora! I thought you were stronger than that!"

A midnight blade with a chain running through the empty space of the shaft, the blade tips spiked and dangerous looking, appeared in his hand. The hilt guard was two bat like wings joined together, a blue gem embedded above them. The keychain of this blade was a black crown.

His left moved back as well, pure white light flashing around his hand this time as-

"Don't ever forget…Wherever you go, I'm always with you."

The weapon that appeared in his left hand is a stark contrast the one in his right. This blade was pure white, two shafts forming the blade with an empty center, the shafts twisting and meeting at the top in the shape of a heart, the blade tips five long gold, white and blue prongs. The hilt guard is angel wings and the symbol of another heart is engraved above the handle. The keychain is a silk cloth, a curious five sided star charm dangling from the end.

Roxas spun the keyblades, -Oblivion and Oathkeeper- sliding them over his head in a shower of sparks before lowering them to his sides and assuming his fighter's stance, hunched and ready.

Ventus stared at Roxas in complete shock.

Not only had this boy summoned two keyblades but he had completely changed their form as well. Ven had never seen anything like this-

He was lost in his thoughts too long as Roxas vanished in a burst of light and a flare flashed over his visor, blinding Ven. As he shook his head to clear the spot, he heard a 'ting' of spinning blades and Roxas take in a breath-

Behind him. Ven didn't have time to dodge as Roxas swung his keyblades out with a shout of "Take that!", releasing a golden cross-circle of light that slammed into Ven and sent him reeling forward, his cape torn in two. Ven whirled around, swinging his arm out and throwing a swirling vortex of wind at Roxas- Who was already gone, vanishing in a burst of speed and light so intense he left behind another flare that blinded Ven. Hearing Roxas take in another breath and that strange 'ting' sound of spinning keyblades, Ven quickly leapt into the air, pulling his keyblade back as he prepared to retaliate-

When Roxas leapt, rolling and surrounding himself in twin circles of light that slammed into Ven, stunning him and leaving him open as Roxas delivered a string of twin combos on Ven before jumping back and throwing his keyblades out. The black and white blades tore into Ventus before flying back into Roxas' hands. Ven slid back across the station while Roxas landed and charged forward, swinging his keyblades in a berserker charge. Ven slid back and then moved behind Roxas, swinging his keyblade out and finally landing a hit on Roxas.

The teen stumbled but made no sound of any kind as he whirled around bringing his keyblades up, though Ven blocked again and responded with a series of fast, whip like strikes from his keyblade that knocked Roxas into the air before sending him flying back and away. Roxas slid back, righting himself and raising his hidden gaze back up to glare at Ven. His body shaking, Roxas charged forward in a quick run, his body surrounded by light and leaving behind flares but Ven was able to avert his eyes as he readied to retaliate-

Only to be struck by a pillar of light that appeared in Roxas' trail, the cloaked teen leaping back and slashing his keyblades out in rapid succession, sending more columns at Ven while charging at him, more pillars appearing in his wake until there were thirteen of them. Ven jumped, rolled and dodged with all his speed, narrowly avoiding each pillar before they all finally vanished, dissolving into sparks. Ven rolled under Roxas' rapid swings, righting himself and turning around to throw his keyblade out, the wind guiding it. Roxas wasn't fast enough this time and the keyblade slammed into him again and again, forcing the teen back with a grunt of pain.

Roxas skid back, vanishing in a flash of light and flare, forcing Ven to avert his eyes again.

But Ven had figured out Roxas' pattern this time and whipped his keyblade out, slashing the weapon in a series of fast whip like strikes that struck Roxas as he appeared behind Ven. The cloaked teen was knocked back, giving Ventus enough time to jump and glide across the station away from Roxas. Ven swung his keyblade out, the spinning weapon shooting across the station and striking the still reeling Roxas, the blade exploding into six other spinning blades of light that struck Roxas before flying back to Ven's hand, reforming into one keyblade.

Roxas reeled, staggering and stumbling back up, tightening his grips on his keyblades as he fixed his hidden gaze on Ven's.

The two charged at each other once again but Ven was still faster despite Roxas' light enhanced speed.

Ven attacked first, swinging his keyblade out in an even longer string of whip like combos and spins, striking Roxas again and again, sending the teen flying through the air. Ven started to follow up with another attack but Roxas launched himself back at Ven in another spinning slash surrounded by circular light, knocking Ven back instead.

The armored teen skidded across the station with a low grunt, righting himself back into a crouch as he and Roxas glared at each other from behind their visor and hood.

Deciding to take the initiative, Roxas swept his keyblades out, sending more pillars of light at Ven. To the cloaked teen's surprise, Ven didn't move at all, only spun his keyblade in his hand as more and more pillars shot towards him. Roxas tensed, swinging his keyblade and sending one last row of pillars at Ven, though the knight still didn't move.

The pillars were almost on top of Ven, their glowing white forms casting an eerie glow over the armored teen-

And the glow erupted around Ven in a flash, his keyblade vanishing in a burst of light and was replaced by a long sword with a barbed end, a second one appearing in Ven's other hand, both held backward. At first Roxas just thought he was copying him but that thought died when there were four more flashes and four more swords appeared behind Ven, floating at his back like wings. Moving even faster than before, Ven spun and slashed all six of his light swords, destroying each pillar of light Roxas had thrown at him one by one as they reached him until none were left.

Then, Ventus charged at Roxas, his blades spinning around his body and actually allowing the knight to levitate in midair as he flew towards Roxas.

Roxas met Ventus' charge head, leaping into the air and charging forward in a spinning midair roll to close the distance between himself and Ven, more circles of light radiating off of his body that Ven finally blocked with two of his swords. Roxas jumped back, landing on the ground and vanished in a burst of speed and flare of gold light, reappearing behind Ven to try and deliver a cross-circle slash but like with his aerial roll attack, it was blocked by two of Ven's swords.

Roxas figured it was time to get up close and personal.

Not a problem.

Roxas charged forward in a burst of speed enhanced light, thrusting his black Oblivion keyblade out, and nearly stabbing Ventus through the chest though the armored teen was still faster and dodged by quickly moving back. The two righted themselves, mere feet apart from each other before charging, blades swinging.

All eight swords were blurs of black and glowing white as Roxas and Ventus furiously stabbed, slashed, hacked, jabbed and lunged at each other with their weapons, Ventus using all six of his swords at the same time with Roxas somehow blocking each one with both of his. Both teens arms were blurs impossible to see with the naked eye, both of them adding more force and speed as they tried to overpower the other.

Finally, Roxas pulled both blades back and brought them down in a mighty overhead swing-

'CLANG!'

Metal reverberated against magic as three of Ven's light swords blocked Roxas' keyblades.

Roxas' hidden gaze glared at Ven's visor.

Acting impossibly fast, both of Ven's arms swung out, slashing Roxas across the chest with a wide cross-circle strike like Roxas' own move.

Screaming in pain, Roxas swung his keyblades down and out, forcing Ventus to leap back and away from the bleeding teen. Roxas stumbled, almost dropping his keyblades as he clutched at his torn and bleeding chest with both hands, blood thickly oozing between his gloved fingers. Ven landed a few feet away, skidding back and looked up at Roxas.

Behind his visor, Ven's eyes narrowed when he saw Roxas struggling just to remain standing.

This was his chance.

Charging forward in a flourish of spinning swords, Ventus overwhelmed the weakened Roxas with a flurry of rapid blows that Roxas was barely able to block, using one arm to hold his chest while using his other hand to thrust his white blade Oathkeeper out and deflect some of Ven's blows. Ventus still managed to easily pierce through Roxas weak defenses, his blades nicking and cutting Roxas in several places. Finally, Ven performed a spinning jump in midair, his six blades lining up and spinning down in time with him, cutting Roxas even further across his chest.

Roxas let out a bellowing scream of agony as more of his blood splattered across the ground. The teen stumbled back, his grip on his keyblades weak and loose.

Ven decided it was now or never.

Jumping into the air again, his blades all shot out around him, forming a hexagon outline around him as they straightened out, blades pointing at the floor. Ven thrust his arms out from himself and a glowing pentagram appeared under his feet. With a loud cry, a second explosion of light engulfed the station, all of the exploding power of light directed right at Roxas, crashing him over like a giant wave.

Roxas screamed again, his whole body propelled across the station and coming to a slamming halt as he landed directly in the center of it. His keyblades clattered loudly as they landed next to him, though they didn't vanish. Roxas struggled to push himself up onto his hands and knees.

Ven landed back on the station, his ivory keyblade reappearing in his hand, twirling and held reversed once more.

Ventus, "Give up. If this goes any farther…There's no turning back."

Roxas spat blood onto the green star circle he was laying on, slowly raising his gaze to glare at Ventus.

Forcing his exhausted and battered body up, Roxas gripped Oblivion and Oathkeeper firmly in his hands.

Roxas, "Well then…"

Light erupted off of Roxas' body, giving him a wild aura that billowed the tattered edges of his cloak, several streams of light shooting off of his body and into the darkness around the station. Ventus' eyes widened as the darkness flashed and became…twilight?

Roxas' aura of light intensified and the sheer power radiating from it allowed him to float above and off the station as thirteen pillars of light appeared around him like shields. Roxas extended his arms out, twirling his keyblades as he screamed in challenge to Ventus, "COME ON!"

Instantly, the spinning blades began to discharge orbs of intense and pulsing blue light, dozens of them firing at Ventus. The armored teen forced himself to get over his shock and jumped into the air, floating as well as he thrust his keyblade out. His own power gathered and his keyblade discharged similar orbs of pulsing blue charges at Roxas' own blasts.

Ventus and Roxas both kept firing their attacks, both trying to overwhelm the other. Ven gasped and panted in an effort to keep up his attack while Roxas only spun his blades faster, firing more charges. Finally, Ventus was overwhelmed and dozens of blue blasts struck him, exploding on contact and badly burning and cracking his armor. With a scream of pain, Ven fell back onto the station and skidded across its surface as he was still being fired upon, each blast propelling him further backwards. Roxas spun his keyblades even faster, hoping to blast Ventus right over the edge of the station and into the roaring twilight beyond it.

But Ven wasn't done.

Far from it.

Back flipping and dodging more of Roxas' blasts, Ven crouched and leapt into the air, propelled by swirling white wind infused with light, Ventus vanished for a split second before he came crashing down on Roxas, having leapt over the thirteen pillar shields of light. As soon as the young Nobody was knocked down, the twilight faded in a flash and the darkness returned. Roxas attempted to right himself but Ven suddenly came crashing back down with even more force before rising back into the air and coming back down even harder, keeping Roxas down as well.

Ventus shot so high into the darkness above he was just a white blur as he came shooting back, slamming into the platform this time as Roxas dodged-

And releasing a huge, sweeping explosion of pure white light and wind that cleansed the surface of the station.

For a moment, the station was no longer surrounded by darkness but overwhelming light.

Then, like the twilight before it, it gradually faded back into darkness…

Revealing a stumbling, staggering Ventus in the center of the station, panting loudly, his battered and broken armor burnt and dented not only from Roxas attacks but from his own dive bomb attack, perhaps even worse because of the attack.

Forcing his body to remain standing, Ventus scanned the station for any sign of Roxas' body, his visor cracked even worse than before, finally exposing one of his crystal blue eyes and a lock of his spiky blonde hair.

Ventus heard a noise behind him and whirled around, his eye instantly spotting a hunched over figure in a black cloak.

Ven tightened his grip on his keyblade.

It was Roxas.

The young teen was hunched over Xion's unconscious form, having somehow moved over her during Ventus' final dive bomb strike to shield her from the worst of the attack.

This realization made Ventus go still, his eye widening slightly.

…I see it now…You are more like him…than you realize…Roxas…

Roxas looked down at Xion, confirming with relief that she was alright and unharmed by Ventus' attack.

Then Roxas turned his gaze up towards Ven, his hood falling back as he did, revealing his blood stained and cut up face, eyes filled with anger.

Roxas, "I don't…care…who you…or this Sora person are…" His eyes narrowed. "I want both of you out of my head!"

Ventus didn't respond.

Both Roxas and Ventus' crystal blue orbs met and held each other in a fierce and powerful glare. Roxas stood up and moved away from Xion, holding Oblivion and Oathkeeper in each hand with a firm grip. Ventus tightened his hold on his own keyblade as well.

The two stood perfectly still for a long moment, just glaring at each other.

Then, they both charged forward at each other, Roxas propelling himself with light and Ventus with wind.

They met in the center of the station-

And time slowed.

Roxas held Oblivion in an overhead swing while slashing Oathkeeper across from his chest at a ninety-degree angle while Ventus had leapt into the air, his keyblade drawn back for a mighty slash. Both continued to charge each other, time reduced to a crawl-

There was a sudden flash and they both passed each other, keyblades completing their slashes.

And it was clear who was finally faster.

Roxas brought Oblivion down hard and swung Oathkeeper out with all his strength, cutting Ventus' chest armor open and shattering his helm in a spray of metal splinters and black glass. A head of spiky gold locks was revealed.

For a moment, both Roxas and Ven held their poses, Roxas remaining crouched with his keyblades swung down and out, an expression of pure fury on his face, Ven standing with his back to Roxas, his body tense and standing perfectly still.

Then, Ventus fell to his knees, his keyblade slipping from his hand and clattering on the floor at the same time its' master collapsed on his side.

As soon as Roxas heard Ven fall behind him he let out a deep, shaking breath and fell to his knees, body still outstretched slightly but no longer tense for battle. For a while the teen just sat there, trying to catch his breath and fight back the overpowering fatigue that threatened to take him.

When he finally caught his breath, Roxas forced himself to stand back up, his grips on his keyblades still tight but no longer desperate as he moved towards Ventus.

The armored teen had rolled onto his back, his arms outstretched to his sides.

Roxas stared down on Ventus, his eyes settling right on his face.

It was unnervingly uncanny how much they looked alike.

Slowly, but unsurprisingly, Ventus' eyes blinked open, meeting Roxas a split second later.

The teen smiled up at his darkly clad twin.

Ventus, "I was…wrong…about you…Roxas…"

The young nobody didn't know how to reply to that and so he said nothing.

Ventus went on, his tone tired but not pained.

Ventus, "You are…like him…just…different…in some ways…but you both…have one quality…in common…"

Ventus turned his eyes, looking at something beyond himself.

Roxas followed his gaze and turned his head.

He saw Ventus was staring at Xion.

The defeated knight of the wind looked back up at Roxas and went on, his tone growing quieter and more sleepy sounding.

"You both…care deeply…about your…friends…" Ventus yawned, his eyes blinking.

He smiled sadly and dreamily.

"It was…nice…being awake…for even a little while…" He yawned again. "…I'm sorry Roxas…because even though… you made it this far…" Ventus closed his eyes, letting out one last breath before his breathing deep and melodic, even and peaceful.

His words floated up into Roxas, whispering deep in his mind and soul.

"You are…not the one…meant to Awaken me…"

Roxas stared down at Ven's sleeping body, his expression sad and suddenly regretful. A flash of darkness and a burst of light heralded the vanishing of his keyblades while Ventus' own suddenly glowed brightly before exploding in a shower of sparks. The sparks moved over Roxas, their warm light covering him for a moment and making him smile, a little sad smile.

Then, unsurprisingly, there was an even brighter flash of light.

And with it, a loud 'click'…

The sound of something unlocking.