Sapphire had watched on in horror as the whole thing transpired, all from Sally's death to Niko's darkness. As they returned to the Gummi Ship, she found her eyes wide and her arms wrapped around herself. She didn't know Sally well, nor were they fond of each other, but she knew she had meant a lot to Niko. Although her primary concern was still finding the Insurgents and getting back at Xehanort, she pushed those things momentarily out of her mind to take care of Niko. Slowly, she walked over to where he sat in the cockpit, resting a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Are you okay?" she asked quietly, softly.
"No," Niko said. "You still feel like join the Insurgents now? Think long and hard about it. The darkness is coming for everyone we care about. We have to get stronger. Sally may not have meant that much to you, but she was like a sister to me. We can't go to the Insurgents, they'd be in too much danger. I am not risking it."
Niko began to calm down as he noticed the next world approaching. It was the Pride Lands. Niko remembered that they had not checked on Kovu and Kiara. He looked to Sapphire and sighed.
"Sapphire I'm sorry," Niko said. "I can't run from my darkness and it will never stop causing pain. I love you and I can't put you through my messes. I am glad you're my wife...I couldn't bear another day without you in it. But I now know that I have to take some of this quest alone. I'll go down to the Pride Lands and check on Kovu and Kiara alone."
The way Niko said those words didn't sound very confident or assuring. Sarabi looked towards Sapphire and shook her head.
"You better follow him!" Sarabi said. "He's hopeless without you."
Sapphire knew Niko was right. They would be thrust into danger if they went to them, and she didn't want the Insurgents to be harmed. No, she wouldn't seek them out now, but once this was over... She would. She'd find them and make sure they were okay, and she'd join them. But for now, she couldn't put them in harm's way.
She stood silently for a moment in the ship, twisting her wedding ring around her finger, eyes glued to a spot on the floor as she contemplated. Even if Sarabi hadn't said anything she would have followed Niko. She raised her head and let her fingers fall away from her ring. "You know I can't let you go alone," she replied softly, roughly, eyes narrowed.
Niko ran towards the Pride Lands and sees Kovu leaving. Niko tilted his head and sighs sadly. He had a funny feeling about what happened. He ran after Kovu, knowing Kovu was going to be overwhelmed with darkness.
"Kovu!" Niko called. Kovu stopped and looked to him.
"Niko?" Kovu asked. "What are you doing here? Where's Sapphire?"
"I had to get away." Niko lied. It was a half-truth as Niko ran away from Sapphire. "My darkness was causing me some...problems. What about you?"
"I was exiled from the Pride Lands," Kovu replied. "Because of my resemblance to Scar. Huh...like father like son right?"
Niko sighed heavily and smiled.
"Aren't you a little ashamed that you left Kiara?" Niko asked.
"I should be asking you the same thing," Kovu replied. "We've both got darkness in us. So why did we leave the people who have been there for us amidst the darkness? The ones who gave us a dawn worth going to. Who are we without them?"
"We're just ghosts..." Niko said. "Ghosts that have nothing to live for in the world."
Just then Kiara ran up to them. She was covered in tears from when she was crying prior to looking for Kovu. Kovu looked to Niko.
"Go to her," Niko said. "She needs you...and...you need her."
Niko watched Kiara and Kovu, happily reunited. They loved each other and it made him sigh happily. He remembered the happiness and joy Sapphire gave him. He began to sob a bit. What had he done? Sapphire loved him with all his heart and he had the balls to abandon her. He hoped she would still love him after what he did but was not expecting so. He looked into the distance and saw Vanitas.
"Aww did little Niko get a boo boo?" Vanitas asked. "A wielder of Darkness and Light and you're crying like a baby. Pathetic."
"Shut up!" Niko said summoning his Keyblade. "You shouldn't even exist! You or Xehanort!"
"Big talk from an Ichuriki," Vanitas said laughing. "Enough talk. Let's dance! I'll lead!"
With that the two began to clash, Keyblades creating sparks in the air.
