Chapter 23: The Final Episode
A/N: Yes, we've made it! We've reached the final chapter to this story. There's still the epilogue and the 'blanks points', but this is where we'll have to say goodbye to our favorite heroes for the time being.
I know you're all sad that Lumen was separated from Terra, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to be a little mean again and have Lumen suffer a bit more. Her fate will be Hikari's future after all.
I want to thank you guys for sticking with me until the end!
Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts; I just own my oc's.
Enjoy!
/
"Forgive me"
Terra's words echoed through Lumen's head as she regained consciousness.
"Terra!" she cried as she sat up.
She thought that she would be passed out on the ground at the Keyblade Graveyard, but instead she found herself in Yen Sid's study with Donald and Goofy hovering over her.
"W-what?"
"Gosh, I'm glad you're alright"
Lumen sat up and looked around for the source of the voice. She gasped when she saw that it was Mickey and he was standing next to her. She hadn't seen the keyblade apprentice since they ran into each other at Radiant Garden. She was relieved to know that he was alright since then.
Mickey smiled when he saw that she was up.
"You had us really worried" he said.
"I found you drifting in the between lanes when I rescued the other two"
Lumen raised an eyebrow.
"Other two?"
Mickey nodded and pointed to the two individuals that were a little ways off. Lumen followed his gaze and was shocked to see Aqua and Ven here as well. Aqua hovered over Ven who appeared to be asleep at the moment.
They both looked a little scuffed up from the fight they just had, but other than that, they were alright.
"Aqua!" Lumen cried.
She crawled over to where she saw and threw her arms around her. She smiled as she hugged her best friend close.
"Thank goodness you're alright" she said.
"I was so worried that something happened to you"
Aqua smiled weakly and patted Lumen's shoulder.
"I'm relieved that you're safe too" she said.
Lumen let her go and turned towards her attention to Ven. The boy had his bowed as he was leaned against the wall. He seemed to be sleeping since he hardly moved at all except for breathing.
Lumen smiled gently and tapped his cheek.
"Hey, Ven. Wake up" she said.
When she didn't get a response she tapped a little harder.
"Come on, Ven. Wake up. Aqua and I want to know that you're ok"
Aqua bit her lip as she looked away. She knew that Ven wasn't going to wake up and wouldn't any time soon.
"Lumen" she said weakly.
"He's not going to wake up"
Lumen stopped and slowly looked at her.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
Aqua looked at her for a second. She opened her mouth to say something, but shook her head and turned to Yen Sid.
The keyblade master nodded gravely and gave Lumen the bad news.
"The boy's heart is sleeping" he said.
Lumen looked between Ven and Yen Sid.
Sleeping? How could his heart be sleeping? Did that mean he couldn't wake up?
"Is he going to wake up?" she asked fearfully.
Yen Sid shook his head.
"I cannot say" he said.
"It's as if his heart has left. Should it return, he might wake. Should it not, then he may sleep like this for eternity"
Lumen's hand shot up to her mouth as she heard that.
Ven could never wake up?
"No" she choked.
"Not Ven too. First my parents and then Terra"
She suddenly remembered the events at the Keyblade Graveyard and remembered Xehanort taking Terra's body to when Terra knocked her unconscious.
She looked at his charm that he had left her and felt the tears fall. She clutched the charm to her heart and cried out for her fiancé.
"Terra!" she cried.
Aqua looked at her friend sadly. She wondered where Terra was, but Yen Sid had no clue as to where he was. She could only hope that he was able to get out of the Keyblade Graveyard and away from Xehanort.
Mickey looked at the scene sadly. He felt so helpless at this point. If only he had arrived sooner, then none of them would have to suffer like this.
Lumen wiped her eyes and looked at Ven. Even though her heart shattered over the fact that Ven was trapped within an eternal sleep, she hoped that he would one day wake up.
She touched his cheek and gently stroked his face.
"What are we going to do?" she asked.
Aqua looked at her for a moment then to Ven.
"We'll protect him-until he wakes" she said.
"Even if it takes forever"
Lumen looked at Aqua as she said that. She could tell how torn her best friend was over this. She always knew that Aqua held a soft spot for Ven since he joined their group. To see him like this must have torn her heart in two.
If she was going to protect Ven until he woke up, she would too. He was precious to her as well.
Yen Sid mulled over their idea.
"I will tell you what your friend needs right now. It is not protection" he said.
"He needs you to believe"
He closed his eyes.
"You see, Ventus's heart hangs in the balance. It sleeps in a place between light and darkness. From all I can perceive, that means he will be looking for a friend-one who believes in him, to show him the way home. Just as long as you love him…then Ventus will be able to find you when he wakes. He can follow that love back to where he belongs-the realm of light"
Lumen looked at Aqua and gave her a weak smile.
"I think you'll be able to handle that" she said.
"No one has as much love for Ven as you do"
Aqua returned the smile weakly then looked at Ven. If her love could bring him back, then she would give him all the love she could handle. Anything if it meant for him to return.
She carefully picked him and placed him on her back.
"We need to keep him somewhere safe" she said.
"Some place where the darkness can't reach him"
Lumen nodded and slowly stood up.
"Do you have a place in mind?"
Aqua shook her head.
"No, but its better than not doing anything"
She started to head for the door but stopped when she saw that Lumen didn't follow. Lumen gave her a weak smile and nudged her head towards the door.
"Go on ahead, I'll be right there" she said.
"I just need to ask Master Yen Sid something"
Aqua nodded and left the room.
Lumen didn't say anything as she looked at the ground. So many thoughts ran through her head, but one of them screamed loudly within her heart.
Where was Terra?
His body was engulfed by the light while his soul was trapped somewhere else. Where was he and how could she return to him again?
She looked at Yen Sid sadly. Even though he revealed the horrible truth about Xehanort, he was the only one she could trust.
He would know where Terra was.
"Master…you know where Terra is…don't you?" she asked, even though it sounded like a statement.
Yen Sid closed his eyes.
"Which part?" he asked.
"His body…or his soul?"
Lumen bit back a whimper. She didn't want to think that Terra's body was taken over by Xehanort.
"Both" she said.
Yen Sid let out a heavy sigh.
"His soul remains trapped on the Keyblade Graveyard" he said.
"As for his body…I'm afraid I do not know"
Lumen's hand curled into a fist. So there was no way to save Terra?
No! she couldn't believe that. There had to be a way to save him. There had to be a way to bring him back together. Since she knew where his soul was, all she had to do was go there and take him with to reclaim his body.
"Tell me…how can I get back to the Keyblade Graveyard"
Yen Sid gave her a harsh stare.
"That world has been blocked off by the power of darkness" he said.
"It's as if that world is shielding itself from intruders…as if it does not want to disturbed"
Lumen gave him an angry look.
"But that's where Terra's soul is!" she cried.
"If I can get his soul, I can track down his body and return him to his former self!"
Yen Sid shook his head.
"I'm afraid it is not that easy" he said.
"Moving a soul is like trying to catch air with your bare hands. Terra's soul cannot be moved between place to place. It needs to remain where it is now. Were you to move his soul, there would be the chance that parts of it would break off and leave him incomplete. You'll need a whole soul if you want Terra to return"
Lumen's body went slack. So then that meant she couldn't return to him?
"You mean I have to find his body first?"
Yen Sid nodded.
"I'm afraid so" he said.
Lumen looked at the ground gave off a broken laugh.
"Of course" she said.
"And since I don't know where it is, that makes it even better"
She turned around and headed for the door. Aqua was probably wondering what was taking her and didn't want to keep her waiting any longer.
"Wait Lumen" Yen Sid said.
Lumen stopped and weakly looked at him. Yen Sid could see how broken she was and that she was on her last thread. If she suffered any more then she would be lost as well.
"Remember what I told you before. A heart full of forgiveness accomplishes more than a heart full of vengeance"
Lumen shook her head sadly as she looked at the ceiling.
"I'm past the point to where I can forgive Xehanort" she said in a broken voice.
"And he's destroyed everything that I hold dear that it's too late to seek revenge"
A tear slid down her face as she thought of all of her loves ones that were ruined by that foul, evil man.
"He murdered my mother and father, he took over my fiancée's body and now he's made Ven an empty shell. I've lost to him. I've lost my life. I lost my purpose to this mission"
She looked at him brokenly.
"I've lost…everything"
With that, she opened the door and left to go meet with Aqua.
Mickey looked at where Lumen stood then at his master. His heart felt like it could shatter at this point. The kind, brave girl that he met at Radiant Garden was nothing more than an empty shell now.
"Yen Sid?" he asked.
Yen Sid had his eyes closed as he replayed the image into his head. That was the same look Eraqus gave him when Serenity died.
"There's nothing more painful…than living in a world without the one you love" he said deeply.
Mickey looked at his master in confusion. He didn't know why his master would say that, but only Yen Sid knew.
"There's nothing more painful than living in a world without the one you love" he thought again.
"I'm sure you know that all too well now…Eraqus"
/
Aqua was waiting outside when Lumen finally stepped out of the tower. She gave her a weak smile before she adjusted her grip on Ven.
"Ven needs a safe place" she said.
Lumen looked at Ven's sleeping form and stroked his head. Aqua was right, he needed to stay somewhere while they searched for his heart. They couldn't let the Unversed or the darkness reach him.
But the problem was, where could they hide him? They couldn't drop him off on any of the worlds that they traveled to and they doubted Yen Sid would keep him here.
So what were they to do now?
Ven's hand slowly flexed for a second before his keyblade suddenly appeared.
Aqua and Lumen jumped when they saw Ven raise his keyblade and open a portal with it. Even though he was in a deep sleep it seemed his body was still awake.
Aqua smirked as she figured out where Ven wanted to go.
"I guess he wants us to go this way" she said.
Lumen summoned her keyblade and stepped forward.
"I'll take the front" she said.
" We don't know what's on the other side of this portal and you're carrying Ven"
Aqua nodded and adjusted her grip on the sleeping boy.
"Let's go"
The girls slowly stepped through the portal and entered the area that Ven wanted to go.
/
The sight that Lumen saw was something that she would have seen in a horror film. After stepping through the portal she found herself back on her home world. That would have been a wonderful thing, but there was one problem.
It was completely destroyed.
After Eraqus died it seemed this world was left vulnerable to the darkness. The world that housed keyblade warriors had to always be protected by a keyblade master. They were the source of protection that kept the darkness at bay.
But when that keyblade master was gone, then the world was left open.
Lumen could hear Aqua gasp in horror when she saw the sight of their world too. She didn't pay attention to her and slowly walked around the broken garden. The last time that she was here, her father tried to destroy Ven and ended up fighting Terra.
Her legs caved in when she saw her father's keyblade. The only thing that was left of him was his trusted weapon. The key that protected this world.
Reaching out with a shaking hand, she picked up her father's keyblade and held it close to her heart. She could feel the magic gone from it as well as her father's presence. It seemed that it died along with Eraqus.
"Father" she sobbed.
Aqua slowly approached her and gave her a sympathetic look. She could only imagine what her best friend was feeling. She was heartbroken when she heard her master died but Eraqus was Lumen's father. This was a thousand times worse for her.
"Lumen" she said.
Lumen looked up and wiped her eyes. Her hands never let go of her father's keyblade.
"Why did Ven want to come here?" she asked.
"How could he possibly be safe when this world is pretty much destroyed?"
Aqua looked up at the broken castle and thought back to what Eraqus said when she became a master.
A secret only a master could know about this castle.
"Maybe it has to do with what your father told me" she said.
She looked at Lumen and gave her a serious look.
"Your father told you about this world if anything were to happen to him, right?" she asked.
"What you had to do when you took over his place?"
Lumen looked at the castle and thought back on a time when her father told her something important.
/
"Lumen"
Eraqus had summoned his daughter to his studies to tell her something important. Something she had to know when she took over as being the ruler of this world.
"Yes, father?" Lumen asked.
Eraqus sighed deeply as he looked at his flesh and blood.
"I need to tell you something important- something you will need to know when you take over my place as ruler of this world"
Lumen looked nervous as her father said that. She never liked it when he reminded her that she needed to take over of being the ruler of this world. It just reminded her that one day he will die.
Eraqus stood from his desk and slowly walked around his study.
"As you may know this world is protected by its ruler" he said.
"Should anything happen to me before you become ruler- there is something that you must do"
Lumen bit her lip.
"What would that be?"
Eraqus gave his daughter a serious look.
"Should anything happen to me, and you find the legion of darkness at our doorstep…I ask that you take my keyblade and lock this world away"
Lumen took a step back in fear when she heard that. Lock this world away?
"W-what?" she asked.
Eraqus summoned his keyblade and held it out.
"Generations of keyblade masters have been charged with keeping this land safe" he said.
"Even though you refuse to become a master, you are my daughter so you are charged with the same privilege. Light and darkness exist in balance here, and there are those who would abuse such neutral ground. This is why are predecessors devised a certain…trick"
Lumen raised an eyebrow.
"Trick?"
Eraqus smirked a little and nodded.
"I cannot tell you what it is, but should the moment arise, you'll know. Your heart will tell you"
Lumen looked at her father's keyblade and touched it slightly.
"Will I be the only one who has to do this?" she asked.
Eraqus shook his head and dismissed his keyblade.
"Of course not. When Terra and Aqua pass their Mark of Mastery exams they'll know as well. You'll never have to handle such burdens on your own"
Lumen placed a hand over heart.
"I hope that day never comes" she said.
"I don't want to think what life would be like when you're gone"
Eraqus smiled gently and cupped her face. She looked so much like her mother that it scared him at times.
"You'll never have to worry about that" he said.
"Because I will always be with you…"
He pointed towards her heart.
"In here. So no matter what happens to me, I'll always watch over you"
/
Lumen placed a hand over her heart.
"You'll always be with me" she thought.
"Are you here father? Have you seen what I let happen to our world?"
She slowly stood up and held her father's keyblade tightly.
"Please forgive me for letting this happen" she pleaded.
"I never wanted anything to happen to you or our world"
She looked at the castle seriously. Now that her world was destroyed she needed to seal it up before anything else happened to it…before Xehanort could get to it.
"Let's go, Aqua" she said.
Aqua nodded and followed her inside the castle.
/
They decided to keep Ven in the throne room. It was where they were all were last time before this madness broke out and they felt Ven would be safe here. Even though Eraqus was gone, his presence still surrounded the area.
Aqua carefully placed Ven in Eraqus's throne and looked at Lumen.
"You know what to do"
Lumen looked at her father's keyblade then shook her head.
"I can't" she said weakly.
"Even though I'm the ruler of this world now I let it fall into ruins. I don't have what it takes to protect this world"
She held the keyblade out to Aqua.
"You do it, you're a master now so you should know what to do"
Aqua reached out for Eraqus's keyblade but had second thoughts on it.
"We'll do it together" she said.
"We both failed to protect this world so we should both be the ones to seal it up"
She held her hand out to Lumen.
"Besides, you're not alone in this"
Lumen looked at her hand for a moment before slowly nodding.
She was right. She thought that after everything she went through and losing so many loved ones that she was alone. But she was wrong; Aqua was still here and she was never leaving her side.
Giving her a weak smile and held Eraqus's keyblade out for both of them to hold.
"Let's do it together then"
They went behind Eraqus's throne and activated the device that would protect this world. When they saw a keyhole open up on the back of the chair they jammed the keyblade in and watched at the room transformed completely.
Everything turned white to the point that it hurt their eyes. Everything was so blank and empty that they felt that they would get lost in it.
They checked up on Ven and saw that he sat on a throne with chains coming out from it.
Aqua smiled weakly and knelt in front of him.
"I know it's a lonely place, but you'll be safe here" she said gently.
"Terra, Lumen and I will be back to wake you up before you know it"
Lumen looked away at the mention of Terra. It seemed that Aqua didn't know what happened to him.
Aqua stood up and looked at Lumen.
"We better go" she said.
"We need to find his heart"
Lumen nodded and watched as she left.
Lumen turned around and knelt in front of Ven. Even when he was asleep he still worried her to no end.
"You know you'll always be the death of me…but at least this time you won't run off to another world" she said softly.
She stroked his head like she always did when he was awake.
"It may take us a while, but Aqua and I will find Terra and then we'll find your heart" she said.
"So in the mean time, please have pleasant dreams and know that we'll be back for you"
She could have sworn that she saw Ven smirk but she figured that was in her head.
She stood up and gave Ven one final smile.
"I'll be seeing you Ventus" she said.
She turned around and walked out of the room and let Ven continue with his sleep.
/
With the castle sealed up, the world changed completely. The Land of Departure was long gone. In it's place was a castle that was full of mystery and illusions. A place that would have anyone become lost once they stepped into it.
Castle Oblivion.
Lumen and Aqua sadly looked at the castle knowing that their world was sealed up for good.
"I hope Ven will be safe here" Aqua said.
"I'm sure he will" Lumen said.
"Why else would my father come up with this trick?"
Just then she heard a voice in her head.
"Lumen…run!"
She gasped. That was Terra's voice.
Picking up his charm she looked at it. Was he calling out to her? Was he able to get off of the Keyblade Graveyard?
She looked at Aqua.
"I just heard Terra" she said.
"I think he's calling out to me"
Aqua looked surprised but grew serious.
"Where is he?" she asked.
Lumen shook her head.
"I don't know" she said.
"But my heart is telling me where he might be"
Aqua nodded.
"Let's go then" she said.
"If we find Terra then he can help us find Ven's heart"
Lumen nodded weakly and walked with her friend away from their world for what would be the last time.
She held Terra's charm close to her heart as she walked.
What did Terra mean when he told her to run? Did he know something that she didn't?
"Terra…" she thought.
"What are you trying to tell me?"
/
"Are we almost there?" Aqua asked.
Lumen nodded.
"Yes, I can feel it"
They both decided to ride on the same keyblade glider when they left their world. Since they were the only ones traveling they thought that this would be safe and easy. Plus they wouldn't have to worry about the other getting lost.
Aqua sat behind Lumen as she drove to their destination.
"How do you know where Terra is?" she asked.
Lumen shook her head as she looked forward.
"I don't know" she said.
"But my heart is telling me that I need to go this way"
She looked at her hand where her engagement ring rested. After what happened to Terra it almost felt like it was burning her skin. The man she loved with all her heart gave her this ring as a symbol of wanting her as his wife. But now that his body was taken over by Xehanort it felt as if it were just a figment of her imagination.
She bowed her head when she felt tears coming. She didn't understand how she was still able to cry but her heart was shattering into millions of pieces.
She was suffering so badly that she was starting to think that there was no hope left. That everything that she was fighting for was all for nothing.
"I thought I would be married by now" she said quietly.
Aqua looked at her but didn't say anything. She knew better than to talk when her friend was upset.
Lumen let out a shaky breath.
"I've lost so much in such a short time that I'm starting to wonder if there's any hope left in the worlds" she said.
"Everything that I fought for…everything that I believed in is simply falling apart. I've lost everything to the point that I don't have anything left"
Aqua reached over and gave her best friend a squeeze on the shoulder. It was true that she lost so much in such a short time. But she was wrong in thinking that she lost everything.
"You haven't lost everything" she said.
"True, Terra and Ven aren't here right now, but you still have me. I'll always be there for you and I promise to never leave your side. We're the only ones who can rescue Terra and Ven so that means we need to stick together. We're best friends and we will be until the end"
Lumen held back a sniffle as she heard this. Aqua always had a way with making others feel better. It made her happy knowing that she wasn't really alone. She didn't have Ven or Terra, but at least she had her best friend.
"Thank you, Aqua" she said.
Aqua nodded.
"You're my best friend and nothing will ever change that" she said.
Lumen chuckled and pushed forward towards their destination.
Terra was near and she could feel it.
/
It seemed that Terra brought them back to Radiant Garden. It had been a while since they were both here. The last time Lumen was here, Terra proposed to her.
She subconsciously touched her ring, hoping that moment wasn't a dream.
Aqua looked around the area, noticing that no one was around.
"Looks like everyone has turned in for the night" she said.
"I don't see anyone"
Lumen figured as much. The skies were dark showing that it was nighttime on this world. The area looked so dark that it almost felt that it was coated with darkness.
Her heart stopped when she realized something.
Hikari and Taiyouko were on this world. If something bad was coming then that meant they were in danger!
"Oh no!"
She ran down the steps that lead to the marketplace. She needed to get to them soon before something happened to them.
"Lumen, where are you going?" Aqua called out as she followed.
Lumen looked at her over her shoulder as she ran.
"I have to find Hikari" she said.
Aqua rasied an eyebrow.
"Hikari?" she repeated.
Lumen nodded.
"She's my successor" she explained.
"I sensed something powerful within her and made her my successor. Her mother Taiyouko even helped me out and convinced me to give Terra a second chance. I just feel like something bad is going to happen and I need to find them before they get hurt!"
Aqua thought about the young girl that she ran into named Kairi. She too formed a small connection with her and she feared that something might happen to the little girl as well.
"Let's hurry!" she cried.
They ran through the market place and tried to find the young souls that managed to wrap around their hearts.
/
When they ran into the main square they found someone that they never thought would be here.
Standing off in the middle of the square was none other than Terra. Or rather, what appeared to be Terra.
Lumen knew right away that it was Terra's body but it was controlled by Xehanort.
"So he managed to get away from the graveyard as well" she thought.
"This is going to be bad"
Aqua didn't realize the situation they were in and smiled.
"Look, Lumen. It's Terra!" she said.
"He managed to get away!"
She ran down to go see him. Lumen panicked and ran after her.
"Aqua ,wait! That's not Terra!"
But it was too late. When Aqua stood in front of 'Terra' he reached out and grabbed her by the throat, lifting her off the ground.
"Aqua!" Lumen cried.
Aqua struggled to breath as she looked at Terra. She realized that he looked different and that darkness was radiating off of him.
"T-Terra?" chocked out.
'Terra' gave her an emotionless stare.
"Who…am I?" he asked.
Lumen's breath hitched. So Xehanort lost his memories.
Aqua realized what was going on now and panicked.
"Such a terrible… darkness…" she rasped.
"Fight it, Terra! Please!"
'Terra' looked confused at the name.
"Terra?"
Just then, something within his head started to throb. It was as if someone was trying to push him out. The pain caused him to let go of Aqua and grab his head. As he was, Lumen ran over to Aqua and pulled her away from him.
She could have sworn that she sense Terra just then. It seemed that he was still trying to fight for his body back. Could it be that he was still there now?
"Terra!" she cried.
"Can you hear me?"
'Terra' pulled his hands away from his face and smiled darkly.
"Terra's heart has been extinguished- smothered by the darkness within him"
He summoned his keyblade and slammed it down to where they were only to have them jump out of the way.
Lumen had a grim look on her face. So it seemed that Xehanort remembered everything. That meant he would be after her heart next.
She summoned her keyblade. She couldn't let him win. She couldn't let him take her heart. She had to save Terra and Ven.
Aqua summoned her keyblade at the same time and had a serious look on her face. She too wanted to save Terra and she was going to help Lumen out.
"My name is Master Aqua" she declared.
"And I'm Lady Lumen" Lumen said. Since Eraqus was gone, she had taken his title.
Aqua aimed her keyblade at Xehanort.
"Return my friend's heart or pay the price!"
Xehanort just laughed and launched at them.
Aqua flipped out of the way while Lumen blocked him with her keyblade. She glared daggers at him as she tried to fend him off.
"Give me back my fiancée's body!" she hissed.
Xehanort just laughed darkly at her.
"Your heart will be mine!"
Lumen threw him off and dodged his attacks. He proved to be just as strong as he was at the keyblade graveyard. He would land devastating attacks and would hit them over and over to where they wouldn't have time to block.
It was hard for Lumen to fight. Half of it was because Xehanort was so strong but the other half was because this was Terra's body and she didn't want to harm it. She needed to bring his body back to his soul in order for him to be whole again.
'Don't worry, Terra" she thought.
"You saved me back at the Graveyard so now it's my turn to save you"
The fight continued on and only got worse for Lumen and Aqua. During the battle, Xehanort summoned his dark shadow and had it sneak up on them and tried to take a swipe at them. They couldn't stay in one place, fearing that they would be hit. At one point, Lumen tripped over an up turned stone and tripped.
A dark circle surrounded her, meaning Xehanort's shadow was going to get her. Aqua panicked and threw her out of the way.
"Look out Lumen!"
When she threw her out of the way, she got caught by the shadow instead. Lumen watched in horror as it tried to strangle her.
"Aqua!" she cried.
Xehanort laughed at the scene.
"See? You're just as powerless at Terra! Now you'll have to watch as your friend dies!"
Lumen watched as Aqua struggled. She couldn't let her die like this. She was all she had left now. If she died, she would be all alone.
She clenched her fists in anger when she realized just how weak she really was. She let everyone that she loved get hurt by Xehanort. Everyone suffered because Xehanort was after her.
All of the negative energy that she had bottled up within her overpowered her. All the anger, sadness and despair that she felt until now came fourth as she unleashed her powers.
"NOOOOOO!"
Thousands of chains sprang fourth from her and wrapped around the whole area. They wrapped around the dark shadow and released Aqua while they wrapped around Xehanort to the point he couldn't move. Xehanort struggled but laughed like a maniac.
"This power…" he laughed.
"This is the power that I have sought all these years! This is the power that will give me Kingdom Hearts!"
Lumen summoned her keyblade and aimed it at him.
"You're never going to get it" she hissed.
Just then, a light surrounded Xehanort. The evil keyblade master yelled when he realized what it was.
"Stop fighting back!" he barked at no one in particular.
Lumen wondered what was going on when she realized where that light was coming from.
"Terra!" she cried.
Terra was here! He was trying to fight back.
Lowering her guard, she ran towards Xehanort. If Terra was trying to gain control of his body, she was going to help.
"Terra! Hang on I'm coming!"
She could hear Terra's voice in her head once more.
"Lumen, run!"
But his plea would never reach her. With her control over the chains weakening, Xehanort smirked darkly and broke away from his bonds and summoned his keyblade.
"You're mine!"
He thrust his keyblade forward and stabbed Lumen in the chest. Everything seemed to slow down as Lumen felt herself get stabbed in the heart.
Aqua screamed in horror at the sight.
"LUMEN!" she screamed.
Lumen looked at the keyblade that was in her chest then at the blood that was starting to form around it.
Xehanort laughed at the sight. After all this time he was finally going to get the heart that could bring Kingdom Hearts together.
"At last, your heart is finally mine" he said.
Lumen watched as her heart started to leave her body. She could already feel her life leaving her as she watched it slowly float towards Xehanort.
"Is this how it's going to end?" She thought.
"After everything We've done…after everything we've fought for…this is how I meet my end?"
She thought back on her dreams and how she would be the one to bring everything back together.
"No! I can't let it end like this! Not yet!"
Summoning her keyblade, she did the only thing that would protect her heart from Xehanort.
Letting out an anguish cry, she slammed her keyblade into her heart and watched as it broke into pieces.
Xehanort watched in horror when he saw Lumen's heart turn into four small spheres of light.
"No!" he cried.
Lumen fell to the ground as she clenched her chest. With her heart removed from her body she wasn't going to last long and fall into a deep sleep.
She couldn't let that happen. She had to protect her heart from Xehanort so he couldn't use it for Kingdom Hearts. And she knew just the people to hide it.
She looked at Aqua weakly and reached out a shaking hand.
"Aq…ua" she said weakly.
Part of her heart floated towards where Lumen was pointing towards and emerged itself into Aqua's chest.
Aqua had tears in her eyes when she felt part of Lumen's heart merge with hers.
"Lumen" she chocked.
Xehanort continued to struggle with Terra as he tried to regain control. He was furious that he lost the heart that would connect Kingdom Hearts.
In his angry, he picked up his keyblade and aimed it at his heart.
"This will teach you" he hissed.
"Get out of my body!"
He stabbed himself in the chest and watched as Terra's heart left him.
"Terra!" Aqua cried.
Lumen watched from her crumpled, weaken position as a dark portal emerged from the ground underneath him. Xehanort slowly fell backward and fell through the portal, letting it suck him up.
Aqua panicked and went to grab him. She needed his body in order to save Terra. She had to do this for Lumen. She looked at Lumen and saw her slowly lose control over her broken heart.
She too would follow the same fate as Ven.
"Hang in there, Lumen!" she cried.
"I'll bring Terra back! Don't give up on me!"
Lumen smiled weakly and watched as Aqua dove into the portal just as it was about to close up.
She didn't know how Aqua was going to get back, but she prayed that she would be alright.
"Please let part of my heart protect you" she thought.
She looked at the three remaining pieces of her heart sadly. She never thought that this would be her fate but somehow she had a feeling it would.
The words in her dreams made sense now.
In order to link everything together, the chains must be broken.
However, to make a chain whole, you must gather all of the pieces.
A broken chain makes a whole chain.
Lumen chuckled weakly.
"So that's what it means" she rasped.
"The only way we can all be together again is if I'm brought together again. The chains of my heart have been broken in order to save my friends, but in order to put them back together, we all need to return to each other"
She slowly reached for Terra's charm and squeezed it as tightly as she could.
"It really is an unbreakable connection"
She looked at the remaining pieces of her heart and let two of them float out of her hand. She didn't need to worry about where they were going. They were going to reach the connections that they created with.
"Aqua…I don't know how or when you'll return here…but I know that we'll always be together even when we're far apart. We'll always be best friends no matter how much time goes by. Ven…I'm sorry to leave you like this, but it looks like I'll be sleeping for a while too. I hope I can see you in my dreams and then we'll go on adventures like we did when we were awake. Terra…"
A tear ran down her face as she thought of her beloved.
"Terra…I'm sorry I couldn't get your body back. I really tried, but I guess I was too weak. Please forgive me and my foolishness"
She looked at her engagement ring and let out a sob.
"I really, really wanted to marry you. I was so happy when you asked me to be you wife. I know you made a lot of mistakes in the past, but I forgive you for them. I don't know how long it'll be until we see each other again or how much time passes…but just know that I will always love you and that you are the only one that I've ever loved"
She weakly held the last part of her heart to her chest. She felt her strength leaving her fast and pulling her into a deep sleep. She had to stay awake. She had to be strong. She had to find one more person that she can trust to protect her heart.
"Who can I trust with the final piece of my heart?" she thought.
"Who will be the one that will bring us all together again?"
/
Yen Sid closed his eyes gravely when he felt Lumen's presence slowly vanishing. He feared that this would happen, but he prayed that it wouldn't.
The strong, powerful, legendary keyblade master let a tear fall from his eyes as he thought about the daughter of his dear friends.
"Eraqus…Serenity" he pleaded.
"Please forgive me for not protecting your daughter"
He looked at the sky with anger in his eyes.
"I hope you're happy…Xehanort"
/
In Castle Oblivion, Ven continued to rest in his throne. Even though he was in a deep sleep, he knew what happened to Aqua and Terra.
A small orb of light floated into the room and hovered near Ven's chest. The part of Lumen's heart hovered over him in a comforting matter before submerging itself into his chest.
Ven could see and feel the events that happened to Lumen up to this point.
In his sleep, a tear ran down his face as he sensed the loss of his dear friend.
"Lumen"
/
In the Keyblade Graveyard, Terra's armor knelt before his keyblade. He vowed to remain there until he could find a way to return to his friends and Lumen.
He didn't know how or when that would happen. All he knew was that he had to believe.
He lifted his head when he sensed something approaching him. A small ball of light floated from the sky and landed in front of him.
Curious, Terra lifted his hand out to the light and watched as it went into his chest.
What he felt and saw tore his already broken heart into pieces. He could sense Lumen's presence throughout his being. It was as if she was right here with him.
But that wasn't possible. He watched her leave this world; he made sure of it.
She was suppose to be safe…unless.
"This light…is it…"
Cold dread washed throughout his body when he realized his fears came true.
Lumen was gone.
Despair engulfed his being as he thought of that.
"No…no! Lumen, no!"
He let out an anguish cry to the sky.
"XEHANORT!"
He slammed his fists into the ground. Even though his body was gone, he still felt his soul cry. His armor shook as he cried silent tears for his beloved.
The woman that was his reason for living was gone. He would never see her again or hear her angelic voice. He would never get the chance to hold her in his arms and show her just how much he loved her.
His reason for living vanished. All that remained was the lingering feelings of the one person who made his life complete.
Slowly, he returned to his original position in front of his keyblade. Lumen was gone and all that remained of her was the feelings that she left for him.
The worse part of it was that he knew it was his fault this happened.
He hung his head in shame, never wanting to forgive himself for what he did to his fiancé.
"Forgive me…Lumen"
/
In Radiant Garden, Taiyouko and Ienzo were heading back home. Since it was so late they felt that it was time to go home and have a nice hot meal.
Ienzo looked up at his sister as he gave her hand a slight squeeze.
"Onee-chan, can I stay at your house tonight?" he asked.
Since it was just the two of them, that meant he would talk. He never talked to anyone really except his sister. His sister was the only person he could trust.
"Father is still busy in his labs and I don't want to stay home alone again"
Taiyouko forced a smile on her face while she was screaming in her head. She always hated it when her father put his work before his family. He did this to her when she was little, he shouldn't be doing it to her brother.
She decided to be the better parent and take matters into her own hands.
"Of course you can" she said.
"I'm sure Leon and Hikari will be very happy that you're staying over. You guys can have your own slumber party"
Even though Ienzo was technically Leon and Hikari's uncle, he still had fun playing with them. He was a kid after all.
"Yay!"
He looked over at the court area in the center of the town and spotted someone on the ground. He recognize the person as the girl that his sister helped out earlier and knew something was wrong.
"Onee-chan, look!"
Taiyouko looked where he was pointing at and gasped in horror when she saw it was Lumen.
"Oh my goodness!"
She quickly ran over to where Lumen was and skidded to the ground. Carefully ,she picked her up and had her lean against her shoulder.
Lumen felt her strength nearly leaving her completely when she saw Taiyouko. She couldn't help the weak smile form on her face when she saw the person who became dear to her in such a short time.
Even now she was trying to save her.
"Tai…youko" she said weakly.
Taiyouko felt tears form in her eyes when she saw the condition Lumen was in. She looked like she was about to die.
"Oh, Lumen" she said.
"Who did this to you?"
Lumen struggled to gain control. She needed to warn someone about what was happening. She needed to warn about Xehanort.
"Xeha…Xehan…"
Taiyouko quickly shook her head.
"Save your strength" she said.
"I'm going to help you"
Lumen chuckled weakly and shook her head.
"It's…too late" she rasped.
"I don't…have much strength left"
She looked at the last part of her heart.
"I must..warn you…about something" she said.
"Kingdom Hearts…beware of Kingdom Hearts…"
Taiyouko looked at her friend with confusion.
"Kingdom Hearts?" she repeated.
"Yes…" Lumen said.
"The final door…the heart of all worlds…it must never be open…if it is…all the worlds…will be…in danger"
Taiyouko gulped.
"The worlds?"
Lumen nodded.
"I haven't…much time left…" she whispered.
"I wanted…to do so much…I wanted…to keep the worlds…safe…"
She held her heart tightly, fearing that it would let go any second.
"I don't have enough strength left" she thought.
"I need to give my heart to someone, but I don't know who"
She heard a very familiar voice in her head. The same voice that she heard in her dreams.
Hey…can you hear me?
Lumen gasped when she heard that voice. She finally realized who that voice belonged to. It was the one who was by her side this whole time. The one she entrusted her future to.
"Hikari…"
Tears of happiness spilled from her eyes. After all this time, she finally realized who was calling out to her this whole time.
"It was you" she thought.
"All this time, you were reaching out to me. You were trying to help me"
Realizing she had one more person she could trust, she slowly let go of her heart and let it float away. She felt her vision go hazy when she saw her heart vanish. It would probably be a while until she would wake up, but at least she knew that her heart was in safe hands.
"My hopes…my dreams…they're yours now, Hikari" she thought.
"You'll be my living legacy"
She looked at Taiyouko and smiled weakly. Even though she was going into a deep sleep, she was glad that she was with a dear friend in the end.
"Taiyouko" she said, weakly.
She reached out and touched her face.
"Thank you…for everything"
As she said that, her eyes slowly closed for good and put her into a deep sleep. Her hand fell from Taiyouko's face and dropped to the ground.
Lumen, the keyblade wielder was no more.
Taiyouko held back the sobs that formed into her throat.
"Oh, Lumen" she said.
She pressed her cheek on top of Lumen's head and stroked her hair in a motherly way.
Ienzo felt a tear fall down his face as well. Even though he didn't know Lumen well, it was still sad to see this happen to her.
"O-onee-chan…" he asked.
"Is she…dead?"
Taiyouko wiped her eyes and shook her head.
"No…she's just…sleeping" she said.
"And it might be quite a while before she wakes up"
Ienzo wiped his eyes.
"What should we do then?" he asked.
Taiyouko thought for a moment before her face grew serious.
"We need to keep her safe" she said.
"Somewhere that no one can reach her"
She suddenly stood up with Lumen in her arms.
"Come on, Ienzo" she said.
"I know where we can keep safe"
Ienzo quickly followed his sister away from the area and into the more rural area of town.
Even though Lumen was deep within sleep, a small smile graced her face as she sent out a small prayer to her successor.
"Hikari…please be strong. Please succeed where I have failed. I have lost so much and made so many mistakes. Please be the one who will fix all of the mistakes that I have made. Be everything that I could never be. I was never able to obtain my happy ending…but I hope that you will obtain it in my place. The worlds are in danger from the darkness, so be their ray of hope. Please fight on, even when the odds are against you. Please don't give up hope like I almost did. And lastly…please…please…be the one who will bring us all back together again"
With that, she put all of her hopes and dreams on the young girl who managed to etch her way into her heart.
Even though Lumen's journey came to an end, it was the beginning of Hikari's.
/
A/N: And with that, that was the final chapter to Memories by Sleep. I have to admit, I feel like the bad person for making Lumen's fate end like this. I think it was way worse than Terra, Aqua or Ven's. I was crying when I wrote this chapter, but I knew it needed to be done. Lumen's fate will trigger Hikari's future. Her pain is Hikari's motivation.
We only have the epilogue and the blank points after this, so please review if you want to see them!
Thank you all again!
Ja ne!
