Hi! Sorry about the long wait! XD Life hit some rocky points and computer access went down drastically but now I am back for the most part! :D And with it another exciting chapter! A big heads up there will be some character death soonish/in this chapter. XD Uhhh. So your not surprised. So enjoy!

Chapter ten into the past 2

Sora smiled as he ran through the castle. He smiled as he ran past his room and started on his search for Riku. He blinked when he looked down the hall and saw Riku. He went to run over to him but stopped because something was different. Something was off and it made him think that this wasn't the Riku he knew. He blinked then turned around when a hand was put on his shoulder.

"There you are Sora. I've been looking for you," Riku said then kissed Sora softly. "What's up? You look confused."

"I just saw you over there," he said pointing to where the other Riku was standing. Riku blinked as he looked over but he didn't see anyone or anything out of place.

"I think you need to get more rest. I don't see anyone, especially not me. I am right here after all." Sora sighed then shook his head.

"Never mind…" Sora sighed again then shook his head. "What are you doing? I just left Aqua and Zack. He said he had to do something. He was really happy helping us with the thing we did but slowly after he seemed off."

"He didn't tell you did he?" Riku asked as he slowly took Sora's hands in his. Sora frowned as he shook his head. Riku took a deep breath before leading Sora back to there room. He sat Sora down then sat down next to him. "I have been talking to Zack a lot the last few days. He hasn't been here and hiding. We've been communicating by letters. You know how powerful Aqua is right?"

"Yeah. Of course. She's the strongest person I know. She can do anything!" Sora said with a smile as he laughed. Riku smiled weakly then lightly pat the top of his head. Sora's smile slowly faded.

"Yes. She can do anything. The thing is she's so powerful she herself is struggling to keep her power under control. Her power is leaking. At this point she can destroy the world if she loses any more control over it. Zack said he was going to take care of it tonight. He just wanted the two of you to get to say your good byes before he did anything."

"What?!" a new voice asked as he stood outside the door. The two looked up to see Cloud standing there. "We have to stop him! There has to be another way!" Cloud quickly ran out of the room and down the hall. He could only think of one place they would go. A place Cloud showed Zack a long time ago.

"This can't be true," Sora said with a weak smile. "You're kidding right? She would have said something. She would have told me and then told me there was nothing to be worried about cause she has the solution…." Riku shook his head then wrapped his arms around Sora.

"She doesn't entirely know. Zack has done his best to keep her from knowing the truth. When her power explodes he makes up and excuse and she always believes it. I don't think she is oblivious to what is happening to her but Zack does so I didn't say anything."

"I don't want to lose her…" Sora said barely above a whisper.

"I know Sora. I know."

"Lets go find her. We can try and stop it," Sora said quickly then pushed away from Riku and ran. Riku sighed softly then followed after.

Aqua sighed as she slowly followed Zack. They were suppose to be staying back in the room. She wasn't feeling that good. She looked up at Zack and frowned. "Hey. Aren't you going to tell me where we're going? We've been walking for a while now."

"Come on Aqua. We havn't been walking that long and we'll be there soon," Zack said then smiled softly as he looked back at her.

"Okay," she said then smiled softly. At least they were hanging out together. He seemed to be off the last few days. She sighed knowing why. She looked at a squirrel that ran past and when Zack stopped suddenly, she ran right into him. He turned and smiled before looking at the edge of the tree line. Aqua ran past Zack and smiled at the beautiful sun set.

"I wanted you to see this view," Zack says as he smiled.

"Thank you. It's breathtaking! It's really pretty!" She ran up to the edge of the cliff or tried to. Her foot caught on a rock and made her fall flat on her face.

"Aqua! Are you okay? You fall so much. I'm surprised you're as skilled as you are with how clutzie you are," Zack sighed then held out his hand.

"Sorry," Aqua said putting her hand in Zack's. "I'm okay." Zack stood up then pulled Aqua up while she laughed.

"What is so funny?"

"This reminds me of when we were kids. You, me and Cloud were always the best of friends. And the closest..."

"What are you going on about?"

A young Aqua with bright innocent eyes blinked as Zack with the biggest smile stood next to her. She looked at Cloud, who was across from her, and smiled. He put his hand in first then Aqua and lastly Zack. "We'll be together forever! It's a promise!" Zack said confidently with the brightest smile she had seen in a long time. And all three of them actually believed him. And they hoped it was true. They started laughing before Aqua ran forward and tripped. She looked up and blinked before all three started laughing.

The secne fades slowly then is replaced with an area in the forest that is damaged. Trees are knocked down and there are craters in the dirt. Aqua is still young. Aqua blinks as she slowly comes back to reality. She could feel arms around her. She tilted her head and realizes its Zack. She looked around frowning at how bad of a fight must have happened. She didn't remember what had happened.

"Why are you all scratched up?" Aqua asked as she laid her head down on his shoulder a bit.

"Remember what I said?" he asked softly as he hugged her a bit tighter. " We'll always be together." He smiled his usual smile and slowly she lets her eyes close and she looses consciousness.

"Now that I think about it, you were always saving me back then, weren't you?" Aqua asked and Zack takes a shaky breath. He turned away as he slowly slid the knife out of the holster. "I know that you're doing this to protect me. I know what you plan to do. And it is all just to protect me…right Zack?" Aqua turned around and smiled softly. Zack still couldn't look up as he held the knife up to his chest. Aqua's smile faded as she slowly walked over to Zack. Zack took a few steps back but Aqua gently took the hand that was holding the knife, with both hands, and pulled it lightly, so the knife is against her chest but not piercing her. Zack looked shocked, his mouth hanging open slightly, as he stared into Aqua's determined and sad eyes.

"Zack! Zack, wait!" Cloud yells as he ran up behind them, still a good few feet away, so if anything happened he wouldn't reach them in time. And it scared him.

"Don't stop him Cloud!" Aqua yelled as she looked over to him. Cloud is shocked, his mouth opening slightly. "It's all right, Cloud…it is…this has to happen…everyone knows…"

"Aqua, do you know?" he asked, even more shocked then before. Aqua frowned slightly then walked over to a beautiful white flower. She bent down slowly and wrapped her fingers around it's stem. She picked it and lifted it up as the flower slowly breaks down into fragments before being carried off by the wind. All three of them were facing the sunset now and each one wearing a similar expression on there face. Each one looked sad and none of them wanted anything to do with what had to happen. And for aqua it was a stupid question. She didn't understand why they were hesitating. She was going to end this and hoped it would go according to plan

"I figured it out when we came to the castle. I figured out that everyone was keeping it a secret to protect me. I figured it out by the times I blank out and every time it happens, Zack is covered in injuries. I'm sorry." Zack looks down as tears slowly start forming in the corner of his eyes. He shakes his head before looking up at him.

"Why are you apologizing?!" Zack growled out as his hands balled up into fists. He was annoyed that she was apologizing when he was about to kill her.

"I'm sorry, Zack…" Aqua repeats looking away, unable to look at him any more.

"Why are you sorry?!" Slowly Aqua turned around to face him and smiled.

"Thank you."

"Why…? Why?! Curse me out, Aqua! I couldn't even save you… I'm choosing the easiest way to let you rest in peace! Say it's unfair! Please call me a damn coward!" Zack was yelling. His mind not able to wrap around this situation. Not able to understand her. Slowly the anger was leaving and just as slowly replaced with the pained feeling he had been feeling the last two years. The thought of losing her made it ten times worse. He hated this. He almost hated himself. "I…I…" he trailed off not knowing what else to say.

"If I do, will it lift the weight on your shoulders?" Aqua asked with a neutral face. No emotion was in her voice at all.

"Huh…"

"You are a coward! You're being unfair! Painfully unfair! And you've always been this way." Slowly a sad look leaked onto her face. "You shoulder everything by yourself. Never letting me take any of your weight or letting me know what is bothering you." Aqua walked over to Zack and stood in front of him. "I want to share the weight of your pain and suffering." Zack flinched back then looked down, hiding his eyes under his black bangs.

"Why?!"

"Aren't we supposed to be best friends?"

"You're the one who was always, ALWAYS saving me! But I can't even save your life!"

"Zack…"

"No, that's not true! That not it! I was so sure I wouldn't have second thoughts about this. I was confident I could do anything to protect you. Anything to stop you from doing anything that you wouldn't want to do. But since coming to this castle…why have I changed so much? Since meeting Sora, Riku and everyone else I felt myself change." He collapsed to his knees unable to stand anymore. He threw the knife and it flew to where Cloud was standing. He stared down at the knife then back up at the two. "We're running out of time! But I'm full of hope! I keep expecting Sora and the others to work some sort of miracle. I can't help but think that there must be another way! They always come up with the stupidest shit to solve the fucking easiest problems…"

"Zack…" Cloud said softly with a frown as he slowly walked over to Zack.

"I can't do it… I can't do it after all," he breathed out as he shook his head wildly.

"Zack, you've made the right choice." Cloud put his hand on Zacks's shoulder then smiled reassuringly.

"That's great," Aqua says as she slowly took a step back towards the cliff. "Now I won't have anything to worry about."

"Aqua…" Cloud says as he stood up.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you bear such a hard task. Thank you for being who you are. And thank you, Cloud. You have always been there to watch over us. Always keeping out little family together. Keep watching over Zack for me? Keep him out of trouble."

"What are you doing, Aqua?" Zack asked unable to move from the spot on the ground. His entire body felt like it was being weighed down by Aqua's words.

"Have you forgotten? There is one other ways out besides just using that knife on me."

"You wouldn't…" Zack asked as was finally able to stand up.

"Don't do it, Aqua!" Cloud shouted but he knew he couldn't do anything else. She already made up her mind and he knew that he wouldn't be able to stop her from losing control over her magic.

"Thank you." Aqua said with a gentle smile. The wind picked up and blew her hair slowly from side to side as they just looked at her. Begging with their eyes for her not to go out this way. "I love you." She slowly leaned back and fell backwards off the cliff.

"AQUA!" Zack screamed as he ran to the edge of the cliff. He couldn't see her anymore but he could see blood on the rocks towards the end of the cliff. He went to jump in but Cloud stopped him.

"Don't. We'll find her…but we can't lose you too. Sora needs you." Both turned when they heard a few pairs of foot steps stop just outside the edge of the cliff. Sora, Riku and Sephiroth stood there with mirrored confused looks.

"Where is Aqua…" Sora asked calmly though on the inside he was already thinking the worst. Sora saw the knife and gripped at his shirt. "Where is Aqua?!"

"She's gone," Cloud said slowly as he faced them.

"It didn't have to be this way!" Sora screamed as he stepped forward. "Why Zack?! You didn't have to do it!"

"He didn't," Cloud put in quickly. Sora frowned but then quickly shook his head. He went to speak but Cloud continued. "She did…she did it for all of us. She knew in the end he couldn't do it. And she didn't want him to. They've been so close since they were kids. I have been watching them. Ever since we met up as children, I've watched there relationship grow. And I knew he couldn't do it. So instead of making it another painful memory she did it for him." Sora fell to his knees then screamed.

"Aqua!" The wind picked up as he slammed his fists into the dirt.

"Stop," Riku said as he bent down. "If you do that you'll make the ground unstable. We could fall off the edge of the cliff." Riku wrapped his arms around Sora and held him as he cried. Zack didn't move from his spot. His eyes looked unfocused and dazed. "Lets get back to the castle."

When they got back Riku slowly got Sora to calm down and Cloud went to Leon. Cloud took a slow breath as he slowly looked up at Leon's worried face. "Cloud?" he asked softly as he slowly opened his arms as he walked towards him. He slowly wrapped his arms around the king. Cloud leaned against Leon then clung to him. Slowly tears slid down his cheeks. Leon held him tight then slowly walked over to the bed. He had just finished cleaning the room when Cloud walked in. Leon slowly laid Cloud down and leaned over him. He smiled sadly as he watched Cloud curl into a ball next to him.

"Cloud," he said softly then leaned down and kissed him gently. "What happened? Did you find them?" Cloud sniffled then nodded slightly. "What happened?"

"She's gone…" Cloud said softly then broke down again. Leon slowly ran his hand down his back gently. He ran his hand slowly up and ran it through the golden spiky locks. He stayed with him till he calmed down and fell asleep. He leaned down then gently kissed the top of his head. He looked up when he heard a knock on the door.

"Uncle?" a small voice asked as he tilted his head. Leon covered Cloud up then stood up and walked to the door.

"Is that you Roxas." He asked as he opened the door. Roxas stood there with a smile on his face.

"Leon. Good to see you. Where is my uncle? Is he in there?"

"Yes," he said softly then looked behind him. "He needs to be alone for a bit. I'll explain. Lets give him some time and go to the sitting room." He closed the door quietly behind him then led Roxas to the sitting room. He blinked when he saw two red heads in the room.

"I was going to have Uncle come meet them here," Roxas said then walked over to the shorter of the two. He might have been shorter but they were both considerably taller then the blond and Leon was amazed to see that he was almost shorter then them. Roxas took the red heads hand then smiled. "This is Axel. I've been staying with him and his brother."

"Glad to see you were so well taken care of," Leon said then bowed slightly. "My name is Leon. I am the servant to the king. The king has laid down for a bit. I will get him in a little while. So make yourself at home. Roxas you should step away for a minute and go talk to Sora. Something happened to Aqua…" Leon trailed off then sighed softly. Roxas looked really worried. He looked up at Axel then ran down the hall without another word.

Roxas ran all the way to Sora's room and stopped outside the room. "Sora calm down. This is not your fault," he heard Riku beg.

"Leave me alone! We could have done something! She didn't have to die!" Sora yelled as he stomped around the room. Roxas quickly opened the door in time to see Sora shove Riku. Riku was knocked down and looked up hurt. He was upset he was shoved but at the same time he understood. Riku looked at the door and stared at Roxas.

"Roxas…" Riku said softly then turned back to Sora. Sora looked at Roxas then shook his head.

"Sora," Roxas said slowly as he held up his hands. "Everything is going to be okay." Sora shook his head harder then slammed his foot down harder then before. The building shook slightly this time.

"This didn't have to happen! She's fucking gone Roxas! Aqua's gone! It's not fair!" Sora screamed. He gasped when arms wrapped around him tightly. Black hair brushed up against his face. Sora whimpered as he was held above the ground.

"I know," Zack said softly as tears slid down his cheeks. "It's not fair but Aqua wouldn't want you to be doing this. You're going to break the house. You know how much she loved this place…" Sora clung to Zack and just cried. Zack needed to get him grounded. Slowly Zack sat down on the floor and sat Sora down in front of him. Zack looked at Riku and motioned towards Roxas. Riku took Roxas out of the room. Zack smiled softly then slowly started breathing with Sora. "Go into your mind Sora," he said softly. "Go to your safe place." Slowly Sora calmed down and his breathing evened out.

A half hour later Zack opened his eyes and smiled softly. Sora was leaning against the bed. He gently reached out and lightly brushed hair out of his face. "Better?" he asked softly as Sora slowly opened his eyes. Sora nodded slightly then reached out and grabbed Zack's hand and squeezed the hand. Zack smiled softly then hugged Sora once more before standing up. He helped Sora up then patted his back.

"Thank you Zack," Sora said softly then smiled softly.

"Any time. Just remember what Aqua said. Everything that happens from this point out is not your fault. I don't think that things are going to go well because the battle is going to start. And it's going to be crazy."

"I don't want to fight…"

"I know. But it has to happen. You need to fight and win." Sora shook his head. "I know. How about we go to your brother?"

"Okay…" he said softly before Zack helped him stand up. They were about to walk out of the room before the door opened again. Riku walked in and smiled softly at Sora.

"Are you okay…Sora?" he asked softly as he tilted his head. Sora smiled softly then nodded.

"Yeah. I'm sorry I shoved you Riku. I can't control myself sometimes," Sora said as he looked down. Riku walked over then ruffled his hair.

"Don't worry about it. Really. I understand. Now how about we go see your brother? He's waiting in the big sitting room. He's got some interesting people with him. Two red heads." Sora looked up confused then smiled when Riku winked. "Things around here are going to get lively again."

Sora laughed then shook his head. "You're way to into everyone's business."

"I just like to make sure there are no surprises for me is all."

"No. I'd have to agree with Sora on this one. You are." Zack laughed when Riku huffed at him. "I'll meet you guys there. I'm going to get something to snack on quick." Zack left and headed towards the kitchen. Riku took Sora's hand in his then kissed it softly.

"Sora…" he said softly then leaned down and kissed him. Sora sighed softly then laid his head against Riku's chest. "I'm sorry."

"Me too," Sora said then smiled happily up at him before pulling away. "I'd like to meet my brother's future husband." Both laughed as they walked out of the room. When they walked into the sitting room Sora was surprised to see his Uncle.

"Sora! Was that you?!" he yelled as he stormed over to Sora.

"I-I didn't do it on purpose!" Sora defended as he took a step back.

"You shook the entire house!"

"Sire," Leon interjected quickly as he bowed slightly. "We have guests. You shouldn't make a scene." Cloud sighed as he shook his head. He put his hand over his forehead before looking at Sora. "You're training is doubled. Vincent will have more time with you." He turned and went to sit down in his chair. Sora grumbled as he crossed his arms.

The red head with spikey hair leaned over and whispered something in Roxas's ear. Roxas rolled his eyes and nodded before running over to Sora and hugging him. "I see you still have temper-tantrums from time to time."

"I'm happy to see you too Roxas…" Sora sighed returning the hug. He grinned then whispered, "I see we're not all that different after all. I didn't know you liked red heads though."

"Shut up!" Roxas said as he blushed and pushed away from Sora. He crossed his arms as he turned away.

"Now Roxas," Cloud said as he leaned his head against his hand. "Why don't you introduce your guests?"

"Oh right," Roxas said as he walked over to the two. "As you know I was at the Fire kingdom for some time and I got to know the two princes there. "This is Axel the youngest prince and this is Reno the eldest son."

Everything immediately stopped when some part of the castle exploded. Riku immediately went to get Sora, grabbing him out of the way of falling debris. Roxas fell back into Axel's arms and was steadied as his brother moved to his side. Sora gripped onto Riku as he looked from his brother being helped over to Cloud. Cloud smiled softly at Sora as Leon held onto him. Sora gave him a confused look before a large piece of the floor above them came down on top of the two. Sora screamed as he struggled to get to them. Riku had to pull back as more of the ceiling came down around them.

"We have to get out of here. We have to regroup outside," Riku yelled as he tried to get Sora under control. Axel and Reno nodded as Axel lifted a shocked Roxas off the ground. Sephiroth and Vincent ran into the room and panicked. The building started shaking and wind seemed to pick up in the room. Sora's struggles stopped as he laid limp in Riku's arms.

This can't be happening…Cloud…Leon…Aqua…who's next…is everyone going to die on my birthday…? I wish I was never born…I wish I never existed… As Sora's thoughts became darker his skin slowly started to change color. Sephiroth ripped Sora from Riku's hands then threw him at Vincent. "Get him out and get Zack." Vincent took off without speaking a word. Sephiroth helped everyone else out of the castle.

Vincent found Zack quickly as he was running out Zack was running in. He had help make sure everyone that was still alive was able to get out. "What happened?" Zack asked as he ran back out of the castle with Vincent holding a mostly black Sora.

"I don't know. We ran in to find the king but I didn't see him before Sora was thrown at me…I don't think…"

"I get it," Zack said softly before laying Sora in the grass. He knelt down on one side while Vincent on the other. "Sora." Sora's usual blue eyes were a swirl of blue and gold as he looked into Zack's eyes. "What are you doing?" He couldn't help but a laugh when Sora looked confused then tilted his head. A grin appeared on his face before he shot up and with black claws slashed at Zack's chest.

Dun dun dun! End of chapter. :3 Hope this is as exciting for me as for you! Next chapter will come out soonish I hope. Don't forget to reveiw! :3 I want to know others opinions about the story. :3