A/N-HOLY LONG. Longest chapter I've ever written for any fic. Over 8k words! Yeow! Please enjoy this horrendously long chapter and feel all the feels your about to feel. (Yup, decided to be corny there.) Please don't expect all future chapters to be this long. I just couldn't find a good place to break it in two. I've also come to the conclusion I keep pushing Larxene out of my stories and I keep forgetting to put Vanitas in them. Argh. (Next fic guise. I even jotted it down in my handy dandy notebook!) Anyway, enough of me rambling (this chapter's long enough as it is!)
"What happened," Roxas seethed. Riku shook his head and motioned for Roxas to follow him. Roxas climbed out of bed, picked up his swords, and followed Riku out to the beach. Riku spoke up on the way.
"We just received word Xemnas has launched an investigation in Traverse Town. He's using it as a guise to collect the rest of the pieces of Kingdom Hearts."
"I have to go."
"I know. As much as we would like to help, we have our own world to protect."
"I understand. Keep watch over Kairi. They'll be after her next." Riku nodded.
"Be safe, Roxas. I know we're not the closest of friends but I would be sad to see you go. Try to come back in one piece this time. I'm getting tired of fishing you out of the water." Roxas smirked and clasped Riku on the shoulder.
"Thanks. Good luck." Roxas started heading for the beach but paused in his tracks. Then he immediately back tracked to the medical tent. Riku watched him with a confused expression. Roxas went over to Demyx and shook him awake.
"Wha...what? Huh?" the elder blonde spluttered. "Oh, Roxas. You startled me." Demyx sat up and tried to get rid of the crick in his neck.
"Dem, I need you to look out for Ienzo while I'm gone."
"You're leaving? Again?!" Demyx explained.
"Keep it down!" Roxas hissed. "My friends need me. Xemnas is on his way to Traverse Town as we speak."
"Then you'd better get moving. Destiny Islands is a whole lot farther away than Hollow Bastion is."
"Right. Just promise you'll look after Ienzo."
"Until the day I die, my brother," Demyx said with a grin. Roxas nodded and went over Ienzo, who was still fast asleep. He rested a hand on the boy's shoulder and then kissed his temple gently.
"I'll be back," Roxas whispered. Demyx gave a quick wave as Roxas jogged off towards the beach. Then he rolled his eyes.
"Geez, Roxas. You're act more like a mother hen than my own mother did," he muttered under his breath. He turned to the sleeping Ienzo. "And you encourage him. Next time I see Roxas he'll be wearing an apron as a shield and waving around a frying pan to keep the heartless away."
Roxas made it to the beach and pounded his shoulder, summoning his armor. He channeled his energy into his swords and leapt aboard his transport. Then he blasted into the air. As he reached the spaces between the worlds, he focused on his destination.
"Come on, just like before. Focus Roxas!" he growled. Light surrounded Roxas and then he streaked through the sky like a beacon of light. In a second, it was over and Roxas was approaching Traverse Town. His knees suddenly gave out and they crashed into the flood of the transport. Roxas felt extremely dizzy and nearly threw up over the side. He shakily pulled an Ether from his pocket and tossed it back into his throat, swallowing the strange liquid. His head stopped spinning and Roxas was able to stand after a few shaky breaths.
He turned his transport and headed straight for the G. Ship hanger. Roxas wanted to land by his home but he knew the people of Traverse Town would have thought he was an enemy. So, he begrudgingly swooped down to the runway and jumped off his transport. His swords snapped back to their original weapon forms and Roxas sheathed them.
"Well DAMN kid!" Cid shouted, jogging over. Roxas removed his helmet and nodded a greeting. "Where the Hell did you learn to do that?"
"A friend taught me. Look, is everyone alright? I heard Xemnas…"
"Yeah, he's here all right," Cid replied darkly. "The Restoration Committee is in town trying to hold them off."
"And what about Naminé and Xion?" Cid exhaled slowly.
"A squad went out to check on them awhile back. They haven't returned." Roxas took off running. "Roxas!" Cid called but the blonde wasn't listening.
Roxas sprinted full speed towards his house. He suddenly wished he hadn't moved out of Town to the outskirts but he, Xion, and Naminé built that house themselves. It brought them together and made them a family. He reached the field and ploughed through the grass and flowers. Roxas buckled his helmet to his hip and drew his swords. He wanted to look the bastards in the face when he killed them.
Roxas saw his home was dark even though it was very early in the morning. The sun had barely even risen. Clouds covered the sky and reflected an eerie red glow onto the world. Roxas saw the door was blown off its hinges and he dashed inside. He searched the lower floor with no luck.
"Damn it, where are they?" he growled. Roxas took the stairs three at a time. He turned to go down the hall and the wall next to him exploded. Roxas leapt back and heard a scream.
"Naminé!" he shouted.
"Roxas?!" Roxas turned to Naminé's room and saw it was half barricaded with her desk and dresser. He pushed the desk aside and tried the lights. The switch flicked uselessly. He created a ball of light and held it on his hand. He heard the sound of a gun clicking. "Roxas, it is you!" Naminé leapt from the corner of the room and jumped over her desk, hanging onto her friend by the neck. Roxas hugged her tightly to his chest.
"Are you alright, Naminé…" Roxas felt his voice catch in his throat. As Naminé pulled away, he saw her white sun dress was stained with blood down the front, a large stain where her chest was. Splotches of blood were dried on her pale face. "No…"
"Roxas, it's alright! I'm okay. See? I'm still alive." Naminé took her hands and pressed them against his face. "See? I'm okay." Roxas felt the panic rise in his chest and he started to hyperventilate. "Come on Roxas. Look at me. Roxas. I'm here," Naminé tried to console him. Roxas's swords slipped from his hands and he could only stare at Naminé with wide, horrified eyes.
Roxas saw movement in the room and he leapt into the room, crashing into the mysterious figure. "Don't you fucking touch her!" he roared.
"Sit your ass down, shit brain." Roxas was shoved off, leaving him slightly stunned.
"W-wha…Seifer?!"
"No shit." Seifer pushed back the blinds to let some light into the room. He had his gunblade out and his shirt was smeared with blood.
"It's okay, Roxas. He kept me safe," Naminé urged.
"How the Hell are you even alive?" Roxas snapped, turning to Naminé. "Axel's practically a zombie!"
"They took Axel's heart?! Shit. Roxas, they really are serious with putting Kingdom Hearts together. I had no idea I was even a Shard."
"Kairi knew. She's one too." Naminé's hands flew to her mouth. Then she dropped them and took a deep breath.
"Right, I have no emotions. It's kind of weird, really. My body feels numb but I can still feel the things I touch. It's strange because I react the same way I would if I had my heart but then I sit back and realize I feel nothing at all. I'm simply remembering how I reacted and applying it."
"Now's not the time for deep research analysis, Nam. We have to get you out of here."
"Oh, right." Naminé chuckled awkwardly. "Come on, Seifer. Time to go."
"Whatever," Seifer replied flatly. Roxas grabbed Naminé's wrist as she was about to leave.
"Where's Xion? Isn't she here?" Naminé blinked.
"…right…Roxas? I know it looks like I don't care right now but I really do. I'm torn up inside but I can't feel anything."
"What happened to Xion?!" Roxas barked. Naminé flinched.
"She's in her room," Naminé replied quietly. "I'm sorry. They go to her first. She told me to hide but they still found me. Seifer revived me and…and…" Naminé swallowed hard. "Just go see her, Roxas." She slipped her wrist from his grasp, stepped over her desk and left the room, her bare feet whispering on the wooden floor. Seifer strode past Roxas and followed Naminé downstairs.
Roxas extinguished his light and picked up his swords. Then he stepped over the desk and went to Xion's room. He pushed open the door. There she was, lying on her bed. Roxas approached her and knelt by her side.
"Hey," he greeted softly. "I'm home." He pushed the hair back from her face. "We'll get you out of here." Roxas grabbed her hand and froze. Something wasn't right. Xion was cold. Very cold. Her hand was rigid. Roxas's felt his pulse spike. He leaned into her face and his eyes went wide.
There was no breath on his cheek.
Xion was dead.
"NO!" Roxas screamed, tears spilling from his eyes. He crumpled on the floor and screamed as loud as he could. "Xion! Xion, Xion, Xion," he kept calling.
Naminé heard Roxas scream and she bolted upstairs. She burst into Xion's room as Roxas was pulling at his hair, hunched over on his knees. Naminé grabbed Roxas's shoulders and tried to pull him away.
"Leave me alone!" Roxas snapped, pushing her away. Naminé stumbled and fell hard onto the floor. Roxas stared with wide eyes and she picked herself back up painfully. "Nam, I'm sorry…shit…what have I done? Nam, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" Roxas rambled as he crawled over to her and tried to help her.
"Roxas!" she barked. She grabbed his wrists and held them against his will. "Stop it, Roxas. You're not thinking!"
"I…how did…" Roxas kept trying to form sentences but he sounded like an insane man.
"Look, Xemnas took her heart before she even had time to react. Then they came after me. I'm sorry, Roxas. She didn't know she was a Shard either. We were both stunned." Naminé removed her Keyblade from the loop on her waist. Roxas noticed her dress was torn around the bottom. "Roxas, I want you to focus. Yes, Xion is dead. Her Keyblade shattered after her heart was taken. But mine didn't!" Naminé held her Keyblade proudly in front of her. "I'm alive, Roxas. It's heartbreaking Xion is dead. It hurts both of us, but we can't deal with this right now. There are still others in Traverse Town who have Shards. They need your help! That's why you came back. You came back for all of us.
"I know you loved Xion. She loved you too. Probably even more. She was heartbroken when you left." Roxas was reduced to a pile of tears and snot running down his nose. He sobbed openly on his knees while Naminé sat in front of him. She clipped her Keyblade back into its loop and put her hands on Roxas's face. "You still have me, Roxas. Don't forget that. I'm not going anywhere."
"Why do all of my closest friends have to die?" Roxas choked out, his eyes pinched shut as his face was turned towards the floor.
"They're not completely dead, Roxas. Xion is a part of Kingdom Hearts now. Despite her death, her heart is still alive. She would want you to be happy. She hates it when you break down."
"She always did hate to see me cry," Roxas muttered.
"See? Xion always admired how you never stopped caring for everyone. You didn't always show it but deep down you care so much for the people around you. Don't forget that." Roxas snipped and wiped his nose with the back of his hand. He lifted his head and stared at Naminé.
"How did you survive? What did you hold onto?" he asked quietly. Naminé smiled lightly.
"What did I hold onto? I suppose you could call it hope."
"Hope?" Naminé nodded.
"I promised I wouldn't leave everyone behind to fight this war alone. I wanted to see it through to the end and as the last bit of light started fading I suddenly realized the answer was sitting right in front of me all this time." Naminé reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. She opened it showed it to Roxas. It was the drawing of the tree of them, Kairi and Axel. "It was all of you and hope that one day we would all be together again. That's what saved me."
"Why couldn't Xion hold on?" Roxas murmured, tears slipping down his face.
"I can't tell you, Roxas. I'm not Xion. Maybe the darkness was too strong for her and maybe she couldn't find a strong enough light to hold onto. Either way, she's gone now. You have to be strong for her. Please?"
Roxas couldn't help but smirk. He lunged forward and wrapped Naminé in a crushing hug. "Thanks, Nam. You're the closest thing to a sister I've ever had. I see why Kairi speaks so highly of you."
"Speaking of Kairi, when were you going to tell me you were on Destiny Islands? With Axel for that matter?" Naminé protested.
"It's a long story. I'll tell you when we get there."
"Get there? Oh, are we going back to Destiny Islands with you?" Naminé instantly brightened. "I'll get to see Kairi again." Then she frowned. "And yet I still feel empty."
"I'm sure you'll get used to it." Roxas pulled away and wiped his face clean. He sheathed his swords and stood, helping Naminé to her feet. Then he picked up Xion bridal style and carried her down stairs with Naminé following.
Seifer raised an eyebrow at their approach but didn't comment. They stepped out of the house and Roxas gave it one last look. Then he turned forward and started making his way through the grass. Naminé picked flowers and stuck them in Xion's hair as they went. Roxas thought it was a kind gesture but it didn't ease his aching heart or Naminé's lack of feelings.
As they were walking, Roxas noticed Xion's legs were starting to crystalize like ice. He clamped his jaw shut and kept walking. The farther he walked, the more Xion turned into crystal. Naminé wanted to cry so badly but she felt hollow. Instead, Roxas cried for her. Tears silently slid down his face as he finally stopped and rested his head against Xion's forehead.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. For a moment, it looked like Xion smiled. Then she started glowing and she turned into small crystal fragments. Roxas watched the fragments float into the air and fly away with the breeze. His arms were left empty.
His hand was not.
There was a necklace in his palm. The long silver chain had to ornaments on it. The first was a miniature version of Xion's Keyblade. The second was a flat, narrow shell. Roxas slipped the necklace over his head and tucked it under his shirt. As the ornaments touched his skin, he felt a gentle glow ease his aching heart.
"Xion," he muttered. Then he took a deep breath and took Naminé's hand in his own. They walked hand in hand to the G. Ship hanger with Seifer in the lead. It was a quiet moment. Naminé could feel Roxas's pain through him as he made contact with her. There was something else lingering there, a soft presence.
"Xion," she murmured with a smile. Roxas glanced at her and they kept walking. "Don't forget us!" she called to the wind.
"She better not," Roxas challenged. Naminé giggled.
"Not for a second."
They reached the hanger and Roxas left Naminé there with Cid and Seifer. His next stop was the Districts where Xemnas was waiting with four Shards and the darkness of Kingdom Hearts.
"Three to go. And then it'll be me," Roxas murmured. "Let's get this over with." He pushed open the large doors to the First District stepped inside.
And there stood Xemnas.
"Ah, and he arrives," the King stated in his monotone voice. Roxas ground his teeth together and drew his swords.
"I'm going to make you pay for what you did to my family," he seethed.
"Family? Do you happen to mean those two insignificant puppets? They were merely stepping stones to the greater good."
"Don't talk about them like that! They were people, which is more than I can say for you." Xemnas frowned.
"Oh? You seem to be confused. Once Kingdom Hearts is finished, none of this will have mattered. To hold the ultimate power in your own hands," Xemnas said, curling his hands into fists in front of him, "that is true desire. And once that is achieved I will rise up above the worlds and the people will turn to me for ascension."
"I think I'll pass." Roxas fell into a battle stance. Xemnas sighed and drew his sanguine blade.
"If you think fighting is going to solve all of your problems, you are sadly mistaken." Roxas launched forward and swung both of his blades at Xemnas. Xemnas blocked the attack easily. "You're too weak. You'll never defeat me."
"Watch me try!" Roxas jumped back and channeled all of his energy into his light magic. A soft glow appeared around his body. Xemnas watched as Roxas darted to the side so fast it almost appeared as if Roxas had simply teleported. Roxas zigzagged across the battle field and slammed his blades against Xemnas only to be blocked by a protect spell.
Roxas sprung backwards and flipped over his head, landing on his feet and sending six beams of light at Xemnas. The King did a one handed cartwheel to avoid the attack. Roxas darted to the left and slashed his blades, creating a large crescent of light. The light flew at Xemnas and the King blocked the attack. The light cut around the blade and sliced his cheek.
Roxas started darting around the courtyard and sending more light crescents at Xemnas. Xemnas blocked them all. The King raised a hand a red beam of light appeared behind him. It split into twenty different smaller beams and flew at Roxas. The blonde nimbly dodged them all. The beams crashed into the ground, creating small puffs of smoke.
Roxas stopped and created a large ball of light on the ends of his swords. He raised it over his head and threw it. Xemnas dodged the light only to find it kept going. It bounced off a wall of a building and shot right back at the King. Xemnas sliced the light in half with his sword. Roxas shot six smaller light spheres at the King and darted towards the man. Xemnas leapt out of the way and parried a barrage of blows from the young soldier. Suddenly they were surrounded by the red beams and they all converged on Roxas. The beams struck Roxas in the gut, back and sides. They stung and made his armor hot but he was fine otherwise.
Xemnas waved his hand and pools of darkness sprung up on the ground. Heartless started to crawl from the shadow pools and turned to Roxas. Roxas leapt into the air, his light suspending him, and spread his arms wide. His swords were engulfed in light and spun around underneath him, slicing anything in his way. Roxas swiped his arms in front of him and a hoard of light spheres appeared. He rained them down onto the battlefield, destroying any heartless to slow to move.
Xemnas but put a protect spell and stayed clear of the swords. He had underestimated the child soldier. He was a much stronger fighter than he anticipated. Roxas's swords flew up to his hands and he raised them above his head. A hundred light beams appeared and shot out across the courtyard. Xemnas put up another protect spell but was pushed backwards against the force. He gritted his teeth in frustration.
Roxas dropped from the air and pulled an Ether from his pocket, ripping the lid off with his teeth and knocking it back into his throat. Magical energy surged through him. Xemnas smiled wickedly. He had found Roxas's weak spot. Roxas may have been an elemental fighter but the light magic used a lot of magical energy, exhausting the soldier's stores faster than normal.
Xemnas charged Roxas and they clashed swords. Roxas had the advantage of two blades but Xemnas's blows were powerful. Roxas shot up a light shield as Xemnas's sword almost crashed into the space between his neck and shoulder. The shield shattered and Roxas leapt back. He channeled more of his energy and shot forward again in a flash.
Their swords met and Roxas surrounded them with his beams of light. They swooped inward and crashed into the pair. Xemnas leapt back slightly winded while Roxas seemed to be okay. The King didn't like the fact he wasn't getting anywhere in the fight so he decided to take it up a notch. He banished the heartless pools and summoned a dome of small red beams around Roxas. They flew at the blonde from all sides. Roxas used his light to dart around and block the attacks with his swords. He moved so fast his swords looked like blurs.
Roxas was caught off guard as Xemnas came from his blind spot and began pounded away at him. Now Roxas had to block the red beams and the King's sword. Roxas felt his chest burn from the strain and his head started getting fuzzy. His stomach churned wildly. He leapt from the dome and rolled away from Xemnas, earning him a loud retch onto the pavement. Roxas wiped his mouth with the back of his hands yet his mouth still tasted like acid.
He rose to his feet and tried to channel his energy but his head kept swimming. Roxas dug in his pocket for another Ether but they were empty. He had only brought the one. 'Shit.' He thought. All he had left was a bandage and a Potion to fight infection. 'Some good that will do me.'
Roxas took a deep breath and focused only on Xemnas. He charged the man and they exchanged another bought of blows. His shoulders were burning from the strain. Sweat was pouring down his back and neck. Xemnas landed a blow to Roxas's stomach and forced the soldier to vomit again. Roxas felt the ground move beneath him. Xemnas kicked Roxas and sent him sprawling. Roxas rolled across the ground and crashed into a light post, his back cracking. Xemnas stalked closer, bloodlust in his eyes.
Xemnas suddenly dodged to the side as a giant throwing star landed on the ground where he had been standing. Roxas felt a bottle forced to his lips and he felt something burn down the back of his throat. The world stopped spinning and he found Tifa kneeling next to him.
"Are you okay?" she pressed.
"Yeah," Roxas gasped. Yuffie came running over with another large throwing star already in her hand.
"Looks like we got here just in time," she stated happily.
"Where's Leon?" Roxas pressed.
"Not here," Tifa noticed.
"Damn, where is he?" Yuffie complained. They turned as something burst through the doors of the Third District. Cloud rolled violently over the ground and his Blade was sent flying. Tifa leapt over to him and caught the man before he smashed his head into a lamppost. Roxas narrowed his eyes.
Saïx strode out of District Three with his broadsword drawn. Yuffie intercepted him before he got to Cloud, who was still trying to recover. Yuffie was knocked aside and Saïx glowed with his lunar energy. Roxas dashed over to him only to be stopped by Xemnas. He cursed under his breath.
"Where's Leon?" Tifa asked Cloud. Cloud shook his head and looked around to see where he had landed.
"Fighting Xaldin. The Knight's after Ventus."
"Damn it!" Tifa pounded her fist into the ground.
"Take Yuffie and go find Terra and Aqua. They're looking for him."
"You mean you don't know where they are?"
"Last I saw Ventus was sprinting for his life into District Two with Xaldin close on his heels."
"Alright. Yuffie! Let's go!" Tifa called.
"Got it!" Yuffie sprung to her feet, flinching at the pain in her gut, and chased after Tifa in search of Ven's parents. Cloud stood and grabbed his Buster Blade. He faced Saïx while Roxas squared off with Xemnas. The four were caught in a flurry of attacking and blocking. Roxas, still drained from his fight with Xemnas earlier, was soon caught off guard and Xemnas's blade cut through his armor. Roxas gasped as he felt blood pour down his side.
His scarred side.
"Reliving your past?" Xemnas asked in a cold voice. Roxas couldn't stop the flashbacks in his mind. Xemnas blindsided him and caught the blonde's temple with the pommel of his sword. Roxas was knocked aside, head throbbing and bleeding.
"Roxas!" Cloud cried. Xemnas walked over to Roxas and slammed his sword into Roxas's arm. The soldier screamed and the King grinned.
Xemnas was suddenly flinched and took a step back. He put a hand to his chest and found it to be bleeding. He looked up and scowled. Seifer leapt over Roxas and clashed with the King.
"What are you doing?!" Roxas snapped.
"Cid's got it covered so bit my ass," Seifer shot back. Roxas painfully got to his feet and helped Seifer face off with the King. Roxas had forgotten how good of a fighter Seifer actually was. Apparently, he had spent his years training as well.
'Once a soldier, always a soldier.' Roxas mused. He darted around the courtyard and blasted Xemnas with light while Seifer held the King's attention with his gunblade. Their swords moved rapidly around each other like an exotic dance. Xemnas managed to break the soldier's defenses and grabbed Seifer by the throat. The King sent bolts of black lightning through Seifer's body.
"Gyah!" Seifer roared. Roxas rushed over to help him. When he attacked, Xemnas put up a protect spell. Roxas's swords bounced off uselessly. Seifer pushed through the pain in his body and raised his gunblade. He pulled the trigger and blasted Xemnas in the shin.
Xemnas screamed in rage and threw Seifer. Roxas hurried over and helped Seifer to his feet. Xemnas was left limping. Roxas turned as he heard Cloud scream in pain. Saïx was hounding him with his lunar strikes. Seifer noticed where Roxas was looking.
"I got it," he stated. Seifer hoisted his gunblade onto his shoulders and took off towards Cloud. Roxas was left to deal with the King.
The battle paused as something exploded over in Second District. 'I hope the others are okay.´ Roxas thought. He turned to the King and channeled his light magic. His body gathered its glow again and Roxas's swords were engulfed in light like before. Roxas dragged them against the ground as he charged the King. Sparks flew wildly and the blades left behind burns on the pavement. Roxas swung his blades and clashed with Xemnas yet again. The large blades were bulky and hard to swing around but they also carried much more momentum. Xemnas was knocked backwards by the force of the blow. Roxas leapt into the air and tossed his swords. The blades whirled around him and smashed against the King's protect spells.
Roxas heard Seifer fire a full clip and Cloud's Blade scraped against the ground. He refocused his mind to Xemnas and sent another barrage of light spheres raining down on the King. The King could only protect since he lacked the agility to dodge thanks to Seifer. Roxas reached out and his swords flew up to his hands. He fell back to the ground.
Roxas's knees gave out and he hit the pavement hard. He was starting to get dizzy again. He shakily rose to his feet and found he was surrounded by the dome of red beams again. "Fuck," he growled. The beams flew at him from all around and Roxas flew around to block them all. He felt his head get lighter the longer he kept the beams at bay.
Roxas finally slipped up and was pummeled into the ground. He tasted blood in his mouth as the force of the beams cracked the pavement, pressing Roxas into the dirt. When the barrage stopped, Roxas felt numb. He could barely see. Yet he forced himself to his feet and launched four vertical beams of light at Xemnas. The King leapt aside and struck Roxas with the flat of his blade across the blonde's face. Roxas was driven into the ground and his jaw was disconnected.
"Pitiful human," Xemnas chided.
That's when the scream arose from the Third District.
"NO!" Cloud screamed and tried to fight his way past Saïx but the Knight wasn't giving him an inch. Roxas lifted his head and tried to figure out what was going on. Xemnas pressed his foot on his face and forced Roxas's head into the pavement. The blonde saw stars. Roxas watched, as he could barely move, as someone appeared from the Third District.
"Isa," Roxas hissed. The woman held a ruby shard in her hand while the front of her dress was stained red. Her face was scarred badly and Roxas could only guess she had already lost her heart to the cause of Kingdom Hearts.
"Only two remain!" Isa shouted, raising the Shard into the air as her prize. Roxas wondered who the victim was and his heart leapt up to his throat. Isa had taken a trophy from the victim. She held it in her free hand. It blew gently in the wind.
A pink ribbon.
Roxas tried to comprehend what he was seeing but it failed to process in his brain. He could see Isa walking closer to the King, her hips swaying proudly. "Looks like another one bit the dust," she chided. "What a shame."
'Bit the dust? Fuck no. She couldn't have….'
"Let them go, Saïx. We have more pressing things to attend to," Isa called. Saïx obeyed his sister and dispatched Cloud and Seifer with a blast of lunar magic. Roxas could see Cloud was an absolute wreck. Cloud half ran half limped to the Third District. Seifer roughly stood and tried to figure out what he should try and do next. Roxas's face was ground further into the pavement.
"Do we know where the last Shard is?" Xemnas asked the siblings. Isa turned to Saïx with a dark scowl. Saïx shook his head.
"They are not here. They must have moved," Saïx replied. Isa crossed her arms, clearly perturbed. Roxas wondered why she didn't just look for the Shard herself. Then he realized she didn't have a heart so she could no longer read other people's hearts.
'Serves you right you bitch.' Roxas thought idly. As he lay there, his head slowly stopped spinning and he started to regain some strength. 'Only question is am I strong enough to go against all three of them?'
"I will go to Xaldin. Saïx, go search for the remaining Shard. Isa, you should return to the Castle," Xemnas stated.
"I don't need to rest!" Isa snapped.
"You'll be useless if you can't contain Kingdom Hearts," Saïx reminded. Isa scoffed and rolled her eyes. But she followed her brother as he turned his sword into a transport and they flew off. Xemnas peered down at Roxas.
"Now what do I do with you?" he asked.
"Get the fuck off of me," Roxas suggested. Xemnas frowned.
"Hey, dick shit. Get off of him," Seifer called, pointing his gunblade at the King. Xemnas sighed and removed his foot from Roxas's face. Then he turned and walked away towards the Second District. Seifer hurried over to Roxas and started to assess the damage. Roxas groaned as he was rolled onto his back. "Don't die on me yet, chicken wuss."
"Wasn't planning on it captain." Roxas blinked. The words had come out on their own. He looked at Seifer and the man was smirking.
"Captain my ass." Seifer found the bandage in Roxas's pocket and started to bind his injured arm. Roxas stared up at the red sky.
"I was never cut out for this," Roxas muttered.
"None of us were." Roxas glanced at Seifer.
"Why did you help Olette save me?" Seifer chuckled softly and tied off the bandage. He pulled his own small bandage from his pocket and started working on Roxas's side.
"That bitch, I swear. When she came to me begging I bring you to the G. Ships I thought she was crazy. I refused, telling her to bitch off somewhere else. Then she pleaded with me that vital you survived. Said you were some sort of light that couldn't go out and blah blah blah. I eventually gave in just to get her to shut up." Roxas's face softened.
"So even she knew…" Seifer raised his eyebrow but didn't press. He rolled his eye.
"Don't dick out on me yet, you stunted bastard. Ven's still on the run. Ready to go track him down?" Roxas nodded. He was pulled to his feet and promptly collapsed. Seifer threw an arm over his shoulder and pulled Roxas up by his belt. Then they started trudging towards District Two.
XxXxX
Ven was scared out of his mind. The Knight had been chasing him ever since the man spotted him. Ven tried to figure out why the Knight was so fixated on him but came up empty. 'Terra, Aqua, where are you guys?' He wondered.
The wall to the hotel exploded into a storm of dust and debris. Ven covered his head and tried not to breath in the dust. He peered over at the hole and saw the Knight walking towards him with his six lances. Ven quickly leapt to his feet and started running.
"I grow tired of this game!" the Knight called. Ven panted as he ran up the flights of stairs to the upper floors of the hotel. He could hear the Knight blasting his way through the floors behind him. Ven quickly turned off on the sixth floor and ran to the window. As he was climbing out of it, the Knight burst through the floor surrounded by a whirlwind of air.
Ven slipped from the window and jumped to the ground below. He pulled out a small gun from his waist belt and fire. A grapple fired off and grabbed hold of a rooftop. Ven pulled on the line and swung forward. His feet crashed into the wall of the house and he quickly climbed up to the roof top. The Knight blasted a hole where the window was in the hotel and rode out on his lance transport. It snaked through the air and followed Ven across the roof tops.
"Hold still!" the Knight barked. The end lands spread apart and static charged between them. A static beam shot out and ripped through the rooftops as Ven grappled away. Ven swung downwards and hit the ground running. His breathing was ragged and he was running out of options to hide.
"Shit!" he swore and dodged to the side as a sangria pool appeared on the ground. A flurry of rose pedals flew into the air and Marluxia sprung into the air from the pool.
"You stupid brat," Marluxia seethed. He was knocked aside as a shotgun blast hit him from the side. Ven turned and saw Leon running towards him.
"Ven! Run!" Leon shouted.
"You don't have to tell me that!" Ven panted. Leon swung his gunblade and locked into combat with the scythed Knight. That left the lancer flying around in the sky. Ven grappled the wall of the clock tower and soared upwards. He landed on the balcony where the bell was rung on the hour and tried to catch his breath.
The static beam erupted into the wall off to his left. Ven whirled around and stared wide eyed as the beam swept towards him. Ven tried to run but he ran out of balcony. He threw up his arms to try and cushion the blow.
Suddenly the static beam shot back at the Knight. He yelped and dived to the side. Ven lowered his arms and grinned.
"Aqua!" he shouted.
"Ven! You're safe!" She had out her Keyblade and a large reflect spell wall in front of her. She pointed her Keyblade at the Knight. "Firaga!" A large fireball soared through the air and the Knight dodged it.
"You're pathetic, Xaldin," Marluxia called from the ground.
"Stuff it, flower boy!" Xaldin snapped. He sent two of his lances flying at Aqua. Aqua cartwheeled out of the way and grabbed Ven by the waist. She leapt from the balcony.
"Slow!" she called. Their falling slowed and they landed safely on the ground.
"Where's Terra?" Ven asked.
"Right here!" Terra shouted. He ran past them and used a grapple hook, much like Ven's, to latch onto Xaldin's transport. He flew into the air and pounded the Knight with his Keyblade. Aqua unleashed a wave of spells onto Xaldin. Ven couldn't help but feel pride glow in his chest as he watched his parents fight.
"Ven, go find somewhere safe to hide," Aqua ordered.
"Where?" Ven asked.
"Go to Merlin's house. His protective barriers will keep you safe."
"Okay! I'll meet you there." Ven took off running towards District Three. Aqua turned back to her fight. Terra landed on the clock tower balcony and Xaldin followed suit.
"Aero!" she cast, sending her flying into the air. Aqua landed on the balcony and went to Terra's side. The held their Keyblades ready. Xaldin scowled.
"Don't worry, I've got this. Go help Leon!" Terra stated.
"Right!" Aqua fired off five magical orbs, each a different element, and sent them crashing into Xaldin. The Knight sliced them with his lances angrily. Aqua leapt off the balcony and cast Aero to slow her fall.
Terra turned to Xaldin and channeled his energy. Then he charged at the Knight. Xaldin blocked Terra's incoming attacks but for some reason it didn't seem to concern the brunette. He quickly understood why. While Terra blocked, he absorbed the energy created by the blows and stored it up for a more powerful attack. Terra leapt into the air and giant boulders appeared around him. Xaldin's face went blank.
Terra launched the boulders and Xaldin tried to sway out of the way but the tremors shook his stance. Then Terra leapt and smashed his Keyblade into the ground. The balcony tore apart as the ground shook. Xaldin was knocked over and sucked into the gravity of the falling debris.
Leon struggled to hold Marluxia off. The man was unpredictable. Aqua landed behind him and quickly launched blizzard attacks. Marluxia leapt into the air out of the way. He landed safely on his toes and smiled smugly.
"Leon, I have an idea," Aqua called.
"Let's hear it," Leon stated.
"I'll need your gunblade."
"Alright but first we have to keep him from moving."
"Roger!" Aqua and Leon launched into a fierce battle against the assassin. Marluxia clearly had the upper hand in the fight but even he had to stay on his toes to avoid getting hit. His downfall came when the balcony above him exploded. He took one second to look upwards at the falling debris.
"Now!" Leon called. Aqua channeled all her energy into the end of her Keyblade. Leon moved and stood up beside her, lining up his gunblade with her Keyblade. The blade on Leon's gunblade glowed and grew to four times its size. Leon pulled it back and aimed. When he fired, his bullets glowed with magical light.
"Ignite!" Aqua shouted. The bullets lit on fire right before they hit Marluxia. Then they exploded. The sound ripped through the Town. Aqua threw up a protect spell to prevent her and Leon from getting hit.
As the balcony collapsed, Terra leapt from stone to stone until he was far enough away he could launch his grapple. He swooped away to a side street, safe from harm. He hurried over to Aqua and Leon. Marluxia lay crumpled on the ground buried under a pile of rubble. Blood oozed from where he lay. Xaldin pried himself loose from the stones and panted heavily, coughing from the dust. His chest had been crushed on the impact. Xaldin wasn't one to flee a fight but even he knew when he was beat. He summoned his transport and took to the sky, fleeing to the safety of Hollow Bastion.
"Thanks," Leon stated.
"You looked after Ven. We should be the ones thanking you," Aqua replied.
"If Yuffie and Tifa hadn't found us, I don't know what would have happened," Terra added.
"Where's Ven now?" Leon asked.
"I told him to meet us at Merlin's house," Aqua said, relaxing her shoulders.
"Let's go find him then." The trio took off towards District Three.
XxXxX
Ven burst through the doors into District Three and was instantly confused. The area was badly battle damaged. He could also hear crying from inside the Restoration Committee. Ven crept inside the broken building.
"Cloud!" he called, recognizing a face. Cloud looked up and Ven instantly knew something was wrong. Cloud was the one crying. He held someone against his chest. When Ven stepped closer, he felt his heart seize.
"Aerith! What happened?" Ven pressed, his voice cracking.
"She's dead, Ven. They stole her heart and she died. Now she's never coming back," Cloud snapped. Ven took a step back defensively. Cloud's eyes were livid.
"I-I'm sorry."
"Just go," Cloud muttered. Ven nodded and left the man to grieve in peace. He made his way down the stairs and took a left towards the back streets where Merlin's house was. Being a powerful wizard, Merlin always had protective spells around his house. Merlin had taught him years ago how to get in in case there was an attack. Ven never thought he would actually have to go there under such circumstances.
As he reached the bright red door, he suddenly felt cold. Ven slowly turned around and nearly jumped out of his skin. Xemnas was standing four feet behind him. Ven summoned his Keyblade and fell into a battle stance.
"You're not welcome here," Ven barked.
"Neither are you," Xemnas replied coolly. He took a step forward and Ven leapt to the side and smashed his Keyblade into the King's wrist. Xemnas shook it out distastefully. "That was rather naughty of you." Ven gritted his teeth.
"Thunder!" he called and a bolt of lightning crackled from the sky. Xemnas blocked it with a protect spell. Ven's started to panic. He had never fought a real opponent before in a real life battle. He had trained with his parents but he was nowhere near their level.
Ven charged and swung his Keyblade. Xemnas intercepted him and grabbed the boy by the wrists with one hand. He lifted Ven into the air and ripped the Keyblade free of Ven's grasp. Ven struggled to break free of Xemnas's grasp. He tried to kick the man but his blows made little difference to the man in armor. The King grinned broadly.
"Give me your heart, Shard of Eternal Radiance, and then you will understand what true power is." Ven struggled against Xemnas.
"Let me go!" he cried.
"Ven!" Aqua screamed. Xemnas looked up at the trio's approach. His smile grew even more twisted. Aqua's eyes grew wide when she noticed Xemnas had Ven's Keyblade. "Stop It" Xemnas turned to Ven and drove his Keyblade deep into his chest.
"VEN!" Terra and Aqua roared.
Ven felt his chest being ripped apart. He screamed and his vision faded to darkness. All around him the darkness pulled at his arms and legs. "No, let me go!" he cried. "Terra! Aqua!" Ven searched for them desperately.
"Ven, we're right here baby. We're here for you," he heard Aqua coo.
"Ven, please, don't do this," Terra pleaded. "You're strong. You can survive this." Ven felt the darkness pulling him into oblivion. He panicked and screamed at the top of his lungs.
"MOM! DAD! I NEED YOU!" Light burst in his vision and Ven was surrounded by white light. He felt himself drifting in an open world with nowhere to go.
"We're here for you Ven," Terra said. Ven could feel his warmth. He could feel Aqua's comfort. He could feel their love. And then it was gone. There was nothing left to feel. Ven curled up and closed his eyes, forever wishing the pain in his chest would go away.
XxXxX
"Ven, Ven! Open your eyes!" Aqua pleaded. Ven lay curled up in her arms sleeping peacefully. Terra put a hand on her shoulder.
"At least he's alive," he said comfortingly.
"But what if he never wakes up?" A tear rolled down her cheek.
"Don't worry. He will. Ven is strong. He stayed alive for us so he's bound to come back. We just have to make sure we're here for him when he wakes up." Aqua nodded slowly.
"Alright." Terra picked up Ven in his arms and Aqua rose to her feet. After Xemnas had removed Ven's heart, he fled on his transport leaving Ven to die in the street. He fought off the darkness and survived but the ordeal left him drained. Ven lay sleeping in his nobody state with no signs of showing he would ever wake up.
Leon led the family to the G. Ship hanger. Naminé greeted them upon arrival. She said she was overjoyed to see Ven alive and then quietly apologized for not being able to show it. Aqua was thankful for the gesture anyway. Seifer and Roxas showed up a few minutes later. They had tried to find everyone but they were always a step behind. So they went to the G. Ship hanger and were lucky enough to find everyone there.
"Roxas, you're a mess," Aqua commented on his condition.
"Yeah," Roxas murmured.
"Here, let me help. Curaga." A flower bloomed over Roxas's head and showered him with a soft glow. Roxas felt his wounds seal and his strength start to return. The plant faded and Roxas rubbed his jaw experimentally.
"Thanks Aqua."
"Sure. Are you okay, Seifer?"
"Fine," the man grunted.
"So where are you headed, Roxas?" Terra asked when he noticed Naminé boarding a ship. Rikku was behind the wheel and gave them all a thumbs up.
"Back to Destiny Islands. That's where the last Shard is," Roxas replied. "I have to try and keep it safe. I know it won't be easy but…"
"Then we're going with you."
"Wait…what?"
"We'll help you keep the last Shard safe," Aqua clarified. "You came back for us so we're going to be there for you."
"But I didn't do anything. I failed," Roxas protested.
"Don't beat yourself up too much, Roxas," Naminé reminded. "Coming back was nice enough for us. It shows us you care and you were willing to help. That's more than I can say for some people."
"She's right," Seifer agreed.
"Seriously? You're siding with her?!" Roxas exclaimed.
"Why not? She seems to know her shit."
"Does that mean you're coming too?"
"What do you think?" Roxas blinked. "Duh. No get on the G. Ship, Rox-ass. If you're off killing the King, who's going to watch over your sister?''
"She's not my…"
"Close enough!" Seifer strode on board the ship and Naminé followed. Terra, Aqua and Ven filed in soon after. Roxas turned to Leon.
"So Cloud and Aerith were…"
"Close, yeah," Leon finished. Roxas chewed on his bottom lip. "Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on him. You just worry about your friends."
"Thanks Leon." Leon held out his hand and Roxas clasped it tightly.
"Don't mention it." Seifer poked his head out of the G. Ship.
"Squall! You'd better not give my room away while I'm gone!" he shouted.
"Wouldn't dream of it," Leon countered. Seifer nodded and slipped back into the ship. Roxas turned to leave but then turned to Leon.
"Where was Sephiroth?" he asked.
"Oh, right. You saw the destruction in District Three right?" Roxas nodded. "He and Isa were fighting it out over Aerith. Isa tore the guy to shreds. Luckily he's already half machine so he should bounce back."
"Give him my regards, will you?"
"Not that he'll care but I'll tell him anyway." Roxas waved good-bye and climbed into the G. Ship, shutting the door behind him. Rikku started the engines and took off soon after. Leon watched them as they flew away into the sky. The clouds had lifted and the day was turning out to be a sunny one. Leon grunted softly to himself. "See you around, Roxas."
The clock tower chimed in the distance.
A/N-Musical Muses: Ceadeus Theme-Monster Hunter Tri; Naminé's theme-KH2, 13th struggle-KH2, Ventus's theme-KH2, and finally Rage Awakened-BBS (lots oh music for lots oh typing. no ownsies!)