A/N-*Peeks from around the corner* Hey guys! I'm not dead...yet...I bring you yet another chapter! If you haven't noticed, I've watched Dead Fantasy. (And yes, Seifer's last attack was inspired by Link's from Smash Bros. Sephiroth's last attack was inspired by his first attack from KHII). So, I hope you read and enjoy. Good news and bad news. Good news is I reworked the story for fewer parts but much more material. Here's the bad news...there may be only...TWO PARTS LEFT...yeah. 2 parts. Dos mas. Sad but true. The time for the epic conclusion is at hand! Raise your battle cries to the sky! YAR!
"Xehanort," Terra growled. Aqua and Terra summoned their Keyblades. The mage grinned broadly and clasped his hands behind his lower back.
"It's been awhile, hasn't it?" Xehanort brought up. "Fifteen years is a long time. Look at how much you two have grown! I even hear you have a son."
"Cut the crap, Xehanort!" Terra snapped. "You're not talking your way out of this one." The elder man frowned.
"You used to be so eager as my pupil, Terra. Time has certainly changed you."
"Leave him alone!" Aqua shouted. Xehanort turned to her.
"Why, dear Aqua, don't think I'm neglecting you. We were my star pupil! And now I get to see if all of that training was put to good use." Xehanort summoned his Keyblade and poised it over his shoulder. "You're move."
Terra lunged ahead while Aqua started casting a thunderaga spell. Xehanort blocked Terra's Keyblade and held his free hand above his head. He caught Aqua's lightning and it swirled around in his palm, turning black. Then he threw it back at Aqua. Aqua cartwheeled out of the way while Terra continued to strike at his former mentor. Xehanort countered the brunette and sent him skidding backwards. Aqua launched four firas from the end of her Keyblade. Her old mentor put up a protect spell and blocked them all, the fire erupting on contact with the barrier.
Terra launched himself at Xehanort while Aqua started to channel her energy. Her Keyblade began to glow and light erupted around it, creating a blade swirling with a rainbow of colors. She sprinted across the floor and sliced, Terra quickly rolling out of the way. Xehanort flung up a protect spell but he was shoved backwards against the force. The old mentor scowled. Aqua brought her blade down and Xehanort stopped it with his Keyblade. Then he shot black lightning at her. Terra was quick to deflect it by summoning a pillar of stone in front of her. The lightning evaporated harmlessly.
Terra dropped the stone and channeled his energy as Aqua pulled her blade back for another attack. Xehanort waved his free hand and a Keyblade appeared behind him. It fanned out into several most Keyblades and they separated, floating gently above the floor. Xehanort clenched his fist and the blades went soaring towards Terra. Terra dashed forward and rolled out of the way. He parried a blow to his side and hopped backwards on his toes.
'Just a bit more.' He thought. Terra started channeling between parries while Aqua held the mentor's attention with her shining blade. Terra soon started to glow. "Aqua!" he called. His wife cartwheeled backwards as Terra leapt into the air. He slammed his Keyblade into Xehanort's. The floor cracked and stone flew into the air. The bits of rock flew at the balding mentor. Xehanort threw up a protect spell and they bounced off harmlessly.
Aqua pointed her Keyblade at Xehanort and focused her energy. She felt the channel grow stronger with each passing millisecond. Then she felt her magic click. Aqua released all of the energy at once. A series of water orbs burst from the end of her Keyblade enshrouded with the rainbow light. They flew across the room in all directions.
Terra launched into a round of exchanging blows with Xehanort. The water orbs flew at the pair. Xehanort would warp out of the way and Terra would dash over to him in an instant. They danced around the floor, Xehanort dodging, parrying and striking, Terra dashing, blocking and attacking with much frenzy. One orb caught Xehanort off guard and it slammed into him. It soaked his robes and the light burned under his skin. Terra managed to land a blow to his side before he teleported away to the stairs.
"Get back here!" Terra called.
"Terra!" Aqua barked. The brunette growled but stayed put. Xehanort stood panting at the base of the stairs, his body still on fire.
"I see I've trained you well," Xehanort comment. "Alas, you are not powerful enough to stop what is ahead."
"Axel and Roxas will defeat them, you'll see!" Terra shouted. Xehanort chuckled softly.
"Oh? And who is going to stop them, I wonder?" A pool of darkness appeared under the old mentor's feet and created a dark passage. Xehanort stepped through.
"Wait!" Terra dashed towards him but he passed through as the doorway closed. "Dammit!" Aqua straightened up and walked over to her husband. She placed a hand on her shoulder.
"It's okay, Terra. We're not bound to him anymore."
"I know, but it still hurts to see him turn into such a slime!"
"He succumbed to the darkness in his heart. Now all we can do it fight it." Terra nodded.
"Right. Seifer and Naminé are still up ahead. We should go check on them."
"What about the others?" Aqua pressed. Terra frowned.
"We have to make a decision now who we're going to help. We can't aid everyone," he reminded. Aqua nodded and pondered the situation.
"Let's go on ahead then. Seifer and Naminé might need our help if they run into someone."
"Alright, let's get going." They took the stairs two at a time and quickly ran through the second floor. As they were climbing the stairs to the third floor, they ran into a barrier and bounced off. They staggered and pressed their hands against the magical force field. Aqua gasped.
"There!" she pointed. Seifer and Naminé were getting their asses kicked by Saïx. Seifer was bleeding heavily from one side and Naminé was struggling to stay standing. Aqua tried to cast a curaga on them but it failed to go through the barrier. "Terra, we can't get to them!" she cried. Terra's eyes narrowed. He slammed his Keyblade against the barrier to no avail.
"It's no use. He's using his lunar energy to block us off," Terra stated. Aqua watched helplessly as Naminé was struck in the gut in flung across the room into a wall. She could hear the girl gasp in pain.
"What can we do?" Aqua's eyes were begging for an answer. Terra set his jaw.
"Let's go find help. Axel or Demyx may know how to counter the lunar magic." Aqua nodded, giving one last glance to the pairing fighting.
"Let's hurry." They took off down the stairs taking four at a time and rushed back to the first floor. Axel and Roxas were entering the door, both a bit drained but otherwise in good health. They instantly knew something was wrong based on the panic on Aqua's face.
"Seifer and Naminé are getting destroyed by Saïx!" Aqua cried. Roxas's face paled.
"Shit! Naminé!" he roared, dashing forward with his light magic. The other three were sprinting close behind. The arrived at the barrier, Roxas pounding against it with his Keyblades.
"It's no use," Terra objected.
"I have to save her!" Roxas shouted, tears burning in his eyes. "I won't lose her too!" Axel put a hand on his shoulder to calm him. Roxas stopped attacking and his chest heaved with the effort to gasp for air.
"Axel, is there a way to lower this barrier?" Aqua pressed. Axel shook his head.
"It's like Xigbar's barriers. You have to critically injure him or disrupt is mental focus," Axel explained. They all flinched as Naminé screamed in pain as Saïx's broadsword sliced between her shoulder blades. Roxas bit on his bottom lip so hard he drew blood. Axel's grip on his shoulder tightened.
Seifer parried a rain of blows from Saïx before getting slammed into the wall, his cracked armor chipping away around him. Seifer slashed out to his air and fired his gunblade. Saïx took to the shot to the shoulder without a second thought. The Knight knocked the man into the air and leapt up after him. Then he down-stabbed and pinned Seifer to the floor through the gut. Seifer cried out and blood shot from his mouth.
'Why can't I do anything?!' Roxas screamed in his head. 'If only I could channel my energy to her like I can with Axel, but we don't share blood. Our hearts have to create a bond.'
'Like that of a brother?' Roxas gave a start.
'Holy shit! Did I just hear Axel in my head?'
'Maybe.' The blonde shook his head to clear it. 'Cut it out. You're not dreaming.'
'How the Hell can I hear your thoughts?'
'Can't you feel it?' Roxas arched an eyebrow at the red head. 'Reach out. It's our hearts. Kingdom Hearts. It's close. Since our hearts are all together in Kingdom Hearts, our mind and spirit are connecting as well.' Axel explained. Roxas turned back to the fight. Saïx had pulled his blade from Seifer and was chasing after Naminé.
'Naminé!' Roxas reached out with his mind.
'Roxas?!' She gasped. She rolled out of the way of a devastating blow. Saïx's blade tore a hole in the wall.
'Hang in there. We're going to try and get to you.'
'Please hurry! He's much too strong for us!'
'Me and Axel are going to try something. I want you to be ready in case it works.'
'Um, alright. I trust you.' Roxas turned to Axel.
"Do you think this will work?" he asked.
"Being so close to Kingdom Hearts binds us who gave up our hearts closer together. The bond we share as her adopted brother's may be enough," Axel replied. Then he shrugged. "Only one way to find out at least." Roxas nodded. The pair turned towards the room and closed their eyes. They focused their energy towards where their hearts would have been.
When they opened their eyes, they were standing on a stained glass floor. The floor was of Naminé. She appeared to be sleeping on the side of the circle while various pieces of her sketches filled in the rest of the spaces. Axel's chakrams merged into its true Keyblade form all on their own. He held it out and Roxas held out Oathkeeper. The ends of the Keyblades hovered inches from the stained glass and a breath away from each other. They began to glow and light swirled around them. Axel and Roxas slowly lifted the Keyblades together until they were poised skyward. Twin beams of light shot out from the ends into the darkness.
Terra and Aqua watched in awe as Roxas glowed softly with light and tiny flames licked at Axel's armor. Their energy seemed to mount upon each other's. Then they opened their eyes. "Naminé!" the shouted together.
'Right!' She called. Naminé blocked an attack from Saïx and was forced back. She suddenly felt a surge of energy course through her. Naminé gasped and her body began to glow. When Saïx attacked her, his broadsword bounced off of her aura. He was knocked back. For a moment, he lost his control on his berserker mode. The Knight shook his head and tried to regain his focus.
Naminé felt her body grow light and her cuts started healing. She closed her eyes as the energy burst in her chest. Roxas and Axel's knees gave out and they nearly passed out. Terra and Aqua caught them before the rolled down the stairs. Naminé was lifted into the air and her outfit slowly changed. She wore a white dress with ruffled on one hip. White boots that were loose around her ankles adorned her feet. A ruby tiara appeared on her head.
Naminé leapt into action and pointed her Keyblade at Seifer. A beam of light shot out from the tip and struck the man. He glowed brightly. Seifer felt his body jolt with raw energy. He was lifted to his feet by an unknown force. He watched as his armor changed around him, turning from gold to white. A strip of gold accent the blade of his weapon. Seifer then blinked. He pulled at his eye patch and tossed it aside. Where his eye was once sealed shut, it was replaced by a new orb the color of soft sunlight. Seifer reloaded his gunblade and wielded it before him.
Naminé touched back down on the floor, let go of her Keyblade, and swept a hand in front of her. The weapon disappeared and white version of Seifer's gunblade appeared behind her, fanning out into several more. They floated around her waist like a metallic grass skirt.
Saïx finally regained control of his berserker mode and darted across the room towards Naminé. She raised her hand and the blades too the blow, rising in from of her like a slotted shield. Seifer dashed across the room and sliced at the Knight's shoulders. Saïx roared in anger and swung his broadsword around. Seifer blocked it and fired his gunblade. The bullets burned in the Knight's skin. Saïx pushed Seifer back and staggered forward as he was shot in the back. Naminé had fired one of her white gunblades and reached for another. Saïx turned to strike her but Seifer blocked the attack. The pair exchanged a long string of blows while Naminé fired three more times.
The Knight jumped back and wavered slightly. He wasn't used to getting overwhelmed. He had only been bested in a battle twice before: one by Xemnas and once by Isa. Truthfully, the pair combined had about the same amount of power as Xemnas.
As for Isa, they failed to compare.
Saïx charged Naminé and she blocked the blow with her blades. Seifer stabbed him through the middle from behind and fired. The Knight screamed and nearly lost his berserker mode. Naminé raised a hand and one of the gunblades flashed in a blink. It appeared above Saïx and sliced him across the face. Naminé sent four more flying. Seifer leapt out of the way as the Knight was pelted with the white gunblades. Saïx managed to block the last one and sent a lunar crescent arching towards the girl. Naminé leapt into the air and the gunblades snapped behind her like a set of wings. The crescent sliced deep into the wall.
Seifer juggled Saïx into the air. Time seemed to slow as Seifer continually slashed the Knight from all directions, darting around from all directions. Then he stopped and time seemed to have froze. Then Saïx was sent rocketing into the ceiling in a burst of fire. When the Knight collided with the surface, his body was set alight. Saïx plummeted back to the floor with a sickening thud.
The Knight dispelled the fire and shakily rose to his feet, all forms of his berserker mode lost. His hair was burnt short and his face was ashen. Saïx sneered at the pair and took off running towards the thirteenth floor. The barrier was dropped on the stairs. Seifer and Naminé sank to their knees happily on the floor. The glowing aura around them faded. Naminé's gunblades reformed into her Keyblade. Strangely, their outfit changes seemed permanent.
Axel and Roxas found their strength return and they rose to their feet. Terra and Aqua helped to guide them over to the other exhausted pair. They circled up on the floor to rest. Aqua passed around Elixer's and Ethers for them to drink in order to regain their strength.
"I have to say, that was rather impressive," Terra commented out of the blue. Naminé blushed.
"Thanks, although I should be thanking Axel and Roxas," she replied. Seifer grunted in agreement. "You guys are the best!" Naminé smiled broadly. Roxas and Axel smiled in return.
"You guys kicked Saïx's ass!" Axel shouted, raising his Ether in a toast. The others did likewise.
"What sort of power was that, I wonder?" Aqua thought out loud.
"Well, what do you get when you mix light and fire?" Naminé asked in return. There was a moment of silence. Everyone seemed to mulling it over save one.
"Sunlight," Seifer muttered. The others turned to him. "It was sunlight," he muttered into his bottle. Naminé nodded.
"Of course."
"How's the new eye?" Roxas asked, turning to his captain. Seifer shrugged.
"It's weird. It can't see in the dark. Even now it's all a bit hazy on the one side," Seifer replied casually. He set down his drink and reclined back on his hands. "The damn thing only works properly in sunlight which doesn't do me a whole lot of fucking good here."
They turned to the sounds of running footsteps. Isa limping across the room with Lexaeus, Sora and Riku close behind. Lexaeus was radiating a powerful aura. The trio stopped when they spied their friends and let Isa go. She hurried up the stairs up to the thirteenth floor where her husband and brother were waiting. Lexaeus let his energy subside and he let out an angry huff.
"Hey, you made it," Axel greeted.
"Where's Ienzo?" Roxas pressed.
"With Vexen and Zexion," Lexaeus replied flatly. The trio walked over and sat with the group. Aqua gave them some Ether's and Elixers and they drank gratefully.
"Xigbar's taken care of," Sora gasped after a long draft of his Elixer.
"So is Xaldin," Axel added.
"Xehanort got away from us," Aqua commented.
"Saïx fled like Isa did," Naminé stated.
"Well, at least that's a start," Riku muttered. "We should rest here before we push forward."
"Thanks. Axel and I are worn out," Roxas agreed. "So we you fighting with Isa then, Lex?" Lexaeus nodded, his mood suddenly growing dark.
"She's tough to fight," Lexaeus said quietly.
"So what happened?" Axel pressed. Lexaeus didn't respond right away. Axel's face fell a bit. "Wait, you never said where Demyx was." The elder Knight nodded once stiffly. Axel's face paled. "Is he…?"
"I will inform you of what happened. Then you may make your decision on what action you wish to take," Lexaeus replied.
XxXxX
"Protect!" Ienzo shouted. A barrier appeared in front of Lexaeus and Demyx. Isa bounded forward and shattered the shield as if it were made of glass. Lexaeus blocked the strike and grunted as the floor buckled under his feet. The burly Knight pushed back and Isa flipped over herself onto her feet.
"We need to move," Demyx noted. Lexaeus nodded in agreement. He charged at Isa and the pair clashed.
"Vexen!" Lexaeus shouted. Vexen nodded and leapt back. A wall of ice shot up from the floor in front of Zexion's bed.
"Stick with me, Ienzo," Vexen said calmly, raising his shield. Ienzo nodded.
Demyx used a jet of water to propel him forward. He swung his sitar and the blades shot out from the base. Isa blocked it and kicked him aside all while parrying Lexaeus. She cackled maniacally. Ienzo planted his feet and set his jaw.
"Blizarda," he cast. A series of ice crystals appeared around Isa. They were pulled inward but Isa leapt into the air so the ice crashed harmlessly together. Lexaeus took the chance to start channeling some of his energy. A thin terra cotta aura appeared around him. Demyx recovered from the kick and started muttering under his breath. Isa down-stabbed the floor and lunar energy blasted out from the blade. Ienzo threw up a reflect while Vexen blocked it directly with his shield. Lexaeus guarded against it. Demyx wasn't so fortunate. He threw up a water shield but the lunar energy ripped through it. Demyx was slammed into the wall and he fell onto the floor, jagged glass cutting into this face.
"Get back!" Lexaeus roared. He charged up his energy and swung his axe at Isa. She blocked it easily but she was sent sliding backwards by the force.
"Let's move!" Vexen commanded. Ienzo nodded. They went after Lexaeus, who had leapt through the hole in the wall after Isa. Demyx staggered to his feet and grit his teeth together.
'I have to stay in control. I can't let Sin over take me here. I'll get everyone killed.' He thought desperately. Demyx finished chanting and struck a chord on his sitar. A large bolt of thunder struck the floor and ripped through the tile. It ran through the floor and Demyx chased after it. "Move!" he shouted, pushing past Ienzo and Vexen. Demyx struck another chord and the lightning sparked wildly. With a final chord, there was a bright flash and a large horse appeared with a metal lightning crest on its brow. The horse reared back and black static formed around its crest. Then it whipped its head, throwing the static at Isa. Isa sliced through it as she bounded across the floor chasing after Lexaeus, who was still trying to channel his energy.
"We need to distract her," Ienzo stated. Vexen created another ice wall over the hole where Isa had broken through earlier. Demyx ran over to the horse, put his arm around the beast's neck, and swung himself up on to the horses back. Demyx clung onto the mane as the horse reared back. Then it bolted forward. Demyx sat crouched on the beasts back as it charged forward. "Demyx, no!" Ienzo shouted in protest, but the Knight didn't listen.
The Aeon ran between Isa and Lexaeus and reared up, blocking Isa off. Demyx leapt from the Aeon's back and slammed his sitar into Isa's blade. She smirked wickedly, her eyes glowing with moonlight.
"Lexaeus, do it!" Demyx shouted. A circle of water cut off the elder Knight from Demyx, Isa and the Aeon. Ienzo tried to run forward but Vexen held him back by his shoulder.
"He'll be killed!" Ienzo protested.
"As will you. Don't let his sacrifice be in vain," Vexen replied sternly. Ienzo's heart felt like it was shattering as he reached out to the sandy haired Knight. Hot tears poured down his face. Lexaeus leapt back and started channeling his energy again. The aura grew around him as his energy stacked upon itself. The longer he channeled, the more powerful he became.
Inside the veil of water, Demyx was kicked aside by Isa. Demyx slammed into the wall of water and felt blood leak from his lips. Isa was over to him in a second and her sword ran through his gut. Demyx gasped and blood splattered the woman's face. She pulled the sword out just as the Aeon reared back to strike her. Isa's blade flashed and the Aeon's head was cut clean off. The summon vanished into a wisp of sparks.
Demyx rushed Isa but was quickly overpowered. He felt her blade cut into his flesh left and right, the lunar energy searing like a hot iron. Demyx managed to block one attack but Isa didn't like his moxie. She reached out and ripped the chain from his ear. Then she grabbed Demyx by the throat and slammed him into the ground. She stabbed her blade into his left shoulder repeatedly. Blood was flicked over the floor, staining it crimson. Isa buried the blade deep into his flesh and twisted. Demyx screamed in agony.
The water fell and revealed the bloody massacre behind it. Ienzo's eyes searched wildly as Demyx's spirit began to fade. Vexen gagged and covered his mouth with his shielded hand. Lexaeus narrowed his eyes.
"Enough!" he roared. Lexaeus launched forward and slammed his axe into her back. Isa was sent sprawling across the floor, her sword still in Demyx's chest. The elder Knight flew across the floor and slammed Isa through a wall of an office. They crashed through several more walls before ending up in the briefing room. Isa staggered to her feet while Lexaeus channeled even more energy. His aura grew. Isa hissed.
'Dammit.' She cursed. 'He doesn't expel his channeled energy when he attacks. It just keeps stacking. The longer this fight goes on, the less of a chance of winning I have. Lexaeus's only downfall is a short fight. I don't have that luxury anymore. He's not known as the "earthshaker" for nothing. And without a weapon…'
Isa charged across the room, lunar energy spiking behind her. Lexaeus swung his axe and sent her flying into the ceiling. She gasped in pain, her berserker mode failing, and collapsed onto the table. Isa painfully got to her feet and ran. Lexaeus charged after her.
When Isa made it to the main hall, she froze for a second. Sora and Riku started at the sight of the Queen. She hissed and ran straight for Castle Oblivion. Lexaeus jumped from the hole in the wall and slid over the floor. Then he ran after her. Sora and Riku nodded and gave chase.
Back in the medical wing, Ienzo rushed over to Demyx with Vexen close behind. The researcher set to work working on the grave wounds while Ienzo tried to pry the sword from the Knight's body. He strained but the sword wouldn't budge. Demyx's eyes were glazed over.
"We have to hurry!" Ienzo urged.
"I'm well aware," Vexen snapped. He cast a small cura on Demyx's abdominal region but it hardly made a dent. Ienzo knelt down and started using his own cure spells. "Dammit! The lunar energy keeps reopening the wounds!"
"We have to keep trying! You saved Zexion and we can save Demyx!" The pair tried as hard as they could, their hands and arms covered in the Knight's blood. Vexen lowered the ice shields and ran into the supply storage. He returned with three pints of blood. They hooked them up to Demyx's body but the blood kept pouring out through the wounds.
Demyx shuddered and his breathing failed. Vexen immediately stared chest compressions. "Come one, Demyx!" he shouted. Tears poured down Ienzo's face.
"Please," he begged, holding tightly onto one of Demyx's hands. "Please…"
XxXxX
"Are they still downstairs?" Aqua pressed. Lexaeus nodded. "Take me to him. I'm a mage so my magic might combat that of the lunar energy."
"I'll come too," Terra offered.
"Me too. I know some medical training," Naminé agreed.
"We had best hurry," Lexaeus urged. He led the group down to the medical wing. Seifer tagged along with Naminé to keep her safe. That left Axel, Roxas, Sora and Riku on the third floor. They exchanged glances. Sora and Riku tried to calm their aching chests while Axel and Roxas wished they could do something more.
"Should we have gone?" Roxas asked. Axel shook his head.
"We need to keep moving forward," the Knight stated.
"We'll go with you," Sora offered.
"You can't fight them," Roxas reminded.
"We can still accompany you to the floor," Riku shot back. Roxas felt his body relax a bit and he smiled lightly.
"Thanks, guys."
"Don't worry about anything else. You two just focus on destroying Kingdom Hearts," Sora cheered with a grin. They got to their feet and headed up the stairs to the twelfth floor. There Sora and Riku stayed behind while Roxas and Axel pushed onward towards the thirteenth. To end the war. To Kingdom Hearts.
And possibly, their deaths.
XxXxX
"Terra, we need pressure here!" Aqua shouted. Terra pressed the already drenched sheet tighter against the gaping wound. Vexen worked with setting up an eight pint of blood. Ienzo and Naminé were up to their elbows in blood. Vexen and Aqua continually shouted out orders but they were losing the Knight. He was on life support, the machine pumping his heart and expanding his lungs with oxygen.
They continued to struggle until one of the machines beeped. Vexen turned and looked at the screen. His face fell. "That's enough," he stated. The other looked at him with wide eyes. Ienzo squeezed Demyx's hand tightly. "He's gone."
Everyone's face fell. Ienzo ran away from the room, stumbling into walls and tripping over his feet until he found himself in his brother's room. Ienzo climbed onto the bed and curled next to his brother, not even caring about the blood on his hands. Then he wept into his brother's side.
'NO!' He screamed in his head, sobbing. 'Dem, you can't go! You can't leave me! Please, please don't go. Please…please…just come back…'
XxXxX
Mickey frowned. He had just received word that more allies of Xemnas were coming to aid the King's world. He cursed under his breath and made his way to the front of the base camp. Mortars fired relentlessly and the cries of battle were raging everywhere. Mickey put a hand on the pommel of his sword and gripped it tightly.
'It's all I can do is pray Axel and Roxas defeat Kingdom Hearts but I put far too much weight on their shoulders. For all I know, I could have sent them to their deaths.' Mickey mused darkly. His eyes scanned the battle field before him. Soldiers were being run to medics while others were running back into the fray. It really made the King question where it was all going.
'The madness, the pain, the suffering…we are fighting to make it end, are we not? Who is to say another tyrant won't step up to fill the gap and bring war back to the worlds?' His eyes caught sight of Minnie as she healed a man's shoulder. Then he spied Goofy bringing two soldiers over to her covered in blood and dirt. 'They are suffering far worse than I. What have I seen? What have I done? All of these years and I sat behind closed doors wishing for peace. Now when it comes to face the action I find myself on the back lines once again.' Mickey's gaze hardened.
"No more," he whispered. He took off running towards the sound of the mortars. Many people cried out in protest but their words fell on deaf ears. Mickey pushed through to soldiers to find Leon giving orders on where to fire one of the mortars. He gave the man a nod and slowed his pace. Mickey peered over the edge of a canyon cliff and spotted several people fighting below. The only people he could make out were Yuffie and Tifa.
"Your Majesty." Mickey turned to see Cloud walking up beside him. The man had dark bags under his eyes and he appeared rather pale. He wore a necklace over his armor. It bore two charms. One was a small white flower. The other was a pink key with a heart for the teeth.
Lady Luck.
"How are you faring?" Mickey asked, turning to the blonde.
"I've let you down as a soldier, sir. I can't seem to find my will to fight anymore," Cloud replied.
"Because you lost someone dear to you?" Cloud's eyes widened and Mickey grunted softly. "I understand. You didn't fail me, Cloud. Everyone must grieve. I heard from someone you also lost your brother in the war, yes?"
"Aye. He was a good fighter." Cloud smirked. "He's the one that trained me, not Cid. I always wanted to be just like my big brother. Yet I'm nothing like him. He wouldn't have frozen at the sight of battle. He would have fought with everything he had. Unlike me."
"Don't put yourself down too much, Cloud. The fight is still going on."
"Then what should I do?" Cloud turned to the King for answers. Mickey chuckled lightly.
"I cannot force a soldier to fight. They have to find it in their heart to press through the pain and use their inner strength to guide them through the battle. You just have to find it within you to continue on."
"As a soldier?" Mickey turned to the blonde.
"No. As a friend." Cloud lowered his sullen gaze to the ground. The he looked out across the canyons towards the castle.
"Thanks, Mickey. I think I understand now." Cloud drew his Buster Blade and leapt off the edge of the cliff, sliding down the rock face to the fight below. Mickey nodded and turned to go on his way when he was suddenly struck off the cliff. He tucked and rolled, grabbing onto the rock to slow his progress. Mickey's feet slammed into the ground and he rubbed his sore jaw.
"Watch out!" Yuffie cried. Mickey looked up to see a darkly dressed teen falling towards him from the canyon surface. The teen was intercepted by Sephiroth and they rolled over the ground in a tangled heap. The ninja ran over to the King. "Are you alright?" she asked.
"I'm fine," Mickey replied. "That must be Vanitas." He watched as the pair exchanged rapid blows. Then Sephiroth knocked the teen into a deeper ravine of the canyon. "Can he handle himself in a fight?"
"Who, Sephiroth? Oh yeah! He kicks ass!" Yuffie exclaimed.
"He better…" Mickey muttered under his breath.
Vanitas laughed uncontrollably as he rolled across the ground. Sephiroth glided downwards on a pair of black, feathery wings. The teen rose to his feet and tossed his helmet aside. Sephiroth held his katana ready.
"Finally!" Vanitas cried. "Someone I can fight!" He pulled out his sword-scythe hybrid and warped through the ground over to the silver haired cyborg. Vanitas popped up and Sephiroth tossed him into the air. The teen wasn't prepared for the cyborg's speed. Sephiroth leapt into the air after Vanitas and began to pound him with katana. Vanitas managed to get himself upright at one point and blocked a heavy blow only to get slammed downwards.
The teen crashed into the ground and the earth cracked around him. He pried himself from the earth as Sephiroth landed lightly on his feet, his katana raised. Vanitas grinned wickedly. He rushed the cyborg, shocking him with black lightning. Sephiroth slashed at the teen only to find the teen had warped above his head. Vanitas brought his blade down on Sephiroth's head, slicing the man's skin on his face. A thin stream of blood trickled out and metal plating could be seen where the skin parted.
Vanitas jumped around and landed on Sephiroth's back. He pulled on the cyborg's wings and they started to tear. Sephiroth tried to throw the teen off with little success. Vanitas managed to rip the left wing off and he tossed it away. Metal feathers were sent flying in all directions. A large column of fire erupted from beneath the cyborg and the pair was engulfed in flame.
Vanitas leapt from the fire only to find meteors staring at him in the face. The fire column died and the meteors flew at the teen. Vanitas bounced around and slashed them. Sephiroth ran over and knocked Vanitas into the air. The teen warped underneath the cyborg and reversed the rolls. They bounced off each other and sent each other skyward as they exchanged a large array of blows.
Vanitas launched a firaga. When it split apart, Sephiroth easily deflected them all. They both soared back down to earth. Sephiroth landed much more gracefully than Vanitas did. The teen hit the ground with a sickening crack as his bones snapped under the pressure. Yet this didn't stop the teen.
It barely slowed him down.
Sephiroth threw up another pillar of flame and they exchanged blows inside of it. Vanitas shocked the cyborg again with his black lightning. The cyborg frowned and leapt back. Vanitas found himself bound by the hands and feet. He wiggled to break free. Sephiroth stalked closer and placed a finger on the teen's forehead.
"Sin Harvest," he cast. There was a pause. Then Vanitas started laughing maniacally. He simply wouldn't stop. Sephiroth was left confused for only a moment before Vanitas broke free and their fight began anew. This time the entire duel was followed by the teen's eerie laughter. Vanitas's sword ripped through Sephiroth's second wing, making it ragged.
Sephiroth leapt back and held his katana in a different position. Vanitas stifled his laughs to a creepy giggle. When he blinked, Sephiroth had vanished. The cyborg was now behind him with his katana swept to the side. Vanitas stopped laughing and paused.
Then his body was ripped apart by a string of attacks that had happened so fast he didn't even have time to feel them. Vanitas fell apart on the ground laughing until his head disconnected from his neck. His body collapsed with a sickening splat on the rock. Sephiroth flicked his blade clean and sheathed it. He grunted softly.
"Farewell," he said before spreading his one wing and soaring back to the rest of the battlefield.
XxXxX
Roxas took a deep breath as Axel pushed open the door to the throne room. As they stepped inside, they were overwhelmed with wave of feelings and memoires. Their minds buckled at the mental strain. Xemnas stood before his throne with a glowing heart cupped in his hands.
Kingdom Hearts.
Isa and Saïx stood to the King's left and right. Saïx appeared much more battered than his sister. Xemnas stepped forward and walked towards the pair. Axel and Roxas could feel the pull of the mystical artifact as Xemnas drew closer.
"Welcome," Xemnas greeted. He stopped in the middle of the room and beckoned to Isa. She held her head up high and tried not to make her limp apparent as she strode over to her husband. "You have arrived just in time. Isa is ready to bind with Kingdom Hearts and with that she will bind to me. We will become the most powerful entity in all of the worlds. We shall become a god!" Isa stopped by her husband.
"Not if we stop you first!" Axel shouted. Axel and Roxas drew their weapons. They ran forward only to hit a protect spell cast by Xemnas. Axel growled angrily. "Isa, is this what you wanted?" he asked. "You used to be kind hearted. You used to care, you selfless bitch!" Isa smirked.
"That's where you're wrong, Axel. I never cared. I never liked you. I never liked anyone," Isa replied. "This is the only thing I wanted: Kingdom Hearts!" She pried the heart from Xemnas's hands and pressed it to her chest. Light erupted around her and his hair went flying in all directions. It grew absurdly long and Isa began to morph into someone inhuman.
Black and white gold armor formed around her growing form and a large helmet sat so low on her head it covered her face down to her lips. Her lips turned a deep shade of rose and blue ribbons scattered behind her back. Her gauntlets were sharply pointed and she chuckled darkly. Axel and Roxas watched in horror as Isa's form twisted and grew. She soon stood close to forty feet tall, her head almost touching the fifty foot vaulted ceiling.
Xemnas grinned. "Isa," he called. The woman smiled greedily.
"Finally!" she cried. She reached down with her long arms, which ended around her knees, and picked up Xemnas in her hand.
"You will finally see the power of a true Ki…" Axel and Roxas leapt back in shock. Isa had crushed the King in her hand. Blood oozed from between her fingers and pattered onto the white floor. Isa threw the body against the side wall and it crumpled lifelessly to the floor, leaving a streak of crimson on the surface.
"Foolish Xemnas. Did he not hear me? I didn't like anyone! I never have! I cannot love and thus Kingdom Hearts chose me for the darkness. Now I am Kingdom Hearts." Isa turned and picked up her brother. For once, Saïx actually looked terrified. "Fear not, dear brother. You were always there for me and so I shall share my power with you." Saïx started to glow and he screamed in pain. His voice grew deeper and his body vanished.
When Isa chuckled again, there were two voices speaking at the same time. "Now, let us see what you can do against a god, chosen of the Keyblades. Let your fates be decided!"
Axel and Roxas swallowed hard. The glanced at each other and tightened their grips on their weapons. Then they turned to the Isa- Saïx mutant and leapt into battle.
A/N-Musical muse: Vector to the Heavens (aka Xion's final battle theme)-KH 358/2 Days; krOne-Guilty Crown; Into a Dream-Morten Malvik; oh and of course ONE WINGED ANGEL! (rock version this time) cause what's a Sephiroth fight without it?