Here's chapter sixty - nine. Sorry for the late update; my computer has a virus and won't let me on the internet, so I'm using someone else's. Thank you Draconet, caitlinkeitorin, and Dracula X for reviewing last chapter!
Chapter Sixty - Nine: Kingdom Hearts
Gillick felt the strikes of Keyblades and magic before he even hit the ground, though the other Keybladers scrambled back before he landed. A part of him was screaming at him to move, to stand up; on the ground he was too vulnerable. But the pain in his chest, the power pulsating under his skin, refused to let him.
He felt more than saw the Keybladers converge on him again. Strikes battered against his armor, which thankfully refused to break despite the beating it was receiving. All armor, however, could only hold for so long.
He tried to struggle back to his feet, his body shaking. The assault of the Keybladers, however, refused to let up. "Not so strong now, are you, Knight?" one taunted.
"Who would've thought it'd be so easy to beat you?" added another.
He felt the fingers of his hand curl into the earth beneath it, digging furrows into the ground. Something inside him snapped. Get the hell away from me! He wrestled with the Knight's power, forcibly bending it to his will. The power, unhidden in its attack against him, spread through his body, exploding around him as his head bent back and a wild, inhuman cry escaped his lips. His wings spread suddenly out of his back, flaring wide as the release of energy collided with all Keybladers nearby, sending them flying across the battlefield.
Gillick remained where he was for a few moments, panting, the Knight's power slowly ebbing until there was only a faint trickle of it in his conscious mind. Then he forced himself to his feet, using his Keyblade as a support, and surveyed the damage. Battered and injured Keybladers were dragging themselves away; they would fall in battle soon, no doubt. Others lay in a heap, bloody and unmoving, limbs scattered across the area. But despite the sudden show of strength, he was unsure if it would save him from another assault.
He slowly stretched his wings, his breathing still hard. He was bruised, his magic was gone, and he was tired from fighting both his external and internal battles. He couldn't rest yet; if he rested, he'd be attacked. He beat his wings, allowing them to lift him into the air.
His dull amber gaze surveyed the damage caused by the Keybladers from his high vantage point. The land where they fought had become disfigured, scarred beyond all recognition by magic and frantic fighting. Keyblades littered the ground, their tips piercing the soft earth by their fallen masters, for some reason not returning to where they had once come from. The once clean earth was stained red, decorated with the grisly results of war. Though the Keybladers' numbers had diminished somewhat, there were still too many of them.
He released a shuddering breath within his helmet. Maybe they won't even come close to summoning the X-blade. Maybe they'll just kill each other off. The thought gave him some hope. After all, light and darkness clashing didn't necessarily mean that the weapon would be created. He could leave; he didn't have to fight a pointless, suicidal battle.
Then the power returned, attacking his heart again and causing him to falter in his wing beats, almost plummeting back to the ground. His foolish hope dissipated; the Knight wouldn't want to escape so badly if there wasn't a high chance the X-blade would be summoned.
Gillick looked at his wings; with the power acting so unruly, he wasn't sure how long they'd last. The last thing he wanted to do was fall out of the sky again. Taking a deep breath and steeling himself, he swooped back down towards the battle.
He swung his Keyblade at the head of a Keyblader as he descended, the weapon hitting her with enough force to snap her neck. He back-winged before slamming his feet into the ground. He sprang up almost immediately, wings sliding back into his armor as his blade cut across another Keyblader. The edge of the helmet caught in the teeth of his weapon, and he continued his upward strike, pulling the helmet off of the man's head. Gillick swung quickly towards his neck, but the Keyblader lifted his weapon in time to block the blow. The two struggled for a few moments before Gillick pulled away, ducking low and allowing the off-balanced Keyblader to fall over his body and sprawl across the ground.
He felt something pierce the exposed skin of his upper arm, and hissed with pain. Whipping his head around, his hidden eyes sought the attacker. He saw a boy, his face terrified at the sight of the Knight. Gillick stared at him for a few moments. Keybladers don't care about age; the moment you get your Keyblade, they send you out to fight. There wasn't much the black - haired boy could do for the kid, though, except for jerking the Keyblade out of his arm and letting the boy live.
The battle quickly began to blur around him. His chest heaved as he fought for breath, sweat running down his skin beneath his dented armor. Blows of magic and blades rang off him, finally causing some cracks to appear in what was once such a sturdy defense. He spun and slashed, striking out at whoever came at him with a desperate fury, for once more on defensive than offensive. Every time his magic recharged itself, he would take the opportunity to clear an area around him and heal. Each time, however, he healed a little less, and he was unable to use a healing spell more than once; his focus was on forcing back the enemies that surrounded him. He was unsure of how long he'd been fighting; it seemed as everything blended together into the mind numbing dance of a battle for survival.
It was a dance he knew he wouldn't be able to perform for forever.
"Damn it, this has to end!" he panted aloud, his body shaking as he took a rain of blows with his Keyblade. He fired a Firaga spell with his free hand, causing the Keyblader to go flying back. He wracked his fatigued mind for some way to end this, to possibly convince the Keybladers to back off; for some time for him to think up some better strategy to stop them.
Then it hit him. "Tollun and Viril…" While the Keybladers wouldn't pay much attention to the deaths of their other comrades, they would pay attention to the deaths of their leaders. The sight of the Knight had initially spread panic; the sight of the Knight standing over the bodies of the men who led them would cause the Keybladers to flee completely.
…At least, that's what he hoped would happen.
He was so caught up in his own thoughts that he didn't notice the attack coming until it was too late. The Blizzaga spell hit him square in the chest, sending him flying backwards with a gasp. He slammed into the ground, trying to recover his breath. His vision flickered momentarily as he looked up at a Keyblader whose helmet was cracked, revealing one glittering gray eye. Damn it…I can't die yet! He reached for the power of the Knight, but he knew he wouldn't be able to pull out the malfunctioning power before he was cut down by his opponent's weapon.
The single eye of the man standing above him suddenly widened. Gillick's eyes did, as well; a Keyblade was sticking through the Keyblader's chest. He reached up his free hand, as if to grab the blade and pull it out, but it was jerked backward before his hand could touch the metal. The man fell to the side without another sound.
Gillick scrambled up, prepared for a fight. Shock coursed through him when he saw the Keyblade's owner, his armor the same even after all the time that had passed. "Trevor?"
He wondered what expression his younger sibling's face held behind the helmet. "Hello, brother."
Gillick shook his head, trying to wrap his mind around it. "What are you doing here?"
There was a sudden sound behind him. The black - haired boy whipped around to block the strike, but an arrow beat him to it; the projectile pierced the glass visor of the helmet, killing the man instantly. "We…don't have time!"
He hadn't believed he could more surprised; now his limbs nearly grew stiff with it. "Mala…?" He was hardly able to turn his head to look at her.
The thief girl clutched her bow, an arrow half strung. Her face was ashen, and her body shook with restrained fear, but she nodded.
There was an explosion of fire nearby, and Gillick's gaze flicked towards it. There stood Riun, shaking with tears streaming down his face, but his hands raised from the use of the spell. Allia was flitting about near the young mage, taking out any Keybladers who got to close. "Quite the reunion, isn't it?" she asked, a grin on her face. She tipped her head towards the boy, adding, "Don't worry; I'm looking out for him."
"But why are all of you here?" Gillick protested.
"We couldn't let you fight this on your own," Trevor responded.
"What were you thinking?" Mala hissed, her eyes suddenly furious. "You can't take the Armies on alone, any more than anyone else could."
He shook his head, angry despite himself. "You idiots; there's not enough of you to do anything, either. All you did was increase the death toll!"
"Well," Mala responded slowly, "at least we'll live a little longer."
"We're going to help you fight," Riun added, his voice quiet.
"All of the Silver Fang are," Allia added.
"I…" Gillick trailed off, at a loss for words. These people…they'd actually cared enough to come for him, to fight beside him despite the danger.
Trevor's Keyblade suddenly whipped up, pointing at something over his shoulder. A sphere of light shot from the tip of the weapon, colliding with the person who'd been lunging at Gillick from behind. "We don't have time to lose focus," Trevor reminded him grimly.
Gillick shook his head. "Right. Let's do this." His younger brother nodded an assent, then lunged towards a Keyblader.
The Keyblade Knight slipped over to where Mala stood. "Why the hell did you come?"
"We already told you," she replied, lifting her bow and firing off her arrow. She flinched at the cry of pain that erupted from her target, looking as if she were about to be sick.
"I heard that," Gillick responded, his voice quiet despite his frustration at her misunderstanding his question. "I meant…why did you come?"
She looked at him, her blue eyes glittering with an emotion he didn't understand. "I realized…there's something I fear more than death."
There was nothing he could think to say at her words. For several moments he simply stared at her, heedless of the battle raging around him. He felt his heart tug, twisting uncomfortably. For so long, I've always fought alone. No one's ever been there to help me; I've always had to rely on my own power. But now…
There were people who would fight for him, who would help him stand when he fell, who would face their fears for his sake. Even though those people were few…they still cared about him. Despite his faults, his mistakes, his unwillingness to grow closer, they wanted to be beside him.
And, he realized, these were the people that were worth dying for.
"Stay close to me," he whispered to Mala before he realized what he was doing. She looked surprised at his order, but nodded. Together, the two headed out into the battlefield.
Mala had another arrow strung and ready as they raced away. Gillick block the attack of a Keyblader who was lunging towards her, forcing him back with a powerful kick. He whipped his weapon above her head, the metal of his blade clanging against the metal of another's. Mala lifted her bow and released her arrow, the flying weapon breaking through the visor and piercing the Keyblader's skull. "We need to find Tollun and Viril!" Gillick shouted at her. She responded with a terse nod, looking as if she were trying hard to control her shaking. Gillick lifted his Keyblade, firing off a Thundaga spell at an approaching Keyblader. Mala strung another arrow and shot it at a man who was further off.
The two hurried forward through the mass of warriors, Gillick's Keyblade flying to try and prevent stray blows from reaching Mala, while the thief girl fired her arrows at the oncoming enemies. Interspersed with the Keybladers were the Silver Fang; he saw flashes of Trevor, Allia, Riun, and others, fighting furiously despite their lesser numbers.
Mala suddenly stumbled, falling forward into the dirt. "Mala!" Gillick skidded to a halt, shooting back the way he'd come and jumping up, a furious war cry tearing free of his lips as he struck at a Keyblader who lunged for her. The force of his strike caused a long crack to run up the man's armor. Gillick stood over his fallen comrade, crying out, "Flare!"
The dark fire that exploded around the two either killed or forced back any Keybladers that dared approach them. As the attack faded, he cursed under his breath. He was out of magic again.
"Gillick!" Mala cried in alarm.
The black haired boy looked down at her. "Why are you still on the ground?" he hissed, frustrated.
Then he noticed she was pointing at something. "Look!"
He followed her finger, and his eyes first widened, then narrowed when he realized who she'd seen, their helmets ripped from their heads. "Viril and Tollun…" he commented. He moved away from her, ignoring the instinct that begged him to go rushing towards the two Keybladers. Instead, he helped Mala to her feet. Looking at the empty quiver on her back, he told her, "Go find someplace to hide."
Mala, despite looking scared beyond belief, shook her head stubbornly. "No. I came to help you."
"You're not going to be much help now," he retorted. "You don't have any arrows left, and your scared shitless."
"I'm…not leaving," Mala repeated, her fists slowly clenching.
"Now's not the time to be stubborn!" he snapped. "Just get the hell to safety!" He whipped around and raced towards the two Keyblade masters before she had the chance to protest again.
Tollun and Viril were fighting furiously against each other, the power emanating from their battle causing the other Keybladers to give them a wide berth. Light and darkness flew from their weapons, lashing the armor of each separate man. Their blades sang as they collided with each other, the two performing intricate, drawn out combos that attempted to break through their opponent's defenses.
The power of the Knight screeched inside him, slamming repeatedly against his chest. He cringed, but ignored it, soldiering onward towards the battling Keybladers.
As he drew closer, he could make out their hurled taunts. "The Dark Army will fall, Viril, completely wiped away by the light!"
"No, Tollun; you're mistaken. The darkness will swallow the Light Army!"
By now, the power had given up simply attacking his chest, instead swimming wildly throughout his body. Unlike normal, where it gave him strength, it burned his veins, his very being seeming to be singed to the core.
But he couldn't stop now; not when his targets were so close.
He swung his Keyblade, reaching for the Knight's power and hoping desperately that it would respond to him this time. A wave of darkness flew from the tip of his Keyblade, colliding with the two Keyblade Masters. They flew back with cries of surprise. "What was…?" Viril trailed off as he saw him.
Tollun's silver eyes stretched wide. "The Knight."
Gillick didn't want to give them the chance to recover. He lunged forward, Keyblade drawn far out to the side. He brought it in for a powerful swing, but quickly found his weapon caught by another. Tollun's eyes narrowed. "I didn't know the Knight could use the Keyblade."
I'm just full of surprises, Gillick thought venomously. He sidestepped, allowing Tollun to fall forward as he drew his Keyblade back, intending to slam it across the light Keyblader's back. The man, however, quickly called up a barrier, and the boy seethed with frustration as his weapon clanged harmlessly against the magic.
Viril lifted his Keyblade, sending out a blast of darkness. Gillick ducked away quickly, while Tollun fell to one side and released a blast of light to counteract the darkness. Gillick lunged through the smoke the collision created, blade flying to slash at Viril's head. The man quickly lifted his Keyblade, bracing it with his arm as he block the younger Keyblader's strike. The dark man lifted a hand, a sphere of darkness forming in his palm. Gillick slammed his free hand into it, causing it to explode and sending both skidding backwards.
A blast of light suddenly collided with Gillick's back, causing him to stumble forward. He caught himself, whipping around in time to block Tollun's next strike. Tollun pulled back quickly, spinning to kick his feet forward. Gillick blocked the blow with his Keyblade, but was unable to avoid being hit by the man's weapon. He stumbled backwards, grimacing, before hearing a sound behind him. He dropped to the ground, allowing Viril to fly over him and crash into Tollun.
He returned to his feet in an instant, jumping and lifting his Keyblade above his head, ready to bring it on a powerful downward strike on both Keybladers. Tollun summoned a barrier, while Viril rolled out of the way, returning to his feet. Gillick jumped backwards, frustrated, and Tollun quickly regained his footing.
The three opponents glared at each other across the space, no one moving though their muscles were tensed and their bodies poised for action. "It appears…that the Knight is not as strong as I'd once believed," Tollun commented.
Gillick resisted the urge to shout an angry rebuke; he was still clinging to the faint hope that the Knight's anonymity and reputation would help him.
"It's ridiculous how long this battle's dragged on," Viril commented. "Surely the X-blade should have been created by now."
The Knight's power surged inside him. Gillick flinched, the two Keybladers unable to see the action because of his helmet.
Viril tilted his head towards Tollun, a faint red light glittering behind his long bangs. "Perhaps you got your information wrong."
Tollun's silver eyes glinted, a sheen appearing around them. "Don't mock me," he growled.
"Then make me stop, if you can."
The two Keybladers lunged towards each other. The power was going wild inside him, screeching in its plea for release. Shit. He shot forward without thinking, releasing his Keyblade as he came between the two Keybladers. He lifted his hands, grabbing onto the blades of the weapons that flew towards him and towards each other. He shook at the force exerted by the weapons, light and darkness flaring around their blades, but he refused to let them go. I can't let this happen. I can't let them fight any more!
He heard the shocked exclamations from the two Keybladers.
"What's it doing?"
"Why'd it block our attacks?"
Then the light and darkness surrounding the two weapons swirled together, combining and flaring around the three. The combined, restrained force exploded, enveloping the Keybladers. All howled at the pain it caused, the magic ripping at everything in its path. Gillick felt it tear at his armor, his skin; his helmet was blown completely off. He felt the pressure of the two Keyblades forcing themselves against his hands lessen, as if a great weight had been taken away. The boy's mouth was stretched in a soundless cry of pain, his back arched as he was forced to endure the combined power of light and darkness.
When the magic faded, it left behind three battered Keybladers. Viril had been flung to one side, his armor torn apart and blood streaming from open wounds. Tollun had been thrown to the other, his chest heaving beneath his destroyed armor.
Gillick still stood where he was, his body shaking with the effort to stand. His hands were still wrapped around the blades of the two Keyblades, holding them out to his sides. His armor was cracked and broken, revealing jagged, bloody wounds. His breath came in ragged gasps as his chest shook, his lungs silently begging for air. His head was still back, his eyes mostly closed and his mouth gaping open.
His hands slowly released their hold on the two Keyblades; they clattered to the ground, remaining there for a few moments before disappearing. His legs were suddenly unable to keep him up any more and he fell to his knees, his arms falling limply at his sides.
"You?" Gillick slowly opened his eyes and turned his head at the sound of the voice. Tollun was staring at him in surprise, half risen. "You're the Knight?"
"Who would've thought…?" Viril muttered; Gillick turned his head towards him and saw that the dark man was crouched, slowly making his way to his feet on unsteady legs.
Gillick was quickly discovering that he didn't have the energy to stand. Damn it; I need to move! The only thing he could manage at the moment was slumping forward, his arms trailing in the dirt.
He noticed both leaders had re-summoned their Keyblades. Apparently, the attack hadn't affected them as much as it had him. "How?" Tollun uttered, sounding incredulous. "How is it possible that you have been the one causing us so much trouble?"
"It's impossible to understand," Viril added, and Gillick was sure his eyes were wide behind his bangs. "But I suppose this is a good chance to get rid of a problem."
Gillick's amber eyes shifted upwards, fire glowing in them. "Shut…up," he growled at them, defiance burning in his veins.
"You're not one to be giving orders," Viril commented, lifting his Keyblade.
A shape flashed in front of him just as the dark man brought his weapon down. There was a cry of pain, and Gillick's eyes stretched wide with surprise. "Mala!" The thief was standing in front of him, a Keyblade lodged in her shoulder. What was she doing? He'd told her to find safety.
Viril gave her an inquisitive look. "Oh? You wish to protect him?" Mala, who was breathing hard, said nothing.
Tollun slammed his Keyblade into her side, sending the girl flying. She let out another cry, and Gillick watched in helpless horror as she skidded across the ground and didn't get up. Tollun shook his blade once, blood splattering from the tip. "There is no time for her."
Gillick continued to stare at where Mala lay, his eyes wide. Then anger pulsed through his heart and into his veins. He whipped around to glare at the two Keybladers, ripping at the Knight's power. He let out a cry of fury, the sound turning into an inhuman roar as he dragged the Knight into his being. Power and darkness surged around him, forcing the two shocked Keybladers back. A spell floated over him, healing some of his more serious wounds and giving him the energy to stand. "You bastards," he snarled, the words only barely distinguishable. His wings slid out of his back, the darkness spiraling around him wildly. His amber eyes blazed, their depths beginning to glow. "I'll kill you!"
Trevor blocked the strike of a Keyblader, struggling against the force. He grimaced behind his helmet as he felt despair begin to wash over him. How can we keep fighting this? It's impossible.
Someone else struck him from behind, and he stumbled forward. "Why would you betray us, general?" a voice asked, shock apparent in it.
Trevor closed his eyes tightly, his hands clenching. "I didn't betray you," he reminded him. "You left me at the mercy of the Silver Fang."
"It was for the sake of the Light Army," the Keyblader replied, his voice displaying confusion.
For the sake of the Light Army. How many times had Trevor used those exact words to justify his actions? He stood slowly, gripping his Keyblade with both hands. "Maybe," he conceded quietly as he turned to look at him, "but did it bother you at all that I was gone?"
The Keyblader blanched, and the boy realized that was his answer.
He launched himself forward, Keyblade colliding with his opponent's. The two exchanged a few blows, the sound of their fight mingling with the sound of the many others raging across the vast expanse.
Then the Keyblader broke past Trevor's defenses, weapon colliding with the side of his head. The force of the impact knocked his helmet off and sent him reeling. He stumbled, trying to keep his balance in his disoriented state. Something struck him again, causing him to fall. "I'm sorry, general; you should have stayed loyal."
Trevor looked up at him, trying to see through his daze. He didn't feel angry; instead, he felt an odd sort of calm. "Yes," he whispered, thinking of his brother, "I should have."
His eyes blazed silver, the orbs glowing. He stood slowly, light flaring out around him. From amidst the bright, swirling vortex, he saw the other Keyblader shield his eyes against the blinding blaze. Trevor narrowed his gaze, before swinging his Keyblade to the side and lunging forward.
"You'll kill us, will you?" Tollun commented, looking at Gillick's furious form and the darkness swarming around him. "I doubt that."
Gillick's fury reached its limit. He let out another cry, swiping his arm out to the side. The darkness that swirled around him shot forward, combining with the force of the Knight's power. Tollun's eyes stretched wide in alarm, and he quickly summoned a barrier to try and defend against the strike. Viril mimicked the action. The magical defenses were able to withstand the force of the attack, though the land around them did not; the already destroyed earth was ripped apart further, great furrows appearing in the ground.
If he hadn't been so consumed by his fury, he would've seen Tollun shoot a look towards Viril, whose attention was on the lunging form of Gillick. The leader of the Light Army suddenly whipped to the side, silver eyes blazing as he flew at his opponent, Keyblade coated in light. The Dark Army leader noticed his advance, and whipped around to face him, red eyes burning behind his bangs as his weapon flared with darkness. The two weapons collided, but this time, Gillick was not quick enough to intercept them.
The power that surged forth then sent the Knight flying backwards. Gillick skidded across the ground, but quickly started pushing himself up. Tollun and Viril remained in their places this time, eyes glowing brightly as their respective light and darkness flared up around them, each struggling against the opposing force.
Then the darkness and light fused together, and an entirely new power emerged.
Gillick gasped, his anger disappearing completely as the power surged against its restraints stronger than it ever had before. He let out a wild cry of pain, amber eyes stretched wide. It felt as if his body was being ripped apart; he wanted to make it stop, release the power that begged to be freed.
Then the pain abruptly subsided. He gasped for air, falling to his knees as the power shriveled inside him. The world rocked around him, and he slowly lifted his head. There, between the Keybladers of light and dark, hovered a broken weapon, the blade resembling a sword, two large keys crossed in an X to make the hilt and guard. He knew without having to be told what it was. The X-blade.
"Finally!" Tollun crowed. "We can be rid of the darkness for good!"
"The light will perish!" Viril retorted furiously. Both reached for the hovering weapon, hands grasping the hilt as they struggled to take it for themselves.
Gillick struggled to his feet, anger and despair returning in equal measures. "You idiots! You've doomed us all!"
As if his words were the catalyst, streaks of wayward power began to fly from the weapon. Both Keybladers looked at the Key in shock, but had no time to make a sound before the power surging around the broken weapon engulfed them.
The world shook beneath Gillick's feet. It cracked, rocks lifting and breaking apart. He beat his wings, lifting off the fractured earth. The X-blade spun in the air, power flying wildly from it. Screams reached his ears as the entire world contorted.
Gillick froze when a sudden light shown down on him. His head whipped up to look at the sky, his eyes growing wide when he saw a blue, heart shaped moon. Senn's words came back to him, along with those of the sewing woman. "Kingdom Hearts," he breathed.
The X-blade suddenly stopped spinning. A powerful beam of light shot up from it towards the heart shaped moon. Kingdom Hearts seemed to absorb the power, and for a few moments, things were still.
Then light fell down from Kingdom Hearts, power and destruction radiating from it as it swept across the earth. Wherever the power of Kingdom Hearts landed, the land, the Keyblades, the bodies disappeared. "Mala!" Gillick called, looking towards the girl, who was unconscious on a piece of earth that was quickly rising. He spun towards her, beating his wings furiously. He could feel the power behind him, and reached out a hand, trying to grab her.
Then the light engulfed him. For a few moments, pain filled him. Then the light and the pain faded, and he found he could no longer move. Hopelessness and despair washed over him as, slowly, his body tilted and he fell into darkness. That's it, then; I'm done.
We're done.
Gillick hovered in darkness, his body curled up tightly. His hands gripped his arms, his wings half - folded around him. There was nothing to do; nowhere to go. Did he exist anymore? Did anything exist anymore? He wasn't sure.
What are you doing, Gillick?
The boy started briefly at the soundless voice, then he lowered himself back into his despair. "Leave me alone," he muttered aloud.
Why have you given up?
Gillick felt his frustration and sadness wash over him. "Can you see where I am?" he spat, uncurling himself. "There's nothing! Everything's gone!" He shook his head, no longer caring that his voice broke as he continued. "I'm not God! I can't make miracles happen! Why the hell shouldn't I just give up?!"
There was a pause before the voice answered:
They haven't.
A light flickered on the edge of Gillick's vision. Slowly, he turned his gaze toward it. The small, almost nonexistent point of light slowly grew, spreading out into several more. Within each light was a small shape. Children, Gillick realized, his eyes widening. He picked out a familiar shape among them, and cried out, "Riun!"
He continued to stare at the children, small points of light in the endless darkness that surrounded them, and felt his shoulders sink. If only their light - their hope - was enough to fix things. But there was no power behind it; it was simply their belief that things would get better that provided the light. If something gave that hope form, perhaps something could be done; otherwise it would fade into the darkness, like everything else.
Gillick's eyes widened in sudden realization. "Give their hope form…" He looked at the runes on his arm; they were glowing again, signaling that the Knight's power was still active and inside of him. The power of half of the X-blade. If that weapon caused this mess…could it fix it? He reached up towards the seal, but stopped when the voice interrupted him:
Be warned, Gillick; the power of the Knight is great, but there is a price for releasing the seal.
Gillick froze. "A price?"
It will be unrestrained; it is still half the X-blade's power. If you allow it to be free, it will overwhelm your body. It will destroy you, Gillick.
Gillick's fingers twitched. "What…?" his voice came out as a whisper. Then a grim smile crossed his face, and a bitter laugh slipped between his lips. "So if I help save the world, I don't get to stay to see it?" He shook his head. "No. This isn't fair!"
Not all things are.
Gillick looked down at the runes, watching as the glow pulsated across them. Then he looked at the children's light; their hope, their wish to save the place they called home. He didn't want to do this. He didn't want to die saving the world; that was what a hero did. He was not a hero.
But, in his heart, he knew that he couldn't run away. Not anymore.
He heaved a shuddering breath. "There was never a choice," he commented.
Then place your Keyblade to the seal.
He summoned the weapon, lifting it and pointing it towards the glow of the runes. Slowly, he placed the tip on top of them. The sound of a click resounded through the area, and the glow dissipated, the runes of the seal breaking apart.
His back arched as pain flowed through him; pain much greater than that which had entered him when the power had tried to break free. He couldn't move, he couldn't think; he could only cry out as the power raced through his body.
He suddenly felt something wrap around the hand holding his Keyblade. "Come on, Gillick; don't give up now." He cracked his amber eyes open slightly. Trevor…? All he could see beside him was a vague light…
In the back of his mind, Gillick could hear Senn's words, quiet but insistent:
Eventually, though, they were reminded of how much they cared about each other, as a family, and realized how foolish it was for them to be fighting against each other when, working together, they might be able to survive.
His arm slowly lifted, his brother helping him to fight against the pain that coursed through him. Darkness crept along his arm, contrasting starkly with Trevor's light. The two combined together around his Keyblade, changing its form.
They each took in their hands the hilts of their broken swords, and clasped those hands together; a silent way to agree that they would combine their powers, and their hearts.
In their clasped hands, they held the completed X-blade.
The power of two hearts…when combined together…can unlock new doors.
A beam of light shot out from the tip of the X-blade, flying out into the empty darkness that surrounded them. It disappeared, and for a few moments, nothing happened.
Then a light appeared on the horizon. Unlike the light that had swallowed them, this one was warm, gentle. It spilled down around the children, giving them power, their hope form. The light around them grew, spreading out across the empty darkness, revealing people, places.
Everything that had been lost was being found again.
The X - blade shattered as Trevor released it, that power that did not belong to the Knight flying off into the distance. He looked at the spreading light, silver eyes glittering with awe.
Gillick felt the pain that had flooded him during the release of the X-blade begin to fade away, instead being replaced by a welcome warmth. Trevor turned his gaze towards him, eyes growing wide and his lips moving, though Gillick couldn't hear the words. He offered him a small, sad smile. I'm sorry, brother; this is it for me.
Then there was nothing but light.
Gillick. Open your eyes.
The boy obeyed grudgingly. He blinked blurry amber orbs as he surveyed the area around him. He could see nothing. "This is Heaven, huh?" he muttered. "Funny, I imagined something more welcoming." Or was it Hell? He didn't exactly have a stellar resume.
You are not dead, Gillick.
This shocked him into full awareness. "What?" he asked in surprise. "But you said-"
I said it would destroy you, yes; but this is a place where you are safe from its power, so long as you remain here.
"And where is 'here'?" Gillick queried.
This is a place that exists alongside the Temporal world, but is completely separate from it. It is a place where time cannot flow, and therefore the X-blade cannot release its power on your body.
Gillick's eyes grew wide, and he took a few minutes to absorb the answer. Then he asked, "Did you bring me here?"
If I had not, the power of the X-blade would not have been contained.
Gillick snorted, looking to the side. "Figures."
But the X-blade cannot remain here.
"What?" Gillick snapped, startled and suddenly frustrated.
What remains needs to return to the Temporal world; if not, it could potentially do damage to this one.
There was a pause, before the voice continued:
Once brought here, a Keyblader can never truly escape. However, while you have the power of the X-blade, you may exit for a brief time…to allow its power to return to the place it belongs.
Gillick snorted, looking down, the faintest beginnings of a grim smile on his lips. "Of course." He inhaled deeply, then lifted his head. I accepted my fate when I released the power of the Knight. "Well? What the hell are we waiting for?"
…Would you like to say good-bye?
Gillick closed his eyes, memories flashing through his mind. Becoming a Keyblader, battling Trevor, wandering the world…
Returning home, meeting Mala and Riun, fleeing an assassin…
Revealing he was a Keyblader, discovering he was the Knight…
A small, true smile slipped onto his face. They'll all be better off without me. Mala, Riun, Trevor… You'll move on. You'll survive. "Naw," he murmured aloud. "I've never been much for sappy good-byes."
There was a pause for several moments, as if the voice expected him to reconsider his decision. Then:
Very well.
Gillick spread his broken black wings. He lifted into the air, eyes half closed as he was carried into the unknown.
See you, everyone.
And that's the end of the extraordinarily long climax chapter. Only the epilogue left. So, feel free to leave a review.