Here you go, the last chapter of Kingdom Hearts Dissidia Duos: Dawn to Twilight. I had fun with this story.
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts were created by Square.
Despair and Hope
Back at the Sacred Grounds, Sora, Taios and Serenia were busy fighting Vanitas, who was blasting dark energy at the three. Sora kept healing Serenia and Taios when needed while trying to avoid Vanitas' attacks and retaliating with Strike Raid.
"Aww, Isn't this cute. A father tending to a failure of a daughter. Seems like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" Vanitas sneered.
"Leave them alone!" Taios viciously attacked him.
Vanitas laughed"hmhmhmhm. Aww, you love her, don't you?" He gave an evil smirk"First Hikari, now Serenia. Just how many love lives will you doom next because of me? 8, 24?"
Serenia screamed'Enough!" and attacked Vanitas with Arc Arcanum. Sora joined in with Blizzaga.
Vanitas gave off a corrupted aura"Oh yes. More malice. ore hate. And the chaos... Oh yes, Caius is attacking Serah and Noel."
Taios: put on a serious look while attacking Vanitas with him holy energy.
Serenia paled"Then... What's happened to Lightning, Kain and Master Ventus?"
Sora readies Strike Raid to strike at Vanitas.
Yoran, Questa and Aqua flew their gliders up to Chaos Bahamut and engaged it in battle. On the skies of Grand Pulse near the academy, Sserah and Noel started to go on top of the Ragnarok II to aid Questa, Yoran, and Aqua.
Serah looked at Noel"Ready?"
Noel nodded.
Chaos Bahamut roared in rage while attacking Serah and Noel, but ignored the trio. Yoran casts Holy on Chaos Bahamut, while Aqua casts offensive spells on the monster and Questa pitched In with Strike Raid. Neol and Serah did their best to avoid and attack back, using their own spells to shield themselves and their allies.
Caius eventually transformed back into human form and landed on top of the gummi-ship"I had anticipated that I would face the both of you. Imagine my surprise that Saxito would cause all this destruction from the sidelines."
"Why are you doing this, when he's the one you should focus on?!" Serah demanded.
Caius grimaced"Because, despite all that he he's accomplished... I need you to kill me, if you cannot, I will fulfill my vengence against Etro... by killing you two."
Noel sighed"Well, its true that I'll need to stop you, but I won't take your life."
Caius shook his head"Noel, you are a fool. If you cannot end my life, then I will end yours. But I don't need to murder Serah, for she is already marked for death the same as Yuel has." He then blasted them with chaotic energy.
Serah quickly healed herself and Neol and shot at Caius.
"Forgetting someone?" Questa landed with Yoran on the Ragnarok II.
Caius grunted"Hmph, I do admit you and Questa are formidable opponents, Yoran. But lest we forget, I am far superior to you. And I am not exaggerating."
Yoran shrugged"Perhaps, but what one man can do, many can do better."
Questa addressed her two other teammates"Serah, Noel, let's do this together."
"Right Noel attacked Caius with a combo.
Caius vanished in the chaos as his Chaos Bhamut form started blasting the four as an area of reality started to crack and distort. Questa healed her group and notices the reality beginning to distort.
"What now?" Serah wondered.
Yoran blasted Chaos Bahamut with Holy, only for it to retaliate by blasting them with megaflare as they started to enter the distortion and begin to crash land on the shores of Valhalla itself.
Caius returned to his human form while blasting them with chaos energy" It is useless to resist, Noel. I will set Yuel free. And when that happens, I will destroy Saxito and end this, once and for all."
Questa healed her allies again.
"I'm hardly one to talk, but even the best of intentions can often have the most disastrous results" stated Yoran.
"And we won't give up" piped Noel.
Caius blasted them with Heart of Chaos"And do you believe that any of you have a choice? Even if I am destroyed, Saxito will still destroy kingdom hearts without delay. I am well aware of my situation of Yuel's happiness. However, I can not stop this. My justifications are all I have left."
"I am certain that Taios and Sora can stop Saxito" said Questa, healing her allies and unleashed Strike Raid at Caius. Yoran followed through with Arc Arcanum while Neol moved in for a combo.
Caius staggered, and attempted to summon manakin versions of himself to gain the advantage, but it was a double-egded sword in this case. The manakins went berserk on everyone. Serah blasted the Manakins with Ultima Arrows.
"I will set Yuel, free!" Caius said as he collapsed from the manakin attack as his chaos consumed him and formed a consuming pillar.
Questa frowned in confusion"Now what's happening?"
Yoran attacked some of the Manakins with a combination of Thundaga, Firaga and combos. After the manakins were destroyed, the pillar started to create a twisted version of Chaos Bahamut as the megaflare it produced started to consume them, and reality started to twist and distort into darkness as the group was falling into the void.
Serah paled"is... is this the end?"
"If you both believe it is, then you are fools" said a voice. Lightning and Kain suddenly flew to the group and helped them up Ventus is fine. He will join with Taios, Serenia, and Sora soon."
"It's up to you, now. to keep hope alive" stated the gunblader.
"Lightning!" Serah cried.
The two created a platform as three Bahamut-like creatures begun to surround them as Kain and Lightning vanished.
Questa glanced at them"This Is no ordinary force."
"Questa, you and I will both take one. Serah and Noel, good luck" said Yoran, getting into a stance.
Noel nodded"got it!"
Vabutas had dodged and brutally attacked Taios"Oh, Taios. How weak you've become. If only you could've killed me instead of merging."
Taios grimaced, weakened"I did it... to... protect Ven!"
"Hmhmhmhmhm. And now look what that sacrifice has cost you. You aren't a master, you aren't anything. You are just a weak and pathetic loser that will always cause chaos and whine whenever he goes!" sneered Vanitas.
"Enough!" Serenia attacked Vanitas with Arc Arcanum.
Sora healed Taios and attacked Vanitas with a combo.
"I can't die in this universe! I don't follow it's laws! And it will be so sim-" Vanitas was cut off as the Forgotten Memory Keyblade attacked him from behind"argh... hmph!" He turned to the newcomer"Well, well. If it isn't my old brother. This reunion has been far too long in the making, Ventus."
Taios glanced at Ventus"Ven!"
"You guys okay?" Ventus asked.
Sora nodded"So far, yeah."
Ventus glanced at Saxito-Vanitas"Vanitas... I can't believe that you're alive. Now I'm gonna take you down for good."
Vanitas snmirked and said in a mocking tone"I've always been alive, old friend. It's thanks to him I'm been alive to begin with. Now I believe that we have a little score to settle. We never was able to finish what we started." He warped behind Serenia and put his keyblade near her neck"shall we continue where we left off?"
Ventus got into a stance"Fine by me."
Vanitas then creepily started to lightly stroke Serenia's hair, making her stunned in terror. He then pushed her aside, and begun to viciously attack Ven with dark clash move until Taios and Sora ambushed the dark being. Ventus heals himself and retaliates against Vanitas with Tornado and Strike Raid. Vanitas unleashed a darkness that made him speed up, making his attacks even more difficult to deflect until Ven and Sora used a trinity limit on him.
"This is over, Vanitas. You don't need to do this" said Taios.
Vanitas slowly smirkd"Hardly. Life as you all know it is ending. Like the ancient foretellers say: on this land shall darkness prevail, and light expire. And now, I think my own pet would like to play with all of you."
As soon as he snapped his fingers, the arena started to distort into the spot in the realm of darkness where Aqua was trapped in, surrounded by dead trees.
Serenia looked around"Wh-...where are we?"
Sora frowned"This looks... like the Realm of Darkness. But something's off."
Taios had a slightly scared look"... oh no. I think I know where we are."
Ventus looked around, a little nervous"well... where?"
Taios shrugged"We're in the arena where Aqua fought a beast heartless called: Dark Hide. I never fought it... but this heartless is actually more scary than the others."
Suddenly, they heard thumping steps, and in the distance, they noticed a pair of red eyes stalking them, then slowly began to chase before vanishing before their eyes and attacking them from behind. The monster, Dark Hide let out a primal roar, cloaked in darkness.
Sora staggered, but readied his keyblade again and looked around"We're gonna have to outsmart that thing somehow."
Ventus countered the beast with Tornado. The tornado spell revealed what the heartless looked like. It looked like the dark thorn heartless if it was on drugs. Serenia quickly used firaga on it before it vanished again.
Taios slowly looked around until spotted the eyes"Sora! behind you!"
Sora whirled around and attacked the Heartless with Arc Arcanum.
Dark Hide roared and vanished. The Heartless began to instantly fire mega flare at the group, before jumping around like with a creepily look of hunger. Sora healed the group while Ventus aimed a Strike Raid at Dark Hide, followed by Firaga from Serenia.
Taios cast thundaga, then stopped to say"I think I got a new idea as to how to beat em'! Ven! You familiar with the Rhythm Mixer command style?"
Ven shook his head"Not really, no."
"Then do thunder based attacks as well as mines and it'll activate!" Taios replied.
Ven nodded as he unleashed mine square and other thunder-based attacks. Then out of nowhere, the first basic style of thunderbolt struck, then after a few seconds, the Rhythm Mixer actually made the battle a bit easier as the group let loose. Eventuallyy, the heartless collapsed, and the illusion changed= changed to the keyblade graveyard near the spot where Vanitas was fighting Ven all those years ago. and there he was, staring up at the sky as kingdom hearts itself was largely close. But strangely, his eyes weren't golden, they were indeed silver
Saxito seemed hardly surprised"I'm back to my old self at the moment if that's what you guys are asking..."
Serenia shjrugged"I kinda wondered about that myself, but you still need to be stopped."
"I- ... I know that... arrrgh! with-... Vanitas acting as a heart... I'm gonna loose complete control of my mind, and start to become a heartless" Saxito said with a look of pain
Ventus was tacken aback"What?"
Saxito grimaced"Look, If you don't hurry up and free me, I can't be my true self! Pl-please! You... need to... arrrgh! free me!" He had on a look of desperation and was crying.
Serenia felt a twinge of sympathy for Saxito, but then remembered why they came this far and blasted the Nobody with Firaga. Sora followed that with an Arc Arcanum. Vantus moved in with a swift combo, knocking the Nobody back.
Saxito held his chest in pain as streams of black and violet smoke came out of them as he slowly rose from the ground, a twisted and dark smile formed on his face"hmhmhmhmehehehe! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
That dark laughter was the catalyst, as chaos and darkness mixed within the nobody as he fully embraced it. Demonic wings started to form, while sharp twisted and evil claws formed in his hands. And his body changed to what the eidolon of Diablos was, but his head was more of a faceless bug with multiple red eyes, as a heartless insignia was seen on his chest.
"I am the pinnacle of evolution. I will change the future of the multiverse. and you will all parish before me" The being said in a calm,, twisted tone.
"We'll see about that" Sora let loose with a combo, followed by Strike Raid.
The heartless began to take away Taios' road to remembrance in one hand and summoned a more twisted version of Vanitas's void gear called: vengeful hate as they saw the Keychain being the unversed insignia.
Taios summoned Guardian Warrior"Sora, looks like we'll need ultima weapon keyblade for this!" The somebody started to attack with a barrage of thunder based attacks so he could get the rhythm mixer command style.
Sora summoned his Ultima Keychain and attacked the heartless with a combo.
Taios turned to the red-head"Serenia, know any light-based moves?"
Serenia nodded"Yeah, I think so." She concentrated on channeling her magic at the Heartless and casting a spell"Holy!"
"Argh! you shall pay for that!" The Heartless begun to channel the chaos through the road to rememberance, and it made a twilight based-ball of energy as it impacted into a explosion of holy and evil power, even Taios had a hard time trying to absorb it to lessen the damage.
"ngh! Sora, Ven, Serenia! Hurry up! I can only hold so much of this blast!" cried Taios.
Sora nodded and attacked the Heartless with Arc Arcanum. Ventus followed with a swift combo and Strike Raid. Serenia let loose with a barrage of magic attacks on the monster.
The monster cried in pain, as the darkness and chaos finally dispersed and vanished as the illusion deteriorated into Xemnas' final area as all that was left of Saxito was him being in his org. 13 coat, being eroded and ruined.
Saxito sowly got back up after being collapsed"... so... you guys finally did it... I'm free from Vanitas' control..."
Serenia shrugged"... Don't mention it, we're still going to end this."
Saxito had a look of depression on his face"Well... I guess it makes sense, considering that my mind was warped beyond repair... I really don't wanna do this... but..." He looked at them with a sad smile"with kingdom hearts nearly destroyed... the walls between light and dark will be severed. you sure you really want to kill me?"
Taios shook his head"Saxito... after all this bull$#it you pulled... all the destruction, all the hate, all the death you caused... it needs to end."
"What's the point of revenge if it will make Raixihk hate you in the end?" said Ventus.
Saxito replied with a serious look on his face"I never had a choice to prevent this from happening. And nether do any of you guys. and now that we're finally here past the point of no return... you all have no other choice but to follow your gods' orders." He pointed road to rememberance at them"and frankly, gods are getting redundant at this point. it's all or nothing." He then started floating in mid-air with a evil smirk.
"I never thought I'd face against you, Taios. Let's make this interesting, shall we?" Saxitoblasted them with a endless barrage of dark knives. Sora deflects a few with Reflect, but still takes damage and heals his team. Serenia retaliated with Firaga, while Ventus strikes at Saxito with a combo. Taios begins to use dark drive, with Saxito retaliating with collapsing explosions and ultima
Taios cast Curaga to heal his comrades"We need to stop him quickly. His moves are getting more deadly by the second!"
"Right" Sorat usesd Arc Arcanum on Saxito. Serenia followed with Firaga and a combo.
"Hahahahahahaha! And to think, all this stupidity happened because an old man wanted to see what happened after the keyblade war! Well guess what? After I'm done with you, I'll end Xehanort and Enuo in the deepest depths of the void!" Saxito fired Holy and collapsing explosions.
Taios smirked"Not on your life, jerkface! Serenia, Ven, now!"
"Got it" Serenia. Casts Holy and struck at Saxito horizontally. Ventus used his Tornado technique and attacked with a flurry of blows.
Saxito floated in the air"let's end this game!"
The nobody dismisses both keyblades. As his final attempt to kill the four, he began to absorb all the twisted light that was around them before he was interrupted by a familiar genome, blasting him with his trance EX burst.
"I regret that I was late to the party. but I am here" Kuja smiled, warping into the scene.
Saxito snarled, glaring at Kuja"I will destroy you first!"
"Sora!" Taios threw his keyblade to him.
Sora catches Taios' keyblade: Party's over, Saxito. (Attacks Saxito with a fierce combo, finishing with a horizontal strike with each keyblade.)
Saxito tried to compose himself, but is interrupted by one last move by our heroes. Sora, Serenia, Ventus, and Taios all used their keyblades to seal saxito's powers before he collapsed on the floor"You stopped me... gonna kill me like i always wanted?"
Taios shook his head"Mo. we're not the same Saxito... death is too great for you to do this anymore."
Serenia nodded in agreement"What you've done was terrible, Saxito, puppet or not. But it does us no good to go around killing out of vengeance and anger. (takes a few steps forward) Despite the pain you may have inflicted on me, Taios, my dad, and the worlds, death will amount to nothing. Misunderstandings and vengeance lead to tragedies, and those in turn leads to many more tragedies. A lesson that I have learned from all around me and my journey thus far."
"Killing you won't undo the damages you caused, Saxito. It won't matter either way" said Ventus.
"I think its time you and Taios re-merged into a single being again, though, Saxito. We don't know how that might affect Taios, but Nobodies don't really disappear completely" Sora stated.
Saxito grimaced"guess I have no choice in the matter..."
Kuja's face was expressionless"Everyone has a choice... even if they dislike it... Even I acknowledge that I made foolish ones in the past..."
"No life is any less insignificant as another... you aren't anyone but you. and I won't force you to do anything" said Taios.
Saxito looks at Taios"You really are a stupid incompetent idiot, aren't you?" He closed his eyes in sadness, but let out a slight smirk"But-... I guess that means you've gotten slightly better... but just a little... Serenia... do me one favor... you and Tyler take care of the idiot for me. He's- actually pretty hopeless without the both of ya."
"Saxito..." Taios whispered.
The nobody started to fade with darkness at first, then as light and splintered apart before returning to the somebody.
Taios fell to his knees and started to hold his chest while starting to cry"Damnit... Why? You didn't need to merge with me! You could've just lived your own damn life!"
Sora put a hand on Taios's shoulder"I'm sorry this had to happen, but he won't have disappeared completely. Saxito is just as much of a part of you as Xion and Roxas are a part of me. Besides, I doubt that everyone he's ever wronged while under Vanitas' influence would ever have forgiven him."
"Besides, Taios. You still have us. And I can feel Saxito's presence in your heart, you are one and the same" smiled Serenia, putting a hand on Taios' other shoulder in comfort.
"None of us would ever really be apart. As much as Saxito deserved it, he probably was a good guy once, Er, a good Nobody at least" said Ventus.
Taios shook his head"Ven... No. To me... he wasn't a nobody. He had emotion and feelings. True, they are born that way... but-... they can grow a heart over time... and he was a good person. If he hadn't been under Vanitas' influence, things might have been different."
Serenia closed her eyes in thought"Hearing this makes me all the more sorry for him... Sure, he caused a lot of pain while under Vanitas's control, but he was also in pain in a way. At least he can rest peacefully, now."
"And hopefully, we'll have seen the last of Vanitas. Funny thing is though, Vanitas was kind of my brother in a way as much as Saxito was to Taios" remarked Ventus.
Sora was silent for a moment longer"We probably should make sure the Dawn and Twilight Crystals are destroyed. Besides, I'm worried about the others."
Kuja grimaced"The others are fighting against Caius right now."
Taios' eyes widened"Are Lightning and Kain alright?"
"They were consumed by the chaos. I don't know what became of them afterwards" said Kuja.
Serenia paled"Oh, no..."
Ventus shrugged"Hopefully, those two are still alive."
"Lightning strikes me as pretty tough, I don't think she's the type to go down, easy. You know exactly where Caius is? We might still be able to go back and help the others" said Sora.
Taios grimaced"I know where he is... And I'm guessing that with Ultimecia's predictions, and Elgo's elusive explainations... I can easily guess is that serah and noel is fighting em' and how this song and dance is gonna end. We need to find the exit, now!"
Serenia and Sora led the way onward.
Back with the others, Yoran, Questa, Serah and Noel were about to finish Jet Bahamut. But with supplies low and everyone tired, they were able to do one last special limit break.
Noel gasped"just one more hit..."
"Right" Serah fired at Jet Bahamut. Questa and Yoran combined their magic for a major Holy Burst at Jet Bahamut.
As the Last bahamut creature fell to its death, its cry could be heard as light consumed them, returning them back on Valhalla's shores, and Caius started to collapse"Noel... Yuel is born because of me. Then i have to die... we must free her. Kill me. you are the only one that can end this eternal torment."
Noel shook his head"'Even if it were for yuel's sake, i wouldn't want to kill you."
"Kain and Lighting are dead. I killed them with my own hands. Will you allow me to go unpunished? In Valhalla, time doesn't normally flow as it should. Just like the Realm of Darkness. Long before we began our battle here, I already faced them. Now, they sleep. Never to wake. Things that have happened in your future have already been decided by paradox, or should I say Exoduxia... in own past. I know how it begins and how it ends" Caius stated.
Yoran was silent for a moment"That may be, and I have nothing to gain from taking your life, Caius."
Questa nodded"I agree. Slaying you will not bring back our fallen comrades."
"but it will save-"
Taios arrived with his allies and interrupted Caius"Save Yuel? it won't save anyone."
Caius glanced at the newcomers"Taios... The boy who travels through time and space itself. You do know that Noel will kill me. there is nothing you can do to change that."
"Yes, I can" Taios summoned Road to Rememberance and pointed it at Caius"I know how this song and dance will end. There's no point to killing you! The future isn't destined to happen. Kingdom Hearts is still intact. Cosmos is still alive. And many worlds are still ok. Now tell me Caius: What would life matter if you condemn it to non-existence?"
Caius sighed"Does it look like I care about that? Life has lost all meaning. The Chaos is steadily engulfing everything."
Serenia's eyes widened"How can we stop it?"
Caius grimaced"You can't, the future has been written. Even If you will not kill me, you will meet your fate." He made a last-ditch charge attack at Serah. Noel hastily stepped in and shields Serah, impaling Caius in the heart with his blade in the process.
Noel's eyes widened at what just happened"Caius!"
For a moment, the power of chaos started to burst into a pillar, then slowly vanished, leaving the guardian to fall on his knees and start to die... And Taios was silent.
Questa addressed him"your majesty... do you... know what's going to happen?"
"Where are the others? We need to leave this place ASAP" said Taios.
Sora shrugged"The Order Sanctuary, if its been saved."
Yoran frowned"The sanctuary was overrun. The others are probably still on the Ragnarok II."
"Some of us may have gliders, but we'd almost have to teleport" Sora said.
Serenia paled in fear"What happens if we don't get out of here?"
Taios pulled out his star shard keychai"Chaos city. Serah, Noel, Kuja... You'll need this. It'll at least help you get out of here. I understand that you wanna look for your Yuel, Moel... but. we're out of time. Return to Cosmos."
Noel nodded and took the star shard"I understand."
"What about you and Sora, Taios? And what about Serenia?" Serah asked.
Sora shrugged"I've been through worse. We'll make it out of here, somehow."
Noel looked around"There might be a portal or something, here. You guys gonna try to find Lightning and Kain's bodies, then?
"Maybe, I don't even know what we'll do. However, we're not going to just roll over and die. Neol, Kuja, Serah, tell Kairi that Serenia and I will be a little longer, okay?" Sora grinned.
Noel nodded"I will, Sora."
"And I think its time that we hurry up and find them." He heard footsteps as they saw countless manakins and nobodies slowly approaching from the distance in the sea"go! NOW!" Taios shouted.
The star shard started to glow brighter and brighter until light consumed them and they started to bounce around until they were in the sky, vanishing from it.
Serenia addressed her remaining companions"But which way do we start looking?"
"Well, I wouldn't recommend fighting our way across the sea. Let's avoid combat if possible" suggested Yoran.
Sora nodded"All right" and started to run east across the shoreline.
Taios run along the shore with Sora as the others tried to follow"Sora, we know where they are."
Sora stopped"we do?"
Taios looked at the highest part of the city"Where else you think light is?"
"Huh, must have slipped my mind" said Sora.
Questa nodded"Let's hurry up and find them, then."
Sora then headed in the direction of the city, toward the highest location.
While the others were going to find Lightning and Kain's bodies, the Ragnarok II was trying to reach Radiant Garden by leaving Grand Pulse, but as the countless nobody dreadnoughts and heartless ships were increasing by the second, it was getting a bit difficult to maneuver, seeing as though that the ship itself was a bit damaged due to the crash earlier.
"Cid, can this ship even last?!" Tidus griped.
Cid sighed"Look, I'm trying here to keep this thing stable, ok?! It's these damned ships that are causing the problem!"
Leon shrugged"Looks like we have no choice. We need to find a world that's close by!"
"why not that world over there?" Yuffie pointed out the window.
Yuna looked at it"that looks like Ocean Beach."
Kairi nodded"Then we'll land there."
They started to go there, but unfortunately, they were shot down by one dreadnought and crashed once again. But as they did so, the ship's systems were destroyed, and Cosmos used her powers to protect everyone. As they all left the ship on the shores of the ruined ocean beach, they saw that it was damaged beyond repair, before a star shard of light brought serah, noel, and kuja down to them.
"Serah, Noel, Kuja! Everything okay?" Tidus called to them.
Serah nodded"Hm... I think so. But Kain and Lightning are..."
Ceodore's eyes widened"Kain's dead!?"
Serah nodded sadly"I wish I could say otherwise. Caius killed them..."
Kairi paled"Oh, no... And Where's Sora? I thought he'd be back with us by now. And Serenia... Is she okay?"
"They're fine. Caius practically skewered himself on my blade. Sora, Taios, Serenia, Yoran and Questa are still in Valhalla, looking for Kain and Lightning's bodies. Sora said they'll be a little longer, Kairi" Noel said, relaying the message.
Kairi nodded"I see... I know he'll be back."
Kuja frowned"But is it enough to witness the beginning of the end of the worlds?"
Squall turned to the Genome"What do mean?"
Kuja shook his head"You do realize that with Caius dead, Etro is dead too... And Serah is going to die in a few moments. Unless Cosmos can do something to stop Serah's death..."
Noel: shrugged"I don't think Cosmos has the power to counter or even negate that of another goddess."
Yuna nodded"From what I understand, the Warriors of Cosmos are bound by Shinryu's pact and protection, which can only be negated by Manakin."
"Yeah, Cosmos may not have that sort of pull with Etro's Curse. But no harm in trying. Noel, Cosmos is still on board. Its better than doing nothing" said Tidus.
Neol nodded and took Serah into the ship to find Cosmos.
"Yuffie. You, Cloud and Tifa scout ahead to find a town nearby. Otherwise, we'll have to camp out here" Squall instructed,
Yuffie nodded"Roger, dodger."
As Cloud, Yuffie and Tifa headed to the nearby town, they found themselves near by a hotel and other rundown restruants and shops that were still looking ok, despite their appearence. And to the group, it looked almost sad, as if people abandoned it while the gentle breeze blew a newspaper near them.
Cloud: caught the paper and read what's on there"Monsters from video games becomes real. Is this the end-times like the bible predicted? Or a form of terrorism so complex that it is a cruel joke?"
Tifa Looked over Cloud's shoulder"Oh no, sounds like this world has already been invaded."
"And from the looks of it, this might be the town that Taios spent much of his life in..." Cloud looked around.
Yuffie frowned"But what could've happened here?"
Cloud shrugged"Who knows?"
Noel reached Cosmos and the Warrior of Light, along with several others"Cosmos, Serah's dying."
Quinn was puzzled"What?"
Cosmos looked at Serah"She has the curse of Etro on her."
Serah gasped as she started to experience a terrible vision of the future.
"Hang on, Serah. Cosmos, can't you do something?" Noel asked, desperate.
Cosmos pondered for a second"I can lessen the potent effects of Etro's Eyes, but only to a small degree. It may be too late, regardless."
"But there must be something you can do that can counter the effects entirely" said Aerith.
"Forgive me. But i cannot. T hough my powers are grand... I cannot undo the shackles of death placed on Serah... I truly wish there was more I can-... ngh!" Cosmos gasped.
Quinn was alarmed"Cosmos!"
Cosmos held a hand up"I'm... fine...but my... my powers... they're- I feel weakened... no... Kingdom Hearts. It is breaking!"
"Ah!" Serah cried.
The Warrior of Light was stunned"So, its over, then... No, it can't end like this."
"But from the looks of it, your ship took a lot of damage" Noel pointed out.
Aerith let out a resigned sigh"Sora's our last hope, then..."
The Warrior of Light shook his head"I do not wish to give up, but what more can we accomplish? If Kingdom Hearts is breaking, I fear the worst for the worlds."
Serah's vision ended and she collapsed into Noel's arms.
Rinoa glanced at Serah with a depressed look, then looked at Cosmos"How long do we have when Bhunivelze wakes up?"
Cosmos was quiet, as in a deep trance.
"Cosmos... we need to know. I know that we wouldn't ask you if it wasn't important" Squall stated.
Cosmos eventually answered"5 Centuries... The Chaos will consume everything for five hundred years. Time will stop for everyone... Even people."
Ceodore's eyes widened"Does this mean we'll all-"
Cosmos raised a hand to silence him"No. the only you can parish is if you were to be destroyed is to have fallen to illness that is deadly or starvation. Life will be more fragile... And I cannot stop it. With my powers gone... I am no longer a Goddess."
The Warrior of Light:shrugged"We'll have to make do the best we can from here on, then."
Ceodore nodded"So, now what?"
Noel: went quiet for a bit longer"First, we'll have to give Serah a proper burial."
"We'll also need to check the parts of the Ragnarok II's systems and see if we can go into town and buy replacement parts. We don't know if they have the technology, though. Cosmos, even if you are no longer a Goddess, we will continue protecting you" said Cecil.
"Yeah, come to think of it, I don't want to think about what will happen if this world gets caught in the Chaos" stated Ceodore.
They heard a knock on their wall, and a girl's voice called"Hey! Uh, whoever you aliens are, you might wanna leave the ship before more unversed heartless come to this spot of the Quarantine Zone."
Ceodore was surprised"Hm?"
"Who is it?" Aerith asked.
The Warrior of light headed out of the ship"I'll go first."
The Hooded Girl was surprised"You've got to be kidding me."
As Quinn and his group exited the ship, they are surprised. Yuna addressed the hooded girl"Forgive me for asking, but do we know you?"
The Hooded Girl shook her head"No, but I know all of you... and it's kinda... You know what? I've seen all the heartless unversed mutants... So it's not a surprise that aliens from video games start showing up here. Look, you may not know it, but this is a hot zone... The only type of people that come here anymore is the military, mercs. scavengers, and gangs."
Leon shrugged"So, this place is off limits to civilians as a result, then? I appreciate you telling us."
The Hooded Girl nodded"Yeah... Thing is, this world has fallen a long time ago. So unless you guys are actually Superman or the justice league in desguise, you are inherently screwed." They then heard bell gongs. The girl pauses for a moment"And it's my cue to scram. Bye!" The girl left.
Ceodore was quiet for a momentt"What now?"
Cecil shrugged"We can't make any hasty decisions, let's try and gather information and seek refuge."
Back with Sora's group, they arrived at the throne, only to see a crystalized Lightning and Kain.. And there was a letter from a familiar villain on the side of the throne room which actually smells like alcohol.
'Dear doo$hbags,
By the time you read this letter, I am- I am dead. anyways, I just wanted to let you know that in ten minutes, the chaos will consume everything in its path. Free advice: Yoran, stop being a pansy moron and start being useful for once. Questa... frankly, I don't care about you. For being dead, you sure do have a nice A**.
Serenia... Start dating a guy. You'll actually learn something. And Ven? Please do yourself a favor and punch Terra in the face for believing old man Xehanort all that time ago. He actually deserves it that. I mean, all these years of trusting him, and you, Aqua and Terra never had the balls to kill the old man then and there, Ven. And the real punchline is that Aqua has more secrets than Taios does. I wouldn't be so easily trusting of her if I were you. Mickey did ditch her in the Realm of Darkness after all.
Love, Saxito'
'PS: You can't get pissed off at someone who's already dead and gone. You idiots should know this.'
Taios read it and facepalmsed"Oh this is just peachy."
Sora frowned"What?"
Yoran: looked over Taios' shoulder"Even in the end, I suppose Saxito got the last laugh."
"We should try to find a way out of here... But what of Kain and Lightning? If they're only in crystal stasis, that should technically mean they're still alive, in a way" said Questa, glancing at the crystalized bodies.
Taios nodded"They are. From what I remember of Fang and Vanille's stasis, I ought to guess that they'll wake up around the time that Bhunivelze nearly wakes up."
Ventus was puzzled"what makes you say that?"
"Saxito used merlins time spell. It's only simple logic that he went into the future and gathered info. Why else would he plan this far in advance?" Taios pointed out.
Sora squared his shoulders"No kidding, that's a good point."
Serenia nnodded"I guess there's nothing more we can do, now."
Taios"well, with all this new info... Well, I know what I'm gonna do for the next whatever years. I'm gonna prepare against the great god himself..."
"I guess I'll resume my training, gotta be ready for anything, right? I might even take up some other studies while I'm at it. I probably won't earn the Mark of Mastery, yet. But no harm in training" Serenia smiled.
Sora ruffled her hair"I know you'll do your best, Serenia."
Ventus squared his shoulders"I'm going to try and find Aqua and Tyler. Don't know what that Saxito meant in his letter by saying she can't be trusted, but no point listening to anymore of his horseplay. And I don't think Mickey knew exactly where in the Realm of Darkness she was at the time, he probably didn't even have time to get her out of there himself."
Yoran nodded"Questa and I will be around, we can't go back to the Farplane, yet, since its so unstable. I'm going to fix up my hideout and Questa and I will be staying there for the time being."
Taios smiled"Then I'll see you guys later. If you need me, I'll be looking for Cosmos and co so that I can have help finding what's left of my true home."
Serenia nodded"See you later, Taios."
"Sora, what about you?" said Ventus.
Sora thought for a moment"I'm going to try to find Kairi, but I will also be doing what I can for the worlds. Nobodies and Heartless might still be causing trouble elsewhere. Serenia, you want to come along, or go with Taios or Ven? You could still train, either way."
"I will go with you, father" Serenia piped up.
Sora smiled"All righty, then. Everyone else, let's all meet again, sometime."
The group begins to leave Valhalla and went their separate ways.
The End
Finally finished Dawn to Twilight, I hope it was enjoyable I had a hard time finding a chapter title for this, but it should fit. I know there's more to this, but that will be covered in my next Kingdom Hearts/Dissidia Final Fantasy story, which I hadn't initially planed. There might also be a distant prequel or side story, depending on how things go.
Thanks again, Infinite, for your ideas. And thanks everyone who has read/favored this. Sure, it was a bit darker than most of my other fics, but I hope its still good.. Also, there might be more of my OCs showing up in the sequel or prequel. I probably don't need to mention it again, but Saxito and Taios are Infinitestories' characters.
Feel free to review if you like.