Chapter 146: Across the Line

In this desert, In Darkness
Lying with the gun across his chest
Pretending, he's heartless
As the fire flashes in the sky

He was fragile, and frozen
When the bullet took away his friend.
And now he's somehow…..

More Broken….

The bells from the broken down clock tower echoed through the infected down, the empty town was shaded by dusk and overshadowed by the Neo City in the distance. Upon the top of the clock tower stood the infected Keybearer. He had lost sight of the hooded man once he had appeared into the world but he knew he was in the right place, there was no need to search for him. He looked as the glowing city with the lack of interest, as if coming to the world was more of a chore. "So that's where he hides…" Sky muttered as he stood up, summoning his infected keyblade and throwing it in front of it, allowing it to enlarge enough for him to ride. "Let's get this sorted." He grumbled as he jumped onto his blade and rode towards the city.

As he rode over the city, he noticed that the city streets were empty. "Strange…" He noted before shrugging it off, moving towards the castle scanned around the place for entrance. He spots a balcony in the middle of the castle and snuck his way in. He looked around the dark corner, looking for guards as he disposed of his weapon, stepping forward into the hallway. "What are you doing here?" He spoke out.

From the shadows, the light of the Neo lights outside and the natural moonlight reflected off his ice like body as he revealed himself. His huge ice arm reflected the light across the room as he stepped toward, brushing parts of his white blight hair with his free hand. "You shouldn't be here." Nikolai's voice echoed within the empty space of the room.

Sky raised an eyebrow at this. "And why is that?" He spoke in a matter of face tone before shrugging. "I'm just any Endless, trying to fulfil their original's final wish." He chuckled. "Thought, you wouldn't know that." He spat.

"Going up against Vanitas is an idea of a fool!" Nikolai warned him. "You won't win."

Sky laughed at Nikolai's words as he walked into the room a bit more. "Why should I take your word? You change sides every time I see you." He pointed out. He looked over to the door, starting to get bored of Nikolai's present, only to watch the Endless seal the way with ice. A dark chuckle escaped him. "That was a bad choice." He glared back at the Sorrow Endless.

"If you go against Vanitas, his plan will succeed and I will not let the worlds fall apart." Nikolai responded as he summoned his iced gunblade, 'Forgotten Promise'.

"Why stop me?" He questioned him as he begun to walk over to him, with every step he took forward, Nikolai took a step back. "I have been shown the future though Brian's memories. I know of the fate of your sister." He revealed to him. "Just face the truth, you will never truly see your sister again, time has changed too much." He chuckled as he watched Nikolai walk himself against the wall, like trapped prey. "Even if you were to see your sister again, all of the memories you had shared together will be gone." He smirked. "Think of it as a clean slate."

Nikolai shivered slightly, "I'm not letting you pass." He growled.

"How about you let your infected soul talk-"

"YOU ARE NOT PASSING ME, SKY!" Nikolai yelled, creating a blast of ice around him, forcing Sky away from him. The blast that Nikolai had made caused half of the room to be covered in snow and ice, bringing some more light into the room. "The others will be here soon. They will stop you."

"Those idiots?!" Sky laughed. "They couldn't stop me when I was attacking that little town, what makes you think that they can stop me here?" He laughed at the thought of their appearance; they have no idea where he had gone too. If they were to come here without him, they won't get very far.

Nikolai dug his sword in the ground as he leaned on it, slightly mocking the Endless in front of him. "They will bring him back. His love for his friends will stop you in your tracks."

"Bring who back?" Sky questioned.

Nikolai smirked. "Sora, of course."

The comment had hit Sky, making the Heart-struck Endless summon his orbs of light as his anger showed. "He is not coming back! You hear me?! I will defeat the Order and the worlds will then be mine!" He yelled as he shot two of his orbs at Nikolai.

"Ice!" Nikolai stuck the ground to create two ice pillars, making the light bounce back. He angled his gunblade, only to see a blur of orange pass him. "What the?"

Between the two fighting Endless, the orange blur halted to reveal Jenova, standing in between of the two, looking at them both with concern. "We don't have to do this!" She told them, earning confusion and angered looks from the both of them.

"Get out of here!" Nikolai warned her, his voice filled of concern. "It's not safe here." With the Colonel's plan turned to dusk, he had to protect Jenova at all cost; he didn't want to lose his last friend.

The Joy Endless simply ignored Nikolai as she turned to face Sky. "Why exactly have you come here?" She asked.

Sky huffed at the question. "To complete the tasks of the final wish." He spoke darkly. "Destroy the Order then the worlds will be mine."

Joy shook her head at his comment as she began to slowly step towards him. "Your heart says different." She told him as she stepped forward. "You fight for another reason, Sora."

Sky growled slightly before smirking, disposing of his infected keyblade as he looked at her with amusement. "Really now? And what is this reason." He chuckled to himself as he saw Nikolai watch the scene in front of him with confusion and worry.

Jenova stepped towards him, a genuine smile shown. "You fight for your friends." She spoke up as she saw that Sky was about to cut her off. "Deny all you want, you haven't claimed his heart yet and even if you do claim that her, those feelings will always be there. Like the Colonel's jealousy, like Nikolai's sorrow." She told him, standing right in front of the Light Heart-Struck. "Being a Heart-Struck, you hold all of those emotions that has come from your original, so even if you win…..you'll lose."

Nikolai stepped forward slightly, feeling concerned about Jenova being that close to Sky, only to realise that he couldn't stepped forward. He looked around to see that the orbs of Light from Sky were keeping him in place by placing him in a box, light transparent barriers for walls. "JENOVA! MOVE!" He shouted.

Within seconds, sensing Nikolai's distress. Jenova sped out of Sky's reach, just about missing Sky's strike. "So close…" He muttered, looking around the room for the sight of the orange blur before disappearing himself.

Nikolai looked around the room, blind to the speed battle that was occurring between Jenova and Sky. His attention would be drawn to sudden blasts against the walls or parts of the building structure would fall apart. After a while of searching the room to every last crack and inch, Jenova reappeared as he crashed to the ground, orange lights began to form from her body. "Jenova!" He yelled, running to her side, only to be sent into the wall.

Sky glared at the Sorrow Endless, raising his claw to absorb the lights, changing his claw to orange for the moment. "Shame you couldn't see the battle." Sky spoke in a matter of fact tone as he absorbed Jenova's powers. "She put up a good fight."

"You….YOU!" Nikolai pushed himself out of the wall, gunblade in place, only to drop to his knees, grapping his frozen infected claw in pain.

Sky chuckled at this. "Like I said, Brian had shown me the future through his memories. Sadly for you, he had shown me too much by mistake." He smirked, watching Nikolai scream with pain, the floor around him began to freeze, forming sharp spikes. "If want you say is true, that the others will make their way here….Well, you will be the prefect guard." He turned his back as he summoned his keyblade once more and smashed through the ice shield that the Sorrow Endless previously.

Sky left his enemy across the line, leaving him to suffer the pain and torment he had avoided for so long.

BOWBOWBOW

Sweating, and Shaking
Lying with her hands across her chest
She wakes with, her cravings
As the fire flashes in her eye

She was fragile, and frozen
When the needle took away her friend
And how she's somehow…

More Broken…

Riku, Kairi, Hikari, Brian, Donald, Goofy and King Mickey slowly came to a halt as they took sight of the town. Twlight Town remained deserted as the rouge wind blew into the town, the sound of footsteps and the movement of clothing and armour echoed in the empty town. Within the Tram Common where they stood, the shops were collapsed as some showed signs of an explosion, an invasion. The tram itself had fallen to its side, covered in the Unbirths' infection and claw marks, sparkling on occasion from the close connection to the rails. Goofy looked around the town in sorrow. "If only we could have helped…" he said sadly.

Hikari nodded in agreement. "All that we can do now is stopping the Order." She told him, earning a grateful smile in return.

Kairi looked around with caution, her newly made charm held tightly in her hand. "Where are they?" She questioned, looking around.

"They never rebuild this place until a couple of years after the Order had won." Brian explained. "We need to head to where the old mansion is. It should still be standing at the moment." He looked at the others. "Do you know the way?"

"Follow me." Riku stepped forward as he led the way, Way to Dawn in hand, seeing that the others followed. They began to cross the Market Street, looking for any signs of soldiers, only to see that they were truly alone. The Wielder of Dawn looked back to his friend beside him, watching that she did not say as they travelled. "Are you okay?" He asked with concern. He wasn't convinced when she merely nodded. "We will save him." He assured him, looking back at the others. "We'll save everyone who was ever caused hurt by these events!" He told them.

Brian looked away at this, his sight drawn to his claw, only to notice the power of its lambent glow. "What the-" He muttered in question only to hiss in pain as rouge flames began to form from his claw. "Withdraw!" He spoke with slight panic, he had no control.

Hikari shot around from the sound of Brian's panicky tone, running to his side. "Brian!"

"Wait! Don't come near!" Brian warned her as he attempted to control his ability. He didn't understand, this is the first time that he was experiencing this sort of virtual attack. After a couple of seconds, he managed to control his power. "I shouldn't even be experiencing this problem. I had learned how to balance my powers when I was a child."

"Brian." Hikari stepped forward as she spoke with a concerned voice. "Your eyes."

"My-" Brian looked around for the closest reflective surface, jogging over to the tram on his side to look into the metal surface. He looked at his face; his eyes first drew to his scar on his chin, remembering that it was there before looking at his eyes. Instead of being his usual blue eye self, his eyes had turned violet, this is the first time that he had seen his eyes turned violet, knowing that they only show when they lose his temper. "This shouldn't be…." He whispered, trying to think if he has had this problem before. The only time that he could think of was when he had tried to find what his ability was, back when his claw was as dark as a raven. It was before he had even started his secret balancing technique lessons with…..with-Jun! " We need to go!" He told them with urgently. He has had no problem with his memory, everything should be back to him, he shouldn't be having problem with remembering Jun. "C'mon! There's no time." He summoned his weapon to his hand, finding that he had a newly melded Staff of Myths as he ran towards the others, signalling them to move.

They ran through the forest and ran their way towards the front doors of the Old Mansion, still finding no signs of the enemy. Goofy and Riku opened the front doors, creaking from the lack of oil on the door hinges, lettings everyone in through the dusty hall. Riku coughed slightly as he walked in, "I don't think anyone has been here since our events with the Xemnas." He kept his guard as he watched around the entrance hall.

"Riku." Kairi called to her friend, stepping forward a blockage that shielded the back doors. "Where does this lead?" She asked him.

Riku spoke with uncertainty as he looked at the blockage. "Never been that way." He admitted before looking at Brian, seeing his determined expression. "Is this the way to go?" He asked.

"Only one way to find out!" He said quickly as he pointed his staff towards the blocked path. "Clear the way." He instructed as his claw glowed, powering his attack. The others quickly moved out of the way as the runes on the staff turned red, making the Aversion Endless smirk. "Fire!" From the tip of his staff, he unleashed 'Lost Heart', sending him back slightly. The blast hit the blockage slightly to the side, only blasting some of the blockage away. "Damn it" Brian cursed. "This staff is off aim."

"Have you still not figured out how to summon your keyblade?" Riku asked him, confused by why he was using the staff again.

Hikari looked at him with shock and confusion. "Since when have you been using your keyblade again?" She questioned as she chuckled slightly. "I thought you said that keyblades were stupid."

"They are." Brian huffed, smirking slightly. "I couldn't really save the others without a weapon." He spoke, referring to his appearance at Ultimate Castle.

Mickey looked around the area with concern. "Gosh guys, perhaps we can discuss this later." He told them sternly as he watched the shadows, seeing them move. "We've got company."

The shadows moved sharply towards the group as a sharp dark shadowed claw formed from the ground and slammed at the group. Goofy ran in front and held his shield up to block the claw from hitting the group. He crouched down slightly from the force of the attack; he just managed to hold it up. He gulped as he saw another claw formed from the ground, striking him at the front and sending him slamming into the wall.

Donald and Brian stepped forward, raising their weapons into the air as they create a rain of thunder on the shadow claws, making them back up slightly. King Mickey jumped forward to join the two in their spell, looking back at the others. "Sort the blockage."

Hikari ran over to Goofy's side, only to see that huge darken Unbirths began to fill the room. "Riku! Kairi!" Hikari pulled Goofy up to his feet and handed him a potion before they started to keep the Unbirths back.

The two Islanders looked at each other; both of the keybladers summoned their weapons to their hands. The Way of Dawn looked over to Kairi to see that she didn't wield 'Destiny's Embrace' but held 'Ultimate Oath', the broken charm hanging as the keychain. He quickly looked at Kairi with concerned before he pulled his attention to the blockage.

"LIGHT!" Kairi shouted with all of her might.

"TAKE THIS!" Riku shouted along as he fired his Darkaga Fire Spell at the door, along with Kairi's Holyaga spell at the blockage. With seconds, the blockage had disappeared. "It's clear!" He shouted to the others as he prepared to cover for the others. "Kairi! Help me—KAIRI!" The others turned their attention to where Kairi had previously stood, only to find that she had gone on ahead through the wreckage. "KAIRI!" Riku called back to her.

Kairi quickly shot herself around within the garden and shot a huge amount of orbs towards them. The others quickly moved out of the way of the orbs, watching as the orbs of light was pushing them back, preventing the darken shadow hands or the Unbirths on striking them. "We can't waste time!" She shouted before she continued running.

"She's right!" Brian agreed before he turned back to Kairi's barrier. He noticed the barrier was slowly shaking in place; it won't be long before it breaks. "Donald! Goofy! Go with Kairi!" He told them before looking at Riku, Hikari and Mickey. "We'll deal with this."

"But what about you guys?" Donald asked with concern.

Riku looked at the two of them with concern. "We'll be fine. We need you to look after Kairi…" He sighed before shouting at the two. "What are you waiting for?!" He told them, watching as they began to make their way out. "Sora would tell you the same thing! Now go!" With his last words, Donald and Goofy left the scene.

The light barrier cracked slightly, watching as the darken shadowed claws become furiously at the leaving foe.

Hikari looked at the others with confusion, seeing that all of the boys held their concern. "Why send Donald and Goofy after Kairi?" She asked. "Taking care of these guys won't take that long. We could had easily caught up with Kairi."

Mickey replied in a serious tone. "Her heart is searching…"

"Searching?" She questioned.

"She managed to cover her emotions a lot back at Little Devon." Riku explained. "The news of the secret message had stalled her but I could tell…."

The light barrier cracked more; Unbirths began to move through the cracks.

"….the news of Sora. She's broken. Back the way she was when we didn't return. And she will find Sora, whether with us or on her own." Riku spoke with concern, looking back through the hole in the wall they had made from blowing the blockage up, seeing the sights of the Neo city, of Neo Mansion.

BOWBOWBOW

A light began to sip pass the gabs of the door before blowing the door into pieces, revealing the Chaos of Light, holding a smug grin on his face. "Come out!" He shouted as he walked into the darken room. "Light the way." He muttered to his orbs of corrupted light, watching as the light sped through the room, lighting anything that forms a source of light, whether it was a lantern, torch the light of the stars shining through the window. As soon as the orbs had finished their work, Sky looked into the room to see that it was the sight of the Dark Master's throne room. "Bizarre throne room…." He whispered.

The throne stood at the back of the room, a throne that was currently empty, the windows were sealed, the only light that formed was formed the small gabs that the other Endless must have missed when filling them in. On one side of the room was thirteen small containers on a long curved table with the Endless symbol in the centre; some of them was filled with a coloured shadow while most of the others remained empty. On the other side were containers, closely resembling to the container chambers that the Princess of Heart had been sealed in two years ago. "What is he planning?" He wondered, looking at the items in question, mainly the containers. Should he be collecting the Princess of Heart while we were collecting the items? He wondered as he stepped forward towards one of the containers.

"That's far enough, Sky."

The Chaos of Light halted his actions as he shot his attention over to Vanitas, remaining masked as he now sat upon his precious throne. "There you are!" He grinned. "Prepare to meet your maker!" He summoned his infected keyblade once more.

"In a rush?" He questioned, not making a single move from his throne.

Sky huffed at his comment. "Once I defeat the Order. Once I defeat you!" He told him. "These worlds will be mine, with the Unbirth by my side."

Vanitas shook his head at this. "So your place was to just waltz your way here, defeat me and expect everything you want? Only a fool of the light would be that idiotic." He insulted, standing up from his throne as he looked down at Sky. "You would have seemed to have forgotten. The Unbirths are mine alone. They are nothing to do with the way of the Order. They will be lost if I was to disappear." He began to step down as he continued to explain. "And the fact that you had agreed to fight the Order instead of destroying the worlds just shows how weak minded you are. That at this very point of time, you struggle to gain all of Sora's heart." He huffed at the Endless that stood in front of him. "But I can change that."

"Really now?" He spoke in amusement, looking at him with the mock believe.

The masked Vanitas nodded. "There is a key. A key that will reveal the TRUE kingdom hearts. It can only be formed by the powers of Pure Light and Pure Darkness and since I'm the only person who is complete made by darkness and able to keep my heart, the one with pure light must be an Endless." He explained to him as he held his darken claw out to him. "Shake my hand and help me create the 'X' blade and I will grant you the power to summon your own Unbirths and make sure that Sora will never bother you again."

Sky looked at the claw darkly before glaring at the Dark Master. "Why help me?" He questioned. "I came here to destroy you and instead you offer me the power I'm looking for?" He looked around the room, seeing that his orbs of light were circling around the frozen containers. "And what are all the containers for?" He demanded.

Vantias looked at the containers before looking back at him. "Once you have made your decision, you will find out neither way." He simple said.

"Then we'll fight." Sky growled before quickly moving to strike Vantias, only for his attack to get blocked. "What the-" He was surprised to watch that instead of pushing him back to begin the fact, Vanitas had grabbed a hold of his glowing white claw. He watched in shock as his claw began to flash multiple colours, the corner of his eye spots that whatever colour that flashes on his claw, appears in one of the small containers. "What's going on?!"

He looked at his enemy in disbelieve as Vanitas' laughter ringed his eyes.

A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for the late update. Deadlines and Hoildays. I will work on the other chapters before my deadlines return. Promise! Also, been working on a project for uni. One that will actually be a scene from Balance of Memories. This chapter was inspired by 'Across the Line' by Linkin Park.

Hope everyone had a good Christmas and wish them a happy new year.

Kingdommad