Si'Lea, Aqua, Terra, Ven, and Mickey were now in one of the upper levels of the Palace. They could tell they were nearing the Brink of Infinity, as the curve in the staircase they were running up got gradually sharper.
"How much farther do you think?" Ven asked.
"Not too much farther." Si'Lea replied.
"I've been feeling a lot of power on a couple of the levels below us. I think Sora and his team aren't far behind." Terra said.
"Agreed. I may be wrong but it's possible that they may have eliminated the other two sisters." Si'Lea replied as they reached another pair of doors. They threw the doors open and froze. This room wasn't like the rest but was a large open air passage with a balcony that overlooked the vast wasteland beyond the Palace. Standing before them though, his white hood down, was none other than…
"Oswald." Si'Lea said as Oswald looked at them with a determined gaze.
"You! You're the ones the Sisters told me about! The ones they said would try and trick me! Well you're not getting past me!" Oswald said, summoning his Keyblade.
"Who is that?" Terra asked as Mickey took a deep breath.
"King Oswald the Lucky. He's my older brother." Mickey replied, surprising the others.
"Your brother?" Ven asked as Mickey stepped forward.
"This is my fight, fellas. Let me handle this." Mickey replied. Oswald narrowed his gaze at him but they could tell there was a hint of confusion in his expressions.
"You. I know you. I feel like I should! But I-…I can't remember!" Oswald grunted, frustrated by his inability to remember.
"You do know me, Oswald. It's me, Mickey Mouse! Don't you remember?" Mickey asked, Oswald putting a hand to his head in slight pain.
"I-…-I remember…" Oswald stammered before dropping into his fighting stance.
"I remember only my duty!" he replied. Mickey sighed, disappointed.
"No, you remember, but they've done something to you to make you forget. You know exactly who I am, so let me help to remind you!" Mickey said, summoning his Keyblade and dropping into his fighting stance (Battle Music Cue: Mickey Mouse Club March – Eurobeat Version). The two brothers stared each other down for a moment before both launched towards the other, their Keyblades coming together for only a brief moment before they started exchanging fast blows, spinning and bouncing around as Keyblades clashed.
"Whoa, geez, I can hardly keep up with them!" Ven exclaimed.
"You've never really gotten to see the Kings fight before." Si'Lea said, a little apprehensive of the fight taking place before them.
"Why? What happens? We saw them fight only briefly back in Black Castle." Aqua said as Si'Lea gave a nod.
"Yeah but they were just getting warmed up then. When you see the two Kings go all out though, you don't want to get between them. They used to train this way. Back then though, there was a noticeable power gap…but now?" she explained as they watched the two Kings continuing to battle each other at ultra-fast speeds. The two Kings finally came together in midair over the center of the balcony before pushing off of each other and landing on opposite ends of the balcony, Mickey near the edge of the balcony while Oswald stood near the back wall. Both Kings stared at each other for a moment before pointing their Keyblades at each other. Si'Lea's eyes widened.
"Oh crap! TAKE COVER!" she ordered, summoning her armor and shield, ducking behind it, the other three ducking behind it along with her.
"Monochrome!" Oswald declared, creating a sudden bubble that turned the world within it into monochrome. Mickey quickly threw up a Reflega around him before the bubble hit him, leaving him and the space within the Reflega in full color, his Keyblade still pointed at Oswald.
"Fantasia – Full Color!" Mickey declared, his Keyblade letting off a flash of light before a bubble of energy expanded around him and eradicated the Monochrome bubble, startling Oswald for a moment before narrowing his eyes and pointing his Keyblade at Mickey again.
"Luck – Starburst!" Oswald commanded. Suddenly a large chain of shimmering stars came spiraling down from above the clouds, coiling down towards Oswald from behind before flying around him and towards Mickey. Mickey seemed to vanish within the flurry of stars, the stars smashing partly into the balcony, ripping through it before the stars coiled back up and scattered back above the clouds. When the stars vanished, they all saw something that made them blink in surprise.
"Is that-…" Ven asked.
"Yep." Si'Lea replied. Before them, protected in a golden forcefield shaped like his Royal Seal, stood King Mickey, clad in a suit of black and red Keyblade Armor, a long flowing red cape behind him. His helmet was pointed like the others but was shaped to accommodate his ears. His shoes weren't pointed but distinctly yellow. His royal seal was emblazoned across his chest in red along with a Mark of Mastery in platinum.
"He got him to use his armor…oh this isn't going to be pretty." Si'Lea mumbled as Oswald blinked in surprise.
"That armor! I've definitely seen it before! But how can I have seen it?! When did I-." Oswald stammered, trying to decipher his scattered memories. The armored Mickey pointed at Oswald with his Keyblade.
"Spectromagic – Light Parade!" Mickey declared as his Keyblade started letting off a huge swarm of twinkling lights of a wide variety of colors, the lights taking the shape of a wide array of parade floats, the floats barreling towards Oswald at incredible speed, the alarmed Oswald stunned and unable to move as the floats crashed into him, each one exploding in a burst of colors on impact (A/N: Think the Electric Light Parade's selection of parade floats). The final parade float explosion sent Oswald flying over Mickey's head. Mickey watched him sailing overhead and dropped back down into a fighting stance, pointing his Keyblade at Oswald.
"Now to help you remember everything! Fantasia – Royal Proclamation!" Mickey declared as a giant stained glass King's Seal appeared behind him. He proceeded to toss his Keyblade into the air before raising his hands to the sides, beginning to wave them as if directing an orchestra.
"M! I! C! K! E! Y! M! O! U! S! E!" Mickey yelled, the letters of his name appearing within the seal as he spelled them out. The moment he yelled out the final E, the seal started to glow with bright light before the seal fired off a shimmering multicolored beam of light that arced towards the still airborne Oswald, the light hitting him head-on but instead of harming him, the light seemed to flow around him. Oswald looked around in confusion.
"Oswald!" he heard a voice calling. He looked to see Mickey, helmet off, flying towards him within the beam, his hand outstretched, reaching for him. His armor suddenly vanished, revealing Mickey in only a pair of red shorts with two white buttons and a pair of yellow shoes. Oswald's eyes widened and mouth opened in awe.
"Mickey…my brother." He whispered, reaching out and grabbing Mickey by the hand as a bright light enveloped them (end battle music). When the light faded, they found themselves back on the balcony, Oswald on his knees before Mickey who, back in his usual clothes, had Oswald's head pressed up against his chest.
"Mickey?" Oswald asked, blinking in confusion before looking up at him. He then looked at his white gloved hands and clothes for a moment before gasping in shock.
"I thought it was just a dream…a nightmare." Oswald stammered as Mickey put his hands on his shoulders.
"It's all over now, Oswald. You're free. You're not a slave to the Darkness anymore." Mickey said as Oswald held his head in shame.
"I've lived so long in Darkness…I couldn't control my actions. I'd forgotten all that I held dear. The Sisterhood, they hid my memories so that they made me think I was one of them." Oswald said.
"That's not your fault. You know that." Si'Lea said as she approached.
"Si'Lea? Oh how can I ever make up for all the horrible things I've done? I'll never-." Oswald said but Si'Lea gently shushed him.
"No, don't. You don't have to do that. All that matters now is that, well…the King has returned." Si'Lea said, summoning her Keyblade, holding it so it pointed towards the ground, before dropping down to one knee, bowing her head.
"Long live the Kings." She declared, Aqua, Terra, and Ven approaching and standing next to her, each summoning their Keyblades.
"Long live the Kings." Aqua said, kneeling down.
"Long live the Kings." Terra added, kneeling down as well.
"Long live the Kings." Ven finished, all four of them bowing before the two Kings and Keyblade Masters. Oswald looked around at the others before smiling sadly, remorseful yet thankful for the forgiveness he was receiving.
"Come on, Oswald. I know Donald and Goofy are anxious to see you again too." Mickey said as Oswald gave a nod.
"Yeah." He replied as Mickey turned to the others.
"You fellas go on ahead. We'll go back down and see if we can lend the others a hand outside." Mickey said as the other four Keyblade Wielders rose to their feet.
"You got it, Mickey." Si'Lea said as Oswald reached for his cloak, ripping it off to reveal a blue and silver variation of King Mickey's attire. Oswald summoned his Keyblade.
"Are ya ready, brother?" Oswald asked, Mickey summoning his own Keyblade with a determined nod.
"Let's hit it!" Mickey replied before they both turned and ran towards the balcony, leaping off and gliding back down towards the wasteland below.
"So that just leaves…" Ven said as they looked upwards towards the Brink of Infinity which was only four stories above them.
"First." Si'Lea hissed before darting forward towards the doors.
"Si'Lea, wait!" Aqua yelled as they ran after her.
Elsewhere within the Palace…
Sora's team were racing up the stairs towards the next level, hurrying to reach the Brink of Infinity.
"There's only one Sister left, First. I can sense it." Namine said as they ran.
"You don't seem too happy about it." Axel said as Namine looked apprehensive about something.
"It's not so much that, but it's just that there's one person we haven't seen yet. One of First's victims from long ago. One of the Guardians forced into her service." Namine explained as Riku glanced her way. He knew who it was she was referring to.
"Don't worry. With any luck we won't run into her." Riku said.
"Who are we talking about?" Xenix asked.
"The only person none of us will be able to beat, simply because she cannot be killed and she's immune to my powers." Namine replied.
"Someone like that exists?" Kairi asked worriedly as they reached another door, the six of them running in and sliding to a halt as they saw the young yet immortal Elvaan girl standing before them, her arms crossed over her chest with a clear look of unhappiness on her face.
"(Sigh) Aww man! Why did you have to get this far?" Prishe said before noticing Namine, arching a confused eyebrow.
"Sev?! What are you doing with them?!" she asked, confused.
"I'm not Seven, Prishe. My name is Namine. We're here to stop the First Sister and make her pay for all the suffering she's caused." Namine said as Prishe's jaw hit the floor, figuratively of course.
"You mean you turned on us?! Wow, I totally didn't see that coming. Good for you, growing a backbone Sev! But…at the same time, I wish you hadn't done that." Prishe said, clinching her fists at her side.
"Why is that?" Kairi asked.
"Because I can't let any of you proceed. I've been ordered to fight each of you to the death and keep you here to prevent you from reaching First. I'm sorry, but I can't let you pass." Prishe said, slipping her knuckle plates, the Destroyers, onto her hands. The others summoned their Keyblades and weapons except for Namine who stepped forward, a determined look on her face.
"Stand down, all of you. I will fight her." Namine said, surprising the others as she approached Prishe.
"Namine?" Kairi said softly, surprised.
"I must ask each of you, that no matter what happens, I beg you, please do not intervene. Don't interfere. This is between me and her." Namine said as she quietly reached up and unzipped her white coat, the coat falling to the floor to reveal a white dress similar to her usual one only with a longer and slightly pleated white skirt, bicep length white gloves, and white shoes with crisscrossing white straps that went all the way to just below her knees. Prishe blinked in surprise at this.
"Whoa-whoa, Sev, are you serious? You're going to fight me?" Prishe asked as Namine, a stolid expression on her face, dropped into a hand-to-hand fighting stance.
"I am." She replied.
"You do know that I have no choice but to kill you, Sev. You won't be coming out of this alive." Prishe said, trying to convince Namine not to fight.
"I know." Namine replied, not backing down.
"Namine." Kairi whispered.
"What's she doing?" Axel asked, itching to intervene.
"I don't know." Kairi replied as the two stood across from each other, both in their fighting stances. (Battle Music Cue: The Other Promise – KH2 FM+) Suddenly Prishe flew at Namine, an arm reared back and swung at her. Namine ducked the swing and popped back up with two quick jabs to the chin, causing Prishe to step back slightly before socking Namine in the stomach, sending her tumbling to the floor.
"Namine!" Sora exclaimed.
"DON'T MOVE!" Namine yelled, pushing herself onto her feet before charging towards Prishe in an attempt to attack but Prishe deftly countered, kneeing Namine in the stomach, causing her to double over and giving Prishe the opportunity to deliver an axe handle blow to Namine's back, causing the young Nobody to cry out in pain as she fell to the floor.
"Namine! What are you doing?! Use the Keyblade!" Sora yelled, Roxas briefly manifesting over him. Namine pushed herself onto her feet, Prishe watching with a visibly conflicted look on her face.
"Sev, please! Don't get back up! I don't want to hurt you anymore!" Prishe pleaded but Namine turned towards her, staggering to her feet.
"I'm not giving up. I'd rather die fighting for the people I care about!" Namine replied, charging at Prishe again but Prishe grimaced, reared back, and delivered a devastating blow to the face, sending Namine flying towards the wall, leaving a crater in the wall upon impact.
"Damn it Namine! What the hell are you thinking?!" Axel yelled, attempting to summon his chakrams but Riku stopped him, pointing the tip of Way to Dawn in his face.
"She said not to interfere." Riku replied as Namine struggled to stand, holding her stomach, her left eye clinched shut, her body wracked with pain as she looked at Prishe.
"Stay down Sev! Please!" Prishe begged.
"I already said, I'm not giving up! As long as I continue to exist, I will fight unto my very last breath for the people I care for!" Namine yelled, charging towards Prishe who grimaced, delivering a painful blow to Namine's leg, causing her to collapse to one knee.
"I'm fighting for Nixe!" Namine said defiantly, trying to swing a fist at Prishe but Prishe easily countered and kicked Namine across towards the back wall, but not with enough force to leave a crater. Namine collapsed onto the ground but despite the beating she was taking, she still struggled to push herself up.
"I'm fighting for everyone that has suffered from the Sisterhood!" Namine said, holding her side still, as she staggered to her feet, tears flowing down her face as she raised her head towards Prishe who was shaking, an expression of pain that rivaled Namine's own on her face, agonizing over what she was having to do. Namine then started charging towards her again, clinching a fist and rearing back.
"AND I'M FIGHTING FOR YOU!" Namine yelled, throwing her punch only to get a knee to the chin, sending her into the air slightly before being grabbed by the throat in midair and choke slammed down into the ground so hard, the floor buckled around her, leaving a crater. The others were helpless, unable to do anything but to watch. Namine was now too wracked with pain to move as Prishe stood over her, the Abhorrent Child's fists shaking.
"Why?"
Namine cracked open her right eye, looking up towards Prishe. Prishe was trembling, tears streaming down her face.
"Why would you fight for me? I've done nothing but terrible things. I've only caused heartache, pain, suffering…why would you fight for me even though you know I'd kill you?!" Prishe yelled, dropping to her knees to hover over Namine.
"Because…I'd rather die fighting for my friends, than live forever knowing I didn't. I'd rather live forever knowing I fought for my friends, even if I watch them die, than die knowing I didn't." Namine explained as Prishe looked at her in disbelief, shaking and trembling with shock. She then grimaced and reared back a fist. (End Battle Music) Namine calmly closed her eyes, content to let Prishe deal the finishing blow. Prishe brought her fist down, sending up a massive cloud of dust upon impact. When the dust settled though, Namine cracked open one eye and looked to see Prishe's fist driven into the floor next to her head. She then felt warm drops of water dripping onto her cheek. She looked and saw Prishe leaning over her, tears streaming down her face. Prishe sat up, sobbing softly.
"I can't do it. I just can't do it! I CAN'T KILL THE ONLY FRIEND I HAVE LEFT!" Prishe cried out. Everyone was stood in silent amazement at Prishe's confession. Prishe was sat with her head bowed before feeling a pair of warm and loving arms wrapped around her. She looked and saw Namine, sitting up, holding her close.
"I'm not your only friend, Prishe." Namine said as Prishe's eyes widened in shock for a moment, turning to look towards the others nearby, each of them smiling warmly at the sight.
"She's right, Prishe. One of the Riku Replica's missions, was to find out all he could about you, about your condition, and relay that information to Namine, all to help you." Riku said as Prishe looked astonished.
"But…why? What've I ever done to deserve that?" Prishe asked.
"Because that's what friends do. They help each other." Kairi replied.
"And you were Namine's only friend within the Sisterhood. Why else would she want to help you? What more reason would she need?" Riku added, Prishe looking at all of them in astonishment. She started to tremble for a moment before throwing her head back, crying loudly as Kairi approached, helping to pull a semi-conscious Namine off of her. Kairi and Sora both cast Curaga spells on Namine, healing her injuries in seconds.
"That was very brave of you Namine." Kairi said as Namine smiled up at her other.
"I honestly didn't know if I'd succeed." Namine said as Prishe's crying died down, sitting ashamedly on the floor.
"You better hurry. First is up there, and if you're going to stop her, you better act quick." Prishe said as Namine rose to her feet, Riku putting her coat back round her.
"What about you? I can't leave you here alone like this." Namine asked. They were surprised though when Axel placed his coat around Prishe from behind, leaving him in just a pair of black jeans, a silver chain running from the belt buckle to the back belt loop, a red t-shirt, and his black Organization XIII gloves and boots.
"I'll stay with her. I've been in her place before. Besides, I don't have much else better to do." Axel said with his usual smirk. Namine and the others saw right through him though and smiled accordingly.
"I'll stay here too." Kairi said as she knelt down near Prishe.
"Wait, where'd she go?" Riku asked. They looked and saw that Prishe had vanished, leaving Axel's coat behind. They looked around but didn't see any trace of her.
"I wonder where she could've gone." Axel pondered, picking up his coat.
"We can sort that out later. We've got more important things to worry about." Sora said, summoning his Keyblade and turning towards the doors to the final flight of stairs.
"Now can I say it?" Xenix asked, Riku chuckling and giving a nod.
"Go ahead." He replied.
"And now, the final boss!" Xenix declared as they all ran towards the doors.
End Chapter 62
And this time, she means it. The final battle begins in the next chapter.
There's an image of Oswald in an outfit similar to Mickey's on Deviant Art. I have it in my Inspirations folder on my Favorites gallery. I did not create the image.