Kingdom hearts: Fragment Chapter 286: The Final Battle Part 8, a kingdom hearts fanfic

Chapter CCLXXXII: The Final Battle Part VIII

SHINE!

Crumble...

As a green light shone around them, and the figure felt the blue presence shiver from pain, as they continued to hold them, they began to state, "The Eighth has fused with us and-"

"I don't want to hear it!"

Feeling their arms tighten around them, as they shivered, from what the figure assumed was the pain, they heard the blue presence tell them, "Don't tell me what else has gone... I can't stand it!"

Quiet as they heard this desperate plea, the figure replied simply, "Very well," However as they continued to feel this trembling touch, they revealed, "But you should know this, when the opposite to us, the Second finally fuses with us, it will be then that this existence comes to an end... and you quickly will follow suit ."

The figure could feel the presence grip their hands tightly, as they continued to hold on. They assumed this was due to frustration or fear, for if they didn't want their crumbling existence to end, then it was only natural that they wanted to preserve their own-

"I don't care about that!" This answer was unexpected, the figure remained quiet as they heard the blue presence say, "The person I was, died a long time ago, I know that... all I am, is just a part of the memory of them that still lingers on...so I've been ready any day now for that time to come."

As they said these strong words, the presence detached themselves for a moment from their barely intact form. Watching them as they did this, the figure again saw that strange expression on their face, as they said putting a hand to their dissolving cheek, "But you though... I can't stand what this is all done to you! I hate this!"

Hearing these words, the figure looking to the blue presence saw their expression was filled with pain, as water droplets lined their eyes. Seeing this, they simply responded looking down, "Your lingering emotions, are what's causing you pain now... you should never have attached yourself to this thing... then you wouldn't be suffering now," With that they added, "Existence of any kind, especially one that's already broken like this, always brings pain to others."
"Ha ha..." Hearing this odd sound again, the figure saw the droplets in the presence's eyes were still there and that strange expression. However their next words surprised them, "Yeah, you're right, I can't disagree with you on that... living is hard, and I knew you had it a little tougher than most."

Puzzled why they were now agreeing with them, and now confused by their following words, the figure asked, "What do you mean?"

"You were always left behind by nearly everyone in your life... your_died and your _ too, they couldn't be there for you, even your _ eventually left you all alone, asking you to remain strong until they returned... which never happened," Then as they continued to hold a hand to their cheek, the presence told them, "Even the Second couldn't always help you, and had to eventually leave you behind every night...you tried so hard on your own, to stay true to those words, to stay strong, no matter what, so you wouldn't be a burden."

The figure was going to ask the presence what terms they had said again, when once more they felt their transparent hands take their own barely intact crumbling ones. As they did, they felt them stroking their thumbs over their digits, as they did, they told them, "And I wished all that time, when you were left alone and crying... that you could hear me, I wanted you to know that you weren't alone."

"Alone?" The figure asked her, feeling something stirring in what remained of their Broken Heart, however they weren't given an answer to this query.

Instead, they saw the presence's eyes leak more droplets, as they said, "I always wanted to tell you, that everything would be alright, that things would change for the better someday... I just wished I could have eased some of your pain back then...and I'm sorry that I couldn't... or even now, I-!"

The figure felt the presence release their hands, as they looked down in pain and it was then, they remembered that emotion they were expressing as they held their face in their hands. It was sorrow... feeling something move in them, they reached their left crumbling hand up and touched the presence's cheek.

They looked to them with startled eyes, as they felt their fragile blue light under their fingers. The presence looked to them confused, as the figure stated, "That look on your face... it's causing discomfort in here." With that they pointed to their chest with their right hand, where their Broken Heart was still barely beating, as it did, they said, "It's confusing, but there is a wish inside of here that doesn't want you to feel that pain, why is that do you suppose?"

"Ha ha," It was then the presence made that odd sound again, as they did, holding their crumbling hand close to their cheek, they told them, "That's one of the sides I _ about you, your kindness."

"Kindness?" The figure asked, the presence only shook their head, the strange expression still there as some of the pain seemed to have been lifted away. But before anything else could be said-!

Crumble...

In horror the presence gasped as there in that moment, the barely warm left hand that had held that precious kindness fell from their fingers, turning into disintegrating shards as the corroding prison stole even that away.

The figure looked down and was about to open their mouth, to give their status when-!

HUG!

They were stopped, as the presence took hold of them, trembling as their sorrow intensified. Turning into sobs that filled the air, hearing this, the figure remained quiet. Then slowly they moved their only other remaining right hand and placed it on the presence's back, unable to relieve the suffering that their broken existence brought with it...

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Thrashing against the Darkness he'd been ensnared into for who knows how long, that Xehanort had unleashed on them all. Riku pulled at the tendrils around him that were continuing to drag him down. "Let me go!" However they wouldn't, their strength was unyielding!

As he took his Keyblade out, he moved and-!

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

He tried to cut away at them, even with what little strength he had. He knew he had to do something, anything, to make these things let go of him! For he needed to fight! They all did, he had to get out of this abyss and save his friends! He also had to save-!

...

Suddenly he stopped briefly in his struggles, for he couldn't remember. Wait? Why was he trying so hard again? His friends, he understood that reason. But who was it again he needed to save?

The thoughts wouldn't come to remind him at all, he tried hard to remember. But nothing came back to him. Feeling growing horror, Riku moved his right hand and got out the item that was supposed to remind him of his reason, and there he saw in his opened palm that important thing was practically non-existent!

It had a shape he could barely discern, was it star like? A flower, he couldn't tell, it didn't have any distinguishing features anymore. It was transparent, fading in and out like a dying heartbeat. It wasn't going to be around for much longer. He could feel it!

"No!" Stopping his desperate strikes, he held the item close to his chest and wished desperately, saying, "No, c'mon! You can't fade! You can't disappear... not like this!"
But it was no use, it was clear just his words alone wouldn't be enough, nor his urgent wishes. Feeling this, it was then he felt truly helpless and... the despair of Darkness began to infect him.

It hurt as he realised the awful truth as everything began to cloud over, "We truly have failed haven't we...?" For they hadn't been able to stop Xehanort from assembling and taking the Fragments from those poor people with Broken Hearts, from gaining that terrible armour and the King-Blade. The Door of Light was going to be opened, and when that was done... all the friends he'd ever known, the family he'd left behind. Everything would be absorbed into the Darkness, like what was happening to him and he was sure to his allies too.

VOOM...

Thinking this, he felt then it was pointless to fight anymore. The shadows wrapped themselves around him more tightly now. Like the terrible threads of a spider's web, it stilled any movement he could make. For he remembered how easily Xehanort had been able to heal himself and had even thrown back Sora at the beginning of the fight, with the Shield Fragment. He'd decided not to use it against them for mere entertainment...He was practically omnipotent with that kind of power, that would just throw them all back with a mere flick of the wrist... they didn't have a chance against anything like that. Even with the aid of the Chaser Armours, it was hopeless...

The shadows now were wrapping themselves around his face and head, feeling his sight fading as he looked to the fading precious object in his hands. He could feel tears line his eyes again as the light in them began to die.

As the despair sank in, he remembered the dying glow of the turquoise blue gem Xehanort had used to send them all into the Darkness on his gigantic left hand. As he did, thinking of what had been said, that he'd given him that power from possessing him with a Heartless... he knew this was truly all his fault. Thinking of his past sins, which had all led to this terrible moment, he said softly to the dying treasure, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry that I couldn't save you... I'm so sorry...everyone..." Then with those words...

FADE...

The item completely faded away, and with it, the shadows fully covered him and left not even a trace of him in within the abyss of Darkness... it was all now truly all over.

"Riku! Don't fall into it!"

He opened his eyes and uttered puzzled, "What?"

"Don't give into the Darkness, please!"

A voice? Did he recognise it? No, it couldn't be. Then underneath the tight threads of shadows he was trapped in, he saw something small in his hands, between his palms something was igniting into life! Then suddenly-!

GLOW!

A bright turquoise blue shone brightly! Amazed by it, he couldn't believe it! He uttered with wide eyes as the light began to return to his eyes, "This is-!"

SWISH...!

The light made the terrible tendrils and threads of shadows all over him peel away from him in seconds! Gasping into life and alertness, as he saw all this darkness disperse. He looked around himself, utterly baffled. For he still didn't understand, what was going on here?

GLOW!

The glowing blue light caught his attention, he saw that there in his hands was a small white shard of some kind, it was as small as a precious glass marble. As it shone with that calming blue that had saved him, it seemed to beat with life as the light dimmed in and out gently around it. He remained puzzled as he stared at it, but as he looked on, it was then within his mind he heard a familiar female voice,

"I wouldn't leave you... no matter what happens, I wouldn't do that to you."

Hearing this voice he realised startled as he gazed at it, "It's you! The person I'm looking for!" Then looking at the small pulsating shard, he still didn't quite understand. How could she be here with him, what was this thing exactly? Then as these questions came to his mind-!

"But if you're Unlocked, you won't have a choice in it. Will you?"

"No I won't... but I'd still fight it, in whatever way I could."

It was then he realised as the memory re-emerged from the shadows within his mind, he asked the shard of light, "Are you telling me this is your way of fighting back?"

GLOW!

Seeing it glow in response to his question, he paused for a moment in disbelief. But quickly in seconds, he couldn't help but release a small laugh as he told it, "You really are full of surprises!" Then he realised as a sense of relief and calm washed over him, that the blue light brought with it, what this precious white shard was in his hands. He smiled and holding it close gently to his chest, he said, "This a piece of your Broken Heart isn't it...? It stayed in the hair broach I mended for you, you hid yourself away in it, so you wouldn't be fully absorbed by Xehanort." Then looking to it, he wasn't sure if it could understand him, so he asked it, "Am I right?"

GLOW!

Gaining this confirmation from this gentle fluctuation of light, Riku smiled brightly again. Then he realised that this small piece of her was their one little glimmer of hope! They might still be able to do something! Lifting himself fully back up, he looked around the dark abyss that surrounded them. Doing this, he clenched his single free hand and knew what needed to be done, "We need to find the others!" Then looking to the glowing Broken Heart Shard in his hand, he asked it, "Can I rely on you to help me out in this dark place?"

GLOW!

Again he smiled at this gentle confirmation, keeping the broken piece close to him in his right hand, he quickly ventured forth into the abyss and went to retrieve the others, so they could all continue the fight!

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SHINE!

Continuing his work upon the Door of Light, Unlocking each of the key pinpoints within the Keyhole with the King-Blade in his left hand. It was taking a little longer than Xehanort first thought it would, but realising this sacred object contained the treasure that connected to every world's heart. This delay was only to be expected. For soon it's sacred connections would bring about the end of what had been the source of all grief that he had witnessed throughout his long life.

That disgusting power of light, that forced people to fight and struggle, causing unspeakable agony throughout the entirety of existence would be gone! Then whatever of that Light remained both known and unknown, he would make sure, that even if he didn't have the King-Blade anymore, once its purpose was complete. That he'd wipe out whatever traces of it that remained throughout the worlds!

SLITHER! SLITHER! SLITHER! SLITHER! SLITHER!

Then with a smile growing on his face, looking at all the Heartless that were eagerly waiting to devour the true Kingdom Hearts that lay beyond the white panels of this Door, he knew their forces would be more than enough to wipe out whatever remained of that detestable radiance.

He could also see, they were getting impatient and he couldn't help but feel the same. But to quell them, even just slightly, he told them all, "Patience my friends... soon you will all indulge upon the greatest feast of all, and there won't be anyone who can stop you!"

"RRROOOAAARRR!"

Hearing this resounding ovation from the creatures of Darkness, this increased Xehanort's smile more, and with that he continued his work to open the Door, for he knew there was no need to rush anymore. For with the King-Blade in his hand and the powers of the Fragments under his total dominion. He knew once the Light of Kingdom Hearts was gone and the will to fight or resist was dead with it. Who could even stand against him anymore...?

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"Shining Renewal!"

GLITTER! GLITTER! GLITTER! GLITTER! GLITTER! GLITTER!

Suddenly all the party who'd been rescued from the abysmal dark depths, felt themselves being fully rejuvenated, as Kairi realised a new power from the Armour that had been gifted to her.

As its gentle glittering rainbow powers settled over them all, Sora looked to her after feeling his strength return to his clenched fist. Smiling brightly he told her impressed, "Thanks Kairi! That new spell was awesome!"

Nodding she replied, "Yeah! These armours really do bring a great power boost, huh?"

"Sure do!" Goofy agreed, however as he looked to Xehanort who had his gigantic caped back turned to them all, he couldn't help but say, "Just wish it didn't give him the biggest booster of them all!"

"You said it!" Donald concurred. Feeling mad at what that gaudy gold monster had put them all through, he added, "I wanna shrink him down to size and stomp him flat!"

"We all do Donald!" Mickey laughed, then looking to the one who'd come to all their miraculous rescues, he told him, "We're just lucky that you were able to fight off the Darkness when you did." With that he added walking over and nodding to him brightly, "Thanks, Riku!"

Riku returned the gesture with a small smile, however he told him, "It wasn't just me your Majesty."

Puzzled, he asked tilting his head, "It wasn't?"
Shaking his head, he revealed, "It was also her, here." With that he revealed the new treasure that had come to all their aid.

GLOW!

Seeing the small glowing white shard in his hand, Mickey was amazed as he asked, "Is that-?"

"Thanks your Majesty! I thought I'd be able to get a better view from high up!"

Hearing these words in his head, he realised he knew this voice! Then a pain echoed in his heart, as it did, he asked, "Riku... this is her isn't it? The girl you lost?"

With a nod, Riku then explained, "Yeah, this is a piece of her Broken Heart." Then looking to Xehanort who continued his quest to open the Door of Light, he added with anger in his eyes, "We're just lucky, he wasn't able to get all of her."

Coming over as he was making his explanations, Sora asked seeing with amazement the small glowing piece, "Whoa!" But then he realised, "How though? How did this part of her not get caught by him?"

Riku holding the shard close, revealed why, "Because of the promise we made together... I created something that held the power of that unbreakable bond and using it, she was able to stay by hiding within its core."

GLOW!

Then the Shard seemed to glow in agreement to his words, as it did, Riku felt it's warmth flow into him through his chest. With a gentle smile, he also revealed, "But also I know this, she didn't want to leave us..." With that revealed and letting them see it shine, he told them, "This piece of her, was the part that wanted to support and help everyone."

"To support us?" Kairi asked, then-!

"Plus we girls have gotta stick together and give each other support right?"

Kairi remembering these words as she saw the light, she remembered the brief moment in the Carnival when she'd witnessed that side to the girl. Though she couldn't see her face, she knew it quickly to be true. Then feeling the pain in her heart from the hole that had been left from the loss. She said sadly, "Yeah... I remember a little of that, I can't believe I forgot that memory."

Mickey said, "It's the same for everyone, we're all missing important memories cause of all this." However as the wise ruler looked to the Shard as Donald and Goofy made it over to them too, he couldn't help but say feeling worried, "But we gotta try again to get her and the rest of them back, cause I don't know how long that Shard alone can keep shining on without the rest of herself... Broken Hearts are very fragile."

As he said this, Riku knew this to be true. Holding the small piece close to him gently, not wanting this small light to go out, he replied, "Yeah, I know they are."

Sora listening to this knew from the King's words that they were still in a terrible crisis, for though they'd been miraculously been given a lifeline by this Shard. They couldn't waste this opportunity! Then as he looked to it, a flash of memory appeared in his mind too,

"Hey guys, I don't think this is a good place for an argument, shouldn't you stand up at least to do it?"

As the moment returned to him, when she'd helped him up after he'd finally been reunited with Riku and the King. He saw small glimpses of the happy moments they all had within the Carnival, in the Radiant Gardens. Feeling the warmth from those small moments, he looked back up to Xehanort who completely ignored their presence as he continued the Unlocking.

Feeling anger at what that horrible man had stolen, not just from them but the rest of their allies. Sora declared, "We can't wait then, we have to stop him now!" Making his way forwards, he got close to the edge of the dust covered land and said, "C'mon! We gotta fly up there and-!"

SLITHER! SLITHER! SLITHER! SLITHER! SLITHER!

Suddenly from the edge of that domain countless horrible dark hands of the Heartless all reached up! All of them ready to grab onto any prey that dared come near the dark depths!

"Sora!?"

Worried for him, everyone immediately ran to him! However the Keyblader seeing the Heartless that were all coming to grab him, aimed and cried out, "Pulse Bomb!"

BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST! BLAST!

With that all the horrible creatures that were nearest to him, were wiped out! Then as others from a further distance locked on to ensnare him too, he immediately retreated before any of them could touch him, making it back to the others!

Worried, Kairi asked him, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah!" However looking on, they all saw that the Darkness all around Xehanort was an ocean of Heartless. All of them peering up from the dark depths below, with their haunting yellow eyes, and thousands upon thousands of long sharp dangerous appendages that were ready to take down any prey into their dangerous clutches!

Seeing them and gripping his Keyblade, Sora realised, "But we can't just fly out there now! The minute we do, the Heartless will all just grab onto us and drag us back down again!"

"That's not good!" Goofy uttered, feeling chills at the horrible possibility.

"But we gotta do something! Otherwise Xehanort's gonna open the Door and we'll all be doomed!" Donald cried out, feeling the terror of what that horrible fate would bring to everyone!

Gripping his fist hearing this, Riku pushed himself to think of something. Anything! What could they do, to combat this horror! What could they-!

"Hey, you dumb mutts!"

Shocked, everyone turned and there they saw in the far distance-!

SHINE!

Was a fiery white they all knew well, that burned brightly in the dark void of the sky! With amazed eyes, Kairi cried out, "It's Scriptium!"

In seconds, the blazing white dragon came flying straight down in their direction! As it did, quickly they heard Ody's voice as he cried out, "Guys! Use the Pixie Dust! Get up on us quick!"

As he cried this out, no-one questioned this, and in seconds they all flew up with that glittering golden yellow light. They all landed on the fiery dragon Dusk's back as she quickly flew them forwards over the thousands of reaching appendages of the Heartless!

SLITHER! SLITHER! SLITHER! SLITHER! SLITHER!

They all came to grab and take them all down into the dark depths below! However-!

BLAZE! BLAZE! BLAZE! BLAZE! BLAZE!

The Dusk's fiery power burned them away in seconds, showing they couldn't touch nor grasp the dragon as it continued its flight forwards.

Looking down and seeing the Heartless were stopping, it was then they knew they were safe as long as they stayed upon Scriptium! Amazed seeing this, Goofy couldn't help but cry out stroking her back, "Awww! Scripty thanks! Ya really saved us there!"

The dragon hearing his cry looked back and bowed her head with a happy look in her eye. Before she turned back to guide them all, to where they needed to go!

Seeing the assistance they'd been given, Mickey couldn't believe it! Then looking to Ody he heard the Flaming Scripter say, "Looks like we made it just in time, huh?"

Smiling, Mickey asked, "Ody! You got Scriptium fixed up?"

With a nod, the spectacled Nobody replied, "Yeah! It took a little bit, but with a little help from Araxne and Meixeng, along with Pete who kept the Heartless at bay, I was able to restore her properly!"

Surprised, Sora looking to him asked, "You really helped out, Pete?"

Annoyed in seconds, the overweight former lackey complained, "What do ya mean? I always do my best when it counts!" Then pointing to the spiky Keyblader he told him mad, "Don't think just cause ya clobbered me a few times, it means I can't do nothin'!"

Quiet for a moment, the Keyblader laughed and replied, "Dually noted!" Then with that they all flew on, as they went to initiate their next contact with Xehanort!

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Continuing his work upon the Door of Light, Xehanort could feel it. He was close! Just a little more, with just a couple of more turns he would-!

"XEHANORT!"

"Hm?" Hearing this unexpected cry, he turned around and-!

FLARE!

Quickly a blaze of fire came to try and burn into him! But before the white hot flames could touch him-!

SHINE!

The power of the Fifth Fragment came and stopped anything from touching him, puzzled by this sight, it was then a blazing white shape flew past his giant face and quickly it turned and flapped its wide flaming white wings, letting it stay aloft in the air before the Door of Light.

Seeing this shape he asked puzzled, "A dragon?" Then after a closer inspection, looking at it with the Sixth Fragment, he realised, "No, a pathetic Dusk..."

"She's not pathetic!" Came an angered cry and it was then he saw that it was Kairi who called out.

Seeing the female Keyblader, along with the other allies of the Light who he thought he had got rid of. He asked, "So you're all still alive, you survived the Darkness?"

"That's right we did!" Sora proclaimed, with that aiming his Keyblade at the towering white armoured monster that was before them, he added determined, "Cause we still have to stop you!"

"More heroic drivel, how childish," Xehanort told them. Then he concentrated ahead, ignoring them and as he did, he said, "You're none of my concern anymore, for once the Door is open, I'll-!"

CLANK!

Suddenly the process came to a halt, as the light upon the end of the King-Blade died away! Had he opened the Door?

…

As the silence filled the air, it was clear that the Door of Light hadn't been Unlocked, as it didn't budge an inch. Puzzled he uttered, "What is this?"

He tried again to call upon the Unlocking light to come and work its magic upon it, however nothing emerged from the end of King-Blade. It wouldn't move to his summons. It was clear there was no will within it, to try and make the mechanism within the Keyhole move anymore!

"What're you all doing!?" Looking to the weapon he ordered it, "I command you to open the Door! Do as I say now!"

However there came no response to his summons, angered he demanded of the Vessels, "You all dare to defy your Master again!" However once more there came no response.

Everyone else was confused too, why couldn't Xehanort fully open the Door? But quickly as the King thought about it all, with the Fragments and how it all first came to be, he realised, "Riku!" With that as he looked to him, he told him, "It's the Shard! He can't open it, because the King-Blade isn't fully complete without that piece!"

Amazed, nobody could believe it! The small light that had stayed with Riku was enough to make this big of a difference.

However puzzled, Pete asked, "Shard? What Shard?" Then-!

"You will all pay!"

Everyone turned and then they saw Xehanort move and quickly he clasped his left hand around the King-Blade and-!

ZZZZAAAAPPPP!

No-one could understand, what was he doing!? What would unleashing dark blue power like this do against a weapon, what-!

"AAAAGGGGHHHH!"

It was then they all heard screaming, countless voices both male and female cried out in clear agony. As they all witnessed the pain he was inflicting upon the Vessels of the Fragments!

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"AAAAGGGGHHHH!"

The figure in the dark depths within their corroding jewel prison screamed as a terrible agonising dark blue magical power was unleashed upon them. It's electrical charge, caused the jewel prison's fluids to bubble and burn, harming their fragile state terribly as more shards of them fell away.

The glowing presence with them looked on with horror as they saw the pain their poor companion was being subjected to! However despite the pain they were feeling too, they held onto them, trying to ease some of this agonising terrible power even just a little. For they had to help even if it was only in the smallest of ways!

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Hearing these screams, everybody was feeling horribly chilled to the bone, Kairi with her hands over her mouth asked, "These voices! They're-!"

"The captive Vessels!" The King replied, then feeling their pain, with anger he realised, "He's torturing them!"

"No!" Sora cried out, he couldn't stand hearing it!

Pete was the same, then looking to the fading popsicle stick in his hand, he couldn't stand knowing the person he'd come for, was going through pain like this! Outraged he got up and shouted loudly, "HEY! LEAVE 'EM ALL ALONE!"

However Xehanort ignored him and continued his punishing blasts! Seeing this, Riku gritting teeth knew there was only one way to stop him! Quickly walking forwards across Scriptiun, he shouted madly, "XEHANORT!" Then he held up the Shard and quickly-!

GLOW!

"What?" Feeling this turquoise radiance, Xehanort stopped his punishing pulses and at once the screams faded with them. As they did, he looked and saw the light of the Shard.

Studying it as it was held aloft in Riku's left hand, he was quiet and then he realised, "So? You were able to steal away a small piece of the Vessel's Broken Heart it seems?"

Angered, Riku held the precious piece close to him and told the evil man, "I didn't steal it, she never wanted to go to you in the first place!"

"Hmph!" Scoffing at him, Xehanort staring at the pathetic Keyblader asked him, "And what do you think you're going to do with it?" Then smiling at him mockingly, he taunted him saying, "Do you believe you're some Knight in shining armour, here to save the day, like the fairy tales of old?"

Riku hearing him ask this, replied, "I'm no Knight... I don't deserve a title like that," With that he said thinking of the past, "I'm just an arrogant idiot, who's still trying to pick up the pieces, who fell to the Darkness..." Then with a glare to the wretched thief, he added, "And almost became a monster like you!"

Everyone was quiet as they listened to him say this, they looked on with concern as he said this. But looking on, they watched as he continued his thoughts as he told the Master of Darkness, "But I avoided that fate, thanks to the Light of my friends..."

Everyone hearing this smiled, glad to hear that they had all such a positive impact on him.

Then Riku also added, "And I also gained another special Light, one that trusted and believed in me, along with many others. One that wanted to support me the most out of any other, despite the pain and heartache they were put through because of fate and my stupid actions... they wanted to continue to shine, to warm all our Hearts." With that he held the Shard close to his heart, feeling that precious radiance warm his aching heart.

"And what's your point with all that pathetic sentimentality?" Xehanort asked him, in his unamused monstrous voice.

"It means this!" Riku declared, with that-!

SHINE!

Pointing his Keyblade at him, he continued on to say, "I'm not going to lose this precious light to you, nor those of any of my friends!" For he told him the honest truth, "For losing any of that to you, is worse than falling into the depths of Darkness itself!"

Everyone listening to Riku couldn't help but inspired, even Sora felt like he might shed a tear. However ruining this warm atmosphere-!

"HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!"

Xehanort laughed heartlessly, then as he gazed at them all upon the blazing white dragon Dusk. He told them, "You're utterly foolish! You have no chance against my power!"

SHINE!

With that Xehanort's body glowed all over with powers of the Fragments and as he did, he told them with a deadly light in his eyes, "Now I'm going to take back that piece from you, and with it, all of you throughout the worlds, will fall to the Darkness, and true peace will be finally granted to all living things!"

"RRROOOAAARRR!"

The Heartless were clearly as eager as their Master to smite them all down, however Mickey and the rest were ready, as he said, "Let's go fella's! We've gotta save it all!"

"Right!"

They all cried out in unison, then-!

SLITHER! SLITHER! SLITHER! SLITHER! SLITHER!

Another huge wave of creepy long appendages came to drag them down into the depths! However before any of them could touch them-!

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

It was then two familiar shapes emerged! No-one could believe it, as there before them slicing the Heartless limbs to ribbons, it was, "Vincent! Lightning!" Sora cried out in amazement!

For there indeed before them, were the brave warriors who'd joined them to help in their fight against the Heartless!

"Hey don't forget me!" Cried out Hope, as he rode on behind Lightning on Odin.

"Sorry!" Kairi laughed.

Then as she did this, Vincent flying close, still within his Chaos form told them, "We'll aid you here, concentrate on liberating the Vessels from that monsters form!"

"Right!" Riku replied, then with that they all flew on ahead.

As they did and more Heartless began to swarm about, to begin the next stage of the assault, Lighting cried out preparing her wing blades, "Get ready! Here they come!"

Everyone was prepared, but before they inittiated-!

"Hey! Don't leave us out!"

It was then that flying on close to meet them, it was none other than, "Ruby! Shirma, Aerith, Zidane!" Riku cried out amazed. For there indeed coming in avoiding the grasps of the Heartless, with some strong Protection spells around them were the band of white mages and thief!

As they all made it, Zidane grinning said, "You can't hope to win without all the stars here can you?"

Sora laughed, then told him, "Wouldn't dream of it! It's great you guys are all here!"

Kairi was smiling too, but then she realised, "Hey, where's Hana?"

Shirma smiled and said, "She's waiting for everyone else on the land, to give them her Pixie Dust so they can aid us eventually," Then looking to the Heartless feeling uneasy, she couldn't help but say, "I just hope they hurry up and make it here... and Alania too."

Aerith told her, "It's okay, I know your sister will make it, she's probably been held up by all those bug Heartless!"

Ruby nodded and said, "Yeah they're the worst!"

"RRROOOAAARRR!"

It was then the Heartless began their assault as more of their hideous numbers came to take them all down! Seeing them coming, Pete couldn't help but say, "Well I'd say it looks like the worst is yet to come!"

"We're not gonna lose to this!" Sora declared, with that pointing ahead with his own Keyblade, he told them, "Let's do this guys!"

With that everyone charged on ahead, to make it through the barrage of Heartless. For they all had to figure out, how they were going to free the poor tortured Vessels, who were still within the clutches of the Master of Darkness...