Chapter CCXXXIX: The Fragmented Revelations Part VI

"Fire Blazer!"

Blaze!

"AAAGGGHHH!"

Wincing as she heard these sounds of battle, Oralee looked on with anxious terrified eyes to see Nozomi being beaten badly by the force that was the servant of Maleficent, Hari.

The dark haired female keyblader had been doing her best to stay on the defensive and to be offensive when she needed to. However it was clear to the Alexandra princess that the difference in power between Nozomi and Hari, would mean that her friend wouldn't be able to last without any support from their other comrades. She herself wanted desperately to give her aid too, however there was one thing still preventing her from doing so and looking down she said desperately, "Cait sith! Please you must hurry!"

SCRATCH! SCRATCH! SCRATCH! SCRATCH!

Still the crowned cat was doing his to free his princess. He had succeeded a few moments ago to free himself and he knew time was of the essence as he replied, "I know yer highness! I won't be much longer, it's just that-!"

"AAAGGGHHH!"

Again a terrible cry of pain rang out into the air! As it did so, Oralee saw along with Cait sith that Nozomi was smouldering with smoke over her whole body, she'd been attacked again with a terrible onslaught of magical power. There was no need for words now instead it was concentration that was more important as Cait sith pushed himself in his efforts while his princess was left to watch on.

Watching the spectacle that was unfolding before her, Maleficent had been silent with her right hand under her chin. It was enjoyable to her to see the suffering and struggle that Nozomi was going through. But she couldn't help but be intrigued, for in what way was Hari going to break her prey's target? For she had noticed from her throned position that her servant had concentrated on only magical offensive moves. Did she have some tactic in combating this way?

Still feeling the pain from the fiery onslaught she'd been exposed to, Nozomi was gasping as she did her best to stand back up fully. However it was strenuous for her, irritated with herself she just couldn't concentrate like she'd normally be able to. Her mind was so distracted by the truth that had been told to her and what had happened to Wairu. She just couldn't-!

"Still troubled are you?"

Hearing those words asked to her, Nozomi looked up to see Hari with her cold green eyes concentrated on her. The sight of them chilled the female keyblader, however still trying to muster up her determination she held up her keyblade with both hands.

Seeing her do this, Hari then decided to continue her taunting as she asked, "Why have you not released any of your own power?"

Not understanding her, Nozomi then uttered, "What?"

To which in moments the servant to Maleficent replied, "I have yet to see you for a moment release any of your own true potential within this battle, you must have become truly impotent in the time we have not met... or maybe you simply do not care for the friends who will soon be eaten alive nor those who have been permanently erased?"

As these hurtful words were uttered, Nozomi was silent in shock. However in another moment becoming enraged and aiming at her enemy with one hand on her keyblade she cried out, "Don't you dare call me impotent!" With that in another second the stars on her blade began to glow brightly with white light and in another moment, "Swift Star Rays!"

The attack launched itself forwards and headed straight for her enemy. However in another moment-!

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

Hari immediately sliced the stars away in moments as though they were merely nothing. Nozomi startled by this, saw her nemesis turn to her again and as she did so, she uttered one further insulting particular word, "Pathetic."

Nozomi said nothing, was she truly this weak? Could she really do nothing to-?

"I want to see your true potential, do not disgrace me!" With that Hari aimed with her own hand again and unleashed more of her power, "Fire Blazer!" With that declared in seconds-!

Blaze! Blaze! Blaze! Blaze!

Nozomi did her best to dodge this barrage of fierce fire, however she was barely managing and as she looked to the concentrated look that was upon Hari's face, she knew that she wouldn't relent against her. She had to fire some of her own power back if she was to have a chance! With that as she leaped out of the way of the last exploding spell, she aimed her right hand at her and cried out, "Blizzaga!"

SHINE!

Hari seeing the attack coming moved one of her wings and-!

SWOOSH!

She smashed it away as though it were nothing! With that she aimed with her own keyblade and began to gather more again to unleash her Blazer attack!

Nozomi seeing the beginning of this, she knew that she couldn't back down either and so aiming with her own right hand again, the two simultaneously unleashed their powers!

"Fire Blazer!"

"Blizzaga!"

Blaze!

SHINE!

In seconds the two powers clashed! It was fierce and created a blazing spectacle that Oralee, Cait sith and Maleficent couldn't help but be mesmerized by.

Nozomi though on her side could see that her spell was quickly giving out under the power from the terrible fire spell. She had to unleash more and so concentrating hard she cried out in multiple chants,

"Blizzaga!" "Blizzaga!" "Blizzaga!"

SHINE! SHINE! SHINE!

Again more of the powerful ice spells were sent against the fire and finally it seemed it'd been enough to quell the terrible flames. However-!

"Fire Blazer!"

BLAZE!

This one spell seemed to be more powerful than the previous attacks somehow, it was almost like Nozomi was facing a gigantic burning oncoming meteorite! She felt herself almost wanting to flee, to fly into the air with her wings to do anything else but face this never ending barrage of fire. However something inside of herself stopped her from running and instead feeling entranced somehow with a sudden calm like she was under a spell, she aimed her keyblade and released one more spell, with a simple utter,

"Thundazeo...!"

ZZZAAAPPP!

In seconds the powerful spell ripped it's way forwards and decimated the fiery attack that was coming Nozomi's way! Then quickly it made it's way to Hari but-!

SWOOSH!

FLASH!

Shielding her eyes against the effects of her own powerful spell, after the light had faded. Nozomi was quiet before she realised breaking out of her entranced state, "Huh?" Then looking to her right hand she then said, "Why? I could never do anything like that before now and Merlin said that the most powerful spells were just the 'Aga' class, 'Zeo' is one I've never even heard of and-!"

"That is the power you stole from your friend."

Shocked hearing these words, Nozomi looked in Hari's direction again and there she saw in the distance was her enemy who had wrapped her wings around herself making a protective cocoon, before she chillingly again revealed herself. Utterly unharmed and still completely as dangerous as she'd been from the beginning of their encounter.

Nozomi couldn't believe her misfortune in this fight! She wasn't getting anywhere at all, but noticing one thing Hari had said, she asked, "Stole from?"
"That is correct, you used your friend's power against me just now..." with that Hari began to slowly approach Nozomi and as she did so, she continued on to say, "It must have been gratifying using the powers of someone who was such a disappointment to you growing up."

Immediately hearing this, Nozomi forgot her shock and instead clenching her keyblade tightly again she rushed straight at Hari and-!

CLASH!

Her keyblade stuck straight into her enemy's blade and as it did so, she told her angrily, "Don't you call him that!" With that Nozomi moved to chase after Hari in the air as she took off with her metallic wings while Nozomi used the wings upon her feet.

As they moved high into the air together, continuing their terrible duel Nozomi couldn't contain herself as she then told Hari, "You have no clue what we both went through growing up!" With that she moved to slash her and then as she spun in the air and her enemy charged towards her she went on to say, "Wairu had so much hassle from everyone and through all that he always tried to achieve his dream!" With that Nozomi threw Hari back with another fierce swing! Doing this she continued on to say, "So many times he failed and his power always backfired against him! You have no right to call him a disappointment when-!"

"Even if you were the one who caused those mishaps?"

As these words were spoken, Nozomi felt herself freeze as she uttered, "What?" However in her moment of pause-!

SLASH!

"Agh!"

CRASH!

"Nozomi!?" Watching on, Oralee saw her friend fall hard practically indenting the floor with a crater, which she now lay within. It was then as well fortunately that-!

SNAP!

The ropes were finally broken and loosened around Oralee! Almost falling forwards from the sudden sensation of freedom, the princess of Alexandra looked to her feline companion and heard him say, "There! Ya're free yer highness!"

Realising this herself, Oralee then told him, "Thank you Cait sith!" Then looking beyond themselves to the sealed door, where their friends would be she proceeded to tell him, "Now please hurry! Save the others!"

With this instruction given to him, the crowned cat then saluted his princess and immediately replied, "On it yer Highness! With that he rushed to go to the door, but before fully running off he told her, "Just be careful don't ya be doin' anythin' too rash!"

Nodding with a small smile on her face, she quietly reassured him and with that the feisty feline went to do what he was asked to. While Oralee herself quietly started to approach the battle hiding and moving between the columns that were coming into her path.

Cait sith in the meantime coming to the door, quietly began to pull on it to try and quietly open it. As he did so using all the strength that was available to him, he struggled hard against the weight that was bearing over him. But he was determined and uttered mad, "Oh! C'mon ya darn nuisance!" With those words let out, it was finally after a little more effort-!

CREAK...

"Finally!" He made a gap big enough for himself but not large enough to garner attention. However as he looked through this gap...!

HISS!

He saw with alarm the swarms of countless Heartless that was beyond it! As he did so, he knew with complete dread, "This ain't gonna be easy!" However turning back for a moment and seeing the battle that was still unfolding along with Oralee who was being cautious in her approach towards the combatants. He knew there was no choice! So, getting his gloved hands together he clicked his little knuckles and declared, "But if it's up to me to temper this hard situation into one that'll give us a winning chance, then I'd better hop to it!" With that he went straight into the awaiting hell that was beyond the door.

Breathing hard on the floor once again aching in more pain, Nozomi saw Hari had landed near to where she was. As she did so, she had to know...so she asked her nemesis, "What...did you...mean before?"

Now standing over her, Hari then spoke looking down at her with her narrowed cold green eyes, "My lady Maleficent informed me before when she used to have knowledge of your so-called friend about his past, how his magic would always turn against him and various other tragedies." Nozomi said nothing in response of this, for this wasn't what she was looking for as an answer, but soon her nemesis proceeded on with her explanations, "When I learned of what Fragment he possessed and how you were in contact with him, it was soon clear that the reason for those anomalies was by your presence, since you are his opposite."

As this was said, Nozomi repeated, "Opposite?" Then she asked further, "What do you mean, opposite?"

Hari then answered, "All of us as Vessels that contain Fragments each have a polar opposite to our own unique power, in your case it would be the Second Fragment the Mage while as for myself, it would be the Fifth known as the Shield." Nozomi said nothing to this as Hari paused for a moment, she didn't have to wait long for an answer though as her nemesis continued, "When we come in contact with each other, there are sometimes anomalies that occur."

As this was said, Nozomi asked, "Anomalies?"

"Correct," Hari answered then she continued again saying, "And your case with the Second is a prime example where the conflicting powers caused the magical energy he contained to backfire and harm himself." Then seeing the shocked expression that was on Nozomi's face, she worsened the emotional wounds by telling her, "You yourself were the cause of his past suffering and ultimately his demise."

Her eyes widening as she heard this, Nozomi didn't want to believe this fact and uttered, "No!"

"He could only overcome that anomaly being in my Lady's presence and by training himself for so long in the darkness... all so he could save the person he loved," then as she said that Hari brought out her keyblade again and aiming it at Nozomi's weak spot where keyhole was located, she asked her, "Truly an existence such as that could only be called pathetic, wouldn't you agree?"

As this was said, Nozomi didn't have time to utter any words of denial for then-!

GLOW!

Hari's keyblade began to glow and as it did so, in horror she heard her nemesis tell her, "And you too will meet just as a sorrowful an end," With that she went to proceed with the unlocking when-!

"Stop it!"

Suddenly hearing this shout and running footsteps, Nozomi turned and saw that coming quickly her way it was none other than, "Oralee!?" The princess of Alexandra was fast approaching and quickly in moments-!

BASH!

She shoved right into Hari, stopping her from commencing the act! However as she did this, Hari feeling no pain told the princess as she turned, "Out of my way." With that she moved her blade and-!

"Agh!"

"Oralee!" In horror, Nozomi saw her friend was struck by her enemy's keyblade! In turn as she began to fall, the keyblader rushed up despite how pained she was and caught her gentle friend's hurt form in her arms. Holding her close to herself, she asked her worriedly, "Oralee! Are you okay!? Speak to me! Please you have to-!"

"And again, you cause agony for those you hold dear...you are nothing but a cursed existence."

Looking up as these harsh words were spoken, Nozomi saw again it was Hari speaking to her in this icy tone of voice. As she did so, she couldn't answer back to her as she then heard her say, "It is only right for now, in my duty as a sword to cut you down..."

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"Urgh..."

Aching in pain, Riku in a daze couldn't understand. Why did he feel this way? What had caused him to-!

HISS!

Suddenly before his opened eyes, he saw the dozens of haunting glows of yellow and dark sinister forms of the swaying Heartless. As he did so, he immediately broke out of his dazed state. Though aching he stood himself up almost immediately and then he saw around him, that lying on the floor unconscious were the rest of his teammates and as he saw them all he cried out, "Guys!? What happened to you all!? What's-!"

HHIISSS!

Immediately though the Heartless began to approach as one horrid swarming mass and as they did their claws were drawn back and were ready to attack all of their helpless prey! Seeing them coming, Riku had to act fast or-!

"This ain't gonna be no buffet for ya nasties tonight!"

SHINE!

Suddenly a familiar all powerful glowing yellow shield appeared over the group of helpless heroes! In seconds the horrible swarm was all forced back and away! As they all scattered hurriedly like a swarm of insects they all stared on at the shield in fierce hostility! As this occurred, Riku was amazed! Then suddenly-!

SPIN! SPIN! SPIN! SPIN! SPIN!

"Hi ho! Hope has now arrived for ya mate!"

There with this cry of arrival and ending in a stunning heroic pose as he came onto the scene. There Riku saw before him, it was none other than, "Cait sith!"

Then with a thumbs up to his pal, the crowned cat told him, "The one and only lad!"

With this said to him, Riku then started to ask, "What's going on here!? Where's Nozomi and-!"

"Halt! There's no time for exposition here lad! We need to help our other mates here and then we need to be doin' a huge rescue mission!" Cait sith declared.

As he said this, the white haired keyblader repeated confused, "Rescue mission?" But he was given no time to ask more as-!

"AAAGGGHHH!"

Hearing that cry, Riku recognised the pained voice it in seconds, "Nozomi!?"

However quickly stopping him from advancing another step, Riku was stopped by Cait sith who barred his path by standing in his way, his arms raised out on both sides of himself. As he did this, he told him, "Lad we can't go in there on our own! We'll be cut to ribbons if we do that!" With that he turned and started to tend to Mickey who was near to them. Doing this and looking back to Riku he told him, "Now hurry up lad! Me power's not gonna last forever and the lass along with me Highness are gonna need aid real quick! So c'mon!"

As these instructions were given to him, it was clear Riku was torn. He wanted to rush in to help Nozomi, but he couldn't abandon their friends, so reluctantly he agreed as he replied, "Okay, let's go to it, Cait sith!" With that they started their fast work of aiding and reviving, while the Heartless were clawing against the shield and the suffering beyond the door continued...

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"AAAGGGHHH!"

Falling down from another hit that Hari had inflicted on her, Nozomi could barely move anymore. She was so torn and hurt. She was reaching her physical and emotional limit and Hari was only feeding more into her insecurities, which were making her more unbalanced internally.

For looking to Oralee who was lying on the floor as she shakily tried to lift herself up. She couldn't help but dwell on the words Hari had said. Was it really...all her fault?

"Be on your guard!"

Turning as these words were said, Nozomi then saw her nemesis was coming straight for her! As she did so, the female keyblader brought her weapon forward defensively before herself quickly. Then as she did-!

CLASH!

As this collision occurred, Nozomi was trying her best to concentrate but still her thoughts were troubled. For she couldn't help but question internally, 'Was it really all me? Wairu suffered...because I became his friend?' Then as this thought came to her, her anxiousness and guilt continued to spiral as she wondered, 'I'm the one who ultimately caused his demise... have I only done the same to everyone else? Just by being with them?'

With that her eyes turned in the direction where the princess of Alexandra was lying still on the floor. As she did so, the many friends and precious people in her life entered her mind's eye, 'Oralee? The Radiant Gardens and all the other worlds? Everyone in Balthier's group?' Then her thoughts turned to her teammates, 'Cait sith? Mickey? And...Riku?"

Seeing she was distracted, Hari took her chance and using her metallic wings she flapped them forwards. Doing so, she went to entrap Nozomi within their coils before stabbing her with her keyblade! However seeing this oncoming tactic, the female keyblader flew higher up into the air with the beats of own her wings escaping the cage! But her thoughts then turned to the other two most precious people to her who were lost, 'Is it my fault mom died? And...my Master, did he leave because-?"

"Your existence..."

Hearing these words Nozomi gazed down up and as she did so, Hari was fast approaching her and with each uplifting fast beat of her metallic wings, she asked her further, "You're beginning to understand the futility and illusion of the life until you've lived until now, aren't you?"

Nozomi again didn't know what to say to this question. However something inside of her was desperate to not to accept the horrible reality of what Hari was saying to her, so immediately she cried out, "No!" With that she brought her blade forwards again and-!

CLASH!

She smashed her keyblade against Hari's! As she did so, she gritted her teeth not wanting to lose against her... or the grief that was threatening to overwhelm her from deep within. So desperately she cried out to her nemesis, "My life hasn't been futile! I don't believe that!" With that she turned in the air and thrusting herself forwards, with her legs before herself she kicked into Hari's keyblade.

Doing so, the evil servant was pushed backwards from the force. As she was, she heard Nozomi then continue on to say, "I've made so many connections to others! So many friends you'd never believe! And so many worlds! I've grown so much! None of that is an illusion!" With that she spun back and in another moment-!

"Spiral Kick!"

With that she struck Hari hard from under the chin. As she did so, she quickly came back upright and struck into her again with her own keyblade! As she did so, she was bitting against her grief still as she continued on with her desperate words, "You've never done anything like what I have! You've never had any friends or anyone who loves you! You're just an evil person who can't ever love anyone! You're just-!"

"You believe those illusions give you validation and worth?"

As this question was given to her, Nozomi was stopped dead in tracks again. For the look that Hari gave her was sharp and threatening. It chilled her still for within the depths of those emerald green eyes there was something she'd swear she'd never seen before. A burning rage, but before she could see anything else-!

SLASH!

"Agh!"

Again Nozomi was struck fast, in her middle. As she was though she felt quickly something else and-!

TUG!

Something was ripped away from her and in another moment-!

"Thundaga!"

FLASH!

In seconds Nozomi was sent plummeting down to the floor, she impacted hard and she gasped loudly and cringed from the further pain she received as sparks of electricity flowed away from her pained form.

Feeling her hit the floor, Oralee aching tried to pull herself up as she uttered worriedly, "No..zomi!"

However the female keyblader on the floor sitting up, aching terribly reached around trying to get her bearings back. But quickly as she reached one of her hands up to the left side of her black hair, she felt something was gone! Shocked, she realised what it was! It was her pink Sakura Blossom hair clip! Looking around herself hurriedly to see where it was, she immediately heard-!

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

The sound of strong wingbeats! Turning in the direction of them, she saw Hari descend to the floor. However quickly revealed within the grasp of her right hand as she observed it, she pointed it in Nozomi's direction revealing it was her most precious pink treasure!

Gasping as she saw this, Nozomi was quiet with shock at seeing something she treasured being held by someone she hated and feared so much.

Hari though ignored her and simply asked holding the treasure still in her right hand, "You believe that a mere hollow Vessel like yourself is entitled to have affection?"

Unsure of what it was she was going to do, all Nozomi could do was stare on. She was trembling though as she uttered wanting to still do something, so weakly in anxiousness she demanded, "Give it back!"

Seeing she had become so disturbed by her words and actions, Hari simply continued on to say, "To be nurtured and cared for..." then she decided to ask the most fundamental question, "To be loved? Is that the reason you believe you exist?"

Nozomi didn't know what to say to any of this, but each and every one of Hari's words felt like the strikings of a cruel bell, that struck the very depths of her own shattered heart. As they did, she pictured all the people she treasured and so many warm memories drifted through her mind's eye that she had shared with them all, then the most important was her earliest memories. Those where she was embraced by the most loving existence she'd ever truly known... her Master.

Maleficent smirked at the drama that was unfolding and as she did so, she was looking forward to the peak of the climax that was fast approaching.

Hari though seeing the inner turmoil Nozomi was suffering from, decided to only intensify the pain as she then declared, "I'm afraid that those illusions...will shatter in a matter of seconds!" With that she intensified her grip upon the Sakura Blossom. Doing this, in seconds small cracks were beginning to appear upon the precious item. As they did so, Hari also added chillingly, "For the only worth in our existence...!"

Horrified, hurriedly Nozomi stood up achingly and tried to race over to stop what was happening! Panicked she cried out loudly, "Stop it!"

Ignoring her again though, Hari continued on to say as more and more cracks appeared on the Sakura Blossom making it shatter all the more, "The only real truth..."

Nozomi cried out again, practically begging, "Please don't!"

"IS OUR POWERS!"

SHATTER!

Horrified, Nozomi saw her one most precious item shattered into pieces before her very eyes... the once most wondrous treasure that had been given to her on that warmest day with the most important promise tied to it, was now nothing but a pathetic mess of sad shards that littered the floor.

"WWAAGGHH!"

In that moment Nozomi's heart was crushed as she wailed, falling to the floor she hurriedly tried to grasp what pieces remained of her treasured memories. She saw there was barely nothing as she uttered out practically sobbing, "This is...this was the only thing I had left from my Master!" For then thinking of this, she realised with horrible realisation, "It was... the only thing I had left that connected me to him...It was all-!"

BLAZE!

"AAGGHH!"

Nozomi was thrown back onto the floor with another Blaze of magical power. As she was, she landed painfully on her back and she did...she looked up to see Hari towering over her. As she was she shivered inside with terror for then quickly the end of Hari's keyblade began to light up with ominous power, she was attempting to do the horrible act of unlocking again!
The helpless keyblader couldn't think to move or do anything, for she-!
"Now you end!" Hari told her fiercely and cold, for now she had done all she had set out to. Her target was entirely and utterly broken, she was now a pure Broken Heart...

SHINE!