Chapter CCLXVII: The Palace of Alexandra Part IX

"Remnants of the memory?" Nozomi repeated puzzled. For she still couldn't believe who it was she was staring at! But though she had seen this person so many times in her dreams and the Lachesis Reports that she had collected. She realised quickly one thing from the greeting she had given them, "...So, you're not the real Aqua are you?"
The shimmering image of the blue haired female Knight simply smiled, then she released a small chuckle as she said, "It seems you have an acute awareness don't you?"

"It didn't come fast I'll tell ya that!" Cait sith chirped up.

"Hey!" Nozomi called out mad.

"What does that even mean?" Timbre asked puzzled. Not understanding in the slightest.

"I'll explain," the shimmering image answered. With that she began to walk about the room, passing the caskets gently as her ghostly hands passed over them.

Everyone looking at her waited patiently as she began her explanations, "During the time of the Keyblade Wars, all of us in the royal courts of each world who had passed the Mark of Mastery, were gifted with the way of becoming a Chaser... a Knight who serves their Kingdom and it's people, to uphold the duty to serve and protect, to chase away the darkness that would come to harm all."

"Except when the Fragments came into the picture right?" Timbre asked.

It was a blunt comment and Reeve was not pleased as he cried out, "Timbre don't just say it like that!"

"Like what!?" Timbre replied, "This huge eloquent speech about protection and duty! It's a total lie, when powerful treasure comes into the fray!" With that he turned his face away with his arms folded, clearly mad as he finished saying, "You see enough of it when you're a pirate! No matter who you are in the chain of hierarchy everyone becomes a monster when greed gets involved!"

Hearing his hateful words and seeing the uncomfortable silence that had come across them all, the image of Aqua responded, "That I can't deny, during those ages gone by the worlds were thrown into chaos... due not only to greed but fear, that of being harmed and controlled by a power greater than themselves..."

"Could such a thing be possible?" Mickey asked her respectively.

The blue knight didn't answer immediately, instead she lifted her hands and in seconds-!

GLOW!

"WHOA!"

In moments as everyone cried out in awe, bright glowing orbs emerged! Each and every one holding different images! And all of them were of-!

"How horrible..." Shirma gasped, for in each orb was the sight of a terrible battle where countless knights in so many different worlds were combatting each other, all of them striking and harming each other, many fell but the fighting was so intense to the point one couldn't tell who was truly an ally or a foe anymore...

As all of their facial expressions became grave, Aqua looked saddened herself as she explained, "It was... we all saw countless tragic fates like these, I and my brethren."

"Brethren? Who do you mean by that lass?" Cait sith asked the blue knight.

Hearing the question, she answered, "I mean myself... and the rest of the armours that had to battle in the war, as we tried to protect the hearts that donned us."
"Donned?" But quickly Mickey realised along with everyone else what that meant, "You mean you're living armour!?"

"That's correct," The image of Aqua replied, with that she continued on to explain, "I'm almost similar in nature now to a Keyblade... in the fact I have sentience."

"Sentience?" Nozomi asked her, then as she thought over this she asked her looking at all the Chasers fighting each other, "... Is it the same for all armours?"

"I am... somewhat different in nature," The blue Knight answered.

"How so?" Jona asked her.

As this question was asked, the multiple memory orbs that had been distributed about the room were called back and instead became one enormous orb and as it did... it began to show one terrible fateful scene...

"Terra! Aqua! Ventus!" For in seconds, everyone quickly saw the beginnings of terrible fight that was fought between the three Knights and the horrible old man, that Nozomi knew as, "They're going against Xehanort!" With that everyone watched the fateful fight between the three Keyblade Masters and the horrible man of darkness.

However what no-one noticed was that as Nozomi had called out the hateful man's name, their unconscious friend's hand twitched as something within him was beginning to take hold...

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Gasping everyone saw the moment Ventus had fallen to the floor and as he did, falling into Aqua's hands they all watched as suddenly Xehanort with his cohort stood upon the tall canyon and with one mighty release of power-!

BLAST!

Suddenly his dark purple energy raced as an orb into the heavens! As it did, it was then a giant blue heart was revealed!

"Kingdom Hearts...! That one must have been created from the Hearts of the people who fought in the battle!" Reeve spoke in shock at the sight of it.

"It was more than that... it was actually born from all the hearts who fell in the war and many more who's world's had been torn asunder in pursuit of the Fragments..." The image of Aqua explained and as they saw this it was then-!

"Terra!?"

Nozomi recognised that call! It was the real Aqua in the memories and seeing this scene, remembering it from her own dreams, it was then finally she would see the conclusion of those dreams!

There she saw with everyone Terra running up the side of the cliff! With that same red light in his hands! Then chillingly again, she heard that same despair inducing shout crying out for her beloved, "TERRA! NO! DON'T DO IT! DON'T USE YOUR DARKNESS IN YOUR HEART!"

"Darkness...?" Nozomi asked, clenching her right hand over her chest as something terrible ached inside of her, it was then that she heard-!

"GET OUT OF MY WAY!"

CLASH! SMASH! CLASH! SMASH!

Two terrible blades could be heard smashing into each other over and over again! As they did, everyone was caught spellbound, wondering what was happening when-!?

BLAST!

Suddenly a huge explosion of red energy erupted everywhere! As it did so, it was then a single figure was thrown from the cliff edge! It headed straight in Aqua and Ventus's direction! Fearing the worst with wide eyes, Aqua cried out, "TERRA!"

CRASH!

Guarding herself from the dust that spread everywhere, looking in the direction that the person had impacted, Aqua dreaded and thought the worst happened when she saw that it was... the cohort to Xehanort!
The black and red clad masked man unconscious! Looking at him. Aqua couldn't think of what had happened when-!

"AAAAGGGGHHHH!"

Looking back on up! It was then that everyone saw that Terra had grasped a hold of Xehanort! He was holding him by his neck! The old man struggled against his grip desperately!

Watching this with widened eyes, it was then everyone heard the old man curse the stronger Knight who now held him, "You...!"
"You're going to pay Xehanort! You're going to pay for the loss of our peace! For our King! Our Kingdom...! Everything!" With that Terra held his red power ready to annihilate him!

Though the old man struggled, as he opened his aged eyes to look at Terra. Instead of looking on with terror, they instead revealed a sinister smile as he told him, "And you're going to lose more now!"

"What-?" But before the baffled Knight could say anything-!

GLOW!

Suddenly the giant Kingdom Hearts overhead began to radiate with it's eerie blue power and as it did so-!

"Agh!"

Looking on Aqua saw the man she cared about more than all others fall to his knees, in worry she cried out, "Terra!?"
It looked like he was in agony as he tried to say, "What is-!"

"You're now at my mercy!" Xehanort said and in seconds as he held his hands aloft to the heavens-!

"Urgh!"

In seconds, even Aqua was falling prey to the same unknown agony that Terra was experiencing! Even Ventus in his frozen state was in clear pain as he gasped loudly from the pain his heart was experiencing!

Looking above at the hateful man, Aqua gritting her teeth didn't understand what was happening!? However quickly the old man revealed the truth as he said, "The Fragments now contained within your bodies are Interfusing! The power of Kingdom Hearts is calling for the merging of the Ultimate Keyblade! Your Hearts will all be used to create it... and with it, I will open the Door of Light and finally conquer all who exist throughout the worlds!"

"No!" But despite her cry, Aqua could feel the Fragments within herself building in power! They were draining her very essence to reform themselves, if this continued than everything would-!

"You!"

Hearing Terra's voice again, Aqua looked up. There she saw he had somehow despite the agony he must have been in like her and Ventus, he was managing to stand upright! But what could he do when-!
"Hmph? So you can still move can you?" Xehanort asked him, then as he looked at the pitiful Knight he told him, "You know, you truly are a pitiful figure Terra."

Aqua had no idea what was going to happen next but-!

FLASH!

But suddenly, the man of darkness had called upon his horrible Keyblade once more! As he did, he directed it at Terra as his body began to glow brightly with a white light, as did Aqua and Ventus too! The Interfusing was nearly complete!

"To think, you were so easy to use... just by merely having Ventus's heart held hostage, you were willing to do anything to save him from breaking as a Broken Heart, weren't you?" Xehanort asked him tauntingly.

"Ventus?" Shocked at hearing this, she looked to her frozen friend who was just the same.

"How many worlds did you lay siege to Terra? How many people did you cut down to find me Fragments?" Xehanort asked him again.

However the young man didn't answer him, instead he reached his own struggling hand out and-!

FLASH!

In seconds Terra had called upon his Keyblade as he faced the hated old man and told him, "I'll pay for my sins and all the lives that were lost...!" With that stretching out his right hand that began to glow vibrantly with red power, he told him, "By first ridding yours!" With that he charged forwards and in seconds-!

BLAST!

Blinded by the radiant red and orange light that radiated everywhere, Aqua couldn't see anything but in another moment-!

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

The two combatants came at each other over and over again! It seemed as though they were equally matched but in another second-!

GLOW!

"Ah!" The Interfusing was proceeding and somehow against Aqua's wishes, her body began to float up as the white light around her increased tenfold!
"No...Aqua!" But even Ventus couldn't do anything in his helpless state as he too was being lifted and held aloft in the air! Their Hearts were being quickly becoming exposed to the light of Kingdom Hearts!

SLASH!

"Tch!" Falling back from his desperate attacks upon Xehanort, it was then that even Terra's heart was exposed into the open! Glittering with a warm gentle golden radiance as his body continued to shine with white light!

Seeing this, Xehanort then told the helpless Knight, "It's over for you now! You, your friends, the rest of you so called Chasers will now be the key to grant me ultimate power... it's over for you all!"

Breathing heavily against the agony she was in, Aqua looking up helplessly to Terra didn't know what he could do now! There was no way for them to win! They were all-!

"You're right it is over..." Terra uttered.

Aqua took a sharp intake of breath, he was really giving up? He wouldn't-!

"For you it is!" Terra declared then in the next moment, he drew his Keyblade back and aimed it right at Kingdom Hearts! Doing this, his weapon began to radiate with an almighty power and quickly it ignited at full force upon it!

Xehanort looked puzzled, but quickly seeing the light of that spell he recognised it, in horror he cried, "You wouldn't!"
But Terra paid no heed to him and in another moment he released it crying out-!

"Ultima!"

In shock everyone watched as the ultimate terrible was spell unleashed and in seconds it impacted against the powerful force that was Kingdom Hearts! As it did there was a furious reaction as the powerful explosive magic began to corrode and break the massive blue spectacle!

Seeing all his work begin to fall to ruin! Xehanort enraged cried out, "YOU FOOL!" With that he aimed his own spell and-!

KABOOM!

Struggling trying to keep her heart inside of herself, Aqua looking on then saw that Xehanort's spell had somehow missed Terra! She wanted to help him! To do something! Anything but-!

GRAB!

"AH!"

Quickly she saw that Terra had grabbed ahold of Xehanort holding him close from behind with his forearm keeping his head and neck locked, while his old arms were furiously trying to make the young Knight release him!

"What're you doing!?" Xehanort cried out! Then at his words-!

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

The massive blue shining spectacle began to break further and further apart! It was at it's limit and it was going to smash into smithereens any second!

His evil eyes becoming terrified at the sight, Xehanort cried out, "Don't you understand?! If you don't let me go now we'll-!"
"You'd never save us and I know it!" Terra told him angrily, then he added as the old man grunted in agitation, "You're too dangerous to exist in all the worlds... I can't let you survive!"

SHINE!

Then in seconds Terra's body began to shine brightly all over with red energy! In his horror, Xehanort recognised it, "Don't tell me you're going to use the Scythe to-!"

But it was too late! Terra ignited the terrible Fragment's power!
Seeing this, Aqua cried out, "Terra don't!"

However as the horrible power of the Fragment began to cut away at Xehanort, it simultaneously began to eat away at Terra! As it did, the Knight looking down to his beloved told her, "I'm sorry Aqua... for lying to you all this time."

Tears began to fall from her eyes, she could feel it! This was their final goodbye! She couldn't-!

"TERRA!"

Suddenly with those words, Aqua saw with shock that Ventus had recovered from his icy state, he'd found the strength to fight against the Interfusing light! But what was he-!?

In seconds the young boy running up the cliff edge cried out, "Don't sacrifice yourself! I won't let you!"

"Ventus!?" Terra gasped in shock!

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

Looking to Xehanort, he couldn't understand what he was doing! Why was he-!

"As always a foolish boy!" With those words, Xehanort then saw Ventus had made it up to their level!

Drawing his Keyblade out the young boy aimed his own spell at the aged old man, "I'll get rid of you myself!" With that he called upon all his power and then-!

"WINGBLADE!"

With that six blades of light emerged as his Keyblade disappeared and quickly they raced forth and went to strike down Xehanort and in seconds-!

STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE!

"AAAGGGHHH!"

The first three hit and instantly as he incurred damage, the Fourth Fragment stopped seemingly to eat away at Xehanort's body!

"Yes!" Ventus cried out! However-!

"Thank you...!"

"Huh?" Shocked Ventus couldn't understand why Xehanort would say that nor did Terra but-!

VOOM...

The swords of light that had pierced Xehanort quickly twisted and changed becoming dark ones, losing all their lustre!

"You youngsters forget so easily, that light can become corrupted!" With those words, the now dark swords acted and in seconds-!

"AAAGGGHHH!"

To Aqua and Ventus's horror, Terra was pierced by the swords instead!

"TERRA!" Ventus cried out!

"How's that! Now you won't be able to destroy me with the foruth Fragment! You'll-!"
"You forget something old man!" Shocking him again. Terra revealed with a smile despite his pain, "I carry the darkness as well-!"

SWIRL! SWIRL! SWIRL!

As the darkness swarmed around him! Ventus couldn't believe it but as the power quickly grew he cried out, "TERRA DON'T!"

But it was too late! The darkness erupted out of Terra's body and the red shade of the Fragment that had once been destroying Xehanort was replaced with that of the noble Knight's darkness!

"You really don't know when to quit do you!" Xehanort uttered.

"Isn't that the reason you picked me? You adore tenacity!" Terra told him.

"How true..." Then with those final words, the Master of Darkness finally met his end...

Seeing this, all that Aqua and Ventus could do was stare on with devastated grief, as their friend's once shining beautiful heart was consumed and succumbed to the darkness as Xehanort's body faded away into black embers...

Seeing this, Nozomi couldn't believe it! Nor could anyone else! Feeling tears coming to her eyes, she uttered, "Oh no...!"
However it was not the end of the tragedy! For suddenly-!

FLASH!

"Huh? What is-?"
Suddenly in that moment, another Heart came forth from the remains of the old man's darkness! It was a horrible pulsating orb, to look upon it was to see the very image of malice itself!

Seeing it, Ventus recognised it, "So that's your heart!" Calling upon his blade, he went to attack it saying, "I won't allow you to exist anymore!"

However the terrible essence didn't care for his words! Instead it moved and in another second-!

SWIRL! SWIRL! SWIRL!

Dark tendrils emerged from it and immediately they ensnared the dark heart that was exposed before Terra's chest! It was merging with it!
In horror seeing this, Ventus cried out, "NO STOP!" With that he went to intercept it! However it had taken Terra's heart and quickly it sped away from him!

Ventus went to quickly chase it but-!

SHINE!

Finally the Ultima spell had taken it's toll upon the incredible sight that was Kingdom Hearts and immediately-!

PHOOWHOA! PHOOWHOA! PHOOWHOA!

PHOOWHOA! PHOOWHOA! PHOOWHOA!

PHOOWHOA! PHOOWHOA! PHOOWHOA!

PHOOWHOA! PHOOWHOA! PHOOWHOA!

Countless Hearts began to shoot out of the glorious crumbling sight, like countless comets of sharpened sparkling glass and as it all disintegrated, there was no time for Ventus to react-!

PHOOWHOA!

As one of these bright comets sliced right through him!

"AAAGGGHHH!"

"VENTUS!" There was nothing that Aqua could do then for her friend! As the heart shot through him, it's terrible and awful power that had erupted from within Kingdom Hearts disintegrated his entire physical body... which left only his armour that fell and-!

CRASH!

Impacted into the earth now hollow and empty, as though there had never been a body in it to begin with!
Seeing the horror that had been done to her friend! Aqua couldn't believe it! But then-!

PHOOWHOA!

"Ah!" One of those same comets smashed straight through her! She fell backwards in horrible agony as she felt her heart breaking into pieces... as it did so, she could feel the Fragments she had absorbed leave her and in her last moments... she wished she could be somewhere where she could meet her friends again one day...

Then with that, her heart finally broke and her armour was left completely empty... with nothing but a deafening ominous silence in the awful wastelands...

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"Oh no!" Nozomi gasped, no-one could believe it! Such a horrible thing had happened to Aqua and her friends in the past.

"Yes...it was very tragic," The spirit of the armour said with a look of sorrow in her eyes.

"I'll say!" Timbre added looking absolutely torn, with those words and looking to all the armours that were in their resting places, he added, "Damn... to go against someone, no something like that! I can't imagine it!"
"You're telling me! I mean what kind of heart is that! To be able to grab onto others with tendrils! It was like a parasite rather than a living heart!" Zidane said still finding it difficult to process.

"That's what can happen to someone who spends too much time in the darkness, your very essence itself becomes corrupted..." With that she stopped before her shell and said looking down at it, "But fortunately I never allowed Aqua to fall victim to do that... but I was unable to keep her safe from Kingdom Hearts's force, the barrage of power it shot forth tore through her heart and smashed it to pieces."

Hearing this, Nozomi began to tear up thinking of the person she had spent so much time living through. The very idea she'd had to go through something so painful like that was-!

Grip...

Surprised she then turned to see that Jona was holding onto her right shoulder with a strong but gentle grip. She was giving strength to her quietly as she made a small nod to her.

Nozomi returned the same gesture, as she turned to look back to the spirit of Aqua's armour. As she did so, she continued to listen on to what it was she had to say, "I didn't have the concept of emotions at that time, but when Aqua's heart was broken... some small shards of her were absorbed into me and hence-"
"You were able to become as you are now?" Reeve stated finishing her sentence for her.

"Correct," Came the simple answer.

"Then I guess..." With that looking to the younger boy's armour that was unmoving, Timbre added feeling sorry for it, "That other guy with you Ventus, not enough of him was taken into his armour."

"I believe so..." The female spirit replied.

Nozomi listening to all this then realised herself, "That's the reason I have Aqua's memories isn't it?" With that putting her hand to her chest as everyone looked at her puzzled, she explained, "The Fragment I have, the Seventh... it must have absorbed some of her heart... that's why I was able to see a small part of what happened in the past in my dreams."

"That would be the most precise reason I could give if you have experienced that..." The spirit said, then as she did so looking at Nozomi she added, "It would also explain why I could feel a small part of her was here..." Then she said with a small smile revealing itself upon her face, "I'm glad that a small piece of her was able to survive in your heart."

All Nozomi could do was nod to this as she felt like she might cry again.

However Jona decided to ask feeling uneasy still at what had happened with Xehanort's heart, "So what happened to your friend, that Terra guy." With that as her golden eyes turned to the slumbering young man she further added, "Why is he still alive after all this time? What's the deal with him?"

As this question was put to her, the armour responded, "That I don't know the full details to, the only thing I could suggest is that his heart still exists somewhere in the world's and that's why his body didn't fall to the darkness nor a Nobody be created... it must still be waiting for the day that his heart will return to it."

"That still doesn't explain why he hasn't aged all this time though," Jona added still not completely satisfied.
"I apologise, I don't have all the answers in that way... I suppose it must be because of enchantments in this room, they must have wanted to remember their heroes forever or maybe they were scared of an immortal body that didn't change so they hid it away to-?"

"Oh who cares about all that!?"

Shocked by this frustrated outcry, everyone then saw that the one who shouted out was none other than one of their newest comrades, Pete.
Still holding Hari in his arms, he said, "I've had enough about learnin' bout some dumb war that happened amongst a bunch of dumb dumb knights!" With those words he then took a step forwards and indicating to his precious accomplice he continued on to say, "I came down here for one answer and one answer only! How do we deal with these Fragments with us! How can we get Hari to wake up and get back who it is we've all forgotten about!"
The knight was struck silent from this heated demand, but as she processed what he said, she asked, "Forgotten?" Then she realised, "So the Interfusing has already begun has it?"

Not understanding her, Pete was about to speak again before a more gentle and reasonable voice did so, "Not intentionally..." It was King Mickey who was now speaking, as he did he proceeded on to say, "But yeah certain events came into play and I know we've already lost three Fragment Vessels... we were hoping that maybe that you might know something, if at all that could return them back to us, Miss?"
As this was put to her the Knight that simply replied, "I see..." with that she put a hand to her chin as she thought deeply about their enquiry.

There was some moments of silence as the Knight searched her thoughts. Everyone was waiting with bated for her answer. For she had to know something having existed from such a long ago time...

Even Pete was shuddering to know, for as he looked down to Hari his heart ached at the idea that she would never open her eyes again! He hated the idea of that so much it...!

"So how about it lass?"

Spooked out of his own thoughts, Pete looked up again and as he did, he saw it was Cait sith who was now speaking as he sat upon Nozomi's right shoulder. Quiet he looked on as it seemed the female Knight had come to her conclusions, "I believe there may be a way."

In seconds, everyone became elated and Nozomi cried out asking her, "What really?!"

With a nod then said, "Yes..." With that she explained as she looked to the King's armour, " I remember a certain conversation that occurred between his majesty and Aqua where they discussed such a thing."

"They did? What did they say?" Reeve asked becoming more eager to know so he may revive his country's princess. In his excited state though he failed to see Riku's hands were shaking.

"The answers she was given at that time were that in order to revive those who are Fragment bearers from their Interfusing state, there are a few conditions that must be met."
"What are they?" Shirma asked her, feeling nervous but excited to know too.

"It is this, first there must be those who still remember them, second that they have a clear image of themselves within their Broken Hearts...then the third, they must all be in the same place and conscious, otherwise a revival cannot occur."

"Really that's all that needs to happen," Jona asked for it was too easy.

"Yes," The Knight answered then she went on to explain, "The combined powers of all the Fragment's will resonate with the wish for revival within the Vessels and then with their strong self image along with the chains of life binding them, the ultimate Keyblade would be able to grant that wish!"
"Urgh!" Quickly distracted out of his excited smile Reeve turned to see Riku groaning in pain.

"That's wonderful! We can bring everyone back!" Nozomi cried out.

"Oh man that's the best news I've had in ages!" Then as Timbre said this he looked to his sister and said, "It's almost enough to let me forgive you!"

"Whoa! You know how to hit hard little bro don't you?" Jona asked him.

"You've done enough to me! It's about time I got some payback!" Timbre retorted back.

"He's not wrong!" Cait sith laughed.

Though everyone was happy... Pete though quickly realised, "It can't happen."

"What!?" "What does that mean!?" "What're you saying!?"

It was only natural everyone was going to be shocked by Pete's comment. But quickly he knew what the reasons were, "Hari ain't awake... also, she don't have no will of her own, she wouldn't be able to respond to that wish."
"What're you saying? That it's hopeless?!" Zidane cried out.

It was clear that no wanted to accept this, the upset was everywhere in the air... for it was true. As long as the Lachesis Lock was active in Hari's body, a revival couldn't occur.

"Dammit this isn't fair!" Timbre cried out, "This is the point we're supposed to be celebrating not be miserable like this!"

Even Reeve couldn't help but be disappointed too, but more than that as he looked over his patient, he asked wondering if he was near to consciousness, "Riku? Can you me?" Then as this question came...

"There is no Riku here!"

"What!?" Shocked at this new voice, Reeve didn't have any time to react as-!

"AAAGGGHHH!"

Everyone was horrified, then Nozomi with wide eyes saw that Riku had opened his eyes, but now he was screaming in agony! As something dark and horrible was beginning to bleed out from his chest!

"RIKU!?" Immediately she went running to him!
Then Cait sith realised with horror what was happening, "Oh darn it! Me seals breaking! We gotta stop him!" Then before the small cat could leap forwards from Nozomi's shoulder-!

"You're already too late!"

"AAAGGGHHH!"

SWIRL! SWIRL! SWIRL!

Something huge and dark erupted from Riku's chest, it was pulsating and purple in colour! Looking on in horror! Everyone recognised it! It was-!

"Finally my new form!"

Then before anyone could stop it-!

SMASH!

It completely destroyed the glass covering Terra's casket and in another moment-!

"Agh!"

SWIRL! SWIRL! SWIRL!

"Terra!?" Nozomi cried out, as the slumbering man awoke everyone looking on saw a huge cloud of darkness grow around him! Concealing him from sight!

"What's happpening!?" Shirma cried out terrified!

"What's happening?"

As the terrible voice repeated that question, no-one was sure if they even wanted an answer. However, one was quickly given...

"This is my revival... one that has waited for too long."

Spooked hearing these words, Nozomi had no idea what was happening at all! What was-

"So they failed after all..."

Hearing these words, Nozomi then saw that image of Aqua was fading away and as she was, she heard her say softly with sadness, "Forgive us... Vessels of the Fragments." Then with that she completely vanished.

"Aqua!" But the female knight didn't return, instead-!

"So... this is the power you've held inside for so long Terra."

Everyone watching on then saw the power of darkness pulsate and flow more and more rapidly until-!

VOOM...

Then at last the darkness completely faded and there standing before them... was someone none had ever seen before.

The man before them had long white hair that reached past his waist, his eyes blazed like the fires of a raging volcano. He was dressed in red garb with black like armour covering it, it looked like he was a lord as a blood red cape blew behind him.

However the very sight chilled everyone to the bone! They could feel the darkness he exuded, it almost made them all hold their breaths in fear... this man he could only be-!

"At last, this new body will serve me well," Then the new man looking at them all and eyeing all of those who held Fragments, he said, "Just as you Vessels will do the same, for I am your new Master Xehanort!"