Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 28

"The stars here are so beautiful. I noticed it when we arrived," Ven murmured, looking up at the stars from his spot on the wall overlooking the massive valley, a strange castle in the distance.

"Yes," Aqua agreed sitting beside him, they were better in places like the Mysterious Tower but outside of the town here they were nice and bright.

"We've gone without this for so long."

"I know."

He sighed and leant back on his hands, staring straight up. "I remember dreaming a lot. Of you and Terra. Of Sora and his friends too, I think. And there were some more people I didn't recognize. Oh, and I saw these weird animal creatures! It's like...I've been part of some big adventure."

She smiled softly at him, glad he hadn't spent the decade locked away in Darkness or something in his sleep. "I've been places, too. But pretty soon...things'll be back to normal."

Ventus took out his Wayfinder, holding it up to the stars. "Let's share stories when Terra's back."

Aqua took her Wayfinder out too, holding it the same way. "Yeah." They would get the chance, they would.

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Roxas bit into his ice cream like he always had, everything about him was the same as Axel remembered. Well, other than the emotional outbursts but those were already levelling out thankfully. "Tastes just like I remember."

"Well of course it does, it hasn't been that long," Axel licked his own ice cream, unsure why he had another in his other hand. Why had he bought three?

"Hey Axel?" Roxas looked over at him.

"Yeah?"

"No matter what happens tomorrow…I'm glad you're my best friend. And thanks…for not giving up on bringing me back."

"Of course, I didn't give up on you. You're important to me too, got it memorised?" he grinned, and Roxas laughed.

"Yeah."

They ate in silence for a while and then Axel spotted three familiar figures on the ground. "Why don't you go say hello?"

"I…should I? They don't even know me."

"They helped Sora look for you, there's a link there Roxas, you were still familiar to them. Go on, they'll be glad to know we found you."

"Yeah, okay." Roxas got up and headed down, meeting up with them.

Axel couldn't hear them but he watched as the three dragged Roxas off towards the bistro. Good. He needed more friends.

"Shouldn't you say good-bye to your REAL home?"

He looked up, stunned, as Saïx entered from around the corner)"

"Why..." he tensed, ready to scramble up, but Saïx simply sat beside him on the ledge.

"I'm not here to fight. Relax." He reached over and grabbed the spare ice cream stick.

"Hey!"

"You can't eat all this. Why did you buy two of them? One for Roxas' memory?"

He didn't know? Huh. Well, that was good for them. "I dunno. Because I felt like it, okay? Why are you here?" he snapped, he wouldn't give away that Roxas was back if they didn't know already.

Saïx began to eat his ice cream. "Got it memorized? Back when we were still friends, we used to sneak into the castle."

"Yeah..." he murmured.

"And we made a friend there, a girl. We apprenticed to Ansem the Wise to rescue her."

"Yeah, and we failed. One day she was just gone!" he snapped, he hated that memory.

"You gave up," Saïx sneered.

"I did not give up. One day we're apprentices, the next Ansem the Wise has up and vanished, the day after we're Nobodies, day after that we're doing icky jobs for Xemnas. I couldn't keep up with you."

"Following Xehanort's Nobody was the only way to discover what happened to her. She was his lab rat."

"So? You found her? I helped you rise up the ranks, so I hope it paid off," he felt sick when he remembered a lot of what he'd done to help Saïx. Without a Heart, he'd truly been despicable.

"I'm afraid not," he shook his head. "Nary a trace. I started to wonder if we'd imagined her. Maybe she never existed. And then, in time, I awakened to a new purpose. I realized I could be stronger."

"Well, then, you blew it! Wise up already and just quit." Please quit, he didn't want to fight Saïx.

"Face it. Roxas is just like our other friend," Saïx continued as if Axel hadn't spoken, "gone forever. You need to accept that."

"You wish. I'm getting her back. All of 'em!" Axel snarled. "Especially Roxas! I'm even dragging YOU home." He had to sell it, that Roxas was gone.

Saïx finished his ice cream calmly. "The marks under your eyes. They're gone."

"Yeah. Don't need 'em."

Saïx stood up slowly, actions unthreatening. "Always told you they'd stop you from crying. The upside-down tears."

Axel looked away. "Would you get lost? I'll clobber you tomorrow."

Saïx smirked. "I expect no less." And with that he was gone.

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Harry walked along the beach until he came to a nice tree, sitting in the sand beneath it, staring out at the sea. He'd grown up on an island too, but it hadn't been till he was being fostered that he'd finally seen the sea, been to the beach. But this place was nothing like Britain. It was so much brighter and warmer. He took his boots off after a while and waded out into the water, smiling at the fish he could see swimming about. He was glad they were having a day free to do as they pleased before going after Xehanort, they needed it.

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Riku sat on the beach, staring out at the setting sun.

"How long have you known that I was with you?"

Riku looked over at the voice, his initial surprise turning to warm comfort. "You DID save me," he smiled at the younger version of himself, the Replica he had thought had died back at Castle Oblivion. "I think you came along for a reason."

"I didn't make much of myself as a replica. I was a failure, and after you and Sora moved on, my body fell to ruin and the Darkness took my broken mind. I was all ready to give up and let it happen, and then you showed up."

Riku laughed softly. "You took that as a sign?"

The Replica smiled back at him. "Maybe. I'd rather face my end with you than in Darkness."

"That's...what you want?" he asked carefully.

"Yeah. But I'm not done yet. Got one last thing to see through."

"Take the time you need," he offered and then glanced at the movement he spotted, smiling at the sight of Harry in the surf.

"I like him, he makes you smile more." And with that his Replica faded back into his Heart, Riku blushing slightly at his words.

Harry glanced up and Riku waved, Harry waving back.

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"Hey, why's Riku all alone?" Sora asked when he saw him sitting on the sand by himself, Harry off across the beach exploring.

"He said he needed time to himself. Let's let him be," she answered, and he turned back to her when he heard rustling, blushing as she handed him a familiar star-shaped fruit. "Here."

"Huh?" He looked down at the Paopu fruit and then up to Kairi's smiling face.

"Tomorrow's fight will be our toughest yet. I want to be a part of your life no matter what. That's all," she promised, shifting to lay her head on his shoulder as he took the fruit from her.

"Kairi, I'll keep you safe," he promised before taking a bite and handing it back so she could do the same.

"Let ME keep YOU safe." She smiled up at him and he leant in for a soft kiss. It tasted sweet, like the fruit.

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Mickey was glad the kids were all having a restful day even as he sat with Master Yen Sid, going over their preparations for tomorrow. He wished he could have seen Minnie but maybe it was for the best, to simply go home to her once it was all over. He would go home to her; they would all go home. Well, Harry would find a new home since he couldn't return to Earth. But he thought he'd be offered a place on the Islands if he didn't want to live in the Land of Departure, he'd gotten rather close to Riku and Sora after all. And Merlin would definitely give him a place in Radiant Garden as well.

They just had to get through the coming battle. He hoped they were all ready.

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Thankfully, Merlin's place was magical in nature which meant there was no problem having enough rooms and beds for everyone. With what was coming in the morning, Riku nudged Sora and Kairi back into the same bedroom before slipping into Harry's. Ventus and Aqua were sharing, so were Axel and Roxas.

Riku sat on the bed after removing his boots and jacket. Tomorrow was it, everything they'd been fighting for…either they'd win and the Worlds would be safe or Xehanort would win and everything would end. He was scared, he believed in all of them but…the odds of them managing to stay together during a fight were low. And the Organisation outnumbered them, not by a lot but by enough. They had nine Keyblade wielders and Mickey's two best men versus thirteen Organisation members. Would it be enough? Even if Demyx had been recovered, Riku wouldn't have asked him to fight with them, it wouldn't be right.

Harry entered the room, dressed for bed. "You okay?"

"Are you scared, about tomorrow?" he asked softly.

Harry sighed but sat down on his bed. "I think only a crazy person wouldn't be. Battle can't be predicted, no matter how well trained you are, you can't control the battlefield. Odds are good that not all of us will make it back, even if we win."

Riku grimaced but nodded slowly. None of the others talked about it like that, like there was a chance of death or losing. They were teenagers, they weren't meant to have to think about that kind of thing, but Harry had for years longer than him, Sora, and Kairi. He'd been fighting in one way or another since he was eleven. He had memories of Ventus and Vanitas and their fights too.

"Hey," Harry called, and Riku looked up at him, taking the offered hand. "No matter what happens tomorrow, keep fighting, never give up. Okay? They'll try and make it seem hopeless, like you can't win or change anything, but you have to stay focused. Okay?"

"Yeah, okay." Doubt, especially self-doubt was a great way to leave himself open to Darkness, and he didn't want to risk tipping the balance within after all.

"Try and get some sleep, no matter what happens tomorrow, it's going to be long and tiring…unless they see us and give up."

Riku snorted, yeah, like that would ever happen. He got up and went to change for bed, finding Harry already under his covers when he got back. He got into his own bed and tried to relax, Harry was right, fighting on too little sleep was asking for trouble.

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Kairi watched Sora sleep, seeing the slight flickers of expression as he dreamed. She hoped they were good dreams but…she had a bad feeling about morning. She couldn't lose him, she couldn't lose Riku either. She loved them both, even if differently. Sora was her true love and Riku was her friend, her brother, the annoying older brother.

And she'd seen the way Riku watched Harry, they seemed like they could be a good match, both balanced between the Light and Darkness. She'd been worried about Riku, that if he fell for someone too firmly entrenched in either, it could push him out of balance again. But Harry was very firmly balanced and had been most of his life, he could help Riku. She doubted Master Yen Sid would like it but…so long as Riku was happy then that was what mattered.

She was scared, she'd never been in a true battle before. She'd barely fought when they had gone up against Xemnas and the remaining members of the first Organisation. She was their least experienced fighting, even Roxas had more experience and he was barely a year old! What if…she wasn't good enough? There'd never been a Princess of Heart who wielded a Keyblade before, and she was the only one left of the group, the others had passed on the Light, why hadn't she?

"Kairi?" Sora mumbled, and she blinked, finding his eyes open slightly. He wrapped his arm around her waist, tugging her closer, her head on his chest, able to hear the steady beat of his heart. "Sleep."

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Aqua watched Ven sleep, part of her scared he wouldn't wake come morning. He looked so young and innocent, she wished that he could stay behind in safety come morning, that all the younger wielders could, but it wasn't possible.

Terra…he had to be with the Organisation which meant tomorrow was their chance to save him. She'd thought for so long that she'd already saved him, that when she found a way out, they'd both be waiting for her, but Ventus' Heart had remained sleeping in Sora and Terra was still possessed by Xehanort. She should have done more back then, she saw now that the way she'd spoken to him, acted like he had to be watched, it had just pushed him further away. Master Eraqus had been wrong about so much and Master Yen Sid didn't seem much different.

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The table was relatively quiet as they ate breakfast, all of them knowing what was coming. Cloud and Leon made sure the kids ate, knowing they'd need the energy to last the battle. It was obvious they were nervous, scared even, but there wasn't anything more the older warriors could do for them. This wasn't their fight, their role was to defend Radiant Garden, and they were all expecting an attack as the forces of Light and Darkness met.

Finally, Harry spoke up, telling a story from his school that soon had people at least chuckling and then Yuffie chimed in with another, then Aerith, Merlin, even Cid.

Eventually though, it was time for them to leave.

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Harry, Ven, and Aqua landed at the Graveyard, their Gliders changing back to Keyblades. Ventus shuddered slightly and Harry shifted closer, able to remember it too except from both sides of the fight. Aqua placed a hand on each of their shoulders, offering support even as they waited for the others. This time, they weren't coming by ship, it took too long and would leave the three along for a dangerous amount of time. They tensed as a Corridor opened but Riku stepped out, keeping it open for the others.

"Where too now?" Riku asked, looking around warily.

"Last time Xehanort approached us when we were out on the plain," Aqua explained.

"Someone's coming," Sora called.

Up ahead, through the hazy air, Master Xehanort walked toward them, a dark glint in his eye. He bared his teeth in a mockery of a smile, though something like surprise showed for a second when his gaze moved over Harry. "Legend has it that Darkness once covered the world. We know so little about the Keyblade War-only that it was just the beginning. If ruin brings about creation, what, then, would another Keyblade War bring? When the Darkness falls, will we be found worthy of the precious Light the legend speaks of?"

Great, the old man still loved the sound of his own voice.

Ansem appeared; arms crossed over his chest. "Or will all of creation be instead returned to the shadows? Today, we will recreate the legend and see."

Xemnas appeared to Xehanort's left, apparently, they were doing the dramatic villain thing that had been on all of the shows Dudley loved as a kid. Wonderful. "But first... Your Light shines far too brightly. It must be extinguished in order for the truth to be seen."

Vanitas and Young Xehanort appeared in front of them.

"Only when your hopes have been broken by battle upon battle can the key be claimed to Kingdom Hearts," Vanitas droned, mask pointed right at Harry and Ventus, tone mocking.

"And break you is what we shall do. It has been etched," Young Xehanort was smirking at them.

Darkness emanated from the five of them and consumed the landscape. Heartless began falling from the heavens in massive numbers, joined by Nobodies and the Unversed.

"Look at how many there are!" Sora called as they all shifted to stand back-to-back, summoning weapons.

"Okay, gang. Get ready!" Mickey called.

Harry closed his eyes and reached out to the Unversed, grinning. "Don't worry about the Unversed, I've got them!" he called, and they began attacking the Nobodies and Heartless at his command.

The odds were still crazy but Harry could command the Unversed while not feeling the pain of them being destroyed. That was something to keep in mind in the future, especially if fighting Vanitas. If he could take control of Vanitas' then likely he could do the same to Harry's.

Harry dodged and then laughed as Ven used him as a launchpad to get more height before gliding after several Heartless. Sora laughed as well but took off after him as well. Shadows grew and Riku began moving between them, fire flying from his Keyblade. More fire lit the air as Axel joined Riku in burning large groups. Kairi and Roxas began blasting away with Light while Donald threw out Cures as needed, Goofy watching his back and the King's as he fought.

Working together, eventually they defeated them all and took a few moments to get their breath back.

"Looks like there's only one path," Axel pointed to the crevice up ahead and they headed for it.

"Is everybody okay?" Mickey asked as they emerged in the open.

"C'mon, let's go," Sora looked at them all.

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Ven blinked, catching movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned his head, watching the dust settle, eyes widening. "Terra!" he yelled, running towards him, relieved.

"Ven!" Aqua yelled.

Ven grabbed Terra's wrist, smiling happily. "Terra! We found you!"

Aqua caught up and looked into Terra's eyes, her hand on Ven's shoulder. "Terra, please say you're in there."

Terra's eyes moved only slightly and Aqua pulled Ven away from him as the others raced to them.

"What gives, Aqua?" Ven looked up at her.

"I know that you're not him," she snapped, looking at Terra.

Ven eyes grew wide as he looked between them. No...

"Now, let our friend go!" she demanded.

Terra smiled and closed his eyes. They could only watch as his hair turned white, steeling themselves for another battle. When his eyes opened again, they were yellow, just like the others.

"He IS their thirteenth," the King said from behind them even as Darkness poured from Terra's body.

"Today is the day you all lose," he said, and the voice didn't sound like Terra.

"What?!" Aqua glared at him.

"Before you even face the thirteen, every last one of you will be torn heart from body. But fear not." He summoned his Keyblade. "The χ-blade will still be forged."

"We're not gonna lose to you," Sora stated firmly, and Ven nodded in agreement.

The next thing he knew was pain exploding from his middle, gagging, eyes meeting yellow and then he was flying back, everything going black.

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"Ven!" Aqua raced after him even as Harry skidded across the dirt, carefully rolling Ventus over.

"That's it!" Sora yelled, summoning his Keyblade and rushing the possessed Terra only to have his Keyblade stopped by a gravity spell inches from his target. Sora struggled against the spell and then stumbled back as it broke, Xehanort flying back as a blast of magic hit him. He glanced back and Harry nodded at him even as he and Aqua helped a dazed Ventus to his feet.

Xehanort got back to his feet, glaring at them, his gaze going to Kairi and Axel lunged to cover her.

"Axel!" Kairi and Roxas yelled as he was knocked through a boulder, paying no attention to the man rushing towards her.

Roxas snarled and slammed his Keyblade into the ground, pillars of Light exploding outward, pushing Xehanort back before Roxas turned and ran to Axel's side.

Kairi stood frozen even as Xehanort rushed her again. Sora saw and ran as fast as he could towards her, not Kairi!

"No! Sora!" Mickey yelled, but Sora refused to stop, grabbing onto Kairi, ready to take the blow for her.

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Xehanort brought his blade down, slamming into Goofy's protective shield, sending them both flying backwards. Donald focused and a magic circle appeared underneath him, spreading out to cover where Kairi and Sora stood and where Goofy was falling. Mickey's mouth dropped in shock as Goofy lands on the ground.

"Donald, don't!" Goofy yelled, reaching for his best friend.

Mickey knew it was too late to stop, Donald…

"Zettaflare!" Donald yelled.

An incredibly powerful burst of energy exploded from Donald's wand, enveloping Xehanort and casting him away. Sora smiled once the flare died down, but the wand fell from Donald's hand as he slowly collapsed to the ground.

Mickey and Goofy raced towards Donald, praying he was still alive.

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"This can't be real," Sora whispered.

Ven was back up but Donald and Axel…they weren't moving.

A dark pool emerged from the ground, frothing with malice, as the Demon

Tide erupted from within. Sora stood still as it swirled in the air but Riku turned toward him, grabbing his shoulder.

"Pull it together, Sora! We haven't lost them. They still have their Hearts. But we have to protect them," he yelled, and Sora blinked dazedly at him.

"Right!" he nodded, taking a deep breath.

Aqua walked up to them as the swirling mass of Heartless grew more violent. "We stand together," she stated even as Harry and Ventus joined them, Ven still looking a bit shaky but he was on his feet, Keyblade in hand.

They all nodded, making a wall between the unconscious and the Heartless, Kairi joining them since Roxas was covering Axel.

"Mickey, Roxas, Goofy, watch the others," Aqua called back to them.

"No, we should all get to safety, while we still can," the King argued.

"It's too late for that," Riku stated, standing his ground.

From different corners of the Graveyard, more Demon Tides arrived and merged

with the spinning swarm before then becoming a massive tornado of Heartless. They stared, wide-eyed at the monstrosity, power of a scale they'd never faced before.

From within, Aqua saw something that terrified her. "It can't be... No..." She lowered her Keyblade as the despair settled in.

"Aqua!" Ventus yelled, beginning to turn towards her but before he could do anything the Demon Tide struck her down.

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"Aqua!" Harry yelled in denial. He turned to the Tide, eyes glowing with power as he gathered his magic. He felt the Keychain pulse where it was kept safe, offering its power. But the others…could he use it so close to them?

Before he could decide, the Tide swept across the ground, briefly combated by more Light before it swept Roxas and Axel away. Goofy and Mickey were helpless to stop the tide and were lost among them as well, Donald still unconscious. It spun around the still standing defenders, ever closer.

Harry stepped forward and flung his magic out, a shimmering wall of magic forming around them, protecting them…for now. "That won't hold forever," he warned.

Sora reached his hand out and Harry saw Kairi grab it, the two holding on tight to each other even as they held their Keyblades ready. Harry shifted closer to Ventus who was staring at where Aqua had been taken, expression bleak. He could feel the drain on his magic but he would buy them as much time as possible. He grabbed an Ether and used it to keep the shield up longer.

"Any suggestions?" he asked, keeping the shake from his voice through sheer will power, he would give enough time for a plan to be made!

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Riku looked at Harry and grimaced, however he was holding that shield, it was costing him. He was getting pale already from the drain. Riku reached for the Darkness, trying to open a Corridor, but nothing happened. "I can't open a Corridor," he told them grimly. It was their only sure method of retreat at the moment. Someone had to be blocking him.

Harry gasped and Ventus grabbed him, holding him steady. "Hurry," he grunted.

Riku looked to Sora and Kairi, seeing the fear in their eyes. What could they do? "Attack together?" it was the only option he could think of. All their magic and Keyblades combined would surely be enough, right? They nodded grimly and firmed their stances, Keyblades rising.

"Thunder works best on the smaller kinds of this thing," Sora informed them, his Keyblade beginning to glow with the spell. One by one they all lit up except Harry's who was now behind them.

"Drop it!" Riku yelled, and the shield went down.

Thunder spells of several levels lashed out at the Tide, blasting Heartless to pieces, freeing the Hearts…the Tide slowed, seeming to begin to break up and Riku felt hope that they could do it.

And then Kairi screamed as she was swept up and away, Sora reaching for her as she reached back to him but she was pulled into the Tide. Sora dropped the Keyblade, falling to his knees, and screamed at the top of his lungs, overcome with grief as Riku rushed to his side.

"Sora!"

"They're gone. Kairi, Donald... Goofy, the King... Gone forever," Sora choked out, tears in his eyes, and Riku stared in shock, he'd never seen Sora like that. "What do we do?"

Riku was at a loss for words, Sora was always the one to give them hope.

"Without them...I... All my strength came from them. They gave me all of it. Alone, I'm worthless." His tears fell to the ground. "We've lost... It's over."

"No," Ventus snapped, helping Harry back to his feet, the wizard pale and shaky but his Keyblade was held tight. The brothers looked at each other and nodded and then the wind picked up as they clasped hands. A tornado formed around them and then raced at the Tide, slamming into it, the two gasping for air as they poured every bit of magic they had left into the spell.

Riku had never seen such a powerful Air spell before, staring in shock as it chased the Tide around, sending Heartless flying about. But somehow, they knew and it twisted around, spinning. "Move!" he yelled, but they were exhausted, Harry already collapsing from the magical drain. He was powerful, but he'd used so many high-level spells…for a second their eyes met, and Riku reached for Harry even as the Tide swept him and Ventus away.

Sora remained on his knees, crying softly and Riku resisted the urge to join him. They were the only ones left and that wouldn't be for long. He clenched his fist and stood before Sora.

"Sora, you don't believe that. I know you don't," he told him before walking towards the approaching Demon Tide. He planted his feet and raised his Keyblade, shielding Sora. As the Tide approached, he slammed his blade into the swarm, the force of the wind blowing through his clothes. He raged against the force of the Tide, feeling the Darkness swirling around him, beginning to latch onto his body.

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Sora raised his head to see Riku shielding him, standing against the Tide, and he felt a surge of hope, but it faded as he saw Riku's body blackening with Darkness as it fought to swallow him too. Even with all of his strength, the Heartless overtook him as Sora reached desperately for him, only for the Tide to crash into him as well without Riku to shield him.

And so, as foretold, Darkness prevailed, and Light expired...

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He watched, hands curling into fists, there was nothing he could do but trust them to win. They had a plan, it had to work.

TBC…