Pyrrha dashed along the outer walls of the castle with a grim determination. She regretted breaking off from the brawl with the Heartless and Grimm, but unfortunately she had good reason. For in the midst of the chaos, she saw something far worse. Something she couldn't afford to let Sora involve himself with. Cinder was still here. And as long as she was, Cinder would continue to hound them with Grimm during their escape until they were overwhelmed. She knew what she had to do...even if she didn't have the power to truly accomplish it.

"Pyrrha!" When she stopped to catch her breath atop the balcony over the castle gates, Pyrrha turned at the sound of a familiar voice. It was Jaune, panting for breath as he finally caught up with her. "Pyrrha, what was all that about? Why did you run off?" he asked as he straightened himself out.

Pyrrha's head lowered in shame before she turned to Jaune. Seeing him again was only making what she had to do all the harder. "Jaune...Do you remember what happened in Beacon before our world was lost to the Heartless?" she asked, trying to mask her sorrow.

How could either of them possibly forget it? Jaune remembered how easily Cinder tossed him aside. How remorselessly she killed Amber while she was helpless. And the start of her clash with Ozpin. "I do. Why?" Jaune asked. He wasn't sure why she was bringing it up now, but the moment he saw the somber expression on her face...he began to feel worried. VERY worried.

But before he could inquire further, a monstrous roar rang out from above them. There, clinging to the rooftop of Hollow Bastion was an absolutely horrifying Grimm. A beast that anatomically looked similar to the Wyvern Heartless, only considerably larger...and more frightening. "Whoa! How the heck did we miss THAT!?" Jaune inquired. Though another good question would be, how did it not notice Jaune yelling? But the fact that it somehow hadn't was a gift horse neither of them could afford to look in the mouth.

Pyrrha in particular realized that not only would the smaller Grimm keep hounding the group, but the moment they reach the Gummi Ship, that Grimm was going to attack their friends. And from everything Cinder told them thus far, the only one that Grimm and its apparent mistress would spare is Sora. And if that Grimm was simply hanging around up there...then there was no doubt about it. Cinder herself HAD to be up there too. "Jaune...Go back to Sora and the others. Help them get to the Gummi Ship and get back to Traverse Town."

The picture that her words were painting left Jaune even more worried than before. "But...What are you gonna do?" he asked, though he wasn't sure if he wanted to know the answer. But his answer came in the form of Pyrrha's silence as she looked up at the tower where the massive Grimm was. As he followed her gaze, it was then that the pieces fit together in his mind. Pyrrha was staying...to fight Cinder.

His blood ran cold as the realization crashed into him as powerfully as a full swing from Cardin's hammer. "No...No, Pyrrha, you can't! You saw how powerful she is!" When she didn't falter at his fearful reminder, the chill running through him grew stronger. After everything they went through, everything they survived, both on Remnant and among all these worlds, he couldn't just let her throw her life away like this. He couldn't let his teammate, his partner, his dearest friend die like this. "Pyrrha, I won't let you do-

Before he could finish, Jaune was interrupted by Pyrrha sharply turning around, grabbing him by the face...and kissing him full on the lips. A kiss that, after a moment of shock and surprise, he returned as his hands wrapped around her. The feeling of his lips on hers...it was something she dreamed of for so long. Ever since she first saw how, despite his dubious acceptance into Beacon, he truly had the potential to become the hero he wanted to be. She only regretted that she wouldn't live to see that dream of his come true.

And as she broke the kiss, Pyrrha lay her hands upon Jaune's chestplate, taking a moment to savor the feeling of how close they were. A closeness she'd never get to experience again as she once again felt the sheer weight of her decision. A decision she knew would hurt Jaune more than anything. Especially now that she'd laid all her heart's cards on the table at long last. She just hoped that he and the others would understand.

"I'm sorry..."

Before Jaune had the opportunity to recover from the surprise kiss, or properly register Pyrrha's tearful apology, she used her semblance on his chestplate and gave a great shove. The force sent him flying onto a nearby gondolas used to reach different parts of the castle walls. As Jaune pushed himself to his feet, he ran toward Pyrrha, desperate to stop her from what she was attempting to do. But by the time he reached her, she'd already activated the device that controlled the gondola, forcing it to move away from where she stood.

"Hey! Wait! Stop, stop! Pyrrha, please don't do this!" Jaune's cries were in vain as he found himself pounding on an invisible field that separated the platform from its gaps. No matter what he screamed or pleaded, nothing he did would deter her from this course.

Pyrrha, regretful as she was, did not have the luxury of letting her tears stop her. But what she hoped for most of all, was that Jaune finally understood how she felt about him. That she finally had the chance to express it...She was able to at least let go of that regret. Now her biggest regret...was not being able to spend the life she'd dreamed of with Jaune. But if it kept him, Sora, and everyone else safe in order for Remnant, and all other worlds taken by the Heartless to be restored, then that was enough for her.

She turned away from the gondola and wiped her tears, looking up at the pinnacle of the castle again. Using her semblance, Pyrrha began to bend the nearby pipes, making them creak into makeshift platforms that allowed her to ascend toward the destiny she chose for herself.

"Sora...Ruby...Jaune...I'm so sorry..."


Meanwhile, Sora, Ruby, Weiss, Donald, and Goofy were in the midst of speaking to the Princesses of Heart. Beast had returned to Belle in the library, while Nora, Neptune, and Sun followed Leon and the others, helping Ren along. Though their group was weakened by everything nearly falling apart as the Keyhole was sealed, they completed their main objective, and everyone was at least alive.

"Thank you, Sora. I think the darkness has begun to weaken." Alice said gratefully. Unfortunately, the five princesses shared a grim expression, hinting that the worst was yet to come.

Something that Jasmine confirmed as she said, "But I can feel a powerful darkness growing somewhere far away."

Aurora spoke up after, holding her hands in front of herself anxiously. "It's the heart of the darkness. It must be where Ansem went."

In that moment, Sora, Ruby, Donald, Goofy, and Weiss realized that what Aurora mentioned, being taken by the darkness, was indeed part of Ansem's plan. "So that's why he was smiling. The darkness of the Keyhole took him to a place where it was even more powerful." Weiss said, stroking her chin contemplatively. "But why? We still don't know what he's trying to do. Or why our worlds, our friends...our families had to suffer for it." Ruby said, her voice growing sadder by the second. This man, once a wise sage, a leader of the people of this now desolate world of this, caused so much suffering and destruction. All for what?

Whatever his reasons, Sora refused to let Ansem get away with all he'd done. They all came so far together, and they were going to see it through to the end. "Then we'll take the gummi ship and deal with both Ansem and the Heartless." he said, his voice brimming with resolve. Now that they knew where he was, it was time to finish this once and for all.

Ruby and the others were glad to see Sora's determination was as strong as it normally was and prepared to find Pyrrha and Jaune just as Sora did. Before they went on too far ahead, Goofy perked up when hearing something unusual. He turned to his side and was surprised at what he saw, turning back to the others and pointing to it. "Hey, fellahs, look!"

Everyone stopped and when seeing what Goofy directed them too, they and the Princesses had worried expressions. Sora hurried back to Goofy with Donald, Ruby and Weiss right behind him, coming to a dark portal. The princesses stayed back as Donald asked, "Where'd this come from?"

"Ugh, don't tell me more Heartless or Grimm are gonna come out of it. We've had enough of them to deal with as it is." Weiss complained, preparing to draw her weapon, just to be safe. Leon, Yuffie, and Aerith certainly had their hands full clearing the way for everyone else further down in the castle.

"I think they'd have come out by now." Goofy said, certain of his words. Whenever Heartless materialized, they never left anything like this behind. So surely it must have been something else altogether.

Sora stared at it curiously. Something told him this wasn't used by the Heartless or the Grimm. In fact, it reminded Sora of the one Maleficent left in her wake when she tried to flee from them. But she was gone. And Cinder certainly wasn't capable of creating such things. The only other person he could think of that would have been able to create this would be Ansem. But if it was him, why would he come back here after letting the darkness take him to wherever the Princesses spoke of? "Ruby. Weiss. You two go on ahead and search for Jaune and Pyrrha further down in the castle. Donald, Goofy and I will check out where this leads and catch up with you."

"Are you sure, Sora?" Weiss asked. She didn't doubt his capabilities, but she wasn't sure if splitting up would be the best idea.

"Don't worry, Weiss. They'll be alright. I'm sure of it." Ruby said, smiling at Sora, Donald, and Goofy. After all she'd been through with them, she was certain things would turn out okay. And as it stood, they likely would have to split up to cover more ground if they hoped to find Jaune and Pyrrha.

With a sigh, Weiss relented. "Alright. But you three better be quick. I REALLY want to get back to Remnant." As much as she enjoyed the adventures...for the most part, she was looking forward to going home, as all of her friends were.

"Alright. We'll be back!" Sora said as he immediately turned on his heels and ran into the strange portal Donald and Goofy. As they vanished, Ruby and Weiss departed from the council chamber to continue their search for Jaune and Pyrrha.

"Help! Guys! Sora! Ruby! Anybody, help!"

No sooner than they left the room, both girls heard the voice of one of the people they were seeking. It was Jaune...and he sounded desperate. And not the annoying sort of desperation that Weiss constantly had to turn down and shut down. Something was terribly wrong. The huntresses followed the voice and eventually found themselves face-to-face with Jaune, running frantically toward them before falling to his knees. Worry washed over Ruby and Weiss, the latter of the two young women kneeling down in front of him, asking "Jaune, what happened?"

"Weiss! Ruby! Please, you have to stop her!" Jaune begged the two shocked huntresses desperately.

Ruby and Weiss were shocked by the state Jaune was in. They didn't know what to say or do at first. Weiss recovered from her surprise, reaching forward and grasping Jaune by the shoulders. "Jaune, calm down. What-"

"Pyrrha!" Jaune interrupted Weiss with a frantic yell. Both she and Ruby looked at Jaune with even greater worry, unsure what could have happened to Pyrrha that would have left Jaune in such a state of hysteria. "She's going after Cinder, at the top of the castle! She doesn't stand a chance!"

Weiss and Ruby's eyes widened with horror at Jaune's words. Pyrrha was going to fight Cinder?! "Jaune, what are you talking about!?" Weiss exclaimed, struggling to come to grips with what Jaune had just told them.

"Don't worry about me!" Jaune said frantically. The stress, the guilt, the fear for the life of his dear partner was overwhelming him. He couldn't bear to lose Pyrrha. Especially after she... "Please...you have to save Pyrrha..." he begged, collapsing to the ground. He couldn't bear to lose her. Not when he finally realized how she felt about him.

"We will..." Weiss assured him gently, laying her hand upon his shoulder. Despite her words, Jaune felt no relief. All he could do was scream and collapse to the floor, breaking down with sorrow. He felt like such a fool...Such a failure of a leader...

Realizing they had no time to waste, both Ruby and Weiss helped Jaune to his feet and brought him to the room where the Princesses resided. "Sora! We-" Ruby's words died on her lips when she and Weiss both noticed that not only were Sora, Donald, and Goofy still gone, but the strange portal they found had vanished.

"Don't tell me..." Weiss said, praying that that portal didn't lead to where...or WHOM she feared. Two of their teammates were injured, one maimed and unconscious, two others were separated from them in the chaos with one of this pair going to fight their greatest and most dangerous enemy apart from Ansem? Just when things seemed to be looking up in one way, they got infinitely worse in another.

Ruby was beginning to fear the same thing as Weiss. If that portal truly was erected by an enemy of theirs...then Sora, Donald, and Goofy may have walked into a trap. More still...Pyrrha was going to fight Cinder...But maybe...there was at least still a way they could get up to the top of the tower before it was too late. "I have a plan." she said resolutely, turning toward Weiss as she shifted her arm off Jaune to draw Crescent Rose.

Weiss looked right back at Ruby and nodded as she drew Myrtenaster. "You always do." she said, choosing to trust in Ruby. Crazy as she could be, Ruby always found ways to come through for them...even when she got herself in trouble because of her own plans. First, Weiss shifted to look Jaune straight in the eye, speaking to him softly but firmly.

Ruby walked up to Jaune, releasing one of her hands from Crescent Rose in order to clasp him on the shoulder. "Jaune, I need you to listen to me." Her words drew the blonde's tearful gaze to her silver eyes. "Weiss and I are going to help Pyrrha. But until we, or Sora, Donald, and Goofy come back, stay with the princesses and protect them from any stray grimm. When we come back, we'll rendezvous with Leon and the others. Okay?"

Jaune paused, still trying to compose himself, but he eventually mustered the will to nod and say, "A-Alright...I will, Ruby. Just...please, bring her back." Ruby swiftly nodded in response to his plea before turning toward Weiss. Both women wasted no time running down the hall with all due speed.

Whatever her plan was, they had to do it before it was too late. Their friends' lives and the restoration of their world hung in the balance.