I do not own Kingdom Hearts or any of the characters.
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Tyler stared up at the thorns. Seeing them from the ship really hadn't done them any justice. The roots the thorns covered were as wide in some places as Tyler was tall, and the thorns themselves were just as long. Tyler looked to Fang and Noel, both of whom were also staring.
"He had to pass through somewhere," Tyler said.
"Not necessarily," Fang said. "Possessor Heartless have a habit of giving their hosts abilities like flight, as well as control over darkness. I wouldn't be surprised if fighting him is almost as hard as fighting Caius."
Tyler nodded, summoning his keyblade and slashing a root. His keyblade, while not nearly long enough to do it normally, somehow magically cut all the way through the root. The potion he had cut off exploded into a cloud of darkness, fading, and Noel and Fang both drew their weapons, slashing the roots and also managing to destroy them similarly.
"Race you to the castle," Noel said, sprinting forward, slashing roots as he went.
Fang followed, also tearing through the roots, leaving Tyler a perfect path to follow. Tyler smirked, jogging after them, easily saving energy by letting them clear his path. Then, after roughly four minutes, they slashed their way through to the door to the castle, Tyler stepping past them to win the race and stopping, staring up at the castle. It was dark foreboding, and the dark storm clouds endlessly filling the sky above them were a perfect backdrop to fit the mood of impending battle.
"You two tire yourself out yet?" Tyler asked.
"Not yet," Fang said.
"Me neither," Noel said. "You?"
"You two did all the work," Tyler said, placing a hand to the door and pushing it open. "Let's go."
They all walked inside, looking around. There was no one in the entry hall, and the open doorway to the throne room revealed the same. To the left was a solid wall, and the right had a door to a stairwell. They stepped into the stairwell, looking up and down the stairway.
"Leave!" a voice shouted suddenly, seeming to come from everywhere. "Leave now! I'll kill you!"
Tyler looked up, clenching his fists. "He's at the top. Of course."
They all made their way up the stairs, taking their time so they didn't tire themselves up too much. Finally, after nearly an hour, they reached the top of the stairs, stopping at a wrought iron doorway, waves of purple magic energy flowing across it. Tyler stopped, staring at it.
"He sealed himself in?" Tyler asked.
"Maybe he's fighting the Possessor?" Noel guessed.
"Maybe," Tyler said. "Or maybe someone else is helping us and we just don't know it. I'm unlocking the door. Be ready."
He held the keyblade out, placing the tip against the door. The magic energy cleared in a wave spreading from the keyblade and Tyler pulled the door open, revealing more stairs, this time in a cramped, winding staircase barely shoulder width across.
"Great," Tyler sighed. "Of course there's more stairs."
They all began to walk, Tyler taking the lead and keeping his keyblade aimed up the stairs, ready to blast the prince or any other heartless that showed up. However, after a few minutes, they stepped out into a huge, open, circular room. The only thing blocking any of the floorspace was the hole they had just entered through. Tyler looked around, fists clenching again.
"Where is this bastard?" Tyler snarled.
"Calm down Tyler," Fang said. "If you don't you'll risk being taken over by darkness."
"So what?" Tyler asked. "If that's what it takes to save Lightning, I'm fine with it."
"Don't," Noel said. "Losing yourself to the darkness isn't okay. Even for a good reason. Caius had a good reason too, and when he lost control, his darkness made him kill Lightning. If not for Serah, she'd still be dead."
"What's your point?" Tyler asked. "Even if I fall into darkness I'll still control it."
"That's what Caius thought," Fang said.
"I'm not Caius!" Tyler snapped.
Just then, Prince Phillip landed in the center of the room, sword in hand, and darkness flooding off of him. Tyler turned to him, feeling his own anger and hate filling him. He summoned his keyblade, sprinting forward and slashing at Prince Phillip rapidly, Phillip blocking the slashes, the two moving around the room as they blocked, slashed, stabbed, and dodged. Finally, Tyler leapt back from a slash, gritting his teeth, his entire body beginning to burn with rage. Darkness began to drift off of his hands, and his keyblade began to be surrounded by a cloud of it.
"Tyler!" Fang shouted. "Control yourself!"
"Shut up!" Tyler shouted, swiping the keyblade.
Darkness exploded off of it, leaving a different one in its place. This one had a bat wig for a blade, no obvious teeth, and the guard was a mess of spikes. The charm was a spiky black ball that radiated darkness. Tyler shot forward, slashing at Prince Philip rapidly. The prince managed to block or dodge most of it, but after several seconds, the blunt of Noel's sword crashed into him, launching him away before Fang slammed the shaft of her staff into Tyler, hurling him backward. Tyler flipped, landing on his feet and snarling in rage.
"Stay out of my way!" Tyler shouted, darkness exploding off of him.
"Would Lightning want you to do this?" Fang demanded, Tyler freezing.
He stared at her, then down at his keyblade and hands. He grit his teeth, taking several long breaths, the darkness slowly fading. Finally, light enveloped Tyler's keyblade and it returned to its normal form. He sighed, turning to Prince Phillip, seeing the darkness starting to thicken around Phillip's heart, a pair of eyes appearing there. Tyler swung his keyblade up, a beam of light shooting out and hitting the darkness, the darkness leaving Phillip, who collapsed. Tyler instantly darted forward, the ball of darkness with a pair of glowing yellow eyes turning to flee, only for Tyler's heart to slice through it, the cloud dispersing instantly.
"I can't believe that actually worked," Noel said. "How'd you know that would get Tyler under control?"
"Because he's in love," Fang said. "Come on. We need to get back."
Tyler nodded and looked to the prince as he pushed himself up, groaning.
"What...what happened?" Phillip asked. "Where am I?"
"You're in Maleficent's castle," Tyler said. "Come with us. We'll show you exactly what happened."
They led Phillip back down the stairs, then through the thorns and back toward the other castle. As they walked toward it, Phillip looked around at the empty streets.
"I don't understand," Phillip said. "This place was so beautiful, so full of life. What happened?"
"You did," Tyler said, pushing the doors of the castle open, Phillip stopping and staring at all of the women lying comatose around the entry hall. "You were possessed by a heartless, a creature of darkness, and went around putting women into comas because you missed your true love." Tyler walked over, kneeling beside Lightning and gently brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "She originally came here looking for her sister."
I've been...doing this?" Phillip asked. "But...there are so few. Where is everyone else?"
"Dozens of women have already died," the king said, walking over. "These comas aren't like Aurora's. After a few days, the women you put to sleep just die."
"We were hoping that defeating the heartless controlling you would end the curse," Tyler said. "Apparently not."
"Well...maybe...no," Phillip said.
"What?" Tyler asked. "I can't save her myself, so if you have any ideas, we're open to suggestions."
"Alright," Phillip said. "Just...hear me out, okay? And try not to get mad."
"No promises," Tyler said.
"Well...with Aurora...she was only saved when...I...kissed her," Phillip said.
"That was true love's kiss," the king said. "That can't possibly work here."
"Well, like you said, this isn't the same as Aurora's," Phillip said. "Even though it's not true love, maybe...maybe it could still work."
"So, what, you're going to kiss every girl in here?" Fang asked.
"If it works?" Phillip shrugged. "Why not?"
"Try," Tyler said.
"What?" Fang gaped. "You're not serious!"
"Do you have a better idea to save her life!?" Tyler demanded, receiving no answer, Fang simply staring at the ground. "Then we might as well try the only idea we've got."
Phillip nodded, carefully leaning down and pressing his lips to Lightning's, kissing her for several seconds before sitting up. After several seconds, Phillip sighed.
"You're both idiots," Fang sighed. "Neither of you understands."
"What do you mean?" Phillip asked.
"Aurora didn't wake up because she was your true love when you kissed her," Fang said. "It was because you were hers. It's not about what the person giving the kiss feels or thinks. It's about what the person receiving it feels. And she doesn't love you, so you can't save her."
"Who then?" Tyler asked, Fang staring at him, deadpan. "Fang-"
"For the love of God just take your balls out of your purse and kiss her Tyler!" Fang snapped. "Quit being such a fucking bitch about it!"
Tyler stared at Lightning for several seconds before sighing. "Fine."
He leaned down stopping a couple of inches away, swallowing hard. Fang rolled her eyes.
"Just do it!" Fang said. "What is it your first time kissing someone?"
Tyler remained silent, struggling to force himself to close the distance, neglecting to answer her question.
"You're kidding!" Fang gaped. "Never? You've never had a girlfriend?"
"I've had girlfriends," Tyler said, sitting up, losing his nerve. "We just never...fuck it. No. I've never had a real girlfriend. Just wallet leeches."
"Can we focus?" Noel asked. "Tyler, kiss your girlfriend. Fang, stop talking, you're making him lose his nerve."
Tyler's face turned scarlet but he bent down, touching his lips to Lightning's for the barest of moments before pulling back.
"What the hell was that?" Fang asked. "We said kiss her, not gently head butt her."
"Well why don't you try it then?" Tyler asked. "If you're so great at kissing, why don't you do it?"
"She's not in love with me, is she?" Fang asked.
"How the fuck should I know?" Tyler asked. "I'm a guy! We don't know anything!"
"At least you know that much," Fang snorted. "Do it again. For real this time."
Tyler groaned, leaning back down and hesitating. Then, he leaned in, kissing Lightning again, this time holding it for several seconds before sitting up. This time, Lightning's eyelids fluttered for a moment before she made a tiny noise at the back of her throat. Finally, her eyes fluttered open and she stared up at him a moment before sitting up and looking around before staring at Tyler again.
"Did...you just kiss me?" Lightning asked.
"I'm sorry," Tyler said. "We couldn't think of any other ideas and Fang said-"
Lightning cut him off by grabbing him by the back of the head, yanking him forward into a kiss. After several seconds of surprise and not knowing what to do, Tyler felt instinct kick in and closed his eyes, kissing Lightning back. They continued to kiss for several long moments before Fang finally cleared her throat.
"Not that it isn't long past overdue for you two to make out, but we still need to figure out how to save the rest of them," Fang said.
"Try giving them an Ether," Lightning said, Tyler staring at her.
Fang blinked in surprise before walking over, lifting one of the women's hands and placing an Ether in it before crushing it. Light enveloped the woman for a moment before her eyes fluttered open, Tyler's face burning scarlet once again instantly.
"What, that's it!?" Noel gaped. "We could have woken you up with a fucking Ether!?"
"Shoot me," Tyler groaned.
Lightning smiled, kissing him on the cheek before moving to help Fang wake up everyone else. Tyler and Noel did the same, and after a few minutes, everyone was awake again.
"How did you even know that would work?" Noel asked as they met back up.
"Before I fell into a coma, if felt like my magic energy was being stolen," Lightning said.
"Wait," Tyler said. "When you were in a coma the first time, could we have used an Ether then?"
"We tried," Fang said. "It didn't work."
Tyler nodded as Lightning slipped her hand into his.
"Thank you for saving me, even if the method was unnecessary," Lightning smiled.
Tyler nodded, blushing yet again, but smiled as well. After a few more minutes, they were all teleported back to the ship and Vanille met them both with a flying hug and extremely enthusiastic congratulations. Finally, after about five minutes, they managed to get away from Vanille, Fang stepping in to stop the five minutes of questions about how good a kisser Tyler was and if Lightning was okay from her second coma.
"That girl sure can talk," Tyler chuckled as he and Lightning walked away from the bridge, toward her bedroom.
"Yes she can," Lightning smiled, nodding. "I hope she and Fang get together soon."
"I'm sure they will," Tyler said as they reached her door.
"Well, this is me," Lightning said, turning to him. "Wake me up when we reach the next world, alright?"
"Sure," Tyler nodded. "Um...well, goodnight."
He turned to walk away, and she rolled her eyes, catching his arm and turning him back toward her, kissing him. He kissed her back happily, wrapping his arms around the small of her back, Lightning's wrapping around his neck. Finally, after several minutes, Lightning pulled back, resting her forehead against his.
"Goodnight," she smiled, giving him one last quick kiss before stepping backward through the door and closing it.
Tyler smiled, turning and heading to his own room, dropping on the bed and passing out instantly.
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