End of an Era

After years of planning he finally had it.

The X-Blade.

Of course he had lost the rest of his himself, except his younger self and Terra's body as he had now completely taken over and was using as his current main body. But none of that matters now as he had finally achieved what he wanted as the X-Blade was in his hand! He had also dealt with every advisory except one.

That brat with the Keyblade, Sora.

Even then he was on his last knees. Xehanort had taken all of his friends away from him and has crushed everything that he ever cared about. Yet the boy, no the man in front of him was still standing strong.

There was a reason he chose Sora to be a vessel and he had shown it time and time again. He had come to respect him after all this time. But enough is enough.

"It is time to end this Sora. I will admit that you are an admirable youth, but the curtain is coming to a close. Soon the Second Keyblade War will begin and I will finally see what awaits after it. So farewell Sora." Said Xehanort as he raised the X-Blade to deliver the final blow. As the young Keyblade wielder brought up his Kingdom Key to block it, they both paused.

Both were stuck like this until everything around them and themselves began to fade. The younger version of Xehanort yelled in pain as he clutched his head, it was also still solid.

"What is happening?!" For the first time in a very long time Xehanort was confused. What was causing this to happen? Everything was fading from existence before his eyes at a snails pace. He tried to use the power of the X-Blade to stop it, but to no avail.

'Impossible! There is nothing stronger then the power of the X-Blade! Nothing except for Kingdom Hearts and-' Xehanort stopped his thoughts and promptly froze. He turned to his first and youngest incarnation. The one he imbued with powers over time. He was groveling in pain with his head between his hands. Other then that he was completely alright and not see through, unlike everything around him.

"...time itself." He finished his thoughts out loud. Both Sora and Young Xehanort looked at the him as said that.

"Someone has messed with the timeline." Dread was creeping up his and his younger selfs spine at that.

After all this time he didn't account for some fool actually going back in time to ruin his plans But it also angered him more then anything else in his lifetime. After all these year and all those plans he was finally here. He was at the edge of his greatest achievement. Just simply eliminate Sora and he could enjoy the fruits of his labor and continue his future plans without any hindrances. But some fool had gone back in time and undone it all! Now the timeline was being erased and his plans were literally wasting away before his eyes!

"WHO THE HELL IS DESTROYING EVERYTHING I'VE SPENT MY ENTIRE LIFE TO ACHIEVE?!" Xehanort shouted out with darkness flowing off him in waves. Young Xehanort was seriously unnerved by this. He had never seen himself so enraged that it frightened even himself a little.

Still, who was the fool that was ruining everything!

(With Sora)

Sora was exhausted beyond reason. For he had seen all of his friends die right in front of his eyes.

First they couldn't find Roxas, Naminé, or Xion anywhere.

Leon and the others sacrificed themselves to stall for time from an absolutely massive invasion of Heartless that sent Radiant Garden to the Realm of Darkness.

Aqua was killed by Vanitas.

Ventus was killed by Master Xehanort, but not before killing him in turn.

Yen Sid went missing and was later found to be killed by Xemnas.

Terra lost control to Xehanort, who destroyed the Lingering Will, ending him once and for all.

Lea managed to free Isä, but, both of them were killed by Xigbar shortly after.

Donald and Goofy sacrificed themselves to save the King.

Kairi was used to form the X-Blade along with the other princesses, who were all killed by Xigbar afterwords.

King Mickey was cut down by Xehanort.

Riku took out both Xehanort's Heartless and Xenmas, but he was to tired to continue and was gunned down by Xigbar.

Sora had just killed Xigbar and was facing Xehanort when all of the exhaustion finally hit him. He had lost everything, but he still persisted. If he let up once then everything up to this would be for nothing. Everyone gave it their all till the end and so he would as well.

He brought up his Keybalde to block the final blow, when he noticed that everything was starting to fade.

He didn't know what was going on, but when Xehanort turned his back on him Sora had casted a quick Curaga on himself. He had recovered a little strength when he heard what Xehanort said that someone had messed up the timeline and now everything was fading away. Before he could figure out who did it, he heard a familiar voice in his head.

"I don't know if you can here me."

'Roxas' Sora never thought he would here his voice again. Finally there was some good news. Before he could ask any questions, he continued.

"But if you can Sora then I'm doing what you wished."

'What I wished? Wait does that mean he found a way to be his own person!' Sora couldn't be any happier for his Nobody. In fact it helped raised his spirits a bit. But he wondered where he was. After all everything was fading away. So he would be unable to truly be his own person.

Unless.

"I'm starting a new life and I don't think I'll ever see you again."

'So it was him!' Sora was shocked. Roxas found a way back into the past!

'So Roxas is changing the past. I know Merlin warned us about this. But I can't how this is any better.' Sora thought hollowly. He had lost everything and now Xehanort was close to victory. So anything was a better alternative.

"So I wanted to thank you for everything and say goodbye."

'Roxas...so you are going away.' He now relished that his timeline is being erased and that he will never be able to see Roxas again.

"You truly are a good Other, Sora."

'I see Roxas.' Roxas was had chosen his own life. And in doing so has changed everything for the better or for worse. Sora will never know as he would be erased along with Xehanort and the rest of the timeline.

But Sora had made up his mind.

'If I'm going away, then I'm taking Xehanort with me!'

With his resolve rekindled Sora proceeded to get up. Intent that if he was going to disappear, then he would do it swinging.

'It is a shame I couldn't be able to see Roxas again, but at least I hope I can give him one last message.'

(A few moments later)

"Roxas."

That one word had both of the Xehanorts paying attention. They noticed that his posture was filled with confidence and resolve that they haven't seen from for a long time. Yet it is what he said that caused both of them dread.

"What. Did. You. Say?" Xehanort said coldly. With pure malice dripping off each and every word. Yet Sora didn't even flinch.

"It was Roxas. He found a way to the past and is changing everything you did starting with Aqua, Terra, and Ven." Sora spoke. His resolve firm and ready to face his end either by Xehanort or just fading away.

"Kill him."

With those two words uttered by Xehanort, his younger incarnation vanished to do the dead. While Sora was worried for him, he knew that Roxas will overcome him.

As the timeline fading was enough proof for him.

"I thought I got rid of him." Xehanort said, his voice devoid of everything but pure hatred. "I made sure to cast him, the witch, and the puppet to nothingness so that they wouldn't interfere. Now I known I was mistaken. I should have let them out so I could kill them personally."

He raised the X-Blade and got into a stance.

"After I kill you Sora I will take over my young incarnation if he hasn't killed your pathetic Nobody already. I will undo all the damage already done by him, and everything will go exactly as how I planned it. So prepare to die just like your friends." Xehanort said ready to finish him off.

Sora just shook his head at that.

"Your are right that I am prepared to die. But not the way you envisioned it. For when I die, you will lose. Roxas will have won and none of this will have come to pass." Sora said. He proceeded to summon the last two gifts his friends gave him.

Way to the Dawn and Destiny's Embrace.

Riku's and Kairi's Keybaldes and part of their last will.

The other part was to defeat Xehanort for them.

"I might not to be able to see the future Roxas brings. But it will be a lot better then this hell. We will both fade away, so come at me Xehanort! It is time to finish this!" Sora said, launching himself at Xehanort.

He released a rage filled snarl in return and their blades met.

Their clash resulted in what seemed to be an eternal stalemate. Blade would block blade. Spells would cancel other spells out. Techniques only canceled each other out. Blows were meant with blocks. Any damage was healed up. The clash went on for hours or maybe even days, but it didn't matter to them. What mattered was killing the other one.

In the end Sora slipped up and caused an opening.

Xehanort returned the courtesy by ramming the X-Blade straight threw him. He never got a chance to celebrate his victory though.

Sora with the last of his strength faced him and smiled.

"You lost."

With that the Keyblade wielder dropped dead, with a smile on his face.

Xehanort never had a chance to ponder what he meant as he had vanished along with the world around him the next second.

They had been fighting for so long that neither of them noticed that the world was fading faster until it was too late. When Sora noticed he purposely let himself be killed as he had fulfilled what he promised Roxas.

He had bought enough time for the new timeline to set and to be rid of this accursed one.

Sora had also kept his promise to Xehanort.

For when he died, Xehanort had lost.

Once and for all.

(Chapter 4 end)