Kingdom Hearts: SfE Part 2 - The Final Keyhole and the Mark of Mastery

"We can hear you..."Sora and Riku said at once. "Oh come on, you know it was difficult. Especially you, Riku."Valerie said. Roxas couldn't help but lift an eyebrow at that statement.

 

"We're in the Land of Dragons right now. And..well i feel like it's my fault for what happened to Eden. If i were stronger she would've been fine. Sora, Riku, you're going to hate me for what i intend on doing. But the only way i can get stronger, is by consuming more hearts" Gexln stated, determined. He intended to power up his Dark Form even further. "My heart can wait. Right now, my goal is to kill Xehanort" he added.

 

"You've got a nasty scar to prove it," Kairi commented.
"We're not saying you're weak, just that Xehanort is much stronger than any of us," Jeffrey told them.

 

"For now he is. I've only ever seen one person who, in my opinion, could even have a small chance of killing Xehanort. I only saw him for a moment, and we only had a brief struggle, but i need to become as good as him. It was that guy with the black wings. You remember right? The one with the insane look in his eyes?" Gexln asked. As he was talking, he was attempting to pinpoint Gregory's location.

 

"Well.... Alright... Problem is with Xehanort now, is that I don't have a body to fight with. He has it. You'll be having to fight against my body." Eden huffed in odd strings of words that only those of the dark could truly understand. To others, it was a difficult other language that they could barely pick up, but slightly could.

You sigh to yourself, creating an obsidian looking glass to view your creation. "Xikari..." He hummed. " State your progress... I do not expect failure of you."

 

"You're crazy, right?"Valerie asked. "Don't kill any more people! Innocent people don't have to die just because you want power!"Roxas and Kurix protested. Sora didn't say anything, holding Kisa tight. "We'll be on our way. Stay right there until we arrive."Riku set the coordinates, launching the gummi.

Xikari had made it to the Land of Dragons. "I have arrived, father. I have not spotted the nobody yet, but I will search..."she made her way, staying hidden through the shadows of the trees.

 

"I don't CARE if innocent people die! Eden's already lost her body because of him! If i don't stop him, he's going to go around and kill innocent people anyway! This is the only option" Gexln said. He stopped searching for Gregroy, an idea forming in his mind. "Or maybe it isn't" he said.

 

"Gexln, what are you thinking...?"Valerie frowned. "Nothing bad, I hope. You can't fight fire with fire, you know."Sora said. Riku was behind the wheel, making sure they made it safely to the Land of Dragons.

 

"What if one of us were to ally with Xehanort, gain his trust..and then kill him when his guard is down?" Gexln suggested.

 

"An ally to Xehanort? He's like, Darth Vader! He'll only corrupt that person to evil!"Valerie said. "Why you gotta bring Star Wars into this?"Riku asked. "Yeah, that was an amazing story. Don't ruin it."Sora commented. "Wait...you two know about-....Okaaaay then."Valerie shook her head.

 

"He can't corrupt me. I'm going to gain his trust, then i'll kill him when he least expects it. Don't worry, it'll work" Gexln assured.

 

"I don't know...but it's worth a try."Riku said. "Just... please be careful..."Sora said. "I still don't like it."Valerie said. "Yeah, who know what'll happen."Roxas huffed.

 

"Gexln, you know that is a stupid idea right? You'll be killed! He is also a disease, Gex, and it could kill you like it almost did me." Eden spun Gexln's shadow to face hers, amazingly doing that to the body as well, and a deep impression of her hands on his shoulders. The voice sounded stern, but a shadow couldn't show emotion visibly.
Kenna stared back at everyone, fluttering slightly with a slight frown.

 

"Seee? Bad idea!"Valerie huffed. "Wait...disease? what do you mean 'Xehanort is a disease'?"Riku asked. "Is he sick...?"Kurix asked, only to be bopped by Roxas. "It's not like that... I don't think it is, anyway..."Roxas said.

 

"I won't be killed. Besides, even if i am, i might get my heart back. Who knows if my heartless is dead or not?" Gexln said with a slight laugh. "I'll be fine. You just watch. I'll swoop in, gain the trust of him, then HE'LL be the one falling victim to my darkness" Gexln said confidently.

 

The shadow nodded. "Yes. That's why I'm like this. A body of darkness from Gex almost died from Xehanort's darkness. It made me want to hurt Gexln. I kept saying it was his fault it all happened... I felt like I was dying." She shivered, glad Gexln was able to create a new body to at least temporarily replace her stolen one.

 

"You were right though. That's why...i have to fix it. I'll get your body back" Gexln said quietly. "You can't change my mind. Either support me in this or leave me alone" he said into the walkie talkie. He then looked at the shadow of Eden. "Is there some way i can sort of...detach you? So you could walk around freely? Because i'd rather not drag anyone else into this.." he explained.

 

"Creeeepyyyy...."Valerie and Sora said at once. "Wait....so... Xeahnorts darkness is different from regular darkness...?"Riku didn't quite understand. "That sounds... kinda weird to think about it..."Roxas said. Kurix nodded.

 

"If I was to detach myself, the disease he gave me will try to kill me again. I have to come with you, if only to return to his darkness. Gex, we're partners. We work with each other." Eden hugged the Nobody's shadow tightly, then proceeded to stare at the walkie talkie. "Sorry it had to be this way, Ri. Guess I'm the Shadow now, eh?" With a weak, dying chuckle, she sighed slowly.

 

"Yeah.... and I'm sorry for being so... rash during the mark of mastery exam...."Riku muttered. Sora couldn't help but shake his head. Stubborn as a goat.... "Wait...what are we supposed to do while you guys play double agent?"Valerie asked.