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[ Ajora, Kyle, Nicholas, Dani, Amy : Louis' Heart : Frozen Coliseum ]

The replighost looked toward Joe as the older man exploded in verbal rage, raising a brow and trying hard--very hard--to resist cracking up when the man turned the ire on him.

Nicholas suddenly shouted from another portion of the group, earning yet another bemused gaze from the targeted man. "Where have you been, hiding your lazy a** about, acting like you're gonna have your Big Damn Hero moment! How about you do something useful for a change instead of casting illusions and chatting up Louis, you bloody piece of s**t monologing son of a b***h?!"

"Well--"

"And you, Justice, or Vengeance, or whoever the hell you are! ******** you, I don't want to be a sacrificial pawn! I'm dying my own way, not through your ridiculous martyr complex!"

"Really now--"

"And you! Nemesis! Stop being evil, you douche!"

"Well I never."

Drip…. Drip…

Water, after all the arguing was starting to hit the ground with some sound. As the arguing continued, the dripping got louder…and louder.

Dani, while her fingers were dripping with her water, started to move into the group and for the most part had remained silent. She was at a crossroads, not sure who to believe or who to attack.

"You know, Eviler-Kyle is making a tragic amount of sense."

"Thank you."

"And has anyone seen Kyle? We could really use his help right about now."

Rather than chiming in, Ajora simply smiled.

Now or never!

Without warning or announcement, Nemesis and Justice would have felt the heart suddenly tugged sideways--on one's left, and the other's right--as another powerful force began vying for control of the point of conflict.

{ Hella-pompous Cue : Dart's Theme ~ Legend of Dragoon }

Instantly, the Vanish spell faded--and Kyle stood there, both arms reaching toward the heart. Magic circuitry flared along his arms from his hands as bolts of magic connected his palms to the heart itself, struggling with all of his charged, magical might to yank it free and claim it for himself.

"This isn't some MacGuffin to fight over! This is an innocent woman's heart!" he growled, eyes brilliant violet; those behind him in the crowd could see the seraphic heart symbol on his back, typically simply stitched with golden thread into the green coat, now shining brightly. "If you can't understand the worth of even one life, then you are both lost! Neither of you deserve to so much as glance at it!"

Ajora's smile became a smirk.

As if Kyle's words of judgment triggered something in the mists, the pull of his magic grew more intense--and then just as instantly, with a deep reverberating hum, the pressure around him magnified like enhanced gravity, and his magic pull doubled.

The smirk became a sneer.

Then, in brilliant iridescent light, his entire body lit up. The circuits that had once only been glowing on his arms suddenly traced every inch of visible skin and shone twice as brightly, like the morning sun. His eyes were burning entirely golden now, irises lost, pupils lost, whites lost, and the intensity of the magic bled out into the skin surrounding them, revealing cracks and what appeared to be peeling flesh. Magic energy was flooding into him faster than he could churn it out.

Jumbled, ethereal humming started coming out of the dragoon, who was starting to quake at this point with built-up power, but he managed to growl out something understandable before continuing to pull with all his might:

"HER. NAME. IS. RACHEL!"

As Kyle shouted, the massive Tigrex unleashed another piercing, shockwave-inducing roar which, though unintended, may have caused the Generals to stumble before having a chance to interfere. It was clearly itching to attack.

All this time, for Dani at least, everything she thought of doing had a consequence--until Kyle appeared and reached for the heart. Things changed.

Nicholas, realizing his opening--and still boosted both by Haste and by his own various speed and dexterity enhancing statuses--immediately clicked Garland's sword so that it split into its twin sword form, powered them with the sickly purple energy of Crippling Strikes, and with a burst of hurricane winds he sent the blades flying simultaneously--one at the arm of Nemesis, and the other at the arm of Justice, aiming to disrupt their grasp.

“Dani, NOW!” Leviathan shouting for her to respond. “Don’t just stand there and do nothing. DO SOMETHING!”

Dani scanned the earthling group thinking quickly on her feet and noticed that Nicholas was not going to just stand there either. With the water dripping from her finger tips, Dani channeled two charges within her hands as a ball of water appeared between both Nemesis and “Vengence.” After the charges were complete she set off the beginning of the Water Flare, aiming to hit both of the shards.

After the flare began to grow, realizing that she still sped up and in silent conjunction with Nicholas, spun both of her chakrams in hand before flinging both chakrams at the same time heading in the same pattern as Nicholas--right at both Nemesis and Justice’s arms. Their attacks would land about the time the Water Flare went off, and they were still empowered by Nanaki's Bravery.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Amy unleashed her own justice by snapping her closed fingers.

Instantly, a rapid-flying bolt of crystal magic flew forth toward the two shards--an enhanced version of her Diamond Cuffs, in the hopes of completely disabling both shards. Even if they'd been knocked back, her charged spell had accounted for the two targets--the bolt would simply split and follow them, and after getting close enough, it would erupt into stronger-than-diamond chained shackles, snapping around their arms and binding them tightly to their body.


[[ Kyle's boosts: Two charges (4x2); First Mystery Boost (+3 MAG), Dragon Force (1.5x STR/MAG), Second Mystery Boost (2x single MAG action), Third Mystery Boost (MP Refresh).

Nicholas' boosts: Speed of the Sparrow (increased Skill, speed of actions), Crippling Strikes (chance of Disable if striking the arms)

Amy: 5 charges (2x5)

Dani: 2 charges (2x2), Bravery

And of course, everyone with Haste. ]]

[Joseph: Frozen Coliseum]

The male let his arm drop, his head laying on it's side as he just kind of stared at Zell. Well, glared. He probably would've glared at Axel, too, if he had more than one working eye, so switching his head to the other side would've pretty much done nothing.

He could hear the yelling, though. Kind of. And he craned his neck best he could...but all he could really see was light coming from...somewhere.

"...What's going on? Is that Kyle? Is it Kyle that's glowing or whatever?"

The male's body seemed to finally relax against the pin, his resistance dying as he let out a groan and put his head back on the ground, his 'free' arm still outstretched but the fingers tapping against the ground.

"God damn it, Kyle."

[[Nemesis, Vengeance, Creativity : Frozen Coliseum]]

The voice in Joe's head panted slightly before answering, obviously coming across tired and worn out, "Just a... minor revision. Nothing to worry about..."

As Ajora spoke, there was another fade to white in Nemesis' eyes, "You're... not really... no, I saw you die." Did you really? "No one could have survived that. How could you have escaped?" Anything could have happened. Nothing is written in stone. "Unless... Schrodinger's cat?"

He could still be alive.

His eyes, almost reverting entirely back to normal, Nemesis opened his mouth as though to speak, but suddenly there was a tug on the heart from an outside source besides his opposing shard.

"No," Nemesis' irises sharped into thin slits like a snake's, "You lied again!"

Both Vengeance and Nemesis laughed at Kyle's exclamation, "Innocent," Vengeance said with a break in his laughter, his voice dripping with venom, "You have to be joking."

"Nothing about her is innocent," Nemesis hissed.

Then the first attack struck, hitting both of the shards at once- their stalemate slipped. Scythes glimmered, there was a momentary light show as a pair of crescents lingered as an after image. Both corrupted shards fell to their knees slowly. The rest of the attacks followed, colliding with them creating a large cacophony of elements and light.

When it faded the two lay on their backs facing opposite directions of each other, heads tilted to the side, both, eyes locked on a Kyle. Around them on the floor, a massive spiral of black spread out away from them, splattered like a feverish painter on a canvas.

Nemesis, staring at the real Kyle through clouded eyes let out a short chuckle before a coughing fit that spat up a black liquid... all the while never breaking his gaze, "Are... you really... alive? Ajora... are you... really there? Is my friend really... alive?" Nemesis fiddled with something between his fingers, a small black object that he ran his thumb over repeatedly.

Vengeance looked at the projection of Ajora, apparently mistaking the man for his host, "You... betrayed me. I thought... we were friends. Why?" he paused, trembling as he tried feebly to reach out across the floor to Kyle's foot, "I wouldn't have let... anything happen to you. They... hurt you. They would have done it again. I couldn't let them get away with it. That's not... Justice..."

The heart now in Kyle's hand pulsed, pushing against his palm as a thin black X now prominently shown across its surface.

The generals, though only stunned momentarily, didn't act. They simply stood there, staring.

((OOC: Amy's diamond shackles did not work, as the two shards are immune.))

[ Kyle, Ajora, Sora, Riku, Matthew, Melisandre, : Louis' Heart : Frozen Coliseum ]

When all was said and done, Kyle remained standing, all the shining light of his magic having faded away the moment he successfully took control of the heart. He still held it close to his chest, staring down at the glowing red manifestation, the strange black "x" crossing over it. There was talk, but he wasn't listening yet.

"That... worked?" Sora asked, cautiously getting closer to Kyle, watching the two shards on the ground. His expression became a bit of a grimace before he looked to Kyle, when it shifted to something more concerned.

"Hold the charge, but have it ready on a second's notice. We may still be able to purify them," Riku called over the charms to Bobbi and Demyx. He could see the carnage from there--the two shards bleeding darkness, or something of the sort--but he wanted to remain close to the supports. They weren't necessarily done yet. "Everyone should definitely still be on guard. Do we have eyes guarding Kyle and the heart?"

Matthew patted Joe on the shoulder, muttering to those holding him down that he could be let up before turning to face the scene. A lot had happened, and though he'd kept up with it, he was still digesting it all. But as Nemesis spoke to Kyle, his concern increased.

"Kyyyyyyle? You okay?"

From the shining heart, Kyle slowly turned his gaze to Nemesis, then to Justice, both obviously with clouded vision, both suddenly vulnerable, broken down. He then looked up to the specter of Ajora, who's own arrogant expression had faded to something more darkly serious. Off to his side, Melisandre looked similarly guarded, though her stance was softer. And ever around them... darkness. Chaos. There they were trapped in a shattered heart with figments of a broken man, each with their own issues--and the one Kyle was responsible for dove off the deep end.

There, in a coliseum of omens, Kyle had finally attained what he'd reached toward for so long. What Noelle had risked her life and soul for. What had left the team a battered mess. What had been, indirectly, his fault. He'd finally gotten back the white mage's heart, and he felt...

... empty.

This doesn't fix anything.

With a heavy sigh, he looked toward both shards, digesting their words; Nemesis, he noted, was trying to fiddle with something in his pocket, and Kyle knew what it was... but couldn't help him. Not with that. He looked at the ghost of his replica, and though they shared a gaze, Kyle was no more certain they shared thoughts than he was of the future.

There was no "fixing it". This wasn't some object he could repair, some project he could press "undo" on until it was normal again. Life simply moved on. There was only making do.

"I'm trying, Louis, but I can't the way you intend," Kyle spoke, trying to take on the steely tone of his other self, though he mixed it with the hurt they might have shared. "I did everything I could to make sure they would live. They have a chance to accomplish everything we couldn't. A living world without pain... that's why I pushed them, and why you tried to guide them. You remember that, don't you?"

"But neither is sacrificing the innocent to slay the guilty," Ajora spoke, staring down at Justice now, even as he reached toward him. His voice and expression were softer than before, as if trying to emulate his origin. "Surely you understood that. Justice is protecting the innocent. Condemning the few to save the many isn't justice. It's a final resort for survival--a final resort you never needed to reach for. Why? Why did you split away? Why don't you believe in us?"

"Keyblader," Melisandre muttered from off to the side, getting Sora's attention. "Can you still purify them?"

Sora was somewhat caught up in the conversation's peculiarity, but snapped his gaze toward the Norn.

"I... can try," he said, squeezing the handle of the Kingdom Key tightly. Positive energy slowly began to channel through it, though the young man made no move yet.

[ Kyle, Ajora, Sora, Riku, John, Melisandre : Louis' Heart : Frozen Coliseum ]

The two dragoons, real and ephemeral, seemed only to stare, disheartened, at the two speaking shards. One-dimensional. A single trait, manifesting as a sentient entity. They never had a choice on their own, of course--they were destined either to join a living heart or fade into a dying one.

And yet, there they were. Human forms, human voices, human eyes, human expressions, human fears and emotions. For all that they were logically separated from the living, whole beings, it didn't matter. If Nobodies, people without hearts, could somehow garner the compassion of others, so too could those with only some heart.

They were dying, clinging to some final questions that Kyle, or Ajora, had forced onto them.

They had started this. He had set Louis off, knowing his plan, knowing full well how much of his own sanity hinged on it. He couldn't have known this would happen, and Louis was never made to act against his will--he chose this path. But he had cut off the other one.

"Am I... evil?"

Kyle remembered being tempted by the corrupted Justice and shattering him. He remembered being surprised to find him in tact after the heart operation in Disney. He remembered their discussion, the boy's worries and dreams and fears. He could hardly breathe with the weight suddenly pressing upon his chest.

"That's... perspective, you've just... evil is a concept, you're--" Kyle tried, stuttering, and Ajora--for whatever reason the dragoon couldn't fathom--was seeming to mouth everything Kyle said, as if to make sure Justice realized it as well. "--you had flaws and you were consumed by them, I don't, I can't--"

The heavy pulse from the heart captured his attention, and Kyle immediately stared down at the black "x". Was it a spell? Was it a taint? Had he been too late?

"Get... away... from her..."

Ajora's gaze was the first to grow wide in realization. <********, I missed--!"

Before Kyle had a chance to react, still shaken, everything exploded, such that even the very mist that made up Ajora was banished, causing the specter to disappear entirely.

And yet, even as the flames would have washed over Kyle and Sora, he found the two of them knocked out of the way. The sorceress was standing over their fallen bodies and shielding them from the blast... until everything shifted, and a voice like sunlight rang out.

"Long time no see. Did you miss me?"

Kyle's eyes widened.

"There was a curse!" he mentally shouted. "A hex a jinx whatever the heart was covered with a black x, this isn't her!"

The pulse that washed over them took a toll on Jenny, knocking the air from her lungs; it was one thing to cancel out status effects, but she had constantly channeling it, so the massive Dispel effect essentially stunned her such that she needed to catch her breath.

Rather than immediately buffing the party, though, she had a different plan; no point in wasting mana that might not be necessary. She stared at Rachel's form, the woman who had been at least an acquaintance, and knew only that this could only spell trouble. As a result, she began to charge up some magic, focusing Siren's power into her lungs with every deep breath she took.

"Aw hell no..." John muttered under his breath, holding his maul tightly in both hands. He buffed himself with Thick Skin, increasing his personal defense even greater.

Sora was on his feet quicker than Kyle, Keyblade already in hand. A human-form Heartless? Well, it wouldn't be the first, but all the others had had unique circumstances; Xehanort had give up his heart, and the soldiers had been an illusion. Was this one as well, or was she somehow tampered before being released?

He stood his ground near Melisandre, his stance ready to Block if necessary. "Rachel? What's going on?"

"And now I'm definitely glad I told you to hold that charge," Riku growled over the charms, not necessarily frustrated at the archer but at the situation.

"Already on Scan," Sayrike said, casting the spell and awaiting its results to announce. She wasn't sure if the heartless' resistance was too high, but with any luck, they might at least be able to get some weaknesses or vulnerabilities.

The dragon seemed to be getting particularly... antsy. It set is hungry gaze on Rachel, however, wondering if she was friend or food.

[Joseph: Frozen Coliseum]

Whether or not the two males holding him down listened to Mathy, Joseph got up. It would've been somewhat easy now that he had calmed down somewhat. A twist here, a small tug there, and a lot of strength...and more, technically, but either way, Joseph was up.

He brushed himself off, silent but scowling. In fact he was mostly ignoring everyone until-

He moved, going to the crater, his eyes wide as he heard her voice.

"...not her."

His wind whipped around him...almost literally. It wasn't the constant barrage of air like it had been before. Anyone near him would've felt it. It was slow, heavy. Like syrup lashing out. It even felt wet, humid.

Joseph started making a noise like a growl, coming from deep in his chest as his hands went out, the two broken pieces of his staff appearing. He gripped them tightly, knuckles white, the jagged, broken parts pointed upwards.

"How dare you?"

{Bobbi, Demyx, Zell, Red XIII, Yuffie .:. Louis's Heart .:. Frozen Coliseum}

Bobbi stayed silent throughout the two shards' laments, although there was a lot that she wanted to say. Unfortunately, all of it was angry, and while it was probably justified, that didn't mean she had to say it. Some things were better left unsaid, after all.

She yelped and brought her arms up to block instinctively when the heart in Kyle's hands erupted into a pillar of flame. Soon enough the show was over, and she was able to look and see a familiar silhouette, and heard an equally familiar voice.

"Rae?" she asked incredulously, just as Kyle made his panicked announcement about this not being the White Mage they had befriended and lost just days ago.

Immediately on hearing Kyle's warning, and Riku's comment about being glad he'd told her to hold her mana charge, Bobbi had Taulmaril up, still with two arrows coated in her two spells--one to pierce any defenses, another to freeze her target in place. Piercing Icicle and Freezing Arrow were still in effect, and she felt Dani touch her shoulder and add her Water Armory to the arrows as well.

.:Thanks, kiddo,:. she said privately over the charms. Then, in full broadcast so all of her allies could hear, .:I have a clear shot. Should I take it?:.

Zell had scrambled to his feet and off to one side the second that Matt said to let Joseph up. Truth be told, he was a little caught up in the drama unfolding before him, and had forgotten that he and Axel were pinning Fearless Leader.

Zell was also taken by surprise when Rae's heart decided to put on a pyro display, but what alarmed him most was Joseph's reaction--specifically, how his wind felt. It was completely different from any other time he'd seen Joseph use it. It felt more like a storm than anything, all wet and heavy and powerful.

His attention was torn between Joseph and the person that Kyle said was not little Rachel. He assumed that this person was Rae's replica, and didn't bother to ask for any confirmation, much less a name. He placed a hand on Joseph's shoulder, hoping to help calm some of that overwhelming rage, but he doubted it would do much.

His doubts were confirmed when the wet wind gathered to knock Zell's hand away.

Nanaki continued to growl, ready to attack at a moments notice. Whoever this impostor was, they certainly sounded and smelled like the young woman they had lost shortly after he had joined the team in Halloween Town. He remembered watching Rae and her replica face off, and how Noelle's replica Elleon had ripped Rae's heart out. He remembered the grief and anger felt by so many of his comrades that day.

If this wasn't Rae, she could only be the White Mage's replica to have such a similar likeness. Nanaki wasn't about to let another heart be lost to one of those abominations.

"Wait, what's going on?" Yuffie demanded. She'd never met Rae before, and Kyle's hysterical announcement wasn't helping the thief any. "Who's not her?" And then Sora said her name, and a couple things clicked.

"Oooh, so is this your friend who lost her heart? But, wait, if it isn't her, then whose heart did we get?"

Demyx didn't have an answer for Yuffie, but instead of making a smart-a** remark about it, he decided it would be a better idea to keep an eye on the impostor. Whoever this girl was, if she had anything to do with the one who lost her heart, she was probably very dangerous. And even though Demyx didn't like fighting one bit, he knew better than to leave his guard down when an unknown entered an already established battlefield.