Every Rose Has Its Thorns

[Zack]

Zack waited for an answer, but it didn't come right away. First He turned around towards someone who had just started talking. It was someone who was in one of those same cloaks as Zexion, though this one had pink hair which was interesting considering it was a guy. He already gave the off a bad vibe, asking them about Raen and their worries about him giving into the darkness.

Zack kept his hand on his sword as Lanying pointed hers at the new person. She did not sound in the mood to deal with this guy. IT was then she answered his question, saying that there was a witch on the other side of the door that could summon heartless. "A witch?" he repeated. That didn't sound good, anyone who controlled heartless was probably a bad person to run into.

Lanying looked like she was ready for a fight, but Zack knew that wasn't going to help matters. They weren't even sure if this guy was with that witch or not anyway. "Look, we don't want a fight. Either help us in or get out of our way," he told the cloaked guy. Hopefully they wouldn't get into a fight with this guy, that would waste time getting to Raen.

[Maleficent]

Maleficent laughed as she watched the young one give into his rage, the darkness taking over him. "Yes.....that's it give into your rage. Your anger. Your hatred," she said to him as she watched. He manged to ask what she had done to him before the darkness took over and he lunged at her with his sword. She gave a 'hmph' noise and shot out from her scepter a ball of dark green flames, at point blank range. She then disappeared from her current spot and then reappeared further away from him, closer towards the locked doors.

"You speak as if I pulled some invisible strings," she told young one in front of her. "I merely whispered to the darkness that already lingers in your heart. This is your doing, not mine. This is what your darkness is capable of," She lifted her arms out in an exaggerated motion. "The power of darkness! Is it not intoxicating? Join me, and together we can bring these worlds back to the darkness!" She then laughed manically. Even if this one refused to join her, she could always seek him out later when the darkness ate away at his heart even more.

[Maleficent used Dark Fira, two posts till next use]

[Angelus]

No need for violence... Yet.

The effeminate man smiled slightly at Zack and Lanying's comments about getting out of the way or helping them. Zack seemed like the least likely of the two to resort to violence, but he did seem more than capable of holding his own in a fight. And considering the fact that he had lost a majority of his powers after being defeated by that Keyblade wielder Sora, this man figured it best not to risk a second defeat. At least not yet.

"Fear not, I mean you no harm. If you seek passage inside I will help you do so." The pink haired man could very easily just pop in their and see what was going on himself, but these two could prove to be very useful tools to him. So he held out his hand and a corridor of darkness opened.

"The darkness before you is the solution you seek. However using this corridor comes at a price. Follow me only if you're willing to lose in order to find." The mysterious man stepped into the portal, and moments later, he was in the ballroom, watching what appeared to be the beginnings of a fight between two people.

[Aerith]

The Ugly Reality

Zack echoed her sentiments to the stranger, albeit in milder tones. She was ready to tear someone's head off but only because she wanted a release from the fear building inside her. But it appeared the pink-haired man was not looking for a fight right now. In fact, he offered to help them reach the room on the other side of the doors.

But the way he offered was less than appealing to Lanying. They would have to enter one of those dark passageways. She immediately recoiled from the idea. There had to be some alternate entrance to the room beyond. There had to be. But when she heard the witch's voice on the other side of the door, she knew they could not waste time wandering through every nook and cranny of this castle.

"Come on," she said to Zack and then hurtled straight into the darkness.

Disorientation was the main sensation she felt. This realm of the corridors was confusing, and the only reason she did not become utterly lost was because she saw another corridor a little ways away. Sprinting toward it, unwilling to stay here for longer than she had to, she tumbled through and right onto the floor of a large ballroom. She was quickly on her feet again and surveying the situation.

The witch was, indeed, here, and she was just finishing spewing her poisonous words. The pink-haired man was a little ways off to the side. And Raen...

"Raen!" She did not know if Zack had gone through the corridor or opted to find his own way in. So far, she had been the only one of the pair to enter the room. But this...this did not look good. However, she could not think of anything to do or say at the moment.

[Nothingness]

Last Warning

Raen took the Dark Fira straight to the chest and was sent flying backwards a good ten feet, landing sprawled out on his back. He was back in control for that brief moment, but he was using every ounce of willpower to keep it that way. Rolling over onto his front he managed to stand back up, but just barely. His entire body was trembling in weakness. Despite the ringing sound in his ears he could hear what Maleficent was saying. "Bring the worlds back to darkness? It'll be a cold day in Hell when I join you." After saying that he immediately gasped for air; it was taking back control. He tried his hardest to focus on the ocean--the sound of the waves, the smell, the serenity--but it was only doing so much good.

Staggering backwards he doubled over, gripping his chest with his free hand. Then he heard something. Another attack? No, it sounded familiar. Looking up he saw a Corridor of Darkness and some pink haired man in a cloak step out. Another wave of darkness pulsed throughout him at the sight. And then he saw Lanying step out of it, and sheer terror took over. So many thoughts were racing through his mind, but he only managed to shout out one. "What are you doing here? Get out!" The fear of hurting her or Zack was just the foothold the darkness needed to take over, and it took that opportunity.

Watching from outside of his body, he saw himself swing Fimbulvetr upward, scraping it against the ground and sending three fast-moving blades of ice towards the witch and cloaked man. He hoped Lanying would get out of the ballroom as soon as possible, and that Zack wouldn't follow her in.

[Raen used Ice Claw, three posts until next use]

[Zack]

Zack relaxed a little when the man said he wasn't here to fight. That was good, since what was more important was getting into that room to help Raen. The man even offered some help. However, his way of helping didn't seem like the best choice. He held out his hand and a dark portal appeared. He said this was their solution but using it came at a price. Zack didn't exactly trust this guy and he really didn't think using that corridor was a good idea.

However, Lanying already ran into it. "W-wait a minute, Lanying! Shouldn't we think about this?!" he called out at her, but it was too late. She had already gone through. Now he was the only one left there, alone with the portal. Now he had to choose, go through it or find another way in? He wasn't sure what to do. "What am I supposed to do?" he asked aloud.

Finally he resolved to just go through it. He got ready to head for it but as soon as he started running for it the portal closed. "What?!" he said aloud. He had hesitated and now he had no way in. He turned back toward the locked door. He took out his sword and started attacking it, frustrated. He had hesitated and now Raen and Lanying were alone with that witch and that man in the cloak.

[Maleficent]

Maleficent laughed at the boy's refusal. She expected as much, but it was amusing all the same. So were his efforts to fight the darkness. "Why fight the darkness inside you? I thought you wanted this power," she told him in a slightly mocking tone. "If you will not join me willingly, then I shall make you join me," It was then she heard a familiar sound, a corridor of darkness being opened.

She turned to see one of those cloaked figures walking out of it. She wondered why one of those wretched creatures would be here. However, what was more interesting was that afterwords a familiar looking girl came out from the corridor as well, yelling out the boy's name. Raen, was it? The sight of the girl seemed to cause quite the reaction in him and Maleficent smirked. "Yes, give in to your fear," she told the young man.

She then started hearing clanking sounds on the other side of the door. It seemed the other person that had been with the other two was still on the other side. Interesting that he had not chosen to use the corridor of darkness. However, at that moment Raen sent some shards of ice towards her and that gave Maleficent an idea. She snapped her fingers and the doors behind her opened and she disappeared herself in a burst of green flame, reappearing on the second floor. Meanwhile the ice shards did hit something, though not their intended target. The fool that was on the other side had ran in and got himself hit by the shards. Maleficent laughed. "I thought you were friends with that boy, Raen? Why did you harm him so?" she asked mockingly.

[Angelus]

What a waste of beauty.

It appeared only one of the duo had made it into the Corridor of Darkness behind him, and although it was not exactly the outcome he had hoped for, it was better than neither of them. The darkness had begun to corrupt Lanying's heart, as no mere mortal could withstand using such a method of transportation without it affecting them if they weren't wearing some sort of protective armor. Thankfully for this man, he was wearing such a thing. But his reason for wearing this armor was different than that of a human's. Without this armor, as flimsy as it may be, he would fade into oblivion.

It was at about that time that some blades of ice flew toward him and a now revealed Zack. Marluxia summoned his scythe once more, and spun it rapidly, sending the attack off in different directions, where it did no damage to himself or to Zack.

"Sorry Maleficent, but your antics are of no use. If you wish to harm his comrades you'll have to do more than that." He teleported up to Maleficent, and pointed his scythe toward her.

"When you saw me I could sense their was some resentment toward me. Would you care to explain why you would hate a man whom you have never met?" He lowered his weapon, and smiled. Why hadn't he thought of this before.

"You've encountered the Organization before haven't you? Well then, I can understand your desire to be rid of those who wear their uniform. But trust me, I am as much an enemy to them as you are." He turned toward the three down below, and smiled.

"Trying to turn Raen to the darkness does seem like a good plan from your perspective, but I'm afraid I cannot allow that to happen." He swung his scythe, hoping to cut Maleficent's arm.

[Aerith]

Partial Determination

The portal had closed before Zack followed her through, and that produced a moment of brief panic. Now, she was alone, surrounded by three people who quite possibly would seek to harm her. The witch was obviously not to be trusted. The pink-haired man (who still remained nameless) was also suspicious, even if he had helped get her in this room. And with the way Raen looked right now, he was highly unpredictable. She knew there was no way she could take on all three of them at once.

Raen shouted at her to get out. But how could she now? The witch was standing practically in front of the doors, and the corridor through which she had come was gone. This issue was somewhat resolved, however, when ice shot across the floor toward the cloaked man and the witch. For a moment, she was hopeful that at least one of the would get hit and leave. But the witch disappeared suddenly, unlocked the doors, and Zack burst into the room in her place. He would have taken ice to the face, except the cloaked man somehow managed to block the attack.

Immediately after, both the witch and the cloaked man moved their little fight to the second floor of the ballroom, leaving her, Zack, and Raen down below. She looked at Zack and then at Raen, completely unsure of what to do. The only thing she could think to say was, "No. No, I'm not leaving you here with them! If Zack and I leave, you come, too!"

[Nothingness]

It Wasn't Supposed to Come to This

Raen wanted so badly to look away--he didn't want to hurt his friends, but he knew that he couldn't control anything now. He watched in horror as his own attack went straight for Zack, but was stopped by the cloaked man. His soul breathed a sigh of relief. Then he heard Lanying tell him that neither she or Zack were going to leave without him. He could feel his body getting ready to move towards the two of them, but fought back as hard as he could. He found his voice just enough to shout out to them, "I don't want to hurt you! Now go! I'll be fine!"

With that, he was gone. He felt a tug on his body, and he was racing towards Lanying, sword ready. Raen knew full well that neither of them were going to leave without him, but he just didn't want to see this. He wanted to close his eyes and shut everything out, but that was a luxury denied to him. Every footstep echoed hollowly within him, joining with the growing despair. "Maybe I did make the wrong choice. Is this my punishment? Am I supposed to do this alone? Is it impossible for me to still be with them?" He felt the motion of his body twist as he spun on his heel, aiming to slice clean across Lanying's abdomen. The steel of his blade flashed as he swung it in an arc, catching the light. "Please..."

[Zack]

Zack kept attacking the door. He knew it wasn't doing any good, but it was the only thing he had at the moment to let out his frustration. He had hesitated.....a hero NEVER hesitated when someone was in danger. And now for all he knew Lanying and Raen were in danger and he couldn't do a thing about it. However, lucky for him the doors swung open at that moment. He saw the back of what he assumed was the witch and rushed at her. However she soon disappeared and that's when he saw the shards of ice coming towards him. He didn't have enough time to dodge.

Luckily enough, that cloaked guy saved him. "Um....thanks...." he said to him, surprised the guy had protected him. However, soon after he teleported away towards where the witch now was. Which made him turn his focus onto Raen and Lanying. Lanying was telling him they weren't going to leave without him and Raen had replied that he didn't want to harm them. It looked like the darkness had taken control of Raen. It reminded him of the time Hades had used the darkness in his own heart and controlled him. His grip tighten on his sword, he wouldn't let Raen fall under this darkness any longer.

However, Raen started moving towards Lanying, ready to strike. Zack didn't hesitate this time. He rushed over and just as Raen was about to hit Lanying, Zack blocked the attack and pushed Raen back a bit. He had his sword ready. He really wished he didn't have to do this, but he didn't have a choice at the moment. "I promised to drag you back into the light when you needed it," he told Raen. "I'm keeping that promise!"

[Maleficent]

Maleficent's smirk quickly turned into a scowl. That cloaked figure had blocked the attack, so that the young one that had rushed in was unharmed. That wretched Organization was always getting in her way. He even had the gall to point that scythe of his at her, the nerve of this one. He questioned why she seemed resentful of him, having not yet met him. However she did not need to answer that question as he soon deduced it himself. "Yes...I have run into your kind before," she answered plainly.

However, what he said next intrigued her. He was an enemy of that wretched Organization as well? Maybe she could convince him to form an alliance of some sort. Obviously he would need to be discarded later, but perhaps they could reach something. He was getting in her way right now, however she knew he did not care for the three. Which meant he had his own plans for them. He then went to attack her, which she did not try to dodge, however she also blasted him with a ball of gravity magic before she got pushed back from the cloaked one's attack.

"Interesting, that you would defend those three," she said to the cloaked man. "Normally I would claim you were doing as your heart commands. However, your kind lacks hearts. Which means you have plans for those three, do you not?" She smirked again. "Wouldn't our time be better spent trying to get our goals to align in some way? After all, I am gathering members that I can use to destroy that wretched Organization and you are hindering the process," IT wasn't exactly a lie, but it wasn't exactly the truth either. She was gathering people yes and she wanted to destroy the Organization, but it was not her top priority.

[Maleficent used Gravira 2 posts till next use]

[Angelus]

To find is to lose.

Marluxia took the gravity based attack, and scowled. It didn't do much damage, but it was enough to anger him. He flourished his scythe again, and jumped back, away from Maleficent.

"My only plans as of yet is to keep those three out of your hands. From the hostility they showed me outside this ballroom, I would say they are no more friends of those that bear this cloak than we are. And for them to truly be an effective weapon against the Organization, I cannot allow you to intervene." He swung his scythe, sending a magenta crescent burst of energy flying at Maleficent. His frown turned into a smile, and he rested his scythe on his shoulder.

"An alliance against the Organization would be profitable to the both of us, but I'm sure that neither one of us would be comfortable working with the other. Just as I am sure that your top priority is not the destruction of the Organization. Then again, at this particular moment in time, that is something we have in common." He glanced briefly at Raen and his two compainions.

"What I want first and foremost is revenge against a certain Nobody." He was speaking of course about Axel, whose actions not only ruined Marluxia's plot to overthrow the Organization, but also cultivated his defeat.

[Aerith]

The Hardest Part
The Unholy Wars remixed by Dhsu and Sixto Sounds; original track "Fighting of the Spirit" from both Tales of Symphonia and Phantasia

Everything else faded out the moment Raen moved to attack her. She knew that he had warned her, and she knew that he was obviously not in control of himself right now. She had even expected something like this to happen eventually. But for it to happen now, so soon, was paralyzing. She was not ready for this. Every instinct to protect herself was temporarily dulled, and she would probably have taken the slash with no resistance had Zack not jumped in front of her.

With something now blocking her view of Raen, Lanying snapped out of her stupor. She heard Zack remind Raen of the promise he had made to him--the same promise she agreed to keep. But at this point, dragging Raen back into the light, as Zack put it, would probably require a great deal of force. Zack's back filled her vision, and she traced her eyes over the curve of his left shoulder, imagining Raen on the other side since she could not, because of her height, actually see him herself. The resolve with which she had spoken on that island was wavering. She could not bring herself to hurt Raen.

If you do not do it, he will hurt you instead.

She shook her head firmly. Her upbringing and training had drilled into her that allies are to always be respected and honored. And Raen was more than just an ally. He was her friend. One attempt to harm her should not be enough to break that bond of trust. And yet...

Closing her eyes, she allowed a hint of indignation to seep into her. She and Zack were not the only ones who had made promises. Control the darkness, he had said. There was no evidence of control here. And if there was, then he had attacked her of his own free will. Either way, she would make sure he paid for lying to her.

"Zack." Her voice was laden with coldness tinged with the slightest bit of fury. "Move."

Allegretto slowly slid out of its sheath as she walked around Zack. Inspiration had struck hard enough to convince her to fight. And she would not be holding back. Under the influence of so much darkness, he would not be, she knew. To Zack, she said, "You stay out of this. Just make sure those two do not interfere." After sparing a quick glance up at the witch and the cloaked man, all of her focus returned to Raen.

"If this is the only way to break you out of this, we will see which of us is stronger."

Normally, she would be concerned about the lack of water in the room, but light was glinting off the trails of ice still present on the floor. They were quickly melting. And if he opted to use any more ice against her, he would be supplying her with all the water she needed.

She began to sing. Again, the room felt as though just the two of them were in it. Neither of them moved, locked in a moment of time while Lanying crafted a melody that called the melting ice to her. Once she was encased within her watery shield, her song finished, the last note hanging in the air. And then, she simply waited, her sword held defensively in front of her should her ward fail. She could not know for certain if this darkness came with new abilities she had never seen before. Cold intelligence was telling her to study first and act afterward.

[Summary:
Lanying used Shield Raid Cadenza.
The shield remains in effect until the end of her next post.]

[Nothingness]

Conviction

The sound of steel meeting steel woke Raen from his lament. Zack had stopped his blade just before it was about to strike Lanying. Then the swordsman started to speak, reminding him of the promise he made. "Yeah, you did promise that, didn't you? But, there are some things you just can't help." He could feel the muscles in his arms tighten, trying to push away Zack's sword, but instead felt Zack shoving him away. Using Zack's own momentum, he pushed himself off of the blade and jumped back a few good feet before quickly back-stepping even further away. Hopefully they would leave now, he thought.

The darkness within him hungered for their light, wanting only to extinguish it. It was a craving that could be sated only by their demise. Raen could feel his body tense, getting ready to lash out at them again. But then Lanying started to walk forward, and he felt his body relax for some reason. "What is she doing?" He thought, utterly confused. "Why aren't you leaving? Why are you telling Zack to back off?" She was challenging him to a duel. At that moment, Raen knew that he couldn't just sit back and give up. Hadn't he said that he wouldn't second guess himself again? And that's what he'd been doing this whole time. "Well enough's enough. I'm not holding back either; I'm taking back control."

He began to focus on nothing but controlling the darkness. The fight wouldn't distract him, nor would his feelings. He'd been letting the darkness slowly take over because he had been scared of this exact event happening, and now it had. He made sure that that wouldn't happen ever again. All that he needed now was for Lanying to start attacking him and breaking the grasp of the darkness. Just one moment was all that was needed to wrest control back.

However, the darkness within him wasn't going to let that happen easily. Raen's darkness relished Lanying's determination: her light was burning so fiercely now. It would make putting it out all the more enjoyable. He watched as she took the melting ice and used it to form a barrier around herself. No matter--that would just become her prison. Sprinting towards her he started to cool the air around him, and as soon as he got within a few feet of her, a thick layer of ice formed beneath him and her. Using the reduced friction to propel himself forward, he went in for a stab at her shoulder, but just before his body collided with her barrier he quickly feinted and turned his body around and held the blade reverse grip, aiming now for her stomach. If she tried to block the attack then she risked her shield freezing from exposure to the ice below them and cold air around Raen. If she tried to dodge the attack then she risked slipping on the ice. Of course, there were other options available, but those didn't concern him at the moment. If she chose differently, then he'd just improvise.

[Raen used Frost's Baptism, fours posts until next use]