Gildas Magnus: Here we are. This is the final piece in the story of the Golden Chamber. As of the last story, Haru and Riku left Lindblum. Due to predetermined events, I will now be taking the role of *Zexion*. As always, my parts will be written in UNDERLINE and Haru’s in ITALICS.
Haru 93: Alrighty! As per my love of continuity, I’m still me! That is to say, I’m still writing from the viewpoint of Haru. Yay!!!

“I think it’s time things changed around here.” I said grandly, strolling over to the thrones. Minister Artania looked at me oddly, and I simply waved a hand vaguely over to him. “As per the agreement that Haru and I consented to when she first came into Regency, whenever she left the throne, I would be placed in immediate command. She has now left. The throne is now mine.” Vivi looked at me, noting my harsh tone of voice. I simply sneered in his direction. “Don’t worry. Everything I do will have the country’s best interest at heart.”

Squall looked warily over to Vivi, and stood before him, his blade unsheathed. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Squall. I can have you arrested in seconds, and exiled from the country.” Squall looked back to Vivi, and placed his sword back in its sheath. I turned to Minister Artania, and grinned. “I hope you’re ready to execute any plan I ask, Artania?” The Minister nodded. “Good. I’ll need Beta Seven-Nine ready as soon as possible.” The Minister nodded again, and walked away, muttering curses underneath his breath. Time for revenge.

Standing in the familiar wooden hut I used to call home, my eyes travelled over the room, checking every corner for something that didn’t belong. “Look, why did you suddenly decide that we needed to leave? What happened to your notions of duty and all that stuff? Staying there for the good of the citizens, or whatever it was,” Riku burst out. I didn’t respond until I was certain we would be safe. “…There was a threat to our security that endangered us and in doing so this endangered the lives of those around us.” Riku didn’t look convinced. “What sort of threat? Why wasn’t I informed?” I shook my head. “Because I didn’t want you to worry. You always worry about me, but I don’t want you to have to anymore.” I spoke with a tone of finality that invited no questions.

Riku still didn’t look convinced, but took our bags upstairs anyway. I sank down onto the sofa, still feeling anxious. Zexion had really creeped me out and I knew I wouldn’t feel any better about it until I put as much distance between me and him as I could. And since he didn’t know where we were, I didn’t think he’d search here – he would consider it too obvious, surely. Besides, he’d probably be busy with something…

I was still lost in thought when Riku plodded back downstairs and sat with me. I nodded by way of greeting as he took my hand. “I will always worry about you. So I’d rather know what it is I’m worrying about. Just tell me, why shouldn’t you?” I felt my shoulders sag, and turned to face him. “There was…a problem with…okay. I didn’t want to be Queen anymore.” I wasn’t totally sure why I lied to him; I just couldn’t bring myself to cause him any more concern. But when I saw his troubled expression vanish, I felt a lot better.

As soon as the Minister left the room, I turned to Vivi and Squall. “I think it’s time you two took a journey. I feel that, as Court Mage and Commander, you should be protecting the throne. As such, there are some enemies I will need you to look up on, and have… personal meetings with these enemies to discuss their allegiances. If they disagree with the commands, you have permission to kill them.” Vivi looked horrified, and Squall took on a cold, sombre tone. “I will send the files to your room. Please look over them carefully and discuss your plan of action, and report back to me with your decision.” I watched them walk away as well, and considered my plans. Everything was coming along quite nicely.

Vivi and Squall returned to the Throne Room a half hour later, both with furious looks on their faces. Vivi began shouting. “Dr. Tot!? Eiko Carol!? Tifa Lockhart!? I know these people, they’ve done nothing wrong!” I shook my head. “Oh no, dear Vivi. They have done much wrong. Everything is clear upon their files. I suggest you visit them as soon as possible, the journey is sure to be… long and arduous, shall we say.” Vivi practically growled as Squall pulled him away. With them gone, no-one could stop me getting what I wanted.

Riku seemed a little too happy at that news. “I knew you hated it there! I knew you would want to leave eventually,” he crowed triumphantly. I nodded quietly, willing myself not to speak in case I gave it away. He wouldn’t stop saying how glad he was we had left though. Eventually I snapped – quite literally. “Riku, stop it.” He seemed affronted at my words, more so when I stood up. “You don’t have to go on about it so much, you know? You could just drop it.” He didn’t say anything in response, so I left the hut and went for a walk along the beach.

The sand was warm and golden beneath my feet, but I still felt cold inside. I slipped on the uneven ground and fell to the floor with a bump, where I stayed, staring out at the calm sea. It wasn’t long before Riku came and sat next to me, slipping his arm around my shoulders. “I’m sorry, okay?” he breathed. I didn’t say anything; I didn’t know what to say. “Look, I didn’t mean anything by it. I just…it doesn’t seem like you. It doesn’t seem like the sort of thing you would do. So for you to admit it…I dunno.” I shook my head, just once, dejectedly. It wasn’t the sort of thing I’d do. I hated giving up, hated losing, hated failing. But it was better for Riku to think that I had finally given up on something than for him to know the truth. I didn’t want him to pick a fight with Zexion.

The sun had begun to sink out of sight, casting deep violet cracks across the water, and letting a deep blood stain crawl through the sky. It looked so violent, striking, strong…it scared me, and yet at the same time it had an oddly comforting effect. Somehow, seeing it made me want to tell Riku everything…but my rational side fought against it. I just wanted some peace, and I wouldn’t get that if he knew. But even so…

“Riku…” He looked up at me, questioning clear in his face. “…I love you,” I whispered, feeling defeated. He smiled. “I love you, too.” I rested my heavy head on his shoulder and my heavy heart on his chest, and we sat and watched the sun slide out of sight slowly. The sky was a calm indigo when we finally walked inside, and I wiped my tears away discreetly. Riku never even noticed, and I didn’t want him to.

Lying in bed next to Riku, I couldn’t get to sleep. I hated Zexion for having this ability to…make me miserable, I suppose. But more than that, I hated myself. It was all my fault, after all…

Haru. I thought over the plan with relish. Haru. I’d find her soon enough. And once I did, I’d make her pay. She killed my love… and I think I’ll let her know what that’s like. My original plan was to kill her, but she has to suffer first. Let me show you, Haru. Let me show you just how much pain it causes. Let me show you just how much of a void your heart will become. I checked the drawers of my room, pulling out a Golden Dagger. I’d need to make one final trip to the Golden Chamber. I concentrated slightly, and darkness enveloped me. I welcomed the cool, sinister touch and remembered all the good times it’d brought me… Now I’ll show everyone the true power of Darkness. I may be a White Mage, but every Light has a flicker of Darkness at its core.

Appearing outside the Chamber, and noted the familiarity of the smooth metallic walls. Walking inside, I immediately noticed a sense of danger in the air. Everything was tense, as though some harsh event had just occurred, and I walked further into the Chamber. I looked at the shapes beneath the lights and choked back my emotion. There lay Xemnas, Saix, and Xion. All three had been ripped apart through their backs, and I fought back the urge to be sick. Even my magic couldn’t save them anymore, so I simply walked around their bodies and into the next room. There it was, exactly what I needed: Golden Dark Essence, pure in its form, in a small vial stood upright on a pedestal. I grasped the vial, placed it in the folds of my cloak and teleported out. After finishing off Riku, I’d need to find out who did this, and why. Rumours of genetic experiments flashed through my mind, secret projects Xion had insisted upon. It didn’t matter. Someone did this, and someone would pay. Of course, after Riku was out of the picture and Haru was turned into a quivering wreck.

The following morning, Riku yawned and stretched out. I pretended to have had a comforting night’s sleep too. Sitting on the beach, I watched Riku wade out through the sea to catch some fish whilst I prepared a small fire to smoke the fish on. But I couldn’t conjure up a fire. It just wasn’t working, I couldn’t concentrate on it. Whenever I managed to get even a small flicker of light, my tears forced it to fizzle out almost immediately. I crouched over the log pile, continuously chanting “Fire – Fire – Fire,” wishing for anything; even just a small spark.

“Hey? What’s the problem? What’s going on?” Riku was back on the beach, two fish flapping around in his small plastic bucket. He set the bucket down on the sand, and guided me up. He tried to hug me, but I pushed his arms away, trying desperately to stop crying. “It isn’t working, is it? But I thought that had stopped!” he said, sounding panicked. I shook my head and finally managed to stop the tears. “It’s because…it happens when I get really…upset.” For now I understood. Huge grief could shake my magic – just like when I accidentally used really strong magic, it can stop working too.

“So why are you really upset?” Riku asked sadly. I couldn’t look at him, and instead seemed to be absorbed in counting each individual grain of sand. “…I love you too much to let this happen to you.” Riku shook his head, nonplussed. “I can’t do this to you! I can’t bring this trouble to you; I love you too much to do that to you! It’s all my fault, and I don’t want to inflict it on you,” I cried, and pushed away from him, striding towards our home. Grabbing a bag from the cupboard, I started stuffing it full of clean clothes, packaged food, water and anything else I could possibly need.

I heard the door open behind me, and moved so that my back was deliberately facing Riku. “Look…don’t do this.” His voice was tired and yet still upset. I fought to make sure my voice stayed steady when I said, “I have to.” Riku walked up to me and raised his hand – as though he was going to rest it on my shoulder – but hesitated before lowering it again. “So explain it to me. Please,” he whispered, bowing his head. I turned to him, and guided his face up gently with one hand. As I shook my head gently, I said, “I can’t. That’s…If I explain it to you, then…then you’ll get hurt. And I couldn’t let that happen to you, I just…couldn’t deal.” I pulled the bag onto my back and went to leave. “Wait,” Riku said. I stopped, and turned around.

“I can’t stop you, can I…?” His green eyes were starting to shine with diamond tears already. I didn’t say anything; that seemed to give him his answer. He took two steps over to me before speaking again. “Can I say goodbye properly, then?” He seemed to take my lack of movement as a yes, and kissed me on the lips. It was the softest kiss he had ever given me; unassuming and innocent and clean and pure. After that, I turned and opened the door. “Where are you going? Will I ever see you again, Haru?” I closed the door with a snap, and walked over to the pier to untie the raft.

Yes. Yes… I could sense it in my heart. My actions were already causing Haru and Riku to split. She’d… left him? He’d left her? One of the two… I could feel her emotions radiating like an atom bomb. I dropped the empty Essence vial to the floor, and gazed up to the mirror. Parting my now flaming crimson hair, I saw tribal tattoos appearing below my eyes, like an eyeliner art piece. I felt my forearms relax greatly, and pulled up the sleeves of my Organization coat. No muscle increase… but definite improvement in stamina and force. I did the same with my legs, and the same thing awaited me; no change in size but definite change in power. This felt good… very good.

I walked through the halls of Lindblum castle, and ignored the astonished gazes from the guards on their duties. As Artania passed by, and began to inquire as to my sudden appearance change, I snapped back at him. “Get out of my way, you old fool. Your assistance is no longer necessary.” The man backed away slowly, and turned through another corridor. As I reached the Throne Room, the doors opened, Vivi and Squall standing in their fighting poses, ready to block my entry. “Fools.” I wouldn’t kill them, merely banish them. Squall was in love with the young boy, so there was a perfect idea. I raised my left hand, and Vivi disappeared into the darkness. As Squall looked around, horrified, he failed to notice my right hand rising, and only turned to me as he was swallowed by the black portal that had appeared at his feet. They weren’t dead. As to where they were, however, I couldn’t say. Power is unpredictable.

I stepped into the Throne Room, and threw my hand to the Thrones. They, too, disappeared, and were replaced by a single, bone-crafted throne. I walked up to sit down, and just as I did so, the Minister and several guards burst in. “What are you doing!?” he cried, and I laughed. “Something I should have done a long time ago.” I raised both my arms, and rose into the air. Darkness swirled about me, and I spread my palms out flat. The dark entrails shot out, encompassing the room and the guards and Artania disappeared into the dark. I created a sphere of pure Dark energy, my throne at the centre, and focused (it must have been around three-quarters of my energy). A few seconds later, I opened a small viewing portal on the side of the sphere. Looking down to the earth, I began to smile. Lindblum was gone, each building, citizen and animal eliminated, crushed, dissipated into atoms and scattered across the universe.

I pushed through the crowds of Twilight Town in a haze. Nothing seemed to make sense anymore; the people around me weren’t moving, whenever they spoke it was a different language, the world was upside down…I threaded my way through town to the inn, and rented a room. It was expensive, but it didn’t matter – I had taken a sizeable chunk of money out of the Royal Treasury before leaving. I dumped my bag in the floor and threw myself down on the bed, staring a hole in the ceiling. The light flowing through the window was still strong, but I still managed to drift off into a broken sleep.

I woke with a start to see it was pitch black. Sitting up, I clutched for Riku, before I realised…I sniffed to stop myself from feeling anything, and snuggled back into my covers. That hauntingly familiar dream…I hadn’t had it for a few weeks, now, but it had come back as strong as ever tonight. It stayed in my head, clear as anything, Gildas’s tortured face, his broken body in the crater, Sephiroth’s booming laugh. I curled into a ball and screwed up the quilt around me. All my muscles were tensed and wouldn’t relax – just like my thoughts. How was I expecting to survive without Riku when I’m already feeling this way on the first night?

I turned my gaze skyward. Focusing more of my energy, I sent several black spikes down to the ground, and channelled a current through them. The ground in this circle began shifting, creaking. Soon, it rose from the surface of the earth, creating a pillar of earth that ended slightly beneath the sphere of darkness. I created a few more pillars, and sent them below the sphere, attaching sphere and spire together. Soon, my creation was complete, and I surveyed the area around my new throne. Alexandria, destroyed. Lindblum, obliterated. Where next? Twilight Town made the most sense, and I began to gather up my energies before stopping myself. Why bother dominating the world now? I had a mission to attend to.

I unsheathed the Golden Dagger, and ran it along the air in front of me. The air began to split slightly, before healing itself. The rumours were true, this dagger could reave space itself. With this, any enemy I fought would be obliterated in seconds, and due to my White Magic, I couldn’t be killed. I had to kill with the swiftness and grace of an expert assassin, and this wouldn’t be hard. I lay my head back on my throne and closed my eyes. No-one could penetrate my dark sphere, and so I had nothing to worry about. I began to sleep, to dream, and to revitalise. Soon, Riku would be dead, Haru begging for death herself, and I would gladly give it to her.