~~~* Apocalypse *~~~
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Midnight.
Saix and Xemnas were asleep in their separate beds.
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Azul stepped out into the cool air, at the edge of the Cerulean boundaries, his warm breath causing spiralling billows of condensation to warm the air.
Azul stretched, the dark tattoos all over his muscular body elongating as his muscles flexed.
A crunch of a twig made him pause and clench his fists.
A tan young male stepped out from the shadows, a long mane of silver hair flowing from behind him.
" You are on our land, boy." Azul warned. " You're young, so I don't expect you to understand that. Get back before I kill you." The Cerulean growled. He was already frustrated from Saix returning home, he didn't need this punk thinking he's boss.
" No. Listen to me."
Azul raised a blue eyebrow.
" My name is Ansem. My father is the Chief of the Burnished."
Azul gave a tense nod.
"My brother came home tonight. He stank of deceit. And . . . your kind."
Azul gave a gasp. He knew whom exactly that boy was with.
" I understand, boy. This will not be tolerated."
" And so it shouldn't. We don't want your filth in our bloodline."
"Filth? You should see whose talking, you piece of dire!"
Ansem glared at the physically more powerful man.
" You are filth, you disgusting Cerulean. All your kind should be killed, especially the traitor."
" Says the foul-talking boy whose own brother is such a traitor."
" Watch your mouth, you monster. The way this conversation ends could mean war."
Azul glared at the miniscule warrior.
" Bring it, Burnished."
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Saix awoke groggily, to the sound of angry shouts and the clatter of weapons hitting weapons.
Looking around the hovel, both Aqua and Azul had gone.
Saix dated to the entrance to the cave, and glanced down the hill, to be met face to face with all out warfare.
Saix's heart tore in two, as he saw his father merging with his beastial side, and slamming down the battlefield in his monstrous form, a large, horned, armoured dog-like giant, with limp cloth-like wings resting on its back, and Azuls's blue hair now a firm crest of fur down his back.
Slightly down the field, he saw Aqua, running to and fro between injured men, using her powers to heal them, Cerulean or Burnished.
Saix gave a noise of despair, watching helplessly, as Burnished and Cerulean alike were torn to pieces.
Unlike Ceruleans, Burnished had no other form, but they used long swords, bows and arrows, tomahawks, any weapon they could get a hold of, while Ceruleans, if they had to use a weapon, used axes, large weapons, and double-handed blades.
Azul stormed the ground, before spinning, seeing the man he wanted, a kilometre away.
Xehanort.
Azul jumped, and leapt the entire gap, landing on the elderly chief, who grunted on impact, and instinctively swung his sword, making contact with the blood red horn of Azul.
Saix prepared his feet to jump straight into the pitch, but stopped, as a hot hand clamped over his mouth, and pulled him back into the dark cave,
" Mmmph!"
" Shhh! Keep your voice down!"
Saix glanced back, his yellow eyes hitting soft tan flesh and silver hair.
The boy released him, and spun to face his attacker.
The boy placed a finger to his lips. He only looked about twelve.
" My name is Xehanort." He whispered.
" Saix" Saix replied, breathlessly. He had expecting Xemnas. Xehanort and Xemnas's voice had sounded quite similar. He could tell, though, that Xehanort wasn't used to this voice. Perhaps it had only just changed.
" You have to listen to me, Saix. My family's out there. We have to do something."
"I know, Xeh . . . where's Xemnas?"
Xehanort raised his eyebrows in surprise.
" You know my big brother?"
"Yes. Xemnas and me. We started this war. I think . . . that only we can end this."
" He told me to find you, to keep you safe, but to hell with him, we need to fight our way out of this."
" No, Xehanort, no good would come from fighting. Think about it, if we fight until only one stands, whoever that one is, will have no home, no family, no shelter."
"Then what do we do?"
Saix gave a sigh, before looking over the boy. He had war paint smeared hurriedly over his face, a small, hidden bow and a pack of arrows, and a diminutive sword strapped to his back.
" We could fight. We could run away. We could protect our selves. We could die." Saix listed a couple options.
Xehanort wandered to the mouth of the cave, watching the battle, and spotted Aqua reviving men.
" Why is that girl helping my people? She is an enemy, isn't she?"
Saix gave a smile
" Race does not matter to me, so maybe not to her. She's my sister, Xeh. Her name is Aqua."
Xehanort tilted his head at the young girl, and Saix could spot a tiny blush swell across tan cheeks.
" She's pretty."
"Not the time, nor the place, Xehanort." Saix warned.
" Sorry. T-T-THAT'S MY FATHER!"
Xehanort cried, watching as Master Xehanort fell to one knee, protecting himself with a long sword.
" Stay here!" Saix ordered to Xehanort, before using to powerful legs to leap into the battlefield, summoning his merciless claymore on the way down.
Saix made contact with the ground between Master Xehanort and his attacker, a Cerulean that was in his beast form.
Saix raised his claymore, and blocked Master Xehanort from the beasts' jaws as it clamped down over the weapon.
" Boy!" The elder croaked, blood dribbling down his wrinkled forehead. " W-Why? Why are you . . . helping me?"
Saix turned his head, the two sets of golden eyes meeting.
" Because I am in love with your son!" Saix cried, before ripping the claymore out of the creature mouth, and slamming into the side of its head, causing it to yelp, and be flung backwards, blood spurting from its skull.
Saix spun, blazing eyes locked onto the Chiefs.
Holding the intense gaze, Saix sank to his knees, placing his claymore to the floor, and then bowed his head.
" Great Master Xehanort. I . . . I am devoted to your son. I want to fight for him. For you."
Saix looked up, meeting the elderly mans questioning wise eyes.
" Let me fight . . . with you! On your side!"
Xehanort looked over the muscular young man bowed in front of him.
The Master gave a sharp nod.
" I sense your power. You have my respect, little rogue." The old man smiled, before getting to his feet, clutching his sword.
Saix smiled, and grabbed his claymore, hopping up as Ceruleans closed in on him.
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Master Xehanort and Saix stood back to back, swinging together as more and more of the beastial formed men raced at them, jaws snapping, claws flying, growls and roars reverberating as deafening as the clang of metal hitting metal.
Xemnas raced up to the edge of the battleground, only just realising as he ran up what had truly happened.
"No. . . Saix, no!" He pleaded to no one in particular, as screams echoed across the blood-covered grass.
Glancing across the part of the field he could see, he spotted a familiar face.
Long silver hair flew wildly, and a tomahawk soaring into a young Cerulean boy.
"ANSEM!! "
Xemnas unsheathed the two swords he had strapped to his back (just in case), and dashed into the bloodshed.
Ansem spun as he heard his name cried out, and as soon as he turned, an untamed looking Xemnas slammed him into him, and swiped at his face.
" Xemnas! Stop!"
Xemnas could only see red, trying to rip at the traitors flesh.
" Brother!"
Ansem looked up worriedly at his younger sibling, hot blood streaked down over his temple. Xemnas stopped his attack, staring down at the solemn gold eyes.
" You are a traitor, Ansem. You caused all this." Xemnas have howled, half snarled.
" No, you did. And one thing, Xemnas? Never let your guard down, even if it is near your brother."
Before Xemnas could even think, he was kicked of his elder, pinned to the floor by Ansems foot over his heart, and Ansem was above him, tomahawk lifted high.
" Goodbye . . . Traitor."
As Ansem swung the heavy blade down, aiming at Xemnas's face, as extremely loud howl boomed across the battlefield, and Ansem was hurled from off of Xemnas, from what he could see, a gold and blue blur.
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Saix chanced a quick glance around the battlefield, and the attack on him slowed, still stood with the Chief of the Burnished.
Saix used his peripheral vision to scan the land, and in the far reaches of his supreme gaze, he saw Xemnas.
Xemnas. His Xemnas. His lover, his mate, his one and only soul partner.
Pinned down by another Burnished, weapon high above his head.
It was about to come smashing down . . .
"XEEEEMNAAAAAAAASSSS!!! " He howled, and before Saix could control himself, he dropped his claymore to the ground, and fell to all fours.
His skin burned and tingled, before ripping open, thick azure fur pushing its way through, as his face elongated into a rough snout.
His nimble, dexterous fingers shifted into razor-sharp claws, and his tailbone crunched and the bone itself elongated into a briskly tail.
Before self-control had a chance to tell Saix to stop, full, dark rage engulfed the wolf, and he bounded at the boy pinning his Xemnas down, before full on smashing into him, gold eyes ablaze with passionate protective fire, claws aching for a chance to draw hot blood as he pinned the Burnished down.
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"Saix?" Xemnas asked wearily, still lying on the floor, his body in shock.
Tilting his head, he spotted a large navy wolf pinning down his older brother.
"Ansem?"
Xemnas sat up, picking up the swords that he had dropped.
Saix's beast side, glared hungrily down at the fleshy Burnished, who had sweat and blood trickling down his face.
Xemnas stood, and walked rather calmly to the beast, who restrained his brother rather easily.
" Saix." Xemnas said quietly, as the monster looked up at him, the X shaped mar almost glowing through the dark fur
" I don't mind. . . If you finish him." Xemnas looked down at his brother, whose fear fumed in his eyes " He's the real monster in this war."
From far away, Master Xehanort gave a screech. " THAT'S MY SON! I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO FIGHT WITH US BOY!!"
From the other side of the pitch, another cry was heard. " THAT'S IT SAIX, KILL THAT SCUM, SON!!"
Saix's heart, head and soul were in turmoil. What was right? What was wrong?!
" DO IT!" " NO, BOY!" " . . . Saix . . . "
Saix placed his large paws over his sensitive ears, his head overflowing with conscience.
"STTTTTTTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPPPP!!!!" He roared, causing almost all the warriors to halt in their fighting, and to stop and stare at him.
Saix spun, getting off Ansem, facing the rest of the people on the battleground, not caring that both sides were confronting for their lives.
" THIS IS WRONG!" Saix snarled.
As he calmed, his muscles relaxed and flexed, morphing him back into his human form.
" This is wrong." He muttered quietly. " Why are we doing this?" He called to the people listening.
" They're scum!" " We hate them!" " They're evil!" " They're different!" "They're monsters!" Were among the answers shouted back
Saix sighed, rubbing his forehead.
" We need to accept our differences! Look at them! Look at us! We are the same! Yes, we look a little different, yes we act a little different, but our weakness can be their strengths, and our strengths can be their weaknesses! We need to work as one, we need to help each other!"
Saix called out to the people, trying to make them see reason.
Azul turned, still locked in battle, to see his son talking to the Burnished and the Ceruleans listening to him, and then a taller, tan boy come over to him, and spoke as well, explaining something.
Azuls's gold eyes grew wide as then the talking ceased, and the Burnished boy embraced his son in a loving hold.
It was true! Saix was the traitor!!
Azuls's mind went blank, full of morbid rage and betrayal. He roared, spinning to face his son and the filthy savage that was holding him so tenderly.
Charging at his only son, Azuls's mind went blank, and he could only hear a scream
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Saix looked up from Xemnas's calm, loving hold, the Burnished and Cerulean people smiling.
They understood!
No more fighting, no more war, no more death. Maybe a better future for all of them, and a chance to act as one.
He glanced around, and his heart chilled, like a painful vice clamping over it, as a shadowistic figure rampaged across the battlefield.
Straight for him and Xemnas.
Saix yanked Xemnas from off his shoulder and pushed him meters away.
Saix didn't have chance to see the look of pure hurt and confusion on his beloved Burnished face, as he turned around, to feel the large brutish beast that was his father collide with him.
Pure pain twisted in his ribcage, and Saix was pinned to the cold grassy floor.
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Xemnas's eyes enlarged as he saw exactly why his lover had pushed him off.
A large mechanical-looking monster crashed into him, and pinned Saix down to the grass.
Xemnas's mind went numb, as he truly realised what happened. Time seemed to slow around him.
Saix fell back under the hefty beast, whose large head boasted large crimson horns.
Said horns rammed into his so small seeming partner, and impaled Saix right in the centre of his chest, as he was knocked down, and the great horns went into the floor also, pinning the pale boy still, as blood erupted from his chest and a scream from his throat.
The gigantic brutes eyes seemed to widen, but it remained still.
Saix's own yellow orbs became half-lidded, before squeezing shut as his slim body registered the pain pounding through him.
" Saix!?" Xemnas cried, running and sliding to a kneel besides his beloved little imp.
Saix's sweet breaths came out in laboured little bursts as blood dribbled from his soft mouth.
" . . . Xxx. . . . Xeeechh . . . " His throat gurgled, blood forcing its way up. " . . . Xeeemmmnnn . . ."
" Sh, Shhh." Xemnas comforted the smaller male, stroking a blue hair from the lovely gold eyes.
Xehanort watched from above, safe in the cave, as a beast pierced his newfound friend by the heart. Unsheathing his small bow an arrow, anger bubbled in his chest, and he let out a shriek.
" ATAAAAAAAACCCCKKKK!!!!"
Arrows rained down onto Azul, clanging against his metallic skin, and bouncing off, as the Ceruleans and Burnished alike raised their weapons with a shout, and raged towards the giant Cerulean.
The Ceruleans were fighting for their Prince. The Burnished were fighting for their saviour.
As Azul realised he was under fire, he reared up, ripping his spear-like horn from his delicate sons chest, and Azul ran, far, far away from his dying little boy.
" . . . Saix . . ." Xemnas cooed gently, stroking his younger lover softly, comforting him as more and more blood seeped into the bitter grass. " You've done so well, my little seraph. You've come so far. You've helped so many people."
Saix looked up silently, his mouth still open as his laboured breaths became more difficult.
Master Xehanort hurried up to the fallen fighter, and kneeled next to his tan son.
" Little rogue . . . Xemnas is right. You've been so strong . . . "
Saix gave a tiny smile, his usually pearly fangs now dull and covered in sticky read liquid.
" We can help you, my Saix. What can we do?" Xemnas asked softly, not wanting his lover to use his precious little life energy
" Ah . . .gwa . . . . "
" I don't understand." Xemnas whispered, leaning closer to the Cerulean.
" . . . Ah . . .! Ka! Aqua . . .!" Saix keened softly, his eyes pinching closed as more pain wracked his lithe body
" Aqua? AQUA!" Xemnas suddenly realised what his lover was mewling, and called out into the crowd of warriors gathered. " AQUAAA!!!"
A small, Cerulean girl darted up to where her brother lay dying.
" S-Saix! Saix!" She cried, running to him, sitting next to his face.
" . . .Ah . . .kw . . . a . . . "
" Sh, Shhh." Xemnas murmured to him before turning to the young female. " Can you help him?"
The yellow-eyed girl swallowed thickly, before giving a little nod. " I can try."
Placing her petite hands over Saix's injured core, Aqua's eyes slid shut, and she lifted her head, her aura at work within her sibling. Muttering quietly, a blue-green glow sparkled from her hands, flowing into Saix.
Saix also closed his eyes, and Xemnas couldn't tell if it was form exhaustion, Aqua's powers, or . . . if it was his time . . .
As Aqua stopped murmuring, she lifted he hands away from over Saix's gaping wound . . . only, it wasn't a gaping wound. It was a deep scratch, nothing more.
Saix's bullion eyes slipped awake, and they immediately turned to the tan male beside him.
" Xemnas."
Xemnas smiled, sweeping an azure hair from the striking eyes.
" Yeah?"
Saix smiled. " Everything's gonna be okay."
Xemnas broke into a grin, tears falling down his cheeks, and he hugged Saix tightly, refusing to let go, as the crowd of combatants exploded into cheers.
A little way aways, Xehanort slipped out from the cave, running over to his older brother, father, Saix, and the girl with blue hair he had spotted earlier.
" Saix." Master Xehanort croaked, smiling. " I accept you, as one of us. Although, I don't think that matters now. You were right. We are one. One family. One in the same."
As Saix sat up, he bowed his head at the wise old chief.
" I also accept you as my sons mate. For life, I hope." The Burnished grinned, and Saix leaned over to Xemnas and embraced him tightly.
" You wont have to worry about that." Xemnas beamed.
The Master nodded warmly to the two, and turned his head to spot his youngest.
" Xehanort! You did finely!" He applauded, giving a wide smile to the adolescent. Xehanort grinned back, before noticing Aqua truly.
" Um . . .Hi." He smiled, catching her attention.
" Oh, hello."
" M-my name's Xehanort." He blushed, pushing out his hand for her to shake.
Aqua ignored it, and just hugged the taller boy, earning a flustered noise, and a chuckled from her brother.
" Runs in the family, huh, Xemnas?"
Xemnas gave a low laugh, as Saix shifted in his arms, so he was placed in his lap.
" All well that ends well." He sighed, resting his head in the crook of the tan neck.
Xemnas nuzzled Saix soft hair, and at that point he spotted someone he didn't realise was watching.
" Not quite, Saix."
Saix looked up and followed Xemnas's vision, to see Ansem, a few feet away.
" I didn't realise he was still here. I thought he ran off." Saix whispered up to his golden-eyed mate.
" What does he matter, Saix?" Xemnas looked down at the younger in his lap. " I love you. That's all that matters."
Saix met Xemnas's eyes and purred, giving him a gentle lick to his chin. " I love you too, my Xemnas."
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The day had run well into the night, and no one had left the battleground. No, everyone, Burnished and Cerulean, were still sat on the muddied land, sat around fires and singing songs, becoming friends, and making amends.
Wise old Xehanort stood in front of the largest of fires, where the greatest of the war heroes sat around.
" My children!" He called to all, " We, have fought, for many years, many generations. We, Ceruleans, and we Burnished, are no more. Together, we are one tribe, one people, one great big family unit!"
The people cheered, raising their fists.
Saix stood now, next to his Chief, a great scar marred into his milky flesh.
" We no longer oppressed by rules, and hatred. My Master is correct. We are one, and we can overcome anything that comes in our way." Saix smiled at the people, who were all listening intently, content and happy with the events taken that day. " And it is true, my father, former chief of the people known as Ceruleans has fled, Azul the beast was too cowardly, to see our tribes unite as one. And, speaking for myself, I am glad he is gone."
Cheers rang out form the people; apparently the former Ceruleans hated Azul as well.
" So," Xemnas asked standing now between his soul mate and father. " What do we call ourselves?"
" Burleans?" Saix grinned at him, before turning to Master Xehanort, who grinned also, before spreading his arms wide and addressing the people again.
" To us! The Burlean people!"
" BURLEANS!" They cheered back, Aqua and Xehanort included, who were sat close next to the fire.
Old Xehanort laughed, almost manically sounding, and raised a fist to show alliance to the Burlean cause, as everyone else did, as Saix and Xemnas sat back down, Saix on Xemnas's lap, their chests rubbing together slightly.
" Death and destruction aside, my little wolf, today has been wonderful." Xemnas murmured lowly, his lips touching Saix's
" Indeed. And I am ready to face many more wonderful days . . . and wonderful nights." Saix purred, touching noses with his dark skinned mate.
" I love you, my little Cerulean."
" And I love you, my breathtaking Burnished."