From my balcony I could see Destiny Islands, a bright spot in the darkness of my life. It had been the one place that truly felt like home, and now…Zexion had taken it away from me. No. I shook my head; it wasn’t all his fault. It was me. I had brought this upon myself. I deserved this. That was when I made my mind up. Tonight would be the last night…the last night I had to feel this way…the last night I would breathe the air of this world…the last night I would impose on everyone around me. Comforted by these thoughts, I slept a lot better that night than I had the night before.

The next morning, I jumped out of bed, my new purpose clear in my mind. I grabbed my bag and left the hotel, checking out as I did so. My steps were sure and fast, and it didn’t take long for me to reach the edge of Twilight Town. From there, I kept my eyes on the ground, never stopping walking, never looking up. It was only when a dark shadow slid into view in front of my shoes. It was so perfectly smooth…it couldn’t be natural. I looked up, expecting to see the grand region of Lindblum. But what had happened? The horizon was devastated, and the only thing that had survived was a dark structure floating in front of me. With a gasp caught in my throat, I stepped back so I could survey it properly. It seemed to be made out of darkness itself…and that’s when I realised. “Zexion,” I called, “Zexion!”

My ears pricked up. Someone saying my name? Possibly. My senses had been increased immensely, due to the Essence. I stood up from my throne, walking forwards on the darkness, and reached the edge of the dark sphere. I was about to open a viewing portal when my head began throbbing. I knelt on the air, and threw my hand up to my head. Was this… pain? Remorse? No. It couldn’t be. I felt none of those emotions anymore. All I felt now was a burning desire for revenge, and I would have it. I stood back up, and flicked my flaming hair to one side, opening a viewing portal. As I looked down, I saw a figure standing far below, though I couldn’t discern their appearance, or even their gender. They were just curious as to the tower, is all. They’d move along soon enough. The figure looked up, and gazed at me through the portal. It looked so familiar…

I walked back to the throne and sat down once more. So familiar… it’d come to me soon enough. But for now, I needed to find Riku, and crush him. I closed my palms together, and opened them in an ‘O’ shape. I blew through the O, and several small bubbles of darkness flew into the air. I cast them away with a stray thought, and they disappeared into the distance. They’d find him soon enough.

I bellowed his name once more. “Zexion!” I knew he must be in there; who else would be powerful enough to build a tower like this, and destroy the whole of Lindblum? But there was still no answer, so I settled down, cross-legged, on the cracked dirt, my sights fixed sturdily on the ball of dark matter at the top of the tower. He would have to leave sometime, and when he did…I would manage to finally leave this world.

There. I definitely heard my name being called; there was no mistaking it. Whoever it was, they had no right to intrude upon my domain. I focused my energies, and, like an elevator, my throne was lowered to the base of the tower. I stood up, adjusted my robes, and slid back the rock face before me. “Who calls upon the might of Zexion?” I looked at the figure before me and grinned. “Why, Haru! So nice of you to join me!” Haru stepped back. “You!? Zexion, what happened to you?” I sneered, laughing slightly. “I let myself into the darkness. Look where it’s got me!” In an instant, I’d leapt behind her, and threw my arm round her throat, placing my other round her waist and preventing her from moving. I didn’t get any resistance, however, which slightly spoiled my mood. “Come, Haru. Let me show you my domain from the skies.”

I threw her forward and leapt in, sliding back the rock to its original position and clicking my fingers, causing the throne to rise once more to the dark sphere. The purple and black light shone eerily as the throne settled back into position, and I made the sphere crystal clear. Haru gasped. “You… can see forever!” I nodded, sneering once more. “Of course. This is the first step on my long, long journey.” Haru turned to me, confused. “Aren’t you just gonna… kill me?” I laughed, changing the sphere back to its purple hue. “Of course not. That wouldn’t be any fun at all! Silly Haru. I’m not going to kill you, oh no. Definitely not.”

The bubbles I’d blown not too long ago re-entered the sphere, and each flew into my head, my mind absorbing their contents. “Ahhh! Of course!” I shook my head. “No Haru, I’m not going to kill you. But if I want to rule the world, and make the most of my existence, I can’t be held back. Certain things must be erased. Some places must disappear. Some… Islands… are of no use to me.” Haru shook her head, biting her lip. “Oh yes, Haru. I hope you and Riku didn’t share a Paopu fruit… Because if your destinies are intertwined, then you’ll die too.” Tears appeared in her eyes. “Your precious Island, and your wonderful husband, are soon to be eliminated.” I held up my hand, my fingers outstretched. “With a click of my fingers, I can cause as much pain to you as you ever caused to me. You killed the one person on this earth I truly, truly loved. I’d die for him, as he did for me. Would you die for Riku? Because he’s about to die for you. Say goodbye to him, Haru. Say goodbye to the boy you love.” I brought my hand down, closing my fist and sneered. A loud explosion ran through the air, and distant waves could be heard crashing against one another. Haru dropped to the floor. “Vengeance is so sweet.”