The Prince Speaks: For All Intents and Purposes

"Dopa-maskey...dopa-meekey...grancha goo!"

I looked up from from the map of the world we had laid out over the kitchen table of Keily's house. I could hear Kyxiel's displeasured yelling at what I could only guess as the blogs of possibly Kenya Starflight or Rose. I had the distinct feeling that somebody must have gotten attacked. The Nobody let loose a string of what I assumed to be several different curses in a language I was not familiar with. Draco, who was with me along with Lupin and Potter, gave me a quizzical look.

Sighing, I turned to the irate woman and asked her what was wrong.

"They got some of the medics staying at Rose's place...and some idiots just tried to take Luke again. This is stucking fupid!"

"Pardon?" I asked.

"'Stucking fupid.' I'm trying to curb my swearing in English by switching out letters..." she asnwered, rubbing her face with her hands. She looked tired. Extremely tired. More weary than I had ever seen anyone. Although she could cuss enough to make a hardened sailor blush bright red, the Nobody didn't have much energy for anything else, but to curse aloud. I didn't blame her. The cold she had had been a bad one that left her bedridden until a few days ago when she managed to write about the attack on her person. Order members would cycle every once in a while to make sure that she was alright and protected. Right now it was Lupin and Potter's turn to stay with us.

"Maybe you should go upstairs and rest." I suggested, going over to the computer desk to help her onto her feet. She got up reluctantly, looking for all the world that she wished she could just end all of existence and save everyone the trouble of going through another huge fight. And considering the stakes this time, it might be the fight to end all fights. She swayed a little and I caught her.

"I can't...I can't just lie down and wait for them to come again." she told me, an edge of steel in her voice. "I can't just sit and not do anything while I know she's close by."

"Close by?"

"Keily." She had on a sardonic smile and there was something in her eyes--eyes almost as red as mine. Keily always had very uniquely colored eyes. Like fine wine they were...a reddish-brown that shone a deep amber in the afternoon light and almost glowed crimson in the darkness. Kyxiel's eyes were no different, but they glinted red more than Keily's ever did...hinted at the darkness lying within. "I know she's close by...and if she's close, then Voldemort isn't far behind."

I assumed that since both were essential one and the same that they could tell when the other was nearby, so I did not question her claim on being able to sense her Other around. I would wonder how the two of them would merge back together--if they could. Keily was the body, Kyxiel was the soul...but what would be the use of them being together as one if they had no Heart? I remember what the witch Yuuko had said all that time ago...about how all three parts of Keily had to be separated....be incomplete.

"Kyxiel...Yuuko said that the door to Kingdom Hearts...would stay close if Keily was made to be incomplete....what changed this?" I asked of the Nobody.

"I don't know." she answered. "Although it would be something I'd like to figure out." She brought her hands up, looking at them almost despondantly. I watched her rub the tips of her fingers and wondered what was going through her mind t that moment in time. "Especially if she really was the one who brought Unicron back...what would happen, do you think? She might do it again...and again and again...and it just won't stop..." She shook her head in defeat, shrugging off my hands to go upstairs. Probably to get some rest. Or sulk. Or go see William. She had begun to see my son at an increasing frequency since a little bit before Miss Starflight's Christmas party. Maybe he was a balm to her ugly existence? I don't know. But I made my way back to the map to discuss what was to be done now that the forces of darkness were on the move again.

What exactly was Voldemort planning to do by ressurecting the Emperor? Had they something specific in mind? What about the thefts at Rose's? What did they have to do with the greater scheme of things? So many questions and so many hypothesi accompanying them. It was still too early to know what was going on with so little information.

"Keily does have a rather unique power." Lupin noted. "Maybe they wish to remake the world...worlds...universe...whatever they wish into what they want it to be? That could be their ultimate goal." I nodded. It was a rather plausible idea. It would be something that those megalomaniacal men would try to do.

"Maybe they'd been planning this from the start?" Potter suggested.

"What are you getting at, boy?" I asked, secretly amused at how he bristled when I called him that. It must be hard for him to have to cope with his most hated person with his most hated enemy being almost one and the same now. It must be terrible for him to have to face me and talk to me civilly without the urge to sucker punch me in the face.

"Well, it's been rather obvious about what their intentions had been from the beginning...maybe they found out about Keily somehow and wrapped their plans around her abilities?"

"You know, had Keily been here, she'd be very insulted for your insinuation that she were a Sue."

Silence.

"Well, after they found out...suppose they rearranged their plan of attack?" Lupin cut in, putting on a cheerful smile. "After all...if I had someone who could just bring me back from the dead, I wouldn't need to worry about Horcruxes or the Force or whatnot...I would just make sure I'd come back and not make the same mistakes..."

"Which makes our opponent a rather dangerous one as it's one that can learn. Having died so many times, I doubt Palpatine will let himself lose this time round. He is a very shrewd man...on par with the Dark Lord."

It had been a very frightening thought the first time those two had joined forces. It had caused me to run for my life, rather than actually fight. Even at the very end, I chose to stay well out of it. And look where my running away had gotten me. Hm. I suppose I deserve this sort of thing happening...what with what I've done in the past. I find peace and then have it snatched away again.

I have never really loved. Something I will rarely ever admit to. But I do care. And I had cared for the young woman who played my host. To what ends continuing our acquaintance would have come to, I know not...But I sincerely wish that I could go back to simple days with her...making potions in her basement...hear her telling me off or skirting around me in an attempt to hide any feelings she had for me for fear of being persecuted (in more ways than one).

It's strange to think of her as gone and yet, not. Because her soul still remains...the strong spirit behind the gentle heart...

"Severus! Severus!!! Severus come quick!!!"

I dropped what I was doing, drawing my wand out as I rushed upstairs to see what was the matter--expecting an impromptu Death Eater attack. My heart had been racing, pounding in my ears when I slammed the door to William's nursery open.

My heart stopped at the sight before me.

Kyxiel was on the ground--sitting, not lying unconcious. Her arms were stretched out before her, fingers moving in a 'come here' gesture. Her eyes were aglow with something I couldn't possibly imagine being there as her lips were set in a gently smiling expression. Some feet away, little William was standing up--shakily.

"Is he--"

"Shh!"

IO stood at the doorway, dumbfounded as I watched my son take his first real steps towards the woman who could have been his mother. Watched as he moved one foot in front of the other awkwardly, his own arms outstretched. When he was within arm's reach of Kyxiel, he sped up and tumbled into the Nobody's arms with a happy squeal and a laugh. She laughed too, a sound so joyous and almost forgotten. It was Keily's laugh. Her mirth in all of its glory.

"Isn't it wonderful Severus?" she asked, looking at me as William squirmed in her arms. "William walked! He really walked!!"

Smiling myself, I went over to them and picked William up, telling him how proud I was. The child answered by waving an arm at Kyxiel, making grabbing motions.

"Mama." he mumbled.

Yes...I thought. She's still here...if only in spirit.