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.

Kyxiel Report 6: This Universe Has Freakin' Father Issues

No, seriously. I can name very few in my acquaintance that didn't have severe issues with fathers (or parental figures in general). Until recently I could safely say that Keily had no such troubles that she didn't bring upon herself (or I had wrought upon her unintentionally). Harry has father issues, Severus has father issues, Kenya has father issues and don't let me get started with Vader and Luke! Those two have enough parental issues to cover ten galaxies over.

The reason I say this is because I am nursing a bad cold from being outside for too long and getting severely beaten up on New Year's. New. Freakin'. Years'. You'd think that the scum of the universe would take a holiday, but I guess not.

Sometimes...I really wish I could get this whole thing over with and just blow everything up. But that's my homocidal tendencies bubbling up.

What happened exactly?

Keily handed my ass to me.

With Voldemort.

Long story short...

On New Year's Day, I decided to go out and have a walk around the city. It was incredibly warm out--a rather odd thing as it's the island of Montreal and it's usually unbearably cold this time of the year. As I was out I stumbled upon a group of men in black cloaks doing only goodness knew what to a man. I went out of my way to help him out, only to find that it was Voldemort in Severus' proper body. You could only guess what I said when I met up with him for the first time.

"Ah, great. I knew things were too peaceful." I muttered aloud, hoping that the dark lord heard every word I said. "What next? My other half's gonna proclaim herself as some villain henchlady like in some really bad fanfic?"

I should have kept my mouth shut.

"How terrible...do you hear that, Keily dear? Kyxiel thinks you're a villain. Are you going to stand for that?" Voldemort asked, using Severus' voice. He turned to face one of the black cloaked men and took one of their hands. Pushing a hood back, I stared at my reflection who had a blank look on her face.

She looked up at Voldemort, waiting for something. Then, at his nod, she turned to look at me. "No." she answered, emotionlessly. "I shall not."

"You know...she helped those terrible Resistance members kill Unicron...the same Unicron you worked so hard to bring into this world." he said into her ear.

"...Into this world..." she repeated softly under her breath. She did not look the least bit angry or upset. In fact, she was even worse than I am--and I'm a Nobody! She was a body with no soul (which I was) and no heart (which shattered with several parts scattered to the winds). It was kind of unnerving. But still...I was incredibly worried, despite myself. She brought Unicron here? How? Keily shouldn't be able to do such a feat--especially without a Heart! What was going on...?

"Keily, dear...shall we get rid of this meddler? I think the world would be a better place if we were to be rid of her...don't you think?" Voldemort asked, looking for all I could see like a devil trying to lead a wayward lamb astray. Keily looked up at him again and he nodded to her, a signal I took as approval for whatever my Other had in mind....which could not be good for my health.

She held out her hand to me. "Give me my heart back."

I was taken aback. What?

She insisted again. "Give it back, Nobody."

I shook my head. I had no heart within me--least of all--hers. It had been lost...broken. Burnt itself to a crisp with grief. I said nothing to her as I pondered all this and more. She must have taken it rather badly s she set her hand down at her side.

"Hmmm...looks like she won't give it back peaceably, my dear." Voldemort said offhandedly. "Well, no matter...we couldn't very well let her live, right?"

Keily looked at me and nodded. "Right...."

The next part happened in a blur. I knew that I fought back--fought back as hard as I could. It's me I'm fighting...right? There was no way I would hold back on myself! Of course, it was alittle hard...you try avoiding a lightsaber! Where the hell did she get it anyways?! It certainly wasn't Dooku's saber she was using...

"You helped them kill father...Severus told me that you let father die..." she said, in between trying to slice me in two. She almost succeeded as she surprised me with what she said. Did she just call Voldemort...Severus?!

"The hell you talking about?!" I yelled back. "Your old man is still alive and kicking! Andy never stops giving me hell because you had to go all noble and sacrifice yourself--ya big moron!"

She stopped abruptly and looked at me blankly.

"Andy?" she asked, sounding a little unsure.

I narrowed my eyes at her, tensing up in anticipation of an attack. Although I had my suspicions...

"Who's Andy?" she demanded looking quite perplexed. "Dantius Palpatine is my father."

That statement..was like a slap to the face. I had the sudden urge to scream in denial for five minutes straight, then proceed to throw myself in the nearby river (Keily's house is located near one). Luckily, I have common sense (and am not a Skywalker).

As I came to grips with this declaration (and a very twisted one it is--what the hell did Voldemort do?!), she got this sort of creepy little smile on her face.

"But not to worry...father will be coming back shortly...Yes...father's spirit shall return and all shall be well again."

About then I got knocked out.

When I came to, the real Severus was there with me--along with several Order members that the man had come to pay a visit when they found out that Voldemort was on the move again. They managed to save me before anything bad happened, but I was pretty bruised (and singed in places where the lightsaber nicked me) and I caught a cold from staying outside too long with alight jacket (it had been around 15 degrees when I first went outside).

And there you have it.

Looks like things ar starting up...again.

God, I wish I could just get everything over with and just BLOW UP this bloody universe.