A/N: Welcome to the final chapter of our heroes' journey, and I couldn't be more excited to work on it. While I'm still working on Through Smoke and Flames, I wanted to give you guys a taste of what to expect from Paved With Gold so here it is. Fun fact- the title 'Paved With Gold' is based on an english story called Dick Whittington and his Cat (1919). If you find the story it gives you some idea as to the themes of this story but I'll say that a pretty big one right now is sacrifice and gain. Also, this chapter is quite dark so be forewarned. Anyway, until next time, take care and don't forget to follow, favorite and review!
Disclaimer: Anything Square Enix, Disney, or otherwise is used for non-profit and belong to their respective owners.
Chapter 0
Childhood's End
The Pantheon
Mount Olympus
The Council Hall of Mount Olympus stood an impressive nine and a half thousand feet over the region of Thessaly. It had been the humble abode of the Gods ever since the 10 year war in which Zeus superseded the previous hegemony, the Titans. It was seen that ever since the end of that long war, storm nor rain would never strike the peak of Mount Olympus, but instead would know only perpetual ether.
Within the Council Hall were twelve seats and thirteen Gods. The first two were at the top, closer in parallel to the others. This was Zeus and Hera's thrones, with the first being made of black marble and requiring seven steps to reach, each step a color of the rainbow. The second was made out of ivory. Though her steps were only three, Hera's were all made of crystal that sparkled brightly in the sun's light.
To the right of the God of the Sky were the seats of the Gods, his brothers and sons—Poseidon, Ares, Apollo, Hephaestus and Hermes, their seats all decorated in unusual and unique patterns that expressed the elements they were in charge of. Likewise, on the Goddess of marriage's left were the Goddesses of Olympus, the sisters and daughters—Demeter, Athena, Artemis, Aphrodite and Dionysus, once again their chairs all unique to their jobs. There was also the thirteenth God, Hestia, who was willing to sit on the hearth next to the fireplace in order to give Dionysus a spot among the Gods.
"Brothers and sisters, I remember many generations ago when our father wrought havoc and chaos to this very land and all because of fear. The land was swallowed in darkness, and any light was uncertain. I realized when I was but a young man that I could not wait for that light to come save us. I had to be that very light I desired to see. We fought together, we rebelled against our father. Back then, it was easy. We had no petty differences like we do now. It was only by working together that we accomplished a feat previously thought impossible. We overthrew our father and established a system of love, not one of fear.
"My brothers and sisters, do not be mistaken. This is not simply a war among a select few, even if those few are at the forefront of the fight. Innocent people who have nothing to do with this will suffer in this war. War does not pick and choose, it takes and most of the time without discrimination. We must stand by the mortals below and keep them safe, keep them sheltered, as much as we possibly can.
"Let us also not forget that we are not infallible. We are no different from the humans on the ground in that we all have our strengths and weaknesses. What matters is that we acknowledge those faults, those imperfections and we work together to overcome those differences, like we did all those generations ago. In truth, I would have also wanted Hades to be here but-"
"Hades has defied every single thing we stand for time and time again," Aphrodite said while doing her nails. "Let's not forget he has tried to kill your son on multiple accounts and was responsible for releasing some of the Titans from Tartarus in his crazed effort to take Olympus from your hands."
"And all because he pulled the shortest straw. Tough luck, son, that's how it works," Poseidon said with a laugh.
"Perhaps it's just nostalgia. I do fondly remember the days when you were fighting alongside me and him," Zeus said.
"Then you best dispel those feelings of nostalgia. The world was a very different place to what it is today," Ares said. "Can't really say it's for the better either. The malice was building. The world can't go a few decades or so without thirsting for conflict. Fact of the matter is that the signs were all there that the world was about to explode but we all had our heads high in the clouds and chose to believe that the world could better than what history has shown us. Fact is that if the world truly was better than that, I'd be out of the job."
"Well it appears the world finally has some use for you. You're no longer a dusty old fossil," Athena said with a smirk.
"How dare you! If you think I'm going to come to your aid when Athens gets invaded, you've got another thing coming," Ares said.
"Hmph, empty threats. Just what I'd expect from someone on the defensive," Athena said, unimpressed by her brother's words.
"Not today, you two," Zeus warned before addressing everyone. "We must take a vote on the issue at hand. Do we assist the world below or refuse. All in favor say aye."
There was a unanimous approval among the twelve members excluding Zeus and he smiled before continuing, "Then I need not ask of the nays. I hereby declare that the War Council be reinstated. Ares and Athena will do their duty as generals and the rest of us will do what we can to support those who have been devastated by this war."
"I do have a question. To say your bringing us together was sudden is no greater understatement. Was there a reason for that?" Artemis asked.
Zeus chuckled. "I'm ashamed to admit it, but I was convinced by a rather rude young man."
Gravesite, Near Riquewihr
North Eastern France
"Riku, don't you think you could have been just a bit easier on him?" Xion asked. She, Riku and Belle had travelled about a quarter of a mile off from Belle's home at her request to check in on someone important to her.
"Xion, your negotiation skills are lacking. When faced with someone who is clearly in a superior position, it helps to be assertive," Riku explained.
"If by which you mean interrupting him every time he tried to talk then I suppose you were pretty assertive, yes," Xion shot back. "I kind of felt sorry for him. He had a nice beard. It's pointy!"
"You feel sorry for him because he has a pointy beard?"
"No, I'm just saying that he had a nice beard. It was totally separate from the statement that came before it," Xion said.
"I'm sure it was," Riku said, hiding a small smile from her.
"Well good. I'm glad we've come to an understanding," Xion said. The three of them soon arrived at a gravesite and Belle immediately set off in search for the grave she was looking for. She turned a corner and soon found what she was looking for.
"Riku, Xion, this is the grave of my mama," she announced.
"Your… mother? What happened to her?" Riku asked.
"She died shortly after I was born. I didn't really get the chance to know. I have some vivid memories of her in my head but I don't even know if they really are memories or just fabrications I've made up of her. Papa always said that mama graced me with beauty when I was born, like a magical spell," Belle told them. She knelt down and held out a blood red rose, placing it in front of her mother's tombstone.
"Celine. That's a beautiful name," Xion said of her mother.
"Thank you. It means sky or of the heavens," Belle said. "I just know she's looking down on me, proud of her daughter. It's that thought that keeps me going. Even during the early days of my stay at Adam's castle when he was the Beast. It was that belief that if my mother were here she would be telling me to keep going… that's what got me through those days."
"Do you ever… spend time thinking about what your mother was like?" Riku asked.
Belle nodded. "All the time. My papa has told me bits and pieces along the way. He hasn't told me everything but I prefer it that way. He knows that my imagination can often fill in the gaps. It's like a puzzle he's left for me to work out."
"He knows you. That's good. Wish I could say the same for my old man," Riku said. "My mother also passed away. The difference between yours and mine though was that I knew mine until I was nine years old. It hit harder for me."
"I'm sorry to hear that. But what did you mean when you said you wish you could say the same-"
"Long story short, the man prefers to drink himself to death rather than take care of his own son," Riku snapped. He quickly changed his tone. "No, that's not quite right. He probably did care. He might have even tried once or twice, but he could never quite stop. He gave up. 'Sorry, Riku, I tried', is what he told me. Like trying once or twice is enough to justify giving me that line."
Xion hummed. "Hmm, I know this is a graveyard and all but no need to be such Debbie Downers, guys. We have each other now. That's what's important!"
"Xion…" Riku murmured. She talked about being cheerful now but a month ago, she was completely distraught over Roxas' sacrifice, so much so that she couldn't even get out of bed. She had adopted an attitude bordering on nihilism as she resisted their attempts to help her, saying that nothing mattered to her anymore. Obviously she had snapped out of it within a week of mourning. Riku wondered however if time really had healed all wounds for Xion.
"Yeah, I think it's we head back anyway. That is awful though. I'd like to think though that your father isn't a bad man. Personal loss is a darkness we all feel sooner or later, and we all handle it in different ways. Some let it consume them while others fight back. I don't think a person is bad just for being unable to do something."
"Well, if he had tried harder maybe I'd agree with you. Let's leave it at that and get back to Maurice," Riku said.
"I'm sorry I brought it up," Belle apologized.
"No, don't be. If I hadn't expected you to ask I wouldn't have brought it up in the first place," Riku said. Belle gave a bow to her mother's grave before starting off with Riku and Xion back to the village. There wasn't much else to see in the French countryside, yet it offered a stark contrast to the urban compactness of Radiant Garden lifestyle. It was, quite literally, a breath of fresh air.
And then they saw smoke. It wasn't the gray chimney smoke that they would have been naturally expecting to see upon walking into the village, but thick black smoke coating the sky.
"Papa!" Belle yelled, breaking off into a run.
"Belle, wait!" Riku yelled after her, but her concern for her father took priority.
"Riku, if it's them…" Xion started.
"I know. Let's hurry," Riku said.
Xion nodded and followed after him. As they entered the town, fire violently lashed out from the house on their left, causing them to instinctively duck. Glass shattered from the windows of the house, pouring down like rainfall on the swarms of innocent villagers as they tried to escape the devastation. Several houses were already severely damaged, thus resembling ruins and even some of the other buildings' rooftops had been blown off.
A scream preceded a woman running up to Riku with tears in her eyes. "Monsieur and Madame, please help my child. He is being blocked off from joining with me and his father."
"I'll see him to safety, don't worry," Riku assured her before addressing Xion. "Go and make sure Belle's safe."
Xion nodded and told him to be careful before leaving. Riku set off in the opposite direction. A prevailing melancholy cluttered the streets as Riku navigated his way through those who were running in his direction.
Another explosion from just up ahead rocked an already turbulent town. Riku was no stranger to chaos this past month. A lot had happened in just one month. First in Radiant Garden, where suspicion, anxiety and distrust had grown since finding out about David Xanatos and the dealing of Xanatos Enterprises in general. Riku even had to console a grieving mother in Colette, while listening to her nine-year-old daughter about how much she hated the man that hurt her mother.
Days later in the Kingdom of Corona when Riku had been escorting Rapunzel back to the castle, they arrived. Clad in armor of gold like knights, they marched through the streets, the subjects of Corona standing by silently as wielders of keys took over their town. With Rapunzel unable to go back to the castle, Riku had to take her back to Radiant Garden. Similar stories from Terra, Ven and Aqua also popped up throughout the week. When Riku had ambushed one of the armor clad individuals and asked him who he was, the man made mention of one name: Horus. If Riku remembered correctly it was the name of one of the factions of Keyblade Wielders mentioned in Mirage's book, but still… for them to be so organized in only a month? Was it even just Horus for that matter? Riku ran through the names of the factions in his head… Horus, Cephadalus, Oberian, Lunarians…
Upon seeing someone with a giant key in their hands, Riku summoned the Way to the Dawn with his right hand and thrusted his left forward, throwing Dark Aura at them. The unarmoured person was hit dead centre in the chest and crumpled to the ground. The two other people with him turned to see him but one was quicker. Before Riku could target either of them, the woman on the left grabbed the child behind her and held her out in front of her like a shield.
"Drop it. You take even one step and the kid gets hurt!" the woman yelled.
Riku let his Keyblade drop and raised his hand, but he wasn't so ready to give in just yet. "You're really going to do it? When I take this next step forward, you're going to harm that boy? I don't think you will," Riku said, lifting his foot up slowly and with intent.
"How do you know what I will and won't do?" the woman asked.
"Because you're a person with morals and a conscience, a conscience that would leave you restless at night if you do as you say you're going to do," Riku said. His right foot finally landed in front of his left but the woman didn't react.
"Louisa-"
"Shut up. I'm thinking!"
Riku took the moment of hesitation and acted quickly. He picked up his Keyblade and shot another Dark Aura out of his hand. As Louisa turned back to see look at Riku, she came into contact with the dark projectile instead, knocking her to the ground. Her partner made for the child but Riku threw his Keyblade at him, knocking him to the ground.
"You know, the thing about deterrence is that you have to show that you'd be willing to do the thing you said. You don't have to actually go through with it of course, but if I had believed for even one second that you were actually going to harm him, I wouldn't have acted," Riku said as he walked towards them. The boy, free from his captives, ran towards him and Riku smiled. "Your mother's waiting for you. Just keep going down the street and don't stop, okay?"
The boy nodded and ran off down the street while Riku continued towards the three Keyblade wielders lying on the ground. He picked up the man who had called the other girl Louisa by the collar and looked down to his face. He was just a teenager and the girl next to him didn't seem any older. How could people of that age be roped into doing such horrible things?
He was about to shake the boy awake when a third explosion went off from the bookshop to his immediate right. It wasn't close enough that any of his limbs were in danger but it was enough that he could feel the heat prickling against his skin. The force of the blast blew him back and his back hit the wall of the building behind him.
"I have to hire a chiropractor after this," Riku mumbled as he stood up. He frowned and watched as a figure stepped out of the pouring smoke. A tall man with a tanned complexion, he was draped in a wine red cotton trench coat over casual business attire and a pink tie. His hair was short in length and ash white, his eyes masked by aviator sunglasses with an orange tint to them.
When he spoke, his voice was deep and resonant. "You must be… Riku. You and your friends have caused quite a bit of trouble lately among me and my friends."
"Who are you?" Riku asked.
"Who I am is not your biggest concern right now. All you need be concerned with is what will happen to your friend." The man stepped aside to reveal Xion kneeling on the ground and two more Keyblade wielders standing behind her.
"Xion!" Riku yelled. Partly in anger but also as a defensive move, his eyes caught sight of Louisa as she was starting to get up. He moved quickly and grabbed her, locking her right arm behind her with his own. "If you hurt Xion, I won't hesitate in killing her."
"Hmm, and what do you propose on this… neutral ground you've established?" the man asked.
"You return Xion, and I return her and the other two. Simple to understand, no?" Riku asked, pressing the dull side of his Keyblade into Louisa's neck.
The trench coat man looked towards his companions before laughing. The two wielders behind Xion joined in on the raucous laughter as well. Riku averted his gaze from them to the rooftops behind him to see other people wearing kitsune masks, all of them laughing along. Riku looked back to see the trench coat man walking up to him and stopping a few feet away.
"You know, the thing about deterrence is that it doesn't work if the other person doesn't care." The man summoned his Keyblade and fired. The Thundaga Shot raced forward and struck a surprised Louisa in the middle of her forehead. Riku looked on bemused as Louisa's head slumped backward where it rested on his shoulder.
"What are you surprised for? You said you'd kill her if I hurt your friend. You were willing to take that first step on the road to perdition," the man said. The man raised his forearm and flicked his wrist, pointing at Riku with his index and middle finger. Two of the kitsune masked people dropped to the ground and forcefully took hold of Riku's arms, separating him from Louisa's lifeless form.
"How could you do something like that to one of your own?" Riku yelled.
The person on the left holding Riku drove his elbow into the back of Riku's head and said, "You talk when you're told to talk, dog."
The trench coat man silenced him with a raised hand, causing the young man to ease off of Riku. He walked the rest of the way to Riku and leaned in only inches from his face.
"They say you never truly know a man until you hear him speak, for it was words that unified humanity and it was words that divided it. Speech is an admirable trait that should never be limited. You may talk Riku, but as to whether I'll listen… that… is another matter entirely," he said.
"Let Xion go! Whatever you want, I'm the only one you need," Riku pleaded with him.
"Now that's an interesting proposition. What was it you called him, Jun? A dog? My shoes are rather dirty right now. Riku, you can kneel down and lick my shoes and maybe I'll reconsider sparing your friend."
"The hell?" Riku said through gritted teeth.
"You heard what I said. Kneel before me and lick."
"Don't do it, Riku!" Xion yelled but the person next to her grabbed her roughly by the chin.
"Stop! I'll do it, okay?" Riku said. He dropped to his knees, suckered up his pride and quickly licked the man's shoe before retreating, all the while having to put up the resounding amount of laughter coming from the group.
"You really will do anything to help your friends. I guess I can't say you're not committed," The trench coat man said. "Welcome to the team, Riku. I just know our time together will be one to remember."
Riku slowly stood back up, spitting on the ground repeatedly as the trench coat man left his side. He soon paused however and looked in Xion's direction. "Don't forget to bring the girl."
"No… you said she'd be free if I did what you said!" Riku yelled. He tried to walk up to the man but he was held back by the two who had grabbed him earlier.
"First of all, I said maybe. Secondly, your friend took out a few of mine and allowed a girl to escape, a girl with pure light in her heart, remind you of anyone? Finally, no one is free in this world. Welcome to the truth I've understood for quite some time now. Take them away!" the man yelled.
"I'm not done with you. Let Xion go. LET HER-" Riku didn't get to finish his sentence. He was struck in the head by the pommel of Jun's Keyblade and fell to the ground, blacking out soon after.
Les Maison de Lunes
North Eastern France
Day after day, Riku was taken to a small room and strapped to a table. A cloth was placed over his face and the sensation of old water poured on him. It felt like he was drowning. His lungs wished for air and he found it hard to breathe even after the torture ended. Still, he knew that Xion was facing much worse, for it was that Riku's room was right next to this small torture room.
Riku turned and tossed for he knew screaming would do no good. He couldn't scream even if he wanted to. His own torture sessions had left him physically drained and unable to speak. Xion though. Xion kept screaming. Long drawn out screams that haunted him even in his sleep.
Every day he was questioned as to the whereabouts of the Princesses of Hearts as well as his friends, but Riku was not one to give in so easily. He had even said it to them and he had meant what he had said: He would rather die than give up his friends. Xion was going through much worse than he was, probably because they thought they could break her more easily. Having his room next to the torture room was also no coincidence. They wanted him to hear these screams so it would impact on his resilience as well. It made him sick to the stomach, but there was nothing he could do about it. He could only hope that Xion was able to stay strong.
But it was clear that frustrations were mounting, and there was only so much uncertainty that Riku could take. During one time in particular—and Riku stressed time because there were no windows with which to tell between night and day—the door to his cell opened and one of his captives stepped through. Just one. Previously there had always been two people just to escort him to the room next door but there was only one now. They knew he held no power to overthrow them anymore. To Riku it was probably the greatest insult.
"You're wanted next door. Move it, dog." Dog. That had become popular among the people here for obvious reasons. They made sure to put stress on it as well just to dehumanize. Riku didn't reply. He slipped out of bed and walked aimlessly through the door. He stopped just outside and torture room and the other man opened the door, letting him into the room.
"Xion!" Riku yelled hoarsely. He attempted to run forward but fell to his knees when he was kicked down by one of the kitsune masked people. Xion was a ghostly pale, paler than he had ever seen her. Cuts and bruises lined her face and her hair was incredibly dishevelled.
"Your friend's a tough one," a resonating boomed from the dark corner of the room. The trench coat man emerged out of the shadow and stood in front of Riku. "But I shouldn't be surprised. She IS your friend."
"How long do you plan on keeping us here?" Riku whispered.
"As long as it takes to break you and get the answers I need. You know, the village you were in when you were captured has a rather interesting history attached to it, or perhaps I should say the region. A long time ago, the body of a man was found in the village well. This was discovered by children who, at the behest of their parents, went to this well to retrieve water. What they retrieved instead was blood. Closer inspection by the village chiefs revealed that the man had been decapitated. Three days later and a similar incident occurred in a village not too far from that one. This time it was a woman. Man. Woman. Man. Woman. The pattern repeated until the perpetrator's eleventh kill when he was finally caught in the act and sentenced to death. Not too long after, a twelfth and thirteenth murder occurred. Man. Woman. Villagers couldn't help but establish a connection and it was not uncommon for people to believe in evil spirits or witches controlling others to do their bidding. In order to combat this, they constructed a building through which they could purge the insane from society and potentially exorcise the evil spirits within. This is that same building you stand in today."
"Are suggesting I'm possessed by some evil spirit?" Riku asked.
"Of course not. Only that were you to constitute a threat to society then some of these medieval contraptions would be used on you. Chain him up," the trench coat man ordered. Two of the kitsune masks grabbed Riku and brought him to the wall, attaching the shackles that were connected to the wall via their chains. Left arm. Right arm. Left ankle. Right. All limbs were tightly secured, leaving Riku stretching like a star while facing the wall. The person on his left produced as short knife and cut without care into the fabric of his clothing, eventually leaving him shirtless.
"I figured that instead of doing the same thing again and again only to get the same results, I'd try something different. It is only right that friends, in my opinion, help each other in their time of need. Isn't that right, Xion?"
Riku turned his head as much as he could to see the man placing something in Xion's hands. He looked back to the wall and closed his eyes.
"I- I- can't-"
"Now, now, Xion. Take a deep breath. Remember our deal? If you want to keep him alive, you'll do as I say," said the trench coat man. "Don't worry. It's quite easy. Who knows? After one or two you may even begin to enjoy it."
"Never," Riku heard Xion say weakly.
"Never is a strong word in a world full of possibilities. Now don't hold back, or I'll know."
There was silence while Riku braced for whatever was about to happen, but Riku relaxed at the soft embrace of Xion's voice. "Riku? I'm sorry."
Riku opened his mouth to speak but all he managed to muster was a croak. And then there was unendurable pain. The sharp crack of nine knotted thongs all parallel to each other rang out in the room followed by the screams of its recipient.
