*I don't own Kingdom Hearts or any of its characters, though Heavyn is mine.
"How did you manage to find me, Xehanort?" Repliku demanded while summoning his sword Soul Eater.
Xehanort smiled and said, "I will always be able to track you down, boy. Now, come with me quietly, X-blade!"
"Why do you keep calling me that? I don't even wield a Keyblade!"
"No, but since you're Riku's Replica, you could wield Riku's Keyblade if you really wanted to," Heavyn realized with shock in her voice as she held her walking stick in a defensive stance. Her eyes narrowed as she realized in that moment that Xehanort had regained all the memories that were lost when he fought against Aqua, and he was after Repliku for Ventus' former role.
Repliku glanced down at his new friend, admiring her bravery against Xehanort. "Are you serious?"
Heavyn nodded. She remembered how Xion, a Replica of Roxas, was able to wield Sora's Keyblade alongside Roxas. She narrowed her eyes. Xehanort looked at her, seeming to notice her for the first time.
"Humph. Clever girl. Although, if you think that twig can stop me, then you're not as clever as you think you are."
"Don't insult my friend!" Repliku yelled. Xehanort slowly turned back toward him, amusement dancing in his yellow eyes.
"Your friend?" said Xehanort scornfully. "How can you have friends when you're not even a real Somebody! You're just a Replica!"
"It doesn't matter how he came into being!" Heavyn shot back. "What matters is that he has the same feelings as a normal person!"
Xehanort laughed. The sound of his laughter sent chills down Heavyn's spine as she continued to stand her ground. She hoped that he couldn't tell how scared she was, for she knew that he could send Heartless throughout her world without a second thought.
As if he could read her thoughts, Xehanort demanded, "Well, boy, let's make this simple. Either you come with me, or I allow the Heartless to destroy your friend and her world!"
Heavyn and Repliku gasped. Xehanort laughed again.
Repliku bowed his head and lowered Soul Eater. Heavyn's eyes filled with tears, for she knew exactly what his choice was.
"Repliku, you don't have to do this! Our world is tough, we can handle the Heartless!" she cried. "Please..."
"I'm sorry, Heavyn," Repliku interrupted. "I can't let you, my only friend, be hurt by this man." He asked Xehanort, "If I go with you, do you promise to leave this world alone?"
"I promise on my Keyblade."
"Fine." Repliku walked toward Xehanort as Xehanort opened a portal of darkness. As both of them walked through it, Heavyn's mind was racing on how she could stop this. She realized that she needed to follow them.
She looked back towards the grave and whispered, "Mom, Dad, Michael, Angela… I'm sorry. I have to do this." Grasping her family's memory close to her heart to be her light, she dived through the portal just before it closed.
"Here we are, X-blade," said Xehanort as they arrived on the other side of the portal, "Home sweet home."
Repliku looked around, then realized where they were. "I thought this castle was destroyed by Sora and Riku when they defeated your Nobody," he said.
"It was. When I was restored, however, I realized the usefulness of this world, so I rebuilt The Castle That Never Was. After all, this world is a convenient place to summon Kingdom Hearts when the time is right, for it exists between the Realm of Light and the Realm of Darkness," replied Xehanort, his eyes betraying a slight hint of irritation when Sora was mentioned. "Now come. Time is short, and we have a lot of work to do before Riku comes for Kairi."
Repliku turned at that statement. "What do you mean, 'When Riku comes for Kairi'? What did you do to Kairi?"
"I haven't harmed her, if that's what you're implying. I've merely invited her to stay here in the castle."
"You mean you kidnapped her! Release her, or the deal is off, Xehanort!" shouted Repliku, summoning his sword again.
Xehanort backhanded Repliku, sending him flying. "How dare you order me about, boy! What is Kairi to you, anyway? As I recall, you two have never even me-," Xehanort paused as realization kicked in. "That's right, Kairi is Naminé's heart, isn't she? And you made a promise to Naminé to 'protect her' didn't you?" Xehanort laughed, "Well, looks like you're going to have to break that promise, for I need her to lure Riku here!"
"Why would you need Riku?" asked Repliku as he wiped the blood from his lip.
"He needs him to become his new body!"
Repliku's eyes widened as Xehanort turned around. There stood Heavyn with her walking stick in hand and an angry expression on her face.
"Heavyn!" Repliku burst out.
"You! How did you get here?" demanded Xehanort.
"I followed you through the portal," answered Heavyn matter-of-factly. "I refuse to allow my friend to share Ventus' fate!"
"What do you know of Ventus? For that matter, how did you know that I was going to use Riku as my new body?" asked Xehanort.
"I know exactly what happened over ten years ago, Xehanort! I know that your current body doesn't belong to you, it belongs to Terra! You never change your ways," she replied with a contemptuous tone .
"Sooo… you know what happened over ten years ago?" asked Xehanort.
"Of course I do!" she answered, not liking the strange glint that was starting to form in his eyes. It gave her the creeps.
"Then… you know where Ventus and Aqua are?"
"Actually, I do. However, if you're thinking I'm going to tell you, then forget about it! You messed up their lives enough!"
Xehanort stepped forward, his eyes starting to glint with anger. "Tell me where they are!" he demanded as darkness started to swirl around his body.
Repliku stared, wondering why Heavyn was continuing to antagonize Xehanort when they both knew that she had no chance against him. It was almost like she was deliberately making Xehanort focus on her and her alone. Heavyn's and Repliku's eyes locked, and he realized what she was doing. He nodded his head in acceptance, knowing that now he would probably never see his friend again.
"Thank you," he mouthed as he crept away.
Heavyn gave him the tiniest of nods as she continued to taunt Xehanort, "Why should I tell you? After all, you're SUPPOSED to be some great Keyblade Master, yet you keep getting your butt kicked by kids a quarter of your age! I mean, Sora kicked your butt TWICE, and he's young enough to be your grandson, you loser!"
"THAT'S IT!" Xehanort yelled, "You mentioning that brat Sora is the last straw!" He disappeared from Heavyn's sight. Heavyn looked around, but did not see the hand that was aimed for the back of her head. The hand struck, and Heavyn's vision went black.
Xehanort looked down at the unconscious girl at his feet. He wanted nothing more than to take her life right then and there, but she had precious information on the whereabouts of Eraqus' students. He looked around, and found that the Replica had escaped while his attention was elsewhere. He screamed in frustration, then his gaze returned to the girl.
"You may have won this round, girl, but I shall win the war. The Replica will return for you, and I shall capture him when he does. When he is mine, you shall give me the information I desire in a foolish attempt to try and win his freedom, and then you will die. In the meantime…," Xehanort said as he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, "I shall allow you to keep Kairi company." He laughed as he took her to the dungeon.