Prompt: Absolution
Given by: Twilight Kyu
Setting: During KHII
Pairing: None
DiZ, as he called himself now, looked over the data on the screen before him. It had not changed at all since his last viewing…just as he suspected.
The witch was not progressing as they had hoped. Something was amiss in his plan, and he had a feeling he knew what that was.
If his assumptions were correct, as they usually were, then Sora had become a Heartless at some point during his travels. If this were the case, then the boy had a Nobody. That Nobody held half of Sora's power.
If DiZ were going to execute his vengeance, then the Nobody would have to give that power back.
The man, who was once renowned for his wisdom, had become obsessed with revenge.
He was so focused on it, that he was blind to everything else. He did not notice all the time the blindfolded boy, who had become a great asset to him, spent gazing at the chamber that held his slumbering best friend. He did not notice the fear in his new ally, or the concern in the young witch.
The old sage knew that he was no match for a member of Organization XIII; that had been the whole reason he made this plan. He needed the Keyblade wielding hero if he were to destroy the remains of his unfaithful apprentices.
Therefore, the logical conclusion was to send Riku, who had already defeated some of the Organization's members, as well as Xehanort's Heartless, and the darkness itself.
Riku was not interested in vengeance, praise, or power. The only thing that seemed of any concern to the boy was saving his friend. So it came as little surprise to DiZ that, once he told the blindfolded teen what was needed to save Sora, the silver-haired boy left without a word.
DiZ then returned his focus to his plans. He never worried for the boy. The remarkable child had managed to find all the support he needed in the hope he discovered beyond his suffering. In fact, that hope had allowed him to stand his ground and turn his greatest weakness into a powerful weapon when men who would have been considered far stronger than he would have been brought to their knees in despair.
When Riku returned, his form was larger then it should have been and he wore a hood pulled over his face. His voice had also changed. It was strangely familiar to DiZ, but the man decided to focus on the task at hand for the time being. For Riku had seceded in bringing Roxas.
When DiZ explained to Riku what was to happen next, he was surprised at the pity the boy expressed for the Nobody.
Then, later, when all was going according to plan, DiZ found that he did not feel the relief or pleasure that he expected he would.
When the boy finally lowered his hood and introduced himself as Ansem, and DiZ found himself staring into that face, DiZ felt a shame so powerful it overwhelmed his lust for revenge.
His vengeance had claimed its first victim.
All he could do was laugh at his own foolishness.
When Sora returned to action, so did Riku. The silver-haired teen wished DiZ luck and asked him never to tell Sora what happened to him, should they ever meet. The boy was content to assist his friend and save the worlds from the shadows…while DiZ had only thought of himself.
The sage realised that while he had aimed for revenge, what he truly needed was absolution. He decided to take a leaf out of Riku's book. He began working in secret on a device that he hoped would end this ceaseless battle between dark and light once and for all.
Some time later, DiZ had been thankful for the opportunity to speak his dear friend Mickey again…to explain himself before he end. Sora and his companions had found his reports…that was a relief as well. He hoped that others might learn from his errors.
When the device began to falter, DiZ laughed at his foolishness once more.
He still did not understand the workings of the heart…even after watching a handful of the strongest in existence.
He apologised to Mickey, Sora, and even Roxas, but when it came to Riku, his voice caught.
"Riku…"
I am sorry. I did not intend for this. I was a fool.
However, any of this would have been pointless to say. The boy's wisdom had surpassed his, for he had learned from his past mistakes, while DiZ had not. The child had not searched for revenge, absolution, or redemption. The teen knew better than he did.
"You know what to do."
In addition, DiZ thought that the one thing he had done right over the past year was to teach Riku all that he could about machines, computers, science, biology, and the heart. He had not done this for the right reasons, but it had been right…for Riku did know what to do.
As the machine reached its limit, DiZ saw the boy move to protect his friends.
The sage's last conscious thought was not to hope for himself…but for one who deserved all he had strived for and more.