Guilt. Noun.
The act of having committed a specified or implied offense or crime.
Arty understood the textbook definition of what guilt was, though she didn't know what guilt was. Oh, yes, she knew what it was when she stole cookies from under her father's nose when she was younger and a slightly more difficult version of guilt when she helped Arun cheat on a final exam. Those were instances in which she wanted to take back what she did, but was forced to put it behind her. But, she felt more than understood what guilt truly was when she lost one of the most precious things that mattered to her.
Arun…One of her best friends who wanted nothing more than to make friends. A boy who didn't desire to be alone anymore when he forced himself to stay away from others in fear of being hurt beyond measure. The one she considered one of her precious people…He was dead. He died saving her from that strange black creature known as a Heartless and it was all her fault.
When she saw his body vanished in a swirl of darkness and a purple-red heart shattered before her Arty didn't know what to do. That night felt like nothing more than a dream. Her entire world sank into darkness as its very heart was eaten by the Heartless. Arty couldn't understand why, but when her world went dark she awoke in a strange place called Traverse Town lying next to Caelum. That was one of the small blessings that came out of their tragedy. She didn't lose her last precious friend. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to be alive anymore. Her father was one thing, but to lose Arun…If Caelum were lost, she didn't think she'd be able to smile anymore.
Though Arty was safe and sound and Caelum was well, that didn't stop guilt from eating away at her. She made a promise to Arun she would never leave him alone in the dark ever again. When they first met Arun was a vulnerable boy who didn't want to be alone anymore. He wanted people to see him, to acknowledge him, but he didn't want to get hurt. He didn't want to let people in to break him even further. It was a chore to get him to open up to her and it made her feel special when he did. She didn't want to lose him to the darkness again. Unfortunately, she did.
Life went on after their rather tragic arrival in Traverse Town. Arty was forced to push all thoughts of Arun to the back of her mind where a part of her held onto her memories and cried in a small ball of misery. She had to adapt to their new lifestyle with their new friends (whom Arty was forever grateful for. Without them, she wasn't sure how long she and Caelum would last in this new world), forgetting all of the heartbreak she experienced in a single night.
But, sometimes, her heart would bring up the memory of the night in her dreams where she was forced to witness the light in Arun's eyes-those golden eyes she came to find entrancing rather than 'soulless' as Caelum would say-fade away until there was nothing left over and over again. She'd wake with tears in her eyes while begging for Arun to come back and not leave her. Arty would bury her head under her pillow to stop her tears while silently blaming herself.
If she wasn't so weak, Arun would be there. If she hadn't hesitated, Arun's heart wouldn't have been eaten and banished to the darkness like he feared so many times. It was all her fault. Then, she'd scramble out of bed and head to the Gummi ship garage to go work on orders for customers. Though people feared the Heartless, they still used Gummi ships to travel between worlds and hopefully find one to settle down in. It was nice to see people still had hope of finding a new life. She wished she was that strong herself.
Arty appreciated this new life for what it was despite her yearnings for those she loved. She did her best to live her life as if she never lost her world for the sake of not worrying Caelum. He was so worried about her days after their home disappeared. She managed to show him she was fine (even though she wasn't) and held up the illusion she was. It was going great and there was not a single crack in her mask.
That all changed when she met Sora.
The day she met Sora she was working on a Gummi ship she helped repair. Cid, the Gummi ship engineer in town, taught her everything there was to learn about Gummi ships. The first time she heard there were ships that could travel between worlds Arty became entranced. The way small colorful blocks could be put together like pieces of an elaborate puzzle amazed her to no end. She had so many questions about Gummi blocks (why were they called Gummi blocks? What kind of material were they made out of? Were they natural or artificially made?) and her enthusiasm prompted Cid to take her under his wing despite his complaints she was a disrespectful brat.
She sat in the Gummi garage going through a catalogue of known Gummi blocks Cid had. For the ship she was working on she needed a specific piece in order to repair it. The garage was more like a tiny warehouse wedged between two shops in the Second District of the town. It was large enough to fit more than two cars but small enough to house a small plane. In the center of the room was a yellow and green Gummi ship that only had the basic skeleton required. Around the room were the necessary tools needed to move blocks around, carry them, and put them in place. It was also messy because of how many blocks and tools were lying around in range for her to use.
Arty sat on the ground with the catalogue in her lap, eyes zooming across the pictures on the pages to find the part she needed. She was so engrossed she hadn't noticed someone snuck up behind her. A small tap on her head startled her. Lifting her eyes, she gave an instant smile.
"Caelum! What are you doing here?" Arty asked her only living best friend.
"Leon sent me to get you," said Caelum, smiling. "Apparently, he thinks it will be a good break for you to meet the Keyblade master."
"The one everyone's going on about?"
"The very one. They said he's back on this world again to get their Gummi Ship modified. You want to go?"
Arty contemplated the idea. Ever since they arrived, all Yuffie and the gang could talk about was the Keyblade Master. She and Caelum were told that the Keyblade was a legendary weapon. It had the power to unlock virtually anything and everything, including the keyholes that led to a world's heart. If the Keyblade locked the keyhole, then that world was save from the Heartless. It was the only thing that could destroy the Heartless. The only catch to such a fantastic weapon was the fact it chose its wielder, not the other way around. Leon wanted the Keyblade and hoped to be chosen except it was given to a fourteen year old boy named Sora.
Now this Sora was traveling with two other companions, who were in search of their king, through other worlds saving them from the Heartless.
Of course, Arty was intrigued by the idea of the Keyblade. Could it really open anything? What made people qualified to wield a Keyblade? How did keyholes appear? She had multiple questions and itched to get her hands on it. Maybe this was the perfect opportunity to get it?
"Sure, why not? Let me finish up here."
"Alright. Just don't take too long."
"I won't."
Caelum went off to the side while she got up and scurried to finish her work. She was buzzing with excitement to go meet the one everyone thought was the new 'savior of worlds.' What kind of person was he? Was he skilled enough to wield a Keyblade? Arty had to wonder if he was like those heroes in old fairytales. The prince who would save a kingdom and win a princess' heart-was he like that?
Arty would have to just find out.
xxx
They walked through the Second District towards the Third District in amiable silence. The Second District was where most of the Heartless activity happened, so they were both cautious when they passed through. If the door that connected the Third District to the First District was open, they wouldn't need to deal with the Heartless. As it was, Caelum walked closely to Arty to protect her in case any of the dark creatures appeared.
Soon, they reached the Third District where their home was located straight ahead from the entrance. The lights were on, which suggested everyone was there.
Arty was the first to walk into the house she and Caelum lived in. Originally, it was an empty place for rent. Then, when Cid and the others took them in, they chipped in to rent out the place for them. Pity for the two teens was what motivated them to do so. Arty disliked the pity, but said nothing. It wasn't as if she had the money to provide for them yet. The only thing that stopped her from saying anything was that the house was also a meeting place for Squall Leonhart (or Leon as he liked to be called) and his friends.
Walking through the door, she saw Leon leaning against the wall. She was ready to greet him in his brooding glory, yet got distracted. Something out of the corner of her eye stopped her. Shifting her head, all the breath was knocked out of her in a single audible gasp.
There, standing by the dresser next to a duck in blue and a dog in green, was Arun.
Before Arty knew what she was doing, she crossed the room and threw her arms around Arun. She hugged him tightly as tears sprung in her eyes.
"You're okay! You're okay!" she hiccupped. Her smile was so big it could have brightened the room on its own. "I-I thought you were-I saw you get-"
It was almost impossible for her to speak coherently, but who cared! Arun was back! He was alive and there, not a corpse or a Heartless! He was there in flesh and blood!
For that glorious moment all of Arty's guilt faded into a sea of relief. She had her best friend back again. Then, like a sudden typhoon, it was swept away when Arun spoke.
"Um, Leon? Who is this?" Arty tensed. Expecting to hear a baritone filled with mock disgust at the hug, it was a high and childish one. It was almost the same as Arun's voice before it cracked to its current deep one. That, and it was far too lighthearted than she's ever heard it.
Just as fast as she hugged 'Arun' she ripped herself away at an arm's length to really look at who she was hugging.
The person before her, at first glance, looked like Arun. He had the heart-shaped face, the spiky hair that never seemed to stay flat, and those big eyes that could either be expressive or guarded.
That's where the similarities ended.
This boy (as she realized he was as tall as her) had chocolate colored hair and eyes as deep as the sky. His clothes were a multitude of colors Arun would never wear. Don't even get her started on his shoes! He was also smiling in confusion. That was enough to tell her this wasn't Arun. He'd never smile like that.
She backed away in a flash.
"This is Arty," said Yuffie, jumping from out of nowhere. "The guy over there is Caelum. I never thought you were a hugging type, Arty."
"Not usually." Arty swallowed the lump in her throat. "I'm-I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else. I didn't mean to scare you like that."
"It's okay," the boy said, scratching the back of his head. It made the lump worse. "My name's Sora. This is Donald and Goofy. It's nice to meet you!"
The duck and dog gave out their own greetings with friendly smiles on her faces. Arty couldn't take her eyes off of Sora, so she missed it.
"You're Sora?" Caelum asked, surprised. "My name is Caelum. We've heard a lot about you from Leon, Cid, Yuffie, and Aerith."
Sora nodded.
"Have you guys been here long? I don't think I saw you the last time we were here."
"No, not long. We just got here recently when our world was taken by the Heartless."
His smile faded.
"Oh, you, too, huh? I'm sorry. How have you been settling in?"
"It's been a trial," Caelum admitted. He waved to the others in the room. "We had a hard time coming to terms with what happened, but Leon, Cid, Yuffie, and Aerith have been a big help. They helped take our mind off what happened."
"I understand. Donald and Goofy have been the same with me" Sora laughed. "When we first met they told me that being sad wasn't allowed. They've really helped me. If you guys need any more help, I'll be happy to give it."
Hearing this was the last straw for Arty. She couldn't bear to hear that. She whirled around and dashed out of the house. Behind her, she heard the call of her friends, but she ignored them. Tears began to stream down from her eyes.
Arty all but ran towards and down the stairs while she wiped at the tears that streaked down her cheeks. She couldn't hold them back anymore. Not after she met Sora.
Ever since she found out Arun was lost to the darkness, she tried not to cry. Arun never liked it when she cried because of him.
"You're showing weakness," he'd often say. "How can you say you're a strong person if you let something as pathetic as an insult get to you?"
She knew he didn't actually mean any of those words. He had a hard time expressing apologies. But, she did try her best to not cry around him. She didn't want to be made fun of because of tears.
So, Arty repressed her tears as best as she could. She didn't want Caelum to notice the guilt that bore down on her. If it weren't for her weak self, Arun would have never tried to protect her from that Heartless. He died because she was too weak to fight.
Honestly, she was amazed she managed to keep her tears at bay. It amazed her how she could find the will to smile when working on Gummi ships when she lost everything. Well, not everything. Caelum was still there for her and that would have been enough except...she wanted both her boys there. She wanted to hear Caelum and Arun bicker over the silliest thing. She always hated it when they fought but now all she could think was how she missed that. She'd put up with their fights if only she had Arun back.
She let none of her wishes and misery be said out loud. Arty kept it all bottled up so Caelum wouldn't worry. She thought she could keep it up.
But, Sora ruined it for her.
Was there some god that loved to torture her? She had the name of a goddess, yes, but this was too much. Arty got to see someone who looked almost identical to Arun and the west part was he wasn't Arun. She expected him to scowl and call her a wrench head in good nature. What she got instead was a goofy naive fourteen year old who was so happy with life even though he lost his world. She didn't want that! She wanted Arun back!
She reached the bottom of the stairs, momentarily closing her eyes that started to itch. She moved forward still and hit something hard.
As gravity dictated, the one with the lesser mass would inevitably fall back. In this case it was Arty. She stumbled backwards with an apology on her tongue.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry!" she sobbed. Still affected by the sight of Sora, she couldn't stop her voice from cracking.
Instead of hearing the normal response of, "It's okay," she received a different one.
"Are you okay?"
Arty opened her eyes, wiping the tears blurring her vision. At first she made out a blob of silver and yellow in the light of the neon signs around them. Once she wiped away her tears, she found the blob was actually a silver haired teen dressed in a yellow and black muscle shirt and navy blue pants. His aqua eyes looked down at her, slightly irritated but curious.
"I'm, ah, fine," Arty lied. No, she wasn't fine! She just met someone who wanted to remind her of her guilt.
"It doesn't sound like it," said the teen, unconvinced.
"Well, I am! Why wouldn't I be? I mean, it's not like I just got reminded I'm never going to see my best friend ever again and it's all my fault!"
The boy cocked an eyebrow. "You shouldn't take your anger out on people you've never met."
Her anger faded. "I'm sorry. I-I've had a rough day. I'm not used to meeting doppelgangers of my friend. And he turns out to be a chipper spiky haired boy. Excuse me."
She was too emotionally drained to deal with anyone. All she wanted to do was go back to the Gummi shop to go finish her work. Perhaps even start a new project. Anything to stop her emotions from wreaking havoc on her.
She turned to leave.
"Wait a second." Arty was stopped as her wrist was caught in a grip. She glanced over her shoulder. The boy gazed at her intensely. "You mentioned a chipper spiky haired boy. Do you mean Sora?"
"You know Sora?" she asked, surprised.
"We're...friends."
Arty found herself skeptical. For someone who said he was friends with Sora he didn't sound very excited by that fact.
"I don't know how you can be friends with a guy like him. He's annoyingly happy all the time. He acted like we were friends and he's only known us for ten minutes," she exploded. She needed to say it to someone. She didn't care if the person she was telling was friends with Sora. The turmoil she was going through was going to explode if she didn't. "I mean, who instantly trusts people like that? Doesn't he know that everyone he meets might not be nice? He's a little kid!"
"Yeah, I guess. What'd Sora do to you? You just met him, right?"
"He exists, that's why."
Arty slapped her mouth, astonished. She didn't mean to say something like that! But, a part of her wasn't sorry. On some level she resented the fact Sora existed while he didn't. It was unbelievable. She hated someone because he reminded her of her friend.
What was happening to her?
"Wow, isn't that a bit harsh for someone you just met?" the boy questioned. He was taken back as well.
"I-I-" Yet again, the damn tears threatened to spill. Arty was unable to stop a few from leaking. She didn't want to hate Sora. It was so easy to all things considered. "I don't like how he reminds me of my friend."
"How?"
She shook her head. Anymore and she was going to crumble. This upset the boy.
"Look, Sora's my friend. I'd like to know why a random girl hates him. Is that too much to ask?"
"Yes. It is," she whispered. She wiped away her tears and sighed. "If you really want to know, I'll tell you. Before I do, mind telling me your name? Mine is Arty."
"I'm Riku." His lips twitched. "Isn't Arty a guy's name?"
"Aren't you too girly looking to be a boy?" she shot back, silently unsure of her retort. Spending years with boys who fought on a daily basis resulted in her picking up some retorts. They were often mean remarks, so she wasn't sure how the boy would feel.
Riku's grin widened.
"That the best you got? 'Cause I've heard it all before."
"Oh. Then, you must be really gender confused to not accept the fact you were meant to be a girl."
"Alright, smart mouth. Let's go find a spot where we can talk. I don't feel comfortable talking here in the open." He gestured to the open square. It was easy for them to get surrounded by Heartless if they let their guard down.
Arty agreed. She didn't want Caelum to see her talking to a stranger. Lately, he was much more overprotective over who she met. She chalked it up to him not wanting to lose her, too.
So she led Riku through the double doors that opened back to the First District. The square there was slightly empty, some of the residents lingering in small groups or heading home. They were all afraid of the Heartless attacking (though they never attacked the First District in the first place). She took him over to the cafe next to Huey, Dewey, and Louie's shop where she grabbed two ice cream bars. Then, she headed for the Second District.
"I like eating on the roof of the Gizmo Shop," Arty told Riku when he quirked an eyebrow.
They went through the Second District cautiously. Arty gained a new fear for Heartless after all that had happened. Most times she avoided going into the Second District by herself. She had to always have Caelum or the others to come with her. With Riku she felt herself safe enough.
Reaching the shop, they entered and made their way to the back door. Out there she climbed the ladder, then walked over to the edge that overlooked the square. Her legs dangled in the air, a light breeze rustling her hair. Beside her, Riku settled himself .
"You know, there's something about being higher up and looking down on everything that makes me appreciate what I have," Arty casually commented. She picked out an ice cream bar to hand to Riku.
"Oh? How so?"
"On the ground it's hard to relate to people. You can see they're just like you but you can't help but think you've got it worse. Up above you can look down on people and see they're like you. They've got problems that might be worse than your own." She licked her ice cream bar, staring at the mural by the First District door. "I always come up here whenever I feel down. That seems to be a lot lately."
"Why are you so down all the time?" Riku asked, nibbling on a corner of his ice cream. His head was down but his eyes glanced at her out of the corners.
"The same reason why I'm here in Traverse Town. I lost my world."
"...Oh. If it makes you feel better, I lost my world, too."
"Everyone here has lost their world," she reminded him. "We're all trying to move on even though it's painful. But I can't...I don't know if I can. Sora appearing just made it worse."
"Why?"
"He reminds me of what I lost." In more ways than one. She swallowed the last of her treat, staring down at the barren stick. Without its treat it lost its purpose. Somehow, she found it pretty sad. "I had a friend who looked like Sora. He was two years older than me but was one of my best friends. The night I lost my world I was attacked by a Heartless and he-He pushed me away when it attacked and-"
She couldn't force the word out. It was a heavy weight on her tongue. No matter what she did she'd never be able to say it.
"I see…" And Riku did. The slight empathy in the tenors of his words spoke volumes. He sighed, lowering his half-eaten ice cream. "Sora and I have another friend, Kairi. The three of us lived on an island where nothing ever happened. We built a raft to see other worlds. The night we were supposed to leave our world was taken by the Heartless. Sora ended up here, I ended up in another place, and Kairi…I don't know where she is."
"You think she's okay?"
"I hope so. It seems like I'm the only one who cares about her. Sora's been slacking off again. He's found a new group of friends and traveling while I'm looking for Kairi."
Arty frowned. Something about the way Riku spoke about Sora was off. He said they were friends. Was it normal for friends to speak as if he broke a special toy of his? Her own friends rarely got along and she thought it normal for them. Did it apply to others as well?
Kind of reminds me of when Caelum found out I made a new friend, she compared. Caelum was her only friend for the longest time. When she made friends with him he was aggressive and standoffish. She confronted him about it and Caelum admitted he was jealous. He didn't like the idea of someone replacing his spot as her best friend. She had to assure him they could both be her best friends.
Then, Arty suddenly understood.
"Are you jealous of Sora's new friends?" she wondered.
Riku blinked at her as if she grew tentacles and declared she would destroy the world.
"Jealous? Of them?" he scoffed. "Yeah, right. I'm not jealous. I'm worried about Kairi."
"I'm not saying you're not. But considering you didn't go talk to him and went with a girl you just met tells me you're jealous."
He didn't say anything, yet his blush told her everything. Bingo.
"It's alright if you don't like his new friends. I don't like Sora, so…"
I won't judge, was what went unsaid. Arty was a firm believer in never taking side based on initial explanations. She thought everyone should be given the opportunity to speak, so she never judged. Riku had his reasons; she had her's.
They sat on the rooftop, the conversations dying away. It was one of the many quiet nights Arty had become accustomed to. The one thing she grew to love about Traverse Town was that no matter how many lights were on it was possible to see the night sky. She was still able to take comfort in the fact the stars were always there as they should be. They may have dotted a different sky, but they were still there.
She reminisced on the nights she'd look at the night sky for hours when Riku said, "I can't help but wonder if waiting for Sora was worth it."
"Worth what?" Arty asked. She tilted her head, glimpsing at Riku. His shoulders were slightly hunched as if he no longer carried cool confidence. The popsicle stick was held in his hand in a way one would hold a sword.
"I built the raft all on my own while Sora slacked off. Kairi was in charge of provisions and was the only one who could make him work. I was the only one serious about it. Sora was going along with it because I was doing it. If I left on the raft with Kairi, maybe she wouldn't be missing."
"That's a big 'if,'" Arty said. "You shouldn't think like that. You'll drive yourself crazy."
"Oh, yeah? How would you know?"
"What if I didn't hesitate?" Her mouth ran off without a thought. After the first question, it was a release to all the things she held back on. "What if we took a different route to Caelum's house? What if I had moved out of the way? Would he still be here? Would I have been the one to go?"
All the possibilities and she wasn't sure how the outcome might have happened. That's all they were-possibilities. She wasn't sure what could have happened. It killed her on the inside to know there were thousands of things she could have done. Yet, in the end, it was the worst possible one.
"You blame yourself for what happened," said Riku, knowingly. He didn't have to ask.
"Every single day. I-I just wish I could've done something. I wish there was a way to bring him back. After seeing Sora, I'd do anything if I could see him again."
"Perhaps there is a way for you to see him."
Arty was too distracted to notice a third presence in the room until they spoke. She nearly fell out of her seat had Riku not grabbed her shoulder. Both whipped their heads behind them.
There stood a woman swathed in a black robe-like outfit that had a purple trim. She was tall, her face long and lovely like someone out of a noble court. She had two horns on her head (maybe a headdress?) and in one hand she gripped a long staff topped by a green orb.
"What are you doing here?" Riku demanded. "Were you eavesdropping on us?"
"I couldn't help but overhear your conversation," said the woman, slow and deliberate. Arty was given the impression the woman thought herself superior in every way. "You said you wished to bring your friend back?"
"Riku, do you know her?" Arty whispered, ignoring how the woman addressed her. The way he spoke to her made her feel like they knew each other.
Riku said nothing. His hand tightened on her shoulder. She didn't have the heart to tell him he was hurting her.
"Where are my manners? My name is Maleficent," the woman introduced. "And you are, my dear child?"
"This is Arty. She's just a girl I met," Riku answered. He turned to Arty. "Yes, I do know her. She's the one who got me off that world I ended up in when my home disappeared."
"Oh. I'm sorry, but was there something you wanted?" Arty asked Maleficent.
"The question you should be asking is there something you wanted? Both of you have lost someone dear to you. If there was a way to bring them back, would you take it?"
"I would, but that's…"
"Impossible? I think not," she said, finishing her thought. She smiled. "You see, I practice magic. Anything is possible-including bringing back those who are lost in the darkness."
"You can do that?" Arty was a bit of a skeptic in terms of magic. She thought herself to be a logical person and maybe a bit of an idealist. While it was true she believed in other worlds, she thought science to be the salutation to travel. The Gummi Ship system supported her idea of that. Magic was the concept of stories. It didn't exist.
"Why, of course! I am well-versed in the dark arts. I would be more than happy to bring back your dear friend. I shall even find your missing friend as well, Riku."
Arty hesitated on agreeing. It was her first reaction when hearing this. There was a way to bring Arun back! It was the whispers of her childhood that stopped her.
Maleficent was the book definition of a witch who tempted little kids to do bad things. The sweet smile, her magic-it all screamed, 'WITCH!' Stories were always told about avoiding strange women with promises. Was it her fault she was a bit hesitant?
Riku eyed Maleficent. It was easy to see he didn't trust her. "What's the catch?"
"Catch? What do you want from us? What, you offer us what we want out of the goodness of your heart?" He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure. Like we'd believe that."
"You bring up an exceptional point." Arty cringed at her belittling. It reminded her of teachers who thought teenagers were idiots due to hormonal imbalance. "You are correct. My assistance comes at a cost. I will bring you your loved ones in exchange for a…job opportunity."
"Job? You want us to work for you?" asked Arty, astonished. "What would someone with magic need help from two kids? I'm not old enough to be paid yet."
"Tell me. Do you know about keyholes and the hearts of worlds?" she suddenly quizzed.
"Just the bare bones. Like how the keyhole is the last defense to a world's heart. If you find the keyhole and lock it, your world is basically safe from the Heartless."
Riku gave her a sideways glanced, confused by how she would know that. Her cheeks went hot and she shrugged. He sighed and muttered something like, "…bookworm…get enough…Selphie…"
"Correct," Maleficent praised. She stroked the crystal ball on her staff, smiling in a please manner. "The world's keyhole safe guards the heart that holds a light brighter than anything. Such a treasure is meant to be protected. However, there are times when a keyhole is left incomplete. Certain…elements are required before it can be made whole to properly guard the light. The world I occupy at present time is such a world.
"The reason I am telling you this is because I would like it if you helped me complete the keyhole."
"Us?" Arty pointed at herself. She blinked stupidly. "Why would you need us?"
"Because, Arty, I have heard of your technical prowess. I heard you have a gift for building machines. The keyhole on my world requires a touch only you could provide."
"And me? Why would you need my help? You didn't exactly explain this to me before when we first met," Riku challenged. He folded his arms across his chest. "Because I doubt you'd want my help when you've already got someone as smart as her around."
Arty got the oddest feeling as Maleficent set her piercing gaze on Riku. She wanted to grab his hand and drag him far away from there. There was something so unkind about the witch she was unsure if those smiles were real or not.
She chalked that up to paranoia and ignored the feeling.
"I sense great power within you," said Maleficent. "I imagine you could realize your potential if you were to be taken under my wing. Do you not agree?"
"Tch. What do you have that I can't learn on my own?"
"The power to protect your Kairi is not enough?" Riku stiffened. "Your fried, Sora, is unwilling to go search for your dear friend. Should you not gain the strength to protect her all on your own?"
"What," he said, slowly, "are you talking about?"
"I see you do not believe me. Perhaps you would prefer to see the truth for yourself?"
Maleficent swept her staff to the side. To both their astonishment a dark swirling mass of blackness appeared. The woman stepped into the swirling mass and melted into it, disappearing. They knew they had to follow her but…
Arty had her reserves about the whole thing. What were the chances of a woman like Maleficent offering to bring their friends to them in exchange for their skills? It all seemed pretty fishy to her. Her dad always said to be wary of strangers.
"You never know if they've got some ulterior motive," he'd say as each ship from other towns stopped at their harbor. He taught her to never be too trusting. Her gut also told her to be careful.
Still, what if she can do as she says she can? she argued to her gut. She had the perfect chance to have her friend back! It was her fault in the first place. Shouldn't she try to right her wrong? I want Arun back. Wouldn't it be good to have him back with me?
The clench in her heart agreed. She wanted to stop hurting. No more mourning, no more tears. All she wanted was her friend.
Arty stood to her feet. She made her way to the portal to see what Maleficent wanted to show Riku. The boy did the same, motivated by curiosity. In front of the swirling mass she took a deep breath and held it as she entered.
The experience was downright strange. The second the mass touched her it was like getting dunked in a vat of seaweed. It was slimy and cold. It was one that made her shiver and rub her arms for warmth. She kept on walking, comforted by the footsteps behind her.
The trip was short. A light suddenly shown in front of her. The next second she stood in front of her rented home. Riku appeared beside her. He shifted, unable to take his eyes off the lit window. She turned to do the same.
Inside the single room Sora, Donald, and Goofy were in plain view. They couldn't hear what was being said, but their smiles told them of their fun. Donald and Sora were animated in whatever they were talking about.
Whatever resolve Arty had against helping Maleficent shattered. All she could see was how happy Sora was. It didn't look right on his face at all. It should have been a small smile or a smirk. Not like that.
"You see? It's just as I told you," said Maleficent to Riku. "While you toiled away trying to find your dear friend, he quite simply replaced you with some new companions. Evidently, now he values them far more than he does you. You're better off without that wretched boy. Now, think no more and come with me. I'll help you find what you're searching for."
Riku said nothing. He glared at Sora and burned a hole the boy couldn't feel. Then, he wracked his gaze away and sharply nodded.
"And you? Will you come along as well?" Maleficent turned to Arty.
She swallowed, nodding slowly. She tried to ignore the deep guilt resting inside her. It was difficult to know if she was doing the right thing or not. But, as she touched the smooth marbles in her hairpins, she didn't care.
Arty was going to get her friend back if it was the last thing she did.
XXX
So, here's something I promised I'd do. Everyone was wondering when I'd start Arty's role in Kingdom Hearts and I thought I'd get around to doing this. This is in place of this week's Heart and Soul chapter since I'm having a bit of trouble with it. Writing battles seems to my Achille's heel. This will be fun to write as I have a general idea of what happens. It's the matter of writing it down I gotta do.
Just so you know this will be a mix of funny and serious. There will be laughter and teen shenanigans as well as some tears given how the first game plays out. Some chapters will be short while others will be my usual long length. It will also be a good chance to experiment in Riku's POV, because the guy's my favorite character and I'd love to get inside his head.
Until the next chapter!
Please review!