Hiiii! Yay, it's me again. :D It's that time of the week, everyone! -heart-
Be forewarned: I have no idea how long it's going to take me to update now. Senior year is harder than I expected. Too many projects. So I don't know how much time I'm going to have to finish Chapter 7 between now and next Saturday. Especially because I also have to plan my birthday get-together -heart-. Seventeen, here I come:D
GASP! Two new reviewers! TWO! (Then again, one was kinda half-requested...oh well :D) I might just keel over from amazement and luff. But don't worry, someone always has a decent Ressurect spell or something similar. :D
calmxbeforexthexstorm: I'm glad you enjoy it. -heart- I hope you'll stick around:-) Yeah, to be honest, I'm not too fond of Kairi. But she does have a purpose here! She does. She just won't get as much love as the boys and Mickey, lol. ;D
SuperFriendlySoraFan203: Yeah, everyone's kinda confused. And I didn't mean that kind of jelly, lol. XD
Rose93darkness: Maaaaybe. :D You'll just have to wait and see.
Siavahda: Oh my God, I love you. XD Hey, guys, check out the pwnsomeness of Siavahda. She's got some crazy-awesome KH AU fantasy stuff. And some other pretty cool stories too. Yeah, that's me, cheap advertising. XD. And yes, I think I have a good reason for Roxas getting a heart. It's up to you guys to judge. XD
REIzor Image: Yay for Axel and Nami! -heart- You're just going to have to wait to find out if Roxas is going to be paired with anyone. All I'm going to say is, it's not going to be easy for him. XD He doesn't like me right now.
Almost 20 reviews! -dances with little hearts popping over her head- I think that's some sort of record. If I could get to my account on a certain other, specifically adult fanfiction website, and check on Heat (my fic there, lol), I could confirm that, but nooooo. They just HAD to put that age requirement in. XP
Either way, I don't think I've ever gotten so many reviews! Although my older sister, Angel Monroe, still outstrips me by, like, 780. She's freaking amazing. Then again, she's trying to get published, so she kinda HAS to be that amazing, lol.
Enjoy! -heart-
The four teens walked into the area known as Station Heights. It was strangely deserted compared with the rest of the town, especially for the time of day. A few people milled about, waiting for trains, or perhaps for other people getting off trains, but all in all it was quiet and mostly empty.
Mickey, Donald, and Goofy stood just inside the doors of the station, out of the way of the day's commuters. When the group of teens walked through the door, Roxas was somehow glad to see the mouse king and his friends.
"C'mon, guys. Master Yen Sid is waiting, I'm sure." Mickey led them into the station and towards a blue train covered in gold and blue stars. Roxas halted a few steps away, eyes wide. He knew that train.
"What's wrong, Roxas?" Sora asked, looking at him curiously.
"It's the Phantom Train. I remember, we saw it on the tracks from Sunset Hill. It was one of the few of those Seven Wonders that really checked out." He shook his head, realizing that the others probably thought he was speaking nonsense. "Sorry. I guess I should have realized it really existed."
Riku stared at him, one silver eyebrow arched. After a moment, though, recognition dawned on his face. "Oh, of course. I remember. DiZ...I mean, Ansem the Wise...he let you see the train." He let loose a short laugh. "What was it that friend of yours - Pence, right? - said? 'Those who ride on it are warped to a new world...and never come back.'" He chuckled a little, although not entirely unkindly.
"Something like that, yeah." Roxas replied, although his tone and gaze held quite a bit of irritation. "And now that we've proven that Riku thinks I'm some sort of naïve, inexperienced country mouse, can we go?" The way the silver-haired teen had laughed off Pence's superstitiousness had sparked the blond's temper...and reminded him at the same time that the Pence he'd known was a different person, however slightly, from the one that actually existed.
Riku's brows rose sharply, an indication of his surprise, as Roxas stalked towards the train. He hadn't meant it the way the blond had obviously taken it...he'd only been kidding. However, the warning bell rang, cutting off further conversation until the seven of them were all aboard and seated. Sora didn't bother sitting down at first, but he instead walked over to Roxas, who stood at the back of the train, resting against the back door and watching the scenery of Twilight Town pass by as they lurched out of the station.
"Hey."
Roxas sighed. "Hi, Sora." He replied, without looking at the brunet. His deep blue eyes were fixed on the outside world absently, but the other teen could see the sadness in them. He touched Roxas' shoulder gently.
"He was just joking, you know. He didn't mean to upset you. Not really." Sora glanced back at Riku, who sat near the middle of the train, looking out the window. His lip twitched up into a half-smile as he met Roxas' eyes again. The blond sighed a little again, nodding.
"I know." He murmured, softly. "I just...maybe this visit really was a bad idea. It kinda...it hurt, really, to see them and know them and know that they really didn't know me. And I don't mind you, or Kairi...but Riku's just an asshole. What's his problem?"
Sora hesitated. "He...he's just really protective of Kairi and I, Roxas. And it takes him a long time to warm up to people he doesn't know. It's twice as hard for him to give you a chance, because you guys were at such odds while you were still part of Organization XIII. But he is trying. Actually, that's a lot like how he usually teases us." He smiled. Roxas felt his lips twitch a little.
"Yeah?" When Sora nodded in response, the blond straightened a little, giving a wry smile. "I guess I'm just being too sensitive...or something." He chuckled. "I just...this is all so crazy. Why am I here? Is there a reason, or is it just the whims of the universe?" Remembering that the same words had come from Axel's mouth, he grinned a little.
Sora shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe Master Yen Sid can tell us." He turned as if to go, then looked back at the blond. "Are you going to sit down, or are you enjoying looking out the window?"
"Enjoying looking out the window." He replied, grinning. "It's not that far anyway, right?"
The brunet grinned back. "Nope, not really." He confirmed. On cue, the surroundings flashed over from Twilight Town to the space-like dimension of Yen Sid's realm. Despite himself, Riku couldn't help sitting up straight to get a better view of the surroundings. Kairi caught this and chuckled, but also looked out the nearest window, just as interested as Riku was.
The train coasted to a stop before a large, slightly wonky-looking tower with a bunch of smaller towers branching off if it. A well-worn path led from the door of the train to the stairs up to the tower's entrance. As Mickey led the way, almost anxious, everyone exited the train, filing out to stand on the grass. The doors of the train car closed behind them, and after a few moments it...vanished?
"Uh, King Mickey? Our train just...uh..disappeared." Riku called, a little nervous. Mickey chuckled a little.
"Don't worry, fellas. It'll be there if we need it." He assured them. "C'mon, let's go."
The mouse king and Sora led the way to the tower. Just inside the doors, the group found themselves in a golden-yellow, circular room, with a spiral staircase curving up from the other end of the room. King Mickey led the group to the staircase and started up. At about the fifth or sixth stair, the diminutive royal suddenly vanished. The air where he had been rippled, like the surface of a disturbed pond. Riku, Kairi and Roxas all halted at the foot of the stairs, staring at the spot where Mickey had been, but Donald and Goofy walked after their King as if nothing had happened.
Sora had hung back, anticipating his friends' reactions. "There's no real path through this place. It's all portals and floating doors and stuff." He grinned at them. "It's kinda weird, but you'll get used to it."
"Ah." Roxas nodded his understanding. "Now you tell us." He faked an annoyed look, exaggerating it so much that Sora chuckled. He hurried up the stairs, disappearing through the rippling wall. Riku, eyes narrowed, followed the blond.
At the determined look on the silver-haired teen's face, Sora grinned back at Kairi. "It's funny how those two compete without even realizing that that's what they're doing."
Kairi giggled. "You're right." She agreed. "Come on, Sora. We're being left behind."
They both raced up the stairs, following the others. The portal in the air in front of them brought the group to another staircase inside the bulk of the tower. Floating, seemingly unsupported, were two other segments of staircase, secured at both ends by doors.
'This place is so weird Riku couldn't help but think as he looked around. 'This guy has to be crazy on some level.'
Passing through the door brought the group to a round room, adorned with lit star lamps. There was a door in front of them, wooden, with a glowing arrow in it pointing up. There were no other doors or portals in the room, except for the one they had entered through, which had a glowing down arrow.
The group continued up, going through a second staircase, another round room lit with moon lamps, and a final flight of stairs. At the top of the final staircase, Mickey paused, allowing everyone to catch up. He knew Sora would have no trouble navigating the Tower, but he wanted to have everyone together before they went in to see Master Yen Sid.
When they were all together, Mickey eased the door open. The seven of them filed in quietly, looking around. An older man, dressed as a sorcerer in a blue robe and a star-studded, conical hat, sat in front of the desk that was positioned in the middle of the room. It was almost as if he'd been waiting for them.
Donald and Goofy swept surprisingly graceful bows. The mouse king, too, bowed to his old teacher, although not quite as deeply as his comrades. As Donald glared at him as he straightened up, Sora did his best, and despite not having been trained, managed to pull off a decent, if plain, bow. Kairi dipped slightly as if curtsying, although she didn't have enough of a skirt to do it properly. Roxas and Riku followed Sora's lead, although Riku only bowed from the shoulders. Master Yen Sid's only reaction was to blink slowly, as if he found the ritual tiresome. "It is good to see you, King Mickey."
"And you, Master Yen Sid." Mickey replied.
"You have come to me for information, have you not?" He asked, deep voice grave. Sora nodded.
"Yes, sir." He touched Roxas' shoulder, startling the blond. "This is Roxas. He...he was my Nobody. He...came back, a couple of days ago, and he has his own heart now. We were wondering if you could tell us where it came from."
The sorcerer nodded. "Kingdom Hearts, as you know, is made of all the hearts that ever existed that, for one reason or another, no longer have vessels to house them. It is also the source of all hearts. As the hearts that make up Kingdom Hearts reside there, they are purified. Darkness erases the memories from the hearts, and then light drives out the darkness. When they have been completely purged of all the memories that their previous bodies collected over the span of their lives, they are sent back out to be reborn in another body. Thus, the number of hearts in Kingdom Hearts is regulated."
Mickey glanced back at Roxas. "Think back, Roxas. Are there any memories in your heart that you feel like don't belong to you? You remember how it was to see Sora's memories, right? D'you ever get that feelin' now?"
Roxas, a little uncomfortable at being put on the spot, fidgeted a little. "Not really, no." He admitted. "Everything I remember is something I've experienced. Although, to be honest, I don't remember a lot."
"Then that heart of yours, Roxas, was meant to be yours. It was purified in Kingdom Hearts, and now belongs to you." Yen Sid intoned, nodding as if that made sense to him. "The cycle begins again."
"Cycle?" Mickey blinked at Master Yen Sid. The sorcerer sighed a little.
"You know the story of the light of the universe, do you not?" He questioned. "How the universe was made entirely of light, before the people began to fight over it. And then darkness entered their hearts."
"And the light was nearly swallowed by it, except in the hearts of children, and the universe was broken up into the different worlds." Kairi finished. Everyone turned to look at her. "I remember that story. I heard it when I was little. Somehow, the light was sealed away into the darkness."
"That is right. For generations, the Keyblade Masters have tried to unlock the light, so that the universe can be united and at peace again." Yen Sid continued. "Every time, for one reason or another, they have been unsuccessful. Now, it is your turn."
"My turn?" Sora touched his chest, canting his head in confusion. Yen Sid shook his head.
"Not just yours, Sora. Five Keybearers are needed to unlock the light. The seal has ten keys."
"Five?!" The brunet cried. "Where are we going to find five Keybearers?!"
Yen Sid sighed, sounding almost exasperated. "You already have them. It is the keys you need to find. That is why your Nobody, Roxas, has been given new life. Both of you are needed."
"And King Mickey is a Keyblade Master." Goofy piped up. Donald nodded.
"Riku, you're a Keybearer, aren't you?" Kairi asked. "That's four."
"Does that mean Kairi is one, too?" Sora asked. The grey-haired sorcerer nodded.
"So, we have to find these ten keys and release the light, huh?" Riku looked thoughtful. "Any hints as to where we'll find them?"
Master Yen Sid shook his head. "The keys are scattered. You must find them on your own. I can tell you, however, that you will never find more than one key on a world. Your Keyblades will react when you have found a key. Search carefully; sometimes the key will be easily found, other times it will be cleverly hidden. And the Heartless and the Nobodies are still at large. Be careful."
"Thank you, Master Yen Sid." Mickey bowed again.
"Wait." Roxas looked a little worried. "I don't have a Keyblade anymore. I mean, I suppose I could borrow Sora's, but that would leave one of us without a weapon. If we're going to be fighting, it's not the greatest idea for someone to be defenseless."
"I'm not exactly defenseless, even without the Keyblade, Roxas." Sora grinned.
Master Yen Sid nodded. "That is right...I nearly forgot. Take ahold of Sora's Kingdom Key, Roxas. As Sora's sacrifice created you, Sora's Keyblade will produce yours."
Sora summoned the Kingdom Key and turned towards Roxas, holding it out. The blond, still looking rather uncertain, closed his hand over Sora's on the handle. Warmth flooded his fingers, and he pulled away abruptly, surprised. A white light clung to his fingertips and his palm, writhing as if forming itself. It lengthened into a blade and wrapped around his hand, and a white shaft enclosed it before dissipating.
Roxas now held a Keyblade unlike any weapon any of them had ever seen.
It was made entirely of a silver metal, the handle wrapped in black leather. The keychain, a silver charm in the shape of the Nobody symbol, hung from a point sticking out from a circle inlaid with rose gold that looked somehow familiar. One side of the handle was jagged, almost like a gear, and had ten small spike-like protrusions on the outside edge. Rose and blue gold inlay swirled together, looking almost purple from a distance. The other side of the handle was spiked as well, although this was a slightly different style of spike, and there were only four of them. That side of the handle had only blue gold inlay. The shape of the blade looked almost like a lengthened heart, with circles engraved in it similar to the circles cut out of the Nobody symbol. The shaft ended in what looked almost like a spearhead. Only the blade of the key was similar to the Kingdom Key, although slightly spikier.
"Wow." Sora reached out to touch Roxas' new Keyblade with his free hand. "That's really cool-looking."
Roxas' gaze was fixed on the weapon in his hands. 'The universe has a sense of humour, I think.' He mused, stroking the rose gold circle just above the handle with his thumb. It somehow reminded him of the way Oathkeeper had felt...he wasn't sure why.
"Now you are ready." Yen Sid stood. "I wish you speed and safety on your journey."
"Thank you." Mickey bowed a third time, and the rest of the group bowed or curtseyed their respects. Turning, they left the room, descending the staircases and walking out the doors of the tower. As they approached the tracks, the train reappeared.
Mickey grinned at Riku, who was smiling and shaking his head. "See, Riku? There was nothin' to worry about."
"I should never have doubted you, King Mickey." He teased back. "Are we getting back on, or are we going straight to the Gummi Ship?"
"We could go straight to the Gummi Ship, but it would be easier on the power systems if we went back to Twilight Town." The mouse king replied. "Let's get onboard."
This time, as they boarded the train, Roxas sat down on a seat. He hadn't put his Keyblade away yet, holding it across his lap like he was afraid it would slip from his grasp and break. Sora settled down beside him.
"Can I see?" He asked. Roxas looked up at him, grinning.
"Sure."
The brunet took ahold of the silver Keyblade, looking over it curiously. "Somehow, it looks familiar. I've never seen it before, but for some reason, it looks like something I've seen before. Or a couple of things. I'm not sure." He laughed. "Oh! Wait, hang on a sec."
The brunet dug around in his pocket for a moment, before pulling out a keychain. The 'chain' was braided, and a charm in the shape of a paopu fruit hung from the end. He unhooked the Nobody charm from Roxas' keyblade and quickly hooked the new keychain onto it before handing both the Keyblade and the Nobody keychain back to Roxas.
Roxas held his Keyblade out in front of him as it changed shape. When the light dimmed, his eyes widened and his mouth dropped open as he stared at the weapon in his hand.
He now held the Oathkeeper Keyblade.
"I remember from that fight in front of Memory's Skyscraper in The World that Never Was that you used Oathkeeper and Oblivion." Sora grinned. "I wasn't sure if we could use each others' keychains, so I figured that was the best one to test with."
"What other kinds of keychains do you have, Sora?" The blond asked, running a finger along the white metal of Oathkeeper's shaft. Sora rummaged around in his pocket, still grinning.
"I've got a whole bunch." He pulled out a handful, looking like a mass of snakes in his hand. "Here, hand it over again." When Roxas gave the brunet his Keyblade again, Sora switched out the Oathkeeper keychain for one that dangled a spiked red and silver circle that looked oddly familiar. Roxas blinked.
"Is that...?" He trailed off when the weapon was shoved back into his hand and it morphed again. This time, the Keyblade became red and silver, with circles at both ends. The shaft was wrapped in black, and the circle at the end was spiked. Roxas' blue eyes grew wide again.
"It looks like Axel's chakram." He whispered, turning it over in his hand. He stroked the shaft gently, almost absently. "Where did you get this keychain, Sora?"
"Axel gave it to me. He was the one who opened the doorway to The World that Never Was for me." A soft smile played with Sora's lips. "You can use it, if you want. I'm sure he wouldn't mind. After all, he's your best friend, isn't he?"
Roxas smiled softly. "Yeah..." He replied. "Thanks, Sora."
Grinning, Sora rested an arm on Roxas' shoulder. "No problem, Roxas." He laughed as the blond shoved him off.
"Play nice, children." Riku's brows rose beneath his bangs. Sora stuck his tongue out at Riku, who merely smirked back, turquoise eyes peeking out from between locks of silver hair. Kairi giggled softly at the boys.
"Now, boys. Let's not fight now." Mickey scolded, but his eyes were alight with a grin. Riku grinned back at the mouse king.
"We're not fighting, King Mickey." He replied, innocently. "I'm trying to keep them from fighting."
Sora chuckled. "Of course you are, Riku. Like we're really fighting anyway." He winked at Roxas. "Right?"
Roxas grinned back at the brunet. "Right."
The train slid back into the station, and the doors opened silently. Mickey hopped off the seat, but did not move towards the exit. "C'mon, fellas. Let's get back on the Gummi Ship."
"So, where are we going now?" Kairi asked, canting her head slightly. The mouse king shrugged.
"We'll check the navigational logs, see what worlds are closest. We'll start from one and see where it takes us." Donald suggested.
Goofy nodded. "That sure makes sense to me, Donald."
Gathering close, the assortment of seven were scooped up by the light and brought back up to the Gummi Ship, off to plan their route around the worlds.
Gah, that ended badly. XP
NaroRau, whom I tend to bounce ideas off of, thought my plot was crazy, lol. I have to admit...I thought it was pretty nuts too. But hey, I'm writing it. XD Tell me what you think, guys. If there's anyone out there who's already done something similar, I apologize. There is no similarity intended. The plot just kinda wandered into my head one day and said "Surprise! -heart-". So I just had to write it.
Anyway, yes. One more familar place to go before they actually head off into unexplored territory -heart- I know, I know, its taking forever. Trust me, I just want to get on with it. But all this stuff had to be written first.
Oh! I have a drawing of Roxas' keyblade when I was still designing it. I need to finish it and scan it, put it in my Scraps on deviantArt. When I do, I'll send everyone a little note, lol, if they wish. I luff it...I wanna pixel it.
Love-love!
Ivy J.