OPS, MY BAD
Sulhadahne feels stupid. I haven't really ever been the diehard FMA fan, but I've liked it – and I've always loved Ed. But, not being the extremist Fullmetal Alchemist fangirl, I don't know the laws of alchemy. I made a mistake in the last chapter when I had Ed transmute the barrel – he can't do it like that. Sorry! Instead of turning wood to metal, he could do … I don't know, I need to read up on FMA!!!
Next time, I swear I will get it right! Throw a Canadian Moose at me if I don't!
… Seriously. And make it Canadian.
0-0-0-0-0-0
The water was soft and beautiful as he watched it go back and forth. Only a moment ago, he'd been on the ship watching the water, and now he was on the shore watching the ship disappear.
"Oh, hey!" Sora gasped in delight. Was that really the Captain he'd seen? "Oh, hey!" Leaning over his shoulder, Sora tried to get Riku's attention. He wasn't listening. The captain was disappearing through the crowd.
"Darn! I want Riku to meet Jack!" Determined, Sora leapt off the ship to catch Jack, so he could introduce Riku and the Captain.
But he didn't find the captain. And when he'd come back, the ship was disappearing off the shore.
Riku hadn't waited for him. Anger boiled in his skin. Riku hadn't waited.
…
"Hah! Take that, evil captain Riku!"
"Oh no, I'm hit!"
"Now I'm the pirate king!"
I always wanted to be a pirate…
Shaking the memories from his head, Sora bit his lip angrily. How could he? Was Riku mad at him?
The boy turned to walk away as the ship disappeared over the horizon. Tears were going down his cheeks as he left, but he ignored them.
"Jerk… leaving behind your best friend" Sora pouted angrily.
"I knew I'd make a better captain!"
0-0-0-0-0-0
The hall was enormous and towering, the high windows in the ceiling fogged over by smoke. In awe of the majesty, Kairi barely noticed the four large tables of students staring in the same such awe at her and the other foreign students. Gasps and gawking came from both sides as the students entered. Namine giggled in delight and pointed up at the floating candlesticks in the air, and at the table of teachers ahead of them.
As they came up to the teachers, the large group came to a halt in front of a stool with a small, ragged hat on it. Curious, Kairi tilted her head, looking her over. It seemed to open its eyes and look at her, and then gasp in shock and maybe delight.
The crowd became loud as they all talked amongst themselves, but everyone quieted down when an elderly wizard stood from the staff table. Kairi smiled, remembering Albus Dumbledore from the summit.
"Welcome, my friends, from worlds far and wide. You are here perhaps, to represent your home and your family and friends; or you are here to continue your work with the talented souls outside. We are proud and honored –"
Kairi wasn't sure what it was he was proud and honored over, because as the elder man spoke, a loud blast came from the hall doors. Spinning around, the princess took the time to notice the enormous entrance they'd come from.
The door was creaking open, and the sound of boots walking through water echoed down the hall.
"Sorry we're late" A familiar voice chuckled. "But the kid felt the urge to have a nervous breakdown on the way to school" Grinning, Xigbar was dragging Demyx in by the hood. He threw the boy into the crowd as the blonde yelped and fell – he was of course caught by fellow members of the organization, all grinning down at him.
Dumbledore, eyes twinkling, watching as the blonde sheepishly stood and looked up at him.
"Sorry" He mumbled.
The elderly professor continued his speech, and welcomed the group. Then the woman stepped up.
"We shall begin the sorting. Once you've been sorted, please sit with your house" the elder professor told the students. She then began calling names in no particular order, as those from other worlds all had different ways of naming each other.
Kairi didn't really know or care about the first few, but she giggled and held her breath when Axel was called up.
"His hair might frighten that pour hat to death" Namine smirked. The girls giggled as they watched Axel saunter up. Of course, it was then everyone in the room realized he was one of a group who were not wearing the school uniform.
The professor with the green hat pursed her lip. A few teachers looked at each other, one particularly dark one sneered, but Axel looked confused. Then he looked to his clothes, realizing the problem. With a smirk and an arrogant air, Axel turned and thrust his hands in the air signing the crowd with "rock on" hand signs. The few organization members in the crowd laughed as Axel just grinned and sat on the chair.
Very displeased, the professor went ahead and placed the hat on his spiky hair. It frowned, thinking, but then nodded and proclaimed,
"GRYFFINDOR!"
One of the tables, beneath the lion banner, became loud and rambunctious, cheering happily as the red head sauntered down to join them. A pair of red heads welcomed him, two twins who were grinning at his hair and his clothes with happy looks.
Kairi shook her head and smiled, turned back to the hat. More people went – some she knew. Marluxia joined Slytherin and Larxene followed after, and Belle joined Ravenclaw. A strange looking boy joined Hufflepuff, and many others came and went. Paine joined Gryffindor, sitting a few seats down from Axel, who happily introduced his friend to his new buddies.
Then the name was called.
"Namine!"
Kairi's heart shook. What if she and Namine weren't together? Oh no, this could never be good, they were so different, so far apart…
Shyly, slowly, Namine stepped to the front. Demyx yelled her name happily, and those that knew them laughed a little. Kairi's throat was dry. The little petite princess sat on the stool softly, her legs dangling, and when the hat was placed on her head it was too large for her.
Suddenly, a voice was in her head.
Hmm, two of you? Connected, how strange? One born from the other's darkness when neither of you had any to begin with? How very strange…
They call you Princess of Darkness? Memory Witch? Hmm…
So sweet and kind, so afraid… full of nervousness…
But yet determined to see things through, sure that she won't fail her friends…
But where to put you?
Kairi bit her lip. Please! I want to be with her!
Oh, there you are! The two of you are one… let's see… brave, resourceful… bitter, sad… mournful… what causes your pain?
Kairi?
The red head stared in shock at the hat and the blonde sitting beneath it.
"I know where" The hat finally whispered.
"RAVENCLAW!"
Cheers came from all around, a dull sound to Kairi's ears. The house for the intelligent, smart. Not the place Kairi would be.
And as Namine walk past and the gap between them seemed so vast and empty, Kairi felt her hand twitch, reaching out to the blonde who was so far away. Why did Kairi feel so far away, from everyone? What causes your pain?
Kairi couldn't tell. And as Namine disappeared, melted into the crowd of Ravenclaws, she could tell it would only grow.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Riku was watching the waves as the ship was steered towards the mass of black ahead. Everyone had changed into suitable water attire – Riku wore a loose white shirt and tight black pants, and with a sigh, his head drooped.
Sora where are you?
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
The boy was curled up in a street corner. He didn't know what to do. Return home to prying eyes? Why did you leave? Leon would understand… maybe… maybe Cloud would understand… Cloud was good at that… understanding him…
Sniffling, the brunette rubbed his red eyes.
What to do?
Why was Riku always leaving him behind?
0-0-0-0-0-0
Leon rubbed his groggy eyes and continued working. The ships were all preparing, unloading, as the lights of Hogwarts began to dim and night settled in. Few happy voices were laughing and cheering, walking around in the lamp light. Shuffling through papers and documents, Leon hummed a quiet lullaby he remembered from his childhood. That was a bit strange, as he'd never had a mother to sing him songs.
Had to of picked it up somewhere, He thought. Perhaps, for the short time Leon knew him, Ansem had hummed the song as he worked in the labs. Pondering the possibility, Leon didn't hear Rinoa walk in.
"Hey" She smiled. Surprised, Leon looked up, and smiled back.
"Hey yourself"
"Ariel wants to have a word with you before she goes to the castle -"
"Which Ariel?" Leon interrupted.
"Atlantica's princess, and the Guado are concerned about the feeling of death, it seems to have spooked them or something"
"Feeling of death?" Another voiced asked. Cid had walked into the tent.
"The Guado are a race who can 'smell death' or feel it. No wonder they feel death, with all the ghosts in the castle" Rolling his eyes, Leon turned to file papers as Cid looked the documents over.
"Well, you'll just have to tell them about the ghosts, because they don't know what's going on" Rinoa told him, hand on her hip as she jutted it out. Leon was ready to make that movement illegal, it made her features stand out so much more…
"What's this shit? Legal stuff?" Cid asked, picking up a document and holding it up to the lamp.
"Stuff for the Ministry of Magic" Snatching the paper from the blonde, Leon went ahead and placed it in an envelope. Cid looked around; most of the documents on the table looked like they were addressed to the Ministry.
"The government of this world. They want files on every different civilization here. Those are Radiant Garden's papers." Rinoa explained.
Leon placed a few more papers in the envelope, and approached the window. With a whistle, he called down a tawny barn owl from the Owlery and began tying the letter to its leg.
"Owls?" Cid asked.
"There's no end to what you don't know" Leon rolled his eyes. Leaving the owl for a moment, the man walked over to pick up two more envelopes. Giggling, Rinoa covered her mouth with her hand, and Cid gave her a look. As if to challenge the girl, Cid began to approach the owl.
Cautiously, Cid approached the bird, who cocked its head at him. When the blonde went to stroke it, the bird snapped its beak and bit his finger.
"Hey!" Cid cursed and held his hand. Rinoa was laughing harder. "Damn Pigeon" Chuckling, Leon attached the last letters, sending the owl on its way.
"Nice, Cid" Rinoa laughed, turning and walking away, heading towards a group of girls across the way.
"Cid, Carlotta wants you" A man leaned in the door. "And Shera wants to know if you plan on eating the meal she slaved over anytime soon" The messenger had a sly look in his eye when he said this. Suddenly flustered, Cid scratched the back of his head. The messenger disappeared as quickly as he came.
"Damn, always fucking busy around here" Cid rolled his eyes and pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, ready to light up.
"Not in here you don't" Leon told him. "The twins are asleep in the other room. What kind of grandpa would you be if you smoked around the kids"
"Not to mention Vexen might throw his chemistry set at me." Cid joked, walking away with a cigarette in hand. Rolling his eyes, Leon wiped sweat from his brow and sat down, finally finished for the night. The Guado would have to be dealt with, but that would be talking, something he was good at reducing. At least he had no more paperwork. Not to mention, Ariel had wanted to speak to him, he'd better attend to that – she was probably busy with her newborn girl –
Suddenly, a jingle rose into the air, and Leon was jolted out of his thoughts. Quickly, he reached for his cell phone.
"Hello?"
0-0-0-0-0-0
"Le – Leon?"
A soft, sobbing sound came from his end of the phone. Biting his lips, Sora tried to stop being such a baby.
"Sora?"
"Yeah" Mumbling quietly, Sora adjusted his hold on the phone.
"Well, hey, how's the trip? What's wrong?"
Quickly, and hurriedly, Sora launched into explanation telling the older man about his jealousy over Riku's captainship, and then how they'd been a bit edgy around each other, and how he'd been left behind. The boy felt so terrible for crying, for while he had no qualm about crying, he didn't like doing it so pathetically to someone so strong like Leon.
Leon thought for a moment, hard, and in detail, about what to say to the child when he responded. All thoughts of Guado and business had left his mind.
"Sora, why do you think Riku 'left you behind'?"
Shrugging, Sora rubbed his bruised elbow. He wasn't sure how he'd hurt it. "I – I don't know"
"I had a friend like that once"
Blinking, Sora sat up, very attentive. "R – Really?"
"I mean, someone so different from me, he was infuriating. But he was the closest person to me. I was quiet and stoic, but he was fiery, rebellious – every order given, I went out of my way to follow it to the mark, and he went out of his way to disobey. But we were friends."
The memories were strange to be talking about. Leon smiled. "Eventually though we ended up on opposites sides of a conflict. Like you and Riku. We were enemies then"
"Wow" Sora smirked. "It's like history all over again"
"That's what I thought" Chuckling, Leon crossed his arms, watching children outside the tent, rushing around, looking up at the school they wished they'd have been able to attend. Not everyone had magical talent. "Well, he and I fought for a long time, and a lot of scars came from that. He gave me mine"
"You mean – the one on your face?"
"So tactful" said Leon as he rolled his eyes. Laughing a little sheepishly, Sora asked for Leon to continue.
"That's all"
"What?" Stunned, Sora jumped.
"I haven't seen him since Gaia, back when I got hit by that van" Leon explained. "After the war, we saw each other one time, talked about the old days. We weren't able to forgive each other for what happened – not totally. I'm not as angry at him now, and we can have civil conversation, but it can't be the same between us since too much has happened."
"I don't regret what I did or the path I took. But it cost me a close friend. Now, in your case, you followed your own path, and when your best friend took the long one you made a huge u turn to get him back." Smirking, Leon nodded his head as he spoke, walking around the desk. "Both of you are still friends"
"And while I know the relationship can be stressful, with all the pressure on you both, but that friendship was worth leaping into darkness for back then – is it still now?"
Sora felt his tears slowly dry. "Y – Yeah"
"I know you're hurt, but I have a feeling Riku might be on that ship now, wondering why you decided to stay behind"
Surprised, Sora let that sink in. "Maybe; I guess – I didn't really think about it"
Laughing, Leon nodded. "I know, you're a kid, that's why you have adults to think for you"
"Hey!"
They shared a laugh, chatted a few more minutes. Sora thanked Leon immensely.
"I've got a ship to catch up to" Sora told him, smiling a little. Fatherly, Leon understood.
"Good luck kid"
With a sigh the man said goodbye, hung up, and pocketed the phone. Footsteps came to the tent door.
"Ariel still wants to see you" Rinoa nodded to him, with a broad smile, and a knowing look. "You know, you'll make a wonderful father" Winking, Rinoa turned to saunter away.
Dumbfounded, Leon stared after her. "W – What?"
"You heard me"
Chasing after the dark haired woman, Leon stuttered and insisted on a full answer and Rinoa laughed the whole way.
"Wait, are you serious?"
"Squall, you're as gullible as ever!"
Taking hold of his larger hands, Rinoa winked at him. "But when the time comes – you really will make a good father"
With a little red blush on his face, Leon consented to the comment and added his own. "For now I have enough kids to handle!"
0-0-0-0-0-0
Sighing, Riku let the wind whip his hair around. Silently he wondered about Sora and Kairi and what they were doing. Was it for the best that Sora decided to stay behind? With a bit of a sad look, Riku let his eyes wander over the horizon, almost willing Sora to be there, flying towards them.
"Captain –" A voice called over his shoulder. Riku spun around.
"The edge of this world is near – the Sea of Sorrows is dead ahead" The silver haired priest Abel reported. "Also – if I may ask, are you all right?"
The kindly priest, dressed in seaman garb instead of his religious attire, stepped up respectively to Riku. The younger silver haired boy looked flustered, taken aback, but he nodded forlornly.
"Sora's not on the ship" Riku told him. "I don't know why he left without saying goodbye"
"Well, that's strange" Abel commented, quirking his nose. "He doesn't seem like the type to back out on his friends. Perhaps there is a reason"
"I guess" Riku sighed, arm on the railing. Glancing him over, Abel wondered what he could do. Perhaps distract him?
"So, what was your home world like?" Leaning on the rail, Abel tried lowering himself to see the boy's face. "If you don't mind my asking"
Smiling a little, Riku shook his head. "I don't mind" He sat up a little taller, stretching his back. "It was a chain of islands, warm and sunny all year round – much different from what I've heard your world is like. Not many people, but a lot of spirit"
"Sounds like a wonderful place to live" Abel smiled, his soft, kind voice making him all the more brotherly and helpful.
"It was" Riku told him.
"Was?"
"Well" Looking around the skyline, Riku's eyes took on a darker hue. "Sometimes things happen that change our outlook on things. No matter how much we love something, sometimes… we can never look at it the same way."
"Ah" Seemingly enlightened, Abel nodded and closed his eyes. "I thought that was the case. Did something bad happen to you?"
Chuckling ironically, Riku gave him a smirk. "Something bad, huh? Heh. Something bad…"
Suddenly, before the priest could wonder what Riku meant, something came soaring over the roaring ocean waves. A silver hue covered it in a bright aura as the form sped across the dark ocean. Squinting at it as it came closer, Riku stood to attention, hoping it really was who he thought it was…
"Hey, Captain, see that? What is it?" Ichigo asked, leaning against a rope on the edge. Edward glared at him from across the way, but leaned over the edge to see besides.
"Don't worry – it's him all right" Riku smirked.
"We're almost to the edge!" Lupin called, warning everyone that soon enough they would leave Port Royal and travel to uncharted waters.
"Wait! Sora has to get on first!" Riku told them, his happiness soaring.
"S – Sora?" Hinata wondered, her hands on the mast.
A loud cheer split through the air as the silver blur flew above them. Riku laughed.
"Look at me!" The boy cheered, flying circles around the mast, before landing happily on the ship. He shook the timber, causing poor Abel to yelp, tumble, and almost fall overboard yet again. Luckily for him, a tall crewman had just appeared on board and latched on to the man's ankle to keep him from falling.
"Oh, thank you!" Abel grinned. His grinned died at the evil, sly look in the man's red eyes. Alucard grinned at him. Abel stuttered and bit his lip.
"Leave the Vatican trash alone, Alucard" Integra commanded loudly. Abel seemed stunned, embarrassed and confused as Alucard sauntered away, barely glancing over his shoulder to the priest.
Sora was breathing heavily on the deck, the center of attention. In his final form, he was a sight to see.
"Miss me?"
0-0-0-0-0-0
Everyone was sorted, and everyone was sitting. Kairi bit her lip and smiled at Namine as she sat down, wishing they'd been nearby, at least. Sadly, Kairi wasn't in Namine's house. No, she had to be with Axel and the troublemakers.
"Come on, Gryffindors are cool!" Axel grinned. Kairi rolled her eyes.
"You know, Sora would be a Gryffindor if he were here" Roxas commented; he was Gryffindor as well.
Taken aback, Kairi thought about it, and smiled. "Yeah – he would be"
Happiness and laughter all around her, Kairi wondered again why she was sad. Glancing around, she looked for friends to sit by. Paine was down the way, and Yuffie and Rikku were with her; Yuna was with Namine and Zexion at the other table; and most everyone else but for Mitsuka, Demyx, and Luxord, who were Hufflepuff, (to her, the Gambler would've been a better Gryffindor – but oh well) they were all Gryffindor.
Sighing, Kairi cricked her neck. "Why am I always so depressed?"
"Oh, its not you"
Spinning around, Kairi looked up. A tall red head was standing above her, with pretty blue eyes and a kind smile. "May I sit here?"
Nodding, Kairi scooted down so the girl could sit.
"What do you mean?" Kairi wondered, confused.
Smiling, the red head placed her chin in one hand and spoke. "Because – you're the princess of Light – one of them. The Seventh one, right?"
"Yeah" Kairi wasn't surprised that a total stranger knew her.
"Well, everyone's been worried about Kingdom Hearts being missing and the Heartless coming back, right?"
"Yeah"
Smirking knowingly, the red head turned to the meal in front of her. "Well, if I had a heart full of light that came from Kingdom Hearts itself, then I think I'd be depressed if Kingdom Hearts was gone, don't you?"
As the stranger turned to her dinner, she left Kairi staring dumbfounded. It had been simple all along – she was a Princess connected to the heart of the universe, and with it gone…
"Wow" Shaking her head, Kairi tried to eat a little.
She hoped Riku and Sora were better off than her…
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
"I'm the only one who can save Marina."
He raised the blade ahead of him. It was pointed at Cero.
"Tier - !"
Before he could finish his words, Cero felt a stabbing pain in his chest, just below his heart. Darkness surrounded the blade even more, as the tendrils reached out and impaled Cero's skin. It was going deeper, digging, burning into his skin, reaching up into his heart, burning everything away with darkness and hatred.
"Ah – ah – AHHHH! AHHHH!!"
It was like he was being burned alive from the inside – darkness growing, swelling inside of him. Then it just stopped. And almost, like slow motion, he fell, gracefully, broken; his dead body plummeted down into the darkness, disappeared into the blue light down in the well.
Tier let the blade fall, gasping, and looked at his right hand. It was singed, burned a dark red from holding the blade. It clattered to the floor.
"What – what?" Gasping, the boy felt pain growing in his own heart – a burning sensation – so painful – like he was being burned alive –
With a surprised look, Tier spun around slowly as blood poured from a wound just over his heart. Someone – was standing there.
It was him. The traitor. The one who sold him lies, told him he could save Marina – tricked him, gave Cero the blade, but ha, Cero's dead, I killed him… Tier's thoughts were becoming strange, as he lost blood.
But the blood pouring from his wounds soon changed color, as the stoic, emotionless man watched him die. It became a black liquid – the burning in his heart became stronger, terribly, as if flames were licking his skin from the inside – it was so terrible –
"W – Why?!" Tier gasped, black oozing over his lip. "W – Why him? I – you told me – I – WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME!?"
"You've been tied to the darkness." Xehanort whispered the look in his eyes strange, faraway. "Both of you. Soon to be completely eclipsed."
Stepping around the boy, arms behind his back, Xehanort watched him fall to his knees, his hand clutching at the black hole over his heart. The blade on the ground was shaking violently, terribly – and then it shattered into a thousand pieces. Tier was screaming terribly, enough to make the ears bleed.
"There is so very much to learn." Xehanort whispered, looking down into the well. "I understand so little. Is it a meaningless effort…?"
Tier gave one last short breath. "One who knows nothing… can understand nothing…"
Xehanort turned to the boy. Tier fell to the floor, his eyes dark, sitting in a mix of blood and darkness.
Xehanort kneeled beside him. "And now… has my plan worked? Perhaps I have been mistaken. But I have doubtlessly created a connection that will last through the ages."
"The boys will be tied together, for all eternity. I have no doubt… at least that ambition has been decided."
Suddenly, he turned his head. He was being watched.
In the corner of the room was a crack in the wall, a path that had been created in a strange accidental explosion. It led to the throne room, but no one had ever found the path. Until today, it seemed.
For behind the crack watching him were two blue eyes. They grew wide when his red irises gazed at them, and whoever it was turned and fled into the darkness.
