"Riku! Are you all right?"
"I think so. Still tired."
"How'd you manage to whistle so loudly then?"
"It took a few tries."
Rachel had gone up into the treehouse with Riku. The Replica stood and waited at the base of the tree, listening to what they were saying.
"How are you feeling?"
"There's still a lot I can't feel. It's like someone shot all of me up with Novocain."
"Can you feel that?"
"Kinda, but it's hard to move."
"That must've taken a lot more muscle work than I realized. How 'bout that?"
"Yes. Tomorrow is really going to hurt."
"I think I know a potion that might help. I'll get started on it today. What about that?"
"Stop poking me!"
"Need anything? Another pillow? Some water?"
"I'm fine for now, thanks."
"I could get you to a bed if that's more comfortable."
"How would you do that?"
"The same way I got you up here."
"Which was, dare I ask?"
"Um…I turned you into a squirrel first."
"Fantastic." He said dryly.
"If it makes you feel any better you're really adorable as a squirrel. Even my squirrel tail isn't that fluffy."
"Please stop talking about me as a squirrel."
There was a short silence. Just the sound of shuffling.
"He's here right?"
"Yeah. We've been talking."
"And?"
"Not sure yet."
"I can hear you!"
"Wasn't trying to hide anything." Rachel called down.
"You can come up if you like."
As if. He was staying on his toes in case all this politeness was just some kind of ruse.
"I'll be back." He heard Rachel say. There was a bit more shuffling then she climbed down the treehouse ladder. "What do you say you and I take a wander through the castle?"
"I'm not being lured anywhere."
"Who's luring? That was an invitation."
"I don't think Rachel knows how to be manipulative." Riku's voice came from the treehouse.
"Oh I do," She replied to him. "But I usually save my silver tongue for Bryan. It takes quite a bit to convince him to do the things I don't want to do."
"I'm learning more about you all the time."
"Later then." She said to Riku. "C'mon. I'll show you around."
Might as well. Wasn't' going to be his fault when she realized how big a fool she made of herself trying to schmooze him with false niceties when he saw the truth from the beginning.
So this girl, Rachel, showed him about the castle. There was a power here but it wasn't darkness. Or at least if it was it was very carefully disguised. It seemed like they were walking for a long time. She showed him areas like the kitchen, library and the great hall. He decided he'd be saving a lot of energy to not correct her every time she insinuated these were things he'd need to know for living there. But that wasn't what annoyed him the most. From the real Riku's implanted memories, the Replica was familiar with the phrase 'kill 'em with kindness' and, oh boy, he'd bash in his own head if he had to put up with much more of this. Just how stupid did she think he was to believe he was buying this I-just-want-to-be-friends-you-are-so-welcome-here act?
"Gardens are down that hall. The door is the tall one made of green glass. Training hall is down this way. You're welcome down there whenever you like. Heck, with practice you could one day be a challenge for me."
She said it in a light and joking manner but he didn't find it at all funny. So she thought she was stronger than him? Maybe he should just challenge her on the spot to show how tough he was already. He was getting a distinct impression she underestimated him in every way. Eventually he couldn't take it anymore. She was going to take him seriously so he threw Manners against a wall and told her off.
"Will you stop acting like a tour guide already? I don't know what you think you're up to but you can stop pretending. I've been around too many people, well not people, but I've seen what it looks like when someone whispers reassuring words through a forked tongue just to get you to do what they want. So cut the act! Just tell me what this is really about so I can get out of here."
It was then she rounded on him, her kind eyes encased in an icy luster. Good. He'd called her out. Finally her true colors were starting to show. No…he'd just managed to get her quills up, she was offended, or frustrated. He expected her to start yelling. Attack him. Something. Stop this calm charade and express how she really felt. But she didn't.
"It's becoming clear that you are reluctant to believe I can just be a good person with no interest in manipulating you and I could tell from the start you don't respect me. I want to help. From what Riku's told me I can understand your skepticism and distrust. But I won't put up with the kind of attitude you've been giving me. The rudeness will end. You don't have to like me, but you will respect me."
Rachel held up her right hand. With her left, she mimed taking an imaginary something off of it. Then with a dramatic flick of her arm, acted like she were tossing something at his feet.
"Tomorrow morning we'll meet in the training hall. I challenge you to a battle. If I win, you remain at the castle and get a must-needed attitude adjustment. If you win, you do whatever you want. But let me make this clear. I just threw down the gauntlet of challenge and I fully intend to make you pick it up."
The next morning came quickly. The Replica stayed in the guest room Rachel had indicated. He found his way to the training hall pretty easily. Largely because all the side doors still refused him entry.
He didn't have to wait long in the training hall before both Rachel and the real thing showed up. Riku was walking gingerly like he was having a difficult time moving. Good. Here's hopin' it hurt. Rachel looked ready to fight. Or ready to lose as he saw it. He knew how to fight. He had skills. And he could sense she was a warrior of light. Good. If there was one thing about the Organization he agreed on, the use of darkness was the true power rush. The more that could be acquired and used, the stronger one became. He had to believe that.
Riku sat down on a bench on the side of the training yard. Good. He'd love to see his face when his friend was brought to her knees and he walked away from their alleged 'help' for good. There were lines painted on the floor. Rachel stood behind one. So this 'duel' was going to be done in an official capacity. Fine. What did he care? The win was what was important, not the formalities. So he stood behind another line not far away. Rachel held out her arm and with a white flash of light her Keyblade appeared in her hand. The blade was covered in and made of jewels and gold. A string of pearls was woven between the negative spaces of the shaft. He called Soul Eater. She assumed a battle stance. He did the same. Interesting that she didn't say anything. She seemed the talkative type. Didn't matter. Once she saw what he was capable of, she'd have quite a lot to say.
But things didn't go quite the way he thought they might.
The battle began as one might expect it to. There was a significant amount of battle cries and the echoing chorus of clashing weapons. He was faster than she was; he picked up on that right away. Great. He could use that to his advantage. But he couldn't find a way to make it happen. She seemed prepared for everything he could think to throw at her. Yet her strength seemed nothing too extraordinary. So why couldn't he land a good hit? What did she have that he didn't? He was faster and she showed no sign of being more powerful. Was she holding back? Well that was insulting if it were true. Fine, he'd up his game.
"You think you're better than me?" He said cockily.
"I don't need to think, I know how good I am."
He laughed. "Then let's put that to the test." With a dramatic thrust of Soul Eater, he was instantly garbed in Darkness. The power rush that came with it was like getting struck by lightning. It felt so good. No, better than good. And yet…
She must have been able to sense the darkness he just called. He could certainly sense her light. And if she claimed to be a Keyblade master, sensing the Light or Darkness in someone's heart was basic. Either this girl had a really fantastic poker face or she really wasn't put off at all by his first display of dark powers. Well that was a little…deflating. Ok, so she wasn't surprised or alarmed. He could fix that.
Darkness pooled around him on the ground, swirling like a pulsing ooze. It also wisped around him like mist. He smiled as he noted her eyes looking around him at the dark energy. Good. It had her attention. But that seemed to be about it. Seriously? Her heart was full of light, he could tell that easily. She wasn't afraid of the Dark as he had once sensed Riku of being. Still, as a warrior of Light, shouldn't she at least hate it? But nothing! Not surprised or appalled or even worried. Just adjusting for how to continue the duel. Ok, so she knew what she was doing. Still, nobody likes the feeling of having their pride or I-know-I'm-all-that-kind-of-awesome balloon punctured.
Rachel rolled her shoulders and swung Treasure In You a few times.
"If that's the way you want to tango my dance card's wide open."
He blinked. What?
In one swift movement Rachel bent forward and crossed her arms in front of her. For a second the light of the entire training yard flickered and dimmed, like a candle caught in a draft. When it was over, something about her had changed.
Her clothes were darker. The darkest parts had a glimmer like when polished leather catches the light. A jet black cape was now draped behind her. It moved and shifted as though it were caught in the flow of water. Something was around her head too. It looked like she had black war paint on each side of her face and down her forehead. Also small, but distinct curled rams' horns on the side of her head. Something like black smoke wisped around the horns. There was only one thing it could be.
But that didn't make any sense! She was a Keyblade warrior, right? And a Master at that. How and why would she be using Darkness? But was it Darkness? It had to be. But it was different somehow. But that didn't seem possible. As he controlled Darkness himself, he knew what it felt like, how to sense it and hers felt…wrong. It was Darkness…but not like any he'd ever known about. That put him on edge, and he didn't like it. How could a Keyblade master have such a unique hold on the Darkness?
Then things got crazy.
He'd let his guard down and she struck fast and hard. There was hardly any time to react from her strike. It must have been her new power that gave her such speed. But he had dark powers too. No doubt he knew how to use them better than she did. Too bad he was wrong again. The thrashings he had to dodge were incredible. Even when he tried to give it right back to her in kind it felt like he were trying to break down a brick wall with a broom handle. What kind of Darkness was she using that gave her this kind of advantage! This wasn't possible! And just when he thought he couldn't fight any harder, he had to.
Rachel jumped back and with a dramatic thrust of her arm, the blackness around her peeled off as easily as slipping off a sweater. Only it didn't disappear. It pulled itself away and rose up behind her. Immediately the Darkness took shape. It had a vaguely feminine torso but no visible legs, its shape just sort of melded into blackness. The face was human-like but with no defining features like a mouth or distinguishable nose. The eyes glowed light yellow but there was no pupil or iris. It had hair, kinda, more like shifting darkness that moved about its head like black flame. The curled horns were still visible but it didn't seem to have ears. The hands had only four clawed fingers and blackness draped from its arms like a long shawl that appeared to also be one with its body. It kept its neck and head very stiff but its torso and lower body moved like a cobra following a flute.
He couldn't believe it. What was that supposed to be? Was it a Heartless? It was made of Darkness but the wrong kind. And that didn't make any sense! Rachel stood very calm and still. How could she not be giving off Darkness from around or within herself yet be using it at the same time? But there was that icy battle luster in her eyes. She half-looked over her shoulder at the thing and whispered,
"Get 'im."
And the Shadow attacked.
The Replica barely had time to defend. The shadow creature dove at the ground, its form flattening and it moved along the floor like a living puddle before rising again in full form beside him. He swung hard to fend it off. It was solid. That was good. If it could be hit, it could be hurt. But the shadow creature could stretch and manipulate its body. Rachel did nothing as it did the fighting for her. This was ridiculous! He wasn't doing a very good job keeping the shadow thing at bay. How could she summon a dark creature?! What was it? A kind of Heartless? A dark spirit? What was it and how had she summoned it?
And before he knew it, it was over. He thought he had a plan but the shadow creature moved too fluidly. It struck too hard. And it finally spread its arms and covered him with its shadow cloak. He couldn't get his arm free to strike back. It had him pinned. It anchored itself over him as well as through the floor. With its form in both physical and shadow powers, nothing could move it.
Rachel walked up and stood over him. If she started gloating, he'd sooner end himself as soon as the shadow let him up. There was no way he could endure that kind of humiliation. Losing this badly was bad enough without her reveling in it.
"Go on!" He snapped. "Just get your gloating over with!"
But she didn't say anything. Why did that feel worse than getting yelled at? And a lot more infuriating too.
"Do you give up?"
"No!" He snapped.
"Can you still fight?"
"No." He growled through gritted teeth. She could see he couldn't so why bother asking.
"Then I win. The agreement was if I won, you stay. I won, so no more complaining."
He stared at her. That was all she was going to say? The shadow lifted away from him and slid back into the floor where it vanished. But she didn't say anything else. Her Keyblade was dismissed and she made to leave.
"That's it?"
Rachel stopped. "What? Would you rather I rub it in? I challenged you, I won, now the terms must be honored. Cut and dry. Now you can do what you like, so long as it's within the boundaries of the training castle."
He was quite stunned by the annoying simplicity of her explanation but he had no time to respond. At the edge of the arena, Riku had cried out and suddenly dropped to his knees as if he'd been hurt. Rachel was at his side in a heartbeat.
"Riku! What happened?"
"I…I don't know. It-it's like…" He began that deep mouth-breathing one tends to resort to when they're trying to keep their cookies down after a spinny carnival ride. "Something...I can-my head."
"What's wrong?" She asked worriedly.
"The time window! The-the past! I can see it-no. I can remember it both ways! But we changed things. How can I remember both outcomes?" Riku didn't dare stand up. He'd never felt so dizzy and nauseous in his whole life. He closed his eyes but that didn't stop the feeling like his brain was riding a fast swinging pendulum.
He could see the battle outside the mansion. It was like watching a badly spliced movie with one film directly over top of the other. One memory had him winning the fight and the replica saying its final words before fading into blackness. In the other, the fight was interrupted by a bright light and an older version of himself taking the replica away, leaving him alone in the clearing. Bewildered by the bizarre experience but still mission oriented, Riku saw his younger self entering the mansion and finding Naminé. At that point the stories lined up. The only difference was in one of them he had frequent wonderings as to what exactly happened that day, what had happened to the replica and what sort of power was responsible.
"I should've known," Rachel apologized. She rubbed his back lightly but remained on her toes in case he did in fact get sick (as it looked he might) and had to step back. "There isn't anything we could have done that would have been without some sort of consequence. Now you've got two timelines of the same event in your head."
"You couldn't have known. And I was the one who insisted we do this." Riku told her. He spoke quietly, not wanting to open his mouth too far out of fear it might invite his gag reflex to just give up.
"Need anything?"
"I'll be fine." He managed to say. "But I will be talking to you later."
"Do you mind telling me what that was!"
After a good rest and after his head stopped pounding, Riku made sure to express his thoughts about the display he had just seen on the battlefield.
"A firm hand was needed, so I delivered."
"You used Darkness." He spoke candidly.
"Yeah, mine."
"That shadow thing-."
"Was my shadow. That was my darkness; Darkness that was unique to me. Remember what I said about a person's darkness manifesting to be used for them? That wasn't just a theory. I was working on making it happen, and I did!"
Riku still looked skeptical and unimpressed. "You don't need me to tell you how I feel about this."
"It's ok, I got this. I didn't reach out to the Dark. Only within. I showed you what my heart looks like, the Light is balanced by Darkness just like everyone else's. I promise, I only made use of what was already mine."
Riku still didn't look completely convinced. But he wasn't so blind to see how hard she was avoiding saying things like how she'd never resort to using, for lack of a better term, outside darkness. He appreciated the sensitive way she worded her explanation. He knew she didn't think of herself above him in any way so she tried hard not to word it like she might. That still didn't ease the itch he had that her method had the potential for going south in a bad way if she wasn't careful. But she didn't argue or get defensive when he told her how he felt about it and he would be paying attention if anything about her changed because of it. He could tell she appreciated him caring so much.
"Where is he?" Riku asked, sensing the topic needed to end.
"Sulking probably."
"Think he'll honor the terms of the challenge?"
"I don't even know if there is a beyond the training castle. It wouldn't surprise me at all if this was some sort of created pocket dimension or something only accessible by portal to those who know where it is. I knew I was going to win so I kinda…left that part out."
"So it will be hard for him to leave even if he tried."
"Yes."
"So what now?"
"What do you mean, 'what now'? This whole thing was your idea."
"I didn't exactly write up an itinerary for this! Obviously there's no way he can meet the others or go to the Tower."
"Pfffft! You bet he can't! If Master Yen Sid finds out what we did?" Rachel shuddered. "I like being three-dimensional, thanks."
"You'll take care of him when I'm not here, won't you?"
"Of course. Now you better head back before my brother starts getting suspicious as to why you've been here so long."
Riku gave her a light kiss on the forehead as well as a hug. "Thanks for doing all of this."
