"He's... actually gone. Marluxia..." Riku said quietly. Sora glanced at him, then sighed, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry. But... the Marluxia you knew was never actually real."
Axel chuckled. "You don't know the half of it. And if it's any consolation, Riku, Marluxia was kind of an asshole. You're better off with your real friends."
"I know," Riku said, smiling weakly. "I know you're all right. It just hurts. My heart feels like I just killed my best friend."
"Well, then you'll just have to try to remember who your true friends are," Axel said. He nodded his head at Naminé. "Your little girlfriend should be able to fix that. I'll leave you to it."
"Axel, wait," Naminé said quickly. Her expression grew wary. "You're... leaving? But I... the Organization..."
Axel shrugged. "While I was dealing with the traitor Marluxia, our little memory-bending tool managed to escape. What could I do? Somehow she just slipped through our fingers. The superior might be upset, but there's only so much a guy can do."
Riku smiled. "Thanks. You're a good guy, Axel."
Axel rolled his eyes. "Ehh. Don't get too comfy, pretty-boy. We had a common enemy in Marluxia, but never let your guard down around the Organization. Just a little friendly advice. Got it memorized?" He smirked, looking from Riku to Sora. "You know, you two aren't half bad. Looks like it was worth saving your hides after all."
Without another word, he vanished in a swirl of darkness.
"So, can you fix Riku's memories?" Sora said, turning to Naminé.
Naminé nodded. "Yes. Just because you can't remember something doesn't mean it's gone.
Riku's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"Remembering one thing leads to remembering another, and then another... your memories are connected, like links in a chain. Those same chains are what anchor us all together." She gave a sad smile. "I don't destroy memories. I just take apart the links and rearrange them... or in your case, reverse them. You still have all your memories."
"So you can fix my reversed memories?" Riku asked.
"Yes, but first I have to undo the links I made. Then I have to gather up the memories scattered in your heart and reconnect them." She sighed. "It will take time, but I think it will work." She hesitated, then shook her head firmly. "No, I'll make it work. It's my turn to help you out."
"Wait, but..." Riku said, eyes widening. "You said you'd have to undo the links you made. But doesn't that mean--"
"Yes," Naminé said quietly. "You won't be able to recall what happened in this castle."
"Not even... you?" Riku whispered.
"I'm sorry. It's the only way." Her blue eyes were shining with the oncoming traces of tears. "You have to choose, Riku. You can lose your memories of this castle and reclaim your old memories... or keep your memories here and give up the memories that you've lost."
Riku was silent, glancing from Sora to Naminé. He obviously wanted to remember his old friend, and he wanted to remember the mysterious red-haired girl... but plenty had happened in Castle Oblivion as well. To forget Naminé, the girl who he cared so much about... how could he do that?
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the seashell charm. It had a faint warmth to it, and something deep in his heart felt happy.
"I'm sorry," Riku said hoarsely. He felt like crying -- he would never remember Naminé again -- but he felt like it was a decision he had to make. He barely remembered the past year, even though it felt like something important had happened. His entire life's memories were fragmented, and the only truly clear image in his mind was of his childhood with Marluxia and Naminé. But it was all a lie... and he had to know the truth. "But I want... to go back to the way I was."
Naminé looked pained, but she managed to force a smile. "Okay, I understand! Who needs false memories, right? Especially when you have real memories of people who are really important to you. Anyone would... say the same."
Riku, Sora, and Naminé stepped into a blank white room; it reminded Sora of what the memory worlds looked like after he had shattered the illusion with the King's sword. At the center of the room was a huge, flower-like contraption, like some kind of bizzare sleeping pod.
"So, I have to sleep in that thing to get my memories back?" Riku said uneasily.
"You'll be fine," Naminé said with a smile. "It might take a little time, but I'll take care of you."
"But... I won't remember you when I wake up," Riku said, pain in his eyes. "I want to at least be able to thank you..."
"I can remind you," Sora said brightly. "You might forget Naminé, but I won't. I'll still remember everything that happened here."
"I don't know if that's a good idea," Naminé said uneasily. "Just like how his true memories lie buried at the bottom of his heart right now, his memories of this place will be lying dormant once I put his memory back to the way it was. If you remind him of this place, and of me, it could awaken those memories. They could end up setting off a chain reaction, mixing together, clashing, and eventually destroying his heart."
"Oh," Sora said uneasily. "Well then... nevermind. In that case I won't tell him."
"But I want to thank you," Riku said, frustrated. "Even if I can't remember you, even if I can't be told of everything that happened, when I see you again I want to be able to thank you for everything you've done. Even if I don't remember why."
Naminé thought for a moment, then crossed the room and picked up a sketchbook. She sat down and quickly began to sketch something with crayons. Sora and Riku exchanged glances, confused. After a couple of minutes, Naminé stood, tore out the page, and handed it to Riku.
"There," she said sheepishly. "Even if you don't remember me, you can at least have that."
Riku's face turned red. On the page was a rough drawing of three people -- Sora, Riku, and Naminé. At the top of the page, written in neat handwriting, were the words "Thank Naminé".
"Th... thank you," Riku said quietly. Tears began to form in his eyes as he folded up the page and put it in his pocket. "I don't want to forget you..."
"You have to," Naminé said kindly, but with some sadness. She smiled at Sora. "You have people who truly care about you, and even more people waiting at home."
"The other girl deserves to be remembered," Sora said quietly, remembering Naminé's warning not to say Kairi's name.
"So do you," Riku admitted, giving the younger boy a small smile. "I don't remember anything but dark Sora, but I can see why I was friends with you. I want to remember that again."
"Thanks," Sora said with a grin. He glanced at Naminé and Riku for a moment; they stared back. Finally he gave an awkward laugh. "Oh, uh... I think I'm gonna go check the other room. Just to make sure that, uh... Marluxia is actually gone. Yeah."
Riku sighed as Sora strolled casually out of the room; could he be any more obvious? He appreciated the gesture however -- he had been meaning to have a moment alone with Naminé while he still could.
"Good night, Riku," Naminé said sadly. "It may have started with a lie, but I'm really glad I met you."
"I am too. I was really happy whenever I remembered something new about you, and when I saw you... it felt amazing. Even if the memories were fake, the feelings weren't."
"Goodbye," Naminé said, her pain showing through her forced smile. Riku shook his head.
"No, not goodbye. This isn't the last time I'll see you, it can't be. I'll find you again, and we can be friends for real." Riku smiled. "Promise."
Naminé shook her head. "You'll only forget."
"No I won't," Riku said stubbornly. "It's just like you said... even if my memories of this place are taken apart, they'll still by lying dormant somewhere in my heart. The memory will be there."
"I guess you're right." Naminé's face brightened, and she held out her hand. Riku took it gently; her skin was as soft as he remembered.
"I'll see you again, Naminé. If anything, I have your picture. I'll cherish it forever. Even if I forget."
Riku bent down and quickly kissed her on the cheek. Then, taking a deep breath, Riku turned and climbed up into the waiting machine. He positioned himself in the center, then turned to face Naminé.
"Riku... the loose links will sink into the darkness in your heart," Naminé warned him as the panels in the machine began to move upwards, closing him in. "You won't be able to just reach in and pick the one you want. But there's another promise you made -- a promise to someone you could never replace. She's your light. The light within the darkness. If you can remember her... all the memories lost in the shadows of your heart will come into the light."
"No matter how deep the darkness, a light shines within," Riku mumbled, not knowing where the phrase came from. It felt familiar... had he just forgotten it?
The machine slowly began to close, and Riku began to be encased in darkness.
Naminé nodded. She called out to him through the closing gaps in the machine; he could see nothing but a sliver of her face that grew even smaller. "Exactly. Look at the good luck charm. I changed its shape when I changed your memory. But when you thought of her, it went back to the way it was. You're remembering."
With a clang, the machine closed completely, shutting Riku into a dark, silent tomb. He closed his eyes, taking the good luck charm from his pocket and focusing on it with all his might.
He felt a sudden rush of nostalgia -- images flew through his mind. People he had forgotten about... his parents, Tidus, Selphie, Wakka... Leon, Yuffie, Aerith, Goofy, Donald... Sora... and finally the red-haired girl. He gasped.
"K...Kairi!" he said aloud, suddenly remembering her name. Naminé appeared beside him in his mind's eye; he turned to face the blonde girl. "Naminé? Is that..."
"Don't worry," she said sadly, her image smiling at him. "You'll forget me... but we have our promise, so I can come back to you."
"Right. We promised. And it'll always be in my heart... even if I forget."
Naminé nodded. "One day it'll be our light, the light that brings us together. I may not know it's you, and you may not know it's me. But we will meet again. I'll be in your heart until that time comes."
Riku smiled. "I know. Like you said, we're connected by our memories. Even if I don't remember... my heart will."
He put the good luck charm -- Kairi's good luck charm -- in his pocket. He suddenly began to feel very sleepy as he began to float in the air. Slowly, he slipped into unconsciousness, Kairi and Naminé on his mind.
Sora sighed, walking back into the room where they had defeated Marluxia not long before. Black soot and charred thorns lay in crumpled heaps along the walls. He was sad that Riku had to forget about Naminé... she seemed like a nice person, even if she had completely changed his memories. But Kairi cared about him... Sora knew that. It was like Naminé said -- Riku was just projecting his feelings for Kairi onto Naminé. Even if Sora couldn't have her, Riku should at least remember their childhood crush.
"Golly -- looks like I'm a little late. Sorry I took so long! Seems like ya took care of things pretty well on your own!"
Sora looked up, jarred from his thoughts by a familiar voice. His face lit up brightly.
"King Mickey! You made it!" Sora ran up to the tiny mouse. He hesitantly reached out and touched the King's round ears, trying to make sure that he wasn't an illusion this time around.
"Hey! Cut it out, that tickles!" Mickey said, laughing. Sora grinned.
"Sorry -- it's really you! You're not an illusion this time!"
"I promised I'd come, didn't I?"
"I'm really glad!" Sora said cheerfully. "You should meet Naminé! She's fixing Riku's memories right now... long story... but how'd you get here, anyway? Weren't you far away or something?"
"I was lookin' for the way out of the realm of darkness," the king said, thinking. "And then there was this huge surge of light! I thought, that must be Sora. I'm glad you're working on your powers!"
"Yeah," Sora admitted. "That was probably when we beat Marluxia. It's been hard... everyone keeps trying to get me to use darkness... but I think I like this better. It feels right."
"Sorry I couldn't come sooner." The king glanced around at the destruction in the room. "It looks like a tough battle. What happened to your shirt?"
"Oh yeah," Sora said, looking down at the place where Marluxia's scythe had left the gash in his chest. The cut had mostly healed, but there was a large, bloodstained hole in the center of his shirt. "I'm okay. Guess I need some more clothes, huh?"
"It would seem that I was wrong about you," a third voice suddenly said. Sora turned quickly and brandished his sword.
"It's you!" Standing before him was the man with red bandages covering his face, the one who had tried to get him to embrace darkness. Sora stared at him warily. "What do you want?"
The man held up his hands, showing that he meant no harm. "Calm yourself, boy. Call me DiZ -- it's as good a name as any. I've been watching you all along."
"Who are you?" Sora said, lowering his weapon. "Why have you been watching me?"
"You are special. You reject the darkness and choose to embrace the light -- only the King here shares your decisions."
Sora glanced down at the mouse, realizing that the two had come together. "Do you know him, Your Majesty?"
"I'm not really sure. I can't help feeling that I met him somewhere before," Mickey said thoughtfully. Sora turned back to DiZ.
"So, DiZ... you never answered my question. Who are you?"
"Nobody... or anybody. It all depends on whether you choose to believe in me or not."
Sora frowned. "What? Can you at least try to make sense?"
DiZ shook his head. "Nevermind. For now, I'm just here to watch. Naminé needs guidance as well, now that she is free from the shackles of the Organization. I wish to aid her. In the meantime, you have a choice to make as well, just like Riku."
Sora's eyes widened. "What? I do?"
"As I said, you are unique in that you reject the strength of darkness, which so many others have sought... and instead find your own strength in the absence of darkness. You are your own person in many ways, but you could pursue that even further. I want you to meet with Naminé one last time, and then choose." He gestured to the door that Sora had come through. "Naminé should be finishing up with Riku soon. But first -- a gift."
DiZ reached into a pouch hanging from his side and brought out two odd bundles -- something made from black leather. The material felt strangely slick, however.
"What's this?" Sora said, taking it and peering at it curiously. As he held it up, the bundle unfolded -- he realized that it was one of the hooded cloaks of the Organization. DiZ handed the second one to King Mickey.
"The Organization will pursue you. Like a pack of hunting dogs, they will sneak up on you if they sense your presence. However, this cloak that is worn by Nobodies will render their eyes and their noses useless." DiZ glanced at the King and chuckled. "The ears, not so. They wear this to give themselves protection from being devoured by darkness. Is it clear? Even the Organization cannot rule the darkness."
Sora listened intently, removing his destroyed, bloody shirt and changing into the black robe. It was a perfect fit. Finally he shook his head. "I don't care. Cloak or not, I won't run from the darkness. I'll face it -- and destroy it."
"Excellent," DiZ said, smiling through the bandages obscuring his face.
Sora glanced at the King -- he had changed into his robe, which he now saw had custom-made ear-slots. Sora grinned.
"Looking good, your Majesty!"
"Aww, shucks," Mickey said, smiling.
"It is time," DiZ said, gesturing to the door. "Speak with Naminé -- Riku should be sleeping by now. The choice you make shall decide the path you take."
"Well... alright," Sora said nervously. Taking a deep breath, he turned and walked back to the room where Naminé waited.
"Oh... Sora," Naminé said brightly as Sora entered the room. "DiZ spoke with me... at least through his mind. I think I'm going to work with him for a while."
"He told me," Sora said, tugging at the collar of the black robe. It was slightly constraining, but in an odd way it was starting to feel like a part of him. He stared up at the sleeping pod; Riku could be seen faintly through the glass, floating in a deep sleep.
"Do you think it'll work?" he asked quietly.
Naminé nodded. "It's not foolproof, but like I said... I'll make it work. I don't know how long it will take though. DiZ mentioned moving Riku to a safer place, where the Organization won't be able to get to him."
"Even with Marluxia gone, they're still after him, huh?" Sora said quietly. "It's just like Axel said. What's so important about the Keyblade?"
Naminé bowed her head. "I'm not sure. But that's sort of what DiZ wanted me to talk to you about." She placed a hand on Sora's chest and smiled. "Your heart is full of light -- it shines more brilliantly than in anyone I've ever seen. That light gives you power... but darkness is still in your heart, holding you back."
"I still have darkness in my heart?" Sora said quietly, placing his hand on his chest.
Naminé nodded. "There is darkness in every heart." She smiled at him sadly. "Riku isn't the only one who has feelings for Kairi, is he? And sometimes you wonder why the Keyblade chose Riku instead of you. Isn't that right?"
Sora's face turned red. "I... I guess I do. But I'm okay with it... Riku is my friend."
"But you're still jealous, at least a little bit. You hide it well -- but I've seen your memories. Those jealous thoughts sit in your heart and turn into darkness. If you want me to, I can lock your heart tight. You'll forget your feelings for Kairi, your jealousy of Riku... but your light will be free of darkness. You'll be more powerful than ever before, as powerful as Riku. Maybe more."
"But if you do that... will I forget everything like Riku?" Sora said quietly, looking up at his sleeping best friend.
Naminé nodded. "The darkness in your heart will be sealed tight just like your memory. You'll stop remembering the darkness. You'll go back to how you were. Sora, please choose."
Sora frowned, looking up at Riku, deep in thought. He wanted to be free of darkness, to be filled with light. But how much of himself would he be giving up? Even if he forgot his feelings for Kairi... they would still be there, the links hidden away in his heart like with Riku. Finally he shook his head.
"I think... I'd rather remember. If Riku can handle having darkness in his heart, I sure can." He grinned at Naminé. "Besides, I'm not Riku. I'll never let darkness take over -- I'm gonna keep letting the light shine strong."
Naminé smiled. "If that's what you want, then it's your choice."
Sora smiled. "You seem like you already knew what I'd choose."
"I didn't know. I hoped." Naminé beamed at him. "It's easy to embrace the light when you don't know anything else... but to embrace it when you can choose darkness instead takes true strength."
"I get it. That's why you came to me as Kairi when Lexaeus surrounded me by darkness. To point me towards the light."
Naminé gasped, her face turning red. "Y...you knew?"
"I suspected when I met you," Sora said with a smile. "But now I'm more certain. Somehow you... feel the same as Kairi. Even though you messed with our memories... I'm glad I met you. And I know Riku is too, even if he forgets."
Naminé smiled sheepishly. She took a step forward and hugged Sora tightly. "I'm glad I met you too. Both of you. Maybe someday... we'll meet again."
Sora grinned as Naminé stepped away. "Yeah. I hope so."
"So, you decided not to go to sleep, huh?" the King said, grining at Sora as he emerged from the sleeping chamber.
"Yeah," Sora said, surprised. "How'd you know that?"
"DiZ told me."
"Oh... right," Sora said, peering around the room. The mysterious masked man was nowhere in sight.
"So, Sora... what happens next? Are ya going home?"
Sora thought for a moment, then shook his head. "I can't go home yet. Not while Riku's sleeping. I wanna make sure Naminé's plans go right." He grinned, then swung his glowing sword through the air. "Besides, I've gotta find my light."
The King nodded, smiling. "Your light belongs to you. Even if you have some darkness in ya, I know you can overcome it. Riku's chosen the road between light and dark -- but you're choosing your own road. I'm real proud of ya, Sora. I wanna see where that road leads. And it's okay, I want to walk the road with you."
King Mickey held out a gloved hand, and Sora shook it, taken aback. "Y...Your Majesty... thank you. I don't know what to say.
The mouse chuckled. "Oh, you don't have to call me that!"
Sora grinned. "Alright. Thanks... Mickey."
Sora and Mickey walked down the dark path, fields of grass extending infinitely beneath a starry sky. The dirt path leading away from Castle Oblivion seemed to go on forever -- but gradually they came to what appeared to be a crossroads. Standing at the center was DiZ yet again. Sora paused as they approached.
"DiZ. Are you making me choose something else?"
DiZ nodded silently. He gestured at the three paths leading away into the night.
"Will you take the road to light -- the road to darkness -- or the road in-between?"
"You already know which one I'm taking," Sora said. He turned to the right -- distantly, the sky looked a bit lighter, a sign of the coming dawn. The sun would be rising soon. He unsheithed his sword; the shining, silver blade glinted in the light, and the King peered up at him curiously.
"No matter what road Riku's going down..." Sora swung his sword through the air, grinning at DiZ.
"I'm taking the road to light."
(( The end! I hope everyone's enjoyed the second chapter in the Reversed series. Keep an eye out for Kingdom Hearts Reversed: 358/3 Days, coming soon! Also, please feel free to offer any reviews, comments, praise, criticisms, whatever! Any feedback at all helps (and motivates) me to keep churning out the adventures of Riku, the Keyblade Master. That said, I hope you've all enjoyed reading this as much as I've enjoyed writing it. Peace out! ))