Ok so here's a chapter that was pretty fun to write (though it did take me longer than I'd hoped it would...) Its a bit of a breather chapter, more laid back than usual though with good reason. Now, before we get into it, I should say that not every section of this chapter is in chronological order. Kinda decided to make the timeline of this chapter vague as its meant to take place over several weeks, and some of these happen out of order as a result, but I decided to organize them based on emotional potency instead of when they actually happen. Still, I hope it all makes sense all the same. Enjoy! (also quick note, this website is the WORST so anything that's underlined in here is actually MEANT to be crossed out (like with a strikethrough). Hopefully that doesn't ruin the effect! Sorry!)
Chapter 16: Unspoken, Unheard
Oh, let me face, let me face, let me face my fears
Has it really only been a few weeks since the last time we saw each other? It feels like it's been so much longer than that…
But in those weeks, I have been training, just like I told you I would. That's right; no more waiting for you to come back from your adventures. I want to get out there and do my part to help. And with everything I've been learning lately, I feel like it won't be very long until I can do just that.
Merlin has used his magic to bring us to a place where time doesn't matter, a huge, beautiful forest with plenty of room for us to hone our skills. We can take as long as we need to complete our training, which is something I can't thank Merlin enough for. He really is an amazing wizard, and a fair and wise teacher at that. Even if it his patience is sometimes does run a little short with Lea…
Speaking of Lea, it really is funny how things are turning out between the two of us. You know how I wasn't the most… enthusiastic about training with him at first? Well, even though it took awhile for me to come around to working with him at first, I think it's safe to say that I mostly have by now (even if a part of me does secretly wish I had taken you up on your offer to train with you, Donald, and Goofy; I can only imagine how… interesting that might have been!)
Still, despite my doubts about Lea, he really is sorry for all the trouble he caused before. I told him it's fine, but he won't stop apologizing. I'll admit, I was a little scared, and even more than that, angry about what he did to me, what he tried to do to you through it. But since then, I've gotten to know him better. All he ever wanted to do was help his friend; and honestly, because of that, it's hard not to like him.
Every now and then I catch him staring at me. When I ask him what's wrong, he says "I'm not sure. I think I'm forgetting something. Don't know what." I know this might sound a bit strange, but Sora, I think it may have something to do with you. Your journey is all about helping people; some that you've never met before, and some like Lea that you have. They're all counting on you.
But I know you can do it; if there's anyone that can help all those lost hearts find their way home, its you. And I should know; after all, you did the very same for me before.
Kairi couldn't help but smile softly as she wrote this heartfelt message out, capping off the first of what she knew would be quite a few entries. Blanketed by the crisp, quiet, warm glow of the sun setting across the seemingly endless valley before her as she was, she felt a deep sense of contentment and peace. Feelings that were quite a welcome change after the hectic, often daunting pace of yet another day packed to the brim with rigorous training.
Her ongoing writing was, however, interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching from the forest behind her. "Hey."
"Hi," Kairi smiled, turning to Lea as he came to stand in the space beside her. That smile soon fell, however, as she noticed the deeply contemplative, uncharacteristically serious stare he was sending her way. A stare that she had gotten all too used to over the past several weeks alone. "What's wrong?"
The former assassin quickly turned his focused gaze away from her at this, shaking his head as if to clear it. "Nothin'. Sorry."
"Lea…" Kairi groaned with a small, plaintiff pout.
"What? I am," he shrugged, walking over to take a seat on the rock across from the one Kairi was currently sitting on. A bout of easy silence passed between the pair, until he happened to notice his training partner was still rather preoccupied by her writing as she was before. "Whatcha working on? A letter?"
"Yep," Kairi nodded, glancing up from her notebook.
"...To Sora?" Lea asked after a moment of thought.
"Wha-how'd you know?" Kairi asked, taken aback.
"Heh, it's not like it was very hard to guess," the former assassin chuckled wryly.
Kairi returned his smirk just as playfully, insincerely pulling her notepad up a bit to keep her letter out of his view. "Well, you're technically right. But I won't send it. It's more for me."
"What, you don't want Sora to read your love letters?" Lea teased, laughing even more as Kairi's face flushed bright red at the very thought.
"L-love letters?! I-I don't-I have no idea what you're talking about!"
"Suuuure you don't," the former assassin deadpanned. "Still, if you ever do wanna get that letter to him, you could always ask Merlin to deliver it for you. It'd get him out of our hair for a few hours at least."
"More like out of your hair," Kairi shot back, knowing just how humorously uproarious the dynamic between her teacher and her fellow pupil often was. "But no, its ok. I just like talking to Sora, even if its only on paper." Her smile turned sincere as she hugged her notebook close to her chest, part of her wishing that she had a more direct way to talk to him. Though for now, she supposed, her letters would do just fine.
"Well, ok then, whatever suits you," Lea nodded, understanding. "Oh! But speaking of deliveries…" The former assassin grinned as he pulled a pair of ice cream bars, sea salt to be exact, out of his cloak. "Here."
"Ice cream? Really?" Kairi asked, pleasantly surprised.
"Yeah, I went back into town earlier to pick these up. Ya know, since Merlin won't quit harping on about how we're both getting the hang of 'the basics'. Not quite sure what that's supposed to mean, but all the same, we oughta celebrate"
Kairi chuckled warmly at this, graciously accepting the frozen treat Lea was offering her. "You're sweet, Lea."
"Pfft, naw…" Now it was the former assassin's turn to be embarrassed as flippantly brushed the compliment off.
However, even as Kairi began to enjoy her ice cream, Lea strangely didn't do the same. In fact, as she looked up to him again, she found that he was absently staring directly at her once again. The first few times she'd caught him doing this, Kairi had been admittedly uncomfortable, and every now and again she still was. But at the moment, as she sat under his scrutinizing, piercing stare now, the most she could really be was curious as to where that stare was coming from in the first place.
"What?" she finally asked, all the while knowing she wasn't bound to get much of an answer.
"N-nothing," Lea forced himself to look away from her once more. "It's just…"
"You're… trying to remember what you forgot?" Kairi filled in, knowing his usual explanation all too well by now.
"Well, I, uh… y-yeah…" he sighed, looking out towards the sunset wistfully, sadly. "Yeah…"
Kairi frowned at this, wishing there was something she could do to help the former assassin claim that mysterious, missing memory. But considering the fact that he didn't have the faintest idea as to what it could be himself, she knew she'd certainly be hard pressed to uncover much of anything about it either. Which was why she decided to do the next best thing in the hopes of easing his obvious melancholy back into their usual casual rapport. "S-so… tomorrow," she began, making sure her tone remained upbeat. "You and me in the ring. You ready?"
"'Course," Lea nodded, though it was clear he was still distracted as he watched the sun start to sink behind the distant hills.
Kairi let out a small huff at this, but even so, she kept trying. "Don't hold back, Lea. Promise?"
He finally turned to her at this, the glow of the falling sun catching his attention almost as much as her challenging words did. And in that rich, radiant light… sat someone else altogether. A girl who was so very different from Kairi, yet so very similar all the same. A girl he recognized, a girl he knew. A girl who was all but gone from his memories entirely, with nothing but a distant shadow, a vague silhouette remaining. Along with the echo she had left ringing in his heart, tight and sorrowful and pleading, even as she smiled at him, just like she always used to do.
"Please… don't hold back, Axel. Promise…"
His ice cream slipped out his hand entirely, a sharp, shuddering gasp escaping him as his heart pounded with the untold grief that unknown memory brought him. For a briefest, faintest of moments, he could almost, almost see her clearly. And as he caught that glimpse, so strange, yet so undeniably, undoubtedly familiar, he was powerless to fight back the tears that all too quickly slipped down his cheeks before he could even try to stop them. Tears prompted by pain that felt so real, but had been long since forgotten.
"Huh?" Kairi looked up from her ice cream, only to receive quite a surprise. The former assassin sitting before her was crying of all things, completely shaken and rife with despair thanks to something, though she had absolutely no idea as to what. "Lea! Are you okay!?"
"Y-yeah," Lea choked, quickly wiping away his tears, especially as Kairi got up to hurry over to him. "Sorry…"
"You're crying…" Kairi noted, quite concerned. "What's wrong?"
"J-just… just something in my eye," Lea lied, purposefully averting her worried gaze until she tried diverting it once again.
"Lea…"
"I'm… gonna go," the former assassin shook his head as he rose to stand. "Sorry."
Kairi frowned, far from satisfied, especially after what she'd just seen. But given how aloof and (ironically) coolheaded Lea often tried to be, she suspected he wouldn't really want to linger on the matter. Nor would he likely accept any sort of help with it, even if she did know how to provide it. Which of course, she admittedly didn't.
"'Kay…" she nodded before ultimately throwing on a small, gentle smile. "But no more apologizing. I get it. You're sorry; and I know you mean it. So… apology accepted."
"Heh, finally," Lea finally grinned at this. "I thought I'd never hear you say that. So fine; I'll stop apologizing. On one condition."
"Oh, come on!" Kairi sighed, exasperated. "What?"
The former assassin's smile widened a bit, any signs of his former grief gone by now as he laid out his very simple terms. "Call me Axel from now on. Got it memorized?"
Kairi couldn't help but be quite confused by this request, unsure of why the former assassin would even want to go back to using the name he carried when he was a Nobody. A part of her thought to ask, but she quickly decided against it. At least for now. "Yeah… ok. Axel."
"You got it," Lea-or rather, Axel-nodded, content as he turned to take his leave. "Catch you back at Merlin's place?"
"Yeah, see you there," Kairi agreed, lingering behind to watch him leave. Her smile ultimately faded as he disappeared back into the secret forest, especially as she looked down to the ice cream bar he had dropped, resting and slowly melting into the clover-covered ground at her feet. She knew it was likely starting to get late back in Radiant Garden, but she couldn't help herself. She had to express all of her countless, pressing myriad of thoughts somehow and who better to express them to then Sora, even if he wasn't around to hear them for himself?
Lea asked me to call him Axel again… Isn't that strange? And the strangest part of all is that I have no idea why. My first thought is that maybe it has something to do with Roxas? Though maybe that's something you would know better than I would, Sora.
Still… I'm not sure I'll ever be able to forget just how sad Lea Axel looked… I'd like to be able to help him somehow, but… I'm just not sure what to do. Maybe I would if I had more experience when it comes to helping people like you do. You've always made it look so easy. Remind me to pick up a few lessons from you once all this is over, ok?
Once all this is over… It sounds like something that'll never happen. After all, we've all been at this for so long now-you, me, and Riku. But I know in my heart that the three of us will be together again soon.
And once we are I, for one, can't wait to pick up exactly where we left off…
I know you said that neither you or Riku ever got any 'proper' Keyblade training, but if you had, then I'm sure you'd both agree with me about there being a LOT to learn! Fighting is just one small part of it all; there's defense, magic, agility, and don't even get me started on stamina. It's… quite a lot to take in, though I've been doing my best to take plenty of notes along the way. Still, if there's one thing Merlin is always sure to remind us of, its that-
"Practice makes perfect!" the wizard proclaimed his usual mantra. It wasn't often that Merlin joined his pupils in the secret forest he'd created for them, often opting to observe and educate them from the comfort of his home. But today's lesson was, in his own words, a bit more 'hands on' than usual, hence his presence as he paced before his pair of attentive students.
Well, his mostly attentive students.
"The path to becoming a true Keyblade wielder requires dedication, fortitude, perseverance, and most of all…" Merlin glowered as he stopped directly in front of Axel, who had nodded off quite some time ago and was currently lightly snoozing. "It requires staying awake during important lessons and lectures!" With a swift wave of his wand, the wizard conjured up a bucket of water right above the sleeping former assassin's head, one that quickly tipped over and all but soaked him completely.
"Wha-hey!" Axel quickly snapped awake, disgruntled as he realized he was dripping wet. "What's the big idea here, gramps?! You trying to drown me or something?!"
"Not at all, my boy," Merlin clarified. "I simply prefer to have an observant audience. Also, a word of advice, Lea? Perhaps if you didn't stay up so late, then you wouldn't be so tired during these morning sessions."
"Correction," Axel countered as he rung the water out of his cloak. "I wouldn't be so tired if these morning sessions weren't so ridiculously early."
"It's not that early," Kairi pointed out with a small, amused chuckle.
"Says you," the former assassin scoffed. "Personally, I'd rather stay in bed until noon at least."
"That's a habit you'd best break yourself out of if you hope to properly learn how to use that Keyblade of yours," Merlin mused. "Especially considering the importance of today's lesson in particular."
"Oh?" Kairi asked, intrigued. "And what is today's lesson about, Merlin?"
"Don't tell me you're gonna toss us into the ring against even more Heartless," Axel groaned. "Even you gotta admit, old man, that's starting to get pretty old."
"Need I repeat myself when I say practice makes perfect?" the wizard remarked pointedly. "But no, rather, I'm sure you both will be pleasantly surprised to hear that today's exercise does not involve any of your usual combat training. Instead, we're going to dive deep into another aspect that's arguably even more important than that; today, we're going to the very heart of it all, what defines each of you as a Keyblade wielder."
Kairi and Axel couldn't help but exchange a mutually confused glance upon hearing this, though ultimately the former decided to speak up to it first before the latter could make any further sarcastic remarks. "What… exactly does that mean?" Kairi asked with a frown.
"As always, my dear, you've posed an excellent question," Merlin grinned knowingly. "You see, each and every Keyblade wielder ever known has always possessed one quality, one area of strength that rises above all others they may possess. For instance, say a Keyblade wielder has a mastery of magic but prefers to fight with just their physical attributes and their weapon alone. Then that wielder's defining trait would be their reliance on their strength. And while such reliance is by no means a bad thing, it does help if one is more… well-rounded than that. Which is exactly why I'd like to hone in on what method of attack each of you favors most, so that we can properly learn how to build all of your other skills up around that. Understand?"
"Err… not really…" Axel scratched his head, still confused.
"Actually, I think I get it," Kairi countered thoughtfully. "You want us to discover what our strengths are so we can become… stronger? Right?"
"A rather simplified explanation, but yes, that's roughly accurate," Merlin nodded. "So Lea, since you're so eager to get some rest, why don't we start with you first? What would you say your greatest asset on the battlefield would be?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Axel grinned, simply snapping his fingers to erupt a sudden, sizable flaming barrier just behind him. "Wherever I go, I always make sure to bring the heat."
"So you do…" Merlin noted. "Though you might want to douse those flames of yours for now. I'd hate to have to create another enchanted forest in the event that this one is burnt to a crisp by a rather reckless use of fire."
"Hmph, you're no fun, old man," the former assassin scowled, dissipating his fire with a mere passive wave of his hand.
"All the same," the wizard largely ignored him. "Fire magic is an easy enough skill to work with, and one that I've heard you have ample experience with. Building everything else up around it should be rudimentary enough moving forward."
"Great, so now can I head back and finally take a nap?" Axel asked, hopeful.
"Absolutely not," Merlin said succinctly, much to the former assassin's noisy disappointment. "Now, Kairi, let's move on to you. What do you believe your greatest strength to be?"
"Um… well…" Kairi paused, taking a moment to think it over. Admittedly, she had no real idea what to say or what range of strengths Keyblade wielders could even possess in the first place. Which was why her knee-jerk reaction was to think about Sora and Riku and what she'd observed from each of them in the past as a frame of reference. By all accounts, Sora seemed to be quite well-rounded in a fight, though if she had to pin his most outstanding attribute down, it would no doubt be his resourcefulness, his ability to adapt to situations as they came and work around them to find a winning solution. Riku, on the other hand, had always been a bit more reliant on his physical strength, though his hard-earned grip over what had once been his greatest weakness, namely his own inner darkness seemed to stand out more than anything else. But when Kairi reflected on her own abilities, or rather, the glaring lack thereof, she found that she couldn't really name any that particularly rose above the rest. A fact that she all-too hesitantly decided to honestly admit. "I-I'm sorry, but… I'm not sure if I really even… have any strengths at all…"
Much to her surprise, Merlin offered her a kind, understanding smile instead of calling her out for her relative lack of an answer. "My dear, you'll find that every single soul scattered far and wide across the worlds has a unique and special strength all their own, including you. All you need to do is figure out exactly what that your strength is. Your Keyblade will show you the way."
"My Keyblade…?" Kairi repeated, raising her hand to summon said weapon. Destiny's Embrace flashed into her grip, though for a moment, nothing else happened, even as she held onto it with both hands. Both Merlin and Axel watched her expectantly, but all the while, Kairi kept her eyes on her Keyblade, searching, hoping to feel some sort of reaction from it, even if she wasn't exactly sure what. Ultimately though, as if guided by instinct alone, she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, blocking out everything else other than the Keyblade in her hands. Until two other thoughts, different yet quite similar, happened to ring out in her mind, bringing a pair of welcome memories with them;
"And don't worry; you'll be just fine, Kairi. Knowing you, you'll be giving me and Sora a run for our munny in no time."
"Wish me luck?"
"You don't need it. I have a feeling you'll do a great job all on your own."
Riku… Sora… They believe in me… The thought sparked a burst of warmth within her, small at first, though it steadily grew until she could contain it no longer. The two people she was absolutely certain she cared about the most believed she could do this. Which meant that maybe it was time for her to start believing that herself.
"Stars alive…"
"Whoa… Kairi…"
"Hm?" Kairi finally opened her eyes upon hearing Merlin and Axel's awed whispers, and it didn't take her very long to figure out where that awe was coming from. Her Keyblade was bathed in a rich, radiant light, light that had come to gently envelop the rest of her body as well. "W-what… what is this…?" she wondered softly, amazed by just how natural this glow both felt and looked on her.
"My dear, I believe you just found your strength…" Merlin noted with a proud, growing smile. "Its baffling that I didn't consider it before, but in hindsight, this makes perfect sense. You are a Princess of Heart, are you not?"
"W-well… yes," Kairi nodded, not sure of what that really had to do with anything.
"Well, as a Princess of Heart, your own heart is completely devoid of darkness," Merlin explained. "It is, to put it simply, pure light. So, it would only make sense that your own natural power reflects that light, don't you agree?"
"Light…" Kairi mused softly, holding her Keyblade slightly aloft and watching it pulsate with that purified power. Power that came from her, that was hers. A unique and special strength all her own, just as Merlin had said. And as she embraced that power and exactly what it meant, even as that light slowly began to dim, she couldn't help but smile.
"So we got light and fire on our hands, huh?" Axel spoke up, offering Kairi a congratulatory nod over her discovery. "Where do we go from here, gramps?"
Merlin shot the former assassin an unsavory look over this constant nickname, though even so he addressed his question all the same. "Now is an opportune time to sharpen those strengths, learn to utilize them in conjunction with your Keyblades and put them into practice in the battlefield. And with those strengths identified, I see no reason why we can't get started doing exactly that right here and now!"
"Augh, seriously?" Axel groaned, exasperated. "Are you ever gonna let us have a day off, old man?"
"Perhaps I might…" Merlin began leadingly, discreetly conjuring up another bucket of water to put his rebellious pupil in his place. "When you finally stop calling me old man!"
Kairi was helpless to hold back a heavy bout of laughter as the wizard unleashed his watery revenge. At the same time, she noticed her former golden glow was mostly gone, even her Keyblade taking on its usual pallor once more. Even so, she hardly minded; after all, even if she wasn't entirely sure how these new powers worked yet, she had taken the first, most important step in learning more about them all the same.
For so long, I thought there was nothing really special about me, especially compared to you and Riku… I had been told before that my heart was filled with light, but I never understood exactly what that meant… Until now. Merlin told me that the power of light itself is a very special gift. And even if I don't quite know how to use it yet, I'm determined to figure it out. To use it to fight by your side.
To be your light in the darkness, no matter how deep.
Merlin is a pretty stern teacher, so it's honestly pretty rare that he actually pulls us away from our training in the secret forest. But today he did, announcing that some "very special guests" were stopping by for a visit and that he wanted us to meet them. Of course, neither me or Axel had a single clue as to who, until those guests showed up in a sudden burst of bright magic: the three good fairies, Flora, Fauna, and Merrywether.
"Merlin, dear, it's been far too long!" Flora greeted brightly, flying forward to meet the wizard in a cordial handshake.
"We're so delighted you invited us to come by to see you!" Fauna added just as cheerily.
"We have a lot of catching up to do!" Merrywether finished a bit more sternly than the others, though her tidings were still just as bright.
"Greetings, ladies!" Merlin chuckled as he received his guests. "You're absolutely right, Merrywhether, we certainly do have much to catch up on. Starting with my my two new young pupils here! Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather, I'd like you to meet Lea and Kairi." The wizard smiled as he motioned toward the pair standing alongside him curiously.
The fairies were practically abuzz with excitement as they all flittered over to the two, eager to meet them. "Ah, so you're Merlin's new students we've heard so much about!" Merryweather exclaimed, catching Axel off guard as she shook his hand enthusiastically.
"All good things, of course," Fauna added, offering Kairi a kindly smile. "We hear you two are progressing wonderfully when it comes to your training!"
"Wonderfully, huh? So you do brag on us after all, don't ya, gramps?" Axel asked Merlin with a knowing smirk.
"Come now, my boy, I would hardly call it bragging," Merlin huffed with a dismissive wave of his hand. "I simply like giving credit where credit is due."
"Oh, but Merlin, dear, in your latest letter, you said you very proud of both of them," Flora pointed out.
"Oh, Merlin!" Kairi grinned. "That's very sweet of you!"
"N-now, now! I… w-well, you see, I-" Merlin ultimately let out a defeated huff, one that elicited a shared laugh from his pair of students and his trio of guests alike. "W-why don't I just go prepare us all some tea then…?"
At this, the wizard quickly made his flustered retreat, leaving the fairies behind to continue their meeting with Kairi and Axel. "So, Master Yen Sid tells us you two are training to fight alongside the guardians of light," Flora began inquisitively.
"Yes, that's right," Kairi nodded.
"What a noble cause to be fighting for," Fauna said earnestly. "You both are very brave."
"Well, brave or stupid, the jury's still out as to which," Axel joked wryly.
"Hm…" Merryweather mused, looking over the pair thoughtfully. "You know, if you plan on going into a fight like that, then you'll both need better protection against the darkness…"
"Oh, dears!" Flora clasped her hands together in delight. "I think we have our next protect on our hands!"
"Project?" Kairi asked, curious.
"Ah, it's a secret," Fauna winked, already on board with Flora's train of thought. "But you'll get to see it soon enough."
Kairi and Axel exchanged a confused glance at this, both of them absolutely out of whatever loop the fairies had created as they crowded together to whisper and plot amongst themselves. Soon enough, however, Merlin soon returned with a tea tray in hand.
"Now, if there is one thing I am proud of, it's this tea," Merlin proclaimed pointedly, setting it down on the table. "Freshly brewed and piping hot."
"And lemme guess, made with magic?" Axel asked with a clever smirk. "Just like everything else in here?"
"Oh, good eye, dear!" Flora exclaimed before Merlin could even get a word in edgewise.
"You always were one to favor a home filled with magic, Merlin," Merryweather chuckled teasingly. "Though perhaps a bit too much if you ask me…"
"Well, not everyone can go 16 years living out in the middle of the forest without using any magic to speak of…" Merlin grumbled. "Now, are we going to let this delicious tea go to waste or what?"
No one argued with the wizard on this, with everyone instead eagerly helping themselves in order to enjoy a very welcome tea time. Merlin was clearly glad to be in the company of his old friends and likewise, Kairi and Axel also enjoyed both a break from their training as well as conversing with the trio of fairies. All three of whom seemed quite invested to hear more about the pair's progress, for some unknown reason.
Of course, Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather also spoke very highly of you, Sora. They even said they made magical clothing for you, Riku, and the king! What a great honor. I wonder if Axel and I could ever work our way up to receiving such a special gift someday…
Oh, speaking of special, there was one thing the fairies said to me just as they were leaving that's stuck with me ever since. It made me think of what happened during training the other day, when I discovered my power of light. It started when Fauna pulled me aside, taking my hands as she gave me a warm, confident smile. "Your heart is filled with light, dear," she said. "I can sense it, pure and strong."
"Just like our Aurora!" Merrywether chimed in fondly.
"I'm sure you'll use that light to do great things," Flora assured. "Just believe in that light and in yourself and the darkness will never be able to defeat you."
"My heart will shine with its power and push the darkness away…" I finished, the words coming out without me even thinking about them. The fairies seemed to share my confusion as they looked to each other, but I could still feel it. Those words, that promise… they were so, so familiar. Like something someone once said to me in a dream… A story I'd heard many times before.
Anyway, I thanked the fairies as they left, but even now I can't stop thinking about that story… I don't know who told it to me or when, but I can feel its weight. Sense its importance. "But the true light sleeps, deep within the darkness…." she'd said, I remember, I know. "Someday, a door to the innermost darkness will open, and the true light will return. So listen, child… Even in the deepest darkness, there will always be a light to guide you…"
What is that light? Is it my light, or someone else's light entirely?
I don't know. But I want to know. Everyone keeps talking about the light in my heart, but I still hardly even know what that light even is. It's frustrating… but exciting. Like a secret just waiting to be uncovered. And Sora, I can't wait to tell you that secret first the moment I discover exactly what it is.
I'm happy to say that Keyblade training isn't all Heartless brawls and lengthy lectures. More often than not, Merlin's been letting us learn "outside of the classroom" and back in Radiant Garden. And that isn't all. He's also been letting us pick up a few lessons from a few different teachers as well, some of whom I'd bet you're familiar with, Sora.
Let's start with Aerith. I'm sure you know this, but she's a talented healer. Not only that, but she's very kind and a very good listener. Which is why I try to sit in with her at least once a week to learn all I can when it comes to healing. Something that I think will come in handy considering just how… reckless you tend to be (no offense!).
"Of course a hi-potion heals faster and better than a regular potion," Aerith explained, pointing out said potion amidst the collection she had gathered for the sake of this demonstration. "But a mega potion outdoes them both. It heals to a lesser extent, but it can be used several times over, which makes its it great for any team or group to have one on hand."
"Makes sense…" Kairi nodded, adding onto her copious, careful notes. "What's that one?"
"That's an elixir," Aerith said, nodding to the item Kairi had pointed out among the others. "It replenishes both health and magic, and it's very potent. But the ingredients needed to make it are… somewhat hard to come by. Which is why it's the only one I have. I'm saving it for… someone, just in case they might need it."
Kairi raised an eyebrow at this, partially wanted to ask who that someone was, though she decided against it upon noticing the rather wistful, almost sad look on Aerith's face. "So… what about healing magic?" she asked instead, getting the lesson back on track. "How does that work?"
"Well… healing magic can be… a little tricky," Aerith said with a small smile. "Are you sure you're up for it?"
Kairi laughed at this, confident. "Well, if I can handle the Heartless hordes Merlin makes me and Axel take on every other day, I think I can handle a little healing magic too, don't you think?"
Aerith couldn't help but let out a small chuckle at this herself. "Well in that case, let's give it a try. We'll practice on this plant for now." She pulled over a small, potted flower onto the table they were working at, a plant that Merlin had clearly neglected to put in a place where it would have gotten the proper sunlight it needed based on how dropping and brittle it was. "So there's three basic types of healing spells: cure, cura, and curaga. Since cure is the easiest, we'll start with that."
"Right," Kairi nodded, dutifully summoning Destiny's Embrace. However, instead of giving any further instructions, Aerith simply shook her head.
"Actually, I'd like you to try it without your Keyblade," she said. "This kind of magic works fine when its channeled through a weapon, but it works even better when it's straight from the source. All you need to do is connect with the energy of whatever or whoever you're trying to heal, figure out and feel what's wrong, and tap into your own power to fix it."
"...I hope that's actually easier than it sounds…" Kairi remarked with a fretful frown as she let her Keyblade disappear.
"Don't worry, it is," Aerith assured warmly. "Now, just… focus…"
Kairi did so, taking in a deep breath as she extended a hand out toward the plant, focusing on it and nothing else. For what seemed like ages though, she felt absolutely no feedback from the plant itself as it sat, still and withering before her. However, when she least expected it, there it was: a burst of energy, small and unfeeling and worst of all, fleeting. Fading. Dying.
No, wait, she thought urgently, desperate to reverse that dying process. Stop, please. Let me help you…
So, that's exactly what she did.
As if like a series of successive waves lapping onto the sand, she could feel her magic flow out of her. She could feel it touch the plant, feel that magic weave its way into the flowers frayed, fading energy. And slowly, she could feel her magic fix it, restore what had been lost, repair what had withered away. But that wasn't all. For even after she'd fixed it, her magic went beyond that. It energized it, invigorated it, expanded its life force beyond what it ever was before. And by the time she opened her eyes, she found that the plant had not only been completely healed, but it had blossomed, it had grown as it now towered towards the ceiling, several brightly-colored flowers budding upon a lush, healthy vine.
"W-whoa…" Kairi gasped, awestruck as she looked to the plant. "I did that…?"
"I-I think you did…" Aerith mused, just as surprised. "But… how? The magic you were just using, it wasn't a simple cure spell."
"It… wasn't?"
"No… What you just did here, Kairi, was a curaza spell. The most powerful healing spell of them all!"
"W-what?!" Kairi exclaimed, aghast. "B-but that's crazy! I've never even used any healing magic before now! How could I have done something like… like that?!" She motioned back to the plant, still thriving thanks to the power she had imparted to it.
"Your guess is as good as mine," Aerith smiled incredulously. "Either way, it's something you should be proud of. It looks like you have a real knack for healing, Kairi. But keep in mind that even a spell as powerful as curaza can't heal everything. There are some wounds that healing magic just… can't fix."
"So… what do we do then?" Kairi asked, concerned.
Aerith looked away, frowning fretfully as she shook her head with unknown regret. "I hope you never have to find out…"
I hope I don't either… Kairi thought, apprehensive. After all, the very idea of any of her friends, of Sora or Riku in particular, being so badly hurt to the point that they were beyond any sort of healing, practically broke her heart. So instead of dwelling over such a troubling thought, she decided to be proactive against them instead. After all, even with potent healing powers on her side, she clearly still had a lot to learn. "Um… Aerith?" she began tentatively, catching the older girl's attention. "Do you think I could get a chance to practice that curaza spell again?"
"Of course," Aerith managed a smile at this. "Though… maybe you should try it out on a different plant. I think this one's been healed up enough."
Kairi agreed with a small, bright laugh, following after Aerith as she led the way to look for another subject to practice on. Even so, she did pause, casting another glance at her first "patient", standing tall and proud and radiating with life, life she had brought back to it.
All these powers I never knew I had… Where did they come from? Merlin said I can use light because of my heart is filled with it, so maybe that's why I'm able to use such powerful healing magic too? I don't know. To be honest, it's a bit overwhelming, and trying to make sense of it all on my own practically makes my head spin! So it's a good thing I have friends like Aerith here to help me do exactly that.
As soon as I brought up to Merlin that I want to learn how to be more agile on the battlefield, before he could get even a single word in edgewise out, Yuffie was already eagerly volunteering to help out. "Getting around a fight in a flash is my specialty!" she'd said with perky wink. It's pretty obvious that Yuffie's never really had much experience in being a teacher, but her lessons in agility do tend to be the most… interesting of the bunch…
"Excuse me? You want me to what?" Kairi asked, absolutely baffled.
"Oh, ya know, just walk along this wall here," Yuffie said, pointing out the Bailey's highest wall. Said wall was quite easy to step up and get onto from one side, but on its other was a deep drop into the barren valley far below it. "Nothin' too tricky. I've done it hundreds of times, so you've got nothing to worry about."
"...Yuffie, I don't know about this…" Kairi frowned, peering down into the vast valley miles below.
"Hey, you wanted to learn about agility and all that stuff, right?" the ninja asked, hands on her hips. "Well, improving your balance is the best place to start. And this just so happens to be the best place in town to do just that! And remember, there's no shame in falling on your first try."
"Why do I have a feeling that if I fall on my first try, it might just end up being my last try?" Kairi muttered apprehensively as she began to slowly climb up onto the wall. Her legs were rather shaky as she carefully rose to stand, though as she looked down again to the deadly fall that could very well await her if she leaned too far to one side, she quickly wished she hadn't. "Y-Yuffie-"
"I know, the view is amazing, isn't it?" Yuffie asked with something of a mischievous grin. "Now, just walk to the other end of the wall and you'll be in the clear!"
Kairi took in an uneven breath but even so, she did her best to comply. She kept her arms held out wide in the hopes of stabilizing herself as she took a small, very stiff step forward. She shifted only slightly as she took another, though all the same she managed to keep her footing on the rather narrow edge she was standing on. Until…
Out of nowhere, a sudden gust of strong wind blew in from the south, not unusual for that section of Radiant Garden, though quite unfortunate for Kairi as she was caught off guard by the force of the gale. She let out a sharp gasp as it struck her mid-step, lurching her sideways unexpectedly, towards, of all things, the far side of the wall. She barely even had time to think as her foot missed the wall just by an inch, but that inch was enough to throw her off entirely. With nothing to hold onto to anchor herself, she began to fall to the side, her eyes wide with panic as she tried in vain to do anything she could to save herself.
Luckily though, she didn't have to.
"Whoa, there! I gotcha!" Kairi yelped in surprise once again as she was suddenly yanked hard to the other side. Ultimately, she did end up falling, though not into the valley, but rather onto the hard cobblestone ground just a few feet away. In the immediate aftermath, her adrenaline and panic were still rushing as she looked around in confusion, until a familiar hand extended out toward her to help her up. "Hm… you know, maybe the highest wall in town wasn't the best one to start you out on…" Yuffie noted with a frown. You ok, Kairi?"
"Um… y-yeah, I guess," Kairi nodded, accepting the ninja's help in getting up. "As fine as I can be for nearly falling to my death…"
"That's the spirit!" Yuffie grinned, giving her a light, playful punch on the arm. "Though maybe we should start you off on something a bit… safer…"
"Good idea…" Kairi sighed, finally cracking an exasperated smile.
"I know just the place," Yuffie began to take the lead to lead the way out of the Bailey towards the upper section of town. "C'mon!"
"H-hey!" Kairi exclaimed as Yuffie got a running start ahead of her. "Wait up!"
As it turned out, Yuffie didn't just have agility on her side; she had speed. By comparison, Kairi found herself quite hard pressed to follow her, much less keep up with her, as she dashed through the eastern section of town. However, as they passed through the flowery courtyard of the central square, Kairi ultimately found herself stopping short, her attention drawn elsewhere, namely towards the castle towering high above the square. Despite her weeks in Radiant Garden thus far, she had never really paid too much mind to the castle until now, and for some reason or another, her newfound curiosity began to draw her towards it. She had all but lost track of Yuffie by now anyway, so she figured allowing herself to get a bit sidetracked would really do any harm.
Yet as she scaled up the steps leading towards the castle's front entrance, she soon began to feel something stirring within her, something familiar, almost like a faded, forgotten memory. She had been here before, standing in this very place what felt like almost a lifetime ago, when she had been much younger. But she hadn't been alone there; there had been someone else, a young woman with a kindly smile and an air of true wisdom and strength about her. The woman had rescued her from… something, and she had returned the favor with the simple gift of a handful of flowers she had plucked from the nearby gardens.
"Here!" she smiled brightly, youthfully as she presented the small bouquet.
"Are these for me?" the woman asked, pleasantly surprised.
"I picked you some flowers. Thank you for saving me!"
"Oh, they're lovely. You're so sweet," the woman smiled gently.
"My name's Kairi!" she greeted blithely. "Nice to meet you!"
"Nice to meet you too. I'm-"
"Kairi!"
She gasped as she was swiftly returned to the present, her distant memory broken just before it could actually become clear. Startled, Kairi turned to see Yuffie rushing up the stairs toward her, aptly confused.
"There you are!" the ninja huffed. "You're not very good to follow the leader, are you?"
"Sorry, Yuffie," Kairi said with a sheepish smile. "I just… This place… it feels like something… important happened to me here long ago…"
"Oh yeah, didn't you say you were from Radiant Garden?" Yuffie asked, curious. "So… if you don't mind telling me, what exactly happened here?"
"I'm… not sure," Kairi frowned. "I know it had something to do with a very kind woman, but… I can't remember who she was or what she looked like. She saved me from something, a-and then… she cast a spell on me."
"Oh? What kind of spell?" Yuffie pressed, still quite intrigued.
Kairi paused, briefly skimming her necklace as she thought back to the woman's mysterious, yet hopeful words. "A spell that would lead me to someone… who would keep me safe."
"Hm," the ninja hummed with a knowing smile. "So… did it work?"
"Yeah…" Kairi nodded warmly, gently wrapping her hand around her necklace and the magic still contained within it. "It did."
That spell… I don't know when or how, but it really did work. When I needed it most, that magic led me to safety. It took me from here to the Destiny Islands. And I know in my heart that it brought me to someone who would and has kept me safe…
Because, Sora, it brought me to you.
Compared to Aerith and Yuffie, Leon is so… serious. He's also very responsible, which makes him a natural fit to lead the restoration committee. But he does have something of a playful side too, which is pretty surprising. Axel and I got a taste of that side of him just as we met Tifa actually.
She came by Merlin's house earlier today, introducing herself to me and Axel before saying she was looking for someone. Didn't say who, though I think Leon knew who she was talking about, even if he didn't know where that someone was. Still, Tifa decided to stick around to watch Axel and Leon spar, something they challenge each other to almost every day. Boys will be boys, I suppose.
"Alright, belt-boy," Axel smirked, taking a wry dig at Leon's outfit. "Let's settle this, once and for all."
"You said that yesterday," Leon remarked, slinging his Gunblade over his shoulder. "And then after you lost to me again, you had to practically beg me for today's rematch. So I think it's safe to say this won't be 'once and for all'."
"Aw, c'mon…" Axel grumbled, ignoring Kairi and Tifa's shared laughter as they watched this exchange from the sidelines. "Not in front of the ladies…"
"Enough talk," Leon said, taking up a fighting stance. "You ready?"
"You bet," Axel nodded, doing the same with his Keyblade rather than his chakrams this time around. After all, what was the point in such a skirmish if not for the sake of practice?
With that, the pair launched into battle, clashing blades with firm gusto. As they leapt back from this starting blow, Kairi and Tifa both erupted into spirited cheers from the sidelines as the fast-paced brawl continued.
"Woo! Go get him, Squall!" Tifa shouted, pumping her first.
"You can do it, Axel!" Kairi called supportively.
Over and over again, Leon's Gunblade and Axel's Keyblade struck each other, neither side breaking down for the first phase of the fight. The sounds of the spar echoed through the street in front of Merlin's house, which was fortunately bare of any pedestrians, giving the pair plenty of space to duke it out. However, as these fights usually went, soon enough, Axel's endurance began to waver, his lack of experience compared to Leon apparent as he tried to take a moment to catch his breath. A moment that Leon made sure to take advantage of to secure his victory.
Axel only barely had a chance to raise his Keyblade to defend himself as Leon rushed in, swinging his Gunblade out wide and fast. The strike easily knocked the former assassin off his feet entirely, his Keyblade disappearing as he landed hard on the ground some distance away. He flinched as he found the sharp end of the Gunblade pointing directly at him, though fortunately, Leon pulled it back to offer him a helping hand instead.
"So, 'once and for all', huh?" he asked with knowing smirk.
"Ugh…" Axel groaned, rolling his eyes as he accepted the help up. "Just you wait, one of these days, your luck is gonna run out and I'm actually going to beat you for a change."
"Good luck with that," Tifa remarked as she headed over to the pair. "No offense, Lea, but you seem a bit… out of your element when it comes to that Keyblade of yours."
"Uh, that's 'cause I am," Axel said pointedly. "Cut me some slack, at least starting to get better, right?"
Leon and Tifa exchanged an uncertain glance at this, though fortunately for the former assassin's already frayed pride, Kairi was quick to step in. "Don't worry, Axel," she chuckled warmly. "I think you're improving."
"Gee, thanks," Axel deadpanned, hardly allayed. "Say, speaking of improving, why don't you try a round in the ring with ol' Leon here?"
"W-what?" Kairi asked, caught off guard.
"Yeah! I want to see you in action too, Kairi!" Tifa exclaimed with a daring grin. "What about you, Squall?"
"I'm up to it if you are, Kairi," Leon said. "But no pressure; after all, I know you're still a beginner like Lea here. So if you want me to go easy on you, I-"
"N-no," Kairi protested, largely without thinking. "Don't go easy on me. Xehanort and the Organization aren't going to go easy on us, so it's better that we learn how to be tough before we fight them. So we can be stronger!"
"Hm…" Leon mused over this for a moment before ultimately brandishing his Gunblade once more. "Alright. Then let's see what you've got."
Kairi nodded, taking in a deep, steadying breath as she summoned her Keyblade. Tifa and Axel stepped back to give them plenty of room to fight, and on the exact same beat, they both rushed forward to meet each other in a starting strike. Said strike was clearly won by Leon though, who managed to push Kairi back quite a bit by sheer force alone. She narrowly managed to maintain her footing as she pressed up against a nearby wall, though as she did she quickly noticed that Leon was rapidly on his way toward her once again. Since she had already internally resolved herself against using any sort of magic in this brawl, Kairi instead blocked his next swing, pushing it back with a heavy shout and a lucky parry. Leon was quite surprised by this maneuver, though he held is ground as Kairi came in for a counter attack. He defended himself well, pressing his Gunblade hard against her Keyblade. For a moment, the tension was maintained between the two weapons, but in the end, Leon's superior strength ended up overpowering Kairi's. She gasped as the tension broke and she was inevitably shoved back, her Keyblade forced out of her hand in the process, bringing this brief skirmish to it's all-too-soon ending.
Exhausted by the strain of the fight, Kairi dropped to one knee, embarrassed by her own defeat as she stopped to catch her breath. Even so, Leon offered a hand to help her up, just as he had for Axel before her. "I know you said you wanted to get stronger, Kairi," he began, his tone even and understanding as he helped her stand. "But you need to remember that there are many different kinds of strength. 'Being tough' is only the tip of the iceberg."
"That's right," Tifa nodded, emerging from the sidelines once more. "Strength of mind, strength of body, strength of heart… they're all equally important. And they all mean something different to each person. So it's up to you to figure out what each of them mean to you."
Kairi smiled, gladly accepting such genuine, solid advice. She had never believed physical strength to be her strong suit, and for the longest time, she had viewed that as a critical weakness against her favor when it came to her path as a Keyblade wielder. But perhaps that kind of strength wasn't the most important of them all. Maybe it was just as Tifa had said; strength of mind, body, and heart, all coming together to support and build off each other and fortify everything else in between.
The truest kind of strength… I know it won't be easy, but I want to find that sort of strength within myself somehow. The same sort of strength you and Riku have, Sora. The strength to protect what matters most.
Sora, it's my turn to fight for you.
Merlin made his stance on giving us 'days off' very clear right from the very start. He's not a fan of letting either of us waste any time, really, but there will be the odd occasion when Axel will manage to catch him in a good enough mood that he'll agree to it. Which is why I have him to thank for today's break.
I have to admit, I never really know what to do on our days off. Axel usually always uses them to catch up on his 'beauty sleep', which leaves me with few other choices on who to hang out with. Merlin often busies himself with 'lesson planning' when we're not training, which clearly preoccupies a lot his time based on how complex our lessons often are. Once I spent the day going along with Leon, Aerith, and Yuffie on their usual patrol around town, though aside from a pretty silly argument that broke out in the market, we really didn't see any action at all. And still, another day off was spent picking up a few lessons on piloting a Gummi Ship from Cid. And after those lessons, I more or less decided that flying one of those things on my own… clearly isn't something I'm cut out for. I'll leave that to you, Sora.
But today, I decided to go out on my own for my day off. I've been here in Radiant Garden for several weeks now, but I've hardly even had the chance to see any of it between all of our training sessions. So I went out on the town, ready to see all the sights I could.
And I'm very glad I did.
To say that Radiant Garden lived up to its name was an understatement. The city was absolutely lovely, shining and strong, with its many scars from destruction past all but healed now thanks to the tireless work of the Restoration Committee. Kairi gladly took that well-built radiance in as she walked through the town's bustling market, which was alive with shoppers and merchants alike. She didn't really intend to buy anything, instead looking to get a taste of the city's culture and commerce, things that she had obviously never paid much mind to when she used to live there as a child.
It was strange though. For as she strolled through the streets and got a better look around, Kairi couldn't help but feel a certain sort of fondness for the city. A sense of nostalgia burning dim yet deep within her. It made sense; in many ways, this was her home, but at the same time, it really wasn't, at least not anymore. Because whatever memories she had tied to this place were now gone, and all of what she had now came from somewhere else: the Destiny Islands. And yet, that still didn't mean she could appreciate Radiant Garden for what it was now. In many ways, both her and her hometown had changed so much since the last time they saw each other. She could only hope that she came out of it all as bright and as vibrant as the town itself had.
It didn't take very long for Kairi to wander into a part of town she hadn't seen before. Even so, she was absolutely awestruck as she stumbled into the city's famous fountain court. According to the Restoration Committee, it had taken quite some time to bring this landmark back to its former glory, but they certainly had as the multi-tiered fountains flowed with pure, sparkling water, water that flowed rich and clean through the entire town for all its residents to use. The court was clearly a favorite attraction of the townsfolk as they trickled in and out to take a look, and though Kairi knew she still had more of the city to see, she ultimately decided to do the same.
As relaxing as the rushing fountains were, she opted to pick a spot along the stairs that led up to a higher platform, letting her legs dangle off the edge as she sat down to enjoy the view. Since she didn't really have too much else to do, it didn't take long for her to pull her notebook out of her bag and start penning her latest letter to Sora.
Radiant Garden really is a spectacular world. I know you've been here before, but it's been awhile, hasn't it? You'd love how it looks now. It's a very far cry from what it looked like the last time we were here, that's for certain.
But I'm sure you see all sorts of beautiful places on your journey. There are so many worlds out there, and you're so lucky that you get to see so many of them. Sometimes… I wish I could go see them with you.
Kairi glanced up from her letter briefly upon noticing a young couple enter the fountain court, their arms linked as they walked side-by-side. They smiled brightly, laughing over something she couldn't quite hear before they came to stand in front of the towering fountains together. Silence passed between the pair for what seemed like ages as they watched the calming waters flow before them. Until, slowly but surely, their gaze started to drift away from the fountains and towards each other instead.
With their arms loosely wrapped around each other, they drew in close, not hesitating whatsoever, even as their lips lightly touched. Kairi finally looked away at this, allowing the couple their privacy as she looked back to her letter once more.
I wonder what that must be like…
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the couple slowly part but still linger close, the warmth of their kiss still clearly brimming gentle and sweet between them.
To be so close to someone that there's no space left between. To have my heart tied to someone else's in every way possible…
I've loved other people before, of course. But I'm not sure if I've ever really been in love. How would I know? What does it even feel like? What happens if I am?
How would I know if you felt the same?
As Kairi glanced to the loving couple once again, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of longing, foreign and new, but fascinating all the same. And as she stared down at the couple from above, she couldn't help but imagine herself standing in their place, safe and secure and happier than she had ever known before in the arms of someone else entirely. In the arms of the very person she was writing this letter to in the first place.
Sora… I think... I love-
Kairi caught herself with a gasp, instantly scratching out that last line several times over before she could even finish it. True, she had no plans of ever letting any other eyes see this letter, much less send it out to who it was actually intended for. But that didn't mean she was anywhere remotely near ready to admit such a thing, even if it was only to herself.
Unsure of what else to write, Kairi left the rest of this particular letter unfinished, cutting it off on a short, uncertain note as she stuffed her notebook back into her bag. She didn't even spare the young couple another glance as she hurried past them and out of the fountain court entirely. Later that evening, after she'd returned to Merlin's house for the night and thought back on her latest letter again, she did end up adding one final line onto it. One that only barely began to sum up all she was really feeling.
The water flowing from the fountains seemed to whisper unspoken words, unspoken feelings… Maybe one day, Sora, I'll finally be brave enough to let those words and feelings be heard…
Did you hear? I saw Riku the other day! He came by with the king to deliver new clothes the good fairies made for Axel and I. I guess that's the 'surprise' they'd hinted at when they were here a few weeks ago, and it's a very impressive one at that. I can't speak for Axel, but I'm very pleased with my new outfit. Though after trying it on, I decided that my clothes weren't the… only thing I wanted to change. I'd tell you more about it, but I'd rather keep you in suspense for the next time we see each other, especially since I haven't seen your new outfit yet either.
But going back to Riku, he told me that you're doing well. He said you, Donald, and Goofy are out looking for the thirteen Keys to Kingdom Hearts. It sounds like a very important task, but if there's anyone who can find them all, then it's you, Sora. And who knows? Since training is going along so well, it won't be long before I can come along and join you in looking for the rest!
Just thinking about it makes me wish that could happen now. But I know we both have our own important work to do right now. There's no time for distractions, especially not when the fate of all worlds hangs in the balance. Still, just because I know we have to wait doesn't mean I don't still miss you…
But until I can see you again, I'll keep on training, thinking about you and wishing you the best all the while. Though I have to admit that these days, you aren't the only one I've been thinking about. There's so many people, so many lost lights we need to help. And even though one of those people is about as close to my heart as she can possibly be, it still always feels like she's so far out of reach all the same…
Axel sat alone on the edge of the secret forest, watching the sun set over the hills just as he so often did. Just as they used to often do. His thoughts, along with the calm serenity of dusk were soon broken however by a cheerful greeting from behind.
"Hey, Axel!"
The former assassin turned to his pupil, only to find quite a change from how he'd seen her earlier that morning. Kairi smiled as she stepped forward, clad in her new clothes, a simple, yet durable black and pink dress with thick, sturdy boots to match. However, what caught Axel even more off guard was her hair, cut short to hang just above her shoulders, making her look almost entirely different, though hardly in a bad way.
"Hey," Axel greeted with an approving grin. "Liking the new look. Cut your hair too, I see."
"Mm-mm," Kairi nodded. "I figured it was about time for a change. So, are you gonna try yours on?"
"The new clothes?" the former assassin frowned, glancing over his usual Organization cloak. "Uh… I dunno. Maybe later."
"But you always wear the same thing," Kairi teased lightly. "Doesn't that dreary black coat ever get old?"
"Hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it," Axel ribbed back. "This is how you pick me out of a crowd. I make myself easy to remember."
"How thoughtful," Kairi chuckled. "Though if you happen to be standing in a crowd of oh, I dunno, thirteen or so other people wearing the exact same thing, it might just be a bit harder for someone to spot you. And if the rest of us just so happen to be fighting those thirteen people, well, wearing that coat might just be a bit of a flight risk. Just a thought."
"Gee, thanks for your concern," Axel smirked, deadpan as Kairi came to take a seat next to him. "But I think I'll survive. After all, I've got a few new tricks up my sleeve since I've seen my old 'pals' in the Organization. They won't know what hit 'em next time they cross paths with me."
"I'm sure they won't," Kairi grinned, though she paused for a moment upon catching sight of the splendor of the setting sun before them. "Wow… what a beautiful sunset! Then again, they're always beautiful here, aren't they?"
"...Eh, I've seen better," Axel remarked, looking away from the sunset.
"Oh really?" Kairi raised an eyebrow at this. "Where?"
The former assassin's smile finally fell at this as he glanced down, seemingly lost in thought. Or regret. Or both. "Twilight Town. Top of the clock tower always had the best view. It's where we-" He stopped short, shaking his head as he shut his eyes tightly, continuing in a voice so low it was almost a whisper. "Where we used to unwind after missions. Eat ice cream, talk, sometimes just sit there doing nothing at all. Just the three-I mean… just the two of us… Until it wasn't anymore."
"...You and Roxas?" Kairi ventured, knowing it wasn't very often that Axel spoke so openly about his lost friend. And when he did, his tone was always tinged with the very same sort of tight remorse that it carried now.
"Yeah…" Axel sighed, saying nothing else as he bowed his head.
Silence lingered between the pair for quite some time after this, and in that time, Kairi admittedly had no idea what to even say. She looked to the former assassin sympathetically, knowing that his heart was aching and understanding exactly why. True, she may have never gotten to properly meet Roxas, but that didn't mean she didn't believe he deserved a chance at his own life and existence just as much as anyone else did. And as far as she was concerned, he wasn't the only one.
"We'll find some way to help him," Kairi spoke up, resolved. "Help both of them."
"Both?" Axel finally looked to her.
"Somewhere inside me is Naminé," she explained, lightly placing a hand over her heart. "If we can free Roxas somehow, then we can free her too."
"...Kairi," Axel began, his tone unclear, though all the same, she continued.
"Naminé was made when Sora freed me from his heart. So now that she's a part of me again, I figured all was right." Now it was Kairi's turn to release a regretful sigh all her own, bittersweet, all-too-brief memories of her Nobody filling her mind all the while. "But she can't look at this forest. She can't feel the wind on her face or walk through the grass. None of it. And if she could, it would be different for her."
Kairi stared out toward the sunset, silently wondering what Naminé might think of it if she could see it for herself. What would she say if she were there with them now? What would she do? What path would she take if she was allowed to live her life on her own? "Her time was short… but she lived it, and that makes it hers. What right did I have to take those feelings and experiences back?" she shook her head sadly, mournfully almost. "They don't belong to me. Nothing's as it should be… Not for her or Roxas…"
For what seemed like ages, Axel said nothing to this, though when he did, he hardly tried to argue with Kairi on this point. Mostly because it was absolutely, undoubtedly right. "I know…" he said, before going off on a seemingly different tangent altogether. "Way back when I was younger, I met this other weird kid. Somehow, we became fast friends. But after we met, I never saw him again-nearly forgot about him too. Then… I met Roxas. Couldn't believe it; the two of 'em were identical!"
"Really?" Kairi asked, intrigued.
"Like twins," Axel nodded, finally cracking a small grin. "'Course, I didn't tell Roxas. Didn't want him to go vanishing on me too. Though… I guess it's a little too late for that now, huh?"
"Axel…" Kairi frowned, though this time, Axel's tone seemed just a bit lighter as he looked to the sunset-streaked skies above.
"The kid's name was Ventus. He's one of the lost Keyblade wielders we're looking for. What a coincidence, huh?" Axel chuckled somewhat bitterly. "Think he's still got me memorized?"
"Oh yeah," Kairi shared his smile, mimicking the former assassin's usual phrase. "Very memorized."
Axel smiled at this, though only briefly. "Sooner or later, our training's gonna be over," he said. "And whenever we do go back… I have a feeling I'm gonna be running myself ragged with worry over everything. Over Roxas, over Ventus… Heck, Naminé too. So many hearts we gotta bring back… where are we even supposed to start?"
"I… don't know," Kairi admitted truthfully. "But that's ok for now. At least you don't have to worry alone anymore, Axel."
The former assassin nodded, warmly accepting the kind solidarity she was offering him. "You know, it's kinda funny," he remarked, leaning back. "Well… maybe not funny as much as it is sick and twisted but… whenever I make a friend, I always seem to lose 'em somehow. First there was Isa-I mean, Saïx. Then there was Ventus. Then Roxas and-" He stopped short, his brow furrowed as he nearly listed a name he couldn't even recall. A name that very well didn't even exist in the first place. "A-and… that's it. Guess I'm pretty unlucky when it comes to holding onto friends, huh?"
"Axel…" Kairi began earnestly, placing a comforting hand against his arm. "You haven't lost any of them. There's still a way we can bring them all back, I'm sure of it. And… just for the record, you haven't lost your newest friend yet, have you?"
"Newest friend?" Axel turned to her, confused.
"Me, silly!" she laughed brightly.
"You?" the former assassin gaped, amazed, realizing that this was perhaps the very first time Kairi had ever actually referred to them as friends. Even so, it was a very welcome change, especially considering where they'd started from weeks ago. "Nope," he grinned, countering her hand on his arm with a firm, solidifying hand on her shoulder. "Looks like I haven't."
Roxas and Naminé… There has to be something we can do to help them. And even if Axel and I aren't able to figure something out, then I have a feeling you will, Sora. After all, their hearts are both connected to yours. And no one knows your heart better than you.
Like I said before, there are so many people counting on you… So much is on your shoulders, sometimes I don't know how you even handle it all, but you do all the same. It won't be easy, but I hope through everything, you'll remain the happy and cheerful Sora I've always known. There's no heart your smile can't reach.
Including mine.
I suppose that's all for now. I'll try to write more tomorrow after training is over. As always, Sora, I miss you, and can't wait to see you again. But until I can, remember: I'm thinking of you, wherever you are.
Love,
Kairi
So this was a bit of a fun little experimentally written chapter, allowing me to do some fun stuff with formatting what with Kairi's letters interspersed throughout. Also, I'm super sorry if any of the Final Fantasy characters in this were OOC, I've never played any of those games and the only thing I know about any of them is what I've seen through KH games! But either way, I hope you liked this, especially since it includes some nifty bits of foreshadowing... ;) Anyway, next time around our trio ventures out to another Disney world, this time taking to the open seas (with a world based on what's probably my personal favorite Disney movie, so that's exciting!) But until then, please don't forget to leave a REVIEW letting me know what you thought! Until next time! :D