Kingdom Hearts: Depereo Astrum Chapter 26, a kingdom hearts fanfic

Let the mayhem continue!

Kingdom Hearts © to Disney and Square Enix!

My OCs © to me!

Other OCs © to their respective owners!

Chapter 25: Little House of Horrors

"Dude, that boss fight was awesome!" Hayner cheered as he headed toward the door.

Roxas nodded. "I can't believe the gigas had a giant robot dragon(1)!"

"Alright." Isa leaned against the doorframe. "You three better get home. It's late, and I don't want to have your parents ticked at me. Get."

"Bye!"

Hayner, Pence, and Olette headed out into the woods. The festival still went on in town, and the night actually crept in. It felt strange to actually see the night sky for a long period of time.

Riku looked up, reminded of the dark night where the sky became obscured by rain clouds, making it pitch black. The night those things hunted him in the woods.

"I think I should go check on Kairi be-"

"That can wait." Aqua yawned. "It's almost midnight. It's time for bed."

The younger teens all sighed but headed up to bed regardless.

Terra and Riku went to their cots in Isa's room. Mickey, Donald, and Goofy to Axel's room. Ven to Roxas' room. And Aqua and Naminé to Xion's.

Everyone, well almost everyone, fell asleep within minutes.

But not Naminé.

She sat in the bedroom, on her small mattress. This room felt so strange. It used to be hers. But the room, that used to be white: white walls, white floors, white ceiling, white doors, white curtains, no longer looked that way.

The molding, now painted a navy blue, matched the long curtains over the windows. A large shag carpet of soft gray covered most of the floor. On the walls, purple imprints of butterflies made the walls feel alive. Even the ceiling, still white, danced with colors courtesy of the night light by Xion's bed, which projected colorful stars into the air.

The room no longer belonged to Naminé, but to Xion, who slept in her big four-poster bed, surrounded by stuffed animals.

Xion really had found a home during the last year.

But, where could Naminé find to be her home?

She still hadn't found hers.

"Nami?" Xion sat up in bed. "You ok?"

"Can't sleep."

Xion rubbed her eyes before slipping out of bed. "Maybe Lila can help you."

Lila?

The raven-haired girl reached into the pile of stuffed animals and pulled out a small cream-colored kitten with a purple bow. "She smells like lavender. She's always helped me sleep." She handed the blonde the toy.

Naminé took the kitten, feeling the weighted toy in her hands. Under the soft fur, she could feel heavy beads; a sweet smell wafted up from the toy. "Don't you need it?"

"Nah. I'm ok. You can use her." She smiled and went back to her own bed, nuzzling her face into the pile of toys around her.

"Thanks." Naminé buried her face into Lila, the lavender smell surrounding her, lulling the girl into a sleep.

She could worry about other things tomorrow.

Tonight, she could rest.

She and Xion drifted off to sleep, unaware of Aqua listening in. The young woman smiled at the two girls.

Aqua.

The little voice jolted the older girl; she sat up, looking around.

Why did you leave us?

We were having so much fun together.

"What are you…?"

Puddles of darkness began rippling into existence across the walls and windows, blacking out all light.

"What!?" Aqua jumped up as giggled echoed through the room.

Little hands, tipped with red reached out of the darkness. Yellow eyes popped into existence.

"Xion! Naminé! Get up!"

The two girls sat up at her screams. Xion looked up just in time for a dark hand to reach down, grabbing a handful of her hair.

She screamed.

Roxas and Ven shot up in their beds, the scream still echoing through the house. "What's going on!?"

"I don't know!" Roxas threw himself out of bed, running for the door.

As his hand reached for the handle, a dark puddle emerged, covering the handle. Out popped two hands and then a little dark creature.

Oh! More friends!

More friends!

More portals appeared around the room, the little creatures pouring out. Pointed hats with red swirls over the bright yellow eyes poked up around the room.

Oh, look at the light in this one.

He's so bright.

So bright.

Oh, but he's been touched.

Yes.

Touched by him. Touched by the primordial.

"Heartless!?"

"Talking Heartless!?"

The room turned pitch black around the boys.

They summoned their Keyblades as the creatures wormed their way out of the darkness.

The monsters' bodies twitched as they eyed the boys.

We do not know this one.

But him.

Ven yelped as one tried to grab his leg. That Heartless looked him straight in the eyes.

We know you.

Yes we do.

You stood with the one.

You stood.

"Ven, what are they talking about!?"

"I don't know!"

You took the book.

You let her…

You let her DIE.

Ven's head began to throb. "Wh-what!?"

Roxas moved to help his friend up, but one of the monsters leapt upon them. "Ven, snap out of it! Ven!"

You let her die.

The Heartless danced around, singing these words as they charged Roxas, content to leave Ven in his state of mental agony.

"I didn't do anything! Leave me alone!" Ven swung his weapon as one came close.

But you did.

The image of a girl appeared in his mind. A girl and a Chirithy. A girl with long orange hair.

Then it went black.

Roxas stabbed one of the Heartless when he heard a thud.

"Ven!?"

He turned to see the blond boy laying unconscious among the Heartless.

"It won't budge!" Goofy slammed his shield into the darkness-covered door.

Axel shoved back one of the strange Heartless. "Seriously!? We need out! The others need to hear about th-"

One of the Heartless leapt up, wrapping its fingers around the pyro's Keyblade, not caring as fire burned its fingers.

Don't worry.

We take care.

We take care of them all.

"No!" Donald blasted the Heartless away with a spell.

Mickey slashed at another one. "I don't understand how these Heartless can speak! Heartless are like animals."

Not us.

We're different.

We're like you.

Just like you.

"I doubt that!" Axel sent a wave of fire at the monsters. "And Isa's gonna kill all of you. Do you know how much work he's put into this house?"

I know this one.

Oh yes.

We do.

He knew her.

He knew the little star girl.

The star girl with hair of dark.

Axel froze. The image of a girl in a cell, pink star earrings peaking from behind black hair, flashed in his mind. "How do you know her!?"

He does.

He knows little star girl.

How fun.

"What's it talking about, Axel?"

"I'll explain later, but these things shouldn't know about that!"

We know things.

So many things.

"Just stop talking!"

Riku drove Braveheart into one of the Heartless. "Any luck on that door?"

"No." Terra blocked another Heartless swipe. "They literally locked us in."

Isa grit his teeth. "What good are those things if you can't use them! Move!" His body began pulsing with light as his eyes flashed yell. "MOON SHINE DOWN!"

His claymore, bathed in light, slammed into the doorway, flinging the door off its hinges.

"I'm going to have to fix that door later!" The three young men ran out into the main hall. Heartless poured from every wall.

"I'll go to Xion's room."

"And I'll find Ven and Roxas."

Isa nodded. "I'll ge-"

His Gummi phone began ringing.

"Not the time Ienzo!" Isa yelled as he answered.

"This is Beck." The security program? "Someone is attempting to wipe the computer of all the information on Sora and Kairi."

"What!?"

"Change of plans." Isa put the phone away. "I'll deal with the computer room!"

The others would have to wait for just a minute. Isa, slashing apart Heartless around him, dashed down to the basement.

Terra ran up to Roxas' room. "Ven! Roxas!"

"Terra! Ven's out cold! We can't get out!"

Terra drew back his Keyblade. "Sorry about this, Isa. QUAKEZA!" A pillar of rock shattered the door to splinters.

Roxas, dragging Ven with him, ran out the door. "Isa's gonna kill you."

"I'll fix it myself later. Get to Axel and the others. Break the door apart if you have to."

"Right!"

Aqua slashed at the monsters. "Naminé! Xion!" She could see the dark-haired girl grappling with the Heartless that pulled at her hair. Naminé, without a weapon, hid under a blanket. The monsters didn't seem interested in hurting her, but they kept her surrounded.

"Don't hurt them!" Aqua stabbed one, only for another Heartless to grab her arm.

Come on.

Don't you remember us?

Your friends.

Friends.

"You're no friends of mine!"

Aqua blasted the Heartless back with fire, only for them to part. They parted to reveal a mirror.

The young woman gasped.

In the mirror.

Herself.

With tattered clothes, silver hair, golden eyes.

And black arms, fingers tipped in red.

"No!"

You were almost one of us!

One of the Heartless grabbed her leg.

You left us.

Left us.

Why did you leave us?

We're just like you.

"No you're not!"

But we are!

We are.

We had Keyblades.

We had Keyblades too.

Just like you.

What… "You were Keyblade wielders!?"

Just like you.

Xion threw the one off her head. "These were wielders!?"

"I… I think I almost was one." Aqua moved closer to Naminé, pulling off the blanket. "Nami, stay beside me."

The blonde girl nodded, clutching her sketchbook.

She'd begun drawing something. Dark figures.

"I can see their memories. They're more like people than other Heartless." Her hand shook as she sketched something and then she ripped the page in half. One of the heartless began to scream, clutching its head before it fell over, disappearing into darkness.

Naminé flinched but began to draw on another page.

The bedroom door flew open, the top hinge snapping as Riku flew inside. "Is everyone alright!?"

"Riku!" Aqua yelled. "These things are Keyblade wielders! Remember when you found me in the Realm of Darkness, I had red fingers and darkness tried to cover me!?"

Wait.

Riku looked at one of the Heartless sauntering toward him. She was right! She had features like these things.

"What are you!?"

You make us sad.

You left us.

Almost one of us.

"Y-you're the things that chased me in the woods!"

We are.

Dark wielders.

Like you.

You could've been one of us.

Like us.

Darkling.

Darklings.

"Darklings?" He slashed one to pieces. "Aqua, we need to get everyone out before these… Darklings overwhelm us!"

"Y-yes!" The woman stood her ground. "You two girls go, I'll follow." Xion and Naminé ran past Riku, and only then did Aqua follow.

The Darklings, giggling madly, swarmed behind them.

"There you are!" Roxas yelled as he ran into the main hall, followed by Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and Axel.

"Where's Isa!?"

"We'll explain in a minute! We've got other problems."

Like a tidal wave, Darklings poured out of every doorway. Every window. Over the stair railing.

"Isa… hurry it up…"

Isa hacked every Darkling apart that popped up in his view. He stopped at a whimpering sound.

In the hallway near the computer, surrounded by the Darklings, lay Kosho.

"Hey!" Isa leapt over, slashing the monsters to dust. "Leave my dog alone!" He knelt down, cradling the dog's head as he cast Cure.

Kosho licked his master's hand before slowly standing. Isa let out a sigh of relief. But the dog suddenly turned toward the computer room, growling.

"Come on."

The man stood, his dog at his heels as he entered the room.

A figure, dressed in a familiar black coat, stood over the computer. "Back away from that computer! Now!"

The figure turned, their voice low. "That was fast." Isa could barely hear anything they said. "And I thought I killed that mutt."

Oh, that was it!

Isa charged forward, his movements restricted in this small space. But he could still beat this guy.

The figure held up a hand, darkness flashed.

"What!? I-it can't be!" Isa pushed, his claymore locked with an eerily familiar weapon.

A Keyblade.

A Keyblade with a goat head near the hilt, and a blue eye that bored into his soul.

"Who are you!?"

The figure jumped back. "Wouldn't you like to know?" He spoke quietly still, purposely keeping his voice a whisper. "Looks like plan A didn't work. Time for plan B." A dark corridor blossomed into existence behind him. The man stepped back, vanishing into the darkness.

Isa watched as the heartless faded into the ground, vanishing with their master.

He sighed, checking the computer.

Beck did a good job. Everything seemed to still be there.

So, it was over…

For now.

The Darklings, with a giggle, faded away.

The mansion, now silent once more.

"Ven!" Aqua ran over, kneeling over her friend.

Terra cradled the boy's head. "He's fine."

"What were those things!?" Axel yelled.

"Darklings." Riku dismissed his Keyblade. "They said… they were, or used to be, Keyblade wielders."

"What!?"

Aqua sighed. "In the Realm of Darkness, when darkness nearly consumed me, I… I looked like them. My arms had started to turn totally black; my torn clothes began to fuse with me… and my fingers were red. I was becoming like them."

"That's… terrifying."

"So, that's what happens to a Keyblade wielder who is completely consumed by darkness. They become a Heartless that has some semblance of humanity left."

Goofy scratched his head. "But, why attack us?"

"As a distraction." Isa came in, Kosho at his heels. "Someone was downstairs trying to delete all the information we had on Sora and Kairi. They failed, but it's safe to say that was their target. Everything else, a distraction."

Silence.

What was there to say?

"So… now what?"

"I'm not sleeping tonight." Roxas huffed. "Not after that."

"I don't think any of us are."

Isa glanced toward his bedroom door. "I guess we can fix things. Anyone who broke a door can fix it. The others can help."

"And what if the door was shattered into splinters?"

"Then I suggest you find some sort of magic spell to put it back together or you're paying for the CUSTOM MADE door out of your own pocket, Terra."

Donald knelt by Ven. "I'll stay with him until he wakes up."

"Good idea."

Looking down at Ven, Roxas furrowed his brow. Just what were the Heartless talking about? Who did Ven let die?

"Roxas, come on. You broke a door."

"Ugh, I'm coming."

Little Kairi sat on the floor in her father's workshop, watching him saw a board in half. "Can I help now, Daddy?"

"Just a minute." Kaimu smiled. He set his saw down and laid the wood on the floor. "Get your sandpaper."

"Here!"

"Good." He knelt down, putting his hand on top of Kairi's. "Now go up and down. Up and down."

"Up and down. Up and down." Kairi repeated as she ran the sandpaper across the board.

"Good job Kairi! I'll make a carpenter out of you yet." He stepped back, measuring out another board.

Kairi continued to sand the wood, even as she heard soft footfall behind her. "Look at you two! Working so hard!"

"Hi Mommy!" Kairi looked up as she sanded.

Clover giggled, taking off her apron and maid cap. "Is that my new cabinet you're making?"

"That's right Clo." Kaimu walked over, kissing her cheek. "Now, what color?" He held up some paint swatches.

"Hm, I'm not sure. Kairi, what color should we paint it?"

"Pink!"

"You want everything to be pink."

"Pink is my favorite!"

"But what's your mom's favorite color? It's her cabinet."

The little girl stopped sanding; she scampered over to her father as he held down the color swatches. "Mommy likes… this one." She grabbed a soft teal color. "Right Mommy?"

"That's exactly right." Clover smiled. She turned to her husband as Kairi went back to sanding the board. "You know, I think Ansem the Wise is serious. He offered me a job again."

"That's amazing sweetie. I think you should take it."

"I will, but when I finish school. Lord Ansem has agreed to wait until then to hire me."

Kairi sat up as she finished the board. "Daddy, I'm done."

"Alright."

Clover kissed Kaimu. "If you don't need me, I have some studying to do."

"Go ahead. I'll be in later."

Kairi watched her mother go, she jumped up and scampered after her. "Can I help?"

"Well, I could use a study buddy."

Kairi grinned.

They went into a small office. A pile of textbooks lay on a table next to scattered papers. "I really need to clean up…" Clover muttered as she picked up a textbook. "Kairi, come here." She sat down and pointed to the title of the book. "What letters are in this word?"

"Um… N-E-U-R-O-L-O-G-Y."

"Good. That spells Neurology."

"Ner-all-gee?"

"Close enough." Clover laughed.

The two sat for a long while. Clover read the textbook out loud; Kairi listened but didn't understand practically anything. The pictures were cool though.

"I'm home!"

"Grandma!" Kairi leapt up as Clover set the book aside.

Clover smiled. "Mom, need some help?"

"Thank you dear, but I can carry these just fine." The old woman set down her bags of groceries. "I may be old, but I'm not helpless yet. Go on back to your work. I need to start supper anyway."

"Mom, are you su-"

"Clover, I really appreciate it, but I'm fine. You have a degree to earn. I can handle supper."

"Alright. You win."

"What are we making?" Kairi grinned.

Her grandmother smiled back. "Hmm. How does quiche sound?"

"Yum!"

The two began making supper. And just as they put it in the over, someone knocked on the door.

"I've got it!" Kairi ran over, pulling the door open.

She stopped.

Who was this person?

He looked like someone who worked at the castle. He had a long white coat and a purple tie. His golden eyes, framed with silver hair, stared curiously down at the girl. "Hello."

"Hi."

"Oh, hello." Kairi's grandma came over. "May I help you?"

"My name is Xehanort. I work at the castle. I wanted to speak with Clover. I was told she lives here."

"Xehanort?" Clover walked over, smiling. "Nice to see you. Is there something I can do for you?"

The man nodded cordially. "Not especially. I was just curious about you. It's not often that Lord Ansem pays so much attention to a maid, and I was not expecting you to show such intellect, so I decided to come find you."

"If that's the case," Kairi looked up as her grandmother smiled, "join us for supper."

"I'd hate to impose."

"You won't be. My name is Hikaru Utada, but most people just call me Widow Hikaru."

Clover picked up Kairi. "This is my daughter, Kairi. Kairi, say hi to Mr. Xehanort."

"Hi."

The man stepped inside, taking off his coat. "I was not aware that you had a daughter. You look… well…"

"Far too young? I know. I'm only 20 after all."

Xehanort raised an eyebrow. "And how old are you, Kairi?"

"Five."

The man looked surprised. That meant Clover had Kairi when she was fifteen.

"Oh, I didn't know we were having a guest." Kaimu walked in, dusting off his hands on his pants, leaving big pale handprints on the dark blue fabric.

"This is Xehanort. He just started working at the castle recently."

Kaimu held out a hand. "Nice to meet you. I'm Kaimu Utada. Clover's husband."

"A pleasure to meet you too."

Kairi wasn't sure what to make of this strange man. But he seemed nice enough.

Her father went to wash up, Clover went back to studying, and her grandmother bustled about the kitchen while Xehanort stared at the family photos.

He looked down at the staring child. "May I help you?"

"Do you like Ner-all-gee like Mommy?"

"Neurology…?" He blinked at the girl's use of such a big word. "That's not my specialty, no. I prefer to study the heart."

The heart? "Mommy says I have a big heart. But I don't think it's too big."

"And why is that?"

"If it was too big it wouldn't fit inside me. And there would be no room for my tummy if it was too big."

He choked back a laugh. "I suppose not. I study the darkness and light inside people's hearts."

"People have light in their hearts? Grandma says that too. But if I have light in my heart, does that mean my heart lights up? Is my heart like a glowstick?"

The man shook his head slightly. "The mind of a child," he muttered.

This conversation went on for several minutes until Clover returned. "Sorry, I hope she hasn't talked your ear off."

"No. Honestly, the innocence was very refreshing."

"Yes. She's a pure-hearted little girl."

"Like her mom." Kaimu called from the bathroom.

Xehanort looked at the little girl. "Indeed. Just like the seven princesses."

"Princesses!?" Kairi squealed. "I love princesses!"

"Have you heard the story of the seven princesses?"

"NO! Tell me! Tell me!"

"Now Kairi. If he doesn't want to tell you, then don't pester him."

Xehanort sat down. "No, that's alright." He waited until Kairi sat on the ground, staring at him. "Long ago, the world was covered in darkness."

"I know that. Grandma told me."

"Well, then you know that light came back."

"Yes."

"Well, when the light came back, the purest light, untouched by darkness, found its way into seven girls. They are called the Princesses of Heart. They protected everything with their light, and when their time is over, the light goes to another seven."

"What were the first princesses' names!?"

"I don't know. But I think one was a little girl like you. She had blonde hair and was a warrior(2)."

"Are there princesses now?"

"There are. And they protect everything with their magical light."

"Really!? My friend Joshua(3) says magic isn't real. Do you think magic and the princesses are real?"

"I do."

"Maybe I can be a princess!"

Kaimu laughed as he scooped up his daughter. "Maybe. But you're already my princess."

"Daddy!" Kairi laughed.

Maybe this Xehanort guy wasn't so bad…

Well, as least she thought so until…

Until that day.

When he took everything away.

Kairi sat up, the dream fading away.

"You ok?"

Kairi nodded. "I just had a dream about my parents. And Xehanort… about the day he came over to our house. He seemed nice at the time. But then he betrayed us. Just like…"

"Don't think about that." Chirithy chided.

Kairi sighed, glancing over at her clock. 3AM.

"I'm going to get some air."

She slipped out of bed, walking down the hall.

Maybe beating something up in the training room would clear her mind. Dreams of betrayal. Just what she needed after what Magia did…

She heard someone grunting in the training room.

Yozora.

He stood, bent over, breathing hard, in front of a destroyed training dummy. Kairi stepped inside, pausing as she heard rustling.

Under her feet lay tech blueprints. Some ripped and torn, others scribbled over with a black pen.

"What do you want?"

"I just came down to clear my head."

Yozora didn't even look her way. "Well, do it somewhere else."

"Yozora-"

"Get out."

"O-ok…" She stepped away. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.

Maybe sleep would be better.

"Ven! You're awake!" Aqua smiled as she sat by her friend.

Ven blinked, shaking his head. "Yeah… but what happened to me?"

"You passed out." Roxas shoved his hands in his pockets. "Those Heartless, the Darklings, said you let someone die. You passed out after that."

"Let someone die!? But I would never do that."

"Don't yell at me. They said it."

"But why that edge in your voice?"

"After they said it, you seemed to be almost remembering something. I've had similar things happen. You may have done something and just forgotten."

Terra held up a hand. "Roxas, don't you think that's a little much? Maybe they were just messing with his head."

"If they were just messing with him, why not do something to me too? Look, I'm not trying to blame him or anything, but those Darklings may know something he doesn't. Trust me, forgetting something that you've done doesn't make it go away. If he did do something, then he should try and face it. Maybe not now, with everything else going on, but I don't think he should just leave it alone."

Ven clenched his fists. "Even if it's something I'd never do?"

"Well, Vanitas was your darkness, right? Maybe you did something before you and he were separated."

"Maybe." Ven closed his eyes, thinking as hard as he could. "But… I don't think I did anything. I-I get the feeling something happened. I-I saw a girl, a girl with orange hair. But I didn't feel… I don't know… rage, or guilt. I saw her and I felt… sad."

Roxas sighed. "Then, when this is all over, I'd talk to Nami. She can help."

Riku watched this from the side; Roxas wasn't wrong, but…

Wait, where was Nami?

He saw her sketchbook lying on the ground near the front door. Out he went, into the night. In the light of the dawn, just starting to peak over the trees, he saw a small figure hunched over.

"Nami?"

"Leave me alone."

He sat beside her. "You ok?"

"No…" she looked down at her hands. "Riku, why do you all like me?"

"Huh?"

She clenched her fists. "I-I'm a monster. Those Heartless. I could feel them. Their memories deep in their hearts, or what was left of their hearts. I used that… I found their deepest memories, the things that held them to their hearts. And- And I broke them. I ripped their memories apart!"

"Nami, those were Heartless."

"But I killed them! What if a person scared me and I did that to them!?"

Riku reached over, laying his hand on her shoulder. "You won't."

"How do you know!?"

"Because I know you. You're sweet and kind. You never want to hurt anyone. You know as well as I do that Heartless, with or without memories, are little more than lost animals hunting for hearts. I know you would never do that to a real person."

"Riku." She looked up. "I'm just… I'm tired of hurting people. I'm tired. And I want to go home… even though I don't have one."

Riku felt his heart sting as he saw the tears on her face. "Well, they say home is where the heart is. So, where is your heart?"

"My heart?" She laid a hand on her chest. "It's…" Her face turned red. "It's… I-I don't know. I don't know." She stood up and scurried back inside.

"Naminé wait!"

That was… weird.

Kairi hurried back to her room and laid down.

But when her eyes closed a new dream immediately invaded her mind.

A man with silver hair and red eyes paced around a blank room. Papers lay all around his feet.

Tech blueprints.

Ripped.

Scribbled out.

"NO! NO! NO!" He yelled. "Failures! All of them! There has to be something I can do. Something. Something!" He held up a paper, this one intact. "This plan was flawless, but it's not enough. Not enough anymore. Come on, you can think of something."

The man paced.

And paced.

Then stopped.

"That's it!"

He turned and began scribbling down something on a piece of paper.

"This time, nothing will stop me!"

Well, that happened.

Hope you enjoyed! And be ready… it's gonna get even crazier.

Footnotes:

(1) This is a reference to the fact that Rex said he fought Bahamut in Verum Rex. To fit with my lore, the dragon would probably be a giga variant.

(2) Yes this is Vor. And yes I just threw this in.

(3) This is meant to be a reference to the FF16 trailer. The little boy in the trailer is named Joshua.