So I meant to write this relatively shorter chapter faster than I actually did but I wasn't feeling all that great this past week so ehhhh? Anyway, it does feature a bit of a change in the status quo moving forward, which is pretty exciting! I've been looking forward to getting to this part of Keys for awhile since it leads into some pretty interesting stuff coming up ahead. But for now, enjoy this generally pretty foreshadowy chapter! ^_^ (UPDATED 11/7/20)
Chapter 31: Destined Reunion
So why do I say things I don't really mean, really mean?
From the very moment the trio finds out they've been summoned to the Mysterious Tower for a meeting, Sora knows he was in trouble. Master Yen Sid's invitation had been forwarded to them by Chip and Dale not long after they left the Land of the Dead, though when asked, the chipmunk duo didn't really have much of a clue about what this meeting would be about. And in light of that ambiguity, Sora, Donald, and Goofy can't help but be mutually worried as they travel to tentatively accept that invitation.
"Do you think he knows?" Sora frets, pacing around the back of the Gummi Ship's cockpit just shy of it landing at the tower. "What if he knows? How would he know? Donald, did you tell him?"
"Sora, how would I have told him?" Donald deadpans, rolling his eyes. "I've been with you this entire time!"
"Maybe Master Yen Sid is just able to 'sense' that something's wrong," Goofy suggests with a frown. "But then again… if he could do that, then why wouldn't he have reached out to us sooner?"
"Well… t-then maybe he doesn't know," Sora forces himself to calm down with a leveling sigh. "I mean, I did manage to keep it a secret from you guys for a pretty long time."
"Which is something you shouldn't have done," Donald grumbles as he properly lands the ship in Sora's stead. "And I still think we shouldn't keep it a secret from Master Yen Sid either. He could help-"
"But what if he can't?" Sora counters anxiously. "If we tell him and he doesn't know what to do about it, then we're right back to square one."
"Garwsh, it sure does seem like we haven't really left square one trying to figure it out on our own either…" Goofy points out.
"W-we'll get there," Sora assures, his tone coming across more hopeful than he actually is. "We just… need a little more time. And maybe if we hurry and get the rest of the Keys and beat Xehanort and the Organization soon, this problem will just… you know, solve itself."
"You mean that's what you hope will happen," Donald scowls as he leads the way to disembark the ship. "There's no telling that it actually will."
"There's no telling that it won't either," Sora says with an optimistic smile.
"So just to be clear," Goofy pipes up as the trio begins to make their way toward the tower. "The plan for now is to still keep everything under wraps, right?"
"Mm… I guess…" Donald wavers, still clearly against the idea. "For now."
"For as long as we need to," Sora corrects, pausing just shy of opening the tower's doors as he affirms that resolve. "We've got this whole thing under control. Nobody else needs to be dragged into it," he shakes his head as he pushes the doors open. "Not Master Yen Sid, not the king, and especially not-"
Riku and Kairi, who just so happen to be the first sight greeting the trio as soon as the tower doors are fully open. Sora freezes the moment he sees both of them, his jaw dropped in shock as panic rushes through him first when he knows excitement should be instead. The pair stands at the far end of the tower's foyer, with Axel casually leaning against the nearby wall as he lets them catch up with each other in a cordial conversation. That conversation quickly falls away, however, as they both glance over at the entryway to see who has just arrived.
"Sora!" Kairi gasps with a bright, delighted smile, not hesitating to rush over to greet him with a hug. Riku's right behind her, albeit at a much more casual pace as he offers Sora a similarly warm grin that he isn't quite able to return amidst his still quite palpable surprise.
"Well, I can't say I was expecting you three to show up," Riku says, startling Sora as he wraps an arm around his shoulder. "But it's a pleasant surprise. It's good to see you in the flesh instead of over the phone for a change, Sora."
For what feels like far too long, Sora says nothing, instead standing stiff between them as he desperately tries to think of how to react, much less what to say. Briefly, a familiar, awful fear fills his mind, one that's only quelled as he steals a glance down at his hands to see that not a single speck of darkness is visible on them. The glamour spell is still working exactly as intended, and as far as he can tell, neither Riku nor Kairi seem to suspect a thing. Which means that all he has to do is keep it that way, a task easier said than done.
"Uh, i-it's good to see you guys too!" Sora exclaims. He throws on a rather forced smile as he suddenly pulls both Riku and Kairi into a sudden shared hug. "After all, it's been such a long time since I've seen either of you!"
"Um, no it hasn't?" Kairi's smile turns to slight confusion at this. Confusion that only grows upon meeting the alarmed look Sora is sending her way, almost as if he intends on giving her an unspoken reminder of her promise to keep Riku out of the loop when it comes to certain events he still isn't quite ready to let him know about yet.
"Weren't you just in Radiant Garden with Kairi not that long ago?" Riku asks him nonetheless.
"W-what?! H-how did you-" Sora stops short, immediately calming down as he recalls the brief phone conversation that had happened during his stint in Radiant Garden. Which, as far as he knows, divulged just about the only knowledge Riku has of his recent time there, which by all accounts, is not much at all. "Oh, right! Uh, y-yeah, we were there just to look for a Key, a-and definitely not anything else!"
Donald and Goofy exchange something of a diffident glance as they stand by to watch this awkward display, both of them mutually fearing the same thing. That despite his best efforts to maintain his plentiful well-kept secrets, Sora might ultimately be the one to accidentally reveal them completely on his own oblivious merit.
Yet fortunately, neither Riku or Kairi seem to take his obvious apprehension as seriously as they probably should. "You know, Sora, it's ok to admit that you were only there to visit Kairi," Riku teases with a wry smirk.
"R-Riku!" Sora and Kairi both exclaim, mutually flustered.
"Yeah, actually, I can confirm that," Axel grins, finally joining in on the conversation. "Not a whole lot of Key-hunting was happening while those two were together; now, hand-holding on the other hand, I saw a bunch of that."
"Whoa, hold on, we did not hold hands," Kairi quickly protests. Sora likely would be doing the same, if not for the thankful smile he offers Axel for not revealing the true reason behind his stay in Radiant Garden.
"Are you sure?" Axel raises a playful eyebrow. "Cause I-oh wait, that's right! It wasn't hand holding, it was cuddling up all nice and cozy together in the same bed for a couple of nights."
By now, Kairi's completely mortified, her face bright red as she sends him a withering glare. At the same time, Sora glances away, clearing his throat out of obvious embarrassment. Even so, Riku can't help but laugh as he looks between the two, his knowing smirk widening at this news. "Oh really?" he asks, an air of good-natured teasing in his tone as he places his hands on his hips. "Why wasn't I invited?"
While Donald, Goofy, and Axel all erupt into a round of heavy laughter at this, Kairi stifles a loud, flustered groan as she covers her face with both hands. "C-can we talk about something else? Please?" Sora lets out an exasperated huff as he wonders which was really worse: Riku finding out about what was happening to his heart, or finding out about this.
"I-I know something else we can talk about!" Kairi rushes to speak up, more than ready to move onto a far less touchy subject. "I have great news-well, actually, Axel and I both do. And since you seem so eager to tell everyone everything," she sends her former fellow pupil another sharp look. "Do you want to tell them, or should I?"
"Nah, I'll let you take this one," Axel replies, maintaining his coy smile as he leans against the wall again.
"Wow, how considerate," Kairi deadpans, though she's quick to perk up as she turns back to the others. "I guess I might as well come right out with it then: our training is finished! We just passed our final exam a few days ago, which means we're officially Keyblade wielders!"
"Really?!" Sora grins, finally launching into genuine excitement upon hearing this. "Kairi, that's great!"
"Yeah, congratulations, both of you," Riku adds, offering the pair a supportive nod. "You must have worked pretty hard to learn the ropes as quickly as you did."
"Eh, it was nothing," Axel says with an easy shrug. "We could've done it in our sleep, right, Kairi?"
"Half the time, that's what I thought you were trying to do given how often Merlin had to get on your case for oversleeping and being late to lessons," Kairi retorts, crossing her arms.
"...Ouch. Guess I had that coming, huh?"
"And then some."
"That might be why Master Yen Sid called us all here," Goofy notes to Donald and Sora, aside. "So we could all find out about Kairi and Axel finishing up their training."
"Wouldn't it have been easier to just call us and tell us all that?" Sora whispers with a frown, wanting to get back to searching for more Keys as soon as possible. After all, as glad as he is to see Riku and Kairi again, he can't deny that the sooner the Keys are all secured and the Organization dealt with, the better off he'll likely be. At least, that's what he's hoping for.
"It must be something else then," Donald concludes impatiently. "Let's just go and ask him ourselves instead of standing around and guessing about it."
Sora and Goofy nod, ready to do just that while Riku, Kairi, and Axel are distracted with their own budding conversation. However, just before they can even move to do so, the doors at the top of the first flight of stairs swing open, revealing not the sorcerer in question, but rather, the king instead.
"Your majesty!" Donald and Goofy exclaim upon spotting Mickey, immediately coming to attention out of respect for him.
"Oh! Hiya, fellas!" he greets the pair, as well as the rest of the group, with a cheerful wave. "Glad to see you all could make it. I was just talking to Master Yen Sid; he says he's ready to get the meeting started."
"Great, let's go then!" Sora says, heading toward the stairs first.
"Hard to believe you're actually eager for a meeting," Riku remarks, grinning as he trails right behind him. "Or are you more eager for it to be over with?"
Sora bristles, hardly amused by Riku's lighthearted attempt at teasing when he likely wouldn't have easily been not so long ago. But now, given the circumstances Sora knows he's facing, circumstances that Riku isn't even remotely aware of, such teasing is anything but welcome now. "N-no," he retorts shortly, not even bothering to spare a glance over his shoulder at him. "I-I just… want to hear whatever Master Yen Sid wants to tell us."
"Yeah, sure you-" Riku stops short the moment he catches the rather cross look Sora shoots back at him, one filled with legitimate irritation, almost to the point of contempt. It's more than enough to silence Riku, completely catching him off guard as Sora wordlessly turns away from him to continue up the stairs. Kairi's been the only other one among the group to notice this trese exchange, and shares a concerned glance with Riku in its immediate aftermath as both of them wonder largely the same thing. Is something bothering Sora that neither of them really know about?
Kairi has her suspicions of what that something might be, at least more than Riku is aware of, based on their time together in Radiant Garden. She had thought that Sora would have gotten over his apparent frustration's with Riku's understandable concern for him by now. And she had certainly thought that he wouldn't use that frustration against him even in the most casual interactions between them. But clearly, Sora is still holding on to some form of unsettling resentment, though the real reason behind it is largely lost on Riku and Kairi alike.
Everyone files into the sorcerer's chamber, with Yen Sid sending each of them a simple nod of greeting as they enter. As soon as they're all properly settled, the sorcerer wastes no time in kicking the meeting off at last. "I am pleased to see each of you; it has been quite some time since we have all gathered in one place, and as such, we have much to discuss. But before we begin, I believe congratulations are in order," Yen Sid's usually serious manner shifts into a bit of a proud smile at this. "Kairi and Lea have completed their training. Merlin has passed you both with high marks, and tells me that you're more than ready to face whatever trials await you."
"Welcome to the team, you two!" Mickey pipes up with a bright grin. "And thanks for helping out at Disney Castle a few days ago. Minnie called me and told me all about what happened; she said you both did a great job!"
"You're welcome," Kairi returns the king's smile as Axel nods his agreement. "We were happy to help."
"Wait… what happened at the castle?" Sora inquires curiously, with Riku, Donald, and Goofy similarly out of the loop.
"Our final exam," Kairi offers him a sly wink.
"And a service call the rest of you were too busy to pick up," Axel adds just as coyly. "No worries though, us pro-Keybladers had it covered."
"Indeed," Yen Sid notes as he gets the meeting back on track. "With Lea and Kairi added to our ranks, we are now up to five guardians of light. However, we still require two additional Keyblade wielders before a proper confrontation with Xehanort and Organization XIII can take place. Along those lines, Mickey and Riku, I would like to know how your search for Master Aqua is progressing."
"Not great, I'm afraid…" Mickey says as his smile falls into a fretful frown.
"We've traced Aqua's steps to just about every world she went to before she fell into the Realm of Darkness," Riku adds, just as disconcerted by their lack of results. "But we haven't really turned up with any new clues about how to find her. We thought about just going back to look for her anyway, but…"
"After what happened the last time we were there, we don't wanna risk charging in without a plan," Mickey winces at the mere memory of their last disastrous trip to the Realm of Darkness.
Sora nearly speaks up at this to suggest an idea of his own, though just before he can, he's stopped short upon catching both Donald and Goofy shaking their heads at him disapprovingly, sensing his intent. And, because it's a plan he knows he'll have a hard time of convincing any of the others to go along with, he narrowly decides to refrain from proposing it, at least for now.
"I see…" Yen Sid muses, his hands pressed together on his desk as he closes his eyes. "The Realm of Darkness is vast, some even believe it to be endless; it is not at all difficult to get lost within its unfathomable depths, which seems to be the fate Aqua has met. As I have said before, we would likely have a much easier time of rescuing her if we could find either Terra or-"
"I-I found Terra!" Sora exclaims, largely without thinking. A beat of startled silence follows this announcement as the others all look at him incredulously.
Riku is the first to voice the confusion everyone is sharing. "What?"
"I said I found Terra," Sora reiterates, though he does recant somewhat as he properly explains. "Well… sort of. I found this suit of armor that told me it was what's left of Terra's mind, I… think? I'm still kinda confused about exactly what it was, b-but it did tell me how we can help Terra: by helping Ventus and Aqua."
"Which we're still no closer to doing," Riku reminds, crossing his arms. "When it comes to Aqua or Ventus for that matter."
"Actually…" Sora counters, meeting Riku's doubtful frown with an almost smug smile. "We have a lead about Ventus too."
"That's right," Goofy agrees. "Turns out Ven's heart has been resting inside of Sora's this whole time!"
"Really?!" Mickey and Riku both balk in shock and even Yen Sid seems to be surprised by this revelation. Likewise, Axel leans forward a bit, suddenly more intrigued by the conversation as Kairi flinches, realizing that what she had heard from Vanitas is actually the truth after all.
"And we know about something that could help us get his heart out of mine," Sora continues, maintaining his confident smile. "Even better, we could even use it to help Roxas and-" He stops short at this, starkly realizing, yet again, that no one present would know or remember Xion if he were to bring her up. Not even Axel, who had once been so close to her, just as Roxas had been too. Briefly, Sora considers telling her tragic tale right here on the spot anyway, in the hopes that it might begin to spark the memory of her in the mind of one of her two closest friends. But just as he's on the verge of doing exactly that, he hesitates, not on his own volition, but on someone else's, almost as if Xion herself is telling him to wait, that the time isn't quite right for her story to be told. So, he doesn't, as much as he might want to. "A-and… uh…" he trails off, suddenly entirely unsure of what to say.
"And… maybe Naminé too?" Kairi ventures, skimming a hand over her heart.
"Well?" Axel presses, quite eager to know more, especially if it can help Roxas. "What's this 'miracle solution' you've found out about?"
"Um, i-it's called the Key to Return Hearts," Sora begins somewhat tentatively. "And-"
"And no, we haven't found it yet," Donald quickly fills in. "We don't even know where to go looking for it either."
"Would you happen to know anything about it, Master Yen Sid?" Goofy asks curiously.
"The Key to Return Hearts…" Yen Sid ponders, stroking his long beard. "Yes, I have heard legends of such a mysterious Keyblade before. It's an elusive, powerful tool that traverses the worlds entirely on its own accord, never staying in any particular place for too long. Tracking it down is essentially impossible-"
"But we'll find it!" Sora boldly interjects, catching even his companions off guard. "No matter where it is."
"Aren't you supposed to be looking for a bunch of other Keys instead?" Riku asks, smirking as he raises an eyebrow at him.
"Aren't you supposed to be in the Realm of Darkness searching for Aqua instead of standing here telling me what to do?" Sora shoots back with an indignant huff, unable to stop himself before he can think better about such a cutting remark.
"Sora!" Kairi scolds, sending him a disapproving frown upon hearing this, one that Riku largely shares as his smile fades completely.
"Now, now," Yen Sid attempts to regain control of the meeting. "Let us all calm ourselves so that we can-"
"Actually, while we're talking about the Realm of Darkness again, I have a pretty good idea," Sora continues nonetheless, far too impassioned and incensed to stop now. Despite both of his companions efforts to get him to.
"Sora…" Donald grumbles, sending him a warning glare. Likewise, Goofy shakes his head once again, his fretful expression practically begging Sora to back down from his ill-conceived idea, especially in light of what they all know now. But even so, this time, Sora simply disregards them both in favor of pressing his luck even more than he already has.
"I should go to the Realm of Darkness instead!" he proposes with a daring grin. His brazen bravado, however, is largely lost on all the others.
"You should what?" Riku is the first to ask while everyone else is busy trying to make sense of this sudden suggestion.
"You heard me," Sora counters unflinchingly even as he meets Riku's equally stern expression. "Since it's taking you so long to find Aqua, maybe if I go, I'll have better luck at it!"
"You can't go into the Realm of Darkness, Sora," Riku rebuffs dismissively. "You already know you can't. We've been over this before."
"That's what we told him!" Donald hotly exclaims. "But does he ever listen? No! Of course not!"
"Sora, why would you even want to go to the Realm of Darkness?" Kairi asks with a worried frown. "From what I've heard, it's awfully dangerous there and… well…" She trails off, sending him a knowing look, one that he easily reads for the reminder that it was. A reminder of just how much he'd struggled with the darkness before, how much he's struggling with it even still. Yet even that isn't enough to dissuade him to change his tune, not when there's a chance that such a trip to the dark world could end up saving him in the long run.
"I-I just… I feel like I need to go," Sora insists, not caring to elaborate beyond that.
"But Kairi's right, Sora," Mickey interjects evenly. "Riku and I barely made it back after the last time we were there; heck, Riku's Keyblade was even broken! It just isn't worth the risk unless you know exactly what you're doing there."
"Well… i-it might be different if I go-"
"No," Riku swiftly cuts Sora off, his tone cold and authoritative. "You're not going. That's final."
Sora flinches at the rather severe stare Riku was sending his way, and while he normally would have backed down at that alone, he still stubbornly persists all the same. "No, it's not final. I am going, whether you say I can or not!"
"No, you're not," Riku insists, his expression sharpening into a glare. "We're done talking about this. We're just wasting everyone's time at this point. We need to move on."
By now, both of Sora's hands are clenched into fists so tight at his sides that they're practically shaking, his anger rising to the point that it's practically fury. Fury that's aimed almost entirely at one of his two closest friends alone. "Since when are you in charge of what I do or where I-"
"Sora," Yen Sid finally speaks up, authoritatively rising from his seat to abruptly bring the entire room to silence. "You know well, perhaps better than anyone else here, exactly why you cannot travel to the Realm of Darkness in your current state."
Upon hearing this, Sora can feel his blood running cold, all of his former intensity surging into a sharp sense of dread instead. This is it, he thinks, his heart wavering from fear. Because certainly, the sorcerer has to know, he has to have sensed or uncovered the truth somehow. And now that he's foolishly dug himself this deep into the wrong hole, there's essentially no reason for Yen Sid not to reveal the horrific secret that he's been striving so desperately to keep hidden from those he cared about most.
And yet, that isn't what the sorcerer does at all.
"You still lack the power of waking," he says simply as he sits down once more. "And without mastery over that power, there is little that you would be able to do to assist Aqua even if you were to go to the Realm of Darkness to begin with."
Sora only barely manages to stifle a huge sigh of relief upon hearing this familiar admonishment, one that hardly even springs in light of what he knows Yen Sid could have said instead. But instead, he didn't, because he still doesn't know, nobody else knows, save for Sora, Donald, and Goofy alone. And as far as Sora is concerned, that's exactly how things need to stay.
"R-right…" he relents, not bothering to spare any sort of glance at anyone as he finally lets the matter go.
"Furthermore, I assume that there are still a handful of Keys that have yet to be found," the sorcerer continues. "How many have the three of you managed to acquire thus far?"
"We've gotten five so far, sir," Goofy reports dutifully.
"Five… impressive. And how many has the Organization obtained?"
"Two," Donald admits, largely since he knows Sora won't. "At least… as far as we know."
"B-but they only got those two because they stole them from us!" Sora adds hastily, his sense of verve quickly returning. "We'll find a way to get them back and we'll keep them from getting any more!"
"Very good," Yen Sid nods his approval. "Searching for the six remaining Keys should remain your primary goal for the time being, Sora. Distracting yourself with missions that are not your own, such as attempting to travel to the Realm of Darkness, could invite the possibility for the Organization to gather them in your stead."
"Yeah…" Sora mutters with a defeated sigh as he loses his brazen tone once again. "We… wouldn't want that…"
"Worry not," the sorcerer reassures. "I believe you will find that locating the rest of the Keys is about to become much easier. Because from this point onward, you will be receiving additional assistance in doing so. Riku, Kairi, Lea, I would like the three of you to accompany Sora, Donald, and Goofy as they continue their search across the worlds for the final six Keys."
"What?!" Just about everyone present is caught off guard by this unexpected announcement. Sora in particular stiffens up completely as he immediately realizes exactly what this means. It means that Axel and Riku and Kairi will be traveling alongside him from now on, that they'll essentially become his constant companions in the same way Donald and Goofy are. It means that they'll be around to hear whatever the Organization might say to him, see whatever they might do to him to try and force him to join their side. And along those same lines, it means that there will essentially be no hiding all of the awful things he's spent weeks, months struggling to secret away from them. It had been hard enough keeping it all hidden from Donald and Goofy for as long as he did; but when it comes to keeping up that same kind of ruse around Riku and Kairi on a daily, constant basis… that isn't something Sora is even sure he can begin to try to do.
"Uh, n-no, that's ok," he says, hiding his rising distress behind a layer of faux calm. "We don't need any extra help looking for the Keys. W-we've got it covered just fine on our own, right, guys?" He looks to Donald and Goofy at this, his expression discreetly pleading with both of them to agree, which fortunately for his sake, they do.
"Um… y-yep, that's right," Goofy says as Donald only tersely nods, still not wanting any parts of this ongoing charade. "We sure do appreciate the offer, but if we've handled finding five Keys on our own so far, then we can probably handle finding the rest too."
"Well, gee, I'm sure you fellas can," Mickey acknowledges with a small smile. "But this isn't just to help the three of you out; it's to help the entire team!"
"Mickey is right," Yen Sid says. "When the time comes for you to confront Xehanort, you all must do so together, as a harmonious unit, a well-bonded team. While we may still lack the last two lights necessary to complete that team, what members of it we do have on hand currently must learn to work together to the best of their abilities. A joint outing to collect a Key or two will be an ideal opportunity for each of you to do exactly that."
Sora nearly protests this idea once more, but he's surprised when Riku is the one who beat him to it. "But Master, aren't Mickey and I supposed to be searching for Aqua? I'm not sure how we're going to do that if we're out looking for Keys instead."
"Actually, Riku, I won't be going with the rest of you to hunt for Keys," Mickey admits. "Everything's already been figured out. While you're all off on your own mission, I'm gonna keep on searching for clues about how we can help Aqua. Who knows? Maybe I'll even find something that can help us get past the dead end we've been at for awhile now."
"Well, then I should go with you to help," Riku insists.
"Yeah, you should go with him…" Sora mutters, hoping to rid himself of Riku's potential scrutiny more than anyone else's really.
"That will not be necessary, Riku," Yen Sid counters evenly. "Mickey will carry on with your shared mission, and in the meantime, you shall accompany your fellow lights on this new collective endeavour."
While Riku simply nods in acceptance of this plan, Sora is still far from on board with it as he makes a fledgling attempt at protesting it once more. "B-but I-"
"Isn't this exciting, Sora?" Kairi suddenly cuts him off in a bright whisper as she steps forward to stand beside him. "It looks like I finally get to travel with you, just like we both wanted!"
Sora stops short as he glances over at her, easily distracted by the warm, cheery smile she's sending his way. A smile he can't help but return, albeit much more halfheartedly as he thinks about all of the unspeakable things he's hiding from her. "Y-yeah…" he retorts just as quietly before he apprehensively looks away from her. "Just like I wanted…"
"I have one final significant announcement that I have summoned all of you to hear," Yen Sid carries on, his already serious tone turning even moreso. "In addition to developing a collaborative team dynamic, the guardians of light will also require a proper leader. Inasmuch as Xehanort serves this role for the new Organization XIII, the leader of the lights will be the one to guide the others in virtue and justice to counteract his treacherous schemes. Originally, I was planning on bestowing this role to Master Aqua, but it is still uncertain how much time she will need to recover upon her eventual return to the realm of light. Which is why Mickey suggested that our leader should be among our current batch of Keyblade wielders instead."
"Yep," Mickey nods with an upbeat smile as he turns to the others. "It's an awfully big responsibility, but like I told Master Yen Sid, I think it's about time for one of you to take charge. And we think there's someone here who's more than ready to do just that."
On that note alone, the rest of the group is quite curious, each of them silently wondering who it might be. Given their only very recently gained "official" status as guardians of light, neither Kairi nor Axel suspect that they'd be granted such an important role. Sora, on the other hand, perks up a bit, intrigued by such a special designation and what it could possibly mean, especially as Yen Sid continues to describe it.
"Know that much time and thought has gone into this decision," the sorcerer explains keenly. "After dedicated deliberation between myself and Mickey, we believe we've reached the proper choice. The leader we've picked is someone who has proven themselves on more than one occasion to be steadfast and courageous in the face of adversity. Someone who has gone above and beyond the call for the sake of protecting both their friends and the worlds at large. Someone who does not give up or falter, even when confronted with nigh impossible circumstances."
Sora only narrowly surprises a proud smile as he listened to all this, knowing that he fits this admirable description to a T. Or at least, he once had before recent developments started shifting his course entirely. Even so, it isn't like any of the others, including the sorcerer and the king, know about any of those developments. Which means that, when it comes to his past merits and accomplishments at the very least, Sora feels like he could be a surprising shoo-in for a role that, up until mere moments ago, he hadn't even known existed at all. A role that, perhaps once his heart is fully free from the shadows it's struggling against, he can genuinely embrace and use to make an impactful difference against the Organization that's more than eager to rip him away from the light where he rightfully belongs.
"I am pleased to announce," Yen Sid continues with an affirmative smile as he glances between the group gathered before him. "That the leader of the seven guardians of light is none other than…"
In the very brief moment that the sorcerer pauses for a bit of a dramatic effect, Sora finally allows himself a full smile, preparing to accept a title that he can already tell is his. Except… it isn't.
"Master Riku."
In an instant, Sora's smile is gone, surprise and disappointment filling into its place as he tries to make sense of what he's just heard. Likewise, Riku is similarly stunned by this reveal himself as he looks between Yen Sid and Mickey incredulously, not entirely certain that he'd heard this announcement quite right.
"M-me?" he asks, far too dumbfounded to say anything outside of that.
"Yeah, you!" Mickey quips, his smile brimming with pride for his young companion. "Congratulations, Riku!"
"Oh, Riku!" Kairi exclaims with a bright, elated smile as she grips his arm excitedly. "This is great! I always had a feeling you were cut out to be a leader someday; don't you think so too, Sora?"
Sora flinches at this, instinctively forcing on a wide, completely fake grin as he meets Kairi's smile as squarely as he can, avoiding eye contact with Riku all the while. "Y-yeah!" his voice comes out much tighter and strained than he wants it to. "This is… a-awesome…"
"Well, aren't you gonna congratulate him too?" Donald chastises him, aside.
"Yeah, it's not everyday that somebody gets named leader of the lights," Goofy adds. Meanwhile, nobody notices Sora's hands curl up into fists at his sides, his knuckles practically turning white as he does everything he can to keep his rising frustration from flooding to the surface. "And that leader bein' Riku only makes it all the more special, wouldn't you say so-"
"Ha! Y-yeah, I would!" Sora nearly snaps, still smiling to the point that it nearly hurts his face to maintain it. The briefest sparks of darkened light flicker over his fists, yet no one seems to see them, not even Sora himself as he finally meets the somewhat concerned glance Riku is sending his way. "C-Congrats, Riku! I'm so… h-happy for you," he lies, knowing there's little else he can do right now. Not when he's surrounded by nobody who he can really be honest with when it comes to how he truly feels about this.
While none of the others really pick up on it, Riku does catch onto at least some of the tension in Sora's tone, the nearly manic degree his smile has taken on not lost on him either. The palpable shock of his newfound title is nearly forgotten as he sets his focus on his best friend, feeling that this likely has something to do with his previous outburst. Yet before he can pursue his concerned curiosity further, Yen Sid addresses him once more.
"Riku, while you have been chosen for this role, whether or not you take up this mantle is entirely your decision," the sorcerer explains. "Do you accept the responsibility of leading your fellow guardians of light, not just in the ongoing search for the remaining Keys, but into battle against Xehanort and the Organization?"
Riku pauses, finally allowing the full weight that comes along with the lofty role he's about to be entrusted with to properly sink in. Just as he'd felt when he had been named a Keyblade Master not so long ago, he isn't entirely sure that it;s was a role he was ready for, a designation that's even more special, important, and daunting than that. Accepting the title of leader of the lights means that he'll be at the very forefront of their charge against their foes, that their success or failure in that decisive fight will be entirely on his shoulders. It's an immense burden to bear every bit as much as it is an incredible honor; an honor Riku doesn't believe he fully deserves given the many mistakes marring his past. After all, how could someone who had struggled so much with his own inner darkness before be worthy enough to step forward as the leader of the lights themselves?
Briefly, he considers suggesting that the role be passed on to someone else, someone more noble, more pure, someone who despite their faults, truly has the passion and the drive and the confidence he feels he lacked. He almost says it too, the words practically on the tip of his tongue that Sora should be given the chance to take the lead instead of him. Yet just before he can, he happens to catch the warm, expectant smile Mickey is sending his way. At that moment, Riku realizes that the king had probably been the one to nominate him for the position to begin with. He can practically imagine Mickey proposing the idea to Yen Sid, proudly hailing the accomplishments of his young companion while touting whatever qualities he might possess that would make for a suitable leader. Clearly, the king believes in him, even when he doesn't necessarily believe in himself, which is far more often than he would have liked to admit. Which means that the least Riku knows he can do is try to live up to his expectations, perhaps even aiming higher than those expectations alone in case he falls short.
"Yes, I accept," he says, his tone firm and resolved. "I promise, I won't let you down." He finally manages a small smile as he turns to face his follow lights. "Any of you."
At this, another burst of bright celebration fills the room, especially as Donald and Goofy kick off a hearty round of applause that Mickey, Kairi, and Axel all readily join in on to gladly affirm Riku as their new leader. It's a celebration that Sora makes no efforts to join in on as he instead keeps his sights set in a glare at the floor, knowing it's better to aim it there than at Riku. There had been a time, not so long ago, that he would have happily commended him for receiving such a high honor, he would have thrown an arm over his shoulder and bid him a wide, cheerful smile that wouldn't have gone away that easily. But now… something is different, something has changed.
Because now, the only thing Sora can think of as he stands alone in the further shadows of the room while Riku is warmly surrounded by his fellow lights, is that he'd been passed over in favor of his supposed best friend all over again.
The rest of the meeting consists of much simpler beats of business. It's decided that the new collective set of guardians will venture out the following day to resume the search for the last six Keys, with Riku fronting the effort on his first official outing as leader. Just about everyone leaves the sorcerer's chamber in high, hopeful spirits when it comes to their future endeavors together, everyone save for Sora. He's the first to slip out of the room after Yen Sid dismisses them, not sparing a single word to anyone as he heads off on his own, his mouth pressed into a thin line and his hands shoved into his jacket pockets. Donald and Goofy are both quick to notice his rather tense manner, and given what they know of his condition, they don't hesitate to trail after him to get to the bottom of it. However, upon stepping out into the hall, Riku also manages to spot Sora's hasty retreat, one that doesn't stop even as he takes a small step forward to potentially follow him.
"Hey, Sora, wait up-" Riku stops short as Sora swiftly rounds a corner to continue on to one of the tower's countless spare rooms, not even bothering to even glance over his shoulder at him. He sighs, unsure of whether or not he should continue after him, even as Kairi quietly comes to stand beside him. "What's gotten into him lately…?" he asks both her and himself, wearing a worried frown all the while.
"Uh, I-I don't know…" Kairi flinches, guilt settling into her stomach at this relative lie. Because in a way she does know, or rather she thinks she knew exactly where at least some of Sora's bitterness is coming from. But even so, she'd made a promise not to divulge the bulk of it, and even if she hadn't, she knows it's not her place to. Whatever is going on here is between Sora and Riku; it's for the two of them to resolve on their own, and yet…
"Do you mind going to talk to him for me?" Riku asks her. "We both know how hard it is for him to be upset around you and well… even though I don't know what I did to set him off like this, I get the impression that he doesn't really want to see me right now."
"Oh, Riku, I'm sure that's not true. Sora's probably just stressed about… uh… f-finding the rest of the Keys," she ventures, not even knowing how to begin addressing what Sora is likely much more stressed out about instead.
"Really?" Riku counters, still frowning. "Because if anything, I think he might still be mad about how I told him he couldn't go to the Realm of Darkness, even though he knows it's too dangerous for him."
"Well, you know Sora," Kairi rebuffs with a small chuckle. "He never backs down when it comes to helping someone, no matter how dangerous it might be."
"Yeah," Riku finally allows himself a fond smile. "It's one of the best, and worst things about him if you ask me."
The pair share a brief, amused laugh, one that eases them both up to a much-needed degree, even if they mutually wish that Sora could share that laugh with them. Still, they both stand solid in their shared belief that he will sooner or later; they just have to break the newfound wall of ice standing between him and them first. "Alright, I'll talk to him for you," Kairi finally relents, letting out a teasing exasperated sigh as she begins to head off in the direction Sora had gone in. Still, she stops short, flashing Riku a wry grin to meet the grateful smile he's sending her way. "After all, you should focus on getting ready for tomorrow anyway. You've got a lot on your plate now that you're in charge."
Though Riku lets out another chuckle in response to the playful bow Kairi offers him before she leaves, his smile quickly falls once she's gone. "Yeah…" he mutters to himself, trying his best to shake away his remaining doubts and misgivings over his relatively new role and failing miserably all the while. "I guess I am… in charge…"
"It's not fair!" Sora rants, finally letting at least some of his pent-up frustration out in the aftermath of the meeting. He'd taken to one of the tower's relatively more secluded spare rooms, and had begun his round of angry venting almost as soon as Donald and Goofy had shown up to check on him. Venting that, to their credit, the pair does everything they can to bring to a calm, easy end. "Not only do we have to have everyone tag along with us to look for the Keys, but now we have to do it with Riku bossing us around the entire time too? This is the worst!"
"Quit being so dramatic!" Donald scolds as he and Goofy stand by, watching Sora as he restlessly paces around the room. "At least with Riku in charge, maybe you'll actually stay on track for a change instead of getting distracted like you always do."
"Yeah, Sora, just because Riku's the leader now doesn't mean he's gonna spend all his time 'bossing' any of us around," Goofy adds much more evenly. "You heard what Master Yen Sid said: his job is just to lead us down the right path as a team."
"Which is something I totally could have done just as well, maybe even better than he can!" Sora snaps, largely without thinking.
"Someone sure sounds jealous…" Donald remarks, sending Sora a smug smirk.
"I am not jealous!" Sora counters sharply, crossing his arms.
"So, are you saying you wanted to be the leader instead, Sora?" Goofy presses with a confused frown.
"Yes!" Sora exclaims, though he was quick to recant upon catching the skeptical look the pair sends his way. "N-no? Ugh, I don't know! I don't even really care about this whole dumb leader thing in the first place!"
"Then why are you so upset?" Goofy asks, concerned.
"It's because Master Yen Sid and the king picked Riku instead of you, isn't it?" Donald infers, raising a knowing eyebrow.
"N-no!" Sora hastily lies, unable to hide the rush of embarrassed red filling his face. "I-it's just… I could… h-he's not… UGH!" He lets out a loud, flustered shout of frustration, one that barely even begins to cover just how livid he actually is. But describing that frustration, the feelings of inferiority and weakness that fill him every time he thinks about the role that Riku is rising to instead of him is something he knows he can't properly do for himself, much less for his companions.
"Would you quit yelling about this already?!" Donald huffs indignantly. "We all know you won't even be mad by tomorrow, that's just how you are with Riku! And besides, it's probably for the best that you weren't named the leader anyway. You're not responsible enough to be put in charge of anything. Well, except maybe the 'Keeping Dangerous Secrets for Way Too Long' club."
"Heh, yeah, I hate to say it, Sora, but if that were a real club, you'd be the leader of it, no contest!" Goofy chuckles, trying to add a slight air of levity to conversation. Even if his efforts don't work in the slightest as Sora glares away from both of them. His cheeks flush an even brighter shade of red as he tries to block out the sting of their shared teasing, teasing that he knows is being made all in good fun. But in light of how low he already feels, it only serves to make him feel even worse.
"Speaking of keeping secrets…" Donald continues pointedly. "Now that everyone's going to be traveling with us, don't you think now is as good a time as any to come clean about… you know?"
"What?" Sora starts, his anger ebbing away into a familiar sense of dread as he drops his voice down to a whisper, just in case. "N-no, of course it's not! The spell's still working just fine, nobody suspects a thing, Master Yen Sid didn't even seem to know! And that's exactly how things need to stay until we figure out a way to stop it."
"But won't keeping everything a secret is gonna be a bit tricky now that Riku, Axel, and Kairi will be around all the time?" Goofy asks fretfully. "What if one of them notices you using your new powers-"
"I'm not supposed to use those anymore, remember?" Sora points out with a bit of a forced smile. "I promised I wouldn't, just like you guys promised you wouldn't say anything."
"Well, what if they overhear someone from the Organization going on about you being their 'new recruit'?" Donald presses with a plaintiff scowl.
"Yeah, like they're really gonna believe any of the wackjobs in Organization XIII over us," Sora scoffs, rolling his eyes. "Look, as much as I… kind of wish they weren't going to be going with us, I guess we'll just have to deal with it. Which means we're each gonna need to work twice as hard to keep it all under wraps while we look for a way to fix this."
"Or we could just be honest about what's going on and get some actual help from Yen Sid or the king instead of stalling for time you might not have!" Donald argues with a stern scowl.
"No!" Sora protests, a bit more forcefully than he means to. "No. We don't… we just… have to figure something out on our own. Until then, no one can know about-"
"No one can know about what?"
Sora lets out a sharp, startled yelp at the very sound of Kairi's voice. He spins around to see her standing in the doorway right behind him, her calm, yet quizzical look, giving him the impression that she fortunately hadn't overheard most of the preceding conversation. And despite the scrutinizing glances Donald and Goofy both send his way, Sora still does his best to do whatever he can to keep her in the dark when it comes to what that conversation had really been about.
"Uh…" he averts her curious gaze anxiously, rushing to come up with an answer she'll actually believe. "No one can know about… t-the big surprise we're planning for Riku to celebrate him being named leader!" He throws on a wide, but ultimately fake smile, one that he desperately hopes is convincing enough, which, unfortunately, it really isn't.
"Oh? So you're not actually angry at him after all then?" Kairi inquires, properly stepping into the room.
"O-of... course not!" Sora says between gritted teeth as he struggles to maintain his smile. "W-what would have made you think that I was?"
"Sora, you were practically glaring Keyblades at him during the entire meeting," Kairi remarks, her tone flat and blunt.
"Oh that? T-that was just… an act!" Sora says with a forced, awkward laugh. "For the surprise! R-right, you guys?" He looks to his companions in the hopes that they'll back him up with this ploy. Even so, this is a steadily sinking ship that neither of them have any intentions of staying on.
"Please don't drag us into this…" Donald mutters sourly. Goofy glances away with a frown.
"Really?" Kairi raises a knowing eyebrow at Sora. Her hands are poised on her hips to further show her obvious suspicion. "Even before you knew Riku was going to be named the leader you were just "acting"?"
Sora finally falters at this, knowing that if there's anyone who can see right through him, it's her. "L-look, Kairi, I-"
She puts up a hand to stop him, her expression stern and unyielding as she takes the time to address his companions first. "Donald, Goofy, do you mind if I have a word with Sora alone please?"
"Not at all," Goofy readily agrees.
"Maybe you can actually talk some sense into him," Donald adds as they head out. "But good luck; we've been trying for ages now and we've never gotten very far."
"Hey!" Sora protests, shooting an irritated glare at the pair as they leave. Even so, once they're gone, Kairi strangely says nothing, instead staring at him with her arms crossed and her expression set in a dissatisfied pout. One that Sora nearly caves under, though he still somehow manages to maintain his composure. Barely.
"Before you say anything," he begins, trying to keep his voice firm as he turns away from her. "You should know that I don't wanna talk about Riku right now."
"Fine," she surprisingly agrees. "We don't have to talk about him. Yet. Because for now…" He flinches as her fingertips skim his arm, her touch proving enough to divert his gaze toward her as her tone softens significantly. "I'd like to know how you've been doing since… the last time we saw each other in person like this. You seemed like you were pretty happy that night we talked to each other over the phone, but… after what I saw and heard from you today… I guess I can't help but be a little worried still..."
"Y-you… don't have any reason to be," he assures her as earnestly as he possibly can. "I've been fine since we left Radiant Garden, even though Donald and Goofy kept trying to convince me to go back at first. And…" he sighs, deciding to be honest with her about this much at least. "They might have been right. I wasn't really ready to get back into the swing of things when we left a-and it put us in danger more than once when I should have been getting us out of danger instead…"
Kairi only barely manages to resist the urge to embrace him upon hearing the sheer shame in his tone. She remembers well the intimate, emotional conversation they'd had on his birthday, when he'd clearly shown just how much guilt he always places upon himself for any of his perceived failures, no matter how big or small. "Well," she says, her voice soft as she takes a small step closer to him. "Do you feel like you're more ready now?"
Sora hesitates at this, initially unsure of how to truthfully answer. Because despite his best efforts to put even the memory of his harrowing bout of torturous captivity behind him, he still finds himself thinking of it far too often for comfort. He still seizes up at the mere mention of poison, still feels a familiar kind of panic swell up in him whenever he faces the idea of being restrained or chained up, and still absolutely dreads the thought of darkness converging over his body, heart, and mind like a vicious shroud, crushing any sense of thought or agency he should have with sheer, wild, monstrous, violent instincts all over again. But those are all fears that he's dedicated himself to overcoming, fears he knows he needs to chase away if he ever hopes to confront the much bigger, much more nightmarish fear his heart is now facing every single day. A fear that he still can't bear to tell Kairi, not when she's clearly already so concerned for him as it is.
"Y-yeah," he finally says. He offers her a small, but earnest smile. "I do."
"I'm glad to hear that," Kairi says. However, her sincere expression takes on a bit of a determined tone a moment later. "Because now that you're fully feeling better, I think now might just be a good time to finally tell Riku about what happened-"
"No," Sora cuts her off almost immediately, his smile quickly turning to a scowl.
"But Sora-"
"I already told you, Kairi, I don't want him knowing about what happened!"
"But why not? Why do you suddenly seem to have such a problem with him now anyway? Just because you think he's being a little 'overprotective' lately?"
"It's not about that!"
"Well, then is it about Riku being the leader now?" Kairi follows him as he marches out onto the balcony connected to the room. "Don't think we didn't notice how you were barely managing to keep it together during the meeting earlier. If I didn't know any better, I'd almost say it looked like you were jealous of-"
"For the last time, I'm not jealous!" Sora nearly shouts, failing to keep his returning temper in check, even when it comes to Kairi of all people. "And that's not what it's about either."
"Then would you mind telling me what it is about?" Kairi presses every bit as crossly. "Because it's not like Riku or I can just read your mind and figure out what's wrong-"
"I don't know what's wrong either!" Sora suddenly professes as he spins around to face her. Kairi gasps, genuinely surprised by how distraught he seems to be, anger and grief flooding his expression in ways that seem to contradict each other constantly. He's nearly on the verge of tears that he's only barely holding back as he tries to explain the ongoing war his emotions are having with each other, only to struggle to get anything out at all. "I… I don't know why I've been feeling like this lately, I just… do…"
It's something of a lie though, because he does know, at least on some level, why he's still harboring such feelings of resentment toward Riku in particular, even when he knows he's done nothing wrong. There are a number of reasons behind that resentment, really, but the one that stands out most now is how he knows, or at least how he believes Riku might react if he finds out about all of the things he's been keeping from him. From what Maleficent had done to him to what Xehanort is currently doing to him, Sora has no doubts that Riku would be furious with him, not just for fostering so many massive secrets, but for failing to be strong enough to protect himself from their treacherous traps as he should be. It only makes sense that he would be upset; after all, Sora is consistently infuriated with himself for the exact same reason.
Which is why the most he can do to ward off any additional anger that might come his way is to reflect that anger back at Riku in advance instead. In truth, he knows he's done nothing to deserve that ire, to the point that he hates merely feeling it, much less showing it toward one of his two closest friends. But in light of all of the stress and fear and fury he's facing inwardly, this is the only way Sora knows how to deal with any of it outwardly, as destructive as he knows it is toward both himself and to Riku.
And, to an extent, even to Kairi as she sends him a sad, sympathetic sort of look. "T-then maybe you should just sit down and talk to Riku about all this instead of bottling everything up inside yourself," she suggests carefully. "Maybe if you do, then you might just be able to figure out what's wrong together and work past it."
"Hmph, like he'll even have time to talk to me now that he's the big, important 'leader of the lights'," Sora deadpans, leaning against the balcony's railing.
"Oh, come on, Sora, you know Riku will always make time for you," Kairi settles in beside him.
"Yeah, time to boss me around like he always does."
"Well, maybe that's a good thing," Kairi finally puts on a bit of a teasing smirk. "At least then if I ask him to tell you to stop being such a grump, you might actually listen."
As she gently elbows him, Sora finds himself helpless to hold back a small, but genuine laugh. Kairi can practically feel her heart grow warm as she hears it, the gentle grin that finds a place on his face a far cry from the leering look she'd seen on a face so similar to his just a few days prior. On that unnerving thought alone, she nearly tells Sora about her equally unsettling encounter with Vanitas, but ultimately, she quickly decides against it. After all, she can tell that the last thing he needs right now is anything else to be upset about. So she goes down another route entirely instead.
"I-I have to admit…" she glances down as her cheeks begin to turn a bit warm. "I've missed seeing your smile everyday. I guess now that we'll be traveling together, I'll get to see a lot more of it, huh?"
It isn't lost on her when his treasured smile quickly disappears upon hearing this. "Uh… y-yeah…" he looked away. "I guess so…"
"...You don't sound as excited about that as I thought you would be…" she frowns, carefully placing a hand over his. "Don't tell me that you're mad at me too…"
"N-no, of course not!" he quickly glances back at her, flustered. "It's just..." He stops short, realizing just how close he is to actually telling her the truth, just how much he wants to tell her the truth about what's happening to him. He wants her to know, wants to accept any help she might be able to give, even if that help is as small as a simple comforting hug and kind words of reassurance. He hates keeping secrets from someone he trusts so much, from her, when he's never hidden much of anything from her in the past, aside from, perhaps, the true depths of how he really feels about her. Which was why, as he stands alongside her, captivated by her curious, questioning, beautiful blue gaze, he almost does tell her, right then and there. He almost lets it all out, lets her know just what he's up against, just what he's had to suffer through so far. Just how scared he is that he's fighting a battle he stands no chance of winning. He almost bares every part of his heart and soul to her and her alone… almost… And yet… right before he can…
He doesn't.
If he's perfectly honest with himself, if she had been the only one assigned to accompany them on their search for the Keys from here on out, he probably would follow through and tell her the truth. But it isn't just her, it's her and Axel and Riku and all of them coming along for the ride only serves to make things far more complicated than they already are on their own. He knows she deserved the truth, but in the end, it was a truth he isn't even remotely prepared to give her, a truth he hardly feels capable of confronting himself the majority of the time. So for now, he keeps it to himself, deciding to give her something much less daunting and dreadful in its place.
"I-it's just… I'm… worried about keeping you safe out there," he lies, knowing perfectly well that she can take care of herself now. She'd proven that much before by coming to rescue him from Maleficent's clutches when he'd needed her most.
"You don't need to be," she gives his hand a small, reassuring squeeze. "Let me keep you safe for a change instead, ok? Remember, you don't have to carry the weight of the worlds entirely on your shoulders anymore. Because from now on, I'll be right here by your side to carry it with you."
He smiles as he hears this, his smile only growing as she lightly leans up against him so they could gaze at the starry sky above them together. Even though he isn't quite ready to tell her the truth yet, he can at least take her up on this offer in small ways that still matter more than enough to him. While he isn't exactly keen on having so many new travel companions, he can at least take solace that she'll be one of them. Her presence alone is a comfort he's come to miss in their all-too-frequent time apart, her company something he never minds keeping. But beyond that is her light, her heart brimming with it so brightly that it banishes any trace of darkness in her path. He knows it might be too much to hope for, but he wonders that perhaps if he allows himself to bask in the pure, perfect radiance of her light, then maybe, just maybe it might slow the spread of shadows in his heart too.
And even if it can't, then at least as far as Sora was concerned, simply standing, staying by Kairi's side was all he could really hope for and so much more.
In the absence of any particular pressing mission, the lower ranking members of Organization XIII find themselves with some relatively welcome downtime. While their overall goal is to continue scouring the worlds for the remaining Keys, there isn't any rush to do so as long as their current lead isn't doing the same. Following that lead's moves precisely was how they'd ended up with over a month off when he had been laid low by poison to the point that he couldn't unwittingly guide them to where they needed to go next, creating a momentary stand still that had left some members annoyed and others more than happy for such a lengthy break. The current break they now find themselves in will be a much shorter one, or so their leader says, but it's apparently a necessary one. For as the guardians of light reconvene for a check on the progress of their endeavors, so too do the seekers of darkness.
Or rather, so are the highest six ranking members of the Organization. Its other members have been largely dismissed to their own devices, which leads the majority of them to lounging about in the Grey Area while they wait for further instructions from their superiors. All while most of them wonder exactly what those superiors are up to in their absence.
"Soooo…" Demyx is the first to address the subject as he reclines on one of the room's multiple couches. "I can't be the only one who wants to know what the higher-ups are talking about in that super secret meeting of theirs, right?"
"No, but you are the only one dumb enough to say what we're all clearly thinking, so nice going, Captain Obvious," Larxene sneers as she continues polishing her knives while sitting on the couch across from Demyx's alongside Marluxia.
"Whatever the superiors are meeting about is not our concern," Vexen scowls as he glances up from the card game Luxord had challenged him to. "If it was, then we would have been invited to take part in their discussion."
"Ah, but certainly you can't say you aren't at least casually curious as to what the topic of that discussion truly is," Luxord points out as he deftly deals another hand. "Especially given how inquisitively-minded tend to be, Vexen."
"I only spare the time and energy for matters that are truly worth looking into these days, Luxord," Vexen counters pointedly. "And mere simple-minded gossip about what our leaders do when we're not looking is not that. Besides, for all we know, they're probably just mutually seething about how we've managed to acquire far too few of those Keys thus far."
"Yeah, you know, I thought we'd have gotten more of them by now?" Demyx agrees as he sits up a bit. "Two out of thirteen isn't the worst, but it isn't really that great when you consider the other team's got five."
"Says the guy that let one of them slip through his fingers just because the Keybrat gave him a dirty look and told him to bug off," Larxene remarks with a haughty smirk.
"H-hey! At least I tried to get one," Demyx argues. "I haven't even seen you go out and look for any, Larxene."
"Yeah, that's 'cause the old man is keeping me in reserve until the moment is just right," she grins, holding up one of her knives to admire it.
"So… never, then?" Despite this wry remark, Demyx flinches as Larxene points the tip of her knife at him upon this remark, sending a cutting, vicious glare right along with it.
"You're being awfully quiet over there, Marluxia," Lurxord notes, glancing over his hand of cards at his fellow member on the far side of the room. "You're the closest in rank to the upper six out of any of us; care to enlighten us about what you might know of their shadowy dealings?"
"No," Marluxia says simply, his expression set in a sullen scowl as he keeps his gaze locked on the wide window beside him.
"They're talking about Sora."
The other members are largely caught off guard as Riku, or rather, the other Riku, finally speaks up from his spot on the farthest edge of the room. The replica leans against the wall, his arms crossed and his sights set away from the older members as he maintains a neutral expression, even as they all look at him curiously.
"Oh really?" Vexen sends him a suspicious stare. "And how would you know that? Did you dare to eavesdrop on their private meeting?"
"I didn't need to," the other Riku replies as he finally glanced at the others. "What else would they be talking about right now?"
"Uh, the Keys, just like Vexen said," Demyx points out.
"Hardly," the other Riku scoffs. "Xehanort knows he'll get his hands on the rest of those as soon as he gets Sora. That's his main focus now; it's why he doesn't care that we've lost so many of them. But still, it does make you wonder," he turns to look toward the far window, trying to make sense of the master's enigmatic plans just as much as the others are. "If he wants Sora to be his final vessel so badly, then why is he taking his sweet time in making it happen?"
"It's because the boy is notoriously stubborn," Luxord theorizes as he lays out a winning hand, much to Vexen's ire. "He isn't one to go down without a fight, a fact we all know far too well by this point. Try as the master might to recruit him to our side, Sora simply isn't going to come over as willingly as the rest of us did."
"So the old man's gotta rough the dumb kid's heart up a bit until he's nice and obedient," Larxene says with a sadistic grin. "I have to say, I actually kind of hope it works; after all the trouble he's caused us, it'll be hilarious to see Sora be brought to his knees, his poor heart broken beyond repair to the point that he'll be nothing more than the master's loyal little lapdog!" She lets out a hearty, twisted chuckle at this, one that none of the others really join in on, though a few do smirk in cold agreement. Yet all the while, she doesn't notice the rather icy glare the other Riku is sending her way upon hearing what she'd just said.
"What about you, Marluxia?" Vexen presses with a broad, knowing grin. "Certainly you must be eager for some healthy revenge against Sora after that charming scar he left you with during your most recent run-in with him."
Marluxia finally shoots a sharp glare at the researcher at this, revealing the aforementioned scar, a thin series of somewhat faded claw marks Sora had landed near his jaw back in Corona. The only thing marring his otherwise well-kept appearance, the mark of both a narrow success and an irksome failure.
Yet even despite the warning scowl Marluxia sends his way, Vexen is more than happy to keep on going. "And to think, you were this close to dragging the boy all the way back here for his proper 'recruitment'," his goading smile widens as he meets the hateful look Marluxia aims at him. "What a shame. I'm sure you would have received high praise from the master if you had managed to bring his wayward vessel in early. But instead, you were outdone yet again by a mere pathetic child-"
"Would you shut up already?!" Larxene suddenly snaps, every bit as aggravated as Marluxia is by this point. "At least Marluxia actually managed to nab a Key from the stupid kid, something you couldn't even bother with before you ran out of the world you were sent to scared out of your mind."
"I-I had every reason to be after what I encountered there!" Vexen argues, suddenly anxious. "It was a hulking tower of a man-or at least I think it was a man, clad in impenetrable armor and wielding the biggest Keyblade I've ever seen-"
"Ooo, sounds super scary," Demyx teases with a wry smirk. "What, did he take a swing at you too?"
"Yes! He did, for your information!"
"Just one?" Luxord adds, his tone every bit as goading. "That's all it took to get you to flee? My, Vexen, I thought you would be a bit more willing to tough it out than that."
Vexen fumes from these sardonic remarks, though what none of the members present happens to notice is that this entire conversation is being taken quite seriously by someone who just so happens to be listening in on it. One of the Organization's most elusive members, one of the master's most direct vessels pulled from the past, stands in the dense shadows surrounding the Gray Area's entryway, paying close attention to this discussion on this seemingly unknown armored figure in particular. And as that member retreats to take care of his own devices, it becomes clear that a fragment of this vessel's former spirit remains. That there's still a piece of his will that had lingered behind, a piece that still needs to be snuffed out permanently. And that's exactly what this member is already making his mission to do.
But, that member isn't the only one to depart from this unofficial meeting of the lower ranks. Any interest the other Riku might have had in this conversation is gone by this point, largely since he's already gleaned what he wanted out of it as he discreetly leaves the room entirely. Yet as he does, one unanswered question still lingers on his mind, a question that likely won't receive an answer until the Organization's thirteenth vessel is finally brought, or rather forced, into the fold at long last:
Why, out of anyone in any of the worlds, has Xehanort set his sights so sternly on making Sora into that vessel above all else?
Only six of the thirteen thrones in the Round Room are filled, the highest six seats in particular, occupied by the Organization's highest-ranking members. Their meeting started some time ago, its earlier half dedicated to matters of somewhat lesser importance, namely the ongoing quest for the Keys. A discussion that, at least as far as Xehanort himself is concerned, does not need to be lingered on any longer than necessary.
"Tomorrow the guardians of light will venture out together to continue their search for the remaining Keys," he reports, closing his eyes to glean the information he needed out of his thirteenth vessel's heart and memories. "Saïx, you are to follow their movements and claim the next Key for darkness once it presents itself."
"Of course, master," Saïx nods dutifully, already more than prepared for such a mission.
"Furthermore, you are not to out our eventual thirteenth member to his companions," Young Xehanort advises. "While he is more than well aware of what's happening to him, the guardians of light are all but oblivious, and it's in our best interest that they stay exactly that, at least for now."
"Aw, really?" Xigbar pipes up with a faux disappointed frown. "Wouldn't it be a lot more interesting if we let the cat out of the bag right in front of all his little friends? I know I'd love to get a front row seat to the whole mess of hilarious chaos that'd be in store if the lights found out their golden boy's been lying to them this entire time."
"They'll learn the truth soon enough, though by then, it will already be far too late for them to free him from our power," Xemnas counters with a cold, cunning grin.
"He's already doing most of the work for us by keeping it all hidden from the only ones who might possibly stand a chance at helping him," Ansem adds just as confidently. "In his foolish mission to maintain his facade, he is only expediting his fall into our ranks."
"Indeed," Xehanort nods, his tone as calculating as ever. "Whether he wants to or not, Sora is treading down the path I have laid out for him exactly as intended. As it stands, there are only three remaining obstacles keeping his heart from emerging into its proper place within our shadows."
"But now that he is aware of the puppet's existence," the master's younger self contributes with a broad smile. "His resolve to set those hearts free is now stronger than ever. It won't be long before he finds a way to release them, and once he does, any barricade that prevented us from possessing every part of his heart will at last be broken down."
"Eh, I don't know…" Xigbar muses, skeptical. "Even once he lets those three out, I still don't think the kid is gonna crack under the pressure as easily as you say he will. Whether you wanna admit it or not, he's a fighter, we all know that by now,"
"If I may offer a suggestion to deal with that, master," Saïx speaks up, his expression and tone both largely unreadable as he looks up to Xehanort himself. "While Marluxia's recent attempt at apprehending Sora and bringing him to you personally ended in… failure, perhaps one of us should make a similar attempt? Under the right circumstances, we might be able to-"
"No," Xemnas is the one to cut him off firmly as the master himself maintains a silent, disapproving scowl. "Marluxia's foolish attempt at capturing Sora was not sanctioned by any of us and he has been reprimanded accordingly for trying to do so. Any similar campaigns are forbidden for the time being."
"Besides, capturing and restraining the boy now would be a waste of time and energy," Ansem explains dismissively. "Until all thirteen Keys have been secured, he must be able to freely roam the worlds to track them down. In the same way as his heart leads him to them, so too will the sigil we have branded upon his body lead us to them as well."
"...Understood," Saïx glances away in muted acceptance.
"Allowing Sora relative freedom serves another purpose as well," Young Xehanort notes coolly. "So long as he lingers among the guardians of light, he will still believe he is one of them. He'll hold onto the hope that he can endure, that he can save himself from his fate, that his friends will give him the strength he needs to survive."
"Uh, isn't that the exact opposite of what we want him thinking?" Xigbar asks, raising a curious eyebrow.
"For now, not at all," Xemnas rebuffs knowingly. "We must let him believe whatever he desires to. Allow him to hold onto a sense of peace and security that will only ever be temporary at best."
"Then, when the time has come and his heart is ready for the taking, we will strip him of that hope, along with anything and anyone he believes he is fighting for," Xehanort assures his upper vessels with a cold, malicious smile, rallying them to a treacherous, twisted plot that will all culminate in a victory that he's been carefully planning for decades. A victory that depends on the complete cooperation of his chosen thirteenth vessel, regardless of what cruel methods he might have to resort to in order to get that vessel to comply. "We will tear the boy away from all he knows and loves, and by the time he has nothing left to lose, then, and only then will Sora finally be ready to answer our call to guide him to become what he is truly meant to be…"
Oohohohohoh like I said, foreshadowy. But yeah I gotta say it was fun to have a chapter that was basically meant to just play catch up with everybody, including our pals in the Organization (that scene with the lower ranking members was so fun to write, they're a mess). Either way, next time around we'll have our current set of guardians of light all venturing out to the next Disney world together (said Disney world is one that's actually been in a KH game before for a change!) so that'll be... fun ;) But until then please don't forget to REVIEW! Until next time!
