Chapter 26

Memories for Yesterday. Dreams for Tomorrow.

"The name of my Keyblade?" Madoka looked at the weapon in her hands. The name still flashed through her mind. "It's Eternal Struggle, though it used to be Crystal Clarity."

"So you've already started gathering Keychains then." Yen Sid said.

"Keychains?" Madoka asked. She looked at the bat hanging from a chain on Eternal Struggle. "What do you mean?"

"Keyblades are powered by the Heart. The Heart grows it experiences new things, gains more knowledge, and connects with other Hearts. With a Keyblade, these feelings can be given physical form, as Keychains, which alter the appearance and capabilities of the Keyblade."

"The capabilities are different?" Madoka gave Eternal Struggle a few practice swings. She was mildly surprised to find that they were faster. She even felt stronger wielding the blade.

"It would seem Eternal Struggle is a Keyblade more oriented towards physical combat, lacking some of the capabilities of Crystal Clarity, but possessing others."

"Wait… does that mean my aura is gone?"

"Aura?"

Madoka concentrated, and she could feel the same excited energy flow through her. A pink aura glowed around her. Apparently it wasn't gone.

"Ah, you have already figured out Flowmotion. An augmentation to your physical abilities, allowing you powerful feats of acrobatics and combat."

"Yeah, it's saved me several times. So it's not from Crystal Clarity. But then… how do I change it back?"

"Did I not say that Keychains were formed from the Heart's experiences? You obtained Crystal Clarity in your homeworld, did you not?" Yen Sid asked.

"Home." Madoka focused, holding out Eternal Struggle in front of her. She let her thoughts drift back to her memories of her life before all this. Her school. Her family. Her friends. As she did… she felt a warmth in her chest. There was a flash of light and a dance of flower petals, and Eternal Struggle transformed into Crystal Clarity.

"Ha! I did it!" Madoka shouted with excitement. As much as she liked the feel of Eternal Struggle, it just didn't compare to that of Crystal Clarity.

"Well done, Madoka." Yen Sid said with a grin. "Now, there are more things you can do with a Keyblade..."

"Why don't you take a seat, Homura?" Minwu asked.

"You must be hungry." Said the blonde woman, gesturing to a plate of food. Each of the others also had a plate. They were clearly expecting her.

Homura hesitated, she knew nothing about these strange people. But they knew her. Homura felt a twang in her stomach, followed by a growl. She realized that she had not eaten since before she left Mitakihara. She sighed internally. She hadn't needed food back home, only eating to keep up the appearance of being human, but now apparently she did again.

Eventually, she relented, sitting down and beginning to eat. The food wasn't exceptional in any way. Just some overcooked meat, some rice, lentils, and a glass of water, but even now she underestimated how hungry she was.

The others seemed to have similar fare, save for the pale-skinned woman who was drinking something thick and red out of a goblet.

"So what do you want with me?" Homura eventually asked.

"We seek to help you. We want to give you knowledge that will help you succeed." Minwu said.

"I don't even know who you are."

"As I have said. I am Minwu. White Mage of the Wild Rose."

"I am Lorelei, Ghaele Knight of the Court of Stars! Well met, Homura!" Said the blonde woman in a bombastic and dramatic voice.

"I am Malin, Factor of the Bleak Cabal." Said the pale woman calmly. As she spoke, Homura noticed she had a pair of sharp fangs.

"I'm Plum!" Said the fairy.

"I notice that you have allied yourself with Master Xehanort." Homura tensed. Xehanort had mentioned that their enemies could be anywhere. But then Minwu elaborated. "We seek a similar goal, to return the Princess to her rightful place."

"Why? Are you allies of Xehanort?"

"Not in truth. Our goals just happen to align on this matter."

"Why? Why do this?"

"Because the Fates will it." Minwu said.

"Because it is of the path of righteousness." Lorelei said.

"Because I choose to." Malin said.

Those weren't the responses Homura had expected. After a moment's hesitation, she asked.

"What is it you wish for me to know?"

"What do you know about the Society of Sensation?" Malin asked.

"Nothing." Was Homura's reply. The name was strange sounding, making her think of the very weird places she had sometimes visited when out Witch hunting. From there, those thoughts turned to images of things that she really shouldn't be thinking about. Especially in relation to Madoka.

"The Society of Sensation is a faction that believes that the purpose of life is to grow through experience and sensation. Physical, emotional, spiritual, cerebral. Happy and sad. Good and bad. Pleasant and painful. True Sensates value all experiences, and seek to collect such things. While this can take many forms, the one that is most interesting is a magical device called a Sensory Stone." Malin explained.

"The Sensory Stone is used to record memories within, which can then be viewed by others." Minwu continued.

"So you wish for me to view a specific memory?" Homura said, catching on to what they were implying.

"Indeed, in the Sensorium Hall, you will find a stone marked simply as 'Consumption'. Merely place your hands upon the stone, and the memory should play."

"What does the memory contain?"

"It's best if you see it for yourself." Minwu said. He reached to his side and loosened a pouch. "This should cover the fee of entry, the rest is yours to do with as you see fit."

For a moment, Homura considered simply leaving. However, her curiosity was starting to get the better of her. They weren't giving any hard details about anything, making her wonder if she was walking into a trap. But… if they wanted to capture or kill her, they apparently knew about her, and could have done that while she was unawares at the Courthouse or anywhere else in the city. They could have had Plum lead her into an ambush. She considered the thugs in the alleyway, but they were clearly unaffiliated. She had only encountered them due to her own distraction.

After a moment's thought, she nodded and took the pouch of coins. "Fine. I'll go."

"Great! I'll show you the way!" Plum said, transforming into her ball of light form, and then flying out of the bar.

Without another word, Homura stood up, ran her hands through her hair, and then followed.

Lorelei looked at Homura as she exited. "Are you certain this is the right course of action? Leaving her with vague hints and reflections that do not reveal the entire picture. Should we not take a more active role?"

"Seems unusual for you." Malin said. "Was it not you who claimed that it was the purpose of your existence to guide others on the path of righteousness? Ideally they should never know your true nature as you teach them."

"It seems that we are not even doing that. The knowledge she will receive from that stone, while substantive, seems insufficient to lead her down the proper path. Also, I'm not sure how it will lead her to her own goals as well."

"It is a tragic diction of fate that we must leave her in her current position. Unfortunately, were we to try to tell her the truth, it's likely she wouldn't believe us until it was too late. Even worse, it might alert our enemies to our actions. She has already been warned about enemies of the Organization, and she is stubborn to a fault. Once she has committed to an action, it will be immensely difficult to change her mind." Minwu explained. "We cannot directly dissuade her from her course of action, so the best call we can make is to give her this small amount of knowledge right now and let it eventually lead her to a greater understanding."

"Poor girl." Malin said. "She's suffered so much, weighed down with the burdens of misguided purpose and perceived duty. And she will suffer yet further because of that. Her hardships are only just beginning."

"So, whatcha' want?" Kyoko said, taking a seat and slouching back. She still wasn't used to the Dumbledore-like archmage's presence, but at the same time, the old man didn't seem like a threat either, and his tower, in spite of its mystical nature, gave off a good feel to it. She felt she could relax.

"I am curious about who I am working with. I have spoken with Mami Tomoe and Nagisa Momoe already, to better understand them. I'd like to hear your perspective on the events that have transpired."

"Not much to say. Went to bed normally. Woke up and it was the fuckin' end times." Kyoko said. "By some miracle, we survive by the skin of our teeth and wind up in another World. Then go figure, we don't have Munny for the train. We get the money, but then one of the bad guys shows up and sics his lackeys on us. We survive and make it to the tower to find out how to fix our home only to find out that all this is part of a gigantic universe spanning war. It's like every time you think things might be gettin' good, the world dumps a bucked of cold reality on you. I suppose I really have only myself to blame, gettin' my hopes up like that. Life sucks, and then you die."

"Except that we here are in the business of preventing those catastrophes."

"Well, fat lot of good you seem to be at it." Kyoko immediately flinched, partially regretting that outburst. However, the wizard didn't seem upset, merely stroking his beard calmly.

"Why would you think that?" He asked, his voice inquisitive.

"Heroics are pointless. All this 'change the world' crap gets you nowhere. Selfless people like that just get stepped on and then used as props for assholes to justify doing whatever the hell they want."

"From what I've heard from the others, you did not always hold this position."

"I grew up." Kyoko said. "I watched my dad cry at how awful the world was. Then he tried to fix it, only to get screwed over by everyone he wanted to help. People talk a big game about kindness and love and hope and altruism, but it's all hypocritical lies. The world is full of racism, sexism, murder, rape, war, slavery, inequality, corruption and all that shit. The world ain't fair. When things feel like they might get better, that's just the tide goin' out before the wave. Ya' get your hopes up, only to be let down. Powerful people do terrible things, and get away with it to do them again. That whole affair with Xehanort is a prime example. No matter how many times ya' think you've stopped the fucker, he just keeps comin' back to fuck ya' over again."

"Hmm… you still seem intent on traveling with you friends though."

"I'm just along for the ride. We're probably going to all fail and die horribly, but who cares? At least I'll get to see some cool sights before then. It's no use getting worked up over something that you can't change."

Yen Sid said nothing, closing his eyes and stroking his beard.

"Are we done here?" Kyoko asked, standing up.

The old wizard nodded his head. "Yes, though I will leave off on this: the world is certainly full of cruelty, but that just makes kindness all the more important. In a world of darkness, light is all the more precious. The world may be unfair and full of suffering. But does it have to be?"

Kyoko was about to reply with a snarky comment, but found she didn't have one. So instead, she turned around with her hands behind her head. "Yeah, yeah. Well… see ya." She walked away, unsure of how she felt.

Of all the buildings she had seen so far, the Civic Festhall was perhaps the grandest of all. It towered over the other considerably tall buildings in the area, and was significantly more grandiose in its construction. It was built from what appeared to be countless different types of stone, all alternating in complex patterns. The windows were all elegantly shaped, lined in gold and silver. The absolutely massive front doors were shaped from some sort of white-gold metal and countless images were engraved into them and inlaid with gemstones. On either side of the building was a magnificent fountain.

Stepping inside, she found that the floor was made of polished marble that shone in multiple colors. The walls were all painted in abstract designs, and countless works of art filled the space. Statues, paintings, sculptures, fountains, carvings.

The people were no exception, clad in expensive and complex garments. Luxurious silks, intricate jewelry, exquisite makeup, obviously fake bodies. These were clearly the elite of the city.

Some might have been taken in by all this beauty and indeed the artwork was fascinating to look at, but it was ruined by what it represented. An ostentatious and gaudy display of wealth and privilege. Back in the slums, the streets were covered in garbage and waste, buildings were rotting and rusting, and there was starvation, poverty, disease, and the crime that inevitably followed plain for all to see.

And here, those who could do something about it, instead strutted about, lost in their own opulence. This place was just as rotten as the slums, the only difference being that it could afford a better coat of paint.

"Hello, madam." A strange figure approached. Her upper body was that of a human, though her lower body was that of a ram. She had curved horns from which hung a ridiculous array of ornaments, and her ram body was wrapped in vines ending in yellow flowers. "Welcome to the Civic Festhall. Can I help you? Are you here for a class? Do you have-"

"The Sensorium." Homura answered. "I need to see a specific stone. Called Consumption."

"Huh… people don't usually go for this one. Can I ask as to the reason?"

"No."

"Hmm… terse rejection. That's a new one. Thank you!"

Homura was confused before she remembered the creed of the Society of Sensation. Whatever.

The goat woman continued. "To enter the Sensorium, there's the matter of a fee. It's- Oh!"

Homura summoned her shield and reached inside, pulling out the ten gold pieces she would need and handing them to the goat woman.

"That's handy! How-"

"Where's the Stone?"

The goat woman leaned back, seeming to savor the moment before she directed Homura down a series of hallways towards a large room that was heavily crowded. "You'll find it in chamber 107."

Homura hesitated again. She hated crowds. Too many eyes. Too many voices. Again, she grit her teeth. This was all necessary. She couldn't let her cowardice and weakness get the better of her.

Homura pushed her way through the crowd, looking at the rooms as she passed. Most of them were the same. Empty save for a single pedestal on which rested a crystal, varying in color. Some had people inside, hands held to the stone, experiencing whatever memory was contained within.

Eventually, she found the one she was looking for. Like the others, the room was empty save for the pedestal and the crystal. This Sensory Stone churned with an ominous mixture of black and red, that made Homura uncomfortable just looking at it.

She steeled herself, and walked up to the stone. Tentatively, she placed her hands on the rock, and there was a surge of feeling through her. The room around her faded away, to be replaced with a dark cell…

It was getting difficult to remember, he found. The longer he had been down here in this cell, the more and more was lost. The warmth of the sun on his skin, the coolness of the wind after a hard days work, the taste of a meal, nothing extravagant, but one made lovingly for him. Laughing with his friends. That one time he had gone hang-gliding.

Steadily, and steadily, these memories dulled, fading to obscurity. Sights became blurry, sounds became muddled. Sensations became numb. Even his name was lost. Soon, he found the only thing he could recall with clarity were the worst memories of his life.

The drunken cruelty of his father. The bullies at his school. Being dumped by his first love. His boss laying him off after he had worked faithfully for so many years. The murder of his brother. The idiot who had burned down his home. He hated them all. He wanted to cry. He wanted to scream. He wanted them all to suffer. He wanted them all to die. To feel the pain that had caused, over and over and over and over. He wanted to kill. Yes, that was it! He wanted to kill, and kill, and kill!

No! This wasn't right! These thoughts were wrong… but why? Why were they wrong? He tried to think, but couldn't come up with an answer.

He then heard the sound of a moving door. There was a flash of light. It was dim, but even that felt hostile to his vision.

Then, there was the sound of footsteps and voices.

"Are you still complaining about this?"

"I have my reservations, Even! I'm not sure the master would approve of this."

"Ienzo, you have to stop living in his shadow. This is progress and he does not understand that. His newest apprentice does! We can understand the Heart on a level hitherto undreamt of. Think of what we can do with that knowledge!"

"But at what cost? Tell me, Even!"

Those voices, they sounded familiar. But… who? The words all blended together. He barely processed them.

And then they stepped into view. Their forms were indistinct, but they glowed with an inner light. That light was more blinding than any he had ever seen before. He hated it, hated it more than he had thought it possible hate anything. But he also found that he hungered for it. So hungry. How dare they have that light. He wanted it, to consume it, to destroy it, to pervert it, to defile it. To kill. Kill. Kill. Kill.

Though he had long thought he no longer had the strength to move, it was now easier than ever. The bars of the cell were as nothing, easily slipping past them as he crawled across the floor to look up at the newcomers.

"Ugh! One got out!"

"Fascinating!"

"But too dangerous. Sorry little guy." A third voice. The words should have meant something, but they didn't. What did matter was that light within them. He would have it. He would take it and make it his. He would kill that light. Kill. Kill. Kill.

His body tensed, and he leaped, claws outstretched. There was a clicking sound. A flash of red light. And then, darkness.

When Homura came to, she found herself lying on the ground in a cold sweat. That sensation… it was all too familiar. Becoming a Heartless… it was like becoming a Witch. She recalled it, the loss of all but the barest flicker of positive feelings. Enough only to grieve at their absence while drowning in negativity, despair and hatred.

As she sat up. She realized that she was crying. That had happened to everybody on her world. She had left them vulnerable to that happening. It was all her fault. But… not everyone was gone. Madoka. She was out there… with Sayaka, Mami, Nagisa, and Kyoko. She could preserve them. Keep them from that fate. But… even if they did… they'd still hate her. They had every right to. She tried to stand up, and instead collapsed to her knees, tears streaking down her face.

Eventually, she managed to get herself under control, and stand. The memory still burned in her mind, as if it was one she had actually experienced herself, and she shuddered, feeling nauseous.

She leaned against a wall, trying to force the feelings down. Eventually, she managed to stabilize herself.

There was more to that memory though. There were people… studying the Heartless? Xehanort could use them. But…

There were a lot of questions that needed answering. And Homura wasn't sure how to get them.

"You wanted to talk to me?"

"Ah yes, I've been speaking to all the others, Sayaka. I'd like to hear your perspective on recent events."

"It's… what happened. We already explained it… Bad guys destroyed our world, now we know who's responsible. So we kick their asses. Simple."

"And what is your perspective on the others?"

Sayaka sighed. "Kyoko's… being a jerk. She's normally a lot nicer and fun to be around, but… now she's just starting arguments half the time. Mami won't let anyone else confront her because she's too afraid that we'll all fall apart. And Nagisa's just going to cling to her regardless. And then Madoka..."

Sayaka paused.

"What is it about Madoka?"

"Like… I've known Madoka almost my entire life. We've been friends since preschool. She's always had self-esteem issues. She's always been shy and meek. It made her an easy target for bullies, so I always stood up for her. I kept telling her to fight back, but she really wasn't the type to do that. She hated hurting other people, even if they had hurt her. Some might call that weak or naive but..." Sayaka trailed off, a melancholic expression crossing her face.

"She has a kind heart." Yen Sid spoke knowingly. "Such kindness can inspire others, but if applied in the wrong way, can be taken advantage of."

"I know. I don't want her to lose that kindness, but I'm worried she either will or she'll hurt herself trying not to. She's barely managing to hold together. After we arrived in Twilight Town, she went off on her own and broke down crying."

"You comforted her, did you not?"

"Yeah, but it's not over. She's the type that will hide a problem she's having because she can't stand people worrying about her. So now I'm worried that she won't tell me if she's personally struggling with something. She's so selfless… but you have to look after your own well being as well, right?"

"Indeed, compassion for others is one of the greatest virtues to strive towards, though it must be tempered with reason, lest it be mislead."

"I know, that's why I have to be there to look after her!" Sayaka said.

"That advice also goes for yourself, Sayaka. It's good that you care deeply about your friends, but you do them a disservice if you feel you have to deny yourself. We are all mortal in the end. We all have wants and needs, and it's perfectly natural to pursue them, though of course, not at the expense of others. Such a balance is essential, else your path forwards may be blinded. Do you understand?"

"Kinda… I think." Sayaka scratched her head.

"You're young. It's something you'll understand more as you grow." Yen Sid said.

"If you say so."

The bow… it felt just right. She had never taken any archery lessons, and couldn't recall ever so much as touching a bow, but it felt like it just belonged in her hands, even more than the normal form of Crystal Clarity. Eternal Struggle could become a hammer, but it didn't have the same feeling as this.

As she contemplated the weapon, she was reminded of Homura. She also had a bow that oddly resembled this one, though Madoka couldn't fathom why.

"Are you ready?" She turned as Ramuh approached. The two of them were in a large room with multiple pillars scattered about.

"Yes." Madoka said.

"Good. Let's give it a try." Ramuh said. He gestured with his staff, and several strange creatures appeared. They looked like a strange floating arrangement of golden shapes, organized into a cross-like pattern. Electricity crackled between the pieces. "Begin."

Madoka immediately dove to the side as one of the spheres crackled and then released a jolt of electricity. She took cover behind a pillar as another jolt was fired. She then raised the bow. The straight stick curved, and a glowing string appeared between its ends. As she pulled the string, a glowing pink arrow appeared.

Madoka quickly leaned out from cover and opened fire. The arrow struck dead on, destroying the creature, causing it to fade away. She then heard a crackling sound from around her, and leapt away as another of the elementals attacked. With the aid of Flowmotion, she bounced off another pillar, and then the wall, coming up behind the creature. Before it could react, a shot from her bow destroyed it.

As she landed she immediately felt a shock of pain as one of the other elementals landed a hit on her. She rolled away, as another joined it, taking cover behind another pillar. From there, she placed her hand to her chest and chanted "Cure!"

A green light enveloped her, and she found the minor burn from the lightning healing. She heard the crackling of the electricity as the elementals closed in on her position. As they approached, Madoka drew on her bowstring, at the same time as she chanted "Water!"

The arrow formed was this time shaped from water. She then leaped out from her position and opened fire. The arrow pierced the creature and exploded in a blast of high pressure water. The elementals jerked as they appeared to short out, and then collapsed to the ground before fading away.

"Well done!" Said Ramuh. "You've really gotten the hang of this!"

"Indeed." Said another voice.

Madoka turned to see Yen Sid entering the room.

"Oh, Master! I didn't expect to see you here."

"I've been getting to know all the others, and their thoughts on the recent events. I'd like to hear yours." He gestured, and the both of them were transferred to his study.

"How so?" Madoka asked, taking a seat.

"If you choose to join in the fight, it's a hard road ahead of you. I cannot guarantee that we will even triumph, and if we do, it will be a difficult, and harsh conflict. Even so. Even knowing all the things that could happen, are you willing to help? I wouldn't blame you if you decided not to. There have been Key-Bearers who have rejected the call and found contentment in a normal life."

Madoka was about to answer, but stopped. The stories she had been told had been bothering her, during this training. There were so many ways things could go wrong. In ancient times Keyblade Wielders had started a war that had shattered the Worlds into what they were today. Xehanort had been a wielder with such great potential, but he fell to darkness and ended up murdering his former best friend Eraqus. Aqua was lost in the darkness for over a decade, Ventus had had his heart shattered and was in a coma, and all traces of Terra had vanished. Truly the Keyblade seemed more like a curse than a blessing.

She looked down at Crystal Clarity in her hands. There was so much that could go wrong. The Keyblade led to a road of hardship and suffering. But then, this was all a war for the fate of the universe, wasn't it? Worlds were being destroyed, consumed. She focused on that, representing that in her mind as a planet being engulfed in blackness and then vanishing… but… she couldn't feel much of anything. Instead, though it troubled her, she focused on her past. Listening to the woes of Ms. Saotome's love life, going shopping with her friends or just hanging out together and watching movies. Having dinner with her family. Playing with her little brother.

Then she recalled what had happened to them, taken by the Heartless, leaving her world empty and silent.

She then reflected on what happened next. Her experiences in Twilight Town. Competing in the Struggle Tournament. Befriending Hayner, Pence and Olette. That delicious meal at Le Grand Bistrot. The enthusiastic and adorable Moogle shopkeeper. She had seen so many wonderful things in just her brief time here in this world.

Then she thought about the same thing that had happened to her own World happening in Twilight Town or this tower or any of the countless Worlds she had never seen. These people forced to suffer as dark monsters laid waste to everyone and everything they loved, all at the behest of people who cared not for the suffering they inflicted so long as they accomplished their goals.

She recalled Kyoko's accusation about what right she had to wield the Keyblade. Why it had chosen someone like her. She had indeed led a privileged life. But… she wasn't blind to the negative aspects of the world. Tragedies like what had happened with Kyoko's family, or Nagisa's, or Mami's always wrenched her heart. She heard more sad stories on the news, all the troubles of the world. Even though those tragedies seemed so far away from her idyllic life, she realized that there were things she had done to help back then. She had given them her friendship. She had given them happy memories. She had been a shoulder for them to cry on. And now that she had the Keyblade, she was able to do so much more to help others. She'd protect them and everyone else. She'd make a difference in the world now. That was her wish, wasn't it?

"I can't just stop now."

"Hmm?" Yen Sid looked towards her intently. "Why?"

"Yes, I might have had a life of comfort. But I don't think that disqualifies me. Why can't everybody have that? I had a loving family, a good school, a safe environment and supportive friends. Everybody deserves that. Bad people don't just come out of nowhere. Something happened to drive them towards those decisions. There's a lot of suffering and unfairness in the world. But it doesn't have to be that way! There's always hope! And that's why I want to help! I might not be able to do everything, but I still want to do my part, as big or as small as it may be!"

Yen Sid leaned back in his chair, his eyes closed, stroking his beard. At first, Madoka was worried, but then, the old wizard smiled.

"Well said, young Madoka. Such a sentiment is fitting for a Princess of Heart."

"A what?"

"You're Heart. Did Ramuh not tell you about the χ-blade? How it was broken into shards? Seven Lights and Thirteen Darknesses."

"Yes, he told me that."

"Well, those shards have not vanished. They still exist. Those shards of light still manifest themselves throughout the ages in the Hearts of pure women. The shards may pass upon their death, or the Princess may relinquish the mantle of their own volition, in which case it will seek out another kindhearted maiden. One of them rests within your own Heart, Madoka. You're Heart is pure: completely devoid of darkness and immensely strong."

Madoka placed her hand on her chest. She didn't feel that strong, but, apparently she was. Deep down, she wasn't sure how she felt about that.

"Are you sure?"

"Without a doubt. I believe you will make for an excellent Keyblade Wielder, Madoka Kaname."

Thanks to The Name Of Love for beta-reading and idea sounding!

~Dragonexx