Kingdom Hearts 3 Aftermath
Chapter 2 Reactions
Ok whatever I didn't start fanfic for reviews (although I do love chatting). From now on I will be branching with reactions (that might be baised) of the characters to Sra disappearance. As based the fact that everyone gathered I think was really there with Kairi till he vanished (and not simply Kairi feelings).
Riku being the closest was the first to get over his shock of seeing his best friend disappear into thin air. He did an impressive jump from the beach all the way to the second island in one leap.
"Sora!" Riku yelled running to the spot where Sora sat not even a minute ago. He tried grabbing the air as if he could reach his friend but to no avail. Kairi just sat there with even more tears seeing her other best friend so distraught over their best friend disappearance.
By this point everyone had gotten over the shock of watching Sora vanish and quickly ran to where Riku and Kairi sat. Namine quickly ran over to where her former other half sat embracing her and letting Kairi weep on her shoulder. Even Namine could not help but weep silently over the loss of the friend who saved from a life of loneliness despite what she was forced to do in castle Oblivion. Aqua also embraced younger girls into her embrace as well as she tried to process what happened to the keyblade wielder she could no help but think of as the same innocent boy she met more then a decade ago.
Both Ventus and Roxas coincidentally had the same expression of pure shock seeing the keyblade wielder whose heart had sheltered both of theirs just a few days ago. Terra was at a lost as despite not being as attached to Sora he knew he owed a debt to the younger keyblade wielder for helping reclaim his body and he didn't know what to say or do.
"Sora! Where are ya?" Goofy shouted as he desperately looked around expecting Sora to answer back. "Sora!" Donald cried out hoping their other "half pint" would show up if they yelled while Mickey looked down thinking that this was what the price of the Power of Waking had to be.
"Sora this cant be the end for you man. You beat bloody Xehanort for gods sake! You reunited us with all of our friends and lost ones! Now get your ass back here so we can clobber you for making us worry!" Lea shouted in denial while Xion looked down with silent tears. She owed her existence to Sora and she told him Kairi was safe and yet he was no longer here.
Hayner, Pence and Olette being relatively new to the "other worlds" thing was still a bit confused on what was happening and why Kairi looked like her heart was broken.
"Ok I am still new to the whole 'travelling to new worlds thing' but Sora wasn't suppose to that right?" Pence asked cluelessly as Olette gave him a sharp look for misreading the situation.
"No, Sora is gone and nobody knows where he is or if he is even in existence anymore." Isa said bluntly making Hayner, Pence and Olette gasp in shock.
"Isa!" Lea shouted glaring at his friend with his hand on his collar. Everyone turned to look at the stoic former Nobody with disgust in their eyes at his bluntness.
"It's the truth Lea and we all know it. There is no point pretending Sora will magically pop up if you yell loud enough. He is gone and nobody even knows if he is still a being at all." Isa said coolly pushing Lea's hand off his collar and ignoring everyone glare.
"That's not true! Sora is right here." Kairi said sharply putting a hand on her heart making everyone else smile. "just like we are part of his heart he is a part of all of ours." Kairi said confidently as Riku smiled and lifted his hand as if to summon his Keyblade.
"That's right and with these bonds we can find Sora and bring his back." Riku said to Isa who scoffed while mickey looked nervous.
"Geez Riku its not that easy." Mickey said softly as Riku looked incredulously at his fellow Keyblade Master.
"Why Mickey? I mean Sora found me in the realm of darkness without that Keyblade of Darkness you hold." Aqua questioned still impressed that Sora could travel to the Realm of Darkness just by following her Master Keyblade to her.
"Yeah! And Sora managed to wake my heart using the Power of Waking despite me being asleep for over a decade!" Ventus added happily.
"Gosh fellows, I know it sounds amazing what Sora did but to be honest the Power of Waking isn't supposed to be used on hearts at all." Mickey admitted to everyone astonishment.
"Whats that suppose to mean Mickey?! Sora and I went through a Mark of Mastery to get that power now you are telling me it wasn't what we were suppose to do?!" Riku asked angrily remembering how the test almost cost Sora his heart.
"I mean the Power of Waking is suppose to find worlds by using hearts not find hearts using worlds." Mickey admitted wincing at the look of betrayal on Riku face.
"Then why was I able to wake Sora up using that power? And why did you have Sora find that power in the first place?!" Riku asked getting more annoyed by the minute.
"I mean the power of waking can be used on people but it is supposed to be a last resort not an actual cure all event." Mickey whispered sadly as the implications became clear.
"You mean by using that power on people is why Sora is gone?!" Roxas asked angrily throwing his arms in frustration at hearing that saving them was why Sora was gone.
"Yes… No…. I mean it was never supposed to go that far." Mickey stuttered at the accusatory looks thrown his way.
"Wait a minute you are telling me Old Man Yen Sid and you knew about this and still you let Sora take the risk?" Lea asked Mickey who only looked down in shame. At this point Aqua looked horrified at what Sora had to bear without his knowledge. Kairi refused to look up and let everyone see her tears, Xion and Namine clenched their fists. Terra looked outraged that Mickey and Yen Sid keyblade masters used Sora and Riku while the Twilight Trio stayed quiet not quite understanding what was happening. Both Ven and Roxas looked ready to punch Mickey in the face while Donald and Goofy shook their heads in denial.
"Your Majesty please tell us that isn't true!" Donald pleaded with Mickey who could not look at one of his closest friends in the eye.
"Are you people blind? Let me Spell it out for you." Isa started ignoring the indignant looks sent his way. "Yen Sid and Mickey both knew they could not win the war against Xehanort without more keyblade wielders and knew that there were risks. So they decided to let Riku and Sora gain the power of waking without telling them of the risks hoping things would turn out ok in the end. They just didn't expect Sora to be the only one to take on the burden himself. Isn't that right King Mickey?" Isa asked rhetorically.
"Isa…" Lea growled at his friend who scoffed.
"If I am lying just tell them Mickey." Isa said gesturing to Mickey with an arm.
"No hes right…" Mickey admitted wincing at the betrayed looks sent his way. "I didn't want to lie to you guys honest but Master Yen Sid convinced me that time was of the essence and it was only suppose to be a little bit. We knew that Aqua and Ven would likely need the power used on them and maybe even Terra.."
This reveal stunned everyone as the trusted King and returned Master were admitted using both Sora and Riku as pawns in an effort to beat Xehanort and his darkness.
"I never thought Sora would have to use the power himself to save all of us from the darkness... When it looked like Sora was still fine and we would all make it back home safely I made a vow I would tell the truth after the war was over. However Kairi got struck down and Sora wanted more then anything to save her so I tried to talk him out of it but Sora still went ahead and used the power of waking."
"You should've told at least me so we could've found another way and talked Sora out of it!" Riku snapped at the guilty looking king. Even Donald and Goofy could not offer words of encouragement to their king for this betrayal.
"So he was right after all." Jiminy squeaky voice came from Goofy hat as he popped out with his Gummi Phone in hand.
"What are you talking about? Jiminy is it?" Aqua asked politely but with a rush of urgency for possibly new information.
"Well the younger version of Xehanort came to Sora and I before we managed to wake you up from the darkness in the Keyblade Graveyard." Jiminy started as Terra hand clenched at knowing it was his body that hurt so much of the light until both Aqua and Ven put a reassuring hand on his shoulders.
"What did Xehanort want with you two?" Xion asked quietly as she wasn't privy to any of Xemnas let alone Xehanort plans. She was just brought back as replica simply as a foot soldier for the seekers of darkness.
"He called Sora foolish for using the power of waking so recklessly. He told us that the power of waking was 'not the power to transverse hearts through worlds but to transverse worlds through hearts.'. He also told Sora that he was going to have to pay a high price for using such power including saving the rest of you." Jiminy explained solemnly as the words made everyone silent. "Sora and I thought he was bluffing so put it out of mind for the rest of the war but was the price he was talking about?" Jiminy wondered.
Rik all the sudden turn around and started walking to the Gummi ship much to everyone surprise.
"Riku what are you doing?!" Namine asked worried when she saw the pure rage in Riku eyes as she pulled on his hand stopping him in place.
"I am going back to Yen Sid tower to punch the old man in the face for lying to Sora and I about this power and costing us Sora." Riku said angrily. "Unless you want to join me please let go." Riku said firmly as Namine hold tightened. Several people like Lea, Roxas and Ventus actually looked ready to join Riku on his offer, Xion looked away uncertain, Kairi frowned but shook her head. Hayner, Pence and Oletter looked out of place not quite understanding the situation but based on everyone faces knew it was serious. Mickey looked pained as Donald and Goofy looked torn. Aqua stayed quiet as Isa looked bored.
"Look Riku if you are mad at Master Yen Sid be mad at me too. I agreed with him at the time this was the best course of action despite not knowing Sora would be gone I am also responsible." Mickey said seriously as Riku sighed and stopped trying to pull away from Namine who let go o his hand.
"Answer me this Mickey. If this power of Waking was so dangerous why was I the only way named a Master for wielding it? Sora used it later in the war and Yen Sid still did not promote him to Master." Riku asked Mickey seriously.
Before Mickey could respond. Ventus cut in "Actually Soras power of Waking didn't get lost or disappear after Xehanort tried to corrupt his heart. He actually kept it intact but he didn't need it at that point so it inactive instead." Ventus explained making Donald and Goofy look guilty for teasing Sora so much on his lack of progress on their adventure.
"Gosh I didn't know that…" Mickey said sadly looking down again.
"Wait a minute, For your Mark of Mastery you needed to demonstrate having the power of Waking? I mean I am a Master I don't have that power." Aqua asked curiously while both Ven and Terra smiled at the old memories. "For Terra and I being a Master was just a show of how powerful your heart was. Terra failed the test because Xehanort messed with the darkness inside him but Sora and Riku both seem strong in the heart especially Sora. So I don't understand why he is not a Master Mickey?" Aqua elaborated impatiently.
Everyone turned to the King who sighed and said "Look I know it seemed unfair that Riku was the only one named Master from that test but Master Yen Sid felt having the power of waking was needed for the war and if we gave Sora the title without that power he would not chase after it. Of course, we didn't know he always had it inside of him all this time." Mickey admitted guiltily.
"Lies after Lies! You keep deceiving us and that is why Sora is not here after he saved all of us!" Riku shouted in frustration while mostly everyone agreed and started shouting until Kairi quiet sobs got everyone attention.
"Kairi are you ok?" Riku asked softly forgetting his anger for a moment as Namine and Aqua also looked concerned.
"Its my fault that Sora is gone." Kairi said with a sniffle. When several people protested, she dried up her tears and spoke again. "I promised to keep him safe and yet I let myself be captured and be killed. This made Sora risk everything to find me and bring me back but without himself."
As several people tried to comfort the sad princess of heart Isa's dry chuckle got everyone attention.
"What's so funny?" Roxas asked annoyed as both him and Xion glared at the former nobody. They were still not over how horrible Saix was to them in the Organization.
"Its just Kairi in a way is right that she is the reason Sora is gone." Isa said emotionlessly as several keyblades and weapons were summoned and aimed at him but quickly dismissed.
"Isa What the hell are you talking about?!" Lea asked his friend grabbing Isa shoulder roughly.
"Anyone can see that Sora would have done anything to save Kairi and that is why Xehanort chose her to be the one to be sacrificed for Kingdom Hearts." Isa said drily ignoring Roxas punch to the face with a slight smirk.
"Isa shut your mouth." Lea said coolly shoving Isa deeper in the tree.
"Axel." Isa said cooly making lea flinch at his nobody name and the baggage that came along with it. "You don't get to have the moral high ground or do you forget that Xehanort was not the only one to use Kairi to get to Sora?" When he saw the confused looks at the guilty looking Lea he continued "Looks like they didn't get it memorized or maybe you simply haven't told the new friends yet?"
"Lea what is he talking about?" Xion asked Lea deciding to use his name that made up part of their new friendship.
"….." Lea could not bear to say it himself as regretted his actions towards Kairi and Sora to this day. He knew it was wrong to make Roxas again at the cost of Sora especially as Roxas accepted his fate but as Axel he did not care.
"Axel here once kidnapped Kairi to try to force Sora to submit to the darkness just so Roxas could be reborn again and Sora as a heartless. The sad part is Sora would've fallen into Darkness if it meant Kairi was safe but I suppose it is the past." Isa explained as Kairi looked down while Lea clenched his fists in shame. Both Roxas and Xion glared at their friend for such a selfish request while Olette realized that is why Axel kidnapped her inside Twilight Town.
Goofy and Donald were mad as well but knew Sora would never want to hold a grudge especially with Lea helping the Light instead of himself so they stayed quiet.
Namine sighed already suspecting this truth from the past and like Kairi understood why Axel was so desperate to find Roxas even if it meant condemning both Kairi and Sora. Ventus glared heatedly at his friend who cold not bare to look anyone in the eye. Both Riku and Mickey weren't happy with Axel plans for Sora but knew it was in the past especially with Sora helping getting out Roxas safely. Terra knew he didn't have a past that was clear of bad things but he knew for certain he would have never considered condemning somebody into darkness for another friend.
Aqua however was far less quiet in her thoughts. "Did your nobody or Axel really plan to do something so despicable to Sora and Kairi?!" She screamed summoning her keyblade only for Ventus and Terra shaking their heads di she dismiss it. She knew this was in the past and that good and evil were not so black and white as she was taught by Master Eraquas. However she could not help but still see them as children despite them being close to her own physical age and felt a protective need to watch over them.
Before Lea could try to explain himself Roxas asked quietly "Lea…. Just tell Xion and I the truth. Would getting me back be worth it back then if Sora was gone and Kairi heart was broken?" Roxas had a downtrodden expression realizing the depth his friend was willing to go despite Roxas own acceptance back into Sora. Xion also looked greatly sad as she realized if Axel had succeeded in his plan to force Roxas back she would've been gone forever as a result. Her own existence along with Roxas stayed intact due to Sora heart giving them shelter without knowing it. If Sora fell to darkness back then she would've been gone for good without any trace while Roxas would be in control again.
"Yes…. Axel back then would've chosen you over Sora and Kairi." Lea admitted with a sigh as some people gasped at his honest answer. "As a nobody I believed in Xenmas lies that nobodies couldn't have a heart but I still treasured my time with Roxas." Lea looked at a sad Xion. "I had forgotten about you just like everybody else but I felt something was missing. I thought having Roxas back would make those feelings disappear but I realize now that emptiness was also missing you as part of our trio." Lea took a moment to recompose himself as both Xion and Roxas looked uncertain at how they felt at these revelations.
"However, before I could bring Kairi to Sora Saix had already kidnapped her so the Organization could keep Sora on a leash in case, he stopped being useful to their plans. I still didn't think I had a heart but I felt guilt crawl into me when I saw Sora in Hollow Bastion so I couldn't help but apologize and swore to myself I would try to make things right. Then I decided to help Sora by sacrificing myself as Axel and thought that was the end but Sora had already defeated all of the Organization 13 members heartless in his first adventure so I was reborn as Lea." Lea finished his confession as a silence enveloped the island as nobody quite knew how to react.
Kairi decided to step up and much to everyone surprise placed a hand gently on Lea shoulder for a moment. "During our training to be Keyblade wielders he explained why he kidnapped me and at first I was very mad at him for endangering both Sora and I for his own goals. However, he kept apologizing and then I realize for Axel Roxas was all he had and he did save Sora so I forgave him." Kairi said resolutely as she walked away so Lea could face his two best friends.
After a moment of uncertainty both Xion and Roxas gave him a tight hug as they could not begrudge their friend for his former actions especially now that they were altogether.
Lea kept the hug going but said to the rest of the group. "I know what Axel did was wrong and despite Kairi forgiving me I still feel bad about it. When we see Sora again, I will personally apologize again and set everything right." Lea declared making the tension finally go away. Nobody could begrudge Lea anymore after hearing his honest reasons. True it was a horrible goal but born out of desperation to see his friend again.
"Well nice to see that part of the past laid to rest." Riku said giving a quick glare to Isa for bringing it up. Isa sighed but gave a quick apology realizing it was unnecessary to bring it up at this point. "But what do we do about Sora?"
End of chapter 2
AN: I am just winging this story and have an idea where I want to take it. If nobody wants to read it fien I am doing this because I need an outlet for KH3 ending. If you wanna chat just PM me.