Kingdom Hearts 3 Aftermath
Chapter 7 Hearts Joining
Ok well like usual no matter when I post these chapters I get few to no reviews but no Biggie. I post them for my sake not for reviews. (my other story reading fox scroll got a bunch-mostly since I neglected it- but that is a different story) This maybe one of the most important scenes in KH series-why Sora got the Keyblade despite missing the Bequeathing- so I will try to do it justice!
Also btw the music will play from the room kinda like they are watching the cutscene and listening at the same time.
(Cue Ventus's theme)
"Huh whats this music playing?" Riku asked in confusion as him and everyone could hear a soft warm music echoing from the room as the memory was starting.
As everyone turned to Ansem for answers both Terra and Aqua turned to a confused Ven with soft smiles.
"What's up guys?" Ven asked in confusion as Aqua giggled and Terra smiled at his cute expression.
"Its just this music somehow reminds me of you and hearing it fills me with so much hope." Aqua said with a sweet smile.
"Yeah it like you are our little light that we want to protect." Terra elaborated.
"First of all, I am not that little." Ventus said with a pout making both Aqua and Terra chuckle. "And if I am some light that needs protecting then you are my guardians, right?" Ventus joked as Terra ruffled his hair affectionally. Aqua shortly afterward gave the younger boy a tight hug which he instantly returned.
None of this was seen by the rest of the group except Kairi who smiled at the trio's friendship. It greatly mirrored hers, Sora and Riku except while she knew she was in love with Sora the three of them were truly family first and foremost.
"Hmm perhaps despite these memories being from Sora and those associated with him. The music is suppose to show a theme for the character he is interacting with as the computer sees 'Ventus theme' so perhaps this memory is connecting Sora and Ventus?" Ansem hypothesized as everyone looked hopeful.
The memory started playing with Destiny Islands again except a peaceful night. Sora and Riku once again as young kids with relaxing on their backs in the sands. They were looking at the sky with peaceful expressions just enjoying their lives.
"Those were the days huh?" Riku said in a reminiscing tone of voice.
"Hey you make it sound like those days disappeared when I arrived!" Kairi said in a mock hurt tone of voice making Xion and Aqua laugh.
"Maybe for Sora everything changed when you arrived but for me it was just another person I had to watch out for." Riku retorted in a teasing tone of voice making Kairi pout. This friendly display made everyone smile.
"Riku is their Axel huh?" Xion whispered to Roxas who grinned as Lea looked suspiciously at them.
Riku got up and said "Hey I am going back."
Sora got up to and said "Yeah. Me too."
The memory showed them walking towards their homes until Riku looked surprised at Sora. The memory didn't show Sora face but Riku was looking concerned.
"Riku?" Namine said in a worried tone of voice while Kairi had a feeling Riku was concerned for Sora.
"Soras what wrong?" Riku said with concerned as they stopped walking.
"Huh?" Sora voice could be heard as Riku pointed at his face.
"Your…" Riku said as the memory changed to show Soras face.
He looked normally but a single tear ran down his right eye without him knowing it.
"Aw Sora." Kairi said sadly as she could almost feel the sadness coming from Soras but it felt like it was someone else's going through him.
Ven's eyes widened as he realized this must've been when his heart was lost to the darkness.
Sora touched his face and looked down in sadness. "That's weird. Its like something's squeezing me inside." Sora said in confusion.
"Young Soras heart must be connecting to someone else's and feeling their sorrow." Ansem noted as Roxas and Xion nodded having expressed through Sora at various points.
"Ven?" Aqua said urgently starting to realize the connection from when Ventus was heart and it appearing inside Sora.
Ventus nodded as he placed a hand over his own heart. "Sora was who I needed and his heart found mine once again." He noted as Terra and Aqua both shared worried looks.
"Somebody up there must be sad." Riku guessed.
"Even as a kid Riku was always pretty insightful. He even guessed about other worlds before he met Terra." Kairi noted while Riku shrugged.
"It isn't that big a deal. I just thought that it seemed strange that everyone had to be Destiny Islands." Riku claimed as Donald and Goofy shared a look. A kid Riku suspected more then most people on their adventures did about other worlds.
"Up Where?" Sora asked looking at is best friend.
"And here goes Sora being exactly what any little kid should be, Innocent and kind." Riku said with a laugh getting a giggle from Kairi at seeing Sora have such an innocent expression. Donald and Goody joined in the laughter too.
Ventus frowned and whispered "Do they always tease Sora so much. I mean its not untrue but it is kinda mean they keep doing it when he isn't here."
As Terra tried to think of an answer Aqua decided to whisper "Friends tease each other Ven. It is just a way to show love. Of course, you are too cute to tease anyways." Aqua teased at the ending seeing his pout.
Riku turned looking back at the sky. "They say every world is connected by one great sky." Riku said as Sora turned and looked at the sky as well. "So maybe there's somebody up there in all those worlds who's really hurting and they are waiting for you to help them." Riku suggested.
'Got it in one.' Ventus thought as he wanted to keep it kinda a surprise that he was the one calling for Sora. 'Maybe it just because he entered my heart beforehand but I would like to believe he was the one I was destined to meet and bond with.' Ven thought to himself.
"It seems like we are always waiting for Sora to help us." Lea said in a sheepish tone of voice as he was willing to admit it was due to Sora that Xion and Roxas were able to retain their hearts and become their own selves.
While Terra looked thoughtful everyone else agreed even Isa nodded briefly. He saw even as Saix that Sora was the source of the solutions that helped all the worlds.
"Shucks when you put it that way it sounds like we burden Sora too much." Mickey said in a guilty tone of voice making almost everyone wince.
"You're wrong. Its true that I and everyone do tend to lean on Sora." Kairi started while everyone looked down. "But that also means in return he has all of us to call for help like we are doing now. He brought us altogether and together we will find him!" Kairi said with determination as Riku smirked at her and Namine beamed at Kairi.
"Shes right. These bonds of friendships he has helped everyone form will be the key for nobody to be alone again." Aqua stated as she looked at both Terra and Ven fondly who smiled back at Aqua. Xion, Roxas and Lea beamed at each other while Donald, Goofy and Mickey chuckled.
"Master it seems just by repeating what Sora has taught her Kairi has calmed the entre room down again." Ienzo said with some amazement.
"Yes Kairi and Sora are remarkable indeed." Ansem said simply with a small chuckle.
'Perhaps Xehanort was right that Sora is not like any keyblade wielder before him. He is something altogether different and special.' Yen Sid thought to himself.
Sora blinked in sadness and looked back at Riku "Gee do you think there is something I can do?" Sora asked innocently.
"Aw Sora is such a sweetheart." Aqua gushed as Ven and Terra shared a look. 'She can be like a girl sometimes.' They thought as they considered their female teammate to be something a tomboy except when she was motherly.
"Even as a kid Sora wants to help everyone out huh?" Terra noted intrigued.
"Yeah you have how many times Goofy and I got dragged into other peoples fights because Sora refused to not help!" Donald whined while Goofy laughed.
"Yeah that sounds like Sora alright." Kairi said with a giggle. Namine smiled as well she would always remember Soras kindness even after she was forced to hurt him. Riku smiled as well remembering how much Sora wanted to help him even after he chose darkness over his friends.
Riku crossed his arms and thought carefully "Hmm… Maybe they just need you to open your heart and listen." He said looking at his best friend who he knew was full of kindness.
"Wait that's it?" Lea asked skeptically expecting a lot more. Roxas and Xion also similar looks.
Before Riku could answer Yen Sid decided to speak. "It may sound simple but to actually enter another heart particularly without a Keyblade requires a special bond to be made. Sora remarkable power to do so to Ventus damaged heart is rather unique." Yen Sid claimed getting an eyebrow From Riku for praising Sora.
Sora looked skeptical and crossed his arms behind his back. He then stepped a few times before saying "Hmmm…. I dunno Riku, you say some weird stuff sometimes, but I'll try it." Sora decided with determination.
This got a laugh from everyone as Riku huffed. "Weird huh." Riku said a little annoyed.
"Same old Sora listening to Riku first and foremost." Donald said with Mickey and Goofy nodding along.
"Sora hasn't changed much huh." Aqua said fondly while Ven smiled.
"Not really he just changed in that kindness from just Kairi and I to everyone he meets." Riku claimed while Kairi nodded.
"Okay." Riku said calmly waiting patiently for Sora.
As Sora looked up at the sky in determination Riku sent him a smile before looking up at the sky as well. Sora closed his eyes in pure determination as he concentrated and smiled.
Everyone eagerly wanted to see how Sora and Ven would connect especially as before Soras newborn heart was just a voice. Now Sora would be a being inside to interact with Ventus.
The Memory changed to a white room where Ventus heartless body laid in a lonely protected room called the Chamber of Waking. It used to be the The Land of Departure before Aqua used her powers as a Keyblade Master to hide one of her best friends' lifeless body to keep it safe and protected. Outside the room it was a castle which was enchanted to keep everyone except Aqua away from the Chamber of Waking dooming them to Oblivion.
"Ven." Aqua said sadly pulling the boy into her embrace. Seeing his lifeless body reminded her of her failure to wake him up. Terra gripped his fists angrily as he knew Vanitas was just another plot sent by Xehanort. Kairi looked distraught seeing somebody just an empty shell and lonely, Mickey looked down as he felt some responsibility to what happened to the missing keyblade wielders. Donald and Goofy looked confused feeling some familiarity with the castle but they couldn't remember.
Namine and Ansem shared a looked as they never realized that Castle Oblivion held such a secret even they didn't know about. Riku looked briefly at Kairi and Ventus remembering how Kairi heartless body had the same vacant look as Ventus did.
"So you really were in the castle Ventus." Lea said in astonishment sharing a look with Isa while everyone looked at the duo in confusion particularly Xion and Roxas.
"What are you talking about Axel?" Roxas said in confusion as he never recalled Axel ever mentioning Ventus in their time together.
"Back in the Organization Xenmas kept making me and Saix search for the 'Chamber of Walking' which he claimed was inside Castle Oblivion. Although I did most of the searching while Saix got to take the earful from Xenmas as we never could find it." Lea explained as Isa rolled his eyes at the ending.
"All I could get out of Xemnas was that his 'friend' was inside the chamber and that he was certain it was inside the castle." Isa elaborated as everyone looked worried at Ventus who blinked.
"Well nobody would ever find Ven because I designed that room so only I could find and wake up Ven!" Aqua said in determination as Terra smiled at her and Ven beamed at her. 'Could it be that Terras nobody remembered that I confirmed to Xehanort that Ven was inside the chamber of waking?' Aqua thought critically.
"What would have Xenmas done to Ventus if he found him in the chamber?" Xion asked in worry as Lea and Isa shook their heads not knowing what Xenmas had in mind. Riku looked at Terra who looked down in dismay. Terra heart was constantly inside the guardian suppressed by Xehanort and their nobody Xenmas only inherited some of Terra memory but not his will.
Ventus body sat on a large white throne as he slept but the memory showed Sora voice talking to Ventus body saying "Can you hear me?"
"I remember this." Ventus said with reverence as everyone realized that once again Sora and Ventus were going to communicate.
(Ven's theme stop)
"The music stopped." Kairi said with some regret as she honestly liked the music.
"This is kinda like a movie." Lea noted as everyone looked at him weirdly. "I mean I know its memories but hearing the music go along with it makes me think we are watching scenes in a video game or movie!" Lea claimed as everyone shrugged not seeing Leas point making him pout.
Next the memory changed once again to the realm of Sora innocent heart. The circular platform showed Soras favourite things: a mini circle for yellow mushrooms, a yellow sailboat, a yellow playful mask, an orange fish, yellow hook and yellow wrench on the outside. While in the middle showed a single Star shaped fruit the Papao fruit. This showed off his innocence and light inside his heart as Sora himself stood on the circle with the mushroom.
Kairi had a huge smile seeing how pure and innocent Soras heart was. Riku laughed seeing exactly why Sora heart was represented by such simple things on their island.
"This kind of light reminds me of Princess Auraoa heart but she was a princess of heart. How can Sora's heart show the same light?" Terra noted in amazement.
"It is rather simple. All children are born pure and innocent so the darkness cannot form. Sora is at an age where the world is rather bright and wonderful. That light dims when you grow up and learn that Life is not as easy as you once thought." Ansem noted as Riku smiled remembering how the data version said something similar about Soras heart.
"Kinda surprised Riku isn't there." Lea decided to tease making Roxas and Xion laugh.
"We are not attached to the hip guys." Riku claimed with a sigh with Kairi giggling.
"I think if we saw his heart now at least Riku and Kairi will have portraits inside his heart." Namine noted with Riku and Kairi smiling.
"What about Goofy and I?! We are just as close to him as Riku and Kairi!" Donald claimed angrily while Goofy shrugged. Riku got abit annoyed at the insinuation that 2 years with Sora equalled the 16 years they were friends.
"Guys I don't think its that important." Mickey said trying to pacify Riku and Donald who glared at each other.
"That's enough! For Sora every person he has met gets a part of his heart and a bond! He wouldn't want his friends to fight over who has more of it!" Kairi said a chiding tone making Riku and Donald look down. Everyone had a small smile though knowing if there could only one picture in his heart it would be Kairi for sure.
A small ball of light which was Ventus heart flew down towards Sora who looked up when he heard a flutter. "Hey can you hear me?" Sora asked putting his hand over his mouth as a cone to make his voice louder.
"Ven your heart looks so small!" Aqua said in worry as despite being just light it seemed to be grower weaker and less bright the more it hovered.
"It was the price I needed to pay to defeat Vanitas and without Sora it would've faded into darkness altogether." Ventus said sadly as Aqua looked sadly at him. Kairi had a strange sense of Déjà vu remembering how Sora had to condemn his heart to the darkness for her sake. Riku respect for Ventus grew hearing about his sacrifice. Ienzo was fascinated at the whole idea of hearts connecting on such a level.
Isa raised an eyebrow when Roxas and Lea shared a look asking 'could any of us make the sacrifice Ventus did?'
The ball of light continued to glide down towards Sora as it said "I heard your voice, It cut through the darkness around me."
Ven smiled remembering the feeling the Sora innocent light like a beacon from the darkness of loneliness. Terra smiled slightly happy that somebody could be there for Ven when he and Aqua were incapacitated. Aqua stoked Ven's hair softly while she vowed to herself, she would try to make it up to Sora for what he did for her and her friends.
(Ven's theme resumes)
Everyone smiled abit brighter as the serene happy music resumed setting the mode for Ventus and Sora talk inside Soras heart.
"All alone, I followed the sound into a sea of light…" Ven said happily as the ball of light descended down right above Sora hands hovering. "And found myself here, with you." Ven said with a grateful tone.
"So Sora found you those yeas ago and that is how you found him despite never physically meeting." Riku noted as he noticed Ventus had a nostalgic look.
"Yup! Although I never actually saw Sora face until he woke me up alongside Aqua!" Ven said with a laugh as Aqua gave an understanding look on why Ventus looked confused when seeing Sora after his awakening.
"Must've been pretty lucky that two people who never met face to face had such a deep connection." Terra wondered wishfully.
As everyone pondered that statement Ventus remembered how Vanitas declared both Sora and him to be his brothers. 'I guess from a certain view we are kinda like brothers huh? Although I think it would be awkward if Sora actually called me that out loud.' Ven thought to himself.
Sora nodded his head in acknowledgement. Sora looked directly at the ball with a smile as it spoke "You gave me something back when I needed it most. A second chance." Vens voice explained referencing their meeting inside his heart 4 years ago.
Aqua quickly pulled Ven aside much to his confusion and the groups. She flashed them a reassuring smile as she whispered to Ven "Ok I know I heard you say it was his second chance as well when you woke up and met Sora for the first time. What did that mean?"
Ven hesitated as much as he adored Aqua his past with Vanitas was something he didn't like to talk about. Aqua gave a him a deep understanding look with those kind blue eyes making Ven's hesitation disappear. He could tell Aqua would never judge him and that she was the one person besides Terra he could talk to about anything.
'Back then when my heart was fractured the first time it turns out Vanitas heart was also damaged as well. When Sora heart saved mine it also saved his due to our connection. This also changed Vanitas face to look like Soras face now since we are about the same age now.' Ven whispered to Aqua who looked questionably. 'Think Sora face and hair colour except yellow eyes and black hair.' He elaborated making Aqua shudder but sill gave him a quick pat in the shoulder as they rejoined their group.
As everyone gave questioning looks to the nervous looking Ventus Aquas glare scared them off as Terra sweatdropped remembering despite being motherly she was rather scary when mad. He sweatdropped even more when she went back to motherly mode as she fussed over Ventus once again.
"Ok note to self don't piss off Aqua. She looks hot and everything but she is definitely abit too extreme for my taste." Lea said quietly as Roxas gave him a confused look, Xion gave him an annoyed look and Isa merely scoffed at his friend.
'Luckily there is no way that Aqua would actually like Sora that way because I don't think he would be able to handle her moods.' Riku thought to himself looking at the female Keyblade Master wearily.
Kairi, and Namine looked rather impressed at the older woman almost like a role model. Mickey and Yen Sid wondered if she would explode like that at them later on. Ansem and Ienzo had no visible expressions.
Normally Terra would be annoyed that his best friends seemed have a secret from him but he knew when and if Ven was ready to talk about he would.
"I did?" Sora asked in confusion having no recollection his heart made a subconscious jump into Ventus heart.
"Of course, you wouldn't Sora. I am still quite frankly shocked that Sora as a newborn was capable of even making contact with another heart let alone heal it." Aqua noted with an impressed look.
"But… now I have to go back to sleep again." Ven said a mournful tone of voice.
Everyone gave Ventus looks of sadness as he waved it off since to him he found the perfect place to sleep a heart filled with light and hope.
Sora blinked and looked down at the ball with sadness hearing the tone "Are you sad?" He asked trying to comfort the voice.
"That's sweet of Sora to ask." Namine noted kindly as she smiled at the innocent concerned look on kids Soras face.
"Yeah it might sound dumb but when I was talking to Sora I felt better even though my heart was damaged." Ven admitted as Terra pat his shoulder and Aqua pat his head fondly.
"It not dumb Ventus. It nice to have a friend to talk too and Sora so happens to be everyone friend." Riku said with a smile. Kairi nodded her head eagerly while Ansem chuckled.
"Would you mind if I stayed here with you?" Ventus asked with slight desperation as the ball of light moved slightly.
Without hesitation Sora nodded and said "Sure, if it'll make you feel better."
"Thank you." Ven said with pure gratefulness as he hovered into Sora's chest with Sora arms closing to hug himself. Sora briefly glowed as Ventus heart merged with his own.
Everyone could feel a burst of happiness and warmth as if they could feel Ventus joy of being inside Soras heart.
Ansem looked rather impressed "It is rather extraordinary that the merge of Sora and Ventus heart went so smoothly." Ansem said with awe as he got some questioning looks.
"What do you mean?" Mickey asked his old friend.
"If I didn't see it with my own eyes I would not believe it to be possible. I would have expected Ventus heart to try to overtake Soras heart for its survival like Xehanort did to Terra." Ansem said as Terra winced and shrugged off the concerned looks. "Or Ventus heart to be assimilated as part of Soras heart like what happens to a nobody and heartless when a person is recompleted. However, this merge seems to be quite symbiotic." Ansem said as everyone took this in and realized just how special Sora and Ventus heart joining was.
Roxas and Xion looked at each other as they realized their situation was similar to Ventus where instead of fading away like normal cases Sora had subconsciously kept them intact despite being recompleted.
Sora gave a big smile as he closed his eyes in his heart world and woke up back on Destiny Island.
The memory changed back to Destiny Island as Sora opened his eyes and took a big breathe. "Well?" Riku asked in curiosity as he heard Sora deep breathe signalling, he was awake again.
"Honestly I kind of remember this happening but since Sora never told me I never thought about it really." Riku admitted as he was old enough to understand these events.
"Ya know… I think it worked." Sora said happily as he put his arms behind his head to relax and look at the big sky. Riku nodded his head in acceptance as he too took a look at the dark night sky. Sora gave a quick laugh and smiled as Riku serene smile continued.
The memory changed to show the blue sky with 3 stars blinking close together. Then text appeared in the sky with a shooting star passing by. The text read "In time, the worlds would be saved by these two heroes who stood beneath the same blaze of stars.
The memory ended as everyone just sat there in silence for abit taking in this very important meting for Sora.
"Master is this why Sora can wield a Keyblade despite not going through this bequeathing the others mentioned?" Ienzo asked as he thought it over.
As Yen Sid and Mickey nodded their heads thinking that it was the reason Roxas felt rather insulted his former other was being dusted off as 'because of Ventus Sora saved the world'. He felt like his other had powers that weren't just given because of housing a previous keyblade wielder.
Before he could voice his annoyance which Xion could see in his eyes Ventus beat him to the punch. "No! I was not the reason the keyblade choose Sora!" Ventus denied as several people gave him skeptical looks while Kairi and Namine looked uncertain.
"Ven…" Terra tried to say softly as he personally agreed without a bequeathing Soras powers must've come from housing Ven.
"I mean Aqua could sense his potential and maybe I being inside Sora was a factor but not the reason Sora Keyblade stayed with him!" Ventus argued looking at Aqua. Aqua looked uncertain as she did see Soras potential and his was an odd case but it seemed like Ven was maybe reaching.
"Ventus. In the long history of the keyblade there has never been a case where a bequeathing wasn't done before hand or due to a direct connection to another wielder. Since Sora was never bequeathed it stands to reason you were his connection that drew in the Keyblade power to Soras heart." Yen Sid said in a final tone of voice. Riku frowned remembering when Master Xehanort called Sora 'dull ordinary boy.' And his younger self claimed that the Keyblade went down the list from him to Sora. To Riku Yen Sid was basically saying the same thing about Soras ability to use the Keyblade as 'second hand' and not truly his own.
Roxas and Ventus looked ready to hit Yen Sid only to be gently pulled down by worried Xion and Aqua respectively.
However, before arguments could happen Ansem decided to sneak up. "I do not believe that Soras ability to use the Keyblade depended on Ventus or was truly a factor at all." He said calmly ignoring n the look sent by Yen Sid. "If it was truly the case that Ventus heart was the reason the Keyblade chose to partner with Sora would it also not stand to reason that with Ventus back in his own body the Keyblade would disappear as result?" Ansem asked rhetorically as people eyes widened at the very true statement. Donald and Goofy looked at each other as they realized that Sora power did not drop in the slightest after Ventus woke up.
"Perhaps having a second heart inside his own merely had side effects later on? Like perhaps the ability of Roxas and Sora to duo wield Keyblades?" Ansem mused as everyone looked at Roxas who summoned Oathkeeper and Oblivion in his right and left hand respectively.
"Yeah I never noticed it but I can't summon a keyblade in my left hand despite having a couple keychains." Ventus said as he summoned Wayward wind in his right hand but huffed at nothing happening in the left. Everyone else summoned their respective Keyblades but not even Masters Aqua, Riku and Mickey could summon a second one in their non dominant hands.
"Wait Sora can Dual wield like Roxas can? I have never seen him do it…" Kairi noted as everyone looked in confusion on how Roxas could dual wield but Sora never shown.
"Well Sora in our battle with Xenmas used my keyblade as well and his ease in attacking with both seemed to indicate he has dual wielded before but I have never seen him summon a second one either." Riku admitted as he looked at Donald and Goofy.
"In our second adventure Sora could summon a second one in his Valour, Master and Wisdom Drives but the second Keyblade disappeared after his drive powers ran out." Donald noted.
"In our 3rd adventure it didn't appear that Sora dual wielded as far I remembered." Goofy admitted as everyone looked deep in thought.
"Sora can dual wield whenever he wants but he chooses not to since its not his style." Roxas said confidently as Xion nodded.
"Well you guys would be the expert." Lea said in acceptance.
"Actually I know Sora would disagree since he believed me and Xion were our own people from the beginning but the truth is that this keyblade and Xions." Roxas said pointing to Oathkeeper and Xions Kingdom Key. " are actually Soras keyblade existing in multiple places due to our link with him and my left one is a manifestation of Ventus while he slept within Sora." Roxas revealed to the astonishment of everyone.
"Roxas how do you know this?" Yen Sid asked as the idea of dual wielding appeared to be exclusive to Roxas and Sora.
"Lets just see going into this new vassal came with some truths." Roxas said vaguely to the ancient Keyblade Master.
"Now that is settled lets move on shall we?" Isa said in an attempt to move things along.
"So whats the next memory going to be about?" Riku decided to ask Ansem.
"Hmm… It appears Sora was the age before the fell asleep so sometime during his first adventure." Ansem noted as he programmed the machine.
AN2: For like the 10 or so people who read this the next chapter will be more a fun chapter then anything serious!