Memories, Light and Darkness
"Okay, I think we can rest him here for now" Sora said as he put down the Replica, his clothes had changed back to the dark suite now that they were out of the memory, "Now...The two of us need to talk"
"I know," Namine said, still sounding sad.
Again they entered another hallway with white halls. Sora would have been annoyed if he wasn't so exhausted. His mind was string, real memories and fake memories popping in and out. He couldn't tell what was what anymore. That battle with Bill had definitely caused him quite distress. All he knew was that whatever he felt for Namine was a lie. But he wanted it to be true. Every memory of the two of them to be true. It was a bitter pill to swallow to be sure.
All of this had been a lie. That much was clear. As for Namine, what was she, a pawn of Cipher's, of this organization. Worse, she may have been willingly doing all this from the start. Sora felt his mind start to clutter as various images, some real, some maybe not real, all started jamming through his head. He took a moment
"First, what happened to him?" Sora asked.
"His, his heart is broken"
"Broken?" Sora looked at Namine uneasily.
Namine nodded, "It's been twisted to much, by me, by the Organization, by Bill...He...It's not a life"
"Oh-" Sora didn't know what to say at that moment, "Namine you-"
Namien sighed, she looked exhausted after the whole ordeal with bill. "I'm so sorry" she said again, on the verge of tears.
"I know-" Sora replied leaning up against the white all, "But, you made things right in the end, except I don't know...My memories...and him".
"Yeah," Namine looked guilty, "Um...About that"
"Sora!"
From down the hall, Sora saw a few figures running up towards him. It was, Donald and Goofy, Jiminy was even with them. The whole ordeal looking for Namine, he had forgotten about them. Seeing them now though made him very happy. Also guilty, considering how he had been treating them near the end. Quickly he ran towards them to greet them.
"Guys!" Sora grasped them both into a big hugs, "Guys! I'm so sorry, I was so stupid and angry and-"
"It's okay Sora, we get it". Goofy said, patting him on the back, "Just glad your okay"
Sora broke off the hug and smiled, "And well ...I did find Namine, and a few other things" he looked over to the Replica and Namine, both looked exhausted.
"You found Riku," Donald said.
"Not Riku" Sora replied, "But a Replica"
"A what?"
"Replica, guess it's like a copy in a way"
"No," Namine interjected, "It's not just a copy, before the Organization-Before I...Changed him, he was his own thing, smug, completely into the darkness...But his own person"
"Sounds like a nice fella" Donald said sarcastically.
Namine sighed, "Unfortunately, but I like to think that maybe he could change, without needing to alter his memories. Though I'm sure the life of a replica isn't the best one...Knowing you are just a copy of an original person"
"Still, he is his own person" Sora said looked down
"Ugh-" The Replica was starting to get up now, "N-Namine-"
"Looks like he still loves me" Namine sighed, "I tried to make it as brotherly as possible for respect to the originally and his own feelings towards…..You?"
Sora blushed, "Well...Um ...Is it weird that, I guess I still love you too, kinda…..I'm not sure"
"What?" Namine blinked.
"These memories," Sora said pointing to his head, "They feel so real, but there not, yet when I think about that...It just makes me sad"
"Sad?"
"Yeah, because...Because part of me, or, all of me, wants them to be real?"
Namien looked quite confused, "I-I don't understand?"
"Namine? I want us to be friends, I want to have the feelings that I feel right now, or at least, a feeling of being your friend"
"Sora-Sora I-"
Sora held her hand, "It's okay...I know I should be mad, but I'm not, I'm really not Namine".
"Yeah-" Goofy nodded, "Sora's really forgiven like that"
"A little forgiving if you ask me" Donald muttered.
Goofy rolled his eyes, "But we would like to be friends with yuh Namine, you seem like a nice person"
"Thank you, Sora, Donald, Goofy" Namine nodded, "Come on, follow me, Marluxia quarters are actually close by"
"Okay" Namine said, taking a deep breath, "Sorry, I was just a little scared that's all"
Donald
Face each new sun.
With eyes clear and true.
Unafraid of the unknown
Because I'll face it
All
With
You
Sora, Namine and Goofy all turned towards Donald looked shocked and surprised.
"Wow Donald" Sora blinked, "I actually understood that"
"What was that?" Goofy asked.
Donald sighed, "My sister Della wrote it for my boys, I sang it to them every night when they were little, I keep that memory of her and that song in my heart every day...That was the song I was trying to remember earlier".
"That's sweet" Namine said, "I guess there really are some memories you can't truly ever erase. Now come on, we need to keep moving, there is something important I need to show you"
Before they walked off Sora saw Namine lay the Riku Replica down and plant a solf kiss on his forehead.
"I'm sorry, I made you bear a bad memory too"
The road to redemption beginning with one single step.
Namine opened the door as Sora entered the chambers.
They were white like the rest of the chamber however in the center was a crystal ball like device. A viewing mirror according to Namine. It was how they were keeping tabs on Sora's progress in the castle. There was a couch in the corner and various computer screens as well. It was quite an early place for one to be. At the very corner he saw a tiny desk with pictures around it. That must have been where Namine sat, Sora thought.
"Gosh, this place is creepy" Jiminy said writing down in his journal, "I'm sorry you had to endure this Namine"
Namine sighed, "It's okay, it is, what it was, I suppose"
"So, what exactly did Marluxia want from you, apart from controlling me" Sora asked,
"Oh well, that's a easy one" Sora jumped and looked around a portal of darkness arrived as Axel appeared. A smug smirk as he walked up to them. "Marluxia wanted to change your memory Sora, piece by piece, then take over our Organization from the leadership. Treasons acts actually."
"Treason, nonsense"
Namine stiffened, "No"
This time a dark aura arrived, but then it was also surrounded by vines. They began to form and morph as a giant pink rose bloomed, and from out Marluxia, the pink haired man in a black cat emerged. Sora had never seen him until now, but already he could tell that he was going to be a tough enemy. Worse the were surrounded by these two Organization members.
Sora summoned his key ready to fight.
"One man's treasure is another man's revolution," Marluxia said, "I'm surprised honestly, since when were you suspicious of us"
"Larxene paid the price for her disloyalty" Axel said.
Marluxia smirked, "More like Namine's trickety" he glanced at her, Namine again becoming horrified, "I'm surprised at you Namine, and yet a bit proud. Who would have thought someone like you would alley with such dark forces. But then I must thank you, his presence in the castle was a nuisance from the start"
"Y-You knew" Namine said. "Larxene wasn't lying after all"
Sora looked shocked.
"Indeed," Marluxia nodded, "I'm the master of this castle, I know all. You didn't think I saw you and that triangle talk, I was ready for when he struck. You don't think I would have sensed that little nuisance floating around trying to wave his chaos around".
"Did you know him"
Marluxia eyes narrowed, "He is...Ancient, I'm sure he admitted to that. Wouldn't be surprised if you were allied with him Axel?"
"What I….Okay yes, I admit, I didn't see that coming" Axel said, "But what got the job done I suppose, now perhaps to finish it".
Before Sora could act both Marluxia and Axel jumped into the air. They glided around the room as they had their weapons in hand. Axel with his (Weapon) and Marluxia his cyph. Both clashed with one another, their powers a sight to behold. They caused the room to shake and churn.
Sora and his friend ducked, trying to find a hiding spot. Namine going under her desk to avoid any fireballs.
"Yeesh, there tough" Sora said.
"Your telling-" Before Namine could finish she found herself getting captured by a vine, "Help!"
Marluxia smirked holding Namine by the arm now covering her mouth, even if she tried to bite her way off him. He didn't even seem to be affected.
Axel looked surprised, but not for long, "Is that your shield. It won't do you any good I'm afraid".
"Listen to that Sora, such callous disregard for life" Marluxia declared smirking at him, "Would the hero of the Keyblade allow that"
Sora eyes tightened, he was right of course, he wouldn't let that happened. Fake memories or not he was going to defend Namine. He took his Keyblade in hand ready to fight whoever to end this once and for all.
Marlxuia smirked, "Choose which one os us is the closer threat Sora" with that he vanished leaving just Axle now.
"Of course" Axel sighed, he turned to Sora who just stood there looking tired, exhausted, but worse, angry, "I don't really want to kill you know, I was trying to do that to Marluxia".
Sora glared at him. "S-Shut up!"
"Oh please, enough with bravado, it's not worth it, it really isn't. Now listen, don't go charging into Mr. Pedals space without a plan or something. Also don't get mad, not like I approved of any of this or anything. But you know what, if you wanna kill Marluxia, be my guest, go do the hero thing I suppose, either way, you soften him up if I can take the final plunge".
With that, Axel then vanished leaving just Sora, Donald Goofy and Jiminy now.
"I'm so confused, "Sora said rubbing his forehead, "These coat guys are all so...Weird and mysterious, can't I get a straight answer out of any of them.''
"Doesn't matter now I guess" Goofy said looking at the locked door, "We gotta go save Namine from Marluxia"
Sora nodded, pointing his Key at the door he fired the magical energies managing to unlock it, "Open sesame" he smirked. With a soft click, the door was open.
It was time to fight Marluxia.
They opened the door to find something they didn't expect.
Roses.
Lots and lots of Roses.
The entire room was covered head to toe in vines. Sora felt he was entering someone's private gardens as, Donald and Goofy walked into the room. They treaded carefully unsure of what they mind find. Marluxia probably had sent several traps for them, or challenges perhaps. However all of that mystery vanished as soon as it arrived, for there was no challenges or traps. Just him, just Marluxia, and Namine, tied to the wall, trapped in the vines.
Sora gasped seeing her like that. She seemed quite weak, exhausted even. Her arms stretched as the vines tightened themselves around her, the bed of roses surrounding her. Even if his memories for her were fake, right now Sora felt nothing but rage towards the Nobody hurting his friend.
"What did you do her!" Sora shouted, seeing Marluxia standing there.
Marluxia smirked, "Sadly nothing in a sense, she has grown quite attached to you, she won't erase your memories and make you a slave. In fact, she cares about you now so much that these vines and roses, represent the love she so years from you Sora. The love that she could not get herself".
"Why?" Sora said looking confused, "Why does she feel this way for me"
"Well you are lovable Sora" Goofy pointed out.
Donald sighed, "I don't think that's it"
"It's not" Marluxia said, "It's because of what Namine is...Who she comes from, a person, so it is very important to you, that she is a fraction of said person. Said heart.
Sora took a moment to ponder just what he was talking about. He closed his eyes, trying to see if any of his true memories still lied within there. The person who meant much to him, but who, who could this person by.
Like a flash he saw her, the red headed girl from Destiny Island, blue eyes, kind smile, the feeling of his heart being a flutter.
"K-Kairi"
"Yes," Marluxia said, "Namine comes from Kairi, she feels what Kairi feels, and yet so much of it is disengous, it's almost quite sad in a way".
Sora sneered.
Marluxia laughed, "Believe me, I know what Namine feels, to love ...Love is a very powerful thing. When one loses something they love, one's heart would break, shatter...and turn into nothing. ``
"Yeah, who would love you" Sora hissed.
"Harsh words, I thought you were the hero".
Without warning Sora lunged forward trying to strike him down with his Keyblade. Yet with every strike Marluxia would teleport away. Always close but never close enough. The Nobody looked though as if he revealed in it. All Sora could feel however was the rage, anger, his heart was pounding.
"Yes, that's it, such power" Marluxia hissed floating above him now, "I could see why the triangle was fascinated by you Sora, twist your heart enough and you could prove something far more interesting than anyone could imagine. And this time ...Memories of your friendship won't be able to get you to heel'.'
Donald and Goofy tried to charge forward but were quickly taken by two vinyl fly traps. They were caged now, trying to get out.
"Sora!" Donald shouted, "Don't worry about us"
"Guys!" Sora said, getting angrier now.
Marluxia smirked, "That's it Sora, just a bit further"
"Save Namine" Goofy shouted.
Sora looked at Namine now, she was still quite weak but slowly her eyes opened able to see again.
"S-Sora" Namine said, "D-Don't give into him. You are the hero ...Always the hero"
Sora blinked feeling something twinge in him again.
Calmness.
He needed to remain calm, he didn't want to give Marluxia what he wanted. Sora was no one's puppet and he was not about to let the darkness take him. Not again, he already experienced that once, and he wasn't about to experience that again.
Jumping down Sora sneered but took a deep breath, "You know Marluxia, you might have had someone love you, but if anyone did, they might not like what you have become"
"It doesn't matter" Marluxia sneered, Sora must have struck a nerve, "That was ages ago anyway".
"So?" Sora said, "Why not love now ...Why not find new loves, new friends, yeah, I might not know Namine but you know what, I wanna know Namine, I want to know everything about her"
Sora's keyblade began to glow as he pointed it at the large bed of roses that held Namine.
"What is happening" Marluxia said looking nervous,
"And you wanna know why?" Sora said, "Because...I want to be her friend"
With that, a beam of light hit the bed of Roses freeing Namine but also destroying the rest of the room and it's vines. The effect seemed so powerful that it seemed to be hurting Marluxia now. He clenched his chest, looking hurt and vanquished. He got to his knees, as now, a darkness began to consume him. The vines continued to dissipate more and more until finally...They were gone, and so was he"
Sora quickly caught Namien as she fell onto the ground.
They laid there for a moment as Namine opened her eyes.
"Thank you Sora-" Namine said smiling, "Sorry I couldn't be stronger"
"It's okay-" Sora smiled back, "You can save me next time"
"Actually ...I might just have too"
-000-
Riku was not alone in the town square, it was just him now, no one else. All except one, the coated figure, Zexion he believed his name was, just standing there. It was a strange situation, a standoff between humans and creatures of darkness. But who was human and who was the creature of darkness.
"So, let me guess you're with the other coated guys right?" Riku asked, his breath shaky.
Zexion smirked, keeping that calm demeanor to him "Yes, our Organization has found you and Sora fascinating now for the better part of a few months, though can you really blame us at the end of the day. The Keyblade hero, a a creature of darkness like you, both quite compelling"
"I'm not-" Riku couldn't finish that sentence without flinching.
"Doubt, I see?"
Riku sneered.
Zexion just started to pace around him now, observing him, like he was some sort of experiment. Riku wanted to wipe the inquisitive look off his face, but he was still tired from the legions of Heartless he just had to face at the moment. Whatever these guys wanted, he was going to find out one way or another.
"So, teaming up with Jafar huh? I don't know but something says you seem above that" Riku said, thinking talking would be better than silence.
Zexion just remained stoic now as he paced, "Perhaps, but people like him are useful, they are so clouded by power and ambition they tend to fail to see the bigger picture in all of it"
"Sound like a pawn"
"Because he is a pawn" Zexion responded, still with a stoic expression, "That's how the world is divided, pawns and those who control them for the experiments"
"I used to think like that-" Riku sneered, "That everything was just strong and weak, but I know better now"
"No, you've just devolved, but I want to know why?"
Riku glared at him, "So I'm like a experiment to you"
"Pretty much yes, but a fascinating one i must say, me and my fellow comrades in arms have found you and the Keyblade Master quite fascinating actually. It's why we are interested in him as well, but I believe you've already been able to figure it out. So far you've proven the more intellectual of the two"
Yes, there was doubt, perhaps deep down he was a creature of darkness. But he didn't want to be, he just wanted to be normal again. Though he could smell the scene on him now, growing ever more as he felt a bubbling rage come over him. He tried to keep it in as best he could, but just the site of this figure made him sick to his stomach. He wanted to strike and strike now.
"Well whatever your plans are, I'm not going to let you break the laws of magic"
Zexion chuckled, "Please there is no such thing, the laws of magic are that...laws, they are put in place by higher powers than me, I just said that to get the Genie on my side. Guess he put his faith in me a bit to high, desperation does that I suppose"
"Because he's a pawn?" Riku asked.
"Because he's a fool, you can't just go break the laws of magic with a simple spell, they are embedded into the wider universe around us" Zexion declared giving a bombastic motion, "They are part of the deeper laws, the one's made by the great heart that govern the light and darkness, that make who we are, a simple spell or piece of paper...It's nonsense"
Greater Heart? Kingdom Hearts? So this person or his Organization at the end of the day may be after Kingdom Hearts. Just like Maleficent was
"Good, good," Zexion said smirking, "Though putting this light against me seems like a waste of time if you ask me, perhaps it could be put to better use"
Riku's eyes popped open as a beaming glare came right at him, it was the sun.
It took him a few moments to regain his bearings, but he could that something was definitely not right. This was not Gravity Falls anymore. It was Destiny Island, his home. He could feel the cool breeze brush up against his skin and feel the cracking of sand beneath his feet. Coconut smells oozed everywhere but also something else, a fowler stench, though timid it was definitely present.
How little the place has changed. Not that he was surprised, Destiny Island was known as a place frozen in time. When something did change it would be the biggest news in town, and normally it would be something small and base. Riku back then would normally role his eyes and wonder how everyone would be interested in something so pathetic. Now though, now he wished he could have those days back.
As he looked around the beach he began to think about the better times, when he Sora and Kairi would just run around and place. More innocent times, better times. Times when he didn't have to think of the pressures of home or his parents, when he could just be free and do whatever he wanted with those he cared about .He missed those times and would give anything to return to those moments. Or even better, perhaps create new ones that he never had.
"I miss you guys" Riku whispered looking out into the ocean, "I wish-I wish I had known what I was losing when I opened that blasted door. I was reckless and selfish, and stupid...I-If, no, I'm trying to make things right, and I'm going to ...Maybe one day you'll forgive me"
"You won't see them" A cold voice called in his head.
Riku crooked his neck around to see Zexion sitting down on one of the trees, a venomous smirk on his lips. He could feel his anger boil to see this stranger on his Island home. Couldn't he have a moment to himself to enjoy what little joy he remembered of his Island home.
"See who?" Riku asked slowly walking towards him, ready to fight if need be.
"Your friends, your family, your loved ones...May I go on, these are memories yes, but you cast the people aside. Now...You are left with nothing, but an empty void, and not much to show for it, except for your homes destruction"
Riku felt the ground beneath his feet rumble as cracks started to emerge. The sky around him darkened as chunks of the Island started to float in the sky. A large ball of darkness began to form now sucking up the ocean and land. Zexion continued to watch with intrigue.
"You know, in a way you are responsible for so much," Zexion replied, "You wanted to open the door, you wanted to escape the Island, and were willing to do whatever it took to do so. By doing so, you not only abandoned everyone, but doomed them to darkness".
"No" Riku muttered feeling some of his strength return.
"What was that?"
Riku felt his heart ache "I-I didn't mean...I didn't want…
"But you did, you choose to be a champion for the darkness at that moment in time. While Sora...your dear, beloved Sora ...became a champion of the light, and thus...you clashed. Thus signifying him as your enemy, and the darkness as your eternal ally".
Riku could feel something or perhaps someone behind him now.
"S-Sora?"
It was Sora, Keyblade in hand pointing it right at him. He looked fierce, fiercer than Riku had ever seen before. Even during their battle in Hollow Bastion, there was not the same fire in those eyes that there was now. No kindness, just anger, a horrifying sight indeed.
"S-Sora?" Riku took a few steps back, not wanting to attack, for all he knew it could be real.
Was this how he saw his best friend now. Perhaps becoming a creature of darkness made the light monstrous to him. Sora being someone who embedded himself in the light, was he now just a monster. Could he not come back? Was this how he was meant to see his friend. Would they forever clash, light vs darkness.
Darkness started to engulf Riku now. He could feel the cold icy sea of its essence as it began to surround him. The stench was horrible, and it made him feel sick to his stomach. But what was worse, the light, the light coming from Sora was worse, it was painful. He felt that if he touched it would burn him and kill him.
"Time for you to face the light!" Sora declared pointing the Keyblade right at him.
The image began to fade back and forth between Zexion and Sora, as the voices merged and sperpated, "That's right Riku, we are willing to welcome to open you with open arms. Just recognize the position you are in".
Suddenly Riku's view began to fade until it all vanished, everything becoming white.
"I'm fading"
Blank.
"Consumed by the light"
Falling
"Maybe that's not so bad"
You can't fade
"Who's that? Not the king"
No power can defeat you. Not the light, not the darkness. So...Don't run from the light...and don't fear the darkness"
Riku mind started to swirl, "I-I don't understand"
The darkness in your heart is vast, deep, but if you can stare into unflicing you can never fear it again. Do that, and you'll gain a strength unlike any other before or after".
A small dark vortek emerged in the middle of the light, and as the voice said Riku did stare at it. He didn't flinch, he didn't feel scared, he just looked, look into the emptiness in it, and began to approach it. He was unsure if this was a good idea. Darkness had always backfired on him. But this time though, this time something felt different. The sinister nature of the darkness was not there as it was with Maleficent, or Xehanort, or Zexion. No, this darkness felt different, it felt...it felt natural. Like it was meant to be part of the world and not something that was meant to be extinguished like a Heartless was.
This darkness, it was part of him.
Then he realized what was happening. Darkness, darkness was part of him, it wasn't something to be completely cast aside. But he couldn't just embrace it or let it consume him. It was a balance, light and darkness made both of him, it made him a whole person. Though he did not use the darkness to gain power as he did before, and he did not need to fear the light for it would not destroy him. They were both him, and he was made whole.
Right now though, he could use a bit of a boost.
"All this time, i thought my enemy was the darkness" Riku thought, "When it was really...Just my weak heart running away from anything instead of facing my fears, but no more"
With a slash Riku charged towards the Organization member, managing to drive him back into the darkness, changing him back into his normal form. He wans't fighting his friend, he was just fighting some creep who was trying to twist his mind. Well his mind would not easily break.
He was fighting for real friends this time, not just selfish protection.
For Mable
For Max
For Dipper
For Sora.
Riku would not become a creature of darkness, but he wouldn't be afraid of it either. He would face it head on, and still be able to return to the light. Live with the ones he cared about, the ones he loved. There would be no clash, no epic battles against his friend.
"See, this is the power I've talked about, we could use you in the Organization" Zexion said trying to hold back Riku.
"Yeah...No thanks"
With one final push Riku defeated him back sending him into the darkness, hoping he would be gone once and for all.
Then a light shone bright as the spell began to break.
Once the light faded Riku began to see that he was back in the middle of Gravity Falls town square again.
Taking a deep breath, he tried to regain his composure, so much had happened so quickly it was hard to tell what was what. All he knew at the moment that whoever that Zexion was now, was gone, and probably wasn't going to bother him any time soon.
The Heartless had vanished now it was just him. He quickly tried to regain his bearings before getting back into the action. He knew that Mable, Max and the others were out in the forest somewhere and he needed his help. With this new sense of purpose he was ready to help his friends...Until.
I know you can feel it...The grip that I have on your heart
"Xehanort" Riku sneered.
You open your heart to darkness again...Soon it will be consumed by it completely
Riku soon found himself bound to the air by a dark force. Xehanort was using some sorta control he had over the darkness to control him. He tried to resist but despite this new embrace of both sides of him, Xehnaort was still a master of the dark, and a master with many tricks up his sleeve.
"Controlling you is effortless"
Riku wanted to fight back but he wasn't sure if he could. Until, to his luck, he saw a tiny bright light head towards him and begin slowly descend towards his heart.
"AGH MUST YOU ALWAYS INTERFERE!"
More bright light, Riku was starting to notice a a pattern when it came to his situation. He wondered if Sora had days like this when he was constantly getting blinded by something. Either way like before it faded again. Though what mattered now was that Riku felt free from the dark bonds of Xehanort. As he regained his foot he looked behind and gasped, he was here in the flesh this time.
"You're majesty!" Riku said agasped.
Riku gently touched the kings cheeks to make sure, yep they were real.
"Hey that tickles" The King giggled, "Anyway, like I said I made a promise to find you and well, here i am, sorry it took so long, I had a little help from a stranger, said he knew the place".
Riku chuckled, feeling tired suddenly he just fell down on his feet, the King seemed worry, "I'm okay, just relieved I guess, I've been alone for so long…."
"You haven't been alone from what the strange told me" Mickey replied, "You made friends with Mable, Dipper, Max…
"Yeah…" Riku's eyes suddenly widened, "Oh no, there still in trouble, Jafar!"
"Jafar!"
Riku got up, "You're majesty, will you help me"
"Of course! Let's go!"
-000-
Home.
Mable would have been happy to be back in the Mystery Shack if it weren't for the fact that she was in the hands of an evil Genie and her crazy stalker Gideon. They pretty much had been tied up the whole way there, Gideon constantly giving her goo-goo eyes the entire time as a patrol of Heartless escorted them back. She hoped Riku was okay wherever he was at the moment. Despite what was going on, she tried to keep faith even if she was starting to feel a pit of despair forming in her stomach at the moment.
The two of them arrived in the shack which still looked abandoned, Grunkle Stan still stuck in a statue. Heartless patrolled the outer area, making sure anyone who would come in would be quickly stopped. It was heartbreaking to see her beloved shack in such terror. Part of her was scared, another part of her angry, and not just at Jafar, but also her brother for not getting rid of this lamp sooner, but she tried to keep those emotions to herself as she was sent back to Ford's lab which had become a bit of a cell.
What felt like a victory quickly turned to defeat, worse, she didn't know where Riku was. All she knew was that she could really use his help right now. Nothing came to mind on how to get out of this mess, and not even her handy grappling hook would be of much help against these forces of darkness. However amidst the despair also was a bit of bitterness at her brother at the moment who didn't seem to comprehend the guilt of his own actions that lead to this in the first place.
"See, this is what happens when you keep that lamp" Mable hissed to Dipper as the kept marching down towards Ford lab.
"Really Mable? Now? Now of all times!" Dipper glared back at her.
"Well...If I'm gonna die, then I'm gonna die saying I told yuh so...I told yuh so"
"Ugh, have a little faith in my for once in your life Mable" Dipper sneered, "I am your brother after all"
Mable rolled her eyes, "So…"
"So ...were family, isn't that enough"
Wendy nodded, "Yeah, Mabe's aren't you being a little harsh on him"
"I don't know, he hid the lamp"
"Yeah, well...He had reasons" Wendy said again, giving Dipper a sympathetic look, Mable could tell that she was defending him mostly because she and him were close.
"Yeah, but-that lamp was evil and dangerous-"
"I know that, but Dipper, you hid that from us for a while, that's a big deal, at least if you told me, then maybe I would have felt better about it. Heck we could have worked on it together, but instead you kept in the dark".
"Sorry, but I don't think you'd agree, I've been trying to find out the secrets of darkness and light and what happened and-"
"Quite" Gideon sneers, before frowning at Mable and smirking "Sorry my Queen, I lost my temper"
"Ew, Gideon, I'm not your Queen, and never will be" Mable sneered back at him.
"Sorry Dipper" Mable sighed as they kept going, "But at this point, I have more faith in Riku to help"
Mable saw Dipper's face turn stunned before she looked away. As hard as those words were it was true. In her eyes Riku had made far more progress and perhaps was changing. Dipper on the other hand, he still kept to himself and was getting more and more into Grunkle Ford's missing research. It was a hard truth but it was hers at the moment.
Finally they arrived in Grunkle Ford's lab, apparently Soos of all people was there, tied up but looking quite calm.
"Oh hey guys!" Soos said.
"Soos!" Mable and Dipper said in unison.
"Yeah, i got captured, thankfully they didn't turn me into one of those things, so I've just been down here in the dark...Keeping to myself. Been plotting out my latest fan fiction too, really thinks I got the themes down, now just to think of the plot"
"Good to see you keeping busy Soos" Wendy said, her expression deadpanned as she was escorted.
They all sat down now locked into chairs conjured for them.
"Now" Jafar finally spoke with venom and joy in his voice, "I have so many ideas of how to get our revenge upon you, Gideon of course has plans for Mable"
Mable shuddered, "Again...Gross, gross...So much gross"
"But I too have plans, plans for all of you, especially you boy" He pointed at Dipper, "Keeping me locked in a lamp, in a box, in this...place"
"Hey I didn't put you in a lamp, you did that on your own from what I was told," Dipper snickered, "Oh yeah, I know the story, Sora and Aladdin tricked yuh into making that wish...Bad faith wish if you ask me"
"Silence!" Jafar sneered the eyes in his snake staff glowing, he calmed before speaking again, "Why yes, I did make a ...error in judgment, it will not be without merit, for soon, I will have powers beyond anyone. Imagine the sorts of spells, enchmants, and things I could get just with a simple snap of my fingers. The power of the Genie are practically limitless, and with the laws of magic broken, they will be. It will make the legendary powers of Kingdom Hearts look like a joke by comparison"
"Oh yeah-" Max sneered "Well, well-"
"Well what?" Jafar snickered, "The Keyblade Master will stop me? He hasn't even been seen from what I know"
Max shook his head, "No...Will stop you, we might not be Keyblade Masters but we can still do something".
Mable bit her lip, unsure if she still believed that or not. Right now it was looking that they couldn't do anything about it. Riku wasn't here, Jafar wasn't here, Dipper was quasi responsible for this evil genie being here. Still, she didn't want to think these thoughts. She had to have faith, if not in anyone then at least in herself that she could try and do something. Resist, fight back, even when things seemed impossible, she needed to fight back.
"Max is right!" Mable burst out, "We might not be able to do anything ...Well, really, anything...In fact, it's kinda hopeless"
"Yuh think" Wendy muttered.
"Shh I think she's gonna make a moral statement," Soos muttered.
Mable sighed, "But! That doesn't mean we aren't gonna stop fighting, and fighting, even if you put like...the biggest most evilest spell on us. Because, well, I have faith we are going to win in the end, even if takes like...A gazillion years"!
"A blink of an eye for a Genie," Jafar taunted, "For mere mortals, a lifetime"
"Oh what sorta torches are yuh gonna put them through," Gideon asked with glee, "I gotta know, you seem like a expert"
"Hmm," Jafar twisted his mustache as he thought, "From what I observed, the best torutrue is the torture of sepration...Break the bonds that they have made with the town, the hearts that have been connected. Separate the memories, make those attachments no longer meaningful, and then well...That's that, forever"
Mable just heard those words and frowned, "Nu uh...You can't just do that. Sure you could...magic away our memories and maybe even change it that we didn't meet each other, but that doesn't mean we didn't mean it somewhere. It's like making someone fall in love with you with magic, it's not real, or genuine it's...Well its just sick if you ask me"
"Oh believe me, you have yet to see how sick like I can be" Jafar sneered as the eyes on his snake staff began to glow.
The dark aura began to accumulate around him as Mable could feel something cold come around her. This was it, this was the end wasn't it. She was going to die or worse become magically cursed into loving Gideon. Honestly death sounded good right about now in all honesty because a life with Gideon was actually a lot worse sounding right now.
Her faith was definitely raining in that moment, she hoped beyond hope she could think of something. Or maybe someone will come and help. Someone anyone, there had to be a way out, or perhaps fortune will smile on them in some form. Right now though it really did seem like the darkness was about to win.
That was until...She saw it...The one thing that could maybe turn the tide.
"Grappling hook!"
Throwing her wait down Mable landed right in front of the empty hook on the ground that was conviently there managing to launch it, and thankfully it managed to cut to the bines from Max managing to release.
"Yes!" Mable cheered "That actually worked, I actually had zero faith in that plan"
"Well who cares!" Max said grabbing his shield releasing Mable from her own clutches, "Come on Mable"
Jafar in shocked fired his magical energies at them, "You honestly think you can defeat me!"
"Honestly...NO!" Mable said holding her grappling hook firm, "But we're dumb enough to try anyway...Call it blind faith but you know what, it's better then nothing".
"Eh Jafar, how can you defeat them if you can't use your Genie powers?" Gideon asked, still holding the lamp.
"Like I said boy there is more than one power in the world"
Darkness now began to spread, everyone in the shack kept tight as the energy began to spread. Slowly taking on the forms of Heartless and other horrible things. It was about ready to engul them all when suddenly...It stopped, and then...It recidied.
"What!" Jafar sneered, "What is going on"
Mable heard a crash as she popped open her eyes. Jafar too seemed taken aback by what had happened. He stepped back from her, causing the spell to break.
Footsteps could be heard as two figures appeared, one of them very recognizable.
"Riku!" Mable beamed, "Your okay
"Your majesty!" Max added looking shock
Riku and the King burst through the door.
Jafar looked in shock, gripping staff as he powered it's magic.
Mable watched in horror as the magical energies started being blasted all around the basement. Riku managed to dodge just through sheer agility, the King serving as a distraction as he tried to get the others freed.
However, what mattered was that they were here fighting, for them, here and now. She knew deep down that Riku would be able to overcome whatever he needed to overcome. Jafar couldn't seem to get the best of them, despite being an all powerful Genie and sorcerer of darkness, he just couldn't get the best of them.
Riku and the King continued to fly, their powers of light and apparently darkness working together. It was a sight to behold for sure. Mable wished she could fight like that. But it wasn't really about the fighting but they were fighting for that mattered far more. Defeating the darkness that threatened her home and for the friends they have made.
Eventually, after what seemed like many swings and arrows flew Riku was able to free Mable and the others from there bonds and in a stroke swift pace, she grabbed her grappling hook and was able to take the lamp right from Gideon's hand.
Jafer knew what that meant, "Oh no"
"Back in you go!" Mable said as the evil Genie got scooped up, "And that's the power of grappling hooks".
"Wow ...A bit anticlimactic if you ask me," Soos commented.
"Who cares" Wendy shouted, glad to be free of her bonds "It's over….Finally!"
Dipper seemed unsure, "Huh, um ...Yeah, t-that happened"
"Your majesty" Max said as Riku untied him from his chair standing up straight and stiff, "Sir! Private Max Goof, reporting for duty"
The King seemed taken aback and calmed him, "At ease Max, it's fine, just glad everyone is okay"
Mable took a deep breath. She was just glad this crisis was finally over. Though, what made her really happy, however, was the fact it was Riku who came through for them in the end. This kid who they took in and had once fallen for darkness really did rescue them. She couldn't help but smile wide to just see him standing there, her faith was definitely rewarded today.
"How did you do that Riku?" Mable asked, "Those didn't look like normal abilities"
Riku looked a bit embarrassed, "Well, um...I sorta ...I found a balance?"
"A balance?" Mable asked.
"Yeah, a balance between light and darkness, it's...I can't explain it really, it's just, I'm not afraid of the darkness that much anymore" Riku replied looking confused, "I don't want to embrace it, but I'm not running from it anymore, I think, I think I might finally be learning to have it under control, and maybe, just maybe, use it to help people"
"Really?" Mable asked looking intrigued but worried, "Well, I don't know...But I trust you enough now to know what's what"
Riku smiled, "Thank you mable"
"So, what now?" Dipper asked looking at the lamp on the ground, "I say we just lock up the lamp again"
"Ugh, not this again!" Mable argued, "We need to get rid of it"
"How though?" Max asked, "Can you destroy Genie lamps?"
"What if we just wish him back to a human?" Wendy asked.
"Hmm...He seems to trickey for that" Mable replied.
"Worth a shot" Riku said.
"Hold on," Dipper stopped him, "You can't"
"Why not Dipper?" Mable asked him glaring back with suspicion.
Dipper bit his lip, "Because...If we do, then he could escape and be set free, oh sure we could imprison him and all that, but he could still escape, at least in the lamp he's stuck. No way out, ittie bittie living space right?
Mickey paused to think, "Well right now I think we just need a rest"
"I second that!" Max said.
"Third!" Mable said, "I'll get us some sacks"
-000-
Namine couldn't believe her fortune right now.
Sora had saved her, just like she always wanted, just like in her dreams...However, it wasn't exactly how she envisioned it, and in a lot of ways, it was very hollow. She had got what she wanted but not the way she ever wanted it to be handled.
All of this was to gain the love Kairi felt for Sora and have it transfer to her. In that mission, though she didn't gain any of it naturally, but through force, manipulation and coercion. She could just blame the Organization and Bill, but at the end of the day she had to make those choices, she could have resisted, even if it had meant her death or eraser. Instead though she went along with it willingly and did horrible things to his mind, altering his memories, making him feel things for those he no feelings for. Worse, making him think those who were close to him were gone from his life forever.
All of this to gain love.
Now there was just guilt, guilt at what she had done. But there was still a chance, a chance to make things right. She would do that, for Sora...For even if he didn't have feelings for her, she did for him. That was enough ...Hopefully one day he could forgive her for what she has done.
"Hey...Where is Riku?" Sora asked as they re-entered the hallway.
Namine blinked as she noticed that the Replica was no longer in the hallway. She could feel a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"Oh no," She whispered.
The Replica was gone, another one of her mistakes missing. She was hoping she could fix him back to normal too...Or perhaps, just revert him to what he was. Even though what he was wasn't the most pleasant, but at least he was his own thing and not just Riku in love with Namine. It just added to the guilt she felt about everything she's done. Add turning a being of its own free will into a slave to its own fake memories.
Just thinking about all of this made Namine shiver in her own body.
"Do you think the Organization got to him?" Goofy asked sounding worried.
Namine sighed, "I don't know, he may have just wandered off, so long as he's in the castle I might be able to control him"
"Control him?" Sora said sounding concerned, "That doesn't sound good at all"
"Well, I sorta...The organization made me"
Sora frowned, "Well, perhaps you can fix him up later okay…"
Namine merely nodded.
All these mistakes, and all of them were hers.
Namine sighed and felt a tear drop run down her cheek. She was such a fool, thinking that any of this was a good idea from the start.
"Hey, it's okay…" Sora said causing her to look up now, he had such a bright smile, it was intoxicating, "I know you feel bad...That's a good start, in fact, that's a great start"
Goofy nodded, "Yeah, means you know what you did was wrong and are willing to fix it"
"I know I can-" Namine sighed, "It just won't be easy"
"Nothing is" Donald added.
Goofy nodded, "But trying is still important, for if we don't try, then how do we improve"
Namime just nodded again and smiled. She was shocked by just how nice they were being to her right now. It was true to the stories that Sora and his companions were some of the kindest people across the worlds. They definitely were someone she would want to get to know...The right way.
"My mom" Sora said his voice shaking now, "Is that uh...Or am I-"
Namine just looked at him and smiled, "It's okay...She's alive...as far as I know...and safe on the Island"
"Again Sora...I am so sorry I made you think that " Namine sighed, wiping a tear from her eye, "I really, really want to make things right"
"Is there a way to fix all of this" Sora pointed to his head, "Our memories"
"Yeah, I don't wanna forget anything important...Like Max" Goofy said.
Donald nodded, "Or my boys...Or Dellah, or Uncle Scrooge"
"There is, I think...But, but it won't be easy...and it will come with a cost"
"A cost?" Sora looked at Donald and Goofy before turning back to Namine, "What kind of cost"
"For you to forget what happened"
"Huh?"
Namien led them into a new room.
Large and white, it almost had a mist to it, as if it was entering a dream. Sora felt a bit light headed as he walked through the halls. Donald and Goofy made sure to stay by his side to keep him steady in case he tripped. Once getting his bearings he looked up to see a large chamber in the center of the room. Almost like an egg, it opened up but had nothing inside. Like something needed to come inside it.
Namine stopped them as she just looked at the egg looking sad. Sora could tell this might have something to do with him getting his old memories back.
This place was used for some of Vexen's more complicated experiments. However it would do for what she needed right now. Now the hard part would come...The part where she would have to explain what was going on.
"This place is kinda creepy" Donald muttered.
Namine sighed, "It's not great, but it will do"
"What is this place?" Goofy asked.
"This is a chamber that you'll have to rest in if you are to regain your memories" Namien explained, "Donald, Goofy, yours are in the other room, this one will be for Sora"
"Great, Sora gets the nice one" Donald muttered.
Jiminy hopped on to his shoulder, "Will this help restore our memories and my journal"
"Memories yes" Namien nodded, "Journal...I'm honestly not sure"
"Well doesn't seem that bad" Sora explained, "Just go to sleep and wake up, badda bing, will be ready to go"
Instantly Namine's expression saddened again, which meant there had to be a catch. "Well...Not really" she sighed, "See...It's going to take a little time to take care of you. Put all the pieces back together again. So that when you do wake up you'll be back to your old self again"
"But…" Sora asked.
"But...You won't remember this, the castle...Or me"
Sora saw her sadness increase, as well as his. Despite what she did to her memories, he didn't want to forget her. In fact, he wanted to know her, the real her, not whatever perfect girl the Organization and her wanted him to think.
"Hey, it will be okay, when I wake up, I'll find you...Then I wanna get to know the real you" Sora said, that same determination in his expression, "It doesn't seem that fair that I have really pick one or the other"
Namine seemed perplexed, "How? You'll forget"
"I have a solution to that" Jiminy opened up his journal and began to scribble something down on it. Namine looked down to see exactly what he had written. The handwriting was tiny, but upon closer look she started to see what it was...and smiled.
"Thank Namine" She said, smiling.
Just reading those two words was enough for her to feel something.
It would be hard for her to know that Sora would forget her time here in the castle. But maybe she would be able to tell him what had happened again. Memories never truly vanished as she realized just went deep down into the heart, asleep, but ready to be awakened when ready.
"I'll fix this Sora...I promise" She closed her eyes and took a deep breath
Yes, she was going to fix this, that was a promise
Namine then just looked at the large chamber and sighed, it was going to take time to get his memories back together. How long, she was not sure. It could be a day, though that was unlikely, most likely it could be months...Maybe even a year. No matter though, she would get Sora back to his normal self again so he could return back to his Island home and reunite with his friends.
She looked at the massive portal and sighed.
"Well...Not sure where to start"
"Perhaps I could help" Namine jumped and turned around as a portal of darkness emerged.
From within a man appeared dressed in red robes, his face covered by red bandages as well. She had never seen someone like this but he just entered the castle without a care, he had a demanor calm to him, and his voice loud and booming continued to ring in her ear. .Namine stepped back out of fear. Unsure what was going on. She had no feel towards him, he was neither light nor dark it felt. However he didn't not trust her nonetheless.
"W-Who are you?" She asked hesitantly.
"Me….I am the one who lives in between the light and the dark...for I...am Diz"