A/N: This is a story that is basically an AU I've had on my mind for a while now, where Kairi is far from useless or defenseless and actually has her own role to play. This story is Kairi-centric, which means most changes will revolve around Kairi, but since Days and COM are now here, that means most of the changes will now revolve around Naminé (and somewhat Xion).
Also, please review! Tell me what you think!
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or Disney in any way, shape, or form! I only own an OC who will appear much later in the story (about KH3-ish).
Note: Remember that if I don't add a scene (or don't write out the whole thing; same goes with the designs), it means that it's the same as in canon. Just FYI.
This chapter is the Chain of Memories segment. Lots of Naminé interacting with Sora and Axel, and quite a few changes concerning Naminé. Now, the timing/match-up with COM to the Days part might be off (actually, I'm like 75% certain it's off, but I'm satisfied with it), so please, don't let that bother you.
!~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~O~A~T~H~K~E~E~P~E~R~~A~U~~!
Kingdom Hearts: The Oathkeeper
Chapter 6: 358 Days Over 2 (358/2 Days), Part 2
==Day 24: Silence Broken==
~Castle Oblivion~
Naminé wasn't quite sure how Marluxia and Larxene figured out the true power of her sketches before she did, but she didn't let that bother her. They were definitely older than she was, so they've had more years of experiences (both as in general and as a Nobody) than she did. So, she trusted them to know what they were doing, even if she didn't know the full picture of why she was here at all.
Apparently, she had a special connection to the 'Keyblade Master' Sora. She didn't know why, but she discovered that she had the ability to use her sketches in order to alter his memories, as well as the memories of anyone connected to him (which was a lot of people). Larxene and Marluxia wanted her to rewrite Sora's memory to make him believe that she herself was someone he wanted to save—that she was Sora's special person.
She didn't understand what the duo's end goal was, but they were her friends. She vowed that, whatever they asked her to do, she would do it without question.
But Axel was here, as her bodyguard. There were times where he wasn't there, leaving her with Marluxia or Larxene, often both, and sometimes by herself. To be honest, she hated those times. Those two scared her. They didn't hurt her, but they weren't always nice. She always felt safe with Axel, and she despised every second he wasn't there.
And she definitely missed Roxas.
This place, Castle Oblivion, confused her. Why did they have to have certain cards to go to certain places? Seriously, there was a card for every floor and for every door! Naminé only had one card, though, the card for the room she was currently in, and for some reason, she couldn't summon Dark Corridors like the other Nobodies, so she was very limited in how much she could move around.
The room she was in was an all-white room with a clear crystal ball in the middle (it allowed them to watch any scene, past or present, as long as it originated here in Castle Oblivion). Only certain Organization members had access to this room.
Marluxia, Larxene, Axel, and Vexen were the only people she saw. According to Axel, Zexion and Lexaeus were here too, but on the lower levels.
Naminé finished the last line of her current drawing. It was of herself, Sora, Riku, and Kairi, all young on Destiny Islands. Pleased with the result, she turned the page and continued her work.
The only thing that bothered her was that Vexen's plans and Marluxia's plans seemed so different, and she wondered how they could possibly fit together. But she didn't think on it too hard. She had work to do, so she just assumed that they were taking different paths toward the same goal.
"Let me get this straight," Axel said. It was just him and Naminé in the room now, and they were catching up after a long day of work. "You're rewriting Sora's memory into thinking that he's friends with, not just you, but also Marluxia and Larxene, and that he owes them for some past mistake he made, to make it easier for them to convince him to join us."
"Yeah," Naminé admitted. "It was my idea, but I felt it right to run it by Marluxia and Larxene first, and they really liked it." She tightly clutched her still-open sketchbook, remembering what memories she wrote in it. "Right now, Sora believes that he's the reason I left the Islands. Vexen wants me to write in that the Organization aren't Sora's enemies at all, but people that he's wronged because he thinks he's a hero. He ran it by Marluxia, and he really liked it."
"You sure about this?" Axel asked after a short pause.
Naminé sent him a cheerful smile, "Of course! I'm giving him nice memories and no one's really getting hurt, right? We'll all be friends when this is over, so it's okay."
Everything would work out in the end. They were all in this together.
Naminé truly believed that, Axel realized. How naive she was...
Roxas' Diary: Day 24: Entry 8
I teamed up with No. XV again today. We finally talked a little-Xion even said my name for the first time.
Afterwards I had ice cream by myself again. The lady at the shop said you can trade the WINNER stick for an extra bar. But I can't eat more than one.
Secret Report: Day 24: The Upper Floors
Author: Zexion
Marluxia has succeeded in leading the Keyblade master to the castle.
I sense multiple threads at work, but details on each of the projects are scarce. I suspect some alleged Organization projects are secretly private machinations.
Marluxia seems especially suspect.
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
==Day 25: Two Keys==
Naminé was starting to get 'homesick' (that's what Axel called it), but she really wanted to go back and see Roxas again, to go back and have ice cream with him and Axel on top of the clock tower, to go back and watch the sunset without any worries. She hated it here.
Naminé just finished a sketch in the sketchbook Axel gave her when Larxene returned.
"Whew...throwing that battle wore me out," Larxene muttered.
"Really?" Axel sassed, standing the closest to Naminé. "It looked to me like you just plain lost."
This apparently enraged Larxene, "How dare you! You don't appreciate the nuances of—"
"An ungainly effort," came a disombodied voice.
"Huh?" Larxene raised an eyebrow, confused, as a familiar man with long, dirty blonde hair appeared in the room. "Vexen!"
"How could you be humbled by someone of such limited significance?" Vexen asked. "You shame the Organization."
Larxene growled.
"How can we help you, Vexen?" Axel asked. "It's not very often we see you topside."
"I came to lend you a hand," Vexen replied. "You obviously believe this Sora has much potential, but I remain unconvinced he is truly worth such coddling. I think my experiment would show if he really is of any value to us and put my doubts to rest, but to do that, I require Naminé's assistance."
Naminé turned her head to him when she heard her name. Vexen needed her help? With what?
"Hmph," Larxene huffed. "Well, here we go again. It's just an excuse so you can carry out your little experiments. That's all."
Vexen was unfazed, "I'm a scientist. Experiments are what I do, yes."
"Whatever," Axel cut in. "You can do what you want. But cut the act. Testing Sora is just an excuse to test your little follower."
This is what Vexen took offense to, "'Follower'? I'll have you know he's the product of pure research."
"What he actually is is a toy," Larxene said.
"Hmph. You should just learn to be quiet," Vexen bit back.
Larxene looked away, and Naminé wondered if friends were supposed to be fighting like this.
Axel rolled his eyes, "Have your fun. But since you came all this way, you're gonna need this." He held out a card of Destiny Islands and threw it at Vexen, who easily caught it. "Now don't tell me I don't respect my elders."
"I dare say I won't," Vexen looked at the card and smiled, as an unknown figure walked in.
"But it's just a card. What good is that?" Vexen's 'follower' said.
Naminé noted that he looked just like Riku, when he was taken over by darkness. Riku's Replica was what everyone referred him as, but Naminé could sense a heart in there.
"That card contains Sora and Riku's memories of their home," Axel explained.
"This is your chance to get your hands on the real Riku's memories," Larxene said. "All you need is that card and a little help from Naminé. Maybe we'll get her to make you forget you're fake...Better yet, we could remake your heart so you can be just like the real Riku. Right, Naminé?"
"Right," Naminé immediately said, ready to do some rewriting.
But she stopped and her smile faded when she saw Riku's Replica's reaction to this, "Hey, hold on! What do you mean, remake my heart?! The real Riku's a wimp who can't deal with the darkness inside him. What do I want with the heart of a loser?"
He didn't want this, Naminé realized. His fear was genuine.
Larxene turned to Vexen, "Any objections, Vexen? Do you or don't you want to test Sora?"
"It must be done," was Vexen's response.
"What?! Vexen, how could you!" Riku's Replica turned to his creator, outraged and filled with fear.
It was in that moment that Naminé realized that her actions had consequences, that even if it wasn't physically hurting someone, altering someone's memories was still extremely harmful.
Because what she was doing was essentially taking away their free will.
Naminé felt herself fill with dread when she realized that she had been doing the same thing to Sora this entire time. According to her Somebody's faded memories, she knew Sora personally. They were friends, and some of those feelings has been given to Naminé. Sora was her friend too, and Naminé had hurt him.
She had also hurt Kairi, her Somebody, her Other, since now, she was beginning to be phased out of the memories altogether.
And if this continued, then Sora would no longer be himself, but an empty, catatonic shell.
She couldn't let that happen to him.
Vexen calmly continued, "Didn't I say I intended to make good use of you?"
"Relax, kiddo," Larxene laughed. "It won't hurt...much!"
Axel, however, was watching Naminé's reaction to this. She appeared to be lost in thought.
"I'll show you hurt!" Riku's Replica growled, before he readied himself to strike Larxene.
But she easily pushed him away, knocking him onto the ground.
"Stupid little toy!" Larxene taunted him. "What made you think you could even scratch me? But look on the bright side. Naminé will erase the memory of me knocking you flat along with everything else." Axel saw Naminé snap out of her thoughts when she heard her name, a frightened look on her face. "She'll implant the loveliest little memories you could ever hope for. So what if they're lies?"
"No..." Riku's Replica was shaking his head, and Naminé stood up from her chair. "NOOO!"
"I-I don't actually n-need to rewrite his m-memory," Naminé stuttered out, causing all heads to turn to her. "He can just p-pretend to be the real Riku. Can't he?" Out of the corner of his eye, Axel saw Riku's Replica nod frantically.
Vexen was quiet, before he blew his gasket, "Absolutely not! If he fails, it will reflect badly on me!"
Naminé flinched.
Larxene was seething with anger. "Hey, little witch. Are you forgetting what we've done for you? Hell of a way to pay us back!" She summoned her Foudre and began to inch her way closer to Naminé. "Besides, you can't back out now! Who will Sora save? Do you want to break his heart?"
"Of course I don't," Naminé quietly replied. By now, Naminé's back was against the wall. "But no matter how much I change his memory, Sora will never forget her. Memories of me—More false memories of me will just make his feelings for her even stronger than before. Because...I'm just her shadow."
Larxene growled, moving to throw her Foudre at the poor girl for angering her, making Naminé fall to her knees, close her eyes, and throw her arms up to protect herself, but the attack never came.
Naminé slowly opened her eyes and saw Axel standing in front of her, one of his Chakrams summoned and pointed directly at Larxene's throat.
"No one's allowed to touch Naminé," Axel ground out. "Boss's orders."
"Axel..." Naminé muttered, and when he held his free hand behind him and out to her, she immediately took it.
As he helped her stand, but not without keeping his eyes on Larxene (and Vexen, just in case), Naminé heard Larxene grumble, "Oh, yeah. I forgot that's the only reason Xemnas let Naminé come here in the first place." She desummoned her Foudre, accepting defeat. "Just do it, you little witch. Marluxia's orders."
Naminé had no choice now but to comply out of fear.
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
A few hours later, Axel, Larxene, and Vexen were currently in the room with her, and they were having an argument. Or Larxene and Vexen were, with Axel trying to calm everybody down. Naminé didn't say anything, knowing that she would only be met with opposition from everyone involved (except for Axel maybe).
"So what's going on, Vexen?" Larxene taunted. "Your Riku was supposed to counter Sora. What's he waiting for? Where is he?"
Naminé saw Vexen become angry.
"He's hiding somewhere to lure Sora deeper into the castle, right?" Axel cut in. "I supposed we should just leave it at that, you know."
"A-ha!" Larxene replied. "Oh, I see now! I would have never guessed that. So sorry, Vexen."
"Silence!" Vexen's heated response made Naminé suspect the two were doing this on purpose.
"Predictable response," Larxene said. "Forget it. Men without hearts are so boring."
"You're one to talk," Vexen bit back. "As if you have such a heart to speak of yourself."
"That's enough," came Marluxia's voice as he appeared in the room via a Corridor.
"Marluxia!" Vexen said, as the pink-haired man took of his hood to show his face.
Marluxia continued, "Vexen, the simple fact is that your project was a failure. You'd best not disappoint us again."
Vexen was outraged, "Disappoint you? You go too far! In this Organization, you're No. XI! I'm No. IV and I will not have you—"
Vexen gasped when Marluxia pointed his scythe at him.
"I've been entrusted this castle and Naminé by our leader," Marluxia warned. "Defying me will be seen as treason against the Organization."
"'Any traitors are eliminated'," Axel repeated. "I believe that's what the rules say."
"Who needs a half-baked good-for-nothing, anyway?" Larxene taunted.
Vexen was becoming frustrated.
"Vexen, you cannot win against Sora," Marluxia continued.
"Pity to be so ignorant," Vexen shot back. "As you're only able to see the surface of things, I should not expect you to appreciate my true might."
"Oh?" Intrigued, Marluxia de-summoned his scythe. "Then let us watch as you prove it."
"What?" the scientest asked, confused.
"None of us wish to be suspicious of a comrade," Marluxia replied. "And I'm sure Naminé will feel more at ease if we all stop fighting." Axel briefly looked back to see Naminé's worried face, before turning back to Vexen.
"Your insincerity is comforting," Vexen replied, before disappearing in a Corridor.
Axel turned to Marluxia, "You give a challenge like that to Vexen and he'll seriously want to eliminate Sora."
"That would be an unfortunate denouement," Marluxia replied, before walking over to Naminé and placing his hand on her shoulder. "What to do? Your hero is soon to be wiped from existence. But I believe there is a certain promise that he made you. Isn't that right, Naminé?"
Naminé quietly replied with, "...Right."
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
It was a couple hours later when Naminé heard Marluxia give an order that shook her to the core, even if it wasn't an order for her.
It was just her, Axel, Larxene, and Marluxia, with the other three gathered around the crystal ball, and Naminé in her chair on the sidelines.
"Is it just me, or has Vexen finally lost it?" Larxene asked. Naminé decuded that he must have just done something they didn't like. "Now he's done something really rash...What now, Axel? The show's over if Sora finds out about the other side."
Axel replied with, "If he just passes through without catching on, we can patch things up later. But on the other hand, if Sora disappears, that would mess up the Organization's plans..."
"Let Naminé handle this," Marluxia told him. "In the meantime, Axel, I trust that you know what needs to be done."
Naminé sure didn't, and she wasn't sure she wanted to know.
"Haven't a clue, actually," Axel replied. "Maybe you could spell it out for me."
"Vexen has clearly committed a treasonous act against the Organization," Marluxia explained. "You must eliminate the traitor."
'Any traitors are eliminated', Naminé remembered Axel saying once.
And she froze. Vexen...he was her friend, right? They were all friends? So why were they turning on him?
"Done, but there's no taking that order back later," Axel said before disappearing in a Corridor.
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
Naminé didn't feel lonely for long. A few minutes later, Axel returned, and with it, Naminé's confidence that she'd be safe from Larxene.
"Nice work," Larxene told him. "Good riddance to that blabbermouth."
Did Axel...kill Vexen?
"Marluxia, you used Vexen to test Sora's strength, didn't you?" Axel asked.
"Not just Sora's," Larxene revealed. "Yours too, Axel. We weren't sure if you actually had it in you to take our a fellow member of the Organization." She walked over to him. "Well, I guess you did. You can join the big leagues now. With the three of us, taking over the Organization will be child's play."
'Taking over the Organization'? Naminé began to wonder what exactly Marluxia and Larxene were trying to pull. Was Axel really on their side?
"I see," Axel replied. "So that's where Sora comes in."
"Right," Larxene explained. "He wants to see Naminé, so why don't we just give him what he wants?"
Marluxia turned to Naminé, "Rejoice, Naminé. The hero you've longed for is nearly here."
"I'm..." Naminé managed to swallow the large, painful lump in her throat. "I'm glad."
"Are you, now?" Larxene asked. "But I'm warning you. You'd better not do anything to betray Sora's feelings. Do you understand me, little one?"
Naminé did not look at anyone or anything other than her black Organization-issued boots. "I understand."
"All you need to do is layer Sora's memories, one by one, and bring his heart closer to you," Marluxia said.
With that, both he and Larxene disappeared, leaving just her and Axel in the room.
"Sora..." Naminé tried not to cry. "Even if you come for me—what then?"
"Naminé?" Axel asked, quietly. Naminé didn't see him do it, but she felt him kneel in front of her, a gloved hand placed on her knee, a gesture of comfort.
"I want to back out, Axel," Naminé felt her hands clench over his. "Why can't I just put Sora's memory back now while it's still mostly the real thing? She's being phased out completely now..."
"Who is?"
"The one Sora really loves," Naminé replied. "My Other. I made sure she was still in the memories at first, but eventually...I realized that in order to rewrite Sora's memories the way Marluxia and Larxene wanted me to...I had to write her out completely. I'm hurting them both. I know how to fix this, but I can't, because there's no way I can take on Marluxia and Larxene by myself. I'm just not strong enough!"
Axel was quiet as he processed this, but he now felt it right to tell her, "Can I tell you something? You can tell anyone else though. It's a secret."
Naminé, still not looking at him, sniffed and nodded.
"You're not alone," Axel reassured her. "I was sent here by Xemnas to stop a mutiny, to weed out the traitors. As you can probably tell, Marluxia and Larxene are planning to overthrow the Organization. I'm here to stop them. Xemnas only accepted you coming here because he already knew I'd be there. Like we both said, Naminé, we're in this together."
Naminé finally lifted her head and met his eyes, which were filled with confidence that Naminé just didn't have, while hers were filled with unshed tears.
"But they said...that you were on their side," Naminé reminded him.
"Because in order to take them out, I have to get close enough," Axel explained. "It's the only way to let their guard down."
Naminé let slip a little smile, before looking back down at her knees, where their hands were still resting. "You know...I wish I was her. I'm just her shadow..."
Axel softly chuckled, "I know exactly how you feel. Don't get your hopes up. Nobodies can't be Somebodies. But think, Naminé. I'm sure there's something you could do..."
"'Something I can do'?" Naminé repeated, confused.
"How about we stage a little mutiny of our own?"
Roxas' Diary: Day 25: Entry 9
Today was my third day with Xion. I've gotten to know a little more about her. That's right-she's a girl, with black hair, and she can use the Keyblade just like me and Naminé!
I took her out for ice cream afterwards, but I'm saving the WINNER stick. Axel and Naminé deserve a reward when they get back. Xion wants to have ice cream with us from now on. Maybe we'll all be friends.
Secret Report: Day 25: Hollow Ties
Author: Lexaeus
Pressing Zexion for answers would be a waste of time. I know that, but this dearth of information is hard to accept. What's happening on the upper levels? What ought we be doing down here? They hug their truths close and leave the rest of us to speculate.
Zexion talks of the bond we share as an Organization, but how could such a thing exist? Still, he remains the only one I can trust.
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
==Day 26: Terminated==
Naminé told Axel that there was something she could do, but she needed time to execute it. It was the next morning, and Naminé felt confident that her plan would work.
Until they were exposed, Naminé had informed Axel that she would continue 'resigning' herself to following Marluxia's plan because 'she had no choice'.
One of the false memories she had given Sora was of a yellow-colored star-shaped lucky charm, and after remembering that her Other had given a similar one to Sora, made of sea-shells, she got an idea.
What if she gave both Sora and Riku's Replica the same false memory? Would that be enough to have the entire illusion fall apart, to have everything come crasing down? Well, there was only one way to find out.
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
Sora entered the Eleventh Floor Exit Hall, Donald and Goofy hot on his heels, and he was greeted Riku, once again. Seriously, what was wrong with Riku?
"Riku!"
"You'll hurt Naminé if you go further," Riku told him, taking a protective stance.
"You still want to fight?" Sora asked. "But Vexen's gone, so now you're free!" Right? Axel killed Vexen, the reason why still unknown to Sora, but he didn't care. As long as Riku was free.
Riku was nonchalant about Vexen's demise, "It doesn't matter what happens to him. I'm protecting Naminé from you. That's what's in my heart. Sora, I made a promise to Naminé. I promised to...keep her safe."
"You did?" Sora asked. He promised her the same thing.
"There was a meteor shower..." Riku explained. "This one night when she and I were little...Naminé got scared and said, 'What if a shooting star hits the islands?' So I told her: 'If a shooting star comes this way, I will protect you!'"
"You made a promise! With a toy sword!" Sora cut in.
"What...How do you know about that?" Riku asked, incredulously.
"Because...that was the promise I made to her that night! I would protect her! I said it!" Sora told his bone-headed best friend.
"Don't lie!" Riku angrily shot back. "You weren't the one there that night!"
"You're the one who wasn't there!" Sora said. "That was when she gave her good luck charm to me!"
"Her what?!" Riku paused.
Sora took out the charm. "See?"
Riku gasped, "Tell me...Where did you get that?" There was a small flash, before Riku held his head in pain. "Sora...good try."
"Huh?"
"That must be a fake. I've got the real one right here!" Riku said, taking out a similar-looking charm from his own pocket.
"Wha-! Two of them?!" What was going on?
"Fakes should be destroyed!" Riku growled before charging at Sora.
The two boys fought again. After the battle, Riku ran away, leaving his good luck charm behind.
He left Sora wondering, staring at the charm.
Was his charm really a fake? Or was it real and Riku's was fake?
What was going on?
"Isn't that Naminé's good luck charm?" Donald asked.
"It's just like mine," Sora muttered, before picking it up. "How'd he get this?"
The charm suddenly glowed and gave off a strong light that made Sora, Donald, and Goofy shield their eyes.
The glow dimmed, the charm having turned into a card of Destiny Islands, Sora's home world.
"It turned into a card!" Goofy observed.
Sora walked toward the entrance to the next floor. Donald and Goofy, however, stayed behind, thinking about what just happened.
"I don't understand what's going on..." Donald said.
"Let's just keep moving, okay?" Sora said. "It doesn't matter."
"It does matter," Donald shot back. "How can the two of you have the same memory? You can't both be right."
"So, I'm wrong?" Sora angrily asked. "Fine, then don't believe me!"
"That's not what he meant," Goofy carefully cut in. "We're just kinda worried."
"Then let's ask Naminé!" Sora said. "That should clear it up. Look, we don't have time to sit around. So, let's go."
Donald and Goofy exchanged weary looks with each other.
"Sora, what happened to ya?" Goofy worriedly asked.
"What's that mean?" Sora demanded.
Goofy paused before explaining, "Well, ya always get real touchy when it comes to stuff about Naminé...But before we came to this castle, you didn't even remember what her name was."
"Now Naminé is the only thing you talk about," Donald agreed. "Don't believe us? Then let me remind you that you can't even remember the first girl you knew!"
"He's right, Sora," Goofy said. "It doesn't make sense. Maybe you should just slow down and think ahead about some of these things."
"Think ahead?" Sora asked. "What is the matter with you guys? Do you want me to abandon her?!"
"We never said that—" Donald replied.
"Then do whatever you want!" There it was. Sora's breakdown. "You can lay back and take a nap for all I care! I'm going to find Naminé!"
Sora ran ahead to the next floor, leaving Donald and Goofy behind.
"Sora!" They both called out, before looking at each other, worried.
As Sora entered the Twelfth Floor, he took out the Destiny Islands card and looked at it. Jiminy popped out from Sora's hood.
"Sora, that was no way to—"
But Sora cut him off, "Keep it to yourself!" He then held up the card to the door.
Why didn't Donald and Goofy trust that he knew what he was doing? Why didn't they understand that Naminé was his most important person?
Or was she?
Did Donald have a point? Was there really a 'first girl' that he was forgetting?
Whatever. He could deal with that later. He needed to save Naminé.
Besides, the first girl and Naminé were best friends, right? Much like he and Riku are. They'd be glad to see each other again, wouldn't they?
Everything would work out in the end.
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
"I'm so sorry, you two," Naminé muttered, still in the crystal ball room, both of them having watched the former scene play. "This is all because of me..."
"Did it work?" Axel asked her. The two were the only ones in the room right now, both waiting to see if Naminé's idea would pay off.
"I don't know," Naminé muttered.
"It better," Axel told her. "You're all Sora's got left now. If you don't stop this, no one will."
"I-I know," Naminé held her hands tightly to her chest. "I just hope it's not too late."
"You shouldn't give up just yet," Axel reassured her. "If you haven't noticed, Marluxia's not here."
"What are you saying?"
"Just that there's no one who would want to get in your way."
He was right. She'd have to be sneaky, but if she ran now, she'd have time to ensure that her plan worked, to explain the truth to Sora and Riku's Replica.
Just as she was about to run towards the door, the door burst open.
It was Riku's Replica, and he looked angry, sad...betrayed, and the moment he saw Naminé, he ran to her.
"Woah, woah, woah, kid!" Axel stepped in front of her. "What's going on?"
"Out of my way! This doesn't concern you!" Riku's Replica vehemently cried out, before turning to Naminé. "Is it true?"
"Is what true?"
"You gave me and Sora the same good luck charm! I assumed his was the fake! But was mine the fake? Or his? Tell me the truth!"
"What's going on?" came Marluxia's voice from the still-open doorway. "Tell you what truth?"
"Naminé gave me and Sora both good luck charms!" Riku's Replica explained. "We both have the same memory! Who's charm is fake?!"
Naminé stood there behind Axel, frozen in fear. Telling Riku's Replica the truth required her to blow hers and Axel's cover, and she couldn't do that with Marluxia here.
All of a sudden the room was set on fire, and Naminé turned to Axel, surprised. "Both of them are fakes," Axel replied, before adressing the blonde behind him. "Go, Naminé."
She paused. Axel was facing off against both Riku's Replica and Marluxia. Naminé wouldn't be surprised if Larxene was right behind Marluxia right now.
"Thank you, Axel," Naminé bowed before running out of the door, Axel's fire providing an effective cover.
Once she was gone, Axel smiled, "Just make it count. Now this is interesting. Try and make it enjoyable, Sora. It's the least you can do for me, you know." He laughed, before noticing something and clutching his chest. "Hey, wait. I'm enjoying this. You guys *are* something else!"
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
Sora found himself on Destiny Islands. "I'm not going crazy, am I? I know exactly where this is... Yeah! This is our island! Where Naminé and I used to play together!"
"Heeeey!" Three kids appeared and ran up to Sora.
"Whassup, Sora!" the tall one greeted.
"So, whatcha wanna do today?" the girl asked.
"Hey, guys!" Sora greeted back. "Am I glad to see you, uh..."
"'Uh' what?" the blonde-haired boy asked.
"We got food on our faces?" the tall one tilted his head in confusion.
"Please, Wakka," the girl playfully scoffed. "Only you could be dumb enough to not notice food stuck to your face."
"Hey, whoa! That's a low blow, ya?" the tall one replied.
"I dunno, Wakka," the blonde-haired boy said. "I think Selphie's on the mark."
"Aw, not you too, Tidus!"
Sora finally remembered who was who, "Oh, yeah. You're Selphie, Wakka, and Tidus, that's who you are!"
"You hit your head?" Wakka asked.
"No, uh...just thinking aloud," Sora excused.
"I know... You're thinking about her again!" Selphie gushed.
"Ohhh, I get it," Tidus said. "Yeah, he's a total zombie when she's on his mind."
"That would explain why he's actin' all funny towards us," Wakka added.
"I bet you want us to take a hike so you two can be alone, huh?" Selphie guessed.
Sora, still confused, said, "Ummm...I guess."
"Alright, alright," Selphie accepted. "We'll disappear for awhile. Go find her, cowboy."
"We'll try to be quiet while we spy on you!" Tidus teased.
"Hey, Sora's serious. Give the guy some room," Wakka said.
"I'm only kidding!"
Selphie waved goodbye as the three left, "See you later, Sora!"
Once they were gone, Sora found Riku by the paopu tree.
"Hey, Sora," Riku said. "What's the big rush?"
"I know you..." Sora thought for a moment. "You're Riku!"
Riku gently rolled his eyes, "Gee, thanks for remembering me. It's been, what, a couple of hours?"
"Er... Never mind," Sora shrugged it off. "Are you okay? Are you still under his control?"
"What are you talking about?" Riku asked.
They both thought about it, before Sora said, "I get it...You must be the Riku from my memories."
"'The Riku from my memories'? Sounds like you're stuck in the land of make-believe," came Riku's reply.
"I guess I kind of am," Sora said, losing more of confidence the longer he stayed here.
"Ha ha, you're such a kid," Riku teased her. "How are you gonna take care of K—" Everything suddenly glitched, and memories of him, Riku, and a red-haired girl all garbled up flashed through Sora's mind, "if you act like that?"
What was that? That was weird. It was like radio static, but in his mind.
Wait a minute. Naminé's name didn't start with a 'K'.
"Hey, don't you mean Naminé?" Sora asked.
"I meant what I said," Riku replied. "Seriously, what's wrong with you today?"
"What do you—?" Sora's question was cut off by a powerful shaking. "What's happening?!"
"How should I know!" Riku shot back. "Whatever it is, it can't be good! I'm gonna go warn
the others! Look after her! Go, Sora!"
Riku and Sora both ran off in different directions, though Sora paused before doing so.
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
Sora had found Naminé (in her familiar white sundress and blue sandals), finally, and together, the two had defeated the Darkside together.
But at one point, Sora was sent flying, and Naminé had shielded him with a barrier, and for a moment, Sora saw that red-haired girl in Naminé's place.
Who was this girl? What was she doing in his memories? Was she...
Was she the 'first girl' Donald had told him about?
But he shrugged it off, and now the Darkside was defeated.
Sora and Naminé were free to talk. He ran up to her, "Naminé!"
"Sora..." Naminé smiled at him. "You really came for me."
He nodded and smiled, before taking her hand. "It's you...it's really you. I've been through so much just to see you."
The blonde nodded, "Yes. I wanted to see you, too. But this isn't right. I messed up. I wanted to see you... But this isn't the right way."
"Naminé?" Sora's confusion wasn't taking the day off, apparently.
"I was lonely for so long," Naminé continued. "I just couldn't bear it anymore. So I called out to your heart and had you come all the way out to this place. You came for me and I'm so...so happy, but...but to your heart, I had to-"
Sora quickly cut her off, "Don't worry. I'm here because I promised that I would protect you."
"Sora...Thank you. And I'm sorry." Naminé let go of his hand. "I'm not supposed to be in this picture."
Suddenly another image of Naminé appeared behind him, "That's true."
When Sora noticed, his confusion reached an all new high. "Huh? Naminé?!"
"That isn't me. I'm not there."
"I don't really exist inside your heart."
"I don't exist in anyone's heart."
"I have never existed anywhere."
"What...What are you saying?" Sora asked. "What's gotten into you? Weren't we inseparable, always together? But then you had to go away... I came here so I'd never lose you again!"
"Was it really me you wanted to see?"
"Of course it was!" Sora answered, without a doubt in his mind. "I know I've forgotten a lot of things in this castle, but never anything about you!" He took out her good luck charm. "Look! You gave this to me, didn't you?"
"You have it! My good luck charm," Naminé, the original one, said, a smile on her face.
"No, Sora! You can't beleive me!"
The original Naminé looked away.
Sora didn't know what to do. Who should he believe? They were both Naminé, but they were saying different things. "What am I supposed to do...?"
It was the apparition that answered him, "Think, Sora. Think just one more time. About who's most special to you. Call out to that piece of memory that glimmers faintly deep inside your heart. No matter how far away the light gets, your heart's voice will always reach it."
"Who's most special to me?" Sora repeated with a smile. "That's an easy one. It's you, Nami—"
But he was cut off, and his smile faded when the good luck charm glowed, changing into a star-shaped charm made out of seashells.
Sora glanced up just in time to see the original Naminé turn around, chaning into the red-haired girl he saw before.
KAIRI! His heart cried out.
The Naminé apparition smiled before disappearing, as the islands around them were restored.
"Who...Who was that?" Sora asked. His heart remembered her, but his mind didn't. "I can't remember her, but she feels so...familiar. Naminé?" He noticed that the blonde girl was gone now. "Naminé!"
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
Naminé, the real one, was waiting for him in the Twelfth Floor Exit Hall. At first, Sora didn't want to believe this, because this time, Naminé was wearing the Organization's black coat.
"Naminé!" Sora paused. "Who are you really?"
Naminé sadly smiled. He deserved to know the truth. "My name is Naminé, Number XIV, the Witch of Purity." She tries her best to ignore the betrayed look on Sora's face. "I'm part of the Organization, yes, but Larxene and Marluxia are seeking to overthrow it. They used me to get to you."
Sora was quiet as he processed this. "The person most special to me...it's not you, is it?"
"No," Naminé answered. "The girl you really care about...the one who was always with you...it's not me. It's her. I'm just her shadow."
"But then who...who is she?" Sora asked, feeling better now that he was getting all these questions off his chest. "Cuz I can't...think of her name. I know it starts with a 'K' though, because Riku back there told me it did. But if she's so special to me, then why can't I remember?"
Here it was. "Because I went into your memories and—"
"Let me explain this," Riku's Replica suddenly appeared, cutting her off. "Plain and simple. Your memory is a train wreck. You're not the one who's meant to protect Naminé. It's supposed to be me! But you and your messed-up memories are always in the way, Sora!"
Naminé was forced to watch them fight.
Pretty soon, Riku's Replica was down on the ground, and Sora, worried, came to his aid. "Riku!"
"Want some more?" Riku's Replica asked.
He fired a blast at Sora, knocking him to the ground with a cry of pain.
"Sora!" Naminé cried out.
Riku's Replica had a smile on his face as he walked to Sora.
"Riku..." Sora managed to say.
"Looks like I win," Riku's Replica said.
"Riku, stop!" Naminé said.
"You are through!" Riku's Replica prepared to strike Sora down, effectively killing him, and Naminé panicked.
"I said STOP!"
Immediately, Riku's Replica's head flashed, and he stopped right where he was and fell to the ground.
"Riku...?" Sora saw this happen, and despite the pain he was in, he rain to who he thought was his best friend. "Riku! RIKU!" He turned to Naminé. "What did you do? What did you do to him?"
Naminé was in shock as she replied, "I erased his memories...I didn't even know I could do that..." she said the last part in just above a whisper.
"I'd say you broke his heart," Larxene said as she suddenly appeared from a Corridor, and Naminé immediately knew she was done for. Larxene would kill her, unless Axel managed to save her in time. "Well...more like you smashed it, really."
"Smashed...his heart?! Erased his memories?!" Sora asked. "Then...what's gonna...what's gonna happen to Riku?"
Larxene laughed, "Oh, you're so much fun to watch. If it's Riku you're worried about, then don't. Because Riku was never really here."
"What do you mean?" Sora demanded.
"Do you really think I'm just gonna say it? That's too easy! Oh, what to do?" Larxene continued to laugh.
"Quit the games!" Sora charged to attack Larxene, but she easily kicked him away.
She sighed, "Don't try it, boy. I'm way stronger than you."
"He's a puppet, Sora," came Naminé's voice.
"A what?"
Naminé yelped in pain when Larxene grabbed her bangs, "Don't say another word, you traitor! You've done enough damage!"
"He deserves the truth..." Naminé managed to grind out, before turning her gaze back to Sora. "Riku here was a puppet made by Vexen as an experiment. He's not really Riku."
"Not Riku?" Sora asked.
"Nope!" Larxene laughed. "He's a fake in every possible way. No more than a toy. It's so funny. It called you a fake, but it was the fabrication all along. You get it now?"
"But he seemed so real!" Sora stuttered out.
"Because I planted the real Riku's memories in him," Naminé forced herself not to cry. "Against his will..."
Larxene pulled on Naminé's hair again. Sora watched as Naminé cried out in pain. "Why are you feeling so guilty? He's just a toy."
"No, he isn't," Naminé said. "The memories I didn't implant are his and his alone. That makes him real."
"Naminé..." Sora muttered.
The girl turned her eyes back to Sora, "I'm sorry, Sora. The memories I gave you, the memories of me...are all false. They never happened."
"Wait, what?"
"I can enter, rearrange, and even create new memories for you or anyone connected to you," Naminé explained, the long awaited answers he deserves.
"But why?" Sora was shaking his head.
"Because it was our only chance to turn you into our puppet, you stupid Keyblade hero!" Larxene shrieked, before throwing Naminé to the ground. "But...that jerk Axel...convinced Naminé to betray us!" Sora gasped as she summoned her Foudre. "So now, I'm left with no choice but to eliminate you!"
"You'll pay..." Sora growled.
Larxene stepped forward, but Naminé stepped in between them, her arms outstretched to protect Sora.
"Don't!"
"I should tell you that I'm in an extremely foul mood," Larxene growled. "Thanks to you, all our plans are ruined!" Larxene struck her, knocking her away again.
"Naminé!" Sora called out.
"What's this? Are you upset?" Larxene giggled. "You don't even actually know her!"
"Maybe not," Sora said. "And maybe that promise was fake too, but I can't abandon her."
"What?" Larxene asked.
"Sora?" Naminé asked him, still lying on the ground.
"You told me the truth, Naminé, when you didn't have to," Sora said, slowly getting to his feet. "Don't get me wrong, I'm really pissed about you changing my memories, but you're willing to do the right thing now, and that's all that matters right now."
Larxene humphed, "Who do you always insist on playing the hero? Whatever. If that's the way you want it...you're going down alone!"
In that moment, Goofy's shield appeared and flew past Larxene, distracting her. Goofy also appeared and ran in front of Sora. Donald cast Curaga on the brunette boy and ran in front of him as well.
"Not if we can stop you!" Donald said.
Sora got up to his feet completely, finding Goofy and Donald's backs to him, their weapons ready, shielding Sora. "Donald! Goofy! You found me!"
"Of course we did," Goofy said. "We were worried about you!"
"And we promised!" Donald added. "We promised that we would protect you!"
Sora smiled, and Donald and Goofy both nodded.
"You won't ever be alone," Goofy continued. "It's always been the three of us and we stick
together..."
"And that is how it's going to stay!" Donald finished.
"Okay..." Larxene shrugged. "Have it your way."
By this time, Naminé managed to stand on her feet, and she stepped back in front of Sora, intent on protecting him, Donald, and Goofy, "No, Larxene. I'm your opponent."
"Hah!" Larxene laughed. "A weakling like you? No thanks! I'd prefer an opponent that can give me a challenge!"
"Oh, you must be Naminé!" Goofy greeted. "It's good to meet ya! We're friends of Sora's and my name is—"
"You're Goofy and you're Donald," Naminé softly smiled, even if they couldn't see it. "I know who you guys are."
"Yeah, but how?" Donald asked. "And why are you wearing the Organization coat?"
Naminé was about to speak, but Goofy turned to Sora, "Congratulations, Sora! You finally found your friend. I'm so happy for ya!"
"I'll explain later," Naminé promised. "Just...please...let me handle her. This is all my fault."
"It's a little late for a witch like you to grow a conscience," Larxene shot back. "Last time I checked, you're the one who fooled around with his memories. You're the one who created this mess!"
"I know," Naminé replied. "That's why it's up to me."
"Well, how are you going to take me down? With your sketchbook?!"
"She has a point," Donald told Naminé. "You're no match for her."
Axel wasn't here. She had to fight Larxene herself. Besides, she needed to stand up for herself. She couldn't rely on Axel for everything.
"Maybe not," Naminé said, before summoning Rainfell and lowering into her usual battle stance. "But this is something I have to do."
"A Keyblade?!" she heard the trio behind her exclaim.
"Later," Naminé repeated her promise to them. "But for now..." Naminé summoned a barrier with Rainfell and placed it up around her and Larxene, forcing Sora, Donald, and Goofy on the other side.
Larxene scoffed, "Fine. Have it your way. More pain for you means more fun for me!"
Naminé charged first. It was evident that she was holding a lot of anger back.
Sora could only watch the fight unfold. He wanted to help her, even if his memories of her were fake. He wanted to be there in case something bad happened to her.
Even if Naminé could obviously defend herself.
She obviously had an affinity for magic, and she was at the second level. She dodged by using Cartwheel and jumped via Doubleflight.
It was a rough fight. There were many times where it was obvious (at that moment) that Naminé would lose. But every time that happened, Naminé would glance back at the trio on the other side of the barrier, and she would surprise everyone by getting an effective strike on Larxene.
After what seemed like forever, Naminé finally announced to a beaten down Larxene, "You're done!"
She began spinning gracefully and she fired several volleys of energy at her target—her Limit Break 'Lightbloom'.
Larxene fell on her knees, panting, "No...No! I refuse to lose to a bunch of a losers!" She began to fade away. "I think I'm...I'm fading?! No, this isn't...the way I...I won't...ALLOW..."
Larxene faded away into darkness, and Naminé watched this happened, and once Larxene was gone, Naminé allowed herself to desummon Rainfell and fall to her knees as well, injured and utterly exhausted. She used so much of her power than she normally did.
When she fell, so did her barrier.
Sora immediately ran over to her, calling, "Naminé! You okay?!"
She slowly nodded as he knelt in front of her, "Yeah. I'm fine. That felt good." It was nice to beat on Larxene after all the antagonizing the woman had done to her.
"We have a lot of questions, Naminé," said Jiminy from Sora's shoulder. "And you said you'd answer them after the fight."
"I did," Naminé remembered that promise very well. It was what kept her going throughout her fight with Larxene. "Everything that's happened here is my fault. I took the people and memories within Sora's heart...and little by little, I replaced them with false memories."
"Hey...What about Sora's promise?" Donald asked.
"Made up," Naminé replied. "It was fake. Sora never really promised me anything. Me being with him on the islands...that was a lie, just like everything else. We never met. I was never Sora's friend..."
"And you were never anything more either..." Sora muttered.
"No," Naminé admitted. "You see, in all of your true memories, I was never really there."
Jiminy rubbed the back of his head, "Gee, then that must mean it was your magic that made the rest of us lose our memories, too. Is there any way for us to ever get 'em back?"
"I can fix everything if we can get to the thirteenth floor," Naminé answered. "But Marluxia...he..."
"Bet I know who that is," Jiminy said. "Was he the fellah who made you tamper with all of our memories?"
"It was his idea, yes," Naminé admitted, "but I went along with it willingly."
"So ya did what he told ya to do because you were lonely?" Goofy asked.
"When I was born, I was alone without any idea of who or what I was," Naminé explained. "But the Organization found me, and gave me a purpose. They offered me friendship and a place among them. But after seeing real friendship in Sora's memories...and between the three of you...I realized that Marluxia and Larxene weren't really my friends. And even if they had been, I don't want to be friends with people who hurt others to get what they want or turn on anyone who is no longer 'useful' to them anymore. I'm so very sorry, all of you, for what I did. But if it's alright with you, I'd like to correct my mistakes. That's why I implanted you and Riku there with the same memory. I was hoping it would cause the illusion to fall apart, and it worked."
Sora was quiet as he digested this. When he finally spoke, he was quiet, and Donald and Goofy weren't sure what that meant. "Like I said before," Sora said, "I'm really pissed at you for tampering with my memories...and making me forget the one who is truly important to me...but I still stand by what I said to Larxene. Your willingness to do the right thing now before it's too late is what matters the most. So please don't cry. At least, not until I get my memories back."
Naminé hadn't noticed she was crying until Sora pointed it out. "Sora..."
"Oh, brother!" Donald moaned. "That's a bit much."
"It's okay," Goofy told Naminé. "Sora always gets like this every time he's around a girl!"
"Cut it out!" Sora shot back, playfully. "I thought you both lost your memories, too!"
Donald laughed, "Too bad. Good friends don't forget the good stuff!" Donald winked, and Goofy laughed.
"Come on..." Sora smiled, and Naminé laughed. "There it is!" Sora exclaimed. "That's the Naminé I remember. Yeah...I really liked it when you used to smile. Of course, that was really only in my fake memories. But what I'm feeling now definitely isn't fake. It's real."
"Thank you," Naminé replied.
"Well, then, let's go," Sora said, moving towards the stairs.
"Oh boy! I can't wait to get my memory back!" Donald followed him.
Goofy turned back to Naminé, "Naminé, Marluxia is gonna be up there, so maybe you'd better stay down here. The way you are now, you'll be no match for him."
"Yeah," Sora agreed. "Maybe you could look after Riku? We'll come get you when it's over."
They had a point. Naminé had used too much of her powers against Larxene. She nodded, "Okay."
The trio walked to the stairs. Donald and Goofy waved goodbye.
"Sora?" Naminé called out, making him turn to face her. "Please, be careful."
"I'll be fine!" Sora smiled.
And with that Sora, Donald, and Goofy entered the Thirteenth Floor.
Naminé didn't expect Sora to actually give her a second chance, but he did, and from now on, she would always try to do what was right.
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
After resting for a while, Naminé managed to gain enough strength to restore Riku's Replica's memories, the real ones, and his heart. He wouldn't wake up for a while, but he would.
"I'm sorry, Riku, for everything I've done," she muttered. "You deserved better than this. If you wake up...when you wake up...I'll do whatever I can to make sure that you can have a real life."
"Greetings, little witch," she shuddered when Marluxia whispered in her ear.
She turned around, Rainfell in hand, immediately throwing up a Barrier Surge.
But she was too weak to keep it up.
Marluxia easily shattered her barrier, "Did you really think you could win against me?"
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
Marluxia was now walking through a large room on the Thirteenth Floor when he came across Axel.
"You have some nerve to show your treasonous face around here...some nerve indeed—" Marluxia growled.
"Treasonous?" The redhead asked. "I don't know what you could possibly be talking about."
"Why let Naminé go?" Marluxia asked. "If it weren't for your needless meddling, we could have turned the Keyblade master to come and serve us."
"Ohh, right, your big plan," Axel finally dropped the act. "You use Naminé to rewrite Sora's memory piece by little piece. And he turns into her total puppet. Then, using Naminé and Sora together, you and Larxene overthrow the Organization. Am I right? I would say that you are the traitor, Marluxia."
"Since when were you suspicious of us?"
"Do either one of us have the heart to believe anyone?" Axel shot back.
"So you only eliminated Vexen to obtain proof of our plan?" Marluxia wondered.
"That, I didn't want to do, but it was your order," Axel admitted, before summoning his Chakrams.
"Oh..."
"Remember the order: 'You must eliminate the traitor'?" Axel told him. "I always follow orders, Marluxia. Larxene paid the price for disloyalty when she disappeared...You must do the same!"
Axel slashed at Marluxia with his Chakrams, but he dodged the attack. Axel then threw his Chakrams at Marluxia, who blocked them with his Scythe. They flew back and Axel caught them.
"The Organization's betrayed. In that name, I will annihilate you," Axel said.
"That line's not you," Marluxia told him.
"Well, had to try it once, you know."
Axel ran to Marluxia and tried to slash him, but the pink-haired man evaded using super speed. Marluxia tried to slash Axel, but he jumped out of the way. He proceeded to slash an energy wave out of his Scythe and fire it at Axel, who struggled to block it with his Chakrams.
Marluxia laughed. He waved his hand to materialize something, making Axel stop immediately.
Naminé was standing in front of Marluxia, who had his Scythe pressed against her neck. The blonde girl was frozen in fear.
"Axel...?" Naminé managed to ask.
"Is that your shield?" Axel asked Marluxia. "You wouldn't stoop to such a low level, would you?"
"I wonder who's doing the stooping?" Marluxia smiled, sinisterly. "Are you listening, Sora?"
From behind Axel, Sora, Donald, and Goofy appeared in the doorway. Axel turned to watch them. "Oh?"
Marluxia adressed Sora and co., "Axel says he's willing to harm Naminé to get me. You won't let that happen, will you?"
The trio readied their weapons.
Axel groaned, "Oh, come now. You're Marluxia's puppet already?"
"After I finish you, he's next!" Sora growled.
Marluxia smirked.
"DON'T!" came Naminé's outburst. "Axel's on your side, Sora!"
"Really?" Sora sounded like he didn't believe that.
"We've got more in common than you might think, Sora. I'd really rather not fight you," Axel said. "I am Naminé's bodyguard, after all. But I can't dishonor the Organization, now, can I?"
Flames surrounded Axel, and Naminé was forced to watch Sora, Donald, and Goofy defeat her redheaded friend.
As Axel started to fade, Naminé called his name again, "Axel, no!"
Axel adressed Sora first, "You're better than I thought you'd be. It was worth saving you after all."
"Saving me?" Sora asked. "What d'ya mean?"
"Sorry, I would hate to kill the suspense," Axel said. "And don't worry, Naminé." He turned to face her, and look her directly in her tear-filled eyes. "Everything will work out in the end."
"Axel!" Sora and Naminé both called out, as Axel faded away.
Once Axel was gone, Sora then turned to Naminé and Marluxia, only to discover that they were gone.
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
Sora, Donald, and Goofy made their way to another room in the castle, finding Marluxia and Naminé within it.
Naminé looked about ready to pass out.
"So, you've defeated Axel," Marluxia laughed. "The Keyblade's power—how I've longed to make it my own."
"Let Naminé go!" Sora demanded.
"You've no chance of winning," Marluxia turned to Naminé, his Scythe still against her neck. "Naminé... Erase Sora's memory."
Sora, Donald, and Goofy gasped.
"No," Naminé immediately said. "If I do that, then his heart will be destroyed."
"His heart, destroyed?" Goofy asked.
"You can do that?" Donald wondered.
"I'd rather have preferred him unmarred," Marluxia said, "but he can be rebuilt...more to my liking with time. Naminé, do it."
"No."
"We gave you a place among us, Naminé," Marluxia growled at her. "We offered you our friendship and this is how you repay us?"
"Your friendship was conditional," Naminé remained unfazed. "We were all wrong to do the things we did to Sora and Riku's Replica. And I won't forget how you manipulated Sora to take down Axel!"
"Too late to grow a conscience, little one," Marluxia bit back. "Do it."
"No!" Naminé repeated. "Sora forgave me even when I deceived him. So how could I destroy his heart? There's no way! I don't care what happens to me. I won't hurt Sora! I won't do it!"
"Then you will—!"
Sora cut him off, "Do it, Naminé." She turned to him, surprised. "Erase my memory, Naminé! I don't care what happens to me!"
"Sora, why'd you say that?!" Goofy asked.
"Erase my memories. Destroy my heart," Sora told her. "I don't need any memories to take on someone like Marluxia!"
"You bet!" Donald agreed. "Even if Sora forgets it all, Goofy and I won't forget!"
"Donald's right. He and I can remember everything for Sora!" Goofy added.
"See, I'll have all my friends' memories, so I can piece my own together again!" Sora said.
"You ignorant fool," Marluxia commented. "If Naminé uses her powers to erase your memory, you'll be nothing but an empty shell. Your heart will no longer be able to feel or to care. Just like Vexen's pathetic imitation of your Riku."
"Take another guess."
Sora, Donald, and Goofy were surprised when Riku's Replica appeared out of a pool of darkness in the air and slashed at Marluxia, who jumped backward to dodge, making Naminé scream.
"It can't be!"
"Riku!" Sora exclaimed.
"No. Just an imitation."
"You're a shell, a shell who has had everything taken! Everything!" Marluxia protested.
"What can you possibly think I ever had?" Riku's Replica asked. "Both my body and my heart are fake. But...there is one memory I'll keep...even if it's just a lie! Whether it was a phantom promise or not... I will protect Naminé!"
"Imbeciles..." Marluxia said, before knocking Naminé out with the blunt of his Scythe and throwing her to the side. "I'll deal with you later," he told her, before facing forward.
She would just get in his way.
"You would knowingly shackle your heart with a chain of memories born of lies?" Marluxia asked, as Sora readied his Keyblade. "You would be one who has a heart, yet cast aside your heart's freedom?" Riku's Replica raised Soul Eater. "You turn from the truth because your heart is weak. You will never defeat me!"
Sora and Riku's Replica both charged.
But during the fight, no one paid any attention to Naminé disappearing in a small flurry of flames.
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
They did it! Marluxia was defeated, and he was surrounded by flower petals as he disappeared in a wave of purple and white energy.
"Is he gone?" Donald asked. Sora gave him a thumbs up. Donald nodded.
"You could say that." They were all surprised when Marluxia reappeared. "However, what you destroyed was merely an illusion of me."
"Naminé's gone!" Riku's Replica suddenly announced. Sora turned to where Naminé last was, lying down and out cold.
He turned back to Marluxia, angry.
"What did you do to her?!" Riku's Replica struck Marluxia down, but it quickly turned out to be another illusion. "Another imitation."
They looked to the door up ahead.
"He's really...in there?" Sora asked.
"Yeah," Riku's Replica said. "He has to be."
"I knew it," Sora replied. "I can feel his power. It's trying to destroy my heart."
"Gawrsh, we'll just take care of him together!" Goofy said.
"Sora! C'mon!" Donald said.
Sora turned to Riku's Replica, "Riku...go find Naminé."
"You don't...mind?"
Sora simply smiled, "Should I?"
"Alright."
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
Axel had allowed himself to be struck down by Sora, so it would be easier to take Naminé back at the right moment. Naminé didn't have to be knocked out (but she was), but Sora and Riku's Replica both being distracted by Marluxia and vice versa was the perfect chance to take her far away from there.
He had moved Naminé from that awful room to the exterior, outside, right outside the doors and off to the side. She'd be safe there. No one would be able to find her there. Soon, she'd wake up, and if he made it back, they could both RTC together, and see Roxas again.
He knew she'd appreciate that.
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
Meanwhile, a man in dark red robes had led Sora, Donald, and Goofy to the Twilight Town part of the castle, where he explained everything to them:
He could fix their memories, but first he needed to find Naminé. In the meantime, he could preserve their memories the way they were now by putting them to sleep. But when they woke up, they wouldn't remember anything about what happened in Castle Oblivion.
To solve this, Jiminy got the idea to give Naminé credit by placing in his journal the words 'Thank Naminé'.
Sora chose to go to sleep.
Within the sleeping pod, Sora was surrounded by darkness. He stared at the charm, trying to remember who it was that was most important to him.
Their hearts connected, and Naminé appeared beside him, watching as Sora remembered all his friends from Traverse Town—Leon, Aerith, and Yuffie—and Destiny Islands—Tidus, Selphie, and Wakka.
Riku appeared too.
But she was so much farther away than the rest of them.
"Listen to your heart," Naminé quietly urged him. "She's there. She never left."
Sora subconciously smiled. "Starts with a K, huh?...Right? Kairi?"
Kairi's image appeared, and she smiled him, and the darkness became light.
"My friends..." Sora said, before noting Naminé beginning to float away. "Naminé?"
"Don't worry," she told him. "You might forget about me...but one day the light will be ours, and it will bring us back together. Until then, I'll be in your heart."
"Right. Forgotten, but not lost."
And with that, Sora fell asleep.
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
Riku and King Mickey followed DiZ into the room, where they saw Sora sleeping inside his pod. Riku gasped before running to the pod.
"Sora!" He turned to DiZ. "What have you done to him?"
"Nothing," DiZ replied. "In order get his memory back, I had to put him to sleep. There is a girl called Naminé who has the power to rewrite his memories and put them back into their correct order, but she is currently missing. Sora chose to wait. Now you also have a choice, Riku."
"Why me, too?" Riku asked. "No one's messed with my memories."
"Not your memories," DiZ corrected. "Your darkness. In your heart there is darkness, and in that darkness is Ansem. He may be at bay for now, but eventually he'll wake, and he will take over you just like he did before. But Naminé has the power to place a tight lock on your heart. That way, Ansem could never come out from inside you."
"What happens to me if I let her do that? Will I forget everything like Sora?" DiZ was quiet and that told Riku everything. "I'll have to, won't I?"
"The darkness in you will be sealed tight just like your memory. You'll stop remembering the darkness. You'll go back to how you were. Riku, please choose."
Riku thought for a moment and looked at Sora, sleeping in his pod.
"He doesn't even look worried. Will I sleep like that, too?" Riku asked.
"Yes."
"Figures. Sora always did as he pleased. Whatever we'd be doing together, he'd find a way to slack off. Even trying to leave the islands. Kairi and I did all the work on the raft by ourselves. That's it. When this slacker wakes up, I'll tell him off. I told him to take care of Kairi and here he is just taking a nap! But I can't chew him out like he deserves...if I've been asleep." Mickey gasped. That's when Riku made his choice. "I don't need my heart locked. I'm ready to fight Ansem."
"But what if his darkness overtakes you?" Mickey asked.
"If that happens, then the darkness will show me the way," Riku said, before explaining. "Naminé helped me realize that. She came to my rescue once...in the form of Kairi."
"How'd you know?" Mickey asked.
"I knew when I first met her," Riku replied. "She and Kairi smell the same. And now I have to find her, in order to fix Sora and his memories." Riku turned to DiZ, "Who are you?"
"I could be nobody or anybody," DiZ answered. "It is up to you whether you choose to believe in me or not."
"Boy, you really like pushing decisions on other people."
"And you have pushed away slumber making the choice to face Ansem," DiZ pointed out.
"Do you think I'm reckless?" Riku asked.
"You have chosen your own path."
"Are you supporting me? Or are you abandoning me?"
"That will be your choice as well," DiZ replied before handing a black coat to Riku, who took it.
"What's this?"
"The Organization will pursue you," DiZ explained. "Like a pack of hunting dogs, they will sneak up on you if they sense your presence. However, this cloak that is worn by Nobodies will render their eyes and noses useless. The ears, not so...They wear this to give themselves protection from being devoured by darkness. Is it clear? Even the Organization cannot rule the darkness."
"Doesn't matter. I won't run from the darkness," Riku vowed.
"Hmm." Diz then tossed a card of Castle Oblivion to Riku. "The card will draw out your heart's darkness. Finish your business with Ansem."
Riku turned his back to them, saying "Look after him for me," before reaching deep down inside his heart and summoned the one Keyblade that symbolized his relationship with Sora.
Oblivion.
Somewhere he was perfectly willing to go if that's what it took to restore Sora in order to let him go back to Kairi, if that's what that it took to make Sora and Kairi happy.
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
Much later, Mickey and Riku were about to exit the castle from the first floor.
"So, Riku..." Mickey asked. "What happens next? Are you goin' home?"
"I can't go home. Not yet." Riku answered. "It's still here. It's really faint, but I can sense him. So I think his darkness may still have a hold on me."
"Your darkness belongs to you," Mickey calmly told him. "Just the same way your light does. Up till now, I thought darkness was something that should never exist. Then I spent time with you and changed my mind. The road you chose—I didn't know. Light and dark, back to back. With you, I think they might meet in a way nobody's seen before. Wonder where that road leads. I'd like to see myself."
"Hm?" He turned to see Mickey hold out his hand to him.
"I'd like to walk the road with ya."
Riku laughed and joined his hand with Mickey's.
"Your Majesty, I'm really flattered... I don't know what to say."
"Gosh, Riku, you know you don't have to call me that now. We're pals."
"Fair enough, Mickey."
They both left the castle. They were black coats as they walked down a dirt path surrounded by grass. They came to a crossroads of four paths and met with DiZ in the center.
"What are you making me choose now?" Riku asked.
"Between the road to light and the road to darkness," DiZ replied.
"Neither suits me." Mickey was surprised at Riku's answer. The boy walked past DiZ to the road in the middle. "I'm taking the middle road."
"Do you mean the twilight road to nightfall?" DiZ asked.
"No. It's the road to dawn."
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
~The Castle That Never Was~
"Is it true then about Castle Oblivion?" Roxas asked Saïx and Xigbar as they were conversing in the Grey Area.
"That's none of your concern," Saïx said.
"What about Naminé? And Axel?" Roxas asked.
"Gone. They may have disappeared for good," was Saïx's cold answer.
"What...?"
Roxas was crestfallen as he digested that. Saïx and Xigbar walked past him.
Naminé and Axel were both...gone?
Would he really never see them again?
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
~Agrabah~
Xigbar observed Roxas defeating the Scarlet Tango Heartless at the Palace Gates and watching at its released heart floated into the sky.
"Hey, what happens when Heartless are destroyed?" Roxas asked his partner.
"The hearts remain. And then those hearts gather together to form the great Kingdom Hearts," Xigbar answered.
"Then, can you tell me what remains if a Nobody is destroyed?" Of course he'd want to know that, Xigbar told himself.
"What's there to leave behind?" The older man answered. "We're not even supposed to 'be' in the first place."
"And the members at Castle Oblivion, where'd they go?" Roxas asked.
"Nothing's left of them."
Roxas was slow as he spoke this question aloud, as if he didn't want to, because that would mean that he would have to face the truth, "In which case, I'll never see them again?"
"That's right."
Roxas lowered his head and sighed. Xigbar summoned a Dark Corridor and prepared to enter it.
"You coming?"
"Huh?" Roxas snapped out of his reverie. "Oh, yeah."
Xigbar walked into the dark corridor. Roxas suddenly felt strange and fell to his knees, clutching his head in pain.
"What's...happening..." He asked, before he collapsed to the ground, seeing images of Axel, Xion, and Naminé.
The images of Axel and Xion were brief, but the image of Naminé lingered. She was in a white sundress and surrounded by a white ethereal glow.
Naminé? he tried to ask.
"I'm sorry, Roxas..."
Roxas' Diary: Day 26: How Long?
I only remember part of this day. I heard somebody sent to Castle Oblivion was terminated. Saïx said it may have been Axel or Naminé. Or both...
I tried to ask Xigbar about it on the day's mission, and he said nothing's left of Nobodies once we're gone, because we have no hearts to leave behind. I don't remember much after that. They say I collapsed and wouldn't wake up...
Secret Report: Day 26: Axel's Actions
Author: Zexion
Simple deduction suggests Axel's outwardly inscrutable actions are the result of some directive from Saïx.
Why else eliminate Vexen? He simply wanted to do research. Did we not all stand to gain from the fruits of his Program? What is Axel thinking?
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
==Day 27: The Dark Margin==
~The Castle That Never Was~
Xemnas and Saïx watched over Roxas as the boy laid in his bed, unconscious.
"Will he wake from this?" Xemnas asked.
"I am told Roxas will return, provided the hero is stripped of all his memories," Saïx replied.
"Then I suppose much hinges on Castle Oblivion."
Saïx added, "Xion has gained power over the Keyblade, just as we intended. She can fill Roxas's shoes for the time being."
"Search Castle Oblivion in its entirety," Xemnas calmly ordered Saïx. "Tear it down if you must, but bring me either Naminé alive or proof that she is indeed gone."
Saïx nodded, before leaving the room to carry out that order.
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
~Hollow Bastion~
Aerith watched as Kairi rubbed her right shoulder, an ache she received from her recent training spar with Yuffie.
This morning was a great one for Kairi. She got to meet two more members of the recently formed Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee, Cloud Strife, from who-knows-where (he never said where he was going and why), and Tifa Lockhart, who had accomplished her mission to find Cloud and had taken them both home.
The group of seven (eight if one counted Merlin) had just started on restoring their home world, and so far, it was going fine, but they were far from finished.
They were taking turns on helping Kairi train her with her Keyblade (sans Cid), and Tifa had also offered to help her train in hand-to-hand combat too, for the times where Kairi didn't have her Keyblade (which they all agreed was a good idea). Aerith, personally, was helping Kairi utilize her light powers more effectively (something Aerith herself was quite good at).
But something was bothering Kairi, and Aerith had an idea on what that something was, even if no one else did.
It was sunset now, and dinner was being fixed. Aerith found Kairi leaning on the stone-made fence right outside the house, still holding her aching shoulder.
Kairi nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt a bag of ice on said shoulder, and she turned around to face her visitor, fists clenched and ready to fight. But she relaxed (thankfully) when she saw that it was just Aerith.
"Oh, hi, Aerith," Kairi tried to smile. "Sorry, you scared me."
"It's no problem," the older woman replied. "I saw you out here, by yourself. I know something's bothering you." She paused, and Kairi made no noise. "Is this about your missing memories?"
Leon, Yuffie, Cid, and Aerith herself were the ones who found Kairi, passed out and out cold in the Central Plaza. They took her to Merlin's home (now their base), and when she woke up, she had very little memories, aside from her own name, the fact that she had a Keyblade, and the fact that she used to live in Hollow Bastion. Kairi soon found herself being essentially (if not legally) adopted by the Committee, them being unable to just leave her behind, on her own, like this.
Kairi's voice was soft as she replied after a moment of silence, "I just...feel so lost. My heart...remembers two boys. Two boys that I love very dearly but I have no memory of..."
Two boys...one silver-haired sarcastic boy and one brunette-haired sunshine boy...
"I'm sure you'll get those memories back one day," Aerith tried her best to be comforting. It was difficult, because no one was actually sure those memories would return to Kairi.
"I hope so," Kairi replied. "Because I want to know the reason why I would willingly give those memories up."
Aerith knew, for a fact, that Kairi here was a Princess of Heart, so it was very possible that it was a selfless sacrifice. "Perhaps you were faced with a choice of some kind."
"...Perhaps," Kairi repeated, before continuing, "I can also feel a piece missing. Something's supposed to be there, a piece of myself...I just don't understand anything right now."
"One day, Kairi," Aerith promised, "you will get all the answers you're looking for. Sometimes, you just have to be patient."
Kairi gently nodded, "Yeah. Thanks." She turned to face Aerith with a smile, "Come on, let's go have dinner."
Aerith smiled back, but that smile quickly faded as Kairi took one step and she fell to her knees.
"Kairi!" the redhead heard Aerith call out as her world slowed down and faded to black.
!~~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~~!
~Kairi's Heartscape~
Xion was grateful for this pleasant dream. Since Roxas was out of commission, she was told that she had to work double time in order to collect the hearts Roxas was responsible for, so she was exhausted. She had also learned that there was this girl named Naminé (a girl Roxas wouldn't stop talking) that was apparently missing.
Xion was currently in what looked like a central plaza with flower gardens surrounded by a walkway that split four ways. The flowers were so pretty. Xion knelt down to smell them. They smelled so nice.
Xion got back to her feet, walking away from the castle (she tried to enter it earlier, but the gates were locked), down the walkway to the beach nearby. She walked down the shoreline, seeing a little shell left in the sand as a wave retreated back into the ocean.
The shell was so pretty. It was blue and a sandy yellow on one side, and on the other, it was the same sandy yellow and pink.
Xion smiled, feeling...happy and comfortable.
But then out of the corner of her eye, she saw something. Xion turned in that direction to see a girl sitting on the sideways-trunk of a tree growing star-shaped fruit.
She pocketed the shell before making her way over to the girl.
As she got closer, she realized that the girl had short red hair, wearing a white tank top and a purple skirt. And...was she crying?
Xion stepped closer, stopping when the girl turned her head to the sound of the footsteps coming closer to her.
And the two immediately connected eyes, indigo and violet.
Why did this girl look so much like her? Xion wondered, and the girl was wondering the same thing.
"W-Who...who are you?" the redheaded girl asked.
Xion slipped on a warm smile, "My name is Xion. It's nice to meet you, um...what's your name?"
The redhead returned the smile, "Kairi." She patted the spot on the trunk next to her. "Join me."
As Xion sat down, Kairi couldn't help but smile. Sure, her faded memories were telling her that this black-haired girl wasn't someone from her past, but her heart felt safe with Xion.
The two talked all night long, and Xion was sad when she had to wake up.
Was it dream, though? Xion asked herself. It felt so real...
Roxas' Diary: Day 27
N/A
Secret Report: Day 27: The Girl in My Dreams
Author: Xion
I met a girl in my dreams. Her name was Kairi. She looked sad, until she met me. We spent all night talking, and she told me what seashells were.
But it's weird. She seemed to know that I was just dreaming, but she assured me that our meeting was real.
It was just a dream, right? Then why did it feel so real?
To Be Continued...
!~~K~I~N~G~D~O~M~~H~E~A~R~T~S~~O~A~T~H~K~E~E~P~E~R~~A~U~~!
Author's Note About Various Changes: Let me explain the main change about Naminé here: remember that she currently believes that the Organization is on her side, that they're her friends, so she has no reason to feel like a prisoner (at first, anyways). That's why she so readily agreed to follow their orders. That is, until she saw Riku Replica getting beaten up by Larxene. In that scene, Naminé finally comes to understand that her actions have consequences, and comes to see what damage her memory powers can truly do to others, and when she tries to speak up against her friends on Riku Replica's behalf, they start to become less friendly, and that's when Naminé starts feeling like a prisoner. It's only because of Axel's encouragement that she decides to fix things herself.
In the original, Sora and Repliku having the same memory being a coincidence or intentional on Naminé's part was unclear to me. So here, I've made it very clear that it's intentional, because in both cases (canon and this AU), it's what causes the illusion to fall apart (or start on that path, at least). The fake Riku in the Destiny Island memory world saying Kairi's name is because there's still a bond between all three of them, and no amount of magic memory altering can change that bond.
How Xion is able to visit Kairi's heartscape in her dreams is something I'll explain later (like two chapters from now, I think). I just wish those two had more scenes together. Also, Kairi's heartscape is a mixture of Radiant Garden and Destiny Islands, if that wasn't clear. Xion's eyes are a much darker blue than Naminé's or Roxas's, because Xion is a piece of Sora modeled after Kairi, so her indigo eyes are a mixture of Sora's blue and Kairi's violet.
And yes, Riku now wields Oblivion. I can hear some of you asking what Roxas' Keyblades will be if Riku has Oblivion and Kairi has Oathkeeper. Don't worry, I have something in mind for Roxas (Spoiler: he'll receive his own Keyblades).
Note: While I am a big fan of Kingdom Hearts, I just recently got into the fandom, which means I still don't understand most of the lore. So if I get anything wrong, I'm sorry. I'm trying my best to stick to canon as closely as this AU will allow me to. Please, no flaming. Instead, just politely inform me in a PM or a review, so I can correct any mistake I make. If you have any ideas or questions, please let me know.
If you want to know what I imagine Kairi to look like, then go to my DeviantArt page, titled "SepticAbzies", and go to the piece titled "Kairi ~ Oathkeeper AU (Full Color)", and if you want an idea of what I have in mind for Naminé, then you can find it on the piece titled "Number 14 AU". I will update the cover image to match Kairi's appearance (as well as Naminé's and Xion's) as I update each chapter, but keep in mind, Kairi's design in this AU matches how I imagine her growth to be.
Next chapter goes back to Days, and Axel and Naminé meet Xion for the first time.