"...I think so. Its dark so none of the others should see us here, even if they are nearby. I think our secret is safe." said the first stranger, who was not a stranger to the other stranger but will remain a stranger to us for the moment.
''Say my name...'' the stranger demeaned.
''Walter White''
''Hehe, you got the ref.. star sister.''
''I missed you so muchm, Lauriam'' in the end, the strangers were longtime sisters. Lauriam's tears were both of joy and sadness ''Second star to the right... Shines in the night for you. To tell you that the dreams you plan. Really can come true.''
''Long time no see'' Strelitza briefly returned to her human form, but she could not keep it any longer ''I am not powerful at all''
''Who said that? You're a glittering prize'' never that Marluxia showed any sign of emotion other than revenger for Organization XIII. Near her sister, she finds Peace, at least ''One day, you'll come to your true shape''
''No matter whose shape I am, you always found me to be the brightest one'' for centuries Lauriam tried to find the living star of hope amidst so many supernovas blowing at distance.
''I'm sorry if I got lost in the way, if my heart was filled of vengeance and hatred. There used to be a time when it was all love I could care about, and now, those times are gone...''
''They'll come back. Do not give yourself in to darkness, sister in flesh'' Strelitzia gave her sister a star hug ''This time, I'll guide you.''
''I missed you so much'' but now there's no more reason for Marluxia, reunified as Lauriam, to miss. Her heart is growing of a light she never felt before, no more need to hurt people or nobodies or heartless or any being, just find the right way in a chaotic world filled of stars that burn too hot too fast.
...From the skies, you could almost hear them cry...
...Tora! Tora! Toraaaa!...
Sora woke up, hearing a song out of Neku's headphones. He'd listen to Depeche Mode's earlier stuff all day. Neku thought their debut album, 'Speak and Spell', was inferior and childish compared to their later stuff. It's actually good, he told himself, blame the radio for playing 'Just Can't Get Enough' instead of 'Sometimes I Wish I was Dead'. The vision everyone has of synthpop is mostly a joyful music. 'Don't You Want Me' by Human League, joyful? Isn't that a stalker song? Mostly about a breakup relationship, maybe because Phil Oakey made a new group. Earlier Human League has its charm, but it ain't radio friendly at all. Whatever, fuck the radio, people should choose their music instead of being blasted by it all day, even outside the audio medium.
Speaking of audio, why does every movie with space in it has that 2001: A Space Odyssey soundtrack within? Not that 2001 is a good movie, sure is, though Neku. He didn't knew much about cinema, other than he watched movies since he was a kid. He didn't need any of these critics calling everything by 'masterpiece', 'underrated' or 'hidden gem', all he needed was to watch a movie and he was happy. Where's the happiness in this sterile world of critics telling you what they think, what about what do I think? And I think the Clockwork Orange is disgusting, Neku told himself, as he listened to Heaven 17, the very band that appeared in the background of the movie he mentioned before. Some sort of influence?
''Shove up that torture device up your ass, Kubrick!'' Okuyasu yelled to the theater screen, to which Sora looked and didn't wanted to look anymore. What was that thing in the dude's eyes? What was the purpose of almost cutting an eye? The director must be a sadistic motherfucker, or a genius.
''I heard they anesthetized the actors eyes for this scene'' Sora heard from Josuke, studying cinema. Sora didn't wanted to picture that very scene, he just wanted to get away from the seat, but something kept him in. Attention, to that very gross scene?
''How the heck did they anesthetized the dudes eyes?'' Riku asked, grabbing the popcorn as he heard Malcom McDowell's screams. Was it Malcom McDowell? He wasn't sure.
''With a needle, of course.'' Josuke said, cold and just cold. Like he didn't cared for what he said, only the movie he had been watching for an hour.
''Damn'' even being blind, that answer hurted Riku. Not as much as he had been hurt by Ansem, Seeker of Darkness.
Well, Sora was still getting his eyes open, but the slight peek he took from the screen made him shiver. Never before he saw anything as violent as the Clockwork Orange. He remembers seeing the beginning of the movie, that rape scene where 'Singing in the Rain', such a cheerful song, is played at. Meanwhile, Neku just remembered that U2 song called 'Alex Descends Into Hell for a Bottle of Milk/Korova 1', and he was in doubt if that was really a U2 song. Those guys got pretty 'meh' with the years.
''Wait, weren't we supposed to go to the mangaka's house?'' said Sora, covering his eyes like a frightened child.
''You mean Kshibe Rohan?'' Speedwagon replied, focused on the movie. He found it repugnant as well, not that some people in his mind deserved that very punishment he watched '' I'm sure we did. Then we agreed to buy tickets to see the Clockwork Orange. This doesn't look like comedy at all, I don't understand modern humour at all. I mean, is this scene supposed to be funny? Is violence entertaining? Does that mean realistic comic books are not realistic at all, just faking reality for the sake of entertainment?...''
''Calm down, Speedy!" Josuke said, putting a hand upon the 19th century british man. He didn't seemed shocked at all, like violence was a thing in his life.
''Uh, why would we agree to see this movie? I don't like it.'' Sora wanted to leave, but he had no idea where to go.
''You don't? Neither I do. Everyone licks the director's balls. Also, I... I think I should do homework about a movie, yeah, so we're staying here 'til the end'
''It ends with Alex jumping out the window after listening to Beethoven's and he's at the hospital, some asshole comes in, and... and there's a scene where he sinks on sand with some naked girls. Moral of the story: Everyone's an asshole'' a stranger spoke aloud, sitting behind the party.
''(Sora.)'' Josuked whispered "(I feel a strange energy coming from that person, if we can call it a person...)''
''(What do you mean, JoJo?)''
"(I think... no, I believe he's a Stand User.)''
''Stand Users are fated to fight against one another, aren't they?'' Josuke spoke out loud, turning to the shadow figure. He then recalled past events, such as the time where Angelo and his water-based Stand, Aqua Necklace, was a real threat ''A Stand User almost killed my mom! And then, I turned that asshole into rock! Who are you!?''
''Gee, you don't need to yell. I have ears.''
''Pointy rodent ears...'' that looked uncanny, even to Josuke ''Is that a ribbon at the tip of your tail?''
''Oh, that's cute'' Speedwagon said, ignoring all details but the orange butterfly ribbon.
''I'm not cute.'' the figure spoke back, with a female voice.
''And not even human'' Josuke never punched women in his life, even if they were meant to be Stand Users. Or non human.
''I thought only humans could have Stands'' Sora turned to the shadow figure as well. Anything was better than watching a disturbing movie.
''A neighbor of mine have a dog that got hit by the Arrow'' Okuyasu explained, turning to Sora ''He could run across the walls to bite the mailman's ass!''
''Is that true?'' Koichi said, turning to the figure behind, almost as if that was her Stand's power, or something else that brought everyone's attention.
''I have proof'' Okuyasu then showed his ass, and the bite mark too.
''EUGH!"' everyone felt disgusted.
''Be quiet and sit! This ain't porn!'' a man yelled far behind.
''Indeed'' Speedwagon was afraid. Okuyasu pulled his pants back, not ashamed at all.
''If I were to go to a strip tease, I wouldn't invite you guys'' said the female figure, revealing herself. She wore a red coat and a pointy crimson helmet, whose metallic blue wings were the ones of a dragon. Before presenting herself, she stood on her bestial feet to strike a Versace pose ''Freya Crescent of Burmecia, at your pleasure. Or not.
''Hi, Freya...'' Sora felt a bit of discomfort, but he was up to new friendships. He looked at the rat lady, as if he already knew her.
''Hi, Sora'' said Freya, who didn't knew anything about Sora, other than his name spoke out loud, and that spiky hair reminded her of someone else too ''I thought I'd watch a good movie, but this one kinda sucks. Drains out my life and sanity.''
''I wonder why are we are, after all'' Speedwagon questioned himself and everyone's movie tastes alltogether '' I mean, should not have we been doing something more important? Should not have we been at Rohan's house right now?
''Rohan? That name sounds familiar'' Koichi said, scratching his head.
''What, are you dense? Retarded?'' to which Okuyasu shouted, boiling in feverish anger.
''Have some manners, Okuyasu!'' Josuke could not tolerate his friend's behavior to someone as pure as Koichi ''
''Sorry, Josuke. Perhaps I got a bit worked out'' Okuyasu returned to his seat, shaken ''Wait a moment... those words, they were not even mine!''
''How so? I heard you talk! Stoopid'' Josuke too felt angered all of sudden.
''Gee, why is everyone behaving like children?'' Freya asked, polishing her nails ''Is it me, or what?''
''I don't think you're the one to blame'' Riku heard it all, and reflected. He could see far more than the eyes could tell! ''Sora... do you remember if anything that happened before got deleted somehow?''
''What?'' Sora asked, about to take a nap.
''Have we been at Kishibe Rohan's house? If so, what happened?''
''Why are you asking me?'' the world brought a lot of pain and disappointment, all happens in dreams. Sora was about to take a nap, and forget it all. Then..
''Wake up, Sora!" Freya shouted, so loud that her voice echoed throught the entire theater ''You can't solve any of your problems by being all alone. I know how you feel... I too felt same way. When everything ran out of control, I thought I had nothing to do with any of what was happening to the world around. I have lost so many friends and family for no reason... Sora, you can't commit same mistakes as I did! You can't just deny reality by just taking a nap, by running away from everything else!''
''I can't believe it! With a few words, Freya was able to wake Sora from his slumber!'' Speedwagon gasped.
''What? Really?'' even Freya was amazed of her doing, though it was nothing else ''Why are you looking at me? All I did was yell at the kid, goddamnit. No one takes a fucking sleep in a dirty chamber like this!''
''If Rohan did something with Sora, I will have no mercy'' Riku said to himself, feeling an evil energy by scent ''Darkness... this theater is covered in darkness.''
''Of course! It's a theater, no one wants it bright!'' Josuke said, as he looked around. Indeed, there was something bizarre happening.
''I feel we're not alone'' Koichi too felt that energy filled of malice, as if someone or something laughed at them, enjoyed their pain.
''Whoa! You can tell where Darkness is just by its scent?'' Freya was impressed by Riku's formidable senses ''Cool!''
''It's not cool.'' Riku replied. He could not see the movie's screen, but he felt the light hitting his skin and everyone else's ''Wherever there's a Light, there's also Darkness... oh no.''
''Oh no what?'' Josuke was about to piss his pants, but he didn't wanted to, yet something in his told him to piss.
''We were not supposed to be here. I feel that someone brought us here. Forced us to watch this movie''
''I never saw a guy so afraid of touching a woman's tits!" Okuyasu turned his eyes to the screen.
''Stop watching the movie!'' Riku yelled. He tried to be human. There's no other way, but to evoke spiritual birds to cut throught the movie screen ''A Flock of Seagulls!''
''What!? Riku could activate his Stand?'' Neku was out of words. And battery for the headphone. ''I tried a while ago, but it didn't work! Oh, gee! My headphone is covered in goo!''
''Is that... Black goo!?'' Koichi looked closer, and indeed, that was some unusual goo.
''What the hell is happening?'' Freya tried to make sense of the situation, as Riku's Seagulls flew around the room, slicing everything with it's sharp wings.
''IT'S A ENEMY STAND!" Josuke and Okuyasu got out of their seats, covered in goo too. As it seems, Josuke didn't pissed his pants. Not yet.
''CRAZY DIAMOND!'' Josuke attempts to summon his Stand ''Huh!? Crazy Diamon- nothing!? It usually comes by a single yell... I don't get it.''
''The theater is an illusion!'' Freya took her javelin and began to slice every seat she could find.
''And what about you, Freya?'' so did Sora, with his Keyblade.
''I'm not!'' the burmecian roared, fighting static enemies. A sudden though came to head ''Hey, Sora! We might have met each other right now, but I feel like I met you a long ago. Weird, isn't it?''
''Not so weird at all'' Sora looked up, after a slime of goo fell on his shoulder
''If the illusion is supposed to keep us in, like some kind of torture chamber, then what's causing this meltdown'' Speedwagon said, swinging his hat blade around.
''I'm sick to things just happening around me and I having no input or control over it!'' Sora felt angered, of years of not knowing the truth in itself.
''Same! I wonder why I came here!'' Freya yelled as well, with a kind of experience when it comes to random events.
''Gravity?'' Sora wondered to himself.
''AAAH!" Even Speedwagon is injured.
''You okay, Speedwagon?'' Riku was shocked. He holded onto Speedwagon, and noticed a scratch appeared on his everytime the likes of Josuke, Okuyasu, Freya, newcomer Xemnas and Neku teared off the macabre theater into pieces. ''You! Everyone! STOP! You are killing Speedwagon!''
''How are we?'' Freya stopped, as she came near the british man to heal his wounds with Rei's wind ''Are you okay?''
''Yes, I am! Thanks for asking, Lady Freya, cough!'' Speedwagon sounded all good and fine, though his body was a wreck.
''Xemnas!'' Sora noticed the Organization XIII member's sudden appearance to the plot ''Why are you here?''
''I don't know'' Xemnas stood in a reflexive pose ''but I am a good guy.''
''That does not fit your character at all...but okay, I believe you!'' Sora really wanted to believe someone as bad as Xemnas could be any good. Some would say Sora is a fool, but was not for that kind of love our saviour died while trying to teach us all!?
Ahem... continuing with the story.
''Sora! Why did Speedwagon got hurt when we were beating the crap out of this horror theater made of freaking DARKNESS?'' Josuke shouted, feeling even more anger by knowing one of his comrades is hurt, and that being somehow his fault.
''I don't know! Perhaps... this Darkness is somehow connected to Speedwagon!''
''How so?'' Freya asked to Sora. She had no idea of what was going on, but her mind was trying to figure it out as quickly as she could ''Connected to Speedwagon, like his Stand?''
''It makes sense!'' Sora looked around and a bright light of hope came out of his heart ''We're inside Speedwagon's car!''
''Somehow, we got trapped in darkness after going to Rohan's mansion, where we were supposed to have gone at, and as it seems, we did!
''I always knew this Rohan dude was weird, but a Stand user who manipulates darkness? That's some sickening power!
''Let's not jump to conclusions!'' Freya put some order in the chaos around her. The burmecian looked all depressing, yet her heart shined with the light of confidence.
''Surely, something happened while you guys went to this Rohan's house'' Xemnas left his seat.
''Something like you!'' Riku jumped before Xemnas, pointing his keyblade at the Nobody's face.
''oH NO! We're being swallowed by darkness'' Speedwagon yelled, feeling all useless.
''Deactivate your Stand, Speedy!'' Okuyasu shouted, while he lost his mind and control.
''Why are you here, Xemnas?'' Darkness didn't scared Riku as much as what he had been throught in the past. How much Xemnas hurted him, if were not for Sora to give him reason to keep fighting...
''I am here because I'm not Xemnas'' said Xemnas, after taking out his mask ''I am Luxord!''
''What!'' Everyone gasped. The ceiling began to collapse, and Speedwagon to puke darkness.
''Sora, use the card I gave you back in Kingdom Hearts III! NOW!'' Luxord yelled in desperation.
''You mean this useless card?'' Sora took a card out of his pocket, the one Luxord mentioned.
''It's not useless right now! I swear!'' Luxord yelled, and he was out of breathe. Sora felt for his comrades, their pain and screams were unberable as a curtain of white noise ringing at his ears.
''That is enough! No one is gonna die as long as Kingdom Hearts exists... Within EACH ALL OF US!'' with Luxord's card at hand, Sora began to float, a mystical crystal blue aura began to shine, a constellation of million of stars bursting from distance lit the darkness above and below. Everyone, except Riku and Freya, fainted. The light was so bright the whole room became white. All things became one, and the one Kingdom Hearts of all Kingdom Hearts resided within Sora.
''What... what happened?'' Sora asked to himself. He had no one but everyone as one self to ask ''why...why am I naked?
''I'm glad for not seeing it'' Riku said, sarcastically.
''Riku? Is that you?''
''Don't you see it, Sora? The words in front of you, the black words appearing on the white void? That's reality. Your reality. Can you tell if all of it is real, can you become real by pretending you are real?'' a deep voice, older than time, spoke to Sora.
''Who are you?''
''I am Kingdom Hearts. I am you.''
''Why am I here?'' never before Sora felt vulnerable.
''I ask the same'' Freya as well, though she giggled a lot ''Where did your clothes went to?''
''My clothes!''
''I haven't saw anything'' the burmecian nurtured of both sad and happy feelings ''Pleased to meet you again, Sora.''
''You know me?''
''Yes, I do. We... how do I say? You helped me a lot'' Freya then turned into Kairi ''We're finally together.''
''Kairi!?'' how much Sora missed Kairi's company.
''I'm here too'' Riku came, albeit in his young self.
''Riku! You can see again!''
''Yes, I can. The Destiny Islands...'' Riku looked around, and saw a familiar beach.
''The trio together, like the old times!'' Sora grabbed both Riku and Kairi's shoulders, all happy and deserving to be. But times change, of course, and Sora goes fetal ''What's happening? Riku is blind again? Who's this Freya Crescent? Who's Josuke, Okuyasu, Koichi and Speedwagon? No! NO! That's not right! I don't want new friendships! I don't want to grow up, I'm just a baby! I miss my old friends...''
''We don't live in the past. Instead, we learn from it!'' Freya spoke to Sora, while giving him a pair of new clothes and a paradigm shift.
''Blindmen see better than common men'' Riku said, wearing a cool Organization XIII coat ''
''When did the world became this mess?'' Sora got up, wearing new clothes but feeling sad for things changing without his acknowledgement.
''You'll have to figure that out'' Luxord came floating.
''Luxord! How did you came here?'' Sora wanted to know.
''I can travel throught time, like a Xehanort!
''You too!'
''Yes. I traveled back in time to become the first Nobody to become Xehanort. You thought it was Xigbar, but it was not! I wore blue contact lenses to disguise the yellow Xehanort eyes from the rest.''
''Why did you became Xehanort?''
''For so I could travel back in time and solve the paradox I created myself. Also, I'm constantly changing of personalities whenever I time travel, so that's why I looked like Xemnas before. ''
''Your arguments seeem belieavable'' Sora smiled.
''Sora!'' a star came out of the white void.
''Nameless Star! I remember you!'' Riku said, surprised by the visit of an old friend.
''I'm here to say every single one of the Guardians of Light is fucking dead!''
''WHAT!?'' Sora gasped ''Who are these?''
''Yeah, they died in such a pathetical way that I could not believe it. To think they were the same Guardians of Light who were Master of Master's apprentices...''
''Did you said MoM?'' Sora heard that name resonate with his and everyone's soul at the White Hot Room ''Wait, is this the White Hot Room?''
''Indeed'' Luxord said, looking around and seeing nothing but white ''Since your power is limited to one card, you can travel back in time once, and only once from now. I got this card from a mutant I met in Xavier's institute, please remind me of that. It's important I leave as less paradoxes as possible.''
''But if you're gonna travel back in time, you won't change time! You will create an alternative reality, I read Marvel comics!'' Speedwagon arrived, all fine and well
''Well, supposing we're ignoring Marvel's rules, whatever Marvel is... '' Sora looked at the white void, to which a collection of shadow of evils past appeared in front of his ''this is me on the hospital, after Riku protected me from being hit by the Golden Arrow. And this... Kairi and I, our last moments before I used the Power of Waking. This... it's so dark, I can't see anything.
''It's me, Sora. Right when I got blind'' Riku heard a voice out of what everyone saw as a huge photography album.
''And that's me, devastated after Sir Fratley...'' Freya stared right after the picture of a painful moment in her life. Right after, she kneeled in despair ''''I don't want to talk about that, let's move on.''
''What happened?'' Sora asked to the burmecian.
''I'm glad he's still alive, that's what matters. Moving on...''
''As you wish'' Sora kept looking at each darkness hindering the past spectrum ''What's this? Looks like a mansion...''
''Kishibe Rohan's estate?'' Luxord asked, with a surprised look in face ''Something weird happened back then. I'm sure we got to see the mangaka in person, and then... everything turned black.''
''Did we met before, Luxord?'' other than the times Sora and his friends fought against Organization XIII, the boy has no memories whatsoever.
''Yes, we did. It's another paradox I'm yet to solve. Please remind me of that.''
''Okay sure'' Sora knew where to go. Riku and Freya followed his towards Rohan's mansion.
''Wait a moment, Sora!'' Luxord yelled, still carrying one last remark ''Everything is connected! No matter if it doesn't make sense or not.''
''Right... Everything is connected'' how much Sora wished his old friends were back, but he gets easy with new friendships.
