AN: WOOOOOOOOH! WE. ARE. BAAAACK PEOPLE! :D I am fucking HYPED like that Spongebob screaming at the guy in the seat meme lol! xD It's time for our next big adventure! And in the words of Into The Spiderverse: Okay, let's do this one more time!
We have to roll time back by about a month here lol, if you're coming off of "Warrior Princess: Hearts of Children", so we can see what the flip Kairi and Riku and everyone have been up to all that time since Castle Oblivion! xD But they will catch up soon enough, and intersect...as you know if you read Hearts of Children! :D :D
I'm gonna start us off easy and fun, lol. Just some Traverse Town-ing, slice of life goodness here. :D In fact most of this new adventure is going to be fun goodness! :D Darkness will come later. xD
But we are primarily here to enjoy the ride and have some fun with these characters I love so much! :D Sooo yeah, enjoy the ride, cause it begins NOW! xD
Kairi smiled as she watched Ventus and Aqua sitting together on a bench in Traverse Town's Second District.
Apparently, Ventus and the others had had some trouble with a guy named Sephiroth while Kairi, Sora and Xion had been away - but they had taken care of it, together. Cloud most of all, though. It had been his fight, more than anyone else's. And he'd won it. Not just physically, either, from the sounds of things, but mentally - in his Heart.
He'd finally found that lost light he'd been searching for. That light, it turned out, was Tifa. Literally; Cloud's light had been torn from his Heart years ago, during experiments in Radiant Garden's castle basement - yet another victim of Ansem (or, Xehanort). And Tifa had been there beside him all along, even if he hadn't recognized it until just recently!
It was poetic, it was sweet - and maybe even a little romantic?
Kairi knew romance when she saw it...and wow did she see it between them. And not just between them, but Aerith too...
Not that she was going to say anything (even if she really wanted to tease the heck out of Aerith about it). Because some things just required a little bit of sensitivity!
Kairi, Sora, and to a lesser extent, Aqua - or maybe a greater extent, depending on who you asked - had filled in the Traverse Town crew on everything that had happened to them recently: everything at Castle Oblivion, and at the Door to Darkness turned Light. Meeting Mickey and Aqua, learning about that dark version of her Keyblade that was necessary to set everything right...that was capable of restoring all the worlds lost to the darkness. And all the people who'd been lost on them as well!
And then, of course, Castle Oblivion...and that huge mess of confusion that actually sort of made a lot of sense. A frightening amount of sense, in too many different ways to count.
The existence of this "Organization XIII." The existence of Kairi's Nobody, Xikira, a girl born from her Heart and Sora's body, when Sora had been turned into a Heartless by Ansem - or...Xehanort?
Xehanort; he was some evil old Keyblade wielder who had in fact stolen the body of Aqua's friend, Terra, ten years ago now. It was that body, that face, of that friend - Terra - that Kairi knew as the face of her childhood nightmares. Her repressed memories. Her worst terrors. And while it was true that Kairi had faced said terrors head-on in Castle Oblivion's memory rooms - twice over! - she...didn't think she could say she'd conquered them. Not for good, not for real. Her Heart told her that much, reflecting back on it now. Maybe she never would. But, even if she never did, she would do her best never to let it stop her from doing what was right! From fighting, pushing on - standing against the dark and evil with everything she had in her Heart and body! All of her strength, all of her willpower!
Terra...
A man she had spoken to in that castle, because of their connection, their shared history, and because of some mystery girl. His Heart connected to Kairi's. It had been a conversation in which hope had been given...and received. Aqua's words to give Terra hope, and then, a little later, Terra's words to Aqua to give her hope.
The hope for the future - that things would turn out all right again. That things could be put right again.
Not just worlds - but people too.
Somehow, some way, they were going to save Terra, along with everyone else who needed saving.
But not just yet; after hearing everything they'd all gone through (especially Aqua's ten years of wandering and surviving in that Realm of Darkness), Aerith had put her foot down and ordered everyone to go on a week long vacation here in Traverse Town. To just all...relax and unwind, and put all this confusing, horrible craziness out of their minds.
Personally, Kairi actually agreed. Especially for Aqua's sake. And Ven's too, of course (a boy who was somehow, miraculously, awake and about in his own body again, after they'd lost him from inside Sora's Heart weeks ago). And...maybe for Sora's as well...
"Kairi!"
She tore her gaze away from Aqua and Ven, turning to see Sora coming up to her. "Hey," she said lightly, smiling at him. "Is everything okay, Sora?"
Sora frowned a little. He shrugged. He grinned. "I've never felt better, Kairi!" He strode up beside her on the outer walkway, placing his hands on the stone railing and gazing down on Ven and Aqua, that grin still shining.
"Are you sure?" Kairi said, still light and easy. "You did sort of turn into a Heartless again a couple of hours ago, remember?"
Sora's grin slipped away. He glanced at her, then down at his hands. He nodded. "I remember. Well, sort of..." He sighed. "It was like the first time I turned into one, I guess. It was like...a dream. It was hard to focus on anything, hard to - but I'm fine now, Kairi, aren't I?"
"Are you fine now?" Kairi said quietly. "What if it happens again, Sora? What if...what if next time you don't change back?"
He shook his head and he grinned at her in full, his eyes blazing. "If I don't, then I know you'll be there to change me back - right, Kairi? You did it the first time!"
Kairi smiled - and blushed, just a little (or a lot!). "R-right! Hehe...of course I will!"
"Then we've got nothing to worry about," Sora laughed, waving a hand and returning his attention to Ven and Aqua. "You worry too much sometimes, Kairi!"
Sora really was so laid back. And maybe Kairi really did just worry a little too much...
She brushed back her dark red bangs and breathed, relaxing and smiling again.
This wasn't the time for worrying.
It was a vacation, after all.
And besides...it seemed like everything was really looking up now!
Aqua, Mickey, Ventus, Xikira - her two friends, Lauriam and Elrena, too - successfully defeating Ansem, making it through Castle Oblivion...
Best to focus on all of that - and not anything like the supreme, terrifying power of Xemnas, the Nobody counterpart to Ansem (or, Xehanort), or the loss of Aeleus in his attempt to protect Kairi, or the cruel snuffing out of the new Heart of a "Replica" briefly called Mio...
No: best not to think about that stuff at all.
Focus on the good, not the bad. The successes and victories, not the losses and failures.
And focus on the future that Kairi- that Sora, that they all were going to set right again. Together!
And in the spirit of that focusing on the future...
Kairi turned to Sora, flashing him a grin. "Hey - let's have a little spar. One on one, you and me again! There are some things I want to try, and you're my best dummy target."
Sora's eyes widened, and he gave a nervous laugh. But, he agreed, returning her grin easily. Even a little excitedly, as much as he was terrified of whatever she might throw at him.
Hehehe...perfect! I can always count on you, Sora, Kairi thought gleefully.
"You're on, Kairi - uhhh, but where are we going to do this?" Sora questioned, scratching his hair. "Traverse Town's gotten a lot more crowded lately, you know. There's not a lot of space for training sessions..."
"We have space enough for it here," Kairi said, pointing down into the second district's plaza. Right near the fountain that was the sealed Keyhole. A good stretch of empty space - thirty, maybe forty feet of nice, vacant stone ground. She wasted no time in vaulting the low wall and falling down into the plaza from the outer walkway. She landed light and easy. Sora came down to join her a second later.
"Hey, you two - what's goin' on?" Ventus called out, startling on the bench after Kairi and Sora had come sailing over his and Aqua's heads, practically.
"We're just going to get in a bit of training," Kairi told him, her grin widening.
"Like I can believe that, with that look on your face..." Sora muttered, rolling his eyes at her.
"Training?" Aqua spoke, sitting up straighter and gazing at them with instant interest. "I wouldn't mind getting to see what the two of you are capable of - from all Ven tells me, both of you are incredibly talented. Though, I understand if it would be too intrusive to have an audience!" she added quickly.
"We're kinda asking for an audience, doing this in an open square," Sora laughed. "Watch all you like, Master Aqua!"
Aqua's cheeks went pink as she stared at Sora. She shook her head furiously, holding up her hands to him. "Oh - no, no - please, just call me Aqua! I'm not either of your Masters! And- I also don't want you to feel like I'm going to be - scoring you on this or anything like that! I'm just-"
Kairi couldn't help herself: she giggled. "Well, now that you brought it up..." she said playfully - or maybe a little honestly (a Keyblade Master herself was going to be watching Kairi in a combat situation!).
Ventus began laughing too. "Just pretend we're not here, you guys! Do what you do, and don't pay us any attention at all," he told Kairi and Sora earnestly.
"Well - if I may - there is one thing..." Aqua spoke hesitantly.
"What?" Kairi said.
"Just to make sure the battle doesn't spill out anywhere else..." Aqua raised a hand, and a big, blue barrier dome shimmered to life in the plaza - around Kairi and Sora. It touched the edges of the plaza, and the fountain too. it had a high ceiling, almost reaching the rooftops of the surrounding buildings.
"Oh, right!" Kairi exclaimed, smacking herself in the face. "We forgot the barrier dome - Aerith always does that for us too," she explained.
"I knew it felt a little strange," Sora agreed, beaming at Aqua. "Thanks, hehe!"
"No- problem," Aqua stammered for some reason. She crossed her legs and sat back in her seat - but she was clearly watching them so, so intently!
Well, now Kairi actually did feel...pretty nervous.
She let out a breath and squared her shoulders, turning away to meet Sora's gaze. She gestured with a laugh, and he strode away from her to the other side of the battle arena. They faced each other. Sora took his sword off his belt, while Kairi summoned her Keyblade to hand.
"Wait - ah - do you have rules or...!" Aqua called out uncertainly. She looked embarrassed by herself as they looked at her.
Kairi looked at Sora. Sora looked at her. They both shrugged and looked at Aqua again.
"We just sort of go until someone either says they give up, or until we can't stand up anymore," Kairi said casually.
Aqua looked horrified. Legitimately! But- "Okay, then..." she murmured. She glanced at Ventus, who gave a little shrug and an awkward grin of his own.
"They haven't exactly had anybody to officially teach them or anything - not with Keyblade stuff, anyways," Ventus said to her, leaning in close. "But Aerith's been great about teaching them magic, at least, from what I remember."
"I...suppose that's to be expected, given the absence of...well, us," Aqua said slowly, nodding. Troubled by the notion even as she said it aloud.
"Yeah, I had to come to grips with that one, too," Ventus whispered, nodding back. "Except I've already had a few weeks to accept it all - how different everything is. It's gonna take you some time too, Aqua."
Aqua smiled, surprise on her face. "You almost sound like the Master, Ven..."
Ventus flushed, sitting back quickly. "I'm not trying to, it's just how it is. Things are different now."
"Mmm. Some things more than others, it seems like," Aqua agreed softly, returning her focus to Kairi and Sora.
"H-hey, sooooo what is it you're planning to try out here, Kairi?" Sora called to her, falling into his combat stance, his eyes roaming her with precision and familiarity.
Kairi adopted her combat stance as well, flashing him another grin and tossing her head. "Don't worry, Sora - you'll find out..."
"Come on, I don't even get a hint?" Sora pressed.
"Nope," Kairi said simply. "It's a surprise."
Sora groaned, sagging on the spot. Then he straightened and smiled. "Well then, whatever it is, I'll be ready for it! Show me what you've got, Kairi!"
"Okay. Just - give me - one second here..." Kairi told him. She let one hand go from her Keyblade, raising her arm out, palm up. She gazed at the empty air above her hand, furrowing her eyebrows in concentration - even as she focused on calling on her powers of light...
She burned it bright, letting it glow in her chest, and then she moved it out and gave it form. Floating above her palm, a crude, golden sword burst into existence. Made of golden light itself. It was like a vague drawing - no details, no defined edges, not even around the hilt. But it was there. And it would suit her needs!
"Oh no..." Sora gasped, wide eyed. "Kairi, no..."
"Kairi yes," she replied sweetly. She slowly moved her palm out from under the blade, and it stayed there in the air! She ran her hand up along it, then focused again. The sword rotated in the air - its tip pointing Sora's way now.
"Hehe, Kairi, seriously, you're not planning on doing what I think you're going to do with that thing...are you?" Sora tried again.
Kairi breathed, concentrating still, pulling her arm in toward her body and raising it up to the sky. She met Sora's gaze again, and gave a fierce grin. "If I am, I hope you have faith in your ability to block, Sora..."
Sora gulped and adjusted his stance quickly, holding his weapon diagonally before himself. "Okay - take your best shot!" he shouted out.
"Alright...light blade: go!" Kairi cried, swinging her arm down to point at Sora!
Her sword of light went from stationary to motion instantly; it flew across the arena for Sora at a considerable speed, crossing the distance in a second or two at most! Sora gritted his teeth, turned his foot aside and raised his weapon a bit higher-
Kairi's light sword faded to nothing a few measly feet before it would have hit Sora's. It just...dimmed, and vanished, not even leaving particles or anything behind. No trail, no...anything!
"Darnit!" Kairi exclaimed, throwing up her hands.
Sora let out a great, relieved woosh of air as he lowered his weapon.
Kairi bit her lip and held out her hand again, glaring at her palm. "Let's try that again - and let's get it right this time!"
"Awww, come on!" Sora whined. But he was instantly on his guard again, watching her closely, nevertheless!
Off behind Kairi, Aqua was aghast at the display before her. "This is- so unbelievably irresponsible - in a dozen different ways!" she uttered. "Tell me this is not what they actually do? Tell me they do not just...just come up with new skills and- and test them out on each other all- willy nilly!"
Ventus held back his laughter with all he had in him, turning from Aqua. "Can't believe you just said willy-nilly, Aqua..."
"Yes, well, that is the only appropriate expression I can think of in the face of...of this!" Aqua said furiously - though she was blushing now, a little. "To even begin to describe how I feel about...this."
"Okay, it's not too smart of them - but that's just kinda what they do," Ventus grinned. "And it works out for them. Mostly..."
Aqua crossed her arms and sat with a rigid back. "Well, we'll see how well it works out for them when someone loses an eye, or- ugh!"
"Hey, it's not like we didn't have our screw-up moments too," Ven said quickly.
"Exactly! We - you, me and Terra - we actually took all precautions, and we still sometimes...and they're just- look at them!"
"I'm looking," Ven laughed, leaning forward eagerly, hands on his knees.
Hurling out malformed light blades at Sora was actually turning out to be a viable strategy, Kairi thought. Sora had no idea which of her flying projectile swords would actually make contact or not - because neither did Kairi! She just did her best to focus and hoped for, well, the best!
Sora blocked a blade, the light sword bursting and disappearing after hitting his weapon. He jumped to the side, then rolled under two more. He swiped his sword and blocked two more. He flipped up into the air and hurled his sword down at her like a boomerang.
Kairi narrowed her eyes up at his incoming weapon, and two of her light swords flew up to intercept it! Sora's sword was knocked off course, spinning off to Kairi's left and embedding itself into the ground! Sora dashed forward in the air and flew down for Kairi with a determined look on his face. Kairi gave a swing for him, but he twisted and flew around her completely. He soared over to his weapon and snatched it from the ground as he passed it. He spun in the air and touched down again, facing her.
"It looks like you're really getting the hang of this," Sora complimented.
"Thanks - I definitely think I am, too," Kairi replied, beaming. Then she materialized and sent out six light blades at once - the largest amount yet. Unfortunately, four out of six vanished before even getting half-way to Sora. One of the last two swords missed its mark and blew past Sora's left to hit the barrier; the other one ended up getting blocked rather easily by Sora.
"Okay, you actually had me a little worried there again," Sora admitted, chuckling to himself.
Kairi eyed him intently. "Good!" She refocused and threw out her arms, burning her light brighter and brighter! A dozen, two dozen points of light appeared in the air around her, and then shaped themselves into light swords. Some of them flickered in and out of existence, while others looked considerably more wispy and frail than the rest. But Kairi focused on maintaining them - and then she focused on sending them all Sora's way!
In that moment before Kairi sent her weapons forth, Sora gave a quick grin, then raised his sword and slid his back foot...even more back. His pretty blue eyes roamed the air around Kairi, across all those blades...and then they were zooming toward him!
Sora threw himself forward, swinging with one hand to slash at two blades, destroying them. He rolled and came up as three more flew at him. He twisted and jumped aside to avoid another. He squared himself, set his jaw, and he held his weapon high and ran full tilt at Kairi!
Kairi's eyes widened. Then she smirked and sent the remainder of her weapons at him at once! All eighteen of them, by her count!
Sora raised his hand and conjured up a barrier wall in front of himself - moving forward with it. Colorless, transparent - just like glass. It wasn't blue like Aqua's or pink like Kairi's. It was Sora's Reflect spell. Her light blades met his barrier, pelting against it and leaving cracks in it, but his barrier held up way too well against her for her liking!
Kairi watched him come, narrowing her eyes and pressing her lips. She had an idea, and she implemented it, even if it wouldn't work. She focused and swirled her hands like a conductor, and her blades curved out around Sora's barrier, wide and arcing, ready to get him from the sides and behind!
Sora glanced left and right in an instant, skidding to a stop and bringing up his sword hand as well. His barrier wall expanded outward, forming around him into a solid, big dome. A dome that Kairi's weapons struck from all sides, but still didn't break through! Sora grinned at her as he lowered his hands, letting his barrier dome fall. Then he flew forward in a burst of magical speed, weapon raised!
Kairi waited for him, then leapt back and flashed out her hand toward the ground; a Blizzaga spell struck at Sora's feet, exploding into an icy structure bigger than either of them put together! "Hehe..." she giggled to herself with satisfaction.
Suddenly, Sora came rushing out from the left, from behind the icy mass (she hadn't gotten him with it?!), lunging forward and swinging his blade with a yell!
Kairi stepped back quickly and raised her own blade to block him. She skidded back from the force, surprise shooting through her. She steadied herself and threw herself back at him, seeing surprise on his face now at her immediate retaliation! She swung down for him vertically, then released her weapon, letting it hit the ground, bounce up and fly past Sora - and then she turned herself into pure light and teleported past him, swinging back around with weapon in hand for his backside!
Sora threw himself into a roll to avoid her attack, coming up and spinning around to face her. "That was a new one!" he said happily.
"I have to find some way of catching you off guard now, don't I?" Kairi teased. "You're just too good, Sora - you force me to resort to ever more extreme and wildly absurd measures!"
"What? Oh, so you're saying this is actually all my fault?" Sora replied playfully.
Kairi hurled her weapon at him, turning herself into light again; Sora blocked her weapon and sent it flying off to the side, while Kairi rematerialized to his right. Her weapon flashed back into her hand and she shoved it out at him from down low. Sora gasped and twisted awkwardly, her weapon sliding past his ribs. He batted at her weapon with his own and spun back to her, coming in swinging - on the offensive now!
Kairi blocked and ducked, twirled around him, slashed for him! Sora rolled, and when he came up again he gave his sword a swift upward swing to send her arm up and away from her chest. Sora quickly swung his weapon back the other way across her vulnerable torso. Kairi leaned back, stumbled - then flat out fell on her butt on the ground, to her eternal shame!
Sora stopped, blinking down at her.
She blinked up at him in turn.
"You want to give up now, or are you going to pull something crazy out of your- uhhh- I mean are you going to keep going and try to-" Sora babbled, flushing.
Kairi threw herself into a forward handspring, kicking him in the chest on the way up, causing him to reel back with a great oof! of a noise. She slashed for him, then turned her weapon hand aside and unfurled her fingers, sending out a blast of Blizzard for him! It hit him in the chest and spread across his upper body, covering his torso and extending down his arms to his elbows. She pressed further still, lunging at him and ramming her shoulder into his frozen chest as he awkwardly tried to flail his weapon arm at her. She almost fell to giggles at the sight, which would have been a real bad mistake! She dropped low as flames erupted from Sora's body to blast away the ice and free him. She spun on the ground and swept his legs out from under him with her own.
Sora fell - but he caught himself with one hand and suddenly twisted and flipped himself at Kairi, kicking her in the chest and sending her back onto the ground!
Kairi gasped and rubbed her chest, but went into a backwards roll and sprang up to her feet again quickly. Sora threw out his hand and sent a Blizzard spell at her, copying her! Kairi slashed her keyblade before her to block it, causing it to explode and coat her weapon in thick blue ice. She leapt at Sora and swung her weapon for his flank, catching him in the ribs hard, and causing the ice to shatter. Sora stumbled aside, then jumped up and twisted over her head. In the air, he reached a hand down to grab her shoulder, and a blue light flashed from his palm.
Crap!
Magic ice went down Kairi's weapon arm, completely immobilizing it.
Sora landed behind her and stepped in quickly, bodying her and taking her to the ground! He grabbed her free arm and yanked it up behind her back before she could even think to dispel and re-summon her Keyblade into the other hand! "Hah! Do you want to yield now, Kairi?"
"Never!" Kairi shouted fiercely, struggling and squirming under him. Though, maybe not as hard as she could have (for reasons she would never get into or let leave her own head ever). She really had to eliminate this Sora weakness in her, she reflected ruefully. It was absolutely the bane of her sparring existence!
"Alriiiight, but I'm gonna have to hit you with a Sleep spell, then," Sora said lightly, pressing his knee into her back.
"Do it, then!" Kairi responded, kicking her feet behind her uselessly. "I could use a nice nap!"
"Okaaaay. One Sleep spell coming your way, Kairi!"
Kairi saw the flash of blue from the corner of her eye, and the motes of blue energy began to shower over her body. She slumped under Sora and rested her chin on the ground, as consciousness was lost to her.
She woke up a second later, startling awake on the ground. She was flat on her back now, and her weapon was beside her. She sat up with a laugh, looking up to see Sora crouching before her. She took his hand and let him help her to her feet again. She flexed her fingers and glanced at her weapon, and it dematerialized.
"Nice win, Sora," Kairi grinned at him, brushing at her hair.
"Thanks - though, it was close a few times there!" Sora replied earnestly, patting at his sword on his waistbelt. "Especially when you were throwing out all those sword at me!"
"I definitely need to work on keeping the blades here once I make them," Kairi mused aloud.
Kairi and Sora both startled as the great, big, blue battle barrier disappeared.
"I'm sure that will come in time," Aqua spoke. She was on her feet, striding up to them with a hand on her hip. Ventus was up, too. "With more practice." She paused, eyeing them both with something like amazement. "For two children your age to be crafting your own techniques and spells, and without any formal guidance or instruction-"
"That's not true - we've had Aerith to teach us," Kairi refuted.
"Of course - and from all I've heard, that woman is a remarkably powerful mage in her own right," Aqua amended quickly - apologetic. "What I meant was, rather, that neither of you have any special instruction when it comes to Keyblades."
"Ven told us how you use those Command Styles - those pre-made magic abilities by your...predecessors?" Kairi responded slowly. "We've never had anything like that - except what Aerith's taught us. So we've sort of just had to come up with things on our own."
"Of course," Aqua repeated, nodding - smiling slightly. "Creativity and quick-thinking in a fight can be an incredible ally - and a real table-turner on your opponents."
"Yeah, I suppose if even you don't have any idea what you're about to do, there's no way for your enemy to know either," Ventus teased Kairi, grinning in a way that so reminded her of Sora.
Kairi blushed, but she held firm, raising her chin. "Exactly!" she said. That's right, girl: own it! It's gotten us this far, hasn't it?
"Hey, Ven, I was wondering..." Sora began, a glint in his eye as he regarded the older boy.
"Wondering what, Sora?" Ven replied.
"Since you've got a body back and all now, how about me and Kairi both spar against you?" Sora said excitedly. "It'd be great for us to go up against somebody more skilled and powerful than ourselves like that - and you've been out of the game for so long, it'd do you good too, wouldn't it? I know you did some work back in Radiant Garden with us, and you fought against Vanitas when you first woke up, but you need more than that! So how about it?"
"You really want to fight Ven, don't you?" Kairi smiled. "Even after we just finished a match of our own?"
"You can't say you don't want to!" Sora said to her. "Come on, you can keep working on your light blade stuff! And against a guy like Ven, that'll really put you through your paces! Remember how fast he was against Vanitas?"
"I do - and it still terrifies me," Kairi said, only half joking as she threw a glance Ven's way.
Ven flushed, scratching his head and giving a little shrug of apology.
"Then it's perfect!" Sora insisted. "Pleeeeasseeee-"
"Okay, sure!" Kairi cut him off swiftly, rolling her eyes. "You win. Let's do this! You and me against Ven - let's get back in the ring!"
Aqua gazed at the three of them, smiling. Then she sighed and strode off for the edge of the plaza again. And again, she raised a hand casually, and a huge blue barrier dome formed around the three of them.
Kairi and Sora walked to one end of the arena, while Ven hurried off to the other side.
They turned and faced each other, weapons drawn, stances firm.
Ven gave his backhanded Keyblade an absent twirl, grinning now at both of them. "Hope you're ready!"
"Ven, go easy on them - please!" Aqua called out swiftly. "We don't want anything too serious to happen here! I don't want to have to even use Cure if I can help it!"
"Relax, Aqua - I know how to hold back," Ven said easily. "I need to give 'em a chance, don't I?"
Kairi and Sora looked at each other. They both swallowed at the same time.
Kairi stepped in close to Sora, elbowing him in the ribs and leaning in closer. "We can still call this off and keep our dignity - and our butts not completely sore and thrashed," she murmured quickly.
"Hey, he said he's going to go easy on us, right? It can't be even half as bad as what we saw him do against Vanitas back then!" Sora whispered back to her. "Besides, it's Ven: he won't actually hurt us like that."
"We might be feeling the embarrassment for a really long time afterwards," Kairi whispered back.
"It's Ven," Sora repeated, like that was an answer! "I think we've got a shot at this, Kairi. We just have to remember what Phil always said: we strategize, we work as a team, we play off each other when we can! I think our best bet against a guy like him is to distract him - especially with two of us and only one of him. He's fast, sure, but that just means we need to stop him from moving too much. Ice and Time spells, and a looot of distractions to create openings!"
Kairi gazed into Sora's determined face. She grinned and nodded. "Okay - right! Ice and Time, and heavy use of distractions, then. Let's see what we can do!"
"Yeah, now you're talking!" Sora smacked her on the back and leaned away from her, falling back into his combat stance.
Kairi stood there a moment, dazed, focusing on the warm imprint of Sora's hand still on her back...then she shook her head and adopted her combat stance as well! Now is not the time for that, she told herself firmly.
"Hi Kairi - Sora!" a voice called.
Kairi startled, glancing up at the walkway to see Xion coming down into the plaza!
Xion stopped, gazing at them in confusion. Her eyes roamed the barrier. Then she looked to Aqua. Back to Kairi, Sora, and Ven. "You're sparring again?" she asked, with an uncertain smile.
"We were just about to, yes," Kairi grinned.
Xion stared at her, looking like she was doing some thinking. Then she nodded and went to sit down on a bench. "I won't distract you two," she told them.
"Thanks!" Sora called out, smiling at her.
"We appreciate that," Kairi added sincerely.
Though, a part of her did wonder if this was just passive Xion being passive Xion, or if she actually hadn't asked to join in because of unresolved feelings from learning about her "Replica" origins in Castle Oblivion recently. Maybe Xion didn't want to use her Keyblade anymore, maybe she didn't think she was worthy or- or allowed to- because she'd thought she wasn't allowed to even be Kairi's sister anymore, for god's sake! Until Kairi had pulled out the adoption card on her! And she knew Xion was still having doubts about herself now...
Just because they were back in Traverse Town now didn't mean they'd gone away in the girl.
Kairi knew that all too well, herself.
Regardless, she couldn't exactly question Xion about any of that right now. She didn't want to come off as interrogating her, for one. And for another...
She sort of had a fight against a vastly superior opponent to attend to at the moment.
Holding back or not, Kairi was all but certain Ventus was going to destroy them. Or at least make them look like fools and amateurs. Although, they sort of...were...weren't they?
No! Don't think like that! Stick to the plan, give it your all, keep Sora at your side - and we just might pull out a win! Kairi glanced at Aqua and Xion on the bench. Also don't think about the fact that Aqua is still watching you, and now so is Xion!
"Well, what do we have going on here now? Getting in a spot of training before the day is up? And here I thought I told you this was a vacation!" a woman's voice rang out, as light footsteps came from the walkway.
Kairi groaned, turning to see exactly who she expected: Aerith!
Aerith was here too now?!
Come on!
"But," Aerith went on, striding over to stand beside Xion and Aqua, hands going to her hips. "I suppose who am I to tell you kids how to spend your relaxation time?"
Kairi shot a half-hearted glare at the woman, then shook her head and refocused on Ventus - who had also gotten distracted by Aerith, admittedly!
Aerith looked the barrier dome over, then her gaze found Aqua. "I suppose this is your doing, isn't it? It's strong - but how well is it going to hold up against the things these kids can do?"
Aqua looked almost offended. But she pressed her lips and said, "It will hold. There's nothing Kairi or Sora could do that could break it - only Ven could. But he knows how to restrain himself."
Aerith flashed a grin, brushing long, curly brown locks behind an ear. "Oh? I don't know about that...Kairi and Sora have a knack for pulling off the most insane, wonderous, powerful things I've ever seen in my life! If you hang around them long enough, you're definitely in for some surprises."
Aqua gave a small smile, a slight nod of her head. "So I've heard, yes - but this is a training session. I would hope that no dangerous, overpowered miracles will be being pulled off here." Her eyes roamed the plaza as she added, "Especially now that they seem to have drawn a crowd."
"WHAT?" Kairi said, voice high as she whipped around to stare.
Oh noooo...
They had drawn a crowd! They had an actual audience now! There was this group of kids their age, and there were these two guys together who looked like a couple, and a few other people had wandered over too!
Aerith frowned, then held up her hand to the barrier; it swirled and glowed, and became a darker blue, with white, squirming energy tendrils moving across it. "Not to imply your handiwork isn't enough on its own - but just to be safest," she told Aqua quickly.
Aqua nodded, sitting back in her seat. "Of course. We can't take chances in a place like this. That would be extremely irresponsible."
Aerith raised an eyebrow. She smiled, tilting her head. "Does someone want to have a little private discussion later, I'm sensing...?"
"Yes, someone does," Aqua stated.
"Well, I can't say I'm looking forward to it," Aerith sighed. "But what are you going to do?" She shrugged.
"I guess that depends on your answer..." Aqua muttered.
Aerith shook her head and turned away to watch Kairi, Sora and Ven. But, hidden from Aqua's sight, she had a small grin on her lips now.
"All right, kids: three...two...one - go!" Aerith declared, throwing up her hands extravagantly.
Kairi and Sora shared one last glance, and they ran at Ven as one.
Riku moved slowly through the streets, keeping close to Terra - one hand on that long, sturdy cape of his.
He strained his ears, he took in every passing scent - he was aware of every step he took on uneven ground.
He raised his free hand up to brush back long, unkempt locks of hair (he hadn't exactly been keeping up with it all lately). He resisted the urge to scratch at his own face as an itch came on; even if his injuries were more or less fully healed by now, it wouldn't be a good thing to add more scars...to tear things up there. Bleed it...
He sighed, adjusting the blindfold over his eyes and letting his hand fall back to his side again.
They'd left Erin's world behind, after Riku had discovered his new...condition. At Riku's own insistence to Terra about it.
Terra had wanted to stick to that world, let him recover there.
But Riku had pushed for them to just leave. He couldn't have stayed there anyways...a world they'd successfully helped, people they'd freed from a magical slave system...and a girl who hadn't lived to be able to enjoy it. Erin was dead and gone, and she'd never get to have that long life she'd wanted. Everyone else in that world of hers? Sure, yeah - good for them. Great. But Erin? She'd been dead before Terra had destroyed that Ethesi Hourglass, that magical artifact keeping those people enslaved. Bound by time and death itself. And now...
Damnit...
Riku didn't know where to go, didn't know what to do. He'd had hopes, half plans and vague ideas, all this time, of going off to fight Heartless and protect these worlds - save people, instead of hurting them. Doing good for once. Trying to...right his own terrible wrongs. His worst mistakes. But now...how could he? When he was just some blind guy now?
No vision, no way to fight, no possible way to even...
And even what he'd learned with Erin, from Erin, and her world - to do what was right, listen to his Heart on things for once - he...how could he do that now, either? He didn't think his Heart would be taking into account his current state.
His useless state-
"Oof!" Riku was jarred from his bitter, angry thoughts as he bumped into Terra's backside. His armored back. He bounced, stumbled. Tugged on that cape awkwardly to catch himself. "Uh - sorry..." Riku muttered, feeling his face growing hot. He turned his head away, hoping to hide it.
"No, that was my fault," Terra's voice came, light and easy. And patient. He was always like that with Riku. Just...endlessly patient. And more so now, Riku suspected, since Riku had lost his vision. It was simultaneously appreciated and...unappreciated.
That part of Riku's Heart that he knew so well by now. The part that had always thought so highly of itself - always said it could do better alone. Stand on its own. That it didn't need anyone else. Didn't need help, charity, assistance of any kind. That he could just...go off and do his own thing, no problem. But there was a problem. There were problems. He couldn't kid himself. He'd screwed everything up, he'd gone off the deep end, fallen into the ocean's darkest depths...and only Kairi and Sora had been the ones to dive down and pull him back up again.
Not that he'd even deserved it, but...they had. Because they were just like that - they were good. And Riku wasn't.
Riku was just...
"Hey - are you doing all right?" Terra's voice, again, so calm, so quiet. Gentle, even.
Riku wanted to snort at the man. Wanted to turn and walk away. Wanted to...Well, those were his first instincts. Those stupid instincts that had led him down this terrible life path in the first place. So he discarded those instincts, set them aside and tried for something new. Something different. Like he had with Erin... "N-no," he stammered out, bowing his head. "Not really."
Terra made a noise. "Would you like to talk about it?"
"N-" Riku caught himself, again. He sighed heavily. He let Terra's cape go and crossed his arms. He tilted his head back, hair falling away, feeling the warmth of sunlight on his face. "It's nothing you haven't heard out of me before, right?" he huffed. "No point in rehashing it."
"Are you sure?"
Riku gritted his teeth. He didn't have to think about that one. "No..." he uttered through said teeth. "I- I just- argh! Look, I can't- look is the point, isn't it?! I can't- how am I supposed to set things right if I can't do a thing without holding someone's hand?!" he burst out furiously. Desperately. More desperate than he'd ever meant to sound, of course. But it was out there, what was done was done. "I don't even know what world this is, I don't know what's going on here, I don't know- I can't- HOW? Tell me how!"
"Do you think you couldn't have done for Erin...the things that you did...how you are now?" Terra said softly.
Okay, yeah, that, Riku had to think about. "I...maybe?" he hedged out, shrugging. "I don't know, alright? How am I supposed to know? I can't even..."
"All right. Come on. Let's go this way - let's sit down and take a breather. Ah - it's a dock. Boardwalk."
Terra began to move, and Riku clung to him, feeling even more worthless and pitiful than ever.
They crossed the dirt, onto stone, past stone, and then onto wood. The distinct sounds of Terra's armored boots. The increasingly loud, close sounds of washing waves. The smell of the salty oceans.
Familiar enough - but this wasn't the islands.
Riku followed Terra's lead, until the man stopped.
"Here - end of the docks. We'll sit here a while, okay?" Terra said.
"Sure..." Riku sighed, lowering himself carefully down. He felt around with his hands, finding a wooden post. Old, peeling. Splintered. His feet found the edge, and moved over it to dangle down into empty air. His shoes skimmed water. He heard the creaking as Terra sat down beside him.
And they did sit together there, for minutes on end. Just...silent.
Riku began to relax again, his Heart calming. All that panic, fear, helplessness bleeding away. He just let himself feel the water, the air currents, the sun, again, as he sat back and braced on his hands. He breathed, in and out...
"Good," Terra's voice came, quiet.
"Huh?" Riku came back to sharp reality.
"Just because you can't see the worlds doesn't mean you can't still figure them out in other ways. You have six other senses," Terra spoke again.
"Wait, six...don't you mean five? Or, for me now, technically...like - four, maybe?" Riku murmured. He just felt embarrassed, giving up on his train of thought.
"No - you have six: touch, taste, hearing, and smell. And then there's your Heart and your magic. You can sense the light and the dark, and magic itself. It's all around us, like the air itself. Currents, concentrations, and what's in people's bodies and Hearts. And a skilled mage, and someone in tune with their Heart, can learn to sense all of that. To see it, to hear it, and even some people have said they can smell it. How a person's body and Heart interpret all that input...it's different for everyone."
"That still won't help me figure out what color something is, or..." Riku began, after a moment of hope that was then dashed. Fallen back into the dark.
"Then ask."
"Huh?"
"Ask for help," Terra said simply. "Just ask someone what color something is if you want to know."
"Just...ask? Come on, isn't that a little stupid?" Riku muttered, his face growing hot again. Very heated.
"Not if it's necessary," Terra said gently. "And I think you're going to have to learn that, too, Riku. There's absolutely zero shame in asking for help when you need it. From anyone, for anything."
Riku sighed, clenching his fists at his sides. "Looks like I've got a lot on my plate, then, huh? So much to learn..."
"Do you want to be able to navigate these worlds on your own? Do you want to be able to fight, still?"
"Wait, fight?" Riku startled. "How could I possibly fight if I can't see?"
"With all of your senses, working in tandem. With patience, with practice. There have been plenty of blind fighting masters and warriors across these worlds, Riku. Even renowned blind Keyblade Masters. And you could be one too. It will take dedication, skill, and time, yes...but that's true of anything worth doing, isn't it? The point is...that you can."
"I can...?"
"Yes. And if you find you still can't do something in this World, then you adapt, you get creative - you find ways to make it work for you," Terra went on.
"But what about the things I just can't do anymore? Impossible things? Like - playing an arcade game, or...what about that?" Riku said, despair gripping his Heart again.
"Try not to focus on what you can't do; focus on what you can do. What you can enable yourself to achieve, with ingenuity and effort," Terra said.
"And the stuff I can't?" Riku persisted.
"Well...some things, yes, you are just going to have to accept can't be done," Terra said, after a moment. "But you can't dwell on it. It wouldn't make for a healthy life, would it?"
"I guess not...still- it's- it all sound so hard!" Riku exclaimed. He hadn't meant to, again, but it had just slipped out. "It's- overwhelming..."
"It does. And it will be. But it will also be worth it, if you stick to it. And that's good of you to admit, out loud or to yourself, you know," Terra added, and Riku heard...the smile in his voice. That warmth. That- pride.
Riku flushed again, turning his head away. He reached up to grasp that aging wooden post, leaning into it and touching his forehead to it. "Right - humility and all that..." he muttered.
"That's right. If most people could just take a moment and humble themselves, they could achieve...quite a lot in life. But it's the arrogant people, the short-sighted, the egotistical sorts, who never stop to consider mistakes, or flaws, or that there might be another way...who never win out, in the end."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Really, Riku."
Riku sighed, releasing the post and sitting up straight again. He turned his head toward Terra, now, for the first time. "So...what other blind keyblade wielders have there been before?" he asked hesitantly. Curiously. Maybe even...hopefully.
"Well, I suppose the most famous was the legendary Asuna," Terra began. "She was a young Keyblade wielder, who was found and bequeathed at the age of twelve - this was centuries ago, obviously-"
"Obviously," Riku interjected, his lips twitching.
"My storytelling skills are rather lackluster, I know," Terra went on. "Bear with me here."
"Presently bearing..." Riku joked, a lightness fluttering in his chest.
Terra laughed. "Anyway...Asuna only managed to get a few weeks into her training when there was an accident. A misfired spell, a bad attempt, and it ended up backfiring on her. Like you, she lost her sight that day. And like you, she worried endlessly that all her dreams of being a Keyblade Master were ruined. Gone, in an instant. She had a rough time, but...her Masters showed her otherwise - that her dream was still possible. That she could become the Keyblade Master she wanted to be. With time, with patience, and with effort, yes - and most importantly, with help and guidance. Her Masters taught her the things I've just told you...and she struggled, and she learned, and she kept on with it for years...until she was largely confident, comfortable, and self-assured. She continued her Keyblade training alongside the training of her senses, and she kept up with her peers. In fact, she surpassed them, in some ways. And then she began to go out on real missions in the worlds, like any other wielder."
"And she succeeded? She- she really...pulled it off?" Riku questioned.
"She did," Terra said warmly. "I won't lie and say it wasn't difficult - her struggles are well documented, via her own personal, transcribed accounts throughout her lifetime - but she did succeed in her goals. Her dreams. She fought, and she grew, and she learned, and when she was twenty-five years old, she passed her Mark of Mastery exam, becoming a true Master. She went on to live a long, storied life, protecting many worlds and helping many people within them. Sometimes it was by fighting, yes, but other times, it was just in the very same way you helped Erin. Just being there for someone...doing what you can for them to give their Heart peace and happiness. And that...is something anyone can do."
"Can you teach me?" Riku said, making up his mind. And his Heart. "How she was taught - her Heart and magic, how she...? However she did it?"
Terra was quiet a moment. Riku sensed movement, and he felt an armored hand on his shoulder. Light, careful. "I don't pretend to be an expert in this area, Riku. Or...in the general area of teaching someone at all, to be honest. I never technically...or...even officially became a Keyblade Master, myself. I don't have the experience or knowledge to truly...instruct someone. You're - you've been a first for me, Riku, in that regard. I only have my own Master's examples to go off of. His teachings. And I've never worked with or attempted to teach a...differently abled warrior, either." He sounded so unsure now, so hesitant. Riku almost felt bad for him - because it was his fault for causing Terra to feel this way. "But, I do know the methods Asuna was taught with, and I know her descriptions of her own lessons well enough, and it's not specific to being blind - it's a skill anyone can learn and master, with time and dedication. So, if you really do want this, I can promise to do my best for you. But..."
Terra's hand squeezed Riku's shoulder. "We'll both be just sort of winging it here, understand?" he said humorously.
Riku laughed, nodding. "Got it, yeah. I'll keep my expectations in check," he joked back with the man.
"Good." Terra gave Riku a pat, then withdrew his hand. "So, let's start with as basic as you can get. Smell, touch, sound. Open yourself up to the world around you, try to feel it, pay attention to what's around you..."
Riku nodded, letting a breath go and focusing his mind, reaching for patience and calm...
"SORA - SWORD!" Kairi cried, stretching out her hand.
Sora didn't hesitate to hurl his blade at her; it spun through the air toward her.
Kairi snatched it by its handle at just the right moment, twisting and raising both blades to block Ven's fierce, fast strike down on her head!
Ven looked surprised, then he grinned. He erupted with winds, sending Kairi skidding backwards. Ven turned and went right for Sora, darting at him and swinging his blade.
Kairi threw Sora's sword after Ven - Ven dodged - and it flew on and Sora caught it again.
Sora and Ven exchanged blows, and then Ven erupted with wind again to send Sora flying up into the air.
Sora backflipped and stretched out a hand down to Kairi. "Kairi - keyblade!"
Kairi didn't hesitate to release her weapon, letting it dematerialize - and reappear in Sora's hand.
Sora narrowed his eyes down at Ven, and then he cocked both swords back, swirling with energy, and he hurled them both down for Ven! They curved outward and arced back in again as they closed on Ven from both sides!
Ven looked delighted at Sora's attack. He jumped up and flipped in the air, letting both weapons slam into each other and bounce away to clatter on the ground. Ven flew in toward Sora with his weapon thrust forth.
Sora threw a Blizzard at him and twisted up over his head, then soared down for his weapon.
Ven spun around and threw out a Blizzard blast of his own - it flew past Sora and struck his sword, covering it over in a thick ice mound!
Kairi breathed, creating four quick light blades and sending them shooting up for Ven! Ven twisted and dodged in the air easily enough. Too easily. But at least it kept him distracted long enough for Sora to hit the ice mound with a Fire spell, freeing his weapon to be taken up again. Ven flew down for Kairi, sending a Blizzard spell her way.
Kairi leaped out of the way and called her Keyblade back to hand, blocking Ven when he landed. He suddenly became a blur and flew around behind her unnaturally. Kairi threw herself forward the second she lost sight of him, rolling and twisting around, herself.
"Good reflexes!" Ven complimented.
"Thanks!" she said, grinning at him and flipping her hair out of her eyes.
"Hah!" Sora cried, lunging in at Ven from behind.
Ven threw himself to the side, causing Sora to stumble and fall right against Kairi! Both of them fell to the ground. A blue light flashed, and Kairi saw the telltale sparkles of a Sleep spell.
A second later and her head dropped, her eyes closing.
And then, a second after that, she was jerking upright, sending Sora sprawling. He woke up too, flushing and rubbing his head as he sat up again.
The battle barrier was gone. Ven was standing nearby, absently twirling his weapon with a grin on his face. Then he let it vanish, coming over to them.
"You two did pretty good," Ven said earnestly. "Almost had me a couple of times there."
"Did we really?" Kairi said, glaring.
"Alright, there was really only one time I actually thought you were going to land a hit on me..." Ven admitted. "But you two were still great! Even better, together!"
Kairi and Sora looked at each other. They both blushed and looked away again quickly.
"T-thanks," Kairi stammered. She climbed to her feet and smoothed out her long coat, patting her pockets to make sure everything was in order there. She helped Sora up, maybe holding his hand a second too long afterward. "Anyways...we still didn't come close."
"C'mon, I'm sure you guys will catch up in no time!" Ven encouraged. "Especially if we all keep training together - right, Aqua?" he added, throwing the woman a fond look.
Aqua strode over to them, nodding. "Yes - that's right. I'm sure the two of you will improve in leaps and bounds, if we all work together at it. You've done remarkably well on your own, as it is, I can tell that much. True, the ways in which you fight are all rather...unorthodox and- unexpected- but it seems to work for you! And that's- excellent. Wonderful. Yes! You've- developed your own...style!"
"You mean we're just winging it," Sora grinned.
Kairi giggled.
"Well...yes," Aqua admitted in defeat. "But that isn't a bad thing, from what I can see."
"Well, thank you," Kairi told her. "We try."
Kairi's eyes strayed to Xion, who was, surprisingly, conversing quietly with Aerith on the bench.
She released a breath. She'd let it go for now.
It wasn't really time to address it, was it?
And maybe Xion didn't even want to.
Either way...
There would be time for it later.