Hello again! Thanks again for all the reviews and suggestions! Some ppl were wondering about the POV of the story. To be completely honest I've got no idea why I put Robyne's POV in first-person and Raine's in 3rd person limited omniscient (big words thanx 2 English 9 :S hehe) umm I think I did it because I wasn't really planning for there to be a part of the story that switched views (blah). Anyway I think it would be kinda weird to change the POV at this point but if you think it gets too weird and confusing I can change it . I'll put lines in when the POV's change (thanks to Risako's suggestion) anyway review and tell me what u think . (oh, I'm also trying something new in how I present the POV's I'll still use the lines, but I'll put the person's name in (that sounds confusing) tell me what u think)(thanx to QueenoftheShadowFang's suggestion) 0.o :)
Disclaimer: yah same as always, All I own is the plot and the made-up characters
Chapter 3: Shattered Tears
Raine:
"Come Raine" Said Riku, in a whispery yet strong voice. "It is time you learned the secrets behind the glorious journey of the legendary Sora." Raine listened, transfixed as his Grandfather trapped him in a web of words.
"Someday" said Riku "Your life will change, the keyblade will be reborn. You must be prepared. You must make your heart strong and hard, yet you must know when it is time to let someone in" Raine glanced up, surprised. This was a side of Riku he had never seen. Raine watched his grandfather's eyes grow far away as he said
"We were friends, once, but much has changed. We are not enemies now but events in the past have created great chasms around us. Neither of us is willing to jump. You Raine, will take flight in the near future, what path will you choose?"
Riku held out his hand, it was wrinkled with age, yet rippled with strong wiry muscles, Raine watched as the long slender fingers became laced with green light
"Are you afraid of the darkness?"
"Are you afraid of the darkness?"
Raine knew people would kill for the power he held so carelessly in his palms. The power to control the heartless, his gift and his curse.
To Raine it seemed that all the events leading to his grandfather's demise seemed to revolve around Sora. It was odd, but Raine didn't completely hate Sora. He found it impossible to hate someone who had only been described through words. It was true that when he saw Sora for the first time an emotion not unlike hate had swept through him, yet Raine could not help but reluctantly admire the strength of the heart that beat within the old man. Because of this Raine had no idea how to act towards Robyne, Sora's granddaughter. He knew he must act hospitable towards the girl but this was a necessity. Inside Raine had no idea how to feel. Since he was young his grandfather had taught him how to hide his emotions and keep his heart closed. He thought he had been good at that until Robyne came along. For the first time he had let his emotionless façade slip, letting the girl see vulnerability. He wouldn't do it again.
Robyne:
I was trapped again, a prisoner in a room of beauty. The door was not locked but I could not go. Spellbound, my spellbound was in the hands of Raine. I still had no idea why Raine tried to kill me but I think it has something to do with the unborn keyblade. Already there was such a dilemma, over something that may never again exist. I shudder to think what wars will be fought if the keyblade once again is granted to a keybearer.
I used to think our worlds would never again be tainted by darkness but now I know how wrong I have been. After seeing all these heartless I am beginning to see the light in my grandfather's enclosed personality. Like Riku and possibly Raine he has seen hearts devoured and worlds destroyed. It's no wonder he wanted to train a new keybearer, I don't think he actually ever believed that the darkness was truly gone.
Sora's blood runs deep in my veins, yet I have never felt so unconnected. At first all I wanted to do was to run home and tell my grandfather of my discovery, of the secret cove of heartless. I wanted his face to look at me in respect as he told me I had been part of another legend. Now I know that would never happen. My name may come up in a few retellings of the story, but it would be filled with the courageous adventures of the four grandchildren of Sora. The four grandsons, the granddaughter would be a wall shadow once more.
Sora:
Sora had never felt so out of control, his only granddaughter was missing. He had to admit he had used her as scapegoat, blaming her for the insanity of her father, his beloved son, but Sora knew his blood ran in her veins just as it did in her brothers. In spite of his anxiety Sora felt a flare of excitement. He wanted another adventure. Sora knew he was too old for such trivial dreams but he couldn't extinguish a spark that had flared within him since the keyblade had first been wielded. Walking slowly to a cupboard long hidden in dust he removed 4 blades. Dubbed "Oblivion", "Crabclaw", "Divine rose" and "Metal Chocobo" these blades were the remissions of the keyblades once wielded by himself. Each blade was infused with magical ability and hummed under Sora's hand as they were reverently placed on the table. His face set in a familiar determined line Sora waited for his grandson's to come and accept the beginnings of their legacies.
Robyne:
All my life I had wanted something exciting to happen, now that it had I just wanted it to be over. I got off the bed and pressed the indent in the wall. There was no need to be discreet, I had already discovered that Raine knew everything that went on in this castle. I went down the dark stairs quietly, something in this hallway forced you to be quiet, a sort of miasma in the air. This time instead of heading straight I turned and went into another passage, I wanted to find Raine, I knew that if I wandered for long enough he would wonder what I was doing and come to me, a bee caught in a trap. My wanderings brought me to a large chapel-like room. Enormous stained glass windows lined the walls making me gasp for breath. Was anything in this castle less than beautiful?
Near the end of the chapel was a small alcove, too high to jump too the alcove was curiously hidden behind a mass of silver pipes and tubes. I examined it carefully looking for a flaw in the structure that could bring it down. Slightly nervous I whispered a word my grandfather had used to bring a tree down from deep within the palm grove.
"Force"
At first nothing happened, then slowly a dark mass gathered around the structure. It worked almost too perfectly the spell forced the pipes down creating a -somewhat abstract- staircase. I climbed quickly and nimbly jumped into the small space.
Something dark and crystalline was hidden near the back; I inched forward then pressed my palm to my mouth to keep from crying out. A blue keyhole too large to be ordinary looked out at me from its eerie corner. Unlike the keyholes described to me by Sora this one was filled with a mixture of shadow and light. It had obviously not been sealed because as I watched a small black critter made it's way into the alcove. As I watched it stumble awkwardly into the chapel a strange feeling overtook me. I collapsed onto hands and knees as a sadness of overwhelming proportions swept through me. It was as if a cork had popped out of an overly shaken bottle of pop. Everything that had plagued me from the moment I became unnoticed came rushing back, memories I had kept hidden swept through my vision as tears long uncried poured out of my eyes. I was cold, colder than I had ever been. In this secluded area I started to lose my grip on everything real and precious. I saw my life flash before my eyes as my heart threatened to break into a thousand pieces. In this moment of desperation the most unlikely person came to my aid. Now that I think about it maybe he wasn't so unlikely after all.
Raine:
Raine wasn't used to having hysteric girls in his arms. Actually he wasn't used to having any girls in his arms. He sat uncomfortably as Robyne's unexplained tears slowed then stopped.
Raine knew what had almost happened, what had begun to happen but he didn't know why it stopped. The mysterious keyhole Robyne had found was one made by Riku, only he could seal it and he wasn't in a very capable position to do that. In fact the keyhole was one-of-a-kind. Instead of letting heartless into Raine's world it created them, an unlikely side-affect was that it took hearts to feed it's growing hunger. Raine had sensed Robyne's heart being separated from her body and was unsure why the separation hadn't happened. He guessed it was because of the nature of her heart. Robyne's heart was pure, as far as Raine could tell, and he was now sure that she was one of the long-lost princesses of heart. Everyone else that had wandered into the castle had not left; their hearts had been devoured without any resistance.
Frowning slightly Raine realized Robyne's close separation with her heart and her tears had left her unconscious. He sighed and lifted her up, not the first time he had done this.
Robyne:
I didn't even bother to open my eyes. I knew where I was and was almost ashamed. For the second time I had lost consciousness leaving my vague life in the hands of someone I might never truly know. I was grateful for his decision to let me live but I did not want to be trapped by the bonds of debt. Lying now in a bed that seemed as familiar as my own I opened my eyes and stared as the serenity of my room clashing with the indecision of the incomprehensible Raine. He was asleep on a chair on the other side of the room and in that state of being he almost looked human. No lines wrinkled his forehead and I felt a stab of pity for the boy Raine had not become.
Raine opened his eyes and violet clashed with amber-green. For one second Raine's face remained in it's sleepy state. He sat up and his face was creased with its all-familiar lines.
Back On the Destiny Islands…
When Rowyn had forged his first sword he had felt strong and in control. He remembered the pure delight and self-pride he had felt when he first swung the majestic blade.
Now as he stood in solemnity he held that same blade, without reverence he gave it to his grandfather in exchange for the blade he had called "Divine Rose". Rowyn felt the power of the new blade as he swung it back and forth. He grinned without happiness as he re-dubbed the blade "Eternal Darkness".
Deep within the palm grove Rowyn stood in seclusion, he knew it was here, all he had to do was wait. The darkness was coming, and he was ready. It hit him like a giant steamroller; barreling him over and almost making him lose control. But he didn't, he fought it, he controlled it and he rode the beast that was the darkness. Now with Eternal Darkness in his hand and the power of darkness coursing through his veins, Rowyn felt powerful, and he liked it.
As Sora gave the last majestic blade, Oblivion to his youngest grandson he felt the overwhelming force of an immense darkness. He shoved the blade into Pierce's hands startling the boy and almost causing him to fall over. Sora stood shakily his face pale and pinched with fear. What he had fought against so many years ago was back and there was no keyblade to fight it. With a sigh of someone who had reached his last resort he turned to Pierce. Fumbling with a clasp he removed a small black pouch. As he placed the pouch in Pierce's uncertain palms Sora whispered with intense volumes.
"Take this pouch and guard it with your life, you will know when the time comes to open it. Take your new blade and use it to fight, use it to travel to new worlds and find your sister. The fate of the worlds is resting on your shoulders, who knows what path the darkness may take. Channel your fear and never forget the light."
With that Sora patted Pierce's hand gently.
"Don't forget the light"
It was then that Sora made the mistake of his life, he had sensed the darkness, and he knew it was coming but he never managed to put the pieces together. For it was not on Pierce's shoulders the fate of the world lay, it was on the most unlikely person in Sora's mind, Robyne.
Raine:
As Raine looked at Robyne's bright violet eyes he made a sudden decision. He stood slowly; still trying to decide if what he was doing was a good idea. His mind told him it wasn't but his instinct told him yes. Usually Raine would not have trusted his instincts but so much had happened in the past few days he didn't know what to do anymore, he decided to give it a try.
Taking a deep breath to calm his tingling nerves Raine held out a hand to Robyne.
"Come with me please" he left no room for argument.
Robyne looked surprised for a second but quickly recovered; she stood and looked suspiciously at Raine's hand. Unsurprisingly she didn't take it and said emotionlessly.
"I'll follow you"
Raine nodded curtly and led the way to the most southern wall. Concentrating briefly he separated the molecules and stepped through, a few seconds later Robyne followed. Raine glanced at her for a second and was pleased to see she did not look too shocked. Robyne knew how to accept things and not ask questions. Raine led her through a multitude of hidden entrances, many of which did not seem to have ever been there. He finally brought her to a long set of spiraling ebony staircase.
"I am bringing you to see Riku, my grandfather," said Raine softly, he didn't look at Robyne. "You are the first human to ever see him in this state. Treat this as a… privilege."
Raine sensed Robyne nod and was grateful for her decision to stay silent.
Robyne
I suppose I should have been scared, or, at the very least, nervous. But I wasn't, my body was trembling with something like adrenaline but wasn't. I felt honoured, panicky, and excited at the same time. The seemingly endless ebony staircase loomed before me and imposed the thought of something even more foreboding at it's top.
As Raine had said, my visit to Riku was a privilege, something no other human had ever been given. This thought led me to the question, "Are there even any other humans in this castle?" If there were I had never seen one. I didn't say the question out loud. Not yet, I needed to wait for the correct moment, I also needed some more proof. Proof that I might be able to gradually begin to trust Raine.
As we started on the long ascend up the dark staircase, the feeling of foreboding grew. I was quickly out of breath and tried not to pant as I tried to match Raine's swift steps. To my dismay he wasn't even the barest bit winded. I guessed this was why he was in such good shape, his endless climbs and rendezvous around this enormous place.
As I saw a doorway at the top of the staircase, I was filled -for the first time-, with fear. How would I react to meeting Riku? Whether or not he had a heart he was still the antagonist of my grandfather's stories. How should I feel about such a person? For all my life Riku had just been a character, a member of a story that I could not believe to be real. For all my life Riku had only existed in my imagination. I stopped, I didn't think I could do this. As if sensing my turmoil Raine turned, he descended a few steps until he was at my level then gently grabbed my palm. I was too shocked to react as Raine drew one slim finger across it.
"You have a long lifeline" Raine said, not looking up "But your fate line suggests indecision"
Raine looked up at me and smiled sadly.
"When I was younger," he said "My grandfather taught me how to palm read, it is not accurate, but apparently Kairi was superstitious" He glanced up at my face once more "It was she that taught him how to do that"
I was surprised and didn't bother hiding it. I knew that my grandmother had lived on the same island as Riku and had even been friends with him, but this shocked me back to reality. Just a few paces forward lay the very person I thought of only as a memory.
Raine didn't let go of my hand as he tugged me forward.
"Come on" he said quietly "I know how you must be feeling, but I need you to see Riku"
I was in a dilemma, was this really Raine? He seemed to genuinely care, but this went against all I had put together. It seemed that Raine had more sides than a Rubix cube and was 10 times as confusing. With my chest tightening I let Raine lead me up the last few stairs and through the door.
Hehehehehehehe sort of cliffie
Oi, that really took me a long time to update:S, sry about that, but this chapter is a bit longer so hopefully it makes up for that . Thank you for reading and thank you for all the reviews and suggestions. :D You can E-mail me about what you think or Review! Thanks again :)
Bibi!
Thank you to:
Daniella
QueenOfTheShadowFangs
DreamSummoner
Risako
Lizzard-gurl
SakuraAngelina
Place of Peace
Sry if I missed anyone, but thanks
(oh and anyone from school who read this story and was immensly confuzled :)
