Chapter 4: Keybearer
The woman stands tall and firm, metallic blue and silver Keyblade held almost aloof downward at her side. Namine takes a moment to take her in, wide eyed and very confused by the mystery Keybearer. The woman is young, either leaving her teen years or just about to. She had blue eyes and blue hair down to her shoulder. She bore a black and navy blue, high-collared halter top, a black corset with two pairs of white laces and black shorts. There were two pink straps intersecting over her chest, with a very unsettingly familiar silver badge holding it together, Namine knows she's seen that badge somewhere before, but she's not sure where. On the woman's arms are white bell-sleeves and tan, fingerless gloves. She had a small, strange single piece of armor on each of her upper arms. She had black stockings reaching about halfway up her thighs, leaving a small patch of bare skin. There are two strips of blue cloth hanging down over her hips, along with a smaller, white strip of cloth tied around her waist in the same manner. Her silver boots are pointed and armored, with a sharp hook on the outer side of each.
Namine has never seen her before, she's sure of that, if someone else had who had been connected to Sora had, she doesn't know, she doesn't have access to those memories anymore, but... there was one thing that did tickle something. In her last prison, she had gone through Sora's memories of the defeat of the Organization, and what Xigbar had said...
"You've really put Organization XIII in a pickle. I guess that must be why the Keyblade chose you. But MAN, did it pick a dud this time. You don't look like you're half the hero the others were."
Maybe... maybe he hadn't been lying or trying to confuse Sora. Was... was this who he had meant? But wait, others implied plural, more than one... if so... where were they? Where had this woman been?
Kairi scrambles to her, hand grasping for the woman's in fearful response, resting on the Keyblade before the woman waves her back towards Namine.
"Take her and go, quickly!" comes the woman's sharp voice, "Fighting while protecting someone at the same time isn't something I have much experience in."
"R-right," stammers Namine, grabbing Kairi's hand, but taking a sharp breath when more of the creatures started to appear, effectively surrounding them.
"I can't fight like this," muttered the woman in frustration.
Dark fear scrapes along Namine's spine, warring with the hard and firm sensation in her chest to protect Kairi. She steels herself for a moment, before she desperately crushes the fear, "K-Kairi, when I move, get ready to run, okay? Run and don't look back no matter what you hear, o-okay?."
"Nami?"
Namine rushes to the side as the creatures start to swarm at the Keybearer, throwing herself at the nearest creatures and shoving it out of the way, then tackling another one. "RUN KAIRI!"
She catches a glimpse of the sandled feet running, Kairi sobbing as she fled, before the creatures swarm all over Namine, biting and scratching and dragging her to the ground. She screams in pain...
"GET OFF HER!" came a roar.
A barrier of translucent energy ripples off of Namine's body, throwing the creatures off. Then the Keybearer is standing directly over Namine, one foot in front of her, one foot behind, Keyblade held defensively, batting away the creatures leaping at them. She's pinned down and struggling trying to protect her... because Namine was to weak to do it herself... always a burden...
"I... I'm sorry," was all Namine could whisper.
The woman briefly glanced down at her, eyebrows furrowed. "There's nothing to be sorry about, what you did was very brave."
Namine swallows and looks away.
"Hiiiyaaaaa!"
Namine looks up in time to see- IS THAT MICKEY MOUSE?!
Her jaw drops to see the King flipping through the air, an unfamiliar blue and white Keyblade with yellow star teeth at its end, cleaving through the creatures. He lands on both feet like that acrobatics he just did were nothing before he turns and looks at the woman. "Hurry! Ya gotta get that girl to someplace that's safe."
The woman opens her mouth to speak, but its Namine that does, "Y-your majesty?!
Mickey startles. "Huh? How do you know..."
He reflexively turns and bats a monster leaping at him. "Talk later, get her out of here!"
"Right," says the woman, frowning at the mouse, and then at Namine, "You're not of this world, are you?"
Namine shrinks in on herself, swallowing. Oh no, she had forgotten all about it. About the World Order. They weren't supposed to know about other worlds...
The woman sighs and picks Namine up, booking it down the stairs, stopping to find Kairi hiding anxiously at the foot of the stairs. Aqua takes a few sharp looks around before setting Namine down next to her. "Nami! You're hurt!"
The Keybearer holds up her Keyblade and mutters, "Cure."
Namine takes in a sharp breath as the bites and scratches heal. "You two, stay here, don't go anywhere unless more of the Unversed come."
Un-what?
The woman doesn't stick around, rushing back up the steps to fight alongside the King. Namine doesn't pay attention to the sound of battle, instead, she curls up, bringing her legs up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. King Mickey and the Unknown Keybearer knew she wasn't from this world because of her big mouth. What kind of trouble was she going to be in? W...w-would they take her away? Throw her in some kind of prison... hurt her?
She lets out a soft gasp when Kairi's arms wrap around her, sniffling. "Nami? Awre you 'kay?"
Namine makes a choking sound and hugs Kairi back...
"Namine!"
She startles to hear and then see Aeleus rushing to them. He kneels down in front of her, eyes honing in on the scratch and bite marks that ripped through her clothes with open concern and barely withheld fury. "What happened?"
Kairi shakily pointed up the stairs when Namine couldn't respond. "Monsters tak'd us! But the lady and the mouse with keys hewp'd us and are fighting them!"
Aeleus nodded and reached to his belt for a radio. "Xaldin! To the palace gates now! The creatures are attacking, Namine and Kairi were caught in the crossfire, saved by unknown parties still fighting."
Xaldin's voice crackled through. "Understood."
Aeleus glances backward. "Squall, guard them!"
Namine looks past him briefly to see the young guard coming in behind, drawing his sword and nodded. "Got it. Go teach em' no one messes with the Guard's Wards."
Aeleus huffed and rushed up the stairs, drawing his mighty sword. Other guards swarm the area, and it doesn't last much longer before Aeleus calls down for Leon to bring them up. Namine's legs feel like jello, like shes going to buckle and fall with every step. Her heart beats fast, the hard and firm sensation in her chest is gone now, only icy fear remains. She's only just started to really settle in here... she... she doesn't...
The Keybearer and the King stand at an awkward stance, talking with a cluster of guards. The woman especially looks a little flustered and caged, not appearing to like being at the center of attention. Leon leads them closer... closer... closer...
"Thank you, miss Aqua, and mister Mouse" said Aeleus, "For stepping in and saving the young Wards. It was irresponsible of us not being aware of their wandering off and stationing someone to watch them. We owe you a deep debt of gratitude."
"I was, um... happy to help," answers Aqua bashfully.
"Gosh, we were glad to help!" says Mickey cheerfully, before he glanced over at Namine, "Though, I'm kind of curious how she knows 'bout me, I don't think we've met before, I'm not exactly from these parts."
Namine wilted at the look, fear trembling down her arms.
Mickey's look turns to concern, but takes a step back rather than forward as the entire guard shifts in response to Namine's fear. Some stepping protectivly closer to her, other hands warily trailing towards their weapons.
Aeleus takes a few steps to Namine and kneels down in front of her. "Namine? Are you alright?"
She swallows back her fear, trying, but failing to speak.
Aeleus's face clouds with something dark. "Is he one of the ones who hurt you?"
That gets her to speak, because as afraid of Mickey as she is at the moment, he is not evil. "No!"
"Then why are you afraid?" asked Aeleus.
"I'm... I'm not supposed to be here," whispered Namine, "And he knows it."
Aeleus's eyebrows furrow. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Gosh, this is about to get complicated, isn't it?" says Mickey, scratching the back of his head, "Ho boy!"
The woman, Aqua as Aeleus has called her, doesn't react to the World Order reference, instead, there is a flicker of anger in her eyes. "What did you mean 'one of the ones who hurt her'?"
Namine shrinks a bit, wishing Aeleus hadn't said anything. She doesn't... doesn't want more people to know about what... what happened than absolutely necessary.
"Leon, why don't you take them over there for a moment while we... talk," answered Aeleus.
Leon nods and nudges Kairi and Namine away. She drags her feet though...
"Young Namine appeared one day not long ago, according to young Kairi, in a flash of light," explained Aeleus, "She was taken in by Kairi and her grandmother, Lady Ame. However... Lady Ame had noted significant signs of physical and mental abuse to the young girl."
Aqua takes in a sharp breath. "Significant how?"
"I don't believe such personal details are yours to know."
"Unfortunately, it might be," rebutted Aqua.
"And you are going to have to explain that if you want me to elaborate."
Namine freezes then, as another voice, a terrifyingly familiar one, echoes out. "What is going on out here?"
Namine pales as DiZ steps out of the Castle, ice washing down her spine. Nonononononononononnoooooo...
"Nami?" comes Kairi's quiet, concerned voice.
"Lord Ansem," calls out Aeleus, "There has been a... situation."
Namine shakes as DiZ approaches Aeleus, gazing over the group, sizing up Aqua and Mickey, and then his eyes towards Namine and she completely locks up, feeling tears streaming down her face...
...and then it all breaks when concern, not contempt, comes across DiZ's face. "I take it that is young Namine, perhaps you should take a moment to see to her, Guardsman Aeleus, she looks very unsettled by whatever transpired."
Namine faces whiplash, blinking rapidly and shaking her head at DiZ's reaction... except its not DiZ, this isn't the mansion... its Ansem the Wise... and they're in Radiant Garden...
She falls to her knees, wincing briefly at hitting the bricks. Aeleus is there in a short moment, rubbing small circles on her back. "Shh young one, it will be okay, you are fine, you are safe."
Namine takes deep breaths, trying to get her emotions under control. Why was it so hard to do this? Why was it so hard to be a person? She swallows and forces her attention away, keeping her head down but her ear tilted towards the main group.
"Hmm," comes DiZ... Ansem's voice, "If someone could explain this to me?"
Mickey speaks first. "Lord Ansem, are you the... leader in these parts? If we could speak in private..."
"If by these parts, you mean this world, then yes," answers Ansem briskly.
Mickey winces. "Ah... that's..."
"These men are people I trust," answers Ansem, "Even with so grand a secret as that."
"Milord?" questioned Xaldin.
"I will explain in more detail later, if you would please start from the beginning...?"
"My names Mickey Mouse," said Mickey, holding up a hand to shake, "Nice to meet ya."
Ansem takes it and nods. "You as well."
"I'm sure you know about the Monsters all running around and causing trouble by now," says Mickey, waiting for Ansem to nod before continuing, "I was sent out to help try to get a handle of the situation by my teacher, as I'm sure miss Aqua was by hers."
Aqua nods.
"I've investigated a few worlds, this one the latest, and was trying to clean up a bunch of these things," continues Mickey, scowling a bit, "They don't have regard for anyone, child or otherwise. I came across Aqua trying to keep Namine safe and stepped in, and well... Namine recognized me."
Ansem hummed. "I had thought as much of her. The guard might believe that Namine had been kept bound and chained in a cellar somewhere in our world, but I was not so quick to disbelieve young Kairi's account of her appearance. I am to assume then she is from another world?"
"Probably... and I'm going to go outright and say I really don't like what you just hinted at," said Mickey, voice tight.
"I'm going to ask again," said Aqua firmly, "What was meant by 'extreme signs of abuse'?"
Ansem frowned, rubbing his beard. "I've read the guard's reports myself, and find myself rather displeased. There were cut marks all over her back and in places not usually visible underneath her clothes. Aeleus believes she was molested, and the way she has been noted to talk about herself signifies extreme mental and emotional abuse."
Namine finds it hard to breath for a moment, her face burning in fear, shame, and frustration.
Aqua made a choking sound, face paling, then contorting with fury. "She's just a child!"
"Not all monsters of the world are shaped like the ones we just slew," spat Xaldin, "The names of the perpetrators she identified are Marluxia and Larxene, have either of you heard of them before?"
Both shake their heads, and Aqua takes it a step further, gritting out, "No, but I'll be keeping my ears and eyes open."
There is something there all of the sudden, that twinges at Namine's senses. Something like Riku, like Maleficent, like so many others, brought out by her fury. For a moment, Namine thought she saw something purple about Aqua, but then its gone so fast she thinks she might have imagined it.
"I was never going to say anything on the matter of my suspicions of her origins unless I was forced to, but, I take it there are rules and regulations on what is and is not allowed between worlds?" posed Ansem.
Mickey nodded. "Yeah, there are, and exceptions in what we do about that is really small."
"Surely you would not send her back?" stressed Ansem.
"Light no!" exclaimed Aqua.
"That's the normal requirement," muttered Mickey in a halfhearted counter, "To send people back and seal the way over if possible. Some people we let off the hook if their intentions are pure and they're not trying to meddle, but usually those people don't stay in other worlds that long, wanderlust more than anything else. Permanent settlement is... an icky subject, because its someone who isn't naturally there who will stay for the rest of their lives and potentially change the course of a world and the events there in a way they weren't meant to."
Ansem takes in a breath and slowly lets it out. "I understand what you are saying, Mickey, but if you attempt to take Namine from here by force, none of the guards would allow it, and I do not wish for an extra-worldly conflict to occur under my rule."
"I don't think I really want to," admitted Mickey glumly, "What happened to her isn't right in any world."
"Perhaps," said Aqua firmly, "I could talk to her first? Trying to make a decision without all the facts, and her input on them, is unwise."
Ansem hums in response. "If she is up for it."
Aqua separates from the group and regards Aeleus briefly, "If we could have some privacy for a moment?"
Aeleus grumbles a little but withdraws his hand from Namine's back and steps away, gently prying Kairi's hands off Namine and taking the scowling girl away. "You better be nice to Nami!"
"I have no intention of hurting her," answers back Aqua.
"Leon," calls out Aeleus as he moves, "Please take Kairi to Lady Ame in the library and inform her of what has transpired."
Leon nods, and frog marches Kairi into the castle. Namine watches her original self go, heart constricting and feeling alone-alone-alone.
Aqua sits down in front of Namine, her voice is very soft, and very gentle, "Hello Namine, my name is Aqua."
Namine's eyes flicker up to meet her. The woman's eyes are tight with anger, but its not directed at her, at her, there is only kindness and sadness mixed together. "Hello..."
"Do you know of the World Order, Namine?" asked Aqua softly.
"They're not supposed to know about one another," she answered, "I haven't said..."
"I figured," cut in Aqua gently, "But your presence here is still a disruption to the natural state of this world."
Namine's shoulder's slumped. "I... I have no where else to go."
"Light, Namine, I'm not saying I'd send you back to wherever your homeworld is, I wouldn't send you back to those who'd abuse you," said Aqua sternly.
"A Nobody doesn't have a right to be," muttered Namine, "A thing can't be abused..."
There was a very sharp intake of breath, Aqua's calm composure broke, and she looked like she was about to either cry or go murder someone, her voice cracking a bit, "Namine, you are not a thing, you are a person."
Namine just bowed her head and didn't reply.
"Light above," whispered Aqua hoarsely, taking in a breath, "Namine, what world are you from?"
"I... I don't know," she answers.
Does being born in Castle Oblivion count as a world of origin? What was the name the castle even resided in? Or did she technically owe Radiant Garden being her homeworld since Kairi was born here?
Aqua's lips purse. "I'm not going to send you back, but we need to know how you got here."
Namine tenses, and that firm and hard sensation fills her again. "She saved me. She sent me away to save me. I'm not telling you anything that would get her in trouble."
She doesn't even know how that would work. Kairi is so young here, even if her older self had broken rules about the worlds (and maybe about time if there are any rules about that), could she be held responsible? How would someone even seal that ability? Would it hurt Kairi? Over her dead body is the answer. And what about Kingdom Hearts having a hand in it? Namine has the very intense notion that she needs to keep her mouth shut.
Aqua studies her for a long moment, concern warring with duty. "I see."
Aqua considers her before speaking, "Is this something this 'She' would do often?"
"Its the only time it ever happened," murmurs Namine, eyes drooping, "She wrapped me in light and... and I was free."
Something in Aqua's shoulders loosened at that. "So it was an act of light then, alright. Okay. Good. I can live with that so long as it doesn't end up being abused."
There is silence for a long moment before Aqua speaks again, "You know Namine, I said it before, I'll say it again, what you did was very brave, to help Kairi run."
Namine shrugged. "She took me in. If I had to die to keep her safe, that's... that's o-okay."
A hand gently cups her chin and tilts her head up, studying her intently, and Namine feels... feels the stirring of some kind of magic, and of light. "Your heart holds shadows and scars, but despite this its filled with such care and light, because you mean that, not just in a defeated way, you would care enough about her to readily give your life in her defense, to stand against the dark even if you are afraid. If given the chance to heal and shine, I wonder... would you be special enough?"
Namine blinks at her, confused.
Aqua's hand falls down her neck to rest on Namine's collar bone. "Beyond that, there is something strange about your heart."
Namine half-tenses, half-shrinks on herself.
Aqua pulls her hand back and regards Namine for a moment, thinking, before asking, "Is it alright if I ask you some... personal questions? I wont ask them lightly, but they are important."
Namine's voice is quiet. "...okay."
"What are you most afraid of, young one?"
There is something about that tone, that reminds her of her last brief conversation with her older true self, and she finds that she can't lie. "Being alone."
She swallows. "Always alone."
"It sounds like a fear you have experience with. Why are you alone?" asks Aqua gently.
There were so many reasons she could give. "Because I'm a witch."
"And more often than not, those with magic are persecuted," said Aqua, sighing, "I'm sorry you've had to experience that."
Namine scoffed bitterly as the burning sensation from days ago returns to her. "Persecuted? I wish that was it. They don't persecute me, they use me, use my power to hurt others."
She bowed her head. "I don't want to hurt people..."
There was an edge to Aqua's voice. "Those who use special children like tools and weapons are despicable."
Its there again, that sensation, Aqua's anger bubbling dangerously close to the surface, and this time Namine knows she saw a flicker of purple, and black, but its so fast before its gone and smothered, almost instinctively. She's not sure Aqua knows or recognizes what happened. The woman is filled with light, but Namine... Namine brings out something dark and ugly from her...
Aqua composes herself and asks her next question. "What do you want out of life, young one?"
Namine found herself repeating what she said to the older Kairi, and feeling strangely offbalanced by the echoing between then and now. "To not be alone, I... want to have the chance to help people when it really matters, not be forced to hurt them."
Aqua nodded with approval, but the sadness in her eyes deepens. "That is a good desire, Namine, I only wish it hadn't been born in counter of such suffering."
Namine says nothing, hands clenching on her pant legs.
Aqua lets out a soft breath. "What is most important to you?"
Namine blinks up at her. Beyond the repetition between Kairi and Aqua... there is something oddly familiar about this, tickling a vague memory briefly connected to Sora that she can't access anymore. "What.. is the difference between that and the last question?"
Aqua smiles. "Look deep in your heart, and you'll know the difference, and the answer."
Namine swallows and bows her head, closing her eyes. She's hardly had a heart long enough to know how to search it. But...
She thinks of Kairi. Of Sora. Of Roxas. Of Ame. Of all the guards who look out for her...
"Those I care for," answers Namine softly, "I'd give anything to protect them."
Something seems to solidify in Aqua's eyes. "After risking yourself for Kairi, I thought as much."
"Ho boy," murmurs Aqua, "The Master is going to pitch a fit, but... I think this is the right thing to do, even if its so soon after my Mark of Mastery. It also answers the World Order problem, and I think... you are special enough. Hurt beyond belief, but so pure, so strong when it matters despite the pain and doubts. I think you have what it takes, Namine."
"I don't... understand," stammered Namine.
Aqua moves to stand, summoning her Keyblade, and for a moment, Namine is afraid, but then Aqua reverses her grip on her Keyblade, holding down the handle towards her. "In your hand, take this Key. So long as you have the makings, then through this simple act of taking, it's wielder you shall one day be. And you will find me, friend—no ocean will contain you then. No more borders around, or below, or above, so long as you champion the ones you love."
Namine's breathing hitched, her eyes going wide. Was... was Aqua... she doing what Namine thought she was doing...?
She stares at the handle in disbelief. "I..."
"The choice is yours, Namine," says Aqua softly, "I cannot make you accept this. I am a whats known as Keybearer, it is my role and responsibility to keep the world and its peoples safe. Its a hard, but rewarding life. You might not be able to stay long or often in the lives of those you cherish, but you will have the power to defend them from the creatures like the Unversed, from the darkness, from that which unbalances the worlds, to watch over them from afar as a silent guardian."
Something in Namine settles at that. There was always the fear of being a burden, making people change their lives to suit hers because of her weakness... but... if she could become strong enough to protect them instead... not interfering, but being there when they needed her... she doesn't think she's worthy of this... but... if she can save people she cares about... maybe even prevent this world from falling, Aeleus and the others from losing their hearts and being twisted into Nobodies...
This... this is everything she asked for. This is what Kingdom Hearts granted her. To make her desire a reality.
Her hand slowly and shakily reached up and grasped the Keyblade and... and something surged inside of her. She jolted slightly, shocked that she actually felt it, knowing and fearing what it meant; Aqua smiled. "Its done."
Again, Namine stares at Aqua, at her Keyblade, the notion of being a Keybearer as a profession echoing in her mind, and wonders what happened to Aqua? Mickey knew her, but had never, not once, mentioned her to Sora or anyone connected to him. Why? Was... was she dead in their time? There is no way Aqua wouldn't have interfered and tried to fight Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, nor would she have stayed out of the Organization business. Namine knows missing important information, she knows this.
Namine lets go of the Keyblade and settles her hands on her lap. "What... happens now?"
"Now, apprentice," says Aqua with a soft smile, "I think we need to go talk to your caretakers."
Something in Namine flutters. Apprentice. The realness of what happens rears up and slaps her in the face. She blinks rapidly, breathing hitching for a moment. That its actually happening. This isn't a dream. One moment she had been running from monsters with Kairi, the next... the next she's... she's been chosen... chosen by someone... wanted... she wants to buckle to the ground at the notion, but forces herself not to. She's been chosen to be a Keybearer, and she can't even try to deny it. She felt it, the moment she touched the Keyblade, something in her heart had stirred...
Aqua held out a hand, and Namine took it, feeling the warmth of the woman's gentle grip. Her presence is soothing, and she can't help but think Aqua would have gotten along with everyone in her time. It fills her with an ache though, this woman's barely met her, yet suddenly cares so much, like Kairi, like Ame, like all the guards. Yet she's gone, shes dead, in Namine's time.
Not if she can help it.
She grips Aqua's hand a little tighter, and walks back with her towards the others...
Author's Note:
Counterpoint, Aqua is here far longer than before, leaving Ven and Terra to a 2v1 against the Trinity Armor for the time being. Ut oh...
Next chapter: tearful farewells, Roxas and Xemnas look alikes, and our first meeting with Vanitas, in which, Namine completely fucks the timeline from cannon.
So, oodles of fun.
