Final Fantasy XV - Kingdom Hearts
Part 38
Summary: Two warriors of Light, the Chosen King and Keyblade Master, face an unseen Darkness.
*Years ago…*
Standing quietly near the King of Insomnia, a six-year-old Ignis held his breath and stilled his shaking shoulders that were shaking thanks to his nerves being on full alert. Despite his lessons from his uncle about royal decorum and maintaining a strong statue-like stance and with the best manners for his king, Ignis could not shake that fear within him.
This is the first time he had ever met the king face to face, and worst of all he had to meet him on his own with only the faint assurance that his uncle was just outside the throne room in case things went south. His six-year-old mind raced with worry of why his king had called him on his own, fear of misbehavior or worse.
'Listen well:', the king said, his voice jolting the young child to straighten up. 'A king cannot lead standing still'. Words of wisdom Ignis had been taught by his uncle, an old saying passed down from generations of the Lucis family. He took comfort in these words strangely, likely because he knew that was how his majesty walked his path, never standing still when his people needed him to guide them to prosperity.
'A king pushes onward always, accepting the consequences and never looking back', his majesty says, turning to the boy. Seeing his king's face, Ignis had forgotten that despite the deep and grave yet wise voice within his throat the king had a face that was friendly and kind. He always reminded Ignis of his uncle, but with far more wisdom in his eyes and the courage to walk the path of the king regardless of the difficulties that come along with the responsibilities.
'That said:', he says, bending slightly to Ignis. 'a king can accept nothing without first accepting himself'.
His face showed concern, but it vanished as it took one a gentler look, one that spoke of a man who is about to ask a person a great request. 'Should he standstill, I ask you to stand by him and lend a hand- as his friend,', he speaks softly and almost pleadingly. The king stands aside to allow Ignis to see a little boy behind him, shyly and hesitantly walking towards the slightly older boy.
Even back then when he was a child the sharp eye Ignis felt something about this boy. The shyness yet curiosity of a child certainly glowed from him but there is an innocence that is welcoming to the boy. 'As his brother', the king said, gently pushing the boy closer to Ignis.
'Please, take care of my son', the king asks, soft and low.
Ignis was always told from the day he learned to speak that this would be his path from there on out, to be the advisor and guide to the future ruler of the kingdom. If he falters, he would straighten up, if he stay still, he would be by his side and urge him forward. A life dedicated to this future king was already planned since his birth, a life to give for his prince.
Yet…that was not what Ignis saw on that day.
On that day he did not see the son of the king his family had sworn to serve, he did not see the prince that would one day sit on the throne like his father before him, and nor did he see the boy who would be under his care for the rest of his life.
He sees the boy shyly look away but upon offering a hand to greet him, the prince looked surprised by the offer like he had never seen anyone perform such a gesture to him. The prince gently grasped his offered hand with both of his smaller hands and shook it, childishly but with restraint giddiness of a child.
No, what Ignis saw on that day, was a brother who needed someone to watch him, to be by his side. Someone more than just a member of royalty, someone more than just a person to serve. This was the boy, who gave him one of the most precious smiles he had ever seen, who would be his king.
And…the boy he promised to protect with all he had, even if it means his life…
*Present time*
Despite the defeat of the Leviathan, the battle was far from over.
Running onto the bridge after dealing with imperials, Riku and Ignis attempted to cross the bridge only to stumble as the world shook from the power of Titan. Catching up to them is Aqua, Prompto, and Gladiolus while Ignis pressed his fingers to the earpiece.
'Noct, can you hear me?', he asked as Riku did the same.
'Sora? Kairi? Damn it guys say something!', he cursed. When neither got a response, they turned to the others. 'If they're not picking up then we need to make sure they're safe ourselves', Aqua stated. 'With the trial over by now, all we have to worry about is Titan and the imperials'.
Just as Aqua finished her sentence, the ground shook again and everyone stumbled, Prompto more so falling on his back. Looking through the arches of the walls, Riku sees an airship being forcefully turned around and whatever Titan did must have shut down the power, because it was now charging towards the bridge the party was on.
'LOOK OUT!', Riku shouted.
Ignis and Riku ran over to the other side as Prompto scampered to his feet and Gladiolus grabbed Aqua and threw himself and her back just as the airship crashed. The bridge had been decimated, the center reduced to nothing as dust and rock flew all over the place as the world shook around them.
When the shakes subsided, the three warriors looked up to see the vast gap between their side of the bridge and the other end, but worst of all no Riku or Ignis insight. The three could only stare, each expression fear, anger and worry for their companions.
*Later…*
Squinting his eyes as the pain subsides, Ignis opened his eyes to find himself within the canal of Altissia, his only support keeping him from drowning is a lone piece of wood. Shaking his head to rid this headache plaguing him, Ignis looks to the sky to see more imperial ships flying towards the astrals and altar. Ignis curses lightly but then suddenly looks around the canal, remembering he wasn't the only one who might have fallen into the canal. 'Riku?', he called out.
'Over here!'. Looking ahead of him he sees the silver head floating in the water, waving at his fellow water ridden partner. 'Over there, there's a way out', Ignis says, pointing to a flight of stairs near the water and started to swim to the flight of stairs with Riku in tow. Once they reached the stairs and climbed out of the water, they took the time to assess their conditions.
Riku is missing his black jacket, his white shirt was damp and had a tear around his stomach, exposing it. His left arm was missing one of his glovelettes while the one on his right was cut up and in tatters. Likely he's only sustained minimal damage, nothing a potion couldn't fix. Looking himself, Ignis advisor frowned when he saw his gloves were missing, and his jacket had been lost too. 'Least it's only clothing we lost as opposed to our limbs…', Ignis lamented as Riku crushed the potion in his hand.
Riku grunted in pain before exhaling softly, then he looked at his ruined glovelettes and bare left hand. 'Aww man, I liked those…', he said half-jokingly. 'And I'm certain you like having your hands more', Ignis chastised softly. Riku chuckled lightly as he rolled his shoulders and rubbed his neck.
Riku glances at Ignis before he snickered. 'Love the new hairdo', he teased. Ignis frowned at the tease, he didn't want to imagine how horrendous his hair looked. How in the name of the astrals did Riku manage to keep his own so well kept despite everything they had just endured? Must be magic, he refuses to believe otherwise.
'I'm kinda surprised your glasses stayed on', Riku said with amusement, pointing at him. 'Did you glue them on or something?'.
'That is a question we can save for later', Ignis said, 'We need to reach the altar and help the others'. Riku's playful demeanor changed quickly to serious, nodding wholeheartedly at the man. 'Right, first we should probably figure out how far we are from them', he offered, gesturing the stairs nearby. Ignis nods before they both ran up the summit of the stairs and onto the streets of the battle-torn city, the day slowly shifting to dusk as more airships flew overhead.
They grimaced at the sheer amount of them polluting the skies above, the question of how many did the empire make and send weighing on their minds. Onwards they went regardless of the number of enemies that would likely impede their progress, climbing another flight of stairs but before they rounded the corner, Riku stopped them both, arm out to block Ignis. Looking at the boy, the man then peered over the corner to see a single magitek soldier patrolling the small area.
'Just one in sight, there could be more', Ignis said, sounding Riku's concern. 'And if they hear anything they'll come down on us', Riku finished. Ignis rubbed his chin in thought, then he summoned his dagger, looked to Riku. 'Let us be quick, do you happen to have a spell of sorts that could perhaps wipe them out quickly?', he inquired.
'Hate to say my magic is a bit on the minimal side', Riku confessed with a weak chuckle, 'One thing the others have me beat in'. Ignis scoffed at this, but Riku regardless summoned Brave Heart. 'I can go in and get their attention, you jump in then', he suggested.
Just before Ignis could question the plan, Riku immediately ran in and yelled out to the magitek soldier. The robotic being turned quickly to the boy, letting out a robotic cry to alert its fellow soldiers. Just as they both suspected, a platoon of soldiers raced down a set of stairs and another jumped off the rooftops. Riku plunged his keyblade in the soldier's stomach, turning around to see the horde of machines rushing toward him.
Before they got close, Ignis suddenly descended upon them, spear plunged into one and crushing its body. The tremor emitted from Ignis' strike sent a powerful shockwave that made some fall or stagger. A chance to rack up some kills, Riku performs a move he had grown fond of, the dark splicer.
He vanishes and begins to appear and reappear around the stumbling soldiers, striking at them for quick kills, ripping them apart and turning them all to scrap metal. As Riku was slicing everything and moving too fast for the imperial army to keep track of him, Ignis took the chance to dish out his punishment to his foes, imbuing his daggers with lightning.
Feeling the electricity coursing through him and his daggers, Ignis begins to strike at his foes with speed comparable to Riku's attack. Like a lightning bolt, Ignis strikes at his foes and moves fast enough to get around and strike others without either soldier being able to halt him, together the combined heroes were like a storm of steel and blades. The soldiers were eviscerated within minutes of their cyclone of death.
Landing back on his feet with a light bounce in his step, Riku dismissed Brave Heart as Ignis shook his hands. He gave the older man an approving smile, 'Not bad, never knew you could use magic like that', he praised. Ignis pushes his glasses upwards with a small smile etching on his lips. 'Come now, its nothing special', he assured. Riku rolls his eyes, patting the man on the shoulder in good nature.
'But all seriousness, how come you've never done that before? Probably could have saved time on the fights before', Riku questioned. This makes Ignis frown before he said: 'I could ask Sora the same thing'. Riku gave the man a questioning look, prompting him to elaborate. 'I'm no fool, Riku, Sora is a far more powerful than he displayed. Yet he is continuously holding back his strength'. Turning to Riku as the master gave him a frown, he folds his arms.
'I know not why he does, but for myself, if I went all out like this then there is a chance Noct would grow lax and become more dependent on us to take care of things should we find ourselves in a tight spot', Ignis explains. As faithful in Noctis' abilities and feats as the man is, Ignis will always carry that fear of laziness of his majesty will get him killed one day. Of course, there have been times he had should have gone the extra mile and go all out for them, but after Sora joined the party, he fears them relying on them had made them more unguarded.
Riku waved his hand with a shrug. 'I get you…but personally? I'd rather do all the heavy lifting it means keeping them safe', he confesses with a casual tone. Ignis raised a brow at him as Riku looked at him. 'You can do that for Noct and the others if you want, but when it comes to those two, I'd tear the world apart for them', he said strongly, adamantly.
'Maybe Sora's holding back for us, or to give Kairi a sense of assurance she can keep up with us, I dunno. I know I'm holding back for Xigbar and nobodies', he says. 'Speaking of which…we should probably get a move on'.
Deciding to agree with the idea before this conversation causes a rift between them, Ignis turns to the buildings before them. 'We'll have a good view of the city should we take to the rooftops', Ignis surmised, calmly. Riku nodded in agreement before his face scrunched up with annoyance. 'So how are you getting up? Unless you can use Flowmotion like me, only one of us is going up', Riku argued. The boy had a point, Ignis couldn't scale the building and much less leap hundreds of feet. Getting around would take them too long if they had to find a route for him…
He looks at the fallen magiteks and spots one that catches his eyes. Its right hand possessed a wire that is undamaged by their attack and the greave looked to be in good enough condition to be used. Ignis kneels to it and got to work separating the wire from the socket of the magitek's shoulder and strapping the greave to his left wrist.
Finished, Ignis adjusts it and aims it at the ledge of the rooftop before them and fired the wire. Like a grapnel, it pulled him up the moment it stuck into the building. He used his foot to kick himself up when he got close and stood on top of the building, turning to Riku. 'Coming?', he asked rhetorically before walking off.
'…smartass', Riku chuckled, jumping to the top of the building with ease.
Together on the building, they could see just how things fared nearby the altar. Titan stood alone in the middle of the ocean, punching and crushing the airships and fending off the larger dreadnaughts with ease. Even as the imperials blasted the Archean with rockets, the humanoid goliath remained undeterred and resilient to their persistence as he granted the airships that were close to him a quick death and a watery grave.
Several buildings were reduced to rubble and ruin, many paths blocked by debris or fallen airships, there was fire spreading among the town. Yet the two were fixed on the altar in the distance behind the Archean, a faint shimmering golden light shines down on the altar like a beacon. 'Do you think Titan showed up because of Noct? Or Luna?', Riku asked, gesturing to the Archean. 'The astrals only intervene when Noct is in great peril, and I dare say the situation certain counts as one', Ignis answered.
Riku looked at the altar and the surrounding areas, his face taking on a frown when there was nothing show them how to get to the altar, but instead just a platoon of imperials holding territory. Together they crouched down on the ledge, surveying the playing field before them while Ignis ponders their next move. No magitek armor units among them luckily, only soldiers.
'We'll have to clear out this area first, better to deal with them now then have them hot on our heels', Ignis deduced. 'Alright, then you want me to light them up?', Riku asked, raising his hand and manifesting dark flames. Ignis frowned at the dark display but kept his tongue on hold. 'Perhaps a swifter approach would be better…', he said, placing Riku's hand down, 'I've got a magic flask with lightning inside, it should put them down quick'.
He handed the flask to Riku and gave him a quick explanation on how it worked before the silver head stood up and ran off the building and jumps into the air. He throws the flask right in the middle of the platoon of soldiers. The flask smashed on the ground and bathed all the soldiers in a cloud of lightning and sparks, the soldiers cooked to a crisp and they fell apart, lifeless. Riku lands on the streetlight to stay out of the cloud of sparks.
After the flask's work finished, the two re-joined back in the center just as Ignis raised a hand. He placed two fingers on his earpiece, picking up the Accordo guard's message. 'Attention all units: the Hydraean has fallen to the Archean', the commander of the guard says. 'Imperial forces moving from city center toward the altar. All units withdraw from the front lines immediately. I repeat: all units, withdraw immediately'.
Ignis exhaled from his nose, giving Riku the quick rundown about what he heard. 'Without the Leviathan going crazy with the water, nothing is stopping them sending every freaking ship they've got', Riku grunted, both turning to the Titan crushing the airships. The giant showed no signs of fatigue absolutely and likely it'll deplete all the empire's military forces if it must. However, given where the ships had fallen or been smashed too, it was only a matter of time before a mistake is made and their companions become pancakes.
Provided the empire doesn't reach the others first, especially if there is a ground unit patrolling in the city.
'Any idea how we can get to the altar?', Riku asked, looking at the man. Ignis pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to wrack up the map of the city in his mind. Studying it before arriving to Altissia for situations like this. Furrowing his brow in irritation at the lack of an idea of their whereabouts and no clue as to how they can make their way to the altar. If the empire is just using the airships, then that wouldn't be much of an issue if Titan can pummel them all. But if ground troops were deployed, then they'll be delayed and outnumbered.
He snapped his fingers, recollection showing on his face. 'We're currently standing in the Arcaleo District', he stated, looking at Riku, 'There's a bridge on the eastern side that should help us reach the altar if we cross it and stay on the rooftops'.
'Avoiding the bucket heads in the process', Riku added with a nod, 'Alright then! Let's move!'. 'Certainly, but I must contact Camelia first, see if she can lend us some support', Ignis stated, running with Riku to the direction of the bridge. While the silver head may have his issues and doubts with gaining help from this woman, he trusted Ignis to hopefully gain some form of aid.
'Madame Secretary come in!', Ignis says as they run down the stairway to the street ahead of them. 'What is it?', the secretary responded, angrily and impatiently all in one reply. Ignis held back the bite in his tone, saying: 'We need your help; I fear Noct is in danger!'. 'As is the entire city of Altissia, in case you haven't noticed', she says neutrally, like it was blatantly obvious to her and treated Ignis like he is dim-witted.
When they reached the end of the stairs, ahead of them were more imperials but this time they were in the company of nobodies. Three berserkers followed by five dusks, waltzing around and slithering in the air near the lifeless soldiers. 'Was wondering when Xigbar would bring in the cavalry', Riku grunted, summoning his keyblade. 'I'll go ahead, you try talking sense into that snob!'. Ignis nodded as Riku rushed into the fray. 'Besides, he and his "girlfriend" are probably long gone', Camelia says dismissively.
'No! I made a promise to keep him safe, a promise I intend to keep!', Ignis argued. 'Madame, we've aided you and your people in evacuating, surely we've earned your help!'. 'At the cost of my city, if you kindly recall', Camelia pointed out. Ignis grits his teeth and paces around, glancing at Riku being swarmed by imperials and nobodies alike. 'Forgive my language madame, but for bloody sake, we are not only going to lose our King but the Oracle as well! Be it the battle or the empire capturing them both!', he growled.
'Do you truly believe you writing both important figures such as them off is the wisest course of action for you and your image?'. There is silence on Camelia's end, the advisor hoped he managed to get through to her and at the very least see the cons of her dismissal. Sometimes the best way to earn someone's attention is to remind them of their possible losses. '…you make a good point, Scientia. I'll see what my men can do, but *I* promise nothing', she says with a sigh.
Ignis ended the call and rushed into the fight, daggers drawn.
He tosses one dagger in the back of an imperial's neck, plunging the steel through the mechanical part. He rushed past a dusk slithering towards him, swinging his reversed gripped dagger at it and killing it with one strike as he joined Riku in the middle of the cesspool of enemies.
Back to back, staring down their opponents as they surrounded the two, Ignis gave Riku a subtle glance. 'Riku, by chance you wouldn't happen to have, as Prompto would say, an instant kill ability on you?', Ignis asked.
'Maybe…if you're willing to give it a shot…', Riku says, glaring at the berserkers. 'At this moment I'm willing to try anything to get us out of this predicament and proceed with our original task', Ignis replied. Riku nods in agreement, slowly his body glowed with magic as did his keyblade. Slowly Ignis feels a surge of power welling up within him, his body felt lighter as the elements around his daggers start to surge and grow. Somehow, bizarrely, Ignis knew exactly what to do.
'Ignis!', Riku shouted as the mana surged around them.
'I've got just the thing for this!', Ignis affirmed.
Lightning danced around the two and in an instant, they vanished. Together in mid-air, they spun in a buzz-saw form, ice coating their swings as the sliced and froze the dusks and imperials as the other helplessly tried to strike or stop the warriors. Ignis and Riku separated from their saw pattern, landing on opposite sides of the horde as their bodies were cloaked in lightning that sparked wildly around them and shocked the ground. One from Ignis even overcharged a streetlamp nearby until the bulb burst into heated shards.
'Keep up!', Riku declared.
'Don't fall behind!', Ignis announced.
Both started to speed through the nobodies and imperials, crisscrossing with each other as light trailed behind them, keyblade and daggers striking at the enemies so fast they didn't even have time to identify the wounds. Doing these strikes three times until the whittled down the horde into only two berserkers and three imperials, both Riku and Ignis appeared right above them with plenty of space between them and their soon to be deceased foes.
'Finish it!', Riku ordered.
'Return to ashes!', Ignis demanded.
With Riku's keyblade cloaked in black fire as Ignis crossed his arms, daggers covered in flames and blowing so wildly it was as if they had turned into flame throwers. Together, they threw their weapons to the ground beneath the enemy's feet, stabbing into the stone. Landing on their feet outside of the horde, they both raised their hands and doing so, a tall and wide pillar of red and violet flames roared to life. Consuming nobodies and the imperials in scorching heat that reduced the metal to ashes, weapons and bodies alike weren't spared.
When the flames disappeared, they reclaimed their weapons, Riku looking impressed by their combined power while Ignis looked at his daggers in awe. The power that coursed through him for that moment, the strength he felt and how light his body was, it felt incredible. Is this what its like to be as strong, nay, possess such power like the others?
His thoughts were interrupted by Riku patting his shoulder, getting his attention. 'Nice work, that went a hell of a lot better than I hoped', Riku praised, smiling. 'W-What, what was that we just did?', he asked, dismissing his daggers. 'That my friend is a Limit. A joint attack by two strong individuals like you and I', Riku explained, 'But it takes a lot of mana to pull off'.
Ignis could agree to that, he felt slightly woozy and a bit drained after pulling off such an attack like that. 'But we can discuss more of it later, the way is clear', Riku said, pointing to the bridge ahead of them. Pinning this discussion for later in his head, Ignis and Riku ran to the bridge and started to cross it.
They barely reached the top of the slope on the bridge before the two protectors turned to the right upon hearing a whistling noise. 'Incoming!', Ignis yelled. Quick as a bolt, Riku jumped in front of him and erected a barrier of darkness as the missiles struck the bridge twice. The bridge shook but when Ignis glanced up he sees the cracks spreading in the ceiling above them along with bits of stone crumbling down.
Ignis grabbed Riku's shoulder and quickly pulled them back from the breaking ceiling as the center of the bridge begins to break and ultimately collapse into the ocean.
The two assessed the damages once the dust settled and flames disappear into the wind. Much like the last bridge, they stood on prior, the gap between their side and the other side is too vast. Ignis knew his hook shot wouldn't reach that far, and Riku wasn't abandoning him any time soon, especially with nobodies prowling the area with the imperials. Frustrated, however, Riku kicked a debris of stone into the building across from them, cursing.
'Now what? Our way over literally fell apart!', Riku grunted.
Ignis isn't too far off from lashing out either, more delays is the very last thing they needed with the imperials slowly polluting the city. 'We've got no choice, we'll have to backtrack and find another way to that part of the city!', Ignis says, turning around and jogging back down the slope with Riku begrudgingly following in tow. Just as the got to the entrance though, Ignis ceased and stepped back behind a pillar, pulling Riku with him.
The boy opened his mouth to ask but Ignis sent the boy a look, gesturing to see for himself why they are hiding. Riku carefully peered around the man to spot Caligo following a much more heartless
Riku narrowed his eyes darkly at Ravus' new form, recalling he did not look as monstrous when they first fought. From the distance, they felt his darkness had attained a new level of power, unfamiliar even to one who had experienced that dark power first-hand, and Caligo looked closer to a terrified mutt following his master out of fear.
'Have you located the Ring yet, Commander? And what of Lunafreya?', Ravus asked, his tone sounds so inhumanly close to the dark Ignis flinched at it. How did this happen to the man he pondered; he is aware of his current use of the darkness from Riku's telling but this is an entirely different matter. It is as if he had become a heartless himself but retained a human form. 'Both, High-Commander, but our forces are unable to extract either of them yet', Caligo explained, his seemingly calm voice was strained with fear.
'So long as the Archean stands in the way, we have no way of reaching the altar'. The two members of the imperial army watched as Titan demolished and crushed their airships as if they were no more than pesky insects. 'Even the gods are on his side…', Ravus growled, clenching his dark fist. 'Neither the king nor the Oracle will survive as long as the fight continues'.
Ignis could hear that semblance of humanity within his tone when he spoke of Lunafreya, it seemed Ravus hasn't entirely become one of the dark yet, but how long would that last he wondered. 'Order a full retreat, I'm going in alone', Ravus commanded, turning and heading back the way they came as an airship hovered before them. 'B-B-But sir-
Ravus turned to Caligo with a glare. 'Are you disobeying me, Commander?', he accused. 'N-No sir, but I understand rescuing the Oracle, but the king? And those brats nearby? Why should we care what happens to them?', Caligo asked. Ravus scoffed, lifting his darkened limb for him to see. 'Are you familiar with how I lost my arm previously?', he questioned. Caligo weakly nodded, confirming to his commander. 'Then you should be aware, without the one who can wield the ring, it is nothing more than a death trap! As for those brats, they matter not. Whether they live or die is irrelevant', Ravus dismissed.
Defeated, Caligo bowed his head and uttered a resigned "yes sir". Ravus turned and marched off to find his way to the altar. When he was out of earshot however, Caligo raised his head contempt and hate within his eyes. 'How dare he address me with such impudence? Has he forgotten his place entirely?', Caligo growled, 'Or is he too concerned about his sister to care?'. With a disgusted noise, he turned to head for the airship.
As the ship flew off to wherever it so desires, the two protectors stepped out from the pillars watching the ship fly off. Ignis turned to Riku. 'Was, was Ravus like this when you fought him?', he asked.
'No, far from it. Aside from the darkness around him, he looked human', Riku confesses while crossing his arm and bowed his head in thought. 'But that form…he even managed to regrow his limb back'. Then he turns to Ignis, a question brewing in his mind. 'The ring of the Lucii…is that how Ravus lost his arm?'. Nodding to the boy, Ignis said: 'The ring may only be worn by those of royal blood, those unworthy often suffer more gruesome fates…Ravus is fortunate enough to be alive'.
'And if Noct wears it, he'll be fine?', Riku probed.
'…No. Even the royal bloodline pays a price to use such an item…the ring will grant him power but cruelly it saps the user's life force in the process', Ignis revealed, grimly. Riku unfolds his arms with a grunt, shaking his head. 'Terrific…', he muttered, 'But now what do we do? We're trapped here unless we come up with a new plan'.
'I-I…Iggy! Riku!? Damnit will *one* of you answer!?'.
Both jumped at the loud angry voice booming in their ears before identifying the caller to be Gladiolus. Quickly the two placed fingers on their earpieces to respond to the growing concerns of their team. 'Gladio! We're here!', Ignis assured, looking around the field for them in case they were nearby.
'About time you answered!', he growled, 'We thought you two drowned or something!'.
'Its gonna take more than saltwater to do us in, Gladio', Riku rebuked with a scoff. 'What's going on? Where are you guys?'.
'Imperials everywhere!', Donald shouted, 'And that's just the soldiers! They're dropping those giant mechs like crazy!'.
'And that's before the nobodies started to pop up!', Goofy cried out.
'Have you two reached the others yet?', Aqua asked on her end. 'We're currently at an impasse, Aqua', Ignis answered, 'Our passage to the altar has been destroyed, and soon enough all the streets will be filled with imperials and nobodies'.
'There's got to be a way!', Gladiolus growled, 'The damn city has got to have more than one bridge to the freaking altar!'. Ignis pinched the bridge of his nose, inhaling through it as he listened to everyone starting to spout ideas, suggestions or demands to know what their plan is. If Ignis had one, he wouldn't be in the middle of this insistent banter of rambles. Looking to the ocean, a thought slowly occurred to him.
There is no imperial airship near the waters, and chances are they wouldn't have soldiers on boats or such patrolling the ocean. Why would they especially if the astral in question rules the seas? 'A boat…', he mused, catching Riku's ears, 'A boat! That's it!'.
'A boat? Wait…you guys aren't thinking of actually sailing in the middle of the ocean are ya!?', Prompto squeaked. 'We don't have much of a choice, Prompto!', Ignis replied, 'Ravus is trying to make his way to Noct and the others as well as the imperials, and he already has a head start on us!'. 'But…'.
'Guys, this is suicidal!', Aqua admonished, her voice silencing the others. 'Between Titan smashing the airships into the ocean, they're firing everything that got! You will be in the middle of that battle, and you'd be lucky to even get close to *see* the others!'. Riku growled back, pacing around. 'Sora and Kairi are stuck over there, Aqua! Neither of them have responded to my calls, for all I know they're too hurt to even move!', Riku shouted back.
'I understand, Riku, but rushing in like this isn't going to change that!', Aqua argued back. 'Then what are we supposed to do!?', Riku yelled, 'We can't find a way on land, the imperials have the city under their control and that Ravus ass is getting closer to the others!'.
'I suggest calming down first before you do something stupid!', Aqua shouted. Riku gritted his teeth but before he could lash out, Ignis grabbed his shoulder with a stern look. The two stared at each other, both showing frustration within their eyes but while Riku's was alit with desperation and anxiety, Ignis' showed wisdom and concern. 'Aqua, we know the risks, and yes, this is the last thing I'd recommend us doing…but we don't have a choice in the matter', he explained calmly and patiently.
'The empire is closing in on us all, and there is a good chance Xigbar will send his nobodies if push comes to shove'. Aqua became silent on her end, they patiently awaited her response as the two protectors wait. With a reluctant sigh, she responds: 'Do you have a boat in mind?'. 'I was hoping we could use his majesty's boat', Ignis explains, 'It's not too far from us'.
'Uhh…Iggy? We're actually at the yacht', Prompto said with nervousness rivaling him about to ask a woman out. Next thing to happen is Riku receiving a text from the boy with an image attached to it. They both looked at it with deep frowns.
It is a selfie of the blond, but behind him was the destroyed remains of the yacht, upside down with several holes under it, split in half with the driver's side ablaze. Below the image is the text: "Only seaworthy thing about this is sinking at the bottom of sea. Hashtag rocked the boat".
'Well, that's a bust…', Riku cursed.
'Just as well we left the cars back on the mainland!', Prompto said with a weak giggle. 'Hold on, the Accordo guards are sending a transmission!', Aqua yelled, ceasing everyone's speech.
'Attention all units: assemble at the docks and prepare for withdrawal immediately. We depart in three minutes', the commander of the guard announced. 'Hold on! We're heading for the altar, we need a boat!', Riku said, jumping on the opportunity as quickly as possible. 'Are you mad boy? You're going to be in the crossfire between the empire and Archean!'.
'If we don't, we'll lose the king and Oracle!', Ignis stated. Before he could persist and argue, Camelia's voice rang out, ordering her commander to give the two the boat they required. The commander, hesitantly but obligingly, agreed to the command. Ignis offered a quick response of gratitude to the secretary, only to be rebuked to be paid in gil as opposed to thanks. Riku scoffed quietly at the tone of the woman as the two ran towards the docks, the others still on the line.
'We'll make our ways to the altar, in the meantime all of you, do whatever you can to keep as much of the empire off us as you can!', Ignis ordered. 'Gladio and are heading to the districts occupied by the empire, we'll reclaim them and see if we can get some of the guards to hold them down once we kick the unwanted guests out', Aqua says on her end. 'The looser their grip is on the city the better', Ignis says, agreeing with the master.
'Donald, think you can create a storm or something? Just to knock out some of those airships?' Riku asked as they reached the rooftops. 'No problem!', Donald assured boastfully. 'Me and Goofy will keep our black mage safe! Go save Noct and the others!', Prompto says. 'Will do!', Riku says confidently.
Ending their calls, they make their way to the docks while keeping a distance from the empire's forces as much as they could. Fortunately for them, only a handful of soldiers had been stationed on the rooftops and they stood little chance against Riku and Ignis quickly cutting through them all or dash past them to evade a skirmish.
They reached the docks just as the crowd of people begin to hop onto the escape boats with the guards giving each of them instructions while ordering their men to perform their tasks at hand. Walking onto the docks, they were waved down by a guard near an unoccupied boat. 'Are you two the ones the secretary ordered us to assist?', he asked, eyeing the messy and soaked protectors. 'That's us', Riku assured, gesturing himself and Ignis.
The guard looked at the boy with a frown, then to Ignis, who says: 'We are ready to set sail. It'd be best for you to get what remains of the civilians to safety'. The guard nods in agreement, handing the man the keys. 'Are you two sure about this? It's gotten hectic out there', he warns. Riku scoffed in response as he ran around him to the boat, while Ignis nods. 'We're aren't about to abandon the king and his companions because of the empire', he assured, jogging after the boy. On the boat, Ignis grabbed the controls as Riku summoned his keyblade in preparation for the empire or nobodies.
One more look to the battle ahead, any fears or regrets pushed aside for the sake of their companions. They set sail into the battlefield.
Through the canal littered with ruined buildings and fallen airships, luckily every canal leads to the ocean where the Archean stood. Exiting the canal, Riku and Ignis could see the altar still had that beautiful light shining down upon it, as if it was guiding them to the others. Here in the ocean, they could see the Archean is closer to the altar then they had thought it'd be as if it was protecting the others from the empire.
'Looks like Titan's got a soft spot for the others', Riku said. 'It pays to have a god on your side it seems', Ignis agreed as he drove.
Titan uppercut and digs his gigantic fist into the belly of a dreadnaught, likely reducing it to useless as he reached up with his other hand to grab the face of the ship. He tore off the left engine wing of the ship and flung it away from the altar and luckily over the small boat the two warriors used. 'Hang on guys, we're nearly there', Riku promised, grabbing the top of his seat tightly. Closer and closer they got to the altar, Riku could see his friends on the ground.
Unfortunately, before they could dock their ship, Riku looks the right.
'LOOK OUT!', he cried too late. The driver turned to see an airship charging straight towards them and colliding with the boat and spinning them around and away from the altar. Riku grabbed the top of the seat and held tightly while Ignis lost his grip and was thrown off the boat and into the ocean with a yell.
Riku turned to his friend overboard and cried his name, unable to move without himself getting thrown off the boat. Fortune smiled on them as Ignis quickly resurfaced with a loud gasp, but he had been thrown quite a fair distance from Riku. Looking at the controls of the ship in the desperate hope to figure out how to work it, Riku grunted, his lack of knowledge of technology had chosen a bad time to rear its ugly head.
Ignis meanwhile looked at the boat, but then he sees an airship slowly descend closer to the waters, opening the hatch to show Caligo and a new type of MA-X machine. 'Well, well. Look who it is! What could one of His Majesty's royal retainers be doing out here of all places?', he said mockingly, smiling sinisterly at the advisor.
Ignis swiftly began to swim to Riku as the guns of the airship began to fire on the water ridden advisor. 'A shame for all your years to the king, your reward is a watery grave!', Caligo taunted smugly. Just as he was about to resume his taunting, he looks below to the boat and sees Riku dashing towards him in the air, keyblade in hand. Caligo had no time to react because his vision was then obscured by Riku's boot. The commander is thrown onto his back as Riku jumped, using his face as a steppingstone.
The master lands a foot near the docile mech, staring at Caligo as he rubbed his boot marked face with rage. When his eyes fell onto Riku, he got to his feet and withdrew a revolver from his holster on his hip, aiming it at the boy with seething hatred.
'You…you miserable meddling little shit!', he growled, shaking with uncontrollable rage at the boy who destroyed much of his reputation as the commander. Every mockery made about him, every belittlement he endured, the humiliation that forever followed him all done by Riku for just existing. Riku just glared at him with contempt, not the least bit threatened by the gun in his hand. 'I should have known that Ravus would have failed us! If I were in charge your head would be mounted on my wall!', he bragged. 'Funny, I remember Ravus managed to hurt me, and be a legit threat to my friends', Riku taunted, 'The only thing I remember about you is you constantly mistaking me for Noctis'.
Caligo opened fire on the boy, his bullets were deflected by the master and this repeat until he empties the chamber of the revolver. Riku swings his keyblade before dismissing it. 'Sorry to cut it short, but I've got friends to look after and an Oracle to rescue', he says. He then plucks from his pocket a spare magic flask Ignis had given him earlier and then chucks it at the mech on his right before he leaped off the ship.
Caligo's final actions were him screaming and vainly reach for the bomb before he and the airship went up in ablaze.
As Riku dives to the ocean while behind him the airship is exploding, he is flung into the ocean thanks to the shockwaves of the explosion behind him. Sinking deeper below the surface, he spun around and stabilizes himself, turning his head back to the surface above him with the boat hovering nearby.
Swimming back up to the surface, Riku breaks through and as he inhaled some needed air, he sees Ignis reaching out to him. 'Done taking a dip?', he asked. 'Just needed to cool off really', Riku jokes as he takes his hand and allows him to hoist him up and re-join him on the captain's ship. He frowned at Ignis' bare left arm, the magitek hook gone. 'It got damaged when I was thrown overboard, water locked it', he confesses, 'A shame too, I was starting to like it'.
They looked to see they had been pushed a far distance from the altar, but Titan had moved even closer to it as the skies become clustered with the airships.
'There is no chance of survival if we drive straight forward', Ignis says, changing direction of the boat and driving it into another canal. 'We'll have to find land and proceed on foot once more'. Nodding, Riku turned behind them to see that while the empire is fixed on the Titan, sadly their "allies" had other interests.
A swarm of dusk nobodies begin to chase after them along with nobody snipers running and warping all over the canal to hunt down the two. 'Better pick up the pace Iggy, we've got company!', Riku said, drawing his keyblade. 'Keep them off us!', Ignis instructed. 'Gladly', the boy replied.
As they drove through clustered canal, Riku fires off darkness at the white creatures while erecting a barrier for the beams of red fired from the snipers. Parrying some while deflecting them back to their shooters and slashing at the nobodies coming in close, Riku aimed his left hand and fired a barrage of dark fire at them, torrents of darkness rocketing towards them as he hits nobodies and fallen ruined buildings alike.
Ignis makes a sharp turn down one canal that is too narrow for the boat, but it didn't stop the nobodies from chasing them. Their stubbornness to remove the two protectors is what the advisor was counting on because this canal was infested with many bridges and low joint buildings that for a boat provided little hindrance, but for those flying and chasing them?
It is essentially trying to drive an airship through a window without damaging anything.
Unfortunately, the canal is indeed more narrow than the average canals, slowly they were being squeezed into the tight walls of the buildings, the boat rubbing and forcing itself through regardless as the nobodies chased them on despite their numbers depleting quickly. Riku stumbles as they bump into the walls, grabbing the seat near him as he turned to Ignis. 'What's the plan, Iggy?', he questioned.
He didn't answer as he made another turn after exiting the canal with the nobodies hot on their watery tracks. Looking over to the left, Ignis places their last magic flask on the windscreen of the boat. 'Riku, is it possible for you to get both of us over there?', he asked. 'If I must!', Riku said, catching on to his friend's plan, lifting the keyblade up. As it shines brighter, Riku throws Ignis over his shoulder and then jump off the speed boat just after he allows his keyblade to act like a flash grenade.
The nobodies were blinded by this as they aimlessly chased the boat as it came to a slow halt. The dusks recovered their visions fast though but when they all gathered onto the boat, none expected a blizzard to suddenly appear and freeze the ship and a part of the ocean enough to leave a thin surface of ice. The snipers stayed on one of the broken buildings from a distance, watching Riku land in the middle of a town square and place Ignis back on his feet.
'Hold your horses gentlemen'.
The nobodies knelt before their master, Xigbar waltzing up onto the ledge of the building and sees the two running into the city. Rubbing his chin with a wicked smirk, he nods and snaps his fingers. 'Head on back, you're done for the day', he orders. The two snipers bowed and vanished back into the white portals as Xigbar watches the two protectors disappear from him. He plucks his cell phone from his pocket and dialed the number he needed.
'They're moving in, you remember the plan yeah?', he asks casually. He snickers ruefully, 'Just making sure ya know what to do, wouldn't want things to go south now would we?'. He hangs up the first call and then makes the most vital call to his plan.
'High-Commander Ravus? I've got an update for ya'.
*Further in*
Ducking low behind a half-destroyed wall, Riku and Ignis carefully peered over to see more of the imperials patrolling the area with those magitek armors hunkering down nearby. 'We're nearly there', Riku said, 'All that stands between us and the others are those scrap heads'. Before the boy could charge in recklessly, Ignis held his arm and pulled him back down.
'Hold on, remember Ravus ordered a full-withdrawal for the army nearby', he reminds hastily, 'Merely wait a moment longer before we rush in'. Riku opened his mouth to protest with little patience regarding the plan, but Ignis says: 'Preserve your strength and energy, Riku. Keep in mind we have four friends to rescue and relocate'. The keyblade master slowly closes his mouth with a deep sigh before ultimately, he slumps against the wall, following his friends' advice and rest at last.
Propping up one knee while having one leg straight and resting his right arm on the propped limb, Riku laid his back against the wall. Ignis sits down near him while keeping his ears and eyes on full alert. Despite the mechanical beings patrolling nearby, the two allowed themselves a moment of ease and a chance to recollect themselves as Riku just stared ahead of him, deep in thought.
'Heh', Riku chuckled lightly.
Ignis raised a brow at the boy's sudden amusement. 'Something amusing you, Riku?', he asks, genuine curiosity in his tone. 'This is the second time I have had to go and save Sora; you know?', he says with a tone that the man could not place. 'The first time it happened was when we were trying to pass the Mark of Mastery exam, but then Xehanort snuck in and tried to make Sora his thirteenth vessel…'.
Looking at his right hand, Riku narrowed his eyes. 'You know the feeling? That, no matter what happened to yourself, you'd risk everything to save the other person? No matter what's going to come back and bite you in the ass?', he asked.
Ignis nodded. 'Quite so…many a times', Ignis says, looking ahead of him, 'There have been too many close calls for us, and often, it is because of Noct putting himself ahead in danger for our safety'. The early days of their journey often ended shortly thanks to their inexperience and changes in the weather catching them off guard. Those tasks of retrieving the royal arms were probably their most dangerous ventures, if not the terrain, dungeons or location that provided the challenge, it was the beasts that guarded them.
'Yeah…but you know you'd do anything to keep them safe, right?', Riku asked. 'No less than you would', Ignis offered with a small smirk. Riku chuckled lightly, but then he looked down, shame coating his face. '…you've probably been wondering how I knew what Ravus is capable of…how I know his abilities, right?'.
Ignis allowed his face to remain neutral and blank, the tone in the boy's voice told him more than his words could alone. 'I have pondered it, but I'm certain you would have told us when you felt comfortable enough to do so', assured the man. While his questions were vital to get answers for, the other worlders have long earned his and the other's trust long ago. He also remembers after the group reunited after their raids on the imperial bases Noctis telling him something along what Riku is hinting.
'I've known about other worlds since me and Sora were kids, that was when we first met Terra and Aqua', Riku reveals with a hint of nostalgia in his tone as he looked up the skies. 'Then Kairi came to the islands…and we've always wondered what it's like out there, what kind of worlds lied in wait for us to explore'. '…but unlike Kairi, who had no interest in remembering her home, and Sora just excited for the adventure, I wasn't as patient'.
Ignis didn't speak, his silence however encouraged Riku to continue his tale. 'I hated being trapped on our islands, the same old thing repeatedly. Until one day, I found the door…the door to darkness'. Ignis recalls Aqua telling them this a month ago after Gladiolus demanded answers to Xigbar and the nobodies. However, that was briefly explained by Riku and the rest of the conversation went to Xehanort and his goals.
Hearing this vital information raised questions about this world's light and darkness but the man became more interested in where Riku's tale would go and end. 'So I opened the door…and the heartless invaded our world. It was swallowed by the darkness…and all I did was gleefully accept it as a minor sacrifice to finally be free of that watery prison…', Riku sighs, regretfully. Ignis lets his mouth open slightly, shocked to hear a master of a weapon of would do something so…evil, all for the sake of his thirst for the outside worlds.
'That's when I met a witch, who helped me exploit my darkness and make me stronger…but it was all a ruse, to turn me against Sora, Donald, and Goofy. She tricked me into thinking he replaced me and Kairi with them, my jealously of Sora being picked by the keyblade…all used to make me delve further deep into the darkness to lose sight of what mattered to me', he explains lengthily.
'And those dark powers, you learned them all from that witch?', Ignis questioned. 'Yeah, Maleficent. But the dark powers were a fragment of what she gleaned from the heartless. Xehanort and his vessels have the real power underneath them, hence why Ravus can use it more than I could', Riku explained. 'But tell me, how did you not submit to it?', Ignis pressed. '…because of Sora'.
Riku ran a hand through his hair, breathing an annoyed breath. 'After everything I did, the amount of chaos I probably caused, and even stealing Kairi from him…he still saves me in the end', he chuckles in guilt. 'Even after my heart was lost to the darkness, he wouldn't give up on me'. Summoning Brave Heart in his hand, he looks at his weapon and lowers his head. 'When we took our exam, for me it wasn't to become a master, but to see if I was worthy of being able to wield this thing…and stand by Sora's side for what came next'.
Ignis watches the boy in deep thought, before letting a sigh escape. 'It sounds to me Sora is fortunate to have a friend like you', he says. Riku looked to the man's passive face, bewildered. 'Not many of us can safely say we haven't made mistakes in our lives like yourself, but very few of us have strived as hard as you to redeem yourself', he speaks wisely. 'Your mistakes have cost you more than just your heart, your home and light as well. More reason why Sora is precious not just to Kairi, but to you too'.
Ignis smiles at him with a shrug. 'I've been in service to Noct ever since I was six years old, sworn to look after him for his majesty', he reveals to his friend, 'And despite our highs and lows, the frequent arguments of responsibility and his disdain for vegetables, those years…I wouldn't trade for anything in this world'. Looking up to see the airships speed off, Ignis took a risk and carefully glanced over the wall to see the path had been cleared.
Getting up from his space, he offered a hand to Riku. 'I believe it is time for us to keep up the good work, and protect those dear to our hearts', he said.
Riku gave the man a grateful smile and nods, taking his hand and allows himself to be hoisted up. Together with renewed motivation, and deeper bond, the two raced into the ruined city to the altar.
*Altar*
As the day darkens with burning buildings surrounding the altar, rain begins to fall from above as Riku and Ignis finally, after so much fighting and struggles, reached the altar. The site, once a holy place of history and a tribute to the goddess, now resembled a long-forgotten ruin left to wither away from the passages of time.
Together the two steeled their hearts, forcing the worst outcomes that preyed on their fears to be ignored and pressed on. Passing through the ruins, ahead where the faint light begins to dim, they see four bodies nestled close together.
'SORA! KAIRI!', cries Riku.
'NOCT!', Ignis shouts.
Running to their fallen friends, Ignis immediately tends to the sleeping prince while Riku is between his two lights. Each of them carried wounds, great and minimal, their clothes torn and ruined with so much blemishes on their bodies.
'Noct! Noct, wake up!', Ignis demands, shaking his liege with probably more force than he realized. Although he could feel his king lives, the need to see him speak and open his eyes won over his senses. He looked to Riku, looking ready to cry.
'No…no, no', he repeated.
Ignis allowed his gaze to fall to Kairi before he choked with horror, seeing the red spread along her stomach. Riku's shoulders shook as he whimpers, head down as he shakily places a hand on Kairi's shoulder, shaking her. 'Kairi…Kairi, please…please wake up…', he begs, tears running down and falling on his friend. Not a sound made, the princess of light remains still as Riku shakes her. 'Don't do this to us…not to me…not to Sora…', Riku cries softly.
Even Ignis could not hold his tears, a lump forming in his throat. Looking away to his prince, Ignis could hear the agony in Riku, the anguish that tore his heart asunder as he sobs.
Looking at his best friend, his brother, to tears running down, failure rushed through his very being. 'I'm sorry…Sora, I'm so sorry', he sobs, hiccupping. He rests his head on Kairi's shoulder, unable to hold himself up from the sorrow weighing down on his heart.
'…R…Ri…ku?'.
Shooting up immediately like he was struck by lightning, Riku looks to see Kairi's eyes weakly looking up at him, her skin so pale and cold. At a loss for words, Riku looked to see a hand resting on her back he never noticed, glowing faintly in light. Following the arm, he sees Lunafreya with strain on her face passing her light to Kairi.
'S-She…she needs, help', she grunts out, 'Her wounds…they're merely being delayed…', she explains.
Hearing this, Ignis lowers his prince and rushes to the islander's side, rummaging his pockets to pull out an hi-elixir. 'Here! Take this!', he orders. Quick as humanly possible, Riku grabs the potion and helps place it in Kairi's hand, crushing it with her. Slowly a light green hue surrounded the princess of light, healing her as she lets out an audible gasp. Her skin slowly regains some of its color and they could see life returning into her eyes.
Making sure, Ignis lifted her dress to see the wound and like a miracle from the gods above, he sees the fatal wound had closed to a thin scar that certainly needed proper healing but for now would do as a substitute. Lowering her dress down as Riku breaths out relief, Ignis nods to her.
'S-Sora…', she whispers, weakly. 'He's right here, Kairi', assured the older man, 'As well as Noct and Luna'. Kairi graced them both with a smile before her eyes closed as she fell unconscious, likely still very weary from the battle and the wound. Lowering her down, Riku turned to the Oracle on her side, elbow used to support herself up.
'Luna…thank you', he whispered, words unable to convey the level of gratitude he had for this angel of a woman. The Oracle glanced up at him with a small but tired smile of her own, before she turned down to the pathway with a gasp.
Both protectors see approaching them is Ravus.
Behind him are neo-shadows following him like a pack, Riku and Ignis immediately stood up with narrowed gazes. Lunafreya behind them slowly but shakily stood up, clutching her wounded right arm as she could only stare in horror of what her brother had become. The older Fleuret stared down the two protectors as his shadows twitched at them.
'Brother…what have…what has the empire done to you?', she gasped. Ravus lifted his dark limb to face his sister. 'The empire would have you dead, sister. Xigbar however, has given me the power I need to protect you', he corrects. Riku flexes his fingers to prepare himself to strike at this man, but Ignis stepped forth slightly. 'Ravus, we do not have to fight anymore! Your sister lives and is safe! Surely that is enough of reason to lay down arms?', Ignis pleads.
'For how long, boy?', he sneered, glaring at the prince and keyblade wielders. 'So long as they draw breath, my sister will never be safe from the false prophecy of the false king!'. Lifting his human arm to summon dark flames that cloaked his limb until they formed a new saber with a familiar design that sent sickness to Riku's stomach.
Soul Eater's design in the form of a saber.
'Brother! Enough of this!', Lunafreya demanded, 'Look at what that monster has done to you! Your light is so faint I cannot even sense it within you!'. 'The light rejected me, sister! It would rather see you dead, but with the darkness, I can protect you from that boy!', Ravus argued. 'All I need to do is rid this world of that menace and those false followers of his!'.
'Come to your senses man!', Ignis shouts, 'Kill them and you destroy the future *your* sister struggled to fight for!'.
'Be silent!', Ravus roars, swinging his saber at Ignis, throwing a lightning arc at him.
Riku, however, appeared before Ignis and deflected Ravus' attack to the broken archway above them, decimating it. Ravus glared at the boy as Riku stood up properly, narrowing his eyes at him. 'You aren't going anywhere them', he promised as Ignis stood by his side, daggers drawn.
'If neither of you move, then you will share the same fate as them: death!', Ravus warned. Riku growled as his own body was slowly being cloaked in a purple aura, keyblade coated with his darkness. 'That's not going to happen', he promised. Looking back over his shoulder to see those two preciouses to his heart, the two reasons why he kept pushing.
Turning back facing Ravus, Riku proclaimed: 'I will keep them safe! And if I must kill you to keep it that way! Then you leave me no choice!'.
Together Riku and Ignis ran at Ravus and his heartless, all three of them ignoring the pleas of the Oracle…
A/N: MUCH…MUCH happier with this chapter!
Not going to lie, I did tear up writing Kairi's scene, listening to the sad music from XV. Now with Ravus fighting for his sister's sake, can Riku and Ignis talk him down before tragedy strikes again? What's Xigbar's grand plan? Will Ardyn cause more trouble with a living Oracle?
Questions:
Q1: How was Riku and Ignis' relationship?
Q2: What was your favorite part of this chapter?
Q3: What do you think Xigbar's plan is?
Q4: How many expected Kairi to be dead?
Q5: Do you think this is a better version compared to the original?
Q6: What did you think of their limit? It'll be expanded on later.
I've been doing some thinking about how many chapters I post and have decided to take more time to develop them out and give more time to extend them. Quality of quantity.
As always everyone, thanks for reading! Stay awesome but more importantly stay safe!
