Final Fantasy XV - Kingdom Hearts
Part 87
Summary: Two warriors of Light, the Chosen King and Keyblade Master, face an unseen Darkness.
*Castle: Seventh Floor*
Throughout this journey, Sora had discovered more and more just how much Naminé had been part of his journey to find the lost friends. Once that dark memory cleared, he had to watch his younger self venture through worlds he had visited on his first journey, he saw memories of what he (the other Sora) had thought were forgotten memories of his youth.
Younger Sora started recalling there was another girl who played with him, Kairi and Riku. Even if he never said her name, Sora knew the other Sora was referring to Naminé, and as they explored the last card-world thingy( of all the things he's seen that STILL confused him), the older version began to wonder more and more about why he didn't remember anything about this journey or why Naminé was forgotten entirely.
The worrying thing is as the other Sora regaled his two friends in his "forgotten" memories, they were lies. He knew they weren't true, yet somehow the younger version was casually explaining to them while fondly on those false memories. Sure he is aware Naminé has the power to manipulate his memories and those connected to his heart but watching himself retelling these memories only convinced him Naminé did manipulate them.
It also became more concerning for him when he first saw Axel again, not Lea. For those few brief moments watching, it somewhat surprised him just how almost nothing changed with Axel having a heart. He was still playful, a tad bit theatrical at best but when he got ready for a fight there is an underlying coldness with him like he didn't care enough. Still amazing he was friends with people like Xion and Roxas before gaining their hearts.
Two people who were close to him, his meeting through false memories and one through conflict, all forgotten. Why would he forget such an important part of his journey?
When they left the card-world, there standing before them was Larxene. Except with her greenish-blue eyes as opposed to the golden ones Xehanort had, smirking cockily and smugly at the trio. Sora just watched as the nobody would taunt the boy and his supposedly "broken" memories, beguiling him into thinking the lies within his memory was the truth, and even tantalizing that Naminé was in the castle, waiting for him.
Another moment later, she struck the younger boy and upon a kick, Sora's good luck charm falls from his pocket. And instead of that seashell crafted made by Kairi, it was a star charm. Sora felt his fists clenched tightly, anger slowly rising within his chest as he watches himself face Larxene with fury. Spouting the importance of that charm, how it was so valuable to him, and all the words that weren't supposed to be directed to Naminé.
The fact she could change Kairi's good luck charm into a disguise that tricked him into thinking Naminé was the one who gave it to him, it left a bitter taste in his mouth. The memory before him ends as he is whisked away to another memory, where he sees Naminé being left again in her room with Larxene waltzing up to her, rolling her shoulders, and even cursing from the fight. Sora took a smidgen of satisfaction his younger landed enough pain to make that woman feel it.
"Lousy heartless hero…", she grumbled, "Next time I'll take an eye…or maybe leave a little scar here and there…". The lightning wielder then turns to the silent Naminé, still sitting on her chair with her head downcast and nary a smile on her face. She scoffs and with a very flippant tone, asks: "Oh what? Worried I'll break your boy toy?". With a smirk, she approaches the girl and bends down to her level, lips away from her ear.
"Wait…are you worried? Concerned for that loser? Or does little Naminé feel a little bad for screwing up his memories?", she mocks. "That loser kicked your butt…and spoilers, is gonna do it again", Sora thinks to himself with a glare. He did forget that woman does have a venomous tongue. She gripped Naminé's shoulder, making the girl flinch softly as her leather gloved hand tightly squeezes the bare shoulder. "You are, aren't you? Aww, cute", she mocks as sparks of lightning dances on her knuckles.
"Then again why wouldn't you? You're already mucking up his memories, aren't you? Twisting them into little lies, making slowly forget those worthless friends of his and becoming the apple of his eye yeah", she listed darkly as Naminé, judging from Sora's perspective, holds back a whimper. Lightning shocks the girl lightly, a static shock here and there that wouldn't do anything long-lasting to her. Larxene's smirk goes darker and like all nobodies, false sympathy.
"But that's all they are, lies. Pretty lies for him to be stupid enough to believe in, and all you have to do is push harder and bam, he's ours", she reminds. "And surely, you wouldn't do anything to jeopardize that, would you?". With that sicking false sweetness in her voice, the blatant disregard to her feelings, and tightening on her grip, Larxene smugly watches as Naminé hisses and whimpers in pain as the static shock begins to grow intensely.
Shutting her eyes as her teeth clenched to withhold the pain-filled hisses this sadist of a woman wanted to hear, Naminé clenched her hands together so tightly Sora sees the knuckles go white. Larxene smirked. "The darkroom was pretty nasty, wasn't it? Imagine being locked away for the rest of your miserable life? Never heard, all alone, and left to wither away", she reminded, "And if you disobey us…well…least you'll get a chance in scenery".
Releasing her grip and standing up, Larxene rolled her eyes when Naminé clutched her shoulder, shallow breathes escaping her. With a dismissive grunt, Larxene walked away as a dark corridor opens in front of her. "Get ready, you've got someone else's memories to royally screw up", she says with mirth, "Can't wait to see how he's gonna react". With that cruel reminder, Larxene leaves the room, allowing Naminé to hiss and quietly weep.
"Sora…I'm so sorry…", she wept, clutching her fists.
Before Sora could attempt to reach out to her, he is thrown yet again through more memories and finds himself in a similar room. Which to his defensive almost looked the same as everywhere else. Inside this room, he sees Axel, Larxene, and Even, or rather, "Vexen". Along with, to his shock, Riku. Except he was back in that weird dark suit of his, on his knees with darkness around his wrists, acting like chains. Before he stood Naminé, who had a look of conflict on her face.
"What the? Riku was here too?", Sora asked himself, watching the scene.
"Well, Naminé? What are you waiting for? Its permission?", Larxene mocks as she smirks at the two teens. Sora glared at her before he turned back to Riku and strangely upon further closer examination, he didn't know how but he knew this wasn't his Riku. Maybe it was because he believed in him redeeming himself before their yearly separation or maybe something else entirely, he just knew this isn't his best friend.
Naminé hesitates, hand barely raised as she looks away, unable to face Riku's glare. The boy before her was glaring but there is no hatred or malice, behind his rebellious look is mercy or a desperate cry for help. Axel looked completely indifferent to this strange ceremony, looking more closer to thinking of what he was going to have for lunch while Vexen was growing impatient. "Come now, Naminé. We've much to do and I've far more important things to be doing than waiting on you", he commands impatiently.
"…I-I can't…", Naminé whispers.
"Excuse me?", Larxene growls as she stomps over to the nobody, "Did I hear a certain NOTHING ignoring orders?". She stands over the girl and maybe for the first time in her short existence, Naminé faces her captor. "This…this isn't…", she starts but Larxene's glare burns away the candle that held the torch of Naminé's rebellion, sparks of electricity dances around the older nobody's shoulders. "Are you trying to cause trouble for yourself?", challenges Larxene.
Naminé shakes her head and opens her mouth to say something, only for Larxene to smack her across her cheek. With little restraint on her strength, she easily knocked Naminé off her feet and onto the ground with a yelp. Naminé froze up there, a hand shakily raising to her smacked cheek as Larxene stands over her. Grabbing the girl's arm and roughly yanking her back up, Larxene cupped her chin and forces her to look at her.
"Last chance, nothing. Either you change his memories as we TOLD you too…or you're gonna pay a visit to that room", she threatened, "And not even that loser is gonna find you".
Naminé shakes on the spot, before ruefully nodding with tears glistening in the corners of her eyes. Uncaringly, Larxene shoves her in front of Riku again and folds her arms, waiting. Naminé looked at the desperate Riku with genuine sympathy and remorse, before raising her hand. "I'm so sorry…", she whimpers as the process begins. Thrashing on the spot, Riku begs for her to stop, pleading her to free him.
Hearing his best friend, fake or not, cry out for mercy or even help ripped Sora's heart apart. Unable to help, he refused to look away as Riku's words become screams of pain and fear. The entire process looked so agonizingly pain like Naminé was digging out his brains with a fork, tearing apart all the memories that made Riku who he is, re-writing him to be a completely different person. Sora turns his gaze on Naminé who now donned an empty look despite her tears.
Mercifully, the process ends and Riku falls to the side. "…it is done…", Naminé whispers, low and almost robotically as her hand falls. "Good. Get him ready, Sora will likely be finished with the next floor", Vexen orders with a sick smile on his face, "Hopefully this will yield the perfect data I need". Axel hiked Riku up on his shoulder and casually waltzes out with Vexen, while Naminé is dragged by Larxene back to her room.
Once more the room changes and Sora now finds himself somewhere else.
Here he is on a single platform with four pillars on each corner of the circular white ground, darkness all around him. Sora looks ahead of him and sees Riku standing there, Soul Eater in hand, and takes up his stance. One glance at him and Sora could feel something from within the boy's heart, a single shard of light that was alien to Riku. Sensing it, Sora feels a small warmth and similar feeling to Kairi's light.
"Naminé's heart was in pieces…Riku must be holding onto one of the shards", he says to himself quietly. He nodded to himself and summons Ultima and takes up his stance. "Sorry Riku…but looks like I'm gonna have to beat you again", apologizes Sora.
He charges towards his friend, the first shard just within reach.
*Nox Fleuret Castle*
From one memory to the other, the two people who held the greatest significance to Lunafreya were taken back to the castle where she lived her only times of innocence and peace. Through another door, both men find themselves walking down a corridor, night has fallen and the moon shines through the windows and lights their paths toward wherever they needed to go.
Keeping an eye on the older Fleuret, Noctis often watched the man taking in his old home. There is no begrudging look on his face, no signs of annoyance or even small glares, but nostalgia. The former commander takes in all his old home's amazing décor, the smells of his sister's favorite flower, the empty yet comforting silence of the night. Summertime was Tenebrae was basked in the warmth and granting freedom to those who had to endure the coldness of their nation.
"…how long had been since you walked around here?", Noctis asks.
"Far too long…feels like another lifetime had passed since I ever set foot near this place, let alone walked within it", Ravus confesses as he sighed. "After the empire conquered our home, only my sister was ever permitted to so much as the walk from one room to the other here". Noctis hums in thought, looking ahead of him as he mulls the words over. It isn't easy to lose your home, a place where everything is familiar and known to you to then only have it all snatched away by the empire.
Least with him, he only lost Insomnia for just over a year, Ravus and Lunafreya losing their own for two decades, maybe even longer. He wondered even without the empire and heartless, would Tenebrae ever recover from this tragedy that befell their lands he wondered. Pushing the worries for the future aside, a future that was missing an Oracle and a close friend of hers, Noctis looked at Ravus. "Got any idea what day it is here? Or remember anything that happened to Luna concerning someone important to her?", he asked.
Ravus hummed and pinched the bridge of his nose, before letting a huff. He approached a window and gestures the king to have a look. Doing so, Noctis looked outside to see several flags of the empire polluting the castle towers and taller buildings, signs of battle decorating the structure of the palace as while as fogs of smoke and stench of gunfire. "If memory serves me well, today is the day the empire claimed Tenebrae", Ravus says, "But there was no one near Luna after. She was locked away in her room".
Locked…
Noctis turns to the hallway and walks down it, saying: "Locked for some…but not a master".
Finally reaching the door, Noctis pulls it open and reveals the very same room he was placed in after being hospitalized. Sitting on the bed was Lunafreya, looking down at the floor with a book in hand, forgotten. He sighs as Ravus joins his side, both entering the room. Ravus lets a small hitch escape his mouth, seeing his little sister at that age again. An age where she was only studying to be the Oracle, an age where all their biggest concerns were how to sneak treats without their mother knowing.
Seeing her again at that age revived many buried memories of his childhood, days when they were brighter and warm as opposed to dark and cold. He reached out to her before he dropped his metal arm, remembering neither king nor commander could interfere with the world around them. The silence of the room was heavy and almost suffocating like they were holding their breaths form some reason despite there being no threat.
The girl on the bed raised her head and kindly says: "Master Eraqus?".
From the dark, Eraqus steps from the shadows and with a gentle smile, bows before the Oracle. She smiles warmly and places the book beside her as the older man locks the door on his left, the beam passing through Ravus and Noctis. He turns to the girl after dismissing his keyblade, the smile fading into worry and concern. "I see the empire has claimed Tenebrae", he notes, looking out a window to see a flag of the empire flutter in the wind. "It has indeed, unfortunately", affirms Lunafreya, "But it was inevitable. With Noctis here and without a challenging army, it would have been two chocobos with one stone".
"Fortunately, the prince and king have evaded capture", Eraqus says. Lunafreya nods warmly, her smile softening at the thought of the boy. She clasps the necklace around her neck. "…Luna…I can take you to him if you wished", offers Eraqus. Shaking her head, Lunafreya says: "I cannot leave my brother, and even if we were both here…having the last line of the Fleuret in the Crown City would only incur the wrath of the empire".
"Even as a child…she knew what levels of ruthlessness the empire was capable of", Ravus praises with noticeable respect in his voice. "But she didn't want to leave you, most importantly", Noctis reminded. Ravus stares at his sister, taking a step forward as she and Eraqus resumed their talk. "For now, my place is here. I'll be educated on becoming the Oracle, and in time…my destiny shall be laid bare", she sighed.
Eraqus looked away with remorse, whatever attempt he could have made to persuade her to escape from this conquered land had died on his lips. The strength behind this child was impeccable, the will power she carried came from her mother's side. The child of light faces the old man with a frown. "But, you will be leaving here, won't you?", she asked, "You're going back to your world". "That is correct. I have remained on this world for far too long now", confessed the old man, "My students are getting antsy, Aqua particular".
The girl giggles, before she says: "Could I ask, a small request?". He nodded to her and with a bow says: "Whatever is it, be it in my power I shall grant it". Lunafreya plays with her necklace, casting her down to the ground as a small hue of red coats her small plump cheeks, making the older man smirk knowingly. "C-Could you, check on Noctis for me? I… I just wish to know if he…umm…", she clumsily and shyly squeaks.
"You wish to know if he is aware of his fate?", asked the master. Lunafreya nods, her eyes shadowed with the dark knowledge of his destiny. "It is unlikely King Regis would dispense such knowledge to him. More likely he will keep Noctis in the dark for as long as he can". Lunafreya hummed in agreement, getting off her bed and then approaches her desk. A quick rummaging later, she pulls out a delicate and handcrafted notebook.
The soon to be Oracle hands the master the notebook. "Please…would you deliver this?", she requested. Eraqus picks up the book from the child of light, giving it a small studious look before turning to her. "A way to stay connected to Noctis? Do you realize this delivery will only be one sided? The empire will never accept postage from their rivaling kingdom", warns the old master. A small bark echoes in the room, prompting him to look beneath the bed and spots Umbra.
The small fluffy pup wagged his tail at him, tongue out, and happily pants before him. Lunafreya smiles softly and says: "Once Umbra grows stronger, he'll be able to deliver our messages. Tonight, I merely request you deliver it to Noctis". Eraqus chuckles softly, defeated by a child and puppy. "Very well…for tonight, I shall lower myself to a delivery boy", he says. Lunafreya gives him a playful smirk as he bowed to her one more time before he turns to the balcony door.
"Take care, my dear, may your gods show mercy on you and Noctis", wishes the old master. "And may the light watch over you and your students, master Eraqus", bid the young Oracle. As Eraqus disappears into the night, the room fades away and the two men are left standing in nothing but a shadow. A single blossom of her favorite flower flutters into Noctis' hand, shines in the Oracle's light, and then it shifts into a shard.
Floating above the king's hands, Noctis could feel the pure light within it, familiar to him, and connected to his heart. "Luna…", he whispers. Ravus looks at the shard, his mismatched eyes shimmered with sorrow and remorse. He even raised a hand to touch it, but then quickly drops it and walks ahead of the king. Noctis stares at his silent companion as the shard disappears, yet he can still feel it is a part of him.
"One down", he thinks to himself and jogged after the silver-haired man.
Through another door, they were taken to another place within Lunafreya's memory. No sooner did the world form around them, Ravus lets out a grunt of disdain while Noctis could feel his blood freeze. Of all the worst memories Lunafreya could have within her heart, it had to take them to the darkest day of the royal family's history. A day where everything had changed, where suddenly Noctis' journey had changed from partaking in an arranged marriage to becoming the Chosen King.
The day Insomnia had fallen.
Standing in the foyer, there is signs of a fight had broken out much earlier, signs of combat and destruction with the smells of gunfire, smoke, and magic in the air. Sounds of destruction running wild outside the Citadel, dull tremors racing through the palace, voices either giving out commands or screams of agony. Noctis felt his shoulder tense up, hands clenching, and teeth gritted, a dark sensation rushed into his heart, he feared there was only one person here who held a significance to the Oracle was about to meet their end.
"Of all the places…", Ravus commented, stepping forward. He glanced at Noctis and rough elbows him, "Come…let's get this over with. If I am correct, she must still be with Regis at this point". Ravus marched through the ruined meeting room, leaving the frozen king. Placing his hand on his heart, Noctis musters his courage, and with a deep inhale, followed by an exhale, he follows Ravus.
Throughout their exploration, the signs of destruction and chaos ran wild throughout the Citadel, dozens of Kingsglaives and MT remains scattered in the halls, rooms, and more, small fires were scattered across the place while outside the city was being sieged with the empire's dropships and a giant monster. Yet all the king could think about was where his father could be, despite knowing what his fate was to be.
"You said she should still be near dad right now, how do you know?", questioned Noctis as they scale up a flight of stairs. "The Diamond Weapon, the beast you witnessed outside, was deployed just moments after the emperor failed to claim the ring during the meeting", explains Ravus, "His words, if he cannot claim the ring than none shall have it". "So he'd rather destroy and kill everyone here than letting the ring be lost?", Noctis questions with disgust.
Ravus stops them just when they climbed the sixth flight of stairs, holding a hand up to stop the king. Down to their right, the sounds of a fight were taking place and one glance from Noctis, who can sense magic far better than Ravus could, confirms the silver-haired commander's beliefs. "Can you tell what magic this is?", he asked. "Kingsglaive, same as mine", Noctis answers, "And that means Luna's gotta be close!".
Rushing down the hall, they both kicks open a door that leads to another room, and before for them running towards a room just opened by Regis' magic, Lunafreya helps the wounded king while in the middle of the meeting room, a single Kingsglaive was facing an armored figure. Limping even with the aid of the Oracle, Regis turns to his charge and yelled: "Quickly, through here!". He raised his hand and fires a condensed bolt of lightning at the figure, blasting him in the shoulder.
This attack caused the warrior to fall to his knee, allowing the Kingsglaive to warp to the elevator opened by the king. Fast as lightning, Noctis throws his keyblade and grabbed Ravus by the arm just as the door closed. Together he warps himself and Ravus through the door and into the elevator, all while Ravus glanced back to witness in shock the armored figure easily getting back to his feet, even his broken armor was repairing.
Inside the elevator, both men witnessed the ring of the Lucii change hands, from Regis to Lunafreya. The Kingsglaive, Nyx Ulric, turns to watch them. "This leads to a hidden passageway. Follow it, and once you are away from here, make for Altissia", requests Regis, "Noctis waits for you there". This made the Oracle and the Kingsglaive look at the king, both putting together that he knew all this was fated to happen.
"You knew…", Nyx says, anger rising, "You knew this peace treaty was a lie…and you *still* invite them into our home?". "Yes. But it was the only way to draw their wrath away from Noctis", argues Regis, "Were they not here, then it would be my son's life at risk". "This is the way of our king? Sacrificing Lucian sons to save his brat!?", sneers Nyx. The Oracle stepped up in defense of the ailing king, stating the king's choice was not to just save Noctis but the world as well.
Even as the conversation goes on, Noctis could only watch in dismay and guilt painting his eyes, looking away to the floor. Hearing this terrible and selfish plan from Cor hurt, but hearing his father blatantly state he sacrificed so many sons and daughters of their home to just keep him safe cuts him deeper than any blade the empire could ever use. His heartfelt heavy, thoughts of his home being ravaged and destroyed while he lollygagged with his brothers completely ignorant of the costs.
Arriving at the next floor, the five of them exit the elevator and head for the secret passage Regis spoke of. The woman holding his arm to help him along his way, except when they stood in the center of the room, Regis stopped and releases his weakening grasp on the woman. By the time Nyx was by the passage and Lunafreya only a few steps away from him, Regis gives her one final look before he raised his hand and erects a wall of crystal. Cutting them off from each other.
"No! Please, stop!", begged Lunafreya, trying to go back for the king. She is barred by the crystal while Ravus and Noctis stayed on Regis' side, the two watches. "Please, don't leave us!". She slammed her palms on the crystal wall, trying to convince Regis to stay with him while Nyx held her from using any of her powers. "…I know your mother would wish the same as I do", says Regis, "That you and Noctis live happily. All those years you were in captivity, were because I failed you and your brother where it mattered most".
Not even Ravus kept his composure, shock adorning his face while Noctis clenched his fists as a hitch escaped him. "Not again, locked doors shall not seal your fate any longer", swears Regis as Lunafreya watches in pain. She whispers his name with teary eyes as the elevator behind them is crushed, falling into the dark abyss below as the armored figure leaps out from the shaft. Regis turns this intruder one final time, tossing aside his can.
The figure oddly enough bows before the king raised his sword like a statue before running to the king. With one hand, Regis strikes him with another bolt of lightning, sending the figure into the wall. Undeterred by this set-back, the figure gets to his feet and rushes to the king. Regis again shoots another bolt of lightning but this time his power was far weaker, as instead of blasting the armored warrior again, his lightning only slows him.
"Behold, the King of Lucis…hoarding tranquillity within his precious walls", the figure mocks, "Where is your tranquillity now, king?". Closer and closer the figure gets as Regis tries to overpower him with magic, signs of him getting weaker and weaker were shown on the old man's face. Noctis almost rushed in to help, only held back by Ravus' arm grabbing his shoulder. "Let go of me!", Noctis roars, keyblade summoned as he struggled.
"Don't be foolish! This is a memory, nothing you do can change it!", Ravus reminds with a snarl. "Here is your peace, by steel's swift descent", commands the figure. Pushing off Regis' attacking arm, forcing him to spin around with his back facing the figure's own back, he plunges the giant sword in a backward stab motion, stabbing the king. Regis lets out a gasp and stiffens in place as the blade pierced the king.
"REGIS/DAD!", screams Lunafreya and Noctis.
The Oracle looks away in horror while Noctis falls to his knees, tears running down his eyes as Regis stood still. The future lover of the crown prince gazes at the king one more time, seeing no fear in his eyes, and only with a pleading look to be free, the life fades from his eyes. Sensing the king's passing, the figure merely yanked the blade and without a care, pushes the king's remains forward like a broken doll.
Forced to flee, Lunafreya stares down the figure as it hovers around the king's dead body before Nyx pulls her to follow him. The Oracle flees, leaving only the two spectators of her future and the kingslayer to stand above the king. But a shift in memory changes the scene, taking all three to what looked like to be an arena.
The ground remains unchanged while there were four black pillars on each corner of the ring, three ghostly giants of the Lucis King's of Yore hovering above them, the armored figure stood before the two. Now he draws his sword upon the king and former commander of the empire's forces. Noctis and Ravus called their weapons, Noctis' eyes burning with fury as his Armiger shines around his body.
"It would seem fate has given you a chance to avenge your father", Ravus comments as he draws his saber. "Guess I owe them one…", Noctis remarks with anger, "Bur first, we're getting that shard". Ravus glanced at the king, now spinning his keyblade in hand. "I can feel her light within him, he's holding it within the darkness of his heart", clarifies Noctis. "Then let's make this quick!", Ravus commands.
Noctis warp strikes to the figure as Ravus leaps, entering their first battle together…
A/N:
…I regret everything…
I am having some trouble with this arc, it's been so long since I had to write something that isn't heavily focused on fighting…ugh. I promise we WILL get this arc done. Next time we'll be checking on the guardians and seeing how their doing.
Anyways: QUESTIONS:
Q1: Thoughts on this chapter?
Q2: Naminé's side?
Q3: How did you like Lunafreya's side?
Q4: What do you wanna see?
Q5: Curious about Nyx?
Q6: Do you want Ravus to do something cool?
Q7: Naminé re-writing Riku's memories?
Not much to ask since this is a pretty meh chapter, but hey, hopefully I'll do better next time! Thanks again to everyone whose favourited and followed, really makes my day! As always, stay awesome but more importantly stay safe!
