Final Fantasy XV - Kingdom Hearts
Part 89
Summary: Two warriors of Light, the Chosen King and Keyblade Master, face an unseen Darkness.
Blades crossed the prince's royal blade against the traitorous blade of Glauca. The armored warrior barely budged from Noctis' attack, easily repels him, and tosses him aside like an over-confident recruit attacking their mentor. Ravus leaps and stabs at the armored man, his saber cutting his shoulder but immediately the armor repaired itself as if Ravus didn't attack him at all. Glauca backhands the prince of Tenebrae away, Ravus using his armored limb to shield his head while being thrown off his feet.
Noctis rolls onto his feet and throws his sword at Glauca, warping towards him. But Glauca grabbed the handle of the sword and Noctis falls behind him on his back, quickly rolling away from being impaled by the warrior. Noctis warps away from Glauca while tossing fire flasks at him, exploding upon impact. Bathed in a cloud of flames, Glauca is blown back three feet from Noctis, his armor caked in shoot and licked by flames.
But like all of Regis and Ravus' attacks, the armor repairs itself and douses the flames like they were nothing, but tiny embers easily blown by the wind of a cold night. Noctis hisses, frustrated as Ravus races towards the warrior. The traitor swings his giant sword against Ravus' saber, its heavyweight against the speedy blade only stopped Ravus' attack but the silver haired prince starts to lash out against the warrior with speedy stabbing thrusts. His quicker form and the thinner blade was too great for Glauca's blade, and he lands several hits on his armor.
Stabbing at several points against Glauca, Ravus side steps a downward swing from the larger man and manages to get right behind him. He tries to plunge his blade into his back but Glauca quickly turns around to Ravus with the speed his heavy form shouldn't be able to possess and slammed his arm into the side of the prince's head and easily brushes him aside. Ravus flies across the ring and lands on his side just on the edge of the ring, grunting in pain as his orientation is completely thrown off. Noctis warped to the air and hover above Glauca, calling six royal arms.
He fires them at Glauca, turning them into blue rays of light and each hit on the armor causes an explosion that bathes him in bluish smoke. But Noctis then warps back down to the ground and while calling his keyblade along with Ultima Blade, he dashes towards Glauca when the smoke clears, seeing once again his armor repair itself from the barrage of attacks from the king. Glauca combats the king with his giant blade, but Noctis' keyblade slams into the blade and knocks it aside and with a twirl of his body, he slammed Ultima Blade into his shoulder.
His blade lodges within the metal armor as it heals itself again, forcing Noctis to quickly slam his keyblade into Glauca' side. Again the blade lodges itself within the metal even as it heals, but Noctis knows he isn't doing any true harm to this abomination. Glauca then grabbed his neck and raises him above the ground, tightening his grip on the future king. Noctis grabbed his arms while struggling to breathe, kicking fruitlessly. Glauca's grip tightens to the to point Noctis is wheezing and coughing, but his desire to see the king perish gives Ravus a chance.
Without warning, Ravus slammed his electric covered prosthetic fist into Glauca's stomach. With incredible force, bathing him in lightning and freeing Noctis' from his grip. Glauca is pushed back from the two princes but only by two feet thanks to him digging his heels into the ground. The warrior's armor repairs itself again, and all their efforts to harm were for naught as he stands tall. Noctis rubs his neck with a grimace and a hiss of pain, teeth clenched with frustration while Ravus clenched his prosthetic fist. "This isn't working…we could hit him all day and be nowhere", curses Ravus. Noctis hated to agree with him but the older prince was dead on the gil with that point. Even his father's magic couldn't get through that self-repairing walking scrap heap, and his royal arms and keyblade were having just as much luck. He rubbed his neck, then slowly thinks of an idea.
"Hey…you think that armors got a limit?", he asked, standing up properly. Ravus glances at the king who calls his weapons again, saying: "Maybe if I just keep beating the crap out of him as quick as I can, maybe I can overwhelm that repairing thing his armors got going". Ravus looks at Glauca, marching towards them like a statue that suddenly was granted life, pondering on Noctis' words. Even for as little as his majesty's lighting did, it was enough to stay his march for even a little while after Nyx's battle with it.
If Noctis could push the armors healing to its limit, if he could only push him to the very edge of his power then maybe it would only take one good hit from one of them to win the battle. Then again, it would mean putting Noctis forward. "And say your plan works, do you have a strategy that can pull that off, or even better if it works, how will you be able to strike it if you're on death's door?", he interrogates. Noctis smirked at him before turning back to Glauca, and confidently says: "Yeah to the first one, second? Just make sure you pull your weight".
Ravus raised a silver brow at the king but Noctis walks forward without answering, slowly glowing in the Armiger light. With a cry, Noctis activates his Armiger and runs forward with them at his back. Glauca is then assaulted by a bombardment of the holy weapons, Noctis telepathically tossing them him while he grabbed Sword of the Wise, and suddenly warps without tossing it. He appears at Glauca's side and slashes at him, warps again above him and slashes behind his neck shoulder to shoulder, and finally warped to the front, and with a spin of his body, he swings upward and slashes at his chest.
Warping again without even tossing the blade, Noctis appears five feet from the warrior, he calls for the Star of the Rogue and then swings it at Glauca, but he fires waves of Armiger enhanced slashes at Glauca with amazing speed. His swings so swift and speedy it was like his arms were a blur, each slash exploding upon contact with Glauca's body, cutting into his armor even with its speedy recovery. Noctis then throws his keyblade into the air behind Glauca and appeared behind him, and then he tosses the star-shaped blade right into his back.
The star spins into the warriors back, cutting into the steel and breaking it faster than the magic could repair it. Noctis drops to the ground, his Armiger enhanced weapons spinning around him before he grabbed Mace of the Fierce just in time when Glauca rushes at him with his giant sword, up over his head as he brings the blade down. Noctis lifts the humongous mace with all his strength and meets the blade that stole his father's life, and with a roar, he smashes through the steel blade. Shattering it to pieces and leaving Glauca unarmed, Noctis then starts to strike the warrior with every single royal arm within his arsenal.
When he used the tenth weapon, he slashes Glauca with Katana of the Warrior, and with Sword of the Father, he plunges the blade of his father into the shoulder of Glauca, penetrating the steel and magic that repelled most of his attacks. Glauca staggered back from the shock of the pain, probably had forgotten what it was like but Noctis the calls for Night's Sky, grasping the keyblade while pouring all the Armiger and his own heart's light into the blade. He throws the keyblade into the air above the wounded warrior and grabs the keyblade, bathing its blue light.
With a roar, he falls with the blade over his head, slammed the keyblade into the ground while slicing down from Glauca's head to the ground. A powerful pillar of blue light burns from the ground to the sky, trapping Glauca in a burning pillar of light, burning his armor, and quickly overpowered the healing the magical armor could ever rival. His Armiger disappears and Noctis collapsed on one knee, but before Glauca could attempt to harm the king, Ravus is already on the move.
The fallen prince charges forth, bathed in his violet lightning as it gathers up upon his blade. With a yell, Ravus stabs into Glauca's back, penetrating his armor all the way through. The warrior bends back in shock, but Ravus jumps up and grabbed the neck of the armored monstrosity with his prosthetic limb and squeezes it as hard as his hand could. Bending and crushing the metal along with the flesh, Ravus blasted him with every gathered lighting within his false limb, covering the man in violet lightning.
The figure's limbs go limp and then without another sound as the lightning disappears, he falls to his knees and then falls to the side after Ravus releases his grasp on him, letting the kingslayer perish. With a heavy thud, the armor begins to fade away as rays of Lunafreya's light pierces its form. When the body completely disappears, the shard of her heart begins to flutter to the air and once Noctis opens his palm to reveal the other shard, the shard connects to it with a gentle click. A small sigh leaves Noctis' lips, shakily getting to his feet.
"Two down…", he says, looking at the shards. Ravus sheathes his weapon as the world begins to warp and change again. "…how?", he asks. Noctis looks at his former rival, who wasn't facing him but watching the world turn into another place of memory, his fists were clenched, and jaw tightened. "How, did she die?", he questioned. Noctis lowered his head at the looming question, the dreaded one. "…she died…to save the others", he explains, "The world we were fighting on, was about to become swallowed by the heartless, she used her light to save them".
Ravus turned to the future king with a glare, facing Noctis' stoic look as he stood up. "Why? Why was she there?", he asked, or rather demands. "Because we almost lost. Ardyn's new buddy had three armies worth of heartless his disposal, she brought help to stop them", explains Noctis, "And when she sensed Kairi was in trouble she tried to help us…but it was too late, Xehanort got the final key and managed to plunge that world into a hell hole". Ravus growls, so many questions bubbled in his mind about these explanations from the king. Xehanort, keys, world? What sort of madness did this fool drag his sister into?
"She threw her life away…even after everything that happened? All the sacrifices made to give her a chance to live her life?", Ravus spits bitterly, eyes downcast in dismay. Even giving his life, the lengths he went to protect her, even sacrificing his heart to fight against her doomed fate. All to learn she still gave her life to save others, the same fate she was bounded to. Noctis looks at the shards and sees the way Ravus was thinking, partly wondering if she hadn't come to the battleground, had she stayed behind…but he knew no matter what, she had no other way. Had she done nothing, Xehanort would have destroyed the guardians and the worlds would be at his mercy.
Her sacrifice had saved them all, granted them the strength to push forward and reignite the fire within their hearts to save the worlds. "I know it seemed like it…and believe me when I say if it wasn't for the others, I'd probably would have been a wreck", confessed Noctis, staring into the blueish crystal shards, "She said goodbye to me before her heart moved on…telling me she was grateful for the time we had, meeting all my friends and even wished for more time". He feels his throat tighten at the thoughts, but he pushes the pain down. "But…when we trained for a year, she got to experience what it was like to be surrounded by family, friends".
He faced Ravus as the man's own eyes softened at the thought of his sister being in the company of people who cared for her. "Believe it or not, it was like a whole new side of her was shown to us…not the proper Oracle the empire painted to be seen and nothing more, not the chosen one to die nor even a noble girl…just Luna", he explained, "She laughed at our jokes, blushed at the remarks about me and her, was sisterly to Kairi and Naminé and somewhat even a constant beacon of hope for us". Looking at the brother, he gives him a courageous but strong smile. "Her story was supposed to end at Altissia, but thanks to Sora and the others, it didn't. And now with the two of us? We'll make sure her story goes on".
As he finished, the world around them changes again into a room. One based on the propaganda and grey colors was a room from the empire. Several pieces of furniture that were rather bland compared to the more expressive and posh ones back home in Insomnia, it felt cold and oppressive yet not entirely a prison. On the bed with her hands clasped on her lap, Lunafreya sat there quietly and patiently as if she were awaiting for her guests to arrive. Noctis glanced at Ravus who stares at his sister with a mourning look.
He reached out to her, whispering her name in disbelief but reins it in. There was no point in such matters, an illusion was all that sat before him. Noctis looks around and ponders when this was taking place and tries to deduce what significance was held for her. The Oracle then placed her hand above her heart, a thoughtful look dancing on her elegant face. "Strange…this light is…different", she muses quietly, trying to distinguish this strange light. Noctis watches her intently, wondering if this was the moment the princess of light torch-passing event happened today, remembering Aqua explaining it.
Then Lunafreya raised her eyes and quietly says: "Who are you?". Both princes jump, momentarily forgetting they were only observing not there. Behind them, Noctis sees Naminé semi-transparent and could barely make her out from the shadows she hides within. The blonde girl shrinks into the shadows, like a mouse but the Oracle stands up and with the willpower forged through years of living under the empire's heavy thumb, states: "Hiding in the darkness will not protect you, present yourself to me".
"…your light… it's just like Kairi's", Naminé speaks, soft and low while taking a step out of the shadows. Her transparent form almost startles the Oracle, but it softens her look to a more gentle albeit still cautious. "You…who are you?", Lunafreya asked. "…my name is Naminé", introduces the nobody, standing before her, "I'm a nobody…". Lunafreya raises a brow before she placed her hand on her heart and sighs softly, then faces the girl again. "You are a shadow of someone else, correct?", asked the princess. Naminé nodded her head, surprised.
"Then, this light…it is the purest light then", she deduced, "Meaning the final keyhole was revealed, and thus it passed on to hide again". Noctis folds his arms, remembering. Ignis had brought up that question during their training, wondering about the new seven lights, and Aqua explained how the seven pure lights were used to open the final door. Sora's first journey is when it happened and after he sealed it, the lights moved on to hide themselves to prevent it from happening again. As far as he, and everyone else understood, only Kairi's light had not passed on to another. Not even Yen Sid knew why that was the case.
"You know about the pure light?", Naminé asked. Lunafreya nods and sits on the chair by the table, gesturing Naminé to do the same. Even though a being of ethereal form, Naminé takes her offer and sits before her, on guard, and hands clenched on her knees. "Then the light I connected to, was from another one who bears the pure light", Lunafreya hummed, "But tell me, the light within it, is yours correct?". "Yes…when you reached out Kairi, your light touched my heart and I followed the trail to your heart", Naminé explains, "But…sadly the trail disappeared, and I am part of your heart for now".
Lunafreya gives her a curious look, one that Naminé immediately took as suspicious. "I-I swear that wasn't intentional! I just…I…", she tries to argue but when she thought of the justification of why she left she fell silent. Instead, Lunafreya smiles. "Then tell me, is this princess of light with Noctis?", she asked. "You mean the man with black hair and blue eyes, wearing all black?", asks Naminé once she calms down, "Then yes…as well as her friends". "Keyblade wielders, correct?", Lunafreya asked. Naminé frowns, wondering how much this woman knew about the light, and with the addition of knowing the keyblade, something told her she wasn't like the other princesses.
"How, do you know this?", Naminé questions. "…one who wielded the key came to our world years ago. One who enlightened me about the light, the darkness, and many other things that exist beyond our star, our world", Lunafreya eludes, "But beyond that, I know not what has transpired in these times between the realm of light and realm of darkness". Naminé bits her inner cheek, looking away in contemplation about what she could do. Lunafreya's smile softens and then she asked: "Tell me Naminé, do you believe in fate or destiny?".
Naminé looks at her, confused, and says: "What do you mean?". Lunafreya stands up and approached the window that overlooked the city of water, humming. "Is it by destiny's hand that you, one who has seen much and are connected to a princess of light, you happen to find your way to someone who knows about the outside worlds?", she asks, "Or is this the work of the light? Because I believe we may be able to help each other". Naminé stood up and watches the woman turn to address her. "There is a darkness that is growing in this world, one I fear Noctis may not be enough to stand against", she explained.
"And you think one of the keyblade wielders can help him?", Naminé questions. Lunafreya nodded, making Naminé fold her arms. "Is this darkness the same as the one the realm of light is fighting against or is it this world's?", she asked. "…I believe it plays a great role in deciding the fate of the realm of light", Lunafreya says. Naminé waits for an answer, but when she is given nothing but silence, she believed the Oracle was no more aware of what about to take place, the great keyblade war nor aware of the man who was about to bring reckoning upon the realm.
"I offer my aid to you and the wielders of the key, in exchange, you can inform me what dangers the realm of light", offered the Oracle. Naminé looks at her with a curious look in her eyes, wondering. If this woman does know more than the others about other worlds, then her aid could be helpful to the guardians, and having another ally within this world would work for them, but cautious feeling wiggles within Naminé's heart. "And what would you gain from it? Or really, what are you hoping knowing what I know will bring you?".
"…a way to ensure the Chosen King's destiny can be changed", states the Oracle, "One where he can save our world without the cost of his life".
Noctis and Ravus could only stand there, blown away. A powerful tug occurred in Noctis' heart, a wondrous warmth spreading through his chest and a bittersweet sensation within his mouth. Even with the golden information like this, to be able to know about the outside world, breaking the old law that separated the worlds and keeps them in ignorance, Lunafreya was doing it to save his life. He was her first thought, her reason to break the unspoken law of the worlds.
Naminé's face finally breaks into a warm and gentle smile that somehow brightened the room. "Oh? So you're going to do all this for someone you love?", she teases. Noctis rolled his eyes when Ravus' coughs mimicked a gagging noise, still unable to accept his beloved sister's standards were so low Noctis would suit her. The prince of Insomnia only managed to resist giving him the finger or glare at him by remembering he could kick his backside a thousand times more than he could back then. This question though made the Oracle turn bright red and shyly look away, making Naminé's smile change to a smirk.
"Hmm…you and Kairi have a lot in common", she notes, unfolding her arms, "But…if that is what it takes to have you aid us, then it's a deal". She offers her hand to the woman, who takes it as best as one could when shaking hands with an ethereal being. "It will be a pleasure to work with you, Naminé", says Lunafreya.
Watching them interact, Noctis is watching Naminé more so than the one who claimed his heart. It never occurred to him just how much he, heck all of them, really owed Naminé. Looking back to his journey with Sora and the others, their road trip, their hunts, their camp nights, always surrounded by friends, through good and bad days. Remembering those days when Kairi or Prompto's lack of self-confidence would rear their heads, they always had Aqua or Gladiolus to kick their backsides and remind them they deserved to be here.
Or times when he would feel the pressure of his role as the future king, he would have Sora to perk him back up, or have Riku spare with him to give him a quick reminder he wasn't alone in their journey, nor would he have to fight through on his own. Everyone had someone or more to help perk them back up to speed or give them the strength to get going regardless of how much pressure was on their back. Lunafreya for so long had no one, not even Ravus.
Naminé came for her, stayed by her side, and helped her through the worst of all the empire's evil. Every day she was there for Lunafreya, a friend. And because of her constantly acting like a little spy for Lunafreya, helping distract the MT's so they couldn't find the ring, even mucking up some memories of the generals to keep them away from her like Caligo, she was the shield of Lunafreya. The devastation of learning of her demise, it probably would have broken the Oracle, and breaks his heart to think at least she wasn't aware who perished before her untimely end.
"I never knew this girl had…been there for her", Ravus confesses, looking down, "Where I failed at being there, she was the one to help ease her burdens". Noctis grants him a sympathetic look, wondering if Ravus even knew Naminé was part of her heart. "Did you ever wonder?", he asked, "Or at least did Luna ever say something about Naminé?". "Why would she? By the time I last saw her, my heart was already infected by the darkness Xigbar gave me", he confessed, "Truly, I think she was more afraid I'd interrogate Xigbar about the nobody".
"I wouldn't go that far…maybe she was as uncertain as you were", Noctis offers supportively. Ravus scoffs coldly, shaking his head. But even still he glanced at Naminé, and silently thanks her for all she had done to comfort his sister where he could not. "And…she perished too, did she?", he asked, despite his heart telling him the answer. "Yeah, but Sora's going to bring her back, just like we're gonna bring Luna home", states Noctis firmly. "And then…", he starts, watching the two interact: "Those two can create more memories together".
Slowly from Naminé's heart, a blue light shines through as she, Lunafreya, and the world disappear before their eyes, and in Naminé's place was the shard. It fluttered toward Noctis as he calls for the other piece to join it. It clicks in place and with silence, the world fades. "I think we're getting closer to putting her heart back together…then maybe it'll lead us to her body", he says as the world turns into another memory.
Now the two stood in what appeared to be a field, surrounded by flowers. A single green pathway of grass leading in the center of the flowers was a tall white tree stands with blossoms as leaves. The day was close to dusk with the fresh air of the flowers wafting up their noses, but neither could recall when or where this place was, not even Ravus. He knew they weren't in Tenebrae, but he could not figure out where they could be, and if both were honest they feel as if they were out of their place in time.
Noctis and Ravus head for the tree, maybe there would be answers for them there. When they stood at the edge of the center, Noctis stops when he sees a woman sitting beneath the tree with a book on her lap. The woman's lips were moving slowly and slightly shaping the words she read, but then she looks up from her book and sees the two princes. "Oh? Greetings travelers", she greets kindly and warmly. She closed her book and bookmarked it before she stands up to them. When they could see her face, both princes gasped quietly.
This woman bore so much of Lunafreya's looks, except with short blonde hair held to the side with a hair clip, wearing a diamond-shape headband across her forehead. Blue eyes that were almost a replica of Lunafreya's and wears a long white dress and white gloves. Besides her book looked to be a red floor-length cape fastened with a golden clip, like to travel incognito, and finally, she wears a golden necklace with three circular ornaments. She stares at Noctis and Ravus, pursing her lips, and then says: "Strange, are you two with his majesty's army? Guardians? Warriors?".
"His majesty?", Noctis asked, confused. The woman turns to Noctis and her brows furrow in confusion. "Lord…Somnus?", she asked hesitantly. Noctis looks to Ravus, shocked to hear the name of the false founder king being used, and then turns to the woman. "Somnus? As in, Somnus Lucis Caelum?", Noctis asked, taking a step forward to her. The woman frowns with concern, now eyeing the two with suspicion. "Who are you? And why do you bear his majesty's looks?", she interrogates.
"Peace my dear Aera", a voice, an all too very familiar voice speaks out, "They are friends of mine". Noctis' blood runs cold as Ravus turns behind and growls with barely restraint rage. Slowly turning around to address the voice, Noctis could only watch with shock. Waltzing down the path to the tree, with brown hair instead of fiery red, blue eyes that all Lucis children seem to carry on, dressed in a white cloak, is the one-man Noctis thought he had finally rid his hands off for good.
Ardyn.
*Highwind XV*
Waiting on the bench outside of the medical room where his two friends were being treated, Axel was bouncing his knee furiously and clenching and unclenching his fist as each moment passed him by. The ticking of the overhead clock above the door irritated him as it was reminding him the long hours he felt were being stretched so thin were just a few minutes passing him by, he smells the clean air of sterilization and hears several members of the staff making the rounds and talking about the patients and their conditions.
With his old cloak ruined and beyond repair, he was given the clothes the three fairies had made by Merlin, who came aboard to lend a hand with healing. He now wears a long sleeveless hooded black vest, a sleeveless dark grey and a red plaid button-down shirt with a short-sleeve black shirt underneath, and blackish-red pants and black mid-calf boots. It still felt weird to him to be in normal clothes again, granted he wore spare clothes while in the forest with Kairi but still.
Having been discharged after one of Aerith's nurses healed him, he had been waiting for Even and Ienzo to finish their check-ups on Xion and Roxas the moment he had gotten out of his room, tightly squeezing his knee anxiously. Axel knew the reason behind this extended study was vital, after all, Xion had just regained her memories not a day ago and Roxas had just jump-started his heart into his new body, so understandably there would concerns and steps were taken to make sure neither former nobodies would suddenly collapse.
He just wished they would allow him to just be inside that room so he could at the very least keep an eye on the two, or maybe assure them they'd be fine. With a deep groan, Axel leaned against the wall and breathes out a breath, wondering if he should just go for a walk to clear his thoughts, maybe check on the others and see how their doing or heck go for a coffee to keep himself going. But those wants were outweighed by his need to ensure those two were going to be fine, just thinking of leaving here when one of those two could pop out and tell him what happened anchored him in place.
Just then, Even exits the room and closing the door behind himself, turns to Axel. "I've some news", he says and immediately Axel sprung to his feet. "They're fine right?", he questioned immediately. "Well", Even starts, flipping through the pages of his note pad and stops at the third page, "Xion shows no signs of any lingering traces of Xemnas's powers or any bindings from Xehanort, and after a few questions, nothing serious if you're wondering, just basic normal ones, it seems she is in the clear".
"Roxas does show a bit of concern for us, the body his heart inhabits is still an issue", he laments. "What do you mean? Is he sick or something?", Axel asked. "No, it is more of him straining himself and worryingly, he was in a worse condition than we thought", Even clarifies, "I believe his body wasn't used to the toll the keyblade's power possessed nor was he as tough as Sora to withstand the pain". Axel couldn't imagine how that must work, the replica process already made almost no sense to him for most of it, how Roxas suddenly got back into the game is still scrambling his brain.
"But for the most part all that can be remedied with time and if Aqua is able, some training provided he wishes to become an actual wielder of the keyblade", Even assured, "Though I'd say after everything, fighting will no longer be a regular occurrence with you three". That was a question Axel wasn't entirely sure if he, or they really, we're ready to answer after all this. Sure once Sora and Noctis bring back their friends, they'll celebrate and wind down for a bit and fighting will not be sought for. Fully retire from it though was still something he'll bring up to the two later.
"Guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there", joked Axel, "But uh, can they leave now?". "I'd like to study their hearts a little longer, but I suppose you three need a respite", Even sighed scribbling into the note pad, "Go on". Axel enters the room while Even finishes his writings, smirking away as he takes in the design of the room. Calling it a medical ward would be a bit misleading seeing as the place was closer to looking like a lab or a research station, there were more machines for experiments than keeping the patients alive.
A few beds here and there with some forms of comfort along with a large window showing space, sounds of music were being played overhead, he spots Roxas just lying on the bed with his hands behind his head and one leg over the other, bobbing his head to the music. Like Axel, Roxas was given clothes to replace his old, ruined cloak, but they were oddly the ones he wore during his time in the fake Twilight Town. A black, high-collared jacket with a zipper resembling a skateboard (he never asked). Over this, he wore another jacket, this one unzipped and white, with several black block designs and a grey hem on the end of each sleeve. This jacket's collar was red and pleated and folded back.
Two-colored pants: the legs of his pants were beige with several of what looked like buttons on the hem that appeared to attach the legs to the rest of the cloth, which are dark-colored. His shoes were colored in shades of grey and black and had red straps in place of laces. Finally, he wears a wrist band with a black-and-white checkerboard pattern on his left wrist, as well as a plain black ring on his left index finger and a plain white ring on his left middle finger.
"Enjoying yourself?", Axel asked pulling a chair nearby. Roxas gives him a smirk before sitting up in the bed, saying: "Forgot how nice it was to have a bed". He runs his hands through his spiky hair with a content sigh, relaxed. "Where's Xion?", Axel asked, looking around. Roxas points to another door leading to another room, saying Ienzo just wanted to check on her wounds and anything else. "He's worried there might be traces of darkness from Xehanort, just like he did to Kairi", Roxas explained, placing a hand on one propped knee, "Better safe than sorry".
Axel grunts in agreement, folding his arms and biting back a growl. He had never met anyone like Ardyn before, but the guy could give a nobody a run for their munny when it comes to manipulating the weaknesses of a heart. It still sickened him to know what he did to Kairi, how his actions cost them Naminé and Lunafreya and is probably laughing at them from beyond his grave. Just then, outcomes Xion with Ienzo following closely behind. A white stick in her mouth while wearing a set of clothes one of the Gullwings gave her.
An over-sized red and black T-shirt that had to have belonged to Gladiolus (unless one of those three were lying about their three-member exclusivity), a pair of shorts that were blue and ripped around the knees, and a pair of slippers. She waved to her best friends and approached Axel, showing her lollipop and explaining why she was getting more experiments performed on her. Exactly what Roxas said, minus telling her what happened to Kairi about it. "A clean health bill for these two", assures Ienzo, "But I would strongly encourage them to stay out of any fights for a while".
"Trust me, after all that fighting I think a vacation is in order", Axel sighed. Xion pouts at his words and while wagging her green treat at him, says: "But all you do is sleep on your days off! Are you going to do that too?". Axel smirked and nodded, making the girl frown with annoyance, though if she was trying to look seriously annoyed, the lollipop ruined the effect. Roxas laughed at the two and scrambles out of the bed after Ienzo tells them they have permission to be discharged and again encourages them to rest.
Leaving the room, the three former nobodies waltzed down the hall while Xion licked her treat, marveling at the taste of apples while the boys were chatting away. "Have you visited anyone else?", Roxas asks as they entered an elevator. "Nah, not since you two were being experimented on by the mad doctors", Axel teases, making Roxas snicker and Xion giggle. She finishes her treat and looks at the stick before putting it in the pocket of her shorts as they exit the elevator. No sooner did they leave it; a loud growl emits from the two younger nobodies' stomachs.
Xion looked at her and rubbed it, muttering: "Hungry". Axel looks at the two, suddenly wondering when they had an actual meal. He patted their backs and guides them to the makeshift café Leon had made for those in need of a break or at least give the heroes a good meal. It was centered in what looked to be a park of sorts, plenty of grassy land with a few trees here and there, cobblestone walkways with small white fences around the ridges. The café just ahead of where they walked and of course behind the counter cooking away for a few staff members and some of RC, is none other than Ignis.
With his Kingsglaive uniform damaged and Crownsguard attire unsuitable for rest, he is wearing his casual outfit. A white long-sleeved dress shirt or a grey T-shirt with grey trousers and has a storage pack attached to his left leg. Even his usual up hair was down like he just came out of a shower and just didn't stylize it like she normally did.
"Do you ever stop cooking?", Axel asks as he steps before the counter. Ignis turns to them and offers them a tired but friendly smile, pushing up his glasses. "Only when I'm carrying the weight of those who fall behind and show-offs who need someone to ensure their heads remain where they belong", retorts Ignis with a smirk. Axel laughs while Roxas gave the redhead a knowing look, Xion just watching the exchange with a smile on her face.
Then Axel's face shifts into a warmer and friendlier but concerned smile. "How are you holding up?", he asked. Ignis takes his glasses off and pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling and then faces them. "I'm forced to wait while Noct and Sora are off to unknown places none of us have ever been to, and many of us are still in worse conditions", he sighed, "As you can imagine, I've had better days". Axel nodded in agreement, feeling the same. "So you're just keeping your mind off it all by cooking?", Roxas asks.
"If I try to relax I'm thinking of Noct, keeping myself busy keeps me from thinking of his efforts to bring our friends back", Ignis confessed, "Better to be busy than idle".
With that explanation out of the way, he began to cook their respective orders while they sat down, and only when he was done did Xion ask him to talk with them, saying they were alone and could have some downtime together. When Ignis tried to refuse, the girl whipped out her "puppy eyes" and even pouted that he didn't want to talk to them. Next thing they knew he came back with ebony coffee and joined them at their table.
Not even Ignis could resist puppy-eyed Xion.
The topic of choice was asking him how the brothers were since they were taken to the medical wards, and Ignis told them. He among the three was the first to recover thanks to the dark powers healing him up quicker than his brothers, and once he was able to walk and move, he immediately went to work for Leon after he had some time to sleep. He mostly stayed as the chef and helped where he could with labor or even healing some of their more severe party, and eventually was put back to cooking.
"Prompto's with Cindy currently, he's been mostly helping her keep up with the ship's maintenance and occasionally checking the grave for sightings of Noct and the others", he says, sipping his coffee. "He gonna be alright? The guy seemed pretty beat when they arrived", Roxas asks. Ignis hummed thoughtfully, before saying: "I can't say I know for certain but it's likely he, like myself, is just keeping himself busy to kill time or not think about what could happen to Noct". Xion stirs her soup with worry in her eyes, wondering if she could visit Prompto and cheer him up.
What time they shared at the graveyard, she could see he was getting antsier and antsier with each passing moment that Noctis and Sora were gone, and while worrying he also had to fight off heartless too. Maybe she could ask more about his photos and get him to talk about the adventures he had with the others, or maybe get someone's phone to play with him. She remembered Riku using his while waiting and looking after Kairi, maybe she could ask him if she could have a borrow of it. "And the big guy?", she asks, "The big scary man?".
Ignis chuckles and turns to her. "Gladio is currently with Aqua in her room", he explains. "Oh of course", Axel says with a knowing look, "Probably celebrating~". Xion and Roxas looked at him weirdly, confused at the tone and smirk while Ignis gave him a very stern look. But his look melts into worry and concern, leaning back into his seat with a hefty sigh. "No, nothing like that", he laments, "Aqua…her condition is still critical". This makes Axel lean on his elbows and gives the man a serious look.
"What's wrong?". "…Aerith has tried to heal her but nothing she seems to be doing is working. I understand Mickey has contacted Yen Sid for aid, he's tended to her a little over an hour ago from what Terra has told me", Ignis explained. "And…it isn't good".
"Why? What's wrong with Aqua?", Axel asked.
*Aqua's Room*
Stirred and groaning, feeling like her eyelids tiring to open like an ancient tomb that had withered away from the flow of time, blurriness, and disorientated visions. She feels her throat is as dry as sand, her body was cursed by weariness and unshakable exhaustion that could only be described as dead tired, her senses were dulled and useless.
Her ears picked up an echo, unclear and muffled, and even though her distorted vision, she could see someone in front of her. If only she could greet them or utter a request for water, heck if only she could do anything to convey this level of exhaustion that cursed her body currently afflicted with. She could feel herself being sat up into a sitting position, the support behind her was flat and comfortable, making her deduce she was in a bed and then heard the more echoey speech. She tries to blink out the blurs in her vision, groaning.
"…ue…Blue…", the voice stresses, and only after three blinks, her blurry vision lessens, and she sees a glass of water before her. Desperate for that liquid, she tries to lift her arm to grasp for it, only to be able to barely lift it off the mattress. She makes incoherent noise, hoping to convey the weakness in her body. By the mercy of the light, the person helping her lifts the glass to her lips and she felt another hand behind her head supporting her head. Carefully the tip of the glass is lifted to her lips and she drank the ice-cold beverage.
Her parched throat was refreshed though she did cough once, almost spitting back out the water. She coughs and feels the hand behind her skull rub her back soothing her. She shudders and feels weak, laying back against the mattress as her vision starts to clear. "Blue?", the voice asked again, though it was clearer and more recognizable to her ears. She turns her head and sees Gladiolus by her side, his amber eyes showed worry and concern for her brightly. "Gla-Gladio", she whispered dryly and weakly.
"Welcome back", he greets with a low tone, "Had me worried". She weakly apologizes and looked around to see herself in what appeared to be a medical room. Curiosity gets her and with a weak hand she tries to grasp a bang of her hair to see if she were still "rocking out" the silver hair look, but again her strength was not coming back to her and she could barely lift a finger. "If you're wondering, yeah, you still got that silver hair thing going", Gladiolus says with a sigh.
"Joy…", she rasped, sighing. She turns her head to face him and asked: "How…long have I…been out?". Even talking with more than one word was so strenuous for her like she was putting her vocal cords through the worst practice of speech she could force herself through. She feels his hand brush against her cooler skin, making her sigh from the warmth of her lover's strong hand. "Half a day", confessed Gladiolus, "Cindy managed to bring the Highwind XV here to pick us up, everyone's been tended to".
At least they were safe again, she thinks to herself, sighing. "Can't…stay awake…so tired…", she groaned. "Go back to sleep Blue…try and get some proper rest", he offers. "Stay…?", she begged. With a loving smile, Gladiolus pecked her cheek and nodded. With the assurance that Gladiolus would be here when she returned to the world, she slowly closes her eyes. Yet before she does, she sees his smile fade and despair taking over his strong face, as if something horrible had happened to her.
Why?
*Outside*
"You're kidding…", Terra grunts out.
"I am afraid not, Terra", Yen Sid states firmly with a heavy heart. Besides the warrior is a distraught Ventus, who is close to crying with his skin ashen white. Mickey with his head downcast in despair, shaking his head. "Master…are you sure?", he asked weakly. Yen Sid nodded with sorrow within his grey eyes, turning to the door and through the small square window sees the woman sleeping with Gladiolus having his head in his hands.
"We have done all we can do for Aqua, but I am afraid what afflicts her body is beyond us", confesses Yen Sid, "Not even my magic can restore her". He addresses the three keyblade wielders. "The power she used to stop Xehanort from destroying the guardians has taken its toll not just on her body, but her heart as well. Her armor and magical prowess combined had been too much, even for her", he explains.
"But Aqua's the strongest mage out there!", Ventus says as tears ran down his eyes, "A-And her armor should have protected her too!". Terra grabbed his shoulder to prevent another outburst, staring down the old master. "What's going to happen to her?", he questions. Yen Sid sighed with a heavy heart and says: "The power she used should have killed her from exhaustion alone, but because of Kairi's light, she survived using a spell not even Xehanort could use without cost".
"But…this strain may be too much for her to recover…possibly even with years of recovery". Terra grits his teeth as Ventus whimpers, Mickey clenching his fists helplessly as Yen Sid delivered the fate that could be in store for Aqua. "She may never regain her strength…she will be unable to wield or even call her keyblade ever again".
As her little brother weeps in dismay, Terra silently shedding tears while Mickey keeps his head down, Yen Sid turns to the couple again with genuine remorse for them all. The realm of light was saved, and its greatest threat had been stopped at last…yet the costs for this victory did not stop at the lives of those who perished…
It may have cost them the others…and their futures…
A/N:
DONE!
Sorry Glauca was underwhelming but honestly I checked him on the wiki, watched his fight scene and found he…was pretty meh. Like he had no real special skills, if nothing he was just armour that doesn't die. But hey, better fights to come!
So Aqua could possibly either never recover and stay like this or does recover but loses the power of the keyblade, it just never ends for them huh?
Back to Sora next time, and maybe a bit of Ardyn too!
QUESTIONS:
Q1: Thoughts on this chapter?
Q2: How was Glauca? Lame?
Q3: Naminé and Lunafreya's first meeting?
Q4: Ardyn's story?
Q5: What do you wanna see next?
Q6: Aqua's fate?
Q7: Which of the guardians do you wanna see more of next time?
Q8: Puppy eyes Xion?
As always everyone, thanks for reading! Big thanks to the new folk who favourite and follow this story! Stay awesome but more importantly stay safe!
