Coming Home
Dark World
Riku and Mickey had made their way back to the Dark Meridian to dive in deeper after Aqua into the darkness, fighting through the Heartless to get there. Who knows how much time has past over in the realm of light. How much time has past for Aqua in the depths of darkness? All alone in this abyss... They have to bring her back this time. They just have to.
"(Gasp)!" And just like before, a Demon Tower confronted them along the dark beach again. Staking the meridian out only to strike once the two of them arrived, as if it were waiting for them. "This Heartless...it's the same one from before."
"There's no way! How could it know that we would come back?" Mickey pulled out his Keyblade in a surprised fluster. Riku was soon to follow suit.
"It's able to remember. It's able to strategize." Riku tightened his grip on Braveheart. The Heartless here were conniving, more vindictive than their counterparts in the realm of light. This Demon Tower was intelligent enough to remember them, hold a grudge, wait for them to return to exact its revenge, and spiteful enough to wait as long as it took for them to come back. "Mickey!"
"Right!" They had fought long against the Demon Tower, eating away at its tower and breaking off its Shadows. Mickey cross-slashed with Riku at the Demon Tower as it loomed over them. More Shadows broke off from the Tower and it retaliated by swiping at Riku.
"Gh!" Riku leaned and turned, evading the swipe, and ducking as it came in for another swipe. Enraged by its nimble prey, the Demon Tower slammed down at Riku, forcing him to jump out of the way. The Tower broke off and scattered into Shadows as Riku caught his breath.
"Riku, look!" Mickey pointed, warning Riku of the Demon Tower reforming and looming behind him.
"!- Huh?" Riku instantly looked behind him. Only to block with his Braveheart at the last second as the Demon Tower came charging at him. The force of the impact knocking Riku off his feet and sent him flying along the beach. Riku was flung onto his stomach, dropping his Keyblade as it disappeared in light. "Gh… (Huff)…"
"Riku!" Mickey called out to his friend in alarm, reaching out to him. But he had let his guard down, allowing the Shadows to sneak up on him from below. "Huh?! WahHH!"
The Demon Tower rose from under Mickey's feet, swallowing him up. Leaving nothing but his Keyblade that fell onto the sand.
"Gh…(Gasp)!" Riku gritted his teeth as he got back up again, alarmed as his friend had been swallowed by the looming Heartless. "Mickey!"
The Demon Tower raised into the sky, swirling and swirling like a chaotic storm. As the dark winds blew around its form changed into a sphere, floating in the sky.
"Uh-(Gasp)…" Riku could hardly believe what he was seeing as the sphere concentrated and condensed it's darkness until something burst from its depth. Whatever, or whomever it was, they were covered in darkness.
Jumping out of the darkness onto the beach below, they looked up back at Mickey trapped within the dark sphere- only his head remaining unsubmerged.
"..." Both Mickey and Riku watched the dark figure as they walked over to Mickey's Keyblade. Picking it up and looking at it in their shadowed hands. They were worthy of wielding a Keyblade… but that wasn't the surprising thing about the whole situation. The female voice coming from the dark figure was...
"This Keyblade…"
"(Gasp)!" Mickey's eyes widened. He recognized that voice. "Is it her?"
"..." The dark figured looked out at the sea from the meridian's shore, holding the Keyblade. The darkness around the figure began to subside, revealing a Keyblade wielder tainted by darkness...an Anti-Aqua. One that has been wandering through the realm of darkness for years and years, ending with her being cast into the watery depths beyond its margin. To Riku's horror, he could Sense the piece of Ansem/Xehanort's heart that has been burrowed within hers. "Mickey... You're too late."
The proof was in her yellow eyes of darkness as she turned to look at them.
"Aqua?" Riku couldn't understand... When did this happen? '(Gasp)! They confronted Aqua here...'
How did the Organization even have the chance to find her first?
"!" Mickey was shocked to see his friend like this. But more than that, he was sad... "What happened?"
"You abandoned me, that's what." Anti-Aqua answered accusingly, holding the Keyblade in a defensive stance. She was hurt, she's been hurting for a long time in this place. "Left me in this shadow prison for more than a decade, knowing what it would do to me..."
"..." Mickey couldn't even look her in the eyes anymore. He knew what she was taking her pain out on him, but there was truth in her words. He regretted not going back for her that time in the dark realm when she was taken through that passageway. "I'm sorry. It's all my fault."
"..." She turned away from him, walking towards the meridians' watery depths. She didn't want his "sorry". "I reached this shore after endless wandering. Waited forever for help to arrive. But no one ever came. I lost my Keyblade. Had no means of fighting my way back through the Heartless."
"..."
"You should have known I was stranded." She continued walking, stepping on the dark waters. No longer sinking to its dark depths now that she was apart of it. "Do you have any idea how lonely it is here?"
"(Gasp)!" Riku could resonate with the feelings she was having now. His fist clenched tighter as he rested it in the sand as support as he took a knee.
"How frightening it is to have no one?" She stopped as she stood in the clouded moon's false light, looking to it with hopeless eyes. "All that's left in my heart is misery and despair... and now, you can share it!"
"..." Mickey couldn't say anything as she turned his own Keyblade towards them. It was Riku who got up on his feet again and braved to step forward. Meeting her at the sands' shore, her silhouette engulfed by the moonlight.
"There's no need. Got my own." Riku declared as he called for his own dark half residing in his heart. His own replica from Castle Oblivion, Dark Riku. Back and looking exactly like him, except a year younger. Dark Riku walked out from the darkness in Riku's heart, holding a now repaired Way to the Dawn as he stood beside Riku. Ready to lend him his power and fight alongside him.
"Hmph," he looked over to the left at Riku with a cocky smirk as if silently saying 'fine, I'll give you a hand' as Riku looked back at him. Changing into light that surround Riku, giving him strength.
"(Exhanle, Inhale)." Riku looked at his hand, lifting it up closer to him as he caught one of the glowing lights around him like fireflies. He held out the same hand and called his Braveheart to him again. "Ah..."
Moving in closer to the waters, he prepared to confront Anti-Aqua. Walking on the waters as well with his own darkness to meet her.
"Ah!" Mickey was dragged along after Riku in his binding sphere floating in the sky.
"(Gasp)!" Riku gasped as the Dark Tower appeared again, swallowing Mickey in its looming tower. Along with Anti-Aqua, their movement was more tactical and controlled, as if she was controlling them. Riku braced himself with Barrier as the tower came charging at him. He would have to defeat this Demon Tower if he wanted to rescue Mickey- let alone Aqua. "Gh!"
The Demon Tower broke off into many Shadows as it crashed into his Barrier. Their beady yellow eyes darkened by Anti-Aqua's influence. Forming again with Riku in the epicenter, he had no other option than to use Barrier right away again.
"Yah!" Riku began striking at the Demon Tower, slicing off pieces and pieces of Shadows off from its looming tower. Shadow Dashing as he combo slashed through the tower. "Rah!"
"Strike!" He command for his Thundaga to rain down on it from the sky, Dark Rolling as the tower came striking down on him. Shooting it with a Dark Firaga as he dodged its strike. "Sorry."
"Take this!" As he built up enough Magic to us Thundaza, an enormous concentration of Thunders came down on the field, heavily damaging the Demon Tower. Taking advantage of the tower's moment of stun, Riku came striking at the tower. Bringing it down close to its last legs. "You're done."
But the tower became more aggressive with the more damage it suffered, forcing Riku to Dark Roll out of the way as it repeatedly came striking at him like a twirling spring targeting him. But as its strikes calmed down, Anti-Aqua revealed herself from the tower's depth. Stepping in as the Demon Tower step back, saving itself.
"You're done!" She sneered as Dark Diamond Dusts began surrounding the waters as Anti-Aqua used her Magic-Weaver skill to surround the area in Dark Blizzard traps. Limiting Riku's moving. "Got'cha!"
"Barrier!" Riku blocked her attacks as she Shotlock projectiles at him.
"Enough!" Enraged by his dodging, she returned to the Demon Tower, bringing the looming Heartless back into the fight.
"Yah!" Riku began striking at the Demon Tower, Dark Rolling out of the way as it countered back. And then a delicate dance of strike-and-dodge began as Riku began to tire out after Shotlock striking at the tower with his Dark Dive. "Take this!"
"G-gh!" Riku grunted as the force of the colliding blows pushed him back. His boots splashing up some water as he slide. Controlling his heavy breathing from his growing exhaustion, Riku realized that he couldn't hold out for much longer. He could really use some help right now. His heart called out for a friend... "Sora..."
And Sora answers the call. Already on the way, once he had found out from Chip and Dale that they had lost contact of Mickey and Riku in the realm of darkness- unannounced to Riku's knowledge. Finding his own way into the dark realm, Sora had followed Riku and Aqua's hearts as his guiding Key, opening a door from the realm of light from above them.
"Huh?!" Riku was caught by surprised as Sora came falling down beside him, creating a splash as he hero dropped. It was as if time slowed down as Sora rose to his feet again, the water droplets falling down around them.
"I made it!" Sora cheered, looking over at Riku with a grin.
"(Exhale)!" Riku couldn't say anything other than a breathy laugh as he grinned at Sora. He always knew how to arrive just in time, or to make a flashy late entrance. The two of the looked to the looming Demon Tower, rising in height as if to intimidate the new threat.
Riku and Sora held out their hands together, calling for the power in their hearts to do a One Heart combo. Two Keyblade halves from each of their hearts, one of light from Sora's and one of darkness from Riku's, combining together as one. Stronger together than a whole Keyblade alone.
"Ahh!" "Rahh!" Together they raised their hands up and strike down on the Demon Tower One Heart Keyblade combo, cutting down the looming tower.
"Wahh… Ah!" The tower spat out Mickey, flinging him to the beach. The force from the drop knocking him out.
"(Gasp)!" Riku began to run over to Mickey to make sure he was okay. But as he ran, Anti-Aqua revealed herself from her destroyed Demon Tower. Rushing to Riku in a flying dash as she went in for the surprise attack. Riku turned to look over his shoulder at the last second as he heard the sound of her rushing towards him. "?"
"Ahh!" Anti-Aqua cried out as she rose her Keyblade for the strike.
"!" Riku barely had enough time to pull out his Braveheart. There was no way for him to properly block her attack as she impacted with him. A large burst of water raised at their clash. But it wasn't Riku's Keyblade that she had clashed with. "?!"
"Ah- gh…" It was Sora's. Blocking her attack with his Wheel of Fate, holding off her attack as he protected Riku's back. Anti-Aqua was pushed back.
"(Gasp)!" Riku couldn't believe it. Sora had gotten his power back and the power of waking was within his grasp. He has gotten much stronger since the last time they met. They couldn't help smiling at the other. Sora for the save he could hold over Riku and the fact his friend was safe, and Riku for the fact that Sora's hard work had paid off and he arrived just in time to have his back. "How, Sora?"
"..." Riku returned his Wheel of Fate from wince it came and summoned another Keyblade, one that Riku could Sense didn't belong to him. "I...had a little help."
"..." Was that...Aqua's Keyblade?
"Watch over the King. I've got this." Sora instructing, telling to tag out and recover while he handled this. He will us Aqua's Keyblade with his as a connection to wake Aqua's heart again.
"Okay." Riku wasn't worried. The way Sora was now he could handle this. With how exhausted he was Riku knew that he would only get in the way, so he returned to the shore. Mickey needed his attention more than Sora did at this moment. Riku ran over to Mickey at the shore as Sora pulled back out his Wheel of Fate Keyblade again. "Heal."
"Huh?" Mickey came to again as Riku cast Curaga on him. "Thank you! Huh?! Is that Sora?"
"Yeah." Riku nodded as he looked over from the beach as Anti-Aqua and Sora stared each other down. Standing in front of Mickey, a little at the side, to protect him as he recovered while Sora and Anti-Aqua fought it out.
"Enough!" Anti-Aqua shouted, shooting a Shotlock projectile at Sora. He blocked it before trying to dash around Anti-Aqua to find an opening. She would try to dash strike at him, leaving an opening for Sora to combo counter as he dodged her strike.
"Back off!" His combos were knocking her back, and he was quick enough to roll out of the way of her dark projectiles. "There!"
"Fall!" She sneered at him as she fired a heavier projectile at him. Sora evaded the projectile while formchanging into Highwind, changing his Keyblade into a vicious spear. As he began striking at her with it, Anti-Aqua pulled back into darkness making Copies of herself that loomed and brooded around the waters. Each of them saying a brooding line from despairing memories of her heart. "Now you can share in the terror." "You shouldn't have abandoned me..." "I've waited for so long."
"!" Until they all circled around Sora and fired dark projectiles at him like a firing squad.
"Fall!" They all shouted, disappearing into darkness until the real Anti-Aqua remained. Sora ran, outrunning the projectiles as they curved to where he once was instead of leading the target. He slowly dashed around in a curve as he made his way over to Anti-Aqua. Striking her with his spear once more before formchanging into his second form, Storm Flag. His keyblade changing to a form similar to a flag. Slashing it around as he bombarded Anti-Aqua with an endless storm of Waterza. "(Gasp)!"
"Take this!" As Sora's spells continued to bombard her, Anti-Aqua used her Spell Weaver skill and started launching Dark Blizzagas at Sora. Sora was able to block a few, but still took a hit to the face from the ones he couldn't. "Gah!"
"Shouldn't we help him?!" Mickey gasped, struggling to get up from his spot on the beach. His body too exhausted from being exposed to the darkness in his binding for so long.
"We can't help Sora, especially in the condition we're in." Riku said, holding a hand on Mickey's shoulder in a silent plea for him not to get up. Sora can handle this. "I have faith in Sora."
"..." Mickey conceded, giving up on his struggle to rise and joined the fight. Watching the fight with Riku as they took a rest.
Anit-Aqua continued to wonder around the waters thru Dark Corridors, in a attempt to confuse Sora as he couldn't lock-on to her. Striking at a sudden moment at his side.
"Rah!" Sora was able to roll around her attack and circle to her other side, striking her with a combo. "It's over."
He struck her with a few more Waterza before using his formchange Finisher. Anti-Aqua was flung back in the air from the force of his attack. Unable to Air Recover as one of Sora's Finisher attacks struck the final blow for her.
"Ahh." She let out a cry as she finally hits the waters. Catching herself on her feet, but wobbled as she started to lose consciousness. Gripping her head before her darkness consumed her again and she let go of Mickey's Keyblade. Star Cluster instantly going back to its wielder in a ray of light at the lost of her grip. Aqua fell onto the water as the darkness finally let her go. Only for the waters' dark depths to consume her once again.
"So...this is the end." Aqua sighed out in her melancholy. Ready to be consumed by the abyss again.
Only this time there was the light of others to help pull her back.
"Aqua!" Sora called out to her heart.
"(Gasp)!" She tiredly opened her eyes again as she saw his hand reaching out for her from the small light above. She recognized the little boy from Destiny Islands. "Sora..."
She tiredly reached out. Taking the friendly hand that she hasn't felt in over ten years, lifting her up from the darkness.
Her eyes slowly opened to the blinding light from above her. Aqua could feel a breeze blowing from up her feet where she lied and the sound of ocean gently roaring near her. The light coming from above was warming, but it was too bright from her dark realm adjusted eyes.
"(Gasp)…" Aqua gasped as she tiredly opened her eyes. Trying to focus her blurry vision and fogged mind. But as she got up, she could see Ven and Terra looking over her from above with worry.
"Aqua!" Ventus called out to her.
"Aqua!" Terra called out, too. His voice a little more calmer than Ven's.
"(Gasp)…! Ven... Terra..." She tiredly called out to them with warmth in her voice as she slightly sat up on her elbows. But her vision finally focused and the fog from her mind lifted as Ven turned into Sora and Terra turned into Riku. Both of them looking over her worried, waiting for her to come to.
"Aqua!" Sora called out to her again, along with Riku.
"Aqua!" They could see as the glaze finally lifted from her eyes.
"It's you..." Aqua said, recognizing them as she looked them over. They looked much older since the last time she's seen them.
"Thank goodness. You're awake!" Mickey said in relief, bring her attention to him on her right.
"Mickey... (Gasp)!" She looked around as she sat up further, realizing that she was on the island where the two boys use to play. She didn't recognize knight and magician standing on her left, but she recognized this island. "Are these...the Destiny Islands?"
"That's right." Mickey responded in reply. But the news saddened her more than relieved as she moved to sit up more comfortably on her knees.
"When did they fall to darkness?" Aqua in melancholy at the news.
"(Gasp)." But Riku couldn't help but let out a small smile at her confusion as he shook his head. "You're in the realm of light."
"!" The news hit her like a dam breaking. Her eyes watered as the light from the sun had a new meaning behind it. It was real. This wasn't a fallen world fragment... She has come back...
"(Gasp)." Sora smiled at her, happy at being able to share this moment with her as she was reunited with the realm of light. He held out a welcoming hand to her. "You're home."
"!"
"You're home!" Goofy and Donald cheered to her in a welcome-home greeting as well.
"Yay!" Donald cheered as he jumped in to hug her, along with Mickey. She happily returned the embrace, a welcomed change after over a decade of loneliness in the darkness. Donald and Sora were quick to jump in to the group hug. Riku joined in as well, but settled for resting a hand on Sora and Mickey's shoulder so has not to crowd her. But Sora had reached a free arm around and pulled in him.
"We did it!" Sora cheered as they all happily laughed at the groups returned to the realm of light...
… Some time later …
The Mysterious Tower
Taking both their Gummi Ships, the teams returned to Master Yen Sid's tower. Riku and Mickey carrying Aqua in their ship with the spare seat. She was amazed at the vessel, not use to traveling between worlds this way before. It felt rather strange to be out there without her Keyblade Armor.
But the trip wasn't long back to Master Yen Sid's Tower. Before long they were all standing in Master Yen Sid's study, reporting in to him on their success.
"Well done, Mickey, Riku." Master Yen Sid told them in praise of their efforts in the dark realm. "And you as well, Sora. You have awakened your powers at a most gracious time to help your friends in the realm of darkness and helped rescue Master Aqua."
"Thank you, sir!" All three of them said, standing in attention.
"Welcome back, Master Aqua. It does the light good to have you returned to us again." Master Yen Sid said over to Aqua in greeting and relief to see her again.
"Thank you, Master Yen Sid. It's been a long time, it's hard to believe that this is all real." Aqua sighed with a somber smile, remember all the illusion her lonely heart put her through in the realm of darkness. "Please, sir. Can you tell me where Terra is? His heart had reached out to me in the realm of darkness once, but he was in distress."
"I'm afraid Terra has become one of Master Xehanort's vessels. His heart no doubt imprison in Xehanort's darkness."
"(Gasp)! I see..." Aqua was dishearten by the news, clenching a hand over her heart. "And what of Ven?"
"None of us could find Ventus's location." Master Yen Sid shook his head, implying that neither them nor the Organization as found Ven.
"Turns out that Ven's heart has been taking refuge inside of Sora's for a long time. But we never could find where his body was." Mickey explained.
"We were hoping that you knew?" Sora said, titling his head over to Aqua as he leaned in with curiosity. His reaction putting a small smile on her face, he reminded her so much of Ven. It's no wonder that Ven's heart would take shelter with him.
"Good. Then that means he's still safe." Aqua looked down with a small smile as she closed her eyes. "I hid Ven in a place where no one could reach him. A place where he would be safe until his heart wakes up again."
"And where's that?" Goofy asked in curiosity.
"A place where only I can reach..." Aqua answered before opening her eyes again and looking over at Master Yen Sid. "Master Yen Sid, please allow me to go retrieve Ven. He's waiting in a world between realms."
"Hmm. You have just returned to the realm of light, are you sure you can make this journey?" Master Yen Sid asked, concerned that she hasn't rested long enough for her heart to recover from her time in the realm of darkness.
"Yes." Aqua nodded in absolute. "Ven has waited for me to return long enough."
"Very well. However, I'm deeply concerned about letting you make this journey alone."
"I'll go with her!" Sora raised his hand, instantly volunteering as he went to stand beside Aqua. "Besides, she's need me to awaken Ven's heart inside mine anyway."
"Hmm, yes. You do have a point." Master Yen Sid saw the reasoning behind Sora's words but was still concerned for the weary Keyblade Master- and now the reckless up-and-coming Keyblade Master.
"We'll come along, too." Goofy said, volunteering to come with Sora and Aqua, along with Donald.
"Yeah! You'll need us to help keep you out of trouble, Half pint."
"How much trouble do you think I can get in?!" Sora huffed down at Donald with his hands on his hips.
"A lot!" Donald squawked back up at Sora with his wings crossed. Sadly enough Sora couldn't refute that, he was already a walking trouble magnet. Light knows how many times the three of them had to bail each other out of trouble on their journeys so far. Sora could only huffed as he leaned back up with his arms crossed in a silent pout, making the room burst in a soft laughter at their antics.
"Thank you, Sora, Donald, Goofy. The company is most appreciated." Aqua said, happy to have the three of them tag along. "I'll show you the way."
"We'll go with you." Riku said, offering to join them on their journey, Mickey nodding in agreement as well.
"Yeah!" Mickey acclaimed with a fist pump.
"No, Riku, Mickey. Your time in the darkness has taken much more of a toll on your hearts than you realize." Master Yen Sid stated, shaking his head to refute their offer to join the others. "You have been in the realm of darkness for days and you need to rest. I would prefer to have Master Aqua rest as well before making this journey. But seeing as she is determined to awaken young Ventus and the clash with the darkness is soon to be upon us, I cannot stop her on her mission."
"But..."
"It's okay, Mickey. You guys take a break and get some rest here. We'll handle this." Sora said in comfort to Mickey before fist pumping his chest with a grin as he hinted for Mickey to leave it to them.
"Yeah... Be careful out there." Riku said, conceding to staying on the sidelines. As much as he hated to admit it, he was tired. And he was certain that Mickey was as well- especially from his time bounded by darkness. His heart still felt a little heavy and he could use the rest, Mickey too. "We'll be waiting for you guys here."
"Right! We'll be back real soon, plus one!" Sora said with a big smile, rubbing his nose before giving Riku and Mickey a big thumbs up.
"Very good. The four of you shall bring back Ventus. I wish you all safe travel." Master Yen Sid instructed before turning towards Mickey and Riku. "Mickey, you and Riku get some rest in the pupil's residence. I believe you remember the way."
"?" Riku quirked an eye in confusion, never hearing about the pupil's residence before- let alone having the chance to explore this world.
"Right, leave it to me." Mickey assured his Keyblade Master that he would show Riku the way.
"Very well. Then all of you go forth." Master Yen Sid instructed making them all stand in attention with a nod, before he whispered out for them in blessing as they left his study. "May your heart be your guiding key."
Sora, Donald, and Goofy headed over to their Gummi Ship with Aqua to head out. Waving at Riku and Mickey as they took the beaten grass path around the tower towards the pine tree forest. A little in its cover, close to the forest's border, were a small litter of cottages. Too small and many to make a dorm, but too few to make a village. Each one small and cozy enough to house one student in each.
"How have I not noticed these before?"
"They're hidden at the bottom of the hill and the pine trees from the tower's window view. I used to wake up late all the time and would have to run for master Yen Sid's Tower before he scolded me." Mickey explained, before excitingly waving for Riku to follow as he ran on ahead a bit. "Come on! I'll show you where I use to stay!"
Mickey had given Riku a small tour around the cottages and also showed Riku the cottage that he had stayed in during his Keyblade training with Master Yen Sid. It was humble like the rest of them. A one room cottage with a bed and resting area along the northwest corner of the room; a sitting area along the corner next to it; a kitchen and dinning area along the wall opposite on them; and, a fireplace between the door and the sitting area. There was a bathroom, but it was small attachment with door near the sleeping area on the wall opposite of the fireplace. Mickey had left Riku to choose an empty cottage of his own as he crashed on his bed.
Easily giving in to his fatigue, not realizing how exhausted his heart truly was. It was understandable how Aqua's heart had fallen into darkness in the dark realm now. And even more amazing how she had lasted for so long there on her own. Mickey had clocked out, and after Riku had chosen his abode to rest he followed suit.
His fatigued heart taking him where his dreams have never taken him before...
"Uh- ahh..." Riku signed, opening his eyes to what he believed was a dreamworld. But it wasn't his... "Huh?"
He had woken up lying down on a endless vast of calm sea, looking up at a slightly cloudy, moonless starry night. The place was beautiful, and the endless space didn't disturb him- he had been use to the vast emptiness of his dreamworld borders since he was small. But what did disturb him was being spirited to an unknown place and the feeling of being lost.
"What? What is this place?" Riku said aloud to himself, slowly getting up on his feet. The sea under him rippled at his movement but gently calmed again as its tiny waves were lost in the endless space of sea. Riku looked around, but there was no barings. No markers, or heirlooms of past memories, no familiar faces...
He was all alone here.
Just him and his reflection in the waters with the night sky. The light of the stars shining around him. With no familiar constellations to mark his location and no sense of direction Riku began to wonder off, hoping to find something.
He had walked and walk for what had felt like an hour, but nothing showed up in the ever expanding sea. He kept looking around to his left and right as walked, hoping to bump into a familiar face. Until finally, he started to call out.
"Hey! Is anyone out there?!" His voice didn't even echo in the expansion. "Loz! Yazoo! Kadaj! Mother!"
The world's heart heard his cry, but did not reply. Continuing to hum its gentle sound thru its vastness.
"Anybody!" Riku called out louder. Hoping that something or someone will answer him. "Hey!"
And they did.
"Quiet. You're making a ruckus." Came the calm reply of a voice that Riku knew from years ago.
"?!" The reply to his call from the vastness startled Riku for a second. But he couldn't see where the voice had come from. "Where are you?!"
"Here."
"Where?!" Riku called, having to play Marco Polo with the voice as he ran towards its owner.
"Over here."
"(Gasp)!..." The voice was getting closer. Riku steps splashed the sea below him as he ran. Suddenly he began to see something on the horizon ahead. A silhouette began to take shape as he came closer. It was slumped over? No, that's not right. They were sitting. Looking up into the starry sky, resting their arm on a bent knee as their long hair flowed down and pooled on the sea below them like a silver waterfall. Riku slowed his run into a walk, until he stop just a few feet away from the sitting figure. "Dad?"
"Good to see you, Riku." Sephiroth finally ceased his star gazing as he looked over to his side as Riku walked over to join him. Looking his little brot- no, his son- over. He had grown. He was much bigger than the last time he had seen him. Something inside him had changed as well. "Your hair is cut short. Looks good on you."
"Dad. Do you recognize me?"
"Yes."
"You remember again. Do you remember us?"
"Yes. Though there are some things I wish were never a memory."
"What happened to you? Mom said that you got in a fight with Cloud and then disappeared with him into light."
"We fought, until we both ended up in this place. Cloud had struck me down first, claiming the victory. Now we both wander this sea."
"What is this place? Is this your dreamworld?" Riku asked. Happy at finally finding somebody in this place, but surprised at who he found. And the fact that somewhere scattered in this vast ocean are others.
"No. This is The Final World." Sephiroth answered, looking away from Riku to the on stretching horizon ahead of them.
The Final World
"The... "Final World"?"
"There's nothing else beyond this." Sephiroth said, looking over at Riku with the corner of his eyes before looking back. "You must've wondered here a few times before on your visits to the Station of Awakening. You're very lucky to be here...or unlucky is more like it."
"What do you mean?"
"The edges of sleep and death touch, and one can't help the occasional crossover."
"Wait... Am I dead?!" Riku jumped back in alarmed. Starting to panic at the thought that he had died in his sleep. He knew the weight on his heart from the realm of darkness was heavy and made his tired, but he didn't expect it to tucker his heart out! This is devastating!
"..." Sephiroth turned his head over to his son and looked him over. "No. You still have your body. You're probably just visiting during a deep sleep."
"(Sigh)," Riku sighed out in relief at the good news that his friends won't be discovering his dead body in the morning or have to bare the bad news to his family. "What do you mean?"
"You came here by your own choice. Most times it's a different case. The natural end for those whose hearts and bodies perish together. No heartless, no empty vessel, no lost in the realm of darkness. If you perish with your body and heart in tack in the realm of light, you die for real and there's no going back. And if the hearts do not come here, they're gone forever to Kingdom Hearts or they're clinging to the world they came from."
"You mean if you don't turn into a Heartless, or a Nobody?"
"What's that?"
"A body husk that's left behind once its heart is lost to a Heartless."
"Hmph. Is that what you're calling it nowadays?" Sephiroth closed his eyes with a smirk for a moment at the thought, before continuing his explanation. "But some persist after they perish, and arrive here."
"So my heart and body didn't perish?"
"No. If they did, you wouldn't still have your form."
"But doesn't that-"
"Something is holding you here-" Sephiroth said, interrupting Riku's train of thought, "refusing to let you go. Enough to hang most by a thread."
"You mean like my friends or family?"
"Something like that..."
"Wait. Then...what about the Lifestream?"
"The Lifestream IS the bloodline to Kingdom Hearts. Hearts come from and return to the Kingdom Hearts through the Lifestream, continuing the cycle of life."
"..."
"You have your body and a visible form here. Most would have to piece themselves back together in order to return to their world first. Conceptual pieces to be precise, each holding a memory. Usually only a heart can reach The Final World."
"So... I still have a form. And so do you..."
"..."
"Why haven't you returned home yet?" Riku asked starting to get frustrated. Did he have any idea of how many people were waiting for him?
"Does it really matter?"
"Of course it matters! There are people waiting for you to come home!"
"Do I even matter to the world?"
"What?" The question caught Riku offguard.
"I thought I had found my place, surrounded by people I trusted...someone I loved..." Sephiroth looked down at his hands as he let out some heavy stuff in his heart. "But the friends and people that I trusted betrayed me and my friends are gone. In my rage I have made a mistake. I wanted answers and let my hatred consume me once I found them. After what I've done, does the realm of light truly want me back."
"What does the realm of light have to do with any of this? What matters are the people in the realm of light connected to you that want you back."
"I'm gone, yet they go on with their lives just the same. Was my existence even necessary? I have done more harm in my life than good."
"Regardless of your preference, the future is always moving. Nothing stays like before, everyone is moving and growing. But that doesn't mean you are forgotten and your bonds are lost."
"Bonds... I wonder if they still exist for me...? I've sent so many people to Kingdom Hearts; I've torn families apart; I hurt her... With how many times I've destroyed our connect I don't believe she'd even want me back."
"Enough! Stop running!"
"!" Sephiroth's eyes widened a bit, surprised that Riku shouted. But also the fact that his words called out some truth in his actions.
"I know. It's scary to face your past. You got drunk on the darkness and it altered your memories. Under its power you've done things that hurt others and the people you wanted to protect. And now that its influence is gone and you've gotten your memory back you have to face the consequences of your actions and the people that suffered from them, and that scares you, doesn't it?!"
"..."
"Look at you, you think you've got it so damn hard?! Well so does everyone else! I don't have what it takes to console you. And your brooding and gloom behavior is not helping anyone either! You're done abusing the power of darkness?! Good! You regret the things you've done under it's influence?! Great! You hate what you are and feel like a monster?! Then CHANGE! Put some effort into becoming something you WANT to be!" Riku said, unable to stop once he started. He didn't know what had come over him, but his once prideful father now acting broken and defeated in front of him was disturbing for him. He had the feeling that he had made it to this place because of his dad calling out to any connection he had to ease his despair and loneliness. But damn he made it hard to help him. "You're not putting in the effort, but I know you haven't given up yet. Sure you haven't come back and have probably been here for a while, but I don't see you crossing over EITHER."
"..."
"(Sigh) Look, Dad..." Riku sighed, calming himself as he ran a hand through his hair. Sephiroth was clearly going through some stuff that shouldn't be belittled by others, but there was someone waiting for him. Someone who loved him and could help him if only he came home. A good amount of people were waiting for him. "My time in the darkness may be different from yours, but I have been there and understand a bit of what you are going through. But believe me, you can't get through this alone. There are people waiting for you. Someone one who still holds on to you in the realm of light. You need to face your fears and reconcile with those in the realm of light for your actions. But you don't have to do it alone. There are people at home who are ready to face it with you. Sure, things will be nothing like before. But that doesn't mean that it can't be better..."
"..."
"So which is it? Will you remain a memory here, or remain with us?"
"... I will..." Sephiroth's fists clench as his eyes steeled with determination, "never be a memory."
"Dad."
"But I can't go home. Not yet. Not until I help the hearts here that I've harmed still yet to return or cross over."
"Is that what you've been doing here?"
"For the most part." Sephiroth had been seeing this as his own repentance and redemption. He had helped many so far, but there was still so much more to go- and Cloud was somewhere among them. Most of the hearts here had been frightened by his presence, some awed, others...angered. But one by one he had helped them cross over or go back. With the hopes that one day he would help himself.
"All right then..." Riku sighed as he felt the pull of waking starting to tug him back to the realm of light. "Just remember: you don't have a place here. Your place is back in the realm of light."
"Hmph. Is that right?" Sephiroth smirked at Riku's declaration before turning serious again. "Tell me, Riku. Was I ever a good father?"
"No, you were terrible." Riku instantly answered, not sugar coating anything.
"Ouch."
"But that doesn't mean it's too late for you to try to be."
"Hm. To try again... Well I'm going to try. You guys can phone in a verdict."
"Hmph. Sure."
"!" Suddenly Riku was pulled back in a violent tug.
"!" Riku was shot back into his body. Still feeling groggy from his out of realm dream. He had been woken up by the knocks on his cottage door.
"Riku, get up! Sora and the others are back and they brought Ven!" Mickey called out to him from the other side of the door in excitement.
"Really?!" That was good news. How long has he been asleep? Riku wiped the tiredness out of his eyes and quickly got up for the door. Opening it to address Mickey. "Where are they now?"
"Up in Master Yen Sid's tower. Kairi and Lea, too. We should head up and join them so we can plan our next course of actions."
"Okay." Riku nodded, heading out with Mickey for the tower.
"You were out like a log. Were you having a good dream?"
"Hmm, something like that."
Climbing the spiral stairs to Master Yen Sid's study to meet up with the others. They were all waiting for them there. Sora, Donald, Goofy, Aqua, Ven, even Kairi and Lea. They had all made it through their tasks and joined together to face the darkness ahead.
"..." Master Yen Sid took a moment of silence to appreciate all the young Guardians of Light that had worked so hard to gather here in the realm of lights greatest time of need. "At last, we are all assembled. First: Sora, Riku, Donald, Goofy, Mickey, I cannot thank you enough for what you have done."
Sora couldn't help but smile and brush his nose at the praise.
"And you, Aqua and Ventus: we are fortunate to have you back."
"Thanks. I only wish we could have returned to help sooner." Aqua replied to Master Yen Sid, before turning to look at the others. "We're grateful to all of you for rescuing us."
"Thank you." Ventus thanked them as well.
"I feel bad for letting you guys down." Mickey admitted. "We tried, but we still haven't found Terra."
"Don't." Aqua assured to him. "He studied with Master Eraqus, just like us. He's our responsibility."
Ventus nodded in agreement with her. But there was still some things the room had to get off of their chest, Riku included.
"Mickey told me that you saved me in the realm of darkness. I should have gone to help you right away. But I was too inexperienced. I'm sorry." Riku genuinely apologized to Aqua. Ever since he heard about what she had done for him the guilt had been eating away at him. "I know that I let you down."
"No, just the opposite." Aqua shook her head and smiled at him.
"Did ya know Riku's a true Keyblade Master now?" Goofy pointed out from behind Riku. Though Riku wasn't ready for people to start calling him Master Riku anytime soon.
"That's wonderful." Aqua gasped truly proud of him.
"The King, too." Donald pointed out behind Mickey, too.
"Good for you!"
"Haha." Mickey chuckle in embarrassment as he rubbed the back of his head.
"But Sora needs work." Donlad pointed over, walking over to him who had been relaxed with his hands behind his head and calling him out in tease.
"Yeah, rub it in..." Sora teased back with his hands on his hips, making the others in the room burst with laughter.
"I'm happy to see that you haven't changed one bit." Aqua said to Sora in genuine joy. He was such a kind and cheerful boy that looked out for his friends, she was glad he turned out to be the same as a young man.
"Huh?"
"Sora, you probably don't remember..."
"Umm... Uhhhhhh…" In his defense, his memories have been tampered so many times that it wasn't even a joke.
"It's okay." Aqua assured to him, placing a big grin on his face that said he appreciated her understanding.
"(Ahem)," Lea coughed in to his hand. Reminding them the "other" Keyblade wielders in the room, a.k.a. him and Kairi.
"Ah yes. Let us not forget our new Keyblade wielders." Master Yen Sid said, not forgetting the other two hard workers on their team. "Lea, Kairi, you have made tremendous strides."
"Hey there. And that's "future Keyblade Master"-"
"Kairi?" Aqua called out in startle, interrupting Lea as she was shock to see the little girl from Radiant Garden that she hasn't seen in over a decade. She walked over to her, slightly catching Kairi offguard as she leaned in to look at the necklace that Kairi still wore from long ago. "Incredible! It is you."
"Huh?"
"You know her?" Mickey asked Aqua, surprised that the two had actually met before.
"When you and I first met in Radiant Garden, the Unversed tried to attack a little girl. Do you remember?" Aqua recollected with Mickey.
"Oh, gosh! That little girl was Kairi?" How could he have not recognized her?
"!" The news widened Kairi's eyes as hazy memories flooded back to her for a bit. Most of her past memories outside of Destiny Islands were lost to her...
"I guess it must've worked- the spell I cast on you." Aqua returned to discussing with Kairi about times past.
"I'm sorry. Those days are hazy for me." Kairi said, cupping her hands over her heart. She felt bad that Aqua remembered her and yet she could not remember Aqua. "But it sounds like I'd have been in trouble without you. So, thank you."
Kairi gave her a light bow in gratitude. But Aqua waved her hand to tell her not to worry about it.
"Please. You were really, very little. Anyone would forget, hazy memory or not."
"(Ahem)!" Lea cough into his hand again, calling back for the attention of the room. "This is all very touching, guys, but where do I fit in? Ven looks just like Roxas- or is it Roxas looks just like Ven?"
"..." Ven couldn't help smiling over at Lea, remember the boy he made friends with back at Radiant Garden.
"!" The smile made Lea trip on his words for a second but he pulled back together real quick. "And now I have to explain all of that to him- which is in itself a crazy long story- and, apparently everybody already knows everyone, and this is an insane amount to get memorized!"
"Sorry, Lea." Ven couldn't help but laugh a little in voice at Lea's outburst.
"(Gasp)!" The fact Ven called him by name caught Lea by surprise. "You remember me?"
"Yeah, 'course! We're friends." Ven stated as if it were obvious. "I can't believe you became a Keyblade wielder just like me."
"O-oh. Yeah." Lea smiled, glad to see one old pal had him memorized.
"Axel, you know Ven?" Sora asked, calling Lea by his Nobody's name.
"Axel? Who's Axel?" Ven was so confused.
"See, see, see? Major brain-ache." Lea groaned at Sora's lack of remembering his name, before being startled as Jiminy crawled from Sora's shoulder and hopped on to his head. "Now who?"
"Not to worry, folks. To help us out, I've given each of you a Gummiphone." Jiminy informed to those new in the room. "They've got summaries of everything that's happened so far. That way, you can read up, if you'd like. And if anyone has any questions, we can call each other."
"That's our Jiminy." Donald said with pride as Jiminy cleared up the confusion in the room in one go.
"He's always prepared." Goofy added in, too.
"Hmnh." Jiminy happily grinned at the compliment.
"Welp, we've got our seven guardians." Mickey pointed out in cheer.
"Yeah, but...I do wish that Roxas, and Naminé, and Terra could be here with us too." Sora sadly admitted.
"Since when do you mope, Sora? Come on." Riku pointed out with a small smile. "Terra's gotta be with the Organization. Which means we'll have a chance to save him."
"Leave it to Ven and I." Aqua assured to Sora. "We'll bring him home."
"Yeah, I made Terra a promise." Ven added in agreement. Remembering the promise made to a friend. "I said I'd be there for him when he needs me."
"And I'll figure Roxas out. Don't know how, but...I'll get him back." Lea stated with determination as he clenched a fist.
"Naminé is right here, safe with me." Kairi added in as well, placing a hand over her heart. Looking to Sora as the room proved that he wasn't going all-in in this alone. He could trust his friends to have his back. "I know that we'll find a way to help her. Trust me- I'm not giving up."
"..." The support of his friends strength Sora's heart as his resolve solidified.
"Kairi's right. We're all in this together, Sora." Mickey said.
"And Donald and I are no Keyblade wielders, but we'll always be right there to help keep ya steady." Goofy added in his two cents as well. Showing more and more to Sora that everyone in the room was with him and he wasn't doing this alone. Even though his friends would tease him and they would all laugh together at times, they would always look out for each other when they need it. "We've got your back, not just now, but always."
"(Gasp)…" Sora smiled, getting the message. Donald walked over to him and tapped his side for attention.
"Three half-pints make a whole!"
"That again?" Sora groaned teasingly at the nickname. The others laughing at the nickname callback.
"It is a shame that all of our friends could not be here. But our seven guardians of light have united." Mater Yen Sid spoke, drawing the attention of the room. "Perhaps you might say that we have nine guardians, with Donald and Goofy. Given time, I know the others will soon stand with us."
"Yeah." Sora nodded, seconding that.
"Today, you recuperate. On the morrow, you journey to the fated place." Master Yen Sid announced to his Guardians of Light.
"Right!" "Yeah!" They all nodded in confirmation.
… Sometime later that day …
They all went their separate ways for the day. Spending their last day before the battle in the place they wanted to be with the people they wanted to be around most before their time was up. All of them new that the battle ahead of them will be tough, and they didn't want to leave behind any regrets before facing it.
Aqua and Ventus' home was big and empty and didn't have the warmth it use to now that the people they cared about were no longer in it. So they stayed together on The Mysterious Tower catching up on all they had missed together. Mickey, Donald, and Goofy had returned to Disney Castle to be with their friends and loved ones there. Lea had gone to Twilight Town to have some Sea Salt Ice Cream as he watched the sunset from the clock tower. And as for Sora, Riku, and Kairi...
Destiny Islands
The three of them headed to the island they use to hangout at together. They wanted to see the sunset there before returning back to main island to visit their families. Kairi and Sora had walked on ahead off the dock towards the bent tree they always use to lounge around at. When Riku suddenly halted in place as he felt a pull in his heart.
"Hm, Riku?" Kairi called out to him, looking back over her shoulder at him as she heard his steps suddenly stop on the dock.
"You two should go on ahead for a bit. I need some time to myself."
"Oh. Okay." Kairi was slightly hesitant about leaving him behind but understanding of his need for a moment to himself. She walked on, joining up with Sora at their tree.
"..." Riku on the other hand walked along the beach, plopping down on the sand as he watched the sunset and the waves wash in.
"How long have you know that I was with you?" Dark Riku asked, finally breaking the peaceful silence and drawn Riku's attention to him.
"You did save me." Riku pointed out with a smirk as he looked over at his Dark half. Sitting in the sand alongside him.
"Hmph." But of course. He was the only one of the two strong enough to do it. Dark Riku gave a cocky smirked back, he may have looked like Riku but he had his own personality.
"I think you came along for a reason." Riku pointed out, obviously realizing that he didn't have to join with Riku's heart and lend Riku his power. He wanted out of the realm of darkness, sure. But it didn't have to be Riku.
"..." Dark Riku looked away at the waters, caught red handed in Riku's assumption. "I didn't make much of myself as a replica. (Sigh) I was a failure, and after you and Sora moved on, my body fell to ruin and the darkness took my broken mind. I was all ready to give up and let it happen, and then you showed up."
"(Gasp)! Heh..." A small smile came over Riku, glad that Dark Riku took the initiative to not give up on himself and hold on to his own existence. And he was glad to have him back. "You took that as a sign?"
"Hmph. Maybe." Dark Riku smirked not admitting anything else to him. He looked over to the sea at the sun he never had the chance to have grace his skin in his short life in Castle Oblivion and the Dark Realm. It was a new experience for Dark Riku and it filled him with feelings and something that was all his own. Not Riku's, not a fakes, all his. And if this would be the last time he would have to feel this warm sensation than he was honored to share it with his other half. "I'd rather face my end with you than in darkness."
"That's...what you want?" He faded away once, Riku did not want for him to fade away again.
"Yeah." He nodded in reply.
"(Gasp)!"
"But I'm not done yet. Got one last thing to see through." Dark Riku didn't want Riku to get him wrong. He wasn't willing to die and throw his life away like that. He had something to fight for and he was willing to risk everything for it. And he was planning to come out the winner at the end of it.
"... Hmph." Riku got the message, looking out at the sunset with Dark Riku. Staying in place so he could enjoy the experience as long as he wanted before they both had to face what they needed to see through to the end. "Take the time you need."
Riku had watch the sunset for a bit before joining Sora and Kairi over at the tree. The two of them eating the remainder of their shared Papaou fruits. When the sun had went down they returned to the main island to spend the night at their family homes. Riku had spent some time with his Pops before going up the stairs to his room and taking a Dark Corridor to spend the last few hours he had with those on Radiant Garden...
Author's Notes
Heads up: The next few chapters will be following both Kingdom Hearts III and the dlc Re:Mind mixed together. So if you haven't played the ReMind dlc yet, you've got about one- maybe two- weeks before spoilers.
Storyline: In the realm of darkness time is stopped. So while Riku and Mickey are in there, Sora and his team had traveled to San Fransokyo and spent 3 days there on their adventures (~ 3 days and 2 nights). While also traveling to the world of The Caribbean for 4 days (~3 nights and 4 days) where he learned more about the bonds of love in the heart and how to awaken a heart, before receiving the news from Chip and Dale that they had lost contact with Riku and Mickey in the dark realm. Riku was already halfway fighting the Demon Tower before Sora and the others made it to Destiny Islands when Sora- using his heart as his guiding key- found Aqua's Keyblade to make it into the realm of light. Leaving Donald and Goofy behind to guard the light realm just in case if the three of them failed to make it back from the dark realm. From there the storyline follows the games and the two teams meet up again.