OOOOO
She Will Light The Way
Chapter Eleven
Heroic Heart
The stillness of the earth was broken and ruptured, a torrent of water and wind bursting through, sweeping away their elemental brethren.
With desperate gasps for air, Kairi and Yuna crawled their way out of the imprisoning heap of stone and rock, thankful to be free and alive. The two of them were exhausted and filthy, hair and skin and clothes stained with dirt, but otherwise they were okay. Kairi's Reflect spell had held up long enough for them to dig their way out.
"Well, I don't think we'll be advancing any further." Yuna's voice contained a mix of relief and levity, trying to lighten the weight of yet another near-death experience for the two. She gave the pile of rubble a couple of firm pushed, but there was no give. It now took up a good twelve-feet of floor space, piled up higher than both the girl's standing heights, they would have to spend hours digging through the debris to make any further headway. "But at least this should hold off that Organization member. We should be safe, for the time being at least."
Kairi only mumbled an unheard response. The girl was currently crouching off to the side, breathing heavily once more. She look shook. Exhausted. The spell had drained her, for sure, but another close brush with the black cloak of death hadn't done her frayed psyche any good, either.
"For what it's worth," Yuna began, approaching her crestfallen companion, "I know you're still unsure about yourself and what to do, how to reignite your heroic spark... but I thought you performed admirably back there." When Yuna placed her hand on Kairi's shoulder, the redhead looked up and back, meeting Yuna's proud, warm, encouraging smile. "You charged forward and fought despite your fear. In fact, you tackled your fear head on."
"Oh... yeah, that..." Kairi shook her head, dismissive towards her own actions. "That really wasn't me. I just remembered what happened when we fought Xaldin... just felt all this anger and hatred burning inside me, and it took control." Kairi ran a hand through her crimson locks, batting away some dust and grime. "I just didn't want anyone to get hurt again..."
"Even if you did give in to anger, even if you don't think that was your conscious decision..." Judging by Yuna's tone, it was clear she didn't believe in Kairi's assessment, but didn't press the issue, "It doesn't take away from your other choices. You were the one who decided you couldn't take him on, and that we needed to retreat. You were the one who created a path for us to escape. And you're the reason why we survived that avalanche – you finally mastered Reflect! At long last, I knew you could do it!" Clearly proud with her efforts, Yuna affectionately patted Kairi on the back. "Your instincts are still strong, you're just letting despair cloud your heart and mind. If you keep moving forward, you'll get back what you feel you have lost."
Kairi stood back up, knocking off the dust that had settled on the tails of her coat-dress, but otherwise remained silent. For a moment, the girl just busied herself cleaning herself and making sure she wasn't too banged up, but also consciously avoiding eye contact with her companion. Yuna only looked on hopefully, still intent on giving the Key Bearer her space when necessary. However, after an eternity of fiddling and smoothing and wringing and cleaning and just general busywork, Kairi finally turned to face her friend. Her eyes were still heavy with doubt and sadness.
"Yuna, you never did finish what I had asked back then. Why do you have such faith in me? Could you please tell me now?" Yuna nodded.
"Absolutely." She gestured to the ground, the brunette sitting in lotus position, where Kairi knelt down on both her knees, staring intently at Yuna, as the dual-eyed girl began.
"Spira, my homeworld, was a world of strife and misery. A monster known as Sin terrorized the entirety of the world, wreaking havoc to it's land and it's people. Throughout the years, million of lives were taken because of Sin, and there seemed to be no way to permanently stop it." Yuna stopped herself, eyes shut, and sighed, offering remembrance to the fallen. "You see, it was the duty of powerful mages known as Summoners to defeat Sin. Summoners would travel the world, earning the blessings of beings called Aeons, in a bid to build their strength so they could confront Sin with the sacred, holy power known as the Final Aeon. But, no matter what, time after time, Sin was never truly defeated. It never could be fully defeated, it was said. No matter which Summoner confronted the beast, Sin would inevitably return.
"I was a Summoner. As was my father before me.
"When I completed my training, and left for the beginning of my journey, I was seventeen, and joined by my companions. Rikku and Paine were there, as were our friends, Lulu, Kimahri, and Auron." An amused smile formed on Yuna's lip, as a laugh escaped between them. "We were... a ragtag group, at best. Just one of many – a Summoner and her entourage – trying to conquer the Pilgrimage and bring a temporary peace back to Spira. But, no matter how strange a party we might have been, they were my friends. I loved each and every one of them, and would never have gotten anywhere without their support."
Kairi shied back slightly, eyes darting away from the brunette storyteller. It seemed that history was repeating itself – Rikku and Paine once more accompanying a teenage heroine on her quest to save the world, and now, Yuna found herself as a mentor instead of the heroine. She felt both kinship with Yuna, and also shame. Shame that Yuna had been in her shoes and probably never broke like her.
She must secretly think I'm so weak and worthless. Kairi thought, Yuna offering no hint as to her true feelings.
As Kairi eyes fell upon her again, the gunslinger continued to recite her tale.
"As we went upon our quest, we suffered losses and came to know victory, but we also learned three horrid truths about our world, hidden away from the light of day.
"One: To create the Final Aeon, the Summoner had to sacrifice someone close to them.
"Two: Summoning the Final Aeon would also result in the death of the Summoner themselves.
"Three: Upon being vanquished, Sin would hijack the Aeon and use it to create a new body, further perpetuating the cycle of death and despair that consumed Spira.
"For days, we argued as to what to do. At first, I thought I was fine with giving my life, even if it only meant a few years of peace and calm... but that was just a lie I told myself. My father had bested Sin, but the pain of his absence never left, the respite her created was so fleeting and fragile. We all resolved to find another way to defeat Sin, a way to permanently defeat it, and rebelled and revolted against the church that controlled Spira. We were branded as enemies of the world, and forced to fend for ourselves."
Yuna paused and chewed on her lip, pouring over her her choice of words, a shadow falling upon her face. Certainly, it must have been painful for her, to draw up memories such as these.
Kairi interjected, "Yuna, that's enough, you don't need to-"
"Those days were hard. Incredibly hard. Despite everything I had done, I felt powerless. Weak. Worthless." The breath froze in Kairi's throat. Those words resonated all too true with her. "I had no idea what to do, how to fight, how to progress. I wanted to keep fighting and help, but I didn't know how."
Yuna sighed, despondently, eyes cast downward.
"I was so afraid and terrified. I felt like my heart was being clutched in the icy hands of some fiend, and that it would never be free. That this feeling would drown and suffocate me, and that would be the end."
Kairi was trying her hardest to stop herself from trembling. This confession was all too raw, all too real. It tore away and her and rendered her as vulnerable as possible. And yet, it was hard to believe that the normally calm, collected, and reserved Yuna could ever had felt the same way as her. That she knew exactly what it was she was going through.
Probably, she felt she could never fill her father's shoes. That she failed to measure up to him. Yuna probably compared herself to him all the time. Just like how I compare myself to Sora...
Yuna raised her head, that reassuring and comforting smile returning to her countenance.
"But all of my Guardians kept pushing me forward. They saw something buried deep within me that I would never have realized on my own. When I couldn't believe in anything, they always kept their faith in me. They urged me to never stop. They kept me going. And, together, in the end, the six of us found a way to finally defeat Sin once and for all, freeing Spira from the shadow of death."
Yuna made subtle motions that she had finished her story, as Kairi sat in contemplative silence, parsing the details of the tail she had just been told. While, certainly, it framed all three of the Gullwings in a new light – they were great heroes in their own right – and Kairi could now better understand why Yuna showed such patience and empathy with her, the redhead wasn't completely satisfied.
"Well, Yuna, thank you for telling me all that, I'm sure it must be painful reliving some of those memories, but, I feel like my question hasn't been completely answered yet..." Yuna nodded and then shifted herself across the earthen ground, so that she was sitting next to Kairi. The brunette pulled her doubting friend into her arms, into a kind embrace.
"What I'm trying to get at, Kairi, is that I know exactly where you're coming from. I know what it's like to be in your shoes, and to experience what it is you're feeling."
"And I'm sorry, Yuna. I'm sorry that you have to deal with someone like me, who failed to do what you-"
"Kairi!"
Shaking the girl roughly, Yuna managed to silence another one of Kairi's disparaging tirades, and forced the Key Bearer to look at her. "Kairi, I know what it's like to be in your position, and I know – in the heart of my hearts – that I never would have gotten anywhere without Paine or Rikku. Without Lulu or Auron or Kimahri backing me every step of the way. No matter what happened, no matter how much doubt took hold of my heart, the five of them always maintained their faith in me. And it took me a while to realize it, it took me even longer to understand why exactly, but their faith kept driving me forward, even in the darkest of days!
"I know that you find it hard to keep faith in yourself at the moment, but I just don't want you to believe in me, or Paine, or Sora in place of that. What I want you to do – what you need to do – is to remember, always remember, that we all have faith in you and your abilities."
For some reason, this caused Kairi to burst out in a random shout of laughter, leaving poor Yuna hopelessly confused.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ruin the mood. It's just..." Kairi paused, fondly reflecting upon the memories forming in her mind's eye. "When we were, like, twelve or thirteen, Sora was obsessed with this one show, something with giant robots, I don't know, but he would quote it incessantly. Like, literally, all the time. And one thing he would always quote was a speech someone would tell the main character when he doubted himself: 'If you can't believe in yourself, that's fine, but don't believe in me, either. Believe in the me who believes in you'." Kairi gave Yuna a look, trying to compose herself, but felt a silly smile break out. "Something like that, right?"
Yuna sighed and chuckled, as well. "Yes. I guess you could say it that way." Yuna stood back up, looking down at Kairi, and offering a hand. More than a hand, a second chance. A chance to pick herself up and start again. To move forward and fight.
Like Yuna had all those years ago.
"Don't believe in Sora, Kairi. Believe in the Sora that has faith in you. And we both know that, if he were here, if he knew what you were doing, he would have absolute and unshakable faith in you."
I think you're right, Yuna.
Kairi took that chance, letting Yuna bring her back to her feet, too. But even then, after all that, Kairi couldn't help but feel some misgivings.
"But, again, is it really all that easy? Just to say these things and then start again? What happens if I fail again? What happens if I screw up and someone else gets hurt?"
"It isn't that easy, Kairi, because nothing is guaranteed." Yuna's said, softly and gently. "There is no guarantee that you'll always win or find success. We're fighting with our backs against the wall, against powerful foes, faced with a monumental task. We're bound to fail at times. People will get hurt. These are things we can't help."
Kairi felt her eye twitch involuntarily, as the nightmarish memories of the events on Beast's Castle replayed in the back of her mind.
"But, we can do what we can to minimize these casualties." Yuna's voice wavered slightly, as she spoke. Now that Kairi knew Yuna's story, she was probably also reliving pass failures and losses, dredging up pain and sadness from the depths of her heart. "And if we were to just give up, even more people would end up getting hurt. The measure of a hero, of a warrior, of a person, is their heart, and their ability to keep fighting even after tragedy. Even in the face of immeasurable odds.
"And, the most important thing to remember is this: Kairi, this is your story, and it only ends when and where you want it to end."
Yuna knows this, because Yuna has done this. The two of us our kindred spirits. Kairi felt oddly warm and proud when she thought that.
"We should get going. I feel bad coming back empty-handed, but Paine, and Rikku, and Hercules will need our help in the finals."
"But what about the Blackheart Stone?" Kairi asked. "Shouldn't we at least take another look around for that?" Yuna suddenly looked incredibly sheepish. "What is it?"
"Well... I sort of lied about that. There is no Blackheart Stone on this world." Yuna admitted, deeply bowing for deceiving her friend. "I just thought coming to this world would help you get through this funk, not thinking the hero of Olympus would also be having similar issues. And now we've been caught up in all this mess..."
You really did all this just for me? Kairi smiled graciously. "It's okay, Yuna. And thank you, for everything."
I really am blessed to have you at my side.
And so the two girls retraced their tracks, back up the haunted halls of the Underworld and to the origin of their journey, Kairi reflecting on everything that had happened in the short while. On Yuna's story, her past, her words.
"Is what you told me really true, Yuna? That you have that much faith in me?" Kairi asked, after another prolong bout of silence. Yuna just shook her head and laughed to herself.
"After all that and you still doubt me?" Kairi flushed scarlet in embarrassment, but Yuna continued on. "When I first met you, when we had our first mission of Twilight Town, I thought to myself, 'She's like me. It may take some time, but she'll turn out just like me'. But I think I was wrong in my estimation." Yuna turned to face her friend and compatriot with an appraising look. "Now, I think, if you can beat this, you have the potential to be greater than I ever could hope to be."
Kairi's blush deepened and burned, as she felt her shoulders stiffen. Even when in a regular headspace, the girl was never really comfortable with people heaping such high praise on her.
Pushing beyond the uncomfortable feeling, Kairi had one last question to ask.
"Say, that guy who saved us from the Org member, you seemed to recognize him. Do you know him, Yuna?"
Now it was Yuna's turn to awkwardly lock up. "That... No. Auron died many years ago. I must be mistaken. There's no way it could be him."
-O-SWLTW-O-
Kairi and Yuna move at doubletime back through the Underworld. Evidently, that was the correct decision, for when they returned to the waiting area, they found Rikku, Paine, and Hercules already boarded the small boat that ferried the team across the River Styx, to and from the Underdrome.
"Hey! Hey! Hey! Hold up! The rest of our team's back!" Rikku exclaimed when she caught sight of the two, frantically kicking at the imps that were about to push them away from the small dock.
Both Paine and Hercules gave the two a once over, clearly noting the absence of anyone or anything else. Hercules looked crushed, which caused a pang of guilty to echo in Kairi's heart.
"I take it you didn't have any luck finding her?" Paine asked, as both Yuna and Kairi clambered over the edge into the small ferry.
Yuna shook her head and grimaced. "Obviously, no. Worse yet, we ran into an Organization member down there." Rikku's complexion paled, while Paine silently snarled. "He tried to bury us alive, but we at least manage to give him the slip."
"I'm sorry Herc." Kairi apologized, bowing her head in contrition, but the Demigod politely dismissed her concerns.
"It's okay, Kairi. You tried your best, that's all that matters in the end. Let's just get this over with."
The little dingy pushed away from the dock, the undead ferry men oaring the party of five across the dark, cursed river. As this happened, Yuna turned to her two longtime companions.
"How did things go on this end?"
"Easy peasey, Cactuar squeezey, Yunie." Came Rikku's cheery reply, a little too cheery considering their current circumstances.
"It went fine." Paine said, more straightforward and blunt. Looking over her shoulder at Herc and Kairi, the dark woman then added in a hushed voice, "The big guys is still in a slump, though. We basically had to carry him over the finish line, glad to have you back." Paine then gestured her head at Kairi, still talking under her breath. "How is she holding up?"
"Better...?" Yuna sounded unsure, which didn't earn her any approving looks from Paine. "I think we've hit a major breakthrough, and I'm optimistic, but it's hard to say what's the truth until she gets into another fight." The brunette sighed and shook her head. "We almost died, again, down there. These Organization members are terrifyingly strong. If we ever hope to match against them, then we need to do something, and fast."
That earned a derisive snort from Paine. "This is beginning to sound like more trouble than it's worth. Why exactly did we agree to this mission again?"
"'Cause we got caught and were press-ganged into it!" Rikku interjected, leaning into the space in between her two teammates. Once more, Paine snorted, as their boat reached the other side of the river, docking outside the Underdrome.
"Be that as it may, I still think this is something worth doing." Yuna's pivoted herself, her eyes falling on Kairi, but seeing beyond the Key Bearer. Seeing her triumphs and fears, her victories and desires, and everything she could potentially become.
But, Yuna didn't have much time to dream and pray and hope, as the group was once more led through the haunted, definitely unhallowed halls of the Underdrome, quickly ushered into the ring without any sense of pomp or circumstance, where they awaited their opponent for this final match of the Kronus Kup.
Clearly Hades was in a rush to get this entire affair over and done with, so he could have more time to gloat about his accomplishment and victory.
In another burst of brimstone and flame, the God of the Dead appeared in the center of the ring, possessing a look of smug self-satisfaction.
"Alright, alright, alright, looks like all the pieces are in their places. Let's get this show on the road, folks!" Hades wiggled his fingers in anticipation as he leered in the direction of the heroes that stood between him and ultimate victory.
A pillar of brilliant flame erupted all around Hades' body, illuminating the dank and dark arena. Normally such a spectacle would draw a round of cheers from the audience, but the interior of the Underdrome was as empty and dead as a stadium held within the Underworld would imply. The roar and crackle of the fire was met with deafening silence, but the Lord and Master of the Dead was not the least bit deterred by the lack of an audience. Hades cackled and raised his voice, along with his arms, as the flames abated.
"Ladies and gentlemen and others, of all maladies and causes of death, welcome to your MAIIIIN EVENT!
"Facing off, for the final fate of both the Coliseum and the Underdrome, is yours truly, your host and the ultimate life of the party – HADES, THE LORD OF THE DEAD!" Hades raised his voice, causing it to echo and ring off the yawning and vast space of the derelict and disused arena. "And my opponents for the evening, none other than everyone's hero – don't we all just love him!? - and the reigning Coliseum, Hercules." By comparison, Hades' introduction to his opponent was much less spirited and raucous, but even that was nothing next to his next vocalization. "Oh, and he's accompanied by some girls, yadda yadda yadda, who cares?"
"'Some girls'?" Rikku repeated, offended. By this point, her and the other Gullwings had their weapons drawn. "I both resemble and resent that!"
"Getting really sick of this. Is everyone on this world gonna make some sort of garbage comment about us?" Paine muttered in an annoyed tone, tilting her head to one side.
"Are you two ready for this?" Yuna asked, directed towards Kairi and Hercules.
The two heartbroken heroes took on a look of introspection, chewing and parsing on the question. Eventually, Kairi took on a hardened gaze, manifesting Destiny's Embrace.
"I'm going to give it my all, guys. I'll try my absolute best, for all of you."
Hercules, however, didn't share that same level of confidence. Something that did not escape Hades' notice.
"Hey, hey, what's the matter little nephew?" The chatty Deity slithered his way across the arena floor, getting right into the face of his opponents. "You're looking a little down. Not really befitting of a 'true hero' now, is it?"
"Enough talk, Hades!" Hercules called back, defiantly, trying to, more, present a confident front.
"I agree, I'm already sick of hearing you yak on." Kairi snapped, striking up a fighting pose. "Let's get on with it!"
Hades held up his hands in faux-mercy, backing away from the heroes. "Hey, hey, don't be so snappy, Key Girl, I'm just try to help good ol' Hercules there." With a snap of his fingers, and a sly grin, Hades pointed at the Demigod, while a portcullis in the background began to slowly rise. "And I know exactly what's ailing you – you went and lost your little girlfriend. Bad place to lose her, you know, lots of shady types running around down here."
Rikku cried out. "You would know, wouldn't ya, you lowlife!"
"So how 'bout, I do you a favour, Wonderboy? Lemme show ya where your little Nutmeg scurried off to!"
With a big, dramatic swoop of his arms, Hades gestured to the rising gate behind him, which was slowly revealing a figure hanging precariously above the waters of the River Styx, bound and held up by swirling rings of smoke and ash.
"Meg!"
Indeed, Megara was the person held captive by Hades, who was smiling maliciously at his sudden reveal, reveling in the distress plainly scored on the faces of both Hercules and Meg.
Hercules brought his fists up and stomped forward, ready to deliver justice unto the evil Deity before him. "Hades! Of all the low-down tricks you've pulled, this is-"
"Save me the speech, okay? I've heard it all before!" Hades interrupted, holding a hand out, his temper and his flame flaring up, both literally and figuratively. "But I am done playing. I am winning! Today, I will be the winner, and you will be the loser! So here is what we're gonna do, I'm offering you a choice – you can either give up and forfeit and let me win, condemning the Coliseum up there to be closed down forever and ever or... you let your girlfriend take a dunk in the River Styx, condemning her to a fate worse than death! And if anyone of you," Hades glared at Kairi and the Gullwings, "Move so much as an inch, she drops.
"Ticktock, Wonderboy, the pressure's on!"
Hercules looks deeply shocked and conflicted by the choice presented to him. Kairi wanted to offer some kind of support to him, but was unsure of what to do. Unsure of what she could say to make this better. Hell, unsure of what decision here was the "right" one.
There isn't a right choice, this is all just a sadistic game for Hades' enjoyment.
"Hercules, don't worry about me, just let me go and keep on fighting." Megara pleaded from her bindings, seeing the agony etched on the face of her lover. "You have to keep fighting, not just for me, but for everyone."
Clenching his hand into a fist, his very being trembling and quaking under the pressure, Hercules grimaced and relented. "You're right, Meg..." He admitted, in a quiet, solemn voice. "I'm sorry, but... Hades, there's no way I'm quitting. Not now, not ever."
For his part, the Lord of the Dead actually looked a little surprised that Hercules had come to this decision.
"Very well. Have it you way."
With a snap of his fingers, Megara's bindings vanished. She screamed as she plunged through the air, dropping towards the river.
"...But I'm also not going to quit on Meg, either!"
Bursting out into a full sprint, Hercules blew past Hades towards the edge of the arena, before leaping off, diving through the opening in the wall, and right after Meg, both of them hurtling toward the foul waters below.
A loud SPLASH resounded through the room, as Kairi's heart dropped. Had she really just sat by and watched as she lost another set of Sora's friends? Were more people suffering because of her inaction?
"Oh, poor stupid, predictable, stupid, dumb Hercules!" Hades wailed, "lamenting" the demise of his nephew, a hand draped over his forehead. "Little lesson for the rest of you, when given the choice between the world or the damsel, never ever choose the damsel. It's a sucker's choice."
Kairi dropped her Keyblade, as she felt her heart sink into the abyss even further, pain radiating from the void.
Sora chose me... Between all the worlds and me, he chose me...
Kairi fell to one knee, clutching at her heart, as agony coursed through her body.
Did Sora choose wrong?
"SHUT UP!" Kairi bellowed, choking on her words, forcing pass the pain and spewing anger at the preening villain. "You don't know anything! You're just some monster who plays with other people's hearts for his own sick, twisted pleasure!"
I have to fight back here, otherwise, I'm admitting I'm just a burden. That Sora chose wrong and gave himself up for nothing...
"Well, that's just your opinion, missy..." Now with Hercules out of the way, the Lord of the Dead could grant all of his attention towards the Key Bearer and her companions. "But if you're all too eager to tussle, by all mean, show me what ya got!" Fire sprang into life around Hades, blazing torches consuming his hands. "I would much prefer to finally do away with that spikey-haired nimrod who's always thwarting my plans, but hey, I'll settle for swatting any upstart Key slinging punk!"
Kairi retrieved her weapon and stood up, ready for a fight, as the Gullwings took position around her.
"You know, I was much more optimistic about facing off with a God when we actually had a divine presence of our own." Paine noted, eyes steely.
"Hey, we went up against Sin and Yu Yevon, and that turned out fine, didn't it?" Rikku brought up, earning a scoff from her friend.
"Thanks for bringing up those pleasant memories."
"It doesn't matter how hard a challenge it is, we'll overcome. The four of us won't back down." Yuna countered, looking over at Kairi.
"Oh, that's cute. Just adorable." Hades chuckled darkly. "You think you have a chance? You have nothing! All of you are nothing! You have no God, no hero, no hope. Just give up!"
"You're wrong Hades!" Kairi slashed her blade through the air, before leveling and pointing it and the deranged Deity. "We've got a hero, right here!" Kairi declared, free hand held at her heart. She might not be one by choice. She may not be the most skilled, the most experienced, or the most confident, but Kairi was ready to take back the mantle of hero.
Because she had to.
Because everyone had placed their faith behind her.
Because if Yuna could do this, then she could do it too.
"Oh, don't make me laugh, princess! You? A hero? That's the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard!"
"She's right, Hades. And, as usual, you're dead wrong."
A bright blast of golden energy rose up, emerging from the depths of the Stygian abyss beneath the Underdrome, illuminating it's dank confines in holy, blessed light.
When the light receded, it's source was revealed: Hercules, standing on a platform beyond the arena's edge, carrying Megara in his arms, both of them bathed in a luminescent aura and completely unscathed.
Kairi was beyond relieved to see the two were okay, while Rikku and Yuna whooped and cheered in delight at the turn around.
Hades, meanwhile, was furious. Steamed. Enraged. Beyond apoplectic. His skin had turned a burnished orange, the flame capping his head becoming a roaring, red torch, while his eyes bulged out of their sockets, veins in his forehead pulsing and twitching, looking like worms about to burst out from beneath the burning skin of the God.
"Impossible! Unbelievable! INCONCEIVABLE!"
With a mighty leap, Hercules sailed over the gap between arena and outer wall, landing on the half of the platform with Kairi and the others. The heroic Demigod was smiling, brightly and confidently, seemingly surrounded in a warm nimbus that energized and emboldened those about him.
"I suppose I owe you for this, Hades." Herc said, as he gently placed Meg back on the ground. "Even with all the pressure weighing me down, even with all the fatigue and exhaustion, when it the moment came, I didn't hesitate to give up my life to save Meg's. And that's when I remembered: The true measure of a hero is the strength of their heart. No matter how beaten down I get, my heart will always keep true and strong." Hercules then turned to Kairi, flashing her a knowing look. "Just like Sora, and just like Kairi here. Their hearts are as strong as any, they have the makings of being great heroes."
Kairi rubbed her neck awkwardly at the praise, shying away from the revived Hercules. But, all the same, some of his words resonated deep within her. Yuna said the same thing, didn't she? A hero or a person, their true strength is measured from their heart.
Come to think of it, despite her dismissive attitude, she had found herself repeatedly jumping into action, despite her depression. Against Lexaeus, when she and Yuna were threatened. Just now, against Hades, when it looked liked Herc and Meg were done for.
When people were in danger, when people were suffering, her heart and body still jumped into action to fight back and be the hero that was needed.
Keep moving forward.
Just be yourself.
If that isn't enough, be better.
Believe in all of us, because we believe in you.
It really is that simple, Kairi reflected. I never lost that spark, that heroic heart. It's always been with me. I'm such an idiot...
Kairi turned her head up, Keyblade still held tightly in her grip. "Thank you, Hercules. And you too, Yuna." Kairi gave her friend an appreciative look, for putting up with her despair and malaise, for always pushing her back towards the right path. "Thank you for showing me that my heart will always keep me on the right course. No matter how many times I might falter or show fear, my heart will light my path forward."
Once more, she pointed Destiny's Embrace at Hades. Like Hercules, Kairi was brimming with brilliant energy, almost visible to the others.
The Demigod of Heroes and Strength, and the Keyblade Warrior of Light were back!
"Now let's finish this!"
Hades, in the meantime, seemed to be in the middle of pretty severe mental breakdown, and he looked to vent some of that anger and frustration towards the heroic quintet before him.
But, before anyone could act, the entirety of the Underdrome began to shake and rock, the whole structure trembling under the weight of something, as something crashed down and across it's roof. Said roof, soon caved in, raining debris all over the battlefield (and giving Kairi and Yuna some pretty severe flashbacks to earlier in the day) as two more figures entered the fray, falling to the arena floor and bouncing away from each other.
Lexaeus slowly got this feet, using his tomahawk as a stand, gritting his teeth together. The gargantuan monster of a man actually looked a little roughed up, but still fairly uninjured. When his eyes fell upon Kairi, the Nobody shot the girl a venomous glare.
"I will thank you for leading me to my target." Lexaeus boomed at the other newcomer, before hefting up his weapon once more. As the dust began to settle, Kairi could see that it was the man from earlier, the one in the red haori.
"Oh, hey, Auron's here." Rikku said, incredibly casually, the implication of her words seemingly lost on herself...
...Then, she did a wild doubletake, almost face faulting from the sheer force of the realization. "Wait, what the crap is Auron doing here!?" The blonde screeched, tugging at some of her braids.
"He's looking pretty good." Paine surmised, a thin smile forming on her lips. "For a dead man, that is."
"It's good to see you too, Paine." Auron replied, in a low, raspy voice. Standing back up, Auron quickly turned to look at Kairi and her various companions, before drawing up to a fighting stance, shouldering his sword.
Yuna was looking at the older man with a mixture of awe, wonder, and nostalgia. "I can't believe it. I can't believe it was actually you. Auron..."
"We can have our heartfelt reunion later, Lady Yuna." Auron's eyes turned towards the duo of Hades and Lexaeus. "We have other matters to attend to, first."
Hades, however, was having none of, unleashing his anger and rage in stream of bituminous bile, directed at everything and everyone in his path.
"Na-ah! No way, not happening! I'm am not letting anymore bozos drop in a ruin everything! This is my Underworld, my Underdrome, my show! And what I say, goes, do you understand?"
During all this, Hercules just casually and simply walked over to the ranting God, and, while tapping him on the shoulder, said. "Oh, Hades?"
The Lord of the Dead reared back to face his nemesis, fully intending on lashing out physically and verbally. But, before the verbose, slick-talking God could even get a single word out, Hercules punched him full force, straight in the mouth. Teeth and slobber went flying through the air, as did Hades himself, launched at insane velocity across the arena, across the gap that separated the fighting grounds from the curtain wall, and through the wall itself, leaving a perfectly formed Hades-shaped outline in the stone.
With a rather smug look his face, Herc turned back to Kairi, Meg, and the others, dusting off his hands at the "effort" necessary to vanquish his foe.
"Well, uh, that was certainly more anti-climactic than I was expecting." Rikku said in between snorts of laughter. "Not complaining, though. Way to go, stud!"
"Eh, Hades will find a way back, to bother us again. He always does."
"Hate to cut the celebration short, but we still have one very large problem on our hands." Paine cautioned. In the intervening moments since Hades' defeat, Lexaeus had gone and summoned more reinforcements for himself, in the form of a swarm of Heartless.
The shadowy beings instantly lunged forward, while the towering Nobody continued his methodical, stalking approach.
Battle broke out, as Kairi, Auron, and the Gullwings took to the fray to deal with the threat, Paine and Auron charging forward with their swords to dice and slice at the demons, while Kairi, Yuna, and Rikku stayed towards the back, lobbing spells and bombs to further thin out their ranks.
"Herc!" Kairi called out, in between bringing down lightning bolts to obliterate clusters of Heartless. "Take Meg and get out of here. We can handle this!"
"You sure Kairi?" Megara asked with a cocked eyebrow, scanning both the sheer number of Heartless... and the sheer size of Lexaeus. Kairi flashed a brilliant, confident grin back.
"Hey, Herc got his big hero moment. I think after all I've been through the past few days, I'm overdue for one of my own."
"If you say so, hero." Hercules smiled and nodded and Kairi, before hoisting Meg up once more. "I'll leave the rest to the five of you, then" Another mighty leap, and Hercules made his exit from the arena.
With the safety of her friends secured, Kairi turned back to her enemies... and almost lost her head in the process, narrowly avoiding a brutal strike from Lexaeus and his tomahawk.
"Whether you have your fighting spirit back, or not, it's of no matter." Lexaues taunted, in between furious, crushing blows, which Kairi managed her best to dance around. "Power is absolute! Something a weakling like you would never understand."
Hate to admit it, but he's got a point... Kairi thought, as she continued her desperate display of deadly dodging. The size and power advantage was clearly in the favour of the earth elemental Nobody, not to mention the impossible mass and size of his weapon. Kairi couldn't just rush in and try and deal with this in melee, blow for blow, she needed to keep her distance and come up with a plan.
Kairi span away from Lexaeus' thrusting attack, which the Nobody then transitioned into a downward plunging blow, driving the crown of his weapon deep into the stone floor of the arena, splintering it, and sending shards of stone hurling into the air. Kairi went deep into her playbook, pointing her hands and Keyblade downward and conjuring a jet of flame at the floor, the spell serving as a rocket booster for the redhead, propelling her up and away from the rocky spears.
The Key Bearer sailed over her various allies, still engaged with the Heartless, and landing right near Auron, who was in the middle of effortless cutting down a pair of Large Body Heartless with his zanbato.
Lexaeus made a beeline towards her, barreling through the throng of monsters and ignoring the Gullwings. He only had one target on his mind, and it was Kairi.
Looking at the nearby Auron and the approaching Nobody, a devilish idea began to form in Kairi's mind. I think it's time to pit power against power...
But, despite the craftiness of her idea, it was little harder for the Princess to verbalize. "Hey, Auron, uh... I know we just met, but could you do me a favour? I need someone to keep the big guy busy." Auron's head inclined towards hers, eyes narrowing in thought.
"I take it you're one of Sora's friends?" At the mention of her beloved friend, Kairi smiled and nodded. That earned a smirk from the older man. "Very well. Today, I will be your Guardian, Lady Kairi." Auron pivoted on the spot, perfect timing, as he blocked another ferocious attack from Lexaues. The two warriors locked blades, not giving one another an inch, as they seemed perfectly matched in might.
Now that Lexaeus was occupied, Kairi took the edge of the arena, strafing around the platform to get a good angle of attack. "Yuna, Rikku, Paine! Keep the Heartless occupied. Auron and I will handle the Organization member." She ordered, firmly but politely. The monsters from the shadows kept on coming, spawning more and more numbers, but appeared, only to run into a buzzsaw of steel and magic and explosives.
The Gullwings – the Heroes of Spira – would not wilt just in the face of overwhelming odds. They would take charge, fight, and win, like they always did.
Auron and Lexaeus also continued their clash, with the Nobody trying with all his power to break away from the elder warrior, only to be thwarted every time. Auron stuck to him like glue, not giving the gargantuan man an inch of breathing room. Kairi took the chance given to circle around and pepper Lexaeus' broad back with spells.
The Nobody grunted against the onslaught of magical attacks, as he once more tried to get away from Auron. "Is this all you can manage, girl? Are you such a powerless weakling that you can only hide behind others to accomplish their goals?"
"It's called strategy! And, hey, it's working, isn't it?" Kairi launched a quartet of icicles at the Nobody, zeroing in on her foe and embedding themselves deep within his broad back. Lexaeus roared in pain and anger, his black and red aura flashing briefly, before flexing the muscles in his back, shattering the ice, but leaving the gaping holes.
"Enough of this trickery!"
Lexaeus, in his fury, booted Auron away, turning to face Kairi and lunging out at her, as a roaring ball of fire zipped by him, barely grazing his cloak. The Nobody reared back for another attack, as Kairi prepared another spell-boosted dodge.
"You missed, girl."
"No. She didn't."
A flaming zanbato sliced through Lexaeus' side, clipping against his rib cage, and unleashing a torrent of the Nobody's black blood, steaming in the chilled air of the Underworld. With Auron's sword now coated in the magical flame of Kairi's spell, he unleashed a flurry of searing attacks, delivering two deep slashes at the Nobody's arm and shoulder, drawing more black ichor, before beginning to hack at his legs and knees.
Meanwhile, Kairi took to the air again, caught on an updraft by her Aero spell, and rained down several exploding water bubbles against Lexaeus, crashing with impactful force against his head and back.
Kairi touched back down to the ground, as Lexaeus and Auron clashed weapons again. She could tell that, with the damage done to his arm, Lexaeus was just a little slower on the draw. Little by little, they were grinding this mountain down, like ocean waves repeatedly slamming against the rocky cliffs. She drew up her Keyblade, readying another spell.
Let's put an end to this, here and now.
This time, as Kairi charged forward, Lexaeus was able to create just enough breathing room for himself that he had the time and space to snag onto the lapel of Auron's robe, using his superhuman strength to lift the Guardian into the air, effortlessly, with just one hand! With the same amount of exertion, the Nobody flung Auron away, causing him to crash into both Paine and Rikku, the three Spiran warriors collapsing into a tangled heap.
Once more, free of distractions and attention undivided, Lexaeus focused in on the Keyblade bearing girl.
"You've done better than I initially expected." Quickly, impossibly quick, Lexaeus hammered his tomahawk on the stone floor, causing a fissure to spread out and snake towards Kairi. "But whatever meager power you can muster will not avail you. You will fall!" The floor beneath Kairi's feet cracked and ruptured, a great force hurling her into the air, helplessly adrift among the debris, stones and rocks cutting and battering against her body. "Do you understand what it means to stand against the Organization? It is a death sentence!" As before, in the chamber beneath, Lexaeus twisted his body like a discus thrower, before hurling his tomahawk at the defenseless form of Kairi, the gigantic dervish of death and demise whirring it's way towards her at a frightening pace.
Paine, Rikku, and Auron were still down. Kairi was twisting about, mid-freefall.
"It is the end! The fate of all those who challenge the Organization!"
The weapon continued it's course, closer and closer, coming within feet of colliding with Kairi...
"Stopra!"
A burst of golden, eldricth light collided with titanic tomahawk, transforming into a glyph imposed over it, in the form of a clock face. The hands of the clock rapidly spun about the numbers, before coming to a sudden, and complete stop, as the magic of the spell spread, leeching and saturating the colour of the tomahawk.
The weapon held in the air, motionless, sealed and locked by arcane forces, as Lexaeus looked on in complete shock.
Yes, Rikku, Paine, and Auron were down, but Yuna was not, having fired a perfectly place magic-infused bullet, at the exact perfect moment. Silently, the ex-Summoner urged the Key Bearer on, urged her to put an end to this.
Thank you for your support, Yuna. You're the best party member a hero could ask for!
Kairi shifted her body around so that she was rightside up, maneuvering herself towards the paused tomahawk and landing atop it, using it as a platform to jump to an even higher height, cresting upwards and almost touching the ceiling of the Underdrome.
"I know exactly what it means to challenge the Organization, Lexaeus!" Kairi raised her Keyblade above her head, as she felt the energy deep within her pulse and ebb and flow once more. A radiant halo formed around her body, bringing intense illumination into the room, blinding and staggering the Nobody beneath her. "You're terrible monsters who prey on the weaknesses and doubts of others. You attack the hearts of others out of fear and jealousy." Loss. Separation. Anxiety. Fear. Depression. How many others had felt what Kairi had? How man others had suffered at the hands of the demons? What else had they done to Sora? To Riku? To Roxas and Namine?
Wait... why did I think of... those two, here and now?
"But I'm done running and hiding from you, I'm done cowering under shadows made of my own doubt! For everyone out there who is terrified and suffering, I will fight for them!" The Light within her and around her began to take form, twin strands of energy – one pink, the other gold – ran their way up Destiny's Embrace. "You keep going on about how weak I am, and how power means everything, but I know I have the power to defeat you!
"My friends are my power!
"Their faith in me is my shield!
"And my Light is my blade!
If I can't put my faith in myself, don't just believe in Sora or Yuna or anyone else. Believe in the them that have faith in me.
I do. I do!
[RADIANT FINISH: Heavenly Spiral Buster!]
The twin trails of shining light energy finally formed into a great, conical drill bit, encasing the length of Destiny's Embrace, and over seven-feet in length. The conical lance began to spin and whir violently, as Kairi pointed it towards Lexaeus, charging downward through the air, aiming straight at the massive monster of a man. As befitting his stature and power, Lexaeus stood his ground, summoning up a barricade of stone and earth to block the attack, but with the strength of her holy drill lance, Kairi just plowed straight through, not even slowing down as she continued on a collision course.
Deprived of his weapon, and with his elemental powers failing, Lexaeus took the physical approach, trying to seize the shining armament with his bare hands. His bare, bear-like hands. But, again, the defence crumbled almost instantly, as the blazing Light energy burned and seared at gloved hands. The Nobody flinched in pain, as Kairi drove her lance deep into the gut of the, the whirring and spinning intensifying as it buried more and more of it's length into the cavity of the Nobody. Black blood sprayed everywhere, Lexaeus gritting his teeth together to suppress a scream, but his hands kept scrabbling forward, clawing at the lance, even as it dug deeper and deeper into his being. Trying to literally get his hands on Kairi, to choke the life out of her.
Lexaeus lunged out once more, hands reaching for Kairi's neck, but the Key Bearer stood her ground, eyes flaring with fire and triumph.
"This is my story, Lexaeus, and I will see it through to it's end. An ending where we dismantle the Organization, and save Sora!"
With a guttural, primal cry, Kairi forced the energy drill to launch off the Keyblade, angling herself underneath the mammoth form of Lexaeus, so that he shot upwards into the sky. Propelled higher and higher, the lance boring deeper and deeper, and the Nobody crying out in agony louder and louder, it all soared towards the apex of the Underdrome's roof, ending with a brilliant, dazzling explosion in the shape of shining star!
Kairi felt her breath leave her body, as her legs turned to jelly. Exhaustion crashed over her, as she fell to her knees.
Fortunately, the battle was dying down at his point, with Auron and the Gullwings make quick work of the remaining Heartless. With the threat eliminated, Yuna immediately rushed over to Kairi and threw her arms around the younger girl. Kairi was very grateful for the embrace and the contact, even if she was totally drained by this point. Was it the constant ebb and flow of adrenaline in her system that was doing this? Had today been such a rollercoaster that she now had nothing left?
No. I felt like this on Twilight Town, too. There's something more that I am missing...
Regardless of the reason, Kairi pushed it all away and smiled back at her friends and companions, turning her head just in time to see Lexaeus plummet back to earth, landing with a heavy THUD in the middle of the arena. From the quickest of glances, everyone could tell that the Nobody was finished. Kairi's light lance had gored him straight through, leaving a twisted hole in the middle of his body, as his being began to break down, slowly disintegrating into flecks and wisps of darkness.
One last time, Lexaeus turned to face Kairi, but now, there was a different look in his eyes, a glint of something. Respect? Acknowledgment?
"Such power... the likes of which I never imagined..."
Before he could utter another word, Lexaeus' spirit gave out, the entirety of his gigantic mass vanishing and smoking away... revealing, beneath all that, the writhing form of a Dusk Nobody. Kairi and the others looked on in shock and confusion, as the thing twitched slightly, before also vanishing into nothing.
"That was uh... that was a thing that happened." Rikku stammered, scratching her head. Her bemusement was mirrored by her two fellow sisters-in-arms. "Is that what's suppose to happen?"
Kairi shook her head. "No. No, this is wrong..." She couldn't place her finger on it, but she knew this wasn't what was suppose to happen when a Nobody perished.
On the far edge of the arena, a swirling Dark Corridor burst into existence, a figure striding through the shadowy path and into the world.
"That was not the real Lexaeus. Merely, it was a shadow of his former self, brought forth from non-existence by our Superior."
Kairi felt her blood set to boil when the form of the scarred Nobody, Saix, emerged from the portal, still possessing that insufferable detached expression, as he observed Kairi and her companions.
"Saix..." This was it. He was the root cause of all this madness. If Kairi could muster the strength to stand, she would charge at the monster before her, and attempt to mete out some much needed revenge against the Nobody.
For his part, Saix paid her no mind, as if she wasn't even there, and continued to explain just what had happened. "Lexaeus, as well as several of our other cohorts, perished some time ago. In order to bolster our waning numbers, our Superior reached into the depths of nothingness to retrieve their powers and forms, to create these puppets – these Absent Silhouettes."
"And what? Now you've come to mop up the remains?" Kairi challenged. Auron and the Gullwings had their weapons back out, all standing in guarded poses.
Now, Saix's eyes did fall upon her. But the way he looked at her, it seemed he saw her as less of a person, and more of an object. An object with little to no value.
Kairi shivered and seethed.
"And why would I bother with that? I only came to observe the performance of our puppet. Engaging you serves no purpose. You will fail sooner or later, because that is all you are. A failure. A useless little damsel like you couldn't possibly challenge us."
With a vicious sneer that caused Kairi's blood to bubble and blister even hotter, Saix retreated back into the Corridor and vanished.
The girls all sighed, at the least, thankful that they seemed to be finally out of danger...
...And then the Underdrome arena began to shake and rumble, everyone tangibly feeling the structure sink and lower.
"I believe we have overstayed our welcome..." Auron declared gruffly, motioning to the exit of the stadium. Rikku was already in the process of scurrying away.
"Then let's make like a couple o' bats and get outta hell!"
Auron, Yuna, and Rikku all beat a hasty retreat, with Paine picking up the fatigued and exhausted Kairi, carrying her at her side, held under one arm. Normally, Kairi would have a problem with such treatment, but she wasn't exactly in a position to object right now.
The group of heroes made their escape, as the Underdrome sank into the murky depths of the River Styx.
-O-SWLTW-O-
Yuna inhaled deeply, enjoying the cool night air of Olympus, thankful to be free from the stuffy confines of the Underworld.
Kairi, Rikku, and Paine had joined Hercules, Megara, and Phil over in the center of the ruined pavilion of the Coliseum, idly chatting about the day's events, but Yuna remained at the edge of the gate to the Underworld, Auron standing right behind her.
All the time, Auron had not taken a single step across the threshold that separated the world of the living from the world of the dead.
"I still cannot believe we would find you in a place like this." Yuna said to her former Guardian. She was speaking to him while keeping on eye on Kairi and the others. Auron didn't mind the lack of eye contact.
At her comment, Auron chuckled slightly. "Well, the dead have to go somewhere, don't we?" He replied, sardonically.
Paine was in the middle of going on a tirade towards Phil, but Yuna didn't pay it much mind. She was content to enjoy her current company, for as long as possible.
"And I see old habits die hard, too. Even in death, you're still going around protecting people..." Yuna paused, smiling fondly, as she reminisced to her time on Spira. When all of her companions were together and united. "Then again, I suppose you had been doing that for a long time. Even back on Spira."
"It's the role I've grown accustomed to. You. Your father. I am a Guardian, through and through..." Auron's voice seemed to suddenly grow faint and distant. "And now, it looks like you have your own Summoner to protect, Lady Yuna."
Yuna turned about to face her longtime friend, at both the quieting of his voice and the cryptic nature of his words. What she found instead of the elder warrior, was a cloud of soft, golden motes of light, hanging brightly in the air, occupying the space between life and death.
At first taken aback, Yuna quickly composed herself, bowing her head slightly, in remembrance and reverence. This is how it was. This is how it went.
"Goodbye, old friend. I'm glad we could meet again, for one last time." Yuna said softly, hand held over her heart. No matter where she went or what she did, she knew the memories of Spira, her quest, and her faithful companions would all live on within her, for all of time.
Yuna turned away from the Underworld and began walking towards Kairi and the others.
But, for now, she had a different quest to tend to.
"...Again, I don't think I can thank you enough for what you've done, Kairi." Hercules said. "You and your friends."
Kairi only scratched the back of her head awkwardly. "I don't really think I did much, Herc... You were the one who figured your crisis out. We weren't even able to find or rescue Meg. If anything, I should be thanking you for showing me that I should keep fighting, no matter what."
The two continued to bandy back and forth for a while, both of them making cases for why the other deserved the praise and thanks for the day, and each countering the claims the other made. Paine shook her head in annoyance at the display, forcing Meg to step in and break the cycle.
"I think what Wonderboy is trying to say here," Meg said, placing a loving hand across the Demigod's chest, "is that he wouldn't have gotten to the point where he could save me, if it weren't for you four." Herc smiled and nodded and the summation.
"Exactly! Even beyond that, Sora has helped me out so many times in the past, I feel like I now you even more in spades." Kairi turned away and blushed. She didn't handle praise well, and she especially didn't want praise for the things Sora had done. "I'll believe in people like you, the Keyblade Wielders. You guys truly are heroes."
This comment alarmed Phil. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, easy there Champ. Don't go saying things you can't back up! The Junior Hero still has a long way to go, and don't even get me started on her." The satyr pointed at Kairi. "She hasn't even gone through the most basic of trials yet. No way either of them can measure up to you!"
"Oh, not this again..." Paine growled under her breath, holding her face in one of her hands.
Both Herc and Meg just chuckled softly. "I think there are more ways to be a hero than your judgement, Phil." Meg cautioned, gently, earning a dismissive wave from the hero trainer.
"Then don't go spreadin' it around. Otherwise, I'd be out've job!"
Kairi smiled politely at the playful bickering. Truth to be told, she didn't really get Phil's insistence and high standards on who is or is not a hero. She certainly felt like a hero after all she had accomplished. She was certain Sora and Yuna felt the same way about themselves. Kairi certainly considered them both great heroes.
I hope one day I can measure up to what they've done.
In her idle thought, her vision drifted upward slightly, motion in the sky catching her eyes. "Hey! Everyone, look!"
Kairi pointed skyward, and six pairs of eyes followed her finger to the source of the movement. Within the vastness of the night's sky, dozens and dozens – maybe even hundreds – of stars were swirling about. Kairi felt her heart stir at the beauty of the light show, while everyone else finally quieted down, taking in the majesty of it all. In the end, the movement had caused the stars to reform themselves, clustered together into a very distinct shape – if Kairi squinted her eyes in just the right way, if she drew imaginary lines connecting the pinpricks of light standing against the darkness, she should see it.
It was an image of her and Sora, standing back to back, arms locked together.
"Well, I think the Gods have spoken. Sora and Kairi are heroes, through and through!" Hercules declared in joyous tones. "What are we going to name this new constellation, though?"
Instantly, Paine spoke up.
"'Et amanates'." Everyone looked to her for explanation and translation. "'The lovers'." The white-haired woman offered.
Immediately, as soon as the word "Lovers" left Paine's lips, Kairi froze stiff, as if she were made of marble. Marble that was coloured bright red, for every last inch of her skin blistered and blushed a radiant crimson, as the world spun around her, deliriously, as she could only babble in response.
"Whaaaa... Me? Sora? Sora? N-no! No! We're not, uh... it's not..."
Rikku pointed and laughed. "Aha! I knew it! You got it bad for the Keyblade boy, don't ya, Red?" Kairi continued to only speak in nonsense, so mortified she could die, as Paine had easily stripped her heart down to it's barest elements. It's core, most important emotions.
Everyone was staring at her, now.
"What's the matter, Kairi? I think it's perfect." Came Hercules. Megara nodding in agreement.
"No. No!" Kairi blurted out, suddenly. "It's not... me and Sora, we're not, uh..." She couldn't even say the word in the same breath as her in Sora. She couldn't even think of her and Sora in that way, as wonderful and dream-like as that scenario would be. "Friends!" Kairi finally managed to say. "We're just friends!"
"Really?" Meg gave her a quizzical look, raising an eyebrow. "With that way he talks about you, I always assumed you were already a couple."
Kairi's blush went up a few shades of red. "Sora... says stuff about me? About us? What kind of – NO!" Kairi squeaked embarrassment, before flipping her hair forward, shielding her face from the world. This was too much. This was way too much. She thought she had been subtle about her romantic feelings for Sora, how did everyone suspect this? How did they know?
"Sora and Kairi, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G." Rikku danced around the embarrassed girl, teasing her with the childish song. "First comes love, then comes marriage, the comes Kai- AAAGH!"
Rikku fell to her knees, her entire body convulsing violently, as she clutched at the heavy collar that bound her neck. "Oh no! She remembered the -"
"I remembered the shock collars!" Kairi was feverishly hammering on the button that triggered Rikku's, her humiliation giving way to frustration.
Paine was already leaving the scene by this point, Yuna offering a bow and goodbye.
"Quit screwing around, you two. We have to get back to work. We're behind schedule after this little detour."
"Huh?" Kairi blinked, before realizing. The girl forgot all about her feelings being displayed for the world, and the shameful display of hers, as she chased after Paine. There were more important matters to attend to.
"Hey, Paine. Speaking of detours, there's one more I want to embark on, before we get back to the mission."
"Oh? And what sort of sidequest is this one?"
"Well... I just want to go back. I need to go back..."
-O-SWLTW-O-
Compared to their first adventure, the return trip to Beast's Castle was like night and day.
Literally. It was the dead of night when they landed prior, and now it was the middle of the day, the sun shining for all the world to enjoy.
Telling the Gullwings that she would be fine on her own, that this wouldn't (shouldn't) take too long, Kairi disembarked on her own, making her way through the castle grounds, moving with purpose. Despite her determined state of mind, Kairi still noticed that there were a few things different, this time around. Namely, there were people – actual factual people – inhabiting the castle, doing repairs and the various damages that had been inflicted to the castle during Kairi's battle with Xaldin. Even stranger, some of these people seemed oddly familiar to Kairi, and they seemed to recognize her, too, but those questions could be answered at a later date.
Kairi was looking for two individuals in particular. Her heart would not rest until they were found.
Eventually, after ten minutes of fruitless searching, one of the others wandering the castle decided to offer a helping hand, fetching one of the people she was looking for.
The weight of the world was lifted from Kairi's shoulders, when Belle finally came into view, perfectly whole as before, save for a bandage on her head.
Kairi immediately rushed to her, placing the other Princess in a tight, secure embrace.
"Kairi! This is a surprise!" The woman seemed taken aback, both by her appearance, and the suddenness of the gesture. "What in the world are you doing back here, so soon?"
"I-I just..." Even if she had moved beyond her depression and dread, there was still a little twisted shard in Kairi's heart she knew she couldn't remove any other way. She was afraid for the fates of Beast and Belle following the encounter with Xaldin. She was ashamed over having fled the world so soon, without so much as a goodbye, let alone doing anything to help them. Kairi needed to set things right. For her. For them.
Kairi separated herself from Belle, before bowing deeply to the other girl.
"I just came back to say I'm sorry! I'm so sorry for what happened, Belle. For leading that monster right towards you and letting him hurt you and the Beast! I couldn't protect you, a-a-and we just left! We left without giving you any peace of mind or even seeing if you were okay... And I can't imagine Sora ever did this to you guys and it's just..."
Kairi began to ramble and rant, her emotions just spilling out of her without caution or heed. Belle, for her part, stood by patiently, as Kairi vomited out all the things that were welled up within her, releasing all her fears and guilt and shame. By the time Kairi had finished, her voice was hoarse and weak, and she stood hunched over, breathing raggedly.
She also noticed, someone new had joined Belle in observing her, and absorbing her verbal tidal wave. Someone unfamiliar to Kairi, yet she felt a strange sense of deja-vu around him.. A tall, handsome man, with long flow locks.
"I'm sorry, sir, but have we met before?" Belle smiled at the comment. The man laughed. "What?"
"You have and you haven't, Kairi." Belle said, offering no help or explanation.
The man bowed deeply to Kairi, as he introduced himself. "You may call me 'Prince Adam', though, we've already me before."
Kairi stared for a moment, before it all hit her. "Beast?" Both Belle and Adam confirmed her guess. "But, how? How?"
"Well, after the battle, the servants were able to gather us and heal our wounds, but Belle was not waking up. For days after, she remained unconscious. I was terrified that I would lose her. All the time, I did not leave her bedside, and prayed for her recovery, but then she took a turn for the worse... In my desperation, I poured my heart, my very soul, to her. On, what I thought was her deathbed, I confessed my love to her..."
Kairi nodded along in understanding. She had read in the journal about the curse placed on The Beast, and his quest to find true love to break it. How Belle seemed to be the answer her had long searched for.
"Well, I suppose from there, you can fill in the rest of the story." Belle said, with a fond smile.
"I... that's great." Kairi was flustered. Thunderstruck. "Beyond great. I'm so happy for you two."
"So there's no need to apologize for what happened. In the end, it all worked out." Belle then laughed. "In a funny way, we should thank you, for all the chaos you brought with you."
Oh, please no... Kairi blanched. Not more praise. Not again. And don't phrase it like that, please.
The couple seemed to sense Kairi's discomfort, so Bea – er, Adam said, "Or rather, we should thank you, and then ask you, when you see Sora next, tell him 'Thank you', as well. For all the things he's done for us throughout the years."
Now that, I can do.
Kairi smiled slightly, still a little uncomfortable from all the praise she had been receiving as of late, but happy all the same. "As long as you two are okay, that's all that matters." Belle returned the expression, warmly.
"We are. But I think you have more important matters than exchanging pleasantries."
The Key Bearer nodded. She had the most important of matters on her lap.
Out there, in the great beyond, there were other people hurt and suffering. Other people in need of a hero.
And Kairi would be that hero, that everyone needed. Because all these people had placed their unwavering faith in her.
As Kairi walked away, Belle called out to her. "Oh! And, I do hope that you and Sora find the same kind of happiness Adam and I have!"
Kairi nearly tripped over herself.
Does everyone think that of us? Sora! What have you been telling people!
Hers is the Keyblade that shall pierce the heavens!
I absolutely did not intend for such a strong streak of Gurren Lagann references here, but that's just the direction things sort of went. Be sure to play "Sorairo Days" over the climax.
-Kairi backtracking to Beast's Castle and apologizing for what happened, I feel like that's important for her. Like I've said, Sora just sort of breezes through any really issues on the bulk of his quest, things always turn up aces for him, where, for Kairi, I wanted more of a sense that she can fail, that she does screw up, that's she's still learning. But, she's also not the type to mess up and run away, even if she didn't feel immense guilt and shame about it. And, hey, even with all these hoops and twists, Beast and Belle still get their happy ending. She's gotta feel good about that!
-Also, I now feel very validated in my choice to have the Gullwings as Kairi's party members, especially Yuna. I think it's a failure of the franchise that the Final Fantasy characters (and the party members, to a lesser extent) either don't have arcs, or they aren't used to advanced the arcs of our heroes. With how KH is set up – Sora helping the Disney characters find their destinies and their happy endings, while the Final Fantasy characters seemed to have had some adventures of their own and are kind of fully complete – it feels like you could do much more with the FF characters, using them as mentors to help guide Sora, Kairi, Riku et al forward.
So Yuna relating her adventures, her trials, and her successes (again, a bit of slightly altered version of FFX) to Kairi, and seeing how they match up, as well as Yuna having completed her heroic quest, she has now grown into a mentor figure for the younger heroine. I feel like I'm rambling here, but I like this set up, and would like to actually see something like this in the games in the future.
-Also the "I remembered the shock collars" line is more of shade tossed against me. I added those in and then forgot to plan any sort of jokes or bits involving the collars, so... I remembered the shock collars everyone!
Power Levels
Kairi is roughly equivalent to Sora by the time he finishes Port Royal. She hasn't grown that much in the intervening time, but she is still making progress, even when weighed down by her own self-doubt.
The Gullwings have not changed, they are the same as the last time we checked in on them.
Lexaues – and all Silhouette Nobodies, for that matter – are more equal in power to the Guardian Heartless, than the other "living" humanoid Nobodies. It would be a little absurd if Xemnas could just constantly revive his fallen allies to be as strong as they were, but they still make for a challenge for Kairi and the others.
But, yeah, another busy, full chapter. Lots of growths and changes and revelations. Any thoughts, dear readers? On Kairi's growth, Yuna's mentor role, the truth of the Absent Silhouettes? Please feel free to share you thoughts and input in any form you so do choose.
Until next time, let the light guide your path forward.