Riku fell. And fell, and fell, until he landed onto a massive stained-glass window.
Xehanort's Heartless, the Seeker of Darkness, was there to greet him.
"You have failed. Your strength - exhausted! Your fellowship - broken! Your mark of mastery - worthless! And where is your savior, the keyblade's chosen one? He abandoned you. All that remains is DARKNESS!"
Xehanort's Guardian appeared, snarling and twitching.
"You could not live with your own failure. Where did that bring you? Back to me."
The Seeker rose into the air.
"I am inevitable. DARKNESS is inevitable. Submit!"
Riku rolled his eyes. "This is a dream, isn't it?"
"...no."
"Yes it is."
"You don't know that."
Riku counted on his fingers. "One: I watched you die less than a month ago. Two: I know your Guardian was freed and became Terra again -"
The Guardian gave a cheerful wave.
"- yeah, hi. Three, and I can't emphasize this enough: we're standing on a stained-glass window depicting Kairi breaking Axel's nose."
The Seeker lowered back down to the ground. "It's - it's symbolic -"
"Yeah, that my subconscious has a bizarre sense of humor." Riku shook his head. What he wouldn't give for a Dream Eater right now. "I'm really not in the mood for this."
A deep voice from behind Riku echoed into the void. "Why? Did Namine break your heart? Let rage consume you! Or just give up your heart entirely; it did wonders for me."
Xehanort's Heartless pouted. "I'm standing right here, you know."
Riku didn't even need to turn around to identify the newcomer. He did so anyway; keeping his back turned to the guy was a Bad Idea. "Xemnas. Are you here to throw a building at me?"
"I would, if there were any. Cursed dreamscape. Regardless, if Namine has turned against you, perhaps you could make use of Xion instead? It isn't like she's good for anything else."
"He has a point." A third voice. Vexen. "You should be honored. My creation is a work of genius. And you did rescue her from the Underground. That was romantic, yes?"
"It - it really wasn't," Riku stuttered. How had they gotten on this subject?
"Fools!" Maleficent. "That puppet is not good enough for my little boy!" She turned to Riku. "Did you forget your goal, to pursue the Princess of Heart?"
"Which princess?" Old Xehanort. "Red hair, pink clothes, easy to kidnap? I believe I killed that one. What about that blue-haired girl Eraqus was training? Her name was Ocean, I think."
"I must have missed something." DiZ. "Did Namine and Riku have a falling out?"
Vexen nodded. "Our little keyblade master was just trying to keep that ungrateful brat safe, and she snapped at him! 'Locking me in a castle' indeed! Practically compared him to Marluxia."
Seeing the blank stares from the others, Xemnas chimed in. "Marluxia was, uh, one of mine. Long pink hair. Loved flowers. A bit on the treacherous side...not ringing any bells? Really?" Xemnas shrugged. "Well, I thought he was distinctive. If he was still alive, he'd be very disappointed. Regardless: there's nothing wrong with locking Namine away. I used to do it all the time."
"That little witch has no keyblade," Maleficent said. "She was never chosen. Really, keeping her out of sight is a mercy."
"Riku, you blame yourself? You are not thinking clearly," DiZ said. "Perhaps you are unwell. I should examine you."
"The future belongs to the strong," Old Xehanort said. "You are a Keyblade Master. You have the power. You have the responsibility."
"It's not like you could have taught her anything," the Seeker of Darkness said. "What were you going to do, give her a wooden sword to play with?"
Riku blinked. "...what did you just say?"
"What, wooden sword? I was thinking of that time we tossed Sora a toy sword after stealing his keyblade. It was hilarious."
Riku wasn't listening. "Could I have taught her...I just assumed..."
The others became very quiet.
"Ignoring Namine...I haven't been acting like a Master, have I?"
The others grumbled. Xemnas dope-slapped the Seeker of Darkness.
Riku turned to Old Xehanort. "You're right. I have the responsibility. And I'm going to make this right." Riku smirked. "Thanks, guys."
One by one, the others vanished. The Seeker was last to go. For a moment, Riku swore he saw a grin on his face.
And then Riku was alone in his dream.
Well, not quite. DiZ was still there, poking him with a stick.
"Master Riku. Time to wake up. Master."
The stained-glass window broke. Riku fell...
Riku opened his eyes to a forest bathed in twilight, and to Xion poking him with a stick.
"- to wake up, Master. There we go!" Xion grinned triumphantly.
A very nervous Namine was there too. "Did you, um, have a nice nap?"
That's right. Riku had stormed out of the Mansion to take a walk in the surrounding forest, then remembered he was still exhausted from walking the Underground twice. He'd settled down where he thought nobody would find him for a while. Not far enough, clearly.
Riku grimaced as guilt from the past several hours flooded back into his mind. Even after that inspirational dream with a bunch of psychopaths, he wasn't ready to have a conversation with Namine yet.
Xion's face fell. "Was I not supposed to wake you? Were you having a good dream?"
"No. No I wasn't." Riku stood up and dusted himself off. "Did something happen?"
"Everything's fine," Xion said. "I mean, no, everything's still horrible. But it hasn't gotten any worse."
"Roxas is still asleep," Namine said. "Kairi's with him. She sent us to find you."
"She sent me. Namine volunteered."
"I, um, wanted to talk..."
"But you were asleep. Namine was like, 'Maybe we should just let him sleep, he's always working so hard' and 'He looks so peaceful!', but I got bored."
"I didn't - we weren't watching you sleep or anything!"
"So I found a stick. Waking you up took a while. You must've been really tired. We did walk all over the Underground. Thanks for finding me, by the way! I would have been lost down there forever."
"I need to thank you too. For saving me from that Barrel Spider. I don't know why I didn't thank you earlier -"
"She realized it while we were looking for you, and she got really upset. 'I can't believe I yelled at him like that! And after I put him in danger! He must hate me!' You don't hate Namine, right, Master?"
"Um, you don't have to answer that! I just wanted to talk -"
" 'Just wanted to talk'? Namine, you were almost crying!"
"- about what I said earlier. About missions. I do need you to communicate with me better, instead of just sending me away. Even if you have a good reason. But don't think I don't appreciate you looking out for me -"
"Me too!"
"- really, it means a lot, and I wasn't angry, I was just frustrated -"
"Ooh, maybe that was Roxas's problem! I'll ask him when he wakes up."
"- and I especially don't want you to blame yourself for everything that happened in the Underground -"
"You're a good Master!"
"- your friendship, it...it means the world to me, and I -"
"We love you, Master!"
Namine's face went whiter than her original dress. "Um, Xion! That doesn't mean what you think it means!"
"We do, Master!"
...right, Xion didn't know anything about romance. Riku patted Xion on the head. "Thanks. You're sweet."
Xion beamed. Then she bowed. "Master Riku, please forgive Roxas for his multiple attempts to decapitate you! I'm certain he won't try again. Mostly because I tied him up."
Good to see Xion's sense of humor was back...wait, was she serious? "You, uh, do realize that Roxas could just summon his keyblade and cut himself free, right?"
Xion froze for several seconds. Then she grabbed Namine by the shoulders, thrust her towards Riku, and ran back towards the Mansion as fast as her little replica legs could carry her.
Staring at Namine, who had just become a lot less talkative, Riku suddenly wished Roxas would show up. That was a situation he knew how to handle.
Axel had barely spent a half-hour burning Shadow Globs in the Underground when a voice called out from the corridor behind him. "Hi, Axel! Having fun?"
Wow. Kairi had cheered up fast. Axel turned around. "Meh. Maybe if the bigger threats stopped -"
Standing in the corridor was a smiling Kairi.
And a not-smiling Roxas.
"- hiding." Oh. Huh. Sure, he'd told Kairi to send Roxas -
Number 13. Roxas. The Keyblade's chosen one.
- his way when he woke up. And he'd meant it. He just hadn't expected Kairi or Riku to allow it. Not without wrapping Roxas in heavy chains or something.
Axel's surprise must have shown on his face, as Roxas lowered his eyes immediately.
Something I can help you with there, chatterbox?
Kairi was unperturbed. "I brought cookies! And coffee. And Roxas. They should all help with your Heartless-hunting." She walked over and handed Axel a bag and a thermos. Roxas stayed in place.
"You want Roxas to fight?" Axel whispered. "I was just going to hang out with him after I finished down here. Didn't Riku say Roxas needed a break?"
"I'm sure he's fine. He slept for hours."
"That's...not what I meant," Axel said. "On a scale of one to Larxene, how stab-happy is he right now?"
Rise and shine, sleepyhead!
This was not the time for old Nobody Axel to chime in.
"Roxas isn't dangerous," Kairi said. "Quite the opposite. I tried to explain everything that happened, but I don't know if he understood. I can't even get him to talk. That's why I brought him here."
Oh boy...What, are you making me the kid's mentor now?
"You want me to get Roxas to open up?"
"Xion and Namine are busy. I sent them to find Riku." Kairi smiled. "Besides, you're still Axel. You two have a lot of history, right? I'm sure you can bring out the best in each other."
"Did you forget how badly I screwed up at the Coliseum? I'm the last person you should be trusting with -"
"If you have a dream, don't wait. Act! One of life's little rules." Kairi gave Axel a wink, then walked off, ruffling Roxas's hair as she passed by. "You two play nice!"
Well. That was just weird.
Roxas was still standing in the corridor. Axel pulled out a cookie from the bag and held it out. After several seconds, Roxas walked over and accepted it. Axel had an urge to say 'Good boy!' and scratch Roxas behind his ears, but he restrained himself.
Well, you heard the man. Starting today, I'm your babysitter.
"So. How ya doin'?"
Silence. Roxas ate his cookie.
"Kairi told you what happened?"
Silence. Axel pulled out a cookie for himself.
"Did Kairi put sea-salt in these?"
The silence was broken by a chittering noise at the end of the corridor. Shadows. A half-dozen of them. Looking straight at Roxas.
Is that what Kairi had brought Roxas? So Axel could use whatever darkness he was going through, as some kind of Heartless-magnet? That didn't sound like her.
Sheesh, don't talk my ear off...You ready or what?
Not looking at Axel, Roxas summoned his keyblade and raised it mechanically.
The battle lasted less than a minute. The silence lasted longer. Roxas was fighting on autopilot.
"So, uh, you're probably wondering why I volunteered to go back down here."
More Shadows arrived.
You are such a zombie. Want me to go have all the fun while you figure it out? C'mon.
"I figured, we haven't found all the old gang yet. You gotta beat both the Heartless and the Nobody for the Somebody to return, right? So maybe one of these little guys is someone we know. Like that one – see the antennae? Kinda looks like Larxene's hair."
The Shadows burned. Then silence again.
"Not that I want to see Larxene again."
Still nothing.
"Or Marluxia. Luxord was alright. I still owe him munny from that last poker game. Hm. Maybe this was a bad idea?"
More chittering noises. All around them.
This wasn't working. 'Bring out the best in each other?' What was Kairi thinking? Did she really think he could -
Why do I always get stuck with the icky jobs?
Wait.
'If you have a dream, don't wait' - he'd said that, as a Nobody, to Kairi when he had kidnapped her. And he and Roxas have 'a lot of history together'? 'You're still Axel'?
"Kairi, you sly fox..."
Did he just say that out loud? Roxas was looking at him.
Well, whatever. If this didn't work, Riku would have two crazy people to deal with. But if it did...
Axel took a deep breath, downed the entire thermos of coffee in one gulp, and tapped into his inner Axel.
Kairi had just entered the main hallway, carrying a fresh mug of coffee and a book, when a black-haired blur shot through the front door and up the stairs.
Kairi sighed and closed the front door. Had Xion been raised in a barn? An open door was an open invitation for insects. Or Heartless. Or insect Heartless.
The black-haired blur zipped back down the stairs and throughout the house before stopping in front of Kairi.
"Kairi! Kairi! Kairi!"
"What what what?"
"Roxas is GONE! I tied him up but he must've cut himself free and now he isn't there anymore and I just searched the whole house and he isn't ANYWHERE and -"
"Xion, hey! Xion! Slow down! Yes, Roxas is gone."
"Why is Roxas gone!?"
"I untied him. He's in the Underground with Axel right now."
"...but why is Roxas gone?"
"Xion, Roxas needs help. And he can't get that if he's tied to a bed. Now, I'm sure there's nothing to worry about. I'm about to settle down in the living room with a good book and wait until my friends return. You are welcome to join me. Would you like some coffee? It's decaf."
Xion zipped through the front door. Kairi closed it behind her.
Good. Kairi had just told Xion what she was going to do, and Xion had done the exact opposite, instead of following Kairi around like a puppy. It didn't prove that Xion had taken Namine's lesson to heart, but it was a good sign.
All that was left was for Axel and Roxas to have their heart-to-heart. Which they were no doubt doing now, as they ate cookies while idly walking through the Underground and exterminating the handful of Heartless that were left.
Here we go, Roxas! Keep your head out of the clouds!
"Here we go, Roxas! Keep your head out of the clouds!" Axel switched his keyblade to its chakram form, just in time for a fourth squad of Soldier Heartless to show up. "Hey Soldiers! Your momma dresses you funny! You forgot the rest of your armor! Not that it's gonna matter. Are your helmets fireproof? The answer might surprise you!"
The Soldiers fell. Roxas said nothing.
Sheesh... Quit acting like a zombie, and let's get this show on the road!
"Sheesh...Quit acting like a zombie, and let's get this show on the road! What is a zombie, anyway? Like, I know what 'acting like a zombie' means, somehow, but I don't think I've ever seen one? Sounds like one of those weirdos in Halloweentown. The point is, this is almost as bad as when you started out. Remember that? Saix was like, this is the new kid, he's super important, you're going to show him the ropes. And I was like, why do I have to do it? I do feel bad about that now. But I didn't know you then. But Saix was all, Axel, you're so smart and talented, and you're way more handsome than me. And the new kid has spiky hair just like you, so it makes sense for you to train him. And I really couldn't argue with logic like that."
Something moved towards Roxas at a respectable speed. Zip Soldiers. Axel zipped to meet them.
"I think that was the first day I actually talked to you? Well, talked at you. You'd been hanging around for a week, but you didn't say anything. Kinda like now. That was the day Xemnas introduced Xion too. Is that why you started talking? Or was it me? Maybe both. Yeah, both. Mostly me though. You knew my name at least, which was cool, although I didn't get to use my catchphrase."
No Zip Soldier was going to keep up with the Flurry of Dancing Flames.
"I'm thinking about changing my catchphrase. I helped save the universe, so everybody should have my name memorized by now. Right? Right. Maybe I should name an ice cream flavor after myself, just to be safe. Next time we go to Disney Town...Ice cream! That's why you started talking! It was the first day I bought you ice cream. It's the source of your power. Now it all makes sense. You haven't had any ice-cream in at least twenty-four hours, right? No wonder you can't talk. You have, like, sea-salt anemia. How many fingers am I holding up? That also explains why you're not swinging your blade like usual. I saw your impromptu match with Riku. You fought like a Powerwild."
Roxas said something, but it was drowned out by a thumping noise. A Large Body, escorted by eight Scarlet Tangoes.
I'm sorry, speak up? Cooouldn't quite catch that.
"I'm sorry, speak up? Cooouldn't quite catch that."
A Scarlet Tango tried to set Axel on fire. Heh. Cute.
"...did I really attack Riku?"
"You flailed at him. It wasn't much of a fight. What do you remember?"
Roxas wall-jumped behind the Large Body and threw his keyblade. Battle over.
"I...was with Hayner and Kairi. Xion screamed, and she was on the ground, and there was blood - I didn't stop, I just - she was hurt, and - then I was fighting something, I can't remember what -"
"Yeah, that was Riku."
"- and the guy with the wing showed up and threw a meteor at me. Then I woke up back at the Mansion."
An Air Soldier popped up and received a chakram to the face.
"I actually assaulted Riku?"
"He isn't holding a grudge, if that's what you're wondering. Might want to avoid Xion for a few days though. Shouldn't be hard for you, right?"
More Air Soldiers. Roxas leaped and spun forward.
"Xion...did she recover? I didn't see her at the Mansion."
"Xion never got hurt. That was Namine."
"What?"
"Barrel Spider. Never saw it coming. Xion just got lost." For several hours, and Axel hadn't even realized it, but Roxas didn't need to know that yet.
"No, that's not - I heard Xion scream."
"Nope. Namine." Yellow Operas appeared. Couldn't the darkness send Axel a challenge? "There is a difference. Xion goes 'Aah!', and Namine goes 'Oh!'. Kairi doesn't scream much, although I think she used 'Eeek!' once."
Neoshadows. There we go!
You know what? Talking is dumb. Let's just go ahead and get our hands dirty, shall we?
"You know what? Talking is dumb. Let's just go ahead and get our hands dirty, shall we?"
"Axel, wait!"
Hey, what's wrong? You worried about the new kid? What was that name again...
Axel tore into the Neoshadows with more fire than was strictly necessary. "Hey, what's wrong? You worried about the new kid? What was that name again..."
"Xion! She's okay? She's really okay?"
The air around them wavered.
"Since when do you care? You two friends or something?"
"Wha - of course we are!"
Axel and Roxas spun in place with their weapons outstretched until the air solidified. Stealth Soldiers.
"And here I thought you were a solo act."
"It's always been the three of us -"
You really do remember me this time? I'm -
"You really do remember me this time? I'm SO FLATTERED." Axel sent out a Fire Wall. The Stealth Soldiers died. Or just disappeared again? Hard to tell. "You've been giving us the cold shoulder lately. And you know how I feel about cold."
Roxas didn't answer - just threw his keyblade like a buzzsaw, taking out a Mega Shadow as it rose from the ground. More Mega Shadows followed.
The Roxas I know -
Axel blocked a claw swipe, leaving the Mega Shadow stunned. "The Roxas that I know is long gone. Fine, I see how it is..."
"I'm not gone! It's just - it's complicated."
Best friends -
"Best friends are willing to deal with complications."
A ring of dark energy appeared around Axel's feet, forcing him to jump. Invisibles. Four of them. Great.
If Roxas was bothered by the sudden onslaught, he didn't show it. Just swung his keyblade against the Invisible's blue-edged sword. "I have -" Thwack. " - to keep -" Thwack. "- my distance!" Snap. "I don't want -" Slash. "- to hurt Xion!" One Invisible down.
"What, afraid of stepping on her toes?" A second Invisible ran up and swung his sword. Axel caught it with his chakrams and twisted, knocking the sword away, then sent both chakrams through the Invisible's chest. "Xion isn't fragile."
"She's died before!" Roxas took out the third Invisible with a whirlwind swing. Shadows popped up in its wake.
"We've all died before. Do we know anybody who hasn't died before?" Were the Shadows growing?..oh. Gigas Shadows. The corridor was getting crowded. "But we got better. We came back. Xion came back."
"Do you remember how she died?" Roxas suddenly ran towards the last Invisible, did a series of aerial maneuvers that even Axel had trouble following, then grabbed the creature's sword.
"I BEAT HER TO DEATH WITH MY KEYBLADE! Like this!" Roxas swung his two swords with fury, taking out the Invisible, two Gigas Shadows, and part of the corridor wall. The blue sword vanished.
Axel had suspected Roxas was hung up on that. And Axel couldn't just tell him to let it go without being a massive hypocrite - hadn't he avoided Even and Ienzo at their lab, earlier in the week?
When in doubt, blame it all on Xemnas. That philosophy had served Axel well so far. "You didn't have a choice -"
"Sora would've found a way!"
...huh?
A Bulky Vendor appeared, tossed an Orichalcum at Roxas's feet, then vanished.
"Sora? What does Sora -" A flash of light gave Axel just enough warning to dodge as a laser beam lanced down the corridor. A Destroyer. "- have to do with this?" And Minute Bombs. Lovely. Now they had a time limit.
"Do you remember why I exist?" Roxas deflected a second beam into the Minute Bombs. "Kairi needed help. Sora impaled himself with a keyblade. Released his own heart, became a Heartless. With no way to come back. All to save Kairi."
Axel spun his chakrams through the remaining Minute Bombs - being very careful not to use any fire - while Roxas started on the Destroyer.
"And when Xion needed help, I...didn't do anything like that. I killed her."
Axel grabbed the last Minute Bomb and threw it at the Destroyer. "And you think Sora could've done better?"
"Of course he could have! Sora saves everybody!" Roxas hit the Destroyer with a bolt of lightning, sending it to the ground. "I have to be more like Sora. It's the only way to be sure I won't hurt Xion again." Roxas finished off the Destroyer with a flurry of slashes. "And I've been trying my hardest - dressing like him, copying his fighting style, training every day. I even started a rivalry with Riku."
"You really think that -" Axel's response was cut off as a red sword slammed into the side of his head.
"Ngf...Heal..." After several seconds, Axel's vision cleared. Roxas was holding the creature back. An Orcus? Hoo boy. Axel joined in, trying to stay in the creature's blind spots.
"I thought it would be easy - I was his Nobody, right? But it isn't working! Every world we visit, all I hear is that I'm not Sora."
More Heartless were pouring in.
"And how could I be? I was stupid. Sora defeated Xehanort and held the x-blade in his hands and brought back the dead and saved the universe. I can't live up to that!"
The Heartless kept coming. The exits to the corridor were cut off. Did Roxas even notice? Axel couldn't do anything about it - it was taking everything he had just to keep the Orcus at bay. The creature was weakening, but...
"I can't hurt Xion again! I can't! What am I supposed to do?"
I mean, sometimes you sound like you really are heartsick or something.
Forget the Orcus - the flood of Heartless was just going to squash them against the corridor ceiling.
Nah...I can handle these punks. Watch this!
Axel had one last resort - but he'd only done it once before, as a Nobody. And it had killed him. Would it even work for him now? Ah well. Only one way to find out. Focus energy...spin the chakrams, and...
A blinding torrent of flames swept through the corridor.
When the spots faded from Axel's eyes, he noted with satisfaction that the corridor was clear. Fortunately. He wasn't going to try that twice.
Axel walked over to a slightly toasty Roxas, leaning upside-down against the corridor wall with a surprised look on his face. "Sora, Sora, Sora. It always comes back to him, doesn't it? And here I thought I was the main character."
Roxas stared at him.
Talk about blank -
"Talk about blank with a capital 'B.' Man oh man. You really think Sora had all the answers?"
Roxas managed to flip himself upright, but he started coughing before he could respond.
"It makes sense, I guess. You only ever saw Sora at his best. You didn't watch him stumble his way through Castle Oblivion."
Roxas shook his head. "He's -"
"That stunt I just pulled? I used that before, to save him. It's not like Sora held back the darkness all by himself. Or did you forget the Keyblade Graveyard? Fighting the Xehanorts, and closing Kingdom Hearts? It took all of us."
"He still would have saved Xion...he would have found a way..."
"Then where is he? Right now? If Sora always finds a way, then why is he missing?"
Roxas lowered his gaze.
"Xemnas is gone. For good this time." Hopefully. "Nothing's gonna come between you and Xion."
"...I'm still scared."
Scared? Scared's a feeling, man. Maybe you just remember what it's like to feel scared, and think you're feeling it now.
"Scared? You have a heart now. 'Scared' is going to happen, along with a lot of other things. Sure, you might hurt Xion again. You're not perfect. But you'll definitely hurt her if you drive her away." Axel held out his hand. "And if you're not perfect, then maybe Sora isn't either."
Roxas gave a ghost of a smile and took Axel's hand. "When did you get so smart?"
"Hey, I'm not about to tell you ALL my dark secrets. I bet you keep a thing or two from me."
"Maybe."
"Feel better?"
"...sort of. I still have to talk to Riku...I didn't attack anybody else, did I?"
"Nah, just him."
"That's bad enough though." Roxas's shoulders slumped. "Xion's gonna kill me. Could we keep fighting Heartless down here a while longer? Like, for a year?"
Axel looked at the remains of the corridor. "I think we already beat them all."
"Oh. Right."
Hey, friends have gotta be able to lean on each other now and then. Ain't that right, Roxas?
"Come on. I'll back you up when you talk to Riku."
Well, we have had our share of drama.
"Xion can't stay mad forever, right? It'll all work out."
Girls sure are complicated, huh?
"In fact, let's talk to her first."
You and me get to go track Xion down. That's our mission today. They think Xion's in Twilight Town somewhere. We'll go when you're ready.
Just like old times, eh?
Riku wracked his brain for the most appropriately Master-ish conversation starter.
Have you been eating right? Getting enough sleep?
Are you, or have you ever been, a seeker of DARKNESS?
How about that blitzball game, eh?
Looking at Namine, Riku decided to actually ask the question that was foremost in his mind.
"How are you feeling?"
"Oh! My leg's all better," Namine said. "You...did a great job healing me! I can't even tell I got hurt anymore. There's no scar or anything. I wasn't going to show you! I mean, of course I wasn't. My legs are great. Yep."
Riku had figured as much, seeing as Namine was standing and walking around. "That's not what I meant. We walked through dark corridors, lost our friends, and fought Heartless. You got stabbed. You passed out, woke up and used your mental powers to save my life, and passed out again. How are you really feeling?"
"...promise not to think I'm weird?"
"Namine, 'weird' is getting possessed by a guy who turns into a boat. You would have to work very hard to reach that level."
"What I said earlier, that getting injured like that wasn't a big deal for me? I meant it. I've been hurt before. I've been dead before. I used to live with Larxene and Marluxia. And now I'm surrounded by people who care about me. Honestly? I feel amazing."
That was the last answer Riku had been expecting. "I'm glad. And horrified."
"There. I've been honest with you. Now, how are you feeling?"
"Me?"
"If you wanted to take a nap, the Mansion would've been a lot more comfortable. It's because of me, isn't it? You saved my life, and I said all those terrible -"
"I feel like Marluxia."
"...Riku, how many times did Roxas hit you in the head?"
"I'm serious. Namine, I've lost Kairi twice. I've lost my entire world. I've lost track of how many times I've lost my best friend, and he's still missing. He might be gone for good this time. I wanted something, anything, that I wouldn't lose. So I've been keeping you out of harm's way. On the sidelines. You show up to practice every day, and I ignore you."
"I don't have a keyblade -"
"There's plenty I could still show you. Basic training, self-defense, situation awareness. But I don't. Marluxia locked you away so he could use your power? I locked you away so you couldn't. I was selfish."
Namine said nothing.
"I didn't even realize you still had your mental powers. I didn't think to check. Ansem figured that out. It never crossed my mind that you might want a keyblade; Kairi was the one who -"
"Riku, stop." Namine's voice wavered. "Why are you telling me this now? Are you really going to -"
"I'm going to help you find your keyblade."
Namine opened her mouth, then closed it again. Several times.
"I can't promise you anything. Keyblades kind of do whatever they want. But we'll try. We can talk to Yen Sid, or Aqua, or Ansem...okay, maybe not Ansem." Riku gave a self-effacing smile. "Sora would've been better to help you with this sort of thing, but you'll have to put up with me instead."
"...what if I can't?"
"You were the Nobody of a keyblade wielder, just like Roxas. You're more likely to get a keyblade than other people. I still don't like the idea of putting you in danger to make your keyblade show up. We'll think of something else. In the meantime, you can start practicing with a wooden sword. That's actually a part of traditional keyblade training, according to Aqua." Riku smirked. "And you definitely need to learn self-defense. You'll like it. You get to break my nose."
"That's not what I meant. Am I really worthy? I didn't want a keyblade until you started group practice at Destiny Islands. I wanted to be like everybody else. That's selfish too, isn't it?"
"There's nothing wrong with wanting a keyblade."
"I'm - I'm no good at saving people -"
"Apart from the time you rescued Kairi from Organization 13. And stood up to Marluxia. And spent a year restoring Sora's mind. And saved me from Roxas. And don't think I didn't notice you pushing Olette out of the way when the Barrel Spiders attacked."
"Riku, I'm just a nobody -"
"Pretty sure you have a heart now."
"You know what I mean! I used to be Kairi's Nobody. Now I'm just a girl who hides behind her sketchbook. Why would a keyblade choose me?"
Once again, Riku wished Sora was around to give the pep talk.
...what would Sora say in a situation like this?
I know now I don't need the Keyblade. I've got a better weapon: my heart!
Worth a shot. "I once told Sora that he wasn't worthy of the keyblade. I actually stole it from him. But he didn't stop. He fought his way through Hollow Bastion anyway, with nothing but a wooden sword...and Beast, but...anyway, when he confronted me, he told me he had a better weapon: his heart. And then he stabbed himself with my keyblade and lost his heart, and he became a Heartless...let me start over."
What else would Sora say?
I don't need a weapon. My friends are my power!
"But even without a keyblade, he still had his friends! Sora's friends are his power. Like Beast. And Donald Duck. And me...although I was possessed by Xehanort's Heartless at the time, and trying to kill him...and I think Donald attacked Sora after he became a Heartless...this isn't working, is it?"
Anything else?
DARKNESS!
That was no help at all. Riku had one last resort - a forbidden technique that he'd never even attempted. Was it worth risking everything?
Riku looked at Namine.
Then he took a deep breath, cleared his mind, and tapped into his inner Selphie.
Focus on Namine! Stop looking at everything else. She won't bite.
Riku took a few steps forward until he was directly in front of Namine.
You need to steady yourself. Hands on her shoulders. Gently! And eye contact, that's important.
Riku did so. Namine's eyes widened.
Now…it's not the keyblade that's the issue here, is it?
"...Namine...you've been a Somebody for less than a month, so you might not know this. All those new feelings you're experiencing? Sometimes they're wrong. You are...an amazing, strong, selfless person. And I'm sure you don't feel like you are - but that doesn't mean you aren't. It just means you have to take my word for it. And I'll try to be less overbearing, but I'll never stop wanting to protect you. You have a heart now, and it's precious."
Namine...didn't protest. Didn't make excuses.
"When your keyblade does show up, remember that it's not the keyblade that makes you worthwhile. It's the other way around."
For a moment, Namine looked like she was going to cry. She lowered her head. Riku stopped breathing.
"...so..."
Namine lifted her head and gave Riku the most radiant smile he had ever seen.
"...if I gave you my heart, you'd keep it safe?"
Riku blinked.
"You - you can remove your heart? On your own? I mean, yes, I would keep it safe, it's just...sorry, I didn't realize replicas could do that."
"Riku -"
"Where would I keep it? Sora carried Kairi's heart inside himself, but he had to stab himself to get it out. Although Ventus and Roxas returned on their own. Maybe there's a trick to it."
"Riku -"
"But wouldn't you turn back into a Nobody? We shouldn't risk it. I'll just -"
"Riku!"
"- protect you the old-fashioned way. Yeah?"
Namine was giving Riku a Look that Kairi had frequently given Sora. Selphie had once identified it as the you're-adorable-when-you're-this-stupid-but-stop-talking-anyway glare. Where had Namine learned that? And why was she using it now?
Namine's gaze softened again. She looked like she was expecting something...and Riku had no idea what it was. His inner Selphie had gone quiet.
...maybe a hug? Riku carefully wrapped his arms around her. Namine gave a small 'Oh!' and stiffened, but she didn't scream or push him away.
After a moment, Namine relaxed. Good.
...holding Namine was very pleasant. Riku tried to ignore his own feelings - the hug was for Namine's benefit, not his. Art of the selfless and all that.
And then Namine returned the hug and buried her face in Riku's shoulder. Well. Alright then. Maybe Namine wouldn't mind if he held her a little while longer.
"Axel, we're lost."
"We are not lost. We're retracing our steps to the Underground entrance."
"For the fifth time? We're walking in a circle."
"How can you even tell? All the corridors look the same."
"See the corridor up ahead? All the walls are black."
"You're right! Huh. Wonder why."
"Because we were here earlier, and you set everything on fire."
"...is that how you and Kairi found me down here? I'd been meaning to ask."
"We looked for a glowing orange blob. You're hard to miss."
"Well, I'm not the Flurry of Kill-Everything-Stealthily-Under-Cover-Of-Darkness."
"You're not the Flurry of I-Remembered-To-Bring-A-Guide-With-Me either."
"Look on the bright side! Once we find our way out of here, talking to Xion will be easy in comparison."
"Wait. Did you hear something?"
After several seconds, Axel heard it too.
"...Roooooxas...Aaaaaaxel...wheeeeeere are youuuuu...pleeeease don't be killllllling each otherrrrrrrr..."
"It's Xion!" Roxas was off like a rocket. Axel lagged behind - that last blast of flame had worn him out more than he'd realized - but he caught up just in time to hear a very familiar scream.
"Aah!"
Roxas was hugging a very confused Xion.
Put two half-pints together, and you get a whole!
Axel tapped Roxas on the shoulder. "Let Xion breathe, buddy."
Roxas let go. "Xion! You're okay!"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"...right. It was Namine who...whatever. You're okay! That's a good thing When I thought you were hurt, I totally lost it, and...uh, I attacked Riku. Please don't kill me. I'm really sorry."
"You attacked Riku because - all of that was because of me? Because you were worried about me?"
Everybody's got something they want to hang on to.
Axel smirked. "You sound surprised. Roxas has been talking about you ever since we came down here. Apparently you're all he thinks about -"
Roxas glared.
"- even if he doesn't show it."
Roxas stopped glaring. "Yeah. I've been - I tried to - I couldn't let go, and - I'm not going to be - I'm not Sora. Yeah." He looked at Xion. "I'm not Sora."
Xion met his gaze. "I'm not Kairi."
Roxas smirked. "I'm not Kairi either."
Xion giggled.
"Roxas."
"Xion."
You're my best friends. The three of us...we're inseparable.
Axel threw his arms around them. "Well, if introductions are in order: how would you guys feel about calling me Lea?"