Hey guys! I'm back with another chapter! With Kingdom Hearts 3 drawing close, I've been waiting for trailers for the game in case I had to change anything to do with Charlie and Ryan's input to the story, that's why I was waiting so long! The next chapter shouldn't take as long I promise! Obviously, in at least one trailer there is a SoKai (Sora x Kairi) moment but I have a solution for that and I'm afraid not everyone may like it. One of the rules I like to go by is to keep things canon. So I'm sorry if I have to change ships. The poll is still open until I get round to Dream Drop Distance Arc because anything can happen up until that point.
Anyway, the poll is as follows:
Who should Charlie end up with?
Sora: 18
Ryan: 5
The author should decide!: 2
Neither: 0
ENJOY!
A Quest to Find Missing Friends Arc
After studying the card and finding no answers to the enigma that is the origin of said card, Sora and Charlie continue onward to the stairs, with Donald and Goofy following after. Memories in the other side of the heart… Is that where all the deep hidden memories are locked up? Charlie only thought all her memories were in the same place…
Back on a floor higher up, Axel, Larxene and Marluxia are gathered around the sphere and had just seen the confrontation between Vexen and the heroes. Axel stated that if both Charlie and Sora disappear, that would mess up the organizations plans. Marluxia responded that he trusts Axel in what must be done. Axel turned away, smirking.
"Haven't a clue, really. Maybe you could spell it out for me."
"Vexen has clearly committed a treasonous act against the organization. You must eliminate the traitor." Marluxia explained.
"No taking that back later." Axel then disappeared in a Corridor of Darkness.
Sora, Charlie and the gang finally made it to the Eleventh Floor. The heroes stop and Sora fished the card from his pocket to study again. Jiminy hopped onto Sora's shoulder and repeated Vexen's words: A card made from memories from "the other sides of your hearts". The cricket pondered as to what the card does…
"We'll find out soon enough. It's the only one we have left. No other way forward." Sora stated.
"No other way to see our friends…" Charlie added.
The heroes stepped forward towards the door. Suddenly, Charlie's head felt heavy, she limped forward, and reached out to her friends as she clutched her head. She tried calling them but her voice was a mere whisper, she then fell.
Charlie woke up and found herself in a dark void. She looked around to find nothing. What was unusual about it, was Charlie felt like she experienced this before. Then, tendrils of darkness wrapped around her before releasing her outside a mansion. She noticed Vexen in front of her and Sora beside her with Donald and Goofy behind them. Charlie noticed something odd with Sora. He was shouting, she didn't know what, as his voice was muffled. She could see the pure hatred within his eyes. Charlie had never seen him so angry before, not like this,
The tendrils returned, taking Charlie back to the castle. This time she was witnessing a confrontation between Marluxia and Axel! Marluxia was holding a girl in a white dress hostage, was this Naminé? Both Axel and Marluxia were wielding their weapons. The scene changed again with Kelly charging at her but before Kelly could land a hit, the scene changed again with Naminé looking sad.
"What's going on?"
Suddenly, Charlie collapsed again.
When she woke up, she heard her friends call to her. She sat up, shook her head while Sora offered his hand to her. She grabbed his hand and he pulled her to her feet. Goofy asked if she was all right and Donald asked what happened. Charlie sighed.
"Sora, I think you're right. Naminé is in trouble."
"How do you know?" He asked, panicking.
"I just had these premonitions or visions or something like that. I think I experienced something like this before… I can't remember for sure." She explained.
"Maybe it's something to do with your powers as a Sorceress of Light…" Jiminy thought out loud.
"Either way we need to keep going and find Naminé!" Charlie said with pure determination in her eyes.
The gang carried on towards the door. Guilt flooded into Charlie's heart After all this time, Sora was right and Naminé was indeed in trouble. Charlie's feelings for Sora got in the way and clouded her judgement. She was a terrible friend and she needed to make up for it. Still, could Charlie really see into the future? Is this just another one of her powers?
Sora stopped in front of the door and waited for the others to catch up. He nodded to his friends and they each returned the gesture. Hopefully in this world there'll be some answers to some of the many questions they all have. Sora held up the card and in a flash of light, the door opened.
When the heroes stepped through, they found themselves in a quaint, little town. The world was called Twilight Town. The sun was setting and a tram carried itself through the plaza as small shops were dotted around the place. However, a nagging thought plagued Sora's and Charlie's minds. Is this a new world?
"Gawrsh… Where are we, Sora, Charlie?" Goofy asked.
"Hmm… I dunno… I've never been here. Charlie?"
"Um… I don't recall being in a place like this." Charlie answered.
Donald agreed. All of them have never visited a world called "Twilight Town" before, yet the card was made from Sora's and Charlie's memories. Jiminy concluded this wasn't right as they only visited worlds from Charlie's and Sora's memories. But still, Sora and Charlie were positive they never visited this place.
"You both might have forgotten this town just like the other stuff." Donald concluded.
"This is terrible. Our memories are practically gone." Jiminy cried.
The gang looked down in sadness. Sora reassured everyone that everything will be okay. He fished into his pocket and retrieved a star-shaped object: Naminé's good luck charm. Sora told the group the story when Naminé gave it to him. Apparently one night, there was a meteor shower. The little girl began to cry and asked him what if a meteor hit them. Sora being Sora, told Naminé that he'll hit it back into space to protect her. the little girl said her thanks and gave him the charm which was something very important to her.
"Naminé said she had it ever since she was a baby." Sora concluded.
"And she gave it to you? Aww…" Donald added.
Charlie looked away. Every time Sora spoke about Naminé, she didn't want to hear it. It made her feel ugly inside. Why couldn't Sora speak about her in that way? Every time He spoke about her, he smiled and had this dreamy look in his eye. Charlie knew if she disappeared he wouldn't think of her like that. Why was Charlie thinking about this? Her heartbeat racing… She looked at him. All she wanted was to be around him, protect him, and make him smile… She mentally gasped. If she was unsure then, she knows for sure now… She likes him more than a friend… She was in love with him.
Crack!
"Yeah. So I promised her… From now on, I'll bring you good luck. I'll keep you safe. But then one day, Naminé left the islands… and I forgot about her all this time. I really let her down…" Sora concluded his story.
Sora received the Key of Beginnings Card and started exploring this world. Charlie didn't say much and followed Sora into defeating Heartless. Charlie realised that she had more Magic cards in her stack than Attack Cards. Being a Sorceress of Light, it made sense to her that she'll use more magic than physical attacks. She noticed how strong she was getting. With the memories she had remaining, she remembered that Sora used to have to protect her or she would get hurt a lot of the time. Now, she's able to defend herself and can look after herself more. She doesn't really need Sora protecting her anymore…
"Charlie, is everything okay?" Charlie snapped out of her thoughts.
"Uh… Yes! Everything is fine! Just trying to figure this place out." She smiled as she lied through her teeth.
"Oh, you just seem really quiet." Sora added.
Charlie smiled and gave the boy a thumbs up in reassurance. In fact, the more the teens traversed the world, the more it felt familiar to Charlie. It was unusual, she was sure she never visited here before but her heart felt warm just thinking about it. Before her first journey, she was at home with Kelly. In fact, she never realised there were other worlds to begin with. If she visited this world before, she must have done it with Sora and the others too. Could she have forgotten that much she couldn't remember the worlds they journeyed together?
Sora and Charlie had found the right door to the Key of Beginnings Room. Sora held up all the cards necessary to enter. When the door opened and they stepped through, the four heroes found themselves in front of a mansion. Charlie gasped.
"This was the mansion from my vision! Which means Vexen is here!" Charlie thought.
"What's wrong?" Goofy asked Sora, who was looking around in confusion.
"Something… feels really strange. I'm sure I don't know this place, but it's starting to feel like it's familiar to me…" Sora answered.
"Me too…" Charlie added.
Donald thought that maybe the teens had been here before after all but Sora and Charlie disagreed, which made it more unusual. Goofy suggested that perhaps this is similar to remembering Naminé and Kelly. Both Sora and Charlie didn't think this was it either. For Sora, memories of Naminé came back to him little pieces at a time. For Charlie, it was the same. But now it's different, just the sense of familiarity with this place.
"It's like my heart feels warm inside with this place." Charlie admitted.
"So, feeling nostalgic?" A Corridor of Darkness appeared and Vexen stepped out.
"Here we go." Charlie thought as the gang tensed up.
"Sora… Charlie… a question, then, for you… Your memories of Naminé and Kelly or your feelings here – which of the two of these are real, I wonder." Vexen smirked.
"Naminé, of course! Whatever it is I'm feeling, I bet it's just another one of your mean little tricks!" Sora responded.
"Of course it's Kelly! You've clearly done something to make us feel this way!" Charlie shouted. Vexen laughed.
"The memory's wiles can be cruel. In its silence, we forget. In its obsession, it binds our hearts." Vexen continued to smirk.
Sora shouted at Vexen to quit the riddles. Charlie stopped for a moment. This was playing exactly what her vision showed her. Sora was getting angry. Vexen re-explained to the heroes that Twilight Town was created solely from another side of Sora's and Charlie's memory. It is on the other side of their hearts that the memory of the town that exists. It is their hearts that remembers.
"You're wrong! I don't know this place!" Sora retorted.
"I think I would know if I had been here or not!"
Charlie was now shouting. She could feel her heart beat fast, her breath quickened and she clenched her fists so tight, her nails dug into her palms. She was sick of everyone playing mind games with her, stopping her from saving Kelly. She knows Kelly needs help. Nothing was going to stop her!
"If you remain bound by the chain of memories and refuse to believe what is truly found inside your hearts… … then throw it away. You are not the Keyblade Master and Sorceress of Light—just slaves to twisted memories. Yes exactly like my Riku and Kelly." Vexen warned and summoned his shield.
"Your existence is worth nothing!" Vexen shouted.
"Like YOUR Riku and Kelly?! Worth nothing?" Sora repeated.
"How dare you!" Charlie added.
Sora began to shake with anger. He accused Vexen of changing Riku and Kelly. Charlie couldn't believe t at first but now it makes sense! Vexen twisted their friend's memories! Charlie summoned her Keyblade and tightened her grip. Sora accused Vexen of lying and stated that he or Charlie would never throw away their hearts. The boys summoned their weapons. Charlie glared at the man in front of her. Her hands started to glow. All she could think about was to save Kelly!
"I'm gonna take you down and save Riku, Naminé and Kelly. THAT'S what's in my heart!" Sora stated before charging at Vexen.
Sora had already started attacking Vexen. Using a barrage of melee attacks, it was one combo after another. However, Charlie couldn't move! She was shaking violently as she gritted her teeth. The air rumbled. Her limbs felt heavy. She struggled to move. She had to defeat Vexen! She had to save Kelly! Something inside her was building up! Her anger was getting worse! She needed to KILL him!
"Charlie, you need to stop!"
Charlie snapped out of it. Who was that? It was a female voice. It wasn't her own voice and it wasn't familiar to her. Charlie blinked a couple of times. Sora distracted Vexen with his attacks for either of them to notice her. Suddenly she fell to her knees and she breathed heavily. What was that? That anger? That rage? Something was building inside of her like a force within. The rumbling in the air had stopped. It was strange. She shook her head and stood up.
Charlie casted Firaga spells at Vexen. Luckily for the teens, they knew Vexen's moves and Charlie was determined not to get frozen again. After casting that spell, Vexen changed his target to Charlie. Sora performed Sonic Blade continuously before Vexen could attack. Charlie casted Holy and orbs of light honed in on him. Vexen recovered and a shard of ice hit Charlie. The girl used a Cure Card to heal herself. Sora stacked a Sleight and performed a Fire Raid on the scientist.
Charlie knew there was no stopping Sora. She had never seen him this angry before. While it was helping the teens win this battle, worry plagued Charlie's thoughts. Something was wrong and she couldn't snap him out of it even if she tried. Luckily Vexen was getting weaker and a few more hits should finish him off. Charlie stacked a Stop Card and two Attack Cards. Vexen was frozen in time and Charlie repeatedly slashed Vexen with her Keyblade. Vexen fell to his knees.
"Urrgh… You have such strength, even at the mercy of your memories—"
"—None of that matters! Just put Riku and Kelly back!" Sora ordered.
"Please!" Charlie begged. Vexen laughed and stood up.
"The Riku and Kelly you speak of… have but one fate, to sink into the darkness—and you two will share that fate, Sora, Charlie! If you continue to see the girl, Naminé, Sora, the shackles will tighten, you'll both lose your hearts… and end up becoming Marluxia's pawns!" Vexen explained.
As Sora began to ask about Naminé and her affiliation with Marluxia, a fiery weapon zoomed past the boy and struck Vexen down. It wasn't just any old weapon, it was a chakram. A familiar chakram that belonged to a certain red-head. The gang turned around and indeed it was him.
"Axel!" the teens called.
"Yo, Sora, Charlie. Did I catch you guys at a bad time?" Axel greeted. Vexen slowly stood up in agony.
"Axel, why…?" Vexen pleaded.
"I came to stop you from talking too much… by eliminating your existence." He announced.
Vexen begged Axel not to. Axel explained that he and Vexen are just Nobodies. They have no one to be, yet they exist. He explained that to Vexen that the scientist can be nothing instead of a Nobody and said that he's "off the hook." Axel smiled while the teens just watched.
"No… Please don't! I don't want to—" Vexen cowered.
"Goodbye." Axel smirked.
Axel snapped his fingers and Vexen was engulfed in flames. The teens watched in shock as the scientist faded in darkness and disappeared. Charlie clasped her hands over her mouth. How could Axel eliminate his comrade so easily? What kind of person does that?!
"What are you—What are you people?!" Sora asked.
"Hm… Don't know. I wonder about that myself." Axel shrugged his shoulders before he disappeared in a Corridor of Darkness.
The teens were alone. Both were still processing what just happened. On one hand, Riku and Kelly are free, but on the other hand, these people: Axel, Larxene and Marluxia… They're twisted. Twisted enough to eliminate one another without hesitation. Also, what Vexen meant if Sora continued to chase Naminé, both of them will lose their hearts? What has Naminé go to do with Charlie losing her heart as well? She has nothing to do with her.
The teens didn't speak. What could they say to each other? Charlie wanted to call his name but no sound came out of her mouth. He heart ached to see Sora like this. She admitted to herself how she felt but… her priority right now is Kelly and setting her free. After all, Charlie didn't want to be in Castle Oblivion anymore. Sora and Charlie climbed the ladder in silence and left the final door out of Twilight Town.
Meanwhile, on the Thirteenth Floor, Marluxia and Larxene stood around the orb and had watched Vexen's demise in the hands of Axel. Speaking of which, the red-head returned by appearing out of a Corridor of Darkness portal. Larxene complimented Axel on how well he eliminated Vexen and said it was good riddance to the scientist.
"Marluxia… You used Vexen to test Sora's and Charlie's strength, didn't you?" Axel asked.
"Not just Sora's and Charlie's. It was yours. too. We weren't sure if you actually had it in your bones to take out a fellow member." Larxene smirked.
She walked over to Axel. Axel narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"Well, I guess that you did. It's time to join up. Taking over the Organisation will be like child's play with the three of us." Larxene explained.
"So that's where Sora and Charlie come in." Axel realised.
Larxene admitted to the roles of the Keyblade Master and the Sorceress of Light. The blonde then suggested that Sora wants to see Naminé and offered to just let it happen. She then added that will make Charlie's heart crumble quicker which will speed up the process of their plan. Marluxia thought for a second and agreed.
"Rejoice, Naminé. The time is near for you to meet the hero that you've been longing for." Marluxia announced.
"I'm… glad." She said sadly. Larxene strutted over and leaned down to Naminé's level.
"But I'm warning you. You'd better not do anything to betray Sora's feelings. Do you understand, little one?" Larxene threatened.
"I understand."
Marluxia instructed Naminé that all she needs to do is layer Sora's memory to bring him closer to her. Marluxia and Larxene disappeared in Corridors of Darkness, leaving Axel and Naminé alone. Axel was left to his thoughts but the girl voiced hers out loud, gaining Axel's attention.
"Sora… Even if you come for me—What then?" She clutched her sketchbook.
The gang returned to the Eleventh Floor of Castle Oblivion. Across the hall, stood Riku with his signature sword in hand. Meanwhile, Kelly stood next to him. Riku had a determined look in his eye while Kelly looked at the ground in front of her. Sora gasped and he ran up to the two while the others followed him.
"Riku!" Sora called out.
"You'll hurt Naminé if you go further." He said coldly.
"You still want to fight? But Vexen's gone, so now you're free!" Sora stated.
"Kelly, we don't need to fight anymore! No one can hurt you!" Charlie assured her.
"Go home, Charlie, or else." Kelly threatened, aiming her Keyblade at Charlie.
Sora and Riku continued their conversation about protecting Naminé. Apparently Riku made a promise to the girl in the white dress that he would protector on the night of the meteor shower. But that was Sora's memory and had Naminé's charm to prove it. Riku gasped but before he could ask where Sora got it from, a flash of light appeared on his forehead and grabbed it in pain. The pain quickly subsided. Riku applauded the attempt to outsmart him and grabbed a god luck charm of his very own! He claimed Sora's was fake and stated fakes should be destroyed. Meanwhile, Charlie was trying to convince Kelly that she should join her.
"Kelly, come with us! We can protect you! We're here to save you!" Charlie admitted.
Kelly growled and just like inCharlie's vision, Kelly jumped and held her weapon above her head. However, before Kelly could swing it down on Charlie, the Sorceress of Light held her Keyblade up in defense, causing the girls to clash. Charlie's eyes widened. What's Kelly doing?!
"Who said I was the one need saving? You need to stop this or this won't end well for you!"
Charlie and Kelly were transported to the familiar area they fought before. The two stood opposite to each other and wielded their Keyblades in hand. Charlie casted Haste from a Sleight before Kelly started charging at her. She Dodged Cartwheeled out of the way but Kelly charged up her Keybade. Kelly charged and slashed Charlie! Kelly dashed to the side before charging and slashing at the Sorceress again. She repeated this over and over again and Charlie fell back.
Charlie wiped the blood from her mouth and came to the realisation that Charlie has definitely copied her moves. Charlie casted Curaga on herself and also casted Blizzaga against her friend. Kelly was hit but soon shook it off. She smirked before casting Firaga at Charlie but she jumped out of the way. The two girls were evenly matched. This was obvious. Charlie didn't have Sora to help her so she had to do this herself. Charlie casted Holy, orbs of light rained down and honed in on Kelly, causing major damage. Kelly was getting weak now, it was time to finish her off!
The girls continued to clash against one and another, causing sparks to fly as the two Keyblades met. Each were getting frustrated with each other. Charlie has enough! She stacked a Sleight and performed Lethal Frame! Kelly was frozen in time and Charlie repeatedly attacked until Kelly had fallen. The girls were returned to the Eleventh Floor.
When Charlie noticed where she was, she saw Riku and Sora breathing heavily as well. She concluded the two boys fought and Riku looked weak, which meant Sora had won. Sora called to Riku but the boy shook his head, grabbed Kelly and ran. Charlie called after her friend. However, as the two ran off, Sora and Charlie noticed Riku dropped something.
"Isn't that Naminé's good luck charm?" Donald asked before Sora picked it up and studied it.
"It's just like mine. How'd he get this?"
The charm began to glow. The gang shielded themselves from the burst of light radiating from Sora's hand. When the light subsided, the charm had changed into a card. The card had a picture of a tropical Island on it, Something was strange. Riku's charm was the fake one but he was adamant that it was real and Sora's was the fake one. Everything's so suspicious. Charlie couldn't trust anything in this castle. And then there was Kelly…
"What did she mean she's not the one needing saving?" She muttered.
Sora and Chalie continued to head to the Twelfth Floor but Donald and Goofy stopped and began to think. Donald voiced his confusion out loud and stated he doesn't understand what's going on, forcing the teens to stop and turn around.
"Let's just keep moving okay? It doesn't matter." Sora stated.
"It does matter! How can two of you have the same memory? You can't both be right." Donald argued.
"I'm wrong? Fine, then don't believe me!" Sora retorted.
Goofy responded that Donald didn't mean that, the Court Wizard and the Captain of the Royal Knights were worried about their friend. Sora argued that they should ask Naminé as that would clear things up. Sora then hurried the gang as the don't have time and that they needed to go now. Goofy and Donald echanged worrying looks and Goofy asked the boy to what happened to him. Sora snapped at them asking what they meant.
"Well, ya always get real touchy when it comes to stuff about Naminé… But before we camt to this castle, you didn't even remember what her name was." Goofy explained.
"Now Naminé is the only thing you think about." Donald added.
"It doesn't make sense. Maybe you should just slow down and think ahead about some of these things." Goofy suggested.
"Think ahead? What's the matter with you guys? Do you want me to abandon her?!" Sora asked.
"No that's not it—" Donald argued.
"Then do whatever you want! You can lay back and take a nap for all I care! I'M going going to find Naminé! You coming Charlie?" Sora asked.
"Uh…"
Before she could even give a proper answer, Sora grabbed her wrist and headed to the next floor. She winced at the tight grip and felt guilty that she was in the middle of this. She had her own problems with Kelly and her feelings for Sora. Still, she guilty for misjudging Naminé and felt like a bad friend doing so. She needed to make up to them both. Even though Sora had changed and Charlie never had imagined he would treat Donald and Goofy this way, if this was to make up for it, then so be it. She'll drop everything for him. Including Kelly, Donald and Goofy.
"I'm sorry."
Uh Oh... Charlie is in the middle of this. What did Kelly mean by not needing saving? I hope you enjoyed this chapter and enjoyed a little hint of Charlie's powers! See you next chapter!