Silver Linings

Chapter 2: "You Owe Me an Ice-Cream!"

A/N: Here, Cid transports our heroes to Twilight Town on the only available Gummi Route, Lambda fiddles with her new toy, and I introduce a new style for chapters as opposed to what I've done in Dark Clouds. The worlds of the story are more open now in many ways. I've noticed a consistent tone in my reviews that my chapters are very short, especially my fight scenes, so I've decided to compensate by taking three or so times as many plot points and putting them into each chapter. The usual scene break from Dark Clouds (a line of bold V's) will from here on denote a change of perspective. Many new characters have joined the possible cast. You'll see what I mean later in this chapter.

Even with the new flexibility of the story, however, my ability to choose a set of possibilities out of this endless continuum shift is as limited as any human. If you think you'd like to see a scene play out differently, by all means write it yourself! I'd like a PM or review stating what you've called your spin-off, though. And continue to give credit to (DISCLAIMER) Square Enix, Disney, and Arc System Works!

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Lambda had suggested that any sort of off-world travel would probably start at the town's highest point. Riku concurred, and so they ran into Mickey at an elevated plaza where some shops were being set up like an open-air market. Mickey was currently talking with an older man with blond hair, white work clothes, and aviation goggles, apparently chewing on a stalk of wheat. That was what Lambda saw, anyway. Riku was still blindfolded, and thus "saw" a sort of silhouette of the pair through the synaesthesia of his dark-sense, hearing, and smell. As Riku drew closer, he could hear their conversation, too.

"...Well, Cid, thanks a bundle! I hope this'll cover it..." And Mickey produced a flabbergasting amount of munny from his coat pocket.

"...That'll do it, all righty. For you, those two cute kids over there, and possibly everyone else in Hollow Bastion! That's way too much munny!"

"Cute kids?" Mickey turned. "Riku! Lambda! You made it!"

"Sort of," Riku replied, tapping the blindfold.

"Why would you be... Well, never mind! I'm sure it was Merlin's idea, and I get the sneaking suspicion he knows everything. Wizards are mysterious like that."

"Yeah, it really helped his condition. Too bad about his eyes, though..." Lambda noted sadly.

"Is something wrong with his eyes?" Mickey tried his hardest to wear a look of concern, but it turned into a smile like all his other expressions.

"No, but as long as he keeps them under that blindfold, I can't see their really pretty color." Lambda murmured. Mickey chuckled, and Riku's face turned bright red. "What? I like Riku, and as far as I can tell, we're 'going out', or whatever the euphemism is. Language is pretty confusing sometimes." Riku went even redder.

"Well... Yeah, we are. Nothing like a few dozen death threats to speed things up."

"Death threats?" Cid barked. "You didn't mention you had folks chasing ya, Your Majesty!"

"Right now, we're pretty sure we've lost them. So please don't call me by name! Organization XIII is listening all the time!" Mickey whispered.

"Organization What?"

"Organization Not Your Problem, if we're not on this world when they find us," Riku noted.

Lambda reworded what Riku said."If they find us."

"If. If is good. So, can we ride on your awesome Gummi Ship, too, Cid?" Riku asked.

"Well, since I've been paid for the King's trip and about five hundred others, I think I can make this a free service! Not that most people want to go somewhere, or that there's much of anywhere to go."

"Are any of the old Gummi Routes open?"

"No. After the worlds reappeared, all the walls between them went back up. But a new, practically empty one opened afterward. Leads from here to someplace called Twilight Town. You think you need to get there?" Cid asked as he opened a compartment on his awesome rocket, called the Orichalcum, for some last minute repairs.

"Riku, wasn't that the name of the card we didn't recognize?" Lambda asked, mostly for confirmation.

"Yeah, it was. Cid, long story short, I think it is important that I get there. Where do I get in?"

"...Doors are for wimps." Cid teleported the three passengers to a side cabin in the Orichalcum. "Only way to get in or out of a Gummi Ship! Works like a charm every time, too. Magitek is the best stuff I ever invented! Now, please keep all arms, legs, and lethal weapons inside the cabin at all times, and thank you for flying Cid's Gummi Biz nonstop to Twilight Town!" The ship vibrated so hard that Lambda was sure it would break apart, but then the vibration was replaced by rapid forward acceleration. Riku almost threw up.

Lambda couldn't have stomachaches, so she instead opened the pocketwatch Merlin had given her. On the cover was the label, World Clock. The hands of the clock didn't move, though. "Hm... I wonder if I just have to ask it something? World Clock, what's the time in Neverland?" The clock hands zoomed to a new position. "Digital display, please." Lambda was just guessing, but the clock face was replaced by numbers, including a date. "Hm...January 14th? That's the same date system used in my original universe. Speaking of... what's the time in my universe?" The clock changed times, but then started counting up crazily fast, skipping back, and counting up again. Above the display was a label: Azure Timeline. "Holy...I think time is really different there from here. What's going on? Anyway, please display the universal time for this timeline." The clock snapped to the current time, under the display Heart Timeline. "Hm... I wonder if it can answer certain questions... How long ago in universal time did I appear in Castle Oblivion?" The clock's digital display switched to a longer format. Lambda gasped, and nudged Riku. "Riku, I've figured some things out about this clock, and it says we were in Castle Oblivion for twenty-two days!"

"What? But we never ate anything! How are we even still alive?" Riku was flabbergasted. It only felt like a few hours to him.

"I guess, for you at least, it was those healing zones. I don't technically need to eat, though Ican if the opportunity presents itself. Hey, I think we're getting close to Twilight Town!" Lambda could see a rock in the distance that seemed comparatively small next to the buildings atop it. "Do worlds just look different from the Gummi Route than they do on land?"

"Yep!" Cid called over the intercom. "Please buckle your seat belts and prepare for landing. First time fliers, don't worry-the landings are a lot smoother than the takeoffs!" The Gummi Ship slowed down and teleported to a hangar. "This world doesn't have a dedicated port, so it's a good thing the designers of Gummi flight thought ahead! I'll teleport you off the ship now, and head on home. I dunno how you'll get back, though..."

"Don't worry about it-we'll find a way!" Lambda called. The teleporter activated, and the black-coated pair found themselves in what looked like a train station. "Wait, where's Mickey?"

"Don't tell me he dashed ahead again. Seriously, that-" Riku was interrupted.

"Pence! You dropped the ice-cream! AGAIN!" A loud voice called from the front door as three teenagers chased each other inside. The one who had spoken had dirty blonde, wavy hair and a black shirt with a skull on it. With his camouflage pants, he looked like a stereotypical punk.

"You're the one that told me to hang onto it. AGAIN." The slightly overweight boy in front of him called back over the shoulder of his jersey with "DOGSTREET" printed on it.

"Geez, Hayner! The ice-cream bars had their wrappers on this time! You don't have to chew out Pence!" The girl at the back of the group had brown hair, green eyes, and an orange blouse with white flowers printed on it.

"Yeah, I'd much rather chew on that sea salt ice-cream anyway." Hayner grinned. "Thanks for speaking up, Olette! I might have actually caught him this time. Next time, there will be no escape from the noogies, Pence!"

"Yeah, no hard feelings or anything." All of them stopped running, and laughed together on their way out the door.

"Who were those guys?" Lambda asked.

"This was probably a good look at the locals. What I want to know is what sea salt ice-cream tastes like," Riku wondered. His mouth was watering, especially now that he knew he hadn't actually eaten in weeks.

"Well, there's a spot over there that says 'Ice-Cream.' Do you have any munny?"

"Yeah, I've still got about 1500 from before the whole mess at Castle Oblivion, plus 50 or so you picked up from the Heartless in Hollow Bastion. I'll buy it."

"Can you buy me one?" Lambda asked. "It could be like our first date!"

"Well, when you put it like that..." Riku walked over to the vendor. "Hello, I'd like to try the sea-salt ice-cream bar. Two, please. The second is for my girlfriend."

The vendor replied, "Here you go. 50 munny total. I've never seen you around here before, kids. Why the blindfold?"

"I almost forgot I was wearing it! I guess you'd say it's the doctor's orders. My 'condition' is kind of unique, but I'm fine when I wear this. I can find my way around pretty well." Riku gave the man the money and took the bars. He handed one to Lambda. "Here you go. Let's find a bench or something."

Sitting just outside the station with Riku, Lambda unwrapped her bar. Tentatively, she put it in her mouth and gave it a lick. "Whoa! That's a lot of different flavors! Salty...sweet...tangy... It's really good!"

"Was that your first time eating food, Lambda?" Riku took a bite of his own bar. "You might want to eat it faster. It'll melt if you don't."

"Yeah." Lambda took a bigger bite, and gulped it down. "I can see why humans get all worked up about food."

"Well, not everything tastes this good." Riku took another bite, and Lambda followed suit with a much larger bite. Then the brain freeze set in.

"Ah, my head!" It felt sort of like a headache. "Is this some kind of glitch?"

"No, you just ate too fast. It's called brain freeze, and it happens to people who eat cold foods really fast. It'll pass." Riku finished his bar, and took Lambda's hand. "Sorry I didn't warn you."

Lambda leaned in and kissed Riku's cheek."I'll learn. Thanks for buying the ice-cream, Riku. I guess this was a pretty good first date."

Riku fuzzed out again. "I guess..."

Lambda giggled. "It's really funny how you blank out every time I kiss you. Do you think you'd get used to it if I did it more often?"

Riku got himself together and grinned. "Maybe..." He pulled Lambda's head in and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. He could taste the ice-cream on them, along with what he figured was Lambda's own unique taste. "I'll have to try some more to be sure."

It was Lambda's turn to blank out. "...Yeah. I guess we will." Riku chuckled as he turned his face towards the warmth of the setting sun.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Meanwhile, in a completely different universe...

"Greetings, Rachel Alucard. It has been some time." The shadow of a man cast by one of three empty chairs spoke to the young-seeming girl in the middle.

"Let us dispense with the pleasantries, Takamagahara. I assume you summoned me here to admonish me over lifting Restriction Zero?"

"Correct. Need we remind you that you agreed to your role?" The woman's shadow asked.

"You do not. However, the most recent loop presented the only opportunity I have ever had to see beyond the ending of that wretched vaudeville you've been playing. I couldn't have the Nox spoil the sequel."

"True, this has gone on for a very long time with no further chance of completing our goal. Perhaps we should thank you. However, that remains to be seen. Takamagahara has engaged a continuum shift, to examine all the possibilities of the new timeline segment. A restore point has been created."

"The future is now rather unpredictable. More so than even you likely realize." Rachel's blood-red eyes held a twinkle. She did love dangling secrets in front of people. If she did not, she would have done something to try to bow out of her role much sooner.

"Incorrect. We are able to simultaneously Observe every possibility of this world."

"Yes, but what about other worlds? Other universes, beyond even the Master Unit's Observation?"

"If such a world existed, how would anyone know, even you?"

"Random chance, mostly. During Phase 578, the 11th Murakumo Unit failed to be retrieved from the Cauldron after its creation. Lacking anything more exciting to investigate, I found that it had fallen into a crack in the Boundary, an opening to a completely different realm that became far more stable when the loops ended. I expect Terumi will attempt to use this back door to interfere with the plays, both here and on the other side."

"Terumi... He really is something of a maverick. Even we cannot predict him at times."

"Then you really did re-initialize him?! Why would you inflict his evil on this world again?" Lightning sparked around Rachel's feet, but was snuffed out. Takamagahara held sway here.

"He was necessary to reach our own goal. The world that Takamagahara governs simply needs to be correct. After the Destruction, it will return to its true form: that of the Azure."

"I've grown to like this world, though I doubt you will ever comprehend why. But yes, we did have a deal. I will continue to watch from the sidelines until Terumi comes after you."

"Unlikely. Terumi requires our Observation for his continued existence."

"Yet he is a skilled manipulator. He could find another to convince or coerce into Observing him. Furthermore, I have seen the worlds beyond this timeline, and the rules of Observation do not apply there. Practically nothing that applies here also applies there. Not even the Azure exists on that side. Yet, Number 11 still exists in that timeline. I hope you have some kind of backup plan in case Terumi truly escapes your clutches."

"This 'crack' you speak of lies in the Boundary, correct? Even if he were to escape, he could do little after the Boundary annihilates his physical host body."

"A setback at most for Terumi. I'm disappointed in your lack of foresight. I would consider this meeting adjourned." Rachel vanished, leaving only a faint smell of roses behind.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Elsewhere in that world...

"Hazama. Come here. I have something that requires investigation." The masked Mad Puppeteer beckoned at nothing with his white-gloved hand.

"Don't you always?" Hazama appeared anyway, flanked by the formless cloak of the Phantom. "Ah, well. Can't keep my superiors waiting. What did you see?" Hazama squinted into the Cauldron from their position in the observation room high above it. Then again, he was always squinting. The better to hide Terumi's unnatural yellow eyes.

"There's a break within the Boundary, which led to the fortuitous discovery of a completely different world. A world where the Master Unit and even the Azure hold no sway, but the 11th subject fell into it and still exists there, even completely without Observation. So, are you interested now?"

"A place where one could exist without being Observed... You are talking about an 11th subject from a previous loop, yes? As far as I know, Kokonoe just dug that hunk of junk out of Ibukido in this timeline." Phantom's scrying magic was just one of her incredibly delicious uses.

"Quite so. As you know, crossing through the Boundary to take advantage of this rift, which I'm calling the Time Break for posterity, would be extremely hazardous for me. Which is where you come in."

"Hey! My host body will be destroyed if I just jump into the Cauldron again!" Terumi wasn't attached to Hazama's body in any emotional way, but existing in the physical plane had its uses. And Hazama took so long to manufacture, too.

"I will preserve your host in stasis. You need only detach from your body as you fall, and it will be waiting when you return."

"If I return." This was Terumi's best chance to be out from under Takamagahara's thumb forever!

"I realize it may be difficult to return from the Boundary, and you have little incentive to do so. However, you do have a deal with Death to honor. If necessary, I'll send a Murakumo Unit to retrieve you if you fail to return within one day. The channel I have opened is more stable than expected, and elongates relative time significantly. You should have ten subjective days on the other side before I get impatient."

"Do you even have another Murakumo Unit? The last one fell into the Boundary without even taking Rags along."

"Yes, I do. And if Number 12 proves too costly to recapture, I'll just forge another."

"That's an awful lot of souls you'd be wasting... Oh, right. I forgot I was dealing with a fundamentally uncaring bastard. Well, I guess I'll be jumping then. Geronimo!" With a sarcastic tip of his fedora, Hazama leaped into the Cauldron. As planned, his body was frozen above the opening, and Phantom teleported it to storage. The green-black wisp that was the true Yuuki Terumi shot downward towards the other timeline.

"He speaks as though he does care. Perhaps his own self-preservation is a higher priority than I assumed. Well, that can only work to the benefit of the project." Relius Clover returned to gazing at his displays. "Yet, Number 12's distortion of the timeline... If that believed failure really has inherited the Azure, I may need to re-evaluate its worth."

VVVVVVVVVVVVVV

In the Realm of Darkness...

"Hm... Not the most interesting scenery. This darkness, though... Very interesting! It's not seithr, but it may actually work better than the real deal! That's a bonus. I don't know what I would have done if there was nothing to feed the Azure Grimoire during my stay." Terumi wafted away from the constant waves on the Dark Margin's beach.

"What manner of being are you?" Terumi found himself face to smoky green eyeball with a man in a black hood. "You are not of this world, or of any other that I know."

"Quite so." Terumi would have bowed, but not having a body made it difficult to tell. "I'm mostly here scouting this timeline for my direct superior. Mind telling me a little about this world?"

"You stand in the Realm of Darkness. It is the counterpart to the Realm of Light in which most beings with hearts reside. You will find no mercy from the Heartless here, but you will find it difficult to leave."

"And you? If this Realm of Darkness is so dangerous and empty, why are you here?"

"My kind use this Realm as a shortcut when traveling from world to world. It is the only way to circumvent the walls between them. I hope I have satisfied your curiosity for now."

"Well, if you could, I have one other request. My body was left behind as a side effect of passing through the Boundary to get here. Is there any temporary solution to this little problem of mine?" Terumi hated begging, but it did usually get results.

"Ah, so that is why you appear as you do. Fortunately for you, I may be the most knowledgeable mind in any world on this topic. And I do have a solution." The unknown man waved a hand, and Darkness coalesced above it into an empty coat identical to his own. "These Black Coats are the calling card of my Organization for several reasons. First, they provide a measure of defense against the Power of Darkness. More importantly for you, they can serve as an ideal vessel for temporarily disembodied hearts. Go right ahead. But do not think for a moment that such a temporary vessel has the power to betray my kindness. Seek your emotional sustenance elsewhere."

"You saw right through me, kind sir! Rest assured, I have no actual plans of getting in your way, and I don't see why I'd do my usual psychological warfare thing on a being with no hatred to eat. Where did all your emotions go? No matter." Terumi immediately possessed the coat. The ensemble included gloves, pants, and boots, all of which filled with nothing but his will. "Very effective! Not having another will in here makes things a lot easier for me. Now, then, did you need anything in return? I despise owing people."

"If you would impart knowledge of your world and how you invaded ours to me, that would be sufficient. Perhaps a change of venue would be beneficial." The unknown waved his hand again, and a Dark Corridor wove together."

"Well, it's good doing business with you! My name's Yuuki Terumi. What's yours, partner?"

"My name is of no importance, but if you must have it, refer to me as Xemnas. Come. I should introduce you to Organization XIII, in which I am Number I, the Superior." The two coated figures entered the Corridor and left the Realm of Darkness behind.

VVVVVVVVVVVVV

A/N: Uh-oh... So, as a recap, Riku and Lambda are now officially a couple and in Twilight Town. Feel free to come up with a shipping/pairing name. It would make good content for a review! (Hint, hint!) Also, the Azure Timeline and the Heart Timeline are now connected by the Time Break. Of course, the pool of beings able to jump between them is small, since anyone trying would have to cross the Boundary. Murakumo Units can, Rachel could, and Terumi just did, but Riku would have a great deal of trouble. Maybe when his will is strong enough and he knows who he is a lot better. Nobodies are basically just a body, which the Boundary destroys, but Ansem (the Seeker of Darkness, not the Wise) would have no problem, if he weren't stuck behind Riku's heart right now. Perhaps with a Lingering Sentiment, other characters from the Heart Timeline could access the Time Break. I might look into it, but if I don't, remember that I'm giving all of you free license to expand this crossover AU, which still needs a cool name. Any suggestions?