My enemies are many;
they hate me though I have done nothing against
them.
~Psalm 38:19
/\
The 4th Day
A muffled pop, a pained groan.
I thought sleep was supposed to make one feel better. I actually feel worse than yesterday!
With a sigh, Sable dried off her hair and painstakingly got dressed.
This is rather…conspicuous… she eyed the mildly stained bandages on her arm. Maybe I could cover it…but long sleeves would agitate it in the long run…
She went to the dresser and began rummaging through it. I haven't really looked through this yet—is that a chlamys? Surprised, she pulled out the article of clothing. It is!
Originally worn in Ancient Greece, a chlamys was a type of cloak meant to be slung over one arm. It was clasped to the opposing shoulder by a clasp called a fibula, though in more modern incarnations it was sometimes replaced by a chain. Many video game heroes were known to wear variations of the traditional chlamys, such as Eizo from Assassin's Creed, or Thor from Jyu Oh Sei.
This will work perfectly.
Finding no fibula or chain at hand, she settled for wrapping it around her neck and then letting it drape over her arm. It settled nicely, hiding the whole limb from view. And it doesn't look to bad either.
/\/\/\
I should probably take it easy today, Sable decided, smothering a wince at the throbbing in her leg as she chewed her breakfast. If for no other reason than to give them time to start mending. Saïx certainly did a number on me…
A frown settled over her features as she paused mid-chew. The words the Berserker had said coming back to her.
Was he telling the truth? Does Xemnas really have the answers, and, for that matter, how did he even know about me in the first place?
Questions, questions, there seemed no end to them. Sable sighed. It doesn't matter in any case. There are more important things to deal with now.
Such as figuring out how to call Soul Eater on cue, Breath Guard as well if that was possible.
Breakfast finished, Sable took her time in cleaning and replacing the dishes. Her eyes landed on the Struggle trophy, set on her countertop. The four crystals gleamed in the light. Enthralled, she reached out and plucked the blue crystal from its place.
Holding it up, the crystal gleamed brightly as the light was refracted through it.
"Pretty." Sable murmured, slipping it into her pocket.
/\/\/\
Confetti flew, brightly colored balloons swayed on their strings. Laughter and shouts filled the air as people wandered from stall to stall. Even the occasional Struggle ring, suspended exaggeratedly a couple yards high with novices Strugglers competing for fun. A festival in full swing.
I don't remember this happening in the game… Looking around, nerves on edge at the noise and close proximity of moving bodies, Sable edged along the edges of the stall-filled roads-
"Sable!"
The dark-haired girl's head snapped around at the piercing shriek, violet eyes widening. What? Oh, no… Her body froze up.
Fights, she could handle. Homicidal Berserkers, she could handle. This, this was not something she could handle.
I wonder if my leg will hold up if I make a break for it…
Spinning around, she took off, crowd of near-squealing girls in hot pursuit.
What did I do to deserve this? She slid around a corner. Metal on a far wall caught her eye. A pipe! If I grab it, I could swing up—
Hands shot out and caught her. With a smothered yelp, Sable felt herself get pulled flush against a warm body.
What-?
"Hush!" a sharp hiss into her ear. Her struggles stilled, body remaining tense.
The pursuing girls passed the alley face, overlooking the figures in the shadows. Several tense seconds passed, then her captor seemed to relax and released their grip. She stepped forward, then spun around to face them.
A blink of surprise.
Amused violet studied her. "You can handle death threats, but not a couple over eager fans?" Setzer quipped, smile notably tugging at his lips.
"I don't like the attention." Sable groused, face a little warm.
A chuckle. "They're reverential, not fanatical, they'll calm down if you tell them it bothers you."
Sable glanced down sheepishly at the gentle rebuke. Then she looked up at the man. "Will their reaction be…regular, with the other people of Twilight Town?"
"I suppose so," a hum, "though not quite as exuberant. You've left quite an impression, and everyone knows you got hurt protecting that boy. You'll probably have well wishers coming to ask how you're doing."
A slight shiver. "Not to be impolite, but I'd rather avoid that if possible."
A blink, then another chuckle, "I had a feeling you'd say that." A thoughtful look. "If you think you're up to it, I could show you how to get around without being noticed."
A hopeful glint in violet. "I think I can manage, you'll show me?"
A nod. "Where were you planning to go?"
"The forest by the Old Mansion."
"I see… Alright then," he turned towards the dead end wall. With a leap and a twist he was atop the wall. Perched like a cat, he glanced expectantly down at Sable. "Well?"
Violet sized up the wall, then she darted forward. A step up the wall, she pressed off and lunged for the ledge, hands catching and momentum carrying her legs over and up. She stood, a brief spasm lanced through her leg and she wobbled. Setzer's sturdy grip caught her.
"You sure you can keep up?" he queried as he steadied her.
A nod, violet glinting inflexibly, "Of course, I just won't be as fast as I normally would be."
Setzer hummed. "Aright, follow me."
Balance, run along roof top, brace, jump, grab overhanging, swing up.
"You do this a lot, I take it?" Sable observed, noting how at ease the former champion was with navigating the maze of possible paths above the stone streets.
Swing over and release, drop towards the far lower roof, extend arms and tuck in legs, brace.
A soft grunt. "I had an airship, once-upon-a-time, before I came to Twilight Town. Traveling like this reminds me of when I once sailed the skies."
Obstructing wall by a higher roof ledge. Run and jump, grip wall edge, brace-then-press-off, twist mid-air, grip then swing onto the roof, avoid low hanging pipe.
"Do you miss it?"
A shrug. "Not as much as I once did." A soft chuckle, "A wise woman I once knew reminded me of what I had to live for after the Blackjack was destroyed."
Though intrigued, Sable chose not to press further.
It only took a few minutes to reach the breach in the Tram Common wall. Setzer lingered only long enough for a brief farewell before leaving to rejoin the festival.
He's not so bad. Sable decided as she slipped through the fissure and into the forest beyond.
An unexpected sound reached her ears. Dark brows furrowed as curiosity arose, Sable followed the sound. She paused, then blinked, a smile tugging at her lips. Now that's just cute.
The blue barrel fell forward sharply as Vivi swung down. Eyes screwed into a mask of utter focus, he brought it up again and lunged—
overbalanced, and fell head-over-heels.
Hand over mouth, Sable suppressed a chuckle. Remaining where she was, feeling a sense of bemusement, she watched as Vivi got up and kept practicing. Sable could recognize several variations of techniques Seifer favored, a couple she had seen Setzer use and, much to her amusement, multiple motions that she used.
Unfortunately for Vivi, the techniques he was trying to mimic were meant for people with different builds, mainly with longer legs and a longer reach. All the same, it was just adorable.
"H-hey Sable," the young boy greeted with hesitant surprise when he noticed the teenager. "Are you," a vague gesture to her arm and leg, "feeling better?"
Violet eyes softened, Sable chuckled and gently pat the boy's oversized wizard's hat.
"I'll be fine once I recover." She assured, "You're practicing for next year's Struggle matches?"
A timid nod. "Y-yeah, I don't…" a shiver, "That guy just picked me up, right out of my house! I was too scared to fight him." He looked up with wide yellow eyes, "I want to be brave, like you, and strong just like Seifer! Then I won't have to be rescued all the time!"
All the time? Dark brow arched with a hint of concern.
Vivi suddenly looked down again, looking somewhat ashamed. Well, that won't do…
"I think you could do that." The hat flopped back as his head jerked up in surprise, "But…maybe you'd do better with a fighting style that complemented your strengths, rather than trying to emulate myself, or one of the other Struggle fighters. We fight how it works best for us." A pause, violet eyes sizing up the boy. "You're doppelganger was good at jumping and hitting under an opponent's guard, maybe you should try something like that?"
With that, she continued on her way, leaving Vivi to ponder her words.
/\/\/\
Cast iron, rust-coated gates loomed over her. Violet eyes took it in curiously, scanning the immediate area for any…unpleasant surprises. Upon seeing none, her shoulders relaxed, marginally.
Seems safe enough…
She extended her arm, palm open. How did I summon it before? An annoyed sigh. Reacting on instinct is all well and good, but it's useless when trying to do something deliberately and on cue.
What had it felt like, calling the Dark blade? A feeling of ice coating and coursing through her lower arm, sharp, brisk, focused, like splashing cold water onto your face after a nap—
Dark tendrils coiled around her forearm. Shadows danced as the Dark glow spread out of her hand and condensed, taking shape. Red bled into the black as the glow faded and the shadows dispersed.
Pleasantly surprised, Sable looked over Soul Eater when she noticed something.
It's not like Riku's! Not having been able to really examine it before, she hadn't noticed the variations with this Soul Eater and the blade it was derived from. While loosely based off a falchion blade, and still resembling a bat's wing, there were several key differences. The fingers are red and the membrane is black. Riku's was blue and red, respectively.
The hilt doesn't have teeth either, which she honestly wasn't too upset about, and the blue slit-pupil gem stone's been replaced by an amber cat's eye stone.
Satisfied, she released her grip on the blade, watching it diffuse into Darkness and fade away. Then she extended her other hand.
What did I feel before it came? Brows furrowed as she tried to remember, Warmth, and a surge of strength, of optimism… Frown deepened,Why does that feeling feel… foreign to me? I can remember the echo of the feeling, like remembering yesterday's sunlight, but not the feeling itself.
Perturbed, and Breath Guard unresponsive to her failing calls, she leaned back against a tree. With a soft, relieved grunt, she slid down into a sitting position, easing the strain on her leg.
Eyes closed, she rested her head against the bark.
Soul Eater…a weapon of Darkness, Darkness which I can, apparently, summon and dismiss at will, which I can feel as well as I feel the adrenaline through my veins or the tension in my muscles as I move… But Breath Guard, a weapon of Light, warmth and comfort, I can't even imagine… It won't come to me, it's alien to me I suppose…
A sigh.
Will I be of use? When Sora is the near epitome of Light incarnate? What would I bring to him, to his journey? A pause, a wry snort, And when did I decide I would be going with them anyway?
A slow inhale, a relaxing sigh. Still-tense muscles loosened. Hair brushed lightly across her face.
That breeze…it feels nice…
/\/\/\
A blink. The soft silvery glow filled her vision. I…fell asleep?
The duel Nobody and Heartless engraving stared up at her.
An Awakening? Again?
She glanced around. No steps this time. She wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or uneasy.
A glow of white. Brighter, purer than the glow the platform gave off. Curious, she turned, and blinked again.
The size of a marble, a white sphere was held suspended, at eye-level, over the center of the platform. It gave off a kind of…allure, which Sable could not help but be drawn to.
Come, rest, heal it seemed to say.
Her arm stretched out, fingers gently brushing the sphere—
Crack!
Eyes wide, she recoiled violently, yanking her arm close as the sphere splintered.
Thirteen fragments… Her mind noted numbly.
Six fogged over, then five of the six blackened as Darkness welled up from within, quenching their white glow. The seven untouched remained pristine.
Heart lodged in her throat, Sable stared at the splintered sphere before her. Her arms remained pinned to her body, still on edge from the previous result of her brushing the sphere. The orb remained a moment longer, then all the pieces faded from sight.
The Darkness is your strength…
She jumped, spine suddenly rigid, shoulder's tense. Violet scanned the platform warily, warmth seeming to fade from her body.
…You are the Heir.
The Heir? Sable blinked, perplexed. Heir of what?
The Dark-Hearts will seek your power.
A flicker of movement. Sable leapt back as claws slammed down. The Shadow turned, clawed hands twitching spastically as it gazed up at her with large yellow eyes.
It's…kind of cute… Sable blinked at the waist-high Heartless, in a weird sort of way.
Shadows spread and rose up.
Uh-oh… Soul Eater appeared arched overhead as Sable leaned back offensively.
They lunged, she swung.
But what they have, you shall take…
With each Shadow felled, the chill in her chest seemed to grow, compress, sharpen. I don't know what this feeling is…but I don't have time to figure it out now!
A pivot back, Soul Eater arced up, catching another airborne Heartless. Another appeared, claws blurred. Sable swerved down and lunged to the side, lashing out. A line was traced over her wrist as the culprit's form dispersed.
No blood, Sable noted distantly. Twist and swing, another Shadow felled. Not even a break in skin…yet I still feel the sting of a cut… Not like the wounds Saïx caused.
A handspring back, drop, a wide leg sweep—
Struck nothing but air as the targeted Shadows flattened against the platform, like paper on an object's surface…or the shadows they were named for.
What if…Nobodies only strike the Body…while Heartless attack the Heart directly… Or at least, the binds that anchor the Heart to the Body.
Twist around a lunge, pirouette with the off-center collision, swing up and arc around.
Three Dusks wore me down more than this onlslaught of Shadows. A mostly pointless observation. Are Heartless that much weaker? Or have I gotten stronger?
…Don't be afraid.
Her leg quivered, her chest burned.
Air!
A shadow loomed above her, claws striking out—
Missed, as Sable ducked and back-pedaled, stabbing upwards. Neoshadows! Just great…
Defend against the blows. Guard
Feet dug in as Sable reversed her grip and used Soul Eater as a shield. Grasping claws connected, then propelled back. That's an… an Action Ability. She realized without the recoil of a Reaction Command!
Block the blows, strike back as they recoil. Counter Guard.
A Neoshadow slammed down, Sable dug in and endured it, descending claws rebounded back—
There! Its torso pierced, it dissolved like the others.
A pained grimace, her free hand gripped her quivering leg. Each breath hurt, burned at her lungs, her body felt like seizing up. Every action a battle in itself, each slash, each block, more forced than the last.
And the Heartless just kept coming. An endless sea of writhing black, all grasping, tearing, trying to swallow her up, pull her down.
…You will bring it all together…
Cold pressed against her face, weight growing on top of her, pinning her down. Needy fingers dug at her back-
No!
Her blood grew cold. Enemy, danger, threat! A roar of defiance. Ice-laced fury coursed through her veins. Fight! Fight to survive, fight to live!
Sable reared back. Soul Eater lashed out, coated in a field of writhing shadows. Like a great gust, the Heartless were plucked off the ground like paper ragdolls.
Do not stop until they all fall! Colder and colder, focusing like an arrow's point. Don't stop. Don't ever stop! Will not fade away. They cannot swallow you!
…and protect many.
Muscles tensed, then she leapt, soaring high into the air. Motion. Neoshadows closed in, claws extended. A twist, a Guard, a countering push. Gravity calls. More Neoshadows fell towards her.
Pull back, swing out, release!
Show those lowly shadows their folly! Make them suffer for it!
Soul Eater cut through the Heartless above, spinning like a saw-blade.
Feet connect, knees bend, absorbing the force of impact. Another ring of Heartless. Black masses leaping up, diving towards her.
A smirk, arm crossing chest. Pivot on foot, Darkness coalescing out from her fingertips arching out like a ribbon. A pirouette, the Dark Whip connects, ripping the hapless Heartless to shreds.
Sable comes to a stop, arm raised high. The whip defused, remnants dissolving. Soul Eater drops into her expectant hand, and she lowers her arm.
Gone, she thought with near malicious satisfaction.
For now, guard for the next… never safe, never rest
Don't forget…
And then Darkness closed in around her.
/\/\/\
Bleary violet cracked open, unfocused, they took in the mauve ceiling above. A slow blink, once… twice...
Wha…?
"So, you woke up."
Sable turned her head. From against the doorframe, Seifer studied her. Violet blinked again, then looked questioningly into blue. The other teenager chuckled dryly.
"Chicken-wuss and his tag-alongs found you in front of the Old Mansion." He explained, "Vivi happened to be there too, so he came and got me, and I carried you here."
A pause, then a low groan as Sable pushed herself up. Her chest burned at the motion, and her leg throbbed painfully. Great…the pain carried over. Gritting her teeth, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, feet planted on the floor.
"How long was I out?" Ignore the pain, it'll go away eventually.
"Most of the day."
Sable blinked. That long?
Seifer turned away, seeing no reason to keep sticking around.
"Seifer?" Pausing, he glanced over his shoulder questioningly, "Thanks."
A small smile, he flashed a thumbs up and then let himself out.
Now alone, Sable stiffly got up, then limped over to the medicine cabinet. I wonder…it potions grow less effective the more regularly it's used. Grimacing at the taste, she felt the pain dull, but the wounds didn't mend any faster. Or, maybe, they just aren't as effective on me for some reason.
She returned to her room and collapsed on her bed, burying her face in her pillow. I should go to sleep. Eyes slipped closed, It'll be an…eventful day tomorrow.
/\
The righteous face many troubles,
but the Lord rescues them from each
and every one.
For the Lord protects them from harm—
not one of their bones will be broken!
~Psalm 34:19-20