Ch. 4: Forgotten Emotions
Old characters from the game are not mine, they belong to SquareSoft and Disney. All others are mine.
Sora wiped the dirt from his hands and joined Ziddy and Riku. Ziddy stood silent, her hood covering her tearing eyes, her hands in her pockets, and her head on Riku's shoulder. Riku had his arm wrapped around the girl, his chin placed on her head. Sora came up next to Ziddy and put his arm around her waist. The three stood there staring down at the graves of their lost friends.
"Arnardai padree. Shushana qelheso pestroo." Ziddy whispered.
"What's that?" Sora whimpered.
Ziddy picked her head up. "A farewell prayer."
"What language is it?" Riku asked.
The girl paused. "You would't know the language. It's... it's an ancient one that fell into nonexistence long ago."
"Keep going." Sora whispered, gazing at Ziddy. He was having that feeling again.
"Eknan tenel seniies. Lumberdayi weless. Eneko taon Donald and Goofy. Eneko taon."
"Eneko taon." Sora repeated.
Riku followed. "Eneko taon."
Ziddy took a few deep breaths. "We should... get going."
Riku nodded and stepped forward. "Bye Donald So long Goofy." he said, then began to walk down the path.
"See ya guys." Sora muttered and went to join Riku.
Ziddy stared at the graves with fury and horror. She had helped this happen. What could she say? She let them die while she could have done something. She bowed her head in grief and walked away as well.
Donald and Goofy lay peacefully in their graves. Above Goofy, his faithful shield leaned up against his tombstone. Above Donald, lay his staff atop the dirt next to his tombstone. No fancy inscriptions had been carved into the tombstones; a few simple words were all that were needed.
"Here lies Donald Duck. Powerful magician and faithful servant/friend to the one and only true king of all worlds, King Mickey. Died while trying to restore peace and order to shattered lives."
"Here lies Goofy. Valiant knight and faithful servant/friend to the one and only true king of all worlds, King Mickey. Died while trying to restore peace and order to shattered lives."
--
Ziddy sat up, watching Sora and Riku sleep. Fury pulsed through her. Suddenly, she began to feel very weak and sleepy. Then next thing she knew, she was falling onto the grass. When Ziddy reopened her eyes, she stood in the castle of Kingdom Hearts.
"You're doing well my child. I especially enjoyed the lie about how you knew about Adaman."
Ziddy turned and found Ansem sitting on his black thrown.
"Don't worry. Even is they do wake up, they won't notice you're gone. I only brought your mind here; your body is still there."
"None of the innocents were supposed to die." the young teenager voiced in hatred.
"Oh come now child. Didn't you say yourself that you wanted to kill one of them?" the man laughed.
"I ask you that question every time you send my out on orders. Do I ever mean it!?"
Ansem paused, astounded by the girl's newly acquired resistance.
"That Sora, he's beginning to like you, you know?" he said, changing the subject.
"Yes, I've noticed. And I've been doing exactly what you said: I've been ignoring it." Ziddy answered, her tone a sarcastic one.
"Yes, well, I'm changing my mind. Give into him. Let him love you. It'll only bring upon more pain when you betray him in the end."
Ziddy unintentionally formed fists and tightened them. Her fury built up stronger by the minute.
"One day Ansem. One day." she muttered.
"Yes, I sure of it my dear."
Ziddy quickly closed and opened her eyes, only to find herself back where she started. She stood up and gazed into the darkness. She cast her eyes down toward Sora and Riku again. She did not want Sora to love her. He would just get hurt. She was beginning to realize that that was not what she wanted anymore. What she wanted came at too great of a price and she was not willing to give that up.
Ziddy stepped away from the two boys and leaned up against a tree. She pulled her hood over her eyes and faced the opposite direction. She looked out into the darkness for quite a long time until she felt a hand place itself on her shoulder. Ziddy removed her hood and pulled back her blonde braids to see who it was.
"Are you all right?" Sora asked, quietly.
She nodded.
Sora lowered his hand and stood beside her. "Ziddy. Ziddy, there's been something I've been meaning to tell you."
'Oh shit. Don't do this Sora. Don't do this to yourself.' she thought.
"What is it?"
Sora cleared his throat. "Well, I know that we've only known each other for a few days, but I can't help it. There's just something about you that… well… do you understand what I'm trying to say?"
"Sora," Ziddy whispered, "it would be best if you cast all feelings you have toward me out of your mind and out of your heart."
"I can't. I think I love you."
The words sank in Ziddy's stomach. "I could not give you the same feeling in return. And besides, you love Kairi."
Sora lowered his head. "Kairi's dead. I've accepted that…"
"In you mind. But not your heart." Ziddy interrupted.
"Kairi is dead. She's not coming back. I love you Ziddy."
"Only because I remind you of her." Ziddy fumed, walking away from Sora.
Sora grabbed onto Ziddy's arm and pulled her back. He placed his hand on her cheek.
"Ziddy, I love you because you're… you. Because of the way you see the world. Because of the way you've gotten through life even though it's screwed you over. Because… because of the way you smile." He placed his other hand on Ziddy's cheek and smiled.
Ziddy's eyes weld up in tears. "Please don't do this Sora. You'll only wind up getting hurt." she cried softly. "Please."
"I won't get hurt. I promise you that." Sora whispered. He leaned in and placed his lips on Ziddy's. He remained there for a moment, then backed away slowly.
Ziddy opened her eyes. "There's still time for you to turn back." she murmured.
"I don't want to turn back." Sora smiled, leaning in again.
Ziddy did not allow Sora to let go of her so quickly this time. She wrapped her arms around Sora's neck as he placed his hands on her waist. Ziddy had never felt this before. Or at least she thought she had never. She had forgotten how to love a long time ago. This was all new to her. The thought of not only giving love, but having love in return was something she thought to be nonexistent. She had always wished for it but never received it. Now that she had the love of another, there was only one problem. Ziddy wasn't sure that she had the love for this person that he had for her. Did she love Sora back or was she just doing this to satisfy Ansem? She thought she loved him. But then again, she did forget how to love. Maybe this wasn't where her love really laid. For a moment, another name crossed her mind, but she cast it away before long. That didn't matter though. Ziddy was going to take this love and accept it. It would be, in her mind, the only love she would ever truly get.
Sora backed away and smiled again. "All right?"
Ziddy nodded, a small smile forming on her lips.
Sora lowered his head and laughed silently. "Should we tell Riku?"
Ziddy paused.
"Riku is not here at the moment. Whatever you have to tell him can wait until normal hours. And if you don't mind, I really don't wanna fall asleep to the sound of you two… doing whatever you're doing." Riku announced, keeping his eyes closed as he tried to look as though he was still asleep.
"Well, that was certainly easier than I thought it was going to be." Sora laughed, looking over at Riku.
Ziddy silently laughed as well. She placed a quick kiss on Sora's lips and sat down on the grass. Sora sat behind her and leaned up against the tree. Ziddy leaned back against him. Within a few minutes, the two teenagers fell asleep in each other's arms.
--
"Tell me Ziddy, do you really love him?"
"I don't know."
"Do you even remember what love is?"
"Not really."
"Do you remember what happens to the people you love?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I remember."
"Do you want that to happen to him?"
"No. And it won't happen to him. I'm gonna make sure of it."
"How are you gonna do that?"
"I'm not sure. But I won't let him go."
"Just like you wouldn't let your father go?"
"That was different."
"How? Tell me how it was different Ziddy."
"He gave in. He didn't want me to save him."
"So you let him go?"
"There was nothing I could do."
"Is that what you tell yourself when your dreams drift back to that day and you remember the pain and lose you felt?"
"I'm not listening to this anymore."
"Is that what you tell yourself when you see what you've become?"
"Not listening."
"Is that what you tell yourself in the darkness when you realize that you could have saved him?"
"Not listening!"
"Who are you talking to girl?"
Ziddy whipped her head around and saw Riku standing behind her.
"How long have you been there?" she asked, jumping back.
"Since 'That was different'. Were talking to yourself?" Riku asked, stepping forward. He knew that Ziddy was a nut case, but this was a little too much.
"Maybe…" Ziddy squeaked, backing up.
"I knew you were nuts." Riku nodded. He plopped down on the grass right where Ziddy had been sitting moments before.
"Yes, you repeatedly inform me upon that." Ziddy said as she stood next to the silver hairedboy.
Riku laughed. "Your head's screwed up."
"And you're just noticing this now?"
He laughed again. "No, I kinda knew that from the beginning."
Ziddy smiled. "What is it that you want Riku?"
"I wanna ask you a question."
"Sure." Ziddy sat down next to Riku.
He took a deep breath, his expression becoming very serious. "Do you love him?"
Ziddy didn't answer right away. Quite frankly, she didn't know herself. She had to say something though.
"Yes."
"That's all I wanted to know. Just don't hurt him, okay? He loved Kairi very much. I don't want to see him lose another loved one so soon." Riku voiced.
"I promise." Ziddy whispered solemnly.
Riku turned his eyes to the girl. "You're a lot different from when we first met."
"Is that a good thing?"
"Yes." Riku smiled.
Ziddy looked back at Riku. "Well then, I'll try to remember that."
'She's not so bad to be around.'
'He's not so bad to be around.' Ziddy turned her head away from Riku, remembering that she loved Sora and she wasn't about to go mess that up.
Riku felt the pit of his stomach twitch. This couldn't be happening. He couldn't be feeling this. But, this is how it felt before. Exactly how it felt. Nothing else felt like this. Only… but he couldn't be. This was Sora's girl. Besides, he hated her; the complete opposite of what he thought he was feeling. Or maybe he didn't. Maybe he really did… no. And yet, yes.
'I can't be doing this.' Riku thought, angered with himself. 'Sora loves her and she loves him right back. You can't feel this about her. Any other girl would have been fine. Why did you have to pick her to get this feeling again? You can't.' He looked over at Ziddy again. 'But I do. I...'
Suddenly, Sora came from behind and leapt onto Ziddy. The two rolled on the grass a bit, Riku watching from a safe distance. This was the first time in a while that Riku saw Sora truly smile.
"Get off of me." Ziddy threatened, laughing hysterically.
"What if I don't want to?" Sora asked, smiling at her.
"Then I'm not watching this!" Riku yelled.
"And you say my head is screwed up!" Ziddy yelled back.
"Is it!"
Sora got up off of Ziddy and helped her to her feet.
"Well, now that you two love birds are finished, do you think we can get back to searching for the door?" Riku questioned.
"Don't worry Riku. We'll be there within a day or two." Ziddy assured her friend.
"Let's get going then."
The three returned to the path and began to walk. Sora held Ziddy's hand as they walked. Riku stood beside Ziddy, keeping them laughing the whole way. Ziddy never felt happier. On one side, she had a new found friend. On the other side was the man that loved her. All was right. And that scared Ziddy. Nothing good ever followed something that was already too good to be true. That was the story of her life. On the outside, she laughed and smiled. But on the inside, Ziddy paniced and feared for the two boys' lives. Ziddy let the feeling pass. She was fine now and that's all that mattered.
--
Ansem strode up and down the floor of his thrown room. His thoughts raced through his mind millions of miles a second.
"She's not faking this." he gritted, furious with the young teenager. "She's beginning to remember the feeling of love. And if she does," Ansem paused, "she'll turn on me. She'll accept the fact that her father isn't coming back and take this new love and run with it. She knows the way to the door. She can help that fool Sora defeat me once and for all. And even more, she has those two Keyblades. If she figures out how to restore them to the light… I'm doomed."
Ansem halted and sat down. In a sudden burst of fury, he slammed his fist against the arm of the chair.
"I won't let that happen."
'I think you're having a bit too much fun.' Ansem's voice rang inside Ziddy's head once again. 'Now I'll have to punish you.'
Three Heartless as tall as a man rose from the dirt path in front of them. Both Sora and Riku stepped in front of Ziddy to protect her. Sora reached down and pulled out the Keyblade.
"Riku, stay with Ziddy. Make sure they don't touch her." Sora demanded. The young teenager charged at the Heartless and sliced through them all too easily.
"Something's not right here. Heartless don't get defeated that quickly. And even if they do, they at least try to put up a fight." Ziddy said.
'You didn't think I'd make it that easy, did you?'
The sky turned dark and the winds picked up. Ziddy looked around in horror as a scene from her past seemed to replay itself right in front of her. Heartless began to rise from the ground all around the three teenagers. They encircled Ziddy, Sora, and Riku. Ziddy's terror grew. Sora and Riku tried to keep themselves between Ziddy and the Heartless, but more appeared every second.
Ziddy watched as a very familiar looking Heartless rose from the ground. It stood at at least six feet and was a foggy-gray color. On its chest was imprinted the Heartless symbol. This Heartless stepped forward.
"Nemon ecken Ziddy?" The Heartless mused in its own dark language.
She remained behind Sora and Riku, staring straight at the Heartless. She could feel her heart pounded in her chest as she realized what she had to do.
"No, I'm not afraid of you."
"Ziddy, what are you doing?" Sora asked, wondering why on earth Ziddy was talking to a Heartless.
She turned to Sora and touched his shoulder with her pointer and middle finger. A light surrounded Sora and created a barrier. She did the same to Riku, and another barrier was created. When the two boys tried to walk out of it, the light prevented them; making sure nothing went out and nothing came in.
"Ziddy, you can't fight them all off by yourself!" Riku yelled, watching the girl step forward.
"Tervoo?" the Heartless asked.
Ziddy looked around again at the many Heartless surrounding her. Here eyes returned to the gray Heartless and she answered its question with a mischievous smile.
"Because you have no power over me."
From inside her cloak, Ziddy pulled out her two black Keyblades. She twirled them around in her hands, eager for the first attack. Sora and Riku watched as the young woman killed off one Heartless after another. Soon, only she and the gray Heartless were left standing.
"Elshen kavayok Ziddy?" the Heartless asked. ("Now what will you do Ziddy?")
"Hekanee saseen aset Necolekon?" Ziddy answered. ("Do you honestly not know Necolekon?")
The Heartless seemed to laugh at this comment. "Ziddy, Ziddy, Ziddy."
"Necolekon, Necolekon, Necolekon."
"Rabet zefem elgeuest. Ecken nemon." Necolekon said. ("You won't do it. You're scared.")
"Hesben setafair hettai." she fumed. ("You took away my entire life.")
"Oten kaykerok." ("That was your father's doing.")
"Pedeskin pisskeloff!" Ziddy yelled, furious. ("Filthy, worthless piece of shit!")
"Pedeskin pisskeloff. Ziddy, vencel pedeskin pisskeloff? Jeziel yonbay dempad gebeet." Necolekon questioned. ("Filthy, worthless piece of shit. Ziddy, are you sure I'm the filthy, worthless piece of shit? I'm not the one who betrayed you.")
Ziddy's fury grew.
"Jafeyzel Necolekon." she whispered.
Ziddy reared her arm back and threw one of her Keyblades into Necolekon, causing the Heartless to disappear into thousands of specs of dust. She closed her eyes as the Keyblade dropped to the ground.
"Ethen solo."
--
"So, when were you going to tell us you could speak to Heartless?" Riku asked, trying catch up to Ziddy.
"I was hoping to just neglect that fact and move on with my life." Ziddy vented, storming off down the path.
"Just out of curiosity, were you calling that Heartless by a name?"
"Its name was Necolekon." Ziddy answered.
"Ziddy stop." Sora said.
She halted, keeping her back to the two boys. She took a deep breath.
"It's one of my powers. That's why I have a Heartless' head burned into my ankle. I have the power to speak with Heartless."
"Fine. That's all we wanted to know." said Sora.
"Did you know that Heartless? Is that how you knew its name?" Riku asked, his tone softened.
"I knew Necolekon a long time ago. Necolekon was the one that sent me to Kingdom Hearts." Ziddy voiced, finally turning around.
Sora stepped up to her and placed his arms around her.
"We'll never mention it again." He leaned in and kissed Ziddy.
Riku stood where he was behind the two, wishing that he could be Sora just for that moment.
Ziddy… well… Ziddy wished this could all just be over.
AN: Poor Riku. Poor Sora. Poor Ziddy. Damn, I'm really mean to my characters. I love it! LOL. Keep reading please!!!!!