Finally done!
"Sailor…Mnemosyne?" whispered Hotaru softly. There was something about the way she said the word "Sailor," the way it was full of self-importance, which sparked something inside Hotaru.
"Sailor soldier of memory…" pondered Kairi. "You mean you can control other people's memories?"
"Like Naminé…" said Hotaru, almost too faintly to hear.
"To an extent, yes," she said, nodding. "But my powers aren't as absolute as hers. And they work best when I'm together with my twin…Sailor Lethe." Her eyes now looked sad and downcast. "The two of us were captured in our world and brought here by another Sailor Soldier named Galaxia. My sister has powers of oblivion; making people forget. Galaxia's been using her this whole time to keep all but a select few members of the organization docile and unquestioning. I've been fighting back against her powers, though, for some of the members…a few of them have started to realize what's happening, and have shaken off Lethe's spell on their own."
"What about Sora?" persisted Kairi. "Do you know…do you think you could help him?"
"I've been trying," said Lethe sadly, "but like I said, my power isn't that great. I can't manipulate memories of the heart very well. In the same way, my sister alone can never completely erase someone's memories—just create a sense of oblivion. She's used some of her power to help keep Sora in line…but he's also been losing memories to Xion. There are other things in his heart that's affecting his memory…multiple layers and multiple hearts…but I think I managed to make a breakthrough. Now, Xion's been reprogrammed, in a way, so that the memories she absorbs no longer have any effect on her. However, I made her remember something special between you two: a letter you sent to him that once saved him from the darkness."
"Thinking of you, wherever you are…" whispered Kairi under her breath. "So, do you think that's done it?" she said excitedly. "Does he remember me now?"
"Not exactly," she replied a little sadly. Kairi's face fell. "His memories of you are still trapped within Xion. I have no way of reaching into those."
"Oh. I see," said Kairi dejectedly.
"But that's not it!" said Mnemosyne quickly. "That letter may have been just what he needed to break through Lethe's spell. Once he comes to himself, he's sure to leave the Organization!"
Sora ran through the dark streets of the World that Never Was. "Xion!" he called out. He turned left and right, but couldn't see her anywhere. Where had she gone?
He turned again, then thought he caught sight of her, rounding a corner. He quickly pursued her. As he turned around the building, he saw her still running, her hood up, but running slowly, as if wanting him to follow. He kept chasing after her, and eventually he found himself right in front of the memory skyscraper. She stood at its base, her back still turned to Sora.
"Come on, Xion. What's up?"
She groaned a bit and touched her head. Then she started to go up the steps of Memory Skyscraper. Sora frowned, but ran forward and grabbed her hand. She halted in her tracks.
"All worlds begin in darkness…"
Sora turned, not letting go of Xion's hand, and saw Ansem standing there, just staring at him strangely.
"And all so end." Sora turned. There was a boy there…he almost resembled Ansem and Xemnas, in a way. He had brown hair, and
Terra
The name just seemed to pop from nowhere inside his head. Did he know this guy?
"The heart is not different," said Naminé, stepping out from nowhere as well.
"Darkness sprouts within it…" said Xion—another Xion, with her hood down, not the one he was grabbing on to.
"It grows…" said Roxas, appearing from nowhere as well.
"Consumes it," said another boy, walking out, who looked a lot like Roxas.
"Such is its nature," said Aqua sadly. Why…why did he automatically know the name Aqua? Who was she?
The figures were in something of a jumbled circle, surrounding where Sora was still holding on to Xion's hand.
"In the end, every heart returns to the darkness whence it came," said the figures in unison. "For you see…"
The hooded figure that he was still holding on to pulled its hand away from him and faced him, pulling back its hood. Sora gasped as he looked into…what looked like his face, but with yellow eyes, and black hair.
"Darkness is the hearts true essence."
Sora gawked for a moment, then looked around. The figures all just stood there, staring, not even Ansem or this other guy looking to attack. Just staring at him. All of them had a hint of familiarity about them. He instinctively walked over towards Naminé. For some reason, he felt that if anyone were to understand any of this, it would be her.
"Naminé?" he questioned. "Do you know what…this…is?"
She turned to him and held a hand out, motioning to all of the figures around him. "In darkness they lie, in darkness they sleep. That darkness is inside of you, Sora."
Sora looked around. "Huh? You mean…all of these people? Are inside my…heart?"
"Most of them. Some of them not literally, but they're still connected."
"And they're all suffering…" said Sora softly, dropping his head. He could feel it. Then he looked over. "Xion! Not you though, right?"
She cast her eyes away. "Not now, but where else do I have to go? I thought it would be okay, but…"
"No!" said Sora. "I'll find a way to help you. All of you!"
"Sora…" a sad smile cam across her lips.
"It's that kind of thinking that got you in this mess in the first place."
"What?"
Sora turned. Vanitas was walking towards him now, the only one of the figures to show any movement. All of these idiots in your heart…the wielders of the keyblade that couldn't cut it on their own. And then you…you who wasn't even really chosen by the keyblade. All of you broken people thrown together by chance. Pathetic. Worthless. There's nothing you can do to change anything!" He came closer to Sora. "You're just going to get yourself dragged down with them. But what do I care?" he said, then faded away.
"Huh?" said Sora strangely. "Naminé, what do you think that was…?"
He turned, but the rest of the figures were gone except for two. Terra…and Aqua. Those were their names. Why…why did he know them?
"Ven!" they both called out to him. Huh? Ven? Sora found himself reaching out towards them, though, instinctively. Terra and Aqua both reached out a hand, taking his into theirs.
"Riku!" called a four-year-old Sora. They were at the islands, on the beach. Riku and some strange man—Terra, he now knew—were sitting there talking about something. What could they be talking about that was so important? They needed to get going! "C'mon, hurry it up!"
Terra whispered something else to Riku, then went off. Sora ran over to join Riku at the edge of the beach. "Hey, what was that all about?"
"One more time!" protested Sora to Riku. "You just got lucky!"
But Riku wasn't paying attention to him. He looked up at the bridge, and Sora turned to. A beautiful young woman with blue hair—"Aqua"—was walking along. She jumped down in front of the two boys, startling Sora a bit. He quickly ran a hand through the back of his head and giggled at himself.
"One of you…might be special enough…" she murmured softly, as if to herself. "Hey, you two mind telling me your names?"
"I'm Sora!" replied Sora excitedly (Wow, I really had no filter, he thought to himself).
"And you?" said Aqua, motioning towards Riku. He gave his name a little more wearily.
Aqua considered for a moment. "Sora, do you like Riku?"
"Of course I like him! He's my best friend!"
"Good!" said Aqua. "So then, if something happens, and Riku is about to get lost—or say, he starts wandering some dark path alone—you make sure to stay with him and keep him safe. That's your job Sora, and I'm counting on you to do it, okay?" She put a hand on both of their heads and rustled their hair. Both of the boys giggled…
Sora fell to his knees. What had…what had he just seen? Xion was lying in front of him, passed out. He walked over towards her and shook her arm. "Xion, wake up! Did you see any of that just now?"
As soon as she opened her eyes, Sora felt like his head was splitting in two.
"Sora?" she said groggily. "What are you doing here? What am I…what was just happening?"
"I don't know…" he said, touching his head. "I feel like I'm suddenly forgetting something really important…"
Riku and the hooded figure appeared on top of the Memory Skyscraper. She took down her hood, revealing her purple hair, chopped short around her head. Riku looked into her golden eyes, and saw instantly that the two of them were similar—she was fighting against the darkness in her heart too.
"Are you ready for this?" asked Sailor Nemesis. "You're probably going to have to fight him."
Riku nodded. "Whatever it takes. But what are you…?" he turned to face her, but she was already gone. He frowned. Who exactly was she? But no time for that. He turned and jumped down from the tower…
"Well, even if he doesn't remember me…I guess Sora regaining some memories is still a step in the right direction," sighed Kairi.
"Wait a minute…Mnemosyne? Do you know who I am?" asked Hotaru. She shook her head. "I sort of read something from your memories…I might be able to help you recover them, at least. Here, come closer." Hotaru walked towards her cautiously. Mnemosyne placed a hand on Hotaru's forehead.
Hotaru on the islands with Sora, Riku and Kairi…
Hotaru with Setsuna, Haruka and Michiru…
Hotaru, her scythe outstretched, covered in blood, a girl with purple hair sobbing "mother"…
Hotaru, holding Ariel's pure heart crystal, it suddenly looked tasty, she held it towards her mouth…
Mnemosyne snatched her hand away. Hotaru backed away, looking dazed and…a little ashamed. "Something about your memories…have sealed themselves off," she said, staring at her head strangely. "I can't reach all of them. I'm sorry. But…did I see…a girl with purple hair?"
Hotaru frowned. "And golden eyes…"
"They're golden?" said Mnemosyne frantically. "Oh no, it's already gotten that far…listen, Hotaru: does the name 'Sailor Nemesis' ring any bells?"
Hotaru closed her eyes, trying to concentrate. "I…I can't remember anything…"
A corridor of darkness opened up behind Sailor Mnemosyne just then. "Wait…no!" a hand outstretched, pulling Mnemosyne through. Hotaru noted that she saw a golden bracelet on the hand that pulled her…
"Wait…what? No!" said Kairi. "What just…" she ran over to where Mnemosyne was just sitting. "Oh no…she was our only lead to Sora! What do we do now?"
Hotaru sighed. "Well, you've been here before, right? How did you ever end up escaping last time?"
Kairi chuckled sadly. "Well, Sora and Riku happened to be here…" her eyes widened. "And Naminé helped me out…" Kairi suddenly stood up, an idea forming in her head. It was crazy, but if it worked…
"Naminé…" she said again, as if realizing some great truth. "Hotaru…if Xion still existed inside Sora…do you think Naminé could still exist inside me?"
Hotaru's eyes widened. "Wait…you've been having headaches, haven't you? Whenever we'd come into contact with Sora or Xion…"
Kairi gasped. "What if that was Naminé, trying to talk to me? This whole time…" She held out her hand and summoned her keyblade. "Naminé could figure this out. She could help fix everything."
Hotaru frowned. "Wait a minute, Kairi, you aren't just going to stab yourself with the keyblade, are you? You have no idea what that might do!"
"Sora once did the same for me!" said Kairi, her resolve not faltering. "Sora's always busy protecting everyone else, especially me…it's time I did something for him. Naminé…please let this work." And without another word, she stabbed herself with the keyblade. Her eyes glazed over for a moment, then the darkness began to swirl around her, dragging her in. Hotaru was suddenly struck by a sense of déjà vu…
"Terra!" Aqua ran forward, diving into the portal of darkness without giving it a second thought…
Hotaru did the same now, diving into that darkness and trying to pull Kairi out, but it wasn't long before she found herself sinking as well. Part of her body sunk in, and she could see it, the total darkness surrounding the two of them, and Kairi was falling into it, a speck of light floating in that darkness. Suddenly, Hotaru felt someone pulling on her, pulling her away from Kairi, out of the darkness…but at the last moment, Hotaru saw the light surround Kairi, and the ball of light zoomed off in another direction. Then Hotaru smiled; Kairi was a Princess of Heart. She'd find a way back to the light, easy.
There was a final heave on her legs, and Hotaru was back in the cell, on the ground. Zexion and Larxene were standing in front of her, Larxene looking particularly unamused.
Riku jumped down and landed in front of Sora and Xion. "Sora, quick! Come with me! We have to get out of here!"
Sora backed away. "Huh? What are you talking about?" he said, helping Xion to her feet. "Why would we need to go anywhere?"
Riku groaned. "Look, I don't have time to explain." He looked over at Xion. He had to separate those two if they were going to get anywhere. Or better yet…
"I'm sorry to have to do this again, but…" Riku raised his keyblade and pointed it towards Xion. "It's for the best of everyone if you go away again. At least for now." Xion's eyes widened as she stared at Riku's keyblade.
Sora jumped in front of Xion. "Stop! I won't let you hurt Xion!" He held out his hands and the Oathkeeper and Oblivion Keyblades appeared in his hands. Riku just stared at him in disbelief.
"Sora…don't you remember who I am?"
His eyes flickered towards the oblivion keyblade in his hand. "I've never met you before. It doesn't matter. Xion's the only one that matters!"
"You…you still have no idea what she's doing to you, do you?"
"What? Xion would never do anything to me!"
Riku shook his head. How could things have gotten this far? For him not to remember me…does he have any memories left of before?
"Xion, why don't you tell him? The truth about what you really are?"
Xion turned. "You mean that I'm just a replica? A puppet?"
"Not just that you're a replica, but what you're a replica of."
Xion frowned. She looked confused. "What do you mean? Does it matter?"
What? What game is she playing at? Then Riku frowned. Before, she went back of her own choice because she wanted Sora to wake up…what is she doing now? Why is he doing this to Sora?
"Xion, don't you remember? What you truly are?"
Sora stepped up in front of her. "She's my friend! I don't care what she is!"
A smile fluttered across her lips. "Sora…thank you."
Sora smiled his normal goofy smile. "I'm always there to help a friend."
Riku just stared at the both of them. "Are you serious? Sora, don't you remember anything? Who I am? What you're supposed to be doing?" Sora just stared at him blankly.
"I guess I'll just have to jog your memory!" said Riku, taking out his keyblade.
Larxene threw Hotaru against the wall. "What were you two just doing!?" she asked. "How did Kairi just escape!? Answer me!"
Hotaru just glared defiantly. Larxene's knives materialized into her hand. "Glare at me all you want. I know how to get you talking easily enough."
"We need her still intact," said Zexion coolly. Larxene rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, maim, don't kill. You really are a killjoy, aren't you, emo boy?" Larxene turned back to Hotaru. "But you know, that still leaves a lot of options." She grabbed Hotaru by the neck and held her against the wall. She dragged the knives in her other hand softly across Hotaru's face. "Now, let's see…what shall we do with you?" She made a tiny little cut across Hotaru's cheek. The small wound instantly began to heal itself, closing up. Larxene backed away in surprise, dropping Hotaru to the floor. She instantly began coughing and gasping for air.
"Well, what is this? Another witch like Naminé, huh?" Larxene smiled. "You know, since you can heal yourself…well, that just adds all kinds of fun things I can do!" She turned to Zexion. "Assuming that's all right?"
Zexion nodded. "It's apparent we'll need to use stronger force to get the sort of response we need. Do what you will."
Larxene smiled cruelly and turned back to Hotaru, who was still gasping. "What's up with you? I wasn't choking you that hard." Lightning began to form around her hands. "And besides, you'll be begging for me to do something that lenient once I…huh?"
Hotaru slowly raised her gaze up at Larxene, her eyes glazed over, full of malice. Larxene growled and dove at her with her knives. The symbol of Saturn appeared on her forehead, and a bolt of energy struck Larxene, sending her flying across and out of the cell. Zexion looked in alarm for a moment…then glee. He walked over towards Hotaru. "That energy you have…its aura is very similar to that of the new members of our Organization. And you, like them, profess to have no memories…but unlike them, you aren't a Nobody. I think you all came from the same world, didn't you?" he walked over to her. "So how did you escape their fate…and end up on Destiny Islands? Come on, try and remember. It could actually help out a friend of mine."
Hotaru was still glaring, but she couldn't seem to get her powers to work again.
"Hm…I think I know just the right sort of illusions to work on you…"
Just then, Hotaru felt a hand pull on her shoulders, and felt herself passing through darkness. She suddenly felt a huge surge of dark energy—an unimaginable power, beyond what any normal creature of the dark should have. It seemed to be pressing against her, assaulting her heart, choking her…
Then it was over, as suddenly as it had started, and Hotaru had gone from darkness to white all around her. Hotaru looked up behind her to see a girl with relief spreading over her face. She had pale skin, pale yellow hair, and the bluest of eyes.
"Hello, Hotaru. I'm not sure if you'll remember me yet, but…"
"Naminé!" Hotaru jumped up and hugged her friend. Naminé stood stunned for a moment, then hugged back cautiously, a guilty look on her face.
Riku clashed his keyblade hard against Sora's first one, then quickly jumped back to avoid the second. Xion had been silent the whole time, just watching them fight in fear.
"Come on, Sora! Don't you remember anything? We're friends!"
Sora touched his head. "I…" he started groaning. "I remember…you…you ruined everything!" shouted Sora. Riku shook his head. "Sora, those aren't you're memories. What you're remembering is…"
"No, I remember!" said Sora. "I remember fighting you…I remember…you took the keyblade from me. And you took…you took her…" said Sora, still clutching his forehead. "You…you destroyed our home. You tried to kill me. That doesn't sound like a friend to me!"
Riku was too stunned to come up with a legible reply. "Sora, that was…I…" Why did he have to remember those things? And why did he have to remind me? The accusing and angry look Sora was giving him hurt; it wasn't often that you saw anything besides kindness and empathy from him. For Sora of all people to be giving him that kind of look…
Riku growled and gripped his keyblade tighter. "That doesn't change anything. One way or the other, you're coming with me!"
Riku then turned right, raising his keyblade and blocking the incoming flaming chakram. Axel jumped down from the landing. Appearing from corridors of darkness at his side were Xaldin and Lexaeus. "Axel!" said Sora excitedly.
"Gee, Sora…how are you always getting yourself into these messes?"
"Huh? Wait a minute…" said Riku. "Hotaru destroyed you!" he said, pointing at Lexaeus. "And Mickey and I…"
"Destroyed," said Axel sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "You realize we're people now, not Nobodies? We don't just 'fade away' when you kill us. Not quite that simple. Should've been an obvious hint, but then, you guys were never known for your brains, were you? I'm starting to think Sora might have been the smart one. And that's a pretty scary thought."
Sora only followed half of what Axel had said, but knew that he was being insulted. "Hey!"
"Axel, wait a minute…"
"Whatever you have to say, just save your breath." Axel raised his one of his chakrams at Riku.
"We're going to give you this chance to surrender now," said Xaldin. "Run away, Riku. We still have use for you and your keyblade."
Lexaeus stepped forward and raised his axehammer. "But if need be, we could more than afford your elimination."
Riku looked across at all of them. "Sora…"
Sora raised his keyblades too. Riku clenched his fist and opened a corridor of darkness behind him. It felt too much like he was running away, like he was giving up…but retreating was his only option right now.
"If you come back to your senses, come find me." Riku turned and stepped through.
Kairi heard waves, and realizes she was lying on sand. For a brief moment, she believed she might be home, even though she knew it wasn't possible. The sand beneath her was cold, and it was far too eerily quiet for it to be the islands she knew. Still, she could just lay her with her eyes closed for a few more moments and pretend.
She could have, if a hand hadn't been placed on her head, shaking her awake. Kairi slowly raised her head, scared of what exactly she might have been facing, but found there was no need for alarm she stared into a pair of gentle blue eyes.
"Who are you?"
The girl smiled. "Thank goodness you're all right…" She held out a hand. "Please, call me Aqua."
*throws papers and notebooks into air* FINALLY! FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY OMG OMG I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT FOR SO LONG. And you have been too, oh patient readers. Thank you.
So...yeah. The scene with Kairi releasing Namine, Riku and Sora fighting, and Kairi meeting Aqua...those were like plot points I've been waiting to hit since I began writing this. I'm just glad to finally be here at this point. Not that things are close to being done...well, sort of close...Also, the plot gets a little shaky after this... :P just don't expect another chapter until at least another 3 weeks, because finals are coming up. You know, like 2 weeks after our second midterms .