Kingdom Hearts: Re: chain of Days
Chapter Eighteen
Author: Karma's Slave
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts in anyway. This is made for purely for fun and entertainment.
Warning: Spoilers for Birth by Sleep, Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days and Re/Chain of memories.
Note: Castle Oblivion Finale
A red headed girl about the age of fourteen years old, sighing as she laid her back against a slanted looking tree. Her feet were practically buried into the sand. "Just how many days has it been now since they've been gone?" the red-head asked herself out loud. The island's breeze running through her short locks of hair as she held on to her necklace.
"Aqua...Riku... _-_-_-_...I hope you're alright; where ever you are." The young girl spoke softly to herself. "Wait, wasn't there another boy with who went with them?" she asked herself. "I'm pretty sure there was but I can't even remember his name let alone a face." She added.
"Hey Kairi," another girl's voice called over. "Oh, hi Selphie" greeted Kairi"
"The Guys and I were going to head back to the main island. Do you want to join us?" the brunette asked her. Kairi shaking her head, "No. I'll think stay here for a bit and clear my head." The red head replied.
"Alright Kairi, see ya at school then" spoke Selphie as she turned to leave. Kairi waited by that tree for least an hour before she decided to leave. Kairi was the only one on the island to have recollection of it being destroyed and then restored, while everyone and everything was put back in place like it never even happened.
Kairi then propping herself off of the tree; she decided she'd go to Aqua's house and straighten it out for the keyblade master in her absence as she headed over to small house on the island. Kairi always wondered why Aqua chose to live so distant from everyone else.
Kairi bending her knees to pick up the spare key that Aqua kept under a door mat; the fourteen year old proceeded to open the door.
Kairi spent a half mostly dusting everything thing as the house it's self was in good shape. However Kairi headed over to Aqua's fridge to take care of the rotten food. "Ew" she said. Putting all the rotted food into garbage pail "Good thing, it's being collected tonight." Kairi made a mental note to bring it to the main island and put it in a dumpster.
Kairi was just about done when something had caught her eye. 'Aqua's magic books' Kairi remembered the keyblade master telling her and Riku, that these were the last items she had of her home. Telling them she used a spell to shrink them so could have them in her item bag.
The red-headed girl had to admit, that ever since Riku began his training with Aqua, Kairi was jealous but eventually that subsided; but since then Kairi has found out that she is a princess of heart, it's made her wonder what she could do, does she have any special powers? "Wait, didn't I help someone? Back in that other world" Kairi tried to remember but no such luck for her.
So Kairi picked up the book that said, 'magic: Volume One.' And the young girl began reading.
"Ding-dong the wicked bitch is dead" Aqua said in mock tone.
"Aqua!" Goofy shouted out in surprise as the keyblade master walking back over to her coat on the floor. "Sorry, couldn't help myself" Aqua said while she was putting her coat back on. The three notice Naminé near the fake Riku. She's lying on her knees.
They walk over to her; Goofy with wide smile on his face. "You must be Naminé! It's good to meet ya. We're friends of Sora's and my name is..." Naminé cutting him off "You're Goofy, and you're Donald" she then said.
Donald uncrossing his feathered arms, "Yeah, but how did you know that?"
Goofy turning to Sora "Congratulations Sora, you finally found your friend. I'm so happy for ya!" Sora smiled.
Jiminy popping out, "Gee, there sure are a lot of questions I have Naminé, I know this probably won't be easy for ya but could ya tell us what happened?" Jiminy kindly asked her.
Naminé nodding her head "Of course. It's my fault, after all. I took the people and memories that were inside Sora's heart...and little by little, I replaced them with false memories."
Donald interrupted. "Hey what about Sora's promise then?" Naminé sighed "Made up. It was fake. Sora never really promised me anything and me being with him on the islands. That was a lie, just like everything else. We never met. I was never Sora's friend." Naminé explained.
Sora looked at Naminé "And you were never anything more either..." "Ouch Sora, ouch" thought Aqua. Naminé cut him off. "No. You see, in all of your true memories, I was never really there." Naminé kept trying to explain.
Jiminy scratched his head "Gee, then that must mean it was your magic that made the rest of us lose our memories, too. Is there any way for us to ever get 'em back?"
"Hey, don't forget, the castle had its memory effecting power over you guys too" Aqua added in.
Naminé caught on too Aqua's sentence "I can fix everything if we go to the thirteenth floor. But Marluxia, he..."
"Hmm, Bet I know who that is. The hooded man who led us here" said Aqua. "Was he the one who had you tampering with all of their memories?"
Naminé nodding her head 'yes' "If I didn't obey, he said I'd be locked in this castle forever. I've been alone for so long..." the blonde girl was beginning to get upset.
"So you did what he told you to do because you were lonely?" Aqua asked her.
Naminé was getting upset. "I'm so sorry..." Sora putting a hand on her shoulder "Don't be. Please don't cry" Naminé stopping her tears. "Oh of course, I know I really don't have the right to." spoke Naminé.
"Who told you that?" Aqua interrupted
"That's not what I meant, Naminé!" said Sora. Naminé looking into Sora's eyes "What?" Sora then putting his hands on the back of his head "It's like this; I'm really not happy about you messing with my memories. But you know I can't really get mad at you for it, either." Sora started off.
"These memories you gave me in my head, I know they're lies but they still feel right. Like the promise I made. I said I would protect you and that I wouldn't make you cry not ever. Naminé if you cry now, I'll feel guilty, like I let you down. So don't cry, please. Until I get my memories back, smile and try to be happy. It's easier on me that way." He explained to her.
Naminé put a smile on her face "Sora" she said but a tint of pink had appeared in the cheeks of her face.
Donald sighing "Oh, brother that's a bit much." Spoke the mage duck.
Goofy smiled putting a hand over his mouth "it's okay. Sora always gets like this every time he's around a girl!" said the captain of the guard.
Sora blushed. "Aw, cut it out! I thought you both lost your memories, too!" Donald laughs "Too bad. Good friends don't forget the good stuff!" Donald winks. Goofy laughs.
"Come on" he pleaded with Donald. Sora then smiles; Naminé laughs. "There! That's it! That's the Naminé I remember." Sora then said. "Yeah, I really liked it when you used to smile. Of course, that was really only in my fake memories. But what I'm feeling now definitely it's not fake. it's real." Spoke Sora
If it were possible Naminé's smile grew even wider. "Thank you."
Sora shrugged. "Well, then, let's go."
Donald re-crossing his arms "Oh boy, I can't wait to get my memory back!" Goofy nodded in agreement.
"Naminé" Aqua called out to her. "Marluxia is going to be up there, But I don't feel comfortable leaving you here alone. However it would be dangerous for you to go with us." Aqua said to her.
"Yeah" Sora spoke up agreeing with Aqua. "Maybe you could look after Riku? We'll come get you when it's over." Suggested Sora
"Sounds good to me" said Aqua as she headed to stairs that lead to the thirteenth floor. Naminé nodding her head "Okay."
They walk to the stairs. Aqua runs off ahead, Donald and Goofy wave goodbye. Sora stops for a moment.
"Please be careful, all of you" said Naminé.
"We'll be okay... I promise!"
Naminé smiled as the others left. However Naminé doesn't see the cloaked figure behind her and within a quick motion his large hand his wrapped covering her small mouth, muffling her screams for the others and even a scream for the Riku Replica.
Aqua, Sora, Donald, and Goofy enter the Thirteenth Floor. Sora, Donald, and Goofy enter the thirteenth Floor main area. They are walking down the halls of the castle when Sora stops to think. He takes out Kairi's good luck charm and looks at it. "Who was it? Who's most important to me?" Sora asking himself out loud, he thinks for a moment. "Nothing..." he then said.
Donald turning his attention to the boy, "Can't you remember?" the mage duck asked him.
Sora moving his head side to side "No. I only remember Naminé. C'mon, do you guys remember anything at all?"
Donald sighs as he shrugs his shoulders. "No. Sorry, Sora. It's important, but I just can't remember; I don't want to be, but I'm getting scared.
As much as Aqua wanted to tell Sora it was Kairi but she also felt it would be better for him if he remembered it on his own. Well once Naminé could help fix his memory.
"Sora, you shouldn't force your mind like that. Your mind may have forgotten this person but your heart hasn't." Aqua told him. Sora looked like he was going to say something but Aqua cut him off, "Just give it time besides we've this Marluxia to worry about, and I need you to focus Sora." Aqua added on.
Goofy deciding to pipe in "Then we should really make a promise!"
"Huh?" shared by the other three. "What you said back there kinda got my brain a-thinking'. Whenever you make a promise that's super-duper big; maybe it gives you the courage to face the scary stuff!
Sora looked a bit unsure "Courage, you say?"
"Yeah Let's do it!" Donald replied as he agreed with Goofy. He holds out his hand. "Even if we get scared, or in trouble; or even if we get separated" Goofy holds out his hand "or even if we sort of forget each other." he added on.
Sora adding his own hand "Whatever happens we're friends" Aqua was the last to put her hand in and they all join hands, "All for one, and one for all!" she then said.
Marluxia is walking through a large room in the 13th Floor, and Axel appears. "You have some nerve to show your treasonous face around here. Some nerve indeed." Spoke out Marluxia.
Axel looking abhorred of the accusation. "Treasonous? I don't know what you could possibly be talking about." replied the redhead, Marluxia glared at him. "Why let Naminé go? If it weren't for your needless meddling; we could have turned the Keyblade master to come and serve us." Spoke Marluxia.
Axel looked as if he finally got in on big secret. "Oh, right, your big plan. You use Naminé to rewrite Sora's memory piece by little piece. And he turns into her total puppet." Said Axel stopping to look at the pink haired man
"Then, using Naminé and Sora together, you and Larxene overthrow the Organization. Am I right? I would say that YOU are the traitor, Marluxia." Axel added on
Marluxia glaring again "Since, when were you suspicious of us?" Axel smirked at Number Eleven, "Do either one of us have the heart to believe anyone?" he said to the other man.
Marluxia then looking, "Oh I see now. So you only eliminated Vexen to obtain proof of our plan?" Marluxia then said.
"I'll admit that I didn't want to do, but it was your order." Axel summons his chakrams
Marluxia then smirking "Oh"
Axel taking his stance "Remember the order: "You must eliminate the traitor." I always follow orders, Marluxia. Larxene paid the price for disloyalty when she disappeared... You must do the same!" Axel the shouted as he lunged at the pink haired man; He slashes Marluxia with his chakrams, but he dodges. Axel throws his chakrams at Marluxia, but he blocks them with his scythe. They fly back and Axel catches them.
"The Organization's betrayed. In that name, I will annihilate you." Declared Axel as he took another fighting stance
Marluxia stopped and looked to his now former comrade "That line's not you." He said plain as day.
Axel shrugging his shoulders "Well, had to try it once, you know." He runs to Marluxia and tries to slash him, but uses super speed to dodge. Marluxia slashes Axel, but he jumps out of the way. He slashes and creates an energy wave and fires it at Axel, who blocks it with his chakrams.
Marluxia laughs. He takes his hand and Naminé appears in front of him. Axel laughs. Naminé is frozen in fear.
Axel pulls back "Is that your shield? Won't do you any good, I'm afraid." The taller man clenching the grip of his chakrams
Marluxia smiles at the flurry of dancing flames. "I Wonder. Are you listening, Sora, Aqua, Donald and Goofy?" spoke Number Eleven.
Aqua, Sora, Donald, and Goofy appear from the door behind Axel. "Oh?" Axel wondered if Marluxia was yanking his chain but as the red head turned around to see the group of heroes.
"Oh, fuck me" thought Axel, Axel being the Organization's top assassin he wasn't afraid of fighting someone like Sora or even Donald and Goofy. It was fighting the kid's master; that made Axel unhinge. Before he disregarded her but now that he's seen what she could do. Axel had no doubt that Aqua could and would send him six feet under.
Larxene's death was brutal to be killed by your own element. Axel would hate to see how Aqua would handle fire against him.
Marluxia had his grip on Naminé, "Axel says he's willing to harm Naminé to get me. You won't let that happen, will you?" he mocked them
They ready their weapons. Aqua got a good eye lock on Naminé, "If I time it just right, I can snatch her away from him" Aqua formulating a plan in her mind.
Axel moved his focus on Sora. "Oh, come now. Don't tell me you're Marluxia's puppet already?" said Axel.
Sora gripped his keyblade "After I finish you, he's next!" Sora confirmed.
Axel sighed for the situation Marluxia put him in. "Sora we've got more in common than you might think. I'd really rather not fight you but I can't dishonor the Organization, now, can I?"
Flames spin around Axel. Sora fights and defeats Axel just as he done earlier on in the castle. Aqua watched from the sidelines keeping an eye on the other nobody and Naminé.
Axel fell to a knee. "You're better than I thought you'd be. It was worth saving you after all."
Sora raised a brow "Saving me? What d'ya mean?" he asked Axel.
Axel smirked. "Sorry, I would hate to kill the suspense." Axel fades away.
"Axel!" Sora shouted after him.
"Sora, he aint dead; didn't fade like the others." Aqua pointed out turning her head for the one second. Marluxia took this opportunity to leave with Naminé.
Sora and Aqua notices Marluxia and Naminé are gone. The foursome runs out of the room to find them.
Aqua, Sora, Donald, and Goofy enter another room of the castle and find Marluxia and Naminé.
Marluxia stood in front of a door way where there were designs along its frame "You've defeated Axel." He laughs.
"I wouldn't be laughing so soon" Said Aqua, "you'll join the rest of them soon" Aqua said also indirectly lying about Axel.
Marluxia looking to Aqua's and Sora's keyblades "The keyblade's power; how I've longed to make it my own."
"Don't bet your life on it" Aqua threatened him.
"Let Naminé go!" Sora demanded. Marluxia glared at the foursome. "You've no chance of winning. Naminé... Erase Sora's memory." Naminé, Sora, Donald, and Goofy gasp. While Aqua was recalculating a rescue attempt as she failed to save Naminé prior to this moment.
Naminé wasn't sure what to do "But if I do that..." "That's right. Sora's heart will be destroyed." Marluxia finished for Naminé.
Goofy was confused and worried for Sora "His heart, destroyed?" Donald looking to Naminé "You can do that?" she didn't answer the mage duck. So Donald took her silence as 'yes'
Marluxia ignored the others. "I'd rather have preferred him unmarred, but then again he can be rebuilt; more to my liking with time. Naminé, do it." Ordered Marluxia
Naminé shaking her head "No. Sora forgave me even when I deceived him. So how could I destroy his heart? There's no way! I don't care what happens to me. I won't hurt Sora! I won't do it!" Naminé finally taking a stand against the treasonous organization member, Marluxia grew angry. "Then you will…"
"Do it, Naminé!" Sora shouted, getting everyone's attention. Naminé gasps, "I don't care! You can erase my memory!" Sora told her.
"Sora, what are you doing" Aqua yells at him. "Sora why'd you say that?" Goofy added on.
Sora sighs, "Because who will I look after if I don't have Naminé? So just do it! Erase my memories. Destroy my heart. I promised! I'll always protect you! You have to believe me!" the brunette boy cried out to the young girl
Naminé not liking where Sora was going with this "Sora…" she said shaking her head 'No'
Sora looked from Naminé to Marluxia "I don't need any memories to take on someone like Marluxia!"
"I beg to differ on that one Sora," Aqua screamed in mind.
"You bet! Even if Sora forgets it all, Goofy and I won't forget!" said Donald.
Goofy nodding his head "Donald's right. He and I can remember everything for Sora!"
"See, I'll have all my friends' memories, so I can piece my own together again!" declared Sora as he held his kingdom key.
Marluxia whom wasn't looking happy "You ignorant fool. If Naminé uses her powers to erase your memory, you'll be nothing but an empty shell. Your heart will no longer be able to feel or to care. Just like Vexen's pathetic imitation of your Riku." Shouted Marluxia
"Take another guess!" shouted another boy's voice. Aqua, Sora, Donald, and Goofy are surprised. The Riku Replica appears out of a pool of darkness in the air and slashes at Marluxia, but he dodges backward. Naminé screams.
"It can't be!" said Marluxia.
"Riku!" shouted Sora.
Riku Replica glancing towards Sora "No, Just an imitation" He said.
"You're a shell; a shell who has had everything taken! Everything!" the pink haired man screamed.
Riku Replica looking to the real enemy."What can you possibly think I ever had? Both my body and my heart are fake. But...there is one memory I'll keep...even if it's just a lie! Whether it was a phantom promise or not... I will protect Naminé!" spoke the clone.
"Imbeciles" as Marluxia grew angry.
"speak for yourself." Said Aqua as she appeared behind Marluxia kicking him in his back hard, forcing him to let go of Naminé; Aqua then grabbing the taller man by the shoulders using what strength she had and tossed him aside forcing the man into the wall hard.
The blonde girl managing to step away from nobody then Riku Replica puts his arm in front of Naminé as he got in place to protect the young girl; while Aqua gets back to the group, standing beside Sora,
Marluxia growling as he gets up from the ground and raises one of his arms up and, A flower petal falls from the air and it turns into Marluxia's scythe in his hand "You would knowingly shackle your heart with a chain of memories born of lies?" spoke Number Eleven.
Sora readies his Keyblade; as is Aqua.
Marluxia pointing the colorful scythe to boy and his master, "You would be one who has a heart, yet cast aside your heart's freedom?" he said, "You turn from the truth because your heart is weak. You will never defeat me!" spoke Marluxia.
"Would you just shut up, I've had enough of your mouth" Said Aqua, then turning to her apprentice "Sora, fight him with Sonic Blade; it'll knock him off guard and afterword I'll shot lock him" she whispers to him. Sora nods his head and uses the technique his master had taught him.
Sora keeps using this attack; not giving Marluxia a chance to fight back or gain ground however Sora was getting tired mean while Aqua was aiming her keyblade for good hit on Marluxia ; Aqua trying to aim and time her Prism Rain correctly and also trying not hit Sora at the same time. But the boy kept attacking until "Sora, down" Aqua yelled to her pupil. Sora stopped attacking and quickly ducked down to the floor; and that was then Aqua let go and fired Prism Rain until Marluxia was surrounded by flower petals as he began to disappear in a wave of purple and white energy.
Once Marluxia was gone, Aqua nodded in approval towards Sora though the bluenette master had her suspicions since his fading didn't look the same as the others, "Keep your eyes open" Aqua said to the group. .
Donald was the first to ask, "Is he gone?" Sora gives Donald a thumbs up. Donald nods. "You could say that." Came Marluxia's they are surprised as Marluxia reappears.
Marluxia having a smug look on his face "However, what you destroyed was merely an illusion of me."
"Ugh! How could we have fallen for such a cheap trick as that" Aqua mentally scolded herself.
Sora gets angry but the Riku Replica takes the first move to this new Marluxia "So what!" He strikes Marluxia but it is another illusion. Riku Replica lands on his feet. "Another imitation!" he said to Aqua.
They all look to the door up ahead; "He's really...in there?" asked Sora.
Naminé nodding her head "Yes." The small blonde answered.
Aqua turned to the group her eyes locking to Sora, "It's time to end this once and for all." Sora looking right back to his Master nodding his head in agreement, shifting his gaze over to Repliku. "Hey, Riku, protect Naminé" Sora said to the clone.
"And your okay with that" replied the doppelganger. Sora putting his arms behind his head, "Why wouldn't I be?" the island boy retorted, Sora pretending this was the Riku, he'd grown up with.
Riku Replica facing Naminé as she smiled to both boys "All right" spoke the replica.
Aqua and Sora walks over to the door and they all look at it while Goofy and Donald join them. "Oh boy Sora, this is the final battle!" said Donald. Aqua quirked an eyebrow to the duck, to most people this would be nerve wrecking and not something to be excited about.
Goofy then asking "Are you ready?"
Sora smiled "It's our last battle, I'll be as ready as I can be" he answered the question.
Sora, Aqua Donald and Goofy enters through the doorway and finds Marluxia hovering in the air.
"Soon the emptiness will shatter your hearts; here in this world of nothingness!" Marluxia proclaimed to the foursome. The group of four summoned their weapons, Aqua locking her eyes on to Marluxia as the pink haired man waves his arm, and a tornado of wind and flower petals surrounds him as the foursome is pushed back from the pressure.
Goofy and Donald were tossed to the wall hitting it hard. Aqua's back had hit the ground hard; the bluenette letting out a groan of pain. Sora on the other hand was able to keep his balance but soon after the tornado clears up. Sora gasps as he is the first to see Marluxia on top of a giant mechanical creature.
Donald and Goofy were knocked out. Aqua arches her back despite the pain and bringing her legs to her chest and then front flipping to her feet. Aqua looking to her enemy "What the fuck is that?" came out of the keyblade master's mouth as her eyes lying upon the machine.
Marluxia opening his mouth to speak once more "As lightless oblivion devours you; will drown into the ever-blooming darkness!" Aqua visually studying the machine trying to figure out which technique or spell could be more affective.
"Master Aqua, How should we do this?" Sora suddenly asked her. Aqua ignored him for the moment. As she kept thinking in her head, "Sora" she eventually said "Aim for the arms of the machine and work our way from." Aqua spoke quickly to her pupil.
Master and Student both had a running start before leaping into the air and grabbing hold of the machine. Sora getting to the machine first; the keyblade apprentice started attacking the arm on the right as Aqua joined to take the left; it hadn't taken long to destroy the mechanical arms.
Marluxia was having hard time controlling his machine size of this machine was interfering with his own abilities it given Sora and Master Aqua a huge advantage in this battle
Aqua made the next move as stretched out her leg, sending her high heeled boot into Marluxia's gut; then has Marluxia had the wind knocked out of him Aqua quickly continued as she sent an upper cut punch into his chin sending the nobody back.
Marluxia grew angrier "Your hopes are doomed to the darkness!" he shouted as he raised his arms into the air and soon the chamber began to fill wind and flower petals and blinding light.
Marluxia transports Sora and Aqua into another location. Marluxia, Aqua, and Sora are on top of the larger vehicle, and a giant angel holding a scythe is behind Marluxia.
This time Marluxia was the one to gain the advantage using his elemental powers to try and sink Aqua and Sora into the ground; Aqua using here poison edge technique to fight off the plants that were coming up from the black portals in the ground of the vehicle while Sora went to attack Marluxia head on.
After Aqua destroyed the plants and it's portals, Aqua picked up her head to see the angel behind Marluxia raising its scythe to attack Sora; using her teleportation technique, she appeared in front o the angel holding her keyblade sideways blocking it's attack. "I don't think so" she told the creature.
Sora wastes no time in defeating Marluxia one last time. Sora using Ars Solum on this enemy, Marluxia screams in agony as he, the vehicle, and the angel begin to disappear.
Marluxia reaches for Sora, but fades away into darkness and flower petals.
Sora and Aqua leaves the battleground and re-enters the castle. Donald and Goofy, who have come too are now closing the doors behind them and Sora was ready to seal the doors, Aqua places a hand on Sora's shoulder.
"No" said Aqua. "Let me do it" she then said. Aqua locks the doorway with her master's Keyblade; a small smile crept on to Aqua's face this castle was once again safe; Ventus was safe.
"Aqua" Eraqus began to call out to her, "Yes" she answered. "You and your pupil have done well here Aqua; in protecting Ventus and the remains of our home"
"Thank you" she replied to her master. Though her recent enemy was now destroyed; Aqua was worried for Riku, she needed to find him after she checked on Ventus.
Sora going over to the Riku Replica, "You okay, Riku?" he asked the replica.
Riku Replica shaking his head at Sora, "Not Riku. I'm a fake. I can't remember why I was created or where or when. All that's inside of me is time with you and Naminé. But I know those memories are not real." He told Sora.
Goofy looked at Naminé "Gee, Naminé, can't you use your magic to put Riku's memory back to normal?" asking her this.
Naminé's eye brows quirked together "Well, I..."
Repliku shrug his shoulders "It's all right. I'll deal." He begins to walk away,
"Wait!" Sora calls out to him "Who cares if someone created you? You are you and nobody else. You have your own heart inside you. Those feelings and memories are yours and yours alone. They're special!
Riku Replica sighs before he looks to the group. "Sora, you're a good guy. I don't have to be real to see how real your feelings are. That's good enough." Spoke the clone as he began to walk away, leaving Naminé in their care.
"Riku! Riku..." the brunette boy kept calling out to the replica, "Sora, he knows what he has to do" Aqua said to the boy. "Whether he likes it or not, has to encounter our Riku and undo what Vexen has done" Aqua added in her mind; she didn't want to worry Sora, knowing he's already gone through so much since entering the castle.
Donald turning to Naminé "Can you put our memories back?" he asked the girl.
Naminé nodding her head as she smiled at the duck "Yes. Not remembering something doesn't really mean that it's gone."
Goofy turned his head sideways "What do you mean?"
Naminé began to explain "When you remember one thing, that leads to remembering another and then another and then another." She started. "Our memories are connected. Many pieces are linked together like they're in a chain that makes up each of us." She said to Goofy. "I don't actually erase any memories just take apart the links and rearrange them. So technically, you still have all your memories." Naminé then said to them.
Aqua looked relived once Naminé explained how her ability worked it put a lot of nerves to rest in the keyblade Master's mind.
Jiminy pops out "So you can put 'em back together?"
Naminé nodding "Yes, but first, I have to undo the chains of the memories I made on my own. After I've done that, I have to gather up the memories scattered across each of your hearts and then reconnect them. It might take some time. But I think it might work. No, it will work. I'm sure. It's my turn to look after you." Said Naminé whom was determined to make things right.
Sora smiling at the girl "All right we all really trust you" He said to her. Jiminy, who was thinking on the process of what Naminé had to do "Oh...? Wait a second! You said you had to undo the links of the memories you made. But that means..." "Yes" She answered. "You won't be able to remember anything about what happened here." She said to them.
Sora was genuinely surprised "Not even you?" he asked her.
Naminé shook her head at him. "I'm sorry Sora. It's the only way, I'm afraid. Sora, you have a choice. You can lose your memories of this castle and reclaim your old ones...or keep your memories here and give up the memories that you've lost." She told them with a clear hint of sadness in her tone of voice.
Sora looking down to the floor "Do I have to...to choose?" he asked. "Yes." Naminé answered. He thinks for a moment. Donald and Goofy exchange looks, Aqua worried about his choice
"Naminé, Make me like I was."
Naminé nodding her head, trying not be affected by Sora's choice. "Oh, okay. Nobody needs to keep a bunch of memories that aren't real, right? You want to remember all of the people who are really important to you. Anybody would choose that." She said.
"Oh Naminé, you poor girl" thought Aqua.
Naminé leads them to a room containing a giant pod, "Was this room here before I left?" Aqua asked herself.
Donald was the first to speak since they headed over to this room. "To remember again, we have to sleep in that?"
Naminé nodding her head at Donald "Yes but it is going to take more than a little time but I'll take care of you guys" Naminé said. Aqua keeping her eyes on the young girl; there was something so familiar about Naminé that she couldn't even describe it but yet the master was so curious about it, "Why does Naminé Have powers over Sora and those connected with him?" Aqua thought to herself.
"Gawrsh, when we wake up, we won't remember who you are anymore" Goofy pointed out
"But how are we gonna thank you?" Donald butting in his own question, Jiminy popping out once more "No need to worry about that fellas! I'll just make a big note in my journal. And it will say, "Thank Naminé." Spoke Jiminy Cricket
Sora and Naminé smile, "Oh, good. That makes me feel better." Spoke the comforted Donald Duck. Aqua merely smirked and let out a tiny laugh
"Well, good night, then, Naminé." Spoke Goofy; Naminé giving Goofy a warm smile, "Good night, Goofy" Donald and Goofy leave to enter their own pods; Naminé Turing to Sora "You too, Sora."
"Okay." He replied, he starts to climb into the pod. Aqua is watching from a distance, giving the two a private moment to say their good-byes
"Sora, all of this may have started with a lie...but I really am glad that I met you for real, Sora along with Aqua, Donald and Goofy" she said.
Sora agreed with the girl, "Yeah, me too. When I finally found you, and even when I remembered your name, I was happy. The way I felt after…That was no lie."
Naminé was beginning to feel something insider of herself that didn't feel like sadness. "Goodbye." She then said Sora shaking his head at her "Not goodbye!" When I wake up, I'll find you. And then there will be no lies. We're gonna be friends for real. Promise me, Naminé." He told her
"You're going to forget making that promise." Naminé said to him, "If the chain of memories comes apart, the links will still be there, right? So the memory of our promise will always be inside me somewhere. I'm sure of it." Sora told her
"Yeah, you're right. Okay, it's a promise."
Sora with his trademark wide smile on his face "Good. Until later, Naminé" They pinky swear. Sora waves goodbye and jumps into the pod.
Sora, Donald and Goofy had assumed Aqua would be going into a pod of her own but they never even noticed that Aqua still had her powers in tact unlike them, so how could they have realized she had her memories as well. But it just didn't matter at this point; at least to Aqua.
"A promise…Huh... Sora, some of your memories' links are deep in the shadows of your heart and I won't be able to find them. But don't worry you made another promise to someone who you could never replace. She is your light and the light within the darkness. Remember her, and all the memories lost in the shadows of your heart will come into the light." Naminé began to coaxing Sora into thinking about Kairi.
"Strange, she seems to know a lot about Kairi" thought Aqua as she watched Sora and Naminé.
Sora putting a hand over his heart "Another promise" he said aloud.
Naminé looking up at Sora "Look at the good luck charm, Sora I changed its shape when I changed your memory but when you thought of her just even once, it went back to the way it was." Said Naminé, Aqua could hear tint of sadness in her voice.
He takes out Kairi's charm and looks at it. The pod closes; Sora is surrounded by darkness. He stares at the charm, trying to remember Kairi. Naminé appears beside him. Sora remembers his friends from Traverse Town and Destiny Islands. He continues to try to remember. Riku's image appears in his head, and finally, Kairi's
"Kairi!" her name returning to him; the darkness turns to light "My friends..." Naminé starts to float away "Naminé?" Sora could hear only her voice by then "Don't worry. You might forget about me...but with our promise, I can come back." She told him.
"A promise is a promise." He said.
"Yes. One day the light it will be ours, and it will bring us together. Till then I'll be in your heart." Spoke Naminé
"Right. Forgotten but not lost." Replied Sora with a tiny smile forming on his lips as the island boy began to drift off into a deepening sleep
"They're asleep" Naminé turning to Aqua as the bluenette walked up to the young girl. "Good" she said as she stared at Sora's pod. Aqua crossing her arms over her chest "Master Aqua, Can I ask you something?" Naminé spoke looking up at the taller woman.
"Naminé, please just call me Aqua" responded the older woman. "Aqua, how come the castle hasn't affected you? There was that one small moment. Where I prevented you from talking but that was all I did to you" Naminé asked the keyblade master. Aqua didn't need to the back at the girl to see her shake with nervousness as Naminé spoke to her. "And yet your memories stayed completely intact not even your connection with Sora affected it, why were you affected?" Naminé asked again.
"Alright, I tell you" Aqua started off. Naminé not pressing the topic any further, "Naminé, the true reason why I wasn't affected is because I am this castle's true master." Aqua admitted to the girl. "And the castle protects its master" she then said.
Naminé's blue eyes widen at Aqua's reply, "you mean that this …lonely…place is yours."
"Yeah, it is but Naminé it wasn't always like this. It was beautiful once and warm before it was destroyed by darkness" Aqua going on about Castle oblivion true identity. "I did what I could to salvage it Naminé but in the end it's only shell of my former home world" Aqua said to the girl. Naminé was silent by this point.
Riku was walking into the next hallway when it felt the castle slightly shake "Huh? The air has changed... One of the strong scents from earlier has disappeared completely." Riku spoke to himself.
A dark corridor opens by the next door, and young man about in his early 20's stepped out of the dark portal. "That was Marluxia, keeper of this castle. Ex-keeper, I should say. The Keyblade master and her student just finished him off." Spoke Zexion.
Riku looked confused for a slight moment "Keyblade master.. You mean Aqua and Sora are here too?
Zexion nodding at the younger boy "Would you like to see them? Or should I say, can you face them?" the Cloaked Schemer asked Riku.
Riku tightening a fist "What does THAT mean?"
Zexion merely glanced at Riku as crossed his arms, placing a hand under his chin "Darkness and Ansem's shadow nest within your heart. Aren't you ashamed to face Sora and your master in that state?" Zexion said to the young island boy.
"What?" Riku was miffed that this stranger could peg him so easily.
Zexion kept talking at Riku "Sora's and your Master's fate is to battle the darkness. As the heroes of light, they must oppose hosts of the dark. In other words, you. If you don't believe me" He throws Riku a card "Then you had better see the truth for yourself."
Riku glaring at the slightly older man as he caught the card; flipping the card over Riku glances at the card. "This card! This is our..."
"Yes, your home." Spoke Zexion as he began to exit in the dark corridor and the Zexion disappears.
Riku heading over to the doors.
Once inside the new room, "I never thought I'd miss the island winds so much" was the first thing to come out of Riku's mouth. "Funny, there was a time I couldn't wait to get off this rock. And now I'm acting all relieved." Riku added as he was walking forward and then stopping "Is that...?"
Tidus, Wakka, and Selphie are there. "Hey!" Riku began to call out to the; running to them. "What's with you guys? I don't think I've EVER seen the three of you so quiet." Riku mentioned as he stopped running "What, is there something on my face?" he said randomly.
They vanish.
"Guys?" Riku then yelled out, Riku began running all over the island looking for his friends or simply anybody.
"Naminé, there is someone important here I have to take care of inside the castle" Aqua breaking her silence. The blonde girl simply looked at Aqua, confused, "someone?" Naminé asked.
Aqua sighed at the girl, "Naminé, you weren't completely alone here; there's been another person inside the castle for over ten years. Sealed away to he could find his way back home" Aqua explained. "you see, I hadn't known that he spent most of that time in Sora's heart and he was released when..."
"When Sora sacrificed himself for Kairi" Naminé cutting off the Bluenette. Aqua nodding her head, "So you so see Naminé, I had to see if he came home" Aqua the told the girl. Naminé then saying "But you couldn't do that with Sora, trying to find me and with the other nobodies getting in your way."
"In a nut shell, yes" retorted Aqua.
Naminé was looking upset again, "Aqua...I'm so sorry for all of this" Aqua bended down on her knees to be on eye level with the girl ; Aqua placing her hands on Naminé's shoulders, "Hey listen to me, look at me. It is not your fault! Do you understand me?" Aqua said to the girl, "They manipulated you Naminé and your only child; you couldn't have known better." She then said.
Naminé nodding her head 'yes' "But Aqua you don't understand, I had orders to manipulate Sora's memories" Naminé trying to explain, "And Marluxia is gone" Aqua then said.
"NO! they were orders originally from the leader of the nobodies" Naminé said to her. it was Aqua's turn to be confused, "Naminé, what are you saying?" spoke the Keyblade Master.
Naminé taking a deep breath, " I was born here at the castle but the nobodies found me and took me to their castle in another world, where I was offered to be a part of the organization but I said "No" and so he had them bring me back here and left me here till I was deemed of use to them. " Naminé said, then continuing. "while I was there, He kept asking me about this room he called the "room of awaking" I didn't know anything about it"
Aqua's blue eyes widen "He knows about the chamber! But how?" Aqua's mind going crazy. "Naminé, who is this man?"
"He calls himself, the superior" said Naminé.
"Naminé, I need more than a nickname to go by" Aqua said to the girl
"You've met him" then said the blonde haired girl
"What, When?" asked the key bearer master.
"Aqua, you've met him at Hollow Bastion"
"Terra!" Aqua's eyes couldn't possibly widen any further, as her mouth slightly dropped open.
Riku runs out onto the island with the bridge to see Kairi there. "Kairi!" Riku calls out to her as his running turned to walking over to her. "Hey, Kairi. Don't tell me you..." Kairi vanishes. "Ah... No, no, NO!" the silver haired boy screamed.
Zexion appearing "Surely you knew this would happen."
Riku turning to face the nobody "Why would I know that?" he said to Zexion.
"You've been to a number of worlds in your memory before this one. And in those worlds, you met only dark beings. That's all that's left in your heart: dark memories. Your memories of home are gone each and every one." Spoke the blue-gray haired man.
"That's a lie!" shouted Riku "I remember everyone from the islands! My Parents, Tidus and Selphie and Wakka...Master Aqua, Kairi and Sora, too! They're my...my... They're my friends." He said to Zexion.
Zexion simply crossing his arms into his usual stance "And who threw away those friends? Maybe it's your own actions that you forgotten Riku. You destroyed your home!" Zexion's tone of voice getting louder. Darkness shrouds the area and it turns to night.
Riku quickly looking to around his new surroundings. "This is...that night!" he muttered to himself.
Zexion continued speaking "The islands you grew up on were sundered, scattered. Many hearts were lost to the darkness that night. Because of what YOU did!" spoke the cloaked schemer.
Another Riku is present on-screen. Riku shaking his head side to side, "N-No..."
"You hated being an islander, cut off from other worlds. So you opened the door to darkness and destroyed the islands." Spoke Zexion as Riku tried not to let these worlds get to him "YOU did that! And now you belong to the darkness. Look at what you are!" he then said.
The other Riku turns into Darkside. Riku looking at the other Riku "This...this can't be ME?" Riku summoned Soul Eater and began attacking the large pure-blooded heartless. It didn't take long for Riku to fight the large heartless as he remember his time spent in the dark realm with King Mickey.
After the battle, Sora suddenly comes from out of nowhere and swings his keyblade at Riku; Riku doges the attack. "Sora?" Riku picking up his head to surprised to his childhood friend.
Sora does it again. "Stop it, Sora! Don't you recognize me?" pleaded Riku.
Sora nodding his head at Riku, "Yeah I recognize you. I can see exactly what you've become!" Sora knocks Riku over with Keyblade. "Gahh!"
"Look at you, shrinking away from the light... You're not Riku anymore.. You're just a pawn of the darkness. So be it. It's time for you to face the light!" Sora shoots light energy outwards and Riku is engulfed in light.
Riku being blinded by the light "I'm...fading... Consumed by the light"
"You won't fade Riku" spoke a familiar girl's voice
Kairi appears before Riku, "You can't fade. No power can defeat you. Not the light, Not the dark. So don't run from the light and don't fear the darkness. Both will make you stronger." Said Kairi
Riku was listening "Darkness, too?" he then asked. "Especially darkness. Because that power is yours alone. The darkness in your heart is vast and deep...but if you can stare into it unflinching, you'll never know fear again." Spoke Kairi.
Riku almost looked reassured "All this time I've been pushing the darkness away..." Kairi cutting him off "Just be brave. Know that the darkness is there and don't give in. Do that, and you'll gain strength unlike any other. You'll be able to escape the deepest darkness" she told him
Riku figuring out what Kairi was saying "and I'll be able to see through the brightest light..."
"Follow the darkness, Riku. It'll show you the way to the friends you miss." She said
"But can I face them?" he asked her. Kairi sounded confused "You don't want to?"
"You know I do. And I will! The darkness...MY darkness will show me the way!" declared Riku. The light lessens and Riku reappears back on to the Destiny Island's "Darkness, awaken!" he called out Riku goes to dark mode and strikes at Sora, in a vast movement that Sora couldn't even see him.
Sora turns his back to Riku, stretching out an arm "I'm...Impossible!" he tried to speak. Zexion is revealed as the Sora imposter as he fell one knee down to the ground. "How did you find me in the light!" Zexion asked Riku
Riku simply stared at his once mental tormenter "You reek of the dark. Even the light can't block out the smell. I followed the darkness right to you." He explained.
Zexion let out a chuckle "Heh... After all your protests you're still just another darkling." Spoke the wounded man.
"I know who I am." Replied Riku, "Since when? Countered Zexion "You were terrified of the dark before" Riku taking a stance "Not anymore!" Riku strikes at Zexion one last time.
Zexion cried out from the pain "Naah... Hypocrite!" he yelled after trying to surpass the pain he was feeling. Zexion making the quick decision to retreat, so the nobody opens a dark corridor and disappears into it.
Riku tried to reach the portal "Damn it! He got away."
Aqua told Naminé that she'd be right back as she needed to go check on Ventus, stepping out into a hallway that she remembered quite well.
"It can't be Terra; he do doesn't do things like this" thought Aqua as she headed towards the chamber of awakening . "It's not him." Her mind kept saying over and over.
Aqua felt the sob escape her throat as tears threatened to poor out her eyes, "No..Not him...please not him, please!" Aqua said out loud; the keyblade master stopped walking and she just collapsed down on her knees and she let the tears roll down her face. She breathed in deeply stopping herself from crying any further.
Closing her eyes, Aqua couldn't see her the black coated figure phasing in and out appear behind her. Aqua's head was down facing the floor. Aqua was so off her own guard; that it wasn't till she someone touching her back, she felt this person run their fingers up and down her spine. Aqua opening her eyes then picked up her head as she heard the rustling of cloth and a chain as well.
Aqua knew that presence that she was now feeling as her senses now weren't clouded by her emotions, "Hello, My friend" she heard him speak as his arm began to snake around her waist lifting her up from the ground.
"Terra" she said as her feet touched the ground, still in that one arms embrace. Her body was turned so they could be face to face. "Look what ten years has done to us, Aqua" Aqua couldn't explain but she felt herself go numb just from being in Terra's presence. Aqua was sadden to see that Terra wasn't looking like himself; his hair still that white and silver colors and hit had grown out as well and his once beautiful blue eyes were still that evil golden color.
Aqua couldn't process this moment, "Is all this real?" she asked herself. why couldn't she speak up to him or even scream at or at least hit him; oh but Aqua knew why, because underneath it all, he was still Terra in her eyes.
His free hand tracing her jaw line; the thumb of his hand on her face somewhat tracing the tear streaks. Aqua wanted to pull away from him and out of his him embrace but she couldn't the familiarity of it all was clouding her judgment.
Soon that free had held her head bring it closer to his own; his mouth inching over and whispering to her, "you'll understand soon enough and when that time approaches you'll see what needs to be done" he said to her and then smashing his lips on to her own.
Upon releasing her; Aqua dropped back to the floor and on her knees as he disappeared into a dark portal.
Aqua was shaken as she had now seen for herself. what fate has cruelly done to her beloved friend Terra, all Aqua could do was sit there and cry as she clutched the charms around her neck.
Zexion limping as he came out from the dark corridor heading to the wall for balance, "What, what IS he?" Zexion questioned. "No one's ever worn the darkness the way he does. It's NOT POSSIBLE!" spoke Zexion was he tried to catch his breath; turning his body about face as he back was against the wall.
Axel and Repliku are there in the room. "Waaak! Riku?" screamed Zexion as he tried to brace himself for any attack.
Axel and Repliku walk forward.
Zexion see's who it really is "Oh...Oh, yes, of course. Vexen's replica. Good thinking. We can use this Riku to defeat the real one." Suggested Zexion as he turned to Axel for support "Axel?" he asked.
Axel merely crossed his arms. "Say, Riku. It must be hard now that you know you're not real. I bet you'd LIKE to be real." Said Axel
Repliku kept his eyes on Zexion, "Yeah I do"
Axel now smirking "Well, you can. All you need is strength that the real Riku doesn't have. Get that, and you can be a new person, your OWN person. Not Riku, not anybody else. You won't be someone else's copy. You'll be you." Axel kept baiting the Riku replica.
Zexion clearly not liking where this was going, "Axel! What are you telling him?" he shouted at his supposed comrade.
Axel shrugged, "You know, I bet he's as good a place to start as any."
Zexion eyes widen once he realized what was truly intended "Have you lost your mind?" Zexion screamed "Damn Him!...Damn Saix" The cloaked Schemer knew he wouldn't have enough strength to fight off the fake. He was close to fading back into the darkness as is, where he'll join, Vexen, Larxene, Lexaeus and Marluxia.
Axel mocking Zexion in his last moment. "Sorry, Zexy. Saving you doesn't seem half as entertaining as observing Sora and Riku." Repliku walks towards Zexion and grabs him by the front of his coat, prepared to absorb him.
"No...STOP!" was the last thing number six, the cloaked schemer could say.
"Riku... Riku..." a harsh masculine voice was calling out to the dark keyblade wielder. "Who's there?...Of course, that voice!" Riku speaking with disgust in his voice.
"I know you can feel it, Riku" spoke the heartless humanoid "The grip I have on your heart. You've let the darkness in. And all-consuming darkness is what your heart shall become!" declared Xehanort's heartless.
Riku merely shook his head, "I'm not like that anymore!"
"I think you are." Spoke Ansem.
Riku suddenly starts floating. "I...I can't move!" panicked Riku "The deeper the darkness runs in you, the stronger I become. Controlling your body is an effortless task."
The energy ball comes to Riku.
Ansem being hurt by the light "Graah... You, interfering again!"
Riku descends back into Castle Oblivion once more. "Golly, I'm glad I made it in time! That should keep Ansem tied up for a while." Spoke a pitched Voice as King Mickey walking in "Sorry I couldn't come sooner, Riku." The mouse added.
Riku, happy in seeing the mouse "Your Majesty, it's you!" Mickey smiles at Riku "You betcha!" Riku touches him "Huh... Hey! Cut it out, that tickles!" Mickey began laughing. Riku himself having a small laugh "Ha-ha, this time you're real. No illusions. I'm so glad you came!"
"I promised, didn't I?" said Mickey
Riku falls over, Mickey going right to Riku's side. "Don't worry, I'm okay. Just really relieved, that's all. I've been alone so long that having someone else around is a little...overwhelming." admitted the silver haired boy. "But how did you get here, Your Majesty? I thought you were really far away." questioned Riku.
Mickey pulls out a memory card, "This card showed me the way." Mickey holds up the card for Riku "I was looking' for the way out of the realm of darkness, and then this card came along. As Soon as I picked it up, it showed me your heart, way out beyond the darkness. And that's how I tracked you down. I guess the card thought it belonged with you." Explained King Mickey.
Riku taking the card from Mickey, "Maybe you're right." He said to the mouse.
Riku entering the new world, "Where am I now? I don't remember this place." As Riku looked around "You're Majesty, do you know where we are?" Riku turned to see Mickey was gone "You're Majesty?" Riku called out to Mickey.
"His Majesty is not here." Ansem appears in the middle of the street. " You must battle me and the darkness alone!" spoke Ansem.
Riku prepares to fight but just as he was about to summon his Soul Eater, Riku then noticed something. "Giving up already? Then accept your fate, and accept Ansem as your master!" spoke the Ansem.
"You're not Ansem. Your scent it's different then his." Riku then said "The Ansem in my heart smells darker, more foul." The boy added. "But not you. It's not darkness I smell, it's...something else. I know. You're the one who guided me when this all started. You pretended to be Ansem and gave me the card, to make me face the darkness." Riku figuring the imposter out.
"Correct." Said the Ansem fake, The man pretending to be Ansem reveals himself as a man dressed in crimson clothing with one eye covered. "Call me DiZ. it's as good a name as any. I've been watching you all along." Said the man in Red.
Riku quirking an eyebrow, "Who are you really? What do you want from me?" he asked DiZ.
"I want you to choose." Spoke DiZ
Riku looking lost "Choose?"
"You are special. You exist between light and dark. You stand in the twilight. I want you to meet Naminé, and then choose" DiZ asking this of Riku.
Riku shaking his head "Naminé? Who's that?"
"You'll just have to meet her and find out." Spoke DiZ and then DiZ disappears.
"Hey, wait a sec!" Riku called out to DiZ.
Aqua reaching the outside of her Destination, the chamber of Awaking; the bluenette was as composed as much as she could for the moment. She wasn't sure what to do or think at the moment while her fingers touching her lips in remembrance of the sudden kiss.
Aqua made sure she wasn't followed as she placed a vanishing spell on herself to hide her own scent, masking it from Terra or whoever that really was, It may have looked like Terra but it didn't feel like him, not completely.
Soon after, Aqua took out her keyblade and opened the door to the chamber. Once the double doors had opened Aqua stepped inside, heading for the chair in the center of the room.
"Hello, Ven" she said but getting no reply in return as she looked at her forever young friend, he still looked fourteen years old while she was now thirty years old; she ran a hand through his hair in the sisterly way she'd always done. "Ven, I was really hoping you were ready to leave here and join me and...help me find Terra" Aqua telling her friends body a small white lie.
"But you're not here and I really have no clue where you are now" she said as she began to get upset. And that's when Aqua began to feel a light tapping on her leg. Aqua looking down to see Ven's charm. It looked as if Ven's body was trying so say "take it"
"Ven, this is yours it's what keeps you connected to me and Terra...Oh I get it now, Ven. You want me to take this so it can lead me to where you really went off too." Aqua figuring it out. Aqua taking the charm from his hand, and adding it to her's and Terra's. "Ven believe me when I say the next we meet in person, you'll be awake." Aqua vowed to her friend, leaning over and placing a motherly kiss on his for head.
"Rest until then."
Riku kept walking around this foreign world until he reached a discarded mansion, "Maybe Naminé is in here..." said Riku as he had no clue on how to look for someone he's never met.
"Hold it, Real Thing." Repliku appears, Riku groans at the site of the fake. "Didn't I ditch like five floors ago?" Riku said to him.
Repliku ignoring the mock comment "Well, well. You've changed. Last time we met you were afraid of the darkness, but not anymore."
"How can you tell?" Riku asked out of interest, Repliku countering with "Because I'm you."
Riku shook his head "No, I'M me."
It was the Replica's turn to mock ""I'm me," he says." Mocked the clone "It must be nice, being real. A fake like me could never get away with saying that. That's right, I'm a phony! The way I look, the way I feel, everything!" the imposter finally losing what patience he had left.
Repliku taps into his dark powers. "I thought by finding some new strength I could be someone, someone who's not you! But nothing changes... I'm still just empty! Everything about me is borrowed. As long as you're around, I'll never be anything better than a shadow!"
"I'd say it's made you slightly more insane" Spoke Riku as he summoned Soul Eater.
It hadn't been a long fight, seeing how both boys knew the others moves by memory. The Repliku mostly based his moves on dodge rolls and a technique that was close to Sonic Blade but Riku evidently knew what to do in counter-attacking those moves.
Afterwards, Repliku appears fading as he laid on the ground, dying in the same spot at his creator Vexen had, "So...this is the end. Figures. But I'm not afraid. Good riddance to an artificial life. I never had a real heart. Even what I'm feeling now is probably fake." Mused the replica.
Riku looking down to his counterpart, "What are you feeling?"
Repliku shrugged "What happens when someone who's not real dies? Where will my heart go? That is, if it doesn't disappear completely"
Riku reassuring the copy of himself, " It'll go somewhere. Probably the same place my heart will go."
Repliku scoffed "Heh... How original. Oh, well." Repliku vanishes.
Riku walks in to see Naminé in the room where Sora and co. entered the strange memory-restoring contraptions. "You're Naminé?" Riku asked as he walked up to the young girl. "Yes." She replied. Riku then saying "So...that was you." "Huh?" went Naminé . Riku shook his head "Nothing, never mind."
"Please...come this way." She said to him, Naminé leads Riku to contraption with Sora. "Hey! It's Sora! What did you do to him?"
"Nothing, he's just sleeping. He has to, to get his memory back." Naminé explained to the silver haired boy.
"Tell me what happened to him." Riku requested of Naminé ; the young girl tells him what has happened to Sora, sine's he's been here. "I see" spoke up Riku, once Naminé finished explaining. "Sora chose to forget about this castle and get back his old memories." Riku added.
Naminé then opening her mouth to say, " You'll have a decision to make, too Riku" "Why?" he replied "No one's been messing with my memories."
"It's not about your memories. It's about your darkness. In your heart is darkness, and in that darkness is Ansem. Right now, he's at bay but eventually he'll awaken, and he'll conquer you when he does. Before that happens, let me lock your heart tight. I can make it so Ansem never escapes." Naminé asked Riku.
Riku putting a hand over his heart "And what happens to me if I let you do that?" the fifteen year old asked. "Will I forget everything, like Sora? I will, won't I" Riku then said to Naminé .
"The darkness in your heart will be sealed along with your memory. You'll stop remembering the darkness. You can go back to the way you used to be. It's your choice, Riku. So...choose." Naminé explaining what would happen.
Riku looking at the pod. "Sora looks like he hasn't got a care in the world. Will I sleep that well?" he said to her, Naminé nodding her head. "Yes."
"Sora always did as he pleased. It doesn't matter what we were doing he'd still go off and leave me with all the work." Riku then said. "Take the raft we were gonna use to leave the islands. That was all me." He added.
"I've made up my mind. When this slacker wakes up, I'm gonna tell him off good. I told him to take care of Kairi, and here he is taking a nap!" continued the boy, "But I can't chew him out if I've been sleeping, too. Keep your lock. I'd rather just finish Ansem off once and for all." Riku rejecting the offer.
"But if the darkness he wields gets the better of you" Naminé was trying to say, "I'll make that darkness show me the way."
Naminé smiled, "That's true."
Riku quirking an eyebrow, "Why do I get the feeling you knew I'd say that?"
Naminé merely shrugging her shoulders, "I didn't know. I hoped." She retorted "I want you to face the darkness, because you're the one who can." Added Naminé .
"So that explains why you came to me in the light, As Kairi." he said. Naminé eyes popped at that statement "You knew?" was all she could say.
"I knew as soon as I met you." replied the boy, "Somehow you...smell the same as her. Do me a favor and look after Sora." Naminé nodded at Riku.
Riku walks off and exits Twilight Town.
Riku meeting up Mickey in the hallway, "So, you decided not to go to sleep, huh?" said the King of Disney Castle. "How'd you know that?" Riku asked.
"DiZ told me." Replied the mouse king. DiZ is there. Riku looking to the man in red. "You know him?"
Mickey looking at the man in red, "I'm not really sure. I can't help feeling that I met him somewhere before" admitted the king.
"Hey, Voice. DiZ. Who are you?" asked Riku. "Nobody...or anybody." Answered DiZ "It all depends on whether you choose to believe in me or not." He said to the boy.
"Boy, you really like pushing decisions on other people." Commented Riku "And you pushed away slumber and chose to face Ansem." Said DiZ. Riku replied with "What, wrong answer?"
"It was your answer. I'm just here to watch." Spoke the man in red.
Riku countering with ""Watch," as in support me, or "watch me get toasted"?" spoke the boy as he wasn't easily trusting DiZ, the last time he trusted someone it nearly cost him, his heart and body.
"You choose. Then you need only believe in your choice." Said DiZ, then throwing card to Riku. "That card will draw the darkness inside you out into this world. Finish your business with Ansem." Commanded DiZ.
Riku turning to the mouse king "Let's go, Your Majesty." He said "So this card will draw Ansem out..". Riku trailing off into his thoughts.
"Don't you worry! Together, we can defeat him!" proclaimed Mickey
Riku smirked "I'm glad you said that but I have to face Ansem alone."
Mickey looking flabbergasted "But...but why!"
"There's no point in doing this if I can't do it on my own. But I have a favor to ask. If Ansem wins, he's going to enslave me. If that happens, I want you to destroy..."Riku was cut off by Mickey "Sure, I'll save you, pal!" said Mickey
Riku shook his head, "You're not listening. I want you to destroy Ansem and me with..." Riku again was cut off "No can do Riku! I already made my choice. No matter what happens, I'm going to be there to help you. I'm not backing down." Spoke King Mickey.
"Unless you don't believe I'll come through for you..." this time Riku cut Mickey off "It's my choice to believe or not. I know you'd never let me down, Your Majesty." Said Riku
Mickey smiled "Same here. You won't lose not in a million years."
"Not in a billion years!" said Riku
"RIKU!" called out a female voice. Riku stopped walking as he heard the voice. "That voice, I know that voice." Riku looked around the area, "Master Aqua? is that really you?" Riku asked as he saw a female figure walking up to him. Riku felt a small smile on his face as he ran up to his master, meeting her the rest of the way. As he got closer to her he noticed she was carrying what looked to be a bag of books.
"Huh? Where did she get that?" thought Riku, as he noticed the Castle Oblivion wasn't much for having material possessions. "Is that her Item bag?" he muttered to himself.
"Yeah it's me" Aqua smiling as she was relieved to see Riku. "I'm so Happy that I finally found you around here" the bluenette told him. "Wait, you knew I was here" Riku asked her. "Yeag I had sensed you earlier, it felt like you were in battle." Aqua said to him.
Riku then told his Master, everything that has happened to him, since he's been here. "And now your off to show him who's boss, huh" said Aqua
"Yeah, I am"
"Are you worried?"
"Not anymore"
"Good because I know you can do this, you've fought him before Riku can do it again and this time it'll be different, because the darkness doesn't scare you anymore. " she told him. The silver haired boy smiled at his teacher "Hey Aqua, why aren't you asking, to join in on the fight," Riku then asked.
"Because, my fight with him isn't exactly over but I stopped what he was planning however this time it isn't exactly my fight Riku, it's yours to take care of" she explained.
"Aqua, one more question; Where'd did that come from?" as he asked about the bag, "Oh! This is for you and Sora and that's a long story that I will tell you about but not now" Aqua said, "You better you get going, Riku. Just know I'll be here if you need me" she said.
"Show yourself, Ansem!" shouted Riku
"Ha-ha... What's the rush?" said Ansem "I'll be here... At the heart of darkness, I'll be watching as you plunge into the very darkness you wield." He added.
"Come on out, Ansem. I can smell you" said Riku. Ansem appears.
"Oh, I know what you can do. Your skill with darkness has matured." Said Ansem "But I do not understand. Why accept darkness and still refuse me? You and I are similar. We both follow where the darkness leads. We exist in the same space so why deny me?" asked the humanoid heartless "Perhaps some part of your heart still fears the dark?" he asked Riku
Riku shrugged "Wrong. The truth is...You just really stink."
Ansem didn't take the comment likely "You're a fool to choose a fight with me. You've been conquered by me once before. You should know what sort of power you face."
"Oh, I do. I used all the power you had to give and still lost to Sora. I'm not impressed." Spoke Riku
Ansem glaring at the boy, "Very well. Then sink into the dark abyss!" using his powers to send Riku and himself to area that resembled the dark realm where Master Aqua and Sora beat Ansem before.
Ansem tried to fight Riku with his Guardian but Riku had destroyed the creature with a series of slash attacks
Riku remembered most of Ansem's techniques from when he was being controlled by the man. so Riku mainly stuck to doge rolls when Ansem began throwing energy disks at the boy, Riku using his speed as he slashed at Ansem's chest. Riku flipping his body as he was behind Ansem,
However the room began to reverting back to the one of the white rooms in castle oblivion.
"Insolent brat!" screamed the heartless. Ansem uses dark energy to push Riku away.
"Ansem!"Riku screamed as he charged at the heartless, Slashing through Ansem. "You're finished!" Riku said.
Ansem whom was extremely weakened by the boy, "Hardly...finished...I gave you...the dark...My shadow...lingers...I will return!" Ansem's form exploding into darkness filling out the white room. Riku was surrounded by complete darkness.
"Sora...Kairi...Aqua" muttered a tired Riku.
And then two lights appeared in the midst of that darkness. The two lights began to take shape in the form of Mickey and Aqua. "I know you wanted to do this alone, but you don't mind a LITTLE help, right? Let's go, Riku." Said Mickey as the two keyblade masters, put each of Riku's arms on their shoulders to hold him up.
"Riku," said Aqua. "You did great. I'm so proud of you" Aqua told her pupil.
Aqua, Mickey and Riku appear at the castle entrance; Riku was able to walk by himself once Aqua casted the cure spell. "So, Riku, Aqua...what's next? Are you going home?" King Mickey asking out of the blue
"I don't know if I can. It's still there. His scent...it's faint, but not gone. I can't go home until it is. His darkness may still have a hold on me." Said Riku
"Your darkness belongs to you. Just like your light. Until now, I thought darkness was nothing but bad. But my time with you made me change my mind." Said Mickey "You've chosen a road I never thought of. Light and dark, back to back. With you, they mingle in a way no one's ever seen before." Explained Mickey " and I want to see where that road leads. And if it's okay, I want to walk the road with you." Added the mouse. They shake hands.
"And he isn't the only one Riku, I would like to take this path with you too, back when I was an apprentice; My master was so blinded by the things that light could do, that he eventually forgot that Darkness wasn't necessarily evil but that it's depending on one's use of that type of power. And eventually that was something I lost sight of too, when I had seen what darkness did to a dear friend of mine, in same manner you were affected by it" Aqua told him. Not wanting to go too much into the past at least not now, how was Aqua supposed to tell Riku, that he fell in to the same fate as his predecessor.
"Wow, Your Majesty, Master Aqua I don't know what to say... Thanks." Responded Riku
"Oh, you don't have to call me that, heh-heh! We're Pals" said Mickey.
"Fair enough, Mickey."
"Come on, let's get out of here." Said Aqua.
"Golly, I'd almost forgot, DiZ left us with something," Mickey then pulling out three black coats the nobodies were wearing. "He said that the Organization wear these coats to protect themselves when traveling in the darkness and that it would be harder for them to find us while wearing these coats." Said Mickey.
Aqua making half nod of her head as she looked at the coat and then sighing as she began to take off her trench coat and then putting it in her item bag where the books Riku spotted before were now magically shrunken, "How'd he know to leave three, he couldn't have known about me?" Aqua asked Mickey.
"I don't know" was the answer she got, as the newly made trio put on the organization coats. And then exited Castle oblivion before the headed off, Aqua took one last glance at her home world. "Ven...Sora..Donald...Goofy...Naminé " I will be back for you guys, count on it" She whispered. And then the trio began walking down the same road that Aqua was walking with Sora, Donald and Goofy.
As Aqua, Mickey and Riku walking down a road in black coats and coming to DiZ who is standing at the crossroads. "So this is DiZ," thought Aqua.
Riku sighed, "What are you making me choose now?" he said to the much older man
"Will you take the road to light or the road to darkness?" pondered DiZ
"Neither. I'm taking the middle road." Answered Riku as the trio began walking past DiZ. "You mean the twilit road to nightfall?"
"No...The road to dawn." The last thing Riku said to DiZ as Aqua, Mickey and Riku kept walking.
"Walking this road without you to remake forgotten promises and meet you at road's end"
End Chapter 18,
End of Castle Oblivion Arch.