Chapter Seventeen: Day 317: Decision and Destiny
Ding. Dong. Ding. Dong.
These four simple notes were the most pleasing and gratifying sounds any teenager in the world would come to know and love: The sound of school dismissal for the day. But this time it was even more pleasing, for it also heralded the end of this school week and the beginning of a three-day weekend.
The students dispersed from the school building, some faster then others and very few lingered.
One of these few lingering students was still inside the main building, in front of her locker to be exact.
She was a young girl, recently turned fifteen and like all the students she wore the school uniform of white shirt, though her sleeves were rolled up and exposed the shoulders of her arms, and striped tie and as per required of the female students, she wore a blue and white striped skirt and blue socks to complete the ensemble to match her black shoes.
The girl brushed aside a few loose strands of her auburn red hair away from her eyes, eyes so deeply blue they were a beautiful shade of indigo. She reached for an item in her locker. Her fingers had just grasped the photo attached to the back of her locker door when a voice called:
"Kairi!"
Kairi blinked and turned towards the sound of the voice, looking down the hall. She smiled when she a bubbly and energetic curly haired blonde racing towards her. Kairi looked at the photograph before quickly putting it in her satchel that hung around her right arm, the bag laying against her hip.
Kairi closed her locker and faced her friend just as she reached her and replied with a smile, "Hey Selphie."
Selphie smiled up at Kairi, a big and cute infectious smile. Of course, Kairi knew better by now that when Selphie smiled like that, she was up to something. Still, she waited to hear what her friend had to say.
Selphie, "Kairi! I'm glad I caught you! Tidus and Wakka invited are waiting up ahead to go to their Blitzbal practice and I was wondering if you wanted to come to? There's this cute boy down at the gym named Seymour and I wanted to introduce you to him."
Ah, of course, Kairi sighed inwardly.
Keeping face, Kairi smiled back and shook her head. Kairi, "Sorry, can't stick around any longer today. I have someplace to be and I'm running late."
Selphie's cute smile turned into an even cuter pout. "Aww, come on Kairi!" Selphie whined, closing her eyes and stamping her feet. Kairi smiled in amusement. To her, everything Selphie did was just to cute to be taken seriously. Selphie went on, still whinnying as she said, "I know you've been staying cooped up inside your house just to avoid every boy I've tried to get you to talk too!"
Kairi shrugged helplessly. "I've just been busy with studying and homework Selphie, really."
Selphie pressed on, replying, "But it's finally our three day weekend! Please just come and say 'hi' to him at least!"
Again, Kairi just smiled sympathetically and patted her friends' shoulder apologetically. Kairi, "I'm sorry Selphie, but I'm running late." Selphie sighed in defeat and then said, "Fine. But whatever you're blowing us off for better be important."
Kairi smiled again and replied simply, "It is." With that, she adjusted her shoulder bag and headed for the front doors of the school building, turning to give Selphie one last wave goodbye before heading out and down the steps.
The girl gave a sigh, eyes closing as she slowly shook her head.
"Yo Selphie!"
At the call of her name, Selphie turned and looked down the hall towards the doors that led outside, they also happened to be the doors closest to the gym. Tidus and Wakka were standing by them, both wearing their school uniforms of white shirt, blue ties and pants and black shoes. Wakka had his backpack over one shoulder while twirling his striped Blitzball on the tip of his index finger and Tidus had a goofy smile on his face.
Smiling back, Selphie headed their way.
As soon as she reached them Tidus asked, "So what's up? I thought you said Kairi was coming with us?"
Selphie sighed angrily, glaring back at the doors Kairi had left through. Selphie, "Well I tried to get her to come along but she blew us off, as usual!"
Both Tidus and Wakka exchanged amused looks. Wakka, "Probably for the best."
Selphie looked back at them both with a confused, yet slightly annoyed glance. Selphie, "Why's that?"
Tidus continued for Wakka and said, "Well that Seymour guy your were trying to hook Kairi up with is…well he's a little weird."
Selphie drew back with an expression of indignation.
"How so?" She demanded.
Tidus and Wakak exchanged glances once again, their expressions asking each other:
Where do we start?
With fall finally rounding the corner, the sky above the islands had begun to grow darker in the later evenings but it was still bright out, the blue sky beginning to mix with shades of red and yellow.
Kairi was making her way over the rising and falling slopes of the hills along the outskirts of the town, making her way towards the single pier that waited for her at a particular beach. It wasn't a very long walk but Kairi was in a bit of a hurry. She wanted some time to think to herself but she also didn't want to miss the sunset.
A sunset viewing from the where she was heading was always spectacular…
A gust of chilly wind suddenly picked up, causing Kairi to shiver and a few strands of her long hair blew in her eyes. She pushed them aside and behind her ear. She had wanted to cut it back to its shorter length but for some reason she was putting it off.
She paused when she arrived at the top of the last hill. She always did whenever she came here. From here, no matter what time in the day, the sun would hit the water around her destination just right and make the green leaves of the palm trees and the golden sand even brighter.
Kairi smiled at the sight of the simple island floating above the sparkling water. She could see the wooden decks and tree houses all around it and the natural waterfall and spring directly in its center. Her friends called her childish for still coming out here but she didn't care.
This place was too important to outgrow.
Kairi began the descent down the hill and for the beach with its simple pier and boat.
She carefully stepped onto the only pier of the whole playground island, her body wobbling with boat as the waves rolled against it. Kairi stepped onto the pier and brushed her hair out of her eyes again before looking around. She smiled, seeing nothing had changed.
Change was slow to come on this little world.
Kairi slowly took in the view of the little island before stepping down the wooden pier and onto the golden beach. Instantly, her ears were filled with sound of the rolling waves and a calm slowly washed over her. She let out a peaceful sigh before sitting down at the edge of the rolling waters, her shoes almost touching the water as it rose and receded.
She put her shoulder bag next to her but a safe distance from the water as well so its contents wouldn't get wet. Kairi drew her legs close to her chest, her arms wrapping around them as she gazed out at the waters. Like the sky as the sun continued to descend the waters had begun to turn red tinged with fading echoes of blue.
For a few moments, all Kairi did was sit there, listening to the waves, feeling the wind as it caressed her and rustled the leaves of the trees, her deep blue eyes gazing out at the waters. She remembered all the times she and her friends had come here together. It had been their place.
Kairi felt something brush the tip of her shoe and blinked, looking down at her feet.
She saw it was a white shell tinged with yellow at its end.
A thalassa seashell.
Kairi reached down and plucked the shell up, holding it up to her face as her eyes studied it carefully.
Something stirred inside her.
She was younger, about fourteen and her hair is still cut short.
She places the little charm she fashioned form five other thalassa shells into the palm of his hand.
"Here."
He blinks in surprise but before he can say anything, she quickly puts up a tough front and says, "It's my lucky charm so be sure to bring it back to me, ok?"
He gives her a goofy lopsided grin.
"I will."
Her hand clutches the little shell to her chest as she closed her eyes.
She didn't know who that boy was…didn't she?
Kairi opened her eyes and looked at her shoulder bag. And then she turned to look at the center of the island, past the water fall…
And at a little dark hole in the side of the rocky wall.
Kairi stared at that spot, her fingers clutching the little shell tightly. Then she reached into her bag and pulled out the picture she had taken from her locker and stood up, brushing a little sand off herself as she did and moved towards the little set of stairs that lead up to the waterfall. Kairi slowly approached the hole, stopping a few feet away and just staring at it for a few seconds.
She glanced at the picture and shell in her hand before taking a deep breath and closing the distance between herself and the hole. She crouched down, grimacing as she crawled through the opening. This was the worst part but thankfully the cave's opening was only a few feet deep and then the ceiling rose up, giving Kairi enough room to stand back up.
Once again she dusted sand and a little dust off herself before peering down the tunnel. She could see a few shafts of fading light up ahead. Taking a deep breath, she continued down the tunnel and into the cave ahead.
It was a small alcove, maybe a few feet smaller then an average home's bedroom, with dozens of stringy and dried out plants roots hanging from the large hole in the ceiling along with a few larger ones attached to the rocky walls, these bigger and healthier then the ones dangling from above.
Kairi's hand briefly clutched the side of the tunnel wall; her eyes looking up at the hole in the ceiling, watching the corner of the sun begin to disappear around it. Then she turned her gaze to the cave walls themselves. She smiled at the sight of childhood memories, still present in the form of childish scribblings.
In one corner, was a stick figure drawing of Tidus and Wakka, having been drawn by the boys themselves. Tidus held a sword and Wakka drew himself with his Blitzball and the two boys were fighting a giant monster. To Kairi it looked like a really big whale.
Kairi's eyes moved to the next drawing. It was a little better then Tidus and Wakka's scribbles and she knew it was Selpie who must have drawn this one. In the picture, a knight was protecting his princess from a witch. Kairi smiled in amusement.
Selphie still loved those romantic tales.
Then, slowly, almost cautiously, Kairi looked at the second-to-last scribble.
It was much simpler when compared to the other two before it.
Kairi walked over to it, her hand reaching out, fingers tracing the simple stick drawing of a boy with long hair on a raft in the middle of an endless ocean, the ocean drawn by a bunch of wave like lines under the boy and raft.
"Riku…" She whispered.
Was he safe? Was he even still alive?
She shuddered, recalling the echo of a recurring nightmare that refused to fade.
A nightmare of that man in the black and silver coat with his horrible piercing yellow eyes who had stolen her friend's form. And the anguished torment in Riku's voice as he used the last of his strength to hold that evil man back.
But then she recalled the echo of another dream.
Of a voice she could faintly recall…
"Do you have to go?" She asked.
"I have to save Riku. I have to bring him home too."
Kairi glanced at her other hand and the picture she clutched tightly.
She looked at the last drawing. For a moment, she only stared.
Then, she slowly approached it, crouching down to look at evenly.
It was really two drawings, both made by two different children's small hands.
The first was a scratchy and rough looking scraping of a little girl's head, the girl's face smiling, her hair very short.
The second was better drawn, not so scratchy and filled in evenly, of a young boy with spiky hair and a lopsided grin.
Both drawings faced each other, smiled at each other.
And under them, were two hands, each holding a star shaped fruit to each other.
Kairi stared t the boy's face, her hand slowly and shakily reaching out to touch the stone wall, right where the boy's cheek was drawn.
"Who are you?" She asked the drawing.
It did not respond of course and only continued to smile happily at the picture of the girl.
Kairi turned her gaze from the cave drawing to the picture in her hand.
It was a quick snapshot, no doubt taken by one of their parents. It was all of them, Selphie, Tidus, Wakka, Kairi herself and Riku when they had all been around five and six years old. And there was one other.
A little boy with spiky brown haired locks, bright blue eyes and a lopsided grin that made Kairi smile every time she saw it.
She didn't know who this boy was.
Or did she?
She is surrounded by darkness and there is sand gathering under her feet.
She doesn't understand what's happening.
"Kairi!"
She looks up at the sound of her name and sees him running towards her.
She calls his name back as well.
He reaches her and the whole world shudders.
She stumbles and he catches her, holding her hand.
"Kairi!" His tone is scared, rushed and breathless.
She looks at him, her blue eyes meeting his own.
"Remember what we used to say?" He asks and she's caught off guard completely, so very confused by what's happening around her.
She can feel herself being pulled away by a powerful force. Her hand desperately grips his even though they are already beginning to slip apart.
"I'll come back to you!" He cries, their hands about to slip.
Her eyes fill with tears as she cries back:
"I know you will!"
And their hands slip away.
Her finger traces the little boy's face.
"I know you…" Kairi whispered.
Her hands slowly fall into her lap.
"So why can't I remember your name? Why can't I remember who you are?"
She looked back up at the two drawings, of herself and this boy, offering each other the star shaped paopu fruit.
She touched the fruit.
The local legend was that, if two people each offered each other a paopu fruit, their destinies were forever intertwined.
Her hand moved from the fruit to the boy's face.
"You said you'd come back…"
With a sigh, Kairi stood up, sparing the drawing one last sad glance.
"So where are you?"
And then she made her way through the tunnel entrance once again, emerging back on the island's center, the sound of the waterfall soothing a little of her sudden weariness.
Kairi sighed again.
This was a mistake.
She should have gone with Selphie and the others.
Kairi took in a deep breath, forcing down the sudden ache in her chest and turned to look at the smaller island off shore of this one.
She smiled at the sight of the bent over tree, the same tree that bore the paopu fruit.
A few moments later she was standing atop the small ledge that had the bridge to the smaller island and was slowly walking across it, hands behind her back as she lazily strolled toward the island. When she was finally there, Kairi first gazed out towards the setting sun and calm ocean. Then, she looked towards the tree.
After a brief second of hesitation she reached out to touch its smooth surface, warm from the light and air. Kairi smiled a little, looking up at the trees' leaves and seeing the yellow star shaped fruit peeking around them.
With a hop, she was sitting directly under the leaves and staring right at the ocean and sun, the golden light perfect against the tinted red waters.
Kairi hadn't seen a sunset from here in a long time.
It was absolutely breath taking.
But this wondrous sight does not fill her with any sense of awe or peace.
Instead, it only adds to the pain in her chest, the ache in her heart.
Her smile falters then vanishes.
She looks at the rest of the tree, remembering how Riku would always lean against the crooked base of it. She stares at the spot. And a part of her wonders if Riku even wants to come back.
And…
She can see in her memories someone else sitting directly in the middle of the tree, between her and Riku.
She knows who it is…
"Who are you?" Kairi asked the empty spot, her voice laced with frustration and, to her surprise, heart ache.
"Why can't I remember you? And… why can't I stop thinking about you?"
Her voice cracks a little and she feels something wet on her cheek.
Kairi quickly brushes it away, feeling stupid over the fact she's crying over a faceless, nameless boy she can't remember.
"Are you alright?"
Kairi gasps as the soft voice breaks the quiet and quickly looks up.
She was no longer alone.
Standing by the tree, in the exact spot Riku use to lean against was a woman.
Strangely, her hair was a deep, aquatic blue. Her sapphire eyes looked up at Kairi with concern.
At first Kairi felt very embarrassed at being seen crying by some stranger. Then she was confused, wondering who this woman was and why she was on this island.
And then a strange thought filled Kairi, a question.
Do I…know her?
It had been a beautiful day she reflected, walking back on to the main island, blue eyes looking up at the smaller island, the sun beginning to set before her once again.
Then again Aqua supposed all days on these islands were beautiful.
The day before when she had arrived here Aqua had fallen asleep on the crooked tree on the small island off the shore. That same tree bore that star shaped fruit of legend she had shaped her charms after. She woke to a perfect blue sky, calm waters and salt scented clean air.
Paradise personified, she thought with a smile. Pure untouched light.
For much of the day she had walked by the shore with her metal boots off, reveling in the feel of warm sand between her toes. She hadn't felt that in years. Later she had explored the wooden decks and tree houses adorning the trees. She had discovered some old child playthings inside two of the tree houses: An old jump rope, the wooden grips banged up as if they had been thrown around a lot. A red pole, also banged up, a half deflated blue and white ball. And curiously, two wooden swords. While both were in equal states of wear, they were both carved and shaped exactly the same.
Aqua picked the smaller one up, studying its beaten surface, noting each and every cut and dent on its surface.
Again, she thought of those two boys.
Were these items there's?
She smiled, remembering the foot race they had, the brown haired boy's whining about being unprepared, the silver haired boy just brushing it off.
Just like…
Her smile faded. Very carefully, she placed the toy sword back by the other items. Standing up, she left the tree house and the items behind.
When she had come here all that time ago Aqua had only seen the front of the island and decided to satisfy her curiosity when she spotted a large wooden wall with a door on the far side of the island. Aqua had stepped though it and discovered the other half of this little island and at the same time confirmed her suspicions.
It was indeed a playground, complete with a long hand made wooden bridge (That looked very unsafe), a rope pulley with handle bars so a short person or small child could 'glide' down it and onto the farther side of the island past the wooden 'guard tower' Aqua noted with amusement. Her curiosity continued to grow when she saw the hill and tower were blocking her view of the last part of the island. She started to move towards the bridge but stopped before her foot touched its' surface.
She frowned down at it.
It really didn't look that safe but at the same time it looked a bit old.
Well, if it's lasted this long maybe it'll last a little longer, Aqua figured.
She stepped onto it, pausing as she heard a weak groan from the wood. Aqua tensed…and let out a sigh of relief when it didn't give.
Unafraid, Aqua continued across the bridge-
CRACK!
And just as she stepped onto the middle of it all the planks gave way and Aqua plunged down onto her backside into the small water spring below with a painful crash and big splash.
Aqua sat there a moment, annoyed as water dripped down her bangs and face.
"Really should have seen that coming…" She muttered, standing and glaring up at the wooden bridge. Walking through the small spring, Aqua passed the tower and moved up a small set of carved steps in the stone hill and paused to look at the small beach below.
This one had lots of coconut filled palm trees despite its small size and because of this it was a lot a lot shadier. Aqua smiled, moving down the rest of the hill and into the center of the shade, sighing in welcome as it cooled her skin. Island sunlight and water was a good combination for sunburn and Aqua didn't tan well. Sitting down at the base of the largest tree, Aqua let out a small sigh, eyes closing as she took in the sound of waves rolling and the occasional seagull cry.
It was peace personified, Aqua thought with a smile.
A calm in the storm that had been her new life.
With that Aqua frowned, her eyes blinking open.
History has a funny way of repeating itself doesn't it? She thought, drawing her legs up close to herself in a hug.
She couldn't keep avoiding what had brought her here.
She still had a decision to make.
She had been avoiding it for almost four days and so far she couldn't come up with anything.
It was so frustratingly simple though: Either agree to help Terra complete his Kingdom Hearts by continuously slaying Heartless.
Or refuse to work with the creatures he surrounded himself with and lose him forever.
Again.
Aqua groaned in frustration and buried her face against her knees. She sat like that for a few moments before reaching into her shorts' pocket. She stared at the star charm, its surface a bright blue under the light of the sun that began to peeked through the canopy of leaves above. When she had been plagued with such thoughts ten years ago all she had to do was pull out this charm and look at it. And somehow she'd find the right answer.
Now all it did was remind of her of how hard this was.
With a small sigh, Aqua stood up, gazing out at the sandy shores sadly now. The peace of this place offered no answers, only more frustration. Shaking her head a little Aqua stood back up staring at the charm another moment before slipping it back in her pocket.
Aqua gazed up at the sky, right hand shielding her eyes from the worst of the sunlight. The sun was beginning to set. Time flies, she mused.
With that thought in mind, Aqua started walking towards the hill, intent on returning to the main front of the island to see the sunset-
She stopped when her eyes caught sight of something.
It was a large stone covering over a hole in the side of the stone hill. Her curiosity peaking once more, Aqua walked over to the stone, her hands touching its surface and pushing a little. To her surprise the large stone was surprisingly light. With little effort Aqua easily pushed it aside, exposing the hole in the hillside.
When she saw what was inside Aqua found herself smiling once again.
It was a wooden raft, still in good condition and a finely built one at that, large enough to support two people. Or several young children, Aqua noted to herself with a sly smile. She looked over the raft, noting it was very dusty and its white sail was rolled up to the mast. Aqua stepped inside the small cove, well barely, there wasn't much room, and looked over the raft.
She could imagine the excitement these children no doubt felt…
Her smile fell.
At the prospect of using this raft to visit another world.
She reached out, her fingers running down the mast.
"I'm sorry your hard work wasn't rewarded…"
Her fingers stopped, feeling a niche in the mast, a deep scratch.
"But it's…for the best…"
She trailed off, sapphire eyes squinting as she gazed down at the spot on the mast that looked scratched up. She frowned. No, these marks weren't scratches she realized.
They were letters carved into the mast.
Aqua couldn't read them very well in the dark but she ran her fingers over the letters again, feeling the lines and contours of each carving. An 'E', followed by an 'x', a 'c', 'a', 'l', ''i', 'b', 'u' and 'r'.
Excalibur.
Aqua's smile returned. She remembered the old legends around that name. A child wouldn't truly understand the meaning behind the name and tale, but they would get the idea,
Freedom.
A seagull's cry broke her thoughts and Aqua shook her head, stepping out of the cove and looking at the raft one last time. Then, she rolled the rock back over the hole so nothing else would disturb it. Taking one last look at the palm trees and shore, Aqua headed for the steps and up them, making her way back towards the front of the island.
Far back on another hilltop, this one hidden by the shadows of the island cliffs and canopy of palm trees, a silver haired youth stood cloaked in shadows. His blindfolded eyes stared straight at Aqua, one gloved hand raised and stroking a smooth stone carved in the shape of a star and painted yellow. He remembers all the races they would have on this little obstacle course, jumping across the faulty wooden bridge and onto tree tops, both scrambling to reach this star and touch it first. Then they would race back to the door built into the wooden wall that divided the island.
He smiles, remembering all the times he won.
And the one time he lost.
It had been a challenge to see who got to name the raft and so they had decided to settle it the usual way through a race in the obstacle course. Of course he knew where he went wrong that day.
He had brought her and the paopu fruit into the bet they had made.
He had never seen his friend run so fast and stay focused. Usually whenever he thought he was winning he'd throw jabs at the silver haired youth to try and throw him off. 'Course that usually had the opposite effect and would allow him to snatch victory.
It had been the first time he had lost in one of their races and so their craft had been dubbed Excalibur. Wasn't much better than Highwind, the youth mused to himself and he smiled again. His smile faded when he resumed watching the reason he was truly back here.
The blue haired woman had made it across the broken bridge through a series of graceful jumps and flips and was already at the door.
The youth figured he should have confronted her the moment she found the raft. But something held him back. He could feel a shift in the island's light.
It was stronger.
And there was only reason for that.
She's here, he realized.
And so he chose to stay in the shadows.
He watched the woman through his blindfold as she stepped through the door.
He would have to wait little longer.
He didn't…He didn't want her…
His hand moved away from the star and touched his blindfold.
To see him like this.
Deep in a back of his mind and heart…A familiar voice chuckled.
The youth ignored it as always and stepped further back into the shadows. The darkness shifted and seemed to engulf him. And then he was gone once more.
She had just closed the door on the wall when she felt something. It was a familiar feeling, icy cold and slithery. Aqua stood there for a moment, waiting to see if it would happen again. But it didn't. Aqua stepped away from the door, staring at it for a second and then looking away, towards the sea and setting sun.
Just in time, she thought with a smile.
Still smiling, Aqua headed under the bridge and for the shack, quickly climbing the stairs. Aqua decided she couldn't stay here much longer but she wanted to see the sunset of this world one last time. After that…
She didn't know what she was going to do after that.
Aqua opened the door, blinking and squinting as she was momentarily blinded by the sinking sunlight. Her hand covered her eyes for a moment and after a few seconds her eyes adjusted and she lowered her hand, blinking one last time. There was the island wit its crooked tree…
Aqua stared, eyes widening a little.
And sitting on that tree was a young girl.
Though she was still a small distance away, Aqua could see the girl couldn't be older than fifteen and had shoulder length auburn red hair.
At first Aqua wanted to quickly and quietly slip away before the girl noticed her.
But before she could move back inside the shack and down the stairs her eyes focused a little better on the girl and she noticed something else.
The girl's shoulders were shaking.
She's crying, Aqua realized.
She stood there a moment, battling herself internally.
But then again she knew what she was going to do next.
Stepping away from the shack door and moving across the bridge onto the smaller island. She reached it but stayed a few feet back, he sapphire eyes watching the girl. Sadly confirming her thoughts, Aqua could hear quiet sobs and see tears on the girl's cheeks. Then an odd thought popped into Aqua's mind when she could see the girl better.
Do I know her?
Aqua quickly brushed that thought aside. She had only been here once before and had met two little boys. She didn't know this girl…she was sure of that.
Being bold, Aqua stepped forward next to the base of the tree and asked, "Are you alright?"
The girl gasped, quickly brushing some tears aside before her eyes caught side of Aqua. Aqua was stunned by how deeply blue they were, practically indigo. The girl blinked, looking at Aqua in surprise. She quickly wiped away the rest of the tears and mumbled, "Y-yeah, I'm fine. Just…."
The girl trailed off and Aqua leaned a little closer. Aqua, "Just what?"
The girl brushed some of her red locks behind her ear, her indigo eyes looking out at the sunset. "Just…a little overwhelmed. That's all." The girl looked back at Aqua, looking over her hair and clothes. For a moment Aqua thought she would ask where she ha come from. Instead, the girl resumed looking at the sunset.
Feeling a little bolder Aqua hopped onto the tree next to the girl and sat down, looking at the sun as well. It was beginning to sink into the water but it would still be a while before it vanished completely. Aqua turned, looking at the girl and asking, "Do you…want to talk about it?"
The girl blinked, looking at Aqua in surprise. For a split second Aqua thought she would brush it off. Then she asked quietly, "Why…why do you want to know?"
And Aqua wondered that as well.
Still…
There was something…familiar about this girl.
Aqua met her eyes and smiled kindly.
Aqua, "You look like you could use a sympathetic ear."
This seemed to ease a little of the tension and girl gave a small smile. She brushed another loose lock from her face and gazed back out at the sun. Aqua waited patiently, the girl not saying anything.
Finally, the girl whispered, "I was…" She seemed to trail off but Aqua waited, listening with intent that surprised even herself.
"I was thinking about my friends." The girl finally said. Aqua stared at her and asked, "Did…something happen to them?"
The girl shook her head, maybe a little to forcefully. "No, no…At least I hope not…It's just…"
She sighed, looking up at the reddening sky. Then she looked at Aqua and went on a little shyly, "This is going to sound strange but…I don't know where they are…or if they're ok." She bowed her head, looking at her feet. "And I just…I just feel…"
"Helpless?" Aqua interjected gently.
The girl nodded slowly. "Yeah," she agreed. "I feel helpless and useless…Wherever they are…I can't help them at all…And I just feel so useless…" The girl looked at Aqua, smiling that shy smile again. "I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to unload that on you…"
Aqua smiled reassuringly. Aqua, "It's ok. I don't mind at all. I can tell you've wanted to get that off your chest for a while." The girl nodded and looked back at the setting sun. It had finally begun to sink beneath the waves.
Aqua followed her gaze.
For a little while, the two just watched the sunset, not saying anything else.
And then, Aqua said gently, "Think of them…"
The girl blinked, looking at Aqua in surprise.
Aqua went on, not looking at her as she continued to say, "Wherever they are…Pray to them that that their sorrows will end… and then, maybe… your hearts will blend." She looked at the girl, smiling very gently. "There are many places they could be…but they each share the same sky. One sky…" She pointed up to this world's sky.
Aqua looked at the girl, smiling kindly.
"And one destiny."
The girl stared at Aqua in open mouthed awe, fresh tears welling in her eyes. She started to look away again, embarrassed but Aqua reached out and brushed a single one away. The girl flinched but Aqua said softly, "It's alright. You don't have to be to be embarrassed." She looked back at the sunset, her smile fading to a frown.
She bowed her head, remembering the charm in her pocket. And the friend waiting for her.
Aqua looked back at the girl, smiling gently. The girl stared back at her in slight wonder. Then, she smiled back, brushing away her tears.
The girl smiled, a true smile of relief and genuine happiness. "Thank you…that really helped." Aqua smiled. "I'm glad then."
The girl shifted, jumping off the tree. Aqua followed after, landing in front of her. And then something caught her eye. There was a flash of silver on the girl's chest as a small charm on her necklace swayed a little in the sudden movement and was caught in the sunlight.
Aqua cold see it better now and saw it was a very simple silver charm, shaped like a drop of water, on a chain necklace. Aqua found herself staring at this simple charm in confusion. Again, another thought entered her mind unbidden.
I've seen this necklace before…I know I have.
Aqua found herself wondering where though. It was a simple charm, so perhaps she had seen it in one of the various merchant shops across the worlds. Or maybe Aqua herself had owned one like it when she was younger.
The girl looked up at Aqua, smiling truly.
Aqua smiled back.
And then…
As Aqua looked at the girl, really looked at her…
She remembered.
She was walking up the steps in front of a very impressive looking castle, noting it was even bigger than the other three previously.
The calm was shattered by a scream.
She gasped, seeing a young girl in a simple white dress and clutching several flowers to herself running across the castle's courtyard. Running from the blue skinned, red-eyed demons that followed her, skittering after her like foul insects.
To her horror, the girl was cornered by a castle wall. And the demons surrounded her, twitching erratically.
Just as they prepared to pounce a flash of light blue and silver moved through them, cutting down several of their number as a taller, blue haired woman stood in front of the girl, holding a blue and silver keyblade with a simple blue water charm dangling from the hilt guard.
The girl panted and whimpered in fear, looking at the woman helplessly with big, innocent blue eyes. Her small hand clutched the woman's keyblade. The blue haired woman looked down on her. And smiled, her sapphire eyes promising her everything would be okay.
The little girl still looked scared. But nonetheless, she smiled back.
"Miss?"
Aqua blinked, rising out of her memories and seeing those same blue eyes staring up at her in concern.
"Miss? Are you alright?" The girl asked with concern. Aqua nodded, smiling reassuringly at her. but inside her heart was beating frantically.
"I-I'm alright. It's nothing."
The girl looked unconvinced and still concerned. But she nodded, and smiled at Aqua again.
The two women began walking across the bridge, neither saying anything. Aqua glanced at the girl's necklace again, heart still beating quickly.
And before she could convince herself not to, Aqua said, "I like your necklace."
That made the girl blink in surprise, looking at Aqua before smiling, her hand reaching up to touch the small charm. "Oh, thank you." She said, looking at it for a few moments. She stopped once they reached the cliff top and the shack door to the island below. The girl played with the little charm for a moment before looking up at Aqua again.
"Can I…can I tell you a secret, about this necklace? Something I've never told anyone else?"
Aqua's heart sped up. But she kept a calm face and nodded gently. Aqua, "Of course."
The girl looked at the charm again, eyes reminiscing.
"Well…I can't remember who told me this but…" She trailed off for a moment, staring at the charm intently. Then, she went on, her voice quiet.
"Someone once put a spell on this necklace…"
Aqua's heart stopped.
The girl went on. "And they told me…If I was in trouble…the light in my heart would lead me to the light of another…" She smiled, and Aqua knew she thinking of that someone.
"And he would keep me safe."
Something cracked a little, inside Aqua's heart. And now she was the one fighting back tears. She took a deep breath, calming her nerves.
Aqua looked at the girl, both their blue eyes gazing at the charm.
Aqua looked at the girl, amazed at how beautiful she was.
And then she asked softly, "Did it…Did it come true?"
The girl didn't look back at her, just stared at the charm, her smile, and her eyes sad now.
She looked back at Aqua and nodded again. "It did. I'm sure of that now."
The ache in her chest lessened just a little, but it was just enough to bring an overwhelming relief to Aqua's heart and soul. She closed her eyes, sighing softly.
Then, Aqua opened her eyes, smiling at the girl as she whispered, "I'm glad it came true then."
The girl nodded, still smiling and admiring the charm. She gasped suddenly, looking back at the sunset and seeing the sun was almost completely engulfed in the ocean, the red sky turning a darker shade, twinkling stars beginning to emerge. The girl looked at Aqua and said, "I'm sorry but I didn't realize how late it was. I've got to go."
Aqua nodded and replied, "I understand." Still smiling, she went on, "You better hurry before it gets too dark out." The girl nodded, moving quickly towards the door but stopped with a gasp and whirled back around to look at Aqua. "Oh, miss, I'm sorry. Do you want to come back with me to the main island?"
Aqua shook her head. Aqua, "No, I'm leaving another way. But thank you."
The girl frowned, eyes concerned but she nodded, and smiled one last time at Aqua.
"Thank you…um…"
Aqua smiled and gave her name.
"Aqua."
The girl smiled and said, "Thank you, Aqua." The girl then gave her name. "I'm Kairi."
Aqua's heart froze again. But she nodded and smiled back. Aqua, "I'm glad…I'm glad I could help you, Kairi."
Still smiling, Kairi said, "Goodbye…" And then she headed through the shack door and back down to the island shore, moving for the docks and the single boat there. Aqua watched her go, finding herself still smiling even after Kairi had reached back to the main island just in the distance. By then, night had completely descended on the island.
And Aqua found herself alone once again.
Slowly, her smile faded and she leaned against the palm tree rising out of the cliff top, looking at the main island, and seeing so many homes light up. Families. Living together. Laughing.
Aqua sighed. She had stayed here too long.
It was time to go.
She headed for the deck she had left her scarves and boots on, moving slowly, lethargically, numb.
And when she finally reached the deck her items were on, Aqua wondered why Kairi was here. She wondered what had happened to Radiant Garden, the fabled City if Light.
She wondered if it was even still one of those worlds shining brightly in the night sky.
Aqua slipped her sleeves and armor charm back on, then wrapped her scarves back around her waist and finally slipped on her boots. She stood back up just as thunder rumbled overhead. Aqua blinked, looking up in wonder when she saw dark clouds now covered the night sky.
She stared up in confusion, wondering how they could have blown over onto the island so quickly.
And then she felt it again.
That icy, slithery sensation from before, only much stronger. And closer.
Aqua looked away from the clouds and her eyes swept the island. It was close, very close. Too close.
She stepped a little ways off the deck, her gloved hand touching a wooden rail as she continued to look around the island. And finally saw the source of the feeling. Her sapphire eyes widened, then narrowed as she let out a frustrated gasp and growl.
There, standing on the smaller island offshore, directly by the crooked tree she and Kairi had been, was a cloaked figure, hood raised.
"I am getting so tired of those cloaks…" Aqua murmured to herself.
The water maiden quickly sprinted back to the small shack but didn't bother with the door and stairs and instead somersaulted onto the shack's roof and jumped onto the cliff top. She glared at the cloaked figure across from her, his back to her as he gazed out at the main island, arms crossed, posture tense.
Standing up straight, eyes and face set in a glare, Aqua walked slowly across the bridge, not caring the wood creaked and groaned loudly and the stranger instantly knew of her approach. Above them both, thunder rumbled. Aqua stepped onto the island and stopped, glaring fiercely at the cloaked figure's back.
He stood still, not turning to face, hidden eyes still gazing out at the main island. Aqua studied this new one, noting he was shorter then most of their average members but slightly taller then Xion and Roxas had been, coming up a little taller then Aqua herself.
He seemed…
Familiar.
Before Aqua could pursue that thought, the figure finally lowered his arms and turned slowly, his hidden form facing Aqua at last.
For a tense moment, all they did was stand and face each other. Then, the cloaked figure raised his right hand. Aqua tensed but didn't move otherwise. If he called his weapon, she would call her keyblade.
But he didn't.
His gloved hand reached for his hood and he pulled it back.
Aqua gasped, her eyes widening.
Long silver locks, pale skin. Eyes hidden by a black blindfold.
His hidden eye met Aqua's.
Aqua gasped out, "It's you…"
The silver haired teen who had worked with the bandaged researcher.
Riku.
The teen nodded, his expression blank and emotionless. Aqua frowned, very confused.
Before she could say ask anything else he interjected, "What are you doing here?"
Aqua flinched, surprised by the bluntness of his question. She didn't reply, sapphire eyes lowering as she thought over his question. Truth be told, she realized…
"I don't know…" She whispered.
He stared at her, expression still blank but somehow slightly cold as well. The wind howled, the thunder booming above them. The silver haired teen spoke again.
"That's not good enough."
Aqua gasped and looked at him, anger in her eyes. Aqua, "And what's that supposed to mean?"
Riku met her anger with that same blankness as he replied, "Exactly that. It's not good enough. Why are you here…when you should've made your decision?"
Aqua gaped at this boy, no older than she looked. "How…" she breathed. "Do you know about that?"
The teen shifted, turning his blinded eyes toward the shores below. He gazed at them as he replied, "I've been following you since Beast's Castle. I saw your confrontation with the Organization Superior at Hollow Bastion."
For a moment Aqua was overcome by that familiar outrage over his revelation. The same outrage she had felt when her memories had been invaded…
Riku returned his hidden eyes at her again. "I need to know what you're intentions are with him. What your connection to him is." He stepped closer.
Aqua found herself stepping back.
What he said next hit Aqua right in her heart.
"And why you called him 'Terra'."
The bubbling rage melted and cooled instantly after he said that. And was replaced by that indecision that had been plaguing her for the last three days. Her glare faded to a frown, her eyes downcast. She looked away from Riku's hidden gaze and said nothing for a few seconds.
When she finally could look back at him, all she could reply was, "I…can't."
The teen growled lowly, and the sudden anger in the sound was so savage Aqua flinched back in shock.
"That's…not…good enough," he snapped out each word, his right hand shaking as it clenched into a fist. His left arm snapped up, pointing at Aqua accusingly.
"I've sacrificed too much to get this far…" Riku snarled, his anger mixed with desperation and a terrible exhaustion. Aqua found her sudden fear numbing into sympathy.
The teen grit his jaw down hard, baring his teeth in a snarl. "And I won't let whatever connection between you and the Organization Superior-"
Purple fire exploded around the teen's clenched right hand causing Aqua to gasp in shock as she felt a tremendous rise in dark power. All of it emanating from this teen.
Above them thunder rumbled and a crack of lightning briefly illuminated the island, the silver of his hair appearing to glow for a second. The purple fire around his hand extended out, lengthening and widening, the purple seemingly dividing into lines if red and blue at the base of his clenched fist and an eye opened above his hand, a blue eyes with a reptilian slit that stared right at Aqua. The water maiden gasped and stepped back in shock.
The purple flames above the eye, which Aqua realized was embedded in a hilt, sharpened and formed into the outline of a sword, the blade resembling the design of a scimitar but the resemblance ended there as the blade looked like a wing with black veins pulsing out of it. Riku pulled the blade back and over his left arm, the dark tip somehow gleaming in the darkness as it was aimed directly at the pale skin of Aqua's throat.
The water maiden gaped at the dark swordsmen, sapphire eyes shocked and slightly horrified.
The darkness rolled off of him in thick waves, threatening to swallow Aqua in its' icy embrace. Riku glared at Aqua in rage. "Make all that worthless."
Aqua raised her hand slowly, defensively, not wanting to provoke him many more than he already was. Aqua, "Put that down. You don't want to do this."
Riku continued to glare at her from behind his blindfold. "I know exactly what I want to do. Unlike you, I'm ready to face any consequences of my actions. I'm not a coward."
His grip on his demonic looking sword tightened.
"Not like you."
Aqua found herself glaring at the teen once again, her fear igniting into rage. But this rage was focused.
Aqua clenched her fists, suddenly aware of the weight of her star charm in her pocket, so slight, but suddenly heavy on her heart.
Her voice was chilled as she whispered, "You have no idea…No idea what is at stake for me…if I make the wrong decision. You don't know what I could lose… I have a chance to get back everything I've lost and I can't afford to waste it."
An expression finally melted Riku's icy gaze. He smirked, blade still raised. "Funny," he said, blue and black fire smoking between his fingers. His fist clenched shut and he thrust it out with a shout, a blue fireball shooting at Aqua. The water maiden gasped and cart wheeled to the right, leaping off the small island and back onto the shore of the playground island. Aqua looked up but the teen was gone already.
There was a loud cry from above her melded in with a crack of thunder and Aqua back flipped just as Riku reappeared, crashing down with his sword reversed, both hands clutching the hilt. A shockwave of purple, blue and black erupted around him and Aqua was forced to raise her Reflect Barrier, the green glass like shield barely holding. When she lowered it, she met the teen's smirk with a glare.
He raised his blade it that strange pose again and shouted with surprising determination, "That's the exact same reason I'm not going to lose to you!"
Aqua glared at the teen as he began to move slowly, blade still raised as the wind began to pick up fiercely.
Aqua shook her head, glaring at him in a mixture of pity and outrage. Aqua, "Don't do this…"
His response was to charge forward, impossibly fast, blade twirling and spinning out in a blinding motion of sword slashes, forcing Aqua to swing her hand out and call her keyblade Rain Storm in a flash of pink petals and block his slashes, sparks flying as their weapons collided again and again, Riku's strokes extremely aggressive as he advanced while Aqua stayed on the defense, stepping back and moving her keyblade to block each strike as the two moved onto the beach, lightning flashing above them. Riku forced Aqua back in a flurry of spinning slashes quickly followed by another spinning slash and completed with an aggressive stab with his sword and cry of rage, actually succeeding in knocking Aqua back as she quickly jumped away to regain her bearings.
Riku raised his left hand, blue fire gathering as he roared, "Block me!" and thrust his palm out, a fireball shooting at Aqua. The water maiden threw up her barrier to deflect the spell, though it succeeded in actually cracking the glass like surface and leaving a series of spider-web like cracks. Before Aqua had a chance to retaliate, Riku charged forward, repeating that series of spinning slashes that ended with his forward thrust and Aqua was knocked even farther back, her keyblade raised, the flat of her palm held against the blade. Aqua blocked a few more of his slashes and finally saw her opening when he over extended his finishing thrust.
She quickly swung her Rain Storm out, knocking his blade away and slashed him across the chest several times, finally forcing him back in a flurry of blue and silver blows. Riku grunted in pain with each strike and Aqua forced him to leap back with her final lunge and spinning slash. Riku kept a good distance away, moving slowly in a circle, blade and left arm raised while Aqua mirrored his movements, moving right as he moved left. She saw the smoke gather in his hand once again and this time when he threw his fireball Aqua simply blocked it by slashing her keyblade out-
And Riku vanished in a flash of blue and white, reappearing above Aqua, blade thrusting down as he roared, slashing Aqua as he thrust down and when his blade buried itself in the sand a shockwave of blue and white was released, knocking Aqua back with a cry of pain. She slid back, sand flying everywhere and charged forward, stabbing her blade out-
Only to bounce back as Riku thrust his free hand out, calling up his own glass like barrier, this one light blue instead of her green. Aqua stumbled back, dazed for a split second-
Which was all Riku needed as he slashed down, stabbing forward with a cry of, "Keep trying!" and Aqua was sent crashing back onto the shore, her right hand that held her Rain Storm now clutching her bleeding shoulder. Aqua shot him a glare, her sapphire eyes looking directly into his blindfolded ones. She jumped back, spinning her keyblade in midair before thrusting it up into the air. Riku stared at her, expression confused but he gasped in realization a split-second later when the air crackled and snapped. He jumped back and into the air as a glacier erupted from the sand and was forced to throw up his barrier once again as the huge chunk of ice exploded, lethal and large shards firing at him, bouncing off his shield and melting instantly. Riku landed back down on the shore, hopping a little. And leaving himself open as Aqua shot forward, slashing her Rain Storm at him and connecting, followed by several more crescent shaped blue slashes of magic that made Riku flinch and jerk back with suppressed grunts of pain.
Aqua followed her multiple slashes by charging forward and calling her barrier up, the magic exploding outward as she rammed into Riku, forcing him even farther back until he was back under the bridge connecting to the smaller island. Aqua held her blade by her thigh, still keeping it raised as Riku stumbled back up, shaking his head slightly before looking back up at Aqua, his hidden eyes no doubt set in an angry glare. She was about to try and reason with him again when he leapt and vanished in a burst of blue and white. Aqua looked around wildly, wondering where he had teleported too-
Above, her mind screamed and she reacted instinctively, cart wheeling again and again each time Riku slammed down with a roar, vanishing again and reappearing above to lunge back down two more times, each time leaving a large crater of superheated sand in his wake. He stopped after the third teleport and slam, jumping back and throwing a fireball that Aqua blocked with her Reflect Barrier, keeping it raised to block his forward lunge and allowing her to retaliate with her own spinning slash. Riku staggered back, finally winded and open.
"My turn!" Aqua called, leaping into the air as an orb of light appeared. The orb shot over Riku and Aqua vanished, reappearing over the orb as she shot down, slashing Riku and causing him to cry out in pain. Aqua vanished but reappeared, slashing down again and again, her light burning into Riku's darkness as she mimicked his attack but succeeded in actually hitting him each time. Riku stumbled back, his cloak torn and burned in several places, the side of his face cut, blood dripping onto the beach.
Aqua stood several feet back from him, watching him pant and struggle to remain standing.
He was good but she was still better.
Aqua decided to try reason one last time. Aqua, "Please stop this. I don't want to hurt you anymore than I already have."
Riku gritted his jaw down so hard, blood dribbled down his mouth as he rose up, glaring at Aqua. Above them, the lightning began flashing erratically, the wind picking up with gale force now, actually making Aqua stumble.
Riku stood to his full height, suddenly appearing much taller in the darkness, his sword glowing brightly with each flash of lightning. Then Aqua realized it wasn't the lightning that was doing that. She could feel the darkness around Riku growing but at the same time it was being focused, all of it.
Into his sword.
Aqua realized this too late as the demonic sword erupted in purple fire, lengthening out and growing before her eyes, the flames roaring loudly, actually drowning out the thunder as the sword tripled in length and width. Aqua gasped, Riku's silver locks rising as a dark blue and purple aura surrounded him, the ferocity of his power blowing the wind and sand away from himself and causing Aqua to stumble back, almost to her knees.
Riku's voice was ice cold as he declared: "You can't stop me."
He raised his blade in front of himself, running his left hand over it and causing the purple fire to spark and flicker out erratically, his power and darkness surrounded Aqua, actually stealing her breath as the icy chill of it sapped her strength from her and left the water maiden standing there, shaking and quivering in fright as he whispered, "No one can".
She hadn't felt a darkness this terrible and powerful since…
Since her fight with the imposter in her friends' skin.
Riku rose up, floating in midair, his aura intensifying and flashing out, blinding Aqua as she rubbed at her eyes fiercely, looking around wildly to try and predict where he would reappear-
He attacked from all sides.
Roaring each time he appeared, Riku charged forward, appearing from thin air and slashing Aqua across her back, causing her to stumble and cry in pain, whirling and trying to slash him but he vanished-
Reappearing at her side and lunging forward, flying through the air as he disappeared and reappeared from all sides, charging into Aqua with his flaming sword that was somehow ice cold at the same time, cutting deeply into her skin, sending her blood splattering across the sand. Aqua jerked and flailed like a rag doll, screaming in pain from each cut that not only spilled her blood but stole her strength at the same time.
Finally, it seemingly stopped and Aqua collapsed on her hands and knees, panting and gasping harshly, her grip on her keyblade weak as she desperately tried to regain her bearings-
"IT'S-"
Aqua's head shot up, her eyes widening as she saw Riku reappear one final time, floating in midair, blade held reversed down as he shot down, impaling his blade scant inches from her face-
And letting geysers of fiery darkness erupt around himself, blasting Aqua with all the unholy power his darkness had to offer with one final roar of "OVER!". The water maiden flew back in the air with a scream of agony, slamming onto the beach, bouncing a few times before rolling into the shore, the cold waves nothing compared to the chill of those dark flames. Riku ripped his sword free from the sand, spinning it in his hand so it was held straight once again. He approached Aqua slowly, grip on his demonic blade tightening. He gazed down on Aqua, his gaze ever hidden by his blindfold, the extra cloth length floating in the gale like wind.
He stared down on Aqua, no longer bothering to raise his sword.
Riku, "Give up and lay down your keyblade. I won't give you another chance to surrender."
Aqua coughed, blood splattering in the water. She raised her head, body shaking as she glared at Riku, her grip tightening back on her Rain Storm. She stumbled up, using the blade as a crutch and rose to her feet, staggering and still stumbling slightly but refusing to fall back down. Riku stared, his expression an infuriating combination of pity and annoyance.
Aqua raised her blade in front of herself, her other hand touching the blade like Riku had held his sword. But instead of darkness or magic rising on hers, sparks of light began flashing off the silver of her blade while the blue began to glow even brighter. Riku gasped, flinching back, his free hand moving over his eyes as if he had been blinded despite the blindfold already over them.
Aqua's Rain Storm flashed even brighter, turning completely white as it was covered in an aura of light. The pure white light washed over herself and Riku, the light restoring Aqua's stolen strength and healing her wounds. But when it flashed over Riku it had the opposite effect, causing him to stagger back and cry in pain, his hand covering his face as he desperately tried to escape the shining light from her keyblade. Aqua stared at him sadly as she said, "And I can't give you any more."
Aqua swung the blade out, charging forward at high speed, slamming and slashing into Riku, cutting him deeply across his chest. The dark swordsman cried out in pain, staggering back a few steps before Aqua charged back over, this time cutting into his side and causing him to stumble even farther back. Aqua charged to the end of the island, completely surrounded by light that trailed off of her in a zig-zagging line as she charged back toward Riku, the teen throwing up his shield. This time it shattered easily and Aqua tore into his other side, blood spilling across the sand as Riku screamed in pain once again.
Aqua charged him repeatedly, not teleporting like Riku had but still somehow moving faster than he had been earlier, Aqua's form now a blur of white light, tearing into Riku from every side over and over again, pushing him with each blow until he was directly in the center of the island, cut and bleeding deeply as he used the last of his strength simply to keep standing. This strength was finally broken when Aqua leapt above him and slammed back down, geysers of light erupting around Riku this time. His scream was agonizing and painful to hear, the shear force of Aqua's attack sending him flying into the air.
The wind had stopped and the thunder and lightning in the dark clouds above had weakened considerably.
Aqua gazed up at Riku's floating form, his sword still held tight in his hand. Her sapphire eyes were filled with sadness.
Forgive me.
Twirling her blade, Aqua pointed it up in the air, and a multi-colored orb glowed at the base of the tip, glowing brighter and brighter before flashing, erupting into seven blasts like Ragnarok but these blasts weren't magenta. Each beam was a different color, ranging from red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and pink, all seven blasts striking Riku dead on. And exploding in a brilliant flash mixed with Riku's final scream of agony. The brilliance of Aqua's final attack caused the black clouds above to part in time with the explosion, exposing the brilliant star filled night sky.
Riku fell back to the sandy shore below, bouncing once but not making a sound, collapsing in a smoking heap, his cloak further burned and blood stained. He was completely still, mouth parting in weak pants; the ends of his blind fold frayed and burnt as well. Aqua lowered her Rain Storm, dispelling it in a flourish of pink petals. Riku's grip on his own sword was desperate but his strength failed him at last and it slipped free from his palm, sliding into the sand and vanishing in a burst of purple fire and smoke.
Aqua panted quietly as well, wiping sweat off her brow. Then, she focused her gaze on Riku, eyes sad. She moved towards him slowly.
When she reached him, she crouched down, her eyes staring intently at his blindfold. Even though she couldn't see them, she knew his own eyes were staring right back at hers. Aqua stared down at him.
And finally, she remembered.
Aqua's right hand reached out, gently stroking his face. He didn't flinch, even when her fingers gently gripped the blindfold and slowly removed it. Winter blue eyes gazed up, weak, desperate and scared.
Aqua stared down at him sadly. "…I guess my prayers went unanswered."
Riku gasped and panted weakly, trying to rise up but failing, gasping in pain. Aqua pushed him down, saying firmly, "Rest."
Riku panted out, "I can't…let you…go to him…you don't know…what's at stake…"
Aqua, "Don't talk."
Riku shook his head, desperation giving him new strength. "If…you join him…he'll complete…his Kingdom Hearts…and all the worlds…will be in danger…"
Aqua bit her lip, but said nothing.
Riku went on, his voice getting weaker but more urgent. Riku, "But…if you…defeat him…DiZ won't…need Namine…or Sora…anymore…and he'll abandon them…I don't…have the power to protect them…if that happens…"
Aqua's eyes narrowed in outrage. But her rage was cooled over by her confusion at the mention of that name again.
"Sora…" she whispered softly.
Riku nodded quickly. Riku, "He's…the only….one…the chosen one…who'll…save all the worlds…"
His eyes glazed over, suddenly tired beyond his young years, looking so much older it broke Aqua's heart.
Riku, "Why…" He asked her in a voice only slightly fainter than a whisper. His head fell back against the sand softly, what little strength he still had fading. He gazed up at her, vision weak.
Riku, "Why do you…have the keyblade…? Who…who are you…?"
And then mercifully, his eyes closed and his breathing became soft and even.
Aqua gazed down on the sleeping teen, her smile sad, her eyes teary. Her left hand went to her mouth as she gently brushed his silver locks from his face.
Aqua whispered, "Sleep…"
She stood up on shaky feet, her hand still covering her mouth to stifle her sobs, eyes closing tightly to fight back her tears.
She had fought monsters more horrible than any nightmare she could fathom. She had fought beings that masqueraded as men. But this…
Seeing this boy bearing all this weight on his heart, carrying this darkness that would inevitably consume him…
It was too much.
She didn't want this life for any of them.
But fate was never that kind, and every thing the keyblade came into contact with was consumed by its legend. Sometimes the good…But more often than not, the bad.
She looked back down on Riku's sleeping form, remembering his words.
He's the chosen one…who'll save all the worlds…
It seemed the hardest burden had been placed on the last one…
That little boy, with his crooked grin…
So much like…
Aqua didn't move as her keyblade Rain Storm reappeared in her hand in a flash of petals and pink light. She raised it slightly, staring into the surface of the silver steel.
You've taken me this far, she thought with a sad smile.
It seemed all her smiles were sad these days.
Her left hand reached towards the end of her keyblades' hilt guard, gently grasping the blue charm shaped like water droplets. With a gentle twist and tug, Aqua removed the keychain easily. Instantly, the colors of her keyblade dulled, the blue and silver graying. Aqua looked at the removed keychain before jamming her keyblade into the sand and crouching by the shore. Removing a small pile of sand, Aqua placed the charm into the small hole she made and then covered it over with more sand.
Standing back up, Aqua reached into her pocket and held out her star charm. As Aqua gazed into its bright blue surface…
She finally made her decision.
Taking the end of the string, Aqua fitted it into the empty link of her dulled and powerless Rain Storm.
Instantaneously, there was a brilliant flash of bright blue and white.
Aqua held her keyblade up as it transformed before her very eyes, the blade widening out and changing one final time.
When the glow faded, Aqua now held in her hand a beautiful blade shaped like rolling waves, the hilt guard shaped like a heart, her star charm hanging from the end.
A familiar name echoed in the back of her mind…
Bright Crest.
Aqua stared at the familiar form of her final keyblade. The first time it had taken this form, she had been filled with unconquerable confidence and strength. Now, it only seemed to add to the ache in her heart.
The water maiden looked down on the sleeping form of Riku one last time.
Then, her face setting into a mask of strength and determination, Aqua threw her Bright Crest into the air while in the same motion slamming her right hand onto her armor charm. Streams of pink light washed over at the same time her keyblade flashed a blinding blue and shape shifted into the familiar arrow like form of her rider as Aqua's body became covered by her blue and gray suit of armor. The rider shot down, blue streams trailing after it and Aqua jumped, landing on the small bar that floated under the bow like shaft of the handle bar.
Sparing one last glance at Riku, Aqua turned her hidden eyes to the sky as a portal of blue and white light appeared, energy sparking off of its surface. Gunning the engines, Aqua shot into the portal, vanishing in a flash of light. And the sky became clear and starry once more.
Their faint light covered Riku, who remained completely motionless, breathing even and deep.
In his first peaceful sleep in so long, he dreamed.
He dreamed of a simpler time, a more innocent time.
He dreamed of his friends, smiling and happy.
He dreamed of the day they could all be together again…
The path was narrow, a chasm of infinite darkness looming below.
They had walked through a seemingly endless field of wavy green grass, his companion guiding him the entire way.
He had only been here once before, but she had been here days.
She knew the way by memory.
Ironic really.
When they finally stood before it, they both had to crane their hooded heads up and back, gazing up at the awe inspiring and terrifying sight of it.
A castle that seemed on the verge of crumbling into the endless chasm of darkness it stood suspended over, its colors a faded gold and bright green, its surface carved with demonic faces and imposing bars. It wasn't nearly as big or impressive looking as the Castle That Never Was but at the same time it was still even more. It held more rooms than anyone could count. It was dark on the outside, but light on the inside.
It held thirteen floors and twelve basements.
It stood on the edge of light and darkness.
Above its two doors, a message was carved into its surface:
"To find is to lose…and to lose is to find…"
The two before it slowly pulled their hoods back. The girl with hair black as midnight turned her deep blue eyes to her friend, his blonde, spiky locks standing up straighter then usual, his expression determined…
Yet scared.
Something echoed in his mind, both their minds. A familiar voice that spoke in a memory that was both theirs and not theirs.
"Ahead lies something you need…But to claim it…you must lose something dear…"
They both blinked, confused, looking at each other, neither asking the question they were both thinking:
Did you…hear that?
The girl turned her gaze back on the castle and its doors. Steeling herself, she moved in front of them and pushed them open. They swung open slowly, under their own power.
Before them was a long hallway of white marble. At its end were some steps. And another door.
The girl turned back to her friend, smiling, and beckoning him after.
The boy nodded but didn't follow immediately. He continued to gaze up at the castle and its single tower.
And then, he looked back towards his friend and smiled back, following after her.
As he walked inside, stepping into the white hallway. The doors swung close, just as slowly as they opened.
Inside, Roxas wondered if he was making a huge mistake by bringing Xion with him.
But they were here now. All that was left to do was to find…whatever he knew was inside.
But to find meant to lose in the halls of Castle Oblivion.
So even if he found what he was looking for…
What was he going to have to give in return?
(Brushes dust off this old corner.)
Hola faithful readers! Did you miss me?
Been a loooooooong time for me, two months. Sorry, a combination of school, depressed friends, my own depression mixed in with some serious writers block and what do you get? A two month hiatus.
Any hoo, I'm not going to make any more promises about updates since that was part of the reason I had writers block, cause I only get writer's block when I'm stressed. And believe me I have been stressed.
But enough depressing talk!
We are approaching the end game...
Only two chapters remain...
So tell me faithful readers...How will this story end?
...We shall see.
Other News:
THE WINNERS OF 'WHERE'S RIKU?'
Third place: AmethystFeather:What Probably Happened: Just got to the worlds as soon as Aqua left, gave up and went to Destiny Island to sulk/think, or he wasn't even looking for Aqua.
What Should of Happened: Traffic Jam. For Lesser Beings, those heartless/nobodies sure are slow travelers. :) That or the fangirls caught up with him. How he escaped it beyond me.
(Riku floating in the sea of worlds behind a bunch of Heartless adn Nobody gummi ships. Riku: For the love of- Come on! I've got places go!
Random army of fangirls appear. Fangirls: OMG IT'S RIKUUUUUUUUUU! (Surround him, incapcitating him with their squeals as they begin ripping off various articles of clothing. Riku screams: NOOOOOOOO! as his hand gropes out of the swarm but slowly sinks back in as teh fangirls consume...with kawaiiness.)
...Eesh. Litttle harsh even for me. Ah well.
Second place: kirabook:I say... Riku was totally playing hide and seek with Mickey! In some Disney like town! )8D
(Riku looking around desperately, standing in the middle of Disney Town. Riku: For the love of god...(Screams in anguish) GIVE ME A FREAKIN' HINT! (Mickey lounges in a garden chair, reading a random manga. Remember kids: Never wear a blindfold when playing hide and seek.)
This would have been first place but...well I had to give THIS first place:
First Place: Kittygirl1998:Riku was in england dancing in a cocanut bra and a grass skirt while he was screaming "long live the king of pie!"
Riku: Oh no way in hell am I doing THAT!
Me: Too late.
(spectators watch in an england ice rink as Riku twirls and skies around the ice, dressed in a coconut bra and grass skirt and singing; LONG LIVE THE KING OF PIE!)
Riku:...(Dies of shame.)
Well, that's that folks!
Now onto the Review Responses:
(Edit: I'll do a RR next chapter everyone. I was rushing in getting this chapter posted.)