Just so you know, don't expect another chapter for a while. I will be going into cryogenic sleep until New Years Day of 2018.
This is what Kingdom Hearts has done to me. Good job, Square Enix.
Continue on.
When Kirux finally regained consciousness, he found himself on a hard, stone surface.
His body ached a little as he stood up.
"What...happened to me?"
All he could remember was him being sucked into that massive portal. After that, nothing.
...
The situation felt all too familiar to his "birth."
Waking up in an unfamiliar place, with very little memory.
...
Actually, no.
Kirux did recognize the place, once he got a good look around.
"Hold on," he said, "Isn't this..."
Play: Reviving Hollow Bastion - KH2
"How did I end up here, in Hollow Bastion?"
He was stood in the middle of a town square. Shops lined up the surrounding area.
Kirux crossed his arms, "Hold on. Does that mean...we all got out of the realm of darkness? Me, Xion, and that other person she was with?"
"If so, where did they end up? They're clearly not here."
"Also, what happened to Maleficent?"
...
His thoughts were interrupted, as he could sense something behind him.
When he turned around, he saw a pack of Dusks floating by.
...
'Oh no.'
'The Organization is here.'
'I can't let them find me. If they do, they'll just send more.'
...
He ran out of the square, and found himself walking through the town.
"How come I never came this way? It's way better than going to that castle."
He wondered if that castle was even still around. It had been a long time since he had come to Hollow Bastion, or any other worlds for that matter.
'I wonder if I can even still use the dark corridors.' He thought to himself.
...
A Heartless appeared in front of him, blocking his path. However, before he could pull out his Keyblade, a pillar of light took it out.
That same pillar flashed around him a few times before it finally disappeared.
"Wow. This place is a lot different than the castle I explored. What's next, am I gonna run into Sora?"
...
He didn't run into Sora next, but he did run into somebody.
"You...you must be with Organization XIII!"
Kirux turned towards the voice, and found a tall man standing there. He wore a black jacket with a white shirt, and had black pants. He was carrying a sword, but it looked more like a gun towards the handle.
...
"Woah woah woah, hold on. I'm not with the Organization."
"Then what's with the black coat?"
"Well...not anymore, at least."
The man lowered his sword, "You abandoned them?"
"Yes. As for why, I..."
He trailed off, "It's a bit of a long story. If you want me to explain, we should head inside."
The man thought it over, then lowered his sword.
He motioned Kirux over, "Come on. By the way, the name's Leon."
...
The two headed inside a house. One man was working on a massive computer, another was sorting through a pile of books.
"Ah! There you are, Kirux. I have been expecting you."
"How...do you know my name?"
"I'm Merlin, the mighty wizard. Of course I know your name."
"Uhh...okay. I guess."
...
"Anyways, there's something you all probably need to know."
"Let me guess. It involves the Heartless and Maleficent."
...
'Wow. This wizard guy is smart.'
...
"Yes, it does. Maleficent is trying to spread massive amounts of darkness throughout the worlds. It looked like, on the inside, that some may have already gotten out. Have there been any problems with Heartless in town?"
"What do you mean 'on the inside'?" Leon said.
"In the realm of darkness. I was stuck in there for I don't even know how long."
"But that doesn't matter. Back to my question earlier. Has the town had any problems with Heartless?"
"Well," Leon started, "They've been around ever since we started fixing everything. That's why we made the defense system."
"I'm assuming it's those light pillars I saw earlier."
"Yes. But, the majority of the Heartless are outside of the town's walls. Those walls are pretty much impenetrable, so they shouldn't be able t-,"
Stop: Reviving Hollow Bastion - KH2
Play: Scherzo di Notte - KH2
He was interrupted by a large explosion. The whole house shook, and one of the other man fell from his chair.
"What's happening?!"
"It's the Heartless! They must have breached the walls!"
"I thought you said the walls were impenetrable!"
"Doesn't matter! I'm going to see what's going on!"
Leon went to run outside, Kirux followed.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going with you. I want to help."
"No, you stay here and-,"
"Let him go, Leon." Merlin said, "He may be a stranger, but he's strong."
"Are you sure?"
He nodded, "He has the power to wield the Keyblade. You can trust him."
...
Kirux's Keyblade appeared, "Just tell me what to do, and I'll do it."
Leon thought it over, then nodded.
"Come on. Let's get out there."
Leon ran out of the house, Kirux following right behind him.
...
...
...
They reached a new area, where they could only assume the explosion came from.
The area was destroyed, and Heartless were walking straight through the massive hole in the wall.
"How did they get through?" Leon said to himself.
Kirux heard him, "It doesn't matter. They're here, and we need to deal with this."
Kirux ran to the edge, and jumped into the Heartless crowd. Some stopped before him, but others just ran past him.
"What are you doing?!"
"Distracting them. Just go! I'll hold here as long as I can!"
...
Leon ran off behind him. Kirux's Keyblade appeared in his hand.
"Alright," he said, "You're not going to do anymore damage to this town."
He ran towards the crowd of Heartless.
...
...
...
Stop: Scherzo di Notte - KH2
After a long time of fighting, he had chased the Heartless back. He was standing in what was the front area of the castle.
He was on his last fume, and his breathing had intensified.
His Keyblade disappeared from his hand, "Thank goodness...that's over."
"Oh, it is far from over." A voice said to him.
One that he recognized from his time with the Organization.
...
Saix appeared before him.
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to finish the job that Axel could not."
...
'Wait a second.'
'Axel was sent to...eliminate me.'
...
"You have caused us a great deal of trouble, Kirux. You were a traitor from the very beginning."
"I should have seen it sooner. The moment you had nearly fallen to the darkness, on your second day."
"What?"
...
He remembered then, the first time Ansem tried to take over.
How would Saix had known he was a traitor then? It didn't make sense.
...
"But no matter. Your existence in this world is merely a burden in our efforts."
Play: The 13th Dilemma - KH2
A long claymore appeared in his hand.
"The Organization has been betrayed. In that name, I will annihilate you."
Kirux's face changed from confusion to anger.
"Guess again!" He said, summoning his Keyblade and running at Saix.
...
He swung at him once, which Saix merely sidestepped. He then slammed Kirux in the stomach with his claymore.
Kirux was flown backwards, landing hard on his back.
"A weakling like you isn't fit for the Keyblade."
Kirux tried to sit up, but his body was too weak, "No...I'm not gonna..."
"Give it up. You have no reason to even try."
"Now, I'm going to destroy you."
...
Suddenly, a green glow enveloped Kirux.
Three sets of footsteps ran right past him.
"Not if we can stop you!" One of them yelled.
When Kirux looked up, there were three figures standing between him and Saix.
Ones that he recognized.
...
Sora, Donald, and Goofy had come to the rescue.
"Sora?" He said, standing up.
Sora looked back at him, nodded, then turned back towards Saix.
"Don't worry, Riku. We'll handle this."
...
'Wow.'
'He really thinks I'm Riku.'
'I guess that's not really a surprise. I look almost identical to him.'
'Also, Riku did mention that Sora isn't the...brightest.'
...
"A meaningless effort." Saix said, swinging his claymore. A gust of wind flew by them, which sent Donald and Goofy flying off.
When the wind settled, Kirux summoned his Keyblade. He ran up to Sora's side.
Sora was a bit surprised, but Kirux stopped him before he could speak, "You're not fighting this one alone."
"Riku, but-,"
"Riku?" Saix laughed, "This pathetic excuse of a Nobody is not Riku."
...
Kirux's anger grew. Darkness visibly formed around him. Not a lot, but it was still visible.
Sora was stunned, but he shook his head.
They had to focus on the one in front of them before they could do anything else.
...
They both ran at Saix, who launched a large shockwave at the two of them. Sora dodged to the left, while Kirux jumped over it.
Sora attacked him with a combo, which sent Saix reeling. He recovered, unfortunately, and attacked Kirux.
He had just landed when a second shockwave came towards him. He managed to block it, but it sent him back a few feet.
Sora attacked Saix again, sending him flying towards Kirux. Kirux took full advantage, and sent a dark fireball at Saix.
It hit him right in his back. Saix was sent to his knees.
...
His claymore disappeared as he stood up, a hand on his side.
"You...wield the darkness so well." He said, looking at Kirux.
He smiled, "You could have been of such good use to us."
"Stop talking!" Kirux yelled, and he ran at Saix again.
He disappeared, right before Kirux could strike him.
Stop: The 13th Dilemma - KH2
Play: Riku - KH2
His Keyblade faded out of his hand.
...
"You okay, Riku?" Sora asked from behind. He heard Donald and Goofy walk up.
He shook his head, "Didn't you hear him? I'm not Riku."
"Come on, you can't fool me. I know it's you."
"No Sora. I'm not..."
...
He sighed, "Trust me. I'm not Riku, and...I never was."
""Was?" What are you talking about? You're still the same Riku as when we closed the door to darkness."
"You don't get it."
"Of course I get it. You've been hanging around in the dark for too long."
...
Kirux found himself getting angry. He didn't know why, it was that Sora was just...bugging him.
The way he was talking just got under his skin, and he couldn't figure out why.
"Come on, Riku. You've got t-,"
"Enough!" He yelled, turning back towards Sora. His eyes were full of rage, rage that came out of nowhere.
...
"What's gotten in to you?" Sora said.
Kirux didn't respond.
...
'I just want to hurt him.'
'I don't know why. I just...do.'
'It's the darkness, probably.'
...
"Riku, what's wrong?"
"For the last time, I'm not Riku! I'm nothing, nothing but his shadow!"
"His...shadow?"
Kirux shook his head, "You...wouldn't understand."
...
"If you're not really Riku, then..."
"Tell me, where is he?"
"I'm not telling you anything. I've done enough for you."
"What have you ever done for me?"
...
A new voice chimed in, "Sora, remember what my journal said once we woke up! 'Thank Namine and Kirux.'"
...
"Wait a minute. You're Kirux?"
Kirux nodded, "Yeah. That's me. No need to thank me though."
He looked down at the ground, "I was just doing as I was told."
Kirux sighed, "That's all I'm good for, really."
"If I were to give you any advice: stay away from me. All I'll end up doing is hurting you."
...
"Kirux, wait!"
He walked off, ignoring Sora.
...
...
...
"What's his deal?"
Goofy spoke up, "Well, the black coat means Organization XIII. He may have been trying to trick ya."
"No, I don't think so. If he was in the Organization, why would he fight one of his fellow members?"
"Why, it sure is strange."
"If he isn't Riku, then...how come he looks so much like him?"
"Well, he did say that he was Riku's shadow."
"Do you think...that he might be Riku's Nobody?"
Jiminy shook his head, "I can't say for sure. The best way for us to find out though is to as him himself."
...
Sora nodded, "Right. We'll deal with the Heartless, then find Kirux."
Jiminy hopped back onto Sora's shoulder, and they all ran off.
Kirux stood there, looking down at the massive battlefield.
Sora and the rest were all fighting the Heartless, and the Nobodies.
Kirux didn't bother going down and helping.
He just stood there and watched.
...
'You know that this is all part of her plan, and you're not even down there helping.'
'Wow, look at how selfish you've become.'
'You really are a being of darkness.'
...
He shook his head at that last thought.
"Maybe...Maleficent was right after all. I really am a seeker of darkness."
He looked at his hands, "Every action I take just ends up hurting somebody."
"My heart is nothing, and it never was."
...
He thought about what Maleficent said to him, the first time he encountered her.
'How could a girl like her love anybody that has so much darkness inside him?'
He replayed that saying over and over again in his mind.
...
He sighed, "It hasn't even been that long, and...I already miss her like crazy."
"All I want is to be with her, and my friends. But, how can I do that when all I've done is groom the darkness inside me?"
"I nearly lost control of myself back there. What's gonna stop me from unleashing it against her?"
"If I did that, I...I would never forgive myself."
...
He sat down and continued to watch the fighting.
"One of these days, I'll have complete control over the darkness inside me."
"And when that day comes, we'll be together again."
Stop: Riku - KH2
Play: Missing You - KH2
Her eyes opened up, and she found herself sitting up on the clock tower. Her mind was completely blank.
...
"How...did I end up here?"
She had no recollection of what had happened. All she could remember was being sucked up into the sky, back in the realm of darkness.
"I wonder if Kirux is okay..." She said to herself.
"Why would I not be?"
...
She turned around, and found him standing there. He smiled at her when she did.
She was too surprised to speak, as he went and sat down next to her.
"How...?"
"How did I what?"
"How did you manage to escape?"
He was confused, "Escape? What are you talking about? Are you feeling alright?"
...
'I've got to be dreaming.'
'Why doesn't he remember anything?'
...
She was extremely confused.
"Sorry. It's just..."
"Had a long day, huh?"
She nodded, "You could say that."
"Well, I've got something that might cheer you up."
He put an ice cream bar in front of her, which actually caused her to smile.
"Thank you."
...
...
...
The two of them sat up there for a long time. They were silent the entire time, until Kirux broke it. By that time, they were both done with their ice cream.
"I guess Roxas and Axel must have been busy today."
...
'Okay, this has got to be a dream. Roxas is gone.'
'But, I...just don't know. This feels so real, but my mind is telling me it's fake.'
'I wonder if...'
...
Xion didn't respond, just looking down at her feet.
Kirux noticed her expression, "What's wrong?"
She didn't answer, which only concerned him more.
He slid closer to her, "Xion, what's the matter?"
...
She didn't answer again.
She felt one of his arms go around her.
"Come on. You can talk to me."
...
She didn't know how to respond, or what to say.
'I guess no matter if he's real or not, Kirux will always be super affectionate towards me.' She thought to herself.
She didn't mind it though.
It actually prompted her to do what she did next.
...
She turned towards him, and kissed him softly. Her hand had found its way to his cheek in the process.
This was new for her, because Kirux actually kissed her back this time. He brought his second arm around her, pulling her even closer.
...
She pulled back after a while, resting her forehead against his.
When Kirux opened his eyes, he saw tears coming from hers.
"What's wrong?"
She shook her head, "I...just don't know any more. Am I dreaming? Is any of this real? Are you even real?"
"I just don't understand."
...
She felt Kirux brushing her tears away, "Does it feel real to you, Xion?"
"That's my point. I...don't know."
He brought her eyes up to his, "Don't be sad. This may be a dream, but that doesn't mean that your feelings in here are not."
"What do you mean?"
"You might not remember what happens in here, but your heart will. And if anything like this ever happens on the outside, your heart will know how to respond."
He put his hand up to her chest, where her heart was, "The memory of this dream will always be inside there."
"So don't be sad. That's not the Xion I know and love."
...
His words caused her to smile. It was a small one, but a smile nonetheless.
Kirux always seemed to make her happy, no matter what happened.
It was one of the many reasons she loved him.
...
He smiled then, "That's my girl."
The area then started to blur.
"What's happening?" She said, starting to panic.
"You're waking up now."
"Don't worry. Just remember what I said, and everything will be okay."
...
She kissed him one more time, before pulling back and saying, "I love you."
Kirux just smiled, and didn't respond.
Xion's vision went dark.
Stop: Missing You - KH2
She sat up in a rush. She looked around, assessing the area.
Kirux was gone, and so was the clock tower.
Instead, there was a tall, curved tower. She was at the bottom of the stairs that led to the tower's doors.
...
She stood up, "Where am I now?"
Entered New World: Mysterious Tower
Play: Magical Mystery - KH2
Her mind went back to that dream she just had.
"So, it wasn't really Kirux in there."
...
That fact actually made her sad, "Even on the outside world, we're still separated."
She sighed, "I guess...I'll have to go looking for him."
She walked up to the doors to the tower.
...
...
...
She opened the door, finding herself in a large chamber. There were bookshelves on the walls, and a table and chair in the center.
A man in a blue cloak and hat, the had yellow shapes all over it.
"Excuse me, sir." She said.
The man turned towards her, "And who might you be?"
"My name is Xion. I don't know how I got here, and...well...I'm looking for someone."
"He's wearing a black coat, kind of like me. He's got spiky, brown hair. Does...anybody come to mind?"
...
The old man stroked his beard lightly, "Unfortunately, no."
He went over and sat in his chair, "You and your friend were a part of Organization XIII. Am I correct?"
She was surprised, "How...did you know?"
"The black coats, obviously. Additionally, I have been watching what has been happening in the worlds for a long time."
"You are the puppet that held Sora's memories of Kairi, and your friend is the one that brought those memories back to Sora."
...
'Right. When...Kirux destroyed me.'
Xion nodded.
"My apologies. I never introduced myself. I am Master Yen Sid. I am the one who helped Sora, Donald, and Goofy begin their newest journey."
She gasped lightly, "You did?"
"Yes, and it appears you too need my guidance to find your missing friend."
She nodded, "Yes. Do you know where I can find him?"
"Unfortunately, no. But, I can sense something deep within your heart. It is the connection you have with this friend."
"Your connection to one another will most definitely bring one another back to each other's company."
...
She nodded, "Okay. Thank you, Master."
She went to leave, but he spoke again, "That is not all, Xion."
He continued as she turned back around, "You must beware. Inside your friend, I could sense a powerful darkness brewing in his heart."
"This darkness has only continued to grow and be angered. If you do find him, please be cautious. Whatever is in there is powerful, and waiting to be unleashed."
"I will. Thank you again, Master Yen Sid."
She opened the door, and walked out.
...
...
...
Yen Sid stroked his beard, "Light and Darkness. Xion and Kirux. When the two come together, they create perfect harmony."
"Hopefully, nobody will get in between and break that harmony."
Stop: Magical Mystery - KH2
There we go.
That statement at the beginning was a joke. I'm not actually going into cryogenic sleep.
Hope you enjoyed!
-Broncozfan623