Chapter 41 Answers
The soft darkness of sleep pressed heavily on him. It kept him down no matter how hard he struggled. He got close, so close to waking up. He could hear the voices from the real world reaching him.
"-one of us had gone to look for Sora, if we hadn't let Ven go find him none of this would have happened."
"Don't think like that Aqua. There is no way we could have-"
And that was it. Terra and Aqua's voices faded away as he sank back down. When he finally found the strength to rise again he was met by different voices.
"-a faceless boy. Sora couldn't remember any more about him and he hadn't seen from where he had come."
"Indeed it is strange. What is his purpose when it comes to Xehanort's quest for the X-"
Falling back into a deep sleep, he frowned, wondering what Master Eraqus and Master Yen Sid had been discussing. What had happened? Terra and Aqua had seemed so concerned and the masters' voices had been grave. Were they in danger?
He tried to ascend, to wake up, but sleep held him down. How long had he been asleep? Long enough for his friends to worry? Why couldn't he wake up? He didn't want them to worry. Aqua was always so anxious when he was hurt and so was Master Eraqus. And Terra would blame himself for being there to save Ven. But save him from what?
It took awhile, but he finally found the memory floating around. The bald head and yellow eyes. The cackle. Xehanort had to have been the one to do this. He had found joy in causing Ven pain. He even thought it was funny to threaten...Wait! Had Xehanort...? Where was...?
"Sora!" Ven shouts as he sits bolt upright his eyes opening wide. Everything is out of focus and his head is swimming. Blood pounds in his ears as his muscles scream in protest to his sudden movement. He groans and throws an arm over his eyes as he falls back onto the bed. Strong arms catch him however and lower him gently.
"Ventus? Are you awake?"
Ven slowly removes his arm and opens his eyes once more. The light of the room makes him squint. Feeling a light touch on his shoulder he turns his head and blinks several times as Master Eraqus' face comes into focus. "Master Eraqus? What ha- ugh."
Ven grabs his throat, wincing at the dry feeling. "Drink this," Master Eraqus says gently. He holds out a cup with a straw in it and Ven greedily sucks up the water in the cup. He starts to cough as the cold liquid hits his sore throat, but after a couple big gulps he feels better.
As Master Eraqus takes the cup away, Ven remembers his urgency from before. "Master Eraqus!" Ven shouts trying to sit up again, but struggling with a grimace at his sore muscles. "Xehanort...Sora...he has him! He said he was going to-"
"Shh, lie down Ventus," Master Eraqus says soothingly, guiding Ven back down. "Xehanort is gone and Sora is fine."
"He is?" Ven asks confused. "But...but...what happened?"
"Why don't you tell me Ventus?" Master Eraqus says. "What do you remember?"
"I remember-" Ven starts confidently, but hesitates trying to recall the last thing he had seen. "I...I went looking for Sora," Ven says slowly and Master Eraqus nods encouragingly. "I didn't find him, but I met-" Ven stops again and looks Master Eraqus straight in the eye. "I met an old guy named Xehanort. He said he was my real master. Is that true?"
Master Eraqus sighs. "Yes, he was the one who gave you the power of the keyblade as a child."
Ven nods knowing it is true. "But you're my master, Master Eraqus. Xehanort doesn't care about me at all."
Master Eraqus smiles at his words. "What else do you remember?" He asks gently.
"He distracted me with a bunch of heartless," Ven says frowning as he tries to remember. "And when I looked back at him he was holding Sora. He was holding his keyblade to Sora. Are you sure he's okay?" Ven asks anxiously.
"Yes, he's downstairs with the others," Master Eraqus replies. "Please continue Ventus, this is important."
Ven stares up at the ceiling over his bed. "He said if I'd go with him he'd let Sora go so I agreed, but then he summoned this thing. It was like a light corridor, but dark. He threw Sora through it and I had to go as well to save him. Everything turned dark and..." Ven stops, frowning. "And then I woke up here. How did you save us? What happened to me?"
"Is that all you remember?" Master Eraqus asks surprised.
"Yeah. Why? What else should I remember?" Ven is now worried.
"Honestly I don't exactly know," Master Eraqus replies. "You and Sora were missing for hours and we didn't save you, you came back. Sora's memory of what happened couldn't explain everything. I was hoping you would remember."
Ven shook his head. "What does Sora remember?"
"He described a world of red rock," Master Eraqus says slowly looking for a spark of remembrance from Ven. "You and Xehanort fought. Then you fought an army of heartless...They defeated you."
Ven shakes his head. "How can I not remember something like that?" He whispers.
"Sora also described a faceless boy. Do you know who he was talking about?" Master Eraqus asks.
"No," Ven says in a quiet voice.
"Do you remember giving Sora the keyblade?"
"What!" Ven shouts in shock, trying to sit up again. "No I didn't. I would never! I wouldn't want him to have that burden."
"Please lie down Ventus," Master Eraqus says sternly. "Sora is now able to wield a keyblade and he says you were the one to give it to him. He is adament that is what happened. Something about him touching your heart."
"My heart?" Ven says to himself. He places a hand over his heart and closes his eyes. Images flash before his eyes too quick for him to see properly or understand. A red cliff. A dusty sky. A large keyblade. A bright light. A terrible darkness. A broken circle. And through each image he feels a piercing pain in his chest under his hand. He winces and opens his eyes. The pain is gone as quick as it had come.
"What is it Ventus?" Master Eraqus asks concerned.
"I'm not sure," Ven says slowly. "I think it was a memory...but it was just pain."
Master Eraqus frowns in worry. "There is much I need to explain to you Ventus and still more that I do not understand, but you've been through a horrible ordeal and I do not want to burden you right at this moment. Rest. If you feel up to it, I'm sure the others will be overjoyed to see you awake."
"I really want to see them too," Ven says eagerly.
"I'll send them up then," Master Eraqus says with a smile as he heads for the door.
"Master Eraqus," Ven calls and Master Eraqus pauses at the door. "How long have I been sleeping for?"
Master Eraqus hesitates. "Nearly six days." He turns to see Ven with his mouth wide open in shock. "Try to not let it bother you. In sleep our bodies can heal. Sleep brings recovery, it brings rebirth. Do not worry about how long you were asleep. It was just how long you needed to mend yourself."
…
"Ven!"
Ven had been staring up at the ceiling lost in thought when the excited shout broke his concentration. He turns his head and tries to sit up only to be knocked back as Sora jumps on him hugging his neck like he would never let go. "Sora," Ven says with a sigh of relief. Master Eraqus had told him Sora was safe, but it isn't until Sora is right in front of him that Ven can let go of his final doubts. "I'm so glad you're alright." He hugs Sora gently.
"So sleeping beauty finally woke up." Ven feels a hand mess up his hair and Ven looks up grinning knowing it is Terra.
"How are you feeling Ven?" Aqua asks concerned. She is standing beside Terra and they are both leaning over him with relieved expressions.
"Hungry," Ven replies honestly. Terra and Aqua both laugh and grin at him. Sora finally lets go of Ven's neck and scoots of the bed to stand beside Riku. With Sora off him, Ven attempts to sit up but grimaces as he does so. Aqua quickly moves to help him and once he is sitting with his back leaning against the headboard of his bed, he catches sight of her worried eyes. "I'm just sore, Aqua." A familiar scent reaches him and makes his mouth water. "Is that...?" Ven asks as Master Eraqus enters his room. In his hand is plate with a steaming pizza on it. Ven is sure he is drooling all over himself by the time Master Eraqus gets to him.
Master Eraqus hands him the plate which Ven takes greedily. "Be careful that's-" Master Eraqus tries to say, but Ven takes a huge bite and his eyes go wide. "-hot." Master Eraqus says with a sigh. Ven grabs the cup of water off the table beside his bed and gulps down the cold water. From then on Ven eats his pizza more carefully, but with just as much enthusiasm as before. As he pigs out, Master Eraqus tells all his apprentices his plans for the afternoon.
"I need to take Ventus to see Master Yen Sid. He will be relieved to hear you have awoken and there is much we need to discuss." Ven nods at Master Eraqus' words, but keeps most of his attention on his pizza. "The rest of you have been cooped up in this castle to long. Terra and Aqua, you can take Sora and Riku to Traverse Town for the day."
Terra and Aqua nod and turn back to Ven. "So are you going to tell us what happened with Xehanort?" Terra asks.
Ven glances at Terra and Aqua's curious and worried faces before turning his head away and saying softly, "I don't remember."
"You...don't remember?" Aqua says confused. "Nothing at all?"
Ven shakes his head. "Just pain," he whispers without thinking. He looks up to see horrified expressions of his friends' faces. "But I'm okay!" He says quickly.
Master Eraqus sighs sadly and turns to Sora and Riku. "Would you boys mind waiting downstairs for Terra and Aqua? They'll be down soon."
With wide eyes, the two boys give Master Eraqus a nod and exit the bedroom. Master Eraqus turns back to Ven. "Ventus, I know you can't remember what happened after you left this world, but what do you recall Xehanort telling you? What did he want from you?"
"He said..." Ven starts hesitantly. "That my keyblade and my heart belonged to him because he gave me the keyblade. He wanted me to go with him and be his apprentice. I told him to go to- I told him to go away. Then he made me go with him by threatening Sora, and that's all I remember."
"He didn't mention creating a weapon?" Master Eraqus asks.
"No...he said something about gaining unlimited power, but he was ranting like a lunatic," Ven says. He pulls his hair in frustration. "Why can't I remember anything else!"
"Master, why don't you do a cognitive interview with Ven like with Sora?" Aqua asks. "It seemed to work well."
Ven looks up hopefully, but Master Eraqus shakes his head. "Sora was just having trouble explaining his memories because he was so frightened, but Ventus seems to have completely repressed his memories of what happened. I am afraid I do not have a way to bring those memories back. We may just have to wait and see. Why don't you shower and get dressed Ventus? Then I'll take you to see Master Yen Sid. He may have more insight than I do about repressed memories."
Ven nods and the others leave him to get ready. At the bottom of the stairs, Master Eraqus turns to his older apprentices. "I'd like to hear your opinions," Master Eraqus says and both of his apprentices look a little surprised.
"Well," Aqua says hesitantly. "It's strange that he can't remember what happened, but maybe it's for the best. I mean, Xehanort must have hurt him pretty bad. Do we really want him to remember that?"
"I think it's worse with him not remembering," Terra says in disagreement. "If he doesn't know, he'll assume the worst."
Master Eraqus frowns thoughtfully. "Well, it is not up to us whether or not he remembers. What else? How did he seem to you besides the memory loss?"
Terra and Aqua exchange a look. "I...felt like there was something off about him," Aqua admits.
"Me too," Terra adds. "But I'm not quite sure what it was."
Master Eraqus nods. "I had the same feeling." They all stand in silence thinking deeply. "It has to be expected that trauma will change him a little," Master Eraqus finally says and the other two nod and look worried. "Try not to dwell on it too much. Taking him to see Yen Sid may improve things, I'm not sure. Also, while you are in Traverse Town, you may tell your friends there about Ventus' condition, but please do not mention the X-blade. The less people who know about Ventus' ability the better. I'm sure we can trust Leon and the others, but we should still be cautious."
...
Terra pushes the large wooden doors open and waits until Aqua walks through with Sora and Riku before following them and closing the doors behind him. From across the square Leon and Cloud look up and walk over to them. The looks on Aqua and Terra's faces must have given away their worry because Cloud's eyes narrow and he asks them, "Has something happened?"
Aqua and Terra both nod. "Something has happened to Ven," Terra tells the two men and their concern deepens. "He was hurt pretty badly."
"But he's ok?" Sora says more as a question looking anxiously up at Terra. "Isn't he ok?"
Terra smiles at Sora but its forced. "Yes he ok. But he isn't completely himself right now."
"We should gather everyone together," Aqua says quietly to Cloud and Leon who look ready to explode with questions. "It will be easier to explain only once."
Leon nods in understanding. "Yuffie, Aerith, and Merlin are in there with Tifa," he says pointing over at the 7th Heaven. "Merlin is helping them plan the wedding and they kicked us out. I'm not sure where Cid is." He looks around and spots him coming down the steps into the square. "There he is."
"Cid!" Sora and Riku shout with grins and run away from the group. They race each other to the older man who pretends to try and run away at the sight of them. "Cid wait up!" Sora calls and tries to run faster.
Riku reaches Cid first and grabs his arm. "Gotcha!" He says smugly.
"Looks like ya caught me," Cid says with a smile lifting his arm up to shoulder height and leaving RIku dangling as he refuses to let go.
"I caught you too!" Sora says with a pout having just caught up to them. Cid reaches down and messes up his hair. Riku lets go of Cid's arm and drops to the ground. He immediately latches onto Cid's leg, sitting on his foot and wrapping his arms and legs around Cid's calf.
"Sora! Get his other leg," Riku calls and laughing Sora sits on Cid's other foot holding onto Cid's leg in a similar way.
"Why you little-" Cid exclaims in mock anger. He shakes the leg with Riku on it slightly and Riku just laughs and tightens his grip. With a sigh of acceptance, Cid walks with difficulty over to Cloud who is motioning for him to follow the others into the bar.
As Cid and Cloud enter with Sora and Riku giggling, Terra and Aqua have just finished telling the girls and Merlin that they have bad news about Ven and they drop the scraps of cloth they had been comparing. Marlene looks up from the corner where she had been playing with several dolls and a plastic tea set.
"What happened?" Tifa asks coming around the bar and motioning for them to take a seat in the chairs scattered around.
Aqua holds her hand up briefly and calls to Sora and Riku who are still latched onto Cid. "Guys, we have to talk to everyone about Ven. It's very important. Could you two let go of Cid?"
Both unhappily obey and get up walking over to her. "Thank you," she says to them ruffling both of their hair. "We are going to talk about a bunch of boring stuff, so why don't the two of you go play."
"Marlene is over here," Aerith says leading them to her daughter. The two boys happily run over and plop down next to her.
"Where's Zack?" Terra asks as Aerith walks back over leaving the two boys and Marlene to have what looks like a tea party.
"I'll get him," Tifa replies walking over to the stairs that lead to Zack's basement bedroom. She opens the door and calls down, "Zack can you come up here?"
After a moment footsteps pound their way up the steps and Zack appears next to Tifa surprised to find so many eyes on him. "Oh hi guys," he says seeing Terra and Aqua. Then his eyes narrow in slight anger. "Is Ven here too?"
"No. He's actually what we came to talk to you all about," Aqua says to him.
"Why don't you sit down?" Cloud says gesturing for Zack to take the seat next to him.
Zack looks around at them all suspiciously. "What's going on?"
"Please sit Zack," Tifa says quietly trying to herd him to the seat.
"Not until someone tells me what's going on!" Zack says resisting her.
"Zack," Cloud says standing. He puts his hands on Zack's shoulders. "Something has happened to Ven."
"Wha-what do you mean?" Zack says losing his angry expression. He now lets Cloud lead him over to the chairs and sits looking around in fear waiting for someone to explain. His pleading eyes settle on Terra and Aqua.
Aqua slips her hand into Terra's and he gives her a comforting squeeze. "Let me start by telling you all that Ven is with Master Eraqus and safe," Terra begins not wanting to keep them all in fear while he tells the story. "But, six days ago Ven and Sora were kidnapped from our home by a dark keyblade master named Xehanort." A collective gasp comes from the listeners and they all turn to look at Sora. The three little kids glance at them curiously before returning to their game. Terra regains the adults and Zack's attention saying, "Xehanort was the man who was supposed to be Ven's master and teach him about the keyblade, but Xehanort abandoned Ven as a child. From what Master Eraqus understands, Xehanort wanted Ven to become his student now and help with Xehanort's quest for a kind of ultimate weapon.
Ven and Sora were missing for hours. We had no idea what had happened to them. We searched the entire world for them and then Ven and Sora just suddenly showed up. As you can imagine, Sora was very frightened and didn't make hardly any sense when he tried to tell us what happened."
Terra pauses swallowing the lump his throat. "And Ven...we went over to him and he was just standing there looking down at the ground. It was like he couldn't hear us and didn't notice us. He was totally unresponsive to us. Then all of a sudden, he screamed out like he was in pain and collapsed." Terra looks around taking in the horrified expressions that are all around him. He looks away remembering his own fear when Ven had fainted. "Xehanort came and told us he wanted Ven back. Master Eraqus fought him. Xehanort went to leave, but before he did he sent one final attack at Sora. And Sora summoned a keyblade to protect himself."
Terra sighs and puts his head in his hands. Aqua picks up the story her sadness obvious in her voice. "We have no idea what Xehanort did to Ven. He was unconscious for days. Sora was able to tell us a little about what happened, but he didn't know everything. Ven woke up this morning and he doesn't remember hardly anything. He doesn't remember fighting Xehanort, or the heartless, or giving Sora the keyblade. But he's different. It's hard to describe. He seems normal for the most part. But there is something off. It's all a big mystery and unless Ven can get his memory back we won't know what Xehanort really did to him."
Silence falls over the group and for a moment, the only thing to hear is Sora wondering aloud how you get sugar to stick to itself as a sugar cube. Then the questions come. For the most part Terra and Aqua answer honestly, usually saying "We don't know", but when the others ask them about what Xehanort may have wanted from Ven, they have to lie and say they have no clue.
When all the questions have run dry, Tifa stands and declares everyone could use a cup of tea to calm their nerves. She disappears into the back with Cloud following her to help and the rest of the group disintegrates into side conversations in low, worried voices.
Terra looks over to see Zack staring at the ceiling with a pained expression. He and Aqua move to sit beside him and Aqua asks, "Are you okay Zack?"
Slowly, Zack nods. "Can you...tell Ven I'd like to see him? You know...see for myself that he's alright."
"Of course," Terra says.
"Thanks."
Tifa and Cloud return, laden with trays full of tea cups. Everyone rushes forward to take a cup and when they all settle back down, Zack is gone. His cup left forgotten. Tifa looks at it and sighs. "He's been feeling really bad about how he and Ven left it," she says to Terra and Aqua. "Even though he won't admit it, I know he kept hoping for Ven to show up, but when he didn't, Zack tried to move on. Now you tell him that Ven's been unconscious the whole time and I'm sure he's feeling guilty for giving up on him."
"Hopefully tomorrow Ven will feel up to coming here and they can talk everything out," Aqua says and Terra nods. He starts to let his mind wander as the others talk amongst themselves. Ven and Master Eraqus are probably at Master Yen Sid's tower by now. He wonders how Ven is taking the news.
…
Ven sits staring at the wall with his arms crossed while next to him Master Eraqus is recalling the little that Ven remembers to Master Yen Sid and Mickey at the study at the top of the Mysterious Tower. When Master Eraqus finishes, Master Yen Sid closes his eyes briefly, deep in thought. "Despite young Ventus' lost memories, it appears what he does remembers supports our theories." Master Yen Sid opens his eyes and trains them in an unyielding stare at Ven. "I believe the time has come to fill in the gaps in your knowledge."
Ven opens his mouth in confusion, but before he can ask any questions Master Eraqus speaks up. "I am afraid you are right," he says to Master Yen Sid, then turning to Ven, "Before all this happened, you were angry with me for keeping secrets from you. I truly only did it because the burden of knowledge I was carrying did not seem fair to place on your shoulders. There is some truth in the saying 'Ignorance is bliss'. I wanted you to be happy and not have to worry. But times have changed and I must realize that I can no longer protect you from who you are."
"Who am I?" Ven asks with a note of fear.
"You are the X-blade wielder," Master Eraqus says with reluctance.
Ven frowns. "I don't understand." He turns from Master Eraqus to Master Yen Sid as the latter waves his hand and a large leather book appears on his desk in front of Ven flipped open.
"Let us start at the beginning," Master Yen Sid says and above the book, a 3D image appears of a glowing blue moon in the shape of a heart.
"I've seen that before!" Ven exclaims and both masters and Mickey look at him surprised.
"You have? Where?" Master Eraqus asks.
"It was in a dream I had," Ven says trying to recall. "I saw it the first time Vanitas spoke to me." Mentioning his darker half's name, Ven realizes that he hadn't heard the rude voice since he had awoken, but he pushes that thought away to consider later. Right now he has to focus on what Master Yen Sid is saying.
"Kingdom Hearts has not been seen in the real world since the Keyblade War a hundred years ago. It vanished after the destruction of the X-blade."
"Keyblade?" Ven asks.
"X is a letter from the ancient language," Master Yen Sid explains and the image of Kingdom Hearts is replaced by a stylized X. "Our keyblades are only inspired by the one true X-blade. Keyblades were first created as a jealous imitation by men who sought to gain for themselves the power of Kingdom Hearts. Since the beginning of time, the X-blade would be wielded by only the greatest warriors with the purest hearts." Now the 3D image becomes a group of armor clad men, close to Terra in size. "These warriors defended Kingdom Hearts from any who attempted to take it's power. However, a hundred years ago a mere boy named Vairos became the wielder of the X-blade." The group disappears leaving only a much smaller figure in blue and green armor. "Lusting for power, many keyblade wielders joined forces against Vairos believing it would be easy to defeat him and take Kingdom Hearts. Vairos fought off many of them, but he knew it was a battle he could not win. To save Kingdom Hearts, he destroyed the X-blade and, in doing so, killed himself. Kingdom Hearts vanished from the sky and the light it brought to the worlds faded. The remaining keyblade wielders turned on each other, blaming each other for the loss of the great light, and fought until none were left standing. Ever since then, the X-blade has remained destroyed and Kingdom Hearts hidden away."
"A hundred years passed," Master Eraqus says. "There had still yet to be a new X-blade wielder to recreate the X-blade and bring Kingdom Hearts back to the worlds. But now you are here Ventus." The 3D image of the boy in armor flashes and the armor disappears and an image of Ven is now floating above the book. "The worlds have waited a hundred years for the one to bring back Kingdom Hearts. They have been waiting for you, the next X-blade wielder."
Ven feels like he can't breathe. An overwhelming feeling of foreboding presses against him and it takes him a few attempts to speak. "How...how do you know it's me?"
"Everything that has happened to you on Carinol, namely Keric, should have taken all the light from your heart and left you as dark as the other people of your home world," Master Eraqus says gently. "Yet your light was too strong to be destroyed. That is because Kingdom Hearts was fueling your light. Every X-blade wielder is touched by Kingdom Hearts at birth, sealing their fate as to forever defend it's light."
"Fate?" Ven whispers. "That makes it sound like a death sentence."
"I'm not going to lie to you Ventus, history has shown that for some it is," Master Eraqus admits sadly. "Some, like Vairos, fought off the forces of darkness to their death, but not all. Some fought for years until another X-blade wielder came along who was younger and stronger than them. The new X-blade wielder would step up and the old one would be allowed to step down."
Ven sits in silence and the others watch him try to come to terms with his these new expectations. "But there is no X-blade left," Ven says slowly. "You said that other guy, Vairos, destroyed it."
Master Yen Sid nods. "Indeed. The X-blade was smashed into 20 pieces, 7 of light and 13 of darkness. It must be reformed before Kingdom Hearts can be unlocked again." The 3D image changes once more. Ven's expression hardens as he sees it is Xehanort. "10 years ago, a keyblade wielder named Xehanort set out on a quest to recreate the X-blade and bring back Kingdom Hearts. His intention was to use the power of Kingdom Hearts to bring total destruction in the hope of creating a more even balance of light and dark. He approached Eraqus and I with the idea of finding a new X-blade wielder having discovered that a X-blade wielder has the power to create the X-blade by clashing with the darkness inside of them. Your darkness," Master Yen Sid says pointing at Ven's heart. Ven raises a hand to his chest.
"Yen Sid and I succeeded in banishing Xehanort to the Realm of Darkness shortly after he revealed his plans," Master Eraqus says. "But not before he gave you the keyblade to make you stronger. Now he has returned and even though you do not remember what happened, we believe that Xehanort tried to force you into creating the X-blade. You resisted and he failed, but do not think he is going to give up. Xehanort always had a back up plan for his back up plan."
"How do we stop him?" Ven asks desperately, but then realizes something. "How do we stop me? Even if we stop Xehanort, I'll still have the power to create the X-blade. What do we do about that?"
"There is nothing we can do," Master Eraqus says gently. "Just like our keyblades can bring either destruction or hope depending on the wielder, the X-blade is the same. Our first priority is to stop Xehanort and prevent him from getting near Kingdom Hearts. The X-blade would be dangerous in his hands, but in yours I'm not worried. Kingdom Hearts chose you because it believe you to be the best suited. And," Master Eraqus says with a small smile. "I trust you."
Yay! Super long chapter done!
Ven woke up! Isn't that great! Now he just has to get back his memory because there is still one pesky thing that hasn't been addressed and that pesky thing is named Vanitas.
Next chapter is happy! Surprising right? I haven't had anything happy happen for a while. It's been all doom and gloom for Ven these past few chapters, but someone is going to make him smile again. (Bet you can guess who!)
MLSoT: Glad you liked the CI last chapter. Random fact: My friend dressed up as Flo from Progressive for Halloween a few years ago. It was hilarious!
Mexi: Out of all your questions about the sequel the only one I'll answer is that yes Sora will be 15 and Riku will be 16. Those are their ages in KH2 so they will have their appearances from that game. (Yay! For Riku's beautiful long hair!) However, the story line lines up more with KH1 in a similar way to how this story lines up a little with BBS. I want to say sooo much more, but I really don't want to spoil too much for you :)