To Gry10: Indeed, she is!
To Girl of Darkness10: Oh come on, you're my friend! I wanted to give you credit for the name. :P
Laughter and Merriment (Kingdom Hearts II)
"Got any threes?" Riku Replica asked, looking at his card desk.
"Nope." Namine said, looking at hers. "Got any ones?"
"Okay, are you cheating?" Riku Replica asked. "Last time, you got my five, my two, my nine..."
"I'm just lucky." Namine smiled as Riku Replica reluctantly handed over a three card, which had Bowser in the front, and then noticed the doors opening as Sora was walking out with Sabrina as Donald, Goofy and Latias closed the doors and then they walked over to them, looking concerned at Sabrina.
Sora took out his Keyblade and aimed it at the closed door, firing a beam at it, and then the doors disappeared.
"You okay?" Riku Replica asked, looking at Sabrina.
"Y-yeah..." Sabrina weakly said, panting. She didn't look too well.
"Well maybe this will help." Donald said, using Curaga on Sabrina.
Sabrina let go of Sora and smiled. "Thanks." She said and then sighed. "Man, it was seriously crazy in there."
"No kidding." Sora said and then looked at the replica. "So, what are you going to do?"
Scent of Silence (Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories)
"I don't know. Maybe figure out why I was created...since I can't remember why...or where or when... All that's inside of me...is time with you guys and Namine. But I know those memories are not real." He replied.
"Gee, Namine, can't you use your magic to put Riku's memory back to normal?" Goofy asked.
"Well, I-"
"It's alright, I'll deal." The replica interrupted as he turned around to walk away.
"Wait!" Sora stopped him. "Who cares if someone created you? You are you and nobody else. You have your own heart inside you. Those feelings and memories are yours and yours alone. They're special!"
"Sora, you're a good guy. I don't have to be real to see how real your feelings are. That's good enough." He said and then continued to walk away, waving at them without even turning his head.
They all watched him walk away as Donald turned to Namine. "Can you put our memories back?"
"Yes. Not remembering something doesn't really mean that it's gone." Namine replied.
"What do ya mean?" Goofy asked.
"When you remember one thing, that leads to remembering another...and then another and then another. Our memories are connected. Many pieces are linked together like they're in a chain that makes up each of us." She explained. "I don't actually erase any memories...just take apart the links and rearrange them. You still have all your memories." She smiled.
"Oh that's a relief." Sabrina sighed in relief as they all nodded.
"So you can put 'em back together?" Jiminy asked.
"Yes, but first, I have to undo the chains of the memories I made on my own. After I've done that, I have to gather up the memories scattered across each of your hearts and then reconnect them. It might take some time. But I think it might work." She shook her head. "What am I saying? It WILL work, I'm sure! It's my turn to look after all of you."
"Alright, we all really trust you." Sora smiled.
Jiminy just thought of something. "Wait a second! You said you'd have to undo the links of the memories you made...but that means..."
"Yes. You won't be able to remember anything about anything about what happened here." She confirmed sadly.
"Not even you?" Sabrina asked.
"I'm sorry. It's the only way, I'm afraid." Namine sighed. "You two have a choice. You can lose your memories of this castle and reclaim your old ones...or keep your memories here and give up the memories that you've lost."
"Do we...have to choose?" Sora asked.
"Yes." Namine replied sadly. The siblings thought long and hard on this as the other three were looking at each other and then at the two.
"Make us like we were." Sabrina said as Sora nodded.
"Oh, okay. Nobody needs to keep a bunch of memories that aren't real, right? You want to remember all of the people who are really important to you. Anybody would choose that." Namine said.
Namine (Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories)
They walked up to some pods as they looked at them. "To remember again, we have to sleep in that?" Donald asked.
"Yes, it's going to take some time, but I'll take care of all of you." She replied.
"Gawrsh, when we wake up, we won't remember who you are anymore..." Goofy said.
"So...how are we going to thank you?" Latias asked.
"Don't worry about that!" Jiminy exclaimed. "I'll just make a big note in my journal, and it will say 'Thank Namine.'" He said.
"Oh good, that makes me feel better." Donald said.
"Well, good night then Namine!" Goofy waved as he and Donald walked away.
"Good night, Goofy." Namine giggled.
"See you soon." Latias said to Sabrina as they both hugged each other before they parted and Latias walking back with the boys.
"You too, you guys." She said.
"Okay." Sabrina said and then looked at Sora and then they both hugged. "See you when we wake up."
"Yeah." Sora nodded as they parted from the hug and went to their separate pods...which were right next to each other.
"All of this may have started with a lie...but I really am glad that I got to meet you two." Namine said.
"Yeah, me too." Sora said. "When we finally found you, and even when we remembered your name, I was happy, I bet my sister was too."
"Oh here we go..." Sabrina giggled at this before she actually could get in the pod.
"The way I felt then...that was no lie." Sora said and then the two looked at each other.
"Goodbye." Namine said.
"No, not goodbye! When we wake up, we'll find you and then there will be no lies. We're gonna be friends for real. Promise me, Namine." Sora requested.
"You're going to forget making that promise." Namine told him.
"If the chain of memories comes apart, the links will still be there, right?" Sora asked. "So the memory of our promise will always be inside me somewhere. I'm sure of it."
"Yeah, you're right. Okay, It's a promise." Namine smiled, and then they pinkie promised it.
The pod was closing for Sabrina, and yet, she heard everything. "Cheesy boy..." She smiled, and then she closed her eyes.
"See you soon." Sora waved as he hopped into the pod.
"A promise...huh..." Namine looked at her pinkie, and watched the pod close before her.
Sora looked at Namine with a smile. "Sora, some of your memories' links are deep in the shadows of your heart and I won't be able to find them. But don't worry, you made another promise to Kairi, someone you could never replace. Kairi is your light, the light within the darkness. Always think of her, and all of the memories lost in the shadows of your heart will come into the light."
Sora smiled. "Right." He nodded, and then closed his eyes as soon as the pod closed.
Meanwhile, down below...
Thirteenth Discretion (Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories)
"Surely, you must have known this was going to happen." Zexion said.
"What are you talking about?" Riku asked.
"You've been to a number of worlds in your memory before this one and in those worlds, you met only dark beings. That's all that's left in your heart. Dark memories. Your memories of home are gone...each and every one."
"THAT'S A LIE!" Riku yelled. "I remember everything from the islands! Tidus, Selphie, Wakka, Sora, Sabrina and Kairi! They're my...my..." He looked down on the bridge. "My closest friends..."
"And who threw away those friends? Maybe it's your own actions that you've forgotten. YOU destroy your home!" Zexion exclaimed.
Riku gasped in shock, and then the whole place went dark. When Riku opened his eyes, he was on a floating chunk of the island. "This is...that night!"
"All of the islands you grew up on were sundered, scattered. Many hearts were forever lost in the darkness. Because of what YOU did!" Zexion exclaimed, pointing to the side as an image of Riku appeared, much to Riku's shock.
"You hated being an islander, so you opened the door to darkness and destroyed the islands. It was YOU!" Riku couldn't believe his ears. "You were pulled into the darkness then, and now you belong to the darkness. You should look...who you truly are!"
One fight with an annoying Darkside later...
Riku was panting, on one knee. "That was...not who I truly was..." He muttered as he looked to the side...and couldn't believe who he saw. Sora and Sabrina, but their backs were toward him. "Guys?!"
He walked up to them. "Guys, it's me." He said, but suddenly, they both attacked him, much to his shock. "Whoa, guys! Don't you recognize me?!"
Organization XIII (Kingdom Hearts II)
"Oh we recognize you alright...we can see exactly what you've become." Sabrina said and then nodded at her brother, who fired a beam for light at Riku, who just yelled in pain and was launched a few feet.
"How can the light hurt you? Riku...have you really become a creature of the dark? You're not Riku anymore...you're just a pawn of the darkness." Sora clenched his fists. "So be it. It's time for you to face the light!" He exclaimed, pointing his Keyblade up in the air, as an orb of light came from his Keyblade and shrouded the whole place with light.
Riku was falling inside the light. "I'm...fading... fading into the light."
"You won't fade." A voice said as Kairi appeared. "You can't fade. There's no power that can defeat you. Not the light, not the dark. So don't run from the light, and don't fear the darkness. Because both will make you stronger."
"Make me stronger? Darkness, too?"
"Yeah. Strength that's yours. The darkness inside your heart...it's vast and deep. But if you can truly stare into it and never try to fade away, you won't be afraid of anything again."
"All this time I've tried to push the darkness away..."
"You've gotta just remember to be brave. Know that the darkness is there and don't give in. If you do that, you will gain strength...the kind that's unlike any other. You'll be able to escape the deepest darkness."
"And I'll be able to see through the brightest light."
"Follow the darkness. It'll show you the way to your friends."
"Can I face them?"
An image of Namine appeared right next to Kairi. "You don't want to?" They both asked.
"You know I do. Of course." Both of the girls disappeared. "And I will...with my strength...My dark strength!" He smirked. "DARKNESS!" He yelled, and then transformed. He then turned around. "There you are." He said and slashed through.
Face It! (Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories)
"Impossible..." Sora's voice suddenly changed as he turned right into Zexion...and then Sabrina disappeared. An illusion! Zexion weakly got up and held his chest in pain. "How is it that you found me...when you were there in the light?"
"You reek of darkness. Even the light can't block the smell." He replied, as Zexion gasped. "I guess I followed the darkness right to you."
Zexion clenched his fist. "This is absurd...Then I shall make you see...that your hopes are NOTHING...NOTHING BUT A MERE ILLUSION!" He yelled, summoning his Lexicon as Riku got in a battle position.
Battle! Gym Leader! (Pokemon X and Y)
Riku ran towards Zexion and slashed him, but Zexion jumped back and looked at his Lexicon. "Firaga." He said, as a fireball headed right towards Riku but he quickly blocked it.
"So your book has spells? I'm not easily impressed." Riku said and used Dark Firaga, causing Zexion to yell in pain.
"Why you..." He said as he avoided Riku's attacks. "I hope you can share...because this is about to get interesting." Zexion said and then a dark tornado appeared behind Riku, sucking in some of his cards.
Zexion took the cards. "This should be enough." He smirked and then raised the cards up to have his own sword. "Give me your best shot."
"Oh, I will." Riku said as both of them ran towards Zexion and slashed him, but Zexion jumped back and countered with a slash of his own, but Riku slashed him away and used Dark Firaga.
Zexion aimed his own Soul Eater at Riku. "Blizzaga." He said...but nothing. "What?!"
Riku smirked. "I never actually learned any spells." And then he used Dark Aura, causing Zexion to scream in pain.
"Why didn't you tell me before?" Zexion asked, slashing him after Riku was done.
"I thought you knew, but I guess you got cocky." He replied and then used Dark Break to finish him off.
Zexion glared at Riku after he was finished. "D-damn you..."
"Ah shut up." He said and then slashed through Zexion, causing him to yell in pain and disappear.
Thirteenth Discretion
"What IS he?" Zexion asked, leaning on the wall for support. "No one's EVER worn the darkness the way that HE does, it's impossible!" He then heard a portal opening as he saw Riku and Axel, as he gasped in fear, but then realized it was only the replica. "Oh...oh yes. The replica, of course. We can use this Riku to defeat the real one." He said and then looked at Axel. "Axel?"
"Wouldn't you like to be real?" Axel asked as the replica nodded. "All you need is the kind of power that the real Riku doesn't have. If you can get that, you can be a new person...not Riku, nor anyone else. You won't be just be a copy of someone. You will be unique, your OWN self."
"Axel! What are you saying to him?!" Zexion exclaimed.
"You know, he's as good a place to start as any." Axel said, smirking.
Zexion glared at Axel. "YOU CAN'T DO THIS!" He yelled, and then the Riku Replica grabbed his neck, and started to absorb his power.
"So sorry, Zexion. You just found out way too much." Axel said.
Meanwhile, back with Riku...
Lazy Afternoons (Kingdom Hearts II)
"What did that DiZ guy mean by I stand in the Twilight, then choose when I meet with this Namine girl?" Riku asked, wondering to himself, and then looked at Mickey. "Do you know?"
"Not really, but something about him feels familiar." Mickey shrugged.
"Oh well." Riku said as they walked around Twilight Town. "By the way, thanks for saving me from Ansem back there."
"Ah, no problem. I'm just glad I got there in time." He said and then they noticed a hole in the wall. "Do you think we should go in there?"
"Yeah, I have a feeling we should." Riku replied as they walked in together, walked through the forest and ended up in front of the mansion. "Maybe Namine is here." He said.
"Hold it." A voice said, as the two turned to see the replica walking up to them. "Hmph, you changed. Your own darkness...it doesn't frighten you anymore."
"How can you tell?" Riku asked.
"Because I'm you."
"No, I'M me."
"'I'm me.' He says...Must be nice being real. A fake like me could never get away with saying that. That's right, I'm a phony! A FAKE! The way I look, the way I feel, everything I remember! And even this newfound power!" Dark aura surrounded him. "I thought by finding some new strength, I could finally be someone...someone who is not at all you! But...nothing changes...I'm still just empty! Everything about me is borrowed." He clenched his fists and glared at Riku. "As long as you're around...I'LL NEVER BE MORE THAN A SHADOW!"
Face it!
Riku took out his Soul Eater and looked at Mickey. "Go on ahead, I'll catch up." He said.
"Right." Mickey said as he opened the gate and ran into the mansion.
Riku (Kingdom Hearts II)
Riku slashed his replica, but the replica blocked and then countered, and then using Dark Firaga, but Riku jumped out of the way and slashed him several times before kicking him away. "Alright...let's make this interesting. DARKNESS!"
The replica glared at Riku and then ran towards him and slashed him, but Riku jumped out of the way and used Dark Firaga on his own, making the replica wince as Riku then slashed him several times before using Dark Break.
"IT'S OVER!" The Replica yelled, using Dark Firaga again, but Riku jumped to the side and used Dark Aura, and once he was done, Riku jumped up in the air and slammed down on the ground, a shockwave blasting the replica away.
"You're going to pay..." The replica said. "As soon as I finish you...I will not be a shadow any longer!"
"Now why does this sound familiar?" Riku wondered. "Huh, it must be when Sabrina kept telling me about Luigi."
"DON'T SAY HER NAME! DON'T EVEN MENTION THE OTHER!" He yelled and slashed him in pure anger.
Riku blocked the attack. "Okay, something tells me you kept attacking those two." He said and then slashed him multiple times and then slashing through him to finish him off.
The replica yelled in pain as he fell to the ground...and started fading away as Riku changed back to normal. "So...it's over."
Roxas (Kingdom Hearts II)
"Hmph. Death doesn't frighten me. Good riddance to a phony life." He muttered. "My heart was never real. I'm sure even what I'm feeling now is probably all fake."
"What are you feeling?" Riku asked.
"What happens when a fake dies...one like me? Where will my heart go? Does it disappear?"
"It'll go somewhere. Maybe to the same place as mine."
"A faithful replica until the very end...that's...okay." He said, and then the replica disappeared.
Riku walked into the mansion, slowly looking back at where the replica faded away before walking in.
Lazy Afternoons
Riku walked in to see Mickey and DiZ talking to each other, and they both noticed Riku. "Ah, so you defeated the replica?" DiZ asked.
"Yeah." Riku nodded.
"Very well, come this way." DiZ said as he guided Riku to a room. "Namine is in here." He said as Riku nodded and walked in.
Namine
Riku noticed Namine next to Sora's pod "Are you Namine?" He asked.
"Yes." Namine replied and then walked up to him.
"I see...so that was you when I was about to battle Zexion."
"Huh?"
"Never mind. It's nothing."
"Please, come this way." She requested as Riku looked up to see Sora and Sabrina sleeping in two pods.
"What the... SORA! SABRINA!" He ran towards them, but they were asleep. "What did you do to them?"
"Relax...they're just asleep to get their memories back." Namine replied.
One explanation later...
"So these two chose to forget about this castle...and get their memories back?"
"You have a choice to make too."
"Why me, too? No one's messed with my memories."
"It's not your memories. It's your darkness. In your heart, there is darkness, and in that darkness is Ansem. He may be at bay for now, but eventually he'll wake, and he will take over you just like he did before. But I have powers you can use. With my powers, I can put a tight lock on your heart. That way, Ansem can never come out from inside you."
"What happens to me if I let you do that? Will I forget everything like Sora and Sabrina? I'll have to."
"The darkness in you will be sealed tight just like your memory. You'll stop remembering the darkness. You'll go back to how you were. Riku, please choose."
Riku looked up at their pod. "They don't even look worried. Will I sleep like that too?"
"Yes."
"Figures. They always did as they pleased. Whatever we'd be doing together, Sora would find a way to slack off, and when Sabrina goes over to get her brother, I would then find those two slacking off together, playing video games or watching anime. Even trying to leave the islands...I did all the work on the raft by myself." He chuckled. "That's it. When these slackers wake up, I'll tell them off. I told them to take care of Kairi and here they are just taking a nap. But I can't chew them out like they deserve...if I've been asleep."
Namine looked at her with her eyes widened. "I don't need my heart locked. I'm ready...i'm gonna fight Ansem."
"But what if his darkness overtakes you?"
"If that happens, then the darkness will show me the way."
"Yes...that's true."
Riku chuckled and folded his arms. "Why do I get the feeling that you knew I would say that?"
"I didn't know. I hoped. I wanted you to face the darkness, because you're the one who can."
"So that's the reason...that's why you came to my rescue inside that light...in the form of Kairi."
"When'd you know?"
"I knew when I met you. You and Kairi smell the same." He then walked away. "Look after those two." He requested.
"Alright." Namine nodded with a smile.
Castle Oblivion (Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories)
As soon as Riku walked out of the doors and ended up back in Castle Oblivion, Mickey and DiZ was waiting for them. "Alright, who are you?" Riku asked.
"I could be nobody or anybody. It is up to you whether you choose to believe in me or not."
"Boy, you really like pushing decisions on other people."
"And you have pushed away slumber making the choice to face Ansem."
"Do you think I'm reckless?"
"You have chosen your own path."
"Are you supporting me or are you abandoning me?"
"That will be your choice as well." DiZ replied and walked over to him, giving him a black cloak.
"What's this?" Riku asked.
"The Organization will pursue you like a pack of hunting dogs; they will sneak up on you if they sense your presence. However, this cloak that is worn by Nobodies will render their eyes and their noses useless." DiZ looked at Mickey's ears. "The ears, not so..."
Riku held the cloak and looked at it. "They wear this to give themselves protection from being devoured by the darkness. Is it clear? Even the Organization cannot rule the darkness."
"Doesn't matter. I won't run from the darkness." He said as DiZ threw a card to Riku as he picked it up. The Castle Oblivion card.
"The card will draw out your heart's darkness. Finish your business with Ansem."
"Come on, let's go." Riku said as Mickey nodded as they walked passed DiZ.
When they got up to the door, he looked at Mickey. "Your majesty, I know you want to help...but this is my battle. I have to do this alone."
"What?! Why?!"
"I don't want you getting hurt by Ansem. It's a battle against the darkness. But, I have a request. If Ansem is the victor of this battle and I'm taken over by the darkness...I want you to destr-"
"Help you?"
"What? That's not what I meant. I want you to destr-"
"There's no way I'll do that. Just know that I will always be with you even if you gave into the darkness."
Riku smiled and hugged Mickey. "Thank you, your majesty."
"Oh, there's no need to call me that anymore. We're pals!"
"Alright, Mickey." Riku smiled and got up, walking to the door.
"I'll be waiting for you." Mickey said
Riku nodded and ran in the door, as he then ran in a long hallway, taking out his Soul Eater. "ANSEM! Where are you? SHOW YOURSELF!"
Ansem's voice chuckled. "Why in such a hurry? I'll be here at the very heart of darkness...watching you plunge into the same darkness...inside of you."
"Damn you..." Riku muttered as he still ran through the hallway.
Eventually...
"I smell you, Ansem. Show yourself." He ordered.
Ansem appeared in front of him. "I have watched you fight. I know your strength. Your skill with the Keyblade has grown. It has become more mature. And yet, why...why do you accept the darkness but still refuse me? You know that you and I are similar. We both follow where the darkness leads. Indeed, we are the same, so why? Does some part of your heart still have a fear of the dark?"
"That's not it. The truth is..." He took out his Soul Eater.
Face It!
"I just can't stand your foul stench."
"You are a fool. You should know my powers well by now."
"Yeah, I know. Or did you forget? I used all the power you had to give...and Sora and Sabrina still beat me. I'm not at all impressed with your powers."
"Very well...in that case...YOU SHALL SINK INTO THE ABYSS!" He yelled, as the guardian appeared right behind him.
Guardando Nel Buio (Kingdom Hearts)
Riku ran towards Ansem, but the guardian simply punched the ground in front of him, making a shockwave but Riku dodged and slashed Ansem several times.
"COME GUARDIAN!" Ansem yelled.
"Alright..." Riku said with a smirk. "DARKNESS!"
"Ah..." Ansem smirked. "This will be interesting." He said as the guardian threw cutters at Riku, but he dodged them all as he used Dark Firaga as he then slashed Ansem a lot before finishing off the combo with another Dark Firaga.
"SUBMIT!" Ansem yelled, as the guardian grabbed Riku. "Come, open your heart."
Riku elbowed the guardian and then backflipped. "JUST TRY TO KEEP UP!" He yelled, using Dark Aura on Ansem, and once he was done, he used Dark Break.
"You're quick with your dark powers that I gave you, I'll give you that." He said as the guardian threw more cutters.
Riku dodged them all. "And who's fault was it to give me these powers?" He asked before slashing him.
"I...uh...you son of a..." Ansem growled as the guardian punched Riku, but he backflipped and used Dark Firaga again.
"Heh, looks like it's your fault." He said before running over to slash him.
"SHUT UP!" Ansem yelled as the guardian punched the ground to create several shockwaves, but Riku jumped up and slashed down at him to finish him off, as the darkness went away.
"INSOLENT BRAT!" Ansem yelled as he fired a dark ball of energy towards Riku, but Riku blocked it and ran towards Ansem.
"ANSEM!" He yelled and slashed through Ansem, as he yelled in pain through this. "This is...the end."
Castle Oblivion
"This...is hardly...the end...I will return one day...and when I do...i'll be coming for you..." He said and then faded away.
"And on that day, I'll be ready." Riku said, putting his Soul Eater away and walked off.
Mickey was at the entrance with the Organization cloak on and then noticed Riku. "Ah, there you are." He said. "So you defeated Ansem?"
"I did...but...I have a feeling he's still here. Since I still have part of the darkness."
Mickey smiled. "Well, at least he's gone for now."
"Right." Riku said, putting the cloak on.
"So, are you going back home?"
"Not yet...the darkness I mentioned is still here. I think he still may have a hold of me."
"Your darkness belongs to you." Mickey told him. "Just the way your light does." He smiled. "On the road that DiZ mentioned, I'd like to go on that road with you."
"Alright." He nodded and walked out of the castle together.
More Gun (Team Fortress 2)
They walked out of the castle and into the cool brisk night, not saying a word until they bumped into DiZ again. "What are you making me choose now?"
"Between the road to light...and the road to darkness."
"Neither suits me." Riku said. "I'm taking the middle road."
"Do you mean the twilight road to nightfall?" He asked as Riku walked passed him.
"No." He said, looking behind. "It's the road to dawn."
And end story! Kingdom Hearts II, right?
Nope. We need to see what Roxas and his sister are up to...