The Sapphire Sorceress
Disclaimer: The rights to Kingdom Hearts belong to Disney and Square Enix.
Act 53: Tristesse De Xion
"Heh heh heh... Wow. The sun sure is beautiful. I know we've seen a lot of sunsets, but today's puts them all to shame. If only things stayed like this."
Twilight Town: Old Mansion ( Kairi's POV )
- Day 355 - Unsaid, Unheard
"Try again!" The loud, booming voice echoed in my ears. Seeing the simulated nobodies move around me I had to focus on keeping them away from me using my magic since there were so many. Despite being a fake version of this town I certainly imagined these packs of nobodies swarming around me were very real, but I had to remain focused on the task at hand. Blocking the attacks from these dangling nobodies I noticed the smaller ones beginning to creep up behind me when I wasn't expecting them. With there being so many enemies to deal with it was hard for me to focus on who to attack or block.
"You're stronger than this, so why are you not unleashing your true power?" Because this isn't real, DiZ. None of this is actually happening to me right now despite how everything here looks like the real Twilight Town. If I failed in this world there was always another chance to make things right. This meant I could afford trial and error unlike real life, which doesn't have a restart button if things had gone wrong...although I wish that was the case.
Firing off some more spells at the nobodies swarming around my position I began to run away from the pack hoping to pick them off easier this way as the world began to shrink around me serving as the "timer" for this certain simulated training process. I knew if the buildings crushed me, then I would be out of time for certain so I had to step things up now.
'Okay, the trick Aqua used on me might work out for myself as well...' We both are keyblade wielders, and even if she lost her heart those abilities she used are similar to my own while having a couple of different moves of course. Looking at the nobodies I fired off more fire, ice, and thunder spells hoping to ward them off since defeating this mean in a time-limit seemed nearly impossible.
"Your time is almost up, so make use of that strength within to defeat the enemy!"
Stop pressuring me, DiZ! I swung my weapon at the nobodies trying to wipe them out as the buildings started to disappear from my sight meaning that I had to hurry. Putting both hands on my own keyblade I knocked some of the fake enemies back as I stabbed a couple with my blade hoping they would disappear to lessen the number. Casting a protective wind spell I continued using physical force to wipe out more of these guys, but then a giant nobody appeared with a blue scarf around its neck.
'There is no way I'm gonna beat that on this run...'
The sky grew black in color as the entire world around me dissolved into an empty void of grid lines covering my vision. All of this pointed towards one conclusion, and that was I'd failed to complete this test put before me by DiZ in time. Oh, boy was he going to have some choice words for me when I got out of this simulation. Sure enough, he was waiting for my return out of the virtual reality he's created in a digital world through his advanced technology. Admitally, the idea of traveling into a digital version of Twilight Town that had everyone resembled the people from the actual town was very impressive for what seemed like a one-person job.
"Another failure. It might be better to start you back at the bottom with those lowly heartless girl," DiZ certainly hasn't changed his attitude that much in the past couple of days. "Are you trying to make a mockery of my work by not providing your worth as a keybearer?"
"You know perfectly well that I'm not exactly on Sora's level even now, and the fact I've never had to deal with nobodies who are much stronger than the heartless doesn't help things."
"That is irrelevant. You must become strong enough should Riku fail on his part to revive your friend from-"
"Don't even finish that statement! Sora will be just fine and once he wakes up we will be able to protect the universe together..."
He didn't seem impressed by my words as Namine offered me some water if I needed it, the poor girl was so kind to me but she looked scared when she watched DiZ glare at her.
"You will need to step up your training with the stalemate we have with that organization soon to end..."
"What do you mean by-"
"What I'm saying is within a few days there will be one less member of that group of disgusting creatures to deal with, but depending on who survives Sora may never return from his slumber."
"...He will come back! He has to return to the real world because everyone needs him back including me..."
"I couldn't agree with that more, but in order for him to succeed you will need to improve your strength," I drew out my keyblade in fear of him trying to harm Namine once more. "Oh, please like I would use the same trick in a row. I simply wanted Namine to provide you with some food considering what you don't know about your other friend, Riku."
What exactly don't I know about him? Sure, the fact he's been relying on darkness is trouble but at least he's trying to make amends for his seduction into the darkness.
"What is left unsaid, and what remains is unheard. Riku has not merely been using the darkness inside of him, the boy has become darkness itself or if you prefer to consider it something else he and Ansem now are one in the same."
"T-that can't be true!"
"Oh, it most certainly is true, Kairi. Ansem's shadow has left that child a parting gift that is a blessing and a curse."
Riku's blindfold could it be what is holding back the darkness from consuming his body? He did say that by using that power was making him a lot more like that heartless. I couldn't imagine my friend returning to being in such a horrible position, trapped in an endless void of darkness with no escape out of such a place, unlike last time.
"That puppet will soon come here, and we must be ready for that moment to revive Sora. It is essential that you are prepared to eliminate those creatures once that moment comes so that we won't have any more issues to contend with!"
"You make that sound like it is easy for me. In case you don't realize it yet I'm not some kind of soldier in a war. I'm a girl who also goes to a school to learn and hang out with the people that I am trying to protect."
"That is unimportant to your training. In fact, you will need to quit being there, the luxury you had is no longer afford to you as being a keybearer is more important than your life there."
"Like I'm going to allow you to tell me when and where I should be-"
"Indeed, so I've taken the liberty of locking down the Gummi Ship ensuring you can't leave this world, and I've also locked away that little watch of yours. Trying to sneak out to go visit those useless friends of yours won't help you overcome your weaknesses..."
He must have found me while I used that watch from that super-hero to get back to the academy. Damn it! Why is he pressuring me into giving up the people at that school, and while I dedicated myself to being a full keyblade warrior that didn't mean I wished to abandon those people back in that world.
"Look! I might need your help in progressing in my training, however, I draw the line at you forcing me to stay here!" I refused to stand by and let this man dictate how my life should go just like with Rufus Shinra, the both of them believed I could fall under their will...they were both very mistake about that.
"Go ahead if you wish to waste even more of your precious time on fruitless endeavors." I ran off anyway going to the parked Gummi Ship in this basement. Looking at the door to open it the vehicle was locked up so I tried opening it up with my keyblade to no success. The lock in place was designed in a special way likely ensuring only DiZ could open it, but that wouldn't happen since he wants me to stick around here. No matter what I was stuck here, and until I pleased DiZ I couldn't get away from this place.
'Sora...hopefully when you awaken we can go away into other worlds. I would love to see the other places you've visited with you and Riku by my side all three of us taking that wooden raft to start a journey together...' For now, the goal was to wake up him but would I really have to fight people like Xion, Roxas, and Aqua in the process?
- Day 356 - Place To Belong
The next day I had been ordered by DiZ to go and see Namine who would be speaking with Xion, the nobody or Replica according to him that would be visiting this place today in order to help bring back Sora. He said I would need to be there as protecting in case the organization showed up. If this girl was sucking in all of Sora's memories, then by returning them to their owner would wake him out of slumber...what will happen to that girl after that is done with is...
"Don't bother showing compassion for such a doll. Its purpose of hindering Sora's rebirth will be used for our needs, and then it will cease to exist like all nobodies once you are reunited with that boy."
"What if you lost your heart, and was left behind in a shell? How would you feel or rather can't feel being in such a state of being, DiZ?"
"That is a pointless question since I'm the one with a heart and mind that will help you and your "friends" destroy those wretched beings." Shaking my head in disgust I walked up the mansion's stairway to wait outside of the door where Namine and Xion were beginning their conversation. I didn't mean to eavesdrop on their private conversation, but I couldn't stop my curiosity from wanting to learn more about this creation called Xion. No! She is her own person despite being a Replica and not merely a puppet.
'She has been giving her own self of being unlike that Riku Replica who was merely a copy that wanted to be something more. In a way, they are essentially blank slates like a nobody except they have to create their own sense of self instead of being created from the remnant of their somebody. The world might not see them as anything but freaks of nature like DiZ, and yet within my heart I could feel and show compassion for their plight.
"If you return your memories to him, then you will disappear." What? If Xion revives Sora's memories that will be the end of her! That - is not fair to her when she's become something different considering she was apparently meant only to be a copy of Sora. Instead, the replica was truly her own person as Xion but if what Namine said was correct then she won't be long for this world...
'Isn't there some other way to restore those memories? Just like with the nobodies there must be another solution than total annihilation of their kind...'
"In exchange for not having your own memory, you're connected through other's hearts. So when you disappear, no one will remember you. There won't be any "you" to remember. For all the powers I possess, I can't even keep one piece of the memory called "you" connected. "
Leaning on the door I wanted to burst in to demand that Namine finds another way, but something inside told me that it was impossible to figure out another solution when time likely is running out.
"I know. I'm ready. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here."
Xion. Would she go through with this despite knowing she will cease to exist afterward? Not a trace of her even being around would be left in everyone's memories. That is such a saddening thing for someone like her to endure and accept.
This passion for doing what is right...it had to be a real emotion that she couldn't merely fake or pretend to express.
"I also know that Roxas should be going back with me. But...I don't think he would understand. Not yet."
"I know. Roxas can't feel Sora just yet..."
Roxas will be disappearing as well? Two members went this is what DiZ must be wanting all this time, the person issues he has with nobodies would have two fewer nobodies to deal with in his life.
"Namine, will you please watch over Roxas once I'm gone. You won't be alone. I asked someone else, too. There just isn't anything else...I can do."
"All right."
"Thank you..."
All of this seems way too easy. If I knew these nobodies well enough by this point none of them would be willing to depart with two of their own without putting up some kind of fight. Although, the fact Xion and Roxas would soon be gone from this world is hard enough for me to swallow as it is...
"Well, if you're ready - let's go see Sora."
Hold on a second, the figure who came into the room...DiZ!
"Namine, it's them! The Organization has found us! They're almost here! This blasted puppet led them right to our doorstep!" You don't know that for sure they had been lurking around the forest; unlike the heartless, they seem intelligent enough to follow my trail meaning that if anyone leads them here it would be myself. "See what you get for trusting it?"
"I can handle this!"
"Not alone you can't!" Before Xion could walk up I opened the door, standing in her way before she could run away.
"Kairi! You were listening to our conversation after all..." Shaking my head I deterred that notion while not denying that was the case to Namine.
"I know what you are doing for Sora, Xion. That means I am going to help you deal with these guys to help protect you."
"Ridiculous. You couldn't even handle mere fakes, so what gives you the confidence to even hold back the real ones?" Not helping, DiZ!
"A focus to do what is right despite the fact I'm likely going to get hurt in the process." Xion and Namine looked saddened to hear that last part, but right now I wasn't feeling down about this.
"This is what I've decided on doing, the plan is simple you stay here with Namine and I'll handle the nobodies waiting for you."
"No! You need my help against them! DiZ even told you that you don't know much about my kind - I mean their kind. After all, I'm simply a shadow of what a nobody truly is..."
"Wrong! You aren't a puppet or a Replica in my eyes. I can see a strong, confident girl who chooses to be selfless in the face of "deletion" in order to save my friend. That tells me you are worthy of having a heart that could make you just as real as myself."
"Kairi..."
"Such a childish action. Xion will be reduced into nothing once this is over along with the rest of those worthless nobodies that have no right of being in existence. Your duty is to exterminate such filth from this world with that keyblade, and nothing more will get in the way of that objective girl." I - want to punch him so badly right now for saying such horrible things like that. That...as much as it would satisfy me in the now won't help anyone in the end. Taking hold of my shaking hand before it moved on its own I glared at DiZ in his uncovered golden eye.
"Xion, the nobodies can take you back meaning you need to stay where it is safe from their hold. Namine, go and take her into the basement while I and DiZ handle these guys."
"You can't expect me to step onto the front lines of the battlefield, child!"
"Of course not. That doesn't mean you don't have any kind of defenses built here to keep the enemies out, right?"
"...Fine. Just do your part and don't screw up for once."
"With that faith in my abilities, the success of this mission will be certain." Moving out of the room I didn't see anything out of the ordinary, the white small figure running around in the bottom area would be the exception, of course. This is fight or flight time right now. Come on, Kairi!
I jumped down to face off with these creatures who began to shift in shape that allowed them to fly around and try to hit me with their bodies. Blocking their advances with my keyblade I poured all of the strength into striking them before they could hit me some more, the others also reshaped their bodies into weird spiky weapons. Despite looking small these creatures were proving to be a lot more formable than the shadow-looking heartless that I was used to fighting like this.
'Even if I can take down these guys there will be more coming, and they will likely be much stronger than this wave of enemies.' Pointing my keyblade upwards I fired off some magic fire to knock the flying nobodies back to the ground. My body was struggling to handle these guys but I can't afford to give out here not when everything is on the line for Sora and Riku.
"Give me all you got!" I roared out using the reserves of strength left to wipe out each and every last nobody that was trying to get in the way of saving my friend. One by one they fell to my blade while I tried to keep them from hurting me too much since this was only the beginning of this fight against this organization.
"DiZ! How are things going up-" A loud crack was heard which didn't sound too good, and when I ran back up sure enough a window had been broken with Namine standing near it in shock.
"Xion. She just left all of a sudden to confront those other nobodies..."
Great, the last thing we had to worry about is Xion getting into trouble by herself. Asking for DiZ, the man apparently had gone into the basement which is where I didn't want him to go now. Alright just go outside and find Xion and everything will be okay.
"Stay here Namine." She nodded while I ran out of the room getting to the foyer area ready to run out of the building, the next thing I saw were a bunch of those headdress nobodies in my way along with a couple of samurai-looking enemies.
"So, it seems fate has brought us together once more." That voice...it had to be her of all people getting in my way again.
"Aqua..."
"Auxaq," She corrected me implying she was going by her status as a nobody. "I believe you already know who I am or rather what I am here for today." To interfere with Sora's awakening.
"Then, you must know what I have to do to help save my friend."
"Funny, since I'm trying to do the same thing..." Yes despite us both being on opposite sides our intentions were, in fact, the same thing driving our actions. Noticing a lack of a fan in her hands she might not be able to use it however she isn't without her magic, and sure enough, her hands were beginning to glow blue in color so I made the first move to hit her subordinates finding their swords were easily capable of blocking my strikes. The other type of nobodies were doing that prayer move as well turning this samurai glow blue, and suddenly making them go a lot faster in their movements.
"You can't possibly expect to defeat them on your own."
'Just like DiZ, you doubt my abilities even now.' Dodging the swift strikes of their blades I waited for the right moment to strike even with their enhancements since despite being stronger or faster, the nobodies can and will fall to my keyblade just like any other enemy of the light. Speaking of which I fired off some more blasts of light at the samurai, but to my surprise, they easily sliced the magical blasts in two.
"Nice try, but these guys will only fight sword to sword. Believe me when I tell you only Roxas can handle their speed and prowess with a blade."
"I'm not Roxas!" My strikes went towards these guys, the nobodies were quickly moving around me, the blades were impossible to stop or block now leaving me unable to defend myself from their attacks. Before I could move one of the nobodies slash at my shirt cutting it open and it really hurt when I fell onto the floor in pain. Thankfully the cut wasn't deep enough to cause some blood to come out however what could be cut is what bothers me. Regardless of my pain, these legs of mine rose back up to charge at Aqua only to end up with two swords that were placed directly around my neck.
"I have no desire to watch you suffer while you've yet to reach your prime, so then, and with any more interruptions will you allow me to continue with our mission?"
"What exactly is your objective, Aqua? Do you truly intend on regaining your heart, saving your friends, and trying to do what is the best for the universe?"
"That is what you fight for, isn't it?"
She gave a slow nod, but I was unsure if I should tell her about when I encountered that heartless with her soul inside of itself. Would she believe such a story; even if she couldn't have regained her heart that at least showed there was another method to saving their souls.
"There is a way that you can avoid all of this pain you're inflicting on others who don't deserve it. Find your hearts stuck inside of heartless and free them with people like us. The ones who can use a keyblade like me or your friends Roxas and Xion!"
"That," She turned her head away for a second clearly not believing anything I just said to her. "That isn't possible! If we could find and release our hearts we would have done so already."
"I know seeking them out isn't easy. That said, I did come across your heart during my stay in Destiny Islands - I also was the one who slain it."
"Y-you did what to my heart?"
"I destroyed the heartless who took hold of your soul is what I did, but for some reason, it didn't come back if you're still acting like this. I don't know what could have gone wrong however you should be reunited with your soul..." At least that is what I would assume is the case. There has to be an explanation for what could have interfered with that...
"Then, you are sincere about this...there might be another way to revive me." She didn't seem arrogant in her tone anymore, so she was taking my words seriously rather than dismissing it.
"Yes, so if you don't mind why don't we-"
"Get your pathetic existence over with already!" DiZ! No don't show up now, but it was too late when I saw a blasting fire at Aqua sending her back through the mansion's doorway.
"Good work in distracting that creature with your lies."
"Lies?! I really did free her soul from the heartless who killed my friend." Why does he think I said that only to mess with her damn it. Seeing him carry a huge device in his hands he continued blasting the other nobodies around me even destroying a few of them.
"You should know that you don't belong in a stranger's home, beast. In fact, you don't belong anywhere besides the non-existence where you came from..."
"Hehehe...AHAHAHAHA! Oh, how cruel people like you can act towards others. You somebodies might have a heart, and yet you do nothing but hurt others with that soul inside, DiZ. To think I was considering that a person with a heart could truly understand my plight." No, the intention wasn't to manipulate you Aqua, but it seemed too late as she continued laughing while her nobodies began to cast barriers around her.
"You have no plight rather a twisted goal that must be stopped at all costs. The worlds don't need your help anymore we have better, stronger, and superior keyblade wielders than you ever were, monster."
"She isn't a monster, DiZ. You need to stop judging all nobodies for being the same when that isn't the case at all! None of them wanted to be without a heart, the soul which gives them life, happiness, and true feelings-"
"They don't deserve to be like us normal ones. A blessing such as that is unworthy of their brand of foul darkness..."
"Amusing you would say that," She grinned while pointing a finger right at DiZ's face. "While you use that boy, Riku. The living breathing avatar of that false Ansem, The Seeker of Darkness."
That isn't true, the Riku I've seen is nothing like that man. Not now and certainly not ever again!
"Sure the boy is merely a useful pawn, but it doesn't mean his sacrifices will be in vain once you foul beings are gone from this world."
"Enough! The both of you are taking this way too far! Your prejudice against nobodies is sickened to watch along with using my friend like that, and your distrust of other people is starting to become a problem, Aqua!"
Can't they both see they are pushing each other into becomes enemies rather than speaking with one another to possibly find a different solution?
"That ignorant mindset will lead to your downfall, girl. There is no need to reason with these hollow creatures, the only solution would be destroying them completely."
"Stop it already! Why do you want to wipe them out so badly? Is it really to do what's right, the reason sounds a lot more like revenge against them for some unknown reason to me." I was sick of this man's words, thoughts, and actions that were being used likely to help in his personal vendetta. Aqua merely waved her hand around in the air to my comments.
"Like any of this matters. Instead, the real focus on my mission was simply to keep you two here while Axel handles his part. This conversation has shown me one thing, however..." She started at the both of us before showing off a cruel-looking frown.
"Even with someone like Kairi you somebodies will never stop judging us for being without a heart, so why should I even pretend to be caring or sympathetic towards those who have no empty for me. Aqua...died quite some while ago. What you are looking at right now; the girl who is a shadow of what she once was nothing more. The next time I see you keybearer - we will be enemies despite how much I might not want things to end up that way..."
"Not if I end you here!" Before I could stop the blast DiZ fired off another blast only for Aqua's nobodies to intercept the blast sacrificing themselves to save her. She hissed at us before turning around to create a portal of darkness.
"I only seek to find a place to belong. Since you somebodies refuse to allow me to exist, then I believe it is only fair that your world becomes a little less bright..."
Aqua...I'm sorry that this happened to you, and DiZ shouldn't have acted the way he did but you can hurt others to ease your lack of pain. I couldn't say any of this while she stepped back into that black void where she came from, yet I knew that things were only going to get worse from this point forward.
"Xion is gone, and with her the only hope we have of awakening Sora. You see where your compassion with those disgusting monsters gets you in the end?" No this is where your hatred of nobodies blinds you, DiZ. I was starting to get through to her so that she could begin to understand things meaning you ruined any chance she had of trusting me.
"Take me home..."
"What did you just-"
"I WANT TO GO BACK! I need to return to the academy before they begin to suspect I'm ditching classes! The final S.E.E.D exams are coming up soon and-" DiZ simply turned around to walk away like I wasn't even talking with him.
"DAMN IT! Let me go home or I won't do anything else for you!"
"Should you leave, then you might as well give up your keyblade and never return again." How can you do this? Treat me and Riku like we're just tools or weapons to fight your damn battles, treating Namine like she doesn't deserve any kind of respect, and refusing to even see reason with some nobodies who might not want to cause suffering. You...you...
"YOU'RE NO DIFFERENT THAN A NOBODY!" He finally stopped moving only to turn around, a click sound was made before one of those white portals I use for fast-travel into other worlds opened up in the mansion. He was actually giving me this watch back from that Spider-Woman...
"You won't be getting your Gummi Ship. Don't come back here ever again, but don't expect to see Riku and Sora again. What a failure of a keyblade warrior you've become..." I stopped caring about this horrible person's opinion about me considering the "training" he gave me was simply destroying nobodies and nothing of real worth. I've only realized one thing while under DiZ's care: The price of seeking out vengeance.
[ A mostly Kairi-focused chapter because the next part will be nothing besides Aqua's side of the story. As you can see Kairi and Aqua might be understanding of each other, but the world is continuing to push them into being enemies, and that is the cruelty of war forcing people against each other because of the feelings of others. Unlike with most of the other nobodies who acted "evil" because they had to be enemies Aqua will be more like she is pressured into acting like the others because no one else wants to help her. How this will turn out will come into play along with Xion and Roxas' fates next time... ]