AN: We back bitchessssss! xD Got a nice long chapter here for you guys! It has a bit of fun, a bit of whackiness, a bit of emotion, and a bit of heart stuff! xD And also some plot stuffs that are pretty huge lol but might not have full ripples until later... :D
"East wing slumber party is now ready to begin!"
Kairi conjured a dozen glowing orbs of light and scattered them to the ceiling, providing pulsing, dim lighting in Master Aqua's bedroom.
"I don't think we should be frivolously calling on the ancient powers of the Light Of The Seven Princesses to create mood lighting for slumber parties..." Aqua murmured out, holding a hand over her mouth. She hesitated, then let her hand fall to reveal a small smile. "But I suppose I can let it slide, just this once," she concluded lightly.
"Well, as one of the seven princesses, I say it's a completely acceptable application of power!" Kairi giggled out. "What do you think, Xion?" she added, glancing sideways at her dark-haired twin.
Xion blinked, her face full of concentration. "I think it's...okay too? Right?"
"Right!" Kairi exclaimed, grinning and giving the girl a little push. "I love you for having my back on this one, sis. About as much as I love you for running your Keyblade right through that evil helmeted asshole's ribs the other day! And giving him a complimentary boot-to-the-nuts...to boot! You really showed him to think twice before coming at us!"
Xion beamed under the praise, nodding. Then she reached out and pushed Kairi back. "I hope so," she said seriously, all the same.
"All right," Aqua spoke, raising a hand holding several popsicles and giving a twirl of her wrist. A little swirl of icy magical wind swirled around the ice creams, freezing them up again. "if all bets are off tonight, then there isn't any harm in a Keyblade Master using her magic on tasty treats either." She passed one to Kairi and Xion, and joined them on the floor of her room - which was now covered in several blankets and many more pillows. She smiled, pointed to the ice creams and added, "Those could keep all night if you wanted them to, now."
"Hehe. I think we'll be done with them long before that," Kairi responded.
"Kairi...I've been meaning to ask you something - I wonder if you'll indulge my curiosity a little?" Aqua spoke casually.
"Sure! Ask away."
"Well," Aqua began. "as a Keyblade wielder, I'd always had access to accumulated knowledge about the worlds out there, but there was one in particular that I'd always wondered about: yours. The Destiny Islands. There was these rumors, legends, about a star-shaped fruit-"
"Oh! You know about that?" Kairi beamed. "It's called a Paopu Fruit. The legend goes that if two people share one, their destinies become forever intertwined. An-"
"An unbreakable connection," Aqua smiled, nodding. She reached into her outfit's pocket and pulled out a blue, metal and glass star-shaped charm. Ornate and-
"It's so pretty," Kairi breathed, staring at it glinting and shimmering under her light orbs overhead. "Did you make it?"
"Yes." Aqua held the charm out to Kairi, who took it carefully for closer inspection. "I know technically it's supposed to be made with seashells, but I worked with what I had. Time and magic...and a lot of trial and error, admittedly. Anyway, I also made one for Terra and Ven as well!"
"I made a charm, too," Kairi spoke, passing Aqua's blue charm over to Xion. "The proper way, according to legends and cultural beliefs. I gave it to Sora a while ago, though. Although...maybe I'll ask for it back now..." She shook her head, flushing as she glanced at Aqua. "So, is this a hobby for you, or was it a one-time thing?"
"One-time thing," Aqua replied. "What about you?"
"Hobby." Kairi smiled. "I just haven't gotten around to making more lately. Making anything, really. My arts and crafts side has gone neglected since this whole worldly adventures thing started..."
"I don't have...anything like that..."
"Huh? Oh, Xion...Well, everyone needs a hobby. We'll find you one! And Roxas, too - I don't think he has anything, either, besides the eating ice cream thing..."
Hobbies, hobbies, hobbies for Xion...
"You know what: seashells!" Kairi declared.
"Seashells?" Aqua said, raising an eyebrow in amusement.
"Seashells?" Xion repeated.
"Yeah! Plenty of people like to find and collect them. Rare ones, unique ones. Colorful ones. And since we have access to the ability to travel to so many worlds, I'll bet you could make the greatest seashell collection of all time - taking from so many special and unique places! No one else would ever be able to compete with you for it!"
"How do I find seashells?"
"Well, the beach - oceans - typically. But I'm sure seashells turn up in some strange places in some of these worlds..." Kairi mused happily. She looked to Aqua again, then glanced out her window. "Hmm...Aqua, this world has those huge lakes and river channels below us, at ground level, right? Do you think we could find some common shells there, at least? Snails, mussels...?"
Aqua adopted a thoughtful look, leaning back and putting a hand to her cheek. "Hmm. Now that is a difficult question. The last time I remember even going down there for a swim was...well, I'd have to add ten years to every guess now, I suppose," she murmured, embarrassed. "I might have seen some tiny shells laying about, but nothing like what you'd find at the ocean."
"Does this world have any oceans?" Kairi asked.
"Oh, we do!" Aqua assured, smiling. "But I've only ever visited it once before - and that was on an early assignment by our Master to help out some of the local villages." Aqua's smile faded, turning to a frown. Her hand fell to her lap. "I wonder what happened to them, when Xehanort...and after, when I..."
"Let's go right now," Kairi said, jumping up. She bent down to pull Xion up too. "Let's go look for some shells, and let's go for a swim! If it's been over ten years since you last did it, it's long overdue!"
Aqua looked startled. Then, touched. She rose to her feet, her smile back again. A light to her eyes. "Mmm. Long overdue, yes, you're right. I can do some simple magic to keep us warm, if it's too cold for a dip. But I think we're in the right season for it that it shouldn't be a problem, luckily enough! I noticed that we have some blooming Erunia flowers along the paths the other day."
"But I don't know how to...swim," Xion protested.
"Then we'll teach you," Kairi grinned. "It'll be fun! Trust me."
"Ok." Xion nodded, smiling at her hesitantly.
Kairi looked to the window, then at Aqua. "Since Xion and I can fly, and I assume you can get down to the ground safe and fast..."
"What are you-" Aqua began.
"Race you!" Kairi declared, and then she turned and dove out the window without a care in the world.
She flipped head over heels, spreading her arms and grinning fiercely to herself.
The wind whipping at her, the castle falling away, falling between those high mountains and huge rocky spires! Down, down, to the grass and dirt and great lakes and rivers below it all!
It was a loooong fall - longer than she would have thought! She had enough time to flip onto her back and watch Xion come zooming down after her like a rocket. She also witnessed Aqua come sliding down a rock spire with her Keyblade stuck into the side of it, before the woman kicked off of it with a flash of magic and a huge burst of speed!
Kairi waved to the both of them before twisting around and going into flight mode, herself, arms flat at her sides as she hurtled toward the ground. She wasn't about to let either of those two overtake her!
In the west wing of the castle, Sora, Riku, Ventus, Roxas, and Terra sat together in the middle of Roxas's room - around a large and complicated boardgame.
"YES! A solid twelve! Looks like you're behind me again, Riku," Sora exclaimed as he held up a pair of gaudy red dice. "I get to blow right past you." With a relishing grin, he plucked up his game piece and moved it far ahead of Riku's on the board's pathways.
Riku grinned as well, shaking his head. "Is that what you think? Well, we'll see how you're feeling once your lucky streak ends. 'Cause you know that's all this is, right? You're not winning this one."
"You want to say that again?" Sora challenged, laughing.
"I wouldn't say anything just yet," Terra said lightly, reaching for a deck of cards to pull one free. "My turn now, annnd...Huh. Well, look at that." He showed the card off to the others with a grin of his own. "Ven, you get to spend three turns in the ghost lair."
"Aw, man..." Ven muttered, throwing up his hands. "It's not gonna be easy to make up for that one. Thanks, Terra..."
"Hah - still won't help you pass me," Sora taunted Terra, smug and secure in his position of victory.
"Depends how lucky I get with this next roll..." Terra said, taking the dice from Sora. He tossed them up a few times, then threw them onto the board's surface. He leaned forward, watching them settle. He frowned. Then he sat back with a laugh. "All right, I probably set myself up for that one..."
"How bad is it?" Riku asked, amused.
"He rolled a two!" Sora informed him gleefully.
"Wow. That is bad," Riku laughed. "Better luck next time, huh?" he added to Terra.
"The game's not over yet," Terra smiled. "We still have a long way to go. Roxas: your turn. Let's see how good your luck is tonight."
"Okay..." Roxas picked up a card, scrutinizing it. He blinked, then he gave a small grin as he flipped the card around for the others to see. "It says I get to roll twice."
Sora suddenly looked extremely nervous from the other side of the board. "Hey, no big deal! That just means you've got even more of a chance to land yourself in a trap - or a 'go back ten spaces' spot," he went on quickly.
"I bet I do..." Roxas murmured, taking up the dice and eyeing them carefully.
"You're not very optimistic, are you?" Riku joked. "Hard to believe you came from Sora. You're way too different from him."
Everyone else looked at him. Then at Roxas.
Roxas inexplicably gave a genuine, wide grin. He nodded across the board. "Thanks," he said warmly. He cast the dice with some vigor, peering at them intently as they landed. "Four," he remarked, reaching for his game piece. Then he took the dice and threw them again. "And six. Now I'm ahead of Ventus, you, and Terra."
"Still behind me, though," Sora said quickly.
"Yeah, by three spaces," Ven laughed. "He could pass you in one more easy roll."
"Or-" Sora began.
Suddenly he was interrupted by echoing laughter through the window, along with several flashes of light, and a smattering of magical particles whipping by on the winds.
"What was that?!" he exclaimed, jumping up and racing to the window. Ven, Riku and Terra crowded around it too, peering out together. Roxas lingered well away from them (or, just Sora, really).
"What's going on?" Roxas asked, alert.
Terra stepped back from the window after a moment, turning back to Roxas with a smile and a shake of his head. "Nothing serious - it looks like the girls just decided to go for a late night skydive. They jumped out the window over in east wing," he added, at Roxas's baffled look.
"Why would they do that?" Roxas said.
"Well, from the sounds of it: for fun," Terra laughed, moving to resume his place on the floor. He brushed his long hair back and settled in again.
Riku and Ven joined him. Sora came back last, after a long look far below the castle.
"Hey, Riku," Roxas spoke, gazing at the silver-haired boy across from him, once they'd all sat down again.
"Yeah?" Riku said.
"Why did you go to the window if you can't see?" Roxas asked.
Riku froze. Then he laughed. "Is this getting me back for that Sora comment?"
"No," Roxas said plainly, shrugging. "I was just wondering about it."
"Hey, old habits die hard - and besides, if it was something serious going on, I would have been ready to jump out the window after them," Riku responded.
"Gallant," Terra commented. "But those three can take care of most anything themselves. And when you put them together...None of us should have much reason to worry," he finished, with a look at Sora, a humorous glint to his blue eyes.
Sora gaped, then looked to the ceiling while scratching his spikey haired head. "Hehe, r-right...no worries!"
"Hey, so are we going to drag this out forever, or can we just get it out there and state the obvious?" Riku said suddenly, a wide grin on his face.
"I don't know what you guys are talking about!" Sora exclaimed instantly. "There's nothing to talk about, actually!"
Terra grew a bit more serious. He held up a hand and said, "All right, tag-teaming isn't too fair. Let's get back to the game."
"What are you guys talking about?" Roxas said, gazing between them in confusion.
"I'll tell you later," Riku stated.
"Come on, R-Riku, there's nothing to even tell! Honest!" Sora said, crossing his arms.
"Sora," Riku began, voice rich with mirth. "I'm blind and I can still see it on your face. That's how terrible your poker face is - and always has been."
"Even so - let's leave it be," Terra said. "Who's next, now?"
"Guess it's me again," Riku shrugged. "Alright - where's the dice?"
"Got it," Sora said, snatching them up and handing them off.
"Thanks."
"Heh. No problem."
"Oooh, look, there's this one over here with the gold streak on it - and there's this one that has a big crack in it, and- oooh, this one one has a double spiral! And look at this big blue one!"
Kairi strode across the rocky, muddy lakefront and showed the little shells off to Xion, under light of a magic orb hanging overhead (a big, bright blue one made by Aqua).
Xion took them from her, looking them over curiously. "What do I do with them?" she said finally.
"You just find ones that look interesting or unique - special," Kairi told her, smiling. "Then you add them to your collection. Put them on a shelf, or in a nice case or something. You can think back on how you got them, and where, and you can tell people all about it later in life when they ask you!"
Xion nodded, then stowed the shells away in her jacket's pocket. She paused, then dropped her head and began carefully moving along the water's edge.
Kairi grinned; the search was on!
Aqua stood nearby, watching Xion with a smile on her face. She looked totally relaxed.
"So, Aqua..." Kairi started, a grin coming over her face.
"Yes?"
"When you visited Olympus again...how was it - seeing Hercules again?"
Aqua cocked her head. She smiled. "Oh? It was- nice. Good. To see him again. He's...so much older now, it's still a little hard to believe."
"He definitely has to have grown since you last saw him...ten years ago..." Kairi agreed slyly.
"He has, yes-" Aqua said slowly.
"How about all those muscles, huh?! And did you see that tunic of his? Those legs?"
Aqua blinked, flushing, her mouth dropping open. "Wh-what?!"
"Don't tell me you didn't notice, girl! I definitely noticed when I first met him."
"K-Kairi, I- n-no - no! That's- ummm..."
"It's okay to let loose - it's just girl talk."
"N-no! I mean, yes, I- I'm happy to...take it easy and bond with you and- do as girls do-" Aqua stammered out swiftly, raising her hands. "But, you see, it's just that guys don't exactly...hold my interest in that- department..."
Kairi blinked. Then she grinned again, stalking up to the woman who was her Master. "Oh! Well that is totally my bad! Have you run across any women who might be looking a lot more-"
"No!" Aqua said quickly, turning away and raising a hand to her mouth. "And even if I had, all the women I've met in my life so far were...well-"
"Come on! Spill it. Who did you run into that just got your heart racing?"
"W-well, I- there might have been this one girl I..." Aqua shook her head, clasping her hand firmly to her mouth. She glanced at Kairi, then let her hand fall. "A- she was a Princess of Heart, as a matter of fact... Her name was- C-Cinderella...and I helped her fulfill her dreams...and escape a terrible life with a wretched step-family."
"Cinderella!" Kairi beamed. "I met her, briefly, when we freed the others from Radiant Garden. And, after, we talked a bit in Traverse Town, before she and the other Princesses went into hiding. She was kind, good - and beautiful."
"P-please..." Aqua blushed, looking away again and wrapping an arm over her chest. "Kairi..."
"Maybe we could arrange a little visit."
"No. That can't-" Aqua sighed, shaking her head and holding her hand to her Heart. "One of the ways in which I helped her back then was to meet the love of her life - and from what I saw, their Hearts fit together perfectly," she went on softly. "Even if I did see her again - nothing can come of it, Kairi. It's just fantasizing and- and besides, I can't get distracted like that when I have so much responsibility weighing on me."
"Well, there's nothing wrong with fantasizing..."
"K-Kairi!"
"I'm just saying. A little dream or two never hurt anyone."
"I do not- I wouldn't- n-no!"
"Okay, okay. I'm done now. Sorry - Master," Kairi said earnestly.
Aqua gazed at her. Then she giggled hard into her hand. "You really have changed from that sweet little girl I once met, yourself, Kairi! Ten years really is a long time, isn't it?"
"Hey, I'm still sweet - when I want to be," Kairi giggled too.
"What are you two talking about?"
Kairi turned to see Xion approaching - with several little shells in her hands! "Oh, nothing much, sis - just about who in these worlds Master Aqua might find romantically attractive and physically-"
"Kaiiiriiii..." Aqua grated.
"-downright sexy - okay: done! Promise!" Kairi rattled off swiftly. "Anyways, let's see what sort of shells you've got here. Oooh, I like that one with the hole chipped in it - maybe that clam saw some combat!"
Xion looked at her closely. Then, at Aqua. "I'd like to know what you meant," she said, in a firm and louder-than-usual voice. She took a breath and continued on. "You do this too much, Kairi. You never say what you mean to me - you just let it go and I never get an answe!. But I want to understand! Like- like a real girl would..." she finished quietly, as if she'd lost the nerve she'd managed to muster up in the first place.
Kairi and Aqua stared at her silently, all the same.
There was only the sound of the moving waters and the insects around them.
Kairi nodded, frowning. "Alright. I'm sorry, Xion. If I do that. I just...I suppose I don't really think about it - if you...know or not. I just...well, guess I just always assume you're following along with everything just fine. But you're right, and you're right to speak up, and whatever you want to know, I'll try my best to help you understand. Okay?"
Xion nodded back. She smiled in relief. "So?" she said, expectant.
"W-well...it's sort of a complicated- complex topic to-" Kairi looked at Aqua, blushing now.
"Oh, now you're shy about it?" Aqua remarked, with a raised eyebrow and a tiny smirk on her lips.
"I- I mean- you know- you should probably be the one to explain to her because you're the- Master and the adult and...it's your responsibility!" Kairi babbled on. "There's a difference between teasing and seriously diving into the topic!" she burst out desperately.
"Okay - take a breath," Aqua sighed, taking pity on her. "I know for a fact that the library has numerous, helpful books on the subject. So, Xion, how about...tomorrow...I can take you in there for a- crash-course on the subject? In fact, we'll just - do the whole thing...since you probably have no clue about any of that either..."
"That sounds nice - thanks!" Xion said brightly.
"Y-yes, well, it is my...responsibility..." Aqua murmured, with a forced smile.
"Okay, let me see those shells," Kairi said, laughing and reaching for Xion's hands.
"Okay, everyone: training's over for the day. Let's spend our evening doing something fun - all together."
When Master Aqua had made that declaration, it had been met with surprise. But also with happiness.
Kairi was glad to give the Pestilence another day of use, as well; the poor thing had gone neglected these last few days! Relying on gliders and portals!
So they all boarded the magical ship again - but Aqua took the wheel this time out. The woman flew them into the Lanes Between. After a short trip, they emerged out the other side - down from a blue sky of a brand new world!
Well...new to the younger ones on the ship.
"No way - Disney Town?!" Ven exclaimed, peering over the side of the ship as they soared across the skies of this new world.
It was a world with grassy hills and trees - and a big, central town of colorful, cloistered buildings and paved streets on a hill. There were many roads leading into and out of the town, off into the distance. Kairi thought she spotted a racetrack running around the outside of the town, too. And off to the side, not far from the sprawling town, was a magnificent white castle with blue spires and towers.
"Disney Town?" Kairi said, turning with a smile. "So you've been here before?"
"Yeah! We all have," Ven grinned. "This place is the best - glad it's still here. Doesn't look like any trouble's even hit this world at all! Looks the same as...well - heh - ten years ago, I s'pose. Still weird to say that..." he murmured, scratching his head.
"This is also King Mickey's world," Aqua explained.
"Right - him - from the Door To Darkness," Kairi beamed. "I still can't believe you're friends with an actual king, though. That'd make me nervous..."
"Makes me nervous just thinking about it," Riku agreed.
"Hey - Riku," Terra spoke lightly.
"Yeah?"
"This world - what do you sense from it?" Terra asked him.
Riku frowned, focusing. He gasped, putting a hand to his head. "Wow...um...light. This whole world is just - light. But over there..." He pointed toward the castle.
"That huge castle?" Sora said curiously. "What about it?"
"There's a castle over there? Huh. Well, there's some kind of light there that's more powerful than anything I've ever...'seen' before. Even from this far away, it's like staring at the sun," Riku laughed.
"That's good news, then," Aqua nodded. "This world is strong...too strong for the Heartless to even touch."
"Well hey, that means we don't have to worry while we're here either, do we?" Sora said brightly. "No fighting, no monsters, nothing! Just relaxing and having a great time in a totally awesome-looking world!"
"That's right," Aqua smiled.
"It's definitely different from any other world I've been to," Roxas remarked, looking it all over with fascination. "Even Twilight Town."
"I think it looks..." Xion began, a smile growing on her face as she examined the world from above as well. "Pretty?" she settled on.
"It's totally cute," Kairi agreed with a giggle. "I can't wait to get down there and start exploring this place."
"I'll get us down there, then," Aqua said. "I think it would be best to set us down somewhere between the castle and the town - just in case."
"Good idea," Terra said in approval.
"So if this is that King Mickey's world, do you think he's here right now?" Kairi said curiously to Aqua.
"Hmmm, well...the last I saw of him was when I was alerted to what was going on at Castle Oblivion," Aqua mused. A pink tinge came to her cheeks. "I sort of ran off without properly explaining things to him - though, even I didn't exactly know what was going on at the time! All the same...I think he would have continued his search for the Key we need, even without me. I don't think a person like Mickey would have come home yet. Not until...his duty was done."
"Well that's depressing," Kairi muttered.
"That's just how his Heart is," Aqua said. "The next time we meet, I might actually try telling him it's healthy to take breaks, however," she continued lightly. "As much as even I might wish otherwise...we can't save these worlds at the expense of ourselves. Because these worlds need us to be at our best for them."
"Right!" Kairi nodded in agreement.
Riku sat under a tree on town's edge, feeling the warm breeze on his body.
He'd been having fun here - exploring - meeting the people here - sampling all the strange shops and indulging in the games they had here. He'd even played a game of "Fruitball" with the others. Team against team - and his had lost. No biggie...
At the moment, Aqua and Terra and Ventus had gone out to this racing course with their Keyblade gliders - to let Sora, Kairi, Xion and Roxas take turns racing each other on them.
Obviously, Riku couldn't participate on that one.
He would have liked to, though...A real race against Sora, and even Kairi...
Ah well.
But as he sat there, his thoughts turned to something else. Something different.
He crossed his arms, feeling the warm jacket around his body...
Erin... he thought, his Heart squeezing tight in his chest. You would have loved this world. And I wish...I wish I could give you another week. I wish you could meet these people, play these games, do these races - shop at these...ridiculous shops they've got here...
He sighed, sliding down the tree's base.
He let his mind drift, let his feelings go, as best he could...
But if there was one thing he still hated...it was not succeeding at something.
Before Riku knew it, he'd somehow fallen completely asleep.
Or...had he?
Because, whether it was in an instant or a minute, he found himself sitting up sharply with a gasp.
Except...
There was no warm breeze, no sunlight, no sounds of the town or racing hover vehicles zooming by, or cheers from the people in those tents along the tracks.
It was quiet.
Still.
But Riku didn't feel too worried, strangely.
He felt...at home.
Riku slowly rose to his feet, taking a breath in and extending his senses.
What he found was...a vast, endless darkness all around him - and a brilliant light shining beneath his feet.
It was such a light that he could actually...'see' an image on the ground.
An image of himself, with little circles that showed people he identified as Sora, Kairi, Terra...they were all there.
This place...What was...?
He put a hand to his chest as a warmth pulsed there.
He felt this place again with his senses, examining the surface, every inch...
"I get it," he said aloud. "This place...is my own Heart."
It was like how Sora had described talking to Ven before, when they'd still shared a body, wasn't it?
But why would Riku be in this place now?
He didn't have anyone else in his Heart or anything...did he?
Great...
"Um - alright, look, if somebody else is squatting in my Heart..." Riku began, setting hands on his hips.
Suddenly an overpowering light flashed from directly beneath his feet!
He covered his non-working eyes and turned away - not that it helped in the slightest!
"Agh..." he gasped, grateful when the light suddenly died away again.
What had just...?
He shifted on his feet, then froze as he heard...felt...
Water?
He was standing in water now?
It didn't feel too deep. An inch or two, maybe?
But what was he standing on now?
He realized it was different from before.
Was this still his Heart?
Riku breathed, raising his head and casting out with his magical senses once more.
He gasped as a flood of information came rushing back to him.
This water he was standing in, it extended on seemingly in all directions - forever? And the sky...there was a sky above him, with clouds and everything. And he could tell that it was there! Just like that strange platform with the images on it. This place...all of it...it was pure light, or energy, or...
So powerful and compact and- it had a defined form, even to his senses!
Clouds of light moving overhead...
Rippling, golden water at his feet...
And...
He began to walk, slowly, reaching out all around himself.
He stopped again sharply as he felt something. Something obvious and familiar to him by now.
A Heart. No, several Hearts!
There were people's Hearts scattered about this place, floating in the air...
Yeah, they were definitely Hearts - but they didn't..."look" like any Hearts he'd "seen" before.
They weren't orbs of swirling energy, they were...they were...
Stars?
Defined, rounded, sparkling stars?
What...was this place?
And how in the world was he supposed to get back?!
Well...
If these were Hearts - people - then...
Terra was going to be proud of him for this one.
But only because he had no choice here.
Riku decided...to ask for help.
He set off on a direct course for one of these strange, radiant star-Hearts.
Closer, closer...
He stopped before it - um, them? He shifted awkwardly, tossed his head and brushed at his hair. "Uh...hey, I'm Riku - do you have any idea where...what this place is? I'm...lost."
For a long minute, there was silence.
And in that minute, Riku felt like a big idiot.
But then-
"Lost?" a quiet voice came. A woman's voice, he thought. It came right from where that star was. That Heart. "Lost...lost...yes, I find myself lost as well. All I wanted was to give my people the worlds...but they-"
"Uh, look, sorry - but - if you're as lost as me then you're not exactly...helpful," Riku cut across.
And, yeah, in that next minute of silence, he felt like a massive jerk.
"How do you look like yourself here?" that voice came again. "I've never witnessed anything like this before."
"Um - you mean - why am I not a Heart, like you?" Riku said. "No idea, honestly. I just fell asleep and woke up here. How did you end up here?"
"The same way that everyone ends up here: we die," the woman responded.
"WHAT?!" Riku exclaimed, startling back from that star. "You- no way- are you saying you...? But then am I...?"
"Perhaps you died in your sleep," the voice said casually. "But given that you don't look like the rest of us...you might still have a chance."
"A chance...?"
"At life."
"Yeah...here's hoping!" Riku said fervently. "Uh, listen, I- nice meeting you? But I've got to go...figure this out."
"I hope that you do."
"T-thanks..."
Riku quickly strode off from that star - across the rippling waters.
He fought hard not to succumb to panic and fear.
He'd just fallen asleep, he was just asleep! If he didn't look like some formless star of a Heart, if he still had his form...he had to be okay, didn't he?
Assuming this wasn't all just some insane dream brought on by exhaustion and emotion and-
"Is that...my jacket?"
Riku stopped dead as the voice filled his ears.
A familiar girl's voice with a lovingly thick accent to it.
He sucked in a sharp breath, letting it go with a hitch. He turned toward the nearest star floating in the air. Right off to his left. "E-Erin...?" he whispered.
That star suddenly shot up a foot or two, as if startled. "Huh? Wait...that is my jacket - Riku?!"
"Erin!" Riku exclaimed, taking a shaky step forward, laughing. "You- you're-" He stopped.
"Yeah, I'm dead, you can say it," Erin responded, a note of humor in her voice that he hadn't realized...how badly he'd missed. He- "You were there with me for the end, remember? Or...has it been that long? You don't look much older than you were, last I remember you...still as attractive as ever."
"U-um..." Riku blushed, choking. "Damn is it so- so good to see you again. Uh, well, you know, technically..."
"What do you mean 'technically?'" Erin said. A silence. "Oh. That band around your eyes - did something happen to you in the time since I died?"
"Still...so strange that we're just standing around talking about you being dead," Riku murmured. He gave a great sigh and suddenly felt his legs give out. He collapsed to the ground, flat on his rear in this watery...weird place. Erin...her Heart...star...she drifted down to him, floating beside him. Like they were just...sitting and watching another sunset together.
"Well, actually, only one of us is standing, isn't he?" Erin joked. "I'd kill for a good pair of legs to stretch right about now. Honestly, if I thought life was rough and restrictive before...the afterlife's been a hell of a sight worse."
"So this is- this is really...after death? This is where- Hearts go?" Riku said softly.
"Some Hearts - not all of them," Erin said simply. "Only the strong ones. The ones who...well, you're well aware of how I was in life, aren't you? Clinging to life itself, mourning and longing for all the things I couldn't have - couldn't do - would never get the chance to experience? The Hearts like that, we end up here more often than most others. It's the people with regrets, who claw and scrape for every second of what they had or...what they wanted to have...who end up in this place."
"Wait, so...this isn't the afterlife, then?"
"I couldn't say," Erin replied. "From what I've gathered, this is the last stop for the dead - that's all I know, though. I don't know what comes after, what happens to us when we choose to go on for good. And I don't care to discover that. I never want to let myself find that one out!" She paused, breathless. Then, she laughed. "You see? That's exactly my problem. That's a perfect example of why I'm here like this."
"I...think I get it," Riku said quietly, nodding.
"I'm sorry..." came her voice again, thicker than even her usual. It was choked up. "At the end, that last sunset we shared, when I told you that I'd be fine if I could just be remembered by someone...That was a lie. I'm not fine, and it wasn't enough for me! And I should never have placed that kind of a burden on your-"
"No! No, no, hey! It's okay!" Riku said quickly, turning toward her. "I mean...yeah, it wasn't fun to see someone die in my arms, practically - but I've just been glad that I got to give you as much as I did back then. Giving you that week, giving you that time, those memories and experiences...that was all I wanted to do. Help you achieve some of your dreams."
"It wasn't enough...It never could have been enough..." Erin continued on, as if he hadn't spoken. "And I'm so sorry...Riku...I'm sorry..."
"What'd I just say?" Riku shook his head. "It's okay. You have nothing to apologize for. I should be the one apologizing to you."
"What? Why?"
"Because...after your death...We - Terra and I - we helped your resistance armies to invade the capital and destroy that Hourglass of yours. We freed them all from that curse. That clock. But if we'd just committed to it right when we got t-there - even a w-week sooner..." Riku's voice cracked, and he fell forward and put his head in his hands. Tears spilled out, despite his best efforts. "Dammit, you were always right about me, Erin! I had all the time in the world, and I never recognized that! I never realized what it really meant to not have that luxury! But if I had...we could have done it, I could have-"
"Riku!" Erin said sharply, startling him. "I'm not going to lie and tell you I'm entirely pleased with this revelation of yours. Knowing I missed the boat on life by a week - yeah, that hits me damn hard, right here. Well...it hits all of me, considering I'm just a Heart now and all. But what I'm meaning to get at here is that...I'm also incredibly happy to know that everyone else I knew and cared for back in my world...gets to have those opportunities. All those long, long lives ahead of them. Years and years of chances and experiences, moments and memories to make - together, or with others. To take it easy, to go slow. To do and see and...A lot of people are going to be pretty happy knowing they'll get to have babies - something I never had the time for. They can make a family, a lineage. All of their own hopes and dreams made into a little person...who'll go on to carry it all on, themselves..."
She sighed, and her star drifted a few inches away from Riku. "But there I go again, don't I? Stewing in my own...Heart and mind. This all I am now, see? This is all I've been, this is all I've had, this is...all I'm ever going to get. It's the same as it ever was, in life, in death! All I have are fantasies and dreams, yearning for a future I'll never get to have myself! For all those stolen years, life cut short forever!"
"I'm s-sorry, I'm sorry...I'm so s-sorry I c-couldn't give you that..." Riku was crying now, out of his control.
For a long time, that was all that there was here.
Just him, crying his Heart out for her...and her, an actual Heart, just...floating beside him.
Saying nothing more.
When he had just about exhausted himself, Riku finally pulled himself together somewhat. He wiped at his face, turned his head toward that glowing, glistening star, even in his blind vision.
"E-Erin?" he croaked out. "Erin, please..."
Another sigh. "I know you're sorry - about as sorry as me right now," Erin said, in a tired voice of her own. Emotionally just...spent. "But it's not as if there's anything either of us can do to change this, now can we? So let's both just mutually agree to not waste our time weeping."
Riku sat there for a long time, in a silence of his own now.
Just wishing, hoping, thinking...if only there was something, some way to help her, to give her everything she deserved in her life...a way to succeed now where he'd failed before. To make up for his mistake...to not be too late...for her...
And then, slowly, over the course of what felt like an eternity in this place...
An idea came to him.
An insane idea, from a series of cobbled-together half-theories and secondhand knowledge at best.
But it was the best he had.
The best chance...she might have...
That he could give to her...
"Erin," he spoke up again, reaching out a hand to her.
She drifted closer, brushing against his fingers. He felt a jolt of lightning, and then a rush of warmth go up his arm. "Yeah? What is it?"
"I think I've got a way to make this right for you - but you have to be open to it. It's...going to all sound a little crazy," Riku told her. "But I think we can do it if we try."
"Alright: I'm listening."
Riku leaned in, and began to tell her what he had in mind.
If Sora could do it for a lost Heart...then so could Riku...
After all, he'd been the kid who'd told Sora to open his Heart to the one out there who needed help.
Now, he had to take his own advice, open his Heart, and help...
The one who needed it today...
After finding a snoozing Riku (Kairi really thought he was better than Sora in that regard, at least!) under a tree, after some really intense Keyblade glider racing through several different racing courses, everyone was really funned out.
But, good funned out.
They made their way through the town again, waving to passersby and taking a last look at all the shops and colorful buildings.
Kairi definitely wanted to come back here as soon as possible.
It had been great-
Suddenly, out of completely nowhere, a dark portal appeared directly over Terra's head; down out of it, with a high laugh, came a woman with blue hair. She came down, landing on his back and wrapping legs and arms around him. She held a Keyblade to his throat, letting out a quick breath. The others around her froze, all of them turning to look at her.
A woman who looked exactly like Aqua - but who was also...completely nude.
Everyone stared, and no one moved a muscle. More out of sheer shock and confusion than anything else, really.
And then everyone was just trying not to look.
"Hi..." the woman - this Replica, she could only be, Kairi thought - breathed in Terra's ear.
Terra's muscular body was tensed under her grasp. "A-ah- Hi..." he responded, a strange note to his voice. "I take it you're the Replica created by the Organization that we've been hearing about?" he continued on, almost conversational. Like he didn't currently have a grown and very naked woman taking him for an unauthorized piggyback ride!
"Yes - I'm the greatest Replica ever created, and my name's Kana," the woman declared, with no small amount of pride in her breathless voice.
"Well, good to meet you, Kana - the lack of clothes notwithstanding," Terra said lightly. "Now, listen: we don't want to fight you. We don't want to hurt you. So why don't you- uh- get down from there, put your Keyblade away - maybe grab some clothes? - and we can talk-"
The woman - Kana - she jerked her weapon tighter against his throat-
Terra reacted immediately, throwing his body forward, an arm shooting up and backwards to knock her weapon away, while the other seized her by the shoulder and pulled her over his head and threw her off of him! Kana twisted and flew through the air, landed and skidded on the street. She slid a leg out and twirled to a halt, facing Terra. Facing all of them.
Kana thrust out her weapon, causing swirling purple magic orbs to appear around Terra; they closed in on him and formed a binding magical ring of hexagons. Purple energy erupted at her feet, spreading outward - as well as above her! Around her, a circular barrier wall appeared, creating a cylinder of magical containment. She grinned and slashed her Keyblade to the right; Terra flew right, slamming into the barrier with a streak of purple energy behind him! She slashed left - he flew left and hit hard, right on his face! She raised her weapon high and made him hit the ceiling - then she slammed him down at her feet!
"Agh- Transcendence, huh?" Terra groaned out, struggling to his knees, straining in his bind! "So that's what that feels like." He shook his head, his gaze traveling to Aqua. "I feel sorry for your enemies, Aqua..."
Aqua made a face, then slung her weapon forth, sending out a beam of pure energy. It pierced Kana's barrier and flashed brightly, and suddenly the whole barrier just evaporated.
Terra was up again, with his weapon held at his side!
"Good one!" Kana said over her shoulder, before she vanished in darkness - and reappeared behind the rest of the group. From there, as soon as she reappeared, she flew straight for Kairi!
Kana swung for her as she neared; Kairi raised her weapon to block long before the woman reached her...and she was lifted off her feet and sent flying backwards down the street. The whole street!
Kairi twisted and righted herself in the air, coming to a halt and hovering there. Watching from afar as Kana, as this Replica woman, began to engage the rest of them in combat as well now!
Kana turned and leapt past Ven as he slashed for her in a flurry of wind, twisted around Aqua and avoided a blast of lightning, and then threw herself at Sora, Riku, Roxas and Xion all (they were all huddled together with weapons up and on guard).
Kana gave an upward swing for Sora that ripped apart the street, sending him flying straight up into the air, flipping wildly. She turned and slashed at Xion, sending her down an alleyway. She did a backflip to avoid Roxas's hasty swing, then kicked him in the chest to send him across the street to slam into a storefront. Riku sent out a blast of Dark Firaga - which Kana simply turned, shoulder-checked, and proceeded to barrel right on into him. She bowled him over, took him to the ground, causing Riku to gasp as the wind left his body.
Kana held herself over him, gazing down at his face. She tore his blindfold free, revealing his eyes. She stared at him some more - at his eyes - looking fascinated. Her free hand grasped his jaw, and she began moving his head this way and that, examining every inch of this face.
Nobody moved to attack - for fear of hitting Riku.
Kairi did use the opportunity to glide down the street though, closer to the action. To everyone. Sora also leapt down from a rooftop, landing beside her, his eyes on Riku with concern.
"I've never seen eyes like yours before," Kana was saying to Riku, breathing right in his face. "What are they?"
"U-um...blind..." Riku breathed. "I can't see..."
"Pfft, well you're not going to be any fun, then." Kana crawled back off of him and jumped to her feet, shaking her head. She turned away from him, her gaze traveling to Ventus. "Let's see how fun you are..."
Ven gulped. "Look, I don't wanna have to- come on!" he broke off as she flew at him, slashing viciously. He rolled and came up behind her, weapon guarding. She twisted and slashed again. He erupted with wind, sending her flipping backwards. She came at him again. They engaged in combat, one on one for a few seconds, furiously swinging and dodging each other.
Then Kana suddenly slowed. She stopped completely. She gave Ven a frown, then shook her head. "Nope."
"Huh?" Ven said, confused.
Kana turned and suddenly flew right for Terra! Her weapon lashed out for Terra as she got within arm's reach of him!
Terra summoned and raised his Keyblade to block her, so fast his arm was a blur.
A wave of energy erupted from their clash, and Kairi, Sora, Riku, Xion, and Roxas were all sent flying backwards. Only Aqua and Ventus stayed on their feet, right where they were - they'd braced themselves against it in that same instant, that moment of clashing weapons and sheer power.
"Listen, Xemnas and the Organization don't have your best interests at heart," Terra spoke to her, in a slightly strained tone as he pushed back against the woman's keyblade. "They see you as a weapon, or a tool. But I can already see you're more than that-"
Kana disengaged from their clash, then threw herself at him a second time, swinging her blade. Terra blocked her just the same as the first - unmoving. Not budging an inch. Surprise came to her face. Then, a wide grin. She pushed and pushed, and then she eased back with a breath let loose. She tilted her head at him, then stretched up on her toes and put her face in his.
Terra gazed back at her, standing stock still, almost casually resting one hand on the head of his Keyblade to keep braced against hers. "What are you looking for?" he spoke quietly.
She blinked back at him. Kairi saw several emotions on her face. Confusion, anger, and something-
"If you tell me, I can help you-" Terra spoke again.
Kana reached up and pressed her hand over his mouth firmly, shaking her head. "No more talking!" she declared. She flipped sideways and made to kick Terra across the face as she moved. Terra reached up and seized her foot, stopping her. She pulled free and righted herself. "You're boring me now," she informed him. Her gaze found Aqua at last...and a fierce grin came to her face again. Pure excitement shining in those identical eyes of hers. She flew at Aqua next moment, blitzing away Terra!
Aqua cast out her Keyblade with twin streams of ice magic, which struck Kana's legs easily - she practically flew right into it!
Kana's eyes widened, a gasp escaped her as both her legs became entirely encased in thick magical ice. She fell forward, flat on the ground.
"This," Aqua spoke, gazing down on Kana with sharp eyes. "does not have to be difficult. We are trying to help you. We're offering you the chance at freedom, at peace, at happiness, at-"
Kana rolled over and slashed at her own legs, freeing her from the ice. Then she did a backwards roll and jumped to her feet - and threw herself at Aqua again immediately.
"Oh for god's sake!" Aqua hissed, even as she shifted her stance and blocked a swift blow from Kana. "Stop this at once!"
"Now? I don't think so; the fun's just getting started!" Kana cried.
"The fun is just about to end," Aqua refuted, scowling at her doppelganger. "And it will end terribly for you, I can promise you that, if you don't stop-!"
"God, you people all talk way too much!" Kana exclaimed, ducking and spinning to slash at Aqua's legs.
Aqua did a backwards handspring to avoid it, coming up again with her weapon at her side. Her eyes narrowed.
"And you - for being the person I was based on, I thought you'd be more fun," Kana spoke again, upset now. "What's wrong with you?"
"Excuse me?" Aqua gasped. She glared. Hard. "If there is anything wrong here it's with you."
"What's wrong with me?"
"She doesn't mean it!" Kairi said, panicked as she got to her feet and ran forward. "Please, Kana, listen to us. We just want-"
"I just want to have a little bit of fun - but you're all making this as not-fun as possible!" Kana erupted, crossing an arm and stepping away. "I think I'll stick to the Heartless, if this is all you can give me!"
"Wait," Terra said firmly. "If your idea of fun is a fight, we can give you that-"
"No, I'm leaving - bye!" Kana ignored him, stalking away up the street. She stopped, turned and gave them all a sweeping look of disappointment, then scoffed audibly. She swung her Keyblade suddenly at a nearby sign, slicing off a chunk of the corner of it. She took it in her hand, then wrapped herself in darkness and disappeared from the street. Just like that.
Just like that...she was gone.
Everyone looked at one another. Then, at Aqua. And then away again, very pointedly, with much coughing and many red faces.
Aqua stood there glaring at them all, her chin raised, her weapon still at her side.
"She had a lot of hair covering her vulva," Xion said, interested.
Six voices gasped as one - a simultaneous death rattle of epic proportions.
"XION!" Aqua barked out. "It's extremely inappropriate to talk about someone else's- body like that! Never discuss what you saw again. And- and everyone else needs to forget anything you might have seen as well!" she added wildly, glaring death at the others in earnest again.
"Hey, I've got that covered already," Riku spoke up, relief in his voice, as he climbed to his feet and replaced his blindfold. "No problems here."
"I wish I could f-forget," Ventus said quickly, firmly. "Just might t-take a while to fade from behind my eyelids, ya know?"
"G-good! You're a good boy, Ven," Aqua said tightly.
"T-thanks..." Ven stammered.
"What's the big deal?" Roxas shrugged. "I've already seen somebody without clothes on and nobody acted like you guys are about it."
"Wait, WHAT?!" Kairi shrilled, rounding on the boy. "Who exposed themselves to my SON?! Tell me and I'll go beat the EVER LOVING HELL OUT OF THEM!"
"Um...it was just Xikira?"
"What?" Kairi said, in a tiny voice.
"She just changed out of her coat and put on one of those dresses she likes so much," Roxas went on, oblivious. "She just acted like she always does. Why are you guys freaking out?"
"Hah!" Riku laughed. "So the first person you saw naked was your own twin sister? That's painful. I really feel for you. And man, I'm so glad I don't have any sisters."
"Shut up, don't talk to my son that way!" Kairi snapped. "Roxas-"
"Everyone. Let's. Go. Home," Aqua gritted out. "And let's forget this entire incident ever happened!"
"Right," Kairi said seriously. "Master Aqua, we all understand that it had to be pretty- violating to have your own body on display like that. Especially to people closest to you. I mean, I'm fine with it with Xion because we are sisters, and twins, so it's expected - bot you weren't expecting anything like-"
"I'm glad you understand. Thank you, Kairi - please shut up now," Aqua hissed out, strangled.
"Sorry, Master..." Kairi squeaked, bowing her head.
"All right, everyone back to the ship," Terra said loudly. "We don't want to risk being attacked again by hanging around."
"If you speak even a single word - ever-" Aqua said, with cold fury as she walked beside him up the street. But there was also something like panic in her eyes, flashing there, something...
"I would never," Terra said firmly.
"Good."
A dark portal appeared in the middle of Vexen's laboratory, and he turned to see exactly whom he'd expected, her black coat flowing around her. And, clasped in one hand (though she quickly dropped it on the floor with a clatter) was what looked to be part of a...street sign?
"You've returned - are you unharmed? How did you fare against them?" Vexen said immediately.
"Oh, it was fun while it lasted - but they were all so boring!" Kana erupted instantly. "All they wanted to do was talk to me! Talk to me!"
"Ah, yes, they are prone to doing that," Vexen replied, shuffling his papers and repositioning himself in his chair. "In fact, I should have warned you not to engage them in conversation at all. They have a dangerous way with words, and you'd do well to ignore every last word they utter..."
"I did my best, trust me; but they just wouldn't shut up."
"Poor thing. I'm sure you'll-" Vexen began to respond.
Kana stepped over to him and promptly threw herself onto his desk, scattering the contents atop it!
Vexen sat back in his chair, his arms half raised as he peered down at her with narrowed eyes and thin lips. Then, he sighed heavily, arms falling to his sides as he slumped down in his seat. "Oh, how predictable...fighting multiple Keyblade wielders wasn't enough to satisfy you for one day? You simply had to add ruining mine to your list of daily tasks? One would think you could have given me a reprieve...but I'd be a fool to hope for that, I suppose."
Kana laughed, stretching out and rolling over to gaze at him. She propped herself up on an elbow, flashing a smile. "Meeting her was interesting, I guess."
"Hm? Ah, Keyblade Master Aqua, I presume?"
"Yes. She's...a lot different from me."
"I'd expect so. Different lives, different environments, lead to differing personality traits - even among actual human beings. And even two identical people in the same situation can respond differently-"
"She was a big disappointment," Kana said, in a voice that quite reminded Vexen of a petulant, pouting child.
Well...on second thought...
"Was she?" Vexen said simply.
"Yes, she was!"
"Well, I'm sorry to hear-"
"How'd you make me from her?"
"What?" Vexen said, not missing a beat with her. He was well-used to her interruptions by now, and had even come to almost account for them when engaging her in conversation.
"I'm wondering...how you did it. Why am I here? How am I here?" Kana went on idly, waving a hand.
Vexen eyed her. He drew himself up, placing his hands in his lap. "Well, it's all going to be quite over your head-"
"Try me."
"As you wish. To put this in the simplest of terms for the simplest of beings... Your creation stemmed from a singular encounter with this Aqua woman. An encounter in which I used certain high level, but simple sensory magicks to delve into her Heart without her noticing - allowing me to create a copy of a sliver of her memory, to be stored away for later use. This sliver of copied memory was what gave you your - ah, her - appearance. But I also obtained sensory readings on her magical power output, how it flowed through her body, as well as her various applications of-"
Kana yawned, sprawling flat on her backside on the desk and kicking her legs.
Vexen glowered, then shook his head at her. "By watching her fight, I was able to accumulate combat data - which was later input into an empty Replica to create you," he finished, slowly and clearly. "There you have it. Now will you vacate my desk, woman?"
"Is that sensory magic the same as mine? How I can sense Heartless?"
"I'd assume so, yes. Keyblade wielders generally seem to be very in tune with the workings of the Heart. And a Master would be even more talented in that area."
"So if I wanted to, I could make more people like me?"
"Certainly NOT!" Vexen exclaimed, leaping to his feet, his chair clattering behind him. "Creating life in this manner is not a simple matter! Any simple fool or- or dim-witted cave-dweller can procreate by nature's default - but my work? Compared to my work, my Replica Program, well...it can't compare whatsoever! They create fragile, helpless little sacks of flesh - sometimes even by pure accident! - but I...I create powerful, strong, amazing new life that breaks the boundaries of science and life themselves! And it takes days, weeks! Hell, it took me months and years to come up with the first working prototypes! Not to mention all the variables and testing involved throughout the entire process of creating replicas! Regulating power output, magical compatibility, mental faculties functioning at the level of a pre-existing-"
"I think I could do it," Kana interjected casually, flipping herself off the table to her feet again.
"You what now?" Vexen said blankly.
Kana smiled, striding across the lab to stand before a glass tube - within which a featureless white humanoid floated inside of liquid.
Vexen gasped, and swiftly hurried after her, seizing her arm and spinning her around. "You will stay well away from these, if you don't mind! I won't risk you blowing them up on sheer whim!"
"This is what I was, before I was me," Kana spoke on, ignoring him as her gaze found the replica again. "I remember first waking up...I remember the cold, and the pain-"
"Cold and pain...?" Vexen repeated. "There was no pain. It was not cold-"
"Yes it was."
"Well, I...ahem, you're not cold or- in pain any more, are you? That has long since faded?"
"It has. But I still remember."
"Well, we all have things we'd rather forget..." Vexen murmured, releasing her and stepping away. He continued to stare at her, and then his eyes found his unfinished replica as well. "Kana, why would you wish to...activate more finished Replicas? Where have these thoughts come from?"
Kana glanced at him. In that moment her face was so troubled. She was struggling to articulate (naturally, Vexen thought). "I'm...the only me around. And the thought of that is...boring."
"Boring? You mean to say that you are...craving - company? Companionship? People like yourself, whom you could - relate to?"
Kana gave a nod, her lips twisting into a deep frown. "Maybe if there was another Replica around, I could fight them every day - we could have fun together..."
Vexen stared at her, and his...non-existent Heart ached. The emotions were certainly there, inexplicable as they were still for him to fathom the presence of. He joined his hands together and looked to the distant wall of white. "Y-yes, well, that is rather natural to...to feel that way. All living beings are social creatures - Hearts crave connection above all else. Especially with those similar to ourselves; it makes it easier. However, Kana..."
"What?"
"Unless- Lord Xemnas- is to authorize the creation of any more Replicas, I can hardly do anything to rectify your...situation."
Kana's expression fell into a look of utter sorrow - such that Vexen felt a knife twisting in his chest even deeper than before. It was quite pitiable, yes, quite...a sorry sight. And he realized then, that as much as he referred to her as a young woman - she was certainly still a girl, wasn't she? He certainly wouldn't mark her as being any older than twenty, at most...but nor would he reckon she was any younger than sixteen or seventeen. A small range within which to narrow down her exact age...
And regardless of her age, he was certainly old enough to be her- well- anyone's father (not that he had ever aspired to be such a thing!).
At any rate, he was responsible for her creation: bare minimum. And thus, he carried a certain level of responsibility for her...
Vexen opened his mouth, on the verge of saying something to her (no doubt something inspired, and perfectly effective at improving her mood), when the woman's expression suddenly changed again.
She did an about-face, threw out a casual hand to conjure a dark portal, and stepped toward it.
"Where do you think you're going?" Vexen demanded.
Kana stopped on the precipice of the portal. She looked back at him with that new expression of hers: a look of pure anger. Outright fury. "Not sure," she said harshly. She shrugged and strode into the portal; it disappeared behind her the instant she entered it.
It was as relieving a sight for Vexen as it was...troublesome.
To have had all that rage directed at him...knowing her for who and what she was...
Vexen was under no delusions that he would have stood even half a chance against her. Not that combat had ever been his strong suit in the first place, but...
He had created a being beyond himself.
And all he had was the flimsiest of hopes that she would not one day turn all that raw power and untamed ferocity on him.