AN: Got a nice solid chapter here lol! :D I'm pretty happy with it. :) Get to reintroduce two people who were here earlier lol... xD But now they're here to stay!
"Master Terra."
Terra turned to face Kairi in surprise, as she approached him in the middle of training - out on the training grounds. He smiled at her, his long brown hair fluttering in the breezy air. "Need something?"
"Yeah: where did you put that weapon Aqua got? The one she gave over to you? Remember?" Kairi asked.
Terra eyed her cautiously now. "I remember...but, before I tell you, could I ask why you're interested in where I might have put it?"
"Call it another break-glass-in-an-emergency item," Kairi said seriously.
"I'm not sure how much help that could really be for you," Terra replied evenly. "Your Keyblade can never be stolen away or suppressed, Kairi. You'll already always have a secret weapon on hand."
"Yeah - a sword," Kairi responded. "A firearm is a long-range weapon - and a really fast one. You pull it out and get off a shot before the enemy can react. Plus, as we've learned from Riku...Keyblades can be broken. What do I do if that happens to mine?"
Terra nodded, considering her seriously. "Good points."
"Well, then?"
"You know that your Keyblade transformations can be whatever you want them to be, don't you?" Terra spoke again. "And that there's potentially no real limit to how many different Form Changes you can create and use? I think someone in history tried to make a new record, once; they ended up with twenty-six different Forms, I think the final count was. Though, they might have had more in the works..."
Kairi stared at the man at this information. Then she laughed. However, she quickly grew more serious again. "Are you saying I could actually turn my Keyblade into an energy blaster or something?"
"Did you forget that I do have a giant energy cannon for a transformation?" Terra grinned. "Or that our gliders are potentially just energy output machines, themselves, when you consider the thrusters...Same principle, same concept. Very doable. If you want some sort of long range weapon - some kind of gun, in crudest terms - then why don't you create your own? Make it your own - just like your fans? You can make them function, make them do whatever you want. If you've the will and determination - and creativity. And I hear you like arts and crafts, so...shouldn't this be right up your alley? Get creative."
Kairi grinned back, as a multitude of ideas suddenly began to bloom in her mind. "You know...you're right. This is just another artsy crafty project! But with way more return value! Thank you, Master Terra! I have some work to do!"
Terra laughed. "Glad to hear it. And I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with."
Kairi spent three days shut away in her room - or sitting out in the grass on the mountain paths, whenever she felt like needing fresh air.
Either way, she spent three days in relative solitude. Working toward her goal. Making her dream a reality.
In hindsight, everyone else probably had been worried about her - taking the wrong idea from her behavior. Thinking she was withdrawing because of her injuries and near-death experience and all...
But she was too focused to notice, at the time.
And that was good; because she did have something to focus on besides her mangled appearance that she still hadn't totally come to terms with despite really wanting to have...
She was right in the middle of this intensely focused work when Sora popped into her bedroom's open doorway.
"Kairi?"
"Ahhh! Sora, don't just sneak up on me like that!" Kairi exclaimed, jumping off her bed and seizing her hat. She yanked it down onto her head, flushing furiously.
"Hehe - sorry, Kairi. Guess I should've knocked first..." Sora said swiftly, embarrassed and apologetic.
"N-no...the door was open..." Kairi said, resigned. "What do you want? I mean - what's up, Sora?" She dipped her head low, hiding beneath her hat and turning away.
Sora laughed a little as he strode into her room. He bent down to peer at her beneath her hat. Grinning at her, his eyes shining... "You don't need to hide now. I don't care if you look different now - and nobody else should either! You're amazing, and you're strong, and that's- that's what really matters."
Kairi slowly lifted her head, tilting her hat back. "Really? It doesn't bother you?"
Sora straightened again, shaking his head. "Kairi...why should it? All that'd bother me is-"
"What?" Kairi said, suddenly fearful.
"Well...if it bothers you," Sora replied. "Are you really alright now? It doesn't hurt anymore, does it?"
Oh...It really doesn't...? All he cares about, for real, is if I'm still in pain or not? Kairi smiled at him. "Nothing hurts anymore, no. I'm okay now, Sora. Thank you - for being so sweet."
"Uuuh - yeah - I mean, sure! You're my best friend! Any- any time...hehe..."
Kairi shook her head and turned away, pulling her hat back down again. But her smile remained. Oh, Sora...
"Hey, want to race around the mountain paths? No flying allowed!" Sora suddenly said, grinning at her.
Kairi's head whipped back around. She grinned too. She reached over and socked Sora in the arm. "Okay - you're on, Sora!"
Sora laughed - he hesitated - then he reached out and just...liiiiightly punched her on the arm as well.
Kairi rolled her eyes - but, inside, she was downright ecstatic about it! She leapt to her feet and tossed her hat onto her bed. "Let's go, then! Start at the front steps?"
"Yeah! And we'll go...all the way to the chapel ruins! Think you can make it?"
"How about we do this and you can find out!" Kairi retorted playfully.
"Heh. Right!"
They both looked at each other.
"Hey, we're not racing to the starting line, are we?" Sora said.
"That depends, Sora - do you want to?"
"Wellllll..."
"GO!"
Kairi turned and bolted.
Sora gaped, then hurried to catch up!
"I hadn't even decided yet!" he called after her, laughing. "That's not even fair!"
"Hey, I need every advantage I can get against you!" Kairi called back, taking a turn and skidding on the polished floor. She used magic to find her footing, and then she just ran on the wall after colliding with it, speeding off down the corridor.
Sora started shimmering with energy particles of white, and then he got a huge boost of speed that caused him to catch up to her - and then seriously overtake her!
"Agh - no!" Kairi exclaimed, pushing off from the wall to land on the ground again. She put more into her body with her own magic, copying him to up her speed.
Later, on a wonderful night of beautiful stars, Kairi...found herself awake.
Awake late into the night.
She couldn't stop thinking about her conversation with Aqua - about Sora.
Kairi really didn't know what was holding her back. She'd fought Xehanort - even the one from her childhood memories made real - her worst nightmares, she'd battled giant Heartless by the dozens! She'd saved entire worlds! If she wanted to count it, she'd confronted such frightening ideas as the truth behind Xion's origins, and the notion of Nobodies like Xikira and Roxas, and...and heck, she was doing her best to come to terms with her newly altered appearance!
So why was she so afraid to put a foot forward with Sora and take a risk? Find out?
Well, maybe it was the risk of finding out that was the problem.
What if he didn't respond well at all to it? Or what if he was just indifferent to it? What if he didn't even like girls?! What if he just, specifically, didn't think of her that way?! What if he just thought of her as his best friend, and that was that? She didn't want to come off as some kind of creepy weirdo - like Riku and his whole- thing about her!
But...would it really be so awful and devastating if Sora didn't like her that way? If he just saw her as a best friend? Anyone would kill to have a guy like Sora for a best friend! He was amazing, and sweet, and funny, and always so upbeat! Why did that have to be such a terrible thing, if the response she got wasn't what she hoped for? Wasn't she still so incredibly lucky to have him at her side, no matter what?
Still...if Kairi was actually considering this, how could she approach it? Just walk up to him one day and tell him how she felt? No, no...it needed to be more subtle than that. Even if Sora didn't do subtle...
It needed to be something like-
"Kairi?"
For the second time in the same darn day, Kairi freaked out at an unexpected voice in her room.
She sat up quickly in her bed and turned to find Xion standing in her doorway. Her hands joined at her waist, her head down.
"O-oh, hey, Xion!" Kairi said, letting out a breath of relief. "What's...wrong?"
"Can I sleep...here...with you?" Xion said hesitantly, in a near whisper.
Well that wasn't anything Kairi could have expected... "Sure!" she said brightly. "Come on - there's enough blanket for both of us."
Xion hurried forward and climbed into the bed with her.
Kairi yawned and rolled onto her side, facing Xion. Nose to nose. Staring into those identical eyes to her own.
"Xion..." she whispered out.
"Y-yes?"
"Why do you want to sleep with me?"
"I just...I get- scared lately. At night. In the-"
"In the dark?" Kairi said softly. "Is that why you didn't want to go down into that cave with us so badly?"
Xion gave a silent nod. "I know I'm a Keyblade wielder - I fight Heartless every day, I shouldn't be scared of-"
"Hey, it's totally okay to have normal fears. That just means you're a normal girl. I still have normal fears, too, you know!"
"You do?"
"Yeah. Plenty." Kairi bit her lip in thought. "Xion, does this...fear of the dark...have to do with what else happened recently? Is it- about when that asshole Vanitas got in here and attacked you? Because you didn't give us too many details. Just-"
"Yes...I think so, anyways?"
Kairi sighed, slung an arm over the girl and hugged her. "Okay. Well, that's completely okay too. Anybody would still be afraid after that. You know I'm still afraid, to this day, about...when I was little. About Xehanort. And that was ten years ago, Xion. If you can imagine it."
Xion shook her head into Kairi's chest. "No..." came her muffled response. "Am I going to be...scared like this...for years too?" she added.
"Maybe," Kairi said. "But most fears don't usually last that long. It might take a few weeks, or a few months, but soon enough you'll find yourself wondering where these feelings disappeared to!"
"I hope they disappear soon!"
"I hope so too. But either way, I'll be here for you, sis. Alright?"
"Alright..."
Kairi kissed Xion's head and caressed her hair, then let her go and scooted away on her bed. "Okay, why don't you hit us with a Sleep spell now? Whoever wakes up first can reapply it."
Xion lifted her head, giving a small smile and a nod. She pulled an arm from the blankets and raised her hand, a blue light shimmering around it in the dark...and she paused.
"Xion?" Kairi breathed. "Are you okay?"
"I just- thanks for this?" Xion responded quietly. "And...I think you still look pretty?"
Kairi smiled widely. "You're welcome - and thank you, Xion, for telling me that. I'm not totally convinced, myself, still...Not yet..." she admitted. "Anyways - send us off now..."
"Okay: Sleep..."
Blue particles of fluffy warmth fluttered down on them both, and Kairi immediately found herself falling back into slumber.
Both Masters Aqua and Terra had expressed a little apprehension at letting Kairi come along on a mission again, in their own ways.
But Kairi had insisted she was back to full strength - she was ready and able again!
So they agreed to let her resume her duties.
Maybe they were still feeling a little protective, though, because for the next mission they decided it would be one they all went on together again.
Kairi was annoyed - even more so at how relieved Sora had seemed at the news - but she didn't want to assume anything, so she kept it to herself.
They boarded the Pestilence again, and flew off for unknown worlds in need.
Along the way, Aqua briefly took Kairi aside and tapped her hat with a light finger. A blue light lit up to surround the hat, to Kairi's total confusion.
"What did you just do...? Another spell?" Kairi asked wonderingly.
Aqua smiled. "Yes. But nothing as serious as the last one I used on your necklace. This one is just to make sure that hat stays put atop your head - no matter how many flips you do out there."
Kairi beamed, and hugged her quickly. "Thanks! You're the best!"
"Y-you're welcome..." Aqua stammered, hugging her back and blushing, but looking pleased.
When they emerged from the Lanes Between and out into the skies of a new world, it was truly unknown: nobody recognized it as anything familiar! Not Kairi, not Riku, not Roxas, and not even Aqua, Terra, or Ven!
It was a total blank.
Which was, in its own way, exciting.
But they were here to help - no distractions, Kairi told herself firmly. Being distracted had cost her already...
They flew high over an area with high, pointy, rocky mountains, over a series of rivers and over a deep, expansive jungle with high cliffs, bridges and paths.
On the other side of this great big jungle, they found grassland. Hills and streams. Land, dotted by clusters of huts. Houses!
Aqua set the ship down right on the edge of the jungle, shielding them from the houses with the grassy hills. And their group ventured out into this new world together.
Kairi took the lead, as ever, following the feelings in her Heart. Those feelings led her up and down many hills, across a few streams, around a lake...and...to a lone hut on the bank? A house that was clearly inhabited - considering the firelight flickering through the open window in fading dusk's light. Kairi looked to Aqua and Terra, uncertain. "This is definitely where my Heart's saying we should be. Should we just...walk up and explain? Ask about a Keyhole?"
"It seems like we have no choice," Aqua replied, frowning. "Yes."
Kairi nodded, and started off for that little hut by the lake. She approached the face of it, stopping at the door. A wooden one, peeling, and on rusty hinges. She gave a loud, firm knock.
A clattering noise inside. Clanging metal. Then voices raising.
"Ugh - if it's another one of those idiots who didn't get the memo about gift baskets-"
"I find their simple kindnesses to be rather refreshing..."
"Whatever - just-"
The door opened, and Kairi raised her head and blinked at the woman staring down at her.
The woman blinked right back. She looked confused - then shocked - then something like...worry? And then- a wide smile came over her lips. "Not what I expected, but I'll take it..."
"Hey, Elrena," Kairi beamed, pretending she hadn't noticed the expression on the woman's face.
Elrena shook her head of yellow hair, her green eyes warming considerably. "Hey - what the hell happened to you since we last spoke?" she responded - with concern.
"I got mauled by a big bad Heartless," Kairi answered, trying to sound unconcerned.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Huh...Nice hat." Elrena spun away and strode back into the hut, beckoning them wordlessly.
"Is that..." Lauriam rose from the table, his sentence trailing off. He took them all in, and then smiled too. Particularly at Ven - for a moment, anyways. Then he focused on the others. "This is a surprise - but it's not an unwelcome one. Although, if you're all here, that doesn't seem to bode well for us, does it?"
"As far as we know, the Organization has no idea where you guys are," Kairi said quickly, smiling back.
Lauriam nodded with relief. He sat back down, then gestured to the table as if he'd forgotten. "Ah, where are my manners - please, sit. All of you. We were just about to eat."
"Thanks, that smells awesome-" Sora began, throwing himself down into a rickety wooden chair.
"We're not here to eat," Aqua spoke. "Not that the offer isn't appreciated-" she went on quickly, nodding to Lauriam. "-but we're here to track down this world's Keyhole. Kairi's sensed it calling to her, and that means it's in danger...or it will be, soon enough."
"Understandable," Lauriam replied smoothly. "I won't take offense," he added, with a hint of humor, and a glint to his blue eyes.
"Aww..." Sora got to his feet again in disappointment.
Kairi couldn't help but giggle.
Riku rolled his non-working eyes. "Really, Sora? My mom would have smacked you for that one..."
"Nuh-uh - she would've smacked me for refusing," Sora retorted, with a silly grin.
"I hope you children are joking..." Aqua murmured, with a dark, actually horrified look coming to her face.
"They are!" Kairi assured firmly.
Aqua's expression eased. "Good," she said, a hardness still to her voice. A strange look still that lingered...
"So who the hell are you, big guy?" Elrena spoke - locking eyes with Terra as she strode around the table, straight for him. "I don't remember seeing..." She trailed off, frowning suddenly. She peered at him intently. "Actually, you do look sort of familiar for some reason..."
Terra held her gaze, confused. Then, comprehension dawned on his face. And worry. "Uh - yes - well, that would be because my...Nobody was your former boss."
"WHAT?" Elrena stepped away, jaw-dropped. Then she had her knives out in a flash, stepping in again and slashing for Terra-
"STOP!" Kairi lunged for Elrena, seizing her arm and yanking it down before she could hit him. "He's Terra, not Xehanort - Xemnas - it's complicated, just listen, okay?! He's a good person and he's innocent and it wasn't him! It was hard for me too - it still is - I know, but that's not him!" She looked to Lauriam, and found the man standing rigid. Tensed and alert. His hand was a fist at his side...but he hadn't drawn his own weapon yet. His eyes narrowed at Terra. Then he looked to Kairi.
"I doubt all of these people would be so at ease around this man if he were truly the one we know as Xemnas - or, Xehanort," Lauriam said slowly. "Let's hear them out, Elrena. I'm sure the explanation will make complete sense."
"Bet it won't..." Ven murmured, with a nervous little laugh. "Still doesn't..."
Kairi laughed again. And then Sora laughed. Terra laughed too. Aqua gave a twitch of her lips.
Lauriam relaxed somewhat, his eyes on Ven.
Elrena sighed, stepping away and letting her weapons dematerialize. "Alright, I'll give you a chance to make this make sense," she agreed, retreating behind the table and crossing her arms.
Terra gave a slow, careful nod, and he began to speak.
He laid it all out - starting from the beginning. Himself, his Keyblade training, the Mark of Mastery test, Master Xehanort...and the ways he'd been manipulated into succumbing to overwhelming darkness, resulting in his body being stolen from him. His Heart drowned out. For ten years. How Xehanort had gone on to split their shared body into a Heartless and a Nobody. How Kairi had used her powers to free Terra's Heart from the grasp of Xehanort's Heartless, and give him a human form again.
"You're kidding!" Elrena exclaimed. "Xemnas is a fucking Keyblade wielder too? How many of us were there in that Organization, I mean really? Xiki, Roxas, me, Lauriam...and now Xemnas was one this whole time as well? What the fuck?"
"Hey...if he is a Keyblade wielder, why doesn't he use his?" Roxas wondered aloud, startling. "What did he need me or Xikira for?"
Everyone stared at him. And then everyone began to contemplate the very same thing.
They all collectively seemed to shrug.
"Maybe he can't, for some reason or another," Terra said finally. "If he was able, I can't see him not using it."
"I can think of a reason, actually," Lauriam said quietly. "To maintain the ruse - the lie he tells us all. It's just another part of his...rather masterful plan. He pretends not to have access to a weapon of his own, and instead uses the likes of Xikira and Roxas to gather Hearts."
"But why would he bother with that in the first place if he wanted Kingdom Hearts for power?" Kairi frowned. "Why wouldn't he just have gone around destroying Heartless himself until he had enough to make it, all on his own? Why did he need to create an Organization at all?"
Again, everyone was pretty stumped on that one.
"He has to have some sort of plan," Aqua said firmly. "Whatever it is, even if we can't see it yet...he's doing something. All of this has to mean something. A goal he's working toward."
"Maybe it's not really the same goal he had ten years ago?" Sora suggested hesitantly. "I mean, he tried to use Ven and Vanitas to make Kingdom Hearts - or, that X-blade thing to summon it - but you guys stopped him. So what if what he's doing now doesn't have anything to do with that? What if he's got a new plan?"
"Then why did he and Maleficent want to collect us Princesses and open the Door To Darkness as a Heartless? And why collect Hearts to make a Kingdom Hearts as a Nobody?" Kairi said, feeling frustrated and lost.
"Whatever he's doing, we'll stop him," Terra said. "It doesn't matter too much what he intends - if we can stop him before he pulls it off."
"Yeah, we won't even give him a chance - just like last time!" Ven said fiercely. "We did it once, we can do it again!"
"I have faith that you will, Ventus," Lauriam said warmly.
Ven looked at him uncertainly. He grinned. "Thanks...How 'bout you guys? I know Aqua said you lost them somehow, but I still have mine, don't I? So maybe you guys just need to call to them...with all your Heart..."
"Cute - but, one teensy problem with that, kiddo: we've got no Hearts!" Elrena huffed. She shook her head, putting her hand to her forehead.
Kairi eyed the woman, then Lauriam. "Maybe...or maybe not..." she said, stepping forward.
"Huh?" Elrena looked baffled.
"Roxas has a Heart of his own - somehow," Kairi explained, nodding to the boy in question. "I've looked inside him, I've connected with him - with his Heart - with my powers as a Princess of Heart. And it's there, and it's real. And if he has one...maybe you guys do, too."
Elrena hesitated, sputtering in silence. She peered at Roxas intently. Back to Kairi. Then- "Could you...you know...take a little peek and see?"
Kairi smiled. "I was about to ask if I could do that for you."
Lauriam gave a nod, his face showing a mingled kind of interest and hope...and nervousness.
Kairi drew a breath, placing her hands over her chest and closing her eyes...
She reached for them...Lauriam, Elrena...two people with such close ties to Xikira...and by extension, to herself...
Keyblade wielders...friends...
Kairi opened her eyes again, and saw them.
Golden, sparkling images swimming before her eyes. Layered atop the pair of wielders - Nobodies. Yes, Nobodies, but with Hearts.
"You do," Kairi breathed. "I can see it - just like I did Roxas. I see them. You have Hearts, both of you!" She paused. "And you know, if him and you two all have them, there's no question in my mind that Xikira does too."
"She was the one who convinced us we could still feel despite being Nobodies..." Elrena murmured. "But you're seriously saying it goes further than that? That we have...you're not screwing with us here?"
"No," Kairi said firmly. "I'm not screwing with you. It's the truth, even if we can't understand it yet."
"I don't get why it's such a big deal," Sora said, hands behind his head. "We met Pinocchio, didn't we? He had a Heart, no question! Of course you guys could have Hearts too. It makes total sense."
"It makes zero sense," Elrena said flatly, rolling her eyes. But her cheeks were red, and the look in her eyes was...overwhelming relief and happiness.
Lauriam's laughter suddenly rang out, filling the tiny, cramped hut. He was leaning back in his chair, his hand to his chest. To his Heart. "There's no question, then...that this feeling is real - along with all of my feelings," he said, with unrestrained elation. With joy. "My love...is not a falsity!"
"Neither is m..." Elrena began to mutter. She froze, looking around at them all as if guilty of some great crime. "W-what? Stop staring at me, you pack of weirdos!"
"We weren't-" Kairi started.
"N-no, I'm out - going for a walk, buh-bye!" Elrena strode past them all, out the door, into the fading evening's light.
"I'm sorry for her - she's never been the best at...managing her emotions," Lauriam said to them all.
"It's okay," Aqua said simply. "We understand that this has to be...overwhelming to learn."
"Yes...but in only the best of ways," Lauriam replied, smiling broadly at her. He looked, again, to Ven. "Ventus..."
"Y-yeah?" Ven stuttered, looking uncomfortable. But he still tried to smile.
"I think you're right; if only we can call to them, with all our Hearts, they may come to us again..." Lauriam spoke softly. "And we would be able to defend worlds like these, ourselves. And not solely because we're taking refuge within them, but because...it was once our duty, and our greatest dream. To save the World from darkness."
"Well, until you do, we'll be around to do that in your place," Terra said, neutral and amicable.
Lauriam gazed at him. For an instant, his eyes narrowed. Probably seeing the shadow of Xehanort again - Xemnas. But then...he nodded. "And we're grateful for that. If we can't protect the people of this world just yet...then we're glad to leave it to you. For now. Although, if there is any way we can help you..."
"Kairi, are you sure you were following your Heart to the Keyhole - and not the...bonds you have with others?" Aqua questioned, with a bit of amusement on her face.
"No, I...I'm not really sure?" Kairi shrugged. "I thought it was the Keyhole. Maybe the Keyhole is here, and they just don't know it? Maybe they followed the same thing...?"
Lauriam gave a hearty chuckle. "Destiny would be funny that way, wouldn't it? But I'm certain neither myself nor Elrena chose this place to be our home due to any...strange, previously unidentified feelings having to do with Keyholes."
"Then maybe we were supposed to be here for something else?" Kairi ventured. "Maybe to...tell you about your Hearts? Or to have you meet Terra? Maybe that was what it was about?"
"Perhaps," Lauriam mused.
"No, I can still sense a danger here," Aqua murmured. "There's something still...here for us to do."
"Whatever I can do, I'd like to-" Lauriam began.
He was interrupted by the roof of the hut suddenly collapsing on top of them all - the entire little hut crumbling around them!
Kairi didn't even have time to scream, or even react in any other way!
But apparently, Aqua had - because there was a glowing blue barrier dome around all of them...which was holding back a huge, strange, silver monstrosity's fist. The creature responsible for the unexpected attack.
As Kairi stared up at it, she realized it was something she'd never seen before.
It lifted its fist from the top of Aqua's barrier. It rose up tall, huge and angular and silvery-blue. It seemed to be almost wearing some kind of...suit or something? There was a huge zipper down its front! It had huge pointy feet and massive spiked shoulders. Its hands were rounded and basic, like a bad kid's drawing - no fingers! Or were those gloves? It wore a big blue scarf around its neck, with four long whip-like tendrils extending back out from it. Those tendrils reached up into the air and swayed like they were alive, almost. Their pointed, arrowhead tips curled forward, as if aiming down at them all deliberately. Like feelers finding prey...
It had no eyes or mouth or nose. Its face was blank. Flat. But there was a sigil on its face. A white sigil. It looked like a cross, almost, with the left, right, and top points ending in arrowheads - the bottom end was rounded.
Aqua dropped her barrier as she gazed up at the monster, fear and uncertainty crossing her sharp features. Fear in face of the unknown...
"What is that thing?" Sora gaped.
"What's what thing?" Riku said quickly, panic in his voice. "What are you guys even...?"
Terra startled, glancing at Riku with alarm. "You can't sense anything - right in front of you?"
"No!" Riku said. "What am I supposed to be-"
"It's a Nobody," Lauriam spoke up, tensed. "It's called-"
The giant monster moved -and it moved far faster than Kairi could have ever expected for its size! It wriggled and surged forward, almost undulating like some kind of slug, its huge arms reaching out and stretching - right for Riku!
"RIKU!" Sora cried, whirling with horror.
Those giant hands slammed together, obscuring Riku from view.
Aqua aimed her Keyblade out with fury, and twisting strands of lightning weaved up around the monster's body, shocking it.
Terra turned and leapt at it with a yell, swinging his weapon down with an orange glow.
The monster, acting as if Aqua's attack had no effect, suddenly twisted around and caught Terra with a huge spiked foot, sending him flying. Then it flipped up high into the air and raised an arm - a hand - with Riku restrained in its mighty grasp! He was alive, awake - but looking to be in some awful pain! The monster's arm came down swinging, and Riku was let loose - he flew straight down, slamming into the ground hard.
Sora ran to his side, casting a Cure on his injured best friend.
Ventus leaped up into the air, twisting on the winds and gliding toward the monster's face, slashing at it with a cry.
The monster flew back in a mess of twitching limbs and waving scarf tendrils before seeming to just hit an invisible wall, righting itself in the air.
Aqua raised her Keyblade again, jumping up and conjuring several huge pink orbs of energy in front of her. She teleported in front of one, preparing to kick one over at the monster.
But the monster suddenly turned its head and went for Aqua, moving serpentine and flanking her, coming up right behind her in a blur of motion!
The monster lashed out with an arm, catching Aqua across her backside and sending her flying forward. She twisted and landed on her feet, giving a wince of pain. But she straightened up and whipped back around to attack again.
Roxas and Xion attacked one of its long pointed feet together - to no effect whatsoever!
Kairi stood staring at the strange silver monstrosity, her weapon held loosely at her side. Her mind working furiously.
If this was a Nobody, if this was a person...
Kairi raised her hand to her chest, and she reached out for the huge creature...
And found nothing.
It was like trying to feel for something in the dark - expecting a wall, or a table, but instead you just...swiped at nothing. She expected to find a Heart - but she swiped at nothing.
This creature was...without a Heart...
It really was a Nobody, then? And not one like Roxas, or Lauriam or Elrena...
Kairi shut her eyes and reached for it again - but this time, upon not finding a Heart, she searched for something else, at least: thoughts and memories. Things that should still be there...right?
She did find some things in there - but they were little scraps and pieces. They were fragments. Snatches of conversation, glimpses of colors and half-remembered places...blurry remnants of faces in crowds...
Everything was either just out of reach, or heavily distorted. Twisted.
Like this...this...
"You search for the same as what we do," a voice suddenly echoed in Kairi's head. Loud, garbled, strange - not male or female, as far as she could discern. "You will find nothing; it is all missing - but we were promised it all back...if we brought back the young liege."
"KAIRI-!" Sora's voice called out.
Kairi's eyes snapped open, her hand falling from her chest.
The giant Nobody was right in front of her, bending down with its huge face right in hers! A mere foot from her!
Kairi gazed back at it, swallowing hard. "WAIT!" She raised her hand to the others as they moved to attack; they all stopped, holding themselves back. "Who do you mean by 'young liege?'"
That giant head turned...to look right at Roxas.
Kairi shook hers. "No - listen - we can help you," she said quietly. "We don't have to fight like this. Please. You don't have to do this."
That distorted presence filled her mind again suddenly, pressing down on her.
"You will help us by staying out of our way."
It wasn't angry, it wasn't firm or cold or even a threat.
It was just...a statement. Empty. Robotic. Just...
"I can't do that," Kairi replied. "Roxas is way too important to me - and I have to protect him."
"Then you must be erased."
"ROXAS HAS A HEART!" Kairi yelled out. "Somehow, some way - he has a Heart! So do Lauriam and Elrena over there! Now if they can get them, maybe you can too! Maybe all of you can - all right?"
The giant moved its head - to look in Roxas's direction. Those waving scarf antennae twisted and pointed at him. They began to quiver, transparent air swirling around their ends. "Hearts...How?"
"We don't know," Kairi said freely. "But if they can have one, so can you! So just, please - don't do this."
"If they have Hearts...then I will have one of theirs!"
"NO!" Kairi watched those blue tendrils fly toward Roxas - she turned into pure light and darted past them, rematerializing in front of Roxas. But a heartbeat after she reformed, those tendrils were wrapping around her and constricting her like snakes. This- Nobody flew up into the air, taking her with it! It twisted around with her wildly, she had no way to know which way was even up - and then it let her go, shooting her up higher still into the air!
Kairi righted herself and levitated in the air.
The Nobody raised its arms, and a massive energy orb grew between its hands, swirling blue and black, with a core of brilliant pink energy. It was like a black hole, immediately exerting and incredible pull on Kairi! Dragging her down through the air, straight into it!
She tried to fly away, to break free, but she couldn't!
"N-no!" she yelled, desperate. Panicking, she admitted that freely!
She gazed down at the Nobody as her doom grew nearer and ever quicker...and she set her jaw and made a snap decision.
She drew her arm back against that irresistible force, and hurled her Keyblade straight down into that orb!
It was sucked into it in the blink of an eye - and then it exploded in a flash of light, sending Kairi flying through the air. And the Nobody too.
They both hit the ground together, hard.
Kairi, on her backside, and the Nobody...flat on its face, with a heavy thud.
"Ow..." she groaned, rolling on her side and pushing herself up. That had seriously hurt - but at least she was alive to complain about it!
She held her weapon in hand and lunged forward without hesitation now, slicing into and bashing the Nobody's giant head in with no retaliation!
Okay, maybe she felt a little bad about that (it wasn't like she enjoyed wailing on a defenseless person - even an enemy). But, all the same...
They had made their intentions perfectly clear to her.
So this was just where they were at now.
It was what had to be done.
And Kairi would choose Roxas, every time.
If she'd been there when that Axel guy had come after Roxas, she would have fought him with everything she had, too - until she won. Until she beat him and destroyed him, if it came to it.
The others joined in, slashing and blasting magic at the downed enemy. It took the hits and thrashed from an occasional blow, dark particles beginning to waft off of its form. But there was no real rhyme or rhythm to it that she could detect. No way to know what was doing the damage or not...
Then, the Nobody suddenly flew up into the air, twisting and turning. It swirled and flattened and stretched, becoming a spinning ring in the air. Energy burst inside that ring, and then disturbances in the air began to appear everywhere - through which surged crackling, thorny tendrils of black and white.
It was the same kind of attack Xemnas had used back in Castle Oblivion, Kairi recognized. Some kind of...Nobody power, then?
Everyone had to weave and dodge the barrage of snaking thorn tendrils - but none of them were perfect.
Sora took a few hits, and Xion took a really bad one to her chest that lifted her into the air and slammed her back down. Ven got grazed in the ribs, even as fast as he was. Terra got caught in the back, twice. And Aqua took blows across her body too. Whatever this power was, it seemed to ignore both Kairi's and Aqua's barriers!
Riku stood at a distance, his teeth gritted, his hands forming tight fists at his sides, shaking. Powerless...useless...
Kairi grunted with pain and exhaustion alike, clasping her ribs as sweat plastered her hair to her face.
Damn...stamina...problems!
Terra had been right, really. She had to build up her endurance in battles if she wanted to last in them longer!
The Nobody came for her like a rushing bull, raising a fist and slamming it down for her-
She fell backwards with a cry -
"NO!"
In a flicker of motion and a burst of rose petals, Lauriam was suddenly there in front of Kairi. His back to the incoming giant fist - his arms spread wide. His blue eyes gazing down at her, his face full of terror, anguish- sheer determination-
The attack struck him, and he collapsed forward under the weight and force of it all, a great gasp escaping him. He fell over atop Kairi, barely managing to catch himself on his arms - to hold himself up above her. His face was now full of pain, dark particles rising from his form...
But he remained there, and he- he was pushing back against the giant Nobody - holding out against it!
The giant Nobody paused, then lifted its arm and spun away to engage in battle with the others again.
Lauriam took in a deep, husky breath, those blue eyes still gazing down at Kairi.
Kairi stared up at the man, lost in those eyes, lost in a feeling inside herself that...
She blinked as she saw a tear fall from the man's eyes - splashing right down onto her.
"Are you- okay?" Kairi breathed.
"I was about to ask you...the very same thing..." Lauriam gasped out, giving a strained grin.
"I'm fine," Kairi whispered. "But you don't look like you are."
Lauriam shook his head, his long pink hair hanging down. He gave a laugh. Then he flipped himself over and fell to the ground beside her. "I'll...live."
Kairi climbed to her feet again, then turned and cast a Healing spell on Lauriam. The man gasped with relief, and sat up in the grass. "Thank you," she said earnestly. Then she turned and ran to rejoin the fight.
Elrena split herself into four separate copies, all of whom began to leap and climb up the Nobody's body, slashing and striking with lightning bolts that came down from above. The four of them all reached the top, backflipped together, and flew forward across the Nobody's head - slashing as they passed. The four copies vanished into swirling portals in the air, and then a singular Elrena reappeared in the grass in a flash of yellow energy. "I figured it out - it's the head!" she declared, with a triumphant smirk. "That's the only part of this freak that takes any real damage!"
"Good to know," Terra nodded, twirling his weapon before leaping up high into the air. He raised it up above him, shrouded in an orange light. Then he aimed it down, and a hailstorm of car sized meteors flew down to slam into the Nobody - one of them struck it precisely on its head, purely by luck more than anything else.
The Nobody collapsed again, and everyone converged on its head alone.
They poured everything they had into it...and it worked. Even Lauriam came back again, lunging in with his pink scythe and a great slash of energy.
The Nobody writhed and lashed out with its limbs - but then...it went still, and began to fade away.
It was done.
Destroyed...
With nothing left behind...?
"Nobodies without Hearts...they really just vanish? There's nothing...?" Kairi spoke softly, looking around at the others.
Everyone else looked varying degrees of troubled by the idea as well - even Elrena.
"Regrettably..." Lauriam nodded, letting his weapon vanish. "Nobodies without Hearts, I should say," he added, with a nod to Roxas and a pleasant smile. "It's good to see you again, by the way; I should have said so earlier. How have you been faring?"
"Uh...I'm- good?" Roxas replied, uncertain.
"Good," Lauriam replied. "Exactly what I wanted to hear. You and your sister both deserve far more than the life the Organization gave you - than Xemnas's machinations. Or, Xehanort's, rather."
"Thanks?" Roxas said, looking more bewildered than ever.
"Oooh, that looks like fun," Elrena laughed high, smirking as she strode up to Roxas. "Hey, kiddo - how's it hanging?" She spread her arms and yanked him into an unyielding hug, squishing his face into her chest. "You have just got to tell me aaaall about what you've been up to in life lately! Come on, I'm dying to hear it, you wittle cutie wootie!"
Roxas squirmed hard, making a series of incoherent noises and gasping breaths. Then he tore free, stumbling back from the woman. He stared at her, then looked to Kairi. "What's wrong with her?" he demanded.
"She has a Heart," Kairi giggled.
"My Heart doesn't make me act like that!" Roxas said firmly.
"Yes it does - you've hugged me before!" Kairi replied.
Roxas froze. "W-well...uh...I guess? Still, it's weird when she does it. She didn't want to be 'stuck babysitting' back in the Organization."
Elrena looked surprised for a moment. Then, confused. And then just... "R-right. I did say that to you, didn't I? Well, I didn't have a Heart back then, did I? But, look, I'm- sorry for- however I acted before, all right? So, are we cool now? What do you say, Roxas?"
Roxas gazed at her, then back at Kairi. He shrugged. "I guess it's okay, if you're really sorry about it."
"Whew - thanks! That's a load off my shoulders!" Elrena exclaimed, flushing with relief. "Soooo...how about another snuggly wuggly huggy-"
"Uh, no!" Roxas said quickly, holding up his hands to her and backing away. "I think once was enough..." he muttered.
"Aw...you huwrt my feewings..." Elrena pouted, crossing her arms.
"Well, hurt feelings or not, we should really respect everybody's personal space," Kairi said firmly. "If he doesn't want to be smothered-"
"Says the girl who smothers him on a regular basis," Aqua muttered.
"HEY, I do not-" Kairi froze as she realized just who'd made the remark. Then she grinned widely. "I can't believe you, Master!"
A tiny smirk played across Aqua's lips. "I know. That's why it was too perfect to pass up."
Almost everyone laughed now. Even Roxas, giving in to feelings he didn't even really understand, but went along with anyways.
"Xion, isn't it?" Lauriam spoke suddenly, looking to the black-haired girl with warmth and kindness.
"Yes?" Xion stammered, startled at being the focus now. Especially strangers.
"I just wanted to say...that I'm glad you get the same chance as Roxas to experience life - family," Lauriam went on, giving a nod to Kairi. "It is one of the most precious, wonderful things in this World. Something we should never take for granted. Family, love, siblings...I'm happy you get to have that. And you seem to me like a lovely girl - a lovely person. I'm glad to have met you, as well."
Xion looked plain overwhelmed by the man's words. She managed a jerky nod, then turned away to look at Kairi, as if pleading for help.
"That was really kind of you," Kairi said loudly, stepping forward. "But I think we still have a Keyhole to save? Possibly. So we should really be on our way."
"Mm. Yes," Lauriam agreed. "If there's something still to be done, I wouldn't want to keep you."
"Wait, but your guys's house got smashed to bits," Sora said swiftly, pointing. "Where are you gonna go now?"
"They could go to Traverse Town," Aqua spoke.
Lauriam shook his head almost immediately. "No. Our presence there would only draw the Organization - and the Lesser Nobodies, like the one we just fought - to that place. We wouldn't want to be responsible for innocents being put in harm's way. No, we will find a place to relocate on our own. Another world, another remote area. It wasn't an unexpected outcome, what's happened here today."
"If you're sure," Terra spoke up. "We do have a big castle of our own - a safe world, with defense measures set up. There are plenty of spare rooms."
Lauriam blinked with surprise. Hesitating now. "Do you?"
"That's right," Aqua said, smiling. "It's a special world, for Keyblade wielders. You two would fit right in with the rest of us."
Elrena looked at her in consideration. Then she nodded. "Okay - I'll take you up on that offer, blueberry queen."
"B-blueberry...?" Aqua stammered, wide eyed and flushing. "What?"
Elrena laughed into her hand, a smirk growing. "I know you heard me..."
"On second thought, we're not taking them," Aqua said flatly, looking to Terra.
Everyone stared at her.
She sighed, almost throwing up her hands. "Okay, tough crowd...that was another joke."
"Since when were you a comedian?" Ven said, staring at her in awe - and bewilderment.
"Don't be like that," Aqua snapped. "I can be funny! I just...usually don't have reason to be..."
"What's the reason now?" Terra said, his lips quirking.
"Shush!" Aqua retorted, glowering.
"We would be glad to accept your offer of hospitality," Lauriam said sincerely. "Thank you, Master Aqua."
"Please, just call me Aqua."
"Aqua, of course. My apologies," he amended smoothly.
"Kairi - Keyhole?" Aqua said shortly, giving her a look bordering on impatience now.
Kairi nodded, reaching out with her senses again. With this power of hers. But...
"Nothing. Huh..." she said. "Maybe it really was just them, then?" she blushed, looking at Lauriam again - and then away.
"Okay. Mission accomplished. Let's go home, then," Aqua said, exasperated. "Come on, everyone."
"Hey," Kairi called out to Riku. He startled, turning toward her.
"Huh? What?" he said, subdued.
"You okay?" Kairi asked evenly.
"Fine..." he murmured.
"Liar," Kairi retorted instantly, rolling her eyes. "But whatever. We'll press you on it later!"
Riku made a face of annoyance, but said nothing. He just turned away, hands in his pockets.