AN: It's heeeeeeeeere! :D The chapter we've all been waiting for lol. xD Sooo excited to finally be here again! :) Ahhhh! :D ENJOY! xDDD Also hope the surrounding elements are as surprising/interesting lol...cause we setting up for the FUTURE here, people! :D Time for MCU phase 2 or whatever!
Axel sat up in his bed with a sigh, unable to stand it a second longer.
He looked around his empty, white room in the Castle That Never Was - and he stood and left it behind completely, stalking out into the hallway.
This past week or so, he'd been left with what the kid, Xikira, had told him and Saix in private. About Xemnas, about the supposed fact that they could actually still feel emotions inside...
And about her. The girl they'd done all this for in the first place - signed up to rescue.
That Xikira had claimed to know where she was - met her, too - was...well, maybe it was all a bluff based on what she admitted she'd seen when she'd gone rifling around in Axel's memories. Some carefully constructed plan and argument to try and get them on her side for whatever devious little reason. Trying to make them into allies - or at least blackmail them into being partners in crime with her.
Axel wasn't that stupid; no way was he going to let himself get wrapped around her little finger like that. No matter what bait she wanted to throw out in front of him. He wasn't biting, damnit!
So why the hell was he currently headed for her room?
He shook his head to himself as he navigated the halls of the castle.
But her claim about still having feelings...could that be possible, at least? Truth mixed in with clever lies? He thought she had a point, with how Saix had reacted to her - seemed pretty emotional to him. And then there was the way Lexaeus had just turned on a dime and sided with the Princess of Heart back in Castle Oblivion...
What logic was there in that? What reason?
Only the idiotic insanity of emotion could have led a guy like Lexaeus to make such a stupidly fatal decision - exactly as had happened to the big guy, shortly thereafter.
And Lexaeus himself had even claimed to Axel...that he felt something again. That even if he knew he had no Heart, he still felt something.
And the look on his face and in his eyes, the way his voice had been, it had all just made Axel nope the fuck outta that confrontation.
Axel himself had been...rattled.
Almost forgot the guy was a Nobody, himself, for a moment there.
Almost thought he himself had experienced a real dose of real fear again...
Was it possible?
Was Xikira telling the truth there?
What if all of that had been real?
From her, to Lexaeus, to Saix, even...
To himself...
"Axel!"
Axel froze. He turned to find Saix striding up to him out of a dark portal. Limping, dark particles drifting off him - he'd taken some serious blows! Some kind of fight?
"Saix, what in the hell happened to you? Where have you-"
"Xigbar," Saix growled, stopping before Axel.
"Huh? Xigbar? You get into a fight with him or something?"
"Yes. That man...is not who he appears to be. He's- powerful- and- he has a Keyblade."
"What?!"
"Xemnas summoned me...the moment he was contacted by Xikira...and we went to confront them both. Traitors, both of them. Xigbar - he claimed to be a man named Luxu - and he summoned a Keyblade. He fought Xemnas, he...bested me, in a single blow."
Axel stared. And in that moment, as feelings surged in his chest...you know what, yeah, maybe there was something to that part of Xikira's argument. He instinctively stepped forward and grasped Saix's shoulder. "Hey, well don't push yourself now. How about you get some rest and-"
Saix half raised his arm, as if to bat Axel away. Then his body went slack, and his head fell. His eyes closed and a ragged breath was let loose. "Yes...I think that is sorely needed right about now..."
Axel gazed at his best friend, squeezing his arm. "Isa..." he whispered. The man didn't respond. Which was a good thing, he supposed - wasn't reacting like he did whenever Xikira's idiot mind used that name against him...
"Lea..." came the harsh whisper in return, shocking Axel. "Do you believe...that Xikira was speaking the truth? About...her?"
"Honestly? I don't know," Axel replied softly. "But hey, let's not have this talk out in the corridor. Come on - safety first."
"Y-yes - right. Let's..." Saix drew himself up, withdrawing from Axel's touch. He drew a breath through his nose, and he was just...Saix again. "We will continue this discussion elsewhere - later."
"Yeah, yeah..." Axel sighed, watching Saix limp away past him.
A few hours later, after time apart to be all inconspicuous, and only after they'd safely sequeseterd themselves away in Saix's room...
Once there, Axel wasted no time in giving voice to his thoughts, as they discussed the situation.
"Isa...I think one thing the kid said was right," Axel spoke. "I think we do still feel things inside of us - I think you do. Don't know how, don't know why...but I think we do. You, me, Lexaeus...Xikira, herself, for sure."
Saix frowned deeply. He looked away. For a long minute, he was still and silent. Then - a single, small nod. "Any other day and I would have called that absurd. But, given the things that have been happening lately..."
"Heh. And I expected you to be all stubborn about it."
"As I said..."
"Well, great. So what now? Think Xigbar - or whoever he really is - managed to save Xikira's life? Want to go find her? Ask her about - you know...the other girl? Or-"
"No. We should stay the course. It's more important than ever that we...discover just how much Xemnas is hiding," Saix replied. "Whatever his true plans are..."
"And do what about 'em, once we do?"
Saix raised his head, looking Axel in the eye. The expression on his face then was...shockingly soft. "We...stop-"
Suddenly, a massive wave of blinding white energy roared through the room, instantly obliterating a good third of it behind Saix - along with what looked to Axel like a good quarter of the entire castle, top to bottom! Corridors and rooms were just cut apart, the perfect edges burning in the distance as the castle began to fall apart!
Axel yelled out and fell over as the part of the castle they were in began to plummet and rotate.
Saix had summoned his Claymore and stabbed it into the floor, below Axel.
Axel did the same, forming a Chakram and jamming it into the floor to hold onto.
He gazed down at Saix, and then down past him to the dark city below.
And that was when Axel realized that this energy wasn't done with them yet - it hadn't just cut the castle into slices. It was actively eating away at the rest of the area around them!
There'd be nothing left in a matter of seconds.
It'd probably eat them up along with it.
Destroy them.
Destroy what didn't exist...haha...
Saix glanced swiftly around them with wide, yellow eyes, realizing the very same thing.
Then, he looked up at Axel.
He removed one hand from his Claymore, raising it to Axel...
The energy devoured more and more of the castle, of the room, nearer and nearer to them as the few little seconds ticked by as if in slow motion...
In that slow motion moment, Axel thought he saw a small smile come to Saix's lips...something glistening in those eyes...
And then darkness enveloped Axel, transporting him away from his best friend, as the energy wave overtook Saix.
The rumbling, the massive surge of energy that reverberated through his very core.
Vexen sensed it all...mere moments before a massive wave of energy came slicing down through the ceiling, obliterating a third of his lab and leaving a fifty foot gap of open space in its wake.
He observed powerful, burning energy rapidly eating away at the rest of the room even as this whole section of the castle began to fall!
He observed Kana stumbling her way up the slanting room, panic on her face as she gazed up at him in pleading...!
He observed, mentally, that she was not going to make it! She could not save herself! Foolish Replica, foolish woman! A situation she'd never dreamed of encountering, a danger she'd never conceived of! And now she was flailing, acting on instinct alone as a newly born existence. Which was of no help to her at all, because only a thinking mind was going to get them out of this situation alive!
And Vexen thought.
The rate at which that energy wave was obliterating all matter behind Kana, catching up to her...
There was at best a second or two to act.
Though, even if he did...he could only save her.
Well, that was all he wanted, he suddenly realized, as a feeling he refused to acknowledge rose in his chest.
On his instinct, on that feeling, Vexen didn't hesitate to raise a hand, creating a dark portal behind - rapidly becoming beneath - Kana. And then he sent out a simple, calculated projectile of ice.
It flew across the room, struck Kana in the chest, and sent her falling backwards into the portal.
Vexen observed the massive energy wave overtake and destroy the portal not a moment later...and then it washed over his entire being, enveloping him - and and there was no one left to observe anything anymore.
Axel gasped as he fell out of a dark corridor, landing hard on the streets of the dark city.
Right in front of a huge skyscraper.
A city plaza.
The dark city beneath the hovering Castle That Never Was.
He never had figured out if anyone had ever actually lived here before...
Axel's mind finally caught up with what had just happened - and an electric shock went through his chest. He slammed a fist to the ground and leapt to his feet again, racing through the streets toward the edge of it all...
To find the castle completely gone.
Not even a trace.
The same was true for...Xemnas's Kingdom Hearts.
It wasn't hanging there in the sky anymore, either.
Axel stood there, staring into emptiness - feeling truly empty now, himself.
His hands trembled at his sides...and his eyes burned as...
"You act as if you mourn for them."
Axel whirled on the spot.
Xaldin emerged from a dark corridor, stood with his arms crossed.
"As if you've a Heart," Xaldin continued, with a contemptuous snort. "Ridiculous."
"Now, now..." came a deep, smooth voice that made Axel's skin crawl. Another portal formed, and Xemnas came striding out of it. "They were our valued comrades - and their loss is a tangible one."
"Who's lost?" Axel said, stepping up to the man, not caring. "Who made it, and who didn't?"
Xemnas gazed at him without expression. "That remains to be seen. We will wait, and see who shows themselves."
Axel turned away, gazing at the area around him. Desperate, hoping, clinging, yeah... "Come on, Isa..." he whispered. "I know you wouldn't let yourself go out like that...just come back to me..."
"I fear...that Saix is among the lost," Xemnas's voice came again.
Axel turned, staring. He clenched his fists, his teeth bared. "And how the hell would you know?!"
Xemnas blinked. He raised a hand to his chest. "As the one who controls the element of Nothing itself, I am afforded a certain connection with all Nobodies. Similarly to the way in which I knew where to go to find you all upon your creation...I am able to sense when you cease existing as well."
"And you- you're saying Isa- Saix- he's...?"
"Yes," came the simple, flat reply. But firm, brooking no argument.
Axel fell to the ground, letting his hands uncurl. He stared blankly into the open air where the castle once was...once again...just wishing, just hoping...
But he knew that feeling was a hollow one.
"A truly interesting turn of events," came a refined, light voice.
Axel didn't even have to look to know.
So Luxord had made it out, too...good for him...
"The board has been rearranged - the cards in the deck reshuffled," Luxord spoke on. He laughed. "I always say a game is no fun if you know where it's going - and now...well, who among us can truly predict where it's headed? What an intriguing remix..."
"Yeah, look dude, you can say it's a game all you want, but that was pants-pissing terrifying!" came the voice of Demyx as he stumbled out of a corridor.
"Seriously? You? You of all people?" Axel said, turning to look at the guy. "What a fucking joke!"
"Hey, I was just minding my own business when everything started disintegrating around me - what was I supposed to do? I did the first thing that came to my mind!" Demyx exclaimed. He turned to Xemnas, shooting him a furtive look. "Speaking of...hey boss, what did happen anyways? That big Heart in the sky isn't there anymore, ya know? Are we still going to get our Hearts, or what? I mean, what happens now?"
Xemnas eyed him, making him gulp and cower. Then he looked to the others. From one to the next. "We move on to the next phase..." he spoke slowly.
"Huh?" Axel said, slowly rising to his feet as he met the man's gaze. "What's that supposed to mean, boss?" he went on, crossing his arms. A feeling was creeping up his spine...
Another dark portal appeared beside Xemnas - and then an unexpected person came striding out of it with heavy footfalls.
A man who looked similar enough to Xemnas, but who just exuded a terrible, dark power. A man wearing a long coat, boots and gloves...a clasp with the Heartless emblem on it.
"What the HELL?" Axel gaped, stepping back and summoning his Chakrams.
Xaldin unfolded his arms as well, turning with narrowed eyes.
Luxord stood stock still, eyes flitting between Xemnas and...Xehanort's Heartless.
Demyx just cowered, raising his arms to his face.
"Is this really all we have?" Xehanort's Heartless scoffed, looking them over.
"It is all we have to work with, yes - regrettably," Xemnas addressed his counterpart, so casually. "The numbers will need to be shored up...later."
"Hey - mind cluing us in?" Axel snapped out, not relinquishing his weapons.
Both Nobody and Heartless gave identical, near simultaneous smirks in a way that was damn unsettling to the core.
"Alright, want to tell us what's so funny now?" Axel growled out.
"You wish to have your precious 'Isa' back, don't you?" spoke an unfamiliar voice from behind Axel.
He whipped around, and stared.
There was a young man in a black coat standing there. With yellow eyes and long silver hair. He looked similar to Xehanort's Heartless and to Xemnas, but...he wasn't the same guy...
"Now who the hell are YOU?" Axel retorted.
"Hmph." The young man smiled, and leisurely raised a hand...
Axel raised his weapons before him, preparing for a fight-
A blue light flashed in an instant - and Axel found himself frozen in an instant.
He couldn't even move his eyes!
But he saw the others were frozen too.
"I'll be the one giving you the opportunity to do so," the young man addressed Axel, amusement written all over his face. Rich, true, and cruel. "But first, you'll need to do something for me. Won't you do me the favor...of becoming one of my vessels?"
Vessels...? The hell?
That didn't sound good in any sort of way.
But Axel...was trapped there. Helpless...
Isa, what the hell did we get ourselves into?
His only hope...was Isa.
His only hope...was that Xikira had been telling the truth...about "recompletion" as well. That whole business about Nobodies being able to become human again through destruction...like some kind of rebirth or something...
But if that was true, if there really was a chance of having Isa back...if he wasn't lost, but was in fact returned...
Axel could hold out hope that he'd seen him again someday. Someday soon...
I'd better see you soon...Isa. You've kept me waiting long enough, pal...
"Gosh, there really was a whole lot to fill us in on, wasn't there?"
Aqua and Terra - and to a lesser extent, Ven, Kairi, Sora and Lauriam - had spent the last couple days of while traveling through the Ocean Between telling Mickey, Donald and Goofy all about their adventures since the Door To Darkness.
The people they'd met, the places they'd been - the things they'd seen and learned, themselves.
The quests to reunite friends and restore lives.
The truth of the battles ahead. The truth about Nobodies, about Hearts, and so much more.
"Did either of you three dweebs actually follow any of that, then? Because it sure doesn't look like it," said Elrena, snorting.
"Hey, who are you calling dweebs?!" Donald squawked at her, glaring.
"Well, I can't say I fully understand everything just yet, but the most important bits, I'm sure I do," Mickey said seriously to Elrena.
"Good for you," Elrena said coolly.
"Don't be rude," Kairi told her, glaring somewhat. Not a full glare - even after several days rest, she still felt a little weak on her feet. According to Aqua and Terra, she'd almost killed herself with that attack of hers. Not because of any physical damage: by draining her very lifeforce. That was what she'd started drawing from for that attack, when she'd run clear past her mana limits. If she'd used any more of it...she'd been on the brink of life itself just leaving her very body. "They saved us. And they know Ven and Aqua."
"And, he's a King," Riku added. "The guy could probably smite you or something for the disrespect."
"Smite? Gollies no!" Mickey said, horrified. "A proper King should never abuse his position that way! Anyways, I'm sure ya've got your reasons for how ya are. From what I've learned here from Lauriam and Ven now, I can tell you've gone through a lot. There's a lotta pain in your Heart-"
"You're right," Elrena interrupted, glowering. "And I hate it. I hate it so much I wish I still couldn't feel it all. Or at least that I didn't know I had a new little Heart inside me. At least then I could keep on pretending!" With that said, she stormed out of the captain's cabin, slamming the door behind her.
"I'm sorry," Mickey said quietly, looking around at them all. "Maybe I shouldn't've said anything..."
"Don't worry about it," Ven said quickly. "Like you said - she's dealing with a lot inside. But - just - try not to take it too personally."
"Mm." Mickey nodded gratefully to Ven. "So...Xehanort. This whole time, it's been him stirring up all this trouble across the worlds."
"Well, him and Maleficent - but we beat her a while ago," Sora said confidently. "We'll beat Xehanort too. All...of him," he added awkwardly.
"That's what worries me the most, though..." Mickey sighed, looking, indeed, very troubled. "One Xehanort was bad enough back then, but now we've got two on our hands...Not to mention, he has the Heartless at his command, and his Nobody has this Organization XIII carrying out his orders as well. I know Xehanort's a crafty guy, and I'm not blaming any of you for being tricked by him like this-" he went on, with a furtive look at Lauriam. "-but it sure does complicate things..."
"That's understandable," Lauriam said easily, nodding.
Mickey looked at Lauriam again, frowning now. Then he smiled. "Say, ya wouldn't mind showin' me that Keyblade of yours, wouldja? It's just...getting the chance to meet other Keyblade wielders - from other parts of the World - it's something real special. My Master, Yen Sid, always spoke of other circles and schools of wielders, but he said we were so far apart that we might never run into each other. It was only him and his, and Master Eraqus, Terra, Aqua and Ven. Though, I guess now we know Ven was from another circle all along..."
Lauriam smiled, giving a nod. He summoned his Keyblade wordlessly, holding it out to Mickey.
"Mmmm...Well, ya weren't joking when ya said you hadn't used your Keyblade in a long time," Mickey spoke again, eyeing the weapon critically. "But, even after all this time, I can sense that that bond you share with it is still there - as strong as ever!"
Lauriam lowered his arm, and Divine Rose dematerialized. "Thank you, Majesty," he said lightly. "Or would that in fact be - 'Master?'"
"Please, just call me Mickey!" Mickey insisted. "Any friend of Ven is a friend of mine. Or, well, I'm hopin' we can be great friends too..." he finished, a bit embarrassed.
Lauriam gave a soft chuckle. "Alright. If that's your wish...Mickey. It's been too long since I can remember having friends at all - more would be...very welcome, I think. Especially other Keyblade wielders. As you said...we seem to be a...rarity in these worlds. Particularly these days."
"So, that's basically everything important we can think of," Aqua addressed Mickey. "What about you? Have you had any luck finding that Keyblade we need?"
Mickey shook his head. "Trust me, I've been all over these worlds - but I haven't seen any sign of it. But, I'm more positive than ever now that it didn't just fail to appear: it was taken by someone. Probably someone on the side of Xehanort...whichever version of him that is - haha..." he chuckled nervously.
"The only Keyblade weilders over on his side of things would be Xikira and Vanitas," Ven said slowly. "But I'm pretty sure we all know Xikira would never-" he added quickly, looking to Kairi in fear.
"Of course she wouldn't," Kairi said, rolling her eyes. "But, more importantly, I don't think she was even born at the time that this...dark version of my Keyblade would have spawned on the islands in the Realm of Darkness."
"So it's most likely gotta be Vanitas, then?" Sora said, determined.
"Well then, the next time he wants to show himself, we can get some answers out of him," Aqua decided darkly. "Whether he likes it or not."
"Gawrsh, this all sure sounds like a lotta complex- complicated..." Goofy scratched his head, frowning. "What I'm trying to say is we should go and tell all o' this to Master Yen Sid! After all, he's the reason we were able to come an' help you guys!"
"Master Yen Sid - of course he's still around!" Aqua exclaimed, smacking hand to forehead. "Why didn't I think of him earlier? Mickey-"
"Yen Sid's been keepin' a real close eye on the stars, it's true," Mickey said quickly. "And that's how he knew ya were in trouble - so he sent Donald, Goofy and I to come save ya - but...erm, I'm not too sure he'd be able to track somebody like Vanitas. Xehanort was always smart about obscuring his location - making himself unable to be located, even by magicks like that - and so you see..."
"It couldn't hurt to give it a try, could it?" Sora said brightly.
"Right - guess not!" Mickey nodded, beaming. "And Goofy's right - we should catch Master Yen Sid up to speed as well. He'll definitely wanna hear about all of this...and to meet ya all, of course, haha! Why, he'll be over the moon to know there're more Keyblade-"
Kairi suddenly gasped, reaching a hand up to her head.
"Kairi? What's wrong?" Aqua said instantly, moving to her side.
Kairi blinked around herself in sudden confusion, then shook her head. And then- "Xikira...she just contacted me. She told me we have to come to Traverse Town."
"Wait, Xikira just - talked to you? Just now?" Sora said, confused. "How could she...?"
Kairi frowned. She shrugged. "I don't know. But we were just talking - it was so strange. It was this...void, I think it was- my Heart? Or my head, at least? I just heard her, and I saw her...and that's what she said to me. She said it was important."
Aqua gazed at her. She glanced at Terra, sharing a look with him. "I guess...we're heading back to Traverse Town, then. Yen Sid will have to wait," she added to Mickey.
"If it's that important, I'm sure he'll understand a little delay," Mickey said easily, nodding.
"Did she say anything specific?" Terra asked Kairi quietly.
Kairi sighed. "No. She just said...to come right away. She seemed really...nervous."
"Let's get going, then," Aqua decided, striding for the door out of the cabin.
It took another day to get back to Traverse Town.
Once they arrived, their entourage entered First District together.
Immediately, they were met by a waiting Aerith.
"Right on time!" Aerith said by way of greeting. She seemed happy to see them - but she had a serious look on her face.
"Xikira asked us to come here," Kairi spoke, in her way of greeting in return. "Is something wrong? Is she - is she here? What's going on?"
Aerith glanced at the girl, flashing a small smile of reassurance. "Honestly, she wasn't doing too good when she first got here, but she's perfectly okay now! She's over at the hotel. Terra, if you could take the kids and unwind - go catch up with Xion and Roxas, over in Fourth District - and Aqua...if you could go to the hotel for me and meet with...ah, Xikira?"
Aqua stared at the woman, nonplussed at her just handing out orders like this to two Keyblade Masters. But, the look on her face as she met Aqua's gaze...almost like pleading? Something...Her Heart told her to agree. "Okay, then. Terra - take them to Roxas and Xion. I'll meet with Xikira at the hotel."
"Aerith..." Kairi began, glowering at the woman.
"I'm sorry - but we just have a bit of a delicate situation on our hands here. Please?" Aerith said, begging the girl now.
Kairi sighed, nodding. "Okay. But you better explain things sooner rather than later."
"I will - promise. Everything...will become clear soon," Aerith said cryptically.
Aqua pressed her lips tightly, saying nothing.
She just watched Terra lead the children off.
Lauriam took his leave from them, then, too, heading into the cafe. Elrena didn't hesitate to follow after the man, stalking away with clicking heels.
Aqua stepped up to Aerith, gazing into the woman's eyes. Then she shook her head and turned away, striding off for Second District, leaving Mickey, Donald and Goofy to talk with the woman.
She passed through the doors, making her way around the square and entering the hotel.
She climbed the steps to the second floor - and found another familiar person waiting there outside one of the room doors.
That Tifa woman.
"I was told to come here and meet with Xikira?" Aqua said, eyeing the door.
Tifa's face flashed with anxiety. Brief. She nodded. "Y-yes. Right..."
"What is going on here, really?" Aqua said, patient as she could.
"There's somebody here who came with a kid recently - Namine, or, Xikira, you'd know her as - and he said you wouldn't be happy to see him..." Tifa said cautiously, wringing her hands together.
Aqua felt a creeping sensation come over her. Someone who had come here with Xikira...? He...? A he who had said Aqua wouldn't be happy to see him...? Could it be? Who else would have come here with XIkira? Who else did Xikira even have an active interest in...? It was obvous. It was...
"Well, I can see that much is true," Tifa said swiftly, moving from the doorway to hurry off down the hall. "I'll leave you to sort it out, then!"
Aqua watched the woman disappear down the stairs, and then she turned and reached for the door to the hotel room and cast it open.
Aqua stopped dead upon entering the room - upon seeing the man standing there.
Waiting for her.
That feeling had been fully validated, then. A suspicion made real.
Her body reacted before her mind even did, her weapon conjured to hand and aimed forward with a vicious motion.
"YOU!" The word was torn from her throat, shaking with her raging emotions. The tension seizing her body right then, the alarm bells sounding off in her head.
That man raised his hands in a gesture of peace - as if he of all people meant no harm to anyone! "Hey, cool your jets, lady! I'm not here to fight - and I'd rather not start one in front of the kid, more to the point!"
Aqua finally, really registered the other presence in the room. She glanced over at the girl - it was, yes, Kairi's Nobody, the girl from Castle Oblivion. The look on that girl's face was one of pure anxiety and fear. "What are you doing with her?!" Aqua demanded, her gaze snapping back to the man. What was this - what was the plan? Use the child as a hostage, or a shield? Why here, why now...? What was this cowardly snake up to this time? Another distraction from the real goal? Aqua's mind raced with the possibilities...
The man's expression changed. Annoyance. Exasperation. He stepped forward - toward her! "Well, if you'd calm down and listen for five seconds, maybe I could explain it!" he retorted. As if he truly mean it!
"Don't. Move." Aqua aimed her weapon directly at his Heart, stepping forward as well. She wasn't afraid of this sniveling thug. "You have ten seconds to explain what is going on here, Braig! Oh, sorry, Xigbar now, isn't that right?" she mocked him.
"Ten seconds, huh? Alright..." Braig nodded at her, his face showing only the utmost seriousness now. "I'll give you the short version, because it is a REALLY long story. This is Namine, formerly known as Xikira - Kairi's Nobody. You've already met her. She's here because she decided to permanently escape the Organization, and because she tried taking me with her. She barely survived an attempt on her life by Xemnas. And as for me..."
Braig slowly moved his arm out to the side, curling his fingers in the air. Almost as if he were trying to summon a...
A Keyblade did appear in his grasp, held out away from his body. A familiar weapon that screamed danger at Aqua: the Keyblade of Master Xehanort!
Aqua's mouth fell open, and her weapon fell to her side. It was a moment of pure shock and disbelief. But she regained herself in an instant, realizing her mistake. She raised her own weapon and jabbed it forward. "Wh-what...you...HOW did you get that? WHY do you have that Keyblade?! That's-" she struggled, all the same, to even articulate now.
"Not his - never was," Braig cut across her, in a quiet voice. "It's mine. And I just got it back." He lowered that Keyblade to hold at his side, and then he let it vanish away. "My name isn't Braig or Xigbar, Master Aqua. It's Luxu - and I'm a Keyblade Master, just like you. And what I want most in this World right now is the same as what you want: to stop Xehanort. Mainly because if I don't, he'll never give my kid a moment's peace - but also because, you know, it's sort of my own mess to clean up here. So what do you say?"
Aqua gazed at him for an eternity, her mouth moving in silence, her eye twitching. Words completely failed her now. Her mind had churned to a halt. She couldn't even begin to imagine what he-
"Bullshit."
Well, there was a response - one she wasn't displeased with. Her Heart and her mouth had chosen well this time. Very well.
Braig stared back at her now. Then, he gave a slow nod. "Alright...should've seen that one coming. That was expected. But I'm telling you - for once in my life - nothing but the total, complete truth of things."
"What's the game this time, Braig?" Aqua snapped, her mind finally beginning to work again. "What's the play - the ploy? Is she your hostage? Are you keeping me here so your friends in the Organization can attack someone elsewhere?"
"Okay...that's also a reasonable assumption," Braig muttered. "Look, Master Aqua, there's no game, there's no ploy, and she is definitely not my 'hostage.' Hah, you think I could honestly keep her in one place? As if. The princess does what she wants, goes where she wants, and it's a hell of a time dealing with her when she gets her mind set on something."
"Somehow I don't believe you at all," Aqua said flatly.
"Look, believe it or not, but we both left the Organization behind - I personally fought Xemnas for her. To save her life. I brought her here to keep her safe. And even if i wanted to, there's no going back from that. Not for this, not for me. I'm out, and I'm out for good. And it's all because of her. She's damn persuasive, with her freaky powerful memory powers. It wasn't easy for her, or for me, but she took me down memory lane - all the way back to my childhood; and that's saying something, trust me - and she managed to convince me-"
"To convince you of what?" Aqua scoffed. She narrowed her eyes at the man. "Tell me."
Braig sighed, turning to look down at Xikira - or, Namine now? Whichever. Aqua almost might have believed the look on his face right then was something akin to affection. To gratitude. To...things a man like that couldn't possibly feel for anyone. And the girl, she looked back at him with a similar look. That, at least, was expected...
"She convinced me...that fate and destiny are nothing in the face of the choices we choose to make in our lives," Braig spoke quietly. "And she convinced me...that it wasn't too late to go back to being the kind of guy I once was - a long, long time ago."
"And what kind of person was that?"
"An empathetic, optimistic, determined boy - not a bitter, cynical, tired old man," Braig responded, in a voice that seemed to back up the statement. His expression and tone seemed to be just...exhausted. "Someone who was willing to try, to push, to do anything it took to do the right thing. Even fight against what was written, even go against his own Master's orders. Someone who could see the world, and all the people in it, as worth expending every effort to save. To the last breath, with every last ounce of strength and cunning he had in him. So that, Master Aqua, is what I'm going to do: I'm here to try. Try to do the right thing, try to stop Xehanort, and most importantly - to try and give...Namine here, everything she's dreamed of having in life."
"I almost could have believed that," Aqua said, laughing softly and shaking her head. "How long did you spend practicing that in front of a mirror?"
"Two days, actually," Braig admitted, to her surprise. He reached up to rub his neck, looking painfully embarrassed. "Wasn't sure how to convince you. Any of you. But, like I said...I had to try. So...here it is. Putting it all out there."
"This is stupid - he's telling the truth!" Xikira- Namine, spoke, stepping forward. Right beside the man, without fear. She rolled her eyes and met Aqua's gaze. "I've seen his memories. I fought him, I convinced him. It wasn't easy, like he said. I stabbed him, and he got me good too...but in the end I still won! It's all true you-"
"Hey, I appreciate the assist, princess, but it's not stupid," Braig said to her lightly. "It's going to take some real time and real effort to get any of these people to even begin to trust me. I'm fully aware of that. That's just how it's gonna be. So don't feel the need to go to bat for me against them, all right?"
Namine frowned. She sighed, nodding. "Okay..."
"Thanks, kiddo," Braig said with a small smile. "Appreciate the lack of digging your heels in on this one."
The girl smiled, herself, and even let out a little giggle that reminded Aqua strikingly of Kairi (which made perfect sense, of course, seeing as Namine was her Nobody).
Aqua watched their exchange, then returned her gaze to Braig alone. "What is she talking about - that she fought you? Did you hurt her?"
"I'm not proud of it," Braig said, and he looked genuinely ashamed. Like he was capable of it... "I was trying to make a point to her about...Well, doesn't matter now. I've already told her I'm going to be spending a long time making it up to her. And she's already told me she's still not sure about forgiving me. But she also said she wants me to stick around. She didn't go through all the effort that she did just for us to be separated."
Aqua looked hard at the girl. Then, at Braig once more. "Are you saying that she actually succeeded? You've decided to change sides - to betray Master Xehanort himself? Xemnas? Everyone and everything you've spent ten years working toward?"
For some reason, Braig laughed. "You say that like throwing away ten years of work is easy. It's not. And it was infinitely harder...to throw away thousands of years of work."
"Thousands...? What nonsense are you spouting off now?"
"Okay, can you just go get Ventus?" Namine said loudly, glaring at Aqua. "Luxu has a lot he has to tell him - things he deserves to know."
"I'm not letting him anywhere near Ven," Aqua said harshly.
"Fine, I'll go tell him everything he deserves to know, since I know it too," Namine said, stomping forward - and striding past Aqua. "Luxu has patience for centuries - keep him in this room for all we care! He can take it!"
"Wait!" Aqua turned, reaching out for the girl.
Namine stopped, glancing back at her. "You're a bitch," she stated.
"EXCUSE ME?!"
"Xi- agh, Namine, hey!" Braig called out quickly.
The girl stopped for him, again. "What?"
"For Ventus's sake, I'm asking you not to just go spouting off everything you know to him," Braig said, in a serious, strained voice. "You've seen it...you know a lot of it is painful, and complicated. And if you just go and dump that all on the kid like this now, it's not going to have good results - for anybody. You don't want to hurt him, do you?"
Xikira- Namine- whatever her name now, she gazed back at him in deep thought. Then she nodded. Respecting...trusting...earnest as could be. "Okay. I won't tell him anything yet - nothing I learned about from your memories."
"Good. Good girl. And...just - don't even mention my real name to him yet, either, alright?" Braig said quickly. "It might...trigger...some stuff. And we don't want to deal with that just yet, either."
"Okay," the girl nodded. She flashed a smile, then finally left the room.
Aqua gritted her teeth as she watched the interplay between the two, then spun back around as she saw movement from Braig. "Stay right where you are!" she barked at him.
Braig gazed at her with irritation again. Then he threw up his hands and cocked a grin. He strode over to the chair and fell back into it. He crossed his ankles and put his hands behind his head, leaning back. "Whatever you want, Master. If that's what it'll take to prove to you-"
"You've proven nothing so far," Aqua said. "Only that Xehanort might have given you his Keyblade as part of an elaborate ruse. Or it might not even be real. It could be artificial - like Xion's."
Braig nodded, that grin fixed to his face still. "Yep - could be. Who's to say? I would have thought you'd trust Namine, at least, though..."
"She's a few months old - I don't trust her to exercise any sort of good judgement," Aqua replied. "Or good judge of character."
"Heh...Fair enough. Just don't take any of this fury out on her, alright? She's just a kid, and she's innocent in all this. If the only thing she's guilty of, in your eyes, is considering herself my friend...don't let that change how you treat her."
"I would never blame a child for naively believing in the best of someone - even a person like you," Aqua said scornfully - offended.
"So you admit there's something good in me?"
"I admit it would be all too easy for someone like you to manipulate and fool her into thinking there was anything good in you. You've been playing everyone in that entire Organization for a decade, haven't you? Do they know that their leader is a former body-stealing Keyblade Master?"
"Also true," Braig acknowledged, with that- look of shame again. Of guilt. Discomfort, at least... "And, no. No one else knows a thing about Xehanort's past. Err, Xemnas's. But that'll change, soon enough."
"And why is that?"
"Because they're due to show up here any day now, with Radiant Garden having fallen into darkness. They'll recomplete here. They should, anyways. Along with a...couple hundred or more others, I'd estimate, at this point."
"What are you even talking about?"
"A couple days back, I destroyed Xemnas's castle and freed his artificial Kingdom Hearts - all those Hearts gathered from the slain Heartless of you Keyblade wielders. With its destruction and those Hearts freed, they should all be coming back into existence now as people again. Finding their way back to their worlds, if they're still in the Realm of Light. If not, they'll appear here - and so will the reformed human members of the Organization. Whoever got lucky enough, that is...Let's cross our fingers and hope."
Aqua stared at him for a long time. And then she began to laugh. "I understand now - I get it now! You're insane, that's what this all is! You're just crazy! Spouting delusions that you genuinely seem to believe!"
Braig raised an eyebrow at her, looking amused. "Whatever's going to help you sleep at night, Master Aqua. But you'll get proof of everything soon enough. Just give it a...anywhere from a few hours to another day or two. Shouldn't be long now."
Aqua heard footsteps, and turned as the door opened again.
Terra stood there, gazing at Braig. He slowly stepped inside, his expression serious...but calm. "So, you really are here," he spoke, in a level voice.
"Yeah, I am."
"How's the eye?" Terra said casually.
"It took some adjusting to. But, it's not much of a bother, these days," Braig replied.
"I'd be a liar if I said it didn't feel good at the time - or that it still doesn't give me a bit of satisfaction seeing you now," Terra stated. "That's a quality Xehanort and I seem to share. An uncomfortable one. I wonder whether Xemnas has that quality, too. And I wonder if he got it from Xehanort...or from me."
"Who knows? Ten years, and I honestly still can't tell what's going on in any version of Xehanort's head most of the time," Braig replied.
"Enough with your lies," Aqua snapped. "We're well aware that you were Xemnas's right-hand man - Number Two in his Organization. You honestly want to try and tell us you don't know what he has planned?"
"I didn't say that...exactly," Braig protested, frowning. "Look, I know most of his big plans, yeah - and I'm going to tell it all to you guys - but a guy like Xehanort...he keeps way too much close to his chest. Locked up in his own mind. I don't doubt that there are plenty of things he's got in store that even I don't know about. It's not as if we were best pals, trading our deepest secrets over pillow talk - capiche? Even I only ever knew as much as the man felt like I needed to know."
"Tell us now, then," Terra said, crossing his arms. "Tell us what he's planning."
"Sure thing - but are you going to believe me, or are you going to call bullshit on every count?" Braig responded.
"I don't think you've given us a reason to not, yet."
"I'm here, aren't I? With Namine - eh, Xikira. I came with her. I came for her. I saved her life from Xemnas. Ms. Gainsborough can back that one up. She helped keep the kid alive with me. She saw us arrive. And what have I done since then? Nothing, that's what: I've just been laying low here. And that's for Namine's sake, too; I'd rather not let the Organization know where we are until there's no avoiding it."
"That's true, at least. And I think that at least earns you our ear - but only one time," Terra replied. "We'll hear you out, but just once. You get one chance, and that's it."
"Understood," Braig replied, nodding. "So, Xehanort's plans as I know them...You two might want to sit down for this-"
"We'll stand," Aqua said. "Talk. Now."
"Alright, alright. Xehanort and Xemnas created the Organization for a reason: take a bunch of empty husks, connect them to his Kingdom Hearts, and fill them all with the same Heart and mind: Xehanort's own."
"WHAT?!" Aqua and Terra shouted at the same time. Sharing the same looks of horror, disgust, and outrage.
"Yeah, I know," Braig went on. "But, seeing as I recently destroyed his castle and set his Kingdom Hearts free, hopefully I've saved more than a few of them from that fate. The ones who were destroyed will likely recomplete, coming back as humans again, and without Kingdom Hearts' power, he can't pull the feat off regardless. Not even if he was all set up to."
"But you...you knew this," Aqua gasped. "You were going to just let them all-"
"I was," Braig said freely, with the gall to look ashamed again. "But, if it's any consolation, I also always knew they'd be restored as humans later on. Even if it got that far, even after Xehanort had us all fulfill our purpose...we would have come back afterward, safe and sound. Alive and well. Being a Nobody is like having a get-out-of-death-free card. At least, that was how I always excused it to myself. The thing I kept telling myself so I could carry on. Just enough for the guilt to not crush me flat..."
"Spare us the sad act," Aqua said sharply. "Your guilt obviously was never enough to actually make you stop - you would have gone through with it, you would have just-"
"It wasn't the question of guilt that kept me going or not, Master Aqua," Braig said quietly. "That was something else entirely. Something Namine managed to shake me out of - convinced me of. Like I said. And it wasn't easy or simple! For either of us. I've spent so long...and yeah, I think I never would have snapped out of it if not for her. And I'm just grateful to her for that. She opened up my eyes again, made me see that nothing is written. And now I need to focus on putting it right. Making amends, however I can. So can you people just work with me here, at least enough so that I can try and do that? Or am I going to have to go off on my own and do it all myself?"
"He claimed to be a Keyblade Master, himself - he has Xehanort's Keyblade," Aqua told Terra, turning to him and ignoring Braig. "He claims his real name is 'Luxu.' Obviously, it's some kind of trick - a trap."
Terra tensed, his face shocked. Then, hard. He turned to Braig, and then he lunged down and seized him by the throat, slamming him back against the wall with a heavy thud.
"T-Terra-!" Aqua stammered, shocked at his sudden violence.
"Given your appearance..." Terra's harsh tones came, as he pressed his face right into Braig's. "If what you're claiming is true, I know only one way you could have done this. The same trick that Xehanort used on me. So, Luxu...who was Braig, before you stole his body and life from him?"
Aqua felt dawning comprehension at his words. And horror. She hadn't even realized...of course Terra would have understood it first!
"In my...defense...he was a piece of shit," Braig- Luxu? rasped out, holding his hands up still. As if expecting mercy now. "I chose him...because he was a shitstain on Radiant Garden's perfect image. He was a castle guard by day...but at night, he held people up, blackmailed, threatened, stole...hurt a lot of innocent citizens. And made sure nobody talked about it."
"And that is your justification for forcing your Heart into another's?" Aqua seethed. "For taking away someone's-"
"N-no...It was never a good excuse - never justified it," Luxu said hoarsely. "Not a damn thing."
"If that's in any way true," Terra said harshly. "you're going to let him go now. If any of this talk about guilt, and remorse, and leaving the Organization and Xehanort behind are in any way true...then you prove it to us by getting out of Braig's body. That's the only way we're going to even start thinking about actually believing you...let alone having a speck of trust in you."
"Actions are louder than words," Aqua stated coldly. "So act. Now."
Luxu gazed at Terra for a minute, his expression inscrutable. Then, he nodded. "Alright. Yeah. Sure thing. No problemo! But I've got to warn you: I'm serious about the guy's rap sheet. If I leave him, he'll be a problem."
"Or maybe ten years of having his Heart suppressed and his body used as a meat puppet will have given him a new perspective on life," Terra spoke, hard. "Or are you the only one capable of supposedly experiencing guilt and wanting to change his ways?"
Luxu blinked in surprise. He nodded again. "Good point...You're right. Okay. Well, see, the thing is..."
"Stop stalling," Aqua snapped.
"Not stalling - I'm trying to explain the complexities of the situation."
"What complications could there be?" Terra said steadily.
"How about the fact that he - he and I - are a Nobody now?" Luxu said. "Or the fact that I can't guarantee that our Heartless was destroyed somewhere out there? Or how about the little detail that, if I do leave this body, I'll have nowhere to go?"
"And why do you think your life is more valuable than his?" said Aqua. "We don't care what you do or where you go. Just do it!"
"Look, if you want to do this right for the guy, you're going to have to wait a while longer," Luxu said, clear and calm despite the hand still around his throat. "Doing anything now, in this state of tangled Hearts and transformed bodies, is just going to make things more complicated and messy - and it'll all need even more untangling later on. But, if you people can have a little bit of patience here, we can do it right - so that the knots are all freed from each other, and him and I are as well. No ties, nothing left over. Whole, complete people, existing on our own merits."
"And if you wait a while longer, I can make sure the same thing happens for the likes of Namine and Roxas," Luxu spoke on, firm and quiet. "For Sora, for Kairi. We can all do this right, and untangle them from each other. Give them all a chance to live separate, normal, full lives together. No issues, no strings, no connections still lingering there. No going haywire whenever they get close enough for a hug. Don't you want Sora and Roxas to be able to share a seat on the bus to school, or for Kairi and Namine to be able to brush each other's hair, without one threatening to absorb the other into their being?"
Terra's blue eyes bore into Luxu's singular, brown eye (an eye once golden, he realized suddenly).
Aqua pressed her lips tight as she mulled over the man's words. Were they more stalling, tricks, or...was it possible that he spoke the truth? "And just how are you going to accomplish all of that - for so many people?" Aqua spoke at last. "How can you promise something like that?"
"Well, I can't - but Even can. Err, I suppose you people would know him as Vexen," Luxu replied. "And as it so happens, he's likely to appear right here in Traverse Town in a matter of hours...or a day or two. Depends. Recompletion is a finnicky affair. And a dangerous one in its own right; the human who returns to life retains the damages that caused their destruction as Nobodies. It's no guarantee they'll pull through, even then. But if he can...he can do it all for you. For them. He can help them to become whole, complete people in their own rights. And, me, personally, I want Namine to be a kid, whole and true, in her own right. I want to give her that. I want to give her...the world. She deserves it, more than most do."
Terra let Luxu go, stepping away. "Fine. We'll wait. If these people do appear here, as humans again, we can start from there. If this Even person is among them...you'll do exactly as you've said. And so will he."
"I know he'll want to do the same as me here, and make up for the terrible shit he's done the past ten years," Luxu said. "He'll give his help willingly, don't doubt it."
"I'm doubting everything right now," Terra responded.
"Fair enough," said Luxu, nodding.
Roxas knew she was here now, he knew.
He went over it in his head, again and again, all the things he'd wanted to say and ask her.
He sort of ignored the others. He was just so deep in his own head right then. He had hardly noticed when Terra had left the apartment, saying he was going to check on Aqua.
But when that door opened again, and Xikira came walking into Aerith, Tifa and Cloud's apartment (wearing a blue dress), and her eyes found his...
Roxas suddenly found all of that had left him.
"U-uh - hi?" Roxas managed to get out, his voice all strangled and hoarse for some reason. "Long time no...see? Right?"
Xikira looked down and away, grasping at her arm. "Yes... Roxas...?"
"What?"
"I...I-"
Roxas stepped forward, and he pulled her into a hug.
She gasped, going rigid in his arms. Then she relaxed again. Completely. And she hugged him back.
No matter what Roxas had to say, no matter what he thought or felt about her actions...He thought he had to just let her know...
That he did still care.
He cared a lot.
Why else would he be so upset, right? Just like her and the whole "You'll fall off the clocktower" argument, he suddenly realized.
"Whatever it is, it can wait," Roxas told her, letting her go. "Let's just be happy we're together again, alright?"
Xikira nodded, beaming. "Alright. So...what have you been doing?"
"What have you been doing?" Roxas replied, with a small grin.
Xikira giggled, brushing her hair. "That's...a long story."
"Hey, I can listen. Come on." Roxas led her to the table, sitting down there.
She sat too, leaning back in her chair and sprawling her legs and arms haphazardly. Then she let her chair slam back down, a blush coming over her for whatever reason. She glanced down at herself and put her legs together tightly. She scooted in, then paused. She glanced over at the others - at Sora, at Kairi...
Kairi had her arms over her body, a look on her face that was one of pure wanting. "You have no idea how much I want to hug you right now," she told Xikira.
"I wish we could - but I don't want to poof out of existence," Xikira replied. She hesitated. "But the feeling's still there. I know how much you want to...and I want you to know how much I want to, as well."
"I know, too," Kairi assured, smiling.
Xikira took a breath, returning her focus to Roxas. She leaned forward, meeting his eyes. "Well, I guess it all started when I first met Xigbar...Luxu, actually," she began quietly. "Oh, and my name is Namine now. Anyways..."
Roxas felt like he was in for a whole lot more from his twin sister...that he just was not going to understand.
But he settled in for it all anyways.
Because she was here.
And he wanted to understand her.
"Okay. So let's go over this all one more time."
Terra and Aqua stood facing the man - Luxu. Or so he said.
"You're claiming to be a centuries old-"
"Millenia old," Luxu cut in.
"A millenia old, ancient Keyblade Master from the Age of Fairy Tales, who has been possessing person after person through the ages, and that...that Lauriam, Elrena, and Ventus are also from the era of the Ancient Keyblade War," Terra continued. "You're claiming to us that they - what was it? - time traveled a thousand years into the future, via a machine called the Ark, where their bodies were reformed because of memories and a physical medium, but that they all lost their memories. That's why Ven could never remember his past. You're telling us that they're not just from another world, or another school of Keyblade wielders, you're telling us that they're...from the era of the Keyblade War."
"That's right," Luxu said simply. "They were members of the Dandelion Union - they never fought in that war. They survived it, moving to a new worldline where it never happened-"
"Right. Because they were transferred into a digital copy of their home world, Daybreak Town?" Terra gazed at Luxu. "Some sort of...computer...virtual reality?"
Luxu gazed back at him. "Yeah, I get it, it all sounds completely insane - but it's the truth."
"Or we can go back to my theory: you're just a raving lunatic," Aqua said, loud and clear.
"Haha...Man, you know, I wish," Luxu laughed. "Sometimes I really do."
"Ven is not some thousands of years old time traveler," Aqua hissed. "That's just ridiculous."
"Don't I know it?" Luxu nodded. "But, again, it's just the truth of things. Hey, here's an idea, how about you ask him? Ask the three of them. Or, ask Namine to take a look and tell you what she finds. She's already helped Lauriam and Elrena to remember a bit of their pasts - she could do the same for Ventus. But do it delicately; we wouldn't want their Hearts to break."
"Don't act like you care about any of them," Aqua said coldly.
"But I do care," Luxu said, firm now. "I'm the one who gave them a way to survive the end of the world - I watched over them, and I've kept watching over them all this time. Ever since they came into my life again. Because I cared about those kids...and I wanted them to live."
"Maybe you honestly think you believe that-" Aqua began.
"On the off chance any part of this is true, we'll find out," Terra spoke again, suddenly.
"I hope you do," Luxu replied. "I just hope they can handle it..." He trailed off, looking down and aside. "Hey, you know what - I'll be right back. Think now's the time to..."
"You aren't going-" Terra started.
Luxu suddenly wrapped himself in darkness, vanishing in an instant.
Terra and Aqua exchanged tense looks.
"What do you think the odds are he's reporting back to Xehanort that we're all here - to mount an attack?" Aqua said.
Terra shrugged, turning thoughtful. "Like you said: he looks as if he really believes it all. Every word. And it does all seem to...track. It's consistent with itself, at least."
"Obviously - because he obviously had a very long time to come up with the whole, insane, ludicrous story," Aqua said furiously.
"But why come up with a story as crazy and far-fetched as that? Why not something simpler, easier to be believed by us?" Terra said.
"Maybe he's counting on us thinking it's so crazy it can't possibly be fake, because he could have come up with something easier to swallow, thereby forcing us to accept it," Aqua stated.
"A double bluff, then..." Terra nodded. "Could be. We won't know anything for sure until we talk to Ven, Lauriam, and Elrena."
"Are you serious, Terra?"
"If any bit of it is true, they'll be able to corroborate it. Or are you saying you wouldn't trust Ven?"
"Of course not! But..."
"What?"
"This can't be true. None of it can."
"Why not?"
Aqua looked away, refusing to answer.
Terra sighed, and gazed at the spot where Braig- Luxu? had disappeared.
Whether the man came back or not wouldn't necessarily prove anything either. Certainly not his intentions...
If this was all a trick, a trap, just like how Xehanort had manipulated Terra, and the Master...
They waited a minute. Two minutes...
Three-
A dark portal appeared in the hotel room, and out of it...came Braig- or, Luxu? And he wasn't alone.
Carried in his arms, was a woman.
A woman who was maybe a good five years older than Terra was - mid-twenties. A woman with sharp features, amber eyes, and long, black hair. Messy, uneven fringe hung down over her eyes. She wore a long, simple gown of white.
But the thing that Terra noted about her the most...was the expression on that face.
It was vacant.
And the look in those eyes...they were empty, too.
Somewhere else...
"What did you- who is-" Aqua gaped. "How many girls have you kidnapped?!"
"I haven't kidnapped anybody," Luxu said, exasperated. And fearless, unconcerned with them, as he strode over to the bed and lay the woman down on it. Gently, carefully, Terra noted. "Her name is Skuld, and she's in bad shape - I've been taking care of her for about ten years now. I rescued her from Radiant Garden's castle, when she was being experimented on by Xehanort. She's also an ancient Keyblade wielder, and one of Ventus's close friends," he added, as he brushed at the woman's hair, giving her a once-over before standing straight again.
"Skuld...one of those kids you said you were watching over - back then," Terra said.
"Yeah," Luxu said quietly, looking him in the eye. "When she first appeared in Radiant Garden's square, and we got her up to the castle...we just wanted to help her. Help her remember who she was, where she came from. But Xehanort had other ideas. He pushed her, and he pushed her...and...then one night I took the chance, and I got her out of there. Took her someplace far away - a safe world. I-"
"Ven..."
Everyone looked to the woman - to Skuld. But she looked the same as ever. They could have convinced themselves they hadn't really heard anything at all...
Luxu moved instantly, dropping down beside the bed. He reached out for the woman, touching her arm. "Yeah...Ventus. He's here. So are Lauriam and Elrena. I wish I could tell you that Ephemer...and Brain...were here as well, but I can't. But Ven...Ven survived. Ven's here. Maybe you'll get to see him...if they'll allow it. Hey, Skuld...Come on, say- or was that all you had? Well, we've got Xikira- Namine here, too, so we'll be able to continue helping you out there. She wants to, you know. She's good. She's a good person. Good Heart. I've told her that before. Me, on the other hand? Not so much..."
He gazed at the woman for a minute more, before finally getting to his feet. He sighed and turned away, looking to Terra and Aqua again.
"So, am I confined to this room, or what?" he spoke.
"Apparently that's impossible - so, no," Aqua said, reluctant. "But you still aren't to go anywhere close to Ven until we even half-way start to think it's safe!"
"Fine by me," Luxu agreed.
"Terra - go and find Ven. Try and explain...any of this to him. If any of it is even true..." Aqua trailed off with extreme skepticism.
Terra nodded. "Are you going to be okay with him?"
"I'll be fine," Aqua said firmly. "I can handle him, no trouble."
"Weeeell..." Luxu hedged.
Aqua rolled her eyes something fierce. "You are not a Keyblade Master! You are a worthless, gross piece of scum who I could destroy with one hand behind my back - just like I beat you before, ten years ago."
"I threw that fight, Master Aqua...like I throw every fight," Luxu said casually.
"Liar." Aqua glared.
Luxu threw up his hands and shook his head.
Terra eyed them a moment, then he reluctantly left the room.
If he was sure of anything, he was sure that the man did care for this Skuld woman - and he wouldn't want to endanger her by starting anything. That kind of tender care, that sort of compassion, it couldn't be faked.
And if it was also true, at bare minimum, that he had left the Organization - that he'd left it with Xikira, that he'd been convinced by her to do so - then...
Terra could at least trust that, too.
But that was so little to go off of...
Terra made his way across Traverse Town, entering the correct apartment building.
He made his way upstairs, and entered the home of Aerith, Tifa and Cloud.
The kids were all there, all together - and all...
Terra smiled.
"Nobody else thinks this is freaky?" Sora said, in a high voice.
"They're just dancing, aren't they?" Riku spoke.
"Yeah - at the exact same time," Sora retorted. "Look at- gah, sorry!"
"Heh. Wish I could," Riku laughed, shaking his head and crossing his arms, leaning against the wall. "Maybe I should be glad I can't, though, huh?"
"Okay, now we twirl - leg up - arms up, wavy waist-" Kairi spun and swayed, flashing a grin at Xikira. Who was, yeah, dancing beside her - in perfect sync with her. "You're good! You haven't missed a beat."
"I'm just kind of...going with the flow. I've done it before - but this time I'm not even accessing any of your memories," Xikira responded, with a bright smile on her face. "It's just...a feeling, taking over."
"Well hold onto that feeling, Xi- Namine, because we're going to kick it up another notch!" Kairi exclaimed, grinning ever more fiercely.
"I can't wait to see this!" said Ven, laughing and leaning forward.
"Hey, Xion, you ever tried dancing?" Sora asked, leaning over to talk to the black-haired girl, who was looking mezmerized by Kairi and Xikira - or, Namine?
"What? Um...no," Xion admitted freely. "It's supposed to be fun, right?"
"It is fun!" Sora said. "I mean, look at those two."
"I can dance too - it's definitely fun," Ven put in.
"Wait, you can dance?" Kairi said, staring at him as if seeing him for the first time. "What are you doing sitting around for, then? Get over here! Come on!"
"Yeah, come on, Ven - show them your moves," Terra spoke finally, stepping into view, a grin on his face.
"Huh?! Seriously?" Ven said, startling.
"Don't we look-" Kairi began.
"-serious?" Namine finished.
Everyone stared at the girls now.
The girls themselves exchanged glances, their eyes wide and faces flushed.
"Alright, that's a little freaky," Kairi admitted.
"Just a little," Namine said. Then, both girls burst into laughter together.
Identical laughs.
"More than a little," Roxas commented, wide-eyed.
"Ven, come on, dance with us!" Kairi begged. "Or do we have to make this into a dance competition to get you interested? Do we want a dance-off?"
"Actually, I need to talk to Ven alone for a minute," Terra interjected, feeling guilty for it. "Ven? Could we talk outside?"
Ven looked at him in confusion. He frowned. But he nodded, getting up and following him out the door.
Terra led him down the stairs, and then into the back streets.
He walked up the streets, took a right turn, and then led him over to the entrance to the waterway system. A tunnel entrance, with flowing water.
"What's this about, Terra? Why did we have to come all the way back here for this?" Ven asked.
Terra sighed, crossing his arms. He uncrossed them, then leaned against the wall. He pushed off again - ran a hand through his hair.
"Terra? You're actually making me nervous now," Ven spoke again. And Terra heard it in his voice. Saw it in his face. "Did you try and ask Aqua out again?"
Terra did a double-take, grimacing. "I never should have told you that story," he muttered ruefully.
"So you did?" Ven said eagerly.
"N-no!" Terra said through his laughter. "Ven- that's- come on! I'm smarter than that. Give me a little more credit, all right?"
"Alright..." Ven said, laughing too. "Only cause you asked."
"Thanks, Ven, I appreciate your generosity," Terra quipped.
Then, he grew serious again.
"Look, Ven..." Terra started slowly. "Aqua and I...we were just told a- a long, crazy story. About you...and Lauriam...and Elrena. And we want to find out...if it's the truth or not. In any capacity. If any...any part of it is true or not. So I want to...mention some of the things we were told. And I want you to tell me if any of it sounds familiar, or- if you feel something. But...it's about your past. And I know that you still don't remember much - and I know what you do remember is painful, so I don't-"
"What are you asking? Just - tell me!" Ven said, his voice sharp, all of a sudden.
"I don't want to cause you any more pain, Ven," Terra said calmly, stepping in to grasp his friend's shoulder. "But if you tell me you want to hear it, if you think you can handle it-"
Ven bowed his head, staring at the ground for a long time. Then he looked up into Terra's eyes. "I want to...No, I have to know," he said quietly, seriously. "Even if it's more pain, even if it's...just tell me. I'll sort the rest out later."
"All right." Terra let Ven go, stepping back. "The world you came from, the world where you and Lauriam and Elrena trained...do you remember the name of it?"
Ven frowned, his eyes furrowed in concentration. "No."
"Okay. And if I said...'Daybreak Town?'" Terra pronounced carefully, watching Ven closely.
Ven tensed immediately, his eyes widening. His hands formed fists at his sides, shaking. He raised a hand to touch his temple, his eyes closing. "I...yeah? That sounds- it feels...right? Um- so you and Aqua- you- found out...more about...me? My past?"
"It...seems so," Terra said cautiously. "But we don't know how much is true or not. The source was...unreliable."
"Just tell me...tell me more..." Ven said. Urged. Demanded, even. "I have to...I have to..."
"All right..." Terra set his jaw, taking in a breath. "Do you remember...anything about the- school you trained at? Any of the - instructors? The Masters?"
"No-nothing...What do you...know?" Ven murmured, hand pressing to his head as he looked down again.
"Does anything about...'Unions' sound familiar? A Union called...the Dandelions?"
Ven let out a pained noise, shaking his head roughly and turning away. His other hand came up too, and he clasped his head in his hands fully. "The...Unions...Dandelions...? M-Master...Master..."
Terra hated seeing Ven like this. It was just like when he'd first come to the Land of Departure, when Terra had stupidly tried to "just ask him some stuff." When he'd caused him unknown pain, anguish. And now he was at it again. But... "Does the name...Keyblade Master Luxu ring any bells-?"
Ven let out a yell, throwing himself forward and slamming his fists against the stone wall of the tunnel entrance. He began taking in wild, heaving breaths, his body shaking all over now. His head bowed low, touching the stone.
"Ven - I'm sorry, I'm sorry-" Terra began.
"Where's Master Ava- where's Ephemer- where's Brain- Skuld- everyone? The- why...WHY?!" Ven shouted wildly, drawing back his fists and striking the wall again. "Why did we get to survive...?" he said hoarsely. "Why were we the ones lucky enough to get to use that...stupid machine...?"
"Ven..."
Ven shook his head, sliding down the wall to his knees. His arms fell to his sides, and then moved inward, wrapping around himself.
Terra watched his friend, his Heart breaking for him. He took in a breath and lowered himself to the ground, to sit there with Ven.
Waiting.
Ven didn't ask him to leave.
But he didn't say anything, either.
So neither did Terra.
He just...tried to be there for his friend.
Until...
"Terra...?" Ven turned around, putting his back to the wall.
"Yes, Ven?"
"You said...Master...Luxu?"
"Yeah. Is that familiar to you?"
"He disappeared...years before..." Ven made a pained face, smacking his hand to his forehead. "Where did you hear all this stuff from? Who- told you all of this?"
Terra met Ven's gaze. "Allegedly...'Master Luxu.'"
"He's...he...here..?" Ven gasped.
"Allegedly," Terra repeated. "It's Braig - Xigbar - whatever his name really is. He claims to be him: Master Luxu. An ancient Keyblade Master. And he claims you're...from the Age of Fairy Tales too, Ven. Lauriam and Elrena, as well. He said that you all...came here by...time travel."
Ven shot to his feet, his expression twisting. Becoming something...deeply rageful. A storm. Something so great and furious...Terra had never seen Ven like this before. His hands balled into tight, shaking fists at his sides. "If he's here, take me to him. Now!"
Terra stood slowly, nodding. "All right."
Ven hesitated. His expression flickered. "Lauriam and Elrena, too. They deserve to be there for this."
"For what, Ven?" Terra asked carefully.
Ven gazed at him with blazing blue eyes, his mouth tight. "You wouldn't understand."
No, I wouldn't.
Because, for the first time in his life, Terra felt as if he didn't know his friend at all - didn't at all recognize the boy standing before him.
AN: We're finally caught up to the end of Hearts of Children! Yay. :D Now to go further beyond! xD