Riku's POV (Third Person)
"Let me make sure I've got this right," Ladybug started once Riku finished explaining everything.
"Alright," Riku replied.
"The Unversed are creatures created from and that feed off of negative emotions, and travel from world to world, causing havoc wherever they go?"
"Yes."
"You and Hikari also came from other worlds and go where the Unversed and other dark creatures appear in order to stop them?"
"Yes."
"And you both use these weapons called Keyblades that have been around for so long that even Master Fu and our kwami know of their existence?"
Riku nodded.
"And now Hikari's possessed brother and Hawk Moth have teamed up to try and plunge our world and Hikari both into Darkness; am I forgetting anything?"
"No, I believe that about covers it."
Ladybug sighed. "Then why didn't Tsubasa, err, Hikari, tell us all this the other night?"
"As travelers, we have an obligation to not only protect the Light of the worlds we visit but also maintain the world order," Riku elaborated. "Knowledge of other worlds is to be heavily guarded from most people. The few exceptions are usually rulers, guardians, deities, and or those who have traveled to other worlds in the past but have since settled in one place."
"Okay, so now that we have the full story, I have a question," Chat Noir chimed in. "Why our world?"
"I can't say for sure," Riku stated with a shake of his head. "While I would like to say that it was chance that brought Organization XIII's attention to your world, I'm afraid it may have to do with Hikari's connection to here."
"Connection?" Ladybug echoed. "What do you-"
The heroine's sentence was cut off by the sound of screeching tires and crashing metal nearby.
Putting their conversation on hold, the trio rushed towards where they heard the commotion. Soon, they came upon an intersection, two cars partially in the center of the street that seemed to have been involved in a rear-ending. The driver of the car that was rear-ended, a middle-aged man in business attire, was standing at the offender's driver-side door, yelling.
Ladybug and Chat Noir stepped forward to try and de-escalate the situation, speaking with the first driver, while Riku went to check on the second driver.
"They didn't even try to stop," the irritated citizen argued, though shock seemed to be setting in as their voice softened ever so slightly and became somewhat strained.
While the two heroes led the man out of the intersection and tried to calm him down, Riku cautiously opened the front passenger door of the second car. The driver, a young woman, was staring ahead, not even seeming to notice the silverette, her hands still on the steering wheel, as if frozen. In the back seat, a little girl - perhaps no older than 5- was strapped into a car seat, clutching a stuffed tiger plush tight against her chest and fighting back tears.
"Are you okay?" Riku gently asked.
Shakily, the child nodded. "I-I'm okay, but that scary lady did something to Mommy."
"Scary lady?" The Keyblader repeated.
"Uh-huh. She was flying over our car. Mommy tried to drive away, but then I saw this black ball come out of Mommy's chest and the scary lady sucked it up like a vacuum; that's when Mommy started to act funny and she hasn't said a word. Is Mommy okay, mister?"
Riku looked back at the woman, by then noticing a familiar blank stare and eyes that seemed like empty orbs. He tightened his fist in frustration. She's just like how Kairi was when she lost her heart.
"Riku?"
Said teen turned to Ladybug and Chat Noir, who both had concerned looks on their faces. The Keyblade Master stepped away from the car to prevent the little girl from hearing what he said next. "She's had part of her heart taken."
The two heroes' eyes grew wide.
"How is that possible?" Chat Noir questioned.
"Does this mean she'll turn into a Heartless?" Ladybug added.
Riku shook his head. "I don't think we need to worry about her becoming a Heartless. From what the kid told me, I think only the Darkness was removed from her heart."
"But that's a good thing, isn't it?" The black-clad hero crossed his arms over his chest. "Hawk Moth uses the negative emotions of people, and that comes from the Darkness, right?"
"That may be true, but Darkness exists in nearly every heart," Riku elaborated. "There has to be a balance; one cannot exist without the other."
"So then, what dark creature could accomplish such a thing?" The heroine asked.
Riku's thoughts went back to what the little girl had stated. Given the description of what she had seen, and the silverette knowing no Heartless or Unversed could achieve such a feat, he was left with only one possibility. "Most likely... it was Hikari."
Ladybug and Chat Noir were silent, both looking down and clenching their fists in frustration. This wasn't the first time a friend of theirs had been Akumatized, but having been there the moment Hikari was targeted and being unable to prevent her transformation filled them with guilt and regret.
Riku felt the same way as the duo, but he knew feeling sorry wasn't going to change anything. "We need to find her as soon as possible," he stated, gaining his comrades' attention. "I don't know whether or not she still has control of her Keyblade, but a wielder under the influence of Darkness can be dangerous in any situation."
"Right," Ladybug and Chat Noir replied in unison.
As if on cue, screaming from nearby echoed through the street. With some reluctance, the trio left their current scene and headed towards the noise.
They rounded the corner, shocked to find a handful of people collapsed in the street and on the sidewalks.
"Over there!" Chat Noir pointed further down the road.
A few more young children were hovering over most likely their parents, a baby in a stroller crying. Riku and Chat Noir checked on the other victims briefly, before joining back up with Ladybug, who was comforting the frightened youths.
"It's just like the other woman," Riku reported. "The Darkness in their hearts is gone."
"But why weren't the kids affected?" Ladybug remarked, bouncing the baby in her arms to try and settle him.
"Maybe their parents shielded them," Chat Noir offered in response. "Or she heard us coming and took off before she could get to them."
"She was crying."
They turned to the little boy who had spoken, confused looks on their faces.
"Who was crying?" Riku asked, kneeling so he was at eye level with the younger male.
"The girl that attacked all the grown-ups. When she looked at me, her eyes changed colors, from like this grey color to just like yours. After that, she started crying before flying away towards the Eiffel Tower."
"What could this mean?" Ladybug had managed to settle down the baby and carefully put him back in the stroller.
Riku placed a comforting hand on top of the boy's head and gave a soft smile. "You are a very brave kid. You think you can hang on a little longer and look after the others?"
The child wiped his teary eyes and nodded. "I'll do my best."
The Keyblader nodded back in appreciation, before standing up and looking to the Miraculous holders. "Let's go."
Hikari's POV
"So how bad is the situation?" I questioned.
"To prevent Hawk Moth from gaining influence over The Angel's Keyblade, I placed a seal that temporarily cuts the connection between your body and heart," the hooded resident explained.
"So there's a time limit. How long do we have?"
"A few hours at most. If they don't remove the Akuma within that time, I'm afraid you'll be pulled back to your physical form. I fear you could fall into the world of Darkness again and be unable to return like before."
I sighed. "Is there anything we can do to support them from in here?"
He shook his head. "I'm afraid not. All we can do is wait, observe, and pray they are successful."
"Hold on; observe?" I echoed. "How can we do that when the seal is in place?"
"While the seal does keep the influence of the Akuma out and you unable to control your body, there is still a connection that would allow us to see what is going on outside." As if to show me, he turned and reached out his hand, a small flash of light appearing a few feet away. From the light, what could best be described as a large circular mirror, manifested.
When I approached the mirror, my reflection greeted me. I reached out and placed a hand on it, though I just as quickly pulled it back when the surface began to ripple. I watched in amazement as a scene of colors formed, replacing the dark void that was my surroundings. In a matter of seconds, the image showed a view of the center of Paris from a high angle. "My body must be on the Eiffel Tower," I noted, but something seemed off. "I wonder though; why am I there and not going after the Miraculous?"
"It could be that Hawk Moth wants to set a trap," Ayame suggested, coming to stand beside me.
"We aren't aware of what abilities your Akumatized form has, so perhaps it's advantageous to be out in the open."
I hummed in frustration, my hand going back to the projection's surface once more. However, a sudden tightness in my chest forced me to retreat as I felt my eyes begin to water. My body shook and tears started falling down my face, blurring my vision slightly. What was happening to my physical body?
"Damn; the seal is already beginning to fail," the hooded boy cursed under his breath.
As he said that, sound began to filter through the window. My ears perked at the faint resonance of what sounded like a one-sided argument. After a few moments, the noise became clear and I immediately recognized the voice.
"Dark Tsubasa, why are you just standing there?" Hawk Moth's irritated voice seemed to echo in the empty space around us.
I turned to the two residents, my eyes beginning to dry. "What's going on? It sounds as though Hawk Moth doesn't have full control, even with my heart sealed off."
"The current state your body is in shouldn't be all that different from a newly formed Nobody, no sense of self and easily manipulated," Ayame pointed out, turning to her companion. "Could her conscience be leaking back into her body with the seal starting to break?"
He didn't respond, only bowing his head and a gloved hand to his chin, seeming to think critically.
"Answer me, Dark Tsubasa." The villain's irritated tone brought my attention back to the window. "Why did you stop collecting Darkness?"
I couldn't help but let out a small gasp when my voice responded.
"They were crying," my body said in a monotone -almost robotic- way. "I took away the Darkness in their parents' hearts, but they were still sad. Why is that?"
I could almost feel the frustration radiating off of Hawk Moth from just his groan alone. "None of that matters. You need to continue gathering Darkness and bring me the Miraculous!"
"Hikari!"
My eyes widened as the view shifted downwards towards the base of the structure, revealing Riku, Ladybug, and Chat Noir arriving. Even from a distance, the look of shock on Riku's face was clear as day.
"Not... Hikari. I'm... Dark Tsubasa." The emotionless sound of my voice sent a shiver down my spine.
"Dark Tsubasa," Hawk Moth's voice continued. "If you do not wish for me to retract the powers I have given you, fulfill your end of our agreement and bring me Ladybug and Chat Noir's Miraculous!"
Riku's POV (Third Person)
The Keyblade Master felt a tightness in his chest upon seeing the transformed Hikari. If it weren't for the wings, Riku was sure he wouldn't have recognized his partner.
Her skin was a dark purple, almost black in the shadows. Hair that was once the color of chocolate was instead the color of coal, save for a chunk of white tucked behind her right ear. The dress slightly resembled the one of her True Forme but was instead two split tones of gray and tattered on the ends, some parts even looking like they were singed. She still had her wings, but they were both pitch black and appeared as though they were slick with oil. Finally, a domino mask of the same colors as her dress rested over her foggy, grey eyes that seemed to hold no emotion or light.
The familiar outline of a butterfly was hovering over Dark Tsubasa's eyes, indicating that Hawk Moth was communicating with her. There was silence for a moment, before she seemed to nod at whatever the villain asked, and looked back down at Riku, Ladybug, and Chat Noir. Her expressionless gaze giving nothing away, she reached behind her back, pulling out a long sword that was partly wrapped in some sort of cloth. Without saying a word, she dive-bombed with her weapon thrust forward at incredible speed, barely giving the trio a chance to jump out of the way and brandish their own weapons.
The sheer force of the attack created a large crater at the base of the tower, with dust and debris flying everywhere. The newly designated battlefield, though, was quickly cleared by a swift gust made by a single sweep of Dark Tsubasa's wings as the Akumatized villain glanced between the heroes. Landing on the lone heroine, Dark Tsubasa's grip on her weapon tightened before she charged forward with her sword raised at her side.
Before she could swing at the teen, however, a black and green staff blocked the assault. "I don't think a sword against a yo-yo is a fair fight, so why don't you play with me instead?" The black-clad hero remarked with a cheeky grin.
Dark Tsubasa simply turned to the boy, before pushing back and redirecting her attention on him.
Riku joined Ladybug's side, watching Chat Noir pary the older teen's attacks and dodging when the swings held too much power. The silverette wasn't sure what to do; he had fought countless Heartless, Nobodies, and Nightmares, as well as a fair number of Organization XIII members, but to him, this situation was much different. Hikari was someone he cared about, someone he didn't want to see get hurt, let alone fight. She had been forced to go against her friends by someone who only sought more power and used his victim's emotions to manipulate and control her.
He paused, suddenly realizing that the predicament he was in was not so unfamiliar. This was no different than what Sora had gone through when Xehanort's Heartless had taken control of Riku's heart and body. Sora no doubt had felt conflicted the same way Riku was at the moment, but had pressed on anyway for the sake of his friend.
Riku clenched his hands tightly, a new sense of determination coursing through him before he turned to Ladybug. "Do you know where the Akuma is?"
The heroine looked up at the Keyblader, nodded, and then turned back to the fighting. "It's in her necklace. If we can somehow get it off her and destroy it, I can de-evilize the Akuma and that will turn Hikari back to normal. However..."
Riku nodded, seeing exactly what Ladybug had noticed. "Yeah; even with her using a weapon designed for close combat, she's not giving Chat Noir a chance to get near enough. We need to find a way to distract her long enough for one of us to swoop in and grab the necklace."
"In that case-" Ladybug swung her yoyo up in the air. "-Lucky Charm~!" A swirl of red and black light appeared around the rotating weapon, before transforming into an object and falling back down for the girl to catch. "An.. envelope?"
"What does that mean?" Riku remarked with a somewhat anxious tone.
The polka-dotted teen looked around as if trying to figure out how to use her Lucky Charm. The more she glanced, however, the more unsure she appeared to become. "I-I don't know."
"Gah!" Chat Noir cried out as a strike from Dark Tsubasa's sword against the hero's staff overpowered him, sending him flying backward.
Riku lifted his Keyblade and began to run towards the downed teen. "Hurry and find the answer," he called back, starting up a Cura spell and then quickly casting it on Chat Noir. By the time the older teen reached the black-clad hero, the latter was slowly getting back to his feet.
"Watch over Ladybug. I'll try to buy you guys some time." With that, he turned to Dark Tsubasa and jumped into the fight.
General POV
"M'lady, what's the plan?" Chat Noir joined Ladybug's side, noticing she had called out her Lucky Charm and was looking down at it anxiously. "Uh, m'lday, I don't think a letter is gonna help us here."
Ladybug turned to her partner, her frustrated blue eyes glaring at him. "This isn't the time for jokes, kitty-cat. We have to-" A lightbulb moment suddenly seemed to hit the heroine, for her eyes grew wide. "I know what to do. Hang tight, I'll be right back." Before her partner could respond, she turned back to the city and swung away on her yoyo, quickly disappearing from sight.
Hikari's POV
I had never felt so useless. Being trapped in my own heart, unable to do anything but watch through the eyes of my Akumatized self as it fought my friends; it made me shake with anger. I wanted to vent my frustration on those who had put me in that situation. Pummeling Vanitas until he let my brother go, and giving Hawk Moth a major reality check in that what he was doing wasn't what his wife would have wanted, those thoughts swarmed in my head. Part of me also wanted to blame the newly revealed resident of my heart, but I knew he only had done what he did with the best of intentions, plus, taking away any chance of an Akumatized villain being in possession of my Keyblade probably prevented further damage.
There was also that small nagging feeling that I could have done more, despite Ayame's reassurance. I had known from the moment I saw Ladybug and Chat Noir for the first time, that I would have to ensure no negative thoughts took control of my emotions for fear of falling under Hawk Moth's influence. Nearly a week had gone by without incident, but the second I let my guard down to relish in a sense of normalcy and enjoy my birthday, Vanitas swooped in and shattered that moment, putting my newly made friends in unnecessary danger.
I hadn't even realized my gaze at one point had drifted away from the mirror until a cry of pain brought back my focus. Chat Noir could be seen flying backward and colliding with one of the Eiffel Tower's legs and my body was creeping toward the downed teen.
Whether it was from relief or shock, I sucked in a breath as Riku suddenly came into view, healing Chat Noir before seeming to take the boy's place.
"So the Keyblade wielder has decided to fight," Hawk Moth's voice echoed once more. "Hurry and get rid of him, then bring me the Miraculous!"
My body didn't respond but still charged at Riku, who had by that point raised his Keyblade in order to block the attack. Up close, you could see the heartache in Riku's teal orbs and that he was holding back, perhaps out of fear of possibly hurting me.
"I know you're somewhere in there, Hikari," Riku stated, standing firm against the continuous strikes against Way to the Dawn. "Sora didn't give up on me when I fell under Xehanort's control, so now, I'll do the same for you."
"What a wasted effort," Hawk Moth scoffed. "You now have the power you desired, but this boy clearly thinks you were better off before."
"You're wrong!" I screamed, even knowing that Hawk Moth probably couldn't hear me. I pressed my hands against the mirror, my eyes slowly beginning to water. "I'm here, Riku! I'm-"
"-here."
My eyes widened when Dark Tsubasa echoed my words, stopping the tears from fully forming.
Riku also had a stunned look on his face, confirming that he too had heard my body speak. For a moment, no one spoke or moved. Eventually, though, the sword Dark Tsubasa wielded was lowered, before it was dropped a few seconds later, crashing down with a metallic clang. The view turned downwards and my body raised her hands, seeming to place them on either side of her head as she let out a pained groan.
"What are you doing!?" Hawk Moth harshly questioned. "Destroy him!"
At that moment, a large crack appeared on the mirror, quickly followed by another, then another.
My arm was yanked back, pulling me away from the scene. When I looked over my shoulder, I was surprised to see it was the cloaked boy who had grabbed me.
"Your soul is attempting to reestablish the link your heart had with Riku's," he explained sternly. "The seal can't handle that pressure and is deteriorating at an accelerated rate. If you continue to try and communicate with those on the outside, you'll be pulled back into your physical body. We have to wait for the Miraculous holders to remove and purify the Akuma before you can safely return."
"Hikari! I know you can fight this," Riku's voice called out, bringing my attention back to the mirror.
Suddenly, a dark, visible aura began to appear around the border of the vision. I tried to head back over, but quickly realized my arm was still being firmly held.
"We can't risk your heart becoming corrupted by the Darkness of the Akuma. Just be patient." His voice was beginning to shift towards pleading.
During this entire exchange, Ayame stood a little ways away, seeming just as concerned, but saying nothing.
"So you honestly don't think my willpower will be strong enough this time?" I remarked harshly. "Not even to keep Dark Tsubasa at bay long enough for the others to get rid of the Akuma?"
Another cracking sound echoed, and a quick glance revealed an even larger splinter in the mirror, far larger than the previous ones.
I took advantage of the loosened grip on me and pulled away. Looking at both residents, I dropped the hardened glare and replaced it with a soft smile. "We're already out of time, so at least let me go back of my own volition and help my friends put an end to this."
Ayame decided then to step forward, taking the boy's hand into her own and looking up at him. "She can do this, so we need to trust her."
He seemed to hesitate for a bit more, before eventually sighing and nodding in acknowledgment, then turning back to me. "Alright, just be careful."
I nodded back, before returning to the mirror and placing my hand on it once more. The surface began to ripple and I felt myself pushing through, bracing myself.
Riku's POV (Third Person)
Dark Tsubasa seemed to struggle internally, even as the outline of a butterfly reappeared around her eyes, possibly indicating that Hawk Moth was losing his patience or perhaps even control over the Akumatized teen.
"Hikari! I know you can fight this!" Riku began to step forward, reaching out to try and grab the necklace with the Akuma in it.
"Stay.. back." Hikari's voice once again sounded, making the silverette pause. He then finally noticed the black mist seeming to manifest from Dark Tsubasa's wings, just as she managed to strainly add: "Don't come... near."
The Keyblader barely managed to jump back as the darkness exploded outward in the form of sharp feathers. He raised a Shield as he made his way back towards Chat Noir, who was spinning his staff to deflect any projectiles shot in his direction.
"I sure hope Ladybug gets back soon with our solution," the blond stated once Riku was beside him, stepping behind the barrier.
"You called, Kitty?" Ladybug appeared next to the boys with something slung on her back.
When the polka-dotted hero pulled out what she was carrying and set it down, Riku immediately realized it was Hikari's present.
"I think this is something only you can use," Ladybug stated, pulling out the letter from the case and offering it to the Keyblade wielder.
"She's right," Chat Noir added. "Hikari's your partner and your voice seems to be the only one able to reach her.
"Alright." Riku accepted the parchment, then turned back to Dark Tsubasa.
By this point, the onslaught of dark energy and projectile feathers had ceased, leaving the area under the tower battered. Blocks of cement were raised from cracked craters of different sizes and feathers littered the ground or were embedded in the metal of the structure's legs. In the center of the destruction, the Akumatized teen was down on one knee, her wings slumped behind her, and her head bowed with one hand still placed on the side of her skull. However, the dark aura still remained, encircling the girl like a cloak.
Riku slowly took a few steps towards his friend, his Keyblade raised and ready to rebound any sudden attacks. When Dark Tsubasa didn't seem to react to the approaching threat, the silverette took this moment to look down at the letter. Would the words written on that simple piece of paper be enough? Had the voice he heard truly been Hikari, or just a trick orchestrated by Hawk Moth to lull the heroes into a false sense of security? It somewhat scared Riku, finally understanding how emotions held such incredible power in that world; that it could be used to control someone, as well as help release them.
It was at that moment that the Keyblade Master suddenly realized it: the answer he needed to bring Hikari out of Hawk Moth's clutches. Nodding to himself, he folded the letter and placed it into his pants pocket.
"What are you doing, man?" Chat Noir called from behind him.
The silver-haired teen looked over his shoulder, giving a reassuring smile. "Trust me on this," he replied, before facing forward once more.
Dark Tsubasa finally seemed to respond to the approaching teen, raising her head and looking at him with the butterfly outline still hovering over her eyes. After watching for a few seconds, the akumatized girl picked up her sword and got to her feet. When the butterfly disappeared, she charged toward Riku, her weapon connecting with his with a resounding clang.
Riku didn't hesitate, pushing back with equal force. Holding back wasn't going to help free Hikari, but his determination and the words that would come next.
"I know you're in there, Hikari, and that you're doing everything you can to regain control. So, I'll do my part in opening the way back."
Hikari's POV
The path was dark. I couldn't see or hear anything but was relying solely on what felt like a thread pulling me toward what I could only hope was the way back to my physical body. As I continued to trudge on, I couldn't help but feel as though I was being watched. However, whenever I looked towards where I thought the gaze was coming from, there was nothing. I would brush it off and continue on, only for the sensation to appear once more. After the fourth or so time, I eventually gave up on looking, doing my best to ignore the chill running down my spine.
It was around that same time when I began to see a purple glow in the distance. As I got closer to the light, a shape was slowly forming, and it wasn't long before I recognized the image. I stopped in front of the source of the glow, my hands subconsciously clenching into fists as I gazed up at the giant outline of a butterfly. The silhouette easily towered over me and gave off a cold aura that made me shiver and caused goosebumps to appear on my arms. It also seemed to act as a barrier, for I couldn't find the end to walk around.
When I returned to the center, I began to rack my brain for ideas. I remembered when I first touched the mirror back inside my heart and how we were able to see what was going on outside, so I decided to test it again. However, when I tried to reach out, my hand was met with a powerful force, pushing it back. I attempted again, putting my weight forward, but once more ended up with the same result.
Letting out a sigh, I looked down at my hand, clenching it back into a fist. "What now?" I asked aloud.
"It's pointless, you know."
The new voice startled me, forcing out a gasp as I spun around. My eyes widened as a figure seemed to step out of the shadows, revealing a familiar black coat. Their hood was raised, covering their face, but familiar eyes seemed to glow from underneath.
"But you're... aren't you the one that helped me escape my world and realize my powers?" I questioned in disbelief.
The newcomer let out a chortle, crossing his arms over his chest. "It still amazes me that you so willingly listened to a stranger and believed it all to be the total truth. You truly are a naive child."
I felt my heart sink. "What?"
"While it's true that I informed you of what was happening beyond the realm of your tiny little world, did it not occur to you after learning Ansem the Wise was dead that I might not be who I said I was; or for that matter, how I knew what was going on? As for your powers, I needed you to awaken them to further my own plans. Your home falling to the shadows was necessary in order to make that happen."
My hands began to shake at my side as my distress was replaced with rage. "So it was you who put my family and me through this hell! I won't forgive you for this!" Acting on instinct, I reached out my arm and somehow managed to summon The Angel's Keyblade. I didn't stop to think of why that was suddenly the case, hatred consuming me as I charged towards the hooded man.
However, when my weapon would have sliced through him, I was met with nothing but air and the figure vanished back into the shadows, his laugh echoing in the empty void. "I'd love to see you struggle to try and break Hawk Moth's control. A useless effort will prove to be quite entertaining." After that, it went silent and I felt his presence vanish.
I groaned in frustration, before spinning back to face the barrier. Still greatly irritated, I raised my Keyblade and swung at the projection, but paused and drew in a breath of surprise when it didn't meet an equal force. Instead, it felt as though I cut through something, causing the outline to waver like a disturbed reflection on a water's surface.
I looked down at The Angel's Keyblade, then back at the barrier. Was this the key I needed?
General POV (Third Person)
Quick note: The viewpoint at this time will temporarily switch back and forth between Riku's perception and Hikari's. Riku's viewpoint will be in normal text, while Hikari's will be in bold.
The sound of clashing metal filled the air as Dark Tsubasa and Riku exchanged blows, neither side letting up. Ladybug and Chat Noir could only watch the duel from a distance, both in total awe of the sheer power the Keybladers possessed and seeming to be nearly evenly matched.
Riku had to admit; Hikari was certainly no pushover, her footwork precise and every swing holding significant strength. Even if one were to take into account that she hadn't been able to wield a weapon for very long - plus the boost she was perhaps getting from the Akuma,- there was no question that Hikari was a force to be reckoned with.
After a strike from both ends sent the two skidding back, Riku took a second to wipe the sweat from his brow. I've gotta wrap this up soon, or else Ladybug and Chat Noir will run out of time before they can remove the Akuma, he thought to himself. Let's see if I wore her down enough for my words to reach her now. Straightening up, he took a deep breath, before calling out to his partner once more. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you."
Hikari's eyes widened when she heard the echo of Riku's voice, seeming to originate from just beyond the barrier. Knowing that, she raised her Keyblade with new confidence and swung at the butterfly. Once again, there were ripples in the usually still projection, this time a little more powerful.
"I can hear you, Riku. I'm here."
Dark Tsubasa let out a pained grunt, slumping slightly as she placed a hand over her left eye.
This was all Riku needed to know Hikari could indeed hear his voice. He stepped forward as he continued to speak. "I wanted to tell you back in Atlantica, but with us finding your parents, I couldn't find the right time."
The Akumatized teen's head shot up, her hand dropping, and her left eye closed shut. She raised her weapon once more and continued the brawl.
Immediately upon contact, the Keyblade Master noticed the minuscule drop in power in Dark Tsubasa's strike. His plan was working. "This certainly isn't how I imagined this conversation playing out, but I know that you need to hear this."
"Don't listen to his meaningless words, Dark Tsubasa," Hawk Moth attempted to persuade.
However, Hikari could clearly hear the frustration and slight panic that was building up in the villain's voice. The desperation could also be shown by the fact that the shield continued to falter as Riku kept going.
"Until recently, I had been convinced that the mistake I made when I let Darkness control my heart would keep me chained to the shadows forever. After Sora brought me back to the Destiny Islands, and even when I became a Master, I still felt like I didn't fully belong in the Light." He parried another strike, pausing for a moment. Dark Tsubasa's strength was continuing to waver. "It was when I saw Sora and Kairi together that I finally realized; I didn't have that special connection, an anchor that kept me from drifting back. I thought I'd never get to experience that kind of bond. That is until I met you."
Hikari took in a breath, halting her own attack to try and process what she had just heard.
"Even before Ayame told us that fate had ensured our meeting, I felt a connection from the moment we met at Enchanted Dominion. With each passing day and every world we traveled to, my thoughts only became more and more certain. The night at Melody's party, when you poured your heart out and entrusted me with your pent-up frustrations, that was when I knew." Riku looked down, still blocking the weakened pressure of his opponent's attack. He sighed and shook his head, a sad smile gracing his lips. "I guess I was so scared that I would be rejected, that you wouldn't feel the same way, or perhaps I would ruin whatever relationship we had built up to that point. Now though, I remember the words King Mickey once told me: May your heart be your guiding key. It was apparently an old Keyblade wielders' saying, and I'm sure it can have many meanings. For me though, in this very moment, it's telling me to trust my feelings and follow my heart."
The teen looked up once more, his fierce, turquoise eyes sharp and full of certainty. "Hikari, I love you."
With those words, the block between Hikari and her body faded away. A light just beyond appeared and Hikari did not hesitate to rush towards it, reaching out a hand.
Now back to fully Riku's POV (Third Person)
Dark Tsubasa stumbled back, dropping her weapon in the process as she wrapped her arms around herself, crying out in pain and closing her eyes tightly. Everyone watched in shock as the teen's left wing slowly brightened, shedding the oily appearance and revealing feathers of stunning white. She fell to her knees, more subtle changes appearing on the same side, such as her dress returning to its untattered, navy-blue tint, and the midnight-black hair shifting to its original, rich chocolate hue.
The clearing was silent for a bit, neither the Parisians nor Keyblade Master daring step closer to the Akumatized villain until they knew for sure it was safe.
They didn't have to wait long, for when Dark Tsubasa finally opened her eyes again and looked up, they saw one turquoise eye uncovered from the mask and beginning to water.
Hikari smiled, allowing the tears to flow down her cheeks when her eyes met Riku's. She looked down at her neck, frowned, and- with a hard yank- grabbed the corrupted necklace and ripped it off.
Ladybug and Chat Noir snapped out of their stupor upon realizing their chance had finally come, even confirming so when Hikari looked towards them with a nod.
The black-clad hero fired up his Cataclysm, running forward as Hikari threw the object high into the air. With a graceful leap, Chat Noir reached out with his destructive power, touching the accessory and reducing it to dust, thereby also releasing the Akuma.
This was Ladybug's cue as she stepped forward as well. With the activation of her yo-yo, she swung it at the dark creature, capturing it, before releasing the purified butterfly a moment later and bidding it farewell. She then took the Lucky Charm, throwing it into the air and calling out: "Miraculous Ladybug~"
Magical ladybugs manifested from the envelope, traveling all over and repairing all the damage caused by the fight and even restoring Hikari's necklace to its original form.
With the dark force finally gone, Hikari fully transformed back to normal. She was still on her knees with her head bowed and tears streaming down, but otherwise seemed unharmed.
Hikari's POV
I raised my head at the sound of footsteps making their way towards me, feeling a small smile start to form on my lips when I saw it was Riku.
He kneeled in front of me, a soft yet concerned look in his eyes. "You okay?" He gently asked, offering me a hand.
I nodded, sniffling as I wiped my eyes to dry the tears. Once I had somewhat composed myself, I accepted Riku's hand, allowing him to help me to my feet.
What I wasn't expecting, however, was for the silverette to pull me all the way up and into his arms, holding me close to his chest in a warm embrace.
"Don't scare me like that," he said in a stern yet worried tone.
"I'm so sorry," I meekly offered, trying to conceal my reddening face. "I ended up causing you so much trouble yet again."
Before Riku could respond, the clearing of a throat brought our attention to Ladybug and Chat Noir, who had approached us at some point without us noticing.
"Glad to see everything worked out alright," Chat Noir teased with a cheeky grin.
His partner proceeded to smack his shoulder, but she also had a smile of her own as she did so.
"No amount of apologizing can make up for what I did." I bowed my head, feeling disappointment welling up in me once more.
I felt a hand on my shoulder, bringing my eyes up once more to realize it was Ladybug.
"You have nothing to be sorry for," the heroine stated. "We heard how you were able to restrain yourself, even under the influence of the Akuma, and you even proved that your will was strong enough to regain control long enough for us to fix everything. No one else has accomplished what you have, and I'm sure Hawk Moth realized the same thing and will think twice about choosing any future victims. Be proud of that."
I smiled and nodded, thankful for her supporting words.
Chat Noir stepped forward, his arm extended and clutching something in his hand. "Here, I managed to pick this up for you." When I offered my open palm, he placed the item on top, revealing it to be my necklace.
Before we could say anything else, a familiar beeping sound could be heard from the two heroes. Riku and I bid them goodbye as they headed out to de-transform safely, leaving us alone under the Eiffel Tower.
"We should probably get back to the school," Riku eventually said after a few moments of silence. "I'm sure they're going to want an explanation, plus, we'll need to pick up your things." He began to walk away, seeming to be back to his usual stoic self.
I, on the other hand, hesitated. I took a second to look down at my necklace, remembering the interaction I had with the Organization member during my attempt to reconnect with my body. I decided to shelf my suspicions and, instead of putting the accessory back on, pocketed it. My mind then drifted back to just before the Parisians interrupted us, and what I had wanted to say before.
I ran to catch up to Riku, grabbing a hold of his left hand once I was close enough and forcing him to stop. When he turned to look at me, I felt my pulse begin to race once more when I saw his confused, stunning teal eyes. By that point, I didn't care that he could see my obvious blush, though I did wonder if he could tell that my heart was pounding so much it felt as though it would leap out of my chest at any moment. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to calm my nerves. "I wanted to thank you; I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. Your voice kept me from giving up, and..." I paused for a moment, trying to find the right words. "-about what you said before: did you truly mean it?"
It seemed to take a second for Riku to process what I had asked. I almost wanted to laugh when his eyes widened and his own cheeks darkened. His eyebrows though quickly lowered as an expression I didn't quite know how to describe replaced his initial embarrassment. He placed his free hand on top of mine, his eyes softening. "I did, with all of my heart."
New tears filled my eyes as my free hand joined his. I guess my mom had seen what I felt before even I was fully aware of it. "You have no idea how happy that makes me because I feel the same without a shadow of a doubt. I love you, Riku."
"I'm so sorry, everyone."
Riku and I had returned to the school, finding the class, along with Miss Bustier and the principal, waiting for us in the classroom. I had immediately gone into apology mode, bowing my upper body and tucking my chin in against my chest, shame taking over. Thankfully, this time around, I had Riku helping carry some of the blame, even when I had tried to insist that he had nothing to apologize for. He didn't back down, and I couldn't help but be thankful for his support.
"I hadn't been fully honest, and as a result, I put you all in unnecessary danger," I continued. "I truly regret this and hope that you can forgive me."
"We kept the truth from everyone, thinking that it was for the best, but clearly, that was not the right choice to make," Riku joined. "We hadn't anticipated such a direct assault from The Organization or Hawk Moth, however, that still does not excuse our actions. Our task was to try and prevent something like this from happening, but we ended up falling right into their trap."
It was quiet for a bit after that, no one uttering a word as they seemed to try and process everything. Eyes wandered and seemed to hold silent conversations, yet we patiently and somewhat anxiously waited for their response.
After what felt like an eternity, there was the sound of shuffling, and when I looked up, I was a little surprised to see that Rose had stood up.
"I can't say I fully understand all this talk about bad guys in black coats and monsters that eat icky feelings," she started. "But, I do think that you did what you had to in order to protect everyone, right?"
The other students nodded, a few voicing their agreement.
Max was the next to speak up. "Obviously, coming right out and revealing the existence of dark creatures would have made anyone skeptical, but if you were believed outright, there would have been mass panic. It's human nature to fear what cannot be logically explained."
"We've had our fair share of encounters with Akumatized villains, but we still get uneasy whenever one attacks, even when we know Ladybug and Chat Noir will come and save us," Mylene chimed in.
"It's pretty clear that you were duty-bond to keep some things secret, so don't apologize for doing so," Nathaniel added.
I felt a weight begin to lift off my shoulders as everyone (save for Chloe) spoke, and I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. At some point, Riku had slid his hand into mine, and when I looked to him, he gave me a reassuring nod and smile of his own.
After the class had quieted once more, Miss Bustier stepped forward. "Your hearts were in the right place, of which we can't fault you. You risked having your secrets exposed to protect us from that boy and the Unversed, and for that, you have my most sincere thanks. As the teacher of this class, I will ensure that what you've said to us will be kept confidential and will not leave this room."
Mr. Damocles nodded next to her in approval.
"We greatly appreciate it, and thank you for your understanding," Riku said.
The young teacher smiled, then clapped her hands together. "Now then, I believe we have one final matter to attend to." She turned back to the class and my eyes followed her line of sight.
From the second row, Marinette stood and pulled out a familiar box, then carried it down the steps. When she was in front of me, she opened it up and smiled brightly. "Shall we give this another try?"
I let out a giggle and nodded, which cued the class to gather at the front. The lights were once more dimmed and the candles were lit before they began to sing.
XXXXX
The school day was over by the time we had finished off the cake and shared a few more heartfelt moments. There were warm hugs and a few teary goodbyes when Riku and I decided that it was time to wrap things up and depart. We immediately headed over to Master Fu's, expressing our appreciation for his extended hospitality and wishing him and the other kwami all the best.
Upon exiting the apartment building, I turned to Riku. "Would it be alright if I ran a quick errand? I won't be long."
The silverette seemed a little concerned, but thankfully didn't voice it and instead nodded. "Let's meet up at the park with the carousel in thirty minutes. That sound alright?"
I nodded back, taking a moment to get on my tip toes and peck a small kiss on his cheek. "Thanks, Riku," I replied, turning around and heading off to my destination. I smirked, proud that I no doubt made the boy blush in embarrassment.
General POV (Third Person)
Gabriel Agreste hurried into the hidden elevator in his office. He had been so preoccupied with trying to figure out how Hikari had managed to break free from the Akuma's control, that he almost didn't notice the alarm go off that signaled an intruder down in his secret garden. His fists were tightly clenched and his heart pounded in his chest as the elevator descended, and he prepared himself to transform if it came down to it.
The second the doors opened, the man sprinted across the catwalk, his eyes darting around, searching for the cause of the alarm. However, by the time he reached the platform at the end, he could find no trace of any trespassers. He let out a sigh, digging into his pocket and pulling out a sort of remote, then pressed a button on it, silencing the security alert.
After taking a moment to calm his nerves, Gabriel turned to the capsule in the center of the platform. He gently placed a hand towards the base, opening the outer shell and revealing his beloved, safe and unharmed. His eyes grew soft as he gazed down at his wife, but his gaze quickly shifted upon seeing something tucked into a branch of a neighboring bush. His expression immediately darkened as he unfolded the parchment before he began to read.
I wish to apologize for coming into this place you hold so sacred, but I knew it was the only way I would be able to deliver this letter to you without risking it being seen by unwanted eyes. The care you have put into this crypt has shown me how much you truly love your wife and how devoted you are to your cause.
However, I cannot condone your actions, despite my understanding of why you are doing all this. Life is so precious, something we only get one shot at. We may wish to prolong that time, or perhaps even turn it back, but then, what would be the point of being given it in the first place? If we tried to change things that have already happened, we might gain back something, but we'd end up losing what we already have in the process.
You wish to bring her back for the sake of Adrien, but can you say with all certainty that is what he would want? What Emilie would want? You say you are willing to pay whatever price is demanded, but the only thing equivalent to one's life is another. Could you truly go through with sacrificing another's life - even your own- if it resulted in the small chance that you could revive your wife?
Sadly, I realize that my words will probably not change your mind. I also cannot say I know the true power of the Miraculous. However, I will say this much: Be grateful for the time you have with your son. I can see that he's done so much in order to make you happy, to perhaps see the man you were before his mother vanished. Natalie also seems to be doing the same, risking her own life by using the damaged Peacock Miraculous. Please hold onto them, for they surely wish to not lose you as well.
Upon finishing the letter, Gabriel looked up, noticing for the first time the two feathers on the glass of the capsule, just above Emilie's head. One white and one black had been carefully placed on top of each other in a V-shape.