AN: Weeelllll...since this is no longer an epilogue chapter for another story, I had to tweak and edit it a bit to make it more of a normal chapter. :D
But seriously, now it's just kinda awkward we had a big dramatic Aqua moment and now we're just gonna... xD OH WELL. The price of freedom is steep, lol!
This chapter turned out a bit longer as a consequence, but at least it's still under 10K! Also honestly it's mostly cause it's all talking...fully fleshed out dialogue takes up a SURPRISINGLY LARGE word count. Action goes by fast, on the other hand. xD
Also I love still writing Old Xehanort cause I just get to keep hearing Leonard Nimoy's voice in my head. :) Old Nort still has his place in this story lol!
End of AN!
Xion was more anxious than she'd ever felt before, when Even said that the Replicas were finished.
They were ready.
She helped him bring them all up into the control room of the lab, laying them out like he asked. She did some math and counted them out to make sure they were all here: one, two, three, four, five, six...at least for this "set". Even complimented her when she voiced this, and then he left, saying he was going to tell the others it was time.
As Xion waited, she looked to the white, reclined chair. A science chair, not a comfortable armchair, like at home- or...Sora's home, now.
She frowned, looking down, joining her hands at her chest.
She went to sit in the corner, putting her hands in her lap. She closed her eyes.
Her chest hurt, and time passed her before she knew it.
Then a voice startled her.
"Xion - what's wrong?"
Xion jumped, opening her eyes again. She stared up at Even. She shook her head. Then she spoke. "It's just...Kairi should be here for this..." she whispered. "I want her to be here."
Even gazed down on her. Then he crouched down, and his hand came up and landed on her shoulder. "Well...I am here. And...you will have all of your friends here - and Master Terra, as well. Here they are now, you see?" He turned toward the doorway to the control room.
Xion looked, and saw them entering the lab together. Master Terra, and Riku, and Sora, and Ven...
"But not Kairi..." Xion said sadly.
"I'm confident she'll be found soon enough. You Keyblade wielders have a knack for that sort of thing. And the Princess of Heart herself is- very strong. I doubt she'd let herself be lost for too long, without finding her way home again."
Xion looked up at his face again. She gave a small smile, nodding. "Right...thanks, Even..."
His hand fell away, as he got to his feet and turned away with a cough. "Think nothing of it, child."
"Hey," Sora said, hurrying over to fall to the floor beside Xion. He looked at her with a grin. "You feeling okay?"
Xion shook her head. "No..."
"I guess today's a pretty big day for you, huh?" Sora agreed. "Hey, I know it can be kind of scary, but as long as you've got us around, you'll be fine! We're all here to watch out for you, remember?"
Xion smiled at him. "Yeah...I guess so. I just-"
She stopped as a blue portal appeared in the lab. Out of it came Luxu, and then Namine and Roxas.
Even looked at them, nodding to Luxu. Then he hurried away again, exiting the lab while muttering something to himself. He came back after a few minutes, with Kana behind him.
"...This had better be worth it," Kana was saying to him.
Even rolled his eyes at her. "As I've been telling you, it most certainly will be!"
"Well, now that we're all here, who goes first?" spoke Luxu, his gaze sweeping around at them all. "Draw straws? Rock paper scissors? What?"
Even gave Luxu a look of annoyance. "No one exactly scheduled any appointments with me here. Just figure it out among yourselves. Quickly, mind you - and no fighting. Everyone will get theirs; no one is going to come up empty."
"I'll go first!" Namine said brightly, perking up on her heels. Her heeled, sparkly white shoes. She also had a long white, sparkly dress on too, with sleeves on it.
"You sure?" Luxu said to her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "We don't know how these things will hold up."
"They will hold up perfectly well, I assure you!" Even said firmly. "If there was any chance these children would find themselves turning into puddles of goo, do you really think I'd have gone through with this so soon? I manufactured a beta batch prior to the final sets, and they all responded well within specifications, and even exceeded my-"
"Yeah, alright, I'll take your word for it," Luxu interjected. "But if she does turn into a pile of goo, I'll pay you back in kind."
"Noted," Even said shortly, his face paling. Then he blinked and looked to Namine. He pointed at the chair. "Place one of the Replicas there, if you would, Master Luxu. And handle it with utmost care."
"I've handled a few Replicas in my time," Luxu replied, as he moved to do as Even asked. He laid the Replica on the chair, adjusting it before stepping away. He put his hands on his hips, then looked around. "Well, I guess the only real question now is: who's going to be the one to transfer the Hearts of these kids over into their snazzy new homes?"
"You're the only one here who's capable of it," Terra said, simple and calm. "You're the only choice we have. I'm sure you wouldn't want to mess it all up and hurt Namine or Roxas, so I trust that you'll do a perfect job of it. But even if you weren't, you'd still be the one with more experience with the technique than the rest of us combined."
Luxu frowned. He looked at Namine, then Roxas. Then at everyone else. He threw up his hands, summoning his Keyblade. "Right, riiiight. Of course...just wanted to make sure there weren't any objections to the obvious."
Namine grinned as she stepped up in front of Luxu, spreading her arms wide. "Hit me, Luxu!"
"Never," he responded, stepping back and raising his Keyblade. He pointed it at her chest, the tip glowing. "And relax for me, all right? You're going to need to let me guide you where you're meant to go. I mean it. If your Heart tries to fight being drawn out, it could result in some major damage."
"Right - don't go doing a repeat of me," Ven told Namine, joking. But also serious...
Namine's grin faded. She let her arms fall. She breathed, nodding. "Okay. I'm relaxed."
Luxu focused, and Namine's Heart emerged into the world - leaving her Nobody body to vanish into nothing. He turned with her and aimed for the Replica body. Her Heart zoomed forward and straight into its chest.
Light burst as it took shape. When it faded, it was just...Namine, laying there now. In the exact same dress and shoes as...well, her old body? She sat up slowly, looking to Luxu. Then her eyes fell to the other white dress on the floor, in a pile atop the shoes. The other ones. "I got a free dress!" she exclaimed, beaming down at herself.
"Yeah - haha - free magic dress," Luxu said with relief. "How're you feeling? Anything different, any pain?"
Namine frowned. She took in a breath, then stopped. She raised her hands up, staring at them. She ran them over her arms, then up and over her hair. She ran the strands between her fingers. "EVERYTHING is different now...everything feels so...weird!"
"Yeah...it's going to be - a lot," Luxu told her. "But I'm going to be here every step of the way to help you get a handle on it - okay?"
"Okay!" Namine jumped up from the chair and hugged his neck.
He hugged her back a moment, then let her go, straightening up again.
She did too, and turned to look at the others. Then she frowned.
"What is it?" Luxu asked.
"Nothing...I just kind of wish Kairi was here..." Namine said quietly.
"I think we all do," Sora said, just as quiet. "But I think Kairi would also want you guys to still enjoy this, right? She'd want you to be happy."
"Yeah," Namine said, nodding to him. "Thank you."
Luxu turned and looked to Riku. "Hey - why don't you and your friend go next? She's been waiting a long time for this, hasn't she?"
"Huh? Oh...yeah," Riku said awkwardly. "A long time. Okay. Let's do it."
Luxu raised a hand and gestured, and one of the Replicas flew up and settled onto the chair again. He stepped up to Riku, raising his Keyblade. He paused. "Alright, you're going to want to hold still for this. Same deal as Namine: just try to relax for me, alright? Both of you. With two Hearts in one body here, it's going to be a little harder to separate hers from yours. If either of you makes this difficult on me...it's not going to be pretty."
"Yeah...right..." Riku swallowed, taking in a deep breath and then letting it go again. "Relax..."
Luxu breathed, too, focusing. His Keyblade glowed, and then after a moment, a Heart came drifting out of Riku's chest. Luxu turned and pointed his weapon at the Replica, and the Heart flew over to it and disappeared. Like with Namine, there was a glowing light from the Replica, and then a familiar girl was laying on the chair.
A girl wearing a silver jacket over a long blue dress. She had shoulder length black hair, and pink eyes that almost glowed.
Erin, Xion recalled.
The girl sat up almost immediately, her eyes wide open. She looked down at herself. She patted and touched her own body. She ran her hands through her hair. Then she stopped, and looked down at her chest. She tugged the top of her dress away, staring down into it for some reason. Her face went pale, her eyes growing bigger in fear and panic. "What?! Why! Why am I still-" Her voice echoed in the lab. She let her dress go and raised her arm up in front of her, staring at her skin.
She froze, the look of fear disappearing slowly. She looked around her, then at Even. She jumped up from the chair and started forward, marching up to him. "Why do I still have this?" she demanded, in a high voice of pain.
"Still have- what? What's wrong?" Even said, confused and worried.
"This!" The girl tugged her dress away again. "Look at it, it's still- it's not moving or anything, but it's still there!"
Even squinted with one eye, glancing down before looking away quickly. His cheeks were pink. "What? Your tattoo? Yes, such things would transfer if they were a particularly strong part of your own self-image-"
"It's not a tattoo, it's a mark - it's magic! It's a curse! And it should have broken, it's gone!" Erin whirled away, looking at Terra. "You said you destroyed it, you promised-!"
"I promise you now, I did," Terra said firmly, going over to her. Reaching down to grasp her arms, as he dropped to a knee. "I saw both the timers and the Hourglass itself disappear from others of your- people, that day. I'm sure it's just a remnant - like a scar or a freckle. Like Even said: it's just a part of your own Heart's self-image of itself, and how its body should look. But I'm sure that it's not real. It's just an image. A carryover."
Erin's eyes shimmered as she stared into his face. She looked down, her arms hugging herself. "Carryover or not...I suppose it just means there's no escaping it, is there? I'm always going to be marked for what I was. For anybody to see. Always just a slave...filth..."
Terra gazed at her softly. Then he pulled her into a hug.
The girl cried for a minute, before she fell silent. She pulled away from Terra, wiping at her face. Then her nose. She stared at her hand, making a face, and wiped it on her jacket. "Ugh - I guess we know I really am in a working human body again, don't we? Stupid snot and tears...I didn't miss that all too much..."
Terra smiled at her, letting her go and standing up again. "I hear you on that. I only just got my own human body back the other day, and it's been a real adjustment. The body I had before, that Kairi gave me, whatever it was...it was close - really close - but it wasn't quite up to snuff. Only now, the past day or two here, have I realized how much was missing. The contrast is...overwhelming at times."
"Yeah..." Erin sniffled, then she smiled at him. "Thanks for the hug. Sorry for freaking out like that, everybody..." she added, looking around with flushed cheeks.
"It's perfectly alright," Even spoke lightly. "This was bound to be an emotional experience for the lot of you."
Erin looked at him with sparkling eyes. Then she suddenly went rushing up to him, throwing her arms around him.
"Ah- uhm..." Even held his arms up high, away from his body, staring down at her. Then he awkwardly patted her on the back. She stepped away, and he quickly brushed himself off and smoothed out his labcoat, his face flushed. "Such thanks were hardly necessary..." he muttered.
"Sorry..." Erin murmured, looking away. "Just - thank you. So, so much...for giving me a second chance at life. The life I always wanted, but thought I'd never get. You have...no idea how much this means to me. To be here like this, to be free of..." She trailed into silence, her voice going high and choking. "Sorry!" She whirled away and ran over to Riku.
Riku stepped back, tensing and raising his hands in front of him.
The girl stopped at his side, wobbling. She turned and looked at him with a grin. "Oh. You thought I was going to hug you, too, did you?"
"I was bracing for it, yeah..." Riku said, in hushed tones of embarrassment.
"Do you want a hug?" the girl asked.
"N-no! I'm good. Thanks. Glad you're so happy though. It's really great to- well, not see you like this, but...you know...I can hear it. It's your voice. The last time I heard you like this was Twilight Town..."
"I don't think I've ever been happier," Erin replied quietly. She leaned over and brushed her arm against his, then leaned away again.
"Excellent. Now then...Roxas? If you would..." Even spoke loudly, clearing his throat as he looked to the boy.
"Uh - sure." Roxas blinked, stepping out to stand in front of Luxu.
"Relax," Luxu told him simply, giving a grin.
"Okay..." Roxas sighed.
Luxu did like he had before - and Roxas's Heart was moved into a Replica without a problem. At least, Xion thought so...
The body he left behind became shrouded in a blue glow before disappearing! A moment later and Sora briefly glowed the same, gasping and staring down at himself. He patted at his body in confusion.
"Good. Your body's rejoined with your Heart again," Luxu told him. "Your existence is whole again - stable and complete now. Same as it ever was."
"Awesome!" Sora grinned. "And Roxas will be okay too, right?"
Roxas sat up on the chair, staring at Sora. He looked down at himself. Then he stood up, and gave a small grin. "I'm good, Sora. Thanks."
"Well then, I suppose that means you're next," Even said to Xion, looking at her.
Xion stared at everyone else staring at her suddenly now. She frowned, dropping her head.
"Come now, you just saw three people go through with this - there's nothing to it, honestly," Even said, in a comforting voice. Or at least, he was trying to. "And once you have done it, you'll be perfectly human like the rest of us, remember?"
Xion nodded, smiling. "Right. I can do this."
Luxu stepped up to her, aiming his Keyblade at her...and then Xion was- floating...
She floated and heard voices and strange noises...
And then suddenly she felt everything again.
She opened her eyes and blinked. She was in the chair now. She looked around herself. She sat up - stopping when she saw what was on the floor next to Luxu.
A faceless mannequin of pure white, wearing her clothes. Lifeless. Empty. A Replica without a name or a face or even a...form.
A blank slate.
She knew this already.
Luxu looked down at it, giving a cough and a twirl of his Keyblade. "Right...you might want to take the clothes back home with you..."
Even stalked over to the Replica, picked it up gingerly, then carried it over to lay it down in a corner. He brushed off his hands and coughed into his fist as he turned back to them. "Xion can retrieve- that- all later."
Xion looked at him, blinking again. She blinked again. She opened her mouth-
She breathed in. She breathed again. And again, and again- into her mouth, past her teeth, down her throat, her chest expanding- her arms shaking-
"Xion? What's wrong?" Even was hurrying to her side, staring at her closely.
"I-" She stopped, choking. She raised a hand to her mouth. Down to the outside of her throat. She shook her head, then reached up to touch her short black hair. She gasped and jerked her hand back as strange feelings filled the tips of her fingers. She stared everywhere around her, the world spinning and dimming strangely. "I- I can't- I can't-"
"What's wrong with her?" Sora asked, alarmed, starting forward.
"It's all- everywhere- I-" Xion tried to say.
"Xion - focus, and breathe," Even spoke clearly to her, leaning forward.
"I can't, I can't, I can't-" Xion grasped at her neck, shaking her head and suddenly tumbling forward out of the chair. It hurt. Her face was hot, and her body was trembling...and then everything just...
She blinked, staring up at the ceiling...confused...?
Even was above her, staring down at her face...
"There you are," he said. "Please, just lay down and breathe, Xion. Alright?"
Xion frowned. She listened to him, though. He was a scientist, after all. He knew a lot. Everything. "What...happened to me?" she asked softly.
Even stared down at her still, silent. "You - fainted, Xion."
"What?" Xion said.
"Your body and vitals are perfectly normal," Even spoke on. "It was just - system overload. Sensory overload. Unlike the Nobodies, who are already possessed of merely converted and altered human bodies, the gulf between the levels of sensation for you was always going to be a far greater adjustment...and, apparently, shock. You fainted, Xion, because it all came to you at once, and your MIND couldn't process it all. Sort through it and filter it. Too much stimulation. Feedback. Truthfully, I should have expected this to happen - I should have accounted for it! But you- you do appear to be fine physically! Just...Just lay here, please, and focus on breathing. Go slowly."
Xion breathed in - she nodded. "Okay..." She clenched her teeth, flicked her tongue- stopped.
Even looked at her, apprehensive. Worried, still. He looked over at Sora, Riku - at Terra. "She's undoubtedly going to need time to...do that adjusting. When you take her back to your home world...you'll need to go slow with her. Watch her. Tell her- father that."
"I will," Terra said firmly, nodding.
Even stood slowly, looking over at Kana. "Well...you next, then. Unless you're going to run from the room and hide from me somewhere in the depths of the Water Purification Facilities."
Kana looked at Xion with fear and worry. She hesitated. Her hands reached up to stroke at her long, shimmering purple hair. "I don't hide...or run!"
"Of course you don't," Even said simply.
Kana strode over to Luxu, spreading her arms like Namine had. "Get it over with already. I'm already bored."
Luxu gave a small grin. "Sure. Okay." He did the procedure - and like Xion herself, Kana left a Replica behind!
Even moved Kana's empty Replica over to sit next to Xion's, straightening up and wiping his hands together.
Kana opened her eyes with a snap, sitting up quickly in the chair. She stared around her, then down at her own body. She raised a hand and ran it over her face, through her long purple hair. She poked her face, then her stomach. She jumped to her feet, wobbling. She tilted her head down at herself, raising her hands to put her palms over her chest.
"Don't be indecent!" Even exclaimed, lunging forward and pulling her arms down sharply.
"What? This body feels-"
"I'm sure it feels like many things," Even said firmly. "You can run experiments at your leisure - in my quarters. Upstairs. And remember to put on those shoes - or you'll regret it."
Namine was giggling loudly; Erin was laughing with her hand over her mouth.
"Oh, enough out of you both, please," Even snapped, rounding on them with a glare. "She needs no more encouragement!"
Kana pulled free of Even, staring at her wrists where he'd been holding them. She rubbed at them with her fingers, her mouth opening. "I know you said it was all going to be different, but I didn't actually believe you..." she breathed.
Even turned back to her. He stared at her. He nodded. "Yes, well, next time, hopefully you won't doubt my scientific opinion, will you? Now please, run along, up to your room. I'll be checking in on you shortly."
Kana hesitated. Then she grinned, twirling around on a heel and running from the lab.
"Thank goodness..." Even sighed with relief, a hand on his face.
"So, hey, what are you gonna do with those anyways?" Ven asked Even, staring at the Replicas. Xion's and Kana's.
"Well," Even began. "with Xion and Kana having vacated them, allowing them to revert to their base states, I may now be able to...adjust their builds and composition - to upgrade them, to be more in line with the latest models. Perhaps. Or...well, it never hurts to have spares in general."
Ven grinned. "So, you basically got two free ones out of this."
Even smiled too, nodding. "Yes, I suppose. Though, I'm under the assumption that we won't actually need them. Not these older versions, at any rate. Now then..." He looked to Terra, nodding. "Last one - unless you've changed your mind?"
Terra shook his head. "Not my mind - but he doesn't have much of a choice, either way. I have my body back now, but I want it to be completely mine again. No one else's."
"Very well, then." Even moved to retrieve the last Replica, setting it on the chair and stepping back again.
Terra strode up to Luxu, looking him in the eye. "When you're ready."
"Got it." Luxu hesitated, strangely, then he lifted his weapon. He pulled it backwards slowly, and a Heart came from out of Terra. He turned and aimed his Keyblade at the chair; the Heart flew over to it and vanished.
Golden light flashed from the Replica, then faded away.
Xion lifted her head to look at it better. Even glanced at her in disapproval.
There was a man sitting on the chair now. An older man, wearing a strange outfit with a long white coat over it. He had long, dark hair with grey in it, and two scars on his face. One was on his cheek, and the other was over an eye. He sat up slowly, blinking around himself. He looked down at himself, raising his hands. He stared into his palms, flexing his fingers. He gave a soft gasp. He put a hand to his chest, breathing in and out, his eyes closing again. "Hmm..." He opened his eyes, looking around at them all.
Then he looked to Terra, and to Ven.
His face showed happiness and relief - and then sadness and conflict. "Terra...Ventus..." Then he looked at Even, and said, "You should not have done this."
Even raised his eyebrows, his mouth opening. "Pardon? Surely you aren't saying you wish to remain a disembodied Heart?"
"Perhaps I should," the old man said, in a grave, rough voice. "This body - it is strong, magically-imbued - yet indistinguishably human. I feel decades younger already...and I am undeserving of it. My time is past."
"As long as there are still those out there committed to evil, powerful and great threats to the worlds," Terra began. "no, it's not. I told you before, Master: you're not getting off that easy. You're going to stick around, and you're going to try to make up for your mistakes - just like the rest of us. Take your second chance, Master. Don't let it go to waste."
The man - the master? Then this was Terra and Ven's Master, Eraqus? - looked up at Terra, surprise on his face. A small smile. Then he sighed and nodded. "You've grown far wiser than I...Master Terra. Wiser and stronger. It makes me unbelievably proud. Yet...I do not deserve to feel such for you, either. Not for you, not for Ventus, and not for Aqua. I have hurt all of you, my students, in terrible ways. Irreversible ways. And I am terribly...terribly sorry."
"Master..." Ven whispered, his eyes glistening as he started forward. "It's- it's okay..."
"No, it is not okay," Eraqus said, shaking his head. "Terra was right. Aqua was right. I should have had the strength to stand with you against evil, not against you myself. I acted in the worst of ways, the worst way any Master could...to raise my Keyblade against my own pupils..."
Ven reached the chair, and he threw his arms around the man. "Even- if that's true...it's okay now, isn't it?" he said emotionally. "We're all- you're here now. So just- forget about it, 'kay? We've got bigger stuff to worry about now anyways..."
"Ventus...you remarkable, wonderful boy..." Eraqus whispered, wrapping his arms around Ven. He closed his eyes, tears falling down his face. "I am so sorry."
"Not to break up an emotional moment," Luxu spoke quietly. "But how much do you know about everything that's been going on the last few months or so?"
Eraqus opened his eyes. He gazed at Luxu. Conflict on his face. "I know that you and I once explored a cave of wonders together, and ventured into an underworld together. That we spent many days and nights together, in a city on water."
Luxu's face flickered. He looked upset. Then sad. Then wary. Then...tired and strange. He nodded. "Pretty much everything, then?"
"Terra has told me much - and I've been watching through his eyes and listening with his ears, despite my best efforts to do otherwise," Eraqus responded slowly. "Though there are still spots that aren't quite clear to me. Missing information."
"I'm sure they'll fill you in," Luxu said quietly.
Eraqus held Luxu's gaze. "I'm sure they will."
Ven withdrew from Eraqus. He frowned. "Master - Master Luxu's okay. He saved me and my friends- from the end of the world. He's kept an eye on us all for a long time, and he's been nothin' but honest and good lately. He's- he means it. He's trying to prove himself. He already has, for some of us. He's done a lot already, for a lot of people. Good things."
Eraqus eyed Ven. He nodded slowly. "I trust your judgement, Ventus - more than I'd trust my own, at the moment," he said with a sigh.
"Sorry, but-" Erin suddenly spoke up, stepping forward from Riku's side. Her eyes were on Terra. "Before I leave, there's one thing I'd like to ask you."
"What is it?" Terra said, turning to her in surprise.
"I want to ask if you'd be willing to give me a Keyblade - the way you did for Riku."
"You want a Keyblade," Terra said, gazing down on her with calm - but surprise, all the same. He crossed his arms at her, scrutinizing her now. "You know I have to ask why."
"Because that sort of magic - that power - it's already done my people more good than we've managed in centuries," Erin began, speaking slowly, quiet and measured, as she looked up at him. Held his gaze. "You came in with that weapon and you FREED US - and led us to free a lot more of our people inside the capital, as well. I can't just ask you to come home with me, stick around, and keep doing all the work for us, can I? So, the solution, really, is for me to get one of my own."
"So you want this power...to protect your people - to save them."
"Yes. I want nothing more in this or any of these worlds!" Erin said passionately, now. "So please: can you help me do that, one more time?"
Terra continued to gaze at her. He let his arms fall away. "And that's all?"
"Well, there is something else..." Erin admitted, flushing slightly now, looking down. "I know that the Keyblade's not just for unlocking doors, or taking down barriers, is it? It can also 'unlock things' in the metaphysical sense, can't it? Hearts and the like?"
"It can, in the hands of a skilled wielder, yes. Is there a Heart in trouble somewhere that you want to free - or wake up again?"
"Not exactly. It's- it's OUR Hearts. My people's. My own." Erin hesitated. "Apart from the limits that the katani placed on our life with the Ethesi Hourglass, there was another way they shackled our Hearts, trying to control us. Pacify us. It's a separate curse - it's something in our bloodlines, passed down through the generations. It's far older, and it's not just on our bodies. It's...something no one's ever managed to break. But a Keyblade might be able to...to unlock our Hearts, and allow us to use a long-dormant power we have inside us."
Terra nodded, closing his eyes. "I've spent enough time with you to know you, Erin. You're observant, you're considerate and kind despite your circumstances, and you're also a smart girl. Your Heart is good, despite it all. You have wisdom as much as compassion. And if I had the power to just give you a Keyblade, right here and now, I would. But I can only do for you what I did for Riku: I can give you the potential to summon a Keyblade - but it might come to you tomorrow, or in a year, or even in five or ten years. You'll have to be the one to prove your Heart worthy - enough to call it to you."
"You cannot be considering this, Terra," Eraqus spoke, frowning as he sat up straighter in the chair. "The Keyblade is too powerful, and dangerous of a weapon in the wrong hands, to just go around giving to people and letting them loose in the worlds. If she's going to use the Keyblade, she needs to be brought in for training - to learn proper discipline, and responsibility, as a member of our order."
"You want a Keyblade, on the pronto? I can do it for you," Luxu spoke, striding over to Erin. "I've never actually done it for anyone before, but I know how to do it."
"You cannot-" Eraqus began.
Luxu stopped, gazing at him. He raised a hand, giving a flippant gesture. "Alright, look: unless you're planning on claiming a damn monopoly on the Keyblade, to be enforced on all the worlds by you and your specific little branch of warriors, you've got zero authority to say what others can and can't do with their own shit. If you want to try forcing me to abide by your Order's personal precepts, you're welcome to give it a shot. Otherwise: kindly stay out of it. It might shock you, but your school hasn't been around forever - and it's not the only one out there. I've seen a few, here and there, and let me tell you, they weren't half as dogmatic and restrictive as yours. Ease up a little and learn some tolerance, would you. It'll serve you better in the long run." He paused, hesitating. Then- "I don't know if you just got old, or what, but the Eraqus I knew was a far cry from the one of today."
"And the Bragi that I thought I knew was not at all the boy I thought he was," Eraqus responded, in a voice of tight anger.
Luxu nodded. "Yeah...yeah, he wasn't. And I take full ownership of that - just like you do your own monumental, fucked up mistakes. Question is, are you going to learn from yours, or keep banging your head at the same wall?"
Eraqus glared at him for a long moment. Then he dropped his head. "Do what you will, then..."
Luxu stepped up to Erin, raising a hand in front of her chest. A light flashed, filling the lab.
When it faded, Xion saw a beam of light and a shower of golden energy particles floating in the air in front of Luxu's hand. As she watched, it changed and became a solid weapon. A Keyblade.
It was silver and black - thin and long, with a slight curve to it. The end of the blade curved into a point, almost like a claw. The handle had twin guards on it that flared out on each side, with open bottoms, looking like flared, leathery wings. At the base of the blade, where it met the hilt, there was a decorated image of a sleek, scaly reptile head? A silver-scaled...something. The keychain dangling from the hilt was a long, curled tail of silver scales.
"There you go," Luxu said simply, grabbing the weapon out of the air, and then handing it over to Erin. "Now, about this hidden power of yours..." he added.
Erin simply looked at him, patient. Waiting.
Luxu set his hands on his hips, leaning forward suddenly. His face in hers. His eyes gazing into hers, up close now. After a moment, he straightened again. "With that Keyblade, and those eyes of yours - you're teyrsei, aren't you...?" he said quietly.
Erin frowned. Her eyes hardened. "What's it to YOU?" she said, an edge to her voice.
"It's nothing to me," Luxu said, holding up his hands to her. "I just know your world - a bit of the history there, between the teyrsei and the katani. And so, yeah, I can help you with this part, too. If it's really what you want. Because from what I know about it-"
"Just do it, then!" Erin interrupted swiftly, shooting a strange, almost panicked look at Riku. At all of them.
"Sure." Luxu summoned his own Keyblade again, raising it up slowly and aiming it at her chest. A moment passed, then a thin beam of light shot out from the end, striking Erin's chest. A white light flared from her body. Luxu dismissed his Keyblade and stepped away. "That should do it."
Erin looked own at herself. She raised a hand to her chest...
"But, I'll agree with Eraqus on one point, and I'll just give you this one warning: use it responsibly," Luxu spoke again. "If you do ever feel like going the Xehanort route, you can count on us being there to put the kibosh on any grand, evil plans looong before they start. Got it? No revenge killing sprees, no genocide, no dictatorships and appointing yourself empress of the universe - be smarter than that, keep your head on straight."
Erin gazed down at her weapon, looking it over. She looked up at him, meeting his gaze and holding it intently. "Understood. I will; that's a promise."
"Then you're good to go. Good luck."
"At least teach her how to summon and dismiss it before simply sending her off!" Eraqus spoke. "If this is just...going to happen like this, can we at least have some measure of- propriety? Responsibility?"
"You want to teach her, knock yourself out," Luxu told him, shrugging.
"Hey, how'd you do that?" Sora said. "You just pulled a Keyblade out of thin air - right on the spot! I thought that was impossible..."
"Forging a Keyblade is an ancient, high level Master skill that takes many years to learn," Eraqus stated. "I myself am capable of it...however, I have always believed it was best to only do the Rite of Succession, and let the Heart of your chosen naturally grow strong enough to call their Keyblade on their own - when they're ready for it."
"Yeah, sure, and sometimes you can't afford to just wait around for it to come to you," Luxu said idly.
Eraqus fixed him with a look.
Luxu looked back at him, until Eraqus finally looked away.
"Welp, now that we're done here, let's get going. Come on, Namine - Roxas - let's go home," Luxu said loudly. "We're cleared to go, aren't we?" he added, looking to Even.
"Yes, I suppose so," Even responded with a huff. "I'd have preferred to keep them all for at least 24 hours, but if needs must...Just be sure to come straight back here if anything seems to be - going awry."
"Of course." Luxu gave a big wave, then summoned another portal and walked through it. Roxas went in after him.
Namine stayed behind. She darted across the lab and seized up her old bundle of clothes, then turned and ran back for the portal, disappearing into it with a grin on her face.
Erin gazed at her weapon in her hand, then lowered it to her side. She looked to Eraqus, stepping forward. "I wouldn't mind learning a bit of the basics, I suppose, Master; I don't want to go around swinging this thing wrong, and end up taking someone's head off or something. You should always learn how to handle a new weapon properly."
Eraqus looked at her in surprise. He exchanged glances with Terra. Then he gave a small smile. He slowly stood up from the chair. He looked surprised, glancing down at himself. The he shrugged and focused on Erin again. "Well, you DO seem like a sensible girl. That's true, yes. But a Keyblade is more than just a weapon. It's a tool, and a symbol. And, more than that: it's a part of your Heart. It was forged within its depths, drawn out from it."
Erin looked at Eraqus with undivided attention, and focus. She nodded dutifully.
"Well...that's it for the first batch, then," Even said, with a wooshing of air. He ran a hand through his long blonde hair. He walked over to Xion, kneeling down beside her. "How are you feeling now?"
Xion blinked up at him rapidly. Her vision got all blurry. She wiped at her eyes-
"Don't do it so hard!" Even said swiftly, seizing her hand and pulling it away. "Are you trying to damage your eyes? They're delicate organs."
"Sorry..." Xion squeaked. She sat up, looking down at herself. She grabbed her shirt and lifted it up to wipe at her eyes - more gently. Softer.
"Better, I suppose," Even muttered out. "Do you think you can stand?"
"I- I don't know?" Xion admitted.
"Well...let's try, shall we? Posit a theory, and then conduct an experiment. A small scale experiment, mind you..." Even held his arm out to her, gazing at her face. Xion took his arm, and he pulled her up to her feet with him.
Xion let him go, stepping away. She looked around, breathing in and out. She blinked again. Then again...a lot. She wiped at her eyes with her shirt again.
Even sighed. "You, my dear, are going to need dry eye drops the rest of your little life..."
"What?"
Even smiled down at her thinly. "Nothing, nothing. Don't worry about it."
"Okay..."
"Now then..." Even looked to Terra. "If you'd take Xion home? She should get somewhere quiet and familiar as soon as possible. Somewhere she can take the time to simply...relax and adjust."
"Alright." Terra summoned his Keyblade, and created a portal. He moved over to Xion. "Are you ready?"
Xion nodded.
Sora came over to join her. So did Riku - and his friend, the girl, Erin, too.
But Kairi still wasn't here...
The person Xion wanted to be here more than anyone...
The one she needed to be here...
Xion's vision blurred again, and her throat hurt suddenly, and she blinked a lot!
"Oh dear, your first cry..." Even murmured, stepping in and putting a hand on her shoulder.
Many hours later, late into the night, a portal of light appeared twice over in the laboratory of Radiant Garden.
Two figures exited the first, and one, the second.
Amaya, and the younger and the current/older Xehanort, both.
Even stood on the other side of the lab, gazing at them with a tense expression. "I see you all made it here. Good."
Amaya nodded. She smiled at the man. "Thank you for agreeing to see us so late. I know it's been a long day for you."
"Well - I appreciate that - but a scientist is accustomed to working long hours into the night," Even said casually. "It's no trouble."
Young Xehanort's gaze fell to the floor - to the five, pristine white Replicas laying out in a line.
He looked to Amaya, then to Even, confusion on his young features. "Why are there five of them? I'd thought you were only going to bring...Urd, Hermod- and Vor...to this era. The fourth, of course, you insist on my using - though I'm doubtful as to whether I can even transfer over into it without my Heart being forced back into my proper time..."
"Your Heart will not be," Old Xehanort murmured, shaking his head at the youth. "Even absent an anchor, a Heart may remain in this time for a minute or two before being forced to return whence it came - long enough for you to transfer between vessels, and re-anchor yourself anew."
Young Xehanort glanced at his older counterpart. He raised an eyebrow. "Hm...well then. That still leaves the question of the fifth..."
Amaya gave a simple nod, gazing into Young Xehanort's eyes. "Yes, I did say that. Baldr would be too much of a risk, considering everything - and we know that Darknesses come with their hosts, even across time, as Ventus proved with his. And from your memories, the Upperclassmen indicated they were at peace in the afterlife. Bringing them back would disrupt that peace in a way I'm sure they wouldn't appreciate. And, honestly, at this point...it's likely they've moved on by now."
"Then who is the fifth?" spoke Old Xehanort, in quiet, rasping tones.
Amaya turned to him, meeting his golden-eyed gaze with a soft smile. "Someone very special, and very deserving of a second chance - at life, and...at so much else. This isn't just for you, it's for them...maybe even more so. Their life was cut short, and a promise was left unfulfilled. But I am going to fulfill it now, because it's become possible to see it so."
Amaya nodded to Even, who took up one of the Replicas and placed it into the white chair. She summoned her Keyblade, and raised it up before her. She breathed in, then out...
"You are going to summon this Heart across time, yourself?" Old Xehanort asked. "I was not aware you knew the technique. It is dreadfully complicated..."
"I've been spending the past week studying under Master Luxu," Amaya stated. "He says he's confident I can pull it off now."
"Hm..." Old Xehanort hummed, eyeing her closely now.
Amaya focused, her Keyblade glowed with a blue light...and then the air around the Replica began to swirl and distort.
A central vortex formed, translucent, and a Heart emerged from it into the lab. Amaya let her Keyblade dip a few inches, and the Heart dropped down to enter the Replica from above.
Both Xehanorts stared as the Replica began to morph and take a new, defined, true human form.
Amaya lowered her Keyblade with a confident, soft-spoken smile on her face, her brown eyes glinting.
The light faded from around the Replica, completing its transformation into a flesh and blood, human body.
It now held the appearance... of a woman. Tall and slender, with fair skin, and long, voluminous dark hair that hung all the way down past her waist. Long, blunt bangs fell down above her eyes. And a long, thick lock of hair was hanging down the other side of her face to reach past her shoulder, making for a lopsided, but not aesthetically unpleasant sight. She wore a long, sleeveless white dress with golden trim, and a lace collar and hem. She looked thirty or so years of age. She looked like Skuld. She looked like...
The woman stirred. Her eyes slowly opened, blinking blearily, confusedly.
Pretty, silver eyes.
Exactly the same as the ones held by Young Xehanort.
"It cannot be..." Old Xehanort rasped, turning to stare at Amaya. "You..."
Young Xehanort stepped forward, on a shaking leg. "Mo..." Whether the word was to be one or the other, it died in his throat. His silver eyes were locked to the woman on the chair, glistening. Vibrating in their sockets.
Amaya moved forward as well - going to the other woman's side. "Moreth..." she whispered. "How do you feel? Is there any pain, strangeness?"
The woman sat up slowly, her eyes sliding over to Amaya's face. They blinked, widening. Her mouth opened wide, in an "O". "Is that you...Amaya?" her voice came, soft, breathy, and shaking. And confused. But it was her voice, exactly as Amaya remembered it, after all these years and decades...
Amaya smiled. She reached out a hand, touching the other woman's shoulder. "Yes. I've been reborn again. Apparently the World saw fit to give me a third chance. And I found a way, during my third chance, to give you a second one. To fulfill the promise I made to you...when I agreed to take over the care of your son."
"Xehanort!" the woman exclaimed, in a high, gasping voice. Her hand flew up to grasp Amaya's, staring into her eyes. "My son - the Darkness - they found me, they wanted to know-"
"I know - it's okay - he's safe, he's fine," Amaya said swiftly. "It almost found him once, and it did find him again, later, but he's alive - he's safe. He came out of it fine."
"My son, my baby, where-" The woman swept her gaze across the room wildly, expecting to see him there as well.
Which, of course, he was.
Her silver eyes found Young Xehanort. His silver hair, his face. His identical eyes. It took only an instant of recognition.
"Xehanort..." she breathed again, as she suddenly rose off of the chair and hurried forward. She almost tripped on her way over to him, slamming into him and closing her arms around him.
Young Xehanort stood rooted to the spot, incomprehensible emotions raging across his face. Chief among them seemed to be plain shock, to Amaya's eyes, however.
His older self gazed at the sight, with conflict and longing and perhaps even envy...then he turned away and shut his eyes, placing his hands behind his back.
After a long time, the woman withdrew. She gazed into Young Xehanort's face, tears falling down hers. An immense sorrow twisted her features. "I knew I was going to miss so much of your life, that I was giving up so much to protect you, but this...? How long...? And why can't I remember anything from after the Darkness...?" She trailed off, looking to Amaya.
"It's been...a much longer time than you'd think it has," Amaya spoke, slow and careful. "It will take a long time to explain it all to you. But the basics are that you, and Xehanort, are both out of time. He was brought here from another time, several months ago - and so were you, now, just today. You, specifically, were brought here...from the moment you disappeared from the World. After this Darkness struck you down. This allows you to continue to live and exist in this World, in a new era - a second chance to continue the life that was cut short."
Moreth's lower lip wobbled, her eyes fluttering long, pristine lashes. She seemed to be...processing. She still looked extremely confused and almost dazed...
Amaya almost thought the woman was going to faint.
Moreth turned back to face Young Xehanort - her eyes gazed into his face - and then she did.
She dropped. Straight down. Crumpling on the floor very ungracefully.
Amaya couldn't even have moved fast enough to catch her. But she was racing forward in an instant, throwing out a hand and a Healing circle of Curaga magic around the other woman. Even moved swiftly as well, coming to check on the woman with hand and fingers, touching at her neck and wrist, his mouth twisting.
Young Xehanort took a half-step away. Then another. He drew a breath, looking to his older self. The older man's gaze was fixed to her fallen form, his golden eyes wide with fear and worry.
"Is she alright?" Young Xehanort spoke out, demanding.
Even looked at Amaya. Then, at Young Xehanort. "Y-yes - it was only a fainting spell. Any minor injuries will have been taken care of by the-"
The woman suddenly opened her eyes again, drawing a shuddering breath. She stared up at Amaya - then, to Even. She blinked.
"There? You see?" Even told Young Xehanort, looking down at the woman. "There you are, Ms...Moreth? How are you feeling? You just suffered a dizzy spell. No - lie down - don't try to get up again so soon!"
The woman fell back again, frowning deeply. "Where's Xehanort...where's my...my son?"
"Right over there," Even said, indicating.
Moreth turned her head, and her face broke over with a trembling smile. Her silver eyes lit up with unbridled joy.
"Now then," Amaya said quietly. "I think there are still three more people who you've been waiting a very long time to see again. Let's not keep them waiting, Xehanort."
"Are you- certain of this...?" Old Xehanort spoke, just as quiet. Hesitant. Afraid, even, in those golden eyes, that quivering voice, aged and raw. "They will be..."
"Won't you be there to help them?" Amaya replied, gazing at him squarely.
The aged Xehanort's mouth parted. He closed it again, looking down and aside.
Aqua landed on the ground at the base of the cliff, bending her knees and exerting magical power that sent a shockwave of dust out around her in all directions.
She rose to her feet again, pulling the hood of her cloak back up into place with trembling hands, and then started off into the open plains of dirt once more.
She had hardly gone a few feet when a wall of flames suddenly rose up in front of her - and then it traveled around her, encircling her.
A pillar of flames rose up from the ground, revealing Natsumi.
Her body shed streams and patches of flames, as her hand pulled her sword from its sheath and held it out before her vertically - down low, in a battle stance.
"I'm sure you have your reasons for doing what you did up there - but I think I deserve a little honesty from you," Natsumi spoke, in slow, dangerous tones. "So tell me, Miss Aqua: who am I traveling with?"
Aqua stared into the woman's eyes. She looked at the fires all around her. She looked up, up along the cliffside...to the airship docks above. Where she imagined soldiers and mages would be coming down on her from, soon enough...
Aqua returned her gaze to Natsumi - meeting her eyes. Her lips parted - closed. Then, she swallowed, and bit out the words on dry air and dust, her voice rough and harsh.
"The Crown Princess of Zitol."
Natsumi gazed at her. She blinked her red eyes, the danger bleeding from them. Her sword lowered.
"Oh, dear..." Her glistening lips curved. "Aren't you complicated."
The woman flicked her blade and twisted it around, then stabbed it back into her sheath in a sharp, precise motion. The flames died away, and she shifted her stance. She looked up along the cliff - then gave Aqua a nod. She reverted to her true from, and bowed her head to Aqua.
Aqua stepped forward on shaking legs, and climbed up atop her back.
Natsumi turned with her, and took off across the world immediately, in blazing winds and fires.
Aqua fell forward, clinging to the woman's form, closing her eyes and exhaling in pure, shaking relief.
"Thank you..." she whispered.