As the weight of Josiah's lifeless body settled in his arms, a wave of nausea rolled through Blizzard, and his vision blurred. Josiah's face, normally so animated, so full of life, was now slack and pale, his eyes staring blankly at the empty sky. Blizzard's throat tightened, and he felt a sob rising in his chest, but he choked it back, refusing to let the tears come.
Blizzard: Who am I?! (he yelled against the gentle lapping of the waves beneath his feets, he stared down at Josiah's body) What kind of Keyblade wielder am I if I can't even save one person?
He couldn't shake the feeling that this was his fault. His failure. If only he had been stronger, more experienced, more... worthy. Maybe then he could have stopped Jareth Vex on his own. Maybe then he could have saved Josiah.
If only... if only he could remember.
The amnesia, the vast emptiness where his memories should be, mocked him, taunted him. If he could just remember his past, maybe he could unlock the full potential as a Keyblade wielder. Maybe he could have reawakened his second Keyblade sooner. Maybe... maybe he could have saved Josiah.
His chest ached with a grief that he couldn't fully understand. He had never known his parents, had no memories of family, of love, of belonging. But Josiah... Josiah had been like a father to him. A mentor. A friend. And now... now he was gone.
Chirithy: Blizzard... (it started with a soft yet hesitant tone, but Blizzard cut it off)
Blizzard: Don't! Just... don't.
He couldn't bear to hear Chirithy's condolences, its reassurances. It wouldn't change anything. Josiah was gone. And it was Blizzard's fault.
He stared at the dissolving particles of light that were all that remained of Josiah's body, his heart a leaden weight in his chest. He had failed. He was a failure.
He was unworthy of the Keyblade.
Unworthy of Josiah's sacrifice.
Unworthy... of everything.
A sudden thought, sharp and clear, pierced through the fog of his despair. His duty. He had a duty to fulfill. To unlock the remaining worlds. To find the other Keyblade Wielders. To... to...
He didn't know what he was supposed to do anymore. All he knew was that he had to keep moving. To keep fighting. For Josiah. For the worlds. For something.
He stood up, his legs trembling, his body aching. He looked down at Chirithy, who watched him with a worried expression.
Blizzard: I have to go. I have to unlock those worlds. There's no other choice.
He placed a hand on Chirithy's large rounded head, a gesture that was both comforting and a farewell on the trio. He didn't know what the future held. Didn't know if he would succeed.
He knew, deep down, that his words were just a desperate attempt to cling to some semblance of purpose, a way to ward off the overwhelming despair that threatened to consume him. But it was all he had. It was all he could do.
But he had to try.
He took one last look at the spot where Josiah had vanished, a silent promise forming in his heart. He would find a way to make things right. He would... he would find a way.
He turned and walked away, his steps slow, uncertain.
And then, the unthinkable happend.
The sky tore open, the ocean churned and roiled, and a vortex of darkness opened up beneath his feet, swallowing everything in its path. He was falling, tumbling, the world spinning around him, and then... nothing.
Silence.
He opened his eyes, his heart violently pounding within him, his breath coming in rapid gasps. He was standing in a vast, empty void, a swirling expanse of black nothingness.
Blizzard: What... what happened?! (he stammered as his voice trembled with shock)
Shaking its large rounded head in disbelief, Chirithy walked slowly towards him.
Chirithy: The world collapsed. Imploded upon itself. The strain of Jareth Vex's transformation, the power of Josiah's attacks... it was too much. This world doesn't exist anymore.
Blizzard: But... but we're alive?
Chirithy: The power of your Keyblade shielded you. It protected you from the worst of the implosion. But this world... it's gone. Erased from existence.
Blizzard stared at the empty void, his mind struggling to grasp the enormity of what had happened. A whole world... gone. Just like that.
Chirithy: It could have been worse. Much worse. If this world had fallen to darkness... if it had succumbed... you would have lost your heart. You would have become one of them. Lost in the darkness... forever.
Blizzard: This... this is my fault! (he whispered, his voice filled with a self-loathing that mirrored Josiah's final moments) I... I destroyed this world!
Chirithy: No, Blizzard. (Chirithy said while placing a paw on his right arm with a gentle tone) This wasn't your fault. This was Jareth Vex's doing. He was a madman, blinded by his own ambition. He would have destroyed this world, and countless others, if he had succeeded. Josiah... Josiah saved us all.
Blizzard: But... he's gone!
Chirithy's expression softened, and it shook its large rounded head.
Chirithy: Josiah knew the risks, Blizzard. He knew what he was doing. He chose to sacrifice himself to save you, to save us all. Don't... don't dishonor his memory by blaming yourself.
A lump formed in Blizzard's throat, and he nodded, fighting back tears.
Chirithy: Josiah... he was a true hero, (It continued as its voice was filled with a faint admiration) He didn't seek glory or recognition. He simply did what he believed was right, even if it meant giving up his own life. He saved everyone, Blizzard. And he saved the universe.
Blizzard: He... he did?
Chirithy confirmed by simply nodding.
Chirithy: If Vex had triumphed... it would have been a disaster. He wouldn't have brought about any kind of evolution. He would have simply consumed everything in his path, leaving behind... nothingness. Josiah... he stopped that from happening.
Blizzard: But... Josiah... (Blizzard's voice faltered) He said...
Chirithy: What Josiah did... it was a powerful act of selflessness. He poured his entire being into that final attack, into that healing spell. He... he shattered himself, Blizzard. His heart... it's gone. It can't be reborn. He... he ceased to exist.
A cold dread settled in Blizzard's stomach. Gone. Not just dead, but... gone. Erased. Annihilated.
Blizzard: I... I don't understand! (he yelled with a grief that was both fresh and ancient)
Confusion warred with terror within Chirithy. It watched, its tiny body trembling, as Blizzard's second Keyblade, Inferno, rematerialized after all this time. This... this wasn't supposed to happen.
Blizzard wasn't supposed to have access to this power, not yet, not while his memories were still so fragmented, so vulnerable. The very sight of that fiery Keyblade filled Chirithy with a chilling dread. It was a symbol of a violent past that was meant to remain buried.
And those memories... those flashes of a battlefield, of a younger, hardened Blizzard wielding a Keyblade with lethal grace... they were a terrifying confirmation of Chirithy's worst fears.
Its gaze shifted to where Josiah should had been, and a surge of anger, hot and bitter, rose within it. It was his fault. Josiah, with his talk of fantasy, adventure, justice and promises, his naive belief in morals and sacrifice, had poisoned Blizzard's mind, filled it with dangerous ideals, set him on a path that led only to pain and destruction.
Chirithy: Good riddance. He doesn't need you. He doesn't need your dangerous quests, your reckless heroics. I'll keep him safe. I'll protect him from the darkness myself.
It would keep Blizzard safe. It would protect him. It would guide him towards a destiny that was free from pain, from sacrifice, from the crushing weight of responsibility. It had to.
For what felt like an eternity, Blizzard drifted in a hazy void, his senses dulled, his thoughts sluggish. He struggled to grasp onto something, anything, to pull himself back to reality. Then, slowly, the familiar noise of the shuttle seeped into his consciousness.
He blinked, his eyes adjusting to the soft, artificial light of the shuttle's interior. He was back in the cosmos, safe inside the shuttle, but the weight of what had transpired pressed down on him, heavy and suffocating.
His body ached, his muscles screamed in protest, and with a groan, he collapsed onto the floor, the cold metal biting into his skin.
Chirithy: Blizzard? Are you alright? You look... awful. (a wave of concern washed over Chirithy as it rushed to Blizzard's side, its ears flattened against its large rounded head with a wide expression)
Blizzard: Josiah... He's... he's gone.
Tears welled up in his eyes, and he buried his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking with grief.
Blizzard: I... I could have...!
Chirithy: No! Blizzard... (Chirithy said gently while placing a paw on his back) We both did everything we could. It was... it was just too much.
Blizzard shook his head, his grief mingling with a surge of anger.
Blizzard: It's not fair. He... he didn't deserve that fate. He was... he was a good man. A hero.
Chirithy: He was! (Chirithy said while forcing a cheerful tone back into its voice) Now, why don't you go check yourself over? Make sure you're all healed up. We'll have plenty of time to discuss our next move after you've rested.
Blizzard nodded, wiping away his tears with the back of his hand. He pushed himself up, his movements stiff and sore, and made his way to the shuttle's small medical bay. As he scanned his body, he was still surprised to find that he was completely healed. No bruises, no cuts, no burns. Not even a trace of the acid that had been eating away at his flesh. Josiah's final act, the Grand Heal, had worked its magic, erasing all traces of the battle from his body.
But the scars... the scars on his heart... those would remain.
He returned to the main cabin, his mind still reeling from the events of the day. Chirithy curled against his back.
Blizzard sank onto the bed as well, his gaze drawn to the swirling starscape beyond the viewport. He felt a sudden, inexplicable wave of dread wash over him, a sense of unease that seemed to come from somewhere deep within his heart. It was as if someone... somewhere... was doing something incredibly stupid.
He frowned, trying to shake the feeling, but it lingered, a persistent itch at the edge of his consciousness.
Chirithy: What's wrong, Blizzard? You look troubled.
Blizzard: I don't know. (Blizzard replied with a hesitant tone) I just... I feel strange. Like something bad is about to happen.
Chirithy: It's probably just exhaustion. (Chirithy said soothingly) You've been through too much today. You need to rest.
Blizzard nodded, laying back on his bed, closing his eyes. He tried to relax, to let the gentle noise of the shuttle's engines lull him into a sense of peace, but the feeling of dread persisted.
Maybe we should move on to the next world, he said, his eyes snapping open, his gaze falling on the map that Yen-Sid had given him. The one with the symbol of a sea serpent. Maybe... maybe finding another Keyblade Wielder will help me to... to understand.
But even as he spoke, he knew it was a lie. He wasn't seeking understanding. He was seeking distraction.
He pushed himself out of the bed and made his way to the middle compartment, where Josiah's belongings were on the table. He picked up Josiah's portable coffee machine, a battered, well-loved contraption that had accompanied them on their travels. It had been a source of comfort.
Blizzard: Josiah...
He ran his fingers over the machine's smooth metal surface, remembering all the times he and Josiah had shared a cup of coffee, watching the stars, talking about their hopes and dreams.
Underneath the coffee machine, he found a small, folded piece of paper. He recognized Josiah's handwriting, neat and precise. With trembling fingers, he unfolded the note and read.
'Blizzard, my friend. If you're reading this, it means I'm gone. It means we finally encountered an enemy that even we couldn't defeat. I always knew this day might come, but I never wanted to believe it. I wanted to believe that we would find a way to save everyone, to bring peace to the universe. But some dreams... some dreams are just too big, too impossible.
I want you to know that I'm proud of you, Blizzard. Proud of the young man you've become. You're stronger than you think. Braver than you know. And you have a good heart, Blizzard. Never lose that. Never let the darkness take it from you.
I'm proud of everything we've accomplished together, and I'm grateful for the time we had. Take care of yourself, and remember to always follow your dreams.
With love, Josiah.'
A sob escaped his lips, and he clutched the note to his chest, the paper crumpling in his fist.
Blizzard: I'm not strong, Josiah! (he whispered with a broken tone) I'm not brave. I'm... I'm just a scared kid.
All he could do was weep, his tears falling onto the crumpled note.
He sat there for a long time, lost in his memories, the weight of his loss crushing him. Finally, as exhaustion claimed him, he rose to his feet and stumbled back to his bedroom. Still asleep, Chirithy lay curled up on the bed.
He lay down beside Chirithy, his body aching, his mind numb. He closed his eyes, willing himself to sleep, to escape the pain, the guilt, the emptiness.
For a brief moment, he felt a sense of peace, a fleeting memory of Josiah's laughter, the warmth of his friendship, the comfort of his presence. And then... he slept.
Darkness surrounded him, a suffocating, disorienting void. He blinked, his eyes struggling to adjust, his body heavy and sluggish as he slowly became aware of his surroundings. He was sitting in a wooden chair, his back aching, his head throbbing with a dull ache.
Blizzard: Where... where am I? (he muttered as his voice strangely reflected back to him in the vast emptiness)
A figure materialized before him, seeming to step out of the shadows themselves. 'The Lunatic.'
The Lunatic: Hello there, Blizzard! It's so good to meet you again! (he stated with a cheery, almost childlike lilt, jarred against the oppressive atmosphere) You're looking a bit rough around the edges, my friend. That long nap must have taken its toll, eh?
Blizzard's brow furrowed, confusion warring with a growing sense of unease.
Blizzard: What do you want?
The Lunatic chuckled, the sound light and airy, yet somehow menacing.
The Lunatic: Just thought I'd pop in and say hello. See how you're doing after that little... adventure in the 'Crimson World.'
Blizzard: Where am I?! (Blizzard screamed with a more sharper tone now)
The Lunatic simply shrugged while his cloak swirled around him like a miniature galaxy.
The Lunatic: Oh, this? This is just a dream, Blizzard. A little chat between friends.
Blizzard crossed his arms, his gaze fixed on the Lunatic's masked face, trying to read some sort of intention, some hint of emotion behind the iron helmet.
Blizzard: I don't need your advice!
The Lunatic waved a dismissive hand, the gesture almost playful, yet unsettlingly casual given the circumstances.
The Lunatic: Oh, but you do, Blizzard. You do! (he tilted his head) You see, I've been watching you. Watching you grieve for your... friend. What was his name again? Josiah? John? Jack Sparrow? I can never seem to remember these things. Such a terrible memory I have!
The casual dismissal of Josiah's death, the mocking tone, sent a surge of anger through Blizzard.
Blizzard: You... you have no right to talk about him! You don't know anything about him!
The Lunatic's cheery facade wavered for a moment, a flicker of something cold and sharp flashing in the darkness behind his mask.
The Lunatic: Oh, but I do know! Blizzard. I know that grief... it's a weakness. A dangerous weakness. It can cloud your judgment, make you reckless, destroy you from the inside out. You need to let go, Blizzard. Forget about your friend. Forget about the past. Focus on the future.
Blizzard: You think it's that easy? To just... forget?! (Blizzard's voice trembled with a mixture of rage and despair)
The Lunatic: It's not easy, Blizzard. But it's necessary. You're walking a dangerous path, my friend. A path that leads to darkness. A path that leads to... madness! You need to be careful, Blizzard. Very careful. Or you'll end up just like me.
Blizzard: I'm not afraid of the darkness.
The Lunatic: Oh! But you should be! You should be very afraid. The darkness... it's seductive. It whispers promises of power, of revenge, of oblivion. It preys on your pain, your tastes, your desperation, your needs, then it take hold. And once it takes hold... it never lets go!
He stepped closer, his towering form looming over Blizzard, the darkness of his cloak seeming to press in on him, suffocating him.
The Lunatic: Your friend... Josiah... he was a fool. He rushed headlong into danger, embracing the thrill of the unknown. He thought he could save the worlds, thought he could defy fate. And look what it cost him. His life. His dreams. His very existence. Don't make the same mistake, Blizzard. Don't let sentimentality cloud your judgment. Choose the path of vengeance. Choose the path of self-preservation. Choose... the path of swift retribution.
Blizzard: No! We couldn't just stand by and do nothing! Innocent lives were at stake! The Heartless... they were consuming everything! We had to fight! It's what Josiah would have wanted!
The Lunatic threw back his head and let out a peal of laughter, the sound resonated through the void, a discordant song of amusement and menace.
The Lunatic: How naive you are! You think this is about saving lives? About protecting the innocent? This is about power! Control! Dominion! The Heartless are merely pawns in a far greater game. And you, my dear Blizzard... you're just a piece on the board.
He leaned down, his masked face inches from Blizzard's, his voice dropping to a serious whisper.
The Lunatic: You are a lost little boy, wandering through a universe you don't understand. You have no memories, no identity, no purpose. You are... nothing. And yet... you wield a power that could shake the very foundations of reality. A power that could destroy everything. A power that... I could help you control.
Blizzard: I don't need your help!
The Lunatic: You're lost, aren't you? Confused, broken. You're clinging to the memory of a killer, seeking solace in a past that is gone forever. You're on the verge of madness, Blizzard. I can see it in your eyes. But I can help you. I can show you the way. I can give you... purpose.
Before Blizzard could respond, a new voice, smooth and cultured, cut through the darkness.
Dorval: I do apologize for the intrusion, gentlemen, but I couldn't help but overhear your... fascinating conversation.
Blizzard whirled around, as an overwhelming terror filled his very heart. Standing behind him, his tall form seemingly woven from the shadows themselves, was Dorval, the leader of Organization 14th.
Blizzard: Wha... where did he go?
He asked as his gaze darted back to the spot where the Lunatic had been standing, now empty except for the abandoned wooden chair. The Lunatic was gone, vanished as quickly and mysteriously as he had appeared.
Dorval: Looking for someone? Don't worry, he tends to do that. Popping in and out of reality... offering unsolicited advice... it's his... hobby.
He stepped closer as his orange eyes were fixed on Blizzard's face.
Dorval: But let's not dwell on the absent, shall we? (Dorval said with a smooth voice, yet laced with a chilling undercurrent)
He reached out, his hand closing around Blizzard's throat in a grip that was both firm and surprisingly gentle. Blizzard gasped, his breath catching in his throat, his eyes widening in fear as Dorval lifted him effortlessly off the ground.
Dorval: Let's talk about you.
Blizzard clawed at Dorval's hand, his fingers scrabbling against the smooth leather of his gloves, but his struggles were futile.
Dorval: So, this is the infamous Blizzard. (Dorval mused in a calm and cultured tone) You're not quite what I expected.
Blizzard's eyes bulged, his lungs screaming for air. As much as he would like to ask who this man was, what he wanted, he couldn't force the words past the constricting grip on his throat.
Blizzard: Wh-...
Dorval's lips curled into a slight, amused smile.
Dorval: Yes? Apologies. I haven't properly introduced myself, have I? (he tilted his head, studying Blizzard with curiosity) I am Dorval, leader of Organization 14th. And you, my young friend, have become a bit of a... problem.
Blizzard's eyes widened in recognition. The very same organization, a shadowy group that hunted Blizzard and Josiah twice, but he had never encountered thier leader. Not until now.
Dorval: My subordinates... they haven't been very successful in persuading you to see things our way. Xanderius was a bit too... enthusiastic in his approach. And Norgam... well, she's a bit of a loose cannon, isn't she? Always letting her emotions get the better of her.
A strangled gasp escaped Blizzard's lips as Dorval's grip tightened another fraction.
Dorval: Such a pity about Xanderius. Such a waste of potential. He was so eager to prove himself, so eager to eliminate you. But he lacked finesse. Patience. He should have known that a Keyblade wielder of your caliber, requires a more delicate touch.
He shook his head as much as he could chuckle in a single breath.
Dorval: But enough about my subordinates. Perhaps you can enlighten me about your... explosive encounter with the madman of this cult, the Red Dawn was it? It was quite a spectacle, I hear. A real shame I missed it. You see, Blizzard, I felt it too. (Dorval said, as his voice dropped to a confidential tone) I felt the heart of a Keyblade Wielder returning to Kingdom Hearts. And I couldn't allow that, could I?
Blizzard's eyes widened in horror as Dorval's words sank in. Josiah... Dorval had intercepted Josiah's heart?
Dorval: Yes. (Dorval confirmed with a bold smile twisting into his lips as he saw the realization in Blizzard's eyes) I was there, Blizzard. I watched as your friend's heart ascended to the heavens. He was a criminal, guilty by association. So I cruched it into a million pieces.
Blizzard felt a grand surge of rage and despair, but it was quickly swallowed by the overwhelming fear that gripped him.
Dorval: Surprised, Blizzard? You thought it was 'The Lunatic's' doing, didn't you? But no... I am the one who holds your fate in my hands. You see, we... we are not the villains in this story. We are the saviors!
Blizzard: We're not criminals! We're trying to save the worlds! Tears welled up in Blizzard's eyes.
Dorval's grip tightened, his smile fading, replaced by a look of cold contempt.
Dorval: Save the worlds? You? You're delusional, boy. You're a plague, a disease, a cancer upon the very fabric of existence!
Blizzard: You're wrong! You're the ones who are destroying the balance! You're the ones who are causing the chaos! You're...
Dorval: Silence! (Dorval snapped as his grip squeezed even harder)
He leaned closer, his face inches from Blizzard's with cold and hard eyes)
Dorval: You think you're above it all, don't you? You think you have the right to interfere, to play god with the lives of others? You're nothing but arrogant, self-righteous murderers!
Blizzard's whimpers turned into choked sobs, his body trembling uncontrollably. Dorval's words cut him to the core, stripping away the last vestiges of his certainty, his belief in his own goodness.
Dorval paused, his gaze fixed on Blizzard's face, a flicker of something akin to fear dancing in his eyes.
Dorval: But perhaps... (he mused while his voice softened, taking on a mockingly playful tone) Perhaps I should play along with your delusions, for a while. Indulge your fantasies of grandeur. You know... I think I might have just the thing.
He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small, folded piece of fabric. It was a miniature replica of The Lunatic's black-and-white cloak, perfectly sized for Blizzard.
Dorval: I was thinking... when you finally embrace your true nature, when you will go completely nuts. I could give you this little outfit. Just for you. A symbol of your folly. What do you say, Blizzard? How about... Lunatic Jr?
Blizzard stared at the cloak. Lunatic Jr? The words repeated in his mind, mocking, terrifying. Was that his fate? To become... another Lunatic? Another delusional maniac?
Blizzard: No! he screamed a his voice sinked with a terror that went beyond the pain in his throat, the crushing grip on his neck) No! I'm not like him! I'M NOT...! I'M NOT!
A hysterical laughter bubbled up from his chest, choking him, tearing at his sanity. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't escape the image of himself, clad in that black-and-white hood.
A sickening crack went through the void as Dorval snapped Blizzard's neck the next moment, his smile widening as the boy's body went limp in his grasp.
And then... Blizzard woke up.
His eyes flew open while his body jerked upright. He gasped, his chest heaving, his lungs desperate for air. He glanced around the familiar confines of his cabin, confusion clouding his vision. At the foot of the bed, Chirithy stirred, its ears twitching as it lifted its large rounded head.
Chirithy: Blizzard?
Blizzard: I... I don't know! I... I saw him! He... he said... (his voice died off as the memory of Dorval's chilling words, the suffocating grip on his throat, sending a fresh wave of fear through him) He said Josiah... was a murderer. That we're all... monsters!
He grabbed Chirithy, pulling the Dream Eater close, burying his face in its soft, gray fur. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the images that flashed through his mind – Dorval's gaze, the black-and-white cloak, the sickening crack of his own neck snapping.
Blizzard: I can't... I can't... it hurts...! (he sobbed while his body trembled uncontrollably) I don't want to be a monster! I don't want to hurt anyone!
Chirithy tensed, a wave of alarm washing over it. It had never seen Blizzard this distraught, not even after the most harrowing battles, the most devastating losses. There was a darkness within him, a raw, untamed energy that pulsed with a terrifying intensity. A power that Chirithy knew, with a chilling certainty, it could no longer control.
In that moment, driven by a fear for Blizzard's well-being, Chirithy reached out with its mind, its paws pressing against Blizzard's forehead, and flipped a switch. A mental circuit breaker, severing the connection, plunging Blizzard into an artificial oblivion.
Blizzard's body went limp, his sobs ceasing, his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. He was still breathing, his chest rising and falling with a slow, rhythmic motion, but his mind... his mind was elsewhere. Lost in a peaceful, dreamless oblivion.
This wasn't just grief. This was... something else. Something dark, something cruel, something that was eating away at Blizzard from the inside out.
It considered the implications of its actions. If Blizzard was fully conscious, aware of what it's was doing, he would be horrified. He would never forgive it. But he wasn't conscious. He was lost in the void. And in that state, Chirithy was the only one who could protect him.
It wasn't as if Blizzard had anyone else. Yen-Sid? That arrogant sorcerer, holed up in his tower was too afraid to face the world, too self-absorbed to offer any real help. He was useless. As for other friends? Josiah was gone. There was no one left. Just Blizzard and Chirithy. Alone.
Chirithy: I'm so sorry, Blizzard. (it whispered as its voice sinked with a sorrow it couldn't quite conceal) But you're not ready for this. You're not strong enough. You need to forget. I'll make sure you never remember, slowly, but surely.
It knew, deep down, that what it was doing was wrong. But it didn't care. It had to protect him.
It was all Josiah's fault, anyway. If he hadn't dragged Blizzard into this mess... if he hadn't filled his head with those foolish ideas about heroism.
Chirithy: You ruined everything! (Chirithy thought bitterly) You made him weak. Vulnerable. You opened the door to the darkness. And now... now I have to clean up your mess.
It delved deeper, its paws trembling as it brushed against the raw edges of Blizzard's subconscious.
Chirithy: I won't let them hurt you. I won't let you suffer like that again.
And then it saw it. The source of the darkness. The seed of madness.
'You're nothing but arrogant, self-righteous murderers!'
Chirithy acknowledged the truth in Dorval's words, the undeniable fact that Keyblade Wielders, for all their intentions, often caused chaos and destruction. But it also recognized the fear, the desperation, the underlying pain in Dorval's voice.
He was afraid. Afraid of Blizzard, afraid of the power he wielded, afraid of being next.
Dorval was so wrong.
Chirithy: They're wrong! (Chirithy spoke as its gaze hardened while it delved into the depths of Blizzard's mind) You're not a monster. You're not a murderer. You're... you're kind. You're good. You're the reason I... I exist. It was your kindness, your acknowledgement, that gave me a purpose, a meaning. You... you saved me, Blizzard. And I won't let them take that away from you.
It enveloped the memory, smothering it, crushing it, devouring it. It saw Dorval scream as his face convulsed in agony while his body dissolved into a cloud of darkness, before being swallowed whole by the Dream Eater's insatiable hunger.
Hours later, Blizzard stirred, his eyes fluttering open. He looked around the shuttle's cabin, a confused frown creasing his brow.
Blizzard: What... what happened? (he asked with a soft yet uncertain voice)
A single tear traced a path down his cheek, a lingering trace of the grief that had been buried, but his eyes were clear, his expression calm.
Chirithy nodded, its eyes soft, its body trembling slightly with exhaustion.
Chirithy: You were having a bad dream, Blizzard. It's alright now. You're safe.
Blizzard nodded slowly, sitting up, his body still aching, his heart still heavy with sorrow. He looked at Chirithy, his eyes searching for answers, for comfort. Josiah was gone. He had no family, no friends. No one, except...
Blizzard: We... we still have two more worlds to unlock, right? (he asked with a hesitant voice) It's... it's what Josiah would have wanted. Those people... they deserve a chance to reconnect. To be free.
The Dream Eater hesitated, its brow furrowing. It had hoped to delay the next mission, to give Blizzard more time to heal, to forget. But it also knew that pushing him too hard, too soon, could be counterproductive. It had to be careful.
Chirithy: Maybe... maybe we should take a break. (It said with a cautious tone) You're still recovering. You need time to rest.
Blizzard stood up from his bed and took hesitant steps outside in the hallways as the celling felt confining without Josiah's familiar presence by his side. Each step he takes feels heavy, as if he's carrying the weight of the entire universe on his shoulders.
Pausing near a viewport, gazing out into the expanse of the universe. The sheer size of the cosmos felt overwhelming. He longed for the simpler days, the days before he knew about the Heartless, about going on adventures with a curious compass. Back then, his biggest worry had been finishing his homework on time. Now, he was responsible for the fate of entire worlds.
Blizzard: But those people... (Blizzard began as his eyes plead with Chirithy)
Chirithy: They can wait! (Chirithy said as it hopped onto the chair, its gaze fixed on Blizzard's face) They've been locked away for centuries. A few more days... a few more weeks... it won't make a difference.
Blizzard: But... but what about Inferno? I... I have two Keyblades now. I'm stronger! I can... I can fight! I have to fight.
Chirithy: You're in no shape to fight! Not now. That second Keyblade... it's dangerous. You need time to learn, to understand its limits. Rushing into another battle, especially in your current state... you'd be consumed by its flames.
Blizzard bit his lip as he felt torn between his desire to honor Josiah's memory and his own exhaustion, and yet.
Blizzard: Okay... we rest. But then... then we go. We find those other wielders. We unlock those worlds. We stop the Heartless.
He turned away from the viewport, a wave of dizziness washing over him.
Blizzard: Josiah... I'm so sorry. I... I failed you.
Walking back to his bedroom, he lay back on the bed, He closed his eyes, willing himself to sleep, to escape the pain, the emptiness, the crushing weight of responsibility. But even as he drifted off, a nagging thought lingered at the edge of his consciousness.
Blizzard: I... I can't even lift a finger anymore.
Chirithy: You're suffering from 'Mana Overdrive.' It's a common ailment among Keyblade Wielders. When you push yourself too far, when you drain your energy reserves too quickly, it can have serious consequences. Your body... your mind... your heart... they all need time to recover. You need to rest, Blizzard. Let your energy replenish. Let your psyche heal! It'll take time. A week at least. Maybe longer.
Blizzard: A week? (Blizzard's eyes flew open as panic shallowed him. But... the Heartless... they'll...
He trailed off, the enormity of the situation crashing down upon him. A week. Seven days. One hundred and sixty-eight hours.
A wave of despair washed over him. One week. Was that enough? How many lives would be lost? How many worlds would fall to Heartless in that time? Because of a certain someone?
To be continued in the next arc.
Entering - Era of Piracy arc.