AN: Oh crap lol, chapter turned out way longer than I thought it would be. xD It's not easy stuffing interactions and stuffs into here, you know! :D Soooo we're gonna continue next chapter...at least! 3 Because I want to write MORE, personally lol.
End of AN!
Well, it had taken a while - and they'd shattered a few mountain tops along the way (fighting his Master in nearly his prime again, with that new Replica body of his, had been a serious eye-opener) - and he'd had to say some things to the man that he'd never thought he would have to (or need to), but in the end...
Terra thought it had gone really well, all things considered.
Considering all the alternative ways it could have gone. For either of them. Or both of them.
They returned to the Land of Departure's castle together, ascending the steps and walking the entrance hall in rustling, broken armored suits.
They came up to the second level, into the throne room.
Sora and Ven were up and about again - evident by the pair of them sitting on the thrones themselves, engaged in some deep and loud conversation. Ven's little friend (Chirithy) was sitting in the space between the chairs, looking between the two of them like a ping-pong match, as if desperate to keep up with the boys.
The two boys, and Chirithy, turned on Terra and Eraqus's arrival.
"Woah! What happened out there?" Sora said, jumping to his feet.
Ven did the same, starting forward quickly, looking downright horrified (his Chirithy friend hunkered down between the chairs, pressing to them and peering out at the scene with wide blue eyes). "Terra - Master - what-"
"Relax, Ven - we just had a discussion," Terra said, raising a hand.
Ven eyed his broken, falling fragments of glowing magical metal doubtfully. Pointedly, too.
"Alright, we had a very spirited discussion," Terra amended. "But the point is: it's fine now. Is Riku still where I last left him?"
"Probably..." Ven said hesitantly. "I dunno."
"Okay," Terra said simply. "Thanks, Ven. I'll be back in a minute."
He summoned his Keyblade, shed his armor, and turned away to conjure a portal of light. He strode into it swiftly. He emerged on the other side, on the beach of the small island off the mainland, in Destiny Islands.
Riku was there, standing on his own. Waiting. He turned to Terra immediately, nervousness written on his face.
"It's safe now," Terra told him.
"Define 'safe' for me in more exact details, please," came the voice of Cognis. Her voice was definitely full of...unease. He would have even said anxiety.
"I'll be right beside you the whole time, and my Master just wants to give his assurances to you in person," Terra said.
"Is that code for something?" Riku muttered. "Like, 'Keyblade to the face?'"
"Trust me, Riku. Nothing terrible is going to happen to you. Either of you. I made him see reason." And I didn't have to kill him this time to do it, Terra added to himself with relief.
"Okay..." Riku said, nodding tightly.
Terra grasped the boy's shoulder, giving him a nod. "Come on. It'll be fine. I promise. You know I'd protect you if I had to. You know I did for Ven. And I care about you just as much as him."
"Yeah...thanks..." Riku murmured, his cheeks flushed. "I know. I - I trust you. People just...Cognis has already been attacked before. It didn't do anything to her, but...if it had been me instead..."
"I'll make sure it's not," Terra stated firmly. "One way or another."
"Okay. Let's do it, then."
"Isn't there someone you forgot to ask?" Cognis spoke.
"Right. Are you ready for this?" Riku said quickly.
Cognis's voice sighed. "Not really, no - but in the interests of self-preservation, I have to go and protect my host."
"You won't have to," Terra assured her. "Riku will be fine."
"Hmph. We'll see."
Terra led Riku back through the portal, stepping back into the throne room.
He stopped, facing his Master.
Riku was...actually sort of hiding behind Terra at this point.
A reminder that he really was still just a boy - no matter how much he might try to deny it himself, or play it off.
"Alright," Terra spoke clearly, meeting his Master's gaze. "Can we have an open-minded, productive conversation? Just...a talk?"
His Master's aged, scarred face tightened. He blinked slowly, glancing down. "Yes."
"Okay, then." Terra looked back to Riku. "Cognis - if you'd feel comfortable showing yourself...please."
The girl of darkness materialized next to Terra, taking that featureless form.
Eraqus gasped sharply, taking a step backwards. His hands curled to shaking fists at his sides...
"It's alright," Terra said to the man calmly. "We're all fine here - everything's fine."
"Hello, Keyblade Master Eraqus," spoke Cognis, in soft, quiet tones. Her voice slow and clear. "I can't say if it's a pleasure to meet you yet - but I suppose I can thank you for allowing me to be here at all. That's encouraging...somewhat."
It struck Terra then, like that old saying, about how animals were often just as afraid of people as people were of them. But appearances and missteps and the like could cause them to react to each other in...mistaken ways. To scream or attack, when if they'd have stayed calm and respected each other, things could have gone differently. More peacefully. It was clear to him that both Eraqus and Cognis were as afraid and wary of each other as the other was, in that way. And a misstep could create a terrible incident for either of them...or both of them.
"You have a pleasing castle, I suppose," Cognis was speaking on. "The crystal and gold aesthetics are pretty enough - if a bit much, in my opinion. It's almost overdecorated, really. Wouldn't a simpler design have been easier on your eyes?"
Well...no one could say the entity of darkness wasn't trying, Terra thought, trying to hold himself back from laughing.
Eraqus simply gazed at her formless form, working his jaw and swallowing several times over. Then, he finally found his voice. It was rough and low, and as guarded as could be. "I was recently reminded...of the tenets and precepts a Keyblade Master, and a man, holds to. The most important ones being never to judge by one's appearance - and to not presume one's guilt before innocence. As well, there is the notion that one cannot be judged due to the actions of others of their...kind. Across these many worlds, we are all individuals. Unique. And thus worthy of...a fair shake. Even one such as yourself."
He paused, deliberating, before going on. "I would like to believe, and trust in the judgement of my apprentice - over myself, and in regards to his own. If it is said that you have truly committed no harm, no evil, and have indeed aided the innocents of these worlds in this time of strife...then I am willing to believe in that - as impossible as it may seem. For what has this World been to me lately but filled with the most impossible stories and revelations? Miracles and fairy tales?" His gaze fell to Ven, and a small smile came to his face, easing it a few degrees. "My own apprentice comes from the era of the ancient Keyblade War of legends..a Princess of Heart wields a Keyblade, and fights alongside those who use the power of darkness...and they also fight alongside many individuals already whom any proper Keyblade Master would consider extremely unorthodox at best...or entirely unsuitable."
Eraqus looked into Terra's eyes, finishing with, "But perhaps that is to their credit - that they trust in and see goodness within the Hearts of those others might have simply written off, or shunned for being...less than light, or 'pure'. Their Hearts and minds are more open, to possibilities, to change - whereas an old man like myself has only stagnated, and failed because of it. And because they have taken these risks, these chances, and seen what others are unwilling to...the potential within the imperfect, the best of things in the worst of people...they have accomplished feats and wonders I can scarcely believe. They have fought and won, against so many odds. I suppose...that I've become so old that I've forgotten how determined and miraculous the Hearts of youth can be. Or perhaps I never truly knew, even in my own younger days...
"But you've all shown me how very much there still is to learn about this World, and the people who inhabit it. As well...as the true depths of the capabilities of the Heart. I see now how foolish I was to think myself a wise Master at all. I was too fearful, and too comfortable with the known. I did not broaden my horizons, I refused to see beyond my own narrow scope. I was a failure of a mentor as much as a Master. A failure of a father, as well. While Xehanort went too far as a Seeker, I went too far in the other direction, and sank into complacency. If I had been a little more curious, myself, a little more willing to step off the beaten path, as he always was so willing to do...perhaps I could have been there to see...to know..."
Eraqus sighed, closing his eyes and brushing at long locks of dark, grey-streaked hair.
"Maybe," Ven said. "Maybe that's all true, Master."
Eraqus looked at him, surprised.
Ven held his gaze. "But you can change that now. 'Cause that's kinda what we do here, all of us. We try to do better, make things right. And isn't that what you always told us? That you never stop learning? Growing?"
"Yes...you are right, Ventus. Perhaps it is not too late for me after all. To change, to learn and grow - to be a better man than I was. To broaden my horizons, and deepen my understanding of this World. To open my mind and Heart to new...possibilities. New ideas. Perhaps even...new ways of doing things." Eraqus looked at Cognis's shimmering form, hesitating. "Even new ways of...looking at the World, and the beings that live in it."
Eraqus gave a soft, old laugh, suddenly.
"What?" Terra asked curiously.
Eraqus shook his head, raising a hand to his chest. "I've only just remembered the words of a departed, fellow Keyblade wielder... What they tried to tell me back then, I did not understand - I disregarded it, even. But, now, I think I see...the truth of his words. Even back then, they knew, and tried to pass the knowledge on to us..."
"What're you talking about, Master?" Ven said, frowning.
"When I was your age," Eraqus began, gazing at Ven. "I once journeyed deep into an Underworld, in search of the Hearts of the deceased. I was able to find them, and speak to them one last time. They told me that after they had passed on from this world, and been left with only their Hearts, that they had a revelation of sorts. About the nature of the World, of light and darkness itself. They said that they came to believe there was no clear difference between the two, and that it was a matter of beliefs. That people want to believe they're right, so anyone who goes against them is wrong, making them 'darkness' in the eye of the beholder. They said that, perhaps instead of creating a divide between light and darkness...maybe there was a way for everyone to co-exist.
"I ignorantly, brashly proclaimed to them that I would make it my duty to destroy the shadows in the Hearts of men, and only the shadows. Heimdall's response was simply this: Your lives are not ours to judge, but yours to lead. Broaden your horizons and find your own answers." Eraqus laughed to himself again. A bitter, mocking laugh - directed at himself. "I was a blind fool then, and I am a blind fool now! He was right all along, of course...they all were. I was simply too stubborn and dogmatic to see it. Even Xehanort was able to seek other possibilities, and see beyond the straight, the narrow, and the obvious. He was always the one to look deeper, to think so hard about everything, to analyze and rethink it all again...to ask the complex, hard questions. I was never like that."
Terra nodded to the man, stepping forward. "Like Ven said - and as I kept telling you: it's not too late to change that. To do it differently now. To do better. Open your eyes, and make some changes within yourself, as well. Change yourself...and change how you see the World."
Eraqus gave him a nod in return, silent and deep in his thoughts. He bowed his head for a long moment. Then, he raised it again, and looked once more to Cognis. "I would like to honor my departed friends' final words...and find a way to co-exist with- an individual like yourself...Cognis. If you would give me the chance to prove myself...that this old dog can still learn a few new tricks."
"Hm...I suppose I understand you're taking something of a risk with me," Cognis replied. "So, I suppose I can take a risk with you as well. I understand where your views come from - but I really do hope you'll come to change them, with enough time. And after I've proven myself trustworthy as well to you."
"It will certainly take time," Eraqus agreed, slow and careful. "But I would like to believe we can...find that way to co-exist together."
"I'll prove myself - to all of you," Cognis stated, her featureless head turning - as if looking at Terra, and Ven, and Sora.
"Hey, you don't have a thing to prove to me," Sora said with a wide grin, placing his hands behind his head. "If Riku's okay with you, then you're okay with me! He might be a little stupid sometimes, but he does know how to pick his friends...hehehe!"
"Hah...funny guy," Riku responded dryly. But his lips tugged into a little smile, despite his best efforts. "But if I'm so great at picking friends, you just proved yourself wrong by even saying that."
"What? And how's that again?" Sora challenged, his arms falling to his sides. "Huuuuh?"
Riku grinned in Sora's direction, crossing his arms. Then he laughed.
Sora laughed along with him.
"I'm willing to give you a chance, too," Ven said quietly to Cognis, gazing at her. "I know what Vanitas is capable of - what he's done - but you're not him. And you're not that other Darkness we met out there, either. You're the one...that showed up and saved Terra from her. And if what Riku says is true, then...then you're choosing to be different. And I think that's what matters, more than anything else. Not just Light or Darkness - no, more than just Light or Darkness...we're all free to choose. To decide who we are. Kairi said something similar to Vanitas himself, before. And I think she was right. I think even he...still has a chance to make a choice in life. I dunno if he'll actually ever take it or not...but it's there. So...we can always hope."
Ven trailed off, then gave a little shrug.
"So then...we're all going to be all right with each other for now?" Terra spoke up. "We've agreed to give each other a chance, at least?"
"Yes," Master Eraqus said, quiet but resolved. "You have my word. I know that I haven't inspired much faith in you as of late - any of you; Ven, or my wayward Aqua - but...I would like to regain that trust...and your respect again."
"Good. I'd like that, too," Terra said earnestly.
"Yeah," Ven agreed. He paused, looking to Terra. "Hey, I've got a question for you, though."
"What's the question?" Terra said.
"How'd you even know to come find us - or where to even show up? Especially when ya did?" Ven asked. He looked to Cognis and Riku. "How did you guys know to show up, too?"
"Namine," Terra said simply. "I was out searching worlds, when she contacted me - put an image in my head, and told me you were all in horrible danger."
"Yeah - we got the same thing," Riku stated. "It's still crazy that she can just do that to any of us, whenever she wants..."
"Well, I'm just glad she can," Ven said lightly. "Or we all would've been toast!"
"Maybe we should hop over and find her - give her a thank you," said Sora, smiling. "She's still hanging around Twilight Town, right?"
"Probably," Terra said. "If you want to, I can take you over there now."
"Cool! Let's go!" Sora said instantly.
Terra grinned. "Okay." He looked to the others. "Play nice, please. I don't want to come back and find the whole castle in ruins. I already had to see Xehanort destroy this place once before."
Eraqus's face flashed with pain and hurt alike. But he nodded. "I gave my word - Master Terra. I will see it upheld."
"Good."
He was turning away to create a portal - when a voice rang out from across the room.
"Did...Heimdall really say all of that?"
He turned, spotting Urd, Hermod, and Vor together - huddled near the top of the stairs, peering around a thick green pillar.
"Did you really talk to the Upperclassmen like that?" Urd went on, stepping out and walking forward. Vor hurried along behind her. Hermod put his hands behind his head, bringing up the rear.
Eraqus turned to them, walking out to meet them - raising his hands to grasp Urd's arms. To stop her. "Yes. Every word was true. Theirs, and mine."
"But even after everything...they said they wanted us to 'co-exist' with darkness?" Urd said, looking past him to Cognis with clear fear on her sharp face. Glinting in her amber eyes.
"They did."
"And you want that now, too?" Urd said, her voice trembling now. "You want us to just accept that- thing? They made everyone disappear, they made us disappear-"
"Yes, one did - but not this one," Eraqus said quietly. "I don't ask you to accept or understand - only to try, and perhaps one day come to see...as Heimdall and the others saw. That the world is a more complicated place, and that such sharp conflict and division are perhaps more dangerous than anything else. What pits us against each other, keeps us apart. Stops us from...perhaps...understanding each other."
"It's EVIL and HORRIBLE and YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!" Vor yelled. The girl's face screwed up as she moved forward, and shoved at Eraqus.
To Terra's shock, his Master was flung backwards.
Eraqus flew back a dozen feet, before he got his footing again, skidding to a halt. He gasped, a hand going to his midsection, where the girl had shoved at him. He gazed at her, hunched over. "Vor...I understand - Xehanort and I have both lived with that same pain for the rest of our days. But we cannot let that pain...overwhelm us, and blind us. That was Xehanort's mistake...and my own, in my own way as well. But you - all of us - we have the chance to be better now. To grow and change, and learn from mistakes of the past. Do not waste it on hate, and anger, and revenge."
Vor's small face changed. She blinked, staring down at herself in shock. She clasped her hands together and put them over her mouth, her eyes glistening. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
"It's alright..." Eraqus wheezed, walking forward slowly. To stand before her again. He reached out and touched her head - her cheek. "I understand. I know. Truly. But we need...to overcome this, however we can. Accept the wisdom of those we lost, who even in their absence offered us a glimpse of the truth of the World and of Hearts...though we were not ready to see it, then. I hope, now, in time, we will."
"You've always gotten ridiculous ideas into your head - but this is just..." Urd trailed off. "It goes against everything we were taught..."
"Yes, it does," Eraqus said. "But should teachings themselves be absolute...or should they evolve over time? Being questioned, and revised?"
"Now you sound like Xehanort," Urd sighed.
"He did have some right ideas, from time to time," Eraqus said, with slight humor. "He was right that you should question things, and find your own conclusions. As Heimdall and the others also told us to do."
"Well if that's what you want, I'll give it a try," Hermod spoke at last, shrugging.
"You can't be serious!" Urd exclaimed.
"Who do you think I am, Eraqus?" Hermod replied. "Of course I'm serious. If it was what even the Upperclassmen wanted, I think we shouldn't be so quick to just ignore it. That sounds a little disrespectful to the deceased, doesn't it?"
"They weren't thinking straight-" Urd began firmly.
"Urd. Please. Do not fall into the same trap I did," Eraqus said. "Learn from my failings, and be better than me - not only Xehanort and his. Go beyond rules and teachings, and try to see what is in front of you. Feel with your Heart. What do you see? What have you heard? Has this being...this Cognis...acted or spoken in a way remotely threatening? Has anything been said of their actions prior to coming here that painted a negative picture? Some roaming evil? Some terrible deed? Open yourself, Urd...Try."
Ud looked out across the room again, to Cognis. She shivered visibly. Then she sighed, dropping her head. "I...I won't strike it down, but I can't just accept it either."
"That's good enough, for now," Eraqus told her. "I only ask you to keep an open mind, and give this being a fair chance." He looked down at Vor. "Vor...?"
The small girl gave her head a fierce shake, letting out a shaking breath. "I can't - I won't!"
Eraqus sighed, dropping down to one knee, to be more on her level. "I understand. Do you think this isn't an extremely difficult decision for me to make as well, myself? To even consider? But we must try to."
"No!"
"Will you at least give me your word that you won't attempt to harm Cognis - through Riku? Or Riku himself?" Eraqus spoke. "You wouldn't strike a defenseless, innocent person, would you?"
Vor lowered her hands slowly. She shook her head, her mouth agape. "Of course I wouldn't! I'm not EVIL!"
"Of course you're not evil," Eraqus whispered, his face flickering. "You're only scared, and overwhelmed. But you can't let it control you, Vor...or you'll be driven to do the unthinkable. Believe me when I say...I know. I fell to my own emotions, once, and attacked my own pupils you see before you. And I am here, again...to try and make that right. To be a better man than the one I was on that day."
Vor screwed up her eyes. "I'd never do anything like that!"
"I once thought the same," Eraqus countered softly. "About myself - and Xehanort. Could any of us have ever thought he would go on to do all that he has done? No. it was inconceivable to us. And yet...it happened. You may say that now with conviction, but what of tomorrow? A year from now? Ten years? You must make the choice now, today, to avoid going down that path, Vor. Or you may find you have somehow wandered off the path, into a dark and dangerous place, before you even know it."
The girl dropped her chin to her chest, raising her hands to her heart. "Just keep that thing away from me!" she exclaimed, and she whirled away and ran for the stairs, disappearing down them in a flash.
Eraqus gazed after her, then sighed and rose to his feet again. "Urd, Hermod - I trust you'll act with decency and politeness." He turned to look at Terra, nodding to him.
"Alright, Sora, let's go," Terra said, nodding to the boy. "If anyone else wants to come-"
"I think it's probably best if I do," Riku said quickly.
"Me too," Cognis agreed, vanishing into thin air.
After stopping by Lauriam's place, they were informed that Namine had gone off with Strelitzia to the Twilight Town mall.
So they traveled up and west through the hilly streets and alleys, until they'd found the right place.
The huge, wide building in a space all its own.
They wandered through the inside, threading crowds and passing shops.
It took a few minutes, but eventually they found them.
Well, Sora spotted them.
They'd been passing rows of shopfronts when Sora had suddenly let out a gasp, turning and pumping his fists.
"Cool - they have arcades here, too!"
"Too bad I can't kick your butt at them anymore," Riku lamented, with a small grin, that was both amused and genuinely bothered. He followed after Sora regardless, into the dimly lit area.
Terra sighed and followed the boys in, smiling to himself.
He guessed they weren't exactly on any kind of schedule...
Terra walked between rows of bulky machines and flashing screens, trying not to knock over any of the genuine kids and teenagers hanging about the place.
Up ahead, in a wide open space, Sora and Riku had both stopped.
Terra picked up his pace a bit, catching up to them and staring ahead. He stopped next to Sora, letting out a laugh. He crossed his arms, grinning.
In a large open area, there was a huge screen with a platform in front of it, that had gathered a small crowd. Upon that platform, in the middle of the crowd, stood Strelitzia and Namine together. The pair of them were engaging in a furious and intricate dance atop the platform - lighting up two sets of five buttons beneath their feet. They spun and twirled around each other, locks of hair flying everywhere, grabbing arms and shoulders, twisting and bending to blitz their feet and even their hands down at the buttons underneath them. It should have been chaotic and frankly a little ridiculous...but they were doing it, moving like one person instead of two, in sync as any two Keyblade Masters could ever have been. It honestly impressed Terra greatly, and he wasn't even their Master.
It was all coordination, skill, agility, speed, and flexibility.
At one point Terra watched Namine bend herself over backwards, letting Strelitzia do an outright flip over her to change places. It was completely unnecessary (and probably also impossible without a little help from magic, at least for these girls) - but they'd done it anyways...to the pleasure of the crowd, it sounded like. It was a good spectacle, to be sure. Strelitzia flipped herself back upright again from a handstand, whirling back toward Namine with fierce and swift feet below her - a wide, beaming smile on her face.
These girls were real showgirls. Or maybe just plain show-offs, Terra thought in amusement.
Either way, they looked to be having the time of their life, and Terra was reluctant to ruin that.
After a minute more, the girls' dancing came to an end. They spun together in a circle, tapping at the buttons on rotation, and then came to a final halt. Arms in arms, standing incredibly close together. They were both breathing heavily, exertion and sweat on their faces and in their hair. Strelitzia blinked rapidly, her eyes flickering about Namine's face. Then she shifted their joined stance, her lips parting, her face moving forward an inch or two-
"WOOOH! THAT WAS AWESOME, YOU GUYS!" Sora exclaimed, racing forward.
The two girls jumped apart, both stumbling and turning to face the boy.
"Please tell me he did not just do what Cognis says she thinks he just did..." Riku's voice came, aghast.
Only Terra's years of training and discipline kept him from outright slamming his hand to his forehead. "He did..."
"Cool," Riku said, failing to suppress a bout of sudden laughter. "Now Kairi's going to have a reason to want to kill him as much as me. I guess we'll be together in that Final World place later..."
"You know, I never took you for a romantic," Terra said casually.
"W-what? I'm not! It's just that even I know there are some things you just don't screw with!" Riku exclaimed. "I had no idea he could be that tactless...but man, he sure does like to prove me wrong, doesn't he."
"Why don't we go drag him away before the girls rip him apart themselves."
"Do they look that upset about it?"
Terra shrugged, then flushed. "I'm not exactly an expert in teenage romance, Riku. I have no idea. I only suggested it to be on the safe side."
"Yeah, alright. He can owe me for bailing him out of something stupid again," Riku said with a grin, starting forward.
"Uh - hey - Ven?" Riku spoke, entering the boy's room hesitantly.
"Hey?" Ven replied. "What's up?"
It'd been a day since everything that had gone down in Imra's home world. Since that Darkness in Kairi's body...
A check-in with Radiant Garden had revealed the startling news that said Darkness had actually gone there for some reason - and had been caught out by Even and Ienzo.
Terra had then gone over to speak to Yen Sid. Apparently the old wizard had been really apologetic and shocked by the revelation. Maybe just the fact that his mysterious tower wasn't some impregnable fortress...
Who knew?
Riku sure didn't.
He'd just been focused on looking out for any Keyblades that might end up in his back when he was least expecting it.
He'd made some rounds today, though, checking in with Xion, and her friend and all. Xion was apparently still pretty bad...but her friend was at least better off. Sort of. Well, she was a robot, so...it was hard to tell?
Anyway...
Riku shook his head, clearing it of thoughts. "Sorry - but - that other Darkness you had inside you...that Vanitas guy...he has a physical form, doesn't he?" he spoke out again. "I mean, he's not using a Replica, right? He's - all off on his own? Because you gave him a body? You've done it twice now-"
"Yeah - I know. What're you asking about it for?" Ven said, a bit sharp now.
The little Chirithy thing- girl? jumped in Ven's lap.
She was...one of the strangest things Riku had ever sensed. "Seen." Honestly. She was this swirling, misty, fuzzy...thing, around a small little wispy core of a Heart.
It wasn't light - it was darkness - but it also didn't even read like darkness. It read more like light, in that it was...almost "bright", despite being dark, and...
It was just a massive, mind-breaking paradox of a thing to try to wrap his head and senses around.
So he stopped trying.
Tried to just focus on Ven alone.
"For Cognis," Riku answered the boy's question. "I wanted to ask how you even...did it. Both times. I figured maybe I could do the same thing for her. That way she'd...be on her own, instead of hanging out in my Heart all the time, you know? It would be better for everyone - both of us. It'd make things...a lot easier. And, I mean, however you and Vanitas did it...I think Cognis is more deserving of a life and body of her own than he was."
Ven sighed. "Okay - um...listen, I'm not all too sure how I did it. I just sorta...reached inside, for the darkness there - for him - and then I...I drew it all out and I kind of just...pictured him how he always was to me. And...then he was...back again. Solid and all. So I s'pose, for you and Cognis...try to do that? But - picture some kinda body for her? Try to...will her solid?"
"Try to will her solid? Right. Got it. Thanks..."
"Hey, if it doesn't work, ya aren't losing anything, are you?" Ven responded, with a small laugh.
"I guess not," Riku agreed. "Okay...let's give this a shot, then..."
He closed his eyes, placing hand to his Heart. He reached his mind inside, feeling for the ever present darkness...searching for her...
He sank down into the dark, into his own...
The world seemed to jump, like waking up from a dream of falling, and Riku was suddenly standing on a platform of light.
Cognis was there. Her vague, human shape stood in front of him.
"Hey, I-" Riku started.
"I did hear everything. You're kicking me out," she said, quiet. Almost...
"Are you actually UPSET or something?" Riku said, frowning.
"Why shouldn't I be? This is the closest place to a home I've ever known," Cognis spoke. "It's...comforting, being here with you."
"Don't think of it like that," Riku said, shaking his head (trying hard to ignore her- sappy girl talk). "I'm not kicking you out. I'm...helping you...uh, take the next step in life? You won't have to just be some freaky ghost hanging around anymore. You'll be able to...walk around, look with eyes and- pick things up with hands or whatever. Open doorknobs."
"Oh yes, I'm just thrilled at the idea of being able to finally open doorknobs. This is going to be really worth it. This will really be the peak of existence."
"Come on! It's a huge upgrade for you. Hey, maybe you'll even be able to eat some great food, yourself, now, too. Or...uh, well, you said you wanted to be a girl, right? So you'll be able to do...girl stuff? Like, uh - shopping? You can try on- dresses or whatever? Right?"
"..."
"...Hey, I'm really trying here, can you work with me a little?" Riku pleaded, his face burning.
Cognis sighed. "I suppose...that would be the decent thing to do. Alright: I'll admit, I am curious about the idea of furthering my explorations of the female gender in a...more concrete form. And yes, the pun was intended in full."
"Well...yeah, there you go, then!" Riku strangled out. "See? It'll be...fun."
"We'll see, yes. Alright. Whenever you want to try this, I'll just...go along with it."
"Okay. Uh..."
Riku closed his eyes, breathing in, then out. He tried to focus, to imagine some...physical body for her? Like Ven had said. Give her a shape, a solid form...Will it to be, to exist...to happen...by his power and will alone...
After a few moments, the light of his Heart Station burned brightly, shining up around them both.
He felt himself lifting off the platform, into the air...with Cognis...?
The light swirled around her misty form, intermixing with the darkness, bright "white" fires mixing with the dark purple...
Then everything went white, overwhelming his senses-
And he found himself back in Ven's room again.
"Did it work?" he said, turning immediately to Ven.
He reached out his senses - and turned to the right. He stopped as he "saw" her.
"Hm..." Cognis's voice hummed.
"Uh - Ven?" Riku turned his head toward the boy. "Something happened, right? It worked?"
"Y-yeah...something."
"Cognis?" Riku said, "looking" back to the girl...the Darkness. He felt her with his senses again, and found...she wasn't a formless shape anymore. She was definitely- defined now. Solid. But... "Are you - uh - okay there...?"
"Hm? Oh. I...think so."
"Well what happened?" Riku asked, a little annoyed now. "Somebody describe the situation for me here."
"Alright," Ven started. "You know how the whole reason Vanitas looks like Sora is because after he was torn out of my Heart, my Heart was broken. Then Sora's Heart connected with mine, and he fixed my Heart by giving me his light - which also affected Vanitas. Either because he literally had the other part of my Heart with him too, or just because we were still connected, no matter what the exact details were."
"Yeah - I get all that," Riku nodded. "What does any of that have to do with why you're being weird about Cognis now? Or why Cognis is being weird about Cognis," he added stupidly.
"Well...I think somethin' similar mighta happened here with you two, in some way or other, 'cause..." Ven coughed. "She definitely has a- a body and all that."
Riku stood there for a moment, absorbing the boy's words. He choked, feeling a heat go up his neck. "Ven...dude...are you trying to say she's a bombshell or something and you're really attracted to her? Because that's weird, dude!"
"It is weird!" Ven exclaimed, agreeing. "Uh - I didn't mean she's- I'm not- I just meant- in general, her whole...it's weird!"
"WHAT'S weird? Use your words!" Riku exclaimed back, frustrated. "Stop beating around the bush and just-"
"She looks a lot like you, okay?" Ven said, in a petulant, honestly sort of pouting voice. Like he was younger than Riku. "Like she's your twin sister or something! It's weird..."
Riku stood there for a minute, absorbing that information. Sitting with it. Mulling it over... Then-
"WHAAAAAAT?!"
"Does anyone want to hear my opinion?" Cognis herself spoke up, in pleased tones. "Because I think I'm going to like it after all."
"Why do I have to cover my chest with a towel when you don't have to, but you haven't said a thing about Imra walking around completely naked?"
Sora's mouth fell open. He looked at her, then away. Then back at her. "Xion..."
"What?"
"Did you...did you just hold a grudge?" he said, sounding afraid.
Xion looked down at herself, raising her hands. "I'm not holding anything?"
Sora blinked at her. "Nevermind...Uhhhh, look, it's- kinda different with...Imra..."
"Why?" Xion demanded sharply.
"Well - because she's not really - you know...she doesn't exactly look like a- normal girl. She doesn't have the same...uh...parts on her, okay? Like you do. Parts that, uhhh, girls shouldn't really be...showing people. Get it?"
"Imra has boobs."
"W-well - yeah, I guess, kinda, but..."
"This is all just stupid!" Xion exclaimed. "You're stupid, your stupid rules don't even make sense, and I hate-" she went on, sitting up now-
Pain burned through her, making her voice choke and cry. She fell back onto the bed again, gasping and screwing up her eyes!
"Hey, take it easy, okay? Are you alright?"
"NO!" Xion exclaimed, in pain and frustration. "Why is it different just because I'm a girl, but it's not different for Imra, but it's different for you? Why can't I just walk around how I want to?!"
"Ummm - okay, okay - look, if you really wanted to you could go to the east side of the island! Some of the beaches over there, I think - they're different about it!" Sora said quickly, raising his hands to her. "Or- north! Past the mountains, you know? Hehe. There's some places up there with uh - some different, not stupid rules about that kinda thing where people can just...you know...walk around however you want like that. And I mean...technically I guess we don't really have rules about it in our area, it's just more like a- strong suggestion? Nobody would really throw you in jail for it or anything, but it'd make people do some real double takes...staring and stuff...just because it's sort of still a- a thing you don't see everyday. But uh...if you were just sunbathing on the beach or something that'd be fine with most people?"
"Is that why you freaked out then? Because you weren't used to it?"
"Uh, well, I mean...sort of. But the other part of it was I was just trying to help you get all this human social stuff right, you know? Just - pointing something out that you might want to know. Like, if you're in other people's houses, you've gotta respect their rules, right? And if my mom had seen you going around like that, she probably wouldn't have been too happy. At least, not if you made it a habit! But a little mistake is fine!"
"But you keep making me feel like I made a HUGE mistake!"
Sora stopped. He frowned at her. "I do?"
"YES!"
"...Oh. Well...look, I'm sorry - okay? I never meant to make you feel this bad about it. It really wasn't some big, terrible thing. Just a- a little slip-up. And I mean, I guess I kinda overreacted, but I was mostly just embarrassed... Ugh, Xion, look, this isn't really my thing, alright? I'M not a girl. Kairi-" He stopped again. He sighed. "I wish Kairi was here. She'd probably know how to explain all of this to you the right way..."
"Probably..." Xion agreed quietly. "I wish she was here too. You're terrible at explaining things."
"Sorry..."
Xion sighed now too. "...It's OK..."
"No, it's not..." Sora sighed again. "You're still pretty mad at me."
"I just don't...get it."
"Well, when we get Kairi back, you can talk to her about it all you want..." Sora offered. "It's just - uh - complicated, you know? On a few different levels."
"I guess..."
Xion guessed it didn't really matter right now - she wasn't even at home anymore. And it didn't matter until Kairi came back, either.
"Can you go ask Terra if I can drink another Potion yet?" she asked instead, trying to just let all the feelings go.
"Sure!" Sora said instantly, jumping to his feet. "Be back in a sec!"
"Thanks, Sora," she said softly - trying to be sincere. To smile.
"Hey, no problem!" Sora said cheerfully, hurrying out the door.
Xion turned her head away, her smile disappearing.
After only a few minutes though, she heard a knock at the door.
"Hello - would it be alright if I came in?" spoke a new voice.
Xion was confused, but then she remembered what the others had said earlier. It must be Cognis. The girl. The Darkness. Like Xion was a Replica...and a girl now.
"Yes!" Xion said loudly.
The door opened, and the girl walked in.
Xion almost thought she was Riku at first. But all the differences made it more obvious after she blinked.
She was thinner, maybe taller by a bit? Her face was different, too - maybe smaller? Rounder, too? And her eyes were a different kind of blue. A darker color. Like the deep ocean blue. Her skin was paler than Riku's, too. And her hair was a lot longer than Riku's: it went down to her waist, and it was...fluffier? There were a lot of messy bits sticking out of it. She had a long curved bang down over her forehead, that stopped between her eyes. There were two other, fluffy locks of hair that curved down on either side of her face, down past her chin. The color of her hair was also more...pure white than silvery-blue or purple?
The girl was wearing a thin blue dress that looked big and long on her. It was like the one Kairi had worn once here. It was one of Aqua's?
"Hi," Xion said, trying to smile at the girl.
The girl smiled back. "Hello, Xion. It's nice to meet you."
"You too..."
"How are you feeling? I heard you were injured. Badly."
"It hurts a lot...but I'm taking Potions. Terra said it should be OK soon."
"That's very good to hear." Cognis stepped over to the bed. She looked down at the chair. "Can I sit with you, Xion?"
"Yes."
"Thank you."
The girl sat down in the chair. She put her knees together, tilting her head down at herself with a frown. "Hm...it's strange, having a body like this. Everything feels...well, feels, I suppose. This hair, this body, these clothes on this skin..."
"Yes! I hate taking showers and I hate it when I hit my fingers on things and clothes rub against my boobs and sounds are everywhere and when something smells terrible it almost makes me puke! I puke anyways from trying to eat things, but I don't need to do it more! And it's so annoying that you can't be too hot or too cold, you have to be in the middle, and if you don't blink for a long time it makes your eyes hurt and things are just horrible all the time now!"
"...Well, that sounds like there a lot of bad things going on in your life right now," Cognis said. "You haven't enjoyed being human, then?"
"Not really!" Xion said honestly. "Not much..."
"Hm..." The girl looked down at herself. She raised her hands to tug at the loose and low down collar of her dress. She shrugged and shook her head. "My chest feels fine, personally. And I can't say sounds or smells have bothered me yet."
"You don't look like you really have boobs, though," Xion said, peering at her closely.
Cognis looked at her, tilting her head. She laughed. "Hmph. That's really rude, you know. I'll also have you know that I very much do have breasts - they just aren't as prominent as yours!"
"Sorry..."
"I suppose it's alright," the girl muttered. "It's not like I could talk about any of this with Riku. Well, I could, but it wouldn't be a very productive conversation... And you're more similar to me than I am to him and the rest of them, aren't you?"
"I...guess so?"
"Excellent. I'd like you to tell me more about your experiences as a human girl - if you wouldn't mind. I'd like to know what to expect for myself."
"Well..." Xion frowned, thinking hard.