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cutegirlmayra · 3 years

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Kairi’s Training Prompt

-After Melody of Memory-

* SPOILER WARNING *

I couldn’t stop thinking about it... I must have gotten over-confident... no, that’s not it. I feel it in my heart. I know why I said that to Riku... Even knowing I wasn’t nearly as ready to face the dangers of a... unreality world... I was just expecting Riku to say what you did.

When I first came back, you had asked if I was ready. It took me by surprise for a minute... but then, you always did.

Riku... I won’t say I’m sorry for asking to go with him, but I will say I knew and respected his honest hesitation.

With how I currently am... and with all the amazing adventures you and him have been on... I’ll keep you safe, Sora. Riku will find you, and I’ll be ready.

When the time is right, Master Aqua will tell me. I will either return to the Final World... or I’ll greet you and Riku when you get back.

But I’m not waiting any longer.

Aqua flung her keyblade up as the two were locked in a duel mid-air. Kairi, clenching her teeth, opened her mouth a moment at the realization of her next attack. Attempting to face it head on instead of her usual dodging route, she spun her keyblade around and fired off a new ranged attack she had been trying to work on.

Aqua was taking her seriously, and unleashed her powerful attack that sent a violent, rippling wave right through her spheres of light, and cut Kairi back to the ground.

As her head hit the dirt, she relived the moment in her heart, where Xehanort had revealed himself before...

As Aqua approached, Kairi’s head was still ringing, and looking up... the dark illusion of him coming towards her glitched into her reality.

“Eh.. ah..!” she shook her head, scooting back a moment as she recounted how easily he would grab her keyblade, how weak she was to try and rival a master. “No...” she gripped her hand into a tight fist by her heart, looking away from the glitching images of Aqua being replaced by Master Xehanort.

“I won’t... fall again!” She pushed off the ground, gripping her keyblade in a new way and shoving it into Aqua’s.

Aqua saw something different in Kairi... a glimmer of raw power she didn’t see before.

“This is...” Her eyes widened... seeing Sora within them. “I see now.” She smiled, and broke the tension of their two keyblades colliding, pushing Kairi back. “Looks like I’m not the only one teaching you strength.” She was glad to see that there was some influence, but couldn’t pin-point exactly why Kairi’s eyes reflected his own spirit in them...

‘They were close friends...’ she told herself, but as she quickly analyzed the battled previously, she noticed that every time she was about to mention--let’s say, Kairi’s footing--that she’d already adjust as though something was nudging her in the right direction.

“...Will lingers.” she spoke aloud, though secretly to herself, but through Kairi’s panting and waiting to see what her opponent would do... she heard it.

“What?” She broke her stance, standing upright again and out of her battle-ready position.

Aqua was looking down, remembering Terra and shook her head as Kairi snapped her out of her thoughts. “Sorry.” She gestured her with her hand towards her, “I should... make it a habit not to think too much while we’re training.” She swiped her keyblade out in front of her again, letting it rest elegantly by her side. “Where were we?”

Kairi’s eyes narrowed again, “You said... will lingers. What do you mean?”

Silence... as Aqua stared at her, wondering...

She sighed, at last, “That’s enough training for today.” Relaxing, she approached Kairi again, placing a hand on her shoulder, “We’ll get your tolerance to attacks up, lots of strength training should do it. As for stamina to keep you up during combat...” She removed the hand to then put it up to her chin, “How about a few laps around the place?”

She was cheery, and her positive but fierce training style was exactly what Kairi wanted.

“Right. A few laps.” Kairi took off, letting her keyblade fade into sparkling dusts of light.

“And no flying!” Aqua cupped her hand to the side of her mouth to make sure her voice and advice carried through the wind. With a slight inward chuckle to herself, she looked fondly after Kairi’s racing image.

“Huh?” She then blinked and scanned the image again... seeing Sora running right alongside Kairi before she looked away, shook her head, and squinted through the light of the sun.

It was just Kairi.

“...I... Hmm... Guess I still need to adjust to the light.” She amused out loud, a bad habit. Though... it didn’t concern her, her odd mirage.

She was glad to recognize some of Sora in her.

That was what she was recognizing,.. right?

After circling about a few times, Kairi looked behind her shoulder, seeing that Aqua had gone and looked off to her favorite meditative spot.

She was focused keenly in on it, a cliff that overlooked the vastness of time to her... a beautiful scenery to be alone.

Though, she wasn’t quite comfortable being alone... she was used to it.

Master Aqua has been training me for days now. Though, I know it’s only been a short time since Riku’s departure in the Final World, I feel as though I’ve gotten stronger.

Maybe I’m a fast learner. It makes me happy to think that.

...How are you, Sora? Still having amazing adventures? I just know you are. I can’t picture you being so disheartened, it’s not like you.

I have a feeling... you’re waiting this time. And don’t worry, I won’t keep you waiting nearly as long as you did me!

Sorry... that was a joke, and this time, I will admit my wrong.

I know you and Riku miss our time on Destiny Island. When we returned the first time from the Final World... do you remember what you told me?

You promised you would return.

I...

Kairi held the pen up to her cheek, as though wondering if she should say this. Pen was permeant. She sort of... wished she had brought a pencil then.

But nonetheless, she told herself, “Well, no going back now.” And happily continued in her quiet letter to Sora. A pastime she felt she needed to do now, not just for herself.

Somehow... she felt his heart could read it. And secretly... she hoped it’d give him strength.

I felt your hand tighten around mine. Though we had seen fireworks, ate sea-salt ice cream together,... even got your friend back with his. I never felt such longing before...

Maybe because you were never physically there, because our hearts were always so connected before.

But in that moment, I had never felt more away from you.

Kairi felt a tear on her cheek and quickly scraped it away, getting ink on her face, but not noticing it.

She kept writing.

Is that strange? To feel close to you when you’re away, and be so happy when we’re together at last... but then, in a moment you wanted me to feel even more so that you would always be there... I felt like your hand was saying goodbye.

I know that’s silly. You hate goodbyes. And honestly? I hate them too.

I know you wanted to comfort me, and you really did. Honest, you did.

The ink smeared across her face as her warm tears kept sliding gently but in a hurried stream down her cheek. Her wrist kept wiping them, but to no avail.

Her vision was blurry, and it made her smile even more.

I miss you. Sora, when I was reliving your past, that time I was in your heart... I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Our fates are one, now... but my fate has never been my own to choose.

I didn’t know that. Did you?

Is that why you were always chasing after me? Is that why I always got you hurt?

I know you wouldn’t say that. Not to my face, anyway. Oh, by the way, Donald and Goofy are really worried about you... But I told them you’re pint is still enough to get back to them!

Suddenly, Kairi felt that presence again... she saw herself glowing and looked at her hand, amazed as her body flashed into light.

Sora then opened his eyes, looking lovingly to the pen, and scribbled words down as quickly as he could. He had a big grin on his face, enjoying every moment of it, before nodding that he was done.

He then took his hand and wiped the remaining tears and ink on her face, carefully trying to indirectly help clean her up, and then closed his eyes again.

Kairi’s body flashed in light and she was herself again; still in a bit of shock, she looked back down at her hand with the pen in it.

“Wha...” she looked at her letter...

and covered her mouth as her eyes widened in more tears.

You know good and well I wouldn’t ever even think that, Kairi!

Even the first line blew her away. “Sora...” She laughed to herself, but noticed there was more and quickly looked over it.

“I never had a reply before...”

Your fate and mine are intertwined now, remember? I know you once forgot my name, but that’s okay. My memory was replaced by Naminé once! So I guess we’re even on that one.

She had to stop reading only to close her eyes and cry, breathing through her hand tightly clasped over her sobbing mouth.

She blinked her eyes open to see what else was written then.

My voice... and maybe even most of me might be consciously lost in another world... one of fiction and fantasy. But Kairi? No matter where I am, I know our hearts will find each other.

You’ve always been my guiding key.

She dropped the paper, covering her face and trying to compose herself. “Sora... Sora..!” She wished she could say the same thing back to him.

As the paper fell to the ground, it was suddenly swooped up by the wind, threatening to fall off the cliff.

“Ah! No!” She darted after it, reaching down at the edge as it floated in twisting turns off the cliff edge.

Determined to read the last of his message, not knowing if they could ever communicate like that again, she rushed back and took a leaping dive off the cliff.

Her hand grasped for the letter’s paper... and finally, grabbed it. “Ah-ha!” she grinned with an open mouth before gliding over the sea and turning over the trees to land safely back to the ground.

She looked to see the last of his message flapping in the newly strong wind that had picked up, seeing it say...

Look to the sky, Kairi. I promised, didn’t I? I’m coming back, and when I do, we’re gonna see all those worlds together again! This time, my hand won’t squeeze so tight... but my arms will.

“Kairi?”

Looking up from the crinkled and flapping paper in her hands, Aqua’s voice had startled her momentarily.

“O-oh, Master Aqua...” She didn’t realize...

Aqua’s hand flung up to her face in surprise, “W-...What happened to you?”

Kairi tried to look down at her cheeks, not realizing that Sora had made the mess even worse, spreading the ink all over her face...

“Ah..!” Embarrassed, she laughed and tried to get it off again. “It.. It won’t come off!” She panicked only slightly, “The wind from when I was flying must have dried it!”

“Flying? Didn’t I tell you-... ah, nevermind.” Aqua shook her head, thinking it best to put her ‘Training’ aside for a moment. “Let’s get you cleaned up.” she kindly spoke out and walked over to her, helping her to the sea so she could wash her face off.

Kairi then looked up to the sky... and swore she saw a cloud spell out... smile.

#kingdom hearts #kingdom hearts melody of memory #cutegirlmayra #sokai #soraxkairi #kingdom hearts prompt #sokai prompt #kh #khmom #melody of memory #spoiler alert!

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maddrmatt · 4 years

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Kairi’s Epic Journey: The Quest for Sora

New to this fanfic? Click here to properly begin!

Chapter 5: A Gift for the Princess

“Child? Why do you weep?”

“Huh?” asked Kairi as she ceased crying and raised her head. She looked around for the source of the mysterious voice. But there was no sign of anything in the darkness.

“Who’s there?” she asked.

Suddenly, a beam of light shone down upon her from above. She looked upward and saw a glowing portal of light hovering in the air.

Within it was the silhouette of what appeared to be a woman. But the light was so bright that Kairi couldn’t make out any discernable features

“I believe I asked you a question first, my dear. Tell me, why are you so sad?” she asked in a gentle tone of concern.

Kairi hung her head down. “It’s because I’m responsible for something awful.”

“And what may that be?”

“My friends and I were in a great battle to save the worlds. Though we won, I was killed and someone very special to me had to trade his own life to bring me back,” said Kairi.

“Sounds like you think very highly of this person. Especially if his loss is causing you such great sorrow,” said the woman.

“He was one of the best friends and people I ever knew. It’s not right that he helped so many and saved the worlds and doesn’t even get to enjoy his victory.”

“And why do you shoulder the blame for what happened to him? Truly, there must be someone more responsible than you.”

Kairi’s eyes narrowed in anger. “Oh, there is. The man who set all this pain and suffering in motion: Xehanort. He hurt so many people including many of my friends. He’s the one who killed me and left me with this horrible scar on my back. Now I can never forget him or everything he took from me.”

Kairi’s eyes then turned sorrowful. “But still, he wouldn’t have been able to get what he wanted if I had been stronger. I trained as hard as I could and in the end, Sora still had to save me. This time, at the highest cost ever.”

She gazed downward again. “All I ever wanted was to be part of his life for all time. There was so much I wanted to tell him. That I wanted to do with him. And now thanks to my uselessness, I’ll never get that chance. ‘And the Princess of Heart lived unhappily ever after.’ Some ending to our story.”

“Now child, don’t speak so harshly about yourself. And who’s to say that your story is over now? Perhaps it is merely the beginning of a whole new chapter for the both of you. I have a gift for you that may be just what you need to get started on it.”

“Huh?” asked Kairi.

“Hold out your hand, my dear,” said the woman.

Kairi said nothing but did as she was told and held out her right hand. As she watched, the woman extended her hand toward her. White light gathered in the palm of her hand and formed into a ball. The ball of light then floated from the woman’s hand until it stopped just above Kairi’s outstretched hand. The ball then shone brighter and brighter causing Kairi to cover her eyes.

When the light died down, Kairi felt something had entered her hand. She uncovered her eyes and her jaw dropped in surprise.

Sitting in her palm was what appeared to be a star made out of white crystal. It was slightly bigger than her palm, but not overly large that Kairi couldn’t wrap her fingers around it. A gold chain was looped through one of the points indicating that it could be worn like a necklace or medallion. In the center of the star was a carved image of a flower with four petals and within the center of the flower was the shape of a heart.

“What is this?” asked Kairi.

“A very special talisman,” replied the woman.

“It looks like a Wayfinder like my lucky charm that I gave to Sora or what Terra, Aqua and Ven had,” said Kairi.

“I guess you could call it that then.”

“What does it do?”

“It has the power to traverse the worlds and guide you to where you need to be.”

“Where I need to be?” muttered Kairi before she let out a gasp. “You mean it’ll take me to Sora?”

“Perhaps it will. But whether or not he is able to be saved will all depend on you,” said the woman.

“What’s that supposed to mean? Is there something I need to do? Because if there is, I’ll do it! Just tell me!” demanded Kairi.

“You will have to forgive my vagueness, Kairi. I do wish I could tell you everything. But I can only get you started on this journey. There are some things you just have to discover and do for yourself. But trust me when I say that I have nothing but your best interests at heart and a sincere desire for you to be happy again,” said the woman.

Kairi was still a little skeptical. She wished this mysterious benefactor would be clearer. But still, there was something about this woman that made her want to trust her, so she calmed down.

“Well, when you put it that way, I guess vague help is better than no help at all especially after seven months with no leads on how to help him. So how do I use this Wayfinder?” asked Kairi.

“That I can tell you and it is actually quite simple to use. All you need to do is hold it to your heart and will it to take you where you need to be. And after you’ve done what you need to do in the world that it takes you to, it will glow and that’s when you’ll know it’s time to move onto the next world,” said the woman.

“That simple, huh?”

“Just keep in mind that wherever you go, you’re there for a reason even if it’s not apparent. But I must warn you, Kairi. Once you start on the path that the Wayfinder guides you on, there will be no turning back. And though the various threats to the worlds such as the Heartless, the Nobodies and the Unversed have vanished for now since the defeat of Xehanort, that does not mean that there won’t be any danger. There are still many evildoers and villains that you may encounter. So, ask yourself this, Kairi, are you prepared to take that risk?” asked the woman.

Kairi didn’t have to think twice. “I may not fully understand what you’re trying to do. But if there’s even a slim chance that this Wayfinder will lead me to Sora, then I’ll take it. He risked everything to save so many including me. It’s time someone did the same for him.”

“You are a very determined young lady, Kairi. That will serve you well on your journey. Now one final piece of advice. Throughout your travels, heed these words: follow in the footsteps of your special one and a broken heart may be healed. I wish you the best of luck,” said the woman.

Suddenly, the light from the woman’s portal began to glow brighter until the whole void was immersed in bright light. Kairi could no longer see any sign of the woman. But looking ahead, she saw a most welcome sight.

Standing with his back to her, was Sora. Slowly, he turned around and gave her the smile that she often believed that would reach any heart.

As the light increased, Sora began to fade from view. But before he vanished completely, his mouth moved as if speaking though no sound came out. But Kairi could read his lips and knew exactly what his message was. It warmed her heart to no end.

“See you soon.”

________________________________________________________________

Destiny Islands

Back in her bed, Kairi awoke. As she sat up, Pluto awoke as well and crawled up to her with a look of concern on his face.

Kairi let out a deep sigh. “That definitely was the worst dream yet, Pluto. It’s bad enough that it started with such awful things. But then it torments me further by pretending to give me something that can guide me to Sora. I really must be going crazy,” said Kairi as she rubbed her temple.

Suddenly, her other hand brushed up against something under the bedcovers. Upon noticing, Kairi pulled them back and her eyes shot wide open as did Pluto’s.

There, sitting on her bed, was the Wayfinder from her dream!

Kairi couldn’t believe her eyes. “I-It’s here! It’s real!”

‘If it’s really here when I’m awake, does that mean that it really will lead me to Sora?’

Cautiously, she reached for it. Now that she knew it really existed, she was a little more hesitant. For all she knew, it could be some kind of trap.

Finally, her fingers touched the center of the Wayfinder. A warm feeling suddenly surged through her. It felt shocking but at the same time, it almost felt reassuring.

It was as if the Wayfinder was bringing back something that she thought she was losing: her hope.

Kairi picked up the Wayfinder by its chain and gazed at it. Pluto gazed at it too with a puzzled look.

“This is it, Pluto. This is what I’ve been waiting for. This is what’s going to help me get Sora back!”

Pluto still looked confused. He didn’t know what Kairi was talking about. But that trinket she was holding definitely hadn’t been in the room when they had gone to bed.

Kairi immediately leapt up from her bed and started pacing around her room. “Oh, there’s so much I need to do, I don’t know where to start. I’ve got to get dressed. I’ve got to pack. Oh wait. That’s already done. I’ve had my knapsack packed for months. I’ve got to leave a note for Mom and Dad. I’ve got to call Riku and…”

Kairi stopped herself. In all her excitement over the Wayfinder, she had completely forgotten two things: that she had left her Gummi Phone in the Secret Place and that she wasn’t currently on speaking terms with Riku.

Kairi brought the Wayfinder up to her eyelevel. ‘Should I go tell him and the others about this?’

Then Kairi remembered how Riku and the others reacted when she told them she felt Sora a month ago. A bitter feeling came over her.

‘And tell them what? That you were given this talisman that’ll lead you to Sora by a mysterious woman in a dream? They’ll think that you’re losing it, Kairi. They didn’t believe you before, so they certainly won’t believe you now.’

Kairi walked over to her window. Looking through it, she saw the dawn beginning to break over the horizon where the sky and sea met.

‘Looks like I’m on my own for this journey. And that’s probably the way it should be. Sora’s where he is because of me so it’s my responsibility and mine alone to bring him home. And when I do, Riku and everyone else will finally realize they made a mistake and apologize for giving up. That’s right. When I get Sora back, everything will be okay again’

Her mind now made up; Kairi immediately began her preparations.

________________________________________________________________

Much later, now fully dressed with a knapsack full of shrunken supplies on her back and the Wayfinder hanging from her neck, Kairi opened up her window. Turning around, she looked at her bedroom door knowing that her parents, who were still asleep, would open that door in the morning and find her gone. She then turned to her bed upon where a piece of paper had been left on top of her pillow. A pang of regret shot through her.

‘I’m sorry, Mom and Dad. I hate to run away like this. But I can’t let anyone stop me. Hopefully, my note will provide a good enough explanation. I’ll be back soon. I hope.’

She then climbed up on the window ledge and looked to the ground. Most people would have been afraid to jump from a second story window. But not her. She had jumped greater distances such as the giant leap she took in the Castle that Never Was when Sora was being attacked by the Organization’s Heartless. Compared to that, this was nothing.

With a deep breath, she leapt out and dropped to the backyard below. She landed easily on her feet. Turning around and looking up at the window, she called up in a whisper, “Okay Pluto! Your turn! Come on down!”

In response to her call, the dog leapt out of her window. Like her, he landed on his feet.

“Nice landing, Pluto. You must be part cat.”

Pluto suddenly gave a look of offense. Clearly being compared to a feline didn’t sit to well with him.

“Easy, boy. I meant no offense,” said Kairi as she held up her hands in defense.

Then she knelt down so she could look Pluto in the eye. “Pluto, you’ve been a great friend and a great comfort to me this last month. So, this isn’t going to be easy for you to hear.”

In response, Pluto gave her a questioning look. What was she about to say to him?

“Since I’m going off to find Sora, I think it’s time for you to go home. So, I want you to go to Riku and he’ll make sure you get home to Disney Castle.”

Kairi then gave Pluto an affectionate pat on the head. “I really loved having you stay with me this past month. I’m really going to miss you.”

With that, Kairi rose up and walked toward the gate that would take her out of the backyard. She opened it up and headed for the sidewalk.

But as she walked down the sidewalk, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around and saw Pluto following her.

“Pluto, this isn’t the way to Riku’s house,” she said.

In response, Pluto just continued to walk until he reached her side. Stopping, he looked up at her and gave her a smile.

“I can’t take you with me, Pluto. It could be very dangerous.”

The dog just walked in front of her, turned around and sat down. His eyes contained a glimmer of determination.

‘Seems he really wants to come with me. But I don’t want to put him in danger. Sure, Sora had Donald and Goofy with him on his adventures and Riku had Mickey with him. But they all had skills and powers to protect themselves while Pluto has none.’

But then Kairi recalled, from what she had heard, that for the duration of the past adventures, Pluto had been off on his own doing something that was still unknown to them. And he had shown up in the nick of time to protect her from Axel when he had tried to kidnap her.

‘Maybe he’ll be able to handle himself just fine on the journey. Plus, it would be nice to have some company.’

Then Pluto gave one of the classic puppy-dog eyes looks to her. She had to cover her mouth to stifle her laughter.

‘Oh, how can I say no to that face?’

Kairi smiled and scratched Pluto on the head. “Pluto, you are definitely the best dog in all the worlds. All right. You can come along.”

Pluto barked happily and started licking Kairi’s cheek. Kairi giggled for a moment before shushing him.

“Keep it down, Pluto. We don’t want to wake anyone up especially my parents. Now let’s get going. There’s something I need to do before we leave the Islands.”

With that, the two of them continued onward. Kairi didn’t know what truly laid on the journey ahead. But with the Wayfinder in hand and Pluto by her side, she would explore any world, face any obstacle and fight any enemy that stood in her way.

Nothing would stop her in her efforts to reunite with the most special person in her heart.

________________________________________________________________

Onto the next chapter!

#kingdom hearts #kh fanfiction #sokai #kairi #sora #pluto #maddrmatt

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talinexa · 5 years

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Re-Meetings - Drabbles (2)

Because SOME characters didn’t get the reunions they deserved!

Part 2

Terra & Riku

Riku landed the Gummiship at the Land of Departure. Aqua, Ventus, and Terra were waiting for him. He hopped out with a smile. “All aboard! Course set for Destiny Islands!” He swept one arm back toward the ship. Ventus and Aqua led the way. Riku stepped into Terra’s path. “Listen, you probably don’t remember me—”

But Terra smiled. “You’re the boy I bequeathed the power of the keyblade to,” he said. “Riku.”

Riku nodded. “I—uh—yeah.”

“Aqua told me you’re a full-fledged Master now.” Terra set his hand on Riku’s shoulder and gave him a sincere look. “I’m proud of you.”

Riku looked down at the intersection of the straps over Terra’s chest. “I don’t know if I deserve your pride. I… initially failed. Succumbed to darkness. I didn’t… become the man I could have.”

Terra raised a brow. “Yes you did. The fact that you returned to the light is what matters. You redeemed yourself, Riku. You made the same mistake I did, but when you fought back against the darkness inside, you made it. You did what I wasn’t strong enough to. You became a stronger man for it. And that’s why I’m so proud of you. Because in redeeming yourself, you redeemed me. I made a lot of mistakes and without me choosing you, I never would have been freed from Xehanort’s control. I’m proud of you and know that I chose my successor well. I knew it then and I know it now. You fought for the strength to protect what matters and you got it.”

“Hey! Are we going to Destiny Islands or what?” Ven called from inside the ship.

Terra nodded toward his friend’s voice. “C’mon. Don’t want to keep them waiting. We have other passengers to pick up as well, don’t we?”

“I—yeah,” Riku said.

“You can tell me the whole story another time. But know that I am proud of you. You’ve become a good man—and a hero. Thank you.”

Riku met Terra’s gaze. “No. Thank you. Without you I never would have made it this far.”

Terra ruffled Riku’s hair the same way he would Ven’s. “Let’s get going before Ven starts whining.”

“Yeah. Yeah okay.” Riku boarded the ship with Terra right behind. He’d grown out of his arrogance and into his confidence, but Terra’s pride stoked his old insecurities about not being good enough or strong enough. What if one of Terra’s mistakes was choosing Riku as his successor? Riku, in his hour of weakness, had fallen into darkness and been possessed by Ansem.

Aqua and Ven stayed in the body of the ship while Terra went up to the bridge and sat in a co-pilot seat. “How far to Radiant Garden?”

“Hour maybe?” Riku replied.

“Tell me everything you can about what happened to you,” Terra requested.

So Riku did. He gave a very brief summary of what happened before, during, and after his redemption. Ripping open the Door to Darkness on the islands. Being manipulated by Maleficent. Getting possessed by Ansem. Winding up in the realm of darkness. Castle Oblivion and fighting toward the road to dawn. Fighting Roxas to get Sora back. Giving in to the darkness again and guiding Sora from the shadows until The World That Never Was and regaining his true form. The Mark Of Mastery exam.

He glossed over some unimportant pieces and finished right before landing in Radiant Garden.

Terra stood up at the same time as him as he moved to leave. “You’ve grown into a great man, Riku. Never forget that. You did it. Strength to protect what matters.” Terra clapped Riku on the shoulder. “You deserve the title of Master and I’m proud of you.”

Riku met Terra’s gaze again, this time with confidence. “Thank you.”

Terra nodded, then glanced out the dome. “Now. Go get Naminé.”

Riku smiled. “Yes sir.” He jogged off.

Terra folded his arms and smirked to himself. Of all the mistakes he’d made, passing the keyblade on to Riku wasn’t one of them.

Ven & Lea

“On the morrow, you journey to the fated place,” Master Yen Sid said. Everyone bowed and left the study, ready to depart to homes to say goodbye. Lea filed out last, closing the door behind him, caught just behind Kairi and Ventus.

Who paused out in the hall as everyone else left. Kairi edged past the blond. Ventus turned and looked up. “You grew a lot, Lea,” he offered.

Lea nodded and scratched the back of his head. “Yeah… guess so,” he replied.

Ventus smiled. “I’m sorry I didn’t grow with you.”

Lea waved a hand dismissively. “Naw. You had your own problems to worry about.”

“It’s awesome that you became a keyblade wielder like me,” Ventus continued.

“Well… it wasn’t all sunlight and good times.”

"What do you mean?”

Lea sighed and leaned against the wall, folding his arms. “You heard Sora call me ‘Axel.’ But I don’t think anyone brushed you up on the Organization. The original Organization. The one I was part of.”

“You were... on their side?”

“Yeah but they didn’t tell us the whole truth. They said we were collecting hearts to make a new Kingdom Hearts to become whole again. Because... we’d become Nobodies. Our hearts were torn from our bodies, leaving empty, emotionless husks behind. While I was with them I went by the name Axel. I met Sora and the others when I was Axel so that’s how they know me.”

Ventus listened with curious interest. “That’s a lot to get memorized,” he agreed. He reached out and clapped Lea’s arm. “But we’re still friends.”

Lea smiled and nodded. “Yeah.”

“Hey. Maybe this time you might win a fight between you and me!”

Lea laughed. “Ha! Not likely. You’re an old hand with a keyblade. I’m a newbie.”

“And I’m over ten years out of practice,” Ven reasoned.

There was a moment of silence before Lea smiled. “When this is all over, assuming we both survive, we’ll just have to see then, won’t we?” he asked. Ventus nodded with a smile.

“Definitely.” Ventus moved to head downstairs after Aqua.

“Hey Ven?” Lea said.

“Yeah?” Ven turned with raised eyebrows.

“I’m glad you’re back.”

“And I’m glad to see you again.” Ventus nodded.

Lea reached out, faltered, and let his hand fall to his side. “Me too.”

But Ven knew what Lea was too hesitant to do. He stepped forward and gave Lea a hug around the middle. Lea hugged him back, grateful that out of all the things he’d lost, the weird kid with the toy sword who’d become a fast friend for only a few moments in childhood was one that came back.

Ventus let him go after a moment. “See you tomorrow,” he said before jogging to catch up with Aqua.

“See you tomorrow,” Lea said quietly, more to himself than Ventus—who was out of earshot.

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keybladehearts-remade · 5 years

Text

The First Time Is Always Scary

AN: okay first off yes, I know how Rated M for Mature the title sounds but it’s hella PG and in no way age restricted. Second off this was inspired by my friend Xion’s first time driving today and my personal learning experiences

Word Count: 1,396

Sora climbed into the driver’s side, closing the door behind him before grinning at Riku who was sat in the passenger’s seat. Riku smiled back and crossed his arms over his chest, “So Sora, what’s the first thing you want to do when you get behind the wheel?”

“Turn the car on!”

“Not quite,” Riku shook his head. “Before that.”

“Uh...” Sora’s eyes wandered around the interior of the car, his confidence fading. “Check the mirrors?”

“That’s one thing, but what’s the other?”

Sora opened his mouth to speak but closed it just as quickly, unable to give Riku an answer. He rubbed his chin and tilted his head, pondering. Minutes passed before Sora sighed, “I got nothing.”

“Seat-belt.”

Sora’s face highlighted a soft pink as he rubbed the back of his head and laughed sheepishly, “Oh, right.”

Riku waited until the seat-belt clicked before continuing, “Now, driving a car is a bit different than piloting a gummi ship-”

“Yeah, the gummi ship doesn’t have these pedals.” Sora laughed but stopped when he realized Riku wasn’t laughing with him.

“You’ll need to be aware of your surroundings and be able to see all sides of the roads around you, so make sure your mirrors are in a good position for you, not anyone else. And there are lanes on a road unlike in the sky...” He trailed off into a long speech, adding more and more details the more he registered that this was Sora’s first time behind the wheel and remembering how he was with the gummi ship.

He thought back to the first time he had been in the gummi ship and how Sora had wanted to show off for Riku and Kairi that he knew how to pilot the thing. He was frightened, to say the least, but he never let Sora know. He had wondered why Donald and Goofy let Sora fly the ship, knowing that as sweet as he was, he wasn’t always the most responsible.... but now, as he wondered who thought the same about Sora driving, he realized he wasn’t too keen on the idea of him being behind the wheel...

He tried to shake the thought, picturing Sora’s face as he begged him to teach him. He had mentioned how Aqua would’ve been a better teacher, or even Terra, but Sora had insisted that Riku teach him. He wore one of his happiest grins when Riku finally agreed.

“So, now do I get to drive?” Sora whined, finally having adjusted his mirrors the way Riku instructed.

“Yes, now you get to drive. You have the entire parking lot to yourself so just do what feels comfortable for you and if you get overwhelmed we can stop any time... ” Riku bit the inside of his cheek. Something inside him told him he’d regret giving Sora free rein like that but it was the same way Terra had taught him and Aqua had taught Ventus and Kairi. He suspected that Aqua was the one who had taught Terra as well but he never bothered to ask. “Press lightly on the gas whenever you feel r-EADY!”

Sora pushed his foot roughly into the gas pedal and braked just as hard, noting that it was much more sensitive than he originally thought. He smiled sheepishly at Riku, who was now clutching the handle on the ceiling of the car, “Heh.. Sorry.”

“It’s okay...” Riku pried his fingers from the handle and dusted off his shirt, less of because it needed it and more of because he was trying to keep Sora from knowing just how frightened he truly was. “You’ll get the hang of it the more you practice. Now that you know how easily it accelerates, try pressing lighter this time.”

Sora did as instructed but braked almost immediately again, still having pressed harder than he was intending. Without realizing that they were remembering the same memory, the two of them both thought back to when they used to play fight with wooden swords on their trips to Destiny Islands.

“Hit me as hard as you can, Sora.” Riku would always tell him. “Not like that, you’re not hitting hard enough.”

He was always two steps behind Riku and driving was no different. But rather than being bitter about always being in his dust, he took comfort in knowing that he always had someone ahead of him who could guide him.

Sora thought of how softhearted and soft spoken Riku was, how he was always the calm to his and Kairi’s chaos. Okay, so I just have to be soft like Riku.

He pushed his foot gently into the pedal, the car coming to a slow roll. He kept it steadily around ten miles per hour for the first lap around the parking lot, listening to Riku’s instructions on turning before finally braking when he felt like the lap was complete. He smiled widely towards the passenger seat, “Riku I did it! I drove the car!!”

“Good job,” Riku laughed at his excitement, feeling the same pride that Sora did. “Can you do it again but this time a little bit faster?”

Sora turned back towards the front window, still smiling. His confidence had returned and he pushed his foot into the pedal yet again, driving close to fifteen miles per hour for his second lap. He still beamed with pride when he stopped and asked Riku if he could do another lap. Riku smiled back and nodded.

Sora made it halfway around the parking lot at twenty miles per hour and decided to take a new turn. He pulled the steering wheel to the left but didn’t turn wide enough and the passenger’s side went over the curb of the concrete parking island. He braked harder than he had the first time and slowly turned his head towards Riku whose hand was back up, clutching the handle at the ceiling.

“Sorry, Riku...” He felt a wave of panic in the pit of his stomach and he shifted the gear selector into park, deciding to call it a day here.

“It’s okay, it’s your first time driving.” Riku tried to calm Sora as he pried his fingers one last time from the handle before switching seats with Sora. “Hey, let’s go get some ice cream to bring back to the others.”

“Okay...” Sora’s smile had completely faded as he sank into the passenger’s seat. He had noticed how Riku looked at the tires and he wondered if there was any real damage; but knowing Riku wouldn’t tell him even if there was, he didn’t bother to ask.

Sora knew Terra had given Riku this car after he passed his driver’s test. It was Terra’s first car, given to him by Master Eraqus after he passed his own driver’s test and when Riku insisted he couldn’t take something that personal, Terra only laughed and said, “I have another car so this one never gets driven anymore. Besides, I couldn’t think of a better person to give it to,” before continuing on a speech about how he sees Riku as a little brother and how it was only fitting that they get to share their first car.

“Riku I-”

“Don’t worry about it, this car has seen worse damage.” Riku interrupted, already sensing Sora’s thoughts. “You should hear about my first time behind the wheel.”

Riku started in on about how he had crashed into a light pole and Terra’s fret over his precious car, “Terra’s words, not mine.”

He explained how Terra had called Aqua in a panic and how she had rushed out there, thinking they had been in a major crash, and how Terra threatened to put a larger dent in Riku than there was in his car. Aqua had planted her hands on her hips and said something about how she would leave a larger dent in Terra if he did that.

Sora found himself laughing at Riku’s story and how he described Terra’s dramatic flare and Riku was more than glad to see that Sora’s mood had picked up again. He ended the story with Terra’s repeated questions to Cid, making sure he can really fix it and Cid’s response of, “I’ve seen boys come cryin’ to me over a more bent up Regalia than this microscopic dent in your hood, so quit your yammerin’.”

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chikoriita · 5 years

Text

It’s a Party Here in Twilight Town

Read on AO3.org

The rainy season was about to start on Destiny Islands, and the humidity hung in the air all around the islands. The sweltering heat tortured everyone and spared no one. She could feel the sweat beading under her hair while she ran. The cool air was a relief to Kairi as they scurried inside the grocery store. She grabbed a cart and pulled it close. They had their mission and needed to complete it in the time limit. Failure was not an option.

“How many candles did she ask for?” Kairi asked Riku.

He pulled out the list the good fairies gave him. Three different fonts jumped out at him. Why couldn’t the three of them ever agree on anything? It was impossible to decipher anything on this list.

“Riku! Time is of the essence,” Kairi urged.

He groaned. “I can’t read the list. It looks like Fauna asked for seventeen candles; one for each layer.”

Kairi nodded absently. “Wait!” She snatched the list out of his hand. The loopy script was clear. “She can’t be serious. We can’t have a seventeen-layer cake!” A family stared at her as they passed by.

“Fauna insists that with a little help, the cake will be excellent. I will admit,” Riku said sheepishly. “Merryweather looked less than optimistic.”

Kairi sighed, then squared her shoulders. “No stopping it now. At least we’re not baking it.” She handed the list back to Riku. She adjusted her headband. “Let’s go get the best candles we can.” With a fist bump, they set off.

—

Lea envied Riku and Kairi. They got the easier end of the tasks. Meanwhile, he and the Twilight Town gang were stuck decorating with Flora and Merryweather. The two fairies never got a long, and as the unofficial team leader, Lea had to make sure there were no casualties. Even if he had to follow their every order.

“A little more to the left, Lea! Don’t tarry Isa! The flowers won’t arrange themselves!” Flora directed. “We don’t want them to look helter-skelter.”

Isa muttered something under his breath and tightened his grip on the stems. Lea shot him a look. Not the time for any beserking. Isa frowned in return.

The red fairy brought them the pink banner. “Here is the centerpiece. Hang it over the stage, please, boys.” Flora shoved it into their arms. “I need someone much taller than me.”

Lea sighed and carried the cloth. The red banner did scare him a bit. Merryweather hated the color, and he knew better than to cross Merryweather. During their training, she set an enchanted mannequin after him when Kairi said that her favorite color was red. They were only saved because she was busy on the other end of the room. Hayner, Pence, and Roxas were following her lead and hanging blue stars everywhere. Olette and Xion spent all night making those stars, and he could admit that they were the only good part of the decorations.

“Merryweather!” Flora boomed. “We agreed on red stars.That blue garbage clashes with the theme!” She scolded her sister.

The fairy in question scrunched her face in anger. “We never said red anything, least of all that banner you’re hanging up!” With a point of her wand, Merryweather shouted, “Make it blue!”

Isa dropped the banner immediately and left Lea to take the brunt of the blast. The two fairies ignored the consequences of their fight and flew at each other for another round of arguing. The rest of the room was silent. Or it was until Roxas, the little punk, started snickering. Once he started the rest of them caught on. Lea turned and caught his reflection in one of the mirrors. His beautiful hair was blue. Not any blue, but just like Isa’s hair. What a travesty.

He heard Isa take a deep breath in, and before he could add any insight, Lea snapped, “Not one word.”

—

Ventus dodged a flying mixing bowl as he entered the kitchens of Le Grand Bistrot. “Whoa, is everything alright in here?” He asked worriedly. The kitchen was a mess. Spurts of flour covered the walls, and there were bits of egg shells all over the floor. Magical pots and pans danced all around him. He turned the corner to see three ghostly figures and Fauna, the green fairy. She wore a tan apron and her iconic hat on her head.

“Why thank you for asking dear. Without your help, I could not have possibly done it on my own!” The cheerful fairy said. Upon further inspection, the three ghostly figures were Terra, Aqua, and Naminé.

Aqua shook her head behind Fauna and mouthed, “Save yourself.” Ventus didn’t need to know any context to understand that he needed to escape.

“Ventus, please assist your friends in making a few layers of cake. I baked nine already!” Fauna flitted away to check on her nine layers of cake.

“How many layers?” Ventus asked for clarification.

Terra shook out some of the floor caught in his hair. “She wants to make it seventeen layers. One for every year. I told Aqua that it was unfeasible.” He glared at her.

Aqua raised her hands in surrender. “She said she made a cake for Aurora before. I didn’t know she meant with magic!” She pulled Naminé in front of her and started to wipe off the flour on her face. “Poor Naminé thought that this would be better than the other two fairies.”

Ventus smiled and pulled out his phone. “Actually Roxas just sent me this picture. I think you dodged an arrow there.” Naminé grabbed the phone from his hands and began giggling. Aqua took a peek. Poor Lea was looking blue in more ways than one.

“Come on guys. This cake won’t bake itself,” Terra chided. “It’s no party without a cake.”

The door burst open and revealed Scrooge McDuck. “Dinnae you worry lad! Little Chef is already on the job. He’s baking a beautiful tart for the event.”

Naminé piped up, “Who is Little Chef?”

Ventus patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t ask. You do not want to know.”

—

Time was running out. Donald and Goofy had the most important job of all, and they had no idea where to go. Tonight’s party would be incomplete without their target. No one had heard from him in weeks, but they didn’t lose hope. They spent the last week visiting all of his favorite worlds. Halloweentown, the Caribbean, Neverland, and even Atlantica! Not a word.

Donald, ever the calm head, quacked angrily. “Why is he so irresponsible? He knows he should have his phone on him at all times!” He smacked the controls on the Gummi Ship.

“Gawrsh, you don’t think he’s avoiding us, do you?” Goofy asked quietly. Donald crossed his arms and turned away. He couldn’t entertain those kind of thoughts. They would find him, and when they did, they would drag him to his own party!

“And Riku said he wasn’t in the realm of sleep?” Donald asked.

“He didn’t see him anywhere there…” Goofy trailed off. He wasn’t one to worry; things had a way of working out. Still, after everything all of them had been through, this would be their first real chance of celebrating everything after a long time. Hopefully, it all worked out.

—

He checked the items on his latest list.

Martial arts with Mulan

Belly roaring at Beast’s Castle

Sledding with Elsa and Anna

Frolic in the Corona Flower Fields.

It was invigorating. Before, he was too busy saving the worlds to enjoy the life he had. Now, he was free to see all his friends whenever he wanted. The lanes between were easier to traverse now that he had the power to travel in them. He pulled his phone out and snapped a selfie (is that what Chip called it? He needed to check with Ienzo). The Corona flowers were blooming for the spring, and it was a sight to see. He couldn’t help but take a picture.

‘Can’t wait to send this one to Kairi. She’ll be so jealous,’ Sora thought. Wait, there was a notification waiting for him.

From Kairi?

Event Invitation: Your presence is requested at Le Grand Bistrot, Twilight Town 7 PM MST. It is requested, but it is also mandatory. Do not be late, you lazy bum.

What? No one told him about anything in Twilight Town! He scrolled down to find various unread messages from Donald and Goofy. It was already so late.

He held his hand to the crown at his throat. He thought of the words of his master and all those before him. May my heart be my guiding key. He was late for a very important date.

—

“I feel a disturbance in the Lanes Between,” Master Yen Sid, from his seat at the table, called the audience to attention. “He is coming!”

Kairi stood on the stage. “This is not a drill! This place is a disaster, and the guest of honor is on the way. Everyone to your stations!”

The Guardians of Light were not party planners. The decorations were set on fire not once, but three times. Fauna’s cake melted all over the stage. Until five minutes ago, Donald and Goofy moaned about their wayward, missing ward. All the while, Riku and Kairi kept the hope that their best friend would make it to his own birthday party.

“Psst, lass,” Kairi heard the whisper behind her. Mr. McDuck held a pretty box in his hands. “This is the contribution from Little Chef with his compliments.”

She opened the box and found the most beautiful cake she had ever seen. “Mr. McDuck, this is too much.”

“Your boy will appreciate that more than, well whatever that is.” He gestured to the goop leaning over on the other side of the stage. Kairi knew seventeen layers would be too many. She was about to respond when Riku pulled her off the stage.

“He’s here. Turn out the lights!” He called to Hayner and Pence. Holding the cake tightly, she followed Riku’s lead to the front of the room. She couldn’t wait to see the look on his face.

—

The windows of the restaurant were dark. Was he that late? His stomach fell as he pushed the door open to the bistro. “Hello? Kairi?”

The lights flickered on and he was greeted by the warmest sight in the world. Riku, Kairi, and all of his friends shouting, “Happy Birthday Sora!”

The tears stung his eyes as Riku pulled him into a hug. “Happy birthday.”

Sora wiped away a tear. “You did all this for me?” He looked around. Stars hung from all corners of the room, and attached to each one was a version of his keychains. They hung a banner in his favorite colors, red and blue. And was that a cake on the stage? Even Sora could admit the cake was lackluster, but it was the thought that counted, right? “Thank you all, so much.” He sniffled.

“Hey don’t cry before you’ve cut the cake.” He heard Kairi say. Sora looked up to see her carrying another cake. One that he had seen before.

“Happy birthday Sora,” she whispered before throwing her arms around him. He held her tightly against him, wishing he could make each moment last forever tonight.

She wiped the tears from his cheeks. “You have always done so much for all of us. Not one of us in here would be here without you. This is a small token of our appreciation.” Kairi wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

Riku draped his arm over his shoulder as well. “After all, you’re our guiding key. What better way to celebrate?”

Sora laughed. If he tried to say anything, he knew he would cry once again. “Then it’s time to party!”

—

Happy 17th Birthday Sora. No matter where you are, you are always in our hearts.

#kingdom hearts #sora #happy birthday sora #kh #kh fic #not beta read #lightkeykid writes

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madfictionland · 5 years

Text

Master Xehanort - NOT a flawless mastermind!

I’m always having trouble to understand people in KH ‘discourse’. They have every right to hate the series for many different reasons, please be my guest, but they usually do it with this silly argument that it’s so damn lame and impossible for Master Xehanort to plan all of this and predict so many variables... But I’m like... he didn’t, really... so what’s your problem even...

Sure, Xehanort kind of takes the credit for everything that happened (in DDD) and makes it sound like everything went ‘according to plan,’ but I thought that’s just what villains do, you know? Despite some setbacks, especially *when their other splintered selfs still achieve results that ultimately lead to his final goals*, it is actually fair to claim the credit. In the end it turned out perfectly well and Master Xehanort learnt a big deal of things. And knowledge is extremely important in his line of business. In the end, he WAS too eager regarding creation of his own pure light and darkness which wasn’t the right way.

But it seems like people don’t even live in a logical world anymore (once they decided they don’t like the direction the series took) and they need everything explained by characters for some reason, like a lenghty lecture from Master Xehanort perhaps... with admission after admission about where his initial plans went wrong and how exactly (which is ludicrous to expect even).

Here is a quick look at things he DID NOT predict/planned for:

1. He never planned to be defeated by Aqua and for amnesia Terranort to be created.

2. He never planned for amnesia-esque (thus less efficient) Ansem and Xemnas.

3. He never planned for the exact timing of DDD meeting and his recompletion. His words about how ‘it’s been decided’ are to be taken with a grain of salt, naturally, since Nomura’s concept of time is tricky and *kind of* fixed (since it does happen... it’s ALL been decided already, apparently). And Master Xehanort himself, despite his ambitions and discoveries, seems to be a strong proponent of ‘fate’ which corresponds with that rule of time. He took interest in Ventus because he felt like it was destiny, after all, and there are more instances of such thinking behind Xehanort.

4. He never planned for Ansem and Xemnas to be defeated since he never planned for their creation in the first place.

Now, it doesn’t mean his plans begun and ended in BBS. BBS focuses exclusively on his ambitions and schemes sorrounding Ventus and Terra but there was clearly more behind the man. Including vast knowledge about the lore, nature of the world, hearts and darkness. He did study everything about a keyblade and keyblade war which is a messed-up subject in and of itself, with so many things unclear and hopefully to be explained in KH3. Pure light and darkness? X-blade shuttered into 20 pieces? 7 pure hearts? Hearts born from darkness? Keyblade War connected to Kingdom Hearts? Door to Darkness connected to Kingdom Hearts? Maybe they’re all just legends, hence so many different stories and unclear answers? or at least that’s an explanation they can go with, so it’ll make sense. In any case, all of them crucial info for Xehanort and something to keep in mind when scheming!

See... there are so many things that it’s actually hard to get your priorities straight. I actually know this feeling pretty well when it comes to personal life or fandom activities!

So what did he plan or what were his ideas, logically?

1. Whatever his destination... Norting other people along the way seemed like a great idea (the first experiment being Braig/Vanitas most likely). But what he wanted for his original self was a perfect young vessel such as Ven or Terra, a keyblade wielder.

2. Looking for ways to forge the x-blade/make Kingdom Hearts manifest itself he already learnt of the 20 pieces of it and 7 lights. Whether there is an actual utilization behind number 13... or maybe he thought it was edgy and cool which would be character-accurate if you ask me... the idea behind 13 versions of himself working in perfect unison towards their shared goal was easily hatched. If only the Nortification technike proved to be working... possibilities were endless.

3. Maleficent seemed like a perfect candidate to be set on a path towards 7 princesses. Something crucial and what could come in handy - regarding the Door to Darkness or even the x-blade.

4. He did know how to time travel so he certainly had such an option in mind and taking into account his established, natural curiosity with the world... and with extremes such as darkness/keyblade war... not surprising he would be willing to test it and utilize it. However, it required to abondon his body which he wasn’t going to do just yet. Plus: it would be a very experimental endevour and he had better things to do. (But do you know who did think it was a great idea and felt compelled to initiate it, despite his other ambitions? Ansem Seeker of Darkness, the most brazen and insane version of Xehanort. The premise was literally about gathering 13 “seekers” of darkness so makes sense considering his own strong obsessions.)

5. Knowing that he has many different things to explore (because he has barely even scratched the surface), other than his main goal... he probably did plan to split himself into a heartless and nobody, eventually. He never really got a chance to do it and have his two halfs cooperate in perfect union (which was clearly not the case with Ansem and Xemnas). We’re to assume that amnesia Xehanort, at some point, did remember this original idea of MX, and acted accordingly.

Master Xehanort was an explorer and ambitious darkness wielder. I’m sure there was no shortage of original ideas, pathways and new, potential plans. But in the end, he had Ventus and his main attention and hopes were to exploit him to forge the x-blade. In his eagerness, that’s what he put most of his energy into during BBS. He never really realized or even initiated most of those other plans and ideas. Well... at least not on his own...

But just as Young Xehanort’s heart led him to explore the outside world (which may actually be due to fixed ‘time paradox’) in the same way different versions of Xehanort felt compelled to put into motion different fragments of his plans and ideas. Destiny and fate, the strange feeling and exploration of the unknown and darkness, something that drives Xehanort forward, very similar to how Sora is guided by his heart and in contrast to it. His younger self captures it perfectly and even though his older self (+ other incarnations) act and maybe even feel like they are in control of everything they do to achieve their own goals... at their core they’re still guided by this basic premise:

Both the irony and fascinating factor behind Xehanort. Whenever he is delayed or his plans go not as planned... all these events may still contribute to the final outcome. In the end, he was destined to end up there. So in essence, all went according to plan and his ambitions continue to progress. All of this while the old man Xehanort, his ‘original’ self... sleeps in sort of limbo state.

Now what one needs to understand to even begin to comprehend what Nomura was going for here (which most people don’t care about and it’s actually understandable, all things considered) is that Xehanort exists across many different layers of self and even planes of existence/reality (as a force of darkness or a more spiritual force in his own and Terra’s body).

There is NO ONE PERFECT MASTERPLAN.

What we have here is basically:

- Xehanort’s plan put into motion in BBS - which failed to achieve his master goal (although he did Norted Braig and maybe Vanitas).

- Apprentice Xehanort does his research and formulates some of the plans and ambitions that are later passed on to Ansem Seeker of Darkness and Xemnas, along with Apprentice Xehanort’s history and sense of self (he is aided by Nort!Braig in hopes that Master Xehanort will eventually regain his complete memory and sense of self).

- Apprentice Xehanort - being Xehanort - gets obsessed with the darkness and hearts very quickly and achieves a certain mastery. Some of it may be his heart guiding him, despite amnesia. Some of it may be actual memories resurfacing. That leads to him being able to summon his keyblade and extract his heart, though his identity is still pretty twisted and memories incomplete (calls himself Ansem, just like he did in the reports). This twisted sense of self continues into Xemnas/Ansem.

- Ansem pursues his own ambitions and curiosity regarding Kingdom Hearts, Door to Darkness and Darkness. He makes good use of Maleficent (earlier set on a path by MX) and, recalling some of his original Destiny Island’s past, tries to posses Riku (similarities between the two are just too big and you can see why Ansem was so stubborn about Riku’s body).

- Xemnas aspires to become one with Kingdom Hearts of released hearts and achieve eternity, at his highest “tragic villain” moments being influenced by more humane aspects of Apprentice Xehanort and possibly Terra (”Unfortunately, I don’t remember joy”). But beyond that, he is still Xehanort and everything that the man entails, for the most part...

Most of Apprentice/Ansem/Xemnas’es plans, knowledge and ambitions came from MX’s memories that they were able to access OR - what’s more likely - they were simply influenced by them, at first unknowingly. Furthermore, at the peak of their power - especially Xemnas and Ansem - they may recall a great deal of their past and true purpose. But it doesn’t mean they cooperate in perfect unison - because they don’t really know everything, miss important pieces of the puzzle (like keyblade war, for example) and remain their unique, unstable beings, with their own share of drama and goals. Which is why they have self preservation insticts and desire to succeed at their own goals (that wouldn’t be the case if there wasn’t any amnesia factor involved... with their sense of self being 100% Xehanort). But EVEN THEN... there is a catch. They share Xehanort’s core feature - which is this compulsive instint to follow *fate* whenever it presents itself and explore the unknown without fear nor care for one’s safety. Plus, due to different factors, they are far less stable in the sanity department! THAT’S WHY:

- Driven by some of MX’s memories (Point 2 and 4 of MX’s ideas) Ansem explores time travel and meets his younger self whom he directs on the path towards 13 Seekers of Darkness, a ‘crazy’ fail-safe which is actually a part of fixed time paradox...

- Xemnas is actively working towards Nortification project which is the true main goal and premise behind the Organization and their many detours/experiments all along.

- After being visited by Young Xehanort (at some point prior to their respective failures) - they join him without hesitation and serve under the new organiztion and their recompleted self in the future. We are to assume that Young Xehanort (who observed everything through time travel) educated them, hence they know all about their failures and events they missed.

Now, all of those big plans happen simultaneously and, for the most part, independently from one another. It’s not a single master plan but when you have so many versions of yourself somewhere out there... the odds are really in your favor. And that’s not even thanks to Master Xehanort being an efficient mastermind villain (which he is only to some extent) but due to his enormous drive to pursue Kingdom Hearts and study the dark unknown around him. Which is true for all versions of Xenahort, especially those strongly associated with his original self and not influenced by 'lesser’ traits of vessel personas (Braig’s light attitude, for example, since, as a Nort, he is kind of impatient for the final destination but NOT curious enough to dedicate himself fully to all the research and detours).

So even if his BBS plan failed and main variables shift all the time - in the end Master Xehanort remains on top. Not thanks to him, really, but kind of thanks to him. And guess what? Once he returns and recomplates himself... he actually feels like he’s been doing all these things and he gets to keep all knowlegde gathered in the process. Despite setbacks, fate has clearly been in his favor and he emraces it.

Master Xehanort is NOT a perfect chess master, directly responsible for everything that’s happened in the world of KH. But he IS an efficient short-term strategist with many ideas (as we saw in BBS) who, despite his grand goal of becoming god-like, is both driven by and strongly intertwined with fate. Sure, there are many confusing elements to it and time travel in particular wasn’t explained too well, but all things considered - MX not being such a flawless mastermind is why I still love this villain!

#master xehanort #xehanort #kingdom hearts xehanort #kingdom hearts #kingdom hearts master xehanort #and yes he is recently being shows playing chess...#but the opening with him in KH3 being a 'a chess master' behind KH1 and KH2 is just an asthetic thing #not a 100% perfect plan that he created for everything to unfold the way it did #this holds true unless KH3 will make it wrong #which i don't think it will but please no spoilers #kingdom hearts reflections

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melodypictures · 5 years

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KH3 Spoilers

Especially if you haven’t reached Keyblade Graveyard

I have a lot of mixed feelings with how the game went but something I can say that seriously disappoints me is how badly Kairi has gotten screwed over. I know there are theories about her having a tie to the new saga coming up but right now, Kairi deserved so much more.

We barely got to see her all game. Despite creating a way for the characters to communicate via Gummiphone, Kairi and Axel don’t get one. We see Kairi writing a letter, but she chooses to never send it. This is the girl that wrote a note in a bottle to put in the ocean just for even the slightest chance that it would reach a boy she couldn’t even remember clearly. If they couldn’t use the Gummiphone in the timeless world that her and Axel were training in, Sora and Kairi writing letters to each other would have been a great callback and follow up to that part of KH2.

Despite how we’ve gotten a battle pose for the game and how Kairi has said “This time, I’ll fight” and deciding to join in the battle of light and dark, we don’t even get a proper fight with her. This is a personal opinion, but I don’t think being a mostly Magic user suits Kairi. She’s always been a straight out action type of person, jumping right into danger to defend and protect. Sora’s style in similar to Ven’s and Riku’s style is similar to Aqua. Having Kairi having a straight forward style like Terra’s would have been the perfect completion between the two trio’s.

Nomura has had several games to do more with her. BBS could have had Kairi and Aqua have more time together which would prompt Aqua to understand that something is different with Kairi and she seriously needs the protection spell she puts on her. ReCoded could have had a Data!Kairi to help guide Data!Sora along with Data!Riku. DDD he could have had her learn along with Sora and RIku since they had to relearn things themselves at that point while at the same time taking an important Mark of Mastery exam.

KH3 should have been Kairi’s time to shine. Show some of her training with Kairi being the character to start off the tutorial like Roxas was for KH2. Have the first two hours of the game be Kairi training with Axel and ending with her writing the letter to Sora and once it’s sent, change to Sora receiving the letter and we start his journey from there.

Show us Kairi training. Kairi thinking about Naminé and how she could help her become her own person because she wants Naminé to have her own experiences. Kairi working hard to see Sora and Riku so she can join them on this journey faster and stronger and can protect them like they’ve protected her. Riku gave Kairi her keyblade, give her a line like “I’ll make sure that Riku doesn’t regret giving me this chance” to show her determination.

Show us Kairi spending time with Sora and Riku like they used to on Destiny Islands, have them reminiscence how just a few years ago they dreamed and planed on building a raft to see if there really was other world’s out there. Then let Riku give these two their alone time so he can speak with Repliku and so Sora and Kairi can have a sweet moment to share the paopu fruit without it being an awkward “Kairi’s shoving this thing in Sora’s face while he’s concerned about Riku, who’s been sitting by himself this whole time”.

Show us more than her writing a letter she’ll never send and changing clothes. If Nomura seriously had to insist on keeping Kairi’s death in, have an actual heartbreaking scene of Kairi protecting her friends, fighting as hard as them and losing because she saved Sora or Riku or both instead of the dull stab we got. Show them both devastated and needing the others to hold them back and rationalize so they don’t up like she did and make her sacrifice in vain.

Show us Kairi in the secret ending looking for Sora along with Riku because she meant it when she said “I won’t let him go” in KH1 and will find a way to bring him back to them because he needs to be with the people he’s loved so much and did everything for and who did everything for him in return.

Even if the theories are proven true and Kairi does have a role in the next saga, it doesn’t change the fact of how badly she was sidelined in this game despite all the potential in it.

#Kingdom Hearts #Kingdom Hearts 3 #KH3 #Kairi (KH)#KH3 spoilers #KH spoilers

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kingdommad300 · 5 years

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The Two Keepers

Summary: With both of them deemed to be called Master, Sora and Kairi have been tasked to start up a school to train potential keyblade wielders, only to clash at every decision. Will they become the two keepers they want to be or will they lose the relationship they worked so hard to build?

Genre: Romance/Hurt/Comfort

Rating:K+

Chapter One: Celebrations

Sora grinned proudly as he finished tying up the surprise banner to the other palm tree for when the others return from Yen Sid’s. He stepped off the ladder to take in the set up. Placed on the beach were a few tables with some white cloths over them, balloons tied to some of the tables, party hats and paper places on the tables with some party poppers. The banner itself was huge white banner that said, ‘Congrats Master Kairi and Master Lea!!’.

“Wait until the guys see this!” He said excitably, he chuckled to himself slightly though as the wind picked up and blew some of the paper plates and party hats away. “Maybe I should have considered the wind.” He smiled softly as he walked over to pick up the paper hats. As Sora picked up the fallen hats, he started to think of everything that had happened to them leading up to this.

It had been two years since the final battle with Xehanort and his seekers, a journey that ended up being the hardest out of all the journeys that he had been on. It would be an understatement to say that he has been enjoying the sense of peace that came knowing that Xehanort was forever out of the picture. The first thing he did was have a long, satisfying nap on the beach of Destiny Islands, something that his friends laughed at him for. The second thing was going on a tour to the other worlds with Riku and Kairi, something the three of them wanted to do from the very beginning.

Things between Sora and Kairi have changed dramatically since they defeated Xehanort, something that still makes the Keyblade Master smile warmly as he reminisces the events. Before their battle with Xehanort, they had taken the chance to share their feelings and fears to each other, sharing a Paopu fruit with each other in case the worst was to happen in the battle. There was even a moment where Sora had to watch Kairi get taken away by the villian himself. He had even swapped placed with her in order to bring her back. It was only six months later that Kairi and Riku had managed to find him again within the Realm of Dead. He just remembered the speeding hug he received from her and thinking how he never wanted to let go of us again.

They had made things official the night after they returned to the Islands. Spending the night under the stars in each other’s arms.

After that, they have spent most days with each other’s. Travelling the worlds with Riku, training and sparring with each other and working together in sync if they are needed for any Heartless control. They will be days where the two of them might not be together, like if Sora spends the day hanging out with Riku or if Kairi was doing some special training with Aqua and Lea to prepare for her Mark of Mastery but normally these days, you wouldn’t find one without the other.

After making sure that the hats were not going to fly off again, Sora walked around the table set up one more time as a beam of light appeared on the beach. Sora shielded his eyes slightly before looking to see who was first to arrive. “Riku! You’re here!” He grinned as he walked over to his best friend.

Riku’s appearance hasn’t changed much over the two years, he was still taller than Sora by a good couple of inches, still ready for a fight. “Hey goofball! I’ve been looking over for you.” He said before looking at the mini party. “Oh, not this again…” He groaned, shaking his head at the sight.

“What? It’s tradition.” Sora proclaimed, walking back over to the table.” We did it for you and you passed the Mark, we did it for me, Roxas, Terra, Ven….” He listed. He turned around, having grabbed a pair of round glasses with a fake moustache and placed it on his face. “I even found this.” The sight of the glasses just made Riku burst into laughter. “See? It’s fun. I thought Kairi and Lea should get the same thing.”

“Sora. What are you going to do if they don’t pass?” Riku asked him, looking at the giant banner.

“They will. I know they will.” He smiled in belief, taking the glasses off and putting them on the table. “Either way, everyone is coming here after they get their results from the Mark of Mastery.”

“Who is everyone?” Riku raised his eyebrow, not wanting to be surprised again when Sora tried to invite literally everyone he knew before Donald had told him off.

“You know, the usual.” Sora shrugged as he started to collect some wood to start a little campfire on the beach to keep people warm. Riku automatically started to get some of the logs they save in one of the shacks to use as seats.

“That includes Aqua?” Riku asked. Sora nodded in response, placing the wood in the fire pit before looking at him questionably. “It’s just that she wanted me to ask you to talk to her when you can but since you invited her to the gathering, she can talk to you herself.” He explained.

“Is that why you were looking for me?” Sora questioned, having his friend nod in response as he placed the log down. “I wonder if everything is okay?” He wondered. Before the two could think more about the subject, more people started to show up.

Donald and Goofy were first to appear. They greeted the two Islanders before spotting the afternoon tea and sandwiches on the table and head straight the tables to take a seat. Roxas, Naminé, Hayner, Pence and Olette showed up, Sora greeted the Twilight Town crew as guided them to the tables. It was then that Sora saw that Tidus, Wakka and Selphie had rowed over from the other island with the last of the supplies that Sora needed to set up. While Sora and Selphie hanged up the last of the decorations, he noticed that Aqua, Terra and Ventus arrived, the last of their guests. Before he got a chance to greet them, he saw that Riku had covered for him while he finished up. He would have to catch up with Aqua and the others later.

After thanking Selphie, Sora took a moment to sit down and look at his communicator. All that needed to be done now was wait for a message from King Mickey. Since Mickey would be brining Kairi and Lea to the Islands, it made sense that he would send the message to hide when they are ready and to be ready to abort if they did fail but he didn’t think they would fail. Both Lea and Kairi have been working hard for the Mark of Mastery.

“Sora. It’s good to see you.”

He looked over to see Ventus, the boy who slept in his heart for most of his life. Ven walked over to him as the two gave each other a huge brotherly hug. Since freeing Ven’s heart and getting to know him as a person, the two of them grew close very quickly. Ven was like the older brother Sora never had, who had always been there to guide without him knowing. Sure, Sora treated Roxas like his own brother as well but having someone’s heart within you for so long, their relationship is different.

“Did you find it?” Sora asked him, knowing that since Ven’s heart was returned to him. He had been having dreams about a life before Master Xehanort in a place called ‘Daybreak Town’. He would dream about discussing things with his friends. When we had asked Chirithy about ‘Daybreak Town’, they explained that it was the land of fairy tales, where keyblade wielders used to live. So, Ven has been spending the last year, travelling the worlds to look for clues about ‘Daybreak Town’ and how to get there.

Ven shook his head. “Not yet. But I have heard that there was once a book called ‘The Book of Prophecies’. Pete accidently mentioned it when I had to deal with some of his Heartless. So, I might check out some of the library’s the worlds have to offer to see if I can find the book.” Ven yawned at the thought. “Then again, Aqua likes that sort of stuff. Maybe she will help me.”

“Isn’t Aqua busy with her students?” Sora asked before adding, “And if you are all here, who’s looking after them?”

“They went to visit their families for a couple of days while we came out here.” Ven shrugged. “So, she can help me with the books.”

“What about Terra? You can get him to help too.” Sora suggested.

Ven smiled at the idea, leaning back slightly as he looked up at the sky. “We can use this to just be the three of us…just like old times.”

“But don’t you guys hang out?” Sora asked him. “I mean, you are all based in Land of Departure.” He would have thought that the three of them would be exploring the worlds together like himself, Kairi and Riku did after they returned home.

“Well Aqua has her students and they can be a handful. We try and help with training every now and again, but Terra has his responsibilities and I’m still working on finding Daybreak Town. To be honest with you Sora, coming to this party has been the first time in a while that I have got to hang out with both Terra and Aqua without thinking of our responsibilities.” Ven explained before jumping up from where he sat. “Just remember Sora. I may be busy with finding the book and the town but if you ever need me. I’m a call away.” He smiled before walking over to the others.

As if on cue, Sora’s communicator started to go off. He pulled the device out of his pocket and clicked on the screen to see a message from Mickey. When reading the message, he couldn’t help but cheer with excitement, giving the others a clue what was going on. “I knew they could do it!” He grinned. Kairi is now a master! Both Lea and Kairi have become masters but he couldn’t help but be prouder for the Princess of Heart. After all their practise duels and training and even the whole orderal with Xehanort when she had begun her training, she has earned the title, ‘Master.’ He placed the communicator back in his pocket before turning to the party guests. “Guys! They are on their way!” He shouted to them, making sure everyone could hear him. “We have five minutes to hide.”

The next five minutes couldn’t have been more manic for the group. They first all tried to hide everyone and the tables with a spell, but the result led to Hayner tripping over one of the chairs and taking Donald and Wakka down with him. Then everyone tired to hide in the seaside shack, only for Tidus to break the old, wooden door when leaning against it, meaning that only a few people could hide there. Then Roxas decided it would be funny to push Riku into the waterfall, only to be pushed in by Naminé as a result. Eventually, everyone spread themselves around the small play island in different locations, making sure they were staying quiet.

They stayed in their hiding spots for a couple of minutes before another beam of light appeared a small mouse king with two familiar red heads, who look like they had just been put through hell and back with their exam. They would only jump when all their appeared from their hiding spots to shot ‘Surprise!’.

Lea was the first to reaction with a huge laugh as he took in the sight of Roxas and Riku’s soaking hair and clothes. “Why did you guys hide under the waterfall?” He snickered, holding his sides.

“Because!” Roxas walked towards his best friend, looking as if he planned the whole thing. “You would never expect it.” He said.

“Yeah! Only Roxas would voluntarily jump in a huge amount of water to hide.” Hayner joked.

Sora didn’t waste anytime to run over to Kairi with excitement as he picked her up and spun her around, gaining a surprise gasp and giggle from her. He slowed down and kissed her on the forehead, smiling lovely at her. “I’m so proud of you.” He told her before pulling her into a hug.

“I couldn’t have done it without you.” She muffled in Sora’s jacket before she pulled away, looking at everyone while taking Sora’s hand into hers. “And everyone here, thank you.”

“Yeah! We both promise to be the best masters out there!” Lea added before looking over to Riku. “I bet we could beat you!” he challenged.

Riku chuckled at this, “You forget who helped you prepare for the mark.”

Terra stepped toward, looking at the two with a huge amount of respect. “Just remember, gaining the rank of ‘Master’ is just the first step. There will be many challenges you will have to face in the future.”

Aqua nodded in agreement. “But for now, let us celebrate the here and now.”

Naminé raised her tea cup in the air, “To Master Kairi and Master Lea!” She cheered.

“To Master Kairi and Master Lea!!”

“Congratulations!”

“We believed in you both!”

“GO KAIRI AND LEA!!”

It wasn’t long before the sun started to go lower in the sky, creating a warm orange tint in the sky that reflected onto the sea. After consuming all the sandwiches and biscuits, Kairi and Lea explained test to the others and what they had to do. From the sound of it, Yen Sid had created illusions of their worst fears that the two had to face and he had placed them in the Keyblade Graveyard of all places. The two had worked together, just like they did on that day two years ago and came out victorious.

After the story, Sora and Kairi decided to walk over to the Paupo tree for a bit of time to themselves. They could see that no one had notice them leave as most of lot of the guests were watching Lea and Roxas duel against Terra and Ventus, providing the evening entertainment. The only ones that looked a little more serious was Riku, Mickey and Aqua, who seem to be talking in detail.

Sora sat down on the Paupo fruit while Kairi leaned on the trunk itself, standing in front of Sora as he wrapped his arms around her with Kairi stroking his arm in response. “So, this is what it’s like to be master of the keyblade.” Kairi spoke out loud as the two of them took the sunset in. “I expected to feel…a little different.”

“How so?”

“Well, it’s hard to explain.” Kairi thought about it. “When I first got given the Keyblade, I had a huge sense of responsible rush through me. It gave me that sense of growing up. I thought becoming a master would do the same.”

“Don’t worry, Kai.” Sora assured her. “Once you get as busy as Aqua and Mickey does with their students, you will properly feel like a master then.”

“Well, what about you?” Kairi turned around to look at Sora. “You’ve been a master for two years now. Don’t you feel like one?”

Sora hummed in thought, thinking about it properly. “Well, not after Xehanort.” He admitted before shrugging. “It doesn’t matter whether we feel like one or not. What matters is that we ARE masters.” He jumps down from the Paupo tree and swings his arm around the Princess of Heart as they took their eyes on the sunset once more. “Just imagine! Now that we are masters, we can go where we want to go. Do what we want to do. Be who we want to be.”

“Couldn’t we do that anyway?” Kairi questioned.

“I mean…yeah.” Sora said bashfully, before he looked at his girlfriend. “What I meant to say was that now that the both of us are masters, we can decide our own fate. We could find students, beat bad guys, do what Master Yen Sid does, whatever it is…. we will do it together.”

Kairi shook her head and smiled at him, “You are such a goof ball.” She leaned in to place a kiss on his lips, something that still makes Sora melt over after the two years together. “So long as we are together then I couldn’t be happier, Master Sora.” She said softly. “I love you.”

He never gets tired of hearing those words. “I love you too, Master Kairi.” He kissed her hand and held on to it tightly as they both leaned in for another kiss.

“Sorry for interrupting. Can I talk to you both?”

The two of them paused and turned around to see Aqua walking towards the two of them. “Aqua, is everything okay?” Kairi asked, letting go of Sora as she turned to face her.

“Don’t worry. Everything is fine.” She smiled at the two of them. “Ven, Terra and I will be heading off soon and I wanted to make sure that I got to talk to the both of you before I headed off.”

“Riku did mention that you wanted to talk.” Sora suddenly remembered the conversation that he was having with his friend before everyone started to show up.

“Well it was just to ask if the two of you could get to Land of Departure next week.” Aqua told them. “I wanted to wait until Kairi and Lea passed their mark before going over the details. It will acquire all of the new masters.”

Both Sora and Kairi looked at Aqua with concern. “Is it something to worry about?” Sora asked her.

“Oh no, nothing too serious like that.” Aqua assured them, making the two sighed in relieve. “It’s just easier for myself and Mickey to go over the details if everyone is there.”

“Mickey as well?” Kairi questioned. “What is the gathering about?”

“It’s better if I explain everything then. Otherwise, I will be here all night explaining.” Aqua smiled, “So I can expect the two of you to come?”

“We’ll be there.” The two of them nodded.

Aqua clapped her hands with excitement, “Excellent! That’s everyone then.” The three of them looked over to Terra and Ven to see that the two of them were calling Aqua over, showing that they were about to go. “Well done again, Kairi. I will see you both soon.” She hugged the two of them goodbye before she followed Terra and Ven further up the beach where they were engulfed by a bright light.

Sora and Kairi could only wonder what the meeting at the Land of Departure was about. How important is this meeting if it requires everyone that is a Keyblade Master but there isn’t any danger?

(1),(2)

Edited:07/04/19.

As this is a new--ish story and I had written the first chapter before KH3 came out, I just thought I would tweak it slightly so it would follow the story post-KH3 after they bring Sora back.

#kingdom hearts 3 #kingdom hearts 3 spoilers #sora and kairi #sora #kairi #kh3 #keyblade master #the two keepers #destiny trio #riku #kingdommad #writing

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heaartsavior · 5 years

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Boop boop This is very long and I’m sorry if I left anything out or it doesn’t make any sense. Spoilers for the game under the cut!

WOW WHO’S SURPRISED THAT I DID THIS AFTER THIS SHIT THEY PULLED ON MY BABY GIRL??? I’m not. Here’s my fixer upper for whatever the fuck they did to Kairi.

♡ The battles, the stories, losses and all the glories

Kairi travels to Radiant Garden with Lea to train under Merlin, who puts them in a pocket dimension so that they may safely (and thoroughly) learn how to properly wield their keyblades. During this time, Kairi learns the fundamentals of what it means to hold this title and how she can eventually take on the task of taking the Mark of Mastery exam. She learns the history of what is told of the first Keyblade War, remembering the stories that her grandmother used to tell her when she was very young.

It is also during this time that Merlin teaches her how to harness her powers as a Princess of Heart, should the Power of Waking fail, they would have another alternative to turn to. Through the research that Ansem the Wise, Even and Ienzo send to her about their research, she is able to inevitably learn how to use her powers of light to turn the tide of battle as a fail safe.

Kairi and Lea are given gummiphones almost immediately after Sora, Riku, and Mickey receive theirs. With the new technology (well not new to her, she’s had a phone before), she is able to talk to Sora and Riku as much as she likes. Though she does keep her letters a secret, still writing them almost like they are her diary. During Sora’s travels, Kairi sends him updates on what progress her and Lea have made, as well as sending pictures in a group chat that they had created for the three of them. She becomes a social media fiend, posting pictures on their little guardian network, as well as commenting on the boys’ pictures that they post. Having this type of communication gives her relief that they can still all talk without being so isolated from each other. She has far too much fun taking pictures of her and Lea during their down time too, there will be other times when she specifically makes videos just so that she could show Namine later on.

Speaking of Namine, after her talk with Lea, Kairi is determined to find a way to get Namine back so that she can enjoy all of these little instances with her. Both her and Lea often discuss the things that they want to show Roxas and Namine once they return, along with calling up Ienzo every now and again to ask about updates on the Replica research. Her hopes are that they can get the both of them back in time for battle, and that they will be able to tip the scales with their greater numbers.

As her training continues, a year passes in the pocket dimension, and they have gotten word that the final battle is upon them. The two of them are retrieved, meeting up with the rest of them in Yen Sid’s tower. Kairi notices Aqua out of the corner of her eye, and can’t stop thinking about how familiar she looks and sounds. Once the two finally talk, the memories come rushing back of the scene from BBS. Kairi begins to cry and hug Aqua, because she has finally met the woman who she was striving to be, the role model she never knew. She’s so happy to have finally been able to meet her, even if they were under extenuating circumstances.

With the final battle just on the crest of the horizon, Kairi returns to Destiny Islands with Sora and Riku. While Riku is off having his alone time, Kairi begins to talk to Sora about how she’s so happy to be able to be apart of something great. She reminisces about her time alone during the year Sora and Riku were missing, looking at how far she has come up to this point. How both Sora and Riku were the reasons why she kept training so hard with Merlin and never giving up, even when she thought she couldn’t go any further. They are her strength and she could only hope that she can be the same for them when they all go into battle together. She then brings out three paopu fruit, one for each of them and waits for Riku to join them as they watch the sunset one last time as a trio.

During the battle, Kairi becomes a slaughter god, taking down as many heartless as she can with sweeps of her keyblade (her fighting style is similar to Terra, so are her hits). She backs up the boys when she can see them in the giant horde, but she loses sight of them not long after. Just after fighting off the horde, the storm comes through and everyone is swallowed by darkness. Kairi immediately reacts by using her powers of light to keep Sora from disappearing so that he could go find the others. After she guides Sora back and the whole scene with Terra happens again, she is about ready to throw hands at this giant mountain man before the Lingering Will shows up to kick ass.

In the labyrinth sequence, Kairi backs Lea up in their battle against Isa, Xemnas and the hooded figure. She fights alongside Sora and Lea, doing team attacks with the both of them and clocking Isa in the face a few times with her Keyblade for keeping her prisoner back in the World That Never Was. Xemnas gains the upper hand against her, thus causing her capture, (but she absolutely kicks him in the balls before all of that fuck you Xemnas). The entire time she’s captured, she yells a slew of insults at Xehanort, struggling to get free the entire time and swearing that she’s going end his geriatric self before the others even get to him.

Upon her, well, fucking death, Kairi shatters and is sent to the Fallen World, where she meets Chirithy. She screams, yells, and cries as the little creature sits there with her and offers her an opportunity. If she can put herself back together and help one of the lost stars, she will return to her world. Her light is not only strong and it reminds Chirithy of a time before Darkness could touch lights such as hers. She brings the pieces of herself back together again, like Sora did, and talks to all of the stars, including Namine. The girls have a heart to heart and Namine says that she will be happy just to see Kairi returned to where she belongs and is impressed at how strong she has gotten over a short period of time. After talking to all of the stars, she goes back to talk to Chirithy, having along the lines the same conversation that Sora did with them. With some debilitation, Kairi decides that she wants to help Chirithy find their friend, though there becomes a debate of whether or not she could really do that. Though the little creature gives in, jumping into Kairi’s arms to return her home just in time to help close Kingdom Hearts for good.

I refuse to acknowledge the ending of KH3. It is dead to me. I’ll be writing up verse info for that later. This is going to correlate with @kiibearer and @dreamdevcur ‘s au for the ending, Radiance, but yeah no. I’m officially canon divergent fuck you Nomura.

#kh3 spoilers #kingdom hearts 3 spoilers #♡ the losses and all the glories . verse 06 #this was two fucking pages #but yeah #here we are a new verse drop!

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akingdomtheorist · 5 years

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KH Catch Up: BBSFM Terra

-sees Terra- "Oh, so thats the guy who completely destroyed me."

"Why is Roxas here? That's Roxas!"

"How many times has Xehanort been cockblocked from Kingdom Hearts?"

"Are you talkin' shit about Destiny Island?"

"Person I assume is Xehanort, why are you kidnapping someone?"

"Xehanort, why is he kidnapping Roxas, this is a prequel?!"

"Why is he old as shit?"

"Roxas what are you doing in this game?"

"What do you mean you're a brand new heart? What the fuck is happening?"

"Wait a minute... that's the outfit Xigbar saw Xion in."

"This is starting out a lot happier than most KH games."

"Ooh I holdin' it in reverse grip."

"This has conspicuously avoided giving me a name for this character, I'm starting to think it's not Roxas."

"You're right I love her (Aqua) already."

"Is this Ventus?"

"Is he gonna kick my as- wait I'm playing as Terra-am I gonna kick my ass as hard as I did in KH2?" "No." "Awww..."

"Yeah that's fuckin' Xehanort."

"These three are a lot more wholesome at the start."

"So Terra's the Anakin of this game?"

"Ah, we're Power Rangers."

"Wait, do we- OH MY GOD when can Sora do that? Excuse me? That's fuckin' rad!"

TERRA STORY BEGIN

ENCHANTED DOMINION

"Terra just called the Unversed basic."

"He sure did."

"Good to see Maleficent is a manipulative bitch, even now."

"Why does this feel familiar to stand over a sleeping woman after murdering into her house?"

"So Terra's the Riku of this game."

"Time to turning evil is the lowest in any of the games so far. I think Riku even lasted longer."

-melds his first commands- "Heck yeah we got Leaf Bracer! Now I just need Second Chance and I beat the game."

He then died to the boss and learned his lesson of not having Items in his Command Menu.

"Yeah you kinda fucked up there Terra."

He's gonna say this about eleventeen more times.

DWARF WOODLANDS

"I'm surprised the Queen isn't like- how did you get in here."

We are not even an HOUR into this game yet.

"Terra... -sigh- you make bad decisions. Terra stop, just... stop."

"So is Terra's storyline just accidentally working for the bad guys? IS that his entire storyline?"

He figured it out folks and not even an hour in!

"THERE'S MIMICS? There's mimics..." "Does this upset you?" "Why are there fucking mimics..."

CASTLE OF DREAMS

"My favourite idiosyncrasy is just seeing classic Disney scenes and just the one anime character there in the scene."

He has pressed Triangle instead of X seven times and wasted so many items.

"Why can the shoe turtle? It's not a turtle, it's a shoe!"

"I'm gonna have to ask you to leave the blonde alone."

"What emotion is the boot? Salt? Is it salt? So it can kick other people from the boot?"

"Counter Hammer? B'scuse me?" No that isn't a typo.

"You were right, Terra's yeylash game is on point, Jesus Christ."

"I like the idea that the boss is playing his own boss music."

"I might jinx it, but the bosses in this game feel easy."

"Excuse me? That little brat did what?" "How dare you." "I knew that would get a reaction."

-sees cutscene with you know and not Xigbar- "Who the hell are you?"

MYSTERIOUS TOWER

-opens chest- "That was a very dramatic tap. Terra is a very dramatic person."

-sees totally not the Keyblade Graveyard- "That level, it gives me a mixed vibe of Chernobog and Land Before Time."

"Oh shit. I know this place. I got my ass handed to me here."

"I believe everything he's saying, but I don't believe he's guilty and it was an accident."

RADIANT GARDEN

"So is ten year old Squall here?"

"Well, yeah but you won't see him."

"But he's technically here?"

"Yeah?"

"I bet he's a fuckin' nerd."

"I see you lurkin' back there old man Xehanort."

"Merlin!-gasp- Pooh Bear? Is that Pooh Bear?"

"Your Elderness? God dammit Terra."

"Oh it's dis bitch. ITS DIS BITCH."

"Can we just all get along please?"

"Oh Terra..."

"Who the fuck are you? Wait a second... is that, is that Xigbar?"

"What was his weapon? What did he use? Was it gunman? It was gunman."

"Oh hey look, he has a crossbow."

"I don't believe this isn't an elaborate ruse. This has to be an elaborate ruse."

Well he died to Braig.

"I take back what I said about the bosses being easy."

We then spent some time getting Second Chance and Once More because Braig is a shooty bastard.

"I forgot to save."

"Yeah this is way easier." "Not because you have Cure, Cure and Cura in your Command Deck, noooo."

"Oh no. Oh this is how he loses his eye! We did that! Dammit it Terra."

"Terra is 100% the Anakin Skywalker of this game."

"Called it!"

DISNEY TOWN

"So is this... Mario Kart or Diddy Kong Racing?" "You'll figure it out."

"I'm not a citizen. I'm not even an immigrant, I just wandered over here."

"Wait, that was it?!" "You'll be coming back."

OLYMPUS COLISEUM

"Oh wow it's scrawny Herc."

He tried to open a chest, pressed triangle again.

"Yeaaaah, let's make bad decisions."

Then there was the salty agony of the timed battles in the Coliseum.

"So which Final Fantasy character are we gonna fight now?"

"Which Final Fantasy character are you? Who are you?"

"Is this Squall?" "No."

"Who is this?" "He looks a lot younger than he should." "Oh shit is this Zack?"

DEEP SPACE Terra wants to hit nothing he's aimed at. Apparently his weakness is zero gravity.

"Hey it's mah boy."

"Wait isn't that-" "Sparky!" "Yeah we're beating the hell out of him apparently..."

"Oh that's right we're excaped prisoners. Uh... jail break?"

NEVERLAND

"Oh are we helping Hook?" "Yeah." "God damnit Terra."

"Terra makes so many bad decisions, all the time."

"Never mind that this person might be in danger from pirates, I should leave."

"I like how the game was just go out of the cave, go in the cave."

"I've fought 1000 Heartless once I should be fine." He then hit critical health in twenty seconds.

DESTINY ISLANDS

"It's baby Sora and baby Riku!"

"I mean you're the Riku of this game so... yeah I guess?"

"What is happening?! He's seeing the future!"

"Little did Terra know, he set Riku on the path to super villainy."

"Did Terra just make Riku a Jedi? That seemed really official does he have the power to do that?"

THE LAND OF DEPARTURE

"Alright we've gone full fuckin' Darth Vader now."

"-sarcastically- From my perspective the Keyblade Masters are evil!"

"Are we becoming a Heartless?" "No." "It feels like we're becoming a Heartless."

"Did Xehanort just kill him?"

"It was Xehanort!"

"Oh no, he was evil? I would have never guessed! This is such a surprise to me! /endsarcasm/ Look now our home is fuckin' gone because we trusted the evil man."

We then spent lots of time getting commands so he didn't get his ass kicked. There was cross-referencing a guide and everything.

THE KEYBLADE GRAVEYARD

"Oh god it's a save point, and a shop. I think this is it."

"Oh look it's the in-game in engin version of that one cutscene."

"Aqua looks mad at us. We look mad at Aqua."

"Oh hello asshole."

"Since when are you an earthbender?"

"WHEN DID KINGDOM HEARTS GET HERE? WHAT IS GOING ON?"

"DON'T TAKE OFF YOUR HEAD PROTECTION!"

"Why did we take off our armor?"

"We have hurt him a lot, jesus."

"I'm not looking behind me-OH GOD DAMMIT."

"Oh no, oh nonono oh no mm-mmm. This is why you don't take off your protective gear!"

"Oh no this is bad, we're Xehanort now aren't we. So that's why he looks young."

"You get to be the Lingering Will, are you ready to beat yourself up?" "HECK YEAH!"

"So here's the plan: Shotlock, get the shit beat out of us, HEAL, Shotlock, repeat."

"Is he saying yield?" "He's telling you to yield." "NO!"

"Oh hey we got our cape!"

#kh catch up #kh bbs #kingdom hearts #kingdom hearts bbs #long post #terra #god damn it terra

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their-destinys-writer · 5 years

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Connecting the Light - A Kingdom Hearts Fanzine Work

Did I tell anyone I participated in a Kingdom Hearts zine?

Last month, @destiny-islanders and @novallion organized what was probably one of the biggest Kingdom Hearts events in all Tumblr: a special zine called The Ties That Bind Us, celebrating the much anticipated release of Kingdom Hearts III. I’m happy to say that I submitted a piece, and I am finally sharing it with my followers.

For the zine, you can get the download link here.

Connecting the Light

The power to connect. Hearts that rest and take refuge in mine. That’s what they said I can do: that I have the power of connection to other people’s hearts. But will it protect my friends when they need it the most?

Sora was ready to leave Destiny Islands once again, but this time, instead of looking for his friends, he would be saving people connected to the one residing in his heart. And the owner of it, too.

Call them ‘future friends,’ as Sora liked to think of them.

After all, if they were Ven’s friends, then by extension, they were his friends too. He just hadn’t met them yet. Or, at least, that he knew of.

He stared off into the setting sun on the beach, the one that left trails of orange on the surface of the ocean. The boy listened to the waves intently, wondering when would be the next time he would hear them again. Hoping it would be these same waves he would hear again, and not the ones in the Realm of Darkness.

“Sora?” a soft voice spoke behind him.

He turned to find Kairi standing there, giving one of her bright smiles. Very appropriate for a Princess of Heart.

“I thought you guys had left already,” she said as she walked to stand beside him.

“Riku needed some extra time before we left,” Sora shrugged. “I think he’s not very sure about our next adventure.”

“Oh,” Kairi uttered, her brows furrowing. She turned to look at the sunset. “He still thinks he’s not worthy, doesn’t he?”

“I guess,” Sora sighed. But he quickly grinned. “But don’t worry. I think this test is just the thing he needs to prove how strong his heart really is.”

Kairi giggled. “Yeah. At least he will have you there to remind him…” She paused. “Sora?”

“Hm?”

“Don’t ever let him forget it: that he is also part of the light, no matter the darkness he has fought inside him.”

Sora blinked at her. Slowly, a smile curled his lips, as he looked back at the sunset, placing his hands at the back of his head.

“Don’t worry. I won’t let him forget.”

“I thought you’d be on the gummi ship by now.”

Both Sora and Kairi turned to the new voice, only for both of them to let out sounds of surprise.

“You cut your hair,” Sora commented.

“It was getting a little long for my taste.” Riku shrugged, walking closer to his friends.

“It suits you,” Kairi giggled. “I’ve been thinking about doing the same thing.”

“It bodes well, when you’re trying to start anew,” the young man said, now standing next to the other two, lightly stroking his hair.

“Great! You’re going to pass that exam with style now.” Sora playfully punched Riku’s bicep.

The young man chuckled, right before turning his gaze to the sunset. “You really think I’ll pass, with all the darkness I let in my heart?”

Sora and Kairi exchanged looks, instantly nodding in understanding.

“What are you talking about? Of course you’ll pass!”

“You’re gonna do great!”

They spoke at the same time, both with a sense of purpose, including Sora making a fist of confidence. The reaction was so strong that Riku was startled by their enthusiastic support.

“You have us,” Kairi added.

“And King Mickey, Donald and Goofy,” Sora continued. “You’ve got plenty of friends rooting for you.”

“Right,” Riku chuckled. “My friends are my power. That’s what you said before, right?”

Sora nodded. “Right.”

The trio turned back to the light, seeing the last bit of the sun sink down the horizon. Knowing it would be a while before they got to see it together like this again. So, they cherished the moment, savoring every second of it.

“We should get going,” Riku said quietly.

“Yeah,” Sora whispered.

As the two boys turned to walk away, Kairi spoke up.

“Make sure you two come back here,” she teased, placing her hands on her hips and leaning forward.

Sora grinned. “We will.”

He then practically jumped as he placed his arms around Riku and Kairi’s shoulders. Riku got dragged down by Sora’s short stature.

“I promise that no matter what, we’ll always come back here, to this island, and hang out. Like old times. No darkness involved.”

Kairi giggled, while Riku let out a short laugh and shook his head at his always optimistic friend.

Someday.

Someday, it’ll be me, Terra and Aqua. We promised we would find our way back to each other, that our wayfinders would guide us, and keep us together in our hearts.

And someday, I’ll see Xion again. And we’ll go back to that clocktower to eat that sea-salt we loved so much. And maybe this time, Axel won’t have to keep any secrets from us.

Someday, we will reconnect.

Personal A/N: I cannot even begin to describe how much this series means to me. I have been playing Kingdom Hearts since I was about 12 years old (I am about to turn 27 next month). I remember watching Disney Channel and seeing an ad for the first game, and I immediately fell in love with the idea of Disney characters mixed with anime characters.

When my sister and I got the game, we still didn’t have memory cards for our PS2. So you can imagine my frustration when I had to turn off the PS after I heard Tarzan say “Not Clayton. Hee, hoo, hoo ha ha” about 10 times.

But after getting memory cards, this was the first time I ever took the time to complete a game at it’s fullest. And for once, uncover secrets my sister never did (she was usually better at videogames than me).

It was the first time I had ever felt I had some unique achievement that no one else I knew had. That I was good at something I normally wasn’t. I remember gaping the moment I beat Sephiroth and saying “never again”, without knowing I would beat his ass again in Kingdom Hearts 2 later on. It was the one series I played over and over again, trying to get better and better with each playthrough. Even as I turned into adulthood.

Sadly, that PS2 stopped working properly over time, and I was too broke to buy any consoles, like a PSP or a NintendoDSi. So, for the longest time, I missed out on the games. From then on, everything I knew about the games came from Wikipedia.

That was, until my boyfriend (now husband) gifted me a Nintendo3DS for our 9 month anniversary, with Pokémon Y. Finally an adult with a part-time job, one of the very first games I bought for that 3DS was, of course, Kingdom Hearts 3D. I took my time playing it, but unfortunately, I was unable to finish it because one of the buttons stopped working properly. The one button one smashes the most to beat Xehanort in the end.

So when I finally saved enough money to buy a console, you bet your butt that I bought a PS4. While there were other games my husband and I were interested in (like Monster Hunter World, the remakes of Crash Bandicoot and Spyro, among other games), there was one main reason I bought it for: Kingdom Hearts.

Because I grew up with this series. Because they gave me a sense of supporting friendships. Because it was beautiful. Because it made me feel whole. Because they made me feel capable.

And when I saw PSN was selling the All-in-One Package, I didn’t need to think twice to buy it. And the second those games downloaded, I opened the very first Kingdom Hearts game, I started crying like an idiot. Because finally. I finally had them with me again. And I could finally experience some of the stories that I had only read about.

These 14 years have been an emotional roller coaster. But this last month really takes the cake. I cried so hard with the new game, from beginning to end, and I am so happy I got to see and experience it. I, personally, feel Kingdom Hearts III was so much of what I wanted it to be. I experienced so much old and new, at the same time. The added pieces of Disney were fantastic, and once again, it proved that Kingdom Hearts is so much more than just a crossover. It’s more than its gameplay and companies. It is a piece of us, that helped forge who many of us are now.

Kingdom Hearts is, and forever will be, the greatest game in my heart.

#Kingdom Hearts #Ties That Bind #destiny-islanders #novallion #fanfic #writing #personal author's note

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oveliagirlhaditright · 4 years

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Reupload of an old fic of mine.

Author's Note: An alternate ending to KHIII, where Kairi is conscious when Xehanort summons her to kill her, and so gets to cleverly escape and be a part of the ending.

Though this isn't the "completely happy ending story" (I already wrote that fic), as Sora still disappears in the end (but not via death), because Joshua needs his help, etc. So it's just a temporary goodbye between Sora and Kairi.

Canon AU, Universe Alteration, Kind of Not Canon Compliant, but also is?

The Sun Sets

Kairi's PoV

Kairi stood above a cliff—staring at her dear friends, as she did so—whilst Xehanort was about to kill her.

And she could already see the pain she'd cause Sora, and it was unbearable.

But as Xemnas had dislocated her shoulder—and she could barely even move for all the pain—there wasn't much she could do.

Unless… she remembered what Naminé had told her Xehanort had done to win against Terra in the Keyblade Graveyard in the past.

He'd made him look, hadn't he?

It was the oldest trick in the book, but maybe it would work for Kairi. Perhaps.

And as it stood, it was her only chance.

"Xehanort, look! The worlds are already returning to darkness, just like you want, since you've already cut me," Kairi tried to trick the monster.

The Princess of Heart remembered what Master Yen Sid had said, about the world giving way to darkness if she or any of the other princesses fell.

So now Kairi was acting as though the blood loss he'd just given her was enough to kill her, and that the worlds were already acting accordingly.

"KAIRI!" the princess heard her prince exclaim her name.

And it hurt so much, that Kairi no longer regretted that she'd had to wait for him. And she would feel the pain from that a hundred times over, if Sora never had to endure this.

And there was something in his voice that seemed to indicate he had had to more than once.

But what she'd done had worked!

And when Kairi would look back on this moment many years later, she still wouldn't believe it.

But now that this miracle had occurred for her, Kairi wasted no time in acting:

Her right side was gravely injured from all that Xemnas and Xehanort had done to her—and it didn't help that Kairi thought the old "Master" had put some sort of sleep spell on her that had yet to take effect—so that left but one option:

So she jumped from the cliff ledge.

Kairi knew well that in her condition, the fall could kill her as easily as Xehanort wanted to.

But at least this way, she'd have a fighting choice.

And if nothing else, Sora and Riku wouldn't have to see her be taken away from them by a mad man.

Feeling as though her legs had snapped—as Master Xehanort growled in rage, and Sora and Riku screamed her name—Kairi landed beside a piece of shrubbery. Something that already seemed to do wonders for her injuries: though maybe it was just in her head.

But what did do the trick for her, was that Donald and Goofy joined the fray at that exact moment.

Donald healed Kairi the moment he saw her—which she couldn't have been more grateful for if she tried. Sora always joked that the duck never cured him, but the redhead thought she could've kissed him now—and Goofy threw a panacea her way, that rescued her from any of status effect she might have had.

But she barely had a chance to breathe, before Xehanort leapt down to where she was and banged his Keyblade against the one Kairi had just risen up.

Kairi sighed, noting the flower petals that had floated from Destiny's Embrace at this clash—and tried to use a bit of her magic, to turn them into fire that would hurt him.

But she wasn't the only one who had a sword in this mix:

No.

Sora, looking more murderous than Kairi had seen him before, had his Kingdom Key wedged between their two blades now.

"Get. Away. From. My. Kairi. Now, Xehanort!"

And as the Keyblade bearer said the words—he shot a summoning spell to his side with his free hand, and summoned Simba (or Kairi assumed, from all the stories Sora had told her about the lion).

Kairi marveled at this spectacle, despite herself—all while she tried to kick at Xehanort's body with her feet, as she jumped into the air.

The jungle cat jumped this way and that, causing Xehanort to be caught in a field of flames.

And Riku was now behind the old geezer—preparing to perform Dark Aura at the back of his head, Kairi could tell.

And Mickey? He was trying to let his heart be his guiding key, and let it send away the hearts in Kingdom Hearts the way it had happened with Ansem's encoder.

All was going well—and should have gone well—but when Kairi thought the battle might have been won, she noticed something.

The thirteenth Keyblade had still been forged: That had happened the moment that Xehanort had struck his Keyblade with hers. And Sora joining in had only made certain it would happen.

And now… Now Kairi was seeing a wolf in the place of Xehanort… and a towering city of white buildings?

And Simba, whatever the reason, had disappeared just like that.

"What the-" Kairi uttered, pointing her Keyblade at the town and preparing to try and do a Stop spell at it if need be: She had the feeling that this location was something that Xehanort wanted.

Donald and Goofy must have sensed it, too, for they came to Kairi's side and put their hands on her shoulders for moral support.

And finally, Xehanort seemed to notice Kairi and the threat that she was.

He got in front of the blocky buildings, as if he wanted to go there. But he also drifted to the side away from them, as if he was trying to avoid them as if his life depended on it.

He was powering up a Dark Firaga to blast at her, Kairi saw.

But before he could, Kairi reached something other than Stop.

"Thunder!" the princess cried, remembering what Sora had said about meeting the King of the Gods, and how his lightning bolts had made Sora's Thundaga look like sparks.

Kairi had no doubt that her pitiful magic that she'd only just learned was even worse than that, but if it protected her and maybe seemed to stop Xehanort… she would do it.

Kairi screamed, as she thought back on the electricity in her own life to give the Thunder mana some weight:

When Riku had shown her snowfall on the Island for the first time… Axel letting her try the zany taste that was sea salt ice cream… the way that Sora had just looked at her when she'd saved him.

And she imagined bad things, too: What it had been like to be cast out into the worlds, to lose her heart, and sit there waiting for her two friends.

"Ah-AHH!"

Kairi must have blacked out after this, because the next thing she would see would be a flash of black on the door she'd just witnessed that led to… "Scala Ad Caelum"? That's what a voice in the back of her head seemed to be whispering now.

And Xehanort was… gone. Xehanort had been raising her chin up via her hair, so he could stab her throat.

And yet, he was no longer around Kairi. And she was instead lying on her back, looking up at Sora, Riku, Donald, Goofy, King Mickey, and even Axel, Aqua, Ventus, Roxas, and that girl Xion.

"Wh-what happened?" Kairi asked—feeling as though she hadn't had a drink in days, as Sora sat her up (almost into his arms), and Riku patted her back some.

"Gosh, Kairi. I don't know," the king admitted—awkwardly kicking one shoe this way and that, as he tried to make sense of the impossible situation. "I talked to Riku and the others, and we'd planned ta try an' trap Xehanort in Scala Ad Caelum: The place that we all saw for a second there… But we didn't even summon it. It just appeared… I don't get it. But now Xehanort's there, and-"

"And he's happy about it… at least partly," Kairi guessed, remembering a certain look she'd seen in his eyes before everything had turned to nothing.

And Sora must have known it, too, if the way he groaned beside Kairi and leaned into her some—as if to agree—meant anything.

Funny, how attune they were to each other now… But maybe sharing a paopu fruit would do that to you.

"Whatever you guys thought," Sora spoke up then, sounding so pained then that Kairi thought she might die for it.

Gosh, who had done this to her baby and how could she kill them for it?

And was it her… or did it sound like her lazy bum was going to sacrifice himself here? If he was planning on i-

"Sora!" Both Kairi and Riku said at the same exact time. And if the way Donald and Goofy's mouths were opening now was any indication, they'd been about to speak up themselves.

"It isn't going to work! It's a good starting point, probably, and I'll go face him there… But you need to come up with… something else."

Sora was right.

Kairi was well aware that he was.

And so was everyone else, with every fiber of their being. But whatever the real solution was, she didn't know.

And precious time was ticking away.

The sky itself was beginning to turn the ghastly green of the X-Blade she'd seen in Xehanort's hands.

"What should we-"

But Riku cut Kairi off, smirking, as he seemed to share some sort of inside joke with Sora. "Something like 'consume the darkness, return it to light'? I think I may have an idea. But I'll need Terra's help with it.

"Sora, you go and hold Xehanort off from doing whatever he wants to with Kingdom Hearts. We've got the rest covered."

Kairi felt awful leaving Sora to do this alone—it reminded her of Traverse Town all over again, and she'd done everything she could think of to keep that from happening once more—but what could she do?

Apparently her group going to try and free someone named "Eraqus" from Terra, so he could reach his out to his old friend.

And Kairi's companions thought they'd need the light of a Princess of Heart to help find that other spark within Terra.

So Kairi ended up aiding in this as much as she could…

Even though she felt like Ven and Aqua were still doing most of the work here: Those who actually knew Eraqus and could soothe Terra during this difficult encounter.

But all the same… Kairi did think she nearly died from this once, twice, maybe three times.

Ven and Aqua were fading fast: Those without hearts of pure light weren't meant to do this kind of work. And Ventus' heart was only artificially that way…

So to keep them from disappearing, Kairi was giving them some of her light… but it was draining her a dangerous level to do so.

And if it hadn't been for King Mickey healing her, Kairi didn't know what she would have done.

"I… I got it," Terra asserted at last—as he woke up peacefully, and Ven and Aqua snapped awake beside him.

At this, Kairi got up groggily—but with a smile on her face, all the same—and allowed Mickey to help her to her feet.

And it was a good thing she got back to Scala Ad Caelum's door when she did, because Roxas and Xion were chomping at the bit in trying to get to Sora to help. And in the end, it was only Lea that kept them from getting themselves killed.

"Do you guys wanna die?" the pyromaniac demanded: his hands on his hips, as he shook his head somewhere between a dad and an older brother. "I can hear what they're all screamin' in there: Xehanort just turned Sora into his anti-form. And if he can do that to Lighty McLight Boy, what can he do to you guys? When you have no darkness in your hearts from all you went through? We still have to play it by ear."

"Yeah!" Kairi agreed, playfully swatting Roxas on the back of the head once—the way she might have Sora—and putting an arm around Xion, as she leaned into her to let her know how much this… sister of hers was going to mean to her. "None of you are falling to darkness on our watch. Right, Axel?"

But just as Kairi said that, Mickey was pointing to Scala Ad Caelum and signaling that they should go in now.

Of course: Just after she and Axel had said "no".

Sometimes, Kairi really thought her entire life was a series of simple-minded stunts that always turned against her.

But there was no time for that now…

No: Kairi needed to climb atop Riku's back—like he was motioning her to do now—and let him take her to Scala Ad Caelum.

The place had turned topsy-turvy like Wonderland, Kairi could already see.

And since she hadn't learned glide like Sora and a few of the others had, she knew she'd have no way of traversing the floating homes unless she let Riku use Flowmotion with her.

And she did.

On one hand, what she and Riku were now doing was beautiful—just barely seeing the blue lights they caused this way, and floating in the air the way dandelion seeds might in the wind.

But it was also a punch in the gut, and made Kairi want to double over in pain the way that going through Corridors of Darkness had. But she pushed on for Riku, all the same.

And it was just as Riku had latched onto a flagpole to pull them both to the platform jus above them, that Kairi had a sense of dread.

…She could feel Sora, in more pain then he had ever been in his life, and he was also positively exhausted.

It was enough to make her want to retch, and for tears to sting at her eyes.

And Riku must have felt her stressing above him, because he just questioned: "Kairi?"

And she wanted to reassure him. She did: Because Riku was her best friend, and she wanted him to know—as they both fretted over Sora—that he'd at least always have her if something happened, but she decided to act before sparing any words.

From this vantage point, Kairi could see Sora was on his last legs—Donald and Goofy, too—and Xehanort was aiming at him with the X-Blade.

And Kairi jumped their way before she even knew what she was doing.

But she tugged on Riku's hand first, to let him know he should follow her… but after that, Kairi was kicking the X-Blade out of Xehanort's hands—cutting her legs on the weapon to do so—and sending it flying into Sora's hand.

"It- it's over, Xehanort", Kairi promised then, when she'd found her voice again:

It just seemed like something Sora would say. And since he wasn't filling the void right now—though he was giving her a sort of appraising look—she thought she had to.

"Sor-"

But he didn't seem to see Kairi at all.

Instead, Sora had the X-Blade pointed at a fearful looking Master Xehanort, and was looking at the older man with the utmost disgust.

"You made me lose, Kairi… And you've done so much other harm, that I should kill you right now."

And this attitude of Sora's took Kairi aback, because she'd always thought that Sora showed his enemies mercy—even when they behaved in such a way.

Despite everything, Xehanort hadn't really hurt her today. And Kairi was even about to tell Sora as much…

But the way Sora was acting now… it was like Xehanort had hurt him more than anything or anyone else ever could, and that's why he'd lost it.

And if the way Sora was holding the X-Blade now was any indication—in the kind of back-handed way that Ven did—it was true. (1)

Ventus had been a part of Sora… so him now holding the X-Blade like this said everything.

But the fact he was carrying it like Ven, also related that it was really him who had a bone to pick with Master Xehanort.

"Sora," Kairi began, taking in his now odd white outfit.

But just as Kairi voiced his name, the X-Blade came toppling out of Sora's hands and shattered into a million pieces.

And it was after that had happened that Riku found them.

He wasted no time asking what was going on when he came their way—something Kairi would always appreciate—and instead put himself between them and Master Xehanort.

In a lot of ways, it reminded Kairi of when he'd shielded them before Ansem the Wise had died…

"Xehanort, you're not gonna hurt my friends now, just because they destroyed the X-Blade. You're just not."

And Kairi knew that Xehanort had been about to attempt exactly that.

The way that he had his eyes on Sora now, rather than her, had Kairi afraid in a way she never had been before. She just couldn't put her finger on why…

Before Kairi could stop herself, she took both of Sora and Riku's hands into her own:

The best thing she'd ever seen her friends do was team attacks, after all.

And though Kairi wasn't sure if she was skilled enough to do that with her boys just yet, she knew she had to try.

The Light tried to draw out the spark of life that existed in all three of them.

And as she felt her heart beating at a faster and faster rhythm, Kairi thought she was probably succeeding, and about to do her own version of Dark Impulse, but a Light one. She'd call it "Holy".

"No!" Kairi heard Aqua warn her, the second she'd begun working at this.

And when Kairi would look back at on it all later, she would assume it was because Terra and Eraqus had showed up on the scene now and Eraqus could have spoken to his old friend.

But it was too late.

Kairi magic struck Eraqus' temple just when he'd approached, and something else transpired because of it… Something none of them ever could have counted on.

A woman a bit older than Aqua—probably about Queen Minnie's age, Kairi would guess—ended taking up the entire area as a massive ghost.

She had long, brunette hair… A white tank top, and a brown skirt.

And Eraqus was bowing to her at once, and Terra followed suit because of it—unable to stop himself, Kairi could see.

"Master Hakanaidesu!"

Mickey also looked at this woman wide-eyed, in clearly knowing who she was.

And Kairi was about to ask the king the obvious question, the way she was sure Sora and Riku had bombarded him with query time and time again… but she refrained from it, when she noted that Master Xehanort was looking as though he was seeing the gods for the first time.

Flying over to him, and taking his face between her hands, Hakanaidesu was much gentler with Xehanort than Kairi would have been if he had murdered her the way, Kairi was about to here Xehanort had his old Master.

"Xehanort, you killed me… Despite everything. And I can almost even understand why you would, even aside from the obvious… But you've lost. The X-Blade has shattered. What else would you do to forge it?

"Come with Eraqus and me where second chances are given: in the one thing you've always wanted. Kingdom Hearts."

And if Hakanaidesu hadn't said the last bit about Kingdom Hearts, Kairi didn't think Xehanort ever would have gone.

But at his closing, he seemed to decide he'd seen enough of this world, and that death was the next great frontier:

For he slapped an arm around his brother Eraqus' shoulder—as Eraqus smiled, and shed one single tear—and then they both took their Master's hands the way pupils should. Eraqus looked more thankful than anything, and then they were both gone.

Kairi completely missed their movement to the Beyond.

But she thought this was probably for the best, since those alive weren't meant to see what death looked like… Not yet, anyway.

Everyone was jumping and cheering now—much like they had when they'd defeated Xemnas that last time—as they'd won.

And the multi-verse was going to be okay: They hadn't allowed Xehanort to reset the world like he'd wanted to.

Kairi turned to Sora with a grin on her face—wanting to share this section of her life with him most of all—she was preparing to kiss him on the cheek, because she had been waiting for the right moment to do so, but…

But Sora didn't allow it, surprising Kairi.

And if she really had to stop and think about it, she would have said he seemed a bit… off.

Before Kairi had been able to catch Sora's cheek with her lips, Sora caught her in his arms—halting her action—and allowing them to share the most intimate hug they ever had, since they both meant to hold onto each other this time.

Every other time they had hugged, it had been of necessity: Sora catching her as she'd lost her heart and to keep her from falling at the Castle That Never Was… her protecting Heartless him from the other Shadows, and then Sora saving her from Terra-Xehanort recently.

The only other time had been when Kairi had wanted him so badly in the Castle That Never Was—and hadn't been able to fight against embracing him there—but Sora had acted somewhat awkwardly then. And Kairi couldn't blame him for it, since they hadn't said how they'd felt at that point.

"Kairi… I'll make sure we don't end up like Xehanort and Hakanaidesu. Or anywhere close to it. I swear. We're going to be healthy together—and safe with one another—and even if there are some hiccups along the way… We'll find each other in the end. I swear."

So Sora had noticed it, too… That there had been some sort of inappropriate relationship between Xehanort and his Master that she had cited, and that it was—perhaps—one of the reasons he'd fallen…

Twisting her finger in Sora's for a pinky promise—that felt so natural to her, that Kairi could almost sing for the comfort of it—she gave her lazy bum her thoughts on it all: "Of course I know that, silly. We're always going to fine… And you'll always be good to me. Why would you even think differently for a second?

"But enough about 'us' for the moment, Sora. I don't want to alienate everyone. So what do you say we invite everyone home, and give them the beach party they've always wanted?"

There was something in Sora's eyes then:

It seemed to her, like someone who looked and looked for an optical illusion… only to eventually see it, and realize it had been there all along.

"Yeah. Let's go," Sora said, grinning bigger than Kairi had ever seen him do before. But there was some form of tightness in his eyes, as well.

And Kairi's prince held her hand in his—racing with her out of Scala Ad Caelum, and from the Keyblade Graveyard to the gummi ship.

Unlike when they had headed out to the gummi ship when Hollow Bastion had been overrun by Heartless, Sora didn't let go of Kairi at all.

And she took whatever solace she could find in that.

…

Sora and Kairi sat together on the gummi ship trip home, after they'd revived Naminé and had gotten Hayner, Pence, and Olette—and Sora wouldn't leave Kairi's side for an instant, and was actually allowing Donald to fly—and while Sora seemed against letting Kairi's lips touch him for whatever reason, he was gently kissing her cheek and neck whenever the others weren't looking.

Kairi was glad for the attention—she was finally ready for this kind of thing—but she didn't know what to make of it:

So she'd lean into it here and there, but more than anything she was working on a sodoku puzzle.

Every now and then, Sora would pipe up and tell Kairi where she had put a wrong number. And Kairi couldn't help noting just how much smarter he'd gotten.

"I'm impressed with you, Sora," Kairi announced after the fifth time this happened, knowing that after everything they'd been through—and how she'd teased him in the past—he deserved the compliment. "You really aren't my lazy bum anymore. Not that you have been for a while… But thank you for growing, and somehow making your heart even better than it had been before."

Kairi blushed at the end of her declaration, since this level of honesty with Sora was still new to her. But she tried to keep her eyes locked on his all the same, so that he knew she really meant it.

It was at this point that they reached the Islands.

And Sora—who had been content to let Donald pilot until now—charged into the cockpit, and began steering the ship even faster to their home.

…He missed crashing into the sea completely, only by a hare's breadth.

And Sora landed the ship on the water… Which probably wasn't a good thing, since there was no such thing as a "water landing". That was just code for "accident".

Now, most everyone was going to have to go out the door and into the water—which wouldn't be pleasant for many's outfits, but it seemed that Sora wasn't going to give Kairi that kind of fate.

Instead, he led Kairi to the hatch on the top of the bird and let them platform down onto the sand.

And Kairi thought it said a lot about her training that she wasn't even winded after it.

She was about to celebrate with Olette that she was now part of the romantic story—as the other girl began building a sand castle beside her—but Kairi realized that she wanted to take Sora somewhere, the way he just had her:

She needed to gleefully run around like they were on their honeymoon, too

So to the paopu tree it was—the place that their destinies had become intertwined, that Kairi needed to thank for seeing them to safety.

At first, Sora seemed hesitant to go there.

But when Kairi cheekily asked him if he was afraid to fall off the tree and into the water, like he had when they were kids, he balked up.

For a while, everything was perfect.

Sora and Kairi held hands as they watched their friends goof off, and she leaned her head against Sora's like she had wanted to at Kingdom Hearts all those years ago. (2)

The princess even finally kissed his cheek some. And Sora allowed it… but he seemed somewhat pained for it.

And it was only after he'd made sure their fingers were completely laced that Sora told her his piece.

"The truth, Kairi? …Where do I even begin? I don't even want to admit it… But I lived through this Keyblade War before… And I recently time traveled back there—back here—so I could change things.

"…That bastard murdered you the first and second time… But this one, I finally stopped it from happening. And Kairi, I'm so so glad for it…

"But now, now I have to go to the places I went after the- after the first time. I promised Joshua that I would, because I need to go there in each timeline that I make it to this point. Because- well, just because… But you can't go, since you couldn't before… So I'll be seeing you later, Kairi, but it's not goodbye. It's never goodbye."

And after this word vomit of Sora's, that she let him fully get out before she let herself react—or to think to ask questions—Kairi couldn't help but to sob.

This all explained a lot of Sora's past behavior, didn't it?

They saw Scala Ad Caelum before it had truly appeared, because they had subconscious memories of the last timeline.

And Sora's reaction to Xehanort about her… was because Xehanort had killed her before… And that death of hers was why Sora was unwilling to let her go, and seeming to want to spend all the time together that they could…

And Sora wanted to touch her because he'd lost that chance forever before… but he didn't want Kairi to touch him back, because he didn't want that until things were finally right between them again.

He also must have wanted to stay away from the paopu tree… Because something bad had happened here before, huh?

"…Then I failed you. Didn't I, Sora? I didn't help in the fight at all! But was really just a hindrance. Like you'd always feared?"

And Sora seemed so flabbergasted by this statement of hers, that he almost even let her kiss him—Kairi could tell—because he couldn't move.

Which was good. Kairi now needed to kiss every inch of his skin that she could find, to gain some form of comfort.

But when Kairi's lips had gone to his hand, Sora raised her head up so their foreheads were leaning against each other and he could reassure her. "No, Kairi. You were brilliant. You always have been… But in turning the clock, I can see that even moreso now…

"I've just gotta go be someone else's champion for the moment. But we'll be together again soon. Maybe they'll choose you to be their champion too, I mean."

Kairi doubted that, given how badly she must have done with her first attempt at the War. But maybe with what she had done now, someone would see something within her.

And if it was all Kairi could hope for now, it was how she would hope.

She bit down the need to scream at everyone for some help here, and gave Sora his temporary goodbye that he needed for now.

"… So I'll see you when the sun rises again, Sora." And if Kairi placed a hickey under the chain of the crown necklace she'd given to him, so he'd always know he had to return home to his princess, she thought it was only fitting.

"See you then, Kairi. And forever after that."

And Kairi saw a brighter light than she ever had in her life, as Sora seemed to change form—into a god, almost?—and disappeared in an icy blue beam.

Author's Note: (1) Sora's about to kill Xehanort for murdering Kairi. But he knows it isn't right, or him, so he sort of latches onto his connection with Ven to remember other people have a vendetta against Xehanort, too. And that if they aren't going to go that far with him, neither will he.

(2) Reference to the KHIFM box art.

The stuff with Master Hakanaidesu is a little bit inspired by Phoenix-Downer giving Xehanort and Eraqus a female Master in her story "Those Who Dreamed", and having Xehanort kill her. But really, I just didn't want to completely copy the scene with Xehanort and Eraqus the game gave us (and in my opinion, it shouldn't have been exactly the same since Sora had now changed things). So I had to come up with something close, but not exactly he same. And this whole story was what I thought of.

I was also being vindictive, and not letting Xehanort be redeemed by (mostly) good Eraqus, but someone who'd been a bit crappy herself. Yep.

Also, IIRC, Hakanaidesu means "fleeting" in Japanese. And I chose that because her existence was fleeting, and she had a fleeting affair with Xehanort, etc.

And in case it isn't clear, the canon ending didn't work in this story for whatever reason. Kairi became Sora's Entry Fee and he lost the Game and lost her, or something, so he had to find another way to save her. Time travel it was (with him possessing himself that was at the War)! And he fails at his first attempt, but succeeds in what we see here.

And Xehanort somehow knows that Sora leads to his downfall, so that's why he's afraid of him and Scala Ad Caelum at times and also starts gunning for him here.

After all is said and done, Sora basically has to go join "Dissidia", I'm calling it (because TWEWY, Verum Rex, and whatever with the Master of Masters)—or the episode of Teen Titans where they summon all the champions—for KHIV and DOESN'T die here.

I did sort of want to do more with Sora and Kairi's friends (and I probably will in future stories), but there wasn't just enough time in this one. Though I am glad I got to give the Destiny Trio their dues, that the game didn't.

Anyway, thanks for reading.

-Shanna!

#sokai #this was originally a 'justice for kairi' fic of mine. and one that also had her and riku interacting in this khiii of mine

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