Riku ("Ansem") (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
justabignobody) wrote2014-02-04 03:30 pm
justabignobody) wrote2014-02-04 03:30 pm
Entry tags:
Riku's mirror memories
Riku has seen much since leaving the Islands behind, but this? This is a first. He may be screaming in terror as the images explode in his mind, he certainly feels like it, and he wants to pull away, but his hand feels like wielded to the mirror and try as he might, removing it is impossible; he can only brace himself for the ride to come.
He sees himself in the World That Never Was, fighting Roxas (talking to him, for this battle is meaningless and there just has to be another way), fighting until standstill, until he knows for sure that Sora's memories have now been trapped with Roxas, her name all but disappeared from his mind and memories (he knows he will never forget Xion now), and then he pulls off the blindfold because his moment of sacrifice has come, his turn to put do what will work best for everyone. (he urges Roxas to come with him instead, reaches out to him in offer)
“I have accepted it.” (“Let's go together!”)
{ h͟e ̛sta̴r҉ęs̡ d͘ow̧n ̛at ͢t͜he͟ ̢p͘u͏ppet a͘ǹd ̧dòe͘sn’͟t ͏fe͡el à thįn͝g ͡as̴ ͟he ͢t͢ak͡es its͢ ҉l͢i̡fe, he ́i͞n̢t͟errupts ͡Mar͜lu͝xi͢a̛’s gr͟and́ sp͡e̕e̴ch ͡an̛d͡ take̸s͡ ͞t҉h̛e gi̸r͘l an͏d dǫe͜sn’̷t l̛oo̕k ̀b͜ac͜k even̸ a͏s ͟S͘o̴ra͡ ͠calls his̨ n͝ame̸-
he h̢a͏s ̸f̷or͡g͘o͟t͢ten̛ ̵h̀ow̢ t̡o̢ ̕fe͏el̸ an̢y̵th̕i̢ng ́b̕u͝t co̡ld͏, how̵ t͡o th҉i̢nk̨ ̷for̛ h͢i̡mself, ha̴s f͢orgotte̴n ̧ev̡e͠ņ h́ìs̛ ̢owń n͢ame.̀ ̵the̸ŗe a͏re͏ ͢o̴nly ̴th̷e ̧or̵der͠s,͡ oņly ͟sp͠r̢e͟a̸d͏i̢ng̴ ̀the͏ ̵Da̛r͏k͠neşs in̶ an̷y̴ ͝and ęv̸ery w̕ór̵ld͟ h̷e ͢c͜a̡n ̡r͢e̛àch an̷d̷ ͠gua̴r̴di̛ng ̕Nam͏in͞é̕-
͝s̸o͢met͝im̡es h͝e ̀st͝ar̵ts wońder̛ing, ͜śo͜met͏i͞m͠e͞s͠ ͝he͘ śt͠ar̷ts ͞question̵i͘n̨g̛ ̵hi͏msèl͡f͏,̡ ͡bu͏t ͟i̛t’͞s͝ ͜only a͡f̀ter҉ ͏h͘ę c͏rosse͜s ͘b͡l͞ád̴ęs ̸with t̨h͞a͡t ̡r̨ed ͞h́a͢i̢r͜e͘d̛ ̵g҉ir̸l̵,͢ ͞that̡-͟
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he ͜is҉ ̧l͡os̕t̸ ̀i̕n th҉e dark̴n͡ess, l̡os̵t l̨os̀t ͢los͠t̶lo̵s̛tlos̢t-}
(he tries, he tries, whatever it takes to prevent Roxas' fate; even though it takes more time than they truly have, even though it means that Sora sleeps a little longer.
He fails.
He succeeds.
Mickey leads him to the Mysterious Tower, asks him to tell Master Yen Sid all that he knows, all that he's learned. He shares what he can, except maybe a secret or two, paranoia has been instilled in him in the past few years, and suddenly he's been named Master, for all that he's done, for all that he's learned - for all that he doesn't consider himself worthy, he is needed.)
Sora awakens. (his memories aren't enough, have been scattered too far, have been wrapped too much, and he sleeps sleeps sleeps and Riku despairs)
He is wandering the worlds in his new form, the body that is not his, he allies with Naminé, with Axel, he distances himself from DiZ, he does what he can to keep Sora on track, he does not reveal himself because this is his punishment, this is his curse.
He will never go home again.
(He splits from Sora (and Roxas), there are places he has to go to, places it is important that he goes to according to Master Yen Sid, and that's how he finds himself in the wasteland, masterless Keyblades all around him, and there he finds him, there he finds his master's armour, and his breath hitches lightly as it lifts his head and he can hear it whisper - "You are the one that I chose...")
{ h͏e stand̨s҉ at ̨the ̵shǫr҉e͞s ́of̶ ͘hi͜s home,̸ ҉st҉i͠l͞l ỳou̧ng, ̸st̨i͟ll̸ ̧in̨noc͏e̷n̢ţ, s̸till ̡ful͘l ̡of̵ lig͡h̛t,̴ ̷w̶h̢e͞n t̕h̸e̡ ͟s̀tr̢a̶ng̢er̡ c̨o̴m͞es̵ b̀ack, w͡h̴en h͠e͜ ̕o̸f̷f̵ers to̕ take̶ ̵h̨iḿ ͝a̡way̴ ͢t̢o train ͟h͠i̛m, ̸to̴ tea̢ch̴ ̕h͘im ̷the şt͝reng͝t̕ḩ ͝n͜eed̀ed t́o prote͜c҉t ͢t҉he̴ ̵th̡ings̢ t͠h̴aţ ́m҉at͡t̀ȩr̢-͠
Ra̡di͞an̛t G͞a̡rd͢e͝n is ̛t̶he̕ ̸s͝e̸c͠ońd̷ O͢u͞t́s̡idȩ Wor̕l͏d h̛e get͝s͝ tó v̴i̴s̨it ͠a̢nd i̵t’̕s͢ so ̡m̷u̷c͢h́ ląrger ͢t̕h̢a҉n D҉e͠s̸tiny ́Isl͏a̡nds͜ o̸r th͠è Land̀ o͘f D́e̢p̵art͝u͏re̡,͜ i͏s͟ f̴ull o͡f pe͢ópĺe͘,̶ ͠f̧u͞l̶l̛ ̶òf ̴lif͘e̛ ̡an̕d́ ̕Rįk͠u̕ ͠t̴urn̵s ͝and̢ ͠t̢urns̨ and̢ tr͠iés to̸ ̢se͡e̴ i͠t͠ ͟a͜l̶l̡-
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Ie͘n͠z҉o ͞sc̸o̴ffs̸ ̧a̸t ͢h͘i͠m͘ ẁheǹ h͝e ̀tri͠e͡s tơ a͞s̀k ͞ab͟o҉ut̶ ͏hi͟s wo͜r͘k,͜ ̵tellìn̡g ̶hi͞m thąt ̴he w̛o̴ul̢d҉n’t ͜be áblȩ t͡o͞ ̨un͝d͜er̡s̸t̕ańd,̴ ͟b̵u̧t Ri̛ku͞ ̡br̡is̴tl̀e̛s ͠a̵n̴d̕ insįśts – h͟e͡ ͞i̕sn’t jųşt͢ ҉a͘ kìd͜-̴
́old̸e͝r ̀n̨òw,͠ he s̸it̸s ̀next́ ͡t̴o ̧K̨ai̕ri̡ i̵ņ th̨e g͝r͏a̕ss o̢f̵ t̡hę hill̷,͏ h͘eàd͘ ţi͞ltęd back ͜a͜s͜ ̧t̷h͢ey w̵átc̷h ͟t͏he ͜sta͜rs, so̸onso͡o͠ns͠o̡o̴n̕ ͜t̸hey wíll̴ ́b̵e ̶alĺowed͢ t̨o̵ f҉a̧c͜e ͏t̷h͟e e̶x̵a͜m҉ and̛ ͠b͝ecom̕e̢ tr̛u̵e̡ Keyb̧l̴ad͞e͡ ̶M̧ast͝ers-͡}
{ once, ͞the s͜tr͢angȩr co̸me̡s t̛o͝ ge̕t h͟im͢,̴ bu͞t͜ ̷the ́p͟at͞h h͟e le͝ad̢s ̡hįm͟ ́tow̕a̴rds is͘ ̀n҉ot ͜on͠e of͜ ̨th̶e light͠-}
Twilight Town isn't safe for them, not anymore and yet he is waiting with Naminé, knowing that there could be an attack any time, and sure enough, it comes, Xemnas arrives and names him for who he isn't, and Riku isn't strong enough to defeat him by himself, not quite yet, but he can fight him to draw- (he slips up, he falls to his blades, and he can only watch in terror as Naminé is dragged away while he lies helpless and fades away)
At last it's become time to end it all, Sora has arrived in the World That Never Was, Kairi is trapped there too and Naminé on her way to save her, and Riku races to catch up with them, to make sure that they'll be okay, to protect them, because they've never been in more danger than now. He slays the two Berserkers with ease, Way To The Dawn burning in his palm, assaults Saix and is stopped before he can follow, his secret - so carefully kept, he hadn't wanted them to know, not ever - revealed, but even as Kairi draws away the hood and looks up in the face that isn't his own, she never backs away, she doesn't flinch, and maybe, maybe he can-
They are running towards Sora, Kairi determined and eager to fight by herself and throwing herself at the Heartless even without anything to fight them with (she is so much braver than they all); he cannot fight so much determination, he can only arm it and so he pulls at the Keyblade he senses in her, that she can't quite summon herself, so she can fight with them this time. Sora seems hesitant when he finally sees her, almost as if he can't quite believe that she's here with him, and Riku turns to leave (he disappears, he draws into the shadows quick enough, he never sees either of them again)
And then Kairi calls, he stills and the secret is out because when has he ever been able to refuse her - "Riku, don't go!"
Nothing feels more right than when she pulls his hand and Sora's over each other and holds them with hers, when it's suddenly just the three of them and nothing else matters. It's like coming home.
They reach Ansem the Wise not too long after, and Riku understands his plan, understands what they have to do next, shields everyone the best he can as the machine explodes and the light washes over them- (it's too strong, too much, too focused, it kills them all, kills everything trapped in this world with them)
A miracle has happened. Riku is himself again. (He is trapped in his enemy’s body now and forever)
They fight Xemnas once, twice, trice, too many times to keep counting, and finally it comes down to just Sora and Riku and Xemnas, and he despairs when suddenly Sora gets caught in Xemnas' grip, the distance in between them and he runs- (he is too late, he doesn't make it-)
There are red laser lights all around them, zaps of energy attacking from each and every angle, all they can do is defend and endure and once over they are both on their knees, panting heavily, Xemnas approaching - they have to keep fighting, Riku attacks and then there's pain at his side (it's the last thing he knows)
His hand over Sora's, they are praying on Kingdom Key, it's lasting too long, they need to end this and sure enough, there's light, a square hit to Xemnas' chest, and finally it's over- (Xemnas gets up again and this time neither of them has the strength to fight anymore)
The shores of the Dark Margin are welcome and familiar, and Riku has no strength to keep standing, is satisfied with just being here, so happy that Sora is with him, that he's no longer alone (they spent years and years at that shore, waste away until the darkness takes them) (they are found by a woman, someone foreign and yet so very familiar, who breaks down in tears and smiles when they tell her their names, who has so much to tell them, so much to share-)
It's a bottle, a message, a light that guides them home, to the place that Riku once had longed to leave, that he's come to miss more than anything aside his friends. At last their journey has come to a close.
It's a bottle, another message that starts everything anew, that tells them that it's not yet over after all – or rather yet, a new journey is about to begin.
They follow the King's call, are led to the Mysterious Tower, to take the exam that will make them Masters, and maybe it's a chance to show himself worthy of his Keyblade, to prove this to himself-
(They travel together through the dreams, Sora and Riku, side by side, they find the keyholes, they open them, they come back to the tower, both now Masters in name)
{ th̕e͜y wa҉t͘ch̵ the͝ sunset, ͝j͏ust ̴the͝ ͝t̶wo o͟f ̀th͡e͢m, ͡t̢he ̧ra̧f͢t on the o͠th̕er s̶ide͡ o̶f̢ the͟ ͞is͡land҉, ̨wa͜itin̡ģ ͟for ͡them ̨to͜ p̶ut on ̧th͝e ̡fi͡ni͞s̨hin҉g͡ ͠t́o҉u͢c̸h̀e̛ş a͡nd ͝f҉inal͟l̡y, ͡fin̕al͏ly͢ ̛lèave ͜t҉h͝e ̴Ìs͡lands̡ ̛b̸e̷hi͘nd͞-
͝he is̡ flǫat͞in̴g͡ ҉i̶n͜ t͢h͟e s҉e͟a͘,͞ ͢s͜w̨aļlo͡we҉d͝ b͡y t̷ḩe̵ sţorm̨,̶ ͟Sor̕a͟ ̸not too̴ f̷a͟r ̵off ̴w͘hen̶ ̕s҉u͠ddenly th̷e҉ K͝e̶ý app̕ear͘s̛ b͟èt̵w͞e͟e͟ń th͞e̵m,̢ ͜ẁh́en i͜t ͜opéns a po͝rtal͞(̨?), wh́en t̛h̕ey̶ ge҉t̶ d̛raw̧n i̷n̛ a͜nd ̷s͡úc̡k̕ed ̀o͟f̶f o͢f͏ ҉t̸h̴eír͡ ̢w̴o͟r͜ld-
̷the̵ ̧gr̡ou͞n͟d͟ i͏s̴ ͜h̶a̵r̴d ͠b̷e̶ne͘ath̡ hi̸m̴ a̴s ̨h̀e̶ aw͘ąke͠n͢s,̀ h̸i͜s clo͡th̡s ̀and ́ha͞i͟r ҉soa̛k͞ed ͟w̸i͝t͏h ͢s͞ea ̨w͘a̢ter͏;͝ ͜h̶e gro̸ans ̶a̵s ̸he ͜o̕pens h͞ís ̕e͏ye͝s a͘nd yelps aw̢a͠ke ̷ẃh̶e̷n͘ ͟h̨e̢ ̴s͞e͘e̛s ͟a̛ rèd ̛h̸a͡ir҉ed gir̵l̵ le͏a̶níng ǫv̵eŗ ͡him – ́t̵hem ͢–͏ ͏lau͜ghi͢n̡g ́t͞o ͠hers͘elf͡ ͠a͜s she̢ t̷ell͡s̡ ţhe͟m “̛Th͘at̵’s a̸ ̕s̨trange ͜pl̸ace ̷you cho̸s͏e f͟òr y҉óur̷ ńap”̢-̶
“͏T͜h̸e̵r̷e is͘ ̡someon͢e̢ ̡I̶ w͢o҉uld҉ l͏i̕ke͜ ̡y̨ou ͜to mee̴t”͘ Ma͟st͘èr̢ Ans͝èm͠ ͞t͝e͟lls̸ ̨h͏im ̧as ̕h͟e͡ l̷e͏ad̨s h̸im̀ t̵o͟ ̢h͜is̨ of̴f͡i͜c͝ȩ, a͏n͟d҉ m̢a̶y͟be Ri͞ku͏ i҉s̢ ͜st̡il͜l̷ ͝a ͡lit͟tle͝ b̷it jum͡py̕ ab͏ou̷t ͘t̢h͘a͞t w͘h̢o̕le̴ K͡èy͟bea͟r͢er b̢ưs͡in̴ess ͏a͡n̛d ͜that’̵s͜ ̨wh͟at ́h̸as ́h͢i̧m̢ di͝str̶u҉s̴t҉f̨u҉l a҉t ̷fi̢r̡st, ev̕e̸n ̀w͢h̶en̢ t̵he mo̶us͘e ͡s͞m͝il͟e̶ś ͠br͞ig̛h͘tly at͠ ́h̴im ͜and̛ ţęlls̨ hi̶m͞ ҉to ća̵ll him͜ ҉Mi͏ck̶ęy-͞
̷
S̛ome͠t̸h͏iǹg͠’s ͢wròng,͟ ͞s̶o̵m̨e̷tḩi̵ng̕ is҉ s͞o ̵v͜er͡y, very҉ ́w͠r͞on͡g, th̢e̷ s͟ki͠es̀ ҉ar̢e̕ ̀d̢ar̴k͞, a͡nd ͝Riku͞ ca͞n̡ fe̕el t̷hé ̧wr҉o͜n͠gn̴es̸s ̶growin͟g ̷s̀t͢ron̷g͠er̨ a̢n̕d ͜s͘trong͡e҉r ͝tḩe͝ f͟u̧r̵t̶he͞r ͝h҉e͝ ̷man̢a͢ges t͠o͝ ̵ge͠t to the b̷as͞em͟ent o͜f the c͞astle̡. He do̶esn’t͜ u̸n͢derst͏an̡d;͟ ̸not͞ ̵re̢a̡lly, wḩy͏ i҉s̨ B̀raig lau̶g͟h̸i̴ng̛,̕ ̢w͢hat͜ is͜ ͜t̨hi̛s̸ ̡D́a̷rk͢nes̶s ̨tha͢t’͠s p̧uls҉ing,̶ ̛wh̷y҉ i͜ş he ̴fr͜oze͡n͜,͞ w͝hy ̡c̡a͟n̶’̷t he mov̸ę-}
The last he remembers as the sea swallows them is the brown coated figure above them, watching them drift into the abyss-
He awakens in Traverse Town, all by himself, Sora nowhere in sight. He fights his way from world to world, knowing Sora close, but too far to see, too far to touch or talk to. He knows these worlds are sleeping, he knows his mission is to awaken them, but he almost forgets the truth he should be keeping on forefront of his mind, until Joshua leads him back to it anyway.
"It's like the same world imagined by two people." "A dream..."
Finally he finds the one that probably separated him and Sora in first place, the boy that ordered Shiki to lead him into a trap in Traverse Town, and he can't help the grim smirk at the accusation thrown his way-
"I don't know how you did it, but you really have found a way to trap darkness inside your heart. And a boy who's immune to darkness is of no use to us."
He's opened all seven Keyholes, he has no doubt that Sora has done the same (he's felt his presence, had seen the second score - there is no doubt that freeing Mickey had taken both of their strength), and yet the place he arrives at is not the Mysterious Tower, is still far too familiar to be comfortable, for all that the Castle That Never Was has been twisted and corrupted nearly beyond recognition.
He finds Sora at the heart of it, sleeping, dreaming, and he tries to wake him up, tries to call him back to reality, he fights Sora's nightmare with all that he has (he fails) he defeats him (Sora awakens, thanks the light), but Sora fades, and Ansem laughs as he reveals the truth that Riku had been so close at guessing and yet so blind to.
"Dream of a dream. A twofold nightmare. This whole journey, you have been inside Sora's dreams. And now darkness within darkness awaits you."
His world is consumed by darkness. (He never awakens from it.)
But within the dark is light - Riku has become his own light now, has become the protector of Sora's dreams from the very start of their journey - he is a Dream Eater, Sora's Dream Eater and even though he's failed it's not too late just yet. He understands, he understands it all now - his strength, his place, and Xehanort's, and what exactly he has to do next - he holds out his hand and there is no longer any question of worth when Way To The Dawn appears in his grip.
"My journey begins here, and now."
(Even with all the strength he's gained, Ansem is too strong, too much, his own light too weak, and at last it's snuffed out for good)
At last he is out of the Realm of Sora's Dreams, back in the Real World, in the true World That Never Was, he races through the castle and finds his way to Where Nothing Gathers, his heart jumping when he spots Sora in that chair, but he is stopped in his tracks before he can reach him-
"Hands off my new vessel."
(It's too much, too many of them for him to fight off, he loses his light, his life, looses Sora)
Mickey saves him, buys them time, but even with that, even with him fighting the Xehanort of the past (he fails, he loses, all is lost), the spell wears off and with two against twelve the odds seem hopeless, they both pinned down, and Sora-
(Xehanort shares his heart, implants his seed in Sora's sleeping shell and all they can do is watch in horror)
Axel (Lea?) arrives just in time, just soon enough to prevent the worst, and somehow they make it, somehow they find their way back to the Mysterious Tower, but even so... Sora is sleeping once more and who knows if even Naminé could wake him this time. Maybe she couldn't, but Riku can now, has learned how, has found that strength, and maybe this is his final test - if it is he has no intention of failing.
"You see, it's my job to keep him on his toes. Besides, what kind of Keyblade Master sleeps through his test?"
(He fails, he falls, he's lost and cursed in the Darkness)
He finds the darkest corner, the deepest abyss of Sora's dream, he fights the armored nightmare hidden within (he loses), he breaks apart the armor, he gasps as it reveals Sora, but he isn't quick enough, he loses him to the Darkness before he can reach him-
(Kingdom Key is gone, and Riku is left drifting in the dark)
The light leads him to the shores of Destiny Islands, to Roxas, to Ventus, to Xion, to DiZ- Ansem the Wise, to truths he's already known deep down, to answers they have sought, to more questions-
"Our most precious treasures--even an empty puppet--the trees of the forest, and the petals on the wind--there are hearts around us everywhere we look."
He returns to the tower, he finds Sora awake and well - and holding a tea party even - and he is just so relieved, just so happy that it all turned out for the better, he almost forgets that there is still an exam to be judged, though the result leaves him frozen in shock, unable to think, unable to comprehend-
"Riku, I name you our new true Keyblade Master."
Now Master Riku, there are new challenges to be tackled, duties for him to follow, errants to run - especially with Sora gone - he trains Lea, he trains Kairi, he prepares them and himself best he can, he helps Mickey best he can.
(Sora stays gone gone gone and Riku goes looking, but when he finds him, he is no longer the Sora he knows)
Sora returns and at last the final fight begins.
It ends all where it started, where everything started - in a wasteland littered with masterless Keys.
Seven lights and thirteen Darknesses.
(They lose and Darkness swallows all. The world is reborn to Xehanort's image, but what a world it is...)
There is Light, Light, Lightlightlight-
And suddenly there is nothing at all.
He sees himself in the World That Never Was, fighting Roxas (talking to him, for this battle is meaningless and there just has to be another way), fighting until standstill, until he knows for sure that Sora's memories have now been trapped with Roxas, her name all but disappeared from his mind and memories (he knows he will never forget Xion now), and then he pulls off the blindfold because his moment of sacrifice has come, his turn to put do what will work best for everyone. (he urges Roxas to come with him instead, reaches out to him in offer)
“I have accepted it.” (“Let's go together!”)
{ h͟e ̛sta̴r҉ęs̡ d͘ow̧n ̛at ͢t͜he͟ ̢p͘u͏ppet a͘ǹd ̧dòe͘sn’͟t ͏fe͡el à thįn͝g ͡as̴ ͟he ͢t͢ak͡es its͢ ҉l͢i̡fe, he ́i͞n̢t͟errupts ͡Mar͜lu͝xi͢a̛’s gr͟and́ sp͡e̕e̴ch ͡an̛d͡ take̸s͡ ͞t҉h̛e gi̸r͘l an͏d dǫe͜sn’̷t l̛oo̕k ̀b͜ac͜k even̸ a͏s ͟S͘o̴ra͡ ͠calls his̨ n͝ame̸-
he h̢a͏s ̸f̷or͡g͘o͟t͢ten̛ ̵h̀ow̢ t̡o̢ ̕fe͏el̸ an̢y̵th̕i̢ng ́b̕u͝t co̡ld͏, how̵ t͡o th҉i̢nk̨ ̷for̛ h͢i̡mself, ha̴s f͢orgotte̴n ̧ev̡e͠ņ h́ìs̛ ̢owń n͢ame.̀ ̵the̸ŗe a͏re͏ ͢o̴nly ̴th̷e ̧or̵der͠s,͡ oņly ͟sp͠r̢e͟a̸d͏i̢ng̴ ̀the͏ ̵Da̛r͏k͠neşs in̶ an̷y̴ ͝and ęv̸ery w̕ór̵ld͟ h̷e ͢c͜a̡n ̡r͢e̛àch an̷d̷ ͠gua̴r̴di̛ng ̕Nam͏in͞é̕-
͝s̸o͢met͝im̡es h͝e ̀st͝ar̵ts wońder̛ing, ͜śo͜met͏i͞m͠e͞s͠ ͝he͘ śt͠ar̷ts ͞question̵i͘n̨g̛ ̵hi͏msèl͡f͏,̡ ͡bu͏t ͟i̛t’͞s͝ ͜only a͡f̀ter҉ ͏h͘ę c͏rosse͜s ͘b͡l͞ád̴ęs ̸with t̨h͞a͡t ̡r̨ed ͞h́a͢i̢r͜e͘d̛ ̵g҉ir̸l̵,͢ ͞that̡-͟
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he ͜is҉ ̧l͡os̕t̸ ̀i̕n th҉e dark̴n͡ess, l̡os̵t l̨os̀t ͢los͠t̶lo̵s̛tlos̢t-}
(he tries, he tries, whatever it takes to prevent Roxas' fate; even though it takes more time than they truly have, even though it means that Sora sleeps a little longer.
He fails.
He succeeds.
Mickey leads him to the Mysterious Tower, asks him to tell Master Yen Sid all that he knows, all that he's learned. He shares what he can, except maybe a secret or two, paranoia has been instilled in him in the past few years, and suddenly he's been named Master, for all that he's done, for all that he's learned - for all that he doesn't consider himself worthy, he is needed.)
Sora awakens. (his memories aren't enough, have been scattered too far, have been wrapped too much, and he sleeps sleeps sleeps and Riku despairs)
He is wandering the worlds in his new form, the body that is not his, he allies with Naminé, with Axel, he distances himself from DiZ, he does what he can to keep Sora on track, he does not reveal himself because this is his punishment, this is his curse.
He will never go home again.
(He splits from Sora (and Roxas), there are places he has to go to, places it is important that he goes to according to Master Yen Sid, and that's how he finds himself in the wasteland, masterless Keyblades all around him, and there he finds him, there he finds his master's armour, and his breath hitches lightly as it lifts his head and he can hear it whisper - "You are the one that I chose...")
{ h͏e stand̨s҉ at ̨the ̵shǫr҉e͞s ́of̶ ͘hi͜s home,̸ ҉st҉i͠l͞l ỳou̧ng, ̸st̨i͟ll̸ ̧in̨noc͏e̷n̢ţ, s̸till ̡ful͘l ̡of̵ lig͡h̛t,̴ ̷w̶h̢e͞n t̕h̸e̡ ͟s̀tr̢a̶ng̢er̡ c̨o̴m͞es̵ b̀ack, w͡h̴en h͠e͜ ̕o̸f̷f̵ers to̕ take̶ ̵h̨iḿ ͝a̡way̴ ͢t̢o train ͟h͠i̛m, ̸to̴ tea̢ch̴ ̕h͘im ̷the şt͝reng͝t̕ḩ ͝n͜eed̀ed t́o prote͜c҉t ͢t҉he̴ ̵th̡ings̢ t͠h̴aţ ́m҉at͡t̀ȩr̢-͠
Ra̡di͞an̛t G͞a̡rd͢e͝n is ̛t̶he̕ ̸s͝e̸c͠ońd̷ O͢u͞t́s̡idȩ Wor̕l͏d h̛e get͝s͝ tó v̴i̴s̨it ͠a̢nd i̵t’̕s͢ so ̡m̷u̷c͢h́ ląrger ͢t̕h̢a҉n D҉e͠s̸tiny ́Isl͏a̡nds͜ o̸r th͠è Land̀ o͘f D́e̢p̵art͝u͏re̡,͜ i͏s͟ f̴ull o͡f pe͢ópĺe͘,̶ ͠f̧u͞l̶l̛ ̶òf ̴lif͘e̛ ̡an̕d́ ̕Rįk͠u̕ ͠t̴urn̵s ͝and̢ ͠t̢urns̨ and̢ tr͠iés to̸ ̢se͡e̴ i͠t͠ ͟a͜l̶l̡-
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Ie͘n͠z҉o ͞sc̸o̴ffs̸ ̧a̸t ͢h͘i͠m͘ ẁheǹ h͝e ̀tri͠e͡s tơ a͞s̀k ͞ab͟o҉ut̶ ͏hi͟s wo͜r͘k,͜ ̵tellìn̡g ̶hi͞m thąt ̴he w̛o̴ul̢d҉n’t ͜be áblȩ t͡o͞ ̨un͝d͜er̡s̸t̕ańd,̴ ͟b̵u̧t Ri̛ku͞ ̡br̡is̴tl̀e̛s ͠a̵n̴d̕ insįśts – h͟e͡ ͞i̕sn’t jųşt͢ ҉a͘ kìd͜-̴
́old̸e͝r ̀n̨òw,͠ he s̸it̸s ̀next́ ͡t̴o ̧K̨ai̕ri̡ i̵ņ th̨e g͝r͏a̕ss o̢f̵ t̡hę hill̷,͏ h͘eàd͘ ţi͞ltęd back ͜a͜s͜ ̧t̷h͢ey w̵átc̷h ͟t͏he ͜sta͜rs, so̸onso͡o͠ns͠o̡o̴n̕ ͜t̸hey wíll̴ ́b̵e ̶alĺowed͢ t̨o̵ f҉a̧c͜e ͏t̷h͟e e̶x̵a͜m҉ and̛ ͠b͝ecom̕e̢ tr̛u̵e̡ Keyb̧l̴ad͞e͡ ̶M̧ast͝ers-͡}
{ once, ͞the s͜tr͢angȩr co̸me̡s t̛o͝ ge̕t h͟im͢,̴ bu͞t͜ ̷the ́p͟at͞h h͟e le͝ad̢s ̡hįm͟ ́tow̕a̴rds is͘ ̀n҉ot ͜on͠e of͜ ̨th̶e light͠-}
Twilight Town isn't safe for them, not anymore and yet he is waiting with Naminé, knowing that there could be an attack any time, and sure enough, it comes, Xemnas arrives and names him for who he isn't, and Riku isn't strong enough to defeat him by himself, not quite yet, but he can fight him to draw- (he slips up, he falls to his blades, and he can only watch in terror as Naminé is dragged away while he lies helpless and fades away)
At last it's become time to end it all, Sora has arrived in the World That Never Was, Kairi is trapped there too and Naminé on her way to save her, and Riku races to catch up with them, to make sure that they'll be okay, to protect them, because they've never been in more danger than now. He slays the two Berserkers with ease, Way To The Dawn burning in his palm, assaults Saix and is stopped before he can follow, his secret - so carefully kept, he hadn't wanted them to know, not ever - revealed, but even as Kairi draws away the hood and looks up in the face that isn't his own, she never backs away, she doesn't flinch, and maybe, maybe he can-
They are running towards Sora, Kairi determined and eager to fight by herself and throwing herself at the Heartless even without anything to fight them with (she is so much braver than they all); he cannot fight so much determination, he can only arm it and so he pulls at the Keyblade he senses in her, that she can't quite summon herself, so she can fight with them this time. Sora seems hesitant when he finally sees her, almost as if he can't quite believe that she's here with him, and Riku turns to leave (he disappears, he draws into the shadows quick enough, he never sees either of them again)
And then Kairi calls, he stills and the secret is out because when has he ever been able to refuse her - "Riku, don't go!"
Nothing feels more right than when she pulls his hand and Sora's over each other and holds them with hers, when it's suddenly just the three of them and nothing else matters. It's like coming home.
They reach Ansem the Wise not too long after, and Riku understands his plan, understands what they have to do next, shields everyone the best he can as the machine explodes and the light washes over them- (it's too strong, too much, too focused, it kills them all, kills everything trapped in this world with them)
A miracle has happened. Riku is himself again. (He is trapped in his enemy’s body now and forever)
They fight Xemnas once, twice, trice, too many times to keep counting, and finally it comes down to just Sora and Riku and Xemnas, and he despairs when suddenly Sora gets caught in Xemnas' grip, the distance in between them and he runs- (he is too late, he doesn't make it-)
There are red laser lights all around them, zaps of energy attacking from each and every angle, all they can do is defend and endure and once over they are both on their knees, panting heavily, Xemnas approaching - they have to keep fighting, Riku attacks and then there's pain at his side (it's the last thing he knows)
His hand over Sora's, they are praying on Kingdom Key, it's lasting too long, they need to end this and sure enough, there's light, a square hit to Xemnas' chest, and finally it's over- (Xemnas gets up again and this time neither of them has the strength to fight anymore)
The shores of the Dark Margin are welcome and familiar, and Riku has no strength to keep standing, is satisfied with just being here, so happy that Sora is with him, that he's no longer alone (they spent years and years at that shore, waste away until the darkness takes them) (they are found by a woman, someone foreign and yet so very familiar, who breaks down in tears and smiles when they tell her their names, who has so much to tell them, so much to share-)
It's a bottle, a message, a light that guides them home, to the place that Riku once had longed to leave, that he's come to miss more than anything aside his friends. At last their journey has come to a close.
It's a bottle, another message that starts everything anew, that tells them that it's not yet over after all – or rather yet, a new journey is about to begin.
They follow the King's call, are led to the Mysterious Tower, to take the exam that will make them Masters, and maybe it's a chance to show himself worthy of his Keyblade, to prove this to himself-
(They travel together through the dreams, Sora and Riku, side by side, they find the keyholes, they open them, they come back to the tower, both now Masters in name)
{ th̕e͜y wa҉t͘ch̵ the͝ sunset, ͝j͏ust ̴the͝ ͝t̶wo o͟f ̀th͡e͢m, ͡t̢he ̧ra̧f͢t on the o͠th̕er s̶ide͡ o̶f̢ the͟ ͞is͡land҉, ̨wa͜itin̡ģ ͟for ͡them ̨to͜ p̶ut on ̧th͝e ̡fi͡ni͞s̨hin҉g͡ ͠t́o҉u͢c̸h̀e̛ş a͡nd ͝f҉inal͟l̡y, ͡fin̕al͏ly͢ ̛lèave ͜t҉h͝e ̴Ìs͡lands̡ ̛b̸e̷hi͘nd͞-
͝he is̡ flǫat͞in̴g͡ ҉i̶n͜ t͢h͟e s҉e͟a͘,͞ ͢s͜w̨aļlo͡we҉d͝ b͡y t̷ḩe̵ sţorm̨,̶ ͟Sor̕a͟ ̸not too̴ f̷a͟r ̵off ̴w͘hen̶ ̕s҉u͠ddenly th̷e҉ K͝e̶ý app̕ear͘s̛ b͟èt̵w͞e͟e͟ń th͞e̵m,̢ ͜ẁh́en i͜t ͜opéns a po͝rtal͞(̨?), wh́en t̛h̕ey̶ ge҉t̶ d̛raw̧n i̷n̛ a͜nd ̷s͡úc̡k̕ed ̀o͟f̶f o͢f͏ ҉t̸h̴eír͡ ̢w̴o͟r͜ld-
̷the̵ ̧gr̡ou͞n͟d͟ i͏s̴ ͜h̶a̵r̴d ͠b̷e̶ne͘ath̡ hi̸m̴ a̴s ̨h̀e̶ aw͘ąke͠n͢s,̀ h̸i͜s clo͡th̡s ̀and ́ha͞i͟r ҉soa̛k͞ed ͟w̸i͝t͏h ͢s͞ea ̨w͘a̢ter͏;͝ ͜h̶e gro̸ans ̶a̵s ̸he ͜o̕pens h͞ís ̕e͏ye͝s a͘nd yelps aw̢a͠ke ̷ẃh̶e̷n͘ ͟h̨e̢ ̴s͞e͘e̛s ͟a̛ rèd ̛h̸a͡ir҉ed gir̵l̵ le͏a̶níng ǫv̵eŗ ͡him – ́t̵hem ͢–͏ ͏lau͜ghi͢n̡g ́t͞o ͠hers͘elf͡ ͠a͜s she̢ t̷ell͡s̡ ţhe͟m “̛Th͘at̵’s a̸ ̕s̨trange ͜pl̸ace ̷you cho̸s͏e f͟òr y҉óur̷ ńap”̢-̶
“͏T͜h̸e̵r̷e is͘ ̡someon͢e̢ ̡I̶ w͢o҉uld҉ l͏i̕ke͜ ̡y̨ou ͜to mee̴t”͘ Ma͟st͘èr̢ Ans͝èm͠ ͞t͝e͟lls̸ ̨h͏im ̧as ̕h͟e͡ l̷e͏ad̨s h̸im̀ t̵o͟ ̢h͜is̨ of̴f͡i͜c͝ȩ, a͏n͟d҉ m̢a̶y͟be Ri͞ku͏ i҉s̢ ͜st̡il͜l̷ ͝a ͡lit͟tle͝ b̷it jum͡py̕ ab͏ou̷t ͘t̢h͘a͞t w͘h̢o̕le̴ K͡èy͟bea͟r͢er b̢ưs͡in̴ess ͏a͡n̛d ͜that’̵s͜ ̨wh͟at ́h̸as ́h͢i̧m̢ di͝str̶u҉s̴t҉f̨u҉l a҉t ̷fi̢r̡st, ev̕e̸n ̀w͢h̶en̢ t̵he mo̶us͘e ͡s͞m͝il͟e̶ś ͠br͞ig̛h͘tly at͠ ́h̴im ͜and̛ ţęlls̨ hi̶m͞ ҉to ća̵ll him͜ ҉Mi͏ck̶ęy-͞
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S̛ome͠t̸h͏iǹg͠’s ͢wròng,͟ ͞s̶o̵m̨e̷tḩi̵ng̕ is҉ s͞o ̵v͜er͡y, very҉ ́w͠r͞on͡g, th̢e̷ s͟ki͠es̀ ҉ar̢e̕ ̀d̢ar̴k͞, a͡nd ͝Riku͞ ca͞n̡ fe̕el t̷hé ̧wr҉o͜n͠gn̴es̸s ̶growin͟g ̷s̀t͢ron̷g͠er̨ a̢n̕d ͜s͘trong͡e҉r ͝tḩe͝ f͟u̧r̵t̶he͞r ͝h҉e͝ ̷man̢a͢ges t͠o͝ ̵ge͠t to the b̷as͞em͟ent o͜f the c͞astle̡. He do̶esn’t͜ u̸n͢derst͏an̡d;͟ ̸not͞ ̵re̢a̡lly, wḩy͏ i҉s̨ B̀raig lau̶g͟h̸i̴ng̛,̕ ̢w͢hat͜ is͜ ͜t̨hi̛s̸ ̡D́a̷rk͢nes̶s ̨tha͢t’͠s p̧uls҉ing,̶ ̛wh̷y҉ i͜ş he ̴fr͜oze͡n͜,͞ w͝hy ̡c̡a͟n̶’̷t he mov̸ę-}
The last he remembers as the sea swallows them is the brown coated figure above them, watching them drift into the abyss-
He awakens in Traverse Town, all by himself, Sora nowhere in sight. He fights his way from world to world, knowing Sora close, but too far to see, too far to touch or talk to. He knows these worlds are sleeping, he knows his mission is to awaken them, but he almost forgets the truth he should be keeping on forefront of his mind, until Joshua leads him back to it anyway.
"It's like the same world imagined by two people." "A dream..."
Finally he finds the one that probably separated him and Sora in first place, the boy that ordered Shiki to lead him into a trap in Traverse Town, and he can't help the grim smirk at the accusation thrown his way-
"I don't know how you did it, but you really have found a way to trap darkness inside your heart. And a boy who's immune to darkness is of no use to us."
He's opened all seven Keyholes, he has no doubt that Sora has done the same (he's felt his presence, had seen the second score - there is no doubt that freeing Mickey had taken both of their strength), and yet the place he arrives at is not the Mysterious Tower, is still far too familiar to be comfortable, for all that the Castle That Never Was has been twisted and corrupted nearly beyond recognition.
He finds Sora at the heart of it, sleeping, dreaming, and he tries to wake him up, tries to call him back to reality, he fights Sora's nightmare with all that he has (he fails) he defeats him (Sora awakens, thanks the light), but Sora fades, and Ansem laughs as he reveals the truth that Riku had been so close at guessing and yet so blind to.
"Dream of a dream. A twofold nightmare. This whole journey, you have been inside Sora's dreams. And now darkness within darkness awaits you."
His world is consumed by darkness. (He never awakens from it.)
But within the dark is light - Riku has become his own light now, has become the protector of Sora's dreams from the very start of their journey - he is a Dream Eater, Sora's Dream Eater and even though he's failed it's not too late just yet. He understands, he understands it all now - his strength, his place, and Xehanort's, and what exactly he has to do next - he holds out his hand and there is no longer any question of worth when Way To The Dawn appears in his grip.
"My journey begins here, and now."
(Even with all the strength he's gained, Ansem is too strong, too much, his own light too weak, and at last it's snuffed out for good)
At last he is out of the Realm of Sora's Dreams, back in the Real World, in the true World That Never Was, he races through the castle and finds his way to Where Nothing Gathers, his heart jumping when he spots Sora in that chair, but he is stopped in his tracks before he can reach him-
"Hands off my new vessel."
(It's too much, too many of them for him to fight off, he loses his light, his life, looses Sora)
Mickey saves him, buys them time, but even with that, even with him fighting the Xehanort of the past (he fails, he loses, all is lost), the spell wears off and with two against twelve the odds seem hopeless, they both pinned down, and Sora-
(Xehanort shares his heart, implants his seed in Sora's sleeping shell and all they can do is watch in horror)
Axel (Lea?) arrives just in time, just soon enough to prevent the worst, and somehow they make it, somehow they find their way back to the Mysterious Tower, but even so... Sora is sleeping once more and who knows if even Naminé could wake him this time. Maybe she couldn't, but Riku can now, has learned how, has found that strength, and maybe this is his final test - if it is he has no intention of failing.
"You see, it's my job to keep him on his toes. Besides, what kind of Keyblade Master sleeps through his test?"
(He fails, he falls, he's lost and cursed in the Darkness)
He finds the darkest corner, the deepest abyss of Sora's dream, he fights the armored nightmare hidden within (he loses), he breaks apart the armor, he gasps as it reveals Sora, but he isn't quick enough, he loses him to the Darkness before he can reach him-
(Kingdom Key is gone, and Riku is left drifting in the dark)
The light leads him to the shores of Destiny Islands, to Roxas, to Ventus, to Xion, to DiZ- Ansem the Wise, to truths he's already known deep down, to answers they have sought, to more questions-
"Our most precious treasures--even an empty puppet--the trees of the forest, and the petals on the wind--there are hearts around us everywhere we look."
He returns to the tower, he finds Sora awake and well - and holding a tea party even - and he is just so relieved, just so happy that it all turned out for the better, he almost forgets that there is still an exam to be judged, though the result leaves him frozen in shock, unable to think, unable to comprehend-
"Riku, I name you our new true Keyblade Master."
Now Master Riku, there are new challenges to be tackled, duties for him to follow, errants to run - especially with Sora gone - he trains Lea, he trains Kairi, he prepares them and himself best he can, he helps Mickey best he can.
(Sora stays gone gone gone and Riku goes looking, but when he finds him, he is no longer the Sora he knows)
Sora returns and at last the final fight begins.
It ends all where it started, where everything started - in a wasteland littered with masterless Keys.
Seven lights and thirteen Darknesses.
(They lose and Darkness swallows all. The world is reborn to Xehanort's image, but what a world it is...)
There is Light, Light, Lightlightlight-
And suddenly there is nothing at all.