Tear into the History

[lockandkeyblade]

Who: KH Lightsiders + Friends
When: June 2 - June 6
Where: City (patrols), Woods (training area), Lion's Gate, Riku's Apartment, Anywhere else
Summary:  Kingdom Hearts Light Siders meet and prepare for the upcoming confrontation with Master Xehanort, Training montage   sharpening their fighting skills and patrolling the darkness for heartless or

Comments

[So much training for Riku]

[pullsheavendown]

[Roxas is supposed to meet Ven in the woods in a couple of hours, but Kahve's covered, and he can't sit still. Every time he finds himself idle, heavy thoughts fill his minds. Wondering whether Terra's still aware and trapped in his own body. Wondering whether that was true when it happened before, outside this world. Wondering what happens if they fail.

Except they can't. They won't. Xehanort can't be allowed to spread further darkness across this world, and they can't lose a friend.

He can tell someone else is at the training spot before he sees them, and when he does, it's no surprise that it's Riku.]

Hey. Been out here long?

[walkthedawn]

[Riku's torn between duty and friendship here as well. He knows what's right and what has to be done. He would want the same. But knowing that this could destroy Terra...

It's an odd feeling in his chest. He wonders if things will change back home if Terra disappears. Will he be free? Will anything happen.

He lifts his head when Roxas walks over.]

Yeah, for a bit. What's up?

[pullsheavendown]

Ven and I are supposed to meet up to practice, but I'm pretty early. Seems like there's not much else to do but train, patrol, or sit and wait. And that last one doesn't help anyone.

[Part of him wishes they could attack now and get it over with, however it turns out.]

[walkthedawn]

Sometimes, it's all we can do. It's better to train and get stronger, though. We won't be of any help if we can't end this when we're ready.

[After all, they can't save and level grind if they happen to lose the boss fight.]

[pullsheavendown]

[...well, crap.]

You're right. I just hope he doesn't do much more damage before then.

[He glances around the woods. It's a good place for practice. No buildings to knock down.]

Want a hand with the training? I've got some time to kill.

[walkthedawn]

I can only hope too.

[He draws up his Keyblade, looking off to the side for a moment.]

...He attacked Edgeworth out in the Darkness one night. He took his heart and then returned it just to prove a point. He's reckless and careless. We can use that to our advantage.

[pullsheavendown]

[He summons his own Keyblades almost casually, but he narrows his eyes at Riku's words.]

No one's heart should be taken away. Not ever.

He just put it back? That's arrogant.

[walkthedawn]

Of course it is. But that's just it... Xehanort's only focused on one thing. Everything else he does will make him sloppy. We can work with that.

[It's taking advantage of other people's weaknesses, but if they keep an eye out for it, they can protect them.]

[pullsheavendown]

He's not invincible, no matter what he thinks.

[And he's gone down before-other incarnations of him. They'll make it happen again.]

Did you always know he did this to Terra before, outside of this world?

[His tone is curious, not accusing.]

[walkthedawn]

[Riku doesn't look at Roxas. There's shame in his eyes and pain in his heart. He tries to resist the urge to touch his chest right then and there as he thinks about it.]

...When Terra first arrived here, I met him at the diamond. I felt him from across the city. He was carrying a Darkness within him that I knew. I wasn't sure what to think.

[He finally looks at Roxas.]

Do you know why his eyes are gold instead of blue?

[pullsheavendown]

Yes.

[His eyes expression grows a little sadder.]

A couple months ago, I asked him why he and Xemnas look alike. He told me then. Not the details, but enough. And he said that they used to be blue.

[walkthedawn]

[He nods, setting his Keyblade down into the ground, tip first.]

A long time ago, I met him when he came to Destiny Islands. He's the reason I'm a Keybearer. He chose me to be his successor and then he disappeared.

When he arrived on the diamond, I could sense Xemnas within him... That same sort of Darkness. I didn't know what to think. I saw his eyes and I realized that he had returned to the islands as "Ansem" the Heartless.

[His grip on the Keyblade's handle tightens.]

He knew just where to find me. Xehanort knew me long before I ever met him again in the Port. He knew my heart.

Terra tried to destroy me when he arrived because the both of us are tainted with that Darkness. He said that I needed to be the last one whose life was ruined by Xehanort.

[pullsheavendown]

[He follows Riku's lead and lets his rest as well.]

He said he met you guys on the islands, but not that he chose you. Wow.

[The idea idea that Terra actually attacked Riku is more unnerving, though. Even if it was months ago.]

He does need to be stopped, but not like that.

What changed his mind?

[walkthedawn]

It's something we kept between us. It was our secret. But after this all of this... I told Sora. I needed him to know why this is such a big deal. That's why you need to know too.

[If Riku doesn't come out of this fight and Roxas does, then someone has to know.]

I don't know. I lost and I passed out. He could've killed me but he didn't.

[pullsheavendown]

I understand.

[He...thinks so, anyway. He's not sure he could put it into words, but there's a sense of knowing nonetheless.]

Maybe he figured out on his own that he was wrong.

[He sighs.] When I first met him, I never thought Terra would become a friend. But even if he hadn't, he deserves better. He said he waited for Ven and Aqua for ten years. And to have this happen to him again...it's not right.

[walkthedawn]

Or maybe he just couldn't bring himself to do it.

[Not that Riku would blame him. Killing a person is different from killing a Heartless or a Nobody. Even killing a Nobody is wrong, in many ways.]

I know. And that's why we're going to save him. We might not be able to change what happens in our worlds, but we can change what happens here.