#Missing Ache Keyblade

[starlightwayfinder]

If Wayward Wind had a ‘first form’. Specifically for before Ventus and Sora connect.

It would change appearance here.

[twilightstation]

oughhhhhhhh Ventus’s original Keyblade being Missing Ache and that being the first Keychain Roxas gets in Days………

[rosie-kairi]

[serenedash]

a new keykid in 2024, wow, who's even doing this anymore lmfao anyway her name is Misty I have A LOT of thoughts about her (and Ryou in turn,)

[DO NOT REPOST/REMOVE COMMENT]

I was listening to Thunder Bringer and was really struck by the line "if I were to make you choose, the lives of your men and crew or your own, why do I think they'd lose?" and I was like wow that's like the exact opposite of my boy Ryou so I thought of making an oc that's the exact opposite of him. Ryou is a party leader who declined joining the Dandelions to stay with his friends, meanwhile Misty instantly leaves her party to join the Dandelions without caring what happens to them. She's the type of party leader to kick you if you don't meet lux quota lmfao it's all about rankings, lux and power to her.

I've always liked the idea of "light that corrupts" due to the circumstances that lead to the keyblade war and that is definitely Misty-- she wants all the lux for the sake of light and all that nonsense LMAO which is the kind of person Ryou also hates since he doesn't align himself with light or darkness. Misty's keyblade being missing ache also says some stuff about her too since it's a proud mode keyblade showing her wanting strength and it's reversed showing how she's not that great of a person and has darkness in her like anyone else. Also it's speed based and she's definitely small so it's good for her LOL I really like keyblade meta okay, anyway here is my terrible daughter I hope everyone enjoys her

[shuuru]

On Ventus and Missing Ache

a.k.a On Ventus and Darkness™

Welp, this might as well happen.

Spoilers for Ux and Dark Road ahead.

edit: I just realised how to do one of these cuts, haha.

Ventus. Sweet baby Ventus. When he is introduced in Ux, he is probably like 11-12, kind, weaker than most Wielders, lonely and friendless before he joins the Union Leaders.

Baby boy. Baby.

And I swear I'm not exaggerating. These are some of the first sentences he says to the gang when they meet.

Where are your parents!?

When they're discussing Leader things, Ven is quiet until Skuld asks him about it and Ven tells them he will go along with whatever they decide. Ephemer tells him he can speak up but Ven clarifies the misunderstanding saying that he just isn't confident yet in guiding a Union. Brain tells him to grow a backgone. Lauriam calls him kind.

I bet Lauriam is thinking of Strel when he's saying this and this gives me a x2.0 psychic damage multiplier.

One day, Data-Daybreak Town starts glitching out all out the sudden and when Ephemer goes to investigate he finds Ventus fighting some Flappy Bugs but when we see his Keyblade is... not Wayward Wind.

Live reaction of me when I saw this: WHAT?! WHAT THE FUCK?!?

Let's have a look at the boys' Keyblades for a second.

Wayward Wind is called Fresh Breeze in Japanese and it's so cute. Next to it is the monstruosity that is Vanitas's Keyblade.

At first glance Wayward Wind and not-Void Gear (it's not called Void Gear, people. We have to deal with that) are not very similar but they're supposed to complement each other since both have "missing pieces" or are "incomplete".

And none of them look remotely similar to Missing Ache.

You will take Void Gear out of my cold, dead hands.

Now, to the star of the show.

[Cheering and clapping in the distance]

Ventus is not only using Missing Ache but an upgraded version of it that looks very cool. I've been told his Keyblade needs 4 out of 5 Reverse Medals that are considered dark medals so that's interesing I guess. (I never played Ux so I lack context)

[Image Source]

This is originally a Keychain that Roxas can wield in 358/2 Days, it's design obviously meant to be the Nobody symbol. It's very minimalistic compared to others we've seen, which makes it extra insane it has made me lose so much sleep. This Keyblade also has a recolor.

Missing Ache and Pain of Solitude

These two I'm pretty sure are meant to represent Roxas and Xion and they both talk about pain. Is it Missing because you lost it or Missing because you long for it? We don't know. Japanese won't help us here because their names are also in English.

I wanted to do a stretch and say Missing Ache actually looks more like Lost Memory but... no... I don't want to go there.

(I will clarify that this could be a "reusing assets" kind of situation because Missing Ache is a playable Keyblade. Still, I'm here to have fun and going insane is fun to me.)

Why am I insane about Ventus having this Keyblade? Because if you have the time to make a sprite of a Keyblade for one of your main characters, why not take the time to make it the Keyblade that we already associate with him?

In a meta sense, we have expectations for Ventus. We know him, we know OF him, so we expect to see Wayward Wind on his hands. This betrays our expectations, and it's on purpose. So why?

I think the real question is, even if Missing Ache is a placeholder, why isn't it Starlight? Ephemer and Skuld use the same Starlight and no one bats an eye. Brain uses Master's Defender (which was another what the fuck moment for me) and Laurian uses Divine Rose because of course he does.

Missing Ache has meaning because it's different, but maybe Missing Ache itself is not important.

My personal theory for the change in Keyblades is that Xehanort himself took amnesiac Ventus from the past and bequeated him a new Keyblade when he began training him (maybe because Ventus forgot he was a Keyblade Wielder when he time traveled) and that new Keyblade became Wayward Wind. We see him with it in the BBS flashback, reverse grip and everything.

"I want this twink obliterated." - Xehanort giving instructions to the neoshadows

Continuing with Ux, Brain figures out Ventus's name is not on the list Ava gave him and proceeds to tell him as such. Brain uses that maxxed INT stat of his to also conclude what happened with Strel and theorizes that darkness is involved in some way or another.

Ventus remembers a different version of his encounter with Master Ava but regains his memories after a beauty sleep. Enjoy.

Ventus Kingdomhearts, accomplice in murder.

Welp, that was intense.

It's interesting to me how Ventus doesn't look very possessed but he's very mindlessly following orders and just walks right next to Strel's body like she doesn't even exist. This makes me wonder if Darkness™ can manipulate memories.

We don't know exactly when or where Darkness™ hid inside of Ventus but if you allow me to theorize, I think it was a while ago, maybe even since The Book of Prophecies was written and Darkness™ got a chance to read it (more on this later). I also think Ventus had a similar situation as Baldr.

In Dark Road, Baldr loses his sister and is put (for some fucking reason) in solitary where his negative emotions make him spiral until his darkness gains form (THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT). This is to me the most unnerving moment of the entire franchise.

Fucking spooky.

And now, the reveal. From Ventus's body, comes forth...

Darkness™

One of the Thirteen and that's the reason it's ™

Personally, I consider Darkness™ an Eldrich horror. This is a creature beyond human understanding and MoM agrees with me.

This is an ancient being, present on the First Kayblade War that happened during MoM's time as a child but, despite everything, Darkness™ is very willing to just... talk. When Brain starts asking them questions, they answer and they seem very truthful. Like it's not on their nature to lie... Mmh.

Here's a transcript of their conversation because the Tumblr Overlords aren't letting me post any more pictures.

Brain: I have to say, I didn't expect you to look like such a cliché. Darkness: So you say. Darkness: But I have no form to speak of. Darkness: We mostly go unnoticed, after all. Darkness: What you see and hear now is for your benefit. Ephemer: What do you want? Darkness: Want? Darkness: I want nothing. Darkness: I simply am. Darkness: It must be hard for you to understand. Darkness: We're very different. Darkness: Unlike you, our actions don't serve a greater purpose or goal. Lauriam: Then why did you take my sister? Lauriam: Why Strelitzia? Darkness: It was his will. Skuld: I don't believe you. Skuld: Ven didn't even know her! Skuld: Besides, he would never wish that on anyone. Darkness: You're right. Darkness: They were strangers. Darkness: But what he wished for was power. Darkness: I simply helped him fulfill that wish by making him a Union leader. Skuld: Ven would never want that! Darkness: Wouldn't he? Ephemer: Even if he did, he wouldn't go so far as to take it from someone, or steal their spot as leader. Darkness: Power is power. How it's adquired is of no consequence.

Still thinking about this conversation to this day. What do you mean Ven wished for power? For what? Is this wishing of power enough to let Darkness™ in? And the way Darkness™ talks about it, like they were doing Ven a favor? Insane.

One of the many questions that plagues me to this day is if Ventus is aware of Darkness™ at all.

(Not relevant but this Darkness™ uses the same "you" (おまえ) pronoun in Japanese as Vanitas, which in the end means nothing because it's very common but fuels my wips like you wouldn't believe.)

Lauriam: Then… It could've been any of us? Lauriam: It didn't have to be Strelitzia? Darkness: Yes. Lauriam: You--

Ouch.

Brain: I have a few questions. Darkness: Go on. Brain: Why Ven? Darkness: Because it was decided. Brain: What was? Darkness: That he would harbor darkness. Brain: Your vessel was chosen? Darkness: Yes. Darkness: It was written in the Book of Prophecies. Brain: You've read the Book? Darkness: In a manner of speaking, yes. At least the parts that matter to us. Brain: How? Darkness: We read the words as they were being written. Brain: In the Book? Darkness: Yes. Brain: What exactly is your relationship with the Master? Darkness: We're old friends. Ephemer: Friends? Ephemer: Then you and the Master are on the same side? Darkness: We have no need to side with people.

It was decided that Ventus would harbor darkness. Has Ventus been destined for this because MoM saw it with his future eye? How far into the future? Was it this point? BBS point? Even further? Is Ventus a Princess of Light? These are the questions that keep me up at night.

Also, we have no need to side with people but MoM and them are old friends....? Mmmm, interesting.

Brain: You claimed you aren't after anything, Brain. but I'm not buying it. Darkness: What? Brain: You seem pretty desperate to get in our way, showing up like this. Brain: I don't know if it's pride or fear, but there's a reason you're still here. Darkness: … Darkness: Infection. Brain: Meaning? Darkness: Data transfer requires a signal. Darkness: The same goes for the hearts and minds of you humans. Darkness: You underestimated how easily the darkness rides on those signals. Darkness: … and spreads through this place. Brain: Is tha why you wormed your way into the data world? Brain: But then why hide inside Ven? Darkness: I told you. Because it was decided. Skuld: That's enough. Skuld: You're saying because it was written in the Book of Prophecies it was meant to be? Skuld: Well, I don't care. You hijacked Ven and attacked Lauriam's sister. Skuld: And now you're gonna pay for it! Brain: That's right Darkness: We are many, and we are one. Darkness: But to be one requires will. Darkness: Through him, we could divide into pure darkness and light… Darkness: …wilfull and distinct. Darkness: It was a sacrifice that needed to be made.

What I'm hearing here is that Darkness™ can gently separate Ventus and themselves between darkness and light and they way Xehanort did it was very sloppy.

Also, interesting how they consider individuality to be a sacrifice.

Darklings appear in the room and it seems Ven is the one they're looking for. Ventus regains consciousness and starts... shining? his light so strong it covers his entire body? and he absolutely destroys the Darklings that were surrounding him.

Insane power up.

Ventus stands up to Darkness™ and delivers the best piece of dialogue since "At least I have some!"

Ventus: If you're pure darkness, then that makes me pure light. Ventus: If you used me to reshape yourself, Ventus: then I can reshape you again. Ventus: I'll give you a new form… Ventus: …that we can defeat!

Ventus attacks Darkness™ with Missing Ache in hand and then fade to white.

And that's it. This is the last we see of this specific Darkness™ and Ventus is sleeping the rest of the game before he time travels to the future. They both now inhabit the same body and, as Lauriam theorizes, Darkness™ has probably become a part of Ventus. Chocolate powder and milk. Forever.

Well... Until.

Thank you for reading, I've been working on this for a week and it was a pain to write, but I had fun crying at the finale of Ux again. I had a lot more things I wanted to talk about, like Ventus regaining some memories of his past after KH3, the fact that we see a character create his own darkness from negative emotions and yet Vanitas is supposed to be one of the 13 Darknesses and how I can compare Darkness™ to Skynet in some way but I think that's for another theory post.

Have a great day, everyone.

[sailforvalinor]

Things I constantly forget about Ventus:

He’s an astronomy nerd. This is not only evident from his excitement over the meteor shower, but also the fact that he has astronomy books in his room and astronomical symbols on his walls. He also has his own telescope!

He also keeps plants—he appears to be a green thumb. He also has an empty birdcage for some reason? It’s very possible that he found it and thought it was cool and just has it for the aesthetic, but it’d be fun to think he had a bird at some point.

At some point he learned to breakdance—but WHERE??? WHEN???? There’s no way in heck it was Eraqus, so it’s possible he learned during his Union Cross days, which means this is more of a muscle-memory skill to him.

He was probably only around eleven or twelve years old when he became a Union Leader and he was possessed by Darkness and killed Strelitzia.

He was sixteen in Birth By Sleep, which made him the oldest KH protagonist up until that point.

The Keyblade he wields in Union Cross is Missing Ache.

Though his heart was asleep housed within Sora’s throughout his childhood up until KH3, it’s implied that he was semi-conscious the whole time, and it’s possible that he remembers Sora’s adventures.

[jellyfishvibes]

I really love that the union leaders offical keyblades in khux are keyblade forms you can only get in khχ

Except for Brain and Ventus, Brains obviously because his keyblade is masters defender and it gets passed down in the future, it is however still his keyblade first, it notably doesn't change design as its given to ephemer, eraqus and aqua

Ventus however, hes using a player keyblade, the only other game it has appeared in is 358/2 days and its roxas' and xion's blade (man i only just thought about it now but ven and rox really do parallel on the aggressive amnesia -> immediately getting picked up by a xehanort and abused pipeline, you could even see ven and van getting ripped in half and rox and sora getting torn apart with a keyblade in the heart- i should stop this isn't what this is about) and saying that it is (i think) literally the first keyblade roxas gets that isn't kingdom key

You get it as a reward for mission 6 (day 13, what a coincidence) Mission 1 (day 8) is the tutorial with Axel and the icing on the cake Mission 2 (day 9) is a combat tutorial with Marluxia Mission 3 (day 10) is a tutorial about additional objectives with Zexion Mission 4 (day 11) is a tutorial about how to use magic with Larxene Mission 5 (day 12) is a tutorial on investigation missions with Vexen Mission 6 (day 13) is the final tutorial, its how to use a limit break with Lexaeus and its clear reward is Missing Ache, in khux terms it would be Missing aches base form (Its is equipped when you equip the skill gear, which funnily enough when you equip that to Marluxia you get Jilted Anemone, flowers that are 'short lived and represent the fragility of life' and when equipped to Larxene you get Orage, which is french for thunderstorm, things that immediately make me think of where those two ended up in the destinations epilouge, anemones even look like the flowers Laurium wakes up ontop of) (its not important but i wanna add in Pain of Solitude which is the second keyblade you get and its a recolour of missing ache in pastel purple and pink, which makes me hc that missing aches is Roxas' and pain of solitude is Xion's, but anyways-)

Ven's Keyblade is stronger then the other union leaders,

These are the upgrade paths for starlight in khχ vs khux, Ephemer, Skuld and Strelitiza all wield starlight's third upgrade, Laurium wields divine rose's third upgrade, ones you can't get in khux, missing ache only appears in khux and by khχ upgrade system it would be upgrade 4 (also moon trio ephemer skuld and strel? i feel like that moon symbol on the top of starlight is important and also i wanna give them moon phase theming, could throw isa in there as a treat, new moon strel, cresent moon ephemer, half moon skuld, full moon isa, blood moon berserk?)

[thetwilightroadtonightfall]

y’all. We need to have a talk about the union leaders’ keyblades

okay, so the first thing you have to know is that khx and khux’s keyblades are different. khux introduced new keyblades that weren’t included in khx originally, but! khux also made some changes to the keyblades that were originally in khx. Namely, it removed some of the in-between forms of each keyblade

(credit to this image via @appre-chi-ation)

As seen above, khx’s Starlight originally had these 5 forms in khx. The base form, plus its 4 upgrade forms.

But khux’s Starlight only has these forms, essentially having its upgrade line cut in half, and the addition of a new final form (sorta lol, it just glows)

This is the same for all the khx-khux keyblades. Starlight, Treasure Trove, Lady Luck, Three Wishes, Olympia, Divine Rose, and Moogle O’Glory all have their upgrade lines essentially compressed in khux.

Now, why does this matter? Ephemera, Skuld and Strelitzia wield this Starlight form in particular:

This is Starlight upgrade 3 / 4th form overall. It only exists in khx.

And Lauriam wields this:

Divine Rose upgrade 3 / 4th form overall. It also only exists in khx.

Since we know that the chi saga (and kh in general but chi specifically) is really great at tying gameplay mechanics and lore together, I think I actually understand the potential lore significance of this now.

These four were wielders before the war and were chosen to be union leaders. Putting Strelitzia aside for obvious reasons, Ephemera, Skuld and Lauriam escape to the new world wielding a form of their respective keyblades that actually doesn’t exist there. Now we don’t actually know why these forms don’t exist in this world from a narrative standpoint, but it might have to do with everyone’s memories being overwritten except theirs, or maybe it’s a glitch in the data that wasn’t taken into consideration (or maybe it was placed there on purpose? 👀 but this is just speculation).

Whatever the reason is, the fact that they wield non-existent keyblade forms from a forgotten reality could potentially explain why their keyblades never get upgraded past that, despite them being union leaders. You’d think that they would upgrade to the strongest form, right? Maybe going to the new world/reality stunted their keyblades’ evolution, and they’re just stuck with what they came with because they weren’t able to finish maxing out their keyblades before the war. (This is why you always do your materials quests, kids!)

Now, the reason they don’t just choose to wield a different, stronger keyblade instead is a whole other thing. Amongst the “new” keyblades brought into khux (Stroke of Midnight, Sleeping Lion, Counterpoint, Fenrir, Darkgnaw, Missing Ache, Fairy Stars, and Diamond Dust [Bad Guy Breaker is a special case]), they certainly have a lot to choose from.

My guess is either A. they simply can’t, as in, they’re physically unable to switch their particular keyblades in for a different one because of the circumstances of data Daybreak Town or because of something Ava did, or B. they chose not to, in order to just have a memento of the pre-war world, before their life changed drastically. I’m leaning towards the latter, since Blaine gives Ephemera Master’s Defender while they’re in data Daybreak Town and it wouldn’t make sense if there was even a possibility that Ephemera wouldn’t be able to use it there. This opens up a whole conversation about keyblade lore and how keyblades themselves change overtime and in different circumstances, along with how data worlds might affect keyblades. But that’s a whole other can of worms.

Anyways, here’s the most interesting part about all this…

Ven.

He wields Missing Ache upgrade 2 / 3rd form overall.

Already right from the get-go, you can see that this is different from the “formula” the other leaders are following (except Blaine, who’s the exception here, as he is to many things). Unlike the other leaders, Ven wields a keyblade that wasn’t in khx, but is included in khux as a “new” keyblade. He’s wielding a keyblade that was only put into use in the new world where everyone had their memories wiped in some capacity, including him. His keyblade is an anomaly. It may have very well been a big hint about him being an anomaly amongst the other union leaders!

tl;dr the union leaders were nerfed, the hints about Ven being a fake leader were there all along, and we need more keyblade lore. Thanks for coming to my ted talk ✌️

(an additional P.S.: Eph and Skuld were introduced in khx, so it’s possible that the main reason they were given their particular Starlight form was so they could be relative to Player’s hypothetical strength level at the time they’re introduced. But I still like to believe that there’s this additional significance to it)

[lucky0stars]

Can I request a ficlet of Ventus reuniting with past lover who died during the UX keyblade war and came back via reincarnation. Also hope you're having a good week!

Ooooh, I've been missing UX so much lately, seeing this request in the box immediately caught my eye and really got the gears turning! I know it's been a while for this one, so thank you for your patience. I hope you enjoy this little ficlet!

And I hope your week is going well too!

**Reunion in Another Life - Ventus x Reader**

Words: 1741

----------------------------------------

For as long as you could remember, you’ve had such unusual dreams. Memories of a different time, you could almost believe, for how vivid they were: a distant town bathed in a morning glow, a fuzzy tabby cat with threaded eyes always following at your heels, and a boy with spiky blond hair and the sweetest smile.

It was the boy who lingered in your thoughts the most. He didn’t resemble anyone you knew, and you were certain that you had never met him before. You didn’t even know his name. But something about him was so innately familiar, enough to conjure a lightness in your chest every time you saw him in that far-away dream.

Though your time in those moments between sleep was always too brief, you could piece together a story. He was a constant companion of yours—the two of you had been inseparable from the moment you’d first arrived at the town. Often you’d both be accompanied by the bipedal tabby cats who frequently tagged along on your adventures, but just as many times it would be only you and him sneaking private moments together: wandering through the town side-by-side, or fighting yellow-eyed monsters, or sitting together atop the purple tile rooftops in the shadow of the clocktower.

That night’s dream was one of the latter. You could feel the cool early morning air against your skin, inhale the sweet smell of night flowers growing from the window plots above your head. It was just you and that boy climbing the vine-covered trellises to the top of the building, making your way out of the shadowy streets and into the pale light of dawn.

He was the first to reach the top. “Whew…” He braced his hands against his knees for just a moment as he caught his breath, but it wasn’t long before he turned to look over his shoulder as your hand finally grasped the purple tile rooftop. His bright blue eyes met yours as you looked up at him, and quickly he reached out, pulling you up with a gentle squeeze of your hand.

“Talk about a morning workout, right?” he said with a smile that soon turned a touch concerned. “You okay? That fence was kind of wobbly. You almost slipped back there.”

Your cheeks heated up as they always did when he looked at you like that. “Don’t worry, I’m fine,” you replied. “Thank you for waking up so early again to come with me here.”

His smile returned. “Of course! No way I’d miss this,” he said as the two of you turned to face the distant hills beyond the town.

You sat with him in comfortable silence on the rooftop for a while, watching the way the sky lightened and the clouds turned pink to banish the darkness of night. It wasn’t until the sun finally crested over the hills that you spoke again.

“Will we always be like this?” you asked. The cold morning air made you shiver, but as you leaned in against his shoulder and inhaled his comforting, brisk scent that was like the summer wind, you were filled with warmth. “Together?”

“Of course we will,” he said with sincerity, an innocent, earnest shine in his eyes. “And even if we’re ever separated, we’ll never be far apart.” He took your hand in his, letting your fingers intertwine with the gentlest pressure. “I’ll find you, always. I promise.”

And then as you always did, you woke up—his voice and that promise slipping away into the realm of sleep, leaving only an emptiness and ache in your heart.

Who are you? was the burning question that flitted through your mind as you stared at the bedroom ceiling, watching the morning’s rays creep in through the window like the sunlight that illuminated that town. You could see his face, hear his voice, almost feel his hand pressed against your own. But even when his name danced on the tip of your tongue, that hidden knowledge just as quickly faded away. Nothing, you thought with a sigh.

Well, there was no use getting worked up over it. It was just a dream, you reminded yourself, and not for the first time. No matter how often those dreams came, surely that boy was just a product of your overactive imagination. Nothing more than a wishful fantasy to keep your heart distracted and full until it was time to awaken.

You pulled yourself out of bed and forced yourself to move on with your day, blissfully unaware of what fate had in store.

The marketplace was bustling with activity as it always was in the early afternoon. Townsfolk wandered between the stalls to examine fresh produce, moogle-forged trinkets, and all manner of shiny goodies that were on display for anyone to purchase. Navigating through the crowd was a bit difficult, but you managed to go about your errands with a gradually increasing number of bags digging into your hands. By the time you added a fourth one, you decided to take a break and give your poor fingers some rest.

Slipping from the crowded marketplace stalls, you scanned your surroundings for an open bench or a table—somewhere you could sit. So busy were you, looking out past people’s shoulders and over scampering children’s heads, that you didn’t notice the diminutive creature wandering in your direction until you quite literally tripped over it.

“W-whoa!” a startled voice cried out at your knees. You could only gasp as you teetered off-balance, doing your best not to drop your bags while also trying desperately not to crush whatever it was that had been unfortunate enough to bump into you. Falling back, you hit the hard stone ground, the wind rushing out of your lungs and your bags collapsing in a disorganized heap all around you.

“Oh, no!” the startled voice exclaimed as something fuzzy and gray entered your field of vision. As you winced, bracing yourself up on your elbows and rubbing your head, you looked over at your apparent assailant—and blinked when a pair of blue threaded eyes met yours.

It was a tabby cat, soft and plush as a doll and standing on two feet, with a big round head and folded-over ears. A pink purse hung from its neck, jostling around as it frantically gave you a once over for any scrapes or bruises.

“Ahh, I’m sorry!” the cat said, pressing its paws to its muzzle. “I didn’t see you there… Are you hurt?”

Despite the cat’s concern and the dull pain that throbbed in your body from the fall, you could only stare in stunned silence at the creature standing before you. Images flashed through your mind, the ones that had filled your dreams—the same gray cat that had always been at your side, or at least one of the many you recalled from that town. A confused, disbelieving noise rumbled in your throat. “Y-you’re…” you started to say.

“Chirithy!” another voice, a boy’s familiar voice, cut through the chatter of the market, interrupting your thoughts. “Oh! Are you okay?”

You jerked your head up as someone came running over. The sunlight beaming down overhead turned the world around you blindingly bright, and you squinted at the silhouette that kneeled down over you.

You couldn’t believe your eyes.

He wasn’t exactly the same as in your dreams. His face was a little slimmer, a little older. His unruly blond spikes had grown out. But those blue eyes that stared at you, concerned and curious and bright, were just the same as they always were.

It was him. The boy from your dreams.

You’re… real?

By then, the crowd had parted around you, giving you and the tabby cat and the new arrival a wide berth. Maybe it was the way you were staring, wide-eyed and utterly speechless. The boy’s brows furrowed together and he reached out, bracing a hand against your shoulder to help you sit upright, a touch that sent a shiver down the length of your spine. “Hey, are you okay? Can you understand me?” he asked.

“Did you hit your head?” the little gray cat added.

You swallowed the lump in your throat, struggling to find your voice. When you couldn’t, you merely shook your head.

The boy gave a sigh of relief before his lips pulled into an all-too familiar grin. “That’s good,” he said, straightening up. He offered his hand to help you stand as well, but as you sat there and the two of you stared at each other, letting the seconds wear on, that smile of his began to change.

“Do I… know you?” he asked as he lowered his hand, confusion there in his eyes, but also something else—a lingering uncertainty, not-quite-recognition, that made your heart beat faster. “You seem… really familiar.”

“I don’t know,” you said. “I think…”

Suddenly you were in a different time, a different place. The sky was dark and angry, filled with blackened clouds and the icy drum of rain on a dry and ravaged landscape. The sounds of battle echoed over the wasteland: metal clashing against metal, magic crackling through the air, and the panicked cries of the other children you had once called your friends.

You lay in the dirt on your back, facing the stormy sky as your breathing became more haggard, and your fingertips turned numb and cold. The darkness began to creep in at the edges of your vision, turning your eyelids heavy.

I can’t… I can’t let it end here. We’re supposed to be together, always.

Your body was getting weaker, but all you could think of was that day on the roof when the two of you sat side-by-side and he held his hand in yours. Your hand slowly closed as if he was there now within your grasp, like a lifeline to cling to.

You’ll find me, right? You promised.

“Ventus…?” you whispered, the name tumbling from your lips in the present as memories from a lifetime ago flooded through your head.

The boy’s eyes widened. He stared at you for a few long moments, searching your face. And then finally, after what seemed like an eternity, something sparked in his blue irises that made you hold your breath. The faintest inkling of recognition.

He smiled, gently this time, and once again held out his hand to you.

“Yeah, it’s me. It’s Ven.”

----------------------------------------

-Mod Orna

[shiominato]

sora’s keyblades are like metal chocobo and crab claw and roxas’s are. “Missing Ache” “Pain of Solitude” “Crown of Guilt”

[gcldfanged]

Alt!

[I used to have not only a Vanitas blog from Kingdom Hearts (but never did ANYTHING with it, over on @stygianhalf- But also an Aqua blog! That's still around, somehow over at @stcrmfallen?! How did those two miss the Great Purge...

Here's a response to a Zack Fair muse/mutual & a starter draft I never got a chance to post for meeting a Xemnas muse in the Realm of Darkness:]

The sheer fact that she had to look up to meet his gaze now made her laugh softly, though there was a certain quality to his expression (especially in the eyes) that didn’t match his words. 

Zack had always been an earnest and enthusiastic young man, but perhaps the passage of time had simply tempered his outward demeanor. There was still a deep inner passion that she could sense, if burning more quietly than before.

It was difficult, at times, realizing just how much she had missed. The children she had met so many years ago now coming into their own as adults, taking greater responsibilities upon their shoulders. Aqua would be lying if she said it didn’t bother her when she was suddenly and pointedly reminded of the ten years that she’d been lost, but she tried not to dwell upon the past- if at all. 

She still had a place among the lives she’d forged connections with and that wouldn’t change.

-

Aqua had stopped trying to count the hours, instead leaving a small ‘x’ on whatever flat and visible surface of jagged stone she passed- If only so she wasn’t wandering around in complete circles. Fathomless planes of darkness stretched in every direction around her, it seemed- Was it even possible to circle back to from whence she came? 

The waves of heartless creatures that lurked and spawned could be avoided if necessary, fighting her way out had long been a plan abandoned. Saving her strength to simply continue moving forward was more important than taking out her frustrations via her keyblade.

It wasn’t unpleasant, so much as there was a complete lack of anything for the senses to focus on- Like ever-present numbness of the body transformed into a genius loci, some sentient malevolent entity that inhabited the ashen earth beneath her feet. 

Worst of all, was the silence. Her mind, desperate to keep busy, began to conjure up thoughts better left unvoiced.

How long had she been down there? 

Should she have stayed anchored to one place? 

Was she losing herself even more within the depths of darkness by persisting onward like this?

“My heart is strong…”

The words fell from her lips in a hollow tone, devoid of the resolve she had once clung to. Almost mechanically, she took out her Wayfinder- The pads of her fingers ghosting against the stained glass she’d used to craft matching ornate charms for Ventus, Terra, and herself. She felt no renewed surge of strength, only a dull ache in her chest that reminded her of just how far from her friends and found family she’d drifted.

[kairithemang0]

Have you seen this carousel for the missing ache keyblade from union x? its so pretty

That’s gorgeous :0

[rosie-kairi]

*Knocks on ask door* can I offer you some Lauriam angst? Or rather Marluxia?

So let's ignore that he sees Xion as Sora because that doesn't make sense. Instead we're really going to fuck with his head.

So sometimes he walks into the castle lounge and there's Roxas and Xion but sometimes he does a double take because he's looking at two Roxas. Except one is smaller, younger looking, and it's suddenly hard to breathe and why does he feel like falling to his knees and apologizing profusely?

He never says it out loud but he hates being around Zexion alone. There's something about him when he's holding a book, and his hair falls right over his eye and his jacket that is painfully familiar. The feeling of begging for forgiveness returns and if he looks him in the eye too long he has to get out of the room asap.

Some days when he's with Xion she thankfully doesn't look like a mini Roxas. But she insisted looks like a different girl with long black hair and kind brown eyes. Why does he feel like he's drowning? It's like stabbing pain if he's alone with her like this and he can't get away fast enough.

Repliku is just as bad, looking at him with the hair and eyes something familiar stirs and it's painful because of course it is. Why does looking at him feel like he's unworthy? There's a feeling he promised something big but failed but any further exploration hurts. He's silently glad when the doll is destroyed.

But the worst is on his really bad days and he looks as Xion and sees a totally different girl. She has long orange tails and a white dress. Her concerning gaze sends him literally running and he doesn't question why there are tears. He just runs.

Marluxia doesn't wonder why these phantom pains are there. After all he doesn't have a heart so it doesn't matter it's just bothersome. Until he's dying in the keyblade graveyard and all his memories and emotions fully come back does he understand. If only he made different choices if only he kept his promise. Could things have been different?

There's so much he wants to say to Sora but can't. He hopes his heart can send the message. That for any of them left alive please take care of them for him.

^me when I think about Marluxia in the context of khux.

He's being besieged by spirits of his past and he doesn't even know. He doesn't even know what he's missing because he assumes all the other nobodies feel empty in the same way he does, but he's got like, super-advanced mega empty. Deluxe Emptiness.

Do you think he'd have ptsd if he saw Maleficent again, do you think his body would ache from long-healed injuries at the sight of the dark fairy, do you think he would be mad at seeing her around? like he failed something, but he doesn't know what he failed.

[72degreescold]

Ven and Roxas have a 'Who's got better Keyblades?' war exactly as stupid as it sounds. But when Roxas summons one in particular, Ventus drowns in a veritable flood of memories.

And Roxas panics, because really, what else is one to do?

[nilesmoon]

ah so the first keyblade roxas gets in days is missing ache. which also happens to be ventus' keyblade in khux....

[anguis-sapphire]

KH OC Week 2023: Day 1 - Introductions

Here is my post for the first day of this year's @khoc-week - it's an introduction to my OC, Clio!

Clio Arvense is a friendly and outgoing Keyblade wielder from the ancient age of fairytales, who lives and trains in Daybreak Town. She belongs to the Union of Anguis, as part of a high-ranking party called SAPPHIRE❧ (my actual in-game party from back when KHUX was still online!). The Sapphires, as they're called, are known for their dedication to taking down raid bosses - they even managed to gain second place in their Union because of this - but Clio still maintains her kind and light-hearted nature regardless of situation, and she's never afraid to be there for her friends and fellow party members!

Clio is a strong and versatile Keyblade wielder, mostly favouring upright- or speed-based Keyblades due to her agile fighting style; she's most often seen wielding Sleeping Lion as a result. However, she has an array of Keyblades in their fully-upgraded forms, from Starlight to Counterpoint to Bad Guy Breaker to Fenrir - yet after the Keyblade War's end, she's been seen wielding Missing Ache a lot, too.

On the note of the Keyblade War, Clio was lucky enough to be chosen as a Dandelion due to her strong light; her Chirithy and her pet Foxstar, Tea Leaf, were instrumental in helping her through the days that followed, and even now are often at her side. She's also never seen without the trademark crown of clovers that always adorns her hair!

That's about all I can think to say for the moment, but if you have any questions about Clio then please feel free to ask them!! This is my first time participating in an event like this, so hopefully this is alright! Thank you very much for taking the time to read this ^-^