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cosmosnout · 2 months

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KH OC WEEK 20204

Day 3: connections

This took a bit longer than meant, but with the amount of things I wanted to include, it felt important to take my time.

Shiro’s part focusses a lot more on the relationships between them and the canon characters, while Aiko’s, Merin’s, Viktor's, and Tähti’s parts focus on the relationship they have with each other. (And some additional canon characters.)

Also there’s a lot of text here so sorry about any spelling mistakes haha.

Shiro

Xehanort (young)

Helped Shiro to get out of the realm of darkness and is helping them to recover their memory.

I am a firm believer that despite his cold demeanor, Xehanort has the capability of expressing other emotions outside of being a snarky jerk. He just needs to be around the right kind of people to bring that side of him out, and Eraqus and Shiro are exactly the sorts of people to make his brain cells die. /pos

Xehanort’s interest in becoming Shiro’s friend is due to his dreams as a boy of a mysterious child who he believes to be Shiro. (Some lost childish part of him does genuinely wish to be their friend, but he is also quite interested in Shiro’s connection to the keyblade war.)

They spent a couple years peacefully as friends attempting to recover Shiro’s memories, before Shiro uncovered Xehanort's true plans and the two ended up parting ways to fight on the opposite sides. They’re so divorced LMAO

Shiro feels quite betrayed and thinks their friendship was just a plot to get information out of them, while in reality their friendship was still genuine despite Xehanort's hidden motives.

They have a very bittersweet relationship.

Like when you just have that one person who sees right through you and you could just sit in complete silence for forever and still have a good time.

But oh my god do they also just bring out the worst in each other LMAO.

Xehanort is still a snarky bastard 99% of the time, and Shiro is so ready to throw his snarkiness back at him. It is remarkable if they get through a conversation without one of them trying to piss off the other one.

Anyhow they are so doomed by the narrative.

I’ve had a difficult time defining the relationship between these two, but in recent years since becoming aware of my own feelings as an aroace person, I feel like queerplatonic is a really good way to put it. I think that there can be strong emotions and love held between two people without it necessarily having to be romantic, and that’s just as wonderful as any other relationship.

Aqua

The first person Shiro came across once they emerged in the realm of darkness.

Shiro has a lot of admiration towards her and hopes to meet her again!

Shrio definitely has a little crush on her haha

Roxas and Xion

Shiro’s keyblade apprentices!

adopted little siblings

Shiro fought relentlessly to keep both of them safe but ended up failing as they both returned to Sora.

Losing them was a big wake up call to the organization's true nature and Xehanort's sinister plans.

Namine

Little sister<<3

Shiro took one look at her and was like “yup anything happens to her and I’ll make everyone's life a living nightmare”

Got Namine her crayons and sketchbook

Was very devastated when she had to return to Kairi.

Axel/Lea

Pyromaniac besties

Co-paretning Roxas and Xion (platonic)

They became good friends during their time in the organization, and they made an oath to bring Roxas and Xion back after Axel’s recompletion.

Shiro tutors him and Kairi on keyblade wielding, during their time in The Secret Forest.

Ephemer and Skuld

Childhood Bestfriend

Shiro has foggy dreams and visions of the both of them. (They truly haunt Shiro’s life like it’s a full time job)

Even once called Sora “Ephemer” by mistake. They were both extremely confused.

Shiro is actively trying to find them.

Aiko and Merin

The two start off on a bad foot due to a misunderstanding that led to Aiko and Viktor leaving their homeworld. Aiko thought Merin was the one to invade their world with darkness and ended up chasing after her through a dark corridor. In reality, Merin and Tähti were running away from Ansem (SOD) and happened to pass through their world.

Aiko and Merin ended up becoming separated from Viktor and Tähti and end up begrudgingly teaming up to find their families .

During their time together, they end up eventually becoming friends and even end up getting into a relationship together later on.

Their opposite personalities seemed like an issue when they first met, but they grew to love and learn from those differences and they’ve really helped each other to grow as people.

Viktor and Tähti

Viktor was at first very frustrated to be left to babysit a child, but switched into big brother mode pretty much subconsciously.

They’re a funny little duo since they’re both terrible fighters and are pretty much constantly just running for their lives.

Viktor appreciates Tähti’s quiet personality and knows to be patient with them.

Tähti also didn’t care too much about Viktor at first, but seeing him make an effort to keep them safe reminded them a lot of Merin.

Other friends!

Tähti, Namine and Xion!

Tähti met Namine during one of her visits to Ansem’s lab, and after some encouragement from the others, Tähti manages to strike up a conversation with her.

The two have a shared interest in art and like sharing their work with each other!

Tähti also got introduced to Xion through Namine, and despite Tähti’s antisocial nature, the two ended up quickly becoming good friends. (Nothing is as strong as the bond between two neurodivergent teenagers)

I like to think Kairi hangs out with them occasionally, but also she’s kinda busy trying to find Sora :’)

Viktor and Ienzo

Met post kh3 and became quick friends over their similar personalities and shared interest in tech.

Everyone around them was very excited that they were finally making friends. (Ansem and Aiko wiping a tear out of the corner of their eye)

Merin and Vanitas

Weird little brother creature thingy kinda

They met briefly while Merin and Aiko visited the realm of darkness.

They had a short confrontation where they fought with Merin winning.

Didn’t have the chance to talk much outside of that, but I think they have a secret mutual respect for each other due to being similar beings.

Merin and Isa

Got introduced post kh3 and ended up befriending each other as Viktor was spending more time with the apprentices.

They match each other’s tired energy

They like to just kinda sit back and watch as their friends mingle.

@khoc-week

#yap central #AGHH there’s still so many minor relationships that are really cool but this post will literally never end if I keep going LOL #maybe I’ll talk about Sora and the hang some other time #also I’m not even going to go into my lore about xehanorts care giver because that is a whole other mess LMAO #art #digital art #my art #fanart #kh #oc #kh oc #kh oc week #khocweek2024 #kh oc week 2024

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yume127 · 7 months

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It’s heartbreaking to think that, by the end of Days, Roxas felt so betrayed by everyone around him to fully believe that no one—not even his best friends—would have cared if he was gone.

For months, he questioned what was happening around him. Everyone around him acted strange, and it seemed like there were some things they were not telling him, but he still chose to trust them. That was until he found out that his best friends were keeping things from him, and the Organization, whom he’d always been loyal to until that point, was planning to get rid of him.

He ended up fighting with his best friend and running away, only to witness the death of his other best friend.

At that point, everything he ever cared about was lost, and he was so desperate that he embarked on a suicidal mission to destroy the Organization and free Kingdom Hearts, under the delusion that it would give him his old life back.

Except someone stopped him before he could. He got kidnapped and put into a simulation, where he had everything he had ever wished for—a normal life he gets to spend with his best friends.

For a brief time, everything seemed okay. He was happy.

That was until strange things started happening around him. He saw things no one else could, and started questioning his reality, only to find out it was fake. It was just an illusion to keep him at bay until he’d have to give up his life for another guy he barely knew, because apparently his life was much more worthy and important than Roxas’.

It didn’t matter how much he screamed and fought. No one was going to save him as he disappeared inside Sora.

He fought one last time, against the guy he had to give up his life for, and then he just gave up. He fully surrendered to the idea that he was just a part of Sora, and that “it really has to be [Sora]”.

No one cared about Roxas, anyway. Both the bad guys and the good guys wanted to get rid of him, and not even the people who cared the most about him truly believed he deserved his own life. He was just a Nobody, after all.

Except, it was not true.

Without realizing, during the time he was alive as his own person, he touched many people’s hearts.

Axel and Xion, his best friends, truly cared about him and just wanted to protect him from his fate. Xion would have wanted to be with him and Axel forever if fate hadn’t been so cruel to them. Axel’s deepest wish, after Roxas’ disappearance, was to bring him back.

Naminé, whom he only met briefly during his last seven days and shared his same fate, found a silver lining in believing they could be together (even if through Sora and Kairi) and held onto that promise of meeting him again and talking with him about everything.

Hayner, Pence and Olette immediately offered to help Sora save Roxas upon finding out their data selves were friends with him, and looked forward to the day they’d get to meet their new friend.

Sora himself, the guy Roxas had to give up his life for, was the first person to fully believe Roxas was his own person and deserved his own life, and he made it a priority to find a way to bring Roxas back.

Even some of the people who had been antagonistic with him during his life, like Saix and Ansem the Wise, helped to make sure Roxas could come back.

It was so satisfying seeing him coming back in KH3 and recognizing that many people helped him return. Because Roxas was important, and many people did, in fact, miss him and worked hard to allow for his return.

#roxas #kingdom hearts #kh #long post #sorry about the long post #i was feeling sad about Roxas today but I didn't plan to write an essay about it ahgdjf #anyway this is one of the reasons I don't get why some people believe he shouldn't have come back in kh3 #it would have been so unsatisfying if his story ended with him giving up on ever having his personhood

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mythicalartistx · 7 months

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Kairi probably has Trauma and her reasoning why she is with Sora and Riku

Ansem the Wise is not a good person

He experimented on children and even fed them to the heartless.

Saïx/Isa often heard screams from the Ansen's study and when he and Axel/ Lea snuck in, it's no wonder they tried to find X after she went missing. No wonder why Saïx was so obsessed with finding her because Ansem the Wise does this stuff.

In ff7 nobody likes Hojo and he's seen as a bad person. Ansem kind of does the same thing except people are supposed to feel bad for Ansem and are like he's good now because he regret it??

The thing is we don't see why he regrets it or anything. And we just see he feels bad about Roxas and Naminé. We also see that he only stopped because he took it too far?

But this is the stuff Ansem did and his apprentices continued, or at least Terra-Ansem.

And Terra Ansem was interested in Kairi because she was a princess of heart. He kidnapped her and then he probably did experiments on her.

She probably has trauma. Then he sent her with that pod to Destiny islands because that's where a key blade wielder is at and whenever a pod is used a meteor shower happens.

And then we get to the start of KH1 and there's some things I've noticed. When Sora asks Kairi what her old home was like, she says she cannot remember. Sora asks “nothing at all?” and she makes this interesting expression. Before answering she frowns before quickly changing to a smile when she says, nothing.

What if she does remember and could be lying here because the experience was so traumatic and does not want to share what happened. However, she barely remembers it and could repress what happens, so she could remember it being bad but says nothing because she truly can't remember because of trauma.

No wonder she seems content on the island. Everyone is nice and she has fun with Sora and Riku. Nobody is trying to experiment on her.

She then goes along with it because they want to. People say she doesn't want change and yes that is true because of the trauma she faced. She's scared to go out into the world because of what happened.

When she talks with Sora later she reveals that she was hesitant at first, but now she's not. She probably was hesitant because of the fear that people like Terra Ansem are out there and might experiment on her. Then knowing that Sora and Riku really want to and they all can go together, she wants to. She is with them and isn't alone. She relies on them when doing things and bases everything on them.

However, that doesn't happen and her heart goes inside of Sora's. Riku's darkness gets the best of him and he believes Sora doesn't care about him anymore and is getting left behind, something he always feared.

And during the games going forward she always focuses on Sora and Riku. She mentions how they left her behind in kh2. She has changed and tried growing as a person but she still relies on them.

When Sora and Riku get the letter from Mickey, Kairi seems sad because they will leave again.

Then in kh3, she is keyblade training. She cuts her hair like Riku did. In the novel she wonders if Sora likes short hair and does it because of Riku. She then grows close to Lea / Axel someone who once tried to kidnap her for his own gain. Then she realized he was hurt and was trying to see his friend again and that isn't something that bad. But above all, he is sorry about everything.

She is often left behind. Unless she is in immediate danger, she isn't really thought of. Sora's mind always goes to Riku and what Riku is doing.

In kh2, he keeps trying to find Rikuand only focus is on finding him. It isn't until someone mentions Kairi that he thinks of her. In kh3 he talks about wanting to call Riku and that he wants to show how cool the MH6 world is to Riku. When he sees Kairi in kh3 that's when he realizes oh, you're here too.

She constantly wants to be with them fuelled by both trauma and friendship, However they're constantly leaving her behind.

Tetsuya Nomura once said that Kingdom Hearts is about the friendships that change alluring to how destiny Trio dynamic changes where Sora and Riku aren't as close to her.

In re:mind / mom Kairi falls asleep, hoping to be useful and wake Sora up so things can be like they have always been between the three of them.

Then when she wakes, she and Riku go to try to find Sora and realizes she must stay behind as it is Riku's part not hers. Kairi must grow on her own and not with other people that constantly held her back and left her behind.

I don't think she should be friendless but I think she should grow without them because they hold her back and she is left behind a lot. She is constantly relying on Sora and Riku.

Also it would just be interesting to see her with other characters as it could be an interesting dynamic. I would have loved to see her with the sea salt trio + Twilight gang. Her interacting with Vanitas would also have been great (though not sure if it's possible since he went away).

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howdomaddie · 6 months

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on sora’s time in the sleeping worlds and coming to terms with other’s pain

so, i was recently rewatching a playthrough of the kingdom hearts series from a YT channel i particularly enjoy and had some thoughts when it came to dream drop distance. the player had quite a bit to say about the overall plot of that game, and that seems to fall in line with how i’ve seen a lot more people than i thought view DDD as well--that it’s not that great? i totally get being frustrated with the real organization shenanigans because the planned time travel was a bit much but…idk, i’ve never really been into KH for the villains and their schemes. DDD has always kind of been one of my favorites, so as i was rewatching this playthrough of it, i was thinking over why it gets the flack it does story-wise, and why i still think it’s good beyond that.

i’ve always loved riku’s arc, and i loved sora in DDD, but i was honestly “meh” on it until this current rewatch when i was thinking over it all again, and keeping in mind other things in the series better. and now i think i’ve cracked it--i figured out a nice little piece for why sora’s arc works, even if it’s subtle and possibly not fully intended.

and…bear with me here…but it’s partially because of re:coded

STAY WITH ME, I PROMISE I HAVE A POINT!!! it’s below the cut since this will be long, but hear me out: sora in DDD is going through the same things that data sora did in re:coded, and proving that he will always come to the same conclusion about how to handle the pain the others in his heart have gone through (maybe someone’s discussed all of this before, so sorry if i’m just rehashing a well-known point, but…wanted to share my thoughts, haha)

okay. so, in order to really talk about this, let’s revisit what are probably the most important sections of re:coded, and what they do well on a story-telling level.

in the last quarter or so of re:coded, data sora is brought back to help mickey and friends find the meaning of the second message that’s appeared in jiminy’s journal: “Their hurting will be mended when you return to end it.” data sora ends up arriving at an illusion of castle oblivion, and is goaded along by a data version of roxas to go deeper into the castle. this data roxas taunts him about how he’ll never remember the people he encounters in each part of the castle, poking and prodding data sora along through all the revisited worlds.

in one of the earliest rooms (destiny islands i think), data sora has a conversation with the data version of riku that has turned up. data riku shows him a vision of riku and kairi from the events of KH1. afterwards, data riku asks what data sora would have done if he’d known this. and data sora answers immediately:

[ ID: an image of data sora from kingdom hearts re:coded. he has a determined expression on his face, and his clenching his fist as a show of conviction. the subtitles read: "I would’ve helped you, of course. Both of you! I’d’ve figured out how to undo the hurt." End ID. ]

data riku seems pleased with this outcome, and he eventually goes on to say: “Just follow your heart, and you can change the lives of not one, but many.”

as data sora goes deeper into this version of castle oblivion, he only comes across more pain in his heart as he forgets the people he meets. he may forget the people themselves, but the doesn’t forget that he met someone as he goes through the castle.

[ ID: four images from kingdom hearts re:coded. data sora looks sad and pensive as he says this to data roxas, placing a hand over his heart: “But still, I’m frustrated that I’ve forgotten them. I feel moments of loneliness. You said there would be no hurt feelings, but I AM hurting. When the memories are gone, they just leave a hole. And having that longing inside me hurts.” End ID. ]

data roxas eventually confronts data sora about what he’s come to terms with in the castle: that some of that pain he’s feeling is what helps him connect with others, to truly empathize with them. data roxas sees this as a sign that data sora passed his test, to see if he could come to terms with the pain in the hearts he’s most closely connected to.

data namine soon confirms that the real sora carries around a lot of pain that isn’t his own inside his heart--and that he’s found a way to face the suffering all of these disparate parts of himself had to endure. he’s already equipped to face it and help those he’s met that have been lost.

something that i think i’ve come to appreciate more is that as he’s gotten older, sora has ended up becoming really emotionally intelligent. he’s an extremely empathetic character, and always has been. after all, he gave a piece of himself to someone to fix their broken heart when he was still an infant.

[ ID: an image from kingdom hearts birth by sleep. a four year old sora looks upset as he holds ventus’s heart in his hands and asks, “Are you sad?” ]

we all know that his empathy and ability to connect emotionally to others is kind of sora’s whole thing--his friends are his power! but it makes sense that sora’s able to face the pain and suffering characters like xion and ven went through because he is such an open and caring person.

what struck me as critical in all this as i was thinking over what sora goes through in DDD are the instructions namine gives for how to handle the pain of others that sora is holding onto.

[ ID: three screenshots of data namine and data sora from kingdom hearts re:coded. data namine explains to data sora: “There’s only one way to deal with that [pain]; you face it head-on and then you accept it. And if it happens that the hurt is too great for you to bear it alone, well, then you turn to a friend close to your heart.” End ID. ]

this is less a “do this thing for the first time” to me--it’s data namine reinforcing something that data sora (and the real sora by extension, obviously) already knows very well. there is strength to be found in the bonds you share, and that if you need it, you can always rely on the friends you’ve made. this was made apparent through the entire series but this serves as a reminder that yes, sora has been doing the best thing he can. he has remained true to his heart, and is willing to rely on those he cares about.

we know that being alone and only relying on yourself is not the best thing to do in the series--it’s part of what drives riku to darkness in KH1--so that’s why this is a reassurance that sora already knows how to face this sort of pain.

so. WHAT on earth does this have to do with dream drop distance, you might be asking. well, it all stems from the YT channel i was watching this series playthrough from. the channel is PlayFrame (highly recommend looking at their stuff!) and dan, the one playing through the series, had a good take on re:coded's story: he liked the general themes being played with at the end of re:coded, but was upset it was not happening to actual sora. and that sentiment stuck with me as i got to DDD in the series playthrough, and that’s the lens that i viewed sora’s side of the story through.

anyway. let’s dive (ha) in, shall we?

at the end of re:coded, king mickey writes that letter in a bottle that gets to sora in the post credits of KH2 to explain the revelations from the end of re:coded. sora knows now that he’s the thread that will save people like roxas and xion and aqua and ventus, and he knows what data namine was wanting him to eventually face.

at the start of DDD, sora is aware that he needs to face the pain of others that is currently residing in his heart and find a way to save those that have been lost. he is primed with that knowledge, and likely wants to face it the way data sora did.

why do i think this? well…it's in the true secret ending of BBS, first off. sora acknowledges the contents of the letter (likely mickey explaining re:coded and asking him and riku to meet with yen sid), and knows that he was shaped partially because of the BBS trio and the pain he has in his heart from others.

[ ID: screenshots from kingdom hearts birth by sleep of sora speaking to kairi on the destiny islands. he says, "I have to go. I am who I am...because of them." End ID. ]

i think that the mark of mastery exam in DDD was really a chance for sora and riku to do some self-reflection and consider what may or may not be holding them back from becoming classical keyblade masters. in BBS, master eraqus says this of the mark of mastery exam:

Today you will be examined for the Mark of Mastery. Not one but two of the Keyblade's chosen stand here as candidates...but this is neither a competition nor a battle for supremacy--not a test of wills, but a test of heart. [...] Remember, [ for Aqua and Terra's duel ] there are no winners, only truths, for when equal powers clash, their nature is revealed.

eraqus's words are admittedly more specific to the exam aqua and terra had, but the idea that what's being tested is the person's heart seems very relevant to sora and riku in dream drop distance. they both have a chance to reflect on themselves, and who they truly are.

we know how riku’s arc goes: he finally realizes that he does have the power to protect what matters to him, and that darkness in his heart is not something to fear. it does not make him any less worthy to wield a keyblade, nor does it keep him from being a keyblade master.

[ ID: a screenshot from kingdom hearts dream drop distance of riku and sora. sora’s arm is slung over riku’s shoulder and he is beaming. riku doesn’t seem to believe what he’s saying: “Really? I’m a Keyblade Master?” ]

but what about sora? first off, i do agree that first and foremost sora never really cared about the results of this mark of mastery--he's never needed the "master" label, nor does he think riku needs it. but he goes through with it especially to help riku finally overcome what doubt he still has.

anyway, outside of Overall Series Plot happening to him in this game and the contrived reason he isn’t also named a master, what does sora come to realize? well, it’s what data namine wanted for him: to face the pain inside him head on, and to rely on those close to his heart when he couldn’t do it alone.

what do i mean by this? let’s go world by world to see.

starting with hunchback, since we visit traverse town twice:

[ ID: a screenshot from kingdom hearts dream drop distance of sora, who is looking at the camera. he appears thoughtful as he says of quasimodo: “He can’t let his heart be a prison.” ]

sora realizes that quasimodo is putting up walls in his heart that keep him from being hurt--walls that, in turn, are becoming something of a “prison”. they’re what keep quasimodo safe, but also keep him disconnected from others and is an excuse for why he doesn’t leave notre dame cathedral.

at the end of sora’s time in this world, quasimodo has opened himself to others, and decides to not keep his fears from holding him back. as sora processes this information, of course, we have the villains telling him that his own heart is now a prison for someone else--ventus.

i don’t think this is true for sora and ven’s situation, and that the organization is just trying to make sora question himself. sora welcomed ven into his heart willingly to keep ven safe--it’s been a very long time, yes, and sora will eventually need to help ven return to his body, but sora’s heart isn’t a prison.

sora opened his heart when he was very young to ventus--and he has continued to be open and compassionate to basically everyone else. he sees the good in people, and believes in them far longer than others. it can make him too trusting at times, but it undeniably saved ven.

after hunchback, we have the grid and prankster’s paradise, and these should be easy enough to figure out.

[ ID: a screenshot from kingdom hearts dream drop distance of sora and quorra. sora is holding quorra back from attacking, and quorra says to sora of rinzler (originally sora’s friend tron), “He’s a program, Sora. Programs don’t have hearts.” End ID. ]

the grid for sora is all about his relationship to tron and making rinzler remember who he truly is. quorra is pretty quick to throw in the towel on sora’s attempts to reach his friend’s heart, but sora keeps trying--and eventually, he does manage to have a breakthrough. he helps tron fight off his reprogramming, and remember their friendship. he’s able to touch tron’s heart and remind him of what’s important--he just has to give tron the time he needs, and eventually help him regain his sense of self.

my, that sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

[ ID: a screenshot from kingdom hearts three of sora, xion, and axel. sora has his hand on xion’s keyblade, and is persuading her not to hurt her friend axel--trying to remind her of who she really is. ]

there’s one quote from the jeff bridges character that i feel is important to note here:

That’s the thing about programs. Mess with the code just a little, and their whole nature and memory can change.

sora’s time in the grid helps him understand a bit more of what “copies” of him can be going through, and honestly is an important part of why he is able to help xion and roxas in 3 (at least to me). xion’s suffering is tied to how the organization used and abused her, and them tampering with her memories is why she starts off on their side in 3. but sora, good boy that he is, manages to break through to her with a little help from roxas--just like he needed the right thing to reprogram rinzler and help him remember that he was tron all along.

as for prankster’s paradise…

[ ID: a screenshot from kingdom hearts dream drop distance of sora and xemnas confronting each other. sora looks determined as he exclaims, “But if Pinocchio could be given one (a heart)--shouldn’t you be able to have a heart inside you, too?” End ID. ]

the fact that nobodies do actually have hearts is confirmed towards the end of the game, but it’s clear sora has already mostly figured it out on his own. i’ll touch on it a little more later on, but sora knows that roxas has his own heart, living on inside his own--it’s a reminder of how roxas still exists, and how much of his own person he is outside of sora. he respects roxas's sense of identity as of the end of KH2, which leads him to act the way he does when faced with xemnas here.

xemnas is still putting on the show here that nobodies are beings without hearts, and sora knows that is blatantly untrue--why else would roxas feel the things he did if that was the case?

the other three worlds--traverse town, the country of musketeers, and the symphony of sorcery--do the same thing that data namine did in re:coded. they reinforce the things sora already knows about connecting with others, and relying on their strength when he can’t do things alone.

[ ID: a screenshot from kingdom hearts dream drop distance of sora talking to neku in traverse town. when talking about neku denying that he said he needed shiki, sora says, “What? Why? You said you need her. That’s a good thing.” End ID. ]

sora says it directly to neku in the revisit to traverse town: it’s good that neku admitted to needing shiki around. sora has always trusted in people to rely on him and to return the favor, so he sees none of the shame that neku feels in admitting that he needs other people.

[ ID: a screenshot from kingdom hearts dream drop distance of mickey and donald. mickey looks to the camera as he says, “Goofy’s right. As a team, we can do anything!” End ID. ]

the recurring musketeer motto of “All for one, and one for all!” when sora joins mickey, donald, and goofy in protecting princess minnie is another reminder of all this: sora knows the true value of teamwork with his party members, and how important donald and goofy are to him. they are his friends for life, and they’ll be at his side the way he’s at theirs. he reassures them the way they reassure him and always have.

[ ID: a screenshot from kingdom hearts dream drop distance of sora, looking wistful as he talks about riku: “I’ve got a friend out there who will help. He’s always picking up the slack for me.” End ID. ]

sora’s belief in riku is something that’s shown throughout the entire game, and the symphony of sorcery is just one example of many in truth--but sora has never doubted riku or even kairi and the others. even if he can’t see riku, even if his friends are a million miles away, sora knows that they have his back.

[ ID: a screenshot from kingdom hearts dream drop distance of sora in traverse town, looking happy and patting his chest as he says of riku, “Don’t worry. He’s with me--even when it might seem like he’s not.” End ID. ]

for the Overall Series Plot happening in DDD, this is very good for sora to remember--riku becomes a dream eater to protect sora in this game, so a friend helping from afar is quite literal. (i think it’s also important to remember this when thinking about the ending of kh3, and where sora has found himself. he still has people who love and care for him, even if they’re a million worlds apart from each other.)

anyway, now we come to the heart of the matter. has sora ended up in the same place as data sora? can he accept the pain the different pieces of him went through, and help them? as of kh3’s ending we know he’s helped them, but what about DDD? had he done it by the end of that game?

[ ID: three screenshots from kingdom hearts dream drop distance of sora and xion. sora asks who xion is, but trails off before he finishes asking. in the final shot, sora sheds a tear over xion. End ID. ]

sora comes face to face with namine and xion, and while he doesn’t connect with them, really, he does seem to feel their pain.

the most apparent interaction that leaves its mark is, of course, when he encounters roxas.

[ ID: screenshots from kingdom hearts dream drop distance of sora speaking to roxas, saying, “Roxas, you’re you. We’re not the same. I wanted to tell you that.” End ID. ]

at the end of KH2, sora has accepted that roxas had a clear sense of self, and was his own individual in spite of being sora's nobody. because sora is fully aware that roxas has his own heart and strong sense of, sora can firmly insist that roxas is his own person. roxas respects this, and opens his heart to sora, to share the truly terrible things that happened to him. and sora faces it, the way he needs to.

[ ID: a screenshot from kingdom hearts dream drop distance of sora, where sora looks angry and upset about what happened to roxas. He clenches his fist, and asks, “Did they cause all this pain?” End ID. ]

sora has faced roxas’s pain and suffering, at least. sora knows how the organization used and abused him, and how diz did the same. and sora is ready to face the pain the others in his heart are carrying--or, at least, that’s what i believe.

when riku encounters ansem the wise in sora’s heart at the end of the game, what ansem says is something i think kind of ties everything together:

Sora was the only one able to return to his human form without destroying his Nobody. That is a statement to the love in his heart for other people, and the bonds that tie them together. Perhaps…he has the power to bring back the hearts and existences of those connected to him--to recreate people we thought were lost to us forever. [ … ] Sora has a heart like [ a child's ]--uncorrupted, willing to see the good before the bad. When he sees the heart in something, it then becomes real. When a connection seems broken, he may have the power to mend it. [ … ] He has touched countless hearts, he has accepted them, and he has saved them. [ … ] All Sora needs to do is be himself and follow wherever it is that his heart takes him. It is the best and only way.

after the opening section of kh3 in olympus colosseum, what’s the thing that sets sora off on his journey?

[ ID: a screenshot from kingdom hearts three of sora, donald, goofy, and jiminy cricket in the gummi ship cockpit. sora looks determined as he says, “The others are following Aqua’s heart, so I’ll follow Roxas’s heart!” End ID. ]

his desire for roxas to truly be his own person. during DDD, sora came to truly understand just how hard roxas fought to be his own person, even moreso than knew at the end of KH2, and wants to follow through on what he said to roxas directly. roxas, to sora, deserves to be his own person as much as sora does. and so, following that desire, sora sets out on this final leg of the Dark Seeker story arc.

so many people move mountains to make roxas beign his own person a reality. not even just roxas, actually, but xion and namine too--all because sora understood that roxas had his own heart, memories, and history. he saw roxas’s suffering and still pushed through to make sure his nobody got the life he deserved.

sora faced what pain he could, and did everything in his power to undo the suffering the people connected to him were feeling--and when he couldn’t do it himself, he let others help him. just the way namine (and her creation, data namine) wanted.

im sorry this is so long and kind of rambly--but i feel like i finally get sora in DDD outside of the organization’s plans for him, and that the off hand comment from this lets play i’m rewatching actually ended up being true. if you made it this far down in this silly post thanks for reading, hope you're having a good day ;u;

#kingdom hearts #kingdom hearts meta #sora kingdom hearts #THIS IS LONG IM SO SORRY #I ALSO HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO TAG IT...#dream drop distance #re:coded #kh ddd #kh 3d #kh recoded

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phoenix-downer · 1 year

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Compelled to Act

3325 words. Sora/Kairi. Post-Canon. Kairi POV. Grief/Mourning, Survivor's Guilt, Angst, Romance, Hope. For SoKai Day 2023: The Future.

Summary: As Kairi grapples with her grief and guilt, she has a dream about Sora in Quadratum. She might not be able to speak, but he has so many things he wants to say.

What if we don’t succeed?

It was a thought Kairi hardly allowed herself. They would save Sora. They had to. It wasn’t a question of if, but when. To admit otherwise would mean she would have to face her grief, that she couldn’t keep running and hiding, then sleeping and searching, and now pouring herself into her training instead.

“There is no right way to grieve,” her mother had told her the morning after Sora’s disappearance, when she was crying so much she thought she would break into a million pieces and never be whole again. How could she be whole when she’d lost the person she was supposed to spend the rest of her life with? She knew she and Sora were young, that the adults would patronizingly tell them to wait a few more years and see if they could really go the distance with their infuriatingly smug smiles. Young love, it never lasts, they would say. Except sometimes it does. Sometimes you meet the right person young and get to enjoy growing old together. She knew she and Sora truly loved each other and would’ve gone the distance.

“You have to grieve on your own terms,” her mother had said the day after that, when Kairi still didn’t want to get out of bed. “The pain will never fully go away, but it’ll get lighter. You’ll learn to live with it.”

Well, Kairi didn’t want to learn to live without Sora. That was the entire point. And while she knew plenty of people felt irrational guilt over the death of their loved ones, her guilt was entirely rational. It really should have been her instead. The only reason it wasn’t was because Sora had intervened and substituted himself in her place instead.

The tear-streaked faces of their friends made her question his decision. Everyone would be happier if it were me and not you. So why did you do it?

She summoned her Keyblade and focused on the nearby dummy Aqua had set out. A cool evening breeze tugged at her hair and clothes. The Land of Departure was beautiful with its ponds and starlit skies and sprawling castle halls full of history, and she enjoyed living here. It was just strange how the entire universe kept chugging along like one of its brightest lights going missing wasn’t a problem.

A wall of red-hot flames erupted from her Keyblade and struck the dummy. All of her anger and rage at Sora’s disappearance (she couldn’t bring herself to say death) channeled into a nice clean burst of flame. The dummy was well and truly charred afterwards, as was the nearby grass. She examined her handiwork with grim satisfaction. So much for having only a heart of pure light. More like an existence that brings total destruction and death.

That’s all I’m good for, getting the people I love hurt and killed. She was training further so she wouldn’t be such a burden, but what was the point? Even if she did see Sora again, he was better off without her. If he got too close to her again, he’d just get hurt and tormented and tortured and killed. Again.

She lifted her Keyblade once more. It was a good thing Riku was the one who had gone after Sora. He was actually good at saving him. At helping him. For all his issues with darkness, Riku was much better at healing and restoring people than she was.

She smiled wryly. If Riku was what monsters feared, if he was the one who consumed Sora’s nightmares, then she was an angel of death, a siren luring Sora to his doom. Looks and appearances were deceiving. Everyone thought Riku was the villain, the problem. All along it had been her.

A moment later, water shot out of her Keyblade and doused the charred dummy. She absently wondered if all her tears for Sora would match the amount of water that had just swallowed the dummy in its relentless onslaught. There had been so many of them and they’d come in powerful, intense bursts until she’d gone to sleep to search for clues as to his whereabouts. Now that she was awake again, there wasn’t as much crying anymore, but grief bursts still hit her every now and then. Still engulfed her in their powerful waves and cast her adrift until she found something to cling to, something to ground her.

She reached into her pocket and grasped the Wayfinder that Aqua had given to her. It was pink and purple and made with care, and feeling its smooth glassy surface kept her in the moment.

Did Sora still have her lucky charm? She could only hope so. Did he even remember who she was? Who he was? That was the question. He was in some other realm, but what was his existence even like? And how was it any different from death, really? Torn apart from all the people he loved and separated from them by a wide gulf. That was what death was, separation of the soul from the body, of the self from one’s loved ones.

She assumed his soul and his body were still one, but he was far from them, so while he might not be truly dead, it didn’t seem like he was really alive, either. And even if Riku did find him, how in the worlds was he supposed to bring Sora back? Sora had broken a nature taboo, and she doubted Death would relinquish its prize without a fight.

Riku, don’t do anything stupid, please, she silently begged. She knew Riku was careful and a lot more measured and guarded than she and Sora were, but she still couldn’t help but worry.

After another round with the dummy that left it electrified and then frozen solid, she decided to give the poor thing a break from her wrath and call it a night. Dinner had happened hours ago with Terra, Aqua, Ven, and Chirithy, so it was time for bed now. She stopped by the castle’s kitchen briefly to grab a quick snack and then trekked up the old, winding stairs to her little room on the second floor.

The extra practice had another purpose beyond honing her skills. If she was tired enough, she would fall asleep quickly instead of tossing and turning for hours on end as sleep eluded her and her fears and regrets haunted her instead.

Of course, sometimes dreaming wasn’t much better. Her dreams, when she remembered them, were either fragmented and disjointed or disturbing and dreadful. The others had had dreams of Sora, and she’d had that single dream that gave them the clue they needed to continue their search. But ever since then he had been absent from her dreams, or if he’d visited, she couldn’t remember upon waking.

Still, that was better than not being able to sleep at all. Thankfully, exhaustion won out tonight, and she soon slipped into sleep, hoping that she wouldn’t remember any of her dreams and would just be able to escape for a little while.

A big, modern city with soaring skyscrapers and winding streets. Water drip, drip, dripping as the light rain covered everything in a wet film. Red and green and yellow lights reflecting off of puddles.

Kairi moved through this realm as if she were floating. There was no sense of time or space, just moving over the pavement without any contact with it. A sign she didn’t belong in this place, perhaps, that to the people she passed she was simply a fiction, a ghost. When she tried to touch things, her hands moved right through them, and when she tried to speak, no one was able to hear her.

The experience made shivers run down her spine. She missed having a body that could interact with the world around her, that could touch and taste and test, feel and sense and caress. She really was beginning to wonder if she was a ghost. Of course, if the people in this realm tried to come to hers, they would probably seem like the ghosts. She sensed some great barrier that was nearly impossible to pass, though Riku had succeeded and Sora had been brought here unwillingly.

Or was it willingly? He had willingly given his life for hers, so it felt strange to speak of him coming here against his will. And yet she couldn’t help but think such thoughts. She knew Sora didn’t want to be apart from her any more than she wanted to be apart from him.

Her wanderings eventually led her to a coffee shop situated in a four-story building with the number four in the address. It had space on all four floors, too. Four, four, four. Everything here reminded her of the unlucky number that sounded like death.

The first floor was where people ordered their coffee from the hard-working baristas, the second and third floors were where they could drink the coffee, either alone or with friends on various tables and couches, and the fourth floor was a rooftop area with a few more seats and a view of the nearby scenery.

She almost didn’t notice him at first. He was seated at one of the tables, an untouched cup of coffee steaming in front of him as he stared into the horizon. His hair looked different, lighter and much less spiky than before, and his back was turned to her and his clothes were more muted, more like what normal people wore. But then he stiffened and glanced back, and his searing blue eyes gave him away.

“Kairi?” he murmured, looking right at her as if he could see her. Gosh, he was more handsome than ever, and he looked older and wiser and world-weary but still with that spark of Sora compassion in his eyes.

Well, she supposed it had been a year. She’d changed and so had he.

So had he. Relief flooded her at the thought. Dead people couldn��t change and grow. Only the living could.

She tried responding, but of course he couldn’t hear her. She was a ghost in this realm. But then how had he sensed her presence? Perhaps it was that gift of his for seeing hearts wherever he went.

His expression softened. “You can’t speak here, can you?” he gently said. “I can’t speak when I visit you in your dreams, so I guess it makes sense the reverse is true too.”

He had visited her in her dreams since that time she’d confronted Xehanort? If only she could remember.

He patted the chair next to him. “Have a seat.”

She floated over and “sat” down as best she could, but of course all she could manage was sort of hovering over the chair. But it wasn’t uncomfortable, and if she really tried she could imagine she and Sora were grabbing a cup of coffee together like they’d done so many times at the cafe on the beach back home.

“There’s so much I want to tell you,” Sora said, his face serious in a very un-Sora like way, like this place dragged his spirit down despite his best efforts. “Even with all the time we got together before we were separated, it still wasn’t enough.”

She agreed. It didn’t matter how much time you got to spend with your loved one before you lost them. The loss still ached like a deep wound that would never fully heal because that person was never meant to be torn from your side like that. She’d often thought to herself, if only I could speak to Sora again. If only I could have just a few more minutes with him. But even if she’d gotten her wish, it would be like sticking a bandaid on a gaping, gushing wound. Because the time would still end, the conversation would be over, and it still wouldn’t be enough. She’d still long to see him again after that.

No, the only true remedy for grief was an eternal reunion. A promise that she’d get to be with him forever. No more separations and sadness, no more sorrow and pain, no more tears and tearing apart of their shared heart.

She hoped the afterlife would be kinder than this life was.

Sora frowned. “I can tell you’re sad. I’m sorry I haven’t found a way back home yet. I’m trying, trust me.” He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “It’s just a lot more difficult than I’d like.”

She scoffed. He was apologizing to her? It should be the other way around. She would say as much if she had a voice in this world.

Whatever expression was visible on her face seemed to upset him. “Kairi, I know we kinda avoided certain topics before I…you know. I didn’t want you to be sad. But I’m worried about how you’re handling all this.”

She carefully avoided his gaze. Not well. But was there a “good” way to handle grief? It was like her mother had said. There was no “right” way to grieve. Just whatever helped you get through the next hour, the next minute, the next second. Grief was like an unwelcome, unwanted acquaintance she couldn’t get rid of. The best she could do was learn to deal with its constant presence. She’d lost her birth parents and grandmother ages ago, so it wasn’t like she hadn’t dealt with grief before. But every grief is unique, and the grief of Sora’s loss still felt so raw and fresh and wrong.

“You don’t blame yourself for my death, do you?” Sora asked, his voice pained and his eyes anguished as he cut through her thoughts.

She would’ve been silent even if she could’ve spoken to him. He knew her all too well.

His face went pale. “You do,” he said, barely above a whisper. “Kairi, it wasn’t your fault.”

Yes it was. If she hadn’t been so weak, she wouldn’t have gotten kidnapped, and if she hadn’t gotten kidnapped, she wouldn’t have been struck down, and if she hadn’t been struck down, then Sora wouldn’t have had to abuse the Power of Waking to save her.

Honestly, he should’ve just let her be lost forever. She would’ve preferred that to this.

“You don’t believe me,” he said, his voice breaking. He reached for her hand, but of course his hand went right through hers. Frustration and pain flickered across his face, like he couldn’t bear this physical separation any more than she could.

“If you have to blame anyone, blame me,” he said. “I was the one who was reckless with my own life. But I wasn’t reckless for the sake of being reckless. There was just something so much more important at stake.”

Tears blurred her eyes. She wouldn’t be able to shed them or express them here, but they were there all the same.

“I couldn’t abandon you,” Sora said, his eyes filled with tears. “I couldn’t leave you trapped in Xehanort’s grasp forever. Don’t you see? I had no choice but to rescue you. I wouldn’t be myself if I left you to your fate just like you wouldn’t be yourself if you’d let me die at the Keyblade Graveyard. It’s true that we could’ve made other choices, but we never would. That’s what…that’s what love is, Kairi. Always wanting the best for the other person to the point it compels you to act.”

Sora was right. She would never let him die. Except that she had. And she knew how he felt about her. She just felt utterly and completely unworthy of his love because of her failure.

And yet…if she told him that, how would it make him feel? Like she was spitting in his face and saying his sacrifice wasn’t worth it? That he wasn’t worth it? She could never. She struggled to like herself, but Sora she loved with all her heart. Maybe…maybe if he really did see something in her worth loving, then there was something about her worth loving.

“I wish I could hear your voice,” he said sadly. “Your laughter. I really miss your laughter. Your smile, too.”

It struck her that he hadn’t smiled this entire time either. She missed his smile so much.

“I know now’s not really the time for smiles, but maybe…when we meet again…”

She nodded. She didn’t feel like smiling now, but if she could be reunited with Sora in the flesh, she might feel differently.

“I think you’re gonna wake up soon,” he said. “You’re flickering. But this won’t be the end, I swear. We’ll meet again. Either I’ll find a way home or you’ll find a way to me, I just know it.”

She nodded a little more confidently this time. The future was so uncertain, but this strange dream had given her fresh hope.

“Until then,” he said, then leaned close and gently kissed her cheek.

Kairi’s eyes fluttered open. A quick glance out the window told her it was still dark outside, and the flames in her little room’s fireplace had been reduced to glowing embers. She was cold, and yet her cheek felt so warm.

She touched it. Faint memories of Sora flickered through her mind, but they were already slipping out of her grasp. She grabbed the little diary next to her bed and jotted down as many things as she could remember. But it wasn’t much. Just a big city, his blue eyes, a steaming cup of coffee, and a soft, gentle kiss on her cheek.

Well, and one more thing. In her diary she added: I don’t remember the exact words, but I have this deep, lingering sense of peace. Like he loves me and promised we’d meet again. Maybe it’s just my own foolish imagination, but if it helps me feel better, I think it’s okay.

With that she closed the little book and rolled over onto her side, pulling the blanket closer for warmth as she took a few more minutes to rest before getting up. She wished she could remember more details from the dream, but the fact she’d dreamed about him at all brought her great comfort.

Maybe…maybe we will succeed. Maybe I will get to see him again. I just need to be patient and make the most of my life right now.

She was tired of just existing. She wanted to live again. Wanted to enjoy all the little things and appreciate the people in her life right now. And even if she got Sora back and they got their happily ever after, one of them would still outlive the other. There was a phrase that got omitted from modern fairy tales, “until their deaths.” “They lived happily until their deaths” was how the stories always used to end, but at some point someone had decided the “until their deaths” part was too sad to include, so everyone removed it from the ends of stories and replaced it with “ever after” as if that would remove death from reality.

Kairi was beginning to think this was a grave mistake. Pretending death didn’t exist wouldn’t help kids deal with it better. And death was no respecter of persons. It came for the young as well as the old, the healthy as well as the sick, the strong as well as the weak. Might as well help people prepare for that and make the most of the time they have in this life and the most of the time they have with their loved ones.

Sora, if we do get a second chance to be together, I promise I’ll never take a single moment with you for granted again. And I’ll do everything in my power to help you come home.

Satisfied with her promises to him, she got out of bed. Enough waiting and wondering. It was time to act.

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

A/N: Thank you for reading! I wanted to explore Kairi's survivor's guilt and grief in more depth, including the different facets and expressions of it. I wanted her to get to be angry and frustrated and sad and hurt, and it was cathartic to write.

I always thought it was interesting how death in the KH universe is defined as the soul (tamashii) and body (nikutai) being separated. Your heart (kokoro) and your body can be separated and you'll continue to exist (granted as a Heartless + Nobody), but if your soul and your body get split up, you'll die for real. (This is all delineated in Secret Ansem's Report #4). So I tried to incorporate that bit of KH lore into the story.

As always I enjoy delving into fairy tale stuff and researching the ways different languages handle the start and end of stories (English of course has the classic "Once upon a time…they all lived happily ever after" formula, but there are other variants like the "they lived happily until their deaths" one).

And then what would one of my KH stories be without an exploration of free will, the nature of existence, and various metaphysical ponderings? That stuff just always slips into my KH fics these days.

Happy SoKai Day!

#kingdom hearts #sokai #sokaiday #sokaiday2023 #sora #kairi #sora x kairi #sora/kairi #kh fanfiction #phoenix writes #phoenix-downer #long post

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goldensunset · 11 months

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What do you think of Kairi, Xion, Naminé, and Aqua? Just general feelings, nothing too detailed if you don't want to-

like as a team, or individually?

as a team: oh how i WISH we could see it in canon. even if it were to end up borderline tokenism-y like with marvel. i would love to see the girl power squad idc i think they should hype each other up their color schemes together would be so pretty

kairi: my dearly beloved. yes the writers need to treat her better but so do the fans. she does have clearly defined character motivations and it’s weird to act like she doesn’t just bc they’re not ones that people like. she just wants stability and a home after having lost her memories and crash-landed somewhere as a toddler. she’s afraid of change but will do anything to stay with her friends in the midst of a fast-moving world because she’s lost them too many times. she’s a bit out of touch with them and sometimes clearly doesn’t know the right thing to do or say. i hope kh4 treats her kindly and gently and gives her more agency without trying to flatten her into a hashtag strong independent woman. i have high hopes for my little strawberry and wild daydreams about what i would love to see as her precise role in coming games. wrote some stuff in the tags here. i swear i thought i had more pre-written essays to draw on than that i know there’s so much i’m leaving out but i think i got the main points

xion: truly i will never be able to get over her story and especially her theme. what an incredibly well composed piece of music. honestly she and her theme were like a major factor as to me getting into this series. i’m very happy she’s alive after all that. i said a lot about her here already recently so i won’t burn myself out going into detail again. even that i feel like is a minor weak attempt at fully conveying my emotions regarding her. oh and a few more thoughts here

naminé: tbh thinking about chain of memories reduces me to a puddle but like in a bittersweet way as opposed to the pure bitterness of days. like sora’s interactions with her… their relationship even if it was brief and based on an illusion…the writing and animation and voice acting was legit so good man. i’m a wreck. nami is so beautiful and strong and horribly horribly sad but she gets overlooked… the thing is that even if she has people who love her she’s still nobody’s first choice. she doesn’t have her own place to go. she’s still lonely…

aqua: MAN she’s so interesting.. the way she’s carrying on eraqus’ legacy in both good and bad ways… the way she was corrupted after wandering a distorted world alone for a decade… the way she’s headstrong and determined and fights so hard yet can hardly make a difference as her world falls down around her… the way she’s incredibly strong and proud yet you see her once-firm core begin to shake as time passes on… not entirely related but i hope we get to see her (and the other two) (and kairi as her student!) visit the ruins of scala ad caelum bc they’re the last ones carrying on that legacy

#sorry if this is lazy lol i’m tired #sometimes if i Said It Well Before i’m like eh why bother rephrasing when i could redirect you to it #i mean you did say not too detailed #the answer is i love them all i love every kh character…#asks #thanks anon #kingdom hearts #kairi #xion #naminé #aqua #mine: kh

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nadziejastar · 11 months

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Absolutely love your akusai analysis stuff its so good omg.

Do you have any more thoughts on them?

Thank you for the kind words, I really appreciate it! As for my thoughts on Akusai, well, after beating Fire Emblem Three Houses recently, I do have a few thoughts. I know, I'm late to the party on 3H. (I actually loved 3H and would love to write metas about those ships lol). But anyways, regarding Akusai. It's a bit of a rant and there's minor spoilers for FE3H, so I'll put it under the cut.

Okay, so Sylvix felt like it was everything Akusai was supposed to be. It touched on all the same themes, too. In 3H, you've got a childhood friend trio. The standard two males and a female. On the surface it seems like the girl and the outgoing redhead goofball are a thing. But they treat each other more like bros. He and the quiet blue-haired sword guy had a much more intimate bond with each other, complete with a special promise™ to always be together and redhead being protective of blue. The redhead never wants to grow up and change because he doesn't wanna fulfill the heteronormative life script of getting married and having kids.

He is longing to go back to his childhood days but is sad at how much blue has changed since they were kids and has apparently outgrown their closeness. He hides his angst behind a smile and womanizing. Blue was once a meek clingy crybaby but now he is surly and obsessed with growing stronger. Deep down he is still an uke who secretly longs to be redhead's waifu. But he has a lot of shame related to his sensitivity and gender nonconformity. He distances himself from others, but boy does he get irritated if redhead flirts with anyone else.

I do wish the game would have just come right out and tell you that they're gay for each other (and so does this gaming site). I get why it didn't. Still, it didn't really hide it too much. They have a paired ending where they spend their whole lives playfully teasing each other like just when they were kids, never get married, and die together in each other's arms. It's the most romantic ending in the whole game, if you ask me. And Sylvix is SUPER popular and well received by the fandom. Both in Japan and the West. They have soooo much fan content. There are still some dudes who say they're just friends because ew icky gay. But most people in the fandom are able to tell they're queer-coded and are fine with it. In fact, the fandom was so fine with it that they released an overtly queer dude in the DLC, strictly due to popular demand.

3H is not a slam dunk with gay romance since much of it (particularly MLM) relies on subtext. But it still had more balls than most JRPG series and it definitely was a step in the right direction. We all know that Soriku is the most popular ship. The end of KH2 was total fujoshi fuel. But Soriku never had any chance in hell of being canon. KH is a video game shonen anime. Sora/Riku bromance is "safe". They can capitalize on shipteasing them to their female fans, but they won't alienate their male fans because Kairi is still very obviously the love interest for Sora. I found Akusai to be a lot more compelling because it was legitimately queer-coded.

Axel was queer-coded from the very beginning. His close friendship with Roxas in KH2 made people question his sexuality all the way back in 2006 and Akuroku rivaled Soriku for a time. And I do think that Axel always meant to be queer. Although personally, I did not get the impression that he was in love with Roxas. I got the sense that he probably had a best friend back when he was a human. And it was this dead best friend that he truly yearned for. The sweet and innocent Roxas reminded Axel of his human best friend and he latched onto him to help him forget the memories of days long past. That was my headcanon back in 2006 when KH2 first came out.

So, I was really happy when Days/BBS came out and it basically confirmed my theory that Axel was truly hung up on his human best friend and saw Roxas as a kind of replacement for him. And Isa was also very queer-coded. BBS!Isa has a more distinctly feminine design than any other boy in the series. He had very girlsh eyes and lips, small hands, long hair. And Saix's Mystery Gear is very cutesy-looking. Traditionally, the moon is viewed as a feminine symbol. And Saix's weapons in 358/2 Days were named after moon goddesses. They could have easily picked male moon gods, but they chose female goddesses like Selene and Artemis. It signifies to the player that, "Hey, this character does not follow the conventional gender stereotypes."

When you play 358/2 Days, and you get to the part where Axel is talking about love, you realize he's talking about his most precious memories from his human life, just like with all the other stuff like summer vacation and the red sunset. Akusai was not just superficial fujobait. Even if it was all subtext, it was a genuine depiction of two queer male characters who loved each other romantically. Axel is not straight. That’s a big reason why I was so mad that KH3 pushed their relationship off to the side and treated saving Isa as so much less important compared to saving Roxas. And it was so annoying how Saix had to mention Subject X whenever he might have seemed a little too obsessed with Axel otherwise.

Last year, Nomura said that he intended to show more of Lea and Isa's backstory in the future, so I've just been waiting for more content. I hope that we can get their story without Subject X overshadowing them like she did in KH3. I'm...cautiously optimistic. I expect this subplot to be included in Missing Link, since it is quite literally a missing link of the story. Axel is super popular and a queer-coded backstory with his childhood best friend would be very well received by the modern KH fandom, IMO. People are a LOT more accepting of gay content than they were in 2006. We've come a long way. And personally, I just love the idea that the tough cold asshole Saix's human self was actually a super sweet cutie who was in love with Lea. I really think the KH fandom would love that idea, too, if the writers were ever allowed to actually explore it. And a niche mobile game is probably a safer medium for that type of content than a mainline console game overseen by Disney, I guess. At the very least, if they ever put an Isa figurine into ML, I will whale for it if I have to.

#kh akusai #kh leaisa

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agentperezbian · 10 months

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I think the reason people focus on Kairi fighting and want her to be more aggressive and active is because she was given a keyblade in the second game and then proceeded to not really be allowed to use it for a long time. And when she finally does she still doesn't really get to shine as a keyblade wielder until Re:Mind. And I think it's important to note that other, MALE characters are allowed to be gentle, caring and naive while also being competent fighters - Ventus is a good example of this type of character. But Kairi is the only fighter who is still treated as too weak to hold her own. I don't think you can really ignore the misogyny in how Kairi is written in the series, and while overcorrecting to make her more aggressive or a "girlboss" might be overkill, I think it's just fans trying to give her equal treatment to the boys.

It should also be mentioned that most people who want Kairi to be less "kind" or "gentle" just want her to act more like her KH1/manga appearances, where she was still kind but more fiery. She was sarcastic and poked fun at Sora and Riku. It really seemed like she softened up through the series, and I truly don't believe it was simply character growth, it really seems like watering down her character to make her fit the mold of the "sweet girl."

#kingdom hearts

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mejomonster · 2 years

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saw a kingdom hearts reaction where the person said kingdom hearts is about childhood and growing up and losing innocence, and childhood trauma

and like 1 yeah they hit the nail on the head. it makes you feel like a kid again, but also reminds you that life is heavy and complicated and these things that remind you of an innocent time before it all will always be touched by the present now that you are no longer naive and now that you’ve started your journey into adulthood (like Sora leaving the islands). it reminds you of what you miss, of what you hope for, some of the most impactful lines in kingdom hearts 2 are when hayner says (and axel reaffirms, and truly so Many character stories echo) “we can’t be together forever, it’s not about how often we see each other, but how often we think about each other. as long as we have each other in our hearts then we’ll still be with each other” those ideas i think most people eventually will relate to. so much of the kingdom hearts story is about best friends, making friends, valuing friends, and how the world and the passing of time pulls people apart. how to stay close to them, how to get back to them again, how to grieve when we can’t, when we don’t know the future, how we have to move forward every day because life doesn’t stop, the circumstances tomorrow are not guaranteed to be like they are right now this minute, and we have to cherish what we have while it’s here. hold onto it in our hearts when it’s out of reach, and try our best to remember it and what it’s done to change us forever. every friend we make is a part of us, every precious memory changing us and our entire lives even when the connection gets lost or strained, even when our lives change completely in ways we could have never predicted or stopped. the desire to keep things as they are forever, when they’re good and we have our loved ones, and how as much as we may want that and strive for it and sometimes do achieve it life is going to constantly surprise us and we can’t control what tomorrow will bring. “hold me, whatever lies beyond this morning is a little later on, regardless of warnings the future doesn’t scare me at all”, “when we get older you’ll understand what i meant when i said no things aren’t quite that simple/things Are Quite that Simple.” Utada Hikaru’s absolutely lovely main songs have lyrics which really hammer home the themes of kingdom hearts.

just. yes on one level its an absolutely bonkers crossover visually, conceptually, in execution, in experimenting with combat and combination, and it’s wild it got made because who knows if it even could’ve existed if someone tried to make something like this today in the 2020s. but also it does have a heart at the center of it, an emotional thread that connects to everyone growing up and who already has, and it hits you right through to your core and it’s the reason the endless tragic arcs of the characters make so many people bawl their eyes out. yes its a sad story, many sad stories trying hard to fight to get a happy ending and reunite with their friends again one day. but its also a really, really, simple story. its a story we all go through. its covered in all these words like darkness, hearts, light, etc and this bonkers lore nomura keeps intensifying and piling on. but at the core of it all kingdom hearts is about our friendships and loved ones, about growing up and the passage of time changing everything, and how to bear it and go through this endless journey we’re all on. it hits extra hard to some (like me) because the childhood disney and final fantasy elements remind us of exactly when this reality starts to set in for us growing up, we were children, often surrounded by friends and family, and then one day people moved and died and school was over and nothing was ever stable again in that sort of concrete childish way when the world is only as big as your backyard and childhood home (like Sora, Riku and Kairi the world is only their tiny play island - they know nothing else, never had to be apart, and they wonder what’s out there... and we all find out eventually in life what’s beyond that small initial world we had). that’s the part of the story that hits.

and then like i said, 2 she mentioned its about trauma and childhood trauma. i’m burning out of steam here but that streamer absolutely gets it. 358/2 Days is about 2 children who are raised by a cult (which is also a toxic workplace - oh no childhood home of safety they start out already in a workplace nightmare where their work is their entire life and they’re easily replacable if they aren’t “productive” and their entire existence depends on being valuable to the boss, they’re disposable, they’re told their feelings and wants don’t matter and YET they develop them anyway and DO find each other to love and make life bearable. they do make a family out of their friends, people they want to live for, live to see, love to have in their lives, people and connections that matter more than their job). 358/2 Days is about adults who once had lives they loved and valued, people they cared about (Axel and Saix being particular highlights of that), who were crushed by their jobs and the passage of time destroying their old lives and old safety, the whole world fell apart on them and they died and all that’s left of them are echoes of their old selves who grew apart, now adults and part of the very kind of system of adults destroying things that once upon a time destroyed their old world and old lives. Axel knows the reality that he’s a part of the destruction, and yet when he connects to Roxas and Xion he wants to badly for them to NOT lose their loved ones and precious lives they care about. To NOT be crushed by the very awful situation they’re in, to help them, to try and protect them but knowing in the way he knows because he’s been through it... that they can’t be saved, that time will pass and change things, and he thinks the evil he does is better than the worse alternatives he knows could happen. And they all break apart. And i think a lot of older people can see younger friends, younger loved ones, children they have, going through their own versions of these things. the naive idealism of childhood, of the safe world they’ve managed to have or carve out or temporarily found, and the looming awful reality that there are things out there that can and do destroy that ‘safety’. that nothing is guaranteed to be forever. you’ve got traumatized adults who already went through awful stuff, children being traumatized who can never find real safety and will eventually have even that ‘good thing’ thrown into danger they can’t stop. Riku, Sora, and Kairi went through their own version in kingdom hearts 1. Riku wanted to see other worlds, wanted to protect the friends he loved from all the looming dangers he figured ‘might’ be out there because he was older and growing up and realized before Sora and Kairi that their safe haven might not always be safe forever. He leaped without looking, and got into danger over his head and instead of learning about it so he could protect sora and kairi, he ended up damaged by it first and used by it as a tool to hurt his own loved ones. and so many of the kingdom hearts games explore this idea. Ventus, Terra, and Aqua also have a situation with 2 of them young adults trying to pass their exam that proves they’ve ‘graduated’ to adulthood, aware of the real potential danger and impermanence of the world in a way Ventus the younger kid whos still a teen is not. And Aqua and Terra go out trying to protect those they love (and the whole world from being hurt by the same things), and instead get used, instead even when they try their best it’s not always enough. Though it is enough to one day find each other again, to help some people on different worlds even if it’s not going to be their own loved ones for a long while, and so it was worth the effort. Their only options were to stay on their isolated world and be attacked one day by the reality of time passing, or go out, and no one will ever be ready for it. No one’s ever ready to grow up, no one can stop it and we’re all forced to go through that journey someday. And Ventus - he already comes to the world damaged, traumatized, already forced through pain despite his young age, already forced to have been used. In kingdom hearts, they just do not sugarcoat this. Ventus (in BBS) didn’t have any safe childhood or loved ones to cling to originally, he was alone and suffered and sometimes children do, sometimes any person does. He eventually does find a respite - a sanctuary with Terra and Aqua living with them, that he treasures and has made into his home. Axel makes that as an adult, Ventus makes that as a teen, Sora and Riku had that with each other since children. (I could probably argue somewhere in there that Eraqus and Xehanort once were each other’s home, sanctuary, and their growing up also meant that was lost and longed for one day again some how which is maybe why KH3′s ending made me cry despite me thinking i didn’t care about those two characters lol). My point is plenty of the characters are traumatized before and as the stories kick off, or through the stories, and i very much feel people who consider it a major theme of kh.

#kh #kingdom hearts #meta

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valorxdrive · 1 year

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❝ i just…i just want her to be safe. ❞ [ ill let u decide who they talkin bout B) ]

In a rare way it feels like he's learning something new about Riku of all people. The one his younger self aspired to learn from and chase after, who became not only a great rival at one point, but genuinely one of the best friends he could truly ever ask for.

He realizes just how many years have passed since they've actually got to spend time together.

For an instant Riku's heartfelt sentiment prompts him to bring his gaze towards the shore side, where a proud, cerulean lash of waves continues to lap at the shoreline. A mercilessly rush of the sun brings iridescence to an almost fantasy like scale laying like a gentle embrace over their home, and in particular, to a certain Kairi who found herself whisked away in watching their old stomping grounds upon a different shore.

He doesn't bring any hesitation in letting his hand reach over, to settle a supportive balance upon their back as her boys studied the sight firsthand, countless tales of thoughts hidden in the heart and mind billowing forth akin to a rush of steam. Seeing these days have a promised frame of the future, to let their efforts allow frivolity to never be an essence lost to the trials awaiting them.

Would this be a simple matter of him projecting? Or did.. by chance he shared this thought too? Any initial uncertainty was short lived as his best friend's presence made those mute worries. "I do too. ...And y'know Riku? I think in wanting that, I really have come to see a lot.."

In moments that were too painfully sparse. The way she allows fiery red hair and the bravery of her being steel the expression on her face. How she never falls back on speaking her mind on her concerns, a spitfire way for her to lead the charge on her life. It was such a vivid change from the internalized frustrations to the soft, but caring resignation she had for his wishes once upon a time.

He wanted to keep her safe too.

Yet.. that safety?

It felt like it was a mistake the day a cataclysm fell upon their heads. Where the dark, poisonous wrath of Kingdom Hearts contained no less fell upon them, where an embodiment of the end days have taken the nigh lifeless forms of Xehanort, and of the thirteen.

It was a form of Kairi he genuinely never knew existed.

A new way that she took the boundless power within, fashioning to with raw mettle and a heart full of resolve, equally determined as their united hearts to show that even this apparition that takes a form of death would be denied. Sora found his heart truly relishing in that wonder that stormed through him then, in allowing that undeniably faith that ran within her to be shared. For him to truly stop holding back on those doubts due to very real fears of losing her.

"What does it really mean to keep them safe?" It was a spark of clarity that bloomed. In many ways, the keybearer didn't think an answer could be so quickly found through words alone.

For it to be meaningfully ingrained, what they need is experience.

Only then would Sora's head drift in order to glance upward, allowing for the fire in soul to keep his eyes focused, to truly peer towards his companion's heart through the eyes in this moment.

"I've.. felt like I've been holding her back a good deal. And it might've put her into a lot more trouble than she would've been in otherwise. Kairi has a lot of incredible things that she's hiding.." And this wasn't strictly being spoken from a degree of smitten sentiment, though it certainly plays a part.

"Maybe there's some new ways we can learn how to keep someone safe."

@litoredeem

#litoredeem #| Bottle Mail #| Meme #so this was cooking in my head for a hot minute #since the Re:Mind walkthrough #some secret talks they would have

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yzafre · 3 months

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we're flying above the valley below | Ch 19

AO3

First | Previous

Sora landed in Radiant Garden at a run. The courtyard was already busy, with Donald, Goofy, and the Radiant Garden crew moving between the Gummi Ship and the Castle while Mickey, Ventus, Axel, and Xion conferred to the side.

“Guys!” He shouted, stumbling to a stop in front of them, hands on his knees, “Is everyone okay?”

“We’re fine,” Mickey said, though Ventus looked away sullenly

“We’re not the ones you should be worried about,” Axel added.

Riku approached at a more sedate pace, face solemn. “What happened?”

“We’re not quite sure with the Princesses,” Mickey started, “But…”

“We can put some of the pieces together,” Axel continued, “Vexen’s missing again – but this time, so is Xaldin and Demyx.”

Xion nodded beside him, “And last night, Vexen was acting… strange. He was trying to figure out where everyone was – last we saw, he was looking for Demyx, I think.”

“What about Xigbar?” Mickey asked, “Couldn’t he have grabbed the princesses before he talked to Ven and Aqua?”

Ven shook his head, “No. I got the idea he came straight to us.”

Axel picked the thread back up, “And as much as I don’t like the guy, I think Vexen was on the up-and-up, this time. So that leaves Xaldin and Demyx.”

“Dilan was the one guarding the princesses,” Kairi noted, joining the conversation, “So then, you think Demyx – “

“No,” Axel and Xion said, simultaneously, before glancing at each other and grimacing.

“Well, Vexen had a point about him being off people’s radar,” Axel admitted.

“But it’s Demyx,” Xion said, looking truly baffled.

“Xaldin, huh?” Riku mused, “Come to think of it, there were a couple times where I had some strange encounters with him. I thought maybe he was just stand-offish, but…”

Mickey sighed, “Well, whoever did it, we at least know that’s one more person on the Organization’s side. We’ll figure the rest out when we get there.”

“But why was Vexen looking for people in the first place?” Kairi asked, “Did he know something was going to happen?”

“That’s – a good question.” Axel shrugged, and for a moment they all looked at each other in mutual confusion.

“Okay, but, what about Aqua?” Sora cut in.

“Aqua is,” Mickey started, before trailing off, looking up at Ven.

“She merged with Vanitas,” he said curtly.

“Vanitas?” Sora wondered, “But, didn’t we defeat him back on Monstropolis?”

“Apparently not,” Ventus said, scowling, “I guess he was just... hiding in my heart, the whole time. Waiting. Just like always.”

“But if he was with you, why did Aqua merge with him?” Kairi asked.

“She thought I couldn’t deal with him. She was trying to protect me,” he answered, before repeating, bitterly, “Just like always.”

"Right,” Riku said, “So, what’s the plan? We can’t let them keep the princesses.”

“But then, they don’t have all of them, do they?” Axel pointed out, turning to Kairi.

“About that,” Mickey said, “Kairi, I was thinking maybe it would be best if you stayed behind?”

“What?” Kairi said, “No!”

“But - as long as they don’t have you, they can’t use the Princesses to summon Kingdom Hearts - and they won’t have seven lights to fight against, either.”

“I get where you’re coming from, Mickey, but I disagree,” Riku said, “The Organization has proved they can get into the castle – leaving her behind means they can just corner her on her own. Besides, I don’t know about you, but I think I want her on my side for this fight.”

“But that’s a good idea – about one of us not fighting them,” Xion said, “If one of us could avoid getting dragged in...”

“Then it’s not fulfilling the requirements, right?” Axel finished the thought, “Loopholes.”

“I think it should be Sora,” Riku said.

“Me?”

“Yeah,” Riku nodded, “Your role will be to avoid fighting, and find the Princesses so we can get them out of there.”

“What?” he protested, “But I can help fight!”

“Sure, but so can all of us. You know the princesses, though – or at least half of them – they'll listen to you. The only one they know more is Kairi, and you have more experience navigating a battlefield than she does – and more options for handling the situation. You’re the best fit. Just leave the fighting to us.”

Sor wrinkled his nose, staring at the ground. He didn’t like it, but Riku had a point.

“Yeah. Yeah, alright.”

Ventus couldn’t sit still the whole way to the Keyable Graveyard; he kept fidgeting: picking at his pants, tapping his foot. Fear bit at the back of his throat, used his stomach as a chew toy, left him feeling like he was going to throw up at any given moment. And beneath the buzzing, there was something else - that niggling, simmering, burning thought he tried to ignore:

They wouldn’t be in this situation if she’d just listened to him.

“We’re here,” Donald announced solemnly.

The ship descended quickly, leaving a swooping sensation in his stomach that increased his nausea. Once they settled, the engine cutting out, they all stood, silently, watching the door open with a hiss before shuffling out one by one.

The Keyblade Graveyard was just as Ventus remembered it – a barren wasteland, filled with ash and dust he was sure would fill the air if the world allowed for even a single breeze. The sun shone mercilessly down on the cracked earth; somehow, the air was still chilled, prickling goosebumps along his skin. In front of them, light glinted off a thousand abandoned keys, weathered with age, stretching off into the horizon.

And there was not a single soul in sight.

“Where are they?” Sora wondered.

Mickey bounced ahead, Keyblade at the ready, “Keep your guard up.”

There was a moment of tense silence, all of them instinctively circling up, backs facing each other to peer outwards, searching.

Nothing. Not even the whistle of the wind.

Then – a whine, a click. Close. Ventus glanced around, unable to find it. Too close – and familiar. It was -

There was a shift in the air behind him, the subtle pop of air displacing, and adrenaline flooded his body, prompting him to turn, Key flashing up to catch the weapon swinging at him. The sound of the clashing blow rung deeply – not just the echo of metal on metal, but something that vibrated between them. High in the sky, a clap of thunder split the air.

A smirk grew across Xigbar’s face.

“Hello.”

A shadow appeared behind his shoulder, but Ventus didn’t get a good look before the whine grew in the air once more, the barrel of the gun beginning to glow inches from his chest. He jerked to the side, throwing his Key up to move the attack off-course, the blast just barely missing his ear as it flew by.

Heart in his throat, he pivoted on one foot, leaning into the momentum to swing back around, but Xigbar vanished, shifting back into existence several yards away, gun slung over his shoulder. The shadow followed him – slowly solidifying – and floated by his shoulder until it was snatched up by a white-gloved hand.

As Xehanort twisted his wrist in a flourish, the shadow took it took its final form: the dark, bare-bones shape of a Key.

“And so it begins,” he said.

“Xehanort,” Mickey said, “You won’t get away with this. We’ll stop you.”

“Oh, I’m counting on it.”

In a move almost too fast to track, Mickey lunged for Xehanort. His Key swung down, magic sparkling at the tip. Xehanort blurred forward, meeting him with a wide grin. The two Keys met with clang, echoed by low, dual peals of thunder.

As if that was the cue they needed, the other Organization members suddenly appeared, phasing into existence across the battlefield in a flicker of Darkness – or, some of them, at least. Ventus ran up a quick count, finding only ten members. The others must be with the Princesses, though that thought quickly fell to the wayside when he saw –

“Terra! Aqua!”

His heart yearned for them; his reaching came up short.

Looking at Terra was like vertigo, that moment where the place your eyes said the ground should be and where it actually lined up didn’t quite match up, everything just slightly skewed. That was Terra; his heart was here. Two truths he knew and yet – it was not Terra in that body.

And Aqua – Aqua was like looking in a shattered mirror, pieces all present but broken up, distorted, and filled with jagged edges, Darkness dripping through the cracks.

Both were painful to look at.

“Let the Keyblade War begin,” Xehanort said, stepping back into a corridor and vanishing.

Behind Ventus, Riku gave a sound of surprise, nearly drowned out by the grinding of metal. Ventus turned just in time to see Terra's armored form peeling away from Riku, a dull Key swinging behind him –

Wait, what?

That was Terra’s armor rushing towards Terra’s body, Terra’s Key swinging towards Terra’s head, murderous intent in every movement both of them made as they fell into a violent clash, quickly moving away into the Graveyard.

“Wait!” Ventus called, wings bursting from his back as he leapt after them, beating them wildly to get into the air, “Terra, come back!”

“Ven! Look out!”

Metal flashed in his peripheral vision – too close, too fast, even if he could get his body out of the way, there’s no way it wouldn’t hit his wing.

Metal clashed against metal as a blur passed between them, and another clap of thunder echoed across the world. Inches away, Mickey and Aqua pushed against each other for a moment before separating – Aqua fluttering back as Mickey crashed into Ventus, sending them both spinning through the air.

Ventus righted himself, quickly arcing into a little dive, eyes darting across the Graveyard, using the accumulated speed to fling himself back up into the sky. Then, Aqua was there again, spiraling into his flightpath, herding him away.

“Aqu - ! Vanitas! Get out of my way!”

“No, Ven,” she snapped, “Stay out of this. You’re out of your league!”

“That doesn’t matter!” he protested, “I have to help you – I have to help Terra!”

She shook her head, Vanitas’s disdainful sneer creeping across their face, “I’ll be dealing with Terra. You can keep busy with something more on your level.”

“I’m not leaving you – her!”

Her eyes narrowed, “Then I’ll just have to make you stay grounded.”

“What?”

She lunged, spearing through the air to maneuver around him, her Key clashing with his over and over again. Several breathless moments passed as he tried to keep his guard up against her relentless assault – getting an attack in of his own was impossible.

Her blade flashed to the right – he spun into a dodge – she leaned back to the left, a feint! Her blade flashed out, and there was a strange twinge through his wings and up his spine before his flight suddenly faltered, balance thrown, and he plummeted downwards.

He hit the ground at a roll, the breath punching from his lungs. Gasping for breath, Ventus staggered to his knees, pulling his wing around to look at the damage. It was a small wound, overall – precise, too, as Aqua so often was. It couldn’t even be called a wound, nothing seeping from it, not even deep enough to reach the spectral bone that supported heart-wings. They’d recover, regrow, as all damage to heart-wings did.

Still, still, his eyes burned at the betrayal as he stared at the missing inches from the bottom of his Flight feathers.

She’d clipped his wings.

Aqua landed feet away, her glowing yellow gaze weighing him down as she stalked closer.

Her heart and her hand reached for him, and he recoiled, gagging at the oily sensation of wrong-bad-invader in a precious place, echoed by the wicked glee of Vanitas’ laughter echoing across the bond. He slammed up walls in his heart, cutting them both off, keeping them out.

He was not able to keep her hand away; her touch was sickeningly gentle.

“They’ll regenerate soon, but it should buy enough time,” she murmured, stroking his head before wrapping her hand firmly around the back of his neck, “Stay down, Ven. It’ll all be over soon. You can’t stop this.”

She turned away, wings spreading behind her as she took to the sky, heading to the flashing lights that marked the two Terra’s location.

“W-Wait!”

Gritting his teeth, Ventas staggered to his feet. He had to go after her – he had to –

“I don’t think so!”

Ventus spun to the side on pure instinct, barely dodging the flurry of blows that came his way, before countering, sending his opponent flying. She regained her posture, managing to land on her feet where she sneered at him, blonde hair bristling in the electricity that sparked around her.

“Sorry, you’re down here with us, now!”

Ventus had always been fast – this girl was faster. Not only that, but their movement across the battlefield brought the two of them into contact with another skirmish, turning the one-on-one fight into a two-on-three. Ventus fought back-to-back with Mickey, fending off the lightning girl and a man with deadly playing cards, claps of thunder pealing above them, and then -

His breath caught as he faced off the boy with pink hair. Swallowing around the sudden lump in his throat, hands trembling, he paused.

“Do you remember me?”

Marluxia faltered, briefly, before his face closed off.

“Would it matter?”

Yes, Ventus wanted to say, but Marluxia was moving once more, and the fight picked up the pace. Somewhere in it all, the man with the cards fell. Somewhere in it all, the lightning girl screamed, sharp and shrill, pulling back and retreating. It distracted Marluxia, who’s guard dropped as he flinched after her.

“Ven! Now’s your chance!” Mickey called, “Get to Aqua and Terra!”

“Right!”

Ventus rushed forward. To the side, he could see Marluxia recovering and moving after him – but too late. Mickey intervened, and Ventus was home free.

Now he just needed to reach his Flight.

Axel had all of about five seconds after Ventus ran off after Riku’s murder-basement armor before Saïx was in his face. Blue hair consumed his vision as his once-friend spun, claymore swinging behind him as he twisted into a crushing blow. Axel guarded on instinct, chakrams flashing to hand to catch the sword between them, the force of it sending him sliding back in time with an echoing clap of thunder.

As their momentum petered out, Saïx jerked his weapon free of the lock, disengaging. Taking the chance to leap back, Axel spun his chakrams, letting his magic grow as they morphed into the Key.

Xion was right on his tail, backing him up – he wasn’t too proud to admit he felt far more confident with her on his side. She’d long since surpassed him in pure combat ability. Together, they managed to draw him in a pincer attack, cornering him between them.

Then Saïx looked up, pale yellow light blooming in his eyes.

“Oh, shi – Xion, get back!”

“What?”

Axel lurched to the side, scooping his Flightmate up in one arm as he leapt back just as Saïx exploded with pale blue power. As he set her down, he glanced at the sky – no moon in sight, just a thin gray layer of clouds that had accumulated since they began fighting.

“How the fu – “ he cut off, chocking on a gasp as he ducked under another wild swinging blow, dancing back from the magically powered sweeps as Saïx danced across the field.

Isa’s berserk mode was – great, just great, just what they needed. The only thing worse was Xemnas, who decided to start running his mouth in the background.

“How perfect is this – for the traitors to finally die, once and for all, at the hands of my most loyal follower,” he crooned, “Give in, your demise is inevitable.”

“Are you just going to accept this?” Axel spat, focusing on his once-friend, trying to ignore the burning under his skin, in his veins, in his heart, “Are you really nothing but his pet, now?”

Saïx didn’t answer, too lost to his fugue state, and Xemnas continued as if Axel had never spoken.

“Of course, the last traitor of your little group is still missing – lost to the darkness,” Xemnas mused, “What a disappointing fate, for one whom we once had much hope. I suppose we made the right choice in our plans, choosing to pour all the Keyblade’s power into the puppet, rather than Roxas.”

“Shut up!” Xion screamed, spinning away to lunge into the air, straight at Xemnas. Her attack landed along with a rumble of thunder. Beneath it all, Axel heard Xemnas grunting in surprise.

“Ha! Get him, Xion!” he called, channeling his pride into shrugging off Saïx, moving onto the offence. He’d almost gotten into a grove, one he thought he could win with, when another body came barreling into the field, all three of them tripping over each other until they managed to disentangle themselves.

The moment they were free, Larxene sent him a vicious, ice-cold glare.

“Axel,” she hissed.

“Larxene,” he greeted warily.

“Isn’t this just perfect,” she said, lightning crackling at her fingertips, “I think it’s time to get a little payback for wrecking our plans.

“Oh, are you still mad about that?”

“You ruined everything! We had the perfect scheme - “

Axel couldn’t help but snort a laugh at that, prompting her to look even more incensed.

“Are you making fun of me?” she snarled, “I’ll tear you apart, you loathsome, arrogant little - ”

Larxene cut off with a choked gasp, hands coming up to grasp against the metal sticking through her chest from behind. The blade wrenched free, and she collapsed to her knees, an almost comical expression of confused distress on her face before she faded into Darkness.

Behind where Larxene once stood, Xion slowly lowered her Keyblade to her side.

“...oh, shit.”

Xion blinked slowly, “Who... was that?”

“Right, you never - “ Axel cut off as Saïx swung for his head, “Uh, I’ll explain later!”

Back and forth, back and forth – an infuriating stalemate, one that was wearing him down, and hopefully wearing away at Saïx, too.

Footsteps behind him – he tensed –

“Woah!” Axel spun out of the way of the little Riku - no, that would be Hitoshi – running by, guard up. No attack came, however, the kid running past and further into the chaos of the graveyard.

Another interruption? Where is he - ? Axel didn’t have time to complete the thought before Saïx was in his face, and he had to focus on the fight once more.

From the moment Terra’s armor tore itself from his shoulder, re-constituting itself and running off on its own, everything descended into chaos. Ventus moved off – Mickey at his heels. The rest of the Organization began moving quickly after that – Saïx, in particular, honing in on Axel.

“Sora, Kairi!” Riku called, “You two find the princesses! We’ll deal with these guys!”

“But - “

From the corner of his eyes, Riku saw two Organization members he couldn’t afford to leave to the others.

“Go - now!”

Spreading his wings, Riku left them behind, pushing out two distractions to focus on two things:

First: take care of Ansem, once and for all.

Second: recover Hitoshi for Naminé.

Ansem was patiently waiting for him – watched his approach, even, with a cool, even gaze. Riku would almost prefer he’d met him with fury, but... he understood, too. It was an empathy he couldn’t put into words.

The replica, on the other hand, was prowling an invisible line between them like a caged animal.

“So, we meet again,” Riku said, meeting Ansem’s gaze evenly.

“Yes,” Ansem said, before his gaze drifted down to the Key in Riku’s grip, “I see you have gained the allegiance of the Keyblade of Darkness; so you truly have gained mastery over it. Have you excepted it as truth? Or do you still stand by your answer – that you do not belong to the Darkness?”

Riku shook his head, “To understand the Darkness... you need the Light. As long as you let Darkness consume you, you will never truly understand it, only fall for its lies. That’s the truth.”

“So that is your belief. Then face me,” Ansem said, “Our final clash. Show me the truth of Darkness.”

“Would you both shut up!” Hitoshi snapped, “You really think this guy can beat us? He’s weak. I won’t be upstaged by some pathetic coward who’s scared of the dark!”

Hitoshi lunged, and the fight was on, peals of thunder ringing out as they clashed.

It became clear very quickly that facing both of them at once would lead to failure, if it was allowed to go on for very long; he’d need to get one of them out of the way.

And Hitoshi was the weak link.

It was a work of the moment to change the pattern – he knew every move the kid could make – get in close, let his Key fade away, get a solid grip on Hitoshi and throw.

Riku turned to Ansem before he’d even landed.

“You want your answer?” he asked, “Then let me show you – just you and me.”

Ansem considered him silently for a long moment before nodding solemnly. A wave of his hand brought up a smokey purple barrier, trapping the two of them together – and Hitoshi on the outside.

Fighting Ansem was strangely rote.

He’d done this before: the echo of him, in Castle Oblivion, at the bottom of the dream in the Sleeping Realms. In the depths of his own heart, over and over and over.

The fight was familiar like his own Darkness, like the back of his hand, like an old friend, and he was stronger than he’d ever been. Of course, he won.

And now, Ansem stood across from him, slow fading in the Dark.

“How strange – to have been so wrong, after all my searching,” Ansem sighed, “In moments, I’ll be taken back to the past. I’ll forget all about this. But for now, just for a moment... I see it. The truth of the Darkness. It seems you see more clearly than I, after all.”

Riku breathed carefully around the ache in his chest. He’d been fighting to be free of Ansem for so long, and yet...

“You know... I’m going to miss you.”

“Heh,” Ansem chuckled, a wry smile crossing his face, “Don’t be a fool. It is time to move on. There is more to seek: so go forth and seek it.”

He faded away – and with him, the barrier. Riku turned to the side as Hitoshi began to shuffle. The replica brandished his sword, but his hands were shaking, and his eyes were wide.

“You can always stop,” Riku said softly.

“Shup up,” Hitoshi said, flinching when his voice broke instead of snapping, “Shut up! What do you have that I don’t? Huh?”

What did he have? Riku tipped his head, considering the other thoughtfully.

“I know who I am. And... I have the people who mean the most to me. Do you know who that is?”

Hitoshi snarled silently, but his eyes skittered away. He moved onto his toes, and for a moment Riku thought he would attack anyways, but then, abruptly, he turned on his heels and darted off into the chaos of the battlefield.

“Hey, wait!”

Riku spread his wings, leaping into the sky to track him from above. Only seconds later, though, he had to jerk to the side, avoiding a beam of magic as wide around as himself that carved its way through the sky. When he circled back around to safety, Hitoshi had vanished.

One corner of the field - where the blast had originated – was taken up by the clash between Aqua, Terra, the armor, and Ventus. Mickey darted across the field after a head of bright pink hair. Axel’s red hair made it easy to find him and Xion, Saïx and Xemnas’s silhouettes just as distinctive.

But still no Hitoshi.

Further afield, near some rocky spires, several figures flitted through the air – no, they were moving towards him, two of them at least. The lead moved quickly towards the ground – towards the older Keyblade wielders, in fact, with a tail right behind them. As they got closer, he began to make them out – white and red hair -

Kairi? And then, it must be the youngest Xehanort, the only white-haired enemy that would have wings. That wasn’t Hitoshi either, then – and he’d have to trust Kairi had it under control -

But, wait. If she was chasing Xehanort... who was with Sora?

His gaze snapped back to the last figure, still circling over the spires in the distance – and slowly descending to the shadows on the ground.

#kh #kingdom hearts #fanfiction #wingfic #wrap your wings au #Yza writes a thing

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