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1 Prism Hearts
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2 Chapter 12
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3 Angelus Errare: Where Angels Lose Their Way
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4 by Amazoness Duo
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5 amazonessduo@hotmail.com
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6
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7
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8
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9 She was out there. Somewhere. Being chased by the Heartless and
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10 whoever else wanted what lay inside of her heart. Lost out in a world
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11 slowly being consumed by darkness. Torn between reality and nightmare
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12 and whatever was in between. And the one man he had counted on to
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13 protect her was now incredibly far away, unable to keep the darkness
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14 at bay for her. Wherever she was, he knew she was in danger. He could
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15 feel it resonating throughout his soul, a cosmic cord that had been
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16 struck, hitting him like nails on a chalkboard. He could tell himself
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17 that it was only his own worry, but he didn't believe that. There was
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18 a connection between them, something that being worlds away wasn't
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19 going to sever. After all, she was the only reason he lingered in
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20 this world of the living.
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21
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22 The concern he felt was reaching a crescendo, crashing around him
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23 like an angry sea. It was maddening. He was powerless to save her,
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24 trapped behind the door at the center of all the universes, Kingdom
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25 Hearts. Riku pounded on the inside of the door, frustration eating
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26 him alive. He'd heard Kairi on the other side of those large doors
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27 not so long ago. So close yet so far. If only he'd been able to get
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28 through them to her... He hated leaving her alone. Sora was supposed
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29 to be with her. But where was the other boy?
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30
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31 Leaning against the door, Riku crossed his arms and sighed. He was
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32 trapped here. He couldn't go to Kairi's rescue. Not this time. He
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33 wanted to believe that Sora would reach her in time, but Sora felt so
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34 very far away. Well, Riku wasn't exactly trapped. There was one other
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35 place he could go. "But I can't do that. Not yet. Not until I see her
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36 again." When he had lost his body to Ansem, he had technically died.
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37 With no body, he was only a soul. He could leave this plane, could
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38 escape to the afterlife. Farplane. Lifestream. Whatever one wished to
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39 call it. He could feel it calling to him, but he pushed it off with
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40 force of will. He couldn't go yet. Even if that left him locked
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41 behind a door at the center of all creation. "Kairi..." he whispered.
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42
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43 Again, that feeling of cold dread sent shards of ice through his
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44 blood. She needed him and he couldn't go to her. "Sora... Hurry...
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45 She needs you." But somehow, he had the horrible feeling that Sora
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46 was lost himself at the moment. Neither of them could save her.
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47 Neither of them could reach her. It was up to Kairi. Or Fate. "Hold
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48 on, Kairi. Please hold on. You don't need to be meeting me in the
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49 afterlife. Not yet."
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50
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51 Locked away at the heart of all that was, a silver haired boy closed
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52 his eyes and prayed to whoever would listen to him to let the girl he
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53 loved be all right.
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54
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55 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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56
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57 "Yuna!"
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58
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59 Yuna pulled away from the kiss she had been entagled in with Rikku,
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60 the world slamming back down around her. Her cheeks flushed a dark
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61 red as her flustered heart spun dizzily. She tried to step away from
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62 the catgirl, but Rikku was only pulled closer. She could feel tiny
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63 pinpricks against her hips. It took her a moment to realize it was
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64 the blonde girl's claws through her skirt. They were still snagged on
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65 the fabric. Blushing more, Yuna quickly cast her gaze for the source
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66 of the voice.
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67
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68 Rikku blinked confusedly, still staring up at the pretty brunette.
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69 The voice had vaguely reached her ears, but she was too lost in a
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70 world alone with Yuna to case. "Mew?" The curious cat sound she made
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71 didn't register to her as anything strange. It was as close to a
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72 question as she could muster at the moment. Holding onto Yuna, the
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73 catgirl nuzzled her neck, purring happily as she reached up to kiss
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74 the other girl again. She paused when she saw the horrified look on
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75 Yuna's face. That look on the brunette's beautiful face broke the
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76 spell Rikku had been under, sending her tumbling back to the earth
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77 from the heavens she had been dwelling in. "Yunie, what's wrong?"
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78
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79 "Tidus!" Yuna pulled away from Rikku, running forward on the beach.
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80 The previously comfortable wet sand against her feet now felt
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81 difficult and unpredictable, impeding her effort to reach the blonde
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82 boy.
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83
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84 Tidus was still smiling. He'd finally found Yuna on the other side
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85 of the island and she seemed to be talking to Rikku about something.
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86 They were hugging and whispering, he thought. Running to them, he'd
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87 called out to Yuna. He wanted to ask her if she wanted to go with him
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88 to the festival that night. She would be fun to go with and he did
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89 like her. And Selphie was right, she was an excellent dancer. For
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90 some reason, Yuna had blushed when he'd called her name. They must
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91 have been talking about something private. When she finally caught
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92 sight of him, he grinned and waved. "Yuna!" He ran across the beach,
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93 his sandles mashing against the wet sand. He was nearly out of breath
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94 but he didn't care. They were having the festival that night. He'd
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95 get to go with Yuna and they'd all have fun. They could forget about
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96 holes that led to nowhere and friends disappearing and...
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97
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98 "Tidus!!" Yuna screamed, reaching out for him. Strong arms wrapped
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99 around her waist, yanking her back. The wind was knocked out of her
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100 as she was dragged back. Someone's voice yelled to her, but it was
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101 drowned out by the roar of the water. Water poared around her like a
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102 spring storm, but it all came from the sea around them, soaking her
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103 in salt water. She struggled to get free, but Rikku's claws held
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104 tight in her dress, pulling her further back even under the
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105 relentless shower. She cried out unintelligibly straining.
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106
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107 Something immense broke throught the water's surface, sending water
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108 spraying everywhere as waves crashed against the beach. The creature,
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109 some cross between a whale, coral, and a nightmare, raised up above
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110 the beach, casting the already cloudy day into shadow. Water and sand
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111 were actually getting sucked upwards, high into the air in some sort
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112 of vortex above the creature. It watched them, even though it had no
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113 eyes. But in particular, it seemed to be watching Yuna.
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114
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115 For a moment, Yuna was disoriented. A huge wave had crashed around
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116 her and Rikku, sending them tumbling. She couldn't tell if she was
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117 still on the beach or in the ocean. She spat out seawater, hunched
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118 over. The wind tore at her drenched clothes, making her shiver and
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119 the wet cloth slapped against her. She scanned frantically for any
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120 sign of Rikku or Tidus. She finally caught sight of the blonde boy.
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121 He was floating in the water in front of the monster. "Tidus!!" she
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122 cried out, slowly getting to her feet. The boy stirred, starting to
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123 move in the water. She had to get him away from it. "Rikku?" She
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124 couldn't tell where the catgirl was. Deep in her heart, she knew this
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125 creature. It sang to her, a horrible, brutal lullaby. It dizzied her
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126 senses, leaving her barely able to concentrate. She struggled to
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127 reach Tidus in time, stumbling through the knee deep water. Tripping
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128 on a rock in the water, her heart lurched as well as her body as she
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129 crashed painfully into the waves. She was running out of time. It
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130 wouldn't pause forever. She had to drag him away from it. She had to
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131 find Rikku and run. They all needed to get away. Far, far away.
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132
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133 Gazing through the water that burned her eyes, Yuna could barely
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134 make out the vague blur that she hoped was Tidus. "Tidus!" She tried
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135 to get out around a mouthful of water. She pushed herself forward the
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136 last few steps. The boy began to get up on his own. Good. Now she
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137 wouldn't have to drag him. They could run. Before she could search
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138 for Rikku, she could tell that something was wrong. No, he wasn't
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139 getting up on his own. The water was moving him. Pulling him up. Up
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140 into the air. "No!" Yuna ran forward, slowed by the surging waves.
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141 "Tidus!" She screamed. She reached for his limp hand, her fingers
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142 brushing against him. Her heart nearly collapsed when she realized it
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143 was too late. His wet fingers slipped past hers as the water and sand
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144 and leaves were sucked up into the air. And she was about to follow.
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145 Her feet were no longer touching the ground. The water around her was
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146 starting to get pulled after her. She was going to be devoured.
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147 This... Thing was going to devour Tidus and then her. It was like a
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148 monster from fairy tales her father had told her. But this one was
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149 hideously real.
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150
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151 Yuna stopped in midair. A wet paw clung tightly to her skirt,
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152 yanking her away from the funnel of water and debris getting sucked
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153 into the vortex up above. The hand nearly lost it's grip again and
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154 again, but it kept grasping at her, finally pulling her away. The
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155 water around them was still trying to lift into the sky, but not as
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156 strongly as the tornado of objects being pulled into the air where
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157 Yuna had just been. Rikku held onto Yuna's hand tightly, the claws
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158 cutting into her skin as the wind whipped at them, trying to drag
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159 them after Tidus. 'I'll protect you. I won't let anything happen to
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160 you. I won't let it hurt you,' Rikku's mind raced. She didn't know
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161 what this was, but she knew she couldn't let it have Yuna. She'd
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162 promised to protect the girl. She'd do anything to protect her.
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163
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164 The two girls reached the beach, soaked and out of breath, aching
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165 and afraid. Behind them, the steady roar began to die down. Splashes
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166 could be heard as objects that hadn't reached the vortex plummeted to
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167 the sea below. Yuna turned slowly, dreading what she would see. Where
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168 the creature had stood was now only chaos. Debris floating
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169 haphazardly in the ocean. And Tidus was gone. Gone. "No..." she
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170 whispered, as if denying that it had happened would bring him back,
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171 would deny the very event itself. "No!" She stumbled forward, wanting
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172 to search for him, but she knew it was pointless. She collapsed to
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173 her knees in the wet sand. That creature... It was her nightmare. The
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174 thing that haunted her dreams. She knew it. Her personal boogeyman.
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175 It had many forms, but it was always the same. And now it was real.
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176 It had come out of her nightmares and it had found her. And it had
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177 taken away one of those closest to her. And she knew it would be back
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178 for more. She burst into tears. They had always told her that her
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179 father had merely drowned at sea, but she could never believe that.
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180 She'd had a dream about that creature taking her father away the
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181 night before he'd died. She'd seen it. She'd been unable to stop it.
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182 Now it had taken Tidus away. "Tidus... I'm so sorry..." She had
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183 failed once more to protect those she cared about. Her father hadn't
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184 listened, had told her it was only a nightmare and had sailed off to
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185 his death. Tidus had been so close. So very close. She'd nearly had
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186 his hand. "I'm so sorry..." she repeated between sobs.
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187
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188 Wet, furry arms wrapped around Yuna, pulling her close. The crying
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189 girl curled up weakly in Rikku's arms, shaking. "Yunie..."
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190 Swallowing, Rikku buried her face against the brunette's soggy hair.
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191 What was that thing? In all of her travels, she'd never met anything
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192 so terrifying. It had seemed so focussed on Yuna. How could she
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193 protect Yuna from that demon? She had to try. Somehow. She'd
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194 promised. She wouldn't let it take her. No matter what.
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195
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196 "Sin..." Yuna whispered, resting limply in Rikku's arms. She
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197 shuddered violently, breaking into a fresh batch of sobs.
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198
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199 "What? Yunie, what's sin?" Rikku asked worriedly, pulling Yuna closer.
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200
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201 "That... that was Sin..." Yuna whispered. "Sin's come to punish
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202 us..." She knew it. Knew it like she knew how to breathe and how to
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203 laugh. It was ingrained in her. That was Sin. It was a nightmare. And
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204 it had come for the Destiny Islands.
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205
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206 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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207
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208 Hikari nibbled on her lower lip, waiting anxiously for the bell to
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209 ring. She shuffled the beautiful, multicolored papers on her lap,
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210 watching the clock in the classroom tick inexorably towards
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211 dismissal. Her heart pounded excitedly in her chest as she waited.
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212
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213 Taking a pencil, she began to scribble on the top sheet. She smiled
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214 as a familiar figure began to take shape on the page before her. It
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215 happened without thinking, as if he wanted to see her. It was silly,
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216 she knew, but she couldn't help it. Riku slowly came into being on
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217 the paper in front of her in the form of a hastily drawn picture.
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218 Sighing inwardly, she smiled. He was so cute. But he was probably so
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219 lonely there by himself. By now completely phasing out whatever the
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220 teacher was saying, Hikari drew in Sora next to the other boy. And,
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221 after a moment's thought, herself between the two boys. There. That
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222 was better. By now, drawing the boys was second nature. She'd drawn
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223 hundreds of pictures of them and their island. They were her best
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224 friends. Even if they weren't real.
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225
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226 The bell finally rang, cutting into Hikari's distant thoughts. The
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227 girl quickly got up, nearly dropping her lapful of colored papers. A
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228 boy behind her laughed as she struggled to keep a grasp on the
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229 handful of them. Finally pulling them into a hug, she hurried to pass
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230 them out. They were invitations to her thirteenth birthday party. Her
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231 mother had made each of them by hand the night before. Her mother's
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232 art still amazed her. The older woman could draw such beautiful
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233 things. It was she who had spent hours upon hours teaching Hikari to
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234 draw. And now the younger girl spent as much time as she could
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235 drawing her dreams, that far off world she loved so very much. It
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236 seemed to come to life in the drawings.
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237
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238 Written in her mother's careful hand on each and every paper was:
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239 'Please come, one and all, to the beautiful Princess Hikari's 13th
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240 birthday this Friday. Whether by carriage or chocobo or airship, all
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241 are welcome for this wondrous celebration. Dinner will be served so
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242 all visiting dignitaries' parents shouldn't worry about them coming
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243 home hungry. Please call Princess Hikari's chief adviser (her mother)
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244 if you have any questions.'
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245
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246 As Hikari passed out the last of the invitations, she felt
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247 excitement mixed with pride and anticipation. The invitations were
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248 beautiful. Her mother had spent so much time on them, surprising
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249 Hikari early in the morning with the bundle. She had said she wanted
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250 Hikari to have a birthday fit for a princess. That was so sweet.
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251 Hikari had been delighted with the beautiful pictures that adorned
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252 the invitations. Her mother had drawn them. It was like an invitation
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253 to Wonderland, wondrous and amazing. No one else had invitations like
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254 that, usually little more than explanations on paper of what party
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255 and where. No one else had a mother like she had, pretty and fun and
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256 loving. Her mind raced with thoughts of her birthday, of games and
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257 the pretty dress her mother had bought her for it and....
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258
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259 "Princess Hikari?" One of the girls asked, grinning. "Since when was
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260 Hikari a princess?"
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261
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262 Hikari's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "It's... Mom meant..."
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rlm@2
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263
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rlm@2
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264 "So we're supposed to get off of school friday and go to 'her
|
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rlm@2
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265 highness's' little play date?" A boy asked.
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rlm@2
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266
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rlm@2
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267 "What types of games will they be playing? Spin the bottle?"
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rlm@2
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268
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rlm@2
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269 Another boy laughed. "With who? The other four-year-olds Hikari
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rlm@2
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270 invites? You'll be lucky if they play pin the tail on the donkey. The
|
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rlm@2
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271 'Princess' likes to keep things simple."
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rlm@2
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272
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rlm@2
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273 Hikari's eyes burned brightly with tears as she listened to them
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rlm@2
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274 laugh and joke. Each time she heard someone call her 'princess', it
|
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rlm@2
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275 felt like a slap to the face. Not like when her mother said it. When
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rlm@2
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276 she said it, Hikari felt like a real princess. But now.... She
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rlm@2
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277 sniffled painfully, hoisting up her backpack as she left the room.
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278
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rlm@2
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279 "Hey, Princess, I don't think I can make it. I'm gonna be visiting
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rlm@2
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280 the man on the moon that day. Very busy," a girl said mock seriously.
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rlm@2
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281 Her friends burst into laughter.
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rlm@2
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282
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rlm@2
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283 Hikari couldn't speak. She could barely keep from crying. She'd
|
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rlm@2
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284 thought the invitations were wonderful. She loved the idea of a
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rlm@2
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285 magically princess themed birthday party. But now she felt stupid for
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rlm@2
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286 wanting such a thing. Stupid and childish.
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rlm@2
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287
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rlm@2
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288 Another boy crumpled up the invitation, drawn brilliantly on a sky
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rlm@2
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289 blue paper. He dropped it in a trash can as he passed, not bothering
|
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rlm@2
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290 with a glance back. It was simply so much trash to him. Nothing more,
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rlm@2
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291 nothing less. Her mother's work, the pretty invitation she had spent
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rlm@2
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292 all night on, now left unceremoniously with the rest of the garbage.
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rlm@2
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293 Hikari felt sick. She shook lightly, her vision blurred. She didn't
|
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rlm@2
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294 even know where she was going. She wanted to collapse and cry. But
|
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rlm@2
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295 then they'd be right. She would just be a dumb little girl. Tears
|
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rlm@2
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296 fell silently down her cheeks as she cursed herself inwardly. She was
|
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rlm@2
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297 just a dumb little girl. A little girl who wanted her mother, who
|
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rlm@2
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298 wanted to be a princess. Who wanted everyone to like her. Her breath
|
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rlm@2
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299 caught in her throat, wet and stinging. She pushed open the bathroom
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rlm@2
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300 door and stumbled on leaden feet into a stall. Collapsing, she cried
|
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rlm@2
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301 through most of the next period.
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rlm@2
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302
|
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rlm@2
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303 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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rlm@2
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304
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rlm@2
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305 Kairi stirred weakly in her bonds. Where was she? Oh, how she was
|
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rlm@2
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306 beginning to loathe that question. Kuja... Blinking awake, Kairi
|
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rlm@2
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307 glanced around the gothic looking room. The nightmare she had just
|
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rlm@2
|
308 had only made her present state that much more miserable. Her soul
|
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rlm@2
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309 was still clouded with pain half-remembered, worried about an
|
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rlm@2
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310 uncertain Fate that hung before her.
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rlm@2
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311
|
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rlm@2
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312 "So the sleeper awakens." Kuja's soft voice seemed to come from
|
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rlm@2
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313 everywhere at once. Even though she couldn't see him, she knew he was
|
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rlm@2
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314 smirking now. "Or perhaps that's not entirely true. You haven't woken
|
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rlm@2
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315 up just yet. Not from this dream. But that suits my needs just fine.
|
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rlm@2
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316 I'll shape this dream however I see fit with the power you'll grant
|
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rlm@2
|
317 me, Kairi." Finally stepping into view, the lithe catboy was indeed
|
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rlm@2
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318 smirking. He traced Kairi's cheek with his fingertips. "It will hurt.
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rlm@2
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319 But then it will all be over. And I'll create a new world from your
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rlm@2
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320 ashes."
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rlm@2
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321
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rlm@2
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322 Kairi struggled as she felt his hand trailing down her neck, moving
|
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rlm@2
|
323 over her collarbone. But she was helpless. "I won't give up. I won't
|
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rlm@2
|
324 let you change this world. I'm going to save it." She had to believe
|
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rlm@2
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325 in those words. She had to. For Sora. For Riku. For all of her
|
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rlm@2
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326 friends who were counting on her to stop the Heartless.
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rlm@2
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327
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rlm@2
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328 "You really don't have a choice anymore, Kairi. You may be the
|
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rlm@2
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329 dreamer, but with the Prism Heart, I'll recast it into my dream. I'll
|
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rlm@2
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330 never die. All the things that haunt me will disperse into
|
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rlm@2
|
331 nothingness. It will be beautiful." Kuja sighed deliciously. "It's
|
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rlm@2
|
332 only too bad you won't be there to see it." His hand now rested
|
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rlm@2
|
333 directly over Kairi's heart. He could practically taste the fear and
|
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rlm@2
|
334 uncertainty that washed over her. He gazed into her eyes, ready to
|
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rlm@2
|
335 watch the light fade from them as she died. With a swift motion of
|
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rlm@2
|
336 his hand, he shoved his fingers into her chest.
|
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rlm@2
|
337
|
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rlm@2
|
338 Pain screamed through Kairi's head, bright and searing pain that
|
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rlm@2
|
339 instantly killed any thoughts that were swarming through her head.
|
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rlm@2
|
340 The scream felt endless and tore through her mind and soul. Yet her
|
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rlm@2
|
341 lips only trembled, unable to make anything but the tiniest sounds.
|
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rlm@2
|
342 She could feel his hand pushing deeper inside of her, clutching at
|
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rlm@2
|
343 her heart, could feel him grabbing it tenderly, ready to draw it out
|
|
rlm@2
|
344 of her. She'd come so far. She had promised she'd save Riku. But now
|
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rlm@2
|
345 she would die in a far off world as someone used her heart to
|
|
rlm@2
|
346 recreate this reality. And all she could do was wish for the pain to
|
|
rlm@2
|
347 end.
|
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rlm@2
|
348
|
|
rlm@2
|
349 'Thinking of you, wherever you are.
|
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rlm@2
|
350
|
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rlm@2
|
351 We pray for our sorrows to end,
|
|
rlm@2
|
352 And hope that our hearts will blend.
|
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rlm@2
|
353 Now I will step forward to realize this wish.'
|
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rlm@2
|
354
|
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rlm@2
|
355 No. She had promised. This wouldn't end here. Her fingernails dug
|
|
rlm@2
|
356 into her palms as she tried to concentrate. She wouldn't die here.
|
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rlm@2
|
357 She couldn't die here. Her journey wasn't over. She needed to save
|
|
rlm@2
|
358 Riku. Had to find Sora. 'I won't give up. I'm with you. Wherever you
|
|
rlm@2
|
359 are.' Whether the thought was her own or soemone else's, she couldn't
|
|
rlm@2
|
360 quite be sure. The pain grew, numbing her senses in an overload as
|
|
rlm@2
|
361 she felt her heart slipping further and further away from her.
|
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rlm@2
|
362 'Mom...' Her mother was a beautiful woman, her best friend. 'Dad...'
|
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rlm@2
|
363 Her father had been an ingenious monarch who had fallen victim to his
|
|
rlm@2
|
364 own curiosity. Both were from different worlds. But both felt so
|
|
rlm@2
|
365 real. 'I can't give up one and not the other. I can't choose. I
|
|
rlm@2
|
366 can't...' Everything around her began to fade as she felt her heart
|
|
rlm@2
|
367 giving up it's hold. 'I'm sorry...' she thought dimly as everything
|
|
rlm@2
|
368 plunged into blackness around her.
|
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rlm@2
|
369
|
|
rlm@2
|
370 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
rlm@2
|
371
|
|
rlm@2
|
372 "Kuja!" Garnet stood at the last of the steps, watching in horror as
|
|
rlm@2
|
373 pulled a shimmering, crystalline heart from Kairi. The chestnut
|
|
rlm@2
|
374 haired girl slumped in her bonds, her eyes dull and glassy. Simply a
|
|
rlm@2
|
375 body. They were too late.
|
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rlm@2
|
376
|
|
rlm@2
|
377 "Kairi!!" Relm ran past the silver haired catboy to the chained up
|
|
rlm@2
|
378 Keyblade Mistress's side. If she'd been with her instead of playing
|
|
rlm@2
|
379 her stupid games with Yuffie... Celes had sacrificed herself so they
|
|
rlm@2
|
380 could escape. But now... Without Kairi, how could they hope to stop
|
|
rlm@2
|
381 the Heartless? "Kairi... Kairi, please wake up..." Relm held onto
|
|
rlm@2
|
382 Kairi's shoulders, but the other girl couldn't hear her.
|
|
rlm@2
|
383
|
|
rlm@2
|
384 "I'm afraid you're too late. I already have what I was looking for.
|
|
rlm@2
|
385 Go ahead and take her body if you want. I have no further use for
|
|
rlm@2
|
386 it." He shrugged, grinning wildly as he held his prize. The Prism
|
|
rlm@2
|
387 Heart. "This world will soon be born anew. Do as you like until
|
|
rlm@2
|
388 then." Not even Sephiroth or Princess Hikari could stop him now. He
|
|
rlm@2
|
389 was the master of reality itself. Now his perceptions, his dreams
|
|
rlm@2
|
390 would all resonate throughout all the existed.
|
|
rlm@2
|
391
|
|
rlm@2
|
392 "How could you do this?" Garnet asked, disbelief making her dizzy.
|
|
rlm@2
|
393 How could this have happened? How could anyone do that? She stepped
|
|
rlm@2
|
394 forward in a haze, barely feeling Eiko clinging to her side.
|
|
rlm@2
|
395
|
|
rlm@2
|
396 "He's doing this at my behest," a voice said from further up the
|
|
rlm@2
|
397 steps. Queen Brahne walked down the steps, followed closely by Harle.
|
|
rlm@2
|
398 "The kingdom is in danger. I'll do whatever it takes to protect it.
|
|
rlm@2
|
399 And if a few peasant girls' lives are needed to stop the Heartless,
|
|
rlm@2
|
400 I'll gladly sacrifice them."
|
|
rlm@2
|
401
|
|
rlm@2
|
402 Garnet turned, the world tipping on its side. Her mother had known
|
|
rlm@2
|
403 what Kuja was doing? She had let him do these horrible things? They
|
|
rlm@2
|
404 would have done this to Eiko. "No! You can't sacrifice others! You
|
|
rlm@2
|
405 can't use them like toys!"
|
|
rlm@2
|
406
|
|
rlm@2
|
407 "I'm the Queen of Alexandria. I will do whatever I see fit. And you
|
|
rlm@2
|
408 will not speak back to me again, Princess." Brahne's eyes grew cold
|
|
rlm@2
|
409 and distant, not at all the mother Garnet had once known.
|
|
rlm@2
|
410
|
|
rlm@2
|
411 Laughter broke out through the torture chamber, drawing everyone's
|
|
rlm@2
|
412 attention. "I'm afraid you have it all wrong, Queen Brahne. I don't
|
|
rlm@2
|
413 care what happens with the Heartless. I think you're confused about
|
|
rlm@2
|
414 just who was using who. You gave me the resources I needed to find
|
|
rlm@2
|
415 the girl with the Prism Heart. Your pathetic Alexandria won't even
|
|
rlm@2
|
416 exist in the world I create."
|
|
rlm@2
|
417
|
|
rlm@2
|
418 "Kuja... I'll have you executed," Brahne growled. She wasn't about
|
|
rlm@2
|
419 to let him betray her. She'd have Harle finish the rest of it. Her
|
|
rlm@2
|
420 harlequin knew enough about magic and relics to use the Prism Heart
|
|
rlm@2
|
421 to make Alexandria the most powerful nation in existence.
|
|
rlm@2
|
422
|
|
rlm@2
|
423 More laughter erupted from the silver haired man. "You don't know
|
|
rlm@2
|
424 who you're speaking to, Brahne. I'm a god now. I will never die.
|
|
rlm@2
|
425 Certainly not at your capricious whims. My life... No, all lives are
|
|
rlm@2
|
426 mine to do with as a please." He held out the shining crystal heart
|
|
rlm@2
|
427 in his hand. "Starting with yours." Before Brahne could even move,
|
|
rlm@2
|
428 the world shifted around them. The Queen stood where she was, frozen.
|
|
rlm@2
|
429 She was made completely of polished marble. "A statue fitting of a
|
|
rlm@2
|
430 queen. They can put you in the center of your palace and worship you
|
|
rlm@2
|
431 until the palace falls in on itself. But I don't feel like waiting
|
|
rlm@2
|
432 that long." With another wave on his hand, the statue shattered, the
|
|
rlm@2
|
433 head rolling amidst the scattered pieces.
|
|
rlm@2
|
434
|
|
rlm@2
|
435 "Mother!" Garnet fell beside what had been her mother, her heart
|
|
rlm@2
|
436 seized in her chest. She was gone. Even if she had been killing
|
|
rlm@2
|
437 innocent girls, she was still her mother. And now she was gone. In an
|
|
rlm@2
|
438 instant. Tears dripped to the broken marble beneath her. "Mother..."
|
|
rlm@2
|
439
|
|
rlm@2
|
440 "Garnet..." Eiko held onto the taller girl from behind, keeping a
|
|
rlm@2
|
441 wary eye on Kuja. They needed to get out of there quickly. There was
|
|
rlm@2
|
442 no telling what he'd do next. "Garnet, we have to go. Please." But
|
|
rlm@2
|
443 Garnet wasn't listening. And Eiko couldn't leave without her. Though
|
|
rlm@2
|
444 she was starting to worry none of them would be leaving.
|
|
rlm@2
|
445
|
|
rlm@2
|
446 "You bastard! Give Kairi her heart back!" Relm ran up to Kuja,
|
|
rlm@2
|
447 slamming her small fists into his chest. "Bring her back!!!" Tears
|
|
rlm@2
|
448 burnt at her eyes. So many useless sacrifices. They couldn't be in
|
|
rlm@2
|
449 vain. They just couldn't.
|
|
rlm@2
|
450
|
|
rlm@2
|
451 Bringing his hand up, Kuja slapped the bandanna wearing girl
|
|
rlm@2
|
452 viciously. Staggering back, Relm was disoriented. Kuja grabbed her
|
|
rlm@2
|
453 neck, lifting her until her toes were scrabbling at the floor.
|
|
rlm@2
|
454 "Useless little artist. I would have let you stay around to give me
|
|
rlm@2
|
455 something to look at, but you hardly seem worth the effort. Don't
|
|
rlm@2
|
456 worry. I'll let you join Kairi. If you don't want to be part of my
|
|
rlm@2
|
457 world, I'll let you be part of hers. The world of the dead."
|
|
rlm@2
|
458 Squeezing tightly, he felt her throat constricting under his hand.
|
|
rlm@2
|
459 How long until the light faded from her eyes as well?
|
|
rlm@2
|
460
|
|
rlm@2
|
461 Relm struggled to keep her feet on the floor, but they were feeling
|
|
rlm@2
|
462 further and further away. Her lungs burned and her vision began to
|
|
rlm@2
|
463 get spotty. She wanted to scream, but nothing could come out without
|
|
rlm@2
|
464 the air she desperately needed. Her hands fell limply to her sides.
|
|
rlm@2
|
465 She could almost hear Celes at the edge of her mind. But what was she
|
|
rlm@2
|
466 saying? She'd know soon enough. At least... At least she'd be joining
|
|
rlm@2
|
467 Celes and Interceptor. That was some comfort.
|
|
rlm@2
|
468
|
|
rlm@2
|
469 "Leave her alone, you asshole!" Kuja let out a gasp of pain. A
|
|
rlm@2
|
470 splume of red filled Relm's vision before she fell to the floor, air
|
|
rlm@2
|
471 rushing back to her aching lungs. Kuja clutched his slashed arm, the
|
|
rlm@2
|
472 Prism Heart floating next to him. Yuffie sat crouched in front of
|
|
rlm@2
|
473 Relm, her giant shuriken bloodied. 'Yuffie!' Relm thought, fighting
|
|
rlm@2
|
474 to clear her thoughts. 'She... she saved me...' She could only gaze
|
|
rlm@2
|
475 at Yuffie's back, her heart burning anew for the ninja girl in front
|
|
rlm@2
|
476 of her.
|
|
rlm@2
|
477
|
|
rlm@2
|
478 Kuja grinned, running his hand over the wound on his right arm. The
|
|
rlm@2
|
479 arm was instantly better. "You fool. You should have ran. Or did you
|
|
rlm@2
|
480 want to die with the artist? That can be arranged."
|
|
rlm@2
|
481
|
|
rlm@2
|
482 "I don't plan on dying for a good long time. And neither is she as
|
|
rlm@2
|
483 long as I have any say in it." Pulling up her shuriken in front of
|
|
rlm@2
|
484 her, Yuffie grinned herself. "I can't say the same for you." Her aura
|
|
rlm@2
|
485 lit up, blazing in a beautiful array of colors. The shuriken began to
|
|
rlm@2
|
486 spin in front of her as she focussed. If he could heal himself, she
|
|
rlm@2
|
487 had to end this with one hit before he had a chance to. This had to
|
|
rlm@2
|
488 be everything she had inside of herself. For Relm. She couldn't let
|
|
rlm@2
|
489 him hurt the younger girl. She couldn't live with herself if she did.
|
|
rlm@2
|
490 And she could live with herself doing quite a bit, so that was saying
|
|
rlm@2
|
491 something. "All Creation!!" She called out, energy lashing out
|
|
rlm@2
|
492 blindingly. It slammed into Kuja, illuminating the entire room.
|
|
rlm@2
|
493 Pushing herself, she tried to force out every ounce of energery she
|
|
rlm@2
|
494 had inside of herself into the attack. Yuffie stumbled onto one
|
|
rlm@2
|
495 knee, the shuriken fell to the floor, clinging next to her. Her body
|
|
rlm@2
|
496 felt drained, nothing left to push forward with. Slumping forward
|
|
rlm@2
|
497 onto the cold stone floor, she passed out.
|
|
rlm@2
|
498
|
|
rlm@2
|
499 "Yuffie... Yuffie!" Relm crawled over to the ninja, checking to make
|
|
rlm@2
|
500 sure she was alive. She breathed a sigh of relief when she felt
|
|
rlm@2
|
501 Yuffie's weak heartbeat under her hand. She was alive. Yuffie had
|
|
rlm@2
|
502 saved her. She clutched onto the fallen ninja, burying her face into
|
|
rlm@2
|
503 Yuffie's hair. "Yuffie..."
|
|
rlm@2
|
504
|
|
rlm@2
|
505 "That... hurt..." Kuja stumbled forward. "I'm going to keep you
|
|
rlm@2
|
506 alive for that, you little bitch. And you'll pray for the day that
|
|
rlm@2
|
507 I'll kill you. That would have killed me. But the Prism Heart filters
|
|
rlm@2
|
508 all reality. Even your pathetic attacks. I told you. I can't die." He
|
|
rlm@2
|
509 walked towards them clenching his fist.
|
|
rlm@2
|
510
|
|
rlm@2
|
511 "No. You will ruin everyzing. I will not allow it. Zis is not ze way
|
|
rlm@2
|
512 things should be." Harle crossed her arms, watching Kuja turn to face
|
|
rlm@2
|
513 her. "Zat girl is ze dreamer. You are not. You will plunge everyzing
|
|
rlm@2
|
514 into chaos. You do not have ze will to be a god. She is integral to
|
|
rlm@2
|
515 zis world. I won't let you make it all fall apart. Not now." Dragon
|
|
rlm@2
|
516 wings unfurled behind her, her face elongating. Her fingers became
|
|
rlm@2
|
517 deadly claws. A tail appeared behind her. Her harlequin costume tore
|
|
rlm@2
|
518 apart as she grew, shifting into something not in the least human.
|
|
rlm@2
|
519 Her voice changed into a deep roar as the dragon stood before Kuja.
|
|
rlm@2
|
520 "I am Bahamut, the Dragon God. I won't let your madness spread
|
|
rlm@2
|
521 throughout reality like a virus." The dragon's mouth opened, light
|
|
rlm@2
|
522 spraying forth as he showered Kuja with Megaflare. And then nothing.
|
|
rlm@2
|
523 The world spun around the Dragon God. Harle watched as Kuja stepped
|
|
rlm@2
|
524 out of the dissipating explosion. She stepped back, realizing she was
|
|
rlm@2
|
525 naked and no longer a dragon. This was much more trouble than she had
|
|
rlm@2
|
526 expected.
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|
rlm@2
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527
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|
rlm@2
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528 "So you're Bahamut. I thought there was something strange about you.
|
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rlm@2
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529 But the legendary Dragon God isn't very frightening when you're
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rlm@2
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530 sealed away inside that body. I think I'll keep you around just to
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rlm@2
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531 show you what power I have. You can be there by my side as I unleash
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rlm@2
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532 my 'madness' upon reality. And what better servant than Bahamut?"
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rlm@2
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533 Kuja laughed. This was turning out perfectly. Everything was his to
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rlm@2
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534 command. Nothing could stand against him. All would be as he wished
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rlm@2
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535 it to be.
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rlm@2
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536
|
|
rlm@2
|
537 "I told you not to harm Kairi."
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rlm@2
|
538
|
|
rlm@2
|
539 Kuja spun around at the sound of Sephiroth's voice. Could this day
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|
rlm@2
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540 be any better? He had thought he'd have to go to Sephiroth and tear
|
|
rlm@2
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541 apart Princess Hikari's upside down palace right in front of his
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|
rlm@2
|
542 eyes. But now his former boss had come to him. This would be
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rlm@2
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543 immensely satisfying. No one controlled him anymore. Everything was
|
|
rlm@2
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544 his. "I changed my mind. You gave me power, yes. The power of the
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rlm@2
|
545 Heartless. But I want more than that. The power of a god. The power
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rlm@2
|
546 to stop life and death. Letting you have her wouldn't have been any
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|
rlm@2
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547 fun."
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rlm@2
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548
|
|
rlm@2
|
549 Sephiroth narrowed his eyebrows, stepping forward. A young girl, a
|
|
rlm@2
|
550 mirror image of Kairi wearing a gorgeous midnight black dress,
|
|
rlm@2
|
551 stepped from behind him.
|
|
rlm@2
|
552
|
|
rlm@2
|
553 "So you brought Princess Hikari with you? Thank you so much,
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rlm@2
|
554 Sephiroth. You're making this so much easier. Now I can get you both
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|
rlm@2
|
555 out of the way before creating my beautiful dream."
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|
rlm@2
|
556
|
|
rlm@2
|
557 "Kairi still has further to travel. You're complicating things,
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rlm@2
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558 Kuja. You weren't supposed to harm her for a reason. You're fears and
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|
rlm@2
|
559 insecurities are making you erratic. I knew I shouldn't have trusted
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rlm@2
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560 you." Princess Hikari stepped over to Kairi, lifting her chin and
|
|
rlm@2
|
561 gazing into lifeless eyes.
|
|
rlm@2
|
562
|
|
rlm@2
|
563 "It's a little too late for that, your highness. Maybe if you beg,
|
|
rlm@2
|
564 I'll let you exist in my world. As something suitably ironic. Like a
|
|
rlm@2
|
565 prostitute or a homeless girl. Yes, those both sound interesting. And
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|
rlm@2
|
566 you, Sephiroth, I'm just going to kill you. I'm sick of taking orders
|
|
rlm@2
|
567 from you." Kuja watched the two of them, his thoughts spinning
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|
rlm@2
|
568 delightfully. So many possibilities. He raised his hand. He frowned.
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rlm@2
|
569 He hadn't really expected Sephiroth to show any fear, but it was
|
|
rlm@2
|
570 still disappointing. "Die!" The world shifted around Sephiroth,
|
|
rlm@2
|
571 becoming razor sharp to cut through the warrior. But nothing
|
|
rlm@2
|
572 happened. The SOLDIER unfurled his single, black wing, looking back
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|
rlm@2
|
573 at Kuja. "What the hell?" It wasn't possible. "The Prism Heart
|
|
rlm@2
|
574 controls all reality. All of it! Even you, Sephiroth! Die!!!" Again,
|
|
rlm@2
|
575 nothing happened. Princess Hikari stepped in front of Kuja, looking
|
|
rlm@2
|
576 very displeased. Suddenly, Kuja began to feel the fear and
|
|
rlm@2
|
577 desperation that had driven him to this in the first place. He was
|
|
rlm@2
|
578 going to die. And he could do nothing to stop it. His plans were
|
|
rlm@2
|
579 falling apart in front of him.
|
|
rlm@2
|
580
|
|
rlm@2
|
581 "Kuja, that heart is mine. If Kairi is my shadow, then why would you
|
|
rlm@2
|
582 be able to stop me with her heart?" Princess Hikari asked, beckoning
|
|
rlm@2
|
583 Sephiroth over. "Prism Hearts isn't simply her. She's only a small
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|
rlm@2
|
584 part of it. Yes, you could shape reality with it. If I allowed it.
|
|
rlm@2
|
585 And I most certainly will not." She held her hand out, Kairi's heart
|
|
rlm@2
|
586 floating to her. Walking over to Kairi, she gently placed it back
|
|
rlm@2
|
587 inside of the other girl. "Now go, Kairi. You need to unlock his
|
|
rlm@2
|
588 keyhole. Riku needs you," she whispered in Kairi's ear. "Hurry to
|
|
rlm@2
|
589 him." Turning, she motioned for Sephiroth. "We should go. I don't
|
|
rlm@2
|
590 want to leave Sora for long."
|
|
rlm@2
|
591
|
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rlm@2
|
592 Kuja shook his head, watching Sephiroth advance. He could feel the
|
|
rlm@2
|
593 power he'd been given by the Heartless dissolving as he called for
|
|
rlm@2
|
594 it. It was over. He was going to die. All of his preparations to
|
|
rlm@2
|
595 prevent that had been for naught. He shook his head again as
|
|
rlm@2
|
596 Sephiroth pulled out the Masamune. "No... No!!!" Raising his hand, he
|
|
rlm@2
|
597 cast Ultima. "I'll kill you all!! You'll all die with me!" he
|
|
rlm@2
|
598 screamed. Magic shot out, tearing into the palace, destroying
|
|
rlm@2
|
599 everything in its path. But it was too late. The pain was sharp and
|
|
rlm@2
|
600 brilliant. Looking down, he could see the hilt of Sephiroth's blade.
|
|
rlm@2
|
601 The SOLDIER looked into his eyes, their brilliant mako green glow
|
|
rlm@2
|
602 looking like that of death itself. Pulling the blade out, Sephiroth
|
|
rlm@2
|
603 walked after the Princess, the palace collapsing all around them.
|
|
rlm@2
|
604
|
|
rlm@2
|
605 Only half awake, Kairi stumbled towards Kuja. She could see that he
|
|
rlm@2
|
606 was bleeding heavily. Her mind whirled. The Keyhole... Riku...
|
|
rlm@2
|
607 Darkness, deep and ancient where she'd been lost while her heart had
|
|
rlm@2
|
608 been stolen from her. She lifted the Keyblade in front of her with
|
|
rlm@2
|
609 what strength she could muster. The world felt like it was falling
|
|
rlm@2
|
610 out from beneath her feet. She had to stop it now. And this was the
|
|
rlm@2
|
611 only way. Lunging forward, the pressed the Keyblade into Kuja's
|
|
rlm@2
|
612 chest, into the Keyhole that existed in his heart. The roof began to
|
|
rlm@2
|
613 fall in around her, the palace getting ready to crush this basement.
|
|
rlm@2
|
614 The entire world was about to fall on top of them. Closing her eyes,
|
|
rlm@2
|
615 she unlocked his heart. Light spilled out of the dying man, filling
|
|
rlm@2
|
616 the room until there was nothing else.
|
|
rlm@2
|
617
|
|
rlm@2
|
618 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
rlm@2
|
619
|
|
rlm@2
|
620 Kairi found herself once again floating amidst light. It reminded
|
|
rlm@2
|
621 her far too much of the darkness she had been surrounding her when
|
|
rlm@2
|
622 she'd lost her heart. 'Maybe light and dark aren't so different after
|
|
rlm@2
|
623 all.' She couldn't tell if her eyes were open or closed. All that
|
|
rlm@2
|
624 existed was light. Her body was an anomaly in this world of light.
|
|
rlm@2
|
625 She felt that if she stayed her for too long her physical form would
|
|
rlm@2
|
626 fade away. She floated in this tranquil sea, searching.
|
|
rlm@2
|
627
|
|
rlm@2
|
628 "You have unlocked the light in the heart of Desperation." The
|
|
rlm@2
|
629 voice that existed everywhere in the light echoed through her.
|
|
rlm@2
|
630
|
|
rlm@2
|
631 "I was supposed to save my world. I was created as a puppet to save
|
|
rlm@2
|
632 a long dead planet by letting it repopulate another. But I wasn't
|
|
rlm@2
|
633 what they wanted. So they created another to replace me. I was a
|
|
rlm@2
|
634 tool, something to be used until it was no longer necessary and then
|
|
rlm@2
|
635 thrown away. I was created to die. And there was nothing I could do
|
|
rlm@2
|
636 to stop it. I was... afraid. I didn't want to die. So I tried to stop
|
|
rlm@2
|
637 it. To do anything to live. And if I couldn't live, then I didn't
|
|
rlm@2
|
638 want anyone to live. It wasn't fair. Life and death... Why? My
|
|
rlm@2
|
639 desperation filled me until I saw nothing else. But now... I am
|
|
rlm@2
|
640 dying. It... It will be all right? Won't it?"
|
|
rlm@2
|
641
|
|
rlm@2
|
642 Kairi smiled softly, nodding in the glow of the light. "It will be
|
|
rlm@2
|
643 all right. Death is only the beginning. I... I learned that a long
|
|
rlm@2
|
644 time ago. You won't ever have to fear again."
|
|
rlm@2
|
645
|
|
rlm@2
|
646 'I'm making Riku wait for me. He's... He's dead, too. I have to
|
|
rlm@2
|
647 hurry to him. He's staying in this world for me. I couldn't stay in
|
|
rlm@2
|
648 that other world. I couldn't live there. So I....' She shook her
|
|
rlm@2
|
649 head. No. She couldn't accept the other world where she'd killed
|
|
rlm@2
|
650 herself. Not yet. "If you see someone named Riku there, please give
|
|
rlm@2
|
651 him my love." As the light faded, Kairi lost herself in the layer
|
|
rlm@2
|
652 between worlds.
|
|
rlm@2
|
653
|
|
rlm@2
|
654
|
|
rlm@2
|
655
|
