rlm@0: Prism Hearts
rlm@0: Chapter 12
rlm@0: Angelus Errare: Where Angels Lose Their Way
rlm@0: by Amazoness Duo
rlm@0: amazonessduo@hotmail.com
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: She was out there. Somewhere. Being chased by the Heartless and
rlm@0: whoever else wanted what lay inside of her heart. Lost out in a world
rlm@0: slowly being consumed by darkness. Torn between reality and nightmare
rlm@0: and whatever was in between. And the one man he had counted on to
rlm@0: protect her was now incredibly far away, unable to keep the darkness
rlm@0: at bay for her. Wherever she was, he knew she was in danger. He could
rlm@0: feel it resonating throughout his soul, a cosmic cord that had been
rlm@0: struck, hitting him like nails on a chalkboard. He could tell himself
rlm@0: that it was only his own worry, but he didn't believe that. There was
rlm@0: a connection between them, something that being worlds away wasn't
rlm@0: going to sever. After all, she was the only reason he lingered in
rlm@0: this world of the living.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The concern he felt was reaching a crescendo, crashing around him
rlm@0: like an angry sea. It was maddening. He was powerless to save her,
rlm@0: trapped behind the door at the center of all the universes, Kingdom
rlm@0: Hearts. Riku pounded on the inside of the door, frustration eating
rlm@0: him alive. He'd heard Kairi on the other side of those large doors
rlm@0: not so long ago. So close yet so far. If only he'd been able to get
rlm@0: through them to her... He hated leaving her alone. Sora was supposed
rlm@0: to be with her. But where was the other boy?
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Leaning against the door, Riku crossed his arms and sighed. He was
rlm@0: trapped here. He couldn't go to Kairi's rescue. Not this time. He
rlm@0: wanted to believe that Sora would reach her in time, but Sora felt so
rlm@0: very far away. Well, Riku wasn't exactly trapped. There was one other
rlm@0: place he could go. "But I can't do that. Not yet. Not until I see her
rlm@0: again." When he had lost his body to Ansem, he had technically died.
rlm@0: With no body, he was only a soul. He could leave this plane, could
rlm@0: escape to the afterlife. Farplane. Lifestream. Whatever one wished to
rlm@0: call it. He could feel it calling to him, but he pushed it off with
rlm@0: force of will. He couldn't go yet. Even if that left him locked
rlm@0: behind a door at the center of all creation. "Kairi..." he whispered.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Again, that feeling of cold dread sent shards of ice through his
rlm@0: blood. She needed him and he couldn't go to her. "Sora... Hurry...
rlm@0: She needs you." But somehow, he had the horrible feeling that Sora
rlm@0: was lost himself at the moment. Neither of them could save her.
rlm@0: Neither of them could reach her. It was up to Kairi. Or Fate. "Hold
rlm@0: on, Kairi. Please hold on. You don't need to be meeting me in the
rlm@0: afterlife. Not yet."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Locked away at the heart of all that was, a silver haired boy closed
rlm@0: his eyes and prayed to whoever would listen to him to let the girl he
rlm@0: loved be all right.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Yuna!"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Yuna pulled away from the kiss she had been entagled in with Rikku,
rlm@0: the world slamming back down around her. Her cheeks flushed a dark
rlm@0: red as her flustered heart spun dizzily. She tried to step away from
rlm@0: the catgirl, but Rikku was only pulled closer. She could feel tiny
rlm@0: pinpricks against her hips. It took her a moment to realize it was
rlm@0: the blonde girl's claws through her skirt. They were still snagged on
rlm@0: the fabric. Blushing more, Yuna quickly cast her gaze for the source
rlm@0: of the voice.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Rikku blinked confusedly, still staring up at the pretty brunette.
rlm@0: The voice had vaguely reached her ears, but she was too lost in a
rlm@0: world alone with Yuna to case. "Mew?" The curious cat sound she made
rlm@0: didn't register to her as anything strange. It was as close to a
rlm@0: question as she could muster at the moment. Holding onto Yuna, the
rlm@0: catgirl nuzzled her neck, purring happily as she reached up to kiss
rlm@0: the other girl again. She paused when she saw the horrified look on
rlm@0: Yuna's face. That look on the brunette's beautiful face broke the
rlm@0: spell Rikku had been under, sending her tumbling back to the earth
rlm@0: from the heavens she had been dwelling in. "Yunie, what's wrong?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Tidus!" Yuna pulled away from Rikku, running forward on the beach.
rlm@0: The previously comfortable wet sand against her feet now felt
rlm@0: difficult and unpredictable, impeding her effort to reach the blonde
rlm@0: boy.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tidus was still smiling. He'd finally found Yuna on the other side
rlm@0: of the island and she seemed to be talking to Rikku about something.
rlm@0: They were hugging and whispering, he thought. Running to them, he'd
rlm@0: called out to Yuna. He wanted to ask her if she wanted to go with him
rlm@0: to the festival that night. She would be fun to go with and he did
rlm@0: like her. And Selphie was right, she was an excellent dancer. For
rlm@0: some reason, Yuna had blushed when he'd called her name. They must
rlm@0: have been talking about something private. When she finally caught
rlm@0: sight of him, he grinned and waved. "Yuna!" He ran across the beach,
rlm@0: his sandles mashing against the wet sand. He was nearly out of breath
rlm@0: but he didn't care. They were having the festival that night. He'd
rlm@0: get to go with Yuna and they'd all have fun. They could forget about
rlm@0: holes that led to nowhere and friends disappearing and...
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Tidus!!" Yuna screamed, reaching out for him. Strong arms wrapped
rlm@0: around her waist, yanking her back. The wind was knocked out of her
rlm@0: as she was dragged back. Someone's voice yelled to her, but it was
rlm@0: drowned out by the roar of the water. Water poared around her like a
rlm@0: spring storm, but it all came from the sea around them, soaking her
rlm@0: in salt water. She struggled to get free, but Rikku's claws held
rlm@0: tight in her dress, pulling her further back even under the
rlm@0: relentless shower. She cried out unintelligibly straining.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Something immense broke throught the water's surface, sending water
rlm@0: spraying everywhere as waves crashed against the beach. The creature,
rlm@0: some cross between a whale, coral, and a nightmare, raised up above
rlm@0: the beach, casting the already cloudy day into shadow. Water and sand
rlm@0: were actually getting sucked upwards, high into the air in some sort
rlm@0: of vortex above the creature. It watched them, even though it had no
rlm@0: eyes. But in particular, it seemed to be watching Yuna.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: For a moment, Yuna was disoriented. A huge wave had crashed around
rlm@0: her and Rikku, sending them tumbling. She couldn't tell if she was
rlm@0: still on the beach or in the ocean. She spat out seawater, hunched
rlm@0: over. The wind tore at her drenched clothes, making her shiver and
rlm@0: the wet cloth slapped against her. She scanned frantically for any
rlm@0: sign of Rikku or Tidus. She finally caught sight of the blonde boy.
rlm@0: He was floating in the water in front of the monster. "Tidus!!" she
rlm@0: cried out, slowly getting to her feet. The boy stirred, starting to
rlm@0: move in the water. She had to get him away from it. "Rikku?" She
rlm@0: couldn't tell where the catgirl was. Deep in her heart, she knew this
rlm@0: creature. It sang to her, a horrible, brutal lullaby. It dizzied her
rlm@0: senses, leaving her barely able to concentrate. She struggled to
rlm@0: reach Tidus in time, stumbling through the knee deep water. Tripping
rlm@0: on a rock in the water, her heart lurched as well as her body as she
rlm@0: crashed painfully into the waves. She was running out of time. It
rlm@0: wouldn't pause forever. She had to drag him away from it. She had to
rlm@0: find Rikku and run. They all needed to get away. Far, far away.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Gazing through the water that burned her eyes, Yuna could barely
rlm@0: make out the vague blur that she hoped was Tidus. "Tidus!" She tried
rlm@0: to get out around a mouthful of water. She pushed herself forward the
rlm@0: last few steps. The boy began to get up on his own. Good. Now she
rlm@0: wouldn't have to drag him. They could run. Before she could search
rlm@0: for Rikku, she could tell that something was wrong. No, he wasn't
rlm@0: getting up on his own. The water was moving him. Pulling him up. Up
rlm@0: into the air. "No!" Yuna ran forward, slowed by the surging waves.
rlm@0: "Tidus!" She screamed. She reached for his limp hand, her fingers
rlm@0: brushing against him. Her heart nearly collapsed when she realized it
rlm@0: was too late. His wet fingers slipped past hers as the water and sand
rlm@0: and leaves were sucked up into the air. And she was about to follow.
rlm@0: Her feet were no longer touching the ground. The water around her was
rlm@0: starting to get pulled after her. She was going to be devoured.
rlm@0: This... Thing was going to devour Tidus and then her. It was like a
rlm@0: monster from fairy tales her father had told her. But this one was
rlm@0: hideously real.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Yuna stopped in midair. A wet paw clung tightly to her skirt,
rlm@0: yanking her away from the funnel of water and debris getting sucked
rlm@0: into the vortex up above. The hand nearly lost it's grip again and
rlm@0: again, but it kept grasping at her, finally pulling her away. The
rlm@0: water around them was still trying to lift into the sky, but not as
rlm@0: strongly as the tornado of objects being pulled into the air where
rlm@0: Yuna had just been. Rikku held onto Yuna's hand tightly, the claws
rlm@0: cutting into her skin as the wind whipped at them, trying to drag
rlm@0: them after Tidus. 'I'll protect you. I won't let anything happen to
rlm@0: you. I won't let it hurt you,' Rikku's mind raced. She didn't know
rlm@0: what this was, but she knew she couldn't let it have Yuna. She'd
rlm@0: promised to protect the girl. She'd do anything to protect her.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The two girls reached the beach, soaked and out of breath, aching
rlm@0: and afraid. Behind them, the steady roar began to die down. Splashes
rlm@0: could be heard as objects that hadn't reached the vortex plummeted to
rlm@0: the sea below. Yuna turned slowly, dreading what she would see. Where
rlm@0: the creature had stood was now only chaos. Debris floating
rlm@0: haphazardly in the ocean. And Tidus was gone. Gone. "No..." she
rlm@0: whispered, as if denying that it had happened would bring him back,
rlm@0: would deny the very event itself. "No!" She stumbled forward, wanting
rlm@0: to search for him, but she knew it was pointless. She collapsed to
rlm@0: her knees in the wet sand. That creature... It was her nightmare. The
rlm@0: thing that haunted her dreams. She knew it. Her personal boogeyman.
rlm@0: It had many forms, but it was always the same. And now it was real.
rlm@0: It had come out of her nightmares and it had found her. And it had
rlm@0: taken away one of those closest to her. And she knew it would be back
rlm@0: for more. She burst into tears. They had always told her that her
rlm@0: father had merely drowned at sea, but she could never believe that.
rlm@0: She'd had a dream about that creature taking her father away the
rlm@0: night before he'd died. She'd seen it. She'd been unable to stop it.
rlm@0: Now it had taken Tidus away. "Tidus... I'm so sorry..." She had
rlm@0: failed once more to protect those she cared about. Her father hadn't
rlm@0: listened, had told her it was only a nightmare and had sailed off to
rlm@0: his death. Tidus had been so close. So very close. She'd nearly had
rlm@0: his hand. "I'm so sorry..." she repeated between sobs.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Wet, furry arms wrapped around Yuna, pulling her close. The crying
rlm@0: girl curled up weakly in Rikku's arms, shaking. "Yunie..."
rlm@0: Swallowing, Rikku buried her face against the brunette's soggy hair.
rlm@0: What was that thing? In all of her travels, she'd never met anything
rlm@0: so terrifying. It had seemed so focussed on Yuna. How could she
rlm@0: protect Yuna from that demon? She had to try. Somehow. She'd
rlm@0: promised. She wouldn't let it take her. No matter what.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Sin..." Yuna whispered, resting limply in Rikku's arms. She
rlm@0: shuddered violently, breaking into a fresh batch of sobs.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "What? Yunie, what's sin?" Rikku asked worriedly, pulling Yuna closer.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "That... that was Sin..." Yuna whispered. "Sin's come to punish
rlm@0: us..." She knew it. Knew it like she knew how to breathe and how to
rlm@0: laugh. It was ingrained in her. That was Sin. It was a nightmare. And
rlm@0: it had come for the Destiny Islands.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Hikari nibbled on her lower lip, waiting anxiously for the bell to
rlm@0: ring. She shuffled the beautiful, multicolored papers on her lap,
rlm@0: watching the clock in the classroom tick inexorably towards
rlm@0: dismissal. Her heart pounded excitedly in her chest as she waited.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Taking a pencil, she began to scribble on the top sheet. She smiled
rlm@0: as a familiar figure began to take shape on the page before her. It
rlm@0: happened without thinking, as if he wanted to see her. It was silly,
rlm@0: she knew, but she couldn't help it. Riku slowly came into being on
rlm@0: the paper in front of her in the form of a hastily drawn picture.
rlm@0: Sighing inwardly, she smiled. He was so cute. But he was probably so
rlm@0: lonely there by himself. By now completely phasing out whatever the
rlm@0: teacher was saying, Hikari drew in Sora next to the other boy. And,
rlm@0: after a moment's thought, herself between the two boys. There. That
rlm@0: was better. By now, drawing the boys was second nature. She'd drawn
rlm@0: hundreds of pictures of them and their island. They were her best
rlm@0: friends. Even if they weren't real.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The bell finally rang, cutting into Hikari's distant thoughts. The
rlm@0: girl quickly got up, nearly dropping her lapful of colored papers. A
rlm@0: boy behind her laughed as she struggled to keep a grasp on the
rlm@0: handful of them. Finally pulling them into a hug, she hurried to pass
rlm@0: them out. They were invitations to her thirteenth birthday party. Her
rlm@0: mother had made each of them by hand the night before. Her mother's
rlm@0: art still amazed her. The older woman could draw such beautiful
rlm@0: things. It was she who had spent hours upon hours teaching Hikari to
rlm@0: draw. And now the younger girl spent as much time as she could
rlm@0: drawing her dreams, that far off world she loved so very much. It
rlm@0: seemed to come to life in the drawings.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Written in her mother's careful hand on each and every paper was:
rlm@0: 'Please come, one and all, to the beautiful Princess Hikari's 13th
rlm@0: birthday this Friday. Whether by carriage or chocobo or airship, all
rlm@0: are welcome for this wondrous celebration. Dinner will be served so
rlm@0: all visiting dignitaries' parents shouldn't worry about them coming
rlm@0: home hungry. Please call Princess Hikari's chief adviser (her mother)
rlm@0: if you have any questions.'
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: As Hikari passed out the last of the invitations, she felt
rlm@0: excitement mixed with pride and anticipation. The invitations were
rlm@0: beautiful. Her mother had spent so much time on them, surprising
rlm@0: Hikari early in the morning with the bundle. She had said she wanted
rlm@0: Hikari to have a birthday fit for a princess. That was so sweet.
rlm@0: Hikari had been delighted with the beautiful pictures that adorned
rlm@0: the invitations. Her mother had drawn them. It was like an invitation
rlm@0: to Wonderland, wondrous and amazing. No one else had invitations like
rlm@0: that, usually little more than explanations on paper of what party
rlm@0: and where. No one else had a mother like she had, pretty and fun and
rlm@0: loving. Her mind raced with thoughts of her birthday, of games and
rlm@0: the pretty dress her mother had bought her for it and....
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Princess Hikari?" One of the girls asked, grinning. "Since when was
rlm@0: Hikari a princess?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Hikari's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "It's... Mom meant..."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "So we're supposed to get off of school friday and go to 'her
rlm@0: highness's' little play date?" A boy asked.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "What types of games will they be playing? Spin the bottle?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Another boy laughed. "With who? The other four-year-olds Hikari
rlm@0: invites? You'll be lucky if they play pin the tail on the donkey. The
rlm@0: 'Princess' likes to keep things simple."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Hikari's eyes burned brightly with tears as she listened to them
rlm@0: laugh and joke. Each time she heard someone call her 'princess', it
rlm@0: felt like a slap to the face. Not like when her mother said it. When
rlm@0: she said it, Hikari felt like a real princess. But now....  She
rlm@0: sniffled painfully, hoisting up her backpack as she left the room.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Hey, Princess, I don't think I can make it. I'm gonna be visiting
rlm@0: the man on the moon that day. Very busy," a girl said mock seriously.
rlm@0: Her friends burst into laughter.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Hikari couldn't speak. She could barely keep from crying. She'd
rlm@0: thought the invitations were wonderful. She loved the idea of a
rlm@0: magically princess themed birthday party. But now she felt stupid for
rlm@0: wanting such a thing. Stupid and childish.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Another boy crumpled up the invitation, drawn brilliantly on a sky
rlm@0: blue paper. He dropped it in a trash can as he passed, not bothering
rlm@0: with a glance back. It was simply so much trash to him. Nothing more,
rlm@0: nothing less. Her mother's work, the pretty invitation she had spent
rlm@0: all night on, now left unceremoniously with the rest of the garbage.
rlm@0: Hikari felt sick. She shook lightly, her vision blurred. She didn't
rlm@0: even know where she was going. She wanted to collapse and cry. But
rlm@0: then they'd be right. She would just be a dumb little girl. Tears
rlm@0: fell silently down her cheeks as she cursed herself inwardly. She was
rlm@0: just a dumb little girl. A little girl who wanted her mother, who
rlm@0: wanted to be a princess. Who wanted everyone to like her. Her breath
rlm@0: caught in her throat, wet and stinging. She pushed open the bathroom
rlm@0: door and stumbled on leaden feet into a stall. Collapsing, she cried
rlm@0: through most of the next period.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kairi stirred weakly in her bonds. Where was she? Oh, how she was
rlm@0: beginning to loathe that question. Kuja... Blinking awake, Kairi
rlm@0: glanced around the gothic looking room. The nightmare she had just
rlm@0: had only made her present state that much more miserable. Her soul
rlm@0: was still clouded with pain half-remembered, worried about an
rlm@0: uncertain Fate that hung before her.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "So the sleeper awakens." Kuja's soft voice seemed to come from
rlm@0: everywhere at once. Even though she couldn't see him, she knew he was
rlm@0: smirking now. "Or perhaps that's not entirely true. You haven't woken
rlm@0: up just yet. Not from this dream. But that suits my needs just fine.
rlm@0: I'll shape this dream however I see fit with the power you'll grant
rlm@0: me, Kairi." Finally stepping into view, the lithe catboy was indeed
rlm@0: smirking. He traced Kairi's cheek with his fingertips. "It will hurt.
rlm@0: But then it will all be over. And I'll create a new world from your
rlm@0: ashes."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kairi struggled as she felt his hand trailing down her neck, moving
rlm@0: over her collarbone. But she was helpless. "I won't give up. I won't
rlm@0: let you change this world. I'm going to save it." She had to believe
rlm@0: in those words. She had to. For Sora. For Riku. For all of her
rlm@0: friends who were counting on her to stop the Heartless.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "You really don't have a choice anymore, Kairi. You may be the
rlm@0: dreamer, but with the Prism Heart, I'll recast it into my dream. I'll
rlm@0: never die. All the things that haunt me will disperse into
rlm@0: nothingness. It will be beautiful." Kuja sighed deliciously. "It's
rlm@0: only too bad you won't be there to see it." His hand now rested
rlm@0: directly over Kairi's heart. He could practically taste the fear and
rlm@0: uncertainty that washed over her. He gazed into her eyes, ready to
rlm@0: watch the light fade from them as she died. With a swift motion of
rlm@0: his hand, he shoved his fingers into her chest.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Pain screamed through Kairi's head, bright and searing pain that
rlm@0: instantly killed any thoughts that were swarming through her head.
rlm@0: The scream felt endless and tore through her mind and soul. Yet her
rlm@0: lips only trembled, unable to make anything but the tiniest sounds.
rlm@0: She could feel his hand pushing deeper inside of her, clutching at
rlm@0: her heart, could feel him grabbing it tenderly, ready to draw it out
rlm@0: of her. She'd come so far. She had promised she'd save Riku. But now
rlm@0: she would die in a far off world as someone used her heart to
rlm@0: recreate this reality. And all she could do was wish for the pain to
rlm@0: end.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 'Thinking of you, wherever you are.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: We pray for our sorrows to end,
rlm@0: And hope that our hearts will blend.
rlm@0: Now I will step forward to realize this wish.'
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: No. She had promised. This wouldn't end here. Her fingernails dug
rlm@0: into her palms as she tried to concentrate. She wouldn't die here.
rlm@0: She couldn't die here. Her journey wasn't over. She needed to save
rlm@0: Riku. Had to find Sora. 'I won't give up. I'm with you. Wherever you
rlm@0: are.' Whether the thought was her own or soemone else's, she couldn't
rlm@0: quite be sure. The pain grew, numbing her senses in an overload as
rlm@0: she felt her heart slipping further and further away from her.
rlm@0: 'Mom...' Her mother was a beautiful woman, her best friend. 'Dad...'
rlm@0: Her father had been an ingenious monarch who had fallen victim to his
rlm@0: own curiosity. Both were from different worlds. But both felt so
rlm@0: real. 'I can't give up one and not the other. I can't choose. I
rlm@0: can't...' Everything around her began to fade as she felt her heart
rlm@0: giving up it's hold. 'I'm sorry...' she thought dimly as everything
rlm@0: plunged into blackness around her.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Kuja!" Garnet stood at the last of the steps, watching in horror as
rlm@0: pulled a shimmering, crystalline heart from Kairi. The chestnut
rlm@0: haired girl slumped in her bonds, her eyes dull and glassy. Simply a
rlm@0: body. They were too late.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Kairi!!" Relm ran past the silver haired catboy to the chained up
rlm@0: Keyblade Mistress's side. If she'd been with her instead of playing
rlm@0: her stupid games with Yuffie... Celes had sacrificed herself so they
rlm@0: could escape. But now... Without Kairi, how could they hope to stop
rlm@0: the Heartless? "Kairi... Kairi, please wake up..." Relm held onto
rlm@0: Kairi's shoulders, but the other girl couldn't hear her.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "I'm afraid you're too late. I already have what I was looking for.
rlm@0: Go ahead and take her body if you want. I have no further use for
rlm@0: it." He shrugged, grinning wildly as he held his prize. The Prism
rlm@0: Heart. "This world will soon be born anew. Do as you like until
rlm@0: then." Not even Sephiroth or Princess Hikari could stop him now. He
rlm@0: was the master of reality itself. Now his perceptions, his dreams
rlm@0: would all resonate throughout all the existed.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "How could you do this?" Garnet asked, disbelief making her dizzy.
rlm@0: How could this have happened? How could anyone do that? She stepped
rlm@0: forward in a haze, barely feeling Eiko clinging to her side.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "He's doing this at my behest," a voice said from further up the
rlm@0: steps. Queen Brahne walked down the steps, followed closely by Harle.
rlm@0: "The kingdom is in danger. I'll do whatever it takes to protect it.
rlm@0: And if a few peasant girls' lives are needed to stop the Heartless,
rlm@0: I'll gladly sacrifice them."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Garnet turned, the world tipping on its side. Her mother had known
rlm@0: what Kuja was doing? She had let him do these horrible things? They
rlm@0: would have done this to Eiko. "No! You can't sacrifice others! You
rlm@0: can't use them like toys!"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "I'm the Queen of Alexandria. I will do whatever I see fit. And you
rlm@0: will not speak back to me again, Princess." Brahne's eyes grew cold
rlm@0: and distant, not at all the mother Garnet had once known.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Laughter broke out through the torture chamber, drawing everyone's
rlm@0: attention. "I'm afraid you have it all wrong, Queen Brahne. I don't
rlm@0: care what happens with the Heartless. I think you're confused about
rlm@0: just who was using who. You gave me the resources I needed to find
rlm@0: the girl with the Prism Heart. Your pathetic Alexandria won't even
rlm@0: exist in the world I create."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Kuja... I'll have you executed," Brahne growled. She wasn't about
rlm@0: to let him betray her. She'd have Harle finish the rest of it. Her
rlm@0: harlequin knew enough about magic and relics to use the Prism Heart
rlm@0: to make Alexandria the most powerful nation in existence.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: More laughter erupted from the silver haired man. "You don't know
rlm@0: who you're speaking to, Brahne. I'm a god now. I will never die.
rlm@0: Certainly not at your capricious whims. My life... No, all lives are
rlm@0: mine to do with as a please." He held out the shining crystal heart
rlm@0: in his hand. "Starting with yours." Before Brahne could even move,
rlm@0: the world shifted around them. The Queen stood where she was, frozen.
rlm@0: She was made completely of polished marble. "A statue fitting of a
rlm@0: queen. They can put you in the center of your palace and worship you
rlm@0: until the palace falls in on itself. But I don't feel like waiting
rlm@0: that long." With another wave on his hand, the statue shattered, the
rlm@0: head rolling amidst the scattered pieces.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Mother!" Garnet fell beside what had been her mother, her heart
rlm@0: seized in her chest. She was gone. Even if she had been killing
rlm@0: innocent girls, she was still her mother. And now she was gone. In an
rlm@0: instant. Tears dripped to the broken marble beneath her. "Mother..."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Garnet..." Eiko held onto the taller girl from behind, keeping a
rlm@0: wary eye on Kuja. They needed to get out of there quickly. There was
rlm@0: no telling what he'd do next. "Garnet, we have to go. Please." But
rlm@0: Garnet wasn't listening. And Eiko couldn't leave without her. Though
rlm@0: she was starting to worry none of them would be leaving.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "You bastard! Give Kairi her heart back!" Relm ran up to Kuja,
rlm@0: slamming her small fists into his chest. "Bring her back!!!" Tears
rlm@0: burnt at her eyes. So many useless sacrifices. They couldn't be in
rlm@0: vain. They just couldn't.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Bringing his hand up, Kuja slapped the bandanna wearing girl
rlm@0: viciously. Staggering back, Relm was disoriented. Kuja grabbed her
rlm@0: neck, lifting her until her toes were scrabbling at the floor.
rlm@0: "Useless little artist. I would have let you stay around to give me
rlm@0: something to look at, but you hardly seem worth the effort. Don't
rlm@0: worry. I'll let you join Kairi. If you don't want to be part of my
rlm@0: world, I'll let you be part of hers. The world of the dead."
rlm@0: Squeezing tightly, he felt her throat constricting under his hand.
rlm@0: How long until the light faded from her eyes as well?
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Relm struggled to keep her feet on the floor, but they were feeling
rlm@0: further and further away. Her lungs burned and her vision began to
rlm@0: get spotty. She wanted to scream, but nothing could come out without
rlm@0: the air she desperately needed. Her hands fell limply to her sides.
rlm@0: She could almost hear Celes at the edge of her mind. But what was she
rlm@0: saying? She'd know soon enough. At least... At least she'd be joining
rlm@0: Celes and Interceptor. That was some comfort.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Leave her alone, you asshole!" Kuja let out a gasp of pain. A
rlm@0: splume of red filled Relm's vision before she fell to the floor, air
rlm@0: rushing back to her aching lungs. Kuja clutched his slashed arm, the
rlm@0: Prism Heart floating next to him. Yuffie sat crouched in front of
rlm@0: Relm, her giant shuriken bloodied. 'Yuffie!' Relm thought, fighting
rlm@0: to clear her thoughts. 'She... she saved me...' She could only gaze
rlm@0: at Yuffie's back, her heart burning anew for the ninja girl in front
rlm@0: of her.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kuja grinned, running his hand over the wound on his right arm. The
rlm@0: arm was instantly better. "You fool. You should have ran. Or did you
rlm@0: want to die with the artist? That can be arranged."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "I don't plan on dying for a good long time. And neither is she as
rlm@0: long as I have any say in it." Pulling up her shuriken in front of
rlm@0: her, Yuffie grinned herself. "I can't say the same for you." Her aura
rlm@0: lit up, blazing in a beautiful array of colors. The shuriken began to
rlm@0: spin in front of her as she focussed. If he could heal himself, she
rlm@0: had to end this with one hit before he had a chance to. This had to
rlm@0: be everything she had inside of herself. For Relm. She couldn't let
rlm@0: him hurt the younger girl. She couldn't live with herself if she did.
rlm@0: And she could live with herself doing quite a bit, so that was saying
rlm@0: something. "All Creation!!" She called out, energy lashing out
rlm@0: blindingly. It slammed into Kuja, illuminating the entire room.
rlm@0: Pushing herself, she tried to force out every ounce of energery she
rlm@0: had inside of herself into the attack.  Yuffie stumbled onto one
rlm@0: knee, the shuriken fell to the floor, clinging next to her. Her body
rlm@0: felt drained, nothing left to push forward with. Slumping forward
rlm@0: onto the cold stone floor, she passed out.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Yuffie... Yuffie!" Relm crawled over to the ninja, checking to make
rlm@0: sure she was alive. She breathed a sigh of relief when she felt
rlm@0: Yuffie's weak heartbeat under her hand. She was alive. Yuffie had
rlm@0: saved her. She clutched onto the fallen ninja, burying her face into
rlm@0: Yuffie's hair. "Yuffie..."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "That... hurt..." Kuja stumbled forward. "I'm going to keep you
rlm@0: alive for that, you little bitch. And you'll pray for the day that
rlm@0: I'll kill you. That would have killed me. But the Prism Heart filters
rlm@0: all reality. Even your pathetic attacks. I told you. I can't die." He
rlm@0: walked towards them clenching his fist.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "No. You will ruin everyzing. I will not allow it. Zis is not ze way
rlm@0: things should be." Harle crossed her arms, watching Kuja turn to face
rlm@0: her. "Zat girl is ze dreamer. You are not. You will plunge everyzing
rlm@0: into chaos. You do not have ze will to be a god. She is integral to
rlm@0: zis world. I won't let you make it all fall apart. Not now." Dragon
rlm@0: wings unfurled behind her, her face elongating. Her fingers became
rlm@0: deadly claws. A tail appeared behind her. Her harlequin costume tore
rlm@0: apart as she grew, shifting into something not in the least human.
rlm@0: Her voice changed into a deep roar as the dragon stood before Kuja.
rlm@0: "I am Bahamut, the Dragon God. I won't let your madness spread
rlm@0: throughout reality like a virus." The dragon's mouth opened, light
rlm@0: spraying forth as he showered Kuja with Megaflare. And then nothing.
rlm@0: The world spun around the Dragon God. Harle watched as Kuja stepped
rlm@0: out of the dissipating explosion. She stepped back, realizing she was
rlm@0: naked and no longer a dragon. This was much more trouble than she had
rlm@0: expected.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "So you're Bahamut. I thought there was something strange about you.
rlm@0: But the legendary Dragon God isn't very frightening when you're
rlm@0: sealed away inside that body. I think I'll keep you around just to
rlm@0: show you what power I have. You can be there by my side as I unleash
rlm@0: my 'madness' upon reality. And what better servant than Bahamut?"
rlm@0: Kuja laughed. This was turning out perfectly. Everything was his to
rlm@0: command. Nothing could stand against him. All would be as he wished
rlm@0: it to be.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "I told you not to harm Kairi."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kuja spun around at the sound of Sephiroth's voice. Could this day
rlm@0: be any better? He had thought he'd have to go to Sephiroth and tear
rlm@0: apart Princess Hikari's upside down palace right in front of his
rlm@0: eyes. But now his former boss had come to him. This would be
rlm@0: immensely satisfying. No one controlled him anymore. Everything was
rlm@0: his. "I changed my mind. You gave me power, yes. The power of the
rlm@0: Heartless. But I want more than that. The power of a god. The power
rlm@0: to stop life and death. Letting you have her wouldn't have been any
rlm@0: fun."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sephiroth narrowed his eyebrows, stepping forward. A young girl, a
rlm@0: mirror image of Kairi wearing a gorgeous midnight black dress,
rlm@0: stepped from behind him.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "So you brought Princess Hikari with you? Thank you so much,
rlm@0: Sephiroth. You're making this so much easier. Now I can get you both
rlm@0: out of the way before creating my beautiful dream."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Kairi still has further to travel. You're complicating things,
rlm@0: Kuja. You weren't supposed to harm her for a reason. You're fears and
rlm@0: insecurities are making you erratic. I knew I shouldn't have trusted
rlm@0: you." Princess Hikari stepped over to Kairi, lifting her chin and
rlm@0: gazing into lifeless eyes.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "It's a little too late for that, your highness. Maybe if you beg,
rlm@0: I'll let you exist in my world. As something suitably ironic. Like a
rlm@0: prostitute or a homeless girl. Yes, those both sound interesting. And
rlm@0: you, Sephiroth, I'm just going to kill you. I'm sick of taking orders
rlm@0: from you." Kuja watched the two of them, his thoughts spinning
rlm@0: delightfully. So many possibilities. He raised his hand. He frowned.
rlm@0: He hadn't really expected Sephiroth to show any fear, but it was
rlm@0: still disappointing. "Die!" The world shifted around Sephiroth,
rlm@0: becoming razor sharp to cut through the warrior. But nothing
rlm@0: happened. The SOLDIER unfurled his single, black wing, looking back
rlm@0: at Kuja. "What the hell?" It wasn't possible. "The Prism Heart
rlm@0: controls all reality. All of it! Even you, Sephiroth! Die!!!" Again,
rlm@0: nothing happened. Princess Hikari stepped in front of Kuja, looking
rlm@0: very displeased. Suddenly, Kuja began to feel the fear and
rlm@0: desperation that had driven him to this in the first place. He was
rlm@0: going to die. And he could do nothing to stop it. His plans were
rlm@0: falling apart in front of him.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "Kuja, that heart is mine. If Kairi is my shadow, then why would you
rlm@0: be able to stop me with her heart?" Princess Hikari asked, beckoning
rlm@0: Sephiroth over. "Prism Hearts isn't simply her. She's only a small
rlm@0: part of it. Yes, you could shape reality with it. If I allowed it.
rlm@0: And I most certainly will not." She held her hand out, Kairi's heart
rlm@0: floating to her. Walking over to Kairi, she gently placed it back
rlm@0: inside of the other girl. "Now go, Kairi. You need to unlock his
rlm@0: keyhole. Riku needs you," she whispered in Kairi's ear. "Hurry to
rlm@0: him." Turning, she motioned for Sephiroth. "We should go. I don't
rlm@0: want to leave Sora for long."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kuja shook his head, watching Sephiroth advance. He could feel the
rlm@0: power he'd been given by the Heartless dissolving as he called for
rlm@0: it. It was over. He was going to die. All of his preparations to
rlm@0: prevent that had been for naught. He shook his head again as
rlm@0: Sephiroth pulled out the Masamune. "No... No!!!" Raising his hand, he
rlm@0: cast Ultima. "I'll kill you all!! You'll all die with me!" he
rlm@0: screamed. Magic shot out, tearing into the palace, destroying
rlm@0: everything in its path. But it was too late. The pain was sharp and
rlm@0: brilliant. Looking down, he could see the hilt of Sephiroth's blade.
rlm@0: The SOLDIER looked into his eyes, their brilliant mako green glow
rlm@0: looking like that of death itself. Pulling the blade out, Sephiroth
rlm@0: walked after the Princess, the palace collapsing all around them.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Only half awake, Kairi stumbled towards Kuja. She could see that he
rlm@0: was bleeding heavily. Her mind whirled. The Keyhole... Riku...
rlm@0: Darkness, deep and ancient where she'd been lost while her heart had
rlm@0: been stolen from her. She lifted the Keyblade in front of her with
rlm@0: what strength she could muster. The world felt like it was falling
rlm@0: out from beneath her feet. She had to stop it now. And this was the
rlm@0: only way. Lunging forward, the pressed the Keyblade into Kuja's
rlm@0: chest, into the Keyhole that existed in his heart. The roof began to
rlm@0: fall in around her, the palace getting ready to crush this basement.
rlm@0: The entire world was about to fall on top of them. Closing her eyes,
rlm@0: she unlocked his heart. Light spilled out of the dying man, filling
rlm@0: the room until there was nothing else.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kairi found herself once again floating amidst light. It reminded
rlm@0: her far too much of the darkness she had been surrounding her when
rlm@0: she'd lost her heart. 'Maybe light and dark aren't so different after
rlm@0: all.' She couldn't tell if her eyes were open or closed. All that
rlm@0: existed was light. Her body was an anomaly in this world of light.
rlm@0: She felt that if she stayed her for too long her physical form would
rlm@0: fade away. She floated in this tranquil sea, searching.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "You have unlocked the light in the heart of Desperation."  The
rlm@0: voice that existed everywhere in the light echoed through her.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: "I was supposed to save my world. I was created as a puppet to save
rlm@0: a long dead planet by letting it repopulate another. But I wasn't
rlm@0: what they wanted. So they created another to replace me. I was a
rlm@0: tool, something to be used until it was no longer necessary and then
rlm@0: thrown away. I was created to die. And there was nothing I could do
rlm@0: to stop it. I was... afraid. I didn't want to die. So I tried to stop
rlm@0: it. To do anything to live. And if I couldn't live, then I didn't
rlm@0: want anyone to live. It wasn't fair. Life and death... Why? My
rlm@0: desperation filled me until I saw nothing else. But now... I am
rlm@0: dying. It... It will be all right? Won't it?"
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kairi smiled softly, nodding in the glow of the light. "It will be
rlm@0: all right. Death is only the beginning. I... I learned that a long
rlm@0: time ago. You won't ever have to fear again."
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 'I'm making Riku wait for me. He's... He's dead, too. I have to
rlm@0: hurry to him. He's staying in this world for me. I couldn't stay in
rlm@0: that other world. I couldn't live there. So I....'  She shook her
rlm@0: head. No. She couldn't accept the other world where she'd killed
rlm@0: herself. Not yet. "If you see someone named Riku there, please give
rlm@0: him my love." As the light faded, Kairi lost herself in the layer
rlm@0: between worlds.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: