rlm@0: Prism Hearts
rlm@0: Chapter 13
rlm@0: Final Distance
rlm@0: by Amazoness Duo
rlm@0: amazonessduo@hotmail.com
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Stars were falling. It was as if the universe itself were crying.
rlm@0: They plumetted one after the other, falling from their perches in the
rlm@0: sky. They never grew in size, tiny droplets of stars falling around
rlm@0: her, winking out of existence when they touched the ground, their
rlm@0: magic disappearing when they no longer soared in the heavens. And
rlm@0: still they fell, creating a light drizzle of stars, beautiful
rlm@0: luminescent teardrops. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: And this is where we find our heroine, in the
rlm@0: midst of raining stars, lying unconscious and curled up on the
rlm@0: shadowed ground. Quiet footsteps echo nearby, moving with a silent
rlm@0: purpose through this darkened land. Sparkling dew of dying stars
rlm@0: bathe Kairi as she struggles to remember, to hold off whatever is
rlm@0: trying to end her sojourn. Something that is very close indeed. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Weary eyes slowly blinked themselves open. The fact that she wasn't
rlm@0: alone
rlm@0: in a room on her bed comforted her, but only for a moment. Her
rlm@0: fingers scrabbled along the cold ground, finally managing to push
rlm@0: herself up to her knees. A tiny star, smaller than a snowflake,
rlm@0: landed upon her nose. It was warm to the touch, fading slowly.
rlm@0: Glancing around her, she could see thousands of other stars falling,
rlm@0: raining about her. It was beautiful. They were the only light in this
rlm@0: endless night. Cupping her hands, she reached out, watching as
rlm@0: several stars landed in her hands. They helped warm her cold hands,
rlm@0: their light casting shadows around her as they slowly began fading.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Holding the stars to her chest, Kairi began to see what else was
rlm@0: around her. Just where was she? This place held no familiarity to
rlm@0: her, nothing that she had ever seen before. Everywhere else, she knew
rlm@0: from someplace. 'From Squaresoft games and Disney movies,' a part of
rlm@0: her kindly added before she could force it away. But this place... An
rlm@0: involuntary shudder passed through her. She had never seen this place
rlm@0: before, had never been there. And once again, she was all alone.
rlm@0: There were no friends to stand by her, no one to catch her when she
rlm@0: stumbled. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Getting to her feet, Kairi brushed some of the glistening
rlm@0: dew from the stars off of her clothes. All around her were objects of
rlm@0: varying shapes and sizes, some not much more than stones with
rlm@0: etchings in them and others large and intricate statues. Kairi
rlm@0: clenched her fists, her fingernails digging into her palms. Fear
rlm@0: wasn't going to get the better of her. She had to push forward. 'Or
rlm@0: you could give up. It's almost over, you know. This can't end the way
rlm@0: you want it to, Kairi. Come back home. Give up on these dreams.'
rlm@0: Shaking her chestnut hair, Kairi held her head. “Leave me alone.” Her
rlm@0: voice sounded so quiet, nothing more than a whisper. Her fingernails
rlm@0: scratched against her temples, almost wishing she could claw the
rlm@0: voice out of her head. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Making her way to the nearest of the objects,
rlm@0: Kairi strained her eyes to make out the etched words under the
rlm@0: statue. It seemed to be a beautiful mermaid, it's arms outstretched
rlm@0: to the skies above. The falling stars made it look like it was
rlm@0: crying. Kairi felt sorry for it, reaching up to brush the glowing
rlm@0: tears away. “You don't like it here, either, do you?” she asked
rlm@0: quietly. More stars fell, finally illuminating the placard beneath.
rlm@0: Bending down, the princess brushed some hair out of her eyes to read
rlm@0: it.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 'Here lie the dreams of Kathryn. From the gentle sea of her soul
rlm@0: they rose, but the storm that ravaged her heart sank them. May they
rlm@0: forever roam tranquil seas as they wait for her to return to them.'
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “What's that supposed to mean?” Kairi ran her fingers over the cool
rlm@0: stone and etched words. A grave? But why? Not for this Kathryn, but
rlm@0: for her dreams? Standing up, curiosity gnawing at her, the princess
rlm@0: moved to the next one.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: A graceful unicorn stood atop the next marker. It almost looked real
rlm@0: in the half lit darkness that draped over the entire area. A sigh
rlm@0: escaped Kairi's lips. If only it was real. She could climb on it and
rlm@0: go far, far away from this cold, lonely place. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 'When a child grows,
rlm@0: her dreams change and some come and go. Chiyomi's dreams as a child
rlm@0: have been replaced by a new dream. May those that filled her nights
rlm@0: long ago never lose their magic where they are now.'
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The next was of two women entwined, holding each other amidst the
rlm@0: falling stars. It read:
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 'Megumi used to dream of the future she would
rlm@0: spend with her love. But this dream died when she found out she
rlm@0: wouldn't live long enough to see it fulfilled. Soon, she will be
rlm@0: joining them.'
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “What is this place?” Kairi stepped away from the
rlm@0: statues. This place wasn't a far away kingdom or a city at the edge
rlm@0: of forever. This was...
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “The Graveyard of Lost Dreams,” a voice said
rlm@0: behind the princess.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Whirling around, her heart pounding in her chest
rlm@0: like a runaway train, Kairi got a look at who had snuck up on her.
rlm@0: She was a little smaller than Kairi herself, with short, messy dark
rlm@0: hair. She wore a long sleeved white blouse and shorts. Her dark eyes
rlm@0: seemed incredibly sad, deep, dark pools that went on for an eternity.
rlm@0: Kairi had to pull her gaze away from those eyes, afraid she'd never
rlm@0: see the bottom of them. “Who are you?” she asked, taking a step back.
rlm@0: She nearly started again when she stepped into another statue. There
rlm@0: was something... strange about this girl.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I'm... the caretaker of
rlm@0: this place,” the girl stated simply. “And you... You are the dreamer
rlm@0: of dreams.” Stepping past Kairi, she set some pink carnations down in
rlm@0: front of the mermaid statue.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Do you all speak in riddles?” Kairi asked, exasperated. Straight
rlm@0: out, simple truth seemed to be something that no one other than
rlm@0: herself enjoyed. Everything had to lead in circles. It was like she
rlm@0: was lost in Wonderland. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Sometimes it's the best way to explain
rlm@0: things. Especially if you aren't ready to understand them.” The girl
rlm@0: turned back to Kairi, stars twinkling around her. A star landed in
rlm@0: her hand. Without seeming to notice, the dark haired girl closed her
rlm@0: hand, snuffing out the star. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “What's your name?” Maybe she had heard
rlm@0: of this girl before. Or she'd at least have a name to attach to her.
rlm@0: It was better than just meeting some creepy girl in the middle of a
rlm@0: graveyard. Harle, Aya, and Maya all had names even if they wouldn't
rlm@0: tell her much else.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I have no name. I've gone by many, but none are
rlm@0: my real name. I simply... am.” Walking past, she continued on a
rlm@0: meandering path through the graveyard. “But what use are names? Yours
rlm@0: isn't even your own.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “What's that supposed to mean?” Kairi hurried to
rlm@0: follow the girl. She was the only one in this place and whoever she
rlm@0: was, she seemed to have some answers. Even if she wasn't exactly
rlm@0: being forthcoming.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “You know exactly what I mean. Kairi is the name you took on in the
rlm@0: Destiny Islands. It is neither the name of the Princess of Hollow
rlm@0: Bastion or a lonely girl who is bleeding to death in her room even as
rlm@0: we speak. Your name is Hikari,” the girl explained in her soft, calm
rlm@0: voice. “But if you can pretend Kairi is someone else, you can be
rlm@0: neither of those things, right?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kairi shook her head quickly, denying
rlm@0: the girl's words. “No, it's not like that. I am Kairi. Those other
rlm@0: lives...” Trailing off, she shook her head again. “I don't know. But
rlm@0: I am Kairi.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Then if we're pretending right now, you can call me
rlm@0: Sophie.” The dark haired girl bowed her head. “It's nice to escape
rlm@0: who you are. To lose yourself in someone else. To be everything
rlm@0: you're not. Pretty, popular, strongwilled. It's so much better than
rlm@0: reality sometimes.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: For some reason, Sophie's words cut to the bone. “I am this way,”
rlm@0: she said angrily. Fear and uncertainty began to surface inside of
rlm@0: herself. 'Are you? Or is this all to get away from everything? To be
rlm@0: all you wanted to be?' Her heart pounded again and she suddenly felt
rlm@0: sick. No. This wasn't all make believe. She wasn't some lonely little
rlm@0: pathetic girl who'd slit her wrists rather than deal with her life.
rlm@0: That was the lie. She wasn't the lie. That life was. It had to be the
rlm@0: lie. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Ignoring Kairi's inner turmoil, Sophie continued, trimming some
rlm@0: of the flowers near one of the statues. “This place is a graveyard
rlm@0: for all the dreams that die. When someone gives up on their dreams,
rlm@0: when someone forgets them, when life crushes them, they die. This is
rlm@0: where their broken, battered bodies go. Where other dreams can mourn
rlm@0: their passing. But it's a lonely place. Few come out here, to this
rlm@0: place at the edge of eternity. To this place at the edge of sanity.
rlm@0: I'm sure the souls of all these dreams are happy that you would come
rlm@0: to visit them.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “But... Why? Why have this? Dreams don't die... They
rlm@0: just...”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Go far away? That is dying. The ceasing of life. Dreams are
rlm@0: born inside of people. And they die inside of people. They need a
rlm@0: graveyard just as much as people do. You're thinking too much of what
rlm@0: is 'real'. Reality is nothing more than a filter. Dreams live just as
rlm@0: surely as you do. Or did. You all go back to the same place when you
rlm@0: die,” Sophie explained. “Riku is already being called there, but I
rlm@0: can't reach him yet. He wants to see you very badly. But you're
rlm@0: dying, too. Right now. Time flows differently here. It's been so long
rlm@0: here, but it's only been a short time since you cut yourself over
rlm@0: there. But that's simply your body. If you decide to remain a dream,
rlm@0: it won't matter if it dies. But once it does, you can never go back.
rlm@0: The clock is ticking, Hikari. You're running out of time.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Speechless, Kairi could only watch the pale girl. Running out of
rlm@0: time? Before, it had just been wherever her journey took her on her
rlm@0: search for Riku and Sora. But now... she was... dying? No, that
rlm@0: life... But even though she wanted to say it was a lie, she couldn't.
rlm@0: Not completely. She couldn't entirely deny it anymore. A droplet
rlm@0: spattered against her cheek, running down her chin. Still warm, but
rlm@0: wet now. Not like the stars that had been falling. Wiping at it,
rlm@0: Kairi brought her fingers up to her eyes. Crimson streaked them. It
rlm@0: was raining blood. Searching around frantically, Kairi could see the
rlm@0: bloody raindrops falling about the statues in the graveyard. She
rlm@0: looked back at the girl, realization dawning on her. “You... You're
rlm@0: Death, aren't you?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: A small, sad smile crossed Sophie's lips. “People
rlm@0: seem to think Death is a monster, something hideous that needs to be
rlm@0: feared. But I'm only doing my job.” She turned towards Kairi. “I know
rlm@0: what it's like to forget who you are, to leave your life behind, to
rlm@0: hate what you are. But no matter how far you run, you can never
rlm@0: escape it. It always manages to find you.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “But...” Kairi began, tears
rlm@0: forming in her eyes. “I don't want to give this up... I don't want it
rlm@0: to go away.. I don't want this dream to die...” For a moment, just a
rlm@0: moment, she could accept that she was Hikari. For a moment, she could
rlm@0: almost remember everything.  
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Then you have to fight for it. You have
rlm@0: to deny the other world. If you give it up, then you'll still be here
rlm@0: when your body dies over there. I won't be taking you with it.”
rlm@0: Sophie stopped in front of several tombstones, the warm rain
rlm@0: bloodying her. “But 'reality' won't give up so easily. Sometimes
rlm@0: sacrifices are needed.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Rubbing at her eyes to force the tears away,
rlm@0: Kairi glanced at the statues next to Sophie. “Riku!” She recognized
rlm@0: the statue instantly. Hurrying to it, she read the inscription aloud.
rlm@0: "Plunging into darkness, Riku wanted to save his dreamer. Lost in the
rlm@0: night, but never swallowed by it, his spirit shines on.” The tears
rlm@0: that threatened returned, dripping down her already bloody cheeks.
rlm@0: “Riku...” He was dead now. His soul was still waiting for her. “Oh,
rlm@0: Riku... I'm so sorry...” He only wanted to save her. And he had made
rlm@0: the ultimate sacrifice for it.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I won't come for him until you've
rlm@0: unlocked the Door and seen him. He's determined to stay until then.
rlm@0: I'll give you that long. Then I'll take him to the other side,”
rlm@0: Sophie promised.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kairi wanted to argue, wanted to beg the incarnation
rlm@0: of death to let Riku stay, but she knew it would be pointless. The
rlm@0: dark haired girl wasn't one to break the rules. “It's my fault. He
rlm@0: never would have lost his body to Ansem if it weren't for me.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “He
rlm@0: only wanted to save you. If you live, isn't that what he wanted?
rlm@0: Doesn't that make his sacrifice worthwhile?” Sophie asked, tilting
rlm@0: her head to the side.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “But...” It was true, wasn't it? “But I don't
rlm@0: want to lose him. I need him.” And that was just as true.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Her gaze slowly turned to the statue next to Riku's. “Tidus?! But...
rlm@0: No! What's going on?” The princess whirled to the dark haired girl.
rlm@0: “What's happening to the Destiny Islands? He shouldn't be here. He
rlm@0: should be fine. I saw him before I left. This... this is all
rlm@0: wrong!”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “The Destiny Islands are dying. They're the center of your
rlm@0: dreams. And now that it's falling apart, it's caving in on itself.
rlm@0: The rest of them will die as well if you can't save it. The dream is
rlm@0: becoming a nightmare. The dream will soon be here in the Graveyard of
rlm@0: Lost Dreams if things don't change.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “It's... dying?” It felt like the ground was crumbling beneath
rlm@0: Kairi's feet. The stakes were much higher than she'd realized. She
rlm@0: had to save Riku, had to find Sora, had to save the Destiny Islands
rlm@0: all before she died. They were dying just like she was. It was all
rlm@0: too much. “What about Hollow Bastion? If I'm it's princess, why isn't
rlm@0: it dying just like the Destiny Islands?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Because you aren't the only
rlm@0: dreamer. There is another dreamer on Hollow Bastion who is managing
rlm@0: to keep it from falling apart. Maybe she can help you.” Sophie turned
rlm@0: to leave. “But remember, time is short. You brought the Heartless
rlm@0: here by leaving the door to the real world open. Only you can close
rlm@0: that door.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Sophie... Thank you.” 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sophie didn't turn around. “I'll be seeing
rlm@0: you soon.” And with that, the graveyard shattered into a million
rlm@0: pieces.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Yuna sat in silence as the sounds of
rlm@0: music and dancing and subdued laughter permeated the air around her.
rlm@0: It was the night of the Destiny Islands Festival, but she really
rlm@0: couldn't work up the will to celebrate. And she was angry with
rlm@0: herself over that. It didn't matter if she felt like celebrating or
rlm@0: not. The pain inside of her was inconsequential. Everyone was scared.
rlm@0: They needed hope and she certainly wasn't helping anyone by sitting
rlm@0: near a tree with her legs to her chest trying not to cry. But she
rlm@0: couldn't help it. She felt on the verge of falling apart. The
rlm@0: islands, their home, it was all falling apart in front of them. Some
rlm@0: hideous nightmare had come to life. The same creature that had killed
rlm@0: her father. And now it was coming for her, for the Destiny Islands.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Everyone was still in shock over the loss of Tidus. Wakka had asked
rlm@0: if they'd all disappear at this rate. Riku, Sora, Kairi, and now
rlm@0: Tidus. No one knew what would happen next. Their world was falling
rlm@0: apart at the seams. Selphie had insisted they still have the
rlm@0: festival, despite everything else. She had said this was exactly what
rlm@0: they needed the festival for, as something to keep them going,
rlm@0: something to push back the madness that seemed to surround them.
rlm@0: There had been some argument about it, but it had finally been agreed
rlm@0: to have the festival anyway. After all, if they didn't have it
rlm@0: because of the way things had been lately, they would be doing
rlm@0: exactly what the adults had done.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: And so here they were at last, dancing and singing and playing under
rlm@0: the starlight. But no matter how much Yuna told herself to go and
rlm@0: join them, for their sake if not her own, the green and blue eyed
rlm@0: girl couldn't get herself to move. Fear and indecision and pain froze
rlm@0: her in place, leaving her a lightly shivering statue.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “It's a
rlm@0: beautiful night tonight, isn't it?” A voice asked from behind Yuna.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: At
rlm@0: first, the brunette tried to collect herself, to push back the tears
rlm@0: she knew would be present in her voice, but her surprise quickly took
rlm@0: that away. “Elder Seymour?” Her shock broke the spell on her
rlm@0: paralysis, allowing her to turn and see the older man. None of the
rlm@0: adults had known of their plans to have their own festival. So what
rlm@0: was one of the most respected elders doing here? For a moment, she
rlm@0: thought he was here to end the festival, to send them all home, but
rlm@0: his eyes told another story. His being here had nothing to do with
rlm@0: the festival. He was here to see her. Swallowing involuntarily, Yuna
rlm@0: continued to stare heavenward. Did he know? When explaining the
rlm@0: monster and what happened to Tidus, she hadn't told the council of
rlm@0: elders that she'd seen the creature before in her dreams, that she
rlm@0: knew it's name was Sin. But had Elder Seymour somehow seen through
rlm@0: her? 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “So strange that we would have such a beautiful night on the
rlm@0: edge of such tragedy. Life certainly can be ironic, can't it, Yuna?
rlm@0: Almost as if that beauty grows out of tragedy. It's all a cycle. Life
rlm@0: leads to death. To escape death, new life is born only to be snuffed
rlm@0: out. And why? Why this needless cycle? Why this continuous march
rlm@0: towards death? We live simply so that we can die? Nothing ever
rlm@0: escapes death. No matter how much we struggle. It continues
rlm@0: menacingly forward.” Kneeling down, he glanced over at Yuna, to see
rlm@0: if she understood. The younger girl looked down, her pretty face
rlm@0: hidden by her hair. ”I know you feel bad about Tidus. But there was
rlm@0: nothing you can do. His suffering is over now. We who remain here are
rlm@0: the ones who are afraid, who are hurting and suffering. He is free.”
rlm@0: Tilting her chin up to see him, he smiled softly. “He is truly free
rlm@0: in a way you or I can never know in this world. Not afraid. Not
rlm@0: always worried. Never having to cry.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Looking back into Seymour's
rlm@0: eyes, Yuna found herself nodding. His words spun around in her head,
rlm@0: leaving her dizzy. Free.... How she longed to be free. Not bound in
rlm@0: chains by her own fears and indecision. Not having to hide her
rlm@0: feelings for the sake of others all the time. Not scared of whatever
rlm@0: was inside of her. Not paralyzed by indecision over everything. All
rlm@0: of these things that plagued her life. The depression that would set
rlm@0: in even as she would smile till it ached so no one around her would
rlm@0: know. But... Would that freedom only come in death?
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: As if reading her
rlm@0: mind, Seymour continued. “Life is tragedy, Yuna. Pain hunts the
rlm@0: living. Sorrow fills our souls. And yet we continue to fight death,
rlm@0: even though we cannot possibly win. We only prolong suffering. This
rlm@0: world, this universe is awash with the tears of all who live. And all
rlm@0: we can do is sit and wait for the cycle to begin again, just as it
rlm@0: always has.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “But... That's not fair...” Yuna shook her head, hugging
rlm@0: her legs tighter. “Why does everyone have to keep hurting? Why can't
rlm@0: things ever be happy?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Because the painfilled cycle of life and
rlm@0: death, their endless battle, continues on. As long as it does, we
rlm@0: will keep struggling through the loss and fear and suffering.”
rlm@0: Pausing for a moment, he stared deep into Yuna's mixed eyes. “But if
rlm@0: we could find a way to break this cycle, to destroy the wheel we keep
rlm@0: spinning on...”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Yuna swallowed nervously. She wanted to look away, but
rlm@0: his gaze was magnetic, keeping her from turning. His gaze seemed to
rlm@0: go to the deepest depths of her soul, uncovering all the things she
rlm@0: hid from the world. It was as if he was speaking directly to her. But
rlm@0: how could she possibly destroy the cycle of life and death? That was
rlm@0: far beyond a simple girl like herself. But if she could... wouldn't
rlm@0: it be worth it? To be free? To end all pain and suffering?
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Death is a salvation to those who die, but a curse to those who
rlm@0: continue living on. We continue on this path, waiting to be swallowed
rlm@0: up even as we see those we love fall around us. You're right, Yuna.
rlm@0: It's hardly fair. This cycle is one of madness and despair.” Leaning
rlm@0: forward, he placed a hand on Yuna's shoulder. “But I think we can
rlm@0: break the cycle. I think we can finally end this once and for all.
rlm@0: Even when you save someone, they will eventually suffer more pain and
rlm@0: death. But we could save everyone.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Her heart pounding, Yuna felt anxious and hopeful. She certainly
rlm@0: couldn't break the cycle of life and death, but maybe Elder Seymour
rlm@0: could. And if he needed her help, wouldn't it be worth it? “How?” she
rlm@0: breathed.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Smiling, Seymour shook his head. “Not now, Yuna. But soon. Very,
rlm@0: very soon. Now you enjoy the festival. I'll talk to you soon. Enjoy
rlm@0: yourself. Soon there will be nothing more to haunt your soul.” With
rlm@0: that, the elder stood up and walked back through the shadows. None of
rlm@0: the others seemed to have noticed he was here. He must have docked
rlm@0: his small boat elsewhere.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Shaking her head, thoughts spun chaotically through Yuna's head. If
rlm@0: Seymour was right, then no one else would have to get hurt. They
rlm@0: wouldn't be stuck watching their friends and loved ones disappear.
rlm@0: They could save everyone from the pain inherent in life. She could be
rlm@0: free. Finally free. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Yunie, are you okay?” Rikku asked. The catgirl
rlm@0: looked down at her worriedly. Yuna hadn't said much to her since...
rlm@0: that thing had shown up. When the brunette would say something, she
rlm@0: would smile and pretend everything was fine. Which obviously it
rlm@0: wasn't. It scared Rikku to see Yuna like this. She wanted to help
rlm@0: her, to protect her, but she didn't know how. To her surprise, Yuna
rlm@0: looked up at her and smiled. Not the brittle, fake smile she had been
rlm@0: using, but a bright, hopeful smile. Rikku was even more surprised by
rlm@0: how good it made her feel to see Yuna smile like that. Her tail
rlm@0: swished at the sight.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I'm fine. I think... I think things are going to be just fine.” And
rlm@0: Yuna felt it, too. If Elder Seymour was right, she would do anything
rlm@0: to break the cycle. Then it wouldn't matter that Tidus died or that
rlm@0: Kairi and the others were missing or that the island was falling
rlm@0: apart. They'd all be far away from this.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Seeing Yuna hopeful again had a warming affect on Rikku's soul. The
rlm@0: catgirl felt invigorated, as if she were feeding off of the
rlm@0: brightness she saw in Yuna. It took her a moment before she realized
rlm@0: she was purring. Finally managing to stop herself, she saw Yuna
rlm@0: giggle softly into her hand. Still energized by Yuna's uplifted
rlm@0: spirits, Rikku reached down, taking Yuna's hand into her paw. “Yunie,
rlm@0: do you wanna dance?” she asked eagerly.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Despite the sudden flush that
rlm@0: arose on her cheeks, Yuna nodded. “I'd love to, Rikku.” She felt the
rlm@0: catgirl pull her to her feel. Almost stumbling forward into Rikku's
rlm@0: arms, she felt the other girl's paws on her hips. Blushing, she
rlm@0: looked up into swirly green eyes. All of her worries and fears had
rlm@0: evaporated for the time being. Right now, she was just under a
rlm@0: starlit sky with a girl that brought up lots of warm, confusing
rlm@0: feelings inside her heart. She'd usually be a bit more embarrassed
rlm@0: about dancing with someone, but right now she felt free. She knew
rlm@0: that she liked her, didn't she? So why not dance with her? The
rlm@0: knowledge that everything could be saved soon made her feel like
rlm@0: dancing anyway.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sweatdropping, Rikku's whiskers twitched. “I don't exactly know
rlm@0: where to start. Most of the dancing I've done have been in plays with
rlm@0: the rest of the Radical Dreamers. It's usually pretty planned out.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Laughing softly, Yuna position her arms on Rikku. Slowly, she began
rlm@0: to move witht he other girl. “It's not about planning. It's just
rlm@0: about moving. Dancing is fluid. If you plan too much, then it loses
rlm@0: that. It needs to be alive.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The two danced to the rhythm of the music, sandaled feet and paws
rlm@0: swishing over the sand as the water lapped the beach near them. They
rlm@0: moved past other couples dancing on the beach, all to the music
rlm@0: Irvine and several others had been forced to play courtesy of
rlm@0: Selphie. The beach was beautiful, decorated with everything they
rlm@0: could find for the festival. Magical lights hung in the trees,
rlm@0: blazing with beautiful colors.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Yuna smiled as she saw Wakka over near the pier, eating as much as
rlm@0: he could from the food they had all brought over. Lulu was stamping
rlm@0: her foot impatiently, waiting for him to dance with her. Yes, things
rlm@0: were going to be just fine. She wouldn't let down the people she
rlm@0: cared for. Her eyes went back to Rikku's beautiful green swirls. They
rlm@0: were like a whirlpool, pulling her in. Absolutely beautiful.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The slightly shorter catgirl caught on quickly, dancing wonderfully
rlm@0: against her, the two shifting about underneath the multicolored
rlm@0: lights. 'She must be a very good actress to catch onto things so
rlm@0: quickly,' Yuna thought absently. Dancing was something that she
rlm@0: always loved to do, now more than ever. It was the one thing that
rlm@0: truly made her feel free. Losing herself to motion and emotion.
rlm@0: Letting everything simply flow around her. And here, dancing with
rlm@0: Rikku, she could feel it even stronger. It felt like everything was
rlm@0: coursing around them, as if they were in the middle of a stream. The
rlm@0: whole feeling was much stronger than when she danced alone. She could
rlm@0: imagine that she could see the glow of their hearts and feelings
rlm@0: mingling as they danced. It was perfect. Resting her head on Rikku's
rlm@0: furry shoulder, she moved gently with the pretty catgirl.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Holding onto Yuna, Rikku hoped Yuna couldn't feel her thundering
rlm@0: heartbeat. But then, did it matter? She held the brunette closer,
rlm@0: unable to keep from purring. Her paws rubbed up and down Yuna's back.
rlm@0: What would she do when Yuffie finally found her? She missed her big
rlm@0: sister, but she didn't want to leave Yuna. Being part of the Radical
rlm@0: Dreamers had meant everything to her, but now it didn't mean nearly
rlm@0: as much as being near the brunette. Maybe she'd finally found her
rlm@0: treasure, the one she'd been looking for. Let the others find riches
rlm@0: and fame. The girl in her arms was all she wanted.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sitting on the beach itself, another couple listened to the music
rlm@0: surrounding them. It was a bit more distant from where they sat, but
rlm@0: it suited them just fine. Sandals lay piled near them, their feet
rlm@0: dipping in the water as small waves brushed up the beach. Selphie's
rlm@0: head rested on Quistis's lap, looking out at the starlit ocean.
rlm@0: Quistis's lithe fingers moved through her brunette hair, taking the
rlm@0: time to play across her ears or her lips now and then.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “You finally got to have your festival. It took a lot of work, but
rlm@0: you did it. Good job, Selphie.” Quistis brushed Selphie's hair past
rlm@0: her ears, gazing down at the other girl. “Did it work out the way you
rlm@0: wanted it to?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Pausing for a moment, Selphie thought. A laughter from
rlm@0: further up on the beach settled it for her. Nodding, the girl in the
rlm@0: yellow dress smiled faintly. “Yep. People are relaxing and having
rlm@0: fun. That's what I wanted.” 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Quistis nodded, her blonde hair shifting
rlm@0: in the wind. “Then I'm glad it worked out. This might be our last
rlm@0: chance to relax, so it's good that you could help give that to
rlm@0: everyone.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Silence surrounded the two for several long moments. The music
rlm@0: seemed so dreadfully far away. Selphie shifted, looking up at
rlm@0: Quistis. “What happens next, Quisty?” she asked, her voice tinged
rlm@0: with concern. She had been so busy planning on this that she had
rlm@0: phased everything else out. Now that it was over, there was only the
rlm@0: reality of their world crumbling out from under them.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The blonde didn't answer at first, simply looking down at Selphie.
rlm@0: Her fingers traced along Selphie's cheeks softly. “We do what we can.
rlm@0: We try to find out what's doing this to the islands. And we fight to
rlm@0: protect them. This is our home. We can't let it die.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Selphie bit her
rlm@0: lip, still looking up. Her big, green eyes were slightly wet, tear
rlm@0: stained. “And what if we can't find out? What if we can't stop
rlm@0: it?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Smiling softly, and feeling just as worried, Quistis wiped the
rlm@0: tears away from Selphie's eyes. “Whatever happens, Selphie, I'll be
rlm@0: here with you. We'll see it through together, no matter what.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Leaning
rlm@0: up, Selphie kissed the other girl. Slowly, at first, but with more
rlm@0: and more of her strength. She needed to know she was there, needed to
rlm@0: be with her. And this might be their last chance before everything
rlm@0: fell apart.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The huge, almost labrynthine library did little to ease Yuffie's
rlm@0: thoughts. She was home at last, back on Hollow Bastion. The book in
rlm@0: front her remained open on the same page it had since she'd opened it
rlm@0: over an hour ago. Her thoughts were too fragmented to try to figure
rlm@0: anything out right now. Besides, Aerith was better at that sort of
rlm@0: thing than she was anyway. She'd welcomed the distraction when Leon
rlm@0: had entered the library to see her.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “So she's really the Keyblade Mistress?” Leon was saying. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Nodding,
rlm@0: Yuffie finally shut the book. “Seems like it. Which doesn't make any
rlm@0: sense. She was one of the seven princesses. Maybe it has something to
rlm@0: do with her being Ansem's daughter. Besides, the other two Keyblade
rlm@0: Masters are currently out of the picture, so I guess she was
rlm@0: necessary. Though her Keyblade seems a little different. Maybe her
rlm@0: mission is a little different from theirs.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Could be.” Leon crossed his arms, thinking. “Sora closed the
rlm@0: Doorway to the Darkness. So what we're dealing with is only the
rlm@0: remaining Heartless and their current growing numbers. If she's
rlm@0: supposed to open the Doorway to the Light, then maybe that will
rlm@0: finish this. Sora started it and she's supposed to finish it. With
rlm@0: the Doorway to the Darkness closed and the Doorway to the Light
rlm@0: opened, that should be the end of the Heartless.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “But for some reason, the Doorway to the Light is locked by a
rlm@0: different Keyholes. So we need to unlock the last of those before we
rlm@0: can open the Doorway. Assuming we can find it.” Yuffie shook her
rlm@0: head. “Which we will. She's got me working with her, so she's already
rlm@0: better off than that Sora guy was. Hey, Leo...” She paused,
rlm@0: correcting herself. “ Squall, where is Aerith? I thought she'd be
rlm@0: here? Or have you both been running around with your lovers while
rlm@0: I've been getting all the work done.” 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Squall's eyes narrowed.
rlm@0: “Aerith's checking on Princess Hikari. She's still unconscious. You
rlm@0: and the other girl woke up a lot quicker than she has. Whatever's
rlm@0: been happening has put a big strain on the princess.” In response to
rlm@0: the rest of Yuffie's question, he added, “We've been trying to
rlm@0: protect Hollow Bastion and to figure out exactly what's going on.
rlm@0: Running around wouldn't do us any good if we don't know what we're
rlm@0: doing. And I don't want to leave Hollow Bastion to get consumed by
rlm@0: Darkness again.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “It won't,” Yuffie assured him. “We were caught by surprise last
rlm@0: time. No one knew what King Ansem was up to. This time we can go out
rlm@0: and stop it before it gets that far.” She grinned. “The Heartless
rlm@0: aren't going to stop the multiverse's best ninja. Just leave it to
rlm@0: me.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Squall didn't look impressed. The ninja girl simply stuck her
rlm@0: tongue out at him.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Yuffie?” Yuffie froze, turning to spot the speaker.
rlm@0: Relm stood there, blond hair peaking out from beneath her bandana.
rlm@0: She looked back to Squall for an opportunity to escape, but the older
rlm@0: man was already leaving to let them be alone. 'Crap!' The ninja
rlm@0: didn't know what to do about Relm since their last meeting. She
rlm@0: hadn't been able to deal with her jealousy at all. Avoiding Relm had
rlm@0: been her plan of action, but being in the same room made that
rlm@0: incredibly difficult to pull off.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Relm pulled up a chair next to her.
rlm@0: The painter stared at Yuffie as the ninja flipped through pages in
rlm@0: the overly large book in front of her. It was almost comical how
rlm@0: nervous she was. “Thanks for saving me, Yuffie.” 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Yuffie closed her
rlm@0: eyes, letting out a breath. She relaxed a bit at those words. If that
rlm@0: was all, then maybe it wasn't so bad. They could ingore the rest of
rlm@0: it. Like whatever feelings were pumping through her. Yeah, that
rlm@0: worked for her. She smiled her best cocky grin and turned to the
rlm@0: other girl. “Hey, don't worry about it. If you died, I wouldn't have
rlm@0: anyone to draw my exploits.” The way Relm was looking at her gave a
rlm@0: serious blow to her nonchalance. Relm stared into her eyes knowingly.
rlm@0: It was starting to freak her out.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I made her up, Yuffie. She was just
rlm@0: a painting I made. I wanted to make you jealous. I wanted to know if
rlm@0: you felt anything for me. If you liked me the way I like you. The way
rlm@0: I love you.” Relm tried to keep eye contact as Yuffie shifted around
rlm@0: uncomfortable. Relm took her hand, kissing at her fingers. “I love
rlm@0: you, Yuffie. I saw it. That's why you came back, isn't it?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Yuffie
rlm@0: tried weakly to pull her hand away. Part of her reminded herself that
rlm@0: if she was such a good ninja, she could get her hand back in an
rlm@0: instant. So the only conclusion was that she didn't want it back.
rlm@0: That didn't make her feel anymore secure at the moment. “It's my
rlm@0: fault your stuck in this mess. I couldn't let him kill you,” Yuffie
rlm@0: said unconvincingly. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Then why had you been following me to know I
rlm@0: was in there?” Relm asked, arching a thin, blonde eyebrow. Standing
rlm@0: up, she held Yuffie's hand to her heart, pressed against the black
rlm@0: cloth of her top. Her heart pounded against Yuffie's palm.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I... I...” Words were starting to fail Yuffie. Her mind was racing
rlm@0: in two different directions at once. One for a decent explanation and
rlm@0: the other right towards Relm. She swallowed, trying to focus. Focus
rlm@0: refused to come. “I... I was worried about you. And Kairi.” She added
rlm@0: the last hastily. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Pressing Yuffie's hand closer to her breast, Relm
rlm@0: straddled Yuffie's lap, gazing directly into the ninja's eyes.
rlm@0: Yuffie's short shorts rustled against Relm's puffy pants. The younger
rlm@0: girl gazed into Yuffie's eyes, her nose brushing across the
rlm@0: brunette's. “I love you, Yuffie,” Relm whispered. Her lips brushed
rlm@0: against Yuffie's. She kissed Yuffie lightly again and again. The
rlm@0: ninja sat there tensely as she wrapped her arms around her, pulling
rlm@0: tightly against her. Licking Yuffie's lips, she felt the ninja
rlm@0: shudder in her arms deliciously. Yep, Yuffie was much, much nicer
rlm@0: when she had nowhere to turn. She suppressed the grin as she cuddled
rlm@0: closer on the chair, kissing more. Her hands ran up Yuffie's sides,
rlm@0: slipping under her short green top. Yuffie tried to sit up as Relm's
rlm@0: hands pressed against her soft skin, but the painter made it
rlm@0: impossible to get up.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Yuffie was stunned. Not entirely by Relm's behaviour, because this
rlm@0: wasn't the first time she'd done anything like that, but by her own
rlm@0: lack of response. She should have pushed her away by now. Have told
rlm@0: her to leave her alone. Have done -something-. So finally, she did do
rlm@0: something. She started kissing Relm back.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kairi could vaguely feel a wet washcloth rubbing away the sweat from
rlm@0: her face. She'd been slipping fitfully. She felt so strange. Was she
rlm@0: sick? The bed shifted as someone sat next to her, brushing back her
rlm@0: hair as they used the washcloth. 'Mom?' Kairi's distorted mind called
rlm@0: out. It had to be. This was all just a nightmare. She was sick in
rlm@0: bed. Her mother had probably stayed home from work to be with her.
rlm@0: For a moment, she was homesick. She missed her mother. The only
rlm@0: person who actually cared for her. But it was okay. She was there
rlm@0: now. It was all right. Her mother would take care of her. But... It
rlm@0: didn't smell like her mother. It was still nice, comforting, but not
rlm@0: the same as her mother. She smelled like flowers. Kairi strained to
rlm@0: open her eyes, already worried about where she'd end up now.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Please
rlm@0: don't strain too much, Princess Hikari,” a gentle voice said.
rlm@0: Accepting that Kairi wouldn't end her struggling, she helped pull the
rlm@0: princess into a half sitting position. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The world blurred and turned
rlm@0: on end in front of Kairi. She would have fallen back to the bed if
rlm@0: not for the woman's hand on her shoulder. Slowly, things began to
rlm@0: clarify. “Princess Hikari? Then...” She looked over, seeing Aerith on
rlm@0: her bedside. “This is Hollow Bastion, isn't it?” She shook her head,
rlm@0: trying to clear away the last of the dizziness. “Did I bring myself
rlm@0: here? Or did that girl send me?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “You came here because you had to.
rlm@0: Does it matter how?” Aerith smiled, setting the washcloth to the side.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I guess not...” Kairi ran her fingers through her slightly damp
rlm@0: bangs. She looked up at the chestnut haired woman. “Is Hollow Bastion
rlm@0: okay? Is it still holding together?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Aerith nodded, though her smile
rlm@0: disappeared. “For now. Though if the Heartless get much stronger, I
rlm@0: don't know how long it will stay that way for any planet.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kairi
rlm@0: sighed, nodding. “At least it's not falling apart like the Destiny
rlm@0: Islands.” Looking up, Kairi's mind began spinning. “I have to find
rlm@0: the other...” she choked back the word 'dreamer'. She didn't want to
rlm@0: admit that any of this was simply a dream. It was too real for that.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “You won't have to look too far. I had a feeling you would want to
rlm@0: talk to me.” The older woman brushed her hair back over her
rlm@0: shoulders, smiling softly. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “You're... like me?” Kairi asked, still
rlm@0: not wanting to call it dreaming. Aerith nodded. “So I'm not the only
rlm@0: one.” This was both a relief and a curse. If she wasn't the only one,
rlm@0: at least she wasn't alone in all this. But it meant it couldn't just
rlm@0: be something crazy a few people were telling her to throw her off
rlm@0: track.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Aerith nodded. “All of the seven Princesses were. Girls from another
rlm@0: world who escaped here, forgetting the lives they once led. They were
rlm@0: all like you, Hikari. I was like you. Fantasy helped sustain us. It
rlm@0: helped us get through life. Until finally we decided our dreams were
rlm@0: more worthwhile than our lives and we joined them. The rest of us
rlm@0: turned our back on our pasts, forgetting. But you couldn't entirely
rlm@0: forget. You clung to one thing. And that left the doorway open.
rlm@0: That's how the Heartless began to appear here.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “My mother...” Kairi
rlm@0: said softly, holding her hands to her heart. That memory that had
rlm@0: grown foggy, but never entirely forgotten. She'd held onto it even
rlm@0: when it was only a shadow. And while she held onto it, the doorway to
rlm@0: another world was left open, one she had been supposed to forget. “So
rlm@0: Aya was...”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Nodding again, Aerith watched the younger girl. “That's
rlm@0: why you're the Keyblade Mistress, Hikari. Only you can close that
rlm@0: door because it's your door that's been left open. The rest of us
rlm@0: don't remember our other lives. I don't know who I was before this,
rlm@0: why I came here. I only know that I did. And I know of the others who
rlm@0: did, too. I don't regret giving all that up. I feel like this is
rlm@0: where I belong. With my friends. With Cloud. On this world.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Licking
rlm@0: her suddenly dry lips, Kairi nodded. “That's what I want, too. I want
rlm@0: to go back to the Destiny Islands. I want to be with Riku and Sora
rlm@0: and my friends.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “But part of you also wants part of the other world,
rlm@0: doesn't it? You're torn. That's why that doorway is open. And only
rlm@0: you can close it. But will you step back through before you do? You
rlm@0: have to decide soon. Which side will you be on when it shuts?” Taking
rlm@0: Kairi's hand, Aerith sighed. “I'm sorry it has to be so difficult.
rlm@0: Usually it isn't a problem. You're simply here. But something's still
rlm@0: holding you back.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “You don't remember anything? Anything at all?” Kairi looked up at
rlm@0: the taller woman. She had all sorts of snippits of her other life.
rlm@0: Mostly cold and dark, but she could also feel homesick over the warm
rlm@0: memories of her mother. And she was getting more and more memories
rlm@0: back of being the princess of Hollow Bastion. Both seemed integral.
rlm@0: Both felt like necessary parts of who she was.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Shaking her head,
rlm@0: Aerith's hair swished behind her. “I don't remember any of it. I came
rlm@0: here to be with my prince. To live the life I never could in the
rlm@0: other world. Just like you.” Smiling, she suppressed a giggle.
rlm@0: “Though it looks like you have two princes.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Blushing, Kairi looked
rlm@0: down at the sheets in front of her. “I need to find them. I need to
rlm@0: be with them again.” Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes. “I
rlm@0: need to close that door to the other world before it's too
rlm@0: late.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Thank you, Hikari. I'll help however I can. All of us are
rlm@0: willing to grant our strength to make sure these worlds don't fall
rlm@0: apart,” Aerith promised.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “All of us? The other princesses?” Kairi
rlm@0: asked, curious.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “All of us. We'll try to hold everything together long
rlm@0: enough for you to close the door once and for all.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: A small smile
rlm@0: spread across Kairi's lips. “Then... Take care of Hollow Bastion for
rlm@0: me. I remember growing up here. I don't want anything bad to happen
rlm@0: to it. I'll do my best to protect all the worlds. I'll stop it. I
rlm@0: promise.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: