#well. even aeleus and ienzo. not the nobody versions

[firestorm09890]

I loveeeee the basement trio dynamic there’s a man whose shape language is entirely triangles who loves arguing with everyone and saying “clearly you don’t own an air fryer” and cares for nothing but science and RESPECT and there’s a man whose shape language is entirely rectangles who will never be remembered for anything other than hitting teens really hard which is a shame because he's very smart who is mostly trying to keep things in the group stable as any rectangle-shape-language man does and then there’s the baby of the group who is also the smallest whose shape language is the softest by default however his favorite language is lying and he is actually the cruelest of them by several magnitudes and by far the most terrible on multiple axes. and that one’s the leader. and the other two are his dads

[nobodies-png]

i really love your young!ienzo x older sibling!reader reaction, and was wondering how KH3 Ienzo would reaction to seeing the reader again after all the years of him being a nobody?

this is starting to become a series lolol but I’m glad you like it !! I wrote his reaction and some other general headcanons for what would happen after their reunion

 here’s part one and part two for those who haven’t read them! 

The only reason Ienzo hasn’t left Radiant Garden to seek you out is entirely because of Aeleus and Dilan urging him to stay, to pick up the pieces after becoming whole again - and so, he stays to help Sora, comforted by the promise of your return. Still, he’s afraid that you might never come back or that you moved on without him, all while his head races with all the things he wants to share. Ienzo might’ve spent most of his life with the other apprentices, but you’re the one that raised and properly guided him all those years age. You are family. He holds you in extreme high regards.

His reaction to finally seeing you after all those years is ugly, unlike his brief reunion with Ansem the Wise. Ienzo has definitely spent nights writing down a proper and organized speech, he’s memorized it and practiced over and gone through it a dozen times with the others. But when he hears your voice? When he sees you standing righ there? Ienzo drops whatever he’s holding and practically throws himself into your arms. He hides his face in your shirt and starts blabbering nonsense through tears and sniffs.

Any attempts at showing you that he’s grown and matured are thrown out the window and it’s like you guys are children again. The only thing you can make out is his constant stream of "I’m sorry, I’m so sorry” and “Please, forgive me” - Ienzo apologizes for being part of Xehanort’s plan, for working under Xemnas, for pretty much existing as a Nobody when he should’ve disappeared instead. But you remind him that he was just a child when it all happened and that you’re just so happy to have your baby brother back.

That’s all Ienzo needs - it’s like you’ve granted him permission to cry. The transition from Nobody to... Well, himself, has been extremely hard on him. Getting used to feelings and how to process them when he was never taught how to in the first place is pretty fucking hard. You hold him until he stops crying, and then squeeze and sway him side to side, the same thing you used to do to get him to laugh as children.

He would still try to give you his speech a few days later, once he’s gotten over the initial excitement and emotion of having you back in his life. But for now, you’ll have to deal with a very excited Ienzo - he wants to know what you’ve been up to, if you’ve been okay, as well as explain his new plans for the gummiphone and all the way’s he’s been helping Sora and the rest. Ienzo doesn’t follow you around 24/7 like he used to (he actually runs off to find you so you can be the first one to learn about his breakthroughs or to act as his personal rubber duck buddy when he’s stuck) but whenever he walks with you, chances are he’ll still hold onto the hem of your shirt or sleeve.

Sometimes, Ienzo might slip and address you the same way he used to when he was young, with shortened versions of your name because he had trouble pronouncing the full thing - it’s very embarrassing for him, he’ll apologize and quickly move on, but please don’t point it out, especially if you want him to keep doing it because it’s very cute. If you point it out to him, he’ll stop and then everybody loses. Ienzo is trying so hard to not fall back to those childish habits of his </3 

It happens on reverse to, so to speak - there will be days when Ienzo might revert back to that cold, judgemental and quiet side from his days as a Nobody. You might even catch a glimpse of his snarky and downright cruel side, mostly when he goes days working on something without breaks (a nasty habit inherited from Even, deffo). This often causes a lot of arguments between you two, something he comes to regret almost immediately because he’s supposed to be one of the good guys now. He’s supposed to know better now. But when you come back hours later, either acting like nothing wrong happened or to talk things out, Ienzo is so relieved because yeah, this is what family does. Shit like this just happens all the time, it doesn’t mean the end of the world. 

[atomic-taco-muffin]

The Lost Princess Chapter 65

Warnings: Still don’t know. 

Rating: SFW

(A/N: you and the girl’s clothes don’t change. It’s only the boy’s clothes that do. I couldn’t find different outfits. Also, the ddd outfits looked hot)

After you and the gang visited Master Yen Sid, you all headed towards the gummi ship. Sora sat back in his chair as the ship chugged along.

“Okay, where to?” you asked. 

“Ummmmmm...” Sora said.

“Oh, come on. Would you get serious?” Roxy said. 

“Gimme a break, okay? I told you. These things take time.” 

“Gawrsh, is it just me, or is this turning into a routine?” Goofy asked. A quiet musical tune erupted inside the cockpit, surprising you all.

“Huh? What?” Donald asked. You all looked around for the source of the noise. Jiminy held a hand to his ear.

“It's comin' from you, Sora!” he said.

“Huh?” Sora asked. He searched his pockets and pulled out a device with the King's symbol on it. The icon of a telephone ringing was displayed on the screen. 

“What's this?” he asked. You and the others walked to Sora's chair to get a closer look.

“Got me! God, make it stop!” Yui said. Sora put it to his ear and shook it.

“But, I don't know how. Maybe...this,” he said. He pressed the green button on the screen and an video of Dale appeared.

“Hurray! He picked up,” Dale said. 

“Huh? Dale?” you asked. 

“Hey, Chipper, I finally got him! Hurry up, Chip!” Chipper ran next to Dale.

“Well, it's about time,” Chip said. 

“Chip?” Sora asked. 

“Ya gotta answer the phone, Sora, or we can't give ya updates. We got lots and LOTS of important stuff we want to tell ya!” Dale said. 

“That's why we asked Master Yen Sid to make sure you got this Gummiphone we made ya. So we'd be able to stay in touch with you at all times,” Chip said. Dale nodded, making a rectangle with his tiny fingers.

“AND it takes pictures,” he said. Jiminy jumped onto Sora's shoulder.

“Oh! You finally finished it. Say, with this Gummiphone, we can talk to each other across worlds. In fact, I might even try writing my journal on it,” he said. 

“Wow! Sounds like it's pretty handy, guys. So, what's so important?” Rumi said. 

“This! Back when you and Riku quested through the Sleeping Worlds, Riku recovered some secret research data that Ansem the Wise hid inside you,” Chip said. 

“Ansem's Code!” Dale said.

“Mm-hmm. We've been workin' our tails off tryin' to crack it and see what it says.” The video switched to a young man in a lab coat with long gray hair obscuring half of his face.

“The data has been encrypted, so we've only deciphered some of it,” he said. 

“Uncle Zexion!” the twins and Rumi said. 

“Huh?” you and Sora asked. 

“Oh... I guess we haven't spoken since the castle. I'm Ienzo. Aeleus is here too. Or as the twins and Rumi know as Lexaeus.” Aeleus walked behind Ienzo silently. He narrowed his eyes and stopped.

“Hey, Uncle Lexaeus!” Yui said. Aeleus didn’t say anything. 

“Aeleus, whatever's between you and Roxas, it's in the past,” Ienzo said. Aeleus continued walking and Ienzo sighed, turning back to the phone.

“Sora, the reason we're here is because you and your friends defeated our Nobodies, thereby "recompleting" us. We cast off our hearts by choice, make no mistake, but we didn't know that Xemnas--or rather, Xehanort--was deceiving us,” he said. 

“Actually, it’s our mom that’s working for Xehanort,” Roxy said.

“Queen Muki. How? I thought that she died from a Heartless attack.” 

“That’s what we all thought but she’s back and possessed by a Negaverse. Along with my mom as well,” Rumi said. 

“Hmm, I’m sorry that they’re working for Xehanort. But I know that you girls can break that possession. You do have their powers.” 

“True,” the girls said. 

“Are you working for Xehanort?” Goofy asked. 

“Not anymore. Xemnas--or Muki I should say--and Xehanort have no hold over us now. We're just students of the heart, exactly the same as we were before all of this began.”

“Yeah, right,” Donald said. 

“Hmm... But ya know, now that I think about it, Axel's on our side now,” you said. 

“Right!” the girls said. Donald crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing.

“We have friends we want to bring back to this world, just the same as you. To do that, we have to work together. In that spirit, Sora...” Ienzo said. He pressed a key on the computer terminal. “...we found some intriguing data in the bit of code we deciphered.” 

A digital readout of Sora and his Keyblade appeared on the D.T.D. screen.

“Is it about me?” he asked.

“Yes. In order to piece your memories back together, our teacher, Ansem the Wise, look a close look at your heart. And what he found...” Ienzo said. Half of Sora's model on the screen flashed, bringing up red data windows. “...is that your heart doesn't belong just to you.” 

“It doesn’t?!” you and the others asked. 

“Gawrsh, you don't seem surprised,” Goofy said to Sora. 

“Yeah. Honestly, I suspected as much. There's another heart inside mine. I think it's Roxas's. Just like Naminé is still inside Kairi's,” Sora said. 

“Interesting... Well, no one knows your heart better than you,” Ienzo said. He tapped his finger against the terminal. “To be honest, we still have a plethora of questions on our side, but...the idea has merit. It's incredible enough that you and your Nobody are able to coexist. If you share a heart...no wonder someone as remarkable as you caught Ansem the Wise's eye. We'll keep investigating based on your hypothesis. I'll be in touch.” 

Ienzo ended his side of the call, and it switched back to Chip and Dale.

“Okeydokey, we'll give you fellas a ring if there's anything else. Remember, me and Chip, the guys at Radiant Garden, and King Mickey and everybody are never far away,” Dale said.

“And Jiminy, would ya do us a favor? Teach Sora how to use the Gummiphone,” Chip said.

“Leave it to me,” Jiminy said. The call ended and Jiminy hopped down.

“I have to find Roxas and save him. The others are following Aqua's heart, so I'll follow Roxas's heart!” Sora said. You and the others nodded.

“Trust the guidance that your heart gives ya, Sora. That's what Master Yen Sid said,” Goofy said.

“Where to?” Vanitas asked. Sora smiled.

“Hey, Rumi,” he said. 

“Yeah?”

“Ready to head to your hometown?” Rumi smiled and so did you and the others. 

“Let’s go!” she said. 

~~~~

You and the group voyaged across the Ocean Between and found your destination, a sleepy village of eternal sunset, Twilight Town. You all walked casually down Market Street toward the Tram Common, passing clothing and accessory shops. Rumi ran ahead of you all, remembering all the good times she had with her family. 

“Gawrsh, we forgot to fill Master Yen Sid in on what happened. Should we go back?” Goofy said. 

“Why the hell am I not surprised?” Vanitas asked. 

“Hmm... You mean about Maleficent and Xigbar? No, the others have already got enough on their plates as it is. Why go stressing them out? The three of us know how to handle a couple of old adversaries, right?” Sora said.

“Yeah, I guess...” Yui said. 

“But doesn't that thing Pete said bother ya?” Roxy asked. 

“The black box?” Donald asked.

“Come on, we're talking about Pete. That means it's probably no big deal,” you said. 

“I don't know...” Vanitas said. The tram passed in front of you, its trolley bell ringing. 

“The tram!” Rumi and Sora said. 

“Sora, it hasn't been THAT long,” you said. 

“But it has for me, remember? I was trapped in the sleeping worlds for so long,” Rumi said. 

“Right. Forgot about that.” 

“Well, it feels like it has for me,” Sora said. 

“Maybe you're feeling what Uncle Roxas feels 'cause he misses home,” Roxy said. 

“Mm-hmm. Actually, I ran into Roxas in the Sleeping Worlds. It was like...seeing into his heart for the first time.” 

“And he was in the datascape, too,” Donald said. 

“Uh-huh. It was a test to see if your data version was ready to face the hurt that ya carry inside,” Goofy said.

“Was I ready? I do know hurt. When I lost Riku, (Y/N), and Kairi, and later when I lost the Keyblade, and you guys had to go on without me like that... Having no one to turn to was the worst kind of hurt. But that just shows how much you mean to me. Carrying around a little hurt can't be all that bad. Hurting is part of caring.” You and the others shared a glance. 

“He sounds like Data-Sora did,” Donald said. 

“Of course. Any Sora's still Sora,” Goofy said. 

“So wait... If Roxas feels something, then we're in the right place. Roxas, I'm gonna find you!” Sora said. He heard a voice, or rather, the words appeared in his head.

“Do you seek our liege?” the voice asked. 

“Huh?” Sora asked, stunned. 

“What is it?” Rumi asked. Suddenly, you chest started squeezing again and three Negaverses appeared. 

“Negaverses!” your friends said. Roxy saw how you were holding your chest and ran to you. 

“Go! I’ll make sure that (Y/N)’s okay!” she said. The others nodded and fought the Negaverses in the street until not a single one stood. After they were defeated, your chest stopped squeezing.

“You okay?” Donald asked as you stood up. 

“I think so,” you said. 

“Are the Negaverses the cause of all this?” Yui asked.

“Xigbar said that he put something in me. I think the Negaverses are behind all this.” Not too far away, was Sora questioning where the voice came from.

“Hmm... What was that voice? I know I heard it,” he said.

“I didn't hear it,” Rumi said. 

“You sure it wasn't the wind? Or somethin' else?” Vanitas asked. 

“I'm pretty sure...” 

“Where'd they come from?!” someone asked.

“Get the ice cream later!” another person said. 

“What? Hold up!” another person said.

“See? Voices,” Sora said. 

“Wait, I know those voices,” Rumi said. 

“...New ones?” Sora asked. Sora spun around to see a familiar trio running in from around a corner.

“What? Hayner? Pence! Olette!” Sora and Rumi said. The three continued running as a monstrous wave of Shadow Heartless rushed in from behind them.

“What is THAT?!” Roxy asked. The wave gained ground on them as Hayner noticed you and the group.

“Heeey! Sora!” Hayner said. They ran right past them as you and the others watched. “Hello, good-bye.”

“Hey, sis!” Olette said to Rumi. 

“Go! We got this,” Rumi said. You and the others took out your weapons as the wave spiraled into the air as if facing you all down. You and Sora provided several good hits on the flying swarm as Donald used his magic spells, Goofy providing defense, and the girls shooting range until the Demon Tide flew off into the sky and away from you all. Hayner, Pence, and Olette walked back over once the coast was clear.

“Hey, sis! You gonna give your siblings a hug or what?” Hayner said. 

“I don’t know. Should I?” Rumi teased. She giggled and ran to give her siblings a hug. 

“We missed you!” Pence said.

“Me too. But look at me now! Your younger sibling is a Spirit and is a lot better than you three!” Rumi said. 

“Whatever. You still can’t win a Struggle game! Hey, nice fightin'! Thanks, Sora and (Y/N),” Hayner said. 

“Hey guys! It’s been ages!” Sora said. 

“What? It hasn't been THAT long.” 

“Ya see?” you teased. 

“Donald! Goofy! How are ya?” Olette said. 

“We're good,” Donald said.

“Howdy there, Olette,” Goofy said. 

“I’m guessing you remember Rumi and what happened all those years ago,” Yui said.

“Yep. But we had help,” Pence said. 

“From us.” You and your friends turned around to see Ansem and Xemnas standing there. 

“Dad!” Rumi said as she ran to give Ansem a hug. 

“Hey, bug,” Ansem said. 

“Any luck on finding mom and Aunt Elena?” Roxy asked. Xemnas shook his head no. 

“I’m not surprised,” Yui mumbled. 

“So does this mean that weird stuff's going down again?” Pence asked. 

“You kidding, Pence? When have we ever seen a tornado of shadowy blobs before? It's not ‘weird.’ This is unprecedented,” Hayner leaned in.

“You know we can hear you right?” Ansem asked. The two boys froze and looked at their dad. 

“Yeah, we knew that,” Hayner said. 

“Whatever,” Ansem said.

“The creatures from the last time were bright white. These things must be new. Man, I can't wait to get to sleuthin',” Pence said.

“We're already done with the school project, silly,” Olette said. She turned to you and Sora. “Whatever's going on, you wouldn't be here unless you had a good reason.” 

“Which is?” Hayner asked. 

“Well, actually, we're looking for Roxas,” you said. 

“Roxas?” Olette asked. 

“That's funny... I don't know any Roxas, but the name sounds familiar,” Hayner said.

“Maybe we bumped into him somewhere,” Pence said. 

“Uh, that's one way to put it,” Donald said.

“Actually, he mighta been friends with another version of ya,” Goofy said. He pulled out a photo of Hayner, Pence, Olette, and Roxas standing in front of the Old Mansion, and handed it to Hayner.

“This photograph...” Olette said. 

“Yeah. We've got the same one,” Pence said. He pulled out his photo, where Roxas was missing, and Hayner remembered.

“Oh yeah! The other Twilight Town!” he said. They compared the two photos.

“It's like one of those ‘spot the differences’ puzzles...except really easy. I guess in that town, we're friends with this ‘Roxas’ person,” Pence said.

“Guys, let us help you track Roxas down,” Hayner said.

“Really?” you and the others asked. 

“Sure, he seems like a pretty cool guy.” 

“Yeah. He was,” Yui said. 

“One of the coolest uncles ever,” Roxy said. 

“Great. Then let's all go ask around town. If alternate-us knew Roxas, then maybe alternate-other folks did too,” Pence said. 

“Mm-hmm. Hey, you should go to the place in the photo. It’s our house. The three of us'll cover places in town,” Olette said. 

“The mansion’s still here?!” Rumi asked, excitedly. 

“Yep.” Rumi smile and headed towards the mansion, you and the others following close behind. Walking down the beaten path, you and the others came upon a trail of fruit.

“What's that?” Rumi asked. Goofy looked up, seeing a small group of Powerwild Heartless in the trees.

“Heartless!” he said. 

“I shouldn’t be offended by that, but for some reason I am,” Ansem said. 

“What do ya think they're up to?” Sora asked. Yui looked closer and saw a tiny rat trapped up in the tree.

“Look! On that branch. The Heartless have him surrounded!” she pointed.

“Oh no!” you said. 

“Let's help!” Rumi said. 

“Yeah!” You and the girls summoned your guardians while the others grabbed their weapons and the Heartless jumped down to fight. Once the Powerwilds were taken care of, the rat scurried down the tree toward you guys.

“Well, take care,” Sora said. You all started to walk away, leaving the rat alone with the multitude of fruit, some even bigger than himself. The rat sighed and ran in your direction. He latched onto Sora by his shoe and crawled up to his head. He grabbed two tufts of Sora's hair and jerked them back towards the fruit. Sora spun uncontrollably and started walking back the way they came, making very exaggerated movements. Roxy laughed and grabbed her phone and started recording.

“Wh-what is--” Sora asked. 

“This is fucking awesome!” Roxy laughed.

“Roxy!” Yui and Xemnas scolded. 

“Are you okay?” you asked. Sora stopped at an apple and the rat moved his hair downward, causing Sora to pick up the fruit.

“Lookie! That little feller's parked on your head,” Goofy said. The rat turned Sora around.

“Huuuh?” Sora asked. The rat pulled Sora's hair upward... “Would you cut that-” ...and then downward, picking up another apple.

“Sora, you've been hijacked,” Donald said. 

“Ya know, maybe he wants you to pick up the fruit for him,” Rumi said. The rat nodded, smiling.

“Okay, that's fine. But I can do it by myself,” Sora said. The rat hopped off Sora's head down to his hand, standing on the apple.

“I just need to collect the fruit?” Sora asked. The rat nodded again. “Right, then.”

Moments later, the fruit was gathered into a nice big pile. You, Vanitas, Sora, Donald, the girls, Xemnas, Ansem, and Goofy knelt down to the rat's level.

“So, what're you gonna do with all this, anyway?” you asked. The rat made a slicing, then swiping motion with his tiny, little arms.

“Huh?” you and Sora asked. You and the others exchanged glances of confusion and the rat sighed.

“Well, okay. You be careful going home,” Sora said as he stood up. You and the others headed towards the mansion.

“Bye-bye!” Rumi said. 

“See ya 'round!” Roxy said. The rat watched you all leave, then turned back to his pile of fruit. After exiting the woods, you and the others reached the Old Mansion. Rumi smiled and ran inside.

“Rumi!” Ansem said but she was already inside. Sora looked up at the white curtains blowing in the window and got a major surge of nostalgia. For a moment, it was not Sora looking up at the curtains, but Roxas. In the blink of an eye, Sora snapped out of it, feeling a sense of loss.

“Whaddaya think, guys? This place is even creepier than I remember,” Sora said. 

“It wasn’t always like this,” Ansem said. 

“Yeah. I remember when we would play hide and seek in that mansion,” Yui said. 

“Thankfully, with the help from the triplets, this house is starting to look like it was before everything happened.” You and the others stared at the door, hesitant to enter when a hand reached for Sora's shoulder.

“Hey, there,” someone said. Sora knocked the hand away and screamed, causing you, the twins, Vanitas, Xemnas, Ansem, Donald, and Goofy to jump in terror. Sora saw Hayner, Pence and Olette had joined you guys.

“Hayner!” Ansem scolded.

“Thanks for the heart attack!” Sora said.

“Oh, what? Did I scare you?” Hayner smirked. 

“Not a chance!” Donald said.

“Our bad,” Olette said. 

“Where did Rumi go?” Pence asked. 

“She ran inside the mansion. It’s been a while since she’s seen the place,” Yui said.

“So how did it go? Did ya get any leads?” you asked. Hayner looked toward Pence, who nodded.

“Nope, 'fraid not. The asking around thing was a total bust,” Pence said. 

“Yup. Our house is our last hope,” Hayner said. You all looked at the mansion.

“You guys ready?” Olette asked. 

“Another Twilight Town awaits!” Pence said.

“Yeah,” you and Sora said. You all entered the mansion finding Rumi, sitting at the steps. 

“You okay?” Ansem asked. 

“Yeah. Just wish this place was like it used to be,” Rumi said. 

“Don’t worry, sis. We’re building our way back to the way it was,” Hayner said. Rumi smiled and stood up.

“Where to?” she asked.

“Follow me,” Pence said. You all made your way to the basement, where Pence spotted a computer with numerous screens.

“Here we go!” he said. 

“Forgot that this was here,” Roxy said. Pence ran to the console and sat down.

“The password was...uh...’sea-salt ice cream,’ right?” he asked. 

“Right,” Yui said. Pence typed the password into the computer and the D.T.D. screen appeared. 

“Okay, I'm in. Let's get that transporter working...” he said. He typed another command into the computer, or attempted to, when the screen flashed red.

“Uhhh...” he said. He tried more keys, but only got access errors and locked data.

“Oh, man. The transporter's been protected,” he said. 

“Protected from what?” you asked. 

“I guess from us? We can't use it to get to the other Twilight Town.” 

“Why not? It worked before! We sent Sora and (Y/N) there!” Hayner said loudly. 

“Hayner!” Ansem scolded.

“Well that was then, and this is now,” Pence said. 

“And there's no other way?” Olette asked. 

“None that I know.”

“Great,” Sora said. His ringtone went off in his pocket and he pulled out the Gummiphone. He answered the call and Ienzo appeared on the screen.

“Hello, Sora. You wouldn't happen to be in front of a computer?” he said. 

“Huh? Well...yeah. But how'd you know that?” Sora said. 

“I was tinkering with Ansem's computer--you know, to decrypt the Code that was left in it? And I noticed that someone had logged in from another terminal. I figured it might be you.” 

“Oh! Yeah, the log terminal.” 

“You don't know what he said, do you?” Vanitas asked.

“Oh, and what, you do?” Ienzo laughed to himself.

“I know I haven't got a clue. A-hyuck!” Goofy said. 

“Then, uhh...who was it that logged in?” Ienzo asked. 

“Oh, hi there. This is Pence.” Sora held the phone towards Pence.

“I remember. You’ve grown a lot since I last saw you,” Ienzo said.

“Right. The attack. Well, I'm the one who logged into the computer.” 

“Good. As long as it's a user that we know we can trust.” 

“Yup. But, I'm kind of stuck here.” Hayner crossed his arms impatiently.

“Don’t even think about it, Hayner,” Rumi whispered to him. 

“One of the programs is protected, so...I can't run it,” Pence said. Hayner sighed impatiently.

“Which program?” Ienzo asked. 

“The transporter to the other Twilight Town!” Hayner exploded, making Ienzo startled. 

“Hayner!” Ansem scolded as he pulled Hayner by the collar.

“It's the only way to find Roxas. You gotta help us,” Rumi said. 

“Another Twilight Town? And a ‘transporter’? Okay... A virtual town inside the computer, made of data,” Ienzo said. Jiminy popped out of Sora's hood.

“Gah! I keep forgetting he’s there!” Roxy said. 

“A datascape! Fellas...” Jiminy said.

“Mm-hmm, we've seen one. That's what we used once to investigate Jiminy's journal,” Goofy said. 

“Maybe I can do something. Pence, let's get a network set up. My address here is...” Ienzo said. The time it took to set up this network mixed with the inherent technobabble between Ienzo and Pence, Sora had fallen asleep holding the phone. The computer made a sound through his snoring.

“Okay, sharing is enabled,” Ienzo said. Sora awoke with a start.

“Huh? Were you able to fix it?” he asked. 

“Now that our two computers have been successfully networked together, I can take control of the terminal there and change the privileges...” 

“And Roxas?” you asked. 

“Yes. For the virtual world to be completely realized, Ansem the Wise would've included Roxas's full data in the construction. Meaning, somewhere on your machine there's a log of that data that--” He paused, thinking how to translate this into Sora-speak. “Uhh...basically, we can decipher Ansem's Code more quickly, AND we can analyze the virtual Twilight Town while we're at it.” 

“Okay. Great! I can't computer so...do that,” Sora said. Vanitas snorted in the background, causing Xemnas to elbow him.

“Glad you're following along. Don't worry, we'll handle it. Chip and Dale will be helping me out here on this end. I'll call you back as soon as we know anything more,” Ienzo said.

“Thanks,” you said.

“Oh, before I forget--a bit of troubling news. It's about one of the Organization's former members. You and the twins knew him as Vexen--but to us he was Ansem's apprentice Even. He was recompleted like the rest of us, but hadn't regained consciousness yet. Then, sometime after Lea left, Even vanished. Aeleus and Dilan--the two you know as Lexaeus and Xaldin--they went out looking for him, but...he's just gone. And I'm starting to worry.”

“You think he's on THEIR side?” Xemnas asked. 

“I think it's a real possibility. He's a devious researcher. You should be careful.” 

“All right. Thanks,” Sora said. Sora hung up and pocketed the phone.

“Oh no! We got work! I totally forgot,” Hayner said. 

“Alright. Text me when you get there,” Ansem said. 

“We can take care of ourselves dad,” Olette said.

“Yet you were nearly attacked by a group of Heartless.”

“Damn it. Alright fine. We’ll text you,” Hayner said. Hayner started to rush off.

“Really? But what about all this?” Pence asked. 

“Hey, both are important. We're gonna need some cash to go to the beach. Also, don't forget the pretzels. Gotta buy five now.” Pence thought and counted on his fingers.

“Ohh. I get it,” he said. 

“He's thinking ahead,” Rumi said. Pence laughed. 

“Later, guys,” Hayner said. 

“Yeah. See ya, Hayner!” Sora said. Hayner walked to the entrance and Olette followed.

“Bye, Donald! Goofy!” Olette said. 

“Good-bye!” Donald and Goofy waved. 

“Oh, and since I'm manning the computer here, you guys're in charge of earning my share,” Pence said. 

“No pretzel for Pence,” Hayner joked. Olette giggled and the two of them left.

“Hey!” Pence exclaimed. He sighed, making you and the others chuckle. You and the others left the mansion.

“So, you think you can bring Roxas back?” someone asked. You and the others turned to see Elena standing against the wall with her arms crossed, looking at them snidely.

“Elena!” Ansem said. A corridor of darkness appeared next to her and her sister emerged from its depths.

“Muki!” Xemnas said. 

“Roxas should never have existed in the first place. What you seek is impossible,” Muki said. 

“Roxas does exist. His heart's inside my heart,” Sora said. 

“And in the unlikely event you did manage to separate the two, where is it you think you can put his heart?” 

“Well...Roxas used to live in the other Twilight Town, right? So, I'm just gonna put him back there,” you said. 

“Do you even realize what you are saying? The other Twilight Town is just data,” Elena said. 

“A heart can live anywhere. Even inside data. There are hearts all around us,” Roxy said.

“Hmm. Elena and Muki are possessed by Negaverses. And so were Ansem and Xemnas. Those two used to be part of the same person, right? But look. Now, they exist separately just fine. If they can do it, then I don't see any reason why you and Roxas can't find a way,” Goofy said. 

“Oh...yeah!” Sora said. 

“Yeah! You tell 'em, Captain Goofy!” Donald said. 

“You got a point there,” Yui said. With newfound exuberance, you and the others faced the two Spirits.

“In that case, by all means,” Elena said. 

“Nothing would please us more than Roxas's return, of course,” Muki said. 

“If you wanted him to return then you wouldn’t be doing this. Muki, you’re queen of the Organization. You can fight this possession. Just like I did,” Xemnas said. 

“Yeah. If the Organization decides to break up, he'll never answer to you again,” you said. 

“Still so blind. A Nobody is what's left behind when one gives his heart to darkness. There is only one way to bring Roxas back, which is for you to give your heart up as well. Sora, (Y/N), have you finally decided to call upon the darkness?” Muki said as she pointed towards you and Sora.

“What?” you and Sora asked. 

“Go on then. The shadows are never out of reach,” Elena said. She smirked as a herd of Neoshadow Heartless appear behind them. Muki  waves her hand and Negaverses join them, causing your chest to squeeze again. Sora glared at them.

“Now, set your heart free,” they said as they disappeared. 

“Wait!” Sora said. 

“Sora!” the others said. Sora ran to join them as Vanitas and Xemnas brought you to safety.

“Go. I’ll watch over her,” Xemnas said. Vanitas nodded and ran to go join the others. 

“It's not darkness. Not if it helps him!” Sora said

“Focus at the task at hand, idiot!” Vanitas said. Together, they defeated the Heartless and Negaverses. Donald and Goofy regrouped once the fighting was done, while Sora stood by himself, silently. Xemnas carried you over to the others, you being passed out from the tight squeeze of your chest. 

“Herc said... He said, ‘With all my heart.’ Okay. Then all my heart it is. I'm getting Roxas out,” Sora said. He turned to you and the others.

“Are you with me, guys?” he asked. The others nodded in agreement. 

“I have to bring (Y/N) back to Yen Sid’s. A Negaverse has possessed her and we need to remove it before something bad happens,” Xemnas said. 

“So it was the Negaverses!” Sora said.

“Yes. (Y/N)’s lucky that she has a lot of light inside of her. Otherwise, she would’ve ended up like Muki and Elena.” 

“I’m coming with. I think they can handle this,” Ansem said as he looked at Sora and the others. 

“You got it!” Roxy said. 

“Hey, take care of my sister for me,” Vanitas said. 

“We will,” Xemnas said. They opened a corridor and walked through it. 

“Okay then. Let's head back to town,” Yui said. Sora nodded and they ran back through the woods to town, interrupted by a familiar voice.

“Well, bless my bagpipes! It was YOU laddies who rescued my chef,” the voice said. Donald and Goofy stopped at the sound of the voice near a plaza where they see an elderly duck with a cane, top hat, and glasses. Tucked under one arm was a box.

“It's Uncle Scrooge!” Donald said. Sora, Vanitas, Rumi, and the twins walked back. 

“Huh? Wait... Didn't he sell ice cream in Hollow Bastion?” Sora asked. 

“That's right. But Uncle Scrooge here's what you might call a world traveler,” Goofy said. 

“Cool,” Vanitas said. Donald ran up to Scrooge McDuck with Sora, Vanitas, Rumi, the twins, and Goofy in tow.

“How are ya, Uncle Scrooge?” Sora asked.

“Oh! Hello! You're lookin' hale and hearty. I heard ye were on another grand adventure with these two. I hope Donald isn't making a menace of himself,” Scrooge said. Donald shook his head in embarrassment.

“Aw. Why did you have to say that?” he said. 

“So, Uncle Scrooge, what's that you were sayin' about a chef?” Rumi asked. 

“Och! Right, right. The chef of me bistro here wanted to show ye his appreciation, so he baked this for ye.” He held out the box and Sora took it.

“What is it?” Yui asked. Sora opened the box seeing a decadent dessert topped with fruit.

“Wow, cake!” Sora and the others said. Scrooge's top hat twitched, getting his attention.

“The whole cake? It's for us?” Roxy asked. The hat twitched some more, puzzling Sora.

“Aye, settle down... The chef wants ye to know it's not a cake, but a 'tarte aux fruits',” Scrooge said.

“He does?” Goofy asked. 

“Why keep it under my hat? May I introduce...” Scrooge took off his top hat, revealing the gray rat from earlier, who hopped down onto the crown of the hat. “Little Chef.”

“Oh! It's you!” Rumi said. 

“Uncle Scrooge, you opened a bistro in Twilight Town?” Donald asked. 

“Aye. It all started a little while ago, when I was enjoying one of the best meals of my life.” Little Chef smiled and nodded. 

“And when I asked to speak to the chef, I met this wee genius,” Scrooge said. Little Chef striked a confident pose.

“As it turns out, he wanted to expand his culinary horizons. So, I thought: that's an opportunity. And I financed the whole operation,” Scrooge said. Little Chef mimed cutting, preparing, and serving a dish.

“Ooh, I think he wants to cook some more for ye.” The happy rat smiled eagerly.

“Fetch some ingredients. Especially anything unusual.” 

“That'll be fun! Kinda like a scavenger hunt,” Rumi said. 

“An' the more the better. The mark of a truly great chef is creating masterpieces out of anything. Ye can start right here in town.”

“We'll do anything to try more of Little Chef's food,” Yui said.

“Yeah!” Roxy said. Little Chef scratched his head meekly.

“That tarte sure did look scrumptiously delicious,” Goofy said. 

“Okay! The ingredient hunt is on,” Sora said. The others nodded in agreement. After searching town for ingredients, they returned to Le Grand Bistrot.

“Hey, guys!” Hayner said. They turned to see Hayner and Olette running towards them.

“Hayner! Olette!” Rumi said. 

“What miss us already?” Hayner teased. 

“Can you blame me? I was trapped in a sleeping world for a long time!” 

“Where’s dad and Uncle Xemnas?” Olette asked. 

“(Y/N)’s been possessed by a Negaverse so they went to go take care of it,’ Roxy said. 

“Oh no! Will she be okay?” 

“Yeah. She has a lot of light inside her heart so the Negaverse didn’t turn her into what mom and Aunt Muki are,” Rumi said. 

“Well, that’s good,” Hayner said. Scrooge walked out from behind them.

“Hey, boss. Done with the posters,” Hayner said. 

“Aye, good work, kids,” Scrooge said. 

“You guys work for Uncle Scrooge here at the bistro?” Goofy asked. 

“Umm... Do we?” Hayner asked. He looked over at Olette, who pulled out a poster.

“He gave us a short job putting up these special posters,” she said. She unraveled the black-and-white poster which was titled "Mickey & Sora in 'GIANTLAND'" depicting a club-carrying bearded giant, holding up a rogue-dressed Mickey Mouse who looked ready to fight.

“Mr. McDuck's hosting an open-air film festival in the courtyard. Cool, huh?” she said. Sora and the others gazed at the poster curiously.

“Oh. Sora... Hold your phone up to the poster,” Olette said. Sora took out the Gummiphone.

“'Kaaay...” he said. Olette gestured to the scrambled icon in the corner of the poster. Sora pointed the phone's camera at it and it scanned the code with a bright sound. Olette rolled the poster back up.

“There, you've just downloaded a promo game for the film. You can try it later,” she said. Donald turned to his rich uncle.

“You did all this, Uncle Scrooge?” he asked. 

“Of course, laddie. Provide a bit of entertainment, and then give folks a nice, cozy place to relax,” Scrooge said. He gestured to the restaurant, pointing at the logo with his cane.

“Like me bistro here. They'll all be happy, an' hungry, an' eager to spend their money,” he said. He cackled to himself.

“Uncle Scrooge...” Donald said. 

“Gawrsh, he sure is canny. I always wondered how he keeps customers comin' into his businesses over and over,” Goofy said. 

“Oh, yeah, I'm no business guy, but I sure wouldn't wanna be one of Uncle Scrooge's competitors,” Vanitas said.

“Seriously,” Hayner said. He and the others laughed. 

“Oh! Right. I need to warn you guys,” Sora said. 

“Why?” Hayner asked. 

“Well, those creepy-crawly things along with the Negaverses might come back for more, so stay on your toes,” Vanitas said. 

“Sure. But don't we have you guys to take care of 'em for us?” 

“You have to leave AGAIN?” Olette asked. Rumi nodded.

“It's our job,” Roxy said.

“But we'll definitely be back,” Yui said. 

“When ya gonna slow down?” Hayner asked.

“Sorry. Just do me a favor...” Sora said. 

“Well, what is it? Don't make it too tough.” 

“I know how Roxas feels. To be lost. But Donald and Goofy, (Y/N)...Kairi... brought me back by wishing with all their hearts.” Vanitas, Rumi, the twins, Donald & Goofy nodded. “So...I was hoping the three of you would do the same, and wish for Roxas.”

“What? That's it?” Hayner chuckled. “That's no favor. We'll all wish. I'm wishin'.”

“Yeah! Me and Pence too,” Olette said. 

“Thanks.” On the roof of a nearby building, Elena and Muki watched from above. From behind them, a dark portal opened and Xigbar strutted out.

“Aren't you making it a little too obvious?” Xigbar asked.

“We were instructed to guide him,” Muki said. 

“Yes...just look at them. They wouldn't get far if we did not spell it out,” Elena said.

“Fair enough. But let's not forget how many times Sora, (Y/N), and the girls still managed to rain on our parade.”

“If he wavers from the path we lay, we destroy him,” Elena said. 

“But in that case...we'll have to find ourselves another vessel.” 

“That is why we never have just one iron in the fire,” Muki said. 

To be continued...

[floriswrite]

"So, if I asked, would you really make me lunch?" Lea couldn't help but be awkward around Lauriam. The guy was way too bright these days but he knew there was still massive darkness in him. He didn't really care about the Marluxia crap.

"I would." Lauriam nodded. "My personal feelings towards you have nothing to do with my need to make sure you are healthy."

"How do you feel towards me?"

"I don't feel anything."

"What?"

"In general. My feelings are... Muted. They've been that way since I woke here." 

Lea leaned back against the wall. “Aren’t you dating Even?” 

Lauriam sighed and looked to the floor. “I am courting Even. Ienzo thought the same... I am chasing the ghost of a feeling, Lea. If you really must know. Even knows where my emotions lie. We’ve talked extensively about our past. About Brain and Ansem. Aeleus and Elrena.” 

“Not that I care, trust me, I don’t, but isn’t that kinda, I don’t know, /wrong/?” Lea gestured a hand at him. “Sounds like you’re leading him on.” 

“It is hardly any different from Isa’s own emotional state. We all have trauma, Lea. And if I feel like dealing with mine by taking care of others and attempting to learn what it means to be in a normal relationship than I should be allowed to.” 

“Don’t you dare drag Isa into this.” Lea groaned and rubbed his face. “I know you know how he looks at Terra. So, okay, yeah, I get what you’re saying. I’m dealing with mine by having an army of /teenagers/ at my feet.” 

“Have you put more thought into my offer?” 

“...I... didn’t really think you were serious.” Lea admitted and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not really leader material, Lauriam.” 

“It would only be temporary. Isa would be preferable but there’s still much work to be done there.” Lauriam gave him a small smile. “It’s what Skuld would want.” 

“Yeah, okay. Until Isa can. But not a moment longer. I can barely be responsible for myself, let alone a bunch of kids.” 

“I’ll tell Ven the good news. Would you like something to commemorate it?” 

“Uh, besides lunch?” 

Lauriam gave a small nod. “Ienzo has a choker from me, and Ven wears a bracelet. I’m on good terms with Moogle as well as those ducklings so have access to materials as well as the ability to synthesis.” 

“Uh, I guess whatever you think would be best. I’m still getting used to my Keyblade and the whole magic shift in general from, you know, Axel.” 

Lauriam curled a hand before his lips. “I can work with that. I’ll have something for you in the next few days.” 

“Cool.” Lea swallowed. “You really don’t feel anything towards me?” 

“Should I? Whatever happened between Marluxia and Axel is in the past.” Lauriam responded and crossed his arms over his chest. “You’ve only ever done what you thought was right to protect your own interests. I cannot fault someone for that.” 

“I don’t know now. I guess I thought we were friends. You /act/ like we’re friends.” 

“No.” Lauriam closed his eyes. “You’ll die if we’re friends.” 

“What?” Lea pressed closer to the wall behind him before he sprung forward to grab Lauriam’s collar. “What?!” 

“If you haven’t figured that out by now I don’t know what to tell you. Do you know how many times Elrena has died? Has had her memory altered? Been /used/? Let alone Ven.” Lauriam placed his hands over Lea’s. “Brain didn’t even come to this time. Ephemer is trapped. I’m pretty sure you met Skuld. Broken. My Dandelions... You don’t want to be my friend, Lea.” 

“Huh.” The sound left Lea softly and his hands slipped back to his sides. “Yeah. You got a point there. But if /you/ haven’t realized I don’t make a habit of leaving my friends behind. So I really don’t care. If you want me to be a part of his union crap than we’re friends.”

“Always a way with words.” Lauriam sighed. “I know I cannot change your mind. So welcome to the fold, Master Lea.” 

“Yeah, okay, I need you to not call me that.” Lea mumbled as he tried to keep his knees supporting him. Now he understood why Even always had such a face when Lauriam called him lord. It meant nothing from him but boy howdy was that tone all Marluxia. 

“It is your proper title.” Lauriam frowned. “Ienzo and Ven dislike it as well. But it is what Master Ava would want. I will refrain.” 

“You really don’t get it.” Lea huffed. “Marluxia calling anyone by proper title would be a field day. It’s not the same from you, but it’s still, how do I even put this besides fuckin’ hot... Yeah, that’s it.” 

“So there’s a problem with my delivery.” 

“There’s a problem with your /face/.” Lea sighed heavily. “What happened to your /ego/? Not that I’m really complaining. Marluxia was insufferable. But he was fuckin’ hot.” 

“Are you turned on by me calling you master?” Lauriam questioned. 

“Yeah, sure, we can boil it down to that. Much easier than trying to delve into the various levels of physiological bullcrap between us.” 

“I see. So it is not so much /me/ saying it as the thought of /him/ saying it and since we share the same face... I see. And here I had hoped I wouldn’t have to deal with this with you.” 

“Yeah, basically.” Lea shrugged. “With me? Oh. /That’s/ why you’re still courting Even.” 

“Yes.” Lauriam admitted. “Ven is the only person who sees /me/. The rest of you still see /him/.” 

“Yeah, okay, guilty. That’s just kinda how it is for all of us. Some of us kinda... switched back and forth easier. Half the time the kids still call me Axel and it stings, you know? I’m trying to make this new life for all of us and it... it’s hard. And you’re trying to give me this opportunity to /do/ something to help the future and that’s terrifying. Because when I see you I see Marluxia. And I didn’t /care/ what Marluxia had to say because Saix’s orders and wants were all that mattered. Getting back to Roxas was all that mattered. I just had to make sure Marluxia /failed/. I had no clue what was actually happening at Castle Oblivion because I didn’t /care/. And now we’re here, and you’re offering to trust me again, and I... I don’t deserve that.” 

“Are we not all seeking redemption?” 

“We are.” Lea sighed. “Is that what this is? A way to prove myself?” 

“If you want to see it that way you can.” 

“I will. Can you tell me something?” 

“You know I remember little.” 

“I do. Marluxia was determined to take down Xemnas. Why?” 

“To stop Kingdom Hearts. To stop a reset of the universe. You’ve been to the Keyblade Graveyard.” 

“Yeah, place is hella creepy.” 

“That place is full of people I once knew. The people of my time. Our job as leaders was to protect those that avoided the war. To act as if it never happened.” 

“What?” 

“To accept the future and move on. That was the point of the dandelions.” 

“You’re telling me that the universe almost got /destroyed/?” 

“Reset. Yes.” 

“Same thing.” Lea huffed. 

“No. Kingdom Hearts puts light and darkness back in balance. The few Keyblade Weilders you’ve met wore born from that light. Were gifted it.” 

“So Xehanort was trying to use us to cause an apocalypse, basically.” 

“That’s accurate.” 

“Which is why Marluxia tried to control Sora?” 

“If what I have been told of myself follows, than yes. Marluxia would have had the instinctual need to stop Kingdom Hearts. Even if he could not remember why and had lost his Keyblade to Darkness.” 

“Well, damn.” Lea whistled. “Which I guess explains why Larxene was there too.” 

“The lingering feeling of bonds. Yes.” Lauriam nodded. 

“Huh.” Lea tilted his head back. “Even knowing that I still woulda done what I did.” 

“You had your priorities. I get the feeling that Saix and Marluxia had the same one without knowing it.” 

“Yeah, probably. Xemnas was crazy.” Lea laughed. “We won in the end though. No apocalypse.” 

“No apocalypse.” Lauriam hummed. “Things are finally back to how they should be.” He pressed a hand to his chest. “Just how master wanted.” 

“Don’t get all eerie on me now.”

“Are you not excited for the future?” Lauriam grinned at him. 

“Not sure excited is a word I would use, but at this point I guess I should just be happy I’m alive to see it.” 

“Exactly, Master Lea.”

Lea growled at him. “I’m going to go tell Ven myself.” 

“You have no idea where he is.”

“And you do?” 

“Of course. But if you listen to your heart you should find the way.” 

“Yeah, guiding key blah blah blah.” 

“I believe in you, Lea.” 

“That makes one of us.” Lea sighed and summoned his Keyblade. “You’re really not like Marluxia at all. I don’t get it.” 

“One needs to keep up appearances when their body is all they have. The loss of my sister broke me deeply and if not for the other leaders I would have fallen to Darkness much sooner. There is no point in growing close to people who will only leave you. Marluxia existed solely to try and get back to /me/. To try and fix the future. Is that accurate?” 

“I guess. Are you trying to tell me that Marluxia could have been nice?” 

“He got along with Roxas, am I right?” 

“Yeah. Roxas is always looking at you and junk. But even that was cause he had a Keyblade, wasn’t it? Trick the kid into liking you to use him... Which is no different than what I did.” Lea sighed. “A means to an end. I get your point.” 

“Marluxia is Marluxia and I am me. But all Marluxia was, was a fully broken version of me. The one that became a Nobody instead of a Darkling. The one found by Xigbar.” 

“Yeah. I guess not so different if you put it like that. You just wear a different mask.” 

“Correct.” Lauriam gestured his head towards Lea’s Keyblade. “Go tell Ven. He’s been very excited to know your answer.” 

“Just, follow my heart?” 

“The Keyblade will do the rest.” 

“Yeah, okay. I’ll see you later. Do I just message you about lunch?” 

“That’s what the children do.” 

“Okay. I can do that.” 

“Good. Goodbye, Master Lea.” 

“You’re the worst.”

[violethowler]

Data Hearts: Analyzing The Grid’s Status as a Sleeping World

This idea spawned out of a discussion in the Discord server for the Soriku Ultimania, when we discussed the whole “Nobodies don’t age” discourse and came to the same conclusion found on Tumblr, that as evidenced by Ven, the true statement was that bodies without hearts don’t age, so the Nobodies aging between BBS and COM/KH2 was a subtle hint at their ability to develop hearts on their own.

Later on, the conversation shifted towards the nature of data world’s and Young Xehanort’s line about The Grid in Dream Drop Distance that “data does not dream. Cannot dream,” and that The Grid was a real world as opposed to the other sleeping worlds.

However, Young Xehanort shouldn’t be taken at face value. Later in the game Xemnas and Xigbar confirm that Nobodies are actually capable of growing hearts, meaning that any character’s words, particularly those of an incarnation of Xehanort, should not be taken as the literal, objective truth.

If we take Young Xehanort at his word that data cannot dream under normal circumstances, then we should be asking ourselves under what circumstances would data be able to dream?

Let’s think about what the data version of DiZ said at the end of Dream Drop Distance: given enough interaction and connection with another person, anything can grow a heart ��� a wooden puppet like Pinocchio, Nobodies, even a piece of data like Tron. That last one was already proven with Data-Sora and Data-Riku in Re:Coded.

The logical conclusion of Young Xehanort’s line, then, is that you need a heart in order to dream. Most data, lacking a heart, is not capable of dreaming. So how would The Grid be a sleeping world then? Well, there is one character in that world who does have a heart.

You’ll recall that Tron’s introduction in Kingdom Hearts II establishes him as the custodian of Space Paranoids’ data and all the information compiled in Ansem’s computer system.

Now, does that not sound familiar to a concept we see fleshed out more in Re:coded?

Tron’s role in the backstory of TRON: Legacy was to serve as the protector of The Grid and its data, in a similar fashion to the role that Data-Riku fills in the Jiminy’s Journal datascape. The Grid can fall into darkness and become a sleeping world for much the same reason that Jiminy’s Journal would fall if Data-Riku’s heart was lost.

But…. That does raise a few questions. The Tron we meet in Space Paranoids is explicitly a copy of the original, so why do he and Rinzler have the same heart in DDD? Sora and Data-Sora’s hearts are treated as separate by the narrative. So why are Tron and Rinzler treated as having one singular heart?

And this is where I started thinking deeper.

We assume that Tron was copied from the Encom server before Kevin Flynn converted the data structure from Space Paranoids to The Grid.

But what if that wasn’t the case?

The last we see of Tron at the end of TRON: Legacy is when he’s sinking into the sea of simulation, his circuits reverting to white as he breaks free of CLU’s reprogramming.

Falling into water in Kingdom Hearts is repeatedly used to indicate that a character has symbolically fallen into Darkness. What if the copy of Tron we meet in Kingdom Hearts II was created after the original Tron and his data world fell to darkness?

But how does this explain why Tron and Rinzler share the same heart? Well, think for a second. What other characters have been shown to have a heart shared across different copies of themselves?

At minimum four members of Organization XIII were slowly re-growing new hearts after being reborn as Nobodies, and after their Nobody selves were destroyed and they were recompleted, their original hearts seamlessly merged with their second hearts.

If The Grid fell to darkness because the original Tron lost his heart, and the copy of Tron in Space Paranoids eventually developed a heart of his own, then the reason that Tron and Rinzler are shown having the same heart in Dream Drop Distance is because Tron is functionally the data equivalent of a Nobody. A copy of someone whose heart has been lost to darkness, but one which can grow a replacement heart given sufficient social interaction, and whose new heart will smoothly merge with the original when recompleted.

And what happens in Dream Drop Distance? The original Nobodies are recompleted. Right before Sora goes to The Grid, we see Lea, Dilan, Aeleus, Even, and Ienzo regain their hearts and awaken on the floor of the lab, whole once more. And where do they wake up? Right in front of the computer that grants access to Tron and Space Paranoids. Not to mention, this scene canonically takes place right before Sora’s arrival on The Grid.

Not only that, the emotional climax of Sora’s portion of The Grid comes when Rinzler reaches out his hand to Sora based on the heart that SP!Tron had been growing, the two Trons’ hearts merging in that moment, recompleting Tron as Sora seals the sleeping Keyhole to release his heart from the nightmare.

In Summary:

The Tron we meet in Kingdom Hearts II is a parallel of the Nobodies. He began to grow a new heart as a result of his interaction with Sora, Donald, and Goofy, but he could not be fully recompleted because his original heart was still trapped among the sleeping worlds. The story of The Grid in Dream Drop Distance was about freeing the original Tron’s heart from its nightmare so that Tron could be recompleted, as a thematic parallel to how the founding Nobodies of Organization XIII were restored as complete people just before Sora’s arrival on The Grid. The Grid’s status as a Sleeping World is because Tron’s original heart had been lost to darkness and trapped in an endlessly repeating dream of the events leading up to the loss of his heart.  

[nanakibh]

I'm glad people enjoyed that last post. I've thought about Demyx a lot since KH3. I've got more where that came from!

I kinda forgot to mention Demyx's interaction with Vexen and Ienzo in my last post. It's pretty interesting, so I'll break down everything. (I recommend reading my previous post first.)

In Radiant Garden, Vexen presents the plan to Demyx. Just like how Demyx told Larxene and Marluxia that they had to "play it smart", he advises Vexen against staging a betrayal. However... Ever the opportunistic bastard, he asks what's in it for him. There’s always a catch.

Vexen offers him "forgiveness".

Demyx says, "For what?"

idk, man. Maybe for attacking a kid? Helping Xemnas? For joining the new Organization for unclear reasons?? Pick one.

As he talks about atonement, Demyx listens and looks at him very seriously as if he's interpreting his words in a personal way. Demyx doesn’t show his serious side for no reason. I don't believe he has his memories, but I think he’s definitely thinking about something here.

The thing that stands out to me the most in this scene is the way Vexen says "Men like us", referring to them both as scientists. That's kinda weird. You know Demyx. I know Demyx. And Vexen should know Demyx well enough to know that he's not a scientist... Right? What gave him that impression? As a man of science, can he smell a fellow scientist?? It seems too specific for me to accept it as just a presumptuous slip of the tongue. Given the research AtW performed on Subject X, I wouldn’t be surprised if he and Vexen knew something about the MoM and/or Demyx’s identity. That line sounds like bait. Maybe he really was trying to get through to the MoM, but it fell on deaf ears because the MoM’s not home right now. That’s kinda sad.

Demyx ignores the offer of forgiveness entirely. He avoids it by saying "I'm not a scientist." (And maybe he's not. For now.) One has to wonder why he seemed to be taking Vexen so seriously. When considering the things that he might require atonement for, what might he have been imagining...?

Now seems like a good time for me to mention that I think the Foretellers were an experiment.

Demyx Kingdom Hearts has committed crimes against humanity.

After he fails to appeal to Demyx's conscience, Vexen stumbles upon the magic words: "No one would suspect you." Demyx loves being a sneaky bitch. He loves it so much!! He literally cannot refuse now!! DEMYX TIME!!!

Now it's time for the scene with Ienzo!

As soon as he appears, Demyx looks around the lab/computer room with wide-eyed, childish delight. For what reason would this supposed idiot admire the lab equipment of Ansem the Wise? He’s like a kid in a candy store. He’s so distracted, he doesn’t even notice Ienzo until Ienzo says his name. Or maybe he found the lab more interesting than the person who was directly in front of him. (Yikes.)

Demyx tells Ienzo that he rejoined the Nobodies and says "I just can't shake the feeling I've been sweet talked." Hey. This tells us something important... Demyx wasn't forced. He willing rejoined them, and it sounds like he did so under a condition. There's Always A Catch. I wonder what convinced him that rejoining would be to his advantage. There’s gotta be a reason why this line wasn’t elaborated upon.

Now, there's a line here that’s different in the Japanese version. I suppose it’s not ESSENTIAL when we already have everything else, but I wanna talk about it anyway. lol It’s interesting!

What he says here is "Later, you’ll have to tell me which you prefer." (In English, this was the “We have sooo got to have a chat” line.)

He wants to pick Ienzo's brain to find out whether he prefers being a human or a Nobody. If you were wondering why Ienzo recoils and reacts as if Demyx said something inappropriate... It’s because that’s how it sounded. In Japanese, Ienzo responds with, “What’s this so suddenly?” to which Demyx says, “Sorry, sorry! I didn’t mean it like that.” It’s hard to say whether Ienzo really misunderstood or if that’s just how Demyx interpreted his reaction. .......You know what, maybe the suggestiveness of these lines is why it was changed. LOL

I’m suddenly remembering that part of Back Cover where the MoM leans over to stare at Ira’s ass while he isn’t looking... I don’t know why I ignored that before. Is he a pervert? Oh my god. Who knew that would become evidence...

Regardless, there is something strange about his question. I think it’s meant to sound kinda creepy. This changes the context of what he says. Demyx doesn't just want to have a "chat". He wants to study Ienzo. (I hope you don’t mind the prospect of a thousand-some-year-old scientist looking at Ienzo as a potential test subject. Cuz I think that’s what we’re looking at here.)

Wasn't the goal of all Nobodies to get their own hearts? Yet... Being a Nobody doesn’t seem to bother Demyx. His question is rude. It's like he's looking at it as a frivolous choice between one or the other, like being human isn't the obviously preferable choice.

Reminds me of how Xigbar didn't mind becoming half-Xehanort. Anything for the plan. If the MoM could give up his heart, his body, his memories, and disappear from the world, then being a Nobody really would seem like nothing for him to be distraught about. Does he have any sense of humanity? ...I know that sounds dark, but these are the kinds of assumptions I must consider in my pursuit of the truth!

Ienzo doesn't get many lines here besides a moment to express his confusion. Demyx can't shut up because he's just so proud of himself. He’s fooled everyone. His ego dominates the scene. I can't help but point out how animated his gestures are in this scene. "TADAAAA!!" It’s like as we move from one cutscene to the next, he’s getting more and more MoM-like. SOON... THE ATMOSPHERE IS CULMINATING...

Ienzo is reunited with Ansem the Wise. Dilan is moved to tears and comforted by Aeleus. And Demyx doesn't seem to feel anything about all these feelings. He interrupts to move things along.

If he weren't so cute, you'd notice how rude he is. lol

Anyway, if Demyx were meant to be the MoM, KH3 is where Nomura would plant the most hints. And they’re there, if you ask me. It feels like his character has been refined so that the similarity will be more apparent. Demyx’s lines feel very carefully-written. In the other games, there were lines that didn’t seem to serve a purpose, but every line involving Demyx in KH3 sounds like it’s meant to have a double meaning. I see what you did, Nomura. And I like it.

[darkvolley]

talk to me about ienzo spending his growing years being an emotionless husk and therefore not understanding what it means to be a person because he literally never learned out how, the years a person uses to discover themselves, establishing an identity were robbed from him, killed as a child and then waking up as an adult, how does this make you feel

Oooohhhh fuck yeah babey! Whippin' out google docs for this one. I've made so many essays on Ienzo and his emotional/mental development, or really lack thereof, and how absolutely pissed off it makes me. Like it really all just loops back around to me hating adults, but kfjvivjck here we go for the hundredth time cuz I literally cannot shut up about best boy and how tragic he is.

Okay so, like,,, we gotta start at the beginning here. Cuz Ienzo's got no parents. We don't know for sure what happened to them and if it was tragic or not and if it was we also don't know if Ienzo happened to see anything bad or not. There's just no way to know. But regardless! At some point Ienzo was taken in by Ansem the Wise. Surrounding Ienzo is Ansem, obviously, Even, who's pretty cranky and kinda egotistical, Dilan, a very uncaring guy, Aeleus, who obviously did care but clearly never did anything, and Braig, who well… regardless of if you think he was Luxu the whole time or not, is still not a good influence. So this is a small child sorta being raised by some not so perfect father-figures. Even tho Ansem cared I'm sure he was still busy a lot. Even was shown to be in charge of watching him but Ienzo did run off at one point implying him sneaking away is a common occurrence and/or Even isn't good at watching him like he's supposed to.

And let's keep in mind that even before Terranort showed up human experimentation was something that was happening in the castle. I dunno if all the apprentices were partaking in that before Terranort's arrival, but they definitely were afterward. And now we get into the beginning of the worst part.

Ienzo starts getting manipulated. Ansem the Wise's reports say the lab in the basement was a decision spurred on by Ienzo. Ansem had that lab built cuz Ienzo convinced him. A small child told his father figure that building a lab meant for human experiments would be a good idea. There's no way in hell Ienzo made that decision himself. He is a child who trusts the only adults that have raised him so far. If they tell him to do something he would likely do it. So Ienzo was manipulated(most likely by Terranort or Luxu) into manipulating what's basically his adoptive father.

Then it all just keeps getting worse! Eventually Ansem finds out what's going on in that lab in the basement. He wants it all shut down, but no one's going to listen to him. They've been too manipulated themselves by Terranort and Luxu. The other apprentices banish him to the Realm of Darkness and at some point Ienzo's going to have to know where Ansem went. So what do they tell him? They tell this little boy that his adoptive father went fucking mad. And not only that, but also that he fucking abandoned them! Just lost his mind and left them all, Ienzo included! And like, sure! They don't want Ienzo to know that they've become the bad guys, maybe they think it's the lesser of two evil explanations, but by how pained the poor man looked in 3, clearly what he was told had been eating at him for a whole decade. He'd been clinging onto that answer he was given ever since that day and realizing that he'd been lied to brought out just as many emotions as seeing Ansem return did.

And just when you think it can't get any worse, we reach the pinnacle. The day everyone became Nobodies. It was pretty much a choice everyone made. Dilan being the most willing, and Luxu apparently having no idea that was part of the plan considering his reaction. Or he at least didn't plan on getting stabbed by Terranort with his own Keyblade to make it happen. Anyway, I highly doubt Aeleus was truly okay with the whole thing without a ton of manipulation. And for Even it probably took less manipulation but, my point. Those two did need at least some manipulation unlike Terranort and Luxu. But Terranort was obviously being manipulated Luxu but that's not really what I'm talking about here. Anyway, Dilan has been proven to be just kinda shitty in general in a previous analysis of mine so I feel he was pretty much on board from the start, he just needed some talking to first.

So back to Ienzo! Again, there's no way this child willingly made the decision to become a Nobody. But, at this point the kid has lost his adoptive father, these are the only people he trusts, and he's a damn child! He is malleable and would believe whatever he's told since he believed Ansem really did abandon them. He's gonna trust that whatever becoming a Nobody means would actually be a good thing. And I doubt that even if Terranort and/or Luxu explained the whole deal to the other three that they'd also give the full picture to Ienzo.

So poor boy gets stabbed by Terranort and ends up a Nobody. At some point they go to The World That Never Was and take up home there. Zexion isn't the only kid in the Org, but Axel and Saix likely did keep more to themselves, plus they're teenagers and at this point 16/17 so they're almost adults. But anyway, he's in this new place that's all white and honestly to me feels like a stone cold prison from the atmosphere it gives off in Days.

And included in the whole ordeal is what comes with being a Nobody. Obviously we know everyone was lied to about not being able to get their hearts back without Kingdom Hearts, but they didn't know that. Zexion's just a kid and he's being told he doesn't have a heart anymore nor can he get it back unless they work on completing Kingdom Hearts. He's told he can't feel emotions without a heart, so he's going to question every little thing he feels and be in denial about it being emotions. And even tho he doesn't believe he can feel emotions, he still can. How else is he supposed to get a new heart eventually if he can't anyway?

So, like plenty of teens, Zexion gets angry that he can't control his life and he's stuck in the situation he's in now. He becomes the snarky Zexion that we all know. All his backhanded talk is his way of letting out even the smallest amount of frustration he can while not acting out in a way that'll get him in trouble with Xemnas. All his caretakers have become kinda worse people and he ends up surrounded by even more people that are kinda shitty. I mean, Luxord's pretty normal tho so he might be excluded from that. But then there's Lexaeus, who was shown to be regretful of leaving Zexion alone after he loses to Riku. It's pretty clear that he's the first person that really regrets the way everything has turned out, or who has at least expressed it at that point, and is upset that Zexion had to be apart of it all. But other than that it doesn't seem like anyone really cares for Zexion. He and Vexen have mostly been shown bickering and in the extra scene in KH2 Xigbar/Luxu seems to just like teasing Zexion. He even brought up the experiments they did which is likely a sore spot for Zexion considering everything he's been through.

And then there's the way he goes out. Getting strangled to death by Repliku on Axel's orders. I've gone over this one in detail before but if I'm gonna have everything on this post I might as well do it again in a condensed form. We don't really know the extent of Ienzo's relationship with Lea and Isa, but they had to have at least known each other when the two ended up becoming apprentices. And growing up in the Org together they had to have done missions together at least a few times and they were in meeting together and all that. Since those two were on the younger end as well, they had to have some understanding of how Zexion was feeling through it all. And yet Axel and Saix had it planned the whole time that Zexion was going to die at Castle Oblivion along with everyone else. This little kid that they'd known since their Radiant Garden days, dying like the others so they could get closer to having a chance to figure out what happened to a girl that Saix started questioning the very existence of. And then you have to wonder about how that affected Ienzo. Was there ever a moment where he was scared to see Riku again after a fake version killed him? Does he secretly hold it against Lea? Does he have nightmares of getting choked???

And after the worst of it is over, he finally wakes up and he's himself again. He's home, but during his reunion with Ansem is when we finally see the lasting effects of everything he's been through. He says he was just a boy, but he should have known better. That means all these years Ienzo believed he should have done something. Even as a child he should have been able to see past the manipulation and put a stop to it. But that's wrong. So completely wrong. He was a child while everyone else was an adult. Ienzo shouldn't have to keep all that guilt of not being able to do anything on his shoulders. It should have been the adults' responsibility to protect Ienzo. Being a child in the first place means he's prone to blaming himself and thinking everything was his fault. If only he could have seen through the manipulation, told Ansem when he was still around, or another adult not involved, or stopped them all himself then none of this would have happened. That's what he tells himself, which is so horribly wrong. And even as an adult he carries all that guilt around which means he was never able to realize that he couldn't have done much, if anything, and he shouldn't have had to in the first place. He doesn't realize it was the adults' responsibility. That's where the stunted maturity comes in. In that aspect he still thinks like a child cuz he never truly got to grow up from being one. He still has all that guilt even after eleven years.

And it all fucking kills me. That's how it makes me feel. It makes me continue to feel my life long contempt for adults that don't care for children cuz children are apparently inferior. And no matter what kids are going to blame themselves, even if they know they shouldn't. Even if they're self aware enough to know it's a thing kids just naturally do, they're still prone to it. And by God if there's anything so deeply realistic in anything Nomura has ever done, it's Ienzo's characterization. It's how real and human he is despite being a fictional character. Him and his struggles feel so real because we were all kids and so many of us have had fucked up parts of our childhood and if there's one relatable thing in Kingdom Hearts it's the guilt Ienzo has felt for eleven goddamn years and I'm gonna fuckin cry and this time it's not about the reunion scene. Ienzo just means that fucking much to me for all the bullshit he's had to unwillingly put up with cuz of crappy adults.

[ohhicas]

Maybe a sad headcanon (which might be kind canon?). It's about the moment, where Lexaeus slams Riku against the ceiling and shouts "Don't mock me!". I didn't exspected him saying this tbh, because he seems like a calm and collected person. So I have been thinking about this and got to the conclusion, that he (and Aeleus) were only reduced by their muscles. People might have mocked him, bc they thought he was just a brickwall. (He didn't talk much, so they didn't know his intelligence)

   I went and did dumb research (read: used this as a moment to go watch clips a bunch and be lazy) cause you got me curious, and while there’s already a lot of little small things different between japanese&english this is actually one of them? Like I’m fairly sure the translation of what he yells is “Cease this”/stop this, which sounds more accurate to his character than “BITCH YOU THOUGHT” and axe sword slapping him to the ceiling.

which may be why–

   his canon reaction seems to be “welp, gonna stand here and be quiet, threateningly looming behind Ienzo in case anything happens”. Swapping between the two versions it really seems like Lex(& later Ael) hold no grudges towards getting beaten? He blames himself for losing, taking a fight he can’t win, which is right up his alley especially when you count in the samurai theme to him, with personality, honor, etc. Like Lex dies basically going “oh shit you’re good, no wonder Ansem SoD wanted you. Damn sorry Zexion I shouldda known better.”    And if Ienzo is able to separate out the Repliku from Riku, his very :)!!! reaction to everything would make sense. But that boy is a bundle of contradictions for how I feel would be a natural reaction to things especially when he grew up in darkness but WHAT DO I KNOW? 

   Aeleus was considered one of Ansem the Wise’s best students so I’d figure everyone under Ansem’s wing knew this, I feel like they’d consider him more than his muscles? At least the original RG set, the other numbers deeper in may have picked on him, especially those who seem to be part of the KHUX timeline. BUT AT THE SAME GODDAMN TIME   Lexaeus doesn’t trust like, anyone right? Canonly? I’m pretty sure it’s stated he trusts everyone in the Org basically as far as they can throw him, which tends to be at arm’s length or less– besides Ienzo. And I dunno how he thinks really because he’s a fictional character in a videogame series with some questionable writing at best, but as a quiet person who is overly suspicious of everyone around me? I wouldn’t let anyone calling me dumb, or only good for my [one thing] get to me. It’s a ?? to me, whether or not that would’ve been the reason for the English line. 

   I FEEL LIKE, if I ignore the Japanese side, only using the English lines to draw headcanon from the line; it’s less of a ‘too much pent up he’s finally pissed’, and that final bit of “give me the respect, brat” coming from his fair/noble side. He’s Samurai themed, and beaten, and instead of getting the chance to bow out and accept a death since he was rightfully beaten, Riku (who is a kid so like, you can’t blame him) gung-ho charges in and Lex axe-slaps him back like bitch, you won but he’s not dead yet. 

   Im also talking out my ass here I just really want to talk about Aeleus but I’m super underqualified. 

Sidebar super unrelated to both of the asks I brought up but still related because it’s a good Mountain:    Do you ever get the feeling he’s one of the rare Org members who has, while not full, a pretty good grasp on his Somebody humanity? There was no reason for him to cling so hard to Zexion making him his “one” person he trusted in an organization where there was no reason to trust anyone; even beating out BFFL Isa&Lea’s crumbling friendship, and possibly beating out Lauriam&Elrena’s “Yeah I’ll follow you into the dark, why the shit not lets party”. When Dilan changed, Xaldin didn’t seem to care about any of his old team, even Ael/Lex who you could easily headcanon as a close friend just by their dual guard status. Vexen didn’t seem to care about someone who Even considered his son (or charge? ward?? I don’t know the official term for his feelings towards Ienzo, just that he Cared), but he still flocked to/ended up on the same mini-team with him. But fuckin Lexaeus is over there like, ah yes, the one we’re calling the schemer, the possibly next-second to our Master before Saix slams up the ranks in a showy, head-carving call of dibs. That conniving boy that nobody should ever trust just from what his power is.    This is the one goddamn person in the entire Organization I trust. The only reason I can imagine why is that underlying Aeleus heart in him like clawing and scraping up his chest cavity refusing to let him fail Ienzo again (since, well, they were clearly gathered around his fallen body. There was an effort to protect the scientists and he Failed). And then his final lines in both english and japanese being an apology for failing again/not being there for him. Lexaeus how do you have that much of a Heart in you. The only other ones really shown to do that are the ones important to plot (Axel’s buildup/sacrifice, Roxas as a whole, and I know I’m missing other people’s character arcs but this is fuckin Lexaeus, the most unloved member of the Org set or at least he was when I first got into the series. WHY DID HE GET THIS QUIETLY SLIPPED IN HINT OF HUMANITY, OF ALL OF THEM?) 

anyway right, yall are here for art

[khstoryanalysis]

Chapter 11: Virgin Birth (Part 2)

NOTE: The following discussions you are about to read are only assumptions and theories. Only take them with a grain of salt for the time being.

In the beginning of Birth by Sleep, Ventus’ Dive to the Heart depicts wayfinders of Terra and Aqua. However, he has not met them yet, so why does his Dive to the Heart show that he has a connection with them? If this is not confirmed to be an error, then it can mean that Ventus has foreseen his friendship with Terra and Aqua. Besides, his Wingblade transformation makes him look like he has angel wings.

The more interesting part of his Dive to the Heart is the empty wasteland of the Keyblade Graveyard being depicted as his home. When he fuses with Vanitas, their Dive to the Heart depicts the dead Keyblades of the Keyblade Graveyard as their home. Despite Ventus has lived in the Land of Departure for four years and it is his home, his Dive to the Heart remains unchanged.

From the Final Battle Trailer, Xehanort uses an unknown method to bring forth a new world – Scala ad Caelum, which was once a seat of power for all Keyblade wielders. The ruins pulled up by Xehanort in the Keyblade Graveyard as depicted in the trailers show symbols that Scala ad Caelum has. This means that the ruins under the ground of the Keyblade Graveyard are the ruins of Scala ad Caelum. In addition, Scala ad Caelum means “Stairway to Heaven” in Latin, which means that this world may be a way to reach out to Kingdom Hearts.

Since Scala ad Caelum has a similar design as Daybreak Town and the Land of Departure, it is theorized that this world is the far past of the Keyblade Graveyard. However, Keyblade Graveyard is a barren land before the Keyblade War as shown in Kingdom Hearts X [Chi]. Besides that, Scala ad Caelum is once called “Cable Town” and it is confirmed to be the place where Young Xehanort and Eraqus train to become Keyblade Masters. These facts muddle up the actual time the city is being built.

Years ago, there have been theories that the Keyblade Graveyard was once Daybreak Town. It is theorized that the Keyblade War started there and reduced the town into a wasteland filled with dead Keyblades. However, there are a few problems for this theory.

In Kingdom Hearts X Back Cover, the Master of Masters, who was standing on top of a hill in Daybreak Town, said “On that fated land, a great war shall transpire.” In Kingdom Hearts X [Chi], Skuld said “The place of the final battle.” If the Keyblade War did break out in Daybreak Town, the Master of Masters and Skuld would have said “On this fated land”. Where was “that fated land” or “the place of the final battle”? The Badlands?

After the war, Ephemer, Skuld, Ventus, Blaine and Lauriam were seen entering the Foreteller’s Chamber, which was in Daybreak Town. If the war did happen in Daybreak Town, judging on the immense damage caused by the war, the town would have been reduced to nothingness. Even if some buildings did survive, they would have been greatly damaged, posing to be hazardous and nearly unrecognizable.

It does not seem likely that they would be in the data version of Daybreak Town. The data worlds are served as a way for surviving Keyblade wielders to move on from the sadness experienced from the Keyblade War – by locking them in data worlds with fixed stories and letting them to go for adventures. This would mean that the digitalized Daybreak Town has a fixed story – a story that only stops with Ava warning the Dandelions about the Keyblade War.

It is confirmed that the real world and the data world are separated. The real world has fallen into darkness due to the Keyblade War, and it will be more reasonable for the Union Leaders, the only ones who know about the war and are left in the real world, will stay in the real Daybreak Town to rebuild the world.

Furthermore, there is only one world in the Age of Fairy Tales, but with two different lands. Daybreak Town is lush and full of life, but the land that eventually becomes the Keyblade Graveyard is barren and empty. Besides that, in Kingdom Hearts X Back Cover, Luxu is carrying the No Name Keyblade and the Black Box with him across a barren land, which is similar to the Keyblade Graveyard. It is not possible for such a barren land to exist in Daybreak Town.

Outside Daybreak Town are nothing but holograms created by the Foretellers through the Book of Prophecies, that include the Heartless as well. It is believed that the holograms are used to conceal the effect of taking the light away from where it belongs, which the Foretellers know exactly of its effect. Since Keyblade wielders are tasked to collect Lux, a form of light from outside Daybreak Town, they cannot let them know about the truth and feel guilty about it.

Moreover, the Keyblade War is believed to occur because Keyblade wielders fought to take ownership of Kingdom Hearts. With the location of Scala ad Caelum being once in the Keyblade Graveyard, it is speculated that Kingdom Hearts is above that land, and the city is being built in hopes to reach out to Kingdom Hearts. The sky above Daybreak Town looks pretty normal, and if it is built under Kingdom Hearts, its giant heart shape will have been visible to everyone. However, we do not really know how the actual Kingdom Hearts looks like. The two Kingdom Hearts depicted in Birth by Sleep and Kingdom Hearts 2 are not the real ones.

There is apparently an unknown world being shown in the Winnie the Pooh trailer. This world has white pillars and tiles, blue sky, white clouds and water that act as land. Some speculate that this is Kingdom Hearts, but some people have pointed out the dive sequence being the same as Dream Drop Distance.

Since Chirithy appears in this world, it is believed that this world is Ventus’ heart. From the TGS trailer, Sora is seen floating above Ventus’ Dive to the Heart. This is most probably the scene where he dives into Ventus’ heart to awaken him. Since Ventus is a Keyblade wielder from the Union X [Cross] era, he will certainly have a Chirithy. Moreover, in the Final Battle Trailer, Chirithy reminds Sora that he has learned how to restore someone’s heart after it has been lost. This hints strongly that this Chirithy belongs to Ventus.

In Dream Drop Distance, when Riku dives into Sora’s heart, he arrives in Destiny Islands, Sora’s home. With this fact in mine, this mysterious world will most likely be Ventus’ home. If this world is really Ventus’ heart, it contradicts with the world being depicted on his Dive to the Heart – the empty wasteland of the Keyblade Graveyard. It is not a barren wasteland, not a land filled with dead Keyblades, not Scala ad Caelum, and not Daybreak Town. This will certainly raise some questions regarding his true origins.

Aside from his Dive to the Heart, Ventus is shown to have a connection with many of the characters across the series. It seems that the people Ventus has met are destined to cross paths again. Kingdom Hearts is the creator of everything in this series, which means that Kingdom Hearts is also the one that creates fate and destiny.

Almost all of the members of Organization XIII are the people Ventus has met: Terra, Xehanort, Braig, Dilan, Even, Aeleus, Ienzo, Isa, Lea and Lauriam. In addition, Erlena, Larxene’s Somebody exists in the Union X [Cross] era and is a friend of Lauriam. This leaves with the Sombodies of Demyx and Luxord. Besides that, Ventus met them in the Organization as Roxas, Sora’s Nobody. Roxas is a splitting image of Ventus and Ventus’ heart may as well reside in him after Sora turned into a Heartless.

In Birth by Sleep, Even sensed Ventus to be a special child because his heart was devoid of darkness. After Ventus saved Ienzo, Even said “Let’s say I have a feeling we are destined to cross paths again.” In Xehanort’s Report IX, Xehanort said that he and Ventus were destined to meet and he could sense a strong darkness within him – the potential to make him a vessel. In Kingdom Hearts Union X [Cross], Ephemer senses that the darkness after the Keyblade War is different, and that the whole Union Cross business feels fishy. Judging from the order of the cutscenes, despite not in chronological order, it happens after Ephemer shook hands with Ventus. It is worth noting that Ephemer only shook hands with Ventus when making introductions as Union Leaders. Could this different darkness sensed by Ephemer originated from Ventus, since Vanitas was indeed special? Could having a connection with Ventus allow Ephemer to foresee the future? To sum it up, it seems that the three of them sense light/darkness and fate/destiny upon meeting Ventus.

Another interesting clue is Young Eraqus saying “Unlike darkness, there’s more to light than meets the eye.” Could this quote foreshadow something? After all, Xehanort calls Ventus a “feckless neophyte” and the “boy who failed to become the X-Blade”. Moreover, he perceives Sora, who has a connection with Ventus, as a “dull, ordinary boy” and does not think he is worthy to wield a Keyblade. Perhaps Xehanort has been underestimating Ventus and those connected to him?

If Ventus is really Kingdom Hearts incarnated, tons of questions will be raised. Why is Ventus created? How did he end up in Daybreak Town? Does anyone know about his origin? What about those connected to him? With that, I have made up a timeline based on this theory.

[theeverbloomingdarkness]

THE MUN PLAYS KH3

Here are my notes/comments I made while playing through KH3. The thoughts that went through my head.

***SPOILERS FOR EVERYTHING POSSIBLE. SPOILERS. SPOILERS.***

Tuesday, Jan 29th. 5:00 pm.

-Finally home and ready to play. Colored lights on, fluffy pants on, favorite blanket nearby, cats fed, pizza in oven, cold water in fridge, juice smoothie drink standing by. Waiting on my pizza to finish so I can eat dinner while listening to the title screen music. Have not put game on yet. (Just so happened to get my Marluxia keychain the other day too! Got my game today.)

-Here we goooooOOOOOO.

-OATH ORCHESTRAL IS SO PRETTY. Also expected recap. I bet there will be a lot of flashbacks in the game (update: not at all).

-Cable town seems a precarious place to live- also a pain to get around. Pretty. there’s a LOT of islands. (Update: homeworld of Keyblade wielders? Or base)

-Eraqus playing dumb?  Messing with Xehanort? Or is he actually just like that and doesn’t know.

-Queue intro. Music feels off slightly but that could just be because I saw the trailer one first. Also new Marluxia content, gonna need a gif of that little clip jumping over the scythe.

-Darkside, of course. Nostalgia reasons. Would have been more interesting if they changed up the fight with him, I think. He’s always been a pretty lame fight.

HERCULES WORLD

-Cutscenes feel much more natural (first reaction). Also Donald getting shit on, always fun. (Update: the amount of shitting on each other in this game is unreal)

-Hercules’ new voice… Is it new? IDK, but I find it unnerving.

-The Instagram loading screens are weird? Not a big deal.

-Maleficent’s much needed glow up.

-The graphics are odd because some things look super good and then some things look kinda weird sometimes. IDK I just started. Generally very pretty.

-SORA, DONALD, GOOFY. Is this going to be a thing again? (Update: yes, it is)

-Guess Phil isn’t going to talk at all? Sort of weird (Update: speaking of NOT SPEAKING. Aeleus and Dilan. Not a single peep. Wow.)

-Xigbar’s voice is changing into Xehanort’s now. Someone help him.

-Holy shit an NPC. WTF was that scene??? I think that’s all that needs to be said here. Just, what? How did that even work? No idea where the girl was/how far? Didn’t see any fire? Too slow? Yeeted into the universe. Little girl saved???

-Jumping around when you get hit with fire is annoying.

-Fighting those Titans was a shirt storm. It was soooo janky for me. (update: the combat in this game is incredibly aerial based)

-“May your hear-- ?” Unsure if game bugged or not. (Update: I get it now. Thanks, epilogue.)

-So Axel DOES get an outfit, wonder if we’ll ever see him wear it. (Update: AT THE VERY END

-Phone call. Is it my boy IENZO??? Oh, nope. D: WAIT, there he is.- -MOODY AELEUS??? What does he have against Roxas? Just because he left the Organization? Yeah, like Axel. Stop the bias against the other Org members.

-GODDAMMIT they did it again with the title card.

TWILIGHT TOWN

-Seifer and gang left for a “hero’s journey”.

-IENZO SPYING? IENZO CHUCKLE. Ienzo didn’t know= that makes sense. He’s so…happy (Update: he really is chipper in this game) -KIDNAPPED EVEN? -Just get Even to make him a body. -I too could go for some hot wings, little girl -Talking about Sora. I figured, but I hoped.

-Darn you Axel for being attractive -DILAN

IT’S MARLUXIA TIME. MARLUXIA TIME. MARLUXIA TIME

-What a lovely world; everyone’s having a nice time… It sure would be a shame, if someone….ruined it.

-Mar you creep. PINK EYES?

-FAVOR? Oh. :I Balance, eh? Do you believe that Mar? Also would rather forget? Himself, or does he mean Sora?

-Marluxia does indeed dislike nicknames.

-Is Marluxia really out to protect the light/Rapunzel for balance? If it were anyone else it’d be easy to write off. (Update. Like Larx for this story it’s just about making sure they have the PoH backups)

-Time for Mar to be an ass. Lol. Sounded like he wasn’t even trying.  He likes it when they run. Also I guess Mar tied Flynn up in this version? -HE’S SO PRETTY -SLEEP BOY! Also…Mar? New power? Lol. How handy, wish I could do that to myself. (Also the comment about him being good at sleeping or something? Guess he knows that from DDD? When they were all there at the end. Or upon learning he was in a pod for a year.)

-The bosses thus far have been huge and really annoying to hit/air battles.

-On Marluxia, still looks like they’re just using him for Nort fodder at this point. Even though it still makes no sense at all.

-And I’m sure that’s all I’m gonna get this game for Marluxia.

-ALSO,  Reapers baby. CALLED IT.

-Get Even to make one! Well Goofy’s right, Ienzo might be able to do it. OH MY GOD I CALLED IT. Good job Riku for being smart.

-*Sidenote: If you haven’t seen Tangled some things might seem disconnected to you as a player. (Update: this goes for most of the Disney worlds actually.)

TOY STORY

-Final Fantasy??!?!?! LOL Riku and Noctis fusion

-WTF. Shot by YMX into Square Enix? Oh nope, Gigas.

-OOO Woody burn. No one loves you Xehanort.

-Should have been ,“There’s a snake in my boot”

-ANOTHER Woody burn.

-I feel like Young Xehanort learned something they already knew???

-OH YEP. Need Even. I wonder if Aeleus and Dilan will talk in this game (Update: nope)

-OOOO Evil meeting. Everyone yell so you can hear each other. DAMN IT VEXEN, you mad science man. At least it’s a believable reason for Vexen. Unlike Marluxia, which is total bullshit

-Gummi flying takes forever.

FROZEN. Ready to see my girl Larxene

-This is literally the my friends are my power game with the way the combat is set up (Update: Very Aerial and AOE oriented gameplay)

-Also enemies have a lot of HP

-Lol. Oh yeah, memory loss. They filled her in.

- Using the electricity to move the blocks and trap them… I can be like, ok I’ll buy that. But this is a complex-ass labyrinth

Along with Marluxia’s sleep thing and now this,… Headcanon that it’s due to Xehanort influence possibly?

-Larxene Nobodies! They look like ninjas. YEP. Just checked. Called Ninjas.

-Giant Larxene knife symbols on wall. Classy.

-Did Larxene just show Elsa up with that labyrinth btw?

-LET IT GO. LET IT GO. “I don’t know what I just saw”. lol

-What is with all this Larx ice using? I dun like it >.<

-Again boss is up so high the fight is really floaty and crazy

-What girl??? Who??? Namine? Kairi? Streli? Not Larxene . Must be Kairi. (Update: STILL DON’T KNOW THE GIRL. Future game plot point)

-KARATE Aqua

-Oh god, not Pooh Bear. Please be optional.

-Ienzo has an Instagram.

MONSTERS INC

-Alright Vani where you at?

-LMAO Sully just grabs him and throws him in a door xD That is a GOLDEN moment

-Ienzo’s gonna be the one who saves Xion Roxas and Ventus. Nice.

-This is “shit on each other the game” isn’t it?

-Oooo evil meeting.  MY PALS. Marluxia is WOKE as fuck., he’s like nah he just wants our empty husk bodies as vessels.  Larxene ain’t having it, yep, that’s what I thought. You? Canon ‘Marly’ Omg Benched, I believe it. REBEL GROUP. REBEL GROUP.  (Update: I chanted this in my head a lot)

WHAT??? Another purpose? Luxord in.  TELL US THE PURPOSE? All four of them? Wow. Demyx and Luxord in Union X confirmed. :/ Not a fan of this. Too many keyblades.

Ugh I want more plot Dx Gotta do Pirates.

*So it does seem like the four of them don’t want to be in the Org? But again they aren’t doing anything about it so???

So the reason they let them back (Mar and Lar even though traitors) is because they want their ancient keyblade powers. (Update: This is never mentioned again. Like, why does it matter to Xehanort? Did Xehanort pull them out of time? More questions)

PIRATES

- Vexen and Lux. Oooo Vexen not obeying. Luxooooord. REBEL GROUP. REBEL GROUP. -Pausing air fight to feed cats. Not enjoying this flying oof. Thank goodness it isn’t all shooting -Who needs air? -Wow nice ship and sails Luxord -Whatever you want eh Luxord? -Gonna honor the rules Lux? Did he lose on purpose? -Hope eh? -LOL No Parley. OOF breath on his face, into the ocean. Luxord just got burned. First Vanitas now Luxord - Dramatic walk scene?  Awwww

-GDI Axel change your clothes -Was thinking this at the first scene but GDI I know people are going to ship these two

-Here comes darkqua? -A tale of two Ansems. Feeling Namine guilt? -Hayner bout to get FUCKED. WHAT GIRL? -WHAT THE FUCK? Nobodies? Who doing this??? -FUCK it’s Vexen. Good Vexen? What? :o Is he lying??? FUCK CLIFFHANGER. I appreciate all the diff character interactions in this game though. Does Vexen secretly have a heart of gold and is in on the REBEL GROUP?

BIG HERO 6

- Data Riku or Repliku? Going with Repliku. But the enemy is very codedesque. Also Data Riku is just Data, no body. Could also be timetravel bs - Replica confirmed. Not sure if it’s the same ”Repliku” - Hoping actual Repliku will come back. Riku did mention his other me after all

ALL PLOT FROM HERE ON OUT FINALLY

-Darkqua music was great

-Aaand she’s gone. Again. OR NOT

-Finally these two: Vexen and Demyx. DUNCE. LMAO their fighting. REBEL VEXEN. What’s in it for you, Demyx??? UHHH Not becoming Xehanort. (Demyx continues to be a douche character). Marluxia? Maybe. DEMYX TIME. Oh my god. Was that intentional??? LMAO Demyx is so ‘useless’ no one expects him to do anything. Nice FAMILY REUNION

VEXEN YOU LEGEND. I always liked him. Now it’s up to you Marluxia >:Y I think Vexen may have been talking about Ansem the Wise. Also may not still completely trust him because it says he went back willingly. Unless he changed his mind when learning about Ansem the Wise. (Update: Nope, Vexen really is a legend. I love him).

CASTLE OBLIVION -Vani fight, nice. Great music -HE UP. Go visit your old friend Mar.

-Ventus gets to meet both Axel and Marluxia as adults. How odd.

-Sudden Saix. So casual. WHAT GIRL? WHAT GIRL???? Is it Strelitzia? Skuld? New character? (Update: Again, future plot point.)

-Repliku with Riku.? YEP. DOPE. Save Namine? (Update: Yep. To protect Namine).

BATTLE TIME

-Enter Terranort. Shock for Ven to see. -Axel got fucked. -SHIT AN F5. - Everyone died. The end -STARS???? More pieces???? WAHHHT PAST? Union X Club??? Streli?! D’x

The Final World :O

-DEAD.

MARLUXIA? NO, VENTUS. YEP Ventus. Aw…

-Chirithy is great.

-Vexen gonna save the day with a replica? And Demyx  lol. They both got benched. What a team up. (Update: And we never heard from them again. They literally just dipped from the Org and none of the Norts did anything. (Update: No idea what happened to Demyx. He dropped off the replica and was outie).

-DÉJÀ VU. Oof.

-EPHEMERA! THE KEEEEEYS. All the dead people

-UNION LEADERS KEYS. Also all the others, but I believe I saw five? What I’m saying is those four-five Starlights= Dandelion Union Leaders.

-??????? YEN SID DID SOMETHING HOLY SHIT

-Is Vexen with the coat guys up there??? -Also Demyx??? -Do they have a PLAN??? (Update: Nope, they literally just dipped).

-MARLUXIA THEME I HEAR IT

-MY CHILDREN WHY R U WITH XEHANORT???

-Thank you, Luxord awww.  Such a cool guy…(Update: Sora still has the Wild Card)

AWww Larx. Heart tank? NO THANKS.  Along for the ride- With?? (Marluxia?)

MY BOOOOOY Dx

*MEMORIES BACK???? Real laugh. A smile. He DID forget. Always about “purpose for being with Mar”. How did I predict that? (Update: Marluxia amnesia confirmed? Also why the heck didn’t /he/ rebel. Makes no sense. I blame Nomura. He also gave no reason for why he was following Xehanort. Again, it’s pretty BS. NO EXPLANATION.)

Riku down. Very interested in what Xigbar will have to say… Repliku repossession! NOOOO. Repliku stay! Roxas, of course.

PROTECT NAMINE. D’:

He just wanted that keyblade bro. What?????? Why the backwards drama D: (Update: Nope. Xigbar just playing the role, or should I say Luxu).

Fucking Axel. That smart mouth.

Saix would have let him die; also I knew it was Xion from trailers.

:O XION. He knew.

And Roxas is in. The music has been SO GOOD.

Vexen  Zexion Ansem Demyx. LUL GET FUCKED Xemnas.

WHO IS THE HER>>>>

Vanitas sounds higher pitched in this game.

GUARDIAN??? This is weird.

I don’t believe in perma dead Kairi.

WHEN’S THE BOX? ALSO Luxord’s Wild Card!

*Btw guess Vexen and Demyx just left so the other Norts replaced them instead of doing anything about it

Awww, Saix. Or rather, Isa.

Didn’t shed any tears, but the part that got me feeling the most was with Xehanort and Eraqus tuff at the end, surprisingly

I KNEW IT WOULD END WITH A BEACH PARTY. Again, awwww, Saix.

*** WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO DEMYX? What did he even do to help besides delivering the replica LMAO??

WHY DIDN’T I GET TO SEE MY BOY IN THE ENDING? Maybe secret ending. ☹ (Update: Nah)

Oh yeah, Sora vanished btw.

*Xehanorts VA could have had a better performance.

-Wow. Xigbar really was the MoM? Union leaders alive?  OH, nvm he’s Luxu. Guess he picked up on MoM’s behavior and mannerisms. Also been through many bodies I see… No Ava.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX GDI.

UH OH. New game board. 7 evils. Five being leaders and Xig, 2 Unkowns. Please don’t put Mar through more of that, IE make him be in another Org/group.

They never opened the box, did they.

[complicatedandstained]

Rules of Engagement: Happy

After Aeleus has walked off, Axel leans his back against the rough edge of the window frame and pulls his knees to his chest. “Damn,” he mutters, ruffling his hair and exhaling slowly. He watches Aeleus’ hulking form disappear around the bend before turning back to face Roxas. “How did I not see this coming?” One of his feet starts to tap out a slow, thoughtful rhythm. “I mean, everyone knows they’re together, and they have been forever and…” Axel shakes his head and meets Roxas’ eyes sportingly. Roxas has always been perceptive. “I don’t know, Roxas. Did you see this coming?”

“Huh?” It takes Roxas a moment to stop staring after Aeleus and shake his head. “No…”

Axel tries to find this comforting but can’t seem to. Resisting the urge to simply scoop the guy up, back into his lap, he stretches one leg out to prod Roxas’ thigh with the toe of his boot. “You’re awfully quiet there, sunshine. What’s up?”

He frowns when Roxas doesn’t immediately whack him or touch him or even reply. Pangs of pain and worry prod at the insides of Axel’s chest like sharp sticks.

He sees a quick flash of Roxas’ face, in his early Organization days, after a mission with Lexaeus. A fresh Nobody, his skin had still been milk pale from lack of sun, but across one side, it had blossomed blue and violet and pink like spilled water colors. And that had been after whatever healing spells and potions Rox had managed on his own. When Axel had seen, for just a second, he had had to suppress the very real urge to vomit, and had spent the rest of the evening convincing himself that he hadn’t—couldn’t have.

“I remember,” Axel begins gentle, tentative, “back, before. Lexaeus would push you pretty hard—too hard… Said he was teaching you your limits, breaking you in.”

Axel’s eyes flash, green venom, his knuckles blazing up. For a moment Roxas sees the ghost of the man who returned from Castle Oblivion utterly alone, and deluded himself into thinking Roxas didn’t know in the back of his mind what that meant.

Axel has to take a breath before the flames fizzle out into faint tufts of smoke. “And now Aeleus, he’s, ya know…” His head tilts, and he gestures vaguely, pulling an exaggerated smile. “And maybe you don’t want him to be.”

Roxas goes still. He can still feel the force of the sudden impact in his face, his chest, his back. See the world crash into empty black in an instant of unadulterated pain. “No.” His head shakes firmly. Axel winces, pulling his leg back to his half of the sill, and Roxas takes a breath and shrugs, a big helpless thing. “No,” he repeats more evenly. “Aeleus is a good man. He’s apologized to me a hundred times over. He might be the only one who has. I want him to be—I want everyone to be…” he stares downward at his boots, glossy where they aren’t spattered with dried mud, “happy.” Roxas doesn’t even pretend to smile.

“You might want that,” Axel reaches out to run his fingertips down Roxas’ arm, “but we can’t help how we feel, Roxas.” Axel turns his gaze skyward. He thinks it’s easier to confess to the cloudless ice blue than to watch Roxas’ jaw twitch, or his eyes fill with scorn or shame or pity. “Sometimes, when I run into Xemnas, my skin crawls. He could be weeding begonias in his own yard or buying carrots and celery at the market to make soup. It doesn’t matter. I know, in my head that he’s a different person now, and I know in my heart how much he loves Isa, but it’s like I can feel his ethereal blade singing my throat, or I can see him looking down his nose at us on that high white throne, threatening to snuff out your life with that smug smile and fuck-all remorse, and I just…”

Axel shuts his eyes for a second to try and swipe the dark tendrils of memory away with a mental keyblade slash, but more rapidly replace them. “I’m one to talk. Ienzo’s changed so much. Such a sweetheart to everyone, so happy all the time, so eager to help and be part of the team... Least, that’s what I’ve heard. He won’t spend five seconds with me if there’s no one else around. Not that I blame him, after what I did to him…” One of Axel’s hands shades his eyes for a moment, and not from the sun.    

Roxas’ hand covers Axel’s other and squeezes. He knows Axel’s sins by now, but he’s also seen the way they haunt him. He doesn’t eat for hours after seeing Ienzo. There are days he wakes up in the night covered in sweat and twisted in sheets with bits of salt water in the corners of his eyes and doesn’t nod off again without Roxas tucked too hard against his chest until their heartbeats fall into sync. “You’re not that guy anymore,” Roxas tells him, softly but firmly, eyes urgent.  

Axel rubs at the back of his neck. “I’m trying not to be…”

“I think…” Roxas takes a slow breath, exhales, feeling the sun against his cheekbones and the back of their intertwined hands and thinking about how every night’s inky depths eventually, inevitably fade away to daylight. He thinks about how beautiful it is when they do. “I think sometimes that’s all we can do.”  

They had been trying to avoid talking about this. They had each privately thought that maybe they were supposed to be past feeling like this about the others, and that maybe they never really would be.  

“Anyway, you can talk to me.” Axel rests his free hand around Roxas’ elbow, as Roxas turns to him, eyes hooded, frown jagged. “Whatever’s eating ya. I’m here.”

Roxas tries not to be distracted by this vulnerability, annoyed that Axel thinks he knows what this is about and that it doesn’t even occur to him what he’s done wrong.

“It has nothing to do with that.”

“C’mon, Roxas… You happy?” Axel suggests, unconvinced, massaging Roxas’ skin with his thumb. “Pissed? Surprised? Scared? Nervous? … Jealous?”

Roxas’ twists his arm away at the condescending tone of the last comment, his voice rougher around the edges than usual, so that Axel feels a little like he’s been dragged down a road paved with small, sharp rocks, when Roxas counters, “About what?”

Axel’s cheekbones sting like they’ve been slapped. His hands drop back down into his lap. “Help me understand, Roxas. You don’t want to talk about their engagement?” He forces his tone to soften, but there’s still an edge, the kind Roxas wouldn’t want to run his hand along. “Or you don’t want to talk about engagement in general with me?”

“No,” Roxas snaps quickly, thrown by Axel sounding so hurt, so quickly. He hadn’t wanted that. He jerks back around to meet Axel’s eyes, his own wide with concern, and is immediately pissed at himself for giving in to the urge to look back so soon as his fury ebbs, calmed by their familiar, transfixing depth. “I don’t know. Maybe. I’m trying to understand why this is such a big deal.” His arms cross, and he turns his head sharply, back out to the street, out to the shattered glass store front across the street with its crumbling stone facade. He just wants honesty. “You’re the one who hasn’t been talking about it.”

“Me?” Axel’s fingers land over his heart, affronted. “I’m trying to talk to you about it right now and you’re being weird about it.” Axel swings one leg out the window, and glances back out to Aeleus’ abandoned cart. His heart clenches like his body’s trying to get a better grip on the damn, wild thing. This certainly isn’t how he’d imagined any version of this conversation going. “You really hurt Aeleus’ feelings just now, you know that?” Axel kicks the back of his heel against the brick beneath it, raising a cloud of ash.

Roxas tilts his head and glances back again in spite of himself. “How could you tell?”

“Well,” caught off-guard, Axel gestures vaguely, pauses, and then drops his hands in defeat, “mine would have been hurt, anyway.” His eyes narrow, lips a hard line. “This is important to him.”

“Oh, well, forgive me,” Roxas jumps down from the ledge, tossing up his hands. “If it’s so fucking important to everyone...”

“Roxas…” Axel jumps down after him as he whirls away, catching him by the shoulders, entirely thrown by the way his boyfriend’s entire strong, well-trained body has begun to quiver like a man soaked to the bone being torn at by a frost-licked wind.

Axel’s mind goes white and numb, his hand falling back. He feels like a Nobody again in that moment, like he’s had part of his chest carved out.

Does the idea of spending our lives together scare him?

Roxas had never given Axel that impression before. Out of everything in his new life, spending it with Roxas is the thing he’s always been most certain of. Roxas had agreed to forever over and over again without hesitation.

But why else would he brush off the subject of engagement again and again? Why else would he be shaking? Roxas isn’t one to avoid hard conversations or beat around the bush. Never has been. In the Organization, he’d regularly prodded Axel with questions about friendship, love, and heartache, like those weren’t the kind of topics any of their coworkers would have hung them out to dry for whispering about.

So, why…? Why…? Unless… Roxas’ words replay in his head.

Something about a ring.

Xemnas says this is very big and exciting news.

About what?

I’m trying to understand.

You’re the one who hasn’t been talking about it.

If it’s so fucking important…

“Oh,” Axel mumbles. “Oh.”

Axel draws closer, pulling Roxas backward against his chest and wrapping him solidly in his arms. He begins pressing featherlight kisses to his face and hair as the guy squirms against him and tries to tug himself out without hurting Axel.  

“What the hell are you doing?” Roxas demands as he pries, and Axel squeezes tighter. Roxas is more than a little pissed now. It’s not like Axel not to take his feelings seriously.  

“Roxas…” Axel murmurs into his ear, “my sexy, bad ass, darling, sunshine, sweetheart, deadly, gorgeous, honey bunny bear… I love you, and I don’t want to embarrass you ever, but… Do you… not know… what an engagement is?”

Roxas gives one final half-hearted shove at the arm securing his waist, and then he sighs and leans limply into it. He waits a few beats before he finally mutters, “No…”

“How about a wedding?” Axel kisses his ear. “A marriage?” Kisses his cheek. “A husband?” Kisses his throat.

Roxas tries to fight the warm fuzzies his body gives him in reaction and nudges at Axel’s face with his shoulder, tilting his head to try to meet Axel’s eyes, and admitting begrudgingly, “I’ve never heard of any of that shit.” He finally manages as close to a scowl as he can get while being pummeled with affection. “And somebody never thought it was important enough to tell me.”

Axel loosens his grip, and Roxas turns to peer up at him, glower less sharp, but still present.

“You know…” Axel’s brows rise, fingers tapping against Roxas’ shoulder. “You used to just ask me about this ‘shit.’ You didn’t used to get all embarrassed about it.”

Roxas scoffs, his hair flopping adorably. “I’m not embarrassed, Axel.” He scooches an emphatic step back, but not far enough to break from the comforting weight of Axel’s hands on his shoulders. “I thought we agreed:” he lifts a finger accusingly, taps a beat against Axel’s chest, “no more secrets.” His palm flattens and he sees Axel’s brows furrow and his frown stretch strangely in pity or sorrow or one of the other emotions Roxas least likes to see him wearing. Axel’s heart beats faster against Roxas’ palm, and he snatches it back, immediately regretting it, as Axel’s pained expression etches deeper into his face.

“Well, this engagement shit seems pretty damn important.” Roxas turns away only to peek back again, voice losing its conviction, “Unless it’s… Is it not that important?”

It wouldn’t be the first time Roxas has been told to pretend to be excited about something that didn’t seem like it should be that big a deal. Terra getting named a Keyblade Master. Himself moving into an apartment with Axel. Demy putting his sitar down long enough to get a job.

“No,” Axel rubs at his neck, blowing a strand of sweat damp hair from his face, and looking a little ruffled and helpless, despite the way his chiseled biceps flex. He sounds weary, “I mean, it’s pretty damn important, Roxas.”

Roxas words come quiet and slow, “Then, why the fuck do I feel like an idiot right now, Axel?” Roxas’ hands snatch at Axel’s shirt. The thin material is sweaty and dirty, and he doesn’t mean to do it, but he has to.  

“It’s just,” Axel laughs, though his earlier amusement has faded. His hands drop, callused, ash darkened palms spreading open, “I just—I thought you knew.” It’s not the poetic, climactic explanation Roxas was hoping for, yet it diffuses his fury in a single optimistic instant. His lip juts out, eyes narrowing like he’s staring into something far too bright. “Seriously?” Axel’s eyes seem to Roxas more guileless than he’s ever seen them. Leaf green and sharp and earnest, his usually quick words dragging into longer, more desperate things. “Honest to the gods. Roxas. I thought you knew. Okay?”

Roxas’ grip loosens, Axel’s shirt slipping through his fingers. “Really?” Roxas looks so fucking hopeful, Axel’s heart feels weightless, like it might float up his chest and out his throat.

“Yes.” He sweeps Roxas into his arms again, and Roxas embraces Axel’s narrow waist with equal force. “Yes, baby.” He kisses Roxas’ right cheek and then his left, never more relieved to hear his breathless giggle. “Yes. Yes.”

“Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay,” Roxas’ pleas turn into more of a grumbly growl with each syllable and Axel grins all the brighter and kisses him more frantically wherever he can reach, as Roxas pushes teasingly at his chest and squirms, “get off, get off, you’re smothering me.”

Axel raises both hands in surrender, but leans in, grin taunting, “I thought you liked it when I smother you.”

Roxas leans up on his toes and kisses the tip of Axel’s nose below his smatter of freckles. Roxas smiles back, a slanted, self-satisfied little thing. “I might.”

Axel lets himself exhale, finally feeling forgiven for his unintentional slight, though the real danger lurking ahead sends pin pricks to the back of his neck and wrists.

When Roxas is back on his heels they watch each other for a long moment. The breeze tosses Axel’s red mane and he shifts a few strands, sunlit gold, out of his eyes. The air smells like ash and distant spring flower petals.  

“So…” Axel hums, hands slipping into his pockets.

Roxas crosses his arms. Axel raises a brow. Roxas frowns, a dry irritated sound forming in the back of his throat.

Axel’s smile turns sheepish. “You want me to tell you what engagement is now, huh?”

Roxas nods.

“Not exactly something I was planning to wing,” Axel mutters to himself, head cocking to the side, “but alright…”  He turns on his heel toward the street, and takes a step. “Why the fuck not?” He turns again to catch Roxas’ curious eyes trailing him, and jerks his thumb toward the supplies Aeleus had abandoned. “Alright. Let’s, uh, put the cart away, and then I’ll take you somewhere nice and tell you anything you wanna know.”

Roxas nods again, and starts to follow him down the road, but stops, catching at Axel’s sleeve, his wrist. “Wait. Wait.” Something has occurred to him, sudden, pressing, insistent, and he winces, realizing he may have just let his temper flare up incredibly irrationally. “I just have one question.”

Axel looks hesitant, his hand grasping at thin air and tightening into a fist. “Okay, yeah, sure.” His eyes dart down to meet Roxas’, expression uncertain but open. “Fire away.”

“Engagement.” Roxas’ hand slides up Axel’s wrist. He watches his palm pressing Axel’s palm, their callused fingers aligning, sliding at his black and white rings. He can’t help but think of a few other things Axel had taken some convincing to tell him about. Being best friends. Falling in love. His past. Kissing, snuggling, spooning, and then, most recently…  

Roxas glances up. “It’s not… I mean… Is it, ya know, like…” Roxas’ lip curls up. His voice is always husky, but this is one of those times he makes Axel really notice it.  “...a sex thing?”

“What?” Axel snorts, eyes going skyward, a silent plea for divine intervention. He loves Roxas for his bluntness, but… “Fuck.” Axel’s gaze shifts to meet Roxas’ eyes and ensure he’s not been screwing with him this entire time, but Roxas just looks intently curious and maybe a touch chastised. “No.”

Roxas’ blond brows arch. “No?” he echoes.

“Roxas.” Axel can no longer hold back his laughter. “No. Cross my heart.” He draws a finger in an ‘X’ across Roxas’ chest. “No. Why would you even ask me that?” Roxas laughs himself, a light puff and then shrugs and starts walking toward the supply cart. “Usually, when I don’t know what something is, and someone laughs and tells me to ask you, it’s a sex thing.”

Axel chokes, coughs, takes a long moment to process this before he grins and steps up to join Roxas, arm wrapping his shoulders, squeezing them. “Not sure what else there is to teach you there, pal.”  Laughter stains his voice, lines crinkling around intent eyes. “I think we’ve been pretty thorough.”

Roxas smiles a soft, genuine Roxas smile, catching the hand on his shoulder in his, tugging him toward the supply cart. His entire chest feels warm as Agrabah sand. His imagination starts to stray. “You’ll think of something.”

Axel snorts and buries a kiss in the golden tufts of Roxas’ hair. “Probably.”

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