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bigdrchief · 3 years

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Comet’s Melody (Kingdom Hearts/Ducktales)

Idea popped up in my head, needed to write it down.

Roxas sighed as he tasted the ice cream, the salty flavor failing to uplift his feelings.

He was preparing for a new mission for Organization XIII, this time to Agrabah to plant some sort of device. However, he managed to get some time to himself by claiming that he was coming to Twilight Town to “train”.

In reality, he was contemplating on whether or not he should leave the organization.

The idea seemed far-fetched at first: they were the closest he had to a family, especially with his friends Axel and Xion. However, the lack of information being told, combined with the unclear motives behind Xion, was beginning to get to him.

Was there a point working for the organization anymore? It feels more like a prison than a place he could live in now…

Roxas sighed, feeling ‘discontent’ about not telling Axel or Xion about his “training”, but this was something he needed to think about for himself.

As he sat at the clock tower, contemplating his choices, he noticed a shooting star in the distance.

Huh, he thought to himself. Didn’t think stars would fall in the daytime… I think somebody once said that you could make wishes on them… If so, then I wish for a sign on what to do, something to show why I’m here, why I’m so special to the Organization...

He closed his eyes and prayed, and he opened them to find the star slowly heading to the forest. Eyes wide he quickly stands up and watches as the star lands near the old manor on the outskirts of Twilight Town…

...The same place that he had woken up before, at least he had the feeling that was where the Organization had found him.

“What the heck…?”

Questions surged through his mind as he tried to figure out what had just happened. WIth nothing better to do, he decided to go investigate the ‘star’.

At least he’ll be able to take his mind off the Organization for a while…

Getting there was easy, as having to run around all across various places helped with improving his stamina. Passing by various flyers and posters, he managed to reach the entrance of the woods and quickly entered it.

As he moved throughout the forest, there was the occasional Heartless grazing around, but he was able to quickly take care of any that attacked him with his Oathkeeper.

After a while, he finally managed to reach the old manor, gasping out of breath.

As he was catching his breath, the ‘star’ landed at the front of the gates of the wall, a bright glow quickly filling the area. Roxas quickly closed his eyes, averting himself from blindness, before opening as the light faded.

His eyes widened as he saw, laying down in front of the manor, was some sort of white-feathered avian humanoid.

The figure wore some sort of brown aviator’s clothing, with a brown pilot’s helmet and faded blue scarf, alongside some beige shorts.

While aware of how ‘out there’ people’s appearances can be due to how different each world is, he couldn’t really recall encountering any bird-like people before. Wait…

As he attempted to remember if he had seen such individuals before, the duck person groaned, reminding Roxas that despite the lack of impact, somebody had just crashed onto the ground.

“Are you alright?” he asks as he quickly makes his way to person, helping her stand by.

As he did, however, he made eye contact with her, bright blue to cyan. What stared back at him was emptiness, an all too familiar emptiness, one that he needed to determine quickly.

“Uh, do you remember anything?”

The duck blinked, and as she dusted herself off slowly, crinkles spread across her forehead as she slowly blinked.

“I… don’t...” she said dully.

A Nobody. The duck was a new Nobody.

What else could explain the emptiness of her eyes, something that he often saw faintly in the other Organization members, a sign of their own literal emptiness.

Suddenly he was glad that he had chosen to be alone. He had no idea how Axel would have acted, regardless of his feelings on the matter, and he certainly didn’t trust any other Organization member to have been more gentle with the woman.

...Except for Xion.

“Uh, do you remember your name?” Roxas asked.

“My name…?” she said softly, rubbing her fingers across her shorts. “...It’s Della...I think...”

Della, right. He had no idea how to do this actually. Was he supposed to give her a new name, considering she was a Nobody? It was essentially how the Organization leader named him, and he certainly didn’t like how much his name was connected to Sora.

...On the other hand, he didn’t really know how you go about naming Nobodies. Naming yourself with an X seemed to be how Nobodies were expected to be named. Besides, he could at the very least have the petty claim of giving Nobody a name, like the Organization’s leader. Take that!

“Well, do you mind a new name?” Roxas asked, getting flustered when Della turned towards him in confusion. “N-Not that your old name is bad, but you’re a, uh, Nobody, and Nobodies who retained their selves tend to have names with Xs in them.”

Yeah, this was probably a bad idea.

Still, he was pleasantly surprised when she nodded, though that could also be a result of her still being dazed. Axel had claimed that he was like a zombie when he had first joined the Organization, so it was likely that she was in a similar state as well.

“Right, so I was thinking… Uh...”

He tapped his head as he attempted to figure out a cool name to give her, before finally having an eureka after sounding out the syllables in his head of one combination of letters.

“Oh, how about Xellda? Will that work for you?”

Yeah, it wasn’t all that original, but it sounded cool!

“...It sounds cool.” Xellda said, smiling at the name.

“Right!”

With that out of the way, Roxas knew that he had to confront the Emblem Heartless in the room: the fact that she was a Nobody who was aware of herself.

If the Organization ever found out about her, he was certain that they would kill her on the spot. They were obsessed with keeping to 13 members, and with how little they seem to view of Xion, it was possible that they might execute her too.

It was only speculation, of course, but the fact that the empty seats remained empty seemed to be proof of this in his eyes anyway.

“Okay, so─?” As Roxas was about to talk, he quickly stumbled over his words as he realized that he had no idea just how conscious Xellda was at the moment.

If she was a zombie like he was when he first appeared, then it was likely that she may stare at a wall for hours or something if not left with something to do! And staring at walls would do no good if the Organization ever found out about her.

“Hey, would you like to hear a joke?”

Xellda blinked, some uncertainty creeping in. “Uh… sure.”

It was probably pretty foolish, but he couldn’t really think of any other way to get her to express her feelings realistically.

“Okay, so uh, what is the favorite letter of the ocean? It’s B!─ wait no, that’s for flowers and pollen, I meant C!” Roxas quickly stammered out as he messed up a joke he had heard from the locals of Twilight Town. “I C─!, No, just C!”

As he messed up the quite easy joke, the corners of the duck’s bill slowly turned up, a feeling of Deja vu arising in her, slowly leaking out as a small chuckle. Soon the chuckle turned into small laughter at the ridiculousness of the event, stunning Roxas a bit. Soon, however, he also began laughing at the quite hilarious event.

It reminded him a lot of what things were like before everything that had happened, and it was nice to not have to worry about his and Xion’s existence so much.

Once the laughter died down, Xellda’s face settled in a more neutral and confused expression as Roxas finally settled on a plan.

“Okay, so I guess I should introduce myself. My name is Roxas, a Nobody like you.”

“A Nobody...?”

“People who have a strong enough will to survive their heart being lost. That’s the general explanation, anyway. I’m a part of an organization known as Organization XIII, which mainly consists of high-ranking Nobodies. They wear cloaks like these,” he says as he pulls at the fabric of his robes, “which helps to protect them from the darkness. I’m not sure what will happen if they find out about you, and I don’t want to know. So I need you to trust me, okay?”

“Trust you…?”

“Yeah, you probably don’t want to, considering I’m a stranger and all.” Roxas sighed as he thought back to Axel. “...Even if you don’t, I’ll still do my best to help you. Right now, you actually remind me of myself actually.”

“...Okay.”

Roxas blinked. “Wait, you’re saying you’ll trust me then?”

When the duck nodded, Roxas sighed, wondering why getting Axel to explain himself couldn’t be this easy. “Okay, the plan is simple. I have no choice but to go back to the Organization, so while I’m gone, you should hide out in Twilight Town outside of the woods. There’s a path you can take there.”

As he says this, he points towards the forest outside the manor. “I’ll be gone for a few days, so I’m thinking that after a week, we should meet up at the top of the clocktower of Twilight Town. Before then, you should try and blend into town, maybe help out the people there.”

He paused, recalling a certain flyer he had passed earlier. “If you come to the tower and I’m not there, then you’ll need a permanent place to stay at. There’s an open inn inside the town, so if you need a place to stay, you should stay there… Is this plan alright with you?”

Xellda nodded, clearly satisfied.

“Good! I, uh, need to go back now, but I can help take you to-”

“No thanks.”

“Huh?” Roxas exclaimed.

“No thanks. I don’t know… why, but I want to try and get to this town myself.”

“Oh… okay then! If you’re sure, then I guess I’ll be going then. See ya!” Roxas began to run off in the distance, taking the time to wave back as he entered the forest.

A minute after Roxas had run off into the forest, Xellda made her way forward, compelled by some feeling inside of her that she had difficulty understanding.

She didn’t know what was going on, only what the boy Roxas had told her, and the faint memory that lay in her head.

The feeling of needing to return home because of something important… Why? Why did she need to return home so desperately?

If possible, she needed to figure out who she was, who ‘Della’ was, or else this feeling becomes suffocating?

Still, why did it feel so lifeless? Why does her heart feel so…

...

...Empty…?

#kh #kingdom hearts #della duck #roxas #ducktales #comet's melody au #my writings

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snowflake-of-destruction · 4 years

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Observation

I can’t write a quick, few line caption to save my life Part 4/8. Based off of the fourth picture of THIS POST because I absolutely could not think of anything to write but “They are so hecking cute. Look at Roxas’s little blush” and so I just wrote everyone else saying they are so hecking cute. Basically. It’s that but wordy. Also, Roxas’s tail wagging motors Axel’s boat across the water because @complicatedandstained said it and nothing that cute can be left out.

@shaky-mayhemm

Part 5/? of Mermaid AU that needs a name

Xion was the first to know. Roxas's younger sister had always been the one he was closest to, more his other half than even Sora. That, and he felt he owed her for how quickly she'd chimed in and claimed Roxas had been with her all day, helping her create shell paths with Dory's parents. She'd even found a way to wiggle one of the shells she had kept for her own collection out of her bag and press it into Roxas's palm without Aqua seeing so he could show proof. Xion hadn't been happy learning that he'd went to the surface without her, and Roxas had only churned the currents more when he admitted he'd spoken to a human. She'd begged him not to go back, and left Roxas sure that no matter how she protested to the contrary that she didn't understand. Axel had proven every story Aqua had told them about sailors wrong even before they'd met properly, but Xion was more concerned that he'd been stalking the same human for weeks and his slip up had been premeditated.

She agreed to keep his secret because she was loyal to a fault. The only times she'd broken a promise was when she'd told Aqua that Roxas had been the one to bet Sora he couldn't last five minutes with his arm stuck in a sea anemone, and that only because Sora had a reaction to the toxin. She hadn't even told Aqua when Vanitas had confessed to her his plans to run away, but then perhaps she should have. Roxas only had to convince her that he wouldn't be hurt and he'd always come back.

He decided the solution was to take her with him next time he saw his sailor. She refused to speak to Axel that first day even though she'd been the one who had snuck into Aqua's rooms years ago and stolen as many volumes as she could of old King Eraqus's tablets for her and Roxas to learn all they could about the now forbidden surface. She refused to even come near. She stayed a whale length away from Axel's lifeboat at all times, keeping only her eyes and the top of her head above water, all the better to glare at the human with. By the end of the night though, the storm of her gaze had broken to calm seas.

For her it was the way Axel looked at Roxas like he was a treasure, but not one to own, just wearing a never-ceasing awe that shone through even when he was acting out other emotions. She liked the way he laughed full-throated when Roxas told a joke and scoffed at Roxas when he said something stupid too. She couldn't hear what was said, but she didn't need to. Roxas was funny. Roxas was dumb. Roxas's human listened, and more than he talked, though she saw him break in sometimes and speak with his hands as much as his mouth. She liked the way Axel kept trailing his hand in the water and then holding his hand above Roxas's head to drip over his face, looking too concerned to have it be mistaken for teasing. She doubted Roxas had even said anything about the dry air.

The next day she bobbed on the surface of the water next to Axel's little boat beside Roxas. He was just as friendly to her: willing to listen, eager to listen even to every thought or question she had, and then provide his own answers and commentary; excited to teach and to learn, but also falling into softness that said he cared about more than knowledge. He didn't look at her like a treasure though, and that remained the difference. He wasn't a human stunned he had discovered merfolk were real. He was a man that was thanking his human gods that he'd discovered her brother.

Xion was satisfied enough she let Roxas come to the surface without her after that (As long as he took her sometimes. She and Axel were best friends now. They'd agreed) and put herself in charge of explaining any long absences.

Vanitas was the first to find out without being told. Roxas didn't even know his estranged brother watched him and their siblings. Vanitas didn't need to follow them to watch them. Master Xehanort had taught him how to see them reflected in a jagged shard of glass he'd salvaged from a shipwreck. He usually watched for information he could pass to his master that would further their plans, or so he told himself, but he found himself observing Roxas' trips to the surface for weeks and not saying a word.

For Vanitas, it was how Roxas hardly stopped smiling for a moment. Roxas had always been the most like Vanitas, the only one out of the group of younger siblings the raven haired merman could remotely understand, quick to anger and slow to show he was happy. Roxas was still too innocent and too easily entranced by simple, stupid things for Vanitas to be able to stand his company for long, but he wasn't obnoxious like Sora's incomprehensible perpetual buoyancy. Until now at least. Roxas wasn't just happy. He was glowing more in the sun than he ever did in the depths where their scales turned luminescent. He kept wagging his tail and it was disgusting . More than that, his shoulders relaxed. It wasn't the slump or slouch Roxas sometimes fell into when he wasn't filled with tension. Roxas looked at home.

It wasn't completely foreign. Roxas belonged with their family; he wasn't constantly ill at ease like Vanitas had been and still was even after leaving and finding the role he had really been born to play. It was significant though, to see Roxas look so at peace with a stranger.

Vanitas decided Xehanort wouldn't have this news, not from him at least. To be happy and at home for a moment? Vanitas could be jealous, but he couldn't refuse Roxas the only thing he wanted himself.

Sora was the last to suspect but the third to know for sure. He was clumsy in following Roxas and would have been discovered easily if his twin hadn't been so absorbed in the only track his mind would focus on these days. And that was what it was for Sora: the complete absorption. He wasn't the only thing Roxas didn't notice. Roxas sat on rocks until his scales started to look crusty and he wheezed. Roxas was startled by a seagull that had been tapping around Axel's boat for several minutes and had been circling overhead long before that, apparently unaware of its pretense until it stood on his hand and squawked in his face as if affronted that he was a fish too large to eat. Roxas had to have a pod of leaping dolphins that he should have been expecting, considering he'd been the one to suggest their swimming route when he and Sora had talked to them that morning, pointed out to him by Axel. Sora would have been worried not endeared if he hadn't been forced to chase Axel's little wooden boat he'd taken from the the big boat when Axel had neglected to secure it properly to the rock island he and Roxas had claimed, and then further failed to notice it starting to float away. Both parts of the couple still didn't seem to notice him when he towed the boat back.

They were lost, utterly lost, and Sora wasn't going to be the one to admit he'd found them.

Besides, he was glad not to be the oblivious one for once.

Kairi was the last one, save Aqua, to see Roxas with Axel and the hardest to convince. Her protective instincts weren't of a sibling that could also be swayed by biased affection, and she hadn't heard the story of how King Eraqus had died enough times for it to seem more like a scary story to ensure good behavior than a tragedy to be mourned like the princes and Xion. It was one thing when she suspected Roxas was just following boats like Xion had told her they'd done half their lives. It was concerning then, but Xion had rattled off the precautions they took, and Kairi had concluded it wasn't her place to interfere. Sora telling her Roxas was in love with a human and didn't care about secrecy or distance was another. Axel didn't seem like the type of human capable of such atrocities as Aqua had warned about, but by the time any of them could know for sure it could be too late. She planned to corner Roxas on his way back to the palace after he'd left his little rendezvous and give him an ultimatum of whether he'd rather stop seeing the human willingly or have her go to Aqua, but then she saw the kiss.

She wouldn't be able to defend why it made all reservations melt away. It had to be witnessed. She could say Axel kissed Roxas like he was the water that sustained all life and he had to drink every drop. She could talk about the contrast of the softness in the way he touched Roxas, as if he'd been trusted with something fragile he'd break and end up broken himself if he did. She could laugh until she cried about how Roxas's tail flapped so forcefully that he'd propelled Axel's boat at least a dolphin-length when they'd shared their last kiss goodbye, and then try to describe how even the scrunched corners of Roxas's closed eyes told their own story of a moment so perfect you felt you could just float away on a current. None of that quite captured the feeling of being there and understanding what the tall tales were speaking about when they included true love's kiss. It all sounded like fanciful nonsense when reduced to words.

Kairi dived and headed back to the palace on her own, swearing that even if all she had was fanciful nonsense, she'd try to defend Roxas and his human when Aqua found out. Then she found Sora coaxing a pod of squid to play a game he'd just invented that involved five different goalposts and several starfish for each player to use as projectiles. She asked if they could talk alone, but ended up helping him convince the starfish that they would have fun playing his game instead. There would be other days to see if they could create a fairytale of their own. She'd be grateful later, because some fairytales didn't just feature princes and princesses but a knight needed to propel it to happily ever after.

Aqua had secrets kept from her for too long and then uncovered in traumatic ways, which should have hardened her heart until there was no softness left, but a combined testimony was hard to argue against. Find someone who cares and shows it even in small actions. Find someone who is your home. Find love consuming. Find a passion that's pure. It's what she always wished for Roxas and for the rest of her charges.

In the end, what call could anyone make but to swim away and let Roxas be happy.

#mermay #akuroku #kingdom hearts #xion #roxas #axel #vanitas #kairi #sora #axel x roxas #mermaid au that needs a name #watch me quite obviously and deliberately bait shaky into drawing Sora creeping unnoticed in the background of future Axel and Roxas pics #protecting them from unseen dangers #mermaid au stories

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nadziejastar · 4 years

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That moment, a ball rolled up and bumped into Roxas’ foot.

“Scuse me!” A boy came running up.

“Hayner, not again!”

Behind him, a girl came running, and then following her, a slightly chubby boy.

Roxas picked up the ball at his feet, and threw the ball back to the boy and his friends. The three dipped their heads in a bow, and ran away again with the ball.

“—They’d be around the same age as me, wouldn’t they,” Roxas muttered.

“Huh?” Axel asked, and Roxas wondered if he hadn’t caught it.

“Nothing.” Roxas shook his head slightly and started walking. Roxas turned to watch the pigeons in front take flight.

Thank you for another interesting video. The Youtuber said that RAX just eating ice cream didn’t really make them feel that close. He said it could have worked if being in the organization seemed REALLY that bad and ice cream was the only thing they had in life to give them pleasure. I actually did get the impression that ice cream was all they had. But I think the little short story “Roxas: Somewhere in Time” did a better job showing just how bored and unhappy Roxas was with the monotony of his organization life. That’s how I think they originally intended the Axel/Roxas friendship to be before they came up with the idea of Xion.

“I wonder whether it’d be fun to fly like that.”

“—It’d be fun, I guess,” Axel replied, taking a bite of his ice cream.

“I wonder how long it’ll be okay to do this.”

Axel stared at Roxas. Maybe Roxas is feeling the build up of doing the same kind of missions day after day. Every day, Roxas was given the same mission, to subdue heartless. But it couldn’t be helped, Axel thought. Roxas was special. To the Organisation, and to Axel. Just like how the Organisation can’t let Roxas know anything, I don’t think I’ll let him know anything myself.

This is betraying Roxas, isn’t it?

“We might not always be able to be together,” murmured Axel, without realising.

“Huh?” This time, it was Roxas who looked at Axel.

“What’s with you, don’t make such a scary face.”

Axel turned his face away from Roxas, and bit his ice cream. Roxas didn’t know of Axel’s unrest. And, Axel didn’t know of Roxas’ unrest.

This story takes place the day after Axel comes back from Castle Oblivion. Roxas sees Hayner, Pence, and Olette playing ball and then wonders just how long he can keep doing what he’s doing. He’d rather play with them–kids his own age. Axel knew that. He knew Roxas was unhappy. He was lying to Roxas so he wouldn’t leave. He knew if Roxas had the choice, he would leave him. Their friendship was not strong enough for Roxas to stick around just for him. Axel ALSO knew that their arrangement was living on borrowed time. He and Roxas simply weren’t gonna be together forever and there would come a time when they’d go their separate ways. They friendship wasn’t super cuddly or cutesy, nor was it particularly intimate. But it was interesting.

I actually should not exist. I was just a doll. I chose to disappear because I did not want to become what Xemnas had planned for me. Therefore, I had no regrets. I remember disappearing in front of the clock tower while Roxas held me. Roxas also went to sleep afterwards, leaving Axel alone. The person who probably suffered the most was Axel. Because he’s the one who forgot the most. Being forgotten and forgetting, they’re both painful. I am a bit uncertain whether I should actually exist or not. Sometimes, even if for a fleeting moment, I feel that I truly should not be here.

To address his point about Xion: I was honestly fine with the fact that Xion felt like a living plot device and that she felt like just another version of Kairi. I don’t think she was supposed to feel distinct from Kairi. That defeats the point. He also said that she needed more inner conflict about helping Sora wake up because it made her death scene less effective. I disagree with all this.

I think Xion wasn’t supposed to feel completely “human”. Because she’s wasn’t. She was the embodiment of Sora’s memories of Kairi. She’s not really supposed to exist. Even in her Character File story, she doesn’t sound convinced she should really exist. When she disappeared, it was supposed to feel right and natural, like she went back to where she truly belonged. After beating the game, you weren’t supposed to come away with the idea that she was supposed to return and live happily ever after with Roxas and Axel. And that’s how I felt. I was 100% okay with her disappearing at the end and never coming back. Her death scene was beautiful, IMO. When she came back in KH3, it felt tacky and cheapened her whole character.

I completely agree that it is very disappointing that we never got to see the other members’ backstories. KHUX is NOT the right place to explore Marluxia’s past IMO. But I don’t think Days was the right place, either. Many of the members died too quickly (though more could have been done with Demyx and Luxord). I think BBSV2 was meant to be that game he wanted 358/2 Days to be. I’m sure that the Days timeline would be covered in BBSV2. But 358/2 Days was supposed to be about Roxas’s “blank period” in the organization. So, I am okay with it focusing on mostly RAX and, to a lesser extent, Axel/Saix. The rest of the organization’s past required a separate game to do them justice.

“Let’s eat some ice cream. We are best friends. You are right. Ha-ha-ha.”

I loved the part where he did the robot voice making fun of the dialogue in the game. There’s a lot of truth to how forced it was.

“The biggest problem with the friendship between Roxas, Axel, and Xion is how stilted it feels. More often than not, the game just TELLS us what the characters are feeling, instead of letting it be revealed through their actions. We’re continually TOLD how great the trio’s friendship is, yet the only evidence of that is them smiling while eating ice cream.”

This is a quote from the video. I can understand why he feels like this. And to an extent, I agree. But I only agree because I think most of the fandom fundamentally missed what Nomura was trying to do with the sea-salt trio and KH3 didn’t even bother to follow through with the original idea.

“Well, Roxas—why do the three of us eat ice cream together every day in that place?”

“….Huh?” I don’t really get what he’s trying to say.

“I have no use in doing that either, do I? If you think about it, it’s troublesome, right? Do you want me to tell you?”

Roxas looked at Axel, and waited for his answer.

“It’s because we are best friends.”

At least for Axel, the game DIDN’T tell you what he was really feeling. You DID have to look at his actions and read between the lines. That’s what I loved so much about the story.

In KH2, Axel and Roxas were so-called “best friends”. And this is the reason the story of 358/2 Days pushes the idea of “best friends” in such a forced and artificial way. Even in Days, Axel first called them best friends, not spontaneously, but in response to being incredibly hurt by Saix and also from remembering some specific incident from his past.

He wasn’t really supposed to be “best friends” with Roxas and Xion, though (cute as they are). I mean, he’s a GROWN ASS MAN, for crying out loud. Naturally, it’s embarrassing for an adult to be best friends with two kids.

Pathik: The fourth chakra is located in the heart. It deals with love and is blocked by grief. Lay all your grief out in front of you. You have indeed felt a great loss. But love is a form of energy, and it swirls all around us. The Air Nomads’ love for you has not left this world. It is still inside of your heart, and is reborn in the form of new love.

I’m sure a lot of KH fans have seen ATLA. The way Axel/Roxas/Xion was handled really reminded me of how Aang/Katara was handled. I think the audience misunderstood the Aang/Katara relationship and saw it more cutesy and simplistically than it was intended to be. Aang did genuinely love her, just as Axel genuinely loved Roxas and Xion. But at the same time, he was completely obsessed with her, just as Axel was obsessed with Roxas in KH2. Aang was just a kid. In his mind, Katara was his “forever girl” and they were gonna be together forever and ever. He was quite pushy about it at times, just as Axel is quite pushy about how Roxas is his “best friend” in KH2.

Aang: On stage, when you said I was just like a … brother to you, and you didn’t have feelings for me.

Katara: I didn’t say that. An actor said that.

Aang: But it’s true, isn’t it? We kissed at the Invasion, and I thought we were gonna be together. But we’re not.

Katara: Aang, I don’t know.

Aang was infatuated with her from the moment he laid eyes on her. On top of that, he met her just after he ran away from home to avoid his entire life changing and losing everything he knew and everyone he loved. And he wakes up in her arms to find out that all his people were completely wiped out because of that decision. He was all alone in the world and deeply traumatized. And he clung to Katara to avoid facing that loss. Axel also lost everything, including the one person he couldn’t bear to lose. Roxas and Xion were the first people he got close to after his life changed. And he starts realizing how much Saix changed and he can’t cope with the enormity of that loss. He hides all of those feelings, and later becomes obsessed with Roxas to avoid facing them. Very similar idea.

Aang loves Katara but not in the way he should, as it was based on replacing the absence of the Air Nomads, and Guru Pathik believes he never learned what it meant to “let go” of her.

Aang and Katara are not on the same wavelength as there are many times where Katara attempts to shelter him from the harsh realities of life - which creates a chasm between them. Katara discovers she can communicate so much more easily with Zuko, and he with her.

Aang finds out that some of his people were alive all along and just hiding; living their lives for the past hundred years without him. His love for Katara grew from the love of the Air Nomads, so what if his people came back? Would he realize that his love for her was not as genuine as he once thought?

--ATLA cancelled Book 4 plot

Katara never seemed to reciprocate Aang’s romantic feelings. Though only a few years older than him, she was VERY mature for her age. She felt more like his mom than his girlfriend, just like how Axel seemed more like R&X’s dad than their best friend. There was a chasm between them. Katara couldn’t communicate with Aang on her level or confide in him about her own pain, just like how Axel could never communicate with R&X on his level or confide in them about his pain. They were too immature. Aang relied on Katara and took her for granted, and Roxas took Axel for granted. When Aang lost Appa he took all his anger out on Katara, just like how Roxas took all his anger over losing Xion out on Axel.

Aang and Katara had a very wonderful and realistic dynamic, which I liked a lot. It just…wasn’t believable as romantic. And Axel/Xion/Roxas had a very interesting dynamic I liked a lot. But they were just not believable as best friends. They weren’t on the same wavelength and Axel sheltered Roxas from the harsh realities of life, creating a chasm between them. Aang needed to find out his people were still alive in order to cope with his pain and “let go” of Katara. Axel needed to find out that the Isa he remembered was still alive in order to cope with his grief and let go of Roxas.

“He seemed a tiny bit startled as he scanned the room, and his eyes fell on a particular drawing. “This is…me? And that guy Axel…?”

It was Naminé’s drawing of Roxas and Axel, standing side by side.

“You’re best friends,” she said. Right. Those two had been friends—well, Axel believed they still were. Roxas was his only friend and his best. And Axel was the same for Roxas—probably.

I like this passage from the novel. It’s the very first time Axel and Roxas being best friends is mentioned in KH2. Roxas is Axel’s best and only friend. And Naminé figures that Roxas feels the same way… well, probably. What made Axel such an interesting character was that his feelings toward Roxas were one-sided, just like Aang’s feelings for Katara were one-sided. Seeing Roxas again was the only thing that gave his life any meaning. The thing is, Roxas didn’t feel the same way. He cared about Axel, yes. But Roxas would have been VERY uncomfortable and creeped out by Axel’s obsession with him. This is a big problem that NEVER gets addressed or resolved.

On the sofa opposite him, Naminé spoke up instead. “Sora and Riku are best friends.”

Axel’s eyes crinkled as he remembered his own best friend—the only friend he’d ever had, in fact.

“If your best friend goes away, you’re sad, and if you get to be with them, you’re happy,” Naminé added. “Isn’t that how it is, Axel?”

“…That’s about the size of it.” Axel nodded and sat down on the remaining empty sofa, staring at the sea-salt ice cream he held.

“So you are capable of sincerity,” said Riku.

Axel only shrugged at the jab and finished his ice cream pop.

Like Aang, Axel suffered a great loss; the loss of someone he couldn’t bear to lose. And he never dealt with it. Why does Axel feel the need to assert over and over that Roxas is his only friend and his best friend? Because he was using Roxas as a replacement for Isa–his actual best friend. Axel was desperate to fill the void of that intimacy with another best friend.

“Finally awake, huh?”

Roxas looked up. “Axel…”

His only good friend—his best friend—Axel had arrived with two sea-salt ice cream pops.

Roxas is pretty casual saying goodbye in KH2FM. He’s just like like “take care, okay?” He’s smiling and not visibly emotional or anything like he was with Xion. Axel, on the other hand, is reduced to tears. He is most definitely NOT okay. IMO, the problem was not that 358/2 Days didn’t do a good enough job making Axel/Xion/Roxas feel like best friends. The problem is that KH3 still went with the notion that they ever really were best friends to begin with.

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oveliagirlhaditright · 4 years

Text

Chapter Five of my dark Kairi story entitled “Swallow”.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21456412/chapters/66099568

Falling

Sora's PoV:

"Come on, Yozora," Sora complained. as he grabbed onto his prison door and shook it with all his strength. "Don't lock me up, because you know I'm right in saying that… locking Stella in that box—no matter how she betrayed you is wrong—deep down, you know it's awful... because you're me."

And that must have meant something to Yozora, because he gave Sora something to eat then—to help stay conscious for once, in this awful place—and it was dropped at his feet.

It was a banana.

Kairi's PoV:

Kairi and Riku decided to go to Radiant Garden, to ask the Restoration Committee and Tron for help. But it left a bitter taste in Kairi's mouth to do so, because to her it was just pointing out to their friends that they hadn't found Sora yet, and that she had failed in another way.

So Kairi found herself leaving this to Riku—even if she would have loved to meet this non-corrupted version of a friend that Sora had loved so much: Tron—and took a moment to relax for the first time in ages.

As she did so, a kid named Ben—who she would learn the Restoration Committee had taken in—sat down and talked to her, as she dipped her toes in the fountain.

"…Kairi, I think that's your name… I'm sorry if I'm ruining your privacy, or whatever, but I'm Ben. And Radiant Garden's new leader, Leon, told me a little bit about your story with this 'Sora'… and how you now think he's in data world or something? …All I'm saying is don't bet on the wrong horse. I tried to recreate my mom, via this intelligent house that we had... and that was a disaster. Sometimes it's better to have a flawed reality, than to hold onto a scary dream."

If Kairi was being honest with herself here, she was spooked by this entire one-sided conversation. Though she did wonder if the gods of the different worlds had perhaps sent her this boy to her to give her advice...

She was about to ask him how a "mom" connected to an automated home—was that what she was getting here? could even exist to become a disaster, but Pip was having none of that.

"…Why would you tell Kairi that, to get her all scared and defeated?!" Pip demanded. And Kairi pet his fur in order to calm him down, as she contemplated and yet sent a small smile Ben's way.

And she was glad that Ben was holding his hands up defensively for Pip's anger. Because Kairi didn't want her new best friend to be mad at the child… even though she was sad he was kind of confronting her with her worst fears here.

"Hey, Miss. I just don't want anyone to say I didn't warn you. But it could work out. Like, even though we were fine without her… Pat's got her bugs worked out now, so sometimes she gives us chocolate chip pancakes!"

And that was all that a little kid would worry about, wasn't it? Kairi almost giggled at those words about pancakes… almost.

Instead, she decided to speak calmly to Ben and use some of his own terminology back at him. "Don't worry about it, 'Mister. 'Pip here is just a little protective of me, like he was with his mistress, Giselle, but I see that you only want to help me. Thank you."

Pip crossed his arms over his chest defensively here—because Kairi had bemoaned some of his efforts to coddle her heart?—but she knew he really didn't mean it, which she was glad for… because she still needed one friend in this world, after all.

Speaking of friends—or former friends—it was when Kairi was having these depressing thoughts and twiddling with her thumbs, that Riku finally returned.

"What did they all say?!" Kairi demanded, as she sprung to her feet and began assuming the worst. They're not mad we took some months off in looking for Sora, are they? …They really don't think I'd sacrifice him again so easily, do they?"

And Riku sent Kairi a small smile here, that was so much like their old bond, that Kairi could have cried. How she wished their connection was that strong again. And maybe they were getting somewhat close to it again, but…

"Relax, Kairi. Of course they're not upset with us… with you. And they're worried about the Master of Masters and his flunkies, but I told them we can handle it. They also told me what everyone else is doing, and I can tell ya if ya want. But most of all… Cid fixed our phones like we wanted him to... And I should have said this all when that kid wasn't here, huh?"

And this time, Kairi did have to laugh. It was a rare sight to see Riku flustered, but she definitely appreciated over the arrogant boy he had once been on the Islands. "This is Ben, Riku. He's cool. It sounds like he's in cahoots with the Restoration Committee. But on the subject of youth... did the Restoration Committee look any older to you? If so, we must have somehow traveled to the future when we were in the Caribbean. But if not… then we only moved ahead in time in that world, for some reason."

Overhead, a seagull was flying by… perhaps trying to see if there were some French fries nearby that it could eat. And for just a second, Kairi was taken back to Destiny Islands: the place where Sora had climbed a tree to get a seagull egg… and the place where many times—even though Kairi had enjoyed talking to Sora (she always would)—she didn't want to relish in his company if Riku wasn't with them. She missed those days…

"The Restoration Committee is the same age, Kairi. Don't worry." And again… Riku treated Kairi with such patience, that she hated him for it. She didn't deserve it…

But deciding that they probably should have these conversations away from Ben—just in case—Kairi and Riku bid their new friend goodbye and went back to Riku's gummi ship to discuss things more. Apparently, King Mickey had picked up Kairi's own ship from the Caribbean and had taken it back to Disney Castle. So, it seemed that she would be staying with Riku for a while…

Which was fine. More than fine, really. Leon, Yuffie, Aerith, Cid, Cloud, and Tifa had missed seeing the guilt that she bore, and now she and Riku were safe to talk about Sora away from prying eyes.

"So, what are all of our other friends doing now, Riku? And don't spare me any gory details."

And Riku didn't, as he set the ship in auto-pilot and walked around to look at the stars. Kairi wondered if he imagined Sora in one of them like she did, but she thought he might also be picturing Naminé on one of them, too.

"Mickey, Donald, and Goofy are following Sora's lead and going to sleep… to try and find hints of him in their dreams, Terra, Ventus, and Aqua are taking on apprentices, thinking the next generation may hold the truth to finding him... Lea and Isa are looking for a friend that they lost, but think it might connect to Sora. And Roxas and Xion are apparently trying to going as high in the Ocean Between Worlds as they can, to see if they can see Sora from that vantage point… And Naminé's not doing anything… because she thinks you and Sora aren't together now because she tore you apart before."

Wow, her friends certainly had better ideas than she did. Kairi had no doubt that they'd find Sora before she could even dream of it—like usual—though she would still try… and her heart broke in hearing that the girl she thought of as a sister was blaming herself for something that wasn't her fault at all.

Kairi even thought about getting her gummi phone out, to demand that Naminé cut it out that instant… but she couldn't do it yet. No, the only pain she could think of at all anymore was her own. Because Sora, the light of their World, had died for her (again). And even if by miracle of miracle, they happened to save him… that would always be true, and she could never wash the blood off her hands.

Kairi could tell the question Riku was dying to ask her now, as he seemed to look at her with bated breath... what was it about him that now bothered her, that made her push him in a way that she never had before?

And Kairi would tell Riku one day, she promised herself now, and would attempt to make amends... just not now. Never now.

So instead, she changed this subject about their friends and feelings.

"Is your gummi phone picking up any data worlds now?" Kairi asked, being careful not to look at Riku, but rather at all of the parts of the gummi ship around her. The seats that Riku had in his own vessel here were jade, and Kairi loved that aesthetic choice, as they matched his eyes.

But somehow, even before he'd spoken Kairi knew that Riku would disappoint her. "...No. But I may be picking up something else."

Well, the "something else" was news to Kairi. She wasn't even sure they'd get that lucky. So she stood from her seat and peered at the gummi phone he held in his hand, as she took in what appeared to be some sort of jungle pictured there.

And Kairi grinned… she couldn't help it, even though these memories now hurt her. She recalled, after all, bits of when Sora had been in Deep Jungle. She thought he may have even fought about Donald on whether or not to go there… and in the end, Sora had made them crash so that he could look for her and Riku.

If they had to go to such a place to save him now—or at least get some kind of clue about him—Kairi thought that it was only fitting.

"Then full speed ahead, maestro!" Kairi encouraged Riku, whilst she pointed her Keyblade out towards the sky.

And for just a second, Kairi again felt like the girl who had built a raft with her friends, jumped off a balcony, and fought in a Keyblade War.

…

The first thing Kairi noticed when she and Riku eventually landed on the new world, was a strange fruit that she had never seen before.

And suddenly realizing just how ravenous she was, Kairi ate the yellow, C-shaped piece of food and even shared some of it with Pip.

"This is delicious!" Kairi sang, just as the flavors and textures really hit her taste buds for the first time.

But Riku seemed to be staying far away from it, though Kairi couldn't imagine why. He must have been as hungry as she was, if not hungrier since he was a growing guy.

"...Kairi, you know what that is. Right?" Riku asked, with some strange tone in his voice that she couldn't figure out for the life of her. "An aphrodisiac."

Truthfully, Kairi wasn't entirely sure what that was. She thought it had to do with romance and fruit together, somehow, but that was about all she knew. She may have been going to school some, while Sora and Riku had been out adventuring, but she hadn't always been paying attention in class… Not when she'd been worried sick about her missing friend and the boy she couldn't remember. "Aphrodisiac?" Kairi tested the word on her tongue. "Like the paopu fruit?"

"Err… You know what? Nevermind."

And here, Kairi couldn't help teasing Riku a little—as she felt some of her old self come to the surface again, just a tiny bit. "Riku, even if you're worried about falling in love or whatever—because you want to die an Old Maid, instead of getting married, I don't think this fruit is as strong as to make you propose to Naminé the next time you see her, or anything like that. So, c'mon! Give it a try!"

But, perhaps, Riku even did Kairi one better than that, when he saw a yellow coconut lying around that Kairi had missed and opened it and ate at the milk inside…

Right. Yellow coconuts… She had once ordered both Riku and Sora to find them for the raft. So were Riku and she finally becoming those fourteen-year-old kids together, then?

The two teens finished eating—eventually playing a game, where they told each other what they wished it was. Because they wanted meat right now more than anything—but then finished off and began walking again.

And before Kairi knew it, she and Riku were nearing a mountain that was very much shaped like an ape… Kairi probably would have told Riku something about it, if it that moment she hadn't seen something that caught her eye even more!

A lovely lady and an ape-like-man—not unlike Tarzan from Sora's time in Deep Jungle, that Kairi remembered from being particularly active in his heart there—were having dinner together, as a giant monkey (a gorilla? An ape?) talked to them and served them food!

There were even breathtaking twinkling lights around this treehouse… and even in the light of day, they took Kairi's breath away.

Everything about this scenario was just beautiful. To Kairi… as silly, and romance novel sounding as this thought in her head was becoming, it was like what her life could have been like with her mate, Sora, if things hadn't gone so horribly… As she knew that he had wanted to show her a magical world, too.

And so even though Kairi didn't know this couple at all, she couldn't help rooting for them… and she saw that Riku felt the same way, when he was quick to assure the woman that everything was fine, when she began to panic: "Oh, no! You're not with Lyle are you?! You don't think I've been taking hostage by a madman, who will try and steal my autonomy, will you?"

"Not to worry, ma'am... we're just here to see if this world—err, place—needs any help at all. And if it does, we're only too happy to aid it. I'm Riku, and this is Kairi."

Kairi was about to proudly tease Riku that he was acting like Sora again, as she smiled up at him, but just as she was about to, some other people entered the scene… At least one of which who looked like he might try and tear the lovers apart, if his look of outrage in seeing them together was anything to go by…

And then the one that Kairi had been worried about (and surely Riku, as well) was pulling a gun, and shooting at Ape-Man, just as the pretty girl cried, "Lyle, no!"

Guns… Kairi hated him. And she knew that Sora had come up with that same sentiment when he saw Clayton with one, and she could easily understand why.

Before it was too late, Kairi tried to jump in front of the lady's lover, but even with her warping ability she didn't make it in time!

And then there was a panic. Some of the dark-skinned men present were angrily pulling the shooter way, and insisting that he would have to go to prison for shooting another human… Meanwhile, the girl—and the ape who had been waiting on them—were worrying over the shooting victim. And Kairi and Riku were quickly there, too… Though they also wanted to give him some air.

Kairi thought about trying to use Curaga on the man, but she knew that wouldn't work. Cure spells always healed depleted energy more than anything else…

The woman was on her own phone, desperately trying to get service—whatever that was, Kairi thought—so people would come and give George (apparently that was the man's name) the medical treatment he so desperately needed… but the crying woman said that it would still take time, and George might not make it.

So, it was then that Kairi made a decision… because she'd seen too much like this in her lifetime, and had of course felt this way herself.

"We've already ruined the World Order in so many other worlds we've been in, Riku. What's one more? Let us help this man get the best medical treatment available."

Riku might have whispered something about the old Kairi being back then, but if he did she didn't completely hear it. No, she was too busy creating a Corridor of Light to get everyone where they needed to go faster.

But she didn't just leave it at that. Naturally, she walked up to her new friend and whispered gently in her ear, ""I know I'm probably just some crazy magical girl to you now, so who would believe me? …But if you walk through this path and think desperately of where you want to go as you do so, it'll take you there."

"Magic… after a talking monkey?" the woman with the slight accent—or was it lisp?—echoed back to Kairi, with a sort of unhinged quality in her voice. Kairi was about to question it. But, hey. Hadn't she been about the same when Sora had disappeared after using a Keyblade on his own heart, and Riku had seemed gone forever? "Why aren't I surprised? Thank you."

And so, the woman, Kairi, and Riku (who had stepped up to be the main one carrying George here) walked through the Light, and left everyone and everything else behind for the time being.

A pity, that, because looking back on it… Kairi thought she'd felt something of Sora when she'd bitten into that fruit.

But now was the time to be selfless again… to be the girl he surely loved: the Master of Masters had to be right.

…

Once they exited the path, Kairi found herself in an area that reminded her a lot of Giselle's world, oddly enough, which gave her the confidence to see this thing through… And she wondered if the two worlds of towering skyscrapers were once one, before the World had been split into parts.

Taking the brunt of George's weight herself now—as Riku seemed to be getting tired, and Kairi could hardly blame him—Kairi helped Ursula (introductions had been made on the three—four, counting George's—way here) get George into her apartment complex. And she thanked every god she could think of that they took the elevator to get to the penthouse, for even as a Keyblade wielder she didn't know if she could have carried George up all those flights of stairs.

Kairi laid George down on Ursula's bed, as the girl called for a doctor to stop by and see him… And it was as she did, that Kairi understood how rich Ursula was—even moreso than she had been as the mayor's daughter, because her family hadn't been able to afford to persuade doctors to make house calls—unless there were just different protocols here…

And it was at this point, that Riku seemed to get uncomfortable… as he seemed to shrink away from all the expensive things around him.

And Kairi wondered for the first time if her own wealth had used to make him uncomfortable… Even in their golden years, had they not been as close as she'd thought they'd been.

"Riku…"

But Kairi's best friend was interrupting her before she could finish her thought. "If you don't mind, I think I might go back to the place we just left and see how that Lyle's doing… There was something about him. I don't know."

Well, that made sense. If Riku thought there was something sinister about him, it made sense that Riku would want to investigate… even if Kairi herself felt called to stay here for whatever reason. "…Of course, Riku. But stay safe. We don't know what we might be up against in this world…"

Riku waved to Kairi as he was walking through his own Corridor of Light… though he didn't promise Kairi he'd be back soon, and she didn't tell him to come back as fast as she could. They weren't quite there yet, after all, and this knowledge made her impossibly sad.

Though Kairi tried to hide it, when she walked up to George and put a Cure spell onto him for good measure.

"Thank you," he told her—with a smile in his voice—as consciousness returned to him.

And Kairi couldn't help beaming herself—reminded, as always, of Sora—as she replied, "Of course."

Kairi then made a show of becoming the Invisible Girl, as doctors and Ursula worried over George. Though even in her solitude and loneliness at the moment, she couldn't help feeling grateful that Ursula had yet to ask what she was… or any other fair question like that.

Kairi wondered how she would even answer that. As the physicians performed their magic, Kairi went outside and did her own—fighting the tiny shoe-like Heartless that she could find if she looked hard enough, though it was clear that this world didn't have much darkness in it… yet—but the whole time she did, she couldn't help feeling like she was the real monster here.

'Sora… If you can somehow sense me, and sending me these alerts about your presence… does that mean you can see the new me and think I'm someone worth something? Or are you blinded by your love for the old me, and are blind as a bat?'

The last group of Heartless that Kairi fought, ganged up on her and tried to grab her by her leg and pull her away… And while Kairi would say she'd had to stab at her thigh to get rid of them all, the truth was that she had wanted to cut herself for some sort of relief.

And it was exactly for that reason, that she was able to return to Ursula acting sane… as ironic as that was.

"Thank you for helping him, for helping us!" Ursula exclaimed, the moment that she saw Kairi again—as she took her hands in hers, and Kairi was reminded of her friendships with Selphie, Olette, Naminé, Xion, Aqua, Giselle, and Carina… the friendship between girls. How she'd been missing it. And maybe it was exactly what she needed to get out of her funk… or so she hoped. "Gosh, I barely even know you, but you've been a truer friend to me than you had any right to be! Know that if you ever need anything—anything!—and if it's in my power to get it for you, I will… Though I'm afraid I have to ask you one more thing… do you think you could stay with George some? At least until he completely heals?"

"Of course!" Kairi readily agreed. But she wondered if it was not her voice speaking, but Sora's… for didn't she have better things to do—like finding Sora—if this world panned out to mean nothing?

But still… Kairi couldn't turn down someone who needed her, could she? What kind of Princess of Heart would she be, if she did? …If she was even still that at all.

"I'm sure you must have a job and stuff. And this city… must be culture shock to George. I'll keep an eye on him as best I can."

Ursula laid a hand on Kairi's shoulder then—in what she could only presume was thanks—and if things had been different… Kairi might have been happier than she'd ever been.

After that—while Kairi and Ursula both kept an eye on George for the time being—Ursula and Kairi ended up playing a game with apple cider (because Kairi still didn't quite drink, thank you very much), where they took a swig from their drink every time one of them said something awful the other had had to go through for being born into the world with certain advantages.

And though George didn't seem to be able to understand a lot of what they were talking about, as they talked (and Kairi feared that he might somehow be getting hammered on the cider), he seemed to be having as much fun as they were… which Kairi was glad for, because she was charmed by her new friend and wanted him to enjoy life. Yes, that was true.

But through their game, Kairi recalled just how many creepy guys had hit on her just for being the mayor's daughter… and how she had one had to defend her virginity with a hairbrush, when Sora and Riku had been away… She pondered if Sora and Riku (saviors of the galaxy) would be impressed by her achievement there or not.

Kairi knew that she herself wasn't. As always, she should have been better and stronger… and done more, so she'd never been in that situation to begin with. Or really incapacitated him in a form of revenge.

…But none of that mattered now. Happy game time was over, and it was now bedtime.

But as Kairi slept… she dreamed. Dreamed of things that she got the sense were supposed to happen in this world, in a few days' time, but that she was somehow seeing now.

She saw Ursula going to her own engagement party—oh. She'd been engaged to that Lyle guy?—and instead falling for George, as he ran with the horses… She witnessed George saving someone from falling from a ridiculous height… And Ursula realizing she loved George and admitting it to her mother…

And then… and then the softest waves all about her, and suddenly a Foreteller. Kairi ran towards that Foreteller, standing on a single stone in a roaring sea now… and then seemed to teleport there.

Before Kairi's very eyes, was a girl in gorgeous rose-colored robes, that the princess herself wished she had. And while Kairi wanted to attack her—because that was just the norm now in dealing with what might as well have been this new Organization XIII, wasn't it?—Kairi found her heart resisting that notion now, for whatever reason.

And instead, in the softest voice she'd ever used with one of her enemies, Kairi asked with a hand held under her chin, "What do you want? What does your Master want? Please tell me."

And thankfully, this woman-with a very sweet voice, Kairi would come to see—thought it appropriate to answer her, as she herself glided closer to Kairi. "It's good that you somewhat separated me from the Master with that question. Because my wants and his don't exactly line up. For a time, the only ally I had was myself... And I wish it could have stayed that way. But now, I find I'm reluctantly on his side again. Since, despite everything, he is still my father."

Of course… even though Kairi could try to sympathize with this lady here—and her heart was screaming at her to—this made her furious, because no matter what… right was still right.

But then again, maybe she only thought that because she'd never had to choose before. All the stars twinkling around Kairi now seemed to call her a liar. Because the truth was… if she had to choose between the World and her adopted father or her grandmother… would she choose as Sora did? Kairi honestly wasn't sure anymore.

Thankfully, the small Foreteller missed Kairi's moral dilemma here and carried on with what she had been saying… and Kairi was thrilled. It wouldn't do to let the enemy know they had a faltering Princess of Heart on their hands, after all.

"But as for what the Master wants... I won't say all of it—because I don't want to fully ruin his plans. Some of his ideas are good—but more than anything, he desires unity. Since he knows what being without it has caused."

Kairi wanted to argue that the history books from the Islands told her that when most people started wanting this kind of thing, it always led to bloodshed… but she didn't.

Instead, Kairi was focused on the pastel pink Keyblade that was now pointed at her chin. There was something about this Keyblade that reminded Kairi of her own, Destiny's Embrace, but she couldn't imagine why… because they weren't that similar.

She also couldn't understand why the girl was aiming her Keyblade at her now, when until now she'd mostly seemed the pacifist… unless she was trying to show her something now. But whatever that was, Kairi could only begin to imagine. So, she thought she might tell this stranger something instead.

"I think you had the right of it before… going against your dad if he's planning some evil things, is the right thing to do. It's like how I couldn't fully forgive my friend Riku for some of the awful things he did, even if it was for my sake."

And that was a truth she'd never admitted to anyone before. Barely even herself. So why was she saying such things now?

The woman smiled sadly at this. She then leaned in and kissed Kairi on the cheek, entirely shocking her. And Kairi felt Pip come out of her hood here—to try and defend her honor, perhaps—but the woman swiftly showed that she wasn't aiming for anything crooked here, as she whispered into Kairi's ear. "Time heals all wounds, don't you think? You should let that go, Kairi. Listen to Ava."

And Kairi woke up to see George standing before her, with bruises all over his body—clearly from exertion—and it seemed to her that he must have already saved the man she'd seen briefly in her dream.

…

At first, Kairi wanted to believe that she'd just somehow had psychic visions here—even though that would have been scary in its own right—but it was when Kairi started reliving some of the things that she'd dreamt about, that she realized that some sort of time travel was in effect here: because even Ursula would sometimes turn to her, as though she was having déjà vu.

Right now, Kairi was at Ursula's engagement party—something she was enjoying, because it felt good to take a break from the doom and gloom and having to worry about the World's safety again—and she was watching George run with white horses, alongside Ursula and her friends.

…George looked attractive while doing this. And if her heart didn't belong to Sora, she might have been moved by it. So, she certainly understood why everyone else was.

But Kairi soon found that it was George's kindness more than anything, that was moving Ursula—as he walked over to them and explained, "I just thought the horsies here might get bored, if no one played with them."

So, he hadn't been doing that to be manipulative and look powerful. Really, Kairi knew she should have supposed that that was the truth. But with how she'd been abused so much by men in the Organization—and now the Master of Masters—she sometimes forgot that there were decent ones out there.

"Someone named Yozora is also awful," Ursula said to Kairi then—as if she'd read Kairi's mind—whilst she ruffled George's hair. But she'd spoken that as if she'd been in a trance.

And Kairi was completely baffled by this, because she was starting to understand that this "New York" didn't have many sounding names like that, if any. So, who was this Yozora… and why had Ursula felt the need to speak of him?

Was that what she was supposed to find out here, that was connected to Sora? The name sounded like Sora's, that was for sure. And as she whispered it now… Kairi almost felt as though she was saying Sora's name, like sometimes she thought of herself when she heard "Naminé" now.

But this discussion of Yozora was swiftly forgotten about, when Ursula's mother—who seemed off to Kairi—came outside to have a private word with George.

And somehow, Kairi wasn't surprised at all when George was gone the next day, having left again for Bukuvu to save Ape.

"This just reeks of my mother! I know she did this!" Ursula fumed, as she paced back and forth in her bedroom.

And Kairi told her the honest truth, as she laid down on the bed and wished to sleep… She'd been wanting to sleep a lot since coming to this world. And while Kairi wanted to believe it was because of a spell that Ava was perhaps putting on her, she knew it was really because she was depressed. "…She probably did… As silly as it is to say this, I figure she did because this is the plot in so many books and movies. And you have everything here… I can understand why your parents would be leery of you throwing that away. Mine would probably behave the same way… though they may not have strong-armed someone like George so much."

Honestly, Kairi missed George—well, as much as her heart could miss anyone who wasn't Sora—since last night, she'd planned on trying to show George some slides of modern things, like Sora, Donald, Goofy, and Jane had shown Tarzan… though she'd near instantly learned that George didn't need them. He'd been very thankful of her efforts, however.

"I'm going to go have a word with her!" Ursula bellowed. "And then you and I are going back to George's home, and are going to help him heal his surrogate father! …And if your friend really went back there for Lyle, we're going to help him get over his crush on him, too!"

"Wait… what?!" Kairi demanded. But Ursula didn't clarify what she meant by that. Instead, she was going to the room that her parents were staying at here after the engagement party had ended late.

Just a few rooms away, Kairi could hear Ursula's mother unintentionally making her daughter realize she was in love with George (just like in her dream), and the two of them arguing about it… but Kairi couldn't focus on that right now.

Did Ursula really think that Riku had somehow gained feelings for Lyle?! Now that she made herself think about it, perhaps Riku had had feelings for Sora for some time—man, did they ever need to talk, if that was true—so if Lyle somehow reminded him of Sora… then maybe.

But Lyle seemed like a vile person, so if Kairi had to save Riku's heart from being broken by him, she would!

Kairi was walking towards where Ursula and her mom were still yelling at each other—to insist that they leave now, if they could—when Kairi bumped into Ursula's dad: she'd met him the night before.

And he seemed to be much more level-headed about his daughter's feelings than her mother was. "I support whatever decision makes Ursula happy, of course," he started as he saw Kairi. "But do you really think this is the best decision for her to make?"

And Kairi grinned, somehow reminded of her decision to do everything she could for Naminé and to give her the chance to live to the best of her ability. "Just… love your daughter. Love is the reason we're here, after all."

Kairi then approached the room that Ursula was in, grabbed her arm—because it looked like she was ready to leave anyway—and whisked her away.

…

This time around, Kairi agreed to fly on Ursula's private jet to get to George and Riku. As this time, she didn't think they were in too much trouble. Ape seemed to be, but hopefully George was already taken good care of him.

But even if she didn't feel much like a Princess of Heart anymore, she had a duty to the worlds and the World Order, so it was probably best to not screw with it once more in this world.

She supposed she was also somewhat doing this to try and stick it to the Master of Masters some. Because if he wanted unity… maybe he wanted the worlds to know about each other again. In which case, she wasn't going to give the evil man what he wanted… how she hated him.

Pip thought that Kairi was being reckless, too. He came out and talked to her while they were flying back to the much more flora-filled part of this world. He had seen her cut herself, and since then he'd kept quiet to see what she would do next… and he wasn't impressed with some of the choices she'd been making.

And here, Kairi couldn't help but sigh and to try and hide behind her hair some. Great. Now even her knew best friend hated her.

At was at this point that Kairi escaped to fight some Shadows that were on the jet—thankfully, Ursula was completely missing them as she flew—and as she swung each one, she couldn't help being terrified that they were actually drawn to the darkness in her heart, if there was some there. A troubling thought, indeed.

As was the situation Kairi and Ursula walked into when they made it back to the tree house. Some poachers were trying to take Ape with them, in having learned that he could talk—clearly, they had never seen other anthropomorphic beings before—and George was trying to stop them, of course, and Riku, too… Something that made Kairi's heart sing, because it reminded her of Sora.

But then it all went into Hell in a handbasket, as it would have. "You have got to be kidding me!" Ursula was complaining now. "Lyle, they let you out of prison. Or did you escape?"

And before Kairi could blink, he had darted over and grabbed Ursula with a gun pointed to her cheek. "I am now certified to perform wedding ceremonies, Ursula. And we're going to get married. I have our vows right here."

"Ursula!" George called. And it was clear to see that he was torn between saving his father or the love of his life.

Kairi would have tried to rescue Ursula—and Riku too, she was sure—if at that second, the poachers hadn't sent their own bullets flying at everyone.

As time seemed to slow down to a crawl, Kairi did her best to deflect them all with her Keyblade. And Riku was doing the same thing ...which was enough for the poachers to give up and run away, as they witnessed the two's powers…

But while Kairi didn't think that the thieves were working with Lyle, what they had done was the perfect opportunity to take off with Ursula.

Riku pounded his fist on the ground angrily here. And as pathetic as it was to say, Kairi was completely at a loss on how to comfort him. Maybe because she wasn't entirely sure where his emotions were at here. "Dangit. I thought he was a little like me—and had gotten on the right track, but could be saved—…I was wrong."

"If your choice of action was to try and be someone's hero here, you couldn't have been wrong, friend. In fact, I know what I have to do now," George said, while he patted Riku on the shoulder before heading off in the direction that Lyle had taken Ursula, with Ape right behind him.

"Riku… we need to talk now," Kairi told her friend, as she helped him to his feet. The mulch he'd been sitting on had stained Riku's jeans a slight brown color, that wasn't completely unlike Sora's hair color. Kairi swallowed. "You love Sora, don't you? You seem to think I pushed you away… but you've done that to me, too. Is this why? And what? You wanted to help Lyle because he reminded you of him?"

Riku glared at Kairi. And for the first time she could remember, she found herself almost being afraid of him—and had to take a step back—but the look dissipated just like that, and instead a single tear fell from his eye. "Yeah, Kairi… I do love Sora. Or did. I don't know. I do have some feelings for Naminé now, as you've noticed. I also used to like you… And I wanted to help Lyle, partly because I thought he was like me. But there was a bit of Sora, too… Lyle exudes a gay energy. And I'm sorry… You know I think Sora's completely straight in his love for you, but you've got to admit that he's the same that way. But that failed. So I failed again. But oh well.

"But since we're talking about painful topics here… do you mind telling me what. I did to piss you off so much?"

Kairi did not want to answer this. But she supposed she had no choice, since she had just forced Riku to talk about such painful things.

She wanted to use the excuse that they needed to save Ursula, so she wouldn't have to talk about it… even though Kairi knew in her heart of hearts, that she would be fine. But she didn't, in knowing that she owed Riku and their old bond more than that.

"Riku… you were willing to kill for me. Pinocchio, for instance… You also didn't care what was going to happen to the worlds through Maleficent's plan—and your helping her—as long as it got you me… You also kidnapped Princesses of Heart. But I'm going to shut up now, because I swear I'm not here to read you all your sins. Especially since I probably have you beaten in that category these days. And while I appreciate that you were trying to do that to save me. I also hate that you would have made me an accessory to murder that way. At least I did… And maybe I was somewhat jealous of all the time that you got to spend with Sora lately, that I didn't. I don't know."

Kairi crossed her arms over her chest here, feeling very uncomfortable. She was even about to go hide in the treehouse, if she needed to. But Riku startled her just as Ava had, when he was suddenly before her and kissed her on the cheek—but almost on the lips, and maybe that had even been his intention—and somehow, she thought everything that had just happened between them was exactly what had needed to transpire to make them good with each other again.

"There, Kairi. Was us treating each other siblings again really that hard?"

Kairi laughed. Because even though she got where Riku was coming from—he had only kissed her cheek, after the two of them had spilled their hearts out about their romantic love for Sora, essentially—siblings didn't almost kiss each other on the lips… and not after they admitted they'd once had feelings for each other. And yes, Kairi had had feelings for Riku for a hot second, long ago. So this probably was the perfect closure that they'd needed.

"No, Riku. I guess it wasn't."

And feeling as though he was the wing beneath her wings, Kairi glided towards a waterfall nearby, where it looked like Lyle still had Ursula kept hostage. And she landed on the boat to free her from it… only to realize that George had Ursula in his arms on the cliff above them, and Lyle had just said his vows to Ape, who was now kissing him.

Her work here was done… Kairi let herself fall back into the water, and float away—feeling completely blissed out for the moment.

…

Things happened pretty fast after that. George and Ursula were getting married, of course… and they were doing so here.

Ursula's family—and maybe even her friends—were flying out to witness it. And Kairi and Riku decided to stay for it, after they were asked to.

And Kairi agreed pretty easily. She knew, not that long ago, she'd somewhat regretted staying in the Caribbean so long, when Sora needed them. And she'd even been afraid that the Restoration Committee would hate her for that choice. But now she realized just how self-absorbed that sentiment had been. This was all part of the journey to find Sora, after all. So, of course, she would stay for her new friends on their day. How often had Sora got distracted on his adventures?

So, a few days later, everyone was having a grand old time. Kairi was even nearly convincing Ursula's mother to give the pair a chance… though the alcohol she was encouraging the older woman to drink might have been a large part of that.

Speaking of, RIku—who said he was almost eighteen now—had decided to try some champagne, and had quickly fallen in love. He was even offering to sing a song for the married couple now, so Kairi knew he must have been a little tipsy.

But of course, when things would start to feel alright again… they would all fall to pieces.

Kairi saw the Master of Masters standing a ways away from her now—in a more secluded part of the forest—and Kairi found herself going to him, as if she were a puppet on a string.

"Have you again taken a break from looking for Sora? You disappoint me, Kairi."

Kairi summoned her Keyblade to hand, but it was different from Destiny's Embrace this time as she'd put a Keychain on it. A Keychain from this world, that turned the teeth into a groom and bride from a wedding cake: probably because there had been so much romance here.

"Yeah, well… I'm sorry to disappoint. Actually, I'm not. I will find Sora—though I don't know why you would want me to, since he's your enemy who will undo all your plans—but I'm not going to lose myself to do it. Not when you apparently want me to be angry for some reason."

"…Even though, more than once, he's completely lost himself for you."

And despite everything that Kairi had just promised herself, she found herself attacking the Master of Masters for this, as she screamed.

No doubt, she was inviting a lot of attention her way—on George and Ursula's happiest of days—but she hoped that no one would come after her… that the music would drown this out, because they all deserved to be happy. She would deal with this mess herself.

He summoned Xehanort's disgusting Keyblade, because of course he did, and sent an "X" bathed in fire her way, but Kairi was quick to jump over it.

She then sent her light Pearl attack—though actually created from real pearls: an impressive technique that she'd recently taught herself—at the Master's face, but he dodged by doing a backflip out of the way.

Once the man was on his feet again, he kicked at Kairi's legs and she was ashamed to admit that he actually knocked her down.

He had his Keyblade poised over her head then, but before he could decapitate her with it—or whatever he might have planned to do—Kairi grabbed his arm with all her strength, so he couldn't move it. Much like Xion had done to save Axel from Xemnas' ethereal blades.

"Why are you even here?!" Kairi growled. "You already sent your Ava after me here. I thought only one minion per world would bother me."

"…Because this isn't some perfect little story, Kairi. Haven't you figured that out yet?"

And before Kairi could react, the man slammed his Keyblade down on the pressure point of her neck so that she passed out… And when she woke up, she found he hadn't done anything to her. Hadn't kidnapped her, as a Princess of Heart, to further his goals or anything. And somehow… that was the biggest insult of all.

What? Had he beaten her in a fight just to humiliate her?

And as Kairi became furious at that notion, she expected her insanity to come back in full-swing… but it didn't. Kairi's mind felt sane. And that horrified her more than anything. Would her new strength be gone if her mind worked right again?

In her hoodie, Pip had laid his paws on Kairi's shoulder—clearly trying to keep her from going over the edge—but she didn't want him to be.

She wanted to fall… in this happy world, or no.

Author's Note: This chapter gave me fits, so that's why it took me so long to finish and post. I'm sorry about that:(

I always wanted this world in here. Partly because, so far, the worlds Kairi have gone to are somewhat similar to Sora's ones from KH1. Enchanted was two worlds (Andalasia and New York) like Wonderland is (Wonderland and England), the Pirates of the Caribbean movies are full of Greek mythology like Hercules is. And now George of the Jungle is clearly a lot like Deep Jungle/Tarzan.

But then when I decided that Kairi and Riku would believe that Sora is in a data world… I didn't know if this would fit, because would it still seem like filler? I thought about skipping this world altogether, but in the end I'm glad I didn't. And I hope you all feel the same way, too.

Another issue I had, is that this movie is mostly comedic and this story… is not. Hopefully I struck some sort of balance here, but IDK.

I almost feel like there should have been more dialogue and stuff from the George of the Jungle characters here—and more George—but whatever. This chapter is finally done, and I'm glad about it.

…I feel like there was a lot I wanted to say here, but now I kind of forget. If I remember, I might add on.

Ben is from the Disney Channel Original Movie "Smart House". Originally, I was going to have FFX-2!Yuna to somewhat beware Kairi of chasing dreams… but then I realized that that didn't work for obvious reasons, so Ben it became.

Oh. And since Re:Mind isn't canon to this story, I tried to have everyone looking for Sora in ways that they aren't in canon… though Mickey, Donald, and Goofy are doing what Kairi is in Melody of Memory. Haha.

And I'm sorry if there are a ton of mistakes here (though hopefully there aren't). I rewrote most of this… and am too lazy to go back and reread those sections. So, yeah.

Welp, see you all soon. I hope.

I hope everyone's having a great October thus far!

Edit: I'm also going with that Destiny Islands didn't have bananas here. So shh.

Edit 2: I swear there isn't going to be a lot of time travel in this, if any more at all. It was only "there" last time-though not even that-because I wanted Kairi and Riku to be in Dead Men Tell No Tales. And while it's sooooooooooooooooomewhat story important here, I mostly did it to try and spice up this comedic movie some. Yeah.

Edit 3: Kairi defending her virginity with a hairbrush is a reference to sunflowerb on fanfiction's amazing "Smile and Nod" story.

#swallow #my writing #Shanna writes #my work #mine #swallow chapter five #kairi #sokai #riku and kairi friendship

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imagine-organization-xiii · 5 years

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Kissing headcanons?? I think you did gifs but maybe in words this time??? Thx ily bye

Edit: I fixed the format because tumblr screwed it up smh

Xemnas

His kisses are always deep and passionate, whether it’s after a horrific battle where he thought you had died or he’s rolling over in bed to kiss you good morning. He puts everything into his kisses with you, like those old fashioned deep kisses you see in vintage movies. One heated hand cradling your chin and the other is somewhere on your hip or holding onto the small of your back, pulling you closer to him.

Xigbar

A messy, grabby kisser. His hands are everywhere at all times, feeling you up and running his fingertips across your skin. His kisses usually end up leading to something more. Fast kisses that are all over the place. Definitely likes to use tongue. Also likes leaving hickeys, trailing kisses down your neck and over your shoulders and chest.

Xaldin

Like Xigbar, he loves giving hickeys, but he loves receiving them even more. Loves neck and chest kisses more than anything else in the world. Kisses with a lot of passion, but it’s not as wild as the kisses from Xigbar or Xemnas. Slow and passionate is the way to go with him, taking your time until the two of you get more confident.

Vexen

His kisses and his lips are always cold, like he just chewed on some ice. It always makes you shiver, but in the best way possible. Kisses you almost clinically. Technique is technically perfect, like he’s doing whatever he can to make the kiss go smoothly.

Lexaeus

A surprisingly demure and modest kisser. Doesn’t like kissing you in public and prefers to be in private. His kisses are always short and sweet and filled with how much he cares about you. He loves kisses you on your forehead and all across your cheeks before moving to your lips. He’s a lot taller than you are, so he’ll probably end up grabbing you by the waist and picking you up to bring you to his level before you kiss.

Zexion

Tastes a little bit like coffee when you kiss him, but it’s a good kind of taste. It’s something that you always expect and look forward to when kissing him. He doesn’t initiate, though you wish that he would. Takes it slow and sweet. Prefers to take his time when kissing you. Starts off with little pecks and moves further and further into deep passionate kisses.

Saix

A dominant kisser who turns into putty in your hands whenever you run your hands up his biceps and wrap your arms around his neck to play with his hair. Hickeys will come naturally for him at some point, and you’ll have to fight for your chance to give him a few love bites. Gets a bit rough sometimes, but you give as good as you get.

Axel

Kisses are hot and fiery and wild, just like he is. Kisses you when you least expect it and always leaves you breathless and dizzy. He’s usually the one who initiates, but you love those times when you kiss him when you can catch him by surprise. Loves it when you tangle your hands in his hair when you kiss him.

Demyx

Ya boy talks during kisses. Like you try to kiss him to shut him up but he will literally still talk while you’re pressing your lips to his and he doesn’t care. If he has something to say he’s going to say it in any way possible. Playful, nibbling kisses! He’ll nip at your lips and place kisses all along your nose and eyelids until you’re laughing and squirming in his arms.

Luxord

His kisses sting! The way he shaves his facial hair makes it so that his beard and goatee are always tickling your chin, so get ready to have red skin by the time he’s done with you. It’s okay - you’ve gotten pretty good at covering up beard burn with makeup.

Marluxia

Kisses you delicately, as though you’re a beautiful piece of artwork. Hands on either side of your face, pulling you forward and planting his lips on yours. Most likely to sweep you off your feet or twirl you around and kiss you like you’re a princess and he’s a knight in shining armor.

Larxene

Rough and passionate kisses. You’ll get a lot of nibbling on your lips and sometimes she gets a little too into it, so don’t be afraid to gently push her back and tell her to relax or slow down. Likes holding onto your shoulders or hips when she kisses you.

Roxas

Will always ask before he kisses you. His face will get red and he’ll start to stutter and get super nervous but he’ll definitely ask because he doesn’t want to kiss you unless he has your consent. Kisses you and loves hugging you too! Kisses usually turn into cuddle time.

Xion

Gives the sweetest of kisses!!! Always blushy and sweet and adorable when she kisses you. Gets flustered and doesn’t really like to initiate because she gets embarrassed about it easily. She’s so tiny, usually ends up on her tippy toes when she tries to kiss you, tossing her arms around your neck.

#organization xiii #organization xiii headcanons #kingdom hearts #kingdom hearts headcanon

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starcharmfunzies · 4 years

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Xiiiiiiiooooooonn xD

oh boy okay here we go

I’ll just say it. I don’t like Xion. She’s a bad character, but it’s not her fault it’s the writers’.

My argument is divided in the following points:

She has no personality, and is only a blank slate for anyone to be able to relate to.

She has no flaws, and is never in the wrong.

Her only character trait is the “tragedy” of her story, and it’s shoved down the player’s throat so she can earn our sympathy only for it to be meaningless later on.

Her bad writing is so contagious she makes other characters around her act out of character.

She serves no purpose to the story.

I’l explain each point after the read more:

She has no personality, and is only a blank slate for anyone to be able to relate to

Kingdom Hearts characters, including heroes and villains, have distinct personalities of their own that makes them unique between them and believable. If you closed your eyes and I started describing someone via character traits you wouldn’t have a hard time figuring out who I’m talking about.

How would you describe Xion though? She’s kind, cares for her friends, is determined and has a strong sense of justice.

That could be literally anyone.

If I added to that description “cool, composed, collected.” you could already narrow it down to Terra, Aqua or Riku. If instead I added “cunning, sly, nonchalant” you could think of Axel.

But you can’t add anything else to Xion, she just has a bunch of generic character traits that anyone could relate to, including us the player. Who doesn’t care about their friends? Who doesn’t want to do the right thing? Everyone does! While some people could see themselves in Sora or others in Riku almost any KH fan can somewhat relate to Xion because she’s very standard in personality.

She has no flaws, and is never in the wrong.

Characters make mistakes man. Terra trusted Xehanort, Aqua blindly obeyed Eraqus’ orders, Ven left LoD to chase after Terra, Riku accepted the darkness, Naminé fucked with Sora’s memories, Roxas tried to fight against the Organization by himself with no plan. The list goes on.

You ever notice Xion never does anything wrong? Whenever there’s conflict she’s always right. Roxas wants her to come back? Can’t, she has to go to Sora. Axel tries to bring her back? She fights back (even tho she loses she still tried to not lose). She has the chance to stay alive and ditch Sora? Nope, that wouldn’t be the right thing. Overall her moral values are always right, she just doesn’t make mistakes. And no, following the organization’s orders doesn’t count as a mistake because she was brain dead when she first joined and only started thinking for herself later on.

She’s a perfect character. A character that does no wrong, and y’know what? Perfect characters are fucking boring because they never cause conflict. You know what to do with perfect characters like her? You kill them so the main character goes through development. Mufasa and Tadashi ring a bell?

Her only character trait is the “tragedy” of her story, and it’s shoved down the player’s throat so she can earn our sympathy only for it to be meaningless later on.

When you think of Xion what is the first thing that you think of? Her death, and that’s because that’s the only thing she has. What else could she possibly have? Eating ice cream in a tower? Hiding from Roxas and Axel? Nah dude, the only striking thing she has that left an impact is her death. When you think of Roxas you could think of the KH2 intro, his fight with Riku, his fight with Axel.. Roxas has a lot of amazing moments, and so do the rest of the cast!

But not only is her death the only thing she has, but the game tries real hard to rub in our faces just how tragic and sad it is oh no :v

The reason why she has such a hard time deciding to go to Sora is because she’ll pretty much disappear from existence. We know this way before she makes her choice, and the whole thing is building up the more she thinks about it and you know it’s unavoidable. Naminé even explained to her, and I quote, “There won’t be any ‘you’ to remember.” So according to Naminé there literally won’t be any trace of Xion left. At all.

Okay so you can be like, well fine, her death is the only thing she has going for her, it was sad and all so I’ll take it.

Except she’s not fucking dead.

Despite Naminé telling us that she’d disappear for good, that there was no fucking chance she’d ever be remembered, SOMEHOW she still shows up in Re:Coded and DDD because aylmao deal with it. If there really were not going to be ANY memories of her left then why the fuck is she still “remembered” deep in Sora’s heart? And wait a minute, then that makes her super tragic death pointless! She was brought back, what was the point of forcing me to feel bad about her?

Because yes, I felt pretty forced. Even her fucking theme is shoving it in our faces.

You have Aqua, who was trapped in the RoD for a goddamn decade, almost succumbed to the darkness, lost her two friends to a creepy old man that wanted to end the world, and had to fight the embodiment of all her fears. She gets: Aqua’s theme.

You have Naminé, who was isolated for an entire year and used to hurt the only person that showed her kindness ever since she was born. Her mistake was so big and tremendous she spent another year fixing that mistake with the help of a revenge-thirsty old man that treated her like shit. She gets: Naminé’s theme.

You have Kairi, who lost her home, has no memories of her early life, lost both her best friends after their first journey and was left behind by herself for a year with no idea of whether they were alive or not, and was later used as fucking bait to lure Sora into danger. She gets: Kairi’s theme.

And then you have Xion, who had to fight Axel and Roxas like once, and then died but not really because she came back. She gets: MUSIQUE POUR LA TRISTESSE DE XION.

jfc talk about subtle.

Her bad writing is so contagious she makes other characters around her act out of character.

You remember what happened to Riku after Chain of Memories? When he found Sora asleep, he was determined to do anything to help wake him up. Anything. And that included beating the shit out of Roxas with no room for debate, conversation or argument, relying on the power of darkness so much he changed his appearance into the guy that had tortured him for the last year, kidnapping Roxas and aiding Ansem in placing him inside a fucking computer so he could die.

When Riku spotted Roxas about to try and set Kingdom Hearts free Riku did not play around and did what he had to do. He didn’t tell Roxas to think it over, didn’t sit down with him and tried to come up with a better solution. Nah dude, he beat the shit out of him.

And yet, what happened when Riku encountered Xion? He knew Sora needed her too to wake up. But instead of being as merciless as he was with Roxas he gently cradles her in his arms, brushes her hair out of her face, and talks with her about what she wants to do. Uh, excuse you? Why on earth would you give her the choice of not going with Sora when you want him to wake up? What if she decided to not go? Would he have let her? Well either way, the same Riku that kidnapped Roxas would have kidnapped Xion too, especially since he found her unconscious and would have been pretty easy. But no.. this is Xion, she’s special, she needs to make her choice. Ugh.

Riku is not the only one affected by this. When Roxas found out Axel was hiding information about him he got fucking pissed. He lashed out at him, yelled at him, accused him of not being a good friend because friends shouldn’t keep that kind of secret from each other. Roxas was not having it, and he let Axel know.

But when Xion kept avoiding Roxas without saying why? No that’s okay! Roxas is just worried and he wants her to come back! It’s okay!

Wtf dude? He had all the right to be angry at her too! She’s clearly hiding something from him, something that is a huge deal. Why is he not getting angry at her too? Why is Axel the only one that gets put in his place? I’ll tell you why, because this is Xion and she’s special, and she has the right to make her own shady choices that affect her friends.

She serves no purpose to the story.

And so we find ourselves here. Have you thought about it for a second? How exactly did Xion affect the story? Because obviously she did, didn’t she? After all, her death had a huge impact. What was that impact? In her final moments just as she’s vanishing, Xion asks Roxas to set Kingdom Hearts free, and thus that’s why Roxas left the organization. If it hadn’t been for Xion, Roxas would never had been pushed to do so.

Except that’s not true.

Prior to Xion’s death, Roxas was already getting distraught, impatient and angry because of all the questions he had about himself. Why is he so special? Why can he wield the keyblade? What does the organization want with the keyblade? Who is Sora and why is he so important?

Axel was not giving him answers, and he was definitely not going to get any from the organization either. Even without Xion’s death, Roxas would have eventually reached a limit and tried to search for answers himself, thus betraying and leaving the organization. Xion’s death only made it happen sooner than later.

So then, what did Xion do?

Let’s try to figure it out. If you were to remove Xion completely from the story, from the franchise, would anything change?

If for example we removed Terra Xehanort would never have found a young body to posses, Terranort would never have become Ansem’s student and the emblem heartless wouldn’t have been born.

If Kairi was removed Sora and Riku would never have been motivated to leave Destiny Islands, after arriving to Traverse Town Sora would have gone to search Riku directly instead and would have joined him when he found him during his second visit to Traverse Town thus avoiding the conflict of Riku thinking he got replaced by Donald and Goofy. Sora would never have sacrificed himself to save Kairi, and Roxas and Naminé would never have been born and it only snow balls from there…

If Axel was removed Naminé would never have escaped from Marluxia and Larxene in Castle Oblivion and wouldn’t have been able to help Sora. The organization’s plans wouldn’t have been foiled, and Sora wouldn’t have been able to make it to the World that Never Was by himself to save Kairi.

So now that we have a few examples, let’s think it over again. What would change if Xion was completely wiped from the story?

Nothing. Maybe Roxas and Axel would have remained as a duo instead of a trio of friends, but that makes no difference since KH2 was originally written with that in mind anyways. And maybe Xehanort would be one darkness short in KH3, but if he really wanted to he could pick Demyx, Vexen or bring another version of himself from the past.

When you have a character in your story that contributes with nothing you have a huge problem there. You either change that character’s influence, or you remove the character entirely. You can’t leave things as they are.

So there you have it. Unless Xion is given a crucial role later in the franchise (which I seriously hope she doesn’t), my opinion on her won’t change. She was pointless, served no purpose, and is overall a bad character in my eyes.

I want to clarify though that it’s not her fault, she just had bad luck and was the character that got stuck with bad writing.

#this got long #im so sorry to any xion fans #ive been following this franchise for years and my arguments against her just piled up #please dont hate me :'v #Anonymous

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paybackraid · 5 years

Text

So I started writing this at about 10:30 last night after reading @khkeystagram ‘s last posts. Fell asleep, woke up at 3:30 or so and finished it. The ending was supposed to be slightly humorous but I think it came out rushed BUT it was like 5 when I finished s o. Plenty of strong language, they’re all emotional.

Summary: Lea is terrified, but slightly impressed.

Words: 1992

The whole of the ResCom was out of their fucking minds, and that was all that Lea had to say on that.

They were batshit insane if they honestly thought that Roxas was going anywhere near those freaks.

“The king said—“

“The king can say what he likes!” Lea snapped, fingertips digging into Roxas’ shoulders. Isa could have died, and no one seemed to fucking get that! Auron was hovering awful close to dead, and they h o n e s t l y thought that Roxas was going to go in alone, with no one but a stinking duck at his side.

He had already lost Roxas once, and it almost fucking broke him. He was not risking it. Not again, and definitely not like this.

“Lea, it’s fi—“ Roxas didn’t seem too fond of saving his own life, apparently. He wasn’t protesting at all, in fact was almost buzzing with excitement. Lea knew he had seen considerably less action than he had in his days in the Organization and was probably a little antsy, but going from zero to roughly five million was too big a risk.

“No, it the fuck isn’t!” Lea snapped. “The king’s been fucking batshit for ages! You’re a kid, going into a fight that almost killed three people!”

“He asked for me!”

“I don’t care!”

Donald, looking more than a little anxious, watched them argue. He had arrived not too long ago. Goofy was with him, though he didn’t seem to be ready to fight.

“YOU’RE!! A!! KID!!” And kids were never supposed to get involved. It was bad enough that Ven was the target, and bad enough that him staying with them meant that Xion and Roxas were in danger. Now, Roxas was to be the sole target. And what, because some cracked up king thought Roxas was OP?

“I can fight!! I could kick your ass!!”

“I am not the same as Aqua and Terra, Norted and apparently on a RAMPAGE! Look!! Look at them!” Lea grabbed Roxas’ arm and spun him to face Zack, who sat with Cloud and was leaning his head on their shoulder. Isa wasn’t even there, still being looked after by Aerith, while Auron had to be brought to an actual hospital. The message, though, was loud and clear. “What if that happens to you?!?” Lea would never forgive himself. He would never, ever forgive himself. Kids weren’t supposed to be involved.

“It won’t!”

Xion and Ven had taken a step back once Lea started yelling, rather than crowding around Lea while he did the Scared Mom thing. They watched one another and the exchange, looking as if they wanted to input something but didn’t want to face overprotective Lea.

“You can’t know that!”

“They’re out there!” Roxas finally snapped, stamping his foot like a sullen child. “Okay?! Terra and Aqua—or, or Jeff and… what did he call her? Jeff and Regina are coming here, Lea! You saw Leon’s text—Terra’s gonna raze the fucking town trying to get to Ven! Then it won’t just be me and Donald in danger!” Donald quacked when he realized he was being spoken of, but didn’t try to get into their conversation. “It’ll be you, and Xion, and Ven, and Naminé, and everyone here. An entire town of innocents is a whole lot worse than just Donald and me.”

Lea’s eyes darted between Roxas and the kids, between the two keyblades Roxas had suddenly conjured. Oh, he hated it when the kids used logic on him.

“At least if it’s just the two of us, I won’t have to worry about looking out for anyone else, and I grabbed like twenty Mega Potions, so when Donald inevitably doesn’t heal me, it’s fine.”

Lea shook his head hard and whipped around to Ven and Xion. Ven squeezed Chirithy tighter in his arms. “You two! Talk him out of this!”

“Someone has to stop them,” Ven whispered into Chirithy’s fur, only just loud enough to be heard. “Even over keysta, something hasn’t felt… right. It’s like… like that’s them, but it’s not them? I don’t get it, but Aqua and Terra aren’t in control. If we can’t stop them with reason, then we have to stop them by force. And I guess if I trust anyone to do it, it’s Roxas.”

“Wrong answer,” Lea snapped. “You.”

“Lea, if someone doesn’t, we could all die. The king might be… kind of weird, but he has a point. Roxas is a bitch to fight. He’s fast, and the light thing he does makes him impossible to touch. He stands better a chance than any of us.” Xion said right after, without even missing a beat. She seemed a little nervous, but she also knew that Roxas was one of the better fighters in their bizarre gaggle of friends. “Riku won’t even fight him.”

“That’s not fair, and don’t bring me into this,” Riku scoffed from the other side of the shelter, where he was crouched by Naminé.

Donald finally came up and touched Lea’s shoulder with his staff. He looked psyched up and ready to go—probably, this was the only chance of him being brave, so they had to take advantage of it. “Don’t worry,” he quacked, “we’ll be home in time for supper.”

Lea took an extra few seconds to translate the duck, then looked down to Roxas, who looked to him with a surprisingly hopeful and fiercely determined blue gaze. He wanted to fight. He had offered to help before, and now it really was no longer a choice.

...Kids were not supposed to be involved.

“You saw what they did to Isa and Zack. Auron’s a hell of a lot worse. So if… if you’re going to do this, you’re going to be safe, and you’re going to be smart. And you,” he turned down to Donald, “are going to heal him whenever he needs it.”

Donald nodded shallowly, muttering under his breath (something about no one worrying about whether he’d be safe?) and walking toward the waiting Leon.

“Lea—“ Roxas started, but before he said anything, Lea snapped, “and none of this last words bullshit. You’re coming back.”

“Of course I am! Terra’s slow, and Aqua is better with magic than her blade.”

Lea clapped his hands on Roxas’ shoulders and looked him up and down. Hard to believe this was the same gremlin who semi-regularly wandered Twilight Town looking for old leftovers to eat, or the same zombie who used to follow him like a puppy.

“Good luck,” Xion said, reaching forward to squeeze Roxas’ shoulder just above Lea’s hand.

Ven hugged Chirithy a little tighter, lifting his face out of its fur to request, “bring them home. Please.”

“Don’t worry! This is gonna be easy as pie.”

Finally, Lea drank enough of an eyeful in of this stupid, reckless teen. When Xion dropped her hand, he tugged Roxas forward and hugged him close against his chest, meshing his hand into his soft hair. “Be safe.” It wasn’t often that he said what he was about to say, but when he did, he meant it with his whole restored heart: “I love you.”

“...I thought we weren’t doing any of that last word bullshit.”

Lea sniffed hard and released the brat. He cleared his throat and shoved the kid away, toward Donald. “We’re not! Just… get outta here, and don’t get yourself hurt too bad.”

“Aye aye!” With that, Roxas turned on his heel and approached Leon, saying he was ready to go. Leon nodded and escorted them toward the Gummi hangar. Lea watched Roxas take out his phone, probably to text one of the other kids (since keysta was pretty much shut down as per Leon’s command).

“Remember!” Xion called, jumping to her toes. “Scars are sexy!”

“Xion!”

Roxas waved them off with a laugh. Then, he was gone.

Within a few minutes, a small Gummi ship left the hangar and headed toward the outskirts of RadGard, where they hoped to cut off Terra and Aqua on their warpath—catch their eye with the lookalike of their target, then bring them to their knees where no one else could get hurt.

Lea closed his eyes and took a deep, steadying breath. Suddenly, he wanted to see Isa. He was awake when they brought him in—maybe he was still awake now. Isa had a monotonous, soothing voice and saw reason like few others—it was why he had disappeared to find Terra and Aqua, and unfortunately was why he was hurt now. Lea didn’t have to like it, but he knew that what Isa had done made sense. ...At least some.

...But Aerith had said she would come find him when Isa was finished being healed. He liked Aerith, and knew she would keep her word. He just… had to trust her.

Instead, he turned to Xion, who looked up at him with curious eyes. She suddenly stumbled, nearly lost her footing, when Lea tugged her hard into his arms and hugged her close. At least this was one he could hold close.

“Yo,” Cloud called from next to Zack, who now seemed to be half-napping on their shoulder. “He’s gonna be fine. Kid’s tough.”

Lea glanced his way, eyeing Zack on their shoulder whose hand was so messed up it nearly had to be amputated.

“Dilan and Aeleus went with ‘em,” Cloud continued. “Not to fight—so they’ll have an airlift if they run into any problems—“ Lea’s eyes went wide instantly, heart pounding like a heart attack, “—aaaand if they don’t, they can get Aqua and Terra on the ship and to Ienzo ASAP. We thought this one through this time.”

Lea scowled a little and dropped his head to rest on Xion’s head. Xion was squirming a little and kind of making like she wanted to go to her girlfriend, but Lea had firmly decided that until Roxas was back safe and sound, he wasn’t letting her go.

Suddenly, there was a noise outside like a ship coming in. Lea lifted his head toward the one window and saw… the same ship that had just left a little more than five minutes ago? ...What?

Fuck, that couldn’t be good. It could not be good. Dilan and Aeleus were bringing Roxas and Donald back already—they must have lost spectacularly. Xion had said scars were sexy, but he hoped that Roxas knew she was joking.

Leon went out to meet them, a little trepidant because it was far too early for them to be home.

They’re dead. Oh god oh no oh FUCK they’re dead. Dilan and Aeleus are going to carry them out in a goddamn bodybag Lea what the hell were you thinking he was a KID! What’s Isa goiiii—what?

Much to probably everyone’s surprise, the door opened and it wasn’t Leon, Aeleus, or Dilan to step through.

Sure enough, Roxas stepped through the hangar door, an arm behind his head. Donald followed him through. Neither looked like they’d even broken a sweat. In fact, Roxas was grinning like he had had the time of his life.

Roxas lifted his head to them, then lifted the arm behind his head in greeting. “I told you!! It’d be easy as pie!! Ven, Aeleus and Dilan are bringing them in now.”

A startled silence descended over the three keyblade wielders, who didn’t know quite what they were meant to say to that. Everyone else chattered—Naminé dove at Roxas for a hug, Riku clapped him hard on the back, Goofy barreled for Donald, Cloud went to assist in getting the two Norted wielders in.

After a moment, and Roxas walking toward them still grinning like a madman, all that Lea’s mind was able to process was that he didn’t know what the fuck was going on. Roxas and Donald had succeeded in like two minutes, where Auron had nearly died, Zack nearly lost a hand, and Isa wouldn’t be breathing right for days?

“...What?”

#khkeystagram #khfanfic #kh #creative aces #my writing #sorry i really love the seasalt fam #also i dont think speaks QUITE to the blog #and the writing isnt of the highest quality TBH #but it was FIVE IN THE MORNING #also i really loved this arc #and yall have NO IDEA how proud i was of Roxas when he came home safe and sound #i love him so fucking much the fuck #also sorry if any of this contradicts anything #i PERSONALLY dont care if the blog ends up contradicting anything #please do im expressing my love

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darkfromday · 4 years

Link

because Naminé deserved the chance to save more than just Terra, damn it.

This was written before I’d beaten any of Limit Cut, but now that the secret boss is slinging me into the walls and ceiling, can confirm that it’s March and I still want more agency for my artist witch.

(oh yeah, and happy first anniversary to Kingdom Hearts 3~!)

For a year, Naminé hasn't been able to draw.

It isn't for a lack of trying. She has carried her sketchbook around everywhere, felt it rub and chafe against her forearm consistently month after month; her favorite pencil dangles expectantly behind her ear. There are colored pencils and crayons littering the bottom of the checkered plaid bag that Isa and Lea bought for her, ready and waiting to serve her. She scrolls through the Gummiphone that Roxas gave her, lingering on photos of the one she wants to draw most. But inspiration doesn't strike her—not anywhere or at any time.

It's been this way since Sora disappeared.

Xion calls it art block. As a collector of seashells, she says she's had times since the battle against Master Xehanort where she doesn't go to the beach at all, because she's too sad to leave her bed, or because she just can't think of what she'd like to make with any shells she did collect. She's also said that being around any of her friends helps the feeling go away over time, but it's still the most terrifying thing Naminé has heard since she woke up in her new body.

All she is is her art, you see. She doesn't know what to do without it.

The drawings are also a link to Sora. When he first vanished from the islands, she had run to Radiant Garden and bought all the paper and pencils she could afford with what little munny she had, and sat up for hours and hours drawing the boy who had saved her life years before. Most of it ended up crumpled up, torn up, or snapped in half before the week was out, because it didn't show her anything at all. In her messy, dull sketches there was no sign of her friend—no sign that he was still alive.

Soon, she stopped being able to draw anything at all.

She denied it at first, but now she knows—so long as Sora remains missing, so too will her spark. And she must get it back, or none of them may ever get him back.

-kh-

Naminé falls into a routine.

She lives in Twilight Town, but spends very little of her time there beyond sleeping and waking. Every morning she gets up, dresses in something flowy and colorful, and hitches a ride on the nearest gummi ship to the Destiny Islands. It doesn't take long from there to sail from the islands where the Keyblade wielders gather to play to the larger isles where most of the citizens live. From there, she sneaks into Sora's old house and sits in his room, trying to trace him from the place he had lived for fourteen years.

When that doesn't bring her any inspiration, she returns to the other island and calls Ventus' Gummiphone to get an update on whether he, Aqua and Terra have found any signs of their friend in the Realm of Darkness.

When Ven tells her yet again that there is no sign of Sora yet, she thanks him politely and makes sure to hang up before screaming into the walls of the quiet shack she's crouched in.

And once the noise has died down, she sheepishly emerges from the shack and walks across the bridge to Riku's favorite island, where she will find him and Kairi cuddling for comfort on the wide palm tree.

The sight always inspires sympathy. Kairi and Riku have always been close, but it would be illogical not to acknowledge that Sora has been the bridge connecting them for a long time. The three of them together are a force of nature, and any sign of trouble coming for one member reliably inspires angry retribution from the other two. Now Sora has been cut away from them—so in desperation, in grief, the remaining two friends cling to each other.

"Hi," Naminé always says when she arrives, and once she has announced herself she is invited to join the quiet mourning party.

The past year has taught her that Riku's embrace is cool and Kairi's is very, very warm. She has sat on either side of them before, but sometimes they will sandwich her in, taking each of her hands and letting her pencils and sketchbooks tumble to the sand below. Sometimes Kairi strokes her hand, or Riku shares memories of the three of them as children from the island—the memories that Naminé had stolen and altered not so long ago. Inevitably one of them will ask her how the search is going, if anything new has come up, if she has been able to draw something that might shed a light on where Sora might be. Naminé responds with negatives every single day, but neither of them seem to hold it against her. In fact, Riku and Kairi insist that she's not to blame, that nothing is riding only on her, and that she's just part of a much greater effort that will find their friend someday.

That's actually the only time she feels safe succumbing to tears.

-kh-

The day that things change starts the same.

Mostly.

Naminé gets up, makes her bed, and hurries so she might catch the train to Yen Sid's tower. On the way, a boy she's never met offers her some sea-salt ice cream; she thinks of her friends and accepts it with a rare smile. When Ienzo drops her off on the Destiny Islands, a strange pull she's never felt before sends her towards the Secret Place Kairi showed her once, rather than to the bigger islands and back. When she makes it to the end of the stone path, Riku and Kairi are standing next to the door and waiting for her.

"There's always been something weird about this door," Riku says. "And even now that we know it leads to the Realm of Darkness, it's never stopped feeling mysterious. Like we haven't quite found all its secrets."

"It's always been a portal to the darkness?" Naminé asks, and tries not to sound nervous.

Kairi nods. "But now it feels like more. We thought... maybe touching it would help you."

There's no guarantee that Sora is in a place of Dark or Light or even the nothingness Naminé remembers from being a Nobody. But they still have no leads a year on, and no matter what anyone says she still feels a little responsible. She is supposed to be an all-powerful witch; she is supposed to have a connection to Sora that defies science and magic alike. More than that, they are friends.

If this will help... if this might help...

Naminé pulls her sketchbook out of her bag and dusts it off before striding forward. She keeps her shoulders straight, trying to project confidence she doesn't feel, and is buoyed by her friend's encouraging smiles as she passes them. Power radiates from the door the closer she gets, causing the pencil on her ear to hum and vibrate; she breathes in slowly so she won't shy away. With one side glance toward the paopu fruits Sora and Kairi once drew on the wall, Naminé reaches out and splays her left hand out wide where the handle should be on the smooth, featureless wood.

For seven painful seconds, she feels nothing.

Then, suddenly—

Light.

An explosion of images flash across her mind. A paved road with tall buildings, so tall they poke and prod at the sky; flickering orange and blue streetlamps, illuminating a wiry running figure; the stink of darkness, a swarm of Shadows, and the responding smell of ozone preceding a bolt of lightning; cloaked figures stepping out of portals; and through it all, a blur of red and black and the flash of a key-shaped blade.

"Naminé!"

"Naminé, wake up!"

She gasps, and her blue eyes fly open.

Kairi and Riku are on either side of her, looking anxious. Both of them have one arm wrapped around each of hers, like they had had to stop her from passing through the door. Considering the fact that the door now has a glowing blue and orange outline around the edges, that is perhaps not so far-fetched as she initially thought.

"Are you okay?"

"What happened? Are you hurt?"

"I saw..." she tries to say, then has to stop to take another deep breath. The things she saw robbed a lot of her air. "I, I saw..."

"What did you see?" they say together.

Naminé starts to tell them—but there is a warmth in her fingers, a spark that has long been missing. It's the work of a moment to free herself from their well-meaning arms and flip open her sketchbook, scribbling and sketching faster than she ever has—for she is finally able to see, to draw, for the first time in months and months! At last, she has a lead!

She traces and re-traces and even dumps her bag upside down, scrabbling for crayons to color everything appropriate. There's a good bit of time spent erasing and re-drawing details that aren't as sharp as they should be. Her friends both recognize the gravity of the moment, and let her finish.

When she does, she holds up the picture the door showed her proudly, with shining eyes.

In a hushed voice, she says, "I know where Sora is."

#Darkday writes fanfic #Kingdom Hearts #Kingdom Hearts 3 #Naminé #justice for Naminé #artist's block #fanfiction #my girl links to Sora. that's it that's the fic #written for KH3's first anniversary

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thekingdomheartsprincess · 5 years

Text

when kairi died part of me felt relieved

very long rant filled with run-on sentences, over-use of bold words, and over-use of italics. you’ve been warned

I’ve been holding off on my full review and thoughts on kh3 until after I get through my second playthrough. I will say, it was an overall great game and I was pleasantly surprised by a lot. I have my issues, but I’d like to hold off until I’m finished with my regular paced play through (not speedplay) before I write all my thoughts. However, one thing I really have to get out now is how absolutely disappointed and disgusted I am by kairi’s entire existence in kh3.

And just an fyi, I set the bar low going into this for her. I wasn’t expecting much, yet somehow, I was still let down harder than I thought was actually possible.To me, the highlight of kairi’s appearance in kh3 was probably going to be because she was training with axel. Therefore, with the reasoning that axel usually gets excessive screen time---you know, the guy that should have fake died twice before his actual fake death (which I’m not complaining about, just saying)...kairi would have by default gotten some of that extra relevance right??

Wrong... in a stunning turn of events they actually left axel to the side as well. He got a few good lines in, but at the end of the day he barely fights, does anything important, and somehow has his keyblade destroyed by xemnas in his first real battle with it. I’ll get back more to the truly ridiculous lack of keyblade skills later. While I’m still on the topic of axel though, let’s talk about kairi’s use as a tool to figure out axel’s feelings and xion. Like, no problems with the whole kidnapping thing, no deep connection making. Did a lot of us expect and fear that kairi would be used as a plot device for axel’s xion memories? Yes. Does it make it any better that we were prepared for it going into kh3? For me, yeah, but the real problem is it doesn’t stop there. And axel’s feelings and memories of xion were poorly included and barely mattered anyhow

Also the whole letter writing thing axel comments on, a sad excuse for not wanting to actually provide sokai interaction. “They’re more for herself”-bullshit tbh. Someone tell square enix that if they make me play another game where my girlfriend writes me letters and I can’t respond I’m gonna lose it. *cough ffxv cough* It was a sad excuse for trying to build up sokai before end game. Plus, bad writing aside, if my girl kairi is gonna be a romantic plot device forever; you could at least let her send sora those stupid letters. The poor girl is talking to him in her head. WHY

So much opportunity here to build up sokai before the end of the game. And you know what? I don’t really care about sokai anymore, or whether its canon, or if they have any moments at all in the game. But it you are going to use it as a plot device, you could at least put some effort into it. Sokai needs to be better if it is going to have such a huge direct impact on the ending of the game. Maybe this was difficult, because this really wasn’t the game for it. Everyone has a lot going on in this game, and for sora, his focus is really on getting the people connected to his heart back. He barely even talks about riku in the game! Which is completely justified, because the boy has a lot of stress on his shoulders and a lot going on. The sokai getting thrown in basically at the last minute of the game, is like white noise in the background...that shouldn’t have been there.

The paopu fruit scene felt uncomfortable and thrown in at the wrong moment. There was opportunity for this scene at the end of kh2, or before sora left the island again for 3d. Or if some effort was put into developing sokai throughout the game (which again, I don’t think this was the game for this) it could have worked. Instead, we got a scene which really wasn’t romantic in the slightest, and pretty much had “somebody or both of them is dying/being separated tomorrow” written all over it. The scene starts out of nowhere basically, riku is quite literally shoved to the side to talk to himself, kairi sort of dismisses romantic intentions when asking sora to share it with her, and sora sort of just nods his head and rolls with it. The best part, is the imagery relating to the drawings in the cave (which is admittedly beautiful). However, this is not the sokai paopu fruit scene 7 yr old me envisioned. While I certainly don’t expect to get what I wanted to see, this is almost an insult to all of the build up to this moment in previous games.

What would have been the only wonderful and meaningful sokai scene in the game, is the one where kairi is able to help sora basically escape death and light his way through the darkness or whatever. The whole “I’m going to keep you safe now” and “you make me feel stronger” thing is really sweet as an out of context scene if I knew nothing else about kh3. The problem is, this isn’t really true. Kairi doesn’t keep sora safe, and the limits of her strength seem to be in that one cutscene. Not to mention, this already happened. We literally saw this same thing happen in kh1-and it was a better scene.

Maybe I could believe kairi’s determination behind her words if she was able to even lift her keyblade when she’s being attacked, or put up a fight against her kidnapper (i mean come on, even belle got to elbow xaldin), or finish a battle against someone who was not an alternate version of herself (or remotely believably on xehanort’s side for more than a second). Seriously, she did more with her keyblade knocking out a few heartless in kh2. That scene was actually cooler. I am truly disgusted that I have to even think that. It’s not that I thought she would go up from kh2, but I surely didn’t think she would go soooooo far down.

They totally shot themselves in the foot with the whole merlin’s magic excuse. Axel and kairi show up as if they just got the keyblade 20 seconds before the keyblade war, yet supposedly they had unlimited time to train. Maybe we’ll get some bs excuse on how it “wasn’t exactly unlimited time” later, but seriously? If you were going to have both of them fail so miserably, you could have used the short training time as an excuse!! Why would you write yourself out of that excuse, just to give me these pathetic jokes of keyblade wielders. By all logical reasoning, if they had unlimited time to train, they should have both shown up stronger that xehanort and eraqus combined. Like did they just settle after they could shoot magic at x number of moving objects in merlin’s training facility???

She may not have done much, but by the time we saw her get mercilessly stabbed for no real logical reason I was relieved. Relieved that I might finally not have to watch this anymore, and can just go into all future kh games without having to worry about what they will do with her character. I want to say I was pissed, upset even, that they killed her off like that. Confused as to how this helps xehanort’s plan? Absolutely. I mean, wouldn’t that ruin his 7 princesses part 2 backup plan if he needed it? Wouldn’t the last key form as soon as he killed kairi? Were the 7 lights going to stop fighting him there? Was he just being a cruel dick? I don’t have the answers. But I will say that I didn’t actually get angry, until xehanort stole her fucking lines. “One sky, one destiny” She doesn’t even have that anymore. The significance of those lines, now can’t just be kairi’s but has to be shared with the man who killed her. Could it get any worse? Yes! Because sora has to go and do some strongly hinted form of self sacrifice for her again. Turning the shit show writing of kairi into probably the most detrimental part of the story.

Now, its playing such a huge role in kh3 and future kh games. It makes the major plot point of the ending of the game suffer. There’s no kairi for me to appreciate that would make me care about her dying, the one really good moment sora shares with kairi is hardly based in reality, and what’s supposed to be used as a way for sora to prove himself doesn’t really do that. He already sacrificed himself for kairi. What more is this proving? And with no excuse for kairi’s lack of training or presence in the game, I’m confused as to how this happened or why I’m supposed to care. However Nomura needed this to end up to set up future kh games, was this really the only way to do it?

I wish I could say I just personally cared this much about feminism in kingdom hearts, and that’s why I’m so disappointed by this complete and utter failure of writing a character, but that’s not even it. When I was little I loved kairi because she was like a new disney princess in a video game, and I was heartbroken when sora told her she couldn’t come with him for the rest of his adventure. That she would just “get in his way.” 23 year old me is still pissed and not letting go. Even more frustrating, is that square enix has (deliberately or not) ignored a large part of the fandom who just asked for a little bit better. The kairi bar was low, and square enix did the limbo rock under it. (bad joke i know, it’s 2:30 am and i should be sleeping)

I’ll shut up now, but be aware i’m screaming “and another thing about kairi in kh3!” every hour on the hour in my mind

#spoilers #kingdom hearts 3 spoilers #kh3 spoilers #kingdom hearts #kairi #kingdom hearts 3 #KH3 #square enix #i am going to be salty about this forever

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violethowler · 5 years

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My thoughts on Kingdom Hearts III

My initial reaction to the ending of Kingdom Hearts III was equal parts confusion, devastation, and just being overwhelmed by the sheer volume of how much time was spent on the final battle. I had a lot of conflicting opinions about how some things were handled, but unlike when that happened with the final season of Voltron, I feel a lot better about everything after a good night's sleep, because I was up late at night finishing the game. I'll get into the spoilers under the cut.

So, for starters, let me put my reactions on a scale of negative to positive:

Major disappointments that should absolutely be done better in the next saga:

After Kairi was hyped up for so long that she'd have a more important part to play in the story, her role in the final battle was a letdown. I can swallow her not being as amazing a fighter as the others because she's never been in combat before and she's been effectively thrown into the deep end on her first day, but I at least expected her to resist when Xemas grabbed her, instead of passively standing there like a helpless damsel in distress. The only in-universe explanation would be if after stress and panic of the previous fights, she froze up when Xemnas made a more for her. But after seven years of being built up as a Keyblade Wielder, and her relationship with Sora, she could have done so much more. I sincerely hope that Testuya Nomura learns from this and lets her shine in the next saga.

With trailers and interviews hyping up how big the worlds were this time around, having Twilight Town and 100 Acre wood be just one small area each was seriously disappointing. I was really looking forward to seeing more of the 100 Acre Wood. They could have fleshed out the whole "Sora disappearing from the cover mystery" for at least a little bit, maybe let us run around the other characters' houses instead of just Rabbit's. And for Twilight Town, I would have liked to have been able to see how the other districts looked.

Going straight to the endgame after San Fransokyo. I know that the creators decided to focus on quality over quantity when it came to the worlds in this game, but I was hoping for just one surprise Disney world that could give fans one last breather after rescuing Aqua and Ven. If not a Disney world, then I would have at least liked to have been able to explore more of Land of Departure or visit Radiant Garden outside of cut-scenes. I love RG's look from BBS and I would have loved to walk around and see the world restored to its former glory.

Vanitas was frustratingly underused in this game. For all the hype surrounding his return, I expected more from him. Especially because the Kingdom Hearts concerts kept including his theme music with the "heroes and heroines" meddley, tantalizing us with the possibility of him getting a redemption arc. And instead, he just dies all over again, only this time, he's calmly accepting his own demise instead of freaking out like after his final fight in BBS. As someone who loves the idea of him getting redeemed, that was a big disappointment. The only thing I'm hoping for is if he somehow comes back in the next saga, because it was kind of unclear whether he's really dead, if there's a way for him to come back, or if he's just faking it like Xigbar was.

Things I wish had been handled differently but I can ultimately live with and hope are handled better in the next saga:

The lack of focus on or explanation of the X era mysteries we've been pondering for years disappointed me on first playthrough, but now that I've had time to think about it, I realized that X/Unchained X/Back Cover/Union X/Whatever-They-Change-The-Name-To-Next isn't truly a part of the Xehanort Saga, but rather, the connective tissue that sets the stage for what comes after Xehanort. It was supposed to set just enough things up that we'd know who the Foretellers were and what Xigbar being Luxu meant. But because it was released before KH3, the fandom built up our expectations that the mysteries of what happened would ultimately be answered in III, so when they alluded to Marluxia and Larxene's past as Dandelions without following up on it, I was kind of disappointed. But now I realize that it was meant to open the door to them playing larger roles in the Lost Masters Saga.

Maleficent and Pete just lurking in the background despite trailers and previous games hyping up her interest in Luxu's box and the Book of Prophecy. This is something else that was clearly being set up for the sequel, but I wish Maleficent had at least had more to do. A boss fight with Pete followed by a conversation to establish that she's waiting for the dust to settle between the Guardians of Light and Seekers of Darkness before she makes her move would have been nice.

The sudden introduction of this mystery girl. At first, I thought when they kept mentioning this girl, they were talking about Kairi, and that we'd be starting to learn more about her past in Radiant Garden. I soon realized that the implications of Kairi's life pre-Destiny Islands were a red herring, but the more they kept bringing this girl up, the more I was expecting there to be some kind of explanation for who she was in the game itself. I can understand in retrospect why Isa and Ansem SoD would suddenly bring her back now, because both knew they were going to die (Isa at least had the promise of recompletion) and wanted closure on burning questions they hadn't thought about in years. Considering that the epilogue and secret reports imply she's amnesiac Ava, I think this is another case of planting seeds for future installments in a way that I wish had been done better.

After years of Aqua being celebrated as a badass Keyblade Master, her not really getting to do anything in this game is upsetting. Sure, things make sense from an in-universe perspective: she sent her Keyblade to Destiny Islands as a beacon for Sora, Riku, and/or Mickey to find her, which weakened her already worn down defenses when Xehanort’s heartless came for DiZ. With how much warping Terranort does, I figured he’d attacked Ven at speeds so close to superhuman that Aqua didn’t have time to react. And in Land of Departure, Nomura wanted to have Ven’s awakening be a dramatic moment where he swoops in to protect someone he cares about. But having Aqua kick Vanitas’ ass only for her to get taken down by a single Firaga spell feels like a poor way to achieve the desired result.

While having some Disney worlds follow the plots to their respective movies was expected, Sora, Donald, and Goofy's presence their felt a little insubstantial. I mean, I'm not saying they should have just copied the movie shot for shot with SDG there in the background, but it felt like they missed out on large chunks of the movies. It was forgivable in Kingdom of Corona because they were there for the important parts and Marluxia basically told them what they missed re: Rapunzel. With Arendelle it felt weird that they were really only involved with Elsa running away, the Marshmallow fight, and the ending. The rest was pretty much spent with Larxene coming up with elaborate ways to keep them away from the plot of the movie. With Pirates it was just ridiculous. They were really only there for the escape from Davy Jones locker and then just ran around with fake!Jack doing their own thing until it was time for the final fight of the movie. It's hard to not know the plots of Tangled and Frozen due to pop culture at this point, but if you're playing this game with no knowledge of the pirates of the Caribbean movies, you're going to be very confused on what's happening in the maelstrom fight.

Minor quibbles:

An explanation for what happened to Demyx would have been nice, but then, that could just be another mystery to be addressed later.

The whole "rewind time and replay everything before Sora's near-death until things change at the last moment" thing didn't really make a whole lot of sense, but it wasn't too big of a deal, and Xigbar's "we don't need you to make a second blunder" implies that he had something to do with it, which can hopefully be explained properly at a later date.

Little moments that weren’t necessarily big for the story, but I enjoyed anyway for personal reasons:

At first, I was crushed by Even’s return to the Organization because I loved the fanfic Why The Sun Sets Red where he becomes a surrogate parent figure to Xion, and wanted that relationship to be a reality in canon. Then when he saved Ansem, Hayner, Pence, and Olette from Fake Ansem, my head was saying “this is probably a trap”, but my heart screamed #ShittyScienceDadConfirmed. And I was so relieved when my heart turned out to be right. I will probably end up writing a post-III fanfic of Even bonding with his Science Daughter at some point.

I generally stay away from shipping in the KH fandom, but after years of having SoKai as my first OTP, I came to start shipping SoRiKai, and as upset as I am about Sora’s fate (I can’t really complain about that too badly since Nomura already promised that Sora would still be the main character in post-KH3 installments so having this kind of ending should have been expected, if not for 3 than for a future title), I at least take comfort in the fact that there’s enough wiggle room for SoRiKai headcanons set after Sora’s inevitable return.

Everything else that I absolutely loved:

The visuals were absolutely freaking gorgeous. On every single world, they went out of their way to make the graphics as beautiful as possible. The 2D fire effects on Olympus, the different shaders used each world to make Sora, Donald, and Goofy fit with the aesthetic...

The Skein of Severance. While I wish we'd gotten to explore more of the Keyblade Graveyard during the final battle, or that the maze was a little more elaborate, I loved having to fight multiple members of the new Organization simultaneously, and oh dear god the aftermath of every fight: Xion's return, Terra regaining control of his body, Saix's death.... I was sobbing after every boss fight.

Despite how complicated the lore has become, the story itself was actually pretty straightforward. It was pretty refreshing and reminded me of KH1 and BBS, where the heroes have a clear overarching goal and a reason for why they're traveling to other worlds.

As much as I wish that Unchained X had been held until after KH3, there's a stroke of genius to the epilogue: Because of Xehanort's whole "balance between dark and light" obsession and Riku's whole "dark is not necessarily evil" character arc, I've seen a consistent idea within the fandom that the main villain of the next saga after Xehanort should be one of those who fit into the "Light is not good" trope. And by implicitly setting up the "Lost Masters" for that role in the epilogue, they've both ensured a masterful conflict between the Keyblade Wielders of the past and the ones of the present, and ensured that the next saga will be as heartbreaking as possible by ensure that the fandom is already attached to these characters.

Honestly, despite the issues I've had with the game above, I absolutely enjoyed Kingdom Hearts 3. It was worth the wait in my opinion, and I can't wait to see what the future holds. My only hope, given the epilogue and secret ending, that we get an announcement of Kingdom Hearts IV within a year or so. Doesn't need to release next year, but it definitely needs to be announced for development.

#kingdom hearts 3 #kh3 spoilers #kh spoilers #kingdom hearts spoilers #kingdom hearts 3 spoilers #my thoughts #long post #my review

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effervescible · 6 years

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KH2 meta thoughts

Finished Kingdom Hearts 2 in my great series replay today, and I have a bunch of thoughts about narrative and story structure and character bits that I’m gonna slap down. Originally posted on plurk so forgive the rambliness.

Playing KH2 again with the full series knowledge but years removed thanks to fannish hibernation was a really interesting experience. It helped me sort of step back and look at the story as a whole, the game itself and its place in the series, and the structure of it.

The Riku-Sora stuff remains really, really good. I'm not going to say it's perfect but I can't think of anything specific I would change without changing the general story. Since my last jaunt through Disney hell, I've become extremely partial to games that meld gameplay with story and themes, and KH2 does that really well with Riku once he joins the party. I super love that his most frequent reaction command is a shield. Kid evolved from a darkness brat into some kind of paladin protector. And that little fist bump on their limit break, ahh. And all the stuff on the beach is just *chef kisses fingers* No complaints there Oh and storywise, even though we only see Riku's true face at the end and he's absent for so much of the game, his presence is felt throughout so his arc from KH1 to Reverse/Rebirth to KH2 feels really good and continuous

But god, they did the girls dirty. Everyone's written a thousand angry words about Kairi and how she just gets shoved offstage and they are 1000% true (why give her a Keyblade in one scene and do nothing with iiiiiiiit) but right now I'm more asspained about Namine. Her story in Chain of Memories is so good and her promise with Sora to become real friends is this important thing before a break in the story, after which we naturally assume it'll happen in some way and it just doesn't. (Can someone tell me if the scene between Riku and Sora before fighting Xemnas where Sora says he wanted to thank her but couldn't was added for Final Mix or not? It felt new to me but I legit can't recall whether it was there in vanilla KH2 or not.)

On an in-character level, I get why Namine would be focused on Roxas. Holy shit, someone just like her, someone she's very connected to through their births! But it's not good storytelling to just kind of drop things with Sora. Also she doesn't even get to go back to Kairi onscreen! I do like the eerieness of her started to distort through proximity to Kairi. And I like that she gets to face the Organization again but this time she isn't afraid. But goddamn does her story just kind of trickle to a stop. She's low on my list of priorities for Sora needs to save, since I'm most concerned about characters who got actively fucked over and she chose her fate, even if that choice was informed by a lot of emotional abuse. But I really hope she gets something more in KH3 if they're getting the band back together

On that note, (inhales, steeples fingers) Roxas.

Roxas has some of the most amazing moments in the game, even at the end, but his story is also where the game feels really disjointed. Not quite the same as Namine, where her story just sort of fell apart; the pacing is really weird with Roxas-related stuff. Back in the day, I came away from KH2 having enjoyed the game but feeling ultimately disappointed because here was this kid who clearly had an important story and an important friendship and we never learned much about either. I still feel that way to a degree, but having Days in the back of my mind made a big difference. Not so much for the specific events in it, because during most of my playthrough I wasn't really thinking about Xion or the specific happenings of Roxas' year in the Organization at all. But having them in the back of my mind gives him an extra narrative weight that feels lacking looking just at what we know of him in KH2.

I'm not sure if I'm making any sense, but looking only at KH2, it feels like they were writing Roxas with the idea that he'd experienced certain emotions more than that he'd experienced certain events. Which is fine, but it does sort of feel like he's just Sora's foil--a beautifully written foil, but not a full character of his own. But add Days into the mix and even if it doesn't change any of the following story, it feels like there's more heft to it. This kid still suffered a tragic fate, but that tragic fate happened to a person and not just a narrative device.

I will say that this playthrough made me 100% understand why people used to characterize Roxas as being very serious and moody most of the time. Even aside from the serious and moody flashbacks with Riku and Axel, late in the game, when you're doing the Organization boss rush and the references to his time in the Organization are flying fast and furious...I don't know, I just got a very strong sense of melancholy, that his life there wasn't a good one. (Related, Saix asking if Roxas hadn't taken care of Riku really sounds like they meant for Roxas to have done it on Organization orders, but then that doesn't fit with the game's stated timeline of Riku fighting Roxas after he betrayed the Organization. Still, an interesting idea.) But Roxas' story kinda peaks with his fight against Sora and then falls down. He's the elephant in the room the entire game, always in the background of Sora's story and the things Sora hears and feels. And then they never even talk. His last spoken scene should have been with Sora, not Namine.

Again, it makes characterization sense that there would be a bond there, because as far as they know they're the only people like each other that exist. But they were pushing the Sora-Kairi parallel way too hard to the detriment of the storytelling. I mean, it's great that in a way you'll get to see Namine every day, but don't you have anything to say to your other self over here...? The scene in Dream Drop doesn't feel like a fix-it for me, it feels like a narrative conclusion that got lost and resurfaced a few games later. Luckily, it was pretty much note-perfect in my book. But to me it feels like the conclusion of Roxas' KH2 arc, not an addendum. He might have another one depending what happens in KH3, but emotionally, that scene belongs under the same subhead as all of KH2.

Final Mix made a big improvement to things Axel-related. In vanilla KH2, yeah, Roxas does finally get pissed off enough to force a heart fight with Sora after Axel's death, but otherwise you'd almost wonder if their friendship was one-sided, there's so little aftermath. But their final clock tower scene is fantastic and even without knowledge of Days, you get a good sense of what their friendship was like.

It is kind of funny that, once you know that Axel was originally going to die sooner and got more screentime (and more importance, generally) due to popularity, you can really tell. Because there's so much stuff in this game you wouldn't necessarily expect him to have a lot of screen time, but he's absent for a really long time and then shows up without warning and dies immediately. But in all the post-KH2 games, even the prequels, there's definitely a sense of This Is An Important Character.

Overall, coming away from this, I feel like the biggest difference between KH2 and all the games that come after it is that they are building up to something and KH2 is kind of playing in its own sandbox, not really looking ahead to what's coming next. At least until they added the BBS hints. It might be absolute bullshit and they had no idea what they were going to do with the characters until KH3 development began properly, but BBS-Coded-DDD-0.2 all give the impression that there's a road map they're following. Less so for Days, but that they pointedly tie in the fallout of Days to stuff that's going to happen. But KH2 feels like more of an end point.

THESE ARE MY EXTREMELY EARNEST FEELINGS ABOUT THIS DISNEY HELL-GAME, COME TALK TO ME ABOUT THEM or just slink away rolling your eyes, that's cool too.

#kingdom hearts #roxas #riku #axel #namine #kh2 #meta #kh meta #good god jaina do you have this much to say about a disney anime game you are a grown adult #clearly yes i do #i'm in hell and you're all coming with me

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ronitas · 5 years

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Ok welcome to my Kingdom hearts blog where my motto is FDB Kairi, Vanitas and Sora deserved better, Repliku deserved to be with Namine or at least say goodbye to her before disappearing, Sora and Riku shared the paopu first and the ending of kh3 is the result of the paopu gods being pissed because Sora shared the paopu with another and you cant tell me otherwise, Soriku is canon fars Im concerned and every Sokai moment in this game was awkward and forced af, Namine, Roxas, Xion and Ventus all deserved more screentime, we have a million Sora’s but we cant have 2 Riku’s? come on man

So anyway to sum up my main view points

FDB Kairi, KH3 literally made me hate her when before I just simply disliked her

Namine, Xion and Aqua are best gals

Roxas, Vanitas, Ventus and Sora are best boys

Riku’s cool although not my fave he has my respect

Vanitas and Ven should have reconciled in KH3 and possibly reunited, if not then the two should have reconciled and actually had a heart to heart instead of just ‘I am darkness goodbye’ ‘ok’ that is NOT how that should have gone, Xehanort gets to reconcile with Eraqus but not Vanitas with Ventus? gtf outta here man, I didnt expect Vanitas to have some big sappy ooc moment I just pictured something similar to Naruto at the waterfall training with Bee fighting his darker half and only after he learned to accept and embrace it could he move forward, THATS what I expected but nope, what was the point of even bringing Vanitas back if you werent gonna let these two make peace? this whole game has been villains having change of hearts and the worst one of all being Xehanort even has one but Vanitas just goes out as ‘I am darkness’ which makes all the build-up to Vanitas redemption till this point just to have it end like this in the end of the Xehanort saga is a huge slap in the face, so in that regard I guess I empathize with Kairi fans who expected her to do something but did absolutely nothing

Nomura unintentionally confirmed Riku did the paopu ritual with Sora back in KH1 by confirming in this game that the whole sharing of the paopu legend didnt require you to eat it but just giving it to the other person, proven by Kairi simply giving Sora the paopu but neither of them actually eat it yet that was supposed to represent them finally doing the legend thats been built up since KH1 which was supposed to be a huge Sokai moment but it just ended up becoming a huge Soriku one instead lol

Sea Salt trio is best trio next to the Lost trio

Sora and Riku are the best duo

Kairi should have never had a keyblade and not because of my personal bias but because HOW she got to be able to use one shouldnt even be a thing, you shouldnt be able to just touch the handle of a keyblade wielder and be able to use a keyblade no, it should be like what Terra did formally bequeathing Riku that ability the same should have applied to Kairi and everyone else, Sora touching Riku’s light is excusable because the keyblade chose him which is the ONLY other way someone should get a keyblade is if their CHOSEN by the keyblade itself, please tell me why the keyblade would choose Kairi, what has she done to EARN or DESERVE a keyblade? be a princess of heart? shouldnt all of them have keyblade then? no? of course not cuz thats bs, there is no reason thats why she needed just a half-assed excuse as to why and how she got one, hell even Axel had to prove himself to earn his keyblade, Kairi’s literally the only one who it was just handed to with minimal explanation

I love Sora but I swear in some areas in KH3 it felt like I was watching 2 different people, our Sora and whoever the hell that was

Kairi should have stayed dead in KH3 not just because of my personal feelings toward her but because they literally set it up in POTC with Wills death and Elizabeth being strong and going on without him and then Xehanort kills Kairi and although I knew it was unlikely I figured it was even MORE unlikely that Sora would be the one who dies because hes the protagonist and Nomura literally said Sora would continue to be the protagonist in future games so it’d make more sense for Kairi to die and Sora just having to learn to live on without her and accept the fact that no matter how hard he tries he CANT save everyone, but nope Nomura just pretty much tossed that opportunity for growth and development with Sora and just lets him abuse the power of waking and die for some chick who didnt deserve it that he already killed himself once for this SAME person in KH1 only this time it was alot less impactful but just really infuriating and unnecessary and just overall pointless

Kairi shouldnt have been in the final battle, PERIOD, Roxas should have been brought back earlier on and HE be the 7th light needed while Kairi hangs back and keeps training with Merlin, the fact that anybody let an amateur into the final biggest most dangerous fight ever for her first time using a keyblade on the battlefield boggles my danm mind that even Sora or Riku or Yen Sid didnt tell her to sit this out because she WASNT ready or hell Kairi HERSELF saying she shouldnt go acknowledging that she herself isnt prepared for this serious a battle and she doesnt wanna get in their way and risk them getting hurt trying to protect her, the fact that NEITHER of these happened boggles my friggin mind and please dont say ‘well they needed a 7th light and Roxas needed a spark yatta yatta yatta thats why’ because I can make a whole separate post about why thats bullshit and how it could of happened if the writing was actually GOOD and SENSIBLE there

I cant stress this enough but I DO NOT CARE about the pairings in Kingdom Hearts and I wanna be very clear on this

I do not care if Roxas ends up with a friggin tree or Axel smashes a toaster or Riku with Xion or Sora with Isa IDGAF about shipping in KH because there is way more important things going on then to worry about who gets with who, the only reason I care about Sokai is because I love Sora but despise Kairi and think he can do so much better and even if that ends up bein a frog IDC just as long as it aint her so its really not about the ship but more about what a garbage character Kairi is

I have plenty of ships that I like, but I could care less whether or not they become canon because to me thats just a bonus not a necessity I’ll still enjoy the pairings regardless

KH is supposed to be a combination of Disney and Final Fantasy, if Nomura separates from FF hes makin a huge mistake, you cant remove part of what literally started the franchise in the first place

I think thats about it but If I think of anything else I’ll add it here but yea thats pretty much it, those are my basic views for the series so far so either take it or leave it, if you disagree then just agree to disagree Im not tryin to change any of your opinions and you cant change mine, scratch that you cant change my opinion on Kairi but Im open minded on just about everything else so maybe my opinion CAN change in some areas but Kairi is the one area it wont

#kingdom hearts #kh #new blog #may change name later #kh3 #kingdom hearts 3 #kh3 spoilers #if it wasnt obvious that part about the paopu gods being pissed was a joke to cope with that awful ending #seriously the power of waking is so vague you cant even understand the ending because you really dont know wtf happened #so the paopu gods being pissed and punishing sora for sharing the paopu with another makes the ending more understandable #and now the only one who can save him is riku whom he originally shared the paopu with #because their destinies are truly intertwined #perfect ending #im serious about sora and riku sharing the paopu first though because they did #kh3 confirmed you dont have to eat it you just have to give it to the other person #that was an unintentional confirmation that cant be taken back now #you can try to twist it if you want but thats canon now

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clairefiredragon · 6 years

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Theory on the Riku Replica (KH3 Theory)

Okay. So I have been so thrilled since that new KH3 trailer we got. Cause there is that one bit at the end that really drives me with excitement. I can really add more to my previous theory about Riku’s Way to Dawn breaking and him leaving for “the other me”. Cause the Riku Replica is back and he may team up with the real Riku!! I got a lot to say so let’s get started! (I am putting a read more this time cause its going to be a long post lol). Enjoy!

Now first, I briefly mentioned the Riku Replica before in my previous theory here from the Don’t Think Twice trailer a while back.

But now with this new trailer. With THIS image. Right at the end there for just a few seconds.

Now I can really go further with my thoughts on this.

Now let’s have a quick refresh. Riku Replica never really died. When he was “dying” he was laying in a pool of darkness.

And he was just laying in the pool of darkness, talking about dying. Wondering where a ‘fakes’ heart goes and blah blah blah.

Now if you notice as he lays in the darkness light and dark particles are faded up into the sky.

Now that part may be irrelevant. But it’s just something I noticed. Anyways at his final moments. The darkness over flowed on him and then he was gone.

After that the darkness also disappeared. We never saw him physicals fade away or disappear like Xion did or any of the other Organization members.

So what actually happened to him do you ask? I believe he ended up (whether it was willingly or by accident) in the Realm of Darkness. So for over a year or so he has been just chilling in the Realm of Darkness doing who knows what. Probably just chilling or contemplating his life. There also is another reason, but I will get to that down below.

And I think the real Riku knows he is there. Cause if we jump back to the Don’t Think Twice trailer. Riku leaves his broken Way to Dawn in the ground and says

Riku must either be able to sense him or he just has a feeling Riku Replica is in the Realm of Darkness. He has a feeling the RikuRep may need it.

Now why Way to Dawn broke may be up for change now. Originally in my theory on it I believe it had to do with Riku’s use of darkness and light and all that. But maybe now...if you have seen those new trailers. It maybe broke during the battle with that darkness filled Aqua. It’s a possibility that it happened that way. But either way. It still broke and Riku is leaving it behind for RikuRep.

Now yo may ask. “If it’s broken...what good is that going to do for the Riku Replica?” And yes it does seem odd to leave him a broken keyblade. But there may be a possibility that it will be repaired through some magical means. If Riku can’t use the keyblade because of my darkness and light theory on it, then maybe it will be fixed if the RikuRep decides to use it.

It’s still up for debate on how that will work out. But I have a feeling that somehow it will be fixed and RikuRep will use it.

Now again. I think Riku (the real one of course), knows RikuRep is there and has a feeling he may show up again. He has a feeling that he will show up after finding the keyblade. So this scene

This scene right here! Not only did I freak when I saw this. But can we just take a moment to see that these two Riku boys, they are just chilling causally on the beach. It’s beautiful.

Now to add to the bit on why RikuRep was in the Realm of Darkness. Time doesn’t really flow there. We know this from Aqua being there 10+ years and still looking the same and to her having hardly any time flow by. And the RikuRep looks just the same as he did back when from Re: Chain of Memories. Same outfit as he was last seen in and the hair length and all that being the same. Now it is possible that replicas do not age. But we cannot confirm or deny this. As the only replicas we have seen are Riku and Xion. So maybe replicas don’t age, but if RikuRep was truly in the RoD then the not aging part really does hold up.

Now again. I think Riku had a feeling RikuRep would show back up. Why? Cause expressions. First Riku looks a little surprised but then she smiles and opens his mouth to say something.

So he is actually happy to see his replica again. Happy to see him and ready to talk to him about whatever it may be. Now idk what RikuRep is thinking. From the 2 seconds of him being shown, he looked to be frowning. Though maybe he just does that now cause he’s grumpy, who knows, lol. But he doesn’t seem mad or ready to fight Riku. He just is also chilling alongside Riku on the beach. So maybe he is more calm now.

Now I have a feeling this scene of course takes place after the darkness Aqua thing and Riku leaving his keyblade. Riku and Mickey failed to save Aqua, so they head back and Riku goes home to think things through on the beach. While thinking about things the replica shows up and then their conversation begins.

-Do I believe the Riku Replica is going to be a good guy now? Yes I want to believe that. I want to believe he is back and he is going to team up with the real Riku. I also believe/hope he learns to deal with who he is, but also learns to be his own person. I seriously would love Riku going around with the Riku Replica. Like brothers! :D Let them be bothers please! Riku can help teach the Riku Replica to use both light and darkness. So he can use Way to Dawn and all that. I want them to be friends now after all that happened. That would be nice. I really want him to have a redemption of some sorts. I use to be annoyed at him, but then I felt bad for him with what he went through. So I want him to be happy! That is what I am really hoping for. And I think that about covers it. I think I got all my thoughts out here.

I can’t wait to hear Riku pretty much talking to himself again XD But anyways, I hope you guys like my rambling theory here. Let me know what you thought!

#Kingdom Hearts 3 #KH3 #Riku #Riku Replica #KH3 theory #kingdom hearts 3 theory #kh3 spoilers #Kingdom Hearts 3 spoilers #kingdom hearts theory #repliku #Riku Replica theory #Kingdom Hearts 3 Riku #Kingdom Hearts 3 Riku Replica

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daehwifi · 6 years

Text

SILENT HALLWAY . | LEE JENO

- admin xion

genre: angst group/member: nct/lee jeno ft nana word count: 2, 146 requested: no side notes: i have a headache but that’s okay @loveleehyuck

prompt: seeing your ex in the hallways was never fun.

you stood there with a bright smile on your face. jeno was just a few cliques away from you, doing his classic eye smile to a joke his friend had cracked. some pieces of the shells got into the yolk, causing jeno’s laugh to be heard throughout the halls. that voice was familiar to you. too familiar. within an instant, the name of whoever owned that voice came to mind. you decided not to turn around to face him though. your heart wasn’t ready for that yet.

you slightly glanced over your shoulder but chose not to make any eye contact. your eyes didn’t even meet his face since you practically blurred him out in your mind. as blunt as that might’ve sound, he would’ve done the same as well. the two of you were still not ready to face each other yet.

jeno had realized he laughed out loud for the first time in forever. he closed his mouth afterwards while his smile faded away, leaving a tender feeling of something missing. his eyes scattered around to the part of the room you were standing in, but chose not to look at your face. he’ll steal a quick glance at your clothes and your hair. he felt at mercy itself just looking at those small details of yours. if he saw your face, he knew he’ll break.

his eyes couldn’t stop themselves from landing on your soft smile. then your eyes, then your dimples, then— everything. you are still as beautiful as he remembers. he could feel his jaw dropping a bit at the sight. as though everyone else around you two had disappeared, jeno only saw you.

he claimed he doesn’t love you anymore. you two ended on good terms. ‘friend’ terms. but jeno couldn’t understand as to why he felt empty. you two are still friends and have each other, and yet, jeno didn’t want to admit the fact that it’s because he misses you.

he found himself finally breaking his glare upon you. but your eyes only did the same. they acted as though they were some magnetic force that just had to be glued onto jeno. his soft laugh filled the air once more. a laugh you missed quite a bit. a gulp trailed down your throat with a stuffed storm of tears. his smile was still the same, his messy bed hair that only you could fix— everything. you were glad he didn’t change a single bit. but it felt odd as well. this was the jeno you used to see every day and love.

you found it odd. thoughts and opinions can change, but the person and personality don’t. that was another reason why you and jeno hated this break-up. jeno’s personality still lured you back and still made you blush no matter how hard you wanted to stop. and your bright smile and cute nods still made his heart melt every single time. he is still the same person he was when he was dating you. and you are still the same person you were when you were dating him. but now, he doesn’t have you and you don’t have him anymore.

“you’re not over him yet?” jaemin asked softly. his head leaned against his hand while he stared at the sight of your blank face. you snapped out of it the moment you heard him speak, but couldn’t snap out of the red cheeks you grew. you tucked a strand of hair behind your ear and stared at the ground with your hands in between your thighs anxiously.

jaemin, a friend who was caught in the middle. after the breakup, he remained friends with the two of you (like he should). over the time, you noticed how he’s slowly stopped bringing up jeno into the conversations and he’s probably done the same on jeno’s end.

“no...” you mumbled. a good example of a failed attempt to deny the truth. even if jaemin bought your words, your actions said otherwise.

“how is he?” you added even more softly than before. those three words slurred together, almost sounding like gibberish. a gulp appeared to be trailing down your throat while your shoes rubbed against one another like a nervous child.

“curiosity kills the cat,” jaemin teased playfully in attempts to lighten the anxious mood you gave off. you couldn’t help but give in and release an airy chuckle. but your stomach growled from an answer although your mind told you to surrender.

“would you like to be killed or would you rather not take the bait?” he added with a small smirk. jaemin did things like this often. he was too much of a happy-child to let sad things from his mood down. you knew he has empathy inside him, his emotions just face off another message instead.

“for christ sakes jaemin— this breakup has already killed me enough. just tell me how he is,” you took the bait without thinking twice. direct eye contact was key when attacking your prey. you had nothing else to lose. you’ve already lost your everything. you were willing to feel bullets hit your heart whether he felt happy or not. that’s how desperate you were when it came to things related to him.

jaemin sheepishly smiled and sat up from his chair. he shoved his hands inside his hoodie and that familiar smile faded a bit. he cleared the frog in his throat like he was an announcer.

“he’s fine,” jaemin stated. there was an awkward silence between you two. you waited for jaemin to say more, but once you saw the facial expression on his face, you knew that was all. jaemin clearly could’ve said more if he wanted too, but decided not too ‘for your own good’.

“oh,” you replied.your heart felt a little bit more at ease although the feeling of envy lingered around you with a splash of jealousy. if was he really fine; he got over you while you were still trying to heal. you wanted to be okay again. and you wanted him to be okay again.

“what a way to build up the suspense,” you muttered bitterly under your breath. jaemin released a soft sigh and rolled his head in circles. a bright smile remained on his face although there was a feeling of guilt inside him.

“you know how he’s doing,” jaemin conceded. you cocked your eyebrow with a gloomy feeling in your stomach. he stood up from his seat and swung his black backpack over his shoulder.

“no i dont,” you blurted without realizing your tone in the voice.

jaemin turned around and did a classic move of his. he chuckled, flashed a wide smile that soon turns into a faint smirk before his eyes went to the floor then back to you.

“ask him then. you two are still friends,” jaemin concluded. when you opened your mouth, he left the classroom. you were put to mute like any other cliche kdrama. your heart dropped a little bit more when hearing his suggestion. it wasn’t that easy anymore.

jaemin placed his hand on jeno’s shoulder while taking a seat beside him. jeno glanced over to his shoulder. simply seeing the hand and the white sleeve that came along, he knew in an instant it was jaemin.

“y/n asked about you,” jaemin announced as though he was a messenger. jeno couldn’t help but force a sheepish smile. a sudden heat wave hit him and caused his heart rate to increase out of anxiety.

“what a way to start off a conversation,” jeno spoke. he pursed his lips together and eye-smiled sarcastically, flicking jaemin’s hand off his shoulder.

“stop acting like you don’t want to know what she asked,” jaemin jerked. jeno’s neck heated up from embarrassment. he was caught red-handed and maybe red-faced as well.

jeno tapped his finger against the table out of anticipation. little did he know, jaemin had you on edge like this as well. jaemin simply ignored his antics and pulled out his textbook from his bag. jeno felt like a little child wanting attention, but he couldn’t help but hope for jaemin to speak up about it.

“what’d she say?” he mumbled under his breath. the silence in the air made jeno’s heart race even more as though it was his first confession. come to think of it, his first confession was to you.

“i’m not some messenger. ask her yourself,” he spoke. there was sharpness to his words that jeno felt. or, he was just overthinking it.

“i can’t just-”

“yes you can,” jaemin interrupted. his stare was locked on the whiteboard in front of the two. there came another gulp down jeno’s throat. he found himself at a mute afterwards with a heavy feeling.

it was easy for jaemin to say that. to experience it, was an actual hell. even if jeno had the enthusiasm to had the hope, he knew he wouldn’t be able to even mutter two words near you. he just couldn’t do it anymore.

your fingers hovered over the glowing keyboard. your brightness was turned all the day down already, but you still felt as though it was too bright on your eyes. a cloud shadowed over you, causing a tsunami of mixed emotions to swirl inside you.

on the ‘bright’ side, you were facing your fear of the dark. your phone was your only light source at this point at this point. the scenarios inside your head becoming reality was a bigger fear that took over.

it’s been three hours now and you were still stuck on simply sending a message. by now, you’ve already typed out at least 30 different ways to say ‘how are you?’ that isn’t even including the ones where you straight out began venting about how you miss him.

after shedding tears and going through a tissue box, you surrendered without putting up a proper fight. you thought if a fight with your own emotions was this difficult, simply talking to him against would place you into a k.o. your phone seemed to have agreed with you and died. you felt stupid for not charging it when seeing it at 3%, but you felt stupid in general for not being able to do anything without him.

you were completely in the dark now. by yourself and your own thoughts. isolated to hear your own cries and your own sobs. no social media to distract you nor googling how to send the perfect message.

you came to a realization at that moment. you hated the dark and hated missing him.

how much longer was jeno going to stay quiet? he grew angry at himself for just standing in the hallway and not being able to say anything. the two of you are friends, so why is it hard for you two to interact like normal?

“normal?” jeno scoffed to himself. the normal to him was him holding your hand and smiling. the normal to him was you constantly playing with his fingertips and lacing your fingers with his. jeno couldn’t believe he was pitying himself for his inner thoughts.

it was almost ironic. a little later after jeno was kicked out of class and told to stand outside, the same scenario happened to you as well. he couldn’t tell if cupid was playing with his feelings or the devil was.

the hallway only consisted of you two standing there in silence. some of you would exchange glances to one another but never said a single word.

this was the perfect opportunity to finally say everything. you were faced with him and there was nowhere to run. all you had to do was open your mouth and simply talk. it’s such a simple task but why did you find it so difficult when it came to him?

jeno clenched his fists and swallowed, in which caused his adam's apple to bob up and down. he was scared of saying such words without having a thought in mind. he almost blurted out how he missed you, but only let out a hesitated ‘ah’.

when would the word ‘i still love you’ finally escape his lips? when would the words ‘i miss you’ finally escape yours? when will that feeling you two miss so much finally come back? jeno wanted the answer to those questions and you did as well. but the two of you remained silent in this perfect opportunity to speak.

the bell had rung. jeno had drifted off with his friend group while you did the same. there was a feeling that something was missing lingering in the two of you. the hallway slowly filled with chatter but you felt unsatisfied for some reason.

in that silent hallway with just the two of you, you could’ve finally talked to him like a normal person. like a friend.

#lee jeno #jeno #jeno lee #nct #nct 2018 #nct dream #nct imagines #nct scenarios #lee jeno imagines #lee jeno scenarios #kpop imagines #kpop scenarios #angst #jeno imagines #jeno scenarios #nct dream imagines #nct dream scenarios

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