candybox | KINGDOM HEARTS CMO POST

[ Kairi had decided she couldn't just wait. She could never just wait for Sora again. She'd promised she'd protect him, and she meant it, from the bottom of her heart. So ... she went looking for him.

And she was led to the Realm of Darkness. Wandering around the place, her heart can instantly tell that this is where he is. Their connection is so strong, even in a place like this. It fills her with warmth to know she's found him, but not quite yet — there's still something strange about her connection to him, and it worries her a little.

Still, she presses on, despite her relative inexperience with the Keyblade compared to those who've come here in the past. She won't give up — nothing could make her give up. And she knows that, no matter what, they'll find each other again.

And just as she's coming up to a clearing, she feels something stir in her heart, as she looks into the distance to see a figure there. Not one that matches any heartless she's come across — one that looks exceedingly like Sora. A dark figure, but ... she's positive. She's never doubted herself before when it's come to him, and she won't start now.

So without a moment's hesitation, she's rushing forward toward him, unaware of the heartless lurking out of sight. ]

Sora! Sora, I'm here, I— Ah!

[ And here they are, leaping out to surround her and stop her in her tracks. This is the worst possible timing, she's so close. ]

[He didn't know how long it had been since he fell into darkness here. He's not even sure where here is, or how he came to be here, or even who he is. All his memories, memories of the light, have faded into the blackest abyss along with him. But there was one memory he clung to, a glowing warmth that he could never turn away from, knowing it wouldn't harm him.

It was dim and distant. Yet the longer he clung to it, it grew stronger by the day. Closer, perhaps? He couldn't go to meet it, wherever it was: he could only reach out to it, and hope that it would reach him someday without being drawn in and consumed.

That feeling comes to a peak when his glowing red eyes finally see Kairi, and the memory of her cuts through the darkness with startling clarity. Seeing her surrounded, he knows what he has to do: he vanishes, reappearing behind the group of Heartless, summoning an almost-forgotten black weapon to his hand to cut them down. Whatever happens, he has to keep her safe, no matter what.]

C'mon--.... [ Her hand is outstretched towards him, a gesture of support and sympathy, concern wrought in her expression. And assuming that it is indeed taken, she'll use that hand to then pull him up and drape his arm over her shoulder, supporting him. She can see the exit just a short ways away. ] Let's get you out of here.

[ They've both wound up in a different world together, both dropped into the middle of a coliseum filled with monsters to fight against; but unlike her, he had arrived already injured. ]

[Terra all too often hates to show weakness in front of others, but after being hurled from one world to the next, and one battle to the next, he can't deny he's in rough shape. Even his magic supplies are exhausted, so it's not as simple as just healing himself and continuing to fight. So he gratefully takes her hand, gripping his Keyblade in the other as she helps him up to his feet.]

Thank you, but be careful. If we get attacked, run.

[He can still fight. On the other hand, he's not sure if she's capable of combat at all, so he has to at least make sure she doesn't get hurt on his account.]

[ He's one of those types, isn't he? The kind that expects her to leave when he might need her help. ] Run? [ Still, she looks surprised all the same that he says as much when he's only just met her. But in the end, she's the same way. ]

There's no way I'm leaving you here. [ She tells him as they make their way across the arena. ]

[He'll try not to slow her down too much, even if he is leaning on her for support.]

You'd put yourself at risk for a stranger?

[It's something Aqua or Ven would do, without question. Normally the thought would make him smile, but that she reminds him of them only reminds him that he should be with them, protecting them, not here.

But what can he do for now? All he can do is push the memory from his mind for now, and focus on their escape.]

[ She's able to support him fairly easily, but it doesn't make their walk from one end of the coliseum to the other any less difficult. She has to be careful where she steps as well, with the ground slick with both mud and the aftermath of previous battles against beasts from others who have arrived before them.

But despite the grimness and confusion of their situation, she glances at him and gives him a small, wry and wistful smile. Her answer is one word, spoken as surely as the sun rising in the morning: ] Unconditionally.

[ Because even if she knew him to be the most murderous person in the world, she would still want to help. ]

And don't you forget that.

[His eyes widen, and he's taken aback-- then, despite his pain, his expression softens into a smile. It takes a strong heart of light, to want to do something so selfless as that.]

I won't forget.

[Then he looks over his shoulder at any monsters who might be following them. They're not in immediate danger just yet, though he's curious how these are just regular monsters, without a single Unversed to be seen.]

Let's hurry-- they're distracted, but it won't be for long.

[It's strange, to be whole again, exist as himself and feel things without threat or obligation. Well, maybe not completely without obligation—he no longer serves the Organization, but he still wields Keyblades, and he has a better understanding now of what that means. It's a heavy responsibility.

But not now. Now, he feels light and unencumbered. Plodding down the sand—maybe he should take his shoes off so his toes can squish in it—he spots Aqua and somewhat hesitantly makes his way toward her. It's not that he doesn't like her or that she wasn't nice to him the brief times they'd interacted before, but he doesn't want to assume she's especially interested in getting to know him just because of how he looks. He isn't Ventus and Ventus isn't him, and that's okay. But they're both here, and it's a nice day, so why not?]

Hey, Aqua.

[Aqua has already taken off her shoes and is enjoying sitting on the dock, dipping her feet into the water, and soaking up the sun. She loves being here again, but she's also not used to being around so many people -- or anyone, really -- so taking a few moments to recharge and collect her thoughts is doing wonders.

When she hears her name with that voice so familiar to her, she looks over her shoulder and gives a warm smile. Roxas is so much like Ven, and yet so much his own person, of course Aqua was endeared with him immediately. But they haven't had much chance to talk yet, so she's glad he's here.]

Hi, Roxas. Would you like to join me? [She pats the wood next to her.]

Agreed.

[ TIME TO GET OUT OF HERE. ] I don't know about you, but I'm done with fighting more monsters for today.

[ The exit is an arched tunnel, and she's keeping an eye out as well for anything that might be lurking within the shadows. She's hoping that they're far enough away from the center of the coliseum that nothing will follow them at this point. ] As soon as we get out of here, let's find you someplace to rest.

[He finds himself reflexively returning the smile, his expression growing brighter in response to hers. Is it that he's still not used to people being happy to see him, or is it a connection that hearts make? The latter, he thinks, but he's still pretty new to understanding hearts. That's okay. There's time.]

Sure. [Why not? He jumps onto the dock and moves beside her, situating himself comfortably.] It's nice here, isn't it? I can't think of a better place for all of us to gather.

All right.

[They make it to the tunnel, but before they can get away, a beast with too many legs and teeth drops from behind them, intending to chase them down while they're vulnerable in the tunnel. Gripping his Keyblade, Terra turns and points it at the monster, yelling--] Fire!

[A Firaga spell erupts from the end of his Keyblade and slams into the monster, filling the tunnel with smoke and the smell of burnt flesh. He sags a little more against Pyra with that overuse of energy, and his Keyblade disappears from his hand in a flash of light, but he won't stop when they've been bought some time to flee.]

[Aqua nods and closes her eyes, tipping up her face and enjoying the sun against her skin.]

It's wonderful. These islands, the people who come from here or who were drawn here... They really have a power to bring people together.

[Maybe in that way, the Destiny Islands really do live up to their name, paopu legend or not.]

[ Surprised at the monster's appearance and how quickly he reacts to launching an attack against it, she stumbles a little when he turns. She quickly brings a hand to his chest to stabilizing him, adjusting. ] Wh--

[ She's not unfamiliar to the scent of burned flesh, but it's still unpleasant. Not to mention-- them being in a tunnel with smoke isn't good news. He looks human to her, surely his lungs won't appreciate the explosion!! If she's going to fight this thing, too, it's going to have to be out in the open where she's sure he won't suffocate if she causes any smoke.

But what's worse is that he seems even more exhausted than he did a moment ago. More urgently, she'll half-carry, half-lift him as they make their way out. ] H-hey-- stay with me. We're--

[ The monster is going to leap out from the smoke, and that's when Pyra will throw them both to the muddy ground as it jumps over them. Scrambling up just as the monster spins to turn back at them, she manages just in time to lift her hand to send a blast of flame at it as it charges.

It's a direct hit. ] Stay back!

[ She warns him, rising to her feet. The heat she generates is intense to dry the mud beneath their feet into cracked, dusty earth, and the monster is slowly being withered away. ]

[Terra is too disoriented to notice the monster leaping at them, so being thrown to the ground winds up being a lucky save. He looks up just in time to throw his arm up instinctively from the intensity of the heat, and sees she seems to possess her own fire magic.

He's grateful, but incensed. How could he, a would-be Keyblade Master, sit by while someone else protects him? But his only recourse for power now is the darkness, and if he draws it out in desperation... No, he can't.

He pushes himself up unsteadily, using the wall to brace himself.]

Quickly! Finish it off! [If she doesn't, he will.]

[ Indeed she will finish it off so he won't have to, wiping her other arm at it and throwing a jet of at its head. Her energy itself isn't exactly natural, but it is hot enough that it can cause actual fire-- which is what it does the moment it touches a fuel source, that being the body of the monster.

Soon its corpse will be half melted, half ash upon the ground, and when it's over Pyra casts her hands down to her side, extinguishing the flames upon her fingertips. ]

...Hah. [ She breathes out when it's over, turning back to look at him. She sends him a reassuring smile. ] Okay, now that's enough monsters for the day.

[ She offers her hand to him again. ]

Yeah. They do.

[Just like Sora. It's fitting that they're his home, a place just as bright and warm.]

It's kind of funny—I never thought I'd feel so connected here. In a way, you could say that I came from here originally, but after Sora and I split into two people the first time, I wasn't really him anymore. And I'm definitely not now. But I can feel it now.

[He's impressed, but he'll ask questions about her combat prowess later. Whatever the source of her power, she's strong, and that's something Terra respects.] Definitely.

[He breathes out a sigh, taking her hand and leaning on her for support once more. Once they're out of the tunnel, they come into a rocky tundra, with a half-ruined city in the distance. It's nowhere Terra recognises, not even comparable to the wastelands of the Keyblade Graveyard.]

...Any idea where we are?

Hmm... [She opens her eyes, and looks at Roxas. There's still a lot she has to learn, about the Nobodies -- or in this case, a former Nobody.] I suppose in a way, it's like coming back to an old home. Maybe that's what your heart is trying to tell you?

[He thinks about it for a long moment, then nods.]

Yeah...yeah, that could be it. Makes as much sense as anything else, right? [He grins.] I'm still figuring out how all this works. I don't think there's ever been Nobodies like me and Namine before. Even if we aren't, anymore.

[ She looks over the dilapidated state of the world... and she can only think of how her own world once was, before it was remade....

Her expression falls. ] Something terrible must have happened here.... [ She whispers, but presses forward in their walk. ]

But this place is nowhere that I recognize. How about you?

[ She gasps a little at how quickly he moves to take out the heartless, and for a few seconds she has the opportunity to really look at him. His red eyes, his black figure — it's clear to her that he's not okay, that the darkness has done something to him. It hurts her heart to see him like this, frowning for a moment, before more heartless emerge from the other side of them.

And she's forced to turn her attention to them, stepping back a few steps so that she's close to him, holding her Keyblade out in their direction. No matter how he looks, she doesn't fear him, nor would she treat him any differently. ]

Sora ... Just a little longer ... It'll be okay.

[ She doesn't know how much of him is in there, but she's going to reassure him regardless. She'll protect him this time. She promises.

And then the heartless are rushing at them, and she's at the ready to take them, ready to slash at them the moment they get close. ]

I've never been here before.

[World-hopping may be normal for him, but even with all he's seen, there are still seemingly limitless worlds out there. This is just one of those many. As she presses on, he casts another look back over their shoulder.]

Can we stop here? I just need to rest for a minute. [If the concerned looks he's casting back at the coliseum are any indication, he's also wondering if there are other people still trapped in there.]

[He stops long enough to stare at her, long and unblinking. "Sora" -- was that his name? Another memory cast off when he fell to darkness, but it seems right, particularly when it's her who's saying it. As the Heartless rush at them, he leaps to meet them with his inky black Keyblade, swinging with the seeming reckless abandon to match any Heartless here. Yet always with intention: protecting her.]

KINGDOM HEARTS CMO POST

gimme that sweet sweet sora boi u kno wat we doin'

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Terra!

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Aqua! I guess probably during the beach party?

sounds good!

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