revenance_rpg | 8th Key Smash

Entry tags:

8th Key Smash

Who: Sora and Namine
What: Even's response to Lea's arrival has prompted Sora to stop hesitating and ask Namine what happened in Castle Oblivion.
Where: Tea shop
When: After the shop's closed for the day.
Warnings: Sap, possible adorable, heavy stuff and possible spoilers for parts of the series, not necessarily in that order, of importance or otherwise

Sora had, briefly, considered asking Namine to come to his room. Then it occurred to him what it might look like for a teenage boy and a teenage girl to be alone in a hotel room for possibly a few hours. Still blushing furiously at that realization, he'd sent Namine a private text message asking if it would be okay if he hung around the tea shop after it closed so they could talk about some things in relative privacy. He didn't say in the text that he wanted to discuss Castle Oblivion, though he did put that it was important.

He got to the tea shop about an hour before closing, Jelly Bean and Toxy in tow. Bruce had the bed all to himself back at the room, though Sora sometimes wondered why he didn't find something to hang from like normal bats when he slept. That was a little beside the point. The main reason he'd left Bruce behind was that the psycho bat would likely try to coax Batty into playing game when this really wasn't a good time for that.

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Sora's thought with regards to appropriateness of meeting place had probably saved certain people some surprise and uncomfortable explanations as to whey two teenagers of opposite gender meeting alone in a hotel room was Not A Good Idea. Because Namine herself wouldn't have picked up on that social nicety, and probably agreed to meet wherever he suggested. They were friends right? Everybody knew that friends met and talked together sometimes. Did it matter where?

That said, she was just as happy to set up the tea shop for them to meet after it had closed and they'd finished cleaning up. There was hot cocoa and a slice of cake for each of them, and treats for their Spirits. From Sora's message, she'd guessed he'd wanted to discuss more recent events, so while she was concerned, her expression wasn't guarded when she smiled at him when he arrived. "Hello, Sora."

For the same reason that Sora had left Batty behind, Namine had dismissed Spot from the meeting--he and Jelly Bean together could be a bit too active. Bell, her new Necho Cat, was a bit too timid yet, so it was Batty and Teddy who greeted Sora and his Spirits with her.

Maybe at another time, when he didn't have heavy stuff on his mind, he would explain why meeting at the hotel wouldn't have been the best idea. Even though nothing gossip worthy would have happened, some people might just consider the fact that they'd been alone together in a hotel room was worth the gossip.

At any rate, he was glad she was okay with meeting, if the snacks were any indication. He just hoped she wouldn't have any issues with what she'd intended to ask him. Since he couldn't remember what had happened when they'd first met, he had no way to know if there'd any agreements to discuss things when or if they met up again. He couldn't blame her if she thought it was about more recent occurrences and they could certainly discuss those things afterward, but right now he was interested in the one year gap in his memory. Come to think of it, had she noticed Even's response to Lea or had she not looked at other conversations going on? He'd find out, he supposed. Assuming he could figure out a good way to start this conversation. At a loss, he figured he might as well just go for it. If she was too uncomfortable with it, he wouldn't press. "Hey, Namine. Um... I know this might be a little sudden and maybe seem a little random, but... can you tell me what happened in Castle Oblivion?"

He would explain both how he knew what the place was called and why he asking if she wanted to know. Meanwhile, Toxy was in cling mode and sticking close since he had noticed that Sora had something on his mind when he'd sent his message. Jelly Bean was quite content strike up his own conversation with Batty and Teddy. Actually, this might be the first time he'd met Teddy. Hello!

That sort of conversation was definitely suited to when there were less pressing subjects. It might be a little awkward at first, but they just might be able to laugh at how silly some people could be--once Namine got over her confusion as to why they would even think such a thing, that is.

She was definitely okay with meeting, though snacks would have been provided even if she'd been uncomfortable. It was becoming a habit thanks to learning manners from Ienzo: guests were served refreshments, and it was often rude to make them eat alone. As far as the subject of conversation went, she'd seen Even's reaction and was somewhat concerned regarding what would come of that. She hadn't known that Sora had seen it, though she could have guessed that he would eventually ask her about what happened during the year he slept. They'd never promised that they would speak about it, but they had promised to become friends for real, so if that meant discussing Castle Oblivion, she'd do so. Not that she wasn't surprised by his asking about it so suddenly, but she recovered from that quickly. He'd probably notice her manner was a little subdued, though. "If you'd like, but it might help if you tell me what you know first."

It was a little more direct than Namine would be with some people, but this was Sora. She didn't think he'd mind. Not much interested in the discussion, Batty and Teddy were more than happy to talk with Jelly Bean. It was the first time he was meeting Teddy, so Batty took care of introductions, then Teddy offered a careful pat as a way of saying "hello".

Sora might actually have preferred to be having that conversation over this one, but he know he needs to ask this. Still, perhaps sometime or other he will go over that and maybe other precautions as well.

Refusing hospitality was rude too, but politeness wasn't the only reason Sora usually accepted it. It didn't occur to him that she might still have provided snacks even if she wasn't comfortable with the topic of conversation, though. As for that topic, he might have put it off a bit longer if he didn't feel like he should know why Even had responded as he had to Lea's arrival. He did notice that her manner was a bit less chipper now that he'd asked. He understood how knowing what he knew already might make it easier for her to fill him in. "Okay. Well, what I do know is a very brief summary that King Mickey gave me shortly before I ended up here. I know that the Organization was using you to try to get control of me and that involved tampering with my memory. You also fixed my memory. There was a replica of Riku and... that's about it. That summary covers everything without actually telling me anything. It's actually kind of frustrating, but I know the King couldn't have known much more than that himself anyway..."

No, he didn't mind. If anything, he thought it was a good thing that she was comfortable enough with him to be direct. As to the Spirits, Jelly Bean was happy to make a new friend. Toxy at least said hello to the other Spirits, but he was staying by Sora because he was clingy like that. It's been obvious that there's a lot of things bugging Sora lately.

Those precautions would be good things to learn, and Ienzo and Aeleus would probably be glad to be spared the explanation. Some other time, though.

Even's reaction was sure to have gotten notice from others. It was probably only a matter of time before they started asking questions--not necessarily to Namine, but in general. It was probably good that Sora was asking this before anyone else. Better to tell a painful story to someone you knew rather than a stranger.

It looked like Sora had a general idea of what had happened in Castle Oblivion. "Yes, that's basically what happened. The Organization wanted to control you, so they made me change your memories so I replaced Kairi. If I hadn't, they would have locked me up forever, or so they said. Most of the members there were those you don't remember meeting, but Axel was there too..."

She paused there, wondering if she was going about this quite the right way. Batty, as if sensing his human wasn't happy, flew back over to sit on her shoulder and offer moral support. Teddy and Jelly Bean were free to keep talking.

That was also a conversation Sora would't be bringing Bruce to, for the simple fact that the crazy little fluffball might find his discomfort with the topic hilarious.

Possibly, anyone that watched the communicator when they had nothing better to do had seen Even's reaction. That also assumed they were paying attention to any conversations beside their own.

He had a very general idea. There was also Roxas's memories to consider. After debating on it a moment, he mentioned this, "I've got some memories from Roxas. Apparently, Axel was the only one to return from there and he didn't want to talk about it all."

Sora wasn't sure there was a right way to go about this. Toxy nudged at his leg, knowing that he wasn't comfortable with this conversation even though he'd initiated it. Jelly Bean had watched Batty fly over, but stayed where he was. It looked like Toxy had a handle on things with Sora. Actually, his clingyness was probably perfect for the situation.

Any Spirits with a known tendency to turn on communicators without their person's knowledge would be banned from that conversation. For obvious reasons.

Namine checked all the public conversations out of habit. It was a good way to keep up with what was going on, and get an idea for the others. Most of them knew how to switch the settings to private if they needed to, so it didn't quite feel like eavesdropping. She drew the line at actively following people, though.

It was nice to know that Roxas had eventually gotten back all of his memories, not just the events surrounding his departure from the Organization. Sora's knowledge of those memories wasn't really surprising. If Roxas had gone back to Sora, then some mixing of memories should be expected. Or so she thought; nobody had quite known what would happen when a Nobody reunited with their Other.

Of course Axel wouldn't have wanted to talk about Castle Oblivion. He hadn't really talked about it to her or Riku much, either, though they hadn't been friends the way he and Roxas had. "No, he wouldn't have. He...had to do some bad things there.*

That was probably the best way to put it. Namine didn't know all the reasons behind Axel's actions, but they didn't blend well with what she knew of him later, so she was willing to think they'd been out of character, and he'd had to do it. Feeling Batty nuzzle her cheek, she gave him a wan smile and reached up to pat him. At least Teddy and Jelly Bean seemed to be having a nice conversation.

Bruce seemed more interested in turning on the communicator when it would be comically embarrassing for Sora or if he felt the others might like or needed to know what was going on with him... like the first time with the nightmares.

Sora usually only checked the most recent couple of posts, but sometimes he looked back a little further.

Technically, some things were still missing from Roxas's memory. He was thoroughly aware of these things and it didn't sit well, so naturally Sora was aware of this. What had happened with Sora and Roxas was probably not indicative of what normally happened with Nobodies and their Others.

'Bad things' was an interesting way to put it. It also seemed to be a bit of an understatement. Sora was beginning to think Axel had been among the opponents he'd fought while in that castle. It didn't help that his dreams occasionally seemed to touch on what had happened there, but were so quickly forgotten that he was left with only the vaguest impressions. In some cases, he was left with the impression of having faced someone or something that wielded a given element with considerable skill and power. It made sense to guess that Axel was the one tied to Fire. "That sounds like it's putting it mildly. It also gives me a hint at least why Lea didn't seem thrilled when I told him Ienzo, Aeleus and Even are here."

It wasn't the only thing he wanted to ask about, either, but one thing at a time seemed like a better way to go about it. He gave Toxy a pat and spared the other Spirits a glance. They seemed to having fun and he wouldn't be surprised if they were discussing either what a drama queen Spot was or what a brat Bruce was.

Hence why he wouldn't be allowed near any discussions that were meant to be private or were about sensitive issues. Concern was all well and good, but there was a thing called privacy.

Sora had always been a special case, so it stood to reason that anything pertaining to his Nobody would be, too. Chains of memories were odd, delicate things, though, so any gaps in Roxas's memory were understandable. Maybe while they were here, Namine could help with some of the finer details.

Understatement or no, it had seemed a better way to put things than giving the whole story right away. She'd have to tell eventually, but easing into these these things was probably better for all concerned. Sora's guess that he'd fought Axel at one point was accurate, though they could discuss details like that later. While she didn't know the reasons behind Axel's actions, she could at least explain what she knew. "I guess it is. They didn't always get along even before everything that happened. I guess I should start from the beginning--when you arrived at Castle Oblivion?"

One thing at a time was definitely better. Meanwhile, Batty was indeed having a fine time sharing stories about Spot's dramatics and commiserating about Bruce's brattiness. Not that they weren't good Spirits, but really.

Privacy was not a thing when Bruce decided he wanted to share something.

There were some cases where Sora did not like being a special case. This was probably one of them. Still, he couldn't change it, so making the best of it was the next thing and maybe working out the gaps in Roxas's memory would help. Speaking of which, they still needed to ask Roxas how he felt about discussing things...

There were some things that really couldn't be helped by easing into them. Hopefully, this wasn't one of those things. Admittedly, when the thought that he'd fought Axel had surfaced, he'd initially thought it was something from Roxas's memories. Still, Axel's actions in the castle weren't the only thing Sora wanted to know about. "Yeah, that might be a good idea."

It was certainly better than possibly overloading on information. Jelly Bean could agree. Come to think of it, he's wondering if it was smart of Sora to just leave Bruce in the hotel room rather than actually dismissing him. There be a mess when they get back...

Bruce was apparently of the viewpoint that all information wanted to be free.

It was a mixed blessing. While being a special case had made it possible for him and Roxas to have their separate lives for a time, that only made it all the more difficult when the time came to reunite them. They really did need to share information with Roxas, and should ask him about that.

Well, even if easing into things didn't help in the end, it was worth a try. If Sora wanted to know the whole story, not just the reason behind Even's reaction to Lea, she'd tell him. "I don't know everything, but here's the story as I understood it later."

With that, she began to explain how the Organization had set up another base in Castle Oblivion, eventually planning to use it to trap Sora. Marluxia, Larxene, and Axel had taken charge of most of that plan, and Namine herself since she was a key part of it. Zexion, Vexen, and Aelues had known of the plan, of course, but hadn't been as active; Vexen and Zexion had mostly been interested in setting up research areas in the basement levels. When Sora arrived, they could spring the trap.

Considering how long this conversation might take, there very well could be a mess waiting for Sora when he got back. Namine didn't like dismissing her Spirits, but considering Spot could create the same kind of chaos in her room, she'd decided it was for the best. At least Bell could be trusted to just curl up on her bed and sleep.

While it was true that there were some things that shouldn't be kept secret, having them broadcast over the network by a mischievous bat was not a good way to get them out. An exception could probably be made if it was the only way, though.

If Sora's information was correct, there will be a away to permanently give both Roxas and Namine their own lives. He wasn't sure if that particularly needed to be brought up right away, but eventually.

Sora had been thinking of asking already. If he'd asked sooner, he'd already have known, though he couldn't say for sure whether that even meant anything.

He listened quietly. That the Organization had designs on him was no surprise, not any more. He was still a bit disturbed at the true reason he'd been a target and he wondered if maybe that was the real reason for screwing around with his memory. "So they might have had other plans for the place besides what they had in store for me? What... happened when I got there?"

Sora had come into this expecting it to be a while. He was also expecting Bruce to sulk the whole time he was gone. It wasn't like he could move the furniture by himself and anything that he could knock over or break was carefully tucked away so that he couldn't... or at least shouldn't be able to. The worst Sora was expecting was to maybe find his bedding shredded. He'd kind of forgotten that the bats could learn the Zero Gravity spells...

No, even for things that shouldn't be kept secret, there was a way to go about giving information. Broadcasting was not the ideal way for most things. Especially if the broadcaster was a bat with an attitude.

Namine would be both happy and a little nervous about that prospect. Having her own life would be wonderful, but having lived with thinking of herself as only part of a whole, it would take some time to adjust to the idea. Her time here had been good for that, though.

Well, whatever the case, Sora was asking now. Namine shook her head in response to the first question. "I don't know--I didn't see Vexen or Zexion much. They did try to teach me a little, though. Mostly reading and writing, and some math."

The memory of that makes her smile slightly before her expression sobers again. "After you arrived, the main plan started. Castle Oblivion itself can take away memories, but aside from that I used my power to undo and replace some of the links in your chain of memory. At first you just remembered me as another friend, but eventually I undid all the links that made up your memories of Kairi, so there was only me left. To add to that, Vexen made a Replica of Riku, and they had me change his memories so they thought he was the real Riku, and set him against you. He only remembered me instead of Kairi, too..."

Her voice trailed off at the mention of the Replica, and she suddenly became very interested in her hands. Batty nuzzled at her cheek, trying to offer some comfort. He didn;t know why his person was sad, but he could try to help her feel better. Teddy, too, excused himself from talking to Jelly Bean so he could go offer support. No bear hugs yet, but he was ready if one was needed.

Honestly, it was probably only a matter of time before the little brat caught him coming out of the shower or something equally (or more!) embarrassing.

He would be happy to help her there and he was pretty sure Riku and Kairi would agree. Perhaps the time here would be good for Roxas and Xion too. Come to think of it, it seemed possible that he could include Xion in that list too. While he hadn't known her name at the time, he was pretty sure she was the one he was thinking of when he'd mentioned the people he needed to be able to help.

He did wish he had asked sooner, even if it wasn't exactly pleasant conversation. It was actually kind of nice to hear that not everyone had been cruel to her, though.

He noticed that smile. If they'd been kind enough to her for remembering those lessons to make her smile, well it was evidence that maybe, despite someone's best efforts, their hearts were developing rather well anyway. Naturally, that small bit of pleasantness couldn't last, given the main topic. He knew, vaguely, about how his memories had been rewritten. Hearing a little more detail on it clarified a few things. It probably created a few more questions too, but the information about the replica put a hold on that. Furthermore, oddly he feels that the replica had said something to him about Kairi in much the same way that he feels he should know about Even's issue with Lea. "So... writing Kairi out must have been important to the plan if they even did it to the replica."

The way Namine trailed off and her sudden interest in her hands suggested that things had gone very badly with (and likely for) the replica. Sora sighed. He'd known this was going to be unpleasant, but he'd clearly underestimated just how unpleasant. Toxy nudged him again, concerned, and would probably have gotten up in his lap if he allowed it. Jelly Bean followed Teddy over, realizing that Toxy seemed to be at a bit of a loss in comforting their person.

Namine wouldn't think Bruce would be that mean, but he wasn't her Spirit.

The help would be welcome, and she was sure Riku and Kairi would help, too, if they were here. While being trapped in this dream world wasn't the best situation, it was giving all of them--her, Roxas, and Xion--a chance at...maybe practicing having their own lives was a good term. Not that Namine knew as much of Xion's story as Sora did, but if she knew, she'd include Xion in the group as well.

No, despite the background threat of being locked away if she didn't do as told, not everyone in Castle Oblivion had been overtly cruel. Not that they were particularly kind, either, but the thought shown in wanting her to learn something, in thinking that she needed something to keep her mind occupied, was appreciated. Maybe even those small gestures were a glimmer of some kind of heart developing; if so it was a shame there hadn't been more opportunities for such things. Unfortunately, there had been other plans occupying everyone's time..."Well, they wanted to arrange it so I was the only friend you had left. If they managed that, and I had that kind of hold over you, and they were controlling me, then they could control you. With the Replica--it just made it easier to set him against you, I think."

Talking about the Replica was even less pleasant than the main subject, though, so she shifted back to the main story. "Anyway, like I said, the Organization wanted to control you, but Marluxia wanted to use you to take over the Organization. I think Vexen might have guessed something...He tried to tell you about Twilight Town and Roxas, and what was going on. That's when Marluxia ordered Axel to kill him."

Though Namine hadn't looked up much while speaking, and her voice was quiet, at least she was still speaking steadily. No, it wasn't a pleasant conversation, but maybe it was one that needed to be had. Talking about painful things was supposed to help ease the pain, right? Even if it hurt to do so. At least the Spirits were trying to help.

Edited 2013-03-13 05:12 (UTC)

Bruce was perfectly okay with entertainment at someone else's expense. At least he was reliable in battle...

They could count on that help.

Even small gestures could mean a lot, especially for those left in a state where it might not have been easy to remember they'd ever been capable of such things. The 'other plans' would have been quite a problem for that. Sora's more than a little bothered by the implications this particular plot. Had they expected him to kill the replica or decisively drive him off and and believe he done so to the real Riku? For that matter, if they meant for him to only have Namine left, what did they intend for the three other friends traveling with him at the time? Donald, Goofy and Jiminy would not have abandoned him, not even if something had happened to him to make him figure he should leave them behind. Would the Organization have killed them? "So, they wanted one puppet controlling another."

Or, going by more recent events, a particular individual just want him in a state where it would be easier to control him directly. It sounded like the replica got the worst of this deal, having been created more or less just to be used. That Marluxia wanted to take over the Organization reminded Sora of a bit of snark he'd tossed at Saix at one point. He wasn't so sure about it now, looking at how thoroughly Xehanort had planned everything. That last bit though... "He...? And he actually did it?"

In addition to explaining Even's reaction, that information also explained an odd nightmare Sora had on rare occasions. He could never, ever remember the contents when he woke up, but there was always an impression he'd just witnessed a brutal killing involving fire. It might also explain some of the hostility Even seemed to have towards him if he really had been there to witness Axel murdering Vexen. Yeah, sharing painful experiences was supposed to help somehow. Maybe because talking about it helped in rationalizing and understanding and those two things tended to help a lot in minimizing the suffering something caused. Or something. Sora just knew sharing a burden tended to lighten it a bit. A painful experience could be considered a burden. This time, Toxy did try to crawl into his lap. Who actually needed comfort here? Or was the Toximander just upset that he really couldn't just make it all better by being squishy and loveable? What the Spirit obviously didn't realize was that his presence was helping a bit because it did mean a lot that he cared and wanted to help when his person was upset. Maybe he'd understand eventually.

There was that. So long as he helped when he was needed...

The thought was very much appreciated. If and when the time came, Namine would be glad of it.

The small gestures had certainly had a large impact on their relationships with Namine. Had those been lacking, she would have been much more wary of Ienzo and the others here. Regarding any plans for the Replica, she hadn't been sure, but they probably weren't pleasant. She could explain the issues regarding his other friends, though. "The plan almost worked. You became so worried about me that Donald, Goofy, and Jiminy noticed you were acting oddly. The four of you argued, and you ran off by yourself to find me."

The Replica certainly did have the worst of the deal, as Sora would have put it. He really did seem to have been created just to be used, and that was the one issue that still kept Namine from being as close to Even as she'd become to Ienzo and Aeleus. That was a subject for later, though. "Yes, he did. We found out later that he'd been sent to eliminate any traitors like Marluxia, but if he was going to get close enough to know what Marluxia was planning, he had to obey that order."

Had Namine witnessed the murder instead of knowing about it, she'd likely have nightmares, too. It certainly explained any hostility towards Lea, and maybe towards Sora, though Even didn't seem to be too trusting of anyone. He wasn't what most people would call kind by nature.

Talking about what had happened was helping a little. The support of the Spirits was helping, and Namine smiled when she saw Toxy crawl into Sora's lap. It was just for a moment, though, before Teddy decided she really did need a hug.

Admittedly, it was possible that the bulk of Bruce's loyalty stemmed from the fact that Sora fed him. Unless they found some way to understand the Spirits (and get honest answers out of them), Sora had no way to be sure.

Friends help each other, right?

Admittedly, Sora was probably more open to giving Ienzo and the others a chance after learning of what Xehanort had actually had in store for them. Without that, he would have been much more wary himself. Admittedly, he still wasn't so sure about Even, especially with knowing he'd created the replica. Come to think of it, had he made Xion too? Sora would have to ask her some time. For now, he had more troubling information to process. "I get the feeling that didn't go well..."

The replica hadn't even survived the events of the castle, had he? Sora wasn't going to ask, though. It might get explained or it might not, but he doubted it would really be a good idea to ask. An earlier conversation came to mind here, in which the replica had been mentioned. While Ienzo also seemed uncomfortable with Lea's presence, Sora was pretty sure he'd said that the replica had killed his Nobody. He had also mentioned speaking to Lea before Lea had run off to Yen Sid's tower. But, it wasn't impossible that Axel had still had a hand in that situation somehow, but would Namine know the details? Sora thought better of asking about that, too. If she knew, it would probably come up. "I guess things wouldn't have worked out if he'd blown his cover. Still... that's..."

Insane? Disturbing? He wasn't even sure what he wanted to say about it and gave up after a moment. It did bring up the same feelings as the nightmares he couldn't even begin to remember. It did explain Even's response to Lea, though. It might also definitively explain his issues with Sora if he wasn't so naturally abrasive anyway. Yeah, Sora had been there to see what had happened, but would he even have been able to stop it had he been so inclined? Or was Even just taking it out him because he had been present for the murder, however powerless he might have been to stop it, and he was conveniently here now? The answer to that might be a long way off, if it was coming at all.

The Spirits were definitely making this a bit easier, though Sora realized he wasn't going to be dislodging Toxy from his lap any time soon. And now Jelly Bean was nudging him too. He couldn't help a small chuckle when Teddy decided it was time for some hugs.

Some people said that about their pets, Namine knew--animals only loved those who fed them. Namine didn't think that was true of her Spirits, but one never knew. At least they seemed content to stay with her.

That they did. Namine was getting used to having friends, even a kind of family, here, but sometimes such things slipped her mind.

It was amazing what a little added knowledge of a person's situation, or further interaction, could do. Though it sometimes made things awkward when it came to people who didn't have that benefit. Had Namine known Xion was a Replica, she could have confirmed that the probability Even had created her as well was high. He was the only one she knew who could make Replicas.

Before she could respond to Sora's comments, she had to disentangle herself from Teddy. This took a few moments, as it also required reassuring both him and Batty that she would alright--a process which involved pettings, more hugs, and chittering from Batty that probably would have been a lecture to not overdo it if she could understand him.

That done, she returned to the conversation after taking a deep, settling breath. This would probably be the hardest part to get through. "It didn't. You were on your way to the twelfth floor. If Axel hadn't said that there was maybe something else I could do, and hinted he wouldn't stop me..." She swallowed hard. That was something best not thought of. "I went to stop you and tell you the truth before the last bit of damage was done. Only, before I could, the Replica arrived, and you two started fighting again..."

Her voice became much softer as she tried to keep it under control. "I just wanted the fighting between you to stop. I didn't think...My control over all my power slipped, and all the links in his chain of memories shattered."

Here she paused to wipe at her eyes. After another moment to try to get her voice under control, she focused on the other issue. They could talk more about the Replica if Sora had more questions, it was time to change the subject for a moment. "It was what he had to do, or what he thought he had to do, Sora. Later I learned he has a good side, and we became friends, but..."

A said truth, but a truth nonetheless. Much as she had come to like and trust Axel later, that facet of his past was an undeniable truth. He'd been as ruthless as any in Castle Oblivion in his own way. If Even and Ienzo chose to never speak to him again, she wouldn't blame them.

It wasn't generally true of regular pets, either, contrary to popular belief. True, they might favor someone who fed them, but they were usually loyal to all members of the household. The Spirits were definitely different, though similar in many ways. Sora's thoughts on Bruce's loyalty were mostly conjecture.

It would probably come more naturally as her heart developed more.

It could also have been, in Sora's case, that he was in the same boat in regards to Xehanort's intentions for him. Not that he'd been properly aware of that until after his last battle with Xemnas and the younger Xehanort's gloating explanation. And it sounded like it was possible he could use replicas for that as well. Was that why he had Vexen making replicas? And now that Sora was actually thinking about it, he recalled an early conversation with Xion, from when he'd run into a couple hundred Nightmares in the Post Office. After the battle, they'd talked a bit and she had actually told him Vexen had created her. It was embarrassing to think he'd forgotten, but since it wasn't important to this conversation, he let it go for now... even if it did have some unsavory implications. Likely, Xion had also been created just to be used.

Sora's own Spirits might have been dislodged a little easier, but since they weren't exactly hampering his ability to converse, he left them alone.

That was not something that he liked having been right about. Even the brief summary he'd had before starting this conversation had left the impression that things were kind of messed up, though that might have been more Mickey's demeanor while talking about it. This was something else entirely. Somehow, it wasn't quite surprising to hear that Axel had had something to do with Namine finally deciding to try to stop the whole mess. If his goal did call for screwing over Marluxia's plans, it fit. How might things have gone if he'd done so sooner, though? It sounded like the timing was just right for Namine to get there too late anyway.

It wasn't that Sora didn't know she might be capable of such a thing, but to hear it stated flat out that she had shattered someone's memory was uncomfortable at best. He couldn't blame her for being upset about it either. Power of any kind was a scary thing, especially when it wasn't well controlled, which sounded like it was at least part of the problem here.

So, he didn't argue when she changed the subject. Any further questions about the replica could wait. At least, asking for details could wait. There was still the question of what had happened after that. But for now, Axel. Not that this topic was all that much better. Axel's motivations would remain unknown for now, though Sora was thinking of asking Lea about it. "I guess... sometimes good people don't have the option of doing good things. Or they might not know they have the option for some reason."

Betrayal and murder were probably a lot easier with no heart or only a partial heart for any kind of moral guidance. It didn't really make it easier to take and even if having their Nobodies die had ultimately benefited them, Even and Ienzo now had to deal with the memories of the fear and pain of dying at the hands of someone they should have been able to trust. Whether or not he deserved forgiveness in that case was up to those two and maybe to Aeleus, as he was their friend and colleague.

Like so many things, it depended on individual personality and traits. Some probably did fit the stereotype, just as others didn't. That's what made them so interesting, like the Spirits. Even those who were the same kind had their own quirks.

It was a slow but steady process.

Part of Namine sometimes wondered why she'd not been recruited. Possibly because she was so closely connected to Kairi, and Kairi's light; that would have made it more difficult to turn her into a vessel. Or, Xehanort has simply found a different use for her. Those affected by him did share his nasty tendency to view people as pawns. When it came to Vexen and the purpose behind the Replicas...Only Even could answer that, and she wasn't sure she wanted to ask.

Much as Namine loved her Spirits, they could be a little overly affectionate sometimes. Not that it wasn't appreciated, but she needed to get through this conversation.

Being right was a cold comfort when it came to something like this. At least Sora had been prepared in a way, if Mickey had given him an idea of what had happened. Axel's urging Namine to take action did make sense in light of plan to take down Marluxia, but the timing had to be right, and Marluxia had watched them both too closely until he thought he'd almost won.

Namine often thought that if she had the chance to give up her power, she'd take it. It was scary, and while it didn't slip her control often, the results of it did were disastrous. How many people had she hurt...

She was trying to fix that, though. Even in just little ways like telling Sora all this now. She nodded in response to Sora's comment, managing a small smile. "Sometimes we just need a push in the right direction."

It really was up to the others whether or not they forgave Lea. Namine simply wouldn't blame them if they didn't, though she had when he was still Axel. Lea would probably be facing some difficult questions, soon. Hopefully, he could deal with that.

To be fair, Sora had known his share of pets that only bothered with him if he had treats to share. They really did vary.

It probably wouldn't happen overnight.

The most likely reason she hadn't been recruited was that she would have had too much Light do to originating from a Princess of Heart. That there was another use for her was probably the only reason he'd even bothered with her at all. Sora wasn't sure he wanted to know what had gone on in Vexen's (or Even's) head and even if he did, Even wasn't likely to share.

Sora would argue that there was no such thing as overly affectionate in pets or Spirits, but the Toximander in his lap was too much evidence to the contrary.

The whole mess still left him uneasy. Whatever Axel's motivation, to get any information now, they'd have to ask Lea. Whether or not he'd share was another story, though he might be more cooperative now. There were so many questions, though. Some of which might hopefully be answered in the course of telling the rest of the story. "So... after the fight stopped?"

He couldn't blame her for that thought. Her power was actually a pretty frightening one on its own and it was unnerving to think of such a power in the hands of someone who with no compunctions about using it. If someone had to have it, Sora would much rather see it in the hands of someone who could be trusted not to abuse it.

It did help to get this information, despite the nature of it. He smiles back when she does. Maybe this isn't the most pleasant conversation, but things will be okay. "Sometimes a little push is all that's needed."

Sora was likely going to be the source of some of those difficult questions. He just hoped that the others wouldn't let what they were feeling regarding Axel's actions impair their judgement

They really did, just as much as humans,

Very few good things did.

In many ways, then, her power was a mixed blessing. While it brought her little, if any, joy, had she been without it, she might have been left to fend for herself, or helpless to draw the attention to herself that she'd needed to escape from the Organization. The full extent of it provided frightening possibilities, but at least she knew that she was determined to refrain from using them further until she found the right way to use them, if such a thing existed. Had one of the Organization members had her abilities...

That was a thought better left unfinished. It wasn't like wishing would change things, anyway. She had the powers she had, and the best she could do was learn to control them so that such a thing never happened again.

Toxy was certainly proof that Spirits could become too clingy. Still, the intention was sweet and nobody could fault him for that. Namine's own Spirits were keeping a close eye on her.

The attention was probably necessary, given how the subject changed again. Her smile faded, and she looked down at her hands again. "After that, Larxene came and started telling the truth about what had been happening. You fought her, and beat her when Donald and Goofy came to help. Then I finished explaining, and offered to fix your memories, though that meant you wouldn't remember Castle Oblivion. You chose that, but we needed to get to the thirteenth floor, and past Marluxia...The Replica recovered enough to help, and look after me while you fought him. He left after that, but I don't think he made it out of the castle."

She'd never seen him after that. Even would have much to explain if they could bring themselves to ask, as would Lea. It was a delicate situation all around, though, and they'd have to be careful to not let emotions cloud their judgement--an odd thought for someone just developing a heart to feel with, but it came to mind nonetheless.

Admittedly, seeing what kind of personality it would have was part of the fun of awakening a new Spirit.

It was usually worth it to take the time, though.

Tools and puppets. It seemed to be the only reason Xehanort bothered with anyone. Knowing how important memories were to the heart, it had probably been a really lucky break to find someone with the power to manipulate them.

It really was better not to think of what could have happened had someone else had that power. Just because some of the former members of the Organization had turned out to actually be decent people once they'd regained their hearts didn't mean all of them were. Sora knew for a fact that at least one wasn't and going on Ven's story, that same one had been a heel even before losing his heart...

At least he knew when it was okay to cling and Sora did appreciate the sentiment.

He had a vague impression, as the story continued, that he must have been badly injured at some point. It came as a random thought but, knowing that the memories of the whole affair had been buried, he knew better. He probably had been hurt and it was likely he wouldn't have had a chance to heal himself or have someone else heal him if Donald and Goofy hadn't gotten there to help him. It wasn't a surprise that he'd chosen to have his memories fixed after learning the truth, nor was he surprised that something else still had to be done before that could happen. He was a little surprised about the replica helping them, though not about him not making it out of the castle. "So I guess... after I fought Marluxia, I went to sleep so you could fix my memories. I already know about the other things that complicated that. The issues with Roxas and... well, yeah."

He'd almost mentioned what he knew about Xion, but maybe it would be better to talk to Xion first and find out if she was okay with discussing any of that. Somehow, that still brought things back around to other discussions, though Sora wasn't so sure he really wanted to talk to Even any more than necessary... There was so much that probably should be discussed and other things probably better left unspoken. He did want to discuss some things with Lea. Eventually. But doing so fresh off of an emotional mash up probably wasn't a good idea. Namine had the right idea there.

It was, no matter how difficult they proved to be afterwards.

This was one thing they could agree on.

If Xehanort couldn't use someone (which was a rare case; he seemed to be good at finding ways to use people), he ignored them, or so it seemed. Which made being left out of his plans kind of almost insulting sometimes. Being left out essentially implied being called useless, after all.

This was why Namine didn't think about that too much. Even if some of the former Organization members were good people now, that didn't mean the same was true for all of them. Even if they had, a different set of powers might have affected their outlook and personality.

Toxy was hard to stay annoyed with for long.

Sora's guess there was correct. Larxene had been pressing her advantage before Donald and Goofy had arrived to help him. Though she'd been sad to "lose" him as a friend, Namine had been happy to restore him to his real friends. She'd known he'd want to go back to them. The Replica's change of heart had been a surprise, but made sense. Sora just had that effect on people sometimes. "Yes--I couldn't fixe them any other way. It shouldn't have taken that long..."

He knew about that already, though. Namine would say that Xion's story was hers to tell when she was ready, so it was just as well that he hadn't brought that up. It seemed that having so many of them from home her was bringing it with a need to look for old links in everyone's chains of memories and examine what had happened in the past. Whether this would be for any good, she wasn't sure. Only time would tell.

Best to go about it little by little, though. Emotions could be overwhelming, as she was finding out, and it wouldn't do to get too caught up in them.

Well, the most difficult Spirit Sora had ever dealt with so far was Bruce and that was mostly minor mischief. So far.

If Xehanort couldn't use someone, whether he ignored them or got rid of them depended on whether or not they were capable of upsetting his plans. Which was actually a pretty frightening thought. Xehanort very clearly could not use Riku, which made Riku a threat to the old man's plans.

So many what-ifs, it's a relief that some of them didn't come to pass. Others would have been very welcome.

Toxy was squishy and affectionate and he was pretty sure that rendered all arguments against his adorableness moot.

Pressing the advantage generally was the smart thing to do in a fight. Yes, he had wanted his memories back, but he couldn't imagine being too willing to forget a new friend. It was too bad the replica hadn't made it, though Sora had yet to find out why that was. "But it did take a long time."

He knew why. Between Xion and Roxas, things were awfully complicated. And neither of them deserved to have things happen the way they had. There were a lot of things to talk about and sort out, it was hard to know where to start.

There probably wasn't any getting used to emotions. Only dealing with them. Still, it wasn't all bad.

So far.

Any threats from Xehanort would probably have to be taken as they came. Otherwise, they could make themselves crazy trying to predict what he would do next, only to have their guess prove wrong. The only thing they could do was be aware of who he might try to use, and who he might try to clear out of the way.

It was far too many what ifs to think about comfortably. At least some of the worst hadn't come to pass yet, despite all that had happened.

It certainly did. Namine wasn't partial to the Toximanders, and she liked Toxy.

Considering the situation, Larxene couldn't have been expected to do any less. Namine had heard about the Replica secondhand through Riku, but she wasn't quite sure if that was her story to tell or not. There would always be a part of her that was selfishly happy that Sora had needed a moment to think, to consider the choice between his real memories and what had remained of her lies by that point. In a way, it was nice to feel that important, worth considering that much. Not that she hadn't kept her promise. "Yes. We weren't sure why. Then we figured out we needed Roxas."

He knew what happened after that. Namine still felt badly for her part in what had happened. Roxas hadn't deserved that, no. The whole situation was as tangled as any chain of memories to get. Wherever they started, they should probably do so soon, before it got even worse.

No, it wasn't. But still different, and therefore requiring some time to adjust.

Time would tell.

As far as Sora could tell, the only direct threats to Xehanort's plans were King Mickey, Master Yen Sid and Riku. Thus, he'd likely try to eliminate them. Anyone else still had the potential to be used. Even Sora himself, as far as he could tell. He couldn't use Riku because he had briefly used him and then lost control. Sora... had come close, but had not actually fallen under Xehanort's control. Whether or not the old man would try again to claim him was up in the air. Sora wasn't scared for himself regarding this possibility. He was scared for whoever might end up fighting him if he was taken over.

Sora was trying not to think of the what-ifs, but sometimes the mind wandered and dreams tended to go where they want. Sometimes they wanted to go in ways that make people look at their problems, though not always in a helpful way.

Everyone needed a Toximander, in Toxy's opinion.

Sora would have to ask about the replica next time he saw Riku. It was possible he knew something. The real memories would always have won out, but Sora kind of doubted that he would have had an easy time making that decision. Had they maybe at least agreed to meet up and be friends for real? "And after that, I know what happened."

Apparently, on that he knew more than Namine did, given that so far he was the only one that Xion had spoken to about just what she was as far as he knew. The four of them, Sora and Roxas and Namine and Xion, really did need to get together and talk. Eventually. Though there was nothing stopping Xion from explaining things to Roxas before then. Still, that was up to her. Mostly. Really, Roxas had a right to know. Possibly Lea did too since his memory had also been affected. Rushing in might not be a good idea though. Roxas seemed a little skittish about this stuff and they didn't want to scare him off from talking about it.

It was another thing that was probably worth the time put into it.

Such was the way of things.

If Xehanort tried to claim Sora as a vessel again, or attack Riku, the King, or Master Yen Sid, he'd have a fight on his hands. Aside from the fact that all of them were capable fighters, they had friends who would take exception to his plans for them. If he did somehow succeed in an attempt on Sora, well...Sora's friends would know it wasn't him they were fighting. Cold comfort to be sure, but something to think about.

What-ifs had ways of intruding in on trains of thought and taking them over. While it could sometimes be could to look at all possibilities, thinking that way could also lead to a lot of doubt as well, so it was best used with caution.

Toximanders were cute, but they weren't the sort of animal Namine liked, unfortunately. Reptiles had never been her favorite.

Riku would be the best person to ask about the replica. Sora wouldn't be Sora if he hadn't had difficulty making a decision, or insisting on being left a hint about Namine's existence. After all, yes, they had promised to meet and become friends for real. "Yes. Did...Did Jiminy see his journal?"

(She can't help asking, wanting to know if he'd gotten the message.)

In some ways, it was only right that Sora and Xion's friends heard the truth of the matter before anyone else. If Namine found out later, she wouldn't be hurt to know others had known before she had. That was Xion's story, to tell in her own way to who she wanted to tell. While rushing in wasn't a good idea, it might be wise to at least let the others know they might be interested in a discussion.

It was definitely worth the time put into it.

Xehanort likely had a lot to fight through if he was going to make another attempt on Sora. That wasn't necessarily a deterrent. Sometimes a harder time of acquiring it made a prize that much more attractive. The same went for eliminating threats to his plans. Sora could worry for his friends' safety, but he knew it would impossible to keep them out of the fight. Even if they understood it wasn't him, he'd feel responsible for them getting hurt since he'd feel he shouldn't have allowed himself to be taken in the first place. Truly, he'd had more nightmares about that than anything else since discovering Xehanort had those plans for him.

Much like what-ifs, though, it would only drive him nuts to keep thinking about it.

Toxy would take offense to be referred to as a reptile, as salamanders were amphibians and Toxmanders were salamanders. Then again, what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him and he didn't have to know she was thinking that. He would just keep being squishy and lovable and clingy, oblivious to the unspoken tarnishing of his cuddly honor.

That was something Sora had suspected, but he hadn't gotten around to asking while Riku was present and now... well, the opportunity was gone, at least for the moment. He hadn't forgotten the note in the journal, per se, but it hadn't really been on his mind up until now. "Yeah, he did. Um... to be honest, we didn't really understand until a lot later. Probably not until after the point in time that you came from."

After she'd already returned to Kairi, actually. He actually kind of felt bad about that, even if it had been a fairly cryptic clue and he hadn't been left many chances to look into it.

Sora was pretty sure Xion would tell Roxas and Lea as soon as she could. It was possible that she'd tell them more than she'd told him, actually, given that she was pretty close to them.

If Xehanort was the sort to be more tempted to go after a prize due to how difficult getting it would be, then they might be in trouble. Then again, Namine had never known a time that was totally free of danger of some sort. This would just be a change in the kind of danger...or would it, considering Xehanort had been behind everything all along?

Sora wouldn't be Sora if he didn't worry about harm done to his friends for any reason. Thinking too much about that possibility wouldn't lead to any good, though, much as planning of some kind would be to their advantage.

Unfortunately, Namine wasn't very clear on some subjects, and so had made the mistake. She hadn't meant to offend, so if Toxy somehow found out she had thought that, she'd have to say sorry. No matter what kind of animal he was, it couldn't be denied that he was cute and affectionate. She didn't blame Sora for liking him, even if a Toximander wasn't high on her "Spirits to make next" list.

Once he got back, or if Riku came here again, Sora could ask about the Replica. As far as the message went, none of them had guessed Jiminy's journal would be erased when Namine fixed Sora's memories. Therefore, it had unintentionally become a cryptic puzzle for Sora. "That's okay. I'm glad you got it, at least."

Not that she wanted to be thanked, but it was at least a reminder of her existence. For that, she was a little selfishly happy.

Best friends often told each other more than they told to others.

Look what Xehanort was going through to restart an ancient war that wouldn't have a chance of restarting without his meddling. He definitely had a thing for tough prizes.

If Sora could protect his friends, he would. It was just frustrating how cunning and sneaky their opponent was.

Toxy was probably also as forgiving as Sora was, so it would probably be all good.

Jiminy had been kind of miffed to discover that his journal was blank except for the note. It did seem odd that it should be erased when their memories were fixed but maybe it had something to do with the powers involved and the fact that journals generally were a way to hold onto memories. Then again, that didn't explain whatever it was that Mickey had found in the journal that he'd shared with Master Yen Sid, thus prompting the decision to put Sora and Riku through the Mark of mastery exam. Still, Sora would rather have had that note than not. Of course now, he wasn't sure what else to say...

She was allowed that and Sora wouldn't have any problem with it if he knew.

This was truth.

The tougher the better. Well, there were people ready to offer a challenge.

It was, but they'd manage somehow. Things had a way of working out for Sora.

Good. Namine wouldn't want him angry at her.

Being miffed in this instance was understandable. At least now they knew that memories could be tied to the physical objects linked with them, like journals. Regarding the extra message the king had found, Namine might know something about that, but that was also a conversation for another time.

Unable to think of much herself, she reached for her...formerly hot chocolate. "Oh, it got cold. I can make us some more if you want?"

Yes, it was a rather sudden subject change, but it was something.

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8th Key Smash

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