Chapter Text
Chapter 30: Dreams of the Seven
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There was a certain charm to the nights in Twilight Town. It never got truly dark, but there was a stillness. Lea relished it, as he walked around their home. Sleepy streets and lazy days made for peaceful nights. Everything was still, and after the craziness of the last couple of weeks, stillness was something he could get behind.
After so many days of fighting and tracking down monsters and undead stuff throughout the various worlds, Lea felt he was long over-due to sleep. He was gonna sleep and sleep and turn over and sleep some more. After the nights in the Land of Dragons, when all they had to go on was a makeshift shelter made out of their coats, Lea was especially eager to get back to his nice warm bed, with its nice, soft pillow.
Lea poked his head into the room that Roxas and Xion shared. Roxas was already asleep, and he was snoring. Xion was lying on her bed…not under the covers? And still in her new clothes, instead of pajamas? She hadn’t even taken her shoes off.
Lea sighed as he walked into the room as quietly as he could. He didn’t want to disturb Roxas, since God knew the poor kid needed rest. Xion’s eyes were closed and she was breathing slowly…but shakily. Ah man, another nightmare? Lea placed a hand over Xion’s forehead. It was clammy. Ah man, it’d barely been an hour since they’d turned in for the night, and she was already scared to death.
Lea chewed his lip. Should he wake her up? No, he couldn’t do that—she had barely been able to keep her eyes open through lunch. She needed her sleep. But what sort of sleep was this? She’d be even worse off than before if this continued. But then again, she already felt guilty for making him worry. Lea knelt down, so that he was level with her. At this angle, he could see the freckles on Xion’s nose. Maybe the trick was to change her nightmare into something else.
“Xion. C’mon kiddo,” Lea whispered into her ear. “You’re way tougher than any monster. You can beat whatever you’re fighting. You’re strong and tough and smart and important.”
Xion didn’t wake, but her breathing began to grow a little calmer. Lea smiled. This might be working.
“You’re my best friend, kiddo. The little sister I never realized I needed back when I was a kid,” Lea brushed a lock of Xion’s hair behind her ear. “I know the last few days have been really rough, but things are looking up.”
Xion’s breathing grew steadier still, and the trace of a smile etched on her face. Lea grinned. That was something he’d done right. He paused a moment. Unfortunately, he wouldn’t be able to get Xion a blanket without rousing her. But he could fluff her pillow a bit, and get those boots off. An old habit from the Organization—Roxas and Xion frequently fell asleep fully clothed. A habit that had its advantages for combat readiness, but certainly not for comfiness.
Placing Xion’s boots by her bedside, Lea rose to his feet—ugh, he was too tall to be bending over, it was murder on his knees. Ugh, when did he get old enough to start complaining about his knees? He ran a hand through Xion’s hair again, turned around to ruffle Roxas’s blond locks, and turned to leave. There was a tightness in his chest, in his heart. He wasn’t sure why that was…he was safe, Isa was safe, the kids were safe, if not as comfy as he'd like them to be. Maybe he could figure it out in the morning.
Lea climbed up to his top bunk easily. Below him, he could hear Isa’s snoring. He would do right by the kids. He had to. He’d get things going for Roxas and Xion…and Hayner, Pence and Olette too. But first…sleep.
xxxx
Lea opened his eyes and found himself…what, was he back in Castle Oblivion? Or something like it anyway. A wide room with white walls and white furniture and nothing in the way of windows.
“About time you showed up,” A proud voice called. “We’ve been waiting for you to show up.”
Lea turned around as fast as he could and summoned Flame Liberator. He could hear the flames that shaped it crackling. That voice…wait a second? What?!
Axel was reclining against a far wall, looking rather bored. Next to him…Lea’s younger self. His fifteen-year-old self, who had been just as shrimpy as Roxas—ugh, the growth spurts hadn’t started yet. The same version of himself who had eaten way too much ice cream and carried his frisbees with him pretty much everywhere. That was the version of himself who had befriended Ventus almost as soon as they met. The self of him who had led Isa into Ansem’s castle, and where they had discovered that strange girl. The same version of himself who had lost his heart at Xehanort’s hands.
“We got a Keyblade! And it’s made of fire, that’s so cool!” Lea’s younger self said. “Awesome!”
“What the…heck is going on here?” Lea asked. “Axel…what are you doing here? What am I do here? Am I dreaming?”
“Right in one,” Axel said. “Look, it’s like this—Nobodies can grow hearts, right? I’m the bit of heart that was produced that last year in the Organization. When Axel destroyed himself to help Sora, I merged with the original heart when we were re-completed.”
“So I have two hearts?” Lea asked. “Like Sora did with Ven and Roxas and Xion?”
“No, not really,” Axel said. “It was a full merge. I am you.”
“I am not Axel,” Lea said quietly. “It’s…different. We’re not the same.”
“Oh, knock it off,” Axel said. “That worked with Sora and Roxas, but we’re the same, Lea. Or close enough to it that any difference means zilch.”
“Then why are we even talking in the first place?” Lea said. “I mean, dreams are weird, I get that, but—“
“That might just be it,” Lea’s younger self said. “This is just a crazy dream. Remember that time we dreamt we were part of a singing superhero team?”
Lea winced—that was a dream he had been more than happy to have forgotten. Brought on by far too much candy eaten in one sitting, just to prove to Isa that he wasn’t too old for trick-or-treating.
“So what’s the deal?” Lea asked again. “Does this have anything to do with all that life-and-death stuff?”
“Maybe,” Axel said. “I died, more or less, with all those Dusks. Maybe there’s a key to that.”
“When that happened…” Lea said quietly. “I remember it being dark. So dark and…empty. But I was still aware of my surroundings…I still was, er, was, I guess. I didn’t disappear.”
“I didn’t disappear,” Axel corrected. “I’m the one who blew myself up with all those Dusks. I was re-completed with the rest of my heart and became you.”
That definitely was a difference. From what Lea had seen, the barriers so far had been between afterlives—and he wasn’t sure the stuff with the ghosts in the Land of Dragons even countered for that.
“This is making my head hurt,” Lea’s younger self said. “When did I get tall? And what’s with the tattoos, and how come we don’t have them now?”
“Doesn’t matter,” Axel said. “Fact is, we’re blowing it.”
“Blowing it how?” Lea asked, though he had a bad feeling what the answer was going to be.
“With Roxas and Xion,” Axel said. “We’re letting them down.”
“Yeah, I have to agree with the guy with the weird green teardrops,” Lea’s younger self said.
“Look, I know we’ve had our troubles, and things could have gone smoother,” Lea said, “But I’m perfectly capable of taking care of them.”
“Food and water and a roof over their heads isn’t enough,” Axel shook his head. “We’re not standing with them, when we should be.”
“Are you insane?” Lea snapped, his temper rising. “I am standing up for them! Master Yen Sid made Xion cry and I stood up for her!”
“But did you go after her?” Axel asked. “Did you make sure she was safe?”
“I hugged her after Yen Sid said she may have a piece of Xehanort’s heart,” Lea said. “Which is totally not true by the way. I’ve never turned my back on her!”
“But has she been able to talk to you?” Axel demanded. “Remember what happened last time? We kept everything from her and she couldn’t trust us. She’s still not telling us things. She’s trying to hide how she feels and this is just going to get worse.”
“And what about Roxas?” Lea’s younger self asked. “We haven’t done right by him at all. When’s the last time you talked, just the two of you?”
Lea turned his head, not daring to look either of them in the eye. The fact of the matter was he had been overlooking Roxas. The poor kid had literally been seeing Sora almost everywhere they’d gone, and Lea hadn’t asked him about it at all.
“I haven’t meant to,” Lea said quietly. “He’s my best friend.”
“They both need you,” Axel said. “We can’t let one fall, trying to hold the other up.”
Axel stood up straight and held out his hands. There was a flash of fire and then, he was holding up his chakrams. A moment later, Lea’s younger self began fiddling with his pockets until he could find his frisbees.
“Two to make a whole,” Axel said. “But the individuals are just as valuable on their own.”
A moment later, Axel began to glow. Lea’s younger self began glowing as well. Lea felt his chest grow very warm and a moment later, he was alone in the room. And then, the room vanished and Lea found himself sitting on the clock tower. Roxas and Xion were there too, and for once, he was sitting between them. And the sunset had never looked quite so beautiful.
xxxx
Lea opened his eyes slowly. It was morning now. The pain in his chest was gone. He felt better than he had in a while, more well-rested. Sleeping in his nice warm bed sure beat the rocky ground in Land of Dragons, or the hard couches on their Gummi Ship.
Lea rolled out of bed—huh, Isa was still asleep—and walked across the hall. Roxas and Xion’s beds were empty. He walked down the stairs, slowly. If they were camped out on the couch again…yep. Both Roxas and Xion were there, snuggled against each other.
Lea made himself a mug of coffee and walked over to the kids. He could do this. He had to.
oooo
Olette looked around. The sky overhead was blue. Blue? How could that be…she lived in Twilight Town, and she hadn’t gone to visit any other world. Not since that one trip to Destiny Islands. In the distance, she could see a very large castle, and a town surrounding it. Tall chimneys and pipings stuck out everywhere. Further out, she thought she saw gardens—the trees looked too neat and tidy to be a natural forest.
Along the platform she was standing on, seven shining crystals stood in front of her, as pure as stars. The crystals, with their many points, actually resembled stars, glowing with pink electricity. Or maybe plasma.
She took a few steps closer, and as she did, the crystals glowed more brightly, turning from pink to white. A moment later, seven figures stood in place of the crystals—seven young women. Some were tall, some were short. One had dark skin, the others were pale. Several were wearing beautiful gowns—though the shortest of the women, no, she was really more of a girl, wore a simple blue dress and white apron.
Only one of these women was familiar—a girl a little younger than she, with red hair and blue eyes. Olette’s mouth fell open. Kairi. Or, at least a younger Kairi. About as old as she was supposed to be when Sora and Kairi first started their adventures—and that had been ages ago.
“Um, hi, Kairi,” Olette said politely. “Do you know where we are?” Or when we are?
Kairi didn’t answer. She just giggled and pointed to Olette’s chest. Olette placed a hand where Kairi was pointing. She could feel her heartbeat. It pounded in her ears.
A moment later, Kairi disappeared, in a brilliant glow of light. Olette’s stomach leapt into her throat. What? How? No…no, this couldn’t be happening. Kairi was fine. She was safe on the Destiny Islands. As Olette looked around, the other young women disappeared in identical glows of light. And then, Olette heard a voice…she couldn’t tell where it was coming from.
This is how it has been since the beginning…when the World fell to darkness, when it scattered into many worlds…the great X-blade was broken into twenty pieces…seven of light, thirteen of darkness…
The seven glowing lights returned. The first took the shape of a young woman a few years older than Olette, with brown hair that looked like it had been chopped with a knife. She was barefoot and wearing pale purple robes. The second light took Kairi’s form again, this time as Olette had last seen her, but with a far more solemn expression. Olette felt like crying. How much had Kairi suffered—losing her home, losing her heart, constantly separated from those she loved most.
The third light…did not take any shape. It hovered near Olette and then suddenly went straight for her. Olette barely had time to gasp, much less shout for help, as the ball of light went into her chest. And then…warmth. A kind of warmth that Olette had never felt before. It was comforting…almost like a campfire…or maybe the candles at Christmas Mass.
Kairi took Olette’s hand and tugged her to stand next to her. Olette couldn’t tell who the other lights were. But then, she felt herself getting even warmer and lighter. And when she looked at her hand, it was shining like the sun.
xxxx
Olette opened her eyes slowly. She was back in Twilight Town…in her own bedroom…or maybe she had never really left. Was that a dream? It had felt so real. As real as being awake. Which she was now…and she had always had a hard time falling back asleep after waking up. Well not always…lately at least. Whenever she had a dream she didn’t understand. Or a nightmare—so often, she dreamt of watching Sora fade away. Or Xion falling with a terrified scream at the end of that horrible Sephiroth’s sword.
Olette put a hand to her head. It throbbed with a dull pain. She hoped that it wouldn’t turn into a full headache. She glanced at the clock on her wall, a finely crafted cuckoo clock. As if on cue, the cuckoo chimed three times. Olette bit back a cry of frustration. It was only three o’clock in the morning?! Darn, darn, darn it.
She leaned her head back on her pillow and tried to force herself back to where she might fall asleep. She knew that trying to sleep was often counter-productive in actually falling asleep, but she was tired. And with her father away on business, she was alone. She wished she had someone, anyone, to talk to. And he wasn’t very affectionate, even when he was home anyway. But it was too late, or too early, to call any of her friends. The loneliness made her heart ache.
What could that dream have meant? Kairi had been in it…but not Sora or Roxas or Xion. And it wasn't the Destiny Islands either. Olette hadn’t been anywhere else…so why dream about that place? It wasn’t a sort of dream that was influenced by memories…or at least not tat she could recall. And who were those other girls…women? Some had looked a bit older than her, at least old enough to go to college.
That voice…seven lights. Back when they had first met, Kairi had said there were seven pure lights that bad guys had tried to kidnap to use for opening a Final Keyhole. She specified that these lights were seven maidens whose hearts harbored no darkness. Ansem the Wise had said something similar, and Vexen, er, Even, had mentioned Organization XIII trying to identify Seven New Hearts. Seven pure lights, and nobody knew who they were.
Olette put a hand to her chest…and knew.
oooo
It was nearly midnight when Pence turned off his computer so he could sleep. So many connections left to uncover.
Skilled as he was with computers, it turned out that the world was a lot bigger than he had ever imagined. So many worlds, not he had known. The ever-present twilight had made the idea of other planets hard to fathom as a kid. But seeing what he had seen…Pence shook his head, the idea was so mind-boggling.
And the digital world that existed in Ansem the Wise’s computer…that was made by Ansem himself. And yet, there were hearts living inside it. The programs had their own sentience.
What did that mean, in the grander scheme of things, Pence couldn’t help but wonder. What did it mean, when there were living things within a computer?
And what of the digital Twilight Town? Could those programs have gained their own sentience, their own hearts? Could Pence’s digital self have had his own life? Grown up and make his own decisions? Would those decisions be different than the ones that Pence had made? Would his digital self have the guts to throw caution to the wind and pursue his heart’s desire and tell his oldest, dearest, sweetest friend how he felt about her?
His thoughts raced and as Pence drifted off to sleep, he found himself dreaming. It was rare that he was aware of his dreams as he slept, but it was always something he enjoyed. He brought his thoughts to the computers. The computers in the Old Mansion and in Ansem’s laboratory. The computer Pence had built for himself. His hand-me-down laptop that he really should give to Roxas and Xion to use.
Hearts could live anywhere. Even inside data. Even inside books! There was so much to learn.
He’d be sure to call Ienzo in the morning.
oooo
Computers far more complex than what would be available to ordinary citizens. Tubes and jars of assorted shapes and sizes. Detailed schematics and charts and complicated formulas. And prison cells…
This thrice-damned laboratory. Isa’s teeth ground so hard, he was almost afraid he’d crack them. He hated it here. It had been here that he had lost his heart. Here that he had failed so miserably to save that girl from her wretched prison.
Wait a moment…what was he doing here in the first place? He had made no intentions of ever returning to Radiant Garden in the near future, to say nothing of Ansem’s laboratory. And looking more closely—the laboratory was exactly as it had been over a decade ago. Gone were the makeshift attempts to de-clutter the disorganization of a laboratory left to stand alone for ten years. This was far more maintained.
Perhaps this was one of those strange waking dreams. Master Aqua and Ventus had spoken of them. Roxas and Xion hadn’t, but their dreams were often truly nightmares that Isa hadn’t ever asked the details of. It really wasn't his place, and he doubted they’d feel comfortable enough to answer him honestly. And most unfortunately, these dreams were not easy to wake oneself from, even when one became aware of it being a dream.
It was curious then, that he, a non-Keybearer, would be dreaming in such a manner. He wasn't sure what greater ramifications, if there were any, might arise from this. Isa walked slowly down the hallway. It was frightening, even now. At any moment, he was certain, he would have to face one of Ansem’s apprentices. Dilan or Aeleus, perhaps, or maybe Braig. Or would it be their Nobody-selves? When they had existed, Xaldin and Lexaeus had been far more powerful than Saix. If this were indeed a dream, would he even be facing Xehanort?
No trace of anyone, and now he was in the more secluded corridors of the laboratory. To his knowledge, Ansem the Wise had no idea this part of the laboratory even existed. In here were the tubes where living specimens—no, human beings. Citizens of Radiant Garden, some of them Isa knew by name, had been tortured through the experiments that brought the Heartless into this world and caused ruin. But now, it was completely abandoned—or nearly so…
There! In a far corner…in a horrible, cloudy tube, it was her! Isa ran as fast as his legs could carry him and in a flash, he was at the end of the hallway. He placed a hand against the glass. Even now, he couldn’t see her face.
“You said you were going to help me.”
“I…I did…I tried,” Isa stammered. The guilt and shame of this failure consumed him. She had been his friend, the one he had risked everything for, ands had been lost and there hadn’t been any sign of her. And yet here she was now! He needed to free her. But how could he do so without injuring her? These tubes were dangerous machinery.
“You promised to free me!”
“I will!” Isa said. He summoned his claymore and began slashing at a large tube that appeared to pump a low-level anesthesia into the prison. Such a poison was disgusting to use to sedate an unwilling prisoner.
“I need you!”
Isa slammed his claymore against the wall. Perhaps if he gained leverage, he might be able pry open the lid of this horrible prison. Almost there…just a few more inches…he could almost see her now. At last, he would see her face.
Then…a Dark Corridor opened up. And his friend screamed just as he managed to get the tube opened. And she vanished again…just as he was reaching for her….
xxxx
Isa’s eyes flew open and he was not surprised to realize he had been crying. He had been so close. So tantalizingly close. He could have made amends for this failure. He could have saved her.
So many failures…so many he had hurt through the years as Saix. So many he had let down. But he had had his atonement, had he not? Risking his life, his identity, his existence to work with Vexen and Demyx to smuggle a Replica body for Roxas to be housed. Protecting Xion, or as Master Xehanort and Xemnas called her, No. i and ensuring she would be able to return.
“You promised to free me!”
A promise. Such a precious, sacred thing. Lea had been at his side when Isa had promised her they would save her from this awful place. Axel had promised to assist Saix to overthrow the Organization…only for that to go completely undone, and Xemnas had near complete control of Saix. Axel had also promised to bring Roxas and Xion back safely…only for him to fail, despite his best efforts.
So many broken promises…so many attempts to make amends. Roxas and Xion were here now, and healthy and hale…mostly. Lea adored them and doted on them.
Lea had charged into an unknown situation, not too long ago, when it appeared that Xion might fall to Sephiroth’s blade. Lea had carried her all the way home. Lea had kept Axel’s promise.
It was high time for Isa to do the same. For her. Even if it meant leaving the family he had. He had a promise to keep.
oooo
She stood in the Keyblade Graveyard, alone. Master Xehanort sent her to face the Guardians of Light. She had no name, no number. She had only her duty to Master Xehanort, to clash with the Guardians, and slay those who upset the balance. The Guardians had brought forth more than Seven. This could not be allowed. Though in truth…they only needed one.
The first she struck down was the boy with the broken heart, Ventus. How foolish were they to bring him to fight, when he had slept for over a decade. He was unfit for combat, and far too foolish. His naive nature was his undoing. Too idiotic to remember that his precious friend had been turned into a vessel. He didn’t get a chance to scream before he was slain.
The second was the oh-so-unfortunate Master Aqua. Lost in the Realm of Darkness for a decade, afraid of the power it could have offered her. Distracted by her love for the foolish Ventus, it took even less time to deliver a killing blow,
The Guardians cried out in horror, and yet none of them dared to move. This would be their undoing.
Again and again, she struck. The silver-haired boy who had rejected darkness tried to raise his Keyblade against hers, but it was a futile effort. She shattered his weeping and then struck him down.
The miniature King, the foolish little Mouse, was next. He tried to duck and dodge and then use powerful magic against her, but she absorbed his magic and turned it back onto him.
The duck and dog were next. Pitiful creatures, they weren’t even Keybearers and taking them down was mere child’s play.
The boy, Sora, tried to defend the weak one. The girl in pink. The Princess of Heart, an even more foolish choice for a fighter than the duck or dog would be. She raised her own Keyblade at them, and with a flash, they were nothing.
Heartless by the tens, by the hundreds, by the thousands erupted from every corner. Creatures that feasted upon the darkness in humans’ hearts and they were hers to command.
The last standing Guardian was the man called Lea. There was something familiar about him. She knew him…Axel?
“Xion.”
Xion. A name. An identity. Pain erupted from her head. She dropped her Keyblade and it vanished it a flash. She screamed. She screamed even though no words came out. She had done wrong, she had done so much wrong. She had hurt good people. Oh, let it all be undone, let her take it back, please let her take it all back.
“C’mon, kiddo. You’re way tougher than any monster. You can beat whatever you’re fighting. You’re strong and tough and smart and important.”
Xion couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t think. She couldn’t do anything. The Heartless weren’t doing anything either. Nobody was doing anything.
“You’re my best friend, kiddo. The little sister I never realized I needed back when I was a kid,” Axel took a few steps forward and brushed a lock of Xion’s hair behind her ear. “I know the last few days have been really rough, but things are looking up.”
Her Kyblade vanished. The Heartless disappeared. Behind her, Xion could even hear Master Xehanort cry out as he faded away. Xion stumbled, blinded by tears and flung herself into Axel’s arms. He rocked her gently and Xion felt the entire Keyblade Graveyard fade away. And then they were all back on the Islands…and everyone was alive and okay. Even Sora was okay…
xxxx
Xion woke up slowly, her chest aching. Another dream…another nightmare…another reminder of all the horrible things she had done. The Graveyard. Striking down the Guardians…
But the way it had ended…Axel had reached out to her. And he had gotten through to her…and he had saved her…and hugged her. Oh, Axel. He was such a wonderful friend. He had stopped it being a nightmare…how could he have done it?
Xion moved her foot against the blankets and realized that somebody had taken her boots off. She had been so tired, she hadn’t even had the energy to change into her pajamas. It must have been Axel.
She strained her neck to look at her alarm clock, but she couldn’t get a good look. Just as well, she was still kind of tired. Across the room, Roxas was still asleep, but…oh, no!
“My fault…come back…where are you…”
“Roxas!” Xion darted over to him. “Roxas, wake up! You’re having a nightmare!”
She took his hand in hers and squeezed it. Roxas jerked away, but she didn’t let go of his hand. A moment later, Roxas’s blue eyes flew open, and he looked terrified.
“Roxas!”
“Xion?”
Oh, poor Roxas. Xion took a step back as Roxas rose to his feet. He didn’t meet Xion’s eye.
“Another dream about him…”
Xion didn't have to ask who Roxas had been dreaming about. She sat beside Roxas on his bed. He wouldn’t look at her, so she looked down too. Huh, she hadn’t ever paid much attention before, but Roxas’s feet were much bigger than hers. For a while, neither of them said anything, but Xion knew she would have to break the silence eventually.
“I miss him too, so much.”
“I keep thinking about where he is…we saw him…but we couldn’t reach him,” Roxas muttered.
“Yeah…” Xion said. Her heart felt like it had been tied into a a knot with her stomach. She put a hand on top of Roxas’s and intertwined their fingers. “But…if we were able to talk to him with Mushu’s help, maybe there’s some other world out there that…will help us find Sora.”
Roxas put his free hand over his chest, pressing his fingers against his shirt. Was he trying to feel his connection to Sora? Xion felt a surge of guilt, and the knot of her stomach and heart tightened.
Because of her, Kairi had been injured. Because she hadn’t been strong enough to fight Xemnas, Kairi had been caught by his awful spell. And she hadn’t been nearly strong enough to fight Xemnas and help Kairi and Sora. Xion’s weaknesses had led to Kairi’s abduction. And then Xehanort…and then Sora…
Xion placed her hand over her own heart. She could feel its beat. The beat of her heart. She didn’t have a piece of Xehanort’s heart inside of her, but she had at one point. There was no denying that she was the last surviving Seeker of Darkness…she had so much more to make up for.
Xion felt a shift of weight. Roxas had stood up from his bed, still holding her hand. Xion stood up too, pressing her bare feet into the carpet. Roxas let Xion lead him down the hallway and down the stairs, to the living room. As she sat down on the couch, Roxas sat next to her, and leaned his head against her shoulder. Whatever came next…they’d face together.
oooo
Hayner soared through the air. He was flying! He had superpowers, just like Roxas and Xion! This was the most amazing thing he had ever felt in his entire life. It was incredible! Sure, he was in some weird…room with darkness all around, but he could see some light, waaaaaay at the end of the tunnel.
As Hayner got closer to the light, he realized he was looking at a giant circle made out of stained glass. It was…a stained glass portrait of himself?
Yeah, it was. A giant circle, about as big around as the Sandlot. And it was an exact portrait of himself, right down to the same clothes he had on. In one of his hands, the portrait held…a Struggle bat. Huh, that was weird—most of the stained glass surrounding his body was patterned various shades of green. Just like his old camo pants. It’d been ages since he’d worn those.
There were several small circles around his own portrait too—tiny portraits of Pence, Olette, and one with Roxas and Xion smooshed together. The people he cared the most about? Or maybe the people who influenced him the most? That would make some sort of sense, if this was a portrait of himself. Hayner frowned. If that were what these portraits represented, he wondered whether he should be worried that there weren’t portraits of his mom or dad.
He took a few steps forward and the platform began to shake. Gah, what was this, some sort of weird earthquake? Hayner found himself flailing about—why couldn’t he start flying again, that could come in handy right about now! Almost as soon as it started, the shaking stopped and Hayner saw three stone podiums arise on the stain glass. On each podium was a weapon: a long white sword, a rod with…was that a lucky emblem on its end? And the last weapon, a shield, had a lucky emblem too!
He didn’t have a clue how to use magic, so the magic wand was out, and shields weren’t something he could fight with either. But he had fought enough Struggle matches not to be hopeless with a sword, and swords were like Keyblades. Hayner walked over to the sword—ah, it had a lucky emblem too, on its handle—and took it in his right hand.
The power of the warrior. Invincible courage. A sword of terrible destruction. Is this the power you seek?
Hayner startled—where had that voice come from? He looked around and couldn’t see anybody. And it hadn’t sounded like anybody he knew either. Destruction sounded kind of bad…but the power to fight? The power to destroy Heartless and Nobodies and whatever other monsters were out there? Hayner was brave enough…he had the courage. The courage to fight and protect what mattered.
“Yeah, this is what I want!” Hayner took a few practice swings with the sword. It was as easy to use as a Struggle bat.
Some funny shadows began emerging on the stain glass. Hayner recognized them as Heartless. A whole bunch of them had formed into that giant tornado-y ball back when Sora had last saved his neck. And Xion said these kinds were called Shadows. Huh, that wasn’t particularly creative. But this was Hayner’s chance to prove himself! And get some well-earned payback!
He swung his sword at the Shadows and they responded in kind. There were a lot of them and they had sharp claws, but Hayner’s sword was sharper and one by one they all burst into darkness. Again and again the Heartless attacked, but again and again, Hayenr was finally, finally able to fight them. And as they fell, it was almost as if he felt himself getting stronger.
Your courage is strong. But the path ahead of you is long. And the closer you get to the light, the greater your shadow becomes…
Hayner blinked and looked around. There was still nobody around. And no other monsters. But at least he had a sword now, and that could…wait, what was that?
His shadow was standing up. And it was growing! It had to be forty feet tall, now! Hayner swore and steadied his feet so he could fight, but then…his sword went poof! It vanished, and he hadn’t made it vanish! How was he gonna get it back? Hanyer began wiggling his fingers, trying to get his weapon back, but it was too late.
Hayner found himself being lifted by the gigantic shadow monster and then he was being thrown—off the platform entirely! He opened his mouth to scream but no sound came out! He was falling and falling and falling!
xxxx
Hayner awoke quickly, and bit back a cry of fear and frustration. That had only been a dream? That was probably a good thing, since he had gotten thrown off the platform or podium or whatever it was. It was so weird. But he’d had powers! He would have been able to help, and do his part. He wouldn’t have to run and hide from the monsters, he could have been able to help fight them. Maybe even help search for Sora!
From his desk, Hayner grabbed an old poster from one of the bazillion movies that Mister McDuck played in the theater and crumpled it up. It wasn’t fair! He was so stinking useless without a weapon, without any way to help his friends. He had tried running down the trails in the woods on the edge of town, but even that was hard! Hayner tore the poster into pieces and tossed them into his wastebasket.
In his hand was the sword from his dream. Long and sharp, a blade of white, a handle of gold, with a little lucky emblem.
Hayner grinned.