The Chasers: The Key to Memories Past

[Rikugurl]

OOC: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH SO CUTE!!!


Purple eyes just looked out at the 'screen' that had faded. He was breathless. His mother had taught him of the prophecy when he was older, how the world was going to end maybe this afternoon or maybe in a few years. It always scared him but his mother told him not to be afraid. No matter what they did, they could not stop it once it started. There was no point dying afraid.

He never understood why she was never scared when she woke up like he was, always running to the bed to see if the decaying looking world was really....decaying!
Now...he understood.
She...wasn't like him. She didn't have the emotions like a human would. Like...he had being half human. He knew his father would of been scared...

Nonetheless, she loved him like any mother should, human, or not.
She was just a Thym and Thym were raised and believed that the future is already planned. There is nothing that can be done. They weren't foolish to think this either. Everything that the oracle had said came true...and it still was for Sammy.

Though, there was one thing that he could never believe. He knew that his mother knew.... it was going to be him when the oracle said it could of been anyone...

However, seeing his father for the first time made him...hurt. He remembered asking his mother what he looked like but he could see the pain in her eyes and never asked her again. Now he didn't have to. Though, he could only smile softly. They had the same smile...

Everything went quiet again as the screen lit up once more. Bonnie growled as she made a fist. She had never seen him before but her mother had explained what the man that kidnapped her looked like...and this was the man that almost killed her!

The second generation didn't understand who this man was as well as the first. They never had to fight him.
Fujin swallowed as she backed up a bit, remembering that day on The Land of Dragons. They day they almost lost Ventus and Terra along with Fran. I it hadn't been for Sora...
SLAM

Their thoughts stopped as they snapped back out of it and saw the familiar woman on the screen. The woman that Sammy had showed them...it was really Ida. She was much more younger and more beautiful, especially now without the wounds on her body. She was a strong, yet fragile woman...and the comment that Hatori had said...her first?

What had happened to her first child...?

The gloomy question came and left when everyone laughed, seeing the baby eat the muffin.
Olette could only giggled next to her husband. "So THAT'S where he got it from~"

Another silver flash came to be as the screen went to another location all together. One everyone knew so well.
Destiny Island.
However, it looked very different. There was a hut near the beach and a boat that was tied up to the dock. The main land couldn't even be seen.


The door of the hut opened and no one expected to see the little boy who came out. A boy with silver hair and little swim trunk that looked hand made. He stood proudly, his aquamarine eyes shining under the bright sun as the waters of the ocean reflected off it. He suddenly shot out towards the ocean, giggling as the waves came in.

"RIKU! BE CAREFUL!" A familiar, though much younger woman called as she popped her head out of the window.
"I WILL!" The boy cried back before stomping in the shallows and picking up a stick, swinging it around like a sword.

It was a cute scene but...where was everyone else?
The 'camera' seemed to pull closer to the boy as he talked to himself, hearing random pretend conversations about battling giant fish and octopuses. However, he suddenly sighed and looked out towards the waves. "I wish I had a fwend..."

The screen suddenly shifted to darkness but suddenly, a streak of lightning shot out, thunder crashing behind it.
The little boy could be seen looking out his window as the rough waters with a sigh. "Another storm..." He sighed, only being a few years older. Probably 7 or 8.
However, his eyes widened as he looked closer to the window then shot out of his bed.
"MOM! MOM! MOM! A BOAT!"

"What?" The woman stood from her chair in the small dinning room/kitchen. "A BOAT MOM! ON THE OCEAN!"
"OH MY!" The woman cried as she got up and pulled on a coat. "You stay in side---"
"But MOM!"
"RIKU! Stay here." She frowned before suddenly leaving the hut and rushed towards the ocean. Riku ran to the closest window and looked out, seeing his mom slightly disappear into the darkness of the storm.

That was when a boat could be seen coming by the shore and a man hopped out, pulling the boat closer with the help of the silverette woman.
Inside the boat was a woman holding on tightly to her young son, their eyes both full of fear.

Even if it was a scary sight, when the aqua colored eyes caught that of blue, a small smile ran over his features.


The screen faded out with a low rumble of thunder only to glow again.
It showed the streets of a place unknown to them but they could quickly guess when they saw a man with two toddlers at his side, holding each of his hands.
A little brunette and a little blonde. Again, they wore the same outfit as each other and still seemed like they were new to walking as they hopped and scurried along.

It was a market street on Akbar.
If it wasn't for the little boys, it was the soft wind that blew through their hair.
The man smiled down at each of them before turning and going into a store. It was a general store with all kinds of goodies but bot boys let go of their father's hand and rushed to a large bowl in the shape of a hot air balloon.

The man however passed the boys and went to the counter, talking to the man behind it as the twins stared inside the balloon at all the little colorful balls.
The rustling of bags could be heard and the man walked over to the boys, placing his bags down.
"You guys want one?"
"YEA!" They both cried, getting out of the way for the man to put a shiny small disc in a slot...then turned the nob.

"Alright, now both of you put your hands under the spout here." The man pointed and the boys did so. The man laughed before slowly opening the tab and a little yellow ball came out, rolling over the boys hands before stopping in the brunette's hands. The boy pulled it away, a large smile on his face as his twin pouted. However, another shiny coin went in and turned the nob, opening the tab for a red ball to fall into the blonde's hand.

"Wow! This is gonna be my favowestest coluwa!" The boy cried happily as he looked up at it than stuck it in his mouth, humming happily.

[Reno]

There were a few chuckles round the room - just like it had been to see Aqua, for most of them it was hard imagining Terra cute or small at all. Especially since his presence had always been more... over bearing than that.

The picture changed suddenly though making everyone come back to attention as the familiar world lit up over the glowing crystal and for some of the wiser who took notice of the new world of Destiny still so young, they knew who they would be seeing. In quick succession three scenes showed past their eyes. The first was of course, Riku and his mother, alone upon the island and much, much younger. Some of the more sensitive girls couldn't help but go 'Ooooh,' as the boy wished for a friend, obviously very lonely.

Then the scene shifted and it appeared that the boy's wish came true and even though the event was heart-breaking, there was some hope left as the two boys say each other for the first time... and shaky smiles were shared.

Then suddenly they were taken to a new world one no one really recognized at first - except Roxas whose very soul shook as it echoed with the land. His - their - hometown.

By the time the scene had ended, a few of them were laughing. Ven was pretty cute too as a kid.
"Well THAT explains a lot." Seifer said with a roll of his eyes - remembering Sora's strange obsession with big yellow shoes and Ven's peculair need to make at least every outfit of the day have some aspect of red to it or if he was unable to-

The screen lit up again, as if reading Seifer's thoughts.


"Come on Terra, it's just for one fucking day!" Ven said, holding up a red shirt and his eyebrows waggling suggestively while he obtrusively blocked the closet off from the other.

Terra just gave him a dull stare, his arms crossing over his bare chest. "Are you... telling me how to dress?"
"Excuse me but YOU did the same thing to me back on that airship world!"
"Ivalice," Terra corrected with a snort. "AND that was because you were trying to fucking show off what was MINE. But you... you're just fucking obsessed with red!!"
Ven rolled his eyes. "That isn't the point! Just wear it!"
"No."
Ven grinned, dropping the shirt suddenly. "I know how to make you say yes," He said as he lent towards him, wiggling fingers reaching for the others pants.

There was a flash, then a sour-faced but flustered brunette stomped out of the room wearing the red shirt and fixing his belt and a triumphant blonde followed behind, his own cheeks red and lips swollen.
"I hate you."
"Love you too!" Chirped the blonde.


Tensai hit himself in the forehead, his cheeks red with humiliation as he looked away. "My parents were so weird!"
At that, many of the elder Chasers burst into laughter - didn't they know it!

Aqua snorted some, smiling, even as the gem suddenly turned blue.


"AWROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!"
Came a vicious howl in the middle of the night. A little figure jumped in her bed, and she looked around, eyes frightened. "Sai?" She blinked, before slowly creeping out of bed and walking over to window. Outside, softly illuminated by a burning oil lamp and the full moon, was her father. And he was staring at the barn. Within it sounded like a monster had gotten loose! There were snarls and crashes and bangs and howls.

Her eyes saddened. "Sai-Sai..." She shook her head before going back to bed. She laid there, but with all the noise outside she could not sleep.

There was a noise from downstairs, then steps on the stairs and a door softly shutting. Her daddy was going to bed too - but even still outside her brother let out peals of hurtful noises. After a time the noise quieted and she sighed, shutting her eyes.

"AWROOO!"
Blue eyes snapped open and blinked blearily around. Outside the sky was a dark blue, lightning with every moment. Morning was approaching.

She suddenly sat up and jumped from her bed, little feet pattering as she escaped from her room. She looked down the hall at where her father and mother slept before as carefully and quietly as she could, she tip-toed down the stairs. Every time the worn wood creaked, she froze, looking behind her as if she expected someone to jump out and catch her.

Before long though she had made it downstairs and into the kitchen where the door to outside was still unlocked from when her father had checked up on him possibly many times during the night. No one would dare attempt to steal from them with Sai out there, making all that ruckus. His cries were calming though as morning came fast upon them.

The little girl looked around before huffing as she hurried from the room and into the living room. She picked up a footstool sitting in front of the rocking chair, the thing nearly as big as her small frame, breathing out hard with the weight as she carefully carried it sloppily into the kitchen.

She set it in front of the stove with a heavy sigh, "Phew!" She said, running her hand across her dry brow comically like she had seen her father do many times when he farmed before carefully climbing onto the stool and grabbing the tea kettle.

She jumped down from the stool and walked over to the sink and set it down, then she carried the stool all the way over to the sink and she filled it with water. She set it on the ground and carried the stool back over to the stove. She then ran into the pantry grabbing some matches and hurried back to the stove, lighting it easily - quite an interesting thing to already know, considering she was four.

She jumped back down and set the matches away before carrying the heavy tea kettle, some of it sloshing out and onto the ground, until she was at the stove and set it on the stool before climbing on herself. It was another big lift until it was on the burning heat.

"Not done, not done!" She said to herself before jumping down and running over to the pantry again and looked inside. It was fairly empty sadly - only rations left to them. She looked up and pouted hard, seeing the tea ALLLL the way at the top. "Hmph!" Not deterred, she started climbing up the pantry shelves with ease until she was at the top. Her small chubby hand reached out, moving some little tea leaf bags aside as she found the green tea. She grabbed it and let it fall to the ground before climbing down herself and picking it up, hurrying out and setting it on her seat at the table.

Outside the noises had stopped and the sun had risen.

Her little feet hurried, grabbing the stool and dragging it over to the counter. She got on it once more before climbing onto the counter and opened a cupboard, grabbing two cups and setting them down. She looked down, realizing how high she was. She whimpered but then glanced towards the window seeing the barn outside. She nodded determinedly and jumped giving a little yelp as she hit the ground in a crouch, her hands on the floor. She looked around then giggled proudly, getting back onto the stool and grabbing the cups and bringing then to her chair as well. After that it was just a quick hop on to that before she set the items onto the table.

Soon the kettle was whistling and she had to drag the stool there, getting the 'oven-mit' (it was really just a rag) and carefully brought it to the table boiling water sloshing all onto the floor. It was amazing she hadn't burned herself. Even more so when she placed it on her chair and climbed up to place it on the table. She pulled off the top and put the tea leaves inside before setting it back on. She sat down on her chair that was now squishy and wet, humming happily as she swung her legs back and forth, waiting.

Once she thought it was ready (or until her patience ran out which was in thirty seconds) she stood on her chair and grabbed the tea kettle trying to lift it and pour it.

It was safe to say this didn't work hot tea instead went pouring all over the tabletop and sloshed against the cups. She pouted and set it down, little drips echoing in the kitchen as the liquid fell down the uneven side where one leg was shorter than the other - her daddy wasn't the best craftsmen in the world but as he said 'if it didn't fall down it was just fine!'

He built the house too - she wondered sometimes if they were crooked too and that was why the rain always dripped off the roof more on the front side of the house instead of the back.

But that was not her problem right now. She crossed her arms and pouted some. "Ah!" She jumped down and hurried to her trusty stool, carrying it over to the counter again. Instead of getting on the counter though she rummaged through a drawer, grabbing a metal soup ladle. She jumped down and ran back over to her chair - outside in the window, the barn door was opening.

She quickly got on the chair and reached for kettle but flinched back when the hot steam ran over her fingers. She pouted and grabbed the rag and pulled off the top, setting it aside. She dipped in the ladle and pulled it out before putting it over one of the cups and tilting the ladle. More went sploshing all over the place but this time at least this time she succeeded in getting some in the cup - including a leaf as well. She had to do this at least three times before filling one cup. She was just started to do the same with the second when the door to the kitchen opened and a haggard young teen was stumbling in.

Sai blinked a few times upon the sight of his sister, eyebrows twitching in curiosity as he took in the sight of the now messy and wet kitchen. "Aqua? What... are you doing?"
She looked back and gave him a big smile. "I made your faborite tea big brother! You needa relax!"
The blue-haired teen blinked a few times before walking over and smiled some. "You did all this by yourself?" He glanced back at the stove then the footstool and the sink as if he couldn't quite figure it out. She was so little.
"Yep! Have some!"

"Oh uh... alright." He smiled as he took one of the cups blowing on it a few times before taking a sip. He hid a grimace behind his cup - she hadn't let it sit long enough - before lowering it and giving her a big smile. "Mm-mmm! Delicious." He lent down kissing her cheek. "The best tea in the world. Thank you."
Her eyes got nice and wide and she giggled happily before dragging over her own tea cup and picking it up, not minding the hot water that dripped onto her dress as she blew many times on the top of the cup and took a sip as he did. Unlike him she didn't hid her grimace. "Yucky! I don't like grown-up drinks!"

Sai couldn't help it.
He smiled... and he laughed.

[Rikugurl]

No one could stop their laughing as they watched Terra and Ven's scene. Though, it was rather depressing. They had all missed the two, not believing that they had been gone for a year or so already. The memory just seemed like it happened yesterday.
It was also a big change when Aqua became leader and Seifer second in command. One couldn’t help but notice as the woman changed a bit, ready to be a leader and but still not ready to be a leader.

It wasn’t like it was an easy job, knowing that any mission could be their last and trying to keep people’s hopes up while trying not to sugar coat anything at the same time. Skilled fighters next to people who could only kill a bug had to fight side by side with the same view in their eyes, same mission. To chase and capture key blades.
Of course it wasn’t easy when two of their most important members had to strong feelings to be a Chaser, those two boys that were the only two in Generation 2 to be able to even touch key blades.

Thoughts were interrupted however when a blue light shot out and everyone watched their cute little leader once more as she tried to ease her brother. Again, most of the Gen. 2 didn’t understand what was going in the barn but the Gen 1 did. Sai was a berserker, a guardian of the people in which region they were born. At first, they thought that berserkers protected the dragons… but what they had found out was that berserkers were to protect the people from Divine if something were to happen to the dragons.
Most people would think that this unique species would be honored… but most of the time, they were outcasts and in troubled times, were blamed for what was happening.

Fuu frowned as she remembered a story that Aqua once told her about how the towns people blamed her brother because their livestock had gone missing. Apparently they found that they had drowned by the shore since they wondered off too far but Sai was still blamed, saying that he lured them there and didn’t have the time to eat them.
If that was really the case, the boy and his family were always starving. Sai would of FOUND time to eat them.

Another flash came to the gem, this one being red and white.


A loud sigh could be heard before the white room lit up on the screen, some figures in black coats walking through the hallways.
"Man…. This is sooooooooo boring…." A redhead sighed as he looked around then at the blue haired man next to him….that seemed oddly familiar to the last memory. "When do we get to do exciting stuff?"
Yellow eyes looked over, a face not amused. "When we get our hearts back.” He said simply as they continued to walk down the hall. "Besides, a new member has joined today."
The redhead stopped and blinked. "New member?" A scratch on his chin made him sigh again. "Great. THAT sound exciting…" He rolled his eyes before he and the man disappeared in a black smoke.

They reappeared as quickly in a familiar room of white with tall chairs. The redhead crossed his arms as he sighed again, seeing all twelve members around in silence. A hood was flipped over all their heads slowly before a door way down below opened and another figure walked into the room.
Green eyes sharpened under the shadow of the hood as he looked down.
Man, what a shorty. What is he a---"

His whispering stopped when the figure pulled down his hood, revealing swirls of blonde and big blue eyes.
"---a cutie?"


The memory faded and Roxel rolled his eyes. His dad wasn't too hard to win over.

Another flash, this time green hit the gem and the inside of a large building could be seen.
Seifer knew well what it was and telling by the little girl who was walking around, everyone else could too.


The little silverette girl looked around as she walked the halls, some tears in her red eyes. She sniffled and choked as she passed a door only for another kid to point at her. "CRY BABY! CRY BABY! NO ONE WANTS A CRY BABY!"
The little girl gasped and rushed away, more tears running down her face as she started to cry.

"Oh man, that cry baby must be coming, I can hear her from the top floor!" Another girl snickered as she watched the silverette run away, crying even more.
She was about the same age as the blue haired girl they saw in the other memory. About four.

She finally shot through a set of doors that she had never seen before and panted, rubbing her eyes. It was quiet in the room and many things were around shelves, making it look like a janitor's closet.
"No mowa cwying!" She hissed at herself. "Cwying fowa babies..." She sniffed and slowly looked up, her red eyes peering through the short silver hair. It looked rather choppy and some left over bubble gum could be seen still stuck in her hair.

She looked around, as if looking for something. "What make me stop cwying?" Slowly she walked to the nearest jug that was a brownish color. Knowing that she couldn't read, she just looked at the pictures. Bottle after jug she looked through until she came to one. On the back had a picture of an eye with a tear coming out of it. "Maybe this doed it..." She nodded confidently before she opened the top.

Unknown to her, it was instructions on how to get the chemical out of your eye if accidentally got in there. Another picture she didn't see was a scull and crossbones on the other side...
She sat on the ground and put the jab between her chubby legs before slowly looking down into it. "No see...." She pouted before smiling and only placed one eye near the opening to see what color it was.

Slowly her chubby fingers squeezed the jug, making the liquid slowly rise so she could see the color. However, she suddenly squeezed too quickly and the liquid shot out, hitting her directly in the eye and making her fall back in shock.

"...........AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!!"

[Reno]

Roxas blinked as a familiar too-white castle appeared and he rolled his eyes at Axel's words. But he couldn't hide a smile when it was he who was joining this time, brilliant blue eyes still shining with the vestiges of his Somebody. The blonde snorted at Axel's comment shaking his head. He was glad he hadn't heard that from waaaaay down there or he might of... kicked him.

Seifer raised an eyebrow at Aqua's next memory shaking his head in astonishment. It was hard to believe that was Aqua at all nice or helpful or even considerate in her life - and especially not fucking cute like his little Luci! This was too unbelievable.

However when the scene changed his eyes narrowed - again he was the first to recognize the place. It was... hard to forget it. He had spent his whole childhood there. Why he, or Raijin or Fuujin were never adopted well... he never quite understood that.

Aqua's eyes widened suddenly and her heart shuddered some as her little wife ran into a storage closet telling herself not to cry. Somewhere deep in her mind she knew what was about to happen and her hand went over her mouth - her fears only more deeply realized as little hands grabbed a bottle, child-like reasoning the only downfall to this whole scenario. She turned her head and shut her eyes. She couldn't watch.

Tensai seemed to get the hint too and slapped both hands over his eyes. But even still the two flinched at Fuujin's loud cry and a lot of the others Chasers made some noises of horror or shock or even sympathy. The scream continued to reverbrate off the walls for a long time afterwards.

Another mystery solved.

Tensai and Aqua both continued not to look - not because they were cowards, no they were far from it - but because it was difficult to see someone they both loved so much in so much pain. Neither dared to even peek until the sounds around them changed to a more mechanical humming, meaning the scene was from another's memory. Finally sad blue eyes opened and looked towards her wife, while orange peeked between the grooves of his fingers.

The gem was gold.


"Rather short, aren't you?"
The toddler looked up, his eyes wide as he stared in the face of a male frames by long silver hair and an aloof, careless smile on his face. The boy's eyes narrowed holding a piece of paper he had been inspected close to him.

"Ah he is simply a baby, Yazzy." Another said, the cropped silver-haired but buff male beside him said, reaching out for the little kid.
The kid let out a snarl and bit the fingers coming for him.
"AHHH HE BIT ME!!" The man cradled his hand to his chest, tears welling in his eyes.

Yazoo smiled, entertained. "I think I like him Loz." He kneeled down. "What is your name boy?"
"LXXIX" He spoke carefully suspicious and wary.
Yazoo shook his head. "Not your number- you're name."
A pause then. "...... Specimen LXXIX?"
Yazoo sighed some as if he thought the kid was quite dim. "Yes I know that, That's not what I am asking. I for example an LIII. The crying baby behind me is XXXVI. But that is not what we call each other. I am Yazoo and he is Loz. We gave each other our own names."
"....Why?"
Yazoo blinked, as if such a thing had never crossed his mind. "...Because. That is what humans do."
"But we are not-"
The elder tsked wagging his finger. "Ah but you wish to be, no?" The boy nodded slowly. "Wonderful! Than a name is the first place to start! So pick one."

The little boy blinked before looking around as if he could just pick one out of the air. He then looked at the paper in his hands, a cut out from a tome that must of come loose from one of the many, old books in the area. It was actually from a dictionary. He turned it around and pointed at his choice. Even Loz bent over to look.
"That one?" Yazoo asked.
"Yes."
"You know what it means, correct?"
"Somewhat. It is... difficult to grasp but I prefer it."
"Mmm... let's see if it comes true. Kadajgara."
"Just... Kadaj."
"Alright. Kadaj."


There was confusion Room of echoes, everyone looking at the piece of paper written in some strange language and its following translation just as obscure.
"Kadajgara." Tensai clarified, reading across the words even as the scene went dim. "It means paille or... a flaw in a gem or material."
Kadaj nodded. It had fit him after all.
The scene came back to life.


The screen flashed.
"Sir, he's aging at an alarming rate. In less than a month he already appears as a young teen."
Green eyes gazed over the portfolio he was reading, the words 'Genesis Project' on the top. The eyes narrowed upon the scientist assistant and Hojo. They were speaking over him as if he was not even in the room.
"Exactly how fast is his growth?"
"About a year a week. Sometimes two."
"That is not approximate." Hojo growled grabbing the files in the other's hands and looking them over. He picked up a pen and wrote something. "Four days and 4 hours of each week. By the end of a year and two quarters Project LXXIX will most definitely be dead."

"What do you propose professor?"
Kadaj's eyes flicked towards the man.
"Reinitialization into the reactor's Mako system." Green eyes went wide a flicker of fear in them. There was a flutter as the portfolio was dropped. "We will simply add Time Materia into the mixture and force his DNA to stop growing."
"But sir that could have adverse effects. The human body is meant to grow! At best it will only give him another year or two."
"That matters little. We do not need him for long. Get the chamber prepared."
"...Yes sir."
"79-" A pause then, "79?"
But Kadaj was already gone, running as fast as his teenage legs could carry him down the hall of the basement, towards a set of spiraling wooden stairs.

A flash. He was outside now, looking tired as he carefully climbed up a treacherous mountain trail, hands digging into the jagged rocks.
"Kadaj, I know not whether to be... discontented that your actions have forced us to chase you, or... invidious that your mind and heart are so flawed they have told you to do such a human-natural thing as fleeing. To be afraid. I wish some incantation were in my blood."
Green eyes looked up, seeing Yazoo above him on a ledge, looking down at him curiously. How?
"Come Kadaj, do not make this difficult." The boy looked down, seeing Loz at the bottom of the trail, hands out as if to catch him.

"I am not returning." Kadaj said looking between them. "So step aside."
"We are unable to do such a thing brother. We have orders to return you. Do you not wish for a longer life?"
"I would rather die than step back into that... hideous machine!" Kadaj growled, hugging onto the wall as the wind whipped at his clothes.
"Stubborn and righteous too. Brother, what luck you have." Yazoo said even as he reached for a Gunblade at his hip, pointing it down at the other.
"Why... why do you call me a brother - a fellow of yours - when you insist on betraying me?"
"Oh brother," Loz said, "This is for the best!"
"The best?!" Incredulity.
BANG!

The picture blurred.

Plip, plip, plip. Something red dripping, coloring the lab floor.
Sssk, sssk, ssssk. Something being pulled along, feet dragging.
"53, what have you done?"
"He was difficult. I merely skimmed his skull, he will survive."
A pause then, "36, get him prepared. We must begin."
No answer except for some more scuffling, the latch of machinery onto flesh, a pained groan or two.
Just before Loz secured the mask over Kadaj's face, the green eyes fluttered open - the left side of his face was drenched in blood. He breathed hard, eyes narrowed onto the professor. "I hate you."
"I highly doubt that 79." Hojo smirked. "You are nothing more than a replication of a shadow. You can feel nothing."

The screen went black but voices still came.
"He has responded much better to the treatment than we first believed."
"What a find professor! Eternal youth!"
"Sir, this is revolutionary! We need to publish this data."
"No, it is not. This is data for a clone - nothing upon this measurement will work for human convenience."
"Will he die?" The voice was familiar. Yazoo's.
"Oh course 53. That is the basis of life have you not enough knowledge to remember such?"
"We are not infants. We are aware of that. But how?" Loz's.
"As any other. One day his body will halt permanently."

[Rikugurl]

Many eyes turned away when everyone could see what had happened next, even Fuu seemed to be shocked. She didn't....remember how she lost her eye. It must of been so painful... she was glad that...it was something that never stayed with her. She swallowed before looking over at Aqua, seeing the woman's saddened face. Fuu could only smile back slightly. What was done was done... but now they knew why. Maybe if it wasn't for those horrible kids that had picked on her so much, she might of still had both eyes...

Silver hair moved softly as she looked over at her son. "It's ok, Ten." She spoke softly, reassuring him.

Again, before either of her family could speak, another flash came into the room, drawing a set of Mako eyes.

They watched, confused, trying to put together the pieces. Fujin frowned as she noticed Yazoo, a man they had encountered a few times seeing that Midgar was known as a checkpoint to the Chasers along with Ivalice and a few others.
He owned the weapon's bed there and they still had the hardest time getting the keyblade he had in there.

They didn't speak to him much, Gunnar and Kadaj spending most of the time at the place.
However, everyone's eyes widened when they heard the gunshots. Some of them feared the worse, even if they already knew that the man survived seeing that he was standing right there in front of them.

Gunnar growled as he watched them hook him up, hearing how they talked about him right in front of him... but what really shocked him was... how much more human he was compared to Yazoo and Loz...in who he had never met.
His eyes lightened as he heard the other.
Hate.
Hate was a strong emotion... like love. Though love...was much more complicated than pure hate.

The last bit made everyone uncomfortable, including Namine who never really....LIKED Kadaj all to much. She glanced at the silverette and pouted. He could just...die at any given...time?

Mako eyes quickly connected with another set...however, one was more worried, more fearful than the other.
This was another mystery solved. Why Kadaj never looked like he was aging. His features weren't....but his boy was. How old was Kadaj...and...how long did he have until...
"Kadaj...."
He took a step before a familiar yet horrifying sound came from another film.


A computerized trumpeting blared out over the decaying land as a few headless birds flew over a smaller home that was slightly distanced from the others by a longer bridge.

Inside the home, it was cramped and hardly livable, but it seemed warm and cozy.
A familiar woman was leaning over the only table, her appearance a bit different than before. She no longer wore a fancy headpiece and her hair was down, the beautiful orange flowing down her back as her clothes were still close to that of her norm.

She had obviously moved from the palace...
Her pen-like device moved, a wet substance flowing down on paper as she wrote odd symbols.
"Ut a he ha em eh me ma quai..." Her voice came out, a sort of phantom like language that seemed chopped up an incomplete.

Suddenly, the film stopped and......reminded, pulsing slightly before it showed the woman writing again.
"My dearest Cheval..." She began and the film memory continued to play this time. "As you can see, I have been able to learn how to write your language, though it was a struggle. It has kept myself busy and depression far away. I suppose it's not wise for me to bottle myself up like this... I know I am stronger but..."

Her pen stopped and she shook her head before continuing. "Never mind that. I am writing to you because I have found a name for our son. I spent many months researching and putting it together... I hope you like it for I know you will be calling out his name when you meet again. He is our angel, our one and only... but our decision for his birth has put the prophecy in motion. Thymosia will crumble and fall maybe today, maybe tomorrow...maybe in 20 years. Our oracle states that only one will survive... it could be our son, it could be myself...or it could be neither. Nonetheless, my love, our world's destruction will come and we will all end this life. This is the second part of our son's name."

Slowly, her purple eyes looked across the room into another, seeing a little blond boy laying in bed looking at her curiously.
She gave the boy a smile before finishing the letter.
"I have named him Samael. In English, it means The Angel of Death. I do not want him to feel like he himself has brought this upon our race, for it is not his or anyone's fault. It is that of fate is was always bound to happen. However, I want him always to remember his name and these times. To remember who his is no matter what the future may bring to him. Again my love, do not cry or weep, do not be sad or angry. Even when I and Samael do pass, we will all be together again one day in a place where our love will have no walls, no dimensions or laws against us. Remember, death... is not the ending....but a new beginning. From you love beyond the portal, Charnette."


Samael swallowed as the memory faded, looking away from the gem. Ever since he had met and was adopted into the Chaser's group, he had learned that the death that his people did not fear was a very natural and strong fear to humans and other species. Was it because...his people were connected to the dead...? Though, death for his mother...was a release to be together with his father.

It just seemed....so morbid now... One shouldn't hope for death to be happy...when they could of been happy alive...if it wasn't for people like---

Sudeenly a few flashes hit the gem and lightened it up. This one was brighter and some laughter could be heard.


"Say hi~" A blonde smiled as he placed his toddler on the floor in front of a black haired baby. The fire haired boy put his finger in his mouth before suddenly running behind long legs.
"Roxel..." The redhead man laughed as he looked down, seeing the little boy look over his legs and then hid again.
"I guess he's shy~ Takes after me." The blonde laughed and rubbed the back of his neck.

Some time passed and two families were at the table, eating dinner. The little fire head boy peered across the baby was he was fed, absolutely silent.
"Rox...do you think something's wrong with him? I mean....I never saw him this quiet before..." Axel leaned over to his husband with some worry.

"He just never saw a baby before. Tensai's like that when he sees another kid too." The silverette man across the table smiled as he looked over, seeing his husband feed their baby some mashed carrots.
Axel looked down at his son before smiling hopelessly. "You wanna feed the baby?"
Roxel blinked and crossed his arms before looking away, almost scared. "N-no!"

More time passed and it was dark, a cute little nightlight of a star shined in the room as a single playpen/crib was full of fluffy plushes. Four adults stood at the doorway, peering in with smiles on their faces as they watched the two boy's cuddle together.
"They're going to be best friends..." Sora whispered, a hug smile on his face.

[Reno]

Kadaj was silent as he watched the memories go past his eyes narrowing some. That was all between his first month of life but many of these things he had forgotten or discarded as unimportant. Why were they being shown to him once more?

And if what Hojo had claimed was true - that who he was was non-existing. Not quite like a nobody, but something else entirely - then how is it that he was chosen for this trial? He would of not of been qualified... correct?

"Kadaj..."
He looked towards a familiar young man, seeing the expression upon his face. His eyes averted, realizing what the other was thinking. Humans often only though in terms of what they heard last this much he had learned. Yet, he himself... did not know.

He too though... wondered of his death. Wonder if one day he simply would not wake up or in the midst of a mission simply fall and be unable to rise. Or would it be-

His concentration stopped however when he heard the memory teller reawakening and compelled he glanced over as well. Ah, back to Samual.

The memory was quick to play, but unlike the others - despite being so depressing and sad - held a certain wisdom to it. For Tensai most of all. He looked down at his pedestal some of his inner guilt easing. There was no reason to work himself up over Kali and Charlie - they had known what was coming, and they did it anyways. Not because it was the smarter choice, or maybe even the better, but it was because it was what made their lives happy and complete. To die with no regrets... isn't that what anyone would want?

That... was something he still needed to learn.

He blinked as the lights underneath him glew and he looked up, eyes widening. The gem was hit with four lights - his silver, Roxas' white, Axel's red and Roxel's purple. The gem looked almost like a small galaxy, swirling with so many contrasting colors.

He looked up, watching the memory play with a fond smile and then chuckled by the end. His dad was right! He looked towards Roxel. "You were scared of meeee~" He teased softly, the starry sparkles falling around him illuminated his cheeky grin.

As he was looking away he didn't notice the red and purple retreating - but leaving behind the silver and white. But he did hear a noise that made him quickly look back.


"Sora!" Came a worried cry.
Their was a sharp gasp, blue eyes widened as a winged blade came flashing for him. He braced his legs and rolled away, the blade digging into the stone.
"Sora fight back!" Came the quacking order. "That's not Riku!!"

"I know... I know but-" Sora tried to say back, his eyes darting behind him to the red-haired girl just beyond the barrier, seemingly fast asleep. Kairi.
"Sora! Look out!" Goofy cried.
Sora looked forward and quickly raised his blade to counter the strike coming down for him. He looked up over the blade into a familiar face, but unlike any time before the look on Riku's was not one of happiness or even mocking playfulness as they fought. No it was just cold determination - as if Sora was a foe he simply needed to take down.
"What's wrong, Keyblade Master? Can you not fight this face?" Riku asked, his voice a mixture of his own and someone decades older.

The brunette growled between his teeth, "Fire!" Flames exploded from the blade but Riku was speedy and he jumped away doing an artful flip before landing with ease on the other side of the battlefield. Sora was quick to also stand but he glanced over towards his duck friend as he started to speak.
"Sora, if he wins you'll never get Riku back!" Donald called from the edge of the barrier, stuck on the stairs.
"Sora, you can do it!" Goofy called, making Sora look towards him.
"What will you choose Keyblade Master?" Riku asked with a laugh, a dark fiery ball appearing in his hand. "You don't have time to think any longer!" The dark firaga ball was thrown.
The brunette's eyes narrowed and he swung his blade. "THUNDAGA!"

The two spells clashed in the middle creating a loud noise as dark and light collided. When the spells dispersed, the ground towards Riku was black like water had splashed all over, and towards Sora, it was white like the lightning had etched itself into the ground. Light and Dark.
Sora glared towards Riku. "I don't care how long it takes Ansem. I'm going to keep fighting until Riku - and everyone else - is free from you! And if that means... beating you out of him, then so be it!"
"Tough words master, now do you have the heart to back it up?"
Sora grinned. "Why don't I just let you find that out for yourself? Ragnarok!"

The two rose their blades at the same time, an explosion of blasts coming from each and colliding with a brilliant choreography of lights, Sora's white and red, Riku's black and blue. Inbetween the destruction, the two charged forward and the clang of keyblades connecting was heard as loudly as a death knell.

There was a flash and the scene changed.
"A keyblade that unlocks people's hearts... I wonder." Sora said, looking back towards the dark Keyblade Riku had previously been wielding. where the silverette had gone, it remained unseen. The brunette walked towards the blade looking down at it.
"Sora?" Goofy questioned, looking back.
The brunette hummed before leaning down and picking it up holding it up in front of him. His two friends' eyes widened in realization and horror.
"Sora, hold on!"
"No wait!!"
The brunette glanced towards his two friends and gave them a big smile... before turning the blade around to grasp at the blade... and without much of a pause... plunged it straight into his heart.
"SORA! SORAAAA!"
The blade disappeared and seven hearts were released into the sky... as their savior disappeared in nothing but a burst of sparkles and light.

Freedom.
Like a devil's whisper it washed over the peaceful land of no color. Eyes snapped open and a teen rose from the grass, and the swirly-haired boy sat up, colorless eyes looking around in confusion.
There was a horrible cracking and then suddenly something black and fast jumped over the human's head, running quickly on hands and legs as he made a run for the colorful side of the world.

The boy's eyes widened and he opened his mouth yelling wordlessly. But it was too late - the heartless had met the barrier - and jumped right through as if it didn't exist. The creature started to run around the world and each place he stepped or touched started to stain black - the pools getting bigger and bigger.

The teen quickly got to his feet, running towards the other land - but before he could even get halfway light exploded from the other world and rose before clashing into the Akbarian world. And as it did... color started to blossom. The teen paused, looking around with wide and confused eyes then let out a soundless cry as he was hit falling back on his ass.

As if paint had been spilled, color started to seep into his form - blone hair, blue eyes, red lips, peach skin white and black clothes... Roxas looked at his own hand as if unable to believe it turning it around. "Color??" He gasped sharply, his hand going to his throat. "Sound...?"

CRACK!
Roxas looked up in fear - seeing one of the trees of the beach land falling over. He grit his teeth jumping to his feet and running the remaining distance to the other. "Stop! STOP!!"
The barrier he had erected long ago suddenly shattered as Roxas approached it, and the blonde jumped over the crack, feet landing with a splash as liquid darkness splashed at his heels.
The heartless turning around as if suddenly taking notice of the other. He was a disturbing sight - a mirror of Sora but grotesque with long claws on his hands and black features all over except for the glowing yellow eyes. As he snarled though, he revealed a row of sharp shark-like teeth.
Roxas didn't flinch though. "You're going to hurt him!"
"He has hurt himself." The other spoke simply. His voice was like Sora's but deeper and darker like it had been when Sora would fall years later... with his fiance. "Get lost, this is my meal now." His claws dug into sand.

Roxas shook his head, hurrying towards the other. "No! We have to balance one another! We must share this land!"
"Balance... share?" The other wheeled around on him and snarled. "You call locking me in a cage for many a year, SHARING?"
This time Roxas faltered, taking a step back from the furious heartless. His eyes narrowed. "...Yes. He is us we must protect him."
"He is weak! Not worthy... not worthy to have this body! You know it as well as I!"
"No... that's not true. You... you weren't even supposed to interfere!"

"It is YOU young nobody who was not meant to step over his place! Nature was taking it's course! I was to have him and then you were to be born after - instead you... you stopped me! You traitor!"
Roxas snarled. "Sora CALLED for me! I did what he asked - I protected him! From Riku, and Ven... and from himself! I did what needed to be done!" He stepped forward, stomping his foot in the growing puddles, the darkness sticking on him like a second skin.

The other waved out his arms as if to grasp the whole world. "Yes, that was then. This is now. There will be a new order! An order in which Sora will never rise again and you!" Glowing eyes narrowed upon Roxas. "You will NEVER return!"

The heartless suddenly charged. Roxas' eyes went wide and he quickly stumbled backwards. There was a burst on light as claws swiped ready to take off Roxas' head. The blonde cried out but instead of trying to duck or dodge his hands came up instinctively swinging something heavy and large - and there was a smack and an angry cry of pain as the Kingdom Keyblade smashed into Anti-Sora's ribs and sent him flying. The heartless flew through the air before smacking hard into the land of the newly colored world, rolling a few times before just laying there.

Roxas grunted turning around slowly in the black gunk to face the other on the opposite side. That was when the heartless... started to laugh, stumbling up on all fours and from how off-balance he seemed was having a hard time doing so. "Like... a moth to flame! You light creatures are all alike!"
The blonde jerked back. "What?"
"I have brought you your demise!" The eyes looked up, a wicked grin on the other's face. "That side was never meant to exist!"
"Wh-" Roxas started to ask again then suddenly there was a large cracking noise, like an earthquake beginning to start. The land shook and sent the blonde to the ground with a grunt, his fingers grasping the Keyblade with all his power.
The land started to tilt though like a tooth bending back, and with nothing underneath it but the dark abyss. Roxas yelped as he and the liquid darkness started to slip and roll. He depesteraly dug the keyblade into the land, momentarily saving him.

Echoing laughter made him look up into glowing yellow. Anti-Sora was perched at the edge of Sora's true inner world, looking down at him like a cat would a helpless mouse. "Goodbye... Nobody." His claws dug into the edge of the world and gave a push and the other half snapped off falling into the nothingness.
Roxas eyes widened as he started to fall, the land around him shattering like thin glass. He mouth opened and he screamed. The last thing he saw before falling completely into darkness... was that smug, vicious grin.

The scene changed one more time. This revealed Roxas, alone and keybladeless, laying in a lawn in front of a large, old mansion. He gave a soft groan and his eyes fluttered open. He blinked a few times, confused, before gasping and sitting up. "No..." He jumped up, turning around in a circle - but his surroundings he knew naught. "...No..." The blonde hurried around, grasping and shaking the gate so it rattling, touching the trees and looking into the dark and uninviting woods, staring up at the too orange sky and flying birds.

Eventually he exhuasted himself, slumping against the wall beside the gate as he hung his head tugging at his hair. "I'm not supposed to be here... I'm not, I'm not!"

Slowly he looked up, blue eyes full of horror. "But... where was I before?"

[Rikugurl]

Everyone watched the scene, not understanding it at all. If Riku, or Sora...or anyone that was known back then saw, they would understand. Not even Axel himself was able to grasp on what happened.
Sora had made himself a heartless...and that was when Roxas was born.

But...wasn't Roxas born when Sora slept?
Or...not?

Green eyes slowly moved, looking over at Roxas. All of this...had he forgotten it?

Olette tilted her head as well, remembering the old mansion. "Roxas...?" Was that when...Roxas came to the fake Twilight Town? Was Diz already seeing all this?

Another flash brought everyone's attention back to the screen, a red and white glow.


"So, Roxas is it?" A redhead stood behind the new member, making the young boy look up at the one that was much taller. "The name's Axel, got it memorized?"
The blonde blinked and rubbed the back of his head. "Y-yea. What's....going on here, Axel?"

Axel tilted his head and grinned. "What? Don't tell me you don't know what you are?"
"What I am....?"
"Yea! You're a Nobody!"
"HEY!" The blonde snapped, his face hurt.
"Not like that! A Nobody....we have no hearts...just....souls of people who lost their hearts. Got it memorized?"

The blonde seemed to be struggling with the idea. "Anyway, our job it so destroy all the Heartless so we can get our hearts back...so we can be a Somebody again."
He walked to the window and pointed out, letting Roxas follow close behind. "All the hearts are gathered in that place up there. It's called Kingdom Hearts. When enough hearts are collected, Kingdom Hearts gets really powerful and....Xemnas will open it so we can get our hearts back or....something along the lines.... Got it memorized?"

Roxas looked up at the glowing heart shaped moon and frowned. "So we....kill things....to get our heart back?"
"Yep!"
"How...?"
Axel grinned as he slowly walked away before a portal suddenly appeared at his side. "I'll show you. Come on!" He called before walking into the portal. Roxas hesitated but sighed, rushing after and through the darkness.

The screen went dark but suddenly, the sound of fighting could be heard.
"Come on Roxas, like this!"


More clashes could be heard before a clash of thunder over powered it as the red and white glows faded and a silver shot out.


Inside a dark room, there was a twin size bed that was in the mix of many toys, books and plushes.
Two figures under the blankets huddled together as the usually gentle wind whip around, making shudders bang and sighs clang.
Outside, they could hear their parents speaking in the living room.

"Sirocco! I've never seen a storm like this..." A woman's voice called over another roll of thunder.
Under the covers, a small little face popped out, the features looking like either Ven or Roxas. The bright blue eyes gave it away. Ven.
He looked out at the window, shivering more when he saw a flash of....purple lightning.
Lightning wasn't purple...

The door suddenly swung open and the two boys hiding popped up, seeing their father walk in quickly. "Come on boys, we need to get to town hall. They have a community basement so everyone can be safer there."
He pulled the boys from the bed as the woman rushed in and put their coats on. She rubbed their shoulders and smile. "It's probably nothing..."

Some bags were filled with miscellaneous clothes and the family of four rushed out the door. The twins held each other's hands tightly as they rushed down the street and into the town close by.
However, everyone's eyes widened when they heard a horrible laugh coming from above and looked up, seeing some kind of....figure flying through the sky.
"WAKE UP!" The little blonde started to cry, convincing himself that this must be a nightmare... but it never ended...only got worse.

There was a horrible sound of a
RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIP and the ground shook like crazy. The twins fell from the blast, their parents stopping and quickly coming back to pick them up. Bryna grabbed her brunette son as Sirocco held onto his blonde boy, starting to rush away from what looked to be the ripping land.

Big blue eyes widened as he couldn't help but look back. "VENTUS! HURRY!" The man called as his son seems so stunned about the ground that his feet wouldn't move. "VEN----"
The ground suddenly shook violently again, screams coming from the town as the wind whipped across the land and the man laughed once more.
Bryna got her barring and started to run to anyplace that seemed safe but Sirocco winced as he had fallen on a broken sign, his side hitting it hard.

"Sirocco!" Bryna called as she looked back, stopping and turning around. "FORGET ME! GET VEN AND GET OUT OF HERE!"
The blonde boy shook his head and got up, starting to run for his mother but what he didn't realize was that his feet hardly had any ground to run on...as the gaping cavern of darkness ripped right down the middle of the family...and Ven being in the middle spot.

"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD! SOOOOOOORAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
"VENTUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUS!!"
A horrified family rushed to the edge and looked over, watching their blonde son fall into the darkness until he could no longer be seen.


The room became silent but they knew it wasn't over as the gem continued to glow.


Still darkness. Silent darkness. Everything was dark and no light could be seen at any corner of the screen until and sudden light started to appear, the sound of wings could be heard and doves flew away, revealing a platform in the shape of a stained glass window.
Three circles could be seen, each one having a picture of someone.
One was Bryna, another was Sirocco and the last and biggest was Sora.

In the middle of the platform was a little boy, about five and his face was in complete shock.
He looked around at the darkness before his eyes widened even more and a staircase made of light appeared.
The buy swallowed, backing up a bit before looking around more but it seemed like the stairs were the only thing he could follow.
Was he still dreaming?

Slowly he walked over to the stairs and put up his foot, letting it drop down slowly to make sure that the stairs were solid.
They were...so he slowly climbed his way up until he reached another pillar that looked much like the one he was just on but a different color.

So much to do, so little time...
Take your time.
Don't be afraid.
The door is still shut.

The boy looked around, wondering where this voice was coming from. Hauntingly enough...it sounded familiar to the ones who were watching.

Suddenly, three small pillars arose around the boy, showing him a shield, a staff and a sword.
Power sleeps within you.
If you give it form...It will give you strength.
Choose well.

[Reno]

Roxas wasn't as confused as anyone else in the room even though some of these memories to him were also new - he knew what every memory meant as if they were his own. Why Riku was fighting Sora. Why Sora had to sacrifice himself. And why he... was shoved out of the inner world.

The latter one... was the one that filled him with regret. Back then all that had been important to him was helping Sora. But after what the Organization and DiZ and Namine did to himself... things had changed. They had changed a lot.

Before he could answer the questions he knew were boiling in everyone's minds though a new memory was shown. One that made him chuckle a bit. He remembered how unhappy he had been to be paired up with Axel at first - though he was too 'eccentric' and quite plainly... a weirdo.

Tensai watched with curiosity and even though he wasn't quite sure what was going on he did understand that this was one of the first days that his uncles had known one another. He started some when the memory suddenly shifted - this time to a new world. As the memory played out though, his eyes saddened in realization remembering this story from what his daddy had told him.

Everyone around flinched and gasped some as Ven fell, much like Roxas just had, into darkness. Even though they knew Ven had made it through just fine it was still a terrible experience for a young child to go through.

The keybladers all came to attention though at the final part seeing Ven... in the midst his Awakening. The voice that came through they all knew as well as they knew their best friend's.
Aqua sighed some. Ven had been so young. He hadn't been ready for it but fate had other plans for him. She wondered though... if he had not would he have been given the blade at another time? Were keybladers pre-destined?

The silver continued to glow.


There was a soft squishing noise as a brush mixed red and yellow together carefully. "So what will we name him?" Brown eyes looked up through spectacles and past his half-painted canvas at a blue-skinned female sitting daintily on a chair her hands rubbing her bloated stomach.

"Will it matter much? Once he is given to a new family, he will obtain a new name."
"Couldn't we write it out and leave it on his person?"
"No, mortals can not see the writing of an immortal and the writings of a mortal would be destroyed upon touching an immortal realm."
"...Oh..." Charlie seemed to frown. "Well we need to name him something! I won't just call him 'boy' for his first 56 days. How about Charles."
Kali looked up at him and shook her head. "You humans. He already takes you last name, why insist on the first?"
The painter huffed going back to his mixing. "Well what do YOU think?"
She lent back some, humming. "Aiko would be nice. It means 'Child born of love'."
"It's a little... girly don't you think?"
She sighed. "You re sometimes difficult Charlie."

Suddenly the scene shifted. There was a new canvas but this time nothing was painted on it. Instead there were names written in various colors of paint - mostly red, yellow and orange - with X's through the majority of them. They ranged from names of fame to names that barely looked as if they were English. The light in the room had changed some indicating it had turned from noon to evening.
"Alright so Davy is out." Charlie was saying with a sigh, crossing out the last one on the list.
"This... is more difficult then it at first had seemed." Kali replied.

He sighed, tapping the brush against the canvas. "What did you say he was to look like again?
"He will have your hair, my eyes. Your skin." She paused. "Chubby, but that is not unusual for youth. He will not have your hands though which is a shame."
The painter smiles as she spoke, obvious happiness in his eyes. "Your hands are just as beautiful."
She smiled back then sighed. "How are we ever to conceive a name that conveys so much? The son of a painter, of a goddess, of time and destiny. With my eyes, your hair and mortality. This does not even conceive to his inner being."
"His... personality?" Charlie asked, obviously still struggling with her language.
"Precisely."

There was a pause then he shrugged, picking up his paint and adding in more yellow, mixing it into the already orangey too-red paint. "Will Zeus curse him, like he did Prometheus and Atlas?"
"If you consider us being unable to raise him, that is a curse in itself, is it not?"
A pause, then sighed. "Leo..."
"Lion?"
"We should... give him a name of strength."
The orange eyes studied him silently for a moment, then she smiled sympathetically. "He will be strong regardless if we name him with such. He is our son."
"I suppose you are correct." He sighed grabbing the red - now there was too much yellow!
"Charlie Wish you confound me. Why do you continue to modify that shade?"
"I am trying to make Autumn."
"Autumn?"
"It is the color of your eyes - it must be just perfect."

It was as if an epiphany had hit them. Charlie's eyes widened as he slowly looked up from his paint towards his lover, while Kali had a smile spread across her face.
"Autumn!" They both said at once.
"It is the time of changes." She continued.
"It is the most inspiring season for painting!" He added.
"It has turmoil in storms, balance in the equinox."
"Leaves turn, color is most brilliant. Animals and people get ready for the harsh times ahead and the strong survive it!"
"It is between the times of greatest brightness and greatest darkness."
"We can't name him autumn though!"
"No - too feminine." She agreed quickly but after a short thought. "Aki... means autumn."
Charlie glanced back at the list silently, zeroing in on one of the few they had not yet crossed out. "And Kedric is... gift of magnificence?"
"Yes."
"Akidric... our magnificent Autumn gift."
Kali grinned. "Akidric. Yes, it is perfect!"
Charlie grinned before glancing down at his paint. Ah, that was it. He set down the paint and walked over, a playful smile on his face. He pulled up her shirt some so it was bunched under her breasts and started to write over her bulging stomach in bright orange.
"Ahhh that tickles!" She giggled. "And it's COLD!"
"Our... little.... Akidric... Wish" He said as he wrote, laughing as he pulled away. "Now he'll always know!"
"Oh, Charlie sometimes you are too much!" Kali said with a fond smile, still chuckling. The man only smiled back before leaning over and giving her a sweet, loving kiss.

[Rikugurl]

Roxel could only grin when he heard his dad speak. That 'got it memorized' thing really was his motto back then! He hardly ever said it anymore and when he did, only Roxas seemed to get a kick out of it. Now he understood why.

The next memory made him frown though. He, unlike some others, didn't know that the man who had caused the world's doom was name Master Xehanort...and that the man no longer living. What he did recognize was Awakening, just like the one he went through.

He had to admit though, he was glad that he didn't have to fight that mean white thing when he was five!

Quickly, everyone looked when they heard the familiar voices of Charlie and Kali.
They watched and listened intently, wondering what they would find out next.
And...it was a bit exciting.
Tensai's....real name.

Green and blue eyes shifted, looking over at his best friend with a smile.
"Akidric..."
He liked Ten-chan a lot better...but Aki-chan would be cute too!

Again, before anyone could comment, the silver light continued to glow.


It was in a wooden home that was familiar to many. It wasn't much but it was made with love and care, skilled hands that knew his loving family was going to live here and even if it wasn't his island, it was going to be the best house on Destiny.

However, the house wasn't quiet at all, even a little green fox was hiding under the couch as the two lovers bustled in and out of the guest room.

A silver haired man was in the kitchen, a pot of water on the stove next to him, boiling. A box was in front of him, full of all sorts of herbs and labels addressing what each were.
He quickly grabbed a few herbs including elder flowers, yarrow flowers, peppermint leaves and hyssop leaves. Each were put in a small measuring cup and placed them in a larger bowl when measured.

"Maybe we should really bring him to a doctor, Ri!" Came a worried and almost desperate voice from the guest room.
"Sora! I told you that the doctors can't do anymore than we are! They can only make him worse if they pump him with the wrong stuff! Just trust me on this one!" He called back, frowning as he continued to measure the last of the herbs before turning the stove off.

He took the pot and poured the boiled water into the bowl with the herbs. As he let it sit, he grabbed some ginger powder and red raspberry leaves before going to the fridge and grabbing a lemon. He sliced the lemon in half and started to stain it before putting more water into another bowl and put it on the stove as well.
When it boiled, he pulled it off and put the herbs into it. After that, the first bowl was ready and he strained the herbs out of it before grabbing a rather large bowl and pouring more hot water into it.

He poured the tea-like water into the large bowl and sighed before walking to the guest room and saw his lover leaning over an old crib. He walked in slowly and leaned over, taking the baby into his arms and slowly left, the brunette following like a loyal puppy.
The man slowly pulled the baby's clothes off before gently lowering him into the warm water.
"Just soak him, ok?" He looked at his husband and smiled softly before going back to the other bowl with the herbs still in it. He strained the herbs out on the other side of the sink before grabbing a small cup.

The ginger/raspberry water was poured into the cup before he added the lemon juice and started to stir it up. His aquamarine eyes glanced over, seeing Sora sing gently to the baby as he cupped some of the tea water and wet the baby all over. He couldn't help but notice that he could still see the child's ribs. The boy hadn't eaten since Sora found him a few days ago...

Maybe...they really should bring him to a doctor...
He shook his head before walking over, slowly putting the cup to the baby's lips and gently poured some into his mouth.
Unfortunately, the baby did what he always did. Spit it out. Riku sighed, his tired eyes burning to stay awake... "Sora...if he refuses everything...he doesn't have much time left..."


The scene changed and the two lovers were back in the guest room, laying together on a small cot as they both looked at the crib. His fever had gone down thanks to the herbs...but it didn't matter if he still refused to eat...
There were no herbs that could make the child accept any food or water.

The screen slowly dimmed but came back when the room was brighter, obviously morning. Riku's eyes were hardly their beautiful shade, now dark and red from the lack of sleep. The brunette in his arms shifted, his eyes opening slowly but still didn't look rested. They looked at each other, trying to give each other strength but it could go so far when---

"Ooohn...." A soft coo came from the crib and in a split second, the men were out of the cot and to the bars around the little bed. Pale and bright eyes looked down at the baby who shifted slightly and then... his eyes slowly opened, almost like he planned it for they were the same color as the morning sun that was coming through the window.

The couple gasped, never seeing such an eye color before. Riku's was rare enough but...orange?
Riku slowly reached down and pulled the baby up, hearing the baby respond more than he ever did before as he held him close. Sora walked over, leaning on his husband as he peered into the baby's eyes, his smile returning.

Everything was going to be ok.

The aquamarine eyes looked out the window that was across from the crib, seeing the sun coming over the horizon of the ocean.
"Sora..."
"Hmmm?"
"Look." He gestured the window with his head and the brunette looked over, his breath catching. "Ri..." Slowly the man looked up at him and smiled. Riku meant land, Sora meant sky. What brought them closer together in the middle?
The horizon.

"What's the foreign word for horizon...?" Sora slowly looked up at Riku.
"Tensai."

[Reno]

Tensai too watched the scene with intense interest, his eyes lighting up as the memory played through and he discovered what it would be about. His name. His true name (he had a lot of names to keep track of. It was a good thing he never took real school and had to learn how to write, the whole paper would be full of just his name!).

It was... weird watching them debate though. To realize he could of been named a thousand things - now this was a natural process parents did. They attempted to find a name that fit a baby not even born yet and often times did go through millions of names. He knew this because he had once found Olette and Seifer's old baby book (Roxel had read this to him of course) - in the back was a 'Notes' page where they had written several ideas up for Gunnar and Lucina when they had been expecting. He remembered Luci had almost been named Crissy - which was a real bummer because he could of called her Prissy Crissy behind her back whenever she got in one of her moods.

Of course that book and thousands of others had been lost when they lost Silgurd.

Tensai tilted his head though. "Akidric..." He whispered softly, testing the name on his tongue. It... was rather nice. He glanced at Roxel when he heard him, smiling back at him.

He blinked though as another memory came upon them and watched it with curious eyes - and his eyes widened as he watched the obvious love and care Riku and Sora were putting into keeping him alive, their eyes desperate for a miracle. He knew this story by heart line by line, word for word. Sora had told it to him many times when he was a toddler as a bedtime story. The story of how he was found, how he had been sick from sunstroke and almost didn't make it, how his name was chosen...

Even how viciously he and Riku had fought over adopting him. So much so, he nearly tore them apart. But in the end... he also brought them closer than ever before.

He was afraid to think what would of happened had he not survived.

He couldn't help but smile though - both times he was basically named upon a color. How ironic. Tensai and Akidric. Horizon and Autumn's Gift. He loved them both - and they were both his.

Aqua shook her head but glanced at Tensai, seeing how much more hopeful and happy he was. At least Tensai would never have to question or wonder if his parents loved him - it seemed as if it always had been and will always be given to him unconditionally. He probably had never grown up with the notion that he even had to earn love even from his toughest parents - Ven had always been a softie when it came to Ten and even Terra changed when he was around him.

She wondered maybe if there was a reason for that...

Before she could contemplate it further, a new memory was showing.


"...And so after that, the connections of the world were cut off forever." Came the soft voice of a woman, her face hidden behind her eyes. In her lap were hands were clasped so tightly her knuckles were white, as if attempting to fight the urge to punch something. But the only other thing in the room was...

"Why mommy? Why would we do that?" Terra looked... scared. He was up against the headboard of his bed, holding his thin blanket close to him as if it would protect him. In his eyes was the fear any child would have after having a nightmare or having to face the dark without a nightlight for the first time.

However this nightmare was all too real.

Ida looked up, opening and closing her mouth as if struggling for the right words, before bowing her hair and sighing resignedly her eyes shut tight. She was compelled to speak. "Because Atterians are monsters honey. They are greedy and uncaring and killed many people... and loved no one."

Terra's eyes welled with tears. "I'm a monster too?"
"Oh... Terra..." Ida whispered heartbroken, as if she wished her son would stop being so curious. She lent forward and brought her arms around him, hugging her to him. "Yes. You are."
Blue eyes blinked, a few tears falling. "And no one will love me and I can't... love them back?"
Her arms squeezed tighter, trying to make her son see something his young mind couldn't grasp. "Yes... as the legend goes." She swallowed, in tears herself.
"Even you mommy?" The poor sounded so sullen.

She pulled away and smiled faintly even as her eyes swelled with more tears. "I have never made you touch the stove while it was lit. I never told you to roughhouse because I didn't want you hurt. I never let Hatori yell at you. I want to protect you. What I feel for you is stronger than any bond any other mother and son has had on this world. I think that is the closest to love that we can get honey."

Terra sniffled rubbing at his eyes and murmured softly. "I love you mommy."
Her eyes widened a little, but something in her gaze seemed proud. She lent over kissing his forehead gently. "You are such a strong boy Terra... get to sleep."

The boy didn't answer but laid back onto his bed obediently while his mother left his room, shutting off his light and leaving the door open just a crack, the light of the hallway illuminating the room some.

The screen blinked and things changed - not much it seemed because it was still deep night - but Terra was no longer in bed. He was against the wall beside his door, holding his blanket around him, listening to the voices floating from the front room.

"I don't understand why I told him Hatori. Again!" It was Ida, her voice wretched and pained.
A deeper voice responded, cold and careless. "Because that is how it must be. That is the law. I have told him it as well, many times."
"This stuff... it's going to poison him!"
"He will get stronger this way."
"Is that ALL you care about?"
"There is no point in having weak spawn Ida, they do not survive here. Stop fighting it you can not but help to say it. It is stupid to try."
"But he-" Suddenly her voice cut off as if she decided against what she was about to say and instead said, "I'm going to bed."

Terra's eyes widened and he suddenly jumped up, running for his bed, small blanket fluttering behind him like a cape as he jumped into bed and threw it around him, quickly shutting his eyes and pretending to be asleep. There was a pause then the door creaked open as someone entered, form illuminated by the light outside. Ida.

She walked over to her son's bedside, leaning over and running a hand through his hair tenderly. "Goodnight Ter'" She whispered softly, "I.... I do too." There was a pause then a sigh as Ida straightened and left the room, shutting the door behind her - Hatori didn't know he was still scared of the dark.

However, Terra sat up in his bed, his eyes wide as he looked towards the door, blinking. Do too...?

The brunette smiled happily and gave a bubbling childish laugh before laying back down in bed, unable to stop his grin.

The next day he would ask his mom to close his door from then on as if something overnight had given him the strength to fight his fears. And win.

[Rikugurl]

Ooc: I guess I don't have a second job anymore...

Everyone smiled as they watched Riku and Sora take care of the baby that didn't seem to respond. If they hadn't known who he was or even remembered the story that was given for this moment, the sight of the almost dead child would of made them horrified. They all knew in his heart that he was going to be ok.

However, for the second Gen, there were still taken back, having a hard time believing that this was indeed the boy they all knew. The way he looked, though, made everyone wonder what Kali and Charlie had done with their son before they died...or was it Zeus who sent him on his journey of survival?

Slowly, all eyes were on the boy, seeing how much...happier he seemed to be. It was true. Every family that had taken Tensai/Akidric under their wing...had always loved him with 110%. It was odd too though, seeing that Ventus and Terra were the two so far who had lived long enough to really raise the boy.. and everyone knowing them, they were shocked that he came out to still be a sweet boy!

Their attention however was taken when they saw a scared little Terra again... and a mother who seemed to look like she should be doing something that she wish she wasn't.
Olette sighed as she listened, realizing what she was doing. Telling Terra what Atterians were really like...and knowing that she was probably the sweetest Atterian to ever live, it was hard for her to tell her son in which she loved so much.

Her thoughts were confirmed as they watched the rest, hearing the same thing that the young Atterian did outside his doorway.
They watched as Terra rushed for the bed and climbed up, smiling softly as they watched him pretend to be sleeping as his mother came through the door only moment later.
What she said though confirmed any doubt.
Ida died because she loved her son...

The memory faded but everyone knew that even if they wanted to say anything, a new memory was up on the screen.
Talking anymore would be pointless.


The new place was a place that only the first generation knew of...especially Aqua. It was her old home.
The first, little ship that the Chaser's had when it was just Terra, Ven and Aqua. The ship that Ven had made out of junk metal and scraps.

It was so small that all that was on it were two small bedrooms, a large room in the middle were a huge computer unit was and a very small kitchen and bathroom. That was it.
Inside of of the small rooms was a man, leaning over the bed, his hands clasped as his brown hair fell over his face.

The sound of a door opening could be heard and a familiar voice came through but no one could see him.
"What's wrong...?"
The brunette slowly responded by picking his head up slightly. "Nothing.... just meditating."
There was a moment of silence before the door seemed to open more.
"Well knock the shit off because I found another key---"
"VEN! Go away."

There was more silence before large feet could be heard and finally Ven could be seen, now standing in front of Terra. "You're not meditating..."
"Want a prize...?"
"What's wrong?"
"None of your fucking business."
"Yes it is."
"Since when?"
"Since we became fucking friends, jackass."

There was a longer pause and blue eyes looked down at the man who still didn't show his face.
"You're right... I am a jackass." Terra finally admitted, making Ven shift a bit.
What made the blonde gasp was when a single tear fell down on the cold metal. His mouth gaped and his eyes became worried, if only slightly.

"My dad was right..." The brunette still seemed to talk, having it together.
"Your....dad?"
"He kept telling me that....I was a monster...that I couldn't love anyone and no one could love me. He was right... For once in my life...I think my mom was wrong."

The worried look on the blonde faded into a look that started some that were viewing. One of hate and ignorance. Aqua seemed to be the only person who knew Ven who had seen this face towards Terra.
"Get over yourself." Ven's voice was cold, making the room seem that much more chillier. "You're acting like some fucking girl. Just because we fuck doesn't mean...." He trailed off, not knowing how to complete his sentence.

The feet shifted and Ven slowly disappeared as the sound of the door could be heard.
"Get over me Terra, we have a job to do."
The door slowly closed by stopped moments later.
"And stop fucking crying. You're wasting time."


The memory faded and the bright, happy moments seemed to be drowned out. Gunnar shifted, looking away slightly. That was a rather personal hit...

[Reno]

Aqua sighed as the memory finished, shaking her head. Those two... "Idiots." She grumbled, wishing she was able to punch them both for their blatant stupidity. Honestly, she was pretty fucking sure there was no couple who intentionally hurt each other more than those two - AND they still managed to stay together for life. How the FUCK that was even possible... well that was a mystery.

Roxas sighed and shook his head, feeling his heart hurt sympathetically for them both. He knew really it wasn't Terra's fault - he was just repeating a notion he heard for years. It wasn't Ven's either with all the darkness in his heart, each time someone showed him an emotion of the light, he withdrew sharply from it, not letting anyone near. Especially... not the man he ended up loving his whole life.

Kadaj tilted his head curiously. Terra... had once claimed he could not love. Yet, it was obvious he was very successful in that respect if Ven and Tensai were something to gauge by. But then how...?

Tensai frowned some, shaking his head - but suddenly the screen on the prism shifted.


Terra looked down at the words on the book, his eyes darting across them so fast it was hard to imagine he was honestly reading and understanding it all. He flipped the page brushing away some of his hair irritably - it was a faded brown now, as if worn out by age.

"Dad?"

Terra looked up, looking across the library towards his son - a teenager - who was sitting comfortably on the floor, a book balanced on knee. It had no title and no words and it was obviously very aged, the pages yellowish. The only thing that gave it away was the familiar almost Celtic circle symbol on the cover - the Atterian symbol. "Yeah?"

The boy glanced back down at the pages, then up at his dad, "Well um... you read this too, when you were my age?" A silent nod. "How did you... I mean..." Tensai looked down, his cheeks reddening. "How did you find out... you could love?"

Terra rose an eyebrow, and he sighed slowly sitting his own book on the table. "Well... I didn't. Not really. I lived my whole life being told I couldn't. And even if I had my mom... I continued to have doubts all my life."

"Even... for me?"

"....Yeah even for you." Terra admitted with a sigh.

Tensai pouted some, but he nodded with understanding. "Well... Ven must of helped you along the way right? When you were first trying to love each other?"

Terra snorted and laughed. "Fuck no! Out of everyone, Ven was the LEAST fucking helpful. I swear he knocked almost all fucking hope out of me before he finally admitted it back. I never fucking thought anything could hurt worse than when I broke a rib during a fight and it went through my lung-" The boy grimaced. "But that topped it easily."

The teen looked up, his eyes full of conviction. "But... he was supposed to support you! That's what any couple should do!"

Terra blinked slowly, then he glanced out the window, his eyes contemplative. He stood suddenly pacing over to it and looking out at the stars. "Tensai, come here."
The boy blinked but set down his pick with care and hurried over.
"Look out there, what do you see?"
The boy looked. "....Space?"
"And?"
"Um... stars?"
"Worlds." Terra exemplified. "And on almost every world is life. Now, that is... an unmeasurable amount of beings. A uncountable multitude of cultures, species, and customs. Some even have no word for love. And you expect... every one to be the same?"

The boy opened and shut his mouth, unable to answer. Slowly... he shook his head.
Terra looked down at his son, and smiled faintly. "Ten, I know you're getting older and you wish love would just be easy right?" A nod. "Well hate to ruin your fucking dreams kid, but it's the hardest fucking thing you'll do in your life."
The orange-eyed boy frowned and bowed his head slowly, eyes sad.

The father seemed to take pity on him though and he placed his hand on his shoulder. "I will tell you this though Ten. If you try to force it or keep setting up boundaries on how love SHOULD be you'll blind yourself."
"Blind... myself?"
"Yeah. It's not all candy and fucking flowers, it's not perfect peace or perfect happiness. It's just like anything else - it's got its fucking flaws and terrible pieces... in fact so many love is probably the most imperfect fucking thing in the universe but somehow it still makes life more worth it. And... this is gonna be fucking corny but, if you just trust your heart and all that good shit, you'll know."

Tensai frowned some and looked away, nodding slowly. Well... he understood that at least but - "But dad, you waited SO long for daddy... how did you not lose faith?"

Terra laughed then as if it was uproariously funny. "I did - thousands of fucking times Ten! But each time I tried to set it aside, or ignore it, or even sometimes banish those feelings away completely..." He sighed. "Ven would do one thing - one simple fucking thing - and I'd love him all the fuck over again. And I'd tell him again or show him somehow, someway, again how I felt - and he'd shoot me down again, and again and fucking again until I was ready to rip out my own fucking heart. Worst fucking experience of my life." He looked around some quickly then, as if afraid someone was listening in before leaning down.

"Wanna know something though?" He chuckled softly as his son nodded enthusiastically. "Even if I had to wait until the very last second of my god damned life to hear Ven say what I'd been waiting for or even never at all, I wouldn't fucking regret a thing. Because love is like... fucking gift-giving. You should never expect to get some stupid trinket back because that taints it's purpose... but it's nice when you do."

[Rikugurl]

Olette frowned as she crossed her arms. Those two really gave each other a hard time back then. She even knew it when she first joined the Chasers. How desperate Terra seemed to be... how it chewed at his very heart in which had broken free from the darkness that it was captured by.

The second memory confirmed it. She had to wonder if Ven actually realized how much hardship Terra had gone through... but she knew he couldn't help it. Unlike Aqua or Terra who had freed their heart from the darkness, Ventus couldn't. Not that he didn't want to, she was sure of....but that he just couldn't.
She was sure that he didn't know that it was the actual thing that kept him alive at the time.

The gem started to glow again, the same colors as before.


The area was a place that no one had ever seen before, much like that of Sora's inner world.
It was a bright, vast plain of long grass, flowers and a few trees here and there. The sky was a light blue and the meadows a golden shade. The only thing that seemed unnatural was the black hole that was in the middle of the sky.

However, the sound of soft pads could be heard and the camera focused under one of the nearby trees. What they saw was a Tibetan wolf laying in the shadows, a small wolf pup nestled close to its stomach.

A small sound came from the pup, making the adult slowly open its eyes to reveal unnatural blue.
This was no real wolf.
The pup looked up, his eyes being a sunrise orange and the two nuzzled the muzzles together before a soft howl could be heard far off.

In the distance, a large, black wolf made his way through the long grass, his eyes also a bright blue. When he reached the other two, he leaned over and cleaned the golden wolf's face before leaning down and bumping noes with the pup. He slowly sat down next to the other wolf and sighed, almost sounding content as they laid in the shade.


The memory faded and Roxel tilted his head.
What memory was that...?

[Reno]

Roxas blinked as the new memory popped up - this only of wolves. "What in the...?" He murmured curiously as he saw the two wolves. Wait... wasn't that?!

His eyes widened some seeing the large black wolf and even without the extra parts - the horns and spikes and long tail - he recognized him easily as the same wolf that had fought Hatori down... and that had torn out Rant's throat years ago.

It was... discontenting seeing it so peaceful and sweet. Terra was never able to fully tame him - but... had Ven?

Before much could be said the gem changed to blue.


"What's daddy doing?" Aqua, now nearly nine, asking, looking out the window. At the barn - the same one Sai was always locked into at night on the full moon - was her father, talking extravagantly as he and a few others handed out rakes and pitchforks, spades, shovels, shears and even their ax they needed to cut all the nice firewood during winter. "Why is he giving away all our things?"

"There is going to be an uprising." Spoke her mother bitterly, not even looking at the window as she prepared a meager lunch or stale looking bread in which she was carefully cutting off the mold and dry meat.
"What's a... uprising?"
Adrielle sighed. "Your father and the other townspeople have this ridiculous idea to cause a rebellion and overthrow King Yenma that things will get better."
Aqua looked back her blue eyes wide. "They can't do that! That's against the rules! He'll die!"
The woman sighed, obviously angry with her husband. "Try telling that stubborn idiot that."
The little girl frowned, but reached up and opened the door, hurrying towards the large group of men who had formed. She huffed and started to squeeze her way in between the hairy legs, "Daddy?"

"We're not going to be opressed anymore!" Her father was yelling.
"YEAH!"
"Daddy!"
"We're not going to let our families suffer any longer!"
"Daddy!!"
"YEAH!"
"We're not-" The man was cut off as sonething else cut in.
"DAD!!!"

Ronan froze, fist half-way raised in the air and some of the crowd went 'Huh?'. And then-
"Hey make room!"
"Stop shoving!"
"Whoa let her through!"
His little girl was at the front of the crowd and running to him, hugging onto his leg. "Don't break the rules daddy!! I don't want you to die!"
"What is this?" Some of them grumbled irritably.

Ronan looked at the crowd apologetically then down at his daughter and sighed. He lent down, pulling his daughter away. "Aqua, I'm making things better."
"Things are good now!" She said with a growl.
"No honey they're horrible. You just don't know it cause this is how you've always lived." He glanced up towards the house meeting eyes with a golden eyed man in the window before turning back to her, smiling. "Don't you wanna wear more pretty dresses?"
"No!" She stamped her foot. "I hate dresses!"
He chuckled then. "Oh well... how about pants?"
"....Weeeeell...." She looked away. "That would be nice..."
"See? I can make that happen. You can have tons of new pants everyday."

She crossed her arms stubbornly. "No."
"What about... all the food you can eat?"
"... All I can eat?!" She sounded excited her eyes wide.
"Yeah, we'll never have to go hungry again!" He said, smiling.
She started to nod in agreement, then pouted. "But daddy you could die."
"Yes, I could. And probably will. But it's okay, I'm going to make things better for you and your mother and Sai. So that's okay."
"No! I don't want you to die!!" She stamped her foot again big fat tears welling in her eyes. "Daddy can't die!"
"Sweetheart I will one day no matter what. It might be today or tomorrow or years from now. I'd rather die nobly for you guys than die in the shame of regret of not trying to do anything."
"But-" She started to whine.

But suddenly loud whispers broke out among the group and made them both look back.
"Get back!"
"Hurry get outta the way!"
"Is that it?"
"That's the monster I hear screaming at night?"
"What an ugly scar!"
"Get back!"

The men of the rebellion were quickly parting in half leaving an open trail for a familiar teenage blue-haired boy to walk through, an ugly X-scar on his face and bright gold eyes. He ignored the talk around him as he stepped up to his father.

Ronan smiled before hugging his daughter. "I'm going to make everything easier - just you wait Aqua."
"But daddy-"
He kissed her cheek before letting her go and standing. He smiled to Sai. "Take care of them, alright? You're the man of the house now."
The beserker's eyes narrowed and he frowned but nodded. "I will." He lent down, picking up his sister and turning, walking back towards the house. As he walking the trail started to close behind him as bodies filled it once more.
"NO!" Aqua wailed loudly, struggling in her brother's strong grip. "DADDY DON'T GO!! DAAAAADDY!!!" But her screams didn't even seem to register as her father was handle a lit torch, raising it into the air.
"NO MORE TAXES!" He yelled.
"NO MORE TAXES!" Repeated the crowd.
"NO MORE INJUSTICE!"
"NO MORE INJUSTICE!!"
"NO MORE KING YENMA!"
"NO MORE KING YENMA!!!!!!"

Their was a flash. Suddenly it was dark and rainy, the wind whipping hard and fierce as grieving families from all over stood in a cemetery, sobs echoing in the small space. In the distance, where a castle once stood, it was now town down.

"I told him." Adrielle was saying, shaking her head as she watching her son throwing dirt into a large hole in the ground with a large shovel.
Aqua stood next to her mother, her arms crossing and shivering all over, tears rolling down her face. "Regole will take care of him."
"Hmph, she wasn't even taking care of us."
The blue-haired girl looked up at her mother, her eyes sad but convicted. "She will. I know she will."
Adrielle looked down at her daughter and rolled her eyes. "You'll understand when your older."

[Rikugurl]

With the mystery of the wolves behind them, everyone watched the scene which they all knew would end badly. Sammy frowned as he saw the blue haired teen, taking the little girl away. Did he already know what the fate of his father would be? Was that why he was so calm? Because he could do nothing to stop it.

Soft sighs could be heard, a red eye slowly looking back at Aqua, her face full of hurt for her wife.
What was it like to have your parent ripped away from you...?

A black glow hit the gem and again, everyone turned to watch.


Again, back in the decaying world, a blonde boy, about 8 or so walked across a very thin, decaying natural bridge. It seemed like the wrong step would make him plummet to his doom but there was no fear in his glowing purple eyes.

He headed to an interesting looking building in which had a sign above the door that was in symbols that was obviously their language.
The young boy walked to the door and gently opened ot after looking around, seeing to make sure no one was watching before he quickly went inside.

It was dark, like most of the places had been seen in these memories.
"Ah, young Master, you're early."
A female voice came from across the room and the boy looked back, seeing another figure that seemed to stand on all four feet... however, her face plate had ancient symbols on it and looked much different from the other four legged figures that surrounded the palace and the royal family.

The boy could only smile and walked over to the desk she was sitting at.
"I'm just excited!" The boy chirped, his voice bright in such a dark place.

The scene changed, obviously only a few hours.
The woman figure had her hands out, a fire of yellow, dark blue, light blue, and black at her palms. It showed the boy as well, having the same flames burn in his palm.
"Now, put them together and release it slowly." The woman instructed as her flames burned out and she leaned back, her faceless plate seeming to look interested.

The boy swallowed before nodding, slowly clasping his hands together as if to smudge the flames. When his hands clasped, he frowned.
"Concentrate, young Master..."
The boy looked down at his hands, determined as some sweat ran down his face.
His purple eyes widened though as his hands burst into purple flames. Carefully and slowly, he pushed his hands out towards a tree that seemed to be growing out of the wall before releasing the fire at it.

It hit and started to burn in purple, ancient signs slowly appearing all around them as the room around them started to glow... but almost as quick as it started, the flames went out and the room went back to normal, the tree looking untouched.
The boy pouted and sighed but the figure suddenly clapped.
"Well done. I knew you would do it. Practice will help the spell last longer and---"

"Why do you say that?" The boy suddenly interrupted as he tilted his head. "You're the royal oracle... you already knew I could do it, and I already knew you knew...so why say it?"
The figure seemed to laugh and shake her head.
"Some things need to be said, like some things need to be done."

"So...tell me. Is it true? Is... the world really going to end one day?"
"Yes."
"But when?"
"Specific dates, times, persons, and details are never meant to be. If it were, and were wrong, our base of understanding and way of life would change dramatically. We are not fate itself but children of the idea. All we need to know is the basics. If we knew any more, we could not live our lives. But that is not important. But I must know, are you scared, young Master?"

The boy swallowed and looked down, as if he had to think about it before nodding.
"Of course, that is the flaw of humans. They fear things that they have no control of. Do not be afraid, you will only die scared and with a frightened soul, you might not make it to the afterlife. Though..." She paused as she placed one of her black claws on her plate. "There will be one survivor."

The boy's eyes widened as he heard the news. Was he the first one to know?
"W-who...?"
There was another pause before the woman figure stood and shook her head. "Your mother might have the answer you seek, young Master. She has proven to me at times that she knows more detailed parts of our fate."

The boy rose an eyebrow.
"But... aren't you... the only oracle?"
"I am."
"Then.... how does my mother know things that you don't?"
There was silence in the room before the boy looked up at her.
"Are you... my grandmother?"

There was more silence before the figure turned away.
"Even with the blood of human in your veins, you are not daft, child. That is the end of our training today."


The memory faded out but a new one glowed right after, again, a silver color hitting the gem after the black.


The little boy with blonde swirly hair reached the top stairs, panting a bit with some fear in his eyes. A sword was in both his hands and his feet were dragging. The darkness of the Awakening still surrounded him.

He huffed, some sweat running down his face as his body seemed to be shaking. "I wanna go home..." The boy seemed to be on the verge of tears when suddenly the platform started to shake and the glowing stairs disappeared.
"W-WHOA!" The boy cried as he was pushed around but his eyes widened as he saw the huge...black....shadow that forming in front of him.

The large shadows with bright yellow eyes and hair that looked like Medusa's peered down as the boy looked up.
"Oh shit......." The little boy sword dropped but a shine went back to his fingertips as a odd looking blade appeared. A keyblade.

The scene shook and time passed, showing the boy sweating even more, huffing and panting, his knees shaking even more but the large shadow was gone...and suddenly a door shimmered in front of him and the keyblade disappeared.

The boy blinked, swallowing before looking around. He was still alone... Slowly, his hand that held a black and white checkered wristbands reached out and grabbed the handle, pushing the door open. A bright light shot out through the darkness, making the blue eyes squint before he slowly walked through and into...

an ally.

"W-what?" His eyes widened as he saw people bustle in front of the opening, hearing things whistle by overhead as flying things flew around in the sky. It was noisy...and busy and....NOT HOME. He turned around quickly, as if wanting to go back to the darkness but....the door...wasn't there. Just a wall. He touched it but nothing happened.

"PLEASE! LET ME GO HOME! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!" The boy cried, tears in his eyes as he slammed his fist into the bricks until his tired body collapsed and he started to sob. The little boy gripped his hair as he shook. "Mommy....daddy....Soran...."
"Hey kid?" A scruffy voice came from behind him and the boy jerked, looking back in fear but blinked as he saw a scruffy middle aged man look down at him.
"You ok?"
"I wanna go home..."

The man tilted his head but smile. "Well then...where is it?"
"I DON'T KNOW!" The boy cried and the man jumped a bit.
"You have no idea where your parents are?"
"NO! NOT EVEN MY BROTHER AND WE'RE TWINS! I WANNA GO HOME!"
"Alright, alright, stop your crying... What's your name?" The man seemed much like Terra, awkward with the situation but wanting to help.
"Ventus Holani... but you can call me....Ven."
"Holani, huh? Doesn't sound like a name from around here." He sighed but smiled, reaching out his hand for the boy to take. "It's going to be dark soon and being downtown after dark is dangerous not for only adults but especially kids. I'll help you look for your parents in the morning but for now, I have some extra room where you can stay."

The boy swallowed, looking at the man before shaking his head. "My mom and dad said never to go with strangers."
The man blinked, a bit shocked but laughed. "Smart kid. The name's Barqi. Barqi Rainy Rivers."
The boy blinked and suddenly started to laugh, his tears slowly being pushed away by his hands.
"Yea, yea, I know it's funny. I can really thank my parents for naming me that but see, now I'm not a stranger so come on, I left the stove on at home."

The boy nodded and took the man's hand, being lifted up with a strong pull and then he let go.
"Come on, let's go Ven." As they walked out of the ally, the man looked down at him and smiled. "Do you like electronics?"
"Y-yea..." The boy nodded as he looked up.
"Great...because I'm an inventor."
"REALLY!?"
"Yep."
"Can you....make hot air balloons?"
"What are....those?"