[10 - Voice/Action]

[justabignobody]

[It's the slight, sudden shift between light and darkness that alerts Riku, the tipping of the grand scale within Splendor back to the light... someone has disappeared, a powerful darkness. A familiar one at that

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[holyburstking]

Xehanort tried to bring about the Keyblade war and plunge the worlds into darkness so he could make 'em the way he saw fit. He almost succeeded with the χ-blade, too.

[He pauses a minute, collecting himself. He knew and had prepared himself for talking about it, but it still was hard - hard to admit he hadn't been strong enough to help his pals back then.]

I'd gone back to Yen Sid for more training 'cause I was getting a bit rusty when he told me he feared somethin' terrible was about to happen to the worlds. It was then I took this and went out to see if there was anything I could do to change it.

That's when I met the Ven and Vanitas the first time. I think Vanitas was about to finish Ven off when I jumped in. We beat him together, but he still got away. After that, the shard brought me to Aqua and Kairi in what's now Hollow Bastion. I think I mighta surprised Kairi there. She was a bit of an Unversed magnet...

[He gives a sheepish look, but then- Well, those were the only good parts to the story.]

But when the shard left me in yet another world, Vanitas was waiting for me. They used my friendship with Ven against everyone and made me the bait for him. I think Aqua brought me back to Yen Sid's and when I came to, I left to see what happened.

[A beat.] It was there in the sky- the real Kingdom Hearts.

It was horrible, hearin' the blood curdling screams and the cries as both sides clashed. I don't know what became of Terra, but I had to watch as Ven was overtaken by Vanitas and Aqua was almost struck down twice that night. We couldn't stop them from winning that battle, though we did put a dent in their plans. But Ven... Gosh, I don't think he's woken up from his sleep, yet.

[He wasn't strong enough... Mickey goes silent for a moment, looking down at the shard in his hand. It was a very painful lesson that though he was almost pure light, it wouldn't be enough on it's own to save everyone. That's why he's glad that Riku's generation is the way it is: It can still grow and learn from the mistakes his and the one before made.]

[justabignobody]

[Riku listens quietly to the king's story, frowning as he works some of the pieces into place. 'Keyblade War', 'Key-blade'... Eraqus had mentioned those terms to him before, had told him that Xehanort had expressed interest in both... looked like he had been right in his suspicion.

He smiles almost, when Mickey mentions Kairi... how had her life been back then, he wondered, back in Hollow Bastion?

His jaw clenches at the mention of Kingdom Hearts - the one thing that all - Xehanort, 'Ansem' and Xemnas - were after... why? Power aside, why felt all of them drawn to it? He closes his eyes as Mickey reaches the end of his story - he might not know any of them particularly well, but his memories connected him with Aqua and Terra, and Ven... him looking like Roxas could hardly be coincidence.]

...What happened to Aqua?

[After all, Mickey had said 'almost stuck down'. In that case, had she made it out of the battle? If she had, where had she been in the last decade?]

[holyburstking]

[He wouldn't know; he only briefly met Kairi at that age.

He pauses a moment.] We don't know. I saved her twice that night, but she left looking for Terra. No one's seen her since.

[justabignobody]

[Then both of them, Terra and Aqua, had been lost somewhere along the line. They had to find out what happened to them, Riku though, but if Mickey hasn't had any luck in the last ten years then he isn't sure what help he could be.

Regardless of that, there are many things he understands better now, one important void filled. There are still questions, of course, and one very big mystery that they haven't had the time to talk about yet.]

…Do you have any idea what connects Ventus to Sora?

[Because for his part at least, Riku can't remember ever having seen him visiting the islands. Of course, it was possible that he once had caught Sora alone... but considering how close they had always been, it was unlikely.]

[holyburstking]

[They definitely had to find out what happened to them. Their fates had to have left a mark on what happened during Riku's time, but from his time here... there's at least an idea for their friend's fate.]

Well...

[To mention he read the diary or not to mention it...

...He'll apologize to Sora, later.] I might have an idea. It's a bit vague, but... there was an entry in a diary I found in Sora's room talkin' about a "dream" he had about a bright orb of light and it sounded like Ven.

[justabignobody]

[Riku raises his eyebrow slightly - Mickey was one of the last person's he would have expected to go look through other people's diaries; even though considering Sora's track record of finding trouble and/or befriending the wrong people it was probably good to keep an eye on that.

He shifts his gaze to the ground as he thinks this over - a dream, an orb of light... could it be...]

So their hearts really may be connected, huh?

[holyburstking]

...It was kinda open at the time. [Pretty hard to miss it lying there on the nightstand, little pen next to it. He just... glanced at the right page and is never looking at it again.]

Welp, anything in our world's possible. Not to mention this one.

[justabignobody]

[His lips twitch up as a smile flickers over his face; despite declarations of the contrary Sora has never been much of a secret keeper. Not for the lack of trying, but sometimes he was just too careless about things, like the purpose of a diary and just how to do it wrong.]

That's true. But it would probably explain a lot.

[holyburstking]

[He just rubs the back of his neck, a bit sheepish. Yep, there is a reason you hide it and not leave it on a nightstand, open for anyone and everyone to see.]

Gosh, it really would explain plenty about what's happened and why Ven won't wake up back home.

[justabignobody]

[Indeed there is, but try explaining that one to Sora.

Riku nods to himself.]

It would probably also explain why Ventus, Roxas, Vanitas and Sora look so alike to each other.

[holyburstking]

[Well, they can try to at least. For Sora's own safety.]

Yep. Though, never did get a look at Vanitas' face...

[justabignobody]

[Yeah. They should probably have another talk about what people he is allowed to talk to too.]

…I did. His hair- and eye colors are different, but aside of that he might as well be Sora's twin.

[holyburstking]

[That should probably be at the top on their "to-do" list, huh.

Mickey's eyes widen, but he nods.] Gosh... I wonder if any of them knew.

[justabignobody]

[It wouldn’t hurt to have it there, at least.]

I think Vanitas was aware that there is at least some kind of connection. As for Ventus… I’m not sure if he and Roxas ever met before Roxas disappeared from Splendor.