Video Game: Kingdom Hearts SOS: The Road To Light

Aux raised an eyebrow to Karina's threat. Granted she had every right to be defensive, but he had trouble taking them literally.
Hikaru walked over to Karina quickly as she was rallying her own group. "You're always welcomed back when you're ready." He held out his hand to shake hers, with her recorder being held in his palm.

Back with the Black Coats, Finlay was picking up his belt as he beat his chest. "Finlay is always prepared for the next battle." He looked down at Karina's keyblade. "But aye, that could be a problem... The keyblade is how that lot has been trackin' us. Not tah mention, we're stuck in the dark realm, meanin' we're still on their turf." He looked down. "Kind of puts a low blow on things."

"WELL IF YOU'RE PLANNING TO RETURN TO THE REALM OF LIGHT, YOU'LL NEED SOME ASSISTANCE." Shiro slowly sat upwards as he tried rubbing his leg muscles to get feeling back into them.
Mizu quickly ran to Shiro's side. "You shouldn't be getting up so soon!"
"REST ASSURED YOUNG MIZU, I RECOVER QUICKLY." He looked tot he other wielders. "THIS CREW DEMONSTRATED A GREAT DEAL OF IMPROVEMENTS. AND SEEING AS HOW THEY CAN PASS ON THE KEYBLADE, I CAN ONLY DEDUCE THAT THEY'VE TAKEN THE MARK OF MASTERY EXAM."
"Great! So we can go with them back to the realm of light and-"
"I'M AFRAID IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE... IF THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN PASSAGE BACK TO THE REALM OF LIGHT, THAT COULD ONLY MEAN THEY'VE ACQUIRED THE SAME RIGHT OF PASSAGE THAT YUEE AND RIN MADE YEARS AGO..."
"The Reaper's Game..." Mizu realized.
"CORRECT. IF WE CAN GET YOU LOT THERE, I MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE AT BEING ABLE TO BE YOUR GAME MASTER."

"Worked when Yue got us in!" Hikaru confirmed.
"WONDERFUL!" Shiro rejoiced. "NOW THAT JUST LEAVES... WHAT TO DO WITH YOU." He looked directly at Aux as he was slowly regaining feeling in his legs.
"I know it must be... easy to doubt me," Aux began. "But regardless of what becomes of me, I still want to help." He looked to Hikaru and Kaida. "Because apparently that's what we do."
Hikaru held a thumbs up as he grinned.

Shiro slowly got to his feet and used his keyblade as a walking cane. "START FROM THE BEGINNING..."

Aux sighed. "It all started when some one named No Heart showed up... He was a man shrouded in armor, but he promised me answers. Like how to reclaim my memories and become stronger. I knew it was obviously leading down a dark path but... something inside me didn't care."
"YOU WERE BEING TRAINED BY THE MOST ELITE OF WIELDERS... WHY WOULD YOU ACCEPT HELP FROM SUCH A CORRUPT INDIVIDUAL."
Aux was about to speak, but kept his mouth shut.
"WELL?"
Hikaru looked at Aux and ended speaking on his behalf.
"Because he gave me his light..."
"Hikaru-"
"It's fine," he reassured his friend. "Back when Kaida took her second Mark of Mastery, I was very sick at the time. Turns out it was because my heart was... unstable. Aux gave up his light to keep my whole. And the reason I was incomplete was because... I'm a replica" He gulped at that last bit.
Mizu stepped back a bit. "But... those are illegal aren't they?"
"INDEED," Shiro claimed.
"And the man who was responsible for taking Aux's memories and creating me... that's Kurt. Who, like Aux said.. was the one taking control of Krowley from the beginning."
Shiro took a deep breath as he took this all in. "SUCH BETRAYAL AT THE HAND OF OUR CLOSEST COMRADES...." He looked back up at Hikaru. "YOUNG MAN, I DON'T FAULT YOU FOR YOUR EXISTENCE. BUT YOUR CREATOR WILL HAVE TO ANSWER FOR HIS ACTIONS ONCE WE APPREHEND HIM..." He looked back to Aux. "AND THIS... NO HEART FELLOW. WHAT DID HE WANT FROM YOU?"
Aux thought back. "He took myself, and two other wielders as apprentices."
"Nequa and Vanitas."
"Right. In the beginning, our mission was simple. We were tasked with recruiting THREE users of darkness. I spent most of my time going from world to world, trying to corrupt others... I still have trouble forgiving myself for that." He recalled what he had done in The Great Forest, Beast's Castle and Deep Jungle. "Nequa on the other hand wanted keyblade wielders. She had a list of names of people she wanted us to capture. The THREE she would chose to be keyblade wielders. I have no idea why since that wasn't a prerequisite..."

Terra, Aqua and Ventus could have been some names. Their whole journey began with Eraqus asking for help to find his pupils.
All this time.
No Heart was behind everything.

"Why would he want you to do that?" Mizu asked.
Shiro's eyes widened. "BECAUSE... HE'S TRYING TO RECREATE THE X-BLADE. HE HAD EACH OF YOU THREE TRY AND TO RECRUIT THREE MEMBERS EACH. WITH NO HEART, THAT MAKES THIRTEEN! BUT THEY STILL NEED THE SEVEN LIGHTS. THE ORDER WOULD HAVE BEEN THE PERFECT CANDIDATES..." Shiro scratched his head as he thought. "SO WHY WOULD HE TRY AND BE RID OF US?..."
"I don't know," Aux answered honestly. "I didn't question beyond what he taught me."
"WELL WE WON'T GET ANY ANSWERS BY SITTING HERE." He slowly rose. "MIZU, PREPARE TO TRAVEL. WE MUST ASSIST THESE OTHER FIGHTERS IN RETURNING TO THE REALM OF LIGHT."
Aux seemed surprised. "That's it?... Aren't I... y'know? Unfit for service?"
Shiro placed a hand on Aux's shoulder as he passed him. "SON, YOUR PAST MAY HAVE MOLDED YOU. BUT IT DOESN'T DEFINE YOU... WHAT YOU DO TODAY ONWARDS. THAT'S WHAT DEFINES YOU. YOU FOUGHT VALIANTLY ON THE SAME BATTLEFIELD AS THEM." He took his hand off and began limping away. "WE MOVE OUT IN FIVE EVERYONE! BEST SAY YOUR GOODBYES!"

With Shiro's mind made up, Mizu made her way over to Kaida. She slowly made babysteps as she got closer and closer to her, swallowing her pride. A few light taps on Kaida's shoulder to get her attention, she took a deep breath. "Ummm.. Hi... I know that I've been... for a lack of a better term; unladylike towards you since you joined the order." She sighed as she thought about Rin. "All my life I was told that I was special and had tremendous talent. It didn't matter much to me until Rin vanished. Then all I wanted to do was never be caught off guard like that again." She looked back up to Kaida. "And then you came along. And for some reason I wanted you to never succeed. And I know that must make me sound horrible. But it's only because I thought that being in the Order didn't matter as much as I thought it did. I mean.. One of the strongest keyblade masters to ever live gave his seat to YOU! Someone who never wielded a keyblade before. BUT..." She inhaled deeply for this part. "All my training didn't prepare me for being knocked out and kidnapped. With me barely putting up a fight. All that talent and experience was... meaningless. And you've succeeded to much since then. It almost feels like I've fallen behind," she chuckled. "But I guess what I'm trying to get across is... that I'm sorry."

 

"I promise." There was a big enough mess to deal with already, they didn't really need another one to handle. She would look after her own, whether or not it was for Luna's sake, though the girl asking didn't hurt either. Luna gave get a hug and Karina didn't really know what to do with it. Awkwardly she placed a hand on Luna's back, patting it lightly before Luna took a step back and Karina relaxed from the tense state she was in when the hug began. Koa then went on to ask if he could have another moment with Luna, Karina nodded and turned her attention to everything else that was happening around her.

Stratos brought up their last goodbye and Karina laughed slightly at it. "You know... I still don't quite know what I am fighting for. I am still figuring that out, but Lea went and gave me all this responsibility, then the old man went and left me on my own. I can't very well drag everyone else down while I am scraping to figure out what to do with my life, can I? But thank you. And now I at least know that I am fighting so that I can come back. For the first time in a long time I feel like I have a home to return to, so I will be sure to keep myself, and everyone else safe, so that I can return when the time comes, with my head held high." From there Aeira and Finlay brought up a little bit of an issue with her going with them. Her keyblade could prove problematic, but she wouldn't think about that now.

"We will deal with that later. I... I can't stay long anyways, but I won't leave until I am sure that everything is under control. If I am just making things worse however, then I will be sure to take my leave, return to where I am needed." She assured them just as Hikaru walked up to give her a hand shake. As he did she felt a cold metal object being placed in her hand. Looking down she saw the recorder that she had thought that she lost when first leaving with Lea. Karina quickly slid it into her pocket, trying not to think about the fact someone else had it, hoping that he had not listened to it. "Thank you." She told him with a half smile, but the recorder made things a little awkward for her. Enough so that she was almost thankful when Shiro jumped up.

This is where Karina took her step back. She wasn't sure what was going to happen with this reapers game thing, but she was a bit more interested in the discussion around Aux and just what happened with him. Karina wasn't exactly comfortable with what he claimed happened, and she still didn't trust him, but it made a little more sense why he was here and not dead. She decided that this wasn't her battle though, and it would be something to deal with at another time, perhaps when she returned and had time to process it all. For now, she was still liable to try and kill him if he said one wrong thing, and she would prefer not to make anyone retract the welcome that they gave her.

As the conversation came to an end, Shiro decided that it was time for them to find a way to the realm of light themselves. She supposed with no other guidance, and Oswald now seemingly missing, it was best to just follow what they thought best. Glancing around one last time at her friends, and making sure that everyone she brought was ready to go, Karina approached Shiro. She glanced at Hughes one last time before she was ready to leave, still trying to figure out how he smiled upon death, but trying to clear her head she looked at the man who defeated him. "So will you be leading us from now on?" She asked almost desperate to not be left in charge, it was a large responsibility that while she had taken on, she still questioned every decision and having a way out would be welcomed.


It was rather sweet watching this team with their friend, welcoming her back. Aislinn listened from a distance, watching three different parties, Aux, Karina, and Ananta. They each had a different role in this and Aislinn felt bad for all of them. She went on to listen to Aux's story and Shiro's decision to it. Stepping up behind Stratos, Aislinn smiled at the boy. "Looks like you are stuck with us now. And I wouldn't worry too much about your past, what happened was a result of doing what you thought was right. There is no reason to be ashamed of us. After that you stumbled, but now you have people with you to pick you back up." Aislinn tried to offer. She knew that her attitude tended to get on his nerves, but she still wanted to make sure he knew that they were all there for him anyways. So if some cheesy words were what it took to get that across, so be it. ​

 

Shiro looked down to Karina, who was curious if he would take over. "HAHA!" he chuckled softly. "REST ASSURED YOUNG MISS, I WON'T BE TAKING YOUR LEADERSHIP ANYTIME SOON. YOU ARE STILL IN CHARGE OF THAT GROUP OF YOURS. BUT I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ADMINISTER YOUR MARK OF MASTERY EXAM!" Shiro walked passed her as everyone was saying their goodbyes.

After Mizu had finished her apology, Kaida had replied with a witty retort, causing the young master to pout. "Oh Ha Ha! Here I am, trying to make a heartfelt apology, and you go and throw it in my face! Well if you expect any sort of leniency from me now on, you can just forget it!" She crossed her arms and looked away from Kaida before Shiro walked by and picked her up by her collar.
"HOW SWEET OF YOU TO CARE FOR YOUR FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBER LADY MIZU..."
"I'm doing no such thing!"
"IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU AGAIN LADY KAIDA!" He placed his other arm on he young master. "I AM VERY PROUD FOR WHAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED. YOU KNOW, SEIZA MENTIONED THAT YOUR HOMEWORLD HELD NO SOURCE OF LIGHT. I CAN SEE NOW WHY YOU PROVIDED ALL THE LIGHT THEY NEEDED," he smiled valiantly before marching off with Mizu.
"This isn't over!" she yelled back, pointing as she yelled. "You hear me?!"

As Mizu was being carried, she realized something. "Wait a minute... where'd the rabbit go?"
"RABBIT?"
"Oswald... he's gone." Mizu all of a sudden looked at Finlay. "Well don't be lookin' at me! I didn't eat him! Fella musta scurried off in the scuffle."
Shiro stood nonetheless on his choice to leave with the Black Coats. "WELL WHEREVER HE IS, I'M SURE HE'S FOLLOWING HIS OWN PATH. AS SHOULD WE... NOW LET'S MOVE OUT!"

(Black Coats have returned to their roleplay thread)​

 

"Thanks... means a lot." Hikaru smiled happily at Stratos' remark.
With the black coats gone, all that was left for the twelve of them, was to cross the great divide along the water on the edge of Destiny Islands. Along the shoreline were 3 boats that appeared from the faint glow of their player pins. As if the pins were permitting them access to cross the realm line between light and darkness. As far back as time could tell, voyageurs traveled to new worlds via sea or sky. This was their ticket back to the realm of light, and it was an opportunity they needed at this time.

Hikaru approached the boats from a couple meters away. The boats were small, but large enough to hold four or five people in it. "Hmm, looks like we'll have to split up into different boats," Hikaru said in observation. "Dibs on the left one!" as he began to dash forward, the sound of a clock stopping was heard as Hikaru froze immediately in place. His body lifeless as his eyes twinged in confusion.

Aux approached his friend and looked back to Kaida. Seeing as how she used stop magic before, it was only natural to assume it was her. "Ha ha, very funny. Now unfreeze him so we can get a move on."

 

As the group that came to help departed, Aislinn gave them a small wave though she had not really gotten to know any of them. She then turned back to the group just in time to see her player pin glow, and then three boats appeared. Eager, Hikaru ran forward to claim one, but as he did he stopped moving mid run. At first it was written off as a joke, but then it happened again, and again. While others went to inspect what was happening to their friends, Aislinn summoned her keyblade having a bad feeling whatever they were facing wasn't over yet. She scanned the island for signs of who was doing this instead of running towards the boats, but she wasn't able to make much out before she herself found it impossible to move as her entire being was caught in a pocket of halted time.​

 

Hikaru was stopped.
Kaida was stopped.
Beuce was stopped.
Stratos was stopped.
Aislinn was stopped.
Ananta was stopped.
Kel was stopped.
AJ was stopped.
Steel was stopped.​

With little reaction time, all players were getting stopped one by one, with no signs of restraint or resistance. It was as if a force outside their circle was ensuring they wouldn't leave.
Only Ignis, Luna and Aux remained unstopped. As Ignis braced herself, she was frozen quickly before she could freeze.

Ignis was stopped.​

Luna's brain was frazzled, as she panicked for a moment. Stepping back a moment, she too was stopped.
Everyone was now Frozen in time accept for Aux. He pivoted quickly as he tried to look around for the threat.

Luna was stopped.​

"SHOW YOURSELF!" He barked, summoning his keybalde.
As he said, this, a large clanking of heavy armor was heard. Aux turned around slowly, recognizing that sound all too well.

The footsteps belonged to No Heart. The one who started it all.

​

"I don't know if they have chess in your homeworlds... but pawns don't normally move until they are told to."
No Hearts voice was distorted, and his voice impossible to match. He was just seen gliding past several stopped wielders. Every wielder in the area, was unable to move, but was fully conscious of the events happening around them.
"No Heart," Aux softly spoke in disappointment.

"I was growing concerned when my apprentice hadn't reported in. But then again, you seem to have been full of disappointments lately haven't you..."
"How did you find us?!"
"Such disrespect. Someone seems to have gotten their memories back. Pity it was late as it was..."
"Answer me," Aux growled harshly.
"Same way I keep tabs on Vanitas and Nequa," No Heart pointed to Aux's keyblade. Aux looked down at his keyblade in confusion. He was currently using the same golden keyblade Hikaru gained in his dive to the heart. "You only see. What I allow you to see." With a wave of his arm, Hikaru's golden keyblade turned back into his original dark keyblade that No Heart had given him.

Aux shook his head as he dropped his keyblade.
No Heart laughed. "Seems your redemption is short lived. I had such high hopes for you as one of the thirteen darknesses too... And with your temper, you'd hardly be considered one of the seven lights."
Aux looked at his own hands as he gripped them. All that effort he tried to make in helping everyone was wasted. He was just a giant tracker to them.

"You've caused me to rewrite many of my previous intentions. In fact," No Heart turned to address everyone. "All of you have. And I can see with your eyes frozen in fear, you must find me to be some sort of villain, but in fact, I'm just the referee..."
He began to saunter to each of the wielders and inspected them. "My plan was simple. Find 13 darknesses and 7 lights from scratch and watch them grow into powerful warriors. These warriors would then clash in an epic battle where in the end, I would gain the X-blade and control Kingdom Hearts. for my own reasons of course. But then... you just kept growing. When I last checked in Deep Jungle you were but 7 lights."

He was right.
In the beginning it was just Kel, Hikaru, Anora, Kross, Lars, Leo and Noroz.

"For one reason or another, more began to join you. And others left you. Whether it was out of abandonment, pride, or a changing path, they left. And while those that remain have proven their strength, I just can't have any more lights.

Aux looked to the floor as he gripped his fists. "Why are you here?"

Before he took out his keyblade, he looked to Aux. "I came here to see you finish what I started. You were sent to the realm of darkness to finish Operation Pandora."
Aux was confused. "But you never gave me a target..." Sho kidnapped him before he could receive the information.
"I thought it was obvious."
Aux thoguht for a moment before turning to Kaida. He immediately turned back to No Heart and scowled at the Master. "No..." he replied quietly.

"Then I suppose I'll just have to keep killing your new friends one by one until you change your mind. I've already taken one life today. I see no reason why taking more would strain my conscience. All in the name of balance." He summoned his keyblade and pointed it towards Steel's head. "I can take four lives today, or you can take one. The choice is yours.

Aux was in a major conflict with himself. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before walking in silence over to Kaida. She was frozen right in front of Hikaru as he faced his two friends with a very dark decision. They were completely frozen in time. He couldn't even tell if they could see him or not. Aux summoned his keyblade as he looked at each of them. He sighed as he looked at Kaida's frozen expression. "I'm so sorry," he said before turning around to face No Heart, having come to his decision.

He took his Darkgnaw keyblade in one hand and grabbed the end of it with the other. he pushed down the keyblade over his knee and snapped it into two separate pieces. He looked at the broken blade before delivering another glaring gaze at No Heart.

"I wanted to see if you're darker side would intervene and decide for you... but I suppose I'll just give you a little push." No Heart snapped his fingers, causing Aux to writhe over in pain. "I don't know how your abductor shut off the remnant. But I can always reactivate it at a moment's notice. And all because you gave up your light..." No Heart pointed to Kaida with his other hand. "Now dark apprentice. Destroy her."

Aux continued to remain on his hands and knees, trying to fight the dark control. His arms shaking and his his head smashed to the ground, he was facing dire internal conflict. A lot of loud struggling later, Aux eventually fell silent. His body was re-encased in the black and white armor everyone had seen him in prior,. "Yes Master," Aux replied as he walked menacingly towards Kaida.