Kingdom Hearts: Time Matters

Xert got aboard the ship and stared at the Stone. Had Sithos done the same thing. Was the risk worth the gain.

 

"Of course it's me!" said Replica cheerfully

Sora followed Xert on board the ship.

 

Tai raised an eyebrow, then looked at Ansem again. Something... didn't seem right at all. "How...?" That was the only word she could get out of her mouth. What was going on here exactly?

 

Replica extended his hand "Come with me... everything will be alright." he said in a soothing tone.

 

Tai shook her head, taking another step back. "You said you didn't want to go back to the darkness..." For once, Tai wished she had more friends to back her up...

 

Replica put down his hand and turned his back to her "I didn't know what I wanted..." Replica turned back to Tai and smiled "But now I do! I want you, Tai."

 

Tai bit her lower lip, debating on what to do. Both Ansem and Replica were so convincing. She felt herself being drawn to her words. What was the harm of going back to the darkness? She clutched her fist, a sudden wave of anger or determination, she couldn't tell, washed over her. "Replica! You know how much the darkness hurts us... But it can also help us. Ansem teaches how to use the darkness to hurt people, not to help. Eventually, it'll turn against you."

 

"Shh... Tai." Replica kissed her on the lips again, but this time the kiss felt darker... tasted more evil... and had the faintest smell of decay. "Look at what Ansem's darkness has done for me... I feel much better! And you will too! Come with me! I beg you! I cannot live without you!"

 

Tai pushed Replica away from her, surprised from the sudden feelings that overtook her in that one, simple kiss. "Listen to yourself! Look what the darkness did to you in that short of a time! You're different! It seems like all the light went out of you!"

 

"Tai, listen to YOUR self..." said Replica "You won't understand the true majesty of darkness until you come with me and experience it. Now, I know you did it before and Ansem betrayed you, but I'm here this time! I will protect you. I know you can't trust Ansem, I don't either... but at least trust me!"

 

"You're different now!" Her voice was starting to rise. "You're not the same as you were, and it's the scary kind of change!" She took a few more steps backwards away from the two of them. She figured this was part of Ansem's plan...

 

"The only thing that's different is my view on darkness!" yelled Replica "Everything else is the same... why don't you understand what I'm trying to say?"

 

"Maybe I don't understand anything anymore..." she said almost silently. Her chest heaved heavily and then she let her shoulders slump while looking at the ground. Something was really bothering her here... But she couldn't put a finger on it.

 

"Tai, you have a great understanding of the universe... and I believe that you are going to make the right decision, no matter what you do. But..." said Replica, then he held his hand out "... I would still like you to come with me. I love you, Tai... and I only want whats best for you. Now, come with me, and I will give you what's best."

 

Riku opened a dark portal. "Come on Kairi, let's go"

 

Tai kept her head down, staring at the ground. What ever choice she made, it always seemed to her that they would eventually lead to a wrong one. She unsummoned the keyblade and just stood there. Her mind was so confused on what to do it was gradually driving her insane.

Kairi looked up, her thoughts popped like a bubble. She sort of wandered off to other thoughts while Riku and DiZ were talking. She smiled and nodded her head and then walked through the portal

 

Replica grabed her shoulders and tried to look into her eyes. "Tai, look at me... this is the right choice."

 

"How do you know...?" she whispered. She refused to look up at Replica. He seemed so different to her, it frightened her. She closed her eyes tightly, wishing to be somewhere else. Or just maybe on her own again. She couldn't decide what she liked better. Friendship, or being a longer and fending for herself.

 

"Because I made the same choice. When I left with Ansem, I thought I was going to die... but instead I was enlightened." said Replica "Please, trust me and come with me."

 

The ship took off to go back to the world that never was. Xert contiened to stare at the Corner Stone.