allsoend | A day with family remembered

Entry tags:

A day with family remembered

Who: Kairi and Ven, but more can appear
What: The first memory in the next chain...where does it lead?
Where: Memory chains
Warnings: Nothing thusfar

There are seven new sparks of light remaining in the darkness along with the others at the end of Sora’s last available memory. When touched, the light of this memory opens up onto a bright, warm place that no one present would recognize. It doesn’t appear to look like any world anyone would have visited before, while at the same time feeling strangely familiar.

The scene actually starts from a bird’s eye view before those visiting find themselves suddenly swept to the ground. From above can be seen a wide lake fed by two waterfalls, with a vast forest hugging sloping mountains on one side, and a large town spreading out on the other. Up the hill from the town is a castle, although it’s not recognizable.

When brought down to the ground, those visiting will find themselves in an open-air plaza, situated right next to a garden overflowing with gorgeous flowers. A couple small clusters of people are talking or enjoying lunch in the plaza; there looks to be a bakery nearby. The two will find themselves closest to a father and son sitting at a table right next to the garden’s entrance. The father, looking to be in his late thirties, sports dark skin, black hair and blue eyes, while his son is a squirrely six-year-old with brown eyes. The boy apparently has a beloved pet with him: a blue beta fish with yellow-edged fins swimming around in a small fish bowl. The father is attempting to get the boy to sit down and eat the sandwiches just purchased, but the boy is too busy fussing over the fish or getting up to look at the gardens closer.

There is one thing distinct about this place: it seems to be overflowing with light. Everything here feels happy and at peace.

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Riku offered a small shrug. "No problem. I think we took ourselves by surprise at how fast we acted." A look to Kairi was enough to tell her it was true for him at least.

His eyes widened at the thought of this being the whole World, curiousity piqued. Then man what I'd give to be able to take a longer look. And then a thoughtful, speculative idea floated though his mind. If Kingdom Hearts was always hidden, and there's only a World instead of worlds, could Kingdom Hearts be the heart of this World?

"You know, you're right, you won't remember. But a friend of mine taught me about memories. Listen up, now it's my turn to teach you something." I owe Namine one. "Just because something's forgotten doesn't mean it's gone. If your hearts are still friends, then it won't be gone, right?"

And then there was a time to simply humor the kid. With a smile he replied, "I bet you're right. And you know what I'd bet he'd do? He'd keep you at home and use blocks to build a wall almost as tall as the bowl. He'd turn it into your very own castle. You'd be nice and safe and you'd be King Fish." Emphasis on keeping him at home.

Riku continued on Kairi's thought of their hearts having gone to new people. Does Toshi seem familiar to you? He couldn't shake the feeling, and he had a lingering suspicion he couldn't quite shake.

Having that cat up there wasn't helping things. It couldn't see Riku's scowl. He briefly considered throwing something at it, but the thought was short-lived. Vengeance didn't help anyone. ...But reality checks did. If it was gutsy enough to linger after what it did, then it deserved what was coming. Riku walked to the wall quietly, slowly reaching up to take hold of the ivy with both hands. His height came in especially handy here since it meant he could pull that much further down when he jerked back abruptly.

Kairi gave him a look back that said she had been surprised by it, too. But a lot of things here were winding up surprising.

I don't know...I feel like it's bigger even than the heart of a whole world. It had kept using the term 'we' instead of 'I' to describe itself. But I'm starting to wonder if this isn't why we can't pinpoint whose memory it is...

You don't think maybe that fishy would get a little bored being at home all day? She teased Riku. Even if that definitely was the safest spot for a fish. Riku's encouragements to Toshi got her to thinking about some other things, though...what happened if you did forget everything, like the hearts with Kingdom Hearts now that were completely blank? Where did those lifetimes of memories go, if they became unchained from their original heart?

Yeah, he does...but his dad feels even more familiar to me, somehow. It was almost unsettling in a way. She sensed that Riku had that lingering suspicion, and in turn shared it.

Kairi wasn't sure what Riku intended when he approached the wall with the cat on it...and while normally she probably would've scolded him for being mean to a cat, in this case she couldn't help laughing a bit under her breath. Talk about a reality check.

Toshi listened with interest, although still rubbing at his face, while Riku gave his explanation. He looked towards the ground again, still trying to find his brave face. I-I guess so. They were comforting words for a more lengthy future, but right now he was still sad. He tried to find the positives for now, and settled with some obviously little-kid logic. Then...I need to make friends with everyone new I see, because one of them could be Finny!

He tried to perk up a little more at Riku's suggestion, letting his imagination go further. He'd build a castle big enough for both of us! he declared. And all our other friends, too.

His father crossed his arms and sighed, a small smile on his face. At least he had something else to focus on than grief over what happened.

The cat definitely wasn't expecting Riku suddenly yanking on the vines under its feet. It nearly fell off the wall with a surprised yowl, but jumped back up before it completely lost its footing. It took off running down the wall and jumped from there to another tree and then to the grounds, deeper into the gardens, growling and hissing the entire way. Before too long, it was gone.

Are you saying that the memory might be the memory of the World?

That's why Finny would read his fish stories he thought back in an equally teasing manner. Her thoughts mingled a bit with his. Perhaps one of those memories went to be etched in another heart as a foundation, lost in its darkness but there to forever shape it. Perhaps they were lost forever, or perhaps they were kept safe by the vastness of Kingdom Hearts itself. Maleficent herself had said that within Kingdom Hearts lay untold wisdom... Now that was a thought.

Yeah. He seems... very caring and patient. And gently teasing, I remember... And something else. Like a presence, I guess. Riku never was one to beat around the bush too long. He reminds me of you, Kairi.

Smiling, Riku shook his head. "How about making friends with anyone born after today. Finny's heart can't swim that fast."

"Maybe if he asked for his dad's help he could make a little castle fort, and his dad would show him how to build things. And he'd make a sturdy shelf by a window for you." Kairi would know well that Riku spoke from some experience. His own father had taught him how to build. While the woodwork on the play island was certainly older than Riku, he and his father were some of those who helped repair it.

Riku smirked slightly as the cat vociferously ran off. "Good riddance."

Maybe it is. Or...maybe even Kingdom Hearts' memory. She recalled Lea and Isa mentioning that they had encountered a memory like that previously. What if this was another one?

Kairi felt that rush of musing back at her, and mulled over it herself. There were a lot of possibilities as to what could happen to these memories. She wondered if the only way to find that out for sure was to let their hearts be taken by Kingdom Hearts...but of course, she didn't want anyone to do that. The fact that we're reliving this memory right now means that it can't be gone forever. And, more importantly, Sora was connected to it.

A presence? She paused, deep in thought, and at this point practically avoiding the father's eyes. ...It's weird, but...I was thinking that, too. There was something itching at the back of her mind, but she couldn't quite get herself to assign words to it yet. However, the dots were connecting whether she ignored it or not.

Oh...yeah, I guess so, he responded. Apparently he hadn't thought this out too much, and was just focused on potentially seeing his friend again.

The prospects of having a whole fort for him and his friends kept him going in spite of his grief, as a healthy imagination could do for a young boy. It'd be the biggest castle fort! And there'd be an underwater palace we could build, it'd have even more fish in it, or mermaids--

His father stood up straighter, and sighed, choosing to interrupt. Toshi? We should be going now. We're already very late to meet mom, and I know we've got a lot of explaining to do. Why don't you say goodbye for now?

...Oh, okay. He ran back to his father, then stopped to face the two of them. Thank you for trying to help, and for chasing the mean cat away. He shuffled his foot, and rubbed at his face once more. Now that we're friends, I'll see you again someday.

Edited 2014-02-04 08:01 (UTC)

Maybe. And if this is before everyone started fighting over the light, it didn't have to be as carefully hidden.

That's a good point. And memories are very powerful. There's no point for Kingdom Hearts to just destroy them. And this one is ancient. Just think of all the knowledge... Amazing Sora's brain hasn't exploded, he thought jokingly. Though honestly , he could barely fathom the amount of information, and doubted his mind could handle it either.

If you were thinking that too then we're probably not too far off the mark. And Toshi is just like I remember Sora at that age. Though his own memories of his friend were somewhat tainted by his own youth at the time, Toshi acted like Riku would also assume Sora would.

Riku could understand that desire to see his friend again. If this really was Sora's heart he was talking to, it would explain why he felt a little better. Riku missed his friend, too.

With a small chuckle, Riku shook his head. "You'd better hope Finny's an architect."

He gave a nod to Toshi at the father's words. "No problem." And then the child said that they were friends already. Riku blinked a brief moment before smiling again. Sora did that sort of thing. "You will. Trust me." He stood.

Yeah... Seeing things as they were now, it somehow made knowing that it would all be destroyed in a terrible war all the worse. How many happy and simple lives like these had come to an end because so many decided to fight over the light?

Right. Although if this is an ancient memory, that could mean that maybe ALL memories are still here... She paused, going over the implications of that. If all that is being unloaded onto Sora, no wonder he can't wake up.

She wasn't there for the entirety of Sora and Riku's childhood, but she did remember quite a bit from when they were very young, and was getting a lot of the same feelings. They were momentarily interrupted when father and son had to leave, and Kairi waved goodbye to both. "Take care, until then!"

As she watched them go, she finally formed that thought that had been building in her heart for awhile now. So...do you think that Toshi maybe IS Sora's heart? Back long ago, before the Keyblade War?

Okay. I'm gonna look for you later! Bye.

Thanks again.

Toshi smiled at the two of them before finally turning with his father to exit the gardens out the way they'd run in. He moved a little slower and looked down, despite the encouragement he'd received...something like losing a beloved pet would take some time to get over, even with help. However, his father was still trying to encourage him. Before long, the two left and were out of sight.

The strange feeling of the memory persisted in spite of all that had happened to them...and after this encounter, it felt like the muddled aspects of the memory came more into focus. Toshi's excitement and then sadness, his father's feelings of responsibility, his mother wondering what made them late, the waitress's idle curiosity, the cat's frustrations, the fish's last fighting determination, even side feelings from the gardener and the shopowner and the tourist and the old couple on the bench...all of it was coming together into a general feeling of contentment. Everything was as it should be.

It was hard to say how many lives had ended. It was certain, however, that not everything ended. Those children had saved it.

Sora crashes pretty hard after studying for a test. If all of this is getting stuck inside him, I can't blame him for crashing now.

Yeah. He... feels the same. Kairi would be able to sense that Riku wasn't exactly certain of why he had the conviction, but he felt it inside. He never was good at following his heart, though he'd improved. I wonder who else we know is here? Because it seemed likely at this point.

Riku gave a nod. "See you later."

Me neither, Kairi thought. But that left them with the question of how to wake Sora up. If this was just an overload of memories, of hearts all bonding to his at once...was there a way they could lift that burden from him? Either way, they would have to find him first.

If they were both feeling this way, then it couldn't be simple coincidence. In their line of work, things rarely were. I'm starting think he really is. It was kind of mind-boggling. His heart had existed for this long...and by that logic, probably all of theirs had.

I don't know...but if Sora's heart is here, any of ours could be, too.

As the two stood in the garden thinking things over, there came what could be considered a reply to their inquiries: a bright flash of light indicating another star-shaped object. It appeared between them and hovered in midair, waiting for one of them to grab it.

-----

[Congratulations, You've earned an Appeal! Specifically, an appeal of happiness and contentment with one's family. This little representation of the memory can be kept by anyone and shared between anyone that asks for it, in the same 'space' one would keep a Keyblade. It's up to those present who would like to hang on to the Appeal for now.]

Riku had no idea how to lift that burden from him. He would gladly try to take part of the load upon himself, but he doubted he'd fair even as well as Sora did.

With my luck I'd be Toshi's mom, Riku joked. Still, the concept that their hearts were that old was... humbling.

Riku covered his eyes when the star-shaped object appeared, taken somewhat by surprise. Slowly he reached out for it, but he still held it between himself and Kairi. If she wanted to take it, she could. A peaceful smile crossed his face and his voice was soft. "I wonder what would happen if we took this one to Sora's Station."

Kairi didn't know, either. She could definitely help how she could, but that many hearts and memories all at once had to be beyond overwhelming. Perhaps the only reason Sora was still in one piece and surviving now was because his heart could come closest to bearing that load.

It definitely was a humbling thought that they could have been around that long. It also seemed to put a lot of things in perspective. She couldn't help but wonder...if this was a memory of Kingdom Hearts, and this had happened so many times...perhaps that was why it seemed to be so adamant about starting everything over. Knowing that a heart had already gone through so many permutations, would it really be that concerned about one more?

You mean with your luck, you'd be that fish! she joked back.

Kairi was glad to see the star-object appear again, although she wondered what they had done to get it. Certainly saving the boy's fish couldn't have been it. "We can always try it."

Another restart from Kingdom Hearts would be simple routine to it. That's why it was pushing so hard for everyone to sleep. It must have grown numb to the value of individual lives.

He suddenly frowned. Don't joke about that. And yet on some level...

Riku wasn't quite sure what they'd done either, but regardless he was grateful for its appearance. He seemed outright soothed by it. "Do we want to do it now? Or should we hang onto it a bit?" He held it out to Kairi. The object was so nice to hold, she should feel it too.

And if it had grown completely numb to their lives ending if their hearts would just begin again with new ones, having done it for eons, there didn't seem to be any way they could reach common ground. Not when they all so clearly wanted to hang on to their own lives. Were they truly at an impasse with Kingdom Hearts here?

She actually didn't expect him to take the joke that hard. And that got her thinking. He had reacted really strongly when that fish had gotten caught. She glanced up at Riku. Why? You don't think...

Kairi took the object and held it in her hands. Despite all that had happened in this memory, the feelings associated with it all seemed positive and content. "I guess let's hang on to it for now."

If it had forgotten the value of a life, then somehow it would somehow need to be reminded of it.

No, I don't think. And I don't want to. But I feel that maybe... He crossed his arms. Maybe that's why I didn't like that cat straight off? And why I acted without a thought...

As he handed it off, he felt the emotions ebb, and he sighed them away, replacing them with only the calm of the place they were in. "Yeah. You should probably be the one to hang onto it."

Yeah. I was wondering about that...and about a lot of things. She gave him a sheepish look. Maybe that would explain some of that. If that was the case, then...wow, what a thing for a heart to learn. Just to put it lightly. She couldn't help wondering if that cat was anyone they knew, then.

"All right. Thanks, Riku." With that, she put the star-object away, always subconsciously aware of its presence, along with her Keyblade.

Riku had looked off elsewhere as he often did when he was becoming introspective. it was a lot to take in. For all he knew, the chicken he'd eaten for his last meal at home had been his great grandfather, his heart wiped clean and repurposed. It was... grim. The concept that the cat could potentially be someone they knew slipped into Riku's mind as if it was his own thought. "You know, I wonder if that cat was Xehanort..."

Kairi joined him that quiet contemplation. If all this was true, it could be both enobling and terribly humbling...in past iterations, their hearts could have been friends or family, too. Or, they could have been complete strangers, or even worse. If that was the case, then no wonder Kingdom Hearts thought the way it did. To it, every heart was equal, and so was every life it lived. What would it matter to Kingdom Hearts that they all ended here if there was just an entirely different life waiting? It was certainly sobering.

That last line from Riku shook her out of her contemplation a bit, though. "If it was him, then maybe you should have thrown a rock at it!" she said, half-joking.

With so many different lives lived by each heart, they all were equal. A king and a peasant could switch lives the next time around. While fair, it was unsettling. A strong thought echoed loudly in his mind. Who am I? Who was I? Experiences shaped the heart. It left indelible marks. Did his past lives make him who he was? Then who was he?

"I should have," he replied a little less than half-joking. "It at least feels familiar."

Kairi heard that thought from Riku, that wondering about who they truly were, if this was just the newest version of a life lived over and over. She wasn't sure how to answer at first, but she wanted to be encouraging, somehow. We know who you are now, Riku. I know. As to who we were...maybe it's better that we never really know for sure. She wondered if Kingdom Hearts even knew that. Could it look at a heart and see back through the lives it had experienced? Or were all previous memories and lives just a jumble of experiences to it?

"If that was him," (and most of her was still hoping it wasn't), "then look at it this way: you've given him some serious payback now."

Riku narrowed his eyes in thought. "...Why is it better that we don't know? You saw how fast I acted. Not a thought. Those past lives must've had some affect on me. Toshi was talking about how he and Finny would be friends in another life. Well? Guess what? That's a huge coincidence." Ordered or jumbled, by now to Kingdom Hearts every heart and memory was just another flavor of vanilla. Plain and unamazing.

He smirked in jest, cracking his knuckles. "And Xigbar always seemed to wonder why we glared at them."

"Yeah, I saw," she replied, still thinking. "But if that was you...do you feel better knowing it? It would explain those actions, so I guess it does leave an imprint on the heart. But it's not just what happened many years or eons ago that shapes who we are."

"I don't think we'd need past lives as an excuse to glare at his lot!" She joked. Although that could certainly add to the list of offenses.

"...Not just. Most of my actions are from and for this lifetime. But those previous lives are still a part of my heart." Riku's hand went over his chest, despite being a heart entirely. "I've got no clues how being a fish affected how I am now. Maybe that I won't go down without a fight. But... I think it's something I should know if I can find out." Over the years, Riku thought he was many things, and many of those things were proven wrong. "I'll look. But... Maybe not to hard." There were other things they couldn't risk losing sight of.

"Fair enough. They cause enough trouble in just one life."

A day with family remembered

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Done?