Post by Deleted on May 5, 2018 21:53:25 GMT -5
In the deep, endless darkness, memories stirred, as the void rushed by like surging water, desperate to climb higher and higher to salvation. Even away from his body, he could still feel the exhaustion of that terrible, terrible battle. He could still feel his chest panting, limbs too tired, too worn, and simply refusing to continue further....he could still feel it a thousand times over....
"No....you were right...I failed you Terra....."
On and on, the endless black seemed to rush by faster and faster, it was almost as if he could feel again, the rushing brushing against cheeks, against whiskers....
"Perhaps I've no one to blame but myself for the darkness inside you....and now, I've done worse..."
Hot, painful streams joined the rushing sensation, as the void crashed away at an exponential pace. He didn't want to remember this ache, this foolish terrible act that he tried to commit...but still it played on...the promise of breaking through the watery shadows and into the welcoming air of light getting closer and closer to being fulfilled....
"....raised my keyblade against you and Ventus...my own heart is darkness---"
He could still feel the searing pain of the traitor's cowardly blast. Like surfacing from beneath the tides, everything culminated as soon as the treacherous shot was fired. Eyes sprang to life in panic, shock, and most importantly...revival. The gasp was sharp and swift, like waking from a nightmare....yet there was nothing fictitious about the things he had seen through his apprentice's heart.
Though surrounding him was not the destitute darkened remnants of the courtyard. His aged body was sitting, not sprawled out on stone. He ached...everywhere. Both without...and within. The traitor's blast was still fresh in his back, the wounds earned from his apprentice still took their toll...and his heart screamed with agony still, rebelling against his misguided decision. There was naught but glows of white all around, the chair he found himself upon felt foreign...and familiar. It was then he knew why....
Before him was a board he never thought he would see again, immaculate chess pieces unaffected by Aqua's magic, lined up perfectly and untouched. Across the board, there was another chair, albeit without an owner.
"Aqua..."
It was true then....she had managed to safeguard this sacred land as he instructed. Years of having to watch as his strength faded as his former friend plotted and schemed...it felt as if he was wrong all those many...many years ago. Darkness would most assuredly prevail over Light...and there was nothing he could do to change it...
...but here....seeing his home transformed...it brought hope. New hope that cut through the depraved submission to the future like a valiant dagger. He would've smiled if not for the pain. One would think his next act would be a more well thought out one...they would be proven wrong as weary fingers finally managed to summon his keyblade in a brief flash of light, flecks of the remaining glow falling onto the pale floor like snowflakes, before dissipating into nothingness. With the tip of his blade firmly dug into the floor, the ailing master tried to force himself to his feet, veins visibly bulging in his neck with dire frustration, arm shaking violently, teeth clenching, frustrated grunts leading to fingers curling as slowly but surely he rose, higher...higher...
....only to fall back into the chair in pain. He was still....far...far too weak. With a groan-filled sigh, the keyblade vanished as his eyes narrowed. The hairs on the back of his neck stiffened up in response to an icy aura...one he knew all too well. Were his situation different, he would be clad in armor without a second thought, enacting justice for his failure to do so long ago.
"Come to finish me off again like the snake you are?"
There was not even the energy for anger, as the words flowed out tiredly.
"I deserve as much for failing to stop this all those years ago. To think it pained me to see just how far you've fallen...who have you sent in your stead then? The one eyed marksman? The shell? Or were you truly cowardly enough to come with the body you stole?"
It ached even to make the attempt to turn his head, blind to which of the 'Seeker's he was addressing. All his aged eyes could gaze upon were the chess pieces of his youth...of a better, simpler time....
_________________________________________
@masterxehanort
"No....you were right...I failed you Terra....."
On and on, the endless black seemed to rush by faster and faster, it was almost as if he could feel again, the rushing brushing against cheeks, against whiskers....
"Perhaps I've no one to blame but myself for the darkness inside you....and now, I've done worse..."
Hot, painful streams joined the rushing sensation, as the void crashed away at an exponential pace. He didn't want to remember this ache, this foolish terrible act that he tried to commit...but still it played on...the promise of breaking through the watery shadows and into the welcoming air of light getting closer and closer to being fulfilled....
"....raised my keyblade against you and Ventus...my own heart is darkness---"
He could still feel the searing pain of the traitor's cowardly blast. Like surfacing from beneath the tides, everything culminated as soon as the treacherous shot was fired. Eyes sprang to life in panic, shock, and most importantly...revival. The gasp was sharp and swift, like waking from a nightmare....yet there was nothing fictitious about the things he had seen through his apprentice's heart.
Though surrounding him was not the destitute darkened remnants of the courtyard. His aged body was sitting, not sprawled out on stone. He ached...everywhere. Both without...and within. The traitor's blast was still fresh in his back, the wounds earned from his apprentice still took their toll...and his heart screamed with agony still, rebelling against his misguided decision. There was naught but glows of white all around, the chair he found himself upon felt foreign...and familiar. It was then he knew why....
Before him was a board he never thought he would see again, immaculate chess pieces unaffected by Aqua's magic, lined up perfectly and untouched. Across the board, there was another chair, albeit without an owner.
"Aqua..."
It was true then....she had managed to safeguard this sacred land as he instructed. Years of having to watch as his strength faded as his former friend plotted and schemed...it felt as if he was wrong all those many...many years ago. Darkness would most assuredly prevail over Light...and there was nothing he could do to change it...
...but here....seeing his home transformed...it brought hope. New hope that cut through the depraved submission to the future like a valiant dagger. He would've smiled if not for the pain. One would think his next act would be a more well thought out one...they would be proven wrong as weary fingers finally managed to summon his keyblade in a brief flash of light, flecks of the remaining glow falling onto the pale floor like snowflakes, before dissipating into nothingness. With the tip of his blade firmly dug into the floor, the ailing master tried to force himself to his feet, veins visibly bulging in his neck with dire frustration, arm shaking violently, teeth clenching, frustrated grunts leading to fingers curling as slowly but surely he rose, higher...higher...
....only to fall back into the chair in pain. He was still....far...far too weak. With a groan-filled sigh, the keyblade vanished as his eyes narrowed. The hairs on the back of his neck stiffened up in response to an icy aura...one he knew all too well. Were his situation different, he would be clad in armor without a second thought, enacting justice for his failure to do so long ago.
"Come to finish me off again like the snake you are?"
There was not even the energy for anger, as the words flowed out tiredly.
"I deserve as much for failing to stop this all those years ago. To think it pained me to see just how far you've fallen...who have you sent in your stead then? The one eyed marksman? The shell? Or were you truly cowardly enough to come with the body you stole?"
It ached even to make the attempt to turn his head, blind to which of the 'Seeker's he was addressing. All his aged eyes could gaze upon were the chess pieces of his youth...of a better, simpler time....
_________________________________________
@masterxehanort
