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Xion | Kingdom Hearts...is DIDNEY LAAAND! | Johto

[faintwaves]

[Xion's still not sure how to feel about all of this.

No Organization XIII coat, no Keyblade, some strange woman claiming she's "Mom" (what?) and a clapping, seal-like creature at her side.

Most of all...why is she alive? Xion didn't know that fading into oblivion meant coming to a place like this, she thought it was...well, never existing again. Or at least in some part existing in Sora's heart. Not that she contemplated that part of her fate too deeply, since she knew that it had to be that way or else...]

Roxas.

[She says the name and she frowns, pulling at the hem of her (is it hers? Can she really keep it?) skirt that the "Mom" woman practically forced onto her. She really misses Roxas and Axel right now...but she knows that even if she did see them, they wouldn't know who she is. Just a copy and all that. It's fine, though, that's how it has to be.

But part of Xion wishes they were here with her, they could explore the new world together and find a new place to eat ice cream. Like friends.]

...[She feels a heart beating inside of her chest and emotions fighting each other for dominance in her mind. How is this possible? It shouldn't be, it shouldn't hurt so much! Frustration overtakes Xion and she yells, kicking at a rock to send it flying away.] This is stupid!

[The creature is startled, birds have flown away, and Xion realizes that she overreacted. Scaring things isn't a kind thing to do, not that a "Nobody" was ever concerned with kindness or anything that wasn't conducive to forming Kingdom Hearts. Obviously Xion wasn't a regular Nobody, just a flimsy copy. A nobody Nobody?

...That's really weird to think about. The girl sighs and crouches down onto the ground to hold out her hand to the creature, smiling apologetically.] I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell, please don't be scared. I won't hurt you, promise.

[islandshore]

[Once upon a time, there was a doofus who decided he'd pass the time by flying around and seeing if New Bark Town had gotten any less mundane than he remembered.

And, nope, it's just the same as ever. Small. Peaceful. Nothing particularly interesting except--]

Flare, slow down!

[At his trainer's sudden outburst, the Charizard grunts and screeches to a stop. It's tough to tell from a distance, but that's certainly a familiar face down there. Both Riku and Flare exchange glances and then, with a beat of the Charizard's wings, he two take a nosedive towards the ground, swooping over the rooftops, annnnd... slamming into the ground in front of a nearby tree.

In hindsight, maybe they shouldn't have gone for such a flashy approach, but here we have one Riku, a few years older than Xion remembers, giving her a wide-eyed stare.]

...Xion? It's you, right?

[faintwaves]

[The noise startles her, of course. It startles the Seel, too. Both scuttle away from where Riku landed, staring equally wide-eyed right back at him.

What is THAT? Is that a DRAGON?

How does she even know what dragons ar--oh, who cares, Xion! She brings herself shakily to her feet and stares, just stares as though she can't believe what she's seeing. But it's real, it's Riku, he's here too? Then--no, Roxas and Axel shouldn't be here.]

Riku...I think it is. I still feel like myself, but...I shouldn't be, right? [Is Sora still asleep because of me?]

[islandshore]

[...Oof. Yeah, he should've watched his landing. Or tried for a more subtle approach. When Xion backs away, he reaches for the side of his neck, while his Charizard huffs and baps him on the head.

Still, he doesn't take much time to dwell on it once Xion actually speaks. His brow arches, and his head tips a little to the side.]

Wait. Why would you be anyone but you?

[Annnnd something is clearly amiss.]

[faintwaves]

...Because I...

[Wait why is she explaining this??? Shouldn't he know?!]

I-if I exist, then Sora stays asleep. So I faded away. I shouldn't be here.

[It almost sounds quaint when she says it like that. "Faded away." No, it wasn't just that, Xion goaded Roxas into fighting her, to make sure she would leave this plane of existence. She had to. He had to. It was for everyone else's own good. All that happened, so why is she here?]

[islandshore]

...Oh.

[He winces, looking away for a short moment and running a hand through his hair. Had he heard of this before? It's been so long that the memory's a bit foggy...

But before long, his gaze returns to her.]

Look, Xion. Sora's fine-- trust me, I've practically been babysitting him for the past two years. So don't worry too much, all right?

[faintwaves]

[It's an awkward situation to be in, and she can't help worrying, especially when none of it makes sense! Why? Why is he all right even with her around? Two years? What is Riku even talking about?]

But that doesn't make sense! How can he be all right if I'm around? And--two years? It's been that long since I--? [Since she what, she doesn't know what to say!] ...What's going on? [Her voice cracks with frustration, her heart's pounding, why is she feeling so much?]

[islandshore]

[Okay, this isn't going as well as he'd hoped. Riku pauses to take a few deep breaths, shutting his eyes and rubbing his brow. How to put this...?]

Okay, so... first thing you oughta know is that this world likes to bend the rules a little. People drop in from different points in time, and I'd say Sora's from pretty far into the future.

[...]

...I know that doesn't make a lot of sense, but trust me. You'll be fine.

[Though it's troubling to think of what could've-- probably happened to her, so there might be a slight uneasy edge in his words.]

[faintwaves]

...[She should trust Riku's word, really. Riku was--well, she isn't sure if she can call him a friend, she was the one keeping his best friend asleep after all, why would he want that? But she does regard Riku with respect and safety.]

Is that why...I have a heart? I was feeling so much before and I didn't understand why, but now I can feel it beating and I'm even more confused.

[paopuprincess]

[Well.

This isn't something Kairi expected to see today.

Or any day, really.

She's kind of far away, and the hair's a little different. But that face is like looking in a mirror. It's kind of creepy, really. Is this world really that weird? She's seen people come from all over time and space, people younger and older than they should be. But this? Why is the world creating clones all of a sudden? And clones of her, of all people.

Maybe somebody out there wants her heart again. It wouldn't surprise her. Back home, in her time, Ansem is still trying to get her. It's something that she's pushed to the back of her mind in her time spent here, but seeing someone who looks so suspiciously identical, it's hard not to think about it.

Still, her curiosity overcomes her. Slowly, cautiously, she approaches the girl.]

Hey, uh... you okay?

[faintwaves]

[Xion, having made up with her Seel and in the middle of petting it, hears the voice and freezes. The voice recognition comes in before she even looks up. Kairi, it's Kairi. The one whose image she's a copy of, because of Sora's memories. She can't possibly know who she is, but then nobody should...she would hate her for being the reason Sora can't come back, right?

Okay? No, she's terrified, confused, angry, trying not to scare off the little creature in front of her again, so many things at once she can almost feel herself beginning to shut down.

But still, she turns her eyes to Kairi--eyes that look very much like hers--and looks, just looks with total recognition and fear.

She really does look so much like her. But Kairi seems...full of light where Xion is not. She carries herself differently, she sounds different, she's overall better than her, right? Xion almost feels insulted on her behalf for being such a poor imitation of Kairi and wishes to stay silent because that's what a doll should do when faced with a better.

The Seel, however, interrupts this after looking between the two and finding--ah--this must be trainer's family! Very good! It starts clapping enthusiastically all over again and Xion is startled into an awkward mumble.]

I--I'm fine...I'm a...little lost, though. A-and I accidentally scared--[what is this thing, does it even have a name? It just says "Seel" and it looks like a seal, it must have come from the ocean, but she can't just call it "it" all the time. It needs a name. A good name, not an imaginary Nobody name.] Thalassa. [Her thoughts are on the shells she used to collect, all different shapes and colors and sizes. Thalassa shells--the oddly-shaped (and rare for her to find) shells she somehow--intuitively--knew that were made into good luck charms. Yes, it's perfect.]

[paopuprincess]

Really? He doesn't look scared to me.

[She giggles, crouching down and presenting herself to the enthusiastic animal. She offers her hand to it for a moment, before giving it a playful scratch on the back of the head.]

Hey there, Thally, you okay?

[A playful nickname for a playful pokemon. She liked it. But it doesn't fully distract her from this dark-haired doppelganger. She stands straight again, her hands folded behind her back. She inspects her, for a moment. The face, the clothes, it's all very similar.]

[faintwaves]

["Thally" seems perfectly fine. Happy, in fact, spinning in circles and clapping.

Xion is anxious, looking away when Kairi's gaze turns to her. Being...looked at is strange. Before she could hide herself under a hood if she wanted, or nobody was able to see her "face" by default. Now apparently she can't hide, everyone can see her face, and Kairi is very clearly curious about the similarities. Nobody's supposed to remember her, it's not as though Riku would have ever told Kairi about her either. What now?]

[No words come from her, only a noise of discomfort, wringing her hands together and staring at the ground. Please stop, please stop staring at me. I'm sorry for keeping Sora away so long, I'll go away again if necessary.]

[paopuprincess]

[Hey now, she can't look at you with your eyes on the floor. She takes a cautious step forward. This girl is clearly anxious, and visibly nervous. It's a strange situation, and in times like this, she just has to get it out of the way.]

So, uh. Are you me? From the future, or something?

[Under any normal situation, anyone saying that would sound absolutely insane, but this world is just that weird.]

[faintwaves]

...No.

[It's so hard and scary, but Thalassa is there headbutting her arms--"trainer, what's wrong? Your family is here, you shouldn't be sad!"-- and she has to look back at Kairi, she can't just ignore her, particularly not with such a direct question.]

No, I'm...I'm just a copy. I was...[she tightens her hands together in an imitation of pleading.] Made for a terrible purpose. But...I won't do it, I won't. I'm not even supposed to be alive anymore, I...disappeared.

[paopuprincess]

[So this girl is a clone. Sent to do something terrible, huh? Maybe she really is one of Ansem's creations come to capture her. But... she sounds so sad about it. Any normal Heartless just follows his commands obediently, but her... she's resisting orders? Maybe being her copy gave her some of her heart as well.

She gives the dark-haired girl a pained smile. Some strange combination is confusion, and sadness, and pity. She's not even sure if this girl can look her in the eyes, so she'll take the step. She reaches out with one hand, gently placing it on top of this girl's. Poor thing, she's clenching so tight. She can only imagine what must be going through her head right now.]

Hey, cool thing about this place? You can be whoever you want. So don't worry so much, okay?

[dressofheaven]

[Clomping up towards the two of them on four massive feet is a towering blue creature with red eyes. It looms in front of Xion for a brief moment, staring at her and the Seel with an unblinking gaze.]

Talos? [A small, feminine voice pipes up, and a young woman with white hair and red eyes steps out behind the creature.] What did you-

[Her eyes widen in shock as they fall on Xion. She stares at her as though her entire concept of reality just fell apart around her. About the only thing she does for a few moments is breathe.

Then she leans forward, the expression on her face changing from shock to hope and joy, a slow smile appearing as she reaches out towards her.]

Xion? [Her voice is almost disbelieving, which is probably about as strange as her knowing Xion's name in the first place.]

[faintwaves]

[Xion was startled by the appearance of a--a--what is that? Some new Nobody? It has an X on it, shouldn't that mean something? She jolts and falls back on her behind, Thalassa--the newly named Seel--of course claps because trainer did a funny thing. It turns to Talos and claps to it as well, hello new friend!

But then...there's this girl. She's smiling at her and calling her by name, what's going on? Xion feels scared, not just of the creature, but this girl--part of her terrified that she's here to take her back to the World That Never Was, another part terrified of disappointing her by not recognizing who she is.]

How...how do you know my name? A-are you from the Organization? [Please say no. She doesn't want to go back, she can't go back.]

[dressofheaven]

[The second Xion asks that, her face falls. Dropping her hand back down to her side, Ilya lowers her eyes and bites her lip in restrained anger and grief. Of course this world wouldn't make things that simple.]

No, I'm not. I know your name because you were here before, and we were close friends, and now you don't remember.

[Probably the single most blunt way to drop a bombshell like that, but she's not exactly feeling up to tiptoeing around the issue.]

1/3

[faintwaves]

[Been here before?

Close friends?

Oh...no...she has no memory of this. How is it that HER memory has been the one tampered with now? This is terrible, that poor girl.]

[faintwaves]

...I'm sorry...

[That's all she really can say, even if she can't help forgetting or not knowing that she was here before. Xion never wanted to hurt anybody.]

[faintwaves]

[She had looked down with guilt, but turned up to Ilya with a faint smile on her face.]

Where I just came from...my close friends have forgotten me, too. But...that doesn't have to stop us from being friends now?

[dressofheaven]

[Her eyebrow twitches when Xion apologizes. She'd kind of expected it but it's still annoying to see her blaming herself for things that aren't her fault. But the followup makes any irritation vanish.

She chuckles, though there's not much mirth in it.]

It's a bit of a comfort to know you're the same as I remember you. [She extends her hand again.]

Which means we're pretty much going to be friends no matter what. My name is Ilya. I'm glad to see you, Xion.

[faintwaves]

[Xion's not entirely sure what to do with someone reaching out to her, it usually means "come here" though so she reaches back--stopping after lightly touching Ilya's hand with her fingertips and shying away.]

Ilya...that's a pretty name. I hope we can make new memories together.

[dressofheaven]

We will. I won't let the chance get away from me.

[She pulls her hand back, though she kind of wants to clasp Xion's hand. Or hug her. But she knows it'll take a while before Xion feels comfortable enough with her for that to be okay, forgotten friend or not.]

But for now, you did just get here. Do you need help, at all?