To any new readers who have come to the blog because you've started reading the fanfic now that it's labelled "Complete" or you've just stumbled across it... lemme direct you to the right-hand pane over there (desktop version) and scroll down to the appropriate sequence of chapters you're on. I've got chapter numbers up too, so that should help. Each post deals with a sequence of chapters, and there will be spoilers if you haven't read all in that set. If you're on mobile, I think you should just be able to scroll down and click on the post you want.
Spoilers below if you haven't read this far.
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I'm clever and put 13 dots. Anyway.
Well, time to talk about the final things about Zerith's wedding. Like I'd planned to do two days ago before getting sidetracked. Yup.
So I decided not to kill Xigbar. I just... didn't want to do that to the sharpshooter. It seemed weird, doing that, honestly. I'd grown attached to Xigbar. He's amusing. And, honestly, he's got reasons to want to live. Is he completely innocent, nope. But he's just as glad as everyone else to be rid of Xehanort, so that's saying something. He makes his weird amends by warning everyone at the wedding that Xehanort is coming, then after Xehanort's gone, he leaves as well.
Man though.. okay... I got like SUPER FIRED UP about wedding traditions on different Worlds and I was thinking about it for DAYS. Way before I'd even written the sequence. I was thinking about it nonstop and everyone I talked to about it was basically just like "magik, shut up."
The traditions of people being thrown in the ocean, who makes their own dresses, seeing the bride beforehand versus not seeing the bride beforehand, going out and doing stupid things the day beforehand, celebrating the last day as a single person traditions... all that stuff.
I really love the paopu fruit tradition though, and it seems so natural for Destiny Islands to have one like that. And Kairi's just thinking the entire time Zack and Aerith are planning their wedding that... "They have to do this, well, they don't have to, but they should have the option... I'll just bring a fruit and it'll fit into the ceremony... WAIT THEY DON"T HAVE A SPOT FOR IT!"
That was fun to write.
I imagine that Destiny Islands has very informal weddings. Like, weddings are just a big party to them. Where as a place where Rinoa's from, they're more formal and traditional. And then there's the fairytale weddings of Disney and the simple ones of Traverse Town and the varieties go on and on. Yeah...
I can't remember why exactly I insisted on having a time skip... maybe just to show the passage of time. Because I'd had this scene with Xion written forever showing the passage of time and I'd never been able to use it. So, when I decided that Zerith was going to have a spring wedding, I just had everything else wrap up in the fall. Then I could do a time skip and some recap and whatnot.
And then we've got the hints to Squinoa's wedding. Which will happen. I just probably won't write it, I'll be completely honest. I haven't really come out and said this yet... but I'm going to be taking a break from fanfic for a while. I have two or three other writing projects to work on and they all have the prospect of money. I'll probably write drabbles and one-shots and post them of course, but I don't think I'll be taking on an epic again. Squinoa's wedding totally happens in my canon, I just may not write it. (Does that still make it canon?)
For anyone who's confused, Cid and Shera had a private marriage ceremony and left it at that. Kind of like how you play Dirge of Cerberus and they're married and you're just like "okay" because Vincent doesn't ask too much about it because... well... Vincent.
I remember freaking out about who I was going to have be the justice/officiate of the wedding. And then it was obvious. None other than Mickey himself. Because what says Kingdom Hearts more than Mickey officiating Zack Fair and Aerith Gainsborough's wedding? (While Sora and the gang are in the audience.)
Ah yes, then the real questions. What about everyone else? Will they eventually get married?
Well, Cloud and Tifa aren't even dating. They're still both trying to get used to living a life that doesn't involve Sephiroth. They'll eventually get together I suppose.
Everyone else.. (with the exception of Terra, Aqua, Ven, and Axel) is all still in their late teens. Marriage is several years off, despite what Destiny Islands thinks for Riku. (They lead simple lives on the islands and are wholly unprepared to understand the EVERYTHING that the Keyblade Wielders do.)
So Riku and Sora can just joke about it.
HGHSGNGSGHSGDLKJSD:GLKH
The chairs for Angeal and Aerith's parents.
I remember reading something somewhere, a text post or something, about how at Aerith's wedding (if she were to have one) she'd put chairs up for the people who wouldn't be able to make it. So that's how Angeal and her parents got chairs.
The dream that Aerith had, with Angeal and her mother wishing Aerith and Zack well... that was something I literally cooked up the day before I posted it. It wasn't in the original draft or anything. But then I thought of that idea and had to include it. And I think it wraps everything up very nicely. The whole last few chapters do.
So, this is Magik, signing off for now. It's not goodbye forever. But it's goodbye for now.
Thank you to everyone who supported this endeavor of mine! I'll post updates and probably give you a link to a blog for my (not fanfic) stuff.
Showing posts with label SoRiKai. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SoRiKai. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Destiny Islands (Chapters 102-106)
I suppose I knew from the beginning that at some point I was going to try and Nort Sora. And I had to wonder where the best place for that showdown--the penultimate showdown--to take place. I eventually decided that Destiny Islands would be perfect for so many reasons. Destiny Islands is home and Xehanort is really hitting close to home here. Plus, it ruins their vacation because I'm mean like that.
I started out the arc calmly enough, with Riku and Namine talking to Riku's mom about what was going to happen next, and then comes the word from Kairi that something's going on. And, at this point, Sora is still fine. Because you don't necessarily know yet that he is who Xehanort is going after. But you can probably guess through process of elimination.
Riku, Roxas, Axel, Xion, and Namine have already been attempted. Kairi is untouchable. That leaves Sora. Sora, who Riku explains does not have the immunities to darkness that other people like Riku himself and Axel have had time to build. And poor Sora is so oblivious to it all, because to him, the Remnant is going to go after Riku again, because that's who he's always gone after. But not this time. But as soon as he realizes that it's him the Remnant is after, he's still fired-up to protect himself because he's not stupid.
So how do you start the norting process of the most fun-loving and optimistic kid ever? You start planting seeds of despair in his friends, who he relies on for power. And then you give them despair, and you do it better than Sephiroth.
I goofed a little, because right after that chapter, I had some daily life going on in Hollow Bastion/Radiant Garden. And it wasn't even that whole contrast thing, it was legit I wasn't thinking about the overall flow, I was just braiding arcs together and I sort of goofed that one. So, after that whole crushing despair you've got Rinoa and Squall fluff, Denzel life, and Yuffie stream of consciousness. The chapter was there to symbolize a little bit that life in HB/RG is getting better and their all planning for their futures. And it gives a background to the following chapter from their arc when they all realize that something horrible is going on, I just feel that I might have placed it wrong and it should have gone before the chapter on Destiny Islands.
Because now, back to Destiny Islands and that crushing despair. I chose Kairi's POV because I felt that she would give the best portrayal of literally how awful it is that Sora's about to be norted. Riku was good for the first chapter, and now it's Kairi's turn. Because those three. Are amazing. And so interconnected.
Some of Kairi's Princess of Heart perks come into play as well, with her being light in the darkness. And then she has the task of convincing everyone else that Sora is worth saving and dismantling the lies that the Xehanort Remnant is feeding them.
Then Kairi faces Norted Sora. And it's disgusting and horrifying, but she stands her ground.
Kudos a bit to me for the whole "stopping" thing, because that's a bit of a reference to Rinoa in the Prequel. And funnily enough, Kairi had just been thinking about Rinoa. I have a thing. Sorry. Moving on.
I am also completely a fan of the line "I suppose I should help, little shit did save my life once or twice" from Axel.
And then, instead of doing the whole they fight Nort in Sora's body on the outside while Sora fights Nort on the inside, I decided to go for them all just fighting Nort on the inside for something different. It's not like they're not all connected or anything.
Switch gears to HB/RG again. The first bit is a bit awkward again with Shera and Cid. That probably should have gone in the previous chapter with the HB gang. I like seriously wasn't thinking very hard on that. But for the moment, enjoy all of that Cid/Shera fluff. Because they're cute.
Then we get into Cloud's healing, followed very closely by everyone feeling Xehanort Norting Sora. And how much a person was affected is directly correlated to their connection with Sora. So someone like Rinoa or Zack, who has minimal connection with Sora, only feels it a little bit, where people like Aerith and Squall feel it a lot more. And someone like Ven practically collapses with it.
Then, Roxas' POV for the rest of the battle. Brief mention of Xigbar being allowed to escape the battle of Castle Oblivion, because had he been killed they theoretically wouldn't be in their current predicament. Riku and Xehanort bantering like old rivals is a disgustingly beautiful thing. And yeah, they kind of are still fighting Xehanort in Sora's body in Sora's heart, but it's another layer still.
They knock Xehanort out by reminding Sora who his friends are. Terra, Aqua, and Ven join them.
And, I don't really know what to say about Sora casually having a Keyblade through his chest. It's a wonderful thing. But how I wrote it is probably the best explanation you're going to get. And so they banish him from having a Keyblade and Sora surrenders him to the darkness pretty much.
And then Xigbar shows up. I don't remember exactly if I had planned on Xigbar showing up from the beginning, but I definitely decided somewhere in there that having Xigbar showing up and shooting Xehanort in the face was a really satisfying way of doing things. There's some other stuff that went into this, but I can't talk about it just yet. But it has to do with Xigbar.
And, I'll think I'll leave it at that for now. Not very many chapters left anymore. It's weird.
I started out the arc calmly enough, with Riku and Namine talking to Riku's mom about what was going to happen next, and then comes the word from Kairi that something's going on. And, at this point, Sora is still fine. Because you don't necessarily know yet that he is who Xehanort is going after. But you can probably guess through process of elimination.
Riku, Roxas, Axel, Xion, and Namine have already been attempted. Kairi is untouchable. That leaves Sora. Sora, who Riku explains does not have the immunities to darkness that other people like Riku himself and Axel have had time to build. And poor Sora is so oblivious to it all, because to him, the Remnant is going to go after Riku again, because that's who he's always gone after. But not this time. But as soon as he realizes that it's him the Remnant is after, he's still fired-up to protect himself because he's not stupid.
So how do you start the norting process of the most fun-loving and optimistic kid ever? You start planting seeds of despair in his friends, who he relies on for power. And then you give them despair, and you do it better than Sephiroth.
I goofed a little, because right after that chapter, I had some daily life going on in Hollow Bastion/Radiant Garden. And it wasn't even that whole contrast thing, it was legit I wasn't thinking about the overall flow, I was just braiding arcs together and I sort of goofed that one. So, after that whole crushing despair you've got Rinoa and Squall fluff, Denzel life, and Yuffie stream of consciousness. The chapter was there to symbolize a little bit that life in HB/RG is getting better and their all planning for their futures. And it gives a background to the following chapter from their arc when they all realize that something horrible is going on, I just feel that I might have placed it wrong and it should have gone before the chapter on Destiny Islands.
Because now, back to Destiny Islands and that crushing despair. I chose Kairi's POV because I felt that she would give the best portrayal of literally how awful it is that Sora's about to be norted. Riku was good for the first chapter, and now it's Kairi's turn. Because those three. Are amazing. And so interconnected.
Some of Kairi's Princess of Heart perks come into play as well, with her being light in the darkness. And then she has the task of convincing everyone else that Sora is worth saving and dismantling the lies that the Xehanort Remnant is feeding them.
Then Kairi faces Norted Sora. And it's disgusting and horrifying, but she stands her ground.
Kudos a bit to me for the whole "stopping" thing, because that's a bit of a reference to Rinoa in the Prequel. And funnily enough, Kairi had just been thinking about Rinoa. I have a thing. Sorry. Moving on.
I am also completely a fan of the line "I suppose I should help, little shit did save my life once or twice" from Axel.
And then, instead of doing the whole they fight Nort in Sora's body on the outside while Sora fights Nort on the inside, I decided to go for them all just fighting Nort on the inside for something different. It's not like they're not all connected or anything.
Switch gears to HB/RG again. The first bit is a bit awkward again with Shera and Cid. That probably should have gone in the previous chapter with the HB gang. I like seriously wasn't thinking very hard on that. But for the moment, enjoy all of that Cid/Shera fluff. Because they're cute.
Then we get into Cloud's healing, followed very closely by everyone feeling Xehanort Norting Sora. And how much a person was affected is directly correlated to their connection with Sora. So someone like Rinoa or Zack, who has minimal connection with Sora, only feels it a little bit, where people like Aerith and Squall feel it a lot more. And someone like Ven practically collapses with it.
Then, Roxas' POV for the rest of the battle. Brief mention of Xigbar being allowed to escape the battle of Castle Oblivion, because had he been killed they theoretically wouldn't be in their current predicament. Riku and Xehanort bantering like old rivals is a disgustingly beautiful thing. And yeah, they kind of are still fighting Xehanort in Sora's body in Sora's heart, but it's another layer still.
They knock Xehanort out by reminding Sora who his friends are. Terra, Aqua, and Ven join them.
And, I don't really know what to say about Sora casually having a Keyblade through his chest. It's a wonderful thing. But how I wrote it is probably the best explanation you're going to get. And so they banish him from having a Keyblade and Sora surrenders him to the darkness pretty much.
And then Xigbar shows up. I don't remember exactly if I had planned on Xigbar showing up from the beginning, but I definitely decided somewhere in there that having Xigbar showing up and shooting Xehanort in the face was a really satisfying way of doing things. There's some other stuff that went into this, but I can't talk about it just yet. But it has to do with Xigbar.
And, I'll think I'll leave it at that for now. Not very many chapters left anymore. It's weird.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Castle Oblivion (Chapters 94-101)
The Castle Oblivion arc was a rough one in a couple of ways. Namine's head is always a fun place to be is one of them. The fact that Castle Oblivion is just an awful place is another. Granted, my CO has changed a lot since its original in-game incarnation, things are still rough there. Also, during the stuff at CO, I've also got the Sephiroth battle going on alongside of that. So, fun times.
Of course, I didn't even start us in CO during this sequence. I have us in Port Royal with the Wayfinder Trio. I liked discussing that perhaps Port Royal had forgotten about its magic. Because Pirates of the Caribbean is a much more realistic movie than the other included Disney movies. While yes, there are curses and some magic, it's not anywhere near the level that we see in say Cinderella, Aladdin, or Frozen. So, the "dried up magic/people forgetting about it" was an interesting thing to kind of allude to. And Aqua would think about those sorts of things, being so much of a heavy magic user.
But, of course, the tranquil ponderings can't last forever. Let me just dump a Remnant on them. And then they can fight for a bit, and then Kuin, whose glider is taking her all over the place, can show up and she can help them for a bit. Perhaps I made you think for a second that he was going to get Ven. Probably not. I've made it pretty clear that Ven's about as untouchable as Kairi. But that doesn't mean the Remnant still can't hurt Ven.
Then we've got Sephiroth showing up. Well, not quite at the beginning of the chapter, but it's alluded to. Cid can tell. Barret's POV is fun to be in though. Because he's never run into Sephiroth before, so he has no idea what's coming. Because, when Cid announces it, he really has no idea what to expect. And whatever he does expect, is not what he gets.
Oh, for the record, that teleportation block? That was Cloud doing things when I wasn't looking again. That's why Leon had no idea what it was but Rinoa did.
Let the battle with Sephiroth begin. Of course Cloud and Zack would be in the middle of it all. Tifa won't stay back forever. And neither will Leon. He just gets too itchy about not fighting. Man though, that battle was hard writing, trying to keep track of everyone. Because literally, everyone was there. Except Denzel, Marlene, and Merlin.
And then I've got Namine's feelings about something bad going to happen. The reason why she's not seeing any images, for the record, is because she couldn't see an image of Xehanort getting into her head. That's why her mind's drawing a blank. Fun times. I think it's completely legit, it also meant that none of you knew that he was going to go for her. Or maybe you did. I really just loved Namine's thoughts about talking to Leon about what he experienced inside of his head. Because, honestly, the two of them would have had the most similar experiences. (Them and Marluxia.) Riku and Terra had different experiences because it wasn't a Remnant who originally went after them. Terra had full-on Master Xehanort and Riku dealt with Ansem. Also, Namine banishing Xehanort from her heart with a combination of memory prowess and light=beautiful. I love Namine.
Ah, yes, Cloud regaining light attacks. Okay, more just like his limits again. I think that first one he used was Braver. And he's all like "Aerith, was that you?" and she's just like *shakes head* Because she knows that Cloud is regaining his power again and growing strong. Because, as far as my canon goes, Cloud had the ability to do light attacks and stuff. He just slowly lost them as Sephiroth drained on him. Of course, then the battle gets hairier as Sephiroth literally starts causing despair and Aerith is out of Megalixirs so she has a harder time combating darkness. (Which causes her to swear. Yup.) And then Zackgets skewered. And Aerith is having none of that. Absolutely none. I love the image of her jabbing her staff at Sephiroth. It's beautiful. So is Cloud beating Sephiroth into nothingness.
Then back to Castle Oblivion. Where everyone else realizes that Namine's in trouble and they end up relying on Riku's sense of smell to find him. I love poking at Riku's sense of smell and Xehanort's stench. Riku making up swears that Axel doesn't recognize is also a beautiful thing. Because while I hardly ever use actual swear words in my KH fics to keep ratings down, I can leave that up to your imagination. Riku and Axel are my biggest swearers. Namine fighting the Remnant in that form is also gorgeous.
Side note... while I initially wrote that chapter before Monty Oum's passing, it is certainly my tribute to him. I loved the concept of Namine with all those Keyblades and I loved Dead Fantasy and I'm sad to see that the story will not continue. RIP Monty Oum.
Now for some timey-whimey stuff. The Remnant in Port Royal could very well be the same Remnant that showed up in Castle Oblivion. Could be. It could also not be, depending on how many Remnants you believe are walking around at the same time. Kuin, of course, went straight from Port Royal to Castle Oblivion, where she gets momentarily stopped by Axel (really got attached to that lol) and then can't fight the Remnant until Namine gives the go-ahead.
Then we get to do clean-up in Hollow Bastion. Aerith and her massive need to heal everyone. Cloud of course, has got it the worst, having just killed his own shadow. Though, Zack is also not in too great of shape. Aerith expelling darkness with Rinoa, Tifa, and Yuffie's help was definitely a thing that was fun to write. Just, the concept of what rar and I figured darkness can and cannot do and it's reactions to different healing magic. Yup. And then it's raining, because it's always raining. But then Cloud wakes up and he's feeling lighter and happier, which is good. Very, very good.
Then we've got a transitioning chapter out of Castle Oblivion. This was my chapter 100. My fluff chapter. My chapter of: everything's fine at Castle Oblivion, we're all gonna go back to the islands now. Namine has a chance to recoup from what she just went through, everyone else gets a chance to splash around at the beach, which was just fun and cute to write. Writing SoRiKai derping around in the water because they're all such Island brats was also great. *nods*
Then closing off with more of the Wayfinder Trio. This time, instead of running into a Remnant though, they're on a beach and they run into Xigbar. Well, not before they have some fun playing with the beach ball. I had a lot of fun writing Xigbar's dialogue though, because he really just wants to live, but he's slowly coming to the realization that a world with him in it also means a world with Xehanort. And he's got too much pride to ask the Keyblade Wielders if they can destroy just a part of his heart. (There's also a good portion of him that thinks his heart is too far gone to Xehanort for that to even be an option.) Sure, he'll taunt them about it, but he'll do it while he's shooting at them, not during a pleasant conversation.
I remember having a hard time deciding how to wrap this scene up, so I wrote in the two boys with the beach ball (and then also the boomerang) interrupting and Xigbar being like "Nope, not gonna fight a couple of actual kids" and then he leaves. The kids, btw, are like unofficially my universe's Joseph and Toby.
That's all for now.
Of course, I didn't even start us in CO during this sequence. I have us in Port Royal with the Wayfinder Trio. I liked discussing that perhaps Port Royal had forgotten about its magic. Because Pirates of the Caribbean is a much more realistic movie than the other included Disney movies. While yes, there are curses and some magic, it's not anywhere near the level that we see in say Cinderella, Aladdin, or Frozen. So, the "dried up magic/people forgetting about it" was an interesting thing to kind of allude to. And Aqua would think about those sorts of things, being so much of a heavy magic user.
But, of course, the tranquil ponderings can't last forever. Let me just dump a Remnant on them. And then they can fight for a bit, and then Kuin, whose glider is taking her all over the place, can show up and she can help them for a bit. Perhaps I made you think for a second that he was going to get Ven. Probably not. I've made it pretty clear that Ven's about as untouchable as Kairi. But that doesn't mean the Remnant still can't hurt Ven.
Then we've got Sephiroth showing up. Well, not quite at the beginning of the chapter, but it's alluded to. Cid can tell. Barret's POV is fun to be in though. Because he's never run into Sephiroth before, so he has no idea what's coming. Because, when Cid announces it, he really has no idea what to expect. And whatever he does expect, is not what he gets.
Oh, for the record, that teleportation block? That was Cloud doing things when I wasn't looking again. That's why Leon had no idea what it was but Rinoa did.
Let the battle with Sephiroth begin. Of course Cloud and Zack would be in the middle of it all. Tifa won't stay back forever. And neither will Leon. He just gets too itchy about not fighting. Man though, that battle was hard writing, trying to keep track of everyone. Because literally, everyone was there. Except Denzel, Marlene, and Merlin.
And then I've got Namine's feelings about something bad going to happen. The reason why she's not seeing any images, for the record, is because she couldn't see an image of Xehanort getting into her head. That's why her mind's drawing a blank. Fun times. I think it's completely legit, it also meant that none of you knew that he was going to go for her. Or maybe you did. I really just loved Namine's thoughts about talking to Leon about what he experienced inside of his head. Because, honestly, the two of them would have had the most similar experiences. (Them and Marluxia.) Riku and Terra had different experiences because it wasn't a Remnant who originally went after them. Terra had full-on Master Xehanort and Riku dealt with Ansem. Also, Namine banishing Xehanort from her heart with a combination of memory prowess and light=beautiful. I love Namine.
Ah, yes, Cloud regaining light attacks. Okay, more just like his limits again. I think that first one he used was Braver. And he's all like "Aerith, was that you?" and she's just like *shakes head* Because she knows that Cloud is regaining his power again and growing strong. Because, as far as my canon goes, Cloud had the ability to do light attacks and stuff. He just slowly lost them as Sephiroth drained on him. Of course, then the battle gets hairier as Sephiroth literally starts causing despair and Aerith is out of Megalixirs so she has a harder time combating darkness. (Which causes her to swear. Yup.) And then Zackgets skewered. And Aerith is having none of that. Absolutely none. I love the image of her jabbing her staff at Sephiroth. It's beautiful. So is Cloud beating Sephiroth into nothingness.
Then back to Castle Oblivion. Where everyone else realizes that Namine's in trouble and they end up relying on Riku's sense of smell to find him. I love poking at Riku's sense of smell and Xehanort's stench. Riku making up swears that Axel doesn't recognize is also a beautiful thing. Because while I hardly ever use actual swear words in my KH fics to keep ratings down, I can leave that up to your imagination. Riku and Axel are my biggest swearers. Namine fighting the Remnant in that form is also gorgeous.
Side note... while I initially wrote that chapter before Monty Oum's passing, it is certainly my tribute to him. I loved the concept of Namine with all those Keyblades and I loved Dead Fantasy and I'm sad to see that the story will not continue. RIP Monty Oum.
Now for some timey-whimey stuff. The Remnant in Port Royal could very well be the same Remnant that showed up in Castle Oblivion. Could be. It could also not be, depending on how many Remnants you believe are walking around at the same time. Kuin, of course, went straight from Port Royal to Castle Oblivion, where she gets momentarily stopped by Axel (really got attached to that lol) and then can't fight the Remnant until Namine gives the go-ahead.
Then we get to do clean-up in Hollow Bastion. Aerith and her massive need to heal everyone. Cloud of course, has got it the worst, having just killed his own shadow. Though, Zack is also not in too great of shape. Aerith expelling darkness with Rinoa, Tifa, and Yuffie's help was definitely a thing that was fun to write. Just, the concept of what rar and I figured darkness can and cannot do and it's reactions to different healing magic. Yup. And then it's raining, because it's always raining. But then Cloud wakes up and he's feeling lighter and happier, which is good. Very, very good.
Then we've got a transitioning chapter out of Castle Oblivion. This was my chapter 100. My fluff chapter. My chapter of: everything's fine at Castle Oblivion, we're all gonna go back to the islands now. Namine has a chance to recoup from what she just went through, everyone else gets a chance to splash around at the beach, which was just fun and cute to write. Writing SoRiKai derping around in the water because they're all such Island brats was also great. *nods*
Then closing off with more of the Wayfinder Trio. This time, instead of running into a Remnant though, they're on a beach and they run into Xigbar. Well, not before they have some fun playing with the beach ball. I had a lot of fun writing Xigbar's dialogue though, because he really just wants to live, but he's slowly coming to the realization that a world with him in it also means a world with Xehanort. And he's got too much pride to ask the Keyblade Wielders if they can destroy just a part of his heart. (There's also a good portion of him that thinks his heart is too far gone to Xehanort for that to even be an option.) Sure, he'll taunt them about it, but he'll do it while he's shooting at them, not during a pleasant conversation.
I remember having a hard time deciding how to wrap this scene up, so I wrote in the two boys with the beach ball (and then also the boomerang) interrupting and Xigbar being like "Nope, not gonna fight a couple of actual kids" and then he leaves. The kids, btw, are like unofficially my universe's Joseph and Toby.
That's all for now.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Hollow Bastion Arc (Chapters 2-9)
So everything led up to a giant battle in Hollow Bastion. And rather than postpone it any longer and have it be some sort of climactic event, I just decided I'd start with it. And I think it really set the stage for what all was to come. And I was going to continue there, but I realized that it's spoilers for stuff I haven't even posted yet. So nevermind on that one.
I actually had it pretty worked out in my head (and on several diagrams) what all happened and who all was where. The strategy for the characters of course being to get someone into the computer in Hollow Bastion castle that could start the DTP (darkness termination program.) People would have to hang back places to literally fight endless streams of Heartless to prevent those ahead from getting swamped from behind. But hey, I have a huge cast to play with and plenty of heavy hitters.
As a side note, I remember Aerith's house giving me so much trouble because I could never remember just how many bedrooms it had. I'll argue it again some more later in the fic. Until eventually they're just done expanding it.
I also tried to get a good balance of different POVs for this whole sequence.
Roxas' was fun because he's generally pretty practical and it's not unusual for him to just know what Sora's up to, so I'm not losing anything there. Roxas also just sees lots of other things and I can do Xion and Axel dynamics as well.
Rinoa's POV is amazing because I love Rinoa omg. Especially with her in the first chapter and all of the "oh just leave my dog alone she's old" and then her huge arsenal of magic that she'll cast. And her good observations. Yes. Rinoa is amazing. She also flies, which means she can see a lot of everything that's going on and it's completely reasonable.
And then what's a huge Hollow Bastion battle without Riku? I love him and Namine fighting alongside each other. Riku getting shanked by Master Form is also something that I will never not be amused by. Especially because Sora remembers to ask Sora, Kairi, and Xion. And Roxas just basically already knows.
Riku was also a good POV to be in when they got into the castle and ran into the leftover data memories that bothered everyone who's even the smallest bit Replica. Because then Riku can see what's going on and be strong for Namine and all that and yeah, that was fun to write.
And then back to Kairi's POV, even though I was in her POV for the prologue. But Kairi also was one of the group to make it farther. Though, because of everything that happened during this chapter, it wasn't so much of Kairi's thoughts, but Kairi seeing shtuff hit the fan--like a Xehanort Remnant showing up. But hinting at Sora's anger problems was certainly easier from Kairi's POV than Sora's. Because Sora would deny them and you know it.
I love Aerith. I just love Aerith. Aerith feels when the Remnant shows up, but she can't put her finger on what exactly it is. Aerith has connections like Namine has connections. She just has them for different reasons. And she wants to be everywhere to help, but she can't. But she tries and it's amazing.
Namine's POV is another POV that I have a really easy time with. Namine's really cerebral... she thinks a level or two higher than everyone else because she can just see those parts of the pictures, like Aerith. And neither of them hold it above anyone else, because then it wouldn't be cool. Something I am sad about is that I didn't necessarily keep Namine using her knife as a magic wand. I like, added that in, and then forgot about it until literally just now as I'm writing this up. And that's sad, because I'm not going to get a chance to include it really. *frowny face* Oh well, it's still canon. She'll do it.
Tifa is a fun POV to be in just because Tifa is so no-nonsense that there aren't any unnecessary tangents. It was also good to be in her POV for this chapter because as everyone learns about the Xehanort Remnant, Tifa doesn't get all shouting angry. In fact, she's the one to tell them all to stop. Tifa's the one telling them to shut up and pay attention to what really matters.
Chapter 8 was a mixture of POVs because I had lots of little snippets of conversation that needed to happen but I couldn't necessarily devote individual chapter to them. But I think it turned out okay. Aqua, Terra, and Ven were naturally all shaken up about it and Mickey is the perfect person to tal about it. Zack is so determined to KILL ALL THE DANGER. Kuin and Axel fighting is something that needed to happen. Rinoa and Squall planning out courses of action is great. Sora talking with Riku and Kairi about his potential darkness problem. Also Cloud and Zack arguing how about how much they care about friends.
Dynamics I'm really happy with:
-Leon attempting to be a leader and not being all that bad at it
-Roxas and Xion taking this whole thing as part of their training to become Keyblade Masters
-Sora getting to fight with Donald and Goofy
-Sora periodically calling out Drive Forms
-Namine quietly being seemingly everywhere in the battle
-People being weirded out by Sora, Roxas, and Ven
-Aerith just healing everyone she can reach on the battlefield
-Namine and Riku talking casually about crisis levels
-Experimenting with data and memories
-Xion hacking computers
-Xion picking up new words and phrases from people she meets
-Mickey insisting on being called... just Mickey
-Aerith knowing things
-Rinoa showing Namine how to use her knife like a magic wand to channel magic
-Tifa and Cloud.
-Breaking the no battle planning at the table rule because Xehanort Remnants are Very Important Problems
-Zack insisting that he will kill a Remnant
-Kuin and Axel fighting
-Casually talking about how Xehanort smells
-Rinoa and Squall having a history they can refer to
-The friendship of SoRiKai
-The Cloud and Zack friendship
I actually had it pretty worked out in my head (and on several diagrams) what all happened and who all was where. The strategy for the characters of course being to get someone into the computer in Hollow Bastion castle that could start the DTP (darkness termination program.) People would have to hang back places to literally fight endless streams of Heartless to prevent those ahead from getting swamped from behind. But hey, I have a huge cast to play with and plenty of heavy hitters.
As a side note, I remember Aerith's house giving me so much trouble because I could never remember just how many bedrooms it had. I'll argue it again some more later in the fic. Until eventually they're just done expanding it.
I also tried to get a good balance of different POVs for this whole sequence.
Roxas' was fun because he's generally pretty practical and it's not unusual for him to just know what Sora's up to, so I'm not losing anything there. Roxas also just sees lots of other things and I can do Xion and Axel dynamics as well.
 |
| by Hikaru-Ryuuen on dA |
Rinoa's POV is amazing because I love Rinoa omg. Especially with her in the first chapter and all of the "oh just leave my dog alone she's old" and then her huge arsenal of magic that she'll cast. And her good observations. Yes. Rinoa is amazing. She also flies, which means she can see a lot of everything that's going on and it's completely reasonable.
And then what's a huge Hollow Bastion battle without Riku? I love him and Namine fighting alongside each other. Riku getting shanked by Master Form is also something that I will never not be amused by. Especially because Sora remembers to ask Sora, Kairi, and Xion. And Roxas just basically already knows.
Riku was also a good POV to be in when they got into the castle and ran into the leftover data memories that bothered everyone who's even the smallest bit Replica. Because then Riku can see what's going on and be strong for Namine and all that and yeah, that was fun to write.
 |
| by Risachantag on dA |
I love Aerith. I just love Aerith. Aerith feels when the Remnant shows up, but she can't put her finger on what exactly it is. Aerith has connections like Namine has connections. She just has them for different reasons. And she wants to be everywhere to help, but she can't. But she tries and it's amazing.
Namine's POV is another POV that I have a really easy time with. Namine's really cerebral... she thinks a level or two higher than everyone else because she can just see those parts of the pictures, like Aerith. And neither of them hold it above anyone else, because then it wouldn't be cool. Something I am sad about is that I didn't necessarily keep Namine using her knife as a magic wand. I like, added that in, and then forgot about it until literally just now as I'm writing this up. And that's sad, because I'm not going to get a chance to include it really. *frowny face* Oh well, it's still canon. She'll do it.
Tifa is a fun POV to be in just because Tifa is so no-nonsense that there aren't any unnecessary tangents. It was also good to be in her POV for this chapter because as everyone learns about the Xehanort Remnant, Tifa doesn't get all shouting angry. In fact, she's the one to tell them all to stop. Tifa's the one telling them to shut up and pay attention to what really matters.
Chapter 8 was a mixture of POVs because I had lots of little snippets of conversation that needed to happen but I couldn't necessarily devote individual chapter to them. But I think it turned out okay. Aqua, Terra, and Ven were naturally all shaken up about it and Mickey is the perfect person to tal about it. Zack is so determined to KILL ALL THE DANGER. Kuin and Axel fighting is something that needed to happen. Rinoa and Squall planning out courses of action is great. Sora talking with Riku and Kairi about his potential darkness problem. Also Cloud and Zack arguing how about how much they care about friends.
Dynamics I'm really happy with:
-Leon attempting to be a leader and not being all that bad at it
-Roxas and Xion taking this whole thing as part of their training to become Keyblade Masters
-Sora getting to fight with Donald and Goofy
-Sora periodically calling out Drive Forms
-Namine quietly being seemingly everywhere in the battle
-People being weirded out by Sora, Roxas, and Ven
-Aerith just healing everyone she can reach on the battlefield
-Namine and Riku talking casually about crisis levels
-Experimenting with data and memories
-Xion hacking computers
-Xion picking up new words and phrases from people she meets
-Mickey insisting on being called... just Mickey
-Aerith knowing things
-Rinoa showing Namine how to use her knife like a magic wand to channel magic
-Tifa and Cloud.
-Breaking the no battle planning at the table rule because Xehanort Remnants are Very Important Problems
-Zack insisting that he will kill a Remnant
-Kuin and Axel fighting
-Casually talking about how Xehanort smells
-Rinoa and Squall having a history they can refer to
-The friendship of SoRiKai
-The Cloud and Zack friendship
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