It all comes Down to This (Chapters 107-end)

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.

More Plotting

So I left off yesterday after some reposting of an old conversation between me and rar.  I thought I might continue what I have of that for your guys' benefit.  Because, honestly, there's a lot of good stuff about how the whole idea for Zerith's wedding came up.  

Though, tbh, I almost wished I'd remembered this whole conversation when I wrote the chapter of Aerith's wedding day, because that first line there is beautiful! Then again, I do like it better where there's some week-before set-up, and the line wouldn't have flowed with all that leading into it.

magik: "it was in a church--Aerith's doing... Zack didn't care (would have married her on the moon for all he cared)" nice, simple... She'd probably settle for Yuffie, Tifa, and Rinoa for the bridesmaids.  Zack would have Cloud, Leon, and I'd think of a third person

rar: shoot since when were there THREE flies?? sorry i just, we had two and killed one but now there's two

magik: they do this thing called breeding. I'm channeling hades, apparently. 

rar: yeah but they're all big and have only been around for this afternoon??

magik: I"M NOT WRITING FOR HIM TOMORROW DARNIT< I"M WRITING CLOUD AND TIFA

rar: I'M SORRY

magik: and sephiroth

rar: THAT'S FRUSTRATING

magik: i need to get in a sephiroth mood

rar: write Hades anyway??? ??? just write it now. go back and do cloud later

magik: no, because then i either A) have to get into Mickey's head or B) have Aqua hover over his shoulder. the time for hades will come. he just needs to hush.

rar: okay, just trying to help

magik: but i need to deal heavily with mickey for that chapter

rar: riiight

FYI: This was the Hades' attack on Disney Castle sequence.  Just for anyone wondering.  I changed Donald/Daisy's wedding into Zerith's wedding very early on into Remnants.  But I am SO SO SO happy with that change.  

This here is some more plotting for the Cloud arc:

magik: hmm... do i want to throw Cloud into Agrabah?

rar: idk? you could

magik: thank you, Tifa, for that line

rar: what line? 

magik: "Cloud, we are wandering around in the desert, and for what?"

rar: stick 'em in Agrabah then

magik: because like, he'd park his bike, and then just start wandering aimlessly, though Tifa knows it's not aimless

rar: how'd they get back to the bike?? he should not lose track of it. just saying, that'd be bad

magik: Tifa can get herself right to it.

rar: goooood point

magik: Cloud just doesn't ask. Tifa's "job" is to go get the bike and save Cloud's butt.

rar: ha yeah 

Because that was before Tifa'd really revealed to anyone that she could form light corridors.  Not that it's a huge deal, but as a point of reference. 

And this upcoming bit was some plot arc that I'd intended on using for Sora.  It kind of made its way in, but not entirely.  

magik: spam you some feels about charrie development: because Sora... Sora's got a darkness problem. not huge, but it's there. because he no longer has so much light in his heart. yup, it's a thing. and while it's not a "problem"

rar: oh yeah, now that Ven's gone

magik: it's a problem in the fact that he has NO IDEA how he's supposed to take care of it, so he has to learn

rar: thaaaaaaaaaaaat's true

magik: and Riku and Kairi have to help him through it, once he admits he needs help. I think it's the only topic he and Kairi fight on, actually. And Kairi... Kairi's learning how to wield a Keyblade, and that's all find and dandy. but then there's Xion, and Xion's just amazing because she's a perf replica

rar: of course

magik: and kairi knows that xion and roxas technically wielded before her and it shouldn't matter, but it does. And Roxas, who just spent a year training and that's all he did. and Kairi's just like... "why can't I be that good?" and then there's Riku... 

rar: (they do have like a year on her tho. both of them. I GET KAIRI'S FEELS I'M JUST SAYING)

magik: shh... it shouldn't matter but it does to her, anyway... but then there's Riku who's kinda just quietly bettering himself

rar: that's Riku for you

magik: he's over most of his demons/skeletons. he's coping. except for when he's not. he and Namine get locked in this "you need to stop being so hard on yourself" thing, because they're both struggling with it. and idk about Roxas and Xion's development at the moment, outside of them wanting to become masters. it'll come to me

but then there's Axel, who gets a double-whammy of character development. first of all, because he's finally coping with everything that involved Isa/Saix, which is huge and major. then he thinks that it's weird that he's included in Sora's friends because, sometimes, he sees himself as the enemy, still. anyway, i'm sorry, did I saw two, i think I meant three... the third one involves Kuin but not in a romantic way, in a "i need to respect you" way, because that whole thing with Xehanort and she has to come to terms with that, and apologize, and realize that she can't do it alone. And Axel can respect her for that

Wow, that was a lot of character talk.  As you can see, a lot of that made it into the 115 chapter monstrosity that is Remnants.  Some of that didn't.  

I never really did deal with Sora's darkness problem.  It came up a bit.  Here and there.  But not overly so.  I think I'd wanted to include it because I knew that Ven was no longer in Sora's heart anymore, and Sora had less light to combat the darkness--plus, Nomura had hinted at stuff like that for KH3.  Well, it didn't make it in to the extent that I'd originally thought it would.  Sure, in my headcanon, he and Kairi probably do argue about it a bit.  I just never wrote it because it never really seemed to flow.  Sora's optimistic and happy, and he wants the best for everyone.  When he worries, it's not because he has darkness problems, it's because he's trying to figure out how he's going to kill four people--all of whom he's killed before and now he has to kill them again.  He's afraid of Xehanort getting one of them and it never once occurs to him that Xehanort'll come for him, too.  At least, not until Xehanort does do that.  

Meanwhile, Kairi's apprehensions about Roxas and Xion being amazing do show up, when it comes time for them to take their Mark exam.  But even that worry was lessened because Kairi is reminded that different people are good at different things.  

Riku and Namine do have this "you need to stop being so hard on yourself" for literally everything.  But, honestly, the best interactions between them are when they're dealing with the aftermath of her shattering Marluxia and her throwing Xehanort from her head.  Good, solid, conversations.

Roxas and Xion are quietly adorable on their way to becoming masters.

Ah yes, and Axel and Kuin.  I'll talk about that now.  Sometime during Betwixt/Between, I realized that trying to pair Axel with Kuin just wasn't going to work.  It might have worked in someone's vague crack-fic after AtP had BB never been written.  But Axel being who he is and Kuin being who she is meant that that two of them would never be a healthy relationship.  And I wasn't in the mood to write an unhealthy one.  So I turned them into rivals and acquaintances, who'd never pursue anything romantically.  It felt better that way.  

Also, it let me subtly ship Akurokushi.  One of my biggest OT3s as of late. My final chapter does contain a reference to that.  

I'll continue in another (and probably final) blog about wedding traditions. 

Halloweentown (Chapters 89-93)

So this whole section starts with Axel sitting in the Gummi ship as they're all on their way to Halloween Town.  Yes, they're totally on their way to Halloween Town to go to Christmas Town so that Sora can prove to Riku that Santa exists.  That whole thing started as something that I honestly think was suggested in a review in AtP and I literally did not get around to it until now.  (Yet again a thing that was supposed to go in Betwixt and Between but didn't.)

The arc obviously expanded out after that.  It got placed this far into the fic because it wasn't a huge major plot point that needed to happen any specific time, and especially after I decided that this was where Marlynort was going down, that influenced my decision to put it here.

So, Axel on the gummi ship.  I think one of the most interesting things that came out of this chapter was Axel contemplating what time had done to him versus Leon.  Leon's still on everyone's minds after almost getting Norted in Traverse Town.  This gets the wheels in Axel's brain turning a lot because he's had several close calls with Xehanort as it is already.  Plus, he knew Leon from when they were kids on Radiant Garden.  So that's gotta be trippy.

Giving everyone new outfits for Halloween Town was interesting.  I wish I could draw better to do those... but it literally takes too much effort for me to do that right now.  Sad day.  If only I had more time.  If you want to do that though, feel free.

Anyway, then the HB gang talking about going and getting kids for the school.  Denzel is adorable.  Just saying.  Also, sticking Yuffie on a team with Leon is just amusing.  Because Rinoa's obviously not going to go because her arm hasn't quite healed yet.  Plus, Yuffie deserves to go places, I've been writing this whole thing so long where she always gets told no.  Denzel knows she gets told no a lot.  But here we go, Yuffie getting told yes.  Yay!

And then, Aerith and Zack discussing wedding plans.  And Yuffie just quietly listening in, kind of grossed out by the whole thing but at the same time rooting so hard for them it's not even funny.  And Denzel's just so surprised at how many Worlds there are.  And I actually think Yuffie does go and travel the Worlds a bit after Hollow Bastion is restored.  Not that I'm going to write that far.... (I say that now... and then we'll see where I am in two years.)

And then MINNIE AND MICKEY FLUFF which is honestly what I live for sometimes oh my gosh.

And then we've got Terra, Aqua, and Ven getting a nice break and a vacation.  With Ven all like "This isn't quite the life that I dreamed of... but this is basically the life I dreamed of."  Beautiful.  I love giving them a break because they've had such a hard time.  My babby's oh goodness.

And then we're in Christmas Town.  With new outfits again (though these one's you've probably seen examples of all over the interwebs.)  And then, they don't see Santa for long when Marlynort shows up.  And then things get real.  The line "Well, Santa, either we destroy your entire office, or we break a window" is probably one of my favorite lines.  And Santa's just like "Oh break the window."

Cue fight sequence.  It surprisingly wasn't a long one.  I could have probably made it longer, but I always struggle with whether or not it's good to write long battles with loads of detail, or shorter ones with a comparable amount of detail.  I don't want you guys to be reading battle forever.  So, I settled on a shorter one with a few Combo name drops and the whole focus being on whether or not Namine was going to be able to Shatter Marlynort.

But she was.

A++++++++ to Namine.  Overcome girl!

Then, switch gears to Cid and Shera talking about rebuilding his workshop.  Bringing back loads of things.  Woot.  Tifa and Aerith talking some more about the wedding because that's what happens when there's a wedding on the horizon.

Ah yes, then Kuin running into a Remnant.  That obviously wasn't going to be a big huge deal because the Remnant knows he can't get Kuin because of who she is--flexor, perfect balance of light and darkness--so he doesn't try.  He honestly just wants to stay clear of her because he knows she wants him dead.  But they have a little battle and then he disappears.  I wasn't super clear on whether or not she killed him--but you can assume she didn't.  Because the Remnant's a jerk.  Not that it'd matter, because he'd just respawn.

And then Marlene's first day of school and running into the Moogle Girl! I couldn't resist!

Then we have aftermath of Namine shattering Marlynort.  And I tried to do a good job showing what it would have been like for her... but honestly... *I* don't know what that would have been like.  It's not like I have those powers or anything.  So I (like every other writer) made my best guess.  Based on what I've described Namine's powers as... it did require her to be picking and prying through the memories enough to have a good grasp to shatter.

I decided that Namine shattering him was an appropriate way for him to go.  After their history in Castle Oblivion and what Marluxia has become and who Namine has grown into.  It was fitting.  So hey, Marlynort is gone.

And I know I'm halfway through a chapter here... but the next bit goes straight into Castle Oblivion.  Which is the next arc and thus next blog post.  So I'll see you for the next blog.

Larxene Sequence (various chapters between 61 and 78)

The long-awaited Larxene Sequence post.  Ah yes.  The sequence that starts in Corona and ends in Deep Space.  And while I could have talked about it a little bit at a a time in the last two posts I did, I elected not to.

Gosh, I don't even know how long ago it was now.  A year, two? But rar was talking about a crack sequence where her Riku (the Riku Replica from KH canon) comes back to the original universe (mine circa pre-3D) to take revenge on Larxene.  I saw her talking about it on Tumblr and I was like... "so what were you planning on doing with that?"  And she told me and I said "well, how about we just make that canon"

And I'm so glad I did.

I integrated it into the rough outline for Remnants when I made the outline over a year ago.  About six months ago (maybe it was eight though, time gets screwy in my head because of how many states I've lived in this year) she and I sat down and really fleshed out what happens when.  This is terribly important because we're dealing with cross-universe travel where my universe runs on average three times faster.  Which is why we've got Larxene stuff going on in my universe so back-to-back but in hers there were a couple of chapters in between parts.

We elected to each write different POVs of the same things so that way they could be integrated into Remnants and All that Remains.  That way we weren't messing with Some Things You Can't Escape and still had coherent story arcs without making you guys jump between fics.

So it starts in Corona.  The Namine Replica and the other Kairi show up in my universe.  It's decided that Namine, Kairi, and Riku are going to go.  Ironically, that makes for two Kairis, two Namines, and two Rikus in the same scene.  But hey, it's amusing.  My Namine went because I wanted the two of them to interact and her going after him as he's trying to take revenge is much more poignant than her going to rescue him from Larxene.  (Heck, that might just be insult to injury.)  Riku went because of all the darkness floating around and he's the best one for the job.  And who doesn't love two powerousing Kairi's going around?

The counting scene between Namine and the Riku Replica came from another fanfic I read about their time in Castle Oblivion.  Though it's not touched on much in either rar's or my universe... their time sucked.  It sucked a lot.  He got rewritten, a lot.  They hid from Larxene... a lot.  They came up with tricks to fight through the pain--that's one of them.  

The action went into Riku's POV because I wanted a variance of POVs and I knew I wanted Namine for the aftermath.  And Kairi was responsible for the Corona POV.  So Riku got this bit.  But it worked well because then he could see what was going on between Namine and the Riku Replica and he's pretty invested because he's been through CO too.  Anyone who remembers CO is changed.  Heck, Sora's changed and he doesn't remember it.

I don't know why I write for Larxene so well.  But I do.  And I hate myself a little.  But at the same time I bounce up and down with excitement because yay writing!

She's so messed up from the darkness, too.  It's disgusting.

Then we get Namine arguing with the Namine Replica over who should be responsible for taking blows made for Riku.  And they can really only agree on "he shouldn't" .  Namine and the Riku Replica get to reconcile a bit.  Because, she's happy he's alive.  She's happy she didn't screw him up.  She's happy he's moved on, because she didn't return his affection.  (She knew it wasn't real and she didn't really have affection for anyone at that point.)  At the same time, she tells the Riku Replica that she's moved on from being afraid of Larxene--because if there's one thing that Namine's done, even since All the Pieces, it's get stronger and less afraid.  I'm so happy with her character development.  And this scene really encapsulates it.

Then comes the next chapter, which was stuff I knew had to be discussed, but rar and I decided that it didn't need to happen in front of the Riku Replica.  And this is the stuff about Namine and shattering.  And how she doesn't want to touch Larxene's memories.  At all.  She's messed with Xehanort's a bit, but she doesn't want to touch Larxene.  She doesn't want to relive any of that.  She doesn't want to see what happened to her and the Riku Replica through Larxene's eyes.  She doesn't want to put herself through that--and I. Don't. Blame. Her.

That whole thing started when rar and I were talking about who was actually going to kill Larxene.  Naturally, the idea of Namine shattering Larxene came up.  And neither Namine nor I liked the idea.  That is why.

The next chapter of this sequence is the Larxene POV chapter.  I don't really know why I decided to do that, but Larxene was presenting me with information, so I took it.  I took her anger, her crazy, her messed up mind, and I wrote a chapter out of it.  She's scared of a couple of things (her emotions included) and angry at everything else.  And she's going to take it out on the Riku Replica.  Because he started it.

Vexen's bit was great, too.  Because Vexen at first is just like "oh, I wasn't aware that we had any Larxene Replicas left" and Riku's like "that's the actual Larxene because I may have tried to murder her in cold blood."  But then Vexen gets a golden moment and gets to protect Riku and it's great.  Not that it was terribly effective--but he tried!

Then Vexen, Aerith, and Namine show up in my universe and take Axel, Roxas, and Xion with them to go save Riku from Larxene.  Axel literally just went because he wanted to mess with Vexen.  Because Axel's on his own side.  Yup.

Axel and Larxene opposing each other is a beautiful thing.  Because they have a history.  That whole CO thing.  Axel goes into his pattern of lazy defense.  And then he goes and forms his specialty of vertical dark corridors to allow Riku to fall through and right into his arms.  Because Axel's good at that sort of thing.  Oh man, and the whole "got it memorized" thing that he does to Aerith.  Golden.  Same with him saying that he should have killed Larxene back in CO.  Any of the times.  Because the last time, he just sent her to Atlantica.  And he's probably regretting that right about now.  But hey, it's time to finish her once and for all.

I have to admit, Roxas and Xion aren't necessarily out of their league, but they really don't know what to do with Larxene.  Neither of them know her all that well.  Not like Axel or Vexen who have histories with her.   Gosh.  The history between the three of them is rich.

"Stop throwing your ice where I'm throwing my fire and we won't have this problem."

Because they would.

Then comes the big reveal of Vexen.  I don't entirely remember why I wanted him to keep that secret.  Maybe so there could be a big reveal.  Maybe because Larxene might throw less hatred in his direction. But he kept it from her and then she got to realize through his caring about Riku who he was.  Fun times.

Larxene being distressed about potentially being an experiment of his is a glorious thing.

And then Vexen's the one to kill her.  Because rar and I decided that was appropriate.  But she talked about that on her blog, so I'll just leave it at that.

And for once, Axel doesn't take all the credit.  But he demands that Vexen thank him.  And Vexen thanks him without a second thought because Vexen is indeed helpful but "Don't make me say it again, Axel."  Because yeah.

Kay, I think I'm out of juice for this, but I did talk a lot.  I hope you enjoyed what is probably one of my top three sequences in this whole fic.

A Growing Family (ch58)

And not because anyone's getting pregnant! They just keep adopting people! *MINE*

Chapter

(no tumblr, I apparently didn't have any tumblr-length thoughts this time around)

Well, this whole sequence ended up being a lot longer than originally planned.  And by sequence I definitely mean the "family feels fest in Traverse Town" sequence.  Also known as Cloud's first visit slash the visit where Zack and Rinoa are both there at the same time.

I just kept adding things to it, though! And so long as I figured the things I was adding were productive, I just kept adding chapters.  Though, this is actually the last of the chapters of this sequence/arc/thingy.  Not quite like the "end of a volume" sort of thing, like with what happened by the end of the FFVIII arc, but certainly the end of a longer sequence-arc than just a chapter.  I'll stop talking now because I can feel myself make less and less sense as I continue.

by twin-cosplay on dA

Anyway, have a picture of Yuffie because this girl is an awesome cosplayer of her.

Also, I just love how everyone ended up getting divided into chapters.  Aerith and Rinoa ended up together, where they kept trying to "out-polite" each other as KKBeckett put it.  Aerith does this frequently, she did it at the end of AtP when Tifa and Cloud showed up and it all ended with Yuffie giving up her bed for a bit.  (They've since added another room up there.)

Meanwhile, Zack and Leon go inspecting because the two of them get along pretty great.  And Cloud's just helping Cid because he can, but he's also betting Yuffie because he wants munny for a new sword.  Yup.  I just.  Yup.

But then Zack and Cloud have to leave because Cloud has to leave because he doesn't want to hurt anyone.  Zack has absolutely no idea why Cloud thinks this, but he wants to do what's best for Cloud.  Aerith, as usual, is super supportive of the whole thing, but it's sad because they have to say goodbye and *sniffle* my feels.  

Review Responses:
archsage: I don't think it's so much as Yuffie has a crush on Cloud, as she admires him for whatever reason.  She just decided one day (the day he first showed up) that she was going to like him.  She respects him because he's not Leon, he's not cranky-pants (Cid).  He's not even Zack, who she has to like because he's an extension of Aerith.  And he's certainly not Rinoa, who really just doesn't know how to deal with Yuffie.  (And that's probably because Rinoa had her own mischievous days and she's still that way and she really doesn't spend too much time for Yuffie, and her case was already sunk because of Leon.)  Cloud actually sort of cares for Yuffie in a way.

Anyway, that was a rant.  I appear to have come off as unclear.  I haven't actually watched any of RWBY, but it's certainly on my to-do list.  I keep seeing it show up on my tumblr dash and I know I just need to start watching it.  But, no, right? Kairi! And Rinoa! Ugh! His portrayal or Rinoa is wonderful!

And I kind of feel bad about Kiros and Ward, but I have such a huge cast already that I just... *sigh* I really can't!

KKBeckett: I think I ship Zerith harder than I ship Namiku.  And that's saying something.

Teaser Quotes:

"Why can't I go?"
"Because it's too dangerous."
"But they're going!"
"I don't think they should go either.  But I can't stop them.  They're all adults."

"Well, it looks like it's settled then.  You can't go anywhere until you're at least fourteen."

"Don't you even think about using Fire to light the stove.  It lights on its own."

"Well, let's head outside.  I hate leaving from indoors..."

"There's a difference between knowing and seeing."

And... well... I have feels about this video because it's just so darn beautiful.

Light Aura (64)

art by Mandi Cottontail (mandicottontail) on deviantArt.
  


I must confess I am slightly saddened by the lack of reviews.  However, I am sure that the lack is probably do to all of you being busy (something with which I am very well acquianted with.)  Anyway, so I'm going to give my notes on the chapter and then reply to the two reviews and then all future reviews can be replied to in a future blog post! (I will still reply if you review after I post, I promise!!!)

All right, so I really only have one note on thic chapter, actually.  It's about how Namine levelled.  Based on my last post, I believe that brings her up to Level 9, giving her the ability to Scan.  (Based on KH1 standards, which is the ability list that I have.)

Namine levelling is also why her energy was restored.  Like how you come up to full health and magic when you level up in Kingdom Hearts.  You do that, right? I'm not imagining things? Correct me if I'm wrong.  I could be crazy.

Is it kind of convenient that she levelled a chapter after her and Riku were talking about it? Yes.  Does it really matter? I don't think so.  

Anywho, that's my only note.  I'm going to update the Combos page with the Light Aura information.  Go figure, Light Aura is more like a Limit than a Combo.  Riku and Namine seem to have the propensity for Limits when they are at the brink of exhaustion than for Combos that are a flaunt of their power.  Go figure.

I'm just making up comments as I go along on this.  So, rar and I came up with this backstory about Namine.  (Kind of independently of each other, now that I think about it.) Basically, Larxene used to shoot lightning at Namine as well as the Repliku, to bother Repliku.  Or to prove something to Namine.  Did Larxene really need a reason? No.  Namine then basically built up a hatred of lightning so strong that she refuses to learn Thunder magic.  

KKBeckett, in those notes, I think I've actually answered all of your questions and comments.  Other than the fact that you can sure as heck TRY and shoot Larxene, but you can't kill her yet, I need her.  (Sadly.)

My dear Guest, I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter and I made you laugh! I like putting little conventions in there like Heartless dropping money for laughter's sake.  

Anywho, that's all the responses.  Just a little update on stuff.  I HAVE actually finished all of Betwixt and Between. Four more chapters and an epilogue.  Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be posting chapters.  I finished writing last night.  Rar's read through everything and content-wise, stuff is great.  I am going to read things through again and whatnot before posting, and I don't want to put a whole bunch of chapters up at once, so I will be spacing them out.  I'll still blog and stuff.  I'm going to (hopefully) be managing another blog for the novel that I am literally picking up in two days for a rewrite.  I'll give a link to that blog in a future blog post on here if you wish to follow that blog for the next couple of months.  (I would appreciate it! I have come to accept a lot of you as more than just readers, but as friends, almost! :) )

Okay, so... enough of me rambling, have a nice day!!

Comparisons Between Couples

Well, something was nagging me in the back of my mind as I was putting together the Zack and Aerith post, so I figured I'd go ahead and do this now while I'm thinking about it.

You see 

and

have a lot in common.  

Cosplays are by Konoe-Lifestream and VandorWolf/twinfools respectively.  

Both have a history.  Sora and Kairi grew up together.  Aerith and Zack met when they were teenagers, but have since grown into a very happy-go-lucky couple like Sora and Kairi are.  And Sora and Kairi have only recently become a couple because Sora took his time getting it through his head that there are these things called GIRLS and... (i won't continue...)

Kairi's going to get more powerful magically.   And can't you just see Kairi as a healer? I mean... it's staring me right in the face.  I don't know about the rest of you.  

And Sora and Zack both have this habit of charging into things and Kairi and Aerith just sigh and follow and Cure them when things get ugly.

The couples have a lot in common.

Similarly,

and

have a lot in common.

Cosplays are by Eyes-0n-Me and KIPPER-love/QueenRachael respectively.  And if I thought finding cute pictures of Namine and Riku were hard... finding cute cosplays is harder.  

Anywho.  These two have so much alike in their fighting styles.  They're histories have a bit in common as well, I suppose.  Neither couple grew up together.  They were more or less thrown together under a set of circumstances and ended up falling for each other somewhere in the process.  Rinoa's homeland was threatened and she needed mercenaries and she found Leon.  Riku and Namine were both responsible for bringing Sora back.  

Leon and Riku are both the type of fighter... not to really charge into things... but to assess the situation, go in, and cream everything else.  Is there really anything else to say in that regard?

Rinoa and Namine don't really get INTO the battle.  They stay off to the side.  I mean, yes, Rinoa will get into a battle if she has to, she has her blaster-edge (and if I haven't said it before, I'll say it again, I wouldn't put it past her to steal one of Leon's old gunblades and use that as well).  Namine has been known to use pencils as weapons when she gets in close.  I'm probably going to get her a knife in the future.  Or Riku will get her a knife... But, when Rinoa and Namine aren't in the middle of things, they're off to the side, casting magic or shattering memories and looking out for everyone else.  (Mainly Leon and Riku...)

Again, there's quite the amount of similarities.

By that logic, you would assume that...

was like

right?

Cosplays by Adellexe/Aiiki and MiciaGlo on deviantArt, respectively.

Well, I suppose.  Sort of.  It would help if Cloud and Tifa were actually a couple.  Because, they're not.  Not yet, anyway.  And I have no idea when that's going to happen, because Cloud's too busy dealing with his darkness to understand anything about relationships.  But Tifa's waiting for him.  Aside from that, I mean, there are still similarities.  Both couples grew up together.  Cloud grew up with Tifa.  Roxas and Xion... well, they kinda grew up together.  Even though they were "born" at the ripe old age of 14 or so.  They were both certainly friends first.  So, there are some similarities.

Xion and Tifa are both horribly stubborn.  They want what's best for others first, before thinking about what's best for themselves.  Tifa would follow (and has followed) Cloud to the edges of the universe and Xion would do the exact same thing for Roxas.  They are both 'in-your-face' fighters.  They don't like taking 'no' for an answer.  They also won't take crap from anyone.  And they'll both beat you up if they don't particularly like the looks of you.

Cloud and Roxas... well, they both have spiky blonde hair.  They can both be moody.  Though... it's hard to call Roxas moody, really.  He's gotten considerably better now that he has a heart.  Though, maybe Cloud will be better once he's dealt with his Sephiroth problem.  He wasn't always a moody kid.  Both boys are certainly strong fighters with powerful swords.  Both certainly care about their friends and will go to great lengths to protect them.  

So the similarities are more than you'd originally think.

And, well, that's all I really have to say.  

Namiku

Picture by spirasen on deviantArt.

Namiku art is not as easily come by as SoKai art, however, I have a folder in my favorites on deviantArt, so... it's easily accessible for me.

Go figure, I do have some Namiku art of my own, but it's all for rar's Namiku, and it'd be weird putting it here.  Just saying.  

So, anyway.  Namine and Riku as a couple in my fic.

Sometime in All the Pieces, I came to the realization that I had been shipping Namiku before I even knew I was shipping Namiku.  This may be because a lot of Rokushi shippers end up being Namiku shippers, but I'm not sure that was always the case.  Regardless, either I ended up pairing them in the back of my mind and they jumped on it; I took a leaf out of rar's book and I paired them; or they paired themselves.  All of those options are incredibly viable.  Whatever the case, they're a couple, and they're a pretty darn strong one, too.

Note their combo.

Anywho, Riku is a Keyblade Master and a very powerful one at that.  He's always been very good athletically.  Always.  Namine... well, she certainly isn't very athletic.  She probably can run pretty fast, but she's not one for hand-to-hand combat in any case.  Why do you think she gave herself an ability that can be utilized from the edges of a battlefield? Or atop a ship mast? She doesn't like to be up close and in your face.  Granted, I do have plans to get her a knife in the near future, for sticky situations like the one she landed herself in in Neverland.  (However, I’m certainly taking my time getting her that knife… but, she’s been learning combos and stuff with Kairi since then, so it’s almost excusable.  Almost.)

Even still, the two (back to Riku and Namine) are a powerful couple back-to-back.  

Their other combo, which I have yet to explore, is called Light Aura.  Theoretically, it's kind of like Riku's Dark Aura (in KH1 and CoM/RR, where it was still epic and awesome) but with a light-twist. 

No, Namine's not all-light like Kairi.  But she's pretty close.  The only parts of her heart that can be affected by darkness are the ones that are data.  And, arguably, data can't be affected by darkness.  (Note rar's Riku) Though, some Vexen Replica in my head somewhere is saying that data can be corrupted or rewritten.  Though, Namine's not going to ever be rewritten to be evil and dark.  Just throwing that one out there.  NOT an idea I'm ever planning to explore.  Anywho, but Namine is pretty darn light, and she can utilize light attacks to complement Riku's darker ones.  Plus... oh, I had a thought... where did it go... grr... um... OH! Yes.  Namine can also wield a Keyblade if it is handed to her.  And she knows basic spells like Cure, Protect, Blizzard and Fire.  (Not sure if she knows Thunder magic yet or not…)

Yes, Riku has problems with his darkness.  Currently, however, it is very in check.  Namine is kind of his light in a way.  Have I mentioned this in-fic somewhere? Maybe? I think I hinted at it in a crossover... Anyway, Namine's pretty much Riku's light, and he's holding onto that.  Granted, he's also holding onto the light for the rest of his friends, but Namine has suddenly become a very big part of that.  (Not that the rest of his friends mind, they just want to see him happy.)  In the long run, Riku's going to get better.  He'll get a bit battle-hardened, but he won't have any long-term falls into the darkness again.  He may have short pitfalls that he'll regret, but nothing long-standing.  

As a couple battling alongside each other, perhaps their biggest strength is their tenacity.  They don't want to give up.  They're both very stubborn.  However, this can also be one of their biggest weaknesses, if they don't know when to back down.  Both of them are smart though.  Riku's seen a ton and Namine can gain a lot of information from a predicament just by taking a moment to sit and listen/see/whatever you want to call it.  They are both highly analytical and strategical.  There isn't any running into battle without thinking first.  Both of them are very strong with their weapons. 

And, without a doubt, if she were in danger, he'd be there to rescue her.  And vice-versa.  Without a doubt.  The bond that they share already is a strong one.

Plus, they're just adorable.

art by im-a-tumor on deviantArt. 

Namine's biggest strength is her ability to see into anyone's memories and follow the chain and learn just about anything she'd need or want to, given the time.  However, this becomes her weakness when the memories become too much for her to handle.  Say, if the memories are just too dark for her to handle in large groups.  Or, if the memories are something that she'd care not to remember herself.  (There are some if you think about it.)  No, she doesn't have meltdowns from them, but they certainly can be bothersome (or crippling, even.)

Riku's biggest strength is probably his physical strength.  He can slash through just about anything he puts his mind to.  His biggest weakness is NOT actually risking falling into darkness, though even he may think it is that.  His biggest weakness is, actually, the fact that he tries to do so many things alone, without the help of his friends.  He's hopefully going to get better, especially with Namine so bound and determined to follow him.  But, then it could almost come down to a 'who's stubborner' debate.  Don't make me answer that, I don't have an answer.  

But, overall, Namine and Riku are both very strong and certainly a force to be reckoned with. 

And, because I believe Riku can play the piano:

art by ThePiChef on deviantArt.

That is all.

The Girlfriends

This is a little something I wrote up MONTHS ago.  This is what happens when you let the characters in my head sit down and have tea. 

William, Kat, Alice and Tristan belong to me.  (They were featured in the Magical Meeting chapters!) Everyone else belongs to Squeenix. 

So, cue William, Tristan, Cloud, Zack, Sora, Riku and Leon sitting down and having tea.  (I'm not sure why Roxas wasn't in this conversation... he just wasn't... sorry Roxas...) Then they all start bragging.  Guess what they're bragging about? Their girlfriends.  Yup. 

Tristan: "My girlfriend (Alice) can take people out with her shoes."

Cloud: "My girlfriend can take on a man twice her size with her bare hands."

Riku: "My girlfriend can take down enemies from the inside out."

William: "My girlfriend (Kat) can wrap you up in a ball of your own emotions.  And she can control the elements."

Sora: "My girlfriend's a princess, and she can fight."

Leon: "My girlfriend's an angel."

Zack: "My girlfriend's a goddess."

Yup. So, Zack... wins? Sure... idk... as I was reading this to rar.. she was all like... "Yeah! Sora's won... Kairi's a princess! Oh, okay, yeah, Rinoa wins..." And then I mentioned Aerith... yeah....

Not that I'm saying this is canon... though, I mean, it's all true.  Alice has knocked people unconscious with her shoes, Tifa's... Tifa... Namine can do her thing with the memories, Kat has, on ONE occasion, wrapped someone up in a ball of his own anger and then left him there.  Kairi's a princess, Rinoa is, for all intents and purposes of this conversation, an angel, and Aerith's a Cetra... which is basically a goddess.

So... yeah...

OHMYGOSH.  Link.  With Zelda being the Goddess Hylia in Skyward Sword and all.  Link ties Zack.  Woohoo!  (Not that I’ve ever written for Link before… but *shrug* I just thought of it because I’ve been having Skyward Sword feels lately—the soundtrack will do that to you)

On the Couples and their Darkness Levels

There are a TON of different pairings/couples in my KHverse.  What's amusing is the differing levels of darkness within any individual couple.  And, I'm posting about it because it's interesting.

First, the obvious one, Sora and Kairi.  Both have incredible amounts of light in their hearts.  Kairi contains no darkness whatsoever.  Sora has a little bit more darkness now that Ven is gone, but he's completely in-check when it comes to his darkness.  There is a SMALL possibility that I may play with Sora's darkness growing, but I mean, if I went too horribly far with it I might as well just be writing rar's story, so I'm not going there.  This is why their combo is called Fated Faith and is completely light-based. 

The next one in high lightness is Zack and Aerith.  Aerith has only the TINIEST bit of darkness inside of her.  Zack's is under control and not causing problems for him.  They don't have any epic combos together, but I mean, both of them are pretty darn powerful.  (Zack isn't the strongest magically, especially compared to Aerith, but he's all for the brute-force hack-and-slash.)  The reason why they don’t particularly have any combos together is BECAUSE they have such different fighting styles. Aerith is mostly magic with a little bit of melee, Zack is all melee with magic when he has to.

Anyway, Next comes Roxas and Xion.  Roxas has got a lot of light, but nothing when put up against people like Aerith and Kairi.  Xion's a replica with her heart built pretty neutral in light versus darkness.  She was originally put together like that by a Nobody who couldn't know the workings of a heart if he tried.  Her next design took on that essence to keep Xion's personality intact.  They can bust out light-attacks pretty quickly though, like Event Horizon and Call of Light.  

The one in perfect neutral balance is Squall and Rinoa though.  Well, they're at least in the middle of all the couples.  Though Rinoa has to maintain complete neutrality because of her Sorceress Status and Squall has to uphold her to that.  They can bust out both light and dark combos (holy vs meteor etc.) with no negative effects.  They are a force to be reckoned with.  I mean, come on, chain-casting Angel Wing and a Lionhearted Renzokuken on the side? You're dead if you're on the receiving end of that.  (Ultima Weapon, anyone? I could probably kill Omega with that too if I went and tried.  (It's on my list of things to do.)  That’s how I did it.  (Well, actually, I think with Ultima, I had Angel Wing going and then he killed Rinoa and I had a Limit lined up for Squall and I just got LUCKY and got Lionheart.))

Then, it's honestly a question of who's dealing with least darkness: Riku, Terra, or Cloud?

Riku's surprisingly dealing with the least.  Even though you could argue that Tifa has more light than Namine, Cloud CERTAINLY is dealing with more darkness than Riku to make up for it.  Riku will still have problems with his darkness.  He tries to keep it in check, but there are times when the power gets the better of him and he starts to slip.  Namine does her best to keep him in check and he's grateful for it.   Namine, on the other hand, it quite light.  She was formed from Kairi's heart which is pure light.  The only thing that can contain darkness is the data that was built into her to make up for her Nobody status.  In no way is Namine innocent and darkness free.  However, she's in check with herself--just a tad guilty and mopey sometimes.  Regardless of their (Riku and Namine’s) darkness levels, they're still ridiculously powerful.  I mean, just look at their Limit Decompression! And, I’m working on getting them a combo too.  (It’s coming up in a chapter that I haven’t written yet, but I’m in the sequence at least!)

Next comes, well, probably Terra and Aqua. Yes, I'm shipping them.  Or, I intend to.  They're not anywhere near a couple yet.  But, I figure they will be eventually.  I like Tequa better than Venqua.  They're closer in age.  Granted, this is a couple I haven't particularly explored all that much.  Terra's dealing with darkness moreso than Riku however, considering he was possessed by Xehanort for way longer than Riku was.  Aqua's pretty neutral and in check and she'll do her best to keep Terra in check.

Cloud and Tifa are at the bottom.  Cloud's got way more darkness to deal with, considering his is a physical manifestation of it.  Yay.  Once Sephiroth is gone, things'll probably change, but, Sephiroth has to die first.  And that's gonna be a while.  Tifa is a very bright person and is just what Cloud needs to help him.  However, he needs to learn to listen a bit more.

So, where do Axel and Kuin fit on this? Well... heheh... probably right after Squall and Rinoa now that I'm looking at it.  Kuin fights for the side of light, but in no way does that make her heart completely pure.  She's a flexor like Rinoa, as explored in the Magical Meeting chapter.  Axel is... well... heheh... far from completely light.  He's got his own darkness to deal with, though it's more in check than Riku's but less in check than Leon’s. 

And... yeah... that's the couples and darkness levels.

I realized something about the couples...

All the pictures contained herein are from one of the KH Mangas.  The SoKai picture I believe is from one of the Reverse/Rebirth chapters of the CoM Manga (rar, correct me if I'm wrong).  The Namiku Picture IS from the CoM Manga and the Rokushi picture is from the Days Manga.  (I did edit out some white space in between them though.)

I was writing something the other day and I couldn't help but notice the differences between all the different pairings that I write for my fics.

My SoKai is almost like a relief to everyone (myself included) that Sora FINALLY got it through his head that he can, in fact, tell Kairi that he does like her.  Kairi knew from (at the very least, the beginning of my fic, if not before—probably before.) that she liked Sora.  However, she just chose not to say anything to him for fear of him not returning the affection/not wanting to be the first to say anything.  Therefore, now that they are together, they're like, the perfect happy couple.  They obviously love each other, they'll tease each other, they don't excessively make out with each other in public; instead, they'll hold each other's hands, they'll watch out for each other, he'll bring her over for dinner, she'll bring him over for dinner.  Riku and Roxas will tease the heck out of them.  They're cute, they're happy.  Both of them are Keyblade wielders and both are very powerful (well, Kairi's getting there) and will eventually make a very kick*** team.  They’re the ones that you see dancing at the school dance completely oblivious to the world around them for one song, then laughing with all their friends the next.  Sometimes, it’s a little awkward to be around them because you’ll feel like a third wheel, other times, it’s not.  It’s like, just happy-making (to use a Westerfeld term) to see them be around each other.  (At least, when you’re not just face-palming how oblivious they can be sometimes)

 

Namiku is special.  Namiku has always been special. Rarmaster and I talk all the time on how you can never underestimate the power of the Namiku (or, for short, just them (accompanied by a little hand-flick to generalize where they are)).  When I write one of them in a scene, it’s fine.  Like, for instance, Namine will be having a completely rational conversation in her head and then Riku shows up and, all of a sudden, her thoughts just go pshew! and they’re only half-coherent.  Riku’s pretty much the same way.  They’ll make contact with each other in a scene and they’re thoughts will just go exploding into fluff and I have to yell at them to focus.  Namiku is like, a bi-polar couple.  They’ll be incredibly fluffy one minute, then really down-to-earth the next.  Both of them are too smart (and too powerful) for their own good.  They bicker, too.  Yet, they’re not an unstable couple.  They’re honest and upfront with each other.  They’re not afraid to tell the other what’s on their mind.  They have yet to actually kiss, but when that scene comes, well, yeah… *ignores their fluffiness* They protect each other very effectively.  They’re also the ones where if something happens to one, the other’s gonna go on a murderous rampage.  Yeah, that’s Namiku.  And I feel like this paragraph isn’t doing them justice…

Compared to the other two pairings, Rokushi is very quiet and subdued.  Like, I’ll be writing and Namiku will make it very obvious that they are a THEM.  SoKai does the same thing, just in different ways.  (Though, Namiku seems to want to make it more obvious than it actually is.  Go figure.)  Rokushi, on the other hand, is just simply, quieter.  Like, if you were to look at them, you’d just guess that they were really good friends.  But, yet, they share many moments together in private.  Both of them are very private people I suppose.  They’re also the most competitive of the pairings.  They’re the two that you will see sparring to better themselves one day, and to compete with each other to see who is better the next.  Both are very efficient on their enemy destruction. Then, looking deeper, you realize just how much Roxas cares for Xion and vice versa.  He will quietly come up behind her and put his arms around her and tell her how beautiful she looks.  She’ll come up to him and slide her hand into his and then they’ll stay like that for several minutes before they realize that there’s something else to be done.  THEY are the couple that you’ll never feel like a third wheel around.  (Though Axel begs to differ).  There is less tension between them now that all the feelings are out in the open.  Because of all the stuff that they have done for each other already, they are quite the unstoppable force.  

Character Corner: Namine

Name: Namine

Age: 16

Weapon: Memories.  Also a Keyblade, she just cannot summon one on her own.  She will use Riku’s or Kairi’s when they are handed to her.  Also, in a combo she has with Kairi, she wields not one, but seven Keblades.    

Quote: “I’ll show YOU worthless.”

The Absolutely Adorable and yet Completely Scary Master of Memories

Namine grew up quite a ton during the time that she spent sharing a heart and mind with Kairi.  Her determination lead to the restoration of many lives and hearts.  Namine’s own separation from Kairi was purely for selfless reasons so she could better restore others.  Namine now has the ability to see and sift through everyone’s memories, regardless of a connection to Sora.  She does not abuse this power, though.  She only looks through memories when she is given a reason to or if she has permission (which Riku will give her on occasion.)

Namine knows basic magic attacks, most notably Cure.  She can also perform light attacks because she holds a part of Kairi's heart.  An interesting thing to note is that Namine may be viewed by some to be part-Princess of Heart because she holds this part of Kairi's heart.  Currently, Namine is working on honing in on her white magic skills, taking lessons from people like Aerith and Rinoa, but also learning together with Kairi.  Namine may not look like much, but she is easily very, very dangerous.

She once gave Xehanort a splitting headache because he was about to split Riku’s heart in-two.  She could have shattered him, given enough concentration; however, she stopped because she did not want to shatter another person’s memories again.  She was confronted with the same situation with Captain Hook in Neverland, where she realized just how simple it would have been to shatter him, but she refrained again, for the same reasons.  She still feels guilty about shattering the Riku Replica’s memories. 

Now, Namine knows that the Riku Replica is safe in another universe.  She is grateful for this and would like to see him happy.  However, she knows that appearing to him would be bad for him given his current emotional state, so she will patiently wait.  From that other universe, though, she has almost met her match when she runs into Sora’s Shadow—which she has done twice now.  She doesn’t quite know what to do with him and has since resolved to feel almost sorry for him. 

She and Riku are becoming quite the team.  They would easily do anything for each other.  Promises mean everything to them.  Everything from the promises to see more worlds to the promises to never keep anything from the other.  Promises mean everything to them.  Namine and Riku may have taken a while to realize they like each other, but they have quickly grown into a powerful force to be reckoned with.

Namine herself is a force to be reckoned with, no matter how you look at it.  She is no longer afraid to speak her mind.  Her battle prowress is impressive.  Not only can she take out massive amounts of Heartless at once in battle with only a little bit of backlash, but she can also carry around a Keyblade without it disappearing and destroy enemies that way as well.  She is not afraid to take risks, yet she is also very kindhearted.  She is… Namine.

Character Corner: Riku

Name: Riku

Age: 17

Weapon: Way to Dawn

Quote: "It took me a bit to realize just what protecting the things that matter entailed, but I think I have it figured out now."

The Keyblade Master with a Dark Past.

Riku has quite the interesting past, including fighting on the side of the Darkness.  However, he fights on the side of Light now and is working towards atoning for his past sins.  He’s even getting better about not brooding so much.  He knows it is his duty to protect the worlds and he goes to do so without question.  He doesn’t dive head-first into problems like some of his friends do, rather he steps back and examines the best course of action.  However, if he is angry, all bets are off.  No one wants to cross Riku when he is angry. 

It took Riku quite a bit to realize that brooding was not the best response to his past actions.  Kairi and Sora told him repeatedly that no one held his actions against him.  Traveling around with Axel, someone who has done his own slew of bad things, put Riku’s life into perspective.  Aerith told Riku to forgive himself.  But it was Namine who finally broke through Riku’s walls and told him to simply “stop being so guilty.”

Riku’s attraction to Namine was slow-coming.  During Namine’s Nobody status, it wasn’t something that Riku was thinking about in the slightest because he was too busy trying to get Sora back.  While Kairi and Namine shared the same heart and mind, it just wasn’t something that was possible.  Riku could admire certain aspects about Namine, but he could hardly begin to admire her as her own person.  (Though, during this time period, everyone else noticed that Riku had some sort of feelings for Namine.)  It is only after Kairi and Namine are separate that Riku and Namine end up having a slightly awkward conversation in which both of them admit that they have affections for one another. 

After the Battle of Castle Oblivion, Riku comes up with the idea of going out to individual worlds and taking care of enemy problems while using Destiny Islands as a base.  He has come to the conclusion that there really is no place like home when he is alongside his friends and loved ones.  He knows he fights for the side of light now, and nothing is going to stop him from doing so.  Riku is a very powerful fighter.  He is easily the strongest Keyblade Wielder that is based out of Destiny Islands, though that doesn’t necessarily make him the best.  He accepts this and does his best to do just that—his best.