The World that Never Was (Chapters 18-24)

Darn, broke the 8 chapter an arc thing.  (It wasn't going to last anyway.)

The World That Never Was arc was to wrap up a few more things started in Betwixt and Between (and referenced in Can't Escape) that (again) didn't get finished.  Mostly it was the large amount of darkness that was running rampant around, and the fact that TWTNW also had a DCP running.  That Larxene managed to stop.  Go her.  Except, don't root for her.

pretty sure this is from the novelizations

Plus, I had to have somewhere that Larxene and Marluxia had been camping out that no one's noticed.  And they're still around and need to be dealt with.  Unlike Luxord and Demyx, who have basically turned good and can just continue doing what they're doing.

Organization XIII roll-call!
-Xemnas (Xehanort): Oh look, blasted little Remnants running around.
-Xigbar: Location unknown
-Xaldin: Deceased as of the Badlands in AtP by Sora's hand
-Vexen: MIA--currently running around rar's universe
-Lexaeus: Killed by Xehanort in Hollow Bastion when the Org had control of the castle
-Zexion (Ienzo): Running a shop in Hollow Bastion town
-Saix: Ruined by his own darkness (not helped by Xehanort's) at the end of AtP in Castle Oblivion
-Axel: With Roxas and Xion.  Get it memorized.
-Demyx (The Great Demetrius): Running around doing concerts on his sitar
-Luxord: He's Demyx's manager
-Marluxia: Causing trouble
-Larxene: Causing trouble
-Roxas: Does this even count?
-Xion: See above.

Meanwhile, Aqua, Terra, and Ven are trying to track down pieces of Xehanort's past.  Starting in Castle Oblivion clearly wasn't a bad idea.  Especially because Aqua at this point knows that it was once the Land of Departure and it's a pretty safe bet that even if I didn't write it in (I can't find it, but I'm also not looking terribly hard) that she told Terra and Ven that they're walking around their home.  Oh wait, she did.  Because Ven wouldn't be asking about their rooms otherwise.  This particular mission is them getting the remainder of the journals.  And then determining that they need to go to TWTNW because Terra thinks he can get into Xemnas' bedroom.

And them of course they run into a Remnant.  But the Remnant didn't bother them.  (This won't be the first time that the Remnant's like... eh, I'll bother you later.)  He wants to be ready to make a vessel.  And when he ran into the three of them, he really was just messing with them.  And trying to plant seeds of hopelessness.  Because those are important.

Besides, then he went to go and try and make a vessel out of Roxas.  Not that that worked.  Roxas was a little winded, but no major damage was done.  

from Advent Children Compete

Meanwhile, Cloud and Tifa are in Midgar, getting maintenance done on Cloud's bike.  I love the whole scene of Cloud and Tifa in the diner.  With Zack calling them and everything. And then they find Denzel.  Because I wanted so bad to include Denzel (I hinted to it in the Prequel.)  And I just love how Cloud and Tifa just pick Denzel up and are like "nope, keeping you."  I kind of modeled it after how Cloud finds Denzel in Advent Children, but obviously this isn't Aerith's church (Aerith doesn't really have a church in KH canon, the one in Traverse Town is probably the closest, but hey.)
Then we've got the journals.  In which Xigbar's journal is actually the most useful.  Because he's the one that remembers everything.  I believe that Xehanort's brain is a bit holey.  But Xehanort was really good at starting to make clones.  He was super successful with Xigbar and Saix--especially after Saix was marked as a recursant.

And then we get Cloud and Tifa returning to Hollow Bastion with Denzel and everyone being like "no one wants to call Aerith, so let's deal with this without her here because she needs a vacation gosh darnit"  But it's cool, they managed.  Plus, because it's mako-poisoning, Aerith actually has less experience with that because she didn't grow up anywhere near Shinra.  Cloud, Tifa, and Zack did.  Fun fact.

Things I'm super okay with:
-Xion flipping the lights on and off in the gummi ship to wake people up
-How everyone wakes everyone up in general
-Riku's fierce protectiveness of Namine regarding Larxene
-Xion knowing how to break into nearly everyone's rooms
-Demyx's door
-Finding Larxene's journal in a book about torture
-Roxas showing off against Neoshadows
-Xion and Roxas using each other's Keyblades periodically
-Axel saying that Xehanort was rude for going after Roxas' heart
-The FF7 Character's interactions with each other.
-Xigbar realizing that he's part Xehanort
-Saix's behavior after being marked as a recursant

Snippets here and there (ch68)

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So, like, I can’t say too much about any of these because ALL THE DARN SPOILERS.  You’ll find out in a couple of chapters.

But let me tell you, all the Heartless in Traverse Town is NOT A GOOD thing.

Meanwhile, Luxord has been found by the Organization and Vexen’s contemplating a Replica Program. 

But THIS PART.  I can say stuff about this:

Cloud is bothered by the great amounts of darkness in this world.  He can almost feel the darkness growing.  In addition to the darkness in the world growing, he can feel the darkness growing in his own heart.  He doesn’t want to say anything about it, though.  If it were just him and Zack, he’d say something, but he doesn’t want to worry Aerith, so he keeps quiet.  (Originally it was he didn’t know Aerith all that well, but then things changed, so it’s mostly that he just doesn’t want to worry her.)  Anyway, the darkness in the world continues to grow as they wander around.  Heartless begin appearing.  Zack and Cloud draw their swords and Aerith pulls out her staff to fight.  As they’re fighting, Cloud becomes in pain.  Zack assumes that something has hurt him, but this is not the case, Cloud is in pain because something inside of him is stirring.

BECAUSE I HAVE HAD MOST OF THAT PLOTTED OUT FOR FREAKING EVER.  Just WAIT until you see what happens NEXT.  *nods excitedly*

by Namineh on dA

And then, simply ending that there and doing a cute little snippet on Destiny Islands.  I try to do one of those periodically enough so that way you can tell how they’re growing up and whatnot.  And Riku totally has a crush on Kairi, but he knows Sora likes her too, so he doesn’t do anything, especially because Kairi doesn’t appear to like either over the other.  (There’s a part of me that wonders if he likes the Namine part of Kairi? But I really haven’t thought about that too much.)  Anyway….

Yeah, I think I’m gonna stop there before I end up giving away some awful spoiler.

Teaser Quotes:

“You’re the last person I expected to walk through that door.”

“Here.  Eat.”

“The spell works better against dark forces, I’ll admit.  But you’re getting the hang of it with just the furniture.”

“Tell me about where you’re from.  I always love to hear stories.”

“Ooh, that Maleficent is a horrible witch.”

Last Christmas Video guys, promise: (because I love the Piano Guys)

Developments (62)

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by fortisisimo on dA

See, first there's the addition of Demyx to the Organization.  It's been a while since any new recruits.  The last person anyone found was Cloud, and he was totally still a somebody.  Still is.  Always will be.  But really, the last two recruits added were Saix and Axel.  It's been a while.  Not that it matters, Xemnas has a crapton of plans in place.  *rolls eyes*

Then there's the development in Rinoa's training.  Which is going well, I suppose.  She just doesn't like fighting everything that's in her memories.

Then there's Leon trying to make that second entrance to the Secret Waterway--an entrance which Merlin puts there for him.  And we've now entered the wonderful relationship that is Merlin and Cid not ever getting along.  It's so amusing.

And then there's Tifa, who's getting closer to Cloud, but she's still a while behind him.  However, I enjoyed making references to all of the people.  Though, it's so weird, that Tifa knows none of them.  I mean, she will eventually, but she has no clue who any of them are as of yet.  And Yuffie's just so incredibly rude.


Anyway, review responses.

KKBeckett: Is Xigbar up to something? Oh, I probably suppose so.  I think he's always up to something.  :P  Why was Master Yen Sid making Rinoa fight out of her memories? Well, I suppose it's because he sees the value of learning from past experiences, and he has the ability to literally make something like that happen.  Rinoa, however, does not believe that she will gain anything by fighting Squall, and Master Yen Sid decides he's not going to argue her on that one, because that's not really his place.  Rinoa, honestly, should learn to fight alongside him.  Which, she already knows, so whatever.  Yes, Tifa did see Aerith, but she really doesn't recognize her, which, as I mentioned before, is so picking weird!

*sigh* Another short blog post.  I suppose they'll get longer in a bit though :P

Teaser Quotes:

"What's causing all of this?"
"If I knew, I would tell you."

"Stand back, I'm going to call a summon."
"If you haven't noticed, I can't move."
"I'm not going to aim it at you!"

"Do you have a Blizzard materia?"
"No! I can only carry four.  And between my Cura, the Steal, and Bahamut, I've only got room for one more.  You're lucky I didn't have the Fire equipped!"

"Summoning again!"
"But I want to!"
"Fine!"

"What are those green ones?"
"Focus on those! They can Cure the others."
"On it!"

More Christmas Videos!

Crossover Continued (Can't Escape ch63)

No, I'm not spamming you with chapters and posts.  not at all.  

Chapter

So, originally, the whole crossover was supposed to take place during Betwixt and Between.  It was during the whole "restoration and rebirth" kind of thing that I had going on, and the crossover was a part of that.  But then I wrapped Betwixt and Between up sooner than originally intended, so it got put after Betwixt and Between but before my Book 3.  (Like, literally, a couple of days before.)

by veritas-project

I remember using this image a long time ago (back when we were all still on Posterous) during the chapter where Namine and Riku ended up running into Shad.  Don't ask me why I used this picture then, but I did.  But now I'm using it again.  It's more appropriate, even though Riku and Repliku aren't going to be fighting each other.  Like, ever.  Alongside, maybe, against, never.

Man, I'm not quite sure where the "comparing injuries" conversation came from, it was probably Sora's idea.  Regardless, it totally happened and it flowed, so we kept it.

Eheheheh... the Larxene stuff, gets me every time! Oh, just you wait.  It's awful spoilers.

Man, does this group go off on all the tangents.  But, what can you do? It's a combination of them all talking about Xehanort/Xemnas/Ansem.  Which rar and I knew was going to happen, because there's the whole thing where Riku's like "man, I gotta deal with these guys again?!?!"

This is also the conversation that spawns Namine desiring to literally summon her sketchbook like a Keyblade.  Yup.  It's a thing.  Well, it'll be a thing.

Oh, this conversation happened:
rar: IS RIKU'S WRIST STILL BROKEN
magik: DEPENDS
magik: WHEN ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
magik: ARE WE TALKING CROSSOVER
rar: YES
magik: UGH, LOAD THE SPREADSHEET COMPUTER

Riku's wrist is still braced, actually, sometimes.  (He never actually got it set the cocky-butt, and then Xaldin did drive a lance through that same hand, so...) Heheh.  But I had to load the darn spreadsheet just to check.  By now, at least, Sora's hands are both functioning... remember Xehanort breaking his wrist during the battle of Castle Oblivion?  Anywho.

I think that's all I've got for now.  Except this.

Xiggy gets away with stuff (Prequel ch44)

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I thought up this idea over the summer when I wasn't quite sure how I was getting Cloud out of the Realm of Darkness.  I was going to go with having the Sephiroth part of his heart (because that exists) decide that he'd get Cloud out of the darkness for some reason, but I couldn't think of a good reason why Sephiroth would bother with such a thing.  I wasn't really sure what else would work.

cosplay by thru-apeture-eyes
photo by AfterlifeUSEC

And then this idea with Xigbar happened.  Xigbar basically just took over.  And he gets Cloud out of the Realm of Darkness because he thinks he's a Nobody because he's not showing too many emotions but he's totally still a somebody (yeah, that's kind of a jab at Cloud I suppose), and yeah... The banter between Xigbar and Xemnas is just beautiful, mostly because Xigbar's the only one in the whole Organization who can get away with saying such a thing.  And he takes the whole situation well, basically just saying "well, okay, whatever" because he's Xigbar, and that's Old Man Xehanort in a different body.  All the same, Xigbar does what Xemnas says and just leaves Cloud on some world.  And no, I'm not telling you which one it is.  rar was able to guess, you could probably figure it out.  (Yes, I'm mean.)

Also, this cosplay is fairly renowned on tumblr for being awesome, just saying.

Anyway, one last thought ('cause it's late and I want to keep this short).  The person they're waiting for is Larxene.  Which, I've mentioned before.  But I just love the idea of them keeping tabs on her because they KNOW she'll make a powerful Nobody and it's only a matter of time.  Heheh.  But, we're a long way away from that if the last people to be added were Axel and Saix, just sayin'.

Anyway, not saying what's following Cloud either.  Muahahaha!

This is the other half of the video I posted the other day.  It's originally sung by Gumi, but she's not designed for English, so this is a pretty nice cover:

Fight Against Larxene (ch31)

Because yup, that definitely happened.

Link to the chapter: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9446325/31/What-s-all-Gone-on-Before

Link to the livetumbl: http://magiksbrain.tumblr.com/tagged/ch31/chrono

by ~StrawberryKestral on dA

So, somewhere along the lines, I decided I wanted to include a chapter that had pre-Organization Larxene (I guess Arlene?).  Mostly because I happen to like the canon where the Organization is just WAITING for her to turn into a Nobody because she has so much potential.  But she's doing pretty good as a Somebody.  So good, that she landed herself the second-to-last spot in one of the Olympus cups.

I thought about Xigbar being the last person in the cup, because he's keeping an eye on her, but then I figured that would be too much, so I cut Xigbar and threw in a Guard Armor, because it didn't really matter anyway, because that's the battle Angeal comes and helps with.  (Which is why Larxene wasn't last.)

So anyway, I started writing backstories and stuff for her and it was not okay.  I'm not even sure how she wormed her way into the story at all (as the livetumbl will attest to.)

All I had originally planned was Zack looking for Angeal and he winds up in Olympus Coliseum because that's where Angeal's gonna be and Phil ends up forcing Zack through a cup because that's what Phil does.  That's all I knew.  But then all the Heartless battles would get boring and monotonous, and then Larxene happened.

Fun fact, Zack saying "bitter taste" upon finding Angeal missing and his mother recently having passed away is a direct reference to Axel saying the exact same thing after the final battle in All the Pieces and Saix dying.  I'm not sure if it was intentional, but I definitely realized it after the fact and figured I'd make mention of it here.

Another fun fact, what Zack's got equipped is the exact same thing that I had equipped when I was going through Crisis Core as I was simultaneously writing this chapter/playing the game.

Also, rar went through some cups in Olympus in KH1 to help me determine just how easy certain Heartless would be for Zack.  It was pretty amusing and fun.

The Crisis Core soundtrack was super helpful for me when I was writing this chapter.  It's super handy for just about the next several chapters I write with Zack (having all of them written, I can say this with utmost confidence.)  You'll hear more about it, I'm sure.  Or you won't, 'cause I'll have forgotten.

Also, Zack was giving me feels prematurely and it was not okay.

Review Responses:
So Zack has exactly what he needs... for now.  At the moment, at least.  And yes, yes, that is Larxene.  Most definitely.  I don't know how, it just happened.

Have a very Zack-related video! (for some reason, it won't let me embed it, but Tto12 is awesome (so is ARS), so you should click on it.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbai1xKfLSg

Rinoa's Inner Fight (26)

Well, I'm not behind on homework anymore.  But I'm certainly not ahead either.  Oi.

Anyway, link to the chapter: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9446325/26/What-s-all-Gone-on-Before

Link to the tumbl: http://magiksbrain.tumblr.com/tagged/ch26/chrono/

So, once again, I've got a chapter that's split up into four sections.  The FFVIII arc takes up half of it, then I have Denzel's birth slid in as well as the ending sequence involving Lea and Isa (now Axel and Saix.)

I do feel bad for Zell, because he's kind of just standing there awkwardly while everyone else figures out their next move.  Laguna's super apologetic after what happened and he wants to make it up to Leon and Leon's just like "go away, I never liked you anyway."

So, this is where I start being super mean to Rinoa though.  Originally, Ultimecia was supposed to come and absorb Adel's powers before Rinoa could get to them.  This would then of course spurn a ton of "oh crap, we have to kill her before she kills us all now!" But as I was writing, I got to thinking that I liked the idea of Adel trying to make Rinoa a vessel again.  I thought "oh crap, that's mean", but I just couldn't resist! Once I had it worked out, I was super in love with the idea, so it stuck.  It spawned this in my outline:

"Before they even leave Esthar, Rinoa suddenly loses control of the second set of Sorceress' powers.  Adel's consciousness overpowers her and Rinoa is essentially possessed by Adel.  She starts destroying Esthar.  Esthar police come and lock Rinoa up in the containment facility."

So, yup, that happened.

Outside of that, I decided to give the chapter with Denzel's birth as a marker for where we are in the timeline, more than anything else.

by ~G-a-t-i-n-h-a on dA

Same thing goes for Lea and Isa.  Though, they have a little bit more plot involved.  This marks when they're found by the organization, specifically Xigbar.  I also tried to show Lea's apprehension about the whole thing.  Lea and Isa's friendship is still intact though, at this point.  For now, at least.

Anyway, let's do review responses.

archsage from chapter 25: Yes.  Oh dear is right.

From chapter 26: I'm glad you're finding things to be getting more and more interesting.  To answer your question about locations of other people: Marlene isn't born yet, Vincent and the others are around.  (I know, so specific, huh?) Other than that, no, I haven't read that particular fic, maybe I will when I get a chance.

KKBeckett: Yes, Leon would really like it if Laguna stopped helping.  Not that that's going to happen anytime soon.  And, yeah, Axel's a little over it all.

Anyway, this video is just for fun and giggles.  There was a post on tumblr that highlighted the piece of music (one that my cello teacher had hanging on her wall for laughs).  My friend (who doesn't play music) was talking about how that should be possible.  But... it's not.  It's just... not.  Not for one person playing everything.

And So The Story Begins.... (Prequel Ch9)

Well, a new part of the story, anyway...  This chapter marks the end of one part and the beginning of another.  It also marks an extreme passage of time.

Link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/9446325/9/What-s-all-Gone-on-Before

by ~YunaB-Rabbit on dA

So, Kairi's portion of the chapter happens directly after the previous chapter, the dirge of Radiant Garden.  The protection charm she had took her from that world and plopped her right into the seas of Destiny Islands.  From there, she was carried to the main island of Destiny Islands and was found by Sora and Riku, both of whom she instantly becomes friends with.  Though not mentioned in the chapter, nor will I do a chapter on this, Kairi is then adopted by the mayor and his wife and proceeds to begin a life as if she were their daughter.  She still retains memories of her old home, but five-year-old's only have so much memory recall, so things begin to blur and fade.

In between the last time we saw Quistis and now, she's been studying hard to become an instructor, and she finally makes it.  She's not even an instructor for an entire hour when she's called to do a mission to research the appearance of Heartless onto her world.  Proud and logical, Quistis takes up the job, knowing that since she has no classes or students at the moment, she won't have to put her life on hold to do it.  After this chapter, she will proceed to take Zell and maybe another Cadet or two and do as much research as she possibly can on the Heartless.  I will explore Heartless and that world later.

Tifa's in a conundrum.  She wants to take martial arts lessons, for many reasons, (protecting her town, trying to see if Cloud will take her on as an adventuring buddy, not wanting to be helpless) but she can't afford them and knows her dad won't pay for them.  I'm not sure when I decided that Tifa's dad would be such a pain, but it happened somewhere in this chapter.  So she tries to get a job as a tour guide for Mt. Nibel (a job that she has in Crisis Core) but unfortunately, she can't get the job at this point.  However, despite not having a job or the money to pay for the lessons, Zangan is willing to train Tifa anyway because he sees her potential.  I will explore this later as well.

Rinoa's magical powers finally dwindle and she decides that she must not be a Sorceress after all.  (Spoiler alert, she wasn't.)  She's initially upset, mostly because she's finally been able to master some good spells, but then she becomes relieved because she's not a pariah to society.  She starts thinking about other ways to fight and how she's going to help Timber without magic.  She reconsiders going back to SeeD and becoming a cadet, thinking about how she could help the Timber Owls that way, but the thought gets postponed because maybe, maybe she can handle things at the Timber Owls without magic and without being a SeeD.  Her plans to become SeeD will continue to get delayed partially because of things with the Timber Owls and partially because of the influx of Heartless.  (Trust me, this isn't spoilers.)

Things that did NOT appear in this chapter, but I can guarantee you are happening: the Organization takes form with the first six members, and Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, starts to bring darkness to more worlds.  Yup, yup!

So, there was no liveblogging for this chapter... however, I did go back and add the liveblogging link for chapter 8 below.

And this is super awesome....

They Were Once Organization XIII

And now quite a few of them are dead.  Or in parallel universes.  Or in exile. 

Vexen: He's in a parallel universe now.  He got out before Xehanort could either A) Make him make more Replicas or B) Kill him. 

"How easy is it to corridor between the different universes?" --Aaand, Onto Another Universe

Lexaeus: Killed in Hollow Bastion Castle. He was an unfortunate victim of Xehanort.  He was captured and the Xehanort drove a blade through him. *mutters bad words about Xehanort*

"I did not go down without a fight." --A Date With Fate

Zexion: He's alive.  Xigbar didn't have the heart to kill him.  He let Zexion go, claiming he couldn't shoot the boy "Ienzo."  He now owns a bookshop in Hollow Bastion.

"Ienzo, I go by Ienzo now." –A Forgotten Remnant

Xaldin: Killed in the Keyblade Graveyard/Badlands.  Riku shoved one of his own lances through his gut and Sora landed a finisher on his head.

"Such use of power will easily backfire here." --Old Friends, Old Rivals

Marluxia: Unfortunately still alive.  He'll probably come back and cause trouble later.  However, Axel's sent him someplace unpleasant in the meantime.

"So quick to anger..." –Up Down Adventure

Larxene: Also unfortunately still alive.  She will come back and cause trouble later. But, before she does, she's got to get away from all the water.

"I am going to pick you off one-by-one!” –Larxene the Ruthless

Xigbar: Still alive.  Roxas probably would have killed him if he'd stayed around, but he didn't.  He'll be back to cause trouble later.

"I gonna take a rain-check on this battle.  See ya, Kiddo!"  --Final Match

Saix: Killed in Castle Oblivion.  He tried to kill Xehanort with darkness but failed.  The darkness backfired on him and he was consumed. 

"Remember me as I was, before I messed up." --Final Match

Xehanort: Killed in Castle Oblivion by way of 8 Keyblades full of light as well as an additional light-attack from Namine for good measure. 

"Four masters in one place... all fighting for the same side..."  --Final Match

Demyx (Now Demetrius): Alive and well, started his own band and travels around with Luxord as his business manager. 

"Come one, come all, come see the amazing Demetrius!" --Fantasia alla Marcia

Luxord: Also alive and well.  He travels around with Demy as his business manager.  But he is always up for a good game of cards.

"Perhaps a game of cards?" --Fantasia alla marcia

Axel: Well, I'd hope he's still alive.  He's got a few more battle scars thanks to Saix, but he's alive.  *SPOILERS* He'll stay alive.

"You don’t want to fight me, I’m not worth the effort.” –Struggle Away

Roxas: He's quite alive and quite happy.  It's his new mission to go out to the worlds and keep the balance of light and darkness, and become a Keyblade master while he's at it.

"Maybe me and Xion still want to do a bonfire!" –Friends Forever

Xion: She, like Roxas and Axel, is also still alive.  She's going to stick by her friends forever if she has any say about it.  Her new mission is to achieve the rank of Master.

"Shh, I like using magic." –Friends Forever