Who's Teaching Who [Riku, Closed]

[Terra]

[WARNING! This thread contains spoilers from Dream Drop Distance. Read at your own risk!]

[/b]

Lately, I've been having a lot of trouble...[/i] The bronze keyblader sat fixated upon the reds and oranges that came with a Destiny Island sunset. Terra wasn’t quite sure how long he’d been setting here. It felt like twenty or thirty minutes, but he was sure he’d seen the sun rise early in the morning. It’d been a long trip since the last time he’d touched down on this very soil. He’d seen…and done a lot since that time.

The small island was home to a smaller island, where a special tree found its roots. On that tree sat the very keyblader who could be to blame for the very existence of Heartless and Nobodies in the worlds today. It’d been over ten years ago that Terra completely lost his control over the darkness inside of him and turned his blade on Master Xehanort. The old man exploited that flaw and took complete control of his body, possessing the earthen keyblader and starting a chain of events that could very well be possible for the war waging on the worlds today.

Prior to those events, Terra visited this very world, where he’d seen a little boy with silver hair, who showed the strong desire to protect those closest to him. His name was Riku. It had been several weeks since he’d last seen the silver haired keyblader, but Riku was very much alive and well. He dropped the keyblader off at Radiant Garden after Selena knocked him unconscious. He knew that he would be taken care of by the denizens of that world.

Since that moment, a lot had happened in Terra’s life. He’d lead a series of charges against the Heartless god, Stroud, only to witness a Masked Man easily dispose of the commander with a single fell swoop. He thought that kind of power was completely impossible, and should be unimaginable, but that massive thorned sword ripped through the Heartless Horseman as if it were nothing but a sledgehammer smashing through a stick of butter.

Terra now found himself trying, and failing horribly, at gathering a force to oppose this new threat. He’d teamed mostly with villains, thinking he could bridge the gap between darkness and the light. Instead, Terra found himself edging closer and closer to that very same kind of evil he set himself out to destroy.

”I’ve caused all this, and I don’t even know what I can do to fix it. How do I put aside the power that’s been helping me all this time…”[/b]

It was as if Terra blinked his eyes and he was now staring at the fresh night’s sky. His inner monologue was running rampant, but it needed to happen. He needed to clear his head. He knew he was failing miserably at ending the conflict he helped cause. There was no way he’d be able to show his face to Aqua and Ven again after this, let alone Master Eraqus, who tried so hard to guide him in the right direction. What was he supposed to do?

All those years ago, Terra handed his keyblade over to Riku in a Inheritance Ceremony, and he could see the light within Riku’s heart, but he saw the very same darkness. He saw that same darkness, but not in the same way.

What was he doing wrong?[/blockquote]

[Riku]

The islands.

It had been what seemed like a century since he had set foot on these sands. Years ago, he had departed from here, through the binds of Darkness, and faced off against his best friend, Sora. Risking loss of his Heart, he remained in the world of Darkness with the King, fighting his way through Castle Oblivion, and watching over Sora, knowing that he was the Key to Everything. The young hero had been through hardships, losing his Heart, being charged with the responsibility to save everyone, and also losing the Mark. All was tense in the worlds as a war brewed. Ansem. Sephiroth. Denizens of Darkness and Evil were spreading their influence with the blood of others, splattering the worlds once peaceful with the Darkness that he himself was attempting to purge from himself.

This was unacceptable.

Riku walked along the shoreline in his coat, unzipped and the hood down, obviously worn from recent battles (notably the one with Sephiroth), shreds torn from the arm. He refused to abandon the coat because it reminded him of the struggles he had before. He was a Keyblade Master… but still the Darkness of Xehanort’s Heartless plagued him, ravaged his Heart, and forced him to utilize it in battle to keep it from bursting forth from him violently.

”…Mickey would be disappointed in me.” he said quietly, closing his eyes. He stood in the very spot where he received the Keyblade from Terra, looking blankly towards the Islet where-

Who was that?

He peered at the figure on the tree and grinned. Terra! So he was alive! He called out ”Terra!”, waving towards his friend as he jogged over, jumping up onto the bridge to see him.

[Terra]

As daylight began to die so too had Terra's hopes of taming the beast within him.

The darkness was a vicious beast, one capable of completely destroying someone if they weren't careful. Terra had been careful, as careful as he could in the midst of a massive territorrial war between that force and the one of the light. Now, Terra had seen this new force, led by a man in a mask, rise to face both forces making this battle ten times more devastating. People all over were falling to the darkness and the bronze keybarer couldn't even get a harness on his own problems to help them!

Terra's inner monlologue was soon interrupted by a keyblader very familiar to him. Riku made his way toward him and Terra quickly learned the meaning of game face as he turned with a semi-realistic smile upon his face.

"Riku! I'm glad to see you're ok! You looked pretty rough when I left you at Radiant Garden."

[/b]

Awhile back, Terra, Artemis, and Riku, freshly dealing with wounds from a previous battle, were nearly ready to face a massive force of oncoming Heartless, when the unthinkable happened. Artemis turned on the other two and cold cocked Riku. They were already gonna have some serious trouble with the oncoming threat, but now they were down one capable warrior. Terra fled, carrying Riku, and he hadn't really seen the winged keybarer since then, but she'd definitely be in for it if they ever met again.[/blockquote]

[Riku]

Riku looked at Terra, perplexed. Radiant Garden...? When did they meet there? He thought hard, trying his hardest to not look confused as he pieced together the cracked and broken memories, finally picking out the echoes of his forgotten past. Of course... Radiant Garden. That 'Artemis'... he couldn't remember anything after the Heartless converged... but then again, he couldn't remember much of anything, other than Yen Sid's Mark of Mastery. He knew he passed, but before that? Beyond the events that occurred at The Castle That Never Was... he had to piece together everything, which disturbed him greatly.

He looked up at Terra and nodded, smiling and leaning on the tree, looking out towards the sea. He closed his eyes, and almost felt Sora and Kairi there, wishing that this could be one of the old days... one of the days when they just forgot everything and watched the sun set together. Together... that's something they had not been in a long time. So long, since he could laugh with them, talking about dreams and wishes, hopes and nightmares... He truly missed those days...

He looked over at Terra and gave a small smile. "So... what brings you here?" he asked quietly, glad that the man that gave him the Keyblade was still around... he only wished that they could all just band together... and end it all.

[Young Xehanort]

It seemed like Xehanort could never escape the islands, as if he was nothing more than an escaped convict to its iron bars. They always beckoned him back as the watery prison always had him in its grasp. How he loathed the constricting walls of the World. However he doesn't hate his calm homeworld, it was just the boundaries that bothered him. The boundaries of all the Worlds had irked him in some way or form. As he read up in ancient times, the Worlds used to be one with no walls between them. If only things could be like the way they used to be back then. Xehanort strolled the beach with his hood up, completely covering his face. It was least likely that anyone he knew back on the islands would recognize him, as he truly hadn't been there for many years. Most likely most of the citizens that he knew either resided on the main islands in homes or have been long deceased.

As Xehanort walked the coast toward one of the tree's, he noticed two familiar faces to him. He smirked as he continued toward the bent tree. Terra and Riku.. this turned out to be quite the trip for me. He had plans for Terra, however he wouldn't have guessed that he would be visiting the islands. It just made it all the more easier for him. As for Riku, he might be able to do away with him. The main focus was Terra though, so he would have to deal with Riku only if he had gotten in the way. Perhaps if he just left his hood up he wouldn't bother with him, considering their last run in was not as friendly. "Terra..." A deep, mysterious voice had rang out from the bridge near the tree. Each plank made an echoing sound as the mysterious figure crossed the bridge and onto the smaller island. "Why do you wish to taint yourself with Light?" Xehanort stopped as he firmly placed both of his feet on the ground, making an imprint of his boots in the sand.

"Have you not learned the mistakes that Eraqus made?" Taunted Xehanort. "If you let yourself be blinded by the Light, inevitably you will be taken by Darkness." From what he learned about Terra through traversing through time, it was easy to drag out his Darkness if pushed. All Xehanort needed was that push. "Or do you find yourself weak, overshadowed by this Masked Man?" Xehanort had found out about the masked man also through his travels through time. He observed Terra like a bird of prey and learned some major events that happened in the Worlds. "Only if you knew what true potential your Heart holds, it far exceeds that of the Masked Man." His words held mystery to them as much as his shrouded face did.

[Terra]

How was he supposed to keep cheery when the successor to his power was doing ten times better at controlling the darkness? Terra was nearly done in trying to supress the beast inside of him, and that only depressed him more. However, he couldn't show this emotion when his successor asked him what he'd been doing here.

"Nothing really, just thinking about some-"

[/b]

He was interrupted by the appearance of a hooded man. And it wouldn't be long before this guy really infuriated the bronze keybarer. First, he talked of tainting himself with light, what nerve! How did he know that this worthless vessel won't come to the true realization that he's useless without me.[/i]

What the hell was that? Something rang out inside of Terra's head...something sinister. Its as if it was calling out at the appearance of this hooded man. What kind of secrets did he hold, and why hasn't he awakened me sooner?[/i]

What the hell was going on here?

Before Terra could address it anymore, the hooded man spoke further, but he hit the nail on the nail of Terra's anger. Now, he was PISSED. Yes, the thought of the Masked Man scared the hell out of him. He tried numerous times to defeat Stroud, and that man tore through him like butter. He's right, use me and that fool will fall within seconds. There isn't a soul who can match my power![/i]

I don't know who you are, but you need to leave! This is a peaceful world and your darkness will ruin it. I have no idea how you know that much about me, but I use my darkness to help people"[/b]

Yes, get mad! Let it flow through you![/i]

In an instant the darkness began to ebb out of him. He subconsciously activated the darkest power in his arsenal, the Dark Impulse. His keyblade appeared firm within his grip, and he was nearly seconds away from tearing this guy a new one.

"Riku, I want you to stay back. I don't know what's going to happen here, but I am GOING to handle it![/b]

The transformation was just beginning...[/blockquote]

[Riku]

Ah, crap.

He glowered at the cloaked figure, Keyblade appearing the moment the man in the coat walked up. A fool, he was, to face both him and Terra here... He put the disturbing holes in his memory aside, suppressed the pain in his chest, and prepared to launch himself at the coated one, until Terra spoke. He had ordered Riku to stay back.

"Terra..." he began, but something within, something forgotten tugged at him. Something yanked at him to stay back, to watch... his power would be needed soon.

"Be careful..." he said, stepping back, Keyblade on shoulder, and keeping an eye on the man in the coat. After a moment, he looked out towards the sea, the same sea that had devoured the sun, basking the island in it's crimson twilight glow. Sora and Kairi always enjoyed these sunsets with him, and he vowed no matter what, the sunsets would never end... they would continue, no matter what.

"Make this quick, Terra, and show him no mercy." he said darkly, glaring towards the two that were to soon make his and Sora's practice arena into a battlefield between two Darknesses.

Terra... be strong...

[Young Xehanort]

Under the shroud of the hood turned a wicked smirk as Terra unleashed his inner Darkness. Xehanort was one step closer to achieving his goal, but he still needed that extra push. Terra had said something about the islands being peaceful and that Xehanorts Darkness would ruin it. "Balance exists in all Worlds. Light and Darkness hold a key aspect of keeping the Worlds in check." He stepped forward slowly. "This was once a home to me... and to Xehanort." He pointed at Terra. "You are the disruption, false Keyblader of Light." Placing his hand over his Heart his back curled, mocking Terra as if he was hurt. "It is foolish to think you are on the side of Light. Your fate of the Darkness was sealed ever since you've met Xehanort."

Using only words would not be effective, Xehanort had to take action! So he straightened his back once more, allowing a single silver strand of hair to be seen out of the shroud before he pushed it back into the depths of his hood. "The Light in your Heart is nothing but an empty shell, as fragile as an egg." Slowly lifting up his right arm he extended outward, pointing it toward Terra. "Soon the Darkness that resides in your Heart will slowly peck away at the shell, leaving nothing more than fragments of your former self." Blue lightning started to spark all around his hand, frequently tiny sparks would shoot off. "If you wish to become as powerful as the Masked Man you must release it!"

In a flash a hilt appeared in his right hand, as well as his left hand, and a blue beam extended outward from the hilt. He raised his left hand above his head, thus showing off his Ethereal Blades. "The Power inside beckons to be released." Not waiting a second to jump into battle he quickly faded out of sight from where he was to only a couple feet away from Terra. It was so fast it looked almost like a teleport, this was his Temporal Dash move. Quickly he slashed from the right with his right ethereal blade and after that from below with his left. Regardless if it hit he continued with his combo connecting the two Ethereal Blades together to make a singular double blade which he swung with from the left, passing it around his back to swing again with the right and to finish he split the blades back up into two, slicing them opposite of each other simultaneously. "The Guardian awaits..." Xehanort said softly as he was battling Terra.

(Sorry for the short post)

Temporal Dash: 1/3 Teleports used.

Battle Theme: Dark Impetus