The Sunset
"Riku, I have to get to Riku!!!"
Rixa was flying across an unknown area, her wounds still bleeding.She ignored the pain and focused on finding Riku, but couldn't see anyone there.It was an empty place and Xemnas' power was nowhere to be felt.She realized that Sora and Riku must have finally defeated him and prevented Kingdom Hearts from being used for his own gain.She stopped moving and fell to the ground, exhaustion taking over.She tried to stand up, but her legs gave out whenever she pulled herself together.The other side of her laughed in the back of her head and Rixa yelled at her to shut up.
"Be quiet...I don't have time...to fight with you."
"Even if you did, you'd be no match for me in the condition you're in.Looks like your hubby isn't here.Too bad.Guess we're stuck here, just you and me."
"No, I have to go on...have to...find Riku..."
Rixa was about to lose conciousness when she felt a sudden surge of power coming from deep within her.The other side had decided to unleash part of the power that was sealed off to allow Rixa's wounds to heal slightly.The bleeding stopped and Rixa was able to stand up, but still had a hard time preventing herself from shaking.She breathed heavily and started taking small steps, pacing herself carefully.
"Don't even know where you're going, do you?"
"I know that I have to find Riku.That's all I have to do...Just gotta focus...on his energy..."
"We won't get anywhere at this rate."
"Hush now!"
"Apocalypse!"
An image of Apocalypse appeared before Rixa, but it was blurry, barely there.
"Milady, I see that you are having some difficulties.But before I allow you to continue on, I must ask you something.How much do you care for the life that you have now?"
"Apocalypse, what are you doing?"
"Milady, please, this is necessary.Answer the question."
"How much?I...I don't know..."
"Think about the things you have experienced, the memories you've made, the friends you've had and lost."
"Axel, Roxas, Xion...my dear friends from the Organization.I had such good times with them...And even though...even though they're gone, they'll always be with me, in my heart.And Riku...Riku cares for me, just like I care for him."
"And?"
"I may be the vessel of darkness, I may be the reason why there's been pain and suffering, but I won't allow any more of it to happen."
"One more question, milady.What do you desire?Do you wish to disappear?To become nothing?Or is there something else?"
"I did...want to disappear.I thought that I didn't deserve to exist, that things would be better off without me.But I don't think that anymore.I want to be with Riku, to laugh, to fight, to spend time with him and his friends.I know that I'm not alone anymore."
"Milady..."
"I may have lost my family, my friends and my world, but I found another place I can belong to.And that's with Riku.If you think otherwise, I won't hesitate to fight you!"
"Truly, you think that?", he chuckled, "Then it is decided.Close your eyes, milady.Think about Riku, about all the memories and focus.Do not let your mind wander."
"Apocalypse..."
Then there was silence.Rixa could feel herself falling slowly and opened her eyes.She was surrounded by water and put her hands over her mouth, but noticed that she could breathe in it like it was air.She looked around and saw images of events that had passed in her life as Ria and her life after becoming Rixa.She tried to grab the images, but they were far away, too hard to reach.Voices began whispering to her and a distant melody played in her mind.It was a sad melody, the notes changing from high to low in perfect sync and Rixa knew what it was.A song her mother used to sing to her when she was young.She sang along with it and everything seemed to dance around her.
"Milady, this is farewell."
"Apocalypse, what are you saying?I won't leave you!"
"Milady, my mission is complete.You have grown much in the time that has passed and I have nothing more to teach you."
"Apocalypse, don't leave..."
"I will be with you, milady...Now go."
Apocalypse's presence disappeared and Rixa felt the water harden before her.She covered her face when the frozen water changed into crystals that flew at her, piercing her skin.Strangely, there was no pain.None at all.Suddenly, one of the crystals floated in front of her and shined a bright light.Rixa touched it and light surrounded her, blinding her.She struggled to get away, but it was to no avail.Then it was gone, like it had never been there.
"Sora, Riku, you're back!", Kairi yelled, watching them swim toward her, "You did it!"
"Sora, Sora!Hurry up, you slowpoke!"
"Donald, Goofy!You guys are okay!", Sora yelled, running out of the water and into his friends arms.
"Mickey, it's so good to see you."
"Haha, you can't get rid of me that easily, Riku.", Mickey said while Riku lifted him up in his arms.
They celebrated their reunion and talked for a while.Mickey then told Donald and Goofy that it was time to return to their world and say goodbye to their friends.They each gave one final hug through tears and went their way.Sora, Riku and Kairi looked at one another and walked to their old spot by the small island, ready to watch the sun set.When they got there, they saw a black ball swirling in the middle.Riku and Sora covered Kairi, prepared to fight whatever came out of the ball, but nothing happened.The ball floated undisturbed and small bits of dark energy twirled around it.Riku and Sora walked to it, and Sora touched it carefully.The ball reacted violently and stung Sora, sending him flying into one of the palm trees and knocking him out.Riku was about to attack it when the ball disintegrated into nothing, leaving only a girl behind.She was unfamiliar to his eyes, but something about her made him feel comfortable.He walked to her and saw how beautiful she was.Short silver hair, pale skin, and odd white clothes.She had a necklace with a light blue crystal hanging from it that reflected the light from the sun.The girl groaned and opened her eyes, studying her new environment and feeling herself, like she was making sure that she was really there.She freaked out and stood up, feeling embarassed when she saw the clothes she was wearing: a white bikini top with leopard spots, a white sash wrapped around her hips with dangles hanging from the edges that were colored black, white arm warmers, and sandals with black lace.She covered herself miserably, blushing when she saw Riku staring at her.
"Q-quit it already!Stop staring at me like that!"
"Rixa, is that...you?"
"Who else would it be?Oh God, I feel so naked!", she squealed, still bashful, "I don't like this!"
"I think you look beautiful, but how did you get here?I thought that something happened to you."
"I'm not sure how...I think Apocalypse had something to do with me getting here.Apocalypse..."
He hugged her and held her close, running his hand through her hair to calm her down.She couldn't stop blushing as she felt him so close to her.He noticed and laughed a little, giving her a small kiss.
"Oww...Riku, be careful.That ball is dangerous!It could...Whoa, who's she and where did she come from?"
"Sora, it's Rixa.You already know her.Kairi, it's alright to come here.There's no danger."
"I was worried that maybe Xemnas was still alive somehow and was coming here to attack you guys."
"No, he's really gone."
"All's well that ends well, I guess.But that still hurt."
"Sora, you shouldn't have touched it, you silly boy!"
"But Kairi, what if it had been something nasty?"
"Oh, you!"
Riku and Rixa laughed at them, not letting go of one another.Sora and Kairi couldn't help themselves and laughed with them.The four sat down in different spots, Sora close to Kairi and Riku with Rixa.The sky was a miriad of colors, ranging from yellow to red to orange.Rixa remembered something that Axel had said to her and Roxas once, explaining why the sun set red.
'Hey guys, bet you don't know why the sun sets red.You see, light is made up of lots of colors, but out of all those colors..."
"Red is the one that travels the farthest.Thank you, Axel...I'll always remember you."
"Something wrong, Rixa?"
"No, everything's just fine.I'm exactly where I belong, watching the sun set with you."
END
