⊕ 03 [action]

[erodingearth]

[This takes place on Friday, the last day of the experiment.

Terra's been feeling a strong desire to train today. Pullups and pushups in the clearing, combat training in the battle dome... He's got stamina to spare, but there's no doubt he's pushing himself; usually he has the sense to stop once in awhile.

He can be seen in the forest near house 39 exercising in the morning or over in the battle dome past noon. ...Or maybe even passed out on the grass on his way back to the house, towards midnight.]

Comments

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

[What the heck is...?

The shotlocks hit, sending Riku back a bit. It burns a little, but he manages to retaliate with a thundaga spell. Think fast!]

[erodingearth]

[Magic, his only weakness-- Well, no, but the spell definitely is enough to stagger Terra mid-step. He shakes his head, slow to regain his balance.]

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

[Then now's the perfect chance to run up to Terra and do a spinning attack. Heck yeah!]

[erodingearth]

[Terra will take a one strike from that spinning attack before he recovers enough to protect himself. The first clear chance he gets, he brings his Keyblade back and then swings it upward, aiming to lift Riku up into an aerial slam.]

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

[And it works like a charm! Riku's so close that he doesn't get much time to dodge, and with Terra's strength, it's easy to send him up into the air!]

[erodingearth]

[There we go. Terra follows up with a leap slash, not pulling off a full combo but getting in a good hit or two. With the extra air he adds though, he'll definitely land before Riku reacts or hits the ground.]

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

[Well, when Riku lands, Terra's in for a surprise, because as soon as he hits the ground, a cloud of darkness surrounds him. Those bright clothes he had before are quickly replaced by tighter and darker attire that should look a little familiar.

...whoops. Dark mode activate?]

[erodingearth]

[Terra starts when he sees that cloud of darkness appear, frowning in confusion when he sees a strangely familiar dark suit replace Riku's brighter clothes.]

What--? Riku!

[He can't articulate his shock beyond that.]

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

[He was afraid of this. Maybe he should've worn his cloak today... Darn it!

Still, he gets up to his feet, looking at Terra with an apologetic look.]

It's not what it looks like! [At least, he's not evil. The darkness is there, however.]

[erodingearth]

[He's understandably wary, and he blinks furiously as he tries to process what he's seeing. His grip on his Keyblade doesn't loosen.]

Riku, what happened? You're covered in darkness.

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

[He'll hold tight onto his weapon, but he doesn't make any sudden moves to attack.]

A lot's happened since you came to the islands, but you can thank Maleficent for this.

[Maleficent and Ansem, actually, but he'll start simple. He doesn't sound particularly proud, either.]

[erodingearth]

[He falters when he recognizes that name, and it takes him awhile to recover.]

Maleficent? What does she have to do with this?

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

She tricked me, for a while. Ended up using my jealousy against me and turned me against my friends.

[He winces and looks away.]

[erodingearth]

[His Keyblade slowly lowers, but Terra is still noticeably tense.]

She... She does tend to manipulate. [He can believe that.]

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

And it was all so she could take over the worlds.

[He groans. Even if Ansem's the one who pulled him deeper into the darkness, Maleficent planted the seeds.]

[erodingearth]

[He's a little bewildered by this. He knew, by the time he had left that world, of Maleficent's ambitions. But how had she found a way to cross into other worlds? How had she gotten to Riku?]

Even then... There's no way. [That may be some denial there. Clearly she had managed.] And she's still around?

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

Sora stopped her before it was too late, but she planned on opening the door to Kingdom Hearts. She even made me catch some of the Princesses of Heart.

[That should sound vaguely familiar, at least.]

[erodingearth]

[Oh yes, that definitely catches his attention.]

--Princesses of Heart? Catch them?

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

[Ack. This... isn't good.]

I only did it so I could save Kairi. She was asleep, and Maleficent told me the only way to save her was to open the door to Kingdom Hearts.

[Please, please don't get too mad, Terra.]

It was my first time outside the islands. I didn't know better. Not like I do now.

[erodingearth]

[He makes a sharp gesture with his free hand.] Stop. Don't-- Just stop that! It's like you're making excuses.

Why... Why did you resort to the darkness? Why did you give in? [There's a tone of helplessness there. He had seen something of himself, of the simple hopes he had aspired for, when he met Riku. And now he had been tainted with the darkness as well.] The world has to be rid of it.

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

[He should've been more careful. Maybe it would've been better if Terra never found out about this...

At least, that's his first thought. But a world without darkness? Why would Terra...?]

I know I can't excuse what I did before. I gave in because... because I thought it'd make me stronger. And I was jealous. Jealous of Sora's Keyblade, of his new friends, everything.

I made a lot of mistakes, Terra. Turned against my friends, captured those Princesses, and I almost lost myself in the process.

[He'll let all this sink in before he gives his opinion on darkness.]

[erodingearth]

[Each word is like a blow in itself. Terra wants to block it out; the jealousy, the mistakes, the desire to become stronger -- they're too similar, compounding upon his existing feelings of confusion and distress.

He doesn't say anything. He focuses his energy on trying to contain his emotions. But his eyes are alight and brimming with frustration.]

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

[Deep breaths. There's no turning back now. Besides, he's not about to shy away from his own stance on the issue.]

I screwed up more than once. By the time I got by body back and helped Sora close the door, I thought about darkness the same way that you do. I really did think it was something to be ashamed of, that the worlds would be better off without it.

[He places a hand to his chest.]

But whenever I tried to push it away, it just got a stronger hold on me. I kept running away from who I was. There's darkness in every heart. You can't just erase it.

[By now, he's probably dug himself into a pretty deep ditch.]

I didn't realize it until somebody showed me the way. She helped me accept my darkness without turning from the light.

[Why yes, he's suggesting a middle ground.]

[erodingearth]

[He doesn't really know what Riku is talking about. Not really. His lowest moments had been those moments of anger flashing out and taking hold, those times when Master Xehanort had expressed his beliefs of darkness and how they conflicted with Master Eraqus'. That shame of losing control, of using the darkness as a powerful weapon to get what he wanted.]

You sound like them.

[He can't help but make the comparison. He focuses on the negative of Riku's words. Those words that reminded him of each temptation, each situation he had so narrowly avoided where he had the choice of using his darkness. Even in Luceti, facing Vanitas... And now Riku, his successor.]

[stilldontgotit.livejournal.com]

You really think so?

[Sigh. He manages to make the dark armor disappear. It's not like he meant to switch into it in the first place.

But he can tell that Terra's... not too happy about this.]

Trust me, if I could go back and fix everything, I would. But I can't take it all back; all I can do is move forward and make sure it doesn't happen again.