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[firstnothing]

[Audio only. The voice is a rather pleasant baritone.]

Good evening, denizens of this new world, human and pokemon alike. I am Xemnas. Perhaps there will be a few of you who recognize such a name.

[His pleasant tone never wavers; there's almost no emotional inflection at all.] This is a world I know little of. I have studied the information I have been able to find, and this little foal has been very dutiful in attempting to aid me in that search. [At this, there is a small, cheerful-sounding "Blitz!" in the background.]

If one could supply further information, or where to find it, I would be ... grateful. But tell me, countless unknown strangers, is it truly so that the humans of this world avoid combat in favor of asking their pokemon to do it for them? My small friend here seems incapable of fighting anything much tougher than a tumbleweed- [A protesting whinny this time.] -and yet I am to rely on it for my defense against all this strange world might strike with?

[It's thoughtfully said, as if this 'Xemnas' has no investment in the question or possible answers.]

[OOC: yeah I stole the sample post off my app. ;_; guilty.]

Comments

[firstnothing]

Is that how you justify your actions, chosen of the keyblade? First it was the excuse that we did not exist by your terms so it is not killing. And now simply because they survive in some form afterwards, it is not excruciatingly harmful..

[His tone remains pleasant, detached.]

And yet you know very well, as did Roxas, that you were once two very different people. Reuniting you with your Nobody may have made you whole, but it destroyed all that Roxas was. It does matter. Very much so. To regain a heart through methods other than Kingdom Hearts requires much time and much effort.

I have never seen fit to build the relationships needed to rely upon such a method.

[heartdive]

I don't justify anything. If someone needs stopped, then I will stop them. Maybe I didn't know the full story then, but it doesn't change the fact what you were doing wasn't as good as you made it seem.

And Roxas? He isn't gone. His heart is still his own. His feelings are his own. Like when Kairi hid her heart in mine, that didn't mean she stopped existing. We found a way to bring her back and I'll find a way to make sure Roxas can be with the people he cares about. Maybe he doesn't think it can be that way again, but I do.

You say that it destroyed who he was, but it didn't. Axel - Lea - was and is still looking out for him. Xion and Naminé too. As long as he has people that care about him, then he's left a permanent mark on their hears too.

[firstnothing]

[Xion. That vaguely familiar name, the one he didn't entirely recognize, the girl from earlier. She'd been helpful, but he hadn't connected her to much that was relevant.

Until now. Almost everything Sora says is outright dismissed in favor of pursuing this puzzle, that Xemnas has just been handed a very large piece of.

The thoughtful tone his voice takes has absolutely nothing to do with what he actually says, Xemnas' focus is now almost completely elsewhere, working out the puzzle that is Xion.]

And will you tear out your heart again to allow him to live once more in your place? So long as there is only 'Sora', 'Roxas' does not exist.

You will believe precisely what you wish to, whether or not it aligns with reality or truth, Sora. Nothing I can say or do will change it. It is what you have done for all this time, breaking the pattern now would be disastrous for you. As safety mechanisms go, delusion is very effective.

However denial of the truth or reality does not make either cease to exist. You will learn this, in time. Under the glare of the light you so cherish, there can be no deceptions, and you will not be able to hide from all that you have done, all you have ignored or called lies to make your own actions easier on your heart. Beware of pointing fingers at the darkness of others, when your own blinds you more thoroughly than any blindfold.

[heartdive]

If I thought that would help, I would. [ Xemnas probably knows that too. ] Vanitas. Ventus. Roxas. Xion. They all deserve better than what they have now back where we're from.

[ he's silent a moment, thinking about what Xemnas is saying. more than likely, the guy is just twisting words around. planting doubt in his heart. ]

I was a Heartless for a while. It'd be stupid of me to say that I don't have darkness in me. Everybody does and for a while? I gave into it a bit. Words like yours puts doubt into a heart and pull it away from its path. Because of that I almost became like you - part Xehanort. I can't say that it won't happen again, but I've got friends that will pull me out each time. That's what makes the difference. All I can do it just follow my heart and trust them.

[firstnothing]

However, it would not. There are too many lives connected to remedy it all through one act, aren't there?

[How Sora knew those names, Xemnas didn't know. Vanitas, Ventus.. how long had it been since he last heard those names spoken? And yet no mention of Aqua.

Xion's place in that lineup is also of interest, though not with the same unfamiliar touch of nostalgia the others came with.]

It seems Xion is doing well for herself. What better might she deserve than a world of peace and the companionship of countless obedient monsters?

[It's a more careful question than it sounds.]

Doubt does not lead one astray, if one knows how to keep it in its place, keyblade wielder. Doubt is the measure of the honesty of our own conscience. The beginning of wisdom is found in doubting; by doubting we come to the question, and by seeking we may come upon the three-edged sword that all truth is. If by my words you have faltered... then perhaps you need to learn to make it a strength and not a flaw.

[There's a rustle, quiet, and then a faint click. Quietly, Xemnas can still be heard, but clearly not speaking to Sora. "No. Wait." There is a distant, muted thud. Then: "Go."

A delighted squeal, and the sound of rapidly distancing hoofbeats follow. Pets.]

I cannot help being what I am. Any opportunity to not become what I am now has been lost long since and forgotten by time. If you do not wish to become so, perhaps you should find ways to guarantee your staying here, in this world, and work on ways to inoculate yourself against such a fate. It is not your friends that will save you, if you wish to avoid what has been decided. Strength must come from within, for they cannot fight an internal battle for you.

[Everything Xemnas does or says has a purpose. Which means this too has a reason.]

[heartdive]

Time stops wherever we come from and when we're sent back, it starts again. Sure, Xion is here now and that's awesome. But she isn't here back when I'm from.

[ so Sora means that she deserves it back in his time, when she returns from dealing with all of this. because leaving this place? it's inevitable.

and maybe, JUST MAYBE Xemnas has one grain of truth to all of that nonsense. Sora should find a way to find strength in what had happened back when he was dreaming. but that is over and he can't redo that. all he can do in regards to that incident is to move forward and not repeat the same mistake.

that's why Xemnas can't eat at him. Sora already knows that's wrong. his friends are his only strength. even with his internal battles, it all comes back to the connections that they've all made with each other. ]

Maybe they can't fight it for me... But they give me the strength and encouragement that I need to keep going. That's the most important thing.

[firstnothing]

Time marches on in its inevitable path, and thus you do not cherish what you have now? Do you lessen the value of what she currently possesses in favor of a future 'might be'? What a terrible way to live.

[What Sora declares as the most important thing, with the context of what might help him fight off Xehanort's plans, draws laughter from Xemnas. And it doesn't have the same empty, hollow sound of before, this seems genuine mirth.

And it takes a good minute for him to actually regain control, trailing off into chuckles.]

If that is what you think, then I won't be able to dissuade you. You will after all, as I have said, believe precisely what you wish and ignore everything else. Begin practicing wearing black, in which case.