Act 2 Revision Teaser thiiiing

[keybearer]

With the Replica still frozen, Riku wandered over to his side, looking him in the eye. Once again, he wondered what his copy really thought about this. The spell glued his eyes open wide, while his mouth hung slightly ajar. He stood with his arms outstretched, ready to catch himself, no doubt. But was he scared? For a second, Riku looked down at his Keyblade, giving it a squeeze. Under normal circumstances, he would've used this opportunity to attack. And he did perform two light strikes against him with the Keyblade's blunt side. In the end, though, he left the Replica alone and strolled over to the doors. He couldn't fight him in earnest. It just didn't feel right.

Pressing his palms to the doors, he gently pushed them open. True, a corridor would be more efficient, but curiosity gnawed at him. A quick glance couldn't hurt, right? Just enough to get a feel for this terrain before returning to his friends.

That was his intent, but a sharp blow from behind sent him flying through the doors and skidding across the hard floor. Yet as he slid, the ground began to soften. Tiny grains began brushing up against his cheek. In addition to the crunching of footsteps, the sound of waves…

Waves.

"What?!" Riku slammed his hands on the ground, pushing himself onto his knees, and there it was. The ocean, ebbing and flowing, meeting the shoreline. In place of the white walls, a bright blue sky greeted him, with clouds gently drifting by. Seagulls called from afar. A small platform rested at the end of a wooden bridge, with a long, curved tree adorned with star-shaped fruit…

But the landscape flickered. First two a starlit town with cobbled streets, lampposts and neon lights. Then to a room with a towering table, giant chairs, couches, and more, then to the heart of an arena with stands high into the sky. Then back to white. Then to a pirate ship's wooden deck. Then to the base of a Tiger-shaped cave with its jaws wide open. Then back to white again.

"What the…?" He turned in a circle, watching his surroundings toggle about, from a purplish abyss to a grey landscape dotted in gravestones and pumpkins.

"Huh. That's weird," said the Replica. "I guess even without the cards, this castle's still digging into our memories…"

"Geez. You're sure taking this well…" A castle projecting memories… That was hardly mundane, even after all that he'd seen across the cosmos.

But after the initial shock wore off, the Replica lifted his Keyblade once more. The scenery solidified, and though he shot a quick glance at the ocean, he soon returned his focus to Riku. "Small talk isn't gonna change anything, you know."

"But here you are. Talking. Hesitating." Though Riku kept his weapon tightly in one hand, he gave a sort of one armed shrug. "Look, it's okay if you're scared. You've got every right to be."

"Shut up!" The air heated. Fireballs soared at Riku's face, and he threw himself down on the ground. "Fear won't fix anything! It won't get me or my friends out of this mess!"

Just then, the wind brushed across the sand. Sounds of laughter grew steadily closer. Both Rikus turned away from one another just long enough to spot three figures racing across the shoreline. One, impossible to miss, from his silver hair and yellow top, took the lead, while a familiar mop of spiky hair trailed close behind, threatening to smash Riku's heart from the shock. He clutched his chest as he watched the vision of Sora pass by with a giant grin. Behind him, a girl in a simple white dress and long, blonde hair scampered behind, short of breath.

"…We could've had a good life," said the Replica, his voice soft and monotone. "I'd give anything to go back to those carefree days."

But just as the girl brushed past Riku, the image flickered. Blonde hair became red, and the Replica gave a sharp gasp.

"N-No…"

The three figures continued to speed toward a distant wood shack, and their bodies began to fade, swept away by the breeze. Once again, the two Rikus were alone…

Tempting fate, Riku took one step closer. "Look, it's okay. Doesn't matter whose memories are—"

The sky abruptly darkened. Winds tore through the treetops, and the Replica became a blur, knocking the air from Riku's lungs with a single thrust. "Shut up! That's not what I wanna hear right now!"

He struck again and again, slashing and hammering until Riku flickered across the shore, hitting the ground like a ragdoll. Catching himself with his palms, Riku pushed himself back up just in time tumble away from a twirling, flame-coated Keyblade. The second his weapon whirled back into his clutches, the Replica thrust it over his head. At the sound of crackling, Riku scrambled across the hall, weaving his way between crashing lightning bolts. He looked over his shoulder at the Replica and whipped back around, spreading a dome of energy over his head and pinning his feet to the sand.

But he grasped his chest. He flickered away. The ground quivered. Kairi, Sora, and that figment of himself bolted out of the tunnel and across the bridge, pursued by Shadows.

Shadows that dived from the bridge down at himself and his copy. The illusions flickered. Vanished. A small blonde girl and a younger image of himself stood by the paopu tree. Shooting stars streaked through the stormy sky. What did it mean? He couldn't ask. Claws flew at his neck, so he slashed and dashed. Puffs of smoke burst all around them. Then metal clashed and sparks flew. Rain poured down over their heads. A massive fist flew over them, and the two sprung away from one another.

Another tremor. Rocks skewered the Darkside's hand. Lightning clashed with its massive head. The Replica flew through the heart-shaped gap in its chest, undeterred by the changing scenery. Wincing, Riku turned toward the shack, rushed for the door, but the wind tore it to pieces, planks slapping him in the face. Onto his back. His head hit the solid floor, no sand in sight. The whiteness resumed. His body stuck to the floor, pinned by the pressure of yet another gravity field.

Stars replaced the ceiling. Crowds of blurred figures passed him by. Lightning pierced through the roof of the dome before darkness could pull his body to freedom. He screamed. At least, he tried. He couldn't hear the sound of his own voice. Not over the return of the thunder above. The Replica smashed through the dome. Fortunately, Riku's own Oathkeeper blocked him from striking his chest directly.

Voices echoed through the air.

You know, Riku's changed…

Changed, changed, changed, changed…

The Replica slapped his free hand over one of his ears. His legs wobbled. Threatened to give out.

My promise still stands, even now.

Promise, promise, promise…

And how can you do that if you die?!

The was… Sora's voice? Another memory? But not his. Riku opened his mouth to ask, but the sounds of the Replica's screaming drowned out any words he could have said. He held his Keyblade over his head in shaking hands. Streaks of light pierced the grey clouds above. More shooting stars? They streaked down, faster, faster, faster, and faster, until the air grew white hot. Meteors slammed into the sand. Rocky debris left Riku wailing in pain.

The sand below them cracked. The grey of the floor returned, before shattering entirely, and sending the two falling through a sea of white.