Chapter 4: Falling Star Festival (Monique)

               I feel like a part of me is gone. Like this huge part of my thirteen years of living has completely disappeared. I wonder about the rest of it…was it all just a complete lie…or did it all really happen.

               A flickering flame grew from the palm of my hand. The more I thought so depressingly, the dimmer the light shined. I assume my emotions affect my powers…correlation eh? Does this mean if I were to have violent thoughts the flames will shine brighter? “Thoughts like those are the reasons why I’m here, dear.” Annalyse, my assumingly alter-ego, whispered.

               “What do you mean by that?” I asked.

               She giggled, “If I told you what it means, I’d ruin your date. Wouldn’t want that~”

               “D-Date?!?” I blushed.

               A knock came at my door, “May I come in?” it was Karin.

               “Uh s-sure.” I responded.

               She walked into the room, closing the door behind her. She carried a gift wrapped with tan-ish paper and tied up with a white ribbon with a pair of wooden sandals on top. “This is for you.” She smiled, handing me the gift.

               “What is it?”

               “Open it and find out~”

               I ripped it open. It was a fluorescent-orange floral…dress?

               “It’s a yukata. I figured since Lee wanted to take you out to the Falling Star Fest that you should go in one of these.” She grinned, “It’ll make him gush!”

               Ah!! Now it’s an official date! I thought.  

               “Now let’s get you dressed up!” 

               “Ahh!! Waaiit!! Isn’t this going a tad bit overboard?? I could just go in jeans and wh—”

               “Non-sense! If my brother wants to take my friend out, it has to be in style!”

               Half an hour later, a loud bang continuously echoed for a few seconds, “Oy! Are you ready in there?” Lee angrily asked.

               “Just a minute!!” Karin answered, “She’s almost done!” Karin finished tying the red ribbon around my waist and clipped on an orange monarch butterfly, pinning my hair up.

               “Karin? What are you–” the door swung open from the inside.

               “She’s all ready.” Karin smiled.

               “This is really hard to walk around in.” I fumbled trying to get to the door.

               Lee stared in amazement. A bit of pink grew on his cheek.

               “Well, what do you think?” Karin asked.

               Lee straightened his back, “I should probably stop hunching or else she’ll get taller than me in no time.” He took my hand, “C-come on, we’re going to be late.”

               “Have fun you two~” Karin shouted as if she were blessing our date.

               “She’s just too much.” Lee sighed.

               I laughed a bit.

               “I’m so glad you’re having fun . . .”

               “That sounded sincere.”

               “It is.” He kept walking towards the town, still holding my hand, “Are…are you still sad?”

               “About?”

               “You’re never going to live on the islands. . . Riku’s memories of you are gone too…”

               “Oh…that’s right…Alexis told me about that when I got back to the hospital room last night. Because this world and all those who inhabit it are supposed to protect something important…the place most people know as Kingdom Hearts…all of our existence must be erased.” I looked up at the sky, “I’m a tad bit sad….but I guess it has to be…if that’s what fate has planned then it’s alright…I suppose. No use crying over spilled milk.”

               “Such a clichéd line.” He sighed,” Although, I was really expecting water works.”

               “Oh, so you want me to cry?”

               “Not really. I like it when you’re happy.”

               I blushed.

               “When you’re happy…the world is right.” He kept walking, “I-I’m sorry...”

               “For what?” I giggled a bit, “Having a really cheesy line?”

               He shook his head. He kept walking, a bit farther away from me. He took a step into the dark foggy city. It seemed as if the sun hadn’t risen, as if it was blown out in a single puff. Like we missed the whole festival (it’s barely noon! I swear! ). “For what’s about to happen…”

               “Eh?” I walked slowly behind him inside the town. It was erringly quiet and dark for a Tuesday afternoon. “Why? What’s going on?” With only an inch away from us, a spark of lightning zoomed past us. I watched it as it pierced through a muscular Taurus that stood on its hind legs, obliterating it within seconds. Two people in red capes rand right through me, running towards the outskirts of the city.

               “This is the beginning of the end. The battle of Endersteen. Guess they started the festival earlier…”

               “What do you mean? What’s going on??”

               “The Falling Star Festival always presents the history of our world and how we came to be through the usage of Illusion magic. If we aren’t there in the center to hear the story tellers bring it to life, our hearts automatically get lost within the illusion world.” He sighed, turning to me, “This means, you’ll get to know what happened to your parents.”

               “My parents?” the salty sea water crashed into my lower ankles, soaking the bottom of the yukata. The ocean? In the middle of the city!?  I heard the cries of infants, as if they were separated from their mothers.

               “Sh. Shhh. Hush little one. Everything will be alright.” A soft, comforting voice hummed to me.

               “Eh?” the scene moved all at once, fast forwarding me to a place where a woman in a white cloak was bending down to a basket cradle.

               “Don’t worry, Monique. Mommy and Daddy…will…will always love you and watch over you. We will always be proud of you…”I walked a little closer to her, trying to see who it was, “I’m…I’m so sorry...” the woman in white stood up.

               “Sorry? You’re giving up your only child?” Someone cynically asked.

               “Whose there?” she asked, looking around.

               “You can’t protect her, can you?” A man in a black hoodie stood in front of the woman, “Why don’t you call it quits and hand them over to me?”

               “You!” a staff materialized from thin air, “You’re the one who started it all, you’re the one who killed the other two! I’m not giving you my life nor am I giving you my pride and joy!”

               “I’ll set them free from their destinies,” he held up a crystal ball with two small spheres of light roaming about in it.

               “You’re…you’re trying to open the gates!?”

               “It would have been easier if you all would have cooperated so I wouldn’t have to sacrifice your children’s lives.”

               “You’re not laying one hand on them! Besides, you won’t catch much with that rubber ball!”

               The man looked down to find the crystal ball he was holding disappeared, “Such childish tricks won’t get you that far.”

               “Heh, it’s all I actually need. Cody! Get out of here!” She shouted.

               “Not without you!” a boy shouted back.

               “You have to…” her lips curved into a devastating smile, the kind that a pained mother used when she knew she was at her end, “You have to survive to protect her. She’s your sister now. You have to protect her because you’re all she has left now. I leave her to you.” Something grabbed the boy and gently placed him where the baskets were. Before she could send them off, the man in the black hoodie struck her down.

               “Your efforts are all in vein.” He sneered.

               “Heh.” She coughed, “Let’s just see how wrong you are”

               “DON’T! YOU’RE ALREADY AT YOUR LIMIT!” the boy shouted, “Please! Let me help you! If you use any more energy, your life force will go out!”

               She lifted her arm up “Aros!” a strong gust of wind blew away all the baskets and the boy, sending them far away. She steadily rose up from the ground, “L-Let’s dance.”

               “Sakura!” the boy shouted, “Please! Don’t die..”

               “Sakura?” I ran towards the battle scene, hoping that in some weird way, I’d be able to stop it.

               “You fool!” he angrily shouted.

               “Heh. I knew you needed that thing to get Accilia. I also am aware that of what happens when I die. That she’ll be put back to where I found her and that there’s not much you nor I can do about it.”

               “What a foolish card to play!”

               “The last gamble I can ever make.” She smiled, “Forgive me, Monique, I can’t be with you.”  Moments passed by and her physical form disappeared, her body fluttering in the wind as pieces of lights.

               “M-Mom…?”  I reached out for her. My hands phased through her body, through all of the flying light particles. Even if it was for a brief moment, I wanted to feel her…at least once…but what was I thinking reaching out to a woman a part of memories that I never even knew existed? What is the point in me experiencing this when there is nothing that I could ever do to bring her back to life.

               A flash of light emerged, casing the time to fast forward. Tears welded up. I’ve never felt this sad in my life or perhaps I have but I don’t recall nor remember. I found Lee standing near what it seemed to be a gate leading to town. He turned to face me, noticing the tears that welded up and streamed down my face. “What’s wrong?”

               “I…I think I just watched…my... mom die….” Sparks of memories started appearing in my head. I remember my mom and Accilia…together as one. She was a host for her. A key. She saved my life by sacrificing hers and gave Accilia freedom from their bond. Yet she still attached to me…as if owing my mom a favor. “Wh-what kind of life did I live?”

               “I-I’m sorry.” Lee mumbled with a touch of sadness, “You…you had to go through that again. You have to remember the kind of person you were…and the life they left behind for you.”

               “Th-they? My dad too? Where is he?” I asked

               “….Are you sure you want to know?”

               I nodded.

               He stepped aside from my view revealing a distant time where the buildings disintegrated into trees. Seas and seas of trees with wide pathways leading to stone circle implanted on the ground with a keyhole chiseled on its surface. A small mouse, probably no more than two feet tall, ran passed us with a blade shaped as a key. He rushed towards the stone circle where a man in a black cloak was on the verge of collapsing. “Heal!” the mouse shouted. A light green energy surrounded the man, healing his wounds and giving him strength to stand on his own.

               “Mickey…” he asked, “wh-what are you still doing here?”

               “Came to help!” he readied himself for battle.

               “Please escape with the others.” He pleaded “I-I’ll handle this on my own.”

               “Fat chance!” a small yellow mouse with a pair of blue goggles appeared by the mouse’s side.

               “We don’t leave friends behind!” A small girl with flowing white hair, pasty face and fiery spirit stood near the mouse.

               “Pikachu…M-Mavis…” A bit of smile showed on his face.

               “I had the others go on and help the others escape.” Mavis smiled, “We’ll be able to pull of this

last round together!”

               “Such fiery confidence…” the black coated man trapped the black cloaked man.

               “Titian!” They all shouted.

               A force-field surrounded the two, blocking off any means of entry. The black coated man confronted Titian, “Give up the locations and I’ll spare you.”

               “I would rather die by your hands than betray the ones who’ve bestowed their lives on my shoulders.” Titian stood his ground, “I won’t let you touch any of those kids. I won’t let my comrades’ nor my wife’s death be in vein. I’ll erase you from this world before I let that happen!”

               “How are you going to accomplish that?” he sneered.

               “By sacrificing my own life. Please! Gather!” He held up his hand in the air, using a spark of flame as a signal. Three orbs of light danced around the signal, circling round and round.

               “Wh-what is the meaning of this?”

               “You are not only standing on the entrance of Kingdom Hearts. This very place is also the keyhole that locks this world, restarting it once the pieces have been placed back. Xehanort, I will erase you from this world. You will no longer hold the knowledge you possess and you will no longer be able to set foot onto this world. From now on, I, as the last bestowed warrior of this world will forever banish you from this plane.” The three orbs surrounded him, slowly engulfing him, “Amplify…point one…Sacrifice”

               The man in the black coat tried escaping but was caught by chains that emerged from underground. The keyhole they stood on shined a bright light, slowly engulfing both of them.

               “Wait! If you do that you’ll…you’ll never be able to live that dream! Don’t go!” Mavis pounded away at the force-field.

               Titian laughed. “I-I’m sorry. I set myself up for a fool’s dream.” He smiled, “I won’t be able to get to live it out…will I?” he looked at Mavis, Pikachu and Mickey, “Please. When you see Monique, tell her…her parents want the very best for her and we are always proud of her.” The ground below started breaking apart. Rocks and concrete part sinking into the unknown. Xehanort fell through the rocks. Titian stared at the trio for the very last time, mouthing off the words “Good-bye” before deteriorating into small fragments of light.

Everything happened too fast…without any stops in between without any sort of pause…it…just happened. The death of two people who brought me into the world…the death of the only two people I probably had any connections with gone. Sounds from the festivities started trinkling in like the first few raindrops that fall from the sky before a heavy rain comes on by. People started walking through that scene, laughing and chatting as if nothing had ever happened. I stood looking at the scene, staring at every inch of it, even with people walking around it. I-I just couldn’t move. My feet were planted on the ground. My mind still comprehending what just went on.

“Hey.” I heard a voice call out.  “You okay?”

I shook my head

“I’m sorry…I-I didn’t want you to relive that…”

“Then why did I have to?” tears welded up, “Why did you have to show me…all of that?”

“Because you were going to know sooner or later. It was better sooner.”

I looked around at the happy folks who continued to mosey on throughout the festivities, “Why…why aren’t they sad? Why didn’t they see it?”

“Because we walked right through the illusion world. They saw what the illusionists wanted them to see however we saw what our hearts and minds lead us to see.”

“So I…I wanted to see my parents die?”

“You wanted to remember the kind of people your parents were. The kind of heroes they were.” He took me by the hand, guiding me through the plaza we were in, pulling me around the corner. He pointed at the crowd of people roaming about the busy streets. “This was their and our result”

“Ours?” I looked at Lee.
“The majority of the people you see here are orphans. The rest, people who couldn’t belong anywhere. They all gather here because this is where they feel they can belong. Everyone’s parents who’ve participated in the war, including yours and mine, sacrificed their lives to preserve this.” Kids ran about in there summer dresses and yukatas while carrying paper lanterns. Stands gave away food and drinks and even toys from winning games. No form of currency was exchanged. Just warm smiles and polite thank you’s. Everyone was a young face. No wrinkles or spots of anything on their skin, just young people moseying about and keeping their eyes on the younger ones.

“Everyone…everyone here…”

“Orphaned or misplaced” he looked at me, “Let me take you to this place…” he pulled me away, “You’re going to want to see it.”

“Eh?” I reluctantly followed, “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.” He smiled.

We walked through the main street where vendors were planted left and right. The aromas danced from their respective places and roamed around the skies, finding their way to my nose. Paper lanterns lit up the darkened streets, some managed to float up into the sky. We walked past the capital building where statues of fallen heroes were placed. My wooden sandals were wearing out from all the walking…note to self: do not wear wooden sandals when walking around too much. Not fun! He stopped in front of a particular set of statues that laid in a garden. A garden filled fields and fields of lilies, roses, sunflowers and irises. “It’s over here.” He pulled me towards a statue altar of the people I’ve been following around in that illusion world.

We got close enough to the altar to read its descriptions:

In loving memory of Titian and Sakura Hyori

Who sacrificed their lives to save the future

Whose only regret is leaving their precious gift to the world

Their only wish is to hope the home they saved will be enough for her

“Welcome Home, Monique”

               “This is where your parents decided to have their altar at. Your mom always did enjoy the beauty behind this world.”

               “How did you know this?”

               “My parents were close to your parents.” He pointed to the other side of the field, “Their altar is on the other side.” He observed the fluorescent orange sky, watching as the clouds sailed by, “Mom died when she was assisting the escape plan for the children. Dad died because he refused to sell out his comrades in order to save his own life.”

              I frowned. “That’s awful…and heroic in a way.” I looked at him, “You’re really proud of them, aren’t you?”

              He nodded, “They died and lived like heroes.” A smidge of a smile rode across his face, “Even though they knew they weren’t going to make it out alive, they all saw it to the end, hoping for the best out of the situation given.”

               I looked at the altar, “You know…when I try remembering the past…I would remember all the times I was bullied for being an orphan and told my parents never loved me. When I tried remembering anything about my life here…” tears welded up, “I remember feeling unloved by everyone around me. However…reading this…remembering all of those notes that were locked inside of that house…I…I’m…relieved…to know that even in the afterlife…they will always love me…”

               “Your…” he patted my head, “Your parents adored you.” He smiled at me and I smiled back. He then took me by the hand, guiding me back through the flowery field.

               I felt my grasp slip away from his. He walked farther and farther away. I tried catching up with him but once he entered the town area, he disappeared, “Hey…Lee..! Wait up!!” I called out. No answer, not even a response. I looked around the area, hoping it would be just a lame prank, “Come on…hey Lee! This isn’t funny!”

               “Fu-fu-fu.”

               I turned around, “Hello? Who’s there?”

               “A lost pup, eh?”

               “Please show yourself!”

               “What will you do?” something wrapped itself around me, “You lost your memories. Nothing to help the Great Monique fight. No one to help you. You’re just a helpless little pup. As helpless as I found you that day.”

               “A-Analyse?”

               “Bingo” she devilishly smiled.

               “Wh-what are you doing here?”

               Something wrapped around me, constricting me from movement. “Though I didn’t want to ruin your little date…”she sighed, “I do despise seeing you happy with him. Getting all cuddly with the monster who made you this way. With the person who’s done you more harm than ever. He says he wants to keep you safe from all the harm there is but he’s the one who causes it the most.” She chuckles, “He even thinks keeping those pieces of memories away from you will allow you to continue further yet…without those memories your powers will never reach its true potential.”

               “Wh-what?” I tried prying myself loose from the constriction, “What are you talking about?” screams started echoing about the fields. Lights darkened. The trees stopped flowing with the wind. The world stopped for a bitter moment and the only sounds that echoed were pained children, screaming for mercy. Scars crossed themselves amongst my wrists and upper arms, some forming words and others just lines that dragged on and on. “What’s going on!?” I cried, “Someone! Please help!”

               A mirror appeared before me. I stared at it, my eyes scanning my whole entire body. Everything I was feeling had not appeared. It’s as if it wasn’t just reflecting me…but showing me another…me? “I’m just trying to show you…” it’s mouth moved, her voice emitting through its vocal cords, “What you were like…” the reflection’s skin started peeling away. Bit by bit, the skin peeled from a creamy white to a greyish color. The outlines as black as the pitched night, as if a black-and-white character was plastered onto the mirror. Its eyes dipped in a devilish red. The smile curved with stiches. “Don’t you remember how much terror we brought?”

~Fin~