fruithats | [ keyblade master madoka au catchall post ]

[ The farther he goes, the less he can shake the feeling that Xehanort might have been right about him disappearing from the world. And yet, the farther he goes, the harder he ignores it - he has to find Kairi, whatever is left of her wherever she went. Xion assured him Kairi would be fine, but he knows she won't be unless... unless he does this. Helps her. Finds her. Somehow.

Eventually he thinks... or he's pretty sure he's done it. But by now, he's also wondering if the Abyss has a bottom. If it ends, somehow, somewhere. Maybe it's like an ocean, and if you go past a certain point the pressure just crushes you. Is that a point you can pass without realizing? He doesn't remember.

It doesn't seem terribly important now that Kairi is alright. In fact, it seems like less of a priority to get back now, and anyway, he isn't sure how at this point. He'll just keep moving and figure something out.

What he doesn't expect is to find another sleeping world. There weren't supposed to be more of those, were there? He and Riku had brought them all back, hadn't they? As much as he realizes this could be a trap, he dives in anyway - it feels different than it used to, he thinks, but soon enough he's touching down, blinking at the unfamiliar place. This... definitely isn't anywhere he's ever been before.

....... Probably. ]

[ time stopped having any meaning for Madoka a long while ago. that's the thing about a sleeping world, after all. it's perfectly preserved just as the heart of that world remembers it being, for as long as it's still asleep. so, she doesn't know, really, how long she's been sealed inside this bubble of her own making. only that sleeping peacefully is much, much better than being consumed and eroded away by darkness, so if she has to live inside a dream of the realm of light for the rest of forever - that's fine, really. somebody has to watch over the worlds down here, make sure that they don't slide the rest of the way into the darkness and that the Nightmares don't grow too numerous.

she's doing her usual rounds of the city when she feels it, and looks up to see that tell-tale streak of light arcing downwards from the sky - the unmistakable presence of someone new. someone has dived right in to her bubble. but to do that--

could there really be Keyblade wielders out there searching for them?

she heads toward the place she thinks her visitor touched down - somewhere close to the river, she thinks. Mitakihara is held in an endless spring, and so there are cherry blossom petals bobbing on the surface of the water as she lands lightly on the grassy slope leading down to the riverside path, looking around for any sign of her unexpected visitor.

she spots him after a moment or two, and for an instant she's too shocked to speak. it really is someone from the outside. someone young, too - a new apprentice? just how much time has passed back in the Realm of Light?

she raises her voice, unable to keep the marvel out of it. ]

Excuse me - ah, I'm sorry, but who are you?

[ Sora is still surprised that there is a sleeping world here at all, let alone that he found it so very much by accident. He's still taking in the sights from where he landed. It's... it's beautiful, really. Serene and quiet. He's in the middle of taking a picture with his gummiphone, (even though it lost connection some time ago, so he can't really share it anyway) when the first nightmares show up. The shapes they take aren't wholly familiar, but... well it does still help him get back into the swing of things. Once the fight is over, he even has a friend, a bird-like thing that sometimes perches on him, reminding him of a bat friend he had before.

Unsure which direction to head in, he tries to walk up the green slope for a better view. Perhaps if he'd kept his eyes on the goal, he wouldn't startle like he does at the sound of her voice. As is, he waves and breaks into a big smile, skipping right over any confusion as he picks up the pace and jogs closer, while the spirit floats after him with the eerily even pace only dream eaters manage. ] Hey! Hello, hi there.

[ Only when he's close enough they're almost on even footing does he stop to answer her actual question. His whole heart aches with relief at the company, and he hasn't even introduced himself. ] I'm Sora. Who're you?

[ she can't help but laugh at his greeting, giving him a little wave of her own as he approaches. ]

Hello there!

[ ah... his energy is so nostalgic. it reminds her of when she was just one of a small group of apprentices - Kyouko and Sayaka had both been so brash and headstrong back then.

as many questions as Madoka has, she can't help but return his smile, especially when she catches sight of the friend floating along behind his shoulder. he's barely arrived and already making friends? something about that just immediately puts her at ease. ]

Oh, my name is Madoka! [ ... and well, it's only fair that this boy knows from the start who he's talking to, isn't it? Keyblade wielder to Keyblade wielder? ] Ah, actually, maybe I should say - Master Madoka. It's nice to meet you, Sora, but...

[ but she didn't really expect to ever talk to another stranger ever again. ]

... I'm sorry, I really have to ask - how did you get here?

Edited (ICON FAIL...) 2019-02-15 16:36 (UTC)

[ He briefly wonders if maybe she's another princess - if more sleeping worlds can be a thing, why not that too? But she is quick to clear that up. Sora's eyes widen at the addition. Master? But she's so young! She must be younger than him, right? And weren't there supposed to be no more Keyblade Masters besides Aqua? ] Whoa- uhm. [ After a moment, he remembers to bow respectfully. ] I mean, it's good to meet you, Master Madoka.

[ The surprise disappears in favor of another smile, which turns sheepish at the question. Suddenly he's looking anywhere but at her. ] That's... kind of a long story. But, well, I was... I dove into the Abyss to-- to save a friend. [ He looks down. It's done now, right? It has to be. She has to be okay now. Back with Riku and the others. Everyone is fine now, even if he's--

He shakes his head. ] It uh, it was kind of difficult, but I think I managed, and I was trying to find a way back up but... instead I found this place.

[ He hopes that makes sense. ]

[ she shakes her head a little at the bow, a small smile still curving her lips. she caught the surprise, too, and honestly, that was expected. she knows her height and apparent youth catch people off-guard that way, and besides... it's not as though she'd had that much time after being named Master to settle into the role properly before things began to unravel.

but not a moment later, it's her turn to be caught unawares. Madoka's eyes widen, her mouth open in a small "o" as she looks at this newcomer in an entirely new light.

she can't entirely crush the small flare of disappointment she feels at hearing that no one is searching for them after all, but she firmly puts it aside as Sora keeps talking. and, as he keeps talking, she takes advantage of the fact that he suddenly can't make eye contact with her to look at him - really look at him, as she listens.

he dove right into the Abyss to save a friend? his heart must be so strong. even so...

she reaches out with other senses. to her relief and amazement, what she finds is light, unmistakable and abundant. but... there's something thin about it that worries her. like glimpsing the glow of a lone flame cast on a wall by a cracked lantern. even the strongest light would struggle in an endless darkness, if it was the only light around. ]

Well... how this place ended up down here is a long story, too.

[ but after whatever it is that's happend to lead him here, she'll let him decide if they want to swap those long stories yet or not. for now, she pulls her senses back, looking at Sora kindly. ]

But however you found it, I'm very glad you did. Diving straight into the Abyss like that is... mm, well, even the strongest Keyblade Masters would be amazed that you're still standing here talking to me! [ she puts a finger to her chin, thinking. ] Maybe the heart of this world sensed your light from inside its dreams and guided you here.

[ Sora isn't quite aware of how threadbare he feels - he's not even sure how exactly it works, sensing someone else's heart, unless he's close to them in some way. He feels... tired, maybe. It isn't easy to be down here on his own, but... that was part of the point, wasn't it? Becoming strong enough, making sure he can make a difference even on his own. Riku was always able to do anything, but him...

He tilts his head at the statement. Something to ask about.

The compliment does make him smile, but there's something sad about the look on his face. Even the strongest Keyblade Masters, huh? ] Thanks. Yeah... maybe that was it! But about that-- this place is a sleeping world, right? But Master Yen Sid told me that there were only supposed to be seven of those, and Riku and I already woke them, so... what's up with that? And what world is this, anyway?

[ Master Yen Sid? Riku? more names that she doesn't recognise, and again, she wonders just how much time has passed up in the realm of light.

and what has passed up there, come to that. the mention of another group of sleeping worlds makes her brows knit together. the worlds outside had been in that much danger?

... one thing at a time, she supposes. it seems like they've got a lot to get straightened out. ]

Mm. You're right, this is a sleeping world. [ she nods slowly. ] Actually, it's the world I was born in. This is Mitakihara, but - [ she lets out a small hum, a rueful smile on her face. ] Maybe nobody remembers it anymore.

[ but Sora had one more question, huh? ] Ah, but to tell the truth, I didn't realise that there were more worlds out there that had fallen into sleep as well! With this one, it was the only thing I could manage to do to stop it from falling to darkness completely. I guess that's not how it was with the ones you and your friend woke, if your Master sent you on that mission.

[ Sora wouldn't even know, in years. 'In ancient times' was always kind of a vague statement, anyway.

Sora scratches his head at the name. ] Mitaki... hara... [ He looks around again, taking it in once more and trying to imagine what it would be like to live here. He looks apologetic, shaking his head. He really hasn't ever heard of this place. ] Yeah... sorry. Maybe one of the others will!

[ At the mention that she put this world to sleep, his eyes go wide. ] You did that? I didn't even know that was possible! No, no that's not how it was with the worlds we woke at all. It was more like... [ He crosses his arms, trying to remember, his words slowing as if he's trying to pull a distant memory back up, trying to make sure he's saying it right. ] Uhhh... the worlds fell to the darkness for a while... and even after they were freed again, the hearts of those worlds stayed asleep? I think.

[ she shakes her head a little at Sora's apologetic headscratching. she had expected as much, really, going off of what she was picking up so far. it's unreasonable to expect anyone to recognise a world that's fallen out of place for so long.

... however, when his eyes start going all big and round like that, it's also her turn to look sheepish. ] Ehehe, well... I didn't know it was possible until I did it, either. It's not what I was trying to do, but... it was better than just doing nothing.

[ she frowns listening to his explanation. what he's saying makes sense - any heart lost in darkness for long might need some help waking up - but-- ] --eh?! They all fell to darkness!? Did things really get so badly out of balance? I feel like I've missed so much... mm, too much.

[ but, there's a short sigh, before she smiles again. "for a while" implies that things got better. ] Still, it sounds like in the end, the worlds were in good hands after all. What are things like now?

[ Her description has him chuckling. ] Yeah, I know how that goes. [ Sometimes you gotta try and maybe make things up as you go, right? Sometimes there aren't any instructions. No reason not to give it your best shot.

He's a little surprised at her shock, actually. It's been such a fact of life for him for the last few years... of course worlds falling to darkness is still terrible, but it's all fixable, right? For a moment, Sora isn't sure how to respond, but he nods at her assessment - they're still in good hands. He's sure of that. Riku and the king and everyone else... they'll look after things. ] Okay well... it's all kind of a long story... and I don't even know all of it, but I can try? Uh basically there was this guy named Xehanort, and for some reason he really wanted to recreate the Keyblade War and uhm. [ Where does he even start with Ansem and Xemnas and... everything? ]

Uhhhh........ basically the people he gathered [ we are not going to go into how he tried to make 13 of himself ] to pull it off did a lot of bad things before that even happened? But we defeated him in the end! Uh, them. [ Wow he managed to give the super abridged version in under a minute! Somehow. ]

I left right after that though, and it's kinda hard to keep track of time down here so I dunno how things are right now. But the others are all in the waking world and taking care of stuff I bet, so I'm sure it's fine now!

[ as Sora manages the impressive feat of summarising all of Xehanort's overcomplicated bullshit in a few shorts sentences, to say that Madoka's face goes on a journey rivalling that of any Keyblade apprentice approaching their Mark of Mastery is somewhat of an understatement. when she eventually finds her voice again, she sounds stunned. ]

I guess... I really wasn't wrong when I said I'd missed too much, huh.

[ a story that ends with someone recreating the Keyblade War itself must be one worthy of filling many volumes - the sort of story that will no doubt pass into legends of its own some day. but even the heavily abriged version also lets her fill in some gaps - no wonder his search for his friend lead him to dive headlong into somewhere like the abyss, if what caused his friend to vanish in the first place was being caught up in something as destructive as a second Keyblade War. ]

... Well, one thing's definitely for sure, Sora. [ and she smiles; impressed, genuine, and radiant. ] You and your friends must be some of the greatest Keyblade wielders that ever lived if you managed to put a stop to a plan like that. It's incredible!

[ Sadly, Sora isn't really watching the face journey take place, too wrapped up in trying to retell what happened, but he definitely notes the lingering silence, shifting his weight as he waits for her to process the... everything. He only has a light, sheepish laugh to offer at her initial answer. If she never knew about any of this... yeah, he has no idea how long she's been down here.

The praise makes him grin immediately. ] Thanks! I'm really glad everyone came together to help, otherwise I have no idea how we'd have ever done it. [ They wouldn't have. That thought still sits like a pit in his stomach, surrounded by a cold, terrifying certainty, but there's no reason to acknowledge it, right? Because they did! They did do it.

He is momentarily distracted by his new dream eater friend deciding to sit on his head. Mercifully it does not try to pull on his hair to make it more nest-shaped. ] --Hey! Uhm... [ Okay he's laughing. ] Anyway, you gotta meet everyone when we get back! Is it just you here?

[ keyblade master madoka au catchall post ]

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