Kingdom hearts requiem of dawn 

CHAPTER SEVEN

Kairi's consciousness lay dormant, a deep slumber within her own heart. She was powerless, trapped in the depths of her own mind, while Noctera now controlled her every movement. Noctera stretched her arms, testing the weight of Kairi's body, her lips curling into a smile of satisfaction. It felt strange, like wearing a mask, but she would make it her own.

As she looked down at Kairi's clothes, the smile quickly faded. Pink? Soft, gentle colors? It was utterly nauseating. She ran a hand over the fabric of Kairi's usual outfit—the girlish, innocent tones of pink and white—and scoffed in disgust.

"This won't do at all," Noctera said aloud, her voice a chilling echo of Kairi's, yet laced with a sinister edge. With a wave of her hand, dark magic swirled around her, shimmering and crackling in the air as it engulfed her body.

The transformation was swift. The pink, feminine attire dissolved into the shadowy void, replaced by a sleek, black and violet ensemble. Her new outfit was striking and foreboding—long, dark robes with high, jagged shoulders, intricately woven with dark silver thread that glistened like moonlight on a stormy night. The fabric flowed like shadows behind her, sleek and dangerous. Her sleeves were long and tapered, with violet-tinted gloves that extended up her arms. Around her waist, a silver chain belt hung, adding a touch of metallic coldness to the already dark aesthetic.

Her boots clicked sharply against the ground as she took a step forward, inspecting her new form. The violet and black hues complemented the darkness radiating from her, and her reflection in the nearby shards of glass showed her eyes glowing a dangerous, predatory purple. Her hair, once soft and flowing, now took on a darker shade, streaked with black, falling in sleek waves past her shoulders.

"This is more fitting," Noctera muttered with a smirk, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

Satisfied with the change, she flexed her fingers, feeling the magic within them, the sheer power now at her disposal. Kairi's body was strong, filled with light—but that light would soon be devoured by the overwhelming darkness. It was only a matter of time before Kairi's heart would be fully consumed.

The thought sent a thrill through her. Noctera glanced toward the dark horizon. She had work to do—plans to set in motion, and worlds to engulf in eternal night.

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A week had passed since the battle, and the once vibrant and hopeful group of Guardians of Light had gathered for a solemn ceremony. The Keyblade Graveyard, where their journey had taken so many turns, now stood as the final resting place for those they had lost. Monuments were erected in honor of the fallen—Goofy, Donald, Terra, Xion, and even Kairi. Though Kairi still lived, her heart and mind were lost to Noctera, and it felt as though the Kairi they knew was truly gone.

Daisy was inconsolable, her tears flowing without pause as she clung to a somber King Mickey. The royal couple had arrived to pay their respects, but neither could find any words to express the depth of their sorrow. Donald had been one of Mickey's closest friends, his partner in so many battles. The weight of his loss seemed to press on the King's shoulders, making him seem smaller and more fragile than ever before.

Aqua, her body still recovering from the internal injuries sustained in the fight, stood quietly off to the side, her arms wrapped around her middle. Every breath was a reminder of the damage Noctera had caused, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the agony of seeing her friends fall. Terra's sacrifice haunted her—the words he'd spoken before his death echoed in her mind constantly: "If I'm going down, it might as well be protecting the woman I love."

She had never had the chance to tell him that she felt the same.

Ventus stood beside her, his fists clenched, his eyes dark with anger and grief. He had vowed to take revenge for Terra's death, but for now, all he could do was stand and mourn. The pain was raw, and like the others, he wore the heavy weight of loss in his expression.