Remembrance( A Kingdom Hearts Fanfiction)

Alone

Mara allowed herself to fall to her knees, bringing them to her chest as she began to sob. The pain of her memories becoming too much for the young woman. " Make it stop." Mara breathed as the images before she and Riku dissolved into nothing. Leaving the two suspended in never-ending darkness. Cautiously Riku peered around their surroundings, unable to see a single thing in the pitch black darkness. For there all that existed was he and Mara. A woman who had endured an imaginable amount of pain in her life. Was able to find love, one of the most powerful sources of light of all time. Just to have that love, that connection, that spark leave her side. Abandoning Mara. Alone in her eternal darkness.

Quietly Riku turned his gaze back onto the heartbroken Mara. Unable to withstand reliving her memories of both happiness and bitterness. Mara brought an eternal wall around herself. One that Riku could visibly see due to their hearts being strangely connected. Connected. Just as Riku's had with Sora, Kairi and all their friends. His friends had indeed became his power in the darkness. Riku just needed to figure out what exactly could drive Mara to continue. To fight another day. To one day stand beside him and the others in the upcoming Keyblade War. A war that would either bring and end to the darkness or the light which always strove to illuminate the way.

Yen Sid had already spoken of the Lost Masters for they were perhaps the very reason the first Keyblade War was orchestrated. Many facts remained unclear, but one did. This would be tbe final showdown. Only one side would prevail. And the side of Light would not stand a chance without Mara. The Forgotten Keyblade Master. One who willed herself into oblivion in order to shelter those who knew her. A power like hers....no a person as loving,determined and warm should not be wasted in the darkness. And Riku would not let her. Even if he would have to reveal a part of himself that Riku would rather forget.

But deep down Riku felt that this was neccesary. To show Mara that infact not all is lost in the darkness. "E-Everything I love....everything I touch....it withers around me. I can't-" Mara choked out, her voice trembling unable to hide her deep sorrow. "I can't take it anymore!" Mara cried out, her tears hitting the dark earth at her feet. Which began to rise around Mara's shaken form. Taking the shape of none other than Terra. Mara's past and most recent regret. Her inability to save him from the clutches of darkness.

With her now puffy gaze turned towards the stoic form of Terra. Mara cried out to him, her tears never ceasing. And that heavy feeling in her chest continued. Burdening even Riku, who felt as if a large weight had been sat on his chest. He struggled to catch his breathe. Just as Mara had prior, her hands trembling as she reached out for the figure of Terra. His body seeming to be made entirely of smoke, an empty illusion of Mara's worst sin.

"I failed to save you.....and caused all of this pain for those after us." Mara sobbed her sins spilling from her lips at the vision of Terra. Her gaze softening at his calm cerulean orbs. "I can't go on anymore without you....I would rather remain here....in the darkness of my memories." Mara breathed as her gaze suddenly became downcast to the ground. "Where we can be together." The vision of Terra whispered in her ear. Taking Mara into his arms from behind. His brief touch sending warmth and familiarity to the flustered Mara. Her fears temporarily put at ease due to the embrace.

Yet even so Mara knew she could not remain here. Trapped within her own memories. This simply would not be allowed, the remainder of her heart would finally break due to the strain. Sending Mara into an inescapable void from which she would never return from. Quietly Mara peered towards the image of Terra. His face so serene it was almost foreign to Mara. As this had been absent from her for so long. All the while Riku remained silent, watching the scene unfold. Before noticing the vision of Terra fading away into the datkness, Mara crying out for Terra. Begging him not to leave her alone once again. Alone in this bitter darkness she had become accustomed to since his absence. Tears streaming down Mara's cheeks, the sight too much for Riku.

Riku's own heart thumping loudly in his chest. Reacting to the ailing Mara who sobbed her heart out. Mara's true fears being fully realized by Riku. Mara had done many things in her life. She achieved the rank of Master of the Keyblade. She saved Ventus momentarily from the clutches of Xehanort to the best of her abilities at the time. Mara even fell in love with someone who succumbed to the darkness, and yet she strove to save him. Her family. Only to fail. But that wasn't what she feared the most. What she feared was loneliness. The very same she felt once her world was swallowed up in darkness. The relevant sensation once Terra had been taken by Xehanort. Leaving Mara alone to dwell on her failures. For what Mara truly feared above all else was being alone. With no one to remember her. To care she even existed. Perhaps erasing herself from others memories was Mara's own form of punishment for her deeds. Riku didnt know.

All he knew was that his heart was aching horribly, the pain so severe Riku gripped onto his chest. Trying his best to ignore the harsh sting of reality Mara was facing. Unable to stand her cries anymore, Riku found himself walking to Mara. The pain in his chest remaining, yet ever so slightly lessened the closer he came to Mara. Noticing a tall shadow looming over her,Mara turned her tear stained gaze to Riku. Who smiled painfully towards the frazzled woman. His right hand reaching out for Mara's and for some reason she did the same. The compelling force beckoning the two to make contact.

Their fingertips pressed against one another. Sending a rush of warm as brillaint as the sun on Destiny Island. A sensation Riku needed Mara to experience. "All is not lost in the darkness." Riku pointed out, confusing Mara who insisted darkness only brought about pain and loss. To this Riku sighed, the warmth in their touch soon radiating through their entire bodies. "Not all darkness is the same. My darkness, was forged into light." Riku said his words surprising Mara as she stared at the silver haired man in awe. For he had claimed to have full control over his darkness and most of all turned it to light. But how?