Kingdom Hearts: The Legendary 8th Princess of Heart

Chapter 30: Harmony Remembers/Maleficent's Defeat part 1

(3rd) POV:

"Why? It was mine," Riku says, running through the halls of the castle. "...Harmony was supposed to be mine."

"Know this," someone says, making Riku stop in his tracks. "The heart that is strong and true shall win the Keyblade."

Riku turns around to see a figure, who is covered in a filthy cloak. Whether it's fate, luck, or something else entirely, it is actually the same cloaked figure Harmony and Asch encountered back on the islands.

"What? You're saying my heart's weaker than his?" Riku questions, not even beginning to question who this person is.

"For that instant, it was," the cloaked figure says. "As for the 8th princess, only a true warrior of true strength can win her heart. One of the Guardians of Lorelei, who you are all too familiar with, has accomplished that. Her heart now belongs to him, leaving no room for you," his words make Riku stare at the floor, with his head down. "However, you can become stronger. You showed no fear in stepping through the door to darkness. It held no terror for you. Plunge deeper into the darkness, and your heart will grow even stronger."

"What should I do?" Riku asks, not even caring about anything anymore.

He's tried to make his friends understand his attentions, he's tried to win Harmony's heart, and has tried to save Kairi. He's tried everything, but ended up gaining nothing. At this point, what else does he have to lose?

"It's really quite simple," the cloaked figure says. "Open yourself to the darkness. That is all. Let your heart, your being, become darkness itself."

Riku does as told. A green aura surrounds his body as the cloaked figure walks closer to him.

(Harmony's) POV:

Once Madison got done crying, she started to lead us through the castle, since she's been here a lot longer than any of us have.

"Tell me, Harmony, do you recognize this place?" Madison asks all of a sudden, while we walk through the castle halls.

"Huh? What do you mean?" I ask.

"Let me re-phase that. Does anything about this place seem familiar to you? As though you've been here before?" Madison asks.

I think carefully on her words. "...I thought it was just a strange coincidence, but..." I try to say.

"It would surprise me if you didn't remember this place," Madison says.

"What do you mean?" Luke asks.

"This place...was actually Harmony and Kairi's home once," Madison answers, making us shocked. "At least it used to be, before my mother came and took over," that's when I have a flashback. But this time, it's making my head hurt. Madison notices this. "Take it one step at a time. Don't try to force it. Try to remember at your own pace."

I do as told, then take a deep breath, slowly letting all of the memories come to me. Then, before I knew, as I take a closer look at this place, the memories come back. I'm starting to remember now!

"...This place...It really was my home. My mom, she's the descendant of a long line of guardians, who always protected this place; protecting the peace, and all that was good in this world. Then she met my father, and they had me and my brother. We were...happy. Our lives--they were so peaceful back then," I say, finally recalling the events of my past.