Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories

Chapter 3: Real or Fake?

(Madison's) POV:

After using our last card, Riku, Kuro and I end up in Traverse Town. This place practically holds a lot more memories than the other worlds I've been to, especially when more than half of those memories involve my friends. It's where our journey began, where Sora and Harmony would often head into Pooh's world after recovering some of the missing pages. It's also where we found out that Luke is actually Asch's replica, where I learned how to use gummi blocks and operate a gummi ship from Cid.

Not only that, but Traverse Town is where I revealed myself as Maleficent's daughter, betraying Harmony and the others. There are so many memories here that it's hard for me to keep track of everything. I'm sure Riku has his own thoughts on the matter. When Riku was able to see Sora and Harmony again, he thought that they had abandoned him and Kairi, because they had made new friends.

He was also extremely jealous seeing Harmony hang out with Asch. Because of all of that, my mother used that against Riku, thinking that he could be useful in her plans by toying with his feelings for the people he thought he could trust. And what's worse is that I helped her do it. Thankfully, we didn't have to stay here forever, especially after taking care of the Heartless in this world. When we leave, however...

"Huh!? What are you two supposed to be?" Riku questions.

The two people walking towards us is actually...me and Riku!? Even Kuro is confused, looking back and forth between me, Riku and our doubles.

"Surprised? I guess you should be," the other Riku says.

Other me nods her head in agreement. "That's right. After all, we look just like you guys," she says, making me feel as if I'm looking right into a mirror. "Why don't we just tell them what we are?"

"Sure. We're exact replicas of you two that Vexen made from your data," other Riku says.

From that fight? But what is he trying to accomplish by making a copy of me and Riku.

"So you two are a fake us," Riku says.

"Not a 'fake'!" fake Riku exclaims, looking angry.

"We don't care that you're the real ones. Why? Because we're better than you!" fake me exclaims.

"We share the same body and the same talents. But there is one easy way to tell us apart, though!" fake Riku declares, making me and the real Riku confused. For some reason, fake Riku seems to be satisfied with our reactions. "Unlike you two, we fear nothing."

"Are you calling us cowards?" I ask.

"Aren't you? You two are afraid of the dark! The darkness inside you still frightens you, no matter what either of you say," fake me points out.

"But WE'RE different. We embrace the darkness. We can make it do whatever we want," says fake Riku. Our fakes' clothing then changes into something I had hoped to never see ever again--The dark armor Riku and I wore when we were still being used by the darkness. They then bring out weapons that look exactly like mine and Riku's swords. "So...we can wipe the floor with you!"

Our fakes then make the move to attack us. However, not only is it because we've got Kuro on our side, but Riku and I seem to be a lot stronger than our fakes. It doesn't take long for us to defeat them.

"Hey, Fakes! I thought I heard you say you were gonna wipe the floor with us," Riku says.

"Let's not aggravate them, okay?" I ask.