[Riku took hold of the sword's hilt, hand resting under the blunt side of the double-edged sword he knew far too well. He knew this power, and he was ready. No matter how much this power had once seemed so very appealing—
"The power of the warrior. Invincible courage. A sword of terrible destruction. Do you give up this power?"
"No ocean will contain you, then."
The images fill his mind once again as he stares into the cold, metallic surface of the blade he holds in reverence. The darkness overtaking his home because of him, the faces of Alice and Jasmine in comatose states with the other Princesses because of him, Kairi's lifeless eyes... All of it was his fault...
Burdened by these thoughts, he lowers his head in shame. He'd clung to the others from the dark for this power—Maleficent especially. Now that he could see clearly, it was this power that caused him to be lost in a void that made him unable to see what was really in front of him. ...It was time.
"I already know the price behind this 'courage;' how many times it's hurt those who I cherish most...," he thinks, lowering himself to his knees. "I can't do that to any of them again. Take it; destruction was never the path I sought."
The blade vanishes, and he can feel himself beginning to sink once again through the same darkness that the sword was made of. It didn't wish to let him go, but this light... He didn't want to let it go, either.
"You've chosen the power of the guardian, yet given up the power of the warrior. Is this truly the power you've truly sought after?" ...The voice said that like he would ever change his mind. With that defiant thought, the voice chuckled. "That is very much like you, Riku."
"No more borders around, or below or above."
"You chose the path that began in Darkness. The path has not been an easy one for you, I know. Yet should you continue... you shall see the rising sun awaiting your journey's end."
He's falling again, weightless—the dark no longer gripping his heart like a vice. He was almost free... Sora... Kairi... Caden...
[video] 3/4
"The power of the warrior. Invincible courage. A sword of terrible destruction. Do you give up this power?"
The images fill his mind once again as he stares into the cold, metallic surface of the blade he holds in reverence. The darkness overtaking his home because of him, the faces of Alice and Jasmine in comatose states with the other Princesses because of him, Kairi's lifeless eyes... All of it was his fault...
Burdened by these thoughts, he lowers his head in shame. He'd clung to the others from the dark for this power—Maleficent especially. Now that he could see clearly, it was this power that caused him to be lost in a void that made him unable to see what was really in front of him. ...It was time.
"I already know the price behind this 'courage;' how many times it's hurt those who I cherish most...," he thinks, lowering himself to his knees. "I can't do that to any of them again. Take it; destruction was never the path I sought."
The blade vanishes, and he can feel himself beginning to sink once again through the same darkness that the sword was made of. It didn't wish to let him go, but this light... He didn't want to let it go, either.
"You've chosen the power of the guardian, yet given up the power of the warrior. Is this truly the power you've truly sought after?" ...The voice said that like he would ever change his mind. With that defiant thought, the voice chuckled. "That is very much like you, Riku."
"You chose the path that began in Darkness. The path has not been an easy one for you, I know. Yet should you continue... you shall see the rising sun awaiting your journey's end."
He's falling again, weightless—the dark no longer gripping his heart like a vice. He was almost free... Sora... Kairi... Caden...