Fanfiction ► Memories are [NOT] Resolute

Ðari · Jan 24, 2019

Memories are [NOT] Resolute
[3 year precursor story to Trust is [NOT] Resolute]

Memory Fragment: The First Encounter [ALL]

....

This is awkward.

....

None of them are talking.

....

"OKAY!"

"Ahem."

The grasslands were vivid in color, a lush green landscape coasting from the slightest feel of the breeze. There were thirteen men in coats, each with a person standing behind them. One of those men was also wearing a coat behind a much taller man. Eyes were spinning a circles, stopping at a woman in a helmet and she shirked nervously. A hand fell on her shoulder from the cloaked man and he uttered "Easy now." to keep her nerves steeled. In a circle, this was the promised day, the day he would bring his resolutes in contact with each other for the first time. But was it really the first time?

"Some of you are usually so chatty. Whats'a matter? Don't tell me the heartless got your tongue."

.....

"Crickets eh? Fine. Strangers stand shoulder to shoulder when their in danger so lets fire up the engines!"

The thirteen men in coats escorted themselves towards the middle of the circle. All thirteen merging into a single person. His hands rose up, stretching and making odd noises as his muscles were pretty stiff having come full circle. A slight shirk, he move with a sense of uh-oh in next set of movement. He walked in a circle and spoke, wagging his finger and dropping it at the headcount of twelve others.

"Eeny-Meeny-Miney-Moe. Catch a tiger by the toe. If he hollers let him go. My mother said to pick the very best one. And. You. Are...It."

His finger stopped on a boy who was cloaked like him.

"State your name and your number. Go on now, don't be shy, the group is sharing."

"My name's Luxu. My number is Perfect Zero or Infinity. I come from the lost world of Daybreak Town. The master has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I had others I knew, but they've long since vanished, it's been I in the master for many...many years now. Also, I like strawberries. Who's next?"

A finger moved dauntingly over to the chap next to him in a clockwise motion.

"My name is Ã, but call me Eth. My number is Zero, Untouchable. I'm Twenty-Five. I don't have much to say really, I came from leading a sage-like life of almost complete solitude and isolation outside of the master being by my side for a good amount of it. This is the most human interaction I've had...in ever. This umbrella that I carry around, its dear to me. The only memento that I have of my mother and I take it with me everywhere, rain, snow, wind, and sun."

The guy next to him, raised an eyebrow, that was pretty specific for someone that isolated themselves.

"Saebyeolbe. My name means "Morning Star Rain" and I am Number 1, The Scarred. I'm Twenty-Four. I used to be insecure about it, but my body is completely covered in scars. I'm a traveler that seeks to bring peace to each area that I visit. The master's been a dear friend of mind and teacher for many years. I'll always be steadfast to bare the burden of pain for the cause that I feel is just."

Fascinated, the woman next to him found the master's gaze, his finger, and the other's eyes with due interest on her.

"Shiki's the name, Twenty-Four. I am Number 2, The Whisper. My life has been a violent storm and sonnet of many misgivings and loss. I've carried the grief of family, comrades, and those dear to me for many years. Almost convinced, that even with all of you, it too shall be the same. The master entered my life only in the last couple of years, and it is due to his cryptic messages and mischief that I am here today. It's a pleasure to meet you all, I should want nothing but your survival."

"W-w-well your just all doom and gloom aren't you!" A voice broke out next to her, it was the woman in the bright red suit and helmet. "Call me Try, I'm 21, did I mention my birthday is in December? Double the gifts please. I'm Number 3, The Echo. I see all of you s-s-staring! No I will not be taking the helmet off thanks, only the man thats deserving of my love and respect gets that honor. The Master's a cool guy I guess, when he's not being a tease...shame on you sir."

The woman sitting next to her smirked for a moment, then the master's finger moved to her.

"Cool, someone else here with a spine. My name's Lucrecia, you can call me Recia for short. I'm also Twenty-Four like a couple of you. My number is 4, The Monochrome. I can be pretty uptight and haughty at times, I generally like to follow some form of order. I was the daughter to a military family so I had a pretty strict upbringing, none that I completely agreed with. If theres anything that I respect more than anything it's a person's commitment to something, it reminds me of myself and when I rebelled against my parent's wishes to travel with the Master of Masters. Lets build something great here, from the few of you that have spoken, you sound extremely determined and I like you already."

There was a yawn that caused her head to jerk, the man next to her had been laying down in the grass stretched out with his elongated body.

"Oh? I'm sorry, you were boring me."

"You try being interesting curly hair, who are you anyway?"

He proceeded to sit up as the master moved his hand to him next.

"No where near as interesting or as majestic as some of the stories i've heard coming from the mouths of the few. My name's Komaeda, but you can call me Nagito if you'd like. I'm Twenty-Four, and my birthday is ALSO in December like Try's. Just...no gifts please, great gesture and all but I think I'm undeserving of such kindness. I'm Number 5, The Harbinger. I think that the light and the realm we inhabit now is the epitome of beauty, and good will. I aspire to bring out the light even in others, no matter the method I choose to do it, nothing is more important to me. I've been called a fanatic, but it comes at the price of being so damn devoted you know? The master understands me, and thats why he's been an inseparable part of my life for a while now."

Practically a baby compared to the rest of them, there was an extremely young person next to Komaeda and they were next.

"This isn't a party...all this talking, sharing information, you aren't afraid someone's going to go against you..?" He said skeptically, "Ugh...whatever. It's Jay, I'm 18, and my number is 6, Crossroads. We done here master? Can we leave now?"

"Now now, show the others some respect Jay, we're not finished here. Just be patient."

The other man stood erect and propped up his dragon glider.

"Call me Iontis, nothing else. Hmph. I'm Twenty-Two and my number is 7, The Skyward. I don't know any of you, and I don't really care to get familiar. Our common thread here is the master of masters. I prefer to work by myself if and whenever possible, you'd just slow me down if you were with me. I'm an active person, a real go-getter, so sitting around sharing like this is not my scene. Hope thats sufficient Master."

The gentleman next to him rolled his eyes and placed his hands in his pockets mumbling for a second.

"And I thought number 6 was rude. You sound like a goddamn drag to be around." He took a puff from his lit cigarette. "Yamato. Twenty-Three, bit on the crazy side when it comes to a good fight. I'm number 8, The Savage. We got a code 'round these parts, honor above everything else. I don't like cheaters and I don't like whiny little bitches, disassociate yourself with me if you're either. Anyone that wants to spar or challenge to get their determination from me, your welcome to any time."

"Oh?? Your in luck Yamato! I'll take you on after this meeting!"

"Yeah? And you are?"

"Glad you asked!!!" He jumped up in his child form and a poof of smoke revealed he was an adult. "Reforge Seru. I'm Twenty-Eight and awesome, duh. My number is 9, The Eloquent. I know exactly Two-Thousand four-hundred and Seventy-Three different spells, as of this conversation. I'm a wanted criminal on the world of The Cul-De-Sac for linked to a world-breaking incident that happened in recent months. The master was a teacher at our academy and a respected alumni prior, he's been the relief in the hell I've endured transitioning from the world, still wanted to becoming a traveling educator. And here I am! Great to meet you all, lets have some fun and learn from each other kay?"

"That leaves us with just one to go. Go on now, tell us about yourself."

"I'd rather not give my name at this time, but I'm twenty-four in age. My Number is 10, Harbored Destiny. Um...if it's ok just call me Ten for now." this person adjusted their hat slightly to the right, suspiciously. "I come from a world that is known for it's docks and trade ports, my family were herald as some of the finest merchants. There was no materials we couldn't get our hands on, a bit about myself? I'm not for the merchant life, just not for me, but I can appreciate crafting things from scratch, I'm a pretty decent sculptor from wood, stone, and marble alike. If theres anything you need to know about crafting or even bargaining, I'll be glad to help you."

"Ding ding. I'm proud of you young kids for putting your nervousness to the side and spilling the beans. So then, now that you all know a little bit about each other, lets go over the reason your all here."

The master snapped his fingers and the ground produced chairs and pulled them towards him about six feet from his position.

"I'm taking you all on as my students. From here on out, the thirteen of us, will be dubbed Resolutes. You will each use your resolves for a specific purpose but beyond that do as you like. Each person around you, like yourself, has a resolve. Not just power that i've bestowed upon you, but a form of conviction or belief that they uphold stronger than anything. Everyone of you has that level of conviction, and that is why you were chosen to inherit a part of Omni. I'm here to prepare you for a dark future ahead of you, but the solution rests on your shoulders. Try not to kill each other alright? Lets be friends."

The master waked around in a circle clock wise and proceeded to brand each an every single one of them with a roman numeral or symbol somewhere on their body at complete random.

"So long as you bare this brand, you are acknowledged as Resolute. This brand will also serve as your trump card in a dire situation. You need only touch it once and it will activate a fifteen second limit-break, over-clocking your skills or if you were barred from them, to use them temporarily. Be wary, the limit breaker is your last resort, and once you activate the brand it will not be accessible for an entire year. Sounds rather insane, but it collects your power and separate it to the brand over time. So think about it yeah? Goody! I'll take you to your dorms now."

With that being said the master opened the world to the other twelve resolutes, but this was just the beginning.

Ðari · Jan 28, 2019

Memory Fragment: 0.1 [Eth, Shiki, Saebyeolbe]
Location: The Dorms; Kitchen

The sound of running water was nothing new to any of them. The master's words echoing with vivid imagery through their minds.

"You three drew the shortest straws. Dish duty tonight, one wash, one rinse, one dry. Did I forget to mention they better be spotless? Hop to it now."

Saebyeolbe chose to wash, the suds of the plates everyone shuffled at dinner time were drowning the sink, billowing over. Next to him, Shiki to his right, Eth to the far right, and both of them were casually point a glance at his arms, clearly visible and covered in scars. With a sponge in hand, Saebyeolbe smiled and proceeded to scrub the plates, he was aware they were staring and certainly wasn't shy.

"That one's from The Dark Emperor. It's extremely long, but it's only because he was such a formidable opponent." He said with a smile. "I didn't quite end up doing as I had promised for the people who's lives he's dramatically impacted, but I was sure to remove him as a threat."

Eth's eye winced and he stopped drying as Shiki's hands also stopped moving, breaking their rhythm.

"Don't you think picking fights against rulers is a bit dangerous...reckless even? Especially if you're concerned about your success being less than definite?"

Saebyeolbe let his hands sink in the water.

"You said it yourself when we met earlier. Most your time was spent in isolation and solitude, sometimes you need to make decisions that can dramatically affect other people's lives, to ignore it or to do nothing...you may as well be sending them to their deaths." There was a sharp glint in his eyes as he continued. "My plans execution goes only as far as I was willing to take it Eth, whether I knew I'd be successful or not does not stop me from seeing things to their conclusion, and as a result of my actions, lives were spared. I can rest soundly in their safety."

"Is it truly worth your life to bare your sins, as well as others Scarred?" Shiki came to life in the conversation as there was a slight turn of her head to meet his gaze. "If you perish because you go into the fray without plan, then you'll be putting your life in danger and letting people down. Be more mindful of your lack of prudence as well as regard the safety of your well-being a bit...better."

"Then I won't allow myself to be killed. I'll raise my body's resilience until it can weather several keyblade wars and then some."

Eth sighed.

Shiki's brow raised curiously.

"Can we...just finish the dishes please...?"

"Oh sorry, you were both staring and I felt I needed to say something about it." he passed Shiki the next plate, "If you ever want to share stories or even ask me anything, pleas don't hesitate."

"You come across as an extremely reckless fool, but I'm not much better. Maybe i'll hear more of that recklessness Scarred."

"Sae is fine, Shiki."

"The dishes. Sae. Shiki." Eth shook his head.

Ðari · Jan 28, 2019

Memory Fragment: 0.2 [Try, Reforge]
Location: The Dorms; Lobby

Reforge sat on one of the many couches it was fairly late that night. You could hear the sound of water, chattering, and glass plates being handled from the kitchen. Drawing straws was a small trivial matter that the master like to do when throwing chance and luck into a bet. He sat on the couch and tucked in his legs, reverting to his child form. There was a book in his hand, it read Welcome To Arcadia. A yawn escaped him as there was a thud of footsteps coming from down the hall.

When he raised his head, to turn over the couch, no one was there. A question mark physically appeared above his head and when he went to turn back around, he saw bright red sitting across from him in the circle of couches. Spooked, Reforge jerked back into the couches pillows and held his chest, feeling a pulse and pick up in his heart.

"You get a kick out of scaring little kids??" he protested, but without a way to see the woman's face he could only read her voice.

"Your suspicious...verrrrry suspicious Reffles." her paranoia wouldn't leave her mind, though there was a gleam of cheerfulness. She hugged the couch with both arms and crossed her legs.

"Reffles...?" He had a misleading tone, "Loooove it. Can I nickname you too?? I can give it a Try or too."

He could hear faint chuckling, this was what he believed to be a good sign. What better Pun-ishment to inflict for terrifying him than with good ol' fashioned punchlines. He leaned forward and curled his feet in the chair again, sitting like a good little child.

"Your a wanted Criminal Reffles. I don't know why you would tell us that-"

"Lets cut to the chase then, yes, lets talk about my background for a moment to put this paranoia of yours to rest yes?" Reforge sighed and rolled his eyes, when he pulled back he was in adult form. Crossing his leg over just as she did, but ankle over ankle. "Home world fell to a dismantled state, during the chaos the keybladers from my home some older than I was at the time banded together despite being natural rivals from other factions. In old days they called them dandelions...well we were factions."

He released a weighted sigh.

"My life was...extremely complicated. I was being controlled at one point and lost my way, during that time I killed two of my friends to which murders where pinned to my name. No matter how I explained the situation in the aftermath, we pulled the world back together but my brother gave up his life for it all be possible. I became shunned by my old crew and the other factions, going so far as to blame me for my brother's sacrifice despite his delivery stating he did so for the good of our home, but people are ungrateful...emotional...angry, and the witch hunt began. So I fled and it was then I met the Master, years passed and I'd never returned home since and here I am."

Her helmet tilted down a bit, and there was a disturbing silence for a while.

"Your...a little less suspicious Reffles, thanks for c-clarifying."

"Oh yeah?? Well show me your face whenever your ready, til then i'm heading to bed. Goodnight Try." he removed himself from the couch and proceeded to climb the stairs.

Ðari · Jan 30, 2019

Memory Fragment: 0.3 [Luxu, Yamato, Iontis, Jay/Jaz, Lucrecia, Ten]
Location: The Dorms; Divided Bath

His silver hair was little to be inspired by, a young man but it had implications of old age. One side of the wall he said, drenched in hot water, on several of the others. You could see Jay awkwardly debating which side of the bath ton enter, a blush was overtaken by a turn suck of the teeth before entering the women's side.

"Damn, who'd of thought the master really had an entire private dormitory here." Yamato said releasing a long breath filled with relief. "He certainly didn't speak a word 'bout it. Must have his own honor code to reveal things in time. Aye, respect."

He couldn't help but draw his eyes on Luxu who was in the spring of hot water, with his coat on.

"You cannot be serious...should I even ask if at all..?" Iontis protested with a snort that shortly followed.

"Discretion friends. No judgements here, but-" he proceeded to remove all parts of the coat save for his hood. "This will do for now, erm, at least I'd hope so."

"Wild. You the master's mini-me or sumthin'? Yer the only fella I seen dressing like'm 'round here. You'll never catch me in all that black, it's just not my scene, too drab."

"Are you an idiot Yamato...those coats protect you when traveling through dark corridors, extremely rare!"

"If ya hadn't noticed, my resolve ain't exactly being 'afraid o'no darkness." his stomach churned, wildly and a rock behind Iontis was chomped into by a small zone of space. "Like that, don't let that be you high n' mighty boy, Skyward? Whatever."

They were shooting daggers at each other as Luxu was nervously scratching the back of his hood. "Lets change the subject, I heard about this world that makes the best strawberry cheesecake you'll see for 3 lifetimes."

As the guys began to commence amongst themselves about strawberries, cheesecake, and the master, on the other side the "girls" weren't too far off from them. It was a bit quieter, Jaz awkwardly looking down, skepticism was something that came naturally to Jaz. Ten released a relaxed breath, while Lucrecia broke the silence after she blew the loose bang from her face.

"I don't know about the rest of you, or how long you've known the master either, but know that there will be darker times ahead." she sighed, "I just want you to know that i'll keep you all on the up and up. Can't exactly work besides resolutes that aren't as equally motivated as myself."

"You sound so sure of yourself...of us even...can you even really-" Jay broke Jaz's words with, "-say that anyone will cooperate, or even trust each other? Take nothing on faith, better to see it first hand right?"

Ten sat and listened. Curled up in the towel, and the hat remained stationary to their head completely unbothered by the water. They twitched, holding onto something to say regarding both Jaz and Lucrecia's points. Their eyes were soft and they smiled, to still the nerves.

"The master really just showed me theirs more to this world than crafting and a merchant's life. And while worrying about me is downright gallant, don't forget yourself...Recia was it? And you...Jaz. Don't be reluctant around your comrades, when they're showing you genuine altruism. Makes us feel as though you feel you don't deserve it if you're so adamant on walling us out."

Jay's hands moved frantically, "Oh no! Thats not what I meant to say, not at all...but a lot's happened and, time will tell the rest. It's not yet time to get the skeletons out of my closet yet...so, I am sorry."

Recia's eyes narrowed for a split second, but she had a slight upturn of her lip. "Someone else with backbone other than One and Eight. We'll get along well enough, Ten yeah? Same to you, tell me your name, we'll keep it between us three."

"You'd really trust me with your name...? Aren't you afraid??"

"Living a cynical life while also being paranoid, sounds like something you'd love to Try huh Jaz?" She shook her head.

"I...actually have several names, but we'll stick with Midna for now. I'll let the others know it too, you certainly know how to inspire courage Recia." the glint in Midna's eyes were severely less tense.

"Starting off as friends, Midna, Jaz. Lets keep it going alright?" a more authentic smile emerged this time.

They'd continued talking amongst themselves.

Ðari · Jan 31, 2019

Memory Fragment: 0.4 [Master of Masters, Komaeda]
Location: The Dorms; Master's Study

Fate would be the adjucator in this game of the mind and wits. The two were locked in a battle that began on a checkered board holding their pieces and motions at the ready. The clock on the wall, ticked in slow motion, faint sounds from multiple bodies talking lingering from the kitchen, the lobby, and divided bath. Heres h the master and young Komaeda tuned this all out, their focus as only on their game. Komaeda carefully had both eyes open.

"So master. Why did you finally decide to bring each person you apprenticed together? Got any plans for those exceptionally talented others?" Komaeda asked with a bit of excitement, moving his piece forward one move.

"The game lucky pants, focus on the game." He moved his piece forward. "Plans? Hmm...now that you mention it, I should probably put together a curriculum for you lot."

Komaeda blinked blankly, "Wait, you mean you just did it on a whim?" he leaned forward over the board, before feeling a hand press his chest back into his seat.

"Be patient. The game, Komaeda." he cleared his throat, and followed the harbingers hands and eyes closely. "No cheating, both eyes open, I saw that wince!"

Komaeda folded his arms and shuddered as he often did to express his excitement. "Will you please answer my question master..? Please?"

"Ahhhh, and your open! I'll take that!" his next move, he collected his rook. "You really ought to pay more attention to whats happening to you rather than worry about the future several steps ahead of you. Don't know, too much prudence and you miss everything happening right now." The master wagged his finger and pointed at his head.

"Komaeda, this was a necessary thing to happen, gathering you twelve and myself, makes thirteen. Thirteen Resolutes. The twelve who shall serve as the branches from the great tree Yggdrasil, who basked the world of light with omni. When the tree bares flowers to bloom from it's branches, so too shall those flowers carry on the legacy once the Yggdrasil is no longer necessary."

The master pulled a book out from under his desk and placed it just to the right of the game board.

"So it's been seen. On the day that the great tree vanishes, the flowers that remain will be left to fill the hole in the tree's absence. Only one can be entrusted, the others are to follow. At least, thats what this book i've been reading for who the hell knows how long says. Can you believe this author? No footnotes or anything, really doesn't want you to know for sure what the hell he's talking about, the nerve!"

Komaeda was doing mental gymnastics. A tree...? His first thought was that him and the others were fruit and not seeds? How the hell did that make any sense! He scuffled his messy hair into an even bigger mess, the swirls in his eyes were bred with confusion as the master was as cryptic and circle as ever.

"Master." Komaeda spoke briefly

"After your move lucky pants." he retorted staring at the board waiting impatiently.

Komaeda made a move that even surprised the master, and the master's head left it's position. "Whatever the reason is really. Know that I trust it will be for the betterment of us and by extension mankind. I do so love the long game Master...it makes me feel alive and that I have a light to seek out and hope for."

"Well then, if it's light you seek, then maybe shift that emphasis and make the lights gathered here stronger. Each of you is resolute, rest assured, but let me tell you something about what that truly means." The master studied the board carefully and he made his next move. "Unwavering, but also stubborn to a fault. Your obsession with the light will only blind you to how others interpret your means. You've proven more than a little unruly, bare that in mind, Resolute."

Komaeda moved his next piece. "Part of the fun is the unpredictability of it all master. Consider me the X-factor that disrupts whatever future you've seen, and I'll be sure to spread that unpredictability to the others like a disease and even you'll have a hard time trying to anticipate what happens next!" he let out a brief chuckle before the master move his final piece.

"Looks to me like you may want to cheat next time. Check mate, dear Komaeda." his piece sat in front of the king, taking it from his side. "You may very well do just that, in fact....I hope you do surprise me. For all your sakes."

The conclusion to their game, hand shakes were exchanged and the master sent #5 off to bed.

"When the darkness finally arrives, I truly hope all of you are prepared. Contingencies are already in place if you fail...to think one of you will betray the rest. And it will take that traitor to surmount a war against your very extinction. And on that land, darkness will prevail and light expire...deja vu~"

Ðari · Feb 2, 2019

Memory Fragment: Late Night[mares] [Shiki, Lucrecia, Saebyeolbe]
Location: The Dorms; Shiki's Room

It was the dead of night, the sun had long since faded and the moon hung high. The resolutes returned to their rooms, to their fatigue and time to collect themselves, a reprieve awaited. The daunting hours of the night did pass, roughly hanging round three in the morning, there was a surge of faint talking.

"Eliot...why..." a disgruntled and struggling set of words, laced with a harshened tone.

"Just...listen to me...Eli...your better than this~!"

She pulled slightly to the dismay of her bitter dreaming, a nightmare in which Shiki found herself recalling the pain of remembering. Slightly contorting to the right, her nails began dig into the side of the sheets. There was an image the formed in her mind, while unconscious, and a sensation of weight pressed heavy against her chest. Emotion, such repression would wither one's sanity, and her eyes had sprang a leak.

Elsewhere...

There was a twitch from his ear, he could hear it well enough. He sat at the edge of his bed doing a count of his body's scars, and repurposing his resolve as he did every night. There was a voice that was writhed with pain, and it was coming from across the hall. Sliding from his bed, shirtless, he moved over to the door. Strangely enough it was cracked..?

'Did someone enter or leave..?'

He cracked the door, and he discovered Lucrecia hovering over Shiki as she twitched. Confused by the whole thing. He watched quietly, it looked like she hadn't taken notice to him at the given moment, but she was drying Shiki's tears and she stroked her head.

"The past will weigh heavy on our hearts...but we must resolve to bare that history...I'm sure you'll find that pea-"

Shiki's eyes came alive, awake to immediately spot Lucrecia hovering over her. There was a jump in her heart, a feint blur that was the fourth resolute, swiped with a knick to the face from the sharpened end of a thread-like chain, thin as a pin. Shiki's eyes came back, her awareness rounded and she could feel the trickle drop onto her face of Lucrecia's blood.

Lucrecia smiled.

"Sorry for the intrusion Shiki, I could hear you moaning uncomfortably from my room and you sounded...like your heart was hurting." There was a glint in her eye as she stroked her cheek, it felt like a paper cut but it sure smarted all the same. "My family was military, my dad cared for his comrades like they were family and for you I'll do the same. I don't know who this Eliot is, but I'll say this...your among many people that have lost or left things behind by the looks of things, you can confide in us."

There was a serene sense of warmth, dimly lit behind her eyes, faint but it existed even now. Her hand rose from under the blanket and cupped Recia's face, a thumb to strum just under where Shiki had cut her. "...I'm...Sorry..."

Recia twinged from the touch but held her hand close to her face. "It's a process, we'll get there together."

Through the door Saebyeolbe smile and slowly moved away leaving it in Recia's hands.

"What, no hello? How long have you been standing there anyway?"

There was an orb hovering just behind Saebyeolbe and bumped into him and the other pushed the door open.

"Whoa..."

"!!!!"

He came staggering through the door, though not losing his balance. The girls got a decent look at Saebyeolbe's body, for what it was worth he was used to it. He held up his hands and exposed his arms as well, littered with a tattered cuts, marks, scabs, and sealed wounds.

"I could hear you from across the hall, and it seems like Lucrecia here, I came out of concern. Are you alright, reckless fool?"

There was the slightest smirk made at that comment, echoing what she'd said earlier that day. "It's Shiki, Sae, and fool not to think a little more of the others concern."

Lucrecia shrugged her short shoulders, "We just met, these things take time, and you two made a sound impression on me."

Saebyeolbe scratched the tip of his nose, "I think if Shiki has another nightmare, I'll know to leave it in your hands. Recia?" he uttered the shortened version of her name as a familiar, a bit nervously.

"I'll be around, try to rest who knows what the master's gonna have us do tomorrow. Good night to both of you." Lucrecia removed herself from the side of Shiki's bed, and she moved along humming a song, before singing it.

"Breath, should I take a deep
Faith, should I take a leap
Taste, what a bittersweet
All my, All my life"

Vanishing into the hallway. Saebyeolbe was fixing to turn and do the same with a wave and nod of the head his foot about to cross the threshold of the door.

"Sae. Wait." Shiki said sitting up in her bed. "What is your resolve really?"

"To know that I suffered for the good of others. To carry myself and shoulder, often times not alone, the burdens of those I strive to help to bring them relief. No matter how thankless it may seem, the lives I am able to preserve is resolve enough. My light is by nature powerful and will cast a shadow equally as menacing, but vigilance. humility. kindness are all things to push me further forward, eh, Shiki?"

He left her with the thought to ponder on, wishing her a good night and heading to bed himself.

Ðari · Feb 4, 2019

Memory Fragment: 0.8 [Try, Komaeda]
Location: The Dorms; 2nd Floor Nook

Komaeda was making his way from the master's study and he found himself in the nook. Try was here, it was already pretty late and she seemed, well, it was hard to tell what she seemed exactly. Komaeda folded his arms, a brow raised and he ponder for a small moment. As he released a breath, he finally spoke.

"Spending a little time alone this late at night?" he rest a single finger on his chin.

As if she tried to pretend he wasn't there, she continued to turn the page of a book she was reading. A bead of sweat dropped from Komaeda's brow. He was far from a conversationalist, but he proceeded to walk forward and raised his hand to hers.

"It's Komaeda. Pardon my rudeness, but why are you up here so late? Shouldn't you be re-"

"I see my silence isn't enough of a hint." her helmet's visage shifted and fell upon him. The book slammed shut and she unfolded her legs and stood. Tall, around if not already, six feet, unusually tall for a woman. Komaeda himself only about two inches taller give or take. She eyeballed scanned him from top to bottom. "Try. What do you want Komaeda?"

Komaeda's waved his hands somewhat frantically as both eyes were shut briefly, "Oh, nothing. I finished a game with the master and was heading to bed, I was tasked with sending everyone off to bed."

"Hmph. If thats all you wanted, then i'll be down shortly. You can go ahead of me." she turned on a heel.

"Thats not the only reason I'm here Try..." Komaeda said and her footsteps stopped instantly.

"I may be the Echo, but I won't repeat myself, so lets hear it." she folded her arms and kept her distance.

He moved slowly behind her and leaned down to her ear. "Once your resolute, you've earned my undying devotion. I came to tell you personally, that I shall be forever your devotee."

One thing was certain, the inside of the helmet was foggy. He wondered how she breathed properly wearing it, a sharp tremble of her body. Was this a sense of desire? Being valued? To fault herself for this vulnerability she'd pay in droves later, but a comrade...could she call him that? Any of them comrades after the things she's experienced without these people.

"If you need a moment to process, I can leave as you asked, I've stated my peace Try." Komaeda smiled, her back was still to him and he turned on his heels and started down the winding hall.

"Komaeda was it?" Try spoke, still not facing him. "I'll...remember what you said. As I said before, I'll be down shortly, please, leave now." She seemed a little less cold, a teeny bit less to Komaeda anyway and he nodded and proceeded to walk towards the stairwell.

Ðari · Feb 5, 2019

Memory Fragment: 0.9 [Master of Masters, Luxu]
Location: The Dorms; The Master's Study

The master and his pupil sat in two chairs, a cherrywood desk and two swivel chairs. Just to the right, something that was not there during Komaeda's game, a black box emblazoned with a red crystal in the center. The master ran his hand across the box and looked down briefly.

"You've been taking good care it all this time huh?" The master spoke with delight in his voice. "I knew I had made the right decision when appointing you as my successor!"

Luxu sat there, hooded and all, clenching both of his fists. "Whats the story with the numbers? Perfect Zero? Sounds more original than infinity..."

A staggering prick at his heart, he released an exasperated "ACK!" noise. "Hey hey hey, everything has a purpose and a place kiddo. Buuuuuuut since you asked, allow me to explain."

Luxu leaned forward and listened closely.

"Its because they're the most broken of the lot..." The master's voice sounded dry and dead as he spoke.

"!!!!" Luxu gripped his seat, "What do you mean...broken..?"

The master stroked the box one more time before his fist balled and slammed into the chest. "Broken means broken Luxu. The terrors they've seen, the horrors they've lived, but ultimately they've resolved. Understand, that pain teeters on the razors edge with darkness and the light. How quickly the hopes can be dashed and they be driven mad, and how that pain can generate a resolve to forge them in light. But..."

There was a long pause as the master spoke.

"But...what Master?" Luxu leaned forward even closer now.

"Buuuuuuuuut, do you think it's that simple?" he wagged his finger, "Pain makes the heart weary of trust. Distrust breeds what dear Luxu? Betrayal. Each of them is capable of said betrayal, and the betrayer is the only one worthy to succeed you. I've seen the future Luxu...and on that day, keyblade in hand twelve of you will stand present, but only one of you be crowned the traitor. It isn't you Luxu, but Eth, Saebyeolbe, Shiki, Try, and Lucrecia."

Luxu pondered for a moment, "What about the other one?" he inquired. "I can't put my finger on them, but they just stand out...like what was said this morning during introductions...'I aspire to bring out the light in others no matter the method in which I choose to do it'...dangerous words master."

The master flicked his hand haphazardly, "Pffft sheesh, you've got a wild imagination on ya kiddo. That one a traitor? Puh-leaaaaaaase. Someone that dedicated to light to such an extreme level is likely the key to exposing the Traitor under the right circumstances. It's why numbers five through ten even exist. Checks and balances dear Luxu, it's all about risk management, call it insurance in case the top dogs fall out of line."

The master shrugged and pat Luxu's hood.

"I sure hope you're right about them Master...I really don't want to call any of my friends...a traitor..."

Ðari · Feb 7, 2019

Memory Fragment: 1.0 [ALL]
Location: The Dorms; Dining Hall
Time: 9AM

Light shone on the hall was magnificent. The decorum of the room felt greater than the thirteen deserved, each sat at the table in no specific order contrary to everything being numbered for them on the premises. The master spearheaded himself at the very end of the table, and everyone looked down his way. The master was a patient man, and it was time.

"Resolutes, thank you for attending. I know these aren't the ideal circumstances any of you were expecting, but lend your ears and your understanding."

He took a deep breath, "Before our first meeting yesterday I spoke with each and every one of you one on one. I trust you remember what I told individually? That much hasn't changed, as I spoke of others, you can see for yourself the men and women in the room around you are those people I spoke of. The people are your comrades because an impending tragedy will take the worlds in roughly a year and a half."

There was a disturbing level of quiet that cast across the entire hall. They looked at each other, some with the notion expecting "treachery" in one another, and the others with a glint of hesitation to hope for the rest. Trust was a bridge that took much time to build and within an instant that bridge could be shattered. Friendship, Companionship, Camaraderie? There eyes were uncertain and then the silence was broken.

"Okay." the tenth resolute spoke and stood up. "Okay, I understand Master. Let me push that a step further, I didn't mean to be imposing or secretive, but my name one of many, is Midna. I am number X, Harbored Destiny and it's a pleasure to meet you all. I mentioned that I was a merchant's daughter with an alchemic background, that much is true. Lets make our time under his direct tutelage a meaningful one."

Eth stood up and moved himself away from the table and quietly started to walk out of the room when the master tapped him on the shoulder.

"The moniker of solitude is no longer necessary Eth, give them a chance eh?" the master leaned down and whispered in his ear.

The resolute sighed, "You'll have to pardon my rude behavior everyone...as I said, I've lived in isolation for a pretty long time. In a pretty...interesting place I can get to using time." he resumed his seat and the master strummed back to the head of the table.

"Now where was I...oh yeah. Starting today you will be reporting to me directly and each of you will be assigned a partner. Over time you'll be carrying out tasks in smaller groups of two. Later projects will require more of you to work together. Three days out of the week, special lessons will be held at the Keyblade Academy located on the world of the Cul-De-Sac. You'll be disguised to avoid attention Reforge, so fret not. Effectively these are the teams."

The master opened a book, and pulled an inked feather pen to stroke the pages.

"Eth &Luxu. Saebyeolbe & Shiki. Try & Reforge. Lucrecia and Jay. Komaeda & Yamato. Iontis & Midna." he wrote it all down and slammed the book shut and placed it on the table. "Arrangements will be made shortly and we'll get things underway. Concert with your partner, they're gonna be your rock from here on out. You'll come to understand soon enough, dismissed."â€‹ portals of light purged from each of their chairs and they vanished from the table.

"What you do in the aftermath of the end is what will define the road for the future that even I cannot see. So...overcome that distress and wary nature. And start over, as comrades, with something to hold onto." the master said at the tone of a whisper.

Ðari · Feb 8, 2019

Memory Fragment: 4.1 [Yamato, Komaeda]
Location: Arcadia; Castle Town Marketplace
Time: 1PM

Arcadia was a powerful symbol of light, home to a variety of different species from all walks of life. Magic was especially powerful here, and today Yamato The Savage and Komaeda The Harbinger were sent here on an errand from the master. His instructions were as follows.

"Travel to Arcadia and collect a philosophers stone for Midna." the note read, "What the hells a philosopher stone..?"

Yamato, young, up to snuff and on the vulgar side. He scanned the note one more time, before crumpling it up into a ball and tossing it into the trashcan behind him. It pinged just off the side of the can, and washed over into a lit cigarette butt, rolling into the center groove of the can before dropping in, and the entire receptacle caught on fire.

"Huh??" Yamato shrieked nervously looking over at Komaeda who'd nodded off. "Damnit! Wake up dumbass, thanks a lot!" he said shaking Komaeda's frame violently eventually purging him from his sleep.

"Hmm? Is that you Try..?" he said wearily with a yawn released, of peppermint in Yamato's face.

"HELL NO!" he sucked his teeth, eventually seeing that Komaeda was moving on his own. "Honor above everythin' else Komaeda. The light here is right up yer alley, don't want ta miss out I'm guessing?"

Komaeda became starry-eyed, filled with an illustrious hope. The most painful part of the process, was the time it took to get all the way to this place and he fell asleep. As he yawned again, and proceeded to stretch his arms to further wake up his body. Keeping the right eye open, he scanned the area.

"Theres more to light than meets the eye Yamato, why do you think it's such a treasure?" He said with a rather subtle grin, "You need only know where the direction it casts it's shine to find what your looking for..."

Komaeda stood still and snapped his finger, there was a slight shift in the marketplace. A table near him had a leg snap causing a jar to roll off the table, hitting the leg of another table. The top of which shook, hitting a bar that sent a small rock catapulting towards Komaeda. He simply held up his hand and caught it. A small violet colored rock with shades of crimson that swirled around.

"All it takes is a little light, a little faith, and a little luck and you'll discover abolishing the unrest that plagues your hearts can vanish." Komaeda smiled wide and tossed the stone to Yamato.

"I just get the weirdest partners...but great job Nagi."

"Nagito or Komaeda, don't tease me with nicknames. They sound weird when a guy says it to me." He puffed his cheeks.

"Yeah yeah, whatever ya say NAGI."

"Heeeey, now your taking the wind out of my sails YAMI!"

Laughter broke out between the two in the marketplace and it was clear this marked the beginning for them.

Ðari · Feb 11, 2019

Memory Fragment: 4.2 [Midna, Iontis]
Location: Radiant Garden; Cistern
Time: 2PM

"You didn't have to come you know, I already told you guys and the master, I prefer to work alone." Iontis said starkly and clear cut. Propping up his dragon glider, he and Midna stood at the cistern. The old refinery part of the castle, much larger than they'd anticipated. The place was dated, beaten down but research from previous eras was conducted here. They said that the ruler of this world had vanished without a trace, a group of renegades filled the void until they no longer could.

"Hey, I'm here to help Iontis." she said, adjusting her hat, something she did rather frequently. "The master said there was a heartless that dwelled here and we're here to take it out. You can't do it by-"

"I wouldn't be resolute if I couldn't hold the line, or order Midna. Can we cease the small talk?"

Iontis turned and stopped dead in his tracks, he stood with his long black hair to shoulder length, and swept his bangs to the right. His overcoat was sleeveless, a midnight blue in color banded with black straps to tighten the hold over his body. His right arm had a tattoo placed from the shoulder down, a celtic spiral. On the same right arm, he wore a stress band fastened with a white bandaging to cover his forearm. His pants where of a jean material, but cut fitted, and bracers could be found at his upper thighs. A combat centric emphasis was placed on his boots, made for trudging through any environment.

Lifting his head he rotated his eyes around the Cistern and extended his arm to Midna.

[cue music]

"Looks like we're not alone..." he whispered, and like a switch his keyblade armor's first phase. A collection of shadow heartless started to appear in droves, one after the other as if where nothing more than the pureblood looking for a skirmish to satisfy their hunger. "Shadows...? Waste of time."

Iontis tapped his glider and it transformed into his Bahamut Arc keyblade. He took a single step and swapped the air directly in front of him to cast a multi-targeting fira spell acting as a homing attack. The fireballs traveled at a moderate pace and leveled the heartless in one swing. Behind the visor of his helm, he'd almost looked, disappointed in how quickly they were dispatched and frowned unseen to Midna.

"I don't think thats the real one Iontis!" Midna shouted purging a magnificent keyblade of pure silver purged into her hand. It possessed the sigil of a transmutation circle at the end of the blade, she was an alchemist after all. Tapping the end of the keyblade. "Come! Cedo!"

A white ring of light covered her and Iontis in a ring slowly moving into the shape of a dome about fourteen feet high and the circle roughly twelve feet in length. She began to utilize her spell knowledge, and cast two defensive spells, five seconds apart from each other, barrier and reflect buffs to mitigate physical and magic based damage to be carried out over time. Iontis scoffed, and held position as the shadows pulled together forming a type of heartless neither of them had seen before.

"What the hell...is THAT?" Iontis uttered beneath the armor.

A violent tornado of heartless came about from the multiple shadows pulling together. "It's almost like they're a towering tornado? Can we call it...a demon tower?"

"Whatever you want Midna, your the scientist here. It needs to be put down to ease the master's nerves, fall in line. Two pronged attack when it dives us."

"Ahem, alchemist Iontis!" She held stance as was about to drop the circle that was protecting them. "Here it comes, get ready to move dropping the circle in....NOW!"

The two of them dispersed left and right and slammed two pristine and accurate slashed into the Demon Tower. As Midna landed she slammed her hand into the ground, and lit up the circle again with light, barring the tower from burrowing underground through a dark portal. The heartless frocked sloppily to the sides, some being expunged into the light, and other scattered and thumbed outside of the circle. Iontis with eyes on the tower's core, slung his Bahamut Arc over his shoulder and morphed the keyblade into a canon where he began charging an attack.

"Flare!" releasing a relatively paced attack, it moved just fast enough to hit the core and send a ripple in a radius that expanded horizontally. Midna and Iontis respectively jumping backwards, with Midna going over the edge accidentally, and catching her hold on the railing below. Iontis darted around the very edge of the explosion nimbly enough, and dropped off the side of the edge, and picked her up shifting his dragon glider with her to ride behind him.

"Try to ignore my example of being reckless next time alright?" he said with a hint of being high and mighty but there was a softness to his voice.

"I'll take that as a thank you for helping me out Midna." she said sticking out her tongue as the two flew towards the innermost part of the town.

Ðari · Feb 13, 2019

Memory Fragment: 4.3 [Luxu, Eth]
Location: Keyblade Graveyard; Badlands
Time: 2:30pm

Two of them were walking adrift the land, it was barren and seemed to stretch endlessly. Eth and Luxu were walking for some time upon landing on the world and Luxu came to a crossroads where he stood still and turned his head to his back.

"I've been meaning to ask you this since the first day Eth, but wheres your keyblade?" Luxu inquired holding out an empty palm, as Eth stared at his back.

"To be completely honest with you, I simply don't have one."

Luxu paused, and he turned his entire body this time looking at Eth from behind his hood. He raised but a single finger and swatted it left to right in a cutesy fashion imitating his master. "The master chose a resolute he numbered Zero, that doesn't even have a keyblade? As if."

Luxu sighed, "I'll tell you what Eth. I'll give you mine for now. I'm not much of a dual wielder any how. Not with blades anyway. You can borrow it for now, you'll return it to me one of these days." he chuckled.

As Luxu extended his hand he purged a beautiful keyblade, it was translucent at first, but the eye that illuminated from the center gave it's chatter white and silver winding finish. From blade to hilt, it possessed something of a sharp edge. "I call her 'Ethernal' a beaut ain't she? That key blades pretty shy when I'm not around, so others won't be able to see it if I'm not within about seven meters of her. Devilish little chameleon of mine, she'll blend into any environment long as that eye is open at the end of the blade."

Eth held out his hand and took the grip of the keyblade feeling the weight in his hand for the first time. He reeled his arm back and swung once to get a feel, Luxu ducked to avoid contact. "It's light, much lighter than I was expecting, but why are you giving me your keyblade Luxu?" Eth inquired adamantly.

"The Master told me you were the only one that didn't have one, just letting you borrow it for now, no big deal, besides I'm not defenseless. Got another one."

He snapped his finger, and and flailing from the winds, the gazing eye crashed into the dirt in between them. "One of master's gifts to me. Sometimes I lose track of the damn thing, figured Ol' Ethernal could see it from here and she was right. Pain in the ass this thing." He plucked the black keyblade, with a blue eye emblazoned at it's end from the dirt.

"We need to talk Ethy, just you and me. I've got a few things to share with you, that stay between us. If master says I can trust ya, then lend me your ears for a bit won't ya?" Luxu scratched the back of his hood.

"More talking...but if the master says it's important, i'll hear you out Luxu. Go on." Eth said holding Ethernal to his side from the left hand.

"He talked to you before bringing you here didn't he. About a traitor among you, didn't say who, didn't give any details, he just warned you guys that one of you is a mole, whether you know it or not. Well, I was told to tell you specifically that you are the going to be the scapegoat for Master's exit." Luxu raised his finger and pointed at Eth.

"Me...why me..?" Eth placed his right hand over his heart.

"Seal those lips. Don't say anything. I was told when the master finally disappears, that I was to take off too, watch you all, but I have my own role to fill too. I'll see to it that each of you stays the course of your destiny, the master isn't interested in you trying to fight the prevention of the darkness coming, it's bigger than you, than any of us and it will happen and the end of days will follow shortly after. Whats more interesting is what you will do once the end has come, how you will fair as a team of Resolutes in the aftermath. Even I'm semi-excited to see what you guys come up with, it's fitting to tell the one who's job is to find the answer to reverting the worlds from their harrowed states."

Luxu's eyes winced and he spoke cautiously and slower than had up until that point. "I can't quite put my finger on it...but I feel like I'm forgetting something. thats not you screwing around right? The master told me about your mother. Power over memories, now thats dangerous....extremely dangerous Ethy. You could screw around and someone like Reffy wouldn't be able to remember any of those 2k spells he has under his belt. The cut of your jib is too valuable to not give you this info, and that keyblade your borrowing is a fine start. Ethernal will serve you well friend, anything you want to say?"

Luxu finally stopped monologuing and Eth stood there, eyes to the ground spaced out for a few moments that passed before they locked onto Luxu.

"Show me your face." Eth said looking directly at him.

"WHAAAAAAT? I give you secret intel and the only thing you want is to see my goddamn face?? As if, man thats wild." Slowly, Luxu dropped his hood and Eth marveled as a tear dropped from his face.

"...You...you're...!"

The cast of silence washed over the graveyard of keys and the wind filled it.

Ðari · Feb 15, 2019

Memory Fragment: 4.4 [Lucrecia, Jay/Jaz]
Location: The Cul-De-Sac; The Chapel
Time: 2:45pm

The sun hung over in the distance. The World of The Cul-De-Sac always seemed to be slated at high noon when most outsiders came to visit the world.

"What are we doing here Lucrecia, there was yellow tape plastered all over the door! We're not supposed to be here, clearly!" Jay prattled on with a yip and whimper from his voice.

"They say that you can get into the realm of darkness from this chapel. The master possesses the power to travel there, as does Luxu." Recia laid her hand to rest on the golden handle and slid up to the massive lock. "Reforge talks about this door in his sleep, he has nightmares when he's in his child form."

"Okay...way to personal for me. I'm going to just bail meet-"

"Jay." Recia said running her hand over the wood one more time. "What are you so afraid of?" she said turning around and looking him in the eyes, dead center.

"This. All of this. Why am I even here? I don't know any of you, let alone why would the master say you're a person of interest, whats so special about you anyway Recia?" Jay slammed his foot, and a tail poofed from his rear and he fell forward harkening the form of a wolf, briefly before releasing a sharp howl and shifting back to his human form.

"If you're so afraid of the darkness thats eventually coming a little over a year from now...resign as a resolute." Recia sighed, her two orbs hovering close to her shoulders as she pat them both. "I'm disappointed in how fickle and hesitant you are to do anything for yourself Jay. Living on distrust makes for a lonely life, one which dashes the hopes of connecting with others and making new relationships."

She turned and folded her arms with a slight tilt of her head, before walking towards him. "Am I supposed to be your mother now too? Master what in the foretellers where you thinking pairing me with-"

There was a brief clattering of foot steps and before she knew it, Jay had wrapped her arms around her with some means of embrace. A faint drop of precipitation hitting her collar bone at the exposed part of her v-neck. Trembling in her arms, she was just a kid, might as have been a baby compared to the age difference in the rest of the group. Master wouldn't chose lightly, but knowing you'll have to fight a war in a short amount of time must be terrifying for one that doesn't come from that kind of background.

"So you really are afraid...fine, you'll find solidarity if you work close with me." Recia, normally haughty with a likeness to flare up at this much vulnerability, simply smiled and stroked Jay's head.

Jay simply nodded, and rubbed into the draping sleeve, taking a look into Lucrecia's eyes.

"Their will come a day when we have to come back here together Jay, I'm gonna need you to be steel your nerves. We may have friends trapped inside the realm of darkness and if the master really will leave us one day, this will be the only way telo reach them. Our resolve belongs to the realm of light, not darkness...but that doesn't mean we can't reach it from here. The master said, cracking the door will show you a glimpse of whats beyond it, but opening it in it's entirety will take you to the intersection between the realm of darkness weakest seams of reality, the dark margin."

"If we cross over...will we be able to come back..?" Jay asked as she looked up.

"Once you step through once, you'll gain the power to come here at will. Key is getting the door to open, that much the master wasn't very clear on, but it should respond to our resolve. Though you never truly lose the power to traverse worlds...but you can forget all the same."

Lucrecia released a small breath and took Jay's hand. "The darkness doesn't stand a chance."

Ðari · Feb 16, 2019

Memory Fragment: 4.6 [Shiki, Saebyeolbe]
Location: Twilight Town; The Sandlot
Time: Twilight

Twilight Town had to be one of the more calm worlds this side of the ring. A breath escaped the two young resolutes though one seemed to be more familiar here than the other. Saebyeolbe was familiar, he'd come here from time to time with the master in the past. With struggle bats in hand, there were children here with fire in their eyes.

"I find it hard to believe you've never heard of Struggle." Saebyeolbe flicked his wrist pointing at the kids flailing with bat in hand.

"You'll come to realize I've known more struggles than this sport."Shiki was leaning over on the fence post watching the kids.

"Oddly chilly thought, but for the reason we're here." Resting his hands on the post, he'd reached over his hip to his small box. Revealing two blue bars. "Here." Sae said smiling handing her one of the two bars of ice cream.

"We're here for this?" Shiki's brow furrowed some, she watched as Sae bit into the bar.

"The master said we were fairly high strung and guarded, a day off seemed appropriate. Said Twilight Town had this phenomenal ice cream that we must try out. I couldn't tell what was going through his head." Sae raised the bar to his lips and took another bite as he was eyes focused on the children.

Shiki took a look around, briefly a thought permeated in her mind. To think that all this peace and sensible living stayed true, but for fear of an extended stay they'd suffer. Her face communicated the subtle a subtle opposite, despite being littered with questions and skepticism of this temporary truce with misfortune that seemed to follow her around everywhere.

Saebyeolbe flicked her forehead, to her brief window of shock. "Even reckless fools like us deserve some manner of peace. You still with me? Your ice cream's melting Shiki." Sae's voice seemed almost surreal to her, as if she was casting the image of a dear friend briefly in his place.

She took a bite, and more than the freeze, the initial taste was sour. Further inspection, it mellowed into a softened and sweet taste and she looked at the ice cream holding it a ways from her face. How can two opposing tastes work together so flawlessly?

Taking a walk from the Sandlot and through the market place, seems like they finally fixed the hole in the wall which forced Saebyeolbe to change directions. Using the underground network, he came out of the storm doors, leading them into the woods. Even the trees here, the color of the grass, and the light that seemed to titivate over the world to one shade was a marvel on it's own. Stopping in front of the mansion doors, Sae looked up to the top left window on the second floor.

Folding his arms behind his head, he yawned. He walked up to the wall and sat down against it.

"You know Shiki, the master told me a pretty long time that I had two major obsessions that I needed to balance out. This incredible desire to save people accost my own safety, and the other has been the desire in those and other scenarios, to persist without rest until I am the winner."

Shiki stood, her shadow cast over him.

"Who would you protect? Save? Feel the suffocating need to defeat?""

"To save people like those kids and to defeat...the Traitor among us..."

Shiki fell silent, but she could understand, it appears the master shared that information with more than just her.

Ðari · Feb 17, 2019

Memory Fragment: 4.7 [Try, Reforge]
Location: Radiant Garden; Underground Caverns
Time: 3PM

"Your listening is shameful Reforge."

"Oh?? I don't see you shelling out any bright ideas for this predicament!" Reforge shouted in between his panting.

The two of them were hand over foot, pacing at the speed of a sprint to conserve energy. The corridors that wrapped and twisted underneath Radiant Garden where known as the Cavern of Remembrance. Unfortunately the current predicament wasn't one to sneeze at, a heartless in the shape of a divine beast was rampaging through the underground. The red eyes, better known as a Dark Hide, and it was armored unlike it's normal aberration so spells reflected off it when cast.

"Can't you just bounce the beast back or something??"

"It doesn't work like that, that thing's heavier than a moving wrecking ball, it needs to be slowed down before I can hit it after hitting me."

"Ugh, fine!"

"What are you thinking, some reckless spell casting again? Don't be an idiot Reforge!"

Reforged turned and snatched Try by the hand and pulled her in. The heartless roared as it thumbed along without any hesitation whatsoever. The eloquent started to chant slowly underneath his breath and spoke almost inaudibly. A small ring surrounding himself and Try. Reforge called upon his Aura skill, and amplified both himself and Try, bolstering their defensive and attack applications beyond their normal parameters.

"Now hit him!"

"You better be right about this!"

The two reeled back and with closed fist, sunk each into the respective claws of the Dark Hide. The friction created from it's abnormal weight and armored body was almost enough to press them further into the dirt. Reforge opened his palm and started to channel his magic into a spell cast.

"Your officially CRAZY Ref!"

"Wouldn't be the first time someone's said that about me!!!" he proceeded to chant and the light grew thicker, electrifying in his hand.

"THUNDAJA!"

Lightning hit from the top of the heartless with so much power and force it shattered the armor, and substantially cut the weight of the heartless down. Reforge took his other hand and reeled it back collecting power in his fist.

"This time from the top Try, lets get rid of this thing!"

The force traveling between two points, Rebound adding a second burst of the borrowed heartless physical force. Her closed fist plunged forward delivering the force back at what felt like 275% with Reforge's assistance. Both fists burrowed into the heartless and the hit of a wrecking ball, smacked the heartless through the roof of the cavern.

"It's time to go Reforge, don't gawk at that things, move it!" Try shouted beneath the helmet as she had already pulled ahead towards the path to exit the caverns.

"Nah nah nah nah nah nah!" Just like that Reforge reverted to his child form mocking the heartless and turning to run behind Try to escape the caverns.

Ðari · Feb 19, 2019

Memory Fragment: 4.8 [Master of Masters]
Location: The Dorms; The Master's Study
Time: 5PM

"Looks like the kids should be back about any minute now, gotta hand it to them they've been a handful." The Master took pause as he sat his desk.

His hand rested on a book, a tome rather, known to him as the book of prophecies. One to which he'd spent an fair portion of his youth crafting page for page as he peered into a future. The tome itself detailed the sources of many aberrations, appearing in the form of light, darkness, the dawn the dusk, and even manifestations of time, space, and negative emotions. There was a passage on the keyblade in here he often taught when commissioned by the academy to do special lessons.

"Kingdom Hearts" the master uttered, "The Xabat, better known as Ï‡-blade is the key forged from the alignment of the clash of thirteen darknesses and seven lights. In other scripts, thirteen lights where said to take on the world to be sieged by an insurmountable darkness, one in which would corrupt and consume the hearts of worlds themselves and leave them as empty shells, called Harrowed Ends."

The master turned the page and sighed, it was littered with his chicken scratch and a myriad of symbols. Omni was written as a footnote here.

"The wielder of the all encompassing power of Omni was to appear before humanity and chose twelve among them, upon the twelfth chosen, he'd become mortal and join them as thirteen. This these thirteen would be bound to an inescapable and awful fate in which they'd be placed against the insurmountable darkness as civilization and the balance of the worlds shifts heavily in favor of the darkness. The end of he world by no means could be prevented, but not even the passages speak in detail of what happens once the darkness arrives."

He turns the page to the very last page and reads the passage aloud.

"It is said that the darkness will find invitation through the seeds of doubt that spring forth in the hearts of even the most stalwart of them all. A kind of doubt that can only be inspired by a betrayal of trust that is the magnum opus of pretense. The kind of doubt that would bring forth the incentive to fight and change fate. The Betrayer would inherit the Gazing Eye and The Box will open. It is unknown what will happen, this is the only part of the tome that isn't definitive and is open to multiple different interpretations."

The master closed his book and looked at the pictures, headshots he'd taken of everyone he'd had under his tutelage. He divided the photos into three groups. His picture and Luxu's were at the top. Below he moved Eths, Saebyeolbe's, Shiki's, Try's, and Lucrecia's. Followed by the a single row, with Komaeda's picture alone. The next row held Jay's, Iontis, Yamato's, and Reforge's pictures. Finally the last isolated image was of Midna at the very bottom.

"I didn't name any of you carelessly, the broken among you will realize much later what your other names are." he recollected them in brief before he spoke.

"Defiled. The Benevolent. The Harmony. The Undying. Iridescence. The Ultimate. and The Desire."

He tapped the desk and stared at the photographs before being alerted to the sound of the first pair of foot steps. Tiny feet, must be Reforge with Try prompting their return first. He chuckled gathering their photos and placing them across his desk next to the picture he'd taken with all of them as a group on the first day. He was fully aware the game had already started long ago, and this time he wouldn't be around for how it played out.

"I truly love each and every one of you as my own. I'll trust your call when it's all said and done, but you must never know the full extent or else you'll just come looking for me while everything around you falls to ruin. What life that remains is always going to be more important, because even darkness can be salvaged...and you'll disagree, you'll fight, you'll even perpetuate your beliefs against one another and generate your own conflicts beyond my sights, but the commonality exists. Love. Your methods will raise questions, but questions in dire need of being asked, because you'll grow stronger from challenging what you believe, and a miracle will happen."

The Master shrugged, placing the book in his drawer and exiting his study.

Ðari · Feb 20, 2019

[Author's Pow Wow]

Break from a small story component to explain what a few things are thus far that's being touched on in the memories, this is more for the role-players to get an idea of where a lot of these things come from in the roleplay that is live as of right now. It's much easier for me to explain it here with live references as seen in the memories themselves.

We'll start of with the important stuff.

What is the time period?

The story is written on an AU to the original timeline except we're going a very long time into the future.

Who is The Master of Masters?

This story's master acts as a man who is otherworldly, master, father-figure, teacher, and participant in a gambit against an unnamed enemy. The Master serves a role of ushering the power known as "Omni" to 12 exceptionally gifted people. His goal was to divide his power up until he himself became human, to name himself the 13th among that group of exceptional people, IE: Resolutes.

What are the Master's intentions?

As you can tell by reading, the master's ultimate intent is to see his 12 remaining resolutes succeed after the world has ended. His goals are to inspire good faith, to embolden and empower them. While attempting to foster bonds between the group as a whole, he is primarily focused on bringing people together into pairs of two, they should act as the other's rock or moral and combat support to challenge and question their resolve as well as decisions they make well after the master's inevitable departure.

What is Omni?

As the master is, or at least was "otherworldly" or even divine you could say, so was Omni. Omni is a power born from countless human hearts, and it only forges and functions to those with hearts bound in an extremely powerful sense of conviction to themselves, to a cause, to an ideology or philosophy. The master was originally an incarnate/manifestation of Omni itself, encompassing "All". All aspects of convictions, beliefs, and acted as a shepard to stray hearts. Guiding them in passing to the true kingdom hearts. Upon enacting his Gambit, the master has divided his power omni to 12 worthy hearts, bound by fierce resolve. Resolutes.

As the memories play out, I will explain two more components to Omni that will also come into fruition in the roleplay itself.

Who are the Resolutes?

The Resolutes where humans with powerful sets of convictions thats the master deemed worthy to pass an aspect of Omni to. In total there are 13 aspects of Omni's Conviction.

Almighty - The Master of Masters
âˆž. Continuum - Luxu
0.Time - Eth
I. Indomitable Will - Saebyeolbe
II. Divine Protection - Shiki
III.Rebound All Opposition - Try (name unknown)
IV. Nullification - Lucrecia
V. Hope & Despair - Komaeda, Nagito
VI. Paradigm - Jay/Jaz
VII. Growth & Evolution - Iontis
VIII. Insatiable Hunger - Yamato
IX. Knowledge & Linguistics - Reforge
X. Desire - Midna

Each resolute embodies an aspect of Omni and that resolve defines them as the 13 Resolutes.

When will Try ever remove her helmet???

As soon as Piercing Light ever draws her face, til then, NOPE.

Ðari · Feb 22, 2019

Memory Fragment: 4.9 [All]
Location: The Dorms; Dining Hall
Time: 7:30pm

The master smiled. This was the loudest you could hear the table had been in the past couple of days. The table was set, twelve of them were seated and the master was hanging over as the entree's were set over with silver dishes. Each releasing steam as they had a prepared meal, as eyes shifted to Try whom sat there in a complete state of motionlessness talking to Reforge.

Eth twiddled his thumbs as he looked over at Luxu across from him, these two where the closest to the master at the head of the table. Luxu making a gesture to zip it, as in not disclose the contents of their conversation and Eth simply returned with a nod as his fork was buried into his plate.

Saebyeolbe sighed, staring at the plate briefly and thinking he might've spoiled his appetite from the ice-cream. He could only think about the idea of their being a dishonest fool among them. Rolling his eyes he was determined at the very least to eat something. Shiki was collectively in the same mode, albeit taking more of a quiet tenderness to how much energy was in the room. Only a few days, and it appeared that everyone was coming alive, it brought a smile to her face, a rarity in some of the tragic things she's experienced between then and now.

"Be sure you eat the greens as well." Lucrecia said to Jay, almost sounding motherly.

"R-right." Jaz responded, her ear's twitched like that of a foxes. Taking in the steam, her nose crinkled and her snout protruded briefly before shifting back. Releasing a long sigh, Jaz began to eat occasionally looking up at Recia as an example of proper etiquette.

"Shoulders off he table Jaz." Lucrecia enforced, soft but firmly as she smiled.

"Someone's starting to lean towards the motherly side." Komaeda interjected and chuckled, "Fitting for a powerful light worth following to the ends of the earth."

Recia merely gave Komaeda the thumbs up and continue to eat.

"Now now, we're all friends here aren't we? I want us to grow together, elevate one another." His smiled seemed to twist just a tad.

"Nagi." Yamato said across from him. "Leave Recia be, just eat, everyone's winding down." he said pointing at Iontis, Midna, Try, and Reforge. "Theres nothing I value more, than honor and respect. Show some for your mates workin' hard alright?"

On the other end of the table, Reforge sat in his child form talking to Try rather excitedly.

"You were AMAZING back there! Can you teach me how you did that??" Reforge said, starry eyed and hyper.

"It's not something I can exactly teach Reffy, ugh. Please don't make me repeat myself, i'm sure you know a reflect spell or two." She sat there with her arms folded.

"Hmm?" Reforge looked at her dish was still with the lid on. "Aren't you gonna eat anything??" his light bulb over his head went off, visible to everyone at the table. "Wait a minute. How are you supposed to do that with that helmet on?? Come to think of it, you didn't take it off during breakfast this morning either!"

Reforge pouted and puffed his cheeks.

"Ugh, this is why I'm not sure about children right now, can we talk as adults Reffy? Leave the matter alone, I like my privacy." she briefly, stood up and picked up the dish to then proceed to leave the room with it.

"Try has got the right idea." Iontis said with a light sigh as he tapped the side of his plate. "Great work today Midna, remember what I said, don't follow my reckless example."

"Hey look at you!" Midna said rather cheerful, "Your learning, you actually remember my name this time. Hah, i'm only teasing, but thanks, i'll try not to get knocked off a platform next time."

Iontis simply gave her a look, and what looked like the slight upturn of a smile before excusing himself in the same fashion that Try did.

It's been a bit of a ride today, but it was definitely evident that everyone was tired. The master sat and ate with his resolutes that remained and tasked two that left the table to do the dishes alongside Komaeda.

Ðari · Feb 24, 2019

Memory Fragment: Dish Duty pt. 2 [Try, Komaeda, Iontis]
Location: The Dorms; Kitchen
Time: 9:15PM

"How did I get conned into doing the dishes again...?" Iontis groaned scrubbing the plates.

"Ah, rotten luck as always, nothing new for me." Komaeda said with a grin as he rinsed the ones handed to him.

"I'll starve before I eat in front of you guys. This chore is just a price paid for privacy." Try's slight flex of strength cracked a dish she was drying. You couldn't see it, but she felt it was a bit unnatural a fracture.

"You've certainly got everyone curious about your face, as well as your name." Iontis proposed "It's as if you don't quite know yourself about either, my question is, why?"

Try placed the last dish on the rack and the one Komaeda gave her to the side. "If there aren't any dishes...there wouldn't be a conversation about my face. I see what your doing here."

"You sound utterly ridiculous right now, what do you mean 'if there aren't any'?" he was getting irritated now, but noticed she turned and the keyblade was in her hand. "Are you listening to me? What are you going to do with that?"

She raised her hand and there was a loud thwack sound.

"Oof." Komaeda grunted rubbing his head where Try's keyblade was buried, in the forest that was his tangled bush of white hair.

"What are you mental woman?? You just hit him directly in the head, and why would you move in the way you idiot??"

"Don't get in the way if you don't want to get hurt. Isn't it obvious? Move Komaeda, i'll rid us of the dishes, permanently."

"I seriously cannot believe what I'm hearing...you deal with this Komaeda."

Try moved her keyblade over to Iontis. "Don't go telling the master Ion. It's not like I did anything to him"

"Ion..? We're doing pet names now? You're so strange Try...fine. But if you don't want that, then do me a solid here. Wash the dishes, don't break them, we'll stop asking about the damn helmet too."

The keyblade vanished as well. She took a step forward nonchalant and picked up the last dish that she put down. All the while Komaeda rubbed his head, feeling a lump there to no one's surprise. Iontis sighed, and proceeded to pass the dishes to his right until they were gone. As he drained the water from the sink he leaned against it.

"We're in luck, I don't think she's going to break anything...this time." Komaeda said with a bit of a frown.

"Lets keep this between us three." Iontis said with a sigh. "You're definitely weird to me, but you're not so strange that you'd do either of us substantial harm."

Iontis placed his hand on her helmet. "Midna is gradually changing my opinion about being here, and about all of you, unique is an understatement if there ever was one. Feels like theres a lot we your peers have to teach you Try, for starters...lets not break things...please?"

Try merely gave a casual nod, parsed with a cloth in hand, and dish nearly pressed but not cracking this time. Room for improvement to be sure.

Ðari · Feb 24, 2019

Memory Fragment: Training Begins
Location: The Dorms; Training Field #1
Time: 12PM

The conditions were to the extremes that you would expect from the Master. He was a hard read, you couldn't tell if he was being heartlessly cruel or too kind. Teetering on the very brink of either when he wasn't being a cryptic shark among others. The called for Ã to approach, and sure enough, the number 0 approached.

"Keyblade?" the master questioned.

A powerful stream of light radiated from his hand, and Eth brandished Ethernal to his hand. Luxu looked from the group with a glint in his eye, sure enough the blade wasn't visible to anyone there given the distance between him and the key. Admiration appeared in the Master's voice, to say he'd foreseen this day would be an understatement.

"Looks like you found that aforementioned keyblade I said you would Ethy. Good good. Show me something else."

Eth looked at the master with a slight of his head, "Something else?" he shuffled on the back foot as the master took a step towards him.

"Resolve. Dear Eth. Show everyone your Resolve!"

The field colluded with a powerful pressure, gravitation that could be felt pulsing through the grassy fields. The Master's apprentices stood present, the scarred and whisper erecting a dome to guard against the master's actions.

"But they'll...just forget as quickly...fine."

Eth raised his hand and pressed against his chest. The thought of his mother crossed his mind, those fleeting moments, the image of her pieced together his resolve. How could he avoid this happening again, often a question he asked himself invariably. A small breath of air left his lips, the pressure cracked and blew upward forcing several pieces of grass to scatter. Eth had cut the pressure, he emitted a blue radiance which perpetuated a warm feeling.

"Resolve or no Master...I'm not ready for any of you to see it..."

"You wouldn't...No no not that, the other thing!" The master took steps of panic before the dandelion he plucked slipped from his hand. "Uh-oh." he then and vanished into a portal of light.

Eth turned on the group standing behind the dome, and the light washed over all of them. The blue luminescent glow was pure, warm, and inviting, but it marked a small gap in time. The memory mixed with a rewind was put in place. Eth opened his eyes and the master's words repeated.

"Keyblade...wait...deja vu? Ugh, you did it again you scoundrel. Fine! Take a seat Untouchable! Moving on..."

The master rubbed the side of his head before he clasped his hands loudly.

"Resolute. You know why you're all called that right? Any one care to guess, oh! Show of hands, c'mon!"

The master looked into the crowd, each of them glimpsing at each other, uncomfortable, awkward. One of them raised their hand, like the master, hooded.

"Because of our Conviction?"

"DING DING! I could think of no better reason than to call you Resolute than that. You kids are charming, but it's your convictions that lead you to me. I've been apart of each of your lives for a long time now, but it's time I told you who I really am. You call me master because well, duh, thats my name. But I am The Master of Masters. Like some of you I've donned a role to, even I, possess a role to fulfill. Passing my power "Omni" or as you know in your own experiences with it to be your own "Resolve" or a manifestation of The Light, its my duty to pass that power onto to 12 deemed resolute. And here we are, a full squad of thirteen resolutes, dandy! But I need to ask you to show each other better than I could ever explain, so we'll do this."

The Master twirled his finger with glee and narrowed it over the group, using two fingers actually and he pointed at two separate persons.

"The Scarred and The Echo. 1 and 3! It's your lucky day, you've been chosen to battle each other for the class. To be completely honest, both of you are the most durable, I doubt you'll end up seriously hurting the other. Now now, don't be shy #3, #1's a sweetheart, but I'm gonna need you two to try to be moderately serious here."

The Master walked in the middle of the two of them and lurched over to lend #1 a word. "She's really self-conscious about the helmet, just don't accidentally strike her head, try to remove it, or do that thing where you undress, we're trying to keep it PG kiddo~!"

Eyes sharply observed the one that master named "The Scarred", everyone of course had an actual name, but no one here was on terms yet with each other to give theirs so liberally. There was an unease that crept through the air, looking at each other, thinking about their numbers, what resolute meant, and those apprehensive thoughts dissolved once the two resolutes that the master appointed to fight each other for demonstrative purposes, flared up.

"Try, show him that his physical force is just another weapon in your arsenal. Sae, remind her that you've weathered the battle field and experienced the pain of many tragedies and managed to weaponize them offensively and defensively. Enough, GO!"

The wind broke and everyone clasped their ears, hearing the sound of metal slam with an up-kick burst of wind. There was a flailing of blood that was quickly rushing off #1 as he was eating damage repeatedly. Truth was, the master knew that #3 could rebound nearly everything, having an incredibly high threshold to bounce back impact, but at the same exact time, the adaptability of his number 1 was what would level the playing field. Dealing with him quickly would've been the answer she'd likely discover too late, as expected given neither of the two had ever met, but one of them had several times more experience and...

The loud thud of a keyblade being driven into #1's bare hand, clutched, with the reverberation of the stroking the blood off his arm he pulled the woman in the red suit and helmet towards him and stroked her helmet slowly before he smiled, a complete bloody mess.

"Well the mask is cute and all, Try right? Saebyeolbe." Sae may have been a bloody mess, writihing from every muscle, but he respected Try.

Fanfiction ► Memories are [NOT] Resolute

the crown is heavy

the crown is heavy

the crown is heavy

the crown is heavy

the crown is heavy

the crown is heavy

the crown is heavy

the crown is heavy

the crown is heavy

the crown is heavy

the crown is heavy

the crown is heavy

the crown is heavy

the crown is heavy

the crown is heavy

the crown is heavy

the crown is heavy

the crown is heavy

the crown is heavy

the crown is heavy