03 - video;

[darkened]

[The video starts with a very shaky shot of one of the buildings in San Fransisco. There are sounds of growling and shouting in the background before the camera pans to an XV-mon and a Gabumon glaring, stomping, and shaking their fists at each other.]

Oh, calm down, fuzzball! I was just telling it like it is.

You liar! I'm not a fake Digimon. I'm real, and you can't take my partner away from me! I'll battle you to the death if I have to!

[Said Gabumon leaps at the XV-mon's chest, only for her to swat him away with a chuckle. The image then turns to a very exasperated looking Replica, who rubs at his temple before speaking.]

Ugh, now I'm starting to know how Real Thing felt. Has anyone else had problems with their SCOPE partners? XV-mon's kept having to beat him back for hours, and he still keeps getting back up. It's like looking into some kind of fun house mirror, and I don't know how to get him to relax.

[There's the sound of a scream, followed by a WHAM. Seems the fighting's picked up a little bit, much to the Replica's chagrin.]

...And while we're at it, has anyone made it to HospiTown yet? I'm fine with scoping out these new islands, but I'd like to at least see where this new town is before I get too carried away.

Comments

[heartdive]

Who?

[darkened]

[His expression sours further, shifting from a sneer to a glare.]

Marluxia's the creep who was in charge of Castle Oblivion. He's the one who forced Naminé to rework our memories, and he's the wise guy who thought he could turn you into his puppet! He even used Naminé as a shield.

[heartdive]

[ Sora isn't happy to hear that either. his memories are one thing... and from the sounds of it the "thank Naminé" might have been because she fixed things. mostly... ]

Who uses a girl as a shield!?

[darkened]

A heartless monster, that's who. All he cared about was getting his hands on your Keyblade.

[And for what? Rebellion? The Replica's words just ooze bitterness.]

[heartdive]

Following Xemnas' orders?

[darkened]

[He shakes his head.]

No, Marluxia planned on betraying the Organization. That's why he needed you in the first place.

[heartdive]

...Geez. What's with these people and trying to use me?

[ he's nothing special here. ]

[darkened]

Isn't it obvious? You've got a Keyblade; that's all the incentive they need.

[heartdive]

There are other people with Keyblades.

[darkened]

Wait, there are?

[Well, he has vague memories of Terra, sure, and maybe something about Mickey, but...]

Well, it's not like they knew that. And even if they did, I doubt there were more than two or three tops.

[heartdive]

Terra, Aqua, Ventus... Technically Roxas and there's even Axel that has one now in my time.

And I bet they DID know about Roxas. Hard not to, because he was originally from the Organization.

[darkened]

Okay, first of all, I've got no idea who this Roxas guy is. Second...

[His eyes widen, and he leans in Sora's face.]

Axel? Really? You've gotta be pulling my leg.

[heartdive]

No, I'm not.

[ you are so weird, Rep. but Sora isn't pulling back. 8T ]

Some of the Organization members are back to being themselves. So Axel's back to being Lea again. I know that he's done a lot of things that aren't right. But I think his heart had been in the right place.

And Roxas... Is my Nobody. One that has a heart of his own and should be able to not be tied to me like he is.

[darkened]

Okay, so ignoring the fact that he's back to normal, how did he get a Keyblade?

[When Sora brings up his heart being in the "right place," the Replica rolls his eyes and scowls.]

And sorry, but practically sending me to my deathbed hardly seems like the right thing to do.

[He'll process the whole Nobody thing later. This is a sore subject for him, even if he knows, deep down, that it's still kinda his fault, too.]

[heartdive]

By training under another Master...

[ and sure, Sora doesn't really know what happened at C.O. but... he KNOWS. Axel, who had laughed and become friends with Roxas and the other girl. Axel who had helped him get to Kairi. the guy that really only had wanted his best friend back...

and then Lea, who came in at the last second to save everyone. ]

I don't know what to tell you. That doesn't sound like the same guy that saved me, Aiden. I'm sure that he'd apologize for it, if he was here.

[darkened]

Hmph. I wouldn't hold my breath.

[And this'd be him averting his eyes and grumbling under his breath. He's just grateful Sora didn't press any further about how he died.]

Besides, it's not like he's here to apologize.

[heartdive]

[ mostly because Sora isn't sure he wants to know all those details. ]

I think you'd be surprised.

[darkened]

Yeah, well, that's easy for you to say. You weren't the one manipulated.

[He starts wandering away as he says this, his heavy footsteps pounding on the pavement.

Seeing this, Kotemon gasps and toddles towards Sora.]

I don't understand. Is something wrong?

[heartdive]

[ Sora sighs, hand going through his own hair for a second. ]

Me just screwing up somehow.

[darkened]

You can say that again.

[Gabumon snorts, waving one of his fingers up at Sora.]

Sure, go ahead and stick up for the murderer. That's what any true friend would do!

[He bats his eyelashes... or well, eyelids, given that he's a reptile.

For a split second, the Replica halts, but only to send Gabumon a glare.]

Shut up.

[And he continues on his way, grumbling something indiscernible.]

[heartdive]

That's not -

[ Rep's voice cuts him off. Sora even winces.

then he decides to chase after the guy, hand shooting out to grab a wrist. now he can't really look him in the eye, so he just stares at the ground. honest, he feels bad. but surely he understands that Sora just can't hold grudges - not against someone that's helped him out so many times. not against someone that's changing their colors... heck, Sora would have attempted to save Pete and Malificent too, if he could have. ]

Look, I'm sorry. Maybe if I remembered that stuff, I'd feel different too. But I don't... And it's wrong for me to hold a grudge over stuff that I don't remember or know about.

But I don't mean to hurt your feelings either.

[darkened]

[When Sora grabs his wrist, the Replica freezes. His eyes slam shut, and he grits his teeth. If this were anyone else, he'd rip his hand away and keep moving, but he can't. It's Sora, the same goofball who showered him in sentimentality no matter how many times he tried starting fights.

Briefly, he wonders what Sora'd think if he knew the whole story. Would he be so quick to chase after him?

What's he even supposed to do?]

Yeah, well, fine. Just don't expect me to forgive him. Sorry's not enough for what he did to me.

[For what all those Nobodies did to him... and for what he did, for that matter.]

[heartdive]

I'm not really asking you to... But maybe, if he shows up, keep an open mind?

...Or open heart?

[darkened]

We'll see what happens.

[He shakes his head.]

C'mon, don't we have more important things to worry about? Like getting to that HospiTown place.

[heartdive]

[ well... a lighter subject. that means that the storm had passed and they are onto fairer skies, right? please say that this is the case. ]

Pfft. We have PLENTY of time to get there. I want to look around still.