Heart of Darkness

Heart of Darkness
Date of Scene:	23 December 2012
Location:	Hollow Bastion
Synopsis:	Riku teaches Ember the true price of Darkness..
Cast of Characters:	Ember, Riku (Aka: Stormfall)

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No title. (2012-12-23 - 2012-12-24) No description.

Ember has posed:
Not long ago, Ember had captured one of her 'friends' and tossed her into a dank dungeon underneath the castle. After her discussion with Lexus about what to do with her, she had already formed a cunning plan in her mind...However, his questions had left her wondering..'What is your great purpose in all of this?' That had been what he had asked her, and time again, it caught Ember off-guard, wondering again what her true purpose in all of this was. Why did none of them think she had what it took to become a true Shadow Lord?

So far Seith had warned her about the consequences of true darkness and its consequences. She had already seen what it had done to Angantyr, but what of Riku?

She had neither seen nor heard anything about him after he had entered Manhattan's world's heart alone. Seith had encouraged her to find out what the darkness really was from him, before he would teach her anything more on the subject.

Ember has posed:
And so, Ember wanders through the castle corridors, searching for the elusive, silver haired boy who would be the leader of the shadow lords..

Stormfall has posed:
Riku is discovered in the last place that he is looked for. He sits in a windowed alcove looking out at Hollow bastion while a few heartless scurry through the halls. He has a book in his lap but he doesn't seem to be paying attention to it, a heavy glaze has fallen over his eyes making him look completely vacant.

A storm rumbles and wind howls outside as rain patters heavily against the outside platforms. Riku doesn't seem to notice Ember yet, just staring outside at the rain completely motionless, even his breathing shallow and of little consequence.

Ember has posed:
Ember wasn't terribly fond of rain and thunder. Too wet, too cold. But that was the kind of drab place Hollow Bastion was. If it wasn't raining, it was snowing. She much preferred the hot bright desert to this however. Maybe that's why she so enjoyed visiting Reize back at Shard Seeker's headquarters. But Ember had more important matters to deal with at the moment.

After scouring the entire castle, which is no easy task due to its massive size, Ember finally finds Riku in some dark corner of the castle, looking like he's rather out of it. Ember frowns softly as she comes over, wondering what put him in such a disturbed mood. She didn't know him well but she'd seen him briefly out in the desert with Reize, when he'd seemed a bit more cheerful.

However, this mood is not unlike the mood he was in when he'd seen the former keyblade wielder. How very curious...Ember expected him to be more cheerful after such a win, and yet she could not deny that she herself felt rather..Hollow, after Manhattan fell.

"Riku? Heey, whatcha up to?" She calls out, wondering if he'll remember her from Manhattan. Aside from that, he probably wouldn't recognize her from when they met in the desert. She had kept her alter ego as Katyna secret even from most of the other shadow lords, save for Seith and Hati, mostly because she feared that any of them might defect at any moment.

Riku has posed:
Riku looks in her direction and for a moment he looks completely blind and unseeing. The moment passes and he furrows his brows as if trying to place not only who she was, but where he was.

He looks down at the book, turning a few more pages in a desulatory manner before looking back up at her. Since she has not evaporated in that space of time he nods. "Reading. Just-- thinking about some things before dinner." he looks at her a moment longer and then nods. "I've seen you before. Ember, right?"

Ember has posed:
Ember arches a brow, peering intently at his book with obvious curiosity. She sure isn't subtle about anything and it's probably easy to figure out what she's thinking. What's wrong with this guy? what's he so upset about, and what's he reading anyway?

"Heh..That's right. I'm Ember.." She pulls off her hood, having opted to leave her helmet back in her room. Fortunately for her, Seith's illusion magic had allowed her to obscure her identity more easily in this form. Phew, that helmet was hard to breathe in all the time.

"And you're Riku, right?" She smirks, "I guess that goes without saying. Afterall, you're pretty famous around here. You must be pretty proud of yourself and your accomplishments, but..You dont seem too happy. What's eatin' you?"

Riku has posed:
It's an old and dusty tome of history-- or possibly fairy tales. Some books can be a little of both. Riku looks at Ember for a long time, it's a vaguely unsettling and searching look that continues for far longer than it should.

He seems to snap out of some sort of trance after a minute or so. He smiles wearily at her. "Too many questions. Not enough answers. Never-- never enough answers. How about you?" he turns the question around on her., "Are you happy with your accomplishments?"

Ember has posed:
Ember scratches her head, blinking a few times as he peers back at him. Aah, this is an intelligent one, not like that crazy Darkwing duck she keeps hearing about. She doesn't like how he looks at her though, as if he could read minds..Brr..Can he? Just incase, Ember starts thinking of something stupid and distracting like..Pink Elephants. It'd do no good to let him hear her deepest darkest thoughts ,afterall!

Still..Pink Elephants? It makes her smile a bit, biting her lip to try and not chuckle at that silly thought. "Huh, wow, a book on fairytales..That's pretty cool. Any good stories in there?"

Then suddenly he seems to snap out of his trance and she stands up straight. "Oh! Me, you mean? I'm asking too much?" Yeah, that's right. Hati had said it too. Too many questions, not enough answers. Or was he talking about himself? She chuckles, self consciously rubbing the back of her head before taking a seat next to him. All this standing and walking around's making her tired.

"Hmmm. A wise person once told me it's best to watch and listen with your own eyes more, and ask fewer questions. She's been teaching me to scry, but its hard to focus or find peace in my head. So I've tried using candles to focus on. Watching the flames...Keeps me focused. AND quiet." Another cheerful smile.

Then suddenly the question's turned on her, and she bites her lip, shaking her head slowly. "Huh? I...Dont really know. I mean, that's a loaded question, y'know? I cant say I'm proud of my failures.." Something which she's certainly not going to go into in much details. "But, I'm happy that I've survived this far, even while so many people around me died. Even if my mentor suddenly vanished one day, I think I'm becoming stronger, I'm no longer bogged down by trivial things like loss and loneliness. As long as I focus on myself and not those around me, I'm sure someday soon, I'll be able to take up the mantle of Shadow Lord."

She smiles, seeming really eager about becoming a shadow lord, and not remaining as simply some errant girl. "I'm starting to understand the darkness a little, but there is so much I still dont know. Lord Seith told me I should ask you about it.."

Riku has posed:
"Did he?" Riku seems to let that be the only answer he gives her for a long time. He looks back at the book, but smiles a little at the corner of his mouth as he turns the pages. "I think-- a lot of these stories leave a lot to be desired." he looks up at Ember. "Such as. Why does the hero go off to defeat the dastardly villain? Why do they defeat the dragon just because their heart is pure?" he chuckles faintly.

"You scratch the surface, and it turns out most people are just bundles of unanswered questions. --So, what do you want to know, Ember? What trivial things do you still need to discard?" he says this second question with a hint of annoyance and disapproval but otherwise his voice is flat and neutral.

Ember has posed:
Ember nods slowly as she peers back at the book in his hands thoughtfully. "Yeah.." A shrug. ~Of course you'd know about the darkness~ she thinks, but Ember cant help but feel like it was something he really didn't want to talk about. Why was he so tense, behind that smile? "Hmmm...." She looks back at the book, as if it may hold some answers for her.

"I guess those are questions I've asked myself. Why would the hero risk everything, sacrifice everything, not even knowing if there would be any reward for him at the end, aside from maybe death? What's the point? And what if the villains arent really 'bad' or 'wrong' for what they do, only misunderstood, trying to survive?" she smirks, "I suppose THAT is why their heart is so pure though, because they'd throw away their life for nothing. Sacrifice. Isnt' that what being a pure heart is all about? What a waste.."

She glances back at him, arching a brow when he talks of people being bundles of unanswered questions. "Really? You think? I suppose some people are simpler to understand than others though. For some people, their lives are so simple, so happy and protected, there are no questions to answer. For others.." She shrugs.

"Maybe it's not discarding, just understanding. Like what would be the consequences of accepting the darkness, like Angantyr did, or even Avira, both becoming more powerful creatures, even if they dont look so pretty anymore. What could possibly be wrong with becoming more powerful? Isn't that what accepting the darkness is all about, learning how to wield a more powerful weapon, so that you have nothing to fear anymore?"

How sad, she is still so naieve..

Riku has posed:
"Yes. What a waste." Riku agrees with her readily. "How some people just throw themselves down a path without really understanding anything about what lies in front of them." He is looking down at the book, so obviously he means the stories.

"Where are you from, Ember? I'm afraid I haven't seen much of you." he shrugs one shoulder. "We've all been busy. So I don't think we've properly met. Tell me a little more about Seith. You said he sent you to me?"

Ember has posed:
"Heh, that's why I don't pay much attention to fairytales. They're so full of lofty ideals and 'happily ever afters'. How does that help in real life? The real world is full of pain and suffering. The only way you survive is by learning to deal with that pain, and becoming stronger from it." That was, essentially, why she was here...Maybe.

Then he turns that question on her and she hesitates, uncertain of how to answer. To reveal too much might put her in danger. She has seen and heard of a few working for the heartless or shadow lords have defected. Morrighan was now part of VALKYRIE. Kaydin turned his back on Baron and their alliances with the Heartless. Would Leida defect too, after that silly flower girl tried to befriend her? Still, Ember does love to talk. a lot. She's pretty bad at keeping secrets too!

"Well..it's a long story. I came from Gariland magic city, a place where faith was a big thing, but I suppose I lost my faith when all the people I cared about were lost to me and I ended up alone." She shrugs again, smiling as if it didnt really bother her.

"A shadow lord spared my life, took me in and trained me. But Lord Fessner suddenly vanished one day without teaching me how to properly wield the dark magics. And so Lord Seith took over. Seith's a pretty mysterious guy so I dont know much about him, he did say that there are consequences that come with accepting the darkness and making it yours, but he said he'd teach me only if I learned more about the darkness first. He said you would be able to explain what he meant."

It's true, they've all been pretty busy, Ember no less. "But you're right, I haven't met a lot of Shadow Lords myself. I guess most of them do their own thing, stick to themselves.." ~But you're a teenager like me~ she thinks, ~Surely you'd understand what I'm going through?~

Riku has posed:
Riku shakes his head. "I don't-- think I could tell you anything that would help you, Ember." he frowns at her, looking pensive as he listens to her attentively. He closes the book, putting it beside him and swinging his legs over the side of the windowledge alcove.

"I could show you-- but I don't you'd like it much. Maybe we should just stick to talking." He pauses, then asks. "So. The Shadow Lords took you in huh?" he nods slowly. "Well. I guess they took me in too after my world was destroyed. I guess we all have our long stories."

Ember has posed:
Ember blinks, peering at him curiously when he says he can 'show' her. "Ooh, really? What is it that you could show me?" She smirks, "really, i'm not afraid of anything! I saw that light at the end of the corridor, back in Manhattan..I've faced the heartless and lived to tell the tale. I've seen both Avira and Angantyr turn into monsters, although I have yet to face their anger in those forms."

But soon, very soon. "I watched as Skoll betrayed me and nearly killed me in his fury. Really, there's not a lot that bothers me, although....I wonder..About that keyblade wielder. Or was it just the shell of one?"

Another shrug when he asks about how she got here. "Yeah, that's right. Oh but I'm not a stray dog or anything. I can take care of myself, pull my own weight. Even so, they say I'm not focused enough..." She clenches her fists, seeming annoyed by that.

"But, I'll bet yours is quite the story to tell, huh? So they took you in too, gave you a new hope or something? But you must be quite talented to become the leader of the shadow lords.." and so young too..Would she one day be as powerful and revered as he?

Riku has posed:
"I think.." Riku says in a strained and particularly tense voice. "..I think it was just an echo of one. I met them a long.. long time ago." he pauses, then lets it go at that. He stands up, sliding off the alcove. "If you are really certain that you want me to show you, come with me." he warns her again.

"I really advise that you go back to Seith and tell him you couldn't find me. I advise-- just walking away, Ember. I don't-- I don't think you really understand. The darkness is a powerful thing. But everybody pays something for that power. Sometime-- it's more than you ever wanted to pay."

Ember has posed:
Ember frowns. This was clearly not the response she was hoping for. "What? Are you kidding me? You want me to just turn tail and run like a coward? After I came this far?" She shakes her head determinedly. "No, I cant do that. I could never face him again..He'd never show me this power.."

Then he gets up as if he's leaving and she follows. "Whatever it is, it couldnt be that bad, could it?" She grins, "Dont worry, I wont hold it against you or anything, if something should happen to me. But really, I have very little to lose..And everything to gain. So, lead on!"

Riku has posed:
Riku continues to ignore Ember. He walks and walks and walks and she might get impatient at any point along the way and leave. He just turns corner after corner of the gigantic and lonely castle.

Red flashes of lightning light the gloomy corridors while rain and thunder rumbles ominously. As he turns another of any number of corners, he turns to face Ember. His eyes are a blank glowing yellow, a hungry gleam behind them as he reaches out with a shadowy hand that is suddenly a claw up to the mid forearm and punches straight through her body, through her chest straight into her heart.

There is no wound because this is how the heartless extract the light from a living soul. That shadowy claw squeezes the light inside Ember while Riku just continues to remain completely expressionless.

Ember has posed:
They walk. and walk. And walk some More. Ember's starting to get impatient, and she slows down a bit after a good while of walking. "Hey, Riku. Where are we headed then? I hope you're not lost..."

Then suddenly he turns on her, and attacks her! She gasps, staggering back, shocked beyond words. What is this, some sort of betrayal?

"Riku..." She gasps, "What the heck are you..Doing?" carmine eyes narrow angrily, reaching up to try and grasp his hand, to crush it or push it away if she can. But while there are no wounds, she can feel the light, the hope of her soul being squeezed out like a lemon pulp.

Suddenly everything feels so dark, so dreary, so hopeless.."Ugh, dammit, knock it off!" she reaches for her sword with her free hand but she cant quite make it. What does it matter anyways? It's so hopeless, she's gonna die..Her hands flop uselessly at her side, her body shivering from the sudden cold.

Feelings, memories rush past, the many people in her life that she cared for, who died or were taken away from her. So cold, so alone..So dark. she doesnt even know who she is anymore, where she is..Just a floating, disconnected, lost memory..She closes her eyes, head dropping forward as if she were about to fall asleep or something..

Riku has posed:
"Don't make the mistake I made, Ember." Riku says in a surprisingly calm and sympathetic voice. "The darkness isn't something you throw yourself at. It will break you" He has to struggle with the impulse to just rip the light out of her, to stop another shadow lord from being created by rendering her as something small and relatively harmless.

He can't make himself do it, not even the hunger is strong enough to scale his resolve. "Find strength elsewhere, Ember." he sighs. " In yourself if absolutely possible. Only use the darkness when you absolutely must. Approach it with some respect, use it with /RESTRAINT/-- or you'll have nothing to fight, because what will eat you? Will be inside.. not outside. " Riku takes in a steadying breath and releases Ember's heart with difficulty, retracting his hand and stepping back away from her in a ready position should she attack him when she recovers.

Ember has posed:
She grits her teeth, panting heavily as her soul fights the darkness. Indeed, Katyna's soul contained more light than many dark knights who roamed these halls. There was always a sense of honor and justice about her, even if she fooled herself into believing she had lost all hope.

"Ugh.." She growls, clenching his arm tightly, steadying herself as the darkness subsides a little. Ember eyes flash open angrily, half listening to his words, half filled with anger and hatred at yet another betrayal.

Finally he lets go and she staggers back a bit but catches herself, unsheathing her sword, pointing it at him as it flares to life. "You...What was that you did to me? You nearly killed me.." But he didnt. She suddenly smirks, laughs even. "Oh..I get it, this was just a test, wasn't it? Another lesson to be taught." She lowers her weapon, but doesn't resheathe it. Ember hasn't decided yet whether she should teach HIM a lesson or not, but it seems that he could have done a lot more damage to her if he had chosen to betray her. "Then I'll train harder, become stronger! I wont let the darkness control me. You're wrong. My faith did not give me any strength, it did not protect the people I cared about. No, instead it took everything away from me. And I've seen what Avira and Angantyr's silly love did to them. This is my only hope. My only strength. But you've found away not to lose yourself to it..Restraint, caution, respect. If I had those things, then maybe there's hope for me too, but I cant just give up!"

Riku has posed:
Riku sighs and looks somewhat disappointed at Ember. He doesn't let it show on his face, but his eyes flicker with it a little as the glowing yellow drains out of them and leaves them normal looking again. He in fact even smiles at her, although it's a thin lipped one.

"No." he says finally and with finality. "No, you can't just give up.. can you?" he nods firmly. "..maybe you and I should train together, but I'm often outside the castle and.." he pauses, then adds.

"Trying to avoid drawing notice." he smiles a little wider at that. " Do you happen to have a Ma belle, by any chance?"

Ember has posed:
Ember arches a brow. Did she catch a hint of disappointment in his eyes? But then it's gone just as quickly. He's good at hiding his emotions, unlike Ember, who wears her heart on her sleever.

"No, I can't ever give up. If I do, I lose. I know there's a way, afterall, you made it, didn't you? You never lost yourself to the darkness." she pauses when he talks of trying to avoid notice, frowning a bit. "Because people are after you now for what happened in Manhattan? Forget it, that's why I have this disguise. There are very few people I trust, but.."

She resheathes her sword, nodding, a serious look on her face now. "I'd like that, training with you. I'm sure there's a lot you could teach me. I have a Ma belle, sure!"

Riku has posed:
Riku gives her his ma belle contact number. "If I don't respond, then I'm either busy or around people whom I can't trust with an open conversation."

he takes in a deep breath and lets it out, although it sounds somewhat like a sigh. He looks at the storm outside, then asks. "Have you eaten yet? I think I'm going to go ask for dinner now. Do you want to join me?"

Ember has posed:
Ember nods and smiles, "Thanks! I'll keep in touch.." she adds the number to her phone before putting it away. She pauses however, arching a brow when he talks about trusting people. Ahh, must be undercover, or were there those around here he didn't rust as well?

"Yeah.." Her heart rate's turned to normal after that spook, but.."I could do with some food, just..Lemme know next time when you decide to pull something like that on me, okay?" she grins and winks, trying to make light of the situation, even though she still remembers that hollow sensation. It'll likely haunt her dreams for weeks to come..