Starlit Apps

player information.

name: Ranko
age: 23
personal lj: weavingbalance
email/msn/aim/plurk/etc: On AIM, I'm 'rainykoi' or 'charmingcrown'. You can also either PM my character journal or contact me on plurk here.
characters in abax: N/A


in character information.

series: Kingdom Hearts (Chain of Memories, specifically)
name: Riku Replica, aka this kid didn't have a name of his own; he's since gained the name 'Ila'.
gender: Male
age: Physically, he appears to be in his late teens. '17' or so. His actual age is closer to only two.
height: 5'11"
weight: "???"
canon point: Halfway through the canon timeline of Kingdom Hearts 2, where Sora has just finished fighting to save Radiant Garden from the army of Heartless and has seen Xemnas's face for the first time.
previous cr: It was at the start of Kingdom Hearts 2 when the Replica, now named Ila, found his Corridor of Darkness re-routed to the inside of what appeared to be a completely empty train. Irritated, and somewhat creeped out that he'd randomly been diverted to a place he clearly had no intention of going, he searched the train from top to bottom only to discover that his initial suspicions had been correct; the train was completely empty, with not even a conductor present.

Unable to shake the feeling that someone was watching him, he tried to Corridor out but to no avail. Irritated, Ila sat in one of the seats near the window and waited for the train to take him to whatever it's ending destination was.

The final destination, as it would turn out, was a completely abandoned, walled-in, and downright disturbing abandoned city. After finding a bizarre pocket watch just waiting for him upon stepping off the train, Ila was quickly informed by others in the city (through the use of the pocket watch, which turned out to be a communicator of some kind) that he was now in a place called rubycity_rp, and that he was now a 'guest' of mysterious and powerful beings known as the Watcher and the Interloper.

Ila remained in this city for several months, and met a number of people over his tenure there. Over his stay, he bore witness to the 'hospitality' of their kidnappers, who as it turns out got a sick pleasure out of playing games with everyone captive in the city. Sometimes, it would be cursed foodstuffs that would alter them in some way. Other times, the 'games' would become dangerous--monsters loose on the city, with people fighting for their lives. People could disappear at the whim of the the Watcher and Interloper, and sometimes reappear, only to have no memory of the city or having previously been there. And sometimes, it was as if they were being pulled in from different points in their personal timelines.

Things weren't all bad, though, as Ila was not the only person from his 'universe' trapped in the city, and a majority of the others from different worlds had all banded together in a way to try and at least live life the best they could, if not try to find out what they could about the Watcher, Interloper, and the city in an attempt to try and find a way out.

Of the people that Ila met in the city, he holds the memories he has of these people the closest to his heart:

• Xion: Xion was one of the first people he met when Ila first arrived at the city, and boy was she something of a surprise. He'd been completely unaware of the fact that a second Replica had been created, let alone one of Sora. The discovery that he had a 'sibling' had been, well. Surprising and more than a little bit of a relief. This was someone could understand a lot of his insecurities over being a copy of someone else. But Xion was different from him--she might have been a Sora replica, but unlike him, who was a physical copy of Riku, Xion was a memory-based one. Xion was someone he was able to relate to on a level that before, he never had been able to. He was quick to see that Xion was not like Sora, and he found himself growing attached to her as time went on, even going so far as to mentally refer to her as 'sis' every now and then.
• Riku: This one's complicated. Very complicated. Ila's not even sure how the two of them managed to wind up in the easy, almost natural friendship they'd come to fall in to once the 'Real Thing' had arrived in Ruby City. A large number of disasters happened afterwards that would only strengthen the odd bond the two were building. Ila would begin to confide in his 'twin' a lot more as time passed, though circumstances beyond their control (lol, a freaking body swap) lead to Riku discovering something that Ila had only thought was a minor annoyance at best; his heart, having already been shattered once and having gained a fair amount of light over the course of his travels, was at the brink of shattering again, courtesy of the Darkness that the Replica wielded as easily as he breathed. Likewise, Ila had noticed a curious lightness while he'd been trapped in Riku's body--a lack of weight on his heart that Ila had born without much fuss since his birth. Between the two of them, they managed to figure out that if Ila kept using his Darkness as liberally as he had been without giving his heart time to heal or using any of his Light, his heart would completely tear itself apart. He found himself realizing that he had actually come to respect Riku somewhat when it became clear to him that they were not just getting along, but getting along well. Almost like brothers, one might think. He found himself reserving the title of 'Real Thing' only for when he felt that Riku was being a colossal idiot or as a form of casual teasing, and it will take a lot to damage Ila's new-found respect for the person he had been cloned from.
• Kairi: Upon meeting the girl that had originally been the focal point of Riku's memories, it was easy for Ila to see why Riku and Sora were devoted to this girl. She was bright and cheerful, and was very quick to tease and laugh right alongside her friends. She was also clearly a very caring and loyal individual, and she hadn't even thought twice before accepting Ila as Ila, and not as just a copy of Riku. When the disaster he had come to think of as the 'Heartless Invasion of Ruby City' struck, he noticed that Kairi was right there amidst the swarms of Heartless, fighting just as hard as he was to try and drive them back and protect her friends from harm. This was something that he could easily admire in a person, and he came to regard the Princess of Heart as someone he could very easily be good friends with if given the chance.
• Naminé: Naminé's arrival in Ruby City was one of ill-timing, as the city was under attack by the monsters from deep within the forest that surrounded the park. Ila quickly came to her rescue, but his heart was almost simultaneously crushed as the girl he felt was most important to him not only didn't recognize him as she once had, but was somehow afraid of him, which she had never been before. Not wanting to let this effect him or his memory of their friendship, he offered to let her stay in the spare room in the apartment he had found near the clock tower in the center of town, as he couldn't just turn her away. She was new, she was scared, and she disliked being alone back then almost as much as he had. How could he turn her away when what she needed the most was a familiar face? A friend? The relationship between them became further strained some months later, when Naminé unexpectedly moved out with hardly a word, leaving only a written note to explain why she felt she had to. Ila was heartbroken, but respected Naminé's wishes and offered to help her find a place on her own. While he remained somewhat wary around her, not sure where his boundaries were regarding their friendship now lay, Naminé remained--and will remain--one of his most important people.
• Aqua: Ila's first impression of Aqua was that of a kind, warm-hearted, patient indivudual that was concerned with the welfare of her friends. This impression proved itself to be true time and time again to the Replica as he wound up becoming... not part of her close circle of friends, but certainly someone she kept an out out for. He also took note of her mothering/care-giver nature, and he found himself asking for her advice several times over the course of his stay. He found himself growing to respect her--not only as someone who had proven themself to be dependable, but the fact that she was a Keyblade Master of quite some power. Something nagged at him, though--what had caused a Master of the Keyblade to simply... vanish by the time Sora had recieved the Keyblade?
• Terra: Ila's first memory of Terra would come to him in a fever-induced dream around Christmas time. In that dream, he 'saw' one of the real Riku's earliest and most closely-held secret memories--that of a tall man with a kind face, who had spoken to the five year old Riku without speaking down to him and given credence to the boy's desire to become strong and see the outside worlds. The impression given off by the faint memory was one of strength, kindness, and that of someone that both Riku (and Ila, by proxy) could trust with anything. This memory, Riku's though it originaly was, served as something to uplift Ila's spirits. At least--it did, until he met the Keyblade Wielder in person some months later. Meeting the man in person had only served to solidify Ila's opinion--that this was a strong person that would fight to protect everyone they cared about with everything they had. This was someone he could trust, and someone that he could respect. It caught Ila off-guard, that Terra would offer to perform the same Rite of Inheritence for him that had been performed for Riku so long ago. But it had happened, and Ila couldn't help but feel... strangely happy that it had. This guy had acknowledged Riku, and now had acknowledged him. Offered to teach him, with no strings attached. He holds a great deal of respect for Terra as a result, for not judging him based on his obvious relation to Riku, but based on the merits of his own heart.

history: This should cover things nicely regarding his canon history.

alternate history: The divergence point from canon comes near the end of the Riku Replica's involvement in Reverse/Rebirth, the secondary story in Chain of Memories, where the player controls Riku instead of Sora, the main protagonist of the series.

The Replica's final fight against Riku goes almost precisely the way it does in canon; the two meet in Twilight Town room, in front of the memory version of the old mansion. Dialogue between the two escalates, primarily on the Replica's end, as he proceeds to essentially vent about how no matter what he did or what he tried, he felt as if he were empty, and in the 'real thing's shadow'. The clone then attacks Riku, intending to kill the future Keybearer and take his place as the 'real thing'.

For some reason not consciously known to the Replica at the time, he withheld just enough of his power so that should he lose this fight, he would still live past the end of it. Whether it was some hidden survival protocol programmed into him or his mind realizing that even if he won, should he fight all-out he would die would remain a mystery for quite some time. Either way, that small amount of energy was held back, and the Replica was soundly defeated by his original.

This is where the divergence from canon truly begins, as the energy the Replica held back allowed him to survive being bested in what was supposed to be a battle to the death, instead of fading away into darkness. His mind practically blank and the adrenaline from the fight starting to wear off, the Replica is almost catatonic for almost half a minute before he starts to mentally break down. Quietly at first, but increasing in volume as he goes, he practically begs Riku to erase him, as he can't bear the idea of living forever in Riku's shadow, always considered to be at best a tool at the disposal of the Organization. What can he ever amount to when everything he is belonged to someone else first?

It's at this point where Riku proceeds to demonstrate the crazy amount of character growth he's had during the course of the events of Reverse/Rebirth, and surprises his replica enough that it snaps him out of his emo-ness and causes him to look at his original in shock. "Then why don't you step out of it?"

Not understanding, Riku continues on this streak of unexpected awesome. "You're tired of living in my shadow, right? Then don't; you might have started as a copy of me, but I think you could be more than that. You just have to figure out what it is."

This level of acknowledgement is still beyond the comprehension of the Replica. What is Riku talking about? How could he be saying something like that? "Figure out what what is?!"

"Who you are. I think you might be surprised when you figure that one out." Not elaborating further, Riku tells the Replica to get out of Castle Oblivion; to run, and not look back. He'll keep the secret of the Replica's continued existence, and let the Organization think that their fight had been the end of the younger male. His mind still swimming with confusion and a multitude of unanswered questions, the Replica can only managed to blurt out one telling request. "Take care of her for me, will you?"

Realizing that his replica was talking about Naminé, Riku readily agrees to the request, and the Replica utilizes a Corridor, leaving behind Castle Oblivion--and the girl he loved more than anything--for good.

The Replica spends roughly two months in constant travel, thinking that there is a chance that Organization XIII could be after him. He visits many of the words in his fake memories, wanting to see them for himself, but never staying longer than a week just in case Organization XIII is tracking him. Near the end of this two month period, he visits Destiny Islands to see it with his own eyes instead of in his false memories. He winds up hiding out on the children's island for at least a week, as he finds Destiny Islands as a sort of reprieve from the constant running. When he isn't watching the sunset from the small island with the paopu tree, he's walking around the small island or resting in the small shack. He occasionally hears voices--three, two boys and a girl, when he's inside the small shack on the beach. He quickly learns who the owners of those voices are--Selphie, Tidus, and Wakka, the other three children that live on Destiny Islands. He doesn't try to listen in whenever they end up talking close enough for him to hear it, but he winds up paying attention anyway. In his inadvertent eavesdropping, he heard several things, and two constantly repeating names. Kairi, and Riku.


When he put the pieces together, he figuratively saw red. Whoever this Kairi was, she was waiting for Riku to return--and Riku wasn't here. He had half a mind to go find the real him and put a fist in his face, but then he remembered. Hadn't he left someone behind as well? Someone more precious to him than anyone else. Naminé. His anger starting to ebb away, he began to think about why Riku would leave this Kairi person alone, if she was a friend of his. Maybe Riku had asked someone to take care of her, like he had asked Riku to take care of Naminé for him. But whoever Riku had asked wasn't here. That's who he had to beat up, if he ever learned who it was. 

After overhearing this information, the Replica resumes his travels through the many worlds. On each world he visits, he learns something important; not only about himself, but about life and being human. Each of these lessons--the importance of family, of friendship, an appreciation for the difficult task that was keeping the worlds safe while maintaning a low profile, and so on-- wind up sticking with him, helping him mature and mellow out. He also winds up gaining his second most important possession over the length of these travels-- a name of his own, Ila.

It's also over this extended period of time--roughly seven or eight months--that his memories of Castle Oblivion start to become... foggy, for a lack of a better term. He can still recall Naminé, and he clings to those precious memories as best as he can, but a number of events have become blurry. There's a person there whose face he cannot see and whose name he cannot recall, but he knows without a doubt is a key figure in the defeat of the ones that had been using Naminé for their own motives. This person, he knows, was instrumental in bringing down those members

After almost a year has passed since Ila last saw Castle Oblivion, his memories of his time in the castle itself start to become clearer, as if a fog was slowly being lifted. He could remember the face of the person he fought several times and competed with for the right to protect Naminé.

He could remember Sora.

Not sure what to make of this, he decides to continue traveling, as it's something he's accustomed to by this point in his life. It's also roughly at this point that the powers that be decide that this random traveling and just ambling about isn't entertaining enough, and mid-Corridor he's taken to a walled, abandoned city with no way of escaping. This place, called rubycity_rp by others that have become trapped here, is somewhere that Ila remains trapped in for several months before he's returned back to Traverse Town just as suddenly as he'd arrived, with the memories of the time spent and the people he had met there quite conveniently blocked from his mind. Having been returned to the exact point in time from which he'd been taken, Ila resumes his travels, never knowing that he had been missing.

It's on the world of Ivalice that Ila encounters what is quite possibly the most ridiculous being he's ever met, and one that he would soon come to think of as the most irritating. This annoyance was encountered in the Lhusu Mines, a place that held an extremely high quantity of Magicite ore and, oddly enough, had some sort of unknown pull on the Replica. The further he got into the mines, the stronger that pull became--and the stronger the creatures that he had to fight. They weren't Heartless, but they were aggressive, and posed quite a threat to his well-being. Getting past them wound up being quite the challenge, but he found it to be an exhilarating one.

Unknown to him, his progress through the lowest levels of the mines was being watched by a keen set of eyes. After Ila finishes clearing his way to what looks like a bridge of some sort, he spots, of all things, a green dog. Wondering how the hell a dog could have gotten lost all the way down here, he carefully began to approach the dog, only for it to howl. That howl apparently served as some sort of signal to someone, because what is quite possibly the most over-the-top laugh that Ila has ever heard starts to echo through the bridge. This hammiest of hammy laughs is followed by the most ridiculously flashy entrance that he's ever seen anyone attempt to pull off by flying in from the side dramatically, the wind billowing the red tattered red cloth out beind him.

Attempt, because the four-armed man wearing red armor managed to screw it up by tripping, hitting his head, and then falling off the opposite side of the bridge. Even the dog looked embarrassed.

The idiot then proceeded to recover very quickly and jump back up to the far end of the bridge, opposite of Ila and behind that green dog. In as just an over-the-top fashion as that laugh from his entrance, the man then proclaimed that they would fight, and that Ila's weapons were now forfeit.

Naturally, a declaration like this didn't go over well with the now very irritated Replica. The fight broke out, and Ila soon realized that this guy--who had introduced himself as 'Gilgamesh, the best swordsman in Ivalice' was actually living up to that boast, much to his eternal dismay and frustration. The fight pushed the still-exhausted Ila past his limits, forcing him to stay on his toes and fight harder than any other opponent to date that he's fought. Finally, he felt his reserves starting to leave him, and daring to take a risk, Ila pulled of the tricky maneuver of leaping over Gilgamesh, flipping and snatching that shield from the ridiculous fighter's back as he did so on a sudden impulse, and then opening a Corridor and getting the hell out of there in one swift movement.

Upon realizing that he had landed back in Traverse Town and not in some other part of the maze-like mines back on Ivalice, Ila allowed himself the luxury of collapsing onto a bed in the Second District Hotel. That fight had been close. Very close. His heart was pounding in his chest from the adrenaline still in his system--a good thing. But what the hell had that been all about? Why had he stolen that shield before getting out of there? Why had he even accepted that challenge? All questions aside, the Replica sighed in relief, glad that that particular moron was stuck on that world and couldn't make good on that threat to claim Soul Eater as his own.

This particular scene would find itself repeating several times over the next three months, much to Ila's dismay and eternal frustration. Gilgamesh, it seemed, was capable of traveling between worlds all on his own in his quest for 'glory, battle, and powerful weapons', and wouldn't you know it, the moron now had his sights set on Ila's replicated version of Soul Eater. Each fight would occur on a different world and under different circumstances, but the end result was always the same; Gilgamesh would screw up some dramatic entry, challenge Ila, and then proceed to push the Replica to the very edge of his limits. Each battle only grew progressively more difficult, and as much as Ila hated his new stalker, he couldn't help but be thrilled each time they fought. He felt himself getting stronger, more capable as a fighter. His heart, which had once given him massive amounts of problems not even four months ago, now thrummed along strongly, his Light and Dark having begun to form a kind of balance in the process of being pushed past his limits.

Of course, the fact that Ila would always walk away from these fights with some new piece of armor or equipment wasn't half-bad, either.

It's when he's escaping from yet another encounter with the Large Ham that is Gilgamesh that once again, his Corridor is re-routed in the middle of his trip, and he finds himself transported into the game.

personality: It's incredibly difficult to describe the personality of the Riku Replica without bringing in Riku for comparison, but for the sake of trying something new I'm going to give it a go.

First off, the Riku Replica is incredibly insecure, though this is not something that is easily discerned at first glance. To many that first meet him, the Replica comes off as blunt to the point of being rude, easily irritated or confused, and possessing self-confidence that's almost to the point of arrogance when in a relaxed state. While it's true that he actually does possess these personality traits, they all serve as a mask to hide his own inner insecurity. The majority of this ties into the fact that he is what he is--a Replica, created to look, act, and think like the person he was modeled after. As looking in the mirror only serves to remind him that he is a copy of a pre-existing person, he can never escape it. Because of this, he has a drive to prove to himself and to anyone that says otherwise that he is his own person, and that he's more than just a copy.

This drive to prove his worth shows up in several ways; the Riku Replica is highly competitive, although he is lacking someone vital in order to push him to reach his full potential--a rival for him to measure himself against, who can constantly motivate him to push himself past his limits. For a long time, his self-appointed 'rival' was a mix his memories of the real Riku and his abilities, and his experience in Castle Oblivion. These memories motivated him to try and become his own person, to become strong enough that he wouldn't have to prove his worth to anyone, and to never allow himself to be used as a tool ever again.

He is also extremely loyal to those that he calls 'friends'. If you are part of the Replica's circle of friends, or are deemed one of his most precious people, he will do everything in his power to make sure that no harm comes to them. This loyalty is not without it's faults, as it can drive him to be overprotective, and even cause him to become jealous if his friends are making new ones, if only for a short time.

The most prominent example of this extreme loyalty would be his complete devotion to Naminé. His first real memories all revolve around the shy, petite blonde in some way, shape, or manner. She is the first real friend he recalls making in Castle Oblivion, and he hated seeing her sad or lonely. This would only intensify greatly once his memories were tampered with, and his loyalty and devotion to his first true friend became akin to the real Riku's adoration and love of Kairi (who, not so ironically, is Naminé's Somebody). Even after she shattered all the links chaining those false memories to his artificially-created heart, and thus literally shattering his heart, he holds no grudge against her and can never think of hating or even disliking her. She'd done what she had to do, and what she felt was right.

He's outgrown most of the extreme jealousy and his anger he displayed in Castle Oblivion, in part due to the lessening of the Darkness in his Heart over time. While it was a power that he fully embraced in Castle Oblivion, he has hardly had the need to use it while he travels, instead using only enough to summon a Corridor in most circumstances. Because of the Darkness not being so close to the surface, he is calmer, more prone to smile, and more prone to tease whoever he might actually be close enough to feel comfortable around.

Because he lacks the guilt that the real Riku carries around with him, he is far more prone to smiling. He's also not afraid of looking like an idiot sometimes, as he is aware that as a Replica he lacks a great deal of life experience, and so doesn't know or understand a great many concepts. It's in this that his real age shows, as he is extremely curious about life in general. This is most apparent in his wanderlust, another thing that he happens to have in common with Riku, although for far different reasons. While Riku's itch to travel was fueled by his desire to escape Destiny Islands and have a grand adventure where he was the hero, the Replica's wanderlust is fueled by his desire to experience things for himself, and to discover who 'he' really is.

abilities/powers: As a Replica, he was able to fight from day one. His abilities include:

• Swordsmanship: The Riku Replica is a proficient swordsman with a fairly balanced fighting style. Like the real Riku and his best friend Sora, the Riku Replica focuses on attacking fast and landing multi-hit combos. Unlike Sora, but very much like Riku, the Replica prefers to wait in a stance suited for high adaptability, until an opening shows itself. That's when he strikes.
• Darkness Manipulation: Not fearing the Darkness in his Heart, the Riku Replica uses it to great effect. He can amplify his own natural abilities, causing him to become faster and stronger than if he didn't use it. However, this has some side effects on his behavior. Using Darkness draws on a person's more negative aspects; as such, the Replica's temper becomes more volatile, and his demeanor tends to become more aggressive/hostile. He can get overly-cocky in a fight, and outside of a fight he can become harsh, snappish, and prone to say things that he doesn't truly mean--or maybe he does. Depends on who he's talking to while the Darkness is still up or as it's receding. Another, more visible side effect that might freak some people out is a shift in his eye color; darkness users that use it far too liberally and/or give in to it tend to have bright gold eyes instead of whatever their natural color was. Given that the Replica is not afraid to use his power when necessary, and even taps into it when in a particularly difficult battle, there will be times where the naturally vibrant aqua color he 'inherited' from Riku will be overwritten by gold. However, because he doesn't exclusively use Darkness or rely on it completely, his eyes will return to normal. Eventually. Give him a few minutes to cool off and let the darkness recede to where it came from.
• Dark Attacks: These are special attacks that he can use when he's tapping into his inner Darkness/the Dark Side/what have you. Note that it is now a lot easier for him to perform these attacks; where once, he was required to go into 'Dark Mode' in order to use these, the Replica can now perform them at will. Dark Firaga is a projectile attack that resembles a blue ball of flames, and homes in on it's target. Dark Aura is a sword-based attack, where you rush the enemy several times before stabbing the ground. This causes dark flames to erupt upwards from the ground and engulf the battlefield within a set radius. Helm Split is another sword-based attack in much the same manner as Dark Aura, the Replica rushes the enemy. However, a more apt description would be 'Death From Above', as Helm Split is an aerial attack, where the Replica dives down and slashes with Soul Eater, and teleports back up to repeat the process several times. Like Dark Aura, the finisher causes the battlefield to be engulfed in dark flames within a set radius. Dark Shield, an ability he later discovered in his travels, creates a personal transparent barrier that acts as a temporary shield, capable of blocking both solid objects and reflecting back projectiles fired at him. A more powerful blow can still make it past the barrier, though the shield can and will absorb a fair amount of the impact, as demonstrated when the original Riku used the ability in his fight against Roxas at the end of days. The timely, instinctive use of Dark Barrier turned what could have been a severed hand into a mere broken wrist.
• Corridors of Darkness: Another aspect of being able to manipulate Darkness at will, this is a form of transportation. The user opens up a portal that leads into an 'in-between' realm of sorts--the Corridor itself. On the other end of the corridor is a matching portal, which leads to the destination the creator of the portal was trying to reach. This travel can be either near-instantaneous or anywhere to a few minutes long, depending on how long someone says within the corridors. Staying for longer periods of time can be dangerous, as Heartless and Nobodies are known to also travel using the Corridors of Darkness.
• Illusion Creation/Generation/Manipulation: Thanks to the power he took from Zexion, the Riku Replica is capable of producing illusions. However, given that this ability wasn't his to begin with and that the power to do so was stolen, it's much harder for him to control. Zexion's power is far more slippery, harder to grasp than his own, so it takes far more concentration to get the power to do what he wants it to do. At this point, he can only generate one illusion at a time; whether it be a camouflage on himself, an area-effect that multiple people can experience, or a targeted mind-fuck, he can only do one at a time. Because of his lack of complete control and proficiency, there isn't even a guarantee that the illusion will even work, or hold for very long.
• Life Energy Siphoning: This is an ability that the Replica does not use very often, if at all after he leaves Castle Oblivion. He first utilized this odd power in the orchestrated murder of Zexion to completely drain all of the Nobody's power and add it to his own. This is something he can potentially do with anyone, but not necessarily everyone will have power that is compatible with his own. Compounding on the compatibility restriction is the fact that the energy he takes does not add itself to his own right away. It takes time for the energy to be converted for the use in the data-to-matter conversion that continually makes him more real over time. Using this particular ability on anyone can therefore be seen as a last-ditch effort
• Light and Darkness Sensing: Because of the power of the Darkness in his Heart, as well as his absorbing and adding of Zexion's abilities to his own, the Riku Replica is capable of sensing people based on the amount of Light and Darkness in their Heart. While this is by no means an exact measure of a person's worth or personality, it's accurate enough that the Replica will be able to get a sense of whether or not he should trust you or keep his guard up.
• Magic: As the Replica of a Keybearer, the Riku Replica has an untapped potential to learn and wield the element of magic. This skill will be difficult to master, as he is completely unaware of it and has the potential to (quite literally) blow up in his face should he learn from someone unskilled in the magic systems of the Final Fantasy or Kingdom Hearts franchises. Until he's begun to have proper instruction, the most he is capable of doing unconsiously is to form the Dark Barrier or cast Dark Firaga, which rely on his Darkness as well as his innate magical power.
• Key: Because of events that he was unaware of prior to his creation or his tenure in Ruby City, the Replica was unaware that, as Riku's replica, his heart had inherited the sleeping potential to become a Keybearer in his own right. Compounding onto this sleeping potential is the fact that during his time in Ruby City, Ila met bladecharge that was responsible for his original having the potential to wield the Keyblade, and then was granted the honor/privilege/surprise of having the Rite of Inheritance performed for him as well. Although he's forgotten about this since his departure from the derelict city, the effects of the Rite still hold fast on his heart, and he's surprisingly close to being able to have the strength of heart needed to trigger an awakening.
  
  But just what is this 'Keyblade' thing, anyway? Get the liquor, this may take a while and might make you want to tilt your head and go 'huh?!'. Either that or strangle Tetsuya Nomura.
  
  The Keyblade is kind of like the Kingdom Hearts equivalent of a Green Lantern Ring. This means that anyone that has one or has the capability or potential to wield one tends to be wind up being rather powerful and can do a whole host of things that a normal person would only stare at. Do note that this staring could also be a result of the sometimes ridiculous appearance of the weapon in question--ice cream and tree trunks come to mind.
  
  The Keyblade is, as the name suggests, a sword that is shaped in some way like a key. Very literal, no? The shape of the weapon and its properties in battle change depending on the heart of the wielder and the Keychain attached to the pommel of the blade, making it a very flexible weapon for any given situation. As it's shape and name suggest, it's most famous function is that of the Universal Skeleton Key; the Keyblade is capable of locking or unlocking anything. This even extends to being able to make it past magical barriers of any kind. Basically, it's the ultimate lock-pick.
  
  However, the Keyblade is not just being referred to as a 'green lantern ring' without due cause. Not only is it capable of shifting it's shape (as described above), but wielders of the Keyblade have their natural abilities amplified several times over. Think of a Jedi, and what they're capable of using the Force--a Keybearer is capable of doing many of the same things, and then some. Super-human feats of endurance, agility, speed and strength have all been exhibited by Keybearers in the past as they fought--Riku and Roxas have demonstrated the ability to jump off of buildings several stories tall and land on their feet without so much as a scratch, while every Keybearer that has appeared in the games has demonstrated the ability to fight creatures several times their size without much effort.
  
  It's also a natural magic focus, and the spells that a Keybearer can cast tend to pack a wallop.
  
  Oh, and the most important thing--a Keyblade cannot be taken from it's Wielder for very long. The Bearer and Blade have a very powerful connection, and at will, the Bearer is capable of recalling the weapon to their hand at any point in time, even if has been knocked out of reach. The Keyblade will simply dissolve in a flash of light, only to return to the hand of the wielder. It's a very picky thing, the Keyblade; it won't just let anyone wield it. All bearers of the weapon have strong wills and hearts dedicated to protecting those that they care about. Oh, and Hero Complexes. Keybearers tend to have ridiculous Hero Complexes.
  
  At this point in time, Ila has in his possession what is likely a 'proto-Keyblade': his sword, Soul Eater. As a manifestation of the power of the Darkness in his heart and as a copy of the weapon that Riku had used at the time of Ila's 'birth', it is a formidible weapon, tailor-fit to their shared fighting style. This 'proto-Keyblade' has the ability to, in the future, to transform into a full-fledged Keyblade in it's own right. However, this won't happen until Ila has what is known as an 'Awakening'. Until then? No Keyblade.

first person sample: ➀ ; ➁ ;

third person sample: The silence was broken by the sounds of a frightened gasp and a bed creaking lightly as Ila suddenly sat up wide awake, his eyes widened in fright from what could only have been a nightmare. His heart was beating rabidly, his breathing ragged as if he had been running a marathon, and sweat causing his bangs to cling to his forehead. He shook his head slightly before rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"Been a while since I've had that dream," he muttered. He could feel his heart returning to a more steady rhythm as the adrenaline rush began to fade. Wanting to thing about anything but the most recent nightmare, he got out of bed and headed to the small kitchen in his apartment, aiming to get a glass of water.

He hated that dream, and what it possibly meant if it was coming back to him now. It replayed over in his mind, even as he went about getting a glass and filling it with water from the tap; he had been defeated by Sora, Naminé telling him to stop as he charged at the Keybearer--and then nothing, as his Heart was shattered and his false memories torn apart link by link.

Most of that moment barely existed in his mind; he knows that his Heart pieced itself back together somehow, drawing on what few real memories he had to keep him from becoming completely inactive. With the dream so vivid in his mind, drawing on what few memories he had... he could almost feel the cold marble floor of the castle against his cheek from when he was lying on the ground, broken; his body limp as a marionette with it's strings cut.

'I never want to feel like that again,' he thought as he headed back to his bed, the now half-empty glass of water still in his hand. He placed it on the nightstand next to the bed and then sat down, the springs in the mattress creaking slightly as they began to support his weight. 'But why am I dreaming about it now? What's causing it?'

He would think about it in the morning. Right now, he had to go back to sleep.

case no: If you could randomize this one for me, guys?

Player Name: Ranko
Player LJ: weavingbalance
E-mail and/or AIM: AIM-> Rainykoi
Timezone: Central Standard Time
Current Characters: -

Character: Riku Replica
Fandom/Series: Kingdom Hearts
Original or Alternate Universe: Alternate Universe

Canon Used: The original Chain of Memories game up until the point where canon branches off into the AU. After that, the AU as described below. References to both 358/2 Days and Kingdom Hearts 2 are likely to pop up during the history.

Age: Physically 16, Actually closer to 1
Gender: Male
Species: Replica, i.e. a clone of an existing person

Appearance:  Appearance Link Here

Ila has light gray hair that falls past his shoulders in messy layers, pale skin, and vivid aqua eyes. His height is unknown in canon, as Riku's height is unknown in canon. However, based off of visual estimation (even though heights are skewed in Kingdom Hearts as a form of distinction between teenagers and adults), Riku is likely in the height range of 5'8" to 6" by the end of Kingdom Hearts 2. As such, an older Riku Replica would be the same height. For simplicity's sake, I'll stick with 5'11".

Whether he knows it or not, he chooses the same sort of clothing that the real Riku had chosen for himself by the end of Kingdom Hearts 2. Blue jeans just baggy enough to allow a full range of motion held up by a simple black belt, a sleeveless collared shirt with a double-ended interlocking teeth zipper, white 'skateboarding' shoes with gray trim on his feet, and instead of Riku's white wrist-warmer, he has two black wrist-bands and a pair of black gloves that don't quite extend past the heels of his palms. He lacks the white vest that the real Riku wears, though it is likely that if he ever finds one like it or similar to it he would buy it in a heartbeat.

Personality:  It's incredibly difficult to describe the personality of the Riku Replica without bringing in Riku for comparison, but for the sake of trying something new I'm going to give it a go.
 

 First off, the Riku Replica is incredibly insecure, though this is not something that is easily discerned at first glance. To many that first meet him, the Replica comes off as blunt to the point of being rude, easily irritated or confused, and possessing self-confidence that's almost to the point of arrogance when in a relaxed state. While it's true that he actually does possess these personality traits, they all serve as a mask to hide his own inner insecurity. The majority of this ties into the fact that he is what he is--a Replica, created to look, act, and think like the person he was modeled after. As looking in the mirror only serves to remind him that he is a copy of a pre-existing person, he can never escape it. Because of this, he has a drive to prove to himself and to anyone that says otherwise that he is his own person, and that he's more than just a copy.

This drive to prove his worth shows up in several ways; the Riku Replica is highly competitive, although he is lacking someone vital in order to push him to reach his full potential--a rival for him to measure himself against, who can constantly motivate him to push himself past his limits. For a long time, his self-appointed 'rival' was a mix his memories of the real Riku and his abilities, and his experience in Castle Oblivion. These memories motivated him to try and become his own person, to become strong enough that he wouldn't have to prove his worth to anyone, and to never allow himself to be used as a tool ever again.

This drive shows itself in a different way to the people he cares for. If you are part of the Replica's circle of friends, or are deemed one of his most precious people, he will do everything in his power to make sure that no harm comes to them. This loyalty is not without it's faults, as it can drive him to be overprotective, and even cause him to become jealous if his friends are making new ones, if only for a short time.

He's outgrown most of his extreme jealousy and his anger, in part due to the lessening of the Darkness in his Heart over time. While it was a power that he fully embraced in Castle Oblivion, he has hardly had the need to use it while he travels, instead using only enough to summon a Corridor in most circumstances. Because of the Darkness not being so close to the surface, he is calmer, more prone to smile, and more prone to tease whoever he might actually be close enough to feel comfortable around. 

Because he lacks the guilt that the real Riku carries around with him, he is far more prone to smiling. He's also not afraid of looking like an idiot sometimes, as he is aware that as a Replica he lacks a great deal of life experience, and so doesn't know or understand a great many concepts. It's in this that his real age shows, as he is extremely curious about life in general. This is most apparent in his wanderlust, another thing that he happens to have in common with Riku, although for far different reasons. While Riku's itch to travel was fueled by his desire to escape Destiny Islands and have a grand adventure where he was the hero, the Replica's wanderlust is fueled by his desire to experience things for himself, and to discover who 'he' really is.
 

Strengths/Abilities:  As a Replica, he was able to fight from day one. His abilities include:

• Swordsmanship: The Riku Replica is a proficient swordsman with a fairly balanced fighting style. Like the real Riku and his best friend Sora, the Riku Replica focuses on attacking fast and landing multi-hit combos. Unlike Sora, but very much like Riku, the Replica prefers to wait in a stance suited for high adaptability, until an opening shows itself. That's when he strikes.
• Darkness Manipulation: Not fearing the Darkness in his Heart, the Riku Replica uses it to great effect. He can amplify his own natural abilities, causing him to become faster and stronger than if he didn't use it. This has side effects, but that will be covered in the Weaknesses section.
As time progresses and he unknowingly becomes more grounded in the Light (gaining friends, making bonds, and mellowing out), his Darkness becomes much harder for him to use. While he can still draw it out to use it in a fight, and even go into Dark Mode on rare occasion, he has to do this slowly, or he risks causing damage to himself. Too much Darkness drawn out too fast will cause him pain in the chest, as well as make him far more irritable and prone to anger.

• Dark Attacks: These are special attacks that he can use when he's tapping into his inner Darkness and are (for the most part) only accessible when the Riku Replica is in Dark Mode. Dark Firaga is a projectile attack that resembles a blue ball of flames, and homes in on it's target. Dark Aura is a sword-based attack, where you rush the enemy several times before stabbing the ground. This causes a large column of light to erupt and radiate from the sword and causes the opponent to become confused upon impact. Dark Shield creates a personal transparent barrier that acts as a temporary shield.
• Dark Mode: A facet of his manipulation of Darkness, this is a body-suit that further amplifies his own abilities as well as strengthen his Darkness-based attacks. In Dark Mode, he has access to abilities that he normally doesn't have access to otherwise, while others are strengthened greatly. His speed increases, and his combo hits gain both the ability to stun and deal fire damage.
• Corridors of Darkness: Another aspect of being able to manipulate Darkness at will, this is a form of transportation. The user opens up a portal that leads into an 'in-between' realm of sorts--the Corridor itself. On the other end of the corridor is a matching portal, which leads to the destination the creator of the portal was trying to reach. This travel can be either near-instantaneous or anywhere to a few minutes long, depending on how long someone says within the corridors. Staying for longer periods of time can be dangerous, as Heartless and Nobodies are known to also travel using the Corridors of Darkness.
• Illusion Creation/Generation/Manipulation: Thanks to the power he took from Zexion, the Riku Replica is capable of producing illusions. However, given that this ability wasn't his to begin with and that the power to do so was stolen, it's much harder for him to control. Zexion's power is far more slippery, harder to grasp than his own, so it takes far more concentration to get the power to do what he wants it to do. At this point, he can only generate one illusion at a time; whether it be a camouflage on himself, an area-effect that multiple people can experience, or a targeted mind-fuck, he can only do one at a time. Because of his lack of complete control and proficiency, there isn't even a guarantee that the illusion will even work, or hold for very long.
• Life Energy Siphoning: This is an ability that the Replica does not use very often, if at all after he leaves Castle Oblivion. He first utilized this odd power in the orchestrated murder of Zexion to completely drain all of the Nobody's power and add it to his own. This is something he can potentially do with anyone, but not necessarily everyone will have power that is compatible with his own. Compounding on the compatibility restriction is the fact that the energy he takes does not add itself to his own right away. It takes time for the energy to be converted for the use in the data-to-matter conversion that continually makes him more real over time. Using this particular ability on anyone can therefore be seen as a last-ditch effort
• Light and Darkness Sensing: Because of the power of the Darkness in his Heart, as well as his absorbing and adding of Zexion's abilities to his own, the Riku Replica is capable of sensing people based on the amount of Light and Darkness in their Heart. While this is by no means an exact measure of a person's worth or personality, it's accurate enough that the Replica

Weaknesses: The Riku Replica's biggest strength--his ability to manipulate the Darkness--is also one of his greatest weaknesses. Darkness is very much a double-edged sword, offering strength at differing prices. In the Replica's case, his very Heart begins to become unstable with more prolonged use of his Darkness. Minimal usage, such as the usage of the Corridors of Darkness, have little to no impact on his Heart, and time heals those wounds quickly enough. It's when he starts to fight more actively and use his Darkness to amplify his own abilities that it becomes worse. Going into Dark Mode only speeds up the process, and greatly reduces the amount of time he can use his Darkness before he absolutely has to stop and let himself become stable again. However he has no clue that this is even going on, and given how he has not had to fight much beyond the occasional Heartless, it's likely that he won't find out until he starts fighting extensively again.
The symptoms are, but are not limited to:

• Pain in his chest, where his Heart is. This is the first sign of his created Heart starting to destabilize. It feels much like a heart attack, but on a deeper level.
• Increased aggressive behavior. With more Darkness influencing his emotions, the Replica's old hair-trigger temper will start to resurface.
• Paranoia/Insanity. At some point, the use of Darkness will make the Replica's mind more susceptible to cracking and breaking. As the Darkness draws on one's more negative emotions, his temper will gain a hair-trigger, and he'll be more prone to bouts of extreme jealousy that feed off of insecurities that, by this point, he had nearly buried. It is likely that this particular side effect had some impact on why he very-nearly went insane while in the depths of Castle Oblivion near the end.

Another affect of the Darkness that he is wholly unaware of is how raw exposure to it can worsen the effects of the degradation and cause unneeded stress on his Heart and body.

History: Have some copypasta link that explains the canon events

( I'm more than just a copy! ) It's at this point where the deviation from canon starts. After losing the fight, the Replica doesn't start to fade away into Darkness; instead he has a rather epic break down, practically demanding Riku to finish him off, since he's 'just a fake' and shouldn't exist. Riku's next words shock the Replica into numb disbelief. "You may be a copy, but you're still you." Seeing the disbelief on his own Replica's face makes Riku continue. "Look, your Heart may be a created one, but it's still your Heart. You're more than just a copy of me. I'm just a foundation to build on." Still not getting it, Riku waves it off and tells his Replica to get out of Castle Oblivion while he still can, since the longer he sticks around the castle, the more likely it is that he'll be found by those that wish to use the Replica for their own plans. His mind still numb from shock, he says the only thing that he can think of--"Take care of her for me, will you?"--referring to Naminé, and unwittingly echoing Riku's own words to Sora regarding Kairi. After Riku promises he will, and after Riku makes him promise to 'find himself', the confused Replica leaves Castle Oblivion for good.

The Replica spends roughly two months in constant travel, thinking that there is a chance that Organization XIII could be after him. He visits many of the words in his fake memories, wanting to see them for himself, but never staying longer than a week just in case Organization XIII is tracking him. Near the end of this two month period, he visits Destiny Islands to see it with his own eyes instead of in his false memories. He winds up hiding out on the children's island for at least a week, as he finds Destiny Islands as a sort of reprieve from the constant running. When he isn't watching the sunset from the small island with the paopu tree, he's walking around the small island or resting in the small shack. He occasionally hears voices--three, two boys and a girl, when he's inside the small shack on the beach. He quickly learns who the owners of those voices are--Selphie, Tidus, and Wakka, the other three children that live on Destiny Islands. He doesn't try to listen in whenever they end up talking close enough for him to hear it, but he winds up paying attention anyway. In his inadvertent eavesdropping, he heard several things, and two constantly repeating names. Kairi, and Riku. 'Anyone ever wonder where Riku went?' 'He disappeared a year ago, yeah?' 'Kairi's waiting for him, that's why she won't come back here.'

When he put the pieces together, he figuratively saw red. Whoever this Kairi was, she was waiting for Riku to return--and Riku wasn't here. He had half a mind to go find the real him and put a fist in his face, but then he remembered. Hadn't he left someone behind as well? Someone more precious to him than anyone else. Naminé. His anger starting to ebb away, he began to think about why Riku would leave this Kairi person alone, if she was a friend of his. Maybe Riku had asked someone to take care of her, like he had asked Riku to take care of Naminé for him. But whoever Riku had asked wasn't here. That's who he had to beat up, if he ever learned who it was. 

After overhearing this information, the Replica resumes his travels through the many worlds. On each world he visits, he learns something important; not only about himself, but about life and being human. The worlds visited are listed thusly, and in no particular order: 

• Toscana: A world based on the rolling hills of the Tuscan region of Italy, this is the home of the wood-carver Gepetto and his son, the former marionette Pinocchio. The Replica finds himself walking on the cobblestone streets of Gepetto's hometown until he comes across the combination shop and home where Gepetto and Pinocchio live. He enters the store, drawn in by the assorted wooden items within--cuckoo clocks, wooden toys and flutes, decorative wooden statues--and the occasional marionette. Its inside the store where he encounters Pinocchio, who immediately assumes that the Replica is actually Riku and runs to get his father. After the misunderstanding is cleared up, the Replica spends a week in Toscana, all the while learning Pinocchio's story and of the adventures the boy had when he was a puppet. The resulting fate of Pinocchio--that of a puppet whose selflessness and bravery earned him the reward of becoming 'real'--lifted his spirits and gave him hope. Observing how Pinocchio and Gepetto interacted also taught him about family.
• Deep Jungle: The Replica lands on this world purely by chance, but decides to stick for roughly a month. During that time he found he had to retrain himself, as he had become a bit clumsier and kept tripping over himself. During a session of training where most of his original energy is used up, he finally manages to tap into the power he took from Zexion--and inadvertantly finds himself looking like the man. His shock causes the illusion to dispel less than a second later, but he now knows he can use this power on some level for it's original purpose.
• Casey Junior Circus: This world is something of a reprieve from the training and the fighting for the Replica, as it's on this world that the Replica experiences something that a normal person would have--the awe, wonder, and excitement of a child visiting the circus. He stays on this world for five days--a relatively short amount of time compared to the other worlds he visits. He spends that time watching the acts over and over, never once growing tired of the show--of the tricks the high-wire, the acrobats, the animal acts--and that little flying elephant with the large ears, Jumbo Junior.
•  Atlantis: A world based on Atlantis: The Lost Empire, the Replica finds himself here roughly two to three months. Before he leaves, he's given a precious gift--a name of his very own, Ila.
• Atlantica: They newly-named 'Ila' arrives on this world after a quick stop to resupply in Traverse Town. Almost immediately after his arrival, he has to keep himself from panicking after he notices that his legs have been replaced by a black fish tail and that he is miraculously breathing underwater. He spends a rather tiring two weeks on this world, clearing out the stray Heartless he finds roaming around and finding out the hard way that Sora's job as the chosen bearer of the Keyblade was a lot more difficult than he or Riku thought. Once he's absolutely sure that no more will return to this world, he leaves the way he came. 
•  21 B Baker Street: After the initial shock of becoming a white mouse, Ila spends roughly a month here after he first finds and then keeps encountering small bands of Heartless. He usually finds them stealing things, which leads him to believe that there is a mastermind behind them, controlling them like useful minions. It's near the end of this month-long search that he encounters a little mouse-girl named Olivia Flaversham on a particularly rainy day. Along with her was a portly mouse named David Q. Dawson, who was offering to take her to Baker Street, where a great detective named Basil was supposed to reside. Hoping that this detective will be able to help him track down the controller of the Heartless, he offers to accompany them.

As it turns out, Basil at first dismisses Olivia's plea for Basil to help her find her missing father--at least, until he hears about how one of the kidnappers was a bat with a peg leg. Recognizing the description of Fidget, the main henchman of his arch-nemesis Ratigan, he immediately becomes enthusiastic about helping the girl.

The next few nights are hectic ones for the rather strange group. Ila's hunch about Basil being able to help him track down the one controlling the Heartless is proven true, as it turns out that the mouse that had planned the kidnapping of Olivia's father and the controller of the Heartless were one in the same--Basil's arch-nemesis, Professor Ratigan. After chasing clues all over London, and subsequently losing Olivia after an ambush in a toy store, Basil manages to track down Ratigan, only to discover that it was all according to the criminal genius's plan to get Basil out of the way for his grand master scheme--to have Olivia's father build a remote-controlled automaton of the Queen, replace her, and then have the robotic replacement name him as her chief advisor, granting him the ultimate power in London. 

After a hectic few minutes where Ila, Basil, and Dawson have to get out of a Rube Goldberg type of death device concocted by Ratigan to eliminate Basil and ensure his victory, the small group (plus the now rescued Olivia) intercept Ratigan's henchmen at Buckingham Palace and foil his schemes. The chase to bring Ratigan to justice afterward culminates in a battle inside an enormous clock tower, where Ila and Basil's very lives are threatened by giant clockwork, Heartless, and Ratigan himself. After defeating Ratigan on the face of the clock tower, a glowing Keyhole appears for a second, before fading back, leaving all who witness it puzzled. Ila comes away from this world with the new knowledge that not all fights are physical, but mental as well, and with an even greater respect for Sora and his responsibility as the Keybearer.

• Notre Dame: 
• New Orleans/The Bayou: Ila's arrival on this world is met with his own irritation, as once again he finds himself transformed into an animal--this time, of all things, a frog.
  

After almost a year has passed since Ila last saw Castle Oblivion, his memories of his time in the castle itself start to become clearer, as if a fog was slowly being lifted. He could remember the face of the person he fought several times, and competed with for the right to protect Naminé.

He could remember Sora.
 
Not sure what to make of this, he decides to continue traveling, as it's something he's accustomed to by this point.

 
Canon Point: Day 339 of his life, also known as the day Sora wakes up.

First Person Sample: [There's a rather irritated silver-haired teenager giving what equates to the evil eye at the large screen.] You have got to be kidding me.

[His expression becomes more and more disbelieving as the speech continues.] Right. Okay. They expect me to believe this... new blood and progress crap?

[As the video comes to an end, the Replica continues to glare at the now blank video screen.] Yeah, I've definitely got some questions for that guy.

[He turns to leave, only to see the shiny new bicycle, and the gift basket full of fruit on the table. Blinking in surprise, he starts looking through the basket. There's a lot of fruit and other assorted goodies, which he's pretty sure will be gone within the next few days--he's never actually tried most of this before, and he's more than a little curious.

Finding the letter, he opens it and reads it, only to find the exact same speech that the man in the video rattled off. He rolls his eyes again.] Yeah, as if we didn't get it the first time. My memory's just fine, thanks.

[The letter gets folded back up, and after moving aside the packets of hot chocolate, the teabags, the mug and the shirt, he finds something, hidden at the bottom of the basket.] Hm. What's this?

[He pulls it out and looks over it.] What is this thing--some sort of mini computer?

[He frowns, and pushes a button on it--and crap, a light just came on, and a 'now transmitting' message on the small screen.]  I guess this thing's a communicator of some sort, then. ... if anyone's out there, I'm looking for some answers. I'd like to know if someone--anyone, has any idea how this place brought us here. Please contact me. I'm... ...

My name is Ila.

[There's a pause, and then he looks back at the screen.] Oh yeah. Does anyone know how to ride a bike?

Third Person Sample:  The silence was broken by the sounds of a frightened gasp and a bed creaking lightly as Ila suddenly sat up wide awake, his eyes widened in fright from what could only have been a nightmare. His heart was beating rabidly, his breathing short and rapid as if he had been running a marathon, and sweat causing his bangs to cling to his forehead. He shook his head slightly before rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"Been a while since I've had that dream," he muttered. He could feel his heart returning to a more steady rhythm as the adrenaline rush began to fade. Wanting to thing about anything but the most recent nightmare, he got out of bed and headed to the small kitchen in his apartment, aiming to get a glass of water.

He hated that dream, and what it possibly meant if it was coming back to him now. It replayed over in his mind, even as he went about getting a glass and filling it with water from the tap; he had been defeated by Sora, Naminé telling him to stop as he charged at the Keybearer--and then nothing, as his Heart was shattered and his false memories torn apart link by link.

Most of that moment barely existed in his mind; he knows that his Heart pieced itself back together somehow, drawing on what few real memories he had to keep him from becoming completely inactive. With the dream so vivid in his mind, drawing on what few memories he had... he could almost feel the cold marble floor of the castle against his cheek from when he was lying on the ground, broken; his body limp as a marionette with it's strings cut.

'I never want to feel like that again,' he thought as he headed back to his bed, the now half-empty glass of water still in his hand. He placed it on the nightstand next to the bed and then sat down, the springs in the mattress creaking slightly as they began to support his weight. 'But why am I dreaming about it now? What's causing it?'

He would think about it in the morning. Right now, he had to go back to sleep.

Have you read the rules? Yep. Going to be continually going over them just to be sure, though.