kh_drabble | [083]

Challenge: [083] Reflection
Title: Illusiopolis
Word Count: 341
Rating: PG
Spoilers: KHII
Notes: Riku searches.

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There are many rooms in the Castle That Never Was, many of which simply vanish after Riku leaves them behind in his search. Kairi was here, somewhere, and Sora would be too. One room is filled with books, their spines empty of title and author. He finds bedrooms, bathrooms, even a kitchen. Bits and pieces and evidence of a life led for beings that weren't supposed to have lived at all. He feels like an intruder, before remembering he was.

Riku finds an old laboratory – or rather what used to be. Glass and chemicals line one side of the room, while the rest is filled with what looks like remnants stolen from other worlds. Here is a culture of strange mushrooms and a teacup. There lies a cauldron next to a brown pot, long empty of honey. And over there…

Something like a hushed whisper, or a spider thread brushing against his cheek, makes him jerk his head around. And when he sees it, it suddenly feels like it sees him.

A single mirror on the wall. In the mirror, the reflection of a young man stares back - eyes not orange, hair not slicked back, and face hauntingly familiar.

He looks down at his hands and body, shocked into sudden hope, but that dies and dissipates when he sees he's still… changed. Heart in his throat, he walks up to the mirror and the image does the same. Long lost stories that Maleficent would whisper darkly to him during those early days echo in his mind.

Mirror, mirror…

He stares at it for a long time.

Then, he snarls, watching the boy in the reflection mimic the expression. Riku raises his fist about to call his Keyblade, but pauses as if thinking better of it. There would be no purpose in this. He had other things to do. Slowly, he uncurls his fingers and rests them against the looking-glass - it's cold to the touch.

He thinks the past year has been bad enough. He doesn't want to add seven more.

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end

Note, concerning the title, the French version of KHII changed/translated the name of the World That Never Was into "Illusiopolis." I rather like it.