ᴀ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ʙʀᴇᴇᴢᴇ ɢᴜꜱᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ, gently warmed along the precipice of summer to curl about the crowded streets of Radiant Garden. Neatly kept flower gardens danced with each playful gust, petals set aloft in a shower of color. Though not quite redeemed to its vibrant former glory, the restoration efforts were making considerable improvements. Given time, there was little doubt the kingdom would once more be renowned as the capital of light. To many, the rebuilding of Radiant Garden was not simply a community project to restore the world, but a symbol of ʜᴏᴘᴇ — the resilience of light against the darkness.
To most, at the very least.
❝ One hour and twenty-two minutes. Better, I guess … ❞
Air fled from strained lungs in rapid gasps, somehow crushing the poor organs all the same. Was oxygen always so hard to coax into the body.ᐣ Another side effect of a heart, newly reborn.ᐣ Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. At least the tears had yet to spring forth; a win, albeit a small one. Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale. Wind toyed about, plucking sweat-soaked strands of violent crimson from a glistening brow in blissful reprieve.
Axel, the ⌞former⌝ merciless assassin of Organization XIII brought low by a few wayward memories.
— It’s an anxiety attack. Breathe, focus on your senses & it will pass. Just breathe.
Or so Xion had explained following the first few agonizing incidents. A side effect of ᴛʀᴀᴜᴍᴀ, she elaborated, exacerbated by his recent reformation. At that moment, the former Nobody could have sworn he was dying. Again. Heart pounding in a dizzying rhythm, limbs weak & trembling … Concern tinged with fear had painted her soft features, Roxas sporting a similar expression at her side. Guilt settled heavy in Axel’s gut once his mind sought to release him from its personal hell. Sickening his closest comrades with worry was not a hobby he wished to pursue, but his body chose now to make it a habit.
After everything, he desired only to protect them, to provide the peaceful life the two teens so desperately deserved. Yet here he was: humbled by emotions seemingly beyond his control.
It was Roxas who had bluntly suggested he avoid returning to his former home unless necessary. The trigger to these outbursts was grossly apparent: the very scene of his undoing so many years ago. A bitter laugh escaped Axel, breath calming as his young friend’s words echoed through his frazzled mind. The real kick was that he could not even clearly recall the day his heart was rend from him. The entire event was a blur, flashes of faces, screams & most prominently: ᴘᴀɪɴ. Such was clearly still sufficient to send his body spiraling.
Axel — stubborn as an ember, refusing to diminish — disregarded the idea. He refused to let his past … to allow Xehanort’s shadow loom upon him indefinitely. Exposure therapy was the next suggestion, which Axel accepted despite the caveat that he would leave the moment anxiety began to set in. A fair trade, allotting the Guardian at least a bit of time to contribute to the ongoing restoration efforts.
Still trembling digits plucked a gummi phone from his pocket, pulling up the group chat with the two teenagers after a few misclicks. One hour & twenty-two minutes. A request on Xion’s part, that the time he managed to remain within Ansem’s old castle be documented. Initially, he had scoffed at the idea, deeming the whole thing rather childish. Surely he did not need the motivation of mediocre increments of improvement. And yet, a feeble smile plucked at his lips knowing this was three minutes more than his previous visit. A surplus of celebratory emojis were sent in response, further lightening the mood.
How Axel had managed without the two little lights in his life for even a fraction of time, he knew not. A wave of brotherly warmth set his buzzing nerves at ease. He hardly deserved the two’s kindness — a nagging voice, cool & critical scolded in the back of his mind. Given his past, the destruction left in the assassin’s wake, it was difficult not to believe himself worthy of little else but to suffer. To atone by means of punishment. And yet Roxas, Xion & all their newfound companions insisted otherwise.
— To walk in the light, to work towards a brighter future was in itself a step towards ʀᴇᴅᴇᴍᴘᴛɪᴏɴ.
Thus, Axel could not bring a few measly emotions to hinder his efforts. That just wasn’t his style.ᐟ No amount of anxiety would stay his hand against the darkness, both external & within.
Leather boots clipped lightly across stone pavement, a vague destination in mind. Perhaps revisiting more pleasant memories would prove a suitable balm to those dredged up within the castle. Though much of the kingdom remained a nightmare of construction zones, a few side streets & shops remained unchanged from his childhood. Here & there a familiar face passed, whether from the restoration committee or prior to the world’s fall to darkness. Most greeted him with pleasant smiles & the occasional wave, only a few tossing cautious glances. Gossip tended to travel fast, however vague. It was broadly understood that the Organization’s founding members consisted of those under apprenticeship or employment within Ansem’s castle at the time of its downfall. ᴛʀᴜsᴛ would be hard-earned, young Lea having boasted of his new position just before all went south.
Thankfully, Axel was up to the challenge even if the commitment would be lifelong.
After a pitstop by his favorite ice cream shop & a bit of idle chatter with the curmudgeonly owner, he continued his way through the winding streets. Muscle memory directed each step, only detoured by building still in disarray or barricaded paths. Despite the years, Axel could safely say he knew this city by heart. A fair amount of impish antics were carried out by his childish hand, no corner left unexplored. Yet one spot in particular stood out amongst the rest — one which he was quite confident remained untouched.
Towards the outskirts of town, along the surrounding wall there existed a timeworn staircase blanketed beneath a sheet of wild ivy. Few citizens ventured so far from the main roads, save for a pair of mischievous teens so many years ago. Following the stairs upward led to a parapet, only slightly weathered with age, but with a remarkable view of the surrounding waters. Following countless visits, it was clear not even the castle guard utilized the area on their patrol. Isa had determined the area to be untouched — an ideal spot for a secret hideaway.
Though crumbling debris further obscured the location, Axel managed to pick his way through with minimal effort. Once lush ivy now a web of spindly brown vines claimed the dilapidated archway, snapping beneath his touch as he brushed the dead foliage aside. Ruins remained in place of the once winding set of stone stairs, difficult to traverse, but far from impossible. A few grunts of exertion & shifting stone, Axel stumbled atop the parapet to a familiar view. Wind whipped about, stronger at this altitude & pleasant after inhaling no small amount of rubble. Water lapped miles below, dyed pastel in the sun & framed by distant mountains. Evidence of darkness tainted the horizon, not quite as picturesque as the past. Still, a near dizzying wave of ɴᴏsᴛᴀʟɢɪᴀ gripped the former Nobody, popsicle nearly forgotten between his teeth. Hours spent blissfully in this very spot, eating ice cream, reading comics or sparring with chipped wooden swords ⌞or frisbees, in Lea’s case⌝. Only Isa remained missing from the scene, Axel glancing wistfully to his side —
❝ Wha- .ᐣ.ᐟ ❞
Surprise sent lanky limbs flailing back, stumbling along the precarious edge. He was not quite so alone as he originally anticipated. Where once a young Isa would sit, nose buried in a book, another occupied, identity unknown. Wariness strung his lithe frame taught, gaze narrowed upon the intruder. The willful belligerence of youth sparked, irked that their secret spot had been claimed by another. Yet the adult within him recognized that, realistically, such was bound to happen given time.
❝ Guess it was a bit foolish to think no one stumbled up here after all these years … ❞
A hand raked through fiery locks as Axel regained composure. Seafoam hues scoured the stranger, taking in delicate features & lengthy tresses of chestnut. A twinge of recognition came & passed — familiar in a way he could not place, leaving the Guardian all the more ᴄᴀᴜᴛɪᴏᴜs. Something was decidedly … off.
❝ I’d say I didn’t mean to intrude, but I’d rather not lie. ❞
I saw @mochilled do this on Instagram, so I did it too! Obviously these are all ripped from my IG. xD The photo quality is BUTT, sorry. It was a really fun idea though! You can find it by googling ‘The Hunger Game Simulator’.
With borrowed apprentices Moria @sabsaberhagen and Julianne @timmys-and-scribbles, the only ones to make it past part 1 xD SORRY AGAIN.
This was...interesting. A good way to waste an hour at work, honestly. All hail the newest victor of the Hunger Games!
(Honorable mentions go to: Free!, Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-Kun (Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun), Gakuen Babysitters (School Babysitters), Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge (Tanaka-kun is Always Listless), and Hunter x Hunter)
ah! i'm sorry this is annoying but i just wanted go give you a heads up that the studio ghibli film you just reblogged is actually spirited away, not howls moving castle 🙈
