Dive to the Heart

Set post Kingdom Hearts 3, Kairi's 18, minor spoilers.

She was falling. Kairi rolled in the air, feeling what seemed like water rush past her. It was like she was in some endless ocean, descending all the way to who-knew-where, the world rushing past her.

It was a good few seconds before she remembered what was happening. She'd heard about it in her training, Keyblade wielders periodically went through dives to the heart; it helped them decide what they wanted to give up, what they wanted to focus on... Sora said he'd chosen between a sword, shield and magic staff. Mickey said his had been full of representations of his friends.

It was representative of the Keyblade wielder. When talking to Aqua, she'd heard that Keyblade master had chosen between what looked more like elements. The fighting skills she and her friends had gained had all differed based on what they'd chosen.

She wondered what her choices would be. Kairi closed her eyes, and let herself fall...

Eventually coming to land on a large, circular, stained-glass platform. She slowly straightened, making sure she still had her balance, and looked around.

It was a reddish shade of pink, a heart and Keyblade overlaid on one side, and herself emblazoned on the other. She was wearing what she'd preferred to fight in ever since becoming a Keyblade wielder, all that time ago. The pink and black dress; it might be a while since Xehanort had tried conquering the world, but she'd never given up the habit. The stained-glass her looked a lot like she did, only more serene, eyes closed as if asleep.

And then there was a rush of... something. Images echoed in the inky darkness around her, memories suddenly flaring up and dying down. She turned around slowly, instinctively summoning her Keyblade.

Apparently, sometimes, there could be battles here. Sora had mentioned fighting off manifestations of his own darkness. Riku said his own had been exhausting for that very reason; her, though, she was a Princess of Heart, there couldn't be much here for her to fight.

There didn't seem to be. No Heartless arose, just...

Memories coalesced. Instead of a fog of images around her, three snapshots not unlike portraits appeared. Her standing back-to-back with Riku the first time she'd wielded a Keyblade, her swinging the Keyblade, and the first time she'd cast a spell.

She barely needed to linger. This was obviously choosing her proficiency; protection, offense, magic. She chose magic; it had always come rather easily to her, channeling light to do all manner of things. She preferred it to just brute **** whacking things.

The memories surged again, and three more portraits began to form. Right, there was a second time, either something she was giving up or something else to focus her skills on. She waited for the images to become clear.

And then she flushed, just slightly. Of all the memories...

The first was her asleep, one of the early nights after leaving Destiny Islands a while back. The problem was she was nude; she remembered it, she hadn't wanted to sleep in her day clothes and without anything to change into, she'd opted to just go for it and hope no one walked in on her. The disadvantages of leaving a world quickly.

If she neared it, words formed in her mind. Ability. When one skill is lost, others might be gained. Strength through sacrifice. Is this the path you choose?

How was she meant to respond to that?! Quickly she drew away. Yeah, Sora had mentioned the explanations could be somewhat... obscure.

Then there was the next picture. She was showering, hands running through her dark red hair, water cascading down her body, just as nude as before. If anything, more so; she was making no effort to hide under covers, just standing there with everything in full view.

Words once more echoed if she neared it. Desire. When one want is given up, there is time to focus on other things. Growth through focus. Is this the path you choose?

What did desire have to do with showering? What did she desire, or not desire, when she was stark naked and dripping wet?! They weren't kidding when they said this place could be weird...

For that matter, what did ability have to do with sleeping nude?

Hesitantly she looked at the third. The memory alone brought a flush to her cheeks; when she was training with Lea, he'd been practising unlocking things with his Keyblade. Rather than a beam of light hitting any actual lock though, he'd missed and struck the zipper on her dress, immediately sending the whole garment falling to the floor of the forest they were training. The image was of her seconds after, leaning forwards and crossing her arms over her chest, clad in nothing but her underwear in front of Lea and Merlin with a bright red face.

What the hell?! She was almost afraid to near that one. Forgetting. Losing some knowledge to make space for more. Intelligence through memory. is this the path you choose?

Weirdly, things began to come together after that. Ability obviously offered her more physical skills, forgetting magical skills, while desire had to be some kind of balanced path. That lined up with what she'd heard about other Dives.

It was just the images that was worrying her. Why was her Dive so intent on reminding her what she looked like naked?