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[replicates]

OUT OF CHARACTER:
Name/Handle: Ame
Contact: starknaked or tombreaker @ aim
Reference: Saree and Remi

IN-CHARACTER:
Character name: Replica Riku
Character journal: replicates
Series name: Kingdom Hearts
Canon notes: Taken post-death during Riku's side of Chain of Memories

Species: An inorganic clone.

History: Character wiki page.

Put simply, Replica Riku is a clone of Riku created from data Vexen had collected during his fight with him. The Replica's initial purpose was to test the original Riku's strength and eventually cause his heart to return to Darkness, but he was later used in Marluxia's plan to manipulate Sora and launch a coup d'état of Organization XIII. From the time of his creation, the Replica has known and experienced nothing but fighting: not a moment after being in existence, he gets sent off to fight Riku for the first time. It is no surprise then that he loses the fight, despite his confidence in his abilities. When Riku attempts to destroy the Replica upon defeat, he utilizes the power of Darkness and manages to escape.

The Replica is treated as nothing but a tool in Marluxia's scheme and it is reflected in Larxene's taunts when he meets up with them after his fight with Riku. The Replica is quick to deny that it was his fault, claiming that his powers had not grown enough. His rebuttal earns him a punishing blow from Larxene, however, who reminds him that he is "nothing but a mere toy". It is then that the Organization members involved in the plot (Larxene, Marluxia, Axel, and Vexen) change their plans, coming up with the idea to manipulate Sora in their scheme. It is Larxene's idea that the Replica's memories should be rewritten to mirror his original's so that he would become a much more effective tool. Upon learning this, the Replica immediately rejects the idea, saying that he did not need Riku's pitiful memories, but the other members unfortunately agree to the idea. Seeing that he had no other way to escape, the Replica attempts to attack Larxene, but is promptly knocked out and eventually has his memories rewritten by Naminé.

After having his memories rewritten, the Replica swears to protect Naminé and makes himself her self-appointed guardian. During this time, he meets Sora and immediately sees him as a threat, feeling betrayed in his assumptions that Sora didn't care about him anymore and only Kairi. The Replica lashes out, but is defeated again and escapes. The next time he encounters Sora, he urges him to leave, asserting that he would be the one to protect Naminé from now on. He ends up fighting Sora again, who tries to jog the Replica's memory but is unsuccessful. Being defeated twice now by Sora, the Replica's anger grows, especially when Sora suggests the idea to protect Naminé together. Once Sora says "together", the Replica is immediately filled with sadness and rage and screams his real feelings to Sora, claiming the other boy always tried to worm his way into his heart without caring how he felt. Once again, the Replica escapes after this, leaving a confused Sora behind.

The third time the Replica encounters Sora happens after Vexen is destroyed by Axel and he attempts to force Sora to leave. Sora, who had defeated Vexen (without destroying him, as Axel successfully took care of that immediately afterwards), tells the Replica that he is free, yet the Replica claims that he was protecting Naminé from him. The Replica reveals the promise that he made to Naminé when they were young, the same that Sora promised (this promise was fake, however, and was a product of Naminé's rewritten memories). Sora tries to prove that he was the one who made it, showing the Replica Naminé's lucky charm, which causes him to lash out at Sora claiming that his charm is fake as he has the same one. A fight inevitably ensues and the Replica is once again defeated.

The Replica's false memories are finally brought to light during his final battle with Sora, who defeats him again. When Sora goes to help him up, however, the Replica retaliates and knocks him back. Just as he prepares to finish him off, Naminé shatters the Replica's false memories and his heart in a desperate move to save Sora. Larxene appears right after and explains the Replica's nature and the reason behind his creation, revealing to Sora that the Replica was never the original Riku that both him and the Replica himself believed to be. Angry, Sora and Larxene engage and he successfully defeats her.

During the final moments of Sora's side of the game, the Replica is seen on the top floor of the Castle, where he protects Naminé from Marluxia. Even after losing his memory, the Replica still remembers his personal oath to protect Naminé and does so throughout the battle between Sora and Marluxia. Finally, he ends up leaving Sora and Naminé, feeling he doesn't deserve to be with them since he is a fake. Despite this, Sora comforts the Replica, who, feeling Sora's kindness and compassion, smiles and leaves to complete his goal of defeating the real Riku.

Upon leaving Sora and Naminé, the Replica ends up joining Axel, who in turn uses him to enact his and Saïx's plans. Together they find the injured Zexion, who believes Axel to be accompanied by the real Riku. Here, Axel tells the Replica that if he gains power that the original Riku doesn't have, he could then be something real and not someone's counterpart. The Replica agrees with the idea and promptly drains the life force out of Zexion, giving him the latter's powers. He goes to seek out Riku, meeting him in front of an old mansion. He notes that Riku is no longer afraid of the Darkness, who doesn't understand how the Replica is aware. The Replica states that he is Riku, and therefore knows everything about him. Riku immediately counters back, saying that he is himself and one one else. This triggers the Replica's anger and he lashes out, saying that in the end, he is still nothing but a copy despite gaining a new power.

Ultimately, Riku defeats the Replica, who slowly fades into the Darkness. In his last moments, he asks Riku where his heart will go. Riku comforts the Replica, telling him that it would go to the same place as his heart. The Replica adopts a resigned tone, smiling ruefully and seems to accept his fate before fading away.

Personality:

"A faithful replica until the very end. That's... okay."

There is no replica without the original, and that's ultimately what he is: a clone, a fake, a copy, and he is more than aware of this. He is everything Riku was - the confident, cocky, competitive boy - and everything he could have been had Riku not accepted the fact that he had fucked up royally at the end of Kingdom Hearts 1. While Riku has guilt and regret, the Replica possesses none of these qualities. He is instead left with the bitterness and jealousy of one that was created as a pawn, a tool to be used and eventually cast aside after the task was done. For all of the Replica's likeness to Riku, he was merely a shade of his original.

One of the biggest differences between Riku and his Replica is that while Riku feared the darkness in his heart, the Replica embraced it and wielded it to its full potential. It was something he constantly mocked Riku about during his stay in Castle Oblivion: taunting him with the fact that even though he was Riku's clone, he was better because he had no fear of the darkness and because of that, he wasn't weak. The Replica did not possess much reservations about being Riku's clone at first, saying that he would prove to be the better of the two in no time. He had the most autonomy at this point, being that he had his own memories, he was still very much his own person despite being a clone. However, when the subject of rewriting his memories to be the same as his original's was brought up, he lashed out, saying that he didn't need his original's memories. Though his efforts were unsuccessful, it's clear that the Replica had no intentions to share anything else with his original aside from his appearance and his abilities.

After having his memories rewritten, the Replica is just as stubborn as his original is and is actually a lot more aggressive. He is fiercely protective over Naminé and this does not change even towards the end of Sora's side of the game, when he comes to terms with the fact that he is truly just a copy. While Riku is more subtle with his affections to those he cares about, the Replica is very open with them and does not hide it away. It's very evident in his interactions with Naminé, as he treats her with a sort of gentle reverence and asserts that he is her protector throughout the game. He also doesn't bother to hide away his feelings of contempt or frustration he has for Sora, Riku, and the other members of the Organization despite the fact that most of them are stronger than he is. And on that note, the Replica does not fear death; operating on a sort of reckless, self-destructive drive to become better than his original and gain his true existence. His feelings were probably the most genuine part of him, even though most of them stemmed from the illusion Naminé was forced to create.

Perhaps the saddest part of the Replica's life was the fact that he never ceased searching for his existence until the very end. He wanted desperately to be his own person and even when he teamed up with Axel, his biggest goal in destroying Zexion was to obtain a power that would distinguish himself from and ultimately defeat Riku. It is not until the latter defeated him that he truly became more like his original, his arrogance and stubbornness mellowing into resignation and acceptance of his fate.

Abilities:

The Replica shares the same fighting style as Riku did during his stay in Castle Oblivion and uses the same weapon, a sword named Soul Eater. He is speedy, agile, and aggressive, which often leaves him open to attacks. The Replica also shares most of Riku's abilities which include:

- Helm Split: By leaping into the air, the Replica strikes his target multiple times before landing and causes several dark flames to erupt from below.
- Dark Firaga: The Replica fires a homing dark fireball at his target.
- Dark Aura: The Replica rushes at his target multiple times, landing after an aerial combo and causing several dark flames to erupt from the ground.

It should be noted that the Replica's control over Darkness is just as good, if not slightly better, as Riku's. Aside from using it to power his abilities in battle, he can also use it defensively to knock people back.

Augment Skillset: Lab support

Sample: Here, here, and here!