Twenty Views of Sora
Sep. 5th, 2006 08:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bard_linnTitle: Twenty Views of Sora (a collection of one-shots.)
Rating: PG-13ish on the save side.
Characters: Sora focus. 20 others (Disney, Final Fantasy and KH original) Mostly gen, with some light!het pairings/implications.
Once upon a time, there was a Linn. In the fullness of time, she realized her 21st birthday was coming upon her, and she became very thoughtful, for she had heard of the “twenty-one shots” tradition, finding it rather stupid way to loose brain cells. She thought to herself: “Self, surely there is a much more enjoyable way to celebrate one’s twenty first birthday that would be more fun for all.” And because she was much fun of lame puns, she decided “I shall not drink twenty-one shots; I shall write twenty one-shots!”
(Some of them are short, more drabbleish. Too bad. They’re one-shots cause I say so. :P)
And here is the result. At one point they were supposed to be one each from twenty fandoms, but that didn’t pan out because I had Kingdom Hearts on the brain, so here we have twenty one-shots sort of loosely connected together but not really, each from a different point of view. Roughly in chronological order, but not perfect, what can I say? Oh, and document without the notes is exactly twenty pages as well. XD I’m easily amused.
SPOILERS FOR KINGDOM HEARTS II. DO NOT READ IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE SPOILED.
Oathkeeper
We’re not all the same, you know.
Most of us represent a place, a world, if you will, created by a victory over something. Some of us are from people, friend and allies who help our bearer.
I’m not like that.
I’m different.
Victory is not what forged me, but a promise. With every promise my bearer makes and fulfills, I grow in strength. As long as he keeps his word, I will stay by his side, no matter what. That is why I existed in two places at once, both at my bearer’s side and at his shadow’s. Both had kept their vows, and thus I was there.
“Oathkeeper,” he calls me, though it is not quiet true. Know that as long as I am present, you can trust the one who bears me, for he is the Oathkeeper. I am merely the Oath.
Luxord
The first time I saw Roxas he was a bare breath away from fighting Larxene. That in and of itself wasn’t surprising. The newest member of the Organization had a habit of causing dissention. So far, he had managed to fight four of the others to submission, a surprising feat considering his size and experience.
But was he not the Nobody of the Keyblade master? What else should we have suspected?
“Roxas.”
“Luxord.” The blond’s face did not change from its current wall-like expression, but he took a step back.
“Larxene. Xemnas wants to see you with the others.” The only female member of the Organization gave Roxas a dirty look and left, dismissing her daggers with a thought. “She’s departing for Castle Oblivion shortly. Leave her be.” Roxas didn’t reply, merely turned to go the opposite direction. “Axel is going as well.”
The Key of Destiny’s footsteps faltered for a second, and then recover. “I see.”
It amused me how much Roxas attempted to hide his attachment to the red haired member of our company. Exactly what was between them was beyond my ability to discern, but there was a strong connection there. “While he’s gone, I’ll be your liaison to the Superior.”
“I don’t need a keeper.”
I laughed lightly. “I’m well aware of that. You’ve proven yourself more than enough for me. Bear with it for now; time will pass faster than you think.”
It had. Faster than I had though possible Castle Oblivion had fallen, Naminé had been freed and Axel made his way back to the World That Never Was – alone. All of the other Nobodies had ceased to exist. Axel had predictably reattached himself to Roxas, but their bond seemed to be weakened by the distance, or perhaps a matter that seemed to be weighing Roxas’ mind constantly now. Suddenly, time was gone all together when Roxas left and Axel made to follow him. I managed to catch him as he was leaving.
“He won’t come back.”
“Shut up.” Axel wasn’t in the mood to play nice. “I have to try.”
“He’s had too much hidden from him. He won’t stop until he has his answers.” I was no fool. I could see what had happened to Number Thirteen and I suspected that the Superior had done it on purpose, though I would never had voiced such a thought. Roxas has been powerful as a Nobody, but Sora was an even more powerful Keyblade wielder, making it more likely he would successfully kill enough Heartless to create Xemnas’ Kingdom Hearts.
Ironically, this single minded determination to find the truth seemed to be very similar to Sora, from the reports I had seen that had survived Castle Oblivion. It seems a Nobody and his and her Somebody were not as different as one might believe.
“Then I’ll find some for him,” Axel snapped. “Don’t get in my way, Luxord.”
I stepped aside, not willing to taste Axel’s flames over a pointless gesture. “You have already lost this gamble, my friend.” Axel did not reply, stalking out of the forbidding rooms to the dark streets below. I looked up towards the empty halls above him. “It is a bet we all have lost.” I walk back inside, wondering how long it would be until Roxas – or perhaps Sora – would come to cash in his chips, and dreading that day. We should have never invited a Keyblade master to our side. That, in the end, was our folly.
Minnie
I must admit, the first time I saw Sora I was in a way relieved. He treated me like a normal person, until he discovered who I was, and even then he was only then slightly more respectful than what appeared to be his usual behavior. He’s such a nice young man, protecting me and helping me defend the castle. I can see why the Keyblade selected him. He’s an amazing person, practically glowing with goodness.
Despite that goodness though, I can sense a weariness in him. He’s done so much, and given even more, but he still hasn’t received his greatest wish. I almost asked him to stay and to rest, but I know he won’t. He’ll keep searching for what he’s looking for. He’s like Mickey that way. Actually, he’s a lot like Mickey; if I closed my eyes, I might think that my husband stood beside me instead of a lost child looking for home.
I hope he finds it soon. I have faith, though, that he will in the end – and that Mickey too will come home. I have to. If I don’t, I have nothing else left.
Sora’s Mom
Coming back was rather odd. Most of us tried to just forget about the darkness that had swamped our world in the night and go about our lives, as if we hadn’t been returned in a shower of star dust. I think the majority succeeded too, from the way people stubbornly refuse to even talk about it when I asked about it.
I didn’t forget though, not with my son missing. How could I? It wasn’t like I could ignore all that had happened, with my life so disrupted. Sora was not home, and until then, my world will not be restored.
Little Kairi came over shortly after everything settled down. The poor child seemed eager to have someone to talk to, and even more she needed someone would believe her. Her tale was a tall one, but I suspect it was true. Kairi rarely made up stories as a child, and why would she lie in the face of so much criticism?
It was with her help I finally understood exactly what my son had done. I was so proud; not every mother that gets to hear her child has saved the universe.
Kairi went missing two days ago; the entire town is worried again, but trying very hard not to discuss that thing-that-most-certainly-didn’t-happen. I’m upset as well, of course. I know better than anyone else left exactly what Kairi faces and she is very dear to me, but at the same time I cannot help but hope that maybe this time when she gets home, she’ll bring Riku and Sora as well.
Those three always were connected. I suppose I shouldn’t have fed them that paopu fruit as a snack when they were children, though it seemed like a good idea at the time. Perhaps I should have been more careful with meddling with powers like that, but I didn’t really believe the legend.
I walked up the stairs to stare at Sora’s room. I had cleaned in here several times while my son had been gone, but it still seemed lifeless without my son’s presence. I stripped the bed and changed the sheets. Hopefully, they’d be getting use soon.
“Come home, Sora. Life is far too empty without you.”
Demyx
I don’t know how you could mistake him for anyone other than Roxas - correction, Roxas’ somebody - considering how they looked. I mean, really, who did that Keyblade wielding brat think he was fooling? I’d known Roxas was with him the minute I first saw him in the Underworld!
Though I did call him Roxas instead by mistake. Then again, that seemed to piss him off and it appears my fellow Organization members have followed my lead, so to speak, from the reports coming in from the others.
The members who are still loyal and living, anyway. Between the whole mess with Castle Oblivion and defections – namely Roxas and now Axel – there are more thrones empty than full anymore. There would be more empty by the end of this though. I wasn’t supposed to, but I saw the reports. Sora knocked off a few of the members himself, even under Naminé’s influence and without having Roxas back. What would he be able to do whole?
I have a bad feeling I’m going to find out. Orders just came down for me to go to Hollow Bastion and kill Sora. They’re really sending the wrong guy for this; I’m not nearly as good as a fighter as the others. I’m going to try and get Roxas to come back to us – he better answer me this time when I talk to him. I like him a lot better than Sora, even if Sora’s generally a nice guy to non-Nobodies - and if that doesn’t work I’m going to have to try and beat Sora into submission. But it comes to that, I fear the Empty Hall of Melodies really will become empty, because I have a bad feeling this is a test of Sora’s skills…and I’m the bait.
Cloud
There was something about him, the first time I saw him.
Maybe he reminded me of myself. Maybe he reminded me of someone who I’m afraid to remember, less Sephiroth also recall him and chase him down. My light and my darkness, connected but separate – I can only hope they stay that way, lest one destroy the other.
In any case, I went easy on the kid, just about every time we dueled, but it’s gotten easier to lose as time’s gone on. He’s become an amazing fighter; in some ways I wish he’d stay accessible more often instead of harping off to every planet he can find. I suspect we could both learn a lot from each other. It’s also surprisingly easy to talk to him. Despite his appearance, Sora knows the darkness; he has since the day he first wielded the Keyblade, I think, and he has only grown in that knowledge. It’s hard on him, though I think only a few of them see it. I have; there is a trust between us, an unspoken thing that is still strange to me, though it rarely is obvious in public. Perhaps that’s why I talked to him after the Cerberus incident. Usually that’s not like me.
I still remember the time I saw the darkness in Sora the strongest. He had come back to the Coliseum, shortly before the Hades Tournament was held…
I generally didn’t hang around when ‘Phil’ was training Sora. I had other things to do, not to mention I hardly thought smashing barrels counted as training. I had been passing by when I noticed Sora completing the exercise yet again. He had increased in speed and strength, shredding the barrels as if they were sheets of paper.
It was…impressive. Surprisingly so, for someone who was only 14.
Still, there was a tenseness to his expression that surprised me. When the goat finally dismissed Sora, I followed him. The teen apparently was taking advantage of the Coliseum facilities for the night. Wishing to speak to him privately before he reunited to his friends, I followed him into the showers. Sora had just pulled off his shirt when he saw me. “Cloud!”
I nodded in greeting, glancing at the star shaped scar on Sora’s chest. It was odd to see him with a scar at all; he had none anywhere else, despite the number of wounds he had received. Even those I had given him had vanished almost magically, undoubtedly a side effect of being a Keybearer. But this one had stayed.
Sora noticed my glance and lightly touched the scar, then sighed. “Nothing is going the way I thought it would.”
“How did you get that?” I honestly hadn’t expected him to answer me. We all have secrets we wish to hide, a fact I know well.
“Plunged a dark Keyblade into my heart. To save Kairi.”
My eyebrows surged towards my hairline for a moment. That was not what I had expected.
“She had given me her heart some how, and I couldn’t save her without giving up my own.” Sora continued, the words coming easier now, as if seeking release. A distant part of my mind made sarcastic comments about a certain satyr and his belief Sora wasn’t a true hero; I had heard the ‘miraculous’ story of Hercules’ path to attain the title and if sacrificing your heart to save another’s wasn’t an equivalent, I didn’t know what was. I forced the thoughts out of my mind as Sora continued, voice weakening in strength. “I couldn’t see her like an empty puppet like that – and Riku was there.”
“But he had fallen to the darkness.” I could tell that without effort, now understanding the weariness I had seen. Sora had been touched directly by the darkness, and had lost a dear friend to it as well.
I made a mental note to kick Yuffie severely if she started making more comparison between Sora and myself. Spiky hair a clone does not make, nor do eyes.
Even if there were a disturbing amount of similar incidents in our lives.
“Yeah.” Sora sighed. “..Thanks Cloud. For listening.” I looked at him in surprise. “The others – Donald, Goofy – don’t want to hear about that. They just want me to be happy, to keep going. But it’s hard to be happy all the time…”
“Indeed.”
Sora shook his head. “I should hurry or else Donald’ll be after me.”
Having heard the unspoken request I left, walking from the room deep in thought. I had my answer, for now.
The teen is rather different now. Sora’s has gotten stronger than he was when I last saw him. It’s almost as if he has found something he lost, without knowing it was gone. Fighting beside him I couldn’t help but feel the energy radiating from him, like a star. Leon and I had seen Sora vanish, but I knew he was still alive. He’d be back before we knew it. After all, he was a lucky one.
Phil
First time I saw the kid I thought he had to be lost. I mean, he was so small, so scrawny!
Not unlike Herc at first, but that was a long time ago.
So yeah, he passed my little barrel test and didn’t do so bad with the lightning spell I gave him. That doesn’t make him a hero, and that doesn’t make him game material, but somehow that kid got his hands on a pass and snuck right in there! Must have had something to do with Hades – that guy has an obsession with the kid, almost as bad as the one he has with Herc.
You know, I still have a hard time believing a scrawny runt like him could take down Cerberus, even if Herc had worn him down first. And then he promptly went on to breeze through the games, defeating Herc, Hades, Titans and anything else we could throw at him! I never knew how he even found out when we were having a contest; he just showed up and blew the competition away.
Until the day the stars fell.
For a long time he never showed up again. For a while, we held more games, hoping he would come back, but then we forgot about him, for some reason I’ll never understand. Then he pops back up, taller but as scrawny as ever with those crazy sidekicks of his, still meddling in any trouble he comes across.
I’m glad though. We could use a few more Heroes like him. Hope he doesn’t vanish on us again! Kid still needs training.
Though I really should come up with some new exercises for him before he runs out of things to do…
Elizabeth
“It’s nice to be by the sea again.”
I turned to look at Sora. He was an odd looking young man, very different from Will or even Jack. He and his strange companions seemed to stand out awkwardly, but they are good people regardless. Hadn’t Sora proven himself over and over again? I only hoped we could get back to Port Royal before that man Luxord got there and ruined everything. However, there is nothing I could do at this point except let Jack steer the Pearl. I should stop fretting. “You’ve been by the ocean before?”
“I grew up by it,” Sora replied. “We used to row over to Destiny Islands every day we could, Riku, Kairi and me.” The light in his eyes dimmed. “It was a lot of fun. Riku and I would train some, but most times Kairi came up with some crazy idea and dragged us off to go along with it.” He looked out over the water as he remembered his past. “We played pirates for a while.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Riku and Tidus were the pirates mostly though. Wakka, Selphie, Kairi and I were the defenders of the island, though sometimes Kairi and Selphie turned the tide and were the ‘great female pirates here to capture all the men and drag them off to be slaves!’” Sora pitched his voice higher in imitation of a female voice. “At least that’s what Selphie always said.” He sighed. “I always wanted to have a turn at being a pirate but I never got a chance. Riku and Tidus always beat me.”
“I was fascinated by pirates as a little girl,” I said, feeling a surprising kinship for the young man. “I suspect Jack would let you come along for a while, if you really wanted.”
“Nah. I have to get going, once we stop Luxord. We have to defeat the Organization once and for all – and I have a promise to keep.” Sora touched something in his pocket.
“Good luck.” Having seen Luxord I know Sora’s quest is dangerous, but cannot help but hope he succeeds.
“Land ho!” Will called.
“Right. Time to get this over with!”
Santa Claus
You have to understand, there is a rule around here. Once you say you don’t believe in Santa Claus, even if you are the best person in the world, I can’t deliver you presents. It’s actually a part of the magic, you see. For those who don’t believe, their homes are closed to me. No presents will appear for them in my sack. It’s not just because I don’t want to!
It’s not like I don’t realize how silly it is not to have the savior of the universe on my “good” list.
Doubly so for someone so innocent and kind.
But the rules are the rules! I can’t simply break them.
Though…Sora does believe now, and has said as much. That might just be enough to bend the rules and the Christmas Magic seems rather taken with the child. Smiling, I fished out my list and added the name of one Keyblade bearer. Now just to think of the perfect present.
Merlin
Now you have to realize, magic isn’t an easy thing to master. No indeed. Do you have any idea how many sugar bowels I broke while trying to learn how to enchant kitchenware? Not to mention at that point I didn’t know how to fix them!
When I met young Sora I was rather impressed. He had already managed to learn the basics of fire, ice and lightning magic. I of course offered to tutor him, though it was clear his duck companion also knew something of magic. As a senior wizard I have an obligation to the younger generation; I hadn’t gotten the chance to teach many pupils – other than young Arthur of course and that wasn’t magic – so I was looking forward to the opportunity.
Sora, simply put, astounded me.
His control is impeccable, his ability to direct power precisely superb. When I learned he was the Keyblade bearer it became apparent where some, though not all of his skill, came from. Still, the youth learned more advanced powers of magic though the oddest methods. I still can’t believe he managed to learn the highest of the wind spells by collecting puppies of all things. Spells are supposed to take time, not this instinctive magic the boy seems to possess! For someone with such skill to come along in my lifetime…I am quite fortunate to have seen it. I hope someday I can convince him to turn to other branches of magic as well besides those associated with combat. We could do many things together; I’m sure of it.
That will have to wait until this entire mess with the Organization is over, however. Drat and bother, they have the worst timing. I really do wish we could have some more time to recover. Getting Hollow Bastion back up on its feet hasn’t been easy. Neither has working with Cid on the town defense system. He can be quite incomprehensible. Everyone understands the basic laws of conservation and energy in magic, I don’t see why he has to keep asking me break them! Some things are just unbreakable.
Oh dear, I got off track, didn’t I.
In any case, I do hope Sora comes back soon. It’s been quite some time since we’ve seen him, and I’m more than a little curious to see just what he’s up to now!
Axel
I should hate Sora.
I should really, really hate him. If it wasn’t for him Roxas would still be with the Organization. He’d never have been changed into that weak emotional thing that lived in a digital twilight town.
But at the same time, I can’t hate Sora. If it wasn’t for him, Roxas would never have existed in the first place.
The first time I saw Sora I wasn’t impressed much. He was useful tool certainly, but he wasn’t the smartest card in the deck, as Luxord might say. Certainly nothing compared to Roxas. Though I suppose that’s only natural since when a Nobody is formed they take the mind, body, and soul of the original; though Roxas lacks Sora’s memories he had his counterpart intelligence, apparently.
That raised the question: if Sora was only memory and a heart, how in the world was he still human and functioning before he merged with Roxas?
I dismissed the thought; clearly having been absent from the World That Never Was and the moon’s power was affecting my thinking. I’m not like Vexen to analyze every little thing, and I have more important things to worry about.
Despite the fact that I had cared for Roxas – as much as a Nobody could care, anyway – things had changed once Kairi had escaped my grasp. Roxas had already fused with Sora, and I had lost my bargaining piece to try and get the Keyblade Master to revert to his Heartless form. There was little I could do anymore, but warn him against the Organization’s plans, and even in that I had failed.
Roxas had always hated to be manipulated, and I couldn’t even keep that from happening.
I paused, gathering my remaining energy. I won’t be able to fight much longer if I stayed away from the moon or got some rest. Yet there was no time for rest now. Even as I waited Sora was charging right into danger. If I didn’t act, it was likely that Sora – and thus Roxas – would die and whatever it was I feel around the blond brat won’t allow me to let that happen. I readied myself for one last jump into the darkness between worlds. For the time I had left, I would fight beside Sora and Roxas, and be whole until I fell.
Roxas
It took almost all of my energy to do it, but it was worth it.
See, ‘DiZ’ wasn’t as smart as he thought he was. He altered my memory with his machine, but even with Naminé’s assistance he couldn’t get rid of me. Rather, he created another Roxas – a pathetically weak one by my standards. Of course there were some links between us, we’re part of the same soul, but we are very different. He can see bits of my memories and tap a part of my skill, but that hardly makes him me
The Roxas of Twilight Town had accepted Sora at the end of his summer vacation.
I, Number Thirteen of the Organization, had not.
I had left Organization Thirteen to find him, but not necessarily to merge with him. I had to test him, to see if I really wanted to have this person as a part of me. DiZ, Naminé, Riku and the Roxas they created denied me that chance.
But we were standing in the World That Never Was. Even now that I am not technically a Nobody, I can feel the strength of the moon made of hearts pouring into me. I pulled the power into me, focusing it and warping the space around us, calling the lesser Nobodies that had been my warriors, the Samurai. They answered my silent call, restraining Sora’s friends long enough for me to accomplish my goal, dropping Sora into an alternate dimension where we could face each other.
At first I wasn’t impressed. Sora has always relied on his friends to help him, and I manage to disarm him, though not without some effort.
Then my counterpart summoned the Keyblade and it answered his call, practically singing with power as it reappeared in response to his need.
I was shocked. Most Organization members could materialize their weapons, but once in existence could not connect with them in that fashion, not even me. Though I had seen Sora do it before, suddenly I understood the depth of Sora’s link with the mystical weapon.
Perhaps I was a better single fighter than my counterpart, but he had an ability to make allies that was uncanny. I might be able to fight with two Keyblades at once without magical help, but Sora could allow the weapon to show him the proper counter to enemy movies.
We would make an incredible team.
“You make a good other.”
I allowed the power to fade, releasing Sora from the parallel dimension and faded into the back of his mind. I sought out the connection between my other and his magical clothes, giving the suit a boost of my own power, and that of the Kingdom Hearts floating in the sky. I smirked. Should be interesting to see how he takes it the next time he transforms!
DiZ
My plan is perfect.
I have analyzed every item, every part to the point I know it better than my own hand. I have made counter plans for every contingency. I have even secured Naminé and young Riku’s – that is, ‘Ansem’s’ - help. Organization Thirteen will fall, and I will have my revenge.
All goes according to my instructions. Roxas comes to us and Naminé’s work progresses rapidly. Soon, Sora is ready to emerge from his sleep. I rejoice, sure that my plans have come to fruition. Even Roxas could not resist my will in the end.
Sora wakes.
Everything falls to pieces.
Organization Thirteen uses Sora for their own aims. Riku leaves to guide his friend along his path. Sora plunges in head first, stubbornly trying to find his own way to the truth, instead of following the path I had so carefully created for him.
My crafted world of black and white collapses before the heart of a teenage boy and yet I finally begin to see how important – and how powerful – the heart is.
There is little time left. I have gambled and lost, but I must try to repay Sora – and Roxas, and Riku, and Naminé – for using their lives with so little care.
My heart demands it, and for perhaps the first time in my life, I am going to follow its call.
Goofy
Something changed the minute Riku started fighting with us. There was a new level of self-assurance in Sora; he practically glowed with confidence. His combined move with his best friend far out shown anything he had done before. They moved almost seamlessly together, but with light hearts, as if this was a game and not a battle.
I was glad to see them working together. Fighting against Riku had been hard, and it hurt Sora a lot. Fighting together they do far more than either could do alone.
At the same time though, Riku doesn’t have the rhythm Donald, Sora and I have developed. Sora’s kept yelling at him not to waste potions and ethers; Riku doesn’t know when we’re in a critical situation versus just an uncomfortable one. Donald and I know better than to use cure spells and healing items unless we absolutely need it. Sora’s emphasized it often enough, and they don’t – as he puts it – “grow on trees.” It is an especially apt point when you consider the Power Point’s healing effects. The green glowing circles restore us with far more efficiency than any object or spell.
I supposed I should find Riku’s awkwardness in group work reassuring in a way. As connected to Sora as the silver haired teen was, he can’t replace us. Our teamwork was all but flawless. We hardly even needed to talk anymore to decide on a strategy and divide up the enemies. Really though, I just thought it was good that Riku was back, and that we were going to take down Xemnas. After that, we can all go home.
For now, I just had to focus on the battle ahead, and try not to think about what going home meant. I can’t be selfish and give less than my best, even if it means I may never see Sora again. None of us have discussed it, but I know we were all thinking about it. However, we all knew the truth as well.
Dear as friendship was, it cannot be balanced against the fate of the worlds.
Donald
If Sora didn’t get back here soon, I was going to kill him.
The one time we left him alone and let him have some time alone with his friends, he didn’t follow us! I know we were following the King but…
Where was that boy?
I paced back and forth across the sands. Kairi was worried too; I could tell. Goofy has been trying to talk to her and calm her down, but I don’t think it was working very well. Probably because he was just as worried. King Mickey was most likely worried for that kid Riku too, but it was harder to tell with him. Mickey can mask his feelings, though he rarely bothered in the past. He was a very open type of ruler most days.
I kicked a rock in irritation and paid for it with a rather large lump on my foot. I forced my beak shut on the cry of pain that was trying to escape and muttered a healing spell under my breath. Sora would tease me horribly if he saw me get injured by a rock of all things. And not even the Rock Titan!
“They’re taking too long!” Kairi cried. “Something must have happened.”
“We defeated Xemnas…” Goofy began and trailed off.
“But what if they’re trapped there?” Kairi asked, voice small and quiet. “Naminé says she can’t open the door between again.”
“We must wait,” Mickey firmly declared. “And have hope.” With that he sat down on the sand, watching the sun slowly sink towards the sunset. After a moment of hesitation we joined him, waiting until the two teens reappeared to release us from our watch.
We would not leave without our friends. They had to be alive.
Because if they weren’t, I was going to blast them to Disney Castle myself.
Tidus
I’m not a bad fighter, you know. I’ve never been as good as Riku, but for a long time at least I stood level with Sora. Selphie, Wakka and I managed to put him down if we worked together after he got better than me but…
I can’t believe it! He just thrashed us!
Yes, we haven’t been training as much since Sora and Riku vanished. Wakka is playing blitzball all the time (honestly, I’m not much better) and Selphie has actually gotten rid of her jump ropes. So maybe I shouldn’t be so surprised that he was better than we are but still! It was odd watching him handle the wooden sword. In fact, I think I might have saw him crack it. Once he got into it, it wasn’t a game for Sora anymore. Not that he hadn’t enjoyed it. I think Sora was the type of person who simply liked to perform difficult feats physically – he should go join the circus or something – but…it was more than what it had been like back when we were battling every day out on Destiny Islands.
I paused, considering what I had just thought. It was true, though. Sora had taken the mock battle far more seriously than he ever had before he vanished. It wasn’t like he was going to kill us, of course, but it felt like …working with a master.
Wakka, Selphie and I don’t know the truth behind what caused Sora, Riku and later Kairi to disappear, and suddenly I don’t want to know. Whatever it was had to be pretty bad if it changed Sora into a master swordsman in only a few years. I think I’ll just stay with what I know; blitzball is a heck of a lot safer than sword work!
Naminé
It’s strange to have Kairi to talk to all the time. I’ve been alone for a long time, in every way that counted anyway. I wasn’t a ‘true’ member of the Organization; I was just a tool for them to use at their whim for most of my existence, until Sora and Axel showed me that I could stand up for myself.
It was hard to restore his memories, you know. I didn’t want to in many ways. I wanted to keep that world where I was the light for Sora’s heart instead of Kairi. Sora was so kind; he forgave me even when he knew what I had done. Roxas is not Sora, and though we share a connection we do not yet have what stretches between Sora and Kairi. Sometimes I wonder if we even have a choice in our future. If Sora and Kairi decide to get married, does that make Roxas and I partners as well? What if I don’t want Roxas? What if I want Sora?
“Kairi! Sora’s here to see you!”
“Coming!” Kairi called, and I found myself running down the stairs. Another thing I had no choice over. Kairi dictated my movements.
It was difficult to accept a cage after tasting freedom.
Kairi led Sora up to her room. I was aware of the mayor’s eyes on our back. I’m comforted by his constant prying actually; with him around nothing too…drastic can happen between Sora and Kairi before I’m ready, though in all honesty I don’t think Sora is ready for that either. And I should know. I poked around in his memories often enough.
Sora plopped down on the floor. Kairi laughed and sat down beside him. “What’s up?” For a second, I saw Roxas instead of Sora’s grinning face. It wasn’t the smiling face of Twilight Town Roxas, though – it was the darker one of the former Organization member. Kairi’s heart raced as terror gripped me in memory –
Hands grasped at my shoulders, shaking me roughly while cold blue eyes peered into mine. “Who are you? Why – why do you – argh.” The blond dropped to the floor, black organization robes pooling around him almost like blood. I took a step back uncertain. He had made me feel something more powerful than I though possible.
I was a Nobody and even though I am different from the others, I was not supposed to feel.
“Well isn’t this interesting.” It was rare thing for me to see Xemnas, but apparently this new member made it necessary for him to intervene. “It appears our two latest charges do not interact well together. Marluxia, I am putting our little witch in your hands. Axel, you have charge of Thirteen. I expect you not to damage him. He’s far too important for our plans.
“Naminé?” Roxas looked at me, worry in his light blue eyes, the Roxas of Twilight Town having banished the darker Roxas I had glimpsed.
I burried the memory in my mind. “I’m okay, Roxas.”
The Keyblade master fidgeted, blissfully unaware of what had just occured. “Actually, I came to talk to Naminé.”
“Oh.” Now Kairi looked awkward. “Um, yeah – ” Naminé?
“Hello, Sora.”
The teen grinned at me, instinctively knowing the difference between me and Kairi, despite the fact we looked exactly the same now. “I wanted to say thank you. For fixing my memories.”
I stared at Sora in shock. There was genuine gratitude in his voice, something that shouldn’t exist. I had been thankful that Sora hadn’t thanked me. I would have hated to have him do it just because of a note rather than knowing the real reason. “But, you shouldn’t be able to remember that!”
Sora smiled sheepishly. “Roxas found it. He’s been finding all sorts of…interesting things in my head.”
“The hazards of having someone else in there.”
“Yeah, no privacy!”
We laughed, Kairi joining us in a moment. I faded into the back of her mind, and soon the pair decided to go find Riku. I went along for the ride, looking forward to seeing the silver haired teenager, my mood restored by knowing Roxas and Kairi aren’t the only ones I’ll be talking to for the rest of my existence.
Life didn’t seem so closed in anymore.
Mickey
“How ‘ya doing, Goofy?”
“I’m good, your majesty,” the captain of the guard replies, turning to face me.
I study him critically. He does not appear fine. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah. It’s just odd, not having Sora around anymore.” Goofy shrugs. “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me!”
I smile and nod in agreement before leaving the court yard and heading for the library. I settle behind my desk, thinking. Clearly, Goofy misses the young teenager he had traveled with for so long. I ponder what I can do about it; it is very out of place for Goofy to be so gloomy.
I do not know Sora well myself, though I often feel that I do because of Riku. One of the few things he often spoke of often when we were together in the darkness was his childhood friend, telling me some of their more harmless adventures. The other, of course, was Kairi. Between that and my limited experience with the youth, I had built the picture of a talented fighter with a heart of gold. Sora’s powers with the Keyblade surpassed mine, and he had earned the loyalty of Donald and Goofy to the point that they disobeyed my direct order to complete his desires. The teen followed his heart, but constantly meddled in the affairs of others, regardless of their own wishes. I smile at the thought. Sora indeed was exceptional to overcome Donald and Goofy’s training. I had often emphasized the need to not interfere with other worlds.
“Mickey.”
I look up to see Minnie approaching, looking as lovely as ever in her gown. I pause in my thoughts to simply enjoy looking at her for a moment. I had been well aware that I might never see home again when I had left trying to find the Keyblade, and simply seeing Minnie everyday was a blessing. “What’s wrong?”
“I was just talking to Daisy. She was mentioning that Donald has been unusually…testy lately.”
We exchange a glance. If Donald was unusually testy he truly had to be out of sorts. “Did she mention why?”
“No, but I think it might be…”
“Sora?” I finish.
Minnie nods. “They stayed together for so long, and then to be separated…”
And visiting is not exactly easy, since Donald and Goofy had duties and Sora no longer had access to a Gummi ship. I pull out a sheet of paper and started writing. It would be nice to see Riku as well, especially in a situation where we didn’t have to watch out for our lives.
“What’s that?”
“An invitation to the castle.” I roll up the paper and seal it. “If I can just find a bottle, I know the perfect way to send it.”
Kairi
I told Sora not to change once.
That was a long time ago, of course. Over two years now, and things have changed, despite what I what I said I wanted as a child. I’ve developed an interest in art. Riku has taken to lurking in the shadows in unfamiliar circumstances rather than charging in as he used to do when we were children. Sora was showing signs of being ambidextrous; his newest habit was to toss his pencils from hand to hand at school like some bizarre juggler.
But at the same time, despite everything, Sora really hasn’t changed at all. He’s only gotten bigger.
When we were children, Sora was always the one reaching out. He made friends easily as breathing. He was the one who introduced me to Riku and helped me become friends with Wakka, Tidus and Selphie too. He had a way of promoting the good in people where ever he goes, making the world seem brighter now.
In that, the only difference from before Destiny Islands destruction to now was the scale.
I only started to notice it after a while. Sora had received an invitation to visit ‘Beast’s Castle.’ Something about a spell being broken. He had dragged Riku and I along despite our protests. Sora fit into the world as easily as a glove. I got along with Belle, whom I had met before because she was another of the Princesses of Heart. Riku, on the other hand, felt incredibly out of place. He avoided the ‘Beast’ – who didn’t look very much like a Beast, in my opinion – with almost a fanatical devotion, hiding in the corners of the palace rather than attending meals with the others. It was a disaster.
When Sora got an invitation to join a musical with his friend Ariel, we both backed out. We wouldn’t feel comfortable there. Sora did, though. Just like when he was a child, he continued to make friends wherever he went. Now his place was scattered over a wider area, and always would be.
Our home was Destiny Islands. Sora carried home with him.
Destiny Islands will always be a special place for Sora, I think, but it can’t hold him. I looked at the spot my friend had vanished from, having just left to go to Jasmine’s wedding. “I once told Sora there were many worlds, but they shared the same sky. I wish I hadn’t been right.”
Riku glanced at me, understanding my meaning. It was hard to share our friend with so many others. “There’s nothing we can do about it. Even if we do go with him.” Because even if we stuck by Sora’s side, he’d still be giving himself to others, helping others. If it came to a fight, we would help but right now neither of us felt they we could contribute to our friend’s efforts.
“We can only wait for him.” And pray that he’d come back safely, hoping he never met a foe that would force him never to return in body, only in spirit.
Riku threw an arm around my shoulders and turned me from Sora’s departure point. “Come on, Kairi. Sora will be back when he gets here. For now, we better go. The tide is rising.”
Riku
I’m tired.
The thought comes from nowhere. One minute I’m sitting watching Kairi and Sora talk quietly, the next I’m feeling the press of exhaustion on my shoulders, a heavy burden I can barely carry. Sora looks over to me, worry in his blue eyes, catching my shift in emotions. I give him a forced smile and shake my head, indicating him to continue his conversation with his wife. My best friend does, though not without giving me a few more concerned glances. I do my best to settle my heart. There is no way Sora won’t notice my unease if it continues, not with our current relationship.
All too soon our time is over. Even certified heroes with connections to the Gods can’t stay in Elysium for long if they are to leave again. Sora kisses Kairi goodbye and she hugs us both. How long has it been since she died, quietly in her sleep? Twenty years? Thirty? I can’t tell anymore. Time passes strangely when you’re walking between worlds, especially when you’re bearing the Keyblade.
Sora vanishes in a sparkle of gold as we walk towards the steps back to the living world, reappearing inside of my heart. You can stay, you know. You didn’t ask for this.
I shake my head. I won’t leave my best friend alone in the world.
I’m never really alone, you know.
“Roxas doesn’t count,” I reply, ignoring the fact that I probably looked pretty odd talking to thin air. I’ve gotten used to it over the years. I’ve also gotten more than my share of odd looks, but that’s only to be expected when you have my striking features, magical weapons and of course, speak to spirits no one else can hear.
I still like to pretend they just stare at my hair as opposed to wondering about my sanity.
Sora is silent for a moment. There are other bearers out there. And things are heating up again. It won’t be too much longer until we have to go to battle again.
Sora’s statement makes my heart sink, though I know he doesn’t really mean ‘me’ in that statement. He’s more referring to himself and Roxas, who had somehow over their lifetimes actually merged with the Keyblades they had carried for so many years, finally abandoning physical form after Kairi and Naminé’s peaceful passing. I had chosen to carry them myself instead of letting them sleep until the next time they were called into action, wandering the worlds much as Sora had in our teenage years. We had faced more than our share of battles, and I’m not sure I’m ready for another one.
Getting old, Riku? Sora teases lightly. I roll my eyes at him, though in truth I’m feeling my age, even though Sora’s power has kept me in pretty good condition, giving me the body of a man in his late thirties as opposed to my eight-odd years.
“Maybe. Not all of us can be young forever, after all.” I tease back. “Have anyone in mind?”
Roxas has been out looking, Sora replies, answering my unspoken question about why the blond had vanished from my thoughts as of late. Three so far. The only one you’d recognize by name in Yuffie’s grandkid though.
“Rinoa?” I’m not sure what scares me more – turning Sora over to a stranger or Rinoa. The girl was a bit on the odd side sometimes.
She’s a top notch mage and has the heart to back it up, Sora counters. Though we won’t know if she’ll accept us until we ask, of course.
That’s the problem with being a magical weapon that requires a bearer. You only really have two choices: take someone over or offer and wait for their answer. I have the feeling they both know they could more than likely be rejected. Bearing a Keyblade isn’t easy. “Only three?”
Its taken us ten years to find those many so far. Sora sighs. There aren’t too many capable of bearing us, you know. It took a certain disposition, courage, a physically capable body and just the right balance of light and darkness in a person’s heart. The last was why Kairi had never been very good with a Keyblade; she was a Princess of Heart, thus had no darkness to link to that in the Keyblade, which was a weapon of dualities.
That was quite possibly why Roxas had still done well with the Keyblade despite lacking a heart, since Nobodies by their nature are creatures of both light and dark.
I return my thoughts back to the topic at hand. “You’ve been searching that long?” That surprised me. I hadn’t realized they had managed to sneak off that often.
We were never sure when you’d finally rest, Riku.
Something about this whole situation seems wrong in my mind. If they had candidates, why were they still here? I didn’t want them to leave, but I did understand their need to move on. “Why haven’t you asked yet?”
Sora’s voice is quiet and soft in my mind. We can’t. Not until you let us go.
That startles me. I hadn’t realized I had been holding them back. Maybe….maybe it is time to let go. “And when you find someone?”
Well, we’ve got a little over a year before the Princes of Darkness -
“Princes of Darkness?”
Of course. They counter the Princess of Heart, didn’t you know that? Anyway, we’ve got half a year before they even start their plans, much less get them to a point they’ll actually be harming anyone. Provided we find someone within the next, oh, two months or so Roxas and I can probably train him or her up enough that they’ll be able to take them on by the time the final battles come around.
That’s one of the annoying things about having a friend who has merged with a mystical weapon that exists on every world simultaneously. They tend to forget you aren’t semi-omnipresent. “I guess I better let you get on it.”
I feel more than see Sora’s smile and allow him to fade from my heart. Take care of Kairi for me?
“Don’t I always? And, if you don’t find someone in time – ”
Oh don’t worry. We will. If nothing else, we can pull Axel back out of limbo – Nobodies never die, as long as their remembered, and the memory of a Keyblade is pretty powerful – and make him our wielder for a while. Might be good for him.
I choke at that, unable to quite…visualize the fiery former Organization member swinging a Keyblade or two around. “Good to know you have contingency plans.”
I’ve lived in your head for how many years? Of course I’ve picked up some things by now.
“About time. You always were a little on the dense side.” I pause, feeling his presence fade, already half way to Roxas’ side. “Take care of yourself, Sora.”
I will. See you later, Riku.
He’s gone. It feels odd to have my heart and mind to myself for the first time in decades, but it’s not entirely a bad feeling. I reverse my steps and walk back towards the meadow Kairi tends to favor. “I was wondering if you were going to stay around this time.”
“What is this, a conspiracy?” I ask, but flop down beside her anyway.
“No. Sora didn’t mention it, but I could tell.” She laces her fingers though mine. “Will you wait for him with me?”
I nod. “Just like old times.”
“Yeah. Just like always.” Kairi grins at me and pulls me to my feet. “In the mean time, you can meet some friend of mine. You should come see Wakka, Tidus and Selphie too. They’ve been waiting for you.”
“They have?”
“Yup. I think Tidus wants to have a rematch with you. He’s been training with Auron – ”
“Who?”
“And I think he’s gotten pretty good.” We walk away, my heart lighter than it has been for years. I’d still be waiting for Sora to come back but for now –
I’m home. And this time, I intend to stay there.
1. Oathkeeper: I always wanted to write something about this, since the keychain is formed when Sora makes the promise to Kairi. One could almost imagine the Keyblade would vanish if that promise was broken.
2. Luxord:kiraya picked this one out. Interesting to write, though I’m not sure how good of a job I did. Organization members are tricky. : ( (More about Roxas than Sora, but *insert explanation about how Roxas and Sora are same person if you go down enough*)
3. Minnie: I though Minnie was pretty cute. Not completely defenseless, but not an overly-strong character. Appropriate for her position.
4. Sora’s Mom: Me and 15 other people like to write from her POV. I wish we could get a name.
5. Demyx: I like to think Demyx is smarter than he’s sometimes portrayed in fanfiction. Maybe wishful thinking on my thought but…
6. Cloud: There should be more Cloud + Sora cute and fluffy friendship fics , dang it. Mentorship fics for double win. And the person he’s referencing is Zack, in case anyone cares.
7. Phil: He’s an interesting character because he sees Sora grow so much, compared to some of the others. And Herc did look as wimpy – possibly more – than Sora did when he first showed up…
8. Elizabeth: I wanted to address the whole “I want to be a pirate” thing, which seemed quite natural to me considering where Sora grew up.
9. Santa Claus: Because the savior of the world SHOULD get extra Christmas presents, dang it.
10. Merlin: Most of this is me blathering on magic mechanics. ^^;
11. Axel: The whole Roxas-Sora-Axel triangle relationship fascinates me. I really wish Axel and Sora could have interacted more in canon after Roxas was absorbed.
12. Roxas: I’m playing with these ideas in mykingdom_xiii claim(s), so you’ll see more of this in the future.
13. DiZ: Interesting guy to play with, though I wish I knew more about his motivations, actions and emotions than we get in canon. He could have been fleshed out more.
14. Goofy: I wondered how Goofy and/or Donald would feel when Riku joined the party. The part about the potions is my own frustration on how characters at first toss them if you get a scratch….
15. Donald: Where there is Donald, there must be Goofy. I wanted to fill in what was going on while the boys were fighting Xemnas AGAIN and stuck in the dark realm.
16. Tidus: I thought it would be interesting to see how the other Destiny Island trio would react to Sora, and Riku’s, advance skills post-KHII.
17. Naminé: Hint of Sora/Naminé which is my KH het OTP – I adore Naminé for what she did at the end of KH:CoM. Also, I think it would be hard for Naminé to essentially surrender her freedom after so much hardship to get it, but that’s just me.
18. Mickey: Our favorite mouse! Again addressing the close relationship between Sora, Donald and Goofy here and dealing the separation post game.
19. Kairi: Now I know some people are going to get upset at this – i.e. leaving Riku and Kairi out – but they’re staying home when they don’t know the people involved. I can see Kairi going along when Sora was visiting Hollow Bastion, for example. And there’s a strength in waiting. Kairi reminds me of Winry from FMA, and she’s in no way weak.
20. Riku: Lot of pet theories floating around here. This is more of a snapshot set in a “what if” universe FAR in the future. Sorry if its confusing. ^^;; Oh, and this is mild Sora/Kairi in the “well, if he’s going to marry someone it’s definitely going to be Kairi in canonish universe unless something major happens" type. Doesn't mean he wasn't/wouldn't be involved with anyone else, so if that isn't your thing...use your imagination.
And the end! Hope you enjoyed at least one of ‘em. ^.^
Rating: PG-13ish on the save side.
Characters: Sora focus. 20 others (Disney, Final Fantasy and KH original) Mostly gen, with some light!het pairings/implications.
Once upon a time, there was a Linn. In the fullness of time, she realized her 21st birthday was coming upon her, and she became very thoughtful, for she had heard of the “twenty-one shots” tradition, finding it rather stupid way to loose brain cells. She thought to herself: “Self, surely there is a much more enjoyable way to celebrate one’s twenty first birthday that would be more fun for all.” And because she was much fun of lame puns, she decided “I shall not drink twenty-one shots; I shall write twenty one-shots!”
(Some of them are short, more drabbleish. Too bad. They’re one-shots cause I say so. :P)
And here is the result. At one point they were supposed to be one each from twenty fandoms, but that didn’t pan out because I had Kingdom Hearts on the brain, so here we have twenty one-shots sort of loosely connected together but not really, each from a different point of view. Roughly in chronological order, but not perfect, what can I say? Oh, and document without the notes is exactly twenty pages as well. XD I’m easily amused.
SPOILERS FOR KINGDOM HEARTS II. DO NOT READ IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE SPOILED.
Oathkeeper
We’re not all the same, you know.
Most of us represent a place, a world, if you will, created by a victory over something. Some of us are from people, friend and allies who help our bearer.
I’m not like that.
I’m different.
Victory is not what forged me, but a promise. With every promise my bearer makes and fulfills, I grow in strength. As long as he keeps his word, I will stay by his side, no matter what. That is why I existed in two places at once, both at my bearer’s side and at his shadow’s. Both had kept their vows, and thus I was there.
“Oathkeeper,” he calls me, though it is not quiet true. Know that as long as I am present, you can trust the one who bears me, for he is the Oathkeeper. I am merely the Oath.
Luxord
The first time I saw Roxas he was a bare breath away from fighting Larxene. That in and of itself wasn’t surprising. The newest member of the Organization had a habit of causing dissention. So far, he had managed to fight four of the others to submission, a surprising feat considering his size and experience.
But was he not the Nobody of the Keyblade master? What else should we have suspected?
“Roxas.”
“Luxord.” The blond’s face did not change from its current wall-like expression, but he took a step back.
“Larxene. Xemnas wants to see you with the others.” The only female member of the Organization gave Roxas a dirty look and left, dismissing her daggers with a thought. “She’s departing for Castle Oblivion shortly. Leave her be.” Roxas didn’t reply, merely turned to go the opposite direction. “Axel is going as well.”
The Key of Destiny’s footsteps faltered for a second, and then recover. “I see.”
It amused me how much Roxas attempted to hide his attachment to the red haired member of our company. Exactly what was between them was beyond my ability to discern, but there was a strong connection there. “While he’s gone, I’ll be your liaison to the Superior.”
“I don’t need a keeper.”
I laughed lightly. “I’m well aware of that. You’ve proven yourself more than enough for me. Bear with it for now; time will pass faster than you think.”
It had. Faster than I had though possible Castle Oblivion had fallen, Naminé had been freed and Axel made his way back to the World That Never Was – alone. All of the other Nobodies had ceased to exist. Axel had predictably reattached himself to Roxas, but their bond seemed to be weakened by the distance, or perhaps a matter that seemed to be weighing Roxas’ mind constantly now. Suddenly, time was gone all together when Roxas left and Axel made to follow him. I managed to catch him as he was leaving.
“He won’t come back.”
“Shut up.” Axel wasn’t in the mood to play nice. “I have to try.”
“He’s had too much hidden from him. He won’t stop until he has his answers.” I was no fool. I could see what had happened to Number Thirteen and I suspected that the Superior had done it on purpose, though I would never had voiced such a thought. Roxas has been powerful as a Nobody, but Sora was an even more powerful Keyblade wielder, making it more likely he would successfully kill enough Heartless to create Xemnas’ Kingdom Hearts.
Ironically, this single minded determination to find the truth seemed to be very similar to Sora, from the reports I had seen that had survived Castle Oblivion. It seems a Nobody and his and her Somebody were not as different as one might believe.
“Then I’ll find some for him,” Axel snapped. “Don’t get in my way, Luxord.”
I stepped aside, not willing to taste Axel’s flames over a pointless gesture. “You have already lost this gamble, my friend.” Axel did not reply, stalking out of the forbidding rooms to the dark streets below. I looked up towards the empty halls above him. “It is a bet we all have lost.” I walk back inside, wondering how long it would be until Roxas – or perhaps Sora – would come to cash in his chips, and dreading that day. We should have never invited a Keyblade master to our side. That, in the end, was our folly.
Minnie
I must admit, the first time I saw Sora I was in a way relieved. He treated me like a normal person, until he discovered who I was, and even then he was only then slightly more respectful than what appeared to be his usual behavior. He’s such a nice young man, protecting me and helping me defend the castle. I can see why the Keyblade selected him. He’s an amazing person, practically glowing with goodness.
Despite that goodness though, I can sense a weariness in him. He’s done so much, and given even more, but he still hasn’t received his greatest wish. I almost asked him to stay and to rest, but I know he won’t. He’ll keep searching for what he’s looking for. He’s like Mickey that way. Actually, he’s a lot like Mickey; if I closed my eyes, I might think that my husband stood beside me instead of a lost child looking for home.
I hope he finds it soon. I have faith, though, that he will in the end – and that Mickey too will come home. I have to. If I don’t, I have nothing else left.
Sora’s Mom
Coming back was rather odd. Most of us tried to just forget about the darkness that had swamped our world in the night and go about our lives, as if we hadn’t been returned in a shower of star dust. I think the majority succeeded too, from the way people stubbornly refuse to even talk about it when I asked about it.
I didn’t forget though, not with my son missing. How could I? It wasn’t like I could ignore all that had happened, with my life so disrupted. Sora was not home, and until then, my world will not be restored.
Little Kairi came over shortly after everything settled down. The poor child seemed eager to have someone to talk to, and even more she needed someone would believe her. Her tale was a tall one, but I suspect it was true. Kairi rarely made up stories as a child, and why would she lie in the face of so much criticism?
It was with her help I finally understood exactly what my son had done. I was so proud; not every mother that gets to hear her child has saved the universe.
Kairi went missing two days ago; the entire town is worried again, but trying very hard not to discuss that thing-that-most-certainly-didn’t-happen. I’m upset as well, of course. I know better than anyone else left exactly what Kairi faces and she is very dear to me, but at the same time I cannot help but hope that maybe this time when she gets home, she’ll bring Riku and Sora as well.
Those three always were connected. I suppose I shouldn’t have fed them that paopu fruit as a snack when they were children, though it seemed like a good idea at the time. Perhaps I should have been more careful with meddling with powers like that, but I didn’t really believe the legend.
I walked up the stairs to stare at Sora’s room. I had cleaned in here several times while my son had been gone, but it still seemed lifeless without my son’s presence. I stripped the bed and changed the sheets. Hopefully, they’d be getting use soon.
“Come home, Sora. Life is far too empty without you.”
Demyx
I don’t know how you could mistake him for anyone other than Roxas - correction, Roxas’ somebody - considering how they looked. I mean, really, who did that Keyblade wielding brat think he was fooling? I’d known Roxas was with him the minute I first saw him in the Underworld!
Though I did call him Roxas instead by mistake. Then again, that seemed to piss him off and it appears my fellow Organization members have followed my lead, so to speak, from the reports coming in from the others.
The members who are still loyal and living, anyway. Between the whole mess with Castle Oblivion and defections – namely Roxas and now Axel – there are more thrones empty than full anymore. There would be more empty by the end of this though. I wasn’t supposed to, but I saw the reports. Sora knocked off a few of the members himself, even under Naminé’s influence and without having Roxas back. What would he be able to do whole?
I have a bad feeling I’m going to find out. Orders just came down for me to go to Hollow Bastion and kill Sora. They’re really sending the wrong guy for this; I’m not nearly as good as a fighter as the others. I’m going to try and get Roxas to come back to us – he better answer me this time when I talk to him. I like him a lot better than Sora, even if Sora’s generally a nice guy to non-Nobodies - and if that doesn’t work I’m going to have to try and beat Sora into submission. But it comes to that, I fear the Empty Hall of Melodies really will become empty, because I have a bad feeling this is a test of Sora’s skills…and I’m the bait.
Cloud
There was something about him, the first time I saw him.
Maybe he reminded me of myself. Maybe he reminded me of someone who I’m afraid to remember, less Sephiroth also recall him and chase him down. My light and my darkness, connected but separate – I can only hope they stay that way, lest one destroy the other.
In any case, I went easy on the kid, just about every time we dueled, but it’s gotten easier to lose as time’s gone on. He’s become an amazing fighter; in some ways I wish he’d stay accessible more often instead of harping off to every planet he can find. I suspect we could both learn a lot from each other. It’s also surprisingly easy to talk to him. Despite his appearance, Sora knows the darkness; he has since the day he first wielded the Keyblade, I think, and he has only grown in that knowledge. It’s hard on him, though I think only a few of them see it. I have; there is a trust between us, an unspoken thing that is still strange to me, though it rarely is obvious in public. Perhaps that’s why I talked to him after the Cerberus incident. Usually that’s not like me.
I still remember the time I saw the darkness in Sora the strongest. He had come back to the Coliseum, shortly before the Hades Tournament was held…
I generally didn’t hang around when ‘Phil’ was training Sora. I had other things to do, not to mention I hardly thought smashing barrels counted as training. I had been passing by when I noticed Sora completing the exercise yet again. He had increased in speed and strength, shredding the barrels as if they were sheets of paper.
It was…impressive. Surprisingly so, for someone who was only 14.
Still, there was a tenseness to his expression that surprised me. When the goat finally dismissed Sora, I followed him. The teen apparently was taking advantage of the Coliseum facilities for the night. Wishing to speak to him privately before he reunited to his friends, I followed him into the showers. Sora had just pulled off his shirt when he saw me. “Cloud!”
I nodded in greeting, glancing at the star shaped scar on Sora’s chest. It was odd to see him with a scar at all; he had none anywhere else, despite the number of wounds he had received. Even those I had given him had vanished almost magically, undoubtedly a side effect of being a Keybearer. But this one had stayed.
Sora noticed my glance and lightly touched the scar, then sighed. “Nothing is going the way I thought it would.”
“How did you get that?” I honestly hadn’t expected him to answer me. We all have secrets we wish to hide, a fact I know well.
“Plunged a dark Keyblade into my heart. To save Kairi.”
My eyebrows surged towards my hairline for a moment. That was not what I had expected.
“She had given me her heart some how, and I couldn’t save her without giving up my own.” Sora continued, the words coming easier now, as if seeking release. A distant part of my mind made sarcastic comments about a certain satyr and his belief Sora wasn’t a true hero; I had heard the ‘miraculous’ story of Hercules’ path to attain the title and if sacrificing your heart to save another’s wasn’t an equivalent, I didn’t know what was. I forced the thoughts out of my mind as Sora continued, voice weakening in strength. “I couldn’t see her like an empty puppet like that – and Riku was there.”
“But he had fallen to the darkness.” I could tell that without effort, now understanding the weariness I had seen. Sora had been touched directly by the darkness, and had lost a dear friend to it as well.
I made a mental note to kick Yuffie severely if she started making more comparison between Sora and myself. Spiky hair a clone does not make, nor do eyes.
Even if there were a disturbing amount of similar incidents in our lives.
“Yeah.” Sora sighed. “..Thanks Cloud. For listening.” I looked at him in surprise. “The others – Donald, Goofy – don’t want to hear about that. They just want me to be happy, to keep going. But it’s hard to be happy all the time…”
“Indeed.”
Sora shook his head. “I should hurry or else Donald’ll be after me.”
Having heard the unspoken request I left, walking from the room deep in thought. I had my answer, for now.
The teen is rather different now. Sora’s has gotten stronger than he was when I last saw him. It’s almost as if he has found something he lost, without knowing it was gone. Fighting beside him I couldn’t help but feel the energy radiating from him, like a star. Leon and I had seen Sora vanish, but I knew he was still alive. He’d be back before we knew it. After all, he was a lucky one.
Phil
First time I saw the kid I thought he had to be lost. I mean, he was so small, so scrawny!
Not unlike Herc at first, but that was a long time ago.
So yeah, he passed my little barrel test and didn’t do so bad with the lightning spell I gave him. That doesn’t make him a hero, and that doesn’t make him game material, but somehow that kid got his hands on a pass and snuck right in there! Must have had something to do with Hades – that guy has an obsession with the kid, almost as bad as the one he has with Herc.
You know, I still have a hard time believing a scrawny runt like him could take down Cerberus, even if Herc had worn him down first. And then he promptly went on to breeze through the games, defeating Herc, Hades, Titans and anything else we could throw at him! I never knew how he even found out when we were having a contest; he just showed up and blew the competition away.
Until the day the stars fell.
For a long time he never showed up again. For a while, we held more games, hoping he would come back, but then we forgot about him, for some reason I’ll never understand. Then he pops back up, taller but as scrawny as ever with those crazy sidekicks of his, still meddling in any trouble he comes across.
I’m glad though. We could use a few more Heroes like him. Hope he doesn’t vanish on us again! Kid still needs training.
Though I really should come up with some new exercises for him before he runs out of things to do…
Elizabeth
“It’s nice to be by the sea again.”
I turned to look at Sora. He was an odd looking young man, very different from Will or even Jack. He and his strange companions seemed to stand out awkwardly, but they are good people regardless. Hadn’t Sora proven himself over and over again? I only hoped we could get back to Port Royal before that man Luxord got there and ruined everything. However, there is nothing I could do at this point except let Jack steer the Pearl. I should stop fretting. “You’ve been by the ocean before?”
“I grew up by it,” Sora replied. “We used to row over to Destiny Islands every day we could, Riku, Kairi and me.” The light in his eyes dimmed. “It was a lot of fun. Riku and I would train some, but most times Kairi came up with some crazy idea and dragged us off to go along with it.” He looked out over the water as he remembered his past. “We played pirates for a while.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Riku and Tidus were the pirates mostly though. Wakka, Selphie, Kairi and I were the defenders of the island, though sometimes Kairi and Selphie turned the tide and were the ‘great female pirates here to capture all the men and drag them off to be slaves!’” Sora pitched his voice higher in imitation of a female voice. “At least that’s what Selphie always said.” He sighed. “I always wanted to have a turn at being a pirate but I never got a chance. Riku and Tidus always beat me.”
“I was fascinated by pirates as a little girl,” I said, feeling a surprising kinship for the young man. “I suspect Jack would let you come along for a while, if you really wanted.”
“Nah. I have to get going, once we stop Luxord. We have to defeat the Organization once and for all – and I have a promise to keep.” Sora touched something in his pocket.
“Good luck.” Having seen Luxord I know Sora’s quest is dangerous, but cannot help but hope he succeeds.
“Land ho!” Will called.
“Right. Time to get this over with!”
Santa Claus
You have to understand, there is a rule around here. Once you say you don’t believe in Santa Claus, even if you are the best person in the world, I can’t deliver you presents. It’s actually a part of the magic, you see. For those who don’t believe, their homes are closed to me. No presents will appear for them in my sack. It’s not just because I don’t want to!
It’s not like I don’t realize how silly it is not to have the savior of the universe on my “good” list.
Doubly so for someone so innocent and kind.
But the rules are the rules! I can’t simply break them.
Though…Sora does believe now, and has said as much. That might just be enough to bend the rules and the Christmas Magic seems rather taken with the child. Smiling, I fished out my list and added the name of one Keyblade bearer. Now just to think of the perfect present.
Merlin
Now you have to realize, magic isn’t an easy thing to master. No indeed. Do you have any idea how many sugar bowels I broke while trying to learn how to enchant kitchenware? Not to mention at that point I didn’t know how to fix them!
When I met young Sora I was rather impressed. He had already managed to learn the basics of fire, ice and lightning magic. I of course offered to tutor him, though it was clear his duck companion also knew something of magic. As a senior wizard I have an obligation to the younger generation; I hadn’t gotten the chance to teach many pupils – other than young Arthur of course and that wasn’t magic – so I was looking forward to the opportunity.
Sora, simply put, astounded me.
His control is impeccable, his ability to direct power precisely superb. When I learned he was the Keyblade bearer it became apparent where some, though not all of his skill, came from. Still, the youth learned more advanced powers of magic though the oddest methods. I still can’t believe he managed to learn the highest of the wind spells by collecting puppies of all things. Spells are supposed to take time, not this instinctive magic the boy seems to possess! For someone with such skill to come along in my lifetime…I am quite fortunate to have seen it. I hope someday I can convince him to turn to other branches of magic as well besides those associated with combat. We could do many things together; I’m sure of it.
That will have to wait until this entire mess with the Organization is over, however. Drat and bother, they have the worst timing. I really do wish we could have some more time to recover. Getting Hollow Bastion back up on its feet hasn’t been easy. Neither has working with Cid on the town defense system. He can be quite incomprehensible. Everyone understands the basic laws of conservation and energy in magic, I don’t see why he has to keep asking me break them! Some things are just unbreakable.
Oh dear, I got off track, didn’t I.
In any case, I do hope Sora comes back soon. It’s been quite some time since we’ve seen him, and I’m more than a little curious to see just what he’s up to now!
Axel
I should hate Sora.
I should really, really hate him. If it wasn’t for him Roxas would still be with the Organization. He’d never have been changed into that weak emotional thing that lived in a digital twilight town.
But at the same time, I can’t hate Sora. If it wasn’t for him, Roxas would never have existed in the first place.
The first time I saw Sora I wasn’t impressed much. He was useful tool certainly, but he wasn’t the smartest card in the deck, as Luxord might say. Certainly nothing compared to Roxas. Though I suppose that’s only natural since when a Nobody is formed they take the mind, body, and soul of the original; though Roxas lacks Sora’s memories he had his counterpart intelligence, apparently.
That raised the question: if Sora was only memory and a heart, how in the world was he still human and functioning before he merged with Roxas?
I dismissed the thought; clearly having been absent from the World That Never Was and the moon’s power was affecting my thinking. I’m not like Vexen to analyze every little thing, and I have more important things to worry about.
Despite the fact that I had cared for Roxas – as much as a Nobody could care, anyway – things had changed once Kairi had escaped my grasp. Roxas had already fused with Sora, and I had lost my bargaining piece to try and get the Keyblade Master to revert to his Heartless form. There was little I could do anymore, but warn him against the Organization’s plans, and even in that I had failed.
Roxas had always hated to be manipulated, and I couldn’t even keep that from happening.
I paused, gathering my remaining energy. I won’t be able to fight much longer if I stayed away from the moon or got some rest. Yet there was no time for rest now. Even as I waited Sora was charging right into danger. If I didn’t act, it was likely that Sora – and thus Roxas – would die and whatever it was I feel around the blond brat won’t allow me to let that happen. I readied myself for one last jump into the darkness between worlds. For the time I had left, I would fight beside Sora and Roxas, and be whole until I fell.
Roxas
It took almost all of my energy to do it, but it was worth it.
See, ‘DiZ’ wasn’t as smart as he thought he was. He altered my memory with his machine, but even with Naminé’s assistance he couldn’t get rid of me. Rather, he created another Roxas – a pathetically weak one by my standards. Of course there were some links between us, we’re part of the same soul, but we are very different. He can see bits of my memories and tap a part of my skill, but that hardly makes him me
The Roxas of Twilight Town had accepted Sora at the end of his summer vacation.
I, Number Thirteen of the Organization, had not.
I had left Organization Thirteen to find him, but not necessarily to merge with him. I had to test him, to see if I really wanted to have this person as a part of me. DiZ, Naminé, Riku and the Roxas they created denied me that chance.
But we were standing in the World That Never Was. Even now that I am not technically a Nobody, I can feel the strength of the moon made of hearts pouring into me. I pulled the power into me, focusing it and warping the space around us, calling the lesser Nobodies that had been my warriors, the Samurai. They answered my silent call, restraining Sora’s friends long enough for me to accomplish my goal, dropping Sora into an alternate dimension where we could face each other.
At first I wasn’t impressed. Sora has always relied on his friends to help him, and I manage to disarm him, though not without some effort.
Then my counterpart summoned the Keyblade and it answered his call, practically singing with power as it reappeared in response to his need.
I was shocked. Most Organization members could materialize their weapons, but once in existence could not connect with them in that fashion, not even me. Though I had seen Sora do it before, suddenly I understood the depth of Sora’s link with the mystical weapon.
Perhaps I was a better single fighter than my counterpart, but he had an ability to make allies that was uncanny. I might be able to fight with two Keyblades at once without magical help, but Sora could allow the weapon to show him the proper counter to enemy movies.
We would make an incredible team.
“You make a good other.”
I allowed the power to fade, releasing Sora from the parallel dimension and faded into the back of his mind. I sought out the connection between my other and his magical clothes, giving the suit a boost of my own power, and that of the Kingdom Hearts floating in the sky. I smirked. Should be interesting to see how he takes it the next time he transforms!
DiZ
My plan is perfect.
I have analyzed every item, every part to the point I know it better than my own hand. I have made counter plans for every contingency. I have even secured Naminé and young Riku’s – that is, ‘Ansem’s’ - help. Organization Thirteen will fall, and I will have my revenge.
All goes according to my instructions. Roxas comes to us and Naminé’s work progresses rapidly. Soon, Sora is ready to emerge from his sleep. I rejoice, sure that my plans have come to fruition. Even Roxas could not resist my will in the end.
Sora wakes.
Everything falls to pieces.
Organization Thirteen uses Sora for their own aims. Riku leaves to guide his friend along his path. Sora plunges in head first, stubbornly trying to find his own way to the truth, instead of following the path I had so carefully created for him.
My crafted world of black and white collapses before the heart of a teenage boy and yet I finally begin to see how important – and how powerful – the heart is.
There is little time left. I have gambled and lost, but I must try to repay Sora – and Roxas, and Riku, and Naminé – for using their lives with so little care.
My heart demands it, and for perhaps the first time in my life, I am going to follow its call.
Goofy
Something changed the minute Riku started fighting with us. There was a new level of self-assurance in Sora; he practically glowed with confidence. His combined move with his best friend far out shown anything he had done before. They moved almost seamlessly together, but with light hearts, as if this was a game and not a battle.
I was glad to see them working together. Fighting against Riku had been hard, and it hurt Sora a lot. Fighting together they do far more than either could do alone.
At the same time though, Riku doesn’t have the rhythm Donald, Sora and I have developed. Sora’s kept yelling at him not to waste potions and ethers; Riku doesn’t know when we’re in a critical situation versus just an uncomfortable one. Donald and I know better than to use cure spells and healing items unless we absolutely need it. Sora’s emphasized it often enough, and they don’t – as he puts it – “grow on trees.” It is an especially apt point when you consider the Power Point’s healing effects. The green glowing circles restore us with far more efficiency than any object or spell.
I supposed I should find Riku’s awkwardness in group work reassuring in a way. As connected to Sora as the silver haired teen was, he can’t replace us. Our teamwork was all but flawless. We hardly even needed to talk anymore to decide on a strategy and divide up the enemies. Really though, I just thought it was good that Riku was back, and that we were going to take down Xemnas. After that, we can all go home.
For now, I just had to focus on the battle ahead, and try not to think about what going home meant. I can’t be selfish and give less than my best, even if it means I may never see Sora again. None of us have discussed it, but I know we were all thinking about it. However, we all knew the truth as well.
Dear as friendship was, it cannot be balanced against the fate of the worlds.
Donald
If Sora didn’t get back here soon, I was going to kill him.
The one time we left him alone and let him have some time alone with his friends, he didn’t follow us! I know we were following the King but…
Where was that boy?
I paced back and forth across the sands. Kairi was worried too; I could tell. Goofy has been trying to talk to her and calm her down, but I don’t think it was working very well. Probably because he was just as worried. King Mickey was most likely worried for that kid Riku too, but it was harder to tell with him. Mickey can mask his feelings, though he rarely bothered in the past. He was a very open type of ruler most days.
I kicked a rock in irritation and paid for it with a rather large lump on my foot. I forced my beak shut on the cry of pain that was trying to escape and muttered a healing spell under my breath. Sora would tease me horribly if he saw me get injured by a rock of all things. And not even the Rock Titan!
“They’re taking too long!” Kairi cried. “Something must have happened.”
“We defeated Xemnas…” Goofy began and trailed off.
“But what if they’re trapped there?” Kairi asked, voice small and quiet. “Naminé says she can’t open the door between again.”
“We must wait,” Mickey firmly declared. “And have hope.” With that he sat down on the sand, watching the sun slowly sink towards the sunset. After a moment of hesitation we joined him, waiting until the two teens reappeared to release us from our watch.
We would not leave without our friends. They had to be alive.
Because if they weren’t, I was going to blast them to Disney Castle myself.
Tidus
I’m not a bad fighter, you know. I’ve never been as good as Riku, but for a long time at least I stood level with Sora. Selphie, Wakka and I managed to put him down if we worked together after he got better than me but…
I can’t believe it! He just thrashed us!
Yes, we haven’t been training as much since Sora and Riku vanished. Wakka is playing blitzball all the time (honestly, I’m not much better) and Selphie has actually gotten rid of her jump ropes. So maybe I shouldn’t be so surprised that he was better than we are but still! It was odd watching him handle the wooden sword. In fact, I think I might have saw him crack it. Once he got into it, it wasn’t a game for Sora anymore. Not that he hadn’t enjoyed it. I think Sora was the type of person who simply liked to perform difficult feats physically – he should go join the circus or something – but…it was more than what it had been like back when we were battling every day out on Destiny Islands.
I paused, considering what I had just thought. It was true, though. Sora had taken the mock battle far more seriously than he ever had before he vanished. It wasn’t like he was going to kill us, of course, but it felt like …working with a master.
Wakka, Selphie and I don’t know the truth behind what caused Sora, Riku and later Kairi to disappear, and suddenly I don’t want to know. Whatever it was had to be pretty bad if it changed Sora into a master swordsman in only a few years. I think I’ll just stay with what I know; blitzball is a heck of a lot safer than sword work!
Naminé
It’s strange to have Kairi to talk to all the time. I’ve been alone for a long time, in every way that counted anyway. I wasn’t a ‘true’ member of the Organization; I was just a tool for them to use at their whim for most of my existence, until Sora and Axel showed me that I could stand up for myself.
It was hard to restore his memories, you know. I didn’t want to in many ways. I wanted to keep that world where I was the light for Sora’s heart instead of Kairi. Sora was so kind; he forgave me even when he knew what I had done. Roxas is not Sora, and though we share a connection we do not yet have what stretches between Sora and Kairi. Sometimes I wonder if we even have a choice in our future. If Sora and Kairi decide to get married, does that make Roxas and I partners as well? What if I don’t want Roxas? What if I want Sora?
“Kairi! Sora’s here to see you!”
“Coming!” Kairi called, and I found myself running down the stairs. Another thing I had no choice over. Kairi dictated my movements.
It was difficult to accept a cage after tasting freedom.
Kairi led Sora up to her room. I was aware of the mayor’s eyes on our back. I’m comforted by his constant prying actually; with him around nothing too…drastic can happen between Sora and Kairi before I’m ready, though in all honesty I don’t think Sora is ready for that either. And I should know. I poked around in his memories often enough.
Sora plopped down on the floor. Kairi laughed and sat down beside him. “What’s up?” For a second, I saw Roxas instead of Sora’s grinning face. It wasn’t the smiling face of Twilight Town Roxas, though – it was the darker one of the former Organization member. Kairi’s heart raced as terror gripped me in memory –
Hands grasped at my shoulders, shaking me roughly while cold blue eyes peered into mine. “Who are you? Why – why do you – argh.” The blond dropped to the floor, black organization robes pooling around him almost like blood. I took a step back uncertain. He had made me feel something more powerful than I though possible.
I was a Nobody and even though I am different from the others, I was not supposed to feel.
“Well isn’t this interesting.” It was rare thing for me to see Xemnas, but apparently this new member made it necessary for him to intervene. “It appears our two latest charges do not interact well together. Marluxia, I am putting our little witch in your hands. Axel, you have charge of Thirteen. I expect you not to damage him. He’s far too important for our plans.
“Naminé?” Roxas looked at me, worry in his light blue eyes, the Roxas of Twilight Town having banished the darker Roxas I had glimpsed.
I burried the memory in my mind. “I’m okay, Roxas.”
The Keyblade master fidgeted, blissfully unaware of what had just occured. “Actually, I came to talk to Naminé.”
“Oh.” Now Kairi looked awkward. “Um, yeah – ” Naminé?
“Hello, Sora.”
The teen grinned at me, instinctively knowing the difference between me and Kairi, despite the fact we looked exactly the same now. “I wanted to say thank you. For fixing my memories.”
I stared at Sora in shock. There was genuine gratitude in his voice, something that shouldn’t exist. I had been thankful that Sora hadn’t thanked me. I would have hated to have him do it just because of a note rather than knowing the real reason. “But, you shouldn’t be able to remember that!”
Sora smiled sheepishly. “Roxas found it. He’s been finding all sorts of…interesting things in my head.”
“The hazards of having someone else in there.”
“Yeah, no privacy!”
We laughed, Kairi joining us in a moment. I faded into the back of her mind, and soon the pair decided to go find Riku. I went along for the ride, looking forward to seeing the silver haired teenager, my mood restored by knowing Roxas and Kairi aren’t the only ones I’ll be talking to for the rest of my existence.
Life didn’t seem so closed in anymore.
Mickey
“How ‘ya doing, Goofy?”
“I’m good, your majesty,” the captain of the guard replies, turning to face me.
I study him critically. He does not appear fine. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah. It’s just odd, not having Sora around anymore.” Goofy shrugs. “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me!”
I smile and nod in agreement before leaving the court yard and heading for the library. I settle behind my desk, thinking. Clearly, Goofy misses the young teenager he had traveled with for so long. I ponder what I can do about it; it is very out of place for Goofy to be so gloomy.
I do not know Sora well myself, though I often feel that I do because of Riku. One of the few things he often spoke of often when we were together in the darkness was his childhood friend, telling me some of their more harmless adventures. The other, of course, was Kairi. Between that and my limited experience with the youth, I had built the picture of a talented fighter with a heart of gold. Sora’s powers with the Keyblade surpassed mine, and he had earned the loyalty of Donald and Goofy to the point that they disobeyed my direct order to complete his desires. The teen followed his heart, but constantly meddled in the affairs of others, regardless of their own wishes. I smile at the thought. Sora indeed was exceptional to overcome Donald and Goofy’s training. I had often emphasized the need to not interfere with other worlds.
“Mickey.”
I look up to see Minnie approaching, looking as lovely as ever in her gown. I pause in my thoughts to simply enjoy looking at her for a moment. I had been well aware that I might never see home again when I had left trying to find the Keyblade, and simply seeing Minnie everyday was a blessing. “What’s wrong?”
“I was just talking to Daisy. She was mentioning that Donald has been unusually…testy lately.”
We exchange a glance. If Donald was unusually testy he truly had to be out of sorts. “Did she mention why?”
“No, but I think it might be…”
“Sora?” I finish.
Minnie nods. “They stayed together for so long, and then to be separated…”
And visiting is not exactly easy, since Donald and Goofy had duties and Sora no longer had access to a Gummi ship. I pull out a sheet of paper and started writing. It would be nice to see Riku as well, especially in a situation where we didn’t have to watch out for our lives.
“What’s that?”
“An invitation to the castle.” I roll up the paper and seal it. “If I can just find a bottle, I know the perfect way to send it.”
Kairi
I told Sora not to change once.
That was a long time ago, of course. Over two years now, and things have changed, despite what I what I said I wanted as a child. I’ve developed an interest in art. Riku has taken to lurking in the shadows in unfamiliar circumstances rather than charging in as he used to do when we were children. Sora was showing signs of being ambidextrous; his newest habit was to toss his pencils from hand to hand at school like some bizarre juggler.
But at the same time, despite everything, Sora really hasn’t changed at all. He’s only gotten bigger.
When we were children, Sora was always the one reaching out. He made friends easily as breathing. He was the one who introduced me to Riku and helped me become friends with Wakka, Tidus and Selphie too. He had a way of promoting the good in people where ever he goes, making the world seem brighter now.
In that, the only difference from before Destiny Islands destruction to now was the scale.
I only started to notice it after a while. Sora had received an invitation to visit ‘Beast’s Castle.’ Something about a spell being broken. He had dragged Riku and I along despite our protests. Sora fit into the world as easily as a glove. I got along with Belle, whom I had met before because she was another of the Princesses of Heart. Riku, on the other hand, felt incredibly out of place. He avoided the ‘Beast’ – who didn’t look very much like a Beast, in my opinion – with almost a fanatical devotion, hiding in the corners of the palace rather than attending meals with the others. It was a disaster.
When Sora got an invitation to join a musical with his friend Ariel, we both backed out. We wouldn’t feel comfortable there. Sora did, though. Just like when he was a child, he continued to make friends wherever he went. Now his place was scattered over a wider area, and always would be.
Our home was Destiny Islands. Sora carried home with him.
Destiny Islands will always be a special place for Sora, I think, but it can’t hold him. I looked at the spot my friend had vanished from, having just left to go to Jasmine’s wedding. “I once told Sora there were many worlds, but they shared the same sky. I wish I hadn’t been right.”
Riku glanced at me, understanding my meaning. It was hard to share our friend with so many others. “There’s nothing we can do about it. Even if we do go with him.” Because even if we stuck by Sora’s side, he’d still be giving himself to others, helping others. If it came to a fight, we would help but right now neither of us felt they we could contribute to our friend’s efforts.
“We can only wait for him.” And pray that he’d come back safely, hoping he never met a foe that would force him never to return in body, only in spirit.
Riku threw an arm around my shoulders and turned me from Sora’s departure point. “Come on, Kairi. Sora will be back when he gets here. For now, we better go. The tide is rising.”
Riku
I’m tired.
The thought comes from nowhere. One minute I’m sitting watching Kairi and Sora talk quietly, the next I’m feeling the press of exhaustion on my shoulders, a heavy burden I can barely carry. Sora looks over to me, worry in his blue eyes, catching my shift in emotions. I give him a forced smile and shake my head, indicating him to continue his conversation with his wife. My best friend does, though not without giving me a few more concerned glances. I do my best to settle my heart. There is no way Sora won’t notice my unease if it continues, not with our current relationship.
All too soon our time is over. Even certified heroes with connections to the Gods can’t stay in Elysium for long if they are to leave again. Sora kisses Kairi goodbye and she hugs us both. How long has it been since she died, quietly in her sleep? Twenty years? Thirty? I can’t tell anymore. Time passes strangely when you’re walking between worlds, especially when you’re bearing the Keyblade.
Sora vanishes in a sparkle of gold as we walk towards the steps back to the living world, reappearing inside of my heart. You can stay, you know. You didn’t ask for this.
I shake my head. I won’t leave my best friend alone in the world.
I’m never really alone, you know.
“Roxas doesn’t count,” I reply, ignoring the fact that I probably looked pretty odd talking to thin air. I’ve gotten used to it over the years. I’ve also gotten more than my share of odd looks, but that’s only to be expected when you have my striking features, magical weapons and of course, speak to spirits no one else can hear.
I still like to pretend they just stare at my hair as opposed to wondering about my sanity.
Sora is silent for a moment. There are other bearers out there. And things are heating up again. It won’t be too much longer until we have to go to battle again.
Sora’s statement makes my heart sink, though I know he doesn’t really mean ‘me’ in that statement. He’s more referring to himself and Roxas, who had somehow over their lifetimes actually merged with the Keyblades they had carried for so many years, finally abandoning physical form after Kairi and Naminé’s peaceful passing. I had chosen to carry them myself instead of letting them sleep until the next time they were called into action, wandering the worlds much as Sora had in our teenage years. We had faced more than our share of battles, and I’m not sure I’m ready for another one.
Getting old, Riku? Sora teases lightly. I roll my eyes at him, though in truth I’m feeling my age, even though Sora’s power has kept me in pretty good condition, giving me the body of a man in his late thirties as opposed to my eight-odd years.
“Maybe. Not all of us can be young forever, after all.” I tease back. “Have anyone in mind?”
Roxas has been out looking, Sora replies, answering my unspoken question about why the blond had vanished from my thoughts as of late. Three so far. The only one you’d recognize by name in Yuffie’s grandkid though.
“Rinoa?” I’m not sure what scares me more – turning Sora over to a stranger or Rinoa. The girl was a bit on the odd side sometimes.
She’s a top notch mage and has the heart to back it up, Sora counters. Though we won’t know if she’ll accept us until we ask, of course.
That’s the problem with being a magical weapon that requires a bearer. You only really have two choices: take someone over or offer and wait for their answer. I have the feeling they both know they could more than likely be rejected. Bearing a Keyblade isn’t easy. “Only three?”
Its taken us ten years to find those many so far. Sora sighs. There aren’t too many capable of bearing us, you know. It took a certain disposition, courage, a physically capable body and just the right balance of light and darkness in a person’s heart. The last was why Kairi had never been very good with a Keyblade; she was a Princess of Heart, thus had no darkness to link to that in the Keyblade, which was a weapon of dualities.
That was quite possibly why Roxas had still done well with the Keyblade despite lacking a heart, since Nobodies by their nature are creatures of both light and dark.
I return my thoughts back to the topic at hand. “You’ve been searching that long?” That surprised me. I hadn’t realized they had managed to sneak off that often.
We were never sure when you’d finally rest, Riku.
Something about this whole situation seems wrong in my mind. If they had candidates, why were they still here? I didn’t want them to leave, but I did understand their need to move on. “Why haven’t you asked yet?”
Sora’s voice is quiet and soft in my mind. We can’t. Not until you let us go.
That startles me. I hadn’t realized I had been holding them back. Maybe….maybe it is time to let go. “And when you find someone?”
Well, we’ve got a little over a year before the Princes of Darkness -
“Princes of Darkness?”
Of course. They counter the Princess of Heart, didn’t you know that? Anyway, we’ve got half a year before they even start their plans, much less get them to a point they’ll actually be harming anyone. Provided we find someone within the next, oh, two months or so Roxas and I can probably train him or her up enough that they’ll be able to take them on by the time the final battles come around.
That’s one of the annoying things about having a friend who has merged with a mystical weapon that exists on every world simultaneously. They tend to forget you aren’t semi-omnipresent. “I guess I better let you get on it.”
I feel more than see Sora’s smile and allow him to fade from my heart. Take care of Kairi for me?
“Don’t I always? And, if you don’t find someone in time – ”
Oh don’t worry. We will. If nothing else, we can pull Axel back out of limbo – Nobodies never die, as long as their remembered, and the memory of a Keyblade is pretty powerful – and make him our wielder for a while. Might be good for him.
I choke at that, unable to quite…visualize the fiery former Organization member swinging a Keyblade or two around. “Good to know you have contingency plans.”
I’ve lived in your head for how many years? Of course I’ve picked up some things by now.
“About time. You always were a little on the dense side.” I pause, feeling his presence fade, already half way to Roxas’ side. “Take care of yourself, Sora.”
I will. See you later, Riku.
He’s gone. It feels odd to have my heart and mind to myself for the first time in decades, but it’s not entirely a bad feeling. I reverse my steps and walk back towards the meadow Kairi tends to favor. “I was wondering if you were going to stay around this time.”
“What is this, a conspiracy?” I ask, but flop down beside her anyway.
“No. Sora didn’t mention it, but I could tell.” She laces her fingers though mine. “Will you wait for him with me?”
I nod. “Just like old times.”
“Yeah. Just like always.” Kairi grins at me and pulls me to my feet. “In the mean time, you can meet some friend of mine. You should come see Wakka, Tidus and Selphie too. They’ve been waiting for you.”
“They have?”
“Yup. I think Tidus wants to have a rematch with you. He’s been training with Auron – ”
“Who?”
“And I think he’s gotten pretty good.” We walk away, my heart lighter than it has been for years. I’d still be waiting for Sora to come back but for now –
I’m home. And this time, I intend to stay there.
1. Oathkeeper: I always wanted to write something about this, since the keychain is formed when Sora makes the promise to Kairi. One could almost imagine the Keyblade would vanish if that promise was broken.
2. Luxord:
kiraya picked this one out. Interesting to write, though I’m not sure how good of a job I did. Organization members are tricky. : ( (More about Roxas than Sora, but *insert explanation about how Roxas and Sora are same person if you go down enough*)3. Minnie: I though Minnie was pretty cute. Not completely defenseless, but not an overly-strong character. Appropriate for her position.
4. Sora’s Mom: Me and 15 other people like to write from her POV. I wish we could get a name.
5. Demyx: I like to think Demyx is smarter than he’s sometimes portrayed in fanfiction. Maybe wishful thinking on my thought but…
6. Cloud: There should be more Cloud + Sora cute and fluffy friendship fics , dang it. Mentorship fics for double win. And the person he’s referencing is Zack, in case anyone cares.
7. Phil: He’s an interesting character because he sees Sora grow so much, compared to some of the others. And Herc did look as wimpy – possibly more – than Sora did when he first showed up…
8. Elizabeth: I wanted to address the whole “I want to be a pirate” thing, which seemed quite natural to me considering where Sora grew up.
9. Santa Claus: Because the savior of the world SHOULD get extra Christmas presents, dang it.
10. Merlin: Most of this is me blathering on magic mechanics. ^^;
11. Axel: The whole Roxas-Sora-Axel triangle relationship fascinates me. I really wish Axel and Sora could have interacted more in canon after Roxas was absorbed.
12. Roxas: I’m playing with these ideas in my
kingdom_xiii claim(s), so you’ll see more of this in the future.13. DiZ: Interesting guy to play with, though I wish I knew more about his motivations, actions and emotions than we get in canon. He could have been fleshed out more.
14. Goofy: I wondered how Goofy and/or Donald would feel when Riku joined the party. The part about the potions is my own frustration on how characters at first toss them if you get a scratch….
15. Donald: Where there is Donald, there must be Goofy. I wanted to fill in what was going on while the boys were fighting Xemnas AGAIN and stuck in the dark realm.
16. Tidus: I thought it would be interesting to see how the other Destiny Island trio would react to Sora, and Riku’s, advance skills post-KHII.
17. Naminé: Hint of Sora/Naminé which is my KH het OTP – I adore Naminé for what she did at the end of KH:CoM. Also, I think it would be hard for Naminé to essentially surrender her freedom after so much hardship to get it, but that’s just me.
18. Mickey: Our favorite mouse! Again addressing the close relationship between Sora, Donald and Goofy here and dealing the separation post game.
19. Kairi: Now I know some people are going to get upset at this – i.e. leaving Riku and Kairi out – but they’re staying home when they don’t know the people involved. I can see Kairi going along when Sora was visiting Hollow Bastion, for example. And there’s a strength in waiting. Kairi reminds me of Winry from FMA, and she’s in no way weak.
20. Riku: Lot of pet theories floating around here. This is more of a snapshot set in a “what if” universe FAR in the future. Sorry if its confusing. ^^;; Oh, and this is mild Sora/Kairi in the “well, if he’s going to marry someone it’s definitely going to be Kairi in canonish universe unless something major happens" type. Doesn't mean he wasn't/wouldn't be involved with anyone else, so if that isn't your thing...use your imagination.
And the end! Hope you enjoyed at least one of ‘em. ^.^
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-09-06 08:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-06 12:28 pm (UTC)