Summary: After crash landing on Destiny Islands as a young girl, Ami grows up yearning to learn of the truth and a life other than the small isle she is kept on. They always say the truth will set you free, but is a past filled with darkness the truth she expected?
Dearly Beloved
"Entrust your body to the soothing waves of your memories, Ami."
I frowned, reading the message one last time before closing the heart-shaped locket dangling around my neck. With a quiet 'chink', I ripped the locket off in frustration and tossed it behind me. My heart plummeted into my stomach at the sound of it hitting the coarse sand. Regretting my decision I turned around to pick it back up, this was the only item I had from my past. But if I didn't know my past, should I even bother keeping it? Riku, Kairi and Sora keep telling me that if I continue to read it, maybe something will come back to me. But that was five years and ago and here I am, still reading the same sentence haunting me since I can remember at all.
It was five years ago when I first arrived here on this island. Five years ago when I was found by Kairi. I closed my eyes and laid back in the sand, allowing my earliest memory to resurface and replay, just as it has done in my head everyday.
"Mayor, look!" An inquisitive, auburn haired girl shouted as she saw the smoke rise up from the crash site. It was a pretty normal day at Destiny Islands, the sun was shining and the water warm. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, not until a strange, square-esque looking space ship came plummeting from the sky and crashed into the shallow water.
"Let us hurry to help, and pray that everyone's alright." The young girl quickly sprinted ahead of the mayor, running towards the debris that was blowing around in the wind. "Careful!" The old man called in worry as he caught up to the spirited girl. They soon saw the full devastation when they reached the scene.
"Maybe you should head back and find help child." The mayor said, not wanting her to see the horror laid out before them by her innocent, blue eyes.
But the young girl was too distracted to hear his warnings when her eyes saw the frail figure that laid under a shield for protection. She quickly started to try to lift the shield that was much to heavy for her in order to free the figure. Finally, the mayors' guards appeared to the scene to assist. As they lifted the shield, the young rescuer started to climb under and reach out her hand. She was surprised when the hand she grabbed belonged to that of a small girl, roughly the same age as her, looking at her with large, hazel eyes. Even when the guards lifted the shield, the auburn haired girl found herself not letting go of the figure's hand. Watching her with great intensity, she saw the small survivor let out a shallow breath.
"She's alive!" The girl cried out, still grasping the hand laid out before her. "You're going to be okay." She spoke in a reassuring voice. "My name is Kairi and I am going to protect you!" She promised bravely.
"For a minute there, I thought this was Sora here snoozing on the beach. Leaving all the work for the rest of us." I groggily wiped my eyes and looked up to see a muscular, silver haired teen standing behind me. I waved my hand at Riku's sarcastic comment and laid my head back down closing my eyes.
"Is she going to make it?!" Kairi cried to the mayor as they waited in the hospital room. Worry was written all over her small, pixie like features. The mayor patted her head, worry written on his face as well.
"I do hope so, Kairi." He whispered. The small girl was the only one recovered from the crash, other than her the space ship had been empty. There was nothing but odd block like parts of the ship and the metallic shield that lay over her.
"Can we adopt her too?" Kairi asked pulling the mayor from his thoughts. She tugged on his arm and asked again. "Can we adopt her like you adopted me?" Kairi too was found on the island, appearing one day in a mysterious manner. The mayor smiled softly, noticing the bond already created between the two young girls.
"Yes Kairi, I believe that we can." Kairi exuberantly jumped for joy at the thought of a new friend, and also a sister. "But you're going to have to share your room now you know." The mayor joked. Kairi stood and stared at the mayor.
"That's alright I don't mind at all!" She quickly yelled as the mayor laughed lovingly.
"Now then," The mayor began. "What are we going to call her? I wonder if she will recall her name."
Kairi looked up at him smiling, pulling out a heart shaped necklace from her pocket.
"I found this in her hand," She said as she handed it over. "It says -"
"Ami! Rise and shine!" I heard Riku's soft chuckle and felt the sand beneath me vibrate as he moved closer. Then felt cool water being splashed at my legs.
"Ack!" I lurched up to see Riku standing in front of me ankle deep in the ocean, a smug look plastered to his face and a tiny bucket in his hands.
"Welcome back, Ami. Now if you don't mind, there's fish to be caught for the raft." He said, 'as a matter of factly' while crossing his arms over his chest. I looked up at him and sighed, shaking my head. I saw the sunlight surround Riku, illuminating his strong figure and shinning off of his silver hair.
The sun was high in the sky radiating us with light as the ocean breeze covered us with cool, crisp air. I stood up and wiped off my large black capris and rolled them up to my ankles, stepping into the ocean. I tightened the three gray belts around my waist. As I pulled back my wavy, brunette hair I felt the sun shine on my shoulders. I figured I'd keep my red jacket on the beach, leaving me in a grey beater. I left my black and white sneakers by the water as the tide reached my toes.
"I'm pretty sure there won't be any fish...after you scare them all away." I sauntered over to Riku, plotting my revenge after his 'wake up' call. He raised his eyebrows as I approached.
"What do you mea- augh!" I threw my hands up from the water as quickly as I could in the direction of my victim. The sound of my laughing was louder than the sound of splashing as Riku fell back in the water. I would have basked in the satisfaction of revenge if I hadn't seen the pout dawned upon Riku's lips when he re-surfaced.
I watched as he put a hand through his now damp hair and brushed it back, then extended it out for me to grab to hoist him back up out of the water. As I grabbed his hand I realized the mistake I had made. As Riku pulled me down with him, our laughter and yells had been drowned out by the ocean. Under the water our eyes locked, I stuck out my tongue as Riku smirked. When we resurfaced he pulled me up and we looked to the horizon.
"Even?" We said to each other, chuckling softly. If this was what my locket meant by 'entrusting the soothing waves of my memories', then they were the only memories worth keeping.
We looked to the shore when we heard voices calling to us. When did we get so far from the shoreline?
"Riku! Ami!" A pair of teens were waving from the beach. I made out the figures of a brunette with his arms behind his head and a petite, auburn haired girl with her hands clasped behind her back.
"Hey Sora! Hey Kairi!" I called back cheerfully to them as we swam back to the shore.
When we got back to the beach and started to dry off I saw Kairi looking back and forth between Riku and I and smiling. What's that all about? I made a mental note to ask her later.
"You mean to tell me you two have just been out playing in the sun all afternoon?" She jokingly pointed to the two of us. I blushed as Riku scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.
"Now this I expected from Ami and Sora, but you Riku?" Kairi teased while crossing her arms, to which Sora and I responded with 'Hey!'
It was true, out of the four of us, Kairi and Riku seemed to be the most responsible. Which was a blessing to even out mine and Sora's immaturity. But the four of us fit together like an inseparable puzzle; our own little family.
"Well, now that all the fish are scared off," Kairi continued while shaking her head and motioning towards the empty, vast ocean in front of them. "What else is left to collect for the raft?"
I put a finger to my lips and began to think. "Well we still need fresh water, mushrooms and some logs?" I suggested as we looked at each other trying to divvy up the tasks.
Sora yawned and planted himself on the sand. "I'll stay here and wait for the fish to come back." He volunteered.
We're never getting those fish. I laughed to myself. "While Sora's taking a nap, I volunteer to get the mushrooms." I raised my hand.
Looking between Riku and Kairi it seemed to already be decided who would be finding logs and fresh water.
I sat down next to Sora at the beach while Kairi and Riku split up to find the rest of the supplies for the raft.
"Meet at the paopu tree in a few hours okay?" Kairi called to us, we all waved in agreement and I noticed that the sun was still high in the sky.
xxx
Sitting on the beach I waved to Wakka and Tidus as they threw a blue, striped ball back and forth. I think they were playing something called 'blitzball', but I could never make sense of the game. I noticed Selphie make a necklace from sea shells and watching them play as well. Seeing them at the beach made me realize something, I never thought about having to say goodbye to them. Sure, we would eventually come home, I hoped, but how long was our journey going to take? And what about our parents too? Would we say farewell to them? What if they forced us to abandon our adventure for fear of us getting into danger?
The sound of Sora's soft snoring pulled me from my thoughts. I forced myself to not think about it anymore, and to look for the supplies.
We'll be home before we know it...at least, I hope.
I figured the best place to start looking for mushrooms was the secret place, I'm sure there had to be some mushrooms growing in that small cave. I noticed that I hadn't been there in a very long time. It was mostly Sora and Riku that came into this place, to draw on the walls or fight 'monsters' lurking in the shadows. Truth be told, I always had a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach when I was ever near the secret place. I stood by the small waterfall and looked down into the dark opening in front of me. I gulped.
Come on, Ami, snap out of it. You're fifteen years old for crying out loud, it's only a cave! I repeated this in my head as I walked down and ran my hands along the cold, damp walls. When I got to the back of the cave I looked around, it was much smaller than I remembered. I sighed in relief, realizing the cave had seemed so large and scary because I was so small and young.
"See," I began aloud. "Nothing to be afraid of." I scanned the room for mushrooms and realized the Sora and Riku had completely covered the walls in drawings. I smiled warmly, analyzing all their childhood artwork, but a blush grew across my face when my eyes landed on a certain carving of Sora and Kairi faces looking at each other.
I smiled lightly thinking about all the times Sora and Riku would race to decide who would share a paopu fruit with her. Kairi would keep me up at night telling me how she'd root for both of them, of course, but her features always brightened when Sora won. The competitiveness between both boys growing after each race. Tracing my fingers over the carving I remembered the old legend surrounding the star shaped fruit. If two people share one...their destines become intertwined, they become a part of each others lives, no matter what. I crossed my arms and my smile grew. Seeing them together every day, I just knew they had feelings for each other, even if they didn't want to admit it. And even if we weren't really related, I would always consider Kairi my sister, and Sora one of my best friends. It just felt so natural to grow closer and closer to them, but I noticed that out of all of us they had been growing the closest all along.
As I was lost in my thoughts, I felt a cold chill run up my spine, taking all my happy thoughts with it. I turned to my left and noticed that the chill in the air was coming from the giant door in the wall...wait, giant door?
I had to take a double take. When did that get there? I scratched the back of my head. Had that always been there?
I shuddered, suddenly feeling extremely cold and hugged myself.
"Prepare. For the journey is about to begin."
"Hello?" I called out. Did someone say something? "Riku, if this a joke it's not funny!" I yelled as I swear a figure appeared in the corner of my eye.
"Entrust your body to the soothing waves of the darkness, Ami."
I heard the shrill laughter of a deep voice. I couldn't move, I couldn't breathe. I grabbed my necklace as I felt tears run down my face. I turned my head slowly to see dark tendrils seeping through the door, heading straight towards me. I watched the darkness wrap around my legs, I tried to move, to run, anything, but I could barely even wiggle my toes.
As the secret place grew darker and darker I waved my arms attempting to fan the darkness away, but I was completely unsuccessful. Pretty soon I felt sleepy and I closed my eyes and fell to the floor. The funny thing was though, I waited for impact but it never came. I found myself falling through the darkness. Opening my eyes I found that I was no longer in the secret place at all, but falling slowly towards a stained glass platform beneath me. The closer and closer I got the more clear the images on the glass were, an image of my friends in each oval.
"Sora...Kairi...Riku." I whispered as my feet hit the platform and I looked around at her surroundings, taking it all in. "Nothing, but darkness."
There is never only darkness. Just as there is never only light. In this place, there is both light and dark. Coexisting. Remember that.
Startled at the voice, I looked around. "H-Hello?" I called out. This was way too freaky. A bright light began glowing in the middle of the platform and I felt myself being pulled towards it, the same way I felt pulled towards the door. When the light began to fade it revealed my shield floating there, waiting for me to grab it. The painful memory brought tears to my eyes.
"Why?" Why now? And how did my shield get here? They mayor kept it locked up tight at the mansion. What was going on? I had so many questions, and I felt that none of them were going to be answered anytime soon.
There will times when you will have to defend yourself.
Defend myself? From what? I almost regretted asking as I grabbed the shield and noticed something strapped to the inside. A silver sword with a golden handle.
And times you will have to fight.
"What is going on?" I cried aloud, not understanding what was happening as black figures slowly arose from pools of darkness. In fear, I began to back up. When there was no where else left to go, I held the shield in front of me for protection. I didn't mind fighting, I even spared with Sora and Riku from time to time, but these creatures were much more different, much more real.
It's only a dream, it's only a dream. I repeated in my head. This isn't real.
As if hearing my thoughts, the creatures stared at me with their yellow eyes and lunged. Just as I pushed my shield forward one of the creatures had sunk into the ground, as it popped back up under my shield it scratched at my stomach. Their claws burned, and I had never experienced a pain quite like it before.
"Augh!" I screamed in pain, almost falling off of the platform. No, I arrived at a terrifying conclusion, this is real.
I quickly pulled the sword from it's strap and hacked away at the creatures. Using sparring techniques I learned from Sora and Riku, it felt quite natural fighting them. After defeating them I looked around, on my guard and cautious of more creatures appearing.
You fight well, good. You'll need to fight in order to survive. For this is only the beginning.
Why do I not like the sound of that? A wooden, painted door appeared in front of me. The same one from the secret place! The light radiating from it felt warm. And I was drawn towards it as the light around it grew brighter and brighter. But the closer I got, I noticed my shadow grew darker. A pool of darkness formed underneath me and just as I grabbed the handle of the door with one hand I found myself being pulled by the darkness.
"No!" I called out, struggling to hold onto the door for dear life.
Remember the balance between light and dark.
Balance?! I'm about to be swallowed by the darkness! I cried in horror as my hand was slipping from the door and dark tendrils wrapped around my leg. Please, someone, anyone, help me. I felt overwhelmed and faint. Just as the darkness reached my waist, the door swung open. I saw a hand being held out to me and a glimpse of silver hair. Riku? I thought. Should I grab hold? I tried to reach but felt my hand slip from the door and I plunged into darkness. Before it all went dark, I felt a hand grab onto mine holding it tightly.
Remember to entrust your memories.
This is where it all begins.
I held my breath and closed my eyes as it all went dark. But never let go of the hand grasping mine.
I was plunged back to reality when I heard a voice call out to me. At least, I hope it was reality.
"Ami?!" The concern in the voice calling to me was what snapped me out of my trance as I turned my head and found myself lying on the floor of the secret place.
"Riku?" I called out. I don't know why I would call to him. But I was surprised to see Sora running into the cave. He was panting, trying to catch his breath at the doorway, his eyes were full of concern.
"Are you alright? I heard you yell from the beach." He gasped. I had yelled? Loud enough for him to hear?
Do you not see the room covered in this dark smog? I thought as I turned back to look at the door. I gasped at what I saw.
There was only a door. No darkness seeping through; no strange figure. Just the door and an empty cave, well besides me and Sora that is. Speaking of Sora...
"Ami?" I felt his hands gripping my shoulders and lifting me up. I finally met his eyes and felt tears well up in mine until I couldn't even make out the oceanic blue of his. Sora tried to console me and ask to explain what had happen, but how was I supposed to talk about what I had just witnessed? I didn't even know for sure what it was that I saw.
Sora looked over at the door, and then back at me.
"Ami, did you...have a strange dream? Or see someone else down here? Someone, who...we've never seen before?" When I looked Sora in the eyes we both knew the answer to that question.
"I did too." Sora confessed. He experienced this as well? Why hasn't he said anything before? Just as I was about to ask for him to explain, I heard footsteps rush down the cave hall.
"Hey, Riku said he saw you head down here Sora. Have you seen Ami? I'm worried about her. It's way passed the time we were supposed to meet." Kairi stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Sora and I. She looked us up and down. "Oh." She exclaimed. I saw her expression go quickly from concern to confusion. I could feel the hurt in my heart looking at her. As she turned on her heels and ran out, I called after her.
"No! Kairi, it's not what it looks like!" She had the wrong idea, but left me no time to explain. I slumped my shoulders in defeat. More worried about Kairi's feeling than what had just happened involving the strange door.
I looked over at Sora who had confusion written all over his face. Clueless boy, I thought to myself. "You don't get it do you?" I whispered, pointing over at the drawing at my feet. Sora blushed, seeming to hope I hadn't seen it. He scratched his head while looking at the floor.
"We can talk about the strange figure, dreams and the door later okay? Please go after her?" I begged. Sora nodded and rushed after Kairi.
"And Sora," I called as he turned to look at me. "Thank you." He nodded at me and gave me a small smile.
"Don't worry." No other words needed to be exchanged as he excited the secret place, Sora and I were good, Kairi and I on the other hand... I grabbed my necklace from around my neck and threw it too the cold, hard floor. I shook the tears from my eyes and looked to my right. Angrily, I grabbed the mushrooms by my feet and exited the secret place, not even glancing behind me to take one last look at the mysterious door or my locket.
xxx
I sat against the branch of the paopu tree sulking. What had been a wonderful day had been ruined and I couldn't figure out how it all went to shit.
"Dammit." I growled, turning and kicking the tree. My temper wasn't the best, and I rarely had it under control. I wasn't calm and collected like Riku, or happy go lucky like Sora, and definitely not as optimistic as Kairi. I'm not even entirely sure how I fit into their picture, I felt like I was the only one with a negative side. Well, until I had witnessed Kairi's today. At the thought of that, I clutched my chest, feeling pain in my heart.
I looked down at my feet seeing that a paopu fruit had fallen next to me when I kicked the tree. I picked it up, examined it, and then chucked it as far as I could from the island.
"Now what did that paopu fruit ever do to you?" I turned to see Riku, arms crossed with a smug look and brow raised, examining me. How long had he been there? I felt my face grow hot.
"Not now, Riku." I slumped back against the tree. Sensing something was obviously wrong, I noticed him walk up beside me. He sat up on the tree and gazed off into the sunset. Whenever I was in a slump, it always seemed like Riku was the one to get me out of it. He didn't ask questions, or pry. He just sat with me until I calmed down, or listened to what I had to say.
"Kairi's upset with me." I murmured. Looking up at Riku and unable to read his expression, I quickly glanced back down at my feet. I wish I had another fruit to throw.
After a few moments of silence I heard Riku speak. "That's not like you two at all." He stated.
"We've never been mad at each other before. I don't know what to do." It was the honest truth. Since I had gotten here, and lived with Kairi, we've never once fought or argued. She was my best friend, my sister, and the person I cared about most.
"Well, maybe you should try talking with her." Riku stated simply as he jumped down from the tree and pointed over by the docks, I followed his finger and saw Kairi and Sora sitting and talking as the sun set. I would have to talk to her later, I didn't want to interrupt that moment, it would only make things worse. I brought my gaze back to Riku and noticed his expression had changed as he looked over at Sora and Kairi, I didn't know what to make of it though.
"I guess you're right." I decided I would talk to her tonight when we got home, back to the mayor's mansion.
We leaned against the tree in silence for what seemed like forever, watching the sunset. It was ironic, earlier today I wanted the day to last forever. Now as I was watching the sunset, I just couldn't wait for it to end.
"She was pretty worried about you earlier...we both were." Riku said, looking over at me. "What happened?"
They were worried? I hadn't been in the secret place for that long had I? I looked over at the cave entrance, remembering back to what Kairi said as she was walking down.
"Have you seen Ami? I'm worried about her. It's way passed the time we were supposed to meet."
What on Destiny Islands was going on?
I noticed that Riku had been waiting for an explanation. But for some reason, I didn't want to tell him the truth.
"Oh..well, I...I couldn't seem to find mushrooms anywhere on the Island. I guess I got so obsessed with finding them I lost track of time." I feigned a smile and laughed halfheartedly, hoping Riku would believe my lie. I could see from his expression that he didn't, but for some reason he didn't call me out on it.
"I did find some though." I added, passing him the mushrooms from my pocket. "Do we have everything ready?"
As Riku placed the mushrooms in his pocket he nodded. He seemed more quiet than usual, I wondered what was up.
"Everything good?" I asked, it was my turn to listen to whatever was bothering him.
"Where did your locket go?" He quickly changed the subject. How did he know it was missing? I looked down at my chest and shrugged half-hardheartedly.
"Must have left it on the beach somewhere, I'm sure I'll find it." He didn't seem content with that answer, much like with my lie, but still didn't seem to pry.
He kept his eyes still gazing forward, never seeming to leave Kairi and Sora.
"You're ready to go, right?" Did he think I would get cold feet? Or wimp out?
"Of course," I said strongly. "My middle name is adventure." I pointed at my chest with a proud smirk. "I'm ready for anything, you know that, Riku."
Ready for anything of course, except his next question. He nodded, breaking himself from his thoughts and his gaze from Sora and Kairi and turning to me with an intimidating gaze, I felt as if his eyes could see right through me.
"What if there was another way to travel from this Island, would you take it?" His voice seemed a bit off, like he wasn't sure of the answer himself. Truthfully, I didn't even know what to say. Another way off the Island? But how?
"But Riku, what other way would there be besides the raft?" I cocked my head to the side lost in total confusion. If we didn't leave on the raft, how were we going to get anywhere at all?
"You're right, forget I asked okay?" He shoved his hands in his pocket. "Must be tired from getting everything ready today." He said more to himself than me. I didn't even realize how late it had gotten until I noticed the sun almost fully set. I really had no sense of time today. I also noticed that while we were talking Sora must have taken his boat back to the mainland, and Kairi wasn't on the dock either anymore. Where could she have gone?
Riku seemed to notice my concern and walked toward the bridge. "I think I saw Kairi head over with Sora. It's getting pretty late you want to head home?" I felt like I should stay and wait for her to come back for her boat, but maybe she just needed to blow off some steam. Besides, we would talk tonight. I'd stay up and wait for her to get home.
"Alright." I said giving in and headed over and walked with him towards our boats. As we untied them, I looked over at Riku.
"Tomorrow's the day." He said, seemingly optimistic, yet serious. I quietly nodded, this all seemed so real. And even though we've been preparing for weeks, it seemed so sudden. Were we ready?
"No sleeping in, by the way." Riku's voice pulled me from my thoughts. "If I catch you and Sora taking a nap on the beach, maybe Kairi and I will just head out together and leave you two behind." He teased, his signature smirk played across his lips and he laughed at my lack of a response. I splashed some water in his direction, too drained to come up with a sarcastic rebuttal. We both said goodnight and started rowing our boats back to the mainland.
The whole way back my mind was lost in thought, just as it had been all day today. The thought of getting on a raft and venturing off to the unknown both frightened and excited me. Through all the excitement, I seemed to have forgotten to ask myself the most important questions. Would we really find mine and Kairi's homes? And did I even really want to find the truth? I shook my head, realizing all this thinking was going to give me grey hair by sixteen.
Why was I so worried? I was going to have my three best friends there with me on this journey. Nothing could stop us.
I absentmindedly tied my boat to the dock when I got back to the mainland, I noticed that Kairi's still wasn't back.
Was she really that upset? I quietly opened the door the our home and crept inside. I'm sure the mayor, or 'dad', as he insisted we call him, would probably be upset at how late I was getting home and that we had missed dinner. But he would probably be even more upset that Kairi wasn't with me.
I should have waited for her, man am I a terrible sister. It was too late to go back, it'd be hard to see where you were rowing in the dark. I was half expecting a phone call from Sora's mother saying that Kairi would have to spend the night. Once I reached our room and put pajamas on though, I sat up in bed hoping that she would burst through the door at any moment.
I practiced my apology until it was engraved in my head, and eventually laid down by the windowsill overlooking the island. It was far too late for Kairi to be coming home now, I'm sure Sora was going to bring her by in the morning and we could talk then. I pictured different scenarios in my head until I drifted off to sleep and they became dreams.
xxx
I'm not sure how long I was asleep for, but I must have left the window open because I felt something dripping onto my face, was that rain?
"Wait...rain?!" I jumped from my slumber and leaned out the window. Staring at the black cloud that engulfed the entire sky above. My jaw dropped. A storm? It took me a moment to realize something.
"The raft!" I threw clothes around and fell trying to get changed and rushed out the door. I couldn't let the raft get destroyed in the storm. I wouldn't, not after all our hard work! I ran down the stairs and practically fell out the front door to my home, hoping that as it slammed shut it didn't wake the mayor. I wish I had taken one last glance, because I wasn't sure of what was to come as I untied my boat and rowed towards the island.
I screamed as the waves almost engulfed my small rowboat as I headed towards the docks. I didn't even stop to tie the boat down when I noticed that Sora, Kairi and Riku's boats were all there already.
Did they come to save the raft too? I looked around not seeing them anywhere.
"Sora! Riku! Kairi!" I called out walking onto the beach. The wind took my calls and carried them into the storm, there was no way anyone would be able to hear me. The storm seemed to be getting worse as tree branches were breaking off and flying onto the beach. What was I thinking, heading head first into a storm like this?! I turned my head as I noticed a figure running from the secret place, my heart was in my throat for fear of it being the figure I saw earlier. But when I saw the giant spikes of brunette hair I instantly called out trying to scream louder than the wind.
"Sora!" I met his blue eyes with my hazel ones and noticed that his were in complete shock. I saw as he sprinted over to me waving hysterically, but I couldn't hear what he was saying until he was practically right in my face.
"Ami! Run!" He grabbed my hand just as I turned to see a giant pool of darkness grow from behind me. Black creatures started to climb out of it and overrun the beach.
"They're from the dreams!" I screamed to Sora as he nodded in understanding. "What's going on, Sora?!" He shook his head, just as lost as I was. "Where's Kairi?" I asked him as we ran to the seashack, catching our breath and hiding from the storm inside.
"She never went home with you?" Sora asked in distress.
"With me?" I cried, "I thought she left with you!" I panicked at the thought of her being alone in this storm somewhere with monsters running a muck.
"Well find her." Sora said as he made a fist and held a determined look in his eyes. "C'mon I think I saw Riku over by the paopu tree. Maybe he's seen Kairi." He grabbed my arm as we climbed up towards the bridge.
There was no time to think about anything else, as long as we were all together, I knew we'd be okay. Sora and I rushed across the bridge to see Riku standing in the middle, a large black orb floating above him.
"Riku!" I called out, racing towards him. "Riku, where's Kairi?!" Why couldn't I stop crying, or stop shaking.
When Riku turned to us, he wasn't the same Riku I had spoken with earlier in this exact same spot. I felt chills looking at him now where he stood, and it frightened me. Goosebumps crawled up my legs and arms when I met his eyes. How had I not seen how one of my best friends had changed so much?
"Kairi's coming with us." He yelled, for a moment I was stunned. Where were we going without the raft?! But I knew the answer once I saw the dark orb above him.
"What if there was another way to travel from this Island, would you take it?"
I wanted to scream at him, to knock some sense into him.
"Riku, this isn't the way!" I cried. This isn't what I thought our adventure was going to be. Sora and I moved closer to Riku as the wind seemed to pushing everything towards the black mass above him. Even if I wanted to run away, I couldn't stop the force of the wind.
"Don't you see? This is the only way!" I looked over at Sora and saw our fear reflecting from our eyes to each other. As we looked back at Riku, we saw him hold out his hands towards us. But when Sora and I reached for him, a pool of darkness appeared from beneath us. I gasped as I felt the cold tendrils wrap about my leg.
This is my dream...
I reached forward with all my might, and saw Sora do the same. I looked over at Riku, and his expression seemed to be asking me to give in, to surrender. Fearful of what might happen if I didn't, I yelled to Sora.
"We have to give in!" I was surprised when I saw him refuse, shaking his head so violently his spiky hair could have been a weapon. Yet he still reached for Riku's hand. The darkness was at our necks now, even though I knew my hand was reaching out, I couldn't see it. The farther I reached the farther away Riku seemed to be. As the darkness engulfed us I took one last look at Sora and turned towards Riku. Taking a deep breath, I relaxed into the darkness and finally felt a hand grasp mine.
Even when it all went dark, I felt the hand holding mine grasp tighter.
xxx
I never thought I'd feel warmth ever again, the dark pool I had been engulfed in made me the coldest I had ever felt. But the cool stone I was laying on didn't help the fact. Wait, where was I? It hurt opening my eyes, due to the sunlight beaming down on us. Was that all a dream? Was I going to open my eyes and wake up on the beach of Destiny Islands? Double no. I came to the terrible realization that this was indeed reality, and that I was far from home. I tried to wiggle my fingers and toes, and realized that I was still grasping someones hand.
I moved my head and saw tufts of silver hair next to me, my eyes traveled down to see my hands clasped tight with Riku's. I felt my face grow hot as I lifted it from the granite rock I was laying on and quickly let go of the hand I had held onto for life, ruffling my jacket in embarrassment.
"Riku, wake up." My voice was hoarse, and I barely spoke above a whisper. As his body moved and he slowly woke up and looked around, shocked at what was around us. We were on a rock platform, and all around was water...rising upward.
What the... My eyes traveled up to see a colossal castle in the distance. It was beautiful, yet mysterious, and for some reason when I looked up at it, I felt fear.
"Sora! Kairi!" I turned to see Riku standing and calling for our friends that did not make it to this place with us. If we were sent here...I wonder where they are now.
I felt Riku's eyes on me, but I couldn't meet them with mine. I had my hands balled into fist and all I could feel was anger.
I was surprised at how easily I was calmed though, when I felt him place a hand on my shoulder.
"We made it." He said, turning me to face him. "You grabbed a hold of my hand and we made it. We'll find Sora and Kairi, don't worry."
Was he completely un-phased by what had just happened to our home?! I simply nodded, not sure how to respond, where had my friend gone? And who was this stranger? I was about to ask when I noticed we weren't alone anymore.
I could tell Riku sensed it too when we both turned back to the castle and saw a slender woman standing on the floating rocks above us.
"Well, hello there, and welcome." She brandished a sinister smile. Everything about this woman was telling me to run in the opposite direction and yet I was compelled to walk towards her. She had shallow lime skin and a black horned headdress that ran down her purple and black robes. In her hand she held a mighty staff with a strange, glowing orb on the top. I felt her menacing power just standing as far back as I was.
I noticed that Riku instinctively stepped in front of me, and I wasn't going to complain. But for some reason I yearned to walk towards this mysterious woman and even more mysterious castle.
"Welcome children, to Hollow Bastion."
Let me know what you think, please R&R!