It was a stormy day on Destiny Islands, yet a worried girl was preparing a small boat to go to the play island. She was of decent height and had long, red hair. She had just had a vision that two of her friends, one of whom she had just remembered the name of after a weird interaction with a voice that called himself Roxas, were in great danger, and the only way for her to be able to help them was to head out in the storm. As she finished preparing the boat, the girl, Kairi, started to push off from the docks. As soon as she did, however, her father came running down the docks.
"Kairi, where are you going in this storm?" he yelled to her over the wind.
"I have a feeling that something very important is about to happen, Father," Kairi replied as she kicked off. "I have to go."
"Kairi! Come back!" her father exclaimed, worried about her safety.
As Kairi started rowing the boat over to the island, a dense fog suddenly formed behind her, blocking all sight of the mainland. Curious about the fog, but not worried enough to turn around, Kairi kept rowing towards the island.
Reaching the island, Kairi rowed her boat over to the docks, and secured it. As soon as she stepped onto the docks, she realized that the storm wasn't effecting the island at all. After she finished securing the boat, Kairi felt compelled to walk towards the paopu tree. Following her instincts, she slowly started walking along the beach. Reaching the bridge that would lead to the small island that housed the tree and walking across it, the bridge shattered behind her for no reason. Startled, Kairi spun around, watching the remains of the bridge fall into the ocean below. Turning back around, Kairi walked over to the paopu tree and sat down in the spot that she usually sat at with her friends. Closing her eyes, she started reminiscing about the events of a year earlier.
One night there was a storm similar to the current one blowing across the island. When she went to the Secret Spot to investigate, she felt incredibly dizzy, and before she fainted she remembered seeing Sora, the friend whose name she just remembered, enter the Secret Spot. After that, all she can remember is seeing images of other worlds, but she can't remember ever going to those worlds herself. She recalled in Hollow Bastion, shortly before she appeared, how Sora and Riku were fighting with some weird key-like weapons. Shortly after, Kairi fell asleep and immediately started to dream.
In her dream, Kairi was falling, but slowed right before she hit the ground. Looking down, Kairi saw that the platform she was standing on had an image of her with a tall, spiky, red-haired man dressed in a black cloak with silver zippers. Surrounding the image was a circle with a red heart and seven circles with the heart at the top. Inside the heart was Sora. To the right of the heart was a blonde-haired girl that looked similar to herself. Next to the girl was a spiky blonde-haired boy that looked to be the same age as Sora. In the next circle was a humanoid duck that Kairi felt that she knew, and next to the duck was a humanoid dog that she had the same feeling about. After the dog was a slightly human-like mouse that she knew she had never seen before. Next to the mouse was an old man wearing flowing blue robes, and a hat with golden moons and stars on it. After the old man, and right next to Sora, was Riku, who had been missing from the islands for almost a year already. Outside of that circle there were six white hearts. Inside each of the hearts were one of the people that she had met at Hollow Bastion almost a year earlier. Starting at the top and going clockwise, there was Alice, Belle, Jasmine, Cinderella, Snow White, and Aurora. After examining the platform that she was standing on, she started wondering where she was, getting frightened by the darkness that seemed to surround the platform. All of a sudden she heard a voice boom out from everywhere at once.
Don't be afraid.
"W-What was that?" Kairi asked herself, startled.
Your heart is one of without any darkness. Are you ready to face your task?
As the voice said this, the darkness around the platform burst into a blindingly bright light, before dimming. Kairi looked around, noticing that the platform was now surrounded by unending light.
"What is my task?" Kairi asked, wondering how the voice had control over where she was.
The door is ready to be opened, and the one who will do so has awoken from his sleep. Will you stand beside him and help?
"What do you mean?" Kairi asked, confused.
He has faced many hardships already. Will you help him with the ones he faces now?
"I'll help, but who am I going to be helping?"
The Keyblade Master must open the door before his journey can end. But now you must awaken your hidden powers.
"How do I do that?"
You must look deep inside yourself and find them.
Understanding what the voice wanted her to do, Kairi searched for the powers that it was telling her about. After a few minutes of searching, she noticed a wall of sorts blocking her from searching a certain area. Determined to discover all the secrets of her own heart, she push against the wall as hard as she could, causing it to shatter and flood her heart with the power it was hiding. As she returns from her search, she notices that there are three new pedestals on the platform. Each platform had a different weapon. One had a sword, another a shield, and the third a staff. Eyes flickering between the three, she heard the voice start talking again.
You have a great power within you. If you give it a form, it will give you great strength. Choose well.
Kairi walked around the platform, looking at each of the weapons. She stopped before the staff, feeling drawn to it. She reached out to touch it, and the voice spoke once more.
The power of the mystic. Inner strength. A staff of wonder and ruin. Is this the power you seek?
She hesitated for a second, before deciding to take the staff. Once again the voice called out.
Your path is set. Now, what will you give up in exchange?
Kairi looked between the shield and the sword. Making up her mind, she walked over to the sword and started to reach for it. As expected, the voice boomed out again.
The power of the warrior. Invincible courage. A sword of destruction. You will give up this power?
"Yes." She said confidently. The sword disappeared, and the shield sunk back into the platform while the staff that she noticed she was still holding started to move through her hand and into her body.
You have chosen the power of the mystic, while sacrificing the power of the warrior. Your path is set. Do not fear the creatures of the dark. You are one of pure light. But beware. The stronger the light, the darker the shadow it casts on others.
As the voice faded away, Kairi noticed a new path form on the side of the platform that she was on. Seeing no other way to go, she followed that path until it led to a copy of the platform that she had just left, only tinted red. Upon stepping onto the platform, the path that she had taken faded away. Startled, Kairi looked behind and the rapidly fading path, then turned and, seeing no other option, started walking towards the center of the new platform. Reaching the center of the platform, she felt something appear in the hand. Looking down, she saw that it was the staff from earlier. Wondering why she was holding it now, she heard the voice again.
You are not yet ready to assist he who will open the door, but prepare yourself for not all is as it seems in this place. Beware the light, for as much as it casts away the shadow from which the dark creatures come, the brightest lights will burn as well.
With that the voice faded out again, and Kairi saw what appeared to be balls of light start to close in on her from the outsides of the platforms. Realizing what the voice had meant, Kairi eyed the balls warily as she prepared to use the staff as a weapon. Suddenly the balls started zooming towards her. Startled by their speed, Kairi wasn't able to react to the balls before they slammed into her head. Dazed, Kairi stumbled around the platform before shaking her head, and focusing on the balls new positions.
Once again, the balls started to attack. Prepared for the assault this time, Kairi raised the staff and whacked them away, watching as they spun darkness that surrounded the platform. Suddenly, the darkness that had surrounded her since entering this weird place lit up with an extremely bright light. Shielding her eyes, Kairi looked down at the ground blinded by the sudden light. Once more the voice called out.
Light and darkness are not as different as it might seem. While the darkness hides by concealing what is within, light will conceal by preventing vision at all. Light could be your strongest ally, or even your most hated enemy. Beware the ones that walk between, for they have forsaken both light and darkness, and are hated by both.
As the voice faded, Kairi felt herself start to faint. The last she saw of the platform was a crack that had formed through the center.
A/N: Hey everyone. So this is my first mutlichapter fic that I've been really excited to write for a while. This is an idea that has been floating around my head for the past year and a half and I finally managed to get it out on paper. I get sidetracked a lot with life so updates are going to be sporadic, but stick with me and I'll take you on a journey through the worlds! Now this is going to be taking place within the known KH universe with a few minor (maybe major) changes, so if you notice something that seems off, ask me about it and i'll let you know if it's supposed to be like that or not. Anyway i hope you all enjoy!
