Chronicles of Wutai
By Nintendoman01
Disclaimer:
I do not own Kingdom Hearts or its associated characters. I make no profit from this story and just write it to kill time and have fun. I do, however, own Hikari and the inhabitants of Wutai in this story.
Author's Note:
This story is an idea I had while grappling with my writer's block for Kingdom Hearts III: Darkest Storm. This story is meant to be a companion piece/prequel to that story, telling what Sora was doing between the six months between Kingdom Hearts 3D and Darkest Storm, inspired by the "Training Series" written by Kristen Verne.
This fic will detail how Sora came to Wutai, what he did there, and also how my OC Hikari fell for him.
As I've said before, constructive criticism is appreciated, but NO FLAMES. If you don't like it, don't read it. It's as simple as that.
- Prologue -
Welcome to Wutai
Traverse Town
A lone boy, around sixteen years old, stood in the center of an old fashioned town, a little horned creature that resembled a cross between a cat and a dog standing next to him. The boy was dressed in a blue shirt under a black short-sleeved hoodie, black fingerless gloves and sneakers, black baggy shorts with red pouches on the sides, and a silver chain necklace with a crown-shaped pendant around his neck. The boy was Sora, a young Keyblade wielder, and the creature next to him as a Meow Wow Dream Eater.
Sora had spent the last few weeks training with the Dream Eaters in Traverse Town after failing the Mark of Mastery exam. While he had improved and learned some new tricks, he still didn't feel ready to rejoin his friends yet, and felt there was nothing left for him to learn in Traverse Town. It was time to move on.
"Well, it's time for me to go, boy," he said to the Meow Wow, which looked up to him and let out a sad whimper. Sora smiled and scratched it behind the ears. "Don't worry. I'll come back and visit."
Accepting that, the Meow Wow rubbed up against his leg. Giving the creature one final smile, Sora exited the front gate and decided to officially break out one of his new toys.
Sora closed his eyes and touched the crown pendant around his neck, and almost immediately, he was sheathed in a bright light. When it died down, he was dressed in a full suit of Keyblade Armor, colored black and navy blue with small touches of red and yellow to match his clothes, complete with an enlarged crown insignia on the chest to match his necklace.
Summoning the Kingdom Key to his hand, Sora pointed it straight forward and projected a beam of light from the tip, the beam opening a portal similar to a corridor of darkness, but bathed in silver light. Then, with a flourish, he threw his Keyblade into the air, the Keyblade transforming into a jet-powered board with a yellow-and-silver color scheme.
With that, Sora mounted the Keyblade Glider and flew into the portal, which closed behind him.
The Lanes Between
Sora quietly made his way through the Lanes for some time, trying to decide where to go.
Almost in response to that thought, a world loomed up before him, one he knew he had never seen before. From his perspective in the Lanes, it appeared to be a large sphere with a few small buildings that bore a resemblance to those in the Land of Dragons, as well as a large tree that appeared to have... pink leaves?
His curiosity peaked, Sora gunned the thrusters on his glider, deciding to check it out.
Wutai
When Sora landed and deactivated his armor, he found himself in a small field, dotted with the strange pink-leaved trees. Said leaves were falling from the trees, and upon closer inspection, Sora realized that they were actually flower petals.
As the petals fell, Sora had to admit it was a rather beautiful sight, and found himself entranced by it, having never seen such a thing before.
"It really is a beautiful sight, isn't it?"
Sora nearly jumped out of his skin and turned to face the speaker.
Standing behind him was a girl around his own age, who Sora had to admit was quite pretty. She had thin, light pink lips and milky-white skin, both of which contrasted with the silky black hair that fell down to the small of her back, as well as bright green eyes. She wore an elegant yellow kimono that had a pattern of orange maple leaves stitched into the sleeves and skirt, with a red obi and hairband that bore a pattern of stylized white hearts. Finally, she wore simple white socks and sandals. Sora was slightly in awe of the beautiful girl in front of him, but quickly composed himself.
The girl smiled. "Sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to startle you."
Sora waved a hand, dismissing it. "No, it's okay," He folded his arms behind his head. "I'm Sora, by the way."
The girl bowed respectfully. "My name's Hikari," She walked up to Sora and took a closer look. "You're from another world, aren't you?"
Sora took a step back, visibly surprised. "You know about other worlds?"
Hikari giggled. "Everyone in Wutai does," she replied. "It's pretty obvious. Your clothes... you're definitely not from around here."
Sora looked down at himself. "That's the first time anyone in any world have ever really mentioned my outfit," he said, before gesturing to the tree. "So, what's up with this tree?"
Hikari raised an eyebrow. "You've never seen a cherry blossom tree before?" Sora shook his head. "The trees blossom every spring and wilt after a week or two. People have been admiring these trees since the days of the Keyblade War."
That got Sora's attention. "You know about the Keyblade?"
Hikari gave him a blank look. "If we know about other worlds, then why wouldn't we know about the Keyblade?"
Sora conceded. "Point taken."
Hikari tilted her head quizzically. "But how exactly do you know?" she asked, before realization dawned. "Unless..."
Sora nodded and held out his hand, summoning the Keyblade to his hand. Hikari gasped.
"Oh, my gosh!" she exclaimed. "You're a Keyblade wielder! I never thought I'd ever meet one!"
Sora grinned as he dismissed the Keyblade. "Well, then it's an honor to be the first."
"So, what brings you here?" Hikari asked.
Sora hesitated, wondering if he should trust this girl, and then shrugged. "I'm in training," he said. "A man named Xehanort is seeking Kingdom Hearts. I'm trying to stop him."
Hikari looked at him, realization dawning. "If he's after Kingdom Hearts, then that means he plans to..."
Sora nodded. "Yep. He's after the χ-blade."
Hikari's eyes widened in fear, and she suddenly grabbed Sora's hand. "Please, come with me," she said. "You need to meet someone right away."
"Uh, okay?" Sora said unsurely before Hikari dragged him forward with surprising strength for her size. Sora just let himself be dragged, partly because he figured he didn't really have a choice in the matter, and partly because he was quite curious who Hikari wanted him to meet.
It wasn't long before they reached a small village, which reminded Sora of the village on the mountainside of the Land of Dragons. Several people were out and about, walking around freely, and they all spared a few glances at the two teens before going back to their business.
Eventually, they reached a rather large hut in the center of the village, but as they approached the steps, a figure dropped down from seemingly nowhere and landed right in front of them.
The figure was tall, at least six inches taller than Sora and Hikari, and was clad in a black long-sleeved shōzoku (1) with yellow designs on the shoulders, hips, and thighs that resembled lightning bolts, and a yellow belt around its waist, tied at the left hip rather than in the front, along with black jika-tabi (2) shoes. Its face was hidden by a black mask with similar yellow designs on the rest of the costume, leaving only a pair of brown eyes visible.
Without warning, the figure drew a pair of sai from its belt and began to advance upon Sora, who quickly jumped back and summoned his Keyblade. At the sight of that, the figure stopped in its tracks, its eyes widening. Before Sora could do more than register the fact, Hikari stepped between the two.
"Stand down," she said in a calm but firm voice. "He's not an enemy, Seiko. I brought him here on urgent business."
After a moment, the figure, Seiko, nodded and put their sais away before calmly stepping aside.
"Sorry about that," Hikari said to Sora. "That was my bodyguard."
"Bodyguard?" Sora replied as Hikari led him up the steps. Just who was this girl?
As Hikari slid the door open and entered, she stopped to remove her sandals, replacing them with a pair of yellow slippers. Sora took a step forward, but Hikari raised a hand to stop him.
"I'm sorry, but I have to ask you to take off your shoes before you go any further." she said.
Sora raised an eyebrow. "You mind if I ask why?"
Hikari sighed, remembering that he wasn't from this world and thus was unfamiliar with their customs. "It's just something we do here. I'll explain later."
Sora shrugged his shoulders and obediently removed his sneakers, revealing a pair of black-and-yellow ankle-length socks underneath.
"Thank you," Hikari said before leading Sora into a large room which Sora assumed to be a meeting room. At the far end of the room was a small table
"Mama? Papa? I'm home!" Hikari called out. Sora looked at her incredulously; she dragged him all the way here just so he could meet her parents?
"Welcome home, daughter," a male voice cut in suddenly. Sora nearly jumped out of his skin as he looked over to the table at the far side and saw an older man, in his early thirties by the looks of it, sitting behind the table.
"What the?!" Sora exclaimed, looking to Hikari. "Where'd he come from? He wasn't there before!"
Hikari let out a giggle. "You get used to it. Anyway, Sora, I'd like you to meet my father, Hiro, ruler of Wutai."
Sora awkwardly raised a hand in greeting. "Uh, hiya," he said, before what Hikari said dawned on him.
"W... wait," he said, looking to Hikari. "Your dad's the ruler of this world?" Hikari nodded.
"And that makes you..."
"The princess," Hikari nodded.
Sora just stood there, dumbstruck, before Hiro's voice snapped him back to attention.
"Tell me, Hikari, who is this boy?" the older man asked, looking at Sora with an intense gaze that seemed to pierce into his soul.
Sora gulped and tried to form a coherent sentence in the wake of the man's stare. "Uh... well, sir... you see, I... moo?"
Hiro just rolled his eyes as Hikari giggled at their guest's nervousness before turning back to her father. "His name's Sora, Papa. I found him over by the cherry blossom trees."
Hiro looked over Sora again, his eyes softening; Sora let out the breath he had been unwittingly holding. "He's a visitor from off-world, isn't he?"
"Y-yes, sir," Sora explained. "See, I'm a Keyblade wielder, and I was just passing by. I thought I'd check this world out since I've never-"
"Keyblade?" Hiro interrupted, looking at Sora more closely. Sora nodded, summoning the Kingdom Key to his hand.
Hiro looked at him, jaw slightly agape. "As I live and breathe. A Keyblade Master, and one so young."
Sora shook his head as he dismissed his Keyblade. "No, sir. I'm not a master yet. I'm still in-training. But I need to get stronger, or that Xehanort creep will destroy everything."
"Xehanort?" Hiro asked, his eyebrow raised; the name sounded familiar. "And how does he plan to destroy everything?"
"He's trying to reforge the χ-blade, Papa," Hikari explained. "Sora told me so himself."
Hiro gasped, a shocked expression on his face.
Some time later...
Sora sat before Hiro, Hikari, and Hikari's mother Akiko as he finished explaining the story. By the time he was finished, all three of them sat there, trying to process the information.
"Yeah, I know it's a lot to take in," Sora said. "But if Xehanort wins, everyone loses."
Hiro nodded. "Then we won't let him win."
Hikari looked at him, curious. "'We', Papa?"
Hiro nodded again and stood up, walking over to Sora. "If you need training, we're more than happy to help you," he said, raising the katana that was strapped to his waist. "I swear on the Twilight Blade I hold in my hands."
"Twilight Blade?" Sora asked. "Why do you call it that?"
Hiro said nothing, but unsheathed the sword. Sora gasped at the sight; the blade had an aura of mixed light and darkness all along the blade.
"This is why," Hiro explained. "We of Wutai are trained to accept light and darkness in equal shares. This blade, forged by my ancestor Raiden (3) during the days of the Keyblade War, is proof of that."
"The road to dawn." Sora said to himself, reminded of Riku's philosophy.
Hiro sheathed his blade. "We will begin training tomorrow," he said. "For now, I suggest you explore, get acquainted with this world."
Sora nodded. "Yes, sir. And thanks."
Author's Note:
(1): Ninja gi, more or less
(2): A type of split-toed Japanese outdoor footwear, modeled after tabi socks.
(3): An alternative name for Raijin, the Japanese god of thunder.
Well, this has been in the making for a while, but I finally finished the first chapter.
To explain why Sora hasn't used his Keyblade Armor or Glider yet in the main story, it's simple; he hasn't had a reason to yet. As for the character of Seiko... we'll learn more later.
Now, for the mental voice actors. As usual, these are just friendly suggestions; you're free to hear them as whoever you want:
* Hikari - Lauren Landa (Kasumi from Dead or Alive 5 onwards, Litchi Faye-Ling from BlazBlue, Leia Rolando from Tales of Xillia)
* Hiro - Kirk Thornton (Isa/Saïx from Kingdom Hearts, Shadow the Hedgehog from Sonic the Hedgehog, Kisame Hoshigaki from Naruto)
* Akiko - Wendee Lee (Faye Valentine from Cowboy Bebop, Yumi Komagata from Rurouni Kenshin, Yoruichi Shihōin & Tatsuki Arisawa from Bleach)
Next chapter, Sora explores Wutai.
Please R&R. Until next chapter...