Hey

Hey! This is the beginning of the 'saga' of Pinto and her friends, and their struggle, along with Sora, to save the worlds.

I'd like to start it off by dedicating this story to my bestest friend in the whole wide 'worlds', Sora-Oathkeeper-Oblivion. Without Sora, I would have never started this story at all!

Hope you enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or Disney or any trademarks mentioned

CHARACTERS:

Chiyoake (Pinto): Earth-Daybreak, fourteen (our main heroine!)

Kazeshima (Kaze): Wind-Island, fourteen

Karohane (Karo): Light-Feather, sixteen

Hihoshi (Hoshi): Fire-Star, fifteen

Dreams and Memories

I think I knew all along, that I had power within me –Chiyoake (Pinto)

"Oh Pinto!"

The feeling of sand pressed firmly beneath my back was the only thing I could tell through my disorientation.

"Or should I say, bikini babe!"

But I was pretty sure that was Kaze.

I groaned, and opened an eye, blinking against the unbearably bright sun I now stared directly up into.

"Sleeping? When we've got so much to do?"

I focused on the peaches-and-cream blue sky instead, as sleep cleared from my head like the fluffy, pillow-soft clouds that floated lazily across the early summer sky.

I sat up, rubbing my eyes with a hand, as grains of sand fell from it. Kaze loomed over me, her face blurring as my eyes adjusted. She came into focus, with her pale brown eyes, short flyaway hair, and petite figure. Her demanding brightness and strong personality was all I could manage as I pulled from the sleepy, muggy trance.

Behind Kaze, beautiful green-blue waters of the tropics stretched into the horizon, breathtaking and picture perfect. In a rhythmic lulling, the water lapped up along the beach I lay upon, so clear the white blond sand was visible far out into the swallowing blue.

"Don't… make me move… It's all too perfect." I said, shutting my eyes and letting the sounds of distant birds calling and the warm breeze carry me off again. "You'll wake me up… and it'll all be gone…"

"Oh, don't give me that. You've been saying that for the past five years, every time I find you lazing your butt off down here."

She had her hands on her hips, staring down at me without sympathy when I opened my eyes again.

Groaning, I blinked and shook myself free of all sleep. "You've got to admit, it's pretty amazing though…isn't it?" I folded up my legs and slowly stood up, tugging at the back of my bathing suit top to ensure I was rid of all irritating sand.

Kaze waved it off with her hand, already moving ahead, both in her steps and in conversation. "Yeah, Yeah, what ever."

Following behind and brushing off my jean shorts, I turned away from the captivating sea, the sand temptingly warm beneath my feet. We were walking nearly under the bridge, made of wooden planks that connected a small plateau a couple yards out into still-shallow water.

"What are we doing?" I arched my back and stretched out my stiff arms.

We had passed under the bridge, and stood by a door built into a wooden wall. Kaze turned around, the back to the door, contemplating.

"Going to find Riku."

I straightened. "Why would we want to do that?"

"Hmm, only because he's leading this expedition." She tilted her head, giving me her 'duh' look. I had been getting that very frequently over the past seven years.

"He's not leading the 'expedition', or whatever you want to call it, and why would we need to see even if he was?" I hope she noted my irritation.

She rolled her eyes, the magenta flecks in them flashing in the broad light. "Oh, you'll see." She took on a more roguish look. "Plus, I need to do something else…"

"Today's the day, then?" I asked dryly.

She nodded, turning around to face the way we came, before flashing me a mischievous grin. "It's now or never!"

Raising an eyebrow, I gave her my opinion I knew she didn't want. "Well, prepare to get your ass whooped."

Ignoring me, she mumbled under her breath, "Where is he? I think he's on the pavilion…"

I smacked my hand against my head. "For the last time, a pavilion is a sheltering building, like the one at the park, on the main island! Not a little mini plateau!"

But Kaze was skipping ahead.

With a sigh, I followed. Like slinking darkness, I tried to identify what was now suddenly bothering me, contrary to the sunny day. I couldn't quite grasp it. It was there, like a shadow lurking in the back of my mind, with no fibers to grasp onto, but evidently existing. It might have been something I had experienced in a dream…or so I had thought. A feeling maybe, or something of the past. As soon as the eerie feeling came, it left, leaving only myself in its absence.

Bordering the beach was the higher ground, shaped into a short drop of rock wall supports. There was a plank of wood that was leaned against the wall, a ramp to climb up. Farther down, only a very short ways, were the docks, with steps attached. But this was shorter.

With a shake of my head that didn't really rid of the unwanted follower in my mind, I darted up the wooden plank, the board bending dangerously beneath my weight as I took on bouncy step in the middle, before leaping upon to the hard packed dirt. Trotting past the little waterfalls that splashed and misted into a small fountain pool, I stepping into the Seaside Shack, a small, simply built shack at the edge of the beach. I crept up the dark stairs with their worn and bent steps, and burst through the door at the top the curving staircase. Stepping onto the bridge and trotting across, I avoided with second nature the broken boards bearing the end of it.

On the 'pavilion' or, plateau, stood Riku, Sora, Kairi, and Kaze.

"What's up?" I said, slightly breathlessly. I was more eager to be here if Sora and Kairi were present.

Riku met me with a cool stare, as he leaned against the oddly bent tree that leaned out over the water. A Paopu tree. Its fruit were of an interesting shape, resembling a star, and when ripe, a rich, banana yellow. There was a little bit of a story that came with the sharing of a Paopu fruit. It had told that whomever you share the Paopu with, your destinies shall be intertwined.

"You won't believe what you're sister has just done." Sora leaned over and whispered in my ear. He had brown, casually disarrayed hair that stuck out in every which direction, giving him a playful, sweet look. In his case, looks were not deceiving.

I looked over at Kaze, who was looking pumped, and even more on fire than usual. Only I could tell beneath her show, she was nervous. I wondered if Riku could too.

"I think I already know." I whispered back, my eyes on her.

"He's going to do it." Sora's eyes betrayed excitement, mixed with a little bit of worry.

"Our poor Kazey baby." I said only half mockingly.

"Hey, it's not nice to keep secrets." There was an arm wrapped over my shoulder, and the other around Sora's. Kairi poked her head out between us, smiling.

"I think she's crazy." I stated, my voice barely above a whisper.

Kairi's pretty eyes twinkled. "Let her try." She tilted her head so that it rested on my shoulder. "Hey, you never know," she straightened and lifted her arms off us. "She might actually give Riku a real surprise."

"Are we gonna start this thing or what?" Riku jumped up, flexing his muscles.

He's so cocky!

Kairi flitted over to them, smiling. "All right. Play fair!" She winked at Kaze as she handed Kaze her wooden sword, which Kaze must have picked up on her way through the shack.

I looked at Sora, who's cheeks had gone ruddy with Kairi's bold move. "You're so lucky I'm here." And by the way he ducked his, I knew he knew what I meant.

I turned my attention to the battle that was about to begin. "Are you sure she won't shimmy up a palm tree the moment it begins?" I asked Sora, my eyes on the two figures, standing opposite each other, tension pulsing from them in quick, short vibes. Kaze's face was one of complete anticipation, as she clamped her sword tightly.

It had been years of harassment and listening to Kaze go on about how good Riku was at sword play, and how one day she would battle against him. Over the past year and in more recent months, she talked about it more frequently, driving me to near insanity. I was glad it was finally going to come to an end. Still, whether she won or lost, I would have to hear about that too forever. And a small part of my mind asked if she was really ready.

Kaze had a way of underestimating things. Thinking she or something else for that matter was better, more ready, that sort of thing than she/it was. It wasn't her being stuck up, it was Kaze's way of life. She moved on to things so quickly, and circled the world at the speed of life, her brain moving fast than reality really did.

Either way, the cards would play fate. Unless Kaze really did pull something out of the hat today, and she dealt the hand.

And it was about to all be known.

"Go!"

The battle was on.

Kaze leapt at Riku instantly. He lifted his sword and threw himself into a jarring block that sent Kaze stumbling backwards and tripping, before tumbling down. Using this as an advantage, he took one giant jump, and lay a blow to Kaze, then another, before she rolled away, swiping hard at the back of his legs, catching him at the tender part where his knees bent. He fell, and I silently cheered, punching the air.

Kaze scrambled up, standing ready and breathing hard. Riku was down hardly a second, and to my surprise, was curled up in a ball on his back. Kaze stood for moment, lost too at Riku's bizarre move.

So when he suddenly hit her in flash of bright colour, she was knocked down like a toothpick.

I was barely aware of Sora sucking in a sharp breath.

Riku stood above her as she disoriented, struggled up. My heart was in my throat. Riku rained a light blow upon her, his tall figure showing no mercy.

I didn't know how, but Kaze somehow managed to get up, and was backing across the small circular space like a rocket, her sword up and ready.

"Don't tell me you're giving up already." Riku sneered, his icy blue eyes hard as rock, as he advanced after her, like a cat stalking its prey.

But something in the way he was acting was scaring me. It made my heart jump, and I knew this fight was more than an every day battle that the rest of us shared between us. More than a fight of skills, or pride.

Riku was taking this way too seriously.

I felt my heart swell with pride as Kaze crouched, in her too-small faded blue shorts and baggy tank top, yet fiercer then the blazing sun.

Riku took easy leap at her, clearing halfway across the area, easily avoiding the few measly palm trees.

Kaze dodged out behind one and clipped him hard in the back, and gave him a couple more good solid blows. He in return attempted a hockey punch with his sword at her face, though she ducked and got him hard in the stomach.

Riku was getting rougher with every move, and Kaze was gaining ground when it came to dealing blows. After she hit him hard and danced away, barely missing Riku's wild thrust, it seemed to be the last straw. With a load grunt of outrage, he seemed to totally lose control, and smashed the sword, which seemed so weak and flimsy in his powerful hands, into the side of her face with blinding speed.

"Hey!" I leapt out "That's not playing fair!"

"Riku!" Kairi exclaimed.

Kaze staggered, her body swaying from the impact to her head. Her mouth seemed to open for a second, and a tiny breath puffed out, before she fell to her knees.

"Kaze!" Sora and I reached out for her at the same time.

But Riku wasn't done. A whole rage seemed to engulf him, as he lifted the sword high above his head, and point facing down, crashing it into her back.

She cried out the same time I raced for Riku, knocking the sword from his grasp. He turned to me, and I felt a cold fear pierce through me when I saw the fire of blackness burning in his eyes.

"Riku, it's just a game! Leave her alone!" Sora shouted, as he reached my side.

"Kaze!" Kairi dropped to Kaze's side, and placed a hand on her shoulder.

With Kairi in Riku's sight, the fire slowly dimmed.

Kaze put her head up, and with the help of Kairi and me, slowly stood. Riku watched, emotionless.

"What is you problem!" I turned and screamed in his face, my hand ready to slap him hard.

He jumped forward, the spark re-igniting. "You don't know me!"

Sora threw himself between us, holding his hands up. "GUYS!"

I held the viscous gaze with Riku a second longer, wanting nothing more then to take out the fury that ran through my veins on him physically. Without a word, I turned away, disgusted with him.

"You okay?" I asked Kaze softly, whom now stood without help from a confused and upset Kairi. When I met a glance with the auburn-headed girl, she looked from Kaze to Riku, then to me, her lip quivering a tiny bit, eyes wide, and with a single blink, banishing away tears.

The air was filled with hurt and uncertainty and tension as I turned away, a quickly strengthening Kaze at my side, who turned and looked about, bewildered and unsure. But she followed me still, as I walked over the bridge and left them standing, without so much as a backward glance.

XxXxX

"Are we done here?" Kaze asked, as we sat on the 'deck' an hour later. She had tied together all our provisions we had collected over the course of a couple weeks.

Bags and containers of food, water, toiletries, and various other items were scattered around me, as I leaned up against the railing wall, with Kaze facing me in the middle.

While she had been organizing everything, I had been remembering the dream. Slipping into an oblivion of confusion, a world completely separate of the one I was in. It was like I was fighting to stay awake, the way I tried not to be sucked into its dark void.

"I think so." Even as I speak, it is there again, like water clogging my brain, shattered pieces of an understanding consuming me again, coming together.

I was standing in the dark. No light, nothing around me.

So much to do. So little time.

The voice was anonymous, both deep and light, soft and strong. I looked around, I couldn't tell where it came from.

Take your time. Don't be afraid.

I was back, sitting on the wood planked floor. "I'm just so worried that I might be forgetting something." Kaze was thoroughly involved in the packing, so, as she didn't notice my lack of an answer or the fine sheen of sweat across my face, my heavy breathing.

The door is still shut.

"Oh! I almost forgot! Must pack the coconuts! See this is why I'm worried. I think Hihoshi is supposed to get more coconuts too. Though we can't exactly count on her, can we…"

Now, step forward. Can you do it?

I step forward, hesitant. Where am I?

Beneath my foot, the darkness changes, into birds, taking flight, gray doves. As the birds fly, free, one by one, they reveal, glass beneath me, a figure, of a girl, pale skin, pale as snow, dark hair, an apple in her hand, about to bite it. The surrounding, yellow. It's a circular platform, around it, nothing. Darkness.

The birds are gone. Where are they? Where did they go? There must be some place else besides all the darkness. But the birds were the darkness, and then they weren't. It's disillusioning.

But still, there is the lightness, the colour of the platform. The beautiful girl. It gave me strength, comfort. But everything else it dark. Even the picture, in the glass, the platform, it is isolated. Confusing. A dark beauty. I was scared.

"Damn! I wish we could bring limes. And lemons. Can't live without 'em! Then we could make our awesomely famous drink! Limes, lemons, sugar, water, a hint of that fizzy grapefruit juice, and our secret ingredient…"

Power sleeps within you.

I think I knew. That there was power. I've felt it. Fractions of it. That there was something special about me. Or amiss. Does it really matter? I've known I was different. I've felt the power. I think I've always known. Power…

If you give it form, it will give you strength.

With a shock wave that makes me stumble backwards, pedestals, push their way through, forcing through the glass pattern, that I fear will break, and I will spiral down to nothing. But it doesn't. Now three pedestals stand, and with a spark of light I can hear, something has formed on each. One has a sword. The other a wand, the last, a shield.

Choose well.

"I made sure to bring as little as we need when it came to toiletries. No toothbrushes, for one. I mean, we'll be floating on the ocean! And I didn't bring face clothes or anything. What help will that do? I mean, we'll be floating the sea!"

Choose? How am I to choose? Why am I to choose?

The first thing closest is the sword. With trembling hands, I lift it up, uncertain.

The power of the warrior.

Invincible courage.

A sword of terrible destruction.

Is this the power you seek?

Do I want it?

To always have courage?

Strength?

Is terrible destruction what I want?

What I desire?

What I need?

Am I a warrior?

No.

I'm not a warrior.

Kaze is the warrior.

Not me.

I don't want to be the hand of destruction, fear, invincible greatness.

It's not for me.

No.

"What will we eat? I mean, I know that. Fish, coconut milk, the inside of the coconut, that sort of stuff, but what I mean is that, won't we get tired of it? Won't we miss Karo's gourmet cooking, or mom's wacky recipes? Will it be very filling? Good gracious, will we starve?"

I've dropped the sword back. I go to the wand. I can feel the power pulsing from it as my skin nearly touches it. And then I do.

The power of the mystic.

Inner strength.

A staff of wonder and ruin.

Is this the power you seek?

Mystic.

Mystic power.

It sounds good and tempting.

I like mystic.

Inner strength.

That's what I posses.

That's what I live off of.

That is me.

Wonder and ruin?

That is what speaks to me.

I love wonder and ruin.

But I would rather stand and watch wonder and ruin.

Not be behind it.

Not be the creator.

I will see wonder and ruin.

I have seen wonder and ruin, though I do not know where.

I will always love it.

But I will not create it.

No.

"Look, I know I'm freaking out right now, and worrying, but it's not me! I don't do that! And I know that for years you've tried to get me to see that! And I do now! And I don't worry. That's your job. I'm turning into you! And believe me, I don't like walking in your shoes! They're stiff and uncomfortable, but I can't help it! I'm actually worrying! I don't like worrying!"

Not the wand. Though it was close. The next thing is a shield. There's something drawing me towards it. I'm not as hesitant. It seems much less harmless then the other two. They were weapons. This is protection.

When it is in my hands, it feels right.

The power of the guardian.

Kindness to aid friends.

A shield to repel all.

Is this the power you seek?

Is it?

The guardian?

Am I a guardian?

Kindness?

It gives me kindness?

To aid friends?

It sounds weak.

Measly.

Petty.

But it sounds like me.

I may be weak.

I may be petty.

But I don't feel that way.

It takes strength.

More strength than others think.

To protect something.

To repel all.

There it is.

The strength.

The others I could use in destruction.

In ill-intention.

But this one I can too.

I can repel everything.

I can live in a shell.

I can be empty.

But I won't.

I will be protecting something.

I don't know how I know this.

I don't know what it is.

But I will.

I will protect.

Yes.

I will protect.

"I don't know what did it, but something put me on the edge today. Made me like this, Pinto. Frazzled. Upset. My insides are churning. My heart is twisting. Have you ever felt like that before?"

I feel strong with shield in my hand. Like I didn't know myself before. And I have just discovered a little piece of me.

Your path is set.

My shield disappears. Gone. I want it. I spin around, looking for it. Though it may be gone, I still feel as though the power is there. That it will never go away.

Now, what will you give up in return?

"Actually…Pinto, I think I know. I think you know too. You always know. You know things about other people before they know it themselves. You understand. You know."

What will I give up? Why? But I think I understand. To move forward, you have to let go of something. To have something, you must give up another. It is life. Sacrifice. Life is full of sacrifice.

I am understanding a lot of things now. Did I know them before? I'm not sure. Maybe I did. Deep down inside. It has taken this though to see. Will I make it back home? Was it really home? I think I always felt different there. Like I was the opposite tide. I don't belong. Not yet. I need to learn who I am. How I came to be. Things were an illusion there. Though I'm not upset. Not sad. I understand. Just a little. I won't ever understand fully. But…that is where my journey began. And now it is time to spread my wings. Find a place I can fit in my skin. Know the person within me.

These thoughts are scaring me. They are scaring the girl who thinks she is herself. I feel as though I am looking back. Yet 'she', I, feel as though I am looking forward. Maybe it's both. I won't understand until I am at the end. I won't understand until I am at the beginning. Maybe I'll never understand.

But what will I give up?

I will give up what I need the most.

I want the wand. It is connected to me as the shield seems to be. The sword…is what I lack. The sword…is my polar opposite. My other me. My opposite twin. It has what I need to be invincible. If I have it, I will have all.

But I won't. You can't have everything. If I had all three, I would be lacking something. Be weaker. I would be the weakest with all three.

If I have the sword, it will not make me, me. It will not make me what I want. It will not make me who I am. Who I am destined to be. Who I choose to be.

I need the sword.

It need its strength and ambition, because I do not have it.

I do not have it in that form.

So I must give it up. It is something I will know when I fight for those qualities. I will earn them myself. Get a taste of what they are.

That is what I need.

So I must give the sword up.

It will do nothing but destroy me.

I choose to give up the sword.

I hold it in my hand, feel its power and whispering secrets. Its promises of invincible power. But I hear its whispers of warning. And everything is confirmed.

I choose to give up the sword.

I choose to give up the sword.

I choose to give up the sword.

"Sometimes it makes me wonder. Who are you really? I know you better than anybody, but I know the outside girl. I can feel, there is something else beneath you. I know other people can feel it too. Kairi can, I think, and…Riku knows. Riku knows who you are. Maybe he's seen glimpses. I…I have too."

You've chosen the power of the guardian. You've given up the power of the warrior. Is this the form you choose?

Yes.

"But it's not your fault. Sometimes, I wonder if I know myself too. If I'm a storm just ready to be released. And I know sometimes it scares you. Because it scares me too. Sometimes, I think I understand. Other times, I wonder, what you'll really be like."

The pedestals are crushing down, forcing their way back to where they came from. This time, my fears are confirmed.

The glass shatters. It starts and the edge furthest to me. Tiny shards of yellow glass, leaping up, then falling. The wave is making its way to me, as the beautiful girl is broken, left in a thousand little pieces. The shattering glass reaches my feet, and now there is nowhere to go…but down.

I'm falling. It's terrifying. Falling through blackness, suffocating, crushing, empty.

I want to stop. I want to wake up. Now. Now! NOW!

"But you…scare me sometimes. I want to know you. But, what if I don't like what I find? But I don't think that now. I think you're good. I know you're good. That the…power, within you, is still you, only stronger. I love you, and you're my sister, no matter what anybody else will say.

Kaze…

"Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm crazy. But I do know that you are more powerful than anybody thinks. And you know things. That's what I'm certain about you."

My eyes are open, and I look down, both praying that there is something down there to stop my fall, and that there isn't so I don't shatter my legs.

One prayer came true. Bellow me is another glass platform, blue this time, with another beautiful girl.

I expect to land hard, to feel pain. With my landing is slowed, and I drop to the ground on my feet, legs shaky, feeling as though they could collapse any moment.

I'm not as scared this time. But I don't know what will happen next.

This girl is wearing a blue dress. She's blond. Delicate. Elegant. The other girl gave me a feeling that she was doomed. She made me feel tragedy, want, and dread. This girl makes me feel wonder. Hope.

You've gained the power to fight. Use this power to protect yourself –and others. There will be a time when you have to fight.

There are black splotches on the glass, like ink blots. But they are moving. Taking shape. They are little creatures that rise, black, with legs, arms, hands, feet, claws, a little round torso, a round head, antennas bobbing, hungry yellow eyes.

If I weren't so scared, I would find them very cute.

Keep your light burning strong.

They crouch, dance, weary and fueled. One leaps at me, and suddenly I have shield in hand. I hold it up, and the creature bounces off the shield, deceived, for now. Another gets me from behind, leaving a long scratch down the back of my arm, where blood slowly rises. It hurts like the devil.

But there are still more.

There is a time to fight.

This is my time to fight.

Swinging the shield as one once again jumps towards me, I finds the hard edge hurts the little creatures. Standing with my feet braced, I swing it at any creature, more or less waving it about wildly. The sounds of clanging and they shield pounding the creatures dims, until I find myself once again alone.

On the ground though, they're two types of tiny little orbs. One is green. The other yellow. Without thinking, I pick them up. The green soaks into my hand, runs up my arm. I cry out, appalled, but my stinging arm ceases, the blood stopped, the wound closed. The yellow slowly changes to a single gold coin in my hand. I keep it clenched tightly in my fist.

Behind you!

Whirling around, I am met by another creature, soaring through the air and tackling me hard in the stomach.

I fight until it is gone, quick and tactless.

There is a black blob now, and it starts at my feet, then swallows the girl and the rest of platform, a surging wave of black consuming the soft blue.

And once again, I am falling.

"I really can't wait to set sail. I'll miss home so much…but I feel so caged. I want to really, see the worlds, I want to learn. It's our chance to finally break free!"

I land again, this time on platform of pink, a girl with long blond hair, her eyes shut.

I felt strength beneath loss. A weight pulling me down I had to break free of.

And then I saw the door. It was tall, and looked heavy to open. But what caught my eyes the most was the light seeping through the cracks.

Light.

I took two steps forward, the sound of my shoes tapping against the strong glass the only thing that reached through the heavy stillness. For now, only I were there.

As I neared the door, I could see through to the other side –the rest of the platform. There was nothing behind the door. Then why was there light coming from it? There was no light on the other side of the platform…

"Finally, a place to go, somewhere new! I want to…I want to find myself there. I want to discover who I am on this journey. I think –I hope I will."

Behind me there is a thud. I jump, heart in my throat, ridged with fear. I turn around as fast as I can, and almost tumble.

It's only a treasure box. Strange. I can't imagine where it could have come from. But then, everything about this is strange. And terrifying, in a quiet, calm

way.

I step up to the box, and lift the shield, gently tap the box, as to see if I get an idea of what is in there. I start when the lid pops open, to show a tiny bottle at the bottom. I pick it open, and look it over as though it is filled with poison.

Potion

Is all it says.

Behind me, there is another, louder thud, and I am less afraid, when I turn around to see a crate. Something tells me to hit it. It may be my violent side, but I obey. It cracks apart, sending pieces of wood everywhere. Left behind is a little package. And item. Another potion. So it says when I open it.

A barrel is sent down, dropped from up above, or whatever direction it is. I can't tell by now. I lift the barrel, wondering what it might give me. Not that I care. One of these times it might be poison. So, with all my might, I throw it over the edge. And it is gone. Never coming back. Because I do not know what lies below.

And the door is wretched open. A blinding light spills out, which intrigued me before, I now feel wary of it. I can't look into it, so I hold up my hands, and pushing aside any other feelings, step into it. It must be better than all of the darkness.

"But I'm afraid too. I'm afraid to step out of the ordinary. Just a little bit. I don't want anybody to know. I hate being afraid. It could ruin what might be the best thing that will ever happen to me."

Hold on. The door won't open just yet.

And it was all gone. I was no longer standing on the platform, in darkness. I was on the deck, looking out to see. I thought I was back. Free of the dream. In reality. But Kaze wasn't there. Instead, Selphie, Tidus, and Wakka stood, looking at me.

"Where's Kaze?" I ask, but they don't hear. Or maybe they don't care.

First, tell me a little about yourself.

"What's going on." I turned to Selphie, practically begging for an answer. I was sick of all this. I wanted back. I wanted home. I had lost all insight. I no longer cared.

"What's most important to you?" Selphie asked, twirling her bracelet casually, as though she was sitting on the docks, everything normal.

What?

I thought for a moment. I didn't have a strong sense of pride. Winning, being the best, even people liking me had little prize to me.

Material items, some were special. I always had issues sharing. But you can't take things like that when you go.

I wanted to make a mark in life. I wanted to be happy. My happiest times were with my friends. Memories of happy times got me through rough patches in life. And they always would. I would go to the ends of the worlds for my friends, though they didn't know that.

It seemed as though the answer was pretty obvious.

"Friendship." I whispered softly.

"Is friendship such a big deal?" Selphie crinkled her nose.

I turned away, biting back a retort. I nearly smacked into Wakka, who was standing in his classic position, hands behind head.

"What do you want outta life?" he asked in his heavily Caribbean accented voice.

I wanted to see things. I wanted to understand things. I wanted rare beauty of the untouched burned in my memory. The words floated from my lips like a breeze, without my consent.

"To see rare sights." My eyes burning towards the horizon.

"To see rare sights, huh?" they all seemed to be scoffing my choices.

I turned to Tidus, defiant.

"What are you gonna say to me." I had my hands on my hips. Actually, this was what I was afraid of. Something was seriously wrong if Tidus didn't do what I normally he would do.

And that was fall head over heels for me.

"What are you afraid of?" he asked, as casual as the rest. And my heart sank. These people weren't the real Tidus, Wakka, or Selphie. They were some type of cloned imposters.

What am I afraid of? A lot of things. For one, something like this dream happening.

But…I didn't want to make bad choices. I was afraid of crossroads in my life.

"I'm afraid of being indecisive." I said, slowly, reasoning.

"Being indecisive? Is that so scary?" fake Tidus said.

"Imposter." I spat.

He looked at me blankly, as though I hadn't spoken.

You want friendship.

You want to see rare sights.

You're afraid of being indecisive.

"What are you afraid of, Pinto? It doesn't seem like you ever really have fears. Real fears. Not fear of the dark, or spiders, but of things so scary you don't want to think of them. But you are reminded everyday, that everybody has fears. So what is yours?"

You're adventure begins at midday. Keep a steady pace and you'll come through fine.

The day you open the door is both far off and very near.

And I was gone from the 'island' and back onto the girl with the pink dress' platform. The door was gone.

The creatures appeared, but that's not what caught my eye. It was light, sweeping across the platform, and showing stairs that I were certain weren't there before.

They curved and lead up to another platform, it's stain glassed windows glowing sinisterly from the dark.

I stood at the foot of the staircase, looking at the stairs dubiously. It looked like they were made of stained glass, and were hovering in the air. I couldn't see anything holding them out. But looking behind me, hordes of the creatures were assembling, slowly making their way towards me.

I hurriedly put my foot down on the first stair, and did a quick check of its sturdiness. Solid.

And so I darted up the stairs, fear pumping in my veins. For there was no railing, and if I fell off the step…

My fear of falling into the nothingness was almost overwhelming.

I had broken out into a cold sweat by the time I reached the top, the dangerous but beautiful staircase gone when I turned around.

There was no way back.

This platform had a girl in a rose yellow dress, dancing with some kind of beast in fine coats and tails. This time, I felt love, affection, a gratefulness.

"It's…interesting, how this turned into an all out confession…but you…you're the only person I'd ever want to talk about this with. When I talk to you, it feels natural. I don't feel bad about being afraid or, anything like that. So thanks Pinto. Thanks for everything."

The closer you get to light, the greater your shadow becomes.

I looked behind me, and I could see my shadow, stretching out, lengthening, and then getting wider, until it changed shape altogether. I was horrified, disgusted, when it took shape into a massive creature, with a huge, bulking frame, ugly, massive hands, the shape of a red heart burned into its chest. But the worst thing was, the withering tentacles that came from its face, surrounding, dead, angry yellow eyes.

But don't be afraid. And don't forget…

I turned and ran, a scream blocked in my throat. But I was standing at the edge, and I teetered, trying to regain my balance as I stared down into the black depths of nothing.

"Solace!" I screamed out, praying he would hear me. "SOLACE!" he had to hear me. He had never failed. "SOLACE! HELP ME!"

There was no answer.

So my only option was to fight.

"I wish there was something I could do for you. You never falter. You never fade. It's like…there's nothing you need."

I went for the hand. It was the only thing I could reach. Using my shield viscously, he didn't do anything, didn't even seem to see me at his side. Until he plunged his hand, knocking me aside, into the ground, and a thick, sick blackness swirled around him like a whirlpool. The blackness reached my feet as I ran towards it, and did nothing. So I slugged through it, and beat at the hand repetitively. My arms were already sore from the constant beating of the heavy shield.

Through the blackness, the smaller creatures appeared, leaping around eagerly. I fought back a shout when one materialized right beside me, and turned to look at me, its wide and empty.

And then the were swarming me. I struggled through the crowd and the black much, away from where the were created. They only followed.

"LEAVE" smash, smash "ME" smash, smash "ALONE!"

I was shocked when my rage ended, that they were gone. And the hand was back to his side. I leapt at it, my swipes coming short, my body fatigued.

I was about to cry in frustration when he leaned back, and a big purple/black ball was released from his chest, where the heart mark was.

Tiny purple balls shot from it, curving in and tagging me. It was like acid on my skin. It burned. I back away, tears trickling down my face.

There was nothing I can do.

Yes there is.

A little voice whispered.

You are…

You are Pinto…

You are Chiyoake…

You can do this.

It gave me strength. I would do this. I could do this. I was me.

Power sleeps within me. I gave it form. It will give me strength.

One more swipe at the hand. I gave it all I had, all my strength, all my power. All of me.

And the creature fell back. I had beaten it.

But darkness spread beneath it. It flowed out, consumed the pretty girl and the beast, consumed everything.

But don't be afraid.

I wasn't sure if I was hearing the voice. Everything was going black. I couldn't see. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't feel.

The swallowing darkness was covering my eyes, as I fell down. I could see the creature leaning over, get a good glimpse into those angry, empty eyes, haunting and hungry.

Was I going to die?

No. Through all this, something struck me. I had seen those eyes before. I had seen that look. Where?

I couldn't think.

You hold the mightiest weapon of all.

I reached out my hand, for something, anything to save me. Darkness spread up the paleness of the back of my arm, reaching for the desperate fingers.

So don't forget.

"Pinto, I love you so much!"

I remembered where I had seen that look…

You are the one who will open the door.

Riku…

XxXxXx

And that there's the end! (of the chapter!) it may take me some time to get the second chapter done, so don't get mad!

I am VERY happy with how this chapter turned out. I learned a ton about Pinto and Kaze, and they're my characters too!

Can't wait till text chapter!

-Rio

P.S REVIEW!!