Kingdom Hearts: The Absence of Light
Chapter I
Destiny Islands
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, all rights go to Square Enix.
I've been having these weird thoughts, lately…
Like… is any of this for real? Or not?..
Balance is key. Good and Evil; Light and Darkness live amongst each other. Where there is light, there is darkness. These two elements produce a door; Kingdom Hearts. Whether it is the door to darkness, or the door to light, no one is quite sure. But one will prevail; one will discover what lies beyond the door. This marks the war between Light and Darkness…
I'm… falling?.. Sora thought, as he slowly opened his eyes. Bubbles rose to the surface, the sun shining through the water. I'm… under water… what… what is this?.. Suddenly it became clear that he wasn't under water, he was floating in what had seem to be a never-ending sea of darkness.
Sora.
A voice called. "Huh?" was all that slipped passed his lips.
Good, you can hear me. You have a strong heart, Sora.
"What's… going on… Who are you?.." Sora asked.
You need not to concern yourself with who I am, I am here to guide you. The Door is going to open soon. You must prepare for what is about to become.
"What do you mean… what are you talking abou-" Sora stopped before finishing his sentence, suddenly falling flat on a surface. "O-ow! What the hell!.."
Don't let your guard down, darkness has been unleashed. Darkness resides in everyone's heart, balancing out the light. Up until now, darkness has grown in people's hearts, this unbalance will end disastrously… you my friend have the potential to restore this balance.
"Why… me?"
You, Sora, have a light that shines like no other, one that can never go out.
A blinding light gleamed on one spot of this dark abyss right before him. There appeared a door. Sora stepped forward toward the door.
Before you enter, just remember, you have a light that shines brighter than the sun. The darkness will want to destroy it and consume it until there is nothing left. You must have the will and strength to overcome it…
The door opened suddenly, a hand of a ferocious monster came out and grabbed Sora. Sora yelped, trying to escape the grasp of the monsters hand. "Ahh! WHAT IS THIS…?"
Don't be afraid Sora. You have the strength…
The hand formed into what seemed to be a big shadow, slowly swallowing Sora up. "I.. can't!.. Can't breathe…" Sora gasped.
You have the power…This is only the beginning.
Sora shut his eyes, and they then flashed open to see the blue skies. The sound of the waves crashing on the shore rang in his ears, the sun shining in his face, when from out of the blue sea water splashed all over his face, as he shouted in terror.
"Finally you're awake!" a cheerful voice giggled.
"Kairi!.. Was that really necessary… I was already waking up…" Sora cried.
Kairi is one of Sora's best friends growing up. She was found washed up on the beach of Destiny Islands. No one knows where she came from, or how she got there, for she had lost her memories of her past. There are many mysteries behind Kairi's past that has encouraged Sora (and Riku) to set off to travel to other worlds. Other than that, she was always a cheerful, upbeat, down-to-earth girl, age 16, with long straight, smooth, layered, red hair, brilliant blue eyes, and a cute smile.
"Whoops! Didn't know! I wouldn't have if you weren't laying on your butt all day! Hehe." Kairi replied while Sora shivered from being drenched in cold sea water. "What's the matter? It looks like you just saw a ghost or something." Sora looked at Kairi, "I had a weird dream… I was being swallowed by some monster… I couldn't breathe… I thoug-" Sora was interrupted by a ball that hit him in the back of his head, temporarily dazing him and making him fall on his face.
"Ah! Bro, you okay, 'mon?" Wakka exclaimed. "Nnn…" was his response. "Woah, way to go Selphie, you knocked Sora out!" Tidus teased. "Ahh! Sora I'm sorry! It was an accident!" Selphie shouted as she ran towards Sora and Kairi. "Sora, you okay?" Kairi asked trying to hold back her laughter from how silly Sora looked.
Wakka, Tidus, and Selphie are childhood friends of Sora. They all went to school together, always played games with him. Wakka was the oldest, he was cool and a very laidback guy. Tidus was probably the youngest, a little obnoxious at times, but he's one of the most mature for his age. Selphie was the other girl of the group, she was cute, but was also pretty annoying at times, she loves being the center of attention, and also often talked about things nobody else really cared about. (This will probably the last time they'll be in this story.)
"I'm… I'm fine…" Sora responded, getting off the floor, completely covered in sand. Everyone bursted laughing. "Sora! HAHA YOU LOOK LIKE THE SANDMAN!" Tidus exclaimed.
Sora looked at himself, pouted, then smiled. "Hahaha, I bet I do look like the sandman!" Sora laughed. "Hey goof, what do you think you're doing?" a voice from the distance shouted.
It was Riku, Sora's child hood best friend. An assertive, built, determined young man took on the age of 18, just a year older than Sora. Everyone looked up to Riku, like a leader. Though, he was smart, he wasn't all that wise, in fact he's pretty naïve, but nobody really knows that weak side of him. In fact, they think he's perfect. He had a friendly, yet cold look in his face, proud baby blue eyes, white, layered, spiky hair, and a very peculiar gaze. He was what everyone would picture to be a hero.
"Oh.. hey Riku." Sora replied as he walked to the shore and washed off the sand; Wakka, Selphie, and Tidus left to continue playing their game. "I thought you were going to help us build a ship, not take a break and goof off." Riku teased. "Oh he was sleeping! So I poured beach water on him." Kairi giggled. "Oh? Sleeping on the job as usual, Sora?" Riku smirked. "Uh.. I'm sorry, I didn't even know I fell asleep…" "Well, we need to work on this together if we want to travel to other worlds, Sora." Riku stated. Sora sighed, "Don't you think the whole thought of traveling to other worlds is a little… childish, Riku?" Kairi frowned to Sora's statement. "Sora, you are childish." Riku laughed, "I know it seems childish to still have these dreams to travel to other worlds.. I mean we're old, but that doesn't change the fact that it could be a possibility. I mean we got the best proof in the world…" Kairi was brightened with a smile on her face. "So come on, let's get to work!" Riku exclaimed throwing a list of things to gather at Sora. "I need to you to get all these things.."
Kairi and Riku walked off, as Sora ran off the opposite direction to gather the things prior to the list.
"This is just way too silly.." Sora sighed, for he was on the final item on the list. This item was found in the strange cave in the back of the island. This cave was very peculiar, it was dark, with only little light shining from the sun through a hole in the ceiling, at the end of the cave was a big giant door that never opened. As kids, Sora, Riku, and Kairi would come to the cave and draw on the rocky walls. Before Sora could crawl into the cave, Tidus stopped him, "Hey Sora, don't think it's a good idea to go in there." He said. "Huh? Why?"
"Well, earlier Selphie, Wakka, and I were playing near here and we heard the strangest sounds, dude." Tidus replied.
"Oh hahaha, nice try Tidus, I'm sorry, but I'm not scared of monsters anymore. They're not real, dude. There's no such thing." Sora responded turning back around, hearing a weird sound. Sora gulped and crawled right in.
"I'm warning you dude!" Tidus shouted.
Sora walked in, thinking, Psh, monsters, right… as he walked in, he looked around slowly, only to see the drawings on the wall. All he could find was the door. He looked around some more, and found the item. As he got down to get it, he took notice of a drawing Kairi made of himself and Riku, and the horrible drawing he did of Kairi. As he looked at this and reminisced, he remembered what Riku told him once about the Paopu fruit. If you share this with someone special, you and that person will be a part of each other's lives forever... and as he was reminiscing, he remembered that strange voice from his dream saying, You, Sora, have a light that shines like no other.. it echoed in his head.
Sora looked at the drawing once more, grabbed a rock, and added a little something to the drawing. Suddenly, Sora heard a sound, he quickly got up and turned to see a man in a strange cloak. "Who are you?" Sora shouted.
"I am here to see the door.." a deep strange voice replied, a voice that brought chills down ones spine. Sora turned and looked at the door, and then back at the man. "What about the door…?"
"Hm, you do not know yet what lies beyond the door?" the man asked without answering Sora's question.
"Well, uh, no…"
"I see, you have so much to learn..." the man began, "This world has been connected…"
"Wait, so you're from another world!" Sora exclaimed in surprise.
"Precisely, I have come to see this door... and this world before it succumbs to darkness."
"Huh? What the hell do are you talking about..?" Sora shouted, remembering the voice warning him in his dream.
"… a meaningless effort, one who knows nothing can understand nothing.."
"Sora!" Kairi called. Sora turned around, "Coming!" he turned back around and the strange man had vanished. Sora looked all around just to find nobody there, was I imagining this? Sora thought as he ran out of the cave.
Kairi was standing outside the cave, her hair and clothes looking messed up and out of place. She had her arms folded, looking around awkwardly, she looked a bit flushed. She cleared her throat and said, "Um, did you get all the things we um need?.." she asked awkwardly. "Uh yeah… hey, something wrong?" Sora asked with concern. "Actually I was about to ask the same thing, you have the same look on your face when I woke you up earlier today…"
Sora sighed, "I think my mind is playing tricks on me, I think I should get something to eat… or something, heh." He smiled. "Oh, Sora, silly as usual! Come on, I think Riku brought us something to eat." Kairi giggled, blushing. So they both walked each other to find Riku.
The sun was lying over the horizon, slowly drifting under the sea. Daytime turning to night; the sky going from an orange to a big dark blue. Stars already glittering in the sky. Sora, Kairi, and Riku were sitting on one of the islands of Destiny Islands that was connected to the main island by a bridge Sora and Riku made when they were a lot younger. Sora and Kairi sat on the Paopu fruit tree, while Riku was leaning against it, all eating their last meal together before they set off to a big daring journey.
"Just think," Riku began, "feels like just yesterday we were just kids sword-fighting and racing each other… and now in a few hours we're going to finally find out who Kairi really is and where she came from. Not only that, but, as childish as it may sound, we'll go out there and see and learn about other worlds." As Riku made his speech, Sora remembered the strange cloaked man in the cave. Who was he? And why was he there? Sora thought, "…one who knows nothing can understand nothing." That phrase echoed in his mind. "It's all thanks to you, Kairi. If you never came to our lives… we would be completely oblivious and continue to live our lives here on this island. Thank you." Riku continued. "Uh… heh, you're welcome.." Kairi replied awkwardly, with a smile with rosey cheeks across her face. "Ha, you guys sound so lame." Sora laughed. Riku looked at Kairi and smiled, Kairi quickly looked away and blushed. "Well, look who's the childish one now, huh Sora?" Riku teased. "I was just saying! You're getting all touchy feely with your speech and all. It's giving me weird chills and shit, ha." Sora replied. "Oh knock it off you two. We should all go get some shut eye before we head off." Kairi suggested still blushing. "Alright, alright. I'm beat. I'll see you guys later then." Sora said, jumping off the tree and headed home.
On the way home, Sora thought about everything; life, change, experiences, and time. The memories were great, and there was more to come, but there was one fear that came across his mind. Losing the ones he loved. He couldn't bare the idea, almost brought tears to his eyes. Who knew time would go by so fast, Sora thought, it seemed like just yesterday I found Kairi lying on the shores of Destiny Island… He got home, had everything packed and ready to go. He laid in bed, anxious for the next day to come. He looked around in his dark room, seeing all the crafts and posters he made with Riku and Kairi as kids. Those were the good ol' days. Sora looked out his window, only to notice that a big black vortex surrounded Destiny Islands, it looked like a a big storm consuming the beautiful islands. "Oh no! The ship! The equipment!" Sora exclaimed jumping out of his window running towards the islands.
Sora arrived at the islands, he noticed that Riku and Kairi's boats were there as well. He ran towards the shack that led to the bridge, only to find himself surrounded by a swarm of weird creatures. They had big huge yellow eyes, creepy antennas, and just a shadowy texture. "Wh-what are these things?" Sora exclaimed, before they could jump him, he got away unharmed. He ran across the bridge, where Riku was standing , looking up at the dark vortex in the sky. "Riku!"
Riku slowly turned around to face Sora. "Riku what are you doing?"
"Can't you see, Sora? We have these fears holding us back, if we don't face them, then what would be the point of going to travel to other worlds, we'd be living in fear… This is all just a test." Riku said, with a smirk on his face.
"What the hell are you talking about, we gotta find Kairi!"
"Kairi is coming with us, too," Riku extended his arm to Sora, "I'm not afraid… I'm not afraid of the darkness, damn it! Are you?" Sora reached for Riku's hand, only to be slowly swallowed by shadows. Sora held his breath, and closed his eyes as he grasped Riku's hand. It felt like the end.
Sora, open your eyes.
"Huh?" Sora said in response in hearing that once familiar voice.
You're safe.
He slowly opened his eyes, to find the hand that he was once grasping was now a big weapon-like key. Sora gazed at it in disbelief.
Keyblade…
Sora found himself surrounded by the bug-eyed shadow creatures again. "I have to find Kairi…" he said to himself, with a determined look in his eyes, in his now defensive mode. The creatures began to close in on him, and as a defense mechanism, Sora began swinging the key around. What the hell am I suppose to do with this thing? Sora thought. The creatures jumped leaped to and fro, one eagerly jumping right beside him. As he swung the key relentlessly, he struck the creature that had jumped right beside him, and it split in half and slowly disintegrated. "Woah…" he said in awe, admiring the power of the key.
He then almost naturally leaped into the swarm, swinging the key at them, striking them one by one. It came to him so naturally, when suddenly each of the creatures just disappeared. "I think… I scared them away…" he told himself, as he was catching his breath. He turned around, swallowing the fear in his heart. He ran off the bridge and jumped off the shack. He looked around desperately, when he saw the fresh-waterfall where the cave was near, his face turned pale. He saw a door that seemed elegantly made sitting where the entrance of the cave was. He gulped and ran to it. He took in a few last looks at it before he opened it and walked in. As he entered, he heard groaning and moaning. "Kairi!" Sora exclaimed as he ran in.
There, he saw her sitting on the floor, her hair and clothes messed up, on her knees, holding herself. "Kairi.." She slowly stood up and turned her head, "Sora….." was all that passed her lips as she turned to face him with such melancholy expression on her face. The door that had been there all this time suddenly slammed open, sending Kairi flying. Sora opened his arms to catch her, only to find that she had completely vanished right before his very eyes. He gasped only to find himself being blown out of the cave. "Ahh!.." Sora yelped as he closed his eyes holding on to the key.
Sora, don't let your guard down…
He opened his eyes, the dark shadowy vortex was right over him, consuming everything. A huge ferocious shadow monster appeared, making the last of the world rattle and rumble. Sora got up attempting to escape it, only to find that he and the piece of land was all that was left. "Oh my god…" he whispered to himself in shock. He got on his knees to see if there was any way to escape, only to find no hope. Tears began running down his cheeks. Riku…. Kairi….was all he thought.
Sora, you have the power, you have the strength. Let your heart guide you, and you will be saved…
Sora clenched his fist, closed his eyes, feeling the giant monster approaching him. Goodbye Riku… and Kairi… were his last thoughts before everything was completely swallowed by the vortex, including Sora himself.
I assure you, this is not the end… For it is only the beginning.
[End of chapter 1]
I know it's a lot like the actual story, but it'll change. Tell me what you think?
