Author's note:

First Kingdom Hearts fanfic! :) I have lots of ideas for this story, so I hope you guys really like it! If you like Sora whomping, you'll like this, mwahaha!

This story takes place after Kingdom Hearts 2


Chapter 1

The sun shone down on Destiny Island, and the waves licked hungrily at the shore. A young man was lounged back on a tree that swooped down in almost a hammock sort of way. His hands were tucked under his head, his eyes closed. His messy brown hair blew gently in the sea breeze. He was completely relaxed.

A wave of water came splashing down on his head and he gasped, shaken harshly from his sleep, and he flipped over off the tree to the grassy ground. There was a deep laugh.

"Rise and shine, Sora!"

"Riku!" Sora jumped to his feet before jumping up onto the tree and pouncing on Riku, knocking him to the ground. Riku laughed, putting his hands up to defend himself as Sora shook his head, ridding the water from his hair and spraying Riku. Riku kicked his legs, knocking Sora off and got to his feet, dusting off the grass from his pants.

"I just thought your hair could use some watering down; it's always all over the place."

"And perhaps your hair could use a cut. It's kinda long." Sora gave Riku an amused smile. Riku chuckled and helped his old friend up.

"What are you doing out here anyway?"

"Well, I WAS napping."

"Pfft, it's your birthday! You can't sleep on your birthday! C'mon, Everyone is waiting for you." Riku grabbed Sora's shoulder and directed him across the small bridge. Sora let out a small groan.

"Rikuuu, I thought I told you I didn't want anything like that..."

"Don't blame me, Kairi set it up, you're lucky I'm warning you ahead of time. Besides, it's your 16th birthday."

"So?"

"So, it's kinda a big deal, isn't it?"

"You didn't get anything big when you turned 16...oh." Sora's sentence ran off a little, remembering what happened last year.

"Yea...we were all kinda occupied at that time though, Sora." Riku said, his tone turning solemn, regretful for a moment. Sora looked over at his friend, feeling bad for bringing up those memories. It didn't matter how many times Sora tried to convince Riku it wasn't his fault, Riku still fell into the guilt that he had given up in the darkness. That he had almost hurt his lifelong friends.

"...Well, alright!" Sora said sounding excited to hopefully raise Riku's spirit. "Is there cake?" Riku chuckled then at Sora's giddiness.

"What's a birthday without cake?"


"Happy birthday!" Came the shouts of all his island friends. Before Sora was a great cake blazing with 16 candles.

"Thank you." Sora said and blushed, giving a smile.

"Make a wish, Sora!" Kairi said and giggled. Sora looked down at the cake with a thoughtful expression. He closed his eyes for a moment then opened them and leaned over, blowing out all the candles. Everyone applauded.

Kairi came over and gave him a tight hug. "I'm so glad we can all just hang out like we used to!" Kairi smiled at up Sora and he returned her smile.

"C'mon, have some cake, Sora!" Tidus said, cutting the cake. The others quickly joined in to get their share.

As Sora was waiting to receive his cake, he looked across and noticed someone, standing just behind a tree and watching them. It was but a shadow and Sora couldn't make out its features. Immediately, he stiffened. The past two years have taught him to always be suspicious about the unknown, to be ready for attack at any given moment, no matter where you are. This shadow could prove to be a danger to him and his friends, it could be a heartless. Or even a nobody.

A hand came down on his shoulder and he jerked and turned, seeing Riku.

"Sora? What's wrong?" Riku looked around himself, for something that might be amiss. "What's up?" Sora looked back to where the shadow was...but it wasn't there anymore.

"Um...nothing." Sora gave Riku a grin. "Guess I'm just a bit tired...you know, since I didn't get to have my nap earlier."

Riku rolled his eyes. "You're starting to sound like an old man."

"Hey!"

Riku laughs.


Sora laid in bed that night, hands tucked behind his head, looking up at his ceiling. He had a gentle smile on his face. He had such great friends. He was just so glad to be home, with Kairi and Riku. To know that they're both safe now, along with Donald and Goofy, even though he can't see them often anymore. And knowing that everyone is ok. It just made Sora feel so content. Sure, he missed the adventures, but he missed the peace just as much.

He closed his eyes slowly...

And darkness fell upon him.


That next morning, Riku was knocking at Sora's door over and over. The kid should have been up by now.

"Sora!...Sora! Come on, you lazy bum!" He called in, banging his fists on the door hard. Jeesh, it's nearly noon, Sora's always up earlier...

One last unanswered knock and Riku was worried. He pulled out a small wire and picked the lock. He had the door unlocked in a matter of seconds and stepped into the room.

"C'mon, Sora! We have-..." Riku stopped. Sora's bed was empty.

"Sora?..." He stepped in, noticing the window was open and a small breeze was blowing in. Could Sora have already left? No, couldn't have, I would have seen him... Riku looked around the room, but there didn't seem to be anything else out of place. He paused suddenly and looked down. He had stepped on something hard. He pulled his foot away and revealed a metal crowd on a thick chain.

It was Sora's necklace.

Riku bent down, picking it up and holding it in front of his face. He didn't know what happened...but one thing was for sure...

Sora was gone.

And trouble has found them again.