Here we go again. It's new! It's re-vamped! It's FIND YOUR LIGHT!...the fanfic that did horribly the first time around. So, let's try this again. I hope, I hope, I hope it does okay!
R&R everyone! Make it work! PLEASE!
Zex
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A brown lion cub ran through the savannah, a keyblade in his mouth. He dodged expertly as two bird-like heartless dove toward him. He flipped his hind legs into the air, and swung the keyblade. A second keyblade held in his tail swung as well. Both heartless squawked, and turned into black dust as the keyblades swiped through them.
The brown lion landed, and looked around, ready to be attacked again. His body flashed, and a white bird with a duck head, and a turtle with a dog head appeared next to him.
"YAAAAA!" The bird raised it's staff with one talon, and thunder rained down on the shadow heartless around the trio.
The shadows all disintegrated, leaving pink hearts floating up toward the sky.
The brown lion cub watched them idly then without warning, a lioness sprinted toward the brown lion from the elephant graveyard.
"AAA!" The brown lion ducked, and covered his head with his front paws. The red lioness jumped over The cub, and caught one of the hearts.
The lioness landed just behind the white bird, and knelt painfully.
"Hey, are you okay?" The brown lion cub ran up to the lioness. "You look hurt."
The lioness struggled to stand up, ignoring the trio.
"She's not very nice." The bird landed on the turtle's shell, and folded its wings.
"Gawrsh Donald," The turtle said worriedly. "I think maybe she's really hurt."
The brown lion cub lifted the lioness's injured leg over his shoulder. "Can you walk now?"
"Sora!" Donald exclaimed.
"We have to help her, she's hurt." Sora said, starting to walk slowly toward wildebeast valley.
"No, please, the hearts!" The lioness pleaded.
"It's okay, they're free now." Sora smiled. "By the way, I'm Sora."
"No, you don't understand! I have to get them!" The lioness said desperately.
"What?" Sora and Donald gasped.
The lioness wrenched free of Sora, and hobbled on.
"Hey! Wait!" Sora ran after her, and bounded next to her. "I'm Sora."
The lioness paused, her right front paw raised to keep painful pressure off of it. She looked at the cub. "Aren't you a little young to be wandering around alone?"
Sora stopped hopping. "But I'm not alone." He beamed. "These are my friends. The turtle is Goofy."
Goofy wiggled a front foot at the lioness. "Nice t'meetcha."
Sora smiled. "And the loud one is Donald."
Donald jumped on Sora's back. "Don't tell her! She could be part of the Organization!"
The lioness started. "You mean Organization Thirteen?" She gasped. "Have you seen them? Are they here?" She stuck her face in Sora's desperately.
Sora sweat dropped. "Eh...n-no, not here at least."
"We see 'em on alotta worlds, though." Goofy said with a smile.
The lioness turned to Goofy, and black chain with a heartless symbol at the end hanging from her left ear. "You look very proud of that."
"Nah, but we do get to kick their butts!" Sora beamed, hopping.
"I see." The lioness gently set her injured paw on the ground, and limped slowly down the path. "Good luck kicking butt." She called back.
"Hey, wait!" Sora bounded up to the lioness, knocking Donald off of his back. "Oh," He glanced at the disgruntled bird with its wings on its hips, tapping one webbed foot impatiently. "Heh, sorry Donald." He ducked his head sheepishly.
"I'm in a bit of a rush. So, you'll forgive me if I can't wait." The lioness kept walking.
"Let us help. You're hurt, and you don't seem to be able to get around very well." Sora said, getting down on his belly, and wedging himself under her leg again.
"So, what happened to ya?" Goofy asked as he waddled along. Donald fluttered overhead frowning.
The lioness grimaced. "I just twisted my ankle." She said as she hobbled along with Sora's help.
"How did you do that?" Donald spat skeptically.
The lioness paused, and pulled her leg off of Sora. "Thank you, you've been very kind." She nodded to Sora
"HEEEEEY!" Donald dropped into the lioness's line of sight, and hoevered. "Answer my question!"
The lioness sighed. "I'm looking for someone." She laid down, and let out a painful sigh.
Sora walked up, and sat next to the strange red lioness. "What's their name?"
The lioness set her chin on her front paws. "You probably don't know him." She glanced at Sora.
Sora smiled. "I bet I do." He stood up, and nudged her head. "Come one, I've been to a lot of worlds, try me." He nudged her again.
The lioness sat up, and tested her paw. "I dunno."
"How's your leg feelin'?" Goofy asked.
"I could use some rest for a couple of days." She sighed.
Donald frowned. "How do we know you're not working for the organization?" He growled at the lioness.
"Because, I'm running from them." The lioness looked around. "And I have to get back to the oasis." She said worriedly.
"Donald, maybe you can use your magic, and heal her leg." Goofy smiled.
Donald turned his back, and flew across the gorge to the valley.
"Hey, Donald!" Sora called.
The lioness leaned over to Sora. "Why does that turtle have a dog's head?" she asked.
Sora laughed. "That's Goofy. He's the captain of the guard for King Mickey."
The lioness blinked.
"Sora!" Goofy walked over to Sora. "We're not supposed to tell people we're from another world, ahyuck."
"No, it's all right." She limped to the edge of the cliff leading to Wildebeast Valley. "I can understand it. I wouldn't have even approached you unless Sora had his keyblades."
"You recognized the keyblades?" Sora gawked.
"Yes." She nodded. "I don't know how, but I did."
"What do you mean you don't know how?" Sora raised an eyebrow.
She shrugged her feline shoulders. "I can't tell you that, but I saw it, and it was like seeing something from a dream, and I knew you weren't from this world." She tested a platform of rock, but it crumbled under her paw.
A keyblade appeared in Soras mouth, and he pointed it at the lioness. "Cure." He mumbled. The end of the keybalde glowed green, and a reciprocating green glow encircled the lioness.
She tested her foot, and smiled slightly. "Thanks, Sora." She turned, and walked past Sora away from the gorge.
"Hey, um, what's your name?" Sora turned, and watched Aya. "Where are you going? What about the gorge?"
"Aww, maybe she's just testing her ankle." Goofy tilted his head, and watched the lioness.
She turned, and faced the gorge from about fifty feet away.
"Hey, all you have to-Woah!" Sora fell down on the ground as the lioness sprinted up to him, and jumped over the gorge.
Sora blinked, and stared at the red form, who was on the other side of the gorge.
"AA!" She collapsed onto her front leg. "I remember how I twisted it in the first place." She grumbled.
Donald muttered gibberish duck speak, and a staff appeared in his feet. "CURAGA!" He shouted, frustrated, and the lioness's whole body glowed green then white then the light faded.
Sora landed down next to her expertly, and chuckled. "You really ate it there. You okay now?" He smiled.
She nodded. "Yeah, and my name is Adelle."
"Adelle? Nice to meet you."
The oasis was beautiful as always, and the overhead trees provided cool, easing shade from the hot savanna sun. Sora trotted along happily as Adelle walked slowly along the path ahead of him. The brown cub caught up to her, and slowed to her pace.
"So, what brings you to the oasis? Just chillin'?" Sora grinned.
"It's the only way to get back to my ship." Adelle shook her head to cool it.
Sora started. "Woah, you have a ship, too?" He beamed. "Is it a gummi ship? A pirate ship?"
"It's called Ragnarok. I'm kind of borrowing it from a friend...kind of being operative phrase her." Adelle muttered.
"Aw, I get it, Ahyuck! She stole it." Goofy chuckled.
"What?" Donald squawked.
Adelle stopped mid-step, a guilty look on her face.
"Did you?" Sora asked, disbelief all over his face. "You should take it back right now, and ask permission."
Adelle rolled her eyes, and continued toward a glowing green circle. "He'd never agree." She touched the circle.
"How do you know if you never tried?" Donald growled, landing next to Adelle.
"Because he's a hard-ass." Adelle frowned.
Sora sweat-dropped. "You still shouldn't just take things without asking."
Adelle's lips thinned, and she backed onto the green circle.
"Hey!" Sora exclaimed.
Adelle held her paw up by her ear, waving it and shaking her head, and mouth I can't hear you as she was transported in white light off of the world.
"Someone needs to teach her a lesson." Donald frowned.
"C'mon! If we hurry I bet we can still catch her, and make her take the ship back!" Sora beamed.
A red dragon-like ship fired up its engines just as the trio re-boarded the Highwind.
"Woaaaaahh!" Sora awed. "That is a cool ship!"
"Engines at full!" Donald hit a button, and the gummi ship took off after the dragon.
They followed it through asteroids, and an army of Heartless ships. The dragon weaved expertly, and shot down almost every ship that came at it.
"Uh oh!" Sora pulled the Highwind along side the dragon ship as a multi-legged yellow and black ship came up ahead of it. Prepared to assist in its destruction, Sora charged the cannon to full.
The dragon ship fired four blue pulse blasts, knocking out a leg with each blast, and the black and yellow ship retreated.
Pretty soon Hollow Bastion loomed ahead of them, and the red ship landed along with the Highwind.
Sora jumped out of the Highwind, and looked around. "Heey," He looked up at the dragon's cockpit. "Where's the pilot?"
"Aww, I bet she's hiding." Goofy chuckled. "Ahyuck."
"Why are you stalking me?" A perturbed young woman asked. She wore a short red jacket with two pockets at the hem, a tan pouch strapped to her right arm outside the jacket, a white tank top, short red denim shorts with a thick red belt, and knee-high laced black boots. She folded her arms, and glared at Sora with bright green eyes.
Sora stammered.
Two long red curls framed her face, the rest of her hair pulled back into a bun, and a black headband sat atop her head.
"Well?" she leaned forward.
Sora chuckled nervously.
"Oh, it doesn't matter." She turned, giving the trio full view of her hip holsters, and the two pistols stowed there that looked like they packed a painful punch when fired.
Goofy ran after the woman to explain while Sora stood dumbfounded by the Highwind.
"You stole my ship, Adelle!" Leon exclaimed.
"There he goes again." Yuffie rolled her eyes, leaning against the console.
"I brought it back!" The red-haired Adelle clenched her fists by her sides.
Sora walked into Merlin's house, and looked at the pair arguing. "What's going on?" Sora asked Aeris.
Aeris sighed.
"It's nothing, just Adelle and Leon!" Yuffie laughed. "Those two are always arguing. They must really like each other!" She grinned.
A small blue book grazed Yuffie's nose.
"Stay out of this, ninja girl!" Adelle snapped.
"Don't throw stuff at my friends!" Leon shouted.
Adelle growled, and it could almost be said that sparks shout out between the two in the worst way possible.
"Woah." Sora sweat dropped. "I'm gonna go somewhere-er-safer." He walked out of Merlin's house, and into the street. He gave one more glance back at the door then folded his arms behind his head, and started walking toward the bailey.
"It's a P.O.S. ship, anyway!" Adelle shouted, and slammed the door. She stuffed her hands in the pockets of her jacket, and stormed past the trio.
Sora watched Adelle walk away for a moment then ran after her. "Hey, wait up!"
Adelle didn't pause, just kept walking toward the Bailey.
Sora ran up the stairs, and into the Bailey.
"Sora!" Donald shouted.
"Hey, Sora!" Goofy called. "Wait up!"
Sora paused at the gate to the Bailey, and saw Adelle pacing near one of the large opening looking out at the castle, talking to someone.
"I don't understand what the big deal is!" Adelle growled, pacing back and forth.
"You did steal his ship." Cloud said pointedly, sitting along the windowsill, arms folded, one foot over the other, and looking out at the castle.
"He's unreasonable!" Adelle snapped, still pacing.
"You only say that because he is right." Cloud looked at the woman.
Adelle paused, and snorted. "Yeah, whatever."
There was a moment's pause then Cloud spoke again. "Did you find it?"
Adelle's face fell sadly, and she shook her head.
"Do you really think you'll find it?" Cloud asked.
Adelle hugged her arms across her stomach. "I have to, I don't have a choice anymore."
Cloud turned his head in thought, and saw Sora running toward him and Adelle.
Adelle followed the blonde's gaze. "Oh, it's you." She, quickly moved her hands behind her back nervously
"Hey," Sora folded his arms, and leaned forward toward Adelle. "Is that any way to treat someone who helped you walk?"
Cloud looked uneasily at Adelle. "Are you hurt?"
Adelle waved a hand at him. "No, I'm fine." She chuckled hurriedly.
Cloud's unease subsided.
"Hey," Sora started. "Why are you running from the Organization?" He raised an eyebrow.
Adelle folded her arms. "Nothing gets past you, does it keybearer?" She raised an eyebrow.
"That's what you said in the Pridelands!" Donald shouted, stomping on webbed foot.
"Ayuck, we were just wonderin' why you wanted those hearts so much."
Adelle shifted her gaze away from the trio. "It's..." she murmured. "It's a long story."
Cloud stood. "I have some things to take care of. I'll be at the castle when you're done here." He said, and walked past Adelle.
"Hey Cloud, where ya goin'?" Donald called.
Cloud kept walking down the stairs.
Sora shrugged, and turned back to Adelle. "So, what's up with you and those hearts? If you don't work for the organization, why do you want them so bad?" He asked.
Adelle walked to the window, and sat in the opening. "You're familiar with Nobodies, aren't you?"
Sora looked thoughtful. "When a person's heart is stolen, if their heart is strong, it creates a nobody, right?"
Adelle nodded. "And the Organization?"
Sora sighed, and folded his arms. "They're collecting hearts, trying to open Kingdom Hearts."
Adelle looked solemn. "For years it's been happening, and for years I've been searching. I try to find the hearts before they do, but I learned that no matter where I go Organization thirteen is always watching; always waiting for hearts to be freed from the heartless."
"But how come yer lookin'?" Goofy asked. "Didja lose one?"
Adelle looked out at the castle. "This place is where it first started. My brother and I lived here. It was a happy place once, and it had a different name."
"We know about Ansem's studies with the heartless, and his assistant Xehanort." Sora said. "But how does this effect you?" He pointed at Adelle.
Adelle looked at Sora. "It was long ago, longer now than it seems," She said sadly. "He was only trying to protect me."
"Your brother?" Donald asked, intrigued.
"Yes. The heartless had escaped from the lab, and everyone was trying to flee the town. My brother and I made it to the hanger, but the heartless were right at our backs." A tear dripped down Adelle's cheek. "The last thing I remember is Leon grabbing me. My brother didn't make it, he stayed behind to fight for the Ragnarok's escape."
Sora pouted. He knew what losing your home was like. Destiny Islands had been destroyed right in front of his eyes, and he had been powerless to stop it, but taken away when those you love are still on the world? He couldn't begin to imagine how much that had hurt Adelle.
"I saw his heart taken, and then everything as covered in darkness." Adelle wrung her hands slightly. "I've been searching since the day after. I knew that if I kept looking, fate would guide me to his heart. If I find it, maybe I can bring him back." She said hopefully, looking up at the trio.
"And that's why you were in the pride lands, you were searchin' for his heart, a-hyuck." Goofy smiled.
Adelle nodded.
Sora folded his arms, and thought. "How many worlds have you searched? I mean, you say you've been searching for a long time, but how long has it been?"
Adelle thought for a minute. "Ten years, I suppose. I was seventeen when I started looking."
"WHAAAAT?!" Sora, Donald, and Goofy all said at once.
Adelle sweat dropped.
"No way! I thought you were my age!" Sora exclaimed. "You're really twenty-seven?!" He gawked in disbelief.
Adelle shrugged. "Heh. I guess if it's been ten years. Wow," she sighed. "It feels like so much longer, and if I didn't have Hollow Bastion to come back to, I would probably lose track of time all together." She giggled at herself.
The trio continued to gawk.
"Alright, enough! It's not that big a deal!" Adelle frowned.
Sora stood up straight. "Okay! We'll help you look!" He announced.
"What?!" Donald started.
"Ahyuck, four heads are better than one." Goofy grinned.
Adelle stood up. "Thank you, but I already have someone helping me." She gave a little shrug. "Besides, if what Leon tells me is true, you three have your own little excursion to continue on. Far be it from me to interfere with the key bearer."
"Aw, but I know we can be a big help." Sora tried to look too cute to resist, but unfortunately for him, Adelle had spent many years learning to resist.
Adelle walked past the trio. She hated to have to tell them no. They had saved her life, and she just could not afford to be in any more debt to kind people. "Sorry, Sora." She said regrettably, and walked down the stairs leading to the castle gate. "I need to look by myself."
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Be kind.
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Zex