Hello everyone! I know it's been a long while, but I'm back with a new account and a new version of this story. For new readers, this is an OC-insert story that follows all of the first Kingdom Hearts. There will be sequels for the separate games, but for now we're all going along with Sora and co. at a gradual pace — hopefully, I'll be updating every Saturday with one to three new chapters that cover a visit to one world. For now, though, have the narrator's Dive to the Heart!
I may or may not upload the Destiny Islands chapters sooner than planned, but either way I'll see you next week with at least one new chapter. Reviews always appreciated, of course, but really thank you just for reading!
Chapter 1: The Dream
Can you ever be sure of what's real? I mean...
How do you know what's true?
How do you know what's not wrong?
I was floating, as if carried by a strong breeze or a gentle stream. Yet, despite it all, I could feel myself drifting downwards. On and on and...
Warmth. Bright light searing my eyelids red. When my eyes shot open, I was standing on the shoreline of the play island. I squinted into the bright sun, raising a hand to shield my eyes from the brilliant light. The familiar smell of saltwater filled my nose, and I looked down just in time to see the water suddenly recede.
Panic bloomed in my chest and my head snapped up; I was readying myself to bolt for higher ground when I saw the silver-haired figure standing out in the water.
"Riku!" I screamed, rushing forward across the damp sand. I kept looking back and forth between the relative safety of the play island and Riku's back as I anxiously waited for the first wave of the tsunami.
30 feet. I moved as fast as possible, kicking up particles as I went. My shoes plunged into the water.
20 feet. Riku looked back over his shoulder, his features calm. I wanted to call to him again, but my chest was too tight.
10 feet. He turned around, reaching out a hand towards me.
The water rose behind him.
"RIKU!" all but immediately he was engulfed, the panic making my heart race.
I didn't even have time to think before it crashed into me.
The force knocked the wind from my chest, throwing my down and into the ocean. Water rushed into my mouth, but I managed to clamp my mouth shut after the first mouthful. My lungs screamed, begging my mouth to open so they could rid themselves of the salty liquid.
I bent my knees, and the moment I felt my soles brush the sea floor I dug my heels into the sand. Through the painful force trying to drag me backward I fought, forcing myself into an upright position. Almost immediately I doubled over, making myself smaller so I wouldn't be swept away with the current.
I peeled my eyes open, just enough to see the blurry shape of a hand.
Riku.
Fighting against the current I urged my arm forward, the violent water threatening to snap it back the moment I showed weakness. It was hard, my feet were starting to slide backwards, but as I strained and strained soon enough my fingers came close to grazing his palm and—
The second wave crashed down.
With a gasp my shoulders were slammed into the sand, more water replacing the air in my lungs and making it all the more difficult to squeeze my mouth shut once again. I felt myself skid, before the water made its way under me and lifted me up. All-too quickly I was tossed up into the current, forcibly tumbling and rolling back against the grit of the sand.
I was dizzy, thoughts scattered and lungs burning as a black haze crept over the borders of my vision. Suddenly, the force against me stopped as the water slowed.
I pushed myself up with my hands, slamming my feet down as hard as I could. My head broke through the water's surface, and with a deep breath I was left hacking and retching up water. By the time it was over and I was sucking air into my lungs instead, my knees nearly crumpled beneath me.
"Hey, Kaen!" the call of my name was followed by a mix of giggles and laughter.
I looked up, lungs still burning. There was my sister Kairi bouncing on the balls of her feet, waving enthusiastically and beckoning me to come over. Next to her was Sora, his hands behind his head as he grinned in his goofy way and encouraged me to approach.
I stood up and smiled, giving a large wave in return before starting the trudge to shore.
They both smiled and laughed when I finally reached them.
Then, their expressions shifted into ones of horror and their eyes lifted to something over my shoulder.
I turned around, immediately spying the meteor shower. Then, upon closer inspection, I saw it: among the meteors cutting through the sky, was a person.
My feet slowly lifted off the ground and just as slowly I fell back, colliding with nothing as I fell through the air. Burning pieces of rock plummeted down with me, and together we came closer and closer to the ocean below.
I crashed into the water, and far above on the shoreline Sora and Kairi were bent over, screaming down to me with muffled, silent voices.
Slowly, as I continued to fall and fall, the deep blue faded into deep blackness. It was calming. Soothing, almost. It was like sleep, only...
My eyes slipped shut. I embraced the near nothingness.
I felt my clothes shift slowly, both away from and against my skin.
My feet settled against a flat surface. There was a wild flutter of birds' wings that eventually faded off into the distance, then nothing, before a bright light left the insides of my eyes lighting up. I opened my eyes, and the floor beneath me wasn't a floor.
It was a large, circular platform that seemed to be made out of stained glass. It was mostly green in tones, with a girl with black hair as its focus. She was sleeping, with a flowing yellow dress and a blue corset.
I tilted my head to the side, slowly starting to step forward as I examined the design of the glass. Next to the girl's head were seven circles arranged in a circle, each one containing the face of a comedic-looking, hatted male. Close to the edge of the platform was a ring of circles, these ones with forest creatures inside.
I frowned, brow furrowing as I squinted at the intricate platform beneath me. Despite the complete and utter darkness as far as the eye could see, the glass seemed to be lit from underneath with an almost painfully bright light.
I blinked rapidly, the glow hurting my eyes. Instead I looked up, the unending darkness soothing my corneas as creepy as it was.
"So much to do, so little time..."
I whirled around, eyes searching and finding no one on the platform with me. I twisted around, and still I couldn't see anyone. More than that, I couldn't even hear the source — the voice sounded like it was coming from everywhere and nowhere at the same time, as if it was echoing back and forth within the shadows.
"Take your time. Don't be afraid."
I could tell it was trying to be soothing, but... what was I supposed to be afraid of?
"The door is still shut."
My thoughts swirled. Door? Was someone locked away, trapped? Why was it shut in the first place? Should it stay shut...?
"Now, step forward. Can you do it?"
I swallowed, feeling the sweat bead across my back. I curled and uncurled my hands, anxious. Did I want to do what it said, want to find out what would follow? Still, I found myself stepping forward. By the time I reached the center my stomach was in knots, nerves dancing.
Then, spaced evenly across the rim of the platform, there were three flashes of light. In their place, three pedestals rose up from the glass.
"Power sleeps within you. If you give it form... It will give you strength."
Just as it finished speaking, three more lights flashed above each pedestal. In their wake they each left an item floating gently in the air. One was a sword, another left behind a shield, and the last was a staff.
"Choose well."
I waited, but the voice stayed silent; its riddles would be the only guide I had.
I swallowed again, nerves leaving me ready to throw up. Slowly I turned around, examining each item as thoughts raced in and out of my head. My eyes landed on the sword.
A sword, a shield... offense and defense.
I was supposed to choose one of the three items as, what? A mere preference or...?
Not paying any mind to the staff I approached the sword, reaching out and gripping it by its blue hilt. I eyed it, waiting for the voice it make its appearance once again.
"The power of a warrior. Invincible courage. A sword of terrible destruction. Is this the power you seek?"
I felt the confidence bloom in my chest. With power, with courage, I could be strong. Strong enough to stand up for myself and protect my friends.
I nodded, and with another flash of light the sword disappeared from within my grasp.
"Your path is set."
I nearly grinned, ready to get started. How, I didn't know. But as long as I could help my sister, Sora and Riku, keep them all safe...
"Now what will you give up in exchange?"
My heart stopped. Eyes wide, I hurriedly looked between the staff and the shield. At first I'd thought maybe the staff was supposed to be a mid-ground, a balance between offense and defense, but now? There was no way that could be the case.
My hand twitched.
Frowning, I carefully made my way to the staff. I reached out, hesitatingly only slightly before taking it into my hand.
"The power of the mystic. Inner strength. A staff of wonder and ruin. You give up this power?
I frowned, biting at my lip. More power meant I would be stronger, better able to fight for my friends. But if I gave up the shield...
How was I supposed to protect anyone if I couldn't protect myself?
Heart in my throat, I nodded again. The staff disappeared in a flash of light.
"You've chosen the power of the warrior. You've given up the power of the mystic. Is this the form you choose?"
With a sense of uncertainty and dread, I nodded again.
A deep rumble filled the air as the pedestals jerked, sinking back beneath the platform. Then, a series of cracks. At the edge of the platform, the glass was beginning to break apart into mere fragments.
I spun around, only to see it was breaking apart from every direction. Horrified, I realized it was falling into pieces faster and faster. The moment I moved to run, the glass beneath me shattered.
I fell.
The rush of wind pulled at my hair and clothes, the pressure causing tears to form in my eyes.
Then my feet collided with something hard, my knees buckling and slamming against the stained glass.
Pained, I slowly forced myself to stand. Already, I was examining the second platform.
The layout was the same as the first, with another sleeping woman among the violet shades. Her hair was blond and done up, the circles by her head depicting the white silhouette of a castle.
There was a flash of light in the corner of my eye, my right arm lurching slightly as weight was added. I glanced over, blinking as I saw the sword from before in my hand.
"You've gained the power to fight."
I waited, but was only met with more silence. Again with the lack of instructions.
I looked back down, raising the sword and testing its weight. I shifted my grip, swinging the blade and slicing through the air with ease. Silently, I measured the strength behind it and the pull of momentum with every strike.
"All right you've got it! Use this power to protect yourself and others."
My chest nearly exploded. I could protect them. I could protect my friends.
And I would keep them safe, no matter what.
"There will be times you have to fight. Keep your light burning strong."
With an almost squelching sound, shadows appeared across the platform. Then they actually began to seep up and away from the glass, turning into their own forms. The creatures were only a few feet tall with withered, vaguely humanoid, pitch black body. Each of their hands had three claws while their spherical heads bore two, long twisted antennae and a pair of round, glowing yellow eyes.
One by one they started to lunge, only for each one to be knocked away with a swipe from my sword. After only a few solid hits to each, the shadow creatures disappeared.
I straightened back out, resisting the urge to stretch.
"Behind you!"
Nearly shrieking I whirled around, empty hand flying toward the hilt of the sword. I twisted, slashing the shadow and making it disperse a few feet away from my face.
I swallowed, heart racing.
My feet were all but pulled downward, suddenly heavy. I looked around in a panic, seeing that the platform was being covered by wide, black pools of some substance.
Just like the one under me.
I struggled, pulling at my feet; it did nothing as I continued to sink deeper and deeper, my feet submerged. I tried to fight, to jerk my legs up and out, maybe slip out of my shoes, but all it did was make it harder for me to keep my balance.
I tipped back and forth, panicked. I sensed myself fall back before I felt it. My heart leaped.
I cried out, fighting to stay upright, but still I fell onto my back within the pool. I tried and failed to get up, a scream stopping itself before it could escape my throat. I sank deeper and deeper, the dark liquid thick and cool but at the same time thin and hot.
Try as I might I couldn't pull away, couldn't get out. I squeezed my eyes shut, unable to do anything but wait as it slowly crept up over my face.
When my eyes opened again there was nothing but blackness, yet I was still laying against something. I sat up, quickly realizing I was on yet another platform of stained glass. I got to my feet.
This time, it was styled differently. There were three silver outlines of hearts, arranged in a triangle. Each one had a pale blue silhouette of a woman and a background made up of shades of pink that matched the rest of the glass. The area between the hearts was a light teal, each third split in half by elegant pink lines that swirled at the ends.
I looked up, finally taking my eyes away from the platform itself.
Across the platform, at the other side, was a tall door. It was pale, in a way I couldn't describe.
Without waiting I walked up to it, hand already in the middle of reaching out when I realized it was transparent. Still I tried to open it, only for my fingers to pass through the handle like there was only air in its place.
With a huff I turned around, eyes widening when a chest appeared in a sparkle of light. I rushed up to the center of the platform and flipped it open, nearly flinging my arms up in annoyance at how it was empty. I straightened out when the chest disappeared in another flash of light.
A large crate appeared and I scrambled back, thankful for how it hadn't crushed my feet.
Warily, I poked the wooden object with my sword. The crate slid back, blade leaving a mark in the soft wood. I looked down, only to find nothing underneath.
I grabbed the hilt with both hands, rearing my arms back and striking at the crate until its side broke open and it shattered in its entirety. The flurry of splinters and sawdust was kicked into the air, the wreckage disappearing.
I took a half step, only to stop when my foot met something with a soft ping. I stooped down and picked up the jar, examining it. It and its stopper was made of smooth glass, allowing insight to the green liquid within.
A potion.
Recalling the time when my foolishness had me taking a higher grade potion to heal my wounds I stood, briefly pulling my hip scarf down so I could shove the potion into my pocket. I tugged the purple fabric back up.
When I looked back up, the white door was now solid. I started to walk towards it, only for the doors to fling themselves open and reveal the brilliant, blinding light that had been behind its doors. I squinted, head half-turning away and hands raising to shield myself from the brightness.
I made my way past the light and through the door, the light slowly fading. When I lowered my arms, I found myself at the play island.
Around me were Selphie, Tidus, and Wakka, all of us on the bridge-like structure between the smaller of the two massive trees. They were all other kids from the island, but we weren't exactly close friends.
"Hold on." Instead of one of them, it was the mysterious voice that spoke up. So, were we really in that darkness still...? "The door won't open just yet. First, tell me about yourself."
I swallowed, waiting for it to continue and ask its questions. There was nothing. I glanced at the other kids around me. Swallowing nervously, I walked up to Selphie.
Her head tilted to one side curiously. "What's most important to you?"
"My friends," I all but blurted out, the answer painfully easy.
"Is friendship such a big deal?" she wondered, making me bristle. I was ready to protest, to argue, only for my stomach to twist at the thought of how I was always second-best to my sister.
I wouldn't have made any friends if Kairi hadn't dragged me with her one day to meet Sora and Riku. Even then, I knew she was the one they preferred, the one they favored. She was sweet, cheerful; I was harsh, temperamental.
I swallowed, throat tight, before doing my best to ignore the whole thing as I headed over for Tidus. His eyes locked with mine.
"What are you afraid of?"
"Being different." I felt my stomach drop just at the thought.
"Being different? Is that really so scary?"
I bit back a response, feeling the back of my eyes burn. Being different meant being disliked, being isolated, being alone. And I...
Face hot, I hurried over to Wakka for the last question, hoping it would be something different.
"What do you want outta life?" I paused.
It was undoubtedly a better question than the other two, but at the same time it was harder. Just what did I want out of life...?
I knew I wanted my friends. To keep them, always have them around. To keep them safe. A thought struck me. If I wanted to keep them safe, then...
"To be strong," I told him, straightening out and rolling my shoulders back with pride. No matter how much you wanted to or tried, you couldn't protect anyone if you weren't strong enough; if you weren't strong enough to protect yourself.
"To be strong, huh," he seemed nothing but uninterested. I bristled, glaring at him.
"You want friendship." My thoughts were interrupted when the voice made its comeback. I looked up as if I could see its source, as sour as ever. "You're afraid of being different. You want to be strong. Your adventure begins at midday. Keep a steady pace and you'll keep through fine. The day the door will open is both far off and very near."
I frowned. The door again? What was so important about it? Why was it going to be opened?
A searing flash of light overtook my vision, leaving me blinking rapidly in an attempt to rid myself of the spots dancing in my vision. When it finally cleared, I realized I was in darkness, standing on another platform.
It was like the first two, but the sleeping woman had long hair and her hands raised to clasp a red rose. Her gown was purple but the platform as a whole was in shades of red. Green vines crawled out of the background to wrap around the patterns in the glass.
With a sickening sound, more of the shadow creatures appeared around me. Though there was some ducking and diving, it didn't take more than a few minutes to eliminate them all.
Once the last one dispersed, a beam of light came down and formed a small circle in the center of the platform. I stepped forward to stand within it, and the moment I did the beam moved. It traveled toward the edge of the platform, disappearing as it all but fell off.
In front of where the light had disappeared, a wide step made of multicolored glass appeared, hanging in the middle of the air. One by one more steps popped up in rapid succession, creating a long and rising trail of stained glass.
Carefully I climbed the steps, slowly gaining confidence with each one.
When I saw what had to be the next platform, my heart skipped in excitement and a grin split my face. While I'd assumed the platforms were merely floating disks, they were actually giant pillars that rose out of the endless blackness. Down the sides of the platform was more stained glass, much like the narrow windows of a church only many times longer.
I looked back, able to see from this angle that similar strips of stained glass went down the last platform.
I turned back around with renewed energy, continuing my climb up the glass steps until my feet settled on the next pillar; it had the same layout as almost all of the others.
The woman on this one had long brown hair, half-up half-down, and was wearing a yellow ball gown with hues that matched the rest of the platform. The circles by her head depicted a rose in a case alongside personified household items. Next to the woman was the profile of a large brown beast with horns.
Unable to help but smile, I continued to walk, toward the center of the platform.
"The closer you get to the light, the greater your shadow becomes."
A chill ran down my spine. I whirled around, noticing the glass steps had disappeared. More than that, my shadow was unnaturally long, stretching to the end of the platform.
Then, like the shadow creatures, it started to lift up and away from the glass. I edged farther and farther away from it. It took the shape of an overgrown, solid black version of me, and I walked backwards as fast and as far as I could.
"But don't be afraid."
As if to prove the voice wrong, the shadow started to morph. It grew and grew, its shoulder-length hair now a mass of twisted tentacles and its eyes glowing yellow spheres. It was muscular, stories tall, with short legs and long arms that ended in claw-like fingers. And, straight through its abdominal area, was a large heart shaped hole.
I spun on my heel and ran, barely lasting seconds before I had to backpedal to a stop so I wouldn't fall off the edge of the platform. Slowly, as if it would change what it would do, I turned around. Then, it hit me.
My gaze fell to the sword in my hand, before flickering back to the massive shadow creature.
I clenched my jaw and widened my stance, both hands firmly gripping the hilt of the sword until my knuckles went white.
"But remember..." once again the voice spoke, as a mass of darkness and shadows started to swirl around the creature's hand.
Its arm reared back before it bent over, slamming its fist into the platform so hard it shook underneath my feet. I nearly toppled over, but instead I took deep breaths and aimed my focus toward its hand.
With a yell, I ran toward its fist.
The blade slid through the air before slicing through the creature's flesh — so sharp there was barely any resistance. Before the first strike ended I was already shifting my body to cut the creature again.
Instead I jerked back in surprise as a small shadow creature emerged from the darkness, others following suit. I held back a swear, swinging wildly until the smaller creatures were once again defeated. All but immediately, I went back to the hand. Maybe half a dozen deep, long gashes later the darkness around its hand dissipated and it straightened back out.
Then, it bent backward along with its spine.
I quickly ran backwards to the other side of the platform, turning back around just in time to see a writhing body of purple energy form in the middle of the heart shaped hole. I swallowed, waiting with bated breath.
Smaller spheres shot out from the energy, flying in my direction like missiles.
I dived under the first as it whizzed past my head, twisting around and contorting to dodge the second right after. I ran out of the way of a third sphere, nearly colliding head-first into one of its arms as I did so. Before I could attack I was rushing away from another sphere, toward its other arm.
I leaped over another sphere as I went, raising the sword above my head with both hands. I brought it down as hard as I could, cutting through dark flesh and barely dodging a sphere in the process.
I stumbled back, ducking and weaving around another set of spheres before going back to slash at the hand again. A sphere sped past my face and I jerked back, quickly realizing the creature was straightening back out. I ran back to gain distance from it.
Its fist was surrounded by the energy again, and this time when it caused the platform to shake with its heavy punch I held my stance.
I ran forward and brought the sword down on the hand again and again.
I jogged away as it stood, ready for the spheres, when suddenly there was a flash of light and I was left grasping air.
My sword was gone.
Panic poured into my veins, quickly replacing the confidence. I hurried backwards until it felt as if my shoes were filled with lead and I lurched, toppling onto my back. Struggling to catch my breath, I pushed myself upright and couldn't manage any more.
There was another black pool growing beneath me.
Tears burned my eyes again, and I yanked at every muscle possible in an attempt to escape. Still, I just sank deeper and deeper.
"You hold the mightiest weapon of all."
The thick-yet-thin and cold-but-hot liquid quickly reached my shoulders, and I wanted to shriek as its tingling, burning sensation spread across more and more of my body.
"So don't forget: The door will open."
The black substance reached my nose, and I clenched my eyes shut tight as it rose higher and higher.
Before it passed over my eyes and the rest of my head, I thought back to one of the first things the voice had said and couldn't help but wonder...
How could I not be afraid?