Fates Intertwined

By Nicole Sullivan

~The Dream~

Nira felt herself falling beyond the depths of the ocean but for some reason she didn't feel wet it was like she was in a dream; like none she had ever had before. She opened her eyes and looked around it was just darkness. She felt herself drop onto a floor and she gained her balance once again. She looked around and it was nothing until all of the sudden the floor showed below her in a bunch of white doves that flew off into the distance. Nira looked down and saw she was standing on a stain glass floor; the light coming from the floor was so bright she had to cover her eyes. But when the glow faded she moved her hands from her face and saw the intricate design.

It was beautiful and was the picture of a young woman with short black hair and she was wearing a dress with a blue top with red in the sleeves and her skirt was bright yellow. Around her were pictures of dwarves that were all smiling. It was a pretty picture. Nira still wondered why she was here though, that thought never left her mind.

So much to do, so little time… Nira heard a voice say that seemed to be in her head and not talking directly to her. Take your time. Don't be afraid. Nira looked ahead of her at the picture of the young woman. The door is still shut. Now step forward. Can you do it? Nira obeyed what the voice told her for some reason. She moved forward on the floor slowly and stopped in the middle and looked up around her waiting for the voice to come back.

Then all of the sudden she saw three platforms appeared and as Nira looked at them the voice came back. Power sleeps within you. If you give it form. I will give you strength. On each of the platforms were a sword, a staff and a shield that each had the shape of a mouse head on them. Choose well…The voice said and then faded.

Nira looked around at the choices and then walked over to the staff. She took it in her hand and looked at the golden handle and blue top. The power of the wizard. May magic flow through your body and light your way. The voice said. Is this the power you choose? It asked her in a very soothing voice.

"Yes." Nira whispered in nothing but a whisper.

That's when the staff disappeared in a bright light. Your path is set. The voice said. Nira then looked around at the other two she had left behind. Now what will you give up in exchange?

Nira walked away from the platform that held the staff. She looked at the sword and at the shield that had been left behind. She then walked over to the sword and took it in her hands as the voice began to talk to her. The power of the warrior. Invincible courage. A sword of terrible destruction. Nira ran her hands along the sword and cut the top of her finger but it healed immediately. Do you give up this power?

"Yes." Nira said in the exact same way she had when she agreed with using the staff.

The sword disappeared just like the staff had done. You've given up this power. Is this the form you choose? Nira once again said yes.

Then around her all the platforms collapsed and the glass floor started to shatter and Nira was sent falling again into the darkness green glass shards falling around her. She then saw another stained glass floor this time with a young woman dressed in a light blue dress that looked almost white. She had blonde hair and it was tied in a bun, again like the woman depicted in the floor before; she was very beautiful.

Nira landed on the floor which was a colored in deep blues and purples. Once she was settled on the ground the staff appeared in her hand. You've earned the power to cast magic. The voice said. Nira summoned up on all strength and she saw a blast of magic come out of the staff in her hand. All right! You've got it! The voice cheered. Use this power to protect yourself and others.

Nira looked around the platform and then saw something coming out of the floor. It was completely black and had beady yellow eyes. It looked sort of like an animal. There will be time you have to fight. Another two more of the creatures appeared. Keep your light burning strong. Then Nira was left to fight the three creatures and she fought with all her might to get rid of the creatures in front of her who she knew would do her harm. It was a fairly easy fight and they disappeared but as she was looking around the voice came back. Behind you! She turned around and another creature was there and she destroyed it.

Another creature then disappeared into the floor and darkness started to form around the platform. Nira looked around and saw it consume the picture of the young woman in the blue and white dress and she felt herself sink down into the floor. She tried to pull herself out but to no avail and everything went black. She rattled around in the darkness but then it faded and she looked around and saw she was on another platform and this one was all in light pink and white and instead of it being a woman in the picture there were pictures of hearts with silhouettes of people with crowns on their heads.

Nira looked ahead of her and saw the transparent shape of a door. Maybe that was the way out of this place? Nira walked up to it and looked closer at the door. It was intricate with all these designs and it was a light purple color. "I can't open it." She said to herself as she touched it and her hand went right through. She turned around and saw a treasure chest appear out of thin air. Nira walked over to the treasure chest that was colored in red and gold. She opened the chest and all of the sudden it disappeared and there had been nothing there.

A box appeared behind Nira and she turned around. The box had designs of yellow with stars. Nira pushed the box over near the transparent door. She then took the staff in her hand and smashed it with the magic and it disintegrated and she was happy that she could do it because it got some frustration out. When the box was gone a bottle with a green liquid inside was sitting there and Nira took it with her. On the front of the bottle it said "Potion." Then part of the door started to solidify but it was only the frame.

To Nira's right a barrel appeared and she looked at it and destroyed it like she had the box. She even picked it up and smashed it on the ground and that's what made it disintegrate like the box. Then the doors solidified and a smile came across Nira's face because she could finally leave this place hopefully. Nira walked over to the doors and they opened all on their own and a bright white light was on the other side. Nira shielded her eyes and then walked into the light. "Please let me go home." Nira begged.

When she opened her eyes once more Nira saw she was standing in the Island where she, her brother Sora and their friends Riku and Kairi would often go and play. But her brother, Kairi and Riku weren't looking at her instead their other friends were there sitting around. Their names were Tidus, Selphie and Wakka. Hold on. The door won't open just yet. The voice came back into Nira's head and she looked around to see if the person who was speaking to her was there. But there was no one. First, tell me more about yourself.

Nira walked up to first her friend Selphie. Selphie looked at her and asked. "What's most important to you?"

Nira thought to herself and replied "Friends and family."

"That's the most important thing." Selphie replied.

Nira then walked away from Selphie and over to her friend Tidus who was a year younger than her. "What are you afraid of?" He asked her.

"Being different." Nira replied.

"I think everyone is afraid of that. But don't worry." Tidus replied.

Nira then walked over to the last person which was her friend Wakka who had fiery red hair and tan skin; he looked sort of like a male model and was the same age as Riku who was 15 and a year older than Nira, her brother Sora and their friend Kairi who were all 14.

"What do you want out of life?" he asked her.

"To be strong." Nira replied. She had always seemed weak when she was younger and now that this thing was happening to her she wanted the strength to get through it.

Wakka didn't say anything else to Nira. The voice then came back into Nira's head.

The most important thing is friends and family. You're afraid of being different. You want to be strong. Your adventure begins at dawn. As long as the sun is shining, your journey shall be a pleasant one.

Nira smiled at this but she was also a little afraid of what was going to happen and how her family was going to be affected.

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

There was another bright light and Nira was back standing on another stain glass platform and it had another beautiful woman there but she looked likes he was asleep and a rose was in her hands. Her skin was paler than anything Nira had ever seen and she believed if she was a real person then she would seem dead. The only bright thing was her golden hair and there were dark thorn branches around the woman sort of encasing her.

Nira walked the edge of the platform and all of the sudden a bunch of the creatures came out of the floor. Nira attacked them with all her might and just wanted it to end. After they were all gone a set of stain glassed stairs she ran up them to the next platform. When she got there she saw that it was another platform with yellows, red and dark orange with a woman with dark brown hair and she was wearing a bright yellow dress.

She looked up and heard the voice inside her head. The closer you get to the light, the greater your shadow becomes. She heard the voice fade away.

Nira then turned around and saw her shadow elongate itself and a creature with bright yellow eyes and darkness imbedded into it looked down on her and she knew she needed to fight it or else she would never get out of this dream. She fought it even as the little creatures came after her and before she knew it she was exhausted and just wanted to give up. The creature fell to the ground and the darkness spread on the platform and once again Nira just gave into the darkness hoping she would wake up somewhere safe. Don't forget keep your light burning and you will be protected. That's the last time Nira heard the voice.

Then everything went dark…

You hold half the power to save the worlds. You will help open the door.