His Kingdom for a Heart
Sora's life has settled down, until he is once again swept away by the Darkness. Taken to a new world, Sora seeks the answers to what's happening to him. Meanwhile, a new Keyblade Master arises, along with another Princess of the Heart. A Robin who protects a Princess of the Stars.
Chapter One: Message in a Bottle
Sora quietly stared out the window of his small house in Destiny Islands. He had heard nothing from King Mickey besides the message he had left them. The news was disturbing, Xehanort's followers were gathering to fight a war, a war not like the battles he had faced with the Heartless, but a battle of Keyblade Masters. Why was this happening? How do so many across the worlds suddenly wield Keyblades?
The Keyblade War as the King called it was brewing because each Keyblade wielder deemed himself the Keyblade Master. But Sora knew that he alone was the one who would open the Door to the Light. Wherever that was. He knew that the Door was somewhere in his heart. He was the Key to everything. He hoped that he would see Donald and Goofy soon; he knew they had gone back to Disney Castle.
Sora felt the urge to write something, so he grabbed a piece of paper and began writing. The pencil scratched the paper as the words found their way onto the page.
To Whoever Reads This Letter:
I have often thought of things one can do in their life. There is so much one can do, but when it's your destiny do what you know you're supposed to do. There are so many experiences I've had, so many worlds I've traveled, and I've done things no one could ever dream of. But here I am just an ordinary kid. One year ago, I was always thinking about leaving Destiny Islands, and now I think about how to stop the Darkness and Xehanort's followers. I don't just think about my Island, now I think about all the other worlds out there, and how to keep them safe.
Xehanort said that the worlds are connected, but what about those worlds that aren't? Will they become connected one day? Will the Darkness that created the Heartless spread to those other worlds, the ones who don't know what they are? Will there be other Keyblade masters who will stand beside me? Or will they become corrupted like Xehanort?
It's all a blur. A scattered memory that's like a far-off dream. A far-off memory that's like a scattered dream. I want to line the pieces up. Yours and mine. I may not know your name but I feel that we are connected. Like the worlds.
Light and dark exist, each trying to conquer the other. The dark always tries snuff out the light. But light will always be there, no matter how dark it may seem. You may not understand what you're reading but know this, should Kingdom Hearts be taken by evil, the worlds will fall into Darkness. But don't be afraid, Reader. There will always be a Door to the Light. No matter how Dark your world may become, there will always be Light with you.
Sora
Sora quietly rolled up the paper and found an empty bottle and shoved it inside. He found a cork and put it in the bottle, sealing the paper within. He got up and headed out the door down to the docks where no doubt Riku and Kairi were. Sure enough, his two friends were out sitting on the dock, staring out at the ocean.
"Riku! Kairi!" Sora shouted a greeting to his friends.
"Where have you been, you lazy bum, sleeping?" Kairi asked jokingly.
"C'mon Kairi, he's a Keyblade Master, we can't let him lose his sleep," Riku chuckled, joining in the teasing. "How can he defeat the Heartless if he can't keep his eyes open?"
"Knock it off, you two, I may have a Keyblade, but Riku's a Keyblade Master too, so you can't say anything about it, Riku!" Sora retorted.
"So says the guy who's a total sap," Riku laughed.
"Say that again!" Sora challenged, jumping up and reaching for a wooden sword they had often used when they had sparred on the Island.
"A challenge is it?" Riku said, raising an eyebrow. "I'll probably beat you, y'know."
"Don't forget Riku, I beat you even after Xehanort took control of your body," Sora warned, raising the wooden sword up in an offensive position.
"I know, I haven't forgotten," Riku replied. He didn't like to think about how he had opened himself up to the Darkness, the Darkness in his own heart, but he had seen the error of his decision to follow Maleficent. She had promised to revive Kairi, who had not awakened after they had been swept into the Darkness.
She had given him the power to control the Heartless, but Sora would not join him, he stayed true to his heart and although Riku possessed the power to wield the Keyblade, Sora's heart reclaimed what was rightfully his. Riku fought and lost the ensuing battle. Desperate to be stronger, he let the evil apprentice of Ansem the Wise, Xehanort; possess his body, opening his heart to darkness.
Xehanort had nearly destroyed him when he resisted Xehanort's influence; Xehanort sent him to the Realm of Darkness, where he met King Mickey. Together they shut the door between Light and Dark as he told Sora to "Take care of her", meaning Kairi. He then traveled through the Corridors of Darkness, journeying to Castle Oblivion; he battled and defeated Lexaeus, who tried to manipulate the Darkness in his heart so that he would encounter Sora, who was being sought out by Organization XIII.
Riku was later attacked by a replica of himself, which he defeated. He confronted DiZ who questioned him concerning his choices. When it seemed he would be consumed by the Darkness, there was always a voice that reassured him he was not evil. The light that guided Riku was King Mickey, who helped him realize that the Darkness was a part of him, and his friends would accept him just as he was, and would not hate the Darkness inside him.
Together, King Mickey and Riku confronted the remains of Xehanort's Heartless and destroyed him. After Riku left Castle Oblivion, he traveled down the Road to Dawn and made his way to DiZ's mansion.
Riku then encountered Vexen and defeated him, not knowing that Vexen was collecting data to make a Riku Replica. The Riku Replica attacked the real Riku, wielding the power of Darkness freely, despite this, the real Riku triumphed. Then Larxene and Vexen forced Naminé to replace the Riku Replica's memories with false memories, convincing the replica that he was the real Riku. Naminé had done this with Sora, replacing his true memories of Kairi with memories of her, trying to convince Sora that she was the girl he had saved.
After meeting Sora, she realized her mistakes and sought to restore Sora's memories, putting him into a deep sleep for a year.
Meanwhile, Riku battled the Riku Replica outside the memory of DiZ's mansion. Defeating the Replica, the real Riku assured him that his heart would go where Riku's would when he died. With that, the Replica died comforted.
During Sora's yearlong slumber, Riku confronted Roxas, and was defeated. They fought again and Riku changed his form to resemble Xehanort's Heartless, harnessing the powers of Darkness to defeat Roxas and brought him to DiZ who placed Roxas in a simulated Twilight Town. Riku then aided King Mickey by taking munny and a blue crystal to give to Sora. He then went off to the Land of Dragons in ancient China to warn the Empower of the coming of the Heartless. He also investigated Organization XIII, during the time he was mistaken for the Organization by Sora because of his black cloak.
He then encountered Sora in Radiant Garden and gave him a photo of Roxas in the virtual Twilight Town. He then helped rescue Kairi from Saïx. The three were eventually reunited, although Sora thought that Riku was Xehanort's Heartless because of his appearance. Kairi revealed Riku's identity to Sora and together the two friends battled Xemnas, Xehanort's Nobody, and defeated him. On a dark beach, they revealed their mutual respect for each other and returned to Destiny Islands after receiving a letter from Kairi.
"Are you ready, Sora?" Riku asked, raising the wooden sword and meeting Sora's thrust. Sora pivoted swinging back and striking again. Riku blocked the blow, striking back, as his wooden sword moved in a graceful arc, slashing diagonally down toward the sand and he brought it up the slash right to left.
Sora managed to parry, slamming his wooden sword against Riku's. He brought the practice weapon up above his head, bringing it down. He shoved Riku back. Riku's shoes slid across the sand. Sora took two steps back and somersaulted into the iar. His wood sword spinning, Ricku bloocked the blow, barely managing to grasp his sword.
Sora landed on his feet, sweeping the blade out. The wood met with the side of Riku's head and he let out a yelp. Riku retaliated and swung furiously, expertly aiming his blows. One connected with Sora's knee. Sora grunted. He raised the wooden sword and slammed it into Ricku's cheek, drawing a little trickle of blood. Sora kept swinging, connecting with Riku's body. Riku still blocked many blows but he began to take more from Sora. Riku too began to wear down Sora until, both collided, the force of the blow kept them together.
Riku slammed the wooden sword down on Sora's repeatedly, raining down a harder blow with each strike. Sora slowly slipped down to one knee. Riku thought that he was about to about to win as he brought his wood blade down for a fianl blow that would end their contest. Sora sudden dropped his weapon and grabbed Riku's hands, using all the strengths he could musterhe flipped Riku over his head, sending his best frined flying across the sand. Riku rolled over and scrambled to his feet, looking for his weapon. He saw Sora walking toward him with both wooden swords in his hands.
"Congratulations, Sora," Riku said. "You're much better than last time. It's a good thing I was holding back on you."
"You were not holding back on me, admit it!" Sora said iritated.
"Yes I was," Riku shot back . "I let you win."
"You did not—oh never mind. You're hopeless," Sora sighed.
Riku just laughed and walked away. "I'm never hopeless when you're around. You're the Key to everyting, you know that?"
"Yes, I do, I just don't understand what that means," Sora said, becoming serious for the first time. Riku picked that up and followed suit.
"I'm sure you'll figure it out. Let's jut hope we can help the King and the others," Riku continued walking. Sora stood by the sea, staring out at the sunset.
"Sora, are you coming?" Kairi asked, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Yeah, just a second." Sora replied. He picked up the bottle with his letter and threw it high into the air. He watched it fall into the ocean, not knowing that his actions would change another boy's life forever.
Robin stood on the shore of the small island where Titans Tower was, watching the waves pound the rocks and dirt. Robin spotted a bottle floating in with the tide and watched as it settled at his feet. He thought he saw paper inside. It was normal for people to send messages in a bottle, he looked at it and who the author was. Curious, he opened the bottle and pried the paper out. He unfolded it and began to read. What was written in the note astounded him. He began reading faster, devouring the information as fast as he could.
Destiny Islands…Connected worlds…Heartless… Robin stared at the letter. What was he reading? Then something caught his eye.
But don't be afraid, Reader. There will always be a Door to the Light. No matter how Dark your world may become, there will always be Light with you.
Sora
What was this all about? And who was Sora? Was he even real, or was this some kind of joke? But deep down, Robin knew Sra was real. He knew it in his heart. Still, the questions lingered.
He went to bed that night, but slept restlessly. He awoke and found a pen and a piece of paper. He began writing.
To Sora,
I don't understand all that I've read. But somehow I know that you're right. There are so many questions I have that I need answered. You write about Keyblades and Heartless, Darkness, and Kingdom Hearts. What is Kingdom Hearts? You wrote that the words are connected. But how? Why? I want to know so I can understand. You said a war is coming, is there anything I can do to stop it? I want to line the pieces up, but I can't because I don't understand. Please give me the answers.
Robin
The next day, Robin made his way out to the shores of the small island where Titans Tower was, the letter inside the bottle Sora had sent his letter in. He remembered his childhood. He had always believed in other worlds, he was convinced that they weren't just his imagination, but he had changed since then. Life had changed him, reality told him what was real and what was not. But still, he had always hoped to find other worlds, not just planets but entire universes. He had always been a dreamer as a child. He guessed it came from being raised in a circus, where life was far from normal and where children dreamed of running away if life was hard.
"A scattered memory that's like a far-off dream," Robin said to himself. As a child he had always believed that there were other worlds out there. The ones that existed in the stories he read about. But after his parents were murdered, he had given up those foolish thoughts and dreams. There was only this universe, this world, and the known solar system. But there could be a parallel universe, couldn't there? It was a possibility, wasn't it? Scientists had been debating it for years, but here he was, reading a strange letter mentioning places called Destiny Islands and Kingdom Hearts.
"What is Kingdom Hearts?" Robin asked himself. The way Sora talked about it, he referred to it as a real place. And what were Heartless? They had to be evil, but what did it all mean, the worlds were connected?
"Hey, Robin! You coming or what?" Beast Boy asked. "We're gonna start the movie."
"Just a minute," Robin said, he had written a reply to the strange message in the bottle. He wanted answers. He wanted to understand what was going on. Most of all, he wanted to meet Sora. If Sora was real, he would explain what was going on. He sealed the letter inside the bottle, and tossed it into the sea. He turned and followed Beast Boy back to Titans Tower, not knowing that the journey had just begun.