AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hello, Hello, Hello! Welcome to my first fic on this account! For those interested, I used to go as Carter-Shiraz a couple of years ago, sadly that account is no longer active. However, rather than drudge up the past, I intend to make a fresh start and write some all new fiction on this account and who knows? I might just pick up my old stories again. For now please enjoy!
DISCLAIMER : Kingdom Hearts along with all associated characters, locations and storylines do not belong to me...but I do have cookies!
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Sora
It was really his first time riding one of these Gummi Ships. All the same, Sora thought, running a hand through his perpetually tousled mass of spiky brown hair, it was something he could easily get used to.
Looking out of the round window, the young boy saw an endless mass of glittering stars against an endless blanket of inky blue. A pretty sight, even to someone as impartial to poetry as Sora was. The speed at which the stars were hurtling by was the only indication of just how fast the Gummi Ship was moving, for Sora felt no turbulence in his comfortable seat.
A loud ding dong sounded through the ship.
"Attention all passengers!" a squeaky voice came through the ship's intercom system. "This is Captain Chip speaking. Arrival at Radiant Garden expected within ten minutes!"
No sooner had the captain spoken, then the beauty of the night sky was replaced with the images of warm and sunny countryside. Looking out the window, Sora spied an emerald field of grass, peppered here and there with tall, imposing trees, standing almost as guards to the beauty of the land. What a change from the urban Twilight Town this would be!
At that moment, Sora was glad to be alone in the compartment, this way no one could see just how nervous he truly was. Butterflies churned in his stomach, and his heart was in his throat. He was finally at Radiant Garden, finally going to reunite with his friend.
It had been almost two years ago now. Riku…
His friend, his rival. The one who seemed to be better than Sora at pretty much everything the two had tried. Riku had left to join Garden as soon as he was eligible, leaving Sora alone with Kairi back at Twilight Town. Being younger, Sora had to wait for two extremely long years before he could follow, he wondered if Riku had ridden a Gummi Ship like this when he left.
Excitement outweighed nerves though, when the Gummi Ship finally flew into a long, tunnel-like steel structure that was obviously designed to break its speed. Sunlight disappeared, replaced by soft yellow panel lights which only served to illuminate the rounded steel walls surrounding the ship. The ship slowed to a stop near a large steel platform.
"Attention all passengers! Gummi Ship has arrived at Radiant Garden. All passengers are requested to ensure all their luggage is accounted for before disembarking.
Sora leapt to his feet at the sound of the captain's squeaky voice. Eagerly, he siezed his trunk and made his way to the exit of the ship.
He heard a loud hiss as the pressurised door opened, revealing the Radiant Garden Hangar. Sora supposed Radiant Garden got precious few recruits from Twilight Town. So far as he could tell, he was the only one of the small ship's four passengers to be enlisting.
Unlike the rest of the tunnel, the Hangar was brightly lit. Sora immediately noticed that the Gummi Ship he rode was dwarfed by several other models present in the vicinity.
Stepping out onto the platform, he saw a pretty, young, brunette girl with sparkling green eyes walk up to him. In her hands, she held a large card that read "Sora Kuria"
"Hello!" she greeted, smiling. "Sora Kuria I'm sure!"
Never one for shyness, Sora flashed her a dazzling smile that matched her own. "You betcha!"
The girl giggled. "Pleased to meet you!" she said, grabbing his hand. "My name's Aerith Gainsborough. I'm to be your guide to Radiant Garden. Think of me as your Orientation personnel!"
"Sounds great!" Sora said. "Where do we start?"
"Well, first of all, we need to take care of your luggage," Aerith explained, tossing her long braid over her shoulder. "Over there is a cart that will take it to your dorm ahead of you. Just make sure you have it labeled."
"Alright!" Sora replied cheerfully, glad that he had the foresight to write his name on his single piece of luggage.
"Alright! Usually I'd take you to your dorm and show you the place first, but your Gummi arrived late so we're gonna head over to the Training Centre first!" Aerith explained as the pair walked down the stairs and towards the exit.
"What's happening there?" Sora asked.
"Well, luckily for you guys, two of the higher ranked soldiers are putting on a live demonstration today," Aerith replied.
"Huh," Sora mused. "So am I the last to arrive?"
"Pretty much! We don't really get much recruits from Twilight Town see? So your ship had to be arranged last minute."
Sora's reply got lost in his throat as soon as the pair exited the Gummi Hangar and he looked upon Radiant Garden for the first time.
His breath was stolen by the colossal, white structure. All of Twilight Town would have taken up probably only half the space as the Garden. Its white walls were trimmed with reds, blues and gold and the soaring tower seemed to glow as if lit from within. Emerald green trees lined the neatly bricked path to the Garden itself and Sora could easily see more foliage and large sprawling recreational areas behind the walls.
Aerith smiled, watching him out of the corner of her eyes. "I had that same expression when I first saw it. Eight years later and this place still takes my breath away!"
"It's amazing!" Sora said, purposefully closing his mouth.
Aerith giggled. "I hate to break the spell, but I feel like I need to remind you that this is no playground. Remember, this is a military training ground!"
Sora looked at the girl. With her hair tied in a pink ribbon and her matching long dress, she seemed pretty out of place. "What about you? You don't look like a soldier."
He clamped his hand over his mouth. He never mastered the act of shutting his mouth.
Aerith only covered her mouth as she giggled. "You're right. Sadly, I'm not much of a fighter."
"So then, what are you doing here?" Sora asked, clasping his hands behind his head.
"Medic unit," Aerith answered. "I like to help people so I figured where better than here, right?"
"I guess," Sora said.
The pair soon reached the front gate. The complex was open aired, almost as if Garden was lovingly inviting all who came to enter. A long row of turnstiles spanned the length of the entrance.
Aerith swiftly removed an ID card from a pocket and swiped it to get them inside.
"As soon as the demonstration's over, I'll show you around," Aerith promised. "I'm sure you'll meet fellow first years over there as well!"
Sora nodded, still in awe of the place, his head twisted and turned so many times, Aerith was sure it would soon snap off.
Before long, they reached the Training Centre. This area of Garden had a noticeably darker tone. The walls were dark grey rather than the pearl white Sora had become used to. A sickly green colour appeared to dominate most of the area.
A tall man dressed in long crimson robes stood blocking the entrance, Sora could hardly make out his face beneath the large hat he wore. Emblazoned on the front of his robes were the neon blue Radiant Garden logo, along with the word "Faculty" beneath it in black.
Aerith saluted the man. Sora tried to copy the movement, but a sneer from the faculty told him that he had likely botched it up.
"Escorting a first year to the demonstration?" the faculty asked.
"Affirmative," Aerith replied in a clipped formal tone Sora had not yet heard before.
"You're late," the faculty continued in a deadpan voice. He fixed his eyes on Sora. "See that it does not become a habit, cadet!"
"Affirmative! " Sora said, puffing out his chest a bit to much. The result nearly had him falling over backwards. Aerith subtly nudged him back on balance. He gave her grateful smile as the faculty stepped aside.
Sora went for the large, steel double doora with a green neon "ENTRANCE" sign above it, but Aerith gripped his arm. "Not that way!" she said, instead steering him towards the viewing deck. "You won't be going in there for at least a few months!"
Withou further ado, Aerith led him into an elevator and pushed a button that took them up to the viewing deck. It was a large, spherical room with a transparent glass dome encasing it.
"The Training Centre is basically where students and soldiers come to test their skills," Aerith explained as they made their way to one end of room where several other people were gathering. "There are actual monsters kept in here, so its best not to come alone, although there are staff put on patrol to make sure there aren't any fatalities!"
Sora looked out of the window to see what looked to be a lush, tropical forest teeming with foliage of every colour and description.
"Each area is zoned off depending on how difficult the monsters are so that cadets don't actually go up against monsters they can't handle," Aerith continued as they reached the gathering.
A young woman with short blonde hair pulled into a bun came to meet them.
"Quistis!" Aerith greeted, saluting the woman, who returned the greeting with a warm smile. "Sora, this is Instructor Trepe. She usually handles Orientation and basic training."
"Oh? Pleased to meet you!" Sora said, extending his hand.
Instructor Trepe glanced at the offered hand. Aerith gave Sora a nudge.
"Oh...right," he stammered, before saluting.
The elder woman smiled. "Excuse the formalities. This is a military training facility. Students are expected to behave in a more disciplined manner at times like these."
"O-okay," Sora managed to get out. This woman appeared a bit intimidating to him.
A hush went over the crowd.
"Sounds like it's about to begin," Aerith said, moving near the transparent glass. "Watch closely, Sora!"
Following her lead, Sora went to the window.
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