Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters are the property of thier legal owners. I only own Christie and Kia. No more, no less.
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Heart's Note: A rewrite of my first KH Epic. This is stress relief writing, so updates are not on any set schedule. Based slightly off a near 2 year long RP with my little sister, Bailey.
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Please, if anyone can hear me, listen to my story. This is probably the last chance I'll have to tell it, as I bleed to death in the rain. I should have seen this coming, but looking back on it now, after almost 6 years, I can only wish I'd known. But I was young then. I thought I knew what I'd been getting into when I woke up on that tiny island. But I was wrong. None of us knew anything. I'd thought that it would end with Xehanort's Heartless, and if not with him, with Xemnas. Oh, how wrong I'd been. Had I only known...had any of us only known. Even if, I do doubt it would have changed anything.
We'd walked right into the plans of a madman, and we'd done so willingly.
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I was fourteen then. I remember being so happy, having finally, finally, beaten the final boss run in Kingdom Hearts 2. The girl I used to be was naive. She didn't know that there really were other words besides Earth out there.
"Ha! Take that you robe wearing freak!" She'd...I'd, smiled, as I watched the final scenes of an ending 4 years in the making play out across my TV screen. Sunset Horizons, the so called "secret ending", made my heart skip a beat. It meant that there would be at least one more game in the series. At least one more chance to see Riku again. Like I said, I was young. Naive. I thought I loved him then. I know I do now. Like if I was watching an old video tape, I watched her, me, eject the memory card and disk from the console, replacing them in the box that was on the bed beside her. She got off the bed and walked to her shelf to put down for the night, passing the mirror in her room. Things were different then. I wasn't on the run back then, and I was young. I still hadn't grown through most of my childhood flab, and I was rather short. That I hadn't outgrown, which my sister constantly teases me about.
...at least, she used to.
Anyway, the two things that hadn't changed much at all were my dark brown hair and eyes. I was plain to the eyes, but I didn't care. I thought I'd known who I was at the time, so I'd been comfortable in my own skin. I watched, the image fading slightly as she walked to her bed, yawning as she laid down for a good nights rest. The image continued to fade out as she fell asleep, and I turned as the man who'd brought me home finally appeared, red bandages covering his face as he walked to the side of her bed and smiling slightly, so much so that I could barely see it.
"It's time to come home, Christina." Something was off, and I jolted as he looked directly at me.
"Do not forget what you know. It will save many lives, child. I pray you will forgive me someday, for all I have caused." He put his hand on her shoulder, and my own world went black as I surrendered to the flow of time, and my own memories. I knew where I'd end up no matter what, so I might as well have enjoyed the ride.
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It was the cold that woke me. I could have sworn I'd pulled my blankets up before I'd gone to sleep, but it was too cold to have them on. I reached down to pull them up, figuring I'd kicked them down and away in my sleep, but when my fingers hit something cold and hard, I jolted awake. Glass? I bolted upright, looking around with wide eyes. It was black all around, besides the somehow glowing glass below me. Snow White's calm face looked back at me as I stood up, not believing what I was seeing. This was Sora's dream world, from Kingdom Hearts.
"I have to be dreaming. This cannot be real."
So much to do, so little time. Take your time. Don't be afraid. The door is still shut. Now, step forward. Can you do it?
"....okay, this is real." I slowly stood up, looking around. Yes, this was most definitely Sora's dream world, and the voice that had just rang in my head was the "Unknown Voice", as I'd called it. I swallowed, not sure where this was going, but I nodded.
"I can do it." Almost immediately, I nearly lost my balance as the platform shook beneath me. Three pedestals rose from the ground before the platform stilled, and I looked at each one. This was different then in the dream, that was for sure. The platform that had held the Shield now held an arm bracer, with glowing purple lines leading to a small crystal.
Defense.
I turned to see the Sword platform, this one with a pair of silver daggers crossed over one another, with tiny crystalline hearts tied to the end of the hilts on what looked to be black ribbon.
Offense.
I shook my head, turning to the Magic platform now. Instead of the Mickey Head Staff, a large double bladed staff floated there, the hilt painted with various scrolling designs that were engraved in the blade.
Magic. You must now choose. Which path will you follow?
I'd already made my choice, even before this dream. I walked to the shield platform, climbing up onto it. I stood up, taking the bracer into my hands.
The power of the Gaurdian. Kindness to aid beloved friends. A shield to repel all. Is this the power you seek?
I nodded, looking down at the bracer as it faded away into pyrefly like sparkles. I watched them fade away for a moment, before I hopped down from the shield platform and walked to the sword platform. When I'd said I'd made up my mind, I meant it. I didn't have to get up onto this platform, just reach up and touch the blades of the crossed daggers.
The power of the warrior. Invincible courage. Blades of terrible destruction. Is this the power you wish to give up?"
I nodded, taking a deep breath. I knew I'd need courage, but I didn't want destruction. I watched as the daggers vanished into more of those "pyre-sparks", then yelped as the ground shifted below me. The platforms collapsed, and the glass started to crack. Before I could shift my weight to try and keep on my feet, the glass broke and I fell towards the next platform. I wasn't able to turn so I could land on my feet in time, so I crashed down to the next platform. The wind was knocked out of me as I hit the glass, and all I could do was lay there for a few minutes, trying to catch my breath. When I could finally sit up again, the voice spoke up.
You've gained the power to fight.
I looked around, surprised for a moment before I looked down at my right arm, where the bracer had appeared. I made a fist with that hand, and the crystal on the bracer flared to life, a dark violet shield of energy flowing outwards from the gem. It hummed with power, and seemed to be vibrating slightly. I opening my palm again, and the energy stopped. I nodded to myself as I stood, making a fist again and giving it a practice swing. The shield hummed as it swung through empty air, and the voice spoke again.
All right! You've got it. Use this power to protect yourself and others.
Before I could realize what was happening, I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I whirled around, arms shielding my face by instinct as the Shadow's jumped me from behind.
There will be times you'll have to fight. Keep your Light burning strong.
I glared at the three Shadows that were twitching and hopping around me. These things had always annoyed me, and this had just made that annoyance worse. I clenched my fist, sending a ripple of power through the shield, before I swung at the Shadows. The two stupid enough to jump again met thier end, and the last one decided it rather liked life and faded away into the platform. I sighed, relaxing my hands.
Behind you!
I whirled around, eyes wide in surprise as that last remained Shadow jumped at me. I couldn't get my arm up in time, and it's claws would have taken my eye out had I not turned at the last second. As it was, I felt the thing rake the side of my head with it's claws before I spun and kicked it off the platform, surprised that I was able to hit it without a weapon. I just stood there, breathing heavily from the shock, before I started to fall through the dissolving platform. I struggled a little, darkness overtaking my vision. When I could see again, I was staring up at a starry night sky.
Hold on. The door won't open just yet. First, tell me more about yourself.
I sat up, looking around. This was Destiny Islands, and it was rather late at night. The entire little Play Island was lit by silver moonlight, and it may shadow seem strange as I stood up, looking around. I jolted in surprise as I saw Axel standing at the shoreline, arms crossed over his chest. I walked over to him, and he turned to look me in the eye.
"What are you afraid of?" I blinked, then looked down at the sand. What was I afraid of? I thought on it for a moment, before I looked back at Axel
"Being different." He smiled sadly, reaching forward to pat my shoulder.
"Is being different really that scary?" Before I could say anything, he turned back to stare out over the ocean. I sighed, then shook my head and turned down the beach. Even in a dream, this place was beautiful. I'd walk a while, maybe check out the Paopu Tree. On my way to the shack, I noticed Leon sitting on the ledge near the waterfall. He looked up as I got close.
"What do you want out of life?" I bit my lip, tilting my head in thought. I was young, and I'd never given much thought to were I'd go once I was older. I shook my head and smiled at him.
"To be strong." He smiled faintly at me, standing and putting a gentle hand on my head.
"To be strong. That's a good thing, sister." Before I could even process what he'd called me, he was walking down the beach. I crossed my arms over my chest, rolling my eyes. Even in my dreams he was confusing. I turned away from Leon and headed into the shack, heading up the stairs and across the bridge to the Paopu Islet. I wasn't alone when I got there, and Riku looked over his shoulder at me from the Paopu.
"What's most important to you?" I stared up at him, unsure of how to answer. He just waited patiently as I thought it over, and he was smiling when I finally answered.
"Friendship, and love." He nodded, smiling still.
"I understand. With you, it's easy to see how important that is." That was the last I heard before my vision went black again, and I was on the glass platforms. But instead of being alone this time, a girl my age stood across from me. Light brown hair, pale skin, black Organization XIII cloak on. Was she a Nobody? Not one that I recognize.
The closer you get to the Light, the greater your Shadow will become. The girl looked up at me as the voice chimed, and before I could react, she charged. The double edged dagger was in her hands, and I could barely keep up with her blows. She knocked me down easily, but I rolled aside to keep my head.
"Who are you?!" She laughed outright, and I was hit with the taste of bitter lemons.
"I'm your Nobody." My eyes widened in shock, and she took advantage of that distraction to slam her hands onto the glass. A Dark Portal opened beneath me, and I started to fall. She smirked as I was nearly swallowed by the Darkness.
"My name is Kia. I'll see you soon, Christina."
But don't be afraid. You hold the mightiest defense of them all.
I watched as Kia, then the glass platforms, vanished, before I closed my eyes and succumbed to the Darkness.
So don't forget. You are the one who will help them open the door.
Riku sighed, blowing his bangs out of his face as Sora jumped from his boat, helping Kairi.
"Tell me again why we're here so early?" Sora turned to his best friend, smiling.
"Becuase the best fish are always here early, silly!" Riku made a face, but his retort was cut off by Kairi pointing to the beach.
"I don't think that's a fish, boys..." Riku and Sora both turned, and Riku's eyes widened as he saw what Kairi was pointing at. There was a person on the sand, just above the tideline. He and Sora jumped from the dock, and Riku's longer legs let him reach the person first. He kneeled beside the person when he got there, and was surprised to see it was a girl. She was young, probably no older then he was, with dark brown hair and what looked to be simple pajamas. He gently reached forward, picking her off the sand and holding her half in his arms. Sora peered over his shoulder.
"She alive?" Riku frowned at his friend, but nodded.
"Yeah. See? Her stomach's moving up and down." Kairi, having come after them, peered over Riku's other shoulder.
"Think she's from the mainland? I don't recognize her." Riku shook his head, getting a feeling of Dejavu.
"No. I think she's from another world." Sora and Kairi exchanged a look of joy and slight concern. Sora felt joy at this encounter, knowing there was someone else like Kairi out there. Kairi felt concern over what this could mean. If this new girl had come from another world, did that mean she knew the way back? Or were things more complicated then that? Whatever the outcome, Riku knew she'd probably need to be looked at by a docter. Putting his other arm under her knees, he stood up to carry her to the boats; back to the mainland. Sora and Kairi followed after, but Riku's eyes were only on this new girl. Had she really come from another world? If so, what was it like? Would she remember? Or would she be like Kairi, who didn't remember anything? He wouldn't know until she woke up.
Riku hadn't felt this much anticipation since his 5th birthday.