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One Sky, One Destiny

Winds blew through the sands in a dark village. Throughout the emptiness a faint glow was seen. As the light disappeared, a boy lay exhausted against the sand-colored wall now darkened by night. The boy looked fourteen in age yet had traces of childhood in his features. Brown spiky strands practically stuck out in almost every direction and sapphire eyes fluttered before disappearing under peach colored eyelids. The boy wore a black vest over a t-shirt and crimson red shorts with small chains hanging from a belt hole. In addition, the boy wore oversized white sneakers laced with blue and black designs. Within the magical light of the moon shined a key...

"Ugh..." muttered the boy as he sat up. As his eyes tried to adjust, his vision danced with colors and sparks. He shook his head. As his vision cleared he became more aware of the environment. Suddenly he was in a position he had felt before like a child lost within a sea of strangers. He looked frantically left and right hoping to find a sign of someone, however there was no one except for the buildings and the moonlight sky filled with stars. "DONALD! GOOFY!" He called out desperately "WHERE ARE YOU!" The boy suddenly turned around and gasped

From the ground grew dark shadows of many shapes and sizes. Their sharp claws gleamed and their mouths curved into a malicious grin. Their eyes spoke of their true nature, staring at the boy with a look of uncontrollable hunger.

"Heartless!" The boy pulled out a key-like weapon and beckoned forth its power.

Soon the heartless withdrew only to come back stronger.

The boy yelped as several began to swarm about him, lunging, and clawing and spinning. The boy swung as much as he could, but the first round began to take its toll. His legs gave out on him and he fell. As he began to prepare for the worst, his thoughts were interrupted by a yell.

Immediately the heartless vanished into wisps of darkness and then no more. A voice gasped "Are you all right?"

The boy gazed in awe at his savior.

He was a blond tall boy with piercing yellow eyes. He wore a dark red coat and his hair was neatly tied into a large braid. He wore gloves and platform boots and in his pocket swung a silver watch branded with a strange insignia. The boy slid the watch in his pocket and grinned. "Wow! What are those things?" He leaned in inspecting the kid. "Hmm... You'll need some ointment." He ripped a bit of his pant leg.

"Y-You did that!" The boy gasped.

"Gee, sure are energetic, aren't you?" The blond boy tied the cloth onto the boy's arm. "Don't worry, you're okay now."

"Thanks. I'm Sora." The brown spiked haired boy held out his hand.

"Edward." Edward grinned and took Sora's hand and lifted him up. "Sorry, I'm not really used to these parts, so where am I?"

Sora said surprised, "Are you kidding? Neither do I!"

Edward's eyes widened. He then screamed and covered his eyes moaning.

"So... since there's no one around, maybe we could stick together?" Sora asked hopefully.

"What! Do you know what you're asking?" Edward asked Sora surprised. "First of all, we're complete strangers. Second, we might be going different paths. And third, I don't KNOW you, okay?"

Sora's head drooped down. "I thought... Well... There isn't anyone else here. And... I can't go on all by myself!"

Edward nodded his head. "That's true. Well..."

"Please, Edward? At least until my wound heal!" Sora insisted. His sapphire eyes searched Edward's golden ones for a sign of pity.

"Sorry." Edward stated. He turned his back to the boy. "But where I'm going... It's a road you can't follow."

Sora looked surprised before saying, "What do you mean! I don't understand!"

Edward sighed before answering, "There's nothing to explain."

A moment of silence passed before Sora finally turned around and began walking.

Edward whirled quickly around. "What are you doing!"

Sora answered, "Going my own path."

Edward said, "But you're wounded..."

Sora stopped for a moment and took an intake of breath. He turned around and smiled at Edward. "So? But my heart isn't!"

Edward stared and watched the boy disappear. "Fool." He whispered into the wind.

Sora paused hesitantly into his steps and looked back. 'Edward's really not coming?' Sora thought sadly. "I thought... We could help each other out..." He was unaware of the shadow appearing at his feet. "I mean... Couldn't we... Is it too much to ask for? Being friends?" Sora gasped. Before he could react, the heartless swung him off his feet.

As Sora fell, the armored heartless prepared to rip open the now vulnerable chest.

Suddenly the Heartless wracked in pain as its body tore into two and vanished.

A familiar voice mumbled, "Gee, you're so LAZY!"

"Edward!" Sora said incredulous. "What are you doing here!"

"Curse us for being so human..." Edward muttered.

Sora stared confused. "I thought... You were going another path?"

Edward paused for a moment. "Heh. Alright. I've changed my mind. Until you heal."

Sora brightened at those words and winced while clutching his wound. "You really mean it! Thank you! Normally, I would be able to heal myself but I'm out of energy and I have no potions!"

Edward scoffed at this. "Hm. I can imagine. Too lazy to carry them right?" He pulled Sora to his feet. 'Potions?' Edward thought to himself. 'Must be injured in the brain...'

The two began walking on the same path.

"Actually, Donald and Goofy, my friends, always carried them."

"Like I said, you're LAZY!"

Smack!

"Ow, Edward! You can't hit an injured person!"

"Serves you right! Healing is a natural process, there are NO shortcuts!"

"Then what do you call those creatures that attacked me?"

"Oh. Those are a type of some unknown species that haven't been discovered."

"Edward!"

"Well it's possible! Not all animals have been discovered!"

"Huh. What's this?"

Edward stared awed at his new companion's wound. The blood was already starting to seep through. Edward told Sora to stop and began using his handkerchief as a new clean one. As much as he tried using various methods to stop the bleeding, the red crimson showed up stubbornly. "This can't be... Your wound, Sora. It won't stop bleeding!"

Sora looked at the wound. "You're right Edward! Ah! Stop it! That hurts!"

"We'll have to find some kind of ointment or a doctor!" Edward tightly wrapped his handkerchief around Sora's right arm. "Come on!"

They kept going in the same direction, further and further, the buildings seemed to stretch in a never-ending labyrinth. Sora found himself growing numb in the wounded area. "What's that!" Edward shouted.

Ahead of them was a figure leaning casually on a stick. He wore a cloak of which he removed in acknowledgement of the two. "Evening. You boys seem lost."

Wisdom in those ageless eyes entranced Sora, and he spoke with a certain smoothness that you can trust. He noticed that the man walked in a slow steady stride, balanced and elegant. The man's clothes were simple, yet it adds to his mystery. Unusually, the old man's eyes held the gentleness of a deer, yet also the ferocity of a hawk. Sora felt himself holding high respect for this man. The man beckoned to Sora. "Tell me. What's troubling you?" Sora felt secure and at peace telling this man of his hardships.

Edward's jaw dropped at the crazy old man. He noticed that while he spoke, his eyes would shift in two opposite directions. His movements were clumsy and as the man spoke, his voice had a certain edge that Edward would only describe as insanity. The old man's clothes were filthy, he noticed and haven't been washed for who knows how many years. The man's eyes seemed to scream, "Take me out of my misery!" Edward wouldn't be surprised if the man dropped dead then and there. 'And Sora! Blah, blah, blah. What's this about a circumstance that he can't say? If he's going to spill his guts out, why not spill it all out?'

Sora thought, 'I can't let Edward or this man know that I'm from another world. That would be meddling!'

The man told of a healing spring not too far off from their location.

"A healing spring! Really!" Sora said amazed.

"Don't be ridiculous! There's no such thing!" Edward shouted.

Sora grabbed Edward's left arm and before Edward could protest, Sora pulled Edward further in that direction shouting words of thanks.

As the two boys disappear in clearing, the old man smiled.

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Van: That is the longest thing I've ever written.

Kim: Well that's the longest thing I had to type!

Van: Sorry. Well, for the most part, thank Kim, since she's the one that helped the story move along.

Kim: Uh huh. Without me, you'd be stuck wondering how Edward's going to join up with Sora.

Van: Yes! Thank you Kim!

Kim: Yeah!

Van: So… About the old guy.

Kim: Yeah, is he crazy and Sora's gone blind? Or is the guy an actual prophet and Edward's just a cranky critic? You decide with your reviews. Personally I'll pick the first.

Van: In case anyone was confused, the italics are thoughts and this is a crossover of kingdom hearts and shaman king and several more anime.