Chapter I: Swallowed by darkness.
Darkness began to block his sight as he struggled to get out of its suffocating grip.
Don't be afraid.
Don't fear what's inside of you, and remember.
You are the one who will open the door.
But how you will reach it is up to you.
As the mysterious voice disappeared so did his sight and everything seemed to become dark as he gave up and let the darkness swallow him.
``Sora, Wake up´´ Came a familiar voice as a light seemed to penetrate the darkness and Sora woke up finding himself starring up at the sun and lying down on the sand.
``You big sloth couldn't even keep your eyes open for a minute´´ Came another familiar voice and Sora looked behind him to find his two best friends Riku and Kairi.
``Sorry, I was just so comfortable´´ Sora said as he dusted of the sand that was stuck on him as Riku walked over to him with a log over his shoulders.
``You know what this means right?´´ He said as he threw the log over to Sora who fell on his butt because of the sudden extra weight.
``YOU have to work extra much now´´ Riku said as Kairi giggled softly at the display of Sora trying to lift the log.
``You know we called your name quite a few times´´ Kairi said as Sora stopped trying to lift the log and decided to drag it to the raft.
``You did?´´
``Yeah, why didn't you wake up?´´ As the question left her mouth Sora seemed to freeze up.
``I don't know, I had this really bizarre dream. Maybe that's what kept me asleep´´ He said as he continued dragging the log.
``Yeah right, admit that you're just a heavy sleeper´´ She said teasingly and started running.
``I'll race you´´ She shouted as she passed Riku.
``You're on´´ He responded and started running.
``HEY THAT'S CHEATING, I HAVE TO DRAG THIS STUPID LOG´´ Sora shouted back with no real anger in his voice as he tried to run while dragging the log behind him.
Later that evening they were at the mini-island with the paopu fruit tree watching the sunset.
``It's beautiful isn't it?´´ Kairi said as she kicked her legs in the air as she sat next to Sora on the tree.
``Yeah, don't you agree Sora?´´ Riku said, as he got no response he looked over to Sora ho seemed to have a spaced out look on his face.
``SORA´´ As he yelled Sora's name he seemed to get out of his trance. That he almost fell off the tree because of the surprise also helped.
``Huh? Oh, yeah…It's…Pretty´´ He said but hadn't seemed to pay attention to what he said.
``Something wrong?´´ Kairi asked with a concerned look on her face.
Sora was quiet for a few minutes before he looked at the horizon.
``What do you think darkness is?´´ He asked eyes never leaving the horizon.
``The thing you used to have a night lamp for´´ Riku teased earning a dirty look from Sora.
``I'm serious´´ Sora said while Riku chuckled at his own joke.
``Why are you asking?´´ Kairi said as her eyes met Sora's.
``I was thinking of that dream I had-´´
``When you fell asleep at the beach´´
``Will you drop it already. Well anyway, at the end of the dream I was swallowed by some kind of darkness, it felt like I was suffocating, but most of all I felt…´´
``Felt what?´´ Riku and Kairi asked in synch before Sora took a deep breath.
``Scared?´´ He said while looking down on the ground.
``Everybody is scared sometimes Sora´´ Riku said as he took a seat next to Kairi.
``Yeah, and even if you're scared all you got to remember is this´´ Kairi said as Sora looked in to her eyes.
``Even the night has the moon and the stars to lit it up´´ She finished with a gentle smile.
``Got that out of a fortune cookie?´´
``Shut up Riku´´ Kairi said without anger in her voice, just mild irritation.
``It was a good advice though´´ He said as he jumped of the tree and started walking away.
``Yeah it was. Thanks Kairi´´ Sora said before he and Kairi jumped off the tree and started walking home.
Unbeknown to all of them, in a world far away from their own a small white duck had a panic attack as he read a letter from his king.
The next morningSora walked over to the raft that he, Riku and Kairi had built over the month. The raft was mostly finished missing only a few things.
``Hey´´ Sora greets them as he sits down on the raft next to Kairi that seems to be holding something in her hand, but before he can see what it is, Riku holds a list in front of his eyes.
``What's this?´´
``The things you're supposed to collect as punishment for falling asleep yesterday and leaving us with finishing the raft´´ Riku says as he lies down on the raft using his hands as a pillow.
``Okay, I guess I can do that´´ Sora says as he puts the list in his pocket and tries to get a look at what Kairi's holding in her hand.
``No time to be looking at pretty things Sora, chop chop´´ Riku says with a teasing smile and a dirty look from Sora who was blushing a little and Kairi looking on confused as she had been to concentrated on finishing her charm to hear what they've been talking about.
``I'll go´´ He says and starts walking away while reading the list.
``What were you talking about?´´
``Nothing you need to worry about´´ Riku says as he closes his eyes and Kairi shrugging her shoulder before continuing with her charm.
`Stupid Riku´ Were the thoughts running through Sora's head as he filled the last bottle with fresh water from the small collection of water outside the secret hideout.
``Hey Sora, what'cha doin'? ´´ He hears Wakka's voice ask from behind him.
``Hey Wakka, I'm just finishing up the last of the preparations´´ Sora says as he puts the bottle of water in the bag with the rest of the stuff he'd been getting.
`All done` He thought as he looks down in the bag double-checking everything.
``Oh yeah, ya've finished yar raft right?´´
``Yeah, we're gonna set sail tomorrow´´
``Wish I had yar spirit, all I'm gonna do is explore the secret hideout with Tidus today. Oh well, can't all be adventurers´´ He says before returning to his ballgame.
`Come to think about it, I haven't been there for a while` Sora thought as he looks over to the almost hidden opening to the cave he used to visit as a child. He walked over to the small opening and crawled in as he had gotten too big the last few years since his last visit.
As he got in to the cave he looked over the walls filled with drawings he and the others had drawn over the years he couldn't help but take a trip down memory path.
`That one's from Tidus, that's Wakka, There's Selphie's, huh, that's a pretty good drawing, and that's…` Sora stopped right in front of a drawing next to the strange door that no one seemed to be able to open. A drawing he and Kairi had made when they were kids. He stroked his hand over the horrible drawing he'd made out of Kairi.
``Man I sucked´´ He said with a light chuckle as he looked at the drawing Kairi made out of him.
``Some people get all the talent´´.
As he looked at the drawing he noticed a white rock just below it that you could use as chalk. He picked up the rock before looking at the drawing. He put the rock against the wall and started drawing. As he finished the drawing he took a moment, where there used to be only his and Kairi's heads facing each other he had added his arm stretching towards Kairi handing her a paopu fruit. A smile plays across his lips as he looks at it but before he can do anything else he hears a sound from behind him.
``Who's there?´´ He asks as a man dressed in black hooded coat steps forward.
``I've come to see the door to this world´´ The man replies in a deep sophisticated voice that for some reason slightly scares Sora, but he would not show it to the man.
``This world has been connected´´ The man continues as he seems to look at Sora.
``Wh-What are you talking about?´´ Sora says as he prepares himself for anything that could happen.
``Tied to the darkness… soon to be completely eclipsed´´
``Who are you? And stop freaking me out´´ Sora says his courage returning as he speaks.
``Where did you come from anyway?´´
``You do not yet know what lies beyond the door´´ The man said seemingly ignoring Sora's questions.
``So you're from another world!``
``There is so very much to learn. You understand so little´´ The man continued while ignoring Sora's questions making him a tad bit irritated.
``Oh yeah? Well you'll see, I'm gonna go out and learn what's out there´´ Sora practically yelled at the man ho seemed unfazed by his words.
``A meaningless effort, one who knows nothing can understand nothing´´ The man said before fading in to nothingness. Sora went out of the cave and picked up the bag he had the things in and returned to the raft.
The day went on with very few things happening, Sora had thought about telling his friends about the weird man but had come to the conclusion that the man couldn't be too much of a worry. Right now he was sitting on the beach watching the sunset in a beautiful shade of red and orange. As he looked at the sunset he let his thoughts wander, but they all seemed to end up at the same thought, the thoughts about his weird dream, the mysterious man, about…darkness.
``What you're thinking about?´´ He hard Kairi's voice ask from behind him.
``Nothing important´´ He responded as Kairi sat down next to him. They watched the sunset in silence for a few moments before Kairi thought a conversation was in order.
``You know, Riku has changed´´ She said eyes never leaving the sunset.
``I think we all have changed. Changing is a part of growing up``
``You haven't really changed though´´ Kairi said with a soft giggle and a light chuckle from Sora.
``Well I'm the most childish out of us´´
They continued to look at the sun until it reached it's travels end under the horizon and day made it's way in order for night to take it's place.
``Sora´´ Kairi said as she stood up and dusted of some sand from her skirt.
``Don't ever change´´ She said before walking over to the boat that would take her to the main island.
``I won't´´ Sora said before running after he ran after Kairi.
Disney castle
Queen Minnie had just finished reading the letter from the king with a worried look on her face and an ominous feeling in her heart.
``Oh, I hope he's alright´´ She said as Daisy gave gently stoked her back in a comforting way.
``There, there I'm sure Osama (His majesty) can take care of himself well enough´´ She said as she sent her boyfriend Donald a look that clearly said `Agree with me or else`.
``Yeah, and don't worry, as soon as we find this `Key´ we'll start looking for him´´ Donald said and jabbed his elbow into Goofy's side.
``Yeah, but how will we find this key thingy. There are so many worlds out there and I sometimes have trouble findin' my room key´´ As the words left his mouth he felt a sharp pain in his foot as Donald hit it with his staff.
``What he means to say is that it may take some time but we'll find it. Right Goofy?´´ Donald said finishing with an unspoken threat.
``Yeah´´ Goofy said as he nodded.
``Thank you, both of you, I'll send someone with you that can keep track of your quest. He'll meet you in the ship room´´ Just as Donald was about to leave the room he noticed that Goofy wasn't at his side, he turned around to notice him standing beside Daisy giving him an honorary salute.
``YOU'RE COMING TOO´´ He yelled at Goofy as he dragged him by his belt buckle.
Early night at Destiny Island
Sora was lying in his bed looking up at the ceiling of his room while thinking about all the great adventures he would have with his friends on that raft.
`Although we may have to get a boat later` He thought as he chuckled at his own joke he thought he heard the sound of thunder and as he looked outside his window he saw a storm brewing up.
``THE RAFT´´ He shouted in panic as he climbed out of the window ignoring his mother's calls about dinner.
Sora's arms felt like jell-o after he had rowed as fast as he could to get to the small island. As he stood on the beach and stretching his arms he noticed there was something unnatural about the storm, something dark. As he tied his boat to one of the wooden pillars he noticed that Kairi and Riku's boats were there too.
``They must have gotten the same thought I did´´ Sora said as he started walking towards the beach. He then looked up towards the small paopu island he saw Riku standing by the end of the paopu tree. Before he could get to Riku, a bunch of creatures started appearing out of the ground. The creatures were small in size with round heads, two round yellow glowing eyes, a pair of antennas and short arms and legs.
`What the, what are these things?´ Sora thought before the creatures started to try and scratch him with their claws, he tried to fight back but his attacks didn't seem to hurt them.
`Screw this, I gotta get to Riku and find Kairi before something happens´ Sora thought as he took the best approach he could think of in this situation, he ran away.
He climbed up the stairs in the small sea hut that led to the bridge that would take him to the small island. As he got on the bridge he heard Riku shouting something that sounded like `I'm not afraid of the darkness` before his body seemed to be enveloped by tendrils of darkness.
``RIKU´´ Sora's shout seemed to have captured Riku's attention as he stretched out his hand towards Sora as if asking him to join. Sora ran as fast as he could towards Riku but just as he took his first step on the small island Riku was swallowed by the darkness.
``No`` Sora said as he started to turn his head in every direction but couldn't find Riku anywhere.
``Kairi´´ Sora said as he started to run as fast as he could towards where he thought Kairi would be.
`I may not have been able to save Riku, but I will save Kairi´ He thought with determination in his heart as he crawled into the secret cave.
As he entered the cave the first thing he noticed was Kairi standing with her back turned against him.
``Kairi´´ He said, relief obvious in his voice as at least one of his friends were safe. Kairi turned around to face him, but there seemed to be something different about her.
``Sora´´ She said in a voice that made it seem as if she was tired. Before another word could be said the door of the cave opened and released a strong wind that sent Kairi flying into Sora, just as Sora grabbed her in his arms in an attempt to save her she was gone, somehow she had disappeared right in front of him.
``No´´ He said in despair as he fell down on his knees ignoring the fact that everything around him was being eaten away by darkness.
``I lost them both´´ His voice was hollow as a tear fell down his cheek and he looked towards the cave ceiling.
``TAKE ME TOO, I'M NOT AFRAID OF THE DARKNESS EITHER`` He shouted towards the sky, as he spoke the words, tendrils of darkness enveloped him as they had done with Riku, and he welcomed them with his whole heart.
Realm of darkness
It was just like in his dream, he had been swallowed by darkness. Only this time was different, he didn't fight against it nor did it seem to try and force him into it.
`Maybe I can find my friends now´ Yes, that was the reason he was here, not anything else. He seemed to fall deeper in to the darkness with hundreds of eyes watching him as he did. The owners of the eyes seemed to pay him no mind and just seemed to stare at him with glowing yellow eyes. As he stopped falling and landed on something he couldn't see because of the darkness, he started to think about where his friends might be or if they were even alive.
``No, I can't think like that I WILL SAVE THEM´´ As if responding to his call, a flash of darkness seemed to appear in front of him that temporarily blinded even though it didn't give off any light.
`What is this?´ He thought as the flash faded to reveal a giant skeleton key.
The key was about 3,5 feet long with instead of a ring on the end it had a silver square with a golden handle through it and a long golden key chain at the end that was decorated with some kind of figure built by three rings that vaguely looked like a mouse's head, the key part itself was golden with the teeth's creating the outline of a crown. (Basically its king Mickey's keyblade)
As he grabbed the key he could feel a power awaken inside of him that seemed dark yet it felt like it was just what he needed to find his friends. He acted on instinct, he stretched out his hand with his palm forward as if he was trying to grab something. He felt the power inside of him move towards his arm and then out of it, he watched in fascination, as the power seemed to rip a hole open in the air itself that was big enough for him to go through.
`Here goes´ He thought as he stepped into the dark hole before it closed behind his back.
Unknown location
He could hear the waves hitting the beach with an calming sound, he could feel sand under his back, he could smell the salty smell of the sea and hear the birds sing their joyful song.
`Maybe it was all a bad dream´ he thought hopefully as he had yet to open his eyes and see the familiar face of his friends that would tease him in their own way about him falling asleep on the beach again. What he didn't expect was to feel something wet, slippery and slimy across his face.
``Eeeewww´´ He yelled out in disgust as he sat up, knocking something off his chest in the process and started to wipe away the slime on his face. He looked around trying to find the culprit and immediately noticed a small blue creature that looked a little like a koala bear with long ears.
`Did it lick me or something´ He thought as he looked at his surroundings and saw that while it was a tropical island, it wasn't his island.
`So it did happen´ He thought as the blue creature just looked strangely at him.
``STITCH´´ He heard someone call, judging by the voice it was a young girl.
``There you are´´ He turned around and saw what seemed to be a small girl with dark skin, black hair and dressed in a red dress decorated with white palm leafs. The creature walked up to the girl while saying Lilo and the girl saying `I've been looking everywhere for you´.
``Umm, excuse me´´ Sora said as he seemed to gain the girls attention.
``Where am I?`` He asked as the girl looked at him as if he was stupid and then giggled before saying.
``You're on Hawaii, silly´´.