The Shadows of the Key

Chapter I: The Death of Light

He kept smiling that goofy smile of his. Kairi still laid there on the floor near the Keyhole in Hollow Bastion. He had fought a long battle with his silver-haired friend, Riku, whom had been possessed by the darkness due to Ansem. He was holding not his Keyblade, but Riku's which has the ability to unlock a person's heart.

And yet, he wouldn't rid himself of that goofy-ass grin.

"Sora?" Donald questioned his spiky-haired friend.

"A key that unlocks people's hearts..."

As he pondered this, his eyes glanced at Kairi. Her petite body was lifeless for her heart was attached to Sora's. He had to free her. As he raised the Key, he pointed the tip of the blade toward his own heart.

"SORA, WHAT"RE YA DOIN'?" Goofy yelled knowing exactly what Sora had in mind.

All he could do was smile as he plunged the blade into his chest.

"SORA!" Donald was in sheer shock witnessing what his dear friend had just done.

Kairi's heart floated out from Sora's pierced chest. As it landed within Kairi, her eyes began to open, but Sora began to fade.

"Sora...? SORA!" She leapt to her feet to catch Sora's falling, fading essence, only to have him vanish in her arms.

"SORA, NO!" Donald and Goofy could only cry in disbelief. The Hero of Light had just faded to darkness just to save to the heart of a young, red-headed girl.

"Sora..." Kairi felt burning tears run down her cheeks. He was gone. He was gone and it was all her fault. All because of her damn heart, she was gone.

With sadness flooding her heart, the world began to shake.

"Kairi, we have to get out of here!" Donald snapped her out of her trance.

"Not without Sora!"

"Kairi... he's gone."

"No... NO, I WON'T LET HIM GO!"

"Kairi, we gotta get outta here! The heartless are after us!"

With that, Donald and Goofy grabbed Kairi and fled from Hollow Bastion. As the three of them were about to enter the Gummi Ship, Kairi suddenly stopped.

"I'm not leaving without him!"

"Kairi, Sora did what he did to save YOU and I'll be damned if I let his wish disappear with him."

"But..."

"Goofy, get her into the ship!"

Before she could continue her protest, Goofy practically threw her into the Gummi Ship and took off. Donald set a course for Traverse Town as Hollow Bastion was consumed by darkness.

Kairi couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Sora... why, why did you have to go?" The tears flowed down her soft cheeks like burning rivers. He was gone, lost to the darkness.