Fellowship of the Key

I am back, with a new story! Don't worry, I am writing the second chapter for Week Of Hell I just...wanted to do something different, and this has been rattling around in my brain for literally ever! So, here it is.

Disclaimers: I do not own any part of Kingdom Hearts or other SquareEnix things, nor do I own any part of Lord of the Rings either. I know it's a sad, sad, world when a fangirl can't own anything that she truly loves.

Alright so here are a few key things: 'Talking' - Flashbacks - xXx scene change


Chapter One: The Key Master

Radiant Gardens, long since has its proper name been restored as well as many of the rightful buildings. Though there are many sectors of the world that are still going under reconstruction, the committee is hard at work with no hassle from the Heartless or even the Nobodies. Peace, it seemed, had returned to the world that had once been thrown into chaos not once, but twice. First from Maleficent and then again by the Organization it had seemed as though Hollow Bastion, as it had been named before, was doomed to forever be ruled in darkness. Then they had come, wielding blades that could strike down the minions of Darkness -Sora, Donald, and Goofy had conquered the evils. With the help of their friends, and unexpected allies, they drove the Heartless and Nobodies away. Restoring the world to its proper glory and returning to those their memories of fonder times. And the world had never been in such a better state. With the help of Tron and the computer world, the Garden was being restored to ten times its original grandeur, it was flawless –or at least it was on its way to becoming so.

But with great peace also comes great sorrow. Once again the world had been closed off from all the others; with the lock placed firmly on the roads between the worlds there was no way for them to see their old friends again. After the battle with Sephiroth, Cloud and Tifa had returned home. Yuffie, Arieth and Cid had remained behind to help the others finish with the reconstruction but now that, that was almost to an end the three of them had started to wonder about how it was they where going to get home. Leon as well, had long since debated if it was going to be possible for him to return to Balamb after this, or if the former SeeD commander was going to be put in charge of a new Garden –one without such harsh formalities or expectations, but nonetheless a somber background.

The only person who did not seem to be fazed by the passage of time around the world was Merlin, the wizard, who seemed to be popping in and out of worlds as though he had no better pass time. However, when confronted about his trips –that could sometimes be for weeks or merely a few hours, he would clam up and not speak a word. He would either busy himself with one of the many tomes that he had taken to writing or he would vanish in a puff of smoke and return to where ever he had been before.

'I can't take it anymore!' Yuffie shouted one morning as the whole group, minus the magician, was seated around the table. Arieth looked over at the young ninja as she finished cooking breakfast and slowly walked over,

'What is it that you can't stand, dear?'

'Merlin! Coming and going all the time. Like where does he go, what is he doing…is he visiting Sora or is he merely getting out of having to do any real work while the entire time he's still in Radiant Gardens?' Her question silenced the whole room. No one had ever been able to corner Merlin long enough to ask the old, and aging, man what he was up to when he left. The most they could do was speculate, as Yuffie had done. Most of them had come to the same answerless question as she. Leon sat up in his seat, all eyes turned on him as he took a drink of his coffee and he blinked,

'What…are you looking at me like that for?'

'You looked like you where about to say something.'

His eye twitched and he set his mug down on the table, 'Just because I straightened my back, which happens to be sore from fixing roofs all day yesterday –does not mean that I have something to say.'

'So you miss him too then?' Once again her question struck a cord in everyone present. Of course they all missed him. Him being Sora. With his bright blue eyes that where so childish yet serious and always held onto just that little twinkle of mischief. His unruly sandy brown hair that stuck out all over the place often had been the bases of Yuffie's jokes –saying that the brunet and Cloud must see the same hairstylist. And of course, his happy-go-lucky attitude, that always seemed to be the shimmer of the day and never failed to deflate. Leon had always seemed happier when the little keyblade wielder was around, though it wasn't uncommon as everyone had been happier when Sora was around. Even Cid had been less irritable and more enjoyable to have as company. Goofy too, was tolerable company and never failed to make them smile with a joke or two –mostly though it was when he got after Donald, who was so hard to comprehend that no one paid him any attention though they enjoyed having him around as well.

'Maybe…they'll come and visit us someday.'

'Yuffie, it's been almost two years. Sora's not only sixteen now, but he's also home. With Riku and Kairi.'

'Ol'Squalls is right, ya snooty brat. Them kids probably don't even remember us anymore.'

Yuffie sighed as she stabbed her fork into the egg that Arieth had set on a plate in front of her. She refused to believe that, Sore would never forget them. Even when everyone had apparently lost their memories –and all that had transpired in the past…Sora had never forgotten about them. In fact the spunky teen had physically and verbally refused to forget who they were. Just because he had returned to Destiny Island with his childhood friends didn't mean anything…except that he got another shot at leading a normal life, as all teenagers should. Pushing her food around, Yuffie sighed and took a bite. Arieth was a real good cook, and the habit of eating seemed to fill in the silence so that it was not so awkward. Everyone lost to their own thoughts; no one heard the sizzle of magic or the pops and crackles of the dramatic entrance that the long bearded wizard made. Merlin stood in the middle of the room, watching the group with a thoughtful expression on his face. What the team needed was a surprise and a vacation, after all –if they got too used to the idea of a peaceful world than they would grow sloppy and lazy. Not to mention bored and reckless as they try to seek other ways to fulfill their empty minutes.

'Have I news that is most surely going to cheer you sorry lot up.' Leon looked over at the old mans voice and raised an eyebrow, wondering –as was everyone else just when Merlin had arrived. The old wizard didn't give them too long to contemplate it though as he stroked his beard and sat in his chair, 'How would you youngsters feel up to helping old friends in new places?' They all stared at him like he had grown another head, and knowing Merlin he was quite capable of such a feat.

'No offense Merlin, but we have work to do around here.'

'Fiddlesticks! You have work that must be done else where. Tron can handle what ever needs to be done around here.'

Leon sighed and rubbed his hands over his face, he was about to open his mouth to protest when he heard the familiar sound of Merlin starting to cast a spell. This was not cool! He felt the room start to spin and smell faintly of cotton candy and the ocean. As the room started to fade, he heard Yuffie say something as she fell to the ground, Cid followed after, and Leon thought he saw Cloud walk into the room as he too fell towards the ground.

xXx

Blue eyes stared out the window with a glossy look to them. Time had passed both slowly and fast on the little island, and for Sora and his friends life couldn't be more normal…or at least as normal could come for the once keyblade master. The lithe brunet still found he was jumping at his own shadow and those of others, most of the time he would half expect them to rise out of the ground and start attacking him. He had nightmares too, about the ground rising up and swallowing him, about his body no longer belonging to himself even though he could still see all that was passing through his own eyes. Many times he would wake in a cold sweat, breathing heavy, and heart racing as he looked around the darkness of his room expecting to see a member of the Organization standing above him with their hoods pulled over their faces and eyes glowing red behind the darkness. With those thoughts in his mind, Sora wouldn't be able to fall asleep and would simply lie in bed as the sun crept slowly out of the ocean and bathed the mainland in its light.

'Sora, hey, Sora.' The cheerful voice of his best just-a-girl friend, Kairi brought him out of his thoughts as she tapped his shoulder and he jumped a few feet in the air, before turning around with narrowed eyes that both slowly and quickly relaxed,

'Sorry, Kairi…but I've told you not to sneak up on me like that.'

The red head placed her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes, 'Sneak up? I've only been calling you for the last ten minutes,' her tone went from the scolding mother hen she had always been into that of the concerned I-want-to-date-you mother hen she had become, 'What's wrong…you seem a little more out of it than usual.'

Sora sighed and went back to looking out the window, 'It's nothing, Kai…just haven't been sleeping well lately is all.' He turned back around and gave her a big grin, not that it did anything to reassure the girl that he was okay but she let it slide and took a step to the side, leaning against the wall she looked down the hall,

'So…are you going to the dance tonight?' Oh that dance, it was all the school and half the island was talking about for the last month and a half. Some big festival to celebrate one thing or another, Sora forgot what it was about and really he wasn't too interested in it, so he just shook his head. And instantly regretted doing so, the look that Kairi gave him made him feel bad, and with a sigh he gave in.

'Fine…I'll go to the dance.'

She smiled, 'You won't regret going. Besides, you've been locking yourself in your room more than not lately…me and Riku are worried, as is everyone else.'

'I just… I'm just having a harder time readjusting.' He looked her in the eye and it was her turn to sigh. Kairi put a hand on Sora's shoulder,

'Sora, it's been two years. Let it go, the past is in the past.'

'It's not so simple!' He growled and swatted her hand away, storming down the hallway of the school. It being lunch time, there were students here and there who had witnessed what had happened and whispered amongst themselves. It was no secret how Kairi felt for the brunet, and everyone thought that he was aware of it as well…and for as close as the two of them were there was rumor that they had been dating. But this, would serve as something else, just another mindless rumor to be spread around about paranoid Sora. Kairi glared at them as she flipped her hair over her shoulder, picked up her bag, and walked back towards her locker.

Sora was still mad at Kairi as he reached the doors and pushed them open, stepping out into the bright afternoon sun. The smell of the ocean assaulted his nose, and he would be lying if he said he hadn't missed it; the sea breeze in his hair, the sun kissing his skin, and the weightless feeling that came for the complete relaxation, a relaxation that he had never been able to fall back into. Sora knew, or at least hoped, that Riku felt the same –though he imagined that it was probably harder on the silver haired teenager. Looking around from his spot on the school steps Sora shut his eyes and took everything in, all that he had missed and the clear sounds of those that he hadn't. In the distance, he could see Play Island…the spot where it had all started and he had been so sure that it had all ended. Though he had only been twelve at the time and what, really, did a twelve year old boy know about saving not only his world but the worlds of countless others? Absolutely nothing…but he had learned. Learned and won –but at what cost…his childhood, perhaps, as well as any chance to be a normal teenage boy.

Sora opened his eyes and looked at the mini island, sitting out there and not hurting anyone. Selphie had even told them that it was still being used by the smaller kids of the mainland, that would take the row boats out after school and play around on the forts that had been made long before they had been born.

'I wonder what would have happened if I never had suggested that we try and go to other worlds.' Sora jumped again, though already being edgy it wasn't as high and he wasn't so scared as the calm voice of his best friend came through his thoughts.

'If it was fate, Riku, it would have happened anyway.'

Riku let out a chuckle and folded his hands behind his head, a pose that the brunet had taken on more than once during the past four years. He looked around and sighed as they both looked out at the horizon. Neither one of them had been back to the place that had started it all…the race for the naming of the raft, the actual building of the flimsy craft with the mindset that it would allow them to travel to new worlds –and of course the sword play. Riku still holding the record of ninety-nine to one, it had been that one victory that had made Sora so excited that he had talked about it for a week, and Riku had been so amused that he had made his friend so happy, that the silver haired youth had never been able to tell Sora that he had let him win.

Sora had turned to go back in the building when Riku reached over and grabbed his arm.

'What?' He asked rather tiredly, and sighed at the look in Riku's eyes. It was the same look that Kairi had given him earlier.

'How are you holding up.' It wasn't a question, which was fine by Sora because he didn't feel up to answering and it didn't hold the faux-concern that the red headed girl laced her words with. Sora felt bad for mentally accusing Kairi of not caring when he knew that she did but he also knew that she was growing tired and annoyed with his attitude. He had overheard Tidus and Wakka complain about how bitchy Selphie had become because Kairi wouldn't stop whining to her about Sora and his "change". He snorted, which made a silver eyebrow raise slightly and he pulled his arm away,

'I could ask you the same thing.' Riku's eyes went downcast and for a moment Sora thought that he had won. Though that had been the keyword, Thought, Sora never won against Riku…he frowned, that wasn't true anymore but was also apart of the memories best left undisturbed.

Riku looked back at him with an unreadable expression on his face, 'I am coping. I'll admit it's not as easy as it may seem. I still have nightmares, I still look over my shoulder –and I still worry about you, Sora, and Kairi.'

Sora looked down at the ground, now that Riku had come out and said something it was probably expected that he would as well. Looking back at the other teenager Sora opened his mouth to speak but the bell rang, signaling everyone to return to class, and Sora lost his courage to speak. Turning around Riku grabbed his arm again,

'We can finish this late, at the dance.'

Sora growled softly and pulled away, running back in to the building. Riku watched him and shook his head slowly, as he strutted back into the school.

xXx

He stared at himself in the mirror as he played with his hair. Sora sighed, he hadn't changed much in the past two years. He still had his child-like looks; the blue eyes, the slightly baby face, and of course his brown hair that went all over the place. Pulling at a rather large clump he sighed with a soft smile,

'Hey check it out, Momma Spike and Baby Spike!' Yuffie laughed as she jumped off the table and hid behind Leon, who looked over his shoulder at the sneaky ninja,

'I don't know why you're hiding behind me. If Cloud and Sora really want to hurt you, then I am going to move.' Everyone laughed as the hyper ninja pouted and crossed her arms.

'Well look, they have the exact same hair. Only Cloud's blond and Sora…' She grinned and looked at Leon, who blinked and took a step back, he didn't like the look that was crossing her face, '…and Sora, has the same colored hair as you, Squall.'

He made a face, as did the other two males involved with the questioning process.

'Don't mean to bust your bubble Yuff, but that's not possible. Besides, my parents are back…home.'

'AH, Sora, I am sorry!'

He gave her a trademark grin, 'It's okay, really.' With that he jumped on her and resumed their roughhousing, trying to prove just who the better ninja was. Cloud looked over at Leon who shrugged and went back to his coffee…

'Sora, Riku and Kairi are here!' The sound of his mother yelling up the stairs brought him out of his thoughts and with a sigh he wiped away a stray tear,

'I'll be down in a minute!' He called back, pulling on a white t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Giving himself one last look in the mirror he sighed again as his younger, happier, self looked back with that cheesy grin that had always made everyone feel better. Shaking his head he grabbed his jacket and headed out of the room, closing the door behind him and skipped down the stairs two at a time. In the mirror, his reflection remained, Roxas sighed and placed a hand on the cool glass surface his eyes full of sadness. But there was nothing that he could do for the other teen, his other half; he was merely a reflection in the glass. Closing his eyes, he faded –leaving the surface empty once more.

xXx

'It's about time youz got here.'

'Sorry Wakka, had to wait for the girls to finish getting ready.' Riku teased with a comment that earned him a glare from Kairi, but had also pulled a laugh from the orange haired teen and the other blond that had walked up behind him.

'Hey Tidus, where's Selphie?'

A nervous look crossed over Tidus's face as he and Wakka exchanged glances. The last thing that the blond boy wanted, and needed, was to tell Kairi where his girlfriend was; first off Selphie would never forgive him for ruining her evening so early on and second…Selphie didn't really like Kairi all that much anymore.

'Sh-she's by the bonfire…'

'Thanks,' Kairi smiled at them and wandered off down the beach through the swarm of people that had also come down to the beach. Most were younger teenagers and a few adults. There was a stand for food, another for sweets and one for drinks. A bonfire blazed hear the middle of the beach and loud music filtered through the air, it was just like any other party –minus the alcohol and the added few smaller children that ran screaming through the sand and played in the water.

Sora had seated himself on a log near the bonfire and munched away on a stick of cotton candy. Kairi and Selphie had long since gotten up and moved to a less crowed area so they could talk. He was thankful they had left instead of trying to drag him into a conversation as he was concentrating on the flames and the shadows that danced all around. It almost looked as though the shadows of the people and the sticks were trying to attack the flame –but the fire was doing a more than efficient job of fending them off. Once again a single tear made its way down his cheek and with a balled fist he wiped it away. Now was not the time to think of that, Axel had been the enemy, but, said a voice in his head, Axel had also proved to be a friend in the end. Sora shook his head, he wasn't my friend…he was Roxas's friend.

He was so caught up in thought watching the fire dance, every bit as graceful as the Nobody who took its name into his title that he did not hear the footsteps in the sand or feel the log shift as extra weight was added to it –and he did not hear as Riku called his name. All sound fell mute on Soras' ears with the exception of the crackle of the wood and the waves crashing on the shore –it was tranquil. Riku frowned; he had been watching Sora for most of the night from over by the bar, as he talked with Wakka –who was working the drinks. He had noticed how far away the brunet seemed to be from the world, not even noticing when his cotton candy slipped from his hand and fell into the sand.

Cautiously Riku placed a hand on Sora's shoulder. The contact seemed to have snapped the brunet back to his sense as all the sounds came rushing back and time returned to normal. Sora fell off the log and placed his hands over his ears –it was loud. Then it was though something in his mind snapped into place and he remembered that something had touched him. Grabbing the once forgotten candy stick off the ground he spun around in one fluid motion, head darting from side to side, eyes scanning for the Shadow that had crept up on him. When he couldn't find it, he relaxed slightly but still continued to scan the area eyes landing on Riku. Riku had a somber expression on his face but his aqua eyes where unread able. He stood up and took Soras arm and with out a word he lead the brunet towards the docks, where they could still hear the music but they could talk without yelling or having to worry about others listening in. They hadn't gone unnoticed though, Kairi had seen them leave and being nosey –even though she justified herself by saying she was simply worried about Sora, made her way over and hid behind a crate.

Riku was staring over at Play Island and Sora was staring up at the sky. The moon cascaded down on the two of them; making Riku's silver hair glow with a surreal almost angelic look and made Sora's sandy brown shimmer almost copper, Kairi rolled her eyes, even the moonlight made Riku look better than Sora. They had yet to start talking and after watching and waiting for almost ten minutes –she was almost ready to head back to the beach when she heard a sigh and strained her ears to hear every word.

'So, Sora, you were going to say something earlier?'

The brunet sighed and sat down, taking his sandals off and rolled up his pant legs, as he dipped his feet in the water, 'It…it was nothing.'

'Sora-'

'What Riku, do you want me to say? That I am fine and everything is peachy?'

'No,' He narrowed his eyes and looked over at his friend, 'I want you to tell me what's wrong.'

'Everything is wrong…'

'Would you like to elaborate, we have all night.'

'I-' Once again Sora was interrupted as a loud crack came from the island in the distance and a bright flash, 'Fireworks?'

Riku squinted and Kairi came out of hiding to stand next to them. Neither of them said anything as they watched the light show –and they weren't the only ones. The music from the party had stopped as people stood as close to the water as they could and cheered. There was one final crack and it was over. The cheering was louder and eventually died down at the music came back to life, bit Sora and Riku still had an uneasy feeling as they watched the island.

'Should we go and see what it was?'

'It was probably just some pranksters with firecrackers…'

'All the boats are still tied…' The three of them shifted uneasily before making a quick decision. Sora and Riku picked up two little wooden swords that some kids had left behind as Kairi untied a boat. Climbing in they slowly made their way to Play Island.

Riku kept his eyes forward as he paddled, Kairi looked around the boat for something to use once they reached the mini beach, and Sora's never left the water. Watching as it parted in front of the small boat, as it rippled when the paddle dipped and the beads that dripped when it was lifted. Was he waiting for something, for a clone to jump and start attacking them or maybe Ursula, the sea witch, would rise from the waters and use the trident to engulf the land in waters completely under her control. Once again he was jarred from his thoughts as the rowboat roughly hit the sand. Jumping out of the small craft he helped Riku bring it up on the beach, Kairi pulled the flashlight she had found out and turned it on. As bright as the moon was a little extra light never hurt anyone.

Sora was even more on edge as they walked around the beach, looking around he spotted the extension of the island that he and Riku had dueled on, the tree where the paupau fruit grew –and the spot where they had discussed the possibility of other worlds. He heard a rustle from a bush and he jumped around, crouching in an attack position wielding the wooden blade as though it was his keyblade. Nothing came and slowly he approached the small shrub and gave it a quick kick –rolling back when it moved, he was about to take a swing at it when a bird flew out and Sora let out a heavy sigh.

'I don't see anything out of the ordinary.'

'And what, Kai, do you consider "ordinary" these days?'

Kairi sighed and pointed her flashlight at Riku but didn't say anything as she turned around to face Sora, 'Sor…?'

He was staring off again but this time at a small, hidden if you didn't know it was there, cave,

'This world has been connected.' A twelve year old Sora stared up at the cloaked man with a confused look on his face, but he didn't get a chance to question him as the man –and the door, disappeared.

A flash of light in the corner of his eyes broke his thoughts for the millionth time that day, and he looked over to see Riku and Kairi waiting for him, 'C'mon Sor we still have the other side to look over.' The other side, where he and Riku had raced for the name of the raft, of course Riku had won and had named it Highwind.

They walked around the island, the sound and light of the festival was blocked out completely and everything was silent but not empty. On the ground and partly in the water were six silhouettes, five laying and one standing. The moonlight shimmered off his white beard as he brushed sand off his blue robes and looked about for his hat. Sora stopped mid-step and felt his breath catch in his throat. This was not possible. He was asleep and his mind was playing a cruel joke on him. Instead of having a nightmare he was having a pleasant dream that would leave him in the same state. In tears.

Merlin fixed his glasses and looked over as he placed his hat back on his head, 'Sora my dear boy!'

And that was when he broke. Dream of no, Sora dropped the wooden sword and ran over, tears in his eyes and gave the magician a hug. Merlin laughed and returned it with a soft, fatherly smile, patting Sora's head as the teenager all but sobbed in his shoulder.

Riku and Kairi watched. Of course they had heard all about the magician and the other people that Sora had met –but they never thought they would ever meet in person,

'How…' Riku asked, breaking the silence that had fallen over them. Merlin merely winked at the other two teens and then glanced about the bodies laying around his feet,

'I have my ways boy. Now, help me wake this sorry lot.'


There, tada -not a bad start to my new story. Tell me what you think, I am working on chapter two at this very moment... No, actually I am not, I am finishing Chapter two of my other story at this very moment. But I will get started in a little while.