A/N: So's, it's been awhile. That's all I can really say. I started this really excited because, Hey! I actually have something I want to write about. I'm still a bit iffy about this and I could really use some feedback since I haven't written anything in such a long time.

Chapter 1

"Don't make me do this."

Sora blinked, staring at the woman. She faced the ocean beside them, gentle waves almost overpowering her soft voice.

"You know I am unable to force you into anything you don't want to be a part of." The younger woman turned, and Sora took note of how small she was compared to him and the other.

"Vespera, they are your sons." He could see the plea in her colorless eyes.

"Yume," Curling chocolate tresses hid her face as she moved forward, placing something into Yume's palm. Glancing over Vespera's shoulder, he saw the small pink shell in her pale, shaking hand.

"You ask the same thing of me if it were for your daughter." Yume closed her hand around it, eyes shutting in pain as she smiled.

"I grew up without knowing my mother, and it has been both a blessing and a curse."

"Our children deserve peace, not war. I have seen what it has done to you, my friend. The guilt that you carry."

"I've torn families and kingdoms apart. I beg you, your highness, do not ask me to do so again." She sobbed, holding the shell to her chest. The brunette gathered the small woman into her arms, brushing the long snow white strands away from her face.

"Even if this war ends with us, my sons will still be orphans. I am too invested to walk away, as are you. But we can grant our children lives we could never hope to give them here." Sora witnessed Yume hold onto the other woman, staring into the night sky as tears ran down her face.

"The procedure will be painful," She finally whispered, causing the elder to pause. "Your sons have too much power at their ages for it not to be. While your eldest may retain some strength, your youngest will be nearly powerless—almost human. If the war reaches them, however far we send them out . . ."

"Do not think those thoughts, Yume. Do not torture yourself any more than you already do. I recognize the consequences and will act accordingly. You have your own child to worry about."

"That's just it, isn't it? I can't worry about her and fight this war." Yume stepped back, staring at the pink shell again. "I just witnessed her take her first breath not even a day ago and I'm already losing her." Vespera remained silent as Yume crashed to the sand, curling into herself. Sora knelt down in front of her, wishing he could comfort her, but knowing he couldn't touch her. Pain radiated off her small form, and he could feel her heart breaking before the scene vanished around him.

"Yume performed the procedure successfully." He turned to Vespera, her golden eyes a shock to his system. She seemed sorrowful, thoughtful, as she stared back at him.

"I have neither seen nor held my children since that night."

"But they have to be safe, right?" She shook her head.

"The war has spiraled out of control. Our enemies have destroyed countless worlds attempting to find something to finish us off." Her words left an unsettling feeling in his stomach.

"There's a reason you've shown me that memory."

"My eldest son was eleven," She continued, his statement seemingly lost in the void around them. "And my baby had just turned one. I don't know the exact details of the procedure, but Yume broke. She vanished after she sent her daughter off to who knows where."

"What do I have to do with this?" Sora demanded, the ache in his gut tightening his muscles as he unconsciously braced for the bad news.

"I shouldn't be able to contact you, yet here we are." She approached him, golden eyes dull this close. Placing a hand on his shoulder, she leaned in to whisper. "It is at your doorstep, young one. No one is safe."

Sora's eyes snapped open, taking in the ceiling of Merlin's old house in Traverse Town. Sensing nothing amiss but for the feeling his dream had left behind, he yawned. Mid-stretch, he remembered why he still had pent-up energy.

It was his birthday, and he was going home.

With a grin, he grabbed the bag he had packed the night before and took leaping strides through the house and up to the street until he could run freely to the gummi ship. With a fond wave at the town he had spent the past year training in, he maneuvered the ship around and engaged the warp drive to the nearest point by Destiney Islands.

Kairi had threatened him via lengthy letter that if he missed his own birthday as Riku had a few months ago, she would hunt him down and drag him home if necessary. His own reply had been just as long, though more sentimental. Sora couldn't lie, even if he wanted to; he missed his friends and his family.

Vespera's image flashed across his mind.

His mother—that's who she reminded him of. Sora hadn't seen his mother since the Mastery Test. They wrote as he did with Kairi, letters delivered by Riku whenever he brought Sora supplies. Her voice echoed in his head alongside Vespera's whispered warning, giving him a headache. With a groan, he set the ship on autopilot as he leaned back, taking in the passing worlds—all currently at peace.

Overall, Sora was glad for Kairi's demanding letter. Homesickness had been welling up in him more in the past month than when he first left the island. He knew, once he set foot on the beach, he would feel infinitely better.

Sora blinked, eyes adjusting to the bright island sun.

The air was cool as it came in off the waves, the mist dampening his skin. Already, the change from the concrete of Traverse Town refreshed him. The tightness of his abdomen relaxed, dream all but forgotten as he soaked in the atmosphere of his home world. With a deep breath, he began to make his way back to the main land.

It was the same surreal feeling he had the first time he returned. Everything remained the same except for the growth of the plant life and the people. Neighbors he barely remembered welcomed him back, prepped by Kairi and Riku to accommodate Sora's faint memory after three years of being gone.

By the time he saw his own house, Sora felt the strain of greeting and smiling at everyone who met him. He felt a bit guilty as the feeling of annoyance passed. Fourteen year- old Sora could handle this, no problem. So why did seventeen year old Sora feel so different about it?

There were arms wrapping around him.

"You took so long, I thought I'd have to get a search party together." Sora laughed, negative feelings forgotten as he hugged Kairi back.

"Everyone from here to the beach thought they should say hi." Kairi's laughter rang through the neighborhood.

"I bet Aoi caught up with you didn't he?" Sora nodded.

"He's gotten tall."

"I'd say you have." His head snapped up, meeting the royal blue eyes of his mother. She smiled, holding open her arms as Sora ran to her. He sighed, breathing in the smell of flour, baked goods, and clean air.

"Welcome home," She brushed her hand through his spikes.

"I missed you, so much." He whispered, pulling away to take in her features before noticing that he had indeed outgrown his mother in height. She held a hand to his cheek before pulling him down to place a kiss on his head.

"I say you should hurry inside before your friends finish off the pie." Immediately, Sora rushed inside, the boys all causing a ruckus as they tackled Sora. Kairi shared a laugh with his mother.

"I've missed so much of his life," The older woman muttered, taking in the sight of her son easily wrestling with Waka and Tidus. Kairi tilted her head, feeling for her. "But I can't complain. He's a hero." She took another moment watching them before she composed herself and interrupted.

"Now boys! Help me carry out the food to the back yard." Kairi went ahead, grabbing a bowl of salad as Selphie finished mixing the juice.

"It's a bit strange, having Sora back." She commented. "But it's nice. It's really nice, having all of you back." Kairi smiled as she walked out with her old friend.

"Yeah."

Sora yawned, rubbing his stomach as he watched the sunset with everyone from his backyard. Kairi was currently braiding his hair as he roasted marshmallows for the both of them, Selphie and Riku doing the same across the fire pit.

"I think," Sora began, lifting the rod to allow his mother to put together some s'mores, "I'll stay here for a few days. What about you two?"

"A mini vacation." Kairi tied off the braid, starting another one.

"We live here, you dorks." Riku reminded them. Sora shrugged, taking the treat from his mom and savoring it.

"Hey, I see anything away from being shoved into dresses and heels as a vacation." Kairi laughed.

"They have to beautiful dresses, though." Selphie comforted.

"They're gorgeous, but they're heavy and hard to move in." Kairi paused in her work and sipped at her drink.

"Maybe we should design some dresses while you're here." Sora's mom offered. "With your input, they'll be less island, but less over done."

"That would be wonderful." Kairi accepted a s'more as Sora and Riku shifted.

"You see that, right?" Sora's tone made everyone freeze. They followed his line of sight, seeing nothing but the horizon. Riku tossed dirt onto the fire, causing their eyes to readjust to the light change.

"What's wrong?" Kairi and Selphie gathered around the worried woman, taking her hands.

"That's not the sunset," Riku muttered. "It's fire." Sora jumped up, Riku behind him, launching themselves over the fence.

"What are they doing?!"

"They'll be fine," Kairi assured Sora's mother, biting her lip. Now that they pointed it out, she could tell it was coming from the market. "Selphie, I need you to go home, and evacuate everyone to the beach. I have a bad feeling about this."

"Okay," She dashed off and Kairi turned back to the older woman.

"Can you do the same here?"

"I can do that," She nodded, wiping her hand on her apron. "Do what you need to."

Kairi took off at a dead sprint, people parting as they recognized her. Her panic rose as a crackling sound reached her. Slowing, she glanced around, her neighbors doing the same until a burning palm leaf drifted down in front of her. There was another fire in the alley way.

"Get to the beach!" She yelled to some of the school kids as a few men ran to put out the fire. Suddenly, there was an explosion towards the center of the island.

Sora grit his teeth as he fought back the flames, Riku beside him. They'd put the fire out in one of the stores only for the next three to light up. He began running towards the fruit stand when the first blast occurred. Not a minute later, two more happened, lighting up the island in an orange glow.

"What's going on?!" Sora whirled, seeking Riku. He spotted his friend shoving past people rushing to the beach, giving orders to the men that tried to help them. Sora stepped forward, about to call out when he was hit from behind, blacking out.