Why a rewrite?

I love Kingdom Hearts. It's been with me through childhood. It is part of me, and has gotten me through some tough times in my life. (Cliché, yes. But it is true.) Now that I'm 22, I still love the series, but not in the way that I used to. I can pick it apart, and really see the underlying context, and really (hopefully) grasp the true character interactions and growths.

Disclaimer:

I own nothing but my OC(s). Everything else belongs to either Square Enix or Disney.

Genre: Adventure/Friendship

Rating: Teen (Cursing, Fighting, Violence/Blood.)
Pairings: Hinted SoraxKairi (innocent child crushing.)

Synopsis:

Long ago, the worlds were disconnected- unknown to each other.

On a quiet world, in the midst of a vast and endless clear-blue ocean, an archipelago of small islands lay peacefully unaware of what lies beyond its horizon.

One fateful night, as Destiny initiates its plea, four children are thrown into Calling's inevitable path. Two rejoin in an unfamiliar town, while the eldest and youngest have been whisked away to unknown lands.

From here on the two that are reunited must overcome the obstacles of the mysterious element called the Darkness, as well a past once thoroughly locked, to be forgotten and forever lost.

But neither is alone.
For they have companions both new and old.

And they have each other.

And both quickly learn that the key to true valor, victory, and vigor stems solely from the Heart.

And as their journey progresses, that vital note is what will keep them alive time and time again.

After all…

'You never know who you'll run into next…'

KINGDOM HEARTS I

Chapter 0

Washed Ashore

In the middle of a never-ending blue sea lay a cluster of homey islands considered paradise. The troubles of the unknown do not concern the carefree Isles of Destiny. Despite the arrival of a tiny stranger, the curiosity and wonder of what else lay beyond the great sea never once arose to the island population, save for two young boys who had the tendency to dream of the extraordinary…

'Where…what…it hurts…'

It was all that could be felt. Physical and metaphysical. There was only pain. So much so.

But…then there was light. No, not Light, but a lightweight feeling- like being carried.
And then there was cold. But not like the winters. No, this was like the mountain springs, but warmer…but not.

Then there was the sensation like flying, being carried over and through clouds.

'Am I…dead? Did I die? Momma… Poppa… Are you there…?'

~.:*:.~

And then there was soft and heat. And there was burning.

'Not dead…'

The burning was pleasant and awful. It only added to the pain. So much pain.

'Not my body. Not that, no. But…my chest…it hurts…so much…'

The burning heat didn't help, not at all. It only worsened, deepened. But…it also burned away the agony.

'…My…chest…what…?'

The heat burned away the pain. It felt…so much like her…how the bad and the shadows went away.

'…Kairi…are you…there?'

~.:*:.~

No, it felt like the sun. But it felt like her, too. There was heat, and dying agony. Aches were replacing that one. But there was quiet ambiance. There were strange things squawking far off…or up above? There was water…but it didn't sound the same. But it was still moving water.

There was wind, and there were trees. There was everything…but people.

'…Please…someone…Kairi, please…'

There was Light. But no one to find herself. She was alone. She was scared. But there was Light, to settle her fighting heart.

~.:*:.~

'How long have I been here? …Why can I open my eyes…? Am I…alone?'

The soft, but sharp, sifting ground shifted when she tried to move. But she couldn't. It was like…she couldn't wake up. But she could see the light. She could see through veiled eyelids, that the sun still shone bright. But it wouldn't forever. The sun always had to set.

Would anyone ever find her?

'…Someone…I don't care who…find me… Even if it's you…stupid big brother. Just find me…I'm still alive…! Help me wake up!'

There was talking. There was murmuring. And there was a shadow, although small, blocking out the sun from scorching her retinas from behind her eyelids.

There were children's voices. But then, there was a grown up behind them. But the shadow was definitely small.

'…Finally…someone…help…'

It hurt to move. It hurt even more to force her eyes to open. But when she did, just a crack, a sliver, she was met by the piercing gaze of the shadow. A boy, he had to be her own age, sporting shocking silver hair for how young he was…and his eyes…
She would learn with time, they could be as welcoming as the tropic seas that carried her there and away from the dark. Or his sea-blue-green eyes could be as devastating and temperamental as a tsunami or hurricane making landfall.

But for now, in the present, she only felt heavy. Her eyes fought to stay open, but the pull of gravity was winning- rapidly, too.

She made to look behind him, to see who he had brought. The blurry figure of a man wasn't far behind, and holding onto his leg was a boy with his skintone. The boy with ridiculously spikey cinnamon-brown hair…but…

'Those eyes…'

It was the gasp of a small girl that brought her attention and focus. She fought harder to stay awake. For behind the brown-haired boy, a head of short crimson hair was eyeing her with trepidation and wonder.

'…You're…alive…'

It was the squeak in the girl's voice, from behind her small hands, that had her attempt a small smile. But sleep was crowding in. She couldn't stay awake. She couldn't keep her eyes open.

"You…you're OK…! Ari…"

She barely nodded; the sand shifting and burying even deeper into the salt-water soaked locks of her odd reddish hair, eyes rolling behind her closing lids. The last image she saw, was the silver-haired boy's curious glance down at her. But she didn't really care. She was there. She was alive.

'Kairi…you're okay… Thank…good…ness…'

Everything would be okay…

Author's Endnote:

Well, there we have it. I'm just…writing to write now, haha. Basically, I took to 'Ari's' Third Person POV, since this is going to be Sora's story, told through another set of eyes, even if she's not always with him.

Also, her name did get a change. Originally, her name was "Aria". But, Arina has a better meaning (peace). Her nickname is "Ari"- meaning (brings rain). Which I found to be appropriate. Later on in the series, she becomes a fighter to change the broken world. But despite being a fighter, she fights to end the fighting…if that makes sense. She fights, so maybe the others won't have to. So, in other words, think of her as, "after the day ends" as someone to pick up the pieces, and cleanse the world as it begins to fix itself. (But that won't be until…like…Kingdom Hearts III in terms of timeline.)

But for now, this story is really only about her discovering herself a bit. It's really her awakening.

I'm so happy this is finally on the right track! (It'll still take a damn long time…eek.)

~ AoZ