Chapter 1 Destiny Islands

"The day you will open the door is both far off and very near."

I thought I was done with all of this… Sora sighed.

Around him was another of the strange daises, with glistening stained glass in rich blues and soft roses. An aurora of swimming light was swirling around across the platform. He walked towards it, as a slow, single ray of white light dripped down onto the floor from the wide abyss around him. Some strange power was triggered as he touched the pool of colors, for from the platform, a staircase of elegant glass chips, colored like a chapel window, wound out through the darkness.

The road, paved in glowing light, led Sora to the end of the darkness. How he was so sure that the inky shell of space had an end, he wasn't sure. But here, standing on the final platform, with no clear pattern to its wide stretch, he felt the ability to escape. But how?

"The closer you get to light, the greater your shadow becomes."

A shaft of white light burst down like a falling star, exploding in a plume of dazzling white fire around Sora. The flames vanished in a wisp of silver fumes, gathering into a tiny white dot before him that flared out glaring light past his body. The shine cast his shadow further back, slowly rising out across the platform until its head touched the darkness around them.

In that moment, a purple mist began to cloud his shadow. And as the strange miasma spread, the shadow began to take form and peel itself from the platform, standing up so that a goliath shadow was looming over Sora in three dimensions. Its eyes burned like flaming rubies, and its hair began to spread out like a medusa. Its long fronds hissed about, fully animated over the new demon. It gained width to enormous proportions, with muscles the width of cannons.

In the center of the beast's chest, the light from the floating sphere pierced through, cutting a heart through the darkness. The symbol of love sliced through the creature's torso, leaving a gaping hole wide enough to fit a horse.

Sora stepped backwards, his foot catching the edge of the platform.

The monster leaned back, and the floating light flew across the air, settling in the hole, where it changed into a dark black force, with small, sparkling jets of electricity leaping off of it.

"But don't be afraid," rang the voice. "And don't forget."

A new voice, deep and hoarse cut through the monster, ringing as if reaching from all parts of him:

"Dark…side…"

From the heart hole, a hundred tiny bursts of blue fire flew out into the sky as the enormous being loomed forward. It no longer bore any resemblance to Sora, for its massive hands had become claws, and its long feet had curled like elven shoes.

As the burning rain came tumbling down, Darkside lunged at Sora, letting its deep black hand crash into the ground beside him. The blue fire collected around his fist, and his claw sunk down into the glass, as if it were but smoke.

Sora ran forward, suddenly realizing the iron sword from before was in his hand, and darted at the black mass. He chopped at the hand to no effect, watching as the blade went as seamlessly through the palm as the claw had entered the platform. He touched it with his foot: solid.

The monster, clumsier than Sora had expected, began to raise its fist, full of the flaming darkness, towards the air.

Sora jumped, bringing his hands onto the massive clench before him. He hoisted himself up, as the demon began to open its fingers, letting the blackness swirl around Sora's leg.

Sora began to run, up the forearm, as the tendrils released his calf, and than swam back at him, chasing like vines of evil.

Sword raised high, Sora dove out, sticking the blade in Darkside's face, watching it slip uselessly through as he fell. It eased down his nose, along his mouth, and through his throat to no avail.

But then it hit the light.

The heart shaped hole closed, the light trapped inside, sucking the sword in with it. The monster began to tremble, as cracks of flaring silver began to shatter through its figure. Sora collapsed on the ground, shaking with pain from the fall.

The creature exploded, spreading black shadows and that inky miasma all along the surface of the platform. Sora felt himself being dragged under—he knew—for the last time.

The voice rang out, tentatively, and weaker than usual.

"But don't be afraid. You hold the mightiest weapon of all… You are the one who will open the door."

¤

Slowly, Sora raised his head. The water reached to a distant sky, hidden by wide white clouds and baby blue heavens. The sun was warm, like a mother's touch to his cheek. He yawned, running gritty sand over his callous palms.

A shadow passed over the sky, accompanied by a head covered in red hair.

"Whoa!"

Kairi giggled and slid backwards as Sora sat up, looking at her.

"Gimme a break, Kairi!"

"Sora, you lazy bum. I knew that I'd find you snoozing down here."

"No, that's not what it was! There was this huge black… THING… and it swallowed me up! I couldn't breathe… I couldn't- OW!" There was a painful throbbing in his head, which he rubbed at uselessly.

"Are you still dreaming?" she asked.

"It wasn't a dream! … Or was it? … I don't know…." His voice trailed off quietly. "What was that place? So bizarre…."

"Yeah, sure." Kairi looked away, holding her wrists behind her back as she stepped into the slow tide of the seawater. Sora realized how nice his home was. He could, at any point, simply float over the ocean, or fish back on the docks. What would it be like anywhere else? It couldn't be half as wonderful.

"Say, Kairi," he thought to ask. "What was your hometown like? You know, where you grew up?"

"I've told you before," she laughed. "I don't remember."

"Nothing at all?" he pressed. She sighed.

"Nothing."

"You ever want to go back?" he asked, stretching out before he wrapped his arms around his knees.

"Well," she paused. "I'm happy here." There was a subtle itchiness to her voice. Sora tried again.

"Really…"

"But you know," she confessed, "I wouldn't mind going to see it."

"I'd like to see it too!" exclaimed Sora. "Along with any other worlds out there! I wanna see 'em all!"

Kairi spun around, grinning wildly. Her light eyes twinkled brightly at Sora. "So what're we waiting for?"

"So," interjected a deep voice. "I guess I'm the only one working on the raft." Riku passed forward, discarding a log into Sora's hands, knocking his friend backwards onto his rear. "And you're just as lazy as he is!" he scolded Kairi.

"So you noticed," she giggled. "Okay. We'll finish it together…. I'll race you!"

"Huh?" moaned Sora.

"Are you kidding?" complained Riku.

"Ready?" she persisted. "Go!"

They leapt to their feet, flaring past Kairi as if she were insignificant. Sora tore through the sand; his bare feet maneuvering deftly over mounds and around turns. Riku, in his large shoes, spent more time in long strides and well-timed jumps. The race passed the creatively titled "Seaside Shack," whose low roof was often a target for shortcuts. Riku jumped up, tugging himself onto the planks as Sora sprinted around the hut, tearing through the sand so that a long line of clouds showed his trail.

Riku landed off of the roof, next to Sora, drawing the race to a tie between the two boys. Riku shoved, trying to knock Sora down, and Sora lunged at his arm, swinging him down to his knees. Riku snatched forward as Sora tried to escape, dragging him backwards.

Throwing off his jacket, so that his red tank top and shorts shone in the sun, he dove at Riku, pinning him. Riku jumped up, tossing his gloves to the ground to initiate the brawl. Laughing all the while they persisted to tackle and lunge, fighting skillfully with no cares at all.

"I win!" shouted Kairi.

¤

The raft was tied firmly to a stake in the sand, bobbing slowly above the waves at its resting place. The three examined it closely, pulled knots tight, and replaced damaged wood. The raft, though small and simple, was strong and durable enough to carry them a few days in the water.

Riku knew it would take them as far as they needed to go.

He slowly waddled into the water, getting waist deep in the salty sea as he began to attach the next part. Today they were building a storage compartment for the food, and had gotten all of the necessary parts.

Sora helped build the sides of the box from rope and sticks, while Riku worked hard to attach them firmly. Kairi was sewing the canvas cloth around the completed faces, in order to supply extra protection from the water.

The rest of the islanders were oblivious to this construction. Selphie, a young girl with braided brown hair, sat on the long dock on the other side of the island, engulfed in a large romance novel. Wakka, about seventeen, with fiery red hair and a passion for sports, was juggling a blue and white "blitzball" under the shade of some palm trees. When young Tidus (a sandy haired youth with unmatched aggression) pulled his small rowboat to the docks, Wakka stopped his own game to practice sword fighting.

Under the warmth of the summer sun, surrounded by the smell of old coconuts, and lathered in the distinct scent of seawater, the air of the island was that of unbridled ecstasy. The sea trickled into underwater coves, and passed through reefs of brilliant colors. There were hills of vivid green, and caverns plastered with seagull eggs and hot springs.

Throughout the day, everyone laughed and played, eating big sandwiches and guzzling fruit juice. In the afternoon they built colossal sand castles, or explored the various crannies hidden in the rocky hills at the island's center.

At sunset, all quieted down. Tidus and Wakka took a boat home, to the island not so far away, and Selphie went for a swim on the northern shore. Kairi, Riku, and Sora were left resting on a small outset in the shade of the palm trees.

The sunset was orange and purple, sparkling like spilled cider over the slowly receding waves. Gulls called lazily in the cloudless sky, and crabs scuttled across the sand.

"So," said Sora in the long silence. "Kairi's home is out there somewhere. Right?"

"Could be," replied Riku. "We'll never know by staying here."

"But how far could a raft take us?" Sora asked.

"Who knows? If we have to, we'll think of something else."

There was another pause, and Sora stretched out across the bent arch of a palm's trunk. Kairi turned a sparkling gaze at Riku. "So, suppose you get to another world. What would you do there?"

"Well…" Riku paused for a moment before replying. "I haven't really thought about it. It's just… I've always wondered why we're here on this island. If there are any other worlds out there, why did we end up on this one? And suppose there are other worlds… Then ours is just a little piece of something much greater. So, we could have just as easily ended up somewhere else, right?"

Sora rolled over to face the water. "I don't know."

"That's why we need to go out there and find out! Just sitting here won't change a thing. It's the same old stuff.… So let's go."

Kairi trailed Sora's gaze, following the lonely flight of a gull. "You've been thinking a lot lately, haven't you?"

"Thanks to you. If you hadn't come here, I probably would have never thought of any of this…. Kairi… thanks."

She laughed. "You're welcome."

¤

Kairi entered the Seaside Shack, closing the door firmly behind her. Up across the low bridge and on the outset, Riku tapped Sora on the shoulder. Sora looked up, only to find a bright yellow, star-shaped fruit lying in his lap. Riku was headed for the shack.

He turned around, walking backwards. "You wanted one, didn't you?" he asked. Sora gazed mesmerized at the object.

"A paopu fruit…"

"You know," Riku commented with a grin. "If two people share one, their destinies become intertwined. They'll remain a part of each other's lives no matter what. C'mon, I know you want to try it!" Riku laughed, and turned around, plunging his black, half-sized gloves in his pocket.

"What are you talking-" Sora stopped, looking up at Riku fast. The door to the shack slammed as Riku disappeared laughing. Sora shot up, discarding the paopu as he jumped off the bridge, chasing his friend for the sly remark about Kairi. One of these days, Riku was going to pay. He had to stop making comments about the two. After all, it wasn't as if he had a crush on her.

Right?

¤

Donald Duck, magistrate to the king, royal ambassador to the people of Disney Castle, and humble advisor of the country mages. Such read the office that the white-feathered fellow stepped out of proudly. Lifting the feathered fingers of his left wing, he adjusted the navy blue cap on his head. He snatched up his staff from the wall, and began the walk through the columned breezeway to the throne room.

The castle was tall, and built from an incredible forty-five thousand tons of pure ivory. The roof was built out of gorgeous sapphire tiling, and the windows were lined in solid crystal. In the blazing sun of the early morning, the structure shone like a lamp, blaring light across the entirety of the world.

Donald, humming proudly in his trademark quack and nasal blended voice, marched to the quarter mile high doors, knocking proudly. There was a pause, and at about eye level, an inconspicuous, miniature door gave way to his entrance.

The throne room was mammoth, with columns reaching at least a half-mile up, supporting the ivory ceiling that arched to an incredible height. There were banners with King Mickey's silhouette emblazoned in deep black on ruby red. And at the forefront of the hall, across the length of the plush red carpet, stood the great throne of the king.

Donald bowed low, sweeping his blue hat across the floor, and announced brightly, "Good morning, Your Majesty! It's nice to see you this morn-

"WHAT?"

The throne was empty. The seat was deserted by the dependable presence of the king. But disrupting the silence was a bark, and Donald jerked his head to the left, as the king's dog, Pluto, emerged his snout from behind the throne. In his mouth was a letter… stamped with the king's seal.

Donald's webbed feet tore across the room, snatching the paper from the pup as he opened it. His eyes ran hurriedly across the note, scanning the words as fast as he could, before abruptly screaming as if Armageddon had befallen the land.

Waving his hands madly over his head, he flew across the castle to the courtyard, where he found General Goofy sleeping in the comfort of a hedge shaped like the palace. His tall, green hat was over his mouth, and as he blew, it seemed animated in its wavering.

"Wake up, Goofy!" quacked Donald. "Wake up! This is serious!" Goofy continued to snore. Donald shouted, raised his finger over his head, and a bolt of lightning blew from the sky, striking Goofy's plated armor. Slowly, and with much clanking, he arose from the ground.

"Uhh…" he mumbled, "Hey there, Donald. G'morning!"

"We've got a problem, Goofy! But don't tell anyone!"

"Queen Minnie?"

"Not even the queen!"

"Daisy?"

"No! It's top secret!"

"Uhh…" said Goofy sleepily, craning his neck to see beyond Donald. "G'morning, ladies!"

"What?"

Queen Minnie tipped her head, questioningly. Daisy, however, seemed to be able to blast Donald by merely looking at him. He trembled in fear as she tapped her fingers reproachfully. But Donald should have known to let the two in, particularly his wife. And now, he was in trouble.

¤

"You guys at it again? All right. I'll be the judge." The still air hung mustily around them. It was early morning, and both Riku and Sora had just docked their boats less than half an hour ago. Gray sunlight dimly lit the southern shore, but it was clear enough to see the race course. Across deadman's bridge, a tall lookout tower climbed upwards, dropping a zip line through the hard palms and across to the toy tree. The bridge was crumbling, the palm fronds as stiff as boards, and the star-shaped tree they had made was falling apart.

Home, grinned Sora.

"The usual rules apply," declared Kairi. "Take any route you want. First one to tag that tree and make it back here wins."

"If I win," decided Sora, staring at Riku, "I'm captain. And if you win-"

"I get to share the paopu with Kairi."

"Huh?" Sora exclaimed.

"Deal? The winner gets to share a paopu with Kairi."

"Wha…" Sora argued. "Wait a minute-"

"Okay?" Kairi shouted from the water. "On my count! 3… 2… 1… GO!"

Sora burst out, his feet stripping splinters off of the decaying bridge as Riku dove forth behind him. As they crossed to the end, the strip under Riku gave, sending the gray-haired youth on an alternate route. Sora leapt for the long ladder of the lookout as he watched Riku loping up the water's edge and then sprint across another stretch of beach.

Halfway through the hard palms, Riku turned to see Sora riding the zip line across the morning skyscape. His silhouette traveled over to the toy tree, whose "clap-on" light illuminated as Sora touched a white-gloved palm to it. Riku was not far behind, scaling the cliff face as Sora leapt through the air, planting his feet on the rigid surface of the hard palms.

Riku leapt onto the canopy behind him, as they meandered hither and fro across the treetops. Kairi treaded water in the distance, watching the boys slide down the last trunks for an all out sprint to the end.

Sand leapt up around them, powdering the foliage with yellow layers. One last trip across dead man's bridge was all that was left, and Sora leapt out.

Riku's hand shoved him, and he collapsed, crashing into the water. Ten yards from the finish, Riku was grinning, sweat washing down his face, where it seeped into his green eyes and over his flushed face.

Sora had no choice.

He dropped under the surface, spreading his eyes wide in shock.

"SORA!" screamed Kairi.

Riku froze; he was inches from the finish, but something was the matter. He turned around, seeing the last bubbles glide up through the clean sea water where Sora was floating.

Riku dove in, stinging salt blinding his eyes as he grabbed Sora, lifting him up out of the surf, and dragging him to the dry land. Kairi approached hurriedly.

Inches from the sand, something hard crashed into Riku. He was pitched back, watching as Sora cast his hand onto the finish, grinning smugly back at Riku.

Surprised, Kairi froze, and then laughed aloud.

"Sora! You won!"

Riku floated alone, stunned.

¤

"Today we—meaning you—collect provisions for our trip!" Kairi giggled aloud. "Let's see. You're looking for mushrooms and fish. Oh, and maybe you could snag some coconuts on your way?"

"Sure," Sora replied.

"Oh, and fill this up," Kairi ordered.

"Yes, your highness…"

"Excuse me?" Kairi asked innocently.

"Nothing."

¤

Coconuts were easy enough to find, and the fish were no scientific conundrum. After an hour of bare-handed snagging in the water, Sora had a basket full of hard coconuts and small, slimy, fish. He tossed in his latest catch, dragging the basket ashore, where he lay back on the sand, watching the clouds sail across the skies.

The surf ran over his shoes, gagging his socks and squeezing his toes. Plots of sand collected in his hair, leaving its sandy color all the better named.

After a while, he stood up, tidying himself out, as he thought over his last mandate: mushrooms.

He had to gather a substantial amount, but mushrooms weren't a common item to find in the Destiny Islands, with the overbearing heat and lack of dead trees. Where could he find somewhere dank, or musty?

Wakka's voice came like a beacon, snapped out of conversation with Selphie. "Me and Tidus, we gonna go exploring today, in the Secret Place, behind the spring."

Convenient… Sora snickered.

¤

Two small children, memories of a time not so very long ago. Inside of their secret place they sat, stealing glances back and forth, studying the curves of the other's face, and the protrusions of the jaw.

Sora saw Kairi's mouth hang still just there on the edges.

Kairi noticed where Sora's spiky hair ran flat, just at the base behind his head.

Together, they sketched out their likenesses, each chalking the face of the other on the stone wall before them. For an hour, at least, they sat studying and carving, pressing rough white stones into the rock.

When they finished, they sat back, staring at the other's work. It was amusing; they'd both done profiles, and both faces were smiling. It was a mad, surreal sort of grin. The kind one gets in prison, or under pressure.

And yet still, it was happy.

Purely happy.

¤

Sora stared down, where the old sketches were marked on the wall, where he and Kairi had drawn each other into the menagerie of images long ago. It was a masterpiece of childish drawings, though Sora knew he still couldn't draw much better. He leaned down, adding a hand to the art. The hand reached from Sora to Kairi, just stopping at her mouth. In the hand he drew a star.

A paopu fruit.

He sat back, holding a cry of glee, of pride…

Of fear.

Someone was beside him. "Who's there?" he called.

The voice that responded was strange, gruff.

"I've come to see the door to this world."

"Huh?"

"This world has been connected…"

"Wh… what are you talking about?"

The voice continued without pausing to hear Sora.

"…Tied to the darkness… Soon to be completely eclipsed."

"Well, whoever you are, stop freaking me out like this." It was then that Sora heard the whimf of air beside him. He turned around, looking straight at a very tall man, hunched over beside a… door.

A door that had most certainly not been there before.

"Wh… Where did you come from?" Sora asked uncomfortably.

The man did not answer the question. "You do not yet know what lies beyond the door." He turned to face Sora.

"So you're from another world!" Now the man had Sora's interest. He would have to tell Riku. He would be ecstatic!

"There is so very much to learn. You understand so little."

The man was obnoxious.

"Oh, yeah?" Sora retorted. "Well, you'll see. I'm gonna get out and learn what's out there!"

"A meaningless effort. One who knows nothing can understand nothing."

In a blast of the same darkness the demon had fought with in Sora's dream, the man vanished.

Had Sora woken up at all?