Chapter One: A Little Bit of Everything
Author's Note: Dialogue will not be exactly said as it was in the game, however some lines will be used. Updates will happen every Sunday. I hope you enjoy! :)
Disclaimer: I do not own any Kingdom Heart's characters except for the original. All but the original characters belong to Square Enix and Disney.
Knocking, that god damn knocking. It's the only thing keeping me from my deserved slumber right now. Yesterday had been a busy day, Sora, Riku, Kairi and I spent our day preparing and gathering materials. Our adventure is supposed to be happening tomorrow, and we were beyond ecstatic. Sora was the most though, there was that smile that couldn't leave his face. Actually, that's him on a regular basis. But either way we could tell, Sora was born for this journey.
I'm pretty excited as well. Except for now, because right now I'm pissed off from the knocking that just can't seem to shut up. I can feel the sun's heat just a little above my body, around this time it must be sunrise. That's too early. I use my hands to bend the ends of the pillows towards my ears and the knocks become muffled. Ah, much better. I begin to lose consciousness as my hands give out under me. Suddenly the knocking stops and I feel something in the room. I assume it's Kairi.
Wait.
Kairi would already be here dragging my lazy ass out the door and into the bathroom.
"Mari! Get up already! I've been banging at your door for thirty minutes now. When are you gonna get up huh?" Sora's voice plays through my head. Being half-asleep, I can't process things that quickly, so I imagine I'm just hearing things. Yet the voice keeps talking and talking. Yeesh, will it ever stop? Maybe it is Kairi and I'm just imagining it's Sora. I stick one hand out of the bed, bouncing it up and down.
"W-What?"
I muffle incoherent words for Kairi to pull me out herself. If she doesn't do it, then it's final, I'll sleep for another few hours.
"Jeez you're a piece of work Mari, seriously," I feel hands wrap around mine and begin to pull. Once, twice, then all at once and I fly out of bed.
I settle on something soft, yet firm. It's warm. It's a person.
It's Sora.
My green eyes stare into his light blue irises. I swear that Riku and Sora gazed at the ocean so much it turned their eyes blue.
"A-Ah, sorry," I sit up, having him do the same. He laughs uneasily and stares at me, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
"Don't worry about it, now c'mon! We've got a whole lot to do today and we can't afford to slack alright?" I smile and get up. Sora continues to look nervous and I completely understand why. Though the four of us hung out in my room dozens of times, Sora hates going into my room alone. Riku never comes in alone because he says it's 'not his thing'. Kairi comes in as she pleases, making it seem like it's her own, and Sora, well he was the guy in between, angling more on Riku's side.
I walk out to the bathroom and do as I needed before heading back, anticipating Sora to be outside, waiting for me. Except, he's still in my room, on my desk, looking at the pictures. They were pictures of my parents and I. Five years ago, when I was twelve, my parents disappeared. No one had ever met them here on the mainland because they were always out there, exploring and doing their jobs as researchers of who-knows-what. Then one day, they never returned. Only Sora, Kairi, and Riku know, so they bring me extra food all the time to help out. It's one of the many reasons why I love them. It also gives me another motive to leave this place. Not only is it for the journey, or for Kairi's sake, but also to get me away from all this pain. The pain of not knowing whether my mother and father are dead of if they chose to never come back. Maybe where they are now is a much better place than here and Destiny Islands. I guess I'll never know.
Sora hears my presence and stands up towards me. Tears begin to fill my eyes and he engulfs me into his embrace. It doesn't take me a second to return the same. When it came to sympathy, Sora was the worst. It was as if the same thing had happened to him. He didn't have a perfect family. It was only him and his mother yet, he was happy. Hearing what had happened to me, him and Riku's protection over me seemed to have increased.
I calm down as Sora lets me go. He exits outside to wait for me and I quickly change, wondering how long Kairi and Riku have been waiting. After a few minutes I turn up and we both head to the pier. Sora and I were numerous yards away, yet Riku's and Kairi's color of hair weren't difficult to spot at all.
"Took you guys long enough," Kairi teased, hands on her hips with that knowing expression, "I wonder what crazy method it took to wake her up this time."
I blush and curse Kairi in my mind, hoping that she gets it. Riku chuckles, "Alright, let's get going. We have a lot to do today. I mean c'mon, we leave tomorrow," He gives a charming smile before pushing his boat into the sea and rowing away. I avoid eye-contact with Sora and head into my boat as the other two do as well. As we row my eyes gaze to the tip of the boat, my mind fills itself with countless thoughts and worries. What if we're stranded forever? What if we run out of food? What if... There are no other worlds out there and it's just us? Maybe Kairi had always lived here and just lost her memories trying to swim or something.
"Mari!" A voice tears me out of my thoughts, it was Sora, "You alright? You've been a little out of it today,"
I can't let anybody see my anxiety, if I don't keep my cool, nobody else will. So I have to keep being strong, for them. This is what Sora's been waiting for and I can't let my fear hold the three of them back. I shake my head quickly and ease up a fake smile.
"I'm fine Sora, just, thinking,"
Usually Sora would just grin and change the subject towards a positive direction, but for the first time, he held a worried look on his face that I've only seen when we discovered Kairi washed up on shore years ago.
"Marise, if you need to get anything off your chest..." He stops and looks down, "You just let me know okay?"
Watching him being serious frightens me, almost making me forget about all my worries. So I laugh and nod, " I will Sora-"
"Promise?" He sticks out his pinky. I don't really think it's that serious but, if it makes him happy, I interlock my pinky with his and we both share smiles at each other, finally reaching Destiny Islands. I tie my boat to the pole and we all head up shore. Sora and Riku begin to speak on their own and I feel a nudge on my shoulder.
"Mari!" Kairi chirps, I face her and she smirks with that same look, "I see you guys have been getting closer."
"Psh, as if. It doesn't seem like it at all. He's my best friend, of course it's going to look like we're close."
Kairi looks up and counts on her hands, "Let's see, yesterday he walked you home, this morning he woke you up personally and I can't even imagine what happened there, lastly, he talked to you while we were on our way here just now. That's more than what he'd do for another girl in a year Mari. Admit it, you like him, and he likes you."
"Kairi you can't just-"
"C'mon ladies! We got stuff to do, places to go! So move it!" Riku hollers ahead of us, Sora laughing a moment after.
Kairi and I catch up to them and we set out to occupy ourselves, gathering tools and building the raft as best as we can. I keep an eye on Riku, pestering him to make sure all of the wood is sturdy. Riku keeps smiling and assures me that he's building it with care and that I go and find some food to bring. I turn around and walk off until something catches my eye. I catch a glimpse of spiky brown hair disappearing under the waterfalls and I smirk before heading towards the cave.
I tip-toe in and see Sora kneeling in front of the wall, drawing something. That's weird, the drawing of the two of us is there so what else would he need to draw? I sneak up behind him and scream, scaring the life out of him.
"Jeez Mari, cut it out would you? I don't want to die before our special adventure,"
"And we wouldn't want that would we? Or would we?" I say mischievously. We share laughter until I glance at the drawing. My eyes go wide and I feel the heat spread through my cheeks, "W-Wow Sora,"
Sora rubs the back of his neck, blushing madly as well. It was the original picture of Sora and I. Years ago we drew each other and kept it there as an eternal memory of our friendship. Except now, there's a paopu fruit being exchanged between us. My heart pulsates wildly at the thought of being intertwined forever. But what if he means all four of us and not just the two of us? I don't want to get ahead of myself.
"O-Of course we'll share one Sora! Even if the legends aren't true, I know we'll all be together forever, I just know it," I assure him.
I'm not sure if it's the blue-gray color of the cave but I swear the blush is growing redder on his face, he turns around, "I-I mean just the two of us. I want to share it just b-between us,"
I bite my lip to keep from screaming in joy, my heart is filled with happiness and I walk in front of him, drawing him into a hug, "Just between the two of us, we don't need a paopu fruit to intertwine our destinies, I know for sure we'll be together. Regardless, I'd share a million with you Sora," I whisper, feeling his arms tighten around me.
Abruptly, we hear a noise and Sora pulls me behind him, "Wh-Who's there?" He shouts. Before us, is a person in a black coat, hooded so that we're unable to identify him. I hold onto Sora, becoming fearful. When it came to serious danger, Sora was the strong one. I try to be strong, but I don't have enough courage sometimes.
"I've come to see the door to this world for this world has been connected. Tied to the darkness... Soon to be completely eclipsed." The unknown man says.
"Well, whoever you are, stop freaking me out like this. Huh? Where did you come from?"
"You do not yet know what lies beyond the door."
Both our eyes widen, "So you're from another world!" Sora exclaims, suddenly excited.
"There is so very much to learn. You understand so little."
"Oh yeah? Well, you'll see. Mari, Riku, Kairi, are gonna get out and learn what's out there!"
The hooded man chuckles, deep and mockingly, "A meaningless effort. One who knows nothing can understand nothing," Then he just... disappears. Sora and I look at each other with concern. Why would this man show up the day before we leave?
For the rest of the day we built the raft with everything we had, and by sunset we found ourselves watching the sun fall beyond the seas for one last time.
"So, we leave tomorrow huh?" I break the silence, nobody shifts to look at me, our eyes are glued to the beauty before us.
"Yeah, I guess we are. It just doesn't feel like this is real, like I'll just wake up and all of this will have never happened," Riku states, looking at his hands that built most of the raft with strength and sweat.
"Well you better believe it, because before you know it, we'll be sailing off into the sea finding who-knows-what waits for us out there," Sora places his arms behind his head, a proud smile on his face as the three of us gaze at him with a look, he laughs softly and grins with his teeth.
"And it won't be anything but good because we'll be together the whole way," Kairi adds in last before we watch the rest in silence.
We all row back to the mainland, Sora and I bid our goodbyes to Kairi and Riku, who lives in the same neighborhood, whereas Sora and I live in the same ones ourselves. As Kairi and Riku are far enough, I feel hands blend itself within mine and I look down, then face up.
"I want our last walk home together to be like this, so we can start anew tomorrow," Sora expresses, staring straightforward, "I'm not asking you to forget your parents, I just want you to throw all that weight and just think of me, Kairi, and Riku. E-Especially me, I want to have a special place in your heart from now on Mari," His gaze now towards me as his grip slightly tightens, making my heart do the same.
"Tch, like you never had a special place in my heart ditz," I tease and swiftly kiss Sora's cheek before sprinting inside, and slamming the door.
I drop myself onto my bed and look out the window, gazing up at the stars. If there was anything more beautiful than the sunset we all watch everyday, it would be the stars. They were my personal favorite, I love the way they glow and the times they'd twinkle at me, as if they were winking specifically for me. I always wonder, what if they aren't stars? What if they're... Different worlds? If they are worlds, then there are millions for us to venture to. I begin to drift asleep with a smile on my face, so many worlds, so many journeys for us to do together.
Sudden thunder wakes me up and I shift my flickering eyes towards the window, seeing a bustle of clouds with lightning is heading towards Destiny Islands.
I gasp, "The Raft!" I jump out of bed and hasten towards the pier. I kick the boat into the water, jump in and row quickly, "Gotta save it, I gotta," I mumble to myself. Finally making it onto the island I run out and see Sora running towards Riku where the paopu tree is, yet I see Kairi nowhere in sight. I sprint into the cave and I see Kairi staring at the door.
"Kairi!" I call, frantic to get her away from the door as possible. She turns around, her eyes empty and her expression blue.
"M-Marise," She barely says until the door blasts open and she's pushed towards me. I open my arms to catch her yet she flies right through me like a ghost. Before I can comprehend what happened the wind blows me right out of the cave and I fall into darkness.
"Mari! Mari wake up please! Riku help me she won't wake up! I can't lose her too!" I hear a voice frenetically yelling. My eyes waver open and on the spur of the moment, I can't hear anything. Sora's mouth moves and I look towards his gaze, Riku stands there staring at us with a strange look in his eyes. It wasn't empty as Kairi's, it had this tinge of darkness within. I sense Sora nudge me and I gaze back at him, his mouth moves for me, asking me if I'm okay. I nod and he helps me stand up. Still unable to hear anything, I watch Riku say something with a smirk and he holds his hand out. Sora grabs my hand and we both step forward, only to be stopped by something dark opening up beneath us, slowly taking all three of us over. Looking up one last time I see Sora using all his might to reach for Riku, while Riku stands there unfazed about being taken over this way. Then, I fall into darkness once again.
Noise begin to fill my ears, wind, branches waving, the ocean tumbling, and a monster growling. Then a voice fills my head, "The closer you get to light, the larger the shadow becomes," It declares. My eyes burst open and I look up, there stood an enormous evil being. It swings its arms towards something and I avert my gaze and see Sora there... With a large, key? He begins to swing the key towards the monster and begins to fight it.
"S-Sora, I... I want to help," I whisper. I hear a flash and something appears in my hand, a large white key decorated with golden stars along the neck. I get up quickly and run to Sora's side.
"Mari? Hurry and get out of here!"
"And watch you fight this monster? I don't think so," I point the key up at the monster, "You! You think you can just come to our island and mess up everything? You'll get what's coming to you. Hmph!" I charge in with my weapon and give a few hits towards the being, swinging left and right. Then, small dark creatures arise from the ground, with lightning-shaped antennas.
"Don't worry Sora, I'll handle them!" Sora nods and continues to fight the monster, while I slice my key-weapon through the creatures, slaying them in one swipe.
This goes on for a few moments until I hear a yell, "Mari! Watch out!"
I turn around but it's too late, the monster's arm swings towards me, throwing me off the island. Everything goes in slow motion, I see the sky first, then I see Sora reach his hand out, crying my name frantically, then the small black creatures slowly take him over and I fall into the deep blue. I try to swim up, until I see a black hole come along under me, sucking me in rapidly and like several times tonight, I fall into darkness.
[Chapter One End]