Chapter II: Traverse Town
My eyes reopened to a new world. My mind was still a bit foggy from what just happened. I remembered Yen Sid sending us on our Mark of Mastery exam...then we were at the islands. And we made a raft, but then...then Ursula came and our raft sunk.
My head jolted up. "Huh? This is..." I looked back and forth at the scenery. "Traverse Town." I finished. I then looked down and noticed my clothes were different.
"Hey, what's with my clothes?" I asked, confusion apparent in my voice. "Must be more of Master Yen Sid's magic." I shook my arm, looking at the changes in appearance. My clothes seemed a bit more dark. And there was a white X on my chest. It looked like both of my outfits combined in a way...
I tapped my shoes on the ground, making sure they would be easy to run in. I examined myself in the quiet air. But then I remembered...
"What happened to Riku?" I asked out loud. I ran to the ledge in a panic. "Riku! Hellooo? Rikuuu!" I called as loud as possible. But the answer I got was quite unfriendly.
"Shut it." Said a calm, collected voice. I looked up to the direction of the sound. "Talk about noise..."
I then saw him, but, was he floating?!
"WHOA!" I lost my balance and fell down. I felt pretty winded and a bit goofy. I held my head as I stumbled back up. I think I had a head ache coming on.
My eyes traced back to a boy who looked around my age. He wore baggy clothes and a large set of headphones. His hair was a blond/orange color and his eyes were blue. But his dull expression was what stood out most.
"Sora, right?" he asked, confirming my name. W-wait a second...
"Yeah, but, uh... how do you know that?"
He grabbed my hand and flipped it over to look at my palm. "Looks like you're not a player."
"A player?" I asked.
"C'mon, keep up. In the Game." He then revealed his palm, which had a red clock reading 43:10 "Players get marked with the time limit." He looked back up from our palms. "And this Game, I can't afford to lose. I need my Game partner."
I pondered this. He needed a Game partner... I guess I could help him out.
"Okay..." I smiled and put my hands at the back of my head. "I don't know about any 'Game,' but can I help?"
"What? Time out. Do you trust every total stranger you meet?" his eyes looked wide and skeptical "Look-sorry, you're no good. You're not a Player. And my pact's with someone else."
"Okay, so we can't be partners. Why don't I just help you out as your friend?" I offered happily.
"Now we're friends?" I turned around "It's not that easy."
I placed my hands on my hips and leaned over, a grin still on my face. "Not saying it is, but.. you could make it easier."
"Yeah, sounds great. Whatever." his voice sounded lame, but he isn't driving me away.
"Cool! Lead the way."
He then took a running leap at one of the light posts and swung around it. It was so cool! He then leaped to a railing and glided on it, leaping to a rooftop and disappeared behind it.
I ran ahead, completely amazed. I laughed, eager to try it out.
Alright...so my first attempt was kind of bad, seeing as I drew a lot of attention while leaping at the pole and getting my foot caught around it. I then fell over and looked silly. And again, I got a lot of attention from it.
I quickly got back up. It was really embarrassing. But even so, I tried again. I took a running leap at the pole, got a grasp, spun around once and let go. Launching myself on my butt.
I heard the laughter and scratched my head. Smiling nervously back at them as a bit of sweat trickled down my face.
"Just let loose, kid!" Some guy with a video camera said with a grin. My mouth twitched. How unfriendly! I'll show them!
I took one last leap at the pole. I then swung for a couple seconds, gaining speed. I let go and landed on the railing. This was a lot easier then expected.
The rail made a metallic noise as my shoes glided over them. I then jumped to a wall, and bounced to another. How fun! My grin surfaced again as I hopped around town, chasing the other boy.
It took a while but I finally caught up to him standing around.
"Hey, I didn't catch your name." but as I said it, a little portal appeared next to us and some creature fell out. Then we were surrounded within seconds.
"Dream Eaters!" he shouted to me.
"That's a weird name." well, I've never heard of it. But it's a name, I guess.
He turned to face me again "Not me. Them." he gestured to the creatures surrounding us.
I glanced around, feeling like an idiot. "Right. I knew that!" I said, trying to play it cool.
Then they boy summoned what looked to be a cat. It charged at one of the dream eaters and hit it real hard. Then it took off.
The boy chased after it. Then turned to me "Don't let 'em surround us! Let's split up!"
"Got it!" I nodded and pulled out my keyblade.
"Oh uh, and... It's Neku."
"Huh?"
He turned his head. "Neku Sakuraba. You asked."
"Neku Sakuraba." I repeated and smiled "That's a mouthful!"
"No. It's really not."
I laughed at my inability to really comprehend names. "C'mon, Neku. Let's take 'em!"
He then turned and ran after his cat, leaving me to these Dream Eaters. That's how I learned how to use "Flow Motion" in battle. It's easy once you get the hang of it.
I knew I was surrounded, but there was a light post right next to me. So I ran at it and swung around, building speed as I went. Then I let go and held out my keyblade as I spun, taking out the whole group. I smiled to myself. Today was actually really fun for an exam.
I stood where I was, waiting for Neku to return. And when he did, he brought the cat as well. I knelt down to examine it. It was a purple color and looked very musical. It looked like the Dream Eaters I just fought.
"These things with you-they're Dream Eaters, too?" I asked, staring at the happy music cat.
"Yeah. If I'm gonna survive the Game, I'm gonna need the extra help." He answered calmly as the cat danced in a circle. "Think you could control them?"
I stood up and stared at this harmless Dream Eater. I could control one?
"Sure. I guess..." I wasn't really sure how to tame a Dream Eater without it trying to claw out my face though.
Neku then explained how you make the Dream Eaters. I remember Yen Sid talking about Dream Eaters. These worlds, they were cut off from all others. Not even the heartless could enter them. Although, he said that they have their own manner of darkness. He also said there were two kinds of Dream Eaters. The Nightmares, which devoured happy dreams-and benevolent Spirits, which consumed the Nightmares.
So Neku was talking about Spirits. It turned out you had to make them with a recipe. I think I had too much fun in the process, because Neku kept looking at me strangely.
But finally, after making a huge mess. I created Meow-Wow. And he was pretty cute, I had to hide my joy of looking at the playful puppy-thing.
So after we made Meow-Wow stronger (apparently it gets stronger when you pet it, so it was really easy.) Neku walked silently for a while. You really don't know how quiet this town is at night. But the problem is-it always seems to be night time...
But then he stopped suddenly.
"I brought you Sora! We had a bargain!" He shouted up. Wait-did he just say...?
"What's the matter, Neku?" but just as the words left my mouth. A man in a cloak appeared. But weren't they gone? "No way!" I pulled out my keyblade as he jumped down to us.
"Hey! That wasn't the deal!" Neku snapped at the figure. "You said you wouldn't hurt him!" He jumped up to greet the figure.
"Don't! Neku!" I protested. "They're too dangerous!" Didn't he know about Organization XIII?
I got ready to help him, but all of a sudden, I felt really...dizzy...
"What? Why am I so...sleepy?" I resisted the temptation to close my eyes as the world spun around me, darkening. But I couldn't hold it much longer. Everything became foggy, then blank. I'd lost consciousness.
When I opened my eyes again, nobody was there. No Neku, and no black coat.
"Where is he?" I asked in a panic. Was he still in danger? Was he hurt? My eyes swept the town as I stood up frantically. This couldn't be good... "They're both gone."
Before I fell asleep, Neku said that he and that creep in the coat had a "deal." But what was the deal? Are the two of them in league? That can't be right... We never even found Neku's partner. I guess I should just take a look around.
So I walked around wherever my feet took me. The occasional Dream Eaters popped up, but they got easier with each battle.
What was truly interesting is when I found a new passage.
"Wow! I've never been this way before!" I exclaimed with joy, looking at all the bright lights. Then I saw a big building that looked like a party. I ran towards it.
"Ooh! What's that?" The sign read 'Colosseum.'
But as I got closer to the building, I saw a little girl by a moogle.
"Hey, um...any chance you're Neku's partner?" I asked her. She turned around, looking confused. Then she began to think.
"Umm...I'm not really sure. All I know is that my name is Rhyme." she pondered.
"You mean...you've lost your memory?"
"Yep." She nodded. She didn't look at all troubled by the fact she didn't have a memory.
"Oh. Sorry..." I really hoped I didn't offend her at all.
"Aw, it's no big deal." She smiled. "You know what they always say-'Sometimes memories just need a little help getting out.'"
"Yeah...that's true." I folded my arms. "Huh, 'a little help'... I know! Maybe Neku can jog your memory! Come on, Rhyme. Let's go find him!"
"Right!" she agreed, just as cheerful as me.
So we walked around town, looking everywhere for Neku. And...I kind of got us lost...a lot... I scratched the back of my head in embarrassment, trying to hide we were lost. Then I found a small bridge leading somewhere I've never been before. Neku had to be here.
I looked up from a flower shop and as clear as day, was Neku.
"Hey, Neku! It's you!" I climbed the roof with Rhyme and stood behind him.
"Sora...What? You actually still trust me?" the surprise in his voice was hidden by some kind of sadness.
"Of course I do."
"But you know that I tricked you, right? That guy in the black coat, he said he could send me home-me an my partner-but I had to bring you to him first. Sorry." He put his head down sincerely, but not looking at me.
It was quiet for a bit. So I decided to make the mood lighter.
"No big deal." I grinned. "When it really mattered, you stood up for me." I explained, remembering how he stood in that guy's way. "And besides-we're friends. Right?"
"Friends..." he repeated slowly. He then turned around and smiled at me. I couldn't help but break out into a smile. But then I remembered.
"Oh, hey, Neku-this here is Ryhme. Is she your Game partner?" I gestured to the girl standing next to me.
"No. Sorry. I'm teamed up with somebody else." he shook his head. But then Rhyme began to disappear in a flash of light.
"What? Rhyme!" I looked up. And there he was again. The guy in the black coat.
Neku chased after him, ready to pick a fight-but he was just swapped away like a fly. Anger boiled in me. Not again...
"Neku!" I called after him. The guy in the black coat must have not been ready to fight me one on one because he summoned a Dream Eater then turned away from me.
"Huh? Hey, wait!" I ran after him, hoping to put an end to this madness. But the Dream Eater jumped in my path and let out a large roar.
"Out of my way!" I was irritated with this monkey thing. Why'd it have to jump in the way of everything? I guess I had to fight my way through...
I ran forward, colliding with the beast and hitting its chest real hard, staggering it a bit. He stomped and sent us flying down below into the building. But then it turned into a bunch of hands, which went after both Meow-Wow and I. They took less time then actually hitting the whole Dream Eater. It seemed like the battle wouldn't end as I glided up and down the railing to reach the Dream Eater. I knew I wouldn't be able to go after the guy in the black coat at this point. So I focused all of my energy onto this beast and within the hour, defeated him.
It flew up into the air and began to glow a bit, then he just flew away into the night sky and blew up like fireworks...
I ran outside to get a better view. The sparks were kind of...pretty. But when I looked to my right I saw...
"Riku!" I called to him. He was with a girl who had long reddish-pink hair. They were both transparent. I didn't understand...
The girl looked ahead, I think she was looking at me. Then she ran at me. I debated jumping out of the way but she passed me without a word. It was odd but I ran forward to greet Riku instead. But I was interrupted by a boy's voice.
"Hold on, Sora." I turned around to see who was talking to me. It was some sphere that held a view of Traverse Town.
Then I watched helplessly as Riku ran passed me to join that girl. As he passed me the sphere brought a boy with blond, curly hair to appear in front of me. The difference was, he wasn't transparent.
"Joshua." Neku addressed as he appeared around the corner. He was awake again!
"Hello, Neku. How long the days without you have felt." Joshua said, looking in Neku's direction.
Then Rhyme appeared right next to Josh. It was good to know she was okay.
"Rhyme! I'm glad you're okay." I said, smiling with relief. She returned the smile. "Neku, do you know this guy?" I asked, looking back and forth from Neku to Josh.
"Yeah. Joshua. He's my...friend."
"Okay... Are you the one who took Rhyme away? And...why do you know my name?" I got to the point...I think.
"If you'd like to settle down for a sec, I'll field your questions one at a time. Let's start with Rhyme." He looked down to the blonde girl. Then back to me. "I'm hanging on to her dreams for her. They're my portal."
I crossed my arms. Portal? Her dreams? I'm not getting this...
As though he read my mind, he continued "Let's just say, her dreams are a gateway between worlds." "Next question-how could I possibly know your name-right? This town has a little secret. It only appears when someone out there has need of shelter. I'll spare you the details, but right now it's made up of my dreams. So of course I know you-I dreamed you up. I know your best friend, Riku, too. "
Wait, did he know? I smiled. He knows where he is?! "Wait, you know Riku?" I asked.
"Well, yeah. I'm kind of omniscient."
"Then, where is he?"
Josh turned around to look at the display of Riku that had just ran passed. He was backing away from something now. But I couldn't see clearly because of a building in the way.
"He's right inside this projection, in another imagining of this world." He stated, eyeing the projection.
So there were two Traverse towns?
"You mean...another Traverse Town?" I asked, walking next to Josh to get a better view of my friend. "Can I get there with your portal thing?"
"Sad to say, it won't work for you. My 'Portal thing' only opens for the one with Rhyme's dreams. In this projection, you're seeing another chain of events, in another world trapped by the Dream Eaters. As for how the world got split in two..." he trailed a bit. But then I saw what was making Riku back up. It was a man in a coat!
"I have a feeling you'll need to ask this guy." Josh finished.
"Him again." I thought out loud. Just them Neku and Rhyme turned around to see two other projections. It was the girl with the cat toy and some other guy who kind of looked like Rhyme. But I couldn't take my eyes off the black coat who was revealing his face...
I didn't recognize him. He has silvery hair and golden eyes. His skin was dark...like Ansem's...
"Who's...that?" I asked. Just then the projection of the cloaked man glitched. Rhyme stared where the boy that looked like her was. He was now shouting at where the cloaked man was "Beat..."
Neku looked at the girl with the cat toy "Skiki..."
Riku turned and looked at me, his eyes were wide "Riku..." I said to myself.
"In their world," Riku and I turned to face Joshua. "something happened that brought their existence to an end. To keep them from fading altogether, I gathered up the very last remnants of their dreams and looked for a place to give them refuge. It was then this world appeared to answer my call, and Rhyme;s dreams allowed us to reach it. Here, I thought they might have a chance-that the pieces of their dreams could make them whole again. Imagine my surprise when I realized dreams take bodily form in this word." he began walking with his hands in his pockets. My eyes traced his footsteps as he spoke.
"It struck me-by linking their dream pieces back together, maybe I could make them exist again. Maybe I could give them another chance."
"It can't be that simple." Riku said plainly.
"Well, why can't it?" Josh asked. "By ourselves, we're no one. It's when other people look at us and see someone-that's the moment we each start to exist. All they needed was for someone to see them, connect with them. And the two of you were a big part in making it happen."
"Joshua, just...who are you?" Riku and I asked simultaneously.
He laughed a bit to himself. "Let's say...a friend." Then out of nowhere, a pair of wings appeared on his back! I think I felt myself gasp.
I watched as Josh had flown away into the sky. Then I noticed something grab Riku's attention. The keyhole! I looked at him and met his gaze. He nodded to me. I nodded back to him. I knew what to do.
We summoned our keyblades and pointed to the keyhole. A beam of light shot from them and opened the way.
"One dream is connected to another, which means we must choose in which 'Sleeping World' you will begin. I will return you to the Destiny Islands just before they were swallowed by the darkness and plunged into sleep. Once dreams take you, you must let them guide you to the Sleeping Worlds. As there are seven pure lights, there are seven 'Sleeping Keyholes.' Unlocking these will both grant you new powers, and free the worlds from their wakelesseness. Complete this task, and return here safely, and I will name you both...true masters."