Morgan's Mother

Chapter 10

The two couldn't bring themselves to leave the island after what they had seen. Sora, the one who died two years ago, in person. He took his son into the sea, got him to shore then left. With only telling them that they'd learn the truth today, in the early morning. Due to those words, they didn't dare leave the island or announce their arrival to any family Sora has here. It wasn't just the sight of him that stunned them into staying though. It had been how the brunet looked and what he wore as well. Last they knew, he had an outfit granted onto him by Yensid and while they knew it was on a mannequin in his ship. They figured the world would magically place that back on. Yet both were proven wrong. Upon the sight of him and with the brief chance they had; they had seen a shift in outfit styles.

Sora had sported a black leather coat with a chest strap over and two pistols holstered with a red sash tied around the coat to keep it closed. Under that coat looked to be the same style of vest and shirt but up to around his neck. The pants were as black as his original and he had actual black pirate boots with duel swords on either side of his waist. The hat he wore now looks like a proper captain's hat. A red feather and sash under with a different brim to add to the style. The couple did see a small scar or two upon his youthful face which hopefully is the only ones but with how most of him is covered, probably not the case. It did look amazing to see how he changed from naive, innocent and cheerful to someone with youthful looks but a deadly look in the eyes. Even while they set camp up for the night on the island's fort. They still discussed it. Way beyond the time Morgan and Rex fell asleep.

The two felt as if leaving wouldn't do them any good seeing as both wanted to know just how that had been possible. Plus, Sora told them he is dead but...he was there. It made no sense at all. Did they happen to see things and get Morgan to the ocean? Did they get caught in an illusion?

"Maybe...maybe, Yensid caught us and we are seeing things we want to see." Xion spoke up. "That's possible. He has all that power after all."

"Something tells me that isn't the case. Illusions this big would have ended once they got Morgan from us. They aren't that cruel to keep us locked in a realm of illusion, I hope." sighs Roxas, looking out at the ocean. "No, I think...this is real and that something in the ocean is able to revive the dead. Not for long but long enough to help."

"So if he really is dead but the sea can bring him back. That means what we saw…" Xion stops and looks out at the water. "Was a body of water that managed to take on Sora's memories and image."

Roxas keeps staring at the shore where his Somebody once stood. The moonlight above lighting the waves under its light shining down and making it almost look magical. He knew water itself is a powerful spell and with Morgan showing the ability to control the element with no magic wear down, that proved to be true. It is now clear of what it could truly do though. Sora got taken into the water by Calypso, the sea goddess. The only way he could come back had to be by her blessing which meant no matter what sea they took Morgan too, she would always be there. It would explain the white crabs exchanging. It would explain how she got to them as fast as she did. What it didn't explain is why he couldn't use that portal to come home. If the ocean is as connected as it is to other worlds. Then what kept Sora locked away?

The sound of steps brought him back to reality. Xion is walking away and climbing down the ladder. He found himself following her path back down to the beach. Always a level behind her but not really running to keep up. He'd catch up and it would give him a chance to see what caught her attention. Not that she ever got distracted easily but he knew well enough that unless her curiosity is peaked, she hardly left the conversation she is in. It is what drew him in and is still what draws him to her. By time he hits the sand, she is at the shoreline. Looking at her hands then sound began to play. Once at her side, he sees a broken gummiphone. Part of the screen has a crack that has expanded over the years and ended on the other side of the screen and spider webbing outwards all across it.

"So guys, I woke up in Port Royal. I have tried calling every single person in my phone but seems I am not gonna get an answer." The brunet let a nervous but sad laugh out. "Or a signal. I looked for save points even and yet I can't find a single one. I'm sorry for leaving. I'll try to contact you and find a way back but for now, I...have to find Jack and stick with him. He is the only one I know here. I'll update you when I have some leads or just need to talk."

The video ended and Xion let Roxas take the phone next. Swiping left and activating another video. This time, he is older and by their guess, this is two years after Kairi and Lea got married. He has one of the scars right under his eye, dark circles and behind him is a bottle of rum on a desk with the ocean just outside a window.

"So, two years have passed. Still no damn save points have appeared. I have searched each island with Jack and while it has been fun. I can't find a save point and my phone wont get a damn signal. As you can see in the back, I have taken to drinking but water here isn't the best and I am not about to...stop drinking." Sora speaks, a distant but hopeful and longing look coming from him.

"I want to come home. You guys can't see these but I do and I'm trying. I'm looking...but I can't." He covers his mouth, shut his eyes and they see tears form. "I wanna see my mom, I want to see Kairi, Riku...all of you. I do. Please...give me some more time. I'll come home as fast as I can."

The video ended there. Xion taking hold of Roxas's arms and carefully sliding to the next video. Sora is way older, drinking a bottle of Rum again and in a chair. Now dressed as a captain with the second scar across his cheek and the coat in the background.

"Wow, four years since the last one huh? I hope it's been a good six years for you all. I really do. I still can't call out. In my years of sailing, no island has given me a way out either. I realized though that even if I found a save point, I've no ship to get out. Wouldn't matter really. I did find a lead but sadly my sea ally can't even open the portal up for me either." He took a long swig from the bottle in his hand while they see just how hopeless his eyes look.

"So...I have been drinking, more and more. Oh actually, first off. Thank you for the...I think nineteenth birthday wishes. Or is it twenty? I lost track but thank you for those, if you gave any that is. I went to my first bar that year, met a woman. Curly dark brown hair, the best...blue and green eyes ever...had some fun for once." Sora laughs but it didn't sound as chipper as it once did.

"Wish it had been Kairi but..can't get what we all want. Sadly, I am paying the price for that one. Seems...I have a son. He is just off camera. He is two now. Terrible twos, talking...but I love him. He said his first word. He said daddy."

Roxas sees Xion smile at that. It is the one sentence in the entire video that has the same shining eyes Sora had been known for.

"I am a dad, good one too. I can't wait to...see if he will have a keyblade." They hear crying in the background. "I gotta go. Morgan needs me."

The video ends and they laugh. So in the time between Kairi and Lea being married, Sora had Morgan at around twenty or nineteen, possibly. The passage of time got lost to them as well. They got so involved with their kids that they just let it go by quickly. Yet here, Sora had been recording moments in his life on a phone that just refused to get any signal. He had been trying to contact them all along, been trying to find ways to get back and they never bothered to actually look into other kinds of portal magic. Xion swiped left and another video started to play. It started off with a young boy looking at the screen. At first, they thought it to be another child Sora just happen to let onto the ship but then they hear Sora say Morgan's name and the video ended when taken away. The next video is of him and Morgan in his lap. A bottle of Rum next to two empty bottles just in the corner.

"Hey guys, seems Morgan got a hold of my phone." Sora made the little boy giggle. "Meet my son, Morgan, the future captain of the Leviathan."

With a very soft, similar enough tone to Sora's, the young boy simply says: "hello."

Morgan's voice would had part of Sora's vocal tone but lighter by now. It made them wonder when the poor boy lost his voice and how long he had been without it. His curls were much tighter back then too, a sign that the kid has had really curly hair since birth and would as he got older.

"As you can see, he got most of my physical features, for the moment. I can't wait to see if you will get some of your mothers." the brunet made his son giggle and laugh.

"Stop daddy." Morgan giggles and managed to get off his dad's lap.

"You gonna leave my crap phone alone then?"

"Yes," They hear last before the video ends.

"He sounded just like his father. Probably would have gotten his own voice as he grew had it not been for...whatever happened." sighs Xion as Roxas swiped to another video.

The screen had Sora leaning in the chair. Four empty bottles nearby and a fifth in one hand. A hand over his mouth while looking off screen.

"...how...do you save your child when...you can't get ahold of anyone?" Sora starts, looking at the phone with pure anger. "...I must have called so many times with no signal and yet...nothing."

"My son is sick. He needs a doctor so why can't any of you answer me!" The phone got picked up and thrown. Then all they see is black but they could hear he rage in Sora's voice. "I need help! My son...he isn't well and you are all having fun in worlds that he should have been in by now!"

The rest of the video is silence. So they swipe to the next video and see him leaning against his hand. Staring off screen again but Morgan sitting his lap with a bandage around his neck. Morgan looks to be eight which means he has been without a voice since then. Sora no longer had any shine or hope left in his eyes. He simply looked like a broken man.

"So, it seems no matter where I search and how hard I try. I won't ever make it back home. Even if I manage it, I'll have to live with what I have done and accomplished so far as a pirate." The brunet looks at the camera.

"This will be the last time I record a video during my travels. The last will be my death bed. I'm sorry I couldn't get back but I tried and that is all I can say. I'm done trying and because of that, my son will no longer be able to speak and it probably really isn't my fault." Sora looks at Morgan and smiles sadly then back at the screen, "But I can't do it anymore. I'll die here, in this world. This is Captain Sora, signing off."

The video ended there and both look at one another before hesitantly sliding to the next video. It began to play and the sight they see, breaks their hearts. The brunet is pale, laying on his side with tears pouring down his face and a bloody tissue in one hand.

"If anyone is watching, forgive me for all I have said...and done, didn't get to...didn't accomplish." He sighs. "My time has come. My punishment is full circle and now I get to die in the worst way possible."

Xion covers her mouth when they watch him cough more blood into the tissue.

"Let's see. Riku, please don't feel bad if it's you and don't be stupid. Axel, or is it Lea now." Sora let a laugh out but it made him cough again. "Take care of yourself. Kick ass, earn your title...take names. Xion, Roxas…" he stares at the screen. "...live a long life, please. Don't let others take that from you. Ven, Terra and Aqua, hope the new age doesn't swallow who you are."

When Xion started crying, Roxas felt himself start.

"Kairi…" The brunet smiles at the screen. "I love you, I always have. Forgive me, for not making it back home. Mom, Dad...I'm sorry. Take care, love one another….live happily. Goodbye."

The video ended there and both take a deep breath before looking at one another. They just seen someone who had been so strong with naive yet loving nature turn into someone who managed to keep his compassion but also be broken due to abusing the power of waking. Each attempt to contact them or leave breaking him slowly until he just gave up. Sora, the one who never gave up and kept thinking on the brighter side of life. The one who always wore a smile no matter the trouble, lost his drive. He threw himself into piracy the minute his son lost his voice and died a broken man. Roxas lowers the phone and looks at the ocean where Sora now resides among the dead.

"He sent it to us didn't he?" says Xion, wiping her tears away. "So we'd know what he has been through."

"Yeah which means...the others need to see this. We still have to see him tomorrow but this should clear up lots of questions. The first one being as to why he didn't make it back home." The blond gave her a smile. "You made me cry."

"Sorry but seeing him break in each video then die a broken man...it hurt. He was always so strong and to see him get locked in a world as punishment. I don't want Morgan to end up like that. I know he isn't world locked but still, his dad died broken. He watched his son's throat be cut. He had failed communication attempts every time he tried." Xion walks deeper into the shallows. "And now...he…is in the ocean. Stuck, Stuck and dead."

The blond walks to her side. Gently taking ahold of her hand and getting her to smile at him. They weren't really able to say anything. It was hard to bring words to this situation. The worst thing the two could do is question any and all given information. In fact, questioning anything at this point wouldn't do any good. The videos showed proof that their friend did all he could and even if he didn't succeed. He gave them one thing they could help with. Morgan. The cutest mix of Sora and someone who clearly wanted to him something to be proud of. If the two could do anything to make up for what they didn't do. Then they could to defend any who dare to tie down his only child. Xion steps closer and leans against his side.

"Will we ever be good enough to take his place?" She whispers to him.

Roxas let a long sigh out, " we can't ever match up to who he was. Taking his place would require permission from him, Morgan's mother, Sora's mother...we can ask Morgan to let us raise him but…"

"It wouldn't be fair...to the family he has yet to get to know." Xion finished, pulling Roxas's shirt wrinkles out with a gentle touch. "I would love to raise him though. To make up for what I couldn't do to help him."

She looks at Roxas and smiles at him.

"We owe him that much, don't you think?"

"Heh, yeah but we still need permission."

The two look out at the ocean and see the sun rising. It wasn't the only sight though. Sora is there with a woman at his side. Curly dark brown hair, a blue eye and green eye set with markings under her eyes and her lips. They were small dashes but they clearly meant something. Her skin looks surprisingly clean for someone who came from the Pirate world. The dress also looks clean. The dress came from the time era the world is based in. A heavy, tan skirt with a red beaded corset top. The sleeves were cropped to the side and beaded with long strands of fabric at the end. Below the corset is pieces of fabric that are also tan but covers the top part of the skirt. They also see a red woven shawl draping over her arms.

"Who…" Xion stops talking when the woman leans closer to her. "Can...I help you?"

She leans back and looks at Sora who shrugs and let her get closer to Roxas. Quietly leaning away then walking around the two onto the shore. Both seeing white crabs following them then Sora walking quickly to keep up with the quiet woman. They follow to until she turns and looks at back at the two.

"I wouldn't mind them raising our son." She spoke, looking back at Sora now. "Did you remember to grab it?"

"Yeah but we should explain what is going on to them now. I did promise them an explanation and it's morning." Sora points to the sun still rising. "So I guess where we should start is finally revealing what we have yet to tell...anyone really."

He looks at Xion and Roxas and gestures to the woman next to him.

"Meet Calypso, Morgan's mother."