Sora laid down on one of the hammocks below, clutching his head.
She totally deserved to be called a bitch-
SAYS WHO?!
Sora's head felt like splitting in two. Like he was arguing with himself. He had heard Kairi and Riku decide that this was enough and calling it a day, but was relieved no one had come down. He didn't want anyone else getting wound up. He passed probably HOURS just sitting there and rubbing his temples to ease his headache.
He heard gentle taps, and growled "I don't care what you want, I'm not in the mood."
"I know."
Sora was stunned to hear Ventus's voice, and asked "What do you want?"
Ventus stood in front of him "I'm here to apologize. For everything." he knelt "I am genuinely sorry for everything I've done to you, and I'm gonna keep saying it until you accept that fact."
Sora blinked, then said "You're an idiot."
Ventus only replied "My methods are different than yours, that doesn't mean I'm stupid."
Sora sighed and got out of the hammock, walking by Ventus and saying "If you're kissing up so I will listen, it's not gonna work-"
"Vanitas."
Sora stopped "Who did you just call me?"
Ventus then went back up, his expression barely masking dissapointment, saying calmly "I'd be careful about who you trust."
Sora watched him leave with nothing but confusion.
Vanitas... The odd name stirred up feelings of emptiness, vainity, cruelty. Sora didn't like it in the least.
Dunno what HE'S talking about. I mean, who is there to not trust that isn't already proven themselves trustworthy?
Sora stewed over this thought for a moment, wondering just WHERE this other him had come up. He closed his eyes, trying to remember-
And found himself in a blank world, staring right at a copy of himself. The copy grinned, holding out his hand "Hello, personality number two!"
Sora's gaze lingered on the hand, then flickered to the copy, apparently self-dubbed personality one. His grin faded, and he took his hand back saying "Yeah, I don't like that much either. And you can call me Aros. For now."
Sora was starting to wonder what exactly was up with this other him. The cordiality was forced, he had done it enough to tell. Aros wrapped an arm around Sora, saying "I honestly think Ventus is trying to deceive you, get you to trust him and forgive him so he can stab you in the back the moment he can."
Apparently Aros didn't notice the looks he was getting from Sora, and continued "I have an idea, take the ship off to these first two worlds," a small list of Gummi Ship coordinates appeared, and Aros placed it in Sora's hand "See if you can trust him or not, and then if you don't, head to the third place."
Sora stared at the names scrawled next to the coordinates: Never Land, Wonderland, Twilight Town. "What are these places-"
"Worlds that prove trust. You can trust me, after all, I'm you, right?" Aros's grin was bordering on psychotic. Sora stashed the paper in his pocket, and asked "If you're me, how come I'm only hearing you now?"
"Because you're GROWING now! You're finally recovering!" Aros said happily with a clap of his hands. He then pushed Sora back into reality, saying "Now off you go!"
Sora, in the real world, woke with the list scrunched in his hand. Meanwhile, at the back of his mind, 'Aros' slowly morphed into a different, but still similar appearance. Pale skin, black hair, golden eyes-
Vanitas sighed "That was too close." He then chuckled "But what does he know? He'll just get more and more infuriated with that idiot and then end up in Twilight Town" he then yelled with genuine glee "And then I'LL take over for snot-nosed-brat and kill Ventus with my own hands!"
He paused.
"Okay, HIS hands, but still, mine to control!" He flopped onto his back, grinning psychotically "Maybe I can kill that dumb friend of his too, and keep the princess for a little company...! Yes! I think that'll be phase two."
He laughed insanely, his own ramblings hidden from Sora, who was now entering the coordinates for Never Land.
"WOW! This place is beautiful!" Kairi exclaimed gleefully, examining the tropical plants and running around the lush scenery. Riku and Sora both had sorrowful expressions, obviously not so delighted. Ventus took a look around, and asked Sora "Since when did you know about Never Land?"
"You've been here before?"
"Yeah, I have a few friends too. So, HOW did you learn about this world?"
Sora folded his hands behind his head "I just had a lucky guess-"
"VENTUS! SORA! RIKU! THERE'S MERMAIDS!" Kairi's gleeful yells echoed over, and Ventus sighed "Yes, there's mermaids that will get VERY jealous of any girl Peter will or could take a liking to." With a small huff, he began running after her voice saying "Kairi! Those aren't very FRIENDLY mermaids!"
"Apparently Ventus has been here before, knows a lot. Good pick, Sora." Riku said softly. He tweaked his makeshift blindfold a bit, grumbling. He had gotten a peek when he left the ship, but had immediately placed the cloth back, too reminded of home. "Mostly..."
Sora was staring at the unblemished sky, eyes full of tears, but not letting a single one fall. He blinked, then asked "Is that-"
There was a crow-like call, and a boy swooped down from the sky to Sora and Riku with a happy greeting "Hello there!" His grin was wide and splayed with freckles, a happy set of brown eyes glinted mischievously underneath red hair.
Sora blinked "Um... You're-"
"Flying! Of course I am!" The boy extended his hand "Peter! Peter Pan!"
Riku shook it, saying "I'm Riku, he's Sora-" there was a splash and the unmistakable and startled cries of Kairi and Ventus "And those are our friends..." Riku let go of Peter's hand and started rushing over. A small glowing thing peeked out of Peter's cap, and Peter winked up at it. The glow revealed itself as a fairy, which tossed a bit of its glow at Riku, who gathered his own light and sparkling sheen-
And started floating up in the air. He let out a startled cry "AH! W-what's going on?!"
Peter flew over, winking at the fairy again while grabbing Riku's arm and saying plainly "You're flying! Now come on, it sounds like your friends are over at the mermaid lagoon!" They flew off, while the fairy flew up to Sora's face. She had blond hair, blue eyes, and a lightly annoyed expression. She scrutinized Sora, who held up his hands saying "Hey, I'm not-"
The fairy gathered up some more glittering dust and poured it all over Sora. He spluttered, rubbing his eyes and demanding "What is-" he stopped when he realized he was floating up like a helium balloon. He then glared at the fairy, and began sinking "I can WALK."
The fairy only gathered up more dust, dumped it on Sora, and yanked at his hair to follow with a series of angry sounding bells. Her aura was turning orange-ish.
"FINE." Sora groaned, following the fairy. They gained altitude, Sora quickly scanning the island for a sign of Riku or Kairi. He could not care any less than he already did for Ventus or Peter. The fairy flew downward towards a beautifully blue lake, and Sora followed, figuring the tinkling creature knew what she was doing.
Yep, there they all were: Kairi was on a rock, soaking wet and being consoled by Peter while Riku and an equally wet Ventus protectively hovered nearby. A gaggle of mermaids were on a rock on the other side of the lake, jadedly grooming each other and tossing dagger glares at Kairi. Ventus looked up, and nudged Riku, who called him over. Peter gave Kairi one more pat and flew up to Sora, saying "Gosh, you sure know how to pick out really great friends! I didn't know you were pals with Ventus!" They both landed on the rock, Sora saying sharply "Ventus isn't my friend."
Peter shrugged, rubbing the back of his head "Well Kairi and Riku are your friends, and they're friends with Ven, so I figured-"
"WE. AREN'T. FRIENDS."
Peter flew away "Okay! I get it!" The small fairy then got in Sora's face again, red and tinkling jarringly loud and violent. Peter gently grabbed her and settled her down on his hat, saying "Now Tink, it was just a misunderstanding. He was a little grumpy, yes, but no need for those words."
Tink jangled again, and Peter quickly stuffed her in his hat and held it down while it poked out in all sorts of angles as she tried escaping. "Sorry." He said with a small chuckle "Tinker Bell is very easy to anger." He took it off, the hat still ringing and bouncing around "She doesn't like Sora that much- TINKER BELL! Language!"
Peter sighed, and then flew over to Ventus and sat down, easily striking up an exasperated conversation with him. Peter eventually let Tinker Bell out, who flitted around Ventus and curiously examined the boy. Ventus once again went from quiet and depressed to a cheerful companion, smiling and laughing as if nothing had gone wrong.
Sora then sat down next to Kairi, and asked "Hey, you okay?"
Kairi sniffled a little "Gosh, they weren't very nice. Tried to drown me and Ven!"
There were several splashes as Sora sent a sharp look at the mermaids. Sora held her shoulder "Hey, they're just jealous little brats." Kairi laughed lightly "That's what Peter said."
Riku scooted over saying "Well, I think we've had worse days." He lifted his blindfold up slightly and watched Peter and Ventus, who were now flying around and laughing like old friends. Riku smiled, then placed his blindfold back and laid down.
"heh, it's almost like we're normal..."
Kairi watched Ventus, and said "I don't know why you're so insistent that he's a monster."
Sora was about to bite out a retort before Riku suddenly shoved all three of them into the water. Sora exhaled bubbles, too stunned to hold his breath. There was a thud and a splash. Kairi suddenly made a few squeals, and Sora quickly pulled her closer and summoned his Keyblade at the gathering mermaids with his best glare. They backed off, apparently realizing that even if Peter liked Kairi, Sora was the closest thing she had to a boyfriend. He then steadily kicked to the surface, joining Riku.
They surfaced to hear Peter yelling "YOU MISSED YOU OLD CODFISH!"
"Uh, Peter-"
Ventus's comment was lost as Peter yelled playfully "COME AND GET ME, COWARD!"
Sora tried getting his head above the rock to see what was going on, but quickly ducked to avoid getting a cannonball to the face.
"We're under fire, magnificent."
And Riku's blindness adjustment saves their hides! YAY. And our next three worlds are set up for us! YAYAYAYAYAYAY! I shall say Twilight Town has almost been completely written up, but Never Land and Wonderland are just vague ideas now. Also each world has a member of Organization XIII to fight and defeat, so who do you think will be appearing? Keep in mind Xemnas is last, being the leader and all(he wouldn't want his hands to get dirty until he has to), and Demyx, Larxene, Marluxia, and Vexen are all dead.
