CHAPTER ELEVEN
I woke up and gasped, clenching a handful of sand. I sat up and the ocean filled my view.
"Destiny Islands? How did I end up here?" I said to myself. I gasped and jumped to my feet. I ran forward to the edge of the shoreline. I cupped my hands around my mouth. "Mickey! Riku! Sora!"
My voice carried out into the sea. I dropped my hands to my sides and I sighed. I listened to the waves crashing onto the sand and the wind calmly rustling through my ears. My thoughts carried away, unconscious of the sun moving through the sky. As the sun was on the brink of setting, I snapped out of my daydreaming.
"I guess dreaming isn't only when you're asleep." I chuckled and held my arms.
I swayed slowly side-to-side, humming to myself.
What song is this? As I hummed, I remembered. It was the song I heard when I was in the Symphony of Sorcery. That strange lullaby. Thinking about it was a very mild reminder of the storm of emotions I felt when I heard it the first time. Nevertheless, my heart still ached.
I heard something and I whipped around, summoning my Keyblade. I gasped and immediately dispelled my Keyblade.
"Ventus." I said.
Ventus smiled and approached me. I rubbed my eyes, seeing if I had anymore sleep hiding in them. But when I opened my eyes, he was still standing there in front of me.
"Are you...?" I said. I reached out to touch his cheek, but my hand phased through his face. I gasped and retreated it back to my side.
Ventus shook his head.
"Oh. Just a dream, I guess. A very... realistic dream."
"Your light is so strong; your heart is capable of tremendous things. Maybe you have the power to save me- us." Ventus said. He smiled. "You have a beautiful singing voice."
The sound of his voice sent chills up my spine. I could feel my cheeks grow warmer with embarrassment. He heard me? But how? Is this just a hallucination or is this his heart reaching out to mine? Ventus gave me another smile. I smiled back and looked at the ground, remembering the strange experience I had at the Dive of the Heart before I woke up.
Something's going on beneath the surface... but what?
I shook the thoughts from my head. When I looked up, Ventus was gone. I faced the ocean again and cradled the crown pendant around my neck.
"Alone again." I said.
"Are you sure? 'Cause you might want to check again." a melodious voice chimed in the air.
I gasped and looked around, settling on a person that made my heart leap.
"Sora!"
Sora stood on the wooden bridge connecting the main and miniature island, smiling brightly. He jumped down and I ran straight into his arms, nearly knocking him to the ground.
"You're okay!" I cried. "Thank goodness you're all right!"
"Hallie..." Sora said. He pulled away, keeping his hands on my arms. "Are you all right?"
"Of course not, you big dummy!" I said, pounding my fist against his chest. "I was so scared for you! You almost lost your heart and Xehanort was going to turn you into his vessel of darkness and I thought I was going to lose you-!"
Sora laced his hands around my waist and kissed me. We pulled away and Sora reached up and wiped away my tears. He cradled my cheek in his hand with the other wrapped around me. I reached up and held my hand over his.
"But I'm okay." Sora said. "I'm so sorry, Hallie. I didn't mean to make you worry so much. Is there anything I can do to make things better?"
I let out a small chuckle and I rested my head against his chest as I wrapped my arms around his waist.
"Just hold me." I said. "Please."
Sora encircled his arms around me and held me tightly. I listened to the steady, soothing sound of his heartbeat. The thought of never hearing that sound again frightened me, but I shook those thoughts away.
"See? I told you I would be fine." Sora said.
"But you didn't have to go through such extreme measures to prove it." I said.
Sora shook lightly with laughter.
"I knew I'd be okay because I had you and Riku looking after me." he said. "You were there to stand up for me when I was too weak to."
"Xehanort, the Organization... no one will never be able to make me doubt one thing: how much I care about you." I said. I pulled back so I could look into his eyes. "I'll keep fighting as long as you're there rooting for me."
Sora smiled. He kissed my forehead and pressed his against mine.
"I'll always fight for you. That's a promise."
We embraced again. As we stood there, I noticed that I could still feel something shaking. I thought that it was me, but I felt calm. I realized: it was coming from Sora. His breathing seemed a little choppy. I smiled softly.
"Sometimes we all need to cry." I whispered. "You're safe here."
Sora shook even harder. He buried his face into my shoulder and I could feel it growing damp. I rubbed his back comfortingly and I quietly listened to the sound of his heaving breath. We held each other in silence and listened to the waves crash onto the shore.
"Let's head back to the others, okay?" I said. "They'll be happy to see you again."
Sora nodded into my shoulder. He pulled away and looked at the ground. His cheeks were red and his eyes were bloodshot and glistening with tears. Seeing him this way, so vulnerable and exposed, so afraid and insecure...
I loved him more than I ever did before.
Vanitas doesn't know what he's talking about.
I reached out and held Sora's hand. We summoned our Keyblades and pointed them forward. A Keyhole appeared in front of us. Beams of light shot into it and a portal of light appeared.
We climbed up the stairs of the Mysterious Tower. When we opened the door, everyone immediately turned and stared at me.
"Uh, oh..." I said. "I'm in big trouble..."
"Why?" Sora said.
"I, uh, kind of went against Yen Sid's orders and locked everyone out of the study so I could go back into the realm of sleep."
"Not before you slapped me in the face!" Riku cried.
Sora looked at me with eyes wide in surprise. I scratched my cheek and smiled nervously. I looked to Yen Sid, who stared at me and stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"Well, Yen Sid?" I said. "Do you have any idea as to how I was able to travel into the realm of sleep?"
"Hm..." Yen Sid said. "I was about to ask you the same question. Perhaps you could enlighten us."
I rested my chin on my fist and stared at the ground. I remembered the glimmer of light that came when I held Sora's hand as he slept. I turned to Sora.
"In the times that I went to sleep, it was only because when our hands met, there was this glimmer of light. I think... that light was our hearts speaking to each other. It was my heart requesting to go into your dreams, and it was your heart accepting my wish and opening the door into the realm of sleep."
Yen Sid nodded.
"Correct. It is quite unique for you to transport yourself into Sora's dreams without the aid of the Keyblade or magic." Yen Sid said, stroking his beard. "All it took was the love of two hearts."
Sora and I looked at each other and blushed.
"You know... when the Organization put me into a second sleep, even when they were dragging me down into the darkness, I could hear your voice calling out to me. Riku, too. Thanks, guys." Sora said. "Oh, that's right! So did we pass the test, Yen Sid?"
I stepped back next to King Mickey, Donald, and Goofy as Sora and Riku stood before Yen Sid's desk. Yen Sid cleared his throat.
"More than anything, I am grateful to have you both back from Xehanort's deception unharmed. And I am grateful to Lea and Hallie, whose spontaneous actions turned the tides." he said. Lea and I glanced at each other and I shot him a thumbs up. He chuckled. "I am also deeply sorry, for failing to perceive the danger and throwing you headlong into a perilous test. This experience has revealed many hidden truths, and we must gird ourselves for the great clash with darkness that lies before us. I believe we need new Keyblade Masters, ones with a new kind of power."
Yen Sid looked at both Sora and Riku.
"Sora and Riku, you both deserve the honor. However, one of you braved the realm of sleep again to unlock the final Keyhole and save a friend. Riku, I name you our new true Keyblade Master."
It was silent. Sora let out a cheerful laugh.
"Way to go, Riku!" he cried, slinging his arm around his shoulders.
"Y-yeah?" Riku said.
"I knew you were gonna pass with flying colors! This is just so awesome!"
"Gee, Sora, you're kinda acting like it's you that passed." Goofy said.
"I told ya Sora still needed some practice." Donald said.
"Hey!" Sora cried.
"Really? I'm a Keyblade Master?" Riku said.
He and Sora looked at each other. Sora nodded and smiled. We all walked over to them.
"Congratulations, Riku!" Mickey said.
Mickey held out his hand to Riku.
"Thank you, Mickey." Riku said, shaking his hand. "I owe it to my friends."
Sora laughed. Suddenly, the air became silent as Yen Sid raised his hand.
"Perhaps you did not hear me." he said. "I said "Keyblade Masters", which means I am not finished yet."
"What?" we all said.
"Although Riku had been the one to pass the test that I gave, there is another person who has also been found suit to become a Keyblade master." Yen Sid said. "They did not qualify to participate in the test, but nonetheless proved her skills by finding her way into the realm of sleep on her own and helped to unlock the seven Sleeping Keyholes. Despite the orders given, she leaped into action to help save Sora. I see now that this person not only understands the limits of a person's heart, but also understands that the heart truly has no limits."
Yen Sid looked around the room at everyone and stopped at me. He smiled.
"Congratulations... Hallie."
The collective gasps of everyone in the room was nothing compared to the astonishment that came out of my mouth.
"I... I'm a Keyblade Master?" I said, widening my eyes. As the surprise began to melt away, a smile spread across my face, as well as Sora, Riku, and everyone else.
"Congrats, Hallie!" Sora cried, giving me a giant hug.
"Thanks." I laughed. I brought my voice to a whisper. "And even though you didn't pass, I'm really proud of you."
Sora smiled and hugged me tighter. We pulled away and smiled at each other.
"Ah, I'll catch up with ya in no time flat." Lea said.
"What? You wanna be a Keyblade Master?" Sora said.
"Yeah. I mean, I came here to learn how to wield one."
"YOU?!" Sora, Riku and I cried.
"Hey, thanks for the vote of confidence. You know, I was gonna come swooping in, Keyblade in hand!" Lea looked at his hand in disappointment. "But I just couldn't get mine to materialize. Must be in the snap of the wrist or something..."
Lea stretched out his hand, and suddenly, a Keyblade appeared in his hand. The handle was one of his classic chakrams. The blade was curved like fire.
"Oh..." Lea said.
"WHOA!" we all cried.
We all stood outside of the Mysterious Tower. Sora climbed down the stairs and onto the grassy plain.
"Do ya have to go?" Goofy said.
"Well... I did doze off..." Sora said. "I just have some stuff to take care of."
"Are you gonna be okay?" Donald said.
"Yeah. I won't be long."
"And what, exactly, is this "stuff" you need to take care of?" I said, crossing my arms.
Sora turned around. "Wanna come and see?"
I paused. "What?"
"I want you to come with me."
Sora reached out his hand to me. A smile spread across my face and I ran down the stairs and took his hand.
"Be careful." Mickey said.
"Very careful." Riku said, placing his hands on his hips.
"Don't worry. If he falls asleep, I'll be there to wake him up." I said.
"See you soon!" Sora said.
Sora summoned Kingdom Key and a Keyhole appeared in front of us. A beam of light came from the tip into the Keyhole and we were bathed in light.
~TPPOV~
Hallie opened her eyes and saw only the color of the reddish-brown pavement. She crawled up to her feet and looked around.
"Traverse Town?" she said.
"Good. I was hoping this world was still here." Sora said beside her. "But where are they?"
"Where are who-?" Sora shushed her. The two stood in silence, listening intently.
Sora sighed. Suddenly, they heard a familiar, faint dog whimper. Sora and Hallie gasped and turned around as a Meow Wow scurried towards them, whining excitedly.
"There!" Sora cried.
The Meow Wow lunged and knocked Sora back into a Kooma Panda. A Necho Cat pranced around and nuzzled its face against Hallie's leg, the bells on its ears tingling happily.
"The Dream Eaters." Hallie said, unable to fight off the smile that filled her face.
A Komory Bat chirped and floated onto Sora's head. All of their Dream Eaters approached them. Hallie heard a soft roar and her smile grew as she turned around to see Aura Lion trotting over to her.
"Aura Lion!" Hallie said, petting its mane. "I'm glad to see you, too."
Aura Lion purred and nudged Hallie with its nose. She lost her balance and fell forward into Sora, grabbing onto his hands for balance. They looked at each other and smiled as they were surrounded in a sea of their Dream Eater friends. Sora laughed in delight and wrapped his arm around Hallie waist, pulling her closer to him. Hallie reached up and held the crown necklace resting above her heart.
"Thank you all!" Sora said. "You're the best!"
Hallie smiled to herself. She reached up and unclipped the crown necklace, the one she wore not quite as long as Sora did, but it was still important to her. She clipped the necklace around Sora's neck and rested her hands on his chest.
"Now, no matter where I go, I'm always with you." Hallie said.
Sora touched the crown that rested above his heart. He looked down at Hallie, who never ceased to amaze him with her hopeful little grin. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her: a promise to them both that when they faced the danger that was coming, they would stand victorious, and they would stand together.
Because deep down inside, their synchronized hearts beat in agreement. Because deep down inside, they knew that they would be strong enough.
They didn't know of the future, but it didn't scare them at all. In this moment, the two Keyblade wielders didn't care.
Because deep down inside, this sacred promise was going to be kept. No matter what.
THE END
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
I have to admit: the first scene, in my opinion, wasn't one of my greatest works. But, oh well!
Another one of Hallie's adventures comes to a close. Sora is safe from Xehanort's clutches, and Hallie and Riku have been made Keyblade Masters.
BUT, this journey is still far from over. Hallie still has many more adventures in store for her. Her... and her counterparts.
If you haven't been keeping up, Callum's story is up and running, and it has been for a few weeks. Please take the time to read it if you haven't. Callum's story was a touchy thing to write, considering the depressing atmosphere that is 358/2 Days. But this story is one of the greatest examples of how deeply the lives of many are connected to Hallie, helping to expand more on her ultimate role. It's also a great way to dive more into the life of Callum, since his character was, I admit, a bit vague in A Memory in the Darkness.
The schedule of Callum's story, The χ of Destiny, will take same route as I did with A Memory in the Darkness. Posting will now be on Mondays AND Fridays.
Thank you so much for reading, and stay tuned!