I got this idea while theorizing about what could happening the game between KH3 and KH4. With all the hints we have, it looks like that game will be a Kairi game (Thank you Nomura!). And while theorizing all the different things, I came up with this idea.
This is not your typical KH game/story and I did that on purpose.
Kingdom Hearts (c) to Disney and Square Enix!
Without further ado... here is:
Kingdom Hearts: Depereo Astrum
"I've been having these weird thoughts lately...
like is any of this for real or not?
...
None of this, makes sense to me..."
Chapter 1- Bad Dreams
"No sign of the boy..."
"What a bummer."
Riku rubbed the heaviness out of his eyes as best he could; Yuffie yelped, snapping him back to reality just as an older woman in a blue robe appeared in the room.
"Fairy Godmother!" Aerith gasped. Ok, so they knew her.
The fairy godmother laughed lightly. "Oh-ho-ho, I hope I didn't startle you."
"Not at all." Leon assured her. "What brings you here?"
"Well dear, I was asked to come by Merlin and Master Yen Sid. Now where is... Oh! Riku! Riku is his name."
"Here." The young man stepped forward, earnestly hoping she had some news from the two wizards. "I'm Riku."
She smiled, holding her wand lightly. "Why it's nice to meet you. Now," her brows knitted slightly, "I'd like you to tell me about the dreams that you've been having, dear."
"Huh? My dreams?" Dreams? Why would she be asking ab- Oh. Riku did tell Mickey he was having dreams. Guess his friend passed that news along. "There's one… It was dark, and I was surrounded by tall buildings. I was looking around for Sora, when I felt someone watching me from way up high."
"And!?"
"And that's all I remember." There was more to the dream. He knew it, but every time he woke up, he could only remember part of it.
Cid and Yuffie groaned, voicing his own inner frustration. "But what happens next!?"
Fairy Godmother smiled. "Oh, I know."
"Huh!?"
"But why Riku's dream?"
The older woman looked at them with kind eyes, calmly addressing their frustrations. "Oh, because Master Yen Sid was worried. You weren't having any luck finding Sora. And because Riku had been in Sora's dreams before, he thought perhaps Riku just may be the key. That's why he and Merlin asked me to come here and look into his dreams, since of course dreams are my specialty."
"So, Riku's dreams might… hold the key?"
"Yes, dear. I'm sure there's something there that leads to Sora." Her eyes drifted to Riku.
But the boy didn't know what to think. He and the others searched for a year, and Kairi slept, her heart monitored and observed for any clue to Sora.
A year.
Did they finally have a lead?
"In my dreams…?"
The woman chuckled. "And… the other two."
"You sure she's ok?"
"Just give her a minute to come out of the sedation."
Light blossomed in Kairi's vision. Shapes, blurred, moved within her vision. She blinked, the shapes clearing with each blink. Ienzo's soft gaze finally came clear.
"Ienzo…" She rasped, her throat dry from lack of use.
The young man pressed a button on the side of her chair, sitting her up just a little before gently removing the IV in her arm, replacing it with a cotton swab. He smiled, holding up a glass of water. "Here." Gently, he held the back of her head and helped her drink the water. "Think you can hold the glass?"
"Uh huh." Her hand shakily came up, both hands grabbing the glass to steady it as she drank the water. After a time, letting the water sooth her dry throat. "How long… how long was I asleep?"
Ansem the Wise stepped into view, holding a clipboard. "It has been about a year."
"A year…?" Kairi looked down at her glass of water, staring into the clear liquid. "Have I helped in any way? Did you find anything to lead us to Sora?"
Ansem nodded. "We found a few things and have relayed them to the others. You have the strongest connection to Sora out of everyone, including Roxas. But that's not why we woke you up."
"Then why?"
"We asked them to, dear." Fairy Godmother glided over, followed by Riku.
Kairi smiled at the sight of her friend, but… he looked out of it. He had what could be considered a smile, maybe. He just looked… dare she say, a little depressed. "Why? Has something happened?"
"Master Yen Sid might have an idea of a way to find Sora. And he wants both of us."
"Well, she's going to have to wait a moment." Even huffed. "She's been asleep for a year." He and Ienzo helped turn her, so Kairi's legs dangled off the edge of the small bed. "Kairi, can you move your legs for me."
Before the girl moved, a soft light covered her body, filling her with renewed energy. Warmth spread all across her body as Fairy Godmother lightly laughed. "Or I could help her."
"Or that…"
Kairi slipped off the bed, her legs shaking for a moment as her feet hit the floor. Only for a moment. Then she felt strength enter them. "Thank you. All of you."
"You are very welcome." Ansem smiled. "We will continue to look into the data we've gathered. If we find anything, we will let you all know."
"Thank you, Ansem."
Fairy Godmother nodded. "If you two are ready, we can go." Both teens nodded. The fairy waved her wand in the air.
Kairi blinked, still unsure if she was still dreaming as white light filled her vision, flashing her mind back to her dreams.
Dreams.
Lonely dreams.
Wandering the land of sea and sky all alone. Searching.
That world, it felt like her and Sora's world. She was sure she'd find him there. Someday, somehow, she would find him there, in that world.
The light faded away, the familiar setting of Master Yen Sid's office coming into focus. Both the owner of the tower and Merlin coming into view. The smaller wizard, with the longer beard, quickly averted his gaze.
He'd apologized up and down after Sora vanished, claiming he didn't train her correctly. Blaming himself for the fact that she was captured and that Sora had to sacrifice himself.
Blaming himself…
There was a lot of that going around.
Yen Sid looked at them, concern flashing in his eyes. "I am glad you both are here. We too have been searching for Sora, and we believe the two of you hold the key. Riku, you dove into Sora's dreams and have a connection to his dreams. And Kairi, the connection between your heart and Sora's is one of the strongest connections I have ever seen in all my life."
"Fairy Godmother said there was supposed to be one more. Who is the third?"
Kairi flinched at Riku's voice. He sounded so… emotionless. Like he was holding back all emotion within him.
"That would be me." A light voice piped as a small poof of smoke appeared on the desk.
"Chirithy?"
"Good to see you again, Kairi." He hopped off the desk, scampering toward the two. "Ven asked me to help out here while he was in the Realm of Darkness."
"Kairi," Riku knelt down toward the creature, "how do you two know each other?"
"Sora introduced us." Kairi's voice came out softly. "Chirithy is a friend of Ven's."
Fairy Godmother cleared her throat. "I hate to interrupt, but we should begin."
Yen Sid nodded. "I agree. Riku, Mickey told me you were having strange dreams. I believe the dreams could possibly lead us to Sora. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the dreams have had something to do with Sora?"
"They have."
"That's all I needed to know." He glanced at the fairy. "We can begin. Riku, we will put you to sleep and see this dream of yours and use it to find Sora. Are you alright with that?"
"Yes! Anything to help find Sora."
That was the first sign of strong emotion he'd shown since Kairi woke up. What happened to him during that year she was sleeping?
Fairy Godmother flicked her wand and a bed appeared. Riku nearly jumped onto the bed, allowing magic to pull him into sleep in seconds.
Kairi slumped to her knees beside Chirithy. Ever since she woke up, it was just go, go, go.
Her stomach growled as Chirithy approached, the little Dream Eater laying his paw on her hand. "How long have you been awake?"
"Ten minutes… maybe."
"After sleeping a year? Kairi, you need to rest. And you sound hungry."
Kairi heard a poof behind her before a set of old hands touched her shoulders. "Kairi, come sit."
Merlin. She smiled up at the old wizard. "Thank you." She allowed him to help her to a table with comfy fluffy chair. A blanket magically settled over her lap and a soft pillow behind her head.
On the table, a little white teacup with pink primroses painted on the side hopped over and into her hands as the teapot sauntered over, pouring aromatic rose tea into the cup. The sassy sugar dish came over and put a spoonful of sugar into her cup along with a small stirring spoon.
Scones full of strawberries and muffins with chocolate chips popped into existence before her.
"Thank you, Merlin."
"Don't thank me…"
The girl bit her lip, searching for words to comfort the old man. She opened her mouth, only for the fairy to suddenly light up the air over Riku's sleeping form.
All eyes turned as the light turned into a circle of magic, showing a scene from Riku's point of view.
A city.
A black night sky with the moon and stars peaking between the buildings. Riku looked around him, his gaze moving quickly, searching for something. Something that seemed to make Riku nervous.
He turned around.
A man in a black coat, just like the ones the Organization used to wear, began walking down the street, his back to Riku.
"Wait!" Riku called, chasing after the figure. As he got close, the figure teleported ahead of him. Over and over this happened. Riku would get close. The figure would teleport away.
Until, he came up to a tall spire made entirely out of shining blue crystal. The figure led Riku and into the tower and down a flight of stairs.
The stairs spiraled down, lit by dim lightbulbs every few feet.
The stairs opened up into a wide room of black stone. At the end of the room stood a pair of black doors that looked like a dark version of the doors to Kingdom Hearts.
The figure in black approached the doors.
With a creak, the doors swung open. Moonlight streamed out of the door, showering the room in a showing a land of sky and sea. But a sky of night.
In the moonlight stood a tall girl, her hair and dress fluttering lightly against her.
Beside her…
"Sora!"
The man in the coat, standing before the doors, spread his arms dramatically. The doors slammed shut.
Darkness burst from the door, engulfing Riku's vision.
"Wha!?" Riku sat up, the dream disappearing.
Kairi felt her heart thudding as she swallowed a piece of a muffin. Hope…
She felt warmth in her heart.
The last time she felt this warmth was the last time Sora held her hand. The day he vanished.
The warmth left with his hand.
Now…
"Did you see it?" Riku rubbed his eyes. "I can't remember anything other than what I normally remember."
"You saw him… you saw Sora." Kairi spoke little more than a whisper.
"I did!? Can you find him now!?"
Yen Sid smiled slightly. "We can try now." Riku slipped off the table, going over to Kairi, who handed him half of a scone.
Kairi clutched her teacup as Fairy Godmother waved her wand, moving the swirling magical circle between her and Yen Sid. The wizard held out his hands, magic engulfing the circle; Merlin and Fairy Godmother pointed their wands at it, the glow flashing. Light dripped off the magic circle, hitting the ground with soft pink sparks.
With one last flash, the circle vanished.
"Oh…"
"Well, this is going to be a little more difficult…"
"What?" Chirithy looked up at the three. "What's more difficult?"
Yen Sid moved swiftly to a shelf. His hands running along the spines of books before he pulled at an old text, the red leather binding shuddering at the touch. Dust scattered as the wizard drew the book out and opened it with a single movement. His fingers dancing across the pages.
"This is going to be very difficult to do. It is almost unheard of, and I do not know of anyone who has attempted it before."
Riku's eye twitched slightly before he snapped. "What are you talking about!?"
The old master looked up, his brows knitted seriously. "Sora is not in this world at all. And I do not mean in this specific world that we stand in now; he is not in this worldline(1)."
"Worldline…?"
"A worldline is an alternate reality." Chirithy piped. "I had a feeling this would happen… I warned him… I told Sora! I told him that if he used the power of waking to save Kairi he would vanish from this world and lose the power of waking! Without that power, he can't bring himself back! But, he did it anyway… Getting to another worldline is not going to be like jumping from world to world."
Kairi stared into her teacup. "An alternate reality… but how could we get to him there? We can't use the power of waking or we'd end up in the same situation as him."
"Exactly," Riku huffed, "we need another way there."
Merlin sighed. "You two are far too reckless. You do realize that this is another worldline we're talking about. We have no idea what could be over there. We would be sending you to a place we know absolutely nothing about."
"I don't care." Kairi stood up, teacup still in her hand. "I want to find him, no matter what."
The fairy godmother waved her hands in a placating gesture. "We know, deary. And don't think we aren't going to act on this. We just want to make sure we go about this in the best and safest way possible."
Kairi slumped back into her chair, silently sipping the remaining tea as the three older people discussed quietly, Chirithy joining them.
Riku leaned over the table slightly. "Chirithy said he warned Sora… and he still did it regardless."
"He's too heroic for his own good…" Kairi set the teacup on the table, letting it hop across the table to the rest of the tea set. "He told me goodbye and gave me something, but he didn't tell me he was going to disappear until it was happening."
"What did Sora give you?"
Kairi pulled a small card out of her pocket. "Sora said Luxord gave it to him, said it was a 'wild car', and Luxord told him it might 'turn the tides'. Sora told me to hold onto it for safe keeping."
"What-what was the last thing Sora told you?"
"I'd rather not say."
Those words were private. They were hers alone.
The sentence that told her he would be vanishing… but somehow she knew that would happen. Deep in her heart, she knew something wasn't right. But those last few words sealed the deal.
…
"Kairi… I love you…"
…
How long those four stood over that book, Kairi would never know. She ate, drank, and slept in that chair. Riku slumped over in a corner, napping on and off.
Kairi let herself drift off, but she could never fall into a deep sleep.
A year of sleeping probably keeping her from that rest.
The little flowery teacup did its best to entertain her, and Kairi appreciated it. After all, she painted that cup herself. Merlin let her during their training, then he brought it to life.
She never told Axel or the wizard, but she'd named the little piece of china. Ayaka.
"Kairi. Riku." Yen Sid finally turned back to them. His face looked tired, but there was a determined glint visible.
Riku jumped up. "Then let's go!"
The wizard held up a hand. "Riku, you cannot go."
"What!? Why?"
"The connection between your heart and Sora's is not strong enough to make the journey."
Riku stared at the wizard in silence for a moment, his face paling slightly. "Wait… what…?"
"Your dreams are the key to reaching the other worldline, but you cannot make that journey. Only one person has a strong enough bond with Sora to make the journey."
All eyes turned to Kairi.
"Me… I have to go alone?"
Chirithy waved from the desk. "Nope, I'll go too. You need a guide. And well," he turned around, tossing his little cape up to reveal a heart symbol, "I am a dream eater, so who better to guide you. You'll have to dive into Riku's dreams and find the gate from there."
"Then… let's do this now! I've waited long enough."
"Hold on." Riku stepped forward. "Don't you want to prepare. You just woke up, and you are probably out of practice after being asleep for a year. Not to mention, you've never made a journey like this before. Are you sure you're ready for this?"
The princess raised an eyebrow. "I think I'll be just fine. I have Chirithy with me, and I won't stop until I bring Sora home."
"Well your track record on missions hasn't exactly been the best."
As soon as the words left Riku's mouth, his eyes widened. His own mouth fell open as if he couldn't believe he'd just said…
"What!? That I get kidnapped constantly!? Oh thanks for all the encouragement, Riku! Not like I've had a year of wandering my dreams, feeling like dirt because Sora is gone, AND IT'S ALL MY FAULT!" She turned, face burning. "I'm going to get some air. When I get back. We're going!"
Kairi stormed out, thudding down the stairs.
Her friend… one of her best friends, stared after her. His hands shaking as he stumbled after her. "Kairi, wait!"
Down the stairs, onto the grass. The girl stared up at the stars, trying to ignore her friend as he came after her.
"Kairi, look. I didn't mean it that way. I ju-"
"Well it sure sounded like you meant it that way…"
She felt his hand grab her arm gently. She turned, looking into his teal eyes.
Eyes bloodshot with tears. Too many tears shed.
Eyes ringed with dark circles. The sleepless nights taking their tolls.
Water. Droplets of water pooled at the corners of his eyes as his body shook. "I didn't mean it like that… I didn't. It's just… I-" His free hand clenched as he looked into her face. "Sora vanished. And then you went to sleep. I've been alone for a year… searching… And now you're going off. Kairi. I'm scared. I've lost one best friend… I don't want to lose another."
The girl blinked, her own tears beginning to form.
"It's been hard, hasn't it?" She whispered. "I'm sorry."
"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that back there. You're strong, Kairi. You always have been. If anyone can find Sora, you can; and when you're together, there's nothing you can't do."
Kairi smiled, at least, as best a smile as she could muster. "Riku… I'll find him, and we'll both be back. I promise."
"I'll hold you to that."
"And I want you to promise me something. Don't be alone. Go find the others, our friends. You're starting to brood again… you sound like you've locked up all emotion(2), just like before. Don't do that again. Promise me, you'll find the others and stop brooding."
"Ok… I promise."
The two, side-by-side, walked up the stairs.
Two beds laid in the middle of the study. One for each of them.
Wordlessly, they laid down. Chirithy hopped up beside Kairi. "I'll meet you inside!" A wand waved. Magic cast. And a deep sleep fell over them both…
It felt like only a minute or two passed before Riku felt himself waking again. He sat up, glancing over at Kairi.
The girl's body glowed a soft blue.
The glow intensified for a moment before it faded away- Kairi's body fading away with it.
Riku felt his heart leap into his throat, memories of that fateful day with Sora coming back in spades.
"D-did she make it…?"
"… We don't know."
…
"Kairi… please, be safe…"
Footnotes
(1) Worldlines were introduced in Union Cross.
(2) This is my interpretation as to why Riku sounded so robotic in the Limit Cut episode.