AN: So for a long time I was under the impression that the Sora's mom line in KH1 had been just a dubbing thing. Back in those days of dubbing there would be a lot of either added dialogue, or something else due to not wanting long stretches of silence, and the line always seemed really, really weird to me and out of place. Even now it's such a throwaway line that I don't know why it's there. And then I finally recently checked the JP version of the game and the line is actually in the OG. So, if you have to dub in anyone for that line in canon, it's Ruki- because the Mystic Trio will always be together and act as a family group. Also this chapter covers a very large expanse of time, from BBS to KH1. Please R&R!

Can't get your memory, off of my mind
Just want your heartbeat, on top of my mine
There's something dancing, here in the shadows
And I wish it were us
-Anberlin, The Haunting
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Sora couldn't help but feel that it had been a particularly strange day as he looked up at the starry night sky, hands behind his head as Riku lay next to him.

Two Strangers had appeared on their Play Island, one with blue hair, and another with brown.

He had been too distracted trying to get his father's attention at the pier to know about what Riku and the unknown man had talked about, and Riku refused to budge on the subject.

A lone broken Heart drifted in the Darkness.

A pull.

The feeling of water embracing him as though he were falling into a Dive,

A Warmth in the distance.

'Ah… It's so warm…

I remember now… this... is Your Heart.'

Riku sat up, "Hey, I'm gonna head back."

Sora launched himself into a sitting position, "Yeah, me too!"

The two boys stood and began to walk back towards their homes as the night grew later. Riku glanced at his companion and was shocked, "Sora… what's wrong?"

Sora looked at him confused as Riku turned to him, "Huh?"

They stopped, concern on his face as Riku pointed, "You're…"

Sora blinked in concern as grief settled on his chest as he suddenly felt warmth pool in his eyes. He raised a hand to check, the wetness of tears cooling his fingertips as he looked down in confusion, "That's weird. It's like… something's squeezing me inside!"

Riku responded, "Somebody up there must be sad."

"Up where?"

Riku turned slightly from his friend, looking up towards the Stars, "They say every World is connected by one Great Sky. So maybe… there's Somebody up there in all those Worlds who's really hurting… and they're waiting for you to help them."

Sora laid a hand on his aching chest as he also looked up at the sky. He turned to his friend, "Well, do you think there's something I could do?"

Riku folded his arms and closed his eyes in contemplation, humming to himself before looking at him, "Maybe they just need you to open your Heart and Listen." He smiled reassuringly.

Sora hummed as he contemplated while swaying, resting his hands behind his head, "I dunno, Riku. You say some weird stuff sometimes but…" He dropped his arms and pumped them with a smile, "I'll try it!"

Riku put his hands on his hips, "Okay."

Sora closed his eyes as Riku smiled and looked up at the Stars once more.

The younger boy breathed, the teachings of his father slowly settling in his mind as he allowed himself to fall into the depths of his Station. The World faded away as he called out with his Heart, "Hey… can you hear me?"

Sora opened his eyes, successfully finding himself standing on his Station of Awakening, familiar stained glass below him as he looked around expectantly.

A ball of Light appeared in the distance, falling slowly towards him.

He noticed it and Called out, "Hey! Can you hear me?"

The Heart responded, "I heard your voice. It cut through the Darkness around me."

Sora gasped as the Light crept closer, as he excitedly tried to reach out to it.

"All alone I followed the sound, into a sea of Light… and found myself here. With you."

Sora held the small ball of warmth within the gentle hold of his hands. He looked down at it and nodded.

The Heart continued, "You gave me back something when I needed it most… A second chance."

Sora tilted his head in confusion, "I did?"

Warmth settled on Sora's face as the Light continued to speak, "But… now I have to go back to Sleep again."

The little boy looked at the ball of Light in concern, "Are you sad?"

"...Would you mind… if I stayed here? With you?"

Sora smiled with a shrug, "Sure! If it'll make you feel better."

"Thank you." The Light moved towards his chest as Sora's hands followed it. The Heart moved towards him as he closed his eyes, his hands crossed over his chest as he felt it settle within. Sora smiled as he felt the Heart fall into peaceful Slumber as he turned his face back up towards the endless abyss.

Slowly, Destiny Islands bled back into his senses as he took in a deep breath and sighed.

"Well?" Riku looked at him expectantly as Sora smiled, turning to his friend.

"You know, I think it worked." He giggled as he turned his gaze back to the sky, Riku doing the same for a moment before they began their trek back home once more.

Months later, a red haired girl washed up on the beach.

A lone guard walked down a darkened hall, the pervasive stench of Darkness coiling in the air as it chilled his bones.

But he wasn't afraid of the Dark.

He smirked as he came upon the final door in the cold cellars of Radiant Garden's Castle, labeled with an 'X.' He pulled out a lone key and stuck it in, not minding the noise as it clicked loudly in the night. He opened the heavy metal door as his gaze fell onto the body of a thin pale teenage girl. Her long brown-black hair dull and ratted from the lack of care as countless experiments were conducted upon her as they attempted to extract her lost Memories.

She started with a gasp, awakening at his presence. She grit her teeth, her dull brown eyes staring at him in fear as her raspy voice whispered, "Another test?"

He huffed with a roll of his eyes, "Nah." A black leather jacket was thrown at her, landing heavily at her feet. "Get dressed, quickly."

She stood, shakily with wild eyes as she snatched the garment on the floor and quickly strapped on her worn out boots. She zipped the jacket, feeling warmth seep into her skin for the first time in…

The man grabbed her arm, jolting her out of her waking dream as she looked up to his face, and eyepatch covering one eye. He sneered at her with a grin, "Time to go, girlie. We've got no need for you here. Not yet."

A Dark Portal opened behind him as he pushed her through, finding herself now well outside the Castle's prison walls.

A woman stood there, covered in clothes that made her head hurt nearly to the point of bursting, stars in her eyes as she took in the mask of the Fox that covered her face.

"She's all yours."

The woman gently took her hand, and the World faded to White.

She'd miss those two boys.

Sora dropped his backpack at the front door the second he walked in, yawning as he stretched. Now ten years old, he wore red cargo shorts and a black shirt with white details on its hemlines. He shucked off his orange strapped sandles as he walked toward the kitchen, blinking as he saw his father sitting at the table with a melancholic look on his face.

He normally wasn't home this early, but it was his Birthday…

Aeros glanced up at him from the small yellowed white box that was cupped between his hands, "Welcome home. Happy birthday." A sad smile crossed his face.

Sora nodded while walking over with a smile, "Thanks, dad." He noticed the box with intrigue as he languidly put his arms behind his head, "What's that?"

The older brunette placed a hand gently over the small box before sliding it over to him, "A gift… from your mother."

Sora gasped as he dropped his arms. A myriad of emotions ran through him as they settled on a forlorn happiness. There were plenty of times not having a mother of his own was either thrown at him cruelly by his classmates, or woke him in the night as tears fell down his face.

She was like a silent phantom that sometimes passed through his Dreams.

His excitement won out, curious at what sort of gift his birth mother would have left him, the stories Riku's mother told making him all the more enthusiastic. With no fanfare to make opening it any different, he ripped off the lid and sucked in a breath of air.

Tears built up in his eyes as he gently set down the small box, dropping the lid on the table as he gently pulled out the lovingly crafted Charm.

Five thalassa shells that were tipped in yellow that bled into a bright blue at the center, sewn together with a braided shining silver cord. In its center was a silver pendant made of a similar metal as the cording, its shape like a heart sitting on top of a four pointed starburst. Fastened to it was a simple braided chain, hooked onto the topmost shell.

He held it up with both hands, examining it from every angle as tears slid down his face. A charm for safe travels. He held it to his chest and closed his eyes, remembering the sailor's legend about the infamous charm revered around the Destiny Islands.

Sora's father had him read all of the World's legends and myths, then others that had appeared to possibly originate from other Worlds also.

He studied various topics growing up alongside his father's loving care, countless hours spent in the Library as his father tended to it when Sora wasn't out playing with Riku.

His school grades might not be all that great, but he had plenty of knowledge.

...Just not when it came to the subjects taught at school. They were boring, and the way the teachers taught never held his attention, so he simply fell to the lowest average of his class.

Sora opened his eyes and looked at the Charm once more, a strange Warmth sunk into his hands from the item, making him smile and wipe away his tears.

Maybe the Warmth was the leftover feelings of Love from his mother.

Sora turned slightly to his father and nodded, "Thank you."

Aeros smiled, "You like it?"

He nodded vigorously, "Yup!" He held it up again, "I'll make sure to take it with me everywhere!"

His father chuckled, pulling his son close to and hugging him, "I'm glad you like it."

Sora grinned, "I bet mom would be overjoyed to know that too."

Aeros stiffened as he slowly let him go, Sora blinking and looking at his father sadly, "Awe, dad…"

Aeros shook his head roughly before forcing a smile, "Nothing to do about it." He stood, "I think it's about time we head to Riku's and have that birthday dinner you've been looking forward to!"

Sora's eyes lit up as he ran to the front door while quickly slipping his sandals on, "Last one there's an old man!" He threw the door open and ran, laughter echoing down the road as he ran down the well-beaten path.

Aeros shook his head with a heavy sigh, closing the door behind him.

He was only 30.

Shortly before Sora's sixth birthday, Stars had begun to disappear from the sky one after another.

Now, eight years later many more had gone missing.

Aeros had noticed it first, red flags rising in his mind the night Sora and Riku ran to the docks and grabbed him, crying about a girl who wouldn't wake up on the beach.

The night before there had been a strange meteor shower.

Soon, easy four week journeys at sea became delayed, frightening waiting wives and mothers as ships finally managed to navigate their way back to port.

The Guild immediately set to work to fix this rapidly growing problem.

The fishermen kept their lips tight, putting on a front to their families as they sensed troubled waters ahead.

They were a superstitious bunch, after all.

Lights went up around various points on the coastline around the perimeter of the Main Island, a new cycling rotation of their maintenance and tall hutted lookouts to ensure ships found their way back home.

Still. The old faithful star maps were remade, marks crossing out each Star that disappeared from the endless sky.

Something was coming. Something was swallowing the Stars, and they had no way of stopping it.

Aeros sat in the hidden room of the Library, a yellow box held gingerly in his hands as he stared at it with worry tightening his brow. "Ava… You said you had read a Book that spoke of the Future." He bowed his head, "Did you know… what was coming?"

He grasped the thalassa charm engraved necklace around his neck that she'd made for him, frowning deeply as he thought over the past thirteen and a half years she'd been gone, "I wish…" He sighed heavily as he shook those thoughts out of his head.

Standing stiffly, box in hand he carefully made his way out of the room, locking it behind him as he then made his way out of the Library. Closing the entrance, he made his way back home, glancing occasionally at the cloudy sky.

The weather patterns had begun to slightly shift over the years as the lack of Stars affected the seasons of their World. It was nothing that was overly extreme, but… it would catch up to them eventually if things continued as they were for much longer.

He continued walking past his house, heading towards Ruki and Vale's as they did every year for Sora's birthday. It was a good middle point between where he and Sora lived, and the Mayor's house where Kairi lived.

Aeros glanced down at the small box again, wondering if he should really give it to him in front of everyone else, but he was already halfway there, and he could see Riku, Kairi, and Sora crest over the hill, each in their blue and white school uniforms. Sora caught sight of his father and smiled, waving as he and the other two paused, allowing him to catch up with them.

His son tensed as shock crossed his face, his posture relaxing into slight concern at the sight of the little box in his hands. Riku and Kairi looked at their friend in confused concern as Aeros finally met up with them.

Sora stared at the box, "Is that..?"

Aeros took a deep cleansing breath and smiled, handing it towards him, "Happy birthday, Sora."

The now fourteen year old gingerly took the box from his father's hands and opened it with an unusual calm. Riku and Kairi stood at attention, watching their friend as he pulled out a short silver chained necklace, warm to the touch as it tingled in his hand. The crown symbol, bright and silver nearly blinded him as it reflected the available sunlight. He smiled sadly, looking up to his father, "Is it ok for me to wear it?"

Aeros chuckled lightly as he took the box and its lid from his hands, "Of course." He placed the box into a side pocket on his pants, knowing that the letter left underneath the necklace hadn't been noticed.

That, Sora could read in private, away from the eyes of others.

A letter for him, and him alone from his mother.

The room was almost completely black as Aeros startled awake as the floor of the Library rumbled deeply from an unusually strong roll of thunder. His heart beat fast as he glanced around the room, confused as to just how he'd managed to fall asleep in the Hidden Room.

He stood with blind eyes, absently wondering how Sora, Riku, and Kairi were doing after hearing about the raft they'd been building. He couldn't help but hope that they'd secured it before heading home from the Play Island.

Then, a sickening feeling of Darkness crawled up his spine and rolled his stomach. He gagged, glancing around as dread filled his Heart. What's going on?

Something cold and dark brushed his leg as he summoned Sleeping Lion and barely took the chance to study the round pair of glowing eyes as he tore through the Shadow at his feet. Cold sweat prickled his skin as he glanced over at the mantle that held Starlight.

It was glowing ever so faintly.

He grit his teeth, channelling energy into his Keyblade so he could navigate his way out of the old room. Seeing no other enemies he ran out, securing the door behind him as he rushed out into the blistering wind, thunder and lightning rolling in the sky as it swirled a strange black and purple.

Aeros swallowed as he looked around, quickly running towards the house to check on Sora.

However, before he even stepped onto the grass, Ruki and Vale screamed towards him, causing him to pause. The Mayor's wife lagging behind them, "Aeros!"

He glanced down at his Keyblade before meeting up with his friends, noting their pale expressions of terror, "Riku and Kairi aren't home! They left!"

The Mayor's wife bent over, attempting to catch her breath while bracing on her knee's nodding, tears in her eyes, "Kairi was home one minute… and then when I came back for her, she was gone! I think she must have gone to the Island!"

Aeros looked to Vale, the other nodding his head, "I think once this storm started Riku must have done the same."

He grit his teeth as a wild terror ripped through him, he turned and ran towards the side of his house, the other three parents running behind him as he came around the side, only to stop short as he saw Sora's swinging window.

No no no, not Sora, not him too!

He turned, only for the Mayor's wife to scream as ant-like creatures jumped upon her, clawing at her chest as her Heart was torn from her body, her terrorized form dissolving into bleak nothingness. A new Shadow sprung from the puddle of Darkness that had been her feet.

Ruki screamed and fell back into Vale, panic in her mind as Aeros ran forward with his Keyblade and tore through the gathering Heartless.

He turned to his friends, "Get it together! We have Magic, get a weapon and fight!"

Vale nodded with a piercing look in his eyes, squeezing his wife's shoulders before running towards the backyard, to grab the weapons stored in the shed. Ruki shook herself from her fear and immediately started Casting Blizzard to help, "Freeze!"

Aeros continued hacking away, nearly getting bodied by a Large Body before a fishing spear broke its attack and repelled it. Vale turned to Ruki and tossed a five pronged trident spear to her, "Catch!"

She caught it deftly, spinning it with confidence after years of spear fishing at the shoreline, "Got it!" She immediately charged a Thunder spell through it, using it to take down a group of Soldiers and Shadows as she ran through them.

Vale grabbed Aeros's shoulder, "We need to see if the kids left the docks!"

He nodded as the three friends turned, immediately running towards the shoreline. The wind kicked up and thunder rumbled the earth again to the point of making the three Islanders stumble. Ruki caught herself and looked up, only to scream, "No!"

Aeros caught himself on his Keyblade, only to look up and see a massive human-like Boss Heartless get pulled into the sky, a smaller flailing form soon being pulled up along with it into the massive swirling mass.

Aeros's heart stopped.

Sora!

The ground below them cracked as houses were uprooted. Aeros quickly grabbed onto Ruki, tears of terror and grief in his eyes as she latched onto Vale's waist, breathless from the pressure of wind and Darkness.

Vale grabbed on his arm, pulling himself up and gripping Ruki and Aeros close as their lives depended on it as the wind began to pull them off the ground. The three were too filled with terror to notice the soft glow that had surrounded them, or their matching jewelry shining in a gentle Light as they were pulled up into the abyss.

Destiny Islands fell.