Kingdom Hearts: Depereo Astrum Chapter 33, a kingdom hearts fanfic

This was going to be two parts, but when I started writing it, I found I liked it being one part, so just one part then.

I'm so excited!

Kingdom Hearts © to Disney and Square Enix!

My OCs © to me!

Other OCs © to their respective owners!

Chapter 33: Forged

"EEEEEE! That was so ADORABLE!" Stella squealed.

Lucky clasped her hands. "He sounds so romantic! Seriously, if you don't marry Sora I will."

Kairi laughed. "He is a sweet boy. The sweetest person I've ever known."

"You got lucky to have a guy like him."

Lucky sighed. "You got to see your man, and you almost have everything."

"No, I do have everything." Kairi touched her necklace. "My mother gave me this when I was a child. It's made of mithril."

"Are you sure you want to use something so important?"

"I think it's the best thing. It's already been enchanted once, so maybe that will make my Keyblade more powerful." She reached into her pocket. "And I have the keychain." She showed them her half of the necklace. "This is Sora's necklace. He's had it since he was a kid. He broke it in half and gave me half."

"He is just so cute! Gosh, you two are couple goals!"

Stella laughed. "I can't wait for you to save him. I need to meet this guy. I mean, I'm taken, but man, Sora sounds amazing."

Kairi laughed, clutching the necklace in her hands.

Closer and closer. Each day she came closer to getting her Keyblade back.

Only one thing left. Just one.

"Kairi!"

"Ah!" She jumped, tapping her comlink. "Phinehas! You scared me!"

"Sorry! But I found it I found the pocket of magic!"

Kairi stiffened. "Really!? You found it!?"

"Yeah," the minister cheered, "I found it. There is a slight snag, but nothing we can't deal with. I'll be making calls all day, but be ready to move tomorrow. At dawn we ride!"

The comlink shut off.

"Phinehas is such a ham…"

"Yeah, but sounds like he got the final part for us. What's the plan?"

"Not sure. He just said be ready tomorrow.

"Then tomorrow it is."

Tomorrow.

One more day…"

Kairi stepped out of base, yawning as the sun just began to peak over the buildings.

"Good, you're here."

"Huh?" She turned, Hercshal, Yozora, Magia, and Aegis waiting on her. "All of you are coming too?"

Magia grinned. "Like we'd miss this!?"

"Let's go." Yozora smiled. He wore such a soft expression on his face, so different from how she'd seen him most times.

They climbed into the van and drove off.

"Phinehas wanted us to catch you up on what is happening." Aegis tapped his notebook. "The pocket of magic he located is the door, or the cavern around the door itself. The issue is, it's illegal to go there without special permission from the king. So, we are going to have to do this without his knowledge at all."

Breaking the law was a great start.

"So, what's the plan?"

Yozora handed Kairi a small pouch. "Stella has her new equiptment set up, so she's set up an impromptu press conference for my father this morning. Hoshiko and Dylan are going with him to make sure he stays away from the tower until we're done."

So Hoshiko and Dylan were in on it too.

"Lucky managed to get us a copy of my father's keycard. Don't know how, and I probably don't want to know how, but she did. That will get us to the doors without tripping alarms. We'll make sure no one goes to check the doors, while Phinehas goes with you. He won't go directly to the door with you, but he says he has some last minute instructions for you."

"Alright…"

This was it.

Hopefully, her heart was ready. She clutched Sora's necklace in her hands, focusing on him. On what he said to her.

She could do this.

They were all believing in her.

She had to do this.

When they pulled up in front of the tower, the king came out the front doors with Hoshiko and Dylan. "I could've sworn I didn't have a conference today."

"You just don't remember. You do have a lot on your schedule. It probably just slipped your mind." Hoshiko smiled as they passed. "Hello! Going to the library today?"

"That's right!" Magia grinned.

Yozora looked at his father and smiled. "Don't worry, the conference will be over before you know it."

Hayate stopped, taking a moment to hug his son. "I know…" He must have felt so starved of his son's love and affection since Frode entered his heart. Kairi felt her heart warm at the sight of them, happy again.

"Kairi, come on."

The girl jogged inside. Magia ushered her into the elevator and pressed down.

She'd never been under the first floor before. This was going to be interesting.

Lights illumiated the way down for the glass elevator until the room opened up to a metal room, more like a box.

"Welcome to what we've called the 'last stand' room. This place protects the door from outside threats. Five foot thick titanium on all sides."

Wow.

In the middle of the room, Phinehas stood, a small duffle bag over his shoulder. His face split into a wide grin. "Ready, Kairi?" He asked as they stepped out of the elevator.

"I think so."

"We'll stay here." Aegis pushed his glasses up. "If anyone tries to enter we'll get them to leave."

"Thanks."

"This way." Phinehas walked across the room. He pressed a button and a panel, a five-foot thick panel moved to reveal a door with a card swipe. "Got the card?" The girl pulled it out. "Good. Once you open the door, there should be a staircase leading downward and a tunnel at the bottom of the stairs. The tunnel leads to the door. I'll wait up here, on the outside of the door to let you out." He took the keycard from her, handing her the duffle bag in return, and swiped it. The metal door hissed open. Open to pitch blackness. "Good luck."

The princess took a deep breath and stepped inside.

Magic washed over her, making her gasp. This was it.

The door slowly shut behind her, encasing her in darkness.

Alone.

"Good luck." In Twilight Town, everyone watched as Kairi and the others headed for the door.

"I'm glad she's found the place." Aqua smiled before turning off the computer.

"Hey!"

"Why'd you do that?"

Aqua turned around. "This is a private moment. Forging ones own Keyblade is a very private thing, and we should not impose on that. Her heart will be on full display. Right now, all we should do is believe. Believe in her with all our hearts."

"With all our hearts."

In the outer pocket of the duffle bag, Kairi found a small flashlight. She turned it on, seeing the dark staircase, chiseled out of the rocky walls, spiraling downwards.

One step.

Two steps.

Three.

Down.

Down she went.

The black rocks made it seem like an endless abyss, but she soon made it to the bottom. A tunnel opened to her right like a gaping mouth.

She wanted to feel scared.

Actually, she was terrified. But that couldn't stop her.

Down.

Down the tunnel.

It turned, curved, this way and that way.

Around a bend, she saw a dim light. The door?

She jogged forward, turning another corner.

Light washed over her as she entered a large cavern. A set of doors, black as ebony stood before her. On top of the door, from which the light came, stained glass popped in contrast to the door.

It looked like the door to Kingdom Hearts that Kairi saw so long ago, the first time she and Sora were torn apart, but this time made of black stone.

This was it.

She knelt down, opening the duffle bag. The gems, the orichalcum, the orichalcum+. She pulled them all out and laid them down in front of her. Slowly, she reached up, unclasping her necklace.

"Thank you, Mom."

Kairi slipped off the pendant on the end, laying it with the other materials. She put the string back in her pocket. Before kneeling over the ingredients.

"Ok…"

Holding out her hands, she focused, allowing magic to flow through her. The materials began to glow. They floated into the air, joining together in a single orb of light.

First step, done.

Chirithy sighed. He'd followed Kairi but decided to wait at the top of the stairs by the door. This was a private moment.

"Waiting for your friend?"

"Huh?" The dream eater turned. "I tho-" He gasped. "Wait!? It can't be! It's… you!"

Kairi focused on the orb, putting all of her magic into it.

Was something supposed to happen?

The air around her began to fizzle.

Her eyes widened as figures began appearing around her. Memories.

"Kairi, would you like a bird?"

"Yes Mommy! I want the pretty yellow one."

"Alright, but just as long as you promise to take care of it."

"I will!"

The memory passed, turning into a pink mist that flowed into the orb. This was it.

Her heart on full display.

"Daddy, can I help?"

"Sure sweetie! Here, take this paintbrush. Paint up and down, like this."

"Up and down. Up and down."

"Good job, Kairi!"

…

"Hello there, Kairi. My name is Risa, and this is my husband Tai. Now, I know you're scared but we're going to take good care of you."

"Yeah, there's no need to be afraid."

…

"Hi Kairi, my name is Riku. It's nice to meet you."

"Hey! My name's Sora!"

"I-it's nice to meet you both…"

…

"Sora let's take the raft and go, just the two of us!"

"Huh?"

"Heh. Just kidding."

…

"You don't remember my name? Thanks a lot Kairi."

"Huh!?"

"Well, I guess I can give you hint. Starts with an S."

…

"W-we're back!?"

"You're home!"

…

"Ok, but stop apologizing."

"Fine. On one condition."

"Hm?"

"Call me Axel from now on."

"Ok. Axel."

…

"Here!"

"Huh?"

"Tomorrow's fight will be our toughest yet. I want to remain a part of your life, that's all."

"Kairi, I'll keep you safe."

"No. Let me keep you safe."

…

"Kairi! I found you!"

"See, I had no doubts you'd pull through."

"The light in the darkness, it was you. You were the one who kept me from fading away."

"All I did was believe that you wouldn't."

"I feel strong with you Kairi!"

…

"So, where are we going?"

"KTV."

"What's KTV?"

"Karaoke! Private karaoke room! Pizza! Coffee! And singing until our lungs are sore and we're so deprived of sleep we might as well be wasted."

…

"Kairi, do you believe destiny is set in stone? Are we slaves to its will, or can we change it?"

"I think, we can change it. Sora did. I died, all of our friends died too, and yet he did the impossible. He reset time and brought our friends back too. And isn't that what I'm trying to do now, bring Sora back from death… I don't think destiny is ever left to chance, but that destiny is what we make it. In the end, it's up to us."

"If that's the case, I want to change my destiny. No. I will change my destiny. Mine and hers."

…

"I didn't do anything. All I did was believe that you wouldn't fade, that's i-"

"All you did was save my life and the lives of all our friends. Stop short-changing yourself. Please."

"I don't know what you see in me… I really don't. I wish I did."

"What I see? What I see is a girl who, despite showing up on the beach with no memories of her past, lived each day to the fullest. What I see is the girl who followed me to the end of the world, past all those Heartless, without a I see is the girl who jumped from a balcony and dove into a battle against Heartless with no hesitation. What I see is the girl who saved me from dying when the Heartless attacked. What I see is the girl who is doing everything she can to rescue me, despite what she may have to go through. That's what I see. I see you."

…

Kairi gasped as the orb pulsed a deep pink. Something about the feeling of magic changed.

Maybe, she was almost done.

The air fizzled again.

Or maybe not…

This time Xehanort appeared, dragging little Kairi with him.

"I hope you perform well child… Farewell, Princess."

Kairi flinched, gasping as the memory turned into a dark purple mist and flowed into the orb.

So now the bad memories.

She clenched her jaw as another memory began to appear.

"Alright class, we're going to write a letter for father's day to your dad."

"What are you going to write Kairi? Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot you don't have parents!"

…

"Sora! Sora!"

"…Sora!?"

"Sora! Come back Sora!"

…

"You'd kinda be in my way…"

…

"What is Kairi doing?"

"She's writing to that imaginary friend of hers."

"Isn't she a little old for that?"

"She says we all just forgot him. Apparently his name is Sora or something like that."

"Well you know what I think, I think she's finally lost it."

…

"What're you going to do with us?"

"You're the fire that feeds Sora's anger."

"No… Sora's in danger, because of me…"

…

"In the end his fate is your doing. You saved him and he saved the others… but now. He stands upon the brink. Should he dive too deep with the power of waking again, he will not come back. But, he wouldn't be at that brink if it weren't for your meddling. And I'm sure, he'll do anything to save you. Even make that ultimate sacrific-"

"No! I won't let that happen! And if it does, I'll save him!"

"A weakling like you could never defeat us. You are still as weak as the day I held you captive in that laboratory so long ago. You could do nothing then, and you can do nothing now."

"Useless girl. You are just as useless as before. You could do nothing but sit in the dungeon and hope. And here you are trying… pretending to be some sort of warrior."

"Shut up!"

"Someone like you could never save anyone. So, remember, Kairi- you killed him."

…

"Honestly. You really think you'll open the doors to death and save that Sora guy. Someone like you could never do something so heroic. You're out of your league."

"SHUT UP!"

"AEGIS NO!"

…

"Shh, it's gonna be alright, Kairi. It'll be alright."

"No! It won't! I-I'm so worthless! I can't do anything right! I'll never do anything right! I'm a curse! A WORTHLESS CURSE! I can't save Sora! I can't do anything!"

"Don't you say that!"

"You are NOT worthless."

"But I am… I'm weak. I just fail…"

"That's not true!"

"But it is! My friends back home… no one would say it, but I know it. I'm the weakest. They all know I'm the weak link. All I do is get captured. All I do is put others in danger."

Kairi gasped, tears streaming down her face. Her heart ached, throbbed with the pain. All the pain.

Had she really grown?

Or was she really just worthless?

"I see you."

Sora's voice echoed in her mind.

He saw her as more than that. Why couldn't she look at herself through the same eyes?

Maybe… that was it. Sora, no, not just him. All her friends. They saw her differently.

They didn't see her as a burden.

They didn't see her as weak.

They didn't see her as worthless.

Maybe…

Maybe it was time to begin to see things like them.

Maybe it was time to see herself as they did.

Her tears dripped off her chin, but didn't fall. They floated up, into the ball of light.

As the first tear touched the orb, it flashed. Pulsing with a soft purple color.

Her pain. It needed her pain…

But it also needed the promise of happier memories to come.

Almost finished.

One more thing needed.

Kairi pulled out her half of Sora's necklace. The promise of happier times.

The promise to never leave each other again.

Giving the necklace one last squeeze, Kairi lifted it up to the orb.

The light swallowed it up pulling it and her hand inside the orb, but Kairi didn't panic.

She felt warmth in her hand. A soft, comforting feeling.

Like when she was in the arms of her parents.

A warm light spread across her arm, like when she held hands with Sora.

A cold feeling made her fingers tingle, like when she was afraid. She felt her arm shudder, like when she cried.

This was her heart.

This was her Keyblade.

This…

This was her.

The light around her hand exploded, streams of glistening colors shooting through the cavern, lighting up everything, reflecting off the door.

The lights swirled around before the rushed back toward Kairi's hand. As they touched her, color blossomed from her hands.

A black handle.

A golden guard, like Sora's Keyblade, but partially wrapped in red ribbon.

Two paopu fruits, each with a bite taken out topped the guard, covering the purple band of color.

The red ribbon wound up the simple silver shaft.

From the shaft bloomed a silver crown.

Like the crown of a chess piece.

The queen piece.

Her half of Sora's necklace dangled from the end, shining in the light of the new Keyblade.

Kairi stood up, marveling in it as its name entered her mind.

"Kingdom Key-Q. Q for Queen?"

She laughed, her heart soared.

Finally!

No more room for doubts!

No more room for fears!

She would save him!

She would save Sora!

…

CLAP.

Kairi turned toward the entrance, toward the figure who stood there, applauding.

"Wonderful job! Absolutely wonderful!" He stopped clapping, eyes glinting in the light of the door. "I haven't seen someone forge a Keyblade that strong in a long time…"

I… have been waiting for this for some time! Hope you're ready?

No footnotes because there would be too many, but you should've recognized some of them.

Hope you enjoyed!