Memories of You

by Painted With a Palette

She was ridden with severe anxiety after a traumatic experience in her youth. He felt pressured to become a Keyblade wielder in the aftermath of his father's death. At times, they felt alone. But they found each other.

22. Memories of Departure

Today was the big day.

Sora sat behind the curtain with his legs crossed. It was moments before the ceremony started. A disorganized cumulation of thoughts wandered through his mind, but they could all be summed up in a single word.

Terrified. After today, everything changed.

"Ready, boy?" said Master Xehanort, towering over him with his hands tied behind his back and an eager sneer.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Sora answered, putting on a forced smile.

Xehanort nodded as he went through the curtains, preparing to begin the introductions. Sora let out a low sigh.

"Why the long face, Sora?" asked Goofy as he and Donald appeared from the side.

"Just a lot on my mind, Goofy," Sora said as he stood up. "The whole world is about to know who I really am. It's... a lot to take in, that's all."

"Aww, don't feel bad," Goofy said, placing a hand on Sora's back. "Donald and I'll be right there with ya every step of the way. We'll be able to go to a whole bunch'a different worlds once we find a vessel. And it ain't like we won't be able to come home every now and then, right?"

"Yeah, I guess..." Sora said in a low voice.

Donald bumped his fists against his hips. "Oh, brother. Are you always such a bummer?"

"Huh?"

"If you're gonna be travelling with us, you can't come along looking like that. Understand?" Donald continued, wagging his finger. "No frowning. No sad face. Okay?"

Goofy dipped down to level with Donald. "Yeah, ya gotta look funny, like us!"

Irritated, Donald pushed Goofy's face to the side.

"How can you be so cheerful?" Sora asked. "I mean, there's no telling where the king is or what kind of trouble he's in. Aren't you worried?"

"Aw, phooey," Donald scoffed.

"The King told us he'd find out what's goin' on with the worlds and he wasn't gonna rest 'til he does just that. We know more than anyone that when his heart's decided, there ain't nothin' we can do to stop 'im. All me n' Donald can do is believe in 'im. We gotta trust that things'll fall into place the way they're s'posed to."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, he told us to follow the key bearer and that's you. So as long as we stick together, it'll all work out okay. Ya just gotta believe in yerself, that's all."

"Just believe..." Sora said, allowing the words to linger. Was believing really enough in the end, though?

"And if ya have any trouble with that, Goofy and I'll pick up the slack for you," Donald teased.

"Hey!" Sora cried.

"Face it, you're just a half-pint," Donald said.

"But the three of us together'll shore to make a whole pint!" Goofy added.

Sora placed his hands on his hips. "More like a pint an' a half."

Donald chuckled as he put his hand out. "And don't forget, we'll keep an eye on you."

"Oh, this is gonna be lotsa fun!" Goofy said, putting his hand in as well.

"It's not a vacation," Sora reprimanded, but he kept a lighthearted smile. He appreciated their attempt to cheer him up. They weren't wrong. While the journey was fraught with uncertainty, there still were a lot of experiences Sora was bound to have. "Okay, why not? Let's do it!"

Sora enthusiastically placed his hand on top of theirs. With that, their trio had become official.

"All fer one, one fer all," Goofy said.

---

Kairi gently weaved and squeezed through the bustling crowd with no less than a thousand gathered in attendance at the stadium where Master Xehanort called for a press conference days prior. Helicopters hovered above, catching footage of the general area. She was hoping to get a spot near the front if only to give her friend a look of reassurance as the announcement was made and his life shifted into a new direction. Though, the crowd was heftier than she imagined.

Listening to those around her, she learned it didn't take long for rumors to spread. Those who were well-versed in political affairs did enough digging to speculate the big announcement had something to do with the Kingdom Key. It'd been years since anyone last saw someone wield the legendary key and the general public was aching to know who was chosen to lead them in the current state of the world.

"Sorry, excuse me... pardon me," Kairi uttered as she moved through the jam-packed arrangement. Cameramen swept through the area and news reporters and media coverage took up the majority of the front in their own secluded area. Once Kairi finally landed a spot where she could get a better view, she could make out the podium on the center stage. Behind it was a set of stairs leading to a small area concealed by a red curtain and above it was a huge jumbotron showcasing images of various spots in the stadium.

The sight was almost overwhelming. It was beginning to settle in how massive of a deal this really was. This was an event being televised and broadcasted across almost every world under the sun. But Kairi knew what was about to happen and it left her with a lot of mixed emotions she couldn't pinpoint in detail. At the very least, she wished she didn't have to come to this alone. All of her friends were either busy or didn't pick up when she tried contacting them and she knew Sora's immediate family had been allowed backstage to support him.

Regardless, she was going to support him. No matter what.

At long last, Master Xehanort appeared from behind the curtains with his usual stoic walk alongside the Foretellers, Masters Ira, Ava, Aced, Invi, and Gula following his lead. The crowd subdued their incoherent chirping amongst themselves and gave their full attention as Xehanort took the stand, many pulling out their gummiphones to record what was being anticipated as a monumental moment in history.

"Good tidings, ladies and gentlemen," Master Xehanort spoke. "Today is a momentous day. One that will constitute hope in the many hearts of people across the galaxy during these trying times as the plague of geostigma steadily progresses through our worlds. I am joined today by our esteemed foretellers who have sensed the danger of this virus and actively fight everyday to seek answers as to the source of its origins and a solution to this quandary."

The Foretellers placed a hand on their chests and bowed respectfully.

"I am regretful to disclose, however, that our search for those answers have been at a standstill for some time," Xehanort continued. "There has yet to be found a cure for this heinous scourge."

The morale of the crowd, and presumably those who were watching at home, dropped. Was there really that little progress made in the research effort?

"But I assure you all that we will leave today with something we've been deprived of for far too long... hope." Master Xehanort put on a smirk. "Hope is what keeps the light alive. Every generation barring ours has had someone special chosen to act as the herald for a brighter future. Ever since the passing of the late Zachary Fair, we've lived in an aimless society with little notion of evolution, and though the rise in geostigma cases is still relatively short-lived, its expediting growth has done nothing but reveal the faint cracks present in our stability. That was... until today."

Kairi felt as if the crowd disappeared and she stood in the audience by her lonesome as she clasped her hands together in anticipation.

"It is with great honor and privilege that I am able to introduce you all to a certain young man given the burden of responsibility to end the suffering of our elderly, our children, and our families. His age in consideration, we didn't want to thrust him into the public eye until the time called for it. But I can assure you he has been training vigorously in this time of need and he is ready to act. He has some more growing in store, but his potential as the successor to Zachary is boundless. A special boy with a heart like no other—the light within the darkness. Citizens of the great realm of light in which we domain, I'd like to introduce you to our chosen wielder of the Kingdom Key: Sora Valentine."

With that, the red curtains flowed aside as the boy in question stepped foot onto the stage. There he was—accompanied with Donald and Goofy as they fulfilled their duties as his support and aid. Sora's face was put at the forefront of the jumbotron—a look of uncertainty painting his face for a few moments, the vastness and velocity of the crowd and the shining lights overwhelming him. What surprised him even more was the crowd erupting with cheers and applause at his arrival—looking at him as their newfound source of hope.

While Donald basked in the glory of their approval and bowed brashly as if it were for him, Goofy had the intuition to sense Sora's discomfort and set an assuring hand on his shoulder. Sora looked back appreciatively before letting out a deep breath. That was all he needed to look forward and put on the most genuine smile he could muster. At least, it was as genuine as he could fabricate.

Kairi clapped, whooped, and hollered along with the rest of the crowd, momentarily setting aside her innate worry for him and appreciated his presence. As she was a member of the crowd, she saw a different side to the story. While the majority gave a generous amount of commendation, it wasn't unequivocal as it appeared from a distance. She could hear the whispers and side conversations in the background.

"That's our new Keyblade master? Doesn't he seem a little young?"

"No way! It's Sora?! I know that guy!"

"Isn't he the one always hanging around Riku?"

"I've been waiting for this day for years! I almost thought I wouldn't live to see it."

"It's about frickin' time!"

"Kinda scrawny, ain't he?"

"Aww, look at him! Isn't he cute?"

"Eh, I won't believe it 'til he summons the bloody thing. Wouldn't be the first time the government pulled a fast one on us."

"Wish that could've been me up there..."

"Wow, he's only a kid! He must be really something for the Keyblade to deem him worthy at such a young age!"

"Hey, he goes to my high school!"

"Oh, thank God. I was worried about giving birth to a world where my child didn't know what it was like to live in a society without an active protector watching over us."

Of course, people were individuals with their own opinions. Kairi expected no less. What everyone else thought didn't really matter to her. She knew Sora. She knew his heart. That was all that was important to her.

Sora walked closer to the podium as Master Xehanort and the other foretellers applauded along with the rest of the crowd. He gave a respectful bow to each foreteller, saving Xehanort for last.

"Give them what they came for, boy," Xehanort requested.

With resolve, Sora nodded and walked to the front. He took another deep breath and closed his eyes, letting his hand hover before him. A burst of light formed underneath his palm, and in a flash, the legendary Kingdom Key materialized in his grasp. He spun the handle before pointing it towards the sky, giving everyone a good look at the visual confirmation of his role.

The crowd roared even louder.

---

"No, no, no," Axel said with a sigh. "You guys got it all wrong. That's the chorus. We need people to feel it! Let's take it from the top one more time."

"Aw, duuuude," Demyx whined. "Can't we take five? We've been at this song for hours. I think my fingers are getting arthritis."

"We'll take five once it's right," Axel said, standing before the rest of the members of the Melodious Nocturnes. "C'mon, look alive, people! This is a big gig for us. Our group's been gettin' a lot of steam ever since that video went viral and I'll be damned if we let our fans down if we don't deliver. From the top."

While Demyx groaned, the rest of the band complied. While Axel was generally carefree and fun-loving to a reckless fault, they knew their leader well and he was always serious when it came to the state of the band. He demanded no less than perfection.

Axel began counting off. "All right, a one, a two, a one, two, three, four—"

The rest of the band began playing their parts, losing themselves in the music blaring from their instruments. It was one of the more pop infused songs of theirs, but it had gained popularity on social media nonetheless. Larxene bopped her head and performed a few sensual dance moves before grasping the microphone with confidence, pulling it away from her momentarily and pulling it back.

"There you go, Larxene! Work it, girl!" Axel cheered. "You're the star, baby! It's your moment. Own it!"

She began to sing, allowing her inhibitions free and vocalized with all the passion she could muster until she reached the chorus.

"Ahhh, so goodbye loneliness... We sing with all our hearts when we're harmonious... So, let's not think too much about the past and dance... With no regrets, I can see my smile in your eyes... So, goodbye happine—"

"Ahh!" Larxene squealed, clutching her abdomen.

"Whoa, whoa, cut," Axel quickly said, making everyone stop playing. They turned to Larxene with concern. Axel rushed to her side as she hunched over and placed a hand on her back. "What's wrong, babe?"

Larxene caught her breath as the pain subsided. "Oh, it's... it's nothing. Just got a sudden cramp there when I tried to go to a higher octave."

"See? We're all exhausted," Demyx said. "Geez, if only someone suggested we take five."

Saïx rolled his eyes. "Why do I get the feeling you'd take five hours if it weren't clarified, Demyx?"

Axel groaned. "Fine. Take ten. But it's for my girl's sake, not yours, ya lazy sack of shit." He pointed at Demyx accusingly.

Demyx shrugged with a grin as he leaned back into his chair and kicked his feet up on the dashboard of their in-house studio as he pulled out his gummiphone. "Hey, a break's a break."

Larxene held onto her head. "I should probably sit down."

Axel led her to the nearest chair at the table where they usually ate. "You sure you're okay?"

"Ugh, I said I'm fine, okay? I'm just a little sore from all the rehearsing, that's all. But it's whatever. We've got a lot of gigs to prep for."

"Yeah, I hear you all the way," Axel agreed. "But look, eh, I ain't usually one for the sentimental shit, but lemme know if I'm workin' you too hard, all right?"

Larxene shook her head. "Hey, you think you're the only one who strives for excellence? I want our show to be the absolute best it can be, too. This is everything we've dreamed of for years. Think I'm gonna let a little aching stop me? Better guess again."

Axel grinned. "I ever mention how much I L-O-V-E ya, Larx?"

Larxene scoffed, but kept a mischievous smirk. "As a matter of fact, no. You could at least actually say the damn word instead of spelling it out."

"Yeah, you're right. Let's dial that back to a very strong L-I-K-E instead."

Larxene frowned. "Fuck you, Axel."

Axel smirked. "Just name the time and place, babe."

"You're such an asshole."

"Eh, maybe Dem-Dem's got a point. A break never killed anyone. If you're not hurtin' too much, whaddaya say we go let off some steam and recharge?"

Larxene stood to her feet and snaked her arms around the base of his neck, her lips edging closer and her eyes sultry. "Fuck you, Axel..."

Axel grinned, knowing that was her way of saying yes. "Hey, on second thought, gang, let's take forty-five. Me and the lady got some business to take care of."

"Just be sure to use a pillow to keep quiet this time, Larxene," Saïx said in a dry voice as he flipped the page of a magazine. "Out of courtesy."

Before Larxene could retort, Demyx intervened. "Whoa, what?! Yo, you guys might wanna check this out!"

"For the last time, Demyx, we're not interested in your loser video game trailers," Larxene deadpanned.

"No, seriously. You guys wanna see this."

The rest of the group exchanged curious looks before crowding around Demyx to look at the press conference displayed on his phone. They saw Master Xehanort speaking at the podium.

"Citizens of the great realm of light in which we domain, I'd like to introduce you to our chosen wielder of the Kingdom Key: Sora Valentine."

The group nearly went into a frenzy. Even Aeleus put on the rare display of emotion, subtle as it was, as his eyes grew large.

"Sora who?!" Axel exclaimed, snatching the phone from Demyx.

"Hey!" Demyx cried.

Lo and behold, Sora appeared on the screen, looking uncertain for a moment before flashing one of his bright smiles at the camera. Slowly but surely, he walked closer to the edge and summoned his Kingdom Key.

"Are you serious?" Larxene said in disbelief. "He's been the chosen one this whole time? Why the hell didn't he say anything?"

"No stinkin' way..." Demyx trailed off.

"I... never would have suspected," Saïx admitted as he stroked his chin.

"...Sora who?!" Axel cried once again.

---

Riku looked at the missed calls and texts he ignored from Kairi that morning. He already had an idea what she wanted and he wanted no part of it. It was bad enough he was going to stomach it regardless. The last thing he needed was watching the girl of his prior affection drooling puddles over him. He turned his gummiphone off to avoid the inevitable news articles and trending Sora was going to make on Mognet.

Besides, he had more important things to worry about.

"You seem distracted," Rufus said, pulling Riku from his thoughts. They walked side by side as Rufus led Riku through a hollow hall at one of Shinra's headquarters. They passed a good number of scientists and SOLDIER's along the way. "Penny for your thoughts?"

"You know what's on my mind," Riku returned.

Rufus chuckled. "Heed no mind to the boy, son. Your destiny is not linked to his. That's why you're here and not there."

Riku averted his eyes. "Y-Yeah. Right."

"I'm glad we could come to an agreement, Riku. Today marks the first step in flourishing your true potential."

"Hey, I never said I was joining," Riku clarified. "All I want is to check this place out. I'll decide then if I think SOLDIER is the right fit for me."

"That's perfectly fine."

The double doors to a lab opened where many scientists paraded around with their busywork. Giant computers and screens adorned the walls and concoctions Riku didn't even want to know the story behind were laid out on tables with machinery that surely wasn't on the market. What struck Riku most were the men adorned in SOLDIER uniforms, floating in pods full of green energy.

"Is that... what would happen to me?" Riku asked.

"Yes," Rufus answered. "They're being infused with mako energy. But don't be alarmed. I can assure with full confidence that the procedure is safe and harmless. With the proper dosage, of course. Wouldn't you agree, Seifer?"

At the sound of that name, Riku turned around and saw Seifer approaching in confident strides. He wore the traditional SOLDIER uniform, looking as if he were ready for a fight.

"Couldn't agree more," Seifer said. "Gotta say, didn't expect to see a chicken wuss like you show up here."

Riku eyed Seifer up and down. "Are the uniforms part of the contract? Because I think matching anything with this guy would ruin my image."

Seifer clenched his teeth. "Always a wise guy, huh?"

"Nonetheless, Seifer went through the program with flying colors," Rufus said. "Your biases aside, you can see he is the furthest thing from harm. The only difference now is that he possesses the power to fight the good fight and protect the things that matter most to him."

"The power, hm?" Riku muttered under his breath, ignoring the latter half of Rufus's statement.

"Can't say I'm exactly thrilled to be joinin' your ranks either. But a soldier is a soldier," Seifer admitted. "Guess I'd be lyin' if I said you didn't have the skills to be useful. The tournament was more than enough proof of that. And we're gonna need all the help we can get if we're gonna put a stop to this geostigma business. So, it's on you. Are you in or out?"

Before Riku could answer, one of the scientists switched the station on one of the big monitors.

"It's already started, gentlemen," the scientist announced. Many gathered around the big monitor to see Master Xehanort deliver his spiel and announce the wielder of the Kingdom Key.

After Xehanort introduced their chosen one with a name that was beginning to make Riku sick to his stomach, he only groaned more when Sora appeared on screen and put on that annoying little grin of his. The crowd cheering in the background ignited the fire in him even more. If only he could understand what it was that drew people to him. Maybe he never would. But Riku did know one thing.

If anyone was going to be the hero, it was going to him.

---

Tifa finished tying her hair into dolphin twins as she looked in the bathroom mirror. She seemed satisfied with her appearance as she readied herself to go into work later in the night. Seventh Heaven had always been her pride and joy—and it never hurt being her own boss. There never seemed to be a dull moment in that bar.

When she returned to her room, she paid little mind to the TV acting as background noise. She mindlessly patted her dresser for her hairbrush but ended up grabbing something else in the process: a picture of herself, Cloud, and Roxas during a trip to Nibelheim—her home world.

She touched the still memory gently. It felt like a lifetime ago at this point. They seemed so happy and carefree—naïve to what life had in store for them less than a year after the photo was taken.

It's those memories that made her stomach drop. It reminded her why she felt so conflicted during Roxas's tear through the struggle tournament. She knew good and well what kind of talent he inherited from his father, and now, the rest of the galaxy did too. How long would it be before the shady men of the world continuously harassed him down a path that would grant him the same fate as his father? She shut her eyes and put the framed picture down. She didn't want to think about it anymore.

The voice from the TV caught her attention. She recognized it as Master Xehanort. Grabbing the cup of fresh coffee she brewed a bit earlier, she turned around to see what the fuss was about as she took a sip.

"He has some more growing in store, but his potential as the successor to Zachary is boundless," Master Xehanort said. "A special boy with a heart like no other—the light within the darkness. Citizens of the great realm of light in which we domain, I'd like to introduce you to our chosen wielder of the Kingdom Key: Sora Valentine."

Tifa spat out her coffee.

"What?!"

---

Naminé had finished dressing for the day.

After a hot shower and putting on some clothes fresh out the dryer, she was satisfied with her appearance. She was especially glad to see her hair nice and straightened out. She wanted to look presentable since she was going to hang out with Roxas once he got off work soonish. Going to the festival had been a nice detour and she was glad to at long last find herself on good footing with Xion, but she would have been lying if she said she wasn't excited to finally spend some time alone with him. Just the two of them.

"I smell teenage hormooones," Mocchi sang as she entered the room.

"Quiet, you."

"Any idea what the agenda is for today?"

"Not yet," Naminé admitted. "He told me he'd pick me up as soon as his shift ends. I'm sure we'll figure something out from there. Honestly, I'd be fine if we just sat in his car and talked."

"Knowing Roxas, he's probably gonna wanna take you out on an ice cream date."

Naminé chortled. "Yeah, him and his ice cream. I'm beginning to think he has a serious addiction to that sea-salt flavor he never shuts up about."

"Speaking of food..."

Naminé placed her hands on her hips and let out a sigh. "Oh, Mocchi. Does your stomach know no bounds?"

Mocchi excitedly followed Naminé downstairs. "I think we both know the answer to that one, Mom."

Naminé walked towards the kitchen but paused when she found her father sitting at the table, looking at a bunch of files from whatever case he was covering at the moment. When Snow heard her footsteps, he looked up and granted her a smile.

"Hey, honey."

Naminé gave an almost blank stare before offering a half-hearted wave and pressed forward to the kitchen, reaching the cabinets to fetch some food for her cat. Snow was left miffed at the lack of a reaction. Naminé would often at least acknowledge him more than that, but she went on as if he were invisible. She must have still been upset with him after their disagreement during the tournament.

After Naminé poured some Meow Mix into Mocchi's bowl, she was moments from returning upstairs to kill time until she got a call from Roxas before Snow stopped her.

"So, uh... I guess you're headed out again?"

"Yes," Naminé replied curtly, attempting to leave again before Snow persisted.

"With who?"

This time, she turned around to face him. "What does it matter, exactly?"

Snow narrowed his eyes. "Well, for all I know, you could be out with some hooligan drug dealer promising you some misguided, carefree dream of fortune and affluence while—"

"A drug dealer? Really, Dad?" Naminé rolled her eyes as she clicked her tongue. "I make one friend after years of being a prisoner in my own room for years and all of a sudden I'm some irresponsible, dimwitted floozy incapable of good judgment?"

"I wasn't trying to say—" Snow stopped and took a deep breath, settling his fuse before this turned into a full-blown argument. "Look, I know things have been a little..."

"Awkward," Naminé finished flatly.

"Uh, yeah. But you have to understand I'm only asking because I care about your well-being. A father has to know where his daughter is going and who she is going with."

Naminé crossed her arms and turned her head to the side with a pout. It was almost humorous. He never seemed this annoying before. "I'm hanging out with Roxas and Xion today," she lied. "We're getting ice cream."

The dreaded name. Snow had a hunch he would be involved, but at the very least it seemed she wouldn't be alone with him. He sighed. "That's fine. Just please be home by eight. Now, was that so hard?"

"It wouldn't be if you didn't make such a big deal out of it."

"Since when did I make it a big deal? You're the one who—" Snow grumbled, stopping himself once again. She seemed so much more aggressive these days. How could she even blame him for getting a little worried about her when this change in her attitude seemed so drastic? "Geez louise. When the hell did you get such a lip on you?"

Naminé scoffed but kept whatever hostile thoughts she had to herself.

The tension in their exchange was halted by the TV. "He has some more growing in store, but his potential as the successor to Zachary is boundless," Master Xehanort said. "A special boy with a heart like no other—the light within the darkness. Citizens of the great realm of light in which we domain, I'd like to introduce you to our chosen wielder of the Kingdom Key: Sora Valentine."

Naminé gasped at the sound of that name and shot her head towards the television. Sure enough, only moments later did Sora appear on screen and flashed his smile for the cameras.

"What the hell," said a flabbergasted Snow. "Seriously? That kid?"

Naminé was speechless. Suddenly, it made sense. Kairi had invited Naminé to tag along with her to watch the press conference live in person, but Naminé declined since she already made plans. However, she never mentioned Sora, of all people, being the chosen one. Considering Kairi hung out with him the day before, did she not already know? And if she did, why wouldn't she say anything?

"Just great. The future of this generation in the hands of a snot-nosed kid," Snow said. "Even worse, your little buddy Roxas is associated with him. See why I'm not exactly thrilled about you and Kairi hanging around this crowd now? They seem like good kids, for the most part, but you're asking for trouble."

"But you don't even know Sora," Naminé argued. "He's a good person with a good heart. The Keyblade must have seen that in him. It seems to me I'm not the one with poor judgement of character here."

Before giving her father a chance to retort, Naminé stormed off.

"Naminé!" Snow called out, but she inevitably ignored him. "Damn it."

Groaning, he sat back in his seat as his eyes trailed over to the TV to watch Sora bowing respectfully to each of the foretellers while the crowd went into a frenzy. What were the odds that his daughters would befriend a kid chosen by the ancient Kingdom Key who also happened to have ties with the son of Cloud Strife—a former guardian of light?

"What the hell is going on here?"

---

Another mundane day at the ever bustling Shoyu Shoyu.

It was quite the understatement, Roxas inwardly admitted. The restaurant was practically empty aside from the few regular stragglers that'd often come at the same hour to order the same thing each and every day. It had been a long, uneventful day where the only sparks of intrigue occurred whenever a random fan would pop in to get a picture or autograph of the world-famous son of Cloud Strife and winner of the annual struggle tournament. He was used to the attention. It was there before he appeared on television and it remained constant in the aftermath.

Roxas leaned against the counter, having polished the marble surface moments before. Minutes felt like hours as his thoughts acted as his only form of escapism. How amazing it would be to finally make his dreams come true and go traveling with his own gummi ship. That allure of freedom filled him with excitement to no end.

"Daydreamin' as usual," said Cid who approached the wistful Roxas with a stack of dishes in his hands.

"Well, you know me," Roxas said with a shrug.

"Y'know, fer a man 10, 000 munny richer, I was half expectin' ya to ditch this old shag of a diner and kick me to the curb."

Roxas gave a half-grin. "Aww, come on. You know I couldn't just leave you high and dry, Cid."

"Well, ain't like ya need the payroll anymore, ya little showoff." Cid returned the grin as he set the dishes on the counter and took out his toothpick. "So, what? You just bidin' time?"

"Hey, I've got plans. Might take a bit to get everything set up the way I want, but trust me, I know exactly what I wanna do."

Before Cid could respond, a customer at the counter pointed to the TV. "Yo, Cid. Could you turn up the TV? I think they're makin' a big announcement."

Cid had no objections and did as requested. Soon, Master Xehanort's voice filled the diner. "It is with great honor and privilege that I am able to introduce you all to a certain young man given the burden of responsibility to end the suffering of our elderly, our children, and our families. His age in consideration, we didn't want to thrust him into the public eye until the time called for it. But I can assure you he has been training vigorously in this time of need and he is ready to act."

All attention was directed towards the television as chatter began murmuring across Shoyu Shoyu.

"Sounds like they're announcin' the chosen one," Cid said. "It's about damn time. Almost thought the Keyblade ain't get passed down fer a sec there."

Roxas watched with mild curiosity and a touch of indifference. If anything, he was relieved. Maybe if they finally revealed the Kingdom Key's chosen to the public, he could catch a break and all expectant eyes would be off him for a change.

"A special boy with a heart like no other—the light within the darkness," Xehanort continued. "Citizens of the great realm of light in which we domain, I'd like to introduce you to our chosen wielder of the Kingdom Key: Sora Valentine."

The collective chatter of the diner grew louder and more intense as they voiced their opinions over the spiky-haired teenager that soon made the scene.

"You're... shittin' me," Cid said in a low voice. "You knew about this, Scraggly?" When he didn't get a response, he looked over at his employee. "Scraggly?"

Roxas's jaw was dropped. One might have thought he was paralyzed. Slowly but surely, he began putting the pieces together. It explained Sora's sudden absences whenever they wanted to hang out and why he seemed... unlike himself in recent days.

Why did he never say anything? Did he keep it a secret from them all? It would have been much easier for him to swallow if it weren't one of his closest friends. The pressure Roxas felt on his shoulders felt insignificant compared to what Sora would have to go through moving forward. But still...

...so much for catching that break.

"Roxas?" Cid shook the boy on his shoulder.

"W-What?" Roxas blinked. "Oh, sorry. No, I had no idea. He never told me."

"Prob'ly wanted to keep whatever normalcy he had intact, if I had to make a guess," Cid said, stroking his chin. "Ain't often we see the Keyblade choose someone so young. Not to mention a doofus like Sora."

Roxas frowned. "Cut it out. Sora might not be the quickest on the uptake, but he's not stupid."

Cid shrugged. "If you say so. All I'm sayin' is I hope a scrawny shit like 'im has what it takes. Let's see if he can pull it off."

Roxas looked at the TV screen as Sora waved to the public, a smile wavering between confidence and nervousness. Eventually, Sora summoned the Keyblade and pointed it towards the sky with a look of resolve. People might have had their opinions, but Roxas knew Sora better than most.

"He will."

---

Back at the press conference, Sora sat down at a table closer to the crowd along with some of his immediate family. His mother, father, Donald, and Goofy sat to his left while a few of the foretellers sat to his right. Behind the barrage of news reporters shoving their microphones and tape recorders in his face, Sora could make out faces from the crowd better. In the short distance, he spotted Kairi looking at him with an admirable gleam. Her smile felt comforting. It would have been only more comforting if she were there by his side instead.

She waved at him as she mouthed the word "hi." Sora mouthed it back before mouthing "thank you."

"Sora will now be answering questions," Foreteller Invi stated. "Please keep them brief."

The news reporters began clammering at once chanting Sora's name, begging for a question to be answered. To say the least, Sora was overwhelmed. For the next forty-five minutes, Sora was stuck answering many questions he didn't always have a good answer to.

Some of them were simple. How long had he lived in Destiny Islands? What school did he attend? Who assisted him in his mentoring and training in the Keyblade arts?

Others were far more complex. How did he feel after finding out he, of all people, was the chosen one destined to maintain order and balance among the worlds? What would be his first act in his quest to solve the geostigma epidemic? Hypothetically speaking, how would he have handled someone of the likes of Sephiroth or Kefka Palazzo who threatened the balance years prior?

Sora answered some questions more gracefully than others, but what made it easier was being able to see his friend in the audience cheering him on—those eyes lit with fondness. Every time Sora felt his confidence waver and pressure build, he looked her in the eyes and found the courage to keep going.

They were going to get through this, she told him in spirit. She was telling him he would be okay.

"All right, I believe that's enough," Aced said. "For now, let the boy rest. Tomorrow is when his journey truly begins. Let us commend this day as a momentous one, as we finally found the light within the darkness. Thank you all for attending."

Sora felt relief wash over him as he was allowed backstage to see his family again. Though not before looking back into the dispersing crowd to find Kairi trying to reach the front. He tugged on Ira's cloak and pointed in her direction.

"Hey, that's my friend there. Is it okay if she joins us in the back?" Sora asked.

Ira placed a hand on his shoulder. "Of course, son."

---

The security guards retrieved Kairi from the crowd as directed by Foreteller Ira and was led backstage. Kairi felt sorely underdressed next to the burly men in hooded cloaks and with colorful sashes secured around their waists.

"So, uh..." Kairi began. "You guys going to another ceremony? You sure look the part!"

When the men didn't respond or acknowledge her attempt at lightening the mood, Kairi kept to herself and pursed her lips.

"Okay, then..." Kairi chuckled nervously.

She soon found Sora with his back facing her as he conversed with his family: Yuffie, Vincent, Vanitas, Xion, Haru, Amaya, as well as the latter's parents surrounded him. At the sight of her friend, Kairi's inhibitions disappeared.

"Sora!" she shouted as she ran towards him.

Sora turned around and a smile immediately stretched his cheeks. "Hey, Kai—"

He was cut off when she trapped him into a hug. Caught by surprise, Sora stood frozen. "You did great out there!"

When she pulled back, she found an embarrassed Sora rubbing the back of his head. "Was I?"

"For someone who nearly had a panic attack when I was on the phone with him last night, you handled it extremely well."

"Well... my breakfast might disagree with you in about an hour." Sora chuckled.

"Kairi!" Haru cried as let go of Amaya's hand and happily jumped into Kairi's arms. Kairi returned the affection by giving the five-year-old a warm hug.

"Hey, Haru! You look so pretty!"

"Not as pretty as you! Right, Sora?"

Kairi sent Sora a mischievous smirk, as if she were daring him to be bold.

Were Kairi and Haru in some kind of secret alliance with the intention to embarrass him at any moment? He wouldn't put it past them. "W-Well, uh..." Sora stammered.

"Ahem!" Yuffie coughed, looking expectant.

Sora placed a hand on Kairi's back. "Mom, Dad—you guys remember Kairi, right?"

"We do?" Vincent said off-handedly, earning him a far from subtle jab in the elbow from his wife.

"Of course we do!" Yuffie interjected. "It's nice to see you again, Kairi. I'm so glad my son made a friend he can trust. We're honored to have you be part of our circle."

Kairi wrapped her hands behind her back and bowed. "Please. If anything, I'm the one who's honored."

Vanitas snuck over to Sora's side and nudged his shoulder playfully. "Look at that. Your first groupie."

Sora glared at him. "Knock it off," he whispered back. "She's not like that."

Xion crossed her arms. "I'm honestly not sure how I feel about this."

"Me neither," Amaya agreed, concern painting her face. "Chosen one or not, aren't there more professionally trained adults out there who can handle this sort of thing?"

Yuffie sighed. "This ain't ideal, that's for sure, but we all knew this day was coming sooner or later."

Amaya had many other questions she wanted to bring to their attention, but she decided to keep it to herself for the time being. Too much didn't add up to her.

"Whatever the case, we'll have to adjust," said Amaya's father.

"I know," Amaya said, averting her eyes. "I just want to be sure you're safe, Sora... and I hope you know what you're doing."

"I'd be lying if I said I did," Sora admitted. "But let's look on the bright side. Maybe this'll be the push I need to get stronger."

Amaya wasn't moved by his statement.

"I know you're worried, Amaya, but I need you to believe in me. All of you. Trust me, I'd give anything to stay here with each and every one of you. But I can't sit back and do nothing when I know people are dying. I wouldn't feel any better if I just watched on the sidelines and let it happen." Sora smiled, thinking back to Eraqus. "Besides, I made a promise to someone. I wanna keep it."

For a moment, there was silence. It seemed the rest of them remained uncertain until Kairi broke the quiet.

"I believe in you," she said, placing a hand on his shoulder and chest. "Always have."

With that, a collective of relief settled over the rest of them. A lingering anxiety still drifted in the air, but if Sora could keep an attitude like that, it was hard not to trust him.

Amaya sighed. "Where do you two get that optimism of yours, anyway?"

Xion grinned and shrugged. "It's annoyingly refreshing, isn't it?"

"Hey, who knows? It could be a lot of fun!" Sora said. "I'll get to visit a whole bunch of new worlds. I wanna see 'em all!"

"Just try not to do anything too reckless out there, okay?" Amaya said.

Sora grinned as he clasped his hands behind his head. "Hey, no promises there."

Sora, Xion, Kairi, and Amaya jumped when they felt a buzz coming from each of their gummiphones. They pulled them out to find new messages in their collective group chat.

Roxas: I think this calls for an emergency meetup at the island?

Axel: Hell fuckin yeah. Was just bout to say the same thing. Somebody's got some serious explainin to do!

"Oh, boy..." Sora said.

"Guess we saw that coming," Kairi said cheerily.

The four exchanged a collective nod to each other.

"Mind if we be excused for a bit?" Xion asked their parents.

"You still haven't finished your chor—" Vincent started.

"Sure!" Yuffie interrupted. "Just don't be out too late. You've got a big day tomorrow too, Sora."

"Right." Sora nodded. He looked down at his phone and sent a message in the group chat.

Sora: You gonna show up Riku?

It took a little while before Sora got a response.

Riku: Busy.

Sora sighed while Amaya scoffed at the immaturity on display from him. She was going to have a serious talk with him when she had the time.

---

After Naminé received a video call from Roxas letting her know he was outside, she went downstairs and out the door without giving her father so much as a glance as she shut the door behind her. Roxas gave her his signature grin as he finger gunned her way from inside the car.

"Get in, loser. We're getting ice cream," Roxas joked.

Naminé rolled her eyes but didn't repress her giggling as she walked closer. "First off, finger guns? Way to be even dorkier than usual."

"I thought being dorky was my biggest selling point."

"Being endlessly exhausting is your biggest selling point."

"I resent that."

Naminé chuckled as she entered the passenger seat. "Second of all, what is it with you and eating ice cream? It's like it's all you ever want to do."

"Blasphemy! Does thou not comprehend eating ice cream together is objectively the most correct base for any true friendship?"

"Very convincing argument. Are ice cream dates all that your friendship has to offer?"

"Depends. You wanna order the benefits package?" Roxas raised and lowered his eyebrows suggestively.

Naminé did her best to ignore her flustered cheeks and let out a sigh. "You should probably stop hanging out with Axel for a while."

Roxas laughed as he started up the car again and drove off.

"So, did you hear?" Naminé asked.

Roxas's smile diminished. "Uh huh."

"I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it on TV. Did you know?"

"Nope."

Naminé tapped her chin. "Really? I understand him wanting to keep it a secret, but... I would've thought he would have at least told you guys. I wonder why not."

"Welp, that's exactly what we're going to find out today. As much as I was looking forward to the ice cream date, we have a change of plans. We can get ice cream afterwards if there's time."

Naminé pretended to gasp. "Is that thee Roxas Strife passing up an ice cream outing? No! You must be an alien taking over his body."

"Yeah, yeah. Hack it up. But this is serious. I can't believe my own friend is the chosen one and never told me."

A momentary silence consumed the car.

"How do you feel about it?" Naminé asked.

Roxas sighed. "Considering all of the implications it might hold, I really don't know."

---

"So, let me get this straight," Axel began. "You, Sora Valentine, extremely ordinary and severely lacking in terms of sexual energy, professional goofball, and routine runner up, Sora Valentine... are the chosen one of the most mythical and revered weapons in history?"

Sora gave Axel a blank stare. "That's right."

"Okay, where are the hidden cameras?" Axel asked, looking out into the distance.

The group had met up on the play island as planned. They sat surrounding a fireplace with dusk settling behind them. While most were content to listen to Sora's side of the story, Axel had been ranting since they got the fire started and wouldn't give Sora a chance to interject. Xion, Kairi, Amaya, and Larxene watched him with impatience while Roxas and Naminé kept relatively quiet during his spiel. Roxas in particular seemed as if he were in a different world as he stared into space.

"It's not a stupid prank show," Xion said. "And could you cut it out with the blatant disrespect? Technically, Sora could smother you with a blast of Firaga if he wanted to."

Sora rubbed the back of his head. "Not that I would, but... yeah."

Axel pinched one of Sora's cheeks and stretched it out to an exaggerated degree, giving Sora a nonconsensual, forced smile. "But just look at 'im! He's so... plain. I mean, let's be real, Roxas could mop the floor with 'im in a one-on-one showdown. No offense."

Sora smacked Axel's hand away. "Well, at least you said no offense. Now my feelings don't hurt," he remarked sarcastically.

Kairi crossed her arms and gave him a stern look. "There's much more to being the chosen one, Axel. You should know that."

Axel paced back and forth with his hands tied behind his back. "I just don't understand... what're the odds one of my own buddies would be holdin' out on me on one of the biggest secrets in the history of secrets? Just what kind of a friend are you, anyway?"

"Sora had his reasons," Amaya interjected.

"And what reasons were those?" Axel pressed. "Well, answer us, man! The court would like to know!"

Having had enough of his rambling, Xion stood up and snatched Axel by the collar of his shirt. "If you don't shut your trap in the next five seconds, I'm gonna mallet you with a hammer and stuff you in a jar to bury in a graveyard. Got it?"

Axel stared at her before coughing in his fist. "Got it."

Xion let go and sat back down, accepting a gracious high-five from Larxene to her left.

"Sora's had a tough enough time keeping it secret for the past few years as it is," Xion said. "Give him a break, Lea."

"The name's Axel. For the last time, get it memorized, will ya?" Axel paused. "Wait a sec, a few years?"

Sora nodded. "It happened when I was fourteen."

"Fourteen?!" Axel echoed. He pointed at Xion. "And you knew this whole time?!"

"Of course I knew, you idiot," Xion remarked. "Why wouldn't they tell his immediate family?"

"The absolute nerve." Axel crossed his arms and dramatically lifted his nose. "And I thought we were best friends who told each other everything."

"I wasn't gonna rat him out! He's my brother."

Axel narrowed his eyes. "So was I."

Xion deadpanned. "No. You weren't."

"Guys, can we maybe not get sidetracked here?" Amaya pointed out.

"She's right. What Sora doesn't need from us right now is an interrogation," Kairi said, placing a hand on Sora's shoulder. "What he needs is our support and to listen to his side of things. I don't think it'd kill you, Axel."

"Of course I support 'im," Axel defended. "But you can't blame a guy for feelin' the least bit betrayed by the secrecy, can ya?"

"I didn't want to get anyone else involved," Sora said. "I didn't want things to change between us. I wanted to keep living a normal life and hang out with you guys. You know, go to school, hang out on weekends."

"Pfft, why would ya wanna do all that boring stuff? Dude, you're a walkin' chick magnet now! Just think of all the action you're gonna get from ladies now that they all know you're—"

"Zip it!" Xion snapped.

"I don't think you get it, Axel," Sora said. "I never wanted the attention. I don't want to be the most popular guy in the universe 'cause a key chose me. I just wanted people to like me for me, that's all."

After a moment of contemplative silence amongst the group, Axel had to ruin it on cue. "Yeah, but... why?"

Larxene jabbed him in the side.

Kairi pursed her lips before offering him a smile. "Well, if it helps, I liked you long before I suspected who you really were."

"R-Really?" Sora stammered with wide eyes.

Realizing the implication, Kairi suddenly felt her cheeks glow with slight embarrassment. But she didn't make much of an effort to take back what she said. She was fine, however Sora chose to take that.

"Well, of course," Kairi continued. "You were always adorkable in your own sort of way."

Sora chuckled. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"Yeah, yeah, get a room already," Axel mumbled loud enough for only himself and Larxene to hear.

Sora looked across their circle to spot Roxas and Naminé, the former with his legs crossed as his eyes seemed locked to the fire while the latter listened and observed the conversation. Naminé was quiet as usual, but it seemed uncharacteristic of Roxas.

"Hey, man," Sora said, catching Roxas's attention. "You haven't said much. What do you think about all of this?"

Roxas took a moment to gather his thoughts. "I just never knew you were dealing with this the whole time. The pressure you've gotta feel must be pretty intense."

"It hasn't been what it's cracked up to be, that's for sure. I don't know how much good I can do, but the very least I can do is try."

Roxas shook his head. He, more than anyone, understood at least a semblance of the pressure Sora was facing. Surely, he had people behind the scenes giving him just as much, if not, more of a hard time than the public already did to the son of Cloud Strife. Part of him wanted to be relieved the Keyblade had been passed down to someone other than him—but did it have to be one of his closest friends?

Closest friends.

Maybe he had taken Sora for granted. Now that the realization dawned on him, there was a possibility he could lose Sora—permanently—he couldn't ignore the amount of pain it might entail. Roxas thought back to the night when he watched his father die. He didn't want to lose anyone. Not again.

"They're desperate for answers and now they're forcing you into the outside world. And for what?" Roxas asked. "It's not fair that they're thrusting you into the unknown. Maybe they mean well and all, but you don't deserve this."

Amaya pursed her lips and hugged her arm. "That's been on my mind, too. Roxas brings up a few pretty good points, don't you think?"

"You too, Amaya?" Sora raised an eyebrow.

"Doesn't this all seem a little fishy to you, Sora?" Amaya asked. "Even if Master Xehanort truly believes that you hold some kind of answer to all of this geostigma nonsense, why announce it to the whole galaxy? What's the benefit of turning it into a spectacle?"

Sora crossed his arms and shut his eyes in thought.

"He made it sound like he wanted to give the people hope," Kairi countered. "Maybe now that everyone knows that the cycle wasn't cut and the Keyblade actually was passed down, they can sleep a little easier."

"I guess," Amaya said, half-convinced. "But... personally, I'd sleep a little easier once a cure was found. That seems a little more practical as an announcement. Not to publicize the identity of someone who's still so young. And what does this mean for the rest of us? Especially for your parents."

"She might be onto something, Sora," Xion admitted.

"I'm not sure what else to tell you," Sora conceded. "At this point, all I can think about is doing what I can to make sure each and every one of you is safe. Someone has to."

"But why you?" Roxas asked.

Sora pouted. "You don't think the Keyblade was right to choose me, do you?"

"That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying I don't want my friend to get hurt."

"If I don't do something, maybe someone innocent will get hurt."

"But what exactly are you supposed to do? You're supposed to go out there and figure something out about a virus we know almost nothing about? It's like sending someone out there to look for a needle in a haystack with a blindfold on expecting them to come back in one piece. It doesn't make any sense."

Sora took a moment to come up with a counterpoint. "Well, what else are they supposed to do? The best experts in all that science-y stuff can't seem to figure anything out about this disease. It's not like they haven't tried. I don't think they'd send me out there if it wasn't a last resort."

"And who's to say you'll fare any better?" Amaya challenged.

"Exactly," Roxas agreed. "What if you go out there and you're in way over your head? What if..." he trailed off. Roxas hesitated, but he didn't want to sugarcoat the reality of the situation. "What if it means you'll have to sacrifice everything? Even your life."

A cold silence took over the group as all eyes were directed at Sora. He hung his head low, mustering an answer. Sora met that question and possibility more than once. To their surprise, Sora lifted his head with a smile.

"I dunno," Sora said. "Maybe it's destiny."

Roxas was lost for words. It was the same thing he said to Seifer a while ago. With a defeated chuckle and grin, Roxas conceded. He had always flirted with the idea of destiny. "Guess you got me there."

Though, lately Roxas questioned his own fascination with destiny. He was almost beginning to see Seifer's side of things. What good was destiny if it led you to your own destruction? After all, Roxas had his own dreams that didn't align with society's expectations of him and he knew Sora did, too. He understood Sora was the chosen one, but he couldn't quite understand why Sora would willingly sacrifice his dreams for something so ambivalent without much of a fight.

Regardless, Roxas could see it in Sora's eyes. His heart was decided. There wasn't much use in trying to change that.

"Just be careful out there, okay?" Axel added, sounding serious for once. "Last thing we need to hear is you gettin' your shit rocked."

"Don't worry, I'll be fine," Sora said, resting his fist to his chest. "Someone special told me that what's important is to have something to cling to when I need it most. Thoughts of you guys, Mom, Dad, Haru... even Riku... that's all I'll need to find the strength to come back home. Knowing that whatever I do is to protect you is enough to keep me going. Something to fight for... with all my heart."

"Heh, sappy as always," Axel said.

"Okay, but if you don't call me at least three times a week to let me know you're okay, I'm gonna kill you," Xion said, narrowing her eyes at her brother.

"That goes double for me," Kairi said, hooking her arms around his neck with a mischievous smirk.

Sora waved his hands nervously. "No worries, I promise!"

"Welp, now that that's over, let's lighten up and celebrate a little, huh?" Axel suggested, reaching into his cooler and tossing each of his friends a can of cold soda. He opened his own and raised it to the sky. "To Sora!"

The others raised their cans alongside him, some more enthusiastically than others. "To Sora!"

---

The drive back home for Roxas and Naminé was a surprisingly quiet one. Even though they had a good time with their friends after their serious conversation, the uneasiness of the situation still lingered in the air, making Roxas less talkative. Naminé understood. One of his best friends was being sent away and there wasn't anything he could do about it. She could only imagine how she would feel if she found out Kairi suddenly had to go away on some potentially dangerous expedition. She only wished she had the words to soothe his spirit.

"Sorry we had to rain check on that ice cream," Roxas said suddenly, making Naminé jump a little in her seat. "Didn't expect that to take so long. I promise I'll make it up to you tomorrow after we see Sora off in the morning."

Naminé shook her head. "You don't have to make anything up to me." A moment of silence passed before she interrupted it. "It must be strange for you, huh?"

"Strange is one of the many words I would use to describe this." As they came to a stop light, Roxas leaned his head back into his chair. "Sora is leaving to look for an answer for a potential world crisis and in the back of my mind I keep thinking... 'at least it wasn't me.' You think that makes me a bad person?"

Naminé bit her bottom lip. She hated to admit it, but he wasn't alone in that thought. Of course, she felt for Sora and wished he didn't have to deal with the circumstances as they were. Yet if she had to make a choice... the outcome didn't entirely demoralize her.

"I don't think you're a bad person at all."

Her words and the heartfelt sincerity in her tone was reassuring, even if Roxas wasn't fully convinced. He gave a ghost of a smile before the light flashed a bright green and returned his attention to the road.

"I almost considered offering to join him," Roxas admitted. "A decent excuse to get out of town for a bit. Besides, what good is the esteemed son of Cloud Strife if he doesn't give a helping hand when things start looking a little bad, am I right?"

"Roxas, you're sixteen."

"So is he."

"Well, yes, but..." Naminé trailed off for a moment before realigning her thoughts. "That responsibility wasn't placed on your shoulders."

"Doesn't stop me from being worried about him, though."

"I'm worried about him, too, but it's like he said, we have to believe in him."

Roxas scoffed. "You know, you're surprisingly optimistic for a cynical hermit."

Naminé gaped. "Cynical? I am so not..." She stopped when Roxas gave her a look."No, you're right, I totally am."

Roxas grinned. "Yeah, don't even try to argue that one. But you've got your moments. Maybe your shell of cynicism just needs to shed and out will flourish a beautiful, bubbly butterfly."

"Yeah, poetry isn't for you."

Roxas laughed. "Offense fully taken." They enjoyed a comfortable silence before he spoke up once more. "Besides, there's one thing in Twilight Town that's keeping me from packing my bags and trotting on an epic world-hopping adventure."

"Let me guess, sea-salt ice cream?"

Roxas chuckled. "Close, but no. A promise."

With confusion, Naminé looked at Roxas as he gave her what had to be one of the warmest smiles she'd seen of his.

"I told you. I'll never leave you."

At the sound of the sudden and bold declaration, Naminé nearly lost her breath. She turned her head to face the window, if only to hide the ends of her lips curling upwards without her control. "So, you remembered."

"Hey, I never make a promise I don't intend to keep."

"Well, good." Naminé kept her eyes focused on the passing palm trees outside her window, the tropical paradise glistening beneath the moonlit sky. "Because... I don't want you to go either."

Selfish as it sounded, it was true. Naminé would've liked to say she simply wanted to escape boredom, and Roxas played a key part in making her life more eventful than usual, but she knew that was only a quarter of the real truth.

Roxas glanced over at her. He couldn't see her face as she was leaning her elbow against the window and resting her chin on her fist, but he had a hunch for what kind of face she was making. It was refreshing to hear how open and honest she could be with him, even if she was still a little shy about it. She really had come a long way these past two months.

"Your wish is my command, m'lady. I wouldn't want to let go of this fine piece of ass if I were you myself."

Naminé turned her head halfway and eyed him with lowered glasses. "Oh, how modest of you."

Roxas chuckled. "I know you said I didn't have to make anything up to you for missing out on ice cream today, but I am."

Naminé rolled her eyes. "Oh, Roxas. Please don't make a big deal out of it. I love ice cream as much as the next gal, but only you would hold a grudge over missing an ice cream outing."

"True, I'd probably sue you for false advertisement, but that's not the point," Roxas conceded, making Naminé giggle as she shook her head. "I know it's been a little crazy lately with the tournament, fancy dinners, sudden announcements about one of our friends being a secret celebrity this whole time... I think we've earned some quiet time."

"I can certainly attest to that. There's been so much going on lately, I feel like I want to hide in my room forever."

"Well, that's introverts for you," Roxas joked. "Tomorrow, we're gonna get away from all of this craziness, okay? I promise. And no, it won't be ice cream."

Naminé gave him a look.

"Okay, it won't just be ice cream," he admitted. "We should do something else. Lay low and just... forget about everything."

Naminé played with her hands for a moment, feeling the texture of her palms. "Just the two of us?"

"Just the two of us," Roxas asserted.

A tiny smile graced her lips. Alone time with Roxas? She'd been wanting that since before the dinner party. "I'd like that."

Roxas returned her smile. "Deal."

"And just what do you have in mind for this private one-on-one session?"

"You want the dirty answer or the clean one?"

"Oh my god."

"Sorry, you walked right into that one."

They shared a light chuckle as they drove into the emptiness of night. Thoughts ruminated through Naminé's mind over what the future held for herself and Roxas. She couldn't deny it anymore. There was something about him that drew her to him and the thought of him leaving the islands was almost terrifying. She remained unsure on how to take the next step or if he even wanted that for them. Deep down, she wanted to believe Roxas felt the same, but he hadn't made too bold of a move yet. She could probably thank her father for that. But she didn't want to look back on these moments later on in life and regret missing out on what could have been. Time would tell what would become of them. She closed her eyes and heard her mother's voice singing wistfully in her head.

Qué será, será...

Whatever will be, will be.

---

Ansem the Wise was in the middle of jotting down notes for his current line of research in his study. Bags sagged underneath his eyes. It looked like this was going to be another all-nighter, but it didn't matter. He had to create some sort of contingency for the horrors his research could have meant for the world. For him, the nights of self-loathing had begun to meld together. But what other choice did he have?

A knock came from his door. Ansem dreaded who was behind it. He quickly hid his papers in a drawer before clearing his throat.

"Come in."

In walked Xigbar, freshly fitted in his usual Shinra suit. "Time's a-wastin', old man."

Ansem didn't care to respond and simply watched with disdain as Xigbar sauntered through the room to make sure there weren't any unwanted ears prying in on their conversation. Once the coast seemed clear enough, Xigbar rested his shoulders a bit and sat right on Ansem's desk.

"Man, you look terrible," Xigbar said with a shit-eating grin. "Gotta remember to rest up, doc. Don't think Master Xehanort would be in a very good mood if you didn't keep that brain of yours ripe and refreshed."

"My apologies," Ansem said. "This is simply the result of what it looks like to become someone's prisoner."

Xigbar scoffed. "Aww, don't pout. It'll all be over soon. You do what we say and your beloved junior will be outta harm's way. So, play nice."

Ansem clutched a fist underneath the desk. Yes, he had to remind himself why he was doing their bidding in the first place. The thought of Ienzo's safety was what kept him going. Still, he could never ignore the catastrophic repercussions that would plague the worlds with his research.

"Sooooo," Xigbar began, "is the machine ready?"

Ansem placed two hands on his desk and stood to his feet. "See for yourself."

Ansem walked over to a large, framed picture of his son, Ienzo. He carefully removed it from its hook, setting it on the ground to the side. The wall was covered in a diagram. Ansem placed his hand on the wall, allowing the specific area to read his fingerprints before light encompassed a hidden door. With a sigh, Ansem walked further into his secret computer room.

Xigbar hopped off the desk and followed Ansem's lead. "Heh. Neat party trick."

Through the short, angular hallway, Xigbar got a nice view of a manufactory below filled to the brim with containers. Once Ansem reached his computer, he wasted little time performing a few keystrokes to get his unfortunate demonstration ready.

Xigbar examined the room with a great amount of intrigue. There was a noticeable terminal on the back wall. "Gotta love a guy who can accessorize," Xigbar said. "Man, I wonder what the rest of the High Council would think if they saw this place?" Not getting much of a reaction out of Ansem, Xigbar chuckled. "Ahh, don't worry about that. Just remember to keep lookin' at the bigger picture and all will be just fine. 'Course, the munny can't be a bad deal either. Let us know if you need some new test tubes."

"Is this all a game to you?"

"As if," Xigbar said with a scoff. "We're doin' what the so-called 'chosen ones' have never done. Maintain balance."

"By orchestrating a mass genocide in the pursuit of economic stability. How comforting," Ansem said sarcastically.

"Well, when ya say it like that." Xigbar chortled. "Let's keep it movin', doc. Papa Xehanort is a patient man, but he won't like me comin' back empty-handed."

"Then you should be happy to know your superior will be more than happy with what I was able to construct. Observe."

With a few more keystrokes, the containers in the big manufactury below began emitting purple hues of light, striking what looked like bolts of lightning onto the red platforms on the surface. They created creatures with an emblem located on various spots of their bodies. They disappeared before they could make any sudden movements.

Xigbar had a vile sneer on his lips as he watched what was happening unfold. "This oughta keep Sora preoccupied while we move forward with the plan. Xehanort will be pleased. I'll go let 'im know the machine is ready. You should give yourself a pat on the back. You've really outdone yourself this time, Mr. Wise."

Ansem lowered his head in shame as he turned the machine off. "What have I done?"

"Ugh, always with the drama," Xigbar groaned. He turned on his heel to leave. "Go get yourself some sea-salt ice cream or somethin'. That'll cheer you up. In the meantime, sit tight until we're ready to proceed."

"And Ienzo?"

"Nothing's gonna happen to 'im," Xigbar assured, waving him off without looking. "Consider this a job well done."

---

It was time for his journey to begin.

Sora got out of his father's van with a backpack strapped to both shoulders as he looked up at the tall gummi station located on the south end of Destiny Islands. They were taken to a private parking lot to avoid harassment from the public. His immediate family, including Vince, Yuffie, Xion, and Vanitas all stepped out of the van.

Xion observed her brother. She couldn't imagine what must have been going through his head. In just a few moments, he'd be leaving the island he'd grown up on for who knows how long.

"You okay?" Xion asked, coming to his side and giving his shoulder a gentle touch.

Unexpectedly, Sora offered a smile. It wasn't one laced without pain, but he did what he could to keep his spirits up. "Don't worry, I'm okay," Sora answered.

Yuffie sighed. She approached her son and wrapped her arms around him. "I'm going to miss you, Porcupine. So, so much."

It wasn't often Sora heard his cheerful, carefree mother sound so heartfelt. But it wasn't an unwelcome change of pace. "Don't worry, Mom. It's not like I'm gonna be banned from Destiny Islands. I'll be back to visit before you know it."

Yuffie patted him on the cheek. "You better."

Vincent put a hand on Sora's shoulder. "Be careful out there."

Sora nodded. He looked towards Vanitas, who was leaning against the van with his arms crossed trying to maintain a cool look of indifference. Sora put on a smirk and placed his hands on his hips.

"What, no goodbye kiss from you?" Sora teased.

"Don't make me lose my lunch," Vanitas snapped. "You better not die out there, okay? Or I'll kick your ass."

"Language," Yuffie chastised.

Sora chuckled. "Love you too, big bro."

Vanitas pretended to scoff to hide his concern.

A bodyguard dressed in the familiar foreteller cloak approached Sora and his family. "Right this way, everyone. We'll lead you to an underground depot to avoid the news reporters and fans."

Indeed, there had been a large gathering in and outside of the station with many island-dwellers knowing Sora was leaving today. They had come to either see him off, get an autograph, ask him last-minute questions, or to simply get a glimpse at the prostiged chosen one of the universe. It was decided that the last thing Sora needed was the overwhelming attention and they opted for a more covert approach.

Vanitas decided to hang back with the van. As instructed, the rest of them followed the bodyguard through a gate leading them through a tunnel. It was a dark and cramped necessity to avoid the public. No one complained, though. Especially since the journey was short-lived as they reached a door where the bodyguard inserted a code into a keypad. When it opened, the first thing that caught Sora's attention were all of his friends cooped up in one fairly large station in front of a purple train.

"There you are!" Kairi cheered, making everyone cease their side conversations and turn their attention to Sora and his family.

A big smile spread across Sora's face as he ran inside to catch up with them. "Guys!"

"About time you showed up," Donald said, tapping his foot. "We've been waiting here forever!"

"It's only been about thirty minutes," Kairi noted.

"C'mon, you didn't think we would miss out on seein' ya off, did we?" Axel said.

"We almost did since someone spent an hour and a half doing his frickin' hair," Larxene said, sending him a glare.

"What? I at least wanna look good the last time I'll see my boy in a while," Axel defended. "Y'know, so he can—"

"Get it memorized," Roxas finished. "Yeah, we know, Axel."

"Sora!" Haru shouted as she sprinted towards him. Sora was quick to catch her in his arms and hike her up to his level.

"Aha! Looks like you just fell into the paws of the ferocious tickle monster!" Sora joked as he used his free hand to run his fingers up and down Haru's belly.

Haru went into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. It died down once Sora gave her a chance to breathe. "B-But I want the tickle monster to stay this time! I don't want him to go away!"

Sora became overcome with many emotions. He was going to miss them a lot. Even if their separation wasn't permanent, the uncertainty of the future gave him a feeling of finality. There was no telling what would happen, but he didn't want to bring the mood down and accepted their consideration for him with open arms.

"Don't worry. The tickle monster will be back soon," Sora assured. "He's never too far away."

"Pinky promise?!"

Sora chuckled as he entangled his comparatively large finger with her tiny one. "Pinky promise."

"Besides, he's not the only tickle monster you'll have to worry about, is he?" Amaya said in a mischievous tone as she took Haru back into her arms.

"No! Sora, save meeee!" Haru cried.

"Oh, no you don't! Looks like you're stuck with me," Amaya joked.

Sora laughed. "I'll rescue you in no time, Haru. 'Till then, you're gonna have to fight this one on your own." Amaya's eyes lingered on Haru and Sora—her eyes communicating a mix of bittersweet hope. "Besides, you've got an awesome big sister looking after you. Be good and listen to her while I'm gone. Can you do that for me, Haru?"

"Yeah!" Haru said.

"I still can't believe it was you this whole time, Sora," Tifa said. She looked to her longtime friend, Yuffie. "Who knew we gave birth to such incredible young people? You must be proud."

Yuffie placed her hands on Sora's shoulders from behind. She was almost as proud as she was afraid, but to keep the mood light, she went for a more lighthearted approach. "If anything, I'm glad the apartment won't be quite as noisy anymore."

Sora frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you better come back soon so that home can feel normal again," Vincent teased. "That's an order."

Sora grinned as he saluted him. "Aye-aye!"

Sora was surprised when he noticed Roxas nudging a certain shy blonde forward. She approached him carefully with her hands clasped in front of her.

"H-Hey, um..." Naminé stumbled. "I-I don't know if this is going to sound weird or anything, since w-we don't really talk that often and stuff, but uh... I-I do care about you, Sora. A-And you mean a lot to my sister, so... please be safe out there."

She bowed as a show of respect. Sora chuckled at her overly formal approach. "Hey, it isn't weird at all. Any friend of Roxas is a friend of mine."

Naminé's lips were parted for a moment before she gave a more relaxed smile. "I-I'm glad."

Kairi came up from behind Naminé and trapped her into a hug. "Aww, look at you! You're growing up so fast, aren't you, little sister?"

Naminé tried prying her sister away. "Geez, not now, Kairi..."

A few chuckles reverberated in the room while Axel nudged Roxas with a suggestive wink. "You been doin' some pretty top tier personal coaching with 'er, huh?"

Roxas rolled his eyes but kept a smile.

"Let's just get this out of the way because I know you're going to make fun of me for it," Amaya said, pulling out her first-aid kit out of a bag she'd brought with her. "Take this with you. Obviously, I can't tag along with you, so I'm just going to trust you'll be responsible enough to make good use of it."

Sora rolled his eyes but accepted the gift graciously before stuffing it into his backpack. "You know Donald and I have healing magic, right?"

"Well, this is for the stuff you can't cover up. Like bruises."

"I guess so."

"At least she's more responsible than you," Donald teased.

"Hey!" Sora said. Donald pointed at him and chuckled at his face.

Next was Kairi. With an affectionate look, she approached Sora. "You know, I always knew there was something different about you."

Sora rubbed the back of his head. "I still don't see what the big deal about me is."

"Honestly, me neither," Axel commented. He was quickly shushed by Xion.

"No, really," Kairi said, resting her hands on his shoulders. "You're one of the most genuine guys I've ever met. You may not see the strength you have inside, but I do. I always have." She placed a hand on his cheek. "I'm real lucky to have met you."

Sora shook his head. "It's the other way around for me."

"Whatever you say, you big dope." She pulled him into a hug, one which he graciously returned. "Fair warning: I'll be calling you pretty much everyday. I want consistent updates. You better pick up."

"Wouldn't miss it."

When they pulled away, Kairi reached for a bag of her own. "I actually have something for you, too." She pulled out a bag of anpan, delicately crafted with red bean paste. "I made them myself! Spent half of my night baking them for you."

"Oh, this is one of my favorites!" Sora said as he took hold of the bag. "How'd you know?"

"I'm just awesome. Or I might've hit up Xion last night asking her what kind of stuff you like." She winked at Xion when she said that, to which her friend returned.

"Thanks, Kairi. You didn't have to do that. You're the best."

"As long as you know it!"

Goofy checked a watch he had underneath his green sleeve. "Gee, I hate to interrupt, but we better get goin', Sora. Master Yen Sid's gonna be expectin' us soon."

Sora nodded. "Okay, I guess I better get going then."

As Donald and Goofy waved to everyone and boarded the train, Sora gave his last goodbyes and hugs to all of his friends. At last, he was face-to-face with Roxas.

"This could've been the other way around," Roxas said. "But it really has to be you."

"What do you mean?"

"I always felt like I had an obligation to live up to my father's name. Even when I was a kid, I had adults barking in my ear that one day I'd grow up to be just like him. But I was never interested. So, I can't help but feel a little guilty seeing you go off on your own like this. I know it probably sounds dumb, but it makes me feel like I've casted the burden onto you."

Sora sighed, shaking his head. "No. Roxas, I know how you've felt about the pressure everyone puts on you from your dad. But you don't have to worry about that. Cloud doesn't expect anything more from you except to follow your dreams. I wanted to tell you that. That you deserve just as much as I do to be your own person and live your life the way you want to live it."

Roxas was caught by surprise by his genuinity, but gave a warm smile. "Sora, see? That's why it has to be you."

Roxas went into his pocket and pulled out a small pouch, handing it to Sora.

"What's this?" Sora asked.

"Just a little something I want you to keep for good luck," Roxas said. "I gave one to people I consider one of my closest friends. And the more I thought about it, it didn't feel right if I didn't give one to you, too."

Tifa came up from behind Roxas and placed her hands on his shoulder with a kind smile directed at Sora.

"Just remember, Sora, that you always have a special place in our hearts," Roxas said.

After a momentary surprise, Sora tilted his head with a grateful smile before an unforeseen tear slid down his left cheek. It caught everyone by surprise, including Sora as he was unsure of what they were all looking at until he felt a painful longing clutching his heart. He carefully touched his cheek and felt something wet.

"Huh?" Sora rubbed his eyes to wipe the rest of his tears away before it got out of hand. What was that? He knew he was sad to leave them, but the sudden pain that gripped him felt like it didn't come from him alone.

"You okay?" asked a worried Kairi.

"Y-Yeah. Don't know where it came from," Sora said as he patted his cheeks.

"Pull it together," Axel said in a playful voice, trying to lighten the mood.

Embarrassed, Sora raked the back of his hair and kept a smile. "Right... see ya."

With that, Sora finally entered the train and turned around, giving them a final wave as the automated door shut. The train gradually chugged forward on the track, hissing its smoke as it drove towards the big double-doors.

Kairi had her hands wrapped behind her back as she kept pace with the train. Looking at Sora through the window. Giving him a reassuring smile. Sora nodded as his own mode of reassurance that he was okay. She stopped walking as the train picked up more speed and made its exit into the Destiny Islands daylight one last time.

Kairi let out a low sigh. She turned around to get a look at the others, mixed emotions channeling through everyone. Particularly, her eyes landed on Roxas, who crossed his arms and tilted his head lower in contemplation.

---

The gummi train had been reserved solely for Sora and his entourage to get to his first new destination outside of Destiny Islands. Short as he was, Donald had hiked up to look out of the window while Goofy sat beside him, watching out his own window as well.

Sora leaned his shoulder against the door. After holding in his emotions so much and trying his best to put on a happy front for everyone, he felt surprisingly tired. He could see the rays of sunlight glowing against the Destiny Islands palm trees. He savored the sight, for it would surely be the last he'd see it for a while.

Remembering the pouch Roxas had just given him, Sora dug it out of his pocket and gave it a good look. Something for good luck, was it? He opened it and pulled out a blue crystal—the same crystal Roxas had won from the Struggle tournament. The same crystals Roxas had given to Naminé, Xion, and Axel as well. He held it up to the window at the far end of the train and watched its sheen gleam against the sun. This was a token from Roxas to signify he valued him as one of his closest friends.

"You know..." Sora trailed off.

Both Donald and Goofy turned to give Sora their attention, the former of the two hopping away from the window into a sitting position to face him.

Sora closed the crystal ball into the palm of his fist and brought it closer to his chest. Away from the prying eyes of his friends, he could finally let everything go.

"...I'm sad," Sora finished.

Simple words as they were, it was all Sora felt was necessary to convey how he was feeling. While Goofy looked concerned, Donald was quick to settle his anxiety. "We'll be back," Donald assured.

"Yeah, we'll see all yer friends again in no time. Yup, I just know that we will," Goofy said.

With an appreciative smile, Sora nodded. Suddenly, an outburst of light flared outside the window caught his attention as it softened into a new environment; a realm which served as a pathway between numerous different worlds.

"Wow," Sora said. The sight was breathtaking.

The railroad tracks glowed a bright emerald green as the big purple train rode through the vast sea of a black sky glittering with stars. A translucent green exhaust sifted through the atmosphere like a gentle smog.

There was no turning back now.

Memories of Departure

---

Another chapter done in a relatively short amount of time compared to my usual standards ^^;

This chapter was kind of a long-time coming. I've been itching to get Sora out of Destiny Islands for a while and now I can finally start writing more of his side of the story apart from the others, which I think is going to be a ton of fun and a nice homage to canon. I know it might feel like this fic is turning into an adventure story, but I promise that it all does come back around and relates back to the central ships and romance the fic was originally focused on. It's hard for me to even call it a subplot because I think everything in this fic is important.

Some music nods. The scene where Sora is revealed to the public and summons his Keyblade to show the world - I wrote that to the original "Link to All" from DDD. Not so fun fact, I actually wasn't a huge fan of that track, but it's grown on me quite a bit, especially ever since the slower, more emotional ReMind version, which is still my favorite version of the theme.

The song Larxene was singing is meant to be a translated version of Goodbye Happiness by Utada Hikaru.

And last but not least, starting from where Roxas gives Sora the blue crystal, it's written to "Friends in my Heart" from KH2 to match the scene it was lifted from in the game. The original scene is one of my favorites from KH2 and I think it's pretty underrated in how touching of a moment it was for both Roxas and Sora, being able to feel the other's emotions. It's so bittersweet. And I thought it would be perfect to recontextualize for this fic, though now it's Sora channeling Cloud's emotions instead.

So yeah, I think that's about it for this one! I hope you guys are still enjoying this fic. I've been losing a bit of motivation and confidence for it lately, but I hope it isn't a drag to read. I worry that it's too slow paced and not engaging enough, not to mention the inconsistent readership but I fully blame that on my inconsistent updates… I'm going to try my best to stay more on top of this fic. Chapter 23 is already being written.

HUGE thanks to SummonerDagger, ElitexD, DyingofFeels, and SoraxKairi7 for reviewing the last chapter! It really does mean so, so much to me that you all take the time to keep up with the fic despite my inconsistency. I hope to see you all for this one as well!

Take care and see you in 23!