No matter what happened, no matter how much time had passed, Sora's worst nightmares always came true.

It had all happened so fast. Waking up on what should've been a normal Saturday morning to find the kids and the Gummi Ship gone. The dread in his gut because something felt wrong. Racing to get ready, rushing into his battle clothes, leaving a panicked message on Kairi's Gummiphone before taking off as quick as he could. Letting his heart guide his Keyblade. Landing on some world, he didn't know which and he didn't care. All he knew was that his kids were in danger, and if he wasn't fast enough, if he was too late—

There. Miyu and Haruto were fighting some monster on the cliff up ahead. The Heartless and Nobodies were long gone, but other threats remained. Sora didn't recognize this one, but it was big and nasty and he sensed its bloodlust from here. It didn't matter that Miyu was only fifteen and Haruto thirteen. It didn't matter they'd only had their Keyblades for six months. Monsters didn't care about things like that. Fighting fair was a losing game in a kill or be killed universe.

As he raced to reach his kids, he cursed himself for not being in peak fighting form anymore. Yeah, he was thirty-seven, but that was no excuse for slacking off. He should be going faster, he should be there by now. If he was his younger self, he would've reached his kids by now.

Why was he so slow?

The monster whirled around, and Sora's heart dropped into his stomach. Emi was here too. Why was she here? She shouldn't be here, she was only eight and she didn't even have a Keyblade yet—

The monster let out a loud roar as it swiped its tail, knocking Miyu and Haruto off their feet. A terrified Emi cowered against a rock, and the monster raised its arm full of horrible claws.

One loud, clear thought rang out throughout Sora's mind. He wouldn't let this creature take his kids from him like this. Not now, not ever.

He shouted and cast a barrier around Miyu and Haruto, then sprang in front of Emi. All the fear, all the horror, all the dread from the Keyblade Graveyard came roaring back. He swore he could taste its dust and feel its hot, dry wind on his face. A moment later, searing pain tore into his side. A scream ripped from his throat, and he summoned an enormous ball of fire and cast it at the horrible beast. It screeched as its body was set aflame, then staggered backwards and fell off the cliff.

When he was satisfied it was dead, he turned his attention to something far more important. His kids. His kids. Where were his kids? Were they okay?

Oh, good. Miyu and Haruto were fine. The barrier had done its job. Emi was okay too, though her face was as pale as a ghost and she was shivering against the rock. Sora smiled to try to reassure her.

"Hey, everything's gonna be okay—"

He coughed, and red came out of his throat and splattered his hand. He gasped and touched his side, and his clothes were soaked with his own blood.

He dropped his Keyblade and collapsed to the ground.

"Daddy!" came Emi's horrified cry, and her shock and sorrow was soon joined by her siblings' cries as they raced to his side.

"Dad, are you okay?" Haruto asked, his eyes wide and his hands shaking. He knelt at Sora's side and dug through his pouch but couldn't find anything.

"I'm out of potions too," Miyu said, her face ashen and her lower lip trembling.

Shit. In his race to get here in time, he hadn't thought to bring an ether or a potion or anything, and he'd used all his magic reserves to kill the monster. Haruto didn't know healing magic yet, and Miyu had just started working with Kairi on hers.

This was bad. This was very, very bad.

"First rule… of Keyblade combat," he choked out. "Always… bring an extra potion."

"Shhh, Dad, stop talking!" Miyu cried as she knelt next to him and summoned her Keyblade. "The lessons can wait!"

He smiled and rested his hand on her arm. "Miyu, I'm so proud of you… so proud."

Miyu burst into tears. "Don't you dare talk like that! I only want to hear you're proud of me after I've earned it!"

"You already have…"

He smiled weakly, and that just made her cry harder. She was trying so hard to heal him, but his injuries were too serious and she just didn't know enough to make much of a difference.

"Haruto…" Sora said, reaching for his son's hand. Haruto's eyes were full of tears, and his face was scrunched up the way it always was when he was trying hard not to cry. "Take care of your sisters and your mom… please…"

Kairi… Where was she? Where was his beloved wife? He wanted to see her again.

"I will," Haruto choked out, and Sora smiled and squeezed his hand. It started raining, and he shivered a little. Miyu and Haruto took off their jackets and draped them over him, and that felt better.

And now for Emi. His poor youngest was sobbing hysterically, and he wanted to hug her more than anything. But he was slumped against a rock, his life draining out of him moment by moment and washing away with the rain. So he settled for ruffling her hair instead.

"Emi, sweetheart, this isn't your fault. Daddy loves you. Daddy loves all of you, so much…"

All things considered, this wouldn't be such a bad way to go. Surrounded by his kids because he'd just given his life to defend them. The only thing he would change was to make sure his beloved wife was by his side too.

He wanted to see her again, more than anything—

"Sora!"

"Kairi?"

She was here. She was really here. He smiled weakly at the sight of her, flying to him like she was an angel, her red hair framing her face like a halo. Somehow, she'd heard his heart's wish and had made it in time. The kids made room for her, and she knelt by his side and cradled him in her arms.

"Hang in there," she commanded, and he felt something nice and soothing pour into his wounded side. "You're not allowed to die on me, do you hear? I won't let you go, not now, not ever."

He smiled again. That was his beloved Kairi. Stubbornly fighting fate till the very end. He reached a hand to her cheek and cupped it like he had so many times before. "Kairi… I love you…"

Tears dripped down her cheeks, mingling with the rain and landing on his face. "I love you too, Sora."

His hand slumped to his side, and it all went black.