Special I: What's Past is Prologue

"Daddy, can you tell me more of your stories? Please? Please?" a small girl called out.

"Alright." her father said. The girl approached her father and hopped on his lap. "Where did we leave off last time?"

"You said Mommy was taken by the bad man and you went to save her."

"Geez, why'd I leave off there?"

"Because I didn't want to do my chores, so you said you'd tell me more if I did 'em. I did, but that's still mean of you, Daddy."

"Okay, Okay, I understand. Here, I'll start the story again."

—

Sora, Riku, and Mickey panted, exhausted from the hard battles they'd gone through. Above them stood Master Xehanort. All around him, copies of his Keyblade swirled.

"Twelve keys we have now. Leaving just one more." he spoke as he summoned his own Keyblade. Pointing it towards the sky, it shot out a beam, calling forth Kingdom Hearts. "Now, Sora. Darkness and light's final clash."

Sora gasped as he saw the sight before him. Floating unconscious was Kairi, who'd been taken by Xemnas slightly beforehand.

"Kairi!" Sora shouted out.

"You require motivation." Xehanort called out.

Before he knew it, Sora charged at the man. Xehanort pulled his Keyblade back, preparing to swing with all his might. As the blade came forward, it collided with what was in its path. However, to the shock of everyone, the object it collided with wasn't its original target.

Standing in front of the old Master, Sora's Keyblade blocked Kairi without a moment to spare. While anger and determination filled Sora, a part of him couldn't believe he'd made it in time. As much as that part of him dreaded to think it, he knew it was a pure miracle. Should the same situation happen in any timeline or whatnot, he doubted it'd be unfolding like this.

Putting more power into his Keyblade, Sora forced Xehanort's back. Taking a couple more swings, he was able to push him back just enough to allow his next course of action. Grabbing onto Kairi, he jumped back to meet up with Riku and Mickey.

Despite this outcome, Xehanort stood confident above them.

"I have done it." he smirked. Though small, the power that oozed from their quick struggle was enough to fulfill his goal. The unfiltered power and emotion combined with his own seemed to qualify enough. Spawning in front of him, the last Keyblade he needed swirled with the others. At last, the X-blade could forged once again and his goal could be achieved.

—

"So you're telling her that story, huh?"

Stopping his tale, the two turned towards the doorway.

"Mommy, Daddy was just telling me how he saved you. Do you remember that?"

"Well, not exactly."

—

Waking up, Kairi felt the cold, hard ground beneath her. Getting her bearings, she rose to her feet. The area seemed darker, though a bright light shined overhead.

"Ah, you're awake." Mickey noticed.

"Where…what happened…"

"Careful, you haven't recovered fully." Mickey said. "I'll brief you quickly."

Going over how Xehanort had attempted to dispose of her and how Sora'd rescued her, he explained that Sora, Goofy, and Donald had gone after Xehanort and the rest of them stayed behind to maintain their and Kairi's safety.

Understanding the situation, Kairi knew there wasn't much she could currently do. Looking up at the sky, she clenched her fist in front of her heart.

"Sora, be safe."

—

"If Mommy doesn't know, then can you continue the story, Daddy?"

"Of course. I did promise to tell you all this." he chuckled.

Smiling as she look on, Kairi recalled more events. Following Master Xehanort's defeat, they'd enjoyed a time of peace during which time her and Sora's relationship had deepened and they'd started going out. Despite this sense of peace, another problem arose that everyone dealt with, though that was a whole other story. For now, she was content on remembering the happier, personal moments. Eventually, after everything blew over and time passed, Sora and her had decided to finally tie the knot and marry. To make matters even better, about a year afterwards, they were blessed with a little girl. She still remembered the first time time held Ushio in her hands.

Snapping out of her reminiscing, she looked back over at the scene in front of her. Ushio staring at her father telling the story of his past, taking in every second of it. At time, Sora almost seemed lost in it too as he relayed and relived his adventures. It was moments like these that would always be dear to the family, even should a new threat ever emerge.