"The Thalassa festival is an important time of the year, it's a day where we remind our beloved ones that we love them. The adults make bracelets out of paopu blossoms and couples pair off, holding hands until the bonfire begins using the bracelets to help light it, then while the flowers burn, the bond between the two still remains, signifying that we are all still connected."
"Is that what your mom told you?" Sora questioned, reaching for another marshmallow, sitting with Kairi and Riku on the shoreline, looking towards their island.
"Yeah, they do it every year, and this year she's helping with the decorations." Riku responded.
"Hm, are you going Kairi?" Sora questioned, looking towards her. She simply shook her head, folding her hands into her lap.
"Don't be silly, we can't go." Riku chided.
"But why not? It's in the middle of town and we all live near each other." Sora reasoned as his eyes suddenly lit up. "Let's make bracelets and all sneak out!"
"Only grown up and the big kids make the bracelets, one per pair." Riku said taking one of Sora's marshmallows and popping it in his mouth, despite his friends cry of annoyance. "They use them as a symbol of promised eternal love."
"Eternal? What's that?" Sora questioned, looking towards Riku who seemed to have all the answers, today especially.
"It means 'forever'. They make the bracelets so they'll stay together forever."
"But-"
"You're asking too many questions, can we play now?" Riku said annoyed as he picked up the nearby wooden sword.
Sora exchanged a glance with Kairi before handing her his bag of sweets, picking up the other one and stepping back into a battle stance. "You're gonna lose today Riku!"
His best friend laughed at this, charging towards him with a broad smile on his face. "Only if you beat me!"
...
...
Kairi ran ahead of them, looking among the shores for more shells as Sora sat on the tree happily chewing on his snacks.
"I already apologized to Kairi about the seashell." Riku said. "I even found her another one, so you can stop being mad."
Sora glanced towards him, pouting for a few moments before stuffing his face with more marshmallows, chewing fiercely. " 'm not mad about that."
"Liar."
Riku flinched back slightly as he saw a look of anger in Sora's eyes as he jumped off the tree, stumbling slightly. "I'm not a liar!"
"Then what are you mad about?"
"It's cause you're a meanie!"
"Only because you like Kairi more than me!"
"No I don't!"
"Yes you do! You treat her differently!"
" So do you!"
Riku was taken aback for a moment, "What are you talking about?
Sora widened his eyes realizing what he said before crushing the remaining bag into his pocket. "You're so smart figure it out!" Then running away towards the shack, most likely so he could be her rather than him.
Riku watched in annoyance as Sora ran towards Kairi, crouching down as he talked to her, probably about finding more shells together. He huffed angrily, settling down infront of the tree with his back to the trunk, now looking towards the Paopu flowers already in bloom.
Sora lifted himself up to the counter, peering over as the smell of vanilla wafted in the air.
"Mommy?"
"Yes dear?" She responded with a smile on her face holding a light blue mixing bowl in her hands. "Do you want to help me pour in the chocolate?"
"Yeah!" Immediately he grabbed his footstool, placing it next to his mom as he then reached for the bag of chocolate morsels pouring it into the bowl of cookie batter. "Oh," He then recalled what he was about to ask. "Can I go to the festival with Riku and Kairi?"
"Of course dear, just remember not to stray away from the crowds."
"Mommy?" Sora questioned again, now putting his marshmallows in the batter, placing the bag aside.
"Hm?"
"Why do the grown ups make the flower bracelets? Isn't it just like the Paopu fruit?"
She smiled in amusement,"Well, if you share a Paopu fruit with someone truly special, along with the unseen connection from their blossoms, then the bond that you've already shared will become even stronger than it would with the fruit or the blossoms alone."
"So does that mean I can make the pairs of bracelets with my friends?" Sora reached for a bottle of something on the counter.
"Not quite- darling no, no!" His mother immediately snatched the bottle of glitter from his hand-at the moment not remembering why it was in the kitchen- and sighing as luckily none of it spilled in the batter...this time. She sighed in relief "Use the sprinkles dear." She said handing him the shaker of star shaped ones that Sora then proceed to remove the lid off of to pour all of it in the bowl.
"What's it?" He questioned mixing all of the ingredients together.
"The bracelets are meant for a pair, just two people dear."
Sora stopped mixing the bowl.
"B-but I have two friends."
His mom shrugged her shoulders, petting his head affectionately."Why don't we let the dough chill in the fridge for a while and then we can cut them into little stars later on."
"M'kay." He was almost out the door before he immediately turned around and hugged his mom from behind. "Love you!" Then ran away to find his friends.
Riku sat down next to Kairi under the heavy brush of the large leafed bushes. He saw that she was already sewing together plastic pearl beads and the pink and white blossoms from the paopu blossoms.
"You're already making one?"
She nodded. "I can make one for you too."
Riku sighed, laying down on the sand in the cool shade. "Sora's still mad at me about the shell."
Kairi placed her sewing down, shaking her head. " He hasn't said anything yet, he seems normal."
"Hm." Riku mused for a moment, closing his eyes. "Something just feels different, I don't know."
"Maybe you should talk to him, instead of talking to me." She remarked with a small cheeky smile on her face that she knew annoyed Riku.
And on cue he glanced at her with an unamused expression. "When I ask him he just pouts and shuts up until I talk about something else. Besides it's half your fault." He then turned his back towards her, knowing that she shot him a cross expression.
But then playfully, Kairi pushed down on Riku's back so his face was in the sand. He spit out the specs as she spoke up again, "If you're so worried you have to make him listen. I'll help you if you want."
"Psh-" He spit out more sand. " Why? So he'll like you even more?"
"Don't be a baby."
" Mph." Riku pouted as he then sat back up, brushing the sand off of his clothes. "...Can you show me how to make one of those bracelets?"
A smile tugged at her face as she stood, brushing the sand off of her knees. "Come on, I think there's more Paopu flowers growing in the forest." She said giving him a hand
Riku accepted her help, being pulled to his feet as the two walked towards the thicker brush of the forest.
Sora scrunched his brow in irritation. He'd gone through most of the town already, and hadn't seen any trace of his friends.
"Hey, Sora!"
He grimaced as he recognized Titus with a smug grin walking up to him with Wakka following behind, holding a blitz ball.
"Hullo." He muttered.
"Where's your friends?" Titus asked smugly, the tone that Sora recognized as, I already know the answer and I just want to mess with you.The younger boy started stuffing sand in his pockets, uncomfortable with Titus's smug smile.
"Around."
"I saw them looking making bracelets together. They're probably going to the festival together. Makes sense, why'd they wanna play with you when you can't even beat me!" He laughed mockingly.
"I can so!" Sora argued, standing onto his feet.
"Can not!"
"Can so!"
They went back and forth for a while, until Sora threw sand from his pocket on Titus's face, sticking out his tongue and then quickly running away almost immediately feeling guilty, but it was too late for regrets.
...
...
Sora ran towards the forest area, panting heavily as he hadn't stopped sprinting since the shoreline. He hung his head angrily, kicking the dirt clutching his fists tightly. He sniffed a few times, wiping away the snot and tears that started trailing down his face as he tried to hold back his fears.
He sighed in frustration, looking towards his island in the distance as the sun began to set, a pang a nostalgia setting over him...
" Venven!" Sora called out as he ran towards his friend sitting on the shoreline of the island. The blonde turned he turned his head towards him, smiling brightly as he opened his arms for his small friend to crash into a familiar embrace.
"Venven, you're here!" Sora said gleefully, looking up from the hug towards his older friend who smiled down at him warmly.
"I'm always here." Ventus responded with a chuckle, squeezing another hug as Sora giggled happily. "What's going on?"
Sora gave him a dumbfounded look for a moment, trying to recall..."OH," He perked up," I have a problem!" his former cheer now turning into a tear filled, distressed expression.
"Oh, okay?" Ventus gave him a concerned expression as Sora sat on his lap.
The younger boy explained the situation about the festival, the bracelets, and then of his only two friends making bracelets without him.
" So now I thought that I have to choose between Riku and Kairi except I don't want to because they're both my bestest friends. But what if they don't even wanna share any bracelets with me?!" He explained.
"Why wouldn't they want that?"
"Cuz meanie Riku is being a meanie." Sora pouted crossing his arms.
"That's probably not true, what happened?"
Sora glanced towards him once before dropping his guard, "I forgot that we were suppose to look for falling stars, and instead I played with Kairi. Riku got mad and then threw the special pink shell in the sea. He said sorry to Kairi and found another one for her, but I'm still mad at them."
"Them?" Ventus tilted his head curiously.
"Yeah... but I don't want them to know why, so I can't tell you yet."
Ventus blinked a few times, trying to process the amount of information he'd received."Alright. Sora, you love your friends right."
"Yeah, of course, we're bestest friends!" Sora proclaimed proudly.
"Then why don't you make bracelets for the both of them?"
" Can I do that?" Sora asked tilting his head curiously.
Ventus shrugged his shoulders. " I don't know about much this festival-"
"But I just told you." Sora pointed out.
He nodded, petting Sora's head, "Yes I know, but there's nothing that says you can't make bracelets for both of them. This festival is about showing someone special that you care right? You can have more than one special person that you love."
" is there someone you love, Venven?"
" There are a lot of people that I love, my master, my best friends..." his words trailed off as his expression grew more dreary.
Sora lowered his head the same way knowingly, he wrapped his arms around Ventus's neck, resting his head on his shoulder" Do you miss them?" He asked, to which Ventus nodded with a sad smile. Returning the hug.
"Everyday."
" What're they like?" Sora asked innocently.
"My friend Terra is the strongest, he can take on enemies three times his size and come out unscathed with his head held high. And my friend Aqua is even stronger, she's the best at magic, no one can ever match her at it. They're the best friends anyone could ask for."Ventus mused with a gently smile on his face.
Sora pulled back from his hug, " They sound great, do you think I'll ever meet them someday?"
" I don't know." Ventus shook his head, " I don't even know if I'll see them again."
"Are you lonely?" Sora asked with a concerned expression.
"Sometimes," Ventus admitted, but it soon grew to a warm smile. "But what I do know, is that I have another good friend. One who is the best at giving hugs, and can always make me smile." Ventus smiled cheekily as he poked Soras tummy, making the boy giggle.
" That's me right?"
" Yes Sora."
The two laughed together happily as the sun began to set behind them.
" You're going to wake up soon." Ventus remarked as he sat on his knees, placing Sora on the sand.
" Aw, already?" Sora pouted as Ventus rested his hand on the smaller boys head.
" I'll be here when you come back." Ventus said as the two pinky promised, marking the end of Soras visit.
Ventus turned his back towards Sora as he assumed his friend had already returned, but felt another hug around his waist, looking down to see the boy looking up at him.
"I love you too Venven, cuz we're bestest friends now."
Ventus almost melted as he smiled broadly, " Yeah, love you too Sora."
...
When Sora awoke, he was still in the forest, night had already settled as he wiped away the sand around his eyes. While doing so, he focused on a paopu blossom growing nearby...
" Ow!" Riku suckled on his finger as Kairi took out another band-aid for him from her pocket, this one having tiny clouds on it. His hand was covered in the bandages at this point after he sewed the flower into the rope braid he tied together. Compared to Kairi's who sewed her flower onto a bracelet of plastic pearls both were well made. The two sat together nearby as the bonfire was about to be lit, the elder crowd gathered around the center of town. Amidst the crowd ran a familiar face, smiling brightly as he spotted the two of them. Kairi waved, smiling in excitement while Riku turned his head away, still in a sour mood from earlier.
" Hey!" Sora smiled as he pulled out something from his pocket, the Paopu flower woven into a candy bracelet. "I did it all by myself for you two."
"Us?" Riku questioned as he and Kairi shared a confused glance.
"Yeah, because Tidus told me you two were already making bracelets so I wanted to make one for you guys."
Both Riku and Kairi had annoyed looks on their faces as they looked towards said person hanging nearby Wakka and Selphie.
"Sora, we made ours for you." Riku explained as he stood next to Kairi, both holding out their well made bracelets with a puff of pride welled in their chests.
"Yeah, so no one's left out." Kairi said happily, surprising Sora for a moment.
"Oh, we can share!" Sora said as he place his bracelet on Riku and Kairi's interlocked hands. He placed Riku's bracelet and held Kairi's hand, and Kairi's on Riku's. The three stood in a circle, all of them holding hands as they began giggling in jubilee.
All three were called over as the bonfire began, Sora held both of his friends hands as instead of the bracelets, they threw the flowers in. Sora turned towards Kairi as she squeezed his hand to catch his attention, she whispered that she was going to find her dad and wandered off towards the front of the crowd, leaving him alone with Riku. The two sat down nearby on a bench that overlooked the couples dancing in the light of the fire under the full moon.
"I was mad cuz, Kairi talked to you first."
"Huh?" Riku turned towards him in surprise.
"I heard you two talking once, n' I got jealous cuz you two're better friends than me and her."
"No we're not!" Riku argued, his face heated.
"Yeah-huh," Sora insisted, "You two talked all the time and sneak off together, n' I didn't like that. But I only got mad at you cuz you didn't tell me anything, we were friends first you know." he pouted.
Riku only stared at him, a mix of embarrassment and guilt rushing over his head.
"Oh, but you can't tell Kairi about this." Sora said. "I think she's still a little shy so I don't want her to feel bad about this."
Riku only nodded as a smile returned to Sora's face.
"We all gotta promise that we won't fight, no matter what." Sora insisted, "All three of us are bestest friends now."
Riku glanced at his best friend, illuminated with the festivities around them, his heart racing. But all he could do was nod his head, now promising to never fight with his friends. As he did, Sora smiled brighter than he had in a while.
"Okay, you promised Riku! So now if you break your promise..." Sora looked up at the sky in though, crossing his arms for a moment, "Then I'll be really sad! The saddest ever!"
Riku couldn't help but smirk, even though the thought of his best friend sad made his heart sink.
"Then I'll die of sadness and I'll haunt you until you're friends again." Sora warned with a cheeky expression on his face, resting his hand behind his head.
" You're terrible." Riku said with a smile on his face.
"Kairi!" Sora called out behind him, making Riku turn to face Kairi now returning. He ran up to her, "You gotta promise too."
She tilted her head in confusion.
"Riku and I promised that we're never gonna fight. Or else I'm gonna haunt you guys."
"Why are you assuming me and Kairi're gonna fight?" Riku asked with his arms crossed, but with a playful expression on his face. "You're the one who always gets mad when you lose."
Sora puffed out his cheeks, " That's only cuz I'm mad for a little while, and besides I know I'm gonna beat you soon." he swore.
"Right," Riku remarked with a smile on his face.
Sora growled at his friend, only wavered as Kairi held his hand with a smile on her face, "Promise." She said, causing her friend to smile back, gripping her hand.
"Promise." Riku caught his attention as he took his other hand, all three of them now sitting together on the bench, looking fondly as the festival continued through the late of the night.
"...Promise." Sora said under his breath, with a warm feeling glowing in his chest.
"Huh?" Kairi lifted her head, she was in Traverse Town still, standing outside of Cid's shop, her head still foggy.
"What's the matter?" Goofy questioned.
"Just...remembering something important." Kairi admitted folding her hands together as Donald and Goofy exchanged a glance.
"About Riku?" Donald questioned.
Kairi nodded, a wry smile forming on her face, "Yeah, I think we may have broke a promise." She sighed. "Wonder if Sora'll forgive us once we save him."
"Aw," Goofy placed a hand on her shoulder, "I'm sure it'll work out."
She smiled at him brighter, nodding. "Yeah, thanks guys."
Later, Cid came back after fixing up the Gummi ship with a new upgrade.
"I installed that navigation gummi. But, ya know? That place is crawling with Heartless."
The trio exchanged an unwavering glance.
"You don't have to worry about us Cid." Donald proclaimed proudly.
"Yup, after all, we've got each other to look after." Goofy added.
"All for one." Kairi began as the three placed their hands atop each other.
"And one for all!"
Riku limped towards the edge of Hollow Bastion the green flames the summoned the heartless burned brighter that before. He clawed his heart looking over the only entrance into the castle, overlooking the floating islands that greeted him as he arrived there once before. A sense of familiarity drew on him, one of discontent, of loneliness as he turned back towards his friend.
Sora still lay comatose, unmoving, unresponsive as a single tear fell down his face. Riku sighed, tired, brushing it away to rest his hand on his friend's cheek. His gaze softening as he fought the urge to beg him to wake up, to apologize for their broken promise.
"She'll come for you, no need to cry about it."
Notes:
Valentine's day surprise that I turned into an chapter instead of an omake