Okay! Time for a super duper long chapter. And this will not be common. But I couldn't really find a place to split this in half to feel natural. So have all of Destiny Island in this single chapter!
Some fluff, world building, hopefully some more sense when building a raft.
some angst
What?
The story is gonna start going like this, switching between Sora's and Vanitas' point of view, or at least their mindset. I don't put labels when I do this as I find that interrupting and unneeded when the story itself will refer when it is Sora's Pov or Vanitas' Pov.
This is probably where you'll start seeing the difference between canon Sora and FoaF Sora.
So please enjoy and may this be one of the more interesting rewrites of a tutorial level you have read.
Hopefully
(Also I will be drawing Sora and some scenes from this story on my tumblr of BlueSpinda)
Oh and one more thing about the Comments.
If you want to talk about FOSTA or anything relating to it.
DON'T USE THIS STORIES COMMENT SECTION!
USE FOSTAS!
This is a Kingdom Hearts fanfic.
And for the time being I am focusing on it.
Okay?
Please.
As always please enjoy.
This will contain spoilers for Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep, and we'll work our way up.
Disclaimer: Square Enix Characters belong to Square Enix. And Disney Characters belong to Disney.
Nothing belongs to me.
A Fragment of a Fragment
Chapter 5
The Storm
x
Even the one who remained awake in Sora's heart did not realize he too had a role to play that had been ordained far before his half existence formed.
Speaking of such, the being with the dark heart found himself waking up similar to Sora had from the Dive to the Heart.
Like Sora, Vanitas did not remember much. Then again, that had been his situation for quite some time.
That strange, bizarre event in Sora's heart.
And yet despite of being at such an event, that it occurred in the first place, hardly anything changed. The oppressive atmosphere in the boy's heart was just as intense as ever. Foreboding and waiting.
Behind the mask, yellow eyes narrowed thinking, planning, and plotting. What could this mean? What was changing?
What would happen?
Would it affect Sora?
And more importantly, himself?
Vanitas hated not knowing. A trait that Sora shared. Along the dream island, he paced with an anxiousness he would never show in the real world.
Only in this heart could he actually let himself to be.
One day... He'll be able to do it without the aid of another's heart.
Curious to see what his host was up to after that ordeal the dark being went into the Dive again and in the fog, peered beyond outside.
"C'mon Sora. Can you gather the rest of the supplies? We are almost done with the finishing touches. We just need to two more logs along with a can of pitch. Maybe another large cloth for an extra sail, and some more rope. About 15 meters should do. Riku and I will get the what we have into the supply box."
"Why do I have the feeling you're leaving me out of the easy work?"
"Because you left and went to be a lazy bum!"
Oh right...
The raft.
"Idiots." Vanitas muttered watching as Sora scoured the island for the supplies.
As if a tiny little wooden boat could breach the barrier of their world. The three's current theory was to try to have Kairi find them away off the horizon when breaching some... edge of the world... maybe or maybe their sea connected to some other world.
They really were idiots to think they could just... do this. Probably worse than... than... some people... from... whenever.
Even after all this time, Vanitas' older memories had still not returned.
Regardless, this little pet project of theirs did work in his favor. He didn't even need to plant the seeds of desire in Sora's heart for the boy to seek out other worlds. That was already within him from the start.
Still, that didn't solve the problem that his host could not leave the islands unless from help from an outsider... or become powerful or knowable enough to summon a corridor of darkness, which was unlikely.
...
Great.
His host wasn't completely dumb though, there were doubts that resided in his heart but he put on a smile to fool his friends and continued along their plans hoping against all odds they could do it.
Sora's faith in his friends was sicking though.
Speaking of his host not being a complete lost cause (unlike some people), he had a chance to admire the handy work his efforts to mold Sora into an ideal vessel over the years as Sora himself was completely dominating this spar with one of the other children.
From a bright young naive idealistic child with hardly a shred of meanness in him and now, 10 years later, Sora was... Capable.
Not like Vanitas could teach Sora magic or how to use a keyblade even if the kid could wield one. Communication was all but impossible. Only whims and desires, the tiniest little suggestions that came in barely concealed mummers within dreams was the only thing Vanitas could influence and even that took a lot of energy time and effort. A little secondary opinion that Sora would never hear but ring in his thoughts and heart.
Over time, Sora took those small little suggestions, on the boy's own free will, and integrated them into his own desires.
There were more similarities than a face now.
There was still much for Sora to go before he could be a perfect host for Vanitas.
Of course, one might be tempted to ask... why did not he find a way to take over Sora already?
Surely the boy would not be aware or even mind to become more powerful.
Excellent question.
Vanitas had tried.
And tried.
And tried.
And tried some more.
It took five years for Vanitas to realize he was not getting anywhere. Despite of the growing darkness, Sora's heart was unconquerable. It was like fighting a storm... without magic.
Worse yet, VENTUS, could sway this boy's heart like Vanitas could. However, Ventus' will was aimless. Unconscious to even itself, it tinkered out once in a while. Affecting small things, Sora's fondness for ice cream and a desire to interfere with the trouble of others. Whether or not to solve those troubles or intentionally make them worse depending if they were liked by Sora... well... that was debatable whether Ventus wanted that
Be it small, it was still Ventus trying to get his own way over Sora.
In the end, Vanitas made sure he was at the core of Sora's heart while his weaker half slept contently unaware of what was going on. That it was Vanitas who kept Ventus' weakness at bay!
HE shaped Sora and blossomed those tiny shards of darkness into those great thorny crystal vines. The boy became pragmatic, aloof and ruthless when crossed.
But not enough to corrupt his light. Vanitas ensured that. For that dark being molded Sora to have desire something to be the safeguard from being completely swallowed. To prevent Sora from ending up like another... him or like the old goat.
Only fools completely believed that darkness had no weaknesses.
As the purest form of darkness, having all the advantages of existing in the dark and controlling all that power... Vanitas knew more than any thing else that all Darkness craved Light. And that craving for something you could not have... destroyed you.
He would not lose this light that has been unwittingly offered. Someway, somehow he would take it.
Get his body.
Get revenge.
And finally...
Finally...
Be whole.
Yellow eyes watched as Sora approached Kairi, the light in the boy's heart grew to an intense level comparable to the sun giving life to a barren land.
His being felt tired... it was time to sleep again.
Sora felt off the entire day. While looking for those supplies, his mind was far far away from any tasks. Far away from the islands.
That wasn't unusual, sometimes he liked to have his head in the clouds, but that dream from earlier was... weird... if it even was one.
Details faded from his mind... But remembered his choices.
...Maybe?
Everything felt like a haze. A fog of cotton that drifted in his mind like a boat cast out to sea without sails or oar. He thought beating Tidus up would clear his mind but, nah. No dice. Kudos to Tidus for still trying to get to his and Riku's level but the guy was better left off with playing Blitzball.
He was the captain of their team after all. Sora had to respect that part.
He then challenged Riku when the guy was on break. Riku's logic, saying that since Sora took one, he deserved one too.
Yet the older boy agreed for a spare anyway.
WIth him, Sora had to focus no matter what.
Recently their fights have been far more intense. Riku's calculating and paused style withstanding his ground contrasted greatly with Sora's fast and powerful strike style. Each had gotten several hits on the other. The match could have gone anywhere if not for Riku pulling out a new move by when faking getting knocked over, the older boy jumped kicked Sora right in the jaw nearly cracking it.
That was the end of their fight.
"That was a dirty trick." Sora growled rubbing his jaw.
Riku shrugged. "I noticed that you're always following yourself up on your attacks, so I found a way to counter it. You have been doing the same thing for quite some time. So change it up." He was offering advice but Sora could hear smug undertones.
"Yeah yeah... Thanks for the fight." Sora said taking the advice at hand. Next time the results would be different... Until the next time after that where Riku would just win again.
It was always one step forward and one step back when it came to Riku and him. No matter how much he tried, Riku just always seemed to be better.
It was an admirable trait but also a frustrating one to see that his friend was unflappable then ever.
Riku was always like that way. The only reason that Riku wasn't a captain of the Blitzball team was that he didn't care for the sport or to put effort in it but the coach and school were insistent on having the older teen on the team at least.
Sora walked down across the bridge, his jaw throbbing from the fight and now intent on finding another canvas for the a backup sail.
Even after exerting himself physically and now in pain he was still restless. It was probably jitters that their raft was so near complete. That their several year long dream was taking on physical shape.
Sora really wanted to see what was out there. To see Kairi's world, that place of garden and fountains that made her eyes lit up.
See other sights, taste new food and come back with stories to tell. Maybe meet new people... but that was the last thing on his list.
Near the top of his list, Sora wanted to fight monsters with Riku if there were any out there.
Sora paused his activities, his mind briefly flashing to a towering black thing with yellow eyes.
...
There were, back weren't they?
He just... hoped that they could...
Riku and Kairi seemed to believe they could and that was enough for him to put on a smile and join in with them with his full dedication.
The three just finished the emergency repair box they had in case of any damage done to the raft on the journey. And then they went to the Paopu tree island to watch the sunset like they always did. No one knows when or why this tradition started but none of them were complaining.
Riku was already near the tree and Sora had just met up with Kairi when they both entered the seaside shack.
"Sora! What did you do this time?" The redhead threw a concerned look at him when she noticed the bruise forming on his jaw. You would think she would have been used to it by now with how long she been with these two knuckleheads but they still managed to surprise her with how rowdy they got. And so close to when they set sail too.
"Oh!" He forgot that something like that would show up. "Uh... yeah... Riku and I were sparring. Y'know, the usual."
An exasperated sigh escaped from her. "I thought you two were warned not to do any dangerous stuff during your fights anymore."
Sora scratched his head sheepishly. He had forgotten about that as well. Some of the more recent brawls had been of a cause of concern for their parents. A strict warning had forbidden the two from going to town at each other.
...That warning was given two days ago.
Whoops.
He did not realize was how close Kairi had gotten to him. She was looking at his bruise. And Sora couldn't help but shift his eyes nervously, hoping against all hope his face was not as red as it felt.
Gingerly her cool hands touched the bruise and Sora couldn't help but flinch. Whether from the mark or from Kairi herself was unknown.
"See? You're going to be feeling that tomorrow." She scolded her friend. "You two are going to get in some deep trouble one of these days."
"Sorry Kairi..." Sora muttered as they climbed up the stairs to the bridge. She smiled and bumped against him telling him he was alright.
And Sora felt like he could fly when she did that.
That... has also changed about him.
They joined Riku, who gave them both an odd look before they all took their respective places. Sora and Kairi sitting on the crooked tree and Riku leaning back against it, as the golden orb slowly called it a day.
They had been discussing what could happen once they breached the horizon. So far it was less of a plan and more of a 'cross that bridge when they got there'.
Sora wondered what a place full of fountains and gardens was like. "So, Kairi's home is out there somewhere, right? It could take awhile before we find it."
"That could be." Riku said as aloof as ever. His focus seemed to be more on the sunset than on the conversation at hand. "We'll never know by staying here. And even if it takes a while, the sooner we can leave the faster we can find it." His voice became firmer, Riku's conviction was unyielding.
Feeling his jaw and remembering the odd feeling that has been disturbing him, Sora asked the question that had been bothering him from the start. "But... How far could a raft take us?"
"Who knows?" It was rattling just how Riku could say that without hesitation. Sora could not help but admire Riku's leadership and cool head "If we have to, we'll think of something else.". Riku showed no doubt. An unfathomable drive is what gravitated people towards him.
Riku was the leader. Everyone respected him and admired him. Sora included. Slowly a fist tightened.
"So, suppose you get to another world." Kairi giggled thinking Riku's so serious attitude amusing. "What would you do there?" She knew what she would do, but that topic neither Riku or Sora spoke of much.
It was this that caught Riku off guard. He paused. "Well, I haven't really thought about it." He tried to search for a satisfying answer. They were so close. "It's just..." He decided to be honest himself since Sora first voiced his concern. "I've always wondered why we're here on this island. If there are any other worlds out there, why did we end up on this one?" The sun went lower. "And suppose there are other worlds... then our is just a little piece something much greater." And he wanted to see that. "So we could have just as easily ended up somewhere else, right?"
Sora wondered what angle Riku was going with this. Nothing was really being asked or said. "I'dunno." He said throwing out the most lackluster answer to Riku's lackluster questions.
But apparently, that's what the older boy wanted.
"Exactly." He said standing up straighter. "That's why we need to go out there and find out." He stepped forward as though he was going to leap at the sun itself. "Just sitting here won't change a thing. It's the same old stuff."
He did not see Kairi shake her head
"So let's go."
The redhead looked at her friend, eyes trained right on her friend. "You've been thinking a lot lately, haven't you?" She asked softly wondering what has spurned Riku into this calm furor.
It was then that Riku finally turned away from the horizon. "Thanks to you. I probably would've never thought of any of this." " He gave her a warm smile very unlike his normally collected face. "Kairi, thank you."
"You're welcome."
Sora felt his insides twist as he turned the other way hoping no one would see his face.
The feeling of slowly finding his foundations ripped underneath him furthered Riku called out for him.
When he turned around, his friend had already tossed something.
What Sora caught was a Paopu fruit. The sacred ceremonial fruit of Destiny Islands since myth. The boy felt his mouth get dry and something plunged an icy fist in his gut.
"You wanted it, didn't you?" Riku asked knowingly.
"..." Sora said nothing.
"When two people share Paopu fruit,-" Riku walked passed Sora standing tall. "-their destinies become intertwined." He held a determined cool. "They'll remain a part of each other's lives no matter what."
Of course, that seriousness was ruined when Riku followed with. 'C'mon, I know you want to try it!" He teased. "And if not... then maybe I-" He left it off there running off.
"Shove it!" Sora yelled after him before begrudgingly threw the fruit away and chased after Riku, wondering what the silver-haired boy up to.
The waning crescent emitted the sliver of reflected light on this little world.
Sora laid on his bed that night on the mainland wondering why Riku had given him the fruit. Kairi was both of their friends right?
He put a pillow over his head to hide the blush and scowl.
'It's not so simple anymore is it?'
Before he went to sleep, he wondered if there were going to be any strange dreams tonight.
One figure stared at the island in what left of the moonlight feeling drawn more and more towards what could only be his destiny
It is his destiny
In a world far beyond the stars, the royal mage, and the royal captain soon realized their particular problem.
As the stars blinked out of existence one by one by one.
If someone mentioned a Paopu fruit one more time, Sora would break something... or someone at this rate.
Everyone was hanging stars for another safe fisherman voyage that would occur in a few days. He heard a conversation of a young woman talking to her friends in the street of sharing a Paopu fruit with her long term boyfriend as a marriage proposal.
A kid crossed him on the pier today wearing a shirt with a bright yellow star.
Selphie was talking about the myth and saying how romantic it was.
In fact, that was what broke the camel's back! Fed up and raring to let loose, Tidus came up with a grand new plan to take down a notch him and Riku by having them challenge a 3 on 1. Apparently, they already tried against Riku and lost and now wanted to see if Sora would lose.
Well, unfortunately for the other trio, they caught the brown-haired boy in a foul mood. The battle was also as one-sided as it was with Riku. But instead of the older boy cold calculations that usurped their attempts, it was Sora's sheer ferocity that made them yield.
"Cha got a fish in ya pants, man?" Wakka said clutching his head. "Seems mor like ya want to wrestle a shark dan spar."
"Sorry." Sora said not really feeling sorry at all. He was still ticked off. Royally ticked off.
Tidus picked himself up from the sand. "Next time..." He groaned. "Well, definitely stronger, but Riku still is something else. He took us three-on-one as well and absolutely whooped us. I guess Kairi can always count on him" He admitted while they proceeded to rest under the shade of the day.
That only served to sour Sora's mood further.
He really shouldn't be so angry, not when they were probably only a day away from launching their raft...
But...
But...
...
Maybe, he was more like Riku than he first thought... maybe he wanted more than this tiny world had to offer?
...
Something still seems to sit right for him.
People always called him impulsive and hotheaded, this much was true, Sora would not deny this. But he knew when something was off, or different. He just didn't know what.
He wanted to solve this problem. Put it at an end before something bad happened. But... as days went on, it felt like he was losing more and more of his grasp on things.
It was like...
Like a...
...
A wave.
As he walked to the cove, anger bloomed in Sora at that odd and random thought. A spur of primal and horrific anger, it only lasted a short moment but it still existed.
Such a thing was shaken off, taken as bad morning randomness; off to the cove where the raft was located, did he spot Riku. He did not know what to think about his friend who seemed so far ahead of him.
"Hey, Sora." Riku greeted as though last evening did not happen. Casual and cool. "So I've been thinking, our raft still needs a name. How about Highwind?"
'Lame.' Was Sora's instant thought. "Falcon." he countered with what he thought was obviously better.
His friend's expression told otherwise.
"Hey, how 'bout...'
Sora knew where this was going. It was the most acceptable (and tamest) form of solving a debate between the two.
"The usual?"
The correct thing to say.
"Let's do it!" Riku said with a smirk.
"You guys at it again?"
Kairi came from the platforms above carrying some supplies. She thought she heard their voices boasting. She knew instantly what they were up to. "Alright, I'll be the judge."
Well, it was best for them to let off some steam before she put them to work.
It was the usual rules, any route to the star 'tree' and back wins.
At first, it seemed like a casual race, not one for much stakes but Sora always wanted to up the ante.
He put on his best teasing voice. "If I win, I'm captain! And if you win..." He trailed off thinking Riku would know the wouldn't he?
"I get to share the paopu with Kairi." Riku said without much nonsense or teasing.
"Huh?" Was Sora's only response he could think of as his mind slowly began to sink in an torrent of emotions.
"Deal? The winner gets to share Paopu with Kairi." Riku said this so nonchalantly but there was a hard edge to the words that made it serious
Sora felt like he was beginning to drown. Like he was losing something.
And it was this horrific feeling of being left in the ashes that reawakened Vanitas to the Drive.
The boy in the mask felt Sora's feeling of insignificance and desperate desire pulse within the foundations. The crystals along the stained glass pillars writhed with anxiety and trembling dismay like vines. The light shining from the glass dimmed, and the crystal sprouted sharp jagged clusters in protest.
Vanitas would not allow his vessel to be weak. To lose what was important.
No matter what.
"Wait a minute..." Sora didn't want that to be at stake.
Kairi did not seem to hear what they were talking about. "On my count-"
They bolted when she said go. Sora felt blood pounding in his ears as each step was taken forward.
Nauseous and furious, a very unpleasant combination that was flue for the race. Blue eyes glared at Riku as the older boy lunged for the ladder
Gritting his teeth Sora rammed Riku away from it before running on the bottom path himself. He felt satisfaction hearing his friend grunt in surprise.
Once again, things were not 'just a race'.
With every step, Sora felt like he plummeted towards an endless cavern. He didn't know he wasn't seeing anything but the objective. All his senses shut down in the wake of a single goal.
He could not LOSE!
If he lost it was all over!
Nothing existed after that.
He would not-
Sora's thoughts cut there, instead became a whirling torrent of unchained emotions that were indistinguishable from one another. He wasn't even aware where Riku was in proximity, all he knew was once his hand felt the artificial star tree, he had to run back.
Back.
Back.
Otherwise, there would be no way back.
Before Sora knew it he was panting near the Cove entrance just him. Vision blurry and unfocused while he gasped for breath doubled over. A blurry form of Riku caught up and join breathing heavy but not as hard as Sora.
Sora said nothing, trying to stand up straight, trying to focus on the silver-haired boy.
Riku just merely quirked an eyebrow. 'Man, lightened up. It's just a name, after all."
The boy's brow furrowed in confusion, humiliation and outraged and so many other feelings indescribable.
"What's with that look? Oh... that Paopu thing? It was just a joke. You should have seen your face." The older boy laughed lightly as to mean no harm at all.
Riku proceeded to tell Sora that they need more stuff and to talk to Kairi before proceeding to walk off as though nothing happened.
Sora felt his body tremble, it took several minutes for him to calm down. Riku was his closest and best friend. Since even before Kairi.
But lately, it felt like Riku had reached a level Sora could not reach anymore.
It was infuriating. No matter how hard he worked, nothing seemed to reach his friend's level. Was... was he weak? Or just that ordinary?
Sora refused to continue those thoughts. He forced his feet to trudge forward to continue what seemed to be the only common ground these days.
The raft.
Inside Sora's heart, Vanitas glared both at Sora and at Riku.
Sora with contempt at being manipulated and worked up like that and at Riku for using his host's desires and emotions against him.
Though... could Vanitas wondered if he himself use this?
Back with the boy, Sora pulled one of the raft's supplies crate over his head with ease and brought it towards the raft. They needed some more emergency food supplies. Already there was enough for two weeks, but extra would not hurt.
He saw Kairi working on something. When she saw him, she put it away before he got a good look at it.
She smiled at him. "Good job on the race. You were like sloop on a bora wind." She looked at him with the same look she gave him when she saw his bruise yesterday. "Though you didn't look so good afterward. What's wrong?"
Like Sora knew that. "Nothin'." He said slinging his arms behind his head. "I just wanted to beat Riku. He got me yesterday but it was my turn to win today!"
She cast him a curious gaze that sent Sora's brain into a fritz and made his eyes avert hers. So many things that could not be identified.
"If you say so!" Her smile seemed to cast away all the previous worries. "We just have a few more provisions for our trip to go. Riku is going to the mainland for dehydrated rations and a drying rack. Sora I need you to grab some more fish, water, coconuts, mushrooms and if you happen to go to the mainland, please grab some eggs."
She was so eager.
They really were going to do it.
Tomorrow they would leave on the raft and find out whether or not they could get to another world.
Sora felt torn.
Vanitas scowled at the weak conviction of his vessel. Regardless of what the boy's heart sensed lately, he should not be so shaken by the petty observations. So what if Riku was pinning for the same girl Sora was? That meant nothing.
Sora would have to take action.
Vanitas would ensure that.
Waiting around with petty little dreams and stargazing does nothing.
Either you did something for yourself...
Or someone else would make you.
Just like Ventus.
He wanted to put the seed of influence in Sora but right now wasn't a good time. Not to mention it would be nothing that Sora hadn't 'heard' before, merely reinforcing it.
Vanitas wished to know if this exiguous conviction was Ventus' interference with the boy's heart (or maybe just to mock the wayward wind). He trudged down into the depths of Sora's heart. The pathways becoming more fractured and unstable while the vines began to pale and shrink until he reached the blank white pillar that dear ol'Ventus rested peacefully with his cherubic face. Dreaming sweet dreams of ice cream, friends and whatever else Ventus had that Vanitas lacked in his life.
The black mask faded revealing the darker features of Sora on Vanitas' face. Those wolfish yellow eyes saw that nothing has changed about the lighter half.
"How do you always seem to get what you want Ventus?" Vanitas questioned his other half. "Even as a pawn and unconscious, you always have a way to get whatever you desire, be it shattering both our hearts or manipulating Sora as you snooze on peacefully." His face became a snarl before slamming a fist against that invisible barrier. The only thing that protected Ventus from having his neck wrung by Vanitas.
"And yet you couldn't handle your own darkness. You averted your eyes when the truth was so clearly presented in front of you. You chased after those stronger than you, thinking they were invincible while unable to hear their silent pleas of help and common sense. It's quite sad actually." He trailed a black adorned hand down the barrier. "You messed up so many times... it's a miracle that you still actually exist. And yet... Here you are... still being helped like a child, pandered and protected. Even Sora's heart knows you're defenseless on your own."
Vanitas stepped back, churning the hatred inside of him to clear his mind and think of his next step.
First, clarify the situation.
Plan out accordingly.
Things were still going very smoothly.
Sora and his little pals were planning to leave this world, either by that dumb raft... or maybe some other means. Regardless, Sora's friends were had been bestowed keyblades. Sooner or later those two would gain theirs and eventually find a way outside. And most likely they'll bring Sora along.
Kairi... he did not have to worry about. Despite having a pure heart of light, the exact opposite of what he was, the way she acted was... familiar.
Like... she...
Someone... from those memories of his, was... similar? Maybe...
Anyway.
Kairi was of no worry. She was dedicated to her friends, first and foremost, and would go against her very nature to leave Sora behind or harm him. Kairi was a tool for Vanitas to use to twist Sora for his own ends and for the better.
It was Riku who was of concern. That small little possible bump in the road in Vanitas' vision of the future.
Sora's heart was darkened, as of all beings had it (sans Kairi and... maybe someone else?), but not unstable.
The boy still remained true to his heart more than ever. Vanitas ensured that.
Riku however... like someone else from the past Vanitas could not remember, the boy hungered for power.
For what ends, Vanitas did not care.
But his heart, too, has darkened. Similar and differently than Sora's. He was cautious of the older boy. Yet despite all of this somehow... SOMEHOW, Sora and Riku remained...friends.
Vanitas did not understand it. The two seemed like they were ready to tear each other throats at times and yet both still shared such a bond much similar to Ventus and... someone else.
And unlike that... someone else... Riku was probably more dangerous.
If... or most likely when... They got to another world. Vanitas would have to take extra measure to gain more power for his vessel.
The fish were on the drying rack, he snagged some seagull eggs (no one could tell the difference), Green coconuts for the water inside of them and a few nearly brown ones for the white nut meat inside.
Now Sora was just looking for the local variety of mushrooms. Those that grew along the palms of the coast and rocks were non-poisonous unlike those that grew in more dense flora.
He had gathered several bunches but they probably needed a few more since he and Riku were fans of mushrooms.
There was one place... they grew in frequent clusters.
...
The Secret Place.
He hadn't been here in a while. Riku and him and Kairi use to draw in there frequently but now not so much with the raft being their main concern. Some of the younger children had probably found it but not ventured too far as very rough scribbles only marked the beginning entrance.
Further in... was the main cavern. With all the doodles of his friends and those from the past... and the unmarked door.
He found a mushroom cluster right next to a particular drawing.
The one of his face... and Kairi's.
Riku had been busy helping his dad on that day.
That meant he and Kairi could spend the day together...
Just... Just the two of them.
Him... and Kairi.
Sora got warm fuzzy feelings whenever he was with Kairi.
It had been a year since she came to their island. When she fell with the stars. He was now six and so was she.
And Riku was about to turn seven.
Riku was his best friend since forever and coolest friend.
Kairi was also his best friend. His special best friend who was different from Riku.
They both had been spending the day playing on the island. She had gotten a lot better at swimming and she taken upon climbing the big trees long the cove.
She even asked Riku and Sora to teach her about sword fighting (though the boys only wacked each other with wooden swords). Much to her confusion, both of them seem reluctant to play with her with swords.
Kairi didn't know why though. This island was always for children to play at, learn about nature, keep their bodies fit, and for them to compete. The adults seemed fine for all the kids to go at each other in various of competitions.
Kairi also learned the practicality extended to their school.
They had educations like maths, and literature and history, but there was also a lot about navigating the sea, looking at the weather, how houses are built, woodcrafts, metalcrafts, and many other practical skills.
Maybe she could get Tidus to play with her. He was nice.
So far she and Sora had been drawing images in the sand but the tide kept washing them away.
After their seven attempt (they were very determined), Kairi made her frustration visible.
"Nothing's working." She told her friend. Sora had been rather weird today.
Almost jumpy.
"Yeah..." Sora said looking glum, saddened by the water making the sand once again a clean near white slate. It was a bright sunny day, almost too hot for the sun was a bright and high orb. The sand reflected like diamonds, and the trees were still from the lack of wind. The ocean was hot and muggy.
The summer months were getting closer now and Sora would be spending more time on the boats with his dad.
So he really needed to spend more time having fun with his friends before that.
"Maybe we should try to find hermit crabs." Kairi said half-heartedly.
Sora thought long and hard.
"Well... can... I show you something?"
Kairi's eyes instantly sparkled.
Sora took her over to the spring pool. "Riku and I discovered this place a year ago. Nobody else really knows about it. It's hard to see." Right near the pathway of it, he pushed aside a thick current of vines and moss. Another part of it was hidden by tree roots.
It was a very dark tunnel.
Kairi looked at it a bit nervously at the small entrance.
The boy noticed this."Don't worry! There are no monsters!" He said with a grin as though proud of that. "Even if there were..." He added his voice suddenly a bit quieter. "-I would protect you..." His feet shifted along the sandy earth.
"Huh?" Kairi did not hear him due to the waterfall next to them.
As though a startled rabbit, Sora jumped. "Uh! Nothing! I'll go first!" He only ducked his head to enter.
Kairi followed behind him, eyeing the rocky walls with the tree roots growing along it. It seemed completely different from anywhere on the islands. There was a refreshing breeze inside of it and everything took on a calming hue.
Soon both children entered a large rocky room with even more tree roots growing out the walls.
There were only a few pale scribbles on the walls. It looked like familiar things Riku and Sora draw.
"Riku and I come in here time to time. Though he hardly draws on the walls with me. We think some of the older kids might know about this place. There were drawings before we got here. But so far, only he and I know of it in our group. But I'm letting you here because you're special Kairi."
He noticed Kairi's attention wasn't on the subject. Her eyes were glued on the most mysterious thing about the Secret Place. A tall ominous wooden door, standing like a spectator over all in here. For all those who saw it, it was a plain wooden plank with golden trim around it.
"Is... that a door?" Kairi asked, her voice small yet echo rimmed around the walls.
"I'dunno." Sora shrugged with hands behind his head. "It never opens and there is no way to open it." He turned to the wall near it. A nice smooth large surface. "But I wanted to show you that we can draw in here. And... What we do, will stay on."
This seemed to snap Kairi out of her daze. "Oh! That sounds neat." She looked around. "What should we draw?"
Sora paused. He didn't think of that. He looked around. Besides the 'door' all there were was were rocks, tree roots, and more rocks.
Oh... And some mushrooms.
"I got an idea!" Kairi announced after seeing her friend at a lost. "How about each other?"
"Huh?"
"You know. Like our faces."
"Oh! I get it now. Okay! I'll draw yours and you can draw mine!"
They both grabbed smaller chalky rocks from the ground and began to doodle near the door.
The soft whispering breeze did not bother them, and the little scrapes across the rock began to fill the chamber.
Just the two of them, enjoying what they were doing together.
And for Sora, he felt his chest throbbing. His still young mind did not know what this meant, but... it was a good feeling. A weirdly joyful feeling. He never felt this way around anyone. He was always warm around Kairi.
Their drawings were done, his scratchy interpretation of Kairi. Her's, a more solid version of him and his spiky hair.
They were smiling, true to when they smiled every time they saw each other.
Ever since he found her on the beach, with the stars falling from the sky, She was special. He wanted her to stay here, or go on adventures with him.
He didn't want her to go away.
He touched the crown necklace for courage and hope.
In the present time, the same boy found himself sitting down with the same type of chalky rock and slowly drawing the thing that seemed to intentionally show itself to him today.
It had been on his mind a lot, even before Riku threw him the fruit. They were going to be heading out soon to possibly uncharted territory. Leaving everything behind.
Things could change.
For better or for worse.
The rock scrapped across the wall, defining the image further and defining what he wanted to do further.
Tomorrow...they would sail.
He would take a Papou fruit with them... and if they found Kairi's world... he would give it to her.
He drew back, it was the image of him Kairi drew back then, what he added was him giving the Kairi drawing a star.
Blue eyes stared at it. For quite some time, this had been his deepest desire. More than finding worlds.
He just wanted to stay with her.
Both Riku and her. He just wanted to stay with them. Sora didn't know why, but he just felt ...right with them. Everything was okay with them.
Something cold came from behind him. A chilling sensation, bone cold that made the hairs on the back of his neck raise. Sora breath stopped.
Vanitas abruptly awakened, feeling that chilling sensation. It felt like...
Like...
...
He could Not remember.
But why, In the presence in this boy's heart, did he feel like his own blood had frozen?
And why in where the void of his heart did it seem like hate erupting like fire when there was no one seen.
Wait...
Immediately Sora stood up and turned around. "Wh-who's there?"
It was hard to see in the dark cave, particularly the place where the wooden wall remained. It was always dark there.
And yet while his eyes failed, somehow, somehow he could tell someone... something was there.
It was a deep voice, colder than the cavern, and somehow everything began to feel claustrophobic.
"I've come to see the door to this world."
Vanitas felt his hate being overcome with cold grip of fear as well.
Door to the world...
Was this?
It didn't feel like his master...
But this thing...
Was definitely of the Dark.
He urged Sora to attack or to run.
Sora was not someone easily scared. Bullies, adults in authority, being on a boat at storm at sea, the odd shark that shows up on shore, none of that really got to him. Whether it was a thick head or trick of bravery and courage... well no one really knew.
But this?
Something horrid sprouted in Sora's chest... And he wanted to run away. Far faster than he wanted to win that race.
No words could emerge.
And his body would not move.
"This world has been connected."
The mention of 'World' managed to break Sora out of his frozen tongue. "Wh-what... are you talking about?" He gulped, fighting that urge to run.
"Tied to the darkness..." Sora didn't know if that was an answer to his question. "Soon to be completely eclipsed."
An inevitable indomitable black wave...
Bravado the boy didn't feel spilled into words. "Well, whoever you are, you better leave this place alone before I get mad!"
He tried to stand a little straighter as to make true on his threat. "Where d-did you come from?!" He demanded.
The silhouette did not look like it moved but was seemed to be staring in his direction. "You do not yet know what lies beyond the door."
A sense of familiarity rang in Sora at the mention of 'door' but right now it was all he could do to think what he was going to say next.
Tentatively he asked "A-are... are you from another world?" He remembered this 'guy' mentioning the term.
Once again the figure did not address the question directly."There is so very much to learn... You understand so little." And for once the monotonous voice seemed to have taken a slight condescending edge.
As usual with Sora, anger overtook his fear. "Oh, yeah? Well, you'll see! I will get out and learn what's out there!" He wanted to learn. He wanted to explore! There was so much out there!
The 'figure' thought otherwise. "A meaningless effort."
"One who knows nothing can understand nothing."
The figured looked at the faux door.
Sora felt compelled to stare at it too.
He turned back to give the guy a piece of his mind...
And the 'figure' was gone.
Sora never thought he could bolt out of a place so fast when crouching.
Feeling the sun on his skin was a refreshing reminder that he was indeed still here.
But... what was up with that?
Was... w-was he seeing things?
Was it the stress about the whole Paopu fruit thing that made him crack?
Sora didn't want to think about it. Was too scared to think about it. What did it mean?
And Vanitas wondered the same thing.
He had grown far too comfortable with complacency in this boy's heart. It was time; sooner or later this world would be swallowed by darkness, and he will have to ensure his host comes out for the better.
He NEEDED this to be his vessel.
He was far closer to getting a real heart than he ever got with Ventus.
He spent 10 years cultivating Sora into something better than just himself! Far better than whatever Ventus would do to him!
Vanitas needed to find a way to guide the boy further. To bend Sora further to his whims.
Question was:
How?
Sora trudged back to where Kairi was, his mind still fully on the odd event that transpired rather than the Paopu he had been determined to share with her earlier.
The redhead was still near the raft, this time leaning against it and working on something. She did not put it away from his gaze.
"What's that?" He asked desperately for anything to take his mind off of the cold ill feeling in his gut from the Secret Place.
"This?" Kairi said, her eyes still on it. "I'm making a necklace of Thalassa shells."
Sora's eyes widened.
"You two told me that long ago, sailors always wore thalassa shells. They even do it to this day. They were supposed to ensure a safe voyage."
She grinned at him and showed him what she was making out of them. "See this?" She said holding up the partially formed thalassa shell star, it was almost done. "It's a charm to help us find each other if we ever get separated. The three of us will always be together."
Sora felt very touched that Kairi was making this. That her thoughts coincide with his in a mutual desire to never be separated from each other or Riku.
His mother's charm for his father always worked, he always came back.
So it should work for them.
Sora had finished wrapping everything up in waterproof bags and tightly contained within the storage crate before attacking it with rope to the raft so it wouldn't fall off.
It was nearly evening.
Kairi was impressed that he found so much. "Thanks, Sora! I got something for you today too!" She handed him a very pretty and shiny rock. It was kinda cool thing between them if they found anything interesting they often exchanged stuff with each other.
"You think everything is all set?" Sora asked as they began to walk away from the raft. Kairi nodded.
"Yep. Supplies, rations, water, navigation. I triple checked and everything is good."
"Alright." Sora said. "Where's Riku then?" He noticed his best friend had been absent today. Sora didn't know if that was a bad thing or a good thing in regards to this morning.
Then again, he would take Riku's ribbing if it meant getting his mind off of what happened in that stranger... person.
If there was even one in the first place.
Yeah, Sora needed to talk to Riku.
A mighty need was there to talk to Riku. Ask him what his thoughts were concerning that there next big move was so close.
Maybe it was the huge moment that has caused all of them to feel off.
Was it excitement? Or something else?
Riku was a steady presence who would know what to do.
"Let's go to the pier and wait. We can watch the sun from there." Sora offered once on the seaside shore.
Kairi agreed and the two did the near-daily tradition at the pier.
They sat in silence while Kairi continued to work on her necklace.
"He's late." Sora said looking at the mainland. "Riku's never late. He must really be worried." Sora said half joking.
That got a small giggle out of his friend. "He might get sick from stressing too much. She said as she weaved another shell along with delicate string and needle. "We may have to delay our trip.
"Like that will stop Riku. He'll probably just drag himself over and bring some medicine along anyway."
They both laughed.
Kairi looked at Sora and back at the sun. Her tone a touch lower. "You know, Riku has changed." She said thinking of the past year.
Sora quirked an eyebrow at her. So she had the same thoughts? "How so?" He asked her to elaborate.
"Well..." Kairi looked for proper words to say. She saw Sora's face and realized just how much this boy was worrying about Riku and all of them.
He had seemed rather put off today.
"You okay?" He asked her growing more concerned. Inwardly Kairi smiled. Typical Sora, always worrying about others even when he wasn't okay himself. She wondered...
"Sora, let's take the raft and go! Just the two of us!" She said smiling. Wouldn't that be a wild adventure?
Joy and warmth overtook Sora in a flash, along with a lot of surprise at the suggestion. "Huh?" Once again worlds failed him but for very different reasons.
"Just kidding." Kairi said all too quickly and while Sora was a tiny bit disappointed, there was some relief that they both wanted Riku to come along. "What's gotten into you?" He wondered if she was trying to cheer him up.
He looked at her, the way Kairi was laughing so openly. Was so outgoing and teasing and it was her who was cheering him up now these days instead of the other way around back when they were kids. How she wanted to, jokingly or not, spontaneously go off on an adventure. How she was ready to take charge.
"You're the one that's changed, Kairi."
"Maybe..." She did not disagree with his observation. She was different.
Kairi looked at Sora, who was still very much that goofy and happy boy she met all those years ago, had also gone a very different path than what most would expect.
"You know,-" Kairi began to admit. "I was a little afraid at first, but now I'm ready. No matter where I go or what I see, I know I can always come back here." Her words once again struck a chord within her friend. So Kairi had the same fears he did, but even then she wanted to go forth. His own fears about it seemed to fade.
Kairi always made everything seem better.
"Right?" It was less like she was asking for confirmation on her own end and more for Sora's sake.
"Yeah, of course!" He said already feeling better. He would be fine with them. With her.
"That's good." And it was as if she knew his doubts and already eased them.
"Sora... don't ever change." Kairi said looking towards the horizon once again.
That caught Sora by surprise. "Huh?"
She stood up apparently not hearing his confusion.
"I just can't wait. Once we set sail, it'll be great." Her voice was a whisper by the end. Slowly and slowly the orb in the sky inched down and told the children it was time to go back.
Sora was reluctant to go back. The further he from Kairi as they rowed back to the mainland, the more his previous worries seemed to surge back up.
It like someone was telling him not to relax.
The feeling got stronger when they spotted Riku at the docks.
The older friend seemed, well, different. Distracted. He kept staring at the island, didn't even notice when Sora and Kairi approached.
"Nice to see you too." Sora said noticing the silver-haired boy wasn't even aware of them.
Riku said nothing.
"Riku?" Kairi muttered, her voice cautious.
This seemed to grab his attention. "Oh... Just... worried about tomorrow..." He said to them, his voice equally soft.
"So even you worry." Sora attempted a joke to lighten the atmosphere but that seemed to fall flat. "Hey." He tapped his friend's arm and that got Riku to stare at him. "We got it. No problems here, okay?"
Riku seemed to smile, maybe it was the slowly dimming light but it looked quite fake yet somehow enthusiastic at the same time.
"I'm surprised you managed to get everything done today." He voice returned back to its usual confident tone. "Thought we were going to have to delay our take off."
"Hey!" Sora growled. "What about you? It felt like you ditched Kairi and me to do all the touch-ups. What held you up here?"
Riku paused. "I was... My dad told me to run some errands for him... Couldn't say no." He let out an exasperated sigh. "Hopefully you two didn't screw up without me."
They laughed together as they all walked home, going their separate ways on the three-way street.
This would be the last time these three would walk down the street together. It will take two years before they do again.
And it will never be the same.
Sora went home and said hello to his parents. The smell of dinner was almost revolting to him, and the house felt claustrophobic. For some strange reason he felt compelled to give them both a hug.
...He was leaving tomorrow... right?
His previous fears that had been chased away by Kairi came back full force, as he dwelled on what the mysterious 'figure' and if what he really saw was true.
Kairi almost went home. When her hand reached the knob of the door, she stopped.
It was as though a cry of fear emanated from the island, the very land, sea and sky itself. As if the very streets turned darker around her and became unknown.
She fled back, back to the island. Wanting to be away, away from the horror that wanted what she held.
Just like last time.
9 years ago.
This time, she could not stand idly by. Her heart knowing where to lead her feet as her mind became rushed with terror.
Riku did not go home at all. He turned around as soon as the group separated. Driven and hurried on.
He would not stay in this place any longer.
It was time to open the door.
He needed to open it.
It was his destiny.
The the Chronicler, the dog, Court Magician, and the Guard Captain left their world, in search of the man named Leon to aid them in their quest for the missing king. They were not aware that a star was about to disappear
.
Vanitas felt it before Sora saw it.
The rising darkness. An invasion of those who were called and desperately longed for a light to claim as their own. Similar... but very different from him. Driven by instinct for something they could never comprehend, those dark creatures, those who dwelled in the corridors of darkness, that have never been given a name.
They were here.
Sora's heart shook knowing of the impending fate what awaited these tiny islands and tiny world.
And in that moment, when Sora saw the 'storm' coming for to rain down the demise, Sora acted within both his accord, Vanitas' accord, and Ventus' accord, whether they knew it or not.
To not idle and go to the source.
While the hearts of the resident remained unaware of the eclipse, three who have touched beyond and sought it, came together for one last time.
Sora's mother called her son down for dinner. Kept calling him, growing more and more concerned when he did not answer back.
The husband eased his wife's worries saying that Sora could come down when he wanted to as they both danced merrily to their favorite tune trying to keep the primal fear hidden in the depths of their hearts at bay.
It was a daze from the docks and rowing on the rough sea. A blur and a dream. Before Sora knew it he was at the island, but everything was so wrong.
The orb in the sky that was neither the sun or moon, hovered above with a torrent of chaos.
"W -what is that?" He felt both scared and drawn to it.
Something more important caught his attention though. "Riku's boat. And Kairi's!" Dread filled Sora. He had to find them! Before...
Before...
Raft... They had to be...
He ran.
And yellow eyes met him.
The creatures from his dream.
And like the dream. Fury filled him.
All he had was the little wooden sword but even that didn't stop Sora from swinging it down. It only seemed to slightly affect the black thing. A small scratch and more monster rose to the surface.
Vanitas cursed Sora for being so weak.
Deciding that this would not be a fair fight, the boy fled further with the island. They were slow and had difficulties running or even walking across the sand.
The wind howled and the waves crashed against the normally peaceful beach like the heartbeat of a giant.
A figure! A figure on the Paopu Island! Forgoing the normal route, Sora climbed on the wood shack roof and went straight towards the little landmass.
Silver Hair!
"RIKU!" He called out on the bridge. Riku did nothing. Did not even turn to Sora.
Kairi was not with him.
"Where's Kairi? I thought she was with you!" Sora's voice was filled with heat and worry. Where was she?
Where was she?
"The door has opened..."
Sora felt his anger growing that no one was ever answering his questions these days.
"WHERE! IS! KAIRI!" Sora bit out.
"Now we can go to the outside world!" Riku said finally turning to face his friend. For the first time today, Riku actually sounded happy.
"I don't care unless we find Kairi!"
Riku seemed to take personal offense to that. "Kairi's coming with us!" Those eyes seemed almost to glow in the dark.
Sora only grew angrier. Did he not see what was happening?
"Once we step through, we might not be able to come back." The older boy said, unknowingly directly contradicting what Kairi said earlier. He stared at the black orb with fascination. Sora wanted to be fascinated by it too, but Kairi was far more important and ground him to reality.
"We may never see our parents again. There's no turning back. But this may be our only chance. We can't let fear stop us!" Riku welled up all his hopes and dreams in one single cry. "I'M NOT AFRAID OF THE DARKNESS!" Riku reached out to his dearest friend. His best friend.
The one who relied upon him for ages.
He reached out, for Sora to follow him like always.
Sora was very sure a voice in his head that was not exactly his own called Riku a fool.
"Riku..." Sora didn't know whether to feel fury or desperation.
Then that inky pool bloomed at Riku's feet. Those tendrils reached up... and began to drag him down. Riku remained unafraid.
Sora knew this was not a good idea. Whomever called his friend a fool, was probably right.
Yet as he stepped forward for his friend in the pool of black, it too reached for Sora and he felt comfortable in it. The coldness, made it seem anything he desired was within reach.
Everything would be okay... That what it seemed to whisper.
Yet... he promised to himself.
All three of them would go together!
His worry about Kairi made him pull away from the darkness. Pull away from Riku.
He had to find her.
He had to find- ...
The last thing he saw of his best friend were those icy blue eyes staring in shock of Sora's actions.
And then there was light.
It was familiar yet strange. Comforting yet foreign. Calming and alarming. Sora felt a weight in his hand, more perfect than the sword from... somewhere.
When Sora opened his eyes, Riku was gone.
In his hand, was a large... key...
Silver or steel with the teeth of a crown, blunt but also looking impossibly sharp. The handle, some sort of leather wrapping, the 'guard' was gold with subtle engravings that seemed to appear only in the corner of the eye. Attached at the end was a chain holding three interlocking circles.
Vanitas shuddered as the image of Sora in his heart's foundations, one the surface of Sora, appeared a keyblade in his hand. "A keyblade..."
Sora looked at the blade again and learned its name.
Keyblade...
Keyblade...
Keyblade...
"A keyblade..."
That voice was different.
Those black creatures showed up again interrupting any further contemplation. Instinctively Sora knew that whatever he held in his hand:
COULD KILL THEM!
All his anger at the current moment, his sadness of what might happen, the anxiety of the possibilities, and his worry over his friends. He channeled it into his swings. Each strike was engulfed with fury that made these black creatures explode with pink things flew out.
Sora didn't care.
He had to find Kairi.
He was lead to the Secret Place. It was the source of all things. Sora did not think this, he knew.
And there was a giant ornate door in front of the secret place that wasn't there before.
He rushed in uncaring of the creatures at his heels. He saw her. Joy erupted in him that she was here.
"Kairi!" He called out, hoping against all hope she was unharmed.
She was staring at that thing,
The unmarked door.
Kairi turned around.
And Sora felt his heart plummet of how ill she looked.
Her voice was very much unlike her normally strong self. Weak and fragile.
Just like when he first saw her.
"S...o...r...a..." She reached out as though pleading for help.
But then something black erupted from the unmarked door when it opened. It flung Kairi towards Sora who was ready to catch her. Catch her and never let go, but she was gone.
Before Sora could even process this, he too was flung back.
And blacked out.
Inside his heart, Vanitas felt his being fall on the floor as something quaked.
The boy felt himself land on something both hard and soft jolting his eye open to face a nightmare.
Worse than his nightmares.
Amidst a howling void, there was a tiny piece of land with wood. The winds whipped like screams and deafened his ears and seared his eyes. The orb above him had grown larger and stronger.
And somehow even more terrifying than this, was the creature, the large one from his dream, was right behind him.
Sora had every reason to be afraid. He didn't know what was going on. He couldn't find his friend nor knew where they went. His island wasn't here. And everything was out of control.
He knew nothing.
Well, except for one thing.
That somehow all of this was the creature's fault.
And that one lone fact was enough for the boy to override any fear, sadness, sorrow, and worry.
And turned it into rage.
Gripping his new weapon, Sora lunged at the black giant.
The creature was on its knees charging up that laser thing in its chest, Sora dodged what came out of it, those wisps and crawled up its arm to attack the face. It took several strikes before it backed off and Sora felt his back throbbing in pain from when those wisp landed on him. He ignored it. The creature lunged forth and struck the grown summoning the inky black disc where tinier creatures stepped out.
Sora ignored these in his furor to destroy the big one. They scrapped at his ankles and he turned around to strike them down. Barely he turned around just in time to see the giant falling right where he was.
He jumped out of the way where it slammed its whole arm into the ground. It was planning something and Sora didn't want to find out what.
"GIVE!" He raised that strange blade. "ME!" His legs hurled him forth as the ground underneath him disappeared. "BACK!" His eyes glowed with something horrible that dwelled within. "MY!" Tendrils of darkness appeared at the edge of that key. "ISLAND!"
The keyblade cleaved right through the head of the enemy and that seemed to be the last thing holding everything together. The vortex above roared angrily and sucked the giant towards it.
Quickly Sora grasped on the piece of wood that seemed stuck to the ground.
He didn't want to go where it was going. He wanted his island back. He wanted his friends back.
He wanted his light back.
His hand slipped against the cutting splinters and jagged edge and he was sucked in the beyond he so desperately wanted to go to before.
End of Chapter 5
Ah... fluff
And angst
Wut?
So we see the dynamic of the Destiny Trio and hopefully this seemed natural considering the dynamic and changes I made personally.
and some motivations seemed... to be appropriate.
I do have fun writing Vanitas and don't worry. It won't just be him just talking to a sleeping Ventus.
His dialogue and perspective is always fun to write.
Once again it is very hard to change much about how the games did the tutorial story part as... It was already pretty good at getting their points across with such limitations back then.
We'll be seeing those changes I make in the next chapter.
Hope you all enjoyed it. I certainly look forward to next chapter as well.