Chapter Three: The Truth Behind the Final Moments

Sora

Scala Ad Caelum, following the battle against Xehanort

It began slowly and then all at once. My reality was shifting quicker than I could bring myself to come to terms with. I couldn't take it in; I was unconvinced. When I finally reached her, when I managed to put the pieces of her back together, she was entirely unaware of what was happening to me and I had no intentions of, nor was I capable of, bringing it all to her attention. After the events these past few years, in her eyes, everything was okay again and we would all be back together on the islands. I tried to persuade myself that this would be exactly the case, but my faith eventually dissipated and there was not a shred of hope left inside of me.

If I told her, it would tear her apart and I so desperately wanted her to be free of the suffering and distress, even if it didn't last long. But there was also another harsh reality crashing down on me; I was scared. I was absolutely terrified. Throughout all of my journeys, I had the people I loved surrounding me and supporting me. I was never alone. It wasn't a matter of fearing the enemy or doubting my strength to strike them down. It was simply the fact that I had people I cared about around me. No matter what, someone was always there. This time, I was alone and there was nothing I could do to change it. For a while, I truly convinced myself that I could fix this. I could stop this from happening. After all, I'd managed what people deemed impossible many times before in the past. Regardless of the circumstances, I somehow always came out of it all with success and triumph. It wasn't just that I couldn't tell her because I didn't want to hurt her. It was because if I did say it out loud, I'd be accepting it…accepting defeat. I had no idea what would happen to me.

The fragments of her heart had been shattered and spread apart all throughout this desolate and extinct world. Somehow, it was still beautiful. This place…somehow it felt familiar, but it wasn't the same sensation that you'd feel when you're overwhelmed with nostalgia. It wasn't like that at all. It was, in fact, a feeling that crippled me with unease, a feeling of extreme naivety as if I could sense my own helplessness. This world, Scala Ad Caelum, was enveloped in some sort of mystique, one that could not be imitated. It seemed to go on forever, with each corridor becoming slightly different yet still much of the same. This made it impossible not to get lost. Although I felt as if I'd been wandering forever to find her, it was likely that I had been passing through the same buildings and paths unknowingly.

When I finally lined up all the pieces and put her heart back together, the entirety of the journey to do so instantly became a blur. In this mysterious world, the sun had set and night had fallen upon it. The moonlight illuminated her silhouette off in the distance, unmoving and staring straight ahead. It was then that I was jolted by an intense tingling sensation down my arm. I peered down at it, reality staring right back at me. My hand was translucent, flickering in and out of existence, seemingly fighting my ultimate fate. Looking down, I could make out the intricate patterns of the pavement below me, something that was so very unnerving for me. I was seeing the ground below me through my own body, my body that was battling itself not to fade away. I clenched my fist, my whole arm completely coming back to its normal state, but with that horrible and chill-inducing electric and tingling sensation remaining. I had to accept it. I didn't have much time left.

I sprinted forward toward her, kicking off my heel and running as fast as I could. When I reached her, I placed my hand gently on her shoulder. "Kairi."

She slowly turned around, her gaze meeting mine and her face instantly overcome with a warm and beautiful smile, a smile that never failed to reach her eyes and captivate me. Yet this time, that smile burnt a whole into my chest, grief eating away at me as I realised this would likely be the last time I would get to see it. I did everything in my power not to let my feelings show. "Sora…you found me." She reached for her shoulder, intertwining our hands together and not letting go. "Thank you."

"I'm so glad that you're safe, Kairi," I stated matter of factly, looking into her eyes. "You give me strength. You gave me the strength to reach you."

She squeezed my hand, pulling me just a bit closer to her. "Of course I'm safe. I always feel safe when I'm with you."

I gave her a toothy grin, the happiest one that I could muster for her benefit, but no words could reach my lips. My voice had left me. This realisation petrified me. How could this be? There was still so much that I needed to say to her. I couldn't just leave her like this, disappearing from her life with no warning or explanation. Without a proper goodbye.

"Let's go home," she retorted, her voice soft and serene.

All I could do was nod as she held my hand, pulling me onward alongside her.

And that was it. The last thing I could remember was the soothing sound of her voice, the warmth of her skin against mine, and the peaceful smile plastered across her face.

Then, everything faded to nothingness, taking me with it.

Three Hours Earlier

At some point on my path toward finding Kairi, I found myself in The Final World, unsure of how I had made it back here, wondering if she had too. This world was utterly silent, the only sound being the light splashing of water from my footsteps meeting the puddled ground below me. Fluffy white clouds and blue skies surrounded me, nothing else in sight. Where is she?

"You can't go on, Sora."

Jolted, I immediately turned around, but as I peered forward, there was no one sight.

"Down here," the familiar voice bellowed.

I quickly looked down. "Chirithy!"

"I told you, Sora. This is a nature taboo. You have to return home. It isn't safe for you to keep bringing hearts back to life and alter the natural outcome of reality. That's why I brought you here. Sora, if you keep going…"

I interrupted, shaking my head. "Uhh, Chirithy…I really do appreciate your concern about me! But, ya see…I'm kind of in a hurry to find someone and I don't think she's in this world, so I really have to go…"

"Nature will punish those that shift reality and manipulate time to change the future," Chirithy insisted.

I sighed, chuckling and attempting to ease some tension. "Look, I promise this is the last time. Plus…look at how many times Xehanort did it! I can afford one more time."

"No, Sora. You're out of time."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I questioned.

"It is, first of all, an anomaly that Xehanort managed to go on as long as he did. But if you think about it, he created several different versions of himself that spread across time…and there is only one of you. Even in his case, Xehanort still ultimately met his demise. Sora, you have to realise…you have the power to harbour the hearts of others, a gift that you have used to save them. No one, though, has the same power to protect you."

I sighed, doing my best to take in and process all of this information. It, however, was overwhelming and truly more than I could handle. "Chirithy, please. I have to do this. No matter what happens…I won't change my mind. I'm sorry."

"Then I'm afraid that you really are out of time."

I inhaled. "Will I be able to tell her goodbye?" The question escaped my mouth before I could even think to ask it, but it was something that I wasn't sure I wanted an answer to.

"You may be able to save her, but even then, you won't be left with enough time to see her reach home."

I paused, taking a moment to think. "Wait…" I tried to find the words to properly express the ideas that were playing out in my mind. "What if I tell her goodbye right now? If I'm travelling into the past to save her, then who's to say I can't go to the future, too? Xehanort did it all the time! I want to see her get back to the islands safely and happily…not alone and hurting. So…if I travel into the future right now to see her on the islands, then I can talk to her one last time at home. But I won't fade away…because if I'm seeing her at home in the future, that means I've already saved her in the past. If I go home to say goodbye first, it's the perfect loophole, right?"

Chirithy sighed, a sound of defeat, maybe even sadness. "It's not often that you're clever and now is not the time for that to happen…"

Despite the backhanded compliment, it was all the confirmation I needed. "Great! So then…I have to go!" I did my best to sound both optimistic and dignified, using all the strength I had not to be overcome by fear of the unknown and what was to become of me. I had no doubt that Chirithy had the most pure intentions, but maybe it wasn't true. Maybe I would be just fine and nothing would happen to me; I would finally get to go home to the islands and be with all of my friends…with her.

"Sora…"

I smiled. "It's okay. I promise."

Chirithy said nothing, seemingly speechless and staring at me, hoping for me to say more.

I spoke again. "Chirithy, thank you for everything. I'll see you later." That last sentence came out more like a question than anything else. I chose my words carefully; I couldn't bring myself to say a proper goodbye. I wanted to believe that it wasn't necessary. Still, my voice and intonation accidentally gave away my true feelings.

I took a deep breath, raising my Keyblade in front of me, blasting forth a beam of light, opening a portal to the future I hoped to reach. I stepped forward. Here goes.

At The Destiny Islands

The scenery on the islands was somehow more vibrant and stunning than it had ever been before. The ambience of the sounds of the ocean, the palm trees blowing in the wind; it was the epitome of paradise. Maybe this had a lot to do with the energy and glee radiating all around, coming from the group of people who had come together here to celebrate their victory against Xehanort and the darkness. Everything seemed perfect and exactly as it was meant to be.

Sora had managed to save and bring home the girl that he loved the most. Everyone was ecstatic that not only was she alive and well, but Sora had somehow made it home, too, without having to face the consequences that so many people claimed he would for his actions. Or so they thought. The Guardians of Light all paused what they were doing to stare up into the distance at the paopu tree, where they could make out the scene of Sora and Kairi sitting hand in hand, appearing to watch the sunset. It was surely a beautiful moment to witness, but one that none of them could ever imagine was something that had already happened, that the boy they were seeing in front of them was already long gone.

Kairi sat next to him, revelling in the feeling of his hand holding hers, the security of his presence, of being home. She was blissful, the happiest she had been in years, before they had ever left the islands in the first place. She could never have been prepared for the moments to come. She never would have dreamed that the boy she was seeing wasn't actually there at all, that she was looking right at the past. She had no idea that he was already gone.