Title: Crossed Trails ( 3 / ? )
Author name: Ari Powwel
Author email: eight_muses@hotmail.com
Spoilers: Kingdom Hearts (duh! lol)
Summary: Could there be
uncharted worlds up there? My curiosity never ceases to grow. Sora and company
failed to mention all the different people they met on their quest . . .
Random quotes from this chapter:
Guess
it's not just an oversized house key, after all!
'We haven't seen much of Riku or Kairi lately . . .'
'Yeah,
but that's what makes some of the other kids scared to come back here!'
'But you're still missing
something.'
Tree, tree, fence, coconut,
Darkside, coco – Darkside?!
DISCLAIMER: This story is based on
characters and situations created and owned by various publishers including but
not limited to Disney Interactive and Square Co., Ltd. No money is being made
and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Author's Notes: Yes, well, still on
Destiny Islands ((though I'm writing Traverse Town)) and I'm soooo bored of
working, so yes, I havta work on this more so it'll actually be done ((don't
worry, no matter how much I whine, I'll finish this . . .))
And although I'm trying to cut down on the Author's Notes, the review answers
are taking a lot of space. Don't be surprised to hear I move them to a story in
itself . . . **nods**
ONWARDS!!
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Chapter 3: Storm
Sora tied his rowboat to the dock, wondering what they'd have to do that day. He looked around, but couldn't see Riku or Kairi.
'Hey, Sora,' Selphie's voice interrupted his thoughts. 'Have you heard about the legendary power of the paopu fruit? They say if you share it with someone you really care for . . . it binds you together forever and ever through eternity!' she sighed dreamily. 'It's so romantic . . . I gotta try it sometime!'
'Right,' Sora said. 'Hey, have you seen Kairi? Or Riku?'
Selphie shook her head. 'We haven't seen much of Riku or Kairi lately . . . I wonder what they're up to?'
'I don't know,' Sora told her. Riku had told them not to tell anyone else about the raft, or else they'd want to come, too.
'I'm gonna have to send Tidus or Wakka to check up on you two . . .' Sora shook his head. They must be on the other side, then . . . he walked around the island and through the door where Kairi had been yesterday. Riku was standing there, looking out over the water again. He turned, hearing the squeaking of the door. 'Hey Sora, our raft still needs a name. What would you call it?'
Sora thought a moment. 'I dunno . . . how about . . . Excalibur?'
Riku laughed. 'How about Highwind.'
They both looked at each other. 'The usual?' Riku questioned.
'Are you guys at it again?' Kairi called, crossing the bridge. 'Alright, I'll be the judge. The usual rules apply: take any route you want, first to tag that tree and make it back here wins!'
Riku and Sora started to get into position, talking so Kairi wouldn't hear. 'If I win, I'm captain! And if you win . . .'
'I get to share the paopu with Kairi.' Riku finished.
'Huh?'
'Deal? The winner gets to share a paopu with Kairi.'
Sora was having trouble. 'Wha? Wait a minute . . .'
'Okay, on my count!' Kairi called. 'One . . . two . . . three . . . GO!'
Sora jumped off into the water, running though the shallow water. It wasn't really that shallow, though, about halfway between his knees and hips. He heard Riku jumping over the bridge above him. He plunged out of the water, seeing Riku was already climbing the ladder to the watchtower. Shoot . . . he ran around the tower, running through the sand and the water, the water splashing around his ankles. Up the incline he ran, leaping to the grassy rock sticking out from the face. He missed the second one. No! He jumped back onto the incline, seeing Riku jump to a tree. He jumped across the rocks again, but Riku made it to the tree before him.
Both ran side-by-side until they reached the watchtower, where Riku jumped back onto the bridge. Sora splashed through the surf again, jumping onto the starting area about three seconds after Riku. Riku grinned. 'Highwind it is.'
After Kairi had gone back to whatever it was she was doing, Sora walked up to Riku again. 'Oh, the paopu thing? It was just a joke,' Riku laughed. 'You should have seen the look on your face.'
Sora laughed, too, but it was a bit forced. He walked to the finished raft, where Kairi was waiting. She greeted him with a smile. 'Today we collect provisions for our trip! Let's see, Sora, you're looking for . . . a seagull egg, three mushrooms, two coconuts, and three fish. Oh, and fill this up with drinking water. But not from the ocean!' She handed him a sack and a flask to fill. 'Bring everything back here. If you need help, just ask.'
Sora nodded. 'Three seagull eggs, a mushroom, three coconuts, and two fish. Got it!' he grinned. Kairi laughed and repeated the list.
Sora went to the coconut trees first, debating whether to climb up and get them or to just hit the trunks. After he snuck a look at Kairi, he slammed his sword into the tree trunk, getting a couple coconuts quickly. He delivered the coconuts to her and looked in a nearby cave for anything interesting. 'A mushroom. How nice . . .' he rolled his eyes. 'Keep reminding me of what I havta do, why don't you.' He poked around the watchtower a bit and found another mushroom.
Then he saw something glimmer from a hole in the rock face. He looked around, spotting a crate. Sora pulled it underneath the hole, then climbed up on it and jumped to grab the lip of the cave. He climbed inside and found a small chest. 'What's this doing here?' he wondered, opening it. There was a chain inside. 'That's strange . . .' he clipped it to the other chains hanging off his shorts, making a note to ask if anyone lost it.
Sora jumped out of the 'cave' and splashed into the water, finding a tiny waterfall. He knew the water wouldn't be salty, so he took a drink, then filled the bottle. He walked around to the other side of the island, going swimming. Three fish . . . Kairi's words repeated in his head. He shook his head and chased after the fish.
Selphie watched him from her spot on the dock, laughing as he missed one. Sora surfaced, soaking wet, to her laughs, and he splashed her, grinning. 'You don't run up to them, Sora,' she said. 'You just stand still and let the fish come to you!'
'I wish I'd known that three fish ago,' Sora replied, trudging onto the sand again. He dropped the fish into the bag Kairi had given him, then walked over to Wakka. 'Hey, can you hold these for me?'
'Sure, man!' Wakka said, taking the bag and dropping it next to a pair of barrels. 'Me and Tidus, we are gonna do a little explorin' today!' he pointed past a pool of water, a waterfall cascading into it, to a dark hollow. 'You know, to the secret place at the base of that tree. There's gotta be something in there, ya?'
Sora nodded. 'Probably . . .' he grinned; he, Riku, and Kairi had been going there for as long as he could remember.
'Selphie thinks she's in charge around here,' Wakka moaned. 'It's such a drag!'
Sora didn't answer, instead heading for the dark hollow, or the Secret Place, as he, Riku, and Kairi had taken to calling it. He passed through the winding tunnel quickly, and found another mushroom growing by a picture of two faces talking to each other in the cave. Sora crouched next to it, remembering the day they'd been made.
'This is the Secret Place,' Sora said, leading a younger Kairi through the tunnel.
'It's so dark!'
Sora nodded. 'Yeah, but that's what makes some of the other kids scared to come back here!'
'You mean like Selphie?'
'Yeah. And Tidus. And Wakka.'
Kairi giggled as they entered the cavern. Sora watched as she examined the pictures scribbled on the walls, made mostly by Riku and Sora. 'How did you make them?'
'You just take a rock and use it like a crayon,' Sora answered. 'I'll show you!' He picked up a rock that was a little smaller than his fist.
'Wait!' Kairi picked up another rock. 'Let's draw each other! When Riku comes back, we'll add him in, too!'
Sora agreed, and they began drawing, talking to each other as they did. 'So why is Riku gone today, anyways?' Kairi asked.
'His mom said he was sick,' responded Sora, chipping off a piece of stone. 'But I heard him yelling he was fine from upstairs.' Kairi giggled.
After a bit, they both stood back, admiring their work. 'Wow, Kairi, you did real good!' Sora looked at his own. 'Mine's really bad . . .'
'I like it,' Kairi declared, hugging him. 'C'mon, let's go play!'
Later, after Riku returned, they'd come back to the Secret Place, but for some reason neither Sora nor Kairi had told him about the picture, and his face was still missing from it.
Sora picked up another rock, etching something else into the rock face. It was slow-going, because he wanted to make it perfect, but at last he dropped the stone, looking at his handiwork. Now, from Kairi's picture of him, an arm stretched, presenting her with a star shaped fruit. Sora sat staring at it for a few minutes, before he heard a rustle of cloth behind him and spun around. 'Wh – who's there?'
A hooded figure stepped out of the shadows. 'I've come to see the door to this world,' it said, its voice obviously male.
'Huh?'
'This world has been tied to the darkness.'
'Wh – what are you talking about?'
The man continued on as if he hadn't spoken. 'Tied to the darkness . . . soon to be completely eclipsed.'
'Well, whoever you are, stop freaking me out like this!' he paused. 'Huh? Wh – where did you come from?'
The man seemed to notice him for the first time. 'You do not yet know what lies beyond the door.'
'So, you're from another world!'
'There is so very much to learn.' The man spoke with seeming pity. 'You understand so little.'
'Oh, yeah? Well, you'll see! I'm gonna get out and learn what's out there!'
The man chuckled, all traces of pity gone. 'A meaningless effort. One who knows nothing can understand nothing.'
'What's that supposed to mean?!' Sora yelled after him, but the figure was gone. He shivered and ran back out of the tunnel.
Sora picked up the fish from Wakka ('It's creepy back there, ya?') and returned to Kairi.
'Thanks, Sora!' she said, 'But you're still missing something.'
'I am?'
Kairi giggled. 'The seagull egg?'
'Oh, right!' Wonder if Wakka knows where to get a seagull egg . . . he walked around to the other side of the island, but Tidus and Wakka had gone. 'Oh, great,' Sora said, flopping down by the waterfall. 'Where am I supposed to find a seagull egg?' he looked out at 'Riku's Paopu', as they jokingly called it. After all, there were so many islands . . . Sora laughed, remembering Riku's reaction to hearing the name. They couldn't even refer to it as that around him, or else they'd face his wrath!
Sora sighed and started to lay back, putting his hands behind his head. He saw the wooden walkway connecting to Riku's Paopu, and where it connected to Destiny Islands. He saw the two trees on the adjoining part, his eyes strayed up the trees –
Sora jerked up. 'Unbelievable,' he muttered. On top of one of the trees was a great egg; a seagull's egg.
Sora climbed up onto the roof of the shack, making his way to the trees. He slowly climbed one, then jumped to the other one. He shoved the egg into his sack, getting away as fast as possible in case the mother was nearby. He raced around to Kairi, still expecting to feel a bird at his back at any moment. 'Never again.'
He walked up to the raft, panting, where Kairi was doing . . . something. 'This? I'm making a necklace of thalassa shells. In the old days, sailors always wore thalassa shells. They were supposed to ensure a safe voyage.'
'Interesting,' said Sora. 'Here's the egg. And don't ever expect me to get another one!' Kairi giggled.
'Thanks, Sora! I found something today, too. Here, it's yours.' She handed him a Hi-Potion. 'Tired? Want to call it a day?'
'Yeah, let's,' said Sora, grateful for the respite.
'Okay, tomorrow's the big day. We should rest up!' They walked to the docks; Riku's boat was gone.
'Where'd Riku go?'
'He said he wasn't feeling too hot, so he decided to leave early. You know, gotta be ready for tomorrow.'
'Mmm,' Sora said, sitting down. 'I see.'
Kairi sat down next to him, looking at her feet as she swung them back and forth. 'You know, Riku's changed.'
'What do you mean?' Sora asked, feeling a bit obliged to defend their friend.
'Well . . .'
'You okay?'
Kairi turned to him, something shining in her eyes. 'Sora, let's take the raft and go – just the two of us!'
Sora was surprised, to say the least. 'Huh?' was all he could manage.
Kairi turned back to the sunset, giggling. 'Just kidding.'
Sora laughed a bit, too. 'What's gotten into you? You're the one who's changed, Kairi.'
'Maybe . . . you know, 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. Right?'
'Yeah, of course!'
Kairi stood. 'That's good. Sora, don't ever change.'
'Huh?'
'I just can't wait. Once we set sail, it'll be great.'
Sora lay back into his pillow, staring at the wooden ship in the corner. Two rag dolls were on it; he liked to think of them as himself and Kairi. I just can't wait . . . once we set sail, it'll be great . . . Kairi's words echoed in his head again. A crack of thunder made him sit up and look out the window. Storm clouds hovered over Destiny Islands, a bolt of lightning jumped from one cloud to the next. 'A storm? . . . Oh, no! The raft!' Sora gasped, leaping up. He climbed out his window, sliding down a tree trunk to the ground. He heard his mom call him for dinner, but he ran for his boat, shoving off for the islands.
It was tough rowing, the waves seemed to be trying to keep him away, but at last he stood on the dock, looking up. A giant ball of – Sora wasn't quite sure what, but it was black, with a reddish core – sat in the sky. 'What's that?' he asked in awe. He looked to where he was tying the knot to hold his boat to the dock. 'Riku's boat. And Kairi's!'
A familiar shadow pulled itself off of the ground, catching Sora's attention. 'Them!' he gasped. All he had was his wooden sword, and as he hit them with it, he could tell it wasn't working. A flash of lightning lit up the area, and Sora was able to see someone fighting on Riku's Paopu. A metallic flash destroyed the shadows around him, and the figure turned to stare out at the ocean again, the sword disappearing from his hand.
Sora made his way to the island as quick as he could, ignoring the shadows. Riku turned as he approached, an odd light behind his eyes. 'Where's Kairi?' Sora asked him. 'I thought she was with you!'
Riku showed no signs of hearing him. 'The door has opened . . .'
'What?'
Riku looked at him, excitement apparent on his face. Sora drew back, surprised; Riku hadn't shown emotion like that since they were young. 'The door has opened, Sora! Now we can go to the outside world!'
'What are you talking about?' Sora asked, a bit afraid of whatever was doing this to Riku. 'We've gotta find Kairi!'
'Kairi's coming with us!' Riku said, his voice a bit louder, a bit more rambunctious. 'Once we step through, we might not be able to come back. 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. I'm not afraid of the darkness!' the dark void from Sora's dream exploded into reality under Riku's feet. Riku extended an arm to him, and Sora realised the darkness was under his feet, too. He was caught in its web, trying to grab Riku's outstretched hand. He didn't want to go, he wasn't ready! He needed reassurance that it was the right thing to do, he needed – there was a bright flash, and Riku was gone.
Sora straightened, looking around. He felt a weight in his hands and looked down, seeing an oversized key in his hands. The hilt was golden, forming a box around his grip, but there about a hand's length between the grip and the surrounding bit. The blade itself wasn't even a blade as much as a key. Sora thought it just an oversized house key.
'Keyblade . . .'
'Keyblade . . .'
The whispers came out of no-where, surrounding him as more shadows sprouted from the ground. Sora looked at the key in his hand and shrugged. The voice had said blade, right? He struck at a shadow, watching as it fell back and disappeared. Guess it's not just an oversized house key, after all! a voice smirked from the back of his head.
Sora fought his way back onto solid land, wondering where Kairi'd be. He spotted a strange pair of doors over the Secret Place; he'd only seen those doors once before.
In his dream.
Sora entered them, creeping along to the end. He emerged into the cavern to see Kairi, standing before the mysterious door. 'Kairi!'
She turned to face him; Sora was shocked at her condition. Her eyes shone dully, half-closed, as if she were someone's puppet. 'Sora . . .' she murmured, her voice in a monotone.
All of a sudden the door behind her burst open, a wind blowing though it. Kairi was carried along by it, speeding towards him. He put out his arms to catch her, bracing for the impact, but right as it should have come, she just . . . disappeared. Sora only managed to glance at the door before he was blown away, too, not knowing where he was headed . . .
Sora looked around. He stood on a bit of the island, that was for sure. The sky was a surprising maelstrom of pink, purple, blue, and red, but strangely, this didn't worry him. Two trees stood on one side, a bit of fence by them . . . he wheeled around, looking at his surroundings. Tree, tree, fence, coconut, Darkside, coco – Darkside?!
Sora realised that his least favourite person was back. Sora heaved a great sigh before sprinting off to his hands again, trying to finish it quickly.
The Darkside pulled his hands together, creating a ball of reddish light. He raised it to the sky before his hands drifted back down to his sides. Almost immediately, smaller balls of the light began drifting back down. Sora sprinted away from these and struck the hand several times before noticing the things seemed to be following him. An orb hit him, causing him to cry out in pain. He dashed under the Darkside, hoping the light wouldn't be able to get to him there.
It didn't. He waited until the light had stopped, then ran back out, striking his sword into the Darkside's hand again. He used several combos on it, hoping fervently this would be easier than his dream. Ah! His favourite shadows were back again . . . sving! Down went shadows. The Darkside's hands went to his sides, and Sora noticed a mass of light growing by its chest. He struck at the Darkside's hands with new fervour, trying to defeat him before –
A mass of energy struck his back, sending him skidding across the sand. He jumped back up, then dove under the Darkside to avoid the next one. He cowered there, until they stopped. Again, he leapt out, attacking the hands as fast as he could. The Darkside seemed to be stronger this time, producing more attacks that kept Sora in hiding.
But he still fell before Sora. His Keyblade drooped to his side, thanking the paopu it was over. He noticed the ground start trembling beneath his feet, the coconuts nearby were being pulled upwards. Sora grabbed a piece of wood anchored to the ground before his feet were yanked from under him, everything around him was being sucked in.
Sora tried his hardest to hold on, but the wood was tugged from the ground, striking him on the head as he flew up. He tried to keep his eyes open, to see where he was going, but they closed, and he fell into unconsciousness.
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Sving! Down went shadows!! That part really amused me for some reason. Fun fun fun . . .
Thanks to the following reviewers!
~ Selphie Kinneas ~
I haven't seen many 'novelisations' ((I put it in quotes because quite
obviously, it's going to change ^_^)) so I don't have much to compare mine too
. . . but I've read one, by Harvestboy2001, that was just amazing, so I'm
putting a lot into this so that if I read his, then mine, mine won't pale by
comparison ((I hope I can get to that))
I'm not going to drop this, not by a long shot. I'm one of those people who are
extremely conscious about updating, so I had eight chapters finished before I
even posted the first chapter of this! ^____^ This way, I have over a month to
finish chapter nine, because a freaking plot hole opened over my head and
dropped this stupid writer's block on my writing things . . . **waves
paintpens**
I've also taped the cutscenes from the game, so that when I get to them, I can
watch to be sure I'm describing them right. Because of this, I've had to
re-write bits and pieces, but . . . yeap.
Glad to know I'll have returning reviewers!! ^_____^ w00t!!
I say to ignore that stupid-assed review that said your fic sucked, cos that's
just not true!! I got reviews that said that my fic was worthless, sheesh. I
looked at that person's fics, and it was the worst writing I'd EVER seen. It
took a lot not to flame them . . . then I looked at his reviews and found out
that my fic had been recommended as a good story . . . so I felt loved =^_^=
Sheesh I wrote a long answer. And this was only your first review . . .
**snorts** You think chapter two was different, wait til we get further in . .
. **shakes head** it's gonna be fun to write . . . **can't wait to write it and
wishes she could finish Cerberus's fight so she can write the fun parts** I
updated!! Wednesdays!! **hops** But if I don't get another fic to start on, it
may end up being updated Sundays, too, but with my imagination, I doubt it'll
happen . . . I wouldn't have the chapters finished!! lol
I'm flattered you think my story's better than yours . . . but really, I'm
barely making this up. It's all the normal game, and it takes a lot to come up
with an original plot, something I have yet to do in this genre . . . **sigh**
Ah well, thanks for the praise!!
And feel special. You got the longest review answer in my history of it ((so
far)).
~ DClick ~
¬.¬;;; I don't know what Donald wanted Daisy to take care of. Mysteriousness to
me too . . . ^^;;;
Wait . . . maybe, possibly . . . yeah, that's probably it . . . Mk, I think I
know . . . **swears** I just got a Charlie horse . . . **cries** it's painful.
Sora can't have a parachute in his shoes!! That's where he keeps all his
money!! Plus, his lil jumpsuit's got wide enough legholes to be a parachute in
itself!! ^__^ **hides from sue** No, sue, I didn't reveal that Sora wears a
romper – oops!! **covers mouth and grins**
. . . I'm sore. ^^;;; I'm SURE you wanted to know that . . . **grins** I'll
shut up now . . .
Tom: ¬_¬;; Probably a good idea.
L've meh alone . . .
~ Zoshi the Confused ~
Ish. I hate when that happens . . . though when we got a new computer, our
internet wasn't up for a week . . . I suffered internet deprivation . . .
**shudders at memory** it wasn't fun.
Yeah, a new person! Yayness!! ((even though there were two in that chapter,
lol)) That's two outta four we've met . . . **nods** it should be fun . . . and
the characters are based off their real-life . . . comparisons? I don't know,
but flaws and all! ((Though Sara's owner made her a lot worse than she [the
real-life she] is . . .))
Reflections is almost done **sobs** I'm soooo sad . . . proud that I finished
it, but I'm sad; I'm gonna miss the fight we had every Sunday (('You're gonna
go up, dammit!!' *clickety* 'DAMMIT!! Work already!' *tap tap tap* 'Muahaha . .
. you won't defeat me, ebil computer!' *click* 'WHAT?! I didn't put that
there!!' . . . *tap tap tap, clickety* 'Heh heh heh . . . I win again ^_^'))
Oh, yeah!! Everyone please check out my notice
board, under the title 'Dude, Where's the Updates?' It contains some vital
information, such as why I'll be missing two updates . . . **nods** It's rather
important. It should be up before the end of the day, simply because I havta
leave because my muses, sue, and libby are ganging up on me and making me go
with them to see Spy Kids 3-D . . . **sighs** Must go prepare scary makeup . .
. ^^;;; I have fun scaring little kids . . . and the fact –
Artemis: Ari.
Ari: Ah . . . talking too much?
Artemis: **nods**
Ari: =^_^= oops. I'll discuss the makeup thing in Dude, Where's the Updates?
**grins**
Anyways, hope you liked the chapter, next one ((fight)) is up next Wednesday!!
**continues singing the English version of
Simple and Clean – even though she's downloading and playing the Japanese one .
. . ¬.¬;;**
And amazingly enough, I can hit the highest notes . . . ^_^
