This is a "sort of" continuation of my fic, "Before There Was You"
but you can comprehend the entire story without reading it if you don't
want to read a story about only the Disney characters (Why you wouldn't I
don't know- I love them). I'm grateful to you for acknowledging my story
with your precious time, I thank you humbly and hope you like it. The
formalities: I don't own KH or any Disney characters. Review only if you
want to, but they would be greatly appreciated.
"Trust your friends."
By: Catty Engles
"Take care of her." Riku was painfully aware of the responsibility and the finality that laced this statement. He locked eyes with his best friend's clear blue ones, . . . and helped Sora close the door.
King Mickey assisted in locking Kingdom Hearts. Riku turned to Mickey as the last rays of light began to flail in the impenetrable darkness. Mickey smiled sadly at him and held the golden Keyblade above his head, letting it dissolve into millions of tiny embers. Riku cocked his head questioningly. This wasn't how a keyblade disappeared.
Mickey threw an apprehensive glance at the struggling light. He spoke to Riku in a solemn voice that contradicted his amusing demeanor, "Brace yourself Riku, and trust your friends. This may hurt."
*** ~ One month later ~ Destiny Islands
"OW! Kairi, stop that hurts!" Kairi smiled grimly, battle light still danced in her mesmerizing eyes. She flicked deep auburn hair away from them and offered Tidus a hand.
"Get up." She heaved Tidus from his fallen position and sheathed her own wooden sword in one fluid motion. The sword was somewhat of a tribute to Sora and Riku's legacy. She was the last of the trio to take it up, but she was also the only one who fought with such ardent vigor. She felt that she had to catch up. Kairi was finished with being protected.
Tidus winced as he readjusted his weight. He shook out his left leg and began to massage the small of his back. He sported a split lip and slight bruises but nothing serious. Tidus grimaced at the pain as Kairi grinned at him. The bemused cock of her head made him scowl.
"You still need to block higher, and your combinations come too slowly." He would have said anything to wipe that grin off of Kairi's striking face. He hated to lose, but as the smile faltered and a shadow of frustration flashed across her face, Tidus felt a pang of guilt. "Well, you're doing a lot better, though."
As Kairi dusted herself off she allowed herself a smile. She was good. Even Tidus had admitted it, albeit begrudgingly. Selphie and Wakka approached them from their vantagepoint by the shore wall.
"Kairi! Wow, Kairi!" Selphie squealed. She flung herself at Kairi and hugged her friend enthusiastically. She backed away and beamed at Kairi with shining eyes. Tidus pouted at the misplaced adoration. Well, at least he thought it was misplaced.
A big hand patted Kairi's back and she looked up to see Wakka's sun bronzed face smiling at her.
"You shore showed Tidus, eh?" Kairi smirked at Tidus, silently daring him to object in front of their friends.
Tidus fumbled for words momentarily and his hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. Tidus' face began to tint a pinkish hue until he finally recovered his composure.
"Coconuts in the Shore Shack, my treat!" Kairi was thrown a curve by the barrage of sand that caught her square in her open mouth, the spew from her friend's receding feet. She sat down hard on the beach and crossed her arms over her knees, scowling fiercely. She could dimly hear the clamber in the small shack at the edge of the beach. Happy voices drifted lazily to her on the salty air.
Kairi felt a twinge of regret as she looked at the bright ocean, sparkling innocently at her. The same ocean that had separated her from,
Sora. . .
The ache wasn't as severe as she thought it would be. It had only been a month. Maybe it would worsen in time. She just didn't feel as badly as she thought she should, and she felt guilty about that. She tried to shake the feeling. Instead she reminded herself of what she was doing to counter her grief.
If Kairi had fought, if she had really fought the darkness, maybe she'd be with Sora, and Riku. That's why she trained so hard. That's why she had fashioned herself her own sword. That's why she went to bed each night with stiff and sore muscles and got up the next morning to them screaming in protest. That's why she would be ready.
Ready for what? She didn't really know, but she couldn't let herself be caught unprepared by it.
Kairi sighed and fell backwards, cushioning her head with her arms, and gazed at the blinding blue skies.
***
Sora blinked sweat from his eyes, the salty perspiration stung them. He absently wiped a hand across his brow. He could hear Donald and Goofy's ragged panting behind him.
"Pluto! Come back here you mangy mutt!" Donald breathlessly quacked at the dog. Goofy tried to reason with Pluto.
"C'mon pally, we just gotta see that letter ya got!"
Sora saved his breath for running. He was gaining on Pluto. He threw himself into a flying leap.
"YAAAAA, GOTCHA!" Sora landed with a thump, gamely hanging on to Pluto's whip-like tail. He was dragged on his stomach, accumulating dirt and scratches until Pluto slowed and then sat. Unfortunately, it was right on the back of the gravity defying, brown spikes.
Donald fell on his side laughing as Goofy tried to pull Pluto off of the youth.
"Wmph um unmm humph umph wumpha!" Sora's mouth filled with grit and he spat, abandoning further attempts at communication.
Donald laughed even louder, and Sora struggled harder. Pluto gave, and Sora tackled Donald. He pinned the duck and sat on his back, cross-legged. Meanwhile, Goofy had extracted the letter from Pluto's mouth and was reverently holding it at arm's length, a confused expression plastered on his homely face.
Sora stretched his hand towards Goofy, and Goofy moved the letter within Sora's grasp. He reached for it, only to be sent flying as Donald sat up and snatched it away from a bemused Goofy. Donald made a great show of carefully loosening the wax seal and clearing his throat before he began to read,
"Donald, (Donald smirked. The last letter had been addressed to him as well.)
Tell Sora, I'm sorry (Donald's face fell, and Sora perked up.). I don't know what will happen to Riku and myself, but I have a theory. If it is correct you and Goofy must get to the palace with all haste. If I'm not right, you three must find the door to the light at all costs. My keyblade is gone. I have a feeling the new master will find us.
Please hurry,
Mickey"
"The palace?" Goofy queried. Sora felt slightly embarrassed. He had known that Mickey was a king but had never thought about the fact that to be a king usually required a palace.
Donald scratched his head under his hat and began to instinctively tap his foot. Sora linked his hands behind his head and turned away from his friends in order to think better. He was met with the sight of yellow standards proudly snapping in the wind from lopsided parapets.
He tapped Goofy on the shoulder. "Uh, correct me if I'm wrong, but is that-"
"THE PALACE!" Donald and Goofy chorused. They began a headlong dash to the drawbridge. Sora was close behind. Pluto barked joyfully, and Sora laughed out loud. After a month of chasing and losing Pluto interminably, they were finally going somewhere.
***
"Trust your friends."
By: Catty Engles
"Take care of her." Riku was painfully aware of the responsibility and the finality that laced this statement. He locked eyes with his best friend's clear blue ones, . . . and helped Sora close the door.
King Mickey assisted in locking Kingdom Hearts. Riku turned to Mickey as the last rays of light began to flail in the impenetrable darkness. Mickey smiled sadly at him and held the golden Keyblade above his head, letting it dissolve into millions of tiny embers. Riku cocked his head questioningly. This wasn't how a keyblade disappeared.
Mickey threw an apprehensive glance at the struggling light. He spoke to Riku in a solemn voice that contradicted his amusing demeanor, "Brace yourself Riku, and trust your friends. This may hurt."
*** ~ One month later ~ Destiny Islands
"OW! Kairi, stop that hurts!" Kairi smiled grimly, battle light still danced in her mesmerizing eyes. She flicked deep auburn hair away from them and offered Tidus a hand.
"Get up." She heaved Tidus from his fallen position and sheathed her own wooden sword in one fluid motion. The sword was somewhat of a tribute to Sora and Riku's legacy. She was the last of the trio to take it up, but she was also the only one who fought with such ardent vigor. She felt that she had to catch up. Kairi was finished with being protected.
Tidus winced as he readjusted his weight. He shook out his left leg and began to massage the small of his back. He sported a split lip and slight bruises but nothing serious. Tidus grimaced at the pain as Kairi grinned at him. The bemused cock of her head made him scowl.
"You still need to block higher, and your combinations come too slowly." He would have said anything to wipe that grin off of Kairi's striking face. He hated to lose, but as the smile faltered and a shadow of frustration flashed across her face, Tidus felt a pang of guilt. "Well, you're doing a lot better, though."
As Kairi dusted herself off she allowed herself a smile. She was good. Even Tidus had admitted it, albeit begrudgingly. Selphie and Wakka approached them from their vantagepoint by the shore wall.
"Kairi! Wow, Kairi!" Selphie squealed. She flung herself at Kairi and hugged her friend enthusiastically. She backed away and beamed at Kairi with shining eyes. Tidus pouted at the misplaced adoration. Well, at least he thought it was misplaced.
A big hand patted Kairi's back and she looked up to see Wakka's sun bronzed face smiling at her.
"You shore showed Tidus, eh?" Kairi smirked at Tidus, silently daring him to object in front of their friends.
Tidus fumbled for words momentarily and his hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. Tidus' face began to tint a pinkish hue until he finally recovered his composure.
"Coconuts in the Shore Shack, my treat!" Kairi was thrown a curve by the barrage of sand that caught her square in her open mouth, the spew from her friend's receding feet. She sat down hard on the beach and crossed her arms over her knees, scowling fiercely. She could dimly hear the clamber in the small shack at the edge of the beach. Happy voices drifted lazily to her on the salty air.
Kairi felt a twinge of regret as she looked at the bright ocean, sparkling innocently at her. The same ocean that had separated her from,
Sora. . .
The ache wasn't as severe as she thought it would be. It had only been a month. Maybe it would worsen in time. She just didn't feel as badly as she thought she should, and she felt guilty about that. She tried to shake the feeling. Instead she reminded herself of what she was doing to counter her grief.
If Kairi had fought, if she had really fought the darkness, maybe she'd be with Sora, and Riku. That's why she trained so hard. That's why she had fashioned herself her own sword. That's why she went to bed each night with stiff and sore muscles and got up the next morning to them screaming in protest. That's why she would be ready.
Ready for what? She didn't really know, but she couldn't let herself be caught unprepared by it.
Kairi sighed and fell backwards, cushioning her head with her arms, and gazed at the blinding blue skies.
***
Sora blinked sweat from his eyes, the salty perspiration stung them. He absently wiped a hand across his brow. He could hear Donald and Goofy's ragged panting behind him.
"Pluto! Come back here you mangy mutt!" Donald breathlessly quacked at the dog. Goofy tried to reason with Pluto.
"C'mon pally, we just gotta see that letter ya got!"
Sora saved his breath for running. He was gaining on Pluto. He threw himself into a flying leap.
"YAAAAA, GOTCHA!" Sora landed with a thump, gamely hanging on to Pluto's whip-like tail. He was dragged on his stomach, accumulating dirt and scratches until Pluto slowed and then sat. Unfortunately, it was right on the back of the gravity defying, brown spikes.
Donald fell on his side laughing as Goofy tried to pull Pluto off of the youth.
"Wmph um unmm humph umph wumpha!" Sora's mouth filled with grit and he spat, abandoning further attempts at communication.
Donald laughed even louder, and Sora struggled harder. Pluto gave, and Sora tackled Donald. He pinned the duck and sat on his back, cross-legged. Meanwhile, Goofy had extracted the letter from Pluto's mouth and was reverently holding it at arm's length, a confused expression plastered on his homely face.
Sora stretched his hand towards Goofy, and Goofy moved the letter within Sora's grasp. He reached for it, only to be sent flying as Donald sat up and snatched it away from a bemused Goofy. Donald made a great show of carefully loosening the wax seal and clearing his throat before he began to read,
"Donald, (Donald smirked. The last letter had been addressed to him as well.)
Tell Sora, I'm sorry (Donald's face fell, and Sora perked up.). I don't know what will happen to Riku and myself, but I have a theory. If it is correct you and Goofy must get to the palace with all haste. If I'm not right, you three must find the door to the light at all costs. My keyblade is gone. I have a feeling the new master will find us.
Please hurry,
Mickey"
"The palace?" Goofy queried. Sora felt slightly embarrassed. He had known that Mickey was a king but had never thought about the fact that to be a king usually required a palace.
Donald scratched his head under his hat and began to instinctively tap his foot. Sora linked his hands behind his head and turned away from his friends in order to think better. He was met with the sight of yellow standards proudly snapping in the wind from lopsided parapets.
He tapped Goofy on the shoulder. "Uh, correct me if I'm wrong, but is that-"
"THE PALACE!" Donald and Goofy chorused. They began a headlong dash to the drawbridge. Sora was close behind. Pluto barked joyfully, and Sora laughed out loud. After a month of chasing and losing Pluto interminably, they were finally going somewhere.
***