Rhiannon: Now that the dust has settled... A new face...

World's End

Sora stood on the dock of the Destiny Islands. It was the first time he'd come here since he'd become a hero... He fingered the charm that he'd necklace. The lionheart, the other various keyblade charms he collected where on his wallet chain. But the lionheart, that was the one that mattered. It reminded him of a hero. The reason he was here today though was to Riku and Kairi. It had been a long time since either of them were here. A year or two older, maybe a bit smarter. He saw them up ahead sitting on the deck.
"Riku, Kairi!" He called as he ran up to meet his friends.
"Hey Sora!" Riku called smiling, though sadly now.
"Hi." Kairi whispered.
"It's good to be back isn't it? I wonder where Wakka and Selphie and Tidus are!" Sora asked full of smiles.
"Probably home. A storms coming in. This probably wasn't the best time to come." Riku whispered.
"Maybe. But it's so good to be here."
"After all that's happened... I'm kinda uncomfortable here." Kairi admitted.
"It's alright. I'm kind of afraid of the dark now." Riku whispered.
"With reason for both." Sora added.
"When did you grow up?" Riku asked with a smile.
"Hear and there." Sora replied his smile getting bigger.
"He had some help." A voice spoke behind him.
Riku assumed a fighting stance pushing Kairi behind him. Sora just turned him smile getting impossible bigger.
"Leon!" He yelled.
"You can call me Squall." The gunblader replied as he leaned causally against a rail.
"How did you get here?" Riku asked.
"I jumped." Squall replied.
"Jumped?" Riku asked.
"I'm a planet jumper now. A few of the other people from my world are. We make sure that nothing's staring up. So no one else has to sacrifice their childhood." Squall replied.
"Planet jumper?" Kairi asked stepping forward.
"Those words should mean something to you Princess Kairi. A planet jumper saved you and brought you here. They knew that Riku and Sora could keep you safe." Squall replied.
"Some job I did." Riku muttered.
"Some one had to be the bad guy. No offense Sora but the stronger one always is. They hero's path is laid for them. All they have to do is win. The possession, mind tricks and absolute horror of what your doing will kill if you aren't up to it." A new voice replied.
"Who is this?" Sora asked turning to look at a tall blond.
"This is Seifer. My rival. He's my assassinate you could say." Squall laughed.
"How is being the hero the easy way out?" Kairi asked.
"Because in the end... Where the bad guy was the strongest, the hero becomes the best." Seifer answered leaning down to her level.
Kairi jumped before staring up at the imposing man. She swallowed deeply before whispering.
"What did you do?"
"Try to destroy the world as a sorceress's knight." Seifer replied with a cheeky grin.
"Anyway... How's life treating you Sora?" Squall asked.
"Good. And I did what you said." Sora smiled.
"You did. You did." Squall nodded.
"You're the man from Traverse Town?" Riku muttered staring at Squall confused.
"Yep." Squall replied.
"Hey Ice Princess. We have to go now." Seifer yelled before walking towards the beach, disappearing as he went.
"Oh, Sora... I still have the stone you gave me. It reminds me, there are still heroes out there." He replied lifting the stone out of his pocket.
"Yeah... And I still have the Lionheart charm. But tell me... Will I see you again?"
"Yeah, when the world ends." Squall replied walking away.
"What's going on?" Kairi asked staring after the gunblade master.
"You just met a great hero. A hero that I saved." Sora answered.