Nothing more than bleak silence awaited the four adventurers as they set foot on the desolate lands of their final destination. As Cid had predicted, vast plains of emptiness connected scattered fragments of land throughout the endless eerie abyss. In the distance loomed an entrance of light, beckoning the heroes. Goofy carefully placed his foot beyond the safety of the stone pathway they stood on only to find he had stepped on something solid. The ground beyond the crumbling pathway seemed to disappear beneath their feet, but a transparent path kept them aloft. They breathed a small sigh of relief; they'd be able to cross safely, so long as they remembered not to look down…
"This place is… strange," Donald noted.
"Yeah, it's kinda spooky," Goofy added.
Akira felt the sudden weight of her weapon materialize itself in her hand, quieting her mind to listen closely; it no doubt had something to say.
"What is it?" she whispered softly.
Tread carefully. This world is not like the others.
Her brows creased in confusion. "How so?"
This land is all that is left of the worlds taken by the Heartless.
She gasped quickly, placing her hand over her mouth as her eyes widened in shock. Sora picked up on her sudden reaction and slipped to her side, whispering quietly. "Did it say something?"
"Yeah." She cleared her throat, raising her voice for the others to hear. "This is all that's left of the world taken by the Heartless."
Donald furrowed his brows in fear as Goofy scratched his head. "Gawrsh, is this really all there is?"
"B-but those worlds will be restored once we beat Ansem, right?" Sora added, gesturing his arms in explanation.
Donald's fearful expression quickly melted away as he nodded. "You betcha!"
"Still, if we do beat him and all these worlds become restored and disconnected…" He put a hand on his heart, contemplating their fate. "What's gonna happen to this place? And to us?"
"Well, uh…"
"The worlds will be restored, right? Maybe it'll just disappear?" Akira suggested, though the idea made her sick to her stomach.
Sora and Donald gasped together at her claim. It was a fair assumption, but it didn't bode well for them.
"Aw, no worries," Goofy said cheerfully, balling his hand into a rallying fist, "Even if this place goes poof, our hearts ain't goin' nowhere. I'm sure we'll find our pals again. Yup, I just know we will."
Donald's face softened as he agreed with a nod. Goofy's joyful tenacity always had a way of stirring their spirits, even in the face of danger. Sora exchanged a determined smirk with Akira before responding as well. "Yeah, you're right, Goofy."
"Then, let's get a move on," Donald said, pumping out his chest before taking the first steps into the clearing. Goofy followed suit, striding with confidence into the empty and silent plains.
Before joining them himself, Sora pulled Kairi's charm out of his pocket. He gazed at its glistening surface in contemplation, recalling his last conversation with her. She was counting on their success, as were so many others he held dear. He couldn't let them down. He just couldn't. "I'll return this. I promise," he murmured softly before returning it to his pocket once more, taking his first steps into the clearing towards the unknown.
Akira trailed behind as they marched forward in silence. There was something oddly comforting about watching them walk with such courage towards the extravagant source of light in the distance; they knew nothing of what awaited them beyond and yet, they strolled on without fear. And she knew she had nothing to fear as well, as long as they continued to walk by her side.
Are you ready for what lies ahead?
"Ready as I'll ever be," she responded, though her voice cracked under the weight of her apprehension.
Is something wrong?
She slowly came to a stop, breathing deeply. The silent trip here allowed for a plethora of awful thoughts to worm their way into her mind, and she just couldn't shake one of them off. She slowly raised her staff, hugging it to her chest. "Ahead is the Door to Darkness, and beyond that… Kingdom Hearts. The place you come from."
Yes.
"When all this is over, will you… will you leave?" It hurt so much to ask. She hadn't even begun to think about how she'd handle losing her staff. It seemed like they had only just met a few moments ago, and yet she felt as if she had known it her whole life. Her mind would be strangely silent without it there to prod and annoy her…
My journey… is far from over.
She closed her eyes and smiled softly as a wave of relief washed over her. "So you'll stay?"
Ha ha, it sounds like you don't want me to leave.
She rolled her eyes at the playfulness in its voice; it was enjoying this moment a little too much. She pursed her lips into a smirk. "I… really don't want to do this without you."
Akira, you can do this without my help. You are certainly strong enough.
"That's not it. I know I can," she quipped, "But I don't want to. We're friends now, right?"
True. And friends do stay together until the end.
"Now you're getting it," she chuckled.
She dismissed the staff from her hands and scurried to catch up with her friends, keeping her head low to hide the beaming smile on her face. As she walked by their side, the ominous light that awaited them felt like nothing more than a small hurdle in their journey. In fact, no obstacle felt too great if they faced it together. Raising her head once more, she stepped into the light with firm resolution. She was truly fortunate to have so many friends…
"I wonder where that Ansem fella went…" Goofy pondered aloud.
Donald snorted. "Dive into the most dangerous place and we'll find him."
"I think we already have…" Akira's voice trailed off.
After passing through the great amalgamation of light, the team stepped into an open crevasse. Steps of every size littered the crooked walls, covered in what seemed to be a pasty, white material. It draped over the steps, hanging off the sides like torn cobwebs as they connected each step to the next. Tendrils of light snaked across the distorted walls like nerves, pulsing as light travelled to the ceiling in small bursts. Flimsy chords made of a strange, rubbery material travelled from one wall to the next, making the entire area seem like a spider's nest. They shuddered as they took in the scenery, almost wishing they were still in the endless plains with the glass floor.
"This place gets creepier the further we go in," Sora chuckled nervously.
"Didn't expect Ansem to be anywhere else," Donald quacked, rolling his eyes.
"Well, let's go," Akira gulped, "The faster we move, the faster we can get out of here…"
They nodded in agreement and set off. The platforms had a disjointed path to follow, crisscrossing through the crevasse as it led to the ground. They slid down the longer pathways and held on for dear life as they slowly crawled across the narrow ones. The closer they got to the ground, the more the light grew. Another beacon of light called to them as it had in the endless plains, and all the pathways led directly to it.
They had no choice but to follow its lead. When they eventually reached the bottom, they dove into the light without hesitation, fervently praying the next location they ended up in would calm their tense nerves.
They ventured further through the spider's nest, following the paths to their eventual ends. Each area was separated by the same familiar ingress of light they had grown accustomed to seeing; and as they passed through each one, their surroundings changed ever so slightly. They loomed closer to their goal with each step, and they steeled themselves from the eerie air that began to surround them.
Finally, they passed from the crevasse to a large and open area. The walls were covered in platforms of all sizes, seeming to reach the dark and ominous sky. A honeycomb-like pattern jutted from certain portions of the wall, the yellow material curling outwards like rotting tree bark. Massive tree roots snaked around the platforms, though the colour of their bark had mostly faded to a sparkling white. Stray wooden logs were strewn along the platforms, covered in lush green leaves as a soft waterfall poured from the topmost platform, wetting the platforms with shimmering, white water.
Unlike the creepy sights that had surrounded them previously, there was a strange sense of calm and gentleness about this place. The team took their first steps into the clearing, the soft sounds of running water soothing their souls. If they hadn't been pursuing Ansem, they would have been fooled by this dwelling's peaceful tranquility. But the moment Akira perceived the bright yellow, star-shaped objects that decorated the walls, a shrill cry escaped her lips, startling her friends.
Donald and Goofy whirled around to face her, stunned by her screams of agony. She placed her hands over her mouth in fear, willing away the tears in her eyes as they threatened to spill over. She should have put two and two together. She should have known. A world made entirely of whatever fragments were left from those taken by the Heartless? Why, it was only a matter of time before they came across this one…
Sora gritted his teeth and looked away, as if simply ignoring its presence would somehow make it disappear. He had steeled his mind and soul for moments like these and yet it still pierced his heart. Akira had realized it; and now, as he took in the terrible sight, it took all his strength not to break down and cry as she had.
The sight they beheld was all that was left of the Destiny Islands.
Akira dragged her feet as she slowly approached the scene. Donald and Goofy attempted to follow, but Sora placed his arm in front of them, shaking his head with a downcast look painted across his face. They gulped in response but elected to heed his silent words. It was clear to them as well that they had stumbled upon the remnants of their friends' home and, as they watched Akira fall to her knees before her ruined home and sob quietly into her palms, it was difficult not to feel their hearts shatter as well. Seeing their very best friends suffer such a great sorrow was a heavy burden to bear.
With a strained and heavy sigh, Sora straightened himself and approached Akira, placing a hand on her shoulder. He watched with a hardened gaze as she struggled to meet his eyes, choking back her sobs as she frantically wiped the mist from her face. Every muffled sob she vainly tried to hide was another dagger in his heart, but still they had to press on. "Take some time to cry it out if you need to, but we have to keep moving forward," he whispered into her ear.
She wanted to cry for eternity, to firmly plant herself in that spot until her body failed her, or until the darkness came to devour her. But, if she did allow this fate to pass… then this broken and desolate version of Destiny Islands would be the last she would know. And she'd be damned if she would allow death to claim her without at least giving her all to fight for it. Swallowing whatever was left of her agony, she brushed her hand over her face one last time before rising to her feet. "Let's go," she said firmly.
Sora watched patiently as she raised her eyes to meet his, gently squeezing her shoulder before letting it fall to his side. Behind the swirling anguish that raged within her azure eyes, he saw a fire matching the one in his heart, and he knew she wasn't ready to give up just yet. And neither was he.
With a small nod, Sora began to lead the way towards the next amalgamation of light at the foot of the shimmering falls. He felt Akira walk with conviction at his side, along with the overwhelming empathy radiating from Donald and Goofy beside her. None of them spoke a word, but the air was thick with sentiment. He never felt so grateful to have them by his side, these extraordinary people he was so lucky to call his friends…
Sora walked in stride, breathing in deeply. He didn't turn around to take one last look at his old home before the glimmer of light swept him away; after all, they'd see this sight again. And when they did, it would be much more beautiful.
They stumbled on sealed concrete flooring, a sudden change from the fragmented stone they had become so used to traversing on. The amalgamation of light had thrust them into a narrow corridor leading only to a side room. The rest of the hallway was barred by a massive Heartless crest which sent chills down their spines; they didn't dare question what lay beyond that barrier.
The ruins of what seemed to be an old laboratory awaited them in the side room beside the crest. The room was rather small, its walls lined with rusting sheets of metal and housing naught more than a solitary contraption at its centre. Tubes filled with clear, bubbling liquid jutted forth from the machine, wrapping themselves around a computer console that had long since ceased functioning. Voids of dark space dotted the walls of the laboratory, marking the decrepit area's slow descent into the darkness. Naught else awaited them in this tiny place, and they began to wonder if Ansem himself had meant for them to see this sorry sight.
"Gawrsh, what do you think this place is?" Goofy wondered aloud.
"Is it Ansem's old laboratory from when he experimented with the Heartless in Hollow Bastion?" Donald suggested.
"He did mention something like this in those reports, didn't he?" Akira surmised, "But why would he want to show it to us?"
Sora gasped. "Hey, guys, there's a note on the machine."
"What does it say?"
He cleared his throat and squinted at the nearly faded writing. "Ones born of the heart and darkness, devoid of hearts, ravage all worlds and bring desolation. Seize all hearts and consummate the great heart. All hearts to be one, one heart to encompass all. Realize the destiny: the realm of Kingdom Hearts. The great darkness sealed within the great heart. Progeny of darkness, come back to the eternal darkness. For the heart of light shall unseal the path. Seven hearts, one Keyhole, one key to the door. The door of darkness, tied by two keys. The door of darkness to seal the light. None shall pass but shadows, returning to the darkness. Ones born of the heart and darkness, hunger for every heart until the dark door opens."
"That's… quite something," Donald quacked, lost in thought.
"Hmm, but isn't it just talking about that Door to Darkness and Kingdom Hearts place that Ansem feller is trying to get to?" Goofy guessed, scratching his cheek.
"But what does that 'tied by two keys' part mean?" Sora wondered. As far as they knew, his own was the only key there was.
A soft rumble echoed behind them as a portal opened itself up, inviting them to enter. Seeing as it was now their only means of leaving this dilapidated laboratory, they had no choice but to pass through it; though, it further confirmed their suspicions that Ansem meant for them to see it.
"I suppose we'll find out soon…" Akira mumbled, eyeing the portal.
Without anywhere else to go, they stepped into the portal one after the other, steeling themselves from whatever sight they may come to face next. But, a quiet whisper in Akira's mind stopped her from taking another step.
Foolish man. He knows not what Kingdom Hearts holds. Nothing awaits him beyond the dark door but failure and ruin.
She pursed her lips and stepped through the portal, keeping her thoughts to herself.
The Heartless that called this desolate world home were few and far between, but what they lacked in number they made up for in strength. Only two varieties attacked them on their journey through the ruined world, though each one left the group winded and exhausted once it had been defeated. This pattern didn't cease when their path brought them to a brightly illuminated hallway, the soft light radiating from the floor bathing the passage in a warm glow. Two grand Heartless carrying swords awaited them at the end of the hall, protecting an entryway of some sort. They gave the group a difficult and arduous fight, but the heroes managed to emerge victorious. To have such powerful Heartless protecting an entryway didn't go unnoticed; they quickly realized they must have been close to their goal.
"This place is… oddly pretty compared to what we've seen so far," Akira said between breaths, gazing at the ethereal floor as she waited for her strength to return to her.
Goofy took a few steps forward, watching the shimmering magical dust that billowed from every step with awe. "Gawrsh, how could something so pretty be in a place like this? Do ya think we're close?"
"Only one way to find out," Donald called from the now open entryway.
The tiny room beyond the ethereal passageway was a thing of pure beauty. The lavender walls were covered in glittering stardust, while two pedestals at both ends of the room caught shimmering snowflakes as they softly fell from the sky. The twinkling lights lit the room with a celestial glow, surrounding them with a silent galaxy of stars. The centerpiece of the tiny room was a grand rose gold door embedded with intricate details and regal, silver handles.
"I… don't believe it," Sora said softly as his eyes widened with wonder.
"I know, not something you'd expect to find in a world like this," Donald quacked.
"N-no, the door!"
"What about the door?" Akira shrugged.
"It's the door from the dream I had when I was sleeping on the beach."
Akira let out a tiny gasp, averting her attention to the door in question. He had seen this door before this entire adventure started, before their islands were even destroyed by the Heartless… could it have been beckoning to him before all of this even happened?
"H-huh?" he gasped, startling her from her thought.
"What's wrong?" Goofy asked.
"T-that voice! Don't you hear it?"
Akira, Donald, and Goofy exchanged worried glances. No matter how hard they strained their ears, all they heard was the soft, crystalline ring of the snowflakes gently floating from the sky.
Sora sighed and put a hand on his heart, repeating the ominous words he had heard. "Careful. This is the last haven you'll find here. Beyond, there is no light to protect you. But don't be afraid. Your heart is the mightiest weapon of all. Remember, you are the one who will open the door to the light."
"I definitely didn't hear that," Donald scowled.
"Strange… That voice was so familiar," Sora said as he scratched his chin, "Maybe it's just my imagination."
"Gawrsh, that warning sounded awfully creepy. Is there really no light to protect us beyond this door?" Goofy asked nervously.
Akira shrugged and gave him a reassuring smile. "Who knows. But it did also say we hold the mightiest weapon of all."
"Well, in that case," he chuckled as he firmly placed his outstretched hand between the four of them, "We'll always stick together."
Akira nodded, placing her hand on top of his. "We'll never give up hope."
"We'll always be there for each other," Donald quacked, mimicking his friends.
Sora chuckled softly before following their lead, speaking from the very bottom of his heart. "All for one, and one for all…"
Nothing more needed to be said. They'd face every challenge together. They'd help whoever stumbled and faltered. They'll fight with all their strength and with all the might of their hearts. And if they were to fall, then they would fall together.
Sora gave them one final reassuring nod before firmly placing his hands on the silver handles and, with a deep breath, he pulled on them with all his strength. The door slowly creaked open before a sea of blinding light carried them away…
A/N: The Crumbling Island was a concept that was supposed to be used in the original game but never made it into the final product (apparently, there was supposed to be a boss battle with Riku there too!) You can easily google it and see what it was originally supposed to look like. I was really taken with it, so I decided to include it into the story. :D