Journey to New Worlds

" Woa!" Sora screamed as he sat up. He was on the same beach he was on what seemed like ages ago. This was his home island. He has lived there his whole life with Riku. He also lived there with his other best friend Kairi, who was not born on the island but appeared there when she was very young. Sora looked out at the sea. It was a beautiful morning. He lied down in the warm sand when he noticed a familiar face right in front of him.

" Agh!" Sora said out of shock. Kairi laughed, as she seemed to think that scaring Sora was a funny joke. " Gimme a break, Kairi!"

" Sora, you lazy bum!" Kairi said. " I thought I'd find you snoozing down here."

" Kairi, I have to tell you all about it!" Sora began talking quickly and excitedly as if Kairi hadn't said anything at all. " I was in this in this really weird place! It was dark and cold! Then there were this sword, shield, and some weird staff! I picked the sword and then these little things appeared and started attacking me! I fought off most of them and then there was this door that wouldn't open! Then there was Tidus, Wakka, and Selphie who asked me some random questions! Then a big black thing showed up and I fought it then it just sort of swallowed me up! I couldn't breathe, I couldn't… Owe!" Something suddenly popped painfully in Sora's neck.

" Um…" Kairi said, a little lost. " Have you been dreaming again?"

" It wasn't a dream! … Or was it? I don't know…" Sora said. He thought for a moment. " What was that place? … So bizarre…"

" Yeah, sure," Kairi said teasingly. She walked down to where the crystal clear water met the warm sand. There was a short pause. Sora's mind was still racing about what he just happened to him, but thought it best to drop it as Kairi didn't seem to believe a word he was saying. He decided to change the subject.

" Say Kairi, what was your hometown like?" Sora asked. " Ya know, where you came from?"

" I've told you before, I don't remember," Kairi said.

" Nothing at all?" Sora asked.

" Nothing," Kairi replied.

" You ever wanna go back there?" Sora asked.

" Mmm… Well, I'm happy here," Kairi said.

" Really…" Sora said.

" But ya know," Kairi continued, " I wouldn't mind going to see it."

" I'd like to see it, too!" Sora said. " Along with any other worlds out there. I wanna see'em all!" Kairi turned to face him. She had an excited look on her face.

" So what are we waiting for?" she said excitedly.

" There you guys are!" a voice said. Sora and Kairi looked in the direction of the source of the voice. Riku was now standing a few feet away carrying a log over his shoulder. He grinned at them.

" So," he continued, " I guess I'm the only one working on the raft." He tossed the log into Sora's lap and walked over to Kairi.

" And you're just as lazy as he is," he said.

" Heh, so you noticed!" Kairi said. " Okay, we'll finish the raft together!" Riku sat next to Sora, exhausted already from the work he had done that morning.

" Race ya!" she said.

" Huh?"

" What? Are you kidding?"

" Ready? Go!" Kairi shouted despite Sora's and Riku's objections. Although they were both still tired, they got up and started running. Kairi trailed behind them.

They arrived at a small hut. This was where they liked to plan and discuss their coming voyage. Ever since Kairi arrived on the island, Riku has been dying to get off the island and see other worlds. This plan amused Sora and Kairi and they agreed to help Riku build a raft to leave on their journey.

" Okay, today we're going to put the finishing touches on the raft," Kairi began. " Riku, why don't you take the day off since you've done a considerable amount of work over the past couple days? Okay, anyways, Sora there's a few things you need to collect so we can finish the raft… Sora, are you listening?"

" Yeah, I heard you!" Sora said.

" Good," Kairi said. " We'll need two logs, a cloth, and a rope. Got that?"

" Two logs, a cloth, and a rope! Got it!" Sora said and left to search.

Later that day, the three friends were relaxing by a tree watching the sun set. It had been a long day and they were all tired. Their raft was now complete and ready to set sail. Tempted to break the silence, Sora decided to start a conversation.

" So, Kairi's home is out there somewhere, right?" he asked.

" Could be," Riku replied. " We'll never know be staying here."

" Suppose you got to another world," Kairi said," What would you do there?"

" Hmm…" Riku said. " I haven't really thought about it. It's just… If there are other worlds out there, why did we end up on this one? And, suppose there are other worlds… Then ours is just a little piece of something much greater. So, we could have just as easily ended up somewhere else, right?"

" I dunno," Sora said.

" Exactly," Riku said. " That's why we've got to get out there and find out."

" You've been thinking about this a lot, haven't you?" Kairi asked.

" Thanks to you," Riku replied. " If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't of thought about any of this." Sora did not look at the two of them. He could not help but feel an annoyance by Riku's words.

" Kairi, thanks," Riku said.

" Heh, your welcome," Kairi said. There was a moment's silence. " Well, it's getting late. We better get to bed."

" Hey, Sora!" Riku called out a few minutes later. Sora turned around and caught something in his hands that Riku tossed him. It was a star shaped fruit.

" A paupu fruit? Why're you giving this to me?" Sora said.

" There's a legend about these," Riku said. " It says that when two people share one, their destinies become intertwined. They remain apart of each other's lives, no matter what. Common, I know you want to try it!"

" Wha? Why would I? Huh?" Sora said, confused. Riku laughed as he waved to Sora and Kairi and entered his house. Sora did the same.