Chapter 6
"Are you sure we're going the right way?"
"Yes, Sora I'm pretty sure I remember where the world that never was is."
"Just checkin'."
Riku spared his best friend a short glance, taking in the clever smile and chuckled aloud.
"What's so funny?" Sora teased, bumping Riku's elbow from it's postion on the Gummi ship's steering wheel.
"Quit it! You're such a goofball, that's why I'm laughing!"
"Why thank you…"
"And…Sora….I don't know what I would've done if I'd never met you…"
A heavy silence filled the cockpit.
"Aw, Riku, you woulda known me anyway! I'd have found you, even if it took me to the end of the world!"
Riku smiled. "Which, uncannily enough it did…"
"Why, you know what? It did! See that?" Sora crossed his arms in satisfaction.
"How do you think Kairi's doing?" Riku asked, worry returning to his previously carefree expression.
"I'm sure she's fine. I doubt Haznortex would hurt her if she was part of his so called "plan". Really…what do they plan to do with the princesses? It's not like they'd release their powers unwillingly."
Riku studied the hyperspace before them, trying to ignore the nervous tone in Sora's response. It was never good when Sora got nervous, and now was no different. Somehow, he felt not even this powerful enemy could get the bestof their Kairi. But a bit of worry couldn't hurt.
"No…true…"
"hey, is that it?" Sora jumped beside Riku to get a better look of an approaching landmass. It was huge in size, but nothing in proportion to the metallic ship that seemed to be hovering just above it.
"I guess…man, that's not even a world…just a spit of land with a humungous ship anchored to it." Riku said in awe.
They landed on the beach of the island, Sora teetering playfully on the edge, where water should have been, the winds of oblivion cooling his face.
"get away from there. You'll fall. and then I'd have to go after ya!" Riku joked, pushing Sora forward and then pulling him back.
"Don't do that! You nearly gave me a heart attack!" Sora gaped, clutching his chest. Riku laughed, but noticed the very real fear in Sora's eyes. "What? The great Sora afraid of heights now?"
Sora gave him a look that dispelled all doubt. "Just falling…it's not fun once you've done it a few times." and he walked off toward the jungle that surrounded the base of the ship.
"Geez, lighten up!" Riku called after him and followed.
Once they reached the entrance, Sora noticed that the metallic walls continually shifted color.
"Defense system, you think?" he asked Riku. Riku only shrugged. They progressed up the gangplank-like walkway and entered the entrance hall.
It was lit with bright halogen lamps hung from the ceiling, and the current theme was black and white square canvases hung from the rainbow walls.
"They REALLY need an interior decorator." Riku commented dryly, flicking at one of the canvases.
As they walked onward, they felt themselves becoming weaker gradually.
"What is this?" Sora asked, when the odd sensation had him on his knees, struggling to keep his eyes open.
Riku tried to keep his thoughts straight and leaned on a wall.
"Dunno…maybe…since the NotQuites were so weak…they came up with another defense…We can't fall asleep!" he cried suddenly, jolting them both from their near unconscious states.
"Geez…this isn't good." Sora sighed, as they retreated back near the entrance. "How're we ever going to get to Kairi?"
Riku shook his head to clear it of the strange fog.
"We need to look at this tactically. What's causing the feeling? Is it doubt? Is it lack of confidence, a password, a strong heart? There's a secret to passing through, and we have to figure it out."
Sora nodded, making a fist. "Maybe…a password…OPEN SESAME!" he shouted, and walked forward. He was back on his knees in no time. Riku was shaking his head as he dragged himself back to the entrance.
"You're just plain stupid sometimes, you know that?"
Sora grunted and got back to his feet.
"Hey, it was worth a try!"
Riku closed his eyes. "Maybe it's a thought. Think of something that makes you happy."
Sora closed his eyes and pictured Kairi smiling at him once they'd returned to the island.
You're home…
He started forward once more, and found the fatigue didn't affect him. Riku on the other hand, was soon panting. Keeping Kairi clear in his mind, Sora helped him limp back to the passageway.
"What-what did you think about?" Riku stuttered, breathing heavily.
Sora blushed for a second. "Kairi…after we got back to the islands."
"Right. It's someone you love, then. Clever…I wonder how Haznortex gets through!"
Sora shrugged. "he probably doesn't. what are portals for anyway?" Riku sighed at his reasoning, even though he was right.
Struggling back to his feet, Riku thought deeply about who he most loved. Kairi instantly came to mind, and he focused closely on her. But what if she didn't work quite as well? He created another image beside hers, just in case.
They started up the pathway once more. Riku felt confident until halfway up. Then he felt his knees wobbling. He instantly switched pictures, and felt much better, even able to stand on his own, without Sora's support.
"good! Who'd you use? Kairi, too right?"
Riku looked right into Sora's eyes, telling him the truth in his steady gaze.
"yeah…c'mon, let's go."
