Author's Note:Yes, I'm bad. I'm starting another story when I have people waiting for me to update another one, but I just couldn't let this get past me. As my first foray into firstperson writing, I hope it makes the grade. I took a little creative license here, but it's a fanfic, so who cares? I pictured that the people from Final Fantasy (Tidus, Wakka and Selphie) would grow up to look like they did in the games (that makes sense to me and is also easier on my brain as I don't have to figure out their appearances). I don't know where Tidus got his sword or Selphie the nunchaku, but it's not that important. Enjoy and review!
It has been four years since Sora has died. He fell here on the sands of Destiny Islands, a hero to the end, defending against the Heartless one final time.
Those shadows of the Great Heartless Flood that survived Maleficent's onslaught poured out from the Castle That Never Was and, like locusts upon wheatfields, swarmed once more over the worlds. The Horde devoured everything, spreading darkness and devastation, leaving only the souls of the truly strong sparkling like crystallized tears in their wake. Soon, their evil became tangible, palpable, emerging from unreality to truth as an intelligence, a force capable of leading the Heartless Horde to their ultimate goal: Kingdom Hearts.
Today, we celebrate All Hearts Day. Every one of us stands by his statue, placing keys and paper hearts at his feet, remembering how he fell at this spot in that final battle on the beach. All of us sit on the grassy hill, watching the sun set over his tombstone, remembering how in death his heart released a great light that shattered all darkness. Tonight, the town will blaze with enough lanterns to dispel every shadow until dawn.
We remember, but we cannot match him. Gathering on the horizon is the darkness; the Heartless Horde, they call themselves. They scour the worlds seeking any heart with his light, a search-and-destroy mission that brings the shadows back to Destiny Islands. My heart and that of Kairi, even those of Tidus, Wakka and Selphie; the Horde works tirelessly to gain these prizes, hoping to eradicate all traces of he who defied and defeated them, he who terrifies them to this day.
I fear for those who knew him on his journeys. I fear for Destiny Islands as his protective light fades. More and more Heartless arrive on the islands, its only defenders the very targets they search for. We will soon be outnumbered as the Horde continues to grow, all of us powerless to truly kill the shadows.
Sora. Today, we remember you. Tonight, we celebrate you. Always, we miss you. Now, we need you.
But you are gone.
Riku,
Destiny Islands Battle Chronicler
I stood on the golden-white sand, my sneakers making impressions in the dark surf-dampened shore. Waves touched my heels and I continued on up the beach. The air seemed hazy a few yards off, about where the tides stopped, shimmering gold like the sand and pulsing gently.
I stopped right before the haze, stretching my hand out to meet it. I watched as a soft glow lit my skin, dappling it in spots of white and peach, the glow fading as I drew back my hand. I wondered if this haze had always been here; it seemed a strange thing to see on such magic-less islands.
Drawing in a deep breath, I hesitated only a second longer then plunged on through the mist. My entire body was speckled now and a warmth spread through me. Suddenly I understood and smiled.
"So this is your light. Sora..."
I stepped out of the haze and felt the warmth, so familiar and protective, fade with the glow. Looking back, the air glimmered again in the afternoon sun. I sighed and trudged on across the sand, trailing smudgy footprints in my wake.
Walking among the trees, a small town came into view. My mind flashed again with memories that weren't mine and I shook my head to clear it. Just as I stepped out into the dirt paths, two voices came from behind me. Two young men about my age, both pretty muscular, turned the corner at a brisk pace. I ducked my head, hiding my face and backing a bit into the shadows. The pair passed by, throwing me only a quick glance as they tossed a ball around.
"Come on, it's almost sunset."
The blond caught the ball and spun it on his finger before launching it back at his friend.
"It'd look real bad if we was late, ya Tidus?"
The two went on, juggling the blue ball expertly between them, and I stepped back onto the road. Better to not let them see me; too many awkward questions. They seemed to be going to the same place I was, however, so I followed a few feet behind.
Tidus and Wakka. Their names floated through my mind and scenes from years past flickered like a bad movie reel before my eyes. I watched them as I walked along, the ball bouncing as if in a sing-along video.
The Horde'll have a tough time with those two!
I grinned at this, but my smile fell as other islanders' voices reached my ears.
"You shouldn't say things like that on All Hearts Day."
"But it's true! At the rate the Soralight is fading, this may be the last time we celebrate it!"
"If Sora heard you say that..."
So I was right; it was Sora that I had felt. I paused and looked back at the now almost invisible haze. The clouds were starting to turn orange and the entire population of Destiny Islands was now headed toward the solitary gravestone on a grassy hill. I joined the crowd, blending into the jumbling throng. Everyone was solemn, speaking in whispers if at all. At the hill, I broke away to stand alone in the shadows of a tree. All stood around the marble marker, Sora's name engraved in script upon it, a handful of keys and paper hearts scattered across the grass like I had seen at the base of his statue in town.
The sunset was in full blast now, and the crowd became totally quiet, even the little kids staying silent. Wakka stepped forward and set his blitzball on the grave, Selphie laying her nunchaku down right after, and both Tidus and Riku placed their blades point down in the grass. The four backed into the crowd again, and all watched as the entire sky was set on fire by the spectacular sunset. Soon, long fingers of sunlight shot over the top of Sora's tombstone, lighting everyone's face. I felt the sun's warmth across my cheek and saw others lifting a hand to touch their own. Within moments, though, it was over, only a faint glow remaining on the horizon.
"Beautiful, just like every year," someone murmured, and the mass of islanders shuffled away.
I stood my ground, hoping to hang out under the tree until everyone left, but the four still remained, another girl now with them.
"We miss you, cousin."
Wakka thumbed his nose respectfully and bowed, Selphie wiping tears from her own face behind him.
"Let's go help with the lanterns, guys," Tidus suggested, throwing a comforting arm around Wakka, and they and Selphie grabbed their weapons up and followed the crowd back to the town. Only Riku and the girl remained, paying their respects some seconds longer before turning back too.
Now I came out of the shadows, making my own way to the grave.
"Sora, I...I just thought I'd drop by, considering...well, I mean, today is...uh..."
I spluttered like an idiot now that I had gotten here. I grimaced at myself, scratching my head as I tried to clear my thoughts.
"Ah, you know what I mean, Sora. I promise, I'm gonna fix things."
The Keyblade flashed to life in my hand and I stared at it, frowning seriously now. I closed my eyes and focused, reaching over with my free hand and pulling the Keyblade in two. I twirled them both around for a second and slashed the air. I spun the left Keyblade and jammed it into the earth as Riku and Tidus had done.
"I promise."
I fished around in my pocket, coming up with what I wanted. The small blue crystal sparkled in the twilight for a moment as I tossed it among the hearts and keys.
"Sora?"
I spun around as a familiar voice came from behind me. That girl was there, and I now recognized her to be Kairi.
Not good.
I mouthed silently at her, right Keyblade still in hand as I backed toward the gravestone.
"Sora?" she said again, and I saw she was holding a pink paper heart in her hands. She must have turned back to place her gift in privacy.
"Sora, it's me! Why won't you talk to me?"
A tear trickled down her face and I felt even worse.
"No. Roxas!"
Now it was Riku addressing me, his own Keyblade in hand, and I backed even farther away. He looked the same as the last time we had met, only older, more mature. His silver hair had been cut back to shoulder-length, one long strand hanging down the left side of his face.
"Roxas? Who's Roxas?" Kairi turned her wet gaze on him. She, too, looked much the same, but was now a beautiful young woman, her own reddish hair almost down to her waist. Her clothes were more subdued than I remembered, as if she was still in mourning.
I stared at her, trying to see Naminé appear like a ghost in front of her. I stared harder, willing myself to see her blond hair, her blue eyes, her white dress, her smile. But she never came. It was no use; I needed Sora's heart to see her, only then would I actually be whole.
"Roxas," Riku repeated, staring just as intently at me as I did at Kairi. "Sora's Nobody!"
He came a few paces closer, not threatening but still quite intimidating.
"What are you doing here, Roxas?"
"I was just...you know..." I fumbled for words to explain myself to those closest to the one I was looking for. "Just visiting! It's...it's...All Hearts Day." I finished lamely.
"But you're still part of Sora, aren't you, Roxas? Aren't you?" Kairi came forward now, gazing at me, pleading with me with her teary blue eyes. "Aren't you?"
"Kind of...but I'm not..."
She rushed at me and grabbed me in a bear hug, squeezing my chest as tight as she could and crying into me. Every one of Sora's memories of Kairi came swarming into my mind in that instant, each one fighting the other to play in my head. It was overloading my brain, tearing at my heart, and I screamed in spite of myself. I shoved Kairi away and jumped backward, bringing the Keyblade around to bear between us.
"I have to go," I panted to her and Riku, retreating further.
"Wait, I'm not through with you!" Riku growled, lunging forward in an effort to grab hold of me. Instinctively, I dodged out of the way, much faster than him, and leapt up to the nearby treebranches.
"No! I...I have to go!"
I pushed against the branch, jumping down and landing a good way down the hill from them and took off back toward the town.
"Wait! Wait! Roxas!"
I rushed on, ignoring their shouts, tearing as fast as I could down the dirt road. I bumped into straggling islanders, finally knocking down a surprised Wakka.
"Hey! What the-"
I scrambled to regain my balance, reeling away from his astonished face. In the distance, Riku's voice rang out again.
"Stop him!"
Wakka reached for my arm, but I swatted it away, weaving back through the townspeople and running again. As I sped through town, though, the twilight was slowly brightening with the pink glow of more and more little lanterns, all of them heart-shaped.
I was panicking now. It was too much like that place. Too familiar, too terrifying. I wasn't going to go back there. Not now. Not without him. I wasn't ready for Kingdom Hearts again!
Every second, another pink lantern lit up around me, worsening my panic.
"I won't go back there!" I screamed. Islanders turned to stare at me, but I only ran again, snatching up an abandoned skateboard and hopping on. I kicked out and went flying down the road, everything becoming a blur, my heart pounding like a drum and the glow of the lanterns chasing me away. I caught air over a hill, landing roughly and taking the board only a bit farther before ditching it in the soft sand of the beach. My pursuers' yells had faded now, but I still ran flat out across the shore. My breath was ragged and heavy as I finally splashed my way through the surf. The mist of the ocean on my face cooled me down somewhat and I slowed, stopping by my ship.
I turned to look one last time at Destiny Islands. The Soralight glittered like a gentle forcefield in the starlight and my thoughts finally cleared.
"I'm so sorry, Sora. They need you. They need you more than anyone will ever need me."
My hand tightened around the handle of the Keyblade. I had forgotten the other one at his grave, but I guessed it was for the better. In the back of my mind, I thought that I had probably meant to do it anyway, as a gift to him.
"I'll get your heart back, Sora. I'll fix everything."
