As he traveled through the Lanes Between, Ventus kept his eye out for any trace of extreme darkness that might be Adar or her Unversed. Strangely enough, he sensed nothing from looking at the overworlds as he did each time before. It seemed Adar had simply stopped invading worlds, but why would she unless…
He shook the idea out of his mind. Aqua would never let herself be captured by any kind of darkness, especially one from her own heart, she was far too strong. At least, that's what Ven believed.
Still, the idea that the trail had gone cold worried him greatly. If Adar was anything at all like Aqua, she wouldn't leave anything unfinished unless something of greater importance to her came up. Something like….
"A truly strong light…" Ven whispered when he saw a faint glow come from a tropical world answering his question. It felt so warm, so comforting, like a prince of Heart except there was something else, it was missing something important. He felt pulled to see what could emit a light like that.
Ven landed in a way similar to the previous world, sand shifting under his shoes and the waves welcoming him to this tiny, but safe, world. He then noticed a fallen fruit, it was shaped like a star.
"I saw it before in my dream or maybe my memory… a tree with star-shaped fruit."
The boy looked up and immediately caught sight of a peculiar palm tree that had grown near sideways. It had to be the tree Aqua mentioned
His friend's words rung in his ears, getting the hopeful feeling he'd had before when she'd mentioned an unbreakable connection. He gave a laugh in relief before setting off to get a better look.
He went into a little wooden shack that took him up to a bridge leading to the tree. He ran up and gazed at the fruit.
Terra… Aqua… I believe we'll stay in each other's hearts no matter what happens but… that isn't enough for me. I want to be a part of their lives forever, I want to know for sure that no matter how long a time we're apart, we'll always be able to see each other again. Our wayfinders are precious but they aren't the real deal. If we share this fruit, we'll be truly connected forever!
He reached for the fruit, his fingertips just grazing it. "Come on… Almost there…!"
"Come on, Kairi! You're never gonna outrun the monster like that!"
"Sora, don't leave me behind!"
He suddenly heard running from behind him and gasped in shock when a sudden light blinded him. "Whoa!"
He finally grabbed onto the fruit to balance himself but it snapped off and he flopped to the ground. The fruit flew out of his hand as he fell and landed with a definite splash.
He jumped down from the platform but the fruit had already drifted far out to sea thanks to the tide. "Aw, no…"
He looked up then to see what had distracted him.
Two children sat on the tree, panting after thier run from the make-believe monster. They'd been so wrapped up in their game, they hadn't even noticed Ven.
The girl had red hair and a necklace with a single pearl stringed on it, probably something given to her as a keepsake.
The boy had chestnut hair that was spiked a lot like Ven's was, if not a teeny bit flatter. He swung his leg's aimlessly as he talked to the girl about some childish thing, making her smile.
He could sense a strong light from them both but found the emptiness he'd felt earlier was coming from the boy. But what could it need? Was this why he was drawn here?
"Oh!" The little girl suddenly gasped, hearing a call from the shore. She then waved excitedly to a man in a nearby boat before getting up. "We're coming! Come on, Sora! I'll race you!"
"Huh?" Sora asked, it seemed it only took him a few seconds to get sleepy after the race.
"Ready? GO!"
Kairi ran off with a giggle and Sora quickly got up and chased after her.
Ven smiled softly before glancing out at the sea. He was surprised but very grateful that Adar hadn't managed to find these children. This world was so small in the overworld… If they were in luck, darkness would never find them here.
Kairi slowed when she saw Ven, tilting her head in slight confusion. She hurriedly ran off when he turned after feeling her stare.
Completely the opposite of his friend, Sora actually ran up to him though, looking at him with a smile. "I know your secret!"
"Y-You do?" Ven asked in suprise. How could a little boy like him possibly know about the darkness in his heart.
"Mmhm." He whispered. The boy looked around as if to check if anyone would hear before he said it: "You're from another world!"
"Huh? How'd you know that?" Ven had to hush himself down to a whisper as well, looking around in worry. Had he seen him land here earlier?
"You have funny clothes and I've never seen you before, not on this island or the main one." Sora explained easily. "That's gotta mean you're from another world!"
"Oh." Ven blinked before looking out at the sea. Did all the children on Destiny Islands know about other worlds or was it just Sora? "Well, you're from this world, right?"
"Yeah, I live on the main island with everybody else and this is the island where me and my friends like to play. The mayor took us out here, he's Kairi's dad."
Ven glanced over to see Kairi was happily chatting with her father, a kind-looking man.
"You wanna know something cool?" Sora asked suddenly. Ven nodded with a small smile. "The reason we know about the worlds, is because once, a long time ago, a kid disappeared from this beach. He talked about seeing other worlds all the time but nobody believed him, until he actually did it…"
For a breif moment, Sora was gone and replaced by a young, silver-haired man that looked eerily familiar. This must be the kid who disappeared… Had they met before?
Before he had time to think of his name, the boy changed again but this time it was Sora, now ten years older.
What am I seeing? That boy and now Sora all grown up… Is the light telling me the future? But why?
"So, you wanna go to other worlds like that kid?"
Sora nodded. "Sure I do! I like this world but it would be fun to go somewhere new, go on a real adventure, and meet new friends!"
"All those things are pretty fun." Ven agreed with a slight laugh. Looking down at Sora, he suddenly realized exactly what his heart was missing, what it practically begged for… But he had to be sure it was for good intentions before giving it. "Sora, do you think you're strong enough to go to other worlds?"
Sora seemed suprised by the question but then thought about it for a moment. "Hmm…"
Ven watched in fascination, he'd expected Sora would jump to answer like any other little boy and insist he was strong but…
"Yes, I am." He answered then, looking quite serious all the sudden. "But the strength doesn't come from my arms or my legs, it comes from my heart!"
"Where the people you care for are…" Ven realized. Exactly where a keyblade wielder's strength should come from.
"Exactly. My friends are my power!" The boy proclaimed. "And as long as my friends are in my heart, I'll always be super strong!"
The boy nodded, his heart touched by this little guardian of light. He now knew it was the boy's destiny to receive this gift from him, even if Ven felt it was more of a Master's duty. He summoned his keyblade and bent down to the boy. He offered it to Sora who looked at it with curiosity and awe.
"In your hand, take this key. So long as you have the makings, then through this simple act of taking, its wielder you shall one day be. And, little one, we will meet again. When you've grown enough to make all darkness cower, everlasting, ever growing, your connection to others will be your power."
Sora shut his eyes and took the key in his tiny hand, gripping it tight. He opened one, surprised to see it still there.
There it remained, for he was worthy of the weapon.
"Sorrra!"
The ceremony came to an abrupt end when Sora released the key and turned to wave at his friend. "Kairi! Did you see that?!"
"See what?" Kairi asked. She'd been sitting in the boat, the dock blocked her view of the ceremony. "Were you dreaming again? Come on, lazy bum!"
"You've got to keep it a secret, okay? Otherwise the magic will wear off." Ventus whispered.
"Oh..!" Sora gasped softly before nodding. He looked to Ven happily. "Don't worry, I'm, like, the best secret-keeper in the world!"
Sora walked up to Kairi who ran over, clearly getting impatient.
"Sora, is that kid from another world?" Kairi asked hurriedly, pulling him over to the boat. "He is, isn't he?"
"Uh, he may be!" Sora smiled, putting his hands behind his head.
"Oh, you're keeping it a secret!" Kairi realized at once. She leaned into him. "Whisper it to me, I won't tell anybody, I promise! Pinky promise!"
"I really can't tell you, even if you promise not to tell anybody else…!" Sora said, pushing her pinky away.
"Aw…"
Ven watched as the two boarded the boat and rowed off before he gave a sigh.
He wasn't strong enough to go against his darkness forever, he knew that deep down since the very start. But with his friends by his side, he'd be able to keep it at bay, he just knew it. It was like he taught Stitch, and what Sora already knew at such a young age. "…My friends are my power, and I'm theirs!"