So should we just give up on answers?" Axel asked. Sora gave an angry look.
"Hey! Even if I did remember I wouldn't be able to say it!"
Roxas shook his head. "Sora, don't take offense to him. He doesn't know what he's saying. Ever."
"Hey!" Axel frowned throwing his hands up in defense. "Take it easy, Roxas."
"Why should he?"'Kairi responded. "You don't take it easy on Sora."
"Neither does Riku."
"He's Riku!"
"What the heck kinda excuse is that?"
Riku smirked. "More valid then you would believe."
The black faded to reveal Sid, Kairi and Sora. They were both sitting on the dock, their legs dangling, as they watched the sunset above the sparkling water.
"Wow," Ventus gaped. "What a sight..."
"Really?" Riku asked.
Aqua frowned. "You don't believe so?"
"No, it's not that-" He explained. "I'm just used to it, I guess."
"And what about you guys?" Terra spoke to Sid, Kairi and Sora. "You guys used to it?"
Kairi shook her head. "Never."
Sora smiled. "Nope."
Sid smirked "Of course not.
"You know," Kairi began. "Riku has changed."
"I really had.." Riku whispered, mostly to himself.
"Understatement" Sid said.
"Sid….." Riku growled
"Yeah, well changed or not, he's still a pain." Sora laughed. That broke the tense atmosphere that was created by Kairi's comment about Riku.
"Got that right." Kairi added.
"How so?"
"Well..." Kairi seemed at a loss for words.
"You okay?" Sora asked quickly.
"Wait a sec," Terra said. "She stops to think and that worries you?"
"Hey," Sora defended. "I did not mean it like that."
"The how did you mean it?" Aqua teased much to Sora's frustration.
"I Ah-" Sora clutched his hands to his head.
"Sora wait!" Riku said fake dramatically. "You're thinking. This worries me."
"Sora Sid!" Kairi said her voice raising. "Let's take the raft and go-just the three of us!"
"Woah guys," Riku mocked. "Im hurt."
Despite his teasing tone Kairi still looked guilty.
Sora, on the other hand, shrugged. "Why?
Riku gaped at him. "Uh Sora.."
"I mean," Sora smirked. "You know she didn't mean it. Just like when you-ahh!"
"Sora!"
"...stupid rule."
"No, No I am not playing third wheel and this is not going to be a love square, just go with Sora." Sid said in response.
This causes everyone's to laugh.
"What do you mean love square?" Riku asked curiosity.
Sid turns to Riku "It's obvious that there was a love triangle growing between you, Sora and Kairi. And I didn't want any part to play in that." Sid confessed.
"You've never had feelings for Kairi?" Sora asked.
Sid shakes his head no.
"But I did have feelings for one girl." Sid said, which caused Kairi to look at him angrily.
"And who is that?!" She asked.
"You'll find out." Sid said.
"Huh?" Sora frowned in response.
"A pretty girl asks to run away with you and you say 'Huh'?" Axel rolled his eyes. "What a-"
"Axel." Roxas cut off. No one else had noticed the read heads mumble.
"What? It's true."
"I know right?" Sid said.
Roxas didn't argue with that.
Kairi giggled. "Just kidding."
"Weird joke."' Ventus commented.
"What's gotten into you?" Sora exclaimed. "You're the ones whose changed, Kairi."
"Maybe..." The girl responded softly. "Ya know, I was a little afraid at first, but now I'm ready." Kairi spoke confidently. "No matter where I go or what I see, I know I could always come back here." Finally Kairi took her eyes off the sunset and turned to Sora. "Right?"
"Yeah, of course!" Sora said without hesitation.
"You didn't even pause to think about it..." Aqua whispered.
Sora gave a sullen look. "I should've.."
Terra frowned. He wasn't used to that look on Sora's face, despite knowing him for only a bit.
He opened his mouth to question it but then remembered, even if he choose to Sora won't be able to say it.
"And no matter what will always be together regardless." Sid said.
Sid scratched his cheek. "Well I wasn't completely wrong."
"You where right." Kairi smiled.
Kairi turned back to the sunset.
"That's good." Kairi paused. "Sora, Sid, don't ever change."
"Sorry Kairi." Sora apologized.
Kairi frowned. "Huh?"
"I changed, I mean-didn't I?"
Kairi and Riku shared a glance. In unison they said. "No."
"Hey!" Sora exclaimed.
"Well at least I changed." Sid said in satisfying tone.
"Your still the same smart cutie I know you for." Kairi said which caused Sid to roll his eyes and blush a little prompting her to smile.
"Huh?" Sora looked at her as Kairi stood up.
"I just can't wait. Once we set sail."
"You never did explain that to us." Sid huffed crossing his arms. Kairi put a finger to her lips, shushing him, effectively dodging it once more.
Sora leaned back, his eyes now back on the sunset, just like Kairi's.,
"It'll be great." She finished.
"If I only knew..." Kairi whispered.
"None of us could've known." Riku reassured his friend.
"Known what?" Ven asked, he quickly remembered the 'rule'. "Wait-Ah-Nevermind!"
The screen changed. There was a desk filled with papers and letters on it. The color noticeably darker then before.
"The palace." Riku noted.
"I wonder why it's all dark?" Aqua asked.
Sora's eyes widened. "You don't think it has anything to do with-"
Both Kairi and Riku's hands covered his mouth to stop him Sid smacked the back of Sora's head.
Riku sighed. "Probably not. Let's just watch."
Donald,
Text read on the screen.
"Hey," Terra said. "It's probably that letter from before."
"That makes sense." Roxas nodded.
The screen changed to a library, still dark in color.
Sorry to rush off without sayin' goodbye, but there's big trouble brewin'.
Riku nodded. "Definitely him."
Not sure why but the stars have been blinkin' out, one by one. And that means disaster can't be far behind. I hate to leave you all but I've gotta go check into it.
The screen faded to another picture. This one of a dog, curled up in his little bed shaped like a basket. A bowl on his far right.
There's someone with a "key"-the key to our survival.
"A keyblade?" Aqua confirmed.
Sora nodded.
"And you're..."
"Yeah," Roxas spoke interrupting her. "He is."
"Me and him both." Sid confirmed
So I need you and Goofy to go find him, and stick with him. Got it? We need that key or we're doomed! So go to Traverse Town and find Leon. He'll point you in the right direction.
"Wait a sec!" Sora said. "I wanna try something out." He paused warily and then said. "...Leon." Nothing happened. He tried something else. "Yu-AHHH!" He sighed.
"So we could talk about things after they happen." Terra nodded. "Got it."
P.S.
Would ya apologize to Minnie for me? Thanks, pal.
"Awe." A few voices echoed. Axel looked wary noticing it was more then just the girls that had 'awed'.
And finally on the right corner stood the same signature as the weapons from Sora's dream. Mickey's signature.
"What is that signature?" Ven asked.
Riku paused hesitantly. "It's Mickeys signature." Nothing happened.
"You mean the king?" Terra asked.
"That's the one."
"Wait a sec!" Ventus exclaimed. "You call him Mickey? Isn't he a king or something?"
"Yeah," Riku nodded. He then grinned. "He's also my friend."
The color changed to how it normally looked as it faded into another room. Goofy, Donald, Daisy and Minnie all stood in there discussing the letter.
"Oh, dear!" Daisy exclaimed worriedly. "What could this mean?"
"It means we'll just have to trust the king." Minnie responded confidently.
"Gawrsh," Goofy said bring his armored hand up to his chin. "I sure hope he's alright."
Sora chuckled. "Good o'le Goofy."
Sid smiles "Kind of surprises me that he's captain of the Royal Knights." Sid said.
"Your highness." Donald brought his hand to his chest as if pledging. "Don't worry. We'll find the king and this "key."
"Did he call us a key?" Sora asked, bewildered.
Roxas laughed. "I think he meant the keyblade."
"Still..."
"Hey," Axel said. "You aren't the ket he's talking about, but you're defiantly-Ugh it's hard to explain."
Sora frowned. "Huh?"
Axel face palmed. "Never mind.."
"Thank you," Minnie spoke softly as Daisy walked to her side. "Both of you."
"Daisy," Donald addressed. "Can you take care of the-"
"Of course." Daisy responded. "You be careful now, both of you."
"Oh," Minnie remembered. "And to chronicle your travels, he will accompany you." Minnie gestured to the desk.
Ventus frowned not seeing anything. He turned to Sora. "Is he invisible or something?"
Sora laughed rubbing the back of his hand with his hand. "He's...something."
Donald looked at it but could see what she was referring to. Finally-
"Over here!" A cricket said jumping up and down. "Crickets the name." He took his heat off and tipped it as he bowed. "Jiminy Cricket, at your service."
Sora smiled. "See?"
Ven nodded.
"We hope for your safe return." Minnie said taking her eyes off Jiminy and back to Donald and Goofy. "Please help the king."
Donald pledged once more before he noticed Goofy standing beside Minnie and Daisy. He saluted to Donald as if seeing him off.
"Goofy!"
Kairi let out a giggle. "What a loyal knight."
Sora gave an aggravated look. "He's supposed to be the captain..."
"Told ya." Sid said.
"You're coming too!" Donald yelled grabbing Goofy and dragging him off.
"Haha!" Sora was laughing now. "Classic Donald."
The screen faded to black. Once the color returned it was a new setting but still Donald and Goofy's world. The two and Jiminy were walking down the stairs with pink Mickey emblems lighting their way.
"Gawrsh Jiminy," Goofy said. "Your world disappeared, too?"
"His world what?" Aqua asked worriedly.
Sora slouched his shoulders while Sid spoke. "It'll explain."
"It was terrible." Jiminy explained. "We were scattered. And as far as I could see, I'm the only one who made it to this castle." Jiminy was sitting on Goofy's helmet.
"Scattered...?" Repeated Terra. His eyes lit. "Wait a sec, at the beginning. In your dream Sora-you said something about a scattered dream. Didn't you?"
"Yeah," Aqua said. "Didn't you also say something about memories?"
Sora frowned. "Maybe...I mean I don't remember scattered memories-whatever that means."
Riku rolled his eyes. "Of course you-the thing it's referring to hasn't happened yet Sora."
Sora gave a bewildered look.
Riku groaned. "Dreams? Memories? Scattered." Finally he said. "Island. Worlds."
"Oh," Sora nodded. "I gotchya."
Axel frowned. "Gotchya? Who says that?"
"Goofy?" Donald addressed.
"Oh, right...I gotchya." Goofy nodded.
"Apparently Goofy does."Sid said while Roxas laughed while Axel groaned.
"While we're in other worlds, we can't let on where we're from. We've gotta protect the world border." Goofy continued.
"Border?" Ventus repeated. "That sounds weird."
"No way." Sora spoke. "Goofy knows what he's talking about."
Donald rolled his eyes.
"Order!"
"Right. World order." Goofy said laughing afterwards while Donald sighed.
"Oh yeah," Riku said sarcastically. "He totally does." He Smirked. "Just like you, Sora."
"Hey!"
Terra sighed. "I think I'm getting a headache."
"I guess we'll need new duds when we get there." Goofy stated as they approached a door shaped like a crown.
"What kind of door is that!?"
"And what are 'duds'?"
"Wh-why are you all looking at me?" Sora asked. "We've already accomplished that I know nothing."
"I guess..." Roxas agreed. "But still. You say these guys are your friends but you know next to nothing about them."
"Well-I-shut up."
The two entered the room and began walking down the stairs. The room was all mechanical, white gloved hands helping things run, gadgets and levers everyone. All run by two little chipmunks. In the center of it was a little red and yellow ship.
"Wow."
"Cool."
"Freaky."
"..interesting."
"Could we just watch guys? Please?"
Finally Donald approached a horn and spoke into it. "Hello up there? Donald Duck to launch crew! Anytime you're ready!"
One chipmunk saluted while the other ran behind him and pulled down a lever.
"Wait a sec!" Sora said. "It's Chip and Dale! I'm not sure which is which but it is them!"
Smoke blew and the mechanical hand came down, depositing both Goofy and Donald into the ship.
The Mickey Mouse shaped doors opened as the ship prepared to launch. Minnie and Daisy watched in silence. Donald, turned back to Daisy, he gave her a thumbs up and a wink.
"Awe." Kairi cooed. Meanwhile Sora made a barfing face.
"Disgusting." Sid groaned
Donald pointed forward as he shouted. "Blast off!"
Then a red arrow lit up before them, it pointed down. A door opened below them, Goofy and Donald screamed as they dropped.
Everyone broke into laughter. Sora in particular was visibly tearing up.
Suddenly a planet was shown. Their planet, the blue castle stuck right in the middle. Out the bottom popped the ship before it blasted off into space.
"Do I need to say what that looked like?" Axel chuckled.
In unison, Riku, Terra, Roxas and Aqua shouted. "No!"
Sora and Ven shared looks of confusion while Kairi giggled, Sid rolls his eyes.
The screen faded to black.
Then it showed Sora.
"Me again?" Sora frowned. "Why can't it just leave me alone?"
"Maybe you're the main character?" Kairi suggested.
"Nah." Riku shook his head. "Well, maybe for the first one. But only that."
"Hey!" Sora exclaimed. "I could totally be the main main character."
"Of course you can."
"Riku!"
"You guys are starting to hurt my head." Sid said as he rubbed his head suddenly two lips touched his temple, then he came to realized that those lips belonged to Kairi and Aqua.
"Feel better?" Aqua asked.
Sid who is completely bushed. "Y-Yeah no problem let's watch."
Inside Sora's very messy room with things hanging from the ceiling, he was lying on his bed but not asleep. His hands tucked behind his head, he was in deep thought. His eyes drifted to a tiny ship with two rag dolls inside it.
Kairi's eyes widened. "You kept those?"
Sora stuttered. "Well-I-you spent so much time making them..."
"But don't you think they look...silly?"
Sora waved his arm, obviously lying as he said. "Oh no way!"
Kairi grinned at him. "Thanks Sora."
Sora blushed turning away. "Well-I-uh-lets watch!"
Kairi's voice rang in his head.
"I just can't wait. Once we set sail, it'll be great."
Sora's eyes then drifted to his window. "A storm?"
Colors lit the sky in flashes of purple. He jumped forward in realization.
"Oh, no, the raft!"
"That's the first thing that occurred to you?" Roxas frowned.
Sora shrugged. "Well it was important..and not just to me."
Kairi and Riku smiled at him. Sid rubbed his head.
The screen shifted over Sora's now empty room.
"Sora, come down, dinners ready." His mother called. "Sora?!"
The curtains blew from the wind that the open window let in.
"You went out the window? Sora, that's dangerous!" Aqua fretted. Sora awkwardly chuckled.
"I've been through worse. Or at least," Sora stopped, thinking about it. "...I will."
Outside Sora was back on the beach. Alarmed he looked into the sky where there was a huge purple and black circular thing just floating there.
"What's that?" Terra frowned looking over it.
"I don't really know a name for it..." Sora said scratching his chin.
Roxas groaned. "And even if you could you can't say it!"
"Oh yeah..."
"Well," Ventus remarked. "It's still way freaky."
"Got that right."
"What's that?" Sora was now on the deck, he soon noticed below him-
"Riku's boat. And Kairi's!" Sora turns to see Sid.
"Sid!" Sid turns around.
"How did you get there before me?" Sora asked?
"Called a headstart Sora."Sid said as he put his hands behind the back of his head.
"Sora! We need to find Riku and Kairi!" Sid screams
"But what is that?"
"An orb in the sky!"
" No, That!" Sora points at something
A shifting sound took his attention away from the boats. Little black creatures with glowing gold eyes formed from the shadows much to Sora's horror.
"Woah!" Ven sat forward. "What are those?"
"Wait," Riku said. "You're a keyblade wielder whose never seen-" he caught himself. "-those?" He paused looking over the trio who sat wide eyed. "Have any of you ever seen them?"
"No." Terra spoke quietly.
"That's...weird." Sora commented.
"Yeah..." Aqua said slowly. "I guess it is."
"No," Riku said. "It very much is." Suspiciously he added. "There's no guess about it."
Sora ran. Sid began fighting the shadows off with his wooden sword when he had too. But after see a flashing light on the ground Sora turned to see Sid with the Keyblade and taking out the creatures.
"So that's how you got your Keyblade…" Aqua said in fascination.
"Cool." Kairi said in amazement.
"Why don't you use your keyblade Sora?" Ventus asked. Sora chuckled.
"I-" He stopped himself unsure if there may be consequences for his words.
"It will show you Ven." Sid said.
"Let's go." Sid said then they made their way to Riku.
He was watching the storm where the three of them had been sitting together before, the same place Kairi Sid and Sora watched the sunset.
"You look..." Aqua couldn't find the words. Riku sighed.
"Unbalanced?"
"Well..."
"Totally out of it?"
"Pyscho-ish?"
"Possessed?"
"Evil."
Riku glared. "Too far guys."
Sora chuckled. "Oh no way. It's your turn now."
Sora ran over to his friend.
"Where's Kairi? I thought she was with you." Sora said first thing.
"It looks like Kairi's always first priority to you." Terra commented. Sora panicked.
"Well-uh she's my friend."
"And I'm not?" Riku knew full well why, he was just messing with Sora.
"You know it's not like that Riku," Sora took him seriously. "It's just that well-you could defend yourself and-"
"I can't?" Kairi finished with a glare.
Sora raised his hands in defense. "You're the one who refused to pick up a sword or at least something. Selphie even had her jump ropes, you...didn't."
Kairi was the one to pout now crossing her arms. "Still...I'm perfectly capable to defending myself."
At that Axel chuckled. Kairi's deadly glare shut him up.
"The door...has opened." Riku spoke ominously.
"What?!" Sora responded as Riku turned.
"Wow." Riku exclaimed. "Was I really that creepy?"
Sora frowned. "Too be honest I didn't see the difference. I still sorta don't."
"Sora..." Riku sighed shaking his head.
"The door has opened, Sora!" Riku exclaimed. "Now we could go the outside world!"
"What are you talking about?" Sora asked bawling his hands into fists. "We have to find Kairi!"
"Kairi's coming with us!" Riku shouted. Sora looked taken aback as Riku looked up the thing in the sky.
"You knew something about this? Darkness, the door, the cloth guy and even our world getting destroyed? And you didn't tell us?" Sid suspected
"Come on Sid, Once we step through we might not be able to come back. And I know you want to go out there and I know you want to find answers to that star shaped object and what it is." Riku said causing Sid to be confused.
"Before we proceed, Riku how did you find out about it." Sid asked.
"You always have it out, and sometimes I peek over your shoulder and try to find out what it is." Riku confessed.
Sid looks a bit disturbed. "Never do that again."
" We might never see our parents again. There's no turning back. But this may be our only chance. We can't let fear stop us! I'm not afraid of the darknesses!"
"In other words you're nuts." Terra spoke.
Riku shook his head. "No, I mean I was in the right but I wasn't that far off."
"Far off from what?"
"It's complicated."
"How so?"
Terra and Riku stared at each other, not a glare but both looked fierce and defiant to the other.
Finally Riku looked toward Sora with his hand outstretched.
"Riku..." Sora whispered.
"Wait a sec!" Ventus jumped up. "It's just like the theme song-or was it a dream?"
"Oh yeah," Roxas nodded. "Only Riku was in the ocean."
Sora's eyes lit up. "Maybe the ocean represents-" He stopped himself this time. In a small voice he said. "Youlll see..."
Then a hole appeared under Riku. Darkness came from it, wrapping the elder boy within in its clutches.
Realization dawned upon the land of departure trio.
Sora took a step forward to his friend but soon found he was caught in the same trap. Unlike Riku, however, he struggled. With all his might he pushed forward to take Riku's hand that was still open to him. He got close-so close-but he couldn't make it. The darkness pulled at him wrapping him up until he couldn't see anything besides black.
Sora shivered breaking the cold silence in the room.
"Sorry," He gave a forced chuckle. "It's just...gave me a shiver, Ya know?"
Kairi gave his hand a comforting squeeze.
Then a light emerged from the darkness. Glistening beautifully, a chiming sound filled their ears. Out emerged Sora, still shaken, but a keyblade in his hand. He looked forward where Riku was no where to be seen, he then examined his keyblade before finally looking up towards the sky.
Text appeared on the screen beside Sora on his south-eastern side.
Keyblade...
It appeared once more on the northern-western side.
Keyblade...
"Come on Sora let's go." Sid said.
Then Sora and Sid fought. It wasn't just barely holding his own against the shadows anymore. No, he was now vanquishing them easily with every slice that the keyblade made.
"Nice." Roxas smirked.
"And that was your first time using it?" Aqua asked, impressed.
"I guess." Sora shrugged.
Sora ran, looking for either of his friends before his eyes caught on the entrance to the secret place. There was a door there now. He approached it with Sid on his back, as it opened and entered with no question.
"You don't wonder how that mysterious door got there?" Axel asked.
"He had other things on his mind." Ventus defended. "Right Sora?"
Sora chuckled. "Too be honest I didn't even notice."
Everyone face palmed.
Running through the cave Sora and Sid came to an abrupt stop.
"Kairi!"
Before him Kairi stood, standing in front of a door that had not been there before. She slowly turned around, her cheeks red with an exhausted look on her face.
"Oh wow," Kairi gasped. "I look terrible."
"It wasn't that bad." Sora tried to reassure.
"Kairi," Aqua asked with concern. "Do you remember this?"
Kairi's gaze softened. "I...more or less honestly."
"Hey it's alright we're right here." Sid said and gave Kairi a wink. Which caused her story Smile.
"Sora..." She whispered reaching out to him before darkness emerged from the door behind her. Kairi whooshed forward and Sora opened his arms to catch her. Only she went right through him much to his shock.
"Holy crap!" Ventus exclaimed. "She went right through you!"
"She was actually in him for a sec." Axel chuckled mischievously.
"Don't." Roxas warned, a finality in his tone that Axel didn't dare to cross.
Sora and Sid got blasted out of the secret place.
Sora flinched. "That was way worse then I thought it was."
Terra frowned. "What did you think it was?"
"Not that bad."
Sora pushed himself up on his knees before noticing the ocean before him. Sid looked in the opposite direction.
"Woah!" Everything was being attracted to the thing in the sky now.
"Sora."
Sora soon turned around only to see, from the darkness, it came forth. A giant monster unlike the small ones before it.
"What is that thing?!" Ventus asked.
"Probably another one of, whatever those things are called, right?" Aqua guessed.
Riku nodded. "They take all different forms. It's complicated and will probably be explained."
Terra nodded. "Good."
Sora and Sid took their stance, keyblade in hand, prepared to fight it.
"You're gonna fight that thing?" Roxas exclaimed. "Are you stupid or something?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Sora asked.
"And I know your not talking to me." Sid said
"It means you just got the keyblade. What you're doing is stupid and reckless. At least has some experience with it longer then you." Roxas explained.
"Hey," Axel said. "You should listen to Roxas, he's an expert in being stupid and reckless."
Roxas glowered.
And Sora and Sid did. They finally defeated the shadow before it was dragged into the black hole just like everything else. Sora himself was barely holding on, his feet in the air, being pulled towards it, holding onto the deck dearly. He looks over at Sid who has already flown towards the portal.
"This is not gonna end well." Kairi spoke frowning.
Then the deck broke. Sora flew backwards towards the sky.
"Ah!" He shouted as he was sucked into the void as well. Then everything went black.
"Wow," Sora said. "That looked a lot worse then I remembered it as."
"Probably because of how fast it happened." Aqua suggested. Sora was quick to nod in agreement.
Then something happened. A bright light shot into the room, everyone gaped in surprise at the forms it took before them.
Sora stared at them. "It can't be..."
