May Our Hearts Be Our Guiding Keys

by somibel

Modern-ish AU. Sora, Riku and Kairi thought that their lives would be at least a bit normal. However, after an attack from strange creatures, everything changes. Keyblades, different worlds, Heartless and a dangerous organization are becoming part of their everyday lives, and they'll need a lot more than just raw strength to end up on the winning side of the impending war.

1. Prologue: Rumor Has It

There are facts.

Facts are of real events, perhaps from the past, passed down from generation to generation. There are some stories that are factual, and we believe them because they are real and that's how they always were and always will be. As sure as the rising of the sun and the moon.

Then there is fiction.

Fiction is of fairy tales and dreams, containing vast worlds that could never truly exist. Many stories are fictional, telling of creatures and powers and places that had been weaved from imagination. They give you a world of stars and beauty, fantasies of grandeur, and dreams of mystical creatures with silver wings. And that's how it is. Fiction is not real.

But what of legends? Of lore and rumors?

Here is where fact and fiction clash. The line is blurred to the point where it seems that it doesn't even exist. Stories like these are pondered by many. Is it true? Did this ever happen? Did it ever exist?

Let us look into a legend.

First we travel to a certain world. Across the stars, there is a world that, though nameless, is shining and thriving. This world has many different regions, each unique in its own way. And its history contains this legend:

Long ago, there was a war. In this war, there were no cannons or tanks or spears. Instead, there were strange weapons known as Keyblades. These Keyblades were special. Unlike swords and spears, these weapons could not be wielded by any common person. They each had a master that they had chosen for themselves. And unlike swords and spears, they could be resummoned in a flash of light to their wielder's hands if it was willed.

There was a division between Keyblade wielders, though what caused this division is still highly debated. They brought their treasured weapons against each other, and a war was sparked. Many gave up their lives.

What happened afterwards? No one is sure. The story stops soon after that, leaving many others to interpret it and find hidden meanings.

Then there is another legend, one believed to be connected to that of the Keyblade War. It tells of a special object, hidden somewhere far away, containing countless hearts; emotion and essence. It is the strongest heart, and the story appropriately gives it a name: Kingdom Hearts.

This brings back the questions: is it true? Did this ever happen? Did it ever exist? So far, there has been no response. But...

Rumor has it that one day, there will be an answer.

And a cryptic poem, uttered long ago, will be the key.