Here is Chapter 2 and I sure hope you guys enjoy 3
Chapter 2: The Task
A young boy with brown spiky hair walked along the beach of his familiar home, The Destiny Islands that brought him a lot of fond memories from his childhood. Thoughts flooded his mind as he looked up at the sky, seeing a bunch of seagulls flying overhead.
It had been a few months since failing his mark of mastery. Even though he hid it well around his friends, part of him felt disappointed at how much he had lost from travelling the sleeping worlds. He felt like it was back to the days before his original journey.
Finally finding himself climbing up onto the dock he sat down, gazing out to the ocean as the morning sun began to rise up over the horizon. Normally Sora wasn't awake this early, but for some reason something else was on his mind for sure.
'I am still quite nervous what the future may hold, And just what Xehanort will do next once he is ready.' Sora sighed to himself throwing a rock into the water.
He slowly laid back now placing his arms behind his head, continuing to watch the clouds and the seagulls fly by. For some reason he knew something new was coming, a new challenge.
'Even if I do go on a new journey… will I even be able to pick up the Keyblade again?' He reached out, summoning the Kingdom Key.
The sunlight shining on its gold and silver colours. Finally, he made it vanish again, returning his arms behind his head again.
'Oh, who am I kidding? It's hopeless!' He grumbled as he sat up throwing another rock again.
Some approaching footsteps could be heard behind him, slowly Sora turned to look. His best friend stood behind him, a slight smirk on his face.
"Well Sora, I didn't expect you to be awake at this time of morning?" He chuckled and finally sat down beside him.
"Good Morning Riku, I didn't know you woke up this early?" Sora smiled, nervously rubbing the back of his head, wondering how long Riku had been there.
"I get up early most mornings, to keep improving my skills." He threw a rock into the water himself, then looked over Sora with slight concern in his eyes. "I know something is on your mind again. Want to talk about it?"
Sora sighed knowing that he could never hide things well with Riku, looking out to the distance.
"Well I'm worried what Xehanort is doing out there, I feel like we haven't done much to prepare. Besides you gaining the title of Master… I definitely let everyone down." Sora closed his eyes gently.
Riku gently patted Sora's head before throwing another rock. Trying to think of the right words to encourage his friend.
"Well, just because you failed one task, doesn't mean you're a complete failure, Sora" Riku looked his way again. "All the things you managed to do since you turned 14, and all the things you did to help other people… not to mention you never gave up on me or Kairi?"
Sora listened to Riku's words, remembering a lot of the things he managed to do. Ever since he was 4 years old, he had protected their new friends heart for 11 years. He clenched his hand over his heart, taking Riku's every word to the heart. Sora then grinned, nodding his head at Riku.
"Thanks Riku.. that means a lot." Sora then broke into his signature smile.
Riku chuckled gently at him, as he glanced away he could hear something clanging against the dock below them. He looked down noticing a bottle on the beach, standing up he jumped off the dock and went to pick it up.
"Huh Riku? You drop something?" Sora stood up following him.
Riku picked up the bottle, examining it carefully. He gasped when he noticed the King's seal on it.
"Sora, it's a message from the King!" Riku pulled the lid off pulling the note out.
"Wonder what he wants? Do you think he needs out help?" Sora folded his arms, waiting for Riku to read the message.
'Dear Sora and Riku,
How have you both been? I'm sorry to write like this but, I need you both to come to Master Yensid's as soon as you can. I fear something big is brewing right now. I'm not sure if it's Master Xehanort or not.
If you can, please bring Kairi along, as Master Yensid wants to speak with her aswell.
Look forward to seeing you pals!
Mickey Mouse.'
Riku frowned slightly and then looked over to Sora. Handing him the letter so he could intake the information aswell.
"For him to write like this again, I have a feeling this won't be easy." Sora looked seriously as he kept reading over the words.
"Sora, do you think you'll be up for any task that Master Yensid might request of us?" Riku folded his arms a little concerned with how Sora had lost a lot of powers.
Sora gripped the letter tightly, even shaking for a moment. Was he really up for another task so soon?
"I'm going, I can't keep sitting here feeling sorry for myself." Sora grinned brightly at Riku. "Who knows maybe we have another journey ahead of us, and maybe I may learn new powers!"
Riku felt relieved that Sora's upbeat attitude hadn't vanished. Slowly looked out to the distance again.
"Riku, I'll go get Kairi and meet you back here?" Sora asked him.
"Sounds good, see you soon alright?"
Sora nodded his head and quickly rushed off up the hill. Making his way to where Kairi lived at the mayor's house. He wondered what she would think about all this. Finally stopping when he reached her house, taking a deep breath. He knocked on the door.
After a few minutes, he could hear someone walking towards the door. He took a deep breath as it opened, his red haired friend Kairi coming into view.
"Oh Sora! Good Morning!" Kairi chimed to him, she stepped out onto the porch and hugged him.
Sora blushed up when she did, slowly hugging her back gently.
"M-Morning Kairi, I've come to get you. We got a letter from the King." He slowly pulled away.
Kairi tilted her head, feeling a little surprised as this was rather out of the blue.
"Well it certainly feels nice to be included this time. I am still sore about the Mark of Mastery." She smiled brightly, closing the door. "I'm ready to go when you are."
Sora nodded his head and led the way back down to the beach to meet up with Riku again.
Riku saw both of them rushing down towards him onto the beach.
"Right then, since we don't have access to the gummi ship right now. I will open a corridor of light." Riku turned torwards them, summoning Way to Dawn. Pointing it away from him, firing a beam of light which formed a massive door.
Sora and Kairi both nodded, and they followed behind Riku into the portal.
Meanwhile at Yensid's Tower.
"Master Yensid, is this really the girl you asked us to seek out?" Donald waddled over to the window, looking at the young girl they managed to come across.
"Yes, it was quite vital that you found her, because I'm hoping she will help us." Master Yensid stood up from his seat walking over to Marina as well.
Marina was sat against the window, unconscious from the struggle with The Darkside. The others hadn't noticed Mei though, who was well hidden behind Marina's neck and collar. She had been watching them all carefully, she had always found it hard to trust others.
'I guess these folks are good, they did save us… but I don't like where this could lead.' She pouted to herself.
"I can't help but think I've seen her somewhere before? Or at least looks familiar to an old friend of mine." Mickey walked in from the back room.
"Who is she then?" Goofy scratched his head, the whole situation starting to confuse him.
"I'm not very sure on who she is, but I can sense an unbalance forming in the realm of worlds where she comes from. The Stars tell me she is the best key to accessing them." Master Yensid could sense something else about her. Two presences occupying the same heart, like there was another person within her.
"Yeah, you're right, it was very difficult just to get to the world we found her. The creatures there weren't all that friendly." The King sat beside Marina.
"With any luck, Mickey. Sora, Riku and Kairi will arrive soon. Assuming your message arrived safely." Master Yensid finally returned to his desk opening his book.
Donald and Goofy turned towards the door, hearing a noise of the door opening.
Sora, Riku and Kairi entered the room, looking in high spirits. Sora gasped, breaking out into a broad grin as he rushed over to his travel buddies.
"Donald! Gooofy! I've missed you!" He hugged them both, the three of them laughing.
"Sora! The three of us are finally a full pint again!" Donald laughed in happiness.
"Yeah yeah, we'll see how long this lasts?" Sora smiled feeling like things were complete again. It didn't feel right not seeing his other friends.
Riku and Kairi walked over to Master Yensid, both bowing slightly. Riku placed Mickey's letter onto the table.
"We received Mickey's letter, and even brought Kairi at your request Master but.. you never mentioned why? Or what you needed us so urgently." Riku glanced at Kairi as she stepped forward.
"Master Yensid it's a pleasure to finally meet you." Kairi bowed politely, starting to feel nervous at the same time.
"Yes Kairi, it's a honor to have you here. With the future task against Master Xehanort. We are going to need to start gaining more guardians of light. And I have heard you too can wield a Keyblade?" He asked, raising an eyebrow towards her.
"Yes, that's right. I'm not sure how or why but, does this mean you plan to train me, Master?" Kairi felt a surge of excitement at the idea of being able to help.
"I've been requested by Merlin to summon you to train with him and Lea." When he mentioned those words, Kairi was quite shocked.
"W-What!" She looked at Riku.
"He's a good guy now! He really was a huge help when he saved me and Sora from Xehanort!" Riku tried his best to calm her down.
Sora glanced up in the direction of the window, seeing the girl with long black hair. She appeared to be asleep, he slowly walked over to her. Suddenly he felt a sudden ache in his heart, placing a hand over his chest.
He looked at her face, he knew he'd never seen her before. But something inside him recognized her somehow. Suddenly he held his head, seeing a very hazy image appear in his mind.
He couldn't make out the memory, but he noticed someone was walking along. And in front of the person was a cage. Despite looking deep within the cage, he couldn't make out who the person was.
'Here!.. I brought you some!'
He could hear a familiar voice inside his head, talking to him. As he tried to think whom it was, someone's hand was on his back, shaking him lightly.
"Hey Sora? You doing ok?" Riku asked rather concerned.
Sora was shook out of the memory as he looked to Riku.
"Oh y-yeah I'm fine" He smiled slightly. "Master Yensid, who is this girl?".
"She is the very reason I requested you and Riku to come." Yensid walked over to him.
To Be Continued.