Author's Notes: Okay, with this game I had to replay the game to refresh my memory. But while I was doing that I came to the game-plan of just releasing all the chapters for Dream Drop Distance at once, so as not to miss anything due to the flow of the game. I don't know how many chapters it going to take for this game, maybe 4 to 6. Honestly, you guys are probably going to know before me by the time I'm done with them.
Also, I'll be going by the 3DS version of the game and not the Remix. I can't really say it's because of by bias against anything that isn't the original. It's just that I had the 3DS version from a while back on hand and not the Remix version. Sorry for being cheap, but judging from the playthroughs I've skimmed through I don't think I'm missing much- just better graphics and change in the intro soundtrack. Anyways, I hope you like them and now we're one step closer to Kingdom Hearts III and the long awaited end to this chartist saga. Enjoy.
The Test of Mastery
It was about time to go soon, Sora and the others were waiting for him. King Mickey, Donald, and Goofy had come to pick Sora and him up in their Gummi Ship to take them to master Yen Sid to begin their training. They were waiting for them off the main island shore. It's early sunset, they planned on leaving late sundown before the residence notice the Gummi Ship. Time was running out before, but he was almost done.
He was going out into the worlds again. He's been visiting Radiant Garden every now and then to see his mother and his brothers; but, aside from there, he has ventured out into the worlds in over a year. He had hopes that things would be different from the first time he left the islands. More than that, 'he' wanted to be a different person this time around.
SNIP SNIP
Changing his look gave him the feeling of a fresh start. It was something small, but it was a start on a different path. Things will not be the same as before. With the final strands of his platinum locks trimmed, he left a note for his dad that he would be gone for awhile and headed out the door.
The road the main island shore was quiet. Nightlights were on as the sun had set from the horizon long before. The air was cold, but pleasant on his lonely walk down the road to the future.
"Riku, over here!" Sora waved him with far too much energy for this late in the night. But then again, since when did Sora ever lack in energy.
"You should keep it down. You'll wake up the whole neighborhood." Riku suggested in teasing.
"You're late. It's not like you to be the last to arrive." Sora pouted before he noticed the change in Riku. "Hey, you cut your hair!"
"Does it look that bad?" Riku pondered at Sora's reaction and pointing finger. But Sora shrugged it off with grin as he rested his hands behind his head.
"Nah, it looks good on you. Kinda reminds me of back when we were kids."
"We still are kids." Although, Riku "had" just recently graduated from High School.
"Yeah, well, smaller kids then." Sora huffed at Riku's snark.
"Come on, fellas!" Goofy called from the Gummi ship door, waving at them along with Mickey and Donald.
"Are ya fellas ready?"
"What's the hold up?!"
"We're coming, we're coming. Don't get your beak in a knot." Sora hollered to Donald before turning his head to look over at Riku beside him. "You ready to go on another adventure, Riku?"
"Yeah," Riku nodded, grinning before walking off to the Gummi Ship. "Let's go."
"All right, here we go again!" Sora cheered, running up to catch up with him.
Chip and Dale started up the engine as the Gummi Ship began to take off.
"Did you leave a note for your parents? We might be gone for a while." Riku asked, making sure Sora got everything done before they left the island.
"Yeah, I did." Sora grinned while nervously scratching the back of his head. "Doesn't mean they still won't be angry with me when I get back."
"Probably, if you wrote the bare minimal of where you're going on your note. Knowing you, they probably have no idea where you're going or why, with how little info you more than likely gave."
"Aw c'mon, Riku. I'm not that bad. I told them that I would be with you."
"Don't feed me to the sharks." Riku groaned, knowing that he'd probably get an earful from Sora's parents and his dad when they get back. "Anyway, I didn't see Kairi. Did you tell her that we're heading out today?"
"Hmm, I did. But, I told her that we would be leaving late, so I didn't want her to trouble herself. Besides..." Sora said looking down at his hand as he pulled out her good luck charm from his pocket. "We already said our goodbyes earlier."
"Alright..." But did Sora want to be sent off this way?
"Sora! Riku!"
"?!" "Kairi?" Riku and Sora turned in surprise as they saw her running to the shore. Watching from the still open ship door as she tried to catch her breath, bending a little to rest her hands on her knees. Riku wasn't too surprised that Kairi would still come to see them off, no matter how late- or how Sora forgot to tell her what time they were leaving.
"(Exhale)," she caught her breath, rising to stand up straight again. Smiling as she waved them off, the moon starting to peek out from the waters. "Good luck you guys! Take care!"
"Right, thanks!" "Hmph." Sora waved with the smile while Riku nodded with a grin as the ship door finally closed and the Gummi Ship took off into the sky.
The trip to Master Yen Sid tower took some time. Twilight was making its appearance in the sky when they arrived. At the top of the stairway, Master Yen Sid was waiting for them at his desk.
"Welcome, Sora and Riku." Master Yen Sid greeted them with a nod as Mickey, Donald, and Goofy took their place on the side of him. "It pleases me greatly that the both of you answered the call."
"You bet we would, seeing that their are people that need our help." Sora declared with a fist bump to the heart. "Just tell us what you need us to do."
"Before we began, can you tell me what you know about the beginning of the worlds and Kingdom Hearts?"
"Huh?" Sora titled his head at what appeared to be a random question out of nowhere to him.
"You mean about how all the worlds were divided from one world under Kingdom Hearts protection?" Riku asked for clarity, bringing the story back to Sora's memory.
"Oh! Like the story we heard as kids, where the hearts of children saved Kingdom Hearts and the worlds from Darkness?"
"Long ago, in the age of fairy tales, the World was filled with light- a gift, many believed, from an unseen power known as "Kingdom Hearts." You see, Kingdom Hearts was protected by its counterpart, the "X-blade," so that none could ever lay hands on its mysteries." Master Yen Sid began telling them the story with more detail. Revealing to them that their childhood fairytale was more than just a bedtime story. "But in time, the World was overrun by legions who wanted the light all for themselves, and the first shadows were cast upon the land.
"These warriors crafted "Keyblades" in the image of the original X-blade, and waged a great war over Kingdom Hearts. We call this the "Keyblade War." But though the war extinguished all light from the World, the darkness could not reach the brightness inside every child's heart. With that light, the World was remade as we know it today, with countless smaller worlds shining like stars in the sky.
"As for the real X-blade, it did not survive the battle. The two elements that created it, one of darkness and one of light, shattered into twenty pieces- seven of light; thirteen of darkness. And as for the source of all light- the one true Kingdom Hearts- it was swallowed by the darkness, never to be seen again. As long as it remains there, even the brightest world will have its dark corners. After all, light begets darkness, and darkness is drawn to light.
"For this reason, some decided to use the Keyblade- a weapon designed to conquer the light- to defend the light instead. These were the first heroes of the Keyblade." Riku slightly clinched his fist as Master Yen Sid's mention of Keyblade heroes, silently admitting to himself that the history books would not write him as a Keyblade hero of the light. Not after all the things he had done...
"But, Master Yen Sid, what does that have to do with the stuff written in the letter?" Sora asked, bringing Riku back out of his darkening thoughts. "Just who exactly is this Xehanort?"
"As a Keyblade Master, Xehanort had a gift like few others." Master Yen Sid explain. "But such great minds are often plagued by a single great question. What is the essence of the human heart that weakens us or empowers us? The answer, he believed, would be found in the "Keyblade War." What if the challenges of our past were, in fact, a map to the light and darkness that battles within us all?
"Xehanort had to know, so he renounced his duties as master and chose the seeker's life. Since then, in many a guise, he has clashed with protectors of the light- Keyblade wielders like yourselves. And mark my words-" Master Yen Sid warned in foreboding, "he will trouble us yet again. We must be ready. Which is why you, Sora and Riku, are to be tested for the mark of a true Keyblade Master."
"..."
"No doubt you fancy yourselves masters already, but it takes years of training. Only a true master can teach you the proper way. Both of you are self-taught Keyblade wielders- an impressive feat." Master Yen Sid gave them praise for how far they have come on their own, but, there was still so much more for them to learn. "However, the time has come for you to let go of preconceived notions, forget what you know about the Keyblade, and begin your training again with a clean slate."
"Huh?!" Sora, Donald, and Goofy flinched back in surprise. Riku wasn't too surprised by the notion, he had come here already knowing that most of his knowledge of the Keyblade was influenced by people surrounded by the power of darkness. He had come here with the notion of a fresh start already in mind. But the others had not.
"But that's a formality, right? I already proved myself." He had already saved the worlds from darkness twice now, what more could they need? "Me and the king, and Riku- we can take on anything. Right, Riku?"
"... I don't know." Riku had his doubts. After all, they barely survived saving the worlds from darkness on both accounts. Besides, as he summoned Soul Eater, he realized throughout each battle he did not come out the same. " I think that in my heart, darkness still has a hold.
"..." Putting Soul Eater away, Riku confronted the truth inside himself. "Walking that path changed me. I'm not sure if I'm ready to wield a Keyblade. Maybe I do need to be tested."
"Riku…" Sora had no idea that the things of the past were still eating at him. He had hoped that Riku had long since forgiven himself about that. But if getting tested as a true Keyblade Master was what Riku needed to prove himself worthy of a Keyblade, then Sora would stand by him. Looking back at Master Yen Sid, he gave his answer. "Then count me in. Put me through the test! Just watch- me and Riku will pass with flying colors!"
"..." King Mickey and Donald look at each other with a little disbelief that Sora didn't put up much of a fight about this like he usually did. But would really be okay? He wasn't the type to fully prepare for a test.
"..." Master Yen Sid just nodded, accepting both of their answer. "Very well, then. Sora and Riku, let your examination begin."
Master Yen Sid handed them Glossary pages on the Keyblade, Keyblade Masters, Master Xehanort, Heartless, The Keyblade War, Kingdom Hearts, and X-blade. They will find more pages during their test.
"All right!" Sora pumped himself up, getting psyched. "So what now? How are we gonna do this test?"
"If we are ever to strike down Xehanort, we need the individuals King Mickey spoke of in his letter. We must lead them out of sorrow and slumber, and back to our world." Master Yen Sid explained their course of action. "To do so, seven Sleeping Keyholes must be found and unlocked, and a great power retrieved. As you know, every world is walled off from the next, preventing travel between them. In the past, you could bridge these gaps because the walls were broken, or because you could open special lanes with your Keyblades.
"But your new goals, the "Sleeping Keyholes," are harder to reach. You'll recall, in your first journey, that you brought many worlds back from the darkness- but some never returned completely. They still sleep, cut off from all outside channels. Not even the Heartless can enter." With the wave of his hand, set aglow as he summoned a visual onto his desk. Something...cute? "But these Sleeping Worlds are said to have their own manner of darkness. They are called "Dream Eaters," and there are two kinds- "Nightmares," which devour happy dreams- and benevolent "Spirits," which consume the Nightmares."
"..." Sora and Riku watched as Master Yen Sid brought up another visual of a Spirit equivalent to the present Nightmare. It jumped and rolled around, wagging around as if it was happy to see them. It was adorable... they couldn't help wanting one of their own.
"The Dream Eaters will guide you, just as the Heartless once guided you, to the Keyhole you seek at the heart of each world."
"But how are we going to get there?" Riku asked. "You said so yourself, that these Sleeping Worlds are harder to reach."
"One dream is connected to another, which means we must choose in which "Sleeping World" you will begin." Master Yen Sid answered. "I will return you to Destiny Islands just before they were swallowed by the darkness and plunged into sleep. Once dreams take you, you must let them guide you to the Sleeping Worlds.
"As there are seven pure lights, there are seven "Sleeping Keyholes." Unlocking these will both grant you new powers, and free the worlds from their wakelessness. Complete this task, and return here safely, and I will name you both...true masters."
Before sending them off, Master Yin Sid wanted to explain one more thing they would need to know about the Sleeping Worlds.
"In the Sleeping Worlds, real time does not flow. Unless one restores the world by waking it from its slumber, it will stay locked in a dream forever." Master Yin Sid explained, giving them one last tip of advice. "Thus, you may encounter, familiar faces...but they are just figments of the dream. In actuality, they are sound asleep- trapped within a world that is also sleeping.
"What's more, whilst someone may no longer dwell in the real version of a world, dreams may paint a fuller picture, and restore what seems to be missing."
A sense of drowsiness took over Sora and Riku, and before they could hit the floor they were asleep. Transported into the dreams of world to begin their test...
Riku and Sora had woken up back on Destiny Islands. Looking around they were slightly confused. Was this their test? But...this was their island. No, this place was different. And their clothes were different, too. It was like back before Destiny Islands fell to the darkness, they even looked younger. Looking off from the beach to the roaring sea, a storm was coming. The sky was blue, but those clouds in the distance said it all. Something told them, that their test began out there.
"Looks like what we're looking for is out there." Sora pointed out.
"Yeah. We'll need to make a raft to get off the island."
"But how far could a raft take us?"
"Who knows." Riku admitted. "If we have to, we'll think of something else."
They moved fast making the raft, especially Sora. Surprising with how long it took them to make their first raft. Perhaps it was the excitement of passing their test as quickly as they can. They had pushed off into the ocean, things were going well at first. But then the storm caught up to them...
"Riku, a storm's coming." Lighting flashed as the rain poured down all around them.
"I know. The waves are getting steep." Sora looked out at the raging ocean as Riku used the knowledge of sea vessels to try and save the raft. "Furl the sail."
"Right." Sora was on it, but they weren't fast enough.
"Ah!" Riku grunted as a strong wind took out their sail, knocking him off the raft with it.
"(Gasp)!" Sora looked around, trying to find his friend in the roaring sea. Spotting him hanging on the sails in the open ocean like a life-raft. "Riku!"
"I'm fine!" Riku assured him, catching him breath. A whirlpool opened up around them, drawing them in. Things were going from bad to worse. And then to 'you've got to be kidding me' scale as something began to arise from the whirlpool. "What's that?"
"Ha Ha Hahahaha!" Came the cackling laugh of Ursula the sea witch as she rose from the ocean like a kraken. "Oh, he was right. Those wretched guppies are here. Well, it's about time we settle the score!"
"Ursula?" Sora couldn't believe that she was here, pulling out his keyblade as she was clearly ready for a fight. "But how- Is this the test?"
"Come on! You can work it out later!" Riku said, trying to get Sora to pull it together as he summoned Soul Eater. They were on a stormy ocean with a giant 'sea monster' out to get them, gunning for Sora first, they had no time for hesitation.
"Alright!"
"Sorry, dearies, but I won't fall for that trick!"
Sora began to attack Ursula's tentacles as they came close to the raft. Blocking as they shot Water magic at him. But she wasn't the only one with Magic. Sora began attack her further off tentacles with Blizzard and Fire, realizing there was no way he could reach them with his keyblade in this turbulent waters. When the tentacles fell into the waters, unable to take any more damage, Riku used them as a bridge way to make it over to Sora on the raft.
"You dare toy with me? You insignificant fools!" Ursula roared at them, rising the raft from the ocean with two of her tentacles up towards her face. Grabbing at them as they dodged out of the way and attacked her face. "Errr!"
"!" "!" Both of them jumping out of the way as she shot a 'laser?' from her mouth, sweep out the 180 mid-front of her. But it must have taken a lot out of her. Once she was done she had to take a breather, leaving herself wide open. And they took that opportunity.
"Time for my revenge!" She barked at them, shouting down Lightning onto the raft. But Sora got a good whack, knocking her back. "Ah!"
She was getting frustrated, and from the look of things, she was getting tired too.
"To the depths with you!" She shout out Watera spell attacks at them, laughing as they were forced to Block as Dodging was not possible with the spell locked on to them. She was desperate as she kept shooting spells out, not letting them get close. They were going to have to end this from a distance.
"Fire!" Sora shot out a Fire spell, knocking her down for the count as he jumped back from one of her falling Thunders.
"Ugh!" She groaned as the Fire hit the mark, dropping the raft as she faded away.
"Huh?" Sora and Riku both said at the same time as she faded away leaving nothing behind except the storm...and the whirlpool. "Ahh!"
Down into the whirlpool they went. Holding on to the raft for dear life as they dived down at wind breaking speed. Crashing as they reached the bottom. Their raft washed off as the dark waters pulled them in. Air bubbles surrounding them as they sunk deeper, and deeper.
Was this how it would end? Before their test even begun?
No.
A light shined through the darkness. A Keyhole revealing itself as their Keyblades summoned themselves to open the door for them, saving their wielders from the depths of the ocean. Unknowingly taking both keyblade wielders onto different paths.
"Riku…?"
Riku had woken, coughing out a lung full of water and somehow already with a Meow Wow Recipe in his Inventory. Inside he was going "Yes!" cause he wanted a Meow Wow of his own the moment Master Yen Sid showed it to them. It looked like a dog, but could it be a cat? It didn't matter, Riku wanted one and he now has a means to create one of his own. However, that was the lease of his concerns at the moment cause he was falling. No, wait, more like diving.
Could this be the lanes to the Sleeping Worlds that Master Yen Sid had talked about? When he said they would need to dive into the Sleeping Worlds, Riku did not think that he meant that literally. But now he needed to focus, he was falling downward towards a distant light with obstacles in his path. It's time to go into Dive Mode.
He whacked his way through Nightmare bats, catching stars along the way down. The Sleeping World coming closer as houses and billboards colorfully aligned his fall down. Until finally he felt as he passed a barrier, cheering to himself as he fell into the Sleeping World.
"Huh?" And like waking up from a falling dream he shot up from where he laid on the ground with a shock. Standing up from where he was laying like he had been there the whole time. He looked around realizing that this place looked familiar to him. "Am I in... Traverse Town?"
He looked around, seeing that the place was indeed like the Traverse Town he remembers. Riku checked himself over, making sure nothing was damaged during the fall down to this world, only to realize that he was wearing the same type of clothes that he use to wear when he was a younger.
"My clothes have changed." It wasn't too snug and it wasn't too loose, it fit him just right. He wondered if Sora was going through the same fashion deja vu, too. That's when it hit him that Sora was caught up in that storm, too, and he was no where to be seen. Alarmed, he called out to him. "Sora! Where are you?"
He had to stay calm, there was no use panicking. If he had made it out of there alive, then Sora must have made it out too. Perhaps they had just gotten separated in the current and he landed somewhere else. For now, he will just have to look for Sora while he collects his thoughts.
"I remember we fell overboard after Ursula attacked...and then I think we opened a Keyhole." Riku recollected as he walked over to the fountain he remembered seeing in the Third District of Travese Town. "So...this must be one of the Sleeping Worlds. My Keyblade- it just sort of...popped into my hand when I needed it most."
Riku rose up his hand as he looked down at it. He couldn't believe that his Keyblade had saved him. As if it deemed him worthy of saving. But was he worthy of wielding it...? Hmph, it was too soon to find out the answer. The test has only just begun.
"Right. It's started."
"Wow! Where's your Portal?"
"Huh?!" Riku looked up in alarm at the presence that practically snuck up on him. Revealing the new face to be a boy sitting on the arch wall above the fountain.
"It takes something special to jump between grounds without one." The boy continued, quite impressed.
"Who are you?" Riku never recalled ever bumping into this guy before in Traverse Town. And something about him was setting his Senses off. There wasn't anything out of the ordinary about him, just a guy in a plain white button-up t-shirt, blue jeans, and white tennis shoes. But something didn't feel right. Whether it be his sad, yet sharp brown eyes or his indifferent composure, Riku felt something was off with this guy.
"My name is Joshua." Introduced the boy as he brush some stray soft curls of blonde hair out of his face. Riku rather pleased that Joshua wasn't going to as cryptic as most of his first encounters in new places tended to go, he rather not go in circles today when his friend is missing.
"What do you mean, "Portal"?"
"Are we just skipping past the part where you tell me your name?"
"..." Joshua was right about his lack of manners, but his friend was missing and he was in new-yet-familiar place with no clues to go on, his people skills were not at his best right now. "Riku."
"(Chuckle) Hello there, Riku." Joshua laughed at his straight to the point attitude. It reminded him of someone else he knew. But...Riku had just asked him a question, and he was obliged to answer. "Portals are like gateways that link up our worlds. Apparently, the world you and I are standing in right now- well, there are two copies of it. It's been sort of split in half. Portals are what let folks like us cross between them."
"There can be two of a world?"
"The world is as many things as people need it to be. The concept that we all live in the same world- that's just in our heads. Surely you knew?"
"..." What was he implying?
"I'll tell you what, Riku. I've got a little errand for you."
"Sorry. I don't trust you." Riku declined his oncoming request, ready to head out on his own and find Sora.
"(Chuckle) Aw, at least hear me out!" He playful teased before getting to the point as continued to walk away. "I'm looking for a girl named Rhyme. She's the key to the Portal. And on the other side, who knows who we'll find? Maybe even your friend...Sora."
"(Gasp)?!" That got Riku to stop and turn around. "You know Sora?"
Joshua couldn't help but laugh a little at Riku's reaction, it was just too predictable.
"Now I have your attention." Getting up from his seat, Joshua jumped down to join Riku. "But, unfortunately, I don't know where he is. If he's not in this version of the world, I can only assume he has to be in the other one. Simple logic."
Riku did have to wrap his brain around it for long, all the pieces were starting to make sense.
"Okay, you wanna find Rhyme? You got it. Let's go." Riku decided to tag along with Joshua for a while, both of them were looking for someone. And they would have better luck finding them together than working apart.
Traverse Town
But before heading out, Riku would need to prep himself for whatever this Sleeping World had to throw at him. For now it looked like his items were okay. His Magic was still fine, though he was starting at the beginning level again as Master Yen Sid had asked them to start over again.
But now he would need a Spirit companion to help him fight off the Nightmares in the Sleeping Worlds. But that would have to wait for later, Nightmares had already made their appearance, and he had no time to create any companion Spirits. He would have to fight this match on his own. Luckily, he was listening to the calls of this world and got the concept of Flowmotion Combat, making the Nightmares slightly easier to handle with Way to the Dawn alone. The Nightmares tended to go after Riku, leaving Joshua be.
When the fight was over they had dropped Dream Pieces, items he could use them to create Spirits of his own. For now he could only find treasure chest in this area. They would have to look in another District if they wanted to find their friends. So they moved on to the next area.
"Joshua, why don't they ever attack you?" Riku had to ask, it was almost like he was invisible to them.
""They" being Dream Eaters? They won't go after you unless you're a dreamer." Joshua explained as he lead the way. "Which is funny, because I've got plenty of dreams."
"..." Perhaps he wasn't "Asleep." But...that would lead to new questions. "But they're definitely attacking me... So...you think I'm a dreamer?"
"Every human being is a dreamer." Joshua replied, stopping along with Riku. "I had a friend once who said he never dreamed of anything, but it turned out that his were the most powerful dreams of all. You sort of remind me of him. Why don't we give your dreams shape?"
"?"
"In this world, they take form as Dream Eaters, which can become great allies." Joshua had handed him a Komory Bat Recipe to start him with a means of create a Spirit ally of his own.
Riku took a second to create his own Komory Bat with the recipe, along with a Meow Wow Spirit like he had wanted from the start. Both of them had a special place in his heart: Komory Bat for being his first Spirit, and Meow Wow for just being so loveable. He had only just created them a few moments ago, but already a bond had been formed. He loved these Spirits and would give them all the pets they could ever want; he was already proving his point petting his Meow Wow's tummy as it rolled around for more and scratched behind his Komory Bat's ears as it cuddled to his face.
"Oh no, I already love them."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"I gotchu now, Joshua!" Shouted the new arrival that ran towards them from the upper pathway.
"Hm?" Joshua didn't seem too alarmed, as if he knew the guy. They guy stuck his foot up on the railway, ready to jump down. He was a rather bulky guy, wearing a white jersey, baggy tan shorts with black and red boots and a gaudy black skull chain around his neck. His short, spikey blond hair remained mostly hidden behind his black skull beanie. He seemed to be directing a lot of anger towards Joshua.
"Once I take you down, yo, me and Rhyme is goin' back where we belong!"
"Beat. How many times do we have to go over this?" Joshua was practically groaning. "You've been tricked- by that rogue in the black coat."
"What? Black coats?" Riku couldn't believe what he was hearing. Was the Organization XIII here? But that was- that's impossible. "But that's..."
"I'm telling you you've made a friend of our enemy." Joshua insisted to Beat, but it only frustrated the guy more.
"Just can it, aight? Your inverse psychiatry ain't gonna work!" Beat was done talking. "Let's go, Dream Eaters!"
"What?" Riku didn't understand why Beat was sending his Kooma Panda after him and his Spirits. He was just a bystander in all of this.
"Grrr. Man, not cool!" Beat huffed at Joshua as if it was Joshua's fault that his Dream Eater went after the wrong guy. Joshua couldn't help but quietly laugh about it.
This whole situation was a drag. But at least this would give Riku a chance to practice linking with his Spirits. The whole experience was a bit surreal, but he was starting to get the hang of it.
"Ahh," Beat groaned in defeat and frustration as he sat down on the railing wall. "You know what? Forget it. This is stale, yo."
"Playing the tough guy 24/7? I'd be worn out too." Joshua teased, walking over to Beat as he tried to cheer him up. Riku stayed where he was below but approached a little closer.
"I just...wanna protect the one person who matters." Beat admitted, earning a small smile from Joshua at his honesty.
"I know the feeling." Riku could empathize. The thought alone sent flashes of the many but few people who mattered the most to him. Then suddenly he was hit with a wave of exhaustion, making him wobbly on his feet. "Why am I suddenly...so sleepy?"
Then he was down for the count.
"Riku…"
"Nmm, huh?" Riku woke up from his spot on the street where he fell, looking around to the realization that he was alone. "What happened? Did I fall asleep?"
Slowly he got up on his feet again, steadying his pace as he righted himself.
"Where are Joshua and Beat?" Did they really just leave him there. No, that doesn't seem like the kind of thing they would do. Something was up.
"Hey, do you mind?" Called out a strange girl along the upper path. She wore a yellow skirt with a midriff, sleeveless yellow jacket with pink midriff top under it. Brown boats and a brown belt that sashed down to one side with her packs. Red hair shooting down from her striped beanie like a fountain as she held on to a black cat plushie. She was an odd one, Riku would give her that, and she was being chased by a pack of Nightmares.
"!" It looked like she was in trouble. Riku was about to run up the stairway after them, when a group of Nightmares blocked his path. He had to take care of them first before Flowmotioning his way to catch up with that girl and the Nightmares. "Sorry."
It took a little longer than he'd liked, he even got stopped by a Link Portal- battle portal to the dream of someone by the name of W. of Light? But at least he found some nice treasure chest along the way. But by the time he caught up to her, she was cornered and surrounded. He had to jump over them just to get between her and the Nightmares.
"Stay back." He instructed her as he summoned Way to the Dawn to his hand. She moved out of the way as far as she could, letting him handle this. The pack of Meow Wow Nightmares were no chance to his Thundara and Spark Dive. Once his job was done, he was ready to move on.
"Seriously, thanks." Said the girl in gratitude as she walked to catch up with him, holding on to her black cat plushie. "I'm Shiki, how 'bout you?"
"Riku." He turned around, properly introducing himself face-to-face.
"Thanks, Riku." She said again, thanking her benefactor with a smile.
"Sure." Riku just nodded, seeing the conversation as done, he turned and walked away much to Shiki's shock.
"Hey! That's it?" She couldn't believe he was just going to walk away from a cute girl like her just like that. "You chat up a girl and then just say, "Sure," and walk off?"
"..." She may have a point. He turned around, realizing that his social skills may not be the best. "I'm bad at this. Sorry. Look, it's not safe here. You should go home."
"If it's dangerous, how can you just leave me here?" She pointed out, playing with her plushie as she brought it in for a hug. "Aren't you my knight in shining armor? Well?"
"Kn-knight?" The wink she threw at him caught him off guard. He was not use to flirty banter, especially directed at him. "You've got the wrong idea."
"Omigosh, I was so just kidding." Shiki silently groaned out, surprised that he couldn't take a joke. "You get out much?"
"(Gasp), uh...?!" He grew silent and crossed his arms. He couldn't really say that she was wrong.
"You remind of this guy I know." Shiki commented, hugging her plushie a little more before turning to full face Riku. "Well, good thing we met."
"Yeah, great." Riku barely held back the groan as he turned back around again, not appreciating being teased at. However, she did bring up some good points. It was dangerous place, and it would be bad to just leave her alone out here. The town wasn't too big, and they were going in the same direction, it wouldn't be too much trouble for her to tag along as he went on his way.
The street they took was practically a linear path, however, it took Riku to districts he's never been to before in Traverse Town. It was fun riding the rails, running along light lines, and jumping over structures. The Flowmotion along the new terrain was like a magical par core. And the treasures he found will definitely come in handy later, especially the Blizzard Strike, just making it through the Nightmares was a little bit of a hassle.
But just when they made their way to what looked like a coliseum, Riku dropped for the count as Sleep took over him.
"Riku."
"Huh? Again?" Riku shook the sleepiness out of his head as he got on his feet again. His Meow Wow and Komory Bat were cuddling up to him to make sure he was okay. "It's alright."
He pet them, assuring them he was fine. They had to keep going. He didn't have time to question why his time awake was dropping like a gauge.
Moving on to the next district, they came upon a small Bridgeway leading to a building called Flower & Plant.
"Over there!" Shiki ran on ahead. Ignoring the bridge as she ran through the water/pool to take steps to go around the building.
"Hey! We should stick together!" Riku pointed out, only for her to cry out immediately after turning the corner. "Perfect."
He was annoyed, admittingly, but he still rushed over to her.
"You can't expect me to-" He was expecting to see Shiki in distress as he turned the corner; not the guy in a black coat with her plushie on the ground in front of him. "Shiki! No way..."
"..." The man in the black coat just stepped on the plushie and callously kicked it out his way. As if it was not something cherished by another person. "How did you get here?"
"Who are you?" The Plushie hit Riku in the chest and fell to his feet, the man was ignoring his question.
"By choice or chance?" He slowly walked towards Riku, making Riku back away in caution. "You cannot control what you're not aware of. This wakeless sleep will be your prison...to wander forever."
"What do you mean?" Riku was backed to the edge of the pool, a hand gripping at his heart as something felt heavy inside.
"Riku, don'chu listen to that punk!" Called out Beat, snapping Riku out of it. Riku turned to see Beat back over at the bridge, along with Shiki- absent of her cat plushie. "Shiki's gonna be fine! She told me whassup. Hoodie here set this whole thing up, yo."
"..." Shiki kept looking down, unable to make eye contact with Riku. She looked sad- almost as if she felt guilty.
"He promised to send Shiki back to our world, and you was the cost of travel." Beat explained before addressing the guy in a black coat. "Yo, this is seriously one half baked excuse for a mission. Betchu ain't even a Reaper."
"..." The man said nothing, taking his time as he slowly pulled his hood down. Revealing a tan young man with platinum hair and golden eyes, reminding Riku of a younger version of Xemnas.
"All right. Who are you?" Riku asked, but he was demanding an answer.
"..." The guy continued to say nothing as he raised his hands to summon a giant Nightmare, Hockomonkey, which fled into the Flower & Plant building, before making a run for it through a Dark Corridor.
"Wait!" But he was already gone, leaving Riku with so many question. "Ah!"
"I'm really sorry, Riku." Shiki apologize, finally coming out from behind Beat, sincerity expressed in her brown eyes. Startled as Riku tossed her back her plushie. "(Gasp)!"
"It's all right." This wasn't over yet. He needed to take care of that Nightmare. "Beat, watch her."
"I gots this, yo!"
With Shiki safe in good hands he ran in to confront the Hockomoney, one of the most colorful Nightmares he's seen so far. If he had to describe it, it looked like the top half of a colorful chimpanzee in a flamingo dancer's blouse with floating hands. It kept floating in the air, shooting Firaga at him.
If this thing wanted to play with fire, Riku will shot fire right back at it.
"Got 'cha!" Riku smirked as his Dark Firaga turned out to be stronger than the Hockomonkey's fire, knocking it out cold for a bit in the air as it gave Riku and Spirits an opening to get close and strike. He could only attack it in the air for so long before he dropped to the ground, casting Thundara on it as he goes. "Thunder!"
The Thundara knocked the Nightmare out again, but small ones appeared as Riku landed on the ground. His Meow Wow and Komory Bat did a good job keeping them busy as Riku went after the big boss.
"Fire!" Riku casted Dark Firaga again, as he went in for the attack, finishing it off with one final blow.
The Nightmare did not fade away releasing a Heart into the sky like a Heartless; but faded into a blue ball of light that floated into the sky to shoot out like a firework. The sight was not something Riku was expecting to see as he returned to the others. Raining down light strands from the sky as if returning dreams to the world. Only to reveal mirages of Sora and Joshua and two other people Riku hasn't seen before.
"Hey, what is this?" Shiki asked aloud what the other two were thinking.
"What are we...seeing?" Riku asked the same thing, too, as he looked around Sora. Realizing that he could see Sora, but it didn't seem like Sora could see him. He was going to try touching him when Beat startled him out of his train of thought.
"This is so messed up, man!" Beat knelled down, wiping away his incoming tears as he looked at the little girl in the large orange shirt and white skirt, wearing a black skull beanie similar to his. She even kind of looked like him. "She's right here in front of me and...I can't reach her!"
"..." No matter how many times he grabbed for her, Beats hand would only pass through her. Riku felt bad for him, realizing that they were all in a similar boats. But...they're situation wasn't hopeless. "If your hearts are connected, you'll reach her."
"..." He calmed down, realizing that Riku was right. "Rhyme..."
"Neku…" Shiki called out to the boy with spiky blonde and a blue, high collar, sleeveless t-shirt.
"(Sigh) Sora..." Looks like Sora was going to leave him to do all of the work again. That's just like him. 'Whatever. We'll met up later when you catch up with me, Sora. Don't be too lazy and keep me waiting. I might just end up passing this test long before you.'
Riku teased to Sora through their bond, unleashing the Skull Noise Keyblade from within him. It had a good balanced boost in Strength and Magic, maybe it could help along the way through the Sleeping Worlds.
Suddenly everyone was gone. All that were left were Sora, Riku, and Joshua.
"In their world," Joshua finally spoke, startling Sora and Riku as they turned to him, "something happened that brought their existence to an end. To keep them from fading altogether, I gathered up the very last remnants of their dreams and looked for a place to give them refuge.
"It was then this world appeared to answer my call, and Rhyme's dreams allowed us to reach it." Joshua started confessing all to the railed off edge of the pool as he continued to explain. "Here, I thought they might have a chance- that the pieces of their dreams could make them whole again. Imagine my surprise when I realized dreams take bodily form in this world."
"..." Riku watched as Joshua walked around, gathering his thoughts on the matter that Joshua was telling him- no, them.
"It struck me- by linking their dream pieces back together, maybe I could make them exist again. Maybe I could give them another chance."
"It can't be that simple."
"Well, why can't it?" Joshua shot back at Riku, actually stopping in his tracks to turn and look back at them. "By ourselves, we're no one. It's when other people look at us and see someone- that's the moment we each start to exist. All they needed was for someone to see them, connect with them. And the two of you were a big part of making it happen."
"?!" Sora and Riku looked back at each, not really understanding how their presence could make such a huge impact on people to re-establish their existence. It made them have the same question at the same time as they looked back at him. "Joshua, just...who are you?"
"Heh. Let's say...a friend." Joshua couldn't help but smile. Wings of pure wing appeared from his back, making them both gasp. A blue light shined from Joshua's heart as he flew off into the sky like an angel.
Leaving nothing behind as the Sleeping World's Keyhole revealed to them. Riku and Sora nodded to each other, knowing what to do. Summoning their Keyblades together as they unlocked the Keyhole, awakening the Sleeping World.
Riku felt a wave of power come over him with the unlocking of the Keyhole. But with it, a fall in wakeness, too. Before Riku knew it, he was dropping into sleep.
"Riku? Hello? Helllooo. Are you there?"
"(Gasp)?!" Riku shot up from his spot of the floor, looking up at Aeris as she bent down looking over him. How did he get in their dreamworld. "Mom?"
"Hurray! You finally came through." Aeris smiled in relief. "You had me so worried when you just kept popping in-and-out unconsciously floating like you were sinking into something deeper."
"I was...floating?" Riku was trying to put his thoughts together, shaking his head into focus as he got up on his feet. Aeris giving him a little space as he did so, still slightly tilting to look up at him. "Wait...what are you doing here, Mom?"
"I'm dreaming." She answered as if it were obvious. "It's nighttime where I'm at."
"But, how can you be here now?"
"What are you talking about, Riku? Radiant Garden and Destiny Islands run around the same timeframe. Wait, are you not on Destiny Islands?"
"Nope. I'm being tested by Master Yen Sid for the mark of a Keyblade master."
"(Gasp)!" Aeris held her hands over her mouth, practically squealing behind her lips before she calmed down to energetically silent clap. "Congratulations Riku! I'm so proud of you."
"Don't get your hopes up yet, Mom. I haven't passed the test yet."
"Oh but you will, I know you will, Riku. You just have to believe in yourself." Aeris insisted in encouragement. "And don't worry yourself so much. If there's still something you don't understand, just come and ask me, and I'll do the best I can to answer it."
"Right... Okay, I got it. Thanks." Riku lightly grinned, gaining more confidence.
"Good." Aeris chirped in cheer before addressing the elephant in the room. "More importantly, Riku, what happened to your hair?!"
"What?"
"You're beautiful long locks chopped down from their former glory!" Aeris groaned in grief.
"You don't like my haircut?"
"It's not about liking it, it looks good on you. This is about how good it looked before. You have hair that most people would envy and it took you so long to grow it that long. Why son? Why would you cut it?"
"I just wanted a fresh start."
"Hm?"
"The last time I left Destiny Islands I lead down a path that I spent a long time regretting. But this time- this time I want things to be different. I'm not the same confused kid that left his islands to the darkness those years ago." Riku declared, placing a hand over his heart, hoping that his mother could understand how much this means to him. "I'm different, inside and out. I just...wanted something to help to solidify that."
"I see...a fresh start." Aeris reached out to him, gently brushing a hand on the top of his head. "This is not so bad. Your hair can just grow back with the new you. And besides...it's bringing back some fond memories."
"Not you too Mom." Riku groaned.
"Pardon?"
"Never mind." Suddenly Riku heard a familiar whimper and squeaking in the distance. "Huh?"
Surprised at the sudden presence of another in this dreamworld for him and his family, and also alarmed. In a ball of light Riku's Meow Wow and Komory Bat came pouncing in to his dreamworld, rushing him for some cuddles and pets.
"You?! What are you guys doing here?" Riku was caught off guard, giving them a chance to knock him on the ground with their tackle cuddles. Riku knew that the link between him and his Spirits would buildup as he took them into the fights and pet them, in turn unlocking new abilities in them, but it looks like he's been spoiling them.
"(Gasp) Riku, what are these creatures?" Aeris inhaled in excitement, barely keeping the squeal out of her voice.
"These are my Spirits. Or benevolent Dream Eaters to be precise." Riku explained, grabbing his pouncing Meow Wow and handing it over to his mother. To which it happily rolled about on her lap. "They help protect and guide me through the Sleeping Worlds."
"(Inhale)! Kawaii!" Aeris gushed, scratching under the Meow Wow's chin as it cuddled up to her wagging its bottom. "They're so cute. I've heard of Dream Eaters before but never actually seen one. They're adorable."
"But I don't understand how they got here?"
"They are beings of the Sleeping Worlds, this dreamworld is not so different from their home."
"..."
"But be careful, Riku…"
"?"
"Sleeping Worlds are the dreams of worlds that have fallen into darkness. Forced into slumber until they return to the light. Those that fall too deep into them tend to never wake again."
*** Author's Notes ***
(Meow Wow: I like it, its one of my favorites. It's so damn Cute!
Komory Bat: He's one of my favorites too, spot for #1 is tied, I've always loved bats.)
Sorry, I tried to do the symbol for Key-blade, but all I got was an "X," so I just said "close enough."