"Can you hear me?"
"I knew that was you. Yes, I'm awake."
"I can feel you. You shouldn't be here"
"He's looking for her."
"He shouldn't be."
"I'm looking for you."
"Roxas..."
"Shh. He'll hear you."
The tower was a shadow of its former glory, not that Sora had ever seen it in those days. He thought perhaps it needed a little redecorating. The disorganized books on the shelves had been gathering dust, some of them lay open, littering the assortment of eclectic furniture. Sora was rather disenchanted by the once awe-inspiring tower, proudly protruding into the infinite cosmos, frowning disapprovingly down at anybody who failed to reach the stars.
"...and the terrible darkness will return to devour all worlds once more, as prophecies proclaim." Yen Sid was saying somewhere in the background. Sora stood up straight, remembering himself. "For years I've fraught over the reemergence of one most terrible, fearsome weapon, one that can only exist once pure light clashes with pure darkness."
Pure light.
Sora's eyes wandered back to the night sky behind the old wizard, shimmering brightly in the crescent-shaped window.
"Sora, it is of the utmost importance that you guard your heart, keep the darkness at bay, else there may be severe consequences."
"Why my heart?" What are you not telling me?
"You are unique in that you are one of the Keyblade's chosen ones, but essentially because of the multitude of hearts bound to yours, and..." Yen Sid trailed off as he studied Sora. Unexpected urgency seized an unsuspecting keyblade wielder.
"What is it? Is it about Roxas?" Sora asked eagerly. When Yen Sid still heeded no response, Sora's impatience escalated. He was always kept in the dark until it was too late to matter anymore. What happened to Master Aqua was devastating, and here Yen Sid would repeat all of his actions over again, withholding information and leaving people behind. "What is it, Master? Because if it's about my heart I think I ought to know!"
Goofy placed a large hand on his shoulder, Sora didn't need to look to know the troubled expression he wore. Donald may have scolded him, he had long stopped listening. Sora sucked in his breath, waiting for his reprimand. Yen Sid took a loaded pause, closing his eyes and inhaling deeply through his large nostrils. His face remained as impassive as ever.
"What you ought is not what you need." Said the wizard. Sora hung his head and released his shoulders, feeling a tingling sensation in his muscles as he forced out the tension. What was wrong with him lately?
"Master, I'm sorry, I-" Sora lifted his eyes, terrified of what might fly out of his mouth next.
"Sora, do not misinterpret me. I know you have the capability of a great and powerful keyblade master, but you have to trust the guidance given instead of submitting to your natural recklessness. You must learn to control every impulse and face each new challenge not as a rambunctious child, but as the calm, wise, calculated man I know you can be. Guard your heart. Always look to your light."
His light.
"Sora?" Donald inquired softly after a moment, his black eyes enlarged and brow furrowed.
"Master, I think I can find my light easier with my friends, through my connection to my home, don't you think?"
"I agree. You did excellent work for the people of Mount Olympus, but there are many worlds yet that are destined to meet you." Sora, for once, felt more overwhelmed than enthused. It wasn't the course of action he had been hoping for.
"More worlds!" Sora smiled brightly, convincing himself. "That's fantastic! And then from there?"
"We must pray that Riku and Mickey return from their mission successfully. Until then, the people need you. They should be your one and only priority."
"I understand, but aren't there other keyblade wielders? Don't they also need protection from the Organization?" He could practically feel the exchanged smirk his companions gave each other on the back of his neck.
"Do you," Master Yen Sid cleared his throat loudly, "by chance, mean... the princess?" Yen Sid asked, His tiny pupils narrowed and his pursed lips threatened a smile that somehow made him all the more terrifying.
"Or Riku, or Ax...Lea, or— what princess? I've met lots of princesses!" Sora stammered.
"Kairi is currently in good care, you needn't worry about her. Which reminds me, I was asked to deliver this to you." He pulled a folded piece of ecru paper from his sleeve. Sora knew that stationary.
Sora gingerly accepted the letter and unfolded it as if it could crumble to dust in his hands. Donald and Goofy snickered at his impetuosity, but he paid them no mind. His eyes poured over the words, then after he had checked the other side, he turned it over again and reread more slowly, deliberately.
"Not s'posed to worry," Sora muttered under his breath, "When were you going to tell me about this?" He let it slip, his voice jumping an octave so fast that it took even Sora by surprise. Yen sid smirked.
"I knew you would be the first to bring it up. I've seen your heart, Sora." The ancient wizard's words hung ominously over Sora's head. It was true he must've peered into his heart while Sora was asleep, but how much could he have seen? How much could anyone have?
"The letter..." Sora studied the piece of paper in his hands again. It was her handwriting, certainly. "She didn't mention where she was."
"That was for her own protection."
"Protection? From me?" He gestured towards his friend, the duck. "From Donald? Is he that problematic?" Donald folded his arms with an indignant 'hmph.'
"She was instructed to keep the details vague. I'd say she gave a little too much away, but Merlin deemed it safe enough to deliver it to me nonetheless." Of course, he would make this unbearable.
"I'd like to see her," Sora admitted, humbled.
"Obviously." Donald quacked. Sora blushed, but by that point he had moved passed embarrassment. Master Yen Sid closed his eyes and folded his hands.
"I had assumed as much. Unfortunately, I cannot allow that." Sora carried the weight of the worlds on his shoulders, but he managed to float around weightless most days. Times like these made him feel too heavy to stand.
"Why not?" Sora wasn't too proud to make a plea, but the wizard was an immovable mountain of a man.
"Because she is safe. Leave her be. You would only lead enemies to their doorstep. And besides all that, you are needed elsewhere. Remember your duty to the worlds."
Before Sora could get another word in, there was a sharp knock on the door. Without waiting for a response, his majesty himself strolled in with a look of triumph on his naturally jubilant face, followed by Sora's effortlessly cool and collected best friend. Riku and the king wore the exact same outfit, save for their color scheme, which Sora was sure to tease Riku over later.
"Your Majesty!" Quacked Donald, as he and Goofy tossed Sora back and forth between them to get to their king. Donald rushed over and enveloped Mickey and Goofy followed suit, picking up the small duo. "We're so glad you made it back safe!" The master rose from his throne, looking twice as threatening towering over everyone, even Riku.
"ha-Ha! We haven't left yet," said the king.
"Oh." Said Donald. Goofy dropped the mouse and the duck with a thud.
"Where did you guys come from?" Asked Sora, smiling despite himself. It was always good to see Riku.
"We just..." Riku started, "um, well,"
"Surely you know by now about Kairi and Lea. We just finished up dropping them off."
"Uh..." Sora looked back at the letter in his hand then to Yen Sid. "How did you-"
"As explained by Kairi, time moves very differently in Merlin's chamber than in the real world. It is an inspired invention, truly. Some of the best magic I've seen in centuries." Yen Sid commended.
"Speaking of inventions." Mickey chimed brightly "Sora, I have a gift for you on behalf of the citizens of Disney Town and the Radiant Garden Restoration Committee." Mickey reached into his back pocket and presented to him a small, handheld object.
"It's a phone! Can you believe it?" Said Riku. The device appeared to be a tiny computer without a keypad encased in a golden crown. Sora pressed the only button, a symbol of his majesty's, and the thing came to life.
"Whoa..." Sora, Donald, and Goofy expressed in awe. Sora was entranced by it, his inquisitive disposition taking over immediately as he randomly pressed the tiny computer screen buttons leading him to thrilling new places. "This is amazing!"
"Easy there. You're going to lock yourself out, or find some auto-destruct button, or something." Riku observed. Sora never did have a knack for technology. Being an islander, he simply never had much need for the knowledge. Perhaps if he had stayed in school he would have learned a little more about basic electronics, but this kinda stuff was next level to Sora. And of course, Riku was already an expert, at least in comparison.
"And you can call anyone on it!" Mickey cheered.
"Anyone?" Sora asked, looking to his best friend for confirmation.
"Anyone in this dimension," Riku admitted. Neither the dark realm nor the time bubble Kairi was in could be considered 'this dimension.'
"Well, my sincerest thanks, King Mickey. To you and to all of the residents of your realm." Sora bowed, proud of his formality. Mickey only chuckled.
"Aww, anytime Sora. You're going to need it. You can also receive messages, which we will utilize to send important information to you throughout your journey. Have it with you at all times!"
"I will." Sora took a militant stance and nodded, signaling his loyalty to Mickey.
"You're probably going to be getting quite a few calls from Ienzo." added Riku, "He's analyzing old data from before the original Ansem reports. We think there might be a connection between them and the organization's current plan."
"What do they want with that? They have their plan, and it involves us, not the heart of all worlds or the pure lights," said Sora, worry betraying his tone. "I don't see what any old data could have that would be any more useful than what they already know."
"We have reason to believe there is more to it than that," Riku said, steadily meeting Sora's eyes, acknowledging what they both feared, and whom they feared most for. "It may have something to do with the creation of nobodies. We're still not sure. But whatever they're looking for, Ienzo says its vitally important to them." Sora turned back to Yen Sid, placing his hands on the edge of the wizard's desk.
"Master, what about Roxas? I promised I'd release him. He deserves to be his own person." Sora inquired earnestly. The Master took another long, exhausted sigh.
"Sora, I'm afraid we cannot risk opening your heart, considering the incident with Xehanort." Yen Sid stated, not unkindly, but not in a tone that rendered any argument.
"So- what? So.. Roxas is just, trapped? Imprisoned inside me? Forever?"
"I did not say forever. For the time being, at least, yes." Sora was too frustrated to speak.
"Remember the stakes, Sora." Riku spoke up from behind him. He wrapped an arm around Sora's shoulders and rattled him slightly, willing him to his usual persona. "When all this is over, we'll find a way to save Roxas. And... think about it for a second; the organization likely has their sights set on him as well." Sora considered this.
"Yea, you're right." Sora conceded as he had a thousand times before. He could throw himself on the altar for what he believed in, impale his own heart without a second opinion, but he could never do anything that would ultimately cause more harm than good for the people he loved. There were too many risks and sacrifices for one person's personal freedom. Roxas actually understood that. Sora, too, was finally starting to get it through his head.