Hey everyone,
So this chapter is going to be, yet again, a lot of fun. I will probably find a few points where I can add stuff and I definitely intend to use Riku's self-hatred over his younger self to improve the bond he currently has with Sora as well as elaborate on both the whole KH universe versus Walt Disney's creations as well the whole video game aspect.
Like I said, fun,

Venquine1990
WARNING! KH-chapters are LOOOOOOOOOONG!


Chapter 37
The Island And The Castle

30th of January 1996
Destiny's Haven
Sora's POV

"So, what can we expect for this part?" Dad asks, his face showing he is really hoping to hear some good news and Jess says: "Well, it will definitely be fun to see the game extras mixed with this movie." At which I nod before I say: "Also, I have some good news. Kairi, Riku and I worked on a raft to leave the islands and visit other worlds for two days, so I'm sure that's what we'll be seeing next." This makes the man sigh, yet then Riku says:
"However, in the end, we didn't need the raft to leave the islands. Though it would have been better if we could have." At this I nod as I think: "Yeah, at least then we could have been together, instead of constantly looking for each other." Yet I don't voice this and instead Jessica asks: "You didn't leave peacefully, did you?"
We shake our heads and dad sighs as he says: "Well, at least I'll get some time to prepare. Let's see this movie show me how my little boy grew into a man. Show me what happens next." And while this is actually showing things I've already lived through, do I still feel a sense of excitement grow within my heart as I turn back to the large screen, which starts working again as it halted after showing the bright island sun and sky.

The camera turns from that to my face, me opening my eyes slowly and sitting up. And as I do, does the camera actually move with me, going from looking up at the sky to the clear blue ocean and the sandy beach. I yawn and fall back, only for the camera to show a red haired girl with dark blue eyes above my head.
"Wait, is that the Kairi girl you mentioned?" Jessica asks and when we confirm this, does she tilt her head and say: "She's pretty." Making us laugh and Riku says: "You're telling me. She's also one of the reasons I didn't persue Sora from the minute I realized I was falling for him. I thought he had a crush on her."
My sister looks at me shocked and I say: "I'm pretty sure evidence as to why Riku thought that will be shown in this part." At which the girl nods and we watch as I get back up in shock and turn to look at Kairi, the girl laughing as I say: "Give me a break, Kairi.""Sora, you lazy bum. I knew that I'd find you snoozing down here."

"If only she knew what you had actually gone through." Riku mutters and I grab his hand as well as dad's, the man grimacing in concern as he remembers the huge Heartless we just watched me face. I then start to defend myself and say: "No, this huge, black THING swallowed me up! I couldn't breathe, I couldn't –!"
Yet Kairi proves she doesn't believe me by hitting me upside the head and asking: "Are you still dreaming?" To which I answer: "It wasn't a dream! Or was it? I don't know. What was that place? So bizarre." And as I ask this question, does the camera, for some reason, focus on the beach and panning out to the ocean.

It then focuses back on me as Kairi says: "Yeah, sure." Before walking past me and over to the ocean as I ask: "Say Kairi, what was your hometown like? You know, where you grew up?""Wait, she's not from the islands?" Jessica asks and I answer: "No, though we didn't find her true home until the end of our first journey."
"So I guess she's living there now?" Dad asks, but Riku shakes his head and says: "She stayed with us. She thinks we're useless without her, though she does visit it from time to time." This seems to confuse my family and I say: "Just watch, Kairi herself will explain why shortly." And we turn back to the video.

"I've told you before. I don't remember.""She had amnesia? That had to be horrible." Jessica mutters, looking really sorry for our best friend and I smile at her as I say: "Yeah, and I managed to beat the one responsible at the end of all this. Or at least at the end of this adventure. Long story, another video. It also helped her remember a few things, but she admitted only half a year ago that the memories of that time were still hazy." At this Jess nods.
"Nothing at all?" As I ask this does the camera focus on the lower part of Kairi's face, showing her lips turn downwards before she cheerfully says: "Nothing." This makes me wince as I never knew that I had actually slightly hurt her by pushing on like that. "I'll make it up to her, somehow." I think to myself as I watch on.
"You ever want to go back?" At this the girl hums and answers: "Well, I'm happy here.""Really?" I ask and Jess asks: "Ehm, why do you sound as if you don't believe her?" To which I answer: "Because the raft was her idea. I knew how badly she wanted to get it finished, so I figured she wasn't as happy as she claimed."

At this my younger sister nods, dad smiling at me and muttering: "You know your friends so well. I love it." As we look at how the camera focuses on how a wave almost hits Kairi's white shoes with purple toes before it focuses up to her face as she wistfully says: "But you know, I wouldn't mind going to see it." The camera then turns to look at me from the point of Kairi's side, which looks kind of weird as I say:
"I'd like to see it too." The camera then focuses solely on me as I say: "Along with any other worlds out there. I want to see 'em all.""Did you?" Jessica asks and I look up as I say: "Well, I sure visited more worlds than I ever thought I would but – I'm still not sure I visited all of them." Making my sister turn back, looking intrigued.

"So what are we waiting for?" Yet this is the point I have been waiting for and I happily give Riku's hand a warm squeeze as his voice sounds from the screen and then focuses on him. And to my sheer delight does it go from his hips up to his face, allowing us a perfect view of his amazing physique and looks as he asks:
"Hey, aren't you guys forgetting about me? So, I guess I'm the only one working on the raft." And he walks over, actually throwing a large log my way, which makes me fall over in my need to catch it before he puts his hands in his hips and says: "And you're just as lazy as he is." At this my Riku snickers and says:
"That is one thing that never changed. If I didn't give either of you a good talking to or motivation, neither of you would have ever gotten anything done. You would just find excuses to slack off and do whatever you wanted." At which I think: "I can think of something I'd rather do than watch this video right now."
But while I work hard not to let my thoughts be shown on my face, do we all laugh as Kairi says: "So you noticed. Okay, we'll finish it together. I'll race you!" Yet while she says this, does Riku sit himself down next to me as I ask: "Huh?" And Riku asks: "What? Are you kidding?" And the girl playfully says:

"Ready? Go!" And while we had both been siting down, do we then both jump up and start to run, Riku keeping up with me pretty darn well, even if I catch up to him several times and while he looks at me as we run, do I just look ahead and Kairi laughs and giggles as she runs a few miles behind us, obviously slacking off.
The camera moves alongside us, first showing us jumping up and running, then turning to a point where we run at it, then at Riku and then at me before focusing on the giggling Kairi. It then goes up to a point where it looks down on us from behind, yet passes us and goes back to showing the ocean as well as the side Island. And to my great intrigue does a huge logo of the island, with palm trees and the name of the world, show on the screen too.
"Hey, that's more game stuff. It's to help the future players understand which world they're in. That's pretty cool." Jess squeals as the camera focuses on the front part of the Play Island, the waterfall in the middle, the cave that has a staircase inside as well as a small storage room, the wooden bridge that connects the Play Island to the one where we always watch the sunsets and the door that leads to the other side of the island, where Kairi and I are at.

"Wait, where are you, Riku?" Jessica asks and Riku answers: "We agreed to split certain tasks. Sora would gather supplies, I would train so I could protect them in case something went wrong and Kairi would look around for potential valuebles and hold onto the stuff Sora had collected. I was on the small Side Island at the time."
Jessica nods and I say: "I'm pretty sure this is also where you guys get to meet the real Wakka, Selphie and Tidus." Which intrigues dad and Jess mutters: "I wonder if I'll spot similarities between your friends and mine." Which piques my interest as well as Kairi asks: "So, can you gather the rest of the supplies?" And when I answer positive, she says: "Here's what we need. Two logs, one cloth, one rope. Bring everything back here."
I nod again at her and move away, under the bridge and up onto the main beach where I find my first log. I then move through the door and up the small staircase to the wooden bridge, cross it and find my second log on the side Island while the camera passes Riku who is sitting up on a Paopu fruit tree that is bend to the side.

I move over to him and he says: "Did you get everything we need for the raft? I gave my stuff to Kairi. Hey Sora, how about a quick round? Grab your sword?" And instantly dad looks at us worried, but I say: "We used wooden swords, don't worry." Calming the man down before I mutter: "We tied back then, remember?"
And Riku nods, yet still smirks in his usual smug way as the video shows him kicking my butt, me constantly making the mistake of checking on him when I manage to knock him onto his back only for him to jump up and slash at me. In the end, he defeats me by knocking me off the island and into the water, making me splutter a bit.

I frown at him as he smirks at me and then I move on, leaving the ocean for the Play Island and moving up a few platforms, both two natural as well as a few that are build into the huge tree that is at the center of the Play Island. I ascend up and climb up several staircases and reach a small, one-sized room at the top.
There I find the cloth I need before I jump down, landing in the bushes and without any injury before I move over to where I had been before in the last part of the video, when I thought I had been dreaming. There I find both the rope lying on the platform as well as Tidus who is constantly swinging his own weapon.

I pass him without really engaging and just move over to where Kairi is still waiting for me, handing her the stuff I gathered. The girl happily takes it and puts it away in the small room behind the door she is in front of before she says: "Thanks Sora! I found something today, too. Here, it's yours." And she hands me a bottle.
"That – looks different." Jessica mutters and I answer: "It's a Hi-Potion. It restores my health a bit better than regular potions.""Your potions sure are a lot more simplistic than ours are." Dad mumbles and we watch as Kairi asks: "Tired? Want to call it a day?" And only then does the video show that the sun is already setting.

The screen then turns black for a second before going back in action. And this time Kairi and I are both on the off-bent tree, while Riku is standing in front of it, all of us watching the sun as it sets. "So, Kairi's home is out there somewhere, right?" I ask and Riku answers: "Could be. We'll never know by staying here."
At this Riku and I share a glance and I say: "I guess we were both getting a bit homesick. Having been send to the Islands instead of being born on them." At this Riku nods and dad says: "You can take the wizard from his home, but you can't take the home from the wizard." At which we all smile at him and he softly says:
"If there is one thing House Potter, your mom's lineage, is famous for, it's that they always stick together. It was their first Family Motto. Numquid familiae Domus. Family Is Home. And yeah, they changed their motto over the centuries, but they always kept believing in it." At which Jess and I share a smile before we watch on.

"But how far could a raft take us?""Not nearly as far as I travelled!" I think, remembering the countless times I boarded Donald and Goofy's Gummi ship and left yet another world for either a new one or, later on, a more familiar one. And while I would love to let my dad and sister see that, do I wait patiently and watch.
"Who knows?" Riku answers before he goes on: "If we have to, we'll think of something else." Kairi then joins in and asks: "So, suppose you get to another world. What would you do there?" And Riku answers: "Well, I – I haven't really thought about it.""I just didn't feel at home anymore, even if I thought it was claustrophobia at the time."
Riku mutters and I nod as I say: "Yeah, same here. Though for me, it was more that the limited amount of things we could do; they were getting boring. It was working on my nerves and I wanted something new, something exciting. Though let me get this straight, I did not mean what we went through when I wanted that."
At this Riku laughs and says: "Sora, none of us wanted what we went through when we started getting the need to leave the Islands. We were pushed and led into it all by others. Though I got to admit, even now, I wouldn't change it for anything." At this I smile and kiss him on the cheek as I mutter: "And neither would I."

And while Jess and dad had gotten worried, do they now smile at us before we watch on. "It's just … I've always wondered why we're here on this island. If there are any other worlds out there, why did we end up on this one?" And as he says this does the camera again move away, focusing on how the setting sun lights up the ocean.
It then focuses on the waves softly flowing from and to the beach as Riku goes on: "And suppose there are other worlds … Then ours is just a little piece of something much greater." It then makes my day again by moving over Riku's great form as he says: "So we could have just as easily ended up somewhere else, right?"
And like Riku does the camera focus on me as I lie down and say: "I don't know.""You know, I didn't want to admit it at the time, but your words? It felt like you had taken them right out of dreams that I had been having on and off, like every blue moon or something. It weirded me out, but I didn't want to weird you guys out, so –."
Here Riku smiles at me and Jess gushes: "Oh, sweet Morgana, can you two be anymore made for each other?" Making me turn red, yet Riku laughs and happily pulls me as close as our two seats allows him too as dad says: "Probably just as much as you and Lea are, dear." And my sister cheerfully nods at him before we turn back to the video.

"Exactly. That's why we need to go out there and find out. Just sitting here won't change a thing. It's the same old stuff. So let's go." Kairi then asks: "You've been thinking a lot lately, haven't you?" And Riku answers: "Thanks to you. If you hadn't come here, I probably would've never thought of any of this. Kairi, thanks."
And while the girl giggles and answers: "You're welcome." Do I look at him and say: "You and I both know that's not true. We were homesick. She was just the one that made us realize how homesick we were." At this Riku nods and says: "Yeah, you're probably right. Still, she was the catalyst that started most of it."
At this I nod as the camera focuses from us to the sky above us and then zooms back in on us as I cross the bridge, the three of us heading to our respective boats to sail back to the Main Island. And here we both turn red as Riku's voice sounds from outside the view and says: "Sora." Me fumbling with what he throws.

"You wanted one, didn't you?" Riku asks as the camera is now above us, going from him to me and showing the item as an orange-yellow colored bit of fruit that is shaped like a star. "A paopu fruit …." I mutter in confusion and Riku walks past me as he says: "If two people share one, their destinies become intertwined.
They'll remain a part of each other's lives no matter what." And as he laughs does he say: "C'mon, I know you want to try it.""What are you talking …." And while he laughs, do I throw the fruit away and run after him. Yet I myself mutter: "What I wouldn't give to share one with you right now." Yet Riku smiles and says:
"You don't need one anymore, Sora. I am never leaving your side again." And I share a passionate kiss with him, having felt awkward at first and even a little guilty that I didn't catch onto his actual meaning at the time, but loving how he doesn't hold it against me and wanting to express my love for him once again.

The camera then shows us both running over the bridge, down the staircase and over to where Kairi is. Yet then it shocks us as it darkens and the new shot shows a gorgeous white castle with lots of towers that have blue pointy roofs and yellow flags waving at their tips. "Wait, this isn't on the Islands anywhere, is it?"
Dad asks, but I instantly get why this is being shown and say: "Huh, I get it. I had my first adventure with two new friends. This part is showing how they began their side of the adventure. How they came to be where I met them." And dad nods, a smile of relief on his face as the camera turns to the inside of the castle. And instantly I start to smile.

This because the camera instantly focuses on one of my two compatriots, a white duck with yellow beak that wears a purple wizard's hat, a purple and black suit and a light blue jacket. And to the shock of my father and sister does the duck pass a group of animated broomsticks that have arms and hands holding buckets of water. "Those are from one of Disney's most famous works. The movie Fantasia which stars Mickey in one short called the Sorcerer's Apprentice."
This shocks Riku and me and Riku asks: "What happened in there?" And I answer: "Mickey was ordered to get water from the well, but to do it without using magic. His teacher, Yen Sid – which is Disney spelled backwards – went to bed, but left his hat, which Mickey then took. He then fell asleep after enchanting the brooms, which kept fetching water over and over.
It became a real mess that Mickey was no longer able to fix and it woke his master up, who with only a few motions undid everything. He then made Mickey take off the hat and forced him to fetch new buckets of water. And the reason it's all so famous is because it's completely without commentary. Every move and motion was accompanied by music, nothing more."
Riku and I share another glance and I know we think the same: "The Sleeping worlds." We nod and I watch as the duck stops in front of a pair of doors that make the camera need to zoom out so far only his head is still visible. Yet while the duck coughs and knocks, does he then make us all laugh as he opens a much smaller doors that is build within the huge set. He enters a huge marble white throne room with large red carpet and says:

"Good morning, your majesty." Shocking my family before the camera focuses on the huge empty room as a whole and then on the throne that is empty and has two statues behind it, one showing off the duck and the other showing a dog like creature that is dressed like a knight. The duck then continues talking and says:
"It's nice to see you this morn …." And when the duck realizes that the throne is empty, does the camera zoom in on this fact as he shouts: "What!" Yet it then moves from the throne itself to a dog that is on four legs coming out from behind it, an envelope with an official looking seal in its mouth and looking around.
The duck takes the envelope and opens it and while I snicker at how the camera shortly focuses on how his eyes move across the paper, does he blink and then start screaming and yelling in a way that shocks my family, but at which I just shake my head, having grown used to his emotional outbursts over the years.

The duck runs out into gorgeous green gardens that have hedges shaped and cut into all kinds of things and over to where the dog that was previously depicted in stone is lying, obviously fast asleep and snoring. "Wake up, Goofy, wake up! This is serious!" Yet at this Jessica giggles and says: "You know, in a way, these roles of theirs make a lot of sense."
We look at her and she says: "Donald, Mickey and Goofy! Three of Walt Disney's first created master pieces, the three animated characters that started his rise to fame. It only makes sense that he picks three people he saw in another world that had such important roles for his own rise to fame. The only difference is that, in my world, the shorts Donald is in don't have him really able to talk. He just constantly quacks nonsense."
At this I snicker again as Donald does sometimes have that problem when he tries to talk while incredibly nervous or agitated and then Jessica asks: "Let me guess, Goofy is always clumsy and has nothing but bad luck?" But I look at her shocked and say: "Well, Donald doesn't always make things easy for him, but – no. In fact, during two of my journeys, he was actually often the voice of reason and the smart one of us."
This intrigues Jessica and yet dad mutters: "I wonder what has him so worried. Was it what started his side of the whole thing?" I nod and say: "I'm kind of glad we get to see this. Donald and Goofy never did elaborate on any of this. They said they had their mission and their orders, but never much else. Not that I ever really cared at the time." And we all turn back to the video, yet laugh as it shows Goofy just continuing his nap.

Yet then Donald gives dad and Jessica quite the shock as he raises his hand up and literraly summons lightning to strike Goofy, causing him to yelp as he wakes up. Yet the dog seems unhurt as he just looks around and says: "Hey there, Donald. G'morning." Yet Donald doesn't let him say anymore as he quickly says:
"We've got a problem, Goofy! But don't tell anyone …." Yet at this Goofy tilts his head a little as he asks: "Queen Minnie?" At which Donald snaps: "Not even the queen." And Goofy goes on to ask: "Daisy?" And Donald shrieks: "No, it's top secret!" But while we're already expecting it by now, dad having trouble holding back on his snickers, do we all burst out laughing as Goofy says: "Ah, g'morning, ladies."
And Donald looks shocked and concerned as he turns around, spotting a mouse with a gorgeous pink and red accented ballgown and golden crown as well as a female duck that has a purple dress on with a smaller crown, the latter of who huffs and puts her hands in her hips, causing for Donald to let out a nervous laugh.

"So Mickey and Minnie are the King and Queen of their respective world?" Jessica asks and I answer: "Not just their world. They're recognized under those titles in other worlds as well. Heck, we barely called Mickey by his name during any of our journeys, but everyone we met seemed to know who we were talking about."
"That sure is a nice way to show that, whether real or imagined, Mickey is considered high of rank. He is considered the unofficial king of the Disney franchise back in our own world too, after all." Jessica says, yet then she laughs and says: "Though in the shorts, Donald always tries to upstage and outdo him – and always fails."
"Not our Donald, he respects Mickey way too much. If anything he always tries to prove his worth to the guy and puts anything to do with Mickey above everything else. I guess that just proves the difference between his real self and the one created by this Walt Disney fellow." I think and then smile as the video focuses back on our island, the sky showing it to be the next day and me jumping out of my boat and onto the dock of the Play Island.

I move over to the waterfalls where Wakka is standing and as I greet him, does he say: "Me and Tidus, we are gonna do a little exploring today. You know, to the secret place at the base of that tree. There's gotta be something there, ya?" And I mutter: "Oh, there was something there, alright. The start of our actual adventure."
And dad grimaces at hearing this before we watch as I move over to where Kairi was before, opening the door and moving through it. On the other side, I find Riku standing on the side, watching out over the waves. I approach him and he asks me: "Hey, Sora. Our raft still needs a name. Let's see … how about Highwind?"
Yet at this, for some reason dad starts to laugh and we all look at him as he says: "Sorry, I just find that so iconic. That was the name the Longbottom line almost got when it became an official House on the Wizengamot. I don't remember why they didn't chose that, but it has been a name that separates the Longbottoms from the other Houses."
Riku looks shocked at this and asks: "So then, right there –?" And dad nods as he says: "You proved yourself a right Longbottom in heart and soul, lad. You just didn't know it." At this I happily cuddle closer and then yelp in delight as suddenly our two chairs change into one couch, allowing me to move closer against his side.

We smile at each other and watch as Riku asks: "What would you call it?" And when I answer: "Marauder." Do Jessica and dad start to shine with pride. "Okay, what now?" Riku asks and dad answers: "That was the name of the group of friends that James and I had. Jamie, Remy, myself and – well, never mind.
At the time, it was the four of us and we were the tightest of friends. Quite amazing that Sora would pick that, seeing he was only an hour hold when he was taken." At this I smile, slightly teary eyed and Riku mutters: "So we both had small signs that proved how much we longed to be back home and showed them without knowing."
At this Jess also tears up as she nods and we watch on, me relieved as it shows Riku muttering: "Hey, how about …." And as if I read his mind, do I ask: "The usual?""Let's do it." At this Kairi shows up and asks: "You guys at it again? All right, I'll be the judge." And the camera pans out, showing our self-made obstacle course. "No wonder you guys are in such good shape. How long have you been using that?"
Jess asks and I mutter: "Since we were eight or so, right?" Riku nods, astounding my sister as Kairi then goes on and says: "The usual rules apply: Take any route you want … First one to tag that tree and make it back here wins." We then take our positions and I say: "If I win, I'm captain. And if you win …." Yet before I can come up with something does he say: "I get to share the paopu with Kairi." Shocking me.

Jess then looks at him and he says: "I know, stupid, but I was trying to convince myself that I wasn't falling for my best friend by trying to help him get the girl I thought he wanted." At which both members of my family shake their heads, both of them smiling at him to prove they just think it cute that he tried this. I myself feel my inner Veela purr at the thoughtfulness of my mate and happily cuddle into his side to prove this.
The video goes on and Riku asks: "Deal? The winner gets to share a paopu with Kairi." At which I mutter: "Wha … wait a minute …." And the girl herself, who seems completely oblivious to it all, happily says: "Okay, on my count." And she counts down before we watch as I beat Riku by a large margin, running much faster.
"Potters, they're are bloody fast little buggers, they are." Dad happily grumbles, proving he is just amused at the fact that Riku is at least three miles behind me, regardless of what he tries and in the movie I happily say: "Now the score is 1 to 1." And Riku smirks as he says: "Man, lighten up. It's just a name, after all."
Making me frown at him, yet here I smirk and say: "It was so much more than a name, Riku. It was me proving my legacy." At which he says: "Whatever." Yet I can tell by looking at him that he is just as happy for me and that him emulating his younger self is just all in good fun. The movie then moves on and shows me going past the obstacle course to the beach on this side.

And there we see the brilliant results of all of our achievements as Kairi is actually standing on a raft made of all the logs Riku and I collected as well as the rope and the cloth that I brought her the other day. "When did you guys make that?" Jessica asks and Riku answers: "Kairi and I did just before Sora arrived. That's why we were on that side." Jess nods as movie-me greets Kairi and she says: "Today we collect provisions for our trip! Let's see. Sora, you're looking for ….
One seagull egg. Three mushrooms. Two coconuts. Three fish. And fill this up with drinking water." And she hands me a small empty bottle. Yet dad and Jessica are looking at me weirdly and I say: "Trust me, those mixed make some really great meals." At which Jess shrugs and says: "Heh, I've heard and made crazier recipes while cooking for the Dursleys. And these are at least made of healthy ingredients, not just fat and gravy."
We then watch as I get the water from a small spring, the coconuts from hitting the palm trees, the seagull eggs from climbing into thinner palm trees and the mushrooms between several patches of greenery. I then move into the ocean and swim while catching one fish before moving onto the other side of the island for the other two.

Yet while this all happens, do I notice how Riku is growing more and more tense and I look at him as he whispers: "It'll happen soon." At which I nod, my inner Veela feeling restless with concern for my mate's unease, knowing he means the point in time where he opened the door to darkness and allowed us to travel to other worlds. And while cuddling closer to offer him comfort and prove him that I'm here for him, do I watch.
Yet then I realize that I only collected two mushrooms and the video shows me actually going into the secret place. This makes dad look at me worriedly, but I shake my head and say: "I didn't leave the islands yet." And he calms down, watching as I pick up the last mushroom before moving over to one of the pictures on the walls.
This picture is obviously carved into the rock by small kids and the camera shows me lying my hand on the carved picture of Kairi's face before, to all of our shock the whole scene changes, showing me and Kairi when we were much younger and actually carving these very pictures. We look at each other and then the vision returns to normal.

"This is one detailed movie." I whisper, yet then something happens that makes me cuddle closer to Riku as we see the me in the movie carving a hand holding a paopu fruit out to Kairi. "It was to signify the promise I made her. Because there had been that meteor shower that night that scared her so much, remember?"
I ask Riku, who nods and says: "I do now. Just wish I had when I saw that. It gave me the completely wrong impression." Making me cuddle even closer, which becomes necessary as in the next shot something happened that I had actually forgotten about. I turn around and spot a man in a long dark brown robe standing there.

"You – you met him?" Riku asks and I whisper: "Sorry, I forgot." At which Riku tenses his grip on me, yet not painfully so as I ask: "Wh-Who's there?" And the robed figure answers: "I've come to see the door to this world." Which confuses me before he says: "This world has been connected." And to this I ask:
"Wh-What are you talking about?" And the man starts to monologue as he says: "Tied to the Darkness … Soon to be completely eclipsed.""I do not like the sound of that." Dad mumbles and Riku mutters: "And it won't get any better anytime soon." His voice filled with a protective rage. Yet in the movie I show both my courage as well as my curiosity as I say:
"Well, whoever you are, stop freaking me out like this. Huh? Wh-Where did you come from?" At which the man answers: "You do not yet know what lies beyond the door." And at this I say: "So, you're from another world!" And the man, his voice and the fact that I now know who I was talking to that day grating on my nerves, starts his monologue once again as he says:

"There is so very much to learn. You understand so little.""Sora understands more than you ever will." Riku snarls, yet while I smile at him in my need to calm him down, does Jessica say: "Wow, you really don't like this guy, do you Riku?" And Riku sighs, his self doubt that I thought he grew past coming back as he says:
"He represents everything bad that happened to me over most of our journeys. Every mistake I made in our first and every hardship I had to overcome to make up for those mistakes in the years after. He just – he kept coming back!" At which I crawl onto his lap, Riku shocked and proving he had forgotten where he was as I say:
"But no more, Riku. He returns no more. We defeated him, you defeated him, in every way that life makes it possible." At this Riku smiles gratefully as he pulls my face up from where I cuddled it into his shirt and presses his lips against mine, conveying his gratitude for me and my love for him. I smile in the kiss and return his emotions with my own, Riku whispering his gratitude against my lips before we watch on.

"Oh yeah? Well, you'll see. I'm gonna get out and learn what's out there!" I tell the cloaked figure, who retorts: "A meaningless effort. One who knows nothing can understand nothing." At which Jessica rolls her eyes and says: "You tell that to Hermione. Then we'll see who knows nothing around here, pall."
Making me smile at her before the camera shows me yet again looking at the door. Yet when I turn back, has the cloaked figure disappeared. "So he went to test us both. But – where you failed, because you were too resilient – I passed." Riku mutters, his head hanging down and I cuddle mine under his, wanting to comfort him. "If it's any consolation, Riku, Potters are known to be Light to Grey families, whereas Longbottoms have a history of being Dark to Grey.
There were a few rare Dark Longbottom Heirs and Lords, but they were usually returned to the Grey, neutral side of our world. And more often than not by either a Neutral Black or Light Potter. And lo and behold what sits in your lap right now." Dad tells my beloved, making me smile at the man before I whisper: "Always, Riku. Always."

And while Riku tightly grabs hold of me in his need to have me close, a small, grateful smile on his face, do we watch as I leave the cave, head for the other side of the island and move to give Kairi all of the provisions I gathered. The girl tells me the same she did the day before and hands me yet another Hi-potion before we again notice the sun starting to set. "I'm guessing this all took place around December-February, right?"
Jess asks and I nod as I say: "Two weeks after my birthday, really.""No wonder the days are so short in this movie." Dad says as the camera then darkens and the next scene shows Kairi and me sitting at the edge of the dock, watching the sun set. "Where are –?" Jessica asks and Riku's face turns dark as I say: "I – he encountered me." Which makes Jessica cringe in guilt for asking and I send her a comforting look before we focus on the movie.
"You know, Riku has changed." Kairi says, yet I ask her: "What do you mean?" And the girl answers: "Well …." Yet she doesn't continue and dad mutters: "I wonder if she was starting to notice what you guys actually felt for each other." And this seems to pull Riku out of his funk as he mutters: "Maybe." Smiling at my dad as he does.

"You okay?" I then ask Kairi in the movie and the girl answers: "Sora, let's take the raft and go … just the two of us!" Shocking Riku entirely out of his funk before dad says: "Or maybe she just believed that both her and you were falling for Sora at the same time and started seeing you as competition to his affections."
Making me look at him as if he's grown an extra head or just declared that he'd rather be a cat Animagus over a dog. The man shrugs and says: "What, it sounds plausible considering what she just said." To which I say: "Yeah, but that's the second time you made a statement before watching the whole scene."
Making him cringe and the movie goes on. "Huh?" I react in shock and the girl giggles as she says: "Just kidding." To which dad rubs the back of his neck as I reply: "What's gotten into you? You're the one that's changed, Kairi." And the girl mumbles: "Maybe. You know, I was a little afraid at first, but now I'm ready.
No matter where I go or what I see, I know I can always come back here. Right?" At this I agree with her and Jessica says: "She really considers that island her home. No wonder she stayed there after her amnesia got healed and she found out where she came from." And I think: "Yeah, the islands wouldn't be the same without her."

But while I know that even this isn't as important to me as having Riku with me, do we watch on as Kairi says: "That's good. Sora, don't ever change." And while this confuses the one in the movie, does this seem to be exactly what Riku needs to feel better again as he happily looks down at me and into my hair he whispers:
"You never did. You got better, stronger and more durable, but you always stayed the same. You always stayed – my Sora." To which I whisper: "Yours and yours alone. I wouldn't be able to be me without you, Riku." Which he rewards me for with a peck to the lips, yet that soft swift touch conveys all his feelings for me. All the love, but also, I notice, all the guilt that he must be feeling over what we will soon be seeing in the movie.

I grab onto his shoulder, wanting to prove that nothing in this movie will make me want to be away from him as we then watch as Kairi stands up and says: "I just can't wait. Once we set sail, it'll be great." And the scene darkens, showing the both of us enjoying each other's company as we watch the sun sink into the ocean. Yet even as this happens, can I not help but think: "The last time I watched that sunset in a long, long time."
The movie, however, doesn't give me time to dwindle or feel sad about this as it returns us to Disney castle, showing the office of King Mickey where we see several shots of the office. And as we do, do new lines appear in each shot, which seem to be parts of the letter Donald got from Pluto back at the throne room.

Donald,
Sorry to rush off without sayin' goodbye, but there's big trouble brewin'.
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. There's someone with a "key" - the key to our survival.
So I need you and Goofy to 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.
P.S. would ya apologize to Minnie for me? Thanks pal

And while the camera showed the king's desk, his wall of books and Pluto in his basket, does it then light up before we hear Daisy ask: "Oh dear! What could this mean?" And we turn from Pluto waking up at the sound of her voice to Minnie and Daisy as the queen says: "It means we'll just have to trust the king." And dad whispers: "Now that is some loyalty."
At which I nod as I think: "That is definitely one thing Mickey easily earns, everyone's loyalty and their respect." Then Goofy says: "Garwsh, I sure hope he's all right." And Donald puts his hand on his chest as he says: "Your Highness. Don't worry. We'll find the king and this "key." Minnie turns to him and says:
"Thank you, both of you." Donald then turns and asks: "Daisy, can you take care of -." But Daisy seems to already know what he wants as she says: "Of course. You be careful now, both of you." Then Minnie says: "Oh, and to chronicle your travels, he will accompany you." Yet while she motions for the desk, is there no one there.

Donald tries to see someone, only for us all to get a shock when we spot a well-dressed cricket jumping up and down the desk. "Well, I've seen everything." Dad mutters as the cricket speaks and says: "Cricket's the name. Jiminy Cricket, at your service." And he actually takes a bow while taking off his top hat.
Yet here Jessica sighs and when we turn to her, does she say: "The movie he's from. It's one of the only sources from which I drew hope when the Dursleys were at their worst." And she looks at the still frame of the cricket with a whistful smile as she says: "No matter how bleak things may seem, you need to keep holding onto your dreams."
This makes all of us smile and we turn to the screen, which turns back to the queen and Daisy as the queen says: "We hope for your safe return. Please help the king." And while Donald takes on an official pose and the camera then pans from Minnie to Daisy, do I guwaff when it shows Goofy standing next to them.
He tries to salute Donald, but the duck grabs his arm and pulls him with him as he says: "You're coming, too!" And while my family laughs at this and Jessica says: "Now that's the Goofy that made Disney world famous." Does the camera move from the office to a long and winding staircase that Donald and Goofy seem to be taking, moving down deeper into the interior, with Jiminy sitting atop of Goofy's metal helmet.

"Garwsh Jiminy, your world disappeared, too?" Goofy asks as they move and the little cricket answers: "It was terrible. We were scattered. And as far as I can see, I'm the only one who made it to this castle." Which really reminds me of what exactly our first journey was all about; getting scattered and finding each other. And while I sigh at this, do I whisper: "And thanks to Lady Destiny, we truly have." Riku smiling at me, as if he knows what I was thinking.
"Goofy?" Donald then asks and Goofy seems to get why as he says: "Oh, right … I gotcha. You mean, while we're in other worlds, we can't let on where we're from. We gotta protect the world border." But Donald retorts: "Order.""Right. World order." And while Goofy gives his signature laugh, does Donald sigh as they move on. "Yeah, that sounds like what I know about it. Like I said, in the shorts, no one can ever understand a word Donald says." Jess laughs.

They then move through a hallway and over to a door as Goofy says: "I guess we'll need new duds when we get there." And as they pass through the door, do they move into a room that makes dad mutter: "Remember what I said about having seen everything. I take it back. What in the name of Merlin is all of that?"
And Jessica and I laugh as we kind of expected this from someone who has never known about machines or technology and I say: "The room where Donald and Goofy store their Gummi ship. We used that to travel between worlds on our journeys." Yet dad doesn't seem to get this either and so Jessica says:
"Don't worry, dad. Just know that it's all one big machine and that Sora seems to have been there and trusts how it works." Dad nods at this and asks: "This isn't the craziest thing I will be seeing this movie, is it?" Which makes me think back to all the worlds I visited that journey and I say: "No dad, not even close.""If I know my Disney movies, there might be a few worlds that look just as crazy as that one room. Can't wait." Jess giggles in excitement.

We then focus on the movie as Donald moves over to a horn that seems connected to another a little further up. And as he speaks, does his voice get heard by two small chipmunks that wear mechanical outfits as he says: "Hello up there? Donald Duck to launch crew! Anytime you're ready!" And one of the chipmunks salutes at this.
The other rushes past him and pulls a lever that causes for a huge gloved pair of huge gloved hands to actually grab both Goofy and Donald by the rear ends and move them over to a large red colored space ship with a blue glass window shaped like a dome around the seating area. "I take it that's that – what did you call it?"
Dad asks and I answer: "The Gummi ship." The man hums and Jess giggles as she says: "That look on Donald's face is also very familiar. Chip and Dale always made life hard for him." We then see Daisy and Queen Minnie walk into the room, looking up at the two. Donald gives them a thumb's up and a wink before, to everyone's shock, we see Pluto actually jumping onto the ship as well, hiding himself who knows where as this isn't shown.

A large set of double doors, shaped like Minnie's head and ears, then opens and while the Gummi ship gets positioned in front of it as its engines start revving and while Donald shouts: "Blast off!" Does a sign then light up in the shape of an arrow pointing downward and does the Gummi ship actually fall into a hole in the floor.
And while dad and Jessica look shocked, do I laugh as I hear my friends scream, Goofy yet again letting out one of his signature noises as he and Donald pop out of their world at the other end, the Gummi ship now floating in the middle of the universe before it turns itself upright and blasts off, disappearing into the distance.

"That – happened!" Dad mutters, looking shocked and I say: "Dad, if you can take one thing from my adventures, it's that it's rarely normal. And most of the time, that's with a good and pleasant reason." And the man sighs, obviously relieved before I mutter: "Though things did have to get bad before they got better a few times." And while I'm sure that Riku is dreading his mistakes, does he still pull me close against his form, comforting me.
And yet I get proven this as the next scene is of me lying in my bed, the whole room dark to prove it's later at night and me looking at a toy ship that has two small puppets made of bags of sand standing at the front. And as I look at that, Kairi's voice is heard again. "I just can't wait. Once we set sail, it'll be great." Before I look up.
"Yeah, and there was another doll at the steering wheel. That was you, Riku. Though I don't get why this movie doesn't show that." I mutter and Riku smiles at me before we see that a huge dark cloud has gone to set itself over the Play Island. I look at it and jump out of my bed as I exclaim: "A storm? Oh no, the raft!"

"Sora, no offense, but that storm looks dangerous. Are you not seeing all those bolts of purple lightning hitting the island? I really don't think you should –" Dad says, but the next shot shows the room completely empty and to my shock, do I hear my adopted mother call: "Sora, dinner's ready! Sora?" Making me wince.
"She didn't know you had left?" Dad asks and I mutter: "My room had a tree next to it that made it easy for me to climb down and just get out. It was something I started doing a lot after I reached my teenage years." The man nods and I whisper: "I – I just realized, I never – said goodbye to her." And I lower my head.
"She – she's not dead, is she?" Jessica asks, but I shake my head and say: "No, she's okay. It's just – I was gone for a really, really long time. I – I never understood how she could be so okay with my return. It was years after I left, but she – she never showed any sign that she had actually missed me or worried for me."
At this dad lies a hand on my shoulder and says: "Maybe she thought you had found out the truth and that you had been gone for so long because you were searching for us.""Yeah, I guess so." I mutter and I smile at the screen, cringing a little when I see the shirt that has a badly drawn face onto it as well as four other circles.

The camera moves again, showing the rest of my now empty room before darkening and resetting itself at Play Island, before moving up to a giant globe of dark black, purple, pink and blue energy swirling through each other as I ask: "What's that?" I then jump onto the dock and look around as I say: "Riku's boat. And Kairi's!"
"You must have all been worried about that raft." Dad says, but Riku shakes his head and says: "I never left the Play Island that night. You're about to see why." And dad looks at him worriedly before he gasps as the movie shows me getting surrounded by the Shadow Heartless once again. Yet then he gets really worried.
Instead of the Keyblade, do I pull out my wooden sword, but when I try to strike at one of them, does my sword just go right through them. The little critter slashes at me and I let out a soft sound of pain before I start to run around, suddenly spotting Riku at the Side Island and using the small roof of the door to reach the bridge.

I run over it and when I reach the Side Island I instantly ask: "Where's Kairi? I thought she was with you!" But instead of answering does Riku say: "The door has opened …." Confusing both my movie self and my father and the boy goes on: "The door has opened, Sora! Now we can go to the outside world!" Yet to this I yell:
"What are you talking about? We've gotta find Kairi!""Kairi's coming with us!" Riku assures me, yet I just look shocked and confused as he says: "Once we step through, we might not be able to come back. We may 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 Darkness!" And with that statement does he reach an arm out to me, looking irrely similar to how he did in the surf during the movie's opening. And the me in the movie seems hesitant instead of in need to help him as he mumbles: "Riku…" Before we all get shocked as dark energy appears below him.
Tendrils of dark energy grab at Riku, wrapping around every part of his body as he just keeps standing there, accepting it yet reaching out, inviting me to join him. And I do rush at him, only to get trapped by the dark energy, trying to reach his outstretched hand in my need to pull him out, but failing to get to him as we get swallowed.
I even get pushed away from my friend before the whole scene turns dark. Yet from the center of the screen a burst of light appears and from this we see my movie self standing on the side island. With the Keyblade in my hand. But without Riku in front of me. A scene that makes me cuddle with Riku, needing to feel his presence near.

Movie me instead focuses in shock on the blade in my hand as the word Keyblade appears on screen several times, the camera panning out to further convey how I am the only one on the Side Island. Yet this only lasts a few seconds before it focuses back on me, new Shadows appearing all around me, yet this time it's different.
I strike at them and with at first three, then later two and then a little while later even only a single strike, do I manage to disperse of them all, small lights appearing around me every so often to prove that I am getting stronger with every set of Heartless that I slay. Or so it seems, yet while I had been moving all over the island, do I then get proven wrong as new Shadows spawn where previously I had taken down everyone that appeared.
I growl at this and make for the strange set of doors that had appeared in front of the Secret place. And this makes dad grimace as he says: "I guess your adventure is about to begin, huh?" At which I say: "Yeah, one more meeting with Kairi and then I'll be facing my next boss battle as I've grown to call them over the years."

The man sighs and seems to steal himself for this, Jess looking just as worried and their chairs having been merged as well for their sake as the scene shows me finding Kairi inside the cave. The camera turns to her as she stands in front of the door. She turns to me, yet isn't her usual self as she drowsily mumbles: "Sora…." And like Riku before her does the girl attempt to reach her arm out to me, asking for my help.
Yet before she can, does the door behind her actually open, letting out a blowing wind of horrible dark energy that actually blows Kairi off her feet and over to me. I try to catch her, yet as she reaches me, does she seem to vanish into thin air, shocking my family and making Riku mutter: "So that's how she did it."
And I nod as I say: "She knew. That must have been why she was so desperate to get off the island. She didn't want to relive it, not again." And while my family looks at me worried, do we watch as the wind blows me back out of the tunnel. But when I land, am I not on the Play Island. Instead, I am on a broken down, floating one.

The camera then shows this one to be much closer to the floating ball of dark energy before it focuses on me as I turn around and come face to face once again with the giant Heartless from before. And to my father's relief, do I instantly have my Keyblade in hand as he says: "At – at least you know how to beat this thing."
And indeed, while it seems to take me a little more effort and while it seems as if this one is substancially stronger than the last, do I manage to beat it as well as the few Shadow Heartless that appear every time the beast slams his hand into the ground, creating that same pool of dark energy that swallowed Riku.
And this time Jessica looks up and says: "Hey, is it me or did you get stronger halfway through that battle?" And I shrug as I say: "Don't ask why, but sometimes I feel as if I grew a level, you know? As if either my strength, defense or speed increased or as if I learned something new while fighting either old or new enemies."
At this dad mumbles: "Amazing. So not only are we actually seeing all this from the video game perspective, but the environment of that universe actually allows you to feel when you grow in your experience as a warrior. I've heard of legendary witches and wizards in our world who managed that, but that takes a level of mental awareness that's, even by Albus, considered impossible to us modern witches and wizards."

At this I shrug and I say: "What can I say? It's probably the magic of that universe. It sure felt good every time it happened." Yet then the movie turns back on and I wince as I forgot just how it was I ended up in Traverse Town. And the movie is sure to remind me as suddenly the black ball of energy starts to suck everything up.
The giant Heartless is the first to vanish, actually making it look as if he is merging with the energy itself. I myself try to hold onto a wooden board that is stuck to the island, but my grip fails me and I get sucked, yelling in fright as I get swallowed up. Yet the movie seems willing to throw me a small boon as it changes scenery.
And the new scene shows Goofy looking up in confusion, Donald turning to him as they are now in a town where it's night time, just like it was on the Islands. He points up and says: "Look, a star's going out!" And the camera moves over to focus at where he is aiming, just as a star in the night sky blinks out and vanishes.

"Please tell me they found you after this and that you were okay?" Dad mutters and I wince as I say: "It wasn't them that found me, but it was someone friendly and I was okay. I got knocked out as I traveled between the Islands and that world, Traverse Town, but else I was fine." And dad sighs in relief at hearing this.
He then turns to Riku and asks: "What about you?" Yet before Riku can answer, does the movie go on and Donald says: "Come on. Let's hurry." And the two move up a small set of stairs before Donald asks: "Where's that key?" And Jess says: "That's the Donald I know. A right impatient fellow." And I laugh as the movie goes on.
"Hey, ya know, maybe we ought to go find Leon.""Wasn't that what Mickey's letter told them to do?" Dad asks and the movie shows how, while Donald turns right at a Jewlery and Accessory shop, Pluto is turning left and Goofy also notices this as he says: "Uh Donald. Ya know, I betcha that …" But Donald interrupts him and asks:
"Aw, what do you know, you big palooka?" At which Jess snaps: "Hey, that's rude!" But Goofy, of course, doesn't mind as he just says: "What do I know? Hmmm … Come on, Pluto!" Yet while he leaves, does the camera move into the alleyway he was looking into. And the thing it focuses on makes dad sigh in relief.


Yep, Sora's safe.
And while I kind of wanted to end this all of with a scene of Riku meeting with Ansem, did it not seem as if that scene was going to happen anytime soon in the game, so I just decided to end it there. I'm quite pleased with it,, changes and all, but I will still admit that the length of this chapter was getting close to ridiculous – like I warned you at the beginning of the chapter – and we all know that it will only get worse.
After all, while Olympus Coliseum is basically only one room and two courtyards, are there also worlds like Agrabah that are bloody massive. And don't even get me started on the nightmare of all KH players that is Atlantica. Though in both of those cases, I will probably skip the areas that are just meant for passing through. And at this point, I already wrote the Coliseum and that turned out to be quite the long chapter as well.
So next chapter: Jessica and Sirius get a good, proper feel of what Sora is going to experience now that his journey has actually started, they meet a few people that Sora grew close to over his adventures and more information becomes clear in more ways than one as the group gets to see just how Sora met Donald and Goofy.
Ought to be fun,

Venquine1990