Chapter 2: Hopes and Dreams

His memory was warped. Again, he was in a room with the Organization, and they were discussing what to do with him. It wasn't the first time this had happened. But things were different this time. There was almost a lighter feel to the air.

His mind was taking in every detail. Everything seemed to be the same. Or, roughly the same. Namine now sat at a table, and was drawing there. Also, for some reason, Vexen was several inches shorter.

He had no control of what his body did. His mouth spoke without him wanting it to. "Old hag." He just called Larxene an old hag. What was wrong with him?

Larxene grinned. "Cheeky, how interesting" she muttered.

Just then, Larxene grabbed him from behind. "Ow! Let go!" he screamed as she pinched his ear. "What is this!" he shouted, as she dragged him across the room. "Where are you taking me!"

"Don't treat him so rough!" Vexen yelled. "I've just completed him. His training-"

"You should have at least taught him to listen to others!" Larxene said, cutting him off. "If we're going to use Riku to test Sora's strength…"

Everything was a blur. Next thing he knew, he was laying on Namine's table and he ached. Namine was freaking out, and crayons had been scattered everywhere. Larxene had just thrown him across the room.

"Don't we have to remake his heart into the real thing?" Larxene asked as she walked over.

"What are you planning!" he asked, turning to glare at her.

"We'll plant a wonderful memory into that hollow heart of yours!"

Shock. His eyes went wide.

"What!" he asked, scared to death.

He opened his eyes in shock, and was relieved to find himself in his own bed, in his own room, on Destiny Islands, a universe and months away from that event, even if it had been warped in his nightmare.

The nightmares had been coming off and on, getting worse as time wore on. They had been happening ever since he had returned from Castle Oblivion. They were caused by grief. Grief that had been plaguing him ever since his first conversation with Namine. She had asked him why she couldn't remember. He had told her he didn't know.

But he did know. It was because she was a replica. A replica created without any memories. But he hadn't told her. He hadn't dared. If he had told her she was a replica, she would have freaked.

And he couldn't tell her now. Not only would she freak about the fact she was a replica, she would have been furious at him for not telling her.

How would I have felt, if Sora knew the answer to why I couldn't remember, and hadn't told me? He would ask himself countless times. The answer was always the same. He would have hated Sora.

Besides that one little fact, things had been going great ever since they had returned. Namine had been able to make herself comfortable on the islands. She had quickly become friends with Sora and Kairi, just as he had, and seemed to cope with him just fine. She didn't find him annoying at all.

Riku cast a glance out the window. The sun hung inches over the horizon only by a few inches. It was just past dawn.

Deciding it wasn't worth it to try and go back to sleep, Riku got up and headed over to the smaller island.

xxx

Sora had headed down to the smaller island earlier, at dawn, after waking up from his own dream. He sat on the pier, and was looking at his empty hands. The last thing he could remember from his dream was holding on to his Keblade like it was a lifeline, and then he had found himself in his own bed, hands empty. He had attempted many times to summon it again, but hadn't managed.

"Maybe it was all just a dream…" he muttered. But it had felt so real.

"Hey Sora!" the voice pulled him out of his thoughts, and he turned and found Riku. Anger rose up in him for a split second before it disappeared. "You're down here early," Riku said, jumping onto the pier.

"So are you" he replied, now curious over the anger that had risen in him. He wasn't mad at Riku, was he? He didn't think he was. He didn't have much reason to. Or did he? The thoughts were pulled away as Riku sat down on the pier next to him.

"I'm always down here early" Riku said.

Sora didn't reply, still mulling things over. After a few seconds of silence he asked: "You've been to other worlds, haven't you Riku?"

"Castle Oblivion." Riku said simply, "and that worlds no bundle of laughs. I've never been anywhere else."

"But there are other worlds out there, aren't there?"

Riku nodded.

"Do you think we could go see them?"

"Maybe," Riku said. "How do you suggest we go to see them though?"

Sora took a second to think about this. "We could build a raft."

Riku laughed. "A raft?" he asked, almost in disbelief. Sora shrugged.

"Couldn't a raft get us off the islands?"

Riku looked out to sea, and thought about this himself. "It might work..."

"You think?"

"We'll never know until we try, right?"

Sora grinned and hopped to his feet. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go build a raft!"

And thus the building of the raft began. Sora was eager to get off the Islands and see what was out there. Riku was hoping to find out whether or not the worlds out there were more exciting than Castle Oblivion.

Kairi, when she arrived on the smaller island later, agreed that she wanted to see what was out there also, and quickly took charge of the operation. She ordered the boys around, telling them what supplies they needed to get to build the raft. Riku did most of the building, and Sora did quite a lot of the gathering. Namine, meanwhile, claimed she was perfectly happy with whatever the group decided to do, whether it was to stay or to go, and sat off to the side drawing.

"Hey Sora," Riku called over his shoulder as he finished tying a few logs together. "Grab your sword, let's go a quick round."

Sora tossed the log he was carrying on the ground. He paused a second, thinking. He picked up his sword and started to say yes. He stopped. Memories of his dream were still fresh in his mind. For a second, it felt as if he was holding the Keyblade. But he wasn't. He looked over at Riku, who was finishing up the knot. Was it worth it? He was going to lose. He always lost.

"You have gained the power to fight…"

The voice echoed in his mind.

Maybe this time would be different.

"You're on!" he declared.

Riku grabbed his own sword and stood up. Sora charged. Stab. Hit. Swing. A familiar pattern. A rhythm that he fell into quickly. He repeated a few times before Riku managed to block it, and he blocked the next three hits.

"My turn!" Riku called, swinging his sword, hitting Sora in the stomach and knocking him back. Not far, of course, they were only using wooden swords. Riku attacked a few times, doing some damage, but then Sora managed to block an attack.

Stab. Hit. Swing.

A combo.

This time, he knocked Riku back. Riku sprung to his feet, nearly hitting Sora as he did so. Sora jumped back, and attempted to pull another combo.

"Don't think I'm letting you win" Riku said, as he blocked a blow.

"I'm not" Sora replied. Riku grunted and back-flipped out of the way. Sora scowled, and couldn't help but think to himself: what a show off.

The battle continued on in a similar fashion. Sora managed to pull a lot of combos, compared to Riku's few. But Riku's combos hurt. And they hurt like heck.

"I win" Riku declared when Sora fell and didn't get back up. He grunted, sick of losing again. He thought maybe he could win this time. Maybe things would be different.

"GAAAH!" he screamed. His body moved without him really telling it too. His hand closed around the hilt of his sword and he leapt forward, slashing down. It made contact with Riku's shoulder.

Riku gasped and stumbled back in pain. His hand flew to his shoulder and he clutched his hand over the wound. He fell to his knees. Sora paused, staring in shock. What had he just done? His heart was pounding. He dropped his sword and stammered something.

Riku paid no attention. He pulled his hand away from the wound and looked.

There was blood.