The longer the chapter, the shorter the A/N. That said, I kinda have to split this up since it exceeded my expectations on the word count. Also 1,000 words to go before I hit 100,000 words with this story!


Chapter 19

Wedding Day

Sora watched from afar as Luna threw yet another smooth pebble across the lake. The pebble hit the water and bounced gracefully across the lake before sinking. He held fondly the memory of when they had first come here. Luna's stone skipping had been terrible, but like her Strike Raid, she had learned little by little how to improve it. Now neither task seemed difficult for her to tackle.

Feeling a sudden urge to play around, Sora tiptoed over to her location until he was within reach of her. He leaned forward and whispered into her ear, "Hello."

"AAAAHHH!" Luna screamed spinning around to find Sora mere inches away from her. She frowned and punched him in the shoulder hard.

"Ow, what was that for?" Sora asked.

"You sneak up to a girl, scare her into next Tuesday and don't expect some comeuppance in return? You have a lot to learn about, Keyblade Master." Luna said.

"So I keep hearing. Someone who was a friend of Yen Sid's came to us just before you woke up saying that she wanted to train me. I really don't need it though. I kind of wonder where she disappeared of to," Sora said picking up a rock of his own before swinging. The pebble skipped again and again creating ripples on the water's surface, eventually hitting the water one final time at a much farther distance than Luna's throw. "I can tell you've been practicing."

"It's good for allowing me to think about things…" Luna admitted. She sat on the ground and kept her eyes on the lake, taking in everything. Sora soon followed. "They're still not done running tests on me. I don't know how I feel about it. I'm happy if they do discover some way to help Quasi and the other Chimera, but it still feels… weird I suppose is the simplest way of putting it. I was being tested on to become a Chimera and now I'm being tested on to find a cure."

"It'll be over soon, I promise. Me, Riku, Kairi and definitely Astra won't let Even do anything to you that you don't want," Sora said before frowning. "You know, that kinda came out wrong now that I think about it."

Luna giggled and lay on the grass looking up to the sky. Two days had passed since Luna had woken up and the wedding drew ever closer with the committee rushing to make sure things were ready in time for Leon and Rinoa's big day. Leon had even somehow managed to evade the others by pulling a disappearing act, though Sora couldn't understand why he seemed so embarrassed. In that same time Luna had eaten her favorite type of Ice Cream, made a visit to Pooh's world and visited Stephanie and Colette, but she also had to put up with the terrifying aspect of Even and Ienzo running tests on her to try and gather more information on the Chimeras. Sora, Kairi and especially Astra had been against the idea of this but Luna persisted they go along with it if it helped save a single life.

"What if it can't be cured? I don't think I'm immune to it. While I was in the Realm of Darkness, I felt something stirring within me, something dark. I don't think it was nerves either. I felt like it was going to burst out of my chest at any second. I even felt like I was losing my mind at times. What if… this Heartless is slowly turning me into something I'm not?" she asked.

"You really shouldn't learn to think like that. It's not healthy. Thinking positive can do wonders sometimes, you know? Otherwise, maybe it really will happen, and I'm sure that's not something you want." Sora said.

"Wouldn't keeping expectations low be better? I might end up disappointing you guys…"

"Just as long as you don't end up disappointing yourself, then we'll be happy with whatever choice you make. Are you disappointed?" Sora asked.

"No, well, I don't think so. I feel like I'm doing the right thing, it's just that I'm scared of what I'm going to find out, or won't find out." Luna said.

Sora nodded while continuing to stare up at the different shaped clouds scrolling slowly above him. Xanatos' words entered his head: "She'll need as much support as she can get after all she's been through. Stand by her". If there any time to make those words count, it was right now.

"Say, why don't we go on a vacation? After the wedding I mean." Sora proposed.

"Vacation?"

"Yeah, I mean you've been stuck on the other side for a while so it wouldn't hurt to see some sunshine after all of that. We'll go together, just the two of us, oh, and Astra of course so that makes three. If it allows you to relax, then I think it'll be worth it. We'll just hang out and be a bunch of doofuses having fun." By the time Sora had finished, he had spoken so fast out of excitement he was out of breath. He shook that off and grinned. Luna wasn't the only one who needed a break. After stressing out over whether Luna was alive or not for three and a half months, he was ready to relax for what would hopefully be a good while. He was sure Kairi or Riku wouldn't have a problem either.

"I think I'd like that. The rain isn't exactly what I had in mind for my return anyway." Luna said. Contrary to her words, today looked to be a normal clear, if not an irregularly chilly day.

"And I'm not the only one that protected you. Your ribbon," he looked at the red ribbon in Luna's hair given to her by Princess Mei as a sign of their friendship. "Think of it as holding all the memories of each world you've visited and all the friends you've made. It's also how far you've come since you started. As long as you have it, you can always look back at those times no matter how hard it gets."

"Yeah, you're right. And we have a wedding in two days so that's something else to add to the list of memories. I've never really been to a wedding but I hear they're just absolutely magical!" Luna beamed.

"I've never been to one either but… Leon decided to make me the best man." notified Sora.

Luna let out a snort and sat up and looked at him. "Really?"

"Uh huh. I mean I clearly am the best anyway so that's just being obvious right there. Leon says that he owes me for saving the town and that Cloud would just kill the party but… what's a best man supposed to do anyway? I know I'm supposed to give the ring to him but I doubt it's as simple as that. At least tell a guy what you want him to do… preferably in detail." Sora ranted.

"Can't help you there, but good luck champ." Luna said taking on an impersonation of Phil, albeit not exactly a great one.

"That was horrible," Sora snickered. "Of course that doesn't mean you're out of the loop either. If my theory's correct, you'll be picked for something as well. Kairi's already the Maid of Honor and Stephanie's the flower girl…" He counted each role off on his finger as he listed them.

"I'll be the honeymoon chooser! I think I can find a good place." Luna chipped in gleefully.

"I think that might have been one of the first things they chose… not that I can imagine Leon and the word honeymoon in the same sentence," Sora said. He paused to let the topic die down before moving onto something more serious. "Astra told me how the two of you became friends. I've always had Riku and Kairi, but I do know what it's like to fear being left behind and all alone. It's why I decided to go to other worlds with them after all."

"Yeah, Astra's always been there for me in one way or another. I've always been seen as different from everyone else in school. I suppose you could say I'm a romanticist. I've always been fascinated with the stars and travelling to far off places probably ever since I'd heard my first fairy tale. I just found Alexander boring and nothing ever seemed to happen. Astra believed in my dreams and she encouraged me to not give up on them, even if it made me an outsider. 'We'll both be outsiders then—screw the rest of the world!' she'd say. She's…" Luna stopped there. She hadn't meant to but Astra wanting to take of just like that had left her completely confused. "Sora… is there something you and Astra aren't telling me?" she decided to ask.

"What? What gave you that-"

"Sora…"

Sora ceased up, his eyes wandering the lake from left to right. "I think it's up to Astra whether she wants to tell you or not but let's just say there are a lot of crazy things happening right now that I just want to forget. There's another group, other than the one Pete is in… and they want… to kill me… specifically me," Sora paused for a second to check Luna's reaction before continuing. "I guess I really must be the best man. It's not like I'm not used to people wanting me dead, I'm sure Maleficent and Xehanort have wanted me out of the way but… it's never felt so… literal, as it has now… I was poisoned."

"But why– why do they want you…" she was afraid to even utter the word.

"I don't know, but I won't let them stop me from living either. We'll deal with the problem as it comes." Sora stated artlessly. For the many months Luna had known him, his simplistic attitude to life was probably the first trait she had come to know him by. Luna so wanted to believe that everything was simple, she really did.

"Well, I'll do what I can to help." Luna offered. She must have noticed it, Sora was sure of it. He wasn't usually one to sweep his problems under the rug so if something as 'simple' as a group hell-bent on killing him was being avoided, then Sora's true feelings were no doubt going to be called into the question.

As Sora stood up, the chance to apologize in full had never seemed better. He felt this matter was much more important than his other problem, though they may be more life-threatening.

"I suppose now's the time to say this. Luna, I'm sorry about everything that's happened. You, Donald and Goofy were always there for me, and I was supposed to be there for you, but I wasn't. I thought it would be better to keep you safe by pushing you away but all I did was make it easier for Abraxas to get to you. I can understand if you're- huh!?" Luna was hugging him before he could finish. He hadn't even begun insulting himself yet.

"Our hug… you never did it properly." Luna mumbled into his clothes. The cold winter weather seemed non-existent with her in his arms. There was no warning shot from an incredibly spiteful Astra to ruin the moment this time. Sora took this precious moment in time to feel her warmth against his own; to take in the smell of fruity shampoo in her hair. She was definitely back and this time he wasn't dreaming.

"I'm sorry-"

"The only person who should feel sorry is Abraxas for allowing me to meet you." Luna said easing away from him. She was right about Abraxas. As much as he hated the idea of thanking him, if Abraxas hadn't brought both him and Luna to Traverse Town, none of their adventures would have happened. Luna had been his pawn or blank slate who had been used as a measure to test Sora's influence on others. In the end though he failed to see that Luna's strength came from her own light, and had only grown stronger not just because of Sora but everyone else she had met on her journey.

"Let's go grab a bite to eat. I don't know about you but I could do with some ramen right about now." Sora said.

"Just as long as you're paying for the both of us." Luna replied getting up herself.

"I... I never agreed to that."

"Yes you did."

"When?"

"Just now."


The elegant word 'wedding' never ceased from the minds of the Radiant Garden Restoration Committee for the next two days. Luna found herself constantly separated from Sora, Kairi and Riku during that period. As Sora had guessed correctly, Rinoa had soon come to Luna and had given her gratuitous honor of making her a bridesmaid to which she accepted (though she had an idea that Rinoa wouldn't have taken any other answer).

The first of the two days saw Luna helping Stephanie with her homework. Of course an as of recent nine-year-old's homework was a simple task for a fifteen year old so it would have been very strange if that had been her whole day. After that she had spent some time chatting with Colette about "how they grow up so fast". Luna had heard the line before in reference to her own childhood but in a slightly more annoying away.

"'Ain't she still such a little trooper' is what someone I knew used to call me. I loved her dearly but she always reminded me how short I was for my age. This started around when I was twelve though. I've noticed I've grown this year but compared to my best friend Astra…" Luna cheeks puffed up as if she were a kid whose parents had just them that they would understand when they were older. That had been another one – she'd just never realized how fast 'older' had meant.

"You're not THAT sho-"

"That's another one," Luna pointed out Colette's need to try and cushion Luna's words. "Don't worry. I'm used to it by now. What will be weird is when Stephanie shoots past me. A few more years and I'll be looking up at you Steph." Luna said cuddling the girl in her arms.

Luna had found it surprising how easy it was to talk about her parents and her life in Alexander. Colette had also lost her husband and Stephanie a father so maybe being in the company of people with similar experiences of loss made it easier for them to talk about those times, like they were still alive. Really, Luna knew that her own experience was not the same as theirs, not by a long shot, but she'd dare not say that in front of Stephanie and Colette.

The evening was taken up with more tests being run on Luna. It was a pain. The tests were extensive, from blood tests to psychiatric assessments. Even and Ienzo had discussed at one point observing her in REM sleep for any irregular patterns but she wasn't sure she was so comfortable with them going that far. Was she merely some test subject for their curiosity just like Abraxas? She tried not to think of it that way but sitting still in one place for hours didn't seem to help.

As soon as the tests had finished she headed back to the hotel to change before going back out for a run. She didn't think of much as she ran, only that she knew she was running. Through the residential district, up the stairs, into the Bailey and eventually arriving at the scar of Radiant Garden, the Great Maw. She hadn't intended to come here. She had been afraid of coming here because this was where everything had happened. As far as she could tell however, the fog that had been there was now gone and Abraxas along with it.

Deciding not to ruin the cathartic experience of her jogging, she turned back and returned to the hotel. Back into the Bailey, down the stairs, through the residential district, all the while overlooking the splendid view of Radiant Garden as evening slowly shifted to night. She was going to commit the route to memory and do this as much as she could in hopes that it distracted her from the sad thoughts that entered her mind. It may have been a false and short-lived freedom, but that was good enough for her.

On her way past a few houses, she ran into Roxas, Xion and Namine, all three holding half eaten Sea Salt Ice Cream in their hands. The tempting thought of running to the store before it closed to get some crossed her mind, but she pushed it away.

"Hey Luna, how's everything-"

"GREAT… it's… going… great!" Luna exclaimed slightly exasperated that they were interrupting her jog and holding Sea Salt Ice Cream in front of her, not that that was their fault. "Listen… I'm running… can't stop… maybe… later?"

"Oh, of course, just make sure you don't stay out too late. Wouldn't want the Heartless boogeymen after you." Roxas grinned only for Xion to punch him on the shoulder.

"Ignore him. Have a good run Luna and see you at wedding if we don't see each other before it." Xion said before dragging Roxas off. Namine waved at Luna shyly before also following after them. Luna had no time to see them off. She had to keep running, so she took off almost immediately after they turned her back.

Just before she could get back to her own room, Rinoa called her into hers to give her a step by step of what she needed to do for the big day. Luna also got to see a preview of what Rinoa would be wearing, and she knew it would look absolutely perfect on her.

The next morning, she woke up feeling incredibly happy and cheerful. She doubted she was the only one either. It was wedding day after all. The actual ceremony would take place in the Gardens, a beautiful and wide open area covered with more green than the rest of the town combined. The Restoration Committee eventually hoped to extend that to other areas through Xanatos Enterprise's research into plant cloning but for now one area was enough to witness how beautiful Radiant Garden could and would become.

"Sea Salt in pink... is this what your ballet outfit was like?" Astra asked from the bed as Luna stepped out of the bathroom dressed in her bridesmaid dress.

"It was white, pure as the driven snow I'll have you know. And why aren't you changing? Don't tell me Rinoa didn't ask you?"

"I'll have you know that I'm highly evasive, like a caninja."

"A caninja?" Luna repeated completely perplexed.

"Yeah, it's like a cat crossed with a ninja, duh!" Astra explained. She purred while at the same to striking a pose as to enunciate this point but all it did was drive Luna even more bewildered. "But really, I don't do weddings. In fact I'd much rather spend time with the Heartless thank you very much. Have fun though."

"You don't do a lot of things." Luna called attention to the several times she could remember when Astra had just not felt like doing something.

"Thank you for summarizing my life in a nutshell," Astra said looking at the ribbon in Luna's hair. "I noticed you were wearing that when we rescued you in the Realm of Darkness, but I've never seen you wear it before. A gift from a special someone maybe?"

"It's from a friend… what are you looking at me like that for? It's true! It was one of the first worlds I visited. There-"

"I didn't ask for your life story. And I'm just kidding about the whole special someone thing, at least I think I am." Astra grinned.

Luna walked in front of the mirror and looked at herself. "How do I look?"

"You're acting as if this your own wedding. You look beautiful. Just don't stumble over anything and you'll do fine." Astra said.

"Now I'm definitely going to trip." Luna said but smiled on anyway and hugged Astra before putting on her jacket. Together the two stepped out of the room, took the elevator down to the lobby and left the building.

The cold weather immediately made Luna wish she could just crawl back under the bed covers where she would be warm but otherwise there wasn't a single gray cloud in the sky. The first stop was Merlin's place, where Kairi, Yuffie, Aerith and Tifa were all waiting in their matching dresses.

"Now this is just cruel. Who in their right mind takes a great ninja in pink seriously?" Yuffie complained. She had not only worn with her the pink satin dress, but a look of dissatisfaction to go along with it. "I mean at least if I'm on the other end of things I can get a few embarrassing shots in before I steal whatever it is I'm going to steal."

"It's looks beautiful, I have no idea what you're talking about," dismissed Aerith, who had been the prime selector for the dresses anyway. "I wish the other Princesses of Heart could come as well, but Master Yen Sid says it's too dangerous to have them all gather in one place for even the shortest time. I understand why it has to be that way and I think we're lucky enough that we were able to keep Kairi."

Kairi remained silent but smiled at Aerith's mention of her. Luna wondered if something was troubling her. Actually, she could probably guess without having to ask.

"Even so, it REALLY is pink," Tifa agreed before smiling. "You think Cloud will like it?"

A fierce look in Aerith's eyes flashed for a second, only a second because Rinoa soon entered the room to steal the attention away.

"You look absolutely gorgeous Rinoa. I knew you'd be able to pull it off. It's just so… you!" Luna complimented. Rinoa's wedding dress was a simple but elegant white dress that seemed all but simple when put on its wearer. Rinoa was the splitting image of an angel.

"Aw, thank you so much Luna. I'm so excited and so nervous at the same time." Rinoa watched as Kairi and Aerith walked over and examined her close up.

"You're gonna knock this outta the park. Just remember to smile and show Leonhart how it's done. You can't let the man show the bride up," Yuffie said before pumping her fist into the air. "LET'S DO THIS!"


"Stop touching it, you'll do fine." Sora promised the groom as he pulled at his bow tie frequently.

"I've never even worn something like this before. I feel like an idiot." Leon said. The two were standing underneath the stone archway in the inner gardens where Leon and Rinoa were to be wedded. Supposedly the stone archway had a fascinating history behind it once belonging to a famous monument until it was destroyed along with most other things by Maleficent when she took over. Sora couldn't remember the exact details since he had become incredibly bored and had decided not to listen. He didn't feel like he was losing out.

"Nothing wrong with that. I've never had to dress like this either but I feel like a spy or something," Sora said examining the surgeon cuffs on the jacket of his own attire. "I can't believe you got Cid to conduct the ceremony though. Now this is something I've gotta see."

"You and Merlin share the same sentiment it would seem," Leon chuckled indicating the old wizard in the third row of white plastic garden chairs conversing with Palom and Porom next to him. "Why they could be even be scheming right now as we speak."

"The good old frog in the throat trick eh?" Sora nudged Leon on the arm but Leon's annoyed look caused him to take him arm away and turn to speak to two dear friends. "Donald! Goofy! How are things at the castle?"

"Repairs are going fine but we still have a long way to go." Donald explained. Both he and Goofy had been eager to help Sora, Riku and Kairi in finding Luna especially since they had known her for a longer period of time than either Riku or Kairi. In the end, the reconstruction of Disney Castle and the safety of Queen Minnie (who refused to leave the world to protect her citizens) took precedence.

"Why that's a snazzy lookin' getup ya got there Sora. I wonder if we're goin' to be seeing more of this side from ya." Goofy said.

"Heh thanks, and I wouldn't get used to it if I were you," Sora replied with a grin. "Uh oh, I think it's starting. Better take your seats. We'll speak some more after this. Time to pull a Sora."

"Is that really a thing?" Donald asked.

"I guess it is now Donald. Good luck Leon!" Goofy said and with that the two returned to their seats. Cid soon positioned himself behind Sora and Leon choosing not to go with anything particularly fancy for the occasion although one look could tell that he had least tried. It didn't seem possible to entirely get rid of Cid's scruffy appearance but his hair was unnaturally combed back—something that Sora wasn't used to.

The crowd soon finally settled and Sora could make out a few familiar faces amongst the good couple of unfamiliar ones. Merlin, Porom and Palom sitting in the third row as mentioned with Colette being near the end of that row. Donald, Goofy and his son Max were just behind her in the fourth row. The first row was taken up by the groomsmen picked by Leon: Ven, Riku and Cloud who was apparently trying to shrink himself in size but failing miserably. The left hand side of the aisle was occupied by David Xanatos, Xion, Roxas and Namine in the third row and Terra, Aqua and Mickey in the fourth row among others.

Gasps filled the air and the crowd turned their heads as the bridesmaids walked down the aisle with a bouquet of flowers in each of their hands. Aerith, Yuffie, Tifa, Luna. Sora couldn't help but smile at how nervous Luna looked as she walked down the aisle. She kept her eyes fixed forward while putting on her best smile but her own awareness of people's gazes on her gave away her anxiousness. She arrived at the front and smiled at Sora. This smile was different from the one she had put on while walking down the aisle. It was the smile Sora knew her best by.

The bridesmaids all sat down in the front row on Sora's right turning their heads also to see an adorable Stephanie wearing a straw hat with a sunflower attached and Kairi with a confident smile as she escorted Rinoa down the aisle slowly. There were a couple of wolf whistles in the small crowd and Sora half expected Leon to shout "That's my wife!" back at them but he was so smitten by Rinoa's beauty that he could only smile… and that was pretty rare from Leon.

Rinoa arrived by Leon's side with Kairi giving Sora a flirtatious wink as she joined him by the side. Cid flicked the underside of his nose with his thumb and began the ceremony. Having had no idea what to expect from this, Sora was half bored by the time Cid had asked for the rings to be brought down and wished he could just sit down instead of standing on the spot feeling like an idiot. And Leon thought he looked bad.

"Leon and Rinoa, do you promise to protect each other and be each other's hope in the other's time of need?" Cid asked.

"I do. My word is my bond." Both Rinoa and Leon said in unison seeming completely lost in each other's eyes.

My word is my bond... Sora was reminded of Yeul once again. If she were still alive, she would be here at the wedding smiling along with everyone else. She would be gasping in awe at Rinoa's wedding dress. She'd be tearing up at the scene unfolding in front of him. She'd be… no, he couldn't let his own guilt ruin this moment. This wasn't about him or Yeul. It was about the future of one of the first people he had met after leaving his islands, and his betrothed.

"Now if there's any reason that these two may not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace. I suppose that means in other words that if this ain't a cheesy soap opera someone won't object at this point." Cid said. He allowed the silence of the garden to be confirmation of this before asking for the rings to be presented.

Sora pulled out a small box from his pocket and opened it to see a silver ring with a lion engraved on its surface. He handed it to Leon who carefully placed the ring on Rinoa's finger. Kairi followed up by giving the identical ring in her possession to Rinoa who followed the same motion on Leon.

"Well with that all said and done. I imagine we'll all be expecting great things from this couple in the future and hey, if you're ever in need a babysitting service, I might even know a guy or two." Cid continued.

"Oh please let's not go that far." Leon grunted while facepalming.

"Without further ado, I now present to you your newly wedded couple, Squall and Rinoa… and yeah, I finally get to say your first name. You may now kiss the bride."

"Go on and give her a big kiss Squall. Smooooooch! WOOHOO!" Yuffie yelled out from her seat.

"Yuffie, please don't tell me you're somehow already drunk when you haven't drunk a single thing yet." Leon replied but he was taken aback when it was Rinoa who initiated the kiss. The crowd gave a whopping applause for the couple while Merlin pulled out his wand and shot jets of light into the air which exploded into fireworks.

"Gather up everyone, time for pictures." Colette pressed a few buttons on her camera before holding it up to her face. The next few minutes were photographs taken not only from her but several of the other guests as well. Sora indulged in the moment helping to bring other people into the photos while also acting as jubilant as a little kid.

"If I didn't know any better I would say you were taking notes for your own wedding." Donald teased him after they had finished taking photos. They were now on their way to Merlin's place where the feast was to take place in the garden.

"Me? No, don't be silly. I'm trying to make the most of it. Say, how was yours and Daisy's wedding Donald?" Sora asked.

"Donald didn't get married." Goofy answered.

"It's too much commitment. Apart from Daisy pushing for an all-out expensive wedding and honeymoon, my life after that is pretty much over." Donald said appearing as if frightened by something that only he could see.

"Oh I'm sure you're exaggerating." Sora replied as they crossed into the residential district.

"You'll understand when you're older Sora. You'll understand." Donald warned in sympathy. Sora shrugged. Whatever he would eventually understand would hopefully be far away from now.

In front of him, Sora could see Xanatos talking with Luna about something which caused her to laugh. Sora wouldn't have guessed Xanatos as the type to be a comedian judging from his appearance but then again he hardly knew the guy.

In Merlin's backyard, a long table extended all the way around the yard's perimeter hosting food and refreshments. Sora had to step aside as three animated broomsticks walked past him and headed back into the house probably to attend to the kitchen. He watched them disappear down the hallway before attempting to take a seat next to Donald and Goofy only to be stopped yet again by Aerith.

"And where do you think you're going?" she asked. What did she mean by that? He was going to sit down with everyone else… "Have you forgotten? You're supposed to make a speech."

"Wait, what?" Sora asked. A speech? No one told him he had to do a speech.

"You are the best man, right? Well now's the time to do your thing."

"My thing? I don't have a-" Sora squeaked before pausing. Leon must have set him up— he could see no other possibility. Unless he had just forgotten to mention it to Sora by accident, he must have known about the various duties of the best man. Fine, if Leon wanted it that way then he would have no one but himself to blame for what Sora had to say. Aerith squeezed his shoulder as a sign of good luck before heading to her own seat. Sora waited for voices to die down before walking over to Leon and Rinoa's table. "So as you all know my name is Sora and I've actually spent most my life researching a fascinating topic. Why me? Out of all the people Leon- Squall- whatever your name is, could choose, why a lucky guy like me. What did I do to deserve this slightly anti-social fellow's trust that I would not in any way try to embarrass him during this speech?

"Well, I suppose I'd have to go back to when we'd first met to find that answer. I was in a fancy little world called Traverse Town, and Leon the romantic that he was just couldn't help but become swept away by my charms. Seriously though, our first meeting was a fight and that's pretty out there. You never usually think for a second—oh, I think I'll make friends with this lovely guy that managed to knock me out a few seconds ago, but it happened and it was pretty out there. Leon had told me about his world, this world, being lost to the darkness. When I first heard that I couldn't help but think that I was in some kind of fairy tale. Leon had just asked me to help bring peace to the worlds. I don't think anyone knows how to reply to those words when they first here them. It's a big responsibility carrying people's hopes on your shoulders.

"But we saved this world in the end as well as countless others. Me, Donald, Goofy, Riku and the King. When I was to next come to "Hollow Bastion" the town had completely changed. There was still that trace of darkness that had been left there by Maleficent, but the town was recovering. There was hope. Leon was determined to restore this world back to the way it was before the disaster, so much so in fact, that he told himself he wouldn't go back to the name Squall until he did that. Talk about being committed. Rinoa, you might have some problems getting him to notice you every once in a while but keep at it, you'll get to him eventually.

"Pardon me for the pun, but Leon knew that the squall that falls over Radiant Garden wasn't over, it still isn't. There's a lot of work to be done, but Leon knows he'll reach his dream one day, and I'm going to help him do it. I'd like to think of myself as everyone's best friend, and their best man if they'll allow me. I'd like to think that no matter how distant we are from each other I'll always be there for them if they need me to be. Well, enough of this cheesiness. Here's to Leon and Rinoa!" Sora picked up a glass and raised it above his head, with everyone else doing the same. Finally a resounding group of claps and cheers came to congratulate him on his speech. Finally able to sit down, he breathed a sigh of relief and smiled as both Donald and Goofy patted him on the back.