Search Party

By Kikofreako

Summary:

Sora's whereabouts are unknown, Kairi has some strange power, and what's up with this Blonde Haired Kid that's carrying around a set of Keyblades? Everything's spinning out of control as Donald, Goofy, the Destiny Islands crew and the FF crew are jammed together in efforts to find a certain brunette. SoraXKairi Some Squiffie and SelphieXTidus

Disclaimer:

I don't own Kingdom Hearts, and I don't own Beauty From Pain by Superchick. But I own my ever-faithful Moshi pillow!

The Random Quote of d00m:

"Don't forget... wherever you go, I'm always with you." -Kairi

IMPORTANT A/N:

If you haven't heard Superchick's Beauty From Pain, than I would strongly recommend listening to a clip online. You don't have to download anything. Just Google Wal-Mart Music Downloads, search "Beauty From Pain", and click Listen. It's the song that first gave me the idea for this fanfic, and it will really make this chapter a lot better. Thanks, and hope you enjoy it!

XxX

Traverse Town was in ruins. The once-beautiful village had been completely annihilated. Wood railings were splintered and broken, splinters of oak and ash littering the chipped cobblestones. Metal lay half-melted, cooled puddles of silver dotting the ground in sparse locations. Cloth banners were ripped to shreds, the pieces that were left burnt tatters, the color faded and beaten. The brightly colored lights were broken, shards of glass littering the floor while the signs from various places were pierced through, the metal being twisted around like a gorilla's plaything. It was a ghost town.

Silently, as if by some mutual agreement, every separated slowly, in awe of the damage. Selphie went over to the small outdoor café and traced her fingers along the dusty tables, lowering to her haunches as she picked up a splinter of wood. The chairs were overturned, most of the legs snapped off or charred black from fire. Her hand touched melted wax. The Moogle candles were out.

XxX

Tidus and Wakka ambled around together, neither speaking as the walked into Geppetto's house, the door partially smashed in. Gummi blocks and half-built models lay strewn along the floor, various knickknacks either broken or overturned. The dining room table had an image burnt onto it. The Heartless insignia...

XxX

Riku walked into the items shop, kicking away the unhinged door. The floorboards creaked as the lone figure walked across the room, looking at the completely ransacked shop. Re-order forms and scribbles of new spells were written on tiny scraps of paper, most with a thin black scorch mark along an edge or two. Then, Riku noticed something that almost made his heart stop. The tiny, pink flower petals littered across the counter top.

XxX

Kairi walked through the town, tears trickling down her face one by one. She sang softly to herself in a choked voice.

The lights go out all around me

One last candle to keep out the night

And then the darkness surrounds me

I know I'm alive

But I feel like I've died

And all that's left is to accept that it's over

My dreams ran like sand through the fists that I made

I try to keep warm but I just grow colder

I feel like I'm slipping away

After all this has passed

I still will remain

After I've cried my last

There'll be beauty from pain

Though it won't be today

Someday I'll hope again

And there'll be beauty from pain

You will bring beauty from my pain

My whole world is the pain inside me

The best I can do is just get through the day

When life before is only a memory

I wonder why God let me walk through this place

And though I can't understand why this happened

I know that I will when I look back someday

And see how You've brought beauty from ashes

And made me as gold purified through these flames

Here and I am at the end of me (at the end of me)

Trying to hold to what I can't see

I forgot how to hope

This night's been so long

I cling to your promise there will be a dawn

After all this has passed

I still will remain

After I've cried my last

There'll be beauty from pain

Though it won't be today

Someday I'll hope again

And there'll be beauty from pain

You will bring beauty from my pain

XxX

Kairi climbed the dust-layered ladder, pulling herself into the old moogle shop. The scene was disaster. The oven-like device had been completely mauled, dented pieces of metal and glass littering the floor. Beakers were smashed and the wooden tables and night stand were reduced to splinters, the pieces scattered across the floor. A glint caught her eye.

It was the Keyblade.

Running over, she fell to her knees, afraid to touch it. A small ring of keys jingled softly as she unconsciously ran her hand over the scorchedwooden floorboards of the shop. Picking the small bundle up, she touched it reverently. A little yellow bird. A crimson feather. A golden lamp. A blue butterfly. All except...

"My oathkeeper."

That means...Sora still had the Oathkeeper. He was keeping his promise. Kairi's eyes filled with tears. "Sora...you..." She reached out for the black Keyblade before her, anything to remind her of the cheeky brunette's face, his laugh... At her touch, there was a sudden explosion of light.

The blade she was holding shimmered as Kairi squinted, unable to tear her gaze away from the blinding light. It changed in her hands, tiny white sparks dancing along her arm, her body. Then, it died suddenly. She looked down at the key in her hand, almost dropping it in surprise. The previously black metal was now a pure sliver. Metal laced around, the intricate patters flowing from tip to handle. The handle itself was swirled platinum, the grip fitting perfectly into her hand. The tip glistened, its oddly spiral end ending with a flower-like design. A lacy, cursive engraving decorated the middle of the edge, only three words.

Queen Of Hearts

XxX

Riku saw a flash of light out of the corner of his eye. The Moogle shop...

He took off in a dead sprint toward the shop, noticing that Selphie, Tidus, and Wakka had seen it also. But before any of them could reach the shop, the door (which was amazingly, still on its hinges) opened. Kairi staggered out.

She leaned against the wall, dismissing the Keyblade quickly. She didn't want them knowing about it yet. Not before she got this mess sorted out. Riku and the others rushed up, all talking at once. She slumped down onto the ground, letting her head roll onto her shoulder and closing her eyes. "Listen, I don't know what happened."

She looked as Riku held up a hand, shushing her. Anyone else, and Kairi would have been indignant. But he didn't do anything without good reason. He crept quietly behind the corner, drawing his famous batwing blade. Then, he pounced on whatever IT was.

Panicked quacking filled the air, along with some shouts from Riku. He came out, dragging a familiar figure, who was shaking with a combination of rage and fear. "You big palooka! Let me go!" He stopped abruptly when he saw Kairi. "Princess Kairi?"

It was Huey. The familiar red-clad duck stared at her, disbelief etched across his childlike features. Kairi reached out and pulled him into her arms. "Long time no see, eh?"

XxX

Huey led them through the town, leading them to where he claimed that Leon and the others were. Picking their way through the rubble, Kairi couldn't stop a tear from sliding down her cheek. She felt a hand on her arm. Selphie squeezed it, encouragingly. "It's okay. We can do this."

Nodding, the redhead hastily wiped her face and kept on, following Huey. They walked through the damp, dark ally into the second district. No Heartless showed their faces. Now Kairi was even more confused. What's going on here? Everything is so mixed up...

"I hope you don't mind getting wet," Huey commented as he stepped into the small patch of water. So they were in the Secret Waterway. Obvious, really. Well at least to her- no one else would think to look there, it being a secret and all. Sloshing through the water, they waded through the murky river. She ran a hand along the green stone, memories attacking her.

XxX

"A light at the end of the tunnel..." Kairi murmured.

"Oh yeah. Your grandma's story, right?"

"That's right. We were together."

Sora's usually goofy face took on an expression of seldom-seen seriousness. "You know what's funny? I looked everywhere for you, but you were with me all along. Finally, we're together, Kairi. Now, it's time to get Riku back."

She looked down, a feeling of remorse washing over her. "Do you think it will ever be the same between us? Riku's lost his..."

"When I turned into a Heartless, you saved me, remember?"

She remembered all right. Everything was crystal clear...especially Sora's warm embrace. She turned a bit red when she realized what she was thinking and pushed the thought away.

"I was lost in the darkness. I couldn't find my way. As I stumbled through the dark, I started forgetting things-my friends, who I was. The darkness almost swallowed me. But then I heard a voice-your voice." He paused. "You brought me back."

"I didn't want to forget about you, Sora. I just couldn't."

"That's it!" Excitement rang in his voice as he realized what she had said. "That's it! Our hearts are connected. And the light from our hearts broke through the darkness. I saw that light. I think that's what saved me. No matter how deep the darkness, a light shines within. I guess it's more than just a fairy tale."

Kairi smiled happily. "Well then, lets go!"

"You can't go!"

"Why not?"

"Cause it's way too dangerous!"

She resisted the urge to stomp her foot, like she had when she was six and Riku wouldn't give her back her books. "Come on, Sora! We made it this far by sticking together. You can't go alone."

Sora seemed a little sad as he looked up at her. "Kairi, even if were apart, we're not alone anymore. Right?"

"I can't help?"

He blushed a little. "You'd probably just be in my way."

Kairi knew he had her trapped. "Okay. You win." She rifled around in her pocket and pulled out her lucky charm- a bluish, star-shaped chain- and put it into his gloved hands. "Take this. It's my lucky charm." She adopted her best teacherly voice. "Be sure to bring it back to me."

He smiled as his fingers closed around the charm. "I will."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

She looked down, trying to think of something profound to say."Don't forget... wherever you go, I'm always with you."

XxX

Kairi closed her eyes. She had forgotten what she herself said. Well, not anymore. No more crying. That wasn't going to do anyone any good. Setting her jaw resolutely, she wiped her eyes and straightened her skirt. Then...she heard a voice. A very familiar voice...

"Oh my goodness..." Aerith stood there, her mouth almost touching the floor. "Kairi? Riku?"

The redhead smiled. "Heh, have we got a story for you."

XxX

"You call this a gummi ship!" Cid looked in disgrace at the pitiful ship, which had barely survived the trip to Traverse Town.

"We didn't have much to go off of," Tidus quipped. "Besides, it got us here, right?"

Cid snorted. "Barely."

Riku sighed, tuning out their argument. After they had recounted their tale to Donald, Goofy, Cid, Leon, Yuffie, Cloud, and Aerith, they had set off to view the gummi ship and salvage any good parts for Cid's ship. Looks like there wasn't much there...

He looked over at the mysterious blonde-haired kid, who was silently holding two Keyblades and looking at the ship. His name was Tyson, apparently. Riku felt bad for Kairi- Tyson and Sora looked so alike, it was uncanny. But that was past the point. Tyson was a Keyblade Master- and a duel weilder. Can it be possible? Two Keyblade masters... Riku then remembered King Mickey's Keyblade. Maybe...there were many Keyblade masters, and Sora was just one in many. But still...something seemed, well, special about Sora. Who knows what. Everything is nuts around here now. He was jolted back into reality by a yell from Tidus.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR GUMMI SHIP!"

Uh-oh.

Cid sighed. "Look, kid. When the Organization came-"

"Organization?" Selphie interrupted.

"I'll explain later. Anyways, they took my ship with them. That's part of the reason we've been stuck here. No ship, no travel."

"And the other reason?"

"The world borders. There's no way to get past them," Cid paused. "How did you kids get past the walls?"

Wakka scratched the back of his neck, trying to recount. "Well, we hit the boarder and nothins' happening, ya. So we're all pretty ticked when Kairi gets up, glowing! So then she says, 'Make way for a Princess Of Heart' and the wall comes down. Just like that."

Kairi blushed, feeling all eyes turn to her. "I uh, really don't remember any of it."

Tyson walked over to her. His gaze reminded her of someone looking at a postage stamp, trying to determine its value. And it was making her a little uncomfortable. "You're the Princess Of Heart. The one whose heart they couldn't find."

Nodding, Kairi fingered her plaid skirt, wishing she had worn something else. "Yeah. Turns out Sora had my heart. He still does have part of it, actually." She stopped, realizing how that sounded sappy. "I mean, he has an actual piece of my heart, and I have some of his."

The blonde-haired kid ran a hand through his hair- spiked, just like Sora's. "Interesting..."

Donald interrupted, quacking excitedly. "So you can get past the walls?"

Kairi nodded. "I think. What world is he on?"

Aerith averted her eyes from the redheads. "Kairi, Sora was taken by the Organization."

XxX

Uh-oh...poor Sora! He ish gone. -cries- Yes, I know I am evil. Anyways...reviewers!

Kingdom219- I showed my friends your reivew. The "flipity flobber" part cracked me up. xD

Horsie890- Lol, I doubt I'll win the contest. The mystery will get much thicker, though. Sometimes, I don't even know what Kairi's doing. -Haha- And have a plate of cookies and some carrot cake for Velvet. -goes off on a tangent- My cousin went to World Championships with her horse. It was cool. Okay. I'm done.

Razer- If looks could kill, I'm sure I'd be dead.

Dazed4Life- Thanks, and I hope the rest of the chapters measure up.

Slinky Lover- -pokes you- SEE? I CHANGED "BRIGADE" It's fixed, along with a few of the other grammer errors in that first chapter. (To Everyone Else: She is a grammer/spelling FREAK. You probably figured that out anyways. Oh well.) I have a lot of fun with Selphie and Tidus; it's fun making them flirt. xD

Perhelediel- Yes, I am evil. Yes, I enjoy watching you all freak out. Yes, I'm demented. Yes, I enjoy it. -Hahaha- I'm glad you liked Tidus and Selphie's fight; it was SO MUCH FUN to write! Tidus' line was completely random. I like making him do stupid things; someone has to do it since Sora's kidnapped at the moment. Poor Traverse Town, too. I almost cried when I wrote the description of the ruin.

PS- I'm sure there were lots of spelling and grammer errors in that review section. That's cause I did it in the Edit/Preview box, and that dosen't have a spellchecker. So, you don't have to point it out. -cough- SLINKY -cough-

Akiko