KAIRI
I woke up extra early because Sora wanted to talk to me about something. He was supposed to come by and knock on the door, but he hadn't yet. I waited in my desk and watched Mel sleeping. She was so sweet and kind. Not what I expected by her looks. That's a rare treasure to find. When I talk to people or meet people, I notice their eyes. Mel's eyes are the strangest of colors that I've seen. The only ones that top that are Riku's. Her eyes are ice blue…almost an electric sort of blue.
I heard a soft knock on the door. I smiled as I silently got up and opened it. Sora smiled at me and put his index finger over his lips.
"Shh." He whispered.
Then he beckoned me to come outside with him. I smiled and nodded. Something in his eyes told me that he was worried about something, though. I stepped outside and gently closed the door behind me. The sun was not even up yet.
"Come on…" He whispered as he took my hand.
We ran down towards the beach. He stopped in front of me then put his finger to his lips once more. I nodded as he pointed at something. I followed his finger and saw a black figure sitting down on the beach, in the tide. I couldn't tell who I was looking at.
"Riku." He mouthed.
He took my hand once more and took me back into the village.
"Ever since Riku had gone into darkness… he hasn't slept. He still eats a tremendous amount…but he isolates himself from everyone. Even you and I."
"What can we do about it?" I asked.
Sora looked up at the cloudy sky. The horizon in the east was just now getting lighter.
"I think Riku needs to come to the light part of his heart." Sora smiled.
"But…..he has us…. We're his friends." I began.
"I know….but," He looked down at our hands.
He held mine gently.
"Don't you think that he gets a little jealous…. Of us? Of what we have….. and what he doesn't?" Sora asked.
Now that I thought about it, it was very possible. Every time Sora and I were together Riku would make up some sort of reason to go off by himself.
"Yeah….but why doesn't he tell us? We are his friends after all…"
"Maybe he doesn't want to. My thinking is….. he feels alone. Even though he has us…. We're not what he is looking for. Ever since he realized that he couldn't have you… he's felt as though he has no one. The only reason why he went into darkness the first time was because he thought he could save you…. then it turned to jealousy towards me. He once told me, when we were little, that he has to have something to protect. Whether it be a rock or a person. It didn't matter. He's always felt like that."
"So…. Mel? You think Mel's the one?"
"Did you see Riku's expression when she ran up and hugged Axel? He seemed a little upset…"
"Sora… the last girl you had gotten Riku with left him devastated. He treated her like a princess and she treated him like dirt….I'm glad she left…I wanted to give her a piece of my mind…."
"What are you saying?"
"Maybe we should just let Riku be. He's older than we are. He'll find his own happiness on his own. Hearts work in mysterious ways… perhaps he's better off alone.."
"No… I know there is someone for him… but whoever it is he better find her. He doesn't smile as much anymore. I just want to see him happy again…"
I smiled at Sora. I love it when he worries. He's so sweet.
"I know you do, Sora. So do I. He just needs to find his inner peace. His heart has a lot of darkness left in it."
Sora smiled at me, then kissed my head. I giggled as my cheeks turned red. The sun had began to rise up and so Sora began to walk me back up to my house.
"What are you two Lovebirds up to?"
We turned around and saw Riku giving us a half-smile.
"Just walking and talking…why?" Sora said.
"Oh nothing…but I think we need to take Melody to the island and teach her how to fight. I'll go right now and make her a wooden sword…"
"Yeah, good idea. She'll need all the help she can get. After all she needs to learn to protect herself after receiving this burden." Sora agreed.
"Well we need to know where she stands in fighting so we will know how much we have to keep an eye on her…"Riku replied.
I looked up at Sora with a questioning look.
"The King told us that the three of us shouldn't let Mel out of our sight. She holds the future of all the worlds within her. Axel is actually her guardian, but we're also supposed to watch her." He explained.
"Oh."
"Although, I would hate to be her. It seems to me like she has no freedom." Riku answered.
He crossed his arms and gazed towards the sunrise.
"Well, I guess that's what happens to the people that have the purest of hearts." Sora said.
"Every heart has darkness…" Riku began.
"I know. But she has very little. Even the King said so. It has to be that way if she is the way to Kingdom Hearts."
"Yes. I suppose. Well, I'll go make her that sword now." The Riku turned and left.
Sora and I glanced at each other.
"Go with him, Sora. I'll go get her then meet you at the island."
"Okay."
Then I ran to my house.
MEL
I had woken up a while ago. Axel showed up not too long afterwards.
"So what do you think of the real Sora, Kairi, and Riku?" Axel asked.
"Well, Sora is just as sweet and cute as he is in the game. Kairi too. But Riku….. I don't know…"
"Not what you expected?"
"In looks……. He's much better.." Axel rolled his eyes and chuckled, "But in personality he seems a bit distant. He secludes himself."
"It tends to happen when you've given in to darkness and you've caused your friends nothing but trouble. I mean, I'm sure he feels guilty and also like he no longer belongs. His friends never went to darkness, only him, so I'm sure he feels out of place."
"Maybe he needs to talk to Sora and Kairi…"
Kairi came through the door just at that moment.
"Who should?" She asked.
"Riku. Axel seems to think that he secludes himself because he feels he doesn't belong."
"He may be almost two years older than Sora and I….but he's somewhat stubborn of his feelings. He tries to hide them. That's why he wore a blindfold over his eyes. He didn't want to see what he had become. He wanted to hide himself."
"Oh, well…I told him last night that I felt like I was the one separating him from you and Sora."
"What did he say?"
"He said that it's not me, he's doing it himself, but not on purpose."
"He's told you more than he's told us. I'm sure when he feels up to it he'll let us know what's going on. Don't think too much on it, you don't need it. Now…come on. Your clothes are clean and dry now if you want change back into you old ones. That black dress is yours too, it's too small for me. Whatever you want. Riku and Sora want to help you learn how to fight."
"Great! I need some lessons from the masters…." I smiled, "Come on Axel your coming too."
I took down my hair and brushed out all the tangles, then I wrapped it up into a tight bun. Only the short hairs stayed down. My hair is really long, but really choppy. Then Axel and Kairi left so I could change into my jeans and tanktop. My jeans were ripped in many places. My cuts were almost healed and I decided to tear half of my tanktop because it was already halfway torn. I wrapped my leather belt around my waist and buckled it in front. Then I put on my black shoes and met them outside. I looked at Axel and he appeared to be sweating.
"Axel… you really should take off your cloak." I suggested.
"Do I have to?" He asked in a child-like voice.
"Well…. People here are looking at you funny…" Kairi said with a giggle.
Axel sighed and lowered his head.
"Alright fine." He grabbed the collar of the cloak and ripped it off.
"See? Don't you feel better?" I asked.
"Actually….Yes I do."
He wore a black button-up T-shirt with dark blue jeans.
"Now…come on! We have to meet Riku and Sora there." Kairi said.
We ran down to the beach, jumped into Kairi's boat and went to the island. We eventually met Riku and Sora on the Paopou Island.
"There you three are." Sora smiled.
"Sorry…. we had to change." I explained.
"Alright," He said as he nodded, "Let's get started."
Axel and Kairi stayed on the boardwalk, out of the way. Sora held a wooden sword, Riku held two.
"Here….we're practicing with these. It would be a stupid idea if we used our actual Keyblades." Riku said as he threw me a wooden sword.
Sora got ready. He held it in both hands like it was a bat. Riku held his in his right hand over his shoulder. I admired them both. Sora seemed a bit nervous…. Intimidated. They reminded me of their characters from the games. I wonder if their moves are the same as well. I bent my knees a little and got on the balls of my feet. My sword was in my right hand and I held it low. I twirled it fast and flashed a grin at Sora.
"Okay then….teach me."
Sora came at me, but not fast. They wanted to walk me through it. I stood up and lowered my sword.
"I'm sorry….but do we have to walk through it? Can't you just….you know…attack me?"
Sora turned and shrugged to Riku. Riku only smiled.
"Yeah I guess…I just didn't want to accidentally hurt you."
"I'll be okay. I just don't like people 'going easy' on me cause I'm a girl."
"Alright…." Sora said.
We both got into our fighting stances. Sora came at me fast and swung his sword at me, but I quickly blocked it and hit his left thigh.
"Ow!" He cried.
I shrugged my shoulders and made a weak smile.
"Sorry…."
He swung at me left then right. I blocked both. I smacked him on the shoulder but then he blocked the one aimed for his stomach. Then we swung at each other. Our sticks hit and a few splinters flew. I pushed against his sword as he pushed against mine.
SORA
"I thought you had never fought before?!" I cried.
"I haven't!" She answered.
Mel was incredibly strong and agile. I couldn't believe it. I could already tell I was outmatched. She pushed me back with her stick and then swung left then right, in a flash. I blocked both but ended up with my back against the Paopou Tree. She was about to slash me but I blocked. Then I found out that she faked it. She slid her sword under mine and flung it out of my grasp. I opened my palm to summon it back, but I forgot that it was only wood. It would have been too late anyway because her sword was already to my neck.
MEL
Sora's jaw dropped.
"I…. I'm beat…." He said in awe.
I lowered my play sword and stepped back.
"I'm sorry…. I didn't hurt you did I?"
"No…no. I might have a whelp or two but I'm fine."
I turned and watched Riku come up to us.
"You're so strong! I never even had a clue! What have you done to make you so strong?" He asked.
"Well before my mom died a few months ago, we used to have a ranch for horses. I could ride them, train them, and break them."
Sora bent over to catch his breath. Riku held his sword coolly over his shoulder.
"Well…. If you had trouble beating her then I probably will too…." Riku said.
"I-I have to fight you?" I said in a squeaky voice.
Riku smiled as he lifted his sword over his head and got into his traditional stance.
"Yeah…why?" He laughed.
"B-because you've always been the best and strongest sword fighter in Destiny Islands." I complained.
"Sora has beaten me a few times."
"Yeah but you were just goin' easy on me…" Sora said.
I sighed as I got into my stance. Riku just grinned at me. I blew my hair out of my face and watched him carefully. He ran right at me.
Holy crap he's fast!!
I jumped out of the way. He swung left, right, left, right, and left. I blocked all of them by fluke. He ran at me again and swung his sword like a bat. I blocked but the force sent me to my back. His blade was to my throat in a flash.
"And that is how it's done." He said.
His teeth flashed into a triumphant smile. He continued to hold the sword to my throat. I grew angry. I hate to lose. My hair was all in my face because it was falling out of the bun. I whipped my hand to my bun and yank my hair out of it. My hair flowed around me. I kicked the sword from my throat and did a backhand spring to my feet. I picked up my sword.
"So you're not a quitter…. Good." He said with a small smile.
"I never quit."
He got himself ready. This time I ran at him. He braced up for the blow, but I slide beneath him and slashed him from behind. He cringed a bit and then he turned around. A light breeze came through. My hair finally blew out of my face while Riku's hair was in his face. He was just watching me. His sea green eye glowed in the sun. I twirled my sword and he brought his to eye level. We smiled to each other then simultaneously ran at each other. Our sword crossed and our faces were inches away.
"You're pretty good." Riku slightly smiled.
"You're not bad yourself." I hummed.
I shoved him backwards. He did a backhand spring with one hand. He stayed low to the ground.
RIKU
She was surprisingly strong, I had to admit, and she was flexible. I would have never guessed. I was low to the ground and I waited for her to come to me. She did. She ran at me in a flash. I lunged towards her and our swords slammed again. I swung at her with my fist. She caught my wrist and put her feet to my chest and flipped off. I looked at my hands and saw my sword was missing. I was awestruck. I tried to summon it, but I forgot it wasn't my blade. Next thing I knew, she knocked my feet out from under me. She stood beside me and so I did the first thing that came to my mind. I grabbed her leg.
MEL
My knees buckled and I fell on Riku. My knees landed on either side of him, I was basically sitting on his stomach. He quickly grabbed his sword and flipped us over. He was now sitting on my stomach, but my sword was still to his throat. His sword was to my heart.
"Alright…..I'm beat…" Riku suddenly said.
"What?!" Sora cried.
Riku dropped his sword and laid back on his hands as I quickly slid out from under him.
"No….I say it was a draw…" Axel smiled.
"I'm sorry! I didn't hurt you did I?" I asked frantically.
He just grinned. I felt special that I got a grin from him. Obviously around Sora and Kairi he doesn't smile very much.
"No….you're really good. Nice way to land you fall though…" He snickered.
"I'm sorry….. it just sort of happened…."
Sora, Kairi, and Axel surrounded us.
"Mel! Where did you learn all those moves?!" Axel asked.
"I-I don't know… they just sort a came naturally."
"Well…. You proved me wrong." Riku said as he stood up, "I thought that you were inexperienced, but as far as I can tell you don't even really need a guardian. You will probably even exceed me before the next day or two."
"Well….. she has to protect herself far more carefully than the rest of us." Kairi said.
"What I don't understand is why you got the manly blade…" Sora complained.
"But yours is a symbol of your heroism. Everyone in the universe knows about your Keyblade. Besides, that's why they are called 'Keyblades'."
"I know…. But I kill things with a key!" He said in a tiny voice.
"Oh stop your whinin'!" Said a voice.
We all turned around and saw Donald and Goofy standing there proudly.
"Oh, it's Donald and Goofy!" I exclaimed.
"Garwsh, Sora…. You've grown since we last we saw you." Goofy said.
"Yeah and you too, Riku." Donald agreed.
"And Princess Kairi.." They both bowed, "Pretty as always."
Kairi giggled and Sora rolled his eyes and smiled. They both came up to me.
"Are you Melody?" Goofy asked.
"Yes I am…"
As I answered they bowed to me too.
"This is from the King," Donald began as he bowed again, "And he told us to tell you that he is glad that the prophecy has finally come true. But he says be warned. There are many dangers out there for a gift such as you."
Sora and Kairi gasped.
"The King bowed?!" They both exclaimed.
"Well…. She is the key to Kingdom Hearts. She is the most prized possession in the universe right now…."
"Not to mention the most stubborn…." Axel grinned.
"And the most pain inflicting…" Sora added.
"….. and the most unusual Keyblade wielder." Riku agreed quietly.
"Anyway!" Donald cried, "The point is, she is the most powerful Keyblade wielder ever. Even more powerful than the King… though not at this moment…"
"Her heart is what the Heartless are after. Once her heart is released, if fallen into the wrong hands of course, then Kingdom Hearts is in terrible danger." Goofy added.
"The Heartless and whoever is controlling them now, will first try to kill Melody so when she comes back, her heart will be stronger and free of darkness. She will be pure. Once that is achieved, darkness will take over someone to take away her heart and use it to open and control Kingdom Hearts or lock it away forever." Donald finished.