If we were Together: A year has passed since their separation, and Riku and Sora have grown both in size and in mentality. Sora slept in her chamber regaining her memories while Riku watched over her clouded in the gray spaces between light and darkness.
Chapter 2: A New Journey
"Sora…" The voice was unfamiliar to her, but the way her name was spoken was as if it was greeting an old friend.
In the dark, Sora could barely make out a figure in the distance… long arms and legs and a head of full blonde hair. She could barely make out a pair of blue eyes, but couldn't quite make out the face or the feelings expressed in it. She wore a black skirt that stopped at her knees, long black socks and tennis shoes, and over the straight black shirt she wore a white shrug jacket and accesorised with black and white checkered belts and bands.. "Who's there?"
"Sora!"
"Sora, wake up!"
This time the voices she heard was familiar, and as recollection hit her the figure disappeared in a spray of light. Drowsy Sora's eyes opened and scanned the area. She spotted Donald and Goofy giggling to themselves and her heart leapt with joy as she vaulted from her capsule.
"Donald! Goofy!" She hugged them both her arms coming around them in a big hug her face nuzzling against theirs before she stood and the three of them circled in a jumping dance as they laughed.
Jiminy crawled from her shoulder, yawning and stretching himself out. She had almost forgotten about the little critter. He'd been so quiet during their last journey, carefully studying and writing everything down in his journal religiously.
"That was some nap."
"We were asleep?"
"I think so otherwise I don't think we'd be so drowsy." Jiminy explained rubbing a kink in his neck. Sora too felt the need to stretch and she let out a grunt as she felt it stretch and pop easing a few achy muscles.
"I guess you're right… my chest feels all ti-" she stopped a moment fondling herself. She pulled her shirt out looking down and gasped and crossed her arms over her chest blushing. "When did I get these?"
When did she get taller too? She felt so matured and evened out. Her clothes were short and tight, her legs long and her shoes squeezed her toes making her wince a little in complaint. Donald and Goofy secretly snickered. but also stared at their friend with wonder… just how long had they been asleep. "When do you think we went to sleep?"
"Well," trying to shake the thoughts out of her head she started thinking back on their journey. "We defeated Ansem, restored peace to the worlds, found Kairi…" she paused her heart doing a quick roll in her chest. "Riku… we went to look for Riku. That's all I remember. I don't remember ever going to sleep."
She vaguely remembered a long endless road of rolling grass hills, and following a figure in black.
"What does your journal say, Jiminy?"
"Well gee,there's only one sentence." Jiminy exclaimed, and alarmed by the events. So much for the religious writing, Sora thought, giving a laugh as Donald complained as well.
"Hmmm, I think we should find out where we are…"
~Twilight Town~
They had found out the name of the town after asking around bit. The people here were friendly and easy going, and they went about their businesses like any other day. No one seemed to know anything about the mansion, or the owner of it, but Sora wasn't all too concerned with how they got there as she was about finding out where to go next.
They had no Gummi Ship, and according to Leon and the others, if her memory served correct, all the pathways between worlds had been blocked and locked away afer the worlds restored. So if this was where they were, then how was she supposed to find Riku and go back to the islands, and Kairi.
Still it didn't hurt to find out more about her surroundings. Now that she got a good look, bits and pieces of it seemed to jargon a memory… or a fantasy of some form. She could see herself skateboarding over the railings, or talking with some of the locals. It caused an uncomfortable tug in her chest and she rubbed her knuckles against her heart.
As they approached a back Alley she spotted some kids looking board. As they glanced up in her direction she saw one of the boys scowling at her. "What do you want?"
"Huh?" Sora jumped a little scratching her cheek and laughing. "Oh nothing, just curious as to what was back here."
"Well now you know, this is our spot." Hayner grunted at her, only slightly bit uncomfortable by her sudden appearance. His young teenage heart taking a moment to admire her, and for a minute he thought he recognized her face, but quickly shook it off.
Pence on the other hand approached her, curious as he studied her face making Sora more than slightly uncomfortable. "What?"
"You're… new around here right?" He fell back on manners and introduced himself. "I'm Pence."
"Hayner," the grumpy boy said approaching his friend. "It's nice to meet you, but we've got stuff to do so, catch you later." He waved her off brushing by her. Unnerved by her friend's rudeness Olette approached them happy faced.
"My name's Olette," she smiled. "Hey did you finish up the summer homework yet? Independent studies are the worst." She tried to strike up a friendly conversation, but only succeeded in confusing Sora further.
"Huh? Homework?" She hadn't had homework since she'd left the islands. Which brought on an unhappy thought. Returning home to school and work, she would be so far behind, and she had already been struggling with studies. Shuddering she shook it off determined to forget about it.
"What are your names?" Pence asked.
"Oh sorry," Goofy chuckled. "We're Sora, Donald, and goofy." He explained pointing to each person he introduced including himself. Pence and Olette exchanged looks before adressing them again.
"Sora, Donald, Goofy, we just met someone who was looking for you."
"He had a black hood on so I couldn't see his face, but he had these big round ears." Pence Explained making big circles around his head. Sora took a moment… then recalled the shadowed figure she had seen behind the doors of Kingdom Hearts.
"The King!" The three friends came up with the same thought and Sora immediately turned to find out where they had seen him. Immediately afterwards Sora bolted out the alley heading for the station, she didn't know how but she knew exactly where it was and her long legs ate up ground as she rushed for it hurriedly.
"If the King is here… then maybe Riku's here!" Giddy and excited she skidded to a stop at the platform that overlooked the entire town. The burning yellow of the sunset hit her eyes and she squinted against it her head searching around for their figures.
What she found instead were silvery beings that sprouted from the ground very similar to heartless. Sensing danger Sora let her keyblade free and stared down the figures. As they launched her blade went flying.
Sora wasn't sure how long she slept, but she felt the lack of keeping in shape hit her… she felt as if she had just picked up the weapon for the first time. He swings slow, her movements sluggish, and she couldn't seem to recall the spells of fire ice and such that Donald and Merlin had worked so hard to teach her.
She found her endurance waning and she dropped to a knee, the figures just kept coming and she cursed under her breath bringing up her blade to protect her from an attack. And as if hearing their prayers a small shrouded figure jumped from the rooftop, spiraling down he sliced through foe after foe ending them quickly all on his own.
Sora couldn't help but admire the sheer brilliance of his technique, and it was no wonder she'd felt relief the moment she had seen him. His golden keyblade was a dead giveaway. Donald and Goofy jumped over her head addressing him before she had a chance to.
"Your Majesty?" Donald questioned, backing off as the mouse slowly turned his head in a profile and hushed him.
"You three need to get on board the train and leave now. The train knows the way." He said enigmatically, handing her a pouch filled with munni for the tickets. As quickly as he had arrived the king vanished down the streets of Twilight Town.
Confused, befuddled, and disappointed she hadn't seen Riku, Sora looked down at the pouch. She pulled it open peeking her eyes inside before looking behind her at the station. "The train, huh? What should we do? Should we do what he says?"
"I think we should, the king has always known what's best even if it seems a bit odd."
"I guess you're right, and at least you guys know he's okay… and since both he and Riku were locked in the realm of darkness together, that means that they both must have escaped right?"
"You got it, there's no way the King would have left a friend behind. Riku's got to be out there somewhere." Donald said ecstatically.
"Then that settles it, I'm gonna go look for Riku. I've things to tell him, and I made a promise that he and I would go back to the islands. Kairi's there waiting for us!" She was practically bouncing in and out of her shoes. When they made no move or sounds she stopped her bouncing to stare them down. "Will you guys join me?"
"Aww Sora, do you really have to ask?" Goofy couldn't resist the pure innocence of Sora's smile. When she giggled Donald demanded to know what was funny, but she couldn't stop the giggles.
"Your faces," she motioned to them… both of them had a look of embarrassment and annoyance on their faces and it was too cute and funny to look at, as they soon found out by looking at each other.
It felt good to laugh with them, it made the time in sleep melt away, nothing had changed between the three of them, and she had to hope that the same would be with her other friends too.
As far as Riku was concerned she had many things to talk to him about. They had been given so little time and she hoped that once she found him they could find someplace quiet and private to just sit and talk about what was between them.
Time had passed, probably slower for Riku who hadn't been in sleep. Did he still feel the same for her? The memory of his kiss made her blush and touch a hand to her lips. Donald and goofy watched her expressions, sharing knowing glances with each other they each grabbed an arm and led her into the station.
"Come on, Sora, snap out of it. We gotta board the train."
"The train… right…" she laughed a little. As they got into the station Hayner Pence and Olette rushed in behind them. Though it had been the first time they had met the three of them felt they had to see her off… and Sora couldn't help but feel relief.
After getting the tickets and stepping by the train Sora turned to study each of their faces. There was a tug on her chest, a sort of pain that let loose a fresh tear down her cheek causing Hayner to fuss. He had never been very good at handling teary girls.
"Put it together, will yah?" Hayner wiped her cheek and quickly backed off making her laugh softly.
"Yeah, sorry I don't know where that came from." She waved a hand and stepped onto the train… but as it left the station she turned to the window and watched them. The train station vanished, and was replaced by glittering stars and a long glowing track that seemed to lead out into the middle of space.
"Sora, is something the matter?" Donald asked feeling concerned.
"It's nothing, Donald." She kept her back to him holding her aching heart in secret. "Nothing at all."
~Riku~
Standing amidst the shadows of the train station Riku watched the train vanish, then slid like a ninja out of the station to meet with mickey. The two friends reunited at the top of the station where a big clock sat and gave a golden view of the entire town and sparkling ocean in the distance.
"They would meet here often." He said to Mickey who sat enjoying the view. "Roxas, and Axel."
"Yes, I know, I know you feel guilty Riku, but it had to be done. You wanted Sora back didn't you?" Mickey said wisely, standing atop the edge not a bit afraid that he would go falling off the edge.
"I did, but that doesn't make the taste in my mouth any less bitter. She had fought so hard for life. In a perfect world Roxas would have a heart of her own, separate from Sora… and the two would become friends, close friends. almost like sisters I'd imagine."
"The worlds are anything but perfect, Riku. They're not meant to be. Roxas is a part of Sora, so she still lives. She's lucky too, because she was welcomed freely into Sora's heart, given a place there, instead of fading into darkness Roxas has become a part of the light."
"I guess that is something to be optimistic about." He gave a deep sigh and rubbed his chest. The sight of Sora had it beating hard and strong again, and he had to hold back the temptation to run to her and gather her in his arms.
"They're on their way to Yen Sid's, there Sora will begin a new journey, one that will lead her right to Organization 13. We'll need her help if we're to defeat them." Mickey clenched his fists in determination. "We have a lot of work ahead of us, Riku. We can't let them stray from the path."
"Right… we'd better get to work then. I'll meet you at the rendezvous point." Riku let a black fog surround him and disappear.
"Good luck, Riku. We're both gonna need it."
Woot second chapter done! I actually finished this yesterday but i didn't want to post too fast and get your hopes up on quick posting. As it is I'm posting these chapters too fast… I'm gonna need some time to work out the storyline a bit. I know where I want to take it but I've so many ideas I need to take it slowly… but not too slow.
Next Chapter: Yen Sid & Axel's Lament