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.
Author's Note: Okay I couldn't help myself, I know I already put up Chapter 2 today and I SAID i wasn't going to rush the posts but this one just came out boom boom boom and I was too anxious not to post it. Hey at least I waited a few hours right? Lol.
ENJOY!
Chapter 3: Yen Sid/Axel's Lament
Sora studied the pouch in her hand, the stitching was homemade, she could tell because her mother used to make crafts and such like this all the time. She recognized the careful stitching, much more clean and precise than anything that would have been factory made.
The symbol on top of the pouch was a cute and familiar design, and she slid open the top to admire the other content inside. They'd used all the munni, but inside was also a blue crystal gem, something that would be perfect for decoration. Maybe she'd keep it, give it to Kairi for one of her pet projects.
The thought of doing such a thing suddenly sent an ugly twist in her gut. She put the gem away and rubbed the back of her hand over her mouth to swallow the queasiness. Her eyes glanced out the window again and she saw them approaching a tall crookedly designed castle. "Where are we?"
Sora stepped through the door as it opened and she admired the tall building. Donald and Goofy stepped closer walking over the grass. Sora heard a fading misty sound that had her looking over her shoulder and she gasped as the train disappeared. "Oh great, there goes our ride!"
Guess they were stuck here for the meantime. Sora's eyes went back to the castle and she followed her friends up to the front. Standing at the door was a husky female figure, tall and voluptuous with a full head of spiky black hair and pointed cat-like ears. The clothes she wore was some form of uniform; dark blue overalls over a deep maroon shirt with straps and gloves.
Sora didn't know what it was about the woman, but she seemed to be causing trouble, peering in like a peeping tom snickering over something secret… but at the mention of heartless her defense went up.
Annoyed by the distraction of company the woman turned around, Sora wasn't one for making fun, but damn! . She had a double chin, harsh red lipstick over pudgy lips and too much make up over her eyes to try and hide what was probably the ugliest face Sora had ever seen. It squished up more when the woman recognized just who she was talking to.
"Ah it's you!" Her voice was a deep, almost like the big bad wolf trying to make himself sound feminine to fool little red riding hood.
"Patty?" Both Donald and Goofy said taken aback by the face.
"What are you two nimrods doing here?" She insulted pointing an accusing finger at them.
"What are YOU doing here?" Donald said just as accusing.
"You guys know this woman?" Sora asked looking to her friends.
"Sure do, Patty's been causing trouble for ages. Her majesty, the queen, banished Patty to another dimension a long time ago. I wonder how she escaped."
The laugh that escaped from Patty was a full annoying Chortle that had Sora rubbing an ear in irritation. "you wanna know how eh? Well my old friend Vincent busted me out. Now your world, and all the worlds are going to belong to yours truly. Because Vincent's gonna help me conquer them." She tossed her ponytail back over her shoulder smirking. She saw the snickering that escaped Sora's lips and she growled. "What's so funny."
"He's toast," Sora laughed. "We took care of Vincent a long time ago."
"What? You? Grrrr so you're the reason I haven't been able to contact him. That just burns me up kid, you'll pay for it!" Patty flexed her flabby arms. "Heartless Squad! Round up!"
Sora's defense went up as the familiar black figures popped up from the ground. She pulled out her keyblade and with very little trouble this time her and the boys defeated Patty's puny attempt at a heartless army. Sora could already tell this woman no matter her threats would not be a problem.
"So Patty, you wanna tell us who lives in the castle." She shouldered her blade looking bored.
"Oh so the mighty key bearer doesn't know huh?" Patty sniffed. "Well for your information it's old Yen Sid… heh of course he's probably a heartless by now."
"Master Yen Sid lives here?" Donald thought the castle had looked familiar, Donald quickly rushed up the steps and through the door, and ignoring Patty's rantings Sora and Goofy followed him up the steps.
"Who's Yen Sid?"
"Yen Sid was the King's teacher." Goofy explained as they entered the castle and headed up the spiraling staircase. Eager to meet this teacher of the King sora rushed up the steps, finding herself attacking heartless all the way up three floors.
"Ugh, heartless, heartless, heartless, things haven't changed one bit!" Donald complained after they got a breather."
"Well it's a good thing we're on the job then." Goofy said rolling his shield arm. He saw the look of depression on Sora's face. "Don't worry Sora, I'm sure Yen Sid will have an explanation as to what's going on. He's very wise and always seems to know what's going on."
"Okay, let's hurry then." Not wasting anymore time moping Sora continued up the steps. She made grumbling noises as they reached the last stretch and rubbed the toes of her shoes. "Damn it I'm gonna need new clothes if this is the way it's gonna be during the entire trip."
The doors open and Sora stepped through after being pushed in by her hurried friends. Donald and Goofy stood at attention showing proper respect to the aged and wise figure in front of them. Yen Sid may have been old and graying but Sora could tell by his demeanor and serious face that his age came with great power.
"Master Yen Sid, it is an honor!"
"Hiya," Sora waved a hand cheerfully.
"Sora, show some respect!" Donald lectured but Yen Sid merely laughed and held up his hands in a sign of forgiveness.
"So, you're Sora," he was pleased to see that the girl was full of life and happiness, it showed great character. To Yen Sid it was character and willingness to learn that built strong warriors. "It would seem the task of teaching you three falls upon my shoulders." He explained to her, watching her eyes go serious. "You've a perilous journey ahead of you, my dear."
"Yes sir, but does this mean I have to go on another quest? I was hoping to find my friend Riku." she held her chest the weight of her promise and feelings causing it to go heavy. "I need to talk to him, and bring him back to the islands."
"I understand your dilemma, Sora, but everything in your journey is connected. Whether or not you can go back to the islands, whether or not you will go alone or with your friend," he watched her eyes grow concerned, "and whether or not your islands will still be there."
Sora found herself tested, and briefed on the task ahead of her. The heartless she knew of, but was given further detail on their beings, and of the Nobodies in which they had encountered in twilight town, and finally of the Organization.
Organization 13, she had heard that name before, it was so familiar that she looked to her friends wondering if they knew where she had learned it from, but neither of them seemed to have ever heard of it. Strange, she thought, that many things seemed familiar to her, first the town, then the kids, and now Organization thirteen… just what happened to her during her time of sleep?
"While heartless seemed to act on instinct, nobodies are of a different nature. They can think and plan and seem to be working towards a goal. What that goal is, we do not know. Before your previous journey ever began the King had sensed the danger and journeyed forth to fight it. In the end he found the dark realm's keyblade and with it sealed the door with your help. Since then he's been journeying between the worlds seeking the answers to these questions and more."
"So we better find the King!" Sora decided clutching her fist feeling her gloves tighten around her knuckles.
"Where could he be?"
"Well we won't know til we look."
"yeah, and the King must know where Riku is because the two of them were together when we closed the door. Or at least he ought to have an inkling."
"Yes, but before you go Sora you'd best find more suitable travelling clothes. Those seem to be a bit too small for you now." Yen Sid said with some humor watching her tug on the shirt and shorts, her blush visible.
"Our Sora sure is growing up fast, isn't she Donald?" Goofy said in a mock motherly tone.
With embarrassment lining her cheeks Sora went through the doors that Yen Sid led her to. Because she was a girl Donald and Goofy stayed behind but pressed their ears to it listening. Sora found three fairies eagerly awaiting her. They fussed as grandmothers would do. Wands flew and Sora caught her hair tie as the magic pulled it away. She cupped it protectively to her wincing as brushing and combs yanked through the messy tangle.
"We're gonna make you look like a princess dear, a beautiful girl like you deserves to look her best." Flora said, and Sora let out a yelp as her clothes came off and new ones were sewn around her. She felt the frills and silk and looked at herself in the mirror blushing bright red as the dress came around her.
"Are you ladies nuts! I can't fight in this thing!"
"Oh dear, forgive us," Fauna said her wands pushing the material away. "We almost forgot. Hmm perhaps something more like this." She waved her wand an she was in a strapping men's uniform something a prince would wear her hair bundled up atop her head and Sora frowned.
"Oh that would never do." Merryweather countered and waved hers the uniform instead turning to a filly blue shirt and blouse, it looked like something she would wear to school rather than traveling the world.
Back and forth the ladies squabbled changing styles and shapes until Sora was at her wits end. "Ugh would you just decide!" Sora said exasperated.
The three ladies halted their squabble and looked at each other. Together their visions came to life, she wore a skirt, but underneath were a pair of black short leggings that went to her knee. Yellow belts strapped over her waist with two red pouches for accessories. The shirt was red, loose, and comfortable with a black jacket that matched the skirt with its yellow stripe designs next to the zipper. She wore gloves too, much like her old ones, fingerless so to give her a good grip on her blade, and had the same yellow design across the wrists. Her feet were no longer pinched in the sturdy shoes they'd provided and they'd let her keep her crown accessory that hung around her neck, a momento her mother had given her. Strange how certain things slip your mind, she'd forgotten she wore it and was glad they'd kept it in place.
"That's much better!" Fauna said happy with herself and the girls.
"Oh you do look darling! It looks very good on you, my dear." Merryweather agreed. Feeling it safe Donald and Goofy came into the doors staring at the clothes in awe.
"Now those aren't ordinary garments, my dear." Flora explained and waved her wand again. Sora took up the orb presented to her and gasped as she felt the surge of power rush through her. She felt herself suspended in the air holding in place as the power rushed through the clothes and her body. She felt lighter, stronger, and as she landed she admired the clothes, the colors had gone full red and she turned to her other hand gasping when she spotted the other keyblade.
Donald and Goofy were amazed, these powers would help them in what promised to be a truly difficult journey. Sora felt the weight of responsibility tug on her shoulders, but was too stunned to let it affect her. She let the power die down and the keyblades disperse, the red colors draining to their original black and she looked to a mirror staring at herself. they'd already braided her hair, the locks had thickened and it she could feel the weight of it brush on her back. She pulled it forward taking her tie with the stars on it and strapping it at the bottom with a smile.
Yen Sid also had a gift for them, a mode of transportation. It was a large gummi ship, more sleek in design with two attack pods that connected on the wings. He explained that each path had gates in which they would have to unlock and through them were foes which they would have to blast thru. Eager to start their trip the three of them bid Yen Sid farewell, and blasted off to a new world.
~The World that Never Was~
Punishment didn't sit well with Axel. He knew his failures would result in it but still he couldn't regret his decisions in letting Roxas go, he just couldn't. The girl had been determined to stay away from the Organization, and even if he'd had managed to defeat her and bring her back Roxas would have fought against them, and ultimately would have been destroyed, or worse brainwashed.
Still he missed the girl something fierce, and though he knew he had no heart, knew that these feelings were just an illusion of what his former self once knew he couldn't bring himself to let go the memories they had shared.
Laying on his bed he turned over on his side, picturing her there half asleep, a smile on her face as she murmured to him the events of her day. They had their favorite spot on top of the clock tower, but it was here he felt most intimate with her, being so close, their bodies brushing and warming. He'd always found such comfort in sleep knowing she was there.
He lifted a hand pretending to brush it through her hair and soothe her to sleep. The moment caught him off guard and he grunted and sat up straight and he kicked a boot into the wall over and over letting out a growl of complaint. "Damn it!"
He flopped back down his hands behind his head and his back turned away from that spot. He took up maybe a few inches of bed leaving the rest to his imaginary image of her. He stared at the blank wall, elbows over his ears trying not to hear the haunting of her laughter in his head. fits of anger erupted in him and he could smell the toasting of his sheets as they began to catch fire.
"How many times do I have to tell you, Axel, if you're gonna burn something do it outside. I hate cleaning up your mess." Saix walked in frowning at the sight of Axel's brooding.
"Go away, pup, i'm not in the mood to deal with you." Axel grunted.
"Too bad, the superior sent me. He wants you to do a scouting job."
"Scouting?"
"Yes, as a result of your failure the key bearer has awakened and has begun her journey. He wants you to find out where she's going and inform us immediately. He's planning on a sort of introduction of the members."
Oh great, a show, just what he needed. "Fine. I'm going." He sat up, it was better than laying there grieving and moping."
"Oh and Axel," Saix spoked as they crossed paths, Axel pausing and looking over his shoulders. Saix couldn't help but let him have it. "Try to keep your heart in check."
"Ha, ha, very funny." Axel grunted and stormed his way out his room. He could do without the humor. Everyone knew, including himself, that Nobodies didn't have hearts. "Except." he thought wistfully his eyes showing pain once more as a cloud of black appeared in front of him. "maybe you, Roxas."
Sigh, I love Akuroku, I couldn't wait to get to this part of my trilogy. I love Soriku too but there's just no beating the heartbreaking story, even as friends their story is tragic, make them lovers and I promise someone's gonna be crying!
Next Chapter: Comparison