Sora & Aqua flew through the stars on the Keyblade Riders, Sora marveling at the sights he previously had been unable to see beforehand in the Gummy Ship.
"Wow…this is…this is incredible!" Sora exclaimed through his helmet as Aqua laughed.
"I know. It feels like it's been so long since I've been out here. I can feel a definite change though, like the worlds have changed." Aqua replied through her helmet.
"So do you really want to visit my homeworld?" Sora asked as Aqua nodded.
"It would probably be a good idea. You told me a while ago that you left alone on a raft. Your friends are probably very worried about you so they could use the peace of mind knowing that you're safe." Aqua replied.
"Good idea. Wow it's going to be so cool. Riku is going to be so jealous." Sora said with a smile. Aqua couldn't help but laugh. He was reminding her of Ven even more. Soon enough they saw the Destiny Islands up ahead. Sora suddenly started flying faster as they got closer and Aqua sped up to catch him. Before they knew it, they had passed through the protective shell surrounding the world…
…
On the small islet…
Kairi was sitting on the sideways tree, looking out over the ocean with a worried expression on her face. Selphie and Penelo approached her from the wooden bridge with another, older looking girl close behind. Selphie was the same as she had always been wearing her yellow one piece dress with overall straps and the pocket on her chest. In her hands was her prized jump rope.
Penelo (Final Fantasy XII) was a blond girl about sixteen years old and a little taller than Selphie but not by much. She wore a dark green spaghetti strap belly shirt under an open, knee length, suede vest, a dark green pair of mini-shorts that matched the belly shirt, and a pair of tan boots that went almost halfway up her thighs. The older girl was about eighteen years old, was taller than the two and had a light pink colored hair. Her hair was tied in a ponytail on the left side of her head which went all the way down to her chest. She wore a red pleated skirt lined with black lace, a white sleeveless dress shirt, a semi-transparent sweeper in the same style of the shirt, thigh-highs, ankle boots, and a white bandage on her left arm.
"Kairi are you still moping around?" Selphie asked. Kairi didn't even react.
"Give it up Selphie, she's worried about Sora. We all are." Penelo said as the older girl nodded in agreement.
"But she can't just mope all day. She has to cheer up sometime." Selphie replied.
"Can't you tell Selphie? She's in love." The older girl said with a smile.
"Never let it be known that Selphie Tilmitt is one to ridicule romance, Serah, but I'm not about to let Kairi just sit around and do nothing." Selphie said as she turned around towards the sideways tree only to come face to face with…
"GAH! Riku! Don't sneak up on me like that!" Selphie jumped as Riku stared at her blankly with his arms crossed.
"Selphie, just leave Kairi alone. She doesn't want any company right now. Until we know that Sora's okay, she's not going to change." Riku said as Selphie put her hands on her hips.
"Oh come on Riku!" Selphie argued as the older girl, Serah, noticed something in the sky and placed her hand on the girl's shoulder.
"Hey look, two shooting stars!" Serah said as the other three looked up to where she was pointing.
"Two shooting stars?" Riku asked.
"Yeah that sounds kinda weird. And look at the way they travel. If I didn't know any better I'd swear they were getting closer." Penelo said. They didn't notice as Kairi slid off the tree and onto her feet.
"Wait…those aren't stars." Selphie said. Down on the beach below, Tidus, Wakka, and Vaan (Final Fantasy XII) were watching the two falling objects curiously. They didn't notice as an excited smile appeared on Kairi's face.
"Sora…Sora! It's SORA!!!" Kairi exclaimed. In the air, Sora and Aqua broke the sound barrier as their Keyblade Riders flew through the sky. They started slowing down as they approached the islet where the rest of the gang was waiting. Sora and Aqua's helmets magically vanished as they started surfing across the waves with their Riders.
"GANGWAY!!!" Riku shouted to the trio in the surf when he realized that Sora and Aqua were aimed straight at the beach. The three quickly scrambled to get off the beach and they succeeded with time to spare. Aqua managed to quickly slow her Rider down, practically taking it from sixty to zero in five seconds flat without the sheer…Sora however…
"YAHHHHH-!" CRASH! FOOMP
That was the sound of Sora crashing his Rider into the beach and getting catapulted all the way into the entrance to the secret area of the islet where he got stuck.
"Ooh." The islanders and Aqua cringed in unison at the sight before hurrying over to help him out. When they found him, he was trying to push his way out with his feet pressed against the wall on either side of the entrance, leaving his bum hanging in midair above the ground. Penelo and Selphie exchanged mischievous smirks.
"Nothing like a Kodak moment." Selphie said as she pulled out a cell phone and snapped a photo of Sora's behind with it. She then proceeded to send it to everyone on her friends list with the caption "Riku's Yaoi dream" typed out below it. Riku scowled at the implication (as did the author).
"Selphie, I'm getting you back for that one." Riku said as he motioned to Wakka to help.
"Oh like I'm scared of that threat, Riku." Selphie said with a smirk.
"Threat!? That was a promise!" Riku grunted as he and Wakka started to pull on Sora's still armored legs but he wouldn't budge.
"Geez he's in there tight, ya?" Wakka grunted.
"It's that metal stuff he's wearing. If he didn't have it on he could get out no problem." Tidus said as Aqua sighed.
"Sora, lose the armor." Aqua said. Almost instantly the armor vanished and the two pulled Sora out easily.
"Wow…what a rush." Sora said as he shook his head clear of the cobwebs.
"Couldn't you have just used the gummy ship transporter?" Riku asked in frustration at having freed his friend from the crawlspace.
"I wanted to show off my new skills." Sora replied with a shrug as he stood up and dusted himself off.
"What skills?" Vaan asked. Vaan, a blond haired boy about sixteen, was wearing an open black vest with long baggy gray jogging pants with a red cloth tied around his waist.
"Yeah how to fall with style? I gave it a five point six by the way." Tidus said as Sora rolled his eyes.
"Oh come on guys. I'm back safe and sound. Weren't you worried about me?" Sora asked.
"Of course we were Sora, Kairi more than any of us." Selphie said as the people parted slightly, revealing Kairi who bolted through them and promptly threw her arms around Sora's neck.
"Sora! You're alright!" She exclaimed almost tearfully, taking Sora by surprise. He quickly however put his arms around her in return.
"I told you I'd be fine." Sora said as the two finally separated.
"So is your adventure over already? Have you found everyone you needed to?" Riku asked as he slapped his best friend on the back.
"Not all of them, but I did find one." Sora said as he looked at Aqua who smiled. "Everyone, this is Master Aqua, the last true Keyblade Master."
"Pleasure. I'm Penelo and this is Selphie." Penelo said as she and Selphie gave a polite curtsy. Then Vaan and Tidus slid up to either side of Aqua.
"Hey babe, why you hanging around with this guy huh?" Vaan said, laying on the charm causing Aqua to blush slightly.
"Yeah we're way better than Sora." Tidus added.
"Hey!" Sora complained.
"Cut it out, you two." Penelo said as she slapped Vaan upside the back of the head. Wakka did the same with Tidus.
"Sorry about them. I'm Wakka, and that was Tidus and Vaan. Welcome to the Destiny Islands. First time ya?" Wakka asked as he bowed.
"Not really. I've been here before but it was a very long time ago." Aqua replied.
"Well no matter. I'm Serah Farron, I'm the oldest here. I've been coming to these islands for years." Serah said. (A/N: Serah is from Final Fantasy XIII. I do not own her or FFXIII)
"Well, ever since she first arrived here that is." Riku corrected.
"What do you mean?" Aqua asked.
"Kairi and I arrived here at the same time so we practically grew up here on the islands. Kairi found out where she's from initially and I think I'm from the same place." Serah explained as Aqua looked at her curiously.
"Wait…Kairi? I know that name from somewhere." Aqua said.
"Did someone mention my name?" Kairi asked as she approached. She and Sora had been talking with each other prior to Aqua catching her attention.
"You're Kairi?" Aqua asked as Kairi nodded.
"Yes ma'am." Kairi replied respectfully. Aqua looked at her curiously.
"You're a Princess of Heart aren't you?" Aqua asked as Kairi looked at her surprised. Riku was surprised as well.
"How did you know?" Kairi asked as Aqua smirked and summoned her Keyblade.
"This is how. That…and we've met before. Once eleven years ago in Radiant Garden. I doubt you remember, you were only a small girl back then." Aqua said as Kairi looked at her in awe. Now Sora was interested.
"You knew me back when I lived in Radiant Garden?" Kairi asked in amazement.
"I did. You also gave me a bushel of flowers once." Aqua said as Kairi blinked in confusion.
"I did? Wait…" Kairi said as she held out her hand and in an instant the flowery Keyblade that Riku had handed in the Castle that Never Was appeared in her hand.
"Oh so that's what happened to the old Destiny Place Keyblade. I guess it's yours now, considering you're a Princess of Heart and all." Aqua said as Kairi looked at the Keyblade.
"I remember now. You…and the King…you both saved me from some kind of monsters…once long ago." Kairi said as the memories flowed back to her.
"Huh. Now how about that? Kairi and Aqua's paths have crossed before." Riku said as Aqua smiled at the youth.
"As a protector of Kingdom Hearts and all those that are associated with it, such as Kairi, we were destined to meet." Aqua said as Sora chuckled.
"And then meet again on the Destiny Islands." Sora added.
"How amazing. Just goes to show how this island gets its name. The destinies of people in every world somehow wind up starting, meeting up, or ending here or with someone from here." Selphie said as Penelo nodded.
"Oh, Aqua, I never introduced you to my best friend Riku." Sora said as Riku gave a courteous nod to the Keyblade Master.
"It's an honor." Riku said as Aqua gave him a nod in return.
"You never told me that you were friends with another Keyblade wielder, Sora." Aqua said before turning to Riku, "…and before you ask how I know, Riku, I can tell by your heart. Which…is rather…concerning."
"What is?" Riku asked.
"Your heart's been scarred by darkness. A very powerful and…familiar darkness." Aqua said as Riku looked away from her slightly.
"Oh yeah. Xehanort." Riku said as Aqua sighed.
"Xehanort? I was afraid of that." Aqua mumbled as she turned away slightly.
"Hey, what's with all the long faces all of a sudden?" Tidus asked.
"Ya! This is supposed to be a happy place!" Wakka added.
"We all know that Sora's okay and he brought home a blue haired babe. The fact alone that he was even able to pick up a girl and bring her home is worth celebrating." Vaan added, earning un-amused looks from Sora, Riku, Kairi, and Penelo, a silent red cheeked snicker from Aqua, and two smiling, shaking heads from Serah and Selphie.
…
Soon they were all walking down Main Street of the main island.
"So…what is there to do around here?" Aqua asked.
"What is there to do?! Is she seriously asking that question?" Tidus asked amused.
"I think she just did, ya?" Wakka replied.
"I thought you said you were here once a long time ago?" Serah asked.
"I was but that was eleven years ago." Aqua replied.
"Eleven years?! Dang you look awesome for your age. How old are you anyway? OW! What was that for?" Vaan asked upon receiving a slap upside the head from Penelo.
"Idiot, you don't ask a woman their age, it's impolite." Penelo replied.
"Since when has Penelo been a woman?" Tidus mumbled to Wakka and Riku. Wakka snickered while Riku rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"To answer your question, I'm technically still only nineteen. I suppose though that I'm probably thirty now. I was trapped in the Realm of Darkness that whole time and time flows differently there." Aqua explained as Riku nodded.
"I know the feeling." Riku replied.
"But seriously, she just asked what there is to do here! I say we roll out the unofficial Destiny Islands anthem." Tidus said, earning comments of uncertainty from the rest of the group.
"Oh come on guys, it'll be fun." Kairi pleaded.
"Yeah come on. Just once okay?" Sora asked as the rest of the group shrugged.
"Oh alright." Riku replied. A nearby street jazz ensemble, playing in the shade of a nearby building overhang in white and red striped outfits with matching straw hats overheard and the pianist gave a nod to the others. He then started plunking out a tune on his piano as the group walked past. (Music Cue: "Down in New Orleans" from Disney's Princess & the Frog)
Aqua was noticeably curious, but still amused as she tapped her foot in beat to the music and the rest of the band joined in. Finally Sora started singing…
"In that great void, there's a city,
way down on the water."
Then he and the boys sang in unison…
"Where the women are very pretty…"
And the girls replied with…
"…And all the men deliver."
Then Riku started singing, pointing to the jazz band nearby…
"We've got music,
it's always playing."
Then Kairi added…
"Start in the day time, go all through the night.
When ya hear that music playing."
Then Serah sang…
"Hear what we're saying, it makes ya feel alright."
Then Vaan added…
"Grab somebody, come on down.
Bring your paintbrush, we're paintin' the town."
Then Wakka threw in…
"Oh there's some sweetness goin' 'round!"
…as Tidus jumped in and added…
"Catch it down in Des-ti-ny."
Aqua laughed slightly at the antics of the two boys as Penelo shoved them both out of the way before Sora took back over, singing…
"We've got magic…"
As Kairi added,
"…Good…"
And Riku replied,
"…and bad."
Then it was Penelo's turn as she sang…
"Make you happy but never really sad.
Get everything you want, more than what'cha had…"
Then Serah added…
"…Down here in Des-ti-ny."
Aqua then felt Sora give her a friendly nudge as he sang…
"Hey partner, don't be shy.
You came on down here, so give us a try.
If ya wanna do some living before we dive,
do it down in Des-ti-ny."
Sora said as Aqua chuckled. She then started marveling at some of the buildings downtown that were once stately houses and mansions by the looks of them. Kairi and Riku apparently noticed as Kairi started singing…
" Stately homes and mansions…"
And Riku added…
"…of the Island Barons and Forgotten Kings."
Finally Sora finished with…
"Rich people, old people, we've all got dreams.
Dreams do come true in Des-ti-ny."
(End Music).
"So…whaddya think?" Serah asked as Aqua smiled.
"I thought it was nice. Probably should be in a commercial or something." Aqua said with a laugh. None of them were aware that Pete was watching them from nearby with a mean smile on his face.
End Chapter 6.
The song above was an altered version of "Down in New Orleans" from Disney's "The Princess and the Frog." I call this new version "Down in Destiny."