Chapter 13: Station Of Awakening

AN: Yeah, so my best friend has informed me that this chapter is pretty much filler. Enjoy nonetheless. Keep an eye on my profile for updates.

-April 4, 2009-

Sora's POV

Was I drowning?

I gently floated through the darkness. Undetermined time passed. I felt my feet touch solid ground. But there was only darkness. Frowning, I stepped forward. The darkness below my feet fluttered away, breaking into small doves. I covered my face with my arms from the bright light that was revealed. When I lowered them, I observed I was standing on a green platform with an image of a raven haired woman in a yellow and blue dress and seven men's faces.

"So much to do..." I looked around for the source of the melodic young man's voice, "So little time... Take your time... Don't be afraid... The door is still shut... Now step forward... Can you do it?"

I stepped closer to the middle of the platform, but there was still only darkness as my company. Three short pillars rose from the ground at different edges of the platform with floating weapons. One with a sword, another with a shield, and the third with a staff.

"Power sleeps within you. If you give it form... It will give you strength. Choose well." The voice faded.

"Go for the shield this time!" This new voice was female. It sounded very far away.

Cautiously, I walked over to the shield's platform. I grasped the bands on the back with one hand and held the edge with the other, "You've chosen the power of the guardian. Kindness to aid friends. A shield to repel all. Is this the power you seek?" After a short moment of hesitation, I nodded.

The shield disappeared in a ball of light from my hands, "Your path is set. Now what will you give up in exchange?"

The far away female's voice spoke once more, "I really think you should give up the sword, if you chose the shield. This way it's purely for protection. You can save everyone."

I bit my lip for a moment before calling out to the voice, "Who are you?"

Silence met my ears.

With a small sigh, I stared at the sword for a prolonged moment before grasping the hilt with one hand and gently holding the blade in the other. The male's voice returned, "The power of the warrior. Invincible courage. A sword of terrible destruction. You give up this power?"

I nodded slowly. The sword disappeared in a ball of light, "You've chosen the power of the guardian. You've given up the power of the warrior. Is this the form you choose?"

After I had nodded, the last weapon disappeared into a ball of light and the small platforms snapped and sank diagonally into the floor. The floor beneath my feet shattered. I gasped, falling through the darkness once more. I felt the shards slicing my skin thinly, not deeply. My feet once more gently landed on solid ground.

This time I stood on a purple platform with an image of a blonde woman in a silvery blue dress. The shield materialised in my hands.

The male's voice from before spoke, "You've gained the power to fight. Use this power to protect yourself and others. There will be times you have to fight. Keep your light burning strong."

Small shadows seeped up from the floor, solidifying into large bug-like creatures with glowing golden yellow eyes. I fought against them until they had all disappeared.

"Behind you!" The female voice from before gasped. Her voice sounded more prominent.

I spun around just in time to block the oncoming claws of the creature that had pounced. I fought a few more of the shadows. Darkness began swirling beneath my feet. I gasped, clawing at the air, as I was sucked into its clutches.

I clawed and clawed before gasping. My eyes shot open. I looked around and felt the floor beneath me. Another platform. This red one was of a blonde woman in a magenta dress with thorns twirling around behind her. A brown door stood at the edge of the platform.

On the other side of the door was not what I had expected. I stood on the lookout of the play island I lived on. Three of my friends stood at different points.

The mysterious male's voice spoke once more, "The door won't open just yet. First, tell me more about yourself."

I walked over to the curled up brunette in a yellow dress, "Selphie-"

"What's most important to you?" She hadn't let me speak and what's more is her eyes were glossy and empty.

I frowned for a moment before answering, "Friendship."

She sighed, "Is friendship such a big deal?"

I didn't have a response to that and decided to speak to my short dirty blond friend, "Tidus-"

He didn't let me speak either and his eyes were the same as Selphie's, "What are you so afraid of?"

I swallowed thickly before answering, "...Getting old I guess?"

"Getting old? Is that really so scary?" He sighed.

I shook my head with a mirrored sigh before stepping over to my tall tan friend, "Wakka-"

Once more I wasn't able to finish and his eyes were glossy and empty, "What do you want outta life?"

I thought for a moment, "Hm... To be strong."

"To be strong, huh?" He sighed.

The young male's voice spoke, "You want friendship. You're afraid of getting old. You want to be strong. Your adventure begins at midday."

I shrugged, staring out to the endless ocean, "Sounds good."

"The day you will open the door is both far off and very near." Darkness captured my senses once again.

When the darkness receded, I observed that I stood on another platform. This yellow one had an image of a brunette woman in a golden yellow dress, a brown beast behind her. I stepped closer to the middle of the platform.

I began panicking as the man's voice spoke, "The closer you get to the light..." My own shadow began lifting from the floor and stood on its own, "The greater your shadow becomes..." The shadow grew and grew until it was undistinguishable from when it had been attached to me. The shield materialised in my hands, "But don't be afraid and don't forget..."

I shielded the creature's attacks and attempted my own, but none were working. It was then that I noticed a swirling ball of darkness behind the creature. But it didn't feel like the same darkness. When the darkness had dissipated, a short brunette was standing on the edge.

Her chestnut eyes flickered with uncertainty between the creature and I for a few moments before she put her hands to her mouth, "Sora!"

My eyes widened and I almost didn't block the creature's claws. Her voice! It was the one I had heard before!

She gasped, "Sora! Hit its hands! That's its weak point!"

With a nod of acknowledgement, I attacked. It was a dance soon after and the girl was forced to dodge the creature as well. The smaller bug-like shadows soon materialized. I fought them off but when I looked back to check on the girl, I gasped. The creature had her trapped at the very edge. The creature was too close for her to run beneath it or dodge its raised claws.

Without a second thought I took the moment of opportunity of its raised arm. There was enough room for me to run and grab her. I tackled her and we both went soaring off the edge of the platform. I wrapped my arms around her and she tightened hers around me, burying her head in my chest.

The male's voice from before sounding far away and blocked by static, "But don't be afraid. You hold the mightiest weapon of all. So don't forget... You are the one who will open the door."