"Be careful, okay?" Kairi said as she held her son close, and Sora returned her hug and smiled. "You can come home any time."
"I know," Sora replied as he looked up at her. "I'll be back soon, Mom. And I'll look after myself."
"Good." She kissed his forehead and stroked his hair gently before releasing him. "I love you, Sora."
"Love you too, Mom." He grinned and turned to his father. "You too, Dad." Riku nodded and hugged his son as well.
"Just keep everything we've taught you in mind and you'll do fine. And remember what Ven said about asking for help." Sora nodded again.
"I will," he said and turned toward one of the open pathways between the worlds. "I'll see you soon!" He waved with a smile on his face, and his parents waved back. He turned back to the path and took a deep breath, calming his nerves, and he stepped into it. He found himself walking through a corridor of light and felt an odd sensation that he could only describe as a desire to summon his Keyblade as he traversed between the worlds. Curiously, he glanced up to a bright light ahead, and picked up his pace until he passed through it.
"Mmrph!" he grunted as he found himself underwater, though thankfully not too far from the surface. He swam up and gasped for air, shaking out his hair a little. "Sheesh, I'll need to talk to Master Ven about putting these entrances in better places." He wiped the saltwater from his eyes and looked around. On the nearby shore, he found a castle with a large wall dividing it from the sea, and in the distance around it he saw large groups of people heading toward the castle itself.
The sound of a splash caught his attention, and he turned himself around and found a girl with black hair pulled into a ponytail swimming around nearby. She climbed up on one of the larger rocks sticking out of the water's surface. She sat down and smiled brightly as she looked through the bag she carried with her.
"Excuse me!" he called and waved, and she looked up, alarmed, and nearly fell off the rock. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you!" he said as he swam over. She ducked behind the rock and peered over it, worry apparent on her face.
"Please, please, PLEASE don't tell my mom I was out here," she nearly begged. "She'd flip."
"Uh, okay," Sora nodded. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone." He smiled and climbed up onto the rock on the side opposite of her, holding his hand out. "I'm Sora." She smiled and took his hand briefly.
"Thanks, Sora," she replied. "I'm Melody. So, what brings you out to sea?" He blinked and scratched his head.
"Just… going for a swim?" He smiled shyly. "Couldn't help myself." She nodded.
"I know what you mean," she said as she looked out to the horizon. "It's so wonderful. So much to explore, so many cool things, and it's beautiful."
"Melody!" both she and Sora jumped as they found a small red crab joining them on the rock, and he didn't look pleased.
"Hi, Sebastian," Melody greeted with a grin.
"Melody, child, you know you shouldn't be out here," Sebastian scolded. "If your mother knew that you-"
"I know, I know," Melody interrupted. "Oh, Sebastian… I can't help it." She got to her feet. "I just love the sea!" She dove into the water with a splash, spraying Sora and dowsing Sebastian. "Oops," she said once she'd surfaced. "Sorry."
"No problem," Sora replied with a smile, then looked down at the crab. "So, why can't she be out here?" Both Sebastian and Melody looked at him, surprised.
"Wait, you can talk to him?" she asked, and he shrugged and nodded.
"This troublemaking young lady has been told time and time again that she is not allowed in the sea," Sebastian explained gruffly. "But here she is, deliberately disobeying her mother!"
"Come on, Sebastian," Melody pleaded. "She'd never understand. What is it she has against the sea anyway?" Sebastian frowned, and after a moment, she sighed. "I can't just stay on dry land… I'm meant to be out here."
"Why don't you just tell your mom how you feel?" Sora wondered as he shrugged off his jacket to lay it out to dry.
"Oh, yes, let's go to your mother and tell her you've been out here…" Sebastian grumbled. "Swimming in the ocean!" he suddenly jumped, exasperated. "That would be quite a party…" Melody gasped and looked up.
"The party!" She whipped her head around toward the castle. "I almost forgot… I gotta go." She dove into the water again and Sebastian scuttled after her, calling for her. "Nice meeting you!" she waved at Sora, and he waved back with a slightly confused smile.
"You too!" he replied as he lowered his hand. "What was that all about?" He looked from the castle out to the horizon where the sea met the sky. "I wonder what her mother is so afraid of… I know she's young, but she seems like she can take care of herself." He frowned as his gaze returned to the castle. "Maybe I should go check it out…" He picked up his jacket and pulled it on. "So much for drying off." With that, he jumped back into the water and swam toward shore, climbing out at a bridge in the castle town where he found quite a bit of bustling activity. He ducked around a corner and into an alleyway, then summoned his Keyblade.
"Okay… I hope this works." He lifted it above him. "Wind!" A light sparked from it and the breeze picked up around him, creating several gusts that managed to improve his clothes from soaked to damp. "That's better." He headed back into town and caught up with the people heading toward the castle. "Excuse me," he said, catching the attention of a passerby. "Do you know a girl named Melody?"
"What kind of question is that, boy?" the passerby inquired. "What do you think all this is for? It's Princess Melody's birthday." Sora stopped walking and the passerby snorted as he went on his way.
"Princess?" Sora blinked. "She's a princess?" He looked up at the castle. "Then… That means her mother is the queen." He frowned and scratched his head. "This just got a little more difficult… Maybe I can slip in during this party and see if anything happens." He started walking with the slowly thinning crowd toward the castle itself, trying to calm his nerves. He kept his head down and kept pace with the people around him until he had made it inside, and he quickly broke away from the other guests and looked around.
"Let's see…" He said to himself. "Maybe I can catch someone talking about the Heartless or something… Can't really just ask them myself." He started down one of the halls, trying to keep his footsteps light and as quiet as possible.
"Melody!" he heard a voice call and stopped short as a red-haired woman came around the corner, and her gaze immediately fell on him.
"Shoot," he muttered as she looked him over, surprised. "Um…"
"Well, hello there," she greeted as she approached him with a gentle smile on her face. "Are you lost?"
"Yeah," he said, frowning. "I'm… looking for a bathroom?" Her smile grew as her eyes sparkled with humor.
"Mm-hmm…" She shook her head. "Let's try this again. What's your name, young man?"
"Sora, ma'am," he replied. "My name is Sora." Her brow rose.
"Sora?" She tilted her head slightly. "It's been a while since I heard that name. I once knew another boy named Sora. He helped me through a lot of difficult times." Sora looked down for a moment.
"Did he have something like this?" he asked and held his hand out to the side, then summoned his Keyblade, startling her.
"Yes!" she laughed. "You know him?" He dismissed his Keyblade and shrugged.
"No, I never met him." He shook his head. "He died a couple of years before I was born. My parents were his best friends and named me after him." The woman's smile faded and her eyes darkened.
"Oh, Sora…" she murmured. "That's horrible… I…" She fell silent and closed her eyes. "He was such a good friend and so kind... I can't believe I'll never see him again." She shook herself from the grief and returned her attention to her visitor. "But I suppose it's not the time to think about things like that. I'm trying to find my daughter, Melody. You haven't seen her while you were 'looking for a bathroom,' have you?" He blushed with embarrassment, and she smiled.
"No, ma'am," he shook his head. "Sorry."
"I wonder if she's out in the gardens," she said as she looked up. "Well, Sora, you're more than welcome to stay for the party if you'd like. If anyone asks, just tell them the queen said it was okay." He smiled and dipped his head.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." She smiled and started walking away. "Oh, wait!" he spun around and she turned toward him again, curious. "Have you seen anything weird? Any… monsters? Things called Heartless?" Her eyes widened, but she shook her head.
"No, not for quite some time," she said. "Should I be concerned?"
"No, not at all," he smiled. "I just figured I'd check as long as I was here." She nodded.
"Thank you, Sora." She smiled warmly. "I'll see you later. Enjoy the party!" With that, she left, and he crossed his arms and looked down.
"No Heartless… Then why is it so bad an idea for Melody to go out in the ocean?" he wondered. "Maybe I should stick around a little longer." He smiled a little. "No hurt in going to the party for a little while." He started back through the halls and caught up with the crowd of guests again, heading for the ballroom.
A little while later, Sora stood near the wall and scanned over all the people in fancy suits and dresses and poofy pants, and more than once he had received a confused look in regards to his wardrobe. His thoughts drifted to the necklace he wore and the magic Ventus had given him, wondering if a quick change was possible. But before he had a chance to ponder it any longer, the crowd fell silent and turned their collective attention to the grand staircase where the queen and who Sora assumed was the king appeared, and an old man stood to the side.
"Announcing her royal highness," he said, "Princess Melody." Sure enough, Melody started down the stairs, a nervous smile on her face as she held up the skirt of her pink dress so she wouldn't trip on her way down. She certainly did seem more comfortable in the water than on the stairs. Many of the guests bowed to her as she reached the ballroom floor, and after a moment, a young man approached her and offered his hand to her.
"Hi," he greeted a bit shyly. "Would you… like to dance?" Melody glanced at her mother, who gave her an encouraging nod, and she turned back to the young man.
"Sure, okay," she replied and took his hand, and the two made their way to the center of the ballroom. Music began to play and Sora watched as the two started to dance. Melody didn't seem very confident in her steps, but slowly relaxed as the music continued and she found her rhythm. She looked up from her feet shyly and her dance partner gave her a warm smile.
But suddenly, he stifled a grunt of pain and Melody's eyes widened as he suddenly pulled away from her. He held up his hand to find a certain red crab had pinched his finger and refused to let go, and he started waving his arm around in a panic in an attempt to dislodge him. Sebastian all but screamed as he lost his grip and went flying, landing with a crash nearby. Melody rushed over to him and knelt down.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry," she said. "Are you okay, Sebastian?"
"That's it," Sebastian grumbled as he stood back up. "I'm too old for this!"
"I really am sorry," Melody said again.
"Who's she talking to?" someone called, and she looked up.
"She's talking to a crab!" another jeered, and many of the guests started laughing. Sora bit his lip and tried to find a way through the crowd as Melody glanced around, her hurt and embarrassment evident on her face. She covered her face with her hands, then wrapped her arms around herself.
"Melody!" Sora called, but either she ignored him or didn't hear him, and she ran back toward the stairs and past her parents. Her mother started after her, but stopped as she ran out of sight, and the queen sighed softly.
"Ew, look at it," some guest was saying, and Sora turned his attention to the group that had gathered around Sebastian. "Look at those pinchers!"
"Looks delicious to me," another said. "I love steamed crab!"
"Coming through!" Sora earned several grunts of protest as he shoved his way through and picked Sebastian up, then ran for the ballroom's exit with a few jeers following him. Once he was away from the commotion, he looked down at the crab in his hands. "Wow, tough crowd," he muttered. "Are you okay, Sebastian?"
"Yes, yes…" Sebastian groaned. "A crab my age shouldn't have to be a babysitter. If the sea king hadn't-" His eyes widened and he clamped his pinchers over his mouth.
"Sea king?" Sora echoed.
"Sea king?" Sebastian smiled sheepishly. "I meant… Um…" He frowned. "I will speak no more of this matter! Now please be kind enough to put me down."
"Let me get you out of here first," Sora said. "Wouldn't want you to be somebody's dinner." He hurried through the castle to the main gates and headed outside, then traced his way around the wall to a small beach where he set Sebastian down in the sand.
"Thank you," Sebastian said, and Sora nodded. "Poor girl. She's just like her mother…"
"Is there anything we can do for her?" Sora asked, crouching down closer to the crab's height. "I mean, is it weird she can talk to you? I understand you just fine."
"Humans can't usually talk to us sea folk," Sebastian replied. "Which begs the question: Why can YOU?" Sora shrugged.
"Why can Melody?" he asked, and Sebastian huffed and turned around. "Okay, okay. I get the picture."
"Sora?" He looked up and got to his feet as he found Melody approaching him. Her eyes were stained a shade of red and her muscles were tense. "What are you doing here?"
"Just making sure your little friend got out safely," he replied as he pointed at Sebastian. "I'm sorry about what happened, Melody. People can be pretty nasty." She shook her head.
"That doesn't matter," she said and held up a golden locket shaped like a clam. "Do you know what this is?"
"Uh, no," he said as he took a closer look at it. She took a breath, then opened it up. From it rose up a watery bubble showing an image of an undersea castle with merfolk swimming around it, and it played a song like a music box.
"I always thought Atlantica was more than just an old fish tale," she said. "And there has to be a reason this locket has my name on it. And…" she looked down as she shut it. "My mom won't tell me." She looked back up with a determined look in her eyes. "And if I can't find answers here, I'll just have to go somewhere else."
"But Melody!" Sebastian protested as she made her way to a rocky alcove and grunted as she pulled a rowboat out from within it. "You can't just go out into the sea by yourself!"
"I've gotta figure this out," she replied. Sora frowned and walked over to her.
"Nothing can change your mind?" he asked, and she looked up to him.
"Not until I find out what this locket means," she said. "Please don't tell my mom and dad." He took a deep breath and nodded, then helped her shove the boat into the water.
"Melody!" Sebastian argued as he scuttled over the sand, but she ignored him and climbed into the boat, taking hold of the oars.
"See you later, Sora," she said. "Thanks again." He only nodded as she started rowing away with Sebastian calling after her. The crab groaned and turned around, glaring at the young Keyblade wielder.
"Fantastic," he grumbled. "What do I do now?!" Sora didn't bother replying, instead lost in thought as he watched Melody's boat disappear in the growing darkness of night. He looked up at Kingdom Hearts shining among the stars.
"I can't let her go alone," he thought aloud. "There has to be a reason why she's not allowed in the sea." He frowned and cupped his hand around his necklace. "And maybe I have to go into the sea to find out." He looked down at Sebastian and smiled. "Don't worry. I'll go after her." Sebastian stared at him as he stepped into the water and dove in, swimming out until the castle was nearly lost from sight. He closed his eyes and focused on the magic his master had given him, and a light sparked from his necklace and covered his body. He felt strange as his legs melded together and gasped as he suddenly found he couldn't keep his head above water, and he held his breath as he slipped under the surface. But strangely, he didn't feel stifled by the water, and he very carefully took a breath. Sure enough, he found he could breathe just fine.
He opened his eyes and looked himself over, and a grin grew on his face. He'd lost pretty much any shred of clothing save his necklace, and instead had a long, dark blue tail like a fish. He looked up around the water as moonlight streamed into it, illuminating dancing seaweed and other plants below.
"Wow…" he marveled as he kicked his new tail, jerking himself through the water. "Okay, this is gonna take some getting used to." He angled himself forward and struggled for a bit to figure out how to move in the direction he wanted, but after getting a decent hold on it, he started swimming in the direction Melody had left in.