LORE!
If you haven't checked my tumblr or Deviantart (KristenKHVerne), there is a lore dump for Radiant Garden there! I'll be doing Destiny Islands next!
So… enjoy the chapter!
Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy © to Disney and Square Enix!
Star Ocean © to Square Enix!
Final Fantasy © to Square Enix!
All OCs © to their respective creators!
Chapter 23: Scavenger Hunt
"Mom, I'm not five anymore."
"I know, but still. It's your birthday. And we want to celebrate you."
Isa blinked as he stared in the mirror, his hair dripping after his shower.
He remembered.
He remembered his last birthday before the world fell.
And today was his first birthday after being recompleted.
"Wonder if the others forgot." He muttered with a smirk.
Roxas was way too hung up on his journalism stuff to notice. And that wasn't a bad thing, it was wonderful to see him coming out of his shell. He'd recently taken to collecting newspapers as a way to take notes and learn to write better articles. It wouldn't be surprising if he went into journalism as a career one day. He certainly loved it right now.
Xion was in the middle of play stuff. Rehearsals every night, only to come home and finish what homework she didn't finish backstage. And there was also the other girls that came around every weekend. It made Isa smile. While she was still quiet and reserved, she enjoyed having more friends and trying new things.
Axel's script for his movie got accepted a week ago. He was now in charge of a lot more areas of production. It was his film, and partially his story. Isa read the script over before it was submitted. The story still flowed the same, and many of the same names were used, though some appearances were changed, namely himself and the main cast. Isa couldn't help but be proud of the friend he'd constantly teased in school for being lazy. Now he was making movies.
And anyways-
It was just a birthday.
He didn't really care much. Honestly, if they forgot, he didn't plan to say anything.
His only plan was to take Kosho out for a long walk and spend the day relaxing.
Coming out of the bathroom, he nearly tripped over Kosho sitting directly outside.
"Kosho!" He chuckled. "How many times do I have t-"
As the dog stood up, Isa noticed a piece of rolled up paper tucked in his collar.
"What's this?" Pulling it out with one hand as he petted the dog with the other.
Unrolling it, his eyes widened.
"No way…"
Isa shook his head as he took the rolled up piece of paper from his mother. She smirked down at him, her deep green eyes shining.
Always so confident.
Unrolling the paper, he read: 'Training for destruction. Blue with blue. Gold with blue is where your next clue lies.'
Rolling his eyes, the boy glanced to his mom. "Seriously?"
"You said last year was too easy. You brought this on yourself."
Fine.
'Training for destruction.' Isa looked over the clue.
Training.
So, maybe the gym or… wait…
'Blue with blue.'
"I'm going to find Dad."
"Happy birthday."
"Love you too."
The boy went to the training yards for the guard. Yep, there was his dad.
With his BLUE hair, holding his glowing BLUE sword.
But his dad wasn't just going to give him his next clue. That would be too easy.
'Gold with blue is where your next clue lies.'
Watching his dad train for a few minutes, Isa rolled his eyes. The next two riddles wouldn't be this easy. They never were.
When his dad sat down to take a break, Isa walked over.
"Hey Isa!" He smiled happily, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Happy birthday!" He held out an arm for a side-hug, and his son gave it to him.
The boy looked down at the sword. "Can I have the clue on the hilt of your sword?"
"I knew you'd figure it out." Reaching to the sword, he pulled off another piece of rolled paper.
A hand dropped on Isa's shoulder and he looked back to see a man with short spiked red hair. "Hi Mr. Reno."
"Hey kiddo!" Lea's dad grinned. "Your mom made another one of those scavenger hunts for you again?"
"Yeah."
"Nice!"
'Find your first clue with an old friend of ours. It's ok that he's a bit cold and blue. He can be nice and sweet too.'
Ok.
So they didn't forget.
But riddles?
He hadn't done a scavenger hunt for his birthday since… before the fall.
He'd play along.
"Kosho, let's go boy." He looked down at the note. The riddle wasn't too difficult, but they weren't as experience at making riddles as his mother had been. She did scavenger hunts for his birthday ever since he could read.
He felt his heart warm.
They walked out of the mansion and into town.
And straight to Mr. Jabez's ice cream shop.
The old man grinned as he saw Isa. "So I hear it's your birthday today. Happy birthday!"
"Thank you. And I assume you have something for me."
"I think I do." He handed Isa a bar of sea salt ice cream. "Happy birthday."
"Thank you."
Now this ice cream did have a piece of paper wrapped around the handle.
Clue number one.
'Like a sunset cloud, flying in red, a friend's compliment warms the heart like a fire.'
Fire and friend probably meant Lea, but what else?
Lea was probably at home, chilling, waiting on Isa… as he usually did on the weekend.
Going to Lea's house, he saw the bucket of outdoor toys they played with.
And one in particular.
Seriously?
Lea couldn't hide it better.
Picking up the frisbee, Isa found a note attached to it as the door opened.
"No fair! You were supposed to come begging for help and I graciously tease you with hints until you found it."
"Then hide it better next time."
Lea pouted. "Shut up and read the stupid riddle."
Isa smirked. Opening it up.
'Find your second clue outside a place parents love and kids might like. We like to go there every day. -Xion'
Isa smiled.
The riddles were nowhere near as complicated as his mom's had been, but he could see the effort put into them.
Taking the note in hand, and munching down on the ice cream, Isa walked to the school. Sitting next to the sign was a little rolled piece of paper with a small pen next to it.
A pen with teddy bears on it.
Pocketing the pen with a grin, he opened the next note.
'Hold them fast, guard them well. Keep trouble out. Listen for creaking when people come sneaking.'
"What's it say?"
"None of your business."
This one was a bit more vague, but he had an idea.
As he started to leave, a hand grabbed his shoulder. "Wait, happy birthday!" As Isa turned, Lea shoved a bag into his hands. "Open it!"
"Fine." Reaching into the bag, Isa pulled out a vest with a moon stitched onto it. "Thank you."
"You're welcome! And happy birthday!"
With a soft smile, Isa put the vest on and continued toward the castle.
The sneaking section probably referred to him and Lea getting caught sneaking into the castle a few times.
But where on the castle…
Oh!
He broke into a run, hurrying toward the castle gates.
Skidding to a stop nearby, he saw Dilan and Aeleus patrolling outside the gates.
Were they in on this or not?
"Excuse me." He walked over, both men pausing to look down at him. "Is there a note tied to the gate?"
"You mean this one?" Dilan held it up. "We found it earlier."
"Yeah, my mom put it there. It's a birthday tradition of hers to do a scavenger hunt across town for me. It's my last clue."
The guard handed the note down to him.
"Thank you."
'Fight, fight, fight. For fun or to make a point. Find the last clue where this happens. -Roxas'
The sandlot.
He'd certainly have to exaggerate how hard these riddles were.
Not that he could write them any better, to be fair.
That was always his mom's deal.
He and his dad tried for her once, but it wasn't as good as hers.
Walking to the sandlot, he saw Hayner, Pence, and Olette hanging out.
Pence saw him first. "Hi, Isa."
"Hi. Have you three seen a note around here?"
"And if we have?"
Oh… so this is how it was going to be.
Hayner smirked, hefting up a struggle bat. "Beat me in a match and I'll hand it over."
"Fine." Picking up a struggle bat, Isa turned to his dog. "Kosho, stay."
The dog sat down, tongue lolling out as Olette went over, showering him with pets.
"This won't take long."
And it didn't.
Hayner fell on his backside within a minute. "You're really strong… And I've been practicing."
"I can tell, but you also weren't trying. Now, the note."
Tossing up the note, Hayner stood up as Isa unwrapped it.
Inside was one of those ice cream sticks with the word 'winner' on it. You could get a free ice cream with one of these.
Did Roxas save this to give to him?
'In the arms of your mother and father, you find peace and safety. Come back to where it all began, and find your surprise.'
They usually ended with him going back home.
He didn't mind.
His mother always left a kind note in how she told him to come home.
Walking home, he opened the door.
He could smell her homemade brownies.
His smile only grew as he stepped into the kitchen, seeing the pan of brownies, topped with candles. His mom and dad stood beside them, holding a present in their arms.
"Happy birthday!"
Birthdays were special.
Isa ran into their arms, hugging them before he took the present and opened it.
"I know you practice on the one at school, so here is one of your own."
"Really!?"
Tears welled up in Isa's eyes as he hugged them again.
"Thank you so much!"
He loved the present… the last present his parents gave him.
Too bad he'd never use it again.
'You know how this works by now. You're a professional. Get your butt back home. -Axel'
A laugh escaped Isa's lips as he read the note.
And Lea was the worst at riddles, but he didn't care.
"Kosho, come!"
"Happy birthday!" Hayner, Pence, and Olette called after him as he left.
"Thank you!"
Walking briskly home, Isa felt his heart warm.
The last time he did this… it was only a few weeks before the fall.
As he approached the mansion, he couldn't help but shed a tear or two at the memory of his parents.
He opened the door.
And froze.
That… smell…
It smelled just like the brownies his mom used to make.
Not taking the time to close the door, he hurried into the kitchen.
"Happy birthday!"
Xion stood behind a pan of brownies, while Roxas and Lea stood beside her.
"Did you like it? Axel said that was the… what was that word?"
"Tradition."
"Yes! The tradition your mom had."
Holding back tears, Isa nodded. "Yes, you did a great job. Thank you."
"And we have something else for you." Axel grabbed a wrapped present. "Happy birthday."
Isa gently took the package and opened it.
But…
When he saw what was inside… all the walls he built broke.
Tears fell down his face.
"I know this was the last thing your parents got you," Axel spoke softly, "and I know it was lost during the fall. So, we got you a new one."
His fingers trembling, Isa reached down and picked up the violin.
"I-I…"
Arms wrapped around him as Xion ran over and hugged him. "Are you happy?"
"Very."
Roxas wiped his eyes. "This was kind of her idea. She asked Axel if your family did anything for birthdays, and he helped us do this."
"Thank you, all of you."
Xion looked down at the instrument. "Do you remember how to play?"
"Would you like me to play something?"
"If you want to."
Gently lifting the instrument to his chin, he grabbed the bow. "I hope it's tuned."
"I asked the seller to tune it." Axel laughed. "Give me some credit."
"Never."
Drawing the bow across the strings, the gentle melody floated through the house.
Everyone stood, watching as he played.
When he lowered the bow, and set the instrument down, he smiled. "Thank you so much."
"You're welcome." Xion hugged him again, and this time, Roxas and Axel joined.
Isa loved this… his family.
"Now," Axel pulled back, "let's eat!"
"When did you have time to make these?"
"Why do you think we got you out of the house?"
"Sneaky."
"Oh, your mom did it too, and you know it."
"Shut up."
Ahhhh!
I cried at this chapter!
*sniff* why do I do this to myself?
VAs:
Fayt Leigod- Steve Staley (Fayt Leingod, Neji Hyuga, Toshiro Hitsugaya, McGillis Fareed)
Reno Mills- Arnie Pantoja (Reno, Kazuma Satou, Pegasus Tenma, Watchdog Man)
