Sora could feel his consciousness slipping away, as the keyblade user, could feel the keyblade being plunged into his heart, sure Donald and Goofy would have told him it was hasty, and his mom would have called him a fool, and something insulting or maybe foolish akin to his uncle, but it was the only way to save Kairi, and stop Ansem. Sure options were limited, but when an evil mastermind takes over your friend and threatens to plunge the universe into darkness, what else could Sora have done?
Donald and Goofy were trapped behind a magic barrier, Mom still didn't have her heart leaving her an empty shell, and his aunt and uncle were fighting an army of heartless with their friends. Sora could only attempt to stop the madness known as Ansem from developing even further. So rushing into fight Riku was the best idea he had, as they had literal minutes on the clock before the universe would sink into the abyss, and untold suffering would happen.
Although Sora was confused at what was happening it was like he was sinking deeper into an ocean of colors, only able to spot little things from his journey, like Ariel's cave, or the clocktower in Neverland. Sora's expression quickly turned from sadness to confusion, as the deeper he fell the more older and bizarre memories started to appear. Seeing his family fighting being captured to save his aunt Serah, fighting the monstrous Galaeth as he loomed over them casting doom, giving Sora his first near-death experience, to the grander moments of his childhood like a cocoon being held in the sky, Mom becoming Etro's champion, and then a symbol of death for centuries.
The memories didn't stop until Sora landed on a stained-looking platform, it was a massive circle and had beautiful artwork of him and his parents, Mom was smiling, and Dad was holding them tightly in a hug, while other images showed a variety of weapons and outfits he and move wore, but the last image caught Sora's attention of it being him and a girl who looked like she truly loved him, her face was covered but they were dancing above a city, as the sunset bloomed against the night sky in unity.
"What is going on here?" Sora whispered to himself as he shook his head, why was he seeing all of these memories like his life was flashing before his eyes, he stabbed himself with the key to return hearts, so his was probably fading. But did his death have to hurt, seeing everything knowing he wouldn't see any of it ever again, he would have been happier with the fact that Mom and everyone were okay, that his sacrifice saved the universe, and that Ansem was defeated once mom beat him since she was stronger than him.
"I brought you here, sorry if the memories were a little overwhelming. I thought giving you something to focus on would be better than drifting to me in the dark!" A voice called out, making Sora quickly turn around until he saw a person floating over to him. Sora could only see the figure's eyes sparkling like priceless diamonds made of the grandest sapphire and golden amber known to mankind. Her smile was soft and full of compassion, and excitement, her blond hair flowed like it was being carried by magic, and it had cute blue lines running through it making the blue appear like the blue sky engulfed by the beauty of a calming sunset. The dress she wore was insane, like a galaxy was covering her form, despite hiding the beauty that was her face, the face of an angel, whoever this girl was made Sora's heart flutter at the sight of her. Even the white cape she wore made her sparkling dress shine even more like she was the embodiment of beauty in all of creation.
"What do you mean you brought me here, who are you?" Sora said, asking the unknown teen in front of him, doing his best to hide the blush on his face in his mess of pink hair knowing that if his aunt saw him he'd be called a cherry blossom in no time. The girl just kept smiling, until she put her hand on his face making Sora gasp softly at how warm her hand was feeling like a burst of warmth and endless light was being poured into his being. Her skin was soft to the touch and was softer than the softest pillow, Sora couldn't tell if he was dreaming or losing it in his last moments, and was seeing an angel by his side.
"My Name is Kingdom Hearts, But you can call me Kay! It's easier and as to the reason I brought you here. Well, I need your help with things, and I think you know about the princess of heart right?" Kay said softly as she removed her hand from Sora to tighten the little blue heart piece that held her cape together. Sora watched Kay slowly, he wasn't sure If he could talk to her, he was getting lost in every detail about her, to the point that words felt meaningless before her. But he took a breath ready to answer the teen, doing his best not to be lost gazing at the hearts in her eyes.
"I know of the princesses of heart, Snow White, Cinderella, Belle, Alice, Aurora, Mom, and Kairi!" Sora stated as his tone grew sadder noting off the last two princesses, saying their names made his heart sting a little as he wondered what would happen to them, and what Kay was getting at she placed her hand on his shoulder as Sora turned to see Kay's smile, it was so bright and pure that Sora couldn't help but smile, even if he didn't want to at the moment.
"It'll be ok Sora, I know you have questions, and are worried about them. But I'm here to give you a second chance at saving them again." Kay whispered gently rubbing Sora's shoulders doing her best to relax the teen, so things would go smoothly. She wished this was as easy as her sisters made it out to be.
"What do you mean second chance, aren't I dead?" Sora asked, doing his best to hold back his tears, while he spoke to what was his goddess of Light, and Balance if the notes from Ansem, and that insane Doctor he fought inside Monstro were anything to go by. Granted the most he could remember from the intense rambling of science, death, and multiverse talk was the notion that Kingdom Hearts wasn't just a giant heart in the sky, but a group of beings whose focus was their prince or princess of balance to protect their universe, and bring happiness to all around them, as well as protect them from harm. At least that's what Sora took it at face value, as it sounded insane but then again here he was talking to Kay, a literal being created from the first Kingdom Hearts during the age of fairy tales.
"Technically you aren't dead, your body is being split into about two to four different beings with their own lives, but you being my Prince of light allow me to yank you from space, and time to figure out what needs to be done to save the universe. If I hadn't taken you, you would have become heartless, then saved by your Mom and Kairi, then died fighting Ansem on the thirteenth day.
"So I would have been saved, but I'd still lose in the end, I guess that dream I had all those years ago is coming true. The day after that dream I got a mysterious outfit, with a note that read "Life would fade in the thirteen days but the Prince of Light shouldn't fear, as his goddess shall guide him to the ones who shall help him save his universe." I didn't know what it meant, and Mom wouldn't tell me, outside of the fact it was like when she had to save the world in thirteen days. So I'm guessing that I'll have to find these thirteen people and stop Ansem from destroying everything." Sora said summoning his keyblade, only for nothing to appear, causing Sora to look on in fear, as the Kingdom Key was gone, he couldn't feel its connection anymore.
"Kay, what happened to my keyblade?" Sora wondered, asking the teen, as his hands started to shake, his mind racing with questions, as he quickly pulled his Mom's sword from behind his back. Sighing for a second knowing he wasn't defenseless, knowing Mom would have been worried if he had gotten hurt.
"Well when your body was split into different pieces, the keyblade was taken as well, so once we get you back to Destiny Island, I'll help you forge a new key." Kay declared giving Sora a little thumbs up to ease his worried mind. Kay quickly saw Sora's face morph from worried to a more calm look making her wanna giggle at how quickly her little prince of light could change his emotions so rapidly. His smile was something she had dreamed and heard about but seeing it up close made Kay realize she wanted to see that handsome smile often.
Kay didn't know why she liked seeing Sora's smile. Maybe it was how simple and clean it was knowing that it was pure, as pure could be. Maybe it was the fact that she had feelings for the teen, but couldn't understand why beyond the fact that some part of her heart desired a connection with the spiky-haired teen next to her. She truly didn't know why but she wanted to know more about these feelings, maybe if things went better for this timeline, she'd be able to connect with Sora on a deeper level, but sadly that would have to wait till things were done.
"Wait what do you mean Destiny Island, it was still lost to the darkness when the Heartless attacked. How would we get there or even get me a new keyblade?" Sora yelled, wondering how they'd get a keyblade in the first place let alone make it to Destiny Island when it was trapped away in the Realm of Darkness. Sora wasn't sure how it would be possible for him to get there even with the help of Kingdom Hearts by his side, he knew from people like Caius that you need more than power, you need the means to travel, and not be overtaken by the darkness or else you'd lose your sense of self completely.
"Sora, tell me have you heard of time travel?" Kay said asking her dearly beloved, Sora only nodded at Kay's question about time travel. Sora knew what time travel was after all he had to travel with his aunt to many points in time to save Mom. The level of insanity they created was something else, so the thought of using time travel again made Sora wonder, what would the changes be to the timeline.
"Yeah, I know what time travel is, I've done it before. How we're gonna save Mom and everyone, going back to before Destiny Island was lost, and messing with the flow of time." Sora whispered knowing that messing with time was a serious thing and knew that fate didn't like it when the flow of time was altered. He didn't know if things would play out the same, or if they could really make changes like Mom coming with him or even something minor like the route they'd take. Sora sighed, scratching his head, hating how time travel gave him so many different questions of what if. But it was the only way, and heck it wasn't like the current timeline was gonna get any better.
"Alright let's travel through time, Kay!" Sora said, grabbing Kay's hand, making the goddess smile, seeing her Prince of Light ready to face the danger without a moment to waste once he understood what was needed. Silently Kay started to glow as the platform around them started glowing with light. This time things would be better with balance and faith, light would defeat the darkness and a new dawn would bloom across the universe.
"My Dearly Beloved be strong, I shall guide you! Always beside you, together we shall fight them hand in hand!" Kay whispered as looked at Sora, as they closed their eyes and their bodies started to feel the flow of time circle around them.
Thank you, Evie, for your friendship giving me the strength to keep on writing.