"Sora, are you ok? You've been feeling sad for a while now, and the others are worried about you!" Kairi said looking at her friend as he sat down at a table that Yen Sid had magically made for them to celebrate, but Sora wasn't celebrating or feeling like his normal self. If he was being honest with himself, he messed up, acting like a kid during the biggest test of his life, and nearly falling to darkness at the hands of his stupidity.
"No, I'm not alright Kairi, I messed up big time, and I just don't know what to do. I nearly was taken by Xehanort once again, and this time another person had to come and save me because I was defenseless again. It just hurts knowing I was one step closer to getting strong enough to save my mom, and I blew it, 'cause I was too in awe at everything around me, and not taking the Xehanort stuff as seriously as I used to." Sora choked out, as tears slowly rolled down his face, Everything about this hurt, and the others could see it.
Suddenly Riku walked over with an angry look on his face, raising his hand and slapping the teen in the face, making Sora, and Kairi look at the silver-haired teen. Sora stood up, and Kairi looked like she was ready to yell at Riku for the uncalled-for slap.
"Sora, I get it! You messed up, I know the feeling all too well when I was being used by Ansem, but it's not the end of the world. You helped me get free of the pain, and guilt that plagued me, for a year. So let me tell you something, pick yourself up, slap a smile on your face, and go save your mom, like you told me you would when we were in the realm of darkness the last time. Or am I gonna have to do it for you, and let Aqua tell you how much she needed her son, only to find out he was a stupid, nervous chicken?
Sora sighed, as he rubbed his right cheek where Riku had hit him, he needed those words, it hurt but was needed to get his act together. Riku was right, Mom needed him to save her, and it had to be him to make things right.
"You're right Riku! I shouldn't be beating myself up like this, it's not what Mom would want me to be doing, and it doesn't suit me at all. So how do I get to the realm of darkness?
"I should be able to help with that!" Yen Sid declared walking into the room, overhearing the conversation, and knowing immediately how to help Sora with his family issue.
"Sora, I will only say this once, the realm of darkness will be a lot harder than any of your other journeys, Even if you find Aqua, it will be up to you to make it back to the Destiny Islands. Only there can Riku, and the King open the door that hides in the secret cave to free you from your endless prison. Are you still willing to enter in your current state?
"Master Yen Sid, is that right? Will Sora be okay? I know what you're like when you make up your mind, so tell me, Sora will you be able to return to us in one piece, with Aqua?" Kairi asked, having doubts about her friend's plans, knowing so many things could probably go wrong inside the realm of darkness, and how she'd miss her chance to tell Sora how she felt about him.
"I'll be ok Kairi, everyone! I just gotta let my heart be my guiding key, and have faith in myself and Mom. So make sure everyone is on Destiny Island, 'cause we'll need it." Sora told the auburn-haired girl, as he looked at her blue eyes softly, knowing that soon he'd tell her how he felt about her, once he saved Mom.
"Sora, good luck!" Riku said, looking at his friend, knowing that Sora would be okay, he just needed a little motivation, and then everything would be possible with the spiky-haired teen.
"Thanks, Riku!" Sora whispered as he stood motionlessly, as Yen Sid raised his hands, and shot out a beam of magic energy at Sora, sending him into the realm of darkness.
"So you think, Sora will be ok?" Lea said, looking at the group finally arriving at the top of the tower.
"I believe in Sora! So I think so." Kairi said to the tall red-haired man, making him look over to Yen Sid, and wonder something.
"Say, if you had that kind of magic in the first place, why not go back to save Aqua, when it first started, or when Sora was at his strongest, defeating Xenmas?" Lea said asking the old keyblade master, as this whole Xehanort issue could have been dealt with earlier if Yen had that kind of power to fix things.
"I wouldn't back then, Mickey was still in training, and the spell could only go one way, so even if I went to save Aqua, how would we escape? If it would only add to the list of problems caused by Xehanort, it could have caused countless outcomes. One's in which even I don't know how they'd play out?" Yen said, scratching his beard, as he wondered if things would have been different if he had been more active years ago, and how many problems could have been fixed.
—--
Sora looked at the Dark Margin, the cold and dark beach that he had once seen when he and Riku had beaten Xenmas, and the first time he had seen his mom since the door to Kingdom Hearts, or whatever Ansem the Seeker of Darkness was trying to do.
Oh how Sora wished he could have stayed here to find and comfort his mother, she needed it more than the happiness of his friends, They could have afforded to wait for him, for a few more hours, days, weeks. But not his mom, she had been waiting for a source of happiness for a decade, and Sora knew this time had to be different. He would leave until she was out of this miserable place, and with his arms embracing her in the biggest hug possible.
Sora wondered what she did while she was trapped in the realm of darkness, How many heartless did she have to fight to stay alive, how many nights? Was she crying herself to sleep, how many times did she sing their favorite song to think about him, when he felt about her every day?
"My dearly beloved, be strong. I will guide you, always beside you. Keep the light in your eyes shining, so that I may find you with all my heart. Don't worry about your fears, as together we shall face them together for as long as we're together. Our happiness will be our Sanctuary that everyone can look towards you to guide them." Sora sang remembering the little song his mom could sing to him back at the Land of Departure before Xehanort had taken him.
"Excuse me, but where did you learn that song, and why do you look like Sora?" A voice called out making Sora turn around, as he saw the familiar sight of blue hair, making him start to cry looking at the woman near him, his soft blue eyes could only look at her, and his heart ached to see her again, looking the same as she did ten years ago. The black corset that she had worn made her feel timeless in Sora's eyes, the beautiful flowing cloth and straps that held everything neatly together. That soft motherly voice that warmed his heart whenever she spoke to him.
"Because I am Sora, and you were the one that taught me that song, Mom!" Sora said grinning in excitement at the sight of his mother, running over to the woman, noticing tears rolling down her face, as she took one of her hands, and cupped his face, feeling the warmth of his skin, looking at the little details about the teen, seeing those calming blue eyes, that big smile that would melt her heart a moments notice.
"It's you isn't it, This isn't an illusion, or me going insane, Sora it's you?" Aqua said, gasping for a second looking down to see a pair of arms holding her waist, hugging her tightly, as tears rolled down her and Sora's faces.
"This is real, and this time I won't leave you ever again!" Sora whispered, as he let the hug linger on, This was real, Mom was safe, he was with her again, and they had the chance to be a real family again.
Once Sora let go of his mom, it was time to get going, They had to get to Destiny Island, which was probably close to the small feeling of light close by, it didn't make sense as to how the world was still connected to the darkness cause of a door, but Sora wouldn't question that kind of logic. All that mattered was getting mom to a safe, and happier place.
Sora grabbed his mother's hand, and Aqua giggled for a second making, Sora turned to notice and wondered what was going on.
"Hey mom, what's so funny?" Sora said, wondering what made her laugh.
"Oh it's nothing, it's just, you look so grown up, I can't help but laugh at what Terra or Ven would say looking at you know, all that's missing is the color blue in your hair, and outfit like when you were a kid. You'd look like the spitting image of me when I was your age!" Aqua said, looking at the pointy mess of brown hair in front of her, remembering how it was blue and pointing down, Sora loved her so much to the point that he tried copying out style until Ven made fun of him one time.
Sora smiled softly at hearing that, as he let go of his mom's hand, Things would be better, they'd save Ven, and save Dad, and things would be better again once Xehanort was defeated. Everyone could help rebuild the world order, Kairi could be with him truly, and Mom would get to enjoy her life, with friends and family once more.
Author notes: Fine I made a better version of the fic, ahhh! Why do people like my pain and misery, I hope you'll enjoy the better version of Kingdom Hearts Bonds of Mom and Son.