Hiiiii! Oh my goodness! Did you see the the trailers? Not one, not two, but three games announced! I am just... and that KHIV trailer... I just... It's really hard to put it into words... Just wow!

Well, today's chapter is a bit of a short one. We're rewinding a bit by going back to the night of the festival. This time, we'll be seeing things from the viewpoint of Sora's Little Chirithy. We're going to get to know a little bit about Sora and meet some new characters. Oh and before you begin, I wasn't sure how to use Chirihty plural. Is it Chirithies? So I'm treating it like a singular and plural word. So one Chirithy and two Chirithy.

So without further ado, enjoy!

*NOTE/SPOILER WARNING: It takes place AFTER KHIII*

NOTE 2: Lots of retelling of the experience of "Player" in KHUX, but in Sora's View

NOTE 3: Sora is NOT Player, he's just got similar experiences. Player exists somewhere doing the main story, but they don't cross paths... I Think...

DATE: April 20, 2022

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Chapter 9: The Gathering Of The Chirithy

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When Chirithy are born, they are trained to be guides. When they are ready, they are assigned to new Keyblade Wielders. Each and every Chirithy is bonded with their wielder no matter where they go and no matter how far. They will forever be linked. If their wielders were ever to pass, then the Chirithy would fade along with them. It was just how it was. But Sora's Chirithy didn't feel the same as the others. She wasn't exactly sure why, but maybe the Chirithy gathering would clear up this sense of unease within her. While Sora would go off to enjoy the festival and the newcomer's welcome, she would enjoy her own with all the Chirithy.

Currently, she was with Sora, resting on his shoulder, "So, are you ready?"

"Ready for what?" Sora sounded curious.

"Ready to have fun of course, Sora!"

"Yep! So, do you know what happens at these festivals?"

"No, it'll be my first time too. But from what the other Chirithy told me, it's always a fun time for you wielders and for us newly assigned Chirithy. We all get to make connections and have a little fun. Every year they have a different event planned for the new wielders, just to keep it fresh. They said last year, they held several competitive games and the winner got a prize of all you can eat at the booths. This year, they have a different prize planned."

"I wonder what they have for us all, Chirithy?"

"I wonder as well."

As Sora made his way to the park, she admired the sight. The place was decorated all sparkly and illuminated with beautiful lights everywhere. It was almost like a night sky filled with stars. Once he was there, she left his side and poofed away to the spot where the Chirithy were gathering. When she arrived, she saw many Chirithy who were all about, chatting away in groups and mingling with everyone they could. Another Chirithy, one in a cute black suit and white bow tie welcomed her and told her to enjoy herself before their own festivities began. Now, this was Chirithy's first time out with others and in such a large group, so she was a bit nervous. Her time being trained didn't count since they didn't talk to one another. Also, those times when messenger Chirithy stopped by to deliver news about upcoming events didn't count too, since she never really got a chance to speak with any of them long. So this was her opportunity to make some connections and maybe some lifelong friends.

As she was about to make her way over to a group, she heard a loud, "Hiya!"

She looked all around but didn't see anyone. The voice of the Chirithy who called out said, "Not there, look behind you! Down here!"

So she did as the voice told. When she spun around, she saw a Chirithy who was much smaller than the Chirithy around her, or the average Chirithy for that matter.

The smaller Chirithy simply smiled as she began, "Hi Chirithy! You-looked-like-you-didn't-have-anyone-to-talk-to-so-I-decided-to-come-up-here-myself-and-say-hi! I'm-Tiny! Nice-to-meet-you!"

She was a bit overwhelmed, the smaller Chirithy was speaking so fast and in one breath and couldn't catch most of what she had said. Though she caught what she thought was a name. "Oh, uh, nice to meet you Tiny."

The Chirithy now known as Tiny blinked, "Ah, I did it again. My wielder's always telling me to slow down. He calls me a bouncy ball of energy whenever I talk to him and move around!"

"It's alright. So, your wielder?"

"Oh, he's a great guy, pretty well-read for his age but he's also quite hard!"

"Hard? Does he speak with lots of hard words?"

"No, he's easy to understand, but hard as in his body. He works out while he reads! It's not very fun when he hugs me sometimes."

"Oooh! Juicy! He sounds like a catch! Tell me more about your wielder!" Another Chirithy came up, she was plain like like her, but her voice carried a tone of mischief.

"Hi-to-you-Chirithy! I'm-Tiny! My-wielder-is-really-strong, others-call-him-a-muscle-head-I-think-is-the-word, but-he's-both-a-strong-and-smart-guy-so-it's-fun-to-be-around-him-and-learn-new-things-he-gets-from-his-books!"

Sora's Chirithy couldn't keep up again, but apparently, the other one was able to understand every word from Tiny. The other nodded and replied, "Oooh, he must be fun to tease! Bet he's got girls lining up trying to ask him out or something!" The other snickered.

"Oh yeah! He-knows! But-he-just-wants-to-read-his-books-and-ends-up-shooing-them-away!"

"At least your wielder IS aware! Mine is TOTALLY clueless! Keeps saying she wants to be friends with the boy she ran into awhile back. Sure, she's young, but really! Does she really not have a crush on him?"

"Oh-oh! I'll-definitely-be-following-up-on-that-story! We-need-to-meet-up-a-lot-after-this-festival-is-over! I-want-to-know-everything!"

"Definitely!"

The two turned to Sora's Chirithy and the taller one said, "I'll be keeping you in the loop too!"

Chirithy was in a daze between these two others. Their conversation was a bit too fast for her to follow, but all she could do was nod. But before she could get a word in, a Chirithy dressed in a cute yellow top hat had announced the welcome and that the activities had begun. All the Chirithy cheered and everyone got into their groups to play games and have fun. Her two new acquaintances pulled her into the activities as they played and got to know the other Chirithy. Throughout the evening, the three bonded and became friends.

[Time Skip]

As the evening party was coming to a close and the Chirithy were leaving to go back and be with their wielders, Sora's Chirithy was still in the moment, having enjoyed time of her life. Sure, those two pulled her around the whole evening from one activity to another, meeting just about every Chirithy at the party, and sure she was dragged into their antics, but overall, she enjoyed the company and had fun. Then she realized something, she came here not just for the festivities, but for answers. So when she got her chance, she stopped them and asked.

"Hey, could I ask you both a question?"

Tiny looked at her, still beaming from the last activity they did together, "I-think-you-already-did, but-you-can-ask-another!"

"Well, you remember what we were taught about our bonds with our wielders, right?"

The other Chirithy looked at her, "Yes? The one where we're linked to them. If they go, we go. That lesson, right?"

She nodded as she got serious, "So, how do you know you're bonded?"

Tiny and the other Chirithy paused at that, perplexed by her question. They both asked, "What do you mean?"

"How do you know if you're bonded together?"

Tiny looked at her still not understanding, "I don't get it. I thought you just knew. You feel your wielder, their emotions, their dreams. Don't you feel what your wielder feels?"

The other Chirithy agreed with Tiny, "Yeah, I usually can tell when my wielder is feeling certain things, maybe not everything, but certain stuff like when she's sad or down. We just feel it in here." The Chirithy put her paw to her chest and continued, "And when she gets bad dreams, I'm able to help her and she's able to relax. You just feel that sort of thing. I haven't really thought about how it works, it just does."

"Me-neither, it-just-happens. I-never-thought-about-explaining-it-before-either." Tiny agreed as well.

"Oh, I see." Sora's Chirithy spoke plainly, but internally she was thinking about what they said. She didn't exactly have the same feelings. She often relied on other hints, like when he took time in the morning to be silent or when he was swinging his keyblade even after the heartless were defeated, lost in his thoughts. Those moments, she took as clues to know something was wrong. But she herself couldn't feel Sora, nor could she tell what he was thinking when he was down. Only when he spoke with her honestly did she really know the truth of his thoughts.

"You're-thinking-too-much," Tiny spoke rather bluntly.

"Huh?"

Tiny took a breath and spoke slowly, "My wielder is like that too, he thinks a lot and over analyzes things, but he's sweet and that's why I'm with him. I gotta remind him that there are times to just be hyper and have fun! Just enjoy being with your wielder and you'll understand it when the time is right."

"Yeah Tiny, you tell her!" The other Chirithy cheered before looking up as she gasped, "Oh! I think I should go check on my little clueless wielder, I have a feeling she's back at her place now. I'll see you later you two! Let's meet up again sometime!"

"Bye Chirithy!" Both Tiny and Sora's Chirithy said at the same time. The other disappeared in her puff of smoke and the two were left together.

"I-should-get-going-too, I-gotta-make-sure-my-wielder-actually-enjoyed-himself-and-didn't-hide-behind-a-book."

Sora's Chrithy nodded, she was starting to understand Tiny's fast-talking a little more, it just took the whole night to get adjusted. Before Tiny decided to go, she turned back to her, speaking slower again, "I don't really get why you asked about the bond, but I think you shouldn't worry too much. We're guides, but I think, to our wielders, we're all friends. Friends get to know each other better over time, so if you don't know something now, you'll know later. Give it time! You'll feel your bond AND friendship get stronger together."

Sora's Chirithy smiled, thanking Tiny before she poofed away. Once Tiny was gone, she was now by herself. Very few Chirithy were around now and she went back to thinking.

Friends.

That was something that she didn't think about too much. She was simply a guide, aiding Sora in his missions in the world and helping him understand his power to wield the Keyblade.

Friends.

Sora had always treated her special, thinking about the things she liked and always including her in his activities.

Friends.

He saw her as more than a guide, he saw her as a friend, didn't he. She never really asked, but thinking more about it, the way he's been treating her answers that. She was his friend. He was her friend. She is his friend, and he is her frined. They're friends, huh? Thinking of Sora, she realized, he might have made it back by now, so she too decided to poof away to where he was.

When she got there, Chirithy noticed Sora was by the bed with a plush of a duck and dog. He seemed to be staring longingly at it as she heard him speak, "Hey Donald, Goofy. Just wait a little longer for me. I'm somewhere or somewhen far away, but I'm doing my best. I'll be home soon." Sora got up and went off to the bathroom to prepare to rest for the night, he didn't seem to want to go back out again.

From the corner, Chirithy observed her wielder's actions. She knew wherever he first came from, he was really missing home. She may not understand everything quite yet, but as his Chirithy, it was her job to guide him and be there for him. So what if she didn't feel what the other Chirithy felt, so what if she didn't feel this bond that she was supposed to feel with Sora, she and Sora are friends. She was going to be not just a guide but also the best support and friend she could be for him. So as soon as he got out of the bathroom, she went up to Sora.

Sora looked down at Chirithy and he picked her up, "Oh hey there Chirithy! Just came back?"

"Mmm, yep! Us Chirithy had a great time. How was your day?"

"Oh, it was fun! The park was decorated so cool and we played…"

For the remainder of the evening, Sora told Chirithy of his adventures of the evening, and in turn, she exchanged stories of her own until she noticed him yawn. He was falling asleep hugging the Dog and Duck plush as well as her. She didn't mind this, if it was to help her wielder, she'd comfort him through this hug. Then, she would continue to bond with Sora and become great friends, understanding him more and being there for him. She ended up falling asleep too, smiling.

TBC

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So Chirithy is a little different from the rest. She's not feeling what the others feel with their wielders. I wonder why? It it just that she needs to get closer with Sora? Could it be because Sora isn't from this time? Or is something protecting him? Hmm... we probably won't know until much much later. For now, she's continuing to learn more about Sora and being the best guide and good friend he could have while in the past.

As for Tiny the Chirithy, I don't know yet if we'll meet her wielder in the future. Think of it like how El Rena's and Strelitzia's Chirithy were close friends but those two weren't that close. For now, when Chirihty and Tiny meet, we'll be getting an indirect story from her. Then there's the mischievous Chirithy, I bet you know who she is? You can probably expect more teasing from her in the future.

So that's all for this chapter! If you have any ideas, suggestions, questions, or any comments for this story, feel free to let me know. Thanks everyone for reading! :D