Sora could feel his consciousness slipping away, as the key blade user could feel the key blade 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 the mysterious man known as Xehanort. 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 monsters with their friends. Sora could only attempt to stop the madness that Xehanort had created, 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 clock tower in Neverland. Sora's expression quickly turned from sadness to confusion, as the deeper he fell, the 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 wore, but the last image caught Sora's attention for 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 Xehanort was defeated once Mom beat him since she was stronger than he was.
"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 he was seeing an angel by his side.
"Hello Sora, my Name is Kingdom Hearts, But you can call me Kay! It'll be 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 hearts, right?" Kay spoke 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 old princesses of heart, Snow White, Cinderella, Belle, Aqua, 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 his goddess of Light, if the notes from Xehanort 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 of 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 give you 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 Xehanort 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 that it was like when she had to save the world in thirteen days. So I'm guessing that I'll have to find the ones that can help you and stop Xehanort from destroying everything." Sora said, summoning his key blade, 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 key blade?" 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. He sighed for a second, knowing he wasn't defenseless and knowing Mom would have been worried if he had gotten hurt.
"Well, when your body was split into different pieces, the key blade 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 want to 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 she 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 in the darkness when the Heartless attacked. How would we get there or even get me a new key blade?" Sora yelled, wondering how they'd get a key blade 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 the changes would be to the timeline.
"Yeah, I know what time travel is; I've done it before. How we're going to 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 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 going to get any better.
"Alright, let's travel through time, Kay!" Sora said, grabbing Kay's hand and 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 surrounding platform 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, their bodies started to feel the flow of time circle around them.
--
When Sora opened his eyes, he was surprised to see the sunlight on Destiny Island again. Sure, he knew Kay would have been able to take him back in time, but part of him felt like it was too good to be true. Maybe it was nerves after all; his journey with his Aunt Serah was a lifetime ago, and things can change over time. He wasn't scared of the future because time travel was as changeable as fate. It was just another thing that could be messed with, leading to things getting better or worse.
But Sora hoped that with Kay by his side, things would be better. He wanted to see what his future held and what adventures his family would have once Xehanort and the Door to Darkness were stopped. However, he was just as curious about what his goddess of light was like. What were her intentions beyond helping him and being friendly? The most he knew of Kay was basic things like how she was Kingdom Hearts, and sure, that was interesting, but Sora needed to know more if this partnership was going to last; he generally wanted to know more about his goddess. What led her to want to help him save everybody, and why didn't she come during the first thirteen days when he was fighting for his life with Donald and Goofy? Sora held his tongue as he knew that those questions were either going to be answered soon or that they didn't matter in the long haul as everything must have been planned out at some point.
Sora looked at the small rowboat that he had left by the small wooden dock. Maybe the boat ride could help him understand the pretty blonde and dive deeper into her plan; maybe he could understand Kay just a little. Just enough to make sense of the idea of how they were going to save his mother from ending up a prisoner of Maleficent and the villains that worked under her. Maybe Kay could also explain to him why his heart was beating faster than normal when he was around her; it couldn't be romantic feelings already; they had just met a few minutes ago. Could it have just been the nerves of being given this second chance and feeling like the weight of the world was now on his shoulders? Sora didn't know the answer as he watched his goddess take off her heels to enjoy the soft sand that plagued his wonderful island.
"Sora, take off your shoes and feel the sand! It feels so lovely; I can't believe how warm and soft this island could be." Kay told the teen as he let out a smile, taking off his shoes and letting the warm sand brush against his feet. Sora could only smile as he looked at Kay. Seeing the goddess feel the warmth of the island and the enjoyment it was bringing her made Sora's heart flutter. Oh, how Sora quickly knew the reason why his heart beat faster; he was developing feelings for the goddess in such a short time that it made Sora let out a smile and blush, as he hoped to ask her out one day, once the universe was saved and things were peaceful again.
The sandy beaches felt peaceful as Kay could feel Sora gently picking her up in his arms. The Goddess of Light wanted to laugh at the pure bravery of her beloved knight. He was risking his life and pride to save her from the evil, beautiful sand that would ruin her dress as it brushed the sand of the island.
"Oh, My hero already! Was this your plan, let the great goddess of light be carried in your arms, allowing the beauty of this world to hold me down for the moment when that first desire of romance may bloom between us. Don't worry, we still have thirteen days to obtain our beloved romance, my most wonderful prince of light." Kay whispered, gently planting her lips against Sora's cheek, watching the dust of red quickly appear on the teen's face. Kay looked at her dearly beloved; he was falling for her charms, and, to be honest, Kay was feeling the same in her heart. She was falling for Sora, her Sora, and she had to admit she was loving this time together. The universe was still on half of the first day to go, and that meant they had plenty of time to enjoy the first day and figure things out.
Kay was even happy to see the small rowboat; she was having her first boat ride with the person she loved most. Maybe it would have a romantic moment like the ones in those old movies she used to watch or like the moment when she watched a different version of Sora, and his version of Donna Beneviento enjoying the beauty of a calming ride as the tension of romance blossomed.
But Kay knew they'd also have to talk about the future and what to do with the other days. So Kay took a deep breath and sat down in the boat as Sora grabbed the oars and slowly pushed the boat into the calm blue sea that surrounded them. It would take roughly twenty, maybe thirty, minutes to arrive at the actual Destiny island with the boat of them on the tiny rowboat. So Kay took a deep breath of the salty air and prepared herself for what was bound to be an interesting conversation.
--
"So Kay! Why did my universe end thirteen days into my journey, and how is this chance going to be different? I mean, you being here to help and me knowing what's to come might help; maybe saving Mom would be possible. But after today, we'll be in twelve days, and it feels like we won't have time to get enough people to stop Xehanort." Sora asked, looking at the goddess as he quickly rowed through the clear blue sea, watching Kay's arm gently brush against the water, causing Sora to feel his heart flutter a little more at the beautiful sight.
"Well, if we can save your mom from Xehanort and the heartless, then we can travel faster with her ship, rather than go through Traverse Town and fight with Donald, and Goofy, getting to the chosen places faster. Don't get me wrong; I know the dog and duck probably meant a lot to you. But given how powerful Xehanort is, I am surprised that you were strong enough to fight him with the help and time given. But then again, you are my Prince of Light, and I know this time things will go better!" Kay said proudly as she placed a hand on Sora's heart, feeling it's beat, still strong, and ready for anything. Maybe it would be possible to find a more romantic option with her prince once everything was safe.
"You're right, Kay, this time things will be better, and with Mom and Aunt Serah, but won't we need more people to help fight Xehanort ? He was even more powerful than Caisus, he was almost as powerful as Sephiroth when Mom fought him. Did you have people in mind to help beat him or give us a chance?" Sora wondered what the plan would be if they only had twelve days, and that wasn't enough time to find people and work on training him how to relearn the key blade and the various spells it held.
"I had a few people in mind; granted, I couldn't take the strongest people from this universe, and go to Xehanort. It would probably break all reality in the process, so I picked people who were either pure of heart or had enough powers and skills to help us get strong enough to beat Xehanort as a team." Kay said, listening to Sora as he took some deep breaths for a second. Kay smiled, seeing her beloved nerves feeling more relaxed; they didn't need this level of stress on the first day.
The first day was meant to be easy for them; Sora and his Mom were the first on the possible list of people to beat Xehanort. They were the first on her list, for the reason that one was the Prince of Light and the other was not just a princess of Heart, but Lightning was Etro's Champion and a god of death. So she would be strong enough to help with any issues, but if Kay was being honest with herself, She liked the other versions of Sora going above and beyond to save their universe from harm, and it sounded too good to want at least one mom of Sora's.
Despite her list containing about two or three of the princesses needed to open or seal the door inside Hollow Bastion, The hard part of the day was getting Lightning on board and then being able to accept Night of Fate happening, letting the world fall to darkness, letting Kairi get taken, and Riku starting his journey into the darkness. Kay knew this was the hardest part of the day. It wasn't the monsters or villains that worried her; it was Sora's mom and what she would say to her about all of this.
"Hey Kay, what are the others like? Other versions of me, that is." Sora let out a scream, shaking the goddess out of her worrisome thoughts as she quickly placed a hand on her chin. This caused Sora to smile for a second. Knowing Kay was probably nervous about meeting his mom, Sora decided to see if she would open up about any other versions of him. Help keep Kay relaxed enough so he can help her talk to Mom.
"Well, what versions would you like to know about? Some are men, some are girls, and some are more different in their approach to helping others. I guess it depends on what you want to know. But I'd be happy to talk about every one of them if you'd like!" Kay said, grinning at Sora, causing the teen to be speechless at the sight of her smile. It was like the sun had exploded in his face, and he had found the perfect sight to have a final moment.
"I guess, starting with one of the bigger ones, I think that would be interesting to hear about. Were they like Ariel, or something much different?" Sora said, wondering how differently a life as a mermaid would have changed him or her. But were they humans first, or did they start life under the sea? The thought of other versions of him sounded exciting and somewhat unnerving as he looked at his reflection in the clear ocean waters. What were they like, and would he meet them one day, once the insanity of Xehanort was over?
"It's funny, actually; some versions of you are merfolks, or some other form of sea life or sea-based being. I know some that are Inklings, Oozes, and and Zora's; it's surprising to think that those are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to different varieties of you, my beloved. Some others are crazier, like one's a rainbow pony, a spirit, or a being made of pure fire, and some have powers like ice or invisible arms." Kay said, knowing that her Sora thankfully wasn't as crazy,or as violent and out of the bounds of reality like the others, as he was only one of two Sora's in this tiny universe, making Kay smile at the thought of both of them meeting when they left the tiny island; it would feel like a crazy road trip with the Multiverse in the balance.
"So some of me are from other worlds or other places. Kay, can you tell me more about them, you've peaked my interest; how crazy are the superpowered ones, or really any of them in general,I can't imagine all of us having the same lives; just how many versions are there—any kids or families. Please just tell me a little bit, if it's ok?" Sora said, gently holding the goddess's hand, as a speck of red quickly rose upon Kay's face. She could only let out a grin at the questions.
"I guess it can't be helped. I know a few that would be nice enough for this boat ride since we're almost to the dock. I've known of two more human versions of you, and one that I've been wanting to talk about upon viewing what her future will become, when she is created. So Sora, the first version of you that I'll share is of a boy whose kind smile was as big as his desire to protect. One day, his island fell to the darkness as yours and many of the others who happened to be born or drawn to the tiny island. The only difference is that the boy ended up not in Traverse Town, but a cold and old looking village, where he'd meet a man and his infant daughter in a fight against a cruel woman hellbent on resurrecting her daughter using the father's daughter as the vessel. However their journey took a darker turn, as after killing the four lords that ruled under the witch,did the father die in order to save the teen and his daughter from the witch's final act of reclaiming her daughter?
"The teen was heartbroken, as he ran away from the adults, feeling the pain of losing the man who had protected him from the horrors of the world. The last that was known of him was that of a silent and cold teen whose only goal was the safety and happiness of his little girl, Rosemary Winters. I must apologize if some of these mentions are too dark or hard to listen to. I find it hard to think about them sometimes, as I can't do much until the door to the Multiverse is open. Furthermore, I'll proceed with the next tale as I tell you of the darkest child to be born through the Multiverse.
"A girl born from an unholy experiment by Ansem, the seeker of Darkness! Liliana Darkbloom, to be frank, is the darkest and most violent of the children that came into your life. I don't know what she'll become, but I know for certain that when I meet her, she'll need someone to support her in her time of need. I can only hope that either me, or another person can fill the dark hole that her heart dwelled in. Liliana would likely become cruel to those who fought her if they weren't her friends or someone she could understand. She'd more than likely kill them without mercy or compassion, once she got angry enough to face them." Kay whispered, Sora knowing of Liliana this early could be dangerous if things got to the point. Kay had faith in Sora that if he met the foul-mouthed teen, maybe he could help heal the damages that the seeker would involve Liliana through.
"I'm guessing she's not one to mess with! So what happened to her parents? I'm guessing I must have been gone, or something bad happened to make her so violent." Sora said, looking at Kay with worried eyes. He didn't know why, but he hoped Liliana was okay and that things weren't too bad in her universe. As the boat gently hit the sandy beach of Destiny Island, the boat ride was over, but Sora knew this conversation would return with Mom and Kay.
"Well, we're here! Don't worry, Sora; I'll make sure to go slow and work our way up through the plans and stories. But finish talking about Liliana; her parents were used in an experiment to create her. She's the reason why I chose certain people to help defeat this version of Xehanort. The fact that the Seeker is one in many who dare harm the innocent and the versions of you that simply wanna experience the joys of the universe, and feel the freedom to follow your heart, and be more than a small part of something bigger. I want to allow people like you, like Lilliana to find the happiness that they have every right to be given.
"I wanted to save this part for after meeting your mom, but the first world is the home of one, Donna Beneveinto, and her family, Aqua, and their son, Sora Kizuna Beneviento. I know that Lightning will be heavily involved in wanting to know more about Aqua after the teen had first met her so many years ago. So please when we talk to your mother, let me bring up Aqua, it's the only way to get her relaxed enough to deal with the subject at hand." Kay declared, gently grabbing Sora's hand as the nodding teen walked up to his beachside house, giving the door a few knocks. As the door flew open, a flash of pink hair was in front of the teen's face.
"Hi, Mom! I'm home early, and I think we need to talk!" Sora let out, watching his mom's smile, quickly becoming more stern and serious, her pale blue eyes looking at her son, and the being known as Kingdom Hearts. Claire quickly moved away from the door, moving the deadbolt from the door, allowing the kids to enter. She would have to put the kettle on.
Claire knew this day would be bound to happen; it had been ten years since the pink haired family had arrived on the tiny island world after providing aid to Aqua and her friends in the world of Midgard. Everything was too peaceful, it almost made up for the blue haired teen vanishing for a decade with no mention of trace of her in any of the known worlds that the Farron family had visited.
"Come on in; I'm guessing if you brought Kingdom Hearts to our doorstep, time travel must have happened, so once I get us some tea, we'll talk about what's going to happen." Claire told the teens as she headed for the kitchen that tonight was going to be an interesting night, to say the least.
--
Kay was a little nervous as she waited for Sora's mom to return from the kitchen. She could only lay on what was probably the softest couch possible next to her beloved prince of light. The first thing Kay smelt when she entered the seaside home was the smell of cinnamon and honey, which quickly came to mind. She wasn't sure what to expect from this meeting. Sora's mom was not just a princess of heart, but one of the thirteen and a goddess in her own right. Kay could feel her beloved hand gently grab her as Sora slowly walked Kay over to the kitchen, giving her enough time to get a feel for the house and what it meant to the pink-haired family.
The goddess of light and balance was surprised at the sight of the rustic living room and all the cute little plants, pictures, and drawings of faraway memories. Kay felt like she was looking through different points in time. As they gently walked to the kitchen, more photos and drawings became known to her: a sphere in the sky, a city that screamed warrior's pride, and a family consisting of a pink-haired woman and her son, as well as a dark-skinned man with green hair. They were smiling and happy. The photos of a giant city felt magical as Kay looked at how the family was happy with the city name written on the back of the photo, Midgard.
Looking at the two pink-haired family members made Kay wonder what it would be like to be part of this family compared to her sister. They seemed so happy and full of love, and Kay knew that it was because of that love that they fought against fate to keep that connection going. It was so different to see a normal yet abnormal family compared to her sisters. She wondered if they truly were as connected as she had thought. Kay wished that this day wasn't just a long conversation about the fate of this universe, her sister, and the insane lives of the numerous Soras that graced the multiverse, but rather just a day that felt normal. A soft hand to hold, a beautiful sunset, and a happy day feeling like a real family. Kay's thoughts were quickly broken as Sora headed into the kitchen, hugging his mother. Kay could only smile at the sight of that hug. It was as wonderful to see in person as she thought—not hiding in the distance or viewing some magic artifact, but something more special.
"Sora, it's a good thing you came home early; breakfast is almost ready! We're having Cinnamon rolls covered with honey and mint tea!" Lightning said, looking over at her son and letting out a smile, knowing that this was probably going to be one of the hardest tasks she ever had in her life. So she did the only thing she could to make her son and what was probably his future girlfriend feel more comfortable as they learned of this new insanity to enter their lives. After all, time travel is one thing if Sora has forgotten to get Serah a present or if the universe is dying again due to higher beings acting like cruel dicks to her family.
"Mom, is the tea almost ready, this is gonna be a long conversation, and I was hoping that Kay wasn't gonna get too scared by you," Sora whispered as Claire smiled gently, rubbing her Son's pink hair, revealing the tiniest hints of dark green that made Claire feel the resemblance of her husband, the way that he worried about her, and how others would view her more serious nature on the surface.
"It'll be ready in a minute; I'm just waiting for the rolls to cool down, and I wanted to get a better look at your new girlfriend!" Lightning whispered, showing her son a cheeky smile. As she watched his face grow red at the mention of the great Kingdom Hearts being his girlfriend, she looked over to see Kay's face turning red as she tried hiding her face in her dress, and cape.
"Mom, she's not my girlfriend yet! This is serious, we only have thirteen days to save the universe before even the chance of her being my girlfriend can happen." Sora yelled as his face transformed into a tomato, watching the grin on his mom's face grow even more at the fact that Sora confirmed it. Sure, the fact that the universe was going to die again was a pain, but now she had a reason to know more about this issue.
"Ok, then you and Kay go sit on the couch while I bring the snacks; we've got a lot to talk about. Oh, and Kay, if you return after thirteen days, just know that I will use every fiber of my being to drag all of your sisters to the wedding." Lightning said, feeling more excited by the minute. This felt like the time she and Rand faced that one winged angel, just so Sora could see how they still had it. Oh, how fun it was to watch that chicken die and be nothing more than a memory. But now things were looking a lot better than being a stay-at-home mom, who happened to be a god that helped redo the universe.
—--
Sora and Kay sat on the couch quietly, as the sound of cups, plates, and laughter could be heard. Sora just looked at Kay, as her face still looked like it was still pretty red. But now they knew that they had feelings for each other and that Mom was going to plan something crazy even though they hadn't even had a first date, unless a boat ride talking about the multiverse counts. Heck, they hadn't even had real conversations about where to live or when would their daughter Laputa be brought into the world. It all seemed so crazy, but Sora honestly hoped that this crazy romance would be possible after the thirteen days were over. Kay just smiled at the thought of being appreciated, and quickly involved in the Farron family, she had thought her sister would continue to joke about it forever. Kay watched Lightning make her way out of the kitchen, the soothing smell of the tea helped calm her down, only for Kay to notice Sora shaking.
"Ok, Sora, let's start from the beginning of your journey since I'm guessing something happened to me, and the others! What happened to you after you arrived at the play island?" Lightning said, placing a cup of tea in Kay and Sora's hands and watching her son's hands tremble at the mention of the islands. Claire knew that her son never felt fear, not unless it was something terrible; he wasn't scared when the universe was ending or when Riku had beaten him with the help of Tidus, Selphie, and Wakka in front of the whole village.
"They returned Mom, and a new evil emerged from out of nowhere. A man known as Xehanort , the seeker of darkness, he had taken you from me, from everyone. He had destroyed the universe while Sephiroth and the Doctor tormented the worlds, it was a nightmare every single day that I was fighting that man. I watched everything burn to the ground as the heartless arrived to claim what was left of any survivors." Sora whispered to his mother as the cup of tea in his hands fell onto the floor.
Clarie could feel her fists tighten at the thought of those monsters returning after all this time. It had been ten years since the death of Aerith, since Rand sacrificed himself to defeat the one winged angel, and only a month since that Doctor threatened her son. Claire stood up, hugging her son. She knew that destiny was cruel, but to think that all of their worst nightmares after moving to the paradise of Destiny Island would follow them and torment her son. It made the pink-haired woman pissed and ready to return those monsters to the depths of whatever hole they crawled out of. Alongside the new addition to the nightmarish monster that lurked in the darkness to destroy all that they held dear, it made her wanna destroy those monsters without mercy.
"Mom, I thought I saw her again; I saw Aerith when Sephiroth returned; she saved me; I was so scared that I left Donald, and Goofy to face that man, and as I ran with Aerith far away, I didn't stop until I was eaten by a giant whale. The pain didn't stop; I could still see his face when even the Doctor was fighting a monster that looked like a ghost." Sora said as his voice cracked that the last remnants of the kind-hearted teen were gone; all that was left at that moment was the aftermath of a journey of pain and misery. Sora had hoped to be strong enough to put on a smile, letting people know that he was fine, but in reality, nothing was fine.
"I guess now this journey is going to be twice as hard as the first, Sora. Can you look at me?" Kay said, placing her hands on Sora's cheeks, letting the teen feel a sense of warmth as he was surrounded by the people who cared about him.
"I promise, while I live and breathe, I will do everything in my power to keep you happy; you will only have to suffer as much as the world gives you. I made sure that our journey was as simple and doable as possible. So no fake smiles, no tears; you have me, your mom, and soon others by your side, so don't cry or feel fear, my dearly beloved. Be strong, and I shall guide you, always beside you." Kay said, engulfing her prince deeper into a group hug. Sora let out a few tears as a small smile formed.
"I'll try!" Sora whispered as the pair held onto Sora, they would let go of him until the conversation was over, and Sora knew that they still had a lot to talk about. The only thing Sora could see were his mom's and Kay's eyes. It was like he was experiencing an untold level of happiness, the beauty of Kay's eyes only helped to make the painful memories of the past feel like memories at least for a moment. Plus seeing his mother's eyes always made Sora feel like everything was ok—the adventures, the people they met—everything was still ok even though they were on the ultimate time limit again.
"Kay, who are the people we need to defeat Xehanort? I want to make sure that we can do this, so please tell me so that my son won't have to suffer alone." Lightning said, wondering just how badly that Angel, madman, and heartless human beings hurt her boy to the point of him almost being a broken mess. It wasn't right; Sora's life was supposed to be filled with happiness and a sense of peace after the death of Rand, the collapse of Radiant Garden, and Midgard.
"Well, for starters, I decided that you, Ms. Farron, and Sora were the first people that were necessary in stopping Xehanort. You've battled countless monsters and gods to the point where the universe became anew, and Sora had become a key blade wielder, and my Prince of Light felt right picking the both of you. This universe has been trying or being forced to end itself a few times. Your battles against Sephiroth and both cases of the thirteen-day time limit made it very clear that people who are willing to defy gods, people of power and those who harm the innocent are the only ones that can save us from the darkness.
"I decided to try something different. The friends and people around Sora matter just as much to helping him grow even more as a person as anybody we'd meet on our journey. So I picked people who could help Sora grow strong enough to stop Xehanort and truly make a difference in their own lives. You know, being more than a small part of something bigger!" Kay declared, smiling at the upcoming adventure and hope for the universe, that she knew this could work; all that was needed was people and for her beloved to be happy.
"I guess that makes sense, so who did you have in mind?" Claire said, letting go of her son and the goddess to take a sip of tea, wondering if her sister, Snow, and the others were involved or even their friends from Midgard.
"Well, after you guys, there was the couple of Donna Beneviento, and her wife, Aqua, alongside their son, Sora. They were the third and fourth members of the group, survivors of a bloody village, and currently somewhere in the world's, as they had just taken the Mark of the Mastery exam only a few months ago, so hopefully we can find the merchant of their village and get pointed in the right direction." Kay said that as she watched Lightning's eyes widen at the mention of the blue-haired woman, her hands were shaking as a small smile rose upon her face.
"I see, good. I'm glad that Aqua is doing okay. I didn't think that I'd ever see or hear about her again after Midgard; you see, she was injured in our fight with Sephiroth, and then for ten years, nothing. No visits, no post cards, only silence; her mother was a friend of mine, and one day she left this world to live someplace else with Aqua, so I've been trying to find her and bring her home for so long. So, Kay, can you tell me a little more about her life? I'd like to know a little more about her new family and the life she had in the village." Lightning said, grabbing a pink wayfinder from her pants pocket and gazing into the small star-like object that Aqua had made for her so many years ago.
"Well, I don't know much beyond the fact that they had escaped a cruel woman named Miranda, with their seven-year-old son. Anything else you'd like to ask would be up to them, as I only know that Aqua has taken the Mark of Mastery exam. Only three, maybe four months ago, I was so focused on the fact that Xehanort and the universe were ending that I didn't think to keep track of Aqua and Donna. But now things are different; we can find them, and then everything will be ok." Kay said, flashing Lightning a smile, easing the pink-haired woman a little bit as she put her way finder away.
"Ok, so Five is your master, Sora. The great ninja Yuffie Kisarugi is one of the three Midgard people that I felt it was in our best interest to get in order to stop Xehanort, Sephiroth and that mad Doctor. The other two members were Cloud Strife and Tifa Lockhart; they were the only ones that I knew could fight Sephiroth and had enough power to impact Xehanort and his sinister plans." Kay declared, beaming over her choices for the last known guardians of this universe. The only question that was left on the goddess's mind was who was the last two of her seven. She wasn't sure if more people from Midgard or anyone else connected to Sora were acceptable given the timeframe. So for now, she'd have to put a pin in the idea until they got deeper into their journey and more interesting people showed up.
"Okay, now that we know most of the guardians, I think we should move on to a happier topic. Why don't we talk about your sister and other Sora's over dinner? I can't remember the last time I had dinner when the islands were engulfed in darkness." Sora whispered, letting out a bitter chuckle. The last time he ate anything was when his mom cooked a bowl of rice with grilled chicken. Hopefully tonight's meal would be better knowing that he had Kay, his mother, and the fact that the whole weight of his world and universe ending is a little easier to deal with compared to the last time.
"That sounds perfect; I'll look forward to it, Mom." Sora let out a sigh as his mother entered the kitchen, grabbing some pork and breading. Claire turned to face her son; she gave him a big smile, letting Sora know that everything would be okay. This would be a new start, he wouldn't have to see those monsters till later; Mom wouldn't be taken by the heartless, and he had Kay next to him to give encouragement and fun stories until it was time to leave. Sora let out a small smile. Today was going to be a good day.
Author note:This contains Multiple Sora's, and is part of a 4 part series. Kh1 and Bbs, are in the same few month time frame.
Ansem, and Xemnas are not until the fourth story, which will be a next gen fic. Maybe a prequel to Sora's first journey will be added at a later point./invite/UkHCHaZBbk