Kingdom Hearts: The Nintendo Version Remixed Chapter 82: Heart of all Worlds, a Game X-overs + Kingdom Hearts Crossover fanfic

Chapter 82: Heart of all Worlds

Speed struggled with an identity crisis. At least, from Sora's point of view. Ansem flew straight at the boy incredibly fast. But to Sora, time was enjoying a leisurely stroll. He was left in shock by the seeker's unnatural movement. Sora didn't know how to react. Instinct requisitioned movement, making Sora swing downward, at a diagonal angle, to parry an inward strike from his opponent's naginata.

Ansem reoriented his weapon and swung the opposite of the naginata inward towards Sora's head. The boy ducked just in time to dodge. Ansem noticed Yoshi flying in from the side, prepared to swing his shield at a horizontal angle. But the seeker delivered an upward slash to the shield, forcing Yoshi to raise up his arm. Ansem kicked Yoshi straight in the stomach, knocking him away from the area.

Agonizing tears streamed down Yoshi's face as bubbles of pain popped in his stomach, throbbing. That attack adduced Ansem's sudden increase in power. But Yoshi wouldn't let intimidation cajole him into surrender again. He wanted to see home, too; to take in the beautiful, clean air of the Mushroom Kingdom. Or be in the familiar, warm presence of the princess, receiving comfort whenever he needed it most.

But, also, he promised to be by Sora's side until the end – it's what true friends do. He'd never discard those morals into a waste basket, and let them decompose. Ansem swung his blade straight down on Sora. But he was quick enough to raise the Keyblade over his head, catching the strike. The force from the collision knocked Sora onto the ground.

Ansem fired a laser at the boy as he was rendered momentarily immobile. Yoshi leaped in front of the laser's path, deflecting it. Glancing to his right, Ansem saw Luigi approaching with an over the shoulder swing of the hammer. Ansem thrusted his arm out, which held the naginata, and blocked the attack. He returned to Yoshi, thrusting the tip of his weapon straight at the dinosaur's chest. Yoshi raised his shield to block. Ansem spun back towards Luigi, knocking his hammer away with an upward slash.

He fired another laser at Luigi, who jerked his head right to dodge. Ansem performed a downward slash on Yoshi next. The dinosaur moved left to avoid the strike, and flew straight at the seeker, preparing to ram him with his head. To Yoshi's shock, Ansem stopped his head with a simple punch. The collision knocked Yoshi far away from the ship. Ansem noticed the bottom of his vision starting to glow a bright red – he felt a sudden rise in temperature.

Leaning his head back, Ansem avoided a fireball. He looked down to see that Sora was culpable. The boy flew straight towards him. Ansem fired more energy beams in response. Sora veered left to avoid the first one; he moved upward to dodge number two; and deflected the last one with his Keyblade. He then reached Ansem, swinging inward with both hands.

Ansem rotated his torso forty-five degrees, leaned back, and allowed Sora to miss him. Sora spun around, thrusting straight at Ansem (again, both gloved hands gripped the hilt), but he smacked the Keyblade downward with a vertical strike. Ansem went on the offense with an inward swing; Sora was quick to raise the Keyblade (the tip was pointed downward, at a diagonal angle) and catch the seeker's attack. The two both swung their blades inward from opposite angles, clashing, and then sliding right by each other.

Sora prepared for an over the shoulder strike. Ansem held his weapon straight up at a horizontal angle, catching Sora's blade. He pushed Sora back, flew straight at him, delivering a downward, diagonal slash. Sora placed the Keyblade near his chest to block.

The seeker delivered a kick straight into Sora's side, knocking him back a fair distance. Pain stowed away within his side, getting comfortable, which made the boy feel miserable. Ansem swung a blade of energy from his weapon. Regaining focus, Sora had just enough time to dodge it. The boy conjured pure light into the Keyblade's form, and swung it straight at seeker. Ansem launched another blade beam; upon collision; the energy exploded into flashes of light and darkness – rivals forced into an ephemeral truce, dazzling the sky with its wild performance.

Ansem lunged at Sora, preparing to bring his blade straight down on Sora's head. Yoshi flew above Sora, knocking the seeker's blade back with all his strength; but his chance to go on the offense would never be realized, as the guardian thrusted its hand forward, releasing a burst of air that knocked Yoshi aside. Sora used Gravity, but Ansem moved away before it could rain on him.

Despite being connected to the ship, Ansem's agility had not been affected. His movements were graceful like a figure skater, fliting with ease. Sora gritted his teeth in frustration; finding a weakness within Ansem's new form would be difficult. It had to be there, Sora thought. Every single living being has a flaw – a minor deformity that always swamed about your soul. Some were harder to spot, but it couldn't hide forever. Eventually, that flaw would rise to the surface, catching its breath.

Sora needed to be ready for that moment.

Luigi charged his fist and threw a punch at Ansem. The seeker rotated his torso ninety degrees to dodge. Luigi then took his hammer, turned around, and swung towards Ansem's head; he dodged by leaning his head backwards. Ansem countered by swinging his blade downward at a diagonal angle, while holding one hand. Luigi swung inward from the opposite direction to attack. Ansem was quick to raise his blade again, performing the same maneuver to parry Luigi's hammer.

The seeker repositioned his blade and thrusted it at an incoming downward strike from Sora. He then raised the opposite blade, brought it close to his face, and caught the head of Luigi's hammer. Ansem pushed Luigi straight back, raised the other side again, and swung it at a diagonal angle towards Sora. The boy was quick to thrust the Keyblade up to his chest (the tip faced the sky) and caught Ansem's attack.

No matter what they did, that flaw refused to come up for air. It remained content in swimming within the abyssopelagic zone, imperceptible. The group needed to continue their attempts in coaxing it towards the surface. Sora and Luigi both thrusted their weapons towards Ansem at the same time. While holding his weapon with one hand (it was at a horizontal angle), Ansem lowered the naginata, like pulling down a level.

It landed on the tips of both Sora and Luigi's weapons. Taking a free hand, Ansem unleashed a burst of wind that knocked the two away from him. Yoshi tossed two eggs at the seeker, one after the other. Ansem swung his blade in both directions, sequentially, to break both of them in half.

Sora called down a Thunder spell from the heavens. But not even its mighty wrath could stop Ansem, for he caught the spell with his blade; he twirled it around, and swung it at a horizontal angle. A blade of electricity flew at the three, forcing them to descend, dogging the blast.

"Distract him," Sora said to the others. "I have an idea."

Luigi and Yoshi, after nodding in compliance, flew straight towards the seeker, weapons eager to bruise his fair dark skin – a memento of their strength. But Ansem read their esoteric script, seeing how the plot unfolded. There was a reason his intellect had been praised. He knew Sora was planning a surprise attack, and fired more lasers at him. Sora flited around the area to dodge each beam. But he was conscious of each move, trying to inch himself closer towards Ansem.

When opportunity waved a frantic flag, Sora would strike. Luigi delivered a downward swing, but Ansem hovered back to dodge it. He raised his blade at a diagonal angle to catch an incoming strike from Yoshi. Putting some effort into his arms, he pushed the dinosaur away from him. Ansem spun his weapon overhead and then brought it straight down on Luigi; he had just enough to time to block the strike with his hammer. The force from the blow pushed Luigi to the ground.

He was able to land on his feet, and pushed himself back towards Ansem, launching multiple fire spell in retaliation. Ansem deflected them by spinning his naginata around. Each fireball dispersed in seconds; its vestiges took the form of smoke. Luigi swung his hammer at Ansem, but he knocked it, along with the plumber, aside. Raising an arm at a diagonal angle, Ansem blocked an incoming kick from Yoshi.

The dinosaur spun around, delivering a horizontal swing with his shield. Ansem raised one side of the naginata towards his face to block. He swung the other way to catch a strike from Luigi. With Ansem distracted, Sora initiated his plan, striking the tentacles on the seeker's back with a Thunder strike. To Sora's horror, the spell did nothing; Ansem's body had become resistant to it, like a strong immune system. Sora started to feel a concerned pinch in his neck: was there any way to defeat Ansem?

"Did you honestly believe that spell would work again?" Ansem asked. "My power is eminent towards such basic sorcery. How many times do I have to enlighten you?"

"Sorry," Sora said. "I would be enlightened if you just weren't so boring all the time. At least wow me."

Ansem let out a soft chuckle. "Is that all it'll take? Then I can fulfill such a request."

The guardian roared again, releasing a powerful shockwave that knocked the trio away from Ansem. Their bodies became ague from the invasion of tremendous power. Painful bells rang against Sora's ears. He could tell that Ansem was growing tired by their efforts; it was time to show the trio how none of them matter – how darkness was their only path to success.

"Behold!" Ansem said, raising both arms into the air. A large, dark sphere was birthed into existence. Its purpose? Blow out the milquetoast flame of light with one breath. "Darkness!"

The sphere flew into the air, growing bigger by the second, pulsating like an energetic heartbeat. Inside the sphere was a mixture of purples and blues, swimming within an eddy of power. Wind swirled about the area in a panic. The familiar cold breeze of darkness assaulted their skin; every hair rose to attention.

Luigi glowered at Sora for the quip he made at Ansem.

"What?" Sora asked, defensive. "You have your coping mechanism, I have mine."

The sphere loomed over the ship – a giant globe prepared to burst from overwhelming power.

"Now, you weak-hearted fools," Ansem said, "witness real power!"

Small beams of light rained down from the sphere, flying straight for the trio. They were able to deflect most of the beams. Some, unfortunately, were able to hit their targets, resulting in burning pain that assaulted the receptors with no mercy. The sphere exploded into a ball of fire; it was so powerful that it sent the trio crashing onto the ship.

Ansem watched as the three struggled to get to their feet. A conflation of superiority and smugness twisted Ansem's lip. His ideal vision of the future was close to crossing reality's threshold; to making its dominance known throughout the living universe, and unify everything into a singular entity: darkness. There would no longer be concern for anything. Everyone would be safe within darkness' nest, warm beneath its comforting form.

Ansem felt at ease. He stuck out his hand; their pointless crusade was about to surcease.

Although Sora and his friends had stood up, they were exhausted. Fatigue stripped them of basic motion. It was proving difficult to raise a finger. How could they keep fighting? Any exploit refused to cooperate with them. To make itself known. Luigi was starting to feel overwhelmed. A wire cutter snapped the chain of his hopes and desires in half. It spilled out onto the floor – a wild mess of thoughts. None of it could be organized.

Luigi was empty. He was going to lose everything. And nothing he did would make a difference. He fell onto his knees, staring out towards the empty horizon, bonding over their current mental state. The others looked to see Luigi's dejected deportment. They had never seen him so forlorn. Usually, his moments of terror were over the top. But now, he was solemn, devoid of every emotion that defined him.

Luigi found himself stranded within his own depressed thoughts. They had lost the battle. He was about to lose everything. Everyone he cared for would soon draw their last breath; their voices would forever be silent. And he was the deciding factor that would lead to their misery. He disappointed his loved ones. Especially Mario. He chose Luigi for this important journey. It was mistake. He was prone to letting things go astray. And this moment was no different.

But he didn't just disappointment his brother; he disappointed himself. Especially when he tried to believe that was more than a shadow –a person with definition features that allowed him to live as his own person. But those attributes never existed.

He was just a silhouette. Becoming a part of darkness was his destiny.

Luigi's discouraging aura latched itself onto the others. Yoshi was frightened, not wanting to exist in the darkness forever – a lonely place where silence was the only form of company. He didn't want to be alone. To never feel engendered by those around him. Sora lowered his head, glancing at the Keyblade.

Maybe Riku deserved it more than he ever did; he wore all of those qualities on him like badges. Riku had always been stronger, wiser, and more focused. Sora could never compete with those attributes. Perhaps the Keyblade's judgment to choose Sora had been haphazard. He didn't have the strength to overcome the darkness.

Sora closed his eyes; he was prepared to accept the consequences of his failure. Already, he could picture the faces of all his friends fade. One by one. Until Riku and Kairi were left.

But they refused to vanish. Sora couldn't let them go. Their influence was forever imprinted on his heart. His chest started to feel warm, just like it did in Hollow Bastion; he rested a gloved hand on it. The sensation was comforting, sedating the tension. But it seemed impossible. He knew Kairi wasn't there anymore.

Or, maybe she was there, in spirit. Despite how far apart they were, their bond couldn't be impeded. She believed in him, ever since they were young. He couldn't betray that faith, even if their chances were slim. The idea was worse than becoming formless beings in darkness. Going against Kairi's wishes would make him numb with regret. He refused to let that notion be his last thought.

"Don't ever forget. Wherever you go, I'll always be with you."

Kairi's words formed an avenue – it was bright, filled with a smooth pavement. He walked down it, feeling a resurgence in his confidence. Sora found himself running now; his breathing was rapid, not just from exertion, but excitement. Beautiful plantation started growing on each side of him; it took the form of the familiar, healthy palm trees of his island. Seagulls chanted in his ears with encouragement.

And at the end of the path, Riku and Kairi were waiting for him on their raft. They were going to make the trip home together. Sora opened his eyes; they were replete with confidence. He took a courageous step forward, gripping the hilt of the Keyblade, staring down his opposition through a clear, determined lens.

Sora's sudden actions had restarted the wheels of motion in Luigi's mind. Although, right now, it was entirely controlled by a crank of doubt, rotating around at a slow pace. "Wh-what are you doing?"

"Not breaking my promise," Sora said, never letting his gaze on Ansem go astray.

"You're not serious?" Luigi asked. "How can you still be positive right now? Wake up! He has us beat! Are you just that stubborn to admit it!?"

Sora glanced back at his friend – sincerity seeped from every pour. "Maybe he does. But I'm not going sit around and do nothing in these last moments!"

"Why bother?" Luigi asked, unable to liberate himself from a dour corner. "It'll just reaffirm how useless we are. None of our efforts mattered."

"You know that's not true in the slightest!" Sora said, snapping back at him. "Every person we met on this journey would say otherwise! Ganondorf might still be ruling over Hyrule. Or Chrom would've never seen his friend again. We made that all possible! And it wasn't from sitting around and admiring the pretty flowers! Our efforts won't matter because we MADE no effort! I can't live with that!"

Sora faced Ansem again – his gaze remained still, yet steadfast. Unyielding light swamed around the irises. "I came too far for my friends' sake. I'll never turn my back on them, even if things seem dire. I'm not planning on taking a broken promise to my grave!"

Once again, Sora's inspiring words raised Yoshi's spirits. He was the pole that kept Yoshi balanced on a tightrope of uncertainty. Sora's conviction pulled the dinosaur in like a magnet. Nothing could disrupt the process. Yoshi would not worry about the future and its consequences. He would focus on the now, fighting for a chance to see the future at all.

The dinosaur ran over to Sora, standing by his side. Sora gave him a proud pat on the head. Their optimism was blinding, Luigi thought. It prevented them from seeing even a glimpse of reality's grim form. But, as he watched Sora stare at Ansem, Luigi was again reminded of Mario – how nothing deterred him, even if the odds would not part like clouds, revealing a glimmer of hope. The thought of protecting what he cherished mattered most. It was a part of his being, vital, just like how pumping blood kept us alive.

Without it, you had no motivation. No reason to fight. No reason to exist. And Luigi had a plethora of reasons. If he didn't try, Luigi would never to see all those smiling faces again. To tell Daisy how much he loved her. Or to enjoy a rousing game of tennis with Peach.

But most importantly, he could never feel complete without his brother. A part of that weight would be gone forever. He refused to live with that possibility. Finally, his determination had been refreshed, thanks to Sora's invigorated words. He hurried over to join the others, standing right against the odds. He would not flee, even if they tumbled over like a building.

"See, I knew you had it in you," Sora said, smiling.

"And I would've never known where to look without your help," Luigi said. "Regardless of what happens now, I'm glad I got to go on this adventure with you guys. Would do it again in a heartbeat."

Ansem frowned. "Enough of your babbling. Open your heart to darkness!"

Ansem fired the sphere right at the three. They caught it with their weapons. To the seeker's surprise, they managed to bring his attack to a halt. This wasn't possible, Ansem thought. He must have stepped into an unpleasant dream. But the air flailed around from the congested commotion of light and dark energy. He an inconstant of temperature flowed about the vicinity.

The trio pushed against their sphere with all their might. Their bodies trembled before its great weight. But their strength refused to falter. Right now, they were one unit, merged by an unbreakable bond of friendship that hummed like an engine since the beginning. Now, it exploded into a powerful roar, striking intimidation into their opponents.

A golden aura soon formed around the group's bodies. It caused the darkness to recoil in fear. Even Ansem shared the same sentiment, as he started to move backwards. All of his attempts to defeat them had failed. When the dust settled, they emerged, unscathed. How could the heart grow this strong? No. It was impossible. Only darkness prevailed. Nothing could match its strength.

But he then watched in horror as the sphere was knocked right back at him. That strength abandoned the seeker for the light. Ansem braced himself as the attack collided, consuming him in a fiery explosion. The only sound that rivaled the booming noise was his cries of agony. It wasn't long before the commotion ended. Ansem was hunched over, in excruciating pain. Smoke ascended from his body.

"H-How?" Ansem asked, wheezing from the immense pain. "H-How did you acquire this strength?"

"From my friends," Sora said, pointing the Keyblade at Ansem, with a steel resolve. "Like I told Riku: they are my power. And I guess we'll have to demonstrate that again."

Sora flew straight at Ansem, slashing him straight across the chest. The seeker gritted his teeth as the pain dug into his body. Sora flew behind Yoshi, who curled into an egg, and kicked him straight into Ansem's stomach. The egg spun against Ansem like a wheel, continuing the assault of suffering. After emerging from the egg, Yoshi rammed him head straight into Ansem's chin.

As the dinosaur flew way, Luigi came in from the side and slammed his hammer into the back of Ansem's shoulder blades. He flipped in front of the seeker, charging his fist with energy. Ansem tried thrusting his blade at Luigi, but he jerked to the left, and countered with a powerful punch to the face. Sora delivered a string of Keyblade strikes that chewed at Ansem's skin. The seeker couldn't dodge any of them. He was stuck in a tornado, forced to endure the torment, being thrashed about by the trio.

Sora finished his combo off with the spiral attack. Every blast made contact. The trio flew at Ansem together, forming a wide sphere of pure light. Ansem caught the light with his blade. Both sides struggled against each other. But Ansem felt himself lose strength. He couldn't maintain the hold anymore; the three rammed into him, releasing a golden blast that illuminated the whole area once again.

Ansem had gone numb. His muscles became deaf, unable to hear the commands from the nervous system. He was in complete disbelief. Every thought caved in on him, demanding an explanation. But one of the most renown scientific minds found this moment recondite.

"I-Is this the answer?" Ansem asked. "It can't be!"

The trio wrapped their hands around the Keyblade. Its blade glowed from an incredible ethereal light, growing longer in length, extending into the sky – a beacon in the darkness. Sora and friends flew straight at Ansem, delivering the final strike, cutting through both him and the ship. It started to explode upon impact. Minatare explosion popped out from every corner of flesh. The guardian screamed towards sky as the hot pain formed a concourse.

Ansem remained silent, struggling to process the whole ordeal. He had lost to three unlikely individuals, whose backgrounds weren't compliment each other: a teenager from an island; a timorous plumber; and a young dinosaur.

Yet, they were incontrovertibly unstoppable.

A ball of light emerged on Ansem's chest, growing larger with each passing second. It flashed nonstop, overwhelmed from the build up of the trio's power. Explosions covered the guardian's whole body. Its wails of pain became more intense. Sora sensed the build up of power, grabbed both Luigi and Yoshi by the wrist, and they flew away, just as the ship was consumed within a fiery explosion.

The shockwave knocked the three back a fair distinct. But they recovered, spinning around to see the last remnants of the vessel. They were small whisps of orange light meandering about like lightning bugs, having lost control of their senses.

Right before their lives expired. Soon, they faded out of existence.

Quietude made its triumphant return. Everything was still. The air became lukewarm. Sora's heartbeat bounced around in his head, still restless over everything that transpired. All of them were still on edge, worried that the seeker might have survived. But after a little while, their guard was coaxed into a recliner of serenity.

Although Luigi senses remained somewhat alert, like a deer keeping its head raised in unfamiliar terrain. "Think that did him in? Man will just not quit. It's like he's hoarding one-up mushrooms or something."

"A problem that's plaguing today's royalty," Yoshi said, in a sympathetic tone.

"Doesn't matter," Sora said, raising his pride like a sail. "That was incredible! Didn't know we had it in us!" He wrapped each arm around Luigi and Yoshi. "Just another reason as to why no one messes with us!"

Luigi shifted his eyes away from Sora; guilt had unloaded its great weight onto his stomach. It grew heavier as he said, "Yeah. Listen, I'm sorry about almost giving up. I felt completely hopeless. That I let everyone down."

"Don't sweat it," Sora said, reassuring him with a grin. "In that moment, I was kinda unsure if we could win. But I couldn't give up. Not when I have a promise on the line. Also, I was reminded of all the awesome stuff we've done. I knew we could do it again. You and Yoshi are the most reliable friends ever. There's no way either of you could let me down."

The weight of guilt flushed itself down a drain. Luigi's stomach felt lighter. He smiled. "Thank you. For helping me find my courage."

Yoshi spun around to face Kingdom Hearts. The door was in reach. They had to make sure it remained closed, so that the angry mob of Heartless could not escape. A sudden decrease in temperature shoved itself into Yoshi's nostrils, releasing a familiar, malevolent scent. Yoshi let out a fierce growl in response.

"What's wrong?" Sora asked.

Sora and Luigi felt mouths became agape as Ansem hovered up from right below them; his body twitched and contorted, rebelling against the immense pain. Ansem refused to vanish, not while Sora and his friends breathed in the same air. Sheer tenacity in fulfilling his life's work gave him impunity from death. It was his lifeforce – unless darkness succeeded, it would flow forever.

Luigi grabbed his hat and screamed into the inner lining with hot, exasperated air, like filling a balloon.

"Why you no take hint?" Yoshi asked, glowering. "Unless you plan on fighting us with space ship next, there no way you win!"

Luigi shut Yoshi's mouth with a gloved hand, causing the dinosaur to mumble in confusion. "Don't give him any ideas!"

"It matters not," Ansem said, panting, taking a moment to regain his strength. "You're too late, anyway. The door to darkness is about to open, and I will claim its power. Not even the Keyblade can halt its progress." He spun around, extending a hand towards the door. "Kingdom Hearts! Fill me with the power of darkness!"

Luigi groaned. "I swear, if he says 'darkness' one more time…."

The elegant white door opened on Ansem's command. Dark smoke started to push it further open, as if fingers were reaching through. Long, elongated fingers eager to escape and place its giant palm over the world, smothering the light. Nothing would survive its venomous path.

"Supreme darkness…" Ansem said, reaching for the door. He was so close to becoming a resident within his own ambitions – to bask in the darkness' nurturing form, feeling like a whole new person.

He could breathe a sigh of relief; everyone would be safe from the light's false promises of a better tomorrow. Sora felt the air grow cold. At least, for a moment. There was something off about its presence. It wasn't intense, as if something had leashed its power. Sora froze as sparks of realization flashed within his mind. Of course, he thought. It all made sense.

His eyes were open.

"You're wrong," Sora said, with conviction. "I know now, without a doubt. Kingdom Hearts…is light!"

At first, Ansem dismissed such an outlandish notion. But then, the door opened wide – a massive ray of light burst out, awakening from a long, restful slumber. The seeker was left in utter disbelief as the light consumed him into its shimmering form. He shielded his eyes from the brightness. But nothing would protect him the intense stinging sensation that was delivered to every inch of his body.

He felt like light was traversing his innards, purging the darkness that permitted him to exist. Soon, he would be nothing more than a husks, unable to sustain himself without darkness' nectar. He grew weaker with each passing second. All he could do was grunt and groan, not even receiving the courtesy to scream.

However, he was able to utter one single word in a feeble tone: "Light…."

His mind found itself trudging through time's morass, reflecting on this moment. Everything he knew was wrong. He had spent tireless hours conducting theories and research on the darkness. Yet, in a single motion, his efforts were invalidated. Nothing he did matter. He was a prisoner to the universe's rule; it would not abide.

"But….why….?" Ansem asked, channeling what little strength he had left into his vocal cords.

Ansem's last few moments were left to lament his failures. If only he hadn't been so myopic in his conclusions. Maybe things could've been different – his efforts rewarded. Light burst from his body until being completely consumed. It wasn't long before the light faded. Not a trace of him remained. Only the memories of his ambitions survived, limping about the lives of those affected by him, forever restless due to unfulfillment.

He was gone. Sora could feel the tension start to disperse. It had been a long, arduous battle. At times, it seemed impossible; but they had removed that strong word from the equation. However, it wasn't over yet; that's why some of the tension remained behind, reluctant to abandoned its post. He could still feel cold air coming from the door. The darkness was still crawling out, on the verge of taking its first steps into the vast world. Once it started running, nothing could stop the momentum.

Luigi sighed in annoyance. "Now he says light. Make up your mind."

Sora cleared his throat to get Luigi's attention, and gestured towards the door. They had another exigency on their hands. If they didn't act, Ansem's plans of eternal darkness could be resuscitated; that artery needed to remain blocked. The trio flew onto the island where Kingdom Hearts rested, and they sprinted over to it. Sora pressed his body against one side of the double doors – Luigi and Yoshi took the opposite one.

Being so close to the door made Sora realize how massive it was in scale. Closing it wouldn't be easy. Especially given how fatigue had tracked them down and started seizing their strength. But they had to try.

"Come on!" Sora said. "One, two, three!"

They pushed with all their might. It barely budged. The only progress came in the form of aches and pains rattling through their muscles.

"Curse these noodles arms!" Luigi said, grunting. "Need to up my hammer swinging routine."

An unpleasant smell found sojourn within Yoshi's nose. The dinosaur grimaced in response, but notice that it came from behind the door. Although malodorous, Yoshi was still curious over the scent's origin. Something in his stomach beckoned him to take a peek within the door's wide maw. What he saw made him gasp in horror.

"Hey, our impending doom does not warrant sightseeing!" Luigi said, in an urgent tone. "Stop starring and keep pushing!"

Yoshi grabbed Luigi by the head and directed his face towards the inside of the door. Even Luigi found himself setting aside concern to take a gander. He regretted the decision. His legs became immobile from fear, as if they've lost circulation. He felt himself start to shiver from a cold breeze of anxiety.

Inside was a plethora of long, organic, gray tubes; they stuck out from every side of a large cavern. All of the tubes contained light blue markings shaped like scars. A light from deep within the cavern gave it illumination. It was recondite to most – an otherworldly location that was impossible to describe. For a 'kingdom,' it lacked the familiar traits.

But that's not what concerned both Luigi and Yoshi. Forming on the bottom of the cavern were giant black blots with yellow dots – the one thing the two recognized. And those blots began a slow stroll towards the door, prepare to spread like an infection.

"The Heartless!?" Luigi and Yoshi exclaimed. They both resumed pushing against the door.

"Hurry!" Luigi said, in a frantic tone. "Put your backs into it!"

But the door wouldn't budge. It remained stagnant, stubborn in returning to an endless sleep. Sora had reached the limit of his strength. It didn't help that exhaustion continued pursuing them, growing closer with each passing moment.

"I…can't…" Sora said, grunting.

"Don't give up!" a familiar voice said.

Sora stopped. His body frozen upon recognizing it. For a moment, he thought his mind was playing tricks, especially since it had grown tired. But he watched a black gloved hand grab the door from the other side.

Riku peeked out with an encouraging smile. "Come on, Sora! Together, we can do it!"

Sora's thoughts collapsed into a jumbled mess, like puzzle pieces. He tried reforming them to find cohesion, but none would fit into place. There were so many questions. His emotions were struggling to keep their balance.

"R-Riku!" Sora said.. "H-How are y—? Is it really—?"

"Yeah," Riku said. "It's really me."

Sora looked into his eyes – the same ones that glowed with confidence and wisdom. It had been so long since that shine reflected off them. There was no doubt: darkness' influence had been cleansed from Riku. This was the same person Sora knew his whole life. The same person that helped push him to become stronger – both mentally and physically. No one had a bigger impact in life, and he was beyond ecstatic to see his best friend again.

But Riku didn't show the same enthusiasm. At least in this moment. It was difficult. The emotions he carried dragged across the floor, letting out a strident noise that reminded him of his actions.

"Listen, we don't have much time," Riku said, before Sora could speak. "I made a lot of bad decisions."

"It wasn't your fault," Sora said.

"Yes, it was," Riku said, in a firm tone. "I decided to follow the path of darkness. It's too late to fix my mistakes." Confidence started protruding from his eyes, like daggers. They were sharp and focused. "But at the very least I can make up for them! We gotta close this door now!"

"Then come out here and help!" Sora said.

Riku's expression faltered, knowing his next sentence was difficult to utter. "I can't. I'm a denizen of the dark now. My body can't pass through to the outside."

Sora felt shock strike the back of his head. It caused the pieces to break apart again. This time, they were harder to reform, as he struggled to believe what Riku had said.

"No," Sora said, in utter disbelief. "This can't be right! I finally found you, and now…and now…"

Riku could sense Sora becoming distressed. He hated seeing his best friend – one of the most carefree, optimistic people in the world – in a plaintive state. It intensified the pang of guilt in his stomach. Never seeing Sora and Kairi again devastated him. They kept clouds of uncertainty from forming with their bright, upbeat personality – understood him better than most people. He felt tremendous joy when around them.

Relinquishing such elation was next to impossible. But choosing not to would result in that joy vanishing forever. He refused to imagine an existence without Sora and Kairi. It would make him feel incipient – a flower that would wither away without the sun's nurturing rays. Although he hated being apart from them, knowing that they were safe was his only consolation – a notion that would continue to pump inspiration into his bloodstream, keeping him happy. Fighting against the darkness behind the door wouldn't be so daunting.

But there was no time to ruminate, nor be crestfallen. Especially as the shadows began their pilgrimage towards the door.

"I'll be okay," Riku said, remaining strong, as he belied his immeasurable sadness. "I promise. You showed me how to never give up despite the odds. And I will use that lesson to keep searching for a way home. But we can't waste any more time. We must do what's necessary. For our friends. For Kairi. Please, Sora!"

Sora's lower lip tightened in aggravation. Riku knew using the 'K word' would make him amenable to reason. Ever since they were little, he and Riku disagreed on many things. Whether it was over trivial disputes such as who won a board game, or which person got the last slice of pizza. It was a part of their brotherly relationship.

But the one thing they always agreed on was Kairi's welfare. They cared for her with all their heart. Kairi made them feel complete the moment she stepped into their lives; their bond as friends grew stronger than ever. And they were indebted to her for such a priceless gift. Sora wanted to keep his promise and bring Riku home. But he was forced to discard it.

It wasn't fair. Regardless of what happened, Sora was forever stung with a bitter taste in his mouth. Life would never be the same for them again. Riku, his older brother figure, gone. He would walk over to their hangout on the little island. That bent tree where Riku sat would be vacant. Sora and Kairi would glance out at the horizon, elegiac, feeling empty without their close friend.

Depression started to spread its crops over his emotional garden. They would accrue, making him feel sadder. A part of him wanted to cry. But he saw that entreating look in Riku's eyes: they had no time to share a long good-bye. Time would deny him the opportunity. He could feel the air grow cold from the Heartless' presence, which pressed against his skin like a needle. Sora had to be strong in this dire situation. It's what Riku wanted, and he would honor that request.

Sora took a deep breath, suppressing his feelings beneath rational thought. "Okay! I promise to never stop searching!"

"Same here, man," Riku said.

The group resumed closing the door. With Riku's assistance, the group made some leeway in shutting the door. But it wasn't long before they found themselves at a standstill. Heartless started rising from the blots, taking form, yearning for the outside world. Two of them were akin to the giant Heartless Sora fought on his island before it was destroyed. The cavern started to dim, as if darkness was inhaling what little light remain; any second, it would be replete, making the area pitch black.

Dark energy radiated from the teeming Heartless, pressing itself against the door, preventing further movement; nothing the four did could make it budge. It was immovable like a mountain. The Heartless continued onward with their triumphant parade. Once they passed through the threshold, the darkness would spread, consuming every world, until only a small flicker of light remained. Eventually, it, too, would burn out, like a feeble flame.

Luigi grasped both hands on his cheeks, panicking. "We can't budge it! This is it! We're done for! Game over, man! Game over!"

"Snap out of it!" Yoshi said, as gave Luigi a violent shake. "We think of something!"

"Shaking me is only making me more antsy!" Luigi said, his voice trembling from the rapid motion.

"Look!" Sora said.

The two ceased their descent towards a nervous disorder and looked through the door again. To everyone's surprise, the Heartless burst into black dust, one after another. Only a handful still wandered, but most had been eliminated. Light had brightened up the cavern again, awakening its tired eye.

Sora, Luigi, and Yoshi exchanged confused glances with each other.

"Did Yoshi shaking Luigi stop Heartless?" Yoshi's face brightened from an idea, and he went to grab Luigi's arms again.

"Absolutely not!" Luigi said, snapping at the dinosaur.

"But just hear Yoshi out on this one," Yoshi said, exhibiting alacrity. "You get to defeat Heartless AND get a good ab workout."

Ignoring the two, Sora faced Riku. "What just happened?"

"Guess I should've told you earlier," Riku said, with a sly smirk. "I'm not the only one back here."

Curious by Riku's sentence, Sora and the others looked through the door again. For a moment, they didn't notice anything usual. The cavern resumed its mundane activity of stillness. But then, a figure leaped out from behind one of the tubes. He was barely visible. No one could make out his details. A golden wave soon emitted from the person's body, spreading throughout the cavern. The paucity of Heartless found themselves running away in fear, like frightened animals

Everyone had a better image of the figure. He was short and portly. His outfit was the same as Luigi's, except for a red shirt and hat; etched in the middle was the letter "M." Luigi and Yoshi froze up upon recognizing the figure. A conflation of emotions joined together to form a cacophonous choir. Luigi thought he was dreaming. It seemed too good to be true. But reality's domineering presence slapped at his senses, proving that he wasn't insensible.

"BRO!?" Luigi said, with a massive shout. "IS THAT YOU!?"

As the light faded, the stranger unveiled an overjoyed grin from below his famous black moustache. "Yep! It's-a-me, Mario!"

Luigi felt every ounce of stress pour out from his body. It had been too long since he felt such relief. He finally found his big brother after enduring so much toil. Finding the right words to express his feelings was beyond difficult. So many thoughts were cross contaminated, forming an incoherent mess of sentences. How could he even begin to delineate them?

"It's him! It's him!" Yoshi said, hopping up and down, jubilantly. "No one 'it's-a-me' like him! Me missed you so much, Mario!"

"I missed you, too, pal!" Mario said. His expression turned serious. "But we don't have time for a reunion. I can't hold the Heartless off much longer."

Mario summoned a familiar weapon to his hand, holding it aloft; it radiated with yellow, ethereal energy.

"No way!" Sora said, in surprise. "He has a Keyblade!?"

Indeed, Mario had one that was homogenous to Sora's. The only difference was that the colors were inverted: the blade was coated in gold, while the hilt gleamed silver.

"Now, Sora," Mario said. "Let's close this door for good!"

Sora took a moment to digest that sentence, and appeared perplexed. "Huh? But what about you? You're coming with us, right?"

There was an uncomfortable pause. Mario's blue eyes struggled to remain centered, as if he was fighting an internal war with dejection. He wanted to remain strong for both Luigi and Yoshi. Especially Luigi. But the love you share for someone so important could never be insurmountable. It was next to impossible for those emotions to not rip off the mask, showing their true self.

Luigi didn't like the silence. He dreaded hearing his brother's answer. His shoulders started to tense, bracing for inevitable. Although Luigi hoped his hunch was wrong – that they'd be going home to the Mushroom Kingdom together.

But that desire was placed amongst a shelf of fiction.

"Two Keyblades are needed to lock the door," Mario said, after a moment of reluctance. "Both need to be on opposite sides of it."

The world started to condense around Luigi. His heart started pounding faster. Feeling in his body started to dissipate.

"Wh-what are you saying?" Luigi asked.

Mario sighed, unable to keep the revelation suppressed anymore. "I'm sorry, little bro. I need to remain here."

Yoshi's knees grew weak as the sentence struck his ears like a dart. He pressed his face against the door, starting to cry, devastated. Mario was like a father to him. His positive attitude engendered Yoshi when the world seemed bleak. He couldn't imagine growing up in a world without that strong influence. Sora was commiserated towards his friends, especially since he had to part with Riku. It was a mental injury that would never heal.

But Luigi was stuck within a corner of disbelief, unable to turn around and face the truth. He refused to accept it.

"Don't be ridiculous," Luigi said, trying to keep a wrinkle from forming on his emotion. "When has that stopped you before? You'll find a way out of this! Guaranteed." Mario closed his eyes, unresponsive. "Bro, speak to me! Tell me you'll figure something out!"

Silence again. Only Yoshi's muffled cries filled the room. Luigi had his annoyances with Mario in the past. Every sibling is bound to stop at that intersection. But Luigi's respect for his big brother was invaluable. He admired every aspect of him – loved him since childhood. Nothing ever tampered their relationship.

But, for the first time in his life, Luigi felt genuine anger for him. He couldn't believe this uncharacteristic behavior; to give up on everything he cherished.

"A-And that's it? You're just gonna accept your fate?" Luigi's anger started crackling like a salubrious fire. "I..I searched everywhere for you. Fulfilled your requests without hesitation." Tears started to form in his eyes. His breathing became rapid. "And now you're just going to abandon us!?"

"Luigi…" Mario said, in a soft, plaintive tone. "This is the only way…"

"No!" Luigi said, livid. "How dare you do this to us! Have you forgotten how important you are in our lives? You're just okay with leaving us behind!? The princess will be devastated! I…I…don't know what I'll do. I'm….I'm…"

He fell onto his knees, breaking out into an uncontrollable sob.

"…nothing without you!" Luigi said.

Mario just stared at his brother; he felt himself trudge through a bog of guilt. Each passing moment, the mud grew thicker.

"I can never do anything right," Luigi said, pushing his words through the gasps. "You always inspired me. But, without you, my true colors come out: a clumsy, timid little scaredy cat. I'll never be like you! I'll always be a shadow!"

Luigi resumed crying, until he felt two hands grip his shoulders. Looking up, he saw his big brother staring at him. Those strong blue eyes gleamed with unwavering confidence. But he also saw pride.

"You're stronger than you think," Mario said, in a steady, uplifting tone. "You traversed through the deepest darkness to get here. Not many hearts could survive a dangerous journey. You never needed me. This journey proved how courageous you are."

Being in Mario's presence sedated the wild emotions that wriggled throughout Luigi's body. He felt himself start to grow calm. It was true; Mario knew how to inspire him. And he hated how it was working so well.

"Me? Courageous?" Luigi asked, wiping the tears from his eyes. "Now you're joking with me, bro."

"I mean it," Mario said. "Never lose sight of that courage. Use it to keep everyone safe. I know you can. You're my brother. There's no one else that could do the job right."

Luigi exhaled, sinking into a state of tranquility. Although his breath was still shaken from sadness. Mario was right: as brothers, a part of himself would always exist within Luigi – the courage that would always keep him motivated. It would remind him to never be afraid of the unknown; to face it with a smile.

After taking a moment, Luigi pressed his forehead against Mario's. "I'm going to miss you."

"Me, too," Mario said, fighting back the tears in his eyes. The two pulled away from each other. "I'm proud of you, Luigi." He placed a gentle hand on Yoshi's nose. "You, too, Yoshi."

Yoshi tried forming a smile, expressing the same sentiment. He was too sad to conduct the proper words; but, sometimes, they were written right across your face, in full view. They summoned up everything that needed to be said.

"Tell the princess that…I love her…and that I'm sorry for everything," Mario said.

"Okay," Luigi said, between sniffles. "You can count on me."

Mario's hands tightened their grip on Luigi's shoulders, knowing he couldn't keep the future waiting any longer. "Now, summon your courage again. We have a job to finish."

"I will." Luigi stood up, wiping the tears from his eyes. "Come on! We have to close this door!"

"Are you sure about this?" Sora asked.

"Don't worry," Mario said, with a reassuring smile. "No matter where you go, there'll always be a door to the light."

"Sora," Yoshi said, sniffling, "you can trust Mario."

"Now! They're coming!" Riku said, in an urgent tone.

"Luigi, Yoshi," Mario said, as he backed up towards the cavern, "thank you."

Thanks to Mario's efforts, the four resumed closing the door without issue. But their hearts still wept over what the consequences of being successful entailed. As the doors were close to each other, Riku faced Sora one last time with a smile.

"Take care of her," he said.

Sora responded with a determined nod. Another promise he wouldn't dare forget. It was a remnant of Riku he would keep forever – a simple notion that continued to tie them together, despite being apart. Once the door closed, it exerted a low groan from movement. Sora leaped back, raising the Keyblade into the sky; the tip glowed a bright white, illuminating the dour area. Stars orbited around the tip like moons.

Mario twirled his Keyblade around and performed the same motion, letting out an energetic, "Wahoo!"

Light ascended the door, filling it with a beautiful, radiant white glow. Moments later, it became translucent, and vanished without a trace, leaving Sora and his friends behind, to ponder everything that transpired. Luigi fell onto his knees – his entire being was filled with absolute heartache. He was inconsolable. The most important person in his life was gone. Possibly forever.

Yoshi ran over to hug him. The two resumed lamenting in silence, unable to stop the downpour of tears. Sora fell onto his back from a mixture of exhaustion and depression. Their battle against the darkness was over. But it came at a great sacrifice: his best friend. He would have to resume life without him. It was a hard idea to swallow. They had been together every single day of their lives. It was a massive change.

How do you move forward? To Sora, it seemed impossible. Just reminding himself of Riku's absence would bedim any pleasant mood. Same for Kairi. He almost wasn't ready to reunite with her and break the news. Sora continued glancing at the dark, inexpressive sky. It didn't offer any condolence for such a heavy loss. Only his memories did. He reminisced about all the times he and Riku spent together. They were so many memories to rewatch: the reel never ended.

He remembered all their times playing make believe, pretending to fight off monsters from invading their home. Or splashing at each other within the clear, crisp ocean. As they got older, that playful side never left. Especially when they enjoyed a good sparring match. But, on some nights, they would stare up at the stars, thankful to have each other in their lives.

Unfortunately, those moments could never be captured again.

Sora sat up, knowing he'd have to say good-bye to Luigi and Yoshi next. But he saw something move from his peripheral vision. Spinning around, Sora saw Kairi, looking around the area, confused at her new surroundings. Sora could hear Riku's voice in his head, reminding him to check on Kairi's wellbeing. He wanted to have his last moments with Luigi and Yoshi, but Kairi came first. Standing up, Sora hurried to be with her.

Yoshi noticed and wanted to follow, but Luigi placed a hand on the dinosaur's shoulder, stopping him. He knew Kairi meant the world to Sora. Even if this was there last moment together, Luigi knew Sora wouldn't be okay unless Kairi was safe. At first, Yoshi hesitated, but he didn't want to upset Sora by being excessive baggage.

More tears poured out of Yoshi's eyes. He hated losing another person. Especially one that had become so important in his life. His big brother.

"It's okay," Luigi said, wrapping his arms around the dinosaur. "We'll never forget him. Never."

The ground beneath Kairi's feet grew warm. Glancing down, she saw sand starting to form. It was perfect, lacking any sort of rocks. Was this the sand from her island? Her confusion lengthened, passing into the endless sky.

"Kairi!" Sora said.

Looking ahead, she saw Sora running right towards her from the white, snowy ground. In that moment, the confusion was condensed from the hands of relief. Everything wasn't as intimidating with him around.

"Sora!" Kairi ran up to him. The snowy ground was pressed against the sand, forming a divide. "What's happening? Where are we?"

"It's over," Sora said, beaming in excitement. "We won the battle. We're going home."

Kairi smiled; relief brushed against the strains of her. "I knew you'd do it. Despite how much of a lazy bum you are."

"Well, gee," Sora sad, chuckling. "Thanks."

Kairi felt at ease. "I'm…so happy you're here."

"Me too."

They were surrounded in a loving heat. It was growing stronger by the second. Any second it would start burning. They didn't want to spend another moment apart. Their feelings for each other had reached the precipice. It couldn't ascend any higher. Sora felt himself leaning into her; Kairi did the same. Their lips were close, having been drawn in like electricity. They felt their warm, steady breath caresses the other.

But then, the ground started to split apart. The violent shake caused them both to stumble backwards. Kairi fell forward, but Sora grabbed her hand. The earth beneath them was separating. Sora stood on the snowy side; Kairi was still on the beach. The Keyblade wielder knew that the results of their actions were starting to ensue. He tried leaping to the other side, but something held him to the ground; it was like the soles of his feet stepped in superglue.

This wasn't happening, he thought. Why can't I cross? They were starting to drift away from each other. Albeit, at a slow rate. But nothing could change the situation.

"Wh-what's going on?" Kairi asked, anxious.

"The barrier is preventing me from coming back," Sora said, with a grim expression.

Kairi's eyes stretched out from panic, like elastic. "No. No. Sora! Please, don't leave me!"

Sora gazed her into eyes. That look of fear – it was the same one he saw on the night of the meteor shower. Where he made the promise to protect her. Sora was distraught over the whole situation, but she mattered more than anything else. Having the last image of her being upset would just depress him further. He wouldn't let Kairi spend every waking hour devoid of her cheerful smile.

Filling her with hope would keep that luster from fading

"It's okay," Sora said, in a reassuring tone. "Remember what you said before? I'm always with you, too."

They drifted further away, just barely able to keep their hands together.

"I'll come back to you," Sora said. "I promise!"

That was all encouragement Kairi needed – to never lose faith.

"I know you will!" Kairi said.

They were forced to release their grip. And yet, they never stopped reaching for each other, despite Sora being pulled away from her. It was like their subconscious believed there was still a chance; but it never made a heroic rescue. Kairi watched as Sora drifted out into the dark unknown. Nothing would change. She was forced to continue the long pilgrimage without him.

But she wasn't devastated. Dejected? Absolutely. But a sense of calm perched itself on her shoulders. Sora's words were there to comfort her; it snuggled her like a warm sweater. She never doubted his ability to quit. If there's one thing she learned, it's that Sora defied the impossible. She would never be standing here had it not been for him. To her, it wasn't a permanent goodbye. He, along with Riku, would find their way home.

She had to keep that belief from wandering off by itself.

Kairi clasped her hands together; she closed her eyes, coping with the immense sadness. A small yellow speck of light dropped onto her hands. She felt the small pressure tap against her skin. Upon opening her eyes, she saw golden specks descending from the heavens like snow. It illuminated the area. Dark blue peeked out from the pitch-black sky, waking up from a restful slumber.

Suddenly, her island started reforming, ascending from the ground like a popup book. The familiar palm trees stood tall over her, taking a morning stretch. Every part of the island resumed its proper place in nature. She could hear the seagulls flying overhead, engaged in a jovial conversation. The waves from the bright blue ocean crashed into the sand, as if giving it a friendly nudge.

She was home. But home wasn't complete without Riku and Sora.

Kairi looked back to see Sora being pulled further away from the island. He tried calling out to her again. His words would not reach; distance made them exhausted. A bright blue light consumed him and the entire snowy platform. All that remained was a giant cloud of light. It then faded, closing a tired eye. Streams of blue light became the scions.

They ascended into the sky like fireworks, flying into space, and rejoined their place within its endless, shapeless form. It was the worlds lost to the Heartless. They were able to adorn the blank sky with their shimmering presence.

Kairi felt a bit at ease. Sora had brought peace back to every world. Everything was alive and bright again. The worlds' beamed with vigor, happy with that sentiment. Kairi started to wonder if Sora was visiting any of them, searching for a way home. She would continue to have faith in him. It's what kept her happy.

The day would one day come when she got to see that big grin of his again.

Life was somewhat back to normal for Kairi. For everyone else, it had derailed into confusion and worry. Sora and Riku's families were especially distraught over their disappearance. But Kairi couldn't reveal the truth to anyone, despite how much the families trudged through grief. No one would belief such an absurd tale. Such imagery could not be conjured from the sane. At least, that's what Kairi believed people would think of her.

It was bad enough that she had to continue her wanderlust through life without them. Sora and Riku knew how to make every day an adventure. They uplifted her when she had been forced to jump over life's hurdles; to make the ride smoother. But Kairi knew everyone would see the truth as distorted – a truth that existed in fantasy.

All she could do was reassure the families that Sora and Riku were okay. Not saying anything would be a permanent stamp of guilt on her conscience. For the next few days, she took some time to herself, still suffering from the loss. But she couldn't remain in self-exile from the outside world forever. It would make her plunge deeper in depression's cellar. Not even a comforting light would sway back and forth overhead.

She went back to the island, where Wakka, Tidus, and Selphie were playing on the beach. They didn't seem to remember anything that happened. Maybe it was for the best. They could go about their lives without pausing for reflection. But the memories of her journey would never stay silent, barging in when least expected.

Selphie and the others, unfortunately, wouldn't offer the proper comfort. She was good friends with them, but never related to them on the same level as Sora and Riku. There was only place that could mend those emotional wounds.

The secret place.

She wandered through its inviting cavern, glancing up at the childhood scribbles. It took her back to a time of innocence – where the world didn't seem vast, endless, and imitating. Thoughts and feelings weren't complex. You could just enjoy the day without worry. It was nice to reline in the past.

Her eyes stopped upon a familiar sight. She fell onto her knees, having been stunned by strong emotion. It was the drawings she and Sora made when they were little. They drawings had a new addition: Sora giving the Paopu Fruit to her. She imagined him pouring his heart out into the drawing – his true feelings for her were on display.

Tears streamed down her face. She wanted to tell him, too. Sora meant so much to her. Their bond was stronger than anything else in this world. She missed him with all her heart. Taking the chalk, she drew a picture next to her face – it was of her giving the Paopu Fruit to him. This was the closes she had gotten to tell him the truth.

And one day, she planned to tell him in person.

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