Chapter 1, Pt 2: Traverse Town
“..Ra…” a voice was yelling at him.
His body hurts though. He didn't want to get up. Riku and him fought that battle and then hit something hard.
“So..ra..” the voice pleaded with him. Shaking his sore body and making it hurt more. “P..ease! Wa..up!”
Sora let a groan out, but could only crack his eyes open. The world around him was spinning and blurry. It was slow to come into focus. He remembered the battle, and he remembered being pulled in with Riku. Judging from the blurred outline of silver, he was still with him.
“Hey,” Riku's voice confirmed his suspicion. “Wake up.”
He managed to one word out, “where?”
“I don't know. We are in an alleyway. I met some grumpy old man. He said he was bringing us something called a potion. We are banged up.” Riku helped him sit up as he talked. “The worst of us is you.”
Sora managed to get his vision to clear up. Riku had some bruises from a fall. Made sense. They fell, well more dropped into Traverse Town. Onto cement of all things. Anyone would be hurt. He felt his friend touch the side of his head. When his hand pulled back, he saw red. He hit his head this time. Great, explained why it was so hard to focus.
“That is bad,” Riku gently turned his head. “I hope this…potion thing works. Hey, don't fall asleep okay?”
“I won't,” Sora took a deep breath. “I'm sorry. We have to find Kairi and I am stalling on it.”
“Hey, we'll find her. We can't find her though, if you can't even stand.” Riku got up and looked away. “Where…”
“Coming!” Cid’s voice rang like a freight train in his ears. “Brought a healer too!”
“A what?” Riku asked.
“Just wait kid.”
Sora soon saw Aerith, Yuffie, Cid and a scowling older brunet named Leon, aka: Squall. All standing him. Aerith had Riku swap places so she could check his head.
“Poor thing. This will help.” She smiled at him. “Heal.”
A warm, gentle wave of magic hit the side of his head. He felt the pain ebb away. She finished her task and nodded.
“There. No blood.”
Sora turned his head to look at her. She was handed a potion. He remembered those. They tasted so gross. She uncorked the green bottle.
“This is going to taste really gross, but it will help with the rest.” Aerith helped him drink most of it down.
Yep. Still tasted as gross as he remembered. He could stomach it thanks to being used to the taste. Now he was feeling better.
“There. Feel better?”
“Mm. Thank you.” Sora looked at Riku. “How do you feel?”
“I feel better wound wise. Still…not sure what happened,” Riku sighed, helping Sora stand up. “But we will find her. We will find Kairi and go back home.”
The brunet could only give a sad smile in return. He said that. To one one, but he said that. In the end, no one went home. They got dragged across the universe. Forced to become Wanderers helping others stay safe. Only to all die at the end of a wasted journey.
“I am sure your friend is around here somewhere. Maybe even in a different world?” Yuffie brought up.
Riku looked at her in shock. Sora didn't flinch at the information, but he gave her his attention and tried to act surprised. It was hard to act. How did anyone do this?
“Do I…know you?” Cid leaned closer to him.
Sora looked at him with actual confusion. Kingdom Hearts said no one would remember, but did Cid have his memories?
“I do know you! You're that pop idol!” Cid shouted. “Man, you got quite the talent!”
Inside, Sora’s knotted stomach relaxed. Riku pulled him close and grinned.
“And I am his best friend! I am so jelly he has talent, but man the spoils I get!” Riku smiled. “Top brand baby~!”
“Man, to have a friend spoil you like that must mean you two are close.” Aerith smiled. “Gift giving is your love language?”
Sora nodded, “yeah. I love to spoil friends and family.” He said.
“You two must be hungry, exhausted and I know you are confused. How about you come with us and we can tell you everything as you eat?” Aerith said.
“I promise, we have all the information you will need. We even have two others who came looking for…what was it again?” Yuffie looked at Squall.
“A key.” The man answered.
“That. Maybe you two have seen it? You can take those Shadow creatures out with it.” She smiled.
“Oh, this thing?” Riku summoned the Keyblade.
The four adults looked at one another and then at them.
“...please come with us and let us explain!” They all said.
Riku held up his hands and dismissed the weapon, “o-okay..” he said, then pulled Sora close. “He comes with me! We never get split up either!”
“Why would we tear you two apart?” Yuffie laughed as she skipped ahead. “I'll tell the other guests we found it!”
Aerith walked behind them and put a hand on their shoulder, “we won't tear you two apart. Let's get some food, okay?” She gently led them out of the alleyway. “Cid, Leon..please get some supplies for them okay? They need rest after eating.”
Riku looked at Sora, keepings firm grip on his arm. The brunet pulled it free but grabbed his friend's hand in return. The gesture gave his friend enough comfort to relax. Things were so different. He didn't meet anyone this quickly. Squall also attacked him. Not just with his gun blade, but with insults. If Kingdom Hearts was the one who had set the difficulty down on certain parts, then he was glad. The first time was so hard. The stress in finding anyone just had him through the roof. Being alone didn't help him once.
Even with Donald and Goofy, Sora always felt alone and lost. No home to go to. No friends or family. He bonded with them over the journey, but at the start. He just felt like an outsider. Something they needed and then would toss to the side once his use was up.
“Hey, are you okay? Are you dizzy?” Riku asked, getting his attention.
“Hm? Oh, no. Just…thinking.”
“I know a lot is going on, but I promise. We will get through this.” Riku smiled at him. “As a team.”
When did he become so cold that not even supportive words could ease his mind? Riku was there and trying to cheer him up. Like he did for others. All he could do was have the past now fully haunt him.
“Yeah. You're right. We are a team. Nothing is going to break that.” Sora tightened his grip. “Promise?”
“Promise” Riku pulled him into a hug. “Now come on! We got food waiting for us!”
He pulled Sora ahead. Aerith kept walking behind them. Laughing as they reached the Second District door first. They ran through and stopped. Heartless appeared then. They let go of each other's hands and summoned their weapons. Aerith watching the entire time. Sora took the group on the right. Riku took the left. It was quick and over with.
“That is the power of teamwork baby!” Riku high fives Sora.
“I think you two will be just fine,” Aerith said, leading them to the hotel. “Hope the duck doesn't mind another mage user.”
Sora mentally hoped so as well. Donald was brash, cold and harsh at the start. Goofy was nice though. They talked a lot when Donald was sleeping. He also had to worry about Donald's temper and Riku’s temper fighting. Nothing of value came from it. Plus, he remembered how Deep Jungle happened. A fight broke out and in the end, Donald was right. Deep Jungle held nothing but a gummy part. He was sure they needed it, but in order to gain it. The fight had to happen. But he didn't want to crash again.
So, did he let the event happen with Riku in his place? Did he instigate the fight himself? How did they obtain the piece without crashing? He kept walking until he bumped into Donald himself. The duck eyed him up and down.
“He has the key?”
Sora pointed at Riku, “he has it. Respect it.” He said.
“Hiya, names Goofy.” The Knight held out his hand. “It's nice to meet ya.”
“Riku, this is Sora, my best friend.” Riku replied, shaking Goofy’s hand. “And he comes with me wherever I go.”
“Our ship doesn't have the space.” Donald argued. “He can't come.”
“He comes or I don't go,” Riku said.
Sora missed a part of the conversation. He was too lost in his own head again. A bad habit to either unlearn or twist so he could listen and think. They must have been discussing things about traveling while he spaced off and paced around.
“We don't have the space!”
“We can make space!”
Sora put a hand on Riku's arm to calm him, “I'm not going anywhere. I have a spell in my head. It's…Toad, I think.”
He was half lying again. The first time he practiced that spell was actually weird, but later fun. He could turn things into a toad or himself. Sometimes he would get stuck as one, but eventually he learned something called Maiden's Kiss existed to cure that ailment. He had a couple on him at all times now.
“Toad?” Riku looked at him.
“Yeah,” Sora put a pink potion in Riku's hand. “I also found out the hard way that this was the only cure for it if the spell can't be undone.”
“Ha, you got stuck as a toad?” Riku laughed, accepting the half truth.
“Yeah, but I can use that to save space,” He proudly said. “There, problem solved.”
The duck didn't look happy, but Riku was happy and it was all that mattered.
“I won't leave you a toad.” Riku giggled.
Sora laughed back, “oh, I know you will if I make you mad.”
“You're right. I'd do that. Now, he can come. Deal.” Riku said, not letting go. “I won't leave my friend behind. He is all I have left of our home.”
The brunet waited for his presence to be denied. The duck said nothing. He seemed to have accepted that nothing would sway Riku's mind.
“Fine, he can come.” Donald crossed his arms and then eyed Sora. “You are weird.”
Sora noted that look and gave one back, “I haven't even begun to show how weird I can be.” he said, looking right at the duck.
Riku got his attention when Donald and Goofy started to talk with Aerith and the others
“Hey, you got spacey in the hallway to this room. You didn't even notice when Donald and Goofy greeted us. Are you sure you are okay?” He asked, a hand on his arm still. “I'm worried. Is your heart acting up? Does your body need to rest?”
“No. No. I just…need to process all of this. It's a lot.” He took a deep breath. “I promise once all my thoughts stop…circling a drain. I'll be okay. Just give me some time.”
“Okay, but don't keep it all in. I'm here for you as you are for me.” Riku joined the others after saying that.
If he had been with Sora the first time. Would he have been more calm? Would his previous trials and errors be more supported? Would the darkness have won him over instead of Riku? What about the times where he failed? Where he couldn't save anyone at all and was left to his own guilt. Would things have been different then? Sora shook his head. The past was done. The first part of his plan had to be set in motion now. Xehanort's Nobody was behind the first journey and the reason Roxas and Namine existed. He wasn't sure where or when Xion was made, but he could figure that out once he found Roxas. The blond had to have answers or he could sneak into their base easily. As for the trap that they lay ahead of them after this, he wouldn't be falling for it this time.
“Hey, time to go,” Riku put an arm around his shoulders. “Ready to be a toad?”
Sora laughed, “Born ready” He casted Toad on himself and jumped onto Riku's shoulder.
“Let's go!’ Riku grinned. “on an adventure!”
