Three: Traverse Town
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Artwork owner: Hollypolllyy
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Three: Traverse Town
(Sora's POV)
Despite the constant ache in the back of my head, the distant melody of violins had brought me some comfort. Except…where am I? Slowly I open my eyes and take in my surroundings wearily.
The town around me was lit up with fairy lights that hung from rooftops of Victorian-age looking buildings. The cobblestone ground is immaculate, I bet if I looked hard enough, I'd see my reflection. There was a variety of different shops everywhere I looked. Straight ahead was a large billboard with a sign saying:
DISTRICT ONE
DISTRICT TWO
DISTRICT THREE CURRENTLY CLOSED
And next to the readings were arrows pointing in different directions for where each district was located.
I rub the back of my head, as I let out a yawn.
"What a dream…" I murmur, just as a yellow dog with a thin black tail and floppy black ears approaches me. He pants excitedly as he trots over to me. The green collar around his neck jiggles loudly.
"Hey buddy, are you lost?" I drawl, rubbing at my eyes.
Then it all came back to me. The storm. The creatures. Riku acting weird. The strange key. Kairi….
"KAIRI!" I cry out, "This isn't a dream!"
I shoot up to my feet as I look around frantically for my girlfriend. "Where is Kairi!?"
The yellow dog in front of me barks to get my attention. I bend down to pat its head gently, he responds by giving my hand a wet kiss with his pink tongue. The silver bone charm dangling from his collar read "Pluto."
"Pluto…is that your name?" I ask, and he barks again, letting his tongue dangle from his mouth happily as if he were responding to me.
"Hi Pluto, I'm Sora! Have you seen a girl around here by any chance? She has short red hair an-hey! Wait!"
Pluto had taken off down an alley. What did I expect? Having a full on conversation with a dog? I must have hit my head harder than I thought. Pluto's barks echoed down the alley. Maybe he wanted me to follow him? I had nothing to lose. Maybe I could find help, and more importantly find Kairi.
I hurry behind Pluto anxiously, wherever Kairi was I hope that she is okay. She is smart but as her boyfriend and her best friend for years, I always worry for her.
Pluto leads me past a vacant outdoor restaurant, each table had a lit lantern placed in the center. In the center of the district I could count out dozens of other house shaped buildings. They were lit up with neon colors, the views were astounding. I've never seen anything like it.
"This is totally weird…I'm actually in another world!" I exclaim excitedly to Pluto.
Pluto barks once more, but not in response to my statement but to inform me about Kairi. She was sitting on a wooden bench looking around her with a dazed expression on her face. The poor thing was covered in blood and cuts from those stupid creatures. What were they anyways?
"Kairi!"
I hurry over to her and take her hands mine tightly. Instant relief washes over me.
"Are you okay? Look at you, we need to clean you up before these get infected. There are many stores around, I'm sure that we can find one that sells first aid supplies!"
"That would be nice, but they're not as bad as they look. I promise." She reassures me.
"Either way, we need to find help! Maybe someone has seen Riku!"
"What do you think he meant by 'the darkness'?" Kairi looks at me curiously.
"I have no idea," I responded as we parted from our hug. "None of this is making any sense."
"I know." Kairi sighs, "But let's look on the bright side, at least we found each other!"
"Yeah! All thanks to Pluto!"
I look down but to my disbelief, the yellow dog was gone.
"Maybe he went to find his owner?" Kairi suggested. "In the meantime we should ask around, see what we can gather from this world!"
"And to get you taken care of! Are you hungry?"
I take her hand in mine.
She shakes her head. "Eating is the last thing on my mind, but thank you. Where is your keyblade? And how do you know that's what it's called!?"
"I don't know…there was this voice in my head that just appeared just as the keyblade came in my hand. When we got sucked up in that vortex the keyblade just disappeared."
"Was it that creepy voice from The Secret Cave?"
I shake my head.
"No, a higher one…kind of squeaky! Like a mouse."
"Excuse me!" Kairi and I both turn to see a middle aged man. He was looking down at us with a perplexed expression.
"Are you two injured?"
He was eyeing the dry blood on Kairi's chin and arm. We exchange looks. We both knew better than to blab the crazy truth to a total stranger.
"Yes, sir." Kairi replies, "We fell off our bikes a few miles back…we're just looking for supplies!"
"I see…" The man said, still looking confused probably because we didn't have any bikes with us. He points to the stoned stairs a few feet behind him.
"Follow that stairwell and up that level are dozens of shops, you are sure to find what you need!"
"Thank you!" Kairi and I both say, waving at the man before we take off for the stairs.
"I should have said something else, it's obvious we don't have bikes!" We both giggle as we round the corner of the shopping district.
"Keep your eyes out for some sort of pharmacy store, or for Riku!" I say.
"Uhh…we may have to wait on that, Sora!"
Kairi tugs at my sleeve and points to our left, where five of those ant-like creatures stood swaying slowly as they creeped over toward us.
"Here too!?" I groan, instinctively I hold out my hand just as the keyblade materialized from a mist of bright light. Strange.
"Stay back, Kairi!" I say as I lunge at the creatures, taking each of them out with a single hit. As annoying as they were, fortunately they weren't very strong.
"I wonder where they're coming from." Kairi says as she walks over to me, her violet blue eyes curious but clouded with exhaustion.
"They'll come at you out of nowhere."
An unfamiliar voice spoke behind us. Kairi and I whirled around to see a tall man with long brown hair and a giant scar across his face.
"Who are you?" I ask, stepping in front of Kairi. I tighten my hands around the handle of the keyblade. He only ignores me and continues.
"And they will keep coming at you, as long as you continue to wield the keyblade."
"But what else are we to do?" Kairi asks softly, I almost missed what she said.
The mans dark eyes shifted over to her from behind me.
"It has chosen its master…but why him?"
"What does that mean?" I snarl.
The man shakes his head impatiently. "Forget it. Now lets see that keyblade."
"What? No way!" I cry.
"Fine. Have it your way then."
The man pulls out a long sword from behind and holds it out to me. Kairi grabs at my arm from behind and pulls me back.
"Sora! There is no way you're fighting this man. We have no idea what he is capable of! This is much different than sparring with Riku or Tidus back home!"
"I have no other choice…he wants a fight, he's gonna get one!"
I turn to the man and sprint at him, swinging the keyblade down at his face that he quickly blocks with his sword. This makes me stagger slightly from impact.
"Why don't you just leave us alone!?" I snap, jumping back just as he tries to jab at me.
"You two have no idea what you're facing." he responds stoically.
I snap my teeth at him and charge toward him, dodging each swing he throws at me. The aching in my head was starting to feel worse. Rest. I needed rest desperately, but Kairi wasn't safe. I could not rest until I could bring Kairi somewhere safe.
I swung the key towards the man's left shin, hoping I could stun him and knock him off balance briefly to give Kairi and I some time to run away. Unfortunately he evades my attack, stepping back before kicking me square in the gut and knocking the complete wind out of me. This sends me flying a few feet back and landing hard on the ground. I gasp for air.
"Sora!"
Kairi is at my side in an instant, helping me to my feet and brushing dirt off my arms like a concerned mother. "This needs to stop, he could kill you!"
"Stay back Kairi.."
I glare at the man, ignoring the stinging sensation from my backside. "I'm not afraid of him…and I'm not done yet!"
The man snorts, amused by my ambition.
"You're tougher than you look, kid."
He aims his sword at me, and to my surprise, shoots out a ball of fire as if his sword was a gun. I gasp, shoving Kairi far out of range from the fireball before swerving to my right, crashing into a bunch of barrels that collapsed beneath my weight. Kairi gasps from behind me, she had taken shelter from behind a wide blue mailbox, her small form crouched behind it. She looked up at me with big worried eyes. I couldn't stop now.
I leap back to my feet to duck just in time as he sends another fireball my way. He was really starting to get on my nerves. I threw myself to the ground, rolling my body forwards to dodge more fireballs, one got close enough to where I could feel its heat whizz by my calf. I sidestep behind him, taking my chance to clock him in the back of the head with the edge of my key. This sends him to his knees, he grunts and rubs at the back of his head.
"Now!" I huff, staggering to my feet. My vision was going blurry. I felt the weight of the keyblade lift from my hand as it disappeared. I was beginning to see black due to exhaustion, my head started to spin.
"You're gonna…you're gonna…."
That's when my legs give out beneath me and I collapse hard to the ground, the world around me going black.
(Kairi's POV)
Sora collapses to the ground, the keyblade dissolving in his hand. I scurry from my place behind the mailbox and over to my boyfriend. Why did he have to be so stubborn? I know he is alive and well but that didn't stop me from checking his pulse that was strong as ever.
The man scowls out of irritation as a young girl appears from the alleyway, she takes a look at Sora and I before she smirks over at the man.
"Aww, you're slipping, Leon!" She coos.
She looks around Sora and I's age. She has short black hair in the form of a bob and dark eyes. Her clothing was short that she accessorized with a scarf and thigh high socks.
"I went easy on him." Leon replies, "It looks like things are worse than we expected. A lot worse."
They both look at me.
"You're going to have to come with us, we have some explaining to do." Leon says to me, his expression stoic.
"You bet you do!" I exclaim, as I hold Sora close to me.
Leon walks over to Sora but I hold out my hand to him.
"I got him. You've done enough." I say, I was never this hostile but I was scared and I have no idea what is going on. I didn't think going to other worlds like this would be so dangerous. Leon and the girl watch me as I bend down and grab Sora from under his arms. I hoist him up to his feet, his body as limp as a noodle as I wrap my arm around his waist and sling one of his arms over my shoulders. I look at Leon.
"Lead the way."
Sora had begun to stir once we reached the motel. I gently lay him on the bed and sat beside him, on the verge of passing out myself. Sora, like me, was petite. But I must have carried him for three miles and my arms were as heavy as led.
"I'm the great ninja, Yuffie by the way!" The girl exclaims, pointing at herself cheerfully.
Leon watches us quietly from the corner of the room, arms crossed. Besides me, Sora yawns and slowly sits up rubbing at his eyes.
"Are you okay?" I ask, placing a hand gently on his knee.
"I guess…are you?" He asks, shooting a wary glance at Leon.
"Just winded….that man is Leon, and she's Yuffie. They brought us here to explain what's going on…" I reply, as Yuffie sits down besides me.
"Those creatures that attacked you are after the keyblade. But it's your heart they really want because you wield the keyblade." She points at Sora.
I notice at the other side of the room is a young woman, probably Leon's age. She has long brown hair that is twisted in a braid that reaches her mid back. She has the greenest eyes I've ever seen. She wore a pink sundress with brown ankle boots.
Those creatures, what are they?" Sora asks.
"They're called Heartless. Leon replies, "Those without hearts."
"The darkness in people's hearts, that's what attracts them." Yuffie adds.
Darkness in people's hearts…why did that sound familiar, like I've heard that before?
"And there is darkness in everyone's heart." Leon adds.
"The other worlds have been secret because they've never been connected." The brown haired lady speaks up, offering us a gentle smile. "Until now when the heartless came, everything has changed."
"They were on our island too." I say.
"But they disappear after I hit them with the keyblade." Sora adds after me.
Leon nods slowly, "the heartless have a great fear of the keyblade. That is why they'll keep coming after you no matter what."
"Why couldn't you just tell us that instead of attacking us?" I blurt out.
Yuffie nudges my arm and shoots me a grin.
"Because, you know, men!"
"The keyblade chooses its master and it chose Sora."
Sora and I both look over at Leon curiously.
"We overheard the two of you talking before we ran into you!" Yuffie explains. "You guys are a cute couple!" She pokes at my cheeks as I blush and Sora pretends to be suddenly fascinated with the bed sheets.
"Anyways," Leon clears his throat. "The keyblade can supposedly unlock anything, so be aware of treasure chests and other doors."
"Like the door in The Secret Cave!" I look at Sora.
"You two should rest up, it's dangerous out there." The lady in pink says. "I'm Aerith by the way."
"We don't have time." Leon states, "Sooner or later, the heartless will find you. You'd best prepare yourselves."
THUD!
The five of us turn to look at the open window to see familiar glowing yellow eyes.
"Yuffie, Aerith! Go!" Leon yells, pulling out his sword. "Kairi, you should go with them!"
"We can meet up with them later!" Yuffie says, jumping off the bed and grabbing my hand.
"But-"
As if I haven't spoken, Yuffie pulls me out of the room with Aerith by our side. I look back behind my shoulder to see Sora following Leon out the window.
"We can hurry over to Cid's shop in the first district! He works on ships and stuff! That is our safest bet!" Yuffie says, looking at me over her shoulder. She was a few inches taller than me I've noticed, the same as Aerith.
"What about Sora and Leon?" I sputter, having no choice but to follow the two down the enormous motel corridor. It was completely vacant and the carpet had the most hypnotizing pattern, I felt like I was walking over a swarm of angry bees.
"They have weapons! They'll be fine!" Yuffie says quickly, "Keep running!"
"Oh no!" Aerith cries, just as a few heartless appear in front of us. However these ones were different from the ant-like heartless I've been seeing. These ones were yellow and red. They were about the size of my hand and they could fly.
"Those ones have elemental powers." Aerith explains, "We have to turn back!"
The group of floating heartless swarm toward us swiftly, Aerith and Yuffie duck, but I don't. On instinct, I step in front of the two and hold out my hands. A large clear barrier forms around the three of us, making the heartless bounce off it every time they try flying at us. And just then a large key materializes in my hand from a light shimmering and shining as bright as the sun. This one is different from Sora's.
In the back of the keyblade's handle was a heart shape. It was yellow and blue and toward the tip of the keyblade were vibrant flowers, sported with petals. And the charm that hung down from the handle was a replica of a papou fruit.
"WHOA!" Yuffie exclaims from behind me. "TWO KEYBLADE WIELDERS!?"
I drop my hands which dismisses the barrier around us. All I have to do is whack these things, right? Clearly agitated, the heartless fly down at me, buzzing loudly. The yellow ones spark up like an electrical wire while the red ones start to catch flame. I swing my keyblade across the group of heartless that vanish from its touch. So the keyblade has chosen me too?
"Yuffie! Aerith!"
"Kairi!"
The three of us turn to see Leon and Sora running over to us.
"We may have found the leader of these small fry," Leon says, his eyes falling onto the keyblade in my hand. "Two keyblade wielders?"
"RIGHT THAT'S WHAT I SAID!" Yuffie exclaims. "Kairi is not JUST pretty, but she's kick butt also! She just cleared a bunch of heartless herself just now!" She links arms with me as she happily shows me off. I could feel my cheeks getting hot from all this attention.
"Wow, way to go, Kai!" Sora says, looking at me in awe.
"Do you think the two of you can handle it? I have to bring these two to safety." Leon says, jerking his thumb over at Aerith and Yuffie.
"Absolutely!" Sora says, without missing a beat.
Yuffie lets go of my arm and gives me a wink as Sora takes my hand.
"Come on, Kairi!"
Breathless and beyond exhausted, Sora and I trudge to the third district which was even larger than the first two.
"Okay…" Sora says, "he or it went this way! It's all armored and it's limbs move and spin around its body!"
"Nobody back home will ever believe us!" I say, with a grin. "Not even Riku!"
"LOOK OUT!"
A raspy voice screeches from above before Sora has the chance to respond.
"Huh?" Sora drawls, we both look up, and to add to my previous statement, we see an oversized Duck in a blue sailors cap and jacket, and a dog wearing a long green hat, green vest, sweater, brown cargo pants, and big shoes fall from out of the sky.
"WHA!" Sora cries, as they both fall on top of him, flattening him to the ground like a pancake. The three of them groan and are cross eyed from the impact for a solid minute. The duck is the first to come to his senses, his blue eyes go wide as he spots Sora and I's keyblades in our hands. The dog notices shortly after.
"THE KEY!" They both shout,
Were they looking for it too?
The dog scurries off of Sora and lets out a frightened yelp as he points behind me.
"Uh…Miss? BEHIND YA!"
I turned to where he was pointing to, like what Sora said, this heartless was completely covered in armor. It was a black and purple color with a circular head. Its body is divided into several different pieces. The torso, head, arms, and legs are not directly connected to each other.
"This is the one!" Sora exclaimed, as he hurried over to my side.
"LETS GET EM'!" The duck shouts as a blue little staff appears in his wing.
(Sora's POV)
The armored heartless stomps toward us. Its head and limbs spinning wildly. Its armor clanked and rattled with its every step.
"THUNDAGA!" The duck screeches, holding up his staff in his wing. In an instant his spell casts several bolts of lightning toward the heartless. It staggers for a moment but seems to recover quickly.
"Did ya get em'?" The dog asks, as he cowards behind his shield.
"NO, YOU PALOOKA!" The duck yells impatiently.
I take advantage of the heartless while it's still slightly stunned and go for its legs, hitting at them roughly. They wobble and spin around in every direction before they dissolve into thin air.
"YES!" I cheer, grinning over at Kairi.
"Let's try the head!" Kairi suggests, she hurries up the set of stoned stairs to our left.
"Goofy! Throw your shield at it!" The duck shouts at the dog.
Goofy obliged, hurling his shield at the heartless that hits it square in the face. It rolls backwards in the air briefly before it, too, disappears. Kairi halted at the balcony watching as Goofy and the angry duck fought rapidly at the monster's arms and legs.
The torso was up to us.
"Kairi! Let's get the torso!" I shout up to her.
She nods in acknowledgement and takes off toward the buildings and shops opposite from the ledge to give herself more of a boost for when she jumps.
"Try leading it toward me!" She shouts down from above.
The torso of the heartless barrels past me, with rage it slams itself into the giant ceramic fountain located in the center of the third district. The entire thing explodes, water gushing everywhere and soaking the cobblestoned grounds. Millions of ceramic pieces shatter and crumble as they fall to the ground.
Goofy tosses his shield once more at the heartless, the heartless swerves from the shield this time and floats straight towards me. It began spinning at a blinding speed.
I run toward Kairi, adrenaline coursing through my body as I stop at the stoned wall she stood above from me. I crouch slightly holding up my keyblade, preparing to jump.
"NOW, KAIRI!"
In unison, Kairi and I leap toward the heartless or what was left of it, our keyblades at the ready. We strike the torso with our blades, causing the torso to burst into hundreds of pieces. Kairi lands besides me on her feet, we watch as a pastel colored heart floats dives out from what was left of the armored torso and soars up into the night sky.
"Wow…" The duck exclaims, as he waddles over to us with Goofy at his side.
"Gwarsh, the King said nothin' about two keyblades!" Goofy says.
"Maybe that's what we need to find him!" The duck replies.
"So you were looking for us?" I ask, looking down at Goofy and the duck.
"Uh huh!" They both reply.
"Why don't the two of you come with us!? We make a great team!" Goofy exclaims. "We can go to the other worlds on our vessel!"
Kairi and I exchange glances.
"We could find Riku!" I say.
"It is possible he's ended up in a different world!" Kairi adds, then turns to face our new companions. "Okay! We will go with you, we promise to help you find your King if the two of you can help us find our friend, Riku!"
The two oversized animals nod.
"I'm Donald Duck!" The duck exclaims.
"Names Goofy!" Goofy adds.
"Kairi!" Kairi says.
"I'm Sora!" I reply.
The four of us throw a hand in front of us (in Donald's case a wing).
"ALL FOR ONE, ONE FOR ALL!"
A/N: *Blows out smoke from my hands* I have not written a chapter that long in AGES! Thank you so much for reading! I can not wait to write more of this story! I appreciate all of you! :)
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