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Chapter 26: Together Again

When Sora first arrived at the Third District, he failed to notice the door nestled in the corner. Mainly because the strength of his spine was being tested by the combined weight of Luigi and Yoshi. Still, he looked back on that moment with fond memories. They’ve been a huge driving force behind his journey.

The mysterious door was made of stone. Just as Cid said, an image of fire was engraved in it. On each side of the door were strange hieroglyphics. None of them couldn’t even begin to wonder what they meant. Sora placed his hand against the door; immediately, it opened, revealing a huge, dimly lit cavern.

Inside they saw that the ground was consumed by a giant river. The sound of flowing water echoed throughout the cavern. A lone, large island stood in the center of the river; resting on top of it was a house. It appeared like something right out of the middle ages, containing only one floor, was made from white-colored stone, and had a thatched roof.

“Boy, someone enjoys living alone,” Sora said.

Luigi’s knees buckled. “Why are we always visiting creepy places? We’re running a simple errand.”

They crossed a bridge to the island (which involved pushing Yoshi across because of his aquaphobia. Minutes I’ll never get back, Luigi thought), and approached the door. Sora knocked on it. No answer. He tried once again. Still no answer. Maybe he couldn’t hear them. Sora placed his palm against the door. To his surprise, it creaked open. He then started to push it further.

Luigi glared at him in shock. “Are you serious right now? Is freeloading a favorite pastime of yours?”

“No,” Sora said, frowning. “But I want to be thorough before jumping the gun. C’mon, it’ll only be a second.”

Sora and Yoshi entered, with Luigi grumbling behind them, feeling uncomfortable for barging in uninvited. Although the room was dark, a small fragment of light managed to seep through, displaying its innards. The walls and ceiling were made from wood. Plenty of bookcases rested against the walls. An assortment of pots was scattered throughout it.

It was livable. Sora noticed carpets on the floor, an old-fashioned metal stove, and a pair of beds in each corner. An invisible leash pulled Sora forward, piquing his curiosity. His thoughts started crafting a story around this abandon house. It was exciting to speculate. He felt a sense of child-like wonderment. Something warm swelled in his chest. It was comforting….

…and very familiar.

“There’s something about this musty place…”

Sora recognized that voice. His heart pounded faster. Turning to his left, he saw Kairi standing there, admiring the architecture. He shook his head; was this an illusion? Or was it actually her? His perspective of reality seemed fractured. Something about her presence felt real. But why was she acting so nonchalant?

She strolled through the house, continuing to look at its interior. “It reminds me of the secret place back home, where we used to scribble on the walls.” She turned to him. “Remember?”

“Kairi?” Sora asked, sticking his hand out towards her.

“Sora?” Yoshi asked.

He turned to see Yoshi looking at him in concern. Did he not notice Kairi? A harsh realization then hit him, and he turned back to see no one was there. His disappointed filled the dark, empty room.

“Are you okay?” Yoshi asked.

Sora brushed the bangs on his forehead. “Yeah. I’m fine. This place just….made me feel nostalgic, that’s all.”

“Then why did you say Kairi’s name?” Luigi said in suspicion, growing nervous. “Are you hallucinating? What if this place is cursed?”

“I beg your pardon,” a middle-aged male voice said. “This is a perfectly suitable home.”

Luigi screamed and jumped into Sora’s arms. The three turned to see the silhouette of a man in the doorway. Everyone was on edge. A small flame materialized in his hand, and he used it to light a nearby candle. Through the light, the man revealed his features: he was elderly gentleman with white hair, a long beard, small round glasses, and donned a slink robe which had various colors. He was carrying a giant brown leather bag in his left hand.

There was an amiable twinkle in his blue eyes that made the group relax.

Sora glared at Luigi in annoyance. “Cursed, huh? Ever consider becoming a conspiracy theorist?”

“How about after the first date?” Luigi asked with a nervous grin.

Sora dropped him onto the ground.

“It seems you’ve arrived sooner than I expected,” the man said. “Forgive the vacancy of my home.”

“Wha…you knew we were coming?” Sora asked in surprise.

The man smiled. “Of course.

“You a wizard?” Yoshi asked.

The man laughed. “People always make that assumption about me. Must be the beard, right? Actually, I’m a scholar. My name is Kraden. As an Adept, I am able to use a form of magic known as Psynergy. Guess you can say I’m a wizard in a way. I’ve spent much of my time traveling. It’s good to be home.” He placed his bag on the floor. “You must Luigi. Your brother has requested my help.”

“Really? Mario?” Yoshi asked.

“Yes, indeed,” Kraden said “I take it you’re Yoshi.” He turned to Sora. “And who might be, young man?”

“I’m Sora.”

“Ah. So, you found the Key,” Kraden said in a delighted tone. “Mind if I take a gander?”

Sora could see he had a genuine look of intrigue on his face. There was a sense of eagerness flashing like an uncontrollable strobe light. He knew everyone, too, especially Mario. There didn’t seem to be any harm in showing him.

“Sure.” Sora showed him the Keyblade.

He scanned every detail, growing more excitable than a kid looking over a brand-new bicycle. “Such remarkable craftsmanship. I’ve heard stories of its power. Never in all my years would I come across such a fabled weapon!”

Kraden blushed upon realizing how overzealous he was, and cleared his throat.

“Forgive my inquisitive nature,” he said. “Even in old age we should always be seeking knowledge about the world around us.”

“What did my brother ask you to do?” Luigi asked.

Kraden cracked his knuckles. “Just a moment. Need to get settled.”

He outstretched his arms, raising them into the air. The group was startled by the appearance of two giant gloved hands. It immediately went through Kraden’s bag, placing objects in their proper places: books on the shelves, small mats on tables and desks, and sheets and blankets on the beds.

The group watched in awe as the room was revitalized with life. Using his fire Pysnergy, he lit the lanterns scattered throughout the room. Everything was brighter. It was like they stepped into a brand-new house. Sora wished he had disembodied hands to clean his room.

“Wow!” Sora said. “Guess you can say this guy is all hands.”

Luigi covered an incoming burp.

“You okay?” Yoshi asked.

Luigi groaned. “Sorry. My lunch was trying to run away from that terrible pun.”

“Ooh, can me have your lunch!?” Yoshi asked in excitement.

“You really need to learn how a figure of speech works,” Luigi said.

After making some final touches, Kraiden had finished furnishing the room. The group looked around in astonishment. He put everything together so fast; it was a sight to behold.

“Perfect,” Kraden said with a content smile. “Why don’t you three grab a seat? I’ll make some tea and explain everything.”

A few minutes later, the group were seated around a wooden table. Kraden brought over a piping hot kettle and poured their drinks. Steam emitted from the tea, filling their noises with a gentle, soothing aroma. Yoshi couldn’t wait and took a sip, burning his tongue in the process.

Sora chuckled. “You gotta let it cool, buddy.”

“So you’ve met my brother?” Luigi asked as Kraden took his seat. “Do you know where he is?”

“Alas, I do not,” Kraden said. “We parted ways some time ago.” He noticed a saddened look in Luigi’s eyes. “Please, do not concern yourself. Wherever his travels have taken him, I assure you he’s fine. I do know the purpose of his venture, however. As we speak, a wave of discord is slowly lingering over all creation. Your brother seeks a means by which it might be quelled – a means that will extinguish the darkness forever. And possibly restore the worlds that were unfortunate enough to stand in its destructive path.”

Sora felt an overwhelming sensation of hope press against chest. Leon wasn’t the only one who believed his island could be restored. The probability of saving it grew like a flourishing tree. More than ever, he had to keep that belief alive.

Kraden sipped his tea. “In any case, he provided me with the task of training you in the art of magic.”

“Really?” Sora asked.

“I can sense the amount of power inside of you,” Kraden said. “I’m impressive by how you learned to manipulate the Keyblade on instinct alone. But, that reliance on instinct denies you the full capacity of the weapon. Conscious control of the blade’s functions is essential to your cause.”

Sora summoned the Keyblade, and stared at it. “Yeah. I feel like there’s so much I don’t understand about it. Seems like the Heartless are getting stronger with every fight we’re in. Okay. Sure. I’d be more than happy to learn.”

“Glad to hear it,” Kraden said, smiling. “Please, feel free to stop by anytime for a lesson. Oh, and before I forget: I brought someone along to help.”

There was a knock at the door.

“Perfect timing,” Kraden said. “She’s always punctual.”

A young woman walked into the room. Her light blue eyes matched her long hair, which was tied into a ponytail. She wore a white robe; imprinted on it were elegant purple designs. In her hand she carried a silver staff; the tip was circular, with two perpendicular circles just below it.

She gave the group a warm smile. “Hello. You must be Mario’s friends. My name is Mia. Please to make your acquaintance.”

“Mia is a friend of mine,” Kraden said. “She, too, is an Adept. Able to use her Psynergy to heal any mortal wounds. No one can do it better.”

She blushed. “Aw, well, it’s nothing much.”

“Such a modest young lady,” Kraden said.

“Anyway,” Mia said, “Mario asked me to help, too. I will assist you throughout your journey. If you are gravely injured, please stop by and I will mend your wounds.”

“We appreciate you volunteering your efforts to our cause,” Luigi said.

“Think nothing of it,” Mia said. She smirked. “Besides, this gives Kraden a chance to explore other worlds. He’s like a kid sometimes. Always excited to learn something new.”

Kraden chuckled. “And there’s nothing wrong with that.”

Luigi gasped; he had forgotten the reason they were here in the first place. “Actually, there’s something we need your help with.”

He showed the book to Kraden, explaining its origins.

“Ah, yes!” Kraden said. “I remember now! Was wondering when Cid would finish making repairs. He did a splendid job fixing it up.”

“Where’d you find it?” Luigi asked.

“Your brother gave it to me for safe keeping,” Kraden said. “When he found it last, the Heartless left it in ruin. I’m aware that a world resides within its pages. Perhaps that’s why the Heartless were drawn to it; because of the Keyhole that lurks within. He asked me to keep it safe.”

Hearing that the Heartless had possibly destroyed the lives of many made Luigi feel worse. But he didn’t want to believe it was true. Sometimes we try to grasp onto that tiny sliver of optimism until the truth was spat right in our faces.

“But the pages are blank,” Luigi said. “What does that mean? They can’t be gone forever, can they?”

Kraden flipped through the pages, studying its contents. Or lack thereof. The whole time, his expression was thoughtful, yet neutral. Luigi couldn’t read his face in the slightest. And that just increased the anxiety. Sora noticed how concerned he looked, and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

“Do not fret, my child,” Kraden said. “I may have a theory.” He showed the group one of the torn pages. “There are a few pages missing. Picture the pages as blood vessels. They are tasked with proving life to the entire body. Even if one of those vessels were to cease, the entire system would collapse. They need to work in unison to provide life.”

“So you’re saying that if we find these pages,” Luigi said, feeling a bit at ease, “it may bring the book back to life.”

“Possibly,” Kraden said with an air of hesitation. He didn’t want to be one hundred percent sure, and then dampen their spirits. “It wouldn’t hurt to search for them. As I said: this is just a hypothesis. Even if you successfully restore the book, who knows what results it could yield. The pages themselves could have been tampered with, resulting in the world being completely different from what you once knew.”

Luigi sighed. “Well, it’s a start at least.”

“The number of things we gotta find keeps growing,” Yoshi said, feeling a bit discouraged.

“Like that’s anything new,” Sora said, refusing to let his optimism falter. “So what? There are still so many other worlds we have yet to see. I’m sure we’ll come cross them eventually.”

“That sounds ridiculous when you say it out loud,” Luigi said. “But, given the circumstances, it wouldn’t hurt to search.”

“I’ll keep the book safe until your inevitable return.” But Kraden wasn’t finished with the group yet. He turned to Sora. “I can sense a summon stone. Are you in position of one?”

Sora was confused for a moment. He’d never even heard of one. How was he supposed to—wait, was it the charm Leon gave him? It was the only thing in his pocket.

Sora pulled the stone out, and looked it over. “Yeah. This thing is called a summon stone? What’s it do?”

“I’ll let Mia answer that for you,” Kraden said.

Sora handed it over to Mia, who studied it for a moment. He noticed a sad, guilty glow in her eyes.

“Oh, the poor child!” Mia said. “Forced to spend his youth in confinement.”

“Child?” Luigi asked, bewildered. “Someone actually lives in there.”

“In a sense,” Mia said. “This boy lived in a world that was consumed by darkness. When a world vanishes, so do its inhabitants. But this one has such a strong heart; he became a gem instead of vanishing with his world.”

“Can he regain himself?” Sora asked, showing concern.

“Yes, but only his spirit,” Mia said. “I sense a great deal of power inside this boy. He might be a valuable ally. I’ll use my magic to bring him back temporarily.”

Mia lightly tapped the stone with her wand. It was consumed by a blue miss, which then exploded into a ball of light. After it faded, the group noticed that the stone turned into a glass dome. Inside, they noticed a silhouette of a nondescript person.

Before Sora could ask another question, Mia held it out to him. “Now, lift this case into the air, and he will appear.”

Shrugging, Sora grabbed the dome and held it over his head. He was startled to see it grow at a rapid rate. Then, the glass shattered, and a ball of light emerged from it, landed on the ground, and took the form of a teenage boy. He wore a red sideways baseball cap with a blue bill, a horizontal yellow and blue striped t-shirt, blue shorts, and red shoes.

The boy looked around this strange new environment, dazed and confused from being revived. Everything seemed huge to him. It was intimidating. But he tried collecting his thoughts.

“Wh-What happened?” the boy asked, befuddled. “Last thing I remember was eating steak with my mom when…”

His eyes met with the others. Startled by the strangers, he shouted, “PK Fire!”

A small lightning bolt hit Kraden’s beard, causing it to erupt into flames.

“Put it out!” Kraden said, shouting, frantically waving his arms in the air. “Put it out!”

Mia used a water spell to extinguish the flames. Kraden’s snow white beard was covered in soot.

The boy gasped upon realizing his mistake. “Oh man! I’m so sorry! My friend Paula taught me this move yesterday, and I still don’t know how to control it!”

“It’s quite alright, child,” Kraden said, still donning his cheerful smile. “Your magic is quite unique. Tell me, how’d you learn your craft?”

Mia rolled her eyes while smiling. “Kraden, a house would fall on you, and you’d ask what kind of wood was used for the framing.”

“Our minds must always be active, my dear,” Kraden said in a sincere tone. “Knowledge is precious thing that should never be wasted. We only have one life to live, after all.”

The boy could tell that the strangers seemed friendly; working up his courage, he asked, “Excuse me? Sorry, but where am I exactly?”

Mia explained everything in a gentle, compassionate tone, knowing the boy would be devastated by what happened to his word. Indeed, with each sentence uttered, the boy’s expression sunk lower, as if an anchor of dejection pulled on his chin.

“So….I’m the only one who survived?” The boy asked. “That’s…that’s not fair. I wanted my friends and family to be here.

Sora keeled over to him with a sympathetic expression. “Dude, I totally understand what you’re going through right now. I lost my world, too.”

“You did?” the boy asked.

“Yeah.” Sora squeezed his wrist, trying to prevent those emotions from resurfacing. “It’s not the best feeling in the world. But I’m not alone. I’m traveling to other worlds with these guys. We’re hoping we can restore every world out there. Yours included.”

The boy’s eyes brightened in hope. “Really?”

“You bet,” Sora said with an encouraging smile.”

“You’ve been given a second chance at life,” Mia said. “A chance to bring those you love back from the darkness. Will you travel with Sora and his friends to fight the darkness?”

The boy found his second wind through their words. “Not even a question! I’ll do whatever it takes to save my world! You can count on me!”

“Sweet!” Sora said. “Thanks…uh…sorry, didn’t get your name.”

“It’s Ness,” the boy said. “I can use my psychic powers to assist you whenever there’s trouble.”

“You psychic?” Yoshi asked.

“Yes, indeed,” Ness said. “Although I’m still honing my skills. I’ll do my best!”

“Can we see some of your powers in action?” Luigi asked. “You know, that are of the non-lethal variety?”

Ness grinned in excitement. “Oh, sure. Your name is Luigi. Your favorite food is spaghetti. And your birthmark is located right near your—”

“We get the point!” Luigi said, blushing in embarrassment. He heard Sora and Yoshi snigger to each other. Upon glaring at them, the two turned away, whistling nonchalantly.

Before another word was said, the group noticed Ness start to fade from existence. For a moment, he was frightened. But a warm feeling overcame his body. It was like falling into a deep sleep; something about it felt soothing. Everything would be okay. He could embrace that feeling without fear.

But Sora was concerned. “What’s happening to him?”

“He’s run out of energy,” Mia said in a reassured tone, “and is returning to his slumber. After a little rest, he’ll be ready to help again.”

Sora looked back at Ness; there was a content expression on his face, as if telling him not to worry.

“Take care for now,” Ness said. “Thanks for everything. You know where to find me.”

Ness vanished into a ball of light, and transformed back into the small glass dome. Sora picked it up, feeling it pulsate again. There was something calming about it, like a heartbeat. Ness would be fine, he thought. He was safe. Sora placed the stone back in his pocket.

Despite how grim things looked, Ness was willing to help in their cause. It showed how strong he was as a person. Given the extra baggage the group had to carry now, they needed that additional strength. Sora couldn’t wait to fight alongside his new friend.

--

With their objective clear, the group headed back towards the Accessory Shop. Once again, the Third District was deserted. Even the crickets refused to perform for an empty crowd. After today’s unfortunate events, everyone was probably hiding in the comfort of their homes. Before the group could walk any further, two lone Shadows appeared in front of them.

Sora smirked. “Well, lookie here: seems like we’ve got some stragglers.”

He prepared to strike them. Only, he never got a chance. Someone else used their sword to cut them in half first. Sora looked up to see the mysterious person.

He almost dropped the Keyblade in absolute shock.

His entire body froze. Every rational thought sped through an incoherent tunnel full of twists and turns that didn’t end. He couldn’t adequately form words. His heart pounded so hard; he thought it would explode like a bomb from the rush of emotions

Standing in front of him was Riku.

“There you are,” he said with a big smile. “What’s going on? Goofing around again?”

It sounded like him. There was no doubt about it. But a part of Sora remained a bit skeptical. Who could blame him? All this time, and he just appeared out nowhere? He had to be sure. Sora grabbed Riku’s cheeks, pulling at them.

Riku waved his hand. “Hey, hey, cut it out. Not even five seconds and you’re already invading my personal space.”

“I’m not dreaming this time, right?” Sora asked, as he looked him over.

Riku grinned. “Well, if this is a dream, could I do this?”

With his free hand, he punched Sora in the shoulder.

“Ow!” Sora said, wincing from the pain. He then smirked. “Not convinced. What if I do this?” He stretched his cheeks further this time.

Riku got him into a headlock, giving him a noogie. “Still think this a dream?”

“Okay, okay!” Sora said, laughing. “I give!”

The two pulled away to look at each other. Sora couldn’t believe it; the odds were against him, but he persevered. He had found a missing piece of his island. So many emotions ran rampant through his mind. He didn’t know how to express his excitement. Nothing else mattered right now: The Heartless, the Keyblade, the journey, everything.

“Seriously, glad you’re okay, man,” Riku said, brushing his silver hair in relief. “Took me forever to find you!”

“You too!” Sora said. “I…I’m so happy right now!”

Yoshi smiled. “Me knew he’d fine Riku. Right, Luigi?”

The dinosaur noticed that Luigi wasn’t partaking in this joyous reunion. His eyes were focused on something else, and it filled him with suspension. Yoshi followed Luigi’s eyes to see that he was staring at the sword Riku held in his right hand.

It looked familiar.

“Dude, I don’t even know where to start!” Sora said; elation continuing pouring out of his face. “My brain’s going a million miles a minute! I have so many things to tell you, and…”

He stopped. Something didn’t feel right. Why? He was with his best friend again. It should be a happy occasion. Suddenly, some of those rational thoughts squeezed through the pours of his mind. He noticed that Riku was alone.

There was still another piece missing.

“Wait a second,” Sora asked, “where’s Kairi?”

“Isn’t she with you?” Riku asked.

She was still out there. And by herself. Deep down, he had hoped to find them simultaneously. To not worry anymore, and pursue their dream of visiting other worlds. It was an outlandish mindset to keep tucked away in your mind. But sometimes we have foolish desires; they fill us with comfort. And when reality ensues, we end up disappointed. Which was how Sora felt. He lowered his head in sadness.

Riku sighed. He felt that same crushing feeling. But he tried to remain hopeful. “Well, don’t worry. I’m sure she made it off the island, too.” He glanced at the sky. “It’s hard to imagine. We’re actually free. Exploring other worlds is a lot different from what I thought it’d be.”

“But it’s not the same without her,” Sora said.

“Hey, we found each other, right?” Riku said. “Chances are we’ll probably find her, too. She’s probably looking for us right now.”

A lone Shadow appeared behind Riku, stalking him with incredible hunger.

“We’ll all be together again soon,” Riku said. He looked away from Sora. “Don’t worry. Just leave everything to me. I know this—”

He was startled by the loud noise. Turning around, he saw that Sora vanquished the Heartless in one, fast strike. Riku started at his friend in stunned silence.

Prideful, Sora hoisted the Keyblade onto his shoulder. “Leave it to who?”

“Sora, what did you—” Riku asked, baffled.

“I’ve been looking for you and Kairi, too,” Sora said. He glanced at Luigi and Yoshi, “with their help.”

Riku turned to face them. His eyes met with Luigi’s; he noticed that they looked apprehensive. It was a discouraging sight. Riku felt uncomfortable, as if he wasn’t wanted.

“Who are they?” Riku asked.

Trying to be polite, Luigi cleared his throat. “Ahem. My name is—”

“We’ve visited so many places and worlds, looking for you,” Sora said.

Riku was somewhat impressed. “Really? Well, what do you know? I never would have guessed.”

“That not all!” Yoshi said, placing both hands on Sora’s shoulders. “Sora the one and only Keyblade Master now!”

“Who’d thought it?” Luigi said in a teasing tone.

Sora stomped his foot in anger. “What’s that mean?”

“So, this is called a Keyblade?” Riku asked.

Sora turned to see Riku was in possession of the Keyblade. He did a double take, as if unable to believe that just happened.

“How did you—give it back!” Sora said. He lunged for Riku, who moved back, making him crash onto the ground.

Riku observed every inch of the blade. “Gotta say, for something so bulky, it’s pretty sweet.”

Luigi felt nervous pressure in his neck. He was growing suspicious of Riku. How’d he grab the Keyblade so effortlessly? And he noticed Riku was able to hold it naturally in his hand. A huge list of questions was piling on top of each other. But the one at the top waved a huge red flag over the horizon.

“Catch!” Riku threw it back to Sora, who caught it with both hands.

“Whoa!” Sora made it vanish. His excited smile returned. “Okay, so you’re coming with us, right? We’ve got this awesome rocket. Wait ‘til you see it!”

“Yeah,” Yoshi said. “It go varoom!”

Luigi cleared his throat again. “Hey, Sora. Can I speak to you and Yoshi for a moment?”

“Huh?” Sora asked in surprise. “Right now? But—”

“It’ll only take a second,” Luigi said. “I promise.”

Sora was about to argue, but he noticed a dire expression on Luigi’s face. His stomach hardened like a cement. He had a slight suspicion as to what Luigi wanted to discuss. Sora tried thinking of an excuse to delay the conversation, but with his emotions tangled in a disarray of wires, none came to mind. Luigi was stubborn; he wouldn’t concede.

“Okay,” Sora said in disappointment. He turned to Riku. “Sorry, man. Just wait here for a second.”

Riku remained silent. There was a hint of displeasure in his eyes. This wasn’t a good sign, Sora thought. He didn’t want him to feel unwanted in their group. Still, whatever Luigi had to say, he’d vouch for him. The trio walked over to the other side of the area.

Luigi took a deep breath. “You’re not gonna like what I have to say. I know how much Riku means to you. It’s just….I’m not sure he should come with us.”

“What!?” Sora asked; he was appalled. “Are you serious right now!?”

Luigi tried to hush Sora from causing a disturbance. Riku just glared at the trio; his expression turned dark the longer he stared.

“We’ve been looking for him this whole time!” Sora said, enraged. “How could you even consider the thought?

“Listen, I know this sounds bad, but—”

“He’s my best friend! I can’t just leave him behind! Wouldn’t you do the same for your brother?”

“Of course I would!” Luigi said. “But if you were in my shoes…”

Yoshi sighed in annoyance, and turned to face Riku, channeling out the noise. He gasped upon noticing that something was wrong.

“He gone!” Yoshi said.

Sora turned to where Riku stood; there was no one in sight. This wasn’t real, he thought. Panic started to congest his chest like bronchitis. He frantically scanned the area, hoping Riku was nearby. Gone. It was as if he never existed in the first place.

Sora glanced down at the floor, feeling broken. “I…I finally found him. And now he’s gone.” His eyes darted in silent anger towards Luigi.

“Yeah, I totally deserve that look,” Luigi said in an uncomfortable, guilty tone. “But, please, hear me out. I didn’t want to say anything in front of him.”

Sora could hear the sincerity in his voice. He wasn’t trying to start an argument. Perhaps it was only fair to hear his viewpoint. Sora crossed his arms, and stood ready to listen.

Luigi sighed again. He felt the tension build in his stomach. “I have my reasons for not wanting him to join us. I don’t trust him.”

“A-Are you joking?” Sora couldn’t believe what he was hearing. This just made him more upset. “How could say that? You don’t even know him. I grew up with him. I know him better than anyone.”

“That’s true,” Luigi said. “But you were too caught up in the moment to notice how he was acting. Cold and distant: both in tone and mannerism.”

“Riku isn’t really the social type like Kairi and I are.”

“He’s your best friend, right? Wouldn’t he have been more thrilled to see YOU at least? Also, he didn’t take too kindly to Yoshi and I. He seemed uneasy around us.” Luigi hesitated, preparing to wave the entire red flag. “And that sword he had – it’s the same one that hooded guy used earlier.”

That last sentence collapsed right onto Sora like a tree; it hit him hard. At first, his mind was submerged in a tank, refusing to believe these claims. But then he began swimming to the surface, reflecting on Riku’s behavior; something about it seemed unusual. He did seem a bit more distant. But the sword bothered him the most.

“And the hooded guy works for Bowser, right?” Sora asked.

Luigi nodded.

“Yoshi? Was that the same sword?” Sora asked. The dinosaur’s eyes refused to meet his; guilt had been smeared across them. Sora placed a supportive hand on his shoulder. “You can tell me anything, buddy.”

“Yes,” Yoshi said in a sad tone. “It was.”

“No,” Sora said, distraught. “I don’t want to believe it. He would know better than to trust someone like that. Especially since Bowser controls the Heartless. And he took off without saying good-bye.” He sighed, placing both hands in his pockets. “Man, I thought I’d be much happier.”

The district fell into a dismal silence. Sora’s thoughts and emotions had sunk deep into the earth, tunneling in various directions, trying to process this unfortunate turn of events. His best friend in alliance with the Heartless? It seemed unfathomable. How would this affect their relationship? Especially once he found Kairi.

No. Don’t lose that optimism. The future is never written, but you need to move it forward.

After an uncomfortably long time, Luigi said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin your reunion. I just don’t want anything bad to happen.”

“No, I understand,” Sora said. “You were looking out for me, right?”

“We may have our quarrels, but you’re my friend,” Luigi said. “The last thing I’d want to see is you get hurt.”

Sora smiled. “Thanks.”

“Sora alright?” Yoshi asked, placing an arm around his back.

“I’m fine. I can take comfort in knowing he’s okay at least. Next time we meet, I’m going to have a long chat with him. Maybe talking it out will make him feel better.”

Luigi chuckled. “Wow. Very perspective coming from you. That’s a first.”

“Hey!” Sora said in a playful tone. “Don’t make me fly the ship again. I might start pressing random buttons.”

The tension had dispersed between the group. Sora was glad to at least have them by his side. They would help him through the hard times. Not just through strength alone, but encouragement.

“Still, I can’t believe we found him,” Sora said. “Maybe we’ll find Kairi next.”

“That spirit!” Yoshi said with enthusiasm.

“Hey, guys!” Everyone turned to see Yuffie. “Did you finish your assignment yet? If you did, follow me to the house upstairs. Leon’s a lot better.”

The group shared excited grins with each other. Best news they’ve heard today.

--

“Here we are!” Yuffie said in enthusiasm. “Home sweet home!”

Leon, Yuffie, Aerith, and Cid shared the small house located by the door to the Second District. It just livable enough for all of them. To Sora, it appeared cramped and old. The striped blue and yellow wallpaper were deteriorating. In fact, there were a few tears scattered through it. Valuables were stacked in wooden boxes. If anything else, their home appeared more akin to a storage room.

“Kinda gloomy in here, don’tcha think?” Sora asked.

“Sometimes you have to make do with what you got.” The group saw Leon sitting up on his bed; he wore his white t-shirt, but underneath was bandage wrapped around his torso. He detested its presence. It made him feel like he failed again. But he saw that Sora and his friends were in good health. That mattered the most. Heed your own advice, Leon said. It wasn’t your fault.

“How are you feeling?” Sora asked.

“Nothing but a little scratch,” Leon said. “I’m fine.”

He tried standing up, but hissed from the lingering pain.

Aerith frowned. “Funny. That doesn’t sound like a little scratch.” She handed him an aspirin. Here.”

“I’ll be okay,” Leon said, raising a hand to deny the gesture. “Promise.”

“Glad you all could make it,” Cid said. “We have a bit of a problem.”

“Bowser’s in town,” Leon said in a grave tone.

Luigi and Yoshi looked at each other in surprise. After Jr. kidnapped the princess, it didn’t seem possible. What would he be doing a quiet, humble town?

“Y-You sure?” Luigi asked.

“My eyes ain’t what they used to be, but I recognize anything that ugly from a mile away,” Cid said.

“You’ve seen him before?” Luigi asked in surprised.

There was a somber look in Cid’s eyes. Just the mere mention of him brought back terrible memories. “You could say that.”

Leon and his friends glared at the each other. There was an uncomfortable silence. They weren’t sure how to proceed in telling the trio how Bowser connected to their past. Uttering the sentence was like speaking with nails in your mouth; every word was painful. But Sora and his friends needed to know this crucial information (especially Luigi and Yoshi).

“It’s because of him that our home world got shattered,” Yuffie said.

The trio were taken aback by this news. Luigi seemed incredulous. “A-Are you positive? For sure? This is the same Bowser we’re talking about here, right?”

“Afraid so,” Leon said. “There are some things you have yet to learn about your old enemy. He’s been using the Heartless for years.”

Aerith was crestfallen. “It was nine years ago when he and the Heartless invaded our world, turning it into a dark wasteland. Completely unrecognizable.”

“Bein’ the kindly gent that I am,” Cid said, “I took pity ‘n grabbed these three by the diapers on the way out. Ended up here in this town.”

Luigi couldn’t fathom what he was hearing. The Koopa King had always been a problem, sure, but it didn’t seem possible for him to cause catastrophe on an intergalactic scale. He was a lonely, anserine creature with an ego to match his castle. But today he became much more dangerous.

Luigi felt horrible for Leon and his friends – that they had to suffer because of him. “I never realized how vile he could really be. Normally he goes through this whole hallabaloo just to kidnap the princess. Never would’ve imagined he’d do something like this. Just, why?”

“I don’t really care what his reasons are,” Sora said with a heroic expression on his face. “If he’s here now, let’s go stop him!”

“We can’t!” Luigi said. “Not as long as he has the Star Rod! And we’ll probably have to go through the Heartless first!”

“Oh, right,” Sora said in disappointment.

“Heartless really getting on Yoshi’s nerves,” Yoshi said. “Isn’t there anyway to stop them?”

“Remember that man named Ansem?” Aerith asked. “He might’ve known.”

“He was our ruler,” Leon said. “Dedicated his life to studying them. But he disappeared on that fateful day.”

Sora and his friends appeared discouraged. The fight would never end.

“All is not lost, kids,” Cid said in an uplifting tone. “Those reports of his might hold the answer.”

“But didn’t they scatter?” Luigi asked.

“Yes,” Leon said. “However, I have a hunch that Bowser might have most of them.”

Luigi sighed in exasperation. “So now we have to find more pages? Wonderful.”

“C’mon! We can do it!” Sora said as he placed his arms around both Luigi and Yoshi. “The three of us taken on the toughest baddies so far. If we stay together, there’s no way Bowser can stop us! Star Rod or not.”

Sora’s confident grin was infectious. Everyone felt a sudden boost in energy. Despite how much baggage had piled up, Sora would sort through them with a smile. On this difficult journey, Luigi needed that smile to keep him going – to keep everyone going.

“Yeah,” Luigi said, feeling cheerful. “We do make a good team.”

Yoshi licked their faces. “The best team.”

Leon smiled; he foresaw a bright future within the darkness. And it all began with a key.

--

Riku stared through the window, witnessing the bond grow between Sora and his new friends. That’s what their friendship felt like right now: looking at it through a window. Every few seconds it started to tint, growing darker. And darker. And darker. Until the bright smiling face of his best friend was gone.

But he wasn’t alone. Standing next to him was Bowser. “Well, lookie who was right. Here you are: working your butt off to find this little punk. And what’s he do? Replaces you with these bozos. Just look at him. Not worried about you at all. Probably cares much more for them than you. Especially that green dino runt.”

Riku watched as Sora got Yoshi into a headlock, giving him a noogie. The two were laughing. Maybe Bowser was right. Did Luigi and Yoshi change something in him? Why wasn’t he concerned? The longer he pondered, the more heartbroken Riku became. Sora’s friendship with Luigi and Yoshi blossomed, while theirs’ withered into a dry rose.

“I may be rotten, but that’s just cruel,” Bowser said. “Your way too cool for someone like him. Well, not as cool as me anyways. Beggars can’t be choosers.” He placed a giant hand on Riku’s shoulders. ““So stop worrying about that brat. Why don’t you come with me? I’ll help you find what you’re looking for…”

Riku was reluctant for a moment. Was this the right choice? Could he really trust Bowser? He looked back at Sora. Nothing had changed; he was content with his new friends. Riku didn’t have a choice. He was on his own. It was a depressing thought, but, sometimes, we must make difficult decisions.

A small rift in their friendship had formed.

--

“If y’all are done patting each other on the backs,” Cid said, “I wanted to let you know that the ship is finished.”

Sora smiled in excitement. “Thanks, gramps! Couldn’t have done it without you!”

“And if you call me gramps again,” Cid said, glowering, “that’ll be the last time.”

“Erm, sorry,” Sora said, sheepish.

“But seriously – thanks for delivering the book. I hope all goes well in getin’ fixed. If you find two more Labo pieces, bring them to me. I can do some more work on them.” He glanced at his watch. “Speaking of: gotta get back to my real job. What is my real job you ask? You’ll see. Stop by the First District if you need any more help.”

After Cid left, Sora stretched out his arms, ready to face the hardships of the future with that same upbeat attitude. “We should get going, too. Many more worlds to visit, right?”

Luigi felt an abrupt vibration in his pocket. He pulled out the 3DS, opened the lid, and noticed an email in his inbox.

“Hey!” Luigi said in excitement. “A new tournament is taking place at Pokémon Coliseum!”

“That was fast!” Yoshi said in surprise.

Leon felt a sense of nostalgia tickle his chin upon hearing that name. “Pokémon Coliseum? Been there before. Nice place. I suggest going there to get some training in. Who knows what sort of worlds you’ll encounter next.”

“Can we, Luigi?” Sora asked.

“Sure.” Luigi then frowned. “But under one condition. You keep that little rodent away from me.”

“Pikachu?” Sora asked. “Aw, come on! You two just got off on the wrong foot.”

Luigi’s face scrunched like paper the more he thought about being electrocuted again. “On the wrong foot? I’ll say we did! Another minute and he would’ve been at the end of my foot!”

Sora sighed; unless Luigi and Pikachu learned to cooperate, they may get disqualified just for throwing harsh language at each other (who knew what context lay beneath Pikachu’s ‘pika pikas.’)

And with that, Sora and his friends said their good-byes. When they exited, Sora looked down at the lower floor of the Third District. He still hoped Riku was there. Wishful thinking, he thought. There wasn’t a soul around.

He tried to process everything that happened. Did Riku really join forces with Bowser? It was a distressing thought. Sora’s optimism started to sink beneath his feet like quicksand. The image of him, Riku, and Kairi relaxing on their island seemed muddled. Life was changing before his eyes; and it moved too fast for his liking.

How would he rectify his friendship? Would Riku even listen to him if they reunited again? He felt overwhelmed. But, then, those imitating feelings vanquished when he felt Luigi and Yoshi put their arms around him. While he was a source of encouragement, they provided those same feelings in return. He couldn’t foresee the future, but knew that Luigi and Yoshi would guide him through it.

They made a promise. An unbreakable vow.

All for one, and one for all.

End of Act I

Description

Chapter 26: Together Again

When Sora first arrived at the Third District, he failed to notice the door nestled in the corner. Mainly because the strength of his spine was being tested by the combined weight of Luigi and Yoshi. Still, he looked back on that moment with fond memories. They’ve been a huge driving force behind his journey.

The mysterious door was made of stone. Just as Cid said, an image of fire was engraved in it. On each side of the door were strange hieroglyphics. None of them couldn’t even begin to wonder what they meant. Sora placed his hand against the door; immediately, it opened, revealing a huge, dimly lit cavern.

Inside they saw that the ground was consumed by a giant river. The sound of flowing water echoed throughout the cavern. A lone, large island stood in the center of the river; resting on top of it was a house. It appeared like something right out of the middle ages, containing only one floor, was made from white-colored stone, and had a thatched roof.

“Boy, someone enjoys living alone,” Sora said.

Luigi’s knees buckled. “Why are we always visiting creepy places? We’re running a simple errand.”

They crossed a bridge to the island (which involved pushing Yoshi across because of his aquaphobia. Minutes I’ll never get back, Luigi thought), and approached the door. Sora knocked on it. No answer. He tried once again. Still no answer. Maybe he couldn’t hear them. Sora placed his palm against the door. To his surprise, it creaked open. He then started to push it further.

Luigi glared at him in shock. “Are you serious right now? Is freeloading a favorite pastime of yours?”

“No,” Sora said, frowning. “But I want to be thorough before jumping the gun. C’mon, it’ll only be a second.”

Sora and Yoshi entered, with Luigi grumbling behind them, feeling uncomfortable for barging in uninvited. Although the room was dark, a small fragment of light managed to seep through, displaying its innards. The walls and ceiling were made from wood. Plenty of bookcases rested against the walls. An assortment of pots was scattered throughout it.

It was livable. Sora noticed carpets on the floor, an old-fashioned metal stove, and a pair of beds in each corner. An invisible leash pulled Sora forward, piquing his curiosity. His thoughts started crafting a story around this abandon house. It was exciting to speculate. He felt a sense of child-like wonderment. Something warm swelled in his chest. It was comforting….

…and very familiar.

“There’s something about this musty place…”

Sora recognized that voice. His heart pounded faster. Turning to his left, he saw Kairi standing there, admiring the architecture. He shook his head; was this an illusion? Or was it actually her? His perspective of reality seemed fractured. Something about her presence felt real. But why was she acting so nonchalant?

She strolled through the house, continuing to look at its interior. “It reminds me of the secret place back home, where we used to scribble on the walls.” She turned to him. “Remember?”

“Kairi?” Sora asked, sticking his hand out towards her.

“Sora?” Yoshi asked.

He turned to see Yoshi looking at him in concern. Did he not notice Kairi? A harsh realization then hit him, and he turned back to see no one was there. His disappointed filled the dark, empty room.

“Are you okay?” Yoshi asked.

Sora brushed the bangs on his forehead. “Yeah. I’m fine. This place just….made me feel nostalgic, that’s all.”

“Then why did you say Kairi’s name?” Luigi said in suspicion, growing nervous. “Are you hallucinating? What if this place is cursed?”

“I beg your pardon,” a middle-aged male voice said. “This is a perfectly suitable home.”

Luigi screamed and jumped into Sora’s arms. The three turned to see the silhouette of a man in the doorway. Everyone was on edge. A small flame materialized in his hand, and he used it to light a nearby candle. Through the light, the man revealed his features: he was elderly gentleman with white hair, a long beard, small round glasses, and donned a slink robe which had various colors. He was carrying a giant brown leather bag in his left hand.

There was an amiable twinkle in his blue eyes that made the group relax.

Sora glared at Luigi in annoyance. “Cursed, huh? Ever consider becoming a conspiracy theorist?”

“How about after the first date?” Luigi asked with a nervous grin.

Sora dropped him onto the ground.

“It seems you’ve arrived sooner than I expected,” the man said. “Forgive the vacancy of my home.”

“Wha…you knew we were coming?” Sora asked in surprise.

The man smiled. “Of course.

“You a wizard?” Yoshi asked.

The man laughed. “People always make that assumption about me. Must be the beard, right? Actually, I’m a scholar. My name is Kraden. As an Adept, I am able to use a form of magic known as Psynergy. Guess you can say I’m a wizard in a way. I’ve spent much of my time traveling. It’s good to be home.” He placed his bag on the floor. “You must Luigi. Your brother has requested my help.”

“Really? Mario?” Yoshi asked.

“Yes, indeed,” Kraden said “I take it you’re Yoshi.” He turned to Sora. “And who might be, young man?”

“I’m Sora.”

“Ah. So, you found the Key,” Kraden said in a delighted tone. “Mind if I take a gander?”

Sora could see he had a genuine look of intrigue on his face. There was a sense of eagerness flashing like an uncontrollable strobe light. He knew everyone, too, especially Mario. There didn’t seem to be any harm in showing him.

“Sure.” Sora showed him the Keyblade.

He scanned every detail, growing more excitable than a kid looking over a brand-new bicycle. “Such remarkable craftsmanship. I’ve heard stories of its power. Never in all my years would I come across such a fabled weapon!”

Kraden blushed upon realizing how overzealous he was, and cleared his throat.

“Forgive my inquisitive nature,” he said. “Even in old age we should always be seeking knowledge about the world around us.”

“What did my brother ask you to do?” Luigi asked.

Kraden cracked his knuckles. “Just a moment. Need to get settled.”

He outstretched his arms, raising them into the air. The group was startled by the appearance of two giant gloved hands. It immediately went through Kraden’s bag, placing objects in their proper places: books on the shelves, small mats on tables and desks, and sheets and blankets on the beds.

The group watched in awe as the room was revitalized with life. Using his fire Pysnergy, he lit the lanterns scattered throughout the room. Everything was brighter. It was like they stepped into a brand-new house. Sora wished he had disembodied hands to clean his room.

“Wow!” Sora said. “Guess you can say this guy is all hands.”

Luigi covered an incoming burp.

“You okay?” Yoshi asked.

Luigi groaned. “Sorry. My lunch was trying to run away from that terrible pun.”

“Ooh, can me have your lunch!?” Yoshi asked in excitement.

“You really need to learn how a figure of speech works,” Luigi said.

After making some final touches, Kraiden had finished furnishing the room. The group looked around in astonishment. He put everything together so fast; it was a sight to behold.

“Perfect,” Kraden said with a content smile. “Why don’t you three grab a seat? I’ll make some tea and explain everything.”

A few minutes later, the group were seated around a wooden table. Kraden brought over a piping hot kettle and poured their drinks. Steam emitted from the tea, filling their noises with a gentle, soothing aroma. Yoshi couldn’t wait and took a sip, burning his tongue in the process.

Sora chuckled. “You gotta let it cool, buddy.”

“So you’ve met my brother?” Luigi asked as Kraden took his seat. “Do you know where he is?”

“Alas, I do not,” Kraden said. “We parted ways some time ago.” He noticed a saddened look in Luigi’s eyes. “Please, do not concern yourself. Wherever his travels have taken him, I assure you he’s fine. I do know the purpose of his venture, however. As we speak, a wave of discord is slowly lingering over all creation. Your brother seeks a means by which it might be quelled – a means that will extinguish the darkness forever. And possibly restore the worlds that were unfortunate enough to stand in its destructive path.”

Sora felt an overwhelming sensation of hope press against chest. Leon wasn’t the only one who believed his island could be restored. The probability of saving it grew like a flourishing tree. More than ever, he had to keep that belief alive.

Kraden sipped his tea. “In any case, he provided me with the task of training you in the art of magic.”

“Really?” Sora asked.

“I can sense the amount of power inside of you,” Kraden said. “I’m impressive by how you learned to manipulate the Keyblade on instinct alone. But, that reliance on instinct denies you the full capacity of the weapon. Conscious control of the blade’s functions is essential to your cause.”

Sora summoned the Keyblade, and stared at it. “Yeah. I feel like there’s so much I don’t understand about it. Seems like the Heartless are getting stronger with every fight we’re in. Okay. Sure. I’d be more than happy to learn.”

“Glad to hear it,” Kraden said, smiling. “Please, feel free to stop by anytime for a lesson. Oh, and before I forget: I brought someone along to help.”

There was a knock at the door.

“Perfect timing,” Kraden said. “She’s always punctual.”

A young woman walked into the room. Her light blue eyes matched her long hair, which was tied into a ponytail. She wore a white robe; imprinted on it were elegant purple designs. In her hand she carried a silver staff; the tip was circular, with two perpendicular circles just below it.

She gave the group a warm smile. “Hello. You must be Mario’s friends. My name is Mia. Please to make your acquaintance.”

“Mia is a friend of mine,” Kraden said. “She, too, is an Adept. Able to use her Psynergy to heal any mortal wounds. No one can do it better.”

She blushed. “Aw, well, it’s nothing much.”

“Such a modest young lady,” Kraden said.

“Anyway,” Mia said, “Mario asked me to help, too. I will assist you throughout your journey. If you are gravely injured, please stop by and I will mend your wounds.”

“We appreciate you volunteering your efforts to our cause,” Luigi said.

“Think nothing of it,” Mia said. She smirked. “Besides, this gives Kraden a chance to explore other worlds. He’s like a kid sometimes. Always excited to learn something new.”

Kraden chuckled. “And there’s nothing wrong with that.”

Luigi gasped; he had forgotten the reason they were here in the first place. “Actually, there’s something we need your help with.”

He showed the book to Kraden, explaining its origins.

“Ah, yes!” Kraden said. “I remember now! Was wondering when Cid would finish making repairs. He did a splendid job fixing it up.”

“Where’d you find it?” Luigi asked.

“Your brother gave it to me for safe keeping,” Kraden said. “When he found it last, the Heartless left it in ruin. I’m aware that a world resides within its pages. Perhaps that’s why the Heartless were drawn to it; because of the Keyhole that lurks within. He asked me to keep it safe.”

Hearing that the Heartless had possibly destroyed the lives of many made Luigi feel worse. But he didn’t want to believe it was true. Sometimes we try to grasp onto that tiny sliver of optimism until the truth was spat right in our faces.

“But the pages are blank,” Luigi said. “What does that mean? They can’t be gone forever, can they?”

Kraden flipped through the pages, studying its contents. Or lack thereof. The whole time, his expression was thoughtful, yet neutral. Luigi couldn’t read his face in the slightest. And that just increased the anxiety. Sora noticed how concerned he looked, and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

“Do not fret, my child,” Kraden said. “I may have a theory.” He showed the group one of the torn pages. “There are a few pages missing. Picture the pages as blood vessels. They are tasked with proving life to the entire body. Even if one of those vessels were to cease, the entire system would collapse. They need to work in unison to provide life.”

“So you’re saying that if we find these pages,” Luigi said, feeling a bit at ease, “it may bring the book back to life.”

“Possibly,” Kraden said with an air of hesitation. He didn’t want to be one hundred percent sure, and then dampen their spirits. “It wouldn’t hurt to search for them. As I said: this is just a hypothesis. Even if you successfully restore the book, who knows what results it could yield. The pages themselves could have been tampered with, resulting in the world being completely different from what you once knew.”

Luigi sighed. “Well, it’s a start at least.”

“The number of things we gotta find keeps growing,” Yoshi said, feeling a bit discouraged.

“Like that’s anything new,” Sora said, refusing to let his optimism falter. “So what? There are still so many other worlds we have yet to see. I’m sure we’ll come cross them eventually.”

“That sounds ridiculous when you say it out loud,” Luigi said. “But, given the circumstances, it wouldn’t hurt to search.”

“I’ll keep the book safe until your inevitable return.” But Kraden wasn’t finished with the group yet. He turned to Sora. “I can sense a summon stone. Are you in position of one?”

Sora was confused for a moment. He’d never even heard of one. How was he supposed to—wait, was it the charm Leon gave him? It was the only thing in his pocket.

Sora pulled the stone out, and looked it over. “Yeah. This thing is called a summon stone? What’s it do?”

“I’ll let Mia answer that for you,” Kraden said.

Sora handed it over to Mia, who studied it for a moment. He noticed a sad, guilty glow in her eyes.

“Oh, the poor child!” Mia said. “Forced to spend his youth in confinement.”

“Child?” Luigi asked, bewildered. “Someone actually lives in there.”

“In a sense,” Mia said. “This boy lived in a world that was consumed by darkness. When a world vanishes, so do its inhabitants. But this one has such a strong heart; he became a gem instead of vanishing with his world.”

“Can he regain himself?” Sora asked, showing concern.

“Yes, but only his spirit,” Mia said. “I sense a great deal of power inside this boy. He might be a valuable ally. I’ll use my magic to bring him back temporarily.”

Mia lightly tapped the stone with her wand. It was consumed by a blue miss, which then exploded into a ball of light. After it faded, the group noticed that the stone turned into a glass dome. Inside, they noticed a silhouette of a nondescript person.

Before Sora could ask another question, Mia held it out to him. “Now, lift this case into the air, and he will appear.”

Shrugging, Sora grabbed the dome and held it over his head. He was startled to see it grow at a rapid rate. Then, the glass shattered, and a ball of light emerged from it, landed on the ground, and took the form of a teenage boy. He wore a red sideways baseball cap with a blue bill, a horizontal yellow and blue striped t-shirt, blue shorts, and red shoes.

The boy looked around this strange new environment, dazed and confused from being revived. Everything seemed huge to him. It was intimidating. But he tried collecting his thoughts.

“Wh-What happened?” the boy asked, befuddled. “Last thing I remember was eating steak with my mom when…”

His eyes met with the others. Startled by the strangers, he shouted, “PK Fire!”

A small lightning bolt hit Kraden’s beard, causing it to erupt into flames.

“Put it out!” Kraden said, shouting, frantically waving his arms in the air. “Put it out!”

Mia used a water spell to extinguish the flames. Kraden’s snow white beard was covered in soot.

The boy gasped upon realizing his mistake. “Oh man! I’m so sorry! My friend Paula taught me this move yesterday, and I still don’t know how to control it!”

“It’s quite alright, child,” Kraden said, still donning his cheerful smile. “Your magic is quite unique. Tell me, how’d you learn your craft?”

Mia rolled her eyes while smiling. “Kraden, a house would fall on you, and you’d ask what kind of wood was used for the framing.”

“Our minds must always be active, my dear,” Kraden said in a sincere tone. “Knowledge is precious thing that should never be wasted. We only have one life to live, after all.”

The boy could tell that the strangers seemed friendly; working up his courage, he asked, “Excuse me? Sorry, but where am I exactly?”

Mia explained everything in a gentle, compassionate tone, knowing the boy would be devastated by what happened to his word. Indeed, with each sentence uttered, the boy’s expression sunk lower, as if an anchor of dejection pulled on his chin.

“So….I’m the only one who survived?” The boy asked. “That’s…that’s not fair. I wanted my friends and family to be here.

Sora keeled over to him with a sympathetic expression. “Dude, I totally understand what you’re going through right now. I lost my world, too.”

“You did?” the boy asked.

“Yeah.” Sora squeezed his wrist, trying to prevent those emotions from resurfacing. “It’s not the best feeling in the world. But I’m not alone. I’m traveling to other worlds with these guys. We’re hoping we can restore every world out there. Yours included.”

The boy’s eyes brightened in hope. “Really?”

“You bet,” Sora said with an encouraging smile.”

“You’ve been given a second chance at life,” Mia said. “A chance to bring those you love back from the darkness. Will you travel with Sora and his friends to fight the darkness?”

The boy found his second wind through their words. “Not even a question! I’ll do whatever it takes to save my world! You can count on me!”

“Sweet!” Sora said. “Thanks…uh…sorry, didn’t get your name.”

“It’s Ness,” the boy said. “I can use my psychic powers to assist you whenever there’s trouble.”

“You psychic?” Yoshi asked.

“Yes, indeed,” Ness said. “Although I’m still honing my skills. I’ll do my best!”

“Can we see some of your powers in action?” Luigi asked. “You know, that are of the non-lethal variety?”

Ness grinned in excitement. “Oh, sure. Your name is Luigi. Your favorite food is spaghetti. And your birthmark is located right near your—”

“We get the point!” Luigi said, blushing in embarrassment. He heard Sora and Yoshi snigger to each other. Upon glaring at them, the two turned away, whistling nonchalantly.

Before another word was said, the group noticed Ness start to fade from existence. For a moment, he was frightened. But a warm feeling overcame his body. It was like falling into a deep sleep; something about it felt soothing. Everything would be okay. He could embrace that feeling without fear.

But Sora was concerned. “What’s happening to him?”

“He’s run out of energy,” Mia said in a reassured tone, “and is returning to his slumber. After a little rest, he’ll be ready to help again.”

Sora looked back at Ness; there was a content expression on his face, as if telling him not to worry.

“Take care for now,” Ness said. “Thanks for everything. You know where to find me.”

Ness vanished into a ball of light, and transformed back into the small glass dome. Sora picked it up, feeling it pulsate again. There was something calming about it, like a heartbeat. Ness would be fine, he thought. He was safe. Sora placed the stone back in his pocket.

Despite how grim things looked, Ness was willing to help in their cause. It showed how strong he was as a person. Given the extra baggage the group had to carry now, they needed that additional strength. Sora couldn’t wait to fight alongside his new friend.

--

With their objective clear, the group headed back towards the Accessory Shop. Once again, the Third District was deserted. Even the crickets refused to perform for an empty crowd. After today’s unfortunate events, everyone was probably hiding in the comfort of their homes. Before the group could walk any further, two lone Shadows appeared in front of them.

Sora smirked. “Well, lookie here: seems like we’ve got some stragglers.”

He prepared to strike them. Only, he never got a chance. Someone else used their sword to cut them in half first. Sora looked up to see the mysterious person.

He almost dropped the Keyblade in absolute shock.

His entire body froze. Every rational thought sped through an incoherent tunnel full of twists and turns that didn’t end. He couldn’t adequately form words. His heart pounded so hard; he thought it would explode like a bomb from the rush of emotions

Standing in front of him was Riku.

“There you are,” he said with a big smile. “What’s going on? Goofing around again?”

It sounded like him. There was no doubt about it. But a part of Sora remained a bit skeptical. Who could blame him? All this time, and he just appeared out nowhere? He had to be sure. Sora grabbed Riku’s cheeks, pulling at them.

Riku waved his hand. “Hey, hey, cut it out. Not even five seconds and you’re already invading my personal space.”

“I’m not dreaming this time, right?” Sora asked, as he looked him over.

Riku grinned. “Well, if this is a dream, could I do this?”

With his free hand, he punched Sora in the shoulder.

“Ow!” Sora said, wincing from the pain. He then smirked. “Not convinced. What if I do this?” He stretched his cheeks further this time.

Riku got him into a headlock, giving him a noogie. “Still think this a dream?”

“Okay, okay!” Sora said, laughing. “I give!”

The two pulled away to look at each other. Sora couldn’t believe it; the odds were against him, but he persevered. He had found a missing piece of his island. So many emotions ran rampant through his mind. He didn’t know how to express his excitement. Nothing else mattered right now: The Heartless, the Keyblade, the journey, everything.

“Seriously, glad you’re okay, man,” Riku said, brushing his silver hair in relief. “Took me forever to find you!”

“You too!” Sora said. “I…I’m so happy right now!”

Yoshi smiled. “Me knew he’d fine Riku. Right, Luigi?”

The dinosaur noticed that Luigi wasn’t partaking in this joyous reunion. His eyes were focused on something else, and it filled him with suspension. Yoshi followed Luigi’s eyes to see that he was staring at the sword Riku held in his right hand.

It looked familiar.

“Dude, I don’t even know where to start!” Sora said; elation continuing pouring out of his face. “My brain’s going a million miles a minute! I have so many things to tell you, and…”

He stopped. Something didn’t feel right. Why? He was with his best friend again. It should be a happy occasion. Suddenly, some of those rational thoughts squeezed through the pours of his mind. He noticed that Riku was alone.

There was still another piece missing.

“Wait a second,” Sora asked, “where’s Kairi?”

“Isn’t she with you?” Riku asked.

She was still out there. And by herself. Deep down, he had hoped to find them simultaneously. To not worry anymore, and pursue their dream of visiting other worlds. It was an outlandish mindset to keep tucked away in your mind. But sometimes we have foolish desires; they fill us with comfort. And when reality ensues, we end up disappointed. Which was how Sora felt. He lowered his head in sadness.

Riku sighed. He felt that same crushing feeling. But he tried to remain hopeful. “Well, don’t worry. I’m sure she made it off the island, too.” He glanced at the sky. “It’s hard to imagine. We’re actually free. Exploring other worlds is a lot different from what I thought it’d be.”

“But it’s not the same without her,” Sora said.

“Hey, we found each other, right?” Riku said. “Chances are we’ll probably find her, too. She’s probably looking for us right now.”

A lone Shadow appeared behind Riku, stalking him with incredible hunger.

“We’ll all be together again soon,” Riku said. He looked away from Sora. “Don’t worry. Just leave everything to me. I know this—”

He was startled by the loud noise. Turning around, he saw that Sora vanquished the Heartless in one, fast strike. Riku started at his friend in stunned silence.

Prideful, Sora hoisted the Keyblade onto his shoulder. “Leave it to who?”

“Sora, what did you—” Riku asked, baffled.

“I’ve been looking for you and Kairi, too,” Sora said. He glanced at Luigi and Yoshi, “with their help.”

Riku turned to face them. His eyes met with Luigi’s; he noticed that they looked apprehensive. It was a discouraging sight. Riku felt uncomfortable, as if he wasn’t wanted.

“Who are they?” Riku asked.

Trying to be polite, Luigi cleared his throat. “Ahem. My name is—”

“We’ve visited so many places and worlds, looking for you,” Sora said.

Riku was somewhat impressed. “Really? Well, what do you know? I never would have guessed.”

“That not all!” Yoshi said, placing both hands on Sora’s shoulders. “Sora the one and only Keyblade Master now!”

“Who’d thought it?” Luigi said in a teasing tone.

Sora stomped his foot in anger. “What’s that mean?”

“So, this is called a Keyblade?” Riku asked.

Sora turned to see Riku was in possession of the Keyblade. He did a double take, as if unable to believe that just happened.

“How did you—give it back!” Sora said. He lunged for Riku, who moved back, making him crash onto the ground.

Riku observed every inch of the blade. “Gotta say, for something so bulky, it’s pretty sweet.”

Luigi felt nervous pressure in his neck. He was growing suspicious of Riku. How’d he grab the Keyblade so effortlessly? And he noticed Riku was able to hold it naturally in his hand. A huge list of questions was piling on top of each other. But the one at the top waved a huge red flag over the horizon.

“Catch!” Riku threw it back to Sora, who caught it with both hands.

“Whoa!” Sora made it vanish. His excited smile returned. “Okay, so you’re coming with us, right? We’ve got this awesome rocket. Wait ‘til you see it!”

“Yeah,” Yoshi said. “It go varoom!”

Luigi cleared his throat again. “Hey, Sora. Can I speak to you and Yoshi for a moment?”

“Huh?” Sora asked in surprise. “Right now? But—”

“It’ll only take a second,” Luigi said. “I promise.”

Sora was about to argue, but he noticed a dire expression on Luigi’s face. His stomach hardened like a cement. He had a slight suspicion as to what Luigi wanted to discuss. Sora tried thinking of an excuse to delay the conversation, but with his emotions tangled in a disarray of wires, none came to mind. Luigi was stubborn; he wouldn’t concede.

“Okay,” Sora said in disappointment. He turned to Riku. “Sorry, man. Just wait here for a second.”

Riku remained silent. There was a hint of displeasure in his eyes. This wasn’t a good sign, Sora thought. He didn’t want him to feel unwanted in their group. Still, whatever Luigi had to say, he’d vouch for him. The trio walked over to the other side of the area.

Luigi took a deep breath. “You’re not gonna like what I have to say. I know how much Riku means to you. It’s just….I’m not sure he should come with us.”

“What!?” Sora asked; he was appalled. “Are you serious right now!?”

Luigi tried to hush Sora from causing a disturbance. Riku just glared at the trio; his expression turned dark the longer he stared.

“We’ve been looking for him this whole time!” Sora said, enraged. “How could you even consider the thought?

“Listen, I know this sounds bad, but—”

“He’s my best friend! I can’t just leave him behind! Wouldn’t you do the same for your brother?”

“Of course I would!” Luigi said. “But if you were in my shoes…”

Yoshi sighed in annoyance, and turned to face Riku, channeling out the noise. He gasped upon noticing that something was wrong.

“He gone!” Yoshi said.

Sora turned to where Riku stood; there was no one in sight. This wasn’t real, he thought. Panic started to congest his chest like bronchitis. He frantically scanned the area, hoping Riku was nearby. Gone. It was as if he never existed in the first place.

Sora glanced down at the floor, feeling broken. “I…I finally found him. And now he’s gone.” His eyes darted in silent anger towards Luigi.

“Yeah, I totally deserve that look,” Luigi said in an uncomfortable, guilty tone. “But, please, hear me out. I didn’t want to say anything in front of him.”

Sora could hear the sincerity in his voice. He wasn’t trying to start an argument. Perhaps it was only fair to hear his viewpoint. Sora crossed his arms, and stood ready to listen.

Luigi sighed again. He felt the tension build in his stomach. “I have my reasons for not wanting him to join us. I don’t trust him.”

“A-Are you joking?” Sora couldn’t believe what he was hearing. This just made him more upset. “How could say that? You don’t even know him. I grew up with him. I know him better than anyone.”

“That’s true,” Luigi said. “But you were too caught up in the moment to notice how he was acting. Cold and distant: both in tone and mannerism.”

“Riku isn’t really the social type like Kairi and I are.”

“He’s your best friend, right? Wouldn’t he have been more thrilled to see YOU at least? Also, he didn’t take too kindly to Yoshi and I. He seemed uneasy around us.” Luigi hesitated, preparing to wave the entire red flag. “And that sword he had – it’s the same one that hooded guy used earlier.”

That last sentence collapsed right onto Sora like a tree; it hit him hard. At first, his mind was submerged in a tank, refusing to believe these claims. But then he began swimming to the surface, reflecting on Riku’s behavior; something about it seemed unusual. He did seem a bit more distant. But the sword bothered him the most.

“And the hooded guy works for Bowser, right?” Sora asked.

Luigi nodded.

“Yoshi? Was that the same sword?” Sora asked. The dinosaur’s eyes refused to meet his; guilt had been smeared across them. Sora placed a supportive hand on his shoulder. “You can tell me anything, buddy.”

“Yes,” Yoshi said in a sad tone. “It was.”

“No,” Sora said, distraught. “I don’t want to believe it. He would know better than to trust someone like that. Especially since Bowser controls the Heartless. And he took off without saying good-bye.” He sighed, placing both hands in his pockets. “Man, I thought I’d be much happier.”

The district fell into a dismal silence. Sora’s thoughts and emotions had sunk deep into the earth, tunneling in various directions, trying to process this unfortunate turn of events. His best friend in alliance with the Heartless? It seemed unfathomable. How would this affect their relationship? Especially once he found Kairi.

No. Don’t lose that optimism. The future is never written, but you need to move it forward.

After an uncomfortably long time, Luigi said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin your reunion. I just don’t want anything bad to happen.”

“No, I understand,” Sora said. “You were looking out for me, right?”

“We may have our quarrels, but you’re my friend,” Luigi said. “The last thing I’d want to see is you get hurt.”

Sora smiled. “Thanks.”

“Sora alright?” Yoshi asked, placing an arm around his back.

“I’m fine. I can take comfort in knowing he’s okay at least. Next time we meet, I’m going to have a long chat with him. Maybe talking it out will make him feel better.”

Luigi chuckled. “Wow. Very perspective coming from you. That’s a first.”

“Hey!” Sora said in a playful tone. “Don’t make me fly the ship again. I might start pressing random buttons.”

The tension had dispersed between the group. Sora was glad to at least have them by his side. They would help him through the hard times. Not just through strength alone, but encouragement.

“Still, I can’t believe we found him,” Sora said. “Maybe we’ll find Kairi next.”

“That spirit!” Yoshi said with enthusiasm.

“Hey, guys!” Everyone turned to see Yuffie. “Did you finish your assignment yet? If you did, follow me to the house upstairs. Leon’s a lot better.”

The group shared excited grins with each other. Best news they’ve heard today.

--

“Here we are!” Yuffie said in enthusiasm. “Home sweet home!”

Leon, Yuffie, Aerith, and Cid shared the small house located by the door to the Second District. It just livable enough for all of them. To Sora, it appeared cramped and old. The striped blue and yellow wallpaper were deteriorating. In fact, there were a few tears scattered through it. Valuables were stacked in wooden boxes. If anything else, their home appeared more akin to a storage room.

“Kinda gloomy in here, don’tcha think?” Sora asked.

“Sometimes you have to make do with what you got.” The group saw Leon sitting up on his bed; he wore his white t-shirt, but underneath was bandage wrapped around his torso. He detested its presence. It made him feel like he failed again. But he saw that Sora and his friends were in good health. That mattered the most. Heed your own advice, Leon said. It wasn’t your fault.

“How are you feeling?” Sora asked.

“Nothing but a little scratch,” Leon said. “I’m fine.”

He tried standing up, but hissed from the lingering pain.

Aerith frowned. “Funny. That doesn’t sound like a little scratch.” She handed him an aspirin. Here.”

“I’ll be okay,” Leon said, raising a hand to deny the gesture. “Promise.”

“Glad you all could make it,” Cid said. “We have a bit of a problem.”

“Bowser’s in town,” Leon said in a grave tone.

Luigi and Yoshi looked at each other in surprise. After Jr. kidnapped the princess, it didn’t seem possible. What would he be doing a quiet, humble town?

“Y-You sure?” Luigi asked.

“My eyes ain’t what they used to be, but I recognize anything that ugly from a mile away,” Cid said.

“You’ve seen him before?” Luigi asked in surprised.

There was a somber look in Cid’s eyes. Just the mere mention of him brought back terrible memories. “You could say that.”

Leon and his friends glared at the each other. There was an uncomfortable silence. They weren’t sure how to proceed in telling the trio how Bowser connected to their past. Uttering the sentence was like speaking with nails in your mouth; every word was painful. But Sora and his friends needed to know this crucial information (especially Luigi and Yoshi).

“It’s because of him that our home world got shattered,” Yuffie said.

The trio were taken aback by this news. Luigi seemed incredulous. “A-Are you positive? For sure? This is the same Bowser we’re talking about here, right?”

“Afraid so,” Leon said. “There are some things you have yet to learn about your old enemy. He’s been using the Heartless for years.”

Aerith was crestfallen. “It was nine years ago when he and the Heartless invaded our world, turning it into a dark wasteland. Completely unrecognizable.”

“Bein’ the kindly gent that I am,” Cid said, “I took pity ‘n grabbed these three by the diapers on the way out. Ended up here in this town.”

Luigi couldn’t fathom what he was hearing. The Koopa King had always been a problem, sure, but it didn’t seem possible for him to cause catastrophe on an intergalactic scale. He was a lonely, anserine creature with an ego to match his castle. But today he became much more dangerous.

Luigi felt horrible for Leon and his friends – that they had to suffer because of him. “I never realized how vile he could really be. Normally he goes through this whole hallabaloo just to kidnap the princess. Never would’ve imagined he’d do something like this. Just, why?”

“I don’t really care what his reasons are,” Sora said with a heroic expression on his face. “If he’s here now, let’s go stop him!”

“We can’t!” Luigi said. “Not as long as he has the Star Rod! And we’ll probably have to go through the Heartless first!”

“Oh, right,” Sora said in disappointment.

“Heartless really getting on Yoshi’s nerves,” Yoshi said. “Isn’t there anyway to stop them?”

“Remember that man named Ansem?” Aerith asked. “He might’ve known.”

“He was our ruler,” Leon said. “Dedicated his life to studying them. But he disappeared on that fateful day.”

Sora and his friends appeared discouraged. The fight would never end.

“All is not lost, kids,” Cid said in an uplifting tone. “Those reports of his might hold the answer.”

“But didn’t they scatter?” Luigi asked.

“Yes,” Leon said. “However, I have a hunch that Bowser might have most of them.”

Luigi sighed in exasperation. “So now we have to find more pages? Wonderful.”

“C’mon! We can do it!” Sora said as he placed his arms around both Luigi and Yoshi. “The three of us taken on the toughest baddies so far. If we stay together, there’s no way Bowser can stop us! Star Rod or not.”

Sora’s confident grin was infectious. Everyone felt a sudden boost in energy. Despite how much baggage had piled up, Sora would sort through them with a smile. On this difficult journey, Luigi needed that smile to keep him going – to keep everyone going.

“Yeah,” Luigi said, feeling cheerful. “We do make a good team.”

Yoshi licked their faces. “The best team.”

Leon smiled; he foresaw a bright future within the darkness. And it all began with a key.

--

Riku stared through the window, witnessing the bond grow between Sora and his new friends. That’s what their friendship felt like right now: looking at it through a window. Every few seconds it started to tint, growing darker. And darker. And darker. Until the bright smiling face of his best friend was gone.

But he wasn’t alone. Standing next to him was Bowser. “Well, lookie who was right. Here you are: working your butt off to find this little punk. And what’s he do? Replaces you with these bozos. Just look at him. Not worried about you at all. Probably cares much more for them than you. Especially that green dino runt.”

Riku watched as Sora got Yoshi into a headlock, giving him a noogie. The two were laughing. Maybe Bowser was right. Did Luigi and Yoshi change something in him? Why wasn’t he concerned? The longer he pondered, the more heartbroken Riku became. Sora’s friendship with Luigi and Yoshi blossomed, while theirs’ withered into a dry rose.

“I may be rotten, but that’s just cruel,” Bowser said. “Your way too cool for someone like him. Well, not as cool as me anyways. Beggars can’t be choosers.” He placed a giant hand on Riku’s shoulders. ““So stop worrying about that brat. Why don’t you come with me? I’ll help you find what you’re looking for…”

Riku was reluctant for a moment. Was this the right choice? Could he really trust Bowser? He looked back at Sora. Nothing had changed; he was content with his new friends. Riku didn’t have a choice. He was on his own. It was a depressing thought, but, sometimes, we must make difficult decisions.

A small rift in their friendship had formed.

--

“If y’all are done patting each other on the backs,” Cid said, “I wanted to let you know that the ship is finished.”

Sora smiled in excitement. “Thanks, gramps! Couldn’t have done it without you!”

“And if you call me gramps again,” Cid said, glowering, “that’ll be the last time.”

“Erm, sorry,” Sora said, sheepish.

“But seriously – thanks for delivering the book. I hope all goes well in getin’ fixed. If you find two more Labo pieces, bring them to me. I can do some more work on them.” He glanced at his watch. “Speaking of: gotta get back to my real job. What is my real job you ask? You’ll see. Stop by the First District if you need any more help.”

After Cid left, Sora stretched out his arms, ready to face the hardships of the future with that same upbeat attitude. “We should get going, too. Many more worlds to visit, right?”

Luigi felt an abrupt vibration in his pocket. He pulled out the 3DS, opened the lid, and noticed an email in his inbox.

“Hey!” Luigi said in excitement. “A new tournament is taking place at Pokémon Coliseum!”

“That was fast!” Yoshi said in surprise.

Leon felt a sense of nostalgia tickle his chin upon hearing that name. “Pokémon Coliseum? Been there before. Nice place. I suggest going there to get some training in. Who knows what sort of worlds you’ll encounter next.”

“Can we, Luigi?” Sora asked.

“Sure.” Luigi then frowned. “But under one condition. You keep that little rodent away from me.”

“Pikachu?” Sora asked. “Aw, come on! You two just got off on the wrong foot.”

Luigi’s face scrunched like paper the more he thought about being electrocuted again. “On the wrong foot? I’ll say we did! Another minute and he would’ve been at the end of my foot!”

Sora sighed; unless Luigi and Pikachu learned to cooperate, they may get disqualified just for throwing harsh language at each other (who knew what context lay beneath Pikachu’s ‘pika pikas.’)

And with that, Sora and his friends said their good-byes. When they exited, Sora looked down at the lower floor of the Third District. He still hoped Riku was there. Wishful thinking, he thought. There wasn’t a soul around.

He tried to process everything that happened. Did Riku really join forces with Bowser? It was a distressing thought. Sora’s optimism started to sink beneath his feet like quicksand. The image of him, Riku, and Kairi relaxing on their island seemed muddled. Life was changing before his eyes; and it moved too fast for his liking.

How would he rectify his friendship? Would Riku even listen to him if they reunited again? He felt overwhelmed. But, then, those imitating feelings vanquished when he felt Luigi and Yoshi put their arms around him. While he was a source of encouragement, they provided those same feelings in return. He couldn’t foresee the future, but knew that Luigi and Yoshi would guide him through it.

They made a promise. An unbreakable vow.

All for one, and one for all.

End of Act I