#sokai parents

[phoenix-downer]

Enchanted Neighborhood Chapter 4

~2275 words. Sora/Kairi. Post-Canon. Family AU, SoKai Parents AU. Reunions, Fluff, Winnie the Pooh.

This is a sequel to After Ever After and Love’s Cost. There are five chapters total and the story will update weekly on Fridays.

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5

Summary: Sora introduces his kids to his friends in The Hundred Acre Wood, and they make new memories together.

Haruto wasn’t sure where to look as he followed Dad, Emi, and Pooh. Having a Keyblade was awesome if it meant they got to go on adventures like this. Up ahead was that table they saw in the book, and at the table were a small pink pig, a mopey donkey, two kangaroos, a rabbit with a scowl on its face, a whistling gopher, a rambling owl, and a purple elephant. 

Cool, more talking animals. It was too bad the animals back home didn’t really talk. Guess these guys in Pooh’s world were more like Uncle Donald and Uncle Goofy than Destiny Islands creatures. 

The rabbit seemed to be scowling at a flash of orange streaking back and forth near the table. “Tigger,” he said as the streak sent everyone’s napkins flying, “stop bouncing around and—”

"The wonderful thing about Tiggers is Tiggers are wonderful things!” the orange and black-striped tiger sang as he bounced on his tail, completely ignoring the rabbit. “Their tops are made out of rubber! Their bottoms are made out of springs!”

“Tigger!” Dad cried, his eyes lighting up, and Tigger stopped bouncing. All the other animals looked at Dad, and their faces brightened and all of them but the donkey smiled. Even the donkey’s eyes got a little brighter though, so Haruto figured that was the best he could do. 

Wow, these talking animals must really, really like Dad for them to all be so happy to see him.

“Sora!” they all cried, and a moment later, Tigger sprung at Dad, knocking him over and making them both roll over the green grass. Dad’s laughter filled the air and when they finally settled, he had a big smile on his face. 

When Dad smiled like that, Haruto felt like everything was gonna be okay. Memories of when he was little and Dad seemed invincible came to mind. But seeing Dad like this really drove home that he’d been a kid once. Which meant maybe he understood all the weird teenage and growing up stuff too. 

The other animals quickly joined Tigger in greeting Dad. Dad got a whole bunch of hugs and head pats as he greeted them all. It helped that he remained on the ground so he was closer to their level. It reminded Haruto of all the times Dad had dropped to his knees to be eye level with him when he was younger. How it made him feel safer and more comfortable. 

“Piglet!” Dad cried. “Rabbit! Kanga and Roo! Gopher! Owl and Lumpy! And Eeyore too! It’s so good to see everyone again.” 

Dad really was good at this stuff, wasn’t he? No wonder he had so many friends. 

“It’s s-so good to see you again t-too, S-Sora,” Piglet said, his little pink face beaming. Dad giggled and lifted Piglet up with ease. 

“Oh man, is it good to see you again, Piglet! You haven’t gotten blown away by any strong breezes recently, have you?” 

Piglet shook his head. “N-No. P-Pooh has kept me very g-grounded.” 

Dad carefully set Piglet down. “Good, glad to hear it. And Rabbit, how are your vegetables doing?”

“There are good days and there are bad days,” Rabbit said. “Maybe they’d grow better if someone stopped bouncing through my fields.” He gave Tigger a pointed look, but Tigger just said hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo and kept bouncing. Did Tigger ever stop bouncing?

“And your tunnels Gopher?” Dad asked. “How are those going?”

“Same as ever, sonny,” Gopher whistled. He dug into the ground to demonstrate, and Dad commented on how awesome his digging was. Again, Haruto was impressed by how Dad knew exactly what to say to his friends. It wasn’t at all like how goofy and awkward Dad could be back home. 

“Owl?” Dad asked next. “How are your relatives?” 

Owl cleared his throat and puffed out his chest. “I’m glad you asked. My Uncle Albert recently went to sea again, and…”

The other animals groaned, and Owl rambled on for a good couple of minutes about Uncle Albert’s misadventures before Dad politely shut him down and turned to the elephant. “Lumpy? How’ve you been?”

“I’ve been great, thank you, Sora,” Lumpy happily trumpeted, and Dad smiled and patted Lumpy’s head. 

“Eeyore?” Dad asked the donkey next.

“My house got knocked over again,” Eeyore replied, his voice dull and lifeless. 

Dad scratched his cheek, a pained smile on his face. “Oh, sorry to hear that.” That was definitely his ‘this is an awkward situation and I don’t really know what to say’ look, but he was trying.

“Don’t be,” Eeyore replied, “it’s probably my fault anyway.” 

Dad didn’t say anything to that, just turned to the two kangaroos. “Kanga? Roo? You doing okay?”

“Better than ever!” Roo said, his little face beaming as he bounced up and down much like Tigger.

“It’s good to see you again, Sora,” Kanga said. “And who are these people with you?”

Dad’s smile got really big, but before he could say anything, Pooh interrupted. “They’re Sora’s children. Sora’s a father.” 

“That’s right,” Sora said, beaming proudly at the three of them. “These are my kids. Kairi and I got married, and I’m a father now. This is Emi, our youngest,” he said, ruffling Emi’s hair. Emi giggled and beamed up at Dad. “She’s eight years old now and very good at hide-and-seek. You’ll have to challenge her to a round.” 

“Yes!” Emi cried. “I’d love to play hide-and-seek!” 

“We can play after tea,” Rabbit said amiably. 

Dad looked to Miyu next, and she cleared her throat and introduced herself. “Oh, I’m Miyu. I’m fifteen, and, um, I like reading books and playing tag?” she offered. The animals all greeted her politely and promised to supply storybooks and play tag after tea.

“Guess it’s my turn,” Haruto said. “My name’s Haruto, and I’m Sora’s son. I like running, painting, and guessing games.” He grinned as the animals greeted him. Was he proud to be Dad’s son? Yeah, yeah he was. And it wasn’t just because Dad was cool now. No, ever since Mom had told them what Dad did for her and then Dad had nearly died saving them, Haruto could deal with a few dorky Dad-isms because Dad was a good guy. And seeing him today, he could see why Dad was so well-loved. 

“Well, shall we?” Pooh asked, gesturing towards the table. The group took their seats, and Miyu was on Haruto’s left and Dad was on his right. To Dad’s right was Emi, and the animals were seated at various other spots at the table. 

Eeyore, who was seated on Miyu’s left, gave her a morose look. “Sorry you have to sit next to me,” he told her in a flat, lifeless tone. 

“Oh, it’s okay,” Miyu replied. She looked at Haruto, clearly trying not to giggle, and he just shrugged.

“Here, dears, have some tea,” Kanga said as she carefully poured them all cups of tea. Roo added cream for them, and Gopher dropped a few sugar cubes in as Owl stirred with one of his claws grasping a spoon. Pooh dropped lumps of honey into the tea with plenty of helpings for himself in between, and Tigger bounded around singing about how delicious a good afternoon tea was. Lumpy used his trunk to carefully place the cups of tea and little plates of cookies in front of them, and Haruto tried to be on his best behavior. Really though he had to sneak a lot of looks at Miyu to remember all those obscure rules Mom and Dad had tried to teach them about fancy dinners and afternoon tea. 

The conversation was lively and the cookies and tea were pretty good. Presently, Dad asked him, “You having fun?” in a low voice. Dad’s eyes were bright and he was taking in everything around them like an eagle watching a field. 

“Yeah, I am.” Haruto said, then frowned. Dad was clearly having fun. A lot of fun seeing friends he hadn’t seen in ages. Haruto thought about his conversation with Miyu earlier. How much fun and how many old friends had Dad given up for their family? 

Of course Dad noticed something was up. “Hey, what’s wrong?” he said under his breath as he reached for his spoon.

“I’m fine,” Haruto said, then caught himself. Nah, he wasn’t fine, he had something on his mind, and it would hurt Dad to push him away. “Um, it’s nothing bad, I just have some stuff I want to ask you. Can we talk about it later?”

Dad’s expression softened. “Sure.” 

The tea party was fun, and Owl regaled them with story after story of his aunts and cousins and uncles and other relatives until Tigger challenged them all to a bouncing match. When they were all bounced out, they took a brief break and then played hide-and-seek and tag. Once they were worn out from that, they returned to the table to read storybooks, paint, and play guess who games. Miyu and Emi both giggled when Dad put on one of those goofy sets of glasses with a fake mustache, and Haruto cracked a grin too. 

Dad laughed and ruffled his hair. It was funny how Dad was just a little shorter than him now but was still acting so Dad-like. “See, the secret to being cool is being willing to make a complete fool of yourself,” he said, gesturing to his goofy glasses. “It’s when you care too much what other people think that you’ll have a hard time.” 

“But you care what we think,” Miyu pointed out.

Dad’s expression softened, and he took off the glasses. “Of course I do. You’re my kids, and I love you with all my heart.” 

Man, didn’t Dad ever get embarrassed about so openly admitting to stuff like that? But he wasn’t embarrassed, he was smiling like he really meant what he said. And Haruto knew he did. Maybe that was why he could say he loved them so easily, so openly.

“We love you too,” Miyu mumbled, her face red, and Haruto nodded.

“We do!” Emi cried. “You’re the bestest Daddy.” 

Dad smiled, but a moment later, a tear ran down his cheek. He started and then chuckled as he wiped his face. “This again, huh? I guess no matter what age I’m still a softie.” He rubbed the back of his neck, smiling awkwardly. 

“You are,” Haruto agreed, “But that’s okay.” It would be weirder if Dad didn’t wear his heart on his sleeve.

“And you shouldn’t change,” Miyu said quietly. “Don’t ever change, okay?”

Dad’s eyes softened. “I won’t. No matter what I look like, I’m still me.” He rested his hand over his heart as if to prove it.

Emi grinned, a mischievous spark in her eyes, and Dad raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“Wait till Mommy sees you!”

Dad laughed. “Oh man, she’s gonna be in for the shock of her life. Seeing me like this again, I wonder what she’ll say.” He rested his hand on his chin as he thought about it.

Lumpy’s big ears perked up. “How’s Kairi? Is she doing okay?”

“She’s doing great,” Dad said. “She’s pregnant again, but once the baby’s born, I’ll bring her to visit, I promise.” 

At this revelation, Dad’s friends all cheered and celebrated and congratulated him. Dad couldn’t stop smiling, and it made Haruto excited about meeting his younger brother too. Another younger sister would be cool, but Haruto just had this hunch he was gonna have a younger brother, and he couldn’t wait to meet him.

When Emi was busy playing with Dad’s friends some more, he pulled Haruto and Miyu aside to a nearby creek with a grassy riverbank. 

“Is now a good time to talk?” he asked. “I can tell you both have something on your minds.”

Haruto looked at Miyu, and then they both nodded. The three of them sat down, and Dad took his shoes and socks off and let his feet soak in the cold water. Haruto and Miyu joined him, and Haruto wasn’t really sure how to start. Thankfully, Miyu spoke up.

“It’s just that… meeting your old friends, we’re realizing how much you had to give up for us. For our family.”

“Yeah,” Haruto said. “And also, you were really young when everything happened. I guess in my mind you were always eternally ‘Dad,’ but today I fully realized you were just a kid when a lot of your adventures happened.” 

“I was,” Dad said softly, “and it’s why Mom and I wanted you guys to have a normal childhood. And having a family was something we both wanted. I won’t lie and pretend it wasn’t an adjustment, but you’re our greatest adventure, and we wouldn’t change a thing about our family.”

He smiled and put his arms around each of them. Emi joined in too, giving Dad a hug from behind, and soon all of Dad’s animal friends had joined in. The group sat at the creek and chatted and had fun until the sun sank low in the sky. At that point Haruto felt a strange tingling in his arms and legs, and he looked at Miyu to see if she felt the same thing. The expression on her face told him that yeah she did. 

“Guess it’s time to go,” Dad said as he started fading in and out too. “Pooh, Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Gopher, Owl, Lumpy, we’ll be back soon, okay?”

A chorus of agreement sounded out, and Dad grinned. “And next time, I’ll bring Kairi too!” 

With that they felt themselves being swept out of the book.

[sawyarts]

For sokaiweek on twt!

AU where Sora is a prince and Kairi is the newly appointed royal gardener he catches instant feelings for

[organizationhimself]

i want to talk about a phenomenon i keep seeing with regard to shipping that i find super annoying. it's not, strictly speaking, a problem, but i do think it's gotten to this point where it's actively undermining a lot of character analysis and attempts to reconcile narrative theming.

the thing i'm talking about is when every available scrap of characterization MUST support, let's say, the relationship between minor character Blorble and main character Scrunklia. you and i can freely disagree about whether Scrunklia's tragic past is perfectly aligned with Blorble's bitter misanthropy, we're going to see that kind of thing very differently and that's not what i mean. i'm talking about when Blorble is casually late to a team meeting with the rest of the cast and Scrunklia is peeved, and the character analysis gleefully decides that, because Scrunklia's hair is slightly mussed (which gets pointed out later and made a big deal of and leads to her opening up to a different character about her stress levels), this means she and Blorble must have made out before the meeting.

...like. what? it can't be that this character is visibly stressed out about the unfolding plot of the story, which is actively bringing up uncomfortable memories for her that she is working through with a VARIETY of characters on the cast, and the text demonstrates other examples of her expressing her dissatisfaction with Blorble's ability to respect other people's time? that's maybe not the most romantic interpretation but it's going to be more honest to their characters than a variation that specifically hunts for ANYTHING that positively, and only positively associates Scrunklia's every expressed feeling, opinion, and belief with Blorble (and vice versa), regardless of the cost to her emotional depth and arc.

this extrapolation can warp to the point that the analysis triumphantly declares that not only is Blunklia endgame, but it is supported by the overarching narrative themes of the entire work, up to and including the wedding at the end between Scrunklia and Meowmoe where she looks sadly in the direction of the graveyard where her parents are buried, and where she and Blorble had a conversation once, so that actually means she's thinking regretfully of Blorble while she says her vows.

do you see what i mean? and i could even agree with this interpretation at points. i might think that, while Meowmoe is an excellent friend to her, they don't actually know how to handle Scrunklia's ups and downs as effectively as Blorble. i might agree that thematically, it makes sense for Scrunklia to have a relationship with Blorble that is, if not directly romantic, very intensely platonic and he is one of the emotional support beams in her life. but...that doesn't mean everything this character is and was and will be should be DIRECTLY related to this other character and no one else! there are other characters in the story. sometimes it is about them. sometimes it is about only the one character and THEIR past, and THEIR feelings, and it does them a disservice to deliberately twist that to have the most tenuous possible connection with this particular beau. not only that, it weakens the overall understanding and fandom interpretation of that character.

obviously my examples above are fake and don't have any direct correlation to actual characters (that...i'm aware of??) so don't read into that, because i have an actual example, and here's where i know i'm going to be hitting a wasp's nest dead on.

everybody buckled in? ok.

let's talk about soriku.

i want to preface this by saying i have shipped soriku since 2002. i spent my teenage years in lethal combat with the sokais for an embarrassingly long time, so i'm not here to cast stones, i know my sins. and i don't expect this argument that has been raging back and forth for nearly a quarter of a century to ever actually die down.

my issue i'm taking with it is that a lot of the soriku analysis i see these days does what i'm talking about above, and deliberately undermines sora and riku's individual relationships to other characters (whether they're interpreted as romantically charged or not) as well as their own individual characterizations, in order to fit them into this mold where riku is the caretaker of sora and the Most Importantest Specialest brightest light in the whole entire world, and actually kingdom hearts has been about his relationship to sora the entire time and nothing else.

like...do you think for even a minute that riku would appreciate being told he is actually some sort of bright light that eclipses kairi? that eclipses sora? his entire character arc is about finding a way to accept his darkness and grow in spite of and around it. other characters in the series shout in dismay that no one has ever been able to use light and darkness together like he has. why take all that nuance away, why boil all that down, in order to justify him being sora's direct leader and guide to all things and sole confidante? didn't we establish in kh2 already that their relationship has changed? that riku has always wanted to be more like sora, in the same ways that sora has grown up envying riku for his strength and talent, and riku had to grow and set aside his pride in order to not just expect sora to follow him, but to follow sora sometimes? i can't stress enough that this interpretation of riku is actively deconstructing his entire, fascinating character growth back to its foundations to try to reestablish him as sora's fearless leader and the actual bearer of the light with nary a shred of darkness in his heart. the chosen one, magnanimously letting his exalted eyes rest on the ordinary, unremarkable delivery boy.

and this is coming from a really specific place. because kairi is presented as sora's guiding light in so many ways (and i have a different essay about how this is important to them but also a glaring disservice to her), so...if we're going to cleave to the school of thought above and EVERYTHING sora ever does, says, and thinks must naturally draw his eyes back to riku no matter what, then of course any reference to kairi as being remarkable to sora in some way that riku does not share or exceed must be stamped out of relevance or twisted to serve riku instead. (this doesn't necessarily mean that sora can't have a relationship to kairi that's in some ways important, but all the MOST important and emotionally charged bits can only ever belong to riku.)

this includes, of course, the bane of my existence: the meteor shower.

the argument i've seen for why the meteor shower memory must be a real memory is that namine can't just make memories up, she can only alter existing memories. this...is obviously not true? multiple characters talk about how she can just create whatever she wants and rewrite reality to be whatever she needs; marluxia and larxene are explicitly relying on this fact and directly demand it of her in ways that namine never objects to on the basis that she can't do that, and it's demonstrated in the canon. there was never a real little girl on the islands who was friends with sora and riku and kairi and left suddenly. there was never a friend who used to draw pictures of them on the beach while they played.

because namine didn't WANT to replace someone in sora's life, she only ever wanted her own place there (and knew she could never actually have it). if she wanted to, she could have just made it so that she was kairi all along; that kairi was not alone when she arrived during said meteor shower, or else sora suddenly recalls that it wasn't kairi he met with in the caves in traverse town, but a friend who'd left the islands long ago. it wasn't kairi he saved. it wasn't even kairi he parted from at the end of kh1.

the thing is it seems to take namine much less time to create false memories. when she finally starts working with sora's real ones, she indicates to him that it will take some time (and there were other complications but if she needed him to literally go into cryostasis, we're not talking a week or two). it's never suggested that she alters his real memories in the canon; she describes it as taking apart the links in the chain and attaching the new links. the ones she MADE.

but ok, for the sake of argument, let's grant this limitation even though it's not supported by the text. and let's ignore namine's character, too, and say she'd actually do this to sora on purpose because it doesn't actually matter to her to have her own role in her little fantasy of sora being eager to protect her. why doesn't she just replace kairi, from the start? theoretically this would be easier than going through the effort of coming up with her own storyline to explain who she is and where she went.

"namine's only doing it that way so sora doesn't realize his memories are being replaced." would sora not recognize that such an important memory of riku was being replaced? if namine decided instead to replace his memory of kairi washing up on the beach with herself, do you think sora wouldn't find something wrong with that? why would he so easily and cavalierly assume that this again, allegedly so significant and unique event that happened with one of his two best friends in the entire world, just...actually happened between him and this person he only vaguely remembers? doesn't that mean he barely remembers it even before namine gets very deep into his memory, and he doesn't really think of it as significant at all?

furthermore--if we're treating this as "actually it was riku who said he'd protect sora," then why does sora remember this from the wrong perspective? the replica remembers too, but every memory he has is fake, namine has unrestricted access to him, and she can demonstrably rewrite his memories at whim. sora is the one namine is trying to convince! why would she alter the memory to not just directly replace someone in sora's memory (like she has never done with any other memory of his), but replace him in his own memory? if the memory was real and riku was really the one there, what sora should be remembering is namine swearing to protect HIM!

and that's not even the worst of it, because namine has deliberately made these memories to create doubt. she wants sora to question why riku remembers something different. she is doing this to try to save him. but this is being twisted and reimagined so that she's selfishly replacing riku in a memory that actually exists and is precious to sora, so that riku can forever be the person sora's eyes land on. this undermines her character in service to a ship she's not even a part of.

and it undermines sora's character too! both for the reasons above and because his perspective is never actually considered in this interpretation. why would famously adventurous and enthusiastic sora, who expresses interest in going to other worlds, and who doesn't grasp most of physics or consequences until they're actually happening to him, be worried about a meteor hitting the islands in the first place, over being totally gobsmacked at the spectacle?

wouldn't it be more in character for riku to think of that?

when terra meets him on the beach in bbs, riku expresses that he wants to become stronger to protect what matters. this suggests he's been ruminating it for a while, in his serious way, and actually recognizes that there are things out there that need to be protected against (a fact sora doesn't really seem to consider until he actually leaves his island). and we know that even then riku was looking up to sora and didn't feel like he can just follow his heart the way sora does. so why would he go out on a limb, years before the beach scene on kh2 or his conversation at yen sid's with kairi, and say something so...sora-like?

wouldn't it be more in character for endlessly silly, overly confident sora to believe in his entire five-year-old heart that he can totally hit that whole-ass meteor back with his flimsy wooden sword if he really believes?

namine clearly thought so.

clearly kairi is restored to all the places she occupies in sora's memories in the end, and sora never talks about the meteor shower memory again, so just in case it's not already clear because this idea is so widespread, i am asserting that it is a headcanon that isn't directly supported by the text. but that isn't even really my concern; i have plenty of headcanons that aren't even a little bit supported by the text that i totally accept and love. if this one were designed in a way that supported, instead of tore down, the characters of sora, riku, namine, and kairi for that matter, then i would think it was a cute headcanon and probably be all for it, and this post wouldn't exist.

the issue i'm taking with it is that this notion is taking the idea of riku-as-protector and sora-as-emotionally-vulnerable-let's-just-come-out-and-say-UKE-like-it's-2005, and working backwards from that conclusion to establish what happened in canon, instead of extrapolating from canon to build out the characters as they appear there. it's my opinion that doing this actually only hurts the characters, their impact on the narrative, and the ship.

anyway, like i said. not strictly a problem, fandom gonna fandom. it just annoys me, because i'm seeing this in so many ships, so often, and i don't think people even realize they're doing it sometimes.

here's a radical thought: not every romance needs to be star-crossed and "my one true only love i would die for ahead of anyone else, who i could still be happy with if every single other person in my life were dead." sometimes relationships are intense and burn out quick and fast; sometimes they are slow and subtle and last forever; sometimes they are any combination of the above and include permutations i haven't even touched on, romantic or not; sometimes your best friend becomes your rival becomes something more that you don't know how to define, or maybe you do, but all you know for certain is that he will be at your side holding your hand as you reach out to sacrifice your own heart to save the world, never once asking you to turn your back on everyone else you love for his own sake.

so yeah. for the record i still ship soriku (among other things!) and always have. but i also recognize that sora has many other important people and relationships in his life, many of which have absolutely nothing to do with riku, and part of the reason i ship it as hard as i do is because of how much riku has grown and learned to recognize that too.

finally, if so much of the fandom feels the need to alter and reinterpret sora's other significant relationships to be about riku (to remove the "threat"), that's admitting that there isn't enough evidence already in the canon to support soriku as a ship.

and i'm sorry, but i just don't think that's true.

[moonferned]

I LOVE KINGDOM HEARTS!!

AND I LOVE THE FANDOM <3

Here's some fandom theories/headcanons/au's that I love:

(Will be updating)

Sleeping realm theory

Roxas being homophobic to Riku and only Riku

Touched starved destiny trio

Destiny trio poly (soriku/sorikai/rikai/sokai are all perfect mwah mwah)

Heart hotel

Vanitus being a rat bastard

Just anything where they are all happy

Trans sora

Trans fem sora

Trans xion

Trans

Kairi having a personality

Sora having braces

Sora and the sorta's being siblings

Anything with Repliku <3

Also, just the teens being teens. Like cmon (let sora say fuck)

Destiny trio having night terrors and then comforting each other

Sora being super clingy cus hes scared of loosing his friends (ie hold hands, share bed etc etc )

Mickey mouse is Riku's new Dad

Donald and Goofy being Sora's parents/uncles

Sora and Max.

cROSS OVERS WITH OTHER PROPERTIES

[xxxmasterkali]

New series I am currently working on! This is actually based off a book I was writing about my own personal experience & story. I decided to turn this into a SoKai video series. There will be a lot of similarities between this one & Destati/Hikari series since that series was also inspired by my personal life. This is strictly SoKai centric. The other series, I tried to give the other characters their own stories, but this one is strictly for SoKai. The series will be rated M.

Storyline: For the first 10 years of Kairi's life, it's been chaotic. Her parents divorced at a young age, and her mom moves her from place to place constantly. She's never had a place to call home. When her mom and her new boyfriend buy a home together, Kairi meets Sora and Riku, the two boys across the street from her new home. They become her best friends and they grow up together through every twist and turn teen years have to offer. Kairi and Sora are constantly fighting off their feelings for each other, but as the years go by, Kairi finds herself in an even more dire situation than her home environment, and she goes her separate way from Sora and Riku. Will she ever find her way back to her best friends and the boy she truly loves? Can she save herself?

This is inspired by true events that happened throughout my life. Not everything is 100% accurate, of course, because I'd like to stay true to the characters and also dramatize the story. It'll be pretty similar to Destati High & Hikari University, because that was also inspired by my life but I'd like to keep this story as realistic as possible.

Rated M for drugs, alcohol, sexual content and language.

Episode One: I Dare You Episode Two: Crush Episode Three: Paopu Fruit Episode Four: Realization Episode Five: Forget Me Episode Six: Six Years Later Episode Seven: I Still Burn For You Episode Eight: Bring Me to Life Episode Nine: Regret Episode Ten: Exposed Episode Eleven: I'll Come Back to You Episode Twelve: I Know You Will Episode Thirteen: Fate Episode Fourteen: Epilogue

[mbb-project-entity]

Chapter 5

After about 30 seconds JR and Bethany meandered in. They looked bored, clearly wanting to be elsewhere. “Hey you two! Sit down.” I tapped their minds and opened them up to my words, like I had with their parents. I told JR to space out so he wouldn’t hear what I would say to Beth. I like doing the women first.

“Hi Oriole. How old are you and your brother now?” I asked, pulling a carton of cigarettes out of my backpack.

“16.” She replied. Reading her, I saw she wished she was older, more mature. Like most girls her age, she wanted to grow up.

I looked into her mind deeper. She was finally coming into her own. She had become pretty outgoing at school in her previous year. She was hoping to continue to grow. She wanted to try out for cheerleading and soccer. She was a pretty good student, always in the first two rows. And she was just discovChloeg boys for the first time. Her future looked bright. Too bad, I thought to myself.

“Hows school going?” I asked.

“Good! I’ll be starting the accelerated track next year. I hope to try make the soccer team and the cheer—” I cut her off.

“The attack didn’t affect you at all? That must have been a horrible, tragic experience!” I pushed a few images into her mind. I felt the intensity of memories forming, and her personality shifting. It all came flooding back to her now. She was walking home from the bus stop when the guy grabbed her out of no where. She had taken the late bus due to some after school activity so it was just after dark. He pulled her toward the retention basin about a block from her home. She was powerless. Her shirt, ripped. Her pants being, torn off. She was sobbing. She was helpless. She braced herself for what was to come.

“So how is school?” I asked again. “Sokay.” She respond quickly and meekly. Her head was now down with her long hair hiding part of her face. She knew me, or so she thought, but I was an older man, so to some degree I frightened her. “I’m doing pretty good in class.” I saw what she saw. She no longer wanted to try out for soccer or cheerleading. She no longer sat in the first couple rows, always in the back now. She didn’t wear clothes to stand out and she always talked quietly now. She was still a good student, but not as stellar as before. Her newfound interest in boys and wanting to be more mature, had wained and her childhood interests in “cartoonie” and other “cutsie” things had persisted on. She still liked boys, but not the not the sophisticated older men. Now it was the younger ones, the classic teen heart-throbs of pop culture. She would never be outgoing or outspoken again.

[mars00nmar]

I like to imagine that ven does know how to properly wear sunglasses (they go over your ears sweetie)

Instagram , Twitter ✨🌱

[minijenn]

Here’s another thing I drew awhile ago that I can now finally share in light of the Grandfather Reveal, the Keys to the Kingdom family tree! If you don’t mind me rambling, allow me to break this down a bit. 

First we got Xehanort’s unnamed Mom who abandoned that uggo baby (accurate with canon as per Dark Road, which I’ve more or less followed unlike other elements of canon lol). Then we got baldy who somehow scored a hottie in his former childhood best friend Thalassa to have Tsuki! On Himari’s side of the family, we have her twin sister Hinata, and their parents Yoru and Hiruma. Unlike on his father’s side of the family, Sora’s maternal grandparents are really chill and cool and totally normal people imo. So then Tsuki and Himari of course had Sora, who obvs is with Riku and Kairi. Glimpse at some fun future Sorikai kids that we’ve HC’ed over on the Discord, you have Yami  and Hikari, who are the Sokai kids and Dawn, who is the Rikai kid. They’re cute, might do somethin with them in the future, idk. We’ll see. 

[phoenix-downer]

Enchanted Neighborhood Chapter 5

~1225 words. Sora/Kairi. Post-Canon. Family AU, SoKai Parents AU. Reunions, Fluff, Winnie the Pooh.

This story is a sequel to After Ever After and Love’s Cost, and this is the final chapter.

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5

Summary: Sora and his kids return from their adventure with Pooh and his friends, and Kairi reunites with her family and reminisces with Sora.

Sora landed on the ground of Merlin’s house with a loud thunk, and naturally, his three children wound up piled on top of him: Miyu, then Haruto, then Emi. He groaned deeply because he was still in teenage form and not used to bearing this much weight at once. 

“You guys are too big for this,” he grumbled, earning a few laughs and giggles from his kids. And a shocked giggle that sounded out from somewhere above him, a giggle he knew better than any giggle. He spotted a pair of black boots near his head, and his eyes traveled up Kairi’s long, lovely legs and beautiful figure before meeting her dancing eyes. 

“Kairi!” he said, trying in vain to wiggle out from beneath the dogpile he was trapped under. “How was tea with Aerith? How are you feeling? How’s the baby?”

She just giggled again. “Sora, what on earth happened?”

He scratched his cheek. “Oh, about that. So Merlin accidentally hit me with some spell that de-aged me, and then I got pulled into Pooh’s storybook…” 

“Kids, get off of your father,” Kairi commanded, and the kids quickly obliged. Sora scrambled to his feet, and Kairi just looked at him with a disbelieving smile. He was still taller than her even in this form, but not by much. 

“Seeing you like this… It really takes me back,” she said, her eyes sparkling. 

He grinned. “In a good way, I hope.”

She smiled and cupped his cheek. “Yes. It reminds me of my teenage years, when I spent a lot of time swooning over my not-so-secret crush.” 

“I was pretty bad at hiding my crush too,” he admitted, and Haruto gagged. Sora pouted and ignored his son, and Emi made some comment about how Mommy and Daddy were acting all lovey-dovey. Miyu, he noticed, was blushing. Oh boy, was she thinking about a crush? He’d have to ask Kairi later if she had any info about that. 

He turned back to his beloved wife. “I really wanna kiss you,” he said in that slightly whiny voice she never seemed to mind, “but Merlin should transform me back first,” he finished, rubbing the back of his head. It would be kinda awkward if she kissed his teenage self, especially in front of the kids.

Kairi laughed lightly. “I would prefer that, yes. But no matter what form you take, I’ll always know it’s you,” she said softly, and now he really wanted to kiss her. 

“Merlin, a little help?” he called, and the wizard at last poofed into existence in a cloud of pink smoke. 

“Ah yes, sorry about that, Sora,” he said, then puttered around for the right ingredients and spell, knocking about cabinets and shelves and sundry other places. The kids watched him attentively as he cast the spell in question. Several odd smells and poofs of colorful smoke later, and Sora felt his body transforming into his current self. 

He coughed and tested his arms and legs, wiggling and stretching to make sure they were the right size, the right length. He breathed a sigh of relief. Oh good, he was back to normal. Being young again was fun, but this was how he should be, and now he could kiss Kairi—

As the smoke cleared, the kids laughed hysterically, and Kairi was giggling too. He looked down at himself and groaned. “Really Merlin? You couldn’t transform my clothes at the same time?” he grumbled. He was still stuck in his now way-too-small teenage clothes and looked completely stupid. 

“Sorry, that’s a different spell,” Merlin said, then thumbed through the pages of his spellbook. “Hmmm, let’s see, maybe I can find it here—”

“That’s okay,” Kairi said, waving her hands, “I’ve got a change of clothes for him in my bag.” 

Sora gave her a relieved look. Merlin was a good wizard, but he was an odd duck and sometimes his spells had… interesting results. In this case a regular change of clothes was far safer than random spells.

Wait, Kairi had a change of clothes for him in her bag? Was she hoping they’d—

She smiled and wiggled her eyebrows, and he gave her a knowing grin. She was. 

“Alright, kids, let’s get going,” Kairi said, and the kids dutifully gathered together with some slight herding of Haruto. Sora gave Miyu the keys and told them they could explore the shops in the Main Square, get some ice cream from Scrooge McDuck, and then go on ahead to the Gummi Ship. With that the kids were off. 

Sora glanced at Pooh’s storybook and smiled. The cover had transformed once again to show him and his kids sitting by the creek with all his friends gathered around. Next time he really would have to bring Kairi with him. Then the book would feel complete. 

Now that he and Kairi were finally alone, they went on an impromptu date in the gardens, revisiting old memories and making new ones. Afterwards, as they sat at one of the fountains gushing clear water, she caught him up on how tea time with Aerith had gone and asked about his adventures. 

“How are Pooh and Piglet? Rabbit? The others?”

“They’re all great. It was really nice to see them again. And I promised I’d bring you next time, too.” He stroked her hand and smiled. “It’s not the same without you.” 

She smiled softly. “I’d like to join next time, yeah.” She rested her hand on her belly. “Once the baby is born.” 

“Oh, did Aerith say anything about—”

“We’re having a boy,” Kairi said, beaming happily. He laughed with joy and embraced her, then kissed her deeply. It was still too early to know what the baby would be with conventional medicine, but Aerith had a way of knowing these things, and he and Kairi both knew she was right. She’d been right about the other three, after all. 

Speaking of them, it was time to return to the Gummi Ship. They strolled through the streets of Radiant Garden together while holding hands and boarded the ship, and Miyu, Haruto, and Emi were already dutifully seated and ready for takeoff. Sora was about to sit down when Kairi pulled him in for one more kiss.

“For luck,” she said when she released him, her eyes sparkling. “Drive carefully, you wouldn’t want your wife and son to have a rough journey, would you?” 

She smiled and winked. It took a moment for this information to sink in, then the kids all reacted at once.

“I knew it!” Haruto crowed, punching his hand into the air. “I knew I was gonna have a baby brother!” 

“Oooo, a baby brother?” Emi asked, wiggling excitedly in her seat. She glanced between Sora and Kairi. “I can’t wait to meet him!” 

“Same,” Miyu said, her eyes dancing as she looked to Kairi. “Did Aerith tell you?”

“Mhmmm,” Kairi said, a smile on her face. “Let’s get home, I want to start prepping the nursery.” 

“Home,” Sora repeated. He sat down and powered up the controls. The Gummi Ship whirred and sputtered to life, and a rush of adrenaline poured through him. He couldn’t wait for this next chapter in his family’s life. 

It was like he’d told the kids: every day was an adventure, and this was just the latest chapter of it.

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A/N: Sorry about the delay on the final chapter, but hope you enjoyed this next entry in my SoKai Family AU. Thank you again to @angel-with-a-pipette and @scoobysnack1107​ for providing inspiration and reading over the story, and thank you everyone for reading! 

[lydiaisgeeky]

Meant to Be

Jason x Reader Fanficton

2. Studying (w.c. 1686)



Outside the school was a car and a butler waiting for them. Jason ducked into the car quickly thanking the butler. Dick was casually chatting and explaining the whole ordeal and I was looking at my phone. News of a super villian isn't unusual in Gotham especially on my street but it getting to the point where it's shut down and completely evacuated that is a little more uncommon. Dick turned back to me "Ready to go y/n? Oh right um Alfred this is Y/N, Y/N this is Alfred" I greeted him and got in the car. Jason was keeping his head down and he was turned away.

"So y/n how late can you stay? Did you want to stay for dinner I'm not sure if Bruce will be home for it or not you probably shouldn't stay after nightfall things do get scary after that."

"Umm I don't really know it just depends on how much work gets done I probably won't stay for dinner though."

Dick was just ecstatic and kept rambling on. I felt bad for disliking him in the past. He was just so eager for life. When we pulled up to the manor my jaw dropped. I had no idea people actually lived in these things. Dick turned to me and laughed at my reaction "That was my exact reaction too" I gave him a questioning look "I was adopted a few years ago - Jason was adopted last week" I nodded. "Wait until you see the inside". Dick was right the inside was stunning. Walking through the front door was something from the movies. The tall hallways were memorizing, the entryway done in the most careful fashion. Stairs on both the left and right side of the house and so many doors and archways. I held my books close stood maybe a bit to close to Dick.

Dick put his arm around me and guided me through the house until we made it to the kitchen. There was a small table with some snacks on it. It felt very reminiscent of a normal home. "Feel free to eat what you want. We have plenty. Anyways you and Jason can work here. I need to get some stuff done too but I can work on the island." Dick winked at me and sat down. I was a little confused but I wrote it off as just his flirty nature. Jason slipped into the chair next to mine and opened up his math homework. He finished it quickly same with English, Science, and History.

"I guess you didn't need my help" I said.

"No your notes helped a bit but most of this I already did back at my old school"

"Oh" I grabbed my notes and started to shuffle it all together. I hadn't been over for even 30 minutes. I checked my phone and I saw my street was still shut down and I didn't have any communication from my parents.

"I need a break" Dick whined as he walked over. "Wanna go down to the gym I can try and teach you some tricks... shit no not like that. Like acrobatics."

"Smooth" Jason said while moving to leave.

"Nah you too Jay. You could probably do with something to put your aggression into- do you have any sweats that y/n could borrow"

Jason sized me up "she'll be swimming in them but it will probably work"

"Oh no I couldn't possibly" I chimed in and both Jason and Dick rolled their eyes. Dick and Jason left to go get changed. Jason was the first back tossing me a pair of sweats and a t shirt. "Um is there a place I can change?"

"Right um maybe you can change in my room. I'm sorry I still don't really know the place. We could wait for Dick if you'd like."

"Sure um maybe this is personal and maybe I shouldn't ask but why did Bruce Wayne adopt you and where are you from?"

"Yeah well thats a good question. I'm from Gotham the other side though. I guess Bruce thought I was a good charity case after my dad ended up in jail and my mom passed away."

"Oh I'm sorry to hear that"

"Sokay. I should be happy that this happened a better chance at life and all but I can't help feeling like I just don't belong. This world isn't mine. Mine is the streets of Gotham. Crime alley and all."

"Dick says you drive a motorcycle? I live on the other side of town I just know if I showed up in a fancy car"

"You'd be a target. Along with the books. Wait what's your address?"

"Xxxx Main St. I understand if you can't get me all the way there and it's still shut down you know but it's fine even a close bus stop should work."

"Nah I grew up around there. I can get you home even with the whole shut down. Do you see Batman and Robin in your area often?"

"Yeah I see Robin pretty regularly. I've talked to him a few times too. He's nice wants to help. He says I shouldn't live where I do. I can't help it though."

Dick walked in "Change of plans, y/n Bruce just called you gotta go home. I'm sorry I didn't realize he was planning on having guests. Jason you good to get her home. Front door and everything?"

"If y/n allows me I will walk her in even". Dick gave Jason a look. "How soon do you need me back?"

"You should be fine to comeback whenever. Bruce isn't too concerned about us but his friend wants to meet someone specific and I'm gonna hang to make sure it goes down the right way. Y/n you'll have to come over another time maybe over the weekend and we can have a ton of fun." I turned to leave making it out of the kitchen but not much further. Jason was a few minutes behind.

"Sorry uh this way" He led me out to a garage. "Are you hungry? I just miss this diner on your side and I'd live to go back it's been a couple months going through the legal process and I haven't made it back. I'll pay you don't have to worry."

"I guess but if we do this can you teach me what you did in the math homework. I don't get it." He laughed the most beautiful laugh I had ever heard.

"I think I can manage that". He tossed me a helmet and one of his jackets. "I think Dick might actually kill me if you got even a scratch."

Driving to the diner was uneventful but it was nice to have to hold Jason as we drove. He pull up to a hole in the wall diner. After we sat down I questioned Jason "What did you mean by Dick would kill you if I got a scratch?"

"I haven't known Dick all that long but your name is the name he says most often. And frankly I understand why but you've got him wrapped around your finger. You're smart, pretty, but I know your type isn't either one of us. You are probably in love with a guy who doesn't know you exist"

"That sounds more like a book troupe" I laughed. We chatted over dinner and he taught me the math hack. Before we left my place was still shut down. Jason assured me it would be a non issue. We got closer and I saw Batman and Robin and most of my street on fire.

"I understand that but I think we can make an exception... Put B on the phone... I'll wait I'm not taking her any closer until it's handled and safe for her... She can't get ahold of her parents... That's what I was thinking... I'm just saying what kind of people would we be... you're sure? ... I will see." Jason turned to me covering the microphone of the phone. "How opposed would you be to me staying with you until the street clearance ends or your parents come home?"

"Not at all. I'm not really sure I should go in there"

"Cool let's do it. You could help me with some of my electives if you want Dick told me you took them before. Hold on. Yeah... no I will stay with her... just keep me updated" He turned back to me "Okay we are going to do this. Don't let go of me please."

He quickly pulled us through the insanity and drove the motorcycle up the stairs and pull it into the apartment and proceeded to go around and lock every door and window in the place. My parents were nowhere to be seen. Jason pulled me into the closet and began to explain his electives like there wasn't insanity going on. He did everything he could to distract me from the outside world. Once we exhausted school he painted images from his favorite books. He stayed with me the entire night huddled in the closet.

When I woke up I found it crazy that just yesterday we were strangers. Robin opened the closet door and Jason almost attacked him Robin escorted us out of the building it was maybe 4am. Jason decided to take me back to the manor. He wouldn't let me out of his sight. Almost as if he was studying me. When we got back Jason snuck me into his room through the tree. And showed me the bathroom keeping guard in front of the door. I changed into the sweats from earlier and was eternally grateful for Jason and Dick because without them I probably would have spent the night on the street. We got to school early and Jason stuck by me. Protective like no other. Dick hung around cracking jokes and for the first time I didn't mind. My heart was content being near these people. I was safe with these people.

[currantlee]

The Horizon Ever Changes

(Ao3; full list of soundeffects used for the podfic here)

Sometimes, the thing you're most afraid of is yourself - in which case, it is good to have a loved helping you through it.

~ 3.1k Words / 17 Min (Podfic). Rated T (Teens and Older). Angst, Hurt/Comfort. For SoKai Day 2022.

Author's Note: This is a fanfic I already wrote some time ago. Initially, I didn't plan on publishing it since it was kind of conceived as a vent fic, but after a rework, I changed my mind. I also wanted to try something completely new with it too, so... I made a podfic (which you can also listen to on Ao3 or here because turns out Tumblr apparently hates Internet Archive file links 😅). But for those of you who prefer to read - here is the full fic (with some minor differences). Regardless of how you decide to engage with it, I hope you enjoy it.

When Sora was little, his mother would come to his bed every evening and sing a lullaby for him. Sometimes even two, when Sora had been particularly adamant about not wanting to go to bed just yet.

Whenever his father had been home for Sora’s bedtime, he would tell him a story before Sora went to sleep. He had always thought of his father as a great storyteller and looking back, he wished that he could have gotten to enjoy a few more of his father’s stories. The fact that he wouldn’t, seeing as his father had died when Sora was eleven, made him cherish the ones he remembered even more though.

However, there was one thing that had always cradled him to sleep – the roaring of the waves crashing at the shore.

Given that his parents’ house was built partly on stilts at the edge of the beach, he always heard it. Sometimes it was quiet, almost like white noise, but during stormy nights it was so loud that he almost couldn’t sleep.

He had been afraid of those nights as a child. He recalled a few times when the storms were going to be so bad that his parents decided to leave the house before they started, deeming it unsafe, and they spent the night at Riku’s home next to the rice fields on the hill instead. They had always been welcome there, and Sora had always been excited to have a sleepover at his best friend’s house, even under those circumstances.

He was pretty sure that the night of the storm, the night when all of this started, would have been one of those nights – if things hadn’t turned out the way they did.

Nonetheless, the sound of the waves was usually calming to Sora.

… Usually. Because this time, it didn’t work.

Sora sighed heavily. He had thought that maybe coming here would put his heart and mind at ease. It wasn’t that he was scared – or maybe he was, but it didn’t feel like immediate fear or panic. More like he was constantly on the edge, easily startled, and the strain of that was beginning to wear him out.

It had gotten so bad that his body noticed it as well. His muscles were often tense, in and outside of battle. It even felt like his insides were so tense, his stomach sometimes ached from it. He was beginning to find it hard to relax at all.

Sora hugged his legs, gripping the fabric of his pants tightly as he curled up, resting his chin on his knees. At least his hands weren’t shaking yet…

It was obvious. Muscles tensed in the face of danger, and Sora was slowly becoming a danger to his friends, whether he wanted it or not. It was only natural that the fear of himself, a fear he constantly felt, would manifest in this way sooner or later.

A tear rolled down his cheek. He didn’t want this…

“Hey,” Kairi’s distant voice from somewhere to his left said. It was loud and clear, but still gentle.

Sora turned his head away from her on instinct. He wasn’t sure if he wanted her to see him like this. He wasn’t sure whether he wanted to see her at all. “Hey,” he murmured regardless of that.

Kairi came closer – only a few steps, seemingly keeping her distance a bit in case he wanted to be left alone. Sora appreciated that, but currently he didn’t really know what he wanted, or if he even wanted to see her at all. Maybe talking would help, but then again, it wasn’t like anyone could really help him…

“Donald and Goofy said you just… Disappeared,” she explained. “Everyone is worried about you. Sora, I am worried about you.”

She sighed. “That’s why I went to look for you.”

“Uh… Thanks?” He appreciated that, even though he still wasn’t sure if he wanted to see her at all.

But then Kairi decided to ask a question that Sora hadn’t known he was dreading yet. After all, he had been asked that same question a lot over the past few weeks, and he should be used to it by now.

“Sora, are you alright?”

He tried to play it off by shrugging. “I…” He didn’t want to bother her, but there was no use in lying to her – she’d pick up on it instantly. Not that Sora was a good liar anyway.

“I’m not okay.”

Kairi sighed again, and Sora couldn’t tell whether it was out of worry or relief because he finally said how he really was. “Do you want to talk about it or do you want me to leave?”

“I don’t know.” He couldn’t bring himself to look at her. “I’m sorry, Kairi. I don’t know anything anymore…”

He wished he could give her a proper answer, and not just leave her wondering. After all, she was only trying to help. If she got angry or annoyed at him then he would have understood. He had caused her, as well as his other friends, so many worries lately. Considering what he was becoming, this was by far not the end of it.

To Sora’s surprise, Kairi just walked over and sat down next to him on the sand. She didn’t touch or try to talk to him any further. Instead, she simply joined him in watching the horizon in silence.

It was late afternoon on the Destiny Islands. Soon the sun would vanish to somewhere beyond the horizon, painting the sky in glowing warm pinks and oranges and making the sea sparkle. Just like it had shortly before all of this began… Back when they had shared the paopu fruit… and when he had disappeared for the first time.

As beautiful as the sunsets on Destiny Islands were, it scared Sora that they were about to watch another one together. Every time they had done this in the past, they had ended up separated yet again shortly after. This time could be no different, considering what was probably about to happen to him… Maybe this was it. The last time he got to see her before… Whatever changed him would happen. Maybe he should have a look at her before it was too late for that.

Instead of her combat clothes, Kairi was just wearing a simple tank top, which showed off just a little bit of her belly, and some cargo shorts in a muted yet rich shade of green. No shoes either; she was barefooted. He noticed a bit of a rosy nail polish on her toenails, although it was already peeling off.

Her hair had grown to shoulder-length and it was a bit shaggy – getting a haircut wasn’t a priority while trying to save the universe once again. He supposed his own hair needed a cut as well. It was just less obvious due to its wild structure that was completely unlike the smooth texture Kairi’s hair had.

She usually wore it in a messy ponytail these days, but today her hair was hanging loose. It was uneven and untamed as the breeze tousled it even more. Sora liked that look on her. The shorter strands – her bangs had grown out over the past months – framed her face just perfectly.

… She was stunning. Beautiful. Sora found himself wishing he could just be with her like this forever. A futile wish… He found himself sighing once again.

Maybe he could at least remember her like this.

“Something on your mind?”

“Huh?”

“You’re staring at me.”

“Wha-… Oh.” He supposed he had been. “It’s just…” Did he want to tell her?

“You look really pretty today…”

She blushed at the unexpected compliment. “Thanks,” she giggled, a bit more quietly than before. She was so cute when she got flustered. “You know, you look pretty handsome yourself.”

He would have blushed too, if it wasn’t for the fact that it just wasn’t true. “You’re just saying that to make me feel better about everything,” he murmured.

“Sora, if there is anything I can do to help then please, talk to me.” She just knew him too well.

He sighed. “It’s just…” Should he really tell her? He didn’t want to bother her with this. Even though they were best friends – more than that, really – at the end of the day this was his problem, and his alone. Sora felt like he shouldn’t drag her into this, especially since he could potentially become a danger for her as well.

The feeling of Kairi’s warm hand on his left interrupted his thoughts. They had become calloused from all the fighting, much like his own, but hers remained fairly smooth regardless. He had absolutely no idea how she kept her hands that way. When her thumb started brushing across the back of his hand lightly, his fingers curled around hers by instinct.

“You don’t have to tell me what’s on your mind if you don’t want to,” Kairi whispered.

But he could tell her everything, Sora knew that. Besides, maybe she could help him… Or at least take his mind off this for a while.

“I want to remember you like this, when I eventually…”

He couldn’t even say it. But Kairi knew what he meant anyway.

“Is this about what the Master of Masters did to you?”

Sora felt a lump in his throat. He wanted to cry like a scared child at the mere mention of it, something that robbed him of his voice almost entirely. If he had tried to speak, the only sound he would have been able to make was a sob.

So he simply nodded – and sobbed anyway. It was just too much.

Kairi sighed. “Hey…” She ran her hand up his arm. “Sora, it’s going to be al-…”

“You know it won’t!”, he interrupted her. The Master of Masters, if he could even call him that anymore, might be their enemy, but he hadn’t lied to them a single time. At least, not that Sora was aware of. Every single one of his predictions had come true sooner or later, mundane or not.

“No matter what he told you,” Kairi said calmly. She kept caressing his arm, and Sora found himself leaning into her touch. Maybe he shouldn’t. After all, they probably wouldn’t get to enjoy these kinds of things for too long anymore. Better to not get used to it.

And yet, Sora couldn’t resist. He craved her touch, her warmth, and her comfort. He wanted to feel her, to be as close to her as possible.

He forced himself to pull away. He really didn’t want to get her hopes of a future spent together up. But most of all, he didn’t want to break her heart, even if it meant he didn’t get to spend the little time he had left together with her.

“Sora, there are endless possibilities as to what the future could bring. Even the Master of Masters himself said so.”

“Maybe,” Sora retorted. He couldn’t remember him ever saying such a thing – maybe he had just been absent. “But he also said this is the one that is going to happen multiple times, and every time it turned out to be true. Why should this be any different?”

Kairi surely hadn’t forgotten about the incident a few weeks prior, but she didn’t seem to care. Sora finally turned his head so she should be able to see his full face – as a reminder.

“Kairi, I’m losing myself. And I’m sorry…”

He finally felt the first tears streaking down his cheek.

Kairi said nothing. Instead, she brought both of her hands to his face, cupped his cheeks and wiped his tears away, but there were only more to come. She carefully tugged at the band around his head, and whispered very quietly: “May I?”

Sora sobbed. He knew what she meant. No one had seen him without that piece of cloth ever since… The incident, but if he was going to let anyone see him this vulnerable, it would be her.

So he nodded.

Kairi reached to the back of his head. Sora had always enjoyed when she ran her fingers through his hair almost as much as he loved messing with hers. He couldn’t remember the last time she’d done it. It must have been before all of this started, which felt like forever ago. Unfortunately, it ended far too quickly this time when she found the buckle that held the thing up, released it, and the piece of fabric that had covered part of his face for the past weeks, at least as long as he saw anyone, finally dropped.

Sora knew the scar on his face was ugly. He had to stop himself from turning away from her.

The initial wound hadn’t been healed properly. Instead, it had been cauterized with a fire spell, or at least, so Sora had been told by the Master of Masters after waking up again. He himself didn’t really remember, seeing as he had passed out from the pain. Maybe it was better that way.

Kairi’s fingertips gently grazed his right cheek. She was so careful, and Sora wanted nothing more than to lean into her touch, even though he probably should pull away, but he could do neither. He was frozen in place as Kairi moved her hand upwards across the scar on his upper cheek to where his right eye used to be.

His friends had tried to do everything they could with their healing magic after Sora had reunited with them, but seeing as the wound and the burn covering it had already been mostly healed at that point, their options had been extremely limited.

Sora sobbed again. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I know it’s ugly, you don’t have to look…”

To his surprise, Kairi closed her eyes and leaned in. Sora’s breath hitched when her lips touched the scarred skin on his cheek.

Not even the sensation was the same as it would have been before his eye had been removed. It felt like she was kissing him through a layer of fabric, and slightly prickling at the same time. Not in an unpleasant way, but it still served as another reminder that things were never going to go back to normal again.

The kiss ended, but she stayed close.

[illustration]

Sora didn’t protest when she cupped both of his cheeks with her hands, and carefully rubbed across the scar with her thumb. “Kairi…”

She put a finger on his lips. “You’re not ugly, Sora,” she said quietly, but very matter-of-factly. “Please don’t apologize. This is not your fault…”

“It kinda is,” Sora argued. He couldn’t hold it in any longer. He had to tell someone. He had to tell her.

“Kairi… He and I are the same person.”

There. It was out now.

Sora wouldn’t have blamed her if she left him here and now. Sure, it would break his heart if she did. Who would want to be with someone who caused so much pain to the worlds? She deserved better, so much better…

“Is this something he told you?”

“He didn’t have to tell me. I saw it myself.”

“Wait, does this mean you can look into the future too now, or…” Kairi tilted her head in confusion.

“He took his hood off after I woke up again, back when… It happened.” Sora didn’t want to talk about it more than he had to. He didn’t want to remember any of it, the fear and the pain. “It was like looking into a mirror.”

His hands were shaking at the memory. This had been the last thing the Master of Masters had done before he had left, telling Sora that his friends would arrive soon. The wait had been agonizing.

Kairi didn’t say anything. Maybe she was processing it, or thinking what to make of it. “Kairi, if you want to leave me, that’s okay,” he said, his voice a bit higher than he wanted it to be. “I’d understand if you don’t want to be wi-…”

“Of course I still want to be with you,” Kairi interrupted him. “Listen, Sora, just because some alternate version of you – if this isn’t a trick – is running around terrorizing the worlds doesn’t mean you and him are the same. I know you aren’t, because you’re right here in front of me, crying your heart out.”

“But I have darkness inside my heart,” Sora whispered. “Which means that…” He couldn’t finish what he was about to say. He could only sob once more. Again, Kairi deserved better – she deserved so much better than he could ever be. Even if he saved all of the worlds over and over again, he could never rid himself of that capability entirely.

“But everyone is capable of doing terrible things,” Kairi argued. “Just as everyone is capable of doing good. Even I am capable of doing bad things, heart of pure light or not.”

“I can’t imagine that,” Sora said. “You doing terrible things, I mean…”

“Just as I can’t imagine you doing evil things.”

Sora sobbed. It was so good to know that she still trusted him like this, despite what he had just told her. “But what if you’re wrong?”

“Then I’d have been wrong about you.” She smiled. “I may be a princess of heart, Sora, but I’m still human. I can be mistaken. Every single one of us can.”

Maybe even the Master of Masters could… But he had been right about everything in the past, and he had never lied to them. “What if he isn’t human, Kairi?”

“You mean the Master of Masters?”

“Mhm.”

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “I mean, it’s possible, but if he isn’t human, then I’m not sure what to do about him to be honest.”

Neither did Sora. Xehanort had been a pain to deal with, but at least they had always known that they were facing a human being, albeit in various different forms. But with the Master of Masters… Sora had assumed he was human up until now, but what if he wasn’t? The possibility of that frightened him, and he wasn’t even sure what he should be most afraid of about this guy anymore.

“Don’t leave me.”

Sora sobbed. “Kairi, I don’t want to be alone…” Not now. Not again. Never again. “Please don’t leave me alone!”

He felt safer with her by his side, safer and stronger. Aside from that, her presence distracted him from all the thoughts and fears that were rushing through his mind at that moment. He needed a break.

“Don’t worry,” Kairi said, and her voice was sweet and warm. “I’ll stay as long as you want me to.”

“Thank you!”

She wrapped her arms around him, pulled him closer, and Sora rested his head on her shoulder. He was still crying, but somehow, he felt better still. He was glad he had finally told someone, and that it had been her.

He sighed when she leaned her head on his, and they continued to watch the horizon in silence, listening to the calming sound of the waves.

[oveliagirlhaditright]

I Don’t Think Life is Quite That Simple

Summary: While Kairi waits for Sora and Riku a third time, she finds herself thinking that some things don't change at all… but some definitely do. Kairi-centric. Introspective. Kairi character development. SoKai. Riku and Kairi friendship. Post-Melody of Memory. Canon compliant.

I Don’t Think Life is Quite That Simple

In a lot of ways, Kairi found that waiting for Sora—even after he’d faded away—was similar to when she’d had had to hope for his returns before.

For instance, three times now had Kairi found herself standing on some sort of balcony—she was the Juliet in this tale for sure, it would seem.

The first time had been in the Organization's lair of Castle That Never Was, after they'd kidnapped her, and she'd looked down and seen Sora for the first time in a year.

Then during Sora and Riku's Mark of Mastery, when she'd gone over to Riku's parents to give them some moral support by telling them of all of Riku’s triumphs that she knew about (for even though Sora and Riku's parents understood the choices their boys had made, they'd still missed them something fierce after they’d gone to try and save those connected to them), she’d for just a moment found herself creeping out onto Riku's balcony, and wondering in that moment where her best friends were and if they were safe. 

And now the Princess was standing on an embankment jutting out of The Land of Departure's castle—staring at the lovely mountains and waterfalls that she could see from this spot—as she pondered if Sora would ever truly be safe in her arms again.

Yes, some things never really changed, Kairi thought with a deep sigh now—as she fell down onto her bottom, and tried to figure out why she hadn't argued the point more, when both Riku and the Fairy Godmother had recently insisted she stay behind again.

But then again... maybe they did, Kairi allowed, with resolving alighting in her eyes now. Perhaps slowly but surely things changed, but alterations were still made. 

Because her training was coming along very thoroughly; the Princess of Heart was stronger than she ever had been before, and she knew that nothing would ever trip her up again. She wouldn't allow anything to.

Even more than that, however, was that... "Sora, I may have a theory to save you," Kairi spoke now, placing a hand over her heart. And she hoped that her boyfriend could somehow feel this gesture: that some part of him had somehow remained with her, when he'd recently possessed her body in order to save her life from that awful Master Xehanort.

Now walking away from the balcony(ies) that had held her fate for so long now, Kairi continued to voice her thoughts aloud—all the while that she imagined that Sora was beside her, listening to her thoughts here as she said them. She could just picture what his reactions to them would be, too, and it almost brought a smile to her face. Almost. "The X-Blade is often pronounced 'kye,' right? Well... even though the words are spelled differently, that's the same pronunciation as the first part of my name. I wonder if I have more of a connection to the X-Blade than we initially thought... 

"As one of the Seven New Hearts or a Guardian of Light, I'd always be one chosen to help create the X-Blade. ...And in the Keyblade Graveyard, I was the last Key that was used to make the darn thing."

Kairi angrily snapped her fingers at the last thought, as she stopped walking. And she supposed it was her Princess of Heart status that kept her from doing more, like trying to punch through a wall.

She wanted to do more. She wanted to rage about the horrible things that had happened to her there. And it was because of all of that, that Sora had had to disappear. How Kairi wished that she could time travel, or something, to right all of those wrongs.

But knowing those were the kind of thoughts that had led to Sora breaking a nature taboo, so that he then vanished and left his friends here hurting in the process (thought Kairi would never blame Sora for what he'd done for her. Not ever), she nipped that thought in the bud, and instead decided to return to the matter at hand. 

After all, she liked to believe that Sora was here waiting for her to finish her point, and that his head was cocked to the side in the cutest, puppy dog-like way. "And Sora... Riku told me that he thinks... Xehanort bequeathed the X-Blade to you before he died. If that's the case, maybe we both have a connection to it and therefore Kingdom Hearts that way. And I'm thinking I can use that connection to get to you in Quadratum, without having the Power of Waking. And I'm going to do it. 

"I'm through waiting, dangit! With Riku… I just know he's been gone too long now. And I'm not losing him, too. I’m not! And I just know that I'm ready for this! When Aqua began training me, and saw how much I already knew, she actually wondered why I wanted a teacher at all. So, this time... this time I'll win. I'll win everything for you guys’ sake."

And even though Sora had seen Kairi defeat Xehanort alongside him... she thought that if he was here with here now, he'd be looking at her somewhat dubiously at her last proclamation.

Not in a way to hint that he didn't believe in her strength at all, or that he wanted her to stay behind again, but he would be somewhat doubtful, it was true.

But Kairi was done having her skills questioned, when she finally believed in herself. She would do what no one else could—what she had once believed she'd never be capable of—and bring Sora and Riku both back from this world of Unreality. And when she did, everyone would finally see why it was so important to always be true to one's heart.

"I'm coming to save you two," Kairi promised herself. 

And the redhead summoned her Keyblade to hand via a shock of glitter. That, perhaps, with the setting sun lighting up this room in the Land of Departure with the last of its rays, made her blade look a certain shade of green.

Author's Note: The last part can be interpreted as the “sun sets flash of green” thing from Pirates of the Caribbean 3, that—with how much SoKai paralleled Willabeth from that movie—could be hinting that Sora is going to show up right at the ending of this fic, like Will would one day every ten years. Or that Kairi’s Keyblade is turning green like the X-Blade is green, proving her one theory right, or both.

Also, Riku has a balcony outside his room(?), that overlooks the ocean in the KH1 manga, and that helped to inspire this whole thing. Because one night when I was trying to sleep, I thought if I had an excuse to get Kairi to stand there when she was waiting for Sora at one point, then she’s been on three balconies, perhaps, the three times she’s waited for the boys. Because there was the time in the Castle That Never Was, of course and Riku’s, and Land of Departure’s castle has some balconies, too.

Anyway, I decided to write this because I miss SoKai, Kairi, and really just all things Kingdom Hearts--and maybe I'm starting to realize I AM going through a bit of a withdrawal--so here you guys go. LOL

I also thought about introducing my idea for a new Kairi Keyblade "Freedom's Champion" here, but I didn't know if it was the best spot for it, so I didn't. Maybe in another story...

[eradicatetehnormal]

Making Assumptions About You Based On Your KH OTP

DISCLAIMER: This is made for jokes, please take this with a grain of salt //mentions of yaoi and Akuroku// SoKai: KH is a very nostalgic series for you. You're a lore purist and you've been wanting Sora and Kairi to get together since you were like, 6. I'm willing to bet you also ship ClErith

SoRiku: You went through a cringey yaoi phase in your teen years and then found out you're queer in your adult years. If there is a straight ship you like, it's probably CloTi

AkuRoku: Same thing as SoRiku, but you mainly ship it out of nostalgia.

Kailette: You think Kairi doesn't get enough screen time in the main series and you want her to be happy, but you're sick of Sora leaving her behind all the time.

Rokushi: Xion is your favorite character, and you just want a happy ending for her! (and who wouldn't?)

Namixi: You think the girls in KH should get more attention (and you're right!)

TerrAqua: You just want Ventus to have his parents (and who wouldn't?)

VanVen: You are a sucker for yin/yang aesthetics and the "opposites attract" trope

Xehaqus: You are a sucker for dramatic irony and the slightly rare "lovers to enemies" trope (which we should get more of)

MickeyRiku: You are either trolling super hard or you are legitimately terrifying and powerful enough to look into the face of the ship wars and say "but what if Mickey and Riku though?" You are also a furry . (You are a dangerous power, I must train to face you)

RokuNami: You did not play 358/2 Days. At least not until way later in life Rikunami: You are heterosexual

RepliNami: You just want the nobodies to be happy! (and why shouldn't you?)

RiKai: You think SoKai is fine, but that Sora lacks that extra *omph* in his character for you to really be sold on the relationship, so you ship her with Riku instead, or you're just shipping it out of spite. (who can blame you though?) Aquarella: You are a female-centric queer with refined taste SoRoku: You are a queer with amazing taste VenSo: You are a queer with exquisite taste

SoXeha: You are h*rny

AquaLarx: You are also h*rny

[dusky-dancing]

What She Needs

(banner art by mageofspace, shared with permission. You can find her art on Twitter and Instagram!)

Summary: Kairi is one of the bravest people that Sora has ever known, but sometimes a deep terror within her will trigger with little to no warning. Her determination to overcome it despite her missing memories inspires Sora to do everything he can to help her.

Rating: T

Length: ~2k words

Genre: Romance, Canon Compliant, Hurt/Comfort

This piece was done as a part of the One Light One Heart @sokaizine​ I hope you enjoy, and please check out the other artists and writers who contributed their amazing works to this zine!

Also, happy SoKai Week!!!

The first time Kairi's hidden fear showed itself, Sora was too young to know what any of it even meant.

She'd washed ashore Destiny Islands out of nowhere and had made it her home in no time. Sora had found her, but she didn't need his help fitting in. There were so few kids on the island that anyone new was excitedly welcomed, and none of their friends had given a second thought to where she might've come from.

A few weeks after she'd settled in, a game of hide n' seek brought their friends and parents to the Play Island. Sora was "it" as he often was, tasked with finding his friends across the island. As unfair as it was, he focused on finding the new girl first, since she hadn't learned the island's best hiding spots yet.

A shifting box followed by a poorly concealed giggle revealed her choice, the island shack. Sora snuck up slowly, counted to three, and burst through the door, his hands stretched out like claws in front of him.

"I found you, Kairi!"

The noise that followed made him pause. She screamed, but not in a fun, giggly way. She sounded...really scared, and it only continued as she huddled tightly in the corner of the shack, facing away from him.

"Hey, it's okay! It's just Sora, see?" he said as he sat down beside her. When she came out of hiding from behind her hands, he shot her the biggest smile he could. But she couldn't stop crying. "Kairi, what's wrong? Did I hurt you?"

"No. I-I don't know. Please make it stop." She curled in on herself again, hugging her legs and rocking from side to side.

He had no idea how to help but followed her lead by shuffling in closer and hugging her from behind. "Whatever's scaring Kairi, go away!"

They both jumped when the door opened again, but it was Riku and some grown-ups who came running in. Many questions followed, none of which Kairi knew the answer to, and the more that came, the more scared she looked. Her new mom, the mayor, checked her for injuries, Riku punched Sora's shoulder, thinking he was the one who'd scared her, and even more kids crowded around them. The grown-ups spoke amongst themselves where the kids couldn't eavesdrop. All the while, Kairi looked like she'd seen a monster. A big one, maybe invisible too, since Sora never saw it.

Soon, the mayor came and picked Kairi up. "Are you giving me back?" Kairi asked.

"Of course not, dear." The woman kissed her head. "We're just going to see what we can do for you."

Riku intervened before they could leave. "Will Kairi get to play with us again?"

"Absolutely." The woman looked at their group. "Friends are the ones we need most during hard times."

Her words stuck with Sora until his mom tucked him into bed that night. "What did the mayor mean when she said 'hard times?'" he asked. "Kairi just got really scared."

His mother sat beside his bed. "She means that Kairi is new here. It's hard enough being the new girl, but she also can't remember anything about her old home."

"How could that be bothering her if she can't remember?"

"Sometimes our bodies remember before our minds do."

"So how am I supposed to help if she doesn't even know?"

She smoothed his hair flat, but his spikes popped right back up. "That's easy, dear, you just keep being her friend. Don't pry her for answers she's not ready to give, but be there for her when she needs it."

So Sora did exactly as his mother had suggested for the next several years. He paid attention to what made Kairi panic and did his best to prevent it. It only really happened whenever someone loomed right over her, but unfortunately, it happened quite often since she was so little. Standing in front of her seemed to help because of their similar height, but Sora couldn't prevent all of her panic attacks. Despite becoming less frequent as they grew older, something would trigger them once in a while.

One day, when they were all playing frisbee with Tidus, Wakka, and Selphie, it happened again. Selphie threw the frisbee chaotically to avoid being tackled by Riku. Kairi caught it and searched for their nearest goal. When she turned around, however, she faced Wakka's form barrelling towards her, arms wide and ready to stop her.

She didn't throw the frisbee but dropped it right where she stood. Sora watched her body tense up, her smile vanishing in a flash as her eyes grew wide, and fortunately Wakka noticed too before he could tackle her.

Kairi sank to the ground, hugging her knees closely. Riku's response was much more swift and direct than Sora's as he pushed Wakka away and asked what he'd done. Wakka just shrugged his shoulders, and the commotion only caused more eyes to be drawn to the girl sitting in the sand.

But Sora noticed the look in her eyes. Normally such a bright girl who naturally drew the gazes of those around her, she now turned away from the attention. Her eyes locked with his, and he knew that she didn't want this.

"It's not Wakka's fault," she finally said. "Just give me a minute. I'll be fine."

"You sure, Kairi?" Wakka dared to step closer, and Riku begrudgingly allowed him to. "We can find something else to play if it's too much for ya."

"No, don't treat me differently. This—whatever it is—it isn't me. I don't want to coddle it. Please, I just...I just want to overcome it."

A collective silence followed as their friends exchanged looks. Sora still didn't understand much about what was plaguing Kairi, but he remembered his mother's words.

He was beside her in a few steps, extending a hand to help her up. "C'mon, Kairi, you've got this. We'll help you."

Riku nodded. "However long it takes."

Wakka rubbed his head. "Just don't tackle me next time, ya?"

Kairi needed many things from Sora over the years—a hug when she felt down, a word of encouragement, an ear to confide in. But she never needed him to go easy on her. He felt a strange sense of protection towards her, but it wasn't until their island was attacked that he actually feared for her safety.

And it wasn't until he found her again that he ended up being the one who needed protection. He'd thought that losing his heart would've been the end of it. That he'd fade away and only exist as a Shadow mindlessly wandering the halls of the abandoned castle. But his heart heard her calling out to him, and the dark wisp of a body that had replaced his own had enough of a will to follow it.

Her voice grew louder, closer, and he could make out words. Something about protecting him. But why would he need protecting? His heart didn't even exist anymore.

He wanted to yell for her to just run. Instead, her voice cried out to him again, calling his name. An overwhelming warmth surrounded him before he could even try to speak, and a bright light pierced the vast emptiness that he'd faded into. He could see again, and the hands of his reforming body instinctively reached out to meet the welcoming light.

The light consumed him neither forcefully nor violently. His body took shape around something—no, someone—and he didn't have to wait long to know who had brought his heart back. Brought him back.

Before his eyes even opened, he spoke. "Kairi, thank you."

From the evaporating remains of Heartless surrounding them and Donald and Goofy's readiness to fight, Sora knew they'd faced danger solely for his sake instead of running. She'd faced danger head on without even a moment's hesitation. Her eyes showed neither fear nor panic.

It was then that he knew she'd accomplished what she'd wanted to years ago—she'd overcome the fear that had hidden itself deep within her. He would've hugged her again if it hadn't been for the danger pursuing them.

Even though she couldn't be with him on every following adventure, her bravery and determination grew with each reunion. She leapt from balconies to come to his rescue. She embraced her role as both a Princess of Heart and a Guardian of Light. She accepted Axel's friendship despite his actions. She walked side by side with their friends, old and new, to face the Organization.

He knew that together, they were strong enough to face anything, but a sinking feeling still rose in his gut as they stepped forward. If she were to get hurt at all, he'd never forgive himself. It only worsened in a matter of seconds, when the silver-haired man who Ven called "Terra" suddenly struck Ven down.

Then he confirmed Sora's worst fear and went for Kairi. Axel stepped in faster than Sora could, but he wasn't fast enough to protect himself from the man's sheer strength. He too went down.

Kairi was open, unguarded, before a man who was not holding back, and Sora's muscles snapped out of their stasis. Understandably, she froze, but it wasn't with the same shock and confusion that Aqua had after Ven fell. Kairi's arms stiffened at her sides, unable to even call Destiny's Embrace to her aid. Her violet irises blew wide, and her jaw locked open and stiff. He knew that look well, for he'd witnessed it many times.

Calling her name would've wasted the precious energy he needed to get to her quickly. He didn't even have time to summon his Keyblade as Kairi's attacker raised his own, so he did for her exactly what she'd done to bring his heart back without a second thought. His body shielded her, with his back turned to their imminent danger. He'd helped her with an embrace many times throughout their childhood, so he hoped the gesture communicated what he didn't have time to say.

You're not alone, Kairi.

It's okay to be afraid.

Thanks to his friends, Sora never took the strike that had been fated for Kairi, but it did come for her later when Xehanort knew how far to keep them apart. Sora lost count of how many times he'd defied fate that day, but he did it one last time for her. Merlin's voice echoed in his head from many months ago, warning him never to change events that were fated to happen as they stood before the door leading to Mickey's kingdom's past. He threw the wizard's advice aside before jumping through time's gate.

Whether or not Kairi actually knew that Sora had been trying to help her, he didn't know. She rarely spoke of her lost memories outside of when they'd tormented her. What mattered was that he'd helped in some way. Given her what she needed to face her fears head on. Maybe she'd never actually needed him to overcome it.

But as they sat unseen upon the walls surrounding Disney Castle, with fireworks illuminating the night sky with every color imaginable, he didn't care how large a role he'd played in her growth. As long as he could be a part of her life, the rest didn't matter. That's all, she'd said to him while offering a paopu fruit, unaware of just how significant she was.

"You know," she said to break the silence, still staring at the cacophony of colors. "I never did find out what scared me so much as a little girl."

"You don't need to," Sora answered. "You've overcome it all on your own."

"That's true." She smiled before finally turning to him and winking. "Though, maybe not entirely on my own." So she had noticed. The realization left Sora flustered and speechless, and she didn't give him time to recover before speaking again. "I've heard that some people react the same way to fireworks. It isn't the fireworks themselves, but what the sounds and lights remind them of, memories that either haunt them or are lost like mine. Maybe it doesn't matter whether or not I remember, but a part of me is still curious."

Sora glanced down at his hand, hoping it wouldn't begin to fade away soon. He didn't know how much time he had, but he wanted to make the most of it. He moved closer to her, covering her hand with his own.

"Maybe it's not necessary, but if you ever do want those answers, I'll do everything I can to help you find them too."

She giggled with a sweet smile. "I can't keep asking you to save me, Sora."

"You don't have to ask," Sora said, then laughed. "Whatever you need, Kairi, it's yours."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: I came up with this premise pretty much right after the trailer dropped for Melody of Memory. Seeing Kairi's memories of Terra-Xehanort cornering and looming over her reminded me of Kairi freezing before the same man in the Keyblade Graveyard. The revelation—that she froze from resurfaced painful memories—made Sora's hug and sacrifice for her so much deeper. I wanted to expand on Sora and Kairi's connection, specifically with how caring and emotionally aware Sora is of those he cares for. I thought of Sora doing everything in his power to help Kairi, and now here we are! I hope you enjoyed!

I want to extend a big heartfelt 'thank you' to all of the mods and contributors who worked so hard to make the zine as beautiful and amazing as possible! Thank you, @phoenix-downer​, for beta-reading my draft for this story each step of the way, and to mageofspace for the lovely banner art! It was so fun to work with everyone, and I couldn't have asked for a better community to be a part of for my first zine <3

[anchoviesinthenightsky]

Here’s something that came to mind from seeing tangled the series that lives in my head rent free I don’t know what to do with:

Following a year after the movie, Luca comes home for early spring holidays. Alberto’s mood is oddly kinda down in a way him and Massimo hadn’t seen before. Luca and Massimo worry what could be troubling him, as Massimo reveals that he’s been down for a few weeks now since spring really kinda started. Massimo decides to take the boys fishing, thinking it would cheer him up to keep him busy, as Alberto had said he doesn’t know why he’s sad, it just happens every spring and it’ll pass, like seasonal depression. Though while out near the good fishing spot Alberto and Luca had shown early, they couldn’t get Alberto to focus much as he just focused on the island he use to reside from, like a trance.

Is it abandonment issues? Yes. Feel free with whatever ending or style, I know it’s not really Luca x Alberto but I am not good with romance plots I’m so sorry 😞 hope you enjoy it anyway

AN: What a GREAT prompt. I had so much fun writing this. I'm not sure if you meant this, but I took this to imply that Alberto's dad left in the spring. And I was thinking about why that memory would be triggered for a full season, and I landed on the idea that something in the environment (like a particular scent) that Alberto associated with his dad leaving, could make an entire season difficult. So I was playing around with that idea!

______: *✧･ﾟ:*___ >><(((・> ______ >><(((・> ____ _: *✧･ﾟ:*__

Spring was in the air, sweet and verdant, and flower petals floated through the air as Luca stepped off the train and into the Portorosso train station. School was on break for a week for the Easter holidays, and Luca had opted to spend the time back home, while Giulia stayed with her mom.

Luca heaved his travel bag off the train steps and looked around the platform. He saw Alberto and Massimo standing in the corner of the station. Alberto was looking off into the distance, not focused on what or who was in front of him. Massimo was lightly patting him on the shoulder and pointing to Luca.

“Beto!” Luca shouted, trying to get his attention.

Alberto shook his head, like he was clearing his brain of fog, and then locked eyes with Luca. “Luca!”

Alberto’s arms were strong and warm as Luca crashed into them. Luca wrapped his own arms around Alberto and squeezed. “I’ve missed you.”

“I missed you too.” Alberto whispered, hugging Luca tight.

And Luca noticed that something felt off about his friend. Maybe it was in the way he seemed to cling onto Luca for the hug, but barely touched him once they let go.

Maybe it was that there was a hollowness in his voice and a distance in his eyes. Like he was here physically, but not mentally, when he told Luca that he could stay in Massimo’s house, if he wanted. And that he’d already asked Luca’s parents if that was okay, and they said it was.

Luca picked up his bag and followed Alberto and Massimo out of the station. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off about his friend.

[continued below the cut]

___

“Aren’t the flowers beautiful?” Luca asked. He and Alberto were walking under a trellis lined with wisteria and roses. The flowers wept through the openings, trailing down to brush the tops of their heads as they passed. Luca picked one of the wisteria buds and tucked it behind Alberto’s ear. “They’re almost the same color as your scales.”

Alberto pressed his lips together and took the flower from behind his ear. He looked at it for a moment before turning to Luca and putting it behind his hear. “Maybe you should wear it then, so we’ll match.”

“Oh, well,” Luca touched the flower. The delicate petals mixing with his curls. “We could both wear flowers.”

Luca reached up to grab another one, and Alberto stopped him from reaching the wisteria blossoms.

“Please don’t,” Alberto’s voice caught in his throat. He cleared it with a cough. “I don’t really like how they smell.”

“Oh.” Luca said, retracting his hand. “I didn’t know.”

“’’Sokay,” Alberto shrugged. “I’d never told you.”

___

The rocks beneath Luca’s feet clicked together as he followed Massimo away from the boat. He watched Alberto check the fishing nets. From a distance, he looked sure of his actions, like they’d become second nature to him.

“Luca,” Massimo said, putting a hand on Luca’s shoulder. “Have you noticed that Alberto hasn’t been himself?”

“Yeah,” Luca responded slowly. “It’s like he’s not totally here.”

“Yes, exactly.” Massimo said. “He’s been like that for weeks.”

“For weeks?”

Massimo nodded. “Do you know anything that might cause him to be like that?”

“Not that I know of. Maybe it’s seasonal? He was never like this in the summer.”

“Could be.” Massimo said.

‘Do you think it’s something else?”

“I do not know what to think, ragazzo.” Massimo took his hand off Luca’s shoulder. “I just want him to feel better.”

____

Water sloshed around the sides of the Giulietta, as the boat came to a stop at a particularly good fishing spot. Massimo lowered the net into the water and waited for Alberto to drop anchor. When he didn’t Massimo said, “Luca would you mind dropping the anchor.”

“Of course.” Luca stood up, his leg brushing against Alberto’s, and dropped the anchor gently over the side. He imagined it sinking down and the plume of sand that’d follow as it hit the ground.

He sat back down next to Alberto, who was looking toward the island they’d meet. The island looked different in the spring. It was more colorful than Luca remembered. Flowers dotted the island, and on the side of the island opposite the tower, there was a wisteria tree. It was close enough to the water, then some of the branches floated on the surface, rolling with the gentle waves that came to shore.

Alberto’s eyes were unfocused, and Luca nudged him with his shoulder. “What are you looking at?”

Alberto blinked hard, squeezing his eyes shut, before looking down at the water. “Nothing.”

“It didn’t seem like nothing,” Luca said quietly. He placed a hand on Alberto’s knee. “You know you can share things with me, right?”

“I know,” Alberto’s eyes flicked up to Massimo and then back down to the water. “Everything is fine.”

Massimo shifted in his seat, like he was about to speak, but Luca held up a hand to stop him. “What do you say about going on a swim, Alberto?”

“We’re in the middle of fishing.”

“It’s a good idea,” Massimo said. “I can handle the fish.”

“Come on Beto,” Luca tugged on his hand. “The water’s nice.”

“Luca, it’s May. The water’s cold.”

“For humans maybe,” he teased. “Come on.”

Luca slipped into the water, feeling scales shimmer over his body. He splashed his face to finish the change. “It’s really nice Alberto.”

“I don’t know.” Alberto leaned over the edge of the boat to look at Luca.

Luca flicked some water at his face, purple dots appearing where he hit.

“Hey!” Alberto rubbed the scaled away. “What was that for?”

“I just thought it’d be funny.” Luca said, unsure.

“Well, it wasn’t funny, and I don’t want to swim.”

Luca watched as Massimo looked between Alberto and the island. “Alberto,” he said. “You can go swim. I won’t go anywhere. I promise. I’ll be right here when you’re ready to go back home.”

Alberto’s shoulders dropped. His lips pinched together, and he nodded slowly. “You promise?”

“Of course.” Massimo replied.

“Thank you, papa.” Alberto said. He slipped out of the boat and dipped his head under the water, before popping back up to face Luca. “Where to?”

Luca grabbed his hand and pulled him down.

___

They didn’t go so far down that they lost sight of Massimo’s boat, but they were deep enough that the sky distorted under the water and the currents would carry their bodies if they left them.

Luca flipped on his back and put his hands behind his head, letting the water roll over him. Alberto stayed curled up, his tail curling around a leg.

“So, what’s really going on?” Luca asked.

“Nothing, I told you.” Alberto glanced behind him at the island. Luca could see branches of wisteria floating on the water.

“Beto,” Luca flipped over and put a hand on Alberto’s arm, “you’re a terrible liar.”

“I am not.”

“You are, and that’s okay.” Luca smiled a little. “But you’ve been acting out of it, and it seems like something is wrong. You can talk to me. I’m here for you.”

Alberto pressed his lips together and looked off to the side of Luca’s face, as if he couldn’t look him in the eye. “You know my dad?”

“Massimo?”

“No, the other one.”

“Oh.” Luca squeezed Alberto’s shoulder, hoping the touch was reassuring. “What about him.”

“He left in the spring.”

Luca nodded, afraid saying anything would stop Alberto in his tracks.

“It was,” Alberto turned and pointed to the floating petals on the water. “there.”

“Under the wisteria?” Luca asked. Heart dropping as he recalled trying to give Alberto a flower from that same plant.

“Yeah.” Alberto dropped his head. “We were sitting there, under the flowers. It was a nice day, where the weather was finally starting to get warm again. He told me that he was leaving, and that I could watch after myself.”

Alberto’s eyes watered. “And then he left. And I sat under those flowers until the sun went down. I slept under that tree the first night too, and I thought— I thought if I didn’t leave then maybe he’d come back.”

“I’m so sorry Alberto.”

“Me too.” Luca pulled Alberto in for a hug, “You should tell Massimo. He’s been worried about you.”

Alberto shook his head, hiding it in Luca’s neck. He mumbled, “What if I tell him and he thinks my dad was right and leaves me too.”

“No.”

“What?” Alberto lifted his head a little.

“Massimo isn’t like that. You know that.” Luca put a hand on Alberto’s cheek. “You’ve got a Bruno in your head.”

Alberto gave a wet laugh. “Yeah, maybe I do.”

“I know you do.”

[tangledinmdzs]

warmed by you - wen siblings hcs

you time at nightless city is not too lonely, not when you have the wen siblings by your side

Wen Qing

brewing medicine was usually a very solitary task for Wen Qing

knowing all of the herbs in the inventory the best out of the sect and memorizing medical combinations of all other needed herbs by heart

Wen Qing was a sufficient and skilled physician that had long learned how to make due without an assistant

even when her brother had tried to help, she had given him small minimal tasks that essentially didn’t have anything to do with what she was doing anyways

however,

but after catching you watching her work from the sidelines, Wen Qing notices your interest in medicine that’s reminisce of when she was a young girl watching her parents work

it brings back the feelings that she had first felt when she found her passion for medicine

so even though Wen Qing never really had an assistant by her side

she makes room for you 

when you learn beside her,

with the same glittering, amazed sparkle in your eye at every new brew

Wen Qing feels the smallest bits of pride swell up in side her at every practiced stir that you make to a brew

and when you smile up at her, 

whether that be in question or anticipation

Wen Qing smiles back her own small smile, proud of the physician that you are becoming

you are just happy to follow the steps of someone so skilled

hopefully one day, 

when you’re better

you can show Wen Qing the fruits of her efforts for you

»»————-　➴　————-««

Wen Ning

archery practice was where Wen Ning was the most skilled

after coming back from Cloud Recess, he holds the confidence in his skills close to him, 

because Wen Ning has never flaunted, and doesn’t plan on doing that anyhow, not with how the sect that he is currently residing 

naturally mean that is

anyways

when he goes out to archery practices on the occasions where most of the disciples are resting, he’s surprised to find that he isn’t the only one there

he sees you there, practicing how to shoot 

even though you don’t really know how to draw the bow quite yet

he watches you on the sidelines, quietly for a good five minutes until he you draw the bow back wrong and drop the bow in pain

he rushes over to you, dropping his own bow by your feet when he’s beside you

“are you alright?” Wen Ning asks, about to grab your hand but you manage a small,

“uhm, sokay, kind of hurts,” you reply and you let Wen Ning take your hand and unwrap it from your clenched one

there’s a little bit of blood from where the course bow string had nicked on the back of your fingers, but you simply let out an amused huff

“what are you doing?” Wen Ning asks in surprise, when he sees you picking up the bow again after blowing on your small injury for like two seconds

“i need to practice,” you tell him, 

Wen Ning blinks at you, then offers,

“let me help you”

and his words surprise you

but you take it