#sora/kairi

[sokaiweek]

Happy SoKai Week, everyone! ✈️🧳

Promo art is by the wonderful @apticho ❤️ Thank you again for making such a beautiful piece for the event ❤️

Also, thank you to everyone who has participated so far! We've really enjoyed seeing what you've made, and we can't wait to see the rest of your pieces ❤️

[phoenix-downer]

Always With You

And in a world without you, I'll dream of you.

Kairi's eyes fluttered open, and the world of sky and sea greeted her. The gentle swell of the ocean reflected the vast blue, purple, and pink stretches of the heavens above punctuated by an endless array of puffy clouds.

She always walked on the surface of the water here, like the regular rules of physics didn't apply. Or maybe the water was so shallow, merely a thin film coating the ground, that it didn't matter. Either way, it stretched out forever in every direction, as far as the eye could see.

And yet somehow, he always found her. That was the story of their bond, one of separations and reunions. If his journey began the day he lost her, it would end the day he found her for good.

“Sora!” she cried, happy to see him. This was the only place they could meet, in dreams, in this world on the boundary of life and death, this realm that floated between realities.

His face lit up like the sun rising over the horizon. He smiled and mouthed her name, forming her syllables and sounds like they were second nature. He wasn't fully here, so neither was his voice, but they communicated as best they could, with whispered words, tender touches, specific signs.

She reached for his hand, warmth radiating up her arm and spreading throughout her whole body. Here in this place, she nearly forgot how coldly his hand had been wrenched from hers that fateful sunset on the paopu tree.

With interlocked hands and held gazes, they smiled at each other to make up for all of the tears they'd cried. Faces close enough to kiss but neither of them closing that final bit of distance. It was the smallest distance and yet felt like the largest. Any attempts to breach it felt like stepping beyond the dream into unknown territory.

Still, at least they could dream. Dream of the day there would be no such barriers, the day they would meet again in reality or unreality.

When I come to, let us meet with our usual words on the usual street.

How nice it would be to hear his voice again saying the usual words, “I'm back,” so she could tell him, “You're home.” Because while Destiny Islands was important to them both, that fateful reunion day, they'd realized home wasn't a location so much as it was a person. When they were together, they were home.

This place was home too, in a way. A temporary lodging, a waystation, but a place of refuge where they could meet again nonetheless. She and the others endlessly searched for clues as to his real whereabouts, and yet his heart always knew to come here.

It seemed like an eternity ago that her heart had sheltered in his. So much had happened since then. Maybe his heart, or a part of it anyway, was hidden inside hers now. Taking refuge there, binding him to her, keeping him tied to the Realm of Light. Ever since sharing the paopu fruit with him, she'd known deep in her bones that the effects of it weren't just a legend, they were real, connecting hearts, binding fates together for all eternity.

Maybe the key to finding him wasn't somewhere out there. Maybe it was to be found inside herself.

She told him her suppositions. His smile got bigger and bigger, and he nodded enthusiastically. He made the motion of sharing the paopu fruit, pointed at her heart, and then mouthed, “I’m always with you.”

She grinned excitedly and cupped his face. “I'm always with you, too.”

A change came over his expression. His gaze flickered from her lips to her eyes and back again. She swallowed, her heart thundering in her chest in spite of the calm, serene scenery surrounding them. He wrapped his arms around her and tilted his head, and she let her eyes flicker shut, imagining how it would feel to kiss him at long last. There hadn't been time for that before he slipped through her fingers, but in this place there was world enough and time.

Right as their lips met, she jolted awake. The disappointment that flooded her whole being was powerful enough to make her cry, her chest tightening, her stomach throbbing and head aching and nose running. Tears trailed down her face as she made the unhappy adjustment to reality, to waking life. He was gone. She was alone in her room at the Land of Departure, a pupil of Master Aqua’s trying to get a good night’s sleep before another day of training. Her soft sobs echoed throughout the ancient room, stone nearly as old as the World’s rending her quiet companion.

But it wasn't an unfriendly place. The last embers of the fire in the fireplace glowed warmly, and the stars twinkled in the sky.

Stumbling out of bed, she padded over to the window and gazed outside. Her room in the castle was pretty high up, so she could see a great deal of the scenery below, even at night. The vibrant green hills and deep blue ponds and lakes, the training grounds and hidden caves full of secrets.

When she glanced into the heavens, she couldn't help but think of Sora and rested a hand on her chest. Was he thinking of her like she was thinking of him?

Wait a second. Her heart. Her heart was connected to his. A part of his heart was sheltering in hers. That was the key to everything, she knew it had to be.

Sora was with her. He had been all along, just like he'd promised.

“Aqua!” she excitedly called, not caring that it was the middle of the night. She knew her mentor would want to know what she'd discovered. It couldn't wait for one more second.

If she was right about this, she was sure she could find Sora. Not just a path to him or a way to him, but actually find him and bring him home.

There is always sleep between part and meet with our usual words on the usual street.

So let us part as we always do…and in a world without you, I'll dream of you.

When I come to, let us meet with our usual words on the usual street.

She knew she would see him again soon.

————————————————————————

A/N: Thank you so much for reading! This is based on Tam’s beautiful art for SoKai Day this year. A big thank you to her for doing the art 🥺🙏

I really enjoyed incorporating all the different quotes and reflecting on all those wonderful moments between Sora and Kairi. Also, I just have this gut feeling that the characters will spend most of KH4 looking for Sora and realize there is something they missed all along, like the paopu fruit connecting his heart to Kairi in a way that makes it easier for them to find him or at least for Kairi to find him and guide him home, so I wanted to explore that concept a little more. Happy SoKai Day!

[twosidesfanzine]

Two Sides Volume 2 Preorders Are Open!

🍽️ Preorders for Two Sides Volume 2: A SoKai and RokuNami Cookbook are now open! 

Our zine features 33 recipes with art and stories based on those recipes and fun food-themed merch, all celebrating Sora, Kairi, Roxas, and Naminé!

All profits will go to the charity Feeding America 🍽️ 

Store: https://twosideszine.bigcartel.com/

See below the cut for bundle information!

Bundles

🍽️ Two Sides Feast Early Bird Special ($90 + shipping) includes physical and digital versions of the zine + all of the zine's merch + unlocked stretch goals.

For the first 72 hours, this bundle is on sale for $90 + shipping. Afterwards it will be $100 + shipping.

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🍽️ Sea-Salt Sundae ($70 + shipping) is our merch bundle and includes the digital version + digital merch, 7 prints, 1 A5 sticker sheet, 2 buttons, 3 acrylic charms, 1 shaker charm, 1 enamel pin, 1 tea tin, 1 standee, 1 tea towel, 1 apron, and all unlocked stretch goals!

🍽️ Destiny Islands Bisque ($60 + shipping) includes the physical version of the zine, 7 prints, 1 A5 sticker sheet, 2 buttons, 3 acrylic charms, and 1 shaker charm. All unlocked stretch goals will also be included!

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[sokaievents]

SoKai Day 2024

SoKai Day is on September 17, 2024, and this year's theme is Always With You 🌠 🌊

Other SoKai quote-themed prompts are welcome as well ❤️

Thank you to @/tamtam8813 for the beautiful promo art that perfectly encapsulates the theme 🥺❤️

[pred1059]

A King's Thone - Sokai Day 2023

Kairi had a comfortable chair in the Mayor’s office. She’d replaced the old one when she was elected, her father’s seat having long since passed its prime. Her new one had a sturdy frame, but also cushy padding, perfect for Kairi to work through the day. The swivel was set just right, rotating as needed so someone could turn their attention to anything on the desk with ease. Even though he’d only sat on it a few times since it was brought in, Sora swore it was one of the best seats he’d ever sat in. 

Sora had his own work as her secretary answering questions and listening to the people’s feedback that kept him from her office normally. As comfy as his own chair was at first, all too quickly it became mundane. The routine work wearing out the initial novelty. Not that he was too jealous. Kairi’s work was busy enough with hearings and committees that she had the privilege of using the chair whenever she wanted it or needed it.

Of course, he was probably more drawn to Kairi herself when work was over, rather than the chair. The smile on her face after work made everything worth it. Even the few times she had to make him wait while she was on a meeting call were filled with anticipatory glances at him. He just knew it was the same way for her as she could hardly wait to join him.

Both of them looked forward to two of them walking home hand in hand, talking about their day or their plans for the evening. Plans for dinner, for trips, or nights spent together whispering sweet nothings. All the things a couple dearly in love after years would do.

After everything they had been through, being torn apart, flung across worlds, fighting with their keyblades to protect all they knew and loved, Rescuing one another, they had certainly earned that much at least. On one hand Sora was certainly happy for the freedom to live their lives together. And yet…

As he saw the empty office, Sora’s smile fell as he realized he had to wait. One of Kairi’s hearings probably was taking a little longer than expected. He moved behind her desk and sat down, sighing at the plush feel of the cushion. Given how hard he worked, the comfort of a fine seat was appreciated. Even if desk work wasn’t as demanding as fighting with a keyblade 

Not to mention a faint but familiar scent he cherished: a hint of Kairi’s perfume, stirring up memories of moments together. Of reunions, of dates, of a long awaited wedding. Memories that Sora wouldn’t trade for the world.

Even if there was one he might have liked to have. A small silly idea, not worth really getting bent out of shape over. Honestly, it was something that would never really happen no matter what he did.

Still…

“Look at you, sitting there like you’re king.” Kairi’s voice roused him from his thoughts as he met her own adoring gaze. She was standing in the doorway in her violet suit with a smirk. 

Sora shrugged and shifted himself up from the slouch his daydreaming left him in. “You’re the mayor, I’m just married to you.” 

Shaking her head, she walked up to where Sora was seated and brushed her fingers against his. “Don’t sell yourself short. You do a great job figuring out what people need.”

“Thanks Kairi.” Taking her hand, Sora caressed it as she gave a light giggle. Though the comment earlier stuck slightly in his mind. As it was a bit closer to the mark than he would have expected. Still, if anyone would figure out his unspoken fantasy it would be Kairi. Sora looked to the side with a sigh and a smile. “Still, after everything I’ve been through with an adventure involving saving a princess…”

“Usually that’s the point where the hero becomes King.”

Kairi hit the nail on the head with her guess as Sora mused, “You hear so many versions of the story growing up, the idea sticks with you a little bit.” Bedtime stories of the hero returning triumphant over his trials, wedding the princess, and ascending the throne as the new king. “I can’t say I didn’t think about it when I first got the keyblade. Learning you were a princess of heart also didn’t help.“

Kairi giggled as she leaned forward. “Sounds like the perfect setup if you ask me.”

Sora’s smile fell as he gave her hand a tight squeeze. “But I wouldn’t want you put in danger just so I can get a reward.” Sora never wanted to see Kairi’s life put in jeopardy again after what they had been through. “Not to mention how everyone else was at risk too. It wasn’t just us.”

“But we made it,” Kairi said to him as she reached out with both hands to gently stroke his cheeks. “You did save everyone, and we finally got home.”

“I know. I’m not complaining too seriously,” Sora whispered as he relaxed at her touch. “A title might be nice, but living with you is more than enough.”

Kairi gave Sora a pat on the cheek as she offered, “You know, people would say being mayor is more or less royalty, and we are married.”

Rolling his eyes with a smirk, Sora pointed out, “But I don’t have royal blood. So even if you were queen, I'd be…some title.” He furrowed his brow with a nervous smile as he tried to recall the proper term…

“Prince Consort.” Kairi nodded at him.

Yes, that was it. Sora shrugged with a grin. “Doesn’t sound quite as impressive,” 

Kairi moved closer to Sora as she murmured, “Well, you’ll always be a king to me.” With that proclamation, Kairi met Sora’s eyes with hers and whispered, “My king.”

Smirking, Sora ran his hands up Kairi’s arms and murmured,“Then will the queen kiss his majes-” Only to stop as he stumbled on his words, looking aside and muttering, “Your majesty? Her majesty?”

Giggling, Kairi turned his face back to hers and answered, “Yes, she would.”

As his lips met hers, Sora’s heart couldn’t help a small flutter. Years had done nothing to dull the love between him and Kairi. A content hum came from them both, as Kairi gently sat on his lap. He didn’t need to be told to hold her closer as they continued to make out. 

Pulling away however, Sora saw that Kairi’s smile had taken on a more wistful look. “I get it, you know?” She gave a small sigh as she recalled,  “We pretended who knows how many times that I was a princess to be saved. Learning I was a real one made me think of it.” Leaning her forehead against his, Kairi mused, “Living in a castle, ruling wisely and justly. The king that saved me at my side.”

Sora closed his eyes as he simply felt the warmth from her. “You’ve saved me just as much, you know.”

Kairi let her hands fall from Sora’s face as she agreed, “There’s a lot that goes into a happy ending that stories and games can’t quite get across.” The trials and tribulations they both had faced had pushed Sora and her to the brink. Hugging Sora, she leaned her head on his shoulder. “I’d make you a real king if I could. After everything you’ve done you’ve earned it and more.” 

Returning her embrace and patting Kairi’s back, Sora assured her, “Hey, I’m the one who recommended you to run for mayor. You’ve got more of a head for administration and paperwork than me.” Title or not, he couldn’t regret the decision for their campaign as Mayor of Destiny Islands. Not when they worked so well together.

Sora couldn’t see her face, but could imagine the smirk Kairi had as she chided, “Don’t you think home would be a better place to sweet talk me?”

It was a fair point, the sun was already beginning to set. Though Sora couldn’t help himself as he began to grin. “But you’ve got such a nice chair.”

Pulling back in their embrace, Kairi grinned at Sora. “I’m sure we can find a more suitable throne at home, my king.”

Sora nodded as he gave her a gentle squeeze. “Then lead the way, my queen.”

A/N: Special thanks to @currantlee for taking the time to beta read this!

[maggot92]

[haido]

Listen to my story

(KH ver.)

[shweshisketch]

For request

Destiny Trio doing handstands...

One of them is still learning tho

(if 3 is too much just pick 2)

At this point in the story I think all of them could pull one off 🫣 but I imagine when they were younger Sora would fail the most trying to imitate Riku

[asteraws]

[sokaiweek]

Announcing SoKai Week 2024! 🥳 

This year's theme is "Bon Voyage" with a focus on travel prompts ✨

🧳 July 7-13 

🧳 1 prompts/day

[phoenix-downer]

Leftover sales are open for @twosidesfanzine! Check out the store for a variety of bundle and à la carte options featuring SoKai and Rokunami.

I wrote this diary entry from Kairi’s POV about she, Sora, Roxas, and Naminé visiting New Orleans and meeting Tiana and Naveen. It was fun making a callback to some sketches Nomura made that were in one of the ultimanias as well.

A big thank you to @valiantmade and @amyhayanora for making the graphics, @scoobysnack1107 for doing the layout, and @true-intha-blu for creating the pumpkin chicken étouffée recipe ❤️ I was also inspired by the art spread by Miyanko for the world visit 🎺🐊

Text of the diary entry below the cut:

Dear Diary,

Today Sora, Roxas, Naminé and I visited a new world and met the most amazing people! It’s called New Orleans, and our new friend Tiana runs a beautiful restaurant, Tiana’s Palace, with her husband Naveen. They even have a trumpet-playing alligator named Louis for live entertainment! Naminé had a lot of fun sketching that, especially when Roxas got recruited to perform with him. Who knew Roxas could sing so well? And of course dinner was to die for: a delicious pumpkin chicken étoufée.

Afterwards, Tiana taught us how to make the perfect roux. It’s her family’s secret recipe, and she uses it in a bunch of her restaurant’s dishes. I got distracted and nearly burnt the flour, but Sora came to the rescue and we got things back on track. He’s gotten really good at cooking. That Little Chef has really helped him a lot. I remember when he couldn’t even help me make soup and choked on chicken bones. That dork, he’s come such a long way.

(Hey! I am not a dork!)

You’re my dork :3

(That’s better 😉)

I sensed something special about Tiana too. She has a heart of pure light. I think she must be one of the New Seven Hearts. I definitely want to come back and visit her sometime.

I’m having a blast on this journey. Each day is a new adventure. I’ll write more tomorrow!

Kairi

[twosidesfanzine]

🍽️ We are excited to reveal our charming cover by the amazing @hollypollly! Thank you to Jysum Rae as well for composing the music and @valiantmade for making the video ❤️

Preorders open tomorrow, July 22, at 12pm CDT!

[sokaievents]

SoKai Day 2023

SoKai Day is September 17, 2023, and the theme is The Future! 🏙 💫 A big thank you to @hallsth-eien for the beautiful promo art ❤️

ソラカイの日は2023年9月17日��す！テーマは将来です 🏙 💫

[passive-t-u-m-b-l-r-user]

Y'all make fun of the outfits from Kingdom Hearts (2002), but fail to realize that they were PULLED FROM THEIR HOMES on a day that they were playing at the beach.

They HAVE normal clothes. They were wearing beach attire. Imagine being pulled through a dimensional portal while you're swimming and building sandcastles. Congrats! Your only clothes are these now:

[pred1059]

Runaway Wind Chapter Forty Two

<- Previous Chapter | Current Chapter | Next Chapter ->

“You require failure.”

Behind him.

The darkness was behind him.

Where Kairi was.

“No…!”

Sora turned to see the shadow using magic in one hand to bind her hands and legs. And the other pulled back, a blade of light crackling from his hand.  

Her eyes were wide, she was shaking as she whimpered. “S…Sora?”

The darkness pulled back its blade with a smile.

NO!!!

Time seemed to slow to a crawl as Sora began to run. His voice cracking as he screamed, 

NO!!! KAIRI!!!

But he couldn’t reach her.

As soon as he arrived, the shadow vanished with Kairi in a blur. Sora crashed through the double doors, stumbling to his knees. He could hardly breathe, hardly think, he just knew he had to find them! He ran through the castle, corridor after corridor, room after room. Door after door.

Was it this door?

No, that can’t be it. The door’s locked, maybe down the hall. He ran, footsteps on the carpet.

Wait. What was he thinking? He had the keyblade! He turned around to find her voice again, back the way he came. Turning at the fork in the hall…

No, that wasn’t right, there was a door…

“Sora?”

He heard her voice, a whisper, a whimper. He had to follow it, had to find her, had to save her. He turned toward it and saw a silhouette in the light. Her light.

His feet ran but he wasn’t getting closer. He tried to answer, but nothing came from his throat. What could he do?! She was right there! Something rose from his chest, a scream clawing away at his breath!

“Kairi!”

But as he jerked up from his sleeping bag, it came out as a startled murmur as realization dawned on him. The nightmare scenario he witnessed again was just that, a nightmare. A dream. Even so, Sora hung his head in his hand as the uncomfortable questions nagged at him again. An uncomfortable series of ‘what if’s’.

What if Kairi wasn’t there to stop Zexion? 

What if Donald and Goofy had gotten trapped in that book?

What if he really lost—

No. Kairi was fine, sleeping in one of the sleeping bags from the camping kit, Xion in another beside her. Donald and Goofy were napping away next to an alarm clock Donald had set. Everyone was fine, everyone was safe.

But repeating that truth to himself did nothing to quell his fears.

Sora groaned and tried to shift into a comfortable position in his sleeping bag. But his effort to get a little more rest stopped as he saw Kairi looking at him from her own sleeping bag. Her brow furrowed, she whispered, “Can’t sleep?”

Managing a smile, Sora propped himself up on his elbows and mumbled,“Hey, it’s better than being a lazy bum, right?”

Kairi sat up as she shook her head and answered, “Not if it’s giving you nightmares.”

Sora winced, smile fading as he acknowledged the weight of his journey. “After everything that’s happened, fighting the heartless, beating Ansem, I thought that all we’d have to do is save Riku and the King.” Just one last task before they could go home. Before he could return to her. “But now there’s these people in black robes, that are after you, me, and who knows what.” Looking away, he crossed his arms and muttered “I just wish I knew what to do.”

Kairi looked aside, grimacing as she admitted, “Sometimes, there’s not much you can do. Sometimes, you just need to wait for your chance to fix things.”

Any other time, Sora would try and joke about how he hated waiting. Yet he couldn’t even manage that, only voicing the fear that had been gnawing at him since facing Zexion. “But what if the time comes and my best isn’t enough?”

Sitting up now, Kairi faced Sora as she quietly responded, “I’d say trying is better than doing nothing. Even if you lose, you get to learn from your mistakes.”

He had to admit it was a good point. Taking his lumps losing to Riku was how he started getting good enough to beat him when they were play-fighting. But things had gone far beyond fun and games now. Sora’s hands gripped the sleeping bag as he muttered,  “What if me losing means you get hurt for it?”

The room was quiet, Kairi wincing as she answered, “If I get hurt, we’ll find a way to get through it. We found a way to bring you back from being a heartless right?” 

Sora furrowed his brow as he heard a hint of fear in her voice. That moment in Hollow Bastion, where he faded away in front of her. Did Kairi blame herself for that? Having to hide her heart in his, leaving her unable to do anything as he sacrificed himself?  Then his eyes widened as he realized he missed one important detail. 

“Kairi, why were you up?”

“Sora!”

She came to with a start, watching as he stumbled back with the keyblade dissolving from his chest.

Kairi ran to him, the terror at what she knew would happen burning away any drowsiness. For a brief second, she could feel her fingers hold him again in his arms.

But a second later, no-one was there.

But hadn’t this happened before? Kairi wasn’t sure. She looked around, wasn’t Sora traveling with someone else? “Donald? Goofy?”

But no-one was there.

“Riku?” He was just here! Even if he was possessed, he couldn’t have gotten far! She ran down the carpeted steps, trying to find someone. Barging through the door, she looked around the white halls of Castle Oblivion. Her voice echoed as she cried out, “Hello!? Anyone?!”

But no-one was there.

“I was having a little trouble sleeping too,” Kairi admitted as she pulled her knees to her chest.

Sora slipped out of his sleeping bag and shuffled closer. “Anything you want to talk about?”

Kairi looked over to him before she shuffled out of her bag and faced him. “I was alone climbing up Castle Oblivion. When I was fighting to see you again, it was easier not to think about it.” The one hand still lingering on her pillow gripped it as she muttered, “But now that I’m with you again, all I can think about is how I don’t want to lose my friends again.”

Quietly, Sora made his way next to her and placed his hand atop hers on the pillow. “I’m sorry you had to go alone,” he said to her as his blue eyes met hers. It wasn’t quite something he had to apologize for, but he wanted to say it nonetheless. Though a second later, he realized just what he truly wanted to say.  

“I’m sorry I left you behind.”

Kairi gently wove her fingers with his as she shook her head. “I’m not sure it’s much better than seeing friends attack me. Or being told everyone was going to forget you.” Sora nodded, a hint of guilt coming over him as he recalled her horrified face when he explained the illusions he confronted through the castle. Then again, there wasn’t much point in measuring their pain. If Kairi was hurt, Sora would do everything he could to—

Sora’s train of thought came to a halt as he felt her pull on his arm. He watched with surprise as Kairi reached over and pulled him into a hug. “Kairi? You’re—.”

“Please.” A quiet murmur from her was enough to stop his questions. “I just want to know this is real.”

Sora wasn’t going to argue, as he let his arms wrap around her as well to return the embrace. The reassurance that she was here. That they weren’t alone or forgotten. Feeling the beat of her heart slow with his, matching in rhythm. A moment of solace in the conflict they’d found themselves in.

They still had to find Riku and Mickey, and understand what those men in black wanted. But right now, they were content to recover their spirits together.

Pulling away, Sora saw Kairi had relaxed, a gentle smile on her face that seemed to match his own. “Do you think you can get back to sleep?”

And that was the moment Donald’s alarm clock went off, ringing as it rattled across the floor. The two yelped as they shot to their feet at the sound, though neither seemed to want to let go. Instead, it was Donald who groaned and brought his hand down on the clock to silence it. “Morning already?”

Stretching with a yawn, Goofy mumbled,“Well, let’s make some breakfast and get outta here!”

Xion slowly sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. But she paused as she looked at Sora and Kairi. “Are you okay?”

Kairi looked at Sora, the two still hugging and slowly let go with a nervous chuckle. “Just had a hard time sleeping.”

Wincing, Xion fiddled with the zipper on her sleeping bag. “I’m sorry. Are you feeling better?”

Sora’s hands lingered with Kairi’s for a few seconds as he nodded. “Yeah, we are.”

Seeing Kairi nod in Agreement, Xion got out of the sleeping bag with a satisfied smile. “Then let’s help with breakfast.”

They had set up camp at the Sanctuary before the first floor, their journey out much quicker as the illusions were gone. Just a quick trip down an empty collection of memories. Though not a quiet one, as Xion asked questions about the many sights.

Yet as they opened the door out of the castle, there was a sight that made them wonder if there was one last trick. 

On the shadowed rock leading away from the castle above the abyss stood two figures. A fat cat in a red and purple outfit. And Maleficent, alive and well.

 Donald squawked at the sight of the sorceress,“What the?!”

“It can’t be!” Kairi took a step back, Xion hiding behind her.

Gritting his teeth, Sora called on his keyblade and settled into a fighting stance. “Maleficent and…!” 

Only to realize that she was being accompanied by a rather large figure he had never seen before. “Who are you?”

At the lack of recognition the cat sputtered, “WHAT?! Don’t tell me you two didn’t tell them about the great and mighty Pete?!”

As Pete pointed to him and Donald, Goofy grumbled “We sure woulda told them if we knew you joined up with Maleficent!”

“How are you even back?!” Donald pointed his wand at Maleficent as he pointed out, ”We beat you back in Hollow Bastion!” 

The questions only made the sorcerer chuckle as she brought a hand to her chest. “Unfortunately, I am very hard to kill. More to the point, you are barring my path to true power.” Sweeping her hand forward, she pointed to Castle Oblivion. “One of the last few bastions of keyblade wielders was said to lie between light and dark. I can think of no place better than this that might house the secrets of χ-Blade.”

Sora furrowed his brow at the speech. “Keyblade wielders? Key…blade?” It made no sense. Nevermind how she came back, why was she talking about keyblade wielders from the past? Why in the world was Maleficent emphasizing the first syllable in keyblade like that? Was she slurring it? 

“How fortunate that I called on some assistance for such a reunion.” Raising a hand, Maleficent conjured a dark portal that grew larger and larger. Stepping forth from the shadow came a large beast, yellow eyes glinting as it stared down everyone before Maleficent. The air thickened with heat for every step the large heartless took. Snapping her fingers, Maleficent ordered.“Take the girls, both of them!” At Maleficent’s words, the beast's eyes began to glow.

Sora barely had enough time to defend himself as the creature’s eyes flashed, causing an eruption of flame around it. Glancing back, he saw Donald had gotten behind Goofy and his shield, while Xion had remained behind Kairi as she used her keyblade to blunt the force of the blast.

A sight that caused Pete to take a step back. “Wait, she’s got a keyblade!?” Looking at Maleficent, he tugged at his collar as he asked, “She wouldn’t happen to be one of the princesses we’re after, would she?”

Watching as Kairi held her ground defending Xion, Maleficent muttered, “Unfortunately, she is. This complicates matters.”

“Alright, Riku. We’re almost out!” 

Then a voice from behind Sora caused everyone’s attention to turn to the doors of Castle Oblivion.

A voice that Sora had heard only once before, but Donald and Goofy had recognized in an instant. “Your Majesty!” 

Though to Sora and Kairi, their attention was focused on the one who limped behind Mickey. “Riku!” 

“You!” A snarl from Pete put an end to the cheer as he began to stomp his feet in fury. “You little punk! What’re you doin’ here!? Maleficent said you were gone!”

“Pete?!” The shock from Mickey's face was quick to pass as he called on his keyblade. “Don’t tell me you’re using the heartless!”

Maleficent held a hand in front of Pete to keep him back and scowled, “Enough. The circumstances have clearly changed.” Yet her face softened as she saw Riku again. “But perhaps there is still hope, my boy. If you might aid me again.”

Riku winced, and clenched his fists before shaking his head. “No. Never again.”

Conjuring a portal, Maleficent spat at him, “Then take your weakness and rot in it. Pete, we will return later.”

Sora chased after them, trying to weave his way through the flames. But that was enough to slow him down and keep him away while Maleficent, Pete, and the heartless creature they had summoned vanished into shadow.

Silence hung over everyone. So much has happened, not just in the past minute, but over the past few months. Questions of what had happened, and how people were here seemed to be gathering in everyone’s minds. Even as Sora and Kairi walked towards Riku, he couldn’t bear to look back. Donald and Goofy were stuck looking to where Maleficent had gone and Mickey had arrived.

 But eventually the silence was broken.

“Hi, I’m Xion. Who’re you?”