Okay, this story was inspired by something in KHII but it's set in the original game and has no spoilers for the sequel.

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Sora woke up in Traverse Town… but how did he get there?

Corridor

After being pulled up and up off the last little spit of land formerly known as Destiny Islands, Sora had been afraid that he'd never touch land again. But eventually, time passing in a way he didn't really understand, Sora found himself lying on ground that didn't seem to be anything other than darkness. At first he thought maybe he had died because wherever he was, there was almost nothing to see. The ground was black and the space around him didn't change much other than the occasional flutter of purple, blue or red lightning that buzzed around. So Sora, based on the observation that he was indeed breathing, accepted that he was still very much alive. Lost, definitely, but alive. He was winded and in shock, not knowing if his mind could fully comprehend what had just happened. His world…Destiny Islands… was it really gone? No, it couldn't be. It was a whole entire world and they didn't just fall apart like that. But what had happened? Sora's struggle to comprehend went on. Riku had disappeared, Kairi had really disappeared and Sora had fought a giant… thing.

Not one part of it had been a dream.

Sora laughed a little but the sound startled him and he hurriedly fell quiet again. He shivered, the darkness around him holding no warmth at all. He sat up slowly, not surprised to find his arms quaking with the effort. He was tired but adrenaline had yet to cease its race around his body. Sora bit his lip, frowning as he thought. Was this all that was left of his own world, a place empty of everything other than himself? A tremble worked its way through him but he fought off the unease. No, that couldn't be it. Wherever he was now, it was just somewhere else – a new place altogether. That thought was a comfort and a source of confusion. Sora sighed and shook his head. No more worrying. He had to figure out what to do next.

He looked at his hand and saw that the Keyblade was still clutched in his grip. The Keyblade… that voice from the dreams had told him the weapon's name. How strange. Sora didn't understand why he had it, or more to the point, how he had it, but it was there and it had helped him against the monsters on his island.

Monsters…

Sora flew to his feet, fearful that the creatures could be coming for him again. Regardless of his dizzy head, he started running blindly, not really knowing where to go. He was captive to an inescapable desire to move. On and on he ran, his feet not making a single sound. His breathing grew heavy, his ribs feeling as though they were closing in around his lungs and yet for all the progress he was making he might as well have stayed standing. Why couldn't he get out of here? The scenery never changed, the flickering darkness never letting up. He could feel panic scrabbling inside him, vying to control him. Was he trapped here? Wasn't there a way out? He kept running, slowing only when he'd been running for so long his body was shaking and his stomach was too queasy to keep up a rapid pace. His run slowed to a jog. He resolutely swallowed down the nausea. He couldn't allow himself to stand still in this place. He thought that if he stood still, he'd never move again; his knees kept threatening to give out. So Sora kept going, unable to think of how long he'd been moving. He had no conception of time. This place seemed to be beyond rules like time. And all the while he was growing colder and his head felt stranger, like it was growing further and further away from the rest of his body.

Fear kept him moving, fear of having to fight more in this place that didn't seem to be much of a place at all. Before now, he'd only ever fought against school bullies or had mock battles against his friends. But that night, monsters and the Keyblade had come and suddenly Sora knew what it was like to fight to save his own life.

The Keyblade had saved him over and over. Riku had gone. Kairi had disappeared. The island had fallen apart.

"Idiot!" Cursing his selfishness, Sora stopped worrying about himself and called out to his friends. "Kairi! Riku! Where are you?"

They didn't respond. Of course they didn't. The most sensible (or perhaps pessimistic) part of him hadn't really expected an answer.

Something else heard him.

His breath catching, Sora finally stood still and turned around slowly. His head swam. His heart clenched tightly. A cry escaped him. His mind didn't want to process the images from his eyes. Those creatures, fidgety solid shadows, were swarming up from behind, their glowing yellow eyes locked onto him. Sora took two unsteady steps back. In his head he was yelling at himself to run, but his legs were having trouble understanding the order when he was seeing more monsters than he thought possible. A giddy thought ran through his mind. If every single creature had two eyes each… Another nervous laugh bubbled out of him. He had to be looking at thousands of monsters.

Courage and fear were battling inside him. His vision seemed to shimmer. He blinked hard and clenched his teeth. He couldn't run away now, not when he had the Keyblade. Courage won out and Sora crouched down, holding his weapon ready to fight again. He just kept thinking 'what if Kairi and Riku are out here and they need me but can't call out?' The thought of his friends in trouble was enough to shore up the cracks in his confidence and ignore the mounting discomfort within his own body. When the monsters came, he was ready for them. The Keyblade cut through them, the droves of bizarre beings falling with each of his slashes. And yet Sora knew he'd never take them all down

Don't forget the light. Embrace it.

The voice, coming to him unannounced as it always did, was a great comfort. It was strange to think that something that had been haunting his strangest dreams could suddenly become a small reminder of normality. The Keyblade, regardless of Sora being in the middle of an attack, suddenly wrenched itself around. Sora found himself facing away from the hordes, and soon he felt their claws raking into his unprotected back. He clenched his teeth against the pain, feeling his strength wavering, watching as golden light shot out the tip of his weapon.

Linger not in the darkness. Return to the worlds.

Worlds?

The light hit something Sora couldn't see. His heart stopped pounding, finally finding a regular rhythm again as hope swallowed his fear. The patch of darkness changed instantly, growing just barely lighter and swirling with dark colours. Pluming and smoking tendrils weaved and welcomed him in, beckoning him towards the portal. The Keyblade fell back to Sora's side, a heavy weight he might not be able to hold up much longer. Why was he so tired?

This place will eat away at you. Leave, now.

He couldn't let exhaustion overrun him now. Sora whipped around, sending the monsters nearest to him flying away. Breathlessly, Sora looked towards the half-light again, knowing that he had to reach it. But if he went, he'd be running away and what if…

Your friends will not be found here.

Sora hesitated a moment longer, cutting down more enemies before they could swarm over him. This time, the Keyblade was too heavy and it fell, causing Sora to double over. He couldn't lift it and yet he couldn't leave it behind. He tried to raise it but his muscles seemed to have given out. Now what could he do?

The Keyblade had the answer. In a flash of light that sent the monsters scurrying back into the safety of their darkness, Sora watched the weapon fade away.

Fear not. The Keyblade will remain with you. Now, run before your strength runs out.

Could he really trust a voice that seemed to be coming from nowhere? Sora looked again at the glowing yellow eyes looming out of the darkness. They were everywhere now, pressing in on him from behind and to the sides like living walls. That was when he knew for definite; Riku and Kairi weren't out there. Sora felt that no one was meant to be here. So it was just him, the monsters and a key with a mind of its own. Ignoring his head that told him to never turn his back on a threat, Sora ran towards vortex.

He could feel the hordes chasing after him, their jerky steps rapid enough to keep up with his flagging pace. He kept running, tearing his clothes free of the inhuman hands that grabbed them. The trembling in his knees was getting worse, his gasps for breath increasingly pained. The portal was closer now, its light seeming so bright. He threw himself towards it, punching anything that tried to stop him.

His legs gave out just as he reached his way out. Tripping over his own feet, Sora tumbled forwards. He fell into light, flipping over at some point and coming to a stop with a painful bump. His head snapped back, cracking against whatever he was leaning against. Sora found himself staring up at a starry sky. He couldn't help but laugh weakly at the sight. A dark night sky. More darkness. But at least the stars were there, shining down on him from wherever they were. But that was it; he had no more energy to use. Every muscle limp, Sora's head lolled forwards and his eyes closed, a little exhausted sigh of relief the only sound he made before passing out.

---

"You know, there really was no need for you to fight the poor kid. Look at him! He looks half dead! He is breathing, isn't he?" Yuffie checked to make sure. Satisfied, she continued her scolding. "You should've explained things in a far less aggressive manner. Honestly Squall…"

"Leon."

"…You can be so thoughtless sometimes! You should be glad I came along and not Aerith. Ooh she'd be giving you a lecture ten times worse than mine! She'd be giving you slaps and everything!"

Leon pushed through into the Second District, using his foot to kick the doors open because his arms were full. "He fought back perfectly well."

"I don't care! It was just… unfair! I mean, look at the size of him Leon. He's smaller than me! Scrawnier too. You're just an overgrown bully, aren't you?"

Leon ignored the ranting teenage girl, even though the nicer part of him was starting to agree with her. The boy he carried on his back was incredibly light (despite the boots) and dark shadows of exhaustion lingered under his eyes. His cheeks still flushed with exertion, the unknown child was at least fast asleep now and regaining his spent energy.

Deciding she'd given Leon a good telling off, Yuffie held up the Keyblade, admiring it with a whistle. "So, it finally turned up." She gave Leon a sly look as they entered the hotel, pointing the Key at him. "Ah, so you really did want to be the one to use it after all. I thought as much! Too bad for you huh? Looks like the Keyblade had someone friendlier in mind."

He just ignored her.

"Still, can't help but wonder how they both got here," Yuffie commented as she hurried ahead and held the next door open for Leon and his bundle. "Can't imagine him flying here on a gummi ship."

"Can't you sense it?"

"What?" Yuffie asked as she leaned the Keyblade up against the doorframe.

Leon knew the truth because the dead weight on his back was still too cold for someone who had just fought to the last of his strength. "He must've used a pathway in the darkness to leave his world behind and reach this one."

Yuffie frowned, pulling the bed sheets back before lifting the boy off Leon's back and settling him down on the bed. "But to do that…"

"It means either he destroyed his own world or the Heartless did it for him."

Yuffie snorted. "A kid with boots like that destroying a world? I don't think so."

"You know the legend. The Keyblade can bring ruin."

"Ugh, what is it with you and worst case scenarios? I always like to focus on the up side – and in this case, we have a Keyblade Wielder who isn't going to get us all turned into Heartless. He's a kid who's gonna help us out as best he can. I mean, look at him!" Yuffie brushed the boy's brown bangs off his forehead. "He's just too cute to be evil!"

Leon walked away and leaned against the wall. "That boy walked through darkness to get here and he fought me..."

"Yeah, because you gave him the option to stand around and chat over a cup of tea but he turned it down, the fiend!"

"…So I won't believe anything until he's awake and explaining himself to us."

Yuffie planted herself on the table, swinging her legs back and forth. "Would it kill you to think that this is a good sign?"

Leon just held a hand to his head.

"Fine, I'll be positive for both of us you grouchy bully."

Leon didn't argue back. He hoped she was right. They needed the Keyblade now more than ever. Then again, he wished so much that she was wrong, because the responsibility of the Keyblade on the shoulders of a child seemed incredibly cruel.

…End…

I hope that was all right! Many thanks for reading.