Chapter Text
Living in Sora’s heart wasn’t as strange as Ventus and Vanitas thought it would be. The Island was comforting and Sora’s constant visits and banter was always amusing. Riku was a strange and kinda rude kid, but he was still young and it never deterred Sora so it was fine. Kairi was a blessing from the stars, literally. The two teens still remember that night.
It was a meteor shower so Sora asked his parents if he could head down to the shore. He was only there for a few minutes until Vanitas spoke up. "Does anyone else sense that?”
“What?” asked the 6-year-old.
“Light?” Ventus questioned.
“Where?!” The two brothers had told Sora about their adventure and everything that came with being a Keyblade wielder. Sora knew that when Ventus sensed Light it meant someone was close and needed help. Filo caught his friend's attention as it started making its way to the parked boats on the beach. Behind one of them was a girl about Sora’s age with red hair, and a white dress with matching shoes unconscious on the sand. It was a strange and unusual sight to behold. Sora had a strange knack for magic, and his brothers thought it would be good to teach him some spells. Cure was the first and only one he knew at the time since he was so young. The girl woke up right after the spell was administered. Her name was Kairi and it was all she really knew.
“Amnesia? Sounds familiar,” Vanitas teased. Ventus just rolled his eyes.
Needless to say, Sora’s parents were more than appalled when their son brought home the young girl. They let her stay with them until they sorted out the situation; eventually leading to their next door neighbor and old friend taking in the 6-year-old.
The idea of the raft makes the brothers laugh. Using a raft to get to other worlds?
“It’s so crazy it might just work,” Vanitas commented. If it didn’t and things started to go wrong Sora would be prepared. A transparent Keyblade showed itself one day when the three were training in Sora’s Heart Space; he had the potential along with his brothers behind him.
“Good thing Kairi has Riku to protect her,” Tidus had remarked. It was day two of supply collecting and all Sora was doing was trying to get some coconuts. Tidus was just rambling on how he and his friends took Riku on 3 to 1 and still lost. The last line spoken by the boy stopped Sora mid-swing. It started about three or four years back. People always admiring how strong Riku was. Always saying how Kairi could rely on Riku, and it bothered the 14-year-old. Made him doubt his own strength; made him wonder if he really worthy of being around Kairi.
“Don’t listen to him Shooting Star,” Vanitas spoke. “You are an amazing person. If Kairi didn’t want you around then she wouldn’t have stood by your side after all these years.”
“And you’ve gotten so much stronger too! You are the only person who could go up against Riku and win,” Ventus added optimistically. Sora smiled at his brothers’ comments. They both knew too well how being compared to Riku affected the young boy. Sora blocked out the rest of what Tidus was saying as he returned to his coconut collecting. The day dragged out, but before sunset came Sora challenged Tidus, Wakka, and Selphie to a 3 on one.
“Shooting Star, you know you don’t have to,” Vanitas said with a worried tone.
“I know.”
“Sora, you have nothing to prove to anyone,” Ventus added.
“I know guys, but I have to. It’s not for them. This is for me. I wanna see…. No, I need to see how much I have grown,” Sora replied. “So I need you guys to not do anything but watch. No magic, tips, or control.” The two older teens sighed.
“Do you want us to go to our Heart Spaces?” questioned Vanitas. Ventus gazed appallingly at his brother. For reasons only Vanitas knew of, he hated his Heart Space. One rule that was put in place was that NO ONE was allowed in his room; this also included Vanitas himself.
“No,” answered the pre-teen. “Just don’t do anything.”
“Alright,” Vanitas responded as he made himself comfortable on the Paopu tree. Ventus scooted closer to the raven-haired boy and took his hand giving it a squeeze. Vanitas didn’t look at the blond but returned the squeeze. Ventus proceed to lean on him; in doing so he could feel his brother relax.
Riku and Kairi were off to the side with questionable looks on their faces. His friends didn’t believe the whole ‘I have to people living in my heart, and they have become my brothers’ thing one bit. Hell, Riku tried to attack Filo the first and only time he saw him because he thought it was attacking Sora even though the two were only playing. Riku had crossed his arms over his chest, his questioning gaze was replaced with intrigue. Kairi, though clearly worried when she saw the determination in Sora’s eyes smiled giving him a nod. Her hands still holding her necklace. The battle began.
Ventus and Vanitas had to give credit where credit is due. The Island trio did a good job at keeping Sora on his toes. Wakka was the easiest to avoid simply just bobbing and weaving as the balls came at him. Tidus’ weapon required coming up close and personal, but Sora knew that compared to Riku and himself Tidus was a wimp. If Selphie’s job was to be a distraction then she was failing at doing so. Sora had gotten a few good hits on all three of them at the start, but he was gonna need a plan the two teens thought. However, Sora was way ahead of them.
The 14-year-old jumped back dodging an incoming blitzball. When Tidus came in Sora dished out two full combos to push the boy back giving some room. He would block then combo Selphie when she got to close. Sora repeated this process as he was slowly making his way to Wakka who decided to stay near the back.
“He isn’t?” Ventus whispered to his brother.
“He is!” Vanitas said with a growing grin.
Sora was able to get both Tidus and Selphie next to each other before he went in; dishing out two whole combos that hit both pre-teens taking them out of the battle. “What?!” Wakka had yelled lowering his guard. Sora jumped, turned, and ran towards his final target unleashing three combos back to back. Wakka stumbled and tried to throw another ball which flew pass Sora and left him opened. Sora got behind the other boy and unleashed his final combo ending the fight.
“That’s my boy!” shouted Vanitas as he jumped off the tree pumping his fist in the air. He looked back at Ventus with a big grin, “The old one-two separation combo. I taught him that!”
The blond laughed as he gave his brother a smile. The two of them had come so far in only 10 years. Once mortal enemies who would be at each other throats the second they made eye contact, now best friends and brothers brought together by the young boy who kept their hearts safe. Vanitas had even spoken a bit about his time with Xehanort. The pain in his eyes only fueled Ventus’ utter hatred for the old bastard even more. No one deserved to go through the things that he went through. Vanitas laughed again pulling Ventus from his thoughts. He was continuing to praise Sora with a huge smile; one of the many qualities that Ven had come to learn about the other boy.
Sora was panting. ‘I did it. I actually did it!’ he thought
“Great job Shooting Star! That was amazing,” Vanitas complemented.
“I’m very impressed Sora,” Ventus spoke. “I told you, you have gotten so much stronger.”
“Th….thank you,” Sora heaved.
Kairi ran to his side laughing as she gave him a hug. “That was incredible Sora!” she said with delight.
Riku placed a hand on his best friends’ shoulder, “You really have improved. Maybe there are some things you can teach me,” he said with a smirk.
The Island trio and Riku departed shortly after the fight leaving Sora and Kairi alone. “I can’t wait. Once we set sail, it’ll be great.” Sora hummed at Kairi’s comment. The two began to load into their boats when Sora sensed something. When he looked back he saw the stranger in a brown sack entering the Secret Place.
“Don’t Shooting Star.”
“But?”
“Sora!” Kairi called. The man was gone when he looked back.