Chapter Text
~~~
Under the promising dome of a bright blue sky, upon the hallowed land sitting between the realms of darkness and light, five friends took turns sparring together, honing their skills as those before them had done for ages. After years of being sealed away, the Land of Departure was restored to its former glory, serving as a home and base of training for any aspiring warrior of light. And for two young ladies bequeathed with keyblades, the Land of Departure was also a land of new beginnings.
One, long lost in the shackles of darkness, was eager to prove herself by fighting against it from here on after. Strength and nobility were her namesake, and she strived to become all which her name encompassed. The other, also eager to prove herself, was already a heroine of light. Though she would hardly consider herself heroic in the past, it was high time to put all of that behind her and become truly strong.
Both were paragons of radiance, and this land would soon bear witness to their courage, determination, and journey as the keyblades newest generation.
“Don’t hold back!”
“I have no intention to, Rosebud.”
Without warning, Lauriam charged at Kalai, but she raised her blade in front of her and blocked his attack with ease. Laughter ensued, but their eyes remained on each other as their keyblades clashed. Though she loved him, she would not go easy on him, especially since she was finally getting the hang of wielding this fantastic weapon, after months of training. Ventus, Elrena, and Kairi watched their match, cheering them on.
“Kalai’s gotten a lot better,” Ventus smiled. “Wouldn’t ya say?”
“Come on, Lauriam!” Elrena called out. “Focus! Don’t let that noob beat you!”
“HEY!”
Even while fending off Lauriam’s attacks, Kalai found a second to turn to the blonde and make a face. Kairi giggled.
“She’s not a noob anymore!” she said. “You got this, Kalai!”
Kalai focused on the pink-haired man slashing at her, doing her best to block him while dishing out slashes of her own. She performed a backflip to get out of the way before attacking his legs, something her Master had taught her a few days prior. He jumped back, placing his blade in front of him before she could attack again.
“Master Aqua has taught you well,” he smirked. “Soon enough, you’ll be on my level.”
“I know, right?!” She thrashed forward, raising her blade to strike before he spun out of the way and was about to come from behind, but she raised her blade against his at the last moment. Kalai pushed him away, clashing their blades together once more and making him stumble backward, just long enough for her to point Graceful Destiny at him in victory. “You almost had me that time.”
Lauriam blinked for a few seconds before smiling at his girlfriend. It was a rare loss for him, but one he was willing to accept. He gently pushed the blade from his face, closing the distance between their lips.
“Not bad, my darling, you truly are on our level now.”
“Told you she was getting better!” said Ventus, grinning at Elrena mischievously. “You owe me ten munny now!”
The blonde groaned in mock disappointment; though she secretly hoped Kalai would win, she would never say so. She handed over the golden orb with great reluctance before rising and walking down the forecourt steps; Kairi followed her.
“Hmph, well, consider this a consolation prize,” Elrena said, kissing Lauriam on the cheek.
“My turn!” Kairi chirped, summoning Destiny’s Embrace. “Kalai isn’t the only one being tested soon!”
Lauriam glanced at Kairi. She wore a cheerful smile, but in her eyes, he always saw another young girl very much like her. Blonde, dressed in white, quietly staring up at him, always afraid of what he might do next. Kairi was not afraid of him; she had never known his other self, for which he was grateful. But the memories still compelled him to feel unsure whenever she was near.
“How about...you take on Kalai instead.” He smiled even as uncertainty prickled at his chest. “After all, she just defeated me. That’s where you will have the better challenge.”
Kairi made a face; out of all her new companions, he was the one always finding one reason or another not to spar with her. More often than not, they seemed like little more than excuses, but in this case, he was right.
“Alright!” she said, turning to Kalai. “You may have beaten Lauriam, but you won’t beat me!”
“We’ll just see about that!”
Weapons clashed again, and at once, the three onlookers could see how Kairi was struggling with her blade. While it was true that Kalai was all around more experienced with combat, Kairi was still barely keeping up. Even after a few months, the basic swings and thrashes their Master had drilled into her were as much as she could handle. Elrena tried to encourage her.
“Stop moving your body like that!” she said. “Let your body move with you, not the other way around!”
Kairi tried to listen to her, all while biting back tears of frustration. Kalai’s fighting was swift, decisive, and elegant, while she felt fearful, hesitant, and clumsy. Whenever she felt herself gaining the upper hand, her opponent quickly retook it. On impulse, she swiped her keyblade backward, losing her footing and in the next moment feeling the grass beneath her and looking up at the point of Kalai’s blade. She bit back a frustrated huff. Why was it that even now, she was no better than when she first began?
The older girl could see her disappointment and helped her to her feet with a kind smile.
“Not bad.”
“But not good enough!” snapped Kairi. “I’m never going to pass if I don’t get better!”
“You are getting better!” Ventus spoke up. “You both are!”
But Kairi was in no mood for his patronizing remarks, as she felt them to be. She returned to her stance.
“C’mon! Let’s go again!”
Kalai sighed but took up her stance again. This time, she tried to give the younger girl more openings to attack, Kairi glared at her.
“Don’t hold back! I can do this!”
Her movements became rapid, and Kalai could tell that she was overexerting herself by this point. She jumped back and made her blade vanish.
“You’re doing it again, dear,” she said. “You’re getting easily frustrated, and it’s affecting how you fight.”
“No, I’m not!”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing!”
She changed at Kalai, but she quickly moved to the side, summoning her blade again. At this point, she was in no mood to spar but didn’t want to further upset her friend. And she could tell Kairi was doing her best, even going as far as to try and mimic the older girl’s fighting style. When Kalai lunged her blade at her, Kairi attempted to backflip out of the way, only to lose her balance in the midst of her frustration. After a few moments, she realized she was back on the ground and glanced down at her keyblade in despair.
“What’s wrong with me?” she murmured. “Why can’t I get it right?”
“Kairi…”
“I’m gonna fail at this rate! I’m gonna fail my exam just like I failed Sora!”
So that was what this was about! Kalai should have known; Kairi was thinking about Sora again. It seemed no matter how much she was improving or how much they tried to reassure her, Kairi would not stop feeling that it was her fault that Sora was gone. It was her weakness, in her mind, that allowed her to be struck down by Master Xehanort. Forcing the boy to use the Power of Waking to save her at the cost of losing his own heart.
Hadn’t she promised that she would be the one to protect him now? Only to be used as leverage for him to continue fighting? Was she really that fragile after all? Kalai heard the sniffs coming from her friend and tried to help her up. But Kairi snatched her arm away, her blue eyes melting with the tears trailing down her cheeks.
“I’m useless,” she whimpered. “I’m useless and I'm weak. I don’t deserve a keyblade.”
“That’s not true.”
“Yes, it is. I don’t know why I was made a Guardian of Light. My weakness is what sealed Sora’s fate.”
“But Sora decided to save you on his own without….”
“Only because he was forced to! Because I needed saving again in the first place! Instead of being strong enough to hold my own!”
Kairi had enough. She pulled away from her friend and ran off in another huff, away from the forecourt and further down the mountain path. There was an ivy-clad corner behind the far side of the castle where Kairi would often go to be alone. Now was no exception and there she hid, praying that the others wouldn’t come looking for her.
"This time, I'LL fight! You know Sora's completely hopeless without us!"
Her keyblade was still in her hand, but she did not deserve such a coveted weapon. With his keyblade, Sora had helped numerous people, rescued countless worlds from darkness, and brought an end to the tyranny of Xehanort. Sora’s keyblade was a symbol of his strength; her’s on the other hand, was a symbol of her weakness. Weakness, worthlessness, and worse of all, a promise broken to him.
“Let me keep you safe.”
The more she thought about it, the hotter her face became. Until she could feel her chest burn and her ears tingle, and in a fit of rage, she flung Destiny’s Embrace against the stone wall. With a loud clang, the keyblade vanished, but reappeared in her hand a second later. It was no use. Kairi was not cut out for this. She was never cut out for this. Her knees sunk into the grass as she screamed her sorrow to the sky.
“I’m sorry, Sora! I’m sorry I broke my promise!” she wept, tears soaking the dirt beneath her. “It’s all my fault you’re gone! I’m sorry I’m so useless! I’m sorry!”
Kalai did not try to follow Kairi, knowing it was best for her to be alone with her feelings. And hidden from this miserable scene, she and her companions thought more about what happened. She took a few steps towards the stairway leading to the castle and slumped down on the steps. Lauriam joined her, sighing as he placed his hand on her shoulder.
“Poor girl,” he said. “She has such potential, and all can see it but her.”
“Yes. I can’t imagine how she feels,” she replied. “Before the Keyblade War, when I thought I’d be separated from you and Elrena forever...I...it killed me that I was going to be free, but...” biting her lip. “Xehanort separated Sora from Kairi, just like he separated me from you two.
“But we came back to you eventually, Rosebud.” He smiled a little. “And I am certain Sora will return to her. Their hearts are connected. As are ours.”
“That may be,” Elrena stood next to them. “But your exam is the day after tomorrow, and Kairi is never going to improve if she doesn’t focus.”
“Lea said she was improving a lot before the war,” said Ventus. “Maybe if she can find that motivation again, then her potential will really shine through!”
“Good idea, Ven!” Kalai smiled. “I know she has it in her! She just needs to believe it!”
“In the meantime.” Elrena summoned her keyblade with a sly grin. “How about I interrupt your winning streak first!”
The brunette laughed but obliged her blonde lover and summoned her blade. After all, she needed all the practice she could get.
~~~
“Master, may I have a word?”
Kalai gently tapped on the door leading into the master’s study. It was slightly ajar, informing any visitors to come right in. But Kalai always knocked as a force of habit. Peeking inside, she could see Aqua sitting at her desk and flipping through a book, but she glanced up from it and nodded at her pupil. Inviting her in.
“I told you before," she smiled. "You can just call me Aqua.”
Kalai nodded. Though a firm teacher, her Master was always so kind and humble despite her incredible skill.
“Aqua, I’m...worried about Kairi. She’s not…”
“No need to tell me. I already know.” Aqua closed her book and placed it on her desk with a little sigh. “How long has it been since you came here and began training with me?”
“Two months, but in that time, I feel like Kairi hasn’t…well. I don’t know how to say it, but I feel like something in her is weakening. And with our exam coming soon, I’m worried.”
“Something in her is weakening, but not in the way you think...I was there when it happened. Sora and Kairi were sitting together, watching the sunset. And then…” Aqua closed her eyes, folding her hands to her face. “I didn’t understand at the time, but not long after that, Kairi arrived here, telling me how she wanted to become stronger."
“But wasn’t she strong enough to take part in the Keyblade War in the first place?”
Aqua shook her head. “No....not necessarily. The training she received...wasn’t ideal in such a dire situation. Merlin is not a Keyblade Master, and Lea already had years of fighting experience. Even Sora and Riku were given more practical experience before...well, you understand."
“So what you’re saying is…” Kalai gave a long, despondent sigh. “Kairi was never prepared for the weight that was put upon her.”
“Fighting a few heartless or sparring with a friend are very different things compared to what we were up against. The truth is, none of us were prepared for what awaited us in the Keyblade Graveyard. Not even me.”
The Master extended a hand to Kalai, offering a seat beside her. For a long time, they sat together in thoughtful silence. From the large window behind them, they had a view of the forecourt below. Lauriam and Elrena were sparring while Ventus watched with his chirithy in his arms. Both noticed that Kairi had not rejoined them; finally, Aqua spoke again.
“But considering the odds that were stacked against her, she’s made big improvements. Her skills aren’t weakening, quite the opposite. Her confidence is another thing entirely.”
“She wanted so badly to be strong for Sora’s sake. But now that he’s gone…”
“No heart is lost forever. It may be a long time before he returns, but he's not gone. Kairi was Sora’s motivation to fight, so now he must be hers to keep going.” Aqua rose to her feet and helped Kalai to hers. “In the meantime, continue your training. Once you pass your exam, I will grant you both special armor so you can travel the Lanes Between. Then, your new quests can truly begin.”
Kalai smiled at this. “You're certain that we’ll pass?”
“Of course.” Aqua smiled back at her. “I have faith in you and Kairi. So you must have faith too.”
“Yes, you're right. Thank you, Master,” she gave a respectful bow as she turned to leave. “Oh! I mean, Aqua! Thank you, Aqua!”
~~~
It seemed as though Kairi had been looking up at the sky all afternoon, now the sun was falling behind the mountains, the sky’s azure palette giving way to maturing shades of pink and purple playing upon the last streaks of golden light. It was so much like that evening on Destiny Islands, when his and her hands interlocked as he explained to her his sacrifice for the first time. With four final words, his form faded into the evening light, blurring in her teary vision.
Night was soon coming, but Kairi was not ready to return to the castle. She was not yet ready to face her friends, who were more skilled than she would ever be. Or her Master who had too kind a heart to take such a worthless girl under her wing. An evening breeze chilled the air, but she didn’t care. She’d stay here all night if she could.
“Kairi! Kairi, where are you?”
The second she heard Kalai’s voice, her tears returned. Kairi shut her eyes in reflex and prayed that she wouldn't be discovered. Kalai was a lot like Aqua, she thought. Both of them were graceful and kind, and in different ways, she admired them. But she also envied them. Perhaps if she was only half as strong as them, Sora would still be by her side.
“There you are!”
Kairi had been discovered. She buried her shame-scorched face into her knees, not saying a word. Even with her face hidden, Kalai and Elrena could see how much pain she was in, and Kalai thought about all the times she would do just this, hiding herself away when she was humiliated or hurt. As a lonely child, there were many times she silently cried out for a friend, someone to listen or understand. Surely Kairi could use the same at a time like this.
“We’ve been worried about you, Kairi,” she said, reaching out to her. “Would you like to talk?”
There was no response; Kairi only pressed her face deeper into her knees. Kalai thought about what to say next.
“You know...the sunset is really pretty this evening. But you can’t really see it from here. How about you follow us out to the cliff.”
“Huh? What does the sunset have to do…”
Kalai quickly shushed Elrena. True, this wasn’t about the sunset, but one thing at a time. After a few moments, she asked again. Out of loneliness, or perhaps realizing that her friends weren’t likely to leave her alone, Kairi finally glanced up at them. The brunette smiled.
“Come on. Before it gets too dark.”
Together, the three of them sat in the grass, watching the last bit of sunlight fade into dusk. It was indeed a pretty sight, but it did little to improve Kairi’s mood.
“Back home, on the islands, Sora and I used to watch the sunset. Sometimes Riku was with us too,” she said. “The day before the Heartless came, I watched the sunset with Sora. And again…” She squeezed her eyes harder as she felt the tears begin to overflow. “We watched the sunset together, right before he...he…”
She couldn't even finish her sentence as she felt suddenly choked by tears, clutching herself as the anguish made her tremble. Clearly, this wasn't Kalai's best idea. She and Elrena exchanged glances before the blonde did something that surprised her girlfriend. Pulling off her teal jacket, she wrapped it around Kairi's shoulders. When Kairi glanced up at her, she saw in Elrena a rare look of concern.
"Aren't you gonna get cold?"
"Nevermind that! It doesn't matter now!" she replied. "Kairi, we know you wanted to protect Sora. But how can you do that if you’re feeling sorry for yourself?”
“Because I couldn't! Sora's not here anymore!”
“But not forever. And what happened to him wasn't your fault. What Xehanort put you through would break a stronger master, yet here you are. That alone means you aren’t weak. Neither is Sora. Hell, the fact you even have a keyblade at all is incredible!”
"Hmph," Kairi extended her hand, making her keyblade appear. The symbol of her weakness. She waved it around, thinking about the blonde's words. “Me having a keyblade? Incredible? Are you so sure about that?”
“Duh! I wouldn’t be saying it if I wasn’t!"
Kalai smiled. Elrena was generally far kinder than her Nobody counterpart, occasionally temperamental but not as sharp-tongued. Yet despite this newfound sweetness, this sort of encouragement was still a rare thing.
“Elrena never says things she doesn’t mean,” she said.
“That’s right!”
Kairi glanced up into her kind green eyes as she clapped her hands together. Kalai flinched as a chirithy appeared. She had not yet grown accustomed to the odd little cat creatures that spoke without mouths, and was secretly still afraid of them. Elrena smiled as she held her little pet.
“Chirithy, isn’t it awesome that Kairi can wield a keyblade?”
“It sure is!” said the creature. “Back in Daybreak Town, not everyone could use keyblades. It takes a special kind of person to be worthy of one in the first place.” Chirithy hopped over to Kairi, who was still holding out her keyblade. It began fidgeting with the keychain, bringing the smallest smile to Kairi's lips. "I like your keyblade. It's pretty, it reminds me of Litzi's!"
"Who's Litzi?" Kairi asked.
"Lauriam's sister, Strelitzia." Elrena smiled. "I remember, she had self-doubt issues too. But Lauriam and I always encouraged her, was strong in her own way."
"She's lost too," Chirithy added. "But we're gonna find her! Just like you'll find Sora too!"
“That's right, little cat,” Kalai said.
“I’m not a cat!”
“Chirithy isn't a cat!”
“Anyway! Kairi, we believe in you. But…” extending her hand to the younger girl and pulling her to her feet. “You’ll never be stronger if you don’t train more. Let Sora be your motivation.”
Destiny's Embrace vanished as Kairi reached out for Kalai’s hand. Looking out at the evening sky, she knew that, somewhere out in that boundless horizon, Sora was trying to find his way back to his friends. And back to her. For his sake, she had to keep going. Again she recalled that final evening on Destiny Islands, but for the first time in the countless times her mind would replay the memory, she did not feel sad.
"Do you remember what I said before? I promise I'll come back to you. Believe me."
"I...I do..."
"See you soon, Kairi..."
Even when things seemed hopeless, he never gave up. Neither could she. Finally, her mood was shifting.
“What Xehanort did to me,” she murmured. "I will never let it happen again!”
“There! That’s the spirit!” Kalai slipped her hand from Kairi’s and replaced it with her whole arm around her shoulders. “That promise to yourself is your first step forward! Let’s all move forward together!”
“Yeah!” Elrena grinned as she placed her arm around Kairi as well.
“Yeah!”
Chirithy wanted in on the group hug and latched onto Kairi's ankle, a little too close to Kalai for comfort. She yelped and jumped back from the creature. Elrena giggled and motioned for her pet to chase the brunette. Kairi bit her lip to keep from laughing, but she couldn’t help it. Her first true smile in nearly the whole day. As the girls made their way back into the castle, there was something else on Kairi’s mind that she had just remembered from earlier.
“Why doesn’t Lauriam ever wanna spar with me?” She asked. “He’s the most skilled out of all five of us, and I feel like I’ll get better if I have more of a challenge.”
Elrena and Kalai gave each other a certain look as they tried to decide how to answer her.
“I...couldn’t say.” The blonde replied, a lie, of course. “But if you think fighting him will help you, we’ll talk to him.”
But that look of apprehension immediately washed over the pink-haired man’s face as they prepared for bed, and his ladies told him about Kairi’s request. They knew why he didn’t want to spar with her, but at the same time, Kairi was not Namine, and she was not afraid of him.
“Once we start our missions, Kairi is going to be in far more dangerous situations than our training can give her,” Kalai said. “I doubt you will do her harm.”
Lauriam sighed; he knew she was right. But such was his remorse that he couldn’t help but have a strange sense of protection over the girl. Elrena placed her arms around him, tilting her head with a smirk.
“Or, if you actually think she’ll beat you? In that case, we completely understand if you want to protect your reputation and…”
These words seemed to do the trick; he chuckled and pushed her onto the bed.
“Very well. But no one can best me,” he said. “Certainly not Kairi.”
“No one but me!” Kalai giggled, pulling him from the blonde. He responded by snaking his arms around her and slamming their lips together. She completely melted into his embrace and made no protest when he pushed her onto the bed beside Elrena.
“You did not best me, Rosebud. You merely gained the upper hand when I momentarily had my guard down.”
“Same thing!”
She was silenced by his lips upon hers once more. Elrena snickered, but a certain look in his wicked blue eyes told her she would not be laughing for long. Her turn was coming.
~~~
The next morning, Kalai and Elrena woke up extra early to tell Kairi the good news. Such was the younger girl's excitement that she immediately ran outside with her keyblade, prompting her friends to follow her. They decided to help her practice some before her match with Lauriam. This time Kairi was a little more accepting of their advice and was better at applying it when needed.
“It’s hard to concentrate when you’re anxious,” said Kalai. “My father always stressed to me the importance of keeping your mind focused in battle and not be overcome with fear, even if you’re afraid.”
“If you get easily frustrated,” Elrena added. “Your enemy will see it. The most important thing is to keep going ‘til you win.”
“Oh! And try not to move your body with such force. Let your movements come naturally.”
That was one thing Kairi seemed to struggle the most with. Kalai looked at Kairi’s keyblade for a moment before deciding to take it from her. She waved it around before making it vanish from one hand to another and then handing it back to its owner with a smile.
“Actually, your keyblade is very lightweight, like mine.” She said. “Try not holding it with both hands all the time. You’ll have more control over your movements.”
Kairi listened to her and began to find wielding her blade far easier than before, though she still took it into both her hands when guarding or thrashing. The brunette nodded.
“Now, try this…”
She turned her back, giving a look to Elrena that meant to change at her from behind. Before her attack could connect, Kalai turned around and lazily blocked her. The blonde swiped her blade away with ease, but it appeared in her other hand in the next moment, and she guarded with more force. Their blades clashed for a few seconds before Kalai managed to disarm Elrena, but she also made her blade appear in her other hand and pushed the brunette out of the way long enough to point her blade at her.
Next, it was Kairi’s turn. This time she was able to guard with one hand and even disarm Kalai without the older girl having to hold back. She performed a jumping attack and trashed her keyblade at her opponent in a way she did not see coming. Despite her defeat, Kalai grinned. Slowly they could see the girl’s motivation returning.
The afternoon came, and the older girls and Ventus gathered in the forecourt, sitting beside each other as Kairi and Lauriam prepared for their match. In her eyes, he could see a newly awakening confidence that, despite his initial concern, he could not help but want to push out further.
“Are you ready, my dear?” he asked, taking a graceful battle stance.
“The better question is, are YOU?” She replied, taking a stance of her own.
A smirk came to his lips. This was precisely what they all wanted to hear. He decided to let her attack first to gain the upper hand, but soon enough, he was showing her why he was considered the strongest among the five. But for once, Kairi did not feel so easily frustrated. The strength of her opponent only encouraged her to fight harder.
“What a difference a day makes.” Ventus smiled. “I don’t know what you two did, but looks like it paid off! She’s doing amazing!”
“She was always amazing,” Kalai replied. “The only thing different now is that she sees it too.”
Kairi was indeed doing amazingly, compared to the previous day and the previous weeks too. Lauriam laughed as he continued blocking her attacks and watching how she blocked his. When he jumped back and charged at her, Kairi made a backflip out of the way and charged at her opponent, similar to how she often saw Kalai do the same thing. In the next moment, her blade was raised in front of her, and she thrashed forward, pointing it at his chin.
“Oh my gosh!”
Kalai shrieked with joy, and Elrena clapped her hands together with astonishment. Kairi blinked as she looked up at Lauriam and her keyblade pointed at him as if she could not believe what had just happened. She jumped back, breathless but keeping her eyes on him just in case the fight was not over. But he smiled and made his keyblade vanish.
“Lauriam…I...”
“You beat me.” He took his hands and summoned a handful of flowers, representing patience, optimism, and new beginnings. “When one realizes their true potential, no adversary is a threat. Well done, Kairi.”
She took the flowers with a strange sense of accomplishment, warming her heart. Elrena made a sound of mock disgust.
“HEY! Don’t forget! We’re right here!”
“Yeah! Stop making us jealous!”
As they laughed together, Terra appeared from the castle.
“I hope training is going well.” He said.
“Better!” Replied Kairi.
“Good, tomorrow is a big day. Anyway, Aqua needs to see Kairi and Kalai in the throne room. She has something to tell you.”
~~~
Even with the threat of a Keyblade War no longer an issue, darkness still plagued the worlds, and new light was awakening to keep it at bay. Seven new maidens of pure heart had recently inherited the light of the former Princesses of Heart and were in particular danger as they awakened to their new purpose. Especially since Heartless had recently been increasing in number.
“So far, we only know of five. Kida, Moana, Elsa, Anna, and Rapunzel,” said Aqua. “Master Yen Sid is watching over the worlds and will inform us when the final two lights awaken. In the meantime, he’s requested that you, Ven, Lauriam, and Elrena go to him tomorrow morning after the exam. However…”
Their Master gave them an odd look that they could not read easily.
“Aqua?”
“I was thinking. I feel like you two are ready. Your exam is supposed to be tomorrow but at the same time, if you agree…”
“Yes!” Kairi and Kalai spoke out in unison. They felt as though they knew what their Master would say without her having to say it. She smiled forgivingly at them.
“Care to know what it is I am asking of you two first?”
“Uh...okay.”
“I had a mind to conduct your exam tonight. I have the utmost faith that you’ll both pass so…”
“YES!”
Now Aqua laughed but was warmed by their enthusiasm. Kairi’s victory had emboldened her, and for the sake of her confidence, Kalai was more than happy to be tested early.
“We’re ready, Aqua.” said the younger girl. “ I'm ready.”
“Very well,” Aqua smiled. “I’ll summon you two to the mountain path once the sun sets. Take the rest of the day to prepare.”
“Yes, Master!”
~~~
The rest of the day was spent preparing for the night to come. Even with her newfound confidence, Kalai continued helping Kairi. Both were anxious to begin their new role, and soon they felt they were as ready as they were ever going to be.
“Are you afraid?” Kairi asked when they decided to take a break and sit together on the cliff. Kalai glanced at her.
“Afraid? Of what?
“Of fighting, of facing the Heartless again.”
“Hmmm,” Kalai looked up at the sky, thinking for a few moments. “Well, I’d say no, but in all honesty, it’s been a long time since I’ve thought about fear.”
“Really?” Kairi’s eyes widened with half shock, half awe. “How can you do that? Not think about fear?”
“When I, Lauriam, and Elrena were in the Organization, we were always doing some kind of fighting, whether it be Heartless or even those supposed to be our comrades. In that kind of situation, you don’t think about being afraid, because you can’t. You don’t have time to. Never let your enemy see your fear; that’s what Dad always tells me.”
Kairi sighed; there was a time, not too long ago, where she felt the same way as her friend. That there was nothing she was afraid of, that she was willing to jump into any sort of danger, so long as she could be by Sora's side. Even when he had tried to stop her, she didn’t care. What a naive girl she had been.
“Well, I’m afraid.”
“Kairi…”
“I’m not afraid of failing the exam, or even feeling like I’ve failed Sora, but I’m afraid of failing myself. After tomorrow, I don’t ever want to be weak again.”
“I refuse to be rendered defenseless again!”
In Kairi’s voice, Kalai could hear herself. She heard her own promise to herself, to always fight back against those who would harm her. It was a promise she had made a long time ago, after years of being at the mercy of her stepfather’s malevolence and later at the mercy of the darkness surrounding her. Kalai had realized very early that she would have to protect herself if there was no one else that could.
“Do you remember when the unversed attacked Radiant Garden?”
Kairi shivered at the recollection. She had gone to the castle that day to visit her friend but was suddenly accosted by the monsters; Aqua had rescued her. Of the few memories she still held of her life before Destiny Islands, that was one that unfortunately would not disappear.
“That same day, Ienzo and I escaped the castle.” Kalai went on. “We were both attacked, and that masked boy, Vanitas, he cornered me in the outer gardens, and my dad had to come to my rescue. It was at that moment that I decided I never wanted to be weak again. It’s taken me a long time to become as strong as I am now, but sometimes, I still feel as helpless as that trembling little girl, nearly a decade ago.”
She turned to Kairi with a kind smile. “But I know I’m not weak, and neither are you, Kairi. Strength comes in all forms. I have mine and, oh? What’s funny?”
Something she had said had prompted Kairi to begin laughing. She placed her hand to her mouth. “Oh, it’s nothing. Just, ‘strength comes in all forms.’ That’s something my grandma used to say. Remember?”
Now Kalai laughed with her. “I do! And she was right. You ultimately have to find what it is that makes you strong.”
“I hope I find it soon, very soon.” Kairi sighed as she thought about what she wanted to say next. “I’ve decided on something. Tomorrow, when we go see Master Yen Sid, I’m going to ask him if he will teach me The Power of Waking.”
“Huh?!” Kalai jumped. “But...wouldn’t that be dangerous?”
“I don’t care; part of the reason I’m here is because...”
“Wouldn’t it make more sense for Riku to do it since he already has the power?”
“I couldn’t ask that of him. Sora sacrificed himself for me. If anyone is going to save him, it has to be me.”
Kalai didn’t know much about The Power of Waking. It was something that even Aqua did not seem to understand. All she knew was that it was a way to revive hearts but that alone seemed like an unimaginable task for someone just beginning to master her keyblade skills.
Still, she knew that Kairi was right. Saving Sora would ultimately be something that Kairi did, but she resolved that she would be by her friend’s side while gaining the strength to achieve this.
The last bit of sunlight fell behind the mountains, and soon enough, the bell tolled in the castle tower. The time had finally come.
~~~