Chapter Text
Destiny Against Fire by Mod Lucky
Sora fidgeted restlessly in his seat, waiting impatiently for Riku to pilot the ship into the atmosphere of the Enchanted Forest. Kairi placed her hand on his shoulder, getting his attention and sending him a soft, reassuring smile.
“We’ll be there soon.” She reminded him.
Sora smiled back, but the expression faltered as he looked back out the window just in time to see the forest come into view. He hopped out of his seat, pressing his hands against the window as he looked out at the flames that engulfed the trees.
“How did this happen?” Kairi asked solemnly, standing beside Sora.
“I don’t know,” Riku shook his head, searching for a place to safely land. “But what matters is that we get everyone out. We’ll worry about the fire after that.”
Kairi and Sora nodded in agreement, both of their gazes focused on the chaos until Kairi gasped.
“Over there!” She pointed towards a group of woodland animals trapped in the brush with a little girl standing protectively in front of them.
She and Sora stumbled forward from Riku doing a sharp turn to face the ship where Kairi was pointing.
“It’s no good,” Riku shook his head, “there’s nowhere to land.”
“We’ll just have to make one!” Sora spun towards them with a determined gleam in his eyes.
Kairi’s eyes widened, “Of course! Riku–”
“Already on it,” he interrupted her, situating the gummi ship right above the forest before performing a keystroke on the navigation board.
With a loud rumble and hiss, a hatch from the bottom of the ship slid open. Sora and Kairi ran over to the edge of it, ready to jump down into the flames.
Riku glanced over his shoulder at them from the cockpit. “Be careful.”
“When are we not?” Sora quipped as he summoned his Keyblade and grinned.
“Do I have to answer that?” Riku asked under his breath, looking back forward as the duo jumped out.
“Wataga!” Sora yelled the moment they were clear from the ship.
The tip of his Keyblade shined brightly as a burst of water shot out and splashed over the forest. The flames fizzed out of existence as a wave of water covered them. Kairi landed on the soaked ground, Keyblade at the ready as Sora landed beside her. They nodded at the other, sending a short smile before they went to work.
“Light!” Kairi pointed her blade forward.
Orbs of light circled the tip of her Keyblade as two glowing lines appeared on the ground, leading into the flames and towards the group of creatures in need of rescue. With a flash, a wall of translucent, sparkling light shot up from the lines and moved apart, taking the flames with them and giving them a straight shot to the others.
“This way!” Sora motioned his arm as he yelled toward the group.
The animals wasted no time in listening and made a straight shot towards Kairi, ramming into Sora in the process. The creatures gathered around Kairi, but the little girl stayed shivering and scared in the flames.
Sora ran towards her, sweeping her up in his arms and rushing back towards Kairi. The little girl whimpered, wrapping her tiny arms around Sora’s neck.
“Riku!” Sora called out, his hand cupped over his mouth as he looked up towards the gummi ship floating overhead.
Riku didn’t need the invitation as he landed the ship with the engine still running on the soaked patch of the forest that was quickly being overtaken by flames again.
The main hatch to the ship opened and Riku ran out.
“Come on, get in!” He yelled, ushering everyone inside.
The animals followed Kairi without question and Sora followed suit with the little girl still clinging to him. The moment they were on, Riku closed the hatch and lifted the ship.
It was a small rescue, the first of many.