Shooting Star

“ oh, wow … really? ”  sora lets out an awed noise, holding the keyblade higher up to take a better look at it. was that even possible? how’d a keyblade that old end up with him? he looks up, ready to voice his question to astra, when he sees the look on her face and concern takes the front seat instead.  “ are you alright, astra? ”  he asks, quietly. he didn’t really understand why the keyblade was making her look so — sad. like it wasn’t just a keyblade from a long time ago to her, but something more personal.  “ did … did someone you know have it? ”

“Yeah,” In that moment she decides to summon her own Starlight. It was an evolved version of his own, but the feeling of nostalgia was the same. 

@heartspliit

To think she came back from the Final World to encounter such an uncomfortable fellow from her past? She didn’t know the master who wore the mask of the bear that well, but every time they had encountered it resulted in her ass-kicking. While many of her memories were still hazy she still managed to remember the Foretellers vividly. 

But why was he here? Didn’t he and the others perish during the war? Then again she came back so who’s to say someone else came and brought them back to life– Ah damn there was that throbbing in her eye again...

It perfectly resembled the Keyblade she had come to know over the years she spent in the Unions. The blue handle and the star shaped blade attached at the end; there was no way she could mistake it. Seeing it again brought up fond memories that made her heart burn with warmth. “I do.” She nods with a smile. Melancholy simmers in her bicolored eyes. 

“It’s… rather complicated.” That was one word for it.  He’d been told it was a long story, and it certainly had been.  “Either way… we’re all here.  Or, most of us.  I’m not sure where Ava might be…”

“But. That’s not fair. W-What about all those kids who fought and died in that war?” What was even the point of the keyblade war in the first place? It was all because the Union Leaders began fighting with each other and it created animosity between the unions and in the end resulted in the keyblade war that killed thousands of innocents.

“ Thanks! And will remember that for next time, anyways, what are you doing here? “

And a wag of the finger at him? That’s a first for the day.  He is quick to change the subject though, got enough scolding from his foretellers. 

“Hmm not sure; I felt like exploring and I found myself here.” She answers with a grin. It was as simple as that. 

So that would mean that she didn’t get hit with the full blast of it, that’s good! The purple electricity crackles for a few moments before it disappears away from his hand. Flicking some of the little things off. 

“ Testing a spell out. Seeing how wide it can go and how long “

“Sora. That is his name.” She had been surprised to see Sora in that world at first, and now another soul like herself has left there to be….reborn. Namine chuckled lightly. The girl had a point, that if you could leave than perhaps that world should go by another name. However. Not all were lucky, and the blonde had that feeling that some of those stars the souls of those lost to the fabrics of time. Have been waiting longer for someone to find them. She only hoped that they get a second chance too.

Namine lightly shook her head. “It’s fine. And a new name could be an improvement, though some of those there I think have been there for a very long time.” Glancing at the girls hand when she introduced herself, Namine raised her own to shake hers. “It’s nice to meet you Astra. My name is Namine. How long were you trapped there for? Did someone finally come to find you?”

“I’m not sure, actually. Chirithy says I’ve been gone for a long time but a long time’s not really a number....” And the Keyblade Graveyard wasn’t necessarily a good marker for how long it’s been. Everything else she has seen afterwords has been a completely new experience. Nothing was familiar to her as if she had been asleep for hundreds of years and only just now woke up. She couldn’t have been gone that long right? No she couldn’t let herself think that way. She’ll find her friends and go back to the way things were.

And yet there was uncertainty in her heart.

“ I am? ”  Sora asks, blinking. He was, but, he’s a little taken aback by her excitement – leaning backwards in surprise a little before his eyes narrow and he leans forward instead, looking confused.  “ Uhhhh … ”  He says, smartly, as he tries to remember where he might’ve seen her, and how she knows he was in The Final World in the first place. It’s not like he’d told anyone about it yet, he was still kind of trying to come to terms with it himself. He scratches at his cheek, smiling confusedly, when she clears things up a little for him. And then he’s standing up straight, mouth forming an ‘o’ of realization.

“ Wait! You were … ?! ”  Sora trails off, eyes wide, and then a moment passes and he’s grinning brightly. So maybe he doesn’t know her, but that doesn’t mean the realization that she’s back in the realm of light slips by him. The understanding that she’s alive, out of that realm between life and death. As far as worlds to be stranded in went, it wasn’t a bad one, it was probably one of the most beautiful places Sora’s ever seen … but the thought of spending the rest of his life — er, afterlife? — there, alone, waiting for someone or something to come by and help him … It made him incredibly sad. Especially when he thought about all of the souls still stuck there, waiting.  

But at least she got out. She might be a stranger, but she deserved to be out of that place as much as anyone, and Sora’s smile was so bright it nearly hurt his cheeks.  “ You found your way back! That’s great! I mean, I know we’ve never talked, but still!”

“I did! I look a little different from what I used to look like but I’m really back in the flesh!”

“I should be thanking you actually. I would have never found the drive to come back if you had never shown up. When I first ended up in that world I tried my hardest to go back, but Chirithy.... They told me without a heart or body I wasn’t able to return and I ended up just–giving up.” For a time she believed if she had just given into her situation then maybe she would just disappear. But the longer she waited the harder it was for her to settle.

She’s grinning from ear to ear, practically bouncing with energy as she joins in on the boy’s excitement. “You really inspired me to come back! Seeing you collect your pieces and go back to your friends- It really fired me up!! Though I couldn’t come back the same way you did––Oh! Gosh I’m rambling on and on! I-I’m not normally a chatterbox!” She laughs before reaching out a hand to shake.