This is the first story of the plot "Homecoming." It is followed by Scène: Manquant.
Up and down, they've searched these mountains. Elaine trudges through knee deep snow in a frozen forest. Heavy snow clouds their vision, but they must keep going. They cannot stop until they find it, now that they're here. Though, they're not fitted well for this journey. A thin cloak is all that separates her from the bitter wind, feet bare against the cold ground- they've lost feeling long ago.
A name reaches her lips, calling out- but not a sound is uttered.
Still yet continuing however, Elaine then collapses- her legs no longer able to carry her. It's then she notices the odd shape of the snow, as if thinly covering something.
She begins to dig, hands a deep blue as blood flushes just underneath the skin. They are met with another hand, pale and tinted blue as well. They keep digging.
Below them, buried in the drift, is someone that's been waiting for them for a very long time. Her eyes closed and frosted over, pale blue hair matted to her face. Her horns have been shaven down to nubs on her forehead.
Elaine utters her name, calling out again.
"Saoirshell-"
The troll's bright, electric blue eyes flutter open upon hearing their name. Then, so do Elaine's.
-
Blearily, Elaine sits up upon the bed she's found herself on. The room, to her dismay, is not her respite in her apartment- where she remembers being last. The floor is made of strange patterned wood, and rounded walls of stone. Several fine sheets hang draped upon the walls and around the bed like a canopy. Uncannily, they look more like flower petals and vines than actual fabric. The sheer difference in environment makes her uneasy, even if it is pretty.
… Is… this another dream? She wondered. Elaine looked down to see herself wearing her usual sleep attire.
But something in her gut tells her no, this isn't.
Carefully, she moves the rather thick blanket covering her to the side and stands to her feet. Elaine spots a window to the left of her- or rather, a door she realizes as she approaches. She opens it, revealing an open balcony and the world before her.
Small, floating lights fill the air below, glimmering above numerous buildings and enormous, budding trees. Around it, proper battlements and walls befitting a castle. Dorms and towers, as well. Beyond that, endless dense greenery that rises even higher than the fruit trees below. The smell of citrus and cherry is strong on the wind, and so is the pollen.
She notes that she's never seen so many stars before in her life, and never this clearly.
But the fascination quickly leads to anxiety, realizing just how high up in the air she was. A tower that juts up above the rest… and no real way to get down.
Elaine re-enters the room, shutting the door slowly. Behind her, another one opens, causing her to flinch.
"Oh good! Good. You are awake. I must say, I wondered if you were even alive, with how sound you were asleep," an airy voice said, with a refined tone.
Elaine turned to face the source, a feeling of bewilderment creeping up in her stomach.
It was no troll, that's for sure- with its green tinted skin, hair reminiscent of waxy leaves. No horns to be found, either. Just two sprightly antenna poking out above the brow- and shimmering wings like a dragonfly's on its back. It looked more akin to a bug of some kind, with those chitinous plates. Though, dressed in reddish-hued noble apparel.
Before she can even think to ask a question, it keeps speaking.
"Well, no matter." The creature flicks its wings, striding over and bowing briefly before Elaine. "I bid thee a welcome to my estate and the court. I'm glad you agreed to be a guest here, princess."
"Wh- princess?" Elaine mumbles. "Hold on, I don't remember agreeing to- … where am I? .. Who are you?"
The creature rights itself and grins at her. "Castle Grānātum, miss- located within the confines of the spring realms and my domain. And, I'm afraid you did agree to be here. Else we would not be having this conversation."
Spring realms? Elaine thinks- keeping a mental note. "You did not answer my other question."
"I did not. Though, I will answer now- you may call me by Chadeu. Now, I don't think I have your name-" the creature extends a hand towards Elaine, bidding her to answer.
However, her intuition tells her to be on guard. She instead steps back defensively. "You do not- and may not- have it. What do you mean that I agreed to this?"
Chadeu squints, seemingly amused. The creature then folds its hands behind its back. "Not with me directly, dear. A member of my court was acting on my behalf. You and a sprite are currently in our stay."
Right, Elaine remembers, the events slowly coming back to her. A fairy had entered her hive suddenly, wishing to talk. Though it was cut off by the silkie caring for her, having lunged for it. The silkie was slain, as was one of her sprites taking off elsewhere. But before it managed to kill the other, Elaine had hastily bargained with it.
In exchange for not harming the sprite, Elaine would go with it. Wherever it wanted to go, anyway. She didn't remember much happening after that.
She speaks up again. "Well, I am here. But I never said how long I would stay- so I would like to go home."
"But of course." Chadeu hums. "You are no prisoner here, you can leave as you'd like."
There is a moment of silence between them. Chadeu continues to grin.
"I… will require an escort," Elaine says, expanding.
Leaving the fae realms on her own would prove to be… difficult. Not to mention dangerous, as she's been told. She can only guess this is where she is at, with the clues given.
The smile on Chadeu's face turns downwards, and it exhales. "Ah. Well, one can be provided. However, I am quite busy at the moment. There's a grand event we're planning here, and I can spare no hands until its completion."
"I do hope you'll understand. You'd be a guest of honor, while you stayed." He said, smiling again.
Elaine realizes that she doesn't have much of a choice- there's no one she can call, and her powers nigh useless in this situation. If she could even use them consistently in the first place. What would she do? Get lost, hunted, or worse?
She sighs. "I understand."
"We're on the same page, then, princess." Chadeu shifts its weight, relaxing. "In the meantime, you may stay here. I'll have a meal sent to you shortly, or you may join in downstairs at your leisure."
"Though, I do recommend dressing in something more-" it hums as it looks her up and down- noting the long t-shirt and shorts, messy hair and no shoes. "-Appropriate."
Elaine looks down at her outfit again, then back at Chadeu. "Ah- I… don't really have anything on hand."
Chadeu appears to think to itself. "Hm. Noted."
"I'll have something sent to you in the meantime. This issue will be resolved shortly, miss. For now, I'll let you get settled into your quarters." He says, waving a hand in the air gently.
It then flutters its wings, lifting off of the ground and floating over to the door. It bids her good evening before leaving.
Elaine moves to shut the door behind him, then sinking down to the floor.
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This is the second story of the plot "Homecoming." It is preceded by "Prelude" and followed by "Jeux avec les fleurs."
(written in collaboration with @cloudbattrolls and @goddesstrolls)
In the early hours of the evening, Quilis sits upside down in a chair, scrolling on her phone. She's bored, waiting semi-impatiently for a knock on the door- and has been for a few hours now.
It wasn't like Elaine to be late in the first place, let alone without saying anything. Especially if the two had been planning a get-together for weeks, now. But as suspicious as it was, Quilis couldn't jump to conclusions. They could have forgotten, or are caught up with something else. Surely a reminder wouldn't hurt.
Quil switches from scrolling to messaging Elaine.
'Hi, Ellie. Did you still wanna come over, or?'
… It was good enough of a message, in her opinion. Not too worried sounding, or pressing- and with it, she decided to go bug the other guests of the castle for the time being.
…
Several hours pass. While Quilis has tried her best to keep herself busy, she couldn't shake that feeling that something wasn't right. Not only had she never gotten a reply, looking closer, her message hadn't even been read.
Reasonably, Quilis thinks, they could still just be busy. Maybe even had to come into work on short notice. So, she sends out another message- this time, to different friend.
...
--melodramaticUrsine [MU] began trolling luminescentSgraffito [LS] --
MU: hey kas. have you seen elaine at all? like at work or something?
MU: we were supposed to meet up earlier but she never showed. haven't heard anything from her either
LS: nah, I haven't heard anything either. figured she's probably just wrapped up in a project or something.
MU: yeah, I can see it. but it's weird. she hasn't even read my text, supposedly.
LS: oh
LS: damn. better go and check on her, then.
MU: casual like. just in case
LS: I'll be real, Quil, I'm not feelin very casual.
LS: maybe it's nothin, but that's not normal for Ellie.
MU: well, it's like you said. sometimes she just gets caught up in things.
MU: been busier lately too, I noticed
LS: well ya, but… you two are good buddies. been tight for awhile
LS: almost as close and she and I are
LS: and I say that gladly cause she doesn't have a better friend. so it's def weird.
MU: yeah.
MU: hey, how about I meet you by her place? as back up.
Quilis quickly leaves the castle after the conversation, headed towards Atecastar to meet up with Kasolm. The pair meets just outside of Elaine's apartment block like they said they would, and Quil lets out a short sigh as they enter.
"… Hey, bud. Things been alright lately? S' been a minute since I talked to 'ya last." She holds the door open for Kasolm as they walk through, then move towards the elevator.
Kas hums and grimaces. "Ah. I'm… overall, I'm fine. But I got a friend that disappeared with that city- Civitrecce. But… what can I do? Still gotta live."
Quil pauses before following them. "Sorry to hear about that."
Kasolm nods towards Quilis, moving on. "So while I hope nothing's up with Ellie, well…." They then shrug. "If it is, shoot. I'm ready for it. Not a thing I wouldn't do for them."
"How about yourself?" they ask Quilis.
She takes a moment to respond, pressing the 'up' button and waiting for the lift. "Eh, it's been alright. Mostly quiet, aside from the usual bullshit around my place.
And… I definitely get you on that. Ellie's been good to me- since that whole deal with her ex, this sorta think just kinda… it's worrying, y'know?" The ride up is thankfully short, and both Kasolm and Quilis move down the hall.
Kasolm grimaces slightly again, their tiny fins flicking. "Ya. M'trying not to dwell on it- at least that filho da puta's been silent ever since, far as I know. So I don't think it's him."
"Oh, I know it's not him. He's dead." Quilis says very casually.
Kas blinks at them, and then chuckles. "Damn, girl- you kill him yourself? Or was it just a happy accident."
Quilis shrugs. "Nah, it was someone else." As they reach Elaine's door, she reaches out to try the handle.
Locked.
"Shoot. You got any magic for that? I'm not really suited for locks." Kasolm says, thinking. "… Guess we could try them one last time, but- … no, my life sense isn't picking her up in there."
"Don't worry," Quil says, waving a hand. "I got us covered."
With another jiggle of the handle, the door opens. Quilis looks inside briefly, and a growling noise can be heard. Quilis then shuts the door.
"… Kas."
"Ya." they reply.
"Werewolf."
Kasolm blinks. "Oh, that's probably Lloric. … Guess she didn't mention he's her flush now, huh."
Quilis turns to look at Kasolm, puzzled. "Who?"
"Oh, shoot. She really didn't tell ya. Uhhhh," Kasolm trails off briefly. "Maroon. Never met him myself yet, but.. I trust Ellie's judgement."
Quilis, meanwhile, continues to be confused. She looks down at the ground for a moment, sighing again- then re-opens the door all the way so that she and Kas can step through. Before she does though, she raises her hands in front of her.
"Okay, pause for a sec-" she says to… who she guesses to be Lloric. It's hard to tell, given the person in question is a half-wolf. "I'm not sure why you're in Ellie's apartment block, but we're here looking for her."
Quilis's eyes shift momentarily to a dead… thing… nearby on the floor, then back to Lloric, who was hunched on the floor on all fours and watching her warily. "I'm a friend of hers. If you don't mind, I wanna take a look around and see if I can't piece together what the fuck happened here."
Lloric's ears shift slightly and he scoots out of the way, still wary, but seemingly not about to stop the two trolls.
Putting her hands down, Quilis then steps inside with Kas following suit. Quil's attention is brought back to the body lying plainly on the floor, and she stoops down to inspect it closer.
It has a roughly troll-like shape, covered head to toe in long, gray robes that obscure its face. Though it's not like any troll that she's seen before. A fairy, if she had to guess- considering its resemblance to what she knows as a silkie.
Quilis sighs, closing her eyes for a moment. She then reaches out and places a hand on the corpse, a spiral of bright purple runes writing themselves into existence across the creature's clothing. More strings of light spawn from the spiral, latching themselves in place as well. Afterwards, she speaks one word, a command.
"Awaken."
The corpse then sputters from behind the veil it wears, and coughs further. In some other language, it wearily begins speaking between gasps for breath.
"Who…'s there…Can't see…" There is a long pause as something begins to dawn on the fairy. "…I've… failed…. haven't I?"
"You probably have. I've brought you back, but only for a moment." Quilis responds, speaking in the same fey tongue. "I need to know what happened here. To Elaine. Do you speak troll?"
"I… speak the troll… tongue… yes." it answers, changing the conversation to common. It attempts to steady its speech. "The lady's… home… was intruded… another of the fair folk- I…. failed to defend her. They then… took her. I assume… to the courts. Please… you must tell the prince of this."
Quilis grimaces. "Did you see what the other looked like?"
The silkie sputters again, coughing up blood. "Sorc..ress… if you… can do this much… you can take… my memories. They'll… be far better use… than me describing."
Sighing again, Quilis nods. "If you insist. I'll also fulfill your other request- so long as you tell me which prince."
"The spring court… of herb blooms." It answers.
"I was afraid you were going to say that…" Quil mutters. "Alright. I'll let you rest now."
Quilis then removes her hand from the corpse. The spell she'd formed had begun to disband, the light from which winding up her arm before disappearing. The creature stops moving afterward- dead once more.
Moving to stand, she then turns her attention to her friend, who still stands near the doorway. "Kas, can you help me take a look around- to make sure there's nothing we missed?"
Kas does so, using their life sense and eyes alike to ensure there's no detail the two have passed by; their lips drawn in focus, purplish violet eyes glowing slightly as they scan the room and the hallway.
They find nothing except, unfortunately, another dead sprite whose corpse they wince at.
"Poor thing…" They mutter. Then they look over at the purple. "Nah, nothing helpful. And I take it we gotta visit Ulisse now? Oh boy." They whistle. "That'll be interestin'."
Quilis's expression is different from her usual demeanor. It's cold, and unusually serious- but fitting for the situation at hand. The news of Elaine's kidnapping wasn't exactly a humorous matter.
"Yeah." She says. "Can't really break my promise now, can I?"
Quilis pauses a moment before continuing. "If there's nothing else, you should go back to your hive for now."
"Apparently, we're gonna have to pack for this venture."
This is the third story of the plot "Homecoming." It is preceded by "Scène: Manquant" and followed by "Une faveur appelée."
Elaine stood in front of a mirror she'd been granted- silently looking herself over. She ran her hands along the skirt of the dress she was wearing. Also granted to her, considering she'd been brought here in her pajamas and had nothing else.
It had been a couple nights now. At least, it had been in the duke's court.
Apparently, she'd heard before that it was not uncommon for time to pass differently here than it did in the waking world.
Despite being here against her will, Elaine couldn't complain too much. She was housed, fed, and even clothed. Her needs were waited upon, she was checked up on by her… host… rather frequently. Though she was wary of accepting all of what was offered to her, there came a point where her hunger was a bit too much to ignore.
Elaine sighs, electing not to think like that any further.
No, she wasn't going to be helpless this time. All she had to do right now was wait out the situation, right? She would be taken home. She was promised this.
… But something didn't sit right with Elaine. She's felt like too much has been kept in the dark on Chadeu's part, like there was something going on right under her nose. What exactly is this event taking place? And why would she be the guest of honor, when she had never met this fairy before now?
There were things she had to ask of that pixie, and she was determined to get some answers. Which is why now, she was dressed in this flowery get-up. There was a feast going on in the castle hall below, and she planned to attend. It's not exactly like she's being held as a prisoner here.
Descending the flights of stairs leading from her quarters, Elaine makes her way through the halls. She follows the sound of revelry, and other fairies drifting to and fro. Soon enough, she finds the center of all the activity- the banquet hall. A lavish array is set across the room, with numerous foods and drink she'd never really seen before. Incorporated into the decor are fruiting trees, elaborate bouquets pinning drapery to their branches.
Everything here seemed to be surrounded by nature… no, everything seemed to have been built with the natural scenery in mind, Elaine thinks to herself. But her thoughts are interrupted by someone else's call.
"Ah, princess! You've finally seen fit to join us!" a voice chitters.
It was none other than Chadeu himself, who walks over to meet Elaine. At his right hand, another creature follows suit. Its furred, lanky figure looms over the other two. Though, Elaine gets the sense they're no threat to her safety.
No one here seemed to be, exactly. So she couldn't place her feelings of unease.
Shifting his weight as he comes to a stop, Chadeu speaks to Elaine again. "It's good to see you taking part in the festivities. Being holed up in your quarters all evening- it'd be a shame."
"A true one. It's not often that a royal comes to visit." speaks the other figure, bowing themself low. "Take the opportunity to bask in your presence, I shall, milady."
Elaine bows her head slightly in return, a little bit flustered. "The archduke here was kind enough to invite me. It sure seems like quite the event."
She runs over the manners in her mind, remembering that she should strain to be polite. Imply her thanks, do not apologize. Hardest of all, navigating how to get a name to call anyone by.
"… And who might you be that flatters so?" Elaine says.
The creature brings themself back to stand, and answers. "Should you refer to me, you can do so as 'Ves,' miss. May I ask about yourself?"
As the two begin to engage in conversation, Chadeu's attention is brought elsewhere. He excuses himself from the conversation and disappears into the crowd- to Elaine's dismay. However, she brings her attention back to this… Ves, for the time being.
…
Elaine steps out of the hall through some doorway she'd managed to find, met with the open air and a garden full of well-tended flora. She sighs tiredly, moving to rest on a nearby fence railing. It feels like it's been hours in that stuffy room, with all the distractions she's had.
Conversations she'd been dragged into. Drinks asked to be had. Dances invited to be shared.
And no sight of Chadeu, the elusive bastard. For as much dodging and weaving she's done around the place, it seems like he's always two steps ahead.
The night was beginning to wear on Elaine. Surely it wouldn't hurt to take a short break from it out here.
… Or maybe it would, she thinks, noticing someone else having stumbled into the area. Just her luck that it's the one fairy she's looking for.
"Oh! This is where you're hiding." Chadeu says. Elaine picks up the slightest hint of sarcasm in his tone.
"I just needed some air-" Elaine sighs again. "Though I'm surprised to see you here. Finally have a moment from being a good host?"
Chadeu gives a short laugh. "Wasn't sure you had it in you to joke, miss. Yes, I do have one to spare. Was something on your mind?"
"Several things, really." Ellie clarifies. "But I guess I'll start with asking if this was that event you were talking about."
"This? Oh, no. This is just a rehersal." Chadeu says. "I suppose I haven't been the most clear on that."
Elaine blinks, looking at Chadeu for a moment. "A rehersal? For what?"
"For the celebration following said grand event, dear. As I said before, it is quite important. A ceremony- a bestowing of titles, and bonding." says the pixie. "It will be a very big deal, given my status. But as I said, you will be brought home as soon as it's over."
His answer forms a pit in Elaine's stomach. While nothing sounded amiss, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was vital information being withheld. Was she just being paranoid? Her instincts haven't really been wrong before.
A moment of silence falls between the two. The chatter of guests can still be heard from where they sit- and then, music begins to swell. The band must be playing again, Elaine thinks.
"-Ah, this is a good song." Chadeu says suddenly. He walks ahead of Ellie, stopping to turn on his heel and hold out his hand. "I know that you've already danced with several others- but do you have it in you for one more, miss?"
Elaine pauses, looking at the hand offered, then back to Chadeu. Reluctantly, she takes his hand and follows him to the center of the garden.
The pair waltzes in time with the music beneath the gentle moonlight. Chadeu leads, though swaying too dramatically for Elaine's tastes. Turning and stepping, they move across the paved cobblestone. But Chadeu takes things a step further, turning Elaine under his arm and then pulling her into a dip.
"… Has anyone told you you're lovely in soft light?" Chadeu comments, holding Elaine there and meeting her flustered gaze.
She's dumbfounded for a moment, trying to come up with something to say. She's almost furious at him for pulling a stupid little stunt like this, but the feeling quickly turns to guilt.
Elaine twists her mouth some and begins to wriggle out of Chadeu's grasp. "Let go of me."
At her demand, the pixie lets Elaine back up and steps back without a word. Though, the expression he wears is quite smug.
Turning away, Elaine begins to move back inside. "… I'm going back to my room." she says coldly. "Enjoy the rest of your night."
"Certainly. Do as you wish, princess." Chadeu replies.
Slipping in her earrings, Arabella looks into the mirror. I look nice, she thinks, smoothing her dress, I hope Jamie thinks so. Thinking of Jamie, she smiles widely, excited. She’s liked him since a little after they first met, and she’s really happy he’s asked her to the dance.
The dance that he should be picking her up for… now. She turns quickly at the knock, walking to the door to her dorm room and taking a deep breath before opening it with a grin.
Sora shouldn't have accepted the mission to Castle of Dreams. Even if he hadn't really been there before, it hit him over the head with memories. Though, if he was being honest with himself, everything seemed to be doing that these days.
It was his regret, he knew that, but that didn't make them any less potent. Between that and his greater lack of sleep since that mission, he was sure he was going insane. But the threat of insanity didn't stop the memories.
"C'mon, Riku, you gotta wear it! I worked really hard on it!"
"No, Kairi! It's pink! I'll look stupid!"
"Quit being a grumpy butt, Riku! How can I be a princess without a fairy godmother?"
"Easy, be a different princess." The older girl had folded her arms over her chest, glaring at the enormous pink dress Kairi was trying to force her into.
"But I worked so hard on these costumes!" the younger girl protested, pouting angrily.
"Riku, you gotta go trick-or-treating with us! My mom said I can't go if you don't!" Sora had piped in, his own pout a bit more desperate that Kairi's. Neither of them really wanted to skip out on the free candy, but all of their parents had decided that Riku had to go if the younger two were going to get anything.
With the combined efforts of both her friends, Riku finally caved, accepting the dress and wings from Kairi. Sora had helped her do her hair, adding quite the generous amount of spray glitter to her silver locks to really drive home the fairy effect.
After that, Kairi had been much happier, perking up as they headed out with decorated pillowcases in hand. She was more than willing to show off her own dress--a light purple taffeta dress--to anyone who asked what she was, telling them proudly that she was the Cinder princess.
Then she would point out that Sora was Prince Charming and Ri was her fairy godmother. She would kiss her prince and try and force Ri into using her magic, which got her bopped on the head with Ri's wand more than once. Every time she was bopped, Kairi would mutter "grumpy butt" which seemed to only rile Ri up more until it almost seemed like she was having fun.
It was probably Kairi's fault they got so much candy that night. She was so endearing as a princess that it seemed to just naturally persuade people to empty their candy bowls.
By the end of the night, their bags were full to the point where Sora and Kairi were practically dragging them on the ground back to Riku's house, where they were sleeping over for the night. The two younger kids had all but collapsed on Riku's bedroom floor in exhaustion while the older girl had put the candy away and taken off her costume.
The three had more or less slept together in a bit of a heap on the floor of Ri's room, completely tuckered out from their little adventure.
What Sora wouldn't give for one more night like that...
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Sora wasn't sure if he was grateful to go to Christmastown for a mission or not. On the one hand, it was nice to go somewhere that wasn't too dreary for a change. On the other hand, he didn't feel like he deserved to be around such merriment at the moment.
Not to mention the cheeriness of the buildings brought back memories. So many memories.
"Soraaaaaa! You're gonna break it!"
Sora and Kairi had signed up to take a class at the local community center for making gingerbread houses. Apparently his reaching across their foundation to get the gumdrops for the pathway leading up to the house.
"Am not!" Sora whined in response, sneaking one of the gumdrops as Kairi began to use their icing glue to stick the rest of the walls on the house. She'd already made little partitions for each of the rooms, even though they didn't really need to.
The little girl flicked his forehead with her fingers and took the candies away from him. He made another whine-like noise but didn't fight her, instead, helping her put the roof on.
She handed him the icing bag so that he could apply the sticky stuff to the candies and she could decorate the house with meticulous care. Then, she handed him the little gingerbread people to decorate. Instead of making a little family with a mom, dad and two kids, Sora made a tall girl and a short boy and girl.
When they were done, Kairi had handed him the icing bag, telling him they should sign their little house. They did so on the back wall, Kairi's tiny, elegant script almost overshadowed by his large, scrawling writing.
Sora couldn't help the smile that appeared at the memory. Maybe he was feeling nostalgic, but he went to one of the shops run by the elves and bought two miniature, matching gingerbread houses.
Even if he knew it was wrong, he snuck into Kairi's new home in Twilight Town and left it on her bed for when she got back. It was the best he could do for some sort of peace offering. He wished he could give her more than that, but for now it would have to do.
Maybe it was because he was a masochist, maybe because he needed to punish himself by seeing just what destruction was wrought on their home.
At any rate, he'd gone alone. Ri didn't need this punishment. She was hurting herself enough mentally as it was. He wouldn't add to that. No, this suffering was going to be his and his alone.
He wandered through the rubble and ashes, whatever remained after the volcano and the sweeping Darkness. Actually, the world itself didn't seem to be in too bad of shape, the Heartless must not have reached the Heart of the World.
That didn't mean that everything in the town wasn't destroyed. No, any civilization was gone, buried in cooled lava and Darkness.
It hurt to see, but he forced himself to memorize everything. There was no way he would ever forget this, even as he headed toward the relatively unharmed jungles.
Even when he was little, he'd never feared the jungle. None of them really had. Maybe that had been why they'd found him.
"Sora! Riku! Come see what I found!"
Kairi had been so excited when she'd found the little reddish guy, barely hiding under the brush. He had been alone and looked abandoned.
"What is it? It looks kinda like a cat."
"It's a baby fox; the mom probably abandoned it," Riku'd said with an almost haughty sniff, folding her arms over her chest and looking down at it. She'd been a bit grumpier lately after her dad had left on a trip a few months ago and had yet to return.
"We should take care of him!" Sora'd suggested, carefully picking up the little guy, who was making small cries as though looking for its mom.
"Yeah! We could take turns and he'd be our pet!" Kairi said, giving Riku an almost pleading look like they needed the older girl's permission.
After a few long moments of looking between them, Riku had sighed, shaking her head. "Yeah, I guess a pet couldn't hurt... What would we name him?"
"In school they said baby foxes were kits! That's his name, Kit!" Sora sounded like he was trying too hard to sound smart but Riku had laughed and rolled her eyes.
"That's a stupid name, Sora."
"No it isn't! He's a kit! That means his name is Kit!"
"That would be like if your name was Boy."
"Nuh uhhhh!"
Sora looked around, wondering what'd happened to Kit after the disaster with the raft as he returned to the town. Someone's parents had probably taken care of him. They all knew how much the trio loved him.
Too bad they'd never--
Sora blinked, seeing a flash of reddish fur in the rubble. Was it too much to hope? Could they really get a break like this?
"Kit!" he called and whistled. There was a long pause and he tried again, making soft calling noises with his tongue. Sure enough, over limped a fully grown red fox.
He looked skinny, like he was a bit under fed and he was holding his left foreleg aloft. But he was alive! That was the important thing!
"Hey, boy! Did you miss me?" he asked through a clogged throat, holding out his hand for the fox to sniff. Once Kit decided he recognized the scent, he butted his head against Sora's palm and allowed the boy to carefully pick him up.
"I'm gonna take you back to Riku and we'll get you all patched up and something to eat," he said, blinking back tears as he put the fox under his coat and opened a corridor.
He took the corridor to right outside Riku's room, knocking on her door. "Riku! You'll never guess who I found!"
Sora had wandered into Ansem's room after their training earlier that day. Occasionally he would borrow a book or two from the Seeker's extensive library. He figured Ansem didn't actually mind very much since he left everything else alone and he was still alive at this point. It was only books he was after.
While scanning the spines, he came across a slightly older and worn volume that looked like it was well-loved. Picking it up, he opened the cover to find the title: Treasure Island.
It had been one of Riku's--and later his--favorites when they were little. It was one of the reasons Sora had been so excited to go on an adventure with her when she had the idea to build a raft and leave the islands.
He opened a corridor, taking it to his room and settling in with it, taking great care with the old volume. Hearts, this brought back memories...
"Riiiiiikuuuuuu! I wanna be captain this time!"
"I'm captain, Sora! That's the way it is!" Riku said, hands on her hips after she'd situated her captain hat on her head, still in her outfit from ballet earlier that day. They had barely just gotten to the island, and already she had runs in her once-white tights.
"But you got to be captain last time!" Sora was pretty sure he'd stomped his foot.
"Yeah, because I'm the best fighter. If you can beat me in a sword fight, you can be captain."
It was very safe to say that Sora had lost that fight and had been told he would be swabbing the deck as punishment for the attempted mutiny. Sora was always swabbing the deck, probably because he was always trying to commit mutiny on the captain.
"Avast! A newcomer approaches!" Riku had cried as Tidas and Wakka's boat had arrived with the new girl, Kairi, on board, talking to Selphie.
"Hi, Sora, Riku," the new girl had said shyly. Riku had bounded over to her, almost towering over the little girl.
"That's Captain Riku to you! Now, will ye join my crew or be our prisoner?" she asked, playing up the pirate voice just a little bit.
"You'd let me join your pirate crew?" Kairi's face seemed to light up at the thought.
"Aye, I need a first mate."
"I thought I was your first mate!" Sora whined.
"Mutineers don't get to be first mates! Now get back ta swabbin' the deck before I make you walk the plank!"
"Aye, aye Captain Riku..."
"Now, will ye be my first mate Kairi?" Riku had asked, holding out a wooded sword to the younger girl.
Kairi bobbed her head with a grin. "Aye, aye Captain Riku!"
The three had spent the entire afternoon exploring the island, climbing trees and looking for buried treasure until they had all but collapsed on the beach with exhaustion around sunset. That had been the first night they'd sat together at the paopu tree.
"Dammit." Sora closed the book, having not made it past the first few pages before his vision had blurred. He put the book off to the side, burying his face in his hands as the emotions he'd been keeping bottled up broke the dam keeping them at bay.
"Dammit, dammit, damn it all," he all but sobbed. What had he and Riku done? Screwed everything up, that's what. There was no coming back from all of this, and this stupid book had just brought that all to the forefront of his mind.
The outcome of the war didn't matter anymore. None of them had anything left to go back to. And they never would again.
