Darkness...

That's all I could see around me. Or rather, what completely surrounded me. I don't know what was going on, but I felt like I was sinking into water. Even making an attempt to thrash about did me no good. I thought I was about to be completely submerged until I saw a small ember gently floating down towards my hand. It landed on my palm and the ember grew into a larger flame that illuminated the area around me and completely dispelled the darkness.

?: My last embers. They grow brightly with you.

I then jolted awake and looked around me to see I was chilling on the island. I let out a sigh of relief and went back to laying down. When I did I saw that I was staring into the eyes of one of my friends.

"Hey Kairi."

Kairi:"Hey (Y/n). You and Sora need to get up."

"Why?"

Kairi:"So we can build the raft, silly."

I sighed and got up and she giggled. Sora then looked at us.

Sora:"Alright. I'm up. But weird thing is, I had this crazy dream. Where I was on these weird stained glass platforms. Then I had to fight this giant black thing."

"Huh. I had a weird dream too."

Kairi:"Weird minds think alike."

Both:"Hey!"

Kairi laughed at us as we lightly growled at her.

Rika:"You're no better than them."

We looked over and saw Rika walking over to us.

She was surprisingly carrying a whole log of wood under her arm before tossing it to Sora and making her fall over.

Kairi:"So you've noticed."

"Dang Rika. Have you always been ripped?"

Rika giggled and playfully flexed her arms.

Rika:"I could help you build muscle if you'd like."

"What do you mean? I'm already at peak condition. Take a look at these guns!"

I flexed my right arm and started to push up my bicep to make it seem bigger which caused them to laugh.

Kairi:"Alright. We'll build it together. Race you!"

Rika:"You can't be serious."

Kairi:"3...2...1...GO!"

Without missing a beat, all of us started running ahead sharing a collective laugh. I was in the lead with Rika and Sora neck and neck for 2nd place and Kairi just following behind.

Later that evening

We were all hanging out by the weirdly curved paopu tree.

Sora and Kairi were sitting on the tree as Rika leaned against the section where it curved. And I sat in the space between her and Kairi on the sand.

Sora:"So, Kairi's home is out there right?"

Rika:"Could be. We'll never know by staying here."

Sora:"But how far could a raft take us?"

Rika:"Who knows?"

"Probably like 10 feet at least."

Rika rolled her eyes and flicked my head.

"Da! Hey!"

Rika:"If we have to, we'll think of something else."

Kairi:"So, suppose you get to another world. What would you do there?"

"Eat the local cuisine there!"

Sora:"Of course you would say that."

Rika:"Well, I haven't really thought about it. It's just... I've always wondered why we're here on this island. If there are any other worlds our there, why did we end up on this one? And suppose there are other worlds... Then ours is just a little piece of something much greater. So we could have just as easily ended up somewhere else, right?"

"Did you practice this in the mirror or something? No way you just came up with that on the spot."

She flicked me in the head again as Sora giggled then laid back on the tree.

Sora:"I dunno."

Rika:"Exactly. That's why we need to go out there and find out. Just sitting here won't change a thing. It's the same old stuff. So let's go."

Kairi:"You've been thinking a lot lately, haven't you?"

Rika:"Thanks to you. If you hadn't come here, I probably would've never thought of any of this. Kairi, thanks."

Kairi:"You're welcome."

We all then started to walk away as Rika pulled Sora aside for something. They talked for a bit as she handed Sora a paopu fruit then pointed in my direction. This caused Sora to turn red and she tossed the fruit aside and started to chase after Rika. Rika brushed past me and winked playfully as Sora kept chasing after her.

The next day

I was helping Sora gather materials for the raft when I saw Rika hanging out by the tree. I went over to her and she smiled upon seeing me.

Rika:"Hey (Y/n). You doing alright?"

"Yeah. You?"

Rika:"Yeah. Why don't you show off those muscles you're so proud of?"

She tossed a wooden sword in my direction and I caught it. She held one herself and smirked. I swung it around to get a feel for it then got into a fighting stance.

"Heck yeah! I'm game!"

Rika:"Then come on!"

I went in for the first hits and knocked her back. She ran at me and tried to attack. I jumped away from her and proceeded to roll on the ground to get behind her. My rolling action confused her which was the perfect opportunity to strike her back. She stumbled forward and I landed a few more hits. She quickly turned around and blocked one of my hits before spinning and hitting me in the gut.

I shook off the hit and went in for several more attacks. She seemed to smile anytime I got close and had my attacks blocked.

Rika:"What's the matter, tough guy?"

"The sun is in my eyes."

Rika:"That is the lamest excuse I've heard."

"It's nerfing me, but I'm still kicking your butt."

I laughed happily as our swords were pressed against one another. Across the bridge stood Sora. She was watching intently as Rika and I were at a standstill. I spun my arms around and managed to knock the sword right out her hands. She was stunned and smirked.

Rika:"Welp, you got me, tough guy."

"Wooo! Yeah baby! I'm the greatest!"

Sora giggled to herself as I did a victory dance. Rika grabbed her sword and smacked me on the head with it. I flinched as she rolled her eyes.

Rika:"Okay. We get it. You're awesome and super cool."

"And you better not forget it, either."

She giggled before getting up close to my face. I felt my face heat up as she stared into my eyes.

Rika:"Trust me, I won't."

She then kissed me on the cheek and I felt my body shutdown. Across the bridge Sora let out a loud gasp. Rika heard her and shot a proud smirk at her friend. Sora growled and ran off somewhere. Rika then went to go somewhere else as I stood there dumbfounded.

I snapped out of my daze and chased after them.

Later with Sora and Kairi

Kairi:"You know, Rika's changed."

Sora:"What do you mean?"

Kairi:"Well... Hm..."

Sora:"You okay?"

Kairi:"Sora, let's take the raft and go. Just the two of us!"

Sora:"Huh?"

Kairi:"Heheh! Just kidding."

Sora:"What's gotten into you? You're the one that's changed, Kairi."

Kairi:"Maybe... You know, I was a little afraid at first, but now I'm ready. No matter where I go or what I see. I know I can always come back here. Right?"

Sora:"Yeah, of course."

Kairi:"That's good. Sora, don't ever change."

Sora:"Huh?"

Kairi:"I just can't wait. Once we set sail, it'll be great."

Later that night

I was getting ready to fall asleep as I sat on the edge of my bed. Out the corner of my eye I saw a lot of dark clouds rolling in.

"A storm? At this time of year? Wait! The rafts! Crap!"

I quickly put on a pair of pants and put on my shoes and quickly rushed out my house. Everything was weird once I stepped foot outside. The entire island was dark. I looked around and kept running. I stopped by the pier and saw our raft was still intact.

"Where's everyone at?! I need to make sure they're safe!"

I began running across the island and passed by under the bridge and open the door to the side housing the obstacle course Rika and Sora raced at.

"Rika! Kairi! Sora! Where are you?!"

I didn't hear a response and decided to climb up the tower to get a better view. There was no one in sight and I clicked my tongue.

"They must be at the tree!"

I was about to climb back down when I noticed these strange black things popping out the ground.

They were small and had glowing yellow eyes. They scuttled around before sinking into the ground like a sort of shadow and moved all around.

"What are those things?! I've never seen them in my life."

I looked at the zip line and decided that was my best option to escape. I held onto it and went down the line and landed safely on the ground. One of the creatures tried making its way to me and I rolled away.

"Crap! I left my sword at the house!"

I looked around and saw a plank of wood. I rolled towards it and clutched it tightly. The creature approached me and I slammed the wood on it. This was ineffective as the plank of wood seemingly phased through the thing.

"Ah crap baskets."

It tried scratching me and I rolled away.

"How am I supposed to fight back?!"

I looked around and saw several them completely surrounding me. The sky above was growing darker and I started to get fearful. I never been one to be afraid of the dark, but this was something else entirely different.

?: My last embers. They grow brightly with you.

"Wait. That voice. That was from my dream!"

?: Darkness is nothing compared to light. A blazing fire is a perfect example of light. Show these Shadows your bright light!

As if my body was moving on its own, my right hand was extended and a fireball was shot out and crashed into one of the creatures. It dispersed into tiny black bits and I stood there with my mouth open.

Did I just shoot out a fireball?!

?: Combat the darkness and protect your world.

"Y-yeah! If I can shoot fireballs no way I can lose to these creeps! Bring it!"

I tossed aside the plank of wood and stared down at my opponents.

"Fire!"

I shot another blast of fire that crashed into another Shadow and decimated it. I smirked and proceeded to burn down each one. It didn't take long as the crowd had dispersed.

"Heh! Too easy."

I smiled and ran back towards the door.

"Wait till Rika gets a load of this!"

Before I could get close to the door I felt my body sinking. I looked straight down and saw I was being pulled in some strange pool of darkness. I tried to lift my legs up and escape, but I just couldn't.

"No! What's going on?! I still need to find Rika! Let me go!"

It was too late as it fully pulled me in. I screamed out for someone to help me. However, I was completely unaware as Rika and Sora themselves were pulled into the darkness. And little did I know that it would be quite some time before I returned back to the Destiny Islands.

To Be Continued...

A/n: This first chapter might've been a little dull and slow. Which is perfectly in tune with Destiny Islands itself in the game! Stay tuned for what's next.