'ArchyltheVilRose' It makes me really happy that you appreciate this story. I wanted to make this story because I know there are people who suffer from PTSD, but that's what makes them strong. They go through so much, emotionally, but are able to fight every day. We all have a strength inside us and I like to write about those strengths in each of my OCs. Like I'd say; it's not about physical strength or muscle, what's strong about someone is the things they've gone through and how they've conquered those ups and downs.

Kingdom Hearts 1: Strength of Heart

Chapter 4: Reunited

Dawn's eyebrows furrowed together and she opened her eyes slowly. Her eyes adjusted to the light and she looked around. Her eyes fell on a young man who sitting at her bedside. He was extremely handsome, with spiky black hair, fair skin, chiselled jaw, pierced ear and an athletic build. He wore a red tank top, black leather jacket, cropped trousers and black trainers. When he turned to her, her cheeks turned pink and she gulped. She felt her heart beat faster; this man was handsome. But when she saw his blue eyes, her eyes widened. He turned to her and his cheeks turned a faint red. His eyebrows furrowed together when he saw her staring at him. The young man's eyes filled with tears as he placed his hand on her cheek and she placed her hand on his face.

"Dawn…it's you." He sighed smiling and a tear fell down her cheek. She sat up and wrapped her arms around him tightly. "It's really you." He hugged her back and felt warm tears on his neck. Raiden pulled away from her slowly and wiped her tears. "Please don't cry. Are you alright?"

Dawn smiled brightly, but when she remembered, her smile dropped and she averted her gaze. She sighed and felt her heart ache as her eyes stung with tears. She remembered what happened to Destiny Islands, to the people she loved.

"Dawn, please say something. What's wrong?" He urged and she looked up at him. She picked up her blackboard and began writing.

I'm mute because of the trauma I've gone through 10 years ago. I only speak when I'm on my own.

His eyebrows furrowed together and he held her hands.

Raiden, where are we?

"We're in Traverse Town. When someone loses their world to the Heartless, they take refuge here." Her eyebrows furrowed together and her eyes widened.

What happened to Radiant Garden?

"A witch called Maleficent invaded along with the Heartless." He answered.

She grinded her teeth together and her hand curled up into a fist. Her eyes widened and jumped out of the bed. The young woman dashed out the door and stopped when she got into the corridor of a Hotel with Raiden behind her. She saw a man with brown hair carrying her best friend, Sora. She ran up to them and placed her hand on Sora's forehead with a frown.

"Dawn…is that you?" She looked up and recognised this man to be Leon. She smiled and nodded. "How did you get here?"

"I found her unconscious in the Second District with Heartless swarming around her." Raiden stated.

"What's up, cat's got your tongue?" Leon asked and Dawn glared at him. He gulped at this and turned to a door. "Uh, come on."

Dawn sat beside a sleeping Sora as she stared into his face. She held his hand tightly and a tear fell down her cheek. Their world…it's gone and she didn't know where her friends or family were. She knew they weren't there…so where?

Sora opened his eyes and he looked up at Dawn.

"Dawn?" When she heard his voice, she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. He took a second to process what was going on and returned the hug. After a few moments, she pulled away from him and placed her hand on his forehead. "I'm fine, Dawn." She stared at him and still looked worried. "Don't worry about me." He smiled at her and she saw Ven's bright smile. She returned the smile and nodded.

"I think you might have over done it Squall." Yuffie stated.

"It's Leon." He corrected. Dawn turned to the brown haired man with a murderous glare and he gulped whilst averting his gaze.

"The Keyblade…" Dawn turned to Sora and followed his stare to see a yellow and silver Keyblade against the wall.

"Yeah we had to get it away from you to shake off the Heartless. It turns out, that's how they were tracking you." Yuffie stated.

"It was the only way to conceal your heart from them. But it won't work for long. Still hard to believe that you of all people were chosen." Leon picked up the Keyblade and it appeared in Sora's hand.

Dawn looked at the Keyblade and then raised her hand. Her Keyblade appeared and she held onto it. Leon's eyebrows rose and he gasped.

"Another Keyblade?" He asked. "Dawn, how long have you had this for?"

"She's had it for around 10 years." Raiden stated.

"So there are 2 chosen ones." Leon stated.

What is going on?

Leon began explaining what was happening with the Heartless and the Keyblade. He said that the Heartless were afraid of the Keyblade and that was why they would keep coming after them. When he was done explaining, Sora went to talk to Leon and Raiden sat next to Dawn. She turned to him to see him staring at her whilst placing his hand on hers.

"There's something important I have to tell you." He said and gulped. "Raiden…that's not my name." Her head tilted to the side with confusion. "It's Noctis and there's so much I have to tell you." He held her hand and she smiled at him whilst placing her hand on his shoulder.

You're still my best friend, no matter what.

"Dawn…" He sighed with relief with a smile on his face.

"LEON!" They heard Yuffie yell and looked up to see a Heartless appear in the room.

"Yuffie, go!" Leon shouted. Noctis summoned his Ultima Blade whilst Sora and Dawn held onto their Keyblades. "Sora, Dawn, Noctis, let's go."

The Heartless jumped out of the window and they all followed. Leon decided that they would all split up with Sora and Dawn sticking together to look for the leader. Leon would look in the 1st District, Noctis in the 2nd District and Sora and Dawn to the 3rd District.

Dawn and Sora ran through the 2nd District whilst fighting any Heartless coming in the way. Sora noticed how strong the brown haired teen was at fighting the Heartless. It was as if she had been doing for years. She turned to him and he smiled at her.

"You're really strong Dawn." He stated and she smiled whilst blushing.

They ran into the 3rd District to find it completely yet oddly empty. They began looking around and suddenly heard yelling. Suddenly 2 people fell on Sora and Dawn placed her hand on her mouth whilst snickering.

"Hey!" Sora whined and she rubbed the back of her neck whilst smiling.

The ground began to shake and they saw the corners being blocked by boulders and they were surrounded with Heartless. Dawn held out her hand and summoned her Keyblade. She and the others began fighting the Heartless and it no time they were all gone. Just as they thought all the Heartless was gone, they heard armour clanking together. They turned to see a huge armoured Heartless; that was the leader!

Dawn ran towards it and jumped from limb to limb to get to the head, whilst the others were attacking the feet of the Armoured Heartless. As time went on, Dawn began remembering things her father, brother and Aqua taught her; certain attacks and a few magical spells. The others soon defeated the feet and arms of the Heartless and Sora and Dawn delivered the final blow. It began to tremble then it disappeared. A heart appeared and then it floated up to the sky.

"So you were looking for us?" Sora asked and the others nodded.

"They too have been seeking the wielder of the Keyblade." Leon added and turned to see him, Yuffie and Noctis walked into the scene.

"Hey why don't you come with us? We can go to other worlds on our vessel." The one in yellow and green asked.

"I wonder if I could find Riku and Kairi…" Sora sighed. Dawn noticed this and placed her hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see her nodding with a reassuring smile.

"Sora, go with them. Especially if you wanna find your friends." Leon stated.

"Yeah, I guess." He sighed.

"But you can't come along looking like that. Understand?" The one in blue exclaimed. "No frowning. No sad face. Okay?"

"Yeah, you gotta look funny, like us." The goofy looking person stated.

"This boat runs on happy faces!" The duck stated.

"Happy?" Sora sighed. "Like this?" He looked up at the others with a huge grin on his face. The others laughed at this but Dawn stood there with a freaked-out face.

"That's one funny face!" The dog said.

"Okay, why not? I'll go with you guys. What about you?" He turned to Dawn and she nodded.

"Donald Duck!" Donald said.

"The name's Goofy." Goofy added.

"I'm Sora." He smiled and the others looked at the brown-haired girl.

My name is Dawn, it's nice to meet you.

"You can't talk?" Donald asked and she shook her head.

"Well it's nice to meet ya too, Dawn." Goofy smiled and she placed her hand on her chest whilst smiling and nodding.

"Dawn." She turned to see Noctis. He held her hands and his eyebrows furrowed together. She held his hands tightly whilst smiling at him. "Be careful out there, okay?" Dawn nodded as she grinned at her best friend with a thumbs up.