The Beginning of Fate

In the castle of Hollow Bastion, Xehanort sits on his throne, smirking at the young blond teenager before him. She stares back at him with sad, pale blue eyes. She rubs her arm absently, "You wanted to see me, Your Majesty?"

"Yes," he replies, "Someone told me you have a gift, child. A gift to see the future."

She swallows, not meeting his gaze, "I.. I do.."

"So tell me, child." he grins, "What is it you have seen, regarding me, and some kid with a key?"

The oracle meets his gaze, glaring, "I see a child with a gift so much stronger than yours. I see him grow to a Master. He will strike you down with his Keyblade, and free this land from your terror."

Xehanort's eyes narrow, "And the child? He lives now?"

She looks away, but Xehanort has his answer. He calls the guards, "Take this child to the dungeon. Her gift could be quite useful. I also want you to send troops to every settlement in the country. I want every child to be brought to me. I will find this brat with the Keyblade, and kill him before he can become a Master!"

The rain pours down, creating a misty fog. The chill of the rain and the air is like the chill inside a freezer. Through the rain, soldiers march, and three children hide in an alleyway. Riku stands in front of Sora and Kairi, holding onto Sora's hand as Sora holds onto Kairi's. Riku peeks around the corner, the rain soaking the poor child, sticking his hair flat to his face. He shivers, "Come on. Stay with me, I'll get us someplace safe."

Sora and Kairi don't question the older kid. They trust him to save them. The two friends would follow Riku to the ends of the earth if that's what it takes. And it just might. Like Riku, his two friends and equally soaked by the rain. They run from the alleyway, taking little shelter behind another building.

"Wh-where are we going?" Kairi sobs, shivering violently.

"Away." Sora hushes her, "We have to go, I told you."

"Why?" she keeps crying.

"I don't know." Riku answers, looking for a new rout of escape, "We just have to keep moving. It's what Daddy told me."

"I want Mommy!" Kairi wails.

"Kairi!" Sora quickly covers the younger kid's mouth, "Shh! You'll get us caught!"

"They're coming!" Riku gasps, grabbing his friends and running in the other direction. Through the rain and mist, it's very hard to see, even hard to hear, the pounding of the rain against the concrete is very loud. Nonetheless, Riku runs, dragging his friends along behind him. I promised Daddy I'd protect my friends. I won't let him down! Though Riku is young, he's mature for his age of seven. Whereas Sora and Kairi are six-year-old whining children. Riku would do anything for those two, and he doesn't intend to lose them here.

They take cover in a small shed. They hide behind boxes in the very back of the structure. The rain makes a crashing sound against the shed. The three children shiver, huddled together. Sora hugs Kairi as she cries softly, her cries hidden by the rain's pounding. Riku holds onto Sora and Kairi both, breathing heavily. They had run all the way through town almost. Their destination wasn't far now. The loading docks. If they could get there, steal one of the soldiers' Riders, they could get out and be free.

That's if they can make it to the docks, and then there's the problem of getting a Rider to work for them before the soldiers notice. The plan isn't solid, it's not even a good one, but Riku promised his dad he'd follow the instructions and get his friends to Radiant Gardens. He intends to do just that. He sighs, holding his friends close, "We can do this, guys. We're not far now, then we'll be okay."

"But what about that place? Radiant something? Is it safe there? Aren't the soldiers just rounding up children there, too?" Sora asks, eyes wide and afraid.

Riku shakes his head, his eyes sad, "I don't know. Daddy told me what to do, and where to go. He said he'd distract them long enough for us to get away, but.. I just don't know what will happen once we leave."

"If we leave.." Kairi clings to Sora, "What if we just get caught? What will happen to us?"

Riku hates not having the answers to calm his friends' fears. He shakes his head again, "I don't know."

They leave the shed and head back into the rain. They make it to the loading docks, but they quickly hide behind a bunch of boxes. Soldiers were all over the docks. Riku groans softly and Sora whimpers, "What now?"

There's no way the three of them can get to a Rider and get off without being noticed. Riku's eyes narrow. He knows what he has to do. He turns to his friends, "Sora, get Kairi to a Rider. Get it working as quickly as you can. You take her to Radiant Gardens. Just follow where the waves are coming from. It's not too far. Daddy said someone in Radiant Gardens will protect us there. You take her there and get her to the safe place."

Sora's eyes widen, "What? By myself? Riku, no! We need you, I can't do this on my own!"

"Yes, you can. I know you can. You're special, Sora. I'll distract the guards, you get her out." Riku instructs.

Sora shakes his head, crying now, "What about you? I can't just leave you!"

"You have to. It's the only way you'll get out. Once the soldiers are after me, get to a Rider and get it working." Riku runs from their hiding place and Sora wants to call after his friend, but he wipes his eyes instead. A look of determination appears in his eyes. He grabs Kairi's hand and stands slowly, "Come on, Kairi."

Sora runs from the boxes, pulling Kairi along. Sora looks around and sees Riku running around, throwing stuff at the soldiers. Sora gets to a Rider and inspects it, trying to figure out how it works before the soldiers see them. They don't have much time, maybe a few minutes at best. As Sora continues tampering with the advanced scooter-looking vehicle, Riku cries out.

Sora turns and sees his friend fall to the ground, the soldiers surround him. Sora holds back tears and keeps tampering, The soldiers will get us in seconds! Kairi cries, standing behind Sora, and he keeps working. He laughs when the vehicle roars to life. The soldiers yell out, turning and running towards Sora and Kairi. Sora quickly pulls Kairi on behind him and, messing with the controls, they launch into the sky.