Dream Drop Distance: The Nyrolian Edition

Prologue

Nyra's POV

I was tending to my garden when I heard the Gummi Ship landing, I ran down the path to see Mickey, Donald and Goofy towards the tower door; along with Sora and another boy who looks to be around my age and made me wonder if he was either an Azurian or, like myself, a Star Child due to reading that a Star Child that have either Azurian or human blood being more dominate are extremely rare; rarer than inheriting wings and/or magical abilities. His silver hair that fell to the base of his neck moved gently as he stopped and turned his head, allowing me to see his breathtaking aqua eyes. Once I realized that he is looking at me, I quickly got out of his sight. I don't know why my heart can't stop beating fast just thinking about him, it seems that everything about him is like his eyes, breathtaking. As I hope that he didn't come my way, I heard Sora calling out to him; "Hey, Riku! Are you coming?" Riku.... so he must be the friend Sora mentioned when he came to the tower with Donald and Goofy. When I cautiously went to the door, I saw him catching up to Sora and continuing up the stairs to see Master Yen Sid; remembering that Grandpa has asked Mickey to bring them to have them take part in a Mark of Mastery Exam. As I came to Grandpa Yen Sid's study, I heard him talking. Even though I know better than to eavesdrop, I tiptoed to the study, brushed my raven hair aside and carefully pressed my ear to the door.

"As a Keyblade Master, Xehanort had a gift like few others. But such great minds are often plagued by a single great question. What is the essence of the human heart that weakens us, or empowers us? The answer, he believed, would be found in the "Keyblade War". What if the challenges of our past were, in fact, a map to the Light and Darkness that battles within us all? Xehanort had to know, so he renounced his duties as master and chose the seeker's life. Since then, in many a guise, he has clashed with protectors of the Light; Keyblade wielders like yourselves. And mark my words; he will trouble us yet again. We must be ready. Which is why you, Sora and Riku, are to be tested for the mark of a true Keyblade Master. No doubt you fancy yourselves masters already, but it takes years of training. Only a true master can teach you the proper way. Both of you are self-taught Keyblade wielders; an impressive feat. However, the time has come for you to let go of preconceived notions, forget what you know about the Keyblade, and begin your training again with a clean slate." Master Yen Sid said, causing everyone, including myself to be surprised. "Forget the Keyblade?" I thought to myself as I listened more closely. "But that's a formality, right? I already proved myself. Me and the king, and Riku; we can take on anything. Right, Riku?" Sora's voice came up, "I don't know. I think that in my heart, Darkness still has a hold. Walking that path changed me. I'm not sure if I'm ready to wield a Keyblade. Maybe I do need to be tested." A new voice replied to Sora's, making me realizes that the voice belonged to Riku. "Riku...Then count me in. Put me through the test! Just watch; me and Riku will pass with flying colors!" Sora said with confidence, causing me to roll my eyes a bit. After a brief pause, Grandpa Yen Sid's voice then came up. "Very well, then. Sora and Riku, let your examination begin. If we are ever to strike down Xehanort, we need the individuals King Mickey spoke of in his letter. We must lead them out of sorrow and slumber, and back to our world. To do so, seven Sleeping Keyholes must be found and unlocked, and a great power retrieved. As you know, every world is walled off from the next, preventing travel between them. In the past, you could bridge these gaps because the walls were broken, or because you could open special Lanes with your Keyblades. But your new goals, the "Sleeping Keyholes", are harder to reach. You'll recall, in your first journey, that you brought many worlds back from darkness; but some never returned completely. They still sleep, cut off from all outside channels. Not even the Heartless can enter. But these Sleeping Worlds are said to have their own manner of darkness. They are called "Dream Eaters", and there are two kinds; "Nightmares", which devour happy dreams; and benevolent "Spirits", which consume the Nightmares. The Dream Eaters will guide you, just as the Heartless once guided you, to the Keyhole you seek at the heart of each world. "

That is when I had a vision similar to the one I told Master Yen Sid; in the vision, I saw an elderly man with golden eyes gesturing his hand as if he was about to perform some magic and twelve more of the same man appeared, which five of them changed form. One of the five turned into a young man with silver hair and having an uncanny resemblance to Terra, another one turned into a man with long, frayed blue hair framing his face; though slicked back in wild spikes at the top, and the X-shaped scar between his piercing eyes. The third turned into a man with gold eyes, dark hair with several silver streaks tied into a long ponytail, an eyepatch that cover his right eye and a large jagged scar extending from his left cheek to just under his left eye. The last two transformed into the Heartless and Nobody that Mickey mentioned. The thirteen men then attacked Sora and Riku, with the Heartless pulling the chains attached to Riku, while the Nobody and the young man grabbing the unconscious Sora and placing him in one of the thirteen thrones. And with that, the vision ended, leaving me with a horrible realization; Even though Master Xehanort hasn't been revived yet, he is still going after Sora and Riku by interfering with the Exam. I snapped back into reality in time to hear Grandpa Yen Sid explain to them the history behind the Keyblade War.

"Long ago, in the age of fairy tales, the World was filled with Light; a gift, many believed, from an unseen power known as "Kingdom Hearts." You see, Kingdom Hearts was protected by its counterpart, the "X-blade," so that none could ever lay hands on its mysteries. But in time, the World was overrun by legions who wanted the Light all for themselves, and the first Shadows were cast upon the land. These warriors crafted "Keyblades" in the image of the original X-blade, and waged a great war over Kingdom Hearts. We call this the "Keyblade War." But though the war extinguished all Light from the World, the Darkness could not reach the brightness inside every child's heart. With that Light, the World was remade as we know it today, with countless smaller worlds shining like stars in the sky. As for the real X-blade, it did not survive the battle. The two elements that created it, one of Darkness and one of Light, shattered into twenty pieces; seven of Light; thirteen of Darkness. And as for the source of all light; the one true Kingdom Hearts, it was swallowed by the darkness, never to be seen again. As long as it remains there, ever the brightest world will have its dark corners. After all, Light begets Darkness, and Darkness is drawn to Light. For this reason, some decided to use the Keyblade; a weapon designed to conquer the Light, to defend the Light instead. These were the first heroes of the Keyblade." When Master Yen Sid was finished, I heard him explaining more about their Exam.

"One dream is connected to another, which means we must choose in which "Sleeping World" you will begin. I will return you to the Destiny Islands just before they were swallowed by the darkness and plunged into sleep. Once dreams take you, you must let them guide you to the Sleeping Worlds. As there are seven pure lights, there are seven "Sleeping Keyholes." Unlocking these will both grant you new powers, and free the worlds from their wakelessness. Complete this task, and return here safely, and I will name you both... true masters." And with that, I heard him creating a portal to Destiny Islands before it was succumbs to the darkness. I quickly ran to my room, grabbed my cloak and summoned a corridor of twilight to follow Sora and Riku, even if it means for me to "interfere" with the Exam myself and getting chewed out for it.