Kingdom Hearts: World Keeper [Re:Joined]

More Than A Dream

Standing in the middle of a gathering spot for hunters and huntresses, Xehanort and Kairi look around. This place is the exact opposite of the Destiny Islands. The path they walked on led them to this area and even further away, snowy mountaintops contrast the blue sky. It is quite the hike down to reach a living area, clearly separated from this hub. Imagining people seeking challenges from the large Questboard. Usually with a well-dressed marm sitting in front. However there are no humans or animals to be seen far and wide. Despite the guild's crest being depicted on many items, small and large.

"What's this place?", Kairi mumbles with a bright smile. She's absolutely stunned by how beautiful this new area looks. Surprisingly, three young children run right past them, one being slightly older than the others. The two smaller ones laugh and laugh, the older one keeps his bland look, even after being caught. He stopped on purpose.

"Are they-", Xehanort questions, realizing who these children are. A really young Viola quickly helps Theon get up from his older brother, Azal quickly fixes his short hair and stands up. Kairi hints at the little Theon, trying to keep up with his friends, who start to purposely run slow.
"So adorable! I wish I could play too.", Kairi says. However a strange feeling overcomes Xehanort. He turns away from the children, who start another round of hide and seek, and he notices a half-timbered house, decorated with roses on each windowsill. Every house is half-timbered, but this one sticks out. This must be the living space for the locals.

Coming closer to it, a conversation is to be heard. Trying to peek through the window, he quickly realizes that no one can see him or Kairi. A look at the house's doorbell. "Richter" is written on a sign in calligraphy and is placed under a little bell, that's supposed to be rang. Xehanort stares back inside what seems to be a living room, noticing an older Viola sitting on a couch. She's braiding her long hair. The bell on the door rings and Xehanort immediately jumps back. A boy with short, red hair is now standing where Xehanort stood. The door opens and she jumps right into Azal's arms. Seeing that, Xehanort's strange feeling reappears.

He turns back and sees the three as kids again, this time a smaller creature from their world growling at them... Azal stands in front of the kids, holding a wooden sword in his hands before a younger version of Markus and a very light-blonde, long haired man in blue-grayish armor appear. Brooke mentioned him once, surely that must be Julius, the Ace Commander. Xehanort turns away again, noticing Kairi now being next to him.

"I don't think we're in a dream anymore.", Kairi says. "All these must be memories.", Xehanort mumbles and Kairi agrees. Hearing Azal's calm voice is strange overall. He claims to not being able to feel, however this younger version of him has this undertone. He sounds cheerful.

"I practiced smiling yesterday. The way you taught me." , he slowly claims and Viola's eyes begin to sparkle. They're both blue.
Kairi accidentally pulls on Xehanort's coat and with a blink of an eye the village is empty again.

Xehanort tells her to keep moving, the three kids run right past them one last time. And after them comes a toddler with brown hair and green eyes, slowly trying to crawl after them. Viola and Theon wait and yell, cheer incoherent sentences and the young Azal claps his hands with his face remaining bland. Kairi walks over to take a better look at the toddler: "That's Day? He's so cute!", she yells before Brooke suddenly appears and swoops her son right up. The toddler hysterically laughs.

On Xehanort's demand, the two keep going forward, once they turn around they seem to be in a completely different location. The mountains are no longer there, and all the green tones are replaced with yellow and orange ones. For a split second, Xehanort was certain his older self was standing in front of him. This place. Kairi looks around and notices: "Vi told me about this! This is Val- Val... Habar?", she stutters, soon a girl stands in a doorway, hugging a boy who is just as tall as her. Kairi's smile vanishes once she understands what this memory is.