A Wish Your Heart Makes

Part 1: The Sandlot Lion

Dreams. The hearts way of showing us the things we yearn for while deep in sleep. Showing us the things we dare not even speak to ourselves. Hopes and fears both merge as one in the world of sleep that we conjure with our hearts, where those same hearts are at their most honest, revealing the truths we refuse to see.

A strong enough dream can be recognized, but not all can be realized. Few are able to see their dreams become a reality, whether its due to lack of effort, lack of faith, or simply not having the right tools. Yet despite knowing that not every dream can come to pass, and in spite of failures constant presence, a heart will still continue to dream whether we want them to or not.

My heart dared to believe. It dared to have faith. Those aspirations were rewarded through no effort of my own. All that I was wasnt me. Nothing I had was truly mine. A life brought into existence through someone elses will and someone elses life. A manufactured heart. A face that at first refused to form. A weapon that was a sham; worthless. Yet despite all my have-nots, I still was able to obtain my own self. My own desires. My own friends.

In spite of teetering on the brink of an ephemeral existence, I was able to breathe again and see the red streaks of twilight once more with those closest to me. Friends I thought I would never get to see again. My mind thought my life was over and done with. My spirit lost any desire to strive for more. Yet my heart of hearts still dared to have faith in living again. I live today knowing that the impossible can be made possible. Knowing that the selfless act of one can be the miracle someone else desperately needs. My designation was Number I, but now I am Xion. My hope, faith, and dreams were rewarded.

Walking through the sandlot I saw a crowd of bustling people as the warmth of the twilit morning shined down. There was a podium taking up most of the space in the middle with a large banner with just one word on it. Struggle! Looked like it was that time of the year again. Another Struggle tournament. A competition where people whack each other with soft bats while trying to maintain all their orbs. Maybe I should sign up for it this time. But would that be a fair competition? Not too long ago I was one of the feared 13 Darknesses of the new Organization XIII. I wouldnt want to go breaking some little kids heart after all. The thought made me smirk.

There were children of all ages bragging as if they had already won the tournament. Vendors selling t-shirts and other memorabilia to advertise. Contestants with strained breathing as their legs trembled. And all of it was caught within the cacophony of laughter, shouts, and cheers. What a wondrous sight to see. A sight I get to simply enjoy and bask in.

I let out a sigh of contentment as I continued on to the back alleys and up to the usual place. It was certainly nothing fancy with its rusted fence draped over with some kind of tarp or blanket. No matter how many times I had been here or passed by here I never really asked what this area was even for. Maybe its storage or something for the building? I walked past the fence into a walled area with large vents on the walls. Boxes of all sizes littering the floor. Sitting on those boxes, fiercely discussing something, were a group of rambunctious teenagers with an eye for things unknown. Hayner, Pence, and Olette. Bullheaded, intellectual, and sensible, respectively.

Are you sure thats what you heard? Pence said with a raised eyebrow and his arms crossed. It honestly just sounds too ridiculous to be true.

Of course its true, ya numbskull! snapped Hayner with clenched fists. Im tellin ya, people all over town are talking about this thing in the woods!

Which people said they saw it, Hayner? Olette sincerely asked with the tip of her index finger on her chin. Not all sources can be reliable you know.

I simply stood by the gate watching them interact. I just love watching how these guys speak to each other. Theyre clearly friends, but they always seemed to be arguing about something. A chuckle escapes my mouth.