𝓔𝓬𝓵𝓲𝓹𝓼𝓮𝓭 𝓗𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓽

Chapter 7 - Stranger Things

○○Chapter 7 - Stranger Things○○

WEEKS HAD PASSED SINCE SORA HAD LEFT, AND FOR EVERLY, THE DAYS SEEMED TO BLUR TOGETHER. She had found solace in a new routine: training. Yuffie and Leon had taken her under their wing, teaching her self-defense and helping her rebuild both her strength and sense of purpose. Each day brought its own set of challenges, but with every obstacle, she felt herself growing stronger—physically and mentally. Slowly, she was reclaiming control over her life, something she had lost when the darkness first touched her heart.

But no matter how much that darkness lingered, Ever refused to let it consume her. She channeled her fear and uncertainty into her training, using it as fuel to drive her forward. The shadows no longer terrified her as they once had..ok maybe a little bit; but, they became the backdrop to her growing strength and determination.

As she gazed into the mirror in her room, her thoughts swirled in confusion, trying to make sense of the strange reality she had found herself in. Traverse Town, Heartless, Keyblades—it all felt like something ripped from a bedtime story, the kind of tale her dad used to share with her when she and Sora were younger. Only now, she was living in that story, surrounded by worlds and creatures that defied everything she had ever known.

"How did this become my life?" she whispered, her fingers brushing the glowing pendant around her neck.

Her mind kept spinning, caught between two worlds—the simple one she once knew and the one she was now trapped in. Part of her wanted to believe she would wake up any moment, back in the safety of her bed, with Sora telling her it was just a dream. But the weight of the world, the ache in her muscles from training, and the ever-present threat of the Heartless were reminders that this wasn't a dream.

"Is this real? Or am I stuck in some never-ending fantasy?" she muttered, her tired reflection staring back at her with the same bewildered expression.

It didn't feel real—none of it did.

Her grip tightened on the edge of the vanity as her thoughts raced. "How am I supposed to fight something that was never meant to be real?"

Ever closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, trying to center herself. She had to stay grounded, even if everything around her felt like an illusion. She had to be strong —no matter how unreal the world had become.

Every morning, she met Leon in the courtyard. His tough but patient demeanor pushed her to her limits, refining her reflexes and teaching her how to hold her own in combat. "You're not a Keyblade wielder like Sora," Leon said one morning as they sparred with swords. "But that doesn't mean you can't protect yourself."

Everly clenched her jaw, blocking another one of his strikes, her arms trembling from the effort. "I refuse to just sit around and wait for the Heartless to come after me again," she said through gritted teeth, her resolve evident.

Leon stepped back, giving her a nod of approval. "Good. You've got the will. Just remember, real strength isn't just physical—it's mental. It's about heart and focus."

In the afternoons, Yuffie took over her training, the lessons more playful but no less intense. Yuffie's focus was on agility and using her environment to her advantage. "If you can't beat 'em with brute strength, outsmart 'em," Yuffie would say, flashing Everly a grin. "The Heartless may be tough, but they're not exactly known for being smart."

As the days went by, Everly noticed herself improving. Her movements became quicker, her reflexes sharper, and the confidence she had once lost was slowly returning. The training helped distract her from the constant worry gnawing at her—worry about Sora, the darkness still threatening her heart, and the uncertainty of what lay ahead. But no matter how hard she pushed herself, she couldn't shake the feeling of dread that loomed at the back of her mind.