A Heart Unbound

Chapter 20: A True Seeker

I can't help but wonder why I ended up here, of all places. Is this really the realm of darkness, or is it some fake parallel that exists beyond human reach? I don't know.

I've spent 3 whole months in this place, all alone, with no trace of outside contact. Is this just Xehanort's way of getting rid of me? Did I really save everyone and allow them that second chance? I don't know!

Slamming my fists in this sad excuse for sand won't do me any good.

"It is answers...you seek?"

I don't hesitate to rapidly shift my attention to the figure behind me.

"Who are you? Why are you here?"

"For you...I visit and guide."

"Okay...that answers my second question."

"Master Yoda...I am."

Master...Yoda. He has such a peculiar presence. He stands about as tall as Donald, and his skin reflects a forest green.

"Okay, Master Yoda, what exactly have you come to guide me toward?"

"Your role."

"My role? Are you talking about..?"

"Yes. Rebuild the bridge...you must."

"I mean, I guess I can try."

"Do...or do not. There is no try."

Great line, but that doesn't help at all.

"Okay..?"

"Your heart...give it to the forces of nature." Master Yoda points one of his three fingers at my heart.

"What? What will that do to me?"

"Only your soul...you will possess. With great sacrifice comes great power...responsibility."

"Give my heart to the forces of nature. Okay, I think I know what I need to do, but first..." I remove the specially crafted charm around my neck. "This doesn't belong to me." The Wayfinder slowly drifts away with the flowing movement of the water.

I  prepare myself for yet another sacrifice. As I rise to my feet, I take into my palm a clump of wet sand.

"Nature, you can reform the bridge between light and dark at the disposal of my heart. Take it. You need it more than I do anyway." I hold the cluster of sand close to my heart, and my eyes sting as a white light abruptly pierces them. I watch my glimmering heart burst as its pieces drift away with the grains of sand.

"Huh?" Everything is white. No walls or structures of any kind cross my line of sight. "Where am I?"

"Step forward." That voice. It's so familiar.

I charge forth, not even sure of where I'll end up next.

I gasp at the sight ahead, for a massive, arching bridge connects to a world filled with light. I stand on the opposing side, viewing what looks the sun peeking through a distant landscape.

"So...if that side represents the light, then...this side must be the darkness."

"That is correct, my child."

I don't immediately turn at the appearance of this person. I only gasp because I know who it is.

"It was never my intention to do you harm. Please understand that."

"I know..." I cover my own mouth to lessen the volume of my sobs. I wait for the Master of Masters to say anything else, before I suddenly turn to wrap my arms around him. "Dad...isn't that...what you are to me?"

"If that is the way you choose to see it, then yes."

I don't ask any further questions on that topic. I just want to take this moment of reunion with my...father.

"Um...hey, so...how did my heart create such a giant bridge?"

"It wasn't just your heart, kid. I gave you my heart for this reason. The combination of two powerful hearts makes for a more sturdy foundation. This bridge won't be torn down so easily."

"That's good. Then...Sora and everyone else will be safe."

Wait.

"Uh! Sora! Kairi! Riku! Are they alright?! Do you know?! Please tell me you know!"

"They're fine, at least, most of them are."

"What does that mean?!"

"Sora dove back into the darkness to save Kairi, at the cost of his soul."

No...I can't bare the thought that Sora is all alone. Asleep forever in the depths of darkness.

"I'm gonna save him!" I run as fast as I can, deeper into the dark side.

"Hana! Stop it!" The Master of Masters, my father, tries to stop me, but I keep running. Sora needs me. I stop as the appearance of Master Yoda blocks my intended path.

"This...you must realize. To save him...lost...your memory will be."

"I don't care!" I dart past him, with my tears falling into the wind.

I don't stop running until everything around me turns into pitch black nothingness.

"Sora! Sora!" I call as my voice reverberates through the vast space. My movement is sporadic with every turn of my body. "Soraaa!" I wail.

I spot a nearly unnoticeable light on the corner of my eye and gasp.

"Uh!" I don't spare a moment as I charge for this light.

Sora! I see him! I halt before the sleeping boy, and I watch his body slowly move up and down in a breathing-like motion. His heart gleams as it levitates soundly above his chest.

"So...they took your soul." I stare at his innocent face as my hand finds the surface of his chest. "Then...you can take mine." I navigate his heart toward me as I allow it to change the way I look.

"Sora,
   I never could've imagined a life without you in it. Ours hearts connected in a way that made it almost impossible for me to be physically separated from you. The pain may no longer be present, but knowing that this is the end, that brings a pain far more damaging than ever before. I can do this, because I know that the worlds need you more than they need me. Someone else needs you too. Kairi would do this for you, you know? But you need each other. To light each other's way down any path of darkness. You did that for me, too, and now it's my turn to give back.
             
                            ...Sora? Thank you."

My unity with Sora's heart has changed my soul to look just like him.