Hero of Light

Prologue

"Hey, slow down!"

The brunet boy lags behind the silver-haired boy as they both race.

"Would you just wait for me?" the brunet yells.

"Giving up already? Come on, Sora."

"That's enough, I can't run anymore!"

The silver-haired boy runs over to a sideways tree that bears yellow star-shaped fruit, called paopu fruit, and runs up the trunk to where he can sit down.

Sora, the brunet, does the same, sitting beside his best friend, and they both look out at the ocean, legs dangling off the tree.

"Riku! You're so fast!" Sora exclaims, panting. "Why don't you wait up?"

"Because it's a race, Sora."

"Yeah...but if you go too fast you'll...leave me behind..."

"Don't worry about it, Sora. I know one day you'll be able to go just as fast as me. Then we can have a real race!"

"Yeah..." Sora smiles. "You won't ever leave me behind? Even if you get super strong?"

"Nah. I'll always be there with-"

Sora looks to the right towards Riku, but notices someone past him. "Oh! Ahoy! We're over here!" he interrupts as he stands up on the tree and waves his right hand to get that person's attention. Then, he playfully hits the silver-haired boy's back to get his attention. "Riku, race ya. First one to the boat gets to be captain!" the boy says enthusiastically, his earlier tiredness gone as he runs off the tree and across the bridge. He doesn't hear Riku running behind him. "C'mon! You call that running?" Sora yells back, running ahead.

As Sora sprints across the beach sand, he notices something out of the corner of his eye and slows down, turning his head in the direction of the sea where a man stands at the shore.

Who's that?

Sora walks across the sand staring at the mysterious man for a while before he turns his head back forward and sprints towards the dock.

I've never seen him before, but...I need to go...

As he reaches the dock, he frowns, walking to the end. "Huh...I thought...I saw my dad here." He shrugs. "I guess I hafta wait."

After a little while of waiting, Sora sighs impatiently and puts his hands behind his head. "Geez...when's he gonna get here?"

Soon enough, Sora hears footsteps behind him and turns around to see a tall man. He runs up to hug him tight. "Hi, dad!"

Sora's dad ruffles his hair, smiling. "Hey, kiddo! You guys having a fun time?"

Sora looks up at his dad, still hugging him. "Yeah! We got to race and go treasure hunting and fight and everything!"

"That's great! You two ready to go?"

"Aww..." Sora pouts. "Do you think we could stay...for maybe just a little bit longer? Pleeeaaaaase?"

"I don't know...do you think you're big enough to stay out longer?" his dad teases.

"Of course I am! I'm super big!"

"Oh, well then...okay Mr. big boy. You and Riku can play for a little bit longer."

"Yay! Thanks dad! You're the best!"

"You're welcome son," Sora's dad smiles. "Now, where is Riku?"

"Over there." Sora points to Riku, who's talking to the mysterious man.