Because of You

Chapter One

The Mysterious Tower stood tall against a sea of bright stars. If it was any other night, you'd find yourself spending hours stargazing at all the worlds that suspended above you. There were moments where you had a hard time comprehending that each star was a different world; there were literally billions, each one of them unique in their own way. How many have you even traveled to over the years?

But tonight wasn't one of those nights to daydream. Tonight was Sora and Riku's Mark of Mastery Exam, and things weren't going well at all. It all started when Axel showed up to the tower unexpectedly. It had been a while since you last saw him; you practically shrieked at the sight of him when you opened Yen Sid's door. You had witnessed Axel had faded into thin air months ago, but here he was standing in front of you in the flesh. And, as if things weren't confusing enough, he was asking everyone to call him Lea.

You listened in to the conversation that Lea was having with Yen Sid. His voice was calm, but it still held urgency of the situation: Xehanort had sabotaged Sora and Riku's Mark of Mastery exam and Sora may be in grave danger. Your eyes shifted to Sora, who looked like he was peacefully sleeping away without a care in the world, and wondered what horrors he was going through that very second. Did Xehanort succeed in making him his new vessel already? Was it all too late?

"Absolutely not!" Donald's shriek snapped you out of your thoughts. Yen Sid looked to contemplate whatever Lea had just proposed to him, and stood up from behind his desk to pace by the star-shaped windows.

"If what Lea says is true, we don't have much of a choice. Riku will dive back in with the King to save Sora, and Lea will follow as back up. We'll need as much help as we can get."

You waited for Yen Sid to give more instruction, but after a few seconds of awkward silence you decided to speak up. "Master, I'm going with them as well. I won't just stand by and let Sora become Xehanort's pawn. You said it yourself: 'we need as much help as we can get'. Sora saved me once before back in Hollow Bastion, now it's my turn to help save him."

"I don't believe it to be wise for a Princess of Heart to dive into the deepest part of the Realm of Darkness," Yen Sid said carefully.

It was true: you were one of seven Princesses of Heart required to open the Door to Darkness. A few years ago, your heart was trapped inside a Keyblade that Riku—or actually, Ansem—had crafted. In the successful attempt to free Kairi's heart from inside him, Sora had also released the hearts trapped within the Keyblade from their prison, including your own. Because of this, you felt forever in debt to Sora, and now the time to repay him has arrived.

You placed a hand over your heart, feeling at the rhythmic thumping beating against your fingers. "Let me go because I am a Princess of Heart. My light will guide the way to Sora. Please, just give me a chance."

Yen Sid stroked his beard for a moment. "Very well. [Y/N] will journey with Lea and traverse through the sleeping worlds to reach where Xehanort is holding Sora captive. Both of you should see the Three Good Fairies right away in order to prepare. The powers of a Keyblade wielder sleeps deep within you two. We must awaken that power with haste."

Lea's eyes locked with yours, and you felt heat rush to your face. During your past adventures with Sora, you felt drawn to Lea and you could never put your finger as to why he made your heart skip a beat. He was very handsome, sure, but he was part of an organization that you've been fighting against for years. So...why did you feel this way?

"Uhh, Earth to [Y/N]? Are you ready?" You blinked and noticed that Lea had walked up to you, waving a hand in front of your eyes.

"Y-yeah, let's go," you squeaked, mentally slapping your forehead about how nervous you just sounded. You followed his lead to the double doors of the dressing room where the Three Good Fairies were waiting. Memories of being in this room started flowing back, when you, Sora, Donald and Goofy were still groggy from being asleep for a year and were given new clothes laced with magic. So much has happened since then, and you couldn't help but smile at the memories of your adventures as they flowed through your mind.

At some point, your eyes had wandered over to Lea, and memories of when he sacrificed himself in the realm of the Betwixt and Between began to flow through your mind. He had protected you from multiple Dusks coming at you at once, shielding you with his flames and taking out every last Heartless and Nobody.

You remember feeling so confused as to why a Nobody, let alone a Nobody from the Organization, would risk his life to save yours. But what confused you the most was the painful ache you felt in your heart as he began fading right in front of you. Tears filled your eyes as you ran to his side before he dissipated into thin air, leaving you alone with a million questions and emotions you had trouble pinpointing.

Lea looked over at you and gave you a smirk. "Liking the view?" Your cheeks turned bright red, and you let your [h/c] hair fall in front of your face to hide.

"S-sorry," you stumbled. "Let's get to work."

You approached Merryweather in an attempt to ignore Lea's eyes watching you intently. "What do we have to do?"

"In each of your pasts you have both been bequeathed the power of the Keyblade," Fauna began. "It's time now that we awaken that power sleeping deep inside your hearts."

A distant memory flashed in your mind. The touch of a Keyblade handle between your fingers. The soft smile of a woman with striking blue hair.

"And how exactly do we do that?" Lea asked.

"In order to tap the powers hidden, you must complete the trials that lay ahead—the trials of the Dive to the Heart," Flora said.

"Please, come lay down," Merryweather motioned to the two long lounge chairs that sat on either side of the small dressing room. Hesitantly, you made your way to the purple upholstered furniture and relaxed your head on the cushion. Your mind was racing with questions: What's going to happen now? What's the Dive to the Heart? Is this dangerous?

"Close your eyes," Fauna said soothingly. "Clear your mind, and concentrate on the light in your heart."

Turning your head, you stole one last glance over to where Lea was reclined. As your eyes grew heavy you saw him look over to you, and in an instant your whole world was darkness.