kh_drabble | Challenge [306]: Defend (Reply)

Challenge: [306] Defend

Title: Islands

Word Count: 248

Spoilers: None

Notes: Sorry this is a day late. And so very short.

Kairi hated staying behind. Every time, the boys went off to save the worlds, and she got left behind on the islands. She had her own keyblade now, and even if she hadn’t destroyed the sheer numbers that they had, she could hold her own and more. She pushed herself every day out on the islands, crossing blades with the boys and aiming magic at the scarred trees they used for targets. She tore, and bleed, and worked herself into exhaustion even a Curaga wasn’t strong enough to fully dispel. She wasn’t the princess waiting to be rescued anymore. They still left in the middle of the night without her.

Sora never thought about it, past maybe being thankful that Kairi would be as safe as they could make it. He was always thinking about the next step ahead, the next heartless, the next world. His necklace swung to the beat of his heart, ba-thump ba-thump, the keyblade swinging to the dance of his feet. Donald and Goofy protecting his back, Riku fighting at his side, and Kairi was safe at home, was a home to come back to. As soon as he got rid of one more villain, as soon as the keyhole was sealed, as soon as everyone was happy, it would be enough. They would all be safe, and soon they would be back together.

Riku knew Kairi didn’t like it, didn’t understand. But someone had to stay behind to defend the islands.