courtings | to light the darkness.

[Traverse Town is the sort of place that Sora always ends up finding himself in, and there's probably a good reason for that. It's a spot for displaced people, and while he doesn't fit into that category, it means that the world itself can be pretty turbulent.

So... it's probably a good idea to come here and keep an eye out for things, every once in a while. When someone unknown calls out to him, Sora turns to face a stranger. A stranger who doesn't know where he is, at that. That might not be a good sign.]

It's okay. This place is called Traverse Town. Have you heard of it before? [Probably not, but Sora wants to handle this carefully. If this boy in front of him has just lost his world, then he's going to have to break the news lightly.]

—Eh? Um, no I haven't. What part of prefecture was that in again...?

[ What is this, how on earth did he manage to wander into a completely different neighborhood along a route he takes to and from school everyday??? He really needs to pull it together! ]

Prefecture? Umm... [Well, that basically answers the question, doesn't it? Sora frowns, but gets rid of that expression just as soon. He has to take this one step at a time.] First things first. Where are you from?

[ This doesn't really bode well.... ] Inazuma Town. It's in Tokyo. Are you saying this isn't...?

... Ah, nevermind, that would be impossible, right? I never could have walked that far! [NEVERVOUS LAUGHTER.]

[Oh no. That's definitely not any place that Sora's heard of, which means that this boy is very, very far from home.]

It's a little bit confusing, but... you actually aren't there anymore. You're in Traverse Town, and it's a place for... [How does he phrase this?] For people who've lost their way.

[Well, he is feeling pretty lost, and in more than one way.] Mm... What do you mean by that?

You're pretty far from home. It's... [He's not quite sure how to put it, especially to someone so young.] It's possible that your world is in some kind of danger, and that's why you're here now. But we can save it! [He'll make sure of that.]

I still don't really understand, but... If something bad is happening then we have to stop it! What do I do?

Hmm, well... we'd have to try and find your world and hope that it's still in decent shape. Which means taking the gummi ship. But really, you should leave this to me!

Gummi ship?

But, I can't do that. My home and the people in it are all really precious! If something's endangering that, I won't stay quiet about and just watch. So...!

Hmm... But... [While Sora can tell that this boy is pretty determined, he's also really young. Not that he can judge that much, since he was only fourteen when he started all this. Sometimes, age doesn't matter one bit.]

Can you fight?

Fight? Well... Not the way you're asking, I don't think. But there's plenty I can do, like special techniques, and I can use an avatar too, so don't worry! Things will work out somehow!

An avatar? What's that? [Something specific to the boy's world, probably, and it sounds like he has some experience, at least. Sora's taken people along with him before, but usually they knew how to use a weapon or magic. Is this really going to be okay?]

It's a little hard to explain... It's changing your spiritual energy to a physical form, but only certain people can do it, and nobody knows how or why. A friend of mind told me they're like the manifestation the user's willpower. I can show you, if you want.

[That sounds like it's the sort of energy that would be powerful enough to protect the boy in an emergency, so maybe it'll be okay after all.]

You're going to need to save you're energy if you're coming with! So I'll see it later. What's your name, anyway?

Okay! I'm Matsukaze Tenma. Just Tenma is fine!

All right, Tenma! I'm Sora! And if you follow me, we can head to the docks!

Yeah! Nice to meet you!

Ah, by the way, what are we supposed to be fighting, exactly?

[It's time for walking and talking as they head for the port where the gummi ships are kept.]

They're these monsters called Heartless. They're pitch black, and some of them can melt into the ground and move around like that. But they're not as scary as they sound! They're pretty easy to take down if you have the right weapon.

Really...? I've never seen anything like that before. Then, what kind of a weapon do you need? I don't think I'd know how to use anything like that... The best weapon I've got is right here. [ He places a hand on his chest. ]

[At the gesture, Sora realizes that he hasn't made the wrong choice in letting Tenma come along with him. The sight causes him to smile widely.] Well, it's kind of like that. I use a weapon called the Keyblade, but... it's part of my heart, too.

[He extends his hand outward and suddenly the weapon in question appears there, a large key with a small chain hanging off of it.] It's specifically for fighting Heartless, so it works really well.

I see! [ He smiles brightly, at that, and studies the Keyblade in fascination. It's not something he's seen before, but hearing the source of its power is really reassuring somehow. Maybe it's because Pegasus is a bit like that, too. ]

I don't have anything specifically meant for it, and it does sound kind of scary, but I'll do my best. I think that, in doing that, you'll always be answered for it.

[Sora doesn't want Tenma to end up traumatized by any of this, but the boy seems to have made up his mind, so that's that. He'll just have to work that much harder to keep him safe.]

Don't worry, I'll protect you! You can count on that. [The Keyblade disappears as Sora's leads Tenma to where the gummi ship is parked.]

Yeah, thanks. Don't worry about me too much, though. I don't want to get in the way, and I've gotten beaten up plenty of times, so... Besides, I have things I want to protect, too. People are always stronger like that.

You're right about that. So long as your heart is in the right place, you'll be fine! [And they approach the gummi ship!] Why have you bean beaten up, though? [A comment like that isn't one that Sora can just ignore.]

works for me!

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