A year later...
The two scythes clashed together. Thorn’s teacher tried to force her out of the arena. Thorn determinedly dug her heels into the ground and pushed back. Most of her classmates’ triumphant smirks were wiped off their faces; they delighted to see her fail. As they neared the edge of the arena, the teacher’s raven gave an urgent caw.
“Enough,” the teacher said, “Class dismissed.”
Thorn was exhausted. That particular training session had lasted hours. She went straight to her room accompanied only by her falcon companion, Taka. Upon entering her room, she collapsed onto her bed without even changing into her pyjamas, although she wasn’t tired enough not to dream.
She sees a storm raging around Destiny Islands. Riku stands on the outcrop, facing the raging sea. Sora runs across the bridge that connects it to the main island. He turns and holds his hand out to the younger boy. Sora tries to grab it but a strange black substance envelops both of their legs, pulling them in. Riku calmly lets it take him under, while Sora struggles against it. In the end, Sora is sucked in too.
Sora is in the not-so-secret cave with Kairi. The weird door, that no one had ever been able to open before, swings open suddenly and blasts out a fierce wind. It blows Kairi into Sora, who tries to catch her. But she passes through him as if she were no more than a ghost.
The island breaks apart and is sucked into a swirling dark vortex in the sky.
Thorn suddenly awoke to the serene beauty of Valhalla. Her spirit guide flew across to the bed from his perch by the window.
“It was so real, Taka,” she whispered.
“I know,” the falcon replied.
“Do you think we should go to see Freyja?” she asked.
“If you think its right, then yes,” Taka advised.
She got up and Taka flew to his usual place on her shoulder. When she got to the council room that the goddess usually occupied, Thorn discovered that it was full. Many of the higher ranked Valkyries were present.
“The rumours are true, my lady,” Mist was saying, “The heart of the seventh pure one has been lost.”
“It has to be recovered at all costs,” Hrist said.
“I agree,” Freyja said, “But who should retrieve it?”
Gathering up all her courage, Thorn spoke up, “Send me, my lady.”
“That’s absurd,” Friagabi protested, “She hasn’t even finished her training yet.”
“I think I can help,” Thorn said, “I think I know where it is.”
She wasn’t sure how, she just did.
“Where?” Mist asked calmly.
“Destiny Islands,” Thorn replied.
“It’s possible,” Mist said, “The seventh was rumoured to have been sent there.”
“Was?” asked Thorn uncertainly.
“Destiny Islands has been destroyed by the Heartless,” Freyja explained gently.
Thorn felt a huge wave of grief attack her heart. But she pushed it away, determined not to cry in front of all these women.
“I will send you to Traverse Town, where the survivors are taken,” Freyja decided, “but know this; you will only be able to return to Valhalla if I bring you back. Do you understand?”
Thorn nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
“Find Leon, he can help you,” the goddess advised, making a portal with a wave of her hand, “Go with my blessing.”
She bowed and stepped through the portal.
Thorn wandered around the streets aimlessly, until she walked around a corner and bumped into someone. They both fell on the ground. Looking up she saw a familiar boy with brown spiky hair. It was Sora. He extended his hand to help her up but she ignored it and stood up on her own.
“Watch where you’re going next time, okay?” she snapped in proper Valkyrie style, turning her back on him.
“Andy?” he exclaimed in surprise, “Is that you?”
“No,” she said, “My name is Thorn.”
“Oh, sorry,” Sora said, disappointed, “You just looked like someone I knew.”
Thorn wanted nothing else but to run over to him and tell him who she really was, but she just couldn’t bring herself to do it. Taka looked at her in concern in his eyes. Then she noticed she was crying. She brushed away the tears and began to walk away.
*
Sora watched Thorn walk away. Something in her voice had given away that she was sad about something.
“Do you want to come with us?” he asked.
“I can’t, I’m sorry,” she said, “I have to find someone.”
“I’m looking for my friends, Riku and Kairi. Who are you looking for?” Sora asked.
“I was told to look for a man named Leon,” Thorn said, “He can help me find what I’m searching for.”
“I know where he lives,” Sora said enthusiastically, there was something likeable about this rude warrior girl, “I can take you to him.”
“You can?” she said, turning to face him.
“Sure, come on,” he beckoned to her and started to walk towards the first district.
The girl’s falcon swept past him. He kept looking back to check she was following, as if he might lose her. On the way there they ran into Donald and Goofy.
“Who’s this?” Donald asked suspiciously, as Thorn folded her arms.
“This is Thorn,” Sora said, “I’m taking her to see Leon.”
The falcon swooped past him again and landed on her shoulder. Sora thought nothing of it until he realised she’d gone.
“Where’d she go?” Goofy asked.
“I don’t know. There are a lot of Heartless around,” Sora said, “We should find her just to be safe.”
*
Taka swept past Sora as he was talking to the others.
“There are Heartless coming this way, and the one who controls them isn’t far away,” he said.
“Is that everything?” she asked, looking around warily.
“No, there is a boy with a bat winged sword on his way too,” Taka replied, “He is silver-haired and smells of the Dark.”
Thorn knew only one person with that colour hair. She could stand lying to Sora, but not to him. Clearing her mind, she used her telekinesis to take her up to one of the roof tops. Just in time. Riku walked around the corner and spotted Sora. Thorn ducked behind the high chimney, before he could see her. He destroyed the Heartless that was sneaking around and Sora realised he was there.
“There you are,” Riku said, “What’s going on?”
“Riku!” Sora exclaimed.
He had obviously started to annoy Riku in some way because he started getting testy.
“Hey, hey, cut it out,” he protested.
“I’m not dreaming this time, right?” Sora asked.
“I hope not,” Riku remarked, “Took forever to find you.”
“Riku! Wait a second,” Sora exclaimed, “Where's Kairi?”
“Isn't she with you?” Riku replied, Thorn peeked around the chimney, “Well, don’t worry. I’m sure she made it off the island, too. We’re finally free. Hey, she might even be looking for us now.”
She saw a Shadow Heartless appear behind him and gasped. Luckily no one heard her. Riku continued speaking.
“We'll all be together again soon. Don't worry. Just leave everything to me. I know this-”
Sora noticed the Heartless and destroyed it with his Keyblade.
“Leave it to who?” he said, smiling.
“Sora, what did you…” he said, surprised.
“I’ve been looking for you and Kairi, too, with their help,” Sora explained, gesturing at Donald and Goofy, “There was also this girl, called Thorn, but I have no idea where she went.”
“Who are they?” Riku asked suspiciously.
“Ahem,” Donald said clearing his throat, “My name is-”
“We visited so many places and worlds, looking for you,” Sora interrupted.
Donald folded his arms and tapped his foot on the ground.
“Really?” Riku asked, he sounded a little left out, “Well, what do you know? I never would have guessed.”
“Oh, and guess what?” Goofy added, “Sora’s the Keyblade master. Who would’ve thought it?”
“What’s that mean!” Sora exclaimed.
“So, this is called a Keyblade?” Riku asked, holding up the Keyblade.
“Huh?” Sora asked, stupidly.
Thorn almost giggled at his gormless expression but stopped herself just in time.
“Hey, give it back,” Sora said.
Riku grinned and backed up a little.
“Catch,” he said, throwing the Keyblade to Sora.
“Okay, so, you're coming with us, right?” Sora asked, “We’ve got this awesome rocket. Wait till you see it!”
“No, he can’t come,” Donald said firmly.
“What?” Sora exclaimed turning to Donald.
Thorn noticed Riku walking away as the boy and the duck argued. She crept over the rooftops, following him. As soon as she dropped to the floor, he turned around.
“Why are you following me?” he asked.
She froze. Taka landed on the windowsill next to him. He glanced at the bird and Thorn used this short time to create a portal under her feet. She dropped through it and landed in the next street. She sighed as Taka landed next to her.
“That boy has a bad temper,” he remarked, preening his wing feathers, “He smashed the window behind me when he realised you’d gone.”
“We’d better go find Sora again,” Thorn said, grinning at her companion’s offended tone.
She walked out of the alleyway and wandered towards where she’d last seen him. She carried on walking until she heard him shout behind her.
“Thorn!” he said, “Where did you go?”
Donald and Goofy ran up behind him.
“I wasn’t going to stick around for your little reunion,” she said haughtily, “I was exploring with Taka.”
“Come on,” Sora said, waving away her haughtiness, “We’re nearly there anyway.”
He took her to a small house in the Third District. Inside were two women and two men. Thorn was introduced to them, Aerith, Yuffie, Cid and Leon.
“You guys ever hear of Maleficent?” Cid asked, “I hear she’s in town.”
“Who is she?” Sora asked.
Thorn thought that she’d heard the name somewhere before, but didn’t say anything.
“She’s the reason this town is full of Heartless. Don’t take her lightly,” Leon warned.
“She’s been using the Heartless for years,” Aerith explained.
“She doesn’t sound so tough,” Thorn exclaimed, “I bet I could take her.”
Sora laughed.
“We lost our world, thanks to her,” Leon said.
“One day a swarm of Heartless took over our world,” Cid explained.
“That was nine years ago,” Leon interrupted.
“I got out of that mess and came here with these guys,” Cid said.
“That’s awful,” Donald said.
“Our ruler was a wise man called Ansem,” Leon explained, “He dedicated his life to studying the Heartless.”
“His report should tell us how to get rid of them,” Cid remarked.
“Where’s this report?” Sora asked.
Thorn scoffed.
“You don’t need a report to destroy Heartless when you have sharp objects,” she said.
“We don’t know,” Leon said, ignoring her, “It got scattered when our world was destroyed.”
"I'm sure Maleficent's got all the pages," Cid remarked.
"You see? It's just as I told you. While you toiled away trying to find your dear friend, he quite simply replaced you with some new companions," Maleficent said, "Evidently, now he values them for more than he does you. You're better off without that wretched boy. Now, think no more of him, and come with me. I'll help you find what you're searching for..."
Riku stopped listening to the witch. He was staring through the window to the house where he could see Sora and his new friends; the dog, the duck and the girl that must have been Thorn. 'Who do they think they are?' he thought, 'stealing my friend.'
