Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories The Novel (light novel)

by Tomoco Kanemaki

  “Oh… But he’s left you behind,” Wendy said sadly.

  “Yeah… What should we do?” Sora really didn’t know.

  “I’ve got an idea!” Goofy exclaimed. “Why don’t we think of something out on deck?”

  “That doesn’t make any sense…I think,” said Donald.

  Sora looked up at Tinker Bell, who still hovered above them, glittering. “Well, there’s still trouble waiting outside. Wendy, you stay in here. We’ll find a way to get you out.”

  “All right,” Wendy nodded. “Be careful.”

  “Maybe if you stay here, Peter will change his mind and come back,” said Goofy, trying to be encouraging.

  “C’mon, guys,” said Sora, and they went down through the trapdoor again, back into the storerooms. “How do we get out to the deck again, anyway?”

  “Well, let’s just keep going!” Donald replied, swinging his wand. But before they could take another step, Heartless were blocking their path.

  “You’re not stopping us!” Leading the charge, Sora swung the Keyblade at them.

  “Fira! Blizzara!” Donald hopped as he shouted spells. One by one the Heartless turned to light and then nothing.

  “My turn!” Goofy knocked one aside with his shield.

  “This sure would be easier if we could fly like Peter Pan…,” Sora mumbled. He used to wish that he could fly… But that was a silly dream, something only little kids thought of.

  “I think I’ve been able to fly before,” said Goofy.

  “Huh?” Sora turned even as he was still swinging at the last Heartless.

  “It was just a dream, though.” Goofy put his shield away and looked off into space for a moment.

  “Well, if we’re talking about dreams, then so have I!” Donald retorted.

  “You too, Donald?” said Sora.

  Donald waddled in a circle around Sora. “I was flying like this around a great big clock tower!”

  “Gawrsh, isn’t that funny? I think I’ve had a dream about flying around a clock tower, too.” Goofy nodded at Donald and grinned.

  They ran through more rooms and more, and at last they stood in the salty breeze again.

  “Whew. We finally made it out!” Donald stretched, glad for the fresh air.

  A furious shout rang out across the deck. “There you are, you rascals!”

  The man they saw wore a big swashbuckler’s hat and a mustache.

  “You think you can play stowaway on the ship of Captain Hook?!” He swaggered closer to them, brandishing the namesake hook he had in place of a left hand, and sneered. “Friends of Peter Pan, I’ll wager.”

  “Are we his friends?” Donald murmured.

  “Gee, he sure didn’t seem to think so,” Goofy replied.

  Sora turned back to them, scowling. “Yeah, the way he took off like that! He even ditched Wendy.”

  “I’m not finished talking yet! How dare you ignore me and plot behind my back!” Hook ranted, drawing his sword. “Uncivilized brats! You’re in cahoots with Peter Pan, and no mistake!”

  “If you say so.” Sora faced him with the Keyblade ready. “But either way, you’re gonna let us off this ship.”

  “Ha! I wouldn’t be so sure, if I were you!” The pirate captain gestured with his hook toward the edge of the deck, where a plank stretched out over the water. And standing on it was…

  “Wendy!” cried Sora.

  Apparently Hook had gotten her in his clutches while they made their way up to the deck. “Any trouble and dear Wendy goes for a stroll—off the plank!”

  “You wouldn’t!” Donald covered his face.

  “Believe me, I’d rather not. After all, I need Wendy to bait that blasted Peter Pan!” Hook smirked and patted Wendy’s cheek.

  The boyish voice replied from above him. “Then, I’ll just have to take the bait, you old codfish!”

  As light as the wind, Peter Pan swooped down at Hook’s head.

  “Peter!” Wendy reached for him.

  “Here I am, Hook! Miss me?”

  “Insolent brat! This is the day you pay for taking me hand!” Hook lunged for Peter Pan with his sword.

  “Uh-oh!” The boy nimbly evaded, and in the same movement, he scooped Wendy up in his arms and flew high into the air.

  “Augh— Wh-wh-wh-waugh!” Hook flailed in alarm as momentum nearly took him right off the plank himself and finally regained his balance. “You’ve made a fool of me for the last time, Pan! I’ll cleave you to the brisket!”

  Red-faced with rage, he went first for Sora, who at least wasn’t in the air.

  “Ack!” Sora barely managed to dodge.

  “Why you— Thundara!” Donald waved his wand and a bolt of lightning struck Hook’s sword.

  He snarled in frustration.

  “Ha-ha! Up here, Hook!” Still holding Wendy, Peter Pan flew in circles above the captain.

  “Here, you scallywag!” Hook swung his sword over his head, making his footing unsteady again.

  “Hey! Over here, Hook!” Sora called, copying Peter Pan and running to the edge of the ship.

  “Why, you rotten mongrels!” Hook roared and made a thrust at Sora, who easily jumped out of the way. And then, it turned out, Hook had no more deck beneath his feet. “Aaaaaaaugh!”

  There was a terrific splash.

  “Whew… Thanks, Peter Pan, we owe you one.” Sora lowered the Keyblade, looking up at the flying boy.

  “Well, at first I thought I’d let you handle it, but it looked like you were in a tight spot, after all. Hey, you three did pretty good, though!” He alighted on the deck. Wendy was still in his arms.

  “Thank you, Peter,” she said.

  After a pause, he looked at her. “About London… Are you sure you won’t change your mind?”

  “Peter, I’m sorry. But I really do want to go home,” she replied, resolute, and stood on her own.

  “I was afraid of that… Everyone grows up, and grown-ups always forget. First, you’ll forget what it feels like to be young, and then you’ll forget about me…,” Peter Pan said glumly.

  “How can you say such a thing, Peter? I’ll never, ever forget you.” As she spoke Tinker Bell left glittering trails above her head.

  “Sure, that’s what you think now.” He turned away from Wendy and went on with sadness slowing his words. “But when you try to remember me, the memories will be gone. You’ll forget… Little by little, one memory at a time… And once you’re grown up, there won’t be a single memory of Neverland left.”

  Memories forgotten, little by little…

  “Don’t say that,” Sora blurted.

  Peter Pan turned to him.

  “Memories don’t always come back to us whenever we want them to—even the important ones,” said Sora. “But that doesn’t mean they’re gone. It’s more like…like they’re sleeping. When the right thing comes along and wakes the memory up, we can remember it. The memories engraved in our hearts never go away. I’m sure of it!”

  Wendy nodded. “He’s right, Peter.”

  “Never, huh…? It’s funny. I thought everybody who left Neverland just forgot all about it…” Then, Peter Pan smiled. “But I have a feeling you guys just might be different.”

  He picked up Wendy again. “Oh!” she squeaked in surprise.

  “Okay, Sora. If you say we’ll meet again, then I believe you!” And with that he took off.

  “Peter…”

  “Let’s go, Wendy. London is waiting,” he said, sounding thoughtful—almost in a grown-up way.

  “Oh, thank you, Peter.”

  He nodded and turned to Sora a last time. “Good-bye, Sora. I’ll be waiting to see what you look like all grown up!” Then, he flew up and away into the night sky. Tinker Bell followed, her twinkling glow passing over the faces of the trio.

  “So our memories haven’t gone anywhere, after all,” said Goofy.

  “’Course they haven’t!” Sora grinned. “And Riku’s gonna remember, too!”

  “Then, let’s get g
oing!” Donald jumped with impatience.

  “Yeah. Riku’s gotta be up ahead somewhere!” Sora went for a door that stood unnaturally in the corner of the deck, looking like it couldn’t lead to anything. And they went through.

  Another marble hall—a very familiar sight by now. And Riku was standing there.

  “Can’t you take a hint, Sora? I told you to go home.”

  “Not till I rescue you and Naminé!” Sora retorted with a tiny smile at the corners of his mouth.

  “I don’t remember ever asking you to rescue me,” Riku said coldly.

  “But Kairi’s waiting for you to come home!” Goofy exclaimed.

  “Kairi…” Riku and Sora both murmured the name almost exactly in sync.

  I forgot about Kairi, thought Sora. I promised her that I’d find Riku and go home…

  “That’s right! Kairi’s waiting,” Sora echoed.

  Riku snorted. “You’re the one who forgot. I told you, when we closed the door to Kingdom Hearts…‘Take care of Kairi.’”

  He did tell me that. And instead I went on a journey searching for him and King Mickey… But how could I go back to our islands without Riku? We have to be together. I want all three of us running up the beach…

  Three—? Sora’s thoughts tripped there.

  What about Naminé? Me and Riku and Naminé and Kairi—doesn’t that make four?

  But there were always three of us, running up the beach together. Why do I remember three…? Weren’t there four…?

  Or did Naminé leave before Kairi came…?

  No…that’s not right.

  Then when was Naminé there…? And Kairi?

  “Give it up,” said Riku. “I’m not going back to the islands. Not for anything.”

  “It’s not just for Kairi! What about all our other friends?!” Sora said it more to convince himself—to hold on to his memories.

  “You can have those losers. I already forgot ’em.”

  “Hey! That’s enough!”

  “What about you, Sora? Do you actually remember what they all look like? Their voices?”

  “Of course I remem—”

  Sora broke off and hung his head. He couldn’t remember.

  White sand, blue sea. Green trees. Riku and Naminé…

  He really couldn’t remember any more than that.

  Naminé—no, and Kairi, too.

  Who was it we played with on that beach? Why can’t I remember it right?

  “Don’t feel bad. That’s what this castle does to you after a while.” Riku smirked. “It’s great. You forget all the useless stuff and remember for the first time what really matters. And I remembered, Sora. Now I know the one thing that’s the most important to me.”

  “Useless stuff?!” cried Sora.

  The memories he was losing weren’t useless. They couldn’t be.

  Even if he remembered something else important, that didn’t make the other things worth any less. Sora knew that had to be wrong.

  “I’m going to stay here and protect Naminé,” said Riku. “Nothing else matters.”

  Sora stared at him and slowly, with a smile, took a fighting stance with the Keyblade. “Hey, Riku… I think I’ll jog your memory.”

  “You can try.” He readied his sword, too.

  “Donald, Goofy…!” Sora called.

  “Wak! Okay, we get it!” The other two backed up to the wall to stay out of the way.

  “Just between us, huh?” Riku taunted.

  “That’s right. One-on-one!” Sora took a flying leap and brought the Keyblade down. He felt the impact all the way to his shoulders. “Don’t you remember, Riku? We were always fighting like this on the beach!”

  “Hmph. I remember you losing!” Riku pushed the Keyblade away and countered.

  Sora blocked it. “Then, you can remember…more than that!”

  I won’t forget. I’ll never forget what’s really important…!

  He swung, and with a clang, Riku’s sword went spinning through the air.

  “Rgh…” Riku fell to one knee.

  “Riku…”

  “Too bad, Sora. I’m not remembering a thing.” Wavering, he stood up again. “But we can keep fighting if you want.”

  Sora stepped closer to him and held out a hand. “C’mon, Riku… Never mind fighting. Let’s go help Naminé.”

  “Together…?” Riku shoved his hand aside. “Yeah, right. That’s just like you—always barging in on my heart!”

  “What’s that mean?!” Sora demanded.

  Riku tossed his silver hair and frowned. “Hmph. You forgot that, too? You never cared. It never mattered to you!”

  He turned away and ran up the stairs through the next door.

  “Riku—!” Sora yelled but gave up on chasing him and only stared at his feet.

  Barging in on his heart…? What does that even mean? When have I ever done something like that to Riku?

  Did I…hurt him somehow?

  “Sora…” Goofy walked over to him, concerned.

  “You okay?” Donald peered into his face, too.

  “Yeah… I’m fine.” Sora smiled at them. “Let’s go. We have to get Riku’s memories back!”

  “Right!” Donald and Goofy nodded.

  …No matter what, I’ll save you, Riku.

  (To be continued)

  “You have my sympathies. From the heart.”

  “But don’t waste your time. We Nobodies can never hope to be somebodies.”

  “Say, Naminé. Isn’t there something else you can do?”

  SORA’S STORY

  PART 2

  Is this okay?

  Was it okay?

  Sora… I’m sorry.

  In a small room in the castle, she clutched a sketchbook, gazing at the images in the big crystal ball.

  Axel slowly moved to her side. “You have my sympathies. From the heart.”

  She looked up and glared straight at him.

  For a moment, Axel felt like those deep blue eyes might swallow him up and drown him. He blinked. “But don’t waste your time. We Nobodies can never hope to be somebodies.”

  Her gaze fell into her lap. With a slight smile playing at his lips, Axel stared at her.

  She held the key to everything…

  “Say, Naminé. Isn’t there something else you can do?”

  It was a risky move, trying to push her to action.

  Naminé didn’t look at him again or even move.

  We Nobodies… And the irreplaceable you.

  How much of it is lies, and how much is true? I’m not even sure anymore myself.

  Is this okay?

  Was it okay?

  Hey, Sora… What are you thinking right now?

  CHAPTER 6

  HOLLOW BASTION

  AS HE BEGAN TO HOLD UP THE CARD IN FRONT OF THE DOOR, Sora paused.

  “Sora?” Goofy looked at him anxiously.

  “C’mon. We’ve gotta keep up with Riku!” said Donald.

  Sora bit his lip for just an instant before he spoke. “I don’t get it. Riku and I both want the same thing—we both want to help Naminé. How come we’re fighting? I mean, we’ve argued about stuff since forever, but…”

  We’ve fought a million times and made up a million times… Because we were best friends, weren’t we?

  “Could be ’cos ya care what happens to each other,” Goofy said, trying to help.

  “Yeah, I really thought so, too.” Sora looked down. “But…maybe Riku doesn’t.”

  I haven’t lost all my memories. I still have the important ones, he thought. But if Riku only remembers us fighting…does that mean those times were more important to him than when we played together?

  “Aw, you can’t give up! You’re friends tied together! Sora and Riku and Ka… Gee, what was her name?” Goofy cocked his head, thinking.

  Jiminy jumped out of Sora’s pocket. “Hm… It seems our memories are fading mighty fast. Sora, we’ve got to hurry. I’m sure Riku will come around if you just talk to him.”


  “Yeah, you’re right,” said Sora. “The three of us were never apart! Me and Riku… And Naminé.”

  We were always together. Me and Riku and Naminé playing together on the island.

  And someday the three of us will run down the beach again… So I have to talk to Riku.

  I have to save him.

  I’ll find Riku and talk to him before he loses hold of his most precious memories…

  “C’mon, guys!” Sora looked at the card in his hand. It had a picture of a castle he’d never seen before. Or he couldn’t remember it…but that was all right.

  I’ve got my friends… I have Riku and Naminé.

  Sora held the card up high.

  Through the door was a place like a great hall, embellished with a rose emblem on the floor.

  “We’ve been to this castle before!” said Donald, glancing all around.

  The windows were all stained glass, and the light shone faintly through.

  Goofy’s ears perked up. “I can hear somebody…”

  Sora began to move in the direction of the voices. A beautiful woman in a gold dress stood there, looking upset.

  “Is she all alone?” Donald wondered.

  Then a huge furry monster came up behind her.

  “Is—is it a Heartless?!” Goofy held out his shield.

  “I don’t think so,” said Sora. “He has a face and everything…”

  “Actually, from his eyes, he looks nice,” Donald added.

  “Well, let’s try talking to him!”

  Sora was about to go closer, but Jiminy Cricket jumped out of his pocket. “Ssh! I think something’s wrong,” he warned them, and the trio stopped.

  Past them, the creature and the beautiful lady seemed to be arguing about something.

  “But, Belle, I don’t understand!” he was pleading. “I came to rescue you from Maleficent!”

  Belle didn’t turn to face him, and her voice was cold. “Beast… I did not ask you to come. And it doesn’t matter, anyway. I’m not going back with you. I’m staying.”

  With that, she began to stalk away.

  “Belle? Do you know what you’re saying? How can you stay in this castle with that witch?”

  She turned, then, just glancing at the Beast. “I’ve nothing more to say,” she told him sharply. “Now please leave before she finds you.” And she left the hall.