○○Chapter 7 - Stranger Things○○

WEEKS HAD PASSED SINCE SORA HAD LEFT, AND FOR EVERLY, THE DAYS SEEMED TO BLUR TOGETHER. She had found solace in a new routine: training. Yuffie and Leon had taken her under their wing, teaching her self-defense and helping her rebuild both her strength and sense of purpose. Each day brought its own set of challenges, but with every obstacle, she felt herself growing stronger—physically and mentally. Slowly, she was reclaiming control over her life, something she had lost when the darkness first touched her heart.

But no matter how much that darkness lingered, Ever refused to let it consume her. She channeled her fear and uncertainty into her training, using it as fuel to drive her forward. The shadows no longer terrified her as they once had..ok maybe a little bit; but, they became the backdrop to her growing strength and determination.

As she gazed into the mirror in her room, her thoughts swirled in confusion, trying to make sense of the strange reality she had found herself in. Traverse Town, Heartless, Keyblades—it all felt like something ripped from a bedtime story, the kind of tale her dad used to share with her when she and Sora were younger. Only now, she was living in that story, surrounded by worlds and creatures that defied everything she had ever known.

"How did this become my life?" she whispered, her fingers brushing the glowing pendant around her neck.

Her mind kept spinning, caught between two worlds—the simple one she once knew and the one she was now trapped in. Part of her wanted to believe she would wake up any moment, back in the safety of her bed, with Sora telling her it was just a dream. But the weight of the world, the ache in her muscles from training, and the ever-present threat of the Heartless were reminders that this wasn't a dream.

"Is this real? Or am I stuck in some never-ending fantasy?" she muttered, her tired reflection staring back at her with the same bewildered expression.

It didn't feel real—none of it did.

Her grip tightened on the edge of the vanity as her thoughts raced. "How am I supposed to fight something that was never meant to be real?"

Ever closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, trying to center herself. She had to stay grounded, even if everything around her felt like an illusion. She had to be strong —no matter how unreal the world had become.

Every morning, she met Leon in the courtyard. His tough but patient demeanor pushed her to her limits, refining her reflexes and teaching her how to hold her own in combat. "You're not a Keyblade wielder like Sora," Leon said one morning as they sparred with swords. "But that doesn't mean you can't protect yourself."

Everly clenched her jaw, blocking another one of his strikes, her arms trembling from the effort. "I refuse to just sit around and wait for the Heartless to come after me again," she said through gritted teeth, her resolve evident.

Leon stepped back, giving her a nod of approval. "Good. You've got the will. Just remember, real strength isn't just physical—it's mental. It's about heart and focus."

In the afternoons, Yuffie took over her training, the lessons more playful but no less intense. Yuffie's focus was on agility and using her environment to her advantage. "If you can't beat 'em with brute strength, outsmart 'em," Yuffie would say, flashing Everly a grin. "The Heartless may be tough, but they're not exactly known for being smart."

As the days went by, Everly noticed herself improving. Her movements became quicker, her reflexes sharper, and the confidence she had once lost was slowly returning. The training helped distract her from the constant worry gnawing at her—worry about Sora, the darkness still threatening her heart, and the uncertainty of what lay ahead. But no matter how hard she pushed herself, she couldn't shake the feeling of dread that loomed at the back of her mind.

One evening, after an archery session, Ever slumped down at the edge of the courtyard, wiping the sweat from her forehead. Yuffie joined her, plopping down with a casual grin and tossing Everly a canteen of water.

"You're getting better, you know," Yuffie said, taking a sip of her own water. "Leon may not say much, but I can tell he's impressed."

Everly gave a tired but genuine smile. "Thanks, Yuffie. It helps to stay busy. Gives me something to focus on."

Yuffie stretched her arms behind her head, staring up at the evening sky. "Yeah, but it's more than that. You're stronger now. And you're a fighter, whether you realize it or not."

Ever looked down at her hands, now rough from weeks of training. "I just... I want to be ready. In case something happens. In case Sora doesn't come back in time."

Yuffie's playful grin softened into something more serious. "Sora's gonna come back. But yeah, I get it. Being ready is smart. And you're not the same girl who was sitting in that chair weeks ago. You're a lot stronger than you think."

Ever nodded slowly, the worry still there, but something inside her felt different. She wasn't the same scared girl anymore. She was prepared to face whatever came next.

~~~~

One evening, Ever returned to her room, exhausted but proud of the progress she'd made. As she set her bow down beside her bed and prepared to unwind, she noticed something different on her nightstand—a small envelope with her name scrawled on the front in familiar handwriting.

Her heart skipped a beat. She knew that handwriting from anywhere.

"Sora..." she whispered, her fingers trembling as she picked up the envelope. She sat down on the edge of her bed, carefully opening the letter. Inside was a single, folded sheet of paper, the words written in Sora's usual hasty but heartfelt style.

Dear Evy,

I hope you're doing okay.

Everything feels so different now. I keep thinking about how simple life was back on Destiny Islands when it was just you, me, Riku, and Kairi. It's hard to believe our home is gone, and with it, Mom and Dad... all because of the darkness.

The darkness is stronger than I ever thought it could be. It's everywhere, and it's hard not to feel lost in it.

You wouldn't believe the place Donald, Goofy and I just left—it was called Wonderland. Everything there was so strange. It was so weird, Evy. Everything was upside down—literally. There was a talking rabbit in a waistcoat, talking flowers, a smiling purple cat that talked in riddles and doors that led to nowhere. At one point, I had to shrink down to the size of a bug just to fit through a door!

The Queen of Hearts ran the place, and trust me, she was more dangerous than she looked. (She looks just like our Principal) And she had an army that was practically life size playing cards!

Ever snorted a little at that part where he said the queen looked like their school principal.

She accused this girl named Alice of trying to steal her heart, which didn't even make sense, but that's Wonderland for you I guess. We had to help Alice, and of course, fight off more Heartless. But here's the shocking part... Alice disappeared! Right in the middle of everything, she was just gone! Donald, Goofy, and I tried to figure out where she went, but there were no clues. It's like she vanished into thin air. I don't know if the Heartless got her or if something else is going on, but it left me with this weird feeling.

It seems like no matter where we go, the Heartless keep showing up. I feel like we're always two steps behind them.

We managed to defeat the Heartless boss which was difficult but not impossible. Every time I think we're close to finding the King, Riku and Kairi, they feel even further away. It's frustrating, but I won't give up and hopefully, this will go back to normal.

How are you holding up? I'm worried about you. The darkness is everywhere, but I know you're strong. You've always been the one to keep us grounded, even when things were tough. I just hope you're not carrying too much on your own. I heard you've started training—is it going ok?

I want you to take care of yourself, okay? Just hang in there.

I miss you sis.

Your brother,

Sora

Grabbing a blank parchment paper, Ever picked up her quill, dipping it into ink, and hesitated for a moment. There was so much she wanted to say to Sora, so much she needed him to know. But the words didn't come easily. She glanced at the blank sheet again, took a deep breath, and began to write.

Dear Soso,

Wonderland sounds interesting. Smiling cats, shrinking doors? I can only imagine how lost you must've felt there. I bet you handled it fine, even with all the wackiness. The Queen of Hearts sounds... intense and she looking like our Principal is insane and a little creepy, to say the least. I can't believe she accused Alice of something like that. Stealing her heart? That really doesn't make sense and you all should get to the bottom of it, pronto!

But Alice disappearing? That's really scary. It sounds like the darkness is spreading faster than we thought, and that's terrifying, Sora. I hate to think about what might have happened to her, and the idea of something like that happening to Riku or Kairi... it's too much. But I know you're doing everything you can to find them, and I trust you. We'll get them back, Soso. We have to.

You're right about the darkness—it's stronger than I ever imagined, and it's everywhere. I can feel it creeping in more and more, but I'm not giving up either. Knowing you're out there fighting it makes me fight even harder. It's what we've always done, right? Push through, no matter how dark it gets.

Training has been tough, but I'm getting stronger.

Take care of yourself, okay? I miss you too. Just remember—no matter how confusing or dangerous things get, you're not alone in this. I'm with you, every step of the way, even if I'm not there physically.

Stay safe, Soso.

Your only sister,

Evy

After Ever finished writing, she read over the letter one last time, feeling the warmth of her words. Satisfied, she placed it into the envelope and labeled the front.

With a deep breath, she closed her eyes and held the envelope tightly. Gathering her strength, she whispered a small spell—something she learned from Merlin and had been practicing for a moment like this.

A light began to surround the envelope, glowing brighter and brighter, until it lifted from her hands. Everly opened her eyes just in time to watch the letter vanish into a puff of smoke.