Title: Happy?
Category: Kingdom Hearts
Words: 341
Disclaimer: I am making no monetary profit from this publication.
Summary: Wordshot drabble. So many in this fandom see Sora as a perpetually bright ray of sunshine, unshakeable in his faith and optimism. When's the last time they played the first game?
Notes: (1) The prompt was "happy". (2) I often see Sora characterized in a very flat way—"Oh, he's naïve and happy. That's it. That's his character." It makes me sad, because he's actually an incredibly dynamic, deep character. (3) Alternate title: Donald and Goofy Are Greatly Underappreciated, and Here's Why.

Donald takes one look at the Keyblade Wielder and knows immediately that they have trouble. No mighty warrior stands before he and Goofy—instead, they see a kid who grips his weapon too tightly out of fear and has no idea what's going on.

The worst part? A specter lurks behind the boy's eyes. This is not a happy camper, and Donald simply cannot travel with unhappy campers.

"Okay, but you can't come with us looking like that. No frowning. No sad faces. This ship runs on happy faces!"

"…Happy?"

The boy's voice is so flat—muted with such hopelessness and skepticism—that Donald almost gives up right then and there. Only the Keybearer's sorry (but hilarious) attempt at a smile keeps Donald from grabbing Goofy and turning around.

Sora declares, "I'll go with you guys," with much more enthusiasm, but the specter still lurks.

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Over the course of such a harrowing, high stakes adventure, the light is supposed to steadily leave a hero's eyes as their initial enthusiasm suffers from the constant hardship.

As Donald rants to Goofy about how childish Sora is being, getting so excited over Santa Claus, Goofy just shrugs and replies honestly:

"Uh, I kinda like it!"

That brings Donald up short. "Wak?"

"I mean, if you think about it, Sora wouldn't'a got near as excited back when we first met 'im in Traverse Town. Ahyuck! I think we taught 'im how to smile!"

Only now does Donald remember the specter he saw, all those months ago, and realize with a start that he hasn't seen it for a very long time.

Instead of the light leaving Sora's eyes, the darkness did.

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Donald takes one look at Sora's long-lost friend and knows immediately that they have trouble. Sora positively bubbles with enthusiasm, despite Riku's dark story, but Donald and Goofy exchange knowing looks, and Donald wearily turns to Riku with a mock-serious look on his face.

"Okay, but you can't come with us looking like that…"

(They did it once… Surely they can do it again…?)