Pure Heart : Kingdom Hearts II :

A Meal Fit For Heroes

The gummi ship, a speck of light and life, traced an elegant path through the boundless void of interstellar space. Each star, a silent sentinel in the cosmic expanse, watched the ship with an indifferent gaze. Inside this protective shell, the ship's gentle hum of engines created a lulling symphony, accompanied by the quiet whisper of its various systems at work. This harmonized rhythm echoed through the snug quarters, melding seamlessly with the weariness that cloaked its inhabitants. Their fatigue, a palpable entity, permeated the air, drawing them into a comforting hush of shared experience.

Sora, Donald, Goofy, Ava, and Valerie were bound by a wordless pact, their collective exhaustion a testament to the day's trials and triumphs. A day that had been punctuated with adrenaline surges and heated battles was slowly folding away, its echoes lingering in the tired strain of their muscles and the sweet victory that still left a warm glow in their hearts.

A collective sigh rippled through them as they yielded to the need to stretch, their actions synchronizing in an unplanned dance of relief. Sora, his hands reaching for the stars they sailed past, winced as the strain unraveled from his taut muscles. Donald, with a vigorous shake and a gusty flap of his wings, interrupted the serene calm for a moment. On the other hand, Goofy elongated his body into a sweeping stretch, his actions accompanied by a deep groan of contentment that reverberated around the ship.

Their silent camaraderie was abruptly interrupted by a loud, rumbling growl. It was a moment before they pinpointed the origin - Sora's stomach. His face flushed with a bright crimson hue, an embarrassed grin pulling at his lips as his hand instinctively ruffled his hair. "Sorry, guess all that fighting worked up an appetite," he stammered, his voice a sheepish murmur in the room.

Laughter bubbled up within Valerie at Sora's expense. "Wow, Sora," she snickered, her mirth spilling out in an amused chuckle, "Sounds like you've got a Heartless in there!" Donald couldn't resist joining in the fun, his laughter forming a joyful echo within the small confines. On the flip side, Ava offered Sora a comforting smile, her voice a soothing balm against the light-hearted jesting. "It's okay, Sora. We've had a long day," she assured him. Goofy chimed in, nodding his head as his benevolent nature came to the fore to support his friend.

"Gawrsh, Sora, don't worry none. We've all been working hard and burning lots of energy. It's natural to be hungry." Ava picked up on Goofy's thread of conversation, her gaze drifting over the interior of the ship before swinging back to the group with a furrowed brow. "Any chance we've got something to eat on this ship?" she asked, hope tinting her voice. Donald's shoulders lifted in a nonchalant shrug, the admission slipping out effortlessly. "We've got some snack food, that's about it."

Ava's eyes widened in disbelief as she glanced towards Valerie, seeking validation for what she just heard. "Wait, are you saying all you guys have been surviving on snacks?" She directed the question at the whole group, aghast at the idea. The collective shrug and nod of confirmation from Sora, Donald, and Goofy were all the answers she needed. Ava crossed her arms over her chest, a disapproving scowl wrinkling her brow. "That's not healthy, guys," she chastised, concern seeping into her tone.

Valerie's chuckle echoed around the confined space of the gummi ship. A playful grin spread across her face as she nudged Sora lightly with her elbow. "You're in trouble now," she teased, her voice bouncing off the walls. She watched in amusement as her sister's concerned scolding turned the room's atmosphere slightly chaotic, the unexpected reprimanding catching the others off guard.

Sensing the need to diffuse the situation, Goofy attempted to provide a counter-argument. "Well, we've been doing okay so far, huh?" he responded, his voice tinged with a note of uncertainty. His comment earned him a playful glare from Ava, which only made Valerie chuckle even more.