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The early morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, bathing Raven's room in a warm, cozy glow. Raven blinked awake, stretching her arms over her head as she yawned. For a moment, she allowed herself to relax into the soft mattress, not wanting to leave the comfort of her bed just yet.
With a sigh, she finally pulled herself up, bare feet touching the cold floor. Raven padded over to the mirror hanging on her closet door. As she examined her reflection, a small frown formed on her lips. She ran her hands down her ample curves, lips turning down.
"Ugh, why can't I just be skinny?" she grumbled, poking at her stomach. Raven turned to the side, scrutinizing her figure. Shaking her head, she grabbed a hair tie and pulled her dark waves up into a messy bun.
"I wish I could change everything about myself," she muttered. Sucking in a deep breath, Raven straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin.
"Whatever, it doesn't matter. I'm awesome no matter what," she declared with forced confidence. Her reflection didn't look convinced. Dropping the confident facade, Raven's shoulders slumped. She glanced sadly at the mirror one last time before turning away.
Raven shoved her insecurities aside as she got ready for school. She pulled on a pair of jeans and an oversized hoodie, grabbing her backpack and heading downstairs.
"Morning," she called out to her dad as she entered the kitchen. He was sitting at the table reading the newspaper, a cup of coffee in hand.
"Morning Raven," he replied with a smile. "There's waffles on the counter for you."
"Thanks dad," Raven said, grabbing a waffle and taking a big bite. She checked the time on her phone as she chewed. "Gotta go, I'm meeting Catherine before class."
"Have a good day," her dad said. "Love you."
"Love you too," Raven responded, giving him a quick hug before rushing out the door.
Raven hurried down the sidewalk, backpack slung over one shoulder. She checked her phone and cursed under her breath, quickening her pace.
"Raven, wait up!" a voice called from behind.
She turned to see her best friend Catherine jogging to catch up, red curls bouncing. Catherine fell into step beside Raven, grinning brightly despite the early hour.
"Running a little late today?" Catherine teased.
Raven rolled her eyes. "As always. I don't know how you have so much energy this early."
Catherine laughed. "Lots of coffee. Want some?" She held out a large iced coffee from their favorite cafe.
"You're a lifesaver," Raven said gratefully, taking a long sip. The cold brew flooded her senses, instantly revitalizing her.
The two chatted lightly as they walked, Catherine filling Raven in on the latest school gossip. Too soon they reached the front steps, the first bell ringing overhead.
"Good luck for class!" Catherine called, heading to her classroom. Raven waved halfheartedly, dreading the day ahead.
She slid into her seat in English class just as the late bell sounded, earning a stern look from the teacher. Raven avoided eye contact, pulling out her notebook.
As the teacher began lecturing on symbolism in their latest assigned reading, Raven found herself doodling aimlessly in the margins of her notes. She drew swirling patterns and shadowy figures, losing herself in her own world. The teacher's voice became distant background noise.
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Raven sighed, gazing out the window longingly. She wished she could escape into one of her drawings or stories, instead of being trapped in the monotonous routine of high school. The day stretched ahead of her interminably.
With another heavy sigh, Raven returned to her absent-minded doodling, waiting impatiently for the freedom of lunch break.
***
The final bell rang, jolting Raven from her daze. She gathered her things and shuffled out of the classroom, eager to escape the confines of school. The late afternoon sun was dipping towards the horizon as Raven exited the building, bathing the sidewalks in golden light. She breathed deeply, enjoying the fresh air after being cooped up all day.
As Raven neared her house at the end of the block, she noticed an odd flickering glow coming from her backyard. She paused, frowning. It almost looked like flashlight beams flashing erratically through the trees.
Curiosity piqued, Raven quietly entered through the side gate. She crept towards the back corner of the yard, where the strange lights originated. Peeking around a large rhododendron bush, she gasped.
There was a shimmering portal hovering just above the ground, tendrils of dark energy swirling around its edges. It reminded Raven eerily of the corridors of darkness described in her favorite video game.
Raven hesitated. This was impossible...wasn't it? She had imagined these portals so many times before in her stories and game play. And yet here one was, flickering invitingly before her. Steeling her nerves, Raven took a deep breath. Her mind raced with possibilities. She had to know where it led. Gripping her backpack tightly, she stepped into the portal and everything went dark.
Raven blinked rapidly as her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting. She stumbled slightly, disoriented from the transition through the portal. As her vision cleared, she gasped in awe and disbelief. She was standing on an endless dark shore, the black sand soft beneath her feet. The ocean before her was dark and foreboding, with no horizon in sight. Jagged rock formations jutted up at odd angles, looming overhead like silent sentinels. Everything was cast in shades of black, gray and deep violet.
"No way...the Realm of Darkness?" Raven whispered.
This was the setting described in intricate detail in her favorite video game series, Kingdom Hearts. But it couldn't be real...could it?
Raven walked slowly along the shore, one hand trailing along the rough surface of a nearby rock. It felt solid and real beneath her fingertips. The sound of the waves crashing against the rocks was deafening. She shook her head in bewilderment. Somehow, impossibly, the fictional world she had imagined so vividly during game play had come to life. The implications left her reeling.
"If this place is real...what else from the games might exist?" Raven murmured. Her mind swirled with fantastical thoughts of Keyblades, heartless creatures, and epic adventures.
Despite the bleak landscape, Raven felt a thrill run through her. This was the gateway to possibilities beyond her wildest dreams. She had stepped through the portal seeking escape from her mundane life, but now an entire universe of adventure awaited her. Raven's musings were interrupted by a skittering sound behind her. She whirled around, eyes searching the gloom. There, emerging from puddles of inky darkness, were a dozen Shadow Heartless. Their glowing yellow eyes focused hungrily on her as they twitched and convulsed, ready to attack.
Raven's breath caught in her throat. She had battled these enemies countless times in the game, but seeing them materialize before her now was utterly terrifying.
Acting on instinct, Raven threw out her hand.In a flash of light, a Keyblade appeared in her grasp -a majestic blade split between light and darkness, one half white and the other black. Light and dark perfectly balanced. The weight felt comforting and familiar, as if it had always belonged with her. The Heartless crept closer, hissing menacingly. Raven steadied herself, holding her Keyblade in a defensive stance. She had trained for this moment, even if it was only in a fictional realm before. Now her skills would be put to the test.
With a fierce battle cry, Raven leapt forward to clash with the dark creatures. She slashed and spun, dispatching them one by one in a whirlwind of blows. The Keyblade felt like an extension of her arm, each swing smooth and controlled. As the last Heartless vanished in a puff of black smoke, Raven stood tall, Keyblade resting on her shoulder.
Whatever this strange new world held in store, she was ready. Her epic adventure was about to begin.
Raven stood among the dissipating black smoke, catching her breath as she looked around warily. The threat was gone, for now. But she couldn't shake the creeping feeling that she was being watched. The dark beach was still and quiet once more. Raven slowly turned in a circle, peering into the gloomy shadows between the jagged rocks along the shoreline. She saw nothing, but the hair on the back of her neck prickled. Her palms grew slick around the keyblade's hilt.
"Hello?" she called out, her voice echoing slightly across the empty beach. "Is anyone there?"
Only the soft hush of the dark waves answered. Raven sighed and dismissed her Keyblade, the weapon disappearing in a flash of light. She was letting the ominous scenery get to her. This was the Realm of Darkness after all - it was bound to feel eerie and unnerving. Raven turned and began walking along the beach, hoping to find some answers about this strange place she now found herself in. But she couldn't resist glancing back over her shoulder every few steps, unable to fully shake the feeling of unseen eyes tracking her every move. The thought sent a shiver down her spine.
She was alone...wasn't she?