Honestly, I gravitate toward stories that treat Sora less like a hero and more like a kid carrying an impossible burden. There's one by 'shoreleave' on AO3 called 'Weightless' that hooked me. It's set after 'Dream Drop Distance,' focusing on Sora's nightmares and his quiet terror of failing again. The growth isn't about gaining new powers, but about learning to ask Riku for help, which feels so real for his character.
What worked for me was how the writer used Kairi not just as a motivator but as an anchor. They have these quiet calls on the GummiPhone where Sora admits he's scared, and Kairi just listens. It's a small detail, but it reframes their whole dynamic. The prose is simple, almost sparse, which makes the emotional beats hit harder. It doesn't rush to a triumphant ending, either. The last scene is just Sora sitting with Riku on the paopu fruit tree, not saying much, which felt like a more honest kind of strength.