AUTHOR [P.O.V.]

They travel back to Traverse Town and find Yuffie in the First District.

Yuffie: "Leon's probably at the underground cavern. He trains there often. You know, the channel in the alleyway is connected to the cavern."

They enter the Alleyway through the Second District and find a grate at the edge of it. They tackle the bars and enter the Secret Waterway. They swim through the channel to where Leon is practising his battle swing. Aerith is there with him.

Leon: "So, you found the Keyhole."

Sora: "Yeah. The Keyblade locked it automatically."

Aerith: "Good."

Leon: "Every world among the stars has a Keyhole. And each one leads to the heart of that world. There must be one in this town as well."

Sora: "What do you mean?"

Aerith: "It was in Ansem's report."

Y/N: "Ansem's report?"

Leon [crossing his arms]: "The Heartless enter through the Keyhole and do something to the world's core."

Sora: "What happens to the world?"

Aerith: "In the end, it disappears."

Sora, Donald & Goofy: "What!"

Y/N [whispers to herself]: "Like Destiny Islands."

Leon: "That's why your key is so important."

Aerith: "Please lock the Keyholes. You're the only one who can."

Sora: "I don't know..."

Leon: "Seeing other worlds would probably serve you well."

Donald: "Yeah!"

Goofy: "We gotta find your friends! And King Mickey!"

Y/N: "They're right, Sora. We'll find Riku and Kairi soon. I'll teach you a few tricks on handling a Keyblade."

Sora: "I guess you're right... Okay!"

He remembers the gummi block.

Sora: "Y/N, can I have that gummi block to show Leon."

Y/N nods her head and gives the gummi block over to Sora.

Sora: "Hey, Leon. This gummi block's different from the others. Do you know what it's for?"

Leon has no answer.

Aerith: "Ask Cid. He should know."

Leon: "Wait, Sora. Take this with you."

He gives him a stone.

Leon: "This stone holds some mysterious power. I've been carrying it for luck. I want you to hold onto it."

Sora: "How do you use it?"

Leon crosses his arms, silently thinking.

Sora: "Uh, Leon?"

Y/N: "Don't tell me you don't know how to use it?"

They leave the Secret Waterway and return to the First District. They enter the Accessory Shop and speak to a Moogle.

Moogle: "A big tournament is being held somewhere, kupo."

Y/N: "Tournament? Huh..."

Sora: "Hey, maybe we could enter?"

Donald: "No! No! No! First we got to talk to Cid!"

Y/N: "Donald, chill out. Sora, you know we could always go back to Olympus Collisium for a tournament."

Sora's mood drops as Y/N smacks his head and he yelps. Sora glares at his friend as she lets out a chuckle. They went to speak with Cid.

Cid: "What've you got there? Hey! Well, if it ain't a gummi block."

Donald: "Yup."

Goofy: "What's this one for?"

Cid: "You're kiddin' me! You're flyin' a gummi ship and you don't know nothin' about navigation gummis? Bunch of pinheads. Interspace ain't no playground."

Sora: "There's a lot we don't know. So what! We have to use the gummi ship to go to other worlds. We don't have a choice."

Cid: "Whoa, easy."

Y/N: "Yeah, Sora your still pretty new to this."

Cid scratches his head.

Cid: "I didn't know. No hard feelings, all right? Well, I guess I could lend y'all a hand, then."

Sora: "Thanks."

Cid: "Basically, with navigation gummis, you can go to new places. You want one on your ship, right?"

They nod.

Cid: "I'll install it for you. But I got this thing I gotta go deliver first."

Sora: "What do you need to deliver?"

Cid: "Just this book. It's real old. When the guy brought it in, it was practically falling apart. Too beat up to restore it to the way it was. But overall, I did a decent job puttin' it back together. Anyway, you mind deliverin' it for me? It's the old house past the Third District. Look for a big fire sign."

He hands Sora the old book before a loud bell rings.

Sora: "Wh-What was that?"

Cid: "Hmm? The bell at the gizmo shop is ringing. Go check it out if you want, but deliver that book for me first. When you're done, stop by the house in the Third District. I'll be there."

They leave the shop and enter the Third District, finding the fire sign at the end of an alley. Sora hits it with a Fire spell and the door unlocks. They enter a large cavern where a mystical house sits on a central island. Several stepping stones line the path in the water. Sora jumps on them and they begin to move rhythmically. Timing themselves, they traverse the stones and reach the house. The house looks beaten and worn down despite its festive purple hue. The front entranceway is covered in wooden boards and cloth. They find a broken hole in the side of the brick wall with a green curtain draped over it, and use it to get into the house. They enter an empty space with a raised platform in the centre. Sora and Y/N hears a voice behind them and whirls around.

Kairi: "There's something about this musty place..."

Kairi walks slowly through the room, holding her hands behind her back.

Kairi: "It reminds me of the secret place back home, where we used to scribble on the walls. Remember?"

She looks toward them and smiles.

Sora: "Kairi?"

Y/N: 'Could it be...?'

Goofy: "Sora? Y/N"

They turns to see a concerned Donald and Goofy before looking back to Kairi, who has vanished completely.

???: "Well, well."

They look over to the entrance curtain and see an old wizard in blue robes with an extremely long beard. He is carrying a carpet bag and a wand.

???: "You've arrived sooner than I expected."

Sora: "Wha... You knew we were coming?"

Y/N: 'Hang on a second... he looks familiar... but where?'

???: "Of course."

Sora: "Are you... a Heartless?"

Donald: He doesn't look like one.

???: "Oh, my. No. My name is Merlin."

Y/N: "Oh! I knew I'd seen you before! Merlin, it's been a long time! It's me, Y/N!"

Merlin: "Ah! Y/N, it is so good to see you, dear. You've grown."

Y/N: "Haha, yeah."

Sora, Donald and Goofy looks between the sorcerer and the Keyblade Master.

Sora: "You know this guy, Y/N?"

Y/N: "Yeah, you can say I ran into him before once I got separated with Mickey on a mission. Merlin found me and he taught me a few spells. He even saved me from a few Heartless one time."

Merlin: "Yes, I do remember when the first time we met. Now, back to what I was going to say. As you can see, I am a sorcerer. I spend much of my time traveling. It's good to be home. Your king has requested my help."

Goofy: "King Mickey?"

Merlin: "Yes, indeed. Donald, Goofy. And who might you be, young man?"

Sora: "I'm Sora."

Merlin: "Ah. So, you have found the key."

Donald: "What did the king ask you to do?"

Merlin: "Just a moment..."

He walks up to the stairs, with Y/N trailing behind, and sets down his carpet bag before reaching the centre of the raised platform. He lifts his wand high in the air.

Merlin: "Presto!"

Dust flies around the carpet bag as it opens and out pops teapots, tables, drawers, and chairs, small at first, but quickly growing larger. The wacky wizard dances around while waving his wand, directing the items from the bag to their respective places in the house. Soon after, the room is entirely furnished, complete with bed, desk, and multiple piles of books.

Y/N: "This never gets old."

Merlin: "There, now. Ahem."

He turns to face Sora.

Merlin: "Your king asked me to train you in the art of magic. We can start anytime you like. Let me know when you're ready to begin the training. Oh, and one more thing."

He turns to the entrance where a small model of a royal carriage is placed on the floor next to the telescope in the open window. Magic sparkles in the air coalesce at the carriage's place and form an elderly woman in blue robes with a pink bow around her neck. She wears her hood over her white hair and holds up a long magic wand. She smiles at them sweetly.

???: "Hello. I'm the Fairy Godmother. Your king asked me to help, too. I will assist throughout your journey."

Merlin: "I do not know how much I can be of help, but do stop by anytime."

Sora hands him the book.

Merlin: "Oh, that book... So, Cid asked you to bring this. Thank you. You wish to know what kind of book it is? I don't even know, myself. In fact, it's not mine. Somehow it found its way into my bag one day. It was such a curious book, I asked Cid to repair it for me. Well, I guess I'll put it here somewhere, for now. This book holds a great secret. The missing pages will unlock it."

He points to a small bedside table.

Merlin: "I'll leave the book over there. Do look at it whenever you like. My best regards to Cid for repairing it for me. Oh, and about that stone of yours... You should ask the Fairy Godmother about that."

They speak to the Fairy Godmother and show her Leon's stone.

Sora: "Do you know what this is?"

Fairy Godmother: "Oh, the poor thing! He has turned into a summon gem."

Sora: "A summon gem?"

Fairy Godmother: "This little creature lived in a world that was consumed by darkness. When a world vanishes, so do its inhabitants. But this one has such a strong heart, he became a gem instead of vanishing with his world."

Y/N: "Seriously?"

Sora: "Can he regain himself?"

Fairy Godmother: "Yes, but only his spirit. Now, watch!"

She waves her wand.

Fairy Godmother: "Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!"

Sora is granted the power to summon Simba.

Fairy Godmother: "Whenever you call, he will help you. If you find any more of these, bring them to me. Don't worry, when their worlds are restored they will return there. Sora, please help save them."

Sora: "Don't worry, I will."

As Sora kept talking, I was still wondering where Riku and Kairi was. Suddenly my heart started beating. I stepped away from everyone else and placed a hand over my heart before staring out of space.

Merlin: "Y/N?"

I turn to Merlin looking at me with a concerned look.

"Hey... I'm fine. But... I feel like my heart is telling me something."

Merlin: "Hmm... Have you ever felt that before?"

"No, never."

???: "Y/N..."

'That... voice. It sounds familiar... but where did I hear it from?'

The group left Merlin's tower to meet up with Cid, Leon, Aerith and Yuffie in the Third District. As they walked in the square that had a First District door nearby. Two Heartless soldiers appeared and everyone got into a fighting stance before somebody destroyed them first with their Keyblade. Sora's and Y/N's eyes widen to see their friend, Riku.

Riku: "There you are. What's going on?"

Sora & Y/N: "Riku!"

Sora walked up to him and pulled his face before it got swatted away.

Riku: "Hey, hey, cut it out."

Sora: "I'm not dreaming this time, right?

Riku: "I hope not. Took forever to find you. And didn't expect you and Y/N would be together."

Y/N [giggles]: "Hello to you too, Riku."

Riku smirked at his crush as Sora was happy to see his best friend.

Sora: "Riku!"

Y/N then noticed something wrong with her crush. As she sensed darkness inside Riku. She began to worry and hoped it was just her imagination. They all started walking in the middle of the square. Before Sora stopped realising someone was missing.

Sora: "Wait a second, where's Kairi?"

Riku: "Isn't she with you two?"

Y/N: "Well... no."

Sora looked down since he found Riku he needed to find Kairi now.

Riku: "Well, don't worry. I'm sure she made it off the island, too. We're finally free."

Riku walked away a bit as the group didn't notice two Heartless rose up beside Sora and Y/N.

Riku: "Hey, she might even be looking for us now. We'll all be together again soon. Don't worry. Just leave everything to me. I know this—"

Riku didn't finish until he heard a metal noise behind him to see Sora and Y/N destroy a Heartless.

Sora: "Leave it to who?"

Riku: "Sora, Y/N what did you two—"

Sora: "We've been looking for you and Kairi, too, with their help. And they're Y/N's friends."

He gestured to Donald and Goofy.

Riku: "Who are they?"

Donald: "Ahem. My name is—"

Donald was about to introduce himself as he got interrupted by Sora.

Sora: "We've visited so many places and worlds, looking for you."

Riku: "Really? Well, what do you know? I never would have guessed."

Y/N: "You'd do the same for us, Riku."

Riku [chuckles]: "Yeah sure. Except I'd mostly look for you."

Riku murmured the last sentence.

Y/N: "Hmm? What was that?"

Y/N's face was close to Riku's as she had her hands behind her back. Riku's face flushed a bit.

Riku: "N-Nothing!"

Y/N giggled at his stuttering which made Riku's face was getting redder.

Sora: "Oh get a room, lovebirds."

Y/N: "Shut up, Sora!"

The trio let out a small laugh. As they calmed down, Goofy placed his hand on Sora's and Y/N's shoulders.

Goofy: "Oh, and guess what? Sora's the Keyblade master and Y/N is a Keyblade Master when she was 9."

Donald: "Who would've thought it?"

Sora: " \What's that mean?"

Riku: "So, this is called a Keyblade?"

Riku held up Sora's Keyblade.

Sora: "Huh?"

Sora looked down at his hand that held the Keyblade to see it gone.

Sora: "Hey, give it back."

Sora was about to tackle Riku to take back his Keyblade but only face-planted the ground as Riku backed up still inspecting the key.

Riku: "Catch!"

Sora: "Whoa!"

Sora stumbly caught his Keyblade as Riku tossed it.

Sora: "Okay, so you're coming with us, right? We've got this awesome rocket. Wait 'til you see it!"

Y/N: "That would be great and we could all look for Kairi in the meantime."

Donald: "No, he can't come!"

Y/N and Sora were shocked at Donald's outburst.

Sora: "What?"

Donald: "Forget it!"

Sora: "Oh, come on! He's my friend and Y/N's!"

Donald: "I don't care!"

Goofy and Y/N were watching Donald's and Sora's fight and none of them noticed Riku disappear. Goofy looked away from the scene and saw Riku no longer there.

Goofy: "Huh? He's gone."

Sora and Y/N looked back up to see what Goofy said was true.

Sora: "Riku?"

Y/N: "Where'd he go?"

Sora and Y/N walked up to the spot Riku stood a few minutes ago.

Sora: "Nice going. Oh, well. At least, he's okay. And who knows? Maybe we'll run into Kairi soon, too. Right, Y/N?"

Y/N: "Heh, yeah. Anyways let's go meet up with Cid and the others at a small house nearby here."

Sora, Y/N, Donald and Goofy and went to the small house where Cid, Leon, who was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, Aerith and Yuffie. They walked over to Cid and Leon and started talking.

Cid: "You guys ever hear of Maleficent? I hear she's in town."

Y/N: "Maleficent? No, we haven't."

Sora: "Who is she?"

Cid: "A witch, man, she's a witch!"

Leon: "She's the reason this town is full of Heartless. Don't take her lightly."

Y/N: "I see..."

Aerith: "She's been using the Heartless for years."

Leon: "We lost our world, thanks to her."

Cid: "One day, a swarm of Heartless took over our world!"

Leon: "That was nine years ago."

Cid: "I got out of that mess and came here with these guys."

Donald: "That's awful!"

Leon: "Our ruler was a wise man named Ansem. He dedicated his life to studying the Heartless."

Cid: "His report should tell us how to get rid of the Heartless."

Sora: "Where's this report?"

Leon: "We don't know. It got scattered when our world was destroyed."

Cid: "I'm sure Maleficent's got most of the pages."

Cid tells Sora and his friends about Maleficent, an evil fairy who can manipulate the Heartless. She used that power to take over the world that was once the home of Cid and his friends. Their world was once ruled by Ansem the Wise, who dedicated his life to studying the Heartless. If they can find his report, they might be able to figure out how to get rid of the dark creatures. As they didn't know two figures were watching Sora, Y/N, Donald and Goofy as they chatted away.

Maleficent: "You see? It's just as I told you. While you toiled away trying to find your dear friend, he quite simply replaced you with some new companions and stole your lover. Evidently, now he values them far more than he does you."

Riku watched as his best friend and crush chatted away with their new friends. Riku stared at them with jealously and anger.

Maleficent: You're better off without that wretched boy. Now, think no more of him and come with me. I'll help you find what you're searching for...

~BACK INSIDE THE SMALL HOUSE~

Cid: "So, you delivered that book? That navigation gummi's installed and ready to go. You find another one, you bring it to me. I threw in a warp gummi for the heck of it. Now you can jump to worlds you've been to before. Well, better get back to my real job."

Y/N: "You're real job? What is your real job?"

Cid: "What's my real job? You'll see. See me at the First District."

Aerith: "I've been thinking about the bell in the Second District."

Sora: "That one that rang a bit ago?"

Yuffie: "The one above the gizmo shop. There's a legend about it, you know."

Y/N: "Legend?"

Aerith: "But it's all boarded up. Nobody can get in there."

Cid: "Heck, go check it out. Ring it three times to see if anything happens."

Aerith can't get her mind off of the bell that rang moments ago. Legend has it that something will occur if the bell is rung three times. The four friends do just that, and a Keyhole appears from the mural in the fountain in the Second District. Before Sora could do anything with the Keyhole a giant Heartless appeared. They destroyed it at first but it regained itself and looked angry, like, really angry. As they fought the second time it descended away with the heart floating away. Sora walked up to the Keyhole and pointed his Keyblade at it locking it in progress and it disappeared after.

Donald: "Well, that was a lot of work!"

Y/N: "Yeah... hey now that's dealt with, we should go meet up with Cid at the First District."

Sora: "Let's go!"

Sora, Y/N, Donald and Goofy walked to the First District to meet up with Cid at the First District.

Cid: "Hey, now that was quick! Now you know. I'm in the gummi block business. Workin' on your gummi ship sure was great. Come again and I'll give you a big discount."

Sora: "Really?"

Y/N: "Oh... we couldn't..."

Cid [shaking head]: "Go ahead, take it. It's a special giveaway."

Before the group left Cid spoke up.

Cid: "Hey, got another navigation gummi there, eh? I'll bet you want it installed."

Sora: "Yeah, please."

Y/N: "That would help us a lot."

Cid: "Hmm... Looks like this is another one of those blocks that come in sets. You gotta find the mate to this one."

Y/N: "Alright, we'll see ya later, Cid."

The group walked away, and they went to their Gummi ship to head to a new world.

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Edited on September 20

Originally published on September 8

Word Count: 3320