So...I've been gone for awhile...and basically I don't have many excuses, but this is what I've been working on I think for over two years! I know, crazy. Recently though with the new released footage of KH3 which won't come out for forever, I decided to reflect back on this story.

Hopefully the beginning isn't too slow, I didn't like writing it too much because I was already at the more exciting parts of the story anyway not involving introducing the character and all that nonsense!

So, this is not a self-insert, but it is an OC-insert, so if you're not into that you'll probably have a harder time reading this than others. I have tried a lot with this chapter to make it more unique and to make it special compared to other self/Oc-inserts. Usually I'm not super crazy about stories like this, but I thought I'd give it a shot, I'm just going to be happy posting it and getting out here!

So enjoy!


Chapter 1: Life is a Journey, And it Starts Now

Some people would call Ally's uniform restrictive, uncomfortable, and unbelievably sweaty; but Ally has found the suit to become a second layer of her skin. She has been fencing for years, training at a very young age since her father used to fence when he started grade school. Ally had advanced so far in school she was now the captain of the team, also because she was one of the oldest members. Some people doubted her skills since Ally's family friend Ren Kyoto was the instructor, but that only pushed Ally farther to become the best. She loved the feeling of being so graceful yet being so cunning in an assault, or match.

But she wasn't going to enjoy this round: thanks to Hayato Minamoto. He was the strongest out of anyone on the team, mainly because he was naturally built like a bulldozer. He was also the only one who ever competed with Ally for the role of captain. She didn't mind having a rival like him, it tested her every day, making sure she was at her best in every match; and it's always been playful rivalry, never has Hayato tried to intimidate Ally into messing up and giving the title to him. There was too much respect on the team for that sort of recklessness.

Ally and Hayato stood directly across each other on the matt, each having other members of the team hooking them up to monitors to establish when someone has been hit. Master Kyoto stood on the sidelines ready to start the duel.

"You ready for this?" Hayato challenged.

"You know I am." Ally said as she readjusted her facemask.

"I've been training extra hard this week." Hayato warned.

"So I've noticed, but let's see if it was worth it." Ally said coyly. Once both Ally and Hayato were in their stances on their side of the line, Kyoto began.

"En guard, prêt, allez." As soon as he finished it was like a blast of energy struck the room. Ally and Hayato advanced forward in seconds and were already dueling. Ally was more of the strategist and has learned how to maneuver around strong and overbearing opponents – that's why she had chosen to master the foil since she wasn't particularly strong; she knew she could use her speed to get an advantage. Hayato had an epée, which had more weight to it and had thicker metal to strike harder and more direct, meaning harder to block.

Hayato grunted every time he advance-lunged at Ally, which gave a clue as to where Ally should move every time. Finally after Hayato have moved onto her side of the matt, she took advantage of the moment and took the opportunity as he lagged between movements to strike. This happened until Ally achieved three points, meaning she won the match. Hayato ended up falling on his butt in exhaustion. Ally approached him as she took off her facemask to reveal a bead of sweat on her forehead, making her dark bangs stick every which way.

"Good game." Ally leaned down slightly to extend her hand to Hayato to help him up. He panted once more before accepting her hand and she hoisted him up to his feet.

"Why is that I can never beat you?" He asked in disbelief with a stifled laugh as he removed his facemask as well.

"Fencing requires skill, not strength, you would do well to remember that." Master Kyoto approached the two fencers and placed a hand on both Ally and Hayato's shoulders. "Centuries ago fencing used to be just about strength and how one must overcome a person with intimidation, but that way of fighting is now long forgotten as now it takes skill and thinking on your feet to win a duel. Now, that's all the time we have for today, I will see you after school on Monday." He clapped his hands together and everyone stood up and faced him and bowed respectfully as all the students said,

"Thank you Master Kyoto." Master Kyoto bowed back and finally everyone was dismissed. Ally was ready to hit the showers. She stripped the gear from her body to reveal a soft green tank top and dark blue leggings. Once she placed her fencing gear into her duffle bag, she moved to the showers to get washed up. She had to rush, knowing she had a ton of work to do tonight and she wanted to have a free weekend since her uncle wanted to show her his workspace. Ally sighed sadly at the thought; she didn't really want to see what her uncle and dad were working on before her dad…

Walking home from fencing was exhausting. She was too late to get a ride from Ren since he had another engagement to get to. It was starting to frustrate her since her focus was on fighting and her studies, she didn't have time to start driving lessons even though she was of age. Ally sighed in relief when she spotted her apartment building. She opened the door with difficulty and said good afternoon to the man at the desk. She impatiently waited for the elevator, tapping her foot on the tiled floor in rhythm with the pounding in her head. It opened finally and she gladly stepped into the small space and pressed her floor number. She slumped her stuff off her shoulders and onto the ground as she got her key out of her backpack.

"I'm home!" Ally announced loudly to the inside of the apartment. She kicked her equipment lazily and slipped her shoes off at the front door before taking the small step onto the wood of the household.

"Hi sweety." Her mom said from the kitchen as she slaved over the stove making tonight's meal. She hadn't looked up when she answered. Ally wiped the sweat off her brows and saw her mom working too hard as always, guess it was the only thing to keep her mind distracted.

"HI mom." She whispered before going over quickly and pecking her mom on the side of her head. She saw her mom smile almost but didn't miss a beat going back to work. Ally sighed as she grabbed a banana from the fruit bowl on the kitchen counter.

"Don't I get a hello?" Ally asked her brothers tiredly, who were ignoring her coming home as they played video games in the attached open living room.

"We're busy…" Her elder and younger brother said playing a loud gun shooting game she didn't like.

"Of course you are." She sighs angrily as she rolls her eyes. She's gotten fed up with their constant video game addiction over the past few weeks. She stomps over to the couch and stands in front of them.

"HEY!" Kai yells at her.

"Move it Al!" Tyler almost demands. Ally glares daggers at her brothers, takes Tyler's remote, masterfully presses buttons and moves the controller and destroys all the enemies in sight and conquers the base being invaded.

"There, now there're no more levels to play." Ally stated as she tossed the remote into Tyler's crossed legs as she enjoyed the sight of her brother's jaws unhooking themselves from their sockets.

"Why are you always the master of every game?" Tyler complains as he scratches the back of his dark brown hair with a confused and angry look shining in his eyes.

"Have you even played this one before?" Kai also whined.

"Don't need to, every game is almost built the same on the PS2, there's wasn't much to get to beat it."

"Smarty pants." Kai grumbled.

"And you two obviously aren't." Ally said crossing her arms, her face scrunching up in further annoyance.

"Mom! Ally's being a know-it-all again!" Tyler whined like he wasn't older than Ally.

"Yeah mom! Tell her to stop teasing us!" Kai agreed making puppy dog eyes at their mom while creeping slowly from behind the white couch.

"Ally that's enough, Kai and Ty, quit wasting time and study for your exams coming up." The mom answered monotonously.

"Aw, c'mon…" Kai groaned as he slumped over himself as he walked over to his shared room with his brother.

"Thanks a lot." Ty growled as he passed his younger sister.

"You'll thank me later when you're not selling these games on the streets instead of going to college." Ally countered.

"Yeah, whatever." He said waving a hand behind his head not caring. Ally sighed and she silently walked into her room and collapsed on her bed that was attached into the wall and could fold up if she wished. It squeaked loudly and moved slightly as she turned over from her back onto her stomach and buried her face into her pillow.

Ally's mom was still not acting like her cheery self, no matter how much she smiled, Ally could see the redness of her mother's eyes, showing their true meaning. Even when she told Ally to knock it off, she used to crack a joke too to lighten the mood; she always had the power to make everything better. Until her dad went missing, now presumed dead since it's been a month. It had been hard on all of them when Ally's father went missing. He was staying at work late at night, like he always did, working for a gaming company as prestigious as Square Enix means having to work his hardest to get the job done. They found his car still at work but his desk was a mess, like a tornado blew in but on at his little cubicle.

"It's just not fair…" Ally mumbled to herself as she hugged her pillow tighter. She noticed that it was starting to feel a little damp on her face and pushed the pillow aside to rub her face violently. She looked up from where she was on the bed and was facing the mirror. He too pale skin was now spotted with red as she was now having trouble keeping in the sobs.

Her green eyes were now swollen and making the irises look like a darker emerald than her usual jade green color. She turned away from the mirror and played with her long ponytail, now messed up from lying down. She let her dark hair loose and it fell everywhere. She laid back down on her bed and just looked up at the glow-in-the-dark star stickers on her ceiling that she's had up since they moved into their apartment six years ago. Suddenly Ally felt a sudden wave of drowsiness rush over her and she decided irrationally to not worry about her homework for the moment and take a small nap. She blamed her workout from fencing on her sleepiness before she completely faded into black.

I woke up in a field, a grassy field covered in a blanket of night. I wandered around for a very long time, not understanding how I got here or why I was here. I ended up finding a path, branching off in different directions. I stood there wondering, where should I go? I also asked myself, why do I have to make this decision? What's the point?

"This world has been connected." A voice said from the distance, though I couldn't see anyone in miles.

"Show yourself." I demanded. I kept turning round and round until I found the person, now standing on the only pathway in sight.

"This world is tied to the darkness." The voice stated. I looked around and studied the place. It didn't seem to be that bad of a place, it was just nighttime. Other than the stranger in front of me, shrouded in a dark cloak, it seemed rather peaceful.

"Sure it's dark here, but I don't think that's true."

"You understand nothing." Came another, deeper voice. I noticed it held more malice and had a more threatening tone. I didn't like feeling so off balanced, and I especially didn't like being talked down to like he was.

"Say that again…" I growled. What I thought was the person I was talking to, I decided to charge forward but the person then showed up on my side and stopped me by placing a hand firmly on my shoulder. "What the?"

"What's make you so special?" Said another cloaked person, though this guy had more of an attitude, he was more curious and he sounded more around my age, but that didn't make me any more comfortable with the situation.

"Let the boy play hero for a bit longer, his job isn't done yet." Came another voice, it was really starting to throw Ally off by how many people were talking at once. This voice sounded more philosophical and more strategic almost.

"All worlds begin in darkness, and all so end." The dark and threatening voice returned and instead of standing in a field, I was standing on a small patch of sand. I was completely surrounded by rough waters and the sky was a scary dark purple color. "The heart is no different. You see darkness is the heart's true essence. Kingdom Hearts!" The man finally appeared in the distance, all she could see was long straight silver hair and a hand reaching out forward to a door. Once he did that I heard a loud but deep scream, probably from the same person. I suddenly fell back for what seemed like forever. I had no track of time or how fast I was going.

I have chosen. You shall be our savior, fulfill the journey. Find him.

"Find who?" I asked over the rush of the wind in my ears.

Roxas will lead you to something missing.

"Something…missing?" I had trouble thinking, as I felt like I was running out of time, I could almost hear my heart pounding in my ears. Then I came to a realization. "Dad?"

Ally woke up with hundreds of circles swimming through her brain, as well as desperate for answers. She's never had a dream like that before. Ally rubbed her eyes to see they were damp. She was crying softly, also mixing with the cold sweat that covered her face and neck. Ally quickly got out of bed and rushed to the bathroom to wash up. She splashed cool water on her face, waking up her senses.

"What, what did that mean?" Ally murmured to herself.

"That means get out of the bathroom!" Someone yelled, breaking Ally's train of thought. She turned around to see her older brother's soapy head pop out from behind the shower curtain.

"Huh?" She looked at him curiously, not really hearing what he was saying more just hearing the tone of his voice.

"Are you deaf today? Get out of the bathroom!" Her brother said furiously, trying to prevent shampoo from getting in his eyes. "For once I'd like to have some privacy."

"Oh, sorry Ty." Ally said absent mindedly as she walked out of the bathroom.

"Yeah, whatever." Ally was about to head back to her room when she heard someone call her name from downstairs.

"Ally?"

"Yeah mom?" Ally called over the roar of the shower she finally registered.

"Dan's here." Dan was her 'uncle' that worked with her dad. Today he was going to take her to work, to see the office for the first time.

"Okay, I'll be down in a minute." Ally called. She quickly went to her room and dried her face on the robe hanging on the hook on her door. She tied her long hair up as she hustled down the stairs.

"Hey, there's my goddaughter!" Ally was too distracted tying her hair back to register she was getting tackled in a bear hug.

"Hi Uncle Dan." Ally laughed, as she finally was able to hug him back.

"Say, you're not ready to go, are you?" Dan asked looking her over. What I bet gave it away were her fuzzy socks still on her feet.

"Huh?" Ally still was taking a while to wake up. she looked down at herself and realized he was talking about her pajamas still on. "Oh yeah, I was gonna go with you to work. I'm sorry." She scratched her head bashfully. "I'm a little out of it."

"You work yourself too hard." Uncle Dan laughed loudly, waking up Ally slightly. "Go get dressed and we'll be off."

"Kay." Ally ran back upstairs and quickly threw on some clothes. She was wearing dark wash jeans with a long sleeved purple shirt, her favorite green vest over it and then comfortable converse sneakers. Once she was ready, Ally and Dan headed into his car and took a half hour drive to Shibuya, Tokyo, where the office building was. It was pretty silent in the car as Ally's head was floating around the idea of going to the last place her father was before going missing. It was frightening thought but she thought if she saw his empty desk, maybe it would help her feel with the sadness. Finally facing the facts might be the trick to snap her out of her spacing out state she's resorted to as of late.

"You okay, kiddo?" Dan asked from the driver's seat. Ally decided to sit in the back, force of habit with Tyler usually calling shotgun.

"Yeah, I'm just having an off day." Ally said, trying to put on a brave face. Of course Dan knowing her since birth saw through her defenses.

"Do you want to turn back?" He asked.

"No." Ally replied quickly. "No, I've never actually seen where you and dad worked, so I'm interested. I have to get a couple of his things too…" It didn't take long after their talk and some songs playing on the radio to make it to the parking lot of Square Enix and riding the elevator to where Dan worked. He opened a double door entrance to Ally to enter and she looked around to find rows of tables with computers all around. There were sketches on some bulletin boards and scattered on some tables.

"This is where your dad worked with me on the latest games." Dan explained.

"It just looks like a room filled with computers." Ally said, not expecting the office to look like this.

"Yeah, but we have a kitchen, that's new." Dan joked as he motioned with his thumb to a room to the side of them. "Say I'm going to grab something."

"Okay, which was my dad's desk?" Ally asked.

"That one near the front." He pointed to probably the neatest desk out of the whole computer room.

"Okay thanks." Ally was about to head towards the desk when she turned around quickly to address Dan. "Oh, could you grab me something too?"

"Sure thing." Dan said with a smile, happy to see that Ally was loosening up. Ally really wanted him to get her something so she could have more alone time with the desk. It may have been selfish, but she thought it would be good to see it without someone hovering over her shoulder.

"Well, dad had a riveting life here I see." Ally laughed lightly as she sat down in a swivel chair. She looked around and it didn't take long to find a picture of the family near the computer. She picked it up and the photo was taken when the family still in America. "I miss you…"

"So much to do, so little time…" Came a shocking voice. Ally looked at the computer, which she turned on accidentally when sitting at the desk.

"Huh?" She clicked on a few icons until she found a program was still open on the computer, which she found odd since her father hasn't been at the computer in almost a month. "Oh…it's just the computer, it must've started playing something on its own."

"Don't be afraid – the door is still shut. Can you do it?" The computer said in a deep but soothing voice, though the recording sounded broken, like a bunch of pieces of dialogue were strung together out of order.

"That doesn't sound right." Ally noted.

"Power sleeps within you…if you give it form…it will give you strength."

"How can I turn this off?" Ally said, getting a little frustrated with the voice still continuing. She found the volume controls and put the computer on mute.

"You cannot avoid your destiny." Ally stared at the computer and completely let go of the mouse. "Don't stop."

"Okay seriously this is getting a little too weird." She was about to unplug the computer when the computer spoke once more.

"You are the chosen one. Allyson."

"…What?" Ally gaped. It still sounded like the recording, but since it was a recording, it shouldn't know her name.

You heard right…it's time we talked.This time, the voice didn't come from the computer, it sounded like it was all around Ally. Suddenly the screen began to turn white, then the lights went off in the room and the white light completely engulfed Ally's sight. She had to shield her eyes from the intensity. Once she felt she could open her eyes again, Ally moved her arms and slowly cracked her eyes open.

"Where am I?" She was surrounded in stars. Ally suddenly got slightly scared when she felt like she was floating. She couldn't see the ground she was standing on. She scanned the area quickly and felt like someone was watching her. "Who's there?"

Hello, Allyson.

"Where are you?" Ally yelled. She was definitely freaking out at this point.

I am everywhere, and nowhere.

"Care to run that by me again?" Ally snorted, she didn't feel like being polite with whoever was talking to her. She was beyond ticked.

I am Kingdom Hearts.

"The game?"

No, I am THE Kingdom Hearts.

"The door, thing?" Ally asked, trying to recall what she remembered from the last game, the very one her father was working on before starting his latest project: the sequel.

I have become more than that.

"I can see that…though not in a literal sense." Ally joked.

You must come with me.

"And where would I be going?"

To partake in your destiny, weren't you listening?

"I thought…" Ally felt like she was losing her breath, along with her mind. This couldn't be real, Ally had to stay focused. "This can't be happening."

If this wasn't real, could I do this?The scenery around them changed and Ally was forced into a seat. When she jolted back against the soft cushion behind her, Ally realized she was not sitting on a train. However, not one that Ally recognized, it wasn't like any train she's seen in Japan.

"How'd I get here?" She demanded. Ally stood up from her seat, immediately regretting it when she realized how fast they were going. She fell back down into the seat cushion. "Where are you taking me? I demand some real answers!"

Patience.

"I don't have time for patience, I'm being kidnapped."

You are here because you are needed.

"What's that supposed to mean? Who needs me?"

Everyone.

"That's even more confusing, who's everyone?"

My world.

"Your…world?" Ally asked as she looked out the window curiously. She almost thought for a second she was in the North Pole or somewhere because she could see the aurora borealis outside in every direction. It was hypnotic. "You're just supposed to be zeros and ones."

Your father took my power to the next level.

"Dad?" She gasped.

Would it help if I said that by listening to me you could locate your father?

"I knew it, he's not dead!"

No, but he is lost.

"Tell me how to find him." Ally had to hold back to plead. She was so desperate for answers, but Ally didn't want to seem weak in front of this, whatever it was talking to her.

First, this is your stop. The train suddenly went from what Ally thought was the North Pole to somewhere beautiful and brightly light. It looked like it was the middle of summer. The train was headed towards a town on the ocean side and the train entered a station. She tentatively got out of the train once the doors slid open and she stepped out to see people were waiting to board the same train. She wondered if they were going to take them to her world or to the beach.

"Where have you taken me?" Ally asked impatiently. Once she spoke aloud, she realized that some natives around her were giving her sideways glances, judging her obviously. "And why are people looking at me funny?"

To them, you're talking to yourself.

"Great…so no one can hear you." Ally mumbled ungratefully, knowing she had to keep her voice low to avoid more stares. She already knew she didn't belong here; they didn't need to know that, Ally thought. "I must be losing it."

Do not fail me, Allyson, I have chosen you for a reason.

"Chosen me, for what?" Ally stopped outside the station doors and looked around. She was standing in the middle of a brick plaza. Around her were houses and stores, it seemed like quite the normal city. Something reminded her of America, possibly San Francisco since everything seemed to be built on a hill.

You need to fix this world.

"How is this even possible? This isn't supposed to be real."

When your father created me, I grew a conscious, and I became who I was meant to be. And I thought to thank your father, I would create a real world where what you call 'a game' really exists.

"You, made all this?" Ally gaped as she looked at all the different people who were all having their own conversations with their family members, friends. Nothing was organized; everything was living and moving about as they pleased. Ally, in simple terms, was in awe. "That's amazing."

It would be, if it were working properly.

"What do you mean, working properly?"

I mean just that, now that the world does not have strings attached to it, there is free will, and more chaos has come from it than good. There is no way to get to the final outcome.

"Final outcome?" Now that sounded more like something a computer would say, so suddenly Ally was having her doubts again if this was real or not.

People are making mistakes, as it is in their nature, but it is causing the darkness to rise.

"And you think I can stop it…" Ally stated, rather than asked.

I know you can stop it. You have the brain to finish your father's work.

"I know nothing about making a game!" She hissed, not wanting to draw any more attention to herself as she moved further down into the town.

No, but you know how to help others and fight. You are the key to fixing the adventure.

"…What is it that you want me to do?"

I need you toKingdom Hearts' voice disappeared for a moment and it made Ally very nervous. She didn't want to be left alone here in god knows where. Get away.

"What?" Ally didn't like the edge in the mysterious voice.

They're here.

"Who's here?" Ally asked desperately. She looked around frantically, not understanding what was coming. "Sora?" She asked hopefully.

No, he is not ready yet.

"Not ready?" Ally blanked, she didn't know what 'he' meant by that.

Move!Ally's body miraculously moved on it's own.

"Ah!" Ally gasped as she fell to the ground, thankfully not face-planting. When she sat up, she saw what attempted to attack her. It was a nimble looking creature, a zipper for a mouth, completely silver. It had an emblem on its forehead and never stood still. "What, what are those things! Heartless?"

No, but both are part of the problem.

"Care to elaborate?" Ally got up from the ground quickly as one of the strange creatures tried to get closer to her.

These creatures are known as Nobodies.

"Nobodies…that's a weird name."

You must move.

"Oh please, it's just a game." Ally huffed, crossing her arms in the process.

You do not know what you are dealing with. You must find safety, quick! Ally felt like she had no choice in the matter so she chose to flea the scene. Unfortunately the creatures, or Nobodies, caught on and started to follow her.

"Why are they following me?" Ally asked cautiously.

They know I have chosen someone to stop them, and they want to control me for themselves.

"Then get lost!" Ally demanded. At this point she didn't care if she was screaming to no one and people were staring, she had to get away from the freaks following her, and getting hot on her heels.

I cannot.

"What do you mean you can't? You're Kingdom Hearts, you said!" Ally spat.

I am, but we are connected.

"Great." Ally turned a corner and to her luck she ran into a dead end. Well it technically wasn't a dead end. She was in an open square, possibly a place to host events and carnivals and such. Unfortunately she couldn't escape because Nobodies were pouring out of every entrance, meaning also every exit.

You must defend yourself.

"With what?" Ally looked around frantically and found a type of sword, though it wouldn't do much damage she knew because it had a rubber end and looked like something a six year old would play with. "Oh yeah, this'll be real effective."

There's someone on the way.

"Who?" A "Nobody" dared approached Ally and she swung at it with all her might but it simply moved around her, evading her attack. It struck her from behind the knee and she fell onto said knee. Ally quickly got up and started to take the situation at hand a bit more seriously.

You will know him when you see him.Ally found it completely useless trying to fight these creatures as they wouldn't stand still and she wasn't used to fighting someone without them having a saber in hand. To Ally's dismay, one of the slippery creatures flicked the blue sword out of her hand and she was now left defenseless against about, ten Nobodies.

"Well, I would say it was nice knowing you, but I'd be lying…" Ally mumbled, almost like a prayer, hoping she'd wake up back in the swivel chair in her dad's office. Though somewhere in the back of her mind she was afraid she was seriously going to get hurt.

"Hold it right there!" Came a cheerful voice. Ally opened her eyes to see a quick flash of black and gold move around the Nobodies, striking them with ease. Once the person stopped in front of her, she had to hold in a girlish scream.

"Mickey Mouse?" Ally squeaked, trying not to startle her dark, stout hero.

"Huh?" He turned around and Ally found it odd seeing him with a hood over his face, it really made him look different. "How do you-" Mickey was about to ask her something until he paused and looked around, and then he smiled at no one in particular. "Oh, I see now."

"You do?" Ally asked, hoping her little friend would be able to be of some good use to her. "Please, explain!"

"There's no time!" Mickey deflated Ally's hopes of every finding out what has happened. "Kingdom Hearts will lead you to my friend."

'Yes, I'm not crazy! Mickey can hear him too!' Ally cheered in her mind. 'Should I be concerned I'm seeing Disney characters fighting monsters?'

"What friend?" Ally asked, trying to stay focused.

"Find someone who looks like me." Mickey said as he continued to bounce around, swinging a gold blade in the shape of a key. Ally found it shocking to see Mickey wielding a Keyblade with such power.

"Looks like you?" Ally questioned. "Uh, I'm guessing you don't mean that literally, unless you mean Minnie?"

"No, wearing a hood!" He restated.

"Okay, but-"

"I'll hold them off, but you have to move now!" Mickey ordered. He sounded a bit different than Ally had in mind, thought she wasn't disappointed in the least to see one of her favorite characters from her childhood save her. She has to remember to never mention to him that she has a stuffed animal still on her bed of him Ally's had since she was three.

"All right…" Ally was about to run off, once she found an opening, but before completely disappearing from the scene, she turned back around and shouted, "Be careful! I don't want you hurt."

"Gosh, don't you worry, I'll be fine." Mickey gave one of his famous laughs and carried on slicing and dicing the monsters.

You must move now!

"Don't yell at me. I'm going, I'm going!" Ally's head was beginning to pound furiously with the louder Kingdom Hearts shouted in her mind. Ally finally made it to a calmer part of town and began to look around. She was in the center of what appeared to be an outdoor shopping area. "So, if I was a Mickey Mouse wannabe, where'd I be?"

Remember, he does not look like the King.

"But anyone who would want to-" Ally was running around looking for a person in black until she caught all of what the voice said. "Wait a second, did you just say King?"

There he is.The voice completely avoided Ally's question and directed her mind to focus on someone on the other side of the shopping center near a trolley cart.

"Hey, you!" Ally called out as she cupped her hands around her mouth to amplify her voice. He turned to her, or what she could tell – with the hood it was hard to tell – however, the trolley cart moved in front of him and by the time it passed, the guy wasn't there anymore. "You kidding me? He ran away! Jerk…"

After him!

"Yeah, yeah I'm going." Ally ran across the shopping center and found a crack in the wall and went over to it, thinking that's the only place the man could've run off to. When she saw what was inside the crack, Ally's heels squeaked to a stop and she held her breath. "Uh…"

What is the matter now?

"I don't really feel comfortable going through a creepy forest." She admitted.

You have Nobodies at six o'clock.

"Wait, your six o'clock or my six o'clock?" Ally looked at 9 – 12 – and 3 o'clock, her view, and suddenly realized she had company tailing her.

Oh, just run!

"Running!" Ally agreed as she sprinted through the woods, trying to lose the tailgaters in the mass of trees. "This is bad. Bad, bad, bad, bad!" Ally shouted as she finally found the end of the forest and halted again abruptly when she saw the old gates. "Great, first a creepy forest, now a creepy mansion…just my lucky day!"

You will be safe inside.

"Right…" Ally was about to argue how it was probably worse inside, but when she saw the Nobodies behind her, she decided to swallow her comeback and run on through the open gates. When she got to the door, Ally swung it open and quickly slammed it shut behind her. Ally rested her back on the door and panted. The echo of the slam bounced off the walls of the old mansion. "Okay, now where do I go? You sure he went in here?"

I can sense him.

"You can?" She moved away from the doorway, thinking she had to keep moving to stay safe. She wandered around the halls for a bit, observing everything. 'I would fire the decorator', Ally thought to herself. "Using what?"

I have the ability to sense when hearts a nearby as well as darkness.

"Duly noted." Ally sighed. She bounced from room to room, trying to find any signs of the man, or maybe a clue telling Ally that he was there. "So which is he? Good or bad?"

Neither.

"How can I trust him then?" Ally went to a new door and swung it open and walked in without noticing how different it was from the other rooms. There was a huge hole in the middle of the floor and Ally almost falling straight down. "WHA-!" Ally quickly gained back her balance and flew back towards the wall and stayed there for a moment to catch her breath. "That was close. Goodness you're distracting." Ally finally took notice of the hole in the floor. It was put there purposely. It fit almost the whole frame of the room ad lead to a weird room downstairs, the walls made of metal. It contrasted with the old wood of the rest of the house. "So this is creepy…" Ally said as she cautiously went down the metal staircase that leads to the bottom floor. She ventured around silently for a moment before coming upon a small room covered in computer screens. She went to the corner where something was already being displayed. Ally couldn't really understand what the stats or the charts meant but she saw a picture of someone she immediately recognized. "Is, is that Sora?"

Yes, this is where he has been sleeping for the past year.

"The past year? He's just been here?" Ally gaped, and she didn't know it'd be that long. A lot has probably changed in a year.

Of course. Namine had to fix his memories.

"Oh yeah, in Castle Oblivion." Ally recalled slightly from where she played a spin off game: Chain of Memories. Boy, was that one difficult!

"How do you know about that?" Came a new voice. It almost made Ally jump out of her skin, she was surprisingly getting used to Kingdom Heart's echo-y voice bouncing off the walls of her brain. Hearing a solid outside voice almost felt foreign.

"It's you…" Ally noted that the hooded man she was chasing was leaning against the wall casually with his arms crossed. "No more running away."

"I wasn't running away." He noted indifferently.

"Then what do you call you did when I called out to you?"

"Leading you here." He said coyly as he turned around to enter a new room. Ally didn't have a very good comeback for that answer, since in some twisted way it made sense. So she ended up following him instead.

"…Fine." Ally sighed. "You sure you're working with Mickey?"

"Yes and no."

"That's highly suspicious." Ally retorted.

"Look we don't have much time." He said slowly approaching her.

"Time for what?" The man quickly grabbed her hand and Ally freaked. "Hey—wait!" He was about to place his hand over her middle finger, where a ring was placed. Ally swiped his hovering hand away from her right hand resting in his strong grip. "My dad gave me that ring for my birthday…"

"I'm not going to touch it."

"Then what are you doing to it?" Ally asked cautiously.

"You'll see, now hold still." The man remained silent for a moment as he made a circular motion with his hand before clasping his hand on top of hers. There was a bright light that consumed the small hallway they were in. once it died down, the man removed his gloved hand and stepped back from her.

"What was that light?" Ally asked.

"You ask too many questions." The man huffed as he headed towards another door.

"Psht, whatever…" Ally scuffed as she suddenly noticed weird containment pods of some sort decorating the left side of the hallway. "Is that, Donald and Goofy?" Ally gasped as she ran over to the pods containing some of her other favorite characters. Ally's panic soon faded away and she was washed over with realization. "Oh yeah, they went to sleep too."

"You seem to know a lot…" The man noted.

"I have good informants." Ally answered, averting an interrogation she would surely lose. I mean, how much was she allowed to say, if anything at all? While Ally was thinking, she failed to notice the man created a black portal he was about to enter. "Wait! Where are you going? What am I supposed to do?"

"Talk to Roxas."

"Who, and where?" The man said without stopping and finally the portal disappeared to reveal a door sliding open for Ally to enter in next. "Guess that answers where…"

The strange man disappeared and Roxas had a flashback to the last dream he had, his last dream ever…

"You're wrong." Roxas heard Sora's voice ring out through his head. "I know, without a doubt, that Kingdom Hearts, is light!" A door opened and someone was engulfed in a magical and blinding light.

Do you understand? Came a booming voice. He somehow knew the voice, but not knowing from where.

"Yeah…"

You will not be alone. There is someone here to see you. She will help you.

"Who? Namine?" Roxas asked hopefully.

No, someone who will keep you alive through her memory, from there, she'll be connected to Sora through you.

"Sora…" Roxas sighed as he stared at the boy in the pod.

"Roxas…?" Came a questioning voice from the other side of the room.

"Huh?" He turns around and sees Ally. When Ally entered the room, she was surprised to see that Roxas wasn't really there, he was a hologram, but in front of him was a pod. Floating inside the pod was Sora. "Who are-" But then gets a revelation from when that voice spoke to him before. "Oh, it's you…" He says a little cheerier with a small smile.

"You were expecting me?" Ally mused suspiciously.

"Sort of. I guess you can say someone told me you'd be here…"

"Let me guess." Ally mused. "An omnipotent voice that you just feel like you have to listen to?"

"Yeah, I guess you know what I'm going through."

"In a manner of speaking." She smiles sympathetically at Roxas, who returns the action. "It's nice to know 'he' decides to torture other people besides me."

"It is almost like torture…" He laughed lightly. "Though thinking my life is over is a little too much to handle."

"Yeah, that's sort of how I feel. I was taken away from my family and friends too and thrown into this mess."

"I guess we're more or less in the same boat." He sighs as they stare at each other, finally feeling a little less alone.

"Yeah…" She agrees with a small smile.

"I'm sorry…"

"I'm sorry too…if only it could end differently…"

"Eh it's okay." Roxas pauses and turns his head slightly away from Ally's direction. "Can I ask you to do something for me, when I'm gone?"

"What is it?"

"I need you to help him – me, whatever – to make it through, at the end of all this I have a feeling I'll be reunited with someone."

"Really?"

"Yeah, her name's Namine."

"Ah, so it's a girl…" Ally smirked, though she couldn't help but recognize that name from a spin off game her father also worked on, Chain of Memories, with a girl named Namine that could fix Sora's broken memories, reason why's he is here. Ally forgot about that side story, but as she thought about it, she also remembered some Organization in black hoods involved who were forcing Namine to listen to them. She suddenly thought back to Mickey and the mystery man in the hoods. Were they betraying Sora and the gang?

"It's-it's not like that…" Roxas said sheepishly scratching the back of his head. "I just know that she's like me…A Nobody…"

"You're not a nobody, Roxas." Ally said honestly as she took what he said the wrong way.

"No, not that kind of nobody, though it makes sense why we're called that…Sora and I are one and the same…but right now, it's Sora's turn to wake up, and I must sleep…the same thing I think happened to Namine, and she said we would see each other again…"

"So she has someone she's apart of too?"

"Yeah, and I need you to reunite Sora with whoever that is…"

"But, who is Namine's other half?"

"I'm not sure…"

"Then how am I going to help you?" Ally asks breathlessly. "I do want to help you, I can tell this relationship with Namine means a lot to you." She paused and decided that it meant a lot to him so she decided to go along with it. "How will I know when it happens?"

"You'll see me again when it happens…that's a promise."

"I will? You'll be okay?" Ally asked, thankful to hear that. She was really starting to like this kid, even if just meeting him a minute ago.

"Yeah, even though it may not be obvious, I'll always be there, but I'll only be truly awakened when I see her again. She said even when we don't recognize each other, when we meet, everything will be okay."

"Wow…" Ally breaths as she takes in the sincerity in his voice. "Okay, I'm making this an official promise." She takes his hand and wraps her pinkie around his. He's confused by her actions but before he can question what she's doing she starts to speak again. "I, Allyson, promise to reunite you, Roxas, with your significant other."

"Well you don't have to say it like that…" He staggers as he starts to blush. Suddenly Roxas starts to shimmer and he gets a headache and falls to his knees in pain.

"Roxas…!" Ally kneeled down to his level, but unfortunately she couldn't help him since he wasn't really there.

"Guess I've overstayed my welcome…" He said glumly as he looked away.

"This isn't fair, you can't go; this shouldn't be happening."

"It's okay, I've now accepted the fact that I'm going to be gone after this, so be there for Sora, and if not, be there for me at least…" He slowly started to get up. "We're, one and the same after all…and it's strange, although we just met, I feel like I can trust you." He said genuinely as he stared at her, standing up completely on his own, the pain now subsided, though he was fading faster now.

"But, but Roxas, how am I going to do that? I may be handy with a sword, but I can't go into combat without my gear, I'm not trained in fighting those weird creatures…and I'm not from here…" Ally wishes to complain more but Roxas interrupts her.

"Take care of him…" Roxas said smiling at her. Then he quickly moves his hands from her hands to her arms and places his lips gently on her forehead. She stunned obviously, not seeing that coming. He breaks away and says, "Now, through me, you'll be connected…" Roxas starts walking away, Ally still in shock and bewildered by his actions stays quiet, "Sora…" He stares up at the small pod at the sleeping boy "You're lucky." Roxas exhales a big sigh. "It looks like my summer vacation is…over." and before he disappears for good, Ally screams out,

"W-wait! You can't just do that and leave!" She screams at him in a scolding tone while her cheeks continued to turn red, but Roxas doesn't stop. In a new tone Ally calls out, "Roxas!" He turns his head back to face her, almost completely faded. "…I'll try!"

"Thanks." And with that Roxas disappeared in a bright light. "And, it was all I could think of to connect you…" Ally heard Roxas say, still able to hear his voice as the lights dimmed.

"Connect me to what?" Ally sighed to herself knowing he was gone by now. "Gosh, what did you get me into…?" Ally whispered looking up as he rubbed her neck.

Something that will change the lives of many, and the fates of those involved, and with save people from ultimate darkness.

"What are you talking about? You mean, like, similar to Riku and how he was consumed in darkness…?" Ally asked almost worried. She also wondered when she would run into the silver haired boy on the journey.

Exactly. There will be people you run into on your journey that you must help set free from darkness, or stray them from the path of darkness.

"Okay…I'll do whatever I can." Ally tried to say with confidence, but it fled from her as soon as she entered the hallway.

You must.

"Wow, you're expecting a lot from me aren't you?"

You are the key to everything, you will open people's eyes and hearts and maybe even your own. Your journey will be difficult, but it will be worth it. If you fail, you will not be given a second chance. This is no longer like the game you once knew, where you can simply just start over and try again. It is win, or perish.

"No pressure or anything…" Ally sighed quietly to herself. "Thanks for the words of encouragement." She spoke sarcastically and louder so 'he' could hear.

No problem.

"I can't tell if you get sarcasm or not…" Ally grumbled but curious too. But there was no answer to her thoughts. Ally sighed in aggravation.

She then continued to walk forward towards the pod that Sora was resting in. She's less than two feet away from it, just looking at the sound face Sora has as he dreams.

"Looks like, this is where it all begins…the start of our journey, right Sora?" Ally sighed to the boy she knew could not hear her but still continued to smile at his sleeping form. The machine starts to buzz and make noises, like it's letting air out. It glows and starts opening. Steam pours out of the machine as a still asleep Sora floats in mid air.

Ally stares at him, since this is her first real look at Sora, in person. He looked, older, from when she's seen him in the games, maybe it was because the pixilation in the game was incorrect, but she didn't know for sure. As she stared, she didn't notice that as the fog was leaving the pod, the suspension that Sora was in was lifting and he started the sink forward. When Ally noticed this, she staggered as he fell out of the pod and on top of her.

"Oh Gosh, you're heavier than you look…" Ally struggled to mumble aloud to no one in particular as she still held the sleeping Sora in her arms. She got down on one knee, and then two as she readjusted Sora so that his head was in her arms and his body was sort of in her lap. "Wow, you're still asleep? Gosh Sora, you're such a lazy bum…" She moved her bangs out of her face looking up at the ceiling, still trying to process the fact that she was here and Sora was asleep in her arms.

"…Kai…Kairi…?" She heard a soft voice say. Or maybe not so asleep…She looked down again and saw that Sora started shifting and his eyes were tightening. She panicked a bit, what was her story going to be, what was she going to say to him, Kingdom Hearts told her to start thinking about it before but she still didn't have a good answer as to what it should be. She hates lying and didn't want to lie to someone she was going to be spending so much time with…

His eyes were not almost fully open as she composed herself to the best of her ability and looked at him slightly confused, now getting into her persona.

"Kairi…who's Kairi? I'm Allyson." Ally said clearly but softly.

"Allyson…?" Sora said as his eyes were open fully and scanning her face, probably trying to figure out if he knew her or not.

"Yup, but call me Ally." She said giving him a small but genuine smile. "Here…up you go…" Ally strained saying as she helped him sit up so that he was in front of her. He stretched his arms above him and rubbed his eyes. Ally couldn't help but laugh. "How long have you been in there for…?"

"In…where…?"

"In that pod." Ally clarified although she was now more focused on the fact that Sora's voice was a lot deeper than she remembered, and also he got bigger too, his clothes looked small on him. He must've been in there for a really long time, well I guess it's not a quick process trying to put memories back together again after being separated. Poor Namine…

"Sora!" Two voiced that didn't change in Ally's mind yelled in unison. Sora and Ally turned their attention to the doorway and saw Donald and Goofy standing in the doorway. Ally had to repress a smile on her face as she and Sora got off the floor, although Sora didn't stay next to Ally for long, he went running over to his two friends and tackled them in a hug.

"Donald! Goofy!" He cheered. They all grab hands and jump around in a circle as Ally just stares and shook her head, although she can't help but smile at their little reunion.

"That was some nap." Jiminy says as he hops off of Sora's shoulder and stretches his little arms out.

"You mean we were asleep?" Sora questioned.

"I guess we musta been, or I don't think we'd be so drowsy…" Jiminy concluded.

"That's how I found you, falling out of the pod sound asleep." Ally said.

"Huh? Who are you?" Goofy asked.

"I'm Allyson, but everyone calls me Ally, and you are?" Ally questioned, remembering she can't call them by their names if they don't introduce themselves to her, she'd blow her cover.

"Well I'm Goofy." Goofy introduced himself.

"Names Jiminy, Jiminy Cricket." Said the small bug.

"I'm Sora."

"Donald Duck. Why were we in those pods? Did you put up in there?"

"Nope, I just came down here and found you guys sleeping in the pods. I don't have a clue how you got in there…" Ally responded.

"So, where are we?" Jiminy asked.

"You're in Twilight Town, specifically in the basement of an abandoned mansion." Ally answered, so far so good, no lying.

"When'd you think we went to sleep?" Goofy questioned the gang.

"Uh…" Donald dragged out.

"Let's see…we defeated Ansem…" Sora started listing.

"Yep." Goofy agreed.

"…Restored peace to the world…found Kairi…" Sora paused but then started remembering. "Oh yeah, and then we went to look for Riku. I think that's right so far?"

"Then what?" Donald.

"What does your journal say Jiminy?" Goofy.

"Gee, there's only one sentence…" Jiminy said shocked as he looked through his journal. "'Thank Namine'." Jiminy looked it over confused. "Hmm…I wonder who that is?" The gang looked between themselves, seeing if anyone recalled whom Namine was, but no one could remember and shook their heads.

"Do you know Namine?" Goofy asked as Donald looked over Ally suspiciously.

"Mm…" Ally mused, pretending to think if she could recall Namine's name from anywhere. "Can't say I do…Sorry…" Ally said shrugging her shoulders.

"You sure there's nothing else in the journal?" Sora asked looking down at Jiminy.

"Positive…it's been wiped clean." Jiminy stated almost baffled as he quickly flipped through the book.

"Some journal that is." Donald scuffed and Jiminy looked offended.

"Well, what do ya say we find out where we are and explore?" Goofy suggested.

"You want to lead the way, Ally?" Sora suggested.

"Hm?" Ally mused.

"Yeah, since this is your home, you should show us where everything is." Goofy agreed.

"Well alright then, right this way." Ally said as she gestured them to follow her out the door.

"Well looks like the gang's all back together…" Came a laugh and a black portal opened up. Ally knew from the get-go that it wasn't going to be her mysterious 'friend' she met before her talk with Roxas. His voice was more taunting and a bit harsh. A man in an identical cloak, however, appeared. Already, though, Ally noticed this guy was slightly shorter than her 'friend' and he was a lot skinnier.

"Do you know this guy?" Sora asked suspiciously.

"No…I was hoping you would." Ally replied.

"Is he trouble?" Donald asked.

"What gave you that idea? The black cloak or the fact he's blocking our only way out?" Ally asked rhetorically.

"Now you shouldn't be meddling, little Ally, your father wouldn't approve." Taunted the man in black. What he said made Ally's breath hitch in her throat.

"M-my father?" Ally turned towards the man. "What do you know about him…?"

"Not sure if I should say…" The man shrugged. "Not like you're going to be around for much longer to see what happens to him."

"I'd spill it, if you don't want me to spill your guts for you…"

"Think you're tough?"

"I don't think, I know." Ally knew she didn't have a weapon on her, but she did know how to use her fists as well, plus she knew her kicks her effective.

"Then let the games continue."

"Continue…?" Before she can get an answer the man lunged forward. He brought out weird circular weapons, surrounded with embers. She held up her hands in defense and her ring activates. The light shines bright and she hears a loud clash of metal. She adjusts her eyes and sees a sword in her hand, a very intricate designed sword that had the same pattern as her ring.

"What!" The man stepped back quickly. "How'd you get that?"

"I didn't even know I had this!" Ally replied, looking at the sword, not knowing exactly how it got in her hands.

"You just love playing up your character don't you?"

"I'm not acting!" She yelled as she pushed him off and he skidded a few feet away from her. She charged at him and he blocked and tried to swipe at her with his free hand but she kicked his elbow so he couldn't follow through. He groaned in pain and dropped his weapon.

"You think you can keep up this act?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You can't protect him…I'm the only person who can get the job done."

"I don't see how you have much of a say in my life. Since after all, it's MINE!" The man suddenly shielded his eyes from here after she spoke, he looked almost in pain from her words.

"DRAT, that stupid light of yours is almost blinding. Now I see why 'he' chose you…"

"Stop with the nonsense! This ends." She gave one more strike and he dropped his weapons and they disappeared into a dark mist.

"Fine…you're capable…for now anyway…don't think I won't be watching you, and your little friends too."

"Just try, I'm not backing down anytime soon."

"Mm…I have my way…well, as you say, sayonara…" He gave a fake salute and disappeared into a ball of darkness. She relaxed from her fighting position and she allowed her arms to drop to her sides. She started to catch her breath and see finally glanced down at the sword with bewilderment. It was the finest thing she's ever seen, and it felt so right in her hands.

"Wow…!" Donald Duck mused.

"You can fight!" Goofy cheered.

"What is that?" Sora asked.

"…I'm not so sure myself…" Ally stated as she looks from their eyes back to her new blade. "I randomly got it from…a stranger."

"You would trust a stranger with something like that?" Donald asked suspiciously.

"Well it's not like I had much choice in the matter. He left before I could give it back to him." She stated. Suddenly her hand tingled and the sword disappeared in a bright warm light. She looked at her ring and it glowed faintly before returning to normal.

"Hey! Where'd it go?" Goofy inquired.

"That's similar to the Keyblade." Donald stated.

"They key-what?" Ally asked. She has to remember to keep asking questions because she can't know things.

"It's my weapon." He let it appear and then disappear. "See, so yours should come back."

"But, how?" Ally asked.

"Well, for me, the Keyblade appears when there's great danger, when my heart calls on its help."

"Hm, okay. I guess that makes sense…" Ally sighed as she looks at her hand again.

"Well anyway, let's continue out of here."

"Right this way." Ally signaled with her hand and the gang followed her. So Ally, with some difficulty she tried to cover up, lead the trio to the main part of the city, and she was planning on bringing them to the station when Sora suddenly stopped.

"What's this little area?" Sora asked as he stopped behind the group and looked at an area with gates in front that were left open and a hallway that was blocked off by a cloth hanging from above.

"Hm, you know what, I'm not sure." Ally said as she thought it over.

"Shouldn't you know?" Donald asked her.

"Well, it just never bothered me to check it out." Ally said to cover up her cluelessness.

"Well let's see what's back there." Goofy suggested, as he and Donald were the first to step through the gate and head back. Ally followed suit but then stopped when Sora spoke up.

"You know, I think I've been to this town." Sora stated suddenly.

"How come then you didn't know the name of it?" Donald asked.

"Hmm…Guess I must've imagined it." Sora said disregarding his thought.

"Come on then." Ally said, gesturing him forward with her hand, he followed suit next to her and they pulled the curtain away and walked through to an open room with furniture piled up and three kids, looking bored out of their mind, lounging about.

There were two boys and a girl. A boy with blonde hair and a black tank top with vest on top was playing with his watch, the second boy had blonde hair and a red jersey on and was staring up at the ceiling, and finally the girl with brown hair and a orange top had her hand in her hands as she shifted on the couch staring at nothing across the room. The blonde boy noticed first that they entered the room and looked up and looked like he was angry about something.

"What do you want?" The blonde kid asked rudely.

"Uh, nothing. Just wondering what was back here." Sora said scratching the back of his head.

"Now you know. This is our spot." The blonde kid said rudely once again. The kid in the red jersey and black hair came up to us and looked us up and down.

"Umm…"

"What?" Sora asked.

"You're…new around here, right? I'm Pence." The black haired boy introduced himself.

"Hayner. Nice to meet you, but we got stuff to do, so catch ya later." Hayner said rudely once again as he waved his hand in the air and left the hang out space.

"My name's Olette. Hey, did you finish up the summer homework yet? Independent studies are the worst, huh?" She asked, like Sora would totally understand what she meant.

"Homework?" Sora questioned. He looked back at us and we shrugged our shoulders.

"And we're not all new around here, Ally knows this place." Goofy said as he pointed his thumb towards me, which made me freeze in place. Uh oh… she thought.

"Ally?" Pence questioned.

"You've never seen her before?" Donald questioned overly suspicious of her now.

"Hmm…I don't know." Olette said pondering her memories. Oh, no, they were going to bust her. She had to come up with an excuse fast.

"Well…that's because, I'm the year above you. We don't have the same classes on the same levels." Ally said suddenly, hopefully that would be a good enough excuse. She couldn't blow her cover already.

"Well I guess that makes sense." Pence concluded.

"Oh wait, I've seen you before, you're on the fencing team at school, right?" Olette questioned. Wait, what? Ally wondered to herself, she was pretty sure there weren't any fencing teams in Twilight Town.

"Uh, yeah, you remember me from that?" Ally questioned, baffled.

"Sure, you're the captain of the team." Pence agreeing with Olette seeming to remember her too, which she didn't understand because she was lying.

"Yeah you're right. You were in the paper." Olette said.

"I-I am?" Ally stuttered. She was in the newspaper back at home for getting first place in a tournament, but how would they know that?

"Yeah, don't be so modest, you're great with a sword." Pence complimented.

"Hehe thanks." Ally thanks them uneasily, finding this to be very weird.

"You fight?" Sora asked intrigued, surprised I wasn't just lucky back there, or maybe thinking that she had been fighting well thanks to her weapon.

"Well…no, I don't 'fight' I fence, there's a difference." Ally stated, since she took her fencing quite seriously.

"But you're good with a sword. We saw you back at the mansion." Goofy asked.

"Yeah, I'd say so." Ally said.

"Getting first three times in a row isn't just 'good'." Olette commented making Ally sort of blush.

"Wow, you, certainly remember a lot don't you?" Ally asked sort of suspiciously, although she didn't mean to, she just wanted to know where Olette got her information from, or from whom.

"It said that underneath the picture, so I remember that much." Olette stated.

"Hey, what're your names?" Pence said addressing Sora and his friends.

"Oh sorry. We're Sora, Donald, and Goofy." Goofy introduced them selves as he pointed to each of his friends.

"Hey there." Sora said as he gave a little wave. Pence and Olette look at them oddly and then look at each other.

"Sora, Donald, Goofy, we just met someone who was looking for you." Olette said. Well that's strange…I didn't think anyone but the king knew where they were, Ally thought to herself.

"He sure seemed in a hurry. He had a black cloak on so I couldn't see his face, but he had these big round ears." Pence said imitating with his hands just how big the person's ears were. The group thought about it and then came to the same realization.

"The king!" Donald as well as Ally yelled out. Donald and Ally exchanged looks, and on the inside, Ally was yelling at herself to have stayed quiet.

"You know the king?" Goofy asked.

"Yeah, that's why I was in the basement of the mansion in the first place, because he sent me down there to find something, and then I met the other guy and he gave me an upgrade to my ring. Then that's when I ran into you guys. Maybe he meant for me to find you." Ally concluded as she thought about it more. What else could the king have meant by going to the mansion?

"Where'd you see him?" Sora asked Pence and Olette.

"At the station." Pence said.

"The station! Thanks!" Sora said.

"Well, we'd better get back to that assignment." Olette said walking out of the hang out area.

"Later!" Pence waved as he quickly followed his friend out.

"Oh boy! The King's trying to find us!" Donald cheered.

"Yeah, let's get to the station." Sora said.

"I know how to get there." Ally chirped.

"Alright then, lead the way." Goofy said, letting Ally go first under the tapestry covering the exit.

"Okay, and thanks." Ally said as she stepped through the opening and waited for them to pile out to then lead the way to the station, the first place she saw in Twilight Town.

As Ally led the way to the station, she thought about her interaction with Pence and Olette in the hang out area. How did they know she did fencing? How did they know her at all?

You're welcome.

"Wait, that was your doing?" Ally whispered in surprise to Kingdom Hearts talking to her again, but she had to be careful, seeing as Sora and friends weren't too far behind.

You were put into a corner by the wizard when he asked those two if they knew you, I had to intervene and prevent them from being suspicious of your condition.

"So you put, fake memories, in their brains?" Ally whispered a little panicked by the thought that Kingdom Hearts could do that.

Yes, I am Kingdom Hearts after all…I can do many things.

"So I see…" Ally sighed out as she continued to trudge forward up a hill. She was going to continue talking with Kingdom Hearts, wanting to know more about exactly what 'he' could do, but Sora came up next to her and asked.

"So, you ran into the king before meeting us?" Sora asked as we walked.

"That's right." Ally said, wanting to keep is short and sweet so she didn't have to lie, since she's lied enough today she thought.

"So he really is here?" Goofy asked.

"Yeah, but I saw him a while ago, so we should pick up the pace and make sure we don't miss him." Ally said.

"Right." Sora agreed.

"Let's go!" Donald cheered.

"Someone's excited." Ally laughed.

"We haven't seen him in a while, with us being asleep and all." Sora piped in.

"That makes sense." Ally laughed lightly. They were nearing the station when they all felt a presence. They stopped where they were and looked around, then all of a sudden these white things came out of nowhere.

"Ally, stand behind us." Sora instructed, getting his guard up.

"Oh no, not these things again!" Ally sighed in frustration.

"You've seen them before?" Sora asked.

"They attacked me before, but the king came and intervened." Ally said.

"Well, they shouldn't be any different from the Heartless, so let's go guys!" Sora cheered as they all headed into battle against the unknown enemy.

Ally felt really wimpy as she watched the gang fight, she was a good fighter, well fencer, and wanted to help out. Then she thought back to what the mystery man said earlier to her and looked down at her ring. He said it was meant to protect her and come in handy, but she didn't know how to use it. Ally wondered what it was meant to do. She saw that Sora and his friends were having a harder time the more they fought to hold off the enemies.

You won't know until you try, don't be afraid. Hold out your hand.

"Alright then, let's see…" Ally mumbled to herself. She cautiously held her hand out in front of her; her ring then glowed brightly, blinding her momentarily. When she opened her eyes, she saw she was holding the sword from before.

"What, what is this?" She questioned in a frightened tone aloud as she examined the blade in her hand.

It's called Brave Heart. It'll protect what means most to you and will grow stronger as your journey progresses, it is just as strong as the Keyblade; take good care of it. Treat it as if it's an extension of your heart.

"Alright, let's see what this thing can do." And as Ally said that, she saw two enemies coming her way. She raised the blade in her right hand in front of her as she lifted her left hand above her head, just like she did if she was training. One challenged her by flying towards her and she stepped forward while extending her sword forward as well and tried striking it.

To her misfortune, it slipped right around her blade and attacked her back. She got pushed forward and onto one knee. Not liking how it got the best of her already, she got up, but this time with a new energy powering her, she decided to tap into that energy and started fighting, although differently than what she's used to. She felt her body shifting differently than what she's used to, but she was managing to land blows to the enemy, although the way they kept attacking, it didn't seem to do much.

She continued to attack and even managed to make some disappear, but when one fell down, two more replaced it. She realized that she and the gang were being pushed back into their circle again in the middle, surrounded by the enemy, Donald and Goofy fell to the ground in exhaustion in unison, with Ally following soon after, realizing that the energy she once felt was not depleted. Sora staggered a bit, still wanting to fight, but fell as well.

"This is ridiculous, there's too many of 'em." Donald complained.

"One falls down, and two more take its place." Sora agreed, panting due to his exhaustion. Then they all realized that even though they were down, their enemy was well ready to attack, and when they all started charging together at the group, they shielded themselves.

"Well this was nice while it lasted…Game over." Ally mumbled, as she fearfully waited for the pain to come. But as she sat there with her new blade in front of her, closing her eyes as well, she didn't feel anything, and instead heard someone slashing at the enemies, until the noise died down and it was quiet.

Was this Sora's doing? No, I can feel his shoulder next to mine. So who was it that got rid of the enemy? Ally wondered.

Ally squinted her eyes open, letting curiosity get the better of her. As she opened her eyes and slowly let her blade drop lower, someone she recognized right away was in front of her, holding a Keyblade that looked much like Sora's but the blade was gold instead of silver. Ally was about to call out to him but then felt someone put their hands on her back and pushed her down on the ground.

"Your Majesty?" Donald asked in shock.

"Shh!" He said. Ally looked up to see who was pushing her into the ground and saw that Donald was on Sora's back and Goofy was on her back.

"Uh, Goofy, can you please get off of me." She asked politely though strained because she was uncomfortable.

"Gawsh, sorry bout that Ally." Goofy apologized.

"It's alright." Ally mumbled to him as she rubbed her back that felt sore.

"You gotta board the train and leave town! The train knows the way." The King instructed. His posture loosened and he stepped closer to the gang and held out an orange pouch. "Here." He said. Sora took the pouch and the three guys examined it. Ally still stared at Mickey, who then looked at her and said,

"Guess you found out what the ring does, use it well and stick with them. Good luck!" And then he ran off to who knows where. Donald was the first to notice he ran off.

"Your Majesty…" Donald left where the group was standing and went to go follow as he extended his hand but The King was far gone and out of view at this point.

"The King…was that really him?" Sora piped up.

"It coulda been…Yep, I know it was!" Goofy chimed.

"Now we know he's okay!" Donald said.

"The king was locked in the realm of darkness, right?" Sora asked.

"Uh huh." Goofy agreed.

"But we just saw him…" Sora said as he crossed his arms as he continued to think aloud.

"Yep!" Donald said.

"What are you getting at?" Ally wondered.

"And if The King's here, that means Riku's here!" Sora cheered happily.

"He's gotta be." Goofy agreed.

"Who's Riku?" Ally questioned, although she knew perfectly well who Riku was.

"He's my friend back at home, on our last journey, he and The King both got locked behind the door to darkness. But I guess both of them got out. I'm gonna go look for him. Then he and I can go back to the islands together; our home. Kairi is there waiting for us!" Sora said looking at Ally to fill her in so she doesn't feel lost.

"What are you two going to do?" He asked finally. Donald and Goofy then gave looked at each other while contorting their faces weirdly and then back at Sora.

"Gawrsh, Sora. Do ya have to ask?" Goofy asked. Sora and Ally looked at each other, smiled and started laughing.

"Hey! What's so funny!?" Donald asked angrily.

"Your faces!" Sora said pointing at Donald and Goofy while holding his stomach.

"They're priceless!" Ally agreed still laughing. Donald and Goofy, still having their expressions on their faces looked at one another and then started laughing at each other, and everyone was laughing together.

"What do ya say, guys? Let's stick together for one more journey." Sora asked and stated. Donald and Goofy nodded their heads in agreement. Sora then looked over at Ally.

"Say, wanna come with us?" Sora asked smiling brightly. Ally looked shocked for a moment, thinking this was going to be a dream come true or a complete nightmare. She shook her thoughts away and focused on the question.

"Well, The King said I should stick with you guys, so sure, why not? Don't want to disobey The King." Ally said.

"Alright with you guys?" Sora asked his companions.

"Yeah, I don't want to mess up the trio by making it a quartet." Ally added.

"That' fine by me." Goofy said smiling as well as Ally returned it. "Whatdya think Donald?" Goofy asked his long time best friend.

"…Okay, you can come." Donald said after staring at Ally for a moment but then agreeing.

"Alright, so let's start our journey. To…where again?" Sora asked absentmindedly as he put his hand behind his head.

"We hafta board the train!" Goofy stated.

"Oh yeah!" Sora said as it dawned on him and Donald and Ally sighed in unison. They looked at each other, seeing as they did something together again and Ally smiled as Donald stared but his bill perked up on one side slightly. "C'mon!" Sora cheered.

As the gang walked up the stairs and entered the station, a voice from behind that seemed familiar called out,

"Wait up!" The gang turned around and saw the three kids from before approach them.

"Huh?" Sora said as he saw the three stop in front of them.

"Hey, Sora…" Hayner started saying.

"What?" Sora asked.

"Nothing, but…" Hayner said trailing off.

"We came to see you off." Pence finished Hayner's sentence. "It just seemed like something we oughta do."

"Oh…really? Thanks!" Sora said smiling at them. Above the group's ears a bell chimed, meaning that a train was pulling into the station.

"You should hurry and get your tickets." Olette said.

"Right." Sora said as he went up to the ticket booth behind the group and pulled out the pouched filled with money to pay for the tickets.

"Huh?" Olette said as she stared at Sora.

"What is it?" Donald questioned. Olette went digging through her back pocket and to everyone's surprise; she pulled out a replica of it.

"They're the same." Goofy stated.

"Yeah." Olette said as she looked at the bags. Sora looked at the bags too but shrugged his shoulders and went to ask for tickets.

"Three, no, four tickets, please!" Sora asked as he corrected himself. The man behind the booth nodded his head, as he got the tickets, Sora looked back at Ally and smiled sheepishly as Ally waved her hand in the air, meaning she didn't care and smiled back at him.

"So, what if they're the same?" Ally wondered.

"It's just…I made this bag myself." Olette said quietly but loud enough for Ally to hear.

"Huh, weird…" Ally said to herself. She thought back to when The King handed them the bag, she wondered where he got the bag from. Before she could think about it more, she saw Sora coming back, with four tickets in hand.

The whistles of the train stopping in the station sounded, meaning it was time to board. As they group turned around to face it and head up the stairs, Ally turned around and looked at Sora, who hadn't moved from the ticket booth.

"Something wrong, Sora?" Ally asked as everyone else stopped walking and turned around to face him.

"I can't help feeling like we won't see this town again…" Sora said sadly as he stared at the train parked. Ally looked from Sora to Hayner and his friends and saw they had the same look on their faces. Wonder what was making them all so sad to see each other off?

"Why not?" Donald asked.

"You're thinkin' too much." Goofy said.

"Yeah, you're right." Sora said and as he did, his mood completely changed. Gosh, even in person Sora always seems to be smiling and keeping a positive attitude, Ally thought. He really is something else…

Ally looked back at Hayner's group and saw that their mood changed as well, they're not sad anymore. Wonder if there's a connection? Ally thought.

Everyone's connection to Roxas, like these three, feel sad that Sora is leaving because even though they do not remember Roxas, they feel that something apart of their lives is leaving them, possibly for good.

"They knew him…?" Ally whispered to herself, not wanting anyone hearing her. Wow, Roxas didn't even get to say goodbye.

That is the fate of a Nobody, as tragic as it is, all Nobodies must leave their lives behind to fulfill their destinies, joining back with their hearts to become whole.

"Tragic indeed…" Ally mumbled aloud.

"What's tragic?" Sora said from next to her, which startled Ally a bit.

"Oh, nothing, just, that I have to leave without saying goodbye to my family." Ally said covering up her mistake, another lie.

"Oh yeah, I forgot, this is your home." Sora said.

"Y-Yeah." Here comes the guilt, Ally thought to herself as she agreed. "But I'm excited to explore new worlds, go on a journey with you guys, it'll keep my mind off of the idea I'll be away." Ally reassured Sora.

They all reached the top of the stairs and stopped in front of a purple train with a wizard's cap in the front of the train. The outside was accented with gold and the windows were in the shapes of stars.

"Okay, let's go!" Sora said. We all nodded our heads and Donald and Goofy boarded onto the train I was just about to hop on as well when Olette called,

"Bye Ally!" Ally looked at her first oddly, confused why she was being so friendly, but saw that Hayner and Pence also waved her off.

"Oh, bye you guys!" Ally said trying to smile brightly and giving a small wave to the people she knew nothing about but treated her almost like a friend. She looked at the seats and sat on the plush seats and sighed as she slid a bit.

I know you feel guilty about lying, but it is for their best interest they do not know where you originated. It would mess up the balance of this universe.

"I know that…but it doesn't change how I feel." Ally very carefully whispered under a sigh, as she didn't want Donald or Goofy to hear. She looked through the door, since she was near it and listened in as Sora said goodbye to Hayner, Pence, and Olette.

"Hey, Sora. You sure we haven't met before?" Hayner asked as he gave Sora a weird look, like he was trying to look into Sora to find an answer. Sora stood there and thought about it.

"Positive." Sora said. "Why do you ask?"

"I dunno." Hayner admitted as she shook his head, probably trying to get rid of the feeling he was having like he knew Sora, when he indeed knew him, well at least half of him…Sora looked at all of them and smiled, but then, something changed on Hayner, Pence, and Olette's faces. Sora then stiffened and touched his cheek.

"Huh?" He said as he wiped his face.

"You okay?" Olette asked concerned.

"Y-Yeah, don't know where it came from." Sora replied. Did Sora just…cry? Ally thought. Wow, Roxas must have had a really strong connection to the three of them if he made Sora tear up. Ally thought as she looked down, feeling bad that Roxas couldn't say goodbye himself.

"Pull it together." Hayner laughed slightly as Sora patted his face.

"Well…Se ya." Sora said quickly as he turned around and headed onto the train and turned around to face the door as the three friends came to it. Sora waved and closed the door. The train backed up and slowly made its way out of the station. From the window, the gang could see Hayner and Olette waving at them as Pence followed the train but then stopped and smiled and waved as well.

The gang, mainly Ally and Sora, waved out the window to them until they couldn't be seen anymore and the train picked up speed, leaving Twilight Town and it's clock tower behind.

They all sat there silently on the train as it left. Goofy and Donald were looking out the window, wanting to see the rest of what Twilight Town looked like. Ally sat on the seat sadly, carefully watching as Sora continued to stand by the door looking out the window. Sora then shifted and looked into his pocket and took out the pouch that matched Olette's. He went through it and took out a small blue crystal ball. He examined it for a long time, like he knew what it was, and then held it out in front of him so that it would catch the light. Ally had a strong feeling that it belonged to Roxas beforehand.

"You know…I'm sad." Sora said as he brought the ball down so that it was resting in his hand again. He looked like he could cry.

"We'll be back." Donald said, although he didn't know himself if they'd be back, he just wanted to cheer up his friend.

"Yeah. We can visit Hayner and those guys again." Goofy agreed. Sora sighed as a bright light shone through the windows and the scenery outside changed from a sunny Twilight Town to a dark space with lights that resembled the Northern Lights shined outside. Ally couldn't help herself but look outside in amazement.

"Whoa, so this is what's outside Twilight Town…" Ally said.

"Oh yeah, you've never traveled outside your world before." Goofy said.

"That's right." Donald realized too.

"Well we're going to be doing that quite a lot on this journey, you ready?" Sora challenged.

"Oh yeah, I'm so excited to see what else is out there. Have you seen a lot of it?" Ally asked.

"Tons. It's really cool, but as we're out there, we can't let other people know we don't belong, although, there are some exceptions." Sora explained.

"Yeah, and who's fault was that?" Donald said smirking at Sora mischievously.

"That wasn't just my fault, swimming in Atlantica was really hard!" Sora protested.

"Atlantica?" Ally asked.

"It's an underwater world, where we had to turn into fish." Goofy explained.

"Fish?" Ally asked, quite frightened by the thought, although it was all an act and Ally was excited the most to meet one of her favorite princesses.

"Like mermaids." Sora clarified.

"Mermaids? There's no such thing…" She scuffed.

"That's what I thought until I turned into one." Sora said.

"Well are we going there…?" Ally asked curiously.

"Who knows? We might have to if there's Heartless and those other guys still lurking about." Sora said as he crossed his arms and thought about it.

"Heartless?" Ally asked, knowing that although her questions were probably annoying, she had to play the role of being clueless.

"Ugh, you have a lot to learn." Donald sighed in frustration. So for the rest of the ride, the trio explained, as best as they could, as to what was going to happen on their journey. They also talked about what they did on their last adventure. Ally absorbed every detail in, so that if she ever spoke about anything, no one would ever suspect her of knowing too much.


Sorry it was so super duper long! but hopefully that'll fulfill your hunger for now, just a little preview of the adventure to come.

I would love to hear your guys' opinions, is it worth continuing? What should I change? Likes/Disklikes? I really am only looking for constructive criticism, however if you wanna mention how you liked it and that's it, you can do that too!

Peace out for now!

OH and if you want to see pictures of Ally - I posted them on dA, they're kind of all over the place but they should all be in my Kingdom Hearts folder. It's under the same name. Stop on by some time!

It would mean alottttttt :3