Blue shoes gently touched the untainted platform. Silver hair shook lightly as the boy laughed

"Dude this is such a corny dream." He muttered and then gasped.

He couldn't talk...He looked around in awe taking a step forward he was startled as shadow-like ravens flapped past him in a fury. He looked back down and saw someone who he thought he knew... Malificient...? How did he know her?

He looked back up and the ravens were gone with the endless darkness. He began to feel weak, and he collapsed to the ground. "What the!" he cried out, just before everything blurred...and just after it did, he began to feel alright again. Around him were three statues...He was sleeping or something because he was suspended in mid air surrounded by black.

Then suddenly someone spoke with the voice of a thousand harps "What weapon shall you wield?"

A sword appeared within arms reach and soon after,so did a staff and shield all with a mouse shaped head on them. He eyed them all with distaste

"None of them."

The statues began to rumble, and the room began to spin around his body. What could he have done to make him dream such things! He was getting dizzy...and the statues began to lift from the small mass of land in the abyss of his dream. They spun around him, getting faster as time went on. The stained glass of the sinister woman under him shattered, and he began to fall...Dark pressed on all sides he was choking he couldn't see white stars burst before his eyes as he began to lose consciousness and fell limply onto the next platform.

"Oh God-" A coughing fit hit him and then a little blood flew from his mouth hitting the sand. Wiping his lips with the back of his hands he stood up. Oh man his body ached...He rubbed his sore chest and then looked around wildly as he heard the same voice from his dream inside his head 'There will be times you have to fight. Keep your light burning strong.' "Shit, now I'm turning into a nutcase."

He began to close his eyes, pain escaping through his eyes as tears...and when he began to see again, he saw the roof of his home...he was laying on his bed, hand rubbing his aching head.Sitting up in a flurry he jumped out of bed revealing that he only had a pair of boxers on. He reached into his closet and pulled a vest onto his body. It was yellow and had a black X like figure across it. Next, he pulled his pants on and then pulled a kind of cover up pants on over those. He fastened the bottom of the pants with two black belts and then slipped on blue and white striped sneakers. Lastly he grabbed his black gloves off the bedside dresser, He pulled them on, and began to look towards the door. What was he forgetting...

"The raft!" he yelled out, remembering that he and his friends were going to go and find things to build a raft with to find out if their lonesome island wasn't alone. He began to go outside, yawning a bit. Jogging over to his rowboat he jumped in and began rowing "1..2..3 Row!" He repeated to keep himself moving at a steady pace. About halfway across he had to stop and rest because his arms were burning. After his rest he began again "1..2..3 Row!"

It took about 20 minutes to get to the island...and that was with rushing. He came to the small harbor and took himself out of the boat, tieing it onto the slab of wood with a sturdy rope. He wiped a bit of sweat from his head and went onward into the island, wondering if Sora or Kairi were here... He came across a large piece of wood on the ground, and looked at it strangely. "...this should work pretty well." he mumbled, picking it up and carrying it over his shoulder.

Upon seeing them he sped up hearing Kairi's exclamation to Sora "Sora you lazy bum. I knew that I'd find you snoozing down here." Then Sora went into a longwinded explanation about this monster that ate him. When he arrived even with them he listened as Sora said "I'd like to see it too. Along with any other worlds out there! I want to see 'em all!" "So what are we waiting for?"

He walked up to the two, calling out "Hey, aren't you guys forgetting about me?" with a slight smile on his face, walking up to the two. "So, I guess I'm the only one working on the raft." he said, looking towards Sora, tossing the log into him. Sora fell back into the sand, catching it in his arms. He looked at Kairi and told her "And you're just as lazy as he is!". Kairi smiled slightly, and said "So you noticed.".

Kairi pulled Sora up and said "Okay, we'll finish it together. I'll race you!", looking like she was about to run off. Sora tilted his head, mumbling "Huh?". Riku sighed, scratching his head while telling Kairi "What, are you kidding?"

Kairi smiled big, yelling "Ready? Go!". A few seconds later, they sprinted off towards the raft. A long while later when the sun was beginning it's descent Riku stood and stretched, It was beautiful. His masterpiece sat on the sand all tied up so that the wood would stay together the mast and sail was tied on too. Wiping a bead of sweat from his eye he smiled.

"Hey you guys lets call it a day!" He shouted so that the duo could hear him. Later that afternoon they all sat/leaned/laid on the tree talking about the upcoming adventure "So Kairi's home is out there somewhere, right?" Sora voiced tiredly "Could be." Riku replied "We'll never know by staying here." Sora looked at the ground "But how far could a raft take us?" Riku answered quietly "Who knows? If we have to, we'll think of something else"

The redhead who had remained quiet this time jumped into the conversation, "So suppose you get to another world. What would you do there?"

Riku paused for a moment before saying "Well, I haven't really thought about it. It's just... I've always wondered why we're here on this island. If there are any other worlds out there, why did we end up on this one? And suppose there are other worlds... Then ours is just a little piece of something much greater. So we could have just as easily ended up somewhere else, right?"

Sora stretched, laying down casually on the tree, quickly replying with "I dunno."

Riku was staring off into the sun saying "Exactly, that's why we need to go out there and find out. Just sitting here won't change a thing. It's the same old stuff...", then he looked at Kairi, smiling slightly, "...so let's go..."

"You've been thinking a lot lately, haven't you?" asked Kairi, looking towards Sora.

Riku nodded, saying "Thanks to you. If you hadn't come here, I probably would've never thought of any of this. Kairi, thanks." Kairi smiled, looking towards the sun.

"You're welcome..." It became silent for a while, before everyone decided it would be good to rest up for the day tomorrow.

They began to walk back to the rafts, Riku and Sora a bit behind. "Sora." called out Riku. Sora turned, looking at him, and just at that moment Riku tossed him a Paopu fruit. "You wanted one, didn't you?" asked Riku, a grin on his face as he passed Sora.

"A paopu fruit..." mumbled Sora, looking at Riku strangely.

"If two people share one, their destinies become intertwined. They'll remain a part of each other's lives no matter what. C'mon, I know you want to try it." said Riku.

"What are you talking-...!" said Sora blankly. Riku laughed and began to walk back to his raft, untieing it and setting back for home.

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A beautiful day was starting at Disney Castle or so Donald thought as he awoke and got dressed. Walking to the throne room to ensure that his king was ok Donald let out a low whistle in the tune of a favorite of Mickey's. (A/N:M-i-c-k-e-y M-o-u-s-e)

He stopped at two huge doors and knocked twice a smaller door appeared in the bigger one and Donald walked through. Still humming Donald began the long walk to the throne "Good morning, Your Majesty. It's nice to see you this morni-WHAT!" There was no one in the throne room visible to Donald, but then Pluto popped out from behind the throne a letter in his mouth.

Donald read the letter shock becoming more pronounced with each line, and then Donald tore from the room screaming like a mad duck. He ran to the garden where the knight Goofy lay asleep his nose wobbling with every snore

"Wake up, Goofy, wake up! This is serious!" Goofy, still asleep shifted a little. Donald narrowed his eyes and let out a battle cry "THUNDER!"

Goofy yelped and then looked a Donald "Hey there, Donald G' morning."

Donald ignored him and continued "We've got a problem, Goofy! But don't tell anyone..."

Goofy looked over Donald's shoulder saying "Queen Minnie?"

"Not even the queen!"

"Daisy?"

"NO, It's top secret!"

Goofy who had obviously had been ignoring Donald also said "G' morning ladies."

Donald started to turn "What?" There stood the Queen and Daisy. Donald let out an embarrassed laugh and then frowned, knowing he was gonna get in big trouble with the "ladies" as Goofy had called them.

-------------------------------------------

Both Riku and Sora stood at the race start, Kairi was, of course, judge. "You guys at it again? All right, I'll be the judge. The usual rules apply: Take any route you want... First one to tag that tree and make it back here wins." she said.

"If I win, I'm captain! And if you win..." said Sora excitedly, but Riku quickly interrupted him...

"I get to share the paopu with Kairi." Sora was surprised, a dumb look crossed his face then he said "Huh?".

"Deal? The winner gets to share a paopu with Kairi." said Riku, getting ready for the race. Kairi tilted her head, unsure of what the two were talking about.

"Wha... Wait a minute...!" cried Sora, but Kairi was ready to get the race started.

"Okay. On my count..." she said, but Sora and Riku darted off before she could finish. You could imagine the look on Sora's face when he finished seeing Riku sitting on a boulder waiting for him

"You take to long." Sora glared before Kairi interupted

"Ok, today we collect provisions for our trip! Sora you get One Seagull Egg, Two Coconuts, Three Fish, and fill this up with water." She tossed him a bottle and he grumbled

"Why isn't Riku doing anything?"

"He is just not as much as you." She replied playfully as Sora stalked off. "Riku I need you to find three mushrooms." "

Can do Miss Kairi." Riku said saluting his "captain" and then he took off running looking for the mushrooms. Fifteen minutes later he had two mushrooms and couldn't think of where to find the last one. sighing he decided to take a break at the coolest place on the island, The Secret Place, Crawling through the small gap he wormed his way into the old cave. Standing he brushed himself off and saw the last mushroom. He picked it and then to his dismay saw a drawing of Sora and Kairi. Sora was giving Kairi the paopu and she looked happy about it. He smirked, although he didn't want Kairi as his girlfriend it was just he didn't want his friends to forget about him in the romance that was sure to come. Then he heard something that sent chills down his spine, a crack of a stray leaf leaves didn't crack on their on. He spun around and saw a hooded man hiding in the corner. "Who's there?" Riku said a little frightened

"I've come to see the door to this world." Riku raised an eyebrow what was he talking about? He voiced his question quietly

"H-huh?"

"This world has been connected." The hooded man said emotionessly

"Wh-what are you talking about!"

Ignoring him the man continued "Tied to the darkness...soon to be completely eclisped."

Riku smirked finally getting a little frustrated "Well, whoever you are stop telling lies theres no such thing as darkness beyond the whole concept of night." but then a question struck him hard "WAIT your from another world aren't you?"

"You do not yet know what lies beyond the door."

"So you are! I knew it, Your from another world!"

"This is so very much to learn. You understand so little.."

"Then take me with you and teach me." Riku began quietly

"A meaningless effort. One who knows nothing can understand nothing."

Riku looked towards the door "Is this how you got here? If so we ca-" He looked back at the hooded man then realized he was gone disappeared into thin air.

When Riku arrived at the raft with the mushrooms, He saw Sora chatting with Kairi when they were in earshot

"-wore thalassa shells. They were supposed to ensure a safe voyage." Kairi was saying. When she saw Riku she smiled and asked "Tired? Want to call it a day?"

"Hell yeah I do." The thing he really wanted to do was go home and think about what the hooded man said.

"Tomorrow's the big day. We should rest up!" Kairi said happily.

Leaving Kairi and Sora behind on the island Riku got in his rowboat and began to row home, having to stop at about halfway again to rest. When he walked into the house he heard and smelled his mom cooking dinner

"Hey Mom."

"Hey son." And that was all that was said.

Then he ran up to his room to think.

Donald,

Sorry to rush off without sayin' goodbye, but there's big trouble brewin'. Not sure why, but the stars have been blinkin' out, one by one. And that means disaster can't be far behind. I hate to leave you all but I've gotta go check into it. There's someone with a "key"-the key to our survival. So I need you and Goofy to find him, and stick with him. Got it? We need that key or we're doomed! So go to Traverse Town and find Leon. He'll point you in the right direction.

P.S. Would ya apologize to Minnie for me?

Thanks pal.

Mickey

Silence followed until Daisy murmured "Oh, dear! What could this mean?"

Minnie, still calm, said "It means we'll just have to trust the king."

Goofy who was looking thoughtful added "Gawrsh, I sure hope he's all right."

Donald hurried to reassure Minnie "Your Highness. Don't worry. We'll find the king and this "key."

Minnie eyed both Goofy and Donald "Thank you, both of you."

Donald nodded to Minnie and then said to said quietly to Daisy "Daisy can you take care of-"

"Of course. You be careful now" She replied

"Oh, and to chronicle your travels, he will accompany you."

Donald watched as a small cricket jumped up and down

"So..uh where is he?"

"Over here!"" the cricket cried "Jiminy Cricket, at your service."

Minnie frowned "We hope for your safe return. Please help the king."

Goofy saluted looking loyal.

"What do you think your saluting for your coming too!" He snapped grabbing Goofy's arm and dragging him along

"BLAST OFF!"

Soon after a gummy ship popped out from under Disney Castle and zoomed off.

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Riku yawned and looked around his room. It was hard to believe that this would be left behind after they set sail this would all be gone. Looking out the window he let out a groan "The raft!" Running to his boat he rowed like never before his arms screamed in agony, but he didn't stop. He didn't even rest about halfway like normal. When he jumped out of the boat he stumbled, but he didn't let up. He looked at the spot where the raft used to be..gone. Gone without a trace the rope that had held it was floating in the water. "Dammit!" snapped Riku climbing onto the Paopu island via ladder. Above it was a swirling vortex of black.

Looking back towards the ground Riku saw Sora running towards him looking frantic "Where's Kairi? I thought she was with you!" And then suddenly Riku understood what the man meant and he was afraid of it and for that reason...he would fight it. "The door has opened.." he murmured "Sora! Whatever you do don't give in to the darkness!"

However it seemed Sora could not hear him for he was staring blankly at the ground. Riku tried to take a step forward, but then realized he was stuck by this black goopy substance it was climbing up his legs. When Riku looked at Sora again he was looking at him, his hand outstretched. "Riku we can go to the other worlds now!"

Riku stared blankly "But what about Kairi? You were worried about her just a minute ago!" before Sora could reply the goop had covered his body and was doing the same thing to him, and then it engulfed him, he couldn't see, he couldn't breath. Right before he thought he couldn't take it anymore a light burst and all the dark disappeared leaving him gasping for breath with a golden key in his hand. This would all be ok except...the key was huge! Huge enough to be used as a weapon. Then what scared him most was that black beings arose from the ground twitching. He slashed and hacked at them when they came to close. He knew exactly where Kairi was when he arrived outside the Secret Place, He looked in awe, things just kept getting weirder and weirder. The old tree trunk now had doors on it, beautiful white doors with colored panes. He opened them and crawled through into the Secret Place he looked at the old wooden door was Kairi she turned around and moaned her voice screechy "Sora..."

"I'm not Sora." Riku said frowning at her..somthing was wrong, and then the wooden door burst open and black dust flew from it. The gust was so strong that Kairi flew towards Riku he braced himself to catch her, but he never did because she too disappeared, and Riku was thrown from the Secret Place and sucked into the vortex. Yelling he tried to stay on the ground, but failed and the next thing he knew was Destiny Islands, his home was gone.