© Hole-in-my-head and Seimyx

When in Rome

Chapter 1

In the whimsical world of imagination nothing is good or evil unless you believe it to be so. Gamers waste no time trying to figure out who is the hero and who is the villain. The story tells them, leaving no room in their minds for them to think of the other side to the story. The only way you can change it is to have an open heart and mind---good friends---a controller—and one game.

The clock ticked by as the12th grade class sat there and listened to the last mind numbing hour of their short graded lives---well up until they start college. There was a certain group who really didn't care, three of them to be precise. Two girls and one boy, except for the fact that one girl was mistaken to be the boy and vice versa. They kept chatting about the late night romp they would have later.

"Soo, whose house are we having this little party at?"

"Jack this isn't a party. It's a little get together with me, you, and Richy."

The pair of eyes looked over to the one called Richy; he was sitting there laughing lightly about what the teacher had on. Both eyes rolled and looked back at one another.

"Valerie, do I really have to bring him?" Jack's eyes pleaded.

With a grin on her face, "Yes, yes you do!"

"Nooooo!!" Jack screamed drawing attention to them.

The whole class laughed as Valerie shook her head. Jack sunk down into her seat embarrassed. Then as the laughter died down Richy looked back at them and glared a bit. The bell had ringed as all the seniors walked out of the door of the classroom. Jack pulled up her hood on her hoody and started out the door as well until Richy called her out.

"Jack!"

"What?" She asked all half assed.

Richy pulled her hood off and started to put a pink bow in it. She ran away shaking her dreads trying to get it out, of course he chased her around laughing. Richy is a real bitch in her eyes when it comes to her hair. She was often mistaken for a boy because of how she looked and what she would wear. Today was no different from any others. Her black hoody, ankle boots, and short calf jeans was all she would wear. Her dreads were out and about her face and most of the time hiding her dark brown eyes. Richy was her total opposite, he being a boy and white. He believed that Abercrombie and Fitch was God's left testicle---mind you he is a very boy loving person.

Valerie sat there laughing watching the brunette boy chase the demi-goth about. She shook her head, adjusted her glasses and walked right past them going on home. Valerie was the bookish type. She was always the one pulling those two apart before they tore at each other. Sometimes she believed that they were meant to be together, but that's not the case. She wished that she was picked on too. She wanted some attention, but her bookish type exterior got the best of her. She sighed. She hoped that this get together will make a difference.

:: Later that day ::

"Oh geez. Do I still have to go? It's gonna rain and it's gonna be hard."

"Stop complaining, Richy!" Valerie said over the phone. She looked over at the window, watching the clouds slowly darken. "It's gonna be fun. Trust me."

Richy sighed. "Just what the heck are we gonna do? Have a sleep over? You know I'm not that type."

"Oh you'll have fun. Just come over. Please!" Valerie begged.

"Fine, fine. My dad is gonna kill me."

Valerie made a silent cheer, throwing her hands in the air. "Okay! Cool. See you in a two hours."

She hanged up. The moment she hanged up, the phone rang. Picking it up again, it was Jack.

"It's gonna rain hard. A rain blizzard." Jacky laughed.

Valerie walked over to the kitchen, taking out a bowl of chips and placing it on the coffee table in the living room. There were blankets all set on the floor. There were soda and junk food all over the place. "There's no such thing as a rain blizzard unless it's snowing. You're gonna still come over right?"

"Yeah, I'm still coming. This better be good." Jack took a sip of her drink on the other line.

"It's gonna be fun, I'm telling you. I had to say the same thing to Richy."

Jack chuckled. "Don't worry. I'm coming. See ya later."

Click.

Valerie placed the phone down and walked over to her TV. Beside the TV was a game case. She pulled it out and stared at it. "They're gonna be so amazed." She snickered to herself quietly. She jumped onto the sofa and relaxed a bit. "Maybe I should start now and head over to the area." She walked over to the PlayStation 2 and opened the disc tray. She placed the game inside, closed it and waited for it to load.

The normal creators of the game appeared on screen, making more delay. The enhanced Dearly Beloved background music played. At the push of the Start button on the controller, the screen showed a picture of Roxas and Sora sitting together, eating a Sea-Salt ice cream.

Then the title came up. Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+

:: Two hours later ::

"He's always late."

"Yeah."

Both girls sat in the sofa watching Pokemon. Ash is battling Team Rocket. "Is there anything else on?" whined Valerie.

"Well, there's Digimon." Jack said, taking a sip of her soda.

"Hmm…Digimon isn't so bad. At least the monsters talk."

Both of them sat there, bored. Jack came an hour earlier just before the rain hit. They figured that Richy is waiting till the last moment before leaving his house. He probably wants a dramatic entrance so he can complain about why he was late. Blame it on the weather.

Jack looked towards the PS2. "The PS2 is on. What are you playing?"

Valerie jerked and darted a look towards the game console. "N-Nothing! It's a surprise!"

Several minutes later, the doorbell rang. "Oh? It must be the pizza!" Valerie skipped towards the door.

"Pizza? You bought Pizza?" Jack sounded rather shocked. "What's going on? Whose birthday is it? It better not be Richy's"

Opening the door, there stood Richy, a hand leaning on the door frame, totally drenched. He was panting as if he ran from his house to hers. "I-I'm…here…T-The rain…was no match… for me."

Jack walked over there. "Aww, it's not the pizza man."

Valerie grabbed the towel that was already hanging by the door handle and gave it to her friend. He took it and placed it on his head. "Man, the weather was rough…" he said as he walked further into the house.

Valerie ignored him and walked back into the living room where Jack was now watching Digimon.

Once Richy sat down on the couch, Valerie stood in the way of the TV. "Hey, I was watching that." both her friends said at the same time.

Richy looked at Jack.

"Don't look at me." Jack pulled the towel from his head down to his face. "Hey!"

"Ahem!"

Both of them looked towards the girl standing in front of the TV.

"As you know, I've gather you two here, my very good friends, to this little get-together to acknowledge the truth behind this event that I've---"

"Just get to the point. What new game do you have and want to show off to us." Richy said crossing his arms.

Valerie stomped her foot on the ground. "Fine! You want to rush." She changed the channel to show what the PS2 was playing. At first, they thought it was the regular and original Kingdom Hearts 2 game. Then they realized that the title screen picture was different, and there were Japanese symbols. Both of them stared at Valerie, who was just standing there, smiling.

"No way, Vale, no way…" said Richy.

Jack's mouth dropped opened. "Are you serious..?"

"Yes way and yes, I'm serious. Its Final Mix. I imported it from Japan. I went through hell to get my PS2 modified."

Before she knew it, both Jack and Richy were fighting over the controller, wanting to play the game.

:: Some time after that ::

"Dammit, why is Xemnas so hard! He was never so hard before." Richy yelled over the last boss music.

"Well, it is Critical Mode. It's different." Valerie took a couple of chips and stuffed it in her mouth. Jack just sat there watching. She looked out the window. "Wow, the rain is pretty bad. It's thundering and stuff."

"Well that ain't stopping me from beating the crap out of Xemnas!" yelled Richy. He was standing now. Suddenly the lights flickered. Both the girls looked to the lights as Richy continued to play even when the TV flickered off as well.

"Argh! Die, MANSEX, DIE"

Right after, a loud thunder was heard and lightning strikes down right beside the house. The monstrous noise and earthquake vibration made them all jump up in fear. Everything that was electronically working immediately shuts off. Everything was pitch-black except their living room. The TV screen was glowing white. Other than that, the whole neighborhood was dark.

"Oh well. That sucks." said Richy. He stood there with the controller in his hand. He was staring at the TV. "Yo, what's wrong with the TV?"

All three of them stared at the TV. "Well, all the power is off." Jack said.

Valerie looked a little confused. "But if all the power is off, why is the television still on…in some strange way?" Then a low screech sound was heard from the TV. "Damn, I was so close to beating that bastard…' Richy said, still absorbed in the game. The screech noise started getting louder and louder.

"What the hell…? Turn that TV off!" Jack covered her ears with both hands. Richy reached over to the TV and pressed the off button. Nothing happened. He pressed it a couple more times. Soon Valerie covered her ears. "What's that noise?"

Richy backed away. "I can't turn it off." The TV started to dim yet the noise was getting louder and irritating. "Feels like my ears are gonna pop!" He quickly reached into the back and pulled the plug of the TV but the noise didn't stop. "What the hell is happening?" The sound of thunder was heard again outside. All of a sudden, the TV screen flashed out brightly and filled the living room. An electric shock jolted out of the TV and stabbed into Richy. In an instant, the only thing that was left of Richy was his shoes. Both of the girls screamed.

"Oh geez! What just happened!? Where's Richy!?" Valerie quickly clung onto Jack. Jack was speechless.

"Did he…die?"

Jack slowly shook her head. "I dunno…I dunno!"

They both watched the TV glowed and dim again and again. Jacky got out of Vale's grasp and slowly walked over to where Richy was standing. His shoes were smoking and the PS2 controller was slightly surrounded with electricity. "Get away from the TV, Jack!" Valerie embraced a close pillow. She stood up and grabbed her friend's arm. "Get away!" Jack was still too shocked on what just happened. That's when they heard something.

"…guys!..."

It sounded like Richy. "Rich? Where are you?" Jack said looking around the room.

"…help…me!..."

Both of them started freaking out again. "Where is he, Jack? Is he okay?" asked Valerie. Jack wasn't sure how to answer her. She looked towards the TV. That was when thunder was heard once again outside. The TV glowed brightly, filling the room. Before the two girls could react, an electric shock from the TV hit them both and they instantly disappeared…

A dark city.

The air was still.

Dead silence.

Empty.

…Jack slowly opened her eyes. She was lying down on cement. She slowly picked her head up to look around. She saw Valerie lying down on the ground in front of her. It looks like they were in some kind of dark alleyway. She crawled over to her friend and frantically shook her. "Vale? Vale, wake up." Vale slowly woke up. The instant she saw Jacky, she quickly sat up. "We're still alive? Where are we? Where's Richy?" Jack quickly placed a hand on her hand.

"Not so loud. I'm not sure where we are. But we gotta find Rich and get out of here." Jacks stood up and slowly walked to the entryway of the alley. She looked out at the empty streets. There was barely light from glowing signs and windows. Valerie stood behind her friend, curious of where they are as well. "This place looks familiar." she said. She took off her cracked glasses, wiped them and put them back on. She took a good look around the area again. Something huge caught her eyes. "Oh…My…Gosh…Look up there." Valerie said monotonously. She slowly pointed at something in the sky. Jack's heart stopped, wanting to look and not at the same time. She slowly looks. Her eyes suddenly widened.

"No way…Don't tell me we're…"

Both of them were staring at a floating castle-like structure in the sky.

"It can't be…" Valerie gulped.

Jack slowly looked towards her friend.

"We're in Kingdom Hearts, Vale…In 'The World that Never Was.'"