Greetings in 2019! Here is the Poll Winner: Kingdom Hearts Time Travel. The Day I post this is the same day as I close the Poll, revealing the winner.

Now, this will be a bit different. It's not a crossover, so Digimon isn't apart of this, nor any other series that isn't canon to Kingdom Hearts as it is. It's also ignoring Kingdom Hearts 3 as much as possible, so no Toy Story, Monsters Inc., etc. in this story. If that changes, then it will be something a year or two from now (if this takes that long) and I learn enough about KH3 other than what the trailers have given us to incorporate it into the story. Third, some of KH3 trailers have relevance to why I'm writing this, but I've had this story idea for months longer, so it only reenforces the reasoning of why I'm writing this.

So, it's time to return to the past, and undo the Evil that is Xehanort. (props to whoever gets the reference)

(Story Begin)

(Chapter Begin)

Sora couldn't believe his ears. THAT was how Xehanort had gotten so many of their friends? THAT was how he was able to stay two steps ahead of the game? Vanitas had just revealed the secret to Xehanort's success. He had been unconscious when Riku, Mickey, and Lea had saved him from becoming a vessel of Xehanort, but Sora didn't understand the details. Now he did. If Xehanort could do it, then so could he. After all, to beat someone at their own game, they have to play the same game, only better.

Returning to Yen Sid's tower, he explained what he had learned to Master Yen Sid, and the plan he had come up with to counter Xehanort's efforts. Yen Sid warned him against such a path, as there were too many variables to understand the full weight of his proposed actions; however, Sora was undeterred.

"Master, Xehanort cheated the rules to weigh the game in his favor. The balance isn't stable. Xehanort wants Thirteen Seekers of Darkness to be a single being, why can't I go back in time to find Seven Lights?"

"You would possess six other bodies, robbing them of their free will?" questioned Yen Sid.

"Quite the Opposite, actually," countered Sora, "I plan to share my heart with them, and they in turn will become a fully realized version of themselves, rather than a puppet of a single person. I cannot tell you who I choose, because not only would you disagree, but also protest that others would serve better. The prophecy only states that the Keyblade War has Seven Guardians of Light and Thirteen Seekers of Darkness. It never said about anyone else joining in on the conflict. I doubt Twenty people could have caused the Keyblade Graveyard to become like it is with only Twenty Keyblade Wielders, no matter how many keyblades they used."

"Hmm..." Yen Sid remained in thought for several minutes, contemplating Sora's plan, "If I allow this, I break the very laws I upkeep to maintain balance amongst the worlds."

"To break the rules of convention, to go against that which protects us because it can protect no longer. New safeguards have to be put into place, and once I travel back, I can change this war, this negative outcome for the better."

"Know this Sora, if you go back and you fail, you will be banished from the worlds, and your Keyblade locked forever," warned Yen Sid, trying to dissuade him one more time.

"I don't plan on failing. I plan on beating Xehanort at his own game, because my friends are my power. And I know I can be theirs," finished Sora.

Yen Sid saw his determination, resolution, and conviction. He relented, and gave Sora the spell that Xehanort had learned long ago. Before Sora left, Yen Sid called out one more time.

"Sora, to prevent this from being a loop as Xehanort has made, you will have a one-way trip. You will be abandoning everyone here permanently."

"Hey, like you said: If I fail, I'm banished. In a way, I already am," replied Sora, more wisely than either expected.

Sora approached the door in Destiny Islands, seeing the markings Kairi and he made as kids, and later added the Paopu fruits to each other, marking their eternal bond. If this works, his bond with her would be even stronger. Casting the spell, all he knew around him vanished into a void, one of light and darkness swirling together. And he lost consciousness, his spirit separating from his body.

When Sora regained awareness, he found himself on a familiar beach, seeing a familiar scene. It was Terra, the real Terra, not his Lingering Will or Xehanort-possessed body. Terra brought out his Keyblade and recited what Sora later learned to be a chant that was made for a Keyblade Ceremony, passing on the right to wield a Keyblade to the next generation.

"In your hands take this Key. So long as you have the makings, then through this simple act of taking, it's wielder you shall one day be," quoted Terra, holding out the handle for Riku to grasp, before adding, "And you will find me, friend. No ocean will contain you then."

It seemed ironic, that Riku would indeed find Terra again in the future, though it wasn't the way it was supposed to be.

"No more borders around or below or above," finished Terra, "So long as you champion the ones you love."

Sora could feel his consciousness slipping. Unlike Xehanort, who had kept his body, his spirit was merging with his younger body, so he couldn't stay in full control, not yet. He only had one chance, and one chance only to do this right, so Sora faded for now, as his younger self resumed control.

Sora found himself racing Riku as he took control of his young body again. With a burst of adrenaline he hadn't known was building in him, he suddenly gained speed and managed to overtake Riku as they crossed under the bridge, their goal for their race.

"Wow Sora," panted Riku, "Where did that come from?"

"I don't know. But I finally won a race over you!" chuckled Sora, giving a big smile, something he'd been known for years to come.

"That was only one time," replied Riku, who was smiling good-naturedly as well, "How about a rematch?"

That was then Sora and Riku noticed they weren't alone. A Blue-haired woman was up on the bridge, until she jumped down and looked at the two of them for a few minutes. She then chuckled, confusing both of them.

"One of you might be special enough," she said, confusing Riku even further.

'This is it. I hope I can do this right,' thought Sora, remembering the spell to transfer part of one's heart to another.

"Mind telling me your names?" asked the girl.

"I'm Sora," answered Sora, letting things play out a little bit further.

"And you?" prompted the girl.

"My name is Riku," added Riku.

As if figuring something out and going with it, she said, "Sora, do you like Riku?"

"He's my best friend," replied Sora, with true sincerity. And it was true, Riku was the closest Guy friend he ever had, not that anyone had truly tried to replace Riku in his life.

"So then, if something happens, and Riku was about to be lost," continued the girl, as if testing him on something, "or say, starts wandering down a dark path alone... you stay with him and keep him safe."

Sora looked at Riku, who looked back. Best friends were always there for each other, even if they couldn't be physically, they were there in spirit.

"That's your job, Sora. I'm counting on you, okay?" continued the girl, ruffling both of their hair.

Sora and Riku giggled at the display of affection, but Sora was on a mission, and this was the first step. Riku continued on while Sora stayed behind. Riku turned back to check on Sora, but Sora smiled back at him in reassurance, allowing Riku to go on while Sora turned back to the girl.

"I promise you, I will look out for my best friend," promised Sora, before holding out his hand, "And, maybe one day, if you fall down a dark path, I can be the light to guide you back as well? I mean, we can be friends too, right?"

Aqua was surprised by Sora's proclamation about her, and looking into his eyes again, she saw the determination, resolution, and conviction a certain wizard in another time and place had once saw in him. Aqua smiled warmly at him, shaking his hand. She never noticed the small flash of light glowing from his hand to hers in that moment.

"Should that day ever come, I'm counting on you, okay, Sora," said the girl, "And... my name is Aqua. Don't forget it, okay?"

"Sure thing, Aqua," grinned Sora, "Because from now on, we're friends too!"

"Thank you, Sora," said Aqua, smiling in spite of herself, "You should get going. Wouldn't want to break your promise right away now, would you?"

Sora chuckled and waved and he ran off to catch up with Riku and his father, who was waiting for him by the boat. As they returned to the main land, Sora felt his awareness fade once more, his first step completed.

Over the next few years, Sora came in and out of awareness with his younger self, seeing not only Riku, but Tidus, Wakka, and Selphie all over again. And even Kairi once she appeared on Destiny Islands. Sora could tell that his younger self was doing everything he once did back when he was a child the first time around. It looked like his awareness only came and went in intervals because he was so different compared to his child self. Once he and Riku and Kairi were finishing the raft they eventually built, that's when things would get complicated. He had to make sure he did things right. One mistake and that could end it right there. He made a note of everyone's age and progress to make sure he could didn't miss the next opportunity.

Sora once again gained awareness to notice the raft being built and completed. Today was the day. Destiny Islands would be swallowed by midnight, and he had to reach out before it was too late. His younger self had already sparred against Selphie, Tidus, and Wakka separately as well as together to warm up and managed to defeat Riku after a long fought battle. Sora didn't know if Riku had gone easy on him or if he somehow got lucky to win against Riku. Riku was strong even at this age. Guess having motivation like Terra made a difference. His younger self even won the race against Riku, so the raft, or rather the Gummy Ship later, would be named Excalibur, right out of the tale of King Arthur. Before the day's end, there was one more person he needed to speak to. The next step in his task.

As the group were leaving, Sora got the person's attention.

"Selphie, I just want to say thank you for today," said Sora.

"Sure thing, but why?" asked Selphie.

"Because tomorrow Kairi, Riku, and I are heading out on the raft. I wanted to properly say goodbye before we left, since there won't be time in the morning," explained Sora, holding out his hand, "Thank you. We're going to miss everyone here."

"Best of luck, Sora," said Selphie, shaking his hand, never noticing the small light glowing from Sora's hand to her own.

They both got to their rafts and headed back to the mainland. Sora's awareness was fading once more, and this time, he wasn't as pressed for time. His two priorities were out of the way. Sighing, he allowed his younger self to take over once more, starting the adventure anew.

(Chapter End)

And there it is, the start of the fanfic you chose from the Poll. Happy 2019 guys, looking forward to more! Here's to a better start and more consistent updating schedule!

Six people that Sora shares his heart with, unlike Xehanort who's heart takes over twelve other people, and two have been revealed so far. Guess the other four and... I'll mention you in a future chapter! And if you guess all four in the correct order as well as when and where... I'll contact you privately with a request for this very fanfic. One attempt per person, so no multiple guesses in a single review or multiple reviews, it won't count, same with guest reviews (you have to leave a signed review), and you will not be up for consideration even if you did get all of it right, so put your thinking caps on and best of luck! I'll give it some time, because I'm covering all of the remaining people on the list tomorrow.

Later,

RDF1