Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, Kingdom Hearts II, all names, characters, places, items and relevant plotlines are the property of Square Enix and Disney Interactive Studios. The author does not profit in any way from this work.

We've been away for so long already. Destiny Islands feels so... foreign. So many people have changed, and everyone looks different. Even Kairi grew her hair longer.

I've been wondering, what does Mickey mean? He said he'll tell us when he arrives, but there's something I don't want. I don't want to have to go away. I don't want to be separated from Kairi and Riku again. If it's an adventure then I don't want to go.

That's the thing about the Keyblades. They came with responsibilities. And I'm tired of what this responsibility brings. Loneliness.

Yes, I may have Donald and Goofy, but they're not Kairi and Riku. I'm tired of all this adventuring. I just want to stay here.

And be with them. Forever.

-Sora.

"Hey, Riku?"

Sora turned to his side, facing the blue-haired boy beside him.

"Yes, Sora?" Riku asked.

"Did Mickey and the others say what time they were coming?" Sora inquired. They had been waiting for almost the whole morning.

Riku sighed, and sat up on the sand. "They just said they were coming today. Finé. Nothing else said. And he's King Mickey."

"I know, I know. I just wish they would hurry up, because my hair's getting sandy," Sora replied. "All this sand messes my hair."

"I didn't know you were that vain, Sora," Riku said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Who's the one who hid himself in a cloak to look cool?" Sora retorted. "Who keeps long hair and dyes it silver?"

"At least I'm not trying to get the attention of someone with extra-strong 'cement' in my hair," Riku smirked.

Sora sat up, ready to hit back with another remark, when –

"Sora! Riku!" quacked a loud voice from above. Sora and Riku recognised the familiar hum of the engine. With a loud swoosh, the great Gummi Ship flew over their heads.

"They're here, Riku!" Sora exclaimed. "Donald and Goofy and His Majesty!"

The two boys got up, shaking the sand from their clothes and hair.

"I'll head for the landing point!" Riku said. "You go tell Kairi they're here!" He began to dash off towards the other side of the island.

Sora nodded, running towards a small settlement of wooden huts. He headed for the one hut that he loved to visit. He pushed open the wooden door and walked in. A girl with flowing red hair was standing by the window, staring out at the beach. She turned around when Sora entered, and he found himself caught in the middle of his words.

"Hey, Sora." Kairi looked at him and gave him a smile.

"H—Hey!" Sora stuttered. For a moment, he stared blankly at Kairi, until she tapped his head.

"Yes, Sora. You were looking for me?" She asked. "What is it?"

He hurriedly regained his composure. "King Mickey and Donald and Goofy are here!" he exclaimed. "C'mon, let's go meet them!"

Kairi held out her hand. "You lead the way," she said.

Sora grasped her hand tightly, feeling the warmth of her fingers. He looked at Kairi, who was still smiling at him. Feeling pleased with himself, he started to run out of the shack, Kairi running after him, hand in hand.

A while later, Sora and Kairi arrived at the clearing in the middle of the little village. The Gummi Ship had landed in the middle of the clearing, and Riku and King Mickey were in deep conversation. However, before he could reach them, Donald and Goofy ran over to Sora, knocking him over with their fierce hugs.

"Sora!" Donald quacked. "Good to see you again!"

"Hyuck! It certainly is good!" Goofy added, pulling Sora into a tight bearhug, squeezing the air out of him. "How have you been?"

"Knock it off, guys!" a laughing Sora called out from beneath the stack. "I can hardly breathe!"

The three of them tussled around in the soft sand.

Pluto, who had kept a lonely Kairi company during her capture in the Castle That Never Was, was also equally happy to see his old friend again, his tale wagging eagerly.

"Pluto!" Kairi cried. She ran up to give him a hug, as he licked her face excitedly. "I missed you so!"

"Woof!" Pluto easily knocked Kairi over, licking her face without stopping, as Kairi laughed.

Even as the group of friends were having fun, Riku and the King were talking in an undertone.

"Your Majesty, why have you come for us?" Riku asked.

"There seems to be a little situation over at this place called Castle Oblivion," Mickey said. "A bunch of Heartless is reported in the vicinity. I also sense a dark aura around castle, and some people have claimed to see a person in a hooded cloak at night, entering and exiting the castle."

"Organisation XIII?" Riku asked. "I thought we defeated all of them in The World That Never Was. And that darkness..."

"Precisely," Mickey replied. He glanced at Sora, before speaking to Riku in an undertone. "I also think that Sora might be able to go back to Castle Oblivion and restore his memories."

Riku looked at Sora, who was presently chasing Donald and Goofy around the beach. "The chain of memories?" he said. "I'm not so sure about that... It might have a great impact on his mind." He clenched his fists. "All I know is that I'm going to clear that castle of the darkness. And if anyone steps in my way, I'll..."

"Whoa there, Riku!" Mickey exclaimed. "Don't get too caught up. I know what happened last time." He paused, then whispered, "Is the darkness still haunting you?

Riku looked out to the sea. "Every single moment," he replied forcefully. "It's only by their light that I'm kept sane," he said, gesturing at Sora and Kairi.

Mickey put a hand on Riku's shoulder, saying "You should learn to relax, Riku. Have some fun with them. Enjoy the time spent with them. It'll do your heart good."

Riku let out a sigh. "Yes, I'm trying. It's just that cold feeling... All the times I called myself Ansem..." He looked back at Sora, who was now rolling about in the sand, wrestling with Donald and Goofy in peals of laughter. "He's so happy. I hope this visit to Castle Oblivion won't destroy him."

Mickey let out a wry smile. "Well, you're not going to let that happen to him, are you?"