Sora sighed. He was too tired for anything. He laid down on the grass. He heard footsteps coming toward him, but he ignored them. He closed his eyes and imagined himself back on the island, with Kairi and Riku. "Sora, Sora." he could hear someone whisper. But he disregarded it as his wild imagination, letting himself get lost in his mind. "Sora, Sora." the whispering got louder. Behind closed eyes he thought it was his imaginary Kairi.
"Kairi." he mumbled. Then he heard someone next to him giggling. He opened his eyes, and stabbed daggers at the person who had disturbed his rest. It was a woman with blue hair and eyes. She was wearing athletic clothes, a sweater around her waist, and straps over her chest. She had disconnected sleeves on her arms, that had decorative armor sewn in. Strangely, she seemed familar to him.
"Hello, Sora." the woman said his name as if it was the best thing ever.
"How do you know my name?" Sora asked, disturbed.
"Don't you remember me?" the woman asked. Sora shook his head. "So you don't remember. No blaming you, you were only three back then." Sora just stared blankly at her. "Oh yes. You're probably wondering who I am and how I know you. My name is Aqua. I am a Keyblade Master, and many years ago I met you and Riku on your island."
"You're a keyblade master?" Sora said, surprised. "Me and Riku are going through the Mark of Mastery."
"I see. And how did you get your keyblade, Sora?"
"It just appeared one day, the day I needed it." Sora replied. "The day the heartless came to the island."
Heartless. So that's what they are called. Aqua thought. "Sora, I need to ask you a favor. Will you help me with finding my friends, Terra and Ventus?"
I'm sorta busy, Sora wished he could say. But he couldn't resist helping people, and part of his heart was telling him to go with her to find her friends. "Okay." Sora almost sighed. Terra, that sounded familiar. The name Ventus tugged at his heart, but was not familiar at all. He put his hands behind his head. "So, where would they be?"
Aqua's look saddened. "I don't know where Terra would be, but I know for a fact that Ven is in Castle Oblivion."
Mentally Sora groaned. Castle Oblivion? Wasn't that where he had defeated half of Organization XIII? "Okay, let's go!" Sora faked enthusiasm toward going back. Aqua looked at him strangely as he began to walk off. "What's wrong?"
"How are we going to get there?" Aqua asked. "I don't have my keyblade."
"What do you mean?" Sora asked. Aqua held up a plain keyblade, its teeth in the shape of an E. "Why does that matter? We can just take a gummi ship."
"What's a gummi ship?" Aqua asked. Sora practically face palmed himself.
"You'll see it if you follow me."
Sora took a step inside the gummi ship. Both Donald and Goofy tackle-hugged him. "Oh, hey guys." he laughed. Then Aqua walked in and the two cartoon characters' jaws dropped.
"Master Aqua?" Donald and Goofy said in unison.
"You know her?" Sora was once again surprised.
"Yes, she brought back the King for us one time when he ran off." Donald answered.
"She and Ven were good friends with him." Goofy said. "We never thought we'd see her again, after she wandered off with Ven one day. She never came back." He looked behind her. "Hey, where's Ven?"
"We're going to go get him." Aqua answered. "Is that okay?"
"Of course it is!" Donald exclaimed. "We'll do anything for a friend of the King! Where to?"
"Castle Oblivion." Aqua said, simple and plain. If Donald had been a human, he would have paled. But still, he went along with the plan. He took them all over to the castle.
"Okay, here we are." Donald said. They all stepped off and found themselves under the shadow of the huge building. Sora put his hands behind his head again.
"Never thought I'd see this place again." he said. Aqua began to walk toward the entrance, and he followed her. "You know we're going to get lost, right?"
"Oh, we won't get lost." Aqua smiled. Her master's words echoed in her mind. Then, everyone but you will be lost to Oblivion. She pushed open the doors of the castles to a startling surprise.