Sora wrinkled his nose as he, Riku, and Kairi walked off of the crowded city street and into what appeared to be an overcrowded bar. The place smelled of alcohol and sweat and Sora found the stench almost overpowering. The place was also dark, humid and full of activity. Several of the bar's patrons looked up from their drinks to look at the young trio entering the bar, but quickly returned to their drinks without giving the group a second thought. Sora had a bad feeling about this place. Why would King Mickey ask to meet us here, he thought to himself, it just doesn't make any sense.

Suddenly someone grabbed the back of Sora's collar and pulled, pulling him backward just as a beer bottle sailed past his face and crashed into the far wall. He turned to find Riku clutching his collar tightly as laughter began to emanate from many of the patrons at the spectacle.

Sora couldn't take it anymore. He stood up, brushed himself off and turned to Riku. "Are you sure this is the place?"

Riku nodded, "the message was very specific. We are supposed to meet Mickey here in a couple of minutes. He should be here soon if he's not here already."

Sora stopped for a second to think. He had been ecstatic when he had found a bottle on the beach of Destiny Island with a note bearing the king's crest inside. After traveling to this strange planet and told to wait for the king in this strange place, however, he was beginning to have his doubts. "But why here?" He asked his two companions. "Why would the king want to meet us here?"

"Because it's loud and crowded." Kairi chimed in, drawing questioning glances from her two friends. She was a few inches shorter than Riku and Sora and only recently became aware of her role as a key-bearer; so she often felt inadequate when compared with the two boys. However, several times now she had proven to be more insightful than her male counterparts and jumped on any opportunities to prove her value. "We can talk with King Mickey here with little fear of eavesdropping." Sora and Riku glanced at each other, still obviously confused. Kairi grinned playfully, "Don't you two watch movies?"

"But who would the king be afraid of listening in on us?" Sora asked.

"I don't know," Riku admitted. "Lets just sit down and try to blend in."

Sora chuckled slightly. Riku was the most mature looking person in their group, but it was still obvious that none of them belonged in a place like this. However, they walked over and sat at an empty table in the far corner of the bar and began to wait.

Before too long three men entered the bar. The men were all tall and muscular, and they were wearing matching uniforms that led Sora to believe they were police officers of sorts. Sora also noticed that once the men entered one man about halfway down the bar slowly turned his back to the door and tried his best to conceal his face.

The officers must have noticed as well, because without hesitating the three officers walked up to the man. One of the officers leaned over to say something to the man, but without warning the man grabbed his glass and smashed it into the officer's face. The officer reeled back in pain, and before he could recover the man spun around in his chair and punched the officer in the gut. As the officer doubled over, the man grabbed the officer's head and slammed it into the bar. The officer crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

The man rose just as the two remaining officers drew black batons. The nearest officer took a swing at the man, but the man slid aside and the officer ended up hitting a nearby patron. The unfortunate man slumped forward and spilled his drink into the lap of the man sitting next to him. That man immediately rose and tackled the officer that had clubbed his friend. The two landed on a nearby table, and people sitting there immediately rose and began attacking random people in a drunken rage. In a matter of moments the entire bar had erupted into an all out brawl.

Sora immediately looked to Riku, wondering if they should leave while they still could or try to find King Mickey in this mess. His question was quickly answered; however, as the man who had been fighting the three officers seemed to appear at their table. The man was tall and muscular with a deep scar running down his left cheek. Sora also noticed that the man carried a large case on his back that appeared to be taller than Riku. The man grinned at the three of them and asked in a deep voice "one of you kids named Sora?"

Startled, Sora replied, "I am."

The man nodded, "that would make you two Riku and Kairi. I need you guys to come with me."

Sora wasn't sure how to respond, but luckily Riku did. "Sorry, but we're supposed to be meeting someone here."

The man's grin returned. "I know, King Mickey sends his apologies for not being to meet you personally, but there was an urgent matter that needed his attention. I am Dio."

Dio was interrupted as a man suddenly landed on their table, causing all four to jump. Dio grabbed the man and threw him back into the brawl behind them. "I'm sorry but we are in a hurry and need to leave now. Please follow me."

With that he turned and began to walk toward the door. Sora quickly glanced at Riku and Kairi, who both nodded and they all rose and followed Dio. As Dio pushed his way through the fighting patrons millions of questions were flying through Sora's head. Just who was this Dio? How did he know King Mickey? Where was he taking them?

Finally Dio pushed the last patron aside and headed out the door. Sora followed back outside on the city street, wondering just what he had gotten himself into.