Hello there, this is my first fanfic, so be gentle

Sora: Yeah, you all know how it is with new or inexperienced writers.

Roxas: *slaps Sora* Come now choco-head, he's written a few things…he's just rusty.

Oh, and before I start, I'd like to say that all characters are © of Square and Nomura and I claim nothing except this story.

Now, on with the fanfic ^_^

Chapter One: The Nightmares Within

Today was going to be another one of those days. Sora's alarm clock had been going off for the last hour or so and he was still sleeping. To make things even better, his cell phone was vibrating and buzzing around his bedside table. The caller ID on the screen read 'Kairi'. The brunette continued to sleep soundly for the rest of the day…that is until his friends showed up hours later banging at his door.

"Sora you lazy bum, get up! You missed school again!" came Riku's voice from downstairs. Kairi crossed her arms and breathed out a frustrated groan.

"I can't believe this…he hasn't been to school in two days. If he missed any more, the principal is going to have his ass. He better not have another lame excuse like last time…" said Kairi as she tapped her foot on the front porch. Thinking quickly, she bent down and flipped over the welcome mat and picked up a brass key, dangling it in front of Riku with a grin before unlocking the door and stepping inside.

Back upstairs, Sora stirred in his bed. His fair-skinned face was covered in a cold sweat and he was mumbling in his sleep. Anyone listening wouldn't be able to make anything out of the incoherent babble issuing from the young Keyblade master's mouth. In fact, someone was listening. It was Riku and Kairi, who had snuck into Sora's house and was standing just outside his bedroom door.

"Should we go in and wake him up? It really isn't like him to sleep like this and I'm getting worried…" Kairi whispered to her silver haired friend, who shrugged and raised his arm to tap a knuckle on the solid wooden door.

"Sora? It's us…are you ok dude?" Riku asked through the door, then put his ear up against it in case the brunette responded. There was nothing but the shrill sound of the repeatedly beeping alarm clock. Turning the doorknob slowly, he pushed open the door and caught a glimpse of what was going on. Sora was tangled up in his sheets and thrashing around on his bed as if he was being tortured. Kairi clapped a hand over her mouth as she watched the scene unfold before her. Riku ran up to Sora's bed and pinned the brunette down and shook him awake while Kairi shut off the alarm clock.

"Sora…Sora, wake up. Come on buddy, get up…" Sora's friend pleaded desperately. Riku could see large beads of sweat all over the Keyblade master's face, who's heart was nearly beating out of his chest and his breathing was very erratic. Sora awoke slowly, looking around groggily and confused as he looked around his room. Suddenly it dawned on his that his two best friends were standing next to his bed watching him.

"R-Riku? K-Kairi? Ugh…what are you two doing here?" he asked, sitting up and rubbing his eyes, trying to collect himself and figure out what was going on. This last nightmare had been one of the worst of all of them and it was still somewhat fresh in his mind.

Kairi and Riku looked at each other, then back at Sora who was still looking confused and a little out of it. "Umm Sora, do you know what day it is?" asked the redhead, her hands resting on her hips.

Sora scratched his head and blinked. Why would they ask me a question like that? It's not like I missed school or anything…Sora thought to himself as he tried to remember what today is. Outwardly, he replied, "It's Wednesday and our three page essay on the physical effects of dreams is due today."

Riku sat down at the end of Sora's bed and let out a sigh while Kairi shuffled her feet. "You must be more out of it than usual…it's actually Friday and school is already over. We came by because we haven't heard anything from you since Tuesday," Riku explained to a very messy-haired Sora.

"Yeah, you never answered any of our calls or texts and frankly, you worried us sick," Kairi chimed in, shaking a scolding finger at her friend. Sora sank down in his bed as he processed what Riku had just told him.

Sora's heart raced and his mouth hung open. Three days? That's impossible...I fell asleep once in class but this seems totally different Sora thought to himself. Another voice suddenly answered him. It's different because it isn't you, it's me…Sora immediately recognized the voice of his spiky blonde-haired Nobody. He ignored it and opened his mouth to speak. "Sorry guys, I've been having these nightmares lately. You remember when I fell asleep in class on Monday?"

(Flashback)

It was Monday afternoon. Sora, Riku, and Kairi were sitting down in their psychology class. It was going to a boring lesson on the hippocampus and what it has to do with memory. The three were chatting about how they were looking forward to the three day weekend that lie in waiting for them and how they were going to spend their time together. When the teacher came in, the class fell silent and he pulled down a thick screen for a projector. Since the teacher was focused on the lecture, Sora thought he would close his eyes briefly for a few minutes. Soon he had blacked out and had awoken on his back, his friends and the teacher standing around in a circle above him. His heart was beating rapidly and cold sweat ran down his face. They asked if Sora was ok and he said yes, knowing that it was a lie. Luckily no one caught on and let him be for the rest of the day. The images that flashed in his mind were somewhat disturbing. As the teacher resumed his lecture, Sora thought it was time to have a conversation with his Nobody.

Roxas materialized in an empty desk next to the brunette. He was transparent and had the appearance of a ghost. Only Sora could see him however, since Roxas existed inside his heart and soul. He spoke, but his lips didn't move.

It was another nightmare again, huh? Roxas asked, his voice filling Sora's head. The teen nodded, looking into the blondes aqua eyes.

That's the third one this month, it's really starting to get to me came the reply from Sora. Both he and Roxas still had the dream images flashing in their minds.

It was always the same whenever it occurred. Castle Oblivion and the World that Never Was were hovering on opposite ends of the sky, looking threatening and ominous. A dark figure floated between them, muttering something that sounded fuzzy like a badly tuned radio. All at once, millions of Heartless flowed out of the Nobody world and swept across an open plain towards Twilight Town, as if to bury it in darkness. The citizens themselves were turned to Heartless and the town was slowly transformed into one big giant black blob while Sora and Roxas were powerless to stop any of it. They looked on in horror as the same thing happened to all of the worlds that lie beyond Twilight Town. In the end, all the worlds were turned into one giant Heartless that consumed Kingdom Hearts itself before devouring Sora and his Nobody.

I know Sora, but please don't let it control you…it is just a dream after all…Roxas assured his other half. Sora let out a small but audible sigh.

(End of Flashback)

Sora explained to Riku and Kairi what had happened in his dreams. Being the wielder of the Keyblade, Sora has always had a connection to Heartless, ever since becoming one himself three years ago and anything less of a Heartless invasion on a massive scale scared him to death.

The only thing Sora didn't mention was that he had talked to his Nobody. Riku was somehow still sore at Roxas about being defeated by him in the World that Never Was all those years ago. He knew Roxas was a part of Sora, but to Riku he represented everything that shouldn't have been.

"So, what happened during this last dream, Sora? We found you thrashing around on your bed and we thought you were having a fit or something," came Riku's voice from the foot of Sora's mattress. He only just noticed how pale his friend was, and he looked as if he hadn't eaten or drank anything for days. Riku nodded to Kairi, who had noticed that too, and set off downstairs to find Sora something to eat.

Sora watched Kairi leave his room and he gazed at Riku with his deep blue eyes and shook his head. "I told you Riku, its always the same…I guess this one kept me asleep longer than before," he replied as he scratched the back of his head. Even his voice sounded a little weak. A few moments later, Kairi returned with a plate full of pizza, chicken, some mac and cheese and a glass of orange juice. Sora eyed the plate of food as his mouth started to water. He didn't realize how hungry he was.

Unbeknownst to Sora, Kairi had contacted an old friend of Sora's with news of what had happened to her friend. He had texted her back, saying that they should bring Sora by and see what has been going on inside him. She and Riku watched Sora eat and regain his strength, for today was going to be quite eventful.

Well that wraps it up for chapter one. I hope you all enjoyed it.

Roxas: My part in this was kind of small…*whines*

Sora: *grins* Don't worry Spiky, you'll have plenty more time in the spotlight.

Heheh, behave you two. Please rate and comment and stay tuned for the next chapter. ^_^