-+- Scene Change

-- Flashback

-/\- Dream sequence

Chapter I: Alone

Sora sat under the shade of a Paopu as he watched Kairi and Riku swim and play together. Both have been starting to get closer the past weeks but it seemed ordinary to Sora. Sora wanted to join them but his body was stressed and the fatigue it bought with it would allow him. He was blankly staring at the horizon until he was interrupted by who was calling for him. Both were running to him and he saw that Kairi was holding a bottle which seemed to have a note in it. She handed him the bottle as she and Riku took a while to catch their breaths.

"It's from the king!" he saw King Mickey's seal on the note and quickly pulled it out of the bottle with his finger.

Dear Sora, Riku and Kairi,

How are you all? We've been missing you a lot! Some more than the others! We're all busy here at Disney Castle but we're doing fine all in all. It seems Donald and Goofy departed to Destiny Islands a while ago without my permission. I couldn't blame them though! If I weren't buried in paperwork right now i would have done the same thing! Queen Minnie send her regards... and OUCH! Daisy too! We'll back to work then!

Hope your all doing fine,

King Mickey

Sora just smiled and didn't even show his teeth, earning him worried glances from both his friends.

"Sora, you alright? Something wrong?" asked a worried Riku

"Nup, it's nothing really! My body just feels really heavy and I'm really tired thats all!" he flashed them a sincere smile to reassure them he was fine. But their faces soon turned from worried to a mixture of sadness and guilt.

"I think I should be the one asking you guys that question! Something bugging you guys?" soon, frowns formed on their faces.

"Sora..." trailed Kairi

"Sora, Kairi and I are in love with each other and we didn't want you to know 'cause we know you'll get mad." said Riku really quickly. It took a while for Sora to absorb the information, but when he did, his world felt blank. He kept a blank face and walked towards the hut they shared. Kairi and Riku followed him.

"Sora! I'm sorry!" Kairi struggled to keep up with Sora's fast pace, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Sora, it's nobody's fault. Don't act like this! Talk to us!" He stepped in front of Sora to stop his footsteps. What he saw chilled his bones. Sora's eyes... the light that shone within those ocean blue pools of his seemed to have gone out, making them as cold, dark and mysterious as the sea. Riku stared at Sora and he stared back. Out of fear, Riku stepped out of Sora's path. He slammed the door shut and went to the room he had owned and locked the door. He changed into the clothes he wore during his adventures with Donald and Goofy. He sat on his bed, mind empty and heart crushed. Oddly, he didn't feel any pain. The silence was cut when he heard the sound of an engine land nearby. He put a hand in his pocket and felt something deep within.

The Paopu key chain...

He threw it at his bed and opened the door. Outside the hut, Riku and Kairi were waiting for him. Kairi showering him with useless apologies and Riku saying words that were supposed to stop him. He stood in front of the Gummi Ship doors which were about to open. Donald and Goofy were ready to jump on him but too late, he was already at their side.

"Close the doors. Now" he said, putting emphasis on the word now, he turned to look at Donald, who backed a bit.

"But, Sora" said Goofy and Sora turned to him. Both immediately understood that Sora was serious. They pushed a button at the side and the platform slowly went up.

"Sora! Please!" pleaded Kairi

"Sora! Stop! Don't close the doors on us!" Riku yelled

"Too late... it's already locked" said Sora in a voice that could make the snowy mountains in the land of dragons seem hot. The door closed and the ship lifted off. Sora turned his back away from the doors and walked a few steps towards the door that separated the cargo and entrance from the control rooms where the seats were. But he took two steps and the light returned to his eyes and he felt a strong hit of pain that should have hit him moments ago. He fell to his knees and started shaking uncontrollably. Donald and Goofy rushed to his sides and asked what was wrong. He began telling them the story while he was sobbing. Sympathy filled their eyes as they saw their friend shake uncontrollably .

"Sora..." said Donald patting Sora's back soothingly, Goody did the same. Before they knew it, Sora was already unconscious and they were approaching Disney Castle.

-+-

"The poor, poor boy" said Queen Minnie as she wet a towel to lower Sora's temperature. He was burning with a fever. She lay it gently on the teenage boy's forehead.

"I couldn't agree more... After all he went through to save Kairi, to save Riku, almost losing his life along the way... This happens" said King Mickey heavily with a sigh.

"This isn't fair! Sora went through a lot to save Kairi and now Riku butts in!" squacked Donald in his usual almost undecipherable voice

"Gawsh, Donald. There's nothing we could do. Like the guy in the red cloak said, Hearts are unpredictable. I'm sure Kairi and Riku didn't choose to fall in love with each other." said Goofy. The room was shrouded in deafening silence.

"STILL! What they did to Sora wasn't right! Off with their heads!" quacked Daisy, Donald agreed. Soon, the pair were quacking and bouncing around the room in rage. But they didn't have it in their hearts to hate Riku and Kairi. Daisy and Donald soon got tired and exited the room, followed by Goofy, Queen Minnie, then finally King Mickey. He took one last look before closing the door, leaving the room in nothing but moonlight. A tear fell down from Sora's eye as he felt alone, even in his sleep.