A/N...THIS IS MY FIRST FAN FIC OF KINGDOM HEARTS. SO TRY NOT TO BASH ON IT. THIS TAKES PLACE AFTER KINGDOM HEARTS II, SO IF YOU HAVEN'T BEATEN ALL THREE OF THE GAMES, YOU MAY GET A LITTLE LOST ON SOME PARTS. BUT I'LL TRY AS BEST AS I CAN TO EXPLAIN THINGS SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BEAT THEM. SO LET'S START IN THE BEGINNING, RIGHT WHEN SORA, RIKU, AND KAIRI GOT THE LETTER FROM THE KING.

Chapter One

The Invitation Is On Hold

"Sora, Riku!" Kairi said as she stepped out of the cabana, a letter engulfed in her hands. She came running towards them at the island across the bridge. She handed the letter to Sora, "It just came and it's addressed to us."

Sora studied the letter and found the seal of the blue shillouette of Mickey Mouse, "It's from the king!" he said and he excitedly opened the letter.

"What does is say?" Riku said, trying to steal a peak at the letter before he could read it.

"It says..." he began:

Dear Kairi, Riku, and Sora

I know you just got back from an adventure but I must ask you to come back to the castle for a formal ball honor you and your friends who helped put the world at peace. Each of you can bring one date, either at your island or from another world. Donald and Goofy will be there today to take you to the other worlds to pick up your guests and to help send out other invitations. Hope to see you there.

Signed

King Mickey

Kairi jumped up with surprise, "A ball!" she said with a smile, "I'd love to! We have to go!"

"This is going to be so cool!" Sora said, "I get to see all my friends...Donald, Goofy..."

And they went on endlessly on how cool the party was going to be as Riku just stood there and listened. He didn't like the idea of going to the party. And he had a good reason why.

"I don't think I should go to a party," he said glumly.

"What!" Sora and Kairi said together.

"You heard me," he said, "I do not wish to go."

"But we have to go!" Sora said.

"It's an invite," Riku snapped, "Which means it's opptional if we go."

"Why don't you want to go?" Kairi asked, concerned.

Riku bowed his head, "I have no date to go with me," he blushed. And then he got up, walked across the bridge, and went back to the cabana.

Kairi turned to Sora, "You talk to him, I'll wait here."

Sora nodded, "Ok," and he walked across the bridge, thinking of what he was going to say to him. Why do I have to be the one who has to talk to him? He thought. He knew there was nothing he could say to change Riku's mind. Usually when he made up his mind, it was done!

He knocked on the cabana door, "Go away, you two," came Riku's voice.

But Sora walked in away, "It's just me," he said. He saw Riku sitting in the corner hunched over himself, "Sitting in the darkness, are we?"

"It's more comfortable this way," he said, not looking at him, "What do you want?"

"What makes you think you can't get a date?"

"I didn't say I couldn't get a date. I say I don't have a date."

"But you can pretty much have anyone in the entire island," Sora said, encouraging him, "You're one of the best looking people here, next to me," he joked.

Riku didn't laugh, "I don't want anyone on the island."

"Then who do you want?"

Riku shrugged, "I don't particularly like anyone," he looked up at Sora, "It's hard to explain."

Sora thought for a minute. There had to be some way to..." You can take Kairi," Riku looked surprised.

"No," he said, "You and I both know that's your date."

"But I can give her up so you can come!"

"No!" he said more loudly this time, "I don't want to go with her. She's your date. I guess you two can just go alone and that's final."

Sora knitted his eyebrows. Riku was back to his stubborn attitude and there was nothing Sora could do to help the situation. Fed up and done talking to him, he stood up and walked to the door of the cabana. As he reached over to push the door open, something heavy fell into his hand. His keyblade!

Afraid and confused, he looked over to Riku, who was now standing, alert, his own keyblade at his hand.

"Heartless!" he said, "I can sense them..."

"How can that be?" Sora said, frightened, "We--"

"I know," he said, "But we have to fight again."

They ran out of the cabana. The sky was gloomy now, everything was dark. There was a force comming from the island across the bridge.

"There!" Riku said, swinging at the small Heartless. He pointed over to the island. They both ran towards it. But it was too late. They had already seen what was happening.

Kairi was trapped in a force and was slowly disappearing. They heard a laugh. And a woman appeared in front of her. It was Maleficent.

"Sorry to go on such short notice," she said, "But I've got business to take care of," she touched Kairi and they disappeared.

"No!" Sora said, "Not again!"

Riku looked angry, "This isn't happening," he said, "Sora, look," he pointed over the horizon. A familiar vessel known as the Gummi Ship was riding over at a terribly fast speed. Sora tried to contain his anger as he await his friends to board off.

"Sora!" said Donald as he ran over to him, jumping into his arms. Sora tried his best to smile, but it was hard too, "What's wrong?"

Sora sniffed, "Maleficent...came...and took Kairi away," and he burst into tears. Donald said nothing and Riku rubbed his back to comfort him, "We just got her back, why should this happen again?"

"Gawrsh, Sora," Goofy said, saddened, "You think maybe we can help look for her on our Gummi Ship?"

"Of course we will. Come on, Sora, get on the ship," Donald said happily, "We'll find Kairi."

Sora looked up, "Thanks, guys," he smiled a bit, wiping away his tears. He walked towards the Gummi Ship, "Come on, Riku," he said.

Riku smiled and nodded, "Of course, whatever we do now, we do together, remember."

Sora nodded, still smiling, "We'll put the invitation on hold, right now, we need to find Kairi!"