Prologue: The Cry for Help

In the depths of Realm of darkness once more on a beach sat Roxas in his old Organization XIII coat with the hood down. He looked over the lightly lapping waves to the big full moon. He sighed once more and looked at someone standing above him. He spoke in a low voice, "We have to save her. I know she's not gone yet, she's inside me and she's hurting..." He looked down and said in a lower voice, "She wants to be free...She deserves to be free. I don't know who she is but, we have to save her." He stood up and looked at the man before him, "You know we have to, chosen one." Roxas chuckled.

The person walked over to the water's edge to look at his reflection. It was none other than the Keyblade's chosen one, Sora. He looked back to where Roxas had been, but saw no one. He growled, "Roxas, who do we have to save? I don't know what you're talking about. How can she be inside you when you're a part of me? Who is she?" Sora was getting severely annoyed that this always happened, he always felt he was drowning in mysteries. Everybody kept secrets from him, even parts of himself apparently. He sighed and let himself fall into the water, that's always how these ended up anyway, why fight it.

Sora awoke in his own bed, the alarm blaring. It was odd to be in his own bed after so many adventures, destroying Heartless left and right. He was wondering if the dream had been real in a way, was Roxas really trying to tell him something? Oh well, he could deal with that later. Sora got up and got dressed in his short sleeve white shirt, his blue checkered tie and light blue shorts. It was annoying to give up his awesome outfit he got from the fairies, but everyone has to go to school.

He left his house after a light breakfast and on his way met up with Riku and Kairi. He kissed Kairi on the cheek, they had been officially dating since he had returned from beating Xenmas. Riku smiled at the two, he had been slowly returning to himself since they had returned. Sora looked up to the sky (don't you love the irony?) and wondered about his other two best friends. They had spent about a week on the islands with the kids, but soon had to return to Disney Castle, King Mickey to once again rule over his kingdom, Donald to get back to Daisy, and Goofy because as Head Knight he had to protect his king.

They continued on their way to school and Sora felt a twinge on the inside of his chest. He had felt a couple over the past few weeks, but it didn't seem anything bad. He had gone to the doctor's but there was apparently nothing wrong with him, at least not physically, but he still had this suspicion that this pain would lead to yet another adventure. Not that I don't like adventures, he thought with a smirk on his face.

Riku looked down at his friend and grinned, "What are you smirking about Sora?" He chuckled. It had taken a while, but Riku was acting more like his old self, although if he thought no one was looking he would let his face fall into a more serious disposition, as though he was acting happy just for his friends benefit.

Sora put his hands behind his head, like he often did when trying to dodge a question, and looked up towards the sky, "Ah nothing really. So did you guys finish the homework we got in math cla..." he stopped mid sentence as he saw both of his companions nod. His face fell, "Ah man, I didn't understand one bit of it."

Kairi looked at Sora a little exasperated, "Oh Sora! Why didn't you call me then? I could have come over and helped you!" She shook her head and started berating Sora a little more, "You're already behind as it is. Missing a year and a half with of your adventuring all the time!" She lightly slapped his shoulder.

Sora acted as though the attack and done real damage and he spun on the spot and fell to the ground, dramatically. The three laughed as they headed off to school, that is until they reached the building.

Suddenly, Sora fell to his knees, the twinge turning into a sharp pain. He thought back to The World that Never Was and how just before they went to fight Xenmas he had fully incorporated Roxas. He noticed that he could track the twinges back to that day, the very day he had started to remember everything that had happened in Roxas' short life. During the days of Organization XIII there seemed to be someone missing, though. Someone that had spent a lot of time with Roxas and Axel. As if that person had just fallen out of existence.

Kairi looked down at Sora who was on the ground on all fours, "Sora! Riku, what's wrong with Sora?!" Riku just stared at Sora and then looked up, a feral snarl raised his upper lip as though he suspected an attack. They stood their until Sora finally rose, looking haggard and wary.

Sora looked around and then put on a wry smile, "Hey guys, I'm alright. I told you about the twinges I was feeling. This was just a stronger one, I'll be alright. Come on, we can't be late." He grabbed both of their hands and dragged them into the school before they could protest.

Later in the day, at lunch where they could talk, Riku and Kairi pulled Sora away and looked at him worriedly, "Sora, that was more than a 'twinge' as you call them. We can't have you dropping at school because of something that happened back at The World That Never Was. We should try and contact Mickey." Riku looked at Sora, clear concern in his pale eyes.

Sora sighed and looked away, he knew his friends only cared, but he was sure this had nothing to do with Heartless or Nobodies, at least not in the usual way. He was certain that King Mickey wouldn't know the answer, and the Disney Castle had just gotten him back. Sora didn't want to start a new adventure just when things were settling for everyone else. He would have gone on his own, but he was sure that everyone would follow suit.

Kairi waved her hand in front of Sora's face to get his attention. Once he looked in her eyes she said, "You know that King Mickey would want to hear about stuff like this. He wants to protect you no matter what."

That's the problem. Sora thought. He looked at Kairi and shrugged, "How could we even get in contact with the King. I mean sure you got a letter to use even in the Realm of Darkness, but that's because your a princess of heart who was searching for what you wanted most. I don't think me or Riku could do that kind of thing. And I don't think you could do it again."

Riku, who had been contemplating something suddenly looked up and sighed, "I suppose I could try and reach into the darkness in my heart and become Ansem again. That way I could open up a Door to Darkness and we could get around that way."

Sora and Kairi shouted at him at the same time, "NO WAY!!!" and then took turns berating him for making up such a self sacrificial plan.

Riku waved his hands to stop their torrent complaints, "Alright, alright. I won't do it! I was just brain storming, I mean we all want to help Sora."

Kairi nodded and just as Sora was about to give up he felt another chest pain coming on and he fell to the ground. This time he felt himself losing his grip on consciousness. As his friends tried to see what was wrong he could have sworn he heard a female voice calling to him, saying, "Sora, you have to help me, I'm not supposed to be here! Help me Sora!"