Chapter 1: A path is opened.

Sora ran out to the shoreline. Something about the view before him felt strangely familiar. Riku stood, still and silent, in the equally quiet water. His back, which was facing Sora, was reflected perfectly in the clear water below him. Shaking off the feeling of deja vu, Sora began wading toward his best friend.

"What'cha doing?" asked Sora, as he raised his arms and linked his fingers behind his neck.

"Waiting" was all the other said.

"For what?"

"Wish I knew." With those words, Riku pulled a small, clear, corked bottle out of his pocket. Sora noticed the note inside, but it was the seal on it that surprised him. A "v" spread out into two sweeping lines that gracefully curved and spiralled, never actually touching; yet creating an elegant heart just the same. Before Sora could ask who it came from, Riku unceremoniously yet gracefully flung the bottle into the sea. Sora lowered his hands and furrowed his brows, confused for the moment. A slight smile briefly touched Riku's lips. "I wrote it last night" He answered Sora's unspoken question.

"Who's it for?" asked Sora, when Riku failed to read his mind ...or just to answer it...on that one as well. Riku started to say something, at least he opened his mouth, but then he closed it without making a sound. He turned his head to look at Sora for the first time since he had wadded out to stand beside him.

"I... I'm not sure yet." He tilted his head down slightly, and gazed back at the sea but his eyes did not seem to be seeing anything in front of them. "I've been having these weird dreams lately, almost like distant memories washing up to the surface, but I know they're not mine."

"Whose then?"

"I don't know..." He turned his gaze to Sora. "But I can only think of one person whose memories would be there." That too-familiar-distant-look started appearing on Riku's face, so Sora decided to lighten the mood for now.

He smiled and turned to face Riku "Maybe you're just thinking too hard on it. It's probably nothing."

That small smile touched his friend's lips again. "Yeah, you're probably right."

Sora's smile widened and he turned to look out over the sea. "Hey...uh...the sun's going to be setting soon. Want to watch it by the Paopu tree?" Riku did not speak, but turned and started off in the direction of the islet where the tree stood. Sora had already started running ahead as he yelled, "Race you!" Then, as Riku shot past him, Sora saw a real smile on his best friend's face for the first time that day.

Things were very much the same as they had been on their little islands. Before the Heartless, the Nobodies, the Darkness, Organization XIII, or any of their countless battles had taken place. A few notable things were different. The two friends did not yearn for adventure the way they used to. They had already seen other worlds, knew they would again, and could fully appreciate their home. Sora was a little less naive. Riku was much quieter. He just did not seem comfortable around other people, except Sora. When they were together, he was just Riku. They were not so competitive with each other anymore, which was a big change. They knew themselves as well as they had always known each other. They had grown confident in what they could do and exceptive of they could not. After spending so much time without them, Kairi was more independent of the two boys. Today she had been out shopping with Selphie. Sora could not understand how the two girls could spend so much time shopping.

It's not like they even buy that much stuff. Nevertheless, Kairi was happy. Sora was too. Riku seemed happy when he was not being all-quiet. Therefore, Sora decided things were going well since they had returned home. Now he leaned against the curved trunk of the Paopu tree, looking out at the horizon. He smiled as a warm breeze picked up and the sun lowered, changing the colours of the sky and the sea. Everything seemed so peaceful, the warm breeze, the rustling of the leaves, the soft thud beside him. ...wait...what? Sora turned to see Riku unconscious on the ground.

"Riku!" Sora dropped to his knees and turned Riku over so he could see his face, then shook him by the shoulders. "Riku!" What felt like hours, but must have only been minutes by the suns lack of progress, passed before Riku gave a soft groan and then his eyes blinked a few times before settling open.

"Sora?" he asked softly.

"Riku! Are you okay?"

Riku's voice was stronger when he answered, "Yeah, I'm fine." with that he sat up and his eyes met Sora's from behind their veil of silver bangs. "Really, I'm fine. Will you stop looking at me like that?" Both adjusted to a comfortable sitting position. They sat quietly for a moment as the sky darkened around them. Then Riku's voice, now steady as always, broke the silence. "Sora, I had another one of those dreams... when I was out...I think I should tell you about it...

A heavily armoured figure was walking down a dusty path in what looked like a wasteland.

It hadn't always been like this.

Up ahead there was a crossroad where four paths met. Standing at that point was another man also in heavy, ornate armour. The man was shouldering a Keyblade that Riku could not recall having seen before. Stuck in the ground before this unknown man were three Keyblades.

Like they're waiting for us.

The first one Riku could see was his own, Way to Dawn. Beside it was the Kingdom Key and behind that another Keyblade that Riku could not make out. He noticed another figure approaching from the road opposite him.

Me?

This man was again armoured similarly to the others, however was smaller and did not move as smoothly as they did.

Sora? No. It can't be him.

The two armoured figures reached the junction at the same time. The first man, who Riku thought was himself, withdrew Way to the Dawn.

But...how can I be seeing myself?

The man Riku thought of as Sora drew the remaining two Keyblades. All three men then turned their attention to the fourth path, where another figure could be seen approaching them. Through the dust, the heat, and the confinement of the helm, he could not be make out the fourth figure's face, but something about his approach made Riku feel uneasy. Things happened so quickly after that, it all seemed to blur together
How long has this battle been going on?

The unknown man who had been waiting for them had fallen. He knew that. The armoured figure that reminded Riku of Sora was trying to indicate something behind Riku, but Riku did not care, because something was happening behind the Sora-figure. A path of light was opening behind him and before Riku could reach him.

…Why is it so hard to move suddenly?

...The light began to engulf Sora.

Sora!

It was not until he reached out a hand to try to grab his friend that Riku noticed the darkness that was enshrouding him, just as the light was taking Sora. They reached for each other hopelessly as they were each engulfed by opposite elements...

"...Then the darkness closed in around me...and then I heard you calling me." Sora had stayed quiet as Riku told him all this. He wasn't sure what to say, but he knew one thing for sure. Riku had been right, this did not sound like just a dream. Riku stood, so Sora did the same. Then Riku held out a hand and Way to the Dawn suddenly appeared in it. Not sure why, Sora again followed suite. Without saying anything, Riku turned his blade and touched the tip of it to Sora's own. The wind seemed to pick up around them as a light began to glow where the two Keyblades met. A familiar symbol appeared on the ground, the crown that adorned Sora's necklace. However, this time there was another symbol as well. The heart from Riku's seal was overlapping the crown in such a way that you could not tell which was over which. They just seemed to blend. Then the light from their blades reached out into the sky, stretching to unknown depths.

Pointing out the way to go. Sora thought the words to himself, but Riku turned to him as if he had heard them.

"Are you ready for this?"