Okay, here's the next chapter, at long last.

But here we get to see something I bet you'll all like. How a certain mouse's life as a keybearer began. Enjoy!

(Kingdom Hearts belongs to Disney/Square-Enix, not me.)

Chapter 1-

Gently, quietly, he floated down through the darkness. He felt the air rushing past his large, round ears, and felt his thin tail flap about in the wind as he seemingly sank down from the shadows, and finally came to stand on what seemed to be solid ground, though it was just as dark and black as everything around him.

Then, without warning, the darkness below his feet began to break away in a million pieces which flew away as doves. He looked down at the ground below him to see he was standing on a platform that resembled a round stained glass window. On it was an image of a young woman with blond hair, wearing a blue cloak and hood and holding a wand. On her back were two fairy wings, and behind her was the image of a pumpkin.

What is this place? He thought to himself.

Just then, he heard a voice. Or, to be more precise, it wasn't exactly a voice so much as a thought that wasn't his own. The words came clearly to him, as though he were reading a book, yet no one seemed to be speaking to him.

Step forward, the voice said. Can you do it?

Uncertain, he obeyed and stepped forward. Before him, a pedestal rose from the ground, and on it appeared a sword. On either side of him, two more pedestals rose up, and on these were a shield and a wand. On each of these items was a strange, 'D', curled in such a way that it looked like someone's own handwriting. Whose handwriting it was he could not say, but it was incredibly familiar to him. He reached out and picked up the sword by its hilt.

The power of the warrior, the voiceless voice said to him as he gazed at the blade. Invincible courage. A sword of terrible destruction. Is this the power you seek?

He nodded, and the sword disappeared in a flash.

Suddenly, the wand and shield disappeared, and the platform shattered. He plunged down into the darkness once more. Softly, he landed on another platform. On this one was the image of a young man with white hair wearing a blue robe. On his shoulder was an owl, and behind him was a large stone with a sword stuck in it.

Suddenly, the sword from before appeared in his hand.

You've gained the power to fight. Use this power to protect yourself and others…

As if on cue, dozens of small, shadowy beings appeared, as though they were born of the shadows themselves.

There will be times when you have to fight. Keep your light burning strong.

The shadows attacked, but he fought back with the sword, slicing into the first few creatures, then bringing the blade down on the heads of others, and swinging the sword at the rest in a large ark.

Then, as the shadows disappeared, a long, winding stairway appeared, leading to another far off platform. That was his next destination.

Once there, he saw that this one had the image of a woman with green skin who wore a black dress. Perched on her finger was a raven, and behind her was the shadow of a large reptilian beast.

The closer you get to the light, the greater your shadow becomes.

At these words, he turned to look back at his shadow, which had indeed grown. But, oddly enough, it rose from the ground and took a form of its own.

But don't be afraid. And don't forget…

The shadow grew to an enormous size, and took on a frightening form. He gripped the sword tightly and jumped to attack the creature, but just as he attacked it, the ground opened up and he found himself sinking into the darkness again.

…Don't forget… You hold the mightiest weapon of all…

---

Slowly, he awoke to the sound of rushing waters and sat up to find himself on the banks of Timeless River. A look around proved to him that he was indeed once again in his safe, familiar, black and white home.

"Mickey!"

At the sound of his name being called, the mouse turned around to see a familiar figure waving to him.

"Mickey! What are you doing lazing around like that?" Minnie called with a giggle.

"Gosh," Mickey replied with a chuckle, "I guess I just dozed off."

Minnie walked over as he stood up, and she giggled again. "Better not let Captain Pete catch you sleeping when you're supposed to be working."

"Aw, don't worry about me, Minnie. I ain't afraid of ol' Pete. Only…"

"Only what?"

Mickey scratched his head, finding it hard to describe the things he'd seen in his dream. "Nothin', I just had a weird dream is all."

Minnie just smiled and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Well, anyway, we'd better hurry. Donald and Goofy are expecting us."

Mickey nodded again, and the two set off hand in hand.

---

Mickey and Minnie soon found their friends resting on a nearby hill. Goofy was sound asleep, stretched out on the ground, while Donald stood tapping his webbed foot.

"It's about time you got here!" he quacked.

Goofy slowly awoke and gave a yawn. "Oh, howdy, Mick! Hiya, Minnie!"

"Hey, Fellas," Mickey greeted back. "Sorry we're so late."

"Aw, it's okay," Goofy reassured. "Anyway, we got everything set up!" Donald nodded and motioned to a picnic set up nearby, laid out with all kinds of delicious foods.

"It looks great!" Minnie cheered.

"Yeah," Mickey agreed. "But we can't start without Plut—whoa!" Right on cue, Pluto ran up and tackled his master and began to lick his face. "Okay, boy, okay!" Mickey laughed, and everyone else joined in.

---

After the picnic, the gang sat back to watch the sunset. Minnie and Mickey sat close together, Minnie resting her head on Mickey's shoulder, as the white sun sank down against the light grey sky which turned steadily darker and darker. The horizon was a dazzling shade of white as the sun finally set, and finally night had fallen and the sky was alive with millions of twinkling white stars against a pitch-black sky. Now it was time for the meteor shower.

"Look, there's one!" Goofy called as a shooting star zipped across the sky.

"And one over there!" Donald pointed to another.

"Isn't this great?" Mickey asked his friends. "Just the five of us, watching the stars. Who could ask for anything more?"

Minnie nodded and leaned against him with a contented sigh. Mickey smiled as he watched the falling stars. By now, his strange dream was all but forgotten.