Sora looked around the frozen town he came to a stop in. Feet upon feet of snow blanketed the quaint villa. Shivering slightly, he began down the road, wondering what kind of people he was about to meet.

"Hey, you."

Sora turned quickly to see a tall youth who looked slightly older than Sora walking down the road, a bag slung over his shoulder.

"You cold?" he asked blankly, wind ruffling his shiny brown hair slightly. Sora rubbed his hand through his hair nervously.

"Just a little bit." he said, shaking in the cold.

"Well, you should put a coat on or something." the young man said, coming to a stop next to Sora. "You just move here?" he asked.

"N-no, I'm just passing through." Sora said quickly. "It's j-just such a pretty l-looking town." Sora shuddered, feeling the cold more and more as he stood there. The young man rolled his eyes.

"You must be really out of it to come out without a coat, at least." he said. "I mean, c'mon, it's the middle of winter." With that, he walked past Sora, whistling in the cold morning air. Sora looked in awe at the boy. It had been a while since he felt so calm and at ease as him. Shuddering, Sora hurried off in search of a warm haven. After a brief while of running, Sora came to a shopping distract at the center of the town, the sounds of hissing trains and zooming cars filling the afternoon air. The sun was beginning to set.

"I-it m-must really be th-the middle of w-winter." Sora sniffled, trying his best to keep himself warm. Spotting a food vendor Sora hurried over to it, smiling happily when he saw it sold taiyaki pasties, a favorite of his and Riku's from way back when. Chomping down on the fish-shaped pastry, Sora felt his insides grow warm despite the frigid environment. There must have been something special in the taiyaki he ate.

Sora finally found a shop and bought a heavy red coat and set off once again. The Dream Eaters were no doubt creeping about in this world. What they could possibly be attracted to, however, completely escaped Sora. He wasn't sure what kind of people lived here.

Sora hid under a cold highway, shivering. As much as he wanted to leave this world, there was something familiar about it. He felt he knew someone who lived here. As the sun rose, Sora stretched, relishing in the warm sunlight.

"Krillin would probably bitch at me about finding some place warmer to sleep." he sighed as he walked down the sidewalk, freshly fallen snow crunching under his feet as he walked. Thinking about it, he probably could have thought of some place better to spend the night than under a causeway. As he looked about the town, Sora saw a number of faces, including the boy he saw before, chatting nonchalantly with a girl about his age with long, smooth blue hair, a very short girl in a heavy coat, a winged backpack slung on her back, a red hair band in her messy brown hair, a little teenage girl with a wrap snug over her shoulders as she watched a beautiful fountain, and a tall girl with long, straight dark hair in blue ribbons, chatting with another girl her age with long, full blond hair.

Immediately, Sora felt his heart leap as he saw the girl with dark hair. Looking into her sharp eyes, he could have sworn he met her once before. Who was she?

"Hey there."

Sora turned to see the boy from before walking up to him. Feeling his insides grow cold, Sora immediately turned to run as fast as he could, the boy and the girl with him staring in confusion. Why did Sora get this feeling suddenly? Was it his surging darkness? Did that boy have some kind of light or darkness to him? What was it? Panting, Sora came to a stop at a large high school. Looking at it, Sora saw the vision of an expansive field of wheat in his mind. It was so vivid, he could have sworn he had been there before, standing in the sunset.

It was a warm summer day, a cool breeze flowing by. Warm sunlight shown in the spring sunset, chaff and spores blowing in the afternoon wind.

Sora looked around the vast field of wheat, feeling quite content. He had never felt such oneness as this. He was one with the wheat, one with the wind. This was his first steps to becoming a Keyblade master. He just knew it. Now that he had seen and felt things both inside and outside his home, he was certain he could truly reestablish himself as a true Keyblade master.

He was one with nature. He was one with everything. Everything Goku or King Kai had tried to teach him over the last two years, he had learned just from standing in the setting sun and feeling the flowing wind of this new world.

He was suddenly shaken from his thoughts as the school bell rang, students in blue Nehru jackets and red dresses flooding into the doors, eager to escape the bitter snowy morning. Mingling into the crowd, Sora walked into the school, everyone going off to their classrooms, Sora walking the halls, feeling more and more familiar with this area as he walked on. As he strolled down a hallway, he felt as though he had fought in that very stretch long ago, the feeling a familiarity heavy in his mind. It wasn't Heartless or Nobodies or even the Dreameaters. It was something else... something that felt as though it had come from Sora's heart... and it scared him. Shaking it from his mind, Sora began to ascend a flight of steps to a blocked off area and saw three students sitting down to lunch, a mat spread neatly between them, their bentos lying open before them.

"Hello." the girl with dark hair tied in ribbons said to Sora. His jaw dropped as he spotted the girl with blond hair and the boy from the day before sitting with her. "Care to join us for lunch?" she asked kindly, her sharp eyes peering into Sora's.

"I... I didn't bring any lunch." Sora said nervously.

"Hey, I thought you looked familiar." the boy said. "You're the guy who ran off when I saw you this morning." he said. "What's your deal?"

"Oh, maybe he's a little shy." the blond girl said in a cheery voice. Sora stared blankly at the lot of them.

"Care to join us?" the girl with dark hair asked calmly. Sora nodded and sat to join them.

"My name is Sayuri." the girl with blond hair explained as the trio opened their bentos. "What's your name?" she asked as they snapped their chopsticks before eating.

"My name is Sora." he said. "I'm just passing through-" "That's what you said yesterday." the youth said sharply. "You only just told me that yesterday-"

"Don't forget, Yuichi." the girl with blond hair said quickly, the other girl quietly eating her own box. "The weather lately has been quite dire." she said smiling. Sora looked down at this. Was this the Dreameater's doing? "Sora could be stuck here because of how intense the cold snap has been as of late." Sayuri explained in an understanding voice.

"My name is Mai." the girl with the dark hair said, nodding to Sora as she ate her bento neatly. Sora smiled, wincing as his stomach growled loudly.

"Oh, are you hungry?" Sayuri asked with a smile. "You can have Sayuri's bento if you are hungry." she said innocently, holding her bento to Sora.

"N-no, I don't wanna be a bother." he said,putting his hands up as Yuichi gave him a suspicious look as he ate, Mai looking indifferent as she finished her meal.

Night fell quickly over the land. Sora shivered under his coat as he searched for some place warmer than the underpass to spend the night. Just as walked around the town for a second time, he saw something peculiar. Both Mai and Yuichi sneaked into the school, Mai holding a shiny long estoc as Yuichi held a bokken. Narrowing his eyes, Sora quietly followed behind them, sneaking into the school silently as they ascended the steps to the second floor. Sora thought this was a school easy to get lost in.

"They are getting more restless."

"Why exactly are they attacking?"

"I wish I knew..."

Sora stood at the base of the steps, listening in on Mai and Yuichi's conversation. Were they fighting Dreameaters? Just then, Sora heard a growling sound that he knew was no Dreameater. Peaking up over the edge of the stairway, Sora saw Mai and Yuichi dueling with a barely visible creature, his eyes widening as they struggled with it. Whatever they were fighting, it was not something to be taken lightly. Just as Mai cut it down, a number of Dreameaters sprang on the scene, Mai and Yuichi both assuming defensive stances against them as the creatures lurked about them. In a flash, the monsters sprang on the duo, Mai and Yuichi cutting them down easily, Sora smiling as they did. These two were obviously quite skilled.

"You there!" Mai called suddenly, spotting Sora. "What are you doing here?" Sora froze as she held her sharp blade in his direction. She wasn't someone Sora wanted to challenge to a fight.

"Hey there, Mai." Sora said nervously as he stepped up the stairs. "What's up-"

"The Nightmares came because of you, didn't they?" she said sharply, Sora and Yuichi's eyes widening.

"How do you know-" "Sora!" Mai said sharply. "What kind of person are you?" Sora let out a deep sigh. There was no point in hiding it. Stretching out his arm, he summoned his Keyblade, Mai's eyes growing wide as she stumbled back, falling backwards against the wall as she gaped at his weapon.

"Y-y-you... you're a Keyblade master?" she stammered, not blinking once as she stared at his weapon, thoughts of the youth from many years prior flooding into her head.

"A Key-what?" Yuichi asked as he looked to his exasperated friend.

"How do you know what a Keyblade is?" Sora asked as his weapon faded from his hand. Mai, however, seemed to be in a world of her own. She was clearly shaken by Sora's presence.

"Sora." she said in barely a whisper. "Please, I ask you, help us fend off these demons." she said with a bow, Sora unsure of what to think of all this. "The Nightmares appeared soon before you did, and they are a great hindrance along side of the demons who walk these halls." she explained. "Please, Sora, Yuichi and I need you."

Sora narrowed his eyes. It was plain to see there was more going on here than he knew. Why were Mai and Yuichi hunting demons? How did Mai know the Dreameaters were attracted to Sora. How did she know what a Keyblade was? There was much more going on here than what Sora saw at first glance.

"Yes. I'll help." Sora said.

Sora sat with Mai, Yuichi and Sayuri the next afternoon, the four of them eating delicious bento lunches.

"Sayuri made once especially for you, Sora." Sayuri said happily as Yuichi and Mai ate in silence. Sayuri seemed a mite odd to Sora, but he felt it would be rude to bring it up.

"You're a really good cook." Sora complimented as he ate. "So you meet here every day for lunch?"

"Yup, we sure do." Sayuri smiled, nodding. "Mai and Yuichi and Sayuri meet here every day." Yuichi and Mai finished their bentos quickly and nodded to the two of them, rising to leave.

"Mai and Yuichi sure have been busy lately." Sayuri observed as she ate slowly, Sora watching them leave down the steps. "Are you new student here, Sora?" she asked suddenly.

"N-no." Sora stammered. "I'm-I'm just passing through." Sayuri gave him a suspicious look.

"Well, Mai seems to think there's something about you." Sayuri said. "Sayuri can't help but wonder what Mai might think about you." Sora looked pensive. He couldn't afford to allow himself to seem suspicious. "Mai says there's something familiar about you, Sora... like someone she met a long long time ago... Sayuri thinks she's just looking for more friends." Sora looked at Sayuri to see her eyes twinkling. She seemed to be such a kindly person.

Sora and Sayuri finished their lunches in silence after that, Sora giving thanks to his new friend for the meal and starting off out the school and into the town. Strolling down the quaint neighborhood street, Sora soon reached the busy town streets from a few days prior, hungry for another taiyaki. As he entered the town square, however, he saw the short girl from the day before, looking quite pensive.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked her, making her jump as he approached her.

"Oh, no, I'm just..." she started, her voice trailing off as she looked at Sora. "You... you're not from around here, are you?" she asked, Sora's hair standing on end.

"I'm-I'm just passing through!" he parroted. "Why do you ask?" he said.

"You just seem... different." she said as she looked at Sora. Thinking desperately, Sore said the first thing that came to his mind.

"You seem different, too." Sora said, blushing as he realized how rude he sounded.

"What's that supposed to mean?" the girl whined, sounding like a little girl.

"Well, you're really tiny, like a little kid-" "Uguu! I'm a high schooler!" she whined, pouting cutely. "You're mean, just like Yuichi!" she said, folding her arms.

"You know Yuichi?" Sora asked. Ayu nodded.

"We used to play together when we were little." she explained. Suddenly, Sora's Dream eater, Meowow, appeared and and sniffed at Ayu. "Ah! A Dreameater!" she called, stumbling back and falling into a snowdrift, Meowow nuzzling her.

"Don't worry about, him, he's friendly." Sora explained. "I wonder why he just appeared out of the clear blue, though... he must really like you, Ayu."

"Uguu." she moaned, climbing from, the snowdrift. Smiling,she patted Meowow gently, the Dream eater closing its eyes lazily.

"Well, tell Yuichi I said I'll meet him tonight if you see him, Ayu." Sora said as he started off, Meowow following behind him, glancing back at Ayu periodically as she waved to the two of them. Walking past a park, Sora saw the same girl from earlier, wrapped under a warm cover. Sora stopped and watched as she marveled at the pretty fountain. Why wasn't she inside, out of the cold? After a while, he saw Yuichi come to join her, the two walking off and chatting. She must have been another friend of his. Sighing, Sora stopped for his taiyaki, his insides warming up in a heartbeat.

Sora waited outside the school that night. It was bitter cold and the moon cast an eerie glow over the schoolyard.

"Good evening, Sora." Mai said as she came to meet with him.

"Mai? Where's Yuichi?" Sora asked as Mai opened the school door. The whole place was completely unlocked the whole time?

"Yuichi comes late." she said quietly. "Besides... I need to talk to you." Sora blinked as she said this. "You're... a Keyblade Master, aren't you?" Sora bowed his head.

"No, I'm not a master yet..." he explained. "I'm taking my Mark of Mastery test... and I'm fighting my darkness." he said glumly. Mai said nothing. The two ascended the steps to the second floor, the hallway pitch black and silent.

"The demons have always attacked in the night, Sora." she explained. "When Yuichi came to the school, however, they became more restless... they attacked more frequently... and then the Nightmares came..." she said, bowing her head slightly.

"When did they come?" Sora asked as he sat against the wall, waiting for the Dreameaters to attack.

"They began coming a few days before you came, Sora." she said. "I don't know why, but they attack only here, too." Sora said nothing. He just sat there, ready to draw his Keyblade.

"You two are here already?"

The two turned to see Yuichi ascend the steps to meet with them.

"Hey, Yuichi." Sora said. "Just in time for the show."

"Sure... we should be so lucky." he sighed, holding his bokken close. He was certain this would not be an easy night.

Sora sighed as he strolled down the street in the sunny afternoon. They waited at the school all night and there was no encounter with any demon nor the Dreameaters. Did he scare them off? No matter, Sora thought with a sigh. Yuichi would be meeting with him shortly. He said something about spending the day with Sayuri earlier, but Sora was so sleepy at the time, he barely remembered a thing Yuichi or Mai said.

"Hello there."

Sora, jumping as he was shaken from his thoughts, turned to see the girl from the day before, smiling at him, wrapped under her cover as she sat on a park bench.

"Hi there." Sora said. "Are you waiting on Yuichi again?" She only shook her head.

"I'm just enjoying the day." she said quietly. "I'm sick and out of school for just a little bit." she explained. Sora raised an eyebrow at this.

"If you're sick, why are you out here in the cold?" he asked suspiciously.

"It's just such a pretty day today." she said. "And who knows. Maybe Yuichi will come visit again today." she said happily. Sora smirked at this.

"You must really like him." Sora said, the girl nodding.

"He's... he's a really good friend." Stretching, she rose to leave. Sora just stared blankly. He got the feeling there was more to her.

"Hey, what's your name?" he called. The girl turned slowly, smiling.

"It's Shiori."

Sora sat on the park bench as the sun set. He wondered what was taking Yuichi so long to show up. Just then, as the streetlamps began to flicker on, he saw Yuichi walking slowly for him, a deep look on his face.

"You okay?" Sora asked as Yuichi walked by. This was not the same Yuichi.

"Sayuri... really cares about Mai." he said. Sora felt it would be better not to ask, not noticing a tear drip down Yuichi's cheek. "We should head for the school now." he explained. Sora said nothing and followed Yuichi. The sky turned black quickly as they walked on in total silence.

"Mai and Sayuri both really seem to like you." Sora said, steam bursting from his mouth as he spoke.

"Mai says you make her feel happy." Yuichi said suddenly. "Like she's safe from the demons."

"You don't think she... likes me, do you, Yuichi?" Sora asked, his face reddening. Finally, athe two crossed a small bridge over icy water, Yuichi gave a laugh, seeming more like his usual self.

"I don't think Mai really likes anyone." he said. "Which is a shame, really... she's kinda pretty."

"Oh really." Sora taunted as they rounded a corner, the school coming into view. "Do you like Mai?" Sora taunted. Turning quickly, his face slightly pink, Yuichi opened his mouth to protest, but a scream came from the school just as they crossed the courtyard. Neither saying a word, the duo charged into the school, Sora summoning his Keyblade. As they raced through the corridors, they saw a light down a hallway leading to the gymnasium. Not wasting any time, the two hurried to see Mai collapsed on the floor,shuddering as she stared at the unconscious for of Sayuri.

The trio left the hospital, all of them feeling empty and hollow.

"It's good that Sayuri wasn't hurt too badly... the doctor said she should make a full recovery in just a few weeks if she stays in bed..." Yuichi said quietly. Mai had a murderous scowl on her face.

"So... Sayuri must have been curious as to what we were doing." Sora said. "She probably just wanted to help-" was all he said before Mai roared out and drew her sword, a bunch of Dreameaters springing around them. Sora and Yuichi drew their weapons and stated off to fight the beasts, but Mai was in such a craze, she tore them all to pieces in barely seconds, but it didn't stop there. Turning, glaring at Sora, she lunged for him, completely blinded by her fury.

"YOU!" she screeched at the top of her lungs, swinging for Sora with all of her might. Blocking from the shoulder, Sora held her at bay just barely. She was incredibly strong.

"You're a Keyblade Master!" she spat. "You're supposed to protect everything, aren't you!?" Sora shoved her back, Yuichi calling for both of them to stop. "That's what he said, the boy from before, all those years ago!" Jumping high, she swung down hard at Sora, striking with earth-shattering force. "Why didn't you save Sayuri!? Why didn't you kill the demons!? Why didn't you bring my friend back!?" she roared. Sora had to stop this. Jumping back, Sora threw his Keyblade in a Strike Raid, knocking her sword from her hands. As she scampered for her blade, Sora stepped on it and held his Keyblade for her. Her face covered in tears, she seized Sora's Keyblade and held it for her throat. "Sora, please, don't let anyone suffer because of me anymore-"

"Don't lose yourself, Mai!" Sora said sharply, his Keyblade disappearing as he seized the front of Mai's uniform. "This isn't the Mai who fought those demons! This isn't the Mai Sayuri cares about!This isn't the Mai we stood beside because we believed in her!" Sora snapped, shoving Mai backward into the snowy street. Mai sniffled and shuddered as she looked up at him.

"Mai." Yuichi said,stepping up beside Sora. "If you really want us all to be good and done with this, then let's go to the school tonight and let's not leave until we finally kill the demons once and for all!"

Mai sobbed as she sat there in the snow before them. For some reason, Sora thought she looked like a small child... it almost felt like a memory...

"I don't ever want anyone to hurt because of me ever again." Mai sobbed. "I don't want to lose anyone every again."

Sora and Yuichi both knew she was ready, just like them. Taking his foot from her sword, Mai seized it once more and rose to stand beside them.

"By the way," Sora said as the trio began off to the school "I'm not a master."

Sora, Yuichi and Mai all stood in the middle of the second floor hallway of the high school. All three of them had their weapons drawn. The trio could feel them encroaching around the school. The Nightmares and the demons were coming for them.

It was pure silence. Not even wind could be heard outside. Sora had been in several dire situations before, but this was different.

"Yuichi." Mai said quietly. "It wants you."

Before Sora could say a word, he felt himself thrown against the wall hard. Barely visible, the quivering outline of some kind of entity shone in the moonlight. Turning, Mai and Yuichi cleaved down scores of Dreameaters. As Sora struggled with the demon, he saw more and more Dreameaters shatter the windows and flood into the hallway and even more tear through the ventilating ducts in the ceiling and walls. They were working in perfect synchronization with the demons. Kicking hard, Sora managed to force the demon back somewhat, and swinging his Keyblade for it, he managed to break free. Turning, Mai rushed for the creature, another translucent demon stalking through the hallway as she charged.

"Sora! Take the Nightmares!" she called, Sora nodding as he fired a Ragnarok for the growing army of Dreameaters, destroying them as Yuichi forced a number of the crawling creatures out of the window, crashing down into the courtyard below. Turning to watch Mai, Sora watched with his mouth wide open as she gracefully twirled through the air like a gymnast or a ballerina, slicing the two demons down. Smiling, not turning to see Yuichi cut down the last of the Dreameaters, Sora gasped and rushed to her as Mai fall to her knees.

"Mai! What's- WHAT!?"

Sora stared in shock as he saw a bruise materialize on her shin. It made his hair stand on end.

"What's happening to you, Mai?" Yuichi breathed as he came up beside Sora.

"It happened... when I killed the first demon." Mai said quietly, wincing as she climbed to her feet.

"Do you think it's the demons trying to hurt you?" Sora asked.

"I don't know... but I can't let the last one get away." she said quietly.

As the trio continued through the halls (Mai hobbling on occasion), they stopped suddenly, hearing a sound behind them. Turning, they saw a gigantic, multicolored mantis-like Dreameater, squirming as it flexed its giant pincers for them, it's lower body a gigantic spinning disk. Just as they were about to rush it, Mai turned to see the final demon at the end of the hall, shimmering in the moonlight.

"I think we're screwed." Yuichi said with a laugh. "But if we die now, we die cool." Sora huffed in amusement as the two shot for the other, causing the whole hallway to explode, the school wall blown to bits, the bitter winter night air rushing into corridor. As Sora clamored back from the wreckage, Yuichi fell screaming into a snowbank, groaning painfully as the demon shot down for him, tearing a crater in the courtyard as Yuichi scrambled away. Sora, however, stared down the mantis. Narrowing his eyes, Sora turned to see Mai unconscious from the explosion. Rushing for her, he managed to save her from being torn down by the Nightmare's sweeping claw, although it caused the school floor to collapse under him, Sora sliding down the wreckage as he held Mai close. Rolling into the snowy courtyard, Sora watched as Yuichi grappled with the demon. Immediately, however, the Nightmare rushed for him, Sora blocking it before it could sweep into Yuichi.

"Dammit, Mai!" Sora growled. "This is all because you were too arrogant... too selfish... too full of yourself..." Finally, it dawned on both Sora and Yuichi (the latter turning to the Keyblade wielder). "This never would have happened if you had just asked for help." Sora said quietly as he dove under the sweeping claw of the mantis Nightmare. "This never would have happened if you weren't afraid." Yuichi said as his face fell. Before either Sora or Yuichi could ponder this anymore, Mai shot at blinding speed at sliced both the Nightmare and the demon down, a powerful wind blowing with the sweep of her sword. Sora and Yuichi stared in awe at her. She was such an amazing person. Just as the two stood up, they hurried for their friend as she collapsed to the ground.

"Finally... free..." Mai breathed, her eyes quivering. Sora's eyes welling, he helped Yuichi heave Mai onto his shoulders and helped the two of them into the school out of the cold.

"Please... get me something yummy..." Mai said with a small smile, not sounding like herself.

"Sure." "We'll get you something."

Sora and Yuichi turned to leave, walking out of the school together.

"Well, that sure was refreshing." Sora huffed as the two made their way to convenient store. Sora bought a bag of edamame seeds and chopped on them as Yuichi bought a deluxe size ramen bowl.

"So I guess this means Mai can live a normal, happy life now, huh?" Sora said. Yuichi smiled and nodded.

"She's been nothing but a good friend to me since I've been here." he said. "I think she deserves this." Just then, Sora spotted a pair of fluffy bunny ears in Yuichi's bag.

"You mess around in your spare time?" Sora asked.

Yuichi turned with a look of confusion, but saw the bunny ears out of the corner of his eye.

"Oh, these?" he said, pulling them from his bag. "My cousin Nayuki gave them to me." he explained. "I told her about Mai and she suggested giving these to her." Sora couldn't help but laugh. The thought of Mai wearing ridiculous bunny ears seemed oddly fitting to him. As the two laughed and huffed in the cold, making their way back to the school, they saw that Mai was nowhere to be found. Not even in the main hall. Where could she be?

"I hope we didn't miss a demon." Yuichi growled. "Or a Dreameater." Sora added. Suddenly, Meowow appeared next to them, sniffing the air.

"It's one of them!" Yuichi called. Sora, however, threw his hands out.

"He's my Dreameater. He's friendly!" he said. Before either could protest any further, however, Meowow shot off into the school, clearly seeking out Mai. Sora and Yuichi charged for him huffing as they tried to keep up with the little Dreameater, but suddenly, the whole school melted away and they were in a field of wheat, a cool summer wind rushing past them. Looking around, they saw a tiny shape rush through the field in the sunset. As she came to them, Sora looked on as Yuichi looked intothe little girl's yes.

"What's your name?" she asked. Sora said nothing as Yuichi walked closer to her.

"My name is Yuichi." he said smiling. "What's yours?"

"It's Mai." she explained. Sora smiled as the two giggled and rushed off into the field laughing.

"Hey, wait for me!" Sora said, his light armor clanging as he ran them. The trio played happily, Sora looking for them as hey hid from him in the overgrown field.

"C'mon out, would you?" Sora called as he looked for them, hearing them giggle and run through the wheat around him. Finally, he saw something. A pair of fluffy bunny ears poking about the wheat. Mai must have been wearing them. Running for her, he spotted her and Yuichi both, the two screaming and giggling as he raced for them, catching them both as they came to a tumbling stop.

"You two are such good friends." little Mia said. "It's nice to meet you two."

"It's nice to meet you too." young Yuichi said. "Same here." Sora added, lounging back in the field, his lightweight armor clanging.

"Y'know... nobody wants to be friends with me." Mai explained. "I can make people feel better... I have a kind of power that can can save people... and they just got scared and got mad at me an' my mommy." she explained, both Sora and Yuichi staring at her. "Mommy says one day someone might be my friend... can you be my friend? You two?"

"Yup!" Yuichi said with a smile. "Sure can!" Sora added. Mai smiled as a great wind suddenly blew through the field.

"I can help people around me!" she called. "But... but..." she said, her voice trailing off. "But people don't like me because I can help people..."

"Don't be sad because of that."

The girl turned her face to Sora. She had never heard anyone talk to her like that, save one...

"You... you're not scared of me, even though I can help everyone?" she asked.

"Why would anyone ever be scared of that?" Sora asked. "You should never be ashamed of being able to help those around you." he said proudly. "My friends taught me that themselves."

The little girl stared with her mouth wide open. Who was this new boy?

"Ever since that boy left, monsters have come here!" she lied, thinking of her old friend who left for the season. "They need to go away so he and I can play again!" Sora brushed his hand through his head.

"If there are any entities, I will smite them!" Sora said proudly. "I am a Keyblade Master!"

The little girl rolled her eyes at this and began to walk through the fields as Ventus began to show off his prowess as a Keyblade wielder, dramatically swinging his weapon this way and that.

The years flew by and Mai watched helplessly as the wheat field was cleared away by a construction crew. As she entered middle school, a new high school was erected where she used to play. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She had forgotten the wheat field, forgotten Yuichi, but not the lie she told, the lie she had begun to believe years prior.

Sora and Yuichi found Meowow motioning them to enter a classroom. As the two rounded the corner, they saw Mai standing in the moonlight, clutching her sword.

"Mai-"

"Yuichi, Sora, I cannot protect you any longer." she said sorrowfully.

"Mai, these demons were never real." Sora said.

"These demons were your powers just trying to get out... you believed a lie you told..." Mai only glared at them. "You wanted me to come back... but I had to leave for school-"

"The only friend I ever had were two boys who ran away because they feared me." she said blankly.

"Mai, think back." Sora said. "Every time you killed demon, you hurt your own power, your own self." Stepping closer slightly, Sora reached his hand out for her. "There's no need to fight... no need to lie anymore... no need to dream about your friend anymore."

"Mai, do you remember this?" Yuichi said as he put the pair of bunny ears on her head. "We can be friends, just like we used to." he said smiling. "Please, put your sword down... accept me and Sayuri and everyone... we're your friends."

Mai's eyes widened as Yuichi said this. Was she really about to join them both? Was she really about to lay her sword down at last?

"Yuichi... Ventus..." she said, her eyes welling with tears again, the bunny ears drooping. "Thank you for everything... I mean it,"she said,her voice shuddering as her lips quivered. "... truly I do..." Before Sora or Yuichi could say a word, Mai turned her sword on herself and ran herself through, falling to her knees as a tiny dibble of blood seeped from her mouth.

"MAI!" "SHIT!" "NO!" "GET UP, DAMMIT!"

Both Sora and Yuichi cradled the motionless Mai, the two sniffling and tearful. Sora shuddered away as Yuichi sobbed for their fallen friend. Just then, they felt a familiar warmth. They were both in the wheat field once more.

"You really care about her, don't you?" a voice said, Sora and Yuichi turning to see what looked like Mai when she was a child, dressed in a tiny sundress.

"We're sorry." Sora said. "I'm not Keyblade master-" "Worry not." the little Mai said. "She cares deeply for the both of you."

"Can she be saved?" Yuichi breathed.

"You still want her to come back?" she asked. The two nodded silently. "If you wish, and wish with all your might," she explained "maybe... just maybe she will hear you... do you really accept her with her powers?"

"Of course we do." Sora said.

"She's our friend... she always will be." Yuichi said. The tiny Mai smiled and began to fade away.

"Very well... I think she wants to be a part of your world, too." she said, fading more and more. "I am her hope... and she wants you, and Sayuri, and everyone else." she said as they found themselves back in the classroom. Meowow licked at her cheek sympathetically. "Give her a reason to live, Yuichi... don't let her down." the young Mai's voice rang out. Just then, Mai began to strain as she began to wake up, her wound completely gone.

"Mai!" Yuichi breathed.

"We thought you were gone!" Sora breathed.

"Sora..." she said slowly "I... I'm not, thanks to you... Keyblade master."

Sora and Yuichi both visited Mai and Sayuri in the hospital the next day. They were both happy to see them both.

"We should be out in no time." Mai said with a smile.

"Sayuri thanks you both." Sayuri said cheerfully. Sora ran his hair through his head.

"You said you were just passing through, right?" Mai said, her smile fading with Yuichi and Sayuri. Sora nodded slowly. "Well... maybe you can come back some day." she said kindly. Sora nodded.

"If there's one thing I never forget," he said "it's my friends." Sayuri smiled as Yuichi held out his hand for his to shake. After obliging, Sora nodded to his close friends, Yuichi tossing him a small baked treat from Nayuki. Walking out of the hospital, Sora realized he never actually met Nayuki. Before he could ponder this anymore, he tiny Mai appeared before him once more, her sundress fluttering in the wind.

"You're a Keyblade master, right?" she asked. Sora shook his head.

"I'm just a Keybearer." he explained, but the apparition shook her head as well.

"You've done so much good for more than just Mai." she said. "You're a Keyblade master by me." she said, Sora blushing. "I can lead you to the sleeping Keyhole." she explained. "It's what you've come for, right?" Sora nodded and hurried as she began to rush off into the city.

Sora stood in the center of the school's courtyard. Mai's hope had disappeared for a while now, leaving him to unlock the Keyhole alone. Just as he was about to summon his Keyblade to seal it however he heard someone hiss his name. He turned his head to see the teenage Xehanort standing under a tree.

"You!"

"I thought it would be kind to warn you...you are about to do these people a great disservice." Teen Xehanort said smoothly.

"What do you mean?" Sora demanded, his blood boiling.

"This world was once almost perfectly balanced between light and darkness, but the Heartless changed that nearly a decade ago. This world cannot survive another Heartless invasion. Do you want to be responsible for such a thing?"

"Why should I believe a word you say?!" Sora spat. "I know you, Xehanort! No matter what form you take, every word that comes outta your mouth is a lie!"

"Perhaps..." Teen Xehanort said indifferently.

"Or perhaps everything you believe in, Sora...is a lie." said a familiar voice.

Sora spun around to a sight that caused a jolt of panic to run through his heart...Xemnas!

"You...what do you mean?" he breathed.

"Your life, your memories, your data and your dreams. The bits and bytes that have made up your life thus far...can you be certain that they are truly yours and not simply copies of another's?"

"Listen!" Sora growled. "I am ME! Understand?! I am the original!"

"Your dreams may be telling you otherwise." said Xemnas with a morbid smile.

"Perhaps you should listen to them for a change." Teen Xehanort sneered and with that, he and Xemnas shrouded themselves in darkness and vanished, leaving Sora alone.

Note: This was my partner, ShaD.23's chapter