Chapter 4: Trial 1: Traverse Town Troubles

{Disney Castle, 2:02am}

The cool tiles of the hallway within the Disney castle reminded Kairi that she was barefoot as she walked a bit up the hall, and to the left to a door that was white with blue detailing on it. Aquamarine eyes looked at the brass doorknob, and then to the name upon the door on a brass plaque: Sora. Kairi looked down, and then once more to the door as she reached out slowly and knocked gently upon it, wondering if she'd be left there, or if she'd be let in. Taking in a deep breath, she knocked again, and finally, a sound of a lock turning caught her attention. Tired sky-blue eyes looked her over, and slowly, the boy took in a deep breath, and sighed a bit as his sleep-addled brain tried to validate things.

"Kairi? What are you doing here? It's late," Sora asked her, and Kairi bit her lip.

"Well….I…wanted to stay with you….um…" aquamarine looked to the boy, and a deep breath was heard again.

"Okay…Kairi…"

The girl walked into his room, as he stepped aside and shut the door behind her. Kairi looked to the boy as he started walking towards the bed before sitting down on it. The red-haired girl looked at the boy, who patted the spot next to him, and beckoned the girl as she walked slowly over to the bed and sat next to the boy as an arm wrapped around her shoulders, and pulled her closer while she closed her eyes. Sora always had the scent of the islands during the early spring, when the air was crisp, cool, and peaceful. Because of that, Kairi found herself always coming to him, seeking the sense of comfort she got from not only his scent, but his warmth, and his touch. Sora pulled her closer, and wrapped her in his arms as she slowly started to fall asleep, and only felt herself being jostled when he moved her to lay on the bed. Aquamarine eyes opened, and glanced at the chestnut-haired boy as he laid back down, and she snuggled up to him, before sighing as she looked him in the eye.

"Sora?" the girl's voice roused him faintly.

"Hmm?" she leaned forward and placed a kiss to his forehead.

"Good luck…tomorrow…." He laughed faintly.

"No…today…silly…"

"Hmmh….alright….I wish you well…Sora…" a faint smile came to his features as he pulled her closer, and look a deep breath as he rested his head atop hers, and the two slowly fell asleep.

{Disney Castle: 5:45am}

Kairi's eyes blinked open faintly as the sky lightened, and the rustle of fabric caught her attention. Aquamarine eyes glanced around the room, before looking to the side of the room near the window, where Sora stood looking at the window, as she sat up and found herself glancing him over momentarily. Sora was dressed in a pair of pants that were mostly red, while black covered the bottoms, and they were detailed in white lines at the border between the black and the red, while also being lined at the pockets in white as well. His shirt was black, and faintly, she could make out that his belt was the same blue one he'd always worn. His shoes were a little different, mostly yellow, with white straps, and black sides with dark soles. She stretched a bit, and moved to sit up where she caught Sora's attention.

A warm smile lit his features as he stood there, and her eyes landed to the difference in his attire, despite him lacking his short-sleeved, hooded jacket or his typical gloves as he stood there, watching her with a warm smile. She took another look at him, and then frowned when she noticed something off about the shirt he wore. Directly at the center, and spanning the front of the shirt, was a white, large X that set her on edge faintly.

"Good morning, Kairi," Sora stated as he looked her over.

"Morning, um…what's with the attire change?" the boy looked himself over.

"Oh, this? I'm just getting ready for the exam. These clothes appeared last night in my drawer, so I just assumed Master Yen Sid probably dosed them with magic so that Riku and I could get between worlds easier," he stated as he looked at the clothing.

"Are you sure?" Sora came over to her, and laughed as he settled himself next to her.

"Yea, so, are you ready to see me and Riku off?" he questioned.

"Oh…I…yea…I am." the boy raised an eyebrow at her.

"Kairi….you aren't scared about this? Are you?" Sora asked her.

"I…to be honest….Sora….I'm scared…" the boy looked at her slowly before taking her hands.

"Kairi, listen, I promised you I'd come back, and I will keep that promise," he said.

"I…I know, but I'm just…." He shook his head.

"No, listen to me! I am going to come back to you, and I won't be long, okay?" he inquired as he looked into her eyes.

"Okay, promise me…you'll kick some ass, and come back a Master….alright?" a bright, jovial smile came to his features.

"You bet I will!"

{Main Court Yard: 5:56am}

Sora and Riku stood in the castle court-yard, awaiting Master Yen Sid's arrival to give them the gateway to the first world, and to detail their first trial. The others were present, waiting to see what would await them as a portal opened and Master Yen Sid appeared with a small book bound in leather in his grasps. Sora and Riku tried to reason what these details were, but found themselves slightly confused as they looked at the book, while the wizard looked around them, and the group found themselves tense as his hard eyes locked onto them. Master Yen Sid knew that the two boys were faintly anxious – he would question the sanity of anyone who wasn't nervous of this – and could only silently hope that they could pull off another series of miracles like they both had done before. The aged Wizard recalled the prior Mark of Mastery Exams he'd given in fondness, as his eyes trailed from cyan ones, to sky-blue ones that gleamed in both determination, and faint curiosity, and excitement.

"Good morning, Sora, Riku," he stated as he looked to them.

"Good morning, Master Yen Sid." The entire group became faintly tense as the two boys bowed faintly, and the wizard shook his head.

"It is good to see that you both are well rested, and prepared for the exam's first trial," the wizard said calmly.

"We are…" Master Yen Sid nodded.

"Good, I will not waste time with trivialities, and will begin with the assignment of your first trial," he informed them.

"Okay…" the wizard eyed the others, and then looked to the two teenagers.

"Your first exam will take place in Traverse Town; it is key that you use the following details to your advantage," he clarified.

"What exactly do we need to do in Traverse Town, Master Yen Sid?" inquired Riku as he looked to Sora, who was remaining oddly silent.

"That, is very simple: you must clear one of the sectors." The two boys gave him confused looks at that.

"What?" they asked him in unison amongst the others while the wizard smiled.

"Yes, it is actually basic. The town has been filled with creatures known as Nightmares…."

Master Yen Sid materialized a pudgy, hamster-looking thing that was black in color with a gothic heart shape that bore bat-like wings on its chest. It had red X-shapes in its eyes, and while it was colorful, it was also remarkably discomforting to witness.

"These Nightmares are creatures who devour good dreams, and have been ransacking the town for a few days now."

"How do you get rid of them, then?" Sora asked the wizard, and the man raised an eyebrow at his lack of speech previously, before taking in a deep breath.

"Well, that's where the Dream Eaters come in…" another garble-hamster-like creature was summoned, but brighter, pinks, blues, and yellows adorned it as it rolled around and wagged its tail as it rolled around, and hopped in place. On its chest was a mark similar to the other one, but smoother, and less gothic.

"Dream Eaters, huh?" Sora crouched down next to Riku to look at the critter as it skipped over to Sora and ran around him.

"I have given you each four Dream Eaters to summon, and because of that, I have also given you a few guides to help you out." The two looked at one another, before turning their attention back to Master Yen Sid.

"Guides?" the wizard nodded.

"Yes, now, Sora, you'll be meeting a boy named Neku Sakuraba in the town square near the Treasure Shop in the Fountain District. As for you Riku, you'll also be meeting a young man named Beat, who will be meeting you in the Market District." The two nodded.

"What else?" Master Yen Sid hummed in faint thought, and smiled.

"Look for a young man named Joshua, he can direct you on where you need to go on your trial through the two separate districts," Master Yen Sid stated as he looked at them.

"Alright….but what's the trial?" the wizard nodded.

"You'll be dropped off within Traverse Town, and split up into two districts, clear the districts, and make it to your check point in the allowed time. The two of you will meet up, and clear the third district together. Joshua will give you both the details further, and I hope you two can maintain the rules." Sora raised an eyebrow.

"Rules?" the wizard nodded.

"Yes, the rules are simple: clear the town, work together, do not involve civilians unless you have no option, make it to the check-point in the allowed time, and make it to the check point when the timer runs out. Those are the basic rules," he stated.

"Wait…how long do we have? Traverse Town has three small districts, and five large ones…"

"You have 1 hour to complete your task, and come to the check point. Which is the Fountain in the Town Square. You will be in districts two and three, and meet up in district one," Master Yen Sid told them.

"Okay…if we fail?" the wizard gave them a stern look.

"If you fail to clear the town in the allowed time, or miss the check, point you will either be given a reduced score, or not pass the trial," he explained bluntly.

"Alright, then, let's get this started."

Master Yen Sid opened a portal, and the two of them waved goodbye, before walking through the portal. As Sora vanished behind Riku into the portal, Kairi found herself tense: she had a bad feeling. Something in her gut told her that both of them were in danger, and none of the others were aware. Kairi knew that Master Yen Sid had set up a means to help both Sora and Riku if something went awry, but she wasn't as secure in that plan as the others seemed to be, and while she trusted Master Yen Sid, she wasn't sure what would happen if his plan didn't go smoothly. A hand was placed upon her shoulder, and she looked at the wizard.

"No worries, Princess Kairi, they will both be safe. I swear it," he said.

"I hope so, Master Yen Sid…"

"Sora….Riku….come back to me safe, okay?"

{Traverse Town: 7:00am}

Sora felt the ground give out from under his feet, as Riku and him were tossed away from one another, and into a district. The moment they'd stepped out of the portal, the two of them had been jerked to the side by something, and thrown into the district they were meant to be in, while they tried to recover from the sudden vertigo. Sora shook himself out as he tried to reason what was happening as he stood at the center of the district two of Traverse Town. The streets were barren except for a few crates, flowers from an outdoor vendor, and the faint gleam of gaslights outside of buildings. Sky-blue eyes looked around in curiosity before Sora took in a deep breath, and walked forward to where he knew a market area was located, and was much broader. Sora looked around him as he tried to locate something familiar, but became faintly confused as he took note to the fact that this area had changed since he'd last been to Traverse Town.

"Where is everyone?"

"HEY! WATCH OUT!" a scratchy voice called out to Sora, who turned on his heels as a series of black and dark-colored creatures came barreling after him.

"That's just great…"

Looking at the orange-haired boy running after the creatures, Sora took little time to consider what was happening as he drew his Keyblade, and swung at the creatures, while trying to keep them clear of the housing areas of District Two. The Silver Kingdom Key clinked, gleaming in the dull light, as he slashed through the creatures. The orange-haired teen grabbed a light-post and swung around, magic lighting up around him as he jumped forward, and snatched one of the creatures down, before kicking another to take them down along-side Sora who jumped only to dodge a strike, and then brought his Keyblade down upon the head of the elephant-looking monster. Sora felt someone nudge his back, and looked to the orange-haired boy who was up against him while the two of them looked at the monsters still around them.

"What are these things?" Sora asked as he slashed at one of them, and it vanished.

"These are Nightmares. Can you summon anything?" sky-blue looked at dark purple.

"Yea, I can…what do you need?" the boy looked around.

"Something bigger than that Tyrannosaurs Rex coming at us!" the boy jumped up, the purple gleam gathering around him again as he struck one of the smaller ones, and Sora looked at the dinosaur looming near them.

"Oh….that…well….this isn't exactly fair…" the boy jumped back down.

"Fair? This is part of your Mark of Mastery Examination!" Sora jumped back with the boy.

"Okay…"

Sora looked at the creature, and took a deep breath before focusing on something he needed to summon. Using his few usable summons, he managed to pull a single object forward as the gleams wore off, and he jumped up before cutting a flip and landing atop the wheel of the object as the orange-haired teen jumped into the thing with him as he spun it and the colors altered from blue, and purple, to red, and yellow as sparks flew off the side, and Sora turned the object so it would ricochet off the wall and down the alleyway, to where they were out in the open, and clear from the closing walls of their previous area. The orange-haired teen looked to him in shock, and then tisked as he looked at what they had darted away from the dinosaur Nightmare in.

"What the hell is this?" he asked. Sora shot him a withered glare.

"Just shut up and turn the wheel!" they spun away from the Nightmare as it roared in anger.

"WHAT IS THIS?!" Sora shot him a glare.

"Are you trying to impersonate Jack Skellington? If so, you're horrible at it." dark-purple eyes glowered.

"Just answer the question," said the orange-haired teen.

"It's a damn teacup, okay?! It's a summon!" sky-blue and dark-purple narrowed at one another.

"This is a damn pathetic summon," he stated.

"You got a better idea?!"

The Nightmare roared, and Sora jerked the wheel causing sparks to fly as the creature growled, and he looked to the orange-haired teen with a glower befitting a demon. Purple eyes grew wide as he took the wheel, and Sora stood before bracing his foot at the rim of the teacup as he summoned one of his other Keyblades. Blue tendrils rose up around him as he aimed the Keyblade like a gun, and with a loud snap, a blue bullet shot from the end of the weapon and struck the Nightmare. The golden Keyblade clinked, the lamp at the end of the keychain rattling with the force of the shot, as the orange-haired teen stared wide-eyed in shock at the sight of the magic crackling around the Keyblade as the Nightmare collapsed with a rumble to the cobblestone ground as the teacup stopped spinning. Sora slumped down into the seats that were formed into the teacups, as the orange-haired boy looked at the chestnut-haired teen sitting across from him.

"What the hell was that?" he asked. Sora looked at the Nightmare as it disintegrated.

"Well….magic of course."

"Magic…right…so…which one are you?" he inquired.

"Oh! Sorry, I'm Sora Seiren. What's your name?" the boy looked him over.

"Neku Sakuraba, I'm your guide, and you'll also be aiding me, as well," the now-identified Neku stated.

"Nice to meet you Neku, and thanks for the heads-up back there." Purple eyes looked him over.

"You're not what I was expecting. I got handed this paper when I was given the job by Master Yen Sid," Neku stated as he held up a paper from his pocket.

"What's on that?" the other sighed.

"Sora Hikari Seiren, sixteen years old, Keyblade Bearer, from Destiny Islands. Lives at the Disney Castle. I hate to say it, but I thought you were a girl," Neku informed him. Sora groaned as he slumped in his seat.

"Yea, I kinda have heard that before. What's with the face?" Neku looked at the paper again.

"Is Hikari really your middle name?" he inquired. Sky-blue eyes looked him over.

"It is…something to do with a tradition in my mom's family. Named after elements, or things that come from the elements." Neku hummed.

"Vanish this teacup back to the Mad Hatter's tea party so we can start clearing this area, and get to the Fountain. We have an hour," he stated.

"One hour…dammit! This is going to be hell!" Neku looked him over.

"Come on, Hikari, we gotta get a move on," Neku said as he jumped out of the teacup, while Sora vanished it and now stood before him as he looked around the area.

"There aren't any Nightmares around here…." The orange-haired teen nodded.

"Yea…we got those, there are plenty more. I hope your friend is doing better," Neku told him.

"Riku? Yea, he's nothing to be worried about. He's perfectly capable of beating this trial," Sora stated with a smile.

"He's really strange….this is going to be interesting."

{Traverse Town: District Three: 7:10am}

Riku rolled away, next to a blonde man in a black hat with a skull upon it. They had just met, and were left less-than-happy about their current situation: fighting a hoard of creatures that looked as if they'd been pulled out of a fun house attraction at a carnival. Riku raised Way to the Dawn and struck one of the lower ones, while his partner battled a larger one with a type of magic that allowed him to fight in the air. Riku held an arm out to the right and focused, which formed a gleam of light and a creature that favored a tiger appeared, just as colorful as the one they were fighting, but lacking the dark blues and blacks. Riku turned and attacked with the creature, while he looked onward at the hoard in hopes that this wasn't too much for any of them to handle in the first trial.

"Beat! Watch it!" Riku called as the blonde jumped.

"Bring it, yo! I gots this!" the blonde-haired man stated this as he darted away, and Riku turned to take out another Nightmare before hearing a crash go off not far from them followed by two shouts as another series of sparks, magic, and dust flitted into the air.

"Looks like Sora is having fun," Riku said as he looked at the flare of blue magic that was specific to his friend. The magic always had the lines of what looked like the score sections of a music sheet, and it made him wonder what that meant exactly. A torrent of them flew into the air with the sound of a clatter that resonated throughout the area, and caused Beat to pause.

"Hot damn! Is that your friend doing that?" he looked to Riku, who laughed.

"Yea, Sora, he's an interesting person." Beat whistled in surprise as he looked at the flurry of blue magic.

"That's epic, yo! He must be pretty strong," he said.

"You could say that Sora is stronger than me." Beat looked to him.

"Well, that's gotta be an interesting home life for you all," the blonde told him.

"Yep, we get into banters all the time. We throw out insults, clash, and do a lot of insane crap, but he's like my brother."

"Wow, I'd like to meet him," Beat stated.

"Well then, get me through this district, and we'll get to fight with him, and whoever is helping him wreck the second district."

"Sounds like a plan to me!" the other jumped into the fray, and Riku laughed.

"This is actually kinda…fun!"

{Traverse Town: 7:30am}

A loud rumble came from the two entries of District Two, and District Three as the sound of water from the fountain was heard in the distance near the corner of the plaza. The sound of heavy footfalls came through the alleyways, alongside lighter, much faster ones as Sora and Neku raced through the secondary district's entrance just a few seconds before Riku and Beat did the same. The four of them raced through the area, crossing paths as they ran the creatures together and the two Keyblade wielders drew their weapons, and prepared to attack. Riku glanced to Sora, who smirked as he locked eyes with the creatures, before holding out one hand as a Dream Eater appeared around them. Moving next to Riku's tiger, stood a large, colorful wolf that howled as it crouched, and prepared to attack. Beat and Neku prepared to fight alongside Sora and Riku, who, with one glance, nodded to one another, before smirking as they looked to the others.

"Did you have to break Traverse Town?" asked Riku. Sora laughed with a bright smile as he braced himself for the next attack.

"I didn't….Rexie did." A loud, crashing roar was heard, followed by heavy, thudding footsteps.

"I'm guessing that's the dino, huh?" asked Beat.

"Yep….there was more than one, apparently." The colorful Tyrannosaurus Rex loomed over them in a menacing manner, causing the four people to brace themselves.

"What about kicking this thing back to the time it jumped out of?" asked Neku.

"That's not a bad idea, but…that thing isn't the only one…" another roar was heard.

"Sora? How long do we got?" sky-blue looked to cyan eyes.

"Thirty minutes," Sora stated as he drew his Keyblade, and prepared for the attacks that were to come.

"Let's make that twenty more than we need!"

The four charged into the hoard of Nightmares coming their way as they began to make a dent in the creatures. A bear-shaped one was sliced in two as Riku summoned a tiger Dream Eater, and Sora jumped back next to the other to bring out a wolf one. The two Dream Eaters raced forward, attacking at the sides alongside Neku, and Beat as they started to get further down the way towards the fountain where Sora could almost see a set of shadows, looming at the sides of the fountain that caused him to become tense as he prepared himself for another series of attacks as the creatures attempted to chomp down upon Riku before he dodged out of the way. Neku and Beat jumped into attack with their magic gleaming around their bodies as, Sora and Riku tag-teamed the monsters nearest to them.

The moment the four of them made contact, it became a frenzied series of motions, magic, and sparks from metal hitting claws or teeth as they struggled against the Nightmares, and slowly cut into the small hoard of large monsters, until finally, Neku jumped up and bounded over one of the smaller Nightmare's heads, landing a sharp kick to the base of the skull as Sora dove forward, and slashed the creature across the chest. Riku dove in with Beat, and with a combined effort, took down the last of the two remaining Nightmares as the large blare of a timer started going off around them like an air-raid siren. Sky-blue, cyan, dark brown, and deep purple eyes looked around the area as the two shadows loomed over them, and panic set in as Sora drew his Keyblade, and Riku looked at the form of a large, dragon-like Nightmare, and an even larger bat-like one.

"Dammit!"

"How much time do we have?" Sora looked to Riku, and then to their partners.

"You have fifteen minutes before the challenge is over!" Neku stated.

"Okay, Sora, care to team up with me?" the chestnut-haired teen nodded.

"Got it, Neku, can you and the other guy back us up?" he asked.

"My name is Beat! And I sure as hell can!"

"Good. Come on, we don't have any more time to spare…"

The two Keyblades charged the dragon-like creature, as Neku and Beat jumped forward, the Nightmares roared and howled while they braced themselves with their magic against the colorful beasts. Sora looked at the monster as it batted its wings, and the other gave a sonic-sounding howl as he glanced towards Riku, who had just jumped back a few seconds after himself, and then his eyes looked to the Keyblade in his right hand. Riku blocked another attack as Sora jumped back, and then ran forward to strike the Nightmare again, as they did their best against the dragon-type Nightmare. Neku and Beat struck a series of harsh blows to the bat type Nightmare, and the creature howled in pain as Riku rolled away as Sora looked to the creature as the air-raid siren sound increased. Part of Sora felt ever-so-slightly pained by the sound as he looked around him, and then to the monster, as it roared, and Sora braced himself by his childhood friend while the two creatures rounded on the four of them. Neku and Beat took in a deep breath each as their magic increased, and they ricocheted off a few of the building walls and directly into the chest, and head of the bat Nightmare before it fell. Riku, and Sora took note of the areas, and charged forward as the creature that remained howled, and Riku jumped up to strike it in the head, while Sora gathered magic at his feet, and used it to jump up higher and prepared to strike the beast in the head.

"GO BACK TO THE DAMN JURASSIC PARK YOU CAME FROM ALREADY!" Sora landed a sharp and heavy blow to the creature's head, and it roared in pain, before shattering into a series of stained glass shards.

The four of them hit the ground, and the siren grew almost painfully loud as they looked at the fountain where two girls stood, and a blonde boy did as well. The dark purple-gray eyes of the blonde were surprisingly calm as they raced forward, and he smiled. As Riku and Sora made it to the fountain, the siren cut-off, and the blonde waved to them as Neku and Beat ran towards them.

"Congratulations, you've passed the first trial. My name is Joshua, I have been the observer in your first trial of your Mark of Mastery Examination," Joshua stated.

"Okay, what's next?" Joshua smiled.

"Well, first, let me state this: you had two parts of this trial, and you both did splendidly. Neku Sakuraba and Bito Daisukenojo, had two partners that were awaiting them here, and you have actually helped them complete their own game, and because of that, you have passed the point of this trial: trust and teamwork," the blonde teen stated. Sora and Riku looked to Neku and Beat.

"So, those two girls are your partners?" they nodded.

"Yea, my little sister Rhyme," Beat stated.

"And my friend, Shiki Misaki," Neku explained.

"Misaki? That's Kairi's last name!" Riku smiled.

"Always thinking about her, huh?" Sora gave the silver-haired teen a glare.

"Would you stop pestering me about that?" cyan eyes gleamed in humor as Riku laughed a bit, and ruffled Sora's hair.

"Okay, so, Joshua, right? What's our next task?" Riku questioned.

"The next trial will send you to the Land of Dragons, where you will be pitted against the Nightmares in a single line form attack. This is the secondary part of the trial, and has another main focus: awareness and agility."

"Alright send us on! We're ready for whatever comes our way! Right, Riku?" sky-blue eyes looked to cyan, and Riku could only nod his head and smile.

"Right, send us on Joshua," he stated.

"NEKU!"

"BEAT!"

Momentarily, their attention was turned away as the red-haired girl and the little blonde girl jumped at the two boys. Neku was quick to return the hug from Shiki, and Rhyme was given a heartfelt embrace by her older brother as they were reunited in who knew how long. Sora smiled faintly at the scene as he recalled coming back to the Destiny Islands after so long, and felt warmth spread from his heart outwards through his body. It was something that made him feel as if he was happily at peace for just a moment, and then his attention was turned to a tug on his wrist. Sky-blue looked to grayish-brown, and he smiled as he crouched a bit down to the little girl's level.

"Thank you for getting my big brother to me, Sora, Riku," Rhyme said as she looked at the two of them.

"No problem, and don't worry, you don't have to thank us." She smiled as Riku got down to the same level as Sora, and she wrapped them both in a tight embrace.

"No! Thank you!" she stated with a laugh as she let go and ran back to her brother.

"Sora? Riku?" the two stood, and looked to Neku, who was smiling as he watched them.

"Yea, Neku?" a smirk traced his features as Shiki giggled.

"Do me a favor, ace this Mark of Mastery examination, and come and visit our world sometime, okay, you two?" he asked.

"Bring your friends, too!" Shiki's cheerful voice spoke to them, and they nodded.

"Right, we'll come by and visit sometime," Sora told them.

"Don't be strangers, now, I want to hear all about your insane adventures once you're both Keyblade Masters!" Neku's personality had lightened since earlier that morning, and now that it had, his excitement was somewhat relieving, and revitalizing for the two boys.

"Awh, Neku! You're so happy!" cheered Shiki.

"Well, are the two of you ready to go?" sky-blue, and cyan looked to amethyst-gray eyes.

"Yea, let's go," Riku stated.

"I've opened a portal to the next world, go on and step through the fountain." Sora and Riku stepped forward and started to walk into the portal, before glancing back at the others.

"See you in Shibuya," said Neku.

"Right…" Joshua smiled as he looked at the two.

"I wish you well, Sora Seiren and Riku Hirigaya…" with that, they faded through the portal, and the five teens watched the area vanish.

"This is going to be one fucked-up situation if Master Yen Sid doesn't have everyone prepared for whatever the hell that bastard is coming up with," Neku said.

"Agreed, so, we will be on the waiting list until then for the potential need to back them up."

"Right!"

{….}

Hurry, I'm fallin', I'm fallin'

{…..}

Author's Note: The first trial is over! Round two: The Land of Dragons, and a series of rickety bridges! Let me explain this first trial:

The entire trial was based upon trust and teamwork, and because Sora and Riku trusted both Neku and Beat as a partner, despite not knowing them, they were able to assist one another and reach the end-goal. For Sora and Riku, their goal was reaching the fountain, and for Neku and Beat, their goals were getting to Rhyme and Shiki before the timer ended. Thankfully, they only had to reach Joshua, who was at the fountain to have been deemed a pass on the examinations. Good luck for round two!

Preview:

"So…it's a very long, very rickety bridge….."

"I think Master Yen Sid has it in for us, Riku…"

"No, what gave you that idea?"

"The giant rickety bridge, and the five hundred Nightmares standing on it…"

Chapter 5: Trial II: Ambush Bridge