The Gummiship ride was quiet. Donald and Goofy were busy steering the ship, trying to follow King Mickey's directions to a 'T'. Riku was staring out into space. Kairi sat across from Riku, wanting to say something but keeping her mouth shut for fear of bringing up anything awkward. Sora sat next to Riku, looking bitter even as he napped.

The whole ride passed in this manner, everyone not saying a single word.

...

Sora, Kairi, and Riku walked along the empty bridge that led to a once grand castle that was now crumbling and moldy and grimy and clearly uninhabited. "Huh, figured there would be more people..." Riku noted. Sora put his hands behind his head, saying coldly "It doesn't matter, less people, less trouble."

Kairi looked downcast "And I was so hoping to see someone from another world..."

"Puh-lease Kairi, there's more than just two or three." Sora sighed "I mean it's not like-WHOA!"

Green flames interrupted him, and caused the group to freeze in their tracks.

"Now who do I owe the honor here? Three more wielders of the blade have come to my precious little Dominion?" An elegant, but threatening nonetheless, voice said. Its owner was a woman who could have been at least mid thirties, with eerie green skin and robes of black and violet. A horned headdress curled above her head while her bony hands clutched a long staff with a sickly green orb.

Donald and Goofy summoned their weapons "Maleficent!"

"Your Dominion?" Sora asked harshly while walking forward "funny, place looks like it belongs perfectly to someone like you!" He summoned his Keyblade and pointed it at the mysterious stranger, taking front and center of the group and ignoring everyone's strained whispers to keep away. She looked amused "Oh, so you think you can judge by appearances, Sora?"

He froze "H-how-?!"

"Your name is etched on the darkness of your heart, yes I see it so clearly, child." She continued, absently rubbing the orb on her staff "Such a wonderful childhood of yours-"

"Okay shut up! You're just being freakish now!" Sora yelled. He looked vaguely unnerved, but mostly annoyed. Donald zapped the ground inches from her feet "Leave us alone Maleficent!"

The woman only continued to smile sickeningly sweet, and she looked at Kairi with great interest "My, my, dear, I can't find your name..." Sora protectively extended his arm in front of her "Why should we tell you?!"

The woman's smile faded slightly. She then cleared her throat and said "My dear Sora," Sora shivered "no need to be so rude. I am no mere crone, I am the great and powerful sorceress Maleficent," she frowned distastefully at Donald and Goofy "as your amusing guardians have said." Maleficent turned away, gazing at the castle before them "While you are correct that this kingdom is mine to command, I shall assure you that it will be greater yet-"

Sora charged at her.

Maleficent froze, and turned back. Her cordial act had dropped, emerald eyes flashing with fury. She raised her hand and Sora was forced back by some unseen power. "You dare assault me? You, a meager child who barely knows the capabilities of such a powerful weapon?"

"Maybe we do." Riku and Donald arranged themselves in front of Kairi, who had remained uncharacteristically silent, while Goofy rushed after Sora. He was collapsed on the ground and clutching himself in pain.

Maleficent then laughed, a shrieking mocking noise. She then wiped a tear from her eye, still giddy "A mere boy and hapless duck thinking they can defeat me? At your level of competence? Oh please!" she then sighed, collecting herself "Oh well, since you obviously have no interest in taking my side, I suppose I shall give you time to leave. If you value your lives, leave this world before the sun is blocked by my castle, and I shall spare you, leave you alone for now. However, stay and interfere with my plans and doom shall meet each one of you."

She turned around once more, walking away towards a new set of sickly green flames. She stopped, and gestured her staff at Sora "Oh, and a small parting gift as a warning."

She vanished into the flames with a cackle.

"A gift? What did she mean- Sora?" Kairi spoke again, but stopped herself when she saw Sora. His eyes were wide, staring at something beyond the castle. He shivered, and there was no doubt there was something affecting him. He started backing away, whispering "No... No...!"

"Sora-" Riku began before Sora began waving his hand, trying to do something, still backing away. He suddenly lurched, letting out a truly agonized cry.

"Sora! What's wrong?!" Riku demanded, watching on horror as Sora continued to stagger and stumble from unseen foes. Soon after he tried running, but was held back by Goofy "Hey now calm-" Sora elbowed him and scrambled away screaming in terror.

"Riku what's-" Kairi asked before Riku brushed past her. "Sora calm down!" He grasped Sora's wrist, but the paranoid boy ended up punching his friend screaming "GET AWAY FROM ME!" Riku shook it off and grabbed both of Sora's hands, commanding "Sora calm down right now!"

Sora recognized the voice, and sobbed "Riku! What are you doing?! There's Heartless everywhere! Run-"

"There's nothing there, Sora. Calm down, collect yourself."

"They're everywhere! T-the darkness!" Sora started to squirm and squeal, still panicking. Riku lowered himself and Sora, continuing to repeat "Sora, there's nothing there."

"I-it's dragging me into it! SOMEONE HELP!"

"SORA! THERE IS NOTHING THERE." Riku shook Sora in an effort to restore his senses. It apparently worked, Sora blinking slowly. He then let a few tears fall down his cheek, and he buried himself in Riku. He sobbed and moaned into Riku's chest, while Riku gently smoothed his hair "Sora... Shh."

"I-it was so- so real."

"No, no, there was no darkness... No Heartless..."

Kairi watched them silently. She knew Sora could be distressed, but that was a whole new frightening level of breakdown. Everything about her felt like it was seizing up as she observed Riku, Donald, and Goofy trying to calm Sora down.

She looked at the castle, then the sun. If Maleficent was referring to this grand but crumbling structure, they still had time to leave. They also had time to stop whatever she planned. She noted the portcullis was down.

"Riku, how long until Sora is ready to get going again?"

Riku, still soothing Sora, shrugged "It could be a few minutes, maybe an hour..." he trailed off when Kairi walked over and gently held Sora's shoulder "Hey..."

Sora sniffled a little, and gazed at Kairi. "Are you gonna be okay?" she asked softly, gently making a cautious move to brush aside some of his tears and a lock of hair. Sora hiccuped, and shook his head "N-no... What if it happens again-"

"It's not, okay? Me and Donald and Goofy and Riku are here to keep you safe." Kairi smiled.

Riku was stunned as Kairi gently peeled Sora away from everyone and helped him up. "Everything is gonna be alright, we won't let anyone hurt you. Right Riku?"

After picking up his jaw, Riku nodded. "Gosh, he doesn't act like that even for me... And other people... He normally thinks they're gonna hurt him."

But Kairi wasn't paying attention, already en route to the gates leading away the castle, Holding hands with Sora, who wasn't quite back. He still acted childish and sad, but at least he was more open. Donald and Goofy smiled and walked after her "Well, Kairi can have that kind of effect on people."

Riku followed, feeling a small seed of bitter jealousy start to well up in the pit of his stomach.