A little less than ten hours later, our heroes arrive at their destination: the twin phase planet of Shinigami-Earth. Sora and Riku are on the bridge, with the former sitting in the (vestigial) captain's chair and the latter sitting at the (equally vestigial) helm.
"We have arrived at our destination," the computer announces through the P.A. system.
"Excellent," Sora responds.
"Checking log of missed communication... there are 5 messages from mission control," the computer says.
"Play them back," Sora instructs. With that, the screen changes to show an oversized mouse sitting in a room full of blinking technology.
"Sora, our scanners recently picked up that you are 50 lightyears outside of the Disney sector," starts Mickey, "I am going to have to order that you turn back now."
"Yeah, yeah," Sora responds, rolling his eyes. Mickey approaches foreground and presses something, causing the screen to blank out. With a blip, another message with King Mickey comes up.
"Sora, our scanners are showing you at 500 light years away from the Disney sector. Turn back now." Another reset, another blip, and Mickey is on the screen again.
"Sora, you are currently 2000 light years-" starts the prerecorded message from Mickey before the screen blanks out.
"What just happened?" Riku asks.
"I had a few optional extras installed when the VR system was put in," Sora starts, looking smug, "This button here disables the microphone, screen, and sound system. The computer thinks we're still watching the videos as required."
"I approve," Riku says, dryly, "But once Mickey connects with the ship's network, he's going to put us under remote control and take us back."
"What network?" Sora asks, pressing another button. With that, all the blinking green lights in a corner of the room start blinking red.
"Oh, clever," Riku says, still sounding cynical that Sora has been abusing his privileges.
"I think Mickey's done just about now," Sora says, pressing the first button. The screen comes back on with Mickey in mid-sentence.
"...assumption that your ship has been commandeered. Once a successful link can be made, we are bringing you back in. If you have a dire reason for being 2 million light years out of range, please hail back within three minutes of exiting hyperspace."
"Wow... we're really that far away?" asks Sora.
"Captain, we are currently 22 million light years outside of the Disney sector," answers the computer.
"And yet, not far enough," Sora mutters under his breath.
"Captain, we've lost network functionality and are unable to connect with the central network. Advise course of action?"
"Scan the local planets for parts and services," Sora answers, cribbing a generic reply from the SOP, "Riku, Anna, and I are going on the surface."
"Standard Operating Procedure prohibits disembarking during a major malfunction without a major crisis to attend to," the computer responds.
"What's the Heartless saturation rate on the planet?" Sora asks, pressing another button. The screen pops up, showing the Heartless core saturation to be at 97.2 out of a population of 6,009,852,108 people.
"Planet is in critical condition. Authorizing immediate action."
"Prepare the telepads for placement at the highest saturation point," Sora instructs, walking outside. Riku follows, walking just a bit faster to catch up as they walk towards the ready room.
"Why are you so calm?" Riku asks.
"That button I pressed just highly exaggerated the planet's core weakness," Sora answers, "I had that function installed as well just in case."
"Right..." Riku quips, "So... what other buttons did you have installed?"
"A 72 hour log rollback, an emergency Destiny Islands override, a cappuccino maker..." Sora lists, "...Oh, also something that makes the computer sound like Gilbert Gottfried."
"I will never forgive you if you ever push that button," Riku says.
"Yeah, I don't know why I had it installed," Sora says.
"So, what's the real saturation level of the planet?" Riku asks rhetorically.
"8," Sora answers, much to Riku's surprise, "The last two numbers of the population count are also changed to show the real saturation."
"You planned all this out?" Riku asks.
"I knew someday, I'd get sick of all the limits that Mickey places on us," Sora answers.
"There wouldn't be any limits if you didn't used to spend half the time palling around with Winnie the Pooh," Riku sighs. They enter the ready room and start grabbing their usual equipment that was now mandatory.
"Of all the things that has happened the last few years," Sora starts, analyzing the brick shaped Heartless Homer, "I think it's when they started requiring us to use this gear that things took a turn south."
"What, you prefer stumbling around and hoping the locals lead us to the Heartless?" Riku answers as he finishes his loading of the tactical vest and puts it on.
"That gives me an idea," says Sora as he tosses the Heartless Homer away, "Anna needs to learn how to find them without the aid of 10 pounds of plastic and silicon. Let's go bare."
"What?" Riku asks.
"We didn't have any of this hoo-ha the first two times we saved the multiverse," Sora starts, "Anna doesn't need another crutch."
"I'm scared to admit this, but that makes perfect sense," Riku responds, taking off the tactical vest.
"This world is perfect," Sora starts, "It's low saturation, no ongoing wars or conflicts within the saturation area, and our entry point is some major city called Tokyo."
"This should help Anna ease into this," says Riku.
"Shall we?" Sora asks, walking to the door. Riku follows behind as they head to the bedrooms. They walk in to find Anna sitting at her desk writing into a book.
"Oh, hello, guys," she responds, finishing her thought and closing the book.
"I didn't know you kept a journal," Sora says, trying to make small talk.
"Oh, this thing?" Anna asks, "It's nothing. Mom told me to keep a diary for fun."
"I used to keep a journal," Sora says, "But Jiminy died after two years and I wasn't able to continue updating it myself with all this work."
"Aww, that's sad to hear," Anna responds.
"Eh, it's nothing," Sora answers, feeling awkward, "He lived about 50 times longer than his life expectancy and was happy."
"Still, it hurts to lose a friend," Anna responds.
"Anyway, we're here and I have something special for you," Sora starts. Riku takes the opportunity to slip out of the room.
"What is it?" Anna asks, getting out of her chair. Sora produces the keyblade and walks over to Anna.
"This is the keyblade," Sora says, "The original. Not a copy like I've been giving you."
"Wow... the keyblade?" Anna asks, looking flattered and apprehensive at the same time.
"Yep," Sora answers, reaching to give it to her, "I'm passing it on to you now."
"I appreciate this, but you're the rightful owner and-" Anna starts.
"Anna, the keyblade needs a new master and you are the one," Sora interrupts, "You can give me a copy immediately upon getting mastery of it."
"You're sure, Sora?" Anna asks, still worried.
"Positive," Sora answers. With that, Anna lightly grabs the handle of the keyblade and takes it from Sora. A brief moment of silence encapsulates the air before Anna's eyes refocus. She then looks around the room, suddenly more aware of everything around her.
"Wow..." starts Anna, "The power... I can feel everything." She waves it around in the air aimlessly a few times.
Um, guys?
"What is it, narrator?" Sora answers, indignant.
You're boring me. I'm going to go watch somebody else for a while. I'll be back when you're doing something more interesting like killing Heartless.
"Wa
