DISCLAIMER: The only thing I own are my own copies of Kingdom Hearts I and II. I don't own anything else in this fic.

Italic - past

Bold - previous parts in chapter

"I've realized that the Heartless here are getting stronger and stronger, and using my Keyblade alone isn't enough," Sora realized.

"I agree," Donald nodded.

"Can you teach me magic?" asked the determined Sora.

"Do you want to learn magic for your survival?" Donald asked, testing his friend.

"It's so I can finish what I've decided to do," Sora answered.

Donald saw the determination in Sora's eyes. Riku was right. Sora was not going to back down from his personal mission. Sora would do anything to find Kairi's Heart Fragments, even if Sora must learn magic to do so. "Magic is not an easy thing to learn, but I'll do everything I can to help you," said Donald.

In the late evening, the mysterious man sat on the clock tower of Twilight Town, which stood tall above the train station. The man looked at the peaceful moon as Twilight Town was soundly asleep. Just who is this mysterious man? What is he after? And was is his connection to Sora?

Chapter 14: The Song of Sorrow

Sora, Donald, and Goofy ate their breakfast peacefully, courtesy of Riku, who was just cured of his hangover. Kairi was still in the back, having a cup of coffee to help her hangover. The Heartless Extermination Squad were eating a traditional breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacons, and breakfast sausages, complete with some orange juice.

"Eat up, you guys!" Mog cheered for the three, "You're going to need lots and lots of energy, kupo!"

"Considering that you're also going to have yourself a little exercise, Sora," added Riku.

"The food is pretty good. Thanks, Riku," said Sora.

"Happy to help," replied Riku.

"Time to go, Sora," Goofy reminded as he patted his hand on Sora's shoulder.

"We've got a lot of work to do," said Donald as he got out of his chair and headed out the door.

Sora and Goofy followed after Donald to start not only their daily rounds of Heartless Exterminating, but to help Sora learn magic as early as possible.

"What kind of exercise is Sora going to do, kupo?" Mog asked out of curiosity.

Riku reached below the counter, looking for something. "Sora is going to learn how to use magic, so he can finish what he started: look for Kairi's Heart Fragments. Oh, here it is!" Riku stood up straight again as he finally found three lunch boxes from below the counter.

"What are those, kupo?" Mog asked again.

"Just some lunch for the trio, since they're going to be working hard today," answered Riku.

Mog wondered why Riku never gave them their lunches. Mog was sure Riku wouldn't have been able to forget to give the Exterminators their food. "Why did you forget to give it to them?"

As if on cue, Kairi came out from her room, apparently cured from her hangover. "Good morning, everyone!" Kairi greeted.

"Good morning, Princess," Riku greeted back, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling better, thank you," Kairi responded politely.

"You were sure having fun last night, kupo! We were singing happy songs together!" Mog said happily. Kairi felt so silly about what happened last night that she giggled at Mog's news.

"By the way, can I ask you a favor?" asked Riku.

"Sure, what is it?" Kairi asked.

Sora, Donald, and Goofy were not far away from the cafe shop. They were looking forward to Sora's magic lessons. Although it was for the sake of helping his friend, Sora was kind of excited to learn some magic spells, especially from Donald.

"Sora!"

Sora and his friends turned around, and found Kairi, with Mog on her shoulder, running towards them with three lunch boxes in her hands.

"Riku forgot to give this to you. These are your lunches for this afternoon," Kairi informed as she handed the lunch boxes to Sora.

"Thank you, Princess," Sora obliged as he received their lunches.

"Where are you off to this early in the morning?" asked the Princess.

Sora didn't want to worry Kairi too much and decided to keep this magic lesson on the down-low for now. "It's nothing big," Sora assured.

"Really...?" said Kairi.

"Sora is going to learn some magic," Goofy blurted.

"Is this true, Sora?" Kairi asked, realizing Sora's true intentions.

Though Sora was disappointed in Goofy blurting out the truth, he also realized that sooner or later, Kairi would have eventually found out. "Yeah," Sora replied.

"Why?" Kairi wasn't sure why Sora would rise to this kind of challenge.

"Riku said it was so he can finish what he started, kupo!" Mog blurted, then hopping onto Sora's shoulder.

"Finish what you started? What do you mean?" Kairi questioned.

"To look for your Heart Fragments," Sora answered. Kairi was surprised to realize that Sora was rising to this challenge for the sake of her precious Heart Fragments.

"He's doing all this for me," Kairi thought to herself in realization, "He's been working so hard to help me, just like everyone else. I want to work just as hard as they are, no matter what. I have to do my best for everyone."

"Not just that, but I'm also learning magic for myself," Sora finished.

"Just be careful, okay?" Kairi cautioned just as anyone would for the person they cared for.

"I will," said Sora.

Donald and Goofy went on ahead to leave the two teenagers alone, knowing that Sora will catch up to them afterwards.

Sora and Kairi then looked up into the sky. There were some clouds in the sky, but that did not block the beautiful sun that continued to shine brightly over Twilight Town. Sora and Kairi enjoyed how beautiful the sunlight was. Seeing how beautiful the sun was placed a smile on their faces.

Around Twilight Town, Sora and his friends looked on their map and at the shop back and forth, making sure it was the right place of their destination.

"This must be the place," Sora noted.

Sora and the Exterminators entered the building, where they found a variety of weapons placed around. This was most likely a weapons shop.

"We need weapons," Donald said to a man around the late 30s or early 40s.

"Welcome to O'aka's. I'm O'aka XXIII, merchant extraordinaire," O'aka greeted to the Exterminators, "So, you need a weapon, mate?"

"For me and my big friend," Donald said, referring to Goofy as well.

"You're registered Heartless Exterminators, right?" questioned O'aka.

"Yup, we're registered all right," Goofy replied.

"Then, have I got just the thing for you." O'aka presented Donald and Goofy their respective weapons. Donald received a unique looking staff, just as Goofy received a unique looking shield. "Much to your likings, I trust?"

"How would you know that?" Goofy asked as he inspected his shield.

"My friend, I've been selling weapons when I was just a lad," O'aka said proudly, "I named that staff the Shaman's Relic. And I named that shield the Knight Defender."

"I like them already," Donald said, taking a liking in his staff.

"Glad to hear that, mate!" O'aka said happily, "Now, about your payment..."

"What!? We have to pay now!?" demanded Donald, as he was being held back by Goofy.

"Here it is." Sora presented their blue orb to O'aka, who immediately began to process of receiving their payment.

"A little friendly warning, mates...O'aka XXIII never gives discounts!" O'aka stated bluntly.

Sora, Donald, and Goofy sat in a local park on a bench. Unfortunately, Donald was still fuming about O'aka asking for their immediate payment.

"That man tricked us," grumbled Donald.

"Yeah, but with your new magic staff, I'll be able to learn some powerful spells with my Keyblade," noted Sora.

"But first things first," announced Donald. Concentrating, Donald's hands began to glow until he projected a magical light around Sora. The magic light surrounded Sora's body until his body ceased to glow.

"What was that just now?" asked Sora as he checked his body for any strange changes.

"Donald put a magic spell on you," Goofy explained.

"This magic spell will prevent you from ever using magic," Donald further explained, "Magic isn't just powerful, but it's also a dangerous thing to use. Anyone who has no experience with magic will end up unnecessarily destroying things."

Hearing this, Sora realized that Donald was right. Despite Donald's bad temper, he was also very wise when it comes to the use of magic spells.

"For example, an inexperienced person could end up hurting himself with magic," Donald continued explaining.

"Or worst, you could end up hurting the things you're trying to protect," Goofy finished.

"That spell will not wear off, until your heart knows its truly ready to wield magic," said Donald.

"I understand," said Sora.

"Let's get a move on," announced Goofy, "We've got a lot of work to do to help you use magic."

"Yeah." Sora followed after Donald and Goofy further in Twilight Town's local park.

Back at the Sacred Hearts Cafe, a pickup truck was parked outside. Inside the cafe, a young man helped install a giant object draped in a white cloth in the middle of their cafe.

"All right then!" Wantz sighed in relief, "Is this spot okay, mate?"

"That's perfect," replied Riku.

"Good to hear. Please sign here," Wantz requested as he handed a clipboard to Riku. While Riku was signing on Wantz's clipboard, Wantz couldn't help but eye Kairi, who gave him a puzzled look. "She's awfully cute..." Wantz thought to himself, smiling at Kairi's beauty.

"All right, all done," Riku said, handing the clipboard to Wantz.

"Thanks, mate. Thank you for shopping O'aka's!" Wantz said as Kairi walked him to the door.

Kairi looked off to see the what Riku had bought for the cafe. "What is this?"

Riku swiftly removed the cloth to reveal a find grand piano. "It's a piano. I found this in the shopping district and I just had to buy it." Riku then took a seat in front of the piano, composing himself.

"Do you know how to play it?" asked Mog.

Behind Kairi, Pluto came up, wanting to hear Riku's unexpected performance with the musical instrument. Kairi wanted to hear as well, seeing as how Riku is talented in art and cooking. Perhaps Riku also has a talent for music.

Riku composed himself for his piece. Unfortunately, for everyone, Riku only hit a few keys, earning himself some surprised disappointments. The silver-haired teenager chuckled out of embarrassment after he received their reactions. "I also bought this piano for the cafe to make it livelier," Riku explained, "Good idea, don't you think?"

Meanwhile, in the Twilight Town park, Sora stood on some rocks in the park's lake. During Sora's training Goofy threw some rocks at Sora, who is supposed to dodge every rock and not receive even a tiny scratch while keeping his footing on the rocks. Sora was successful in dodging a few rocks, but failed to notice one more incoming rock. Sora barely dodged it in time, but he lost his balance on the rocks and fell into the lake.

"Donald's right. Your eyesight is different," Goofy noted to Sora as he returned to Donald and Goofy.

"I don't know why my right eye..." said Sora.

"That's not it," Donald interrupted, "Your reaction time on the right is slow, because you always see things with your left and you react too quick on that side."

"You're relying too much on your left eyesight," Goofy lectured.

Sora realized they were right. It all makes sense. His reaction times are out of balance because of his eyesights.

"Magic will be useless to you if you don't improve your reaction time," Donald lectured to Sora.

"Then let me try again," said the determined Sora.

At the Sacred Hearts Cafe, business has been blooming for everyone. Pluto helped served the customers drinks and desserts, with Kairi taking their orders. Riku and Mog did the cooking and took care billing the customers.

"Two slices of strawberry mille-feuille and two cups of cappacino," Kairi said, writing the orders down in her notepad, "We'll have your order up in just a moment."

Riku and Mog noticed that Kairi as been more active than usual today. Kairi seems to be working harder than she usually does.

"Excuse me, Miss! I'm ready to order!"

"Coming!" the Princess called out to her customer, and then heading there.

"Kairi's working very hard today," Riku noticed as he watches Kairi working.

"Kairi is amazing, kupo!" Mog cheered.

"I wonder why she's more active than usual," pondered Riku.

"One herbal tea, please," a customer requested.

"Coming right up!" Kairi said with enthusiasm, after writing the order down.

In a local bar, a mysterious woman sat silently in the closed bar.

"This is strange..." the woman said to herself, "Why do I feel a strange power within Twilight Town?"

Two more customers entered the Sacred Hearts Cafe, with Kairi ready to greet them.

"Welcome to Sacred Hearts!" Kairi greeted a cheery courtesy, "How may I take your order?"

"We'd like one slice of sachertorte and one cup of French vanilla mocha, please," a kind gentleman requested.

"I'll just have a cup of latte," a cold-looking man request.

"Coming right up!" said Kairi.

Kairi took their order and gave it to Riku, who immediately went to work. The two customers took their seats and waited patiently for their orders. After Riku was finished, Pluto balanced the tray on his head and delivered the customers' orders to them.

The kind gentleman took a bite out of his chocolate cake, and much to his satisfaction, it was very delicious. "This is execellent!" the gentleman praised.

"Even their latte is pretty good, too. The rumors about this cafe were true," the cold-looking man noted.

Kairi then approached the two men. "Excuse me, sir."

"What is it?" asked the cold-looking man.

"Can I have a moment of your time?" Kairi asked politely.

"Of course, Miss. What can we help you with?" asked the kind gentleman.

Riku and Mog noticed Kairi talking to the men. "What's Kairi up to?" Riku asked himself.

"Legends?" asked the cold-looking man.

"Yes," the Princess replied.

"Are you researching legends, Young Miss?" asked the kind gentleman.

"Yes. I'm doing a school project and I'm trying to gather information about strange mysterious events that might have occurred in this town," Kairi explained, knowing that part of it wasn't true, "Does anything come to mind?"

"Well, now that you mentioned it..." the cold-looking man said.

"Now I see," Riku realized, "Kairi is working on her mission, too."

"What do you mean by that, kupo?" asked Mog.

"She's collecting any information about her Heart Fragments," answered Riku, "She's making the best of her time here. That's why she's working so hard today."

"Thank you very much, sir," Kairi said, bowing with courtesy.

"You're very welcome, Miss."

Kairi continued her job and her information gathering on the customers. She approached a couple of women who are talking to each other and enjoying their tea. "Excuse me, ma'am. I'd like to ask you something about any legends here in Twilight Town."

Mog noticed that Kairi was so much enthusiastic than usual. And not only that, but she seems to be smiling as she doing her job. "She seems to be having fun, too!" Mog said happily.

"That's because she knows what she must do," commented Riku.

Sora's training continued. This time, instead of using rocks, Donald used some ice magic projectiles at Sora. Sora still had to continue dodging the ice attacks while keeping his footing on the rocks. Sora twirled around, dodging a barrage of ice attacks. However, because of his disability, he failed to notice one more ice rock heading towards the right side of his head. With the failure to act fast, the ice hit Sora in his right temple, knocking him off the rock and into the lake.

Donald sighed in disappointment that Sora was still relying on his eyesight.

Sora rose back up to the surface and climbed back up on the rock.

"Don't use your eyesight, Sora!" Goofy called out.

"Use your feelings instead," Donald called out.

"I got it!" said Sora.

In Riku's cafe, Kairi and Mog cleaned the store up together. All the customers have left for the day. Riku emerged from the back, with Pluto accompanying him.

"Are you going out?" asked Kairi.

"Yeah, I have to go out and get some more supplies for our shop," explained Riku.

"But what about your leg?" asked the concerned Princess.

Riku's injured leg he suffered from the Heartless last night was still not fully healed. "Don't worry, I already had a doctor take a look at it. Besides, I have Pluto to help me, just in case," Riku assured, "Have fun watching the shop while I'm gone."

"Sure. Take care, you two," Kairi bid to them.

Riku and Pluto walked out of the shop together to do their own shopping.

In the cafe, Kairi and Mog waited for more customers to enter the shop. Unfortunately, no one else came in for the rest of the afternoon.

"There's no one else coming in, kupo," Mog noted.

"Yeah..." Kairi said, disappointed.

"For some reason, I'm getting all sleep all of a sudden..." Mog said tiredly, before falling back softly on the counter and dozing off, "Kupo...kupo..." Mog said sleepily.

Kairi could only smile at the white creature's adorable behavior.

Time passed and there were still no more customers. Kairi looked out the window and saw the sun starting to set. "I wonder if Sora is okay," Kairi thought to herself, "I hope he doesn't get hurt in his training. And I hope he comes home, soon. The night is almost going to fall soon."

Kairi turned around and eyed the piano that Riku bought for the shop. Curiosity overcame Kairi and she opened the cover for the piano keys. Kairi wasn't sure if she's ever seen a piano before, but she was curious to know how it works. Hitting a key gently, she heard a sound that she's heard before. Although it wasn't quite accurate, there was something about this sound. Playing it again, she was captivated by that same sound. It sounded so familiar. Where did she hear this sound before?

"It sounds so beautiful..." Kairi said to herself.

Then, someone emerged from the front door. Turning around, Kairi found a woman, probably in her mid-to-late 30s, dressed in black, with a unique headdress.

"Welcome to Sacred Hearts!" Kairi greeted politely.

At sunset, in the Sacred Hearts Cafe, the woman was busy writing on some sheets of paper. Next to her was an empty cup of tea, with some eaten biscuits. As she was writing something down, Kairi approached her with another cup of tea for the woman.

"Here you are, Ma'am." Kairi placed the cup of tea next to the woman.

"Thank you very much," the woman politely obliged. Kairi then noticed the sheets of paper in front of the woman. They were music notes. "I've been writing a song," the woman said as she noticed Kairi eying the piece.

"A song?" asked the Princess.

"May I use your piano?" the woman requested.

"Huh? Oh, of course!" the Princess said.

The woman walked over to the piano and opened the casing for the keys. "This piano is splendid," the woman noted, "It's no good to use it as just plain decoration." The woman traced her fingers across the keys, enjoying the feeling of newly made piano keys. "My name is Edea. What is your name?"

"Um...Kairi..." replied the reluctant Kairi.

"What a beautiful name," Edea complimented, "I see. Well then, Kairi, I'd like to hear you song."

"But, I don't know any songs," Kairi tried to refuse.

"That is quite all right," reassured Edea, "The seas of Twilight Town are very tranquil, just like you. Like a mirror, a song will reflect your entire being."

Edea played a note. Suddenly, when hearing this note, it captivated Kairi completely. She suddenly found herself in some sort of trance.

"Where are you from, Kairi? Why are you here?" Edea played the same note, and the Princess was still captivated by that same familiar tone. "Where will you go after this? What is the most important thing to you?"

"My...most...important thing..." Kairi said in a trance, before closing her eyes slowly, as if in deep thought.

Edea sat herself down on the chair and composed herself. Then, she began playing a sort of slow ballad, with a tone of sadness in the music. Then...the Princess began to sing in the music...

My heart was swimming
in words gathered by the wind
My voice bounded
into a cloud-carried tomorrow

As Edea listened to Kairi's beautiful singing, she began to have visions with something about Kairi. She saw how she spent her times with a spiky-haired boy. A boy named Sora. They were both watching doves fly away in their home world, Destiny Islands. Edea witnessed how Kairi comforted Sora's burned hand and his guilty feelings for his father. She also witnessed how she gave Sora his birthday and how they both spent their birthdays together.

My heart trembled
in the moon-swayed mirror
Soft tears
spilled with a stream of stars

Isn't it beautiful?
If we could walk, hand in hand,
I'd want to go
to your town, your home, in your arms

I dream of being
against your chest
my body is your keeping
disappearing into the evening

Edea continued to see more of Kairi's happy memories with Sora, where she gave him a flower crown, marking the beginning of Sora's great friendship with the Princess. She witnessed how Kairi helped Sora and his father become closer, after a few simple words.

Words halted by wind are
a gentle illusion
A tomorrow torn by clouds is
the voice of a distant place

My heart that had been
in a moon-blurred mirror that flowed
Those stars that trembled and spilled
cannot hide my tears

Then, Edea found out where it marked her turning point, when she lost all of her Heart Fragments. When she got two of her Fragments back, the first person she saw was Sora. However, when she first laid eyes on him, she know longer remembered who he was.

Isn't it beautiful?
If we could walk, hand in hand
I'd want to go
to your town, your home, in your arms

My dream of
your face
that I softly touch
melts in the morning

Tears began to leak from Kairi's eyes after singing the last words of the sorrowful song. "Why am I crying?" Kairi asked herself, as she felt her body getting weaker.

After the song, Kairi's body began to feel limp. The Princess's eyes grew heavy and she fell forward. Edea gently caught Kairi and carried her to the sofa. Edea gently laid the Princess's sleeping body on the sofa and saw herself out the door.

"I understand you very well, Kairi," Edea said silently as she walked out of the cafe, "I'm sure we'll meet again..."

Later that evening, Riku and Pluto returned from their errands. Riku placed a sign outside of their shop, signaling that they are closed for the night.

Riku, Kairi, and Mog cleaned the remaining dishes and utensils, while Pluto treated himself to a well-deserved sleep.

"Thanks for watching the shop, you two," said the grateful Riku.

"Mog was sleeping the whole time, so no need to thank me, kupo!" said the happy Mog.

Kairi was disturbed for part of the night as she cleaned the tables. She vaguely remembered singing a song, but she never knew why she was crying. What was it in that song that made her cry in the first place?

Kairi then saw the door open, knowing it's Sora and the Exterminators. "Welcome ho--, Sora!" Kairi was shocked to see Sora having a few scratches and a few tears in his clothes.

"Sora is cut all over, kupo!" Mog announced.

"Did you guys fight some Heartless?" asked Riku.

"No, no Heartless today," answered Sora, "I'm going to get changed." Sora headed straight to his room to get himself some cleaned up.

Seeing Sora in his condition made Kairi feel so worrisome for her friend.

"Here, Princess. Why don't you take care of him?" Riku offered, showing her a box of the first-aid kit.

"Sure," the Princess gladly obliged.

With the first-aid kit in hand, Kairi entered Sora's bedroom with Mog on top of her head, where she found the young teenager on his bed.

"Sora?" Kairi called softly, approaching Sora.

Mog hopped onto Sora's bed and checked up on him. "Sora is sleeping, kupo," Mog whispered.

"He must have been very tired," commented Kairi. As she looked at Sora's sleeping form, she couldn't help but smile at how he looked. "He looks so peaceful when he's sleeping," Kairi thought to herself.

Late that night, Riku realized that Kairi was taking a little longer in Sora's room and decided to check up on them. Riku knocked on the door, ending up with no response. Donald and Goofy approached the door as well, wanting to check up on Sora, since there was no answer. The silver-haired teenager opened to door and all three of them were surprised to see this unexpected scene. They found Kairi sleeping next to Sora at the side of his bed, with Mog sleeping next to them.

"Those two have something in common. They're both working hard for each other," noted Riku.

"Sora's still has a long way to go, though," Donald added.

"We'd better leave them alone tonight," advised Goofy.

Riku closed the door for the two sleeping teenagers. It was better to leave them as they are. They've earned it.

Meanwhile, in an unknown place, a woman viewed an image of Kairi via computer.

"Guest number: MDC7261919 has been identified as 'Kairi,'" said the woman, "She doesn't know that our agent is interfering in her journey. We will continue on as usual."

The woman looked at one of the monitors, which showed what seemed to be pods. There were people inside these pods. However, among them, Kairi seems to be in one of them. Why is Kairi in one of the pods? What could this mean?

To be continued…