Cool air lightly caressed the polished wooden hull of the former pirate ship as it slipped through the lanes between the skies. The Sky King could not be coaxed to go any faster as the colorful emptiness of the lanes passed by. Perhaps she feared for the safety of her crew and this was her way of begging them to reconsider the only way she could.

It wasn't a full hour ago the key bearers boarded the ivory craft from the Mysterious Tower. Everyone was there to wish them luck and see them off. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Daisy, Chip, Dale, Jiminy, the good fairies, the fairy godmother, the blue fairy and Merlin and Archimedes. They would have to make preparations of their own should the worst happen or if it became apparent reinforcements were required. No one wanted to think that way but it would be irresponsible to be idle. Belief and faith expressed how you feel about the character and strength of your friends: it doesn't bring them home.

Rachel had made arrangements with Yen Sid regarding Tatania, Elias and her goldfish should the worst come to pass. Tatania and Elias were to go to Elsa and Anna in Arendelle. Anna already owned one of Tatania's sons, a solid black tom named Cosmic, so Rachel believed the sisters would have no objection to taking in one more. Elias was a much harder choice. The young gryphon was magically bound to Rachel, eventually he would notice her absence in more than just the way a baby misses his mama when she's gone too long. The royal sisters were like close family to Rachel. She hoped Eli would be able to sense that if the worst should happen. Shimmer, Glimmer, Freddie and Mr. Scales would go to Montressor. B.E.N would probably shed a few gears from delight of having a pet from a completely different world (that is if he wasn't depressed by the reason why he got it). Anyone could see even the tiniest possibility Rachel might be making her babies orphans tore her up inside.

The time for stalling was over. After a final wave the key bearers boarded the King. The ship was blessed for safe passage by all those who knew magic. Bryan went to the helm. Rachel took the bow. Bryan could listen his way to the exact location; he was the only one who could. Rachel would need to stay near the bow once the Keyblade was attached in order for it to stay there. Rachel called her half of their Keyblade. Then she held out her other hand. Mentally Bryan relinquished control over his half and the Bass Blade appeared in Rachel's other hand.

"You really think a whole Keyblade is all that it will take to push through whatever is protecting Xehanorts' hiding place?" Sora asked.

"We can hope," Bryan said. "I've just got a strong feeling it will work."

"Guess we'll find out soon." Rachel held the Bass Blade and Ocean Song parallel to each other. With a clack and flash of light the two blades became one. Only…something happened that was very different this time.

"Whoa! What did you do?" Kairi exclaimed.

"I didn't think I did anything!"

"You didn't know that would happen?"

Normally, if either Rachel or Bryan wanted to use No Shortcuts as a whole, their current Keyblade was first reverted to its original half first. Only this time, Rachel hadn't reverted the blades. They didn't join No Shortcuts that often. In her mind she figured no matter what key chain they had clipped to their halves, the blade return to its original form regardless. This thinking was entirely incorrect.

When the two halves fused, so did the current blades. The new Keyblade was longer than the Bass Blade and as light as a feather. The key chain remained a sand dollar only the top had five quarter notes on it. Ocean Song and the Bass Blade had joined together to become Tidal Symphony. Much like its name, the handle of the Bass Blade was the musical symbol for the bass clef. This remained the same only it looked stony and textured like it a coral. The clef only made up half the handle. The other side was a frozen water splash. Above the handle fanned the pink scallop shell from Ocean Song. Only now it shone like a piece of cut rose quartz. The treble clef from the Bass Blade was etched into it. The shaft remained very similar to Ocean Song. A water spout coiled in a helix-like twist around the staff bars of a musical score. Only the water glistened like crystal and sparkled from facets that had been made on the inside. At the top of the shaft the water spiraled off to the side and the orange jeweled star that topped Ocean Song now sat in the center of the spiral and was a little smaller. The teeth of the Keyblade remained the beam of three quarter notes. But instead of being shiny and metallic black like the Bass Blade, the piece more closely resembled dark sea glass.

"This bites!" Rachel declared as she attached the incredible new blade to the bow.

"What are you talking about?" Sora demanded. "That is so cool!"

"I know it is! But it couldn't have come at a worst time! The final showdown could very well be mere hours away. Now is not the time to be testing the effectiveness of new toys!"

Yeah, she had a point but everyone else was too impressed to care.

"Hey," Riku said. "Do you think it's possible for all of us to join our Keyblades too? I mean, to yours at the bow. Joined blades are always stronger so, it would stand to reason that together five Keyblades would be able to push through any barrier easily."

"What do we lose if we try?" Lea asked.

Sora, Riku, Kairi and Lea summoned their weapons and laid them on the the railing of the bow. In a bright twinkle the Keyblades vanished and the bow glowed radiantly. The blades understood what their wielders desired and followed the example of Tidal Symphony. Before the figurehead was just a patch of plating across the nose of the ship to push the walls in the sky apart. It never really was supposed to be anything. But this time it had become something beautiful.

Colored as the five Keyblades that had created it, the figurehead had become an angel. With her right arm the celestial maiden held a simple sword high. In her left hand she held a shield close to her body. The friends heard a collective 'oooooh' from below. It must have been a pretty spectacular sight. But now the others could better understand how quickly Rachel's enthusiasm about new Keyblade powers was cut off at the knees. Of all times to learn new tricks now was certainly not the best.

As the anchor chain coiled itself up on the deck, Sora stood at the railing He looked down at the friends he was leaving behind. Even a complete stranger could have read his face and correctly understood his feelings just as easily as reading the headlines of a newspaper. This was big. Success would mean salvation for all the worlds. Failure…well, who really had a strong enough stomach to ponder that? But, at the moment anyway, the young Master wasn't thinking about what was at stake. Right now it was all he could do to keep a strong face knowing he was going off to battle without the unorthodox warriors whom he owned the success of his past adventures to. Donald's stubbornness and spunk easily got them into trouble as it got them out of it. Even at times when Sora felt low, Goofy's steadfast belief that friends could do anything so long as they did it as a team never failed to inspire. And yet…there they were, below him instead of beside him. Why did Riku have to be right? Why did breaking pattern have to involve Donald and Goofy? Why did there have to be the possibility they might not make it back? That the worlds would need a secondary line of defense? How could the actions of one man have created a reality where things like that even had to be considered? It took a bit but Sora managed to smile for his friends. After all, the best boats run on happy faces. When he waved to them, he tried hard to convey a 'see you when I get back' wave; not a goodbye.

The last chain of the anchor clicked into place. The Sky King creaked a little as she slowly rose from her docking place. Those meant to stay behind waved good luck to those departing. Prayers of good fortune and success glistened in their eyes.

As the ship inched away from the Tower, a new sound fell over the scene. A sliding click. The door to the Mysterious Tower had opened seemingly on its own a few inches. To those who had seen it they were initially puzzled. Everyone was either outside or departing. So what-?

Something small and black rocketed down the Tower steps and gracefully wove around the feet of anyone in its way. It was Tatania. The tower cat dashed alongside the rising ship. Her desperate yowls cut through the air like the crack of a whip. But the ship didn't stop. It continued to rise and gain speed. Tatania was forced to stop where the grounds to the Tower ended. Even then she paced and wiggled as cats do when they're judging the distance of a jump. Her look of bewilderment was heartbreaking. Even more so when she turned to those gathered on the grounds with pleading eyes. Right away the tower cat realized she wasn't getting any assistance. No one was going to make the ship stop or turn around. Jade eyes widened with panic. Tatania turned back to the sky. The colors of the empty firmament rippled as the power of the Keyblades severed the walls between. The tower cat paced frantically and yowled desperately. Her shrieks were a mix of fear and pain. Cats with their tails caught in doors wouldn't yowl that way.

Tatania was more aware of herself and her surroundings than other cats; or even any normal animal for that matter. Despite growing up in a place completely saturated with magic from the time she was a freshly weened kitten, she herself was not magical. She had no powers and could not speak. That being said, the magic of the Tower had indeed affected her. The she-cats' ability to understand human words and their precise meanings was limited, however, intentions were almost always clear. Many animals, most notably dogs and horses were blessed to possess specially attuned senses to the feelings of those bonded to them. Tatania was no exception. Sensing the atmosphere of a room or a single person was no challenge. Whether she cared about what she understood was entirely up to her. There was one significant difference between her and ordinary animals though. Tatania was aware. Not only that, she could be aware that she was aware. She had the capacity to think about what she was thinking about like a human. Her thoughts were usually not profound and neither was her understanding deep. Still, throughout her magic had become a part of her. And right now, that blessing was terrifying.

From his perch on Merlin's shoulder, Archimedes turned his face away. He was the only one who could fluently understand the language of common animals. And he didn't have the heart to repeat Tatania's frantic pleas, but neither could he not listen to her panicked cries.

Missy! My Missy don't leave! Everyone is so sad. Why is everyone sad and scared? I can feel it but I don't know why. This is bad! I don't know where you're going but it has to be bad if everyone is so sad and scared! Come back, Missy! Please don't go to the bad place! Bring them back! Why isn't anyone making you stop? Why won't they bring you back to me? Someone please bring my Missy back! Make that thing turn around! Missy! I'm scared! Please don't leave me! Come back! Missy! Missy! PLEASE COME BACK!