THE LAST CHAPTER!

FINALLY!

ALL THE FEELS

Thank you to all my reviewers, readers, and followers who have stuck by me with this story!

I will be doing Dream, Drop, Distance next so be on the look out for that!

Chapter 35: Beyond the Horizon

The sound of the waves. The blinking of the stars and staring at the horizon was Riku and King Mickey. They were seated side by side. Donald, Goofy, Kairi and Sora were talking noisily about something or other that has happened in the past.

Levina smiled at the blinking stars in the night sky while Lira relaxed on the beach getting acquainted with a well-earned rest.

"You, Sora, and Levina did great together, Riku". Mickey murmured with a delightful sigh. "I didn't exactly do the same as them though," The small king wished he could have done more to aid his friends. "Don't so easily say something that I did that sounds so similar to what they did."

Riku laughed at Mickey's confession.

"I mean - " Mickey looked down. 'The first time after you closed the door to darkness,' He thought. 'The second time when you left Castle Oblivion, you were walking through corridor of darkness.' He was worried for Riku ever since they were separated.

"I ran away only to escape what I had Mickey." Riku told him staring at the horizon.

"To imagine you ran away like that, those words aren't good Riku, the path you chose to take was different," Mickey said. "Isn't that right?"

Riku smiled in a self-contained way.

The small mouse smiled at Riku. He hadn't realized how much he'd grown over the past year. It made the king's heart happy that he was able to let go of the horrible things he had done in the past and let go of the darkness that was inside his heart.

'Ansem and Malificent,' Mickey thought. 'Much more powerful together, with the cover of the great darkness, Riku was in the center of that darkness. However he didn't quit pursuing the light. The strength of Riku did it. Even while being misled by the darkness, he was not able to give up the light. Perhaps because the light pointed to the place it always was inside him.'

"I'm talking about what the three of you did together!" Mickey urged. He then turned seeing Sora.

Sora came running trying to interrupt Riku and Mickey, he stumbled on something and ended up landing face down, directly on the sand.

Everyone laughed at Sora's misfortune.

"It's not funny!" Sora yelled. He tried to get up. However, Donald and Goofy jumped on his back.

"Group pile!" Donald quacked.

"A-hyuck!" Goofy smiled.

"Ack! "Sora was pushed down beneath Goofy and Donald and collapsed onto the beach on his face once again.

"Y-You guys are heavy!" Sora groaned.

"Guess I was wrong," Riku said with a smile. "Hey, how can we talk about things changing, looking at Sora for example?" Riku commented, causing Goofy to laugh. "He never changes."

"You're horrible!" Sora growled.

Donald jumped up from on top of Sora.

"Were you really talking about that King Mickey?" Goofy asked leisurely.

"Come on, how did the conversation go?" Sora asked.

Levina helped Sora up.

"You're definitely clumsy enough to not sound like a hero who saved the world with these three" Kairi who was approaching fast, said with a laugh.

"Hey! Kairi!" Sora pouted.

They laughed together as Sora, complained about the sand that covered him.

Under the stars, the sandy beach near the sea.

There was hours now to spend on this island, listening to the sound of the waves. The fact that Sora and his team were fighting against Xemnas just earlier seemed far away. Xemnas was no more. The world was saved now.

'Is it REALLY true?' Mickey wondered. 'Did we really save the world for good?' Mickey wasn't so sure. He looked at his companions.

"Hey, I'm hungry!" Goofy said.

"Me too" Sora yelled and looked up at Goofy.

"It looks like Sora's only worry is that he's hungry now. Lira scoffed with a smile.

"Are there no yummy things on Destiny Island?" Donald asked.

"I wonder… Do you want to eat the Paopu fruit?" Kairi looked back at Sora as she said it.

"Papou fruit?" Levina asked. She smiled at star shaped fruit hanging from the trees on the island.

"Those look delicious." Donald's mouth began to water.

"It's better than nothing." Lira said.

"That would be great. Sora smiled.

"I'll have one too." Riku said.

Kairi nodded and he started walking.

"We'll go too!" Donald and Goofy followed with Levina and Lira right behind them, Mickey too chased after them.

The rising sun shone down on everyone. Their destines would be intertwined forever.

With Xemnas defeated, Terra began to regain control of what was left of his heart. There was just one problem, Master Xehanort was still lurking in his heart, the same way Ansem Seeker of Darkness, the old master's heartless was inside Riku's heart.

"Darkness rules your heart, Terra," Master Xehanort said. "It gives me control. Muscle and sinew that once obeyed you, now rebels against you. How you can remain here at all confounds the mind."

Terra hatefully glared at the old man in front of him. "It's still my heart," He said flatly. "You think you can just come in and take over? I'm not going to sit by and let that happen." After all Xehanort's already taken so much from him. It was his own fault and stupid behavior that drove Master Xehanort to take control of him so easily.

"Don't even entertain any notions of escaping me, boy," Master Xehanort sneered. "In the end, your heart will be engulfed by mine forever."

"Wrong," Terra replied at the old master's words. "You've already been shown the door, old man."

"As I recall, you couldn't even handle your own darkness," Master Xehanort retorted. "How then will you triumph over mine?"

Terra smiled coyly replying, "You'll find out soon enough."

Master Xehanort stared at Terra for a moment. He felt something inside the boy's heart. A light that was still lingering inside his heart. "Oh? So that's how it is, it?" He looked at the boy. "Someone else has set foot in your heart," That light was eerily familiar to the old man. A familiar friend perhaps. "Eraqus, you sly fox."

"I'm not afraid of what the darkness holds now." Terra replied with a confident smile. "Even if you do wrest control of my heart from me – even if you cast me into the deepest, darkest abyss – you'll never sway me from the one cause that pushes me to keep on fighting. Whatever the cost, I'm ready to pay it."

Master Xehanort was far from impressed by Terra's words. "Brave words, to be sure," He said. "But I'm a patient man. We can take as much time as we need to settle this little property dispute. However, know this – You are just one of the many roads that I might choose to take. Trust me. I made certain of that."

Levina sat next to Lira as the sun had risen on the small island. "So Lira are you alright?" She asked looking at the older woman "...You know about Axel dying ...and being mad at Sora?"

Lira pushed her toes into the sand. "I'm done being mad at Sora, I forgave him," She answered." Doesn't make him any less of an idiot," She laughed. " As for Axel...I saw him when I was taking my test…I don't know what it meant but… he said I would meet him again. It would be nice if it were really true." She gently pushed the smaller girl. "How about you? I noticed that you aren't giving Sora that love sick look anymore. Do I need to kill him again?"

Levina turned around looking Sora. She smiled seeing how he was always sticking by Kairi's side. She laughed as Donald and Goofy pushed the boy into the sand tackling him in a hug. "I don't want to ruin what they have," She said. "I can't change the choice is heart made a long time ago."

Lira smirked. "You can with some perfume and nice underwear." She grinned.

Levina's face flushed. "L-Lira…!" She stammered. "I'm fifteen! I can't do that, I'm too young!"

"I was kidding…," Lira giggled and then smiled. "Well then maybe it's time for you to find a new guy to focus on. One that isn't lost or hung up on some other girl." She looked around, triumphantly pointing at Riku. "Someone like him."

Levina looked over at Riku, who was sitting on the papou tree branch. "Riku?" She blinked shaking her head awkwardly. "I dunno…" She hesitantly replied. "He seems to be really into himself."

"Well can you blame him?" Lira asked. "His two supposed best friends have ditched him for some really awkward looking cuddles. He's probably bored out of his mind."

Levina looked at Riku becoming apprehensive. "He's experienced the darkness," She said with a hint of worry in her voice. "W-What if that darkness gets out of control?"

Lira took Levina's hand giving it a gentle squeeze. "I thought the same thing with Axel...after all how much more dark can you get than being a Nobody? Besides," She shrugged. "All of us have darkness inside. Weren't you listening to the King's speeches?"

"Yeah but…," Levina placed a hand on her chest where her heart was. "The darkness scares me a lot. Everything we've lost was because of the darkness." She frowned.

"See! You guys have a ton in common already!" Lira urged on trying to make Levina talk to Riku at least. "He's lost things, you've lost things. She stood up helping Levina up giving her a firm push. "Go over there already."

"L-Lira wait a second!" Levina stammered falling over in front of Riku. "Owwww…" She groaned.

Riku noticed Levina fall and jumped off the tree branch. "Are you alright?" He awkwardly reached out to help her up.

"Thanks…" Levina smiled. "So how come you're sitting here by yourself?"

"Just enjoying the sunlight after being away from it for so long." Riku answered with a nonchalant smile.

"Yeah, it's really nice here." Levina admitted staring out into the horizon. "It's like you could see forever and the light wouldn't go anywhere."

Riku leaned back against the papou tree branch crossing his arms. "You would have loved it back before all this mess," He told her. "At night the stars would fill the sky and be reflected in the ocean. It was beautiful."

Levina's eyes sparkled at the mention of a star filled sky at night. "Really?!" She cooed. "All thse stars?!"

Lira smiled watching the two talk, she saw Donald and Goofy walk over to her.

"We're heading back to the castle." Goofy told her.

"I hope you come visit us!" Donald hugged Lira.

Lira hugged Donald and Goofy. "Are you kidding?!" She said. "And leave this beautiful beach! I need some R and R!" She jumped into the ocean.

Donald and Goofy smiled.

"Come on Donald, the king's waiting." Goofy said.

"Right," Donald waved at Lira following Goofy to their king who was waiting by the gummi ship.

Once Mickey, Donald, and Goofy arrived at Disney Castle, Jiminy had given the king his journal. There was an odd message inside it.

"Their hurting will be mended when you return to end it." The message read.

Mickey stared at the two journals which were lying side by side on his desk in the safe havens of his castle. Donald and Goofy were watching their king concerned and curious. One journal was filled with the adventures Sora had been through since the day he left Destiny Island to find his friends Riku and Kairi. The other journal just had one message, the others were just blank. Mickey rubbed his head deep in thought.

"Is someone in trouble, your majesty?" Donald spoke finally breaking the silence in his king's study.

"If someone is in trouble we gotta help them!" Goofy said urgently.

Mickey didn't respond to Donald's or Goofy's responses. He just took out a piece of paper and began writing a letter with his quill. Someone was indeed in trouble. Mickey knew all too well who needed help. After all, he was there when it happened. Three close friends were separated and became trapped within the darkness. He placed the message in a bottle and set it down into the moat of the castle. He knew the letter would reach them.

Mickey looked at his two friends. "I've gotta talk to Master Yen Sid." The mouse said. "Keep an eye on things here fellas!" The mouse dashed off to the Mysterious Tower to speak with the elderly Keyblade Master.

Sora walked over to Riku and Levina. He smiled at his friends looking over into the horizon. Kairi was watching Lira allowing the tide to wet her shoes.

Lira swam back to the shore looking at Kairi. "So I hear you can wield a keyblade too?" She asked the red head. "So does that mean you're going to help us on our advenures too? We could use more girls on the team!"

Kaiir smiled blushing sheepishly. "I-I'm not that good when it comes to fighting," She admitted. "I know a little bit, but I'm not as skilled like Sora and Riku are."

Lira placed her hands on her hips. "That's why you've got me!" She grinned proudly. "I'll train you!"

"Really?!" Kairi asked. "You'll train me?"

"Of course!" Lira boasted.

"Thank you." Kairi said graciously and then noticed a bottle wash up on shore hitting her feet. "What's this?" She picked up the bottle.

She and Lira both noticed that the there was a letter inside with the king's insignia.

"Let's go!" Lira said racing over towards Sora, Riku, and Levina.

"Nothing's changed, huh?" Riku asked his friend.

"Nope, nothing will." Sora answered.

"What a small world." Riku said referring to the isolated island.

"Yeah, but part of something much bigger." Sora grinned. "Say what were you two talking about?"

"Not much really." Levina said with a smile. She touched the edge of her wayfinder necklace. She had never been this happy before.

Sora looked up at his friend. "Hey Riku, what do you think that door of light was anyway?"

Riku jumped off the tree branch he was sitting on and faced his friend. "This." He said pointing to Sora's heart.

"This?" Sora repeated looking at his chest and smiled.

"Sora!" Kairi called to her friend.

Sora, Riku, and Levina turned around seeing Kairi and Lira rush over.

"What is it?" Levina asked.

"Look." Kairi gestured them towards the bottle.

They all noticed the king's mark on the letter.

"From the king?" Sora instantly took the bottle from Kairi and began reading the letter.

Aqua finally escaped the Realm of Darkness. She was now in the Dark Margin, between light and dark. The same exact spot where Sora, Riku, and Levina once were. She sat by the darkened shore, but she wasn't alone.

There was a man in a black coat sitting beside her.

"Who are you?" Aqua asked looking at the mysterious man.

"Why hello," The man replied kindly. It was Ansem the Wise. He was brought here when his coding heart machine had exploded. "It's not often I get visitors."

"Please, call me Aqua." The female keyblade wielder told him. "Why are you sitting here all alone in the Realm of Darkness?" She asked. "How did you end up here?"

"Well…," Ansem the Wise began. "I can tell you that this is my second time on these shores. But unfortunately, much like the first, I do not remember who I am or whence I came. Everything was washed away in whatever currents carried me here."

"That's too bad." Aqua frowned. She gazed out into the darkened ocean staring the realm of light from a distance. "I know I've been here a long time, wandering through the endless hours…unable to escape…"

Ansem the Wise looked at Aqua , his face covered from the hood he wore. "You wish to return to your own world?"

Aqua nodded sadly. "It's my friends," She answered honestly. "I'd promised I'd be there for them."

"Your friends?" Ansem the Wise repeated. He stared into the bleak ocean. "Somewhere in the scraps of memories I have left, you remind me of a boy, I once knew. He is very much like you. True to his friends and kind, this boy travels to many worlds and fights to keep the light safe."

Aqua stared at Ansem the Wise confused and concerned. How long was she away for? It seemed like an eternity to her. "What's happening out there? Are the worlds in danger?" She asked.

Ansem the Wise just stared at the emotionless sea continuing on with his words. "Sad to say they nearly fell into darkness more than once, but at every turn that boy arrived with keyblade in hand to save the day."

"Huh?" Aqua asked in surprise. She nearly jolted up curious as to who this boy was. "Wait a sec, is his name Terra or Ven?"

The man shook his head and answered," Neither of those I'm afraid."

Aqua sulked back into the sands praying that her friends were alright. "I should've known…" She sighed.

"How long as it been since I met him?" Ansem the Wise continued speaking. "At least a year now, perhaps more. Back then my heart was clouded with vengeance. I did terrible things. Both to him and his friends. I brought unhappiness to more lives than one. I felt something must be done. Was that why the means of clearing my conscious or perhaps out of a scholarly instinct? While the boy slept his long sleep, I hid the results of my research inside him, transferring the data to where it may best serve a purpose. In fact I would like to believe, maybe he can set things right. A boy like him who touches many hearts. He can open the right door and save all those lives I've managed to ruin. So many are still waiting for their new beginning…Their birth by sleep. Even me," He looked down at Aqua. "…and even you."

Aqua intently listened to the mysterious man's words. "What's this boy's name?"

Ansem the Wise simply replied back, "His name is…"

"I wanted to tell you right away," Mickey's letter read. "About memories from the past that sleep within you and about the pieces that will tie you to your future. Sora, Riku, Kairi, the truth behind the keyblade has found its way through so many people and now I know that it rests within your hearts. Sora, you are who you are, because of those people," The letter was referring to Terra, Aqua, and Ven.

Levina's eyes gazed at the last few words on the letter. She frowned.

"But their hurting," The letter read. "You're the only one who can end their sadness. They need you. It's possible that all your journeys so far have been preparing you for this great new task that's waiting for you. I should have known there were no coincidences, only links in a much larger chain of events and now the door to your next journey is ready to be opened."

Sora tightly clutched the letter in his hands. He was finally home and he had to go away again.

Riku looked at his friend. "You're mind's made up?"

"Yeah." Sora nodded. He looked at Kairi. "Kairi I…," He began.

Kairi gave a wistful nod of understanding.

"It's just…they really need me." Sora told her. "I…," He said looking at Riku, Levina, and Lira. "We have to go. I am who I am because of them."

Riku smiled at his friend's words while Levina tightly held her wayfinder. She could feel her lost friends pain, she was ready to face whatever challenge that was ahead to see them happy again.

Kairi smiled taking Sora's hand, she gave him her wayfinder charm once again for safe keeping. "See you soon." She said.

Mickey had arrived in the Mysterious Tower. He looked at Yen Sid for guidance.

"Master Yen Sid!" The small king spoke. "I think we're finally close to figuring out where Ven's heart is."

"Is that so?" Yen Sid questioned stroking his beard deep in thought. "Then that leaves only Terra." He was about to say more when the door opened. Mickey and Yen Sid saw a teenage boy. His messy brown hair seemed to be filled with sweat and his blue eyes were heavy from exhaustion. The boy wore an orange tunic with a white undershirt, green pants, and long brown boots. He had a small mage hat. The boy dropped his mace to the ground sinking to his knees.

Mickey quickly rushed over to the tired boy helping him to his feet. "Gosh, are you alright?" He asked.

"Hiko…" Yen Sid addressed the tired boy. Hiko was brought to Yen Sid years ago by King Mickey. He frowned. "I trust your venture through the Realm of Darkness did not go well."

The boy named Hiko shook his head. "No Master…," Hiko replied with a small frown.

"The Realm of Darkness?" Mickey asked curiously. "Gosh what were ya trying to do there all by yourself?"

"My test…" Hiko murmured. "Master Yen Sid gave me a task to do. To find the Realm of Darkness, your majesty." He said. "I was eager to finally speak with you. Master Yen Sid wanted me to aid you in your quest. To help find your missing friends."

"But we gotta save all three of them." Mickey said.

"The question is," Yen Sid broke the silence in the room. "What does Xehanort intend to do next?"

Hearing Xehanort's name Mickey replied, "Xehanort? But his two halves were destroyed. There was Ansem, who commanded the Heartless and Xemnas who commanded the Nobodies. Didn't Sora and his friends defeat them both?"

"Correct," Yen Sid told the small king. "Those two met their end. However, there in lies exactly our problem."

"What do you mean, Master Yen Sid?" Hiko asked.

"Their destruction now guarantees, the original Xehanort's reconstruction." Yen Sid answered his student's question.

"Huh?" Mickey gasped.

"Xehanort's heart, once seized by his Heartless half is now free," Yen Sid explained. "And his body which had become his Nobody has been vanquished, both halves will now be returned to the whole. In short, this means Master Xehanort will return."

Mickey sternly looked at his former master. "You think that maybe he's gonna try somethin'?" He asked.

"A man like Xehanort will have left many roads open." Yen Sid said to the small king.

"Well, it doesn't matter what he cooks up!" Mickey replied defiantly. "Me, Sora, Riku, Kairi, Levina, and Lira, we'll be ready!" He looked at Hiko. "I'm sure your student would be more than happy to help out, right?"

Hiko gave a small nod. "Yes of course, your majesty."

"Yes, you are all indeed strong," Yen Sid told Mickey. "But Sora, Riku, Kairi, and Levina are not true Keyblade Masters like you," He looked at Mickey with stern and concern in his voice. "Tell me Mickey, would a single one of you suffice if what you faced was not a single one of him?"

"What?!" Mickey screamed at Yen Sid's words. "What'd ya mean?!"

"Mickey…" Yen Sid urged his former student getting up from his seat. "Please summon Sora hither, Riku, and Levina as well."

"Of course," Mickey replied. "But why?"

"To show us the Mark of Mastery." Yen Sid said.

So what do you guys think of the new OC? He's going to have a very minor role during Dream, Drop, Distance. His origins and characteristics will slowly be revealed in the next story.

I hope you guys are ready for the ridiculous, wild ride that will happen in Dream Drop Distance. I have so many plans for the next fic! All the plot twists! All the shenanigans!

Be on the look out for the next part in my Kingdom Hearts fan-fic series titled, Connections Within Dreams