Me: Apologies for updating a month later! In all fact, I had exams and just needed a break from everything. Anyhow, I'll be updating three chapters today to make up for it so please don't bite my head off.

Sora: Great! You're back! Everyone, let's get into positions!

Shing!

Sora's keyblade struck Leon's gunblade, both weapons pushing against each other in an effort to throw their opponent off balance. Despite putting all her effort into trying to force Leon's gunblade away, Sora found her own strength much more feeble compared to Leon as she started to be pushed back and nearly topple over.

If I can't to that…

Drawing backwards, Sora smirked as she saw Leon stumble, not having expected the 'charge into battle' Sora to pull away. Sora moved forward to claim her opening chance…and then her eyes widened as she saw Leon smirk.

Sora quickly ducked against the buster sword from her side, grimacing as she began dodging against Cloud's attacks, barely being able to land in any hits as she was put on the defensive.

Damn it! I forgot again to keep focused! I can't get cocky!

Sora gritted her teeth as her blade connected with Cloud's, trying to use pure physical force to push him off balance but once again failing just like with Leon.

I can't use the same tactics twice so...

Sora quickly jumped out of the way as she cast the small fire spell right in front of her.

Cloud's eyes widened before he quickly flashed out of the way, a small smirk on his lips as everyone caught a breather.

"We'll stop there for now." Leon frowned. "The Pegasus Cup is in four hours and you still have to look for the keyhole, Sora."

"Right…" Sora nodded, frowning as she put her keyblade away.

I hope I'm strong enough to defeat Maleficent…To defeat Riku…

"You did good." Cloud said from beside her as they wall walked back to the inn, Sora's hands behind her head again.

"But defeating you in the coliseum was a one off…" Sora frowned, referring to the fact that she was struggling to defeat him still.

I just caught Cloud by surprise…That was the only reason I defeated him…

"You still won with your own skills." Leon interjected. "No matter how strong an opponent is, all somebody needs is to catch them off balance to change the tides of the battle."

"I…guess so…" Sora nodded, figuring it did make sense.

"Besides, you're using your brain more which already means you're showing signs of improvement." Leon nodded, a smile on his face as Sora's face twisted a little.

"I…should take that as a compliment, right Leon?" Sora asked, frowning at the 'using your brain more' comment.

"…Yeah."

Back at the inn

Sora grinned as Pluto handed her some more pages from Merlin's book. "You're a really amazing dog, you know that?"

Pluto barked happily before he turned and ran off to probably go do whatever he normally does when running off.

"I'd better go hand these to Merlin…" Sora muttered, briefly wondering about the rest of Ansem's reports that she hadn't collected yet. "I hope they help me find a way to get Kairi's heart back…Riku…"

I wonder…even if we do explain things to him…Will he hate me? Will we…never talk to each other again…?

"…You okay?"

Sora looked up, surprised to find Leon by the door. She thought she'd been alone when Donald and Goofy had left to buy some potions and other items. He must've just walked in.

"Yeah." Sora nodded, frowning again. "Just…thinking, I guess."

"About your friend Riku?" Leon asked, coming into the room.

"Yeah…" Sora swallowed a bit as the thought entered her brain again. "What if…What if he doesn't want to talk to me again after Kairi's heart is restored? What if… What if the darkness in his heart isn't the only thing that's made him annoyed at me? What if he hates me?"

Sora swallowed heavily again.

It was hard to know her best friend was acting like she was worth nothing to him, even if he wasn't himself. She was still worried that once he was back to normal, he'd still hate her anyway.

"Sora." Leon frowned, looking distinctly uncomfortable as he scrambled for words. "While…while your friend is doing it wrong, I…don't think he hates you."

Sora looked up miserably, as if to say something but Leon held a hand up to continue speaking.

"You're both trying to save your other friend and right now, that's all that matters, right?" Leon asked and Sora nodded.

"Yeah but…" Sora frowned again.

"Judging from what you say about Riku, he's a smart kid." Leon said, looking Sora in the eyes. "He will most likely come talk to you after Kairi's been saved anyway to get the whole story. He's bound to see something strange about everything."

Sora looked at the ground again, a weight seemingly lifting off her chest as she digested the information.

He is pretty smart…And we've never stayed mad at each other for long…Leon's right…he's right!

"Thanks Leon." Sora grinned brightly and Leon nodded.

"You're strong Sora." Leon looked ahead before walking on.

"Hehe." Sora grinned before once more picking up the pages from Merlin's book. "Well, I'm off to deliver the pages to Merlin! Tell Donald and Goofy I'll be back in ten minutes!"

With that, Sora rushed ahead of him and zipped out the inn towards the magician's house.

Merlin's house:

"Splendid!" Merlin beamed at Sora as he grabbed the pages from her hand. "Why, this is all of the pages from the book! I must admit, this is amazing!"

"Thank Pluto." Sora smiled as Merlin grabbed the book (it was lying on the book stand) and cast some sort of spell.

The pages glowed briefly for a second before they zoomed out of Merlin's hands, shooting towards the book and being sucked into it.

And Sora went along with them.

Merlin stood stunned for a few seconds, now alone in the empty cavern. The book closed itself and lay innocently back on the bookstand, despite having just sucked in a human being into its pages.

"And I was sure I'd cast the spell correctly…" Merlin muttered as he picked up the book and tried to open it but failing. "Oh dear…Hmm…I'd better go tell Leon and the others…"

Merlin disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving the mysterious book behind.

After a few seconds, the blank cover of the book began to form a picture of an orange-yellow bear, a small pink piglet, an orange tiger that bounced on its tail…and Sora, smiling and walking along with them.

Me: As everyone has no doubt saw, I am not writing the Pooh Bear world. Partly because I never actually enjoyed it myself and partly because it would be awkward to write something like that. But if people really want it written, I may add it as a bonus chapter at the end of the story (kind of like how the manga did it).