Sora ran up the stairs in Master Yen Sid's tower. After he said goodbye to the Dream Eaters that he had created during his dive into the sleeping worlds, he was finally ready to begin his next journey. His heart was pumping hard within his chest from both the excitement of a new adventure and running up the steep steps of the tower. A large grin was plastered on his face, he could not wait to pair up with Donald and Goofy to take on whatever dangers that the worlds and Master Xehanort had in store for them. The Trinity of Goofs was back, and it was time to kick serious heartless tail.

Sora burst through the doors to the study, expecting to see Donald and Goofy waiting for him there patiently, but only Master Yen Sid inhabited the room, with his classically etched frown.

"Did everyone leave already?" Sora nervously asked. His heart dropped into his stomach, he at least wanted to say goodbye to Kairi and Riku before they all had to part ways.

"Not quite, in light of recent events, I am straying away from my previous plan," the older keyblade master mused, stroking his long grey beard.

Sora gave Master Yen Side a quizzical look, wondering what he could possibly mean. There was an odd twinkle in the stoic wizard's eye that Sora had never seen before. The old wizard chuckled.

"You will find out soon enough,"

"Move ya big palooka!" screeched a familiar raspy voice behind the doorway.

"I'm sorry Donald, I just can't help looking at the winda and seeing how purdy the stars are, hyuck!"

"C'mon you two let's get moving, I can't wait another second," the voice was feminine and sounded incredibly impatient about the star gazing that was happening outside of the study. The excitement that filled the tower was thick, everyone within was anxious to find out what Master Yen Side and fate had in store for them.

The door opened into his study and in walked the highly temperamental, short, Disney Castle Court Magicians in all his splendor. Donald was muttering to himself about constantly having to deal with nitwits and he was just about ready to pluck out all his feathers. After him walked in the tall dogman and Disney Castle's own Captain of the Knights, Goofy. He seemed happy like usual and was incredibly excited to start another adventure with his trio of friends. The final person who walked through the door made Sora's heart skip. Just seeing her auburn hair, vibrant indigo eyes and cute smile was enough to make him get a little weak in the knees and his heart to thunder in his chest.

He had never felt this way before when he saw her. He always had the symptom of being infatuated with her, he could never deny that he thought Kairi was pretty. He would never admit to her, but he did have a small crush on her, but this feeling is different. Something howling within him, demanding that he notice it. Gosh, what is wrong with me?

"Now, I have had some changes of heart," Master Yen Sid's voice boomed over those in front of him. Everyone quieted their mutters and silent thoughts and turned their eyes toward Yen Sid.

"I have thought deeply about the dilemma that we have at hand, the strength of Xehanort and his cohorts is undeterminable. I am afraid the original training I had for Lea and Kairi under Merlin will be detrimental in the long run," he took a pause and looked towards the young male before him. "Sora, you will not be venturing with Donald and Goofy this time around," the sentence was met with Donald's loud high pitch quacking and Sora's exasperated 'what'. Kairi was shocked for a moment as well until she began to piece together what this implied.

"Now, now, I realize that you three have a bond that can never be broken, but these are dire times. Think of this as a chance to expand your fighting repertoire, learn new fighting styles with new friends and comrades. We need a new strategy, and we need all the keyblade wielders to master their fighting skills. Sora, you have lost the power of waking, and your own power and strength along with it. While you are not exactly weak, you are not as strong as you were before you started the Mark of Mastery Exam. You have much to gain and much to learn. I believe that by pairing you with Kairi, not only will you guide her to her own mastery, but this will help rebuild and strengthen the skills that you have forgotten,"

"Master, why are you separating us? Why can't Donald and Goofy come with Kairi and I?"

"Because Donald and Goofy will be accompanying Lea. While he may be experienced in the art of combat, he has much to learn about wielding a keyblade. What two better teachers than the ones who taught you so much on your first journey?"

"Master Yen Sid, we only have one Gummi ship how are we gonna go separate ways?" Goofy pondered bringing forth his gloved hand to his mouth.

"You big palooka, Lea went to Twilight Town with Riku and the King originally when he and Kairi were going to train under Merlin. Then we grabbed her and brought her back here. So, Lea will probably bring back a ship for us to use," Donald quacked loudly in Goofy's ears. The court magician's eyes then narrowed slightly, and he chuckled mischievously. He whispered to Goofy "And probably a better ship at that, the Highwind is a little outdated,"

Goofy looked at Donald and a big toothy grin and snickered behind his gloved hands. While they were going to miss Sora, the chance to speed throughout space was highly tantalizing.

"Donald, Goofy, go to the landing on the tower grounds and wait for Lea there, I must debrief these two younglings,"

Donald and Goofy turned to Yen Sid and bowed. Both run up to his desk and shook his old, gnarled hands. Sora watched as Yen Sid muttered something to the two Disney Castle residence, they both nodded and head toward the tower door. As Donald passed by Sora, he whispered something that he could barely hear.

"Be a good boy Sora, protect her and most importantly you need to respect her," Donald lowered his voice so that only Sora could hear, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do,"

Donald eyed Kairi for a second then turned his gaze back to Sora. Sora blushed a deep red and couldn't believe what he was implying. Goofy stood at the door waiting for Donald to come to join him on begin their travels.

"Goodbye you two! Safe Journey and good luck!" Donald and Goofy exclaimed at the same time.

"Now," Yen Sid's gaze fell back on Sora and Kairi. They both stood up straighter than they had before and looked anxiously at the powerful, retired Keyblade Master before them. "In order to defeat Xehanort there are gather allies we must gather acting now to rouse them from their slumber. We have discussed this before Sora. Your Mark of Mastery exam was conducted in the hopes you would acquire the power to wake them.,"

Kairi looked to Sora and as he bowed down. In all the years that she had known Sora she had never known him to fail. She knew that he was trying to cover up how he felt, but she could sense the shame radiating from him. She went to grab his hand and gave it a small squeeze. Sora turned his gaze towards her and gave her small squeeze back.

"Sora, when Xehanort almost made you his vessel he stripped you of most of the power you had gained by then. I suspect that you have already felt this. There's someone who lost his strength and found it again, a true hero to whom you ought to pay a visit. Perhaps he can point you in the right direction,"

Sora being the goofball that he is started to pose like great Greek heroes that he had seen on the Olympian Grounds. Kairi giggled at his antics.

"Maybe this hero has the key to restoring the power that you have lost. Now Kairi," his powerful stare bore into her soul. "You may find that points in your journey are exhausting or too much for you to manage. Look to the young man standing beside you,"

Kairi and Sora turned towards each other and studied each other's face. He gave her a reassuring smile and a gave her a thumbs up.

"Sora will be your support system and the much-needed pillar for you to rely upon. Just as Kairi will be yours Sora. I want you both to know that I would never have set you out on this journey if I believed it was beyond your power and capabilities. Kairi, Sora has embarked on a journey with no set skills and had to learn from Donald, Goofy and those who he encountered along his journey. Now, you will learn from him and those who you both meets. You will help each other become powerful and learn new abilities along the way. Go forth," Yen Sid said to the two. Both stood up straight and bowed towards the Master. Sora spun on his heel and ran out of the door. Just as Kairi was about to follow suit, she heard softly spoken words.

"May your heart be your guiding key,"