Chapter 4: Traverse Town Revisited
Kairi, Donald, and Goofy manage to return to the Gummi ship and depart from Wonderland. As the planet starts to leave their sight, Kairi pulls out her shell charm and thinks about their lack of success in finding anyone: Alice, the king, and especially Sora and Riku. Kairi wonders where her friends are.
Suddenly, someone behind pinches her cheeks. Kairi looks over to see Donald and Goofy both looking at her. "Don't worry," said Donald. "We'll find them," said Goofy. "There are many more worlds to search," added Donald. Chip and Dale jump on Kairi's shoulder to help cheer her up too. Upon seeing how much they all care, Kairi feels a lot better.
After they land back in Traverse Town, they notice Yuffie leaving Cid's shop. Kairi details their adventures in Wonderland to Yuffie. "We also want to ask Leon something," said Kairi afterward. "Leon's probably training in the basement," replies Yuffie. Then, Yuffie tells Kairi, Donald, and Goofy about a secret pathway hidden in the alley behind the hotel where Kairi first met Leon and Yuffie.
The secret pathway is hidden in an aqueduct. It leads to an underground cave. The three find Leon training just like Yuffie said. They explain to Leon what happens in Wonderland, especially about the keyhole.
"So, you found the keyhole," said Leon. "Yes, the Keyblade lit up and locked it automatically," replies Kairi. "Hidden in every world is a keyhole that leads to the heart of that world. Heartless craves these hearts and should they capture one, that world would disappear," said Leon.
Kairi, Donald, and Goofy are shocked by this. "This is why the Keyblade is so important. Because it has the power to seal the keyholes," said Leon. Kairi looks down at her Keyblade and wonders what other secrets it holds. "You are the only one who can do this," Leon tells Kairi. Kairi could not stop from remember what happened to her home.
Kairi starts to be nervous over having to protect so many worlds. "Don't worry," said an unfamiliar voice behind her. Kairi, Donald, and Goofy look behind to see a woman with twin tails and a tray walking towards them. "You can do it, Kairi," said the woman.
"This is Aerith. She's a friend of ours," explains Leon. Aerith offers lemonade to all of them. After accepting it, Kairi remembers something else. "We also found this strange Gummi block that is different from others," said Kairi. "Ask Cid, he should know," replies Leon.
After finishing their lemonade, Kairi, Donald, and Goofy left Leon and Aerith in the cave and heads to Cid's shop. When they show the gummi block, Cid said, "You fly a Gummi ship, but you don't know what a navigation gummi is?" After signing, Cid responds, "I'll install it, but while I'm working on it, I need you to do something for me."
Kairi and Donald become shocked by this. "Unless you have some money, do you," asked Cid. They stop talking as Cid hands Kairi a book. "I need you to deliver this book," said Cid. "What is it," ask Goofy. Kairi wonders about its contents. "It goes to the old house past Third District," said Cid.
Kairi, Donald, and Goofy head back to the plaza where they defeated the giant armor Heartless and met each other. After looking around, they find a strange door with the pattern of a flame. Before they know, the Keyblade shines, and the door unlocks. The three find a cavern filled with water on the other side of the door.
Stone pillars reaching from the depths to form a path that leads to a little island in the middle of the cavern. Kairi could see a building on the island. Kairi, Donald, and Goofy hop across the pillars towards the house. The house they found was rundown and dirty.
While the three searches for the owner, Kairi hears someone behind talking. "There's something about this place." Kairi turns to see that it is Sora. "Doesn't this remind you of our secret spot," said Sora with his goofy smile. Kairi is stunned by his sudden appearance to even reply.
Then, Kairi hears a big crash behind. Turning her focus from Sora, Kairi look to see an old man with a blue hat and robe. "What a terrible landing. Oh, you are here. So, Cid repairs the book, did he? Excellent," said the old man. Kairi remembers Sora and turns back to see Sora no longer there. Kairi becomes confused and wonders if she saw him.
Then, the old man uses magic to instantly clean the place and set a table with tea and snacks. After settling down at the table, the old man introduces himself. "I am Merlin and as you have seen, I am also a sorcerer." Merlin adds, "Your king ask me to help you." "Where is he," Donald asks Merlin.
"I don't know. But wherever he is, your king is protecting the order of all the worlds," replies Merlin. "He asked me to train you in the art of magic," added Merlin. "Why do I need to learn magic," ask Kairi. "You just beginning to tap into the Keyblade's power. You need to learn to control it," replies Merlin.
After the tea party, Merlin leads the three out. "Come back anytime you need advice. And one more thing," said Merlin as he shows the three the book they delivered. "If you find any missing page from this book, please return it. A book has a world of its own, and it would be sad if it were incomplete," ask Merlin.
As the three returns to the Third District, they start to discuss all the things that they now need to find. Suddenly, a Heartless pounce on Kairi. Kairi struggles to get it off. Before any of them could do anything, someone appears and saves Kairi.
Kairi turns to see her rescuer sees that it was Riku, who is carrying a strange evil-looking sword. "You better be more careful, Kairi," said Riku. Kairi rushes to Riku and hugs him. "Have you seen Sora," Kairi asks Riku. "Isn't he with you? I am sure he has made it off the island, too. He's probably just goofy off somewhere," replies Riku.
Kairi is disappointed that Sora is not here too, but she is glad that Riku is safe. "We'll all be together again soon. Do not worry. Just leave everything to me," said Riku. But just then Kairi sees a Heartless about to pounce on Riku.
Kairi swiftly defeats it and stunned Riku with her combat prowess. "Leave it to who? I learned some tricks while looking for you and Sora with Donald's and Goofy's help. I'm just as strong as you or Sora now," replies Kairi. "Oh, and guess what? Kairi's the Keyblade Master. A-hyuck," added Goofy.
"So, this is called a Keyblade," said Riku. Kairi just notices that Riku is now holding her Keyblade in his hands. "Catch," said Riku as he teleports the Keyblade back into Kairi's hands. Donald and Goofy are surprised at what Riku just did. "So, do you want to come with us? We've got this awesome ship," Kairi exclaimed.
Suddenly, Donald becomes angry and shouts, "Kairi! You can't just decide things on your own!" "But he is, my friend. I am sure Riku wants to join us. Right, Riku?" Kairi replies as she turns back to Riku. But Riku is gone.
Unbeknownst to the three, Riku watches them from a distance along with a lady with horns and a scepter who is sowing seeds of doubt into Riku.
Kairi, Donald, and Goofy have not moved at all after Riku vanished. Kairi feels sad that Riku left without saying anything. "Where did he go? I still had so much to ask him," exclaim Kairi. She tries to call out for him, but Riku did not respond.
Donald and Goofy worry about Kairi but do not know what to do. "It's ok. At least I know he is ok," said Kairi as she walks back to Donald and Goofy. Even though Riku left, it renews her hope that her friends are ok.
Then, Yuffie stumbles upon them. "Are you done with your errand? We're having a strategic meeting," said Yuffie. So, the three decide to follow Yuffie to a "secret hideout" for the meeting. When they get there, they find Aerith, Cid, and Leon sitting around a table. But something is wrong, for some reason all three of them are gloomy.
"What's wrong," asks Kairi. "Have you ever heard of Maleficent? I hear she's in town," replies Leon. Yuffie becomes upset upon hearing. "Who's that," asked Kairi. "She's a witch," replies Cid. "She has been controlling the Heartless for years. She was the one who destroyed our home," add Yuffie.
"Maleficent is probably looking for Ansem's report too. He dedicated his life to studying the Heartless. His report should tell us how to rid of them. But it got scattered when our world was destroyed. She may have most of the pages by now," said Aerith.
"Then let us do it! Let us find the rest of the pages and stop the witch's plan," exclaim Kairi. Kairi knows what they are feeling because she too lost her home. If there is someone purposely destroying worlds, Kairi will try her best to stop them. But Kairi knows that she is not alone, because she has Donald, Goofy, and so many others to help her.
After Cid finishes the installation, Kairi blasts off into space with Donald and Goofy. But as they cruise through space, Kairi could not lose a nagging feeling. Although she was happy to see Riku again, something about it did not feel right.
K Report 4: Fairytale
As the three head toward the next world, the girl could not get over the Heartless' desire for the hearts of worlds. It reminds the girl of something.
Sitting in the lap of an old lady while listening to a story.
Long ago, the world was united and filled with warm light. People loved the light and eventually began fighting over it. Then, darkness found its way into people's hearts. Darkness consumed the heart and light of the people, and in a flash, it spread. The world disappeared into the darkness. But a glimmer of light remained in the hearts of children, they gathered their glimmers of light and recreated the world. The recreated world, however, was no longer united. It was divided into several smaller worlds. Because the true light was still hidden deep within the darkness.
After the end of the story, tears start to fall. Not because of the story, but because of who was telling the story. The girl does not remember who the old lady is, but the girl's heart aches at the old lady. The girl wonders if the old lady is still alive today or if she is even currently worrying about where the girl is right now.
The girl decides to take her mind from this and look back to the three to see them arriving at a strange place.