When the trio returned to Traverse Town, they tried to ask Leon and the others about the Gummi blocks, but they didn't know about them. They suggested asking Cid, but he wasn't present in the store at the moment.
After dropping the puppies off at their home and Amber with Leon and the others, Sora, Donald, and Goofy were ready to go, though Amber wanted to come with them and help. But Donald shut that down quickly.
"Hey, what did you do that for?!" Sora yelled, outraged at the fact that they were denying letting her sister come with them.
"We don't need to have others weighing us down, Sora," Donald responded. "Besides, it would be better if you just left her here where it is safe."
"She's my sister. She's been on adventures before. She can totally help us out," Sora tried to argue.
"She may have a point, Donald," Goofy interrupted. "Maybe Amber can handle herself.
Donald looked a little bit frustrated, but then he started to look somewhat sad. "I'm sorry, but no. She could easily get hurt when we try to find your friends or the king. Keep in mind, Heartless are difficult to defeat. Without the right weapon or spell, they cannot be defeated. My original decision stands. She is not coming with us."
"But-but-but," Sora stuttered, unhappy with Donald's final decision but still wanting to argue for Amber coming with them. But after some thinking, Sora realized that Amber could end up getting into danger like Donald said. So, with great difficulty, Sora accepted Donald's deal. "F-fine. She can stay here in Traverse Town."
After this, Donald and Goofy left Sora in the room to talk to her sister while they stocked up on supplies. As Amber came into the room, Sora could see the remnants of tears in her eyes. This made Sora more upset with Donald than she was before. Before Sora can say something Amber stops her.
"It's ok, Sora. I'm ok. You don't need to worry," Amber reassured.
"But Amber, what Donald said was so mean," Sora protested.
"I know, but what he said was kinda right. I don't want to weigh you guys down so-," Amber said, only to be interrupted by Sora.
"You wouldn't have. You've done so much. You were part of the princess adventure club and you helped Sofia stop Prisma and so much more. You are a hero."
Amber smirked and with confidence said, "I know. As I was saying, I don't want to weigh you guys down so I'm going to learn how to use magic from a wizard that Leon, Yuffie, and Aerith know so the next time you're back I can prove that duck wrong and help find our family and everyone else."
Sora smiled and gave Amber a big hug. After talking for a little bit more, Aerith and Bailiwick gave them refreshments and Leon and Yuffie gave them reassurance they will hold down the fort here and keep an eye out. After saying their goodbyes for now, Sora left the room. Not wanting to see Donald and Goofy, Sora decides to look around Traverse Town for the dalmatian puppies and items from chests while also talking to Kairi, Ven, and Vani.
Sora? Are you okay?
Yeah. You seem to be a lot more tense than you are letting on to other people.
"I'm fine," Sora said, she said more to herself than to Kairi and Vanitas.
You don't seem fine. Are you sure you don't have any issues?
"I don't have any issues right now."
You do know that if you have any problems you can tell us. So go ahead. Tell us what's bothering you. Please.
"Well, I don't know why, but I am having conflicting feelings about Amber not coming. Don't get me wrong. I'm happy that Amber is fine and am angry at Donald for not wanting her to come. But I also am feeling somewhat relieved at knowing Amber isn't coming and I don't know why."
Maybe you're just relieved that she is out of danger.
Or maybe...maybe you don't want her to interfere.
"What? What do you mean?" Sora was confused.
Well, since you were young you wanted to be able to have a life that didn't compare you to your siblings. Maybe you didn't want Amber to come because you want to be the hero this time.
"I don't know if that is true or not. Maybe? I don't want to be selfish. After all, our family and friends are in danger and we may need all the help we can get to do so," Sora explained. "So, with that said, can we please talk about something else?"
Wanting to distract herself, Sora went around and found more of the puppies and items like potions and elixirs. She then dropped the puppies off at their house. The parents were so appreciative that they gave Sora some presents. Sora was surprised but took the presents graciously and thanked was so happy that she was able to reunite more of the family. Sora then went to look for Donald and Goofy and found them outside of Cid's shop ready for the journey ahead.
The black shadows gathered around a stone pedestal. In the center of it was a ring of light, showing a vision of Sora,Donald, and Goofy.
"That little squirt took down another Heartless! Who'd a thunk!"
"What's that now, three?"
"And the brat's friends are the king's lackys. Swoggle me eyes, they're all bilge rats by the look of them…"
"You're no prize yourself."
"Shut up!"
The man in a black cape, with a staff shaped like a snake, and the man in a great red hat with a feather in it and a piece of shape curved metal in place of his left hand- Jafar and Hook- had begun to argue. A third chilly voice cut them off. "Enough."
This was Maleficent in a cloak as black as the shadows.
"That is the power of the Keyblade. The girl's strength is not her own," She walked toward the ring of light on the pedestal and raised her staff to it.
"Why not turn her into a Heartless? That'll settle this quick enough!" Said Hook with a cruel grin.
With a sweep of her cloak, Maleficent smiled. "The Keyblade has chosen her. Will it be she who conquers the darkness? Or will the darkness swallow her? Either way, she could be quite useful."
The shadowy figures all peered closely at the image of Sora.
"At any rate- what could have drawn the Heartless into a jungle like that?" Hook wondered.
Maleficent answered without looking away from the ring of light, "The hunter lured them. His own lust for power became the bait."
"A weak hearted fool like him stood no chance against the Heartless, said Jafar, raising his snake- headed staff and moving toward Maleficent. "But the girl is a problem. She has been finding the Keyholes."
"It will take him ages to find the rest," Maleficent replied, her gaze still locked on Sora, Donald, and Goofy in the ring of light. "Besides, he remains blissfully unaware of other plan."
"The princesses…," Hook said, folding his arms.
"Yes. They are falling into our hands one by one. And speaking of which…" Maleficent gestured with her staff to the prisoner, who had gone missing in Wonderland- Alice.
Sora, Donald, and Goofy approached a temple on top of clouds with the Gummi Ship, with two soldiers with clashing swords on top of the temple.
Sora was barely listening while Donald and goofy talked.
"Hey Donald, do you think something is wrong with Sora? She's been a lot more quiet lately," Goofy asked in concern.
"I don't know. Maybe we should ask her if she is alright," Donald suggested.
"Okay then. I'll ask her. Hey Sora! Are you okay?!" Goofy called out for the girl to hear. Unfortunately, while Sora did hear him, she refused to respond seeing as how she was still on bad terms with him and Donald. The lack of a response concerned the two of them greatly.
They soon landed when they got out they found themselves in a courtyard outside a coliseum. Sora, Donald, and Goofy were quick to notice the entrance to the coliseum.
Hey, Sora. I've been here before.
"Really? You have?" Sora was surprised.
Yeah. I wonder if Hercules and Phil are here. I wonder if Zack is here.
"So, who are these people? They sound like very good friends of yours."
They are, even though haven't known them for long. Hercules and Zack were both training to be heroes and Phil was Herc's trainer. Phil is also a satyr, or a goat man if you don't know what that is.
Well, maybe Phil can help you become a better hero.
Like we need someone to tell us Sora is a hero.
"Yeah, I guess," Sora answered.
"Sora! We're going to enter the coliseum! Are you ready to come with us?!" Goofy called out for Sora. Realizing that he didn't have much time, he said goodbye to the others before leaving to follow the duo. Before going in, Sora found three of the dalmatian puppies.
Upon getting inside, they noticed a satyr named Phil who was quick to tell them, " Good timing. Can you go ahead and move this for me? We need to spruce this place up for the games." Donald, Goofy, and Sora looked at each other, confused by the order, but Sora decided to comply and tried to move the pedestal only for it to prove to be far too heavy for the Keyblade wielder.
Sora pointed out how, "It's way too heavy."
"What? Too heavy? Since when were you one to-," Phil said, only to stop upon seeing that it wasn't Hercules he was talking to. "Oh, I got the wrong guy. Get lost you three. I'm busy preparing the coliseum for the games."
"So, what are these games?" Sora asked out of curiosity.
"Picture this, heroes from all over to fight in the games for the top spot. Aw, what am I explaining this to you three for? Get lost," Phil bluntly said.
"Hey, I've faced several monsters," Sora countered.
"Yeah, you see, Sora here is a hero chosen by the Keyblade," Goofy said on Sora's behalf.
"And we're heroes too," Donald also claimed.
"Hero?! That runt?!" Phil proceeded to laugh out loud at this claim. "If you can't even move this then you can forget calling yourself a hero," Phil said as he tried and failed to move the pedestal. "Okay, so maybe it takes more than brawns to be a hero," Phil admitted. "I guess if you want to be heroes that badly, I can help to train you."
"Yes!" Sora cried out.
"We'll be heroes in no time!" Donald echoed the sentiment.
"Hold on you guys, it ain't easy to become heroes," Phil warned. "It takes a lot to become true heroes, and we have to start with basics."
"Basics like?" Goofy asked.
"Basics like breaking all of these pots within one minute," Phil answered as the trio were led to the arena, which was currently empty save for a bunch of pots on an obstacle course. "Now get to work." Sora completed the task with plenty of time to spare, which seemed to impress Phil. "Wow, you ain't bad kid."
"Well, looks like I'll be heading to the games," Sora said with utmost confidence.
"I'm afraid not, you guys," Phil bluntly stated.
"Aw, why not?" Sora wanted to know.
"Two words. You guys ain't heroes," Phil answered as Goofy counted the amount of words Phil said on his fingers.
"Hey! We can be heroes easy!" Donald protested.
"Look, if you really want to be heroes that badly, why don't you start off by learning this spell." And so Phil taught both Sora and Donald to use Thunder magic. "Now, scram. I have to train a real hero now. We can continue work later." Before the trio could ask who he was to train, they saw a young adult walk into the arena. One that Sora was quick to recognize.
"James?! You're here?! And a hero?!" Sora called out in shock and relief upon seeing her older brother.
"Sora! I was so worried! Are you ok? You're not hurt are you?" James questioned his sister.
"I'm fine. I was looking for you, hoping you were okay. Looks like you are. So, how did you get roped into being a hero?" Sora wondered.
"Oh, I just told Phil what I accomplished in the past and he was quick to test me and call me a hero! Isn't that great?!" James said in excitement.
"Yeah. Great." Sora said a bit uneasily.
"Hey Sora! Who is this?" Donald was quick to ask, wanting to know how he knew this young man.
"This is James, and he is my brother," Sora simply answered, not wanting to let them know he was a prince.
"Yeah, and I'm-," James said only to be interrupted by Sora.
"A true hero. One picked out by Phil to likely be the best in the upcoming games," Sora interrupted, hoping that James wouldn't blab and reveal that they were royalty.
"Um, okay? Well, hopefully you will be able to watch me compete in the games. They'll be great. Afterwards, we can look for everyone else, okay?" James said as Sora, Donald, and Goofy left the arena.
As they got outside to wait for the games to begin, they were approached by a blue being wearing black robes and had blue flames for hair. "Rather a stubborn old goat, wouldn't you say?"
"Huh? Are you talking to us?" Goofy asked.
"Yeah, I'm talking to you. Listen, I just so happened to come by a little piece of paper that I believe belongs with you guys, just sit here for a moment," the strange man said as he magically produced a pass into the games.
"A pass?!" Sora was ecstatic.
"Yeah, just see it as a vote of confidence. No charge. The happiness of you and your friends is thanks enough," the strange man said before he suddenly disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"Well, looks like we can compete in the games after all," Donald was as ecstatic as Sora was.
"Let's go tell Phil!" Sora yelled as the trio went inside and showed the pass to Phil. "Hey, Phil! Look what we have!"
"Wait, a pass?! Where did the three of you get one?!" Phil was beyond shocked.
"A fan gave it to us. Well, since we have it, we can compete in the games, right?" Donald asked.
"Uh, fine. You can compete. Just be careful not to get yourselves or anyone else hurt," Phil warned.
"You got it, Phil," Goofy happily laughed.
Sora, Donald, and Goofy were fighting their way through the games. To their surprise and shock, all their opponents were Heartless which just confused Sora. At the second to last round, they faced off against a blonde man named Cloud. While they got a few good hits in, they were ultimately no match for the warrior. The final round matchup was to be Cloud against James. The battle was a mighty clash between the two seasoned warriors. However, before a victor could be decided, a giant three-headed dog named Cerberus suddenly entered the arena. Hercules, a great hero who had left to visit his father, arrived to help Cloud and James fight off the giant dog.
Sora, Donald, and Goofy fled from the arena, but Sora was worried about her brother as well as Cloud and Hercules. Not wanting them to get hurt, Sora, Donald, and Goofy returned to the arena to fight off Cerberus. During this time, Sora realized she had the power of animalistic abilities, which she didn't know how she got. She started to figure out about the animalistic abilities when she said she wished she had the speed of a cheetah, much to her confusion. At first, the trio fought the giant dog like they were fighting a Heartless. However, as time passed, Sora realized that the dog wasn't evil and defeated the dog not through force but with love and patience.
"And thus, I hereby dub thee junior heroes, granting you future access to participate in thine games. Further-," Phil was giving the trio junior hero status for their actions.
"Hey, what do you mean junior heroes?" Donald asked, unhappy with the lesser status than hero.
"You rookies still don't have what it takes to be true heroes," Phil explained.
"So, what do we have to do to become heroes?" Sora asked.
"Well, that is something that you will have to figure out, just like I did," Hercules said.
With no games going on for some time, Sora, James, Donald, and Goofy were ready to leave but before leaving, they all worked together to move the pedestal. Underneath it, they found the Keyhole and proceeded to lock it. When she locked it, Sora noticed her amulet glow, much to her confusion. Sora couldn't help but wonder if her amulet also glowed when she locked the other Keyholes.
With nothing else to do right now, Sora and company left this world with James, though not before talking to Cloud outside. Cloud was looking for something and Hades lied and said he could help in exchange for eliminating Hercules. After leaving, Hades ranted to himself about Hercules. Maleficent arrived only for Hades to shoo her out and let him deal with Hercules, Sora, Donald, and Goofy himself.