Hayner, Pence, Olette, and Namine sit on the sandy beach as they watch keyblades clash. For the past few days, Roxas and Xion have been going through an intense training routine. Long sprints, long excruciating exercise regimes, and many intense sparring sessions.
"You think they're going overboard?" asks Hayner
"Not really. They've been waiting for this moment ever since they left the organization. They can't afford to fail." Namine explains
"Sounds like a lot of pressure." says pence offhand
"It is. But I think they can handle it. They've dealt with worse." Namine responds
"Like that living piece of armor that you guys talked about." Olette remarks
"Didn't you say it almost killed Roxas or something?" asks Hayner, thinking back on that wild story they told.
"Hey! I did not almost die! I totally could've taken that explosion if I needed to- '' before Roxas could finish his sentence, he's hit right in the face with the blunt end of Xion's keyblade. He falls back and lands on the sand below.
"Oh my gosh I'm so sorry are you okay!?" Xion says incredibly quickly as she bends down and offers Roxas a hand.
"I'm alright. . . just stings a little. . ." Roxas says as he grabs Xion's hands. The four observers giggle as Xion pulls her boyfriend off the ground, he rubs his cheek where the keyblade hit him. The two look back at their friends and smile, before turning to look at the horizon. It's getting dark.
"We should probably call it a day. We have to wake up early tomorrow." Says Xion turning and walking towards their friends.
"What!? Waking up early on a weekend? That's lame." says Hayner half-jokingly.
"Hey, we're going with them you know." Olette scolds
"We are!? Wait I mean- Of course, I knew that I just-" the group laughs as Hayner tries to hide his cluelessness
"Of course you guys are coming along. Everyone's gonna be there! I'll be there, So will Master Aqua and Mickey. We may even see the Queen as well, even Leon, Yuffie, Aerith, and Cid are coming once the exam is almost over." says Namine unable to hide her giddiness
"What about Donald and Goofy? And also Cloud and Tifa?" asks Pence.
"Donald and Goofy are going to be stationed here in Twilight Town. They're gonna be guarding Sora in case anything happens here." Roxas explains.
"Cloud and Tifa tend to disappear randomly ever since they dealt with Sephiroth. They may still be dealing with him now, just in some other world," Xion explains. "But who knows, maybe they'll come too if they can."
"Oh, that makes sense," says Pence, his only question being answered. The group packs up their things and walks off the beach, making their way towards their homes. The group says their farewells as Roxas and Hayner split off to go to Hayner's house, while Xion and Namine go with Olette to her place. Pence spends some time alone in the usual spot, tinkering with random electronics, before deciding to go home as well.
The next day, Roxas, Xion, and Namine guide Hayner, Pence, and Olette to the train station.
"Why are we going to the train station? Shouldn't we take the gummi ship to-" asks Hayner, before seeing the strange purple train that Roxas, Xion, and Namine took at the beginning of their journey.
"Master Yen Sid has his ways," says Namine as she enters the train, the rest follow. The train takes off as everyone takes their seat.
"Shouldn't we be waiting for the others?" asks Pence
"No, they're taking their gummi ships to Yen Sid's tower. It's just faster for us to take the train." Xion explains, and not even a moment later, the train stops.
"And we're here!" Says Roxas as the doors open.
"Already? That was fast."Hayner remarks as they get off the train.
Roxas, Xion, and Namine guide the Twilight Town trio through Yen Sid's strange tower, before making their way to Yen Sid's office. They open the door to see Master Mickey, Master Aqua, Kairi, and Riku already waiting for them. It seems they're late.
"Just in time!" says Mickey, as happy as he usually is.
"We're not late?" asks Roxas
"No, Aqua made us come early. . ." Kairi complains.
"It's a big day, better to be early than late," Aqua says with a light smile. Master Yen Sid clears his throat, getting everyone's attention, before motioning Hayner, Pence, Olette, and Namine to take a seat, and for Roxas, Xion, Riku, and Kairi to take their place in front of him. After getting into position, Master Yen Sid speaks.
"As a Keyblade Master, Xehanort had a gift like few others. But such great minds are often plagued by a single great question. What is the essence of the human heart that weakens us, or empowers us? The answer, he believed, would be found in the keyblade war. What if the challenges of our past were, in fact, a map to the light and darkness that battles within us all? Xehanort had to know, so he renounced his duties as master and chose the seeker's life. Since then, in many a guise, he has clashed with protectors of the light- Keyblade wielders like yourselves. And mark my words . . . he will trouble us yet again. We must be ready. Which is why you, Roxas, Xion, Riku, and Kairi, are to be tested for the mark of a true keyblade master. No doubt you fancy yourselves masters already but it normally takes years of training. Only a true master can teach you the proper way." Master Yen Sid turns and motions at Master Aqua.
"Until recently, you four have all been self-taught keyblade wielders, An impressive feat. However, the time has come for you to let go of preconceived notions, forget what you know about the keyblade, and begin your training again with a clean slate." some gasps fill the room as Yen Sid says this.
"For the purpose of this examination, you will be reverted to a state prior to your battles against Xemnas and the remnants of Organization Thirteen." Yen Sid clarifies. "Roxas, Xion. Neither of you two will be able to make use of your drive forms while taking this examination. Riku, Kairi. Your powers of light and darkness will be weakened by the realm in which this examination will take place." Yen Sid explains.
"Realm?" asks Kairi
"Yes. In order to gain the power of waking, you must enter a place known as the sleeping realm, where worlds that have been free from darkness, haven't awoken from the heartless-like state they were in while consumed." Yen Sid says. "Only by reawakening these slumbering worlds, can you gain the power of waking." Yen Sid explains. There's a nod of understanding among the four pupils before Yen Sid speaks again. "Those who study under the keyblade. Are you ready for your examination?" Yen Sid asks
"Yes, Master Yen Sid!" the four exclaim.
"Good. Then allow me to part with you one last thing." says Yen Sid "Mark of Mastery exams are not competitions, but because of the intricacies of the sleeping realm, you will need to be separated into two teams. The first team will be made up of Roxas, and Xion. The second, Riku, and Kairi." Yen Sid explains. "As for why you'll be separated into these teams, well. That is an answer you will find on your own." says the keyblade master. "Anything you wish to say before they leave?" asks Master Yen Sid asks those in the audience.
"Good luck you guys!" says Hayner.
"You can do it," Namine reassures. The four smile before turning back to Master Yen Sid.
"Well then. Roxas, Xion, Riku, Kairi. Your exam starts now!" he exclaims, before a flash of light fills the room, and the four disappear.
The sun beats down on the four keyblade wielders that lay on the sandy beach of Destiny Island. The four open their eyes and push themselves off the ground. For a moment, they look around in confusion, wondering why their examination has started back at Destiny Islands when they finally glance at each other and realize what's different.
"Kairi! You're. . . were you always that short back then?" Riku asks. Kairi looks down at herself and finds that she's much shorter than she was previously. She's wearing the same clothes she wore the day Sora got his keyblade. Riku too is wearing the clothes he wore that day, while Roxas and Xion find themselves back in the familiar black coats dawned by members of Organization Thirteen. All of them have been de-aged a little under two years.
"Aww, man. I don't have any of the muscles I gained during the year you two were gone from Destiny Island. . ." Kairi says as she looks at her skinny body.
"You had muscles?" Riku teased. Kairi pouts as the three laugh a little. The three look around a bit before noticing something on the beach.
"Is that-?" asks Riku
"A raft?" Roxas finishes. They rush over to it and investigate the wooden makeshift boat, with a large sail.
"This is the raft we built with Sora before everything went wrong. . ." Kairi comments, as she runs her hand along the beam that holds the sail. Xion takes a quick look at the island from where she's standing.
"There doesn't seem to be anything or anyone else here. I think we're supposed to take this raft." she deduces.
"Will it even take us anywhere? It doesn't look like it will hold well, especially with four of us crammed on it." Roxas thinks aloud
"Only one way to find out!" says Kairi, embracing the feeling of being a child once more. She tries to push the raft into the ocean, and barely makes any progress before Riku, Roxas, and Xion help out. Eventually, they're sailing the open seas, waiting for what's in store. It doesn't take long for a strange feeling to come over them, as they slowly rest their eyes in the warm sun.
The four awaken suddenly as the raft shakes viciously. Thunder crackles throughout the sky as the dark clouds pour rain from above. Before they can even get up, thunder strikes the raft and the beam holding the sail falls over.
"Riku!" Kairi shouts. She tackles Riku and the two fall to the edge of the raft just as the beam crashes to the raft's floor.
"What's going on!?" asks Roxas as he looks around the storming ocean. As the other three get on their feet, they begin to see what's wrong. Large black and purple tentacles rise from the sea as a familiar laugh echoes in the storm. From the sea emerges the massive sea witch, Ursula.
"Oh, he was right. You wretched guppies are here. Well, it's about time we settled the score!"
"Ursula!? But how- Is this the test?" Asks Roxas, confused as to how Ursula is back to life yet again.
"We can work that out later! We have to take her out!" Yells Riku as he materializes Way to the Dawn. The others nod before materializing their keyblades as well.
"Sorry, dearies, but I won't fall for that trick!" Bellows the sea witch as she casts a water spell. Bubbles form around her before storming the tiny raft. The four scramble as they try to dodge the bubbles without crashing into one another. Kairi and Xion respond by taking aim and casting the strongest blizzard spells they can muster. . . but these blizzard spells are much weaker than they expected. Despite the attacks being weak, Ursula still shows signs of damage as these spells meet their target. She comes closer to the raft and swipes her hands at the keyblade wielders, who duck in time to avoid the attack. The four quickly get back on their feet and slash at the sea witch with all their might, striking her down. The sea witch screams in agony as she falls to the sea once more. The four are almost about to celebrate before a large shadow is cast on the raft, One of Ursula's tentacles crashes into the raft as she falls into the sea, destroying it instantly. The four keyblade wielders are sucked into the sea by the whirlpools below. They struggle with all their might to resurface, but they give into exhaustion in their instinct to breathe and pass out.