As the Stars Fade

Pre-Act 1;

x.x.x

It was the same every night. The sun set. Its warmth shifted to the coolness of night. Stars twinkled in a dazzling lightshow. Somewhere out there, kids were probably gathering on hilltops, rooftops, and toddling out of beds to peek out their windows while their parents dozed the night away. He could picture tiny voices quacking away, begging their Uncle Scrooge to let them borrow his top of the line telescope, plated in gold. So what if a few stars disappeared? It was part of a star's lifespan according to the astrology books.

But there was nothing natural about this.

It started off slow. One or two stars blinked out every few months. It coulda been a fluke, but Mickey knew better. Even after all these years, the sight of shivering citizens gathered along cobblestone streets etched itself into his mind. Tear-stained cheeks, bodies huddled together under tattered blankets. Children whispering and whimpering for the pals they left behind… A once beautiful castle smothered in shadows and smog. Flower gardens trampled. Piles of splintered wood, shattered stone, and ash where tiny cottages once stood…

Clueless, Mickey missed it all. Instead of diving in to save the day, he was off hopping from world to world, seeking out familiar faces in the vague hope that she'd saved her friend. Gosh, he missed Aqua. They'd barely known each other, but now, with darkness crawling across the sky, now, with one world after the other falling into oblivion… In the wake of all these disasters, he'd give anything for a helping hand. Keyblade Master or not, he was just one mouse. There was no way he could end this on his own…

A soft wind tickled the treetops of the nearby pines. The grass shivered. The clouds danced, brushing over the orange glimmers along the horizon. A few new holes punctured the quilt of stars above his head, but the tower itself stood proud as ever. No cracks lined its tan exterior or the blue spires decorated with stars and crescent moons. The windows shone with a fresh layer of polish, and the shadows surrounding the trees, the steps, and the spires sat still. No yellow eyes glared, threatening to burst from the darkness.

Rubbing his baggy eyes, Mickey trudged up the stairs, nudged the doors open with his elbow, and made a sluggish climb up the spiraling stairway leading to Yen Sid's chamber. When he finally arrived, he was met with his former Master sipping tea from the seat at his wide, wooden desk. Steam slithered out of a teapot patterned with stars and moons, and a second cup sat just a few inches away. For a few moments, Mickey boggled at the sight. Had Yen Sid expected him?

Wait, that was silly. Of course he did, so when a tiny armchair burst from a puff of smoke, Mickey released a soft, tired giggle and pulled himself onto the cushions.

"Gosh, I guess there's no keepin' secrets from you…"

"Mm… I mean no disrespect, Mickey, but you're far from unpredictable." He passed him the second teacup before sliding back into his chair and folding his hands along the table. "Make no mistake; I am grateful for your company, but even heroes need rest."

"But the worlds—"

He lifted his hand. "True, the worlds are facing great peril, but how will you serve them if you push yourself to exhaustion? I can tell just by looking at you that you have scarcely slept at all…"

"But I…" Mickey looked down at his teacup, frowning at his reflection and squeezing the cup in both hands. "I know I oughta pace myself, but what if one of the worlds goes out when I'm not lookin'? There aren't a lot of us Keybearers left… If I don't do somethin'—"

"You cannot save every world singlehandedly." No, of course not. One look out the star-shaped window proved as much. Even from a distance, he could make out at least two dozen white specks. Finding Keyholes took time. Travel, too. Just getting from world to world could take hours at a time, sometimes even days.

And in times like these, every day was precious.

Wilting, Mickey released a sigh that sent waves across his tea. "Well, what else can I do? I've been lookin' all over, but no matter where I go, there's no sign of Aqua anywhere… Ven's probably still sleepin', and even if I found an apprentice, I'd have to train 'em before I even thought about sendin' them out there."

Maleficent, the Heartless, even the dangers of each world were too much for an inexperienced kid to face alone. Maybe if he sent Donald and Goofy, it'd be easier, but he'd still have to find someone! No matter what, there was no easy fix. No get outta jail card. The burdens from all those poor, innocent people stacked one by one on Mickey's shoulders like a mountain of bricks, anvils, and boulders.

As Mickey spoke, Yen Sid stroked his bushy beard. Briefly, he peered toward a nearby window, then sipped his own cup of tea. Wrinkles lined his forehead, and his lips pulled into a tight frown. "That may not be necessary."

"Huh?" Mickey perked up, back straight and shoulders squared. "Well, what else can we do?"

"We simply approach this problem from another angle…" He flicked his hands, lighting the table with a small, glowing circle. At the center, two tiny figures appeared: a tall, slender woman with blue hair, and a muscled man with shoulder-length brown hair. Each of them wore pieces of armor alongside clothes marked with crisscrossing straps and a heart-shaped pendant. The sight of them made Mickey wince, chest twinging.

Still, he let Yen Sid continue. "It is true that Terra, Aqua, and Ventus have disappeared for one reason or another. However, both Terra and Aqua possessed the skills of Keyblade Masters, even if Terra lacked the title." Another wave of his hand made the figures flicker away, replaced with a small, floating Keyblade. "The stars have implied that another Keyblade wielder exists, though where I cannot say for certain. However, even a single Keyblade could mark the difference between oblivion and salvation…"

The news made Mickey fumble his cup, though he snapped it up at the last second and set it aside. His lips started to perk, not quite a smile yet, and he dashed from the chair straight to his old Master's desk. "Then I'd better start lookin' right away!"

"Hmm… But what if I told you there was a way to end this madness and restore all worlds?"

"I'd take it!" Why wouldn't he? This mess had been going on for way too long. "But, uh… What would I have to do?"

The Keyblade rippled and vanished from the circle. In its place, a set of white double door arose. "Seek out the Door to Light, enter the Realm of Darkness, and search for the Keyblade within. If a Keyblade from the Realm of Light and a Keyblade of darkness come together, the door to the deepest darkness will close, and peace will be restored."

Folding his arms, Mickey tilted his head and looked down at his feet. It'd been ages since he'd cracked open the old history books, but based on his hazy memories of his training days, wasn't the Realm of Darkness… savage? A bleak landscape under an endlessly cloudy sky, filled with nothing but bloodthirsty shadows as far as they eye could see. If a map existed, it'd long since been lost. Even if he found the Door to Light, he'd be walking in blindfolded and feeling his way through a maze.

"Minnie isn't gonna like this…" But she'd understand. His duties to his kingdom paled compared to the worlds at large, and it wasn't like this was anything new. He'd been running off on wild adventures for ages now, and every step of the way, she offered support through her warm embrace, gentle smile, and words of encouragement. She'd held the kingdom together like paper and glue.

And maybe it wouldn't be so bad! Sure, the place was uncharted, but who's to say he wouldn't stumble into that Keyblade a few miles from the door? Sure, it could take weeks, months, maybe even years, but there was no guarantee! And no matter what, he owed the worlds and all the pals he'd made a chance at a peaceful life. Leon, Cid, Aerith, Yuffie, Jiminy, the Fairy Godmother, and the countless other's he'd met on his quest.

Even… Ansem would want this, wouldn't he? After all, his world was one of the first to fall apart. If he was still out there, maybe he was searching for a solution, too. Somewhere in the shadows, unseen and unheard…

For the worlds and for the future, he needed to pursue this path, but what about the other Keybearer? Didn't he owe them an explanation? Some guidance? But then, where would he search? Brow furrowed, Mickey paced in a small circle, tapping his chin all the while. He had connections. Others to lead the way… And even if he disappeared for a while, surely Donald and Goofy could stand by their side.

But what would they say if they knew what he had planned?

Slumping, he tucked his hands into his pockets and shook his head. "No, I can't start doubting myself. If this is what it takes to save the worlds, then I'll do it! After all, ain't it a Master's job to put the worlds before everything else?"

"That it is, but…" He paused, eying the window once more. His gaze lingered there for what seemed like hours, though in reality it was probably closer to a minute. Tension gripped at his face, though despite the wrinkles lining his features, he maintained a steady tone of voice. "Before you commit to this endeavor, there is something you should know…"

"Well, I'm all ears." He pointed to one of his laugh, tittering. Sadly, the laughter failed to soften the sorcerer's features.

Instead, his scowl only deepened. "Once you seal the door, it will be difficult to return. There is a chance you will end up trapped in darkness, sealed away with the Heartless…"

His words wiped the smile off Mickey's face. His hands balled up, and he cast a glance at a nearby pot, back slightly arched. He gulped, but forced a nod nonetheless. "I don't care what happens to me. This isn't about my problems… So many folks have been suffering, and if I can bring even a little happiness back, well… It'll have all been worth it in the end."

Even if it meant leaving his love, his castle, his friends, and family… Even if it meant saying goodbye to the sun, to the stars, to the beauty of the worlds. If that was what it came to, at least another hero would push forward in his place.

But that was if. Who really knew for sure? He could worry about the aftermath later. For now, he needed to prepare, starting with a trip to Traverse Town.

By the time he returned to his castle, the sun had vanished, replaced with the moon's cool glow. Rather than slip through the front gates, Mickey tip toed through the gardens out back, sidling against the walls and gently pushing his way through the doors. He slunk through the torch lit halls, pressing a finger to his lips when armored dogs turned his way. Eventually, he reached a set of humungous doors. Through the doors, he passed twin paintings depicting a mouse dressed in a feathered cap, cravat, and long red jacket and another mouse clad in buckskin clothes with a scruffy mustache and a walking stick in hand.

A golden fireplace glimmered with dying embers. Bookshelves stretched across the back wall, behind a wooden desk and a golden dog bed, from which Pluto came trampling across the floor. Tail wagging, he tackled Mickey onto the floor, and while he patted his trusty pet and scratched behind his ears, he soon nudged him away.

"Shh, Pluto. We gotta stay quiet; I don't wanna wake the others." Pluto made a salute with one of his ears, then planted himself beside Mickey. "Aw, I knew I could count on you, pal! Now, sit tight, all right? I've got a very important job for you."

First, however, he hauled himself into the chair, dug through the desk, and plucked out a fresh sheet of paper, a feathered quill, and a bottle of black ink. For the next several minutes, he hunched over the page, scratching his cheek between words, clicking his tongue. Who to tell… Well, as the royal magician, Donald was probably the best authority to teach the kid new spells. And as captain of the guard, Goofy's loyalty and strength ensured the kid's safety, no matter where they roamed.

Bit by bit, he pieced the letter together, until it read:

'Donald,

Sorry to rush off without sayin' goodbye, but there's big trouble brewin'. Not sure why, but the stars have been blinkin' out, one by one. And that means disaster can't be far behind. I hate to leave you all but I've gotta go check into it. There's someone with a "key"—the key to our survival. So

I need you and Goofy to find him, and stick with him. Got it? We need that

key or we're doomed! So go to Traverse Town and find Leon. He'll point you

in the right direction.

P.S. Would ya apologize to Minnie for me? Thanks, pal.'

He rolled the scroll up and stamped his emblem on the base, then whistled for Pluto to come closer. After setting down the message, he leaned in and whispered, "I gotta leave for a little while, so promise me you'll give this to Donald."

Pluto barked and nodded his head, and Mickey offered him one last pat.

"Thanks, pal."

With his message made, he strode out into the night, to his ship, then to the sky.

With luck, those fallen stars would reignite.