Authors Note: This is a chapter taking place inside Kingdom Hearts, with Riku and Mickey, and of course, Unknown, our hooded friend at the end.

Elsewhere

Riku looked around. Trapped. Inside Kingdom Hearts. What about Kairi? What about Sora? What would happen to them, now that he was gone?

What about himself?

King Mickey just stood there, looking around, as if this was the most interesting place in the world, and Riku suspected, it probably was. But he was so worried about his friends, they were lost, and he was trapped, and it was likely that he was going to die. He struggled against the door again, trying to force it open, when a hand was upon his shoulder. It was King Mickey, and he had a sad smile on his face. We're trapped, ol' chum it said, and Riku nodded, bowing before the king. Mickey just smiled.

"It looks like we're trapped--"

"Ol' chum." Riku finished, amazed he knew what Mickey was going to say next. Mickey was surprised too. Then he looked around him once more, and realization set upon him. Kingdom Hearts. He was in the Hearts of all worlds. Everything, anything was possible here. Even mind reading, or telepathy, or whatever. Everyone was so closely bound to Kingdom Hearts that it was extremely possible to see exactly what anyone thought.

"I guess you're right, Riku." Mickey said, reading Riku's thoughts, which just confirmed everything. Well not everything.

"Say, King Mickey-"

"Mickey, please."

"Mickey, do you think we can read the thoughts of other people outside of here?"

"Not likely, pal. I tried with Minnie; can't get anything, not even radio." The king chuckled sadly at his own joke. Riku shrugged and looked around him once more.

"So, we're trapped? Just like that? To die here?"

"Not exactly. I don't think we can die here. I think, I think we stay here, and protect the Heart. We're the Guardians, you could say, until the worlds become too evil again, and the Heartless comes."

Riku looked at his hands, and Mickey's. Neither them had a weapon.

"Yeah, that's right. The Keyblades disappeared after Kingdom Hearts was sealed. Maybe, maybe this time we won't need to fight. Maybe this time, we'll just sit back." Mickey said, not happily.

"And never die, and never see our friends again." Riku said, bitterly. Maybe not.

It wasn't King Mickey's thought, or even his own.

"Who unlocked Kingdom Hearts in the first place?" Riku asked a few minutes later, making conversation. Mickey shrugged.

"I believe it was Ansem. Though, how one person could have so much power-..."

No.

"Then who was it?" Mickey asked, puzzled. Riku shrugged. I didn't answer. He thought to himself. Mickey gave a startled look. Oh yea, Mickey could hear him too.

It was I who opened the door. I can open many doors, and I opened Kingdom Hearts especially. It was I who opened the door to Destiny Islands. I came through myself. The Keyblade Master, he saw me. But not enough, not to know who I am. But, I've come for you again. There are other worlds then this, my friend. You are on the wrong side of the universe.

What the Hell? Something was talking, in their minds, and Riku and Mickey both looked around puzzled.

I will unlock the door again. But this side, this side. Much more power, much more evil. Another side, another story.

"What are you talking about? Who are you?" Riku shouted, looking around. Kingdom Hearts was still closed. No one had come in, but now-

A door was there, in the middle.

A door, where there was nothing before.

A door...to other worlds.

You guess right, Ex-Keyblade Master. This is a door, to other worlds, other sides.

A click, and the door was unlocked. A keyblade was in Riku's hand as soon as the sound reached his ears; same with Mickey's. Mickey had the Oathkeeper; Riku, his original keyblade. Mickey grasped the concept at once.

"You want us to go through and lock the door, don't you? What fun is that, if we lock your doors? Why give us the power to do so?"

Go through, and find out, my dear 'King'.

Riku took a few steps, but Mickey held him tight.

"Don't go through, not yet, it could be dangerous." The king warned Riku. But the door, it was so inviting...Something, anything, could be on the other side, and it had to be better then an eternity in Kingdom Hearts.

Go through, Riku. Kairi and Sora are waiting.

"That's it, I'm going through." Riku said, and walked towards the door. Mickey rushed at him, but it was too late, and the boy threw open the doors; a swallowing darkness engulfed them. Mickey cried out.

"What is this place?!"

This is the world in its true form.