A/N:  For those of you who are still reading this, (if I haven't scared everyone away yet…-_-;) this chapter is a lot more serious. (No barfbag required, lol.) There will be crazy chapters, serious chapters, and action-packed chapters but it all follows the same storyline.

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Chapter 7 – Action in Agrabah

Agrabah/Market

Sora and the team stepped through the World Transporter. They ended up in the market in Agrabah.

Ever since Aladdin became Sultan here, poverty has been completely erased. There was joy in the air. Everyone in the area seemed to be happy.

The open-air market was bustling with tourists from all over the Universe. Colorful scarves were draped everywhere, decorating the buildings, making everything seem even more bright and beautiful in a magical foreign way. But yet it was hot and crowded, taking away from the pleasurable sights and scenery.

Sora took charge of the group. "Alright, we'll split up and meet back at the Inn at 5 o'clock, got it?" Everyone nodded. "Selphie and Wakka, go examine the markets. Report if you see or hear anything suspicious." Sora instructed.

"Got'cha covered, man." Wakka nodded, and then grinned at Selphie.

"Tidus and Donald go look around the alleyways and the village area, and me and Goofy will check out the Palace. Everyone cool with that?" Sora asked as he glanced around at the team.

"Yep! Let's get busy."

Tidus spoke up. "Hey guys! If you need help, just whistle. We'll come running."

"Great idea, man!" Wakka snickered. 'Tidus and his whistle fascination…'

And they were off, in their teams of two.

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Selphie and Wakka's Situation: Market

Wakka wiped the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand. "Man. It sure is HOT in these parts."

"Yah. You're telling me. But we're near a desert, what do you expect?...Oooh, look at that!" Selphie exclaimed as she spotted a merchant stand in a hidden alley. There were beautiful jewelry items on display there that attracted her. The shop owner was wearing a strange black hooded robe and was waving his crooked hands over a crystal ball. Curious as ever, Selphie wandered off into the alley.

Wakka hadn't noticed her leave. Instead, he started searching for clues. A gold, shiny necklace in a nearby shop caught his eye. "Hey Selphie, isn't that Kairi's necklace?...Selphie?!" He looked around him, but Selphie was nowhere to be found.

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Tidus and Donald's Situation: Village

Tidus quickly looked around the area. "Hmm…this place gives me the creeps. People dress awfully funny, and--"

Donald was ignoring Tidus. "Who cares? We have a mission to be doing and…whoa!" Donald tripped on some litter.

Tidus laughed. Donald glared at him. "Not funny. Why did I get stuck with you?"

A girl with short dark red hair and brilliant indigo eyes walked by them giggling and waving a see-through purple scarf. Her jewelry made a clinking noise as she walked. You could swear that she looked like an ordinary Agrabah village girl but there was something too familiar…

Tidus and Donald watched her, open-mouthed, as she walked, or rather, danced by. She disappeared into an alleyway.

Donald shook his head and smacked Tidus up-side the head. "Snap out of it, fool! That was HER!" They chased after the girl.

Tidus seemed determined. "Wait up! Can I at least get your number?"

Donald smacked Tidus again as they ran into the alley…

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Sora and Goofy's Situation: Palace

Sora and Goofy were sitting in the Palace Guestroom, happy to be out of the burning heat. Aladdin was busy at the moment, but Jasmine happily welcomed them.

"So, you're looking for Kairi? And Ansem? Hmm…I'm afraid that I've heard of no-one here under the descriptions of those two individuals that you've mentioned. Truly sorry." Jasmine told them.

Sora sighed. "This is great. We're never going to--"

He was cut off by a girl's scream: Selphie's scream.

Goofy shuddered. "We've got trouble…"

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Wakka ran into the Storage Room where the scream was heard. Selphie was crouched in a corner there, shivering in fear. Wakka ran up to her. "Selphie, what's wrong?"

Selphie pointed to a carpet. The carpet moved!

Wakka's eyes went wide in shock. "What the--"

Sora and Goofy came running in. "What's going on? Are you guys okay?" Sora noticed that the carpet freaked them out, "Oh, this is what's scaring you? That's just Aladdin's magic carpet. It's harmless." Sora explained.

Selphie trembled. "I was…about to go check out this neat shop, but this carpet picked me up and brought me here."

Sora's eyebrows lowered in concentration. "The carpet knows something."

The carpet gestured a 'yes' signal and started acting hysterical. All of a sudden Abu, Aladdin's royal monkey pet, popped out of a vase. Everyone jumped in surprise. Abu started making wild movements and jumping up and down frantically.

Sora tapped his chin. "The monkey knows something, too. But how can we get information from a monkey and a carpet? Can anyone translate?"

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"Darn it! It's a dead end." Donald looked ticked.

"But where did she go?" Tidus wondered. They both looked around the area with suspicion. "Something fishy's goin' on here…"

They blinked and all of a sudden a merchant stand appeared right there out of thin air. Silver and gold sparkling jewels were on display. Kairi was there too, standing next to the black-robed shopkeeper. She had a purple scarf covering her face. She motioned for Donald and Tidus to come over.

"Kairi? Is that you?" Tidus crept closer. Kairi backed away, looking nervous.

Donald rushed to her, grabbed her wrist and attempted to drag her out of the alley. "Come on, Kairi. Let's take you back--"

Suddenly there was an odd sensation in the atmosphere. The black-robed shopkeeper took off his hood. Tidus and Donald gasped.

It was Merlin. His eyes were red with no pupils. He looked hideous.

Kairi managed to get free of Donald's grip and ran out of the alley. She bumped into someone.

Guess who? None other than the Keyblade Master himself, Sora.

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TBC – Now we're getting somewhere. There's so many unanswered questions…don't worry. All will be clear soon… ;)