"I almost had the boy in my hands again. But his friends care too much," Sephiroth said.
"Oh don't worry. I have one of his friends. And she's working on another," Maleficent said,
"And besides. He's almost to the forest. He'll come to us there." Maleficent laughed.
"We could get him there sooner you know."
"No. He's got plenty of time. As long as he gets there before the desert, we'll be fine. Or else he'll forget his friends. No. we can't afford that. Let him take his time," Maleficent said.
"He found a piece of heart," Sephiroth said.
"Good. One less we have to find."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Sora."
"Yeah?"
"Do you know where we are going?" Cloud asked.
"No. I just go where the Keyblade leads me."
They stepped out of the portal. They were in a place with a bunch of tents.
"Where's your uniform?"
"Huh?" Sora exclaimed as he turned around.
"The captain won't be happy," the person said, sizing up Sora and Cloud.
Sora looked at his feet. A dragon like creature was running around in circles around his feet.
"Hey! Stop it!" Sora exclaimed.
Sora tried to move away from the dragon creature.
"Oh. I am so sorry. Mushu. Come here."
"Is that you Sora?" the dragon creature asked.
Sora nodded.
"Whoa! Don't you remember. You could summon me in battle. At least until my world was restored," Mushu said.
"Oh."
Sora put his hands behind his head. A bell chimed somewhere.
"Oh no. Mulan. I'll be in the tent. Later."
Mushu left.
"So your names Sora?" the girl asked.
"Yup!"
"I'm Mulan. When our world was restored, Mushu couldn't stop talking about you."
"Oh nice to know I'm known," Sora said.
"What's that suppose to mean?" Mulan asked.
"This is drill time. You pay attention or- Oh. It's just a kid. What are you doing here?"
"None of your business," Sora replied.
"It is if you're on my training ground."
"I don't even want to be here. But I have to. I'm looking for someone."
"Who? Your girlfriend?"
"No. a very good friend. Actually two," Sora said.
Sora closed his eyes. He saw Kairi on a block of sand. He was on another. They were being separated. He heard himself calling to her. "I'll come back!" Sora opened his eyes.
"Get in line!"
"No! I'll fight you first!"
Everyone gasped. No one had ever challenged the captain before.
"With what weapon?"
"This."
Sora stuck out his hand. The Keyblade appeared in his hand.
"Okay. But first fight this guy."
Riku stepped out of a tent.
"Riku!" Sora gasped.
"Not Riku. But Riku."
"Will you fight him or not?"
"I will."
Sora got into his fighting stance.
"But first I need someone to watch us."
Riku snapped his fingers. Kairi appeared.
"Now let's fight."
Cloud was forced out of a fighting ring. A bell chimed for the fight to begin. Riku first used Strike Raid. Sora managed to jump over Riku.
"For you," he whispered.
Sora then Ragnarok. Then he used Ars Arcanum. Riku used Strike Raid again. As he was bringing his sword down on Sora, Sora used guard.
"I don't think so Riku."
Sora somehow combined Ars Arcanum, Strike Raid, Ragnarok, and Sonic Blade into one attack. Riku staggered.
"No. that's not possible. You can't combine all those attacks. All my research."
Riku collapsed. In his place was Sephiroth. He got up.
"There is no way to destroy the Keyblade," Sora said.
"You'll see. Sooner than we anticipated."
Sephiroth went through a dark portal.
"Go Sora!" Cloud yelled.
"Get out!" the captain yelled.
Sora and Cloud ran into the surrounding forest. When they knew they were safe, they slowed to a walk.
"Why did you let me come?" Cloud asked.
"I'm not," Sora said.
Cloud looked at him, surprised.
"Kairi's letting you come with me. I follow my heart. But it's not mine. It's Kairi's."
Sora saw stars falling from the sky. He started to cry.
"Cloud… (sniff)… tell me you'd rather… (sniff)… be with Aerith instead… (sniff)… of me."
Sora looked at Cloud.
"I can't."
"Please say it."
Cloud looked at Sora's face. Not only could you see every bone, but his face was getting paler by the minute.
"No Sora. I can't say that. I may love Aerith, but you're my friend."
"You can't be my friend."
"Why?" Cloud asked.
"Because I don't need friends," Sora said.
"You always need friends."
"Cloud. Go home. Home to Aerith. Tell her that you love her. And don't let go of her. Keep her safe," Sora said.
"But you need me more."
"No. I don't."
Sora made a portal for Cloud to go through. Cloud saw Aerith and Yuffie. He looked at Sora. Sora nodded.
"Go."
Cloud walked through the portal.
