Author's note: Sorry this chapter took so long to get posted. With Christmas and everything, I just didn't have much time. (Also, sorry about the last chapter being so confusing. Events later on will clear it up, possibly.)

Kingdom Hearts: Return of the Heartless

Chap. 14 The Small Cottage

The ship had traveled for a while and there was no sign of a world being nearby.

"The map doesn't show any place for days!" Sora was frusterated.

"But, how did we get to China World so fast?" wondered Kairi.

"Well, we came from Hollow Bastion, and that's far from anywhere," reminded Riku.

"Anywhere but China World. I don't even know if…..was it on the map before we crashed, Sora?"

"No…that means there must be uncharted worlds everywhere. We must be on the other side of the universe by now," Sora was really confused, "We're definitely lost!"

"But, if there are many worlds not even on a map yet, we will find somewhere eventually," Riku pointed out, "…Won't we?"

"Most likely. But, right now, I doubt we'll find somewhere anytime soon."

"Are you sure about that?" Kairi gestured toward a planet only minutes away.

"I guess not."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

They landed in a moon-lit forest with a grand white palace on the horizon.

"This place isn't so bad…" said Kairi.

Sora decided, "C'mon, let's go."

They were on their way, passing tree after tree. Soon, they came upon a small cottage with smoke coming out of the chimney.

"I wonder who lives there," Kairi thought it was awfully tiny.

Riku said, "We should check it out."

Sora knocked on the four-foot high door, and after a moment asked, "Is anyone there?" He slowly turned the doorknob and peeked in, "Hello?"

The door opened, and there stood one of the seven princesses of heart.

"Snow White?" Sora didn't expect to see her, "You live here?"

"Well, actually…no. I have no idea who lives here. I was just lost and I thought I would look around…and I'm getting tired."

"How could you get lost? Don't you live at the castle?"

"The queen…It seems as though she's out to get me…..I'm…kind of on the run from her."

"How awful," thought Kairi.

"Hey, there's someone headed this way," Riku warned.

Whoever it was saw that the door was opened and rushed into the house. Seven dwarfs stood in the entry.

"Who are you, and what are you doing in our cottage?" one of them asked. The others nodded.

"I'm sorry to intrude, but I'm a little lost, and I was…" Snow White started.

"Don't worry about it. Our house is your house," one named Doc told her.

"Where'd you others come from?" Sleepy asked as he yawned.

"Um…we're from Destiny Islands…..in another world," Kairi decided to say.

"Ooooooh…" the dwarfs were in awe.

"That's pretty a…a…achoo!!!" Sneezy sneezed, "…amazing."

Dopey nodded excitedly.

"Who cares! They were trespassing! They should leave!" Grumpy snapped.

"Now, Grumpy…They're our guests. You shouldn't get mad for no reason," Happy pointed out.

"Humph!" Grumpy crossed his arms.

"You have a nice little home," Snow White complimented.

"Aw, shucks. It's nothing special," Bashful blushed.

"Why are you lost, anyway?" Doc wondered.

"I'm running from the queen."

"The queen!" they shouted and all ran to hide…Under tables, behind chairs, or in cupboards.

"No, no. Don't worry. She probably won't find me. I mean, she doesn't know I'm here."

The dwarfs breathed a sigh of relief.

"Let me introduce us," Happy said after he came out from under a couch cushion, "I'm Happy, and this is Doc, Sneezy, Grumpy, Bashful, Sleepy, and…Dopey. He doesn't talk."

Dopey smiled.

"How about you all sleep in our beds upstairs?" Doc suggested, "Don't worry, we'll manage down here."

Author's note: I know that chapter was short and boring, but it's just the events that lead up to the "good" part in the next chapter. You won't be waiting long till it's posted, I promise.