Sora looked to Aleisa who still lied unconcious on the ground at his feet, then glanced to the floating marble of indentions to his left. He walked to the end of the cliff where it hung after removing the two crystal earrings from Aleisa's pocket and inserted them and the pendant into the center cavity one by one.
The sky turned dark. What was the blue lights that shone in the distance under the pink sky had all turned to a dirty gray, then a deep black. He backed from the stone as is disappeared with the shining crystals inserted, and a small portal of light grew larger into a silver embroidered door the color of lavender. Knelling to Aleisa's side, he heaved her onto his back and slowly pulled open the door when he heard a familiar squeal.
"Sora!" it called, and he turned to see Donald's beak pressing out of a black hole that floated in the air. He was forced ahead by Goofy, and all four of them fell forward into the unknown darkness beyond the large door. When they had pressed through inside, the doors slammed behind them and disappeared.
"Aleisa?" Goofy said as he helped Sora off of the ground, Aleisa left motionless, lying there.
"What happened to her?" Donald said. He shook his head, and looked to Sora. "Hey, you tried to leave us behind!"
"How did you get here?" Sora asked with wide eyes.
"The portal from Balamb Garden sent us into a dark place," Goofy explained. "There was some unknown cloaked guy who showed us the way through the darkness. He was the only one who could see in it."
"You don't think it's..?" Sora started.
"Don't worry, it's not Ansem," Donald reassured. "Or at least, I don't think it was. He wasn't speaking in riddles and it didn't sound like him."
"Why do you seem so worried, Sora? He's gone, remember?" Goofy said.
"I saw a cloaked man on Gaia, or at least, I thought I did, but when I turned to confront him, he disappeared."
"I don't think he's gonna show back up," Goofy chuckled.
"You're avoiding my question, Sora!" Donald quacked. "Why did you leave us!"
"You were getting in my way," Sora admitted sternly.
"Told ya," Goofy whispered to Donald.
"Aw, shut up," Donald said, pressing Goofy's big nose away from his face. "We have to follow the keyblade wielder! That was the King's orders! Haven't you forgotten? You could've put yourself in danger!"
"I don't wanna be the keyblade wielder anymore!" Sora cried. "There are others to take care of that job for me!"
"Others..?" Goofy said quietly.
"What are you babbling about now?" Donald asked.
"Some red headed guy said that he was a former keyblade wielder. He said there's someone I know who is a keyblade wielder and.. someone Kairi knows?"
"You think Aleisa might know who it is if Kairi knows who he is?" Donald asked.
"I dunno," Sora replied, "but I doubt it. They've been away from each other for many years, remember?" Sora stared off into the darkness. "But what worries me is that Riku, Kairi, and I were the only ones on that island. Well, there was Tidus, Selphie, and Wakka, as well."
"But why would he say that it was someone only Kairi knew and not either of you knew?" Donald questioned.
"He didn't say that only Kairi knew him, but-"
"How do you know it's a guy?" Goofy said.
"I doubt it's a girl, Goofy," Donald answered, frowning.
Sora scratched his head. "Yeah, sorry to say, but I don't think girls have the strength." Sora paused. "He mentioned that the one Kairi knows is unpure, or he said something of the sort. Wakka and Tidus were good people, right?"
"So who does that leave?" Goofy asked himself.
"Remember that people are often moved to other worlds after a Heartless attack?" Sora heard someone say. He looked down to Aleisa as she sat up. "Kairi was moved to your island after the Heartless came, right?" She slowly opened her eyes and rubbed them. She blinked. "Where are we?"
"Are you okay, Aleisa?" Donald asked.
Aleisa's eyes widened. "How did you guys get back?" She looked around in the darkness. "Where are we?"
"Kingdom Hearts," answered a voice that trailed off not far from them.
"Who's there?" Sora asked, swinging out his keyblade. In the distance, a light emitted from a door that opened slowly. Was this indeed Kingdom Hearts? In front of the light between the crack was a figure dressed in a dark cloak.
"Axel?" Sora asked, holding his keyblade firmly.
The figure laughed. "You're so naive. You always have been." It walked closer and the doors from behind flew open. The endless room of darkness illuminated and the figure fell to his knees to cover his face from the light. "Ah, damn it!" he yelped.
"Who are you?" Aleisa asked.
The hooded man looked up to Aleisa, whose eyes were wide with fear. He gasped. "Kairi?"
"Stay away from Aleisa," Sora said, moving at front to guard her.
The young man frowned. "So, the rumor is true."
"Are you one of the keyblade wielders?" Goofy asked.
He smirked. "Actually, I am." He held out his arm and a sharp, mauve colored keyblade fell into his hand. He swung it to his front. "Where is Kairi?" he asked.
"Why do you wanna know?" Sora challenged.
"Fool. I'm going to the same destination as you." By this time, the light from Kingdom Hearts had dimmed down, and the cloaked man removed his hood. Long, silver locks of hair fell to his shoulders, and he removed a blindfold that had been suppressing his blue eyes.
When Sora saw his face, his jaw dropped, as well as the keyblade in his hand.