(Hi, it's Topaz. This is a pretty short, sort of dull chapter, so hang in there! It goes uphill from here, I promise. Hold on to your hats! -Topaz Fox)

Topaz went on to record a heart-wrenching tale that began on an island of carefree days. The trouble began when Sora had a disturbing dream involving darkness and fear...but there was also a light. A very strange light that talked to Sora in the tonelessvoice of a soul and gave him a weapon and told him to open a door. It seemed a little confusing, but captivating nonetheless.

Sora awoke from his dream later, and that was that...or so he thought. A couple of days later, Sora found a frightening stranger who talked about darkness, and then later the island had been swallowed by the Heartless. Sora got a little choked up in telling how his lost Kairi, his she, and Riku, his rival and dear friend. Sora said he felt, in a way, responsible for their loss, because the dark fiend that had attacked his island was born of Sora's own shadow...born of the jealousy and hate and want in his heart.

The shadow fiend had thrown Sora into a strange world known as Traverse Town. There, he had met up with Donald, Goofy and Jiminy, and also three people named Leon, Aerith and Yuffie. Sora learned about the Heartless and the plight of the worlds, and went on to defeat a powerful Heartless called Guard Armor.

From Traverse Town, Sora went to many worlds and learned many new things. Sora talked of everything he saw: grinning cats who would disappear, cards who acted as soldiers, apes and jaguars, evil hunters, lost dalmatian puppies, heroes and villains and hellish guard dogs, among other things. Sora told of sealing Keyholes, thus protecting the worlds from any further onslaughts of Heartless. He went on to speak of finding Riku in Traverse Town, and later realizing Riku had become a profound enemy. Voyages to even stranger worlds followed: an underwater realm of fish-people, a land in the desert that held glorious riches, a spooky place devoid of color, a pirate ship, and a giant whale who swallowed so much debris that he had created a world in himself.

The hours slid by as everyone lost themselves in this story of adventure. Sora told it so well that Topaz felt as if she were actually there, writing down what she saw. Sora finished with how he and his friends were currently training to travel to a mysterious world where Heartless ruled. It was supposedly the axis of Heartless activity, and was the cause of all the sudden evil in the network of worlds.

As Sora finished his tale, Topaz looked up at the clock. "Whoa! It's past midnight! Oh, I'm sorry for keeping you so long." "You didn't," said Jiminy. "Sora wanted to tell his story, and so he did." Donald stretched. "And what a story it was! Well, still is. I really can't believe we lived through all that!" Sora nodded. "Yeah, it's pretty amazing. Such is the life of a hero, eh?" He laughed.

Goofy said, "Topaz, thanks for lettin' us stay here like this. It was fun!" Topaz smiled. "Yeah, it was." She looked at Sora, happy to finally have a better understanding of him. She caught his eye, and he returned her gaze with a cute smile. He's so sweet. I gotta say, he might rival Cloud in gorgeousness when he gets older. Oh...I hope he helps that girl he's looking for. He...no, they both deserve it.

Everyone climbed back up onto the deck. "Are you sure you don't need a ride back to...wherever?" Topaz asked. Goofy pointed to an iridescent dot in the sky. "The gummi ship's right up there, y'see? We'll be fine." Sora said, "Thanks for letting me talk about everything. I really feel a lot better now." As he looked at Topaz, she noticed his eyes were made up of rings of dark and light blue, making them seem to glow. They were shocking and beautiful. Just like his heart.

Goodbyes were said, and Sora, Goofy and Donald each flew up, up into the night sky. Topaz stood on the Snow Raven's deck and waved until she could see them no more. Finally, she crept back down into her ship and changed into her nightgown. As she lay in bed, drifting off to sleep, she thought, It's truly amazing how so much can happen in twenty-four hours. There are so many possibilities... She marveled at the events of the day until she, at last, drifted into the first deep sleep she had experienced in years.