Me: (runs into room) I HAVE RETURNED!

Digitaldreamer: Zzzz….wha? (pops head out from her little One Piece corner)

Cast: (shakes off dust that had been gathering on them) WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?!?

Me: Heh, sorry, the hiatus thing was only supposed to last a week (sweatdrop)

Digitaldreamer: (crawls back to her One Piece goodness) That's what I always say, hun. It never works out that way. Sometimes it's smarter to just stay in hiding.

Readers: (are lighting torches and sharpening pitchforks)

Me: (gulp) Now is this really necessary?

All: YES DAMN YOU!

Me: Eeek! (runs)

Readers: DIE!!!!

Me: AHHHH!!!!!! (takes computer and runs into a tree) Chapter time!

Readers: WHERE DID SHE GO?!?

Kairi: She's up there! (Points into tree)

Me: You can't get me! Nah nah nah nah nah! (sticks tongue out) Enjoy this chapter; it has nothing but happiness as opposed to my usual angst-filled stuff. READ!

Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to Digitaldreamer as a late birthday present (happy dance) Happy birthday, Digi!

Digitaldreamer: Meh? Wha? Gomu gomu no pistol? Wait..I mean thank you..yeah…. (falls back asleep in One Piece corner)

All: (starts poking dead beta)

Me: Oh just read damn you.

Disney Castle

Nobody moved a muscle. The air was frozen in time. Sora was still trying to decide whether the vision in front of him was real or not. Was this just another dream? He rubbed his eyes furiously, to get out the tears that kept on coming and to wake himself up. But when he looked from behind his hands again, he saw that Donald, Ming Mickey, Queen Minnie, Goofy, and Stewlart had all stepped back, giving him a clear range of his two friends, who both had their own tears of happiness sprouting from their eyes.

"Riku?" Sora asked quietly. The silver-haired teen nodded. He turned slowly to the girl. "Kairi?" he said faintly. She nodded also, standing there and looking as if all her dreams had come true at once. The feeling was the same for Sora who finally came to grips with the situation. Without another word, he launched himself full speed again, and if you saw him you would have wondered how Riku and Kairi didn't die from the impact. ((Digitaldreamer: Kamikaze glomp!))

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE HERE!" Sora yelled as he hugged them; all three had fallen to the floor. But he was too shocked and happy to say anything else. All he could do was cry and laugh at the same time.

Riku and Kairi were equally stunned that they couldn't get past the words "Happy Birthday". They just hugged their friend like someone was going to drag him away from them again if they ever let go. They hadn't seen each other in three years; three long, hard years that, when thought about, was worse then all of their other bad experiences combined.

The rest of the people in the room (Donald, Ming Mickey, Queen Minnie, Goofy, and Stewlart) were all grinning from ear to ear; they had never seen the future king look so happy before.

After around a good five minutes, Riku finally choked out, "Sora, if you don't let go you'll squeeze us to death!"

Sora got off of them with shaking legs, not caring that his cheeks were still wet. He took in their image to see how much they had changed; Riku was
wearing a black, sleeveless muscle shirt with the chinese symbol for 'darkness' on it in red script. He wore baggy dark blue jeans with chain hanging from the pockets. His face was more handsome as well, and what little boyish features he had kept were now completely gone. He was nineteen, after all. His muscles were finely tuned thanks to his daily training. His eyes were less shadowed as well, showing that his heart was gaining back its light.

Kairi's hair now went down to her hips almost, her hair a darker brown then before. Her violet eyes sparkled with ever-lasting youth and now sparkled even more with her tears of joy. She wore a blue jean mini shirt and a silvery tank top with the chinese symbol for "Light" on it, written in black. Over the shirt hung a chain with a crown pendant on it; Sora's necklace; just as he kept hers around his neck.

"I can't believe this," Sora whispered, shaking his head in awe. He decided to go at them one at a time; he turned to Riku.

"You grew," Riku commented, not knowing what else to say; but no words were really needed to describe the connection going through their eyes. Without knowing when, Riku seized Sora into a tight hug, gripping the boys' shoulders.

"I missed you too," Sora said as he hugged him back (Me: Not yaoi, people! Yaoi is good, but this isn't a SXR relationship going on. I'm sorry if that confused you). "I haven't seen you in three damn years...."

"Don't remind me," Riku said, letting go of his best friend. It had been so long since they had seen each other; it was like deja vu, only it was a fact that they've known each other. They had been in touch, but never within distance to actually talk. They both knew what the other one was thinking, their friendship un-tarnished. It was like they booth saw each other yesterday, only they hadn't. (Me: I know this from experience. I thought I lost a good friend, then I saw her two years later. It's a very odd feeling, and I described it the best I could. But to really understand it, you have to be in one of these situations, which you really don't want to be in if you can help it).

Sora smiled shyly as he turned to see the grown Kairi, no longer a young teenager. He lifted a gentle hand and softly brushed her hair. "It grew," he whispered softly.

New tears sprung to her eyes. "SORA!" she cried. She launched herself into his waiting arms, those which gladly accepted her. They held each other as if falling; falling to a terrible fate if they ever let go. She buried her face into his shirt and he held onto her as he softly kissed her forehead.

But there was something else there, too... awkwardness. They had proclaimed their love for each other and had their first kiss three years ago, and then were torn apart. They were separated for a long time and were now brought back together. You can't describe the emotions right now; there was love, their was joy of being together, and there was fear that the other had found someone new, or fear that they had changed their mind. Neither knew what to do so they just kept to hugging; it would due until they figured things out.

"I missed you so much," Kairi whispered.

"I told you I'd come back to you," Sora reminded her softly.

Kairi giggled lightly as they broke their embrace. "In case you haven't noticed, we came to you," she pointed out.

Sora blinked in confusion; she was right. "How did you get here?" Sora asked, not that he really cared.

KIng Mickey sighed and the threesome all jumped; during their reunion they had completely forgotten that the other s were in the room. "Sora, weren't you listening when I explained about the new gummi ship?" King Mickey asked in an exasperated voice that he only used when Sora was being thick-skulled.... well, more thick-skulled then usual, that is.

"No, not really," Sora said, grinning; he never remembered being this happen and he didn't care if he never understood anything about the special gummi ship; as long as Riku and Kairi were really here and not illusions his lonesome heart showed him every now and then.

King Mickey was too over-joyed with a happy Sora to be annoyed.

Riku stepped in. "That ship, the Spectra, can go through the barriers without being deflected or torn up," Riku explained.

"Really?" Sora asked disbelievingly.

"How else would we be here?" Kairi asked, giggling.

"Yeah, the thing swooped down and picked us up," RIku said. "Now is this a birthday present or what?"

Sora laughed. "Hell yeah! But to tell you the truth, I sorta forgot today was my Birthday," he added sheepishly.

Riku glared angrily at King Mickey. "You damn mouse, you've worked him so hard he forgot when his own birthday was!"

King Mickey blushed. "Sorry bout that, I didn't know he was so over-worked. He keeps all of his feelings bottled up inside of him all the time." Ignoring the questioning looks of Kairi and Riku, King Mickey went to, "You two gonna tell him part two of the surprise or should I?"

"Part two?" Sora asked, confused; what could possibly be better then seeing his friends after three years of separation?

Kairi grinned. "Hey Sora, Yuffie and Leon are looking forward to seeing you too."

Sora blinked. "Yuffie and Leon?" he asked, confused. "Are they here too?"

"Nah, they decided to wait for you back at the island," Riku said, smirking at the look of dawning comprehension on his friend's face.

"Back at the island...." Sora whispered faintly.

"That's right," Goofy said. "You're going' back!"

Sora's face lit up like fireworks.

"But only for two weeks...." Stewlart began, but it was too late.

"I'M GOING BACK!" Sora yelled at the top of his lungs. He jumped up into the air; then he stayed up. He was flapping his wings up and down, dancing in the air for joy. "Yes! Yes! Yes! I'm finally getting out of here!"

Riku was laughing so hard he was crying. Kairi, laughing also, pulled down her rejoicing boyfriend and said, "We thought you could use a vacation!"

Sora looked at King Mickey happily. "When can we leave?!"

"In a day or so." King Mickey replied. "That was a long journey, even for the speed of the Spectra. It needs to recharge before it can take you back to the island."

Sora nodded and he grabbed Kairi and Riku's hands. "C'mon, let me show you around," Sora said, tugging his companions out the door.

When the door shut, Donald turned worriedly to his King. "Are you sure this is a good idea, your majesty?" he asked.

King Mickey raised an eyebrow. "What makes you say that?"

"Well, knowing Sora, who I know pretty well now, he won't want to leave. He's so stubborn!"

Goofy laughed. "Oh, don't you worry, Donald! Hyuk, Sora may be stubborn, but he knows what he's gotta do. He'll come back."

"Goofy is right, Donald," Daisy said. "He has matured over the years, he knows his place."

"But Daisy..."

"No 'buts'," Daisy said. "Besides, I think what really is going on here is a bit of jealousy."

"Jealousy?!" Donald quacked. "Hmph, I'm not jealous."

"Of course you're not," King Mickey said, rolling his eyes.

"But sire, there is one more problem," Stewlart said slowly.

"And what's that?" King Mickey asked, starting to get annoyed.

"The door," he whispered. Now it was turn for everybody's face to fall.

"We can't worry about that now," King Mickey said. "It's been three years; I don't think there's anything going on..."

"Your majesty, with all due respect, you can't just brush this aside!" Stewlart snapped. "The number of rogue heartless attacks is growing slowly, more attacks being reported. People are getting worried. What if...." he sighed. "What if something, or someone, is coming out of the door?"

There was a long moments pause before King Mickey said, "Even if something was coming out of the door, we don't even know where to start looking. There is no need to keep Sora here for a reason we can't even find or explain. It's his birthday, Professor Stewlart, you've seen him lately! He's not like you or me; he can't be cooped up all the time. If we force him to stay, if we wouldn't let him go back for even the shortest time, he'll crack. And you know it." King Mickey turned around and walked to the door that led out of the Throne Room. "I'm gonna go get some rooms set up for Riku and Kairi to stay for the night. Call me if you need me." And without another word, he left.

"And he should know that he's moving the boy's happiness in front of his safety," Stewlart muttered, shaking his head sadly.

Hallways

"So what's been going on with you guys lately?"

"Same old, same old. But there was a major uproar when the Spectra ship came."

Sora, Kairi and Riku had been wandering around the castle for a few hours, the talk never stopping. They were now heading down the winding dirt and gravel road towards the village which Kairi had been curious about.

"Why, what happened?" Sora asked quizzically.

"You know the people on Destiny Islands," Riku said, rolling his eyes. "Never used to anything abnormal.''

Kairi giggled. "Your mother wanted to come and pick you up herself, but the pilot stopped her; something about being under strict orders from the King."

"Then Tidus, Wakka and Selphie wanted to come along for the ride." Riku explained. "They've never been in a gummi ship before, so they wanted a ride. When the pilot said no, Tidus tried to hide in the trunk but Wakka eventually pulled him out."

"How is everyone?" Sora asked.

"Psyched to see you," Riku said, laughing. "They seem to be damn proud of having a kid from their world growing up to be King. Think our island deserves some kind of recognition or something."

Sora laughed. They were now in Disney Village and the usual bustling noise met their ears. Shops and houses lined the road as people bargained and walked around, some children clasping their parent's hands. Unlike other worlds, this village had a combination; a combination of people, that is. There were human, then animals (like Donald and Goofy) talking or non talking. Then there were people from other worlds like Agrabah and others who had come here after their home world disappeared. When their world came back, most left but others had chosen to stay. Some people waved to Sora and he waved back, grinning.

"Seem to know you well," Kairi said giggling.

"Yeah, I come down here a lot," Sora explained.

"Ah, what brings the young majesty down here today," Someone said with a bow; it was the new mayor, one whom Sora couldn't get to stop calling him 'majesty'.

Riku sniggered and Sora blushed slightly; finding it embarrassing to be called that in front of his friends. "Nothing, just showing my friends around. And can you please call me 'Sora'?"

"As your young highness wishes," the mayor said with a small bow before walking away.

Sora rolled his eyes as Kairi and Riku started to laugh their heads off.

"Th-they call you 'majesty'!" Riku choked through his laughter.

"Oh shut up," Sora murmured. "You want to see the rest of the village before you die from laughing so hard?"

Riku nodded, still chortling. Kairi was grinning at him. "Don't worry, Sora. We're only playing around."

Sora rolled his eyes and it was then that his stomach grumbled.

"Some things never change," Riku said mockingly, shaking his head.

"Whatever." Sora looked at the digital clock strapped to his wrist. "C'mon, it's 6 'o' clock. You wanna get something to eat?"

"Sure," Riku said, shrugging his shoulders. Kairi nodded in agreement.

The two began walking back towards the Castle when Sora asked, "Hey, where d'ya think you two are going?"

Riku turned around and raised as eyebrow. "We're going back to the Castle."

"You're taking the long way, "Sora pointed out, spreading out his wings. People began to clear a space; they were used to this by now.

"What do you think you're doing?" Kairi asked. "You can't possibly lift two people at the same time!"

"Wanna bet?" Sora asked, smirking. He held out both arms, waiting for Riku and Kairi to grab hold.

"What do you want us to do?" RIku asked cautiously.

"Just grab onto my shoulders," Sora instructed; Linna had come down to show him this procedure incase he ever needed to get more then one person away very quickly. This wasn't an emergency, he just wanted to show both of them what it felt like to fly. Kairi knew, but Riku didn't.

Both Kairi and Riku cautiously gripped onto Sora's shoulders. Then Sora brought up his hands and grasped theirs.

"Just stiffen your arms," Sora said. They both did; it was like a barrier of arms coming from Sora shoulders. Kairi was on his right. Riku on the left.

"You ready?" Sora asked. reaching his wings up high and careful to position them behind him. Sora's arm and wing muscles tightened, making it so that Riku and Kairi were just like extra arms or legs. The two nodded "Let's go!" Sora said, and he brought his wings down fast and hard, sending them rocketing towards the sky.

"Whhooaa!!" Riku yelled. Kairi was laughing, already having experienced the feeling of when you first lift off the ground.

When they were at a high enough point, at a level the same as they cloud, Sora bent his wings slightly so that they were going straight. His wings never stopped flapping; it was hard to keep three bodies in the air.

"This is amazing," Riku murmured, his hand drifting out to lightly touch the cloud.

Kairi laughed out loud at Riku's reaction, which caught the older boy's attention. "I have a feeling you've been flying before, Kairi," he said slyly.

Sora and Kairi both blushed a deep red. Riku laughed. "Relax, you two, just kidding. Even though your faces say everything."

"Oh shut up," Sora teased, purposely rolling to he left so that Riku was left on his side.

"Drop me and I'm dragging you down with me," RIku warned, although he too was smiling.

And as if on cue, they all began to laugh, voices ringing out through the sky. The sun was beginning to set; the sky was cast a burnt orange, turning into blue and then shot pink around a gleaming sun that was halfway into hiding. Clouds sent wisps of vapor on the three friends, who couldn't stop laughing. But who could blame them? They hadn't seen each other for so long, and now they were soaring through the sky with no one else around. Nobody to tell them to come down or to tear them apart. They were all together; all three of them, and it seemed that their long wait was worth every minute.

The End For Now

Me: Sorry, I would have written more but that just seemed like the perfect place to leave it.

Kairi: (blows nose) Such a happy ending!

Riku: We're back (wink)

Sora: THANK GOD!

Me: Sorry for such a long wait, but there was studying, I got sick, baby sitting, not feeling like it, and the list goes on. You can expect the next chapter really really soon! And it will be reeeaaaaaaallllllyy long!

Readers: It had better be!

Digitaldreamer: But..that means I'll have to beta read it! This means less One Piece!

Sora:…Digi, you really need to get un-addicted to that anyway.

Digitaldreamer: I'm NOT addicted! I can stop any time I want….really…

Sora: (holds up Luffy plushie)

Digitaldreamer: LUFFY! (Tacklehugs plushie)

Sora: You can stop any time you want….riiiight.

Me: (sweatdrop) Well, see ya's later. I'm gonna go get some ginger ale (has a bad cold). And are you happy now, Fire? I updated!

Fire: hisses

Me: Don't forget to review and happy late birthday, Digital!

Digitaldreamer: (clutches plushie to chest and crawls away) It's MINE! My own….my PRECIOUS!

Me: Bye! (waves as she goes to try and pry Digital off of the Luffy plushie)