DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING EXCEPT THE PLOT AND MY ORIGINAL CHARACTERS!

A/N: HI THERE! CHAPTER 53 HAS COME, AND YOU HAVE ARRIVED JUST IN TIME TO SEE IT FOR YOURSELVES!

So, I Sincerely Hope you all had a pleasant, and safe, Thanksgiving this past week(end)! I did, and it was a LOT of fun to see relatives and chit-chat about this, that, and the other!

No, I have not seen Disney's "Encanto (2021)" yet, so please do not leave any spoilers regarding it in any reviews for any stories on here.
I plan on seeing it myself next weekend.

PLEASE NOTE - This Chapter might sound Very similar to "Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth By Sleep -A Fragmentary Passage-", yet I can assure you, that is merely a coincidence. True, I did use some of the lines for it for one of the scenes, yet that was only because I wished to ensure everybody stayed in character. In the original Storyline Summary, those scenes were similar, yet still different enough to tell a difference between This Story and the actual video games' official storyline.

That aside, I do not have much to say today / tonight, aside from this,
PLEASE READ AND REVIEW TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT!

CHAPTER 53
Fragmented Recollections

Silence had fallen upon Master Yen Sid's study. Riku was taken aback. His friend, Mickey, the King of Disney Castle, had just informed everyone in the room that he had once encountered two of the missing Keyblade wielders they were searching for. At some point, the anthropomorphic mouse had seen them someplace deep in the Realm of Darkness. Could it be? Were both Aqua and Shelly still trapped in such a desolate place?

"Are you serious?" Niccole asked, also startled by the announcement.

Violet stepped up the Mickey. She knelt and looked him straight in the eye. "His declaration is sincere," she reassured the others.

"Yup!" Mickey approved.

Lea crossed his arms. "But if they're in there, then how will we…. "

Kairi raised her hand. Her Keyblade appeared in it. "I'll go there and bring them back!"

"Wait!" Riku spoke up. "We don't even know where in the Darkness they are."

"He's right," Niccole agreed. She turned to Mickey. "Can you tell us what happened?"

Mickey gave a nod. "It was back when the worlds were in trouble. I went into the Realm of Darkness to help seal the Door To Darkness from the other side, and then…. "

Riku, Niccole, Lea, Kairi, and Violet all listened intently as the Keyblade Master told them his tale.

The Realm of Darkness was pitch dark, an expectation given the location's identity. It was so dark, in fact, one could feel it trying to barge into their soul. Not even the purest of hearts would be able to avoid such a problem. On top of that, there was a sickening stench lingering in the air all around the region. To most people, it would have smelled like a combination of methane, illness, and a gas chamber from the World War II era.

To Mickey Mouse, it was merely a minor inconvenience. He trudged along quickly across the musky-feeling ground, his Keyblade in hand. The way ahead seemed to diverge into multiple directions. He stopped for a quick second, trying to sense which path the Door To Darkness was down. "Hmm…. "

A sparkle of Light caught his eye. Something bluish. Although he knew it would be only a matter of time before the Darkness passing through the doorway became too great for Sora and Riku to handle, he could not help yet notice this Light. It felt familiar… could it be hers?

Mickey hopped down the trail leading to the right. It wound itself around and around a few times before the King realized he was running along a figure-eight section. He turned to see the Light. With one swift movement, he jumped into the air and extended his free hand. The tiny, metallic trinket landed into his gloved palm. The blue, star-shaped Wayfinder with its tiny loop of string stole his memory. "No way!" he looked up. "Aqua!"

Drifting on her back a few yards above was the blue-haired Keyblade Master Mickey had last seen nearly ten years prior. Her clothing had not changed, nor had she aged a day. Still, she lay on her back, slowly sinking into the abyss. Her eyes were closed, and her breathing was getting slower. Mickey put his Keyblade away reached out his hands. Aqua silently drifted downward, allowing him to catch her. "Aqua, are you okay?" he said.

Aqua stirred for a second. She opened her eyes and looked around. When she saw Mickey by her side, her pupils lit up. "Mickey?"

Mickey leaped through the abyss, shifting the pair's course to the path he had come from. He landed very smoothly upon the mushy ground and helped Aqua return to her feet. Once she had managed to regain her balance, he handed her the Wayfinder.

That was when the questions started. "Mickey," Aqua started to say. "How did you…. What are you doing here? What happened? Is everything alright?"

Mickey held up his hands. "Please, Aqua! I know it's been a while, but one question at a time."

Aqua smiled. "Yes, of course," she looked up in a hurry. "Wait! Terra! Ven!"

No matter how loudly the young called out, there was not a response sent back.

Mickey looked around and his face grew serious and alert. "No time to talk!" he declared, summoning his Keyblade. "Look out!"

Aqua whirled around in time to see a swarm of Shadowy Heartless coming their way. She summoned her Keyblade. To Mickey's surprise, it did not look anything like the weapon he had last seen her using. It was similar in design to a gray skeleton key with an "E"-shaped blade for the teeth. Though he wanted to know what had become of her bluish weapon, he knew there was not a second to lose.

The two Keybladers set their focus onto the incoming Heartless. When the enemies charged straight at them, the pair darted to the sides and flanked the swarm. Hit after hit from their Keyblades knocked Shadow Heartless after Shadow Heartless out of the bunch. The swarm spun around, coming at them again. Once more, Mickey and Aqua stepped to the sidelines and attacked the Heartless one by one. "This is tough," Aqua gasped for breath after a few rounds of this repetitive fighting. "Stupid dwellers of Darkness."

"They're called 'Heartless,'" Mickey shouted in correction. "Watch out! Here it comes!"

The Heartless swarm had flown into the air and was coming in for a heavy crash-landing upon the two. Mickey and Aqua jumped as high as they could just before the horde smashed into the ground. Once again, they let their Keyblades do the talking. When the swarm came at them yet again, Mickey rushed at the Heartless and smashed his Keyblade through the middle near the base. The swarm snapped in half. Aqua ran and leaped into the air. She brought her Keyblade down upon the scrambling base. The whole thing shattered into a multitude of Shadow Heartless.

After those last two attacks, the swarm had endured more than enough and moved on deeper into the abyss. Mickey and Aqua stopped to catch their breaths. "Gosh," Mickey said. "I never thought I'd find ya in the Realm of Darkness, Aqua. That's for sure. What happened?"

Aqua turned to the mouse. "Have you seen Terra or Ven?"

Mickey shook his head. "No, just you."

Aqua fell to the ground in a deep sigh. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "The Darkness in this place… it's getting to me."

"Oh," Mickey looked down for second, then he looked back up again. He strolled up to his friend and placed his hand on her shoulder. "But, you'll be okay. Say, we've been looking for ya a long time. How come you're in this place?"

Aqua gazed at the King. "First, tell me — how long's it been in the Realm of Light? Time doesn't move here."

"About ten years."

"Interesting…. After we last spoke, I took Ven somewhere safe, and then I went after Terra."

"Did ya find him?"

Aqua nodded. "Yes, but he was about to fall to Darkness, so I had one choice," she looked at her Wayfinder, holding the trinket up into the starless sky above. "I took his place, and I stayed here in hopes of giving him a chance."

Mickey turned away. "I… didn't know."

Aqua rose to her feet. "How 'bout you? What could've brought you here? Has something happened in the Realm of Light?"

Mickey turned to his friend, a sorrowful expression on his face. "It's the Heartless," he explained. "They've been attacking worlds and taking their hearts, and worlds without hearts vanish into the Darkness."

Aqua's eyes lit up. "So that's why the castle, the mirror, and the forest were here…. "

"But," Mickey went on. "If we can lock the door between the Realm of Light and the Realm of Darkness from both sides, we can protect the other worlds. We may also be able to bring back all the lost worlds by closing it. I came here to find the key to the Darkness — the one for this side."

Aqua acknowledged the explanation with a nod. "I see. Have you found it?"

Mickey held out his hand. His Keyblade appeared. It was a standard-type weapon with a silver handle and golden blade. "Yup, and this is it. Now I'm just tryin' to find my way to the Door To Darkness so I can help Sora and Riku seal it."

Aqua stared when she heard the names. "'Sora'? 'Riku'? I know those names. They were the names of two boys I met when I visited the Destiny Islands."

Mickey's jaw opened. "Then you're the one who gave Riku the power of the Keyblade!"

"No," Aqua denied. "Someone else did it before me. I thought it might've been Terra."

Mickey paused in thought. "Maybe…. These days, Riku and Sora are helping me defeat the Heartless and save the worlds."

"Really?" Aqua recalled how playful and serious the two young boys had been when she'd seen them on the island. They had reminded her of her friends. If they had both become Keyblade wielders…. She summoned her Keyblade. "Let me help you all out."

Mickey beamed. "Thanks, Aqua!" he turned down the split in the path ahead. "But I don't know which way to go."

Aqua held her Keyblade with both hands. She concentrated on the weapon with all her heart and mind. A beam of Light emerged and shone down one of the paths. "That way," she instructed.

Within seconds, the two friends were rushing down the road before them. Before long, they had arrived at a large doorway that opened outwards. "This is it," Mickey said.

Aqua nodded. She noticed a young man with silver hair making his way to the doorway.

"C'mon!" came a quacky voice from the other side. "Stop staring and keep pushing!"

"The Heartless?!" came the sound of two individuals.

"Hurry!"

"They need help!" Mickey decided. He summoned his Keyblade and headed for the door. "Hurry, Aqua!"

Aqua gave a nod. Mickey was nearly to the doorway when he heard a scream. He glanced back in time to see the Shadowy Heartless swarm from earlier swoop into view and smack him directly in the face. His shirt flew from his body, shredded by the impact. He landed upon the mushy ground unharmed (all things considered). He looked back and gasped. "No! Aqua!"

The blue-headed woman was trying very hard to take out the Heartless on her own. Mickey tried to rush back into the fight, but he was too late. The swarm had driven the Keyblader back into the Darkness. He was frozen from shock. "No…. "

"It's hopeless!" came the quacky voicer again.

Just as it spoke, a pair of Darkside Heartless rose from the ground. Mickey glowered at the enemies. He re-summoned his Keyblade and rushed at them. With swift moves, the Heartless were removed from the scene. The King then proceeded to hop atop a small mushroom-like rock formation.

"Your Majesty!" echoed the voices of Donald Duck and Goofy.

Glad to know his magician and knight had indeed followed through, Mickey raised his Keyblade. "Now, Sora! Let's close this door for good!"

"Close it!" Donald shouted. "Quick!"

"But," came the reply of hesitant Sora. "What about… ?"

Mickey smiled, knowing exactly what the young man must be feeling. Once the door closed and was locked, it would not return very easily. He and Riku would be trapped in the Realm of Darkness. Still…. "Don't worry! There will always be a Door to the Light."

"Sora," Goofy spoke up. "You can trust King Mickey."

"Now!" Riku yelled in turn. "They're coming."

Mickey gave a nod. "Donald, Goofy, thank you."

"Take care of her," Riku called through the doorway.

The doorway closed. Mickey raised his Keyblade. A beam of Light appeared. As it shone out and upward, the Door To Darkness was sealed shut. The doorway vanished a few moments later.

" …And that's all," Mickey finished.

Riku, Niccole, Kairi, Violet, and Lea were so speechless, the silence seemed to go on for eternity. Then, the former broke the stillness.

"Wait!" Riku said. "You mean Aqua was there?!"

"Yes," Mickey approved.

"Why didn't you say something? We could've saved her."

Mickey shook his head. "You weren't ready, Riku."

"He possesses a valid point," Violet acknowledged. "I visualized the Realm of Darkness to be a principally vindictive location to venture throughout in pursuit of someone."

"They're both right," Yen Sid spoke up. "This had to remain a secret for some time until you were ready. If not you, then Sora would have dared to face the dangers within the Darkness to rescue Aqua."

Kairi had to sigh with a smile. "Tell me about it…. "

"Then, why'd you tell us now?" Riku added.

"Wait a minute," Niccole blurted. "That doesn't explain how you found Shelly. How'd you meet her, Michael?"

Mickey sighed deeply. "That happened later. Remember Castle Oblivion?"

"How could I forget," Lea remarked. "That is one of the most unpleasant memories I still have from my time in the Organization."

Kairi looked at him. "You were there?"

Lea waved his hand. "Yeah, but… it's complicated."

Riku nodded at the mouse king. "Yes, I remember."

"Okay," Mickey acknowledged. "After we left Castle Oblivion with DiZ, Riku, we continued through other worlds. Then, you wandered off into the Darkness because…. "

" …Xehanort's Heartless was bothering me," Riku added. "Yes, I remember that, too."

"But after that," Mickey continued. "I also went into the Realm of Darkness in search of Organization XIII's world. I must've gone too far in because I found myself in the strangest place…. "

Mickey opened his eyes. The ground was so soft, it felt like a sponge at the bottom of the sea. He looked around. The sky was darker than night itself and lacked stars. When the foul stench entered his nose, he gasped and hopped to his feet. He summoned his Keyblade and swept his eyes around.

"The Realm of Darkness," he said, recognizing the inky blackness with its peculiar terrain. He was sure glad to have the black-hooded coat DiZ had supplied him with in case of travelling through the Darkness. As long as he donned it, he would be protected against the worst the Darkness had to offer. True, it was a raincoat, yet somehow it was capable of warding off the darkest forces of the Darkness. "Now, where did that guy go?"

He trudged along the path ahead. It seemed to zigzag this way and that, so he followed suit. Heartless of various Pureblood types appeared before him, so he swatted them away with his weapon.

After a few minutes had passed, Mickey found himself at the end of the road. Scraping into the empty sky was a towering castle crafted from stone that was black as soot and rooftops grayer than an old 1930s film shot in Hollywood. The building consisted of three sections. The middle one was the tallest and held a spire reaching into the inky expanse above. The right side was the widest, complete with some sloped windows in its roof. The left side was the shortest and narrowest, yet it was capped with a dome and contained glass for numerous windows; the whole wing resembled that of a greenhouse without any sunlight to shine in.

Sensing a powerful Darkness lurking within, Mickey marched up a short flight of steps to the entrance. He was about to barge the door off its hinges when he realized it was already ajar. He pushed it open using the tip of his Keyblade and strode through into a gigantic entrance hall. A large fountain, one with frozen water trying to pour out from the spout and trickle along the base to the drain, was situated in the middle of the space. The opposite wall possessed two stairwells leading to the left and right.

Mounted between the pair was a mighty portrait frame, its canvas long deteriorated. Still, there was enough left the make out a silhouette of a woman dressed in black with long, dark hair. For some reason, Mickey gave the painting another look as he stepped further into the room. Where had he seen that woman before? She felt so… familiar.

SLAM! Mickey whirled around. The door leading out had shut itself. There was an audible click, and he knew the door was locked. With a sigh, the mouse continued through the building in search of something… or someone. Even before he had set foot in the castle, he had sensed somebody was inside, and therefore was the source of the powerful Darkness in question.

"I've gotta find 'em," he told himself, trying to remain calm.

Mickey made his way to the right. As he marched up the stairs, he couldn't help feeling like he was being watched from all directions at once. He continued into a small corridor and into one of the rooms adjacent to it. It was a big waiting room full of old and toppled furniture. A thick coat of dust blanketed over everything. Instead of stopping for a second look, Mickey returned to the corridor and into the next room down the lane. It was a large sitting room in the same shape as the one next door.

"Funny," Mickey muttered to himself. "I could've sworn I was just…. "

His voice trailed off when he heard the sound of footsteps echoing throughout the structure. He turned to see who was coming. That was when something struck him in the side and shoved him into the floor. A pair of black boots and the base of a black coat approaching was the last thing he saw before it was lights out.

"Are you alright? Please! Wake up."

Mickey stirred and reopened his eyes. His vision was blurry, so all he could see was the silhouette of someone gazing down at him. He sat up on the old wooden bed that was chained to the stone wall. He rubbed his eyes and his eyesight improved.

"Huh?" he said in surprise. Standing before him was a teenage girl sporting long, sandy hair tied into a ponytail in the back by a yellow ribbon. A small cowlick hung down toward her left eye before aiming at the left side of her face. She was decked out in a pink, short-sleeved jacket, a red skirt, and blue tennis shoes. A pink handbag was lung over his shoulders, and she carried a shiny seashell necklace around her… well, neck.

Her deep, azure eyes were filled with relief when she saw the mouse king was awake. "You must be alright," she stated. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have awakened so quickly."

Mickey looked around the small room. It was carved completely from stone with a small, wooden doorway on the opposite wall from the bed. The smell of mildew was in the air alongside the occasional blast of dark wind whistling in through the tiny, barred window on the wall to his right. "I guess, but… where am I?"

The girl sat down on the bed beside the King. "This is a dungeon," she explained. "It is where the Mysterious Figure puts anyone who gets in his way. At least… that's what he says."

Mickey looked down. "I'm sorry for getting you in here, but I don't know how I did it."

"No need to apologize!" the girl swiftly said, waving her arms about in front of her. "I've been in here for a very long time. To tell the truth… I've lost track of how long I've been in here."

Mickey turned to her. "I see…. Oh! I almost forgot to introduce myself," he held out his hand. "I'm Mickey!"

The girl accepted the handshake. "My name's Shelly," she reached out her hand a moment later. A key-shaped sword appeared in her grasp. The pink handle was shaped like a diamond while the light-red blade resembled a spade from a deck of cards with the point aimed outwards. "I'm a Keyblade wielder like you."

Mickey summoned his Keyblade. "How'd you know?"

Shelly gave a grin. "I saw you holding one when you fell in here."

Mickey tilted his head. "Huh? How did I… ?"

"You fell in through a dark corridor. You landed on me and knocked me off the bed."

"Oh! Sorry."

"It's not your fault," Shelly rose from the bed and marched to the window. She placed her hands against the bars and gazed out into the Darkness. "It's the stupid Mysterious Figure who did this to both of us."

"I see…. "

Shelly sighed deeply. "All I want to get back to my friends, but instead, I was caught in a trap and found myself here."

Mickey jumped off the bed and strode to the door. "Then let's get out of here and back to the Realm of Light. I've got friends who need me right now."

Shelly turned her attention to the King. "Look," she said in a calm yet strict tone of voice. "There isn't a way out. I've already tried."

"Have you tried your Keyblade."

Shelly gazed down at her weapon's blade. "Yes, I have — many times," she allowed it to vanish. Her head hung low. "But it's not working. The Darkness has already zapped most of my powers. I'm fading away…. "

"No, you're not! Not while I have a say!" Mickey stated in a very firm voice. He aimed his Keyblade at the door. A beam of Light appeared and shot into the lock. There was a clicking noise and the door creaked itself open.

Shelly stared at the open doorway. "Incredible!" she marveled. "I wish I had your powers still."

"Don't worry! I'll take you back with me to the Realm of Light," Mickey promised. He headed into the corridor. "You can help us stop Organization XIII."

"Who?" Shelly followed the mouse down the hallway. "I'm lost. What's happened back in the Realm of Light?"

"A lot has been happening! First, the Heartless have tried to take over many worlds," Mickey continued to explain as he slashed his way through several Neoshadow Heartless that had risen from the floor. "And now there's a group called 'Organization XIII'. I don't know what they're up to, but I don't trust 'em!"

"Why not?"

"I have seen their leader. It's gotta be Xehanort."

"Master Xehanort?" Shelly was reeling from bewilderment. "I know he was always shady, but he didn't seem like a bad person."

"Wow!" Mickey exclaimed. "You've been down here a lot longer than I imagined."

"I guess I have," Shelly shrugged. She summoned her Keyblade, but the weapon slipped from her grip and tumbled onto the floor. She collapsed with it.

Mickey spun around. "Oh no! Shelly!" He raced up to the teenager and swatted away the Gigas Shadow Heartless that had emerged from the surrounding space. He lifted her into his arms. "Are you okay?"

Shelly groaned and shook herself awake. "My Keyblade… it's fading with me. Please get out while you can…. "

"Not without you," Mickey stated. He turned and hurried along the hallway. "Us Keyblade wielders need to look out for one another."

"'…Look out for one another'," Shelly had to show a smile. "Just like what he used to say…. "

The mouse was unable to utilize his Keyblade with Shelly in his arms, so he had to leap around the Heartless continually rising from the floor and popping out of the walls. Soon after, he had reached the entrance hall. He set Shelly down on the floor and leaned her against the frozen fountain.

"Don't worry!" he assured. "You'll be safe here."

Mickey headed for the doorway. He swung his Keyblade in a spiral motion and knocked the barrier off its hinges. The whole thing crashed down the stairs outside and onto the ground below. "Hot dog!" he raced back to the fountain. "The way is open, Shelly! Now we can leave!"

He scooped up the teenager in his arms. He spun his attention to the exit. That was when he stopped cold. A man in a black hooded coat was standing in front of the opening. "Hands off my prisoner!" he declared.

"Who are you?!" Mickey shouted back.

The man reached out his arms. A pair of glowing weapons appeared, one in each hand. Each were key-shaped, colored in different shades of blue, and decorated with elaborate, spiked shapes. The tip resembled a stopwatch, the teeth were diamond-shaped spikes connected by a black web structure, its shaft resembled neon-glowing blades, demonic wings at the beginning of the shaft, a horned demon head at the end including a dragon-like eye. It had a chain, which possessed an hourglass at the end.

"A pair of Keyblades?!" Mickey proclaimed.

"Your time's up!" the man declared.

Mickey set Shelly down by the fountain and summoned his Keyblade. The man rushed at the King. Mickey hopped into the air and slapped his blade against the enemy's back. The man whirled around and spun his weapons as he moved. Mickey clanged his Keyblade against the two key-shaped swords and bounded higher into the air. He aimed the tip of his Keyblade downward before making his descent. The man hurled both his Keyblades at Mickey. Mickey spun himself into a spiral motion, dodging both attacks before plunging his own Keyblade into the man's chest.

The man grabbed at his heart. "No…. This… isn't… possible!" he fell to his knees.

Mickey ran up to the fountain and grabbed Shelly. The girl seemed paler than earlier. "C'mon!" he told her. "Let's get outta here!"

"Begone!" roared the man in black. He threw one of his Keyblades at the fleeing mouse King. Mickey tried to duck, but the weapon ducked down with him. The blade struck him in the back, sending him flying through the open doorway. Shelly slipped from his arms and landed on the floor just inside the entrance.

Mickey crashed onto the base of the steps. He jumped to his feet and looked back in time to see the doorway sealing itself shut with a replacement door. This one, however, was crafted from stone, carved straight out of the mushy ground. "No!" he hollered into the starless sky.

You can give up now! You've lost this round! Begone!

Mickey gave a deep, deep sigh. How could he have lost?! He was so close! Now Shelly was stranded in the castle and probably slipping into a coma. It was too late. "Whelp, nothing I can do about it now," he said to himself. He turned down the pathway that led deeper into the Darkness. "Right now, I've gotta find out what the rest of the Organization is up to."

He proceeded down the road ahead, not looking back at the dark castle still standing amidst the inky blackness.

Riku and Niccole exchanged looks of shock. Lea and Violet were beyond disbelief, and Kairi was astounded. Yen Sid was looking down, his eyes closed.

"She's stuck inside a castle in the Realm of Darkness?!" Riku declared. He groaned. "Why does this always have to involve castles full of mazes?"

Niccole shook her head. "It sounds like we need to rescue them both from two different locations."

Lea threw his hands into the air. "This just got a whole lot harder."

Kairi turned to the red-haired man. "It's okay. We won't have to go with them. We still need to finish out training."

Lea hung his head. "And I was all looking forward to it…. "

"This predicament appears to be consisting of two completely isolated scenarios," Violet commented. "So, to salvage Shelly and Aqua, we most-certainly might be required to divide into a pair of individual parties?"

Mickey nodded. "Yup! That's what Master Yen Sid and I were thinking."

Riku put his hand up to his mouth in thought. "Which group will we be in?"

Niccole stepped close to the silver-haired young man. "I'm sticking with you," she said.

Riku rolled his eyes halfway. "Okay…. That works."

Mickey turned to Violet. "We can work together."

Violet smiled. She knelt down to the mouse's level. "I completely concur."

Mickey switched his focus to the others. "Riku, Niccole, you go after Aqua. She may be by the end of the road."

"Where's that?" Riku inquired.

"It's where the Darkness meets the sea."

Riku gave a nod. He knew that location. He and Sora had found themselves stranded there not long after they had defeated Xemnas once and for all. "Okay. Got it!"

Niccole saluted. "You can count on us!"

"Oh, and before you go," Mickey reached into his pocket and pulled out a small photograph. "Here's a picture of Aqua so you'll recognize her."

He handed the item to Niccole. She smiled. "Thanks! This should make our search much easier… although I still don't see how there could be several Keyblade wielders in the Realm of Darkness who look like her."

"You can't put anything past that place," Lea murmured.

Mickey shifted his attention back to Violet. "And we'll go look for Shelly."

Violet gave a nod. "I comprehend."

Master Yen Sid looked up and reopened his eyes. "Before you go, I have something for you," he waved his hand across his desk. Three small suitcases appeared. "Inside these are specially-made garments from the three good fairies — Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. They are designed to help shield you from the forces of Darkness."

Violet looked across the desk and noticed none of the cases had her name on it. "That is alrighty," she said. "I am an angel, so I am impervious to such opaque intensity."

Yen Sid smiled and nodded. "Now go, and may your hearts be your guiding keys."

Riku, Niccole, Mickey, and Violet all nodded. Riku, Niccole, and Mickey all strode forward and scooped up the cases with their names inscribed across the labels. The four marched to the doorway and exited the tower.

Kairi turned to Lea. "Ready to get back to training?"

Lea smirked a grin. "I think we have some free time right now," he pointed to Yen Sid. The sorcerer had returned to his meditative state.

Kairi slapped her hand against her face. She hoped Sora was having an easier time than they were right now.

A/N: YUP! YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, CORRECT?
THE TIME HAS COME TO RESCUE AQUA AND SHELLY FROM DEEP INSIDE THE REALM OF DARKNESS!

Still, before they actually find and "rescue" them (if you catch my meaning), it is time to check back into what Sora's Team has been up to around this same time. After all, simply because Riku and the others are searching in the Realm of Darkness, that does not mean Sora and his Team are going to stop their own journey.
In other words, we shall be switching back and forth between Sora and Riku / Mickey for a while to come. Fortunately, this shall not last for the remaining duration of This Story. It shall be temporary.

In the meantime, since there is nothing special to point out in This Chapter (i.e., direct references to something to point out), here is a RIDDLE HINT to the next world Sora's Team is heading for right now. Still, this time, the world in question shall be a CROSSOVER World rather than a Disney-based one!
HINT: "IN A FARAWAY LAND WHERE MAGIC ABOUNDS, THERE IS A SPECIAL TOWN IN A SHINING VALLEY, AN ISLAND FULL OF TALKING TRAINS, AND A MAGIC RAILROAD THAT CONNECTS THEM TO ONE ANOTHER! SORA'S TEAM SHALL FIND THEMSELVES MIXED INTO A RATHER SERIOUS TURN-OF-EVENTS WHEN ORGANIZATION XIII TRIES MEDDLING IN THE AFFAIRS OF THIS LAND! YET, AN ALLY MIGHT BE THE KEY TO PROTECTING EVERYONE FROM THE DARKNESS!"
So, IF You Believe You Know What Movie / Show Is Being Hinted At, Please Leave Your Answer(s) In The REVIEWS Section For THIS Chapter!
PLEASE REMEMBER - This World Shall Be A CROSSOVER World!

So Then, I'll See You Next Time!
In other words, PLEASE DON'T LEAVE WITHOUT REVIEWING! THE FATE OF THIS STORY DEPENDS ON IT!

REMEMBER THIS - A MINIMUM OF 214 IS REQUIRED FOR THE SEQUEL! IF 240 ARE POSTED, I WILL INCLUDE A "SNEAK PEEK" FOR THE SEQUEL ITSELF! HOWEVER, THAT/THOSE GOAL(S) MUST BE MET BY THE TIME THE-SECOND-TO-LAST-CHAPTER IS POSTED! THAT WAY, I WILL HAVE TIME TO ANNOUNCE WHETHER OR NOT EITHER GOAL WAS MET!

This Is SoraLego278 Saying, "See Ya Later, Keybladers!" Plus, "Have A ZIP-A-DEE-DOO-DAH DAY!"