SAK: Sword Art Kingdom

by Jacob Pendra-Huth

When Kirito and Asuna take on a mysterious quest to fight a new monster, they took in more that they bargained for. They ended up not only going to a different dimension, but also aiding a trio of good friends on their quest. Join this exciting adventure full of humor, romance and action. This is based on the anime SAO and Kingdom Hearts II.

2. Ep 2: Mysterious Tower! A New Journey!

Yen Sid's Tower

Inside the Mysterious Tower. Yen Sid sat at his desk, his eyes closed. He looked up at the man before him; DiZ. He had just spoken to Yen Sid about what he had done in regards to sending Kirito and Asuna to this dimension.

"So, you have sent these other individuals, who you believe to be chosen wielders of the Keyblade, into this dimension, to counteract what Organization XIII has done as well." Yen Sid summed up.

"It is the only way to prevent what is to come." DiZ answered simply, "To destroy the Organization means we must take extreme measures to counter their actions. And since they have summoned this extra member into their ranks, we must summon more players onto our side, as well."

"Even so, this is a rash decision, aided by your vengeance, no doubt." Yen Sid told Ansem, "Chosen wielders, they may be, they are not ready to fight an enemy of this caliber."

"They have faced many challenges in the world they come from." DiZ responded, "They have been tested in many ways, through their strength of body and strength of heart, and have succeeded in both. I believe they are more than capable of joining the fight. Besides, they are close to where Sora is, and he is soon to awaken. With their two forces working together, I believe that the Organization will have great trouble bringing them down."

Yen Sid paused, thinking about what he had said. "I may not know of how well they are prepared to face the new challenges in their path, nor believe that this decision is the right choice." Yen Sid stated, "However, I believe this to be the act of destiny for these individuals to join forces with Sora, just as it was fate for Organization XIII to recruit their enemy. When they arrive here, I shall see how they react to being placed on this path, and whether they are ready to face the dangers ahead."

"I am in deep gratitude to you, Yen Sid." DiZ thanked the wizard, "I would also like you to relay a message from me to them. Tell them that I have faith in them conquering whatever dangers they may face, and that I shall meet them again, when the time is right." With that, DiZ exited the room, leaving Yen Sid to watch him leave.

---

Twilight Town

(Yui speaking) I remember that day all too well. April 15, 2026. The day when mama, papa and I all took on that one quest called 'Kingdom Hearts', not realizing the significance of what the name would mean to us then. It was there that we fought our first creature of darkness called a Heartless. However, it was not going to be our last. The quest brought us through a digital wormhole, where my parents fell into dreams, and reawakened with the power to use the weapon called the Keyblade. It was on that same day where we met Sora, Donald and Goofy, who would be the greatest friends we could ever gain on this journey…

Asuna stretched her arms upwards as she took in the air. She, Kirito and Yui had just stepped outside of the mansion, along with Sora, Donald, Goofy, Jiminy Cricket. Donald and Goofy were walking around the disheveled front gardens the the mansion, looking about. Yui and Jiminy had hopped onto a concrete birdbath, where they started to talk with one another about who they were

"The fresh air feels so good, right now." Asuna sighed, looking into the twilight sky, "That mansion had pretty stale vibe."

"Yeah, and everything else on the floor above the computer room looked damaged and abandoned." Kirito noted, "Make's you wonder who lived in this place? Or rather, how long ago did someone live here?"

Sora looked to the two characters with him with curiosity, then up at the mansion. For a moment, he thought the same questions as they did. Then he towards the front gates, to the woods ahead, hearing the toll of a clocktower bell off in the distance. "So, you've never seen this place before?" Sora asked the two.

Kirito and Asuna looked to Sora, then to the path ahead.

"No. This whole area is totally new to us." Kirito answered.

"We don't…even know how to get back home." Asuna added, looking sad.

"Okay…" Sora muttered, a bit confused, "Then how about this; I'll help you guys get back home, okay?"

Kirito and Asuna looked stunned at this. "You would do that for us?" Kirito asked, "But you hardly know us, or where we come from."

"That's no reason to not help someone in need. After all, we're all in the same boat." Sora answered, "I still can't find my way back home. And I can't do so until I find my friends. So while I do that, I'll help you guys out."

Kirito and Asuna looked to one another. Sora had that good-feeling vibe about him, and he was willing to help them despite the short amount of time they had met. But even so…

"I don't think you should hold your breath on that." Kirito warned Sora, "See, from what I found out, we aren't exactly from the same…world as here. We're from a different one." Kirito was hesitant to tell this, feeling it would make him look like a crazy person to Sora. Asuna looked hesitant as well. The last thing they wanted to do was give a bad first impression.

"Oh, I see." Sora understood, only looking a little surprised, but not shocked in the slightest.

"Y-You do?" Kirito asked, both he and Asuna were surprised at his simple answer, "You don't find that weird?"

"Nah, I've been to a few worlds already." Sora answered, "I've really gotten use to that fact."

Kirito and Asuna were now dumbfounded at this point. This boy, who looked a couple years younger than the two of them, was claiming he had been to other worlds, and shrugs it off like it was nothing to the two. Just who was he, anyway?

On the bird bath, Yui and Jiminy were exchanging information about one another and about their comrades. "…So in other words, you're Sora's record keeper." Yui summed up Jiminy's role.

"That's right. I'm suppose to be the one who keeps all the stuff we went through on our last journey." Jiminy explained, "However, now all the pages are blank, except for those two little words: 'Thank Naminé'."

As Yui pondered on what those words meant, Jiminy said, "Still, your story is a lot more interestin' than mine is. I mean, Kirito and Asuna aside, you are some kind of counselor for those two, who you said were your parents. Just how did that come about?"

"Simple. They called me their daughter, and I called them my mama and papa. It's as simple as that."

"If you say so." Jiminy sighed, still confused about everything Yui was talking about.

"So what's the name of the world you come from?" Sora asked Kirito and Asuna.

"That's a little complicated, but we were last in a VRMMO world called 'Alfheim Online'." Kirito answered, "But it might be impossible to find where it is without finding the person who owned the computer downstairs."

Sora did recall passing by that computer on their way outside the mansion. "I guess we should start looking around town, then." Sora decided, "Let's go!" Kirito and Asuna nodded in agreement, and together with Donald, Goofy, Yui and Jiminy, the team exited the mansion gates, and towards the town.

Upon passing through the forest and through the large hole in the wall, the team found themselves within the town. It was a large town, its' architecture somewhat modern Mediterranean style. The setting sun didn't seem to lower or raise itself into the sky, but was kept at the same place. There was a tram that circled a large part of the city. Despite all of this, it was pretty quiet as the team looked about.

"It seems pretty lonely here." Kirito noticed, looking about.

"Hey, does anyone want to ride the tram?" Sora asked the team, "It looks like a fun way for us to look about here."

"I like the idea." Asuna stated, turning to Kirito, "I've never rode a tram like that before. Let's go on it!"

"Okay, okay." Kirito replied, though his hand was already snatched by Asuna as she dragged him towards the oncoming tram.

Sora and Goofy waved for it to stop, and they got onto it. It was a slow ride, but it felt pretty relaxing to the team. They only rode it for a short period before Kirito decided to end the ride, and the team got off the tram, going up the streets outside of the commons.

As they made it to the back streets, Sora stopped and turned to look back at the large city below. The team also stopped to take in the view. "Quite an amazing town." Asuna stated.

"Yeah, though the sun not moving anywhere is a bit ominous." Kirito pointed out.

Sora didn't say anything at first, but as the sound of a large bell rang in the distance, telling the time, he said, "You know, I feel like I've been here before."

The team looked at Sora. "You know what this town's called?" Asuna asked him.

Sora shook his head, answering "No. But I can't help but feel like I have been in this town before." The team looked at him, wondering if he was gonna give any clue, then Sora said, "Guess it must be my imagination." Donald, Goofy, Kirito and Asuna all showed signs of the relapse of suspense Sora put them in. They turned back and decided to walk through an open metal gate, to see what was on the other side.

They unveiled a ripped curtain to see an open room that looked like a hangout spot for someone. There were three characters in there, about the same age as Sora. One boy had short, blonde hair, a bit muscular, and was sitting on a heater. Another boy had dark brown hair with a headband around his head, a bit chubby, and was leaning back on some boxes. The third character was a girl with short brown hair, slender, and was resting her heading on her wrists as she sat on a torn-up couch.

The trio looked up to see who had walked in on them. "What do you want?" the blonde-haired boy asked in a warning tone.

"Uh, nothing." Sora defended, "We're just wondering what was back here, that's all."

"Now you know. This is our spot." the blonde hair boy stated as the chubby boy walked towards the group, looking at each of them.

"What is it?" Asuna asked.

"You're…new around here, right?" the chubby boy questioned as his friends joined alongside him, "I'm Pence."

"Hayner. Nice to meet you." the blonde hair introduced himself, "But we got stuff to do, so catch ya later." And with that, Hayner walked past them, and out the curtains.

"My name's Olette." the girl introduced herself, "Hey, did you finish up the summer homework yet? Independent studies are the worst, huh?"

"Homework?" Sora echoed, looking at his friends. Donald and Goofy shook their heads, having no clue. Kirito looked to Asuna, and shrugged. It was mid-April for them, so they shouldn't have any summer homework.

"Hey, what are your names?" Pence asked the group.

"Oh, sorry." Goofy apologized for not introducing themselves sooner, "We're Sora, Donald, Kirito, Asuna, and Goofy."

"Hey there." Sora greeted.

"Nice to meet you." Kirito added.

Pence and Olette looked to each other, surprised for some reason. "Sora, Donald, Goofy, we just met someone who was looking for you." Olette told the three.

"He sure seemed in a hurry." Pence added, "He had a black coat on so I couldn't see his face, but he did have these big round ears." He drew circles above his head, almost like he was indicating mice ears.

Kirito and Asuna looked at Sora, Donald and Goofy as the three pondered on who Pence was talking about. They simultaneously came up with the same solution. "The King!" Donald told the trio, who nodded in agreement. Kirito and Asuna looked at one another. Did these three know a king?

"Where'd you see him?" Sora asked Pence and Olette.

"At the station, just up at the top of the hill." Pence answered.

"The station! Thanks!" Sora thanked them.

"Well, we'd better get back to that assignment." Olette told Pence, and the two walked out of the room, leaving the five individuals alone, with Yui and Jiminy popping out of Kirito and Sora's pockets respectively.

"Oh boy! The King's trying to find us!" Donald cheered.

"Who's this king you're talking about?" Asuna asked Goofy.

"Oh, King Mickey is a very important person to us." Goofy answered, "Ya see, me and Donald work for King Mickey as the captain of his guard and sorcerer."

"Wow!" Asuna gasped.

"Hold on, if that's the case, then why aren't you with him right now?" Kirito asked them.

"The King left us when he was searching a way to stop the Heartless." Donald explained, "He left us with a note to find the 'key'."

"And we found Sora, who has the key." Goofy finished, pushing Sora in front of him. Sora chuckled in embarrassment.

"Whoa, I didn't know you were THAT special, Sora." Kirito stated in surprise.

"Yeah, well I just do what I do to help my friends." Sora stated, "And speaking of which, we should head to the station so we can find the King."

"Pence said it was up the hill, so we should go up that way." Kirito recalled, "Let's head there, right away." The team agreed, and they exited the hangout.

They went up the hill, looking for signs of King Mickey, but no luck. Asuna had the decency to ask for directions to the station as fast as possible, and someone told them the quickest route up. The station, as it turns out, was also the clocktower at the top, which could be seen from anywhere in the town. Knowing what it looked like and where to go, the team raced up the hill towards it.

They arrived at the station plaza, which was wide open area in front of the tall clocktower station. They walked to the center of the plaza and looked about. No sign of anyone but them. "You sure he's here?" Kirito asked Sora.

"That's what Pence and Olette said." Sora answered, "I wonder where he is?"

Just then several being appeared around the five, startling them. They looked humanoid in figure, silver-white bodies with black stripes on their strand-shaped hands and feet that were pointed. They had no eyes, nose, or ears, but they had a empty hole into their body in their neck, where they could barely recognize the jagged mouth within. All they had was a strange cross symbol on their head.

"What in the world?!" Kirito gasped.

"What are these things?!" Asuna asked.

"I don't know, but they don't look too friendly." Sora stated, getting ready to fight. Kirito looked to see Goofy summon a round shield with with a mouse-shaped picture in front. Asuna looked to see Donald summon a magical staff that had a blue wizard cap on top of it. They can summon weapons like we can! The two noticed.

They turned to Sora, who was looking curiously at the heads of the creatures, feeling as if he knew what it was. He then shook himself out of the idea, and summoned a weapon that surprised Kirito and Asuna. It was a Keyblade, similar to theirs, but much more simpler, with a silver shaft, crown-shaped teeth, a golden guard, and a silver chain ending with a symbol similar to the one on Goofy's shield.

"No way!" gasped Asuna.

"You can use a Keyblade, too?!" Kirito asked Sora.

"Huh?" Sora questioned, turning to the two, "What are you talking about?" Donald and Goofy looked to Kirito and Asuna as well. The two looked to one another, nodded, then each summoned their Keyblades as they got into battle stances.

(Cue KH OST 'Tension Rising')

Sora, Donald and Goofy were shocked. "Keyblades?!" Sora gasped in amazement.

"Yeah, but we'll explain later." Kirito told Sora, "Right now, we have to defeat these things!" Sora wanted to ask them so many questions, but knew they were right. He, Donald and Goofy got ready as they were about to brawl.

The team divided up as they took on the white creatures. The way they moved was almost like they were made of latex, making them sometimes unpredictable. Kirito managed to take one of them down before detecting one behind him. He turned, and was surprised to see the creature hanging upside down in midair, staring at him. He was so surprised, he didn't react in time as it twirled around and struck Kirito like a whip. He toppled to the ground, and a couple more appeared, about to strike him when he was vulnerable.

"Thunder!" Donald shouted, raising his staff. Forks of lightning came from above, raining down onto the two creatures and knocking them from Kirito. Kirito was surprised at this magical attack, but he got up and took out the two held responsible for pinning him down.

"Was that a form of magic?" Kirito asked Donald.

"Uh-huh." Donald nodded, "I'm the King's best wizard." Kirito thought back to how long it took to cast spells in Alfheim, and to how simply calling out the name like Donald did here. He felt like there was a differences in advantage points here.

As Donald turned and chased after another creature, Kirito saw Asuna and Goofy working together. Goofy used his shield to block a couple attacks for Asuna, then bash back with his shield. Asuna then came around Goofy and jabbed repeatedly with her Keyblade, taking out the competition in front of them.

Sora, on the other hand, was taking out the creatures quite well by himself. He was attacking the creatures with his Keyblade, which he held in two hands and in a reverse grip, and was leaping around attacks, striking when it was necessary. All in all, he was a versatile fighter.

Kirito then noticed three new creatures with the same color coating and cross symbols as the others sneaking up to Sora. Kirito then witnessed in amazement as they morphed themselves into spears and were about to strike at Sora. He dashed forward at them, and with one swipe, defeated all three at once. Sora turned, surprised at Kirito's abrupt save.

"Watch your back, Sora!" Kirito implied, "These things are tricky fighters."

"Yeah, thanks." Sora thanked him. The two saw more enemies near them, and they went after.

For a while, the five fighters fought against the unknown forces with all they got. Kirito was more on his own than the others. Sora and Donald were a joint force to be reckon with, and Asuna and Goofy were also tag teaming well. However, the enemies just kept coming, no matter how many they took down.

Kirito slashed down one more creature, panting heavily. The fight wasn't as long as most others he had in ALO, but he was growing tired, nonetheless. This isn't good. Kirito thought to himself, looking at the crew around him, Donald and Goofy have already collapsed. Sora and Asuna are about ready to fall over themselves. I'm not even sure how long I can last either. He backed off towards the others, all of which were encircled by about half a dozen or more of the creatures. Kirito gritted his teeth as he tried to gather enough strength to finish this fight.

As one of the creatures was about to strike at him, something appeared from above Kirito, slashing down the creature. Kirito and Asuna looked in amazement as they witnessed the short person in black leap around the group, taking out the creatures with speed and acrobatics that were extremely well-honed.

He landed on the opposite side of Kirito, standing in front of Sora's view, whipping his weapon to one side. Kirito and Asuna noticed the weapon he held was a lot like Sora's Keyblade, the color of the guard and the shaft with the teeth were swapped. He was the same height as Donald, covered in a black coat, along with his face. However, there was no mistaking the round ears on his head.

Sora shook his head, then saw who it was in front of him, and was astonished. Donald and Goofy regained consciousness, and turned to their savior as well. They were so shocked, they knocked over Sora as they got a better look at him. "Your Majesty?!" Donald squawked. Kirito and Asuna looked at one another, amazed. This guy was their king?

"Shh!" Mickey hushed them, "You gotta board the train and leave town! The train knows the way." He hopped backwards, pulling out an orange hand-made purse and handing it to Sora. He reached out and took it, examining the purse. Mickey turned to look at Kirito and Asuna, seeing the Keyblades that they wield. "I don't know how you got those, but you must use them wisely." Mickey warned the two, and with that, he took off into town.

"Your Majesty!" Donald squawked after him, but he disappeared.

"The King… Was that really him?" Sora asked.

"It coulda been…" Goofy answered, "Yep, I know it was!"

"Now we know he's okay!" Donald cheered.

"He's pretty short for a king." Kirito stated, rolling his shoulder as Asuna straightened herself again.

Yui flew out of her pocket, sighing in relief. "Papa, are you okay?" she asked, "You look pretty tired. You aren't usually this tired after a battle like that."

"Yeah, me neither." Asuna agreed, taking a breather, "How are we out of shape?"

"Maybe it's another addition to how our avatars became real." Kirito guessed, "Not only are our bodies real, but so are our physical functions, including our natural stamina."

"You know, I'm really starting to question on us being here." Asuna sighed.

While the trio were speaking to one another, Sora, Donald and Goofy were contemplating about seeing King Mickey. "The King was locked in the realm of darkness, right?" Sora recalled, with Goofy nodding, "But we just saw him…"

"Yep." Donald agreed.

"And if the King is here, that means Riku's here!" Sora assumed, his face shining with a sign of hope.

"He's gotta be!" Donald seconded.

"Well, I'm gonna go look for Riku." Sora decided, drawing Kirito, Asuna and Yui's attention, "Then he and I can go back to the islands together. Kairi's there waiting for us!"

"I'm guessing Riku and Kairi must be good friends of yours, right?" Kirito assumed.

"Sure are." Sora answered, smiling as he recalled them.

Sora looked to Donald and Goofy as he asked, "What are you two gonna do?" The two made disgruntled moans.

"Gawrsh, Sora. Do ya have to ask?" Goofy asked. Both Donald and Goofy were giving such funny expressions, that Sora and Asuna both giggled at them.

"Hey! What's so funny?!" Donald squawked angrily.

"Your faces!" Sora chuckled.

"They're priceless!" Asuna added. Both Donald and Goofy looked at each other, holding their expressions. Then seeing what Sora and Asuna were laughing at, they joined in on the laughter. Yui joined in laughing as Kirito smiled. At least there were moments of happiness for them.

"What do ya say, guys?" Sora asked, "Let's stick together for one more journey." Donald and Goofy nodded in agreement. Sora then turned to Kirito, Asuna and Yui. "How 'bout you guys?" Sora asked, "Do ya wanna come with us?"

"You don't mind?" Asuna asked.

"I don't know. What if the guy we're looking for is still here?" Kirito asked Asuna.

"But remember what that voice said?" Asuna retorted, "It said 'Follow the path the Keyblade takes you, and you shall not lose your way'." She waved a hand to Sora, Donald and Goofy. "Our Keyblades had led us to meeting Sora, Donald and Goofy." Asuna resulted, "So maybe we were told to join with them."

Kirito wasn't sure about Asuna's logic behind all of this, considering they were only following a voice they had no clue they could trust, nor could he fully count on the people he had just met. He found all of this so farfetched, even more so than the worlds he had played online. Still, the voice did help him gain the power of the Keyblade, and it did help him and Asuna defend themselves against the black monsters.

"Papa, I want to go with Sora!" Yui told Kirito, "I don't know why. It's not a logical reasoning, but it is just what I feel is right."

"So it's a gut feeling, huh?" Kirito guessed Yui's condition, looking at Yui, then at Asuna, and finally, the three new people he had just met. "Looks like I'm outvoted." he sighed, "Kay, then. Sora, hope you can bear with us as we help you."

"Great!" Sora cheered, "Glad to have you guys with us! So let's get going to…where again?"

"How could you just forget?" Asuna asked.

"We haft board the train!" Goofy remembered.

"Oh, right." Sora recalled. Donald and Kirito sighed.

"This journey's gonna be a long one…" Kirito muttered as the team turned and started walking into the train station.

The team entered the station, which looked tidy and well-made. As the team approached the ticket booth, someone cried, "Wait up!" The team turned to see Hayner, Pence and Olette racing through the doors, stopping in front of them.

"It's you guys again." Kirito noticed.

"Hey, Sora…" Hayner started.

"Yeah?" Sora asked. Hayner paused for a second, then answered, "Nothing, but…"

"We came to see you off." Pence followed, "It just seemed like something we oughta do."

"Really? Thanks." Sora replied, kinda confused.

"That's sweet of your guys." Asuna added, smiling at them.

Just then, they heard the bell in the station. The last call for anyone wanting to board the trains. "You should hurry and get your tickets." Olette told the trio.

"We were just about to do that." Kirito answered, "Sora, you have the money pouch."

The two boys walked over to the ticket booth, and Sora pulled out the wallet. Olette gasped, seeing the wallet. "What is it?" Donald asked her. Olette reached into her back pocket, and pulled out a wallet that was the exact same as the one Sora had in hand.

"They're the same." Goofy noticed.

"Maybe it's from the same retailer." Kirito assumed.

"It can't be." Olette retorted, "I handmade this one." The team looked at one another, confused. How can there be two of the same kind of pouch that was handmade for one girl?

Sora shrugged it off, and turned back to the ticket booth. "Five tickets, please." Sora asked the person within. He gained the five tickets, and handed the amount needed. He handed the tickets out to Kirito, Asuna, Donald and Goofy.

They looked up and saw the train that looked out of place in the reddish-colored station. It was a deep blue train with a shooting star above the door, star-shaped windows, and a wizard's hat on the front top of the train. "Looks like that train is the one we're suppose to board." Asuna assumed, seeing the train.

"I can't help feeling like we won't see this town again…" Sora stated in a sad tone.

The others looked to him, wondering what he meant by that. "Why not?" Donald asked.

"You're thinkin' too much." Goofy assured Sora.

"It's not like we can't head back here, right?" Kirito asked Sora.

"Yeah, you're right!" Sora agreed, regaining his smile.

The team walked up the stairs, towards the train they were about to board. "Do we have everything ready to go?" Donald asked.

"I think so." Kirito answered, "Unless we're missing anything." He looked to Sora, Asuna and Goofy, who shook their heads as to say they couldn't think of anything. They were ready to leave.

Donald and Goofy walked onto the train, and Yui popped out of Kirito's pocket, flying into the train behind the two. This left Kirito, Asuna and Sora with Hayner, Pence and Olette on the boarding platform.

"Take care." Kirito told them, "And thanks for seeing us off like this."

"No problem." Olette answered.

"We kinda felt it was right." Pence added. Hayner looked to Sora.

"Hey, Sora. You sure we haven't met before?" he asked.

Sora thought for a second before responding, "Positive. Why do you ask?"

Hayner shook his head. "I dunno." he answered with a grin. Sora replied with a grin back.

Just then, a tear fell from Sora's eye, and he started to look sad. Kirito, Asuna and the others all looked at Sora with surprise and concern. "Sora?" Kirito spoke to him.

Sora looked to Kirito, then felt the tear on his face. By the looks of it, he was confused as to why he was crying too as he wiped his tears away.

"You okay?" Olette asked.

"Y-Yeah. Don't know where it came from." Sora answered.

"Pull it together!" Hayner chuckled. Sora patted his cheeks to get his attitude straightened up.

"Guys, the trains almost ready to leave!" Yui called out.

"We'll be right there." Asuna responded, turning to Kirito and Sora, "Let's get moving."

"Right." Sora answered, turning to Hayner, Pence and Olette, "See ya!" And with that, the trio boarded the train as its' doors closed, and the train took off out of the station, leaving the trio of Twilight Town residence watching them leave.

As the train rattled along the track, Donald and Goofy watched the outside from their seats, with Donald having to lift himself up to see through the window. With Kirito and Asuna on board and in their seats, Yui decided to take a nap on Asuna's lap. The entire journey so far was exhausting for her, and for her parents, but they knew they had barely started it. Jiminy Cricket was on the same side of the car as Kirito, Asuna and Yui, turning to Sora, who was leaning on the closed door, looking out through the window.

Sora pulled out the pouch again, examining it. He then reached inside, noticing something in there when he pulled out money for the tickets. It was a blue crystal marble the size of his eye. He held it up to the window, where the twilight sunset was shining through, and peered right through the gem.

"You know..." Sora started to say, drawing everyone's attention, "...I'm sad." They all look sympathetically at Sora.

"We'll be back." Donald reassured him.

"Yeah." Goofy agreed, "We can visit Hayner and those guys again."

"Your friends are right you know," Kirito told him.

"Keep your chin up, Sora. We'll see them again." Asuna added. Sora looked at them, and smiled at their consideration.

Just then, the sky outside got really bright, and they found themselves going along a shining green train track, surrounded by polar lights and starry skies. "Kay, is this suppose to happen?" Kirito asked, looking to the team, who shrugged in response.

---

Meanwhile...

Axel, Naminé and Riku-Ansem were up at the Sunset Terrace. Riku was looking down at Naminé, who was sitting on a bench, looking at her drawing book. Axel walked over to the wooden fence, leaning on it as he watched the heroes leave.

"Guess that's that." Axel stated, watching the train vanish in a flash of light, "Still, it's wild. Two more people from a different dimension also wield the Keyblade. Makes ya wonder how this will change the Organization's plans. Course, they've also added a new member to their ranks as well, and he's connected with those newcomers. And considering that other girl that's no long with Sora and his friends, this is a lot to get memorized."

After a pause, Riku spoke up. "Let's go." he told the two Nobodies.

"Go where?" Axel asked turning to Riku, "It's not like we have homes to return to. We don't exist, remember?"

"Yes, it's true." Naminé agreed, "We may not have homes. But there IS someplace I want to go. And…someone I want to see."

"Same here." Axel agreed.

There was another pause, then Axel looked to Riku. "So, you think you might let us go?" he asked, "I know you're here to get rid of us, but…"

"DiZ? Wants to get rid of me?" Naminé asked, looking at Riku.

"Go." Riku told them.

"You sure about this?" Axel asked.

"I owe you both." Riku told them.

"For what?" Naminé asked him. "Castle Oblivion. You helped us." Riku answered her, "Me, Sora... and her."

"Heh. You don't have to tell me twice." Axel chuckled, raising a hand up, producing a black portal. Axel watched as Riku and Naminé looked at one another, then Naminé bowed her head to him.

"Thank you." she thanked him, getting off the bench and hurrying over to Axel's side. Just as she stood next to him, Naminé turned to Riku. "There is one more thing I also need to do." she told him, "And…I think I need your help with it."

"What's that?" Riku questioned.

"It about those two Keyblade wielders DiZ brought over." Naminé explained, "Actually, there's suppose to be one more."

"Another one?" Axel asked.

"Yes." Naminé answered, "And this person has a strong connection with the two, especially the boy, Kirito. I believe she could help us." Riku looked to Naminé for a second, then he nodded in confirmation.

"Then let me swing you by the mansion." Axel told her, "Shouldn't be a problem to get the third wheel over here. We just use the same program that got those other two over here." Naminé nodded in agreement. "So what's this person's name?" Axel asked.

"She has two different names." Naminé answered, "However, in the online world, her name is…Leafa."

"I see." Axel understood, "Leafa. I got it memorized."

Naminé turned and left through the dark portal. Axel watched her leave, then walked through the portal himself, leaving Riku to watch them go.

---

Back in the Train

It was about five minutes into the train ride did Sora turn to Kirito and Asuna. "So, about those Keyblades…" Sora started, "…How did you guys learn to use them?" Donald, Goofy and Jiminy all looked curiously at them, too. This was a question that bothered all of them.

"We're not exactly sure HOW we learned to use them." Kirito answered, "We only gained them almost immediately before meeting you guys."

"I think I know how it happened." Asuna answered, getting Kirito's attention, "You said it too, Kirito. Both of us had a strange dream before we woke up, right? Were you in the middle of the darkness, standing on a massive circular platform?"

"Yeah, and there was a picture of someone on it, and the platform shined brightly compared to the rest of the place." Kirito answered, "Plus, a voice gave me a few tests to do while I was there. After that, I woke up in the mansion's computer room." Asuna nodded in agreement. She had the same exact experience as him.

"Something about that sounds familiar." Sora pointed out, "I think I might have had that same dream too."

"You did?!" Kirito asked in amazement.

"Yeah." Sora answered, "I was sleeping on the shores of my home islands, and I did have this freaky dream with similar descriptions as the one you said. It was sometime after that when I gained the Keyblade."

"Then it's no coincidence." Asuna summed up, "That dream connects all of us. That's how we gained the Keyblade."

"I guess." Kirito answered, "But I get the feeling that there's more to it. I don't have any proof, but it's just a gut feeling."

"Okay, then mind if I ask another question?" Sora followed, "What is this 'Alfheim Online' world that you come from like?"

Kirito didn't answer immediately. Instead, he asked, "Before I answer, how much do you know about computers and virtual reality?"

Sora gave a body expression that answered 'very little'. Donald, Goofy and Jiminy all had the same expression, too. This made it even more difficult for Kirito.

"Alfheim Online is a game world." Asuna started. Since she was a more recent newcomer to VRMMOs, she could explain it better to Sora and the others than Kirito could. "In the world we come from, there are these devices called NerveGear and AmuSpheres that we place on our heads, and download our minds into the gaming world. Do you get it so far?" Sora and his friends nodded in response.

"In the game we come from, Alfheim Online, we actually become fairies." Asuna continued, "There are nine races in total. Kirito is a Spriggan, and I'm an Undine. Yui is a Navigation Pixie, which helps us guide through areas and predict enemy attacks for us. Then there's the game world itself, which is divided into two parts; Alfheim, the land of the fairies, and Aincrad, the floating castle."

"Aincrad was once part of a game called 'Sword Art Online'." Kirito followed Asuna's last statement, "It was a game that was made by a man named Akihiko Kayaba."

"Akihiko…Kayaba?" Sora repeated slowly, finding the name a bit weird.

"That's right." Kirito answered, "He trapped 10,000 people inside the world of 'Sword Art Online'. Asuna and I were also trapped in there, and it was there that we met each other. The same went for Yui, as she was a Mental Health Counceling Program there."

"So this Akihiko person trapped you guys in the game?" Jiminy asked.

"Right. We couldn't escape the virtual world, or return IRL." Kirito answered.

"IRL?" Goofy repeated.

"It's an abbreviated term for 'In-Real Life'." Asuna answered, "We couldn't return to our families, nor anyone outside of the virtual world. The only way of escaping was to clear all 100 floors of Aincrad. And if we were defeated in SAO, we would also die IRL. Basically, it was a life or death game."

"Sounds pretty rough." Sora stated, "So how did you get out? Did someone defeat all 100 floors?"

"Not exactly." Kirito answered, "I managed to discover Akihiko was a Player going by the name of Heathcliff after a boss battle on floor 75. I almost died at that point, and so did Asuna, but we managed to beat him with our combined powers."

"Wow! Sounds like you guys became heroes in your world." said Sora with amazement.

"Well, it was mainly Kirito that saved the survivors of SAO." Asuna pointed out, "And he saved my life, too…more than once."

"What do you mean?" Donald asked her.

"There was another man, a rival of Kayaba's, named Sugou Nobuyuki. He was suppose to be Asuna's real life fiancé." Kirito explained, and he folded his hands tightly, "He was also the original creator of Alfheim Online. However, he didn't create the game for fun at that point."

"Sugou rerouted three hundred minds of SAO survivors into Alfheim, and trapped them within, experimenting on their minds in order to perfect the ability to control people's minds." Asuna followed, then frightfully added, "He also trapped me in their as well, making me his wife and preventing me from waking up IRL. He was greedy, only caring about control over the minds of all in the virtual world."

"That's horrible!" Sora shouted.

"Asuna's whereabouts were kept hidden from the outside world." Kirito stated, "That is, until three months after I woke up from SAO. Someone took a photo of her, and I found the picture. So I went into Alfheim Online in order to save her. I didn't do it alone, however. Yui was there with me, and so was my sister, Suguha, who had been playing Alfheim under the name 'Leafa'."

"You have a sister?" Sora asked.

"She's actually my cousin, but we were raised as brother and sister." Kirito explained, "Anyway, she led me to where I could reach her. With help from her, Recon, and several other Players of ALO, I managed to reach Asuna, and stop Sugou and his plans. After that, Alfheim became a world of fun, and Aincrad was reborn once again. It's been over a year since then. A couple of other problems came into my life, but I managed to overcome them."

"Wow." Sora gasped, "Based on what you said, you guys probably had just as much trouble as we have in our past. But at least you were with friends and family, right?" Kirito nodded in response. It was true. He wouldn't have made it so far without the support of others, or all the strength he gathered from fighting.

"Only now, we have to deal with a whole new problem; being stuck in a different dimension." Asuna pointed out, "We need to find the person who sent us here, and make him send us back home." "Exactly." Kirito answered, "Even if it sounds cool to discover other worlds than the one we're from, we want to be sent back home as soon as possible. We have our friends and family that are waiting for us."

Sora, Donald, Goofy and Jiminy all looked to one another, and Sora knew what to do. "If you guys need to get back home, then we'll help you get back there." Sora told them.

Kirito and Asuna looked up in surprise. "You…are willing to do that?" Kirito asked, "But you don't even know where it is, let alone know the person who sent us here."

"Who said I needed to know that, when you guys are so desperate to get home?" Sora noted, "Besides, we're friends now, right?" Donald, Goofy and Jiminy agreed with Sora's statement.

Kirito and Asuna looked to one another. Either Sora was toying with them, or he was really willing to help them out in bringing them back home. Based on what they saw and knew about Sora and his friends so far, they figured the initial was out of the question.

Kirito thought that maybe they should denying their help, so as not to be a burden to Sora and his friends. However, Asuna placed a hand on Kirito's shoulder, knowing what he might say. She knew that they had no knowledge of this dimension, the Keyblades, nor the creatures that attacked them at the station plaza. As far as they knew, they had no way of knowing how to get around. Plus, they did say that they would join Sora, so they might as well join with him and his friends anyway.

---

The Mysterious Tower

There was a bright light coming from outside the train, and the group looked out to see the scenery had changed once again. it was a vast orange landscape with a fog of the same color beneath them, with green mountaintops sticking out from below. However, the central point of view was a floating island with shrubbery all around, and the most unusual-looking tower that the team had ever seen. It was crooked, surrealistic, and structurally unbalanced. It had a blue cone rooftop that was decorated with moons and stars.

(Cue KH OST 'Magical Mystery')

Asuna woke Yui up, Jiminy hopped into Sora's pocket, and the group exited the train. "What is this place?" Asuna asked Sora.

"Beats me." Sora replied, "I've never seen anything like it before."

"Looks pretty unstable if you ask me." Kirito pointed out. As soon as they exited the train, the locomotive shined brightly, and disappeared right before their eyes.

"Where did it go?!" Asuna gasped.

They paused for a second, then Sora chuckled, "There goes our ride." Sora, Kirito and Asuna looked at one another, then joined Donald, Goofy and Yui as they went to the doors of the tower, where someone was peeping inside.

They got close enough to see who it was. His back was turned to them, but he looked like an anthropomorphic character like Donald and Goofy. The guy was quite fat, with muscular arms, and he wore some sort of dark battle garments that fit his entire body, held with cross-straps and zippers.

The team approached the bottom of the steps, looking up at the peeping tom. "What's goin' on?" Donald asked.

The character chuckled at the question without turning around, then answered, "I sent some of my lackeys inside to see if the master of this here tower's as big and tough as they say. Word is, he's a real powerful sorcerer, which would make him the perfect bodyguard for me. See. don't matter how tough he is; once he's a Heartless, he'll do as I say!"

"A Heartless?!" Donald squawked as he, Sora and Goofy got into fighting positions.

"A Heartless?" repeated Kirito and Asuna, puzzled.

"That's right." the guy said ominously, "They're those things that come outta the darkness in folks' hearts. Why, with all those Heartless at her side, my dear friend Maleficent is gonna conquer everything! And since I got me a debt to pay, I'm goin' 'round to a bunch of different worlds and buildin' an army of Heartless, special for her."

The team looked at one another. Sora, Donald and Goofy did know of Maleficent, but Kirito, Asuna and Yui did not. However, it didn't take a genius to see that this guy and Maleficent were not good people, nor did the Heartless.

The guy changed his tone as he said, "Oh, why am I talkin' to you pipsqueaks anyway? Go on, scram! I'm behind schedule as it is."

"You oughta find somethin' nicer to do." Goofy suggested.

"Oh ho, say who?" he asked, turning to their crowd. His face was cat-like, but it was difficult to differ it from a dog's face. The guy was startled at their crowd. "Wha...AAAH! It's you!" he said sternly.

"Pete?!" Both Donald and Goofy said together.

"What are you two nimrods doin' here?!" the guy asked angrily.

"What are YOU doing here?" Donald demanded back.

"Do you guys know who he is?" Asuna asked Goofy.

"We sure do!" Goofy answered, "Pete's been causin' trouble for ages! His Majesty banished him to another dimension a long time ago. I wonder how he escaped?"

"So, he was in a different dimension, just like we are, now." Kirito realized, wondering if the King actually opens up worlds to different dimensions?

At this, Pete boastfully laughed at them. "You wanna know how, eh?" he asked them, "Well, Maleficent busted me out, that's how! And now, your world, no, no, no, all the worlds, are gonna belong to yours truly. Cause, uh, Maleficent's gonna help me conquer 'em!"

"Maleficent, huh?" Sora repeated. Both he, Donald and Goofy started to laugh. Kirito and Asuna looked to the laughing trio, feeling they were missing the joke.

"What are you laughing at?!" Pete asked mischievously, "Why, Maleficent's power is so great that..."

"She's toast." Sora interrupted him, startling Pete.

"Sorry, but Maleficent can't help ya now." Goofy told him.

"What do you mean?" Pete asked as Donald continued to laugh. Pete then came to the realization of what they meant. "You! So you're the ones that did it!"

"Well, we mighta had something to do with it." Sora said sarcastically.

"I'm gonna guess that you guys took care of this Maleficent person before." Asuna assumed.

"Yep, we sure did." Goofy eagerly responded.

Pete started to rage up as he called out, "Heartless Squad, round up!" Just then, a bunch of the same shadowy creatures that Kirito and Asuna had dealt with before appeared from the ground, all of them coming out in front of them.

"So these things were really called Heartless?" Asuna asked as they pulled out their weapons.

"Let's take care of them, guys." Sora told the team, ready to fight.

"Wait, Sora." Kirito stopped him, "You guys back off. I'll take care of them."

"Kirito, don't try anything that is too reckless!" Asuna warned him.

"Don't worry. I got this." Kirito assured her, and he dashed into battle.

The Heartless, which were known as Shadows according to Jiminy, were pretty weak, and Kirito was able to make quick work of them as he started knocking them all over the place.

"Does Kirito do this all the time?" Sora asked Asuna.

"Mostly against the normal kind of monsters back in the VRMMOs." Asuna replied, "Kirito has been known to go solo quite a bit, especially if people's lives are on the line. He does this because he doesn't want other people getting hurt instead of him. It's stupid, but that's how he fights."

"Sounds to me like he cares for the people around him." Sora stated.

It didn't take Kirito very long to take out the Heartless. He finished off the last one before turning to Pete, who had moved away from the tower doors, looking frustrated at his squad being easily beaten.

"You just wait!" he warned the group, "Nobody, and I do mean nobody, messes with the mighty Pete!"

"If you're so mighty, then tell me something." Kirito retorted, "Who's this wizard that you're so anxious on turning into a Heartless?"

"Oh, ya don't know, eh?" Pete said amusingly, "Well, it's old Yen Sid. 'Course, he's probably a Heartless by now!"

"Master Yen Sid lives here?!" Donald squawked, surprising all but Goofy at this exclamation. Donald dashed towards the entrance and opened the door so he could go in.

"Who's that?" Asuna asked Goofy.

"Yen Sid is the King's teacher!" Goofy answered.

"Wow, sounds powerful!" Sora guessed. Asuna thought back to how the King saved them from those weird monsters at the station plaza. If the King was that good, she wondered how strong Yen Sid was.

The Heartless dropped munny on the ground, but Sora and Goofy gathered them up before leading Asuna and Yui up the steps into the tower. Kirito and Pete were glaring at one another, sizing each other up. "C'mon, Kirito! We have to go inside!" Asuna cried out. Kirito took one last glance at Pete, then he followed Asuna's advice, and joined the others. Pete was dumbfounded that he was walking away, then started pouting at being beaten so easily.

Kirito turned to see Pete pouting before closing the door behind him. "Well that was a waste of time." he sighed.

"We should go see Master Yen Sid." Donald told the team, "He'll tell us what to do."

"Maybe he'll even tell us where to find your home." Sora added to Kirito, Asuna and Yui.

"Maybe…" Kirito answered. They looked up the staircases spiraling up the tower, but they didn't all connect with one another. From where the staircases ended, a door was placed, but it didn't lead into any rooms from the outside view. "I just hope we'll be able to get up to meet him, anyway." Kirito added. With that, they started climbing up the tower.

As they went up the stairs, they encountered a few of the Heartless that Pete must have sent inside, but they defeated them easily. They entered through the door hanging in the air, and found themselves in a room. Kirito, Asuna and Yui were absolutely confused as to how this worked, but Donald simply said it was Yen Sid's magic. They fought against a bunch of Heartless inside the room and progressed onward.

They went up the stairs and went through another door, where Kirito and Asuna were introduced to Heartless they had fought before in the Kingdom Hearts quest in Alfheim; Soldier Heartless. They fought just the same as they did in the game, so they were able to adapt and defeat them. They had entered another room that they entered through a hanging door, and encountered more Heartless. They quickly defeated them, and grouped together in the middle of the room.

"Heartless, Heartless, Heartless!" Donald complained, "Things haven't changed one bit!"

"What do you mean by that?" Asuna asked.

"We thought we had beaten the Heartless once and for all." Sora answered.

"Well, it's a good thing we're on the job, then." Goofy said optimistically.

"What made you think the Heartless weren't suppose to be around?" Kirito questioned Sora.

"You see, a while back, we fought against these bad guys, led by Maleficent, who were controlling the Heartless, sending them out to many worlds, and gathering the Princesses of Heart."

"Princesses of Heart?" Asuna repeated.

"They're suppose to be the ones who could open the door to a place called Kingdom Hearts." Goofy answered.

"Hold on, the quest we were on that brought us to this dimension was also called 'Kingdom Hearts'." Kirito recalled.

"That's right!" Asuna agreed, "But what is this place suppose to be?"

"I'm...not really sure myself." Sora answered, "But based on what Ansem and Maleficent said, Kingdom Hearts is where all hearts reside, and where a great amount of light is suppose to contain, surrounded by darkness. Fortunately, we were able to stop them before they took control of Kingdom Hearts, releasing more Heartless into the worlds, and plunge everything into darkness."

"Wow, that sounds like a higher achievement than what we had to deal with." Kirito stated, with Asuna nodding in agreement.

"Yeah, but if the Heartless are still roaming about, does this mean the worlds aren't at peace after all?" Sora questioned. The team looked at one another, then to the door ahead.

"I bet Yen Sid can answer that." Goofy assumed.

"Let's keep goin'!" Donald declared, and the team progressed on.

Kirito, Asuna and Yui were quite interested in Sora's story, but they had other things to take care of before asking them, mainly finding more about why they came to this dimension, and more importantly, find the person that sent them here, and make their way back home. They were hoping that Yen Sid had the answer to all their questions.

They arrived at another staircase, but it was a straight path to the next door. They went straight to it, defeating a bunch of Heartless along the way. Donald and Goofy went through the door first, the others followed. Inside was a simple room with bookshelves and pots here and there. At the far end was a wooden table for which Donald and Goofy faced, standing tall and with authority. As Kirito, Asuna, Yui and Sora walked over, they saw both Donald and Goofy bow before the man sitting at the table. The three stared at the man before them. From what Kirito read in books about wizards, this guy absolutely fit the part. The blue robe, the long gray beard, even the blue pointy hat, decorated with stars and moons. And from how Donald and Goofy were showing signs of respect, the others assumed this must be Yen Sid himself.

"Master Yen Sid! It's an honor!" Donald greeted the wizard humbly.

"Hey there." Sora followed, not showing the same courtesy as Donald and Goofy did. Donald and Goofy snapped their heads up to Sora, shocked by his lack of etiquette.

"Sora, show some respect!" Donald scolded him. Sora looked embarrassed at this. Kirito, Asuna and Yui, not wanting to make the same mistake, bowed deeply to Yen Sid.

"It's very nice to meet you, sir." Asuna greeted.

"Likewise." Kirito followed.

Yen Sid waved his hands, showing the sign that there was no need for formalities. "So, you are Sora." he assumed, looking at Sora, then to Kirito and Asuna, "And you two must be Kirito and Asuna."

The two in question looked up, surprised. "Wait, you know about us?" Kirito asked incredulously.

Yen Sid nodded. "I have been told by someone that the two of you would be here, sent from a different dimension in order to face the looming dangers ahead."

"Is it the same person that brought us here?" Kirito asked in a more determined manner, stepping towards the desk where Yen Sid sat, "If it is, I would like to know why he brought us here, and who he is!"

"Same here." Asuna followed, coming right next to Kirito, "I wish to know the same thing, so that we can go back home, again. If you know anything, please tell us."

"The man that told me about your summons to this dimension is the very same person you are seeking." Yen Sid told them, "He goes by the name of 'DiZ'." Kirito and Asuna recalled back to the NPC who instructed them on the 'Kingdom Hearts' quest. "He has told me of everything you have done in your world, and he has assured that you that you will meet him again, when the time is right."

At this, Kirito slammed his palms on the table, making Sora and the others behind him jump. "Screw that! I don't care about waiting to meet him again 'when the time is right'!" Kirito roared, "If he thinks he can just send us here without our permission, and force us to do what he says, then he's got another thing coming!"

Donald and Goofy grabbed Kirito's arms, afraid he might lash out at Yen Sid, despite his innocence. He wasn't just being disrespectful to Yen Sid, he was also becoming violent towards him.

"Kirito, take it easy!" Asuna told Kirito, "Yen Sid is only telling us what DiZ told him. Don't act so cruelly."

As soon as Kirito settled down, Yen Sid continued, "I understand your frustration. I, too, believed that DiZ is making a rash decision in bringing you here. However, he also noted how important the two of you were in your world, and how you have faced countless battles in order to protect others. He also believes that you, Kirito and Asuna, were also capable of using the Keyblades. Based on what I have seen transpire, he was right."

Asuna raised her hand, producing the Oathkeeper Keyblade into her hand. "So, DiZ knew we were capable of using the Keyblades?" Asuna asked, "Is this a common gift to people."

"No. The Keyblade is only granted onto those with strong hearts, and ones who are deemed worthy of using the Keyblade's power." Yen Sid answered, "Both you and Kirito have deemed yourselves worthy to possess the Keyblade. Though DiZ believed there was one more from your world that was capable of the same power. However, that person never came here with you."

Kirito relinquished himself from Donald and Goofy's grip, producing the Oblivion Keyblade and looking at it. "There was suppose to be one more?" Kirito questioned, then he realized, "Sugu! She might have this power?!"

"He believed so." Yen Sid answered, "However, the proof of that has yet to be discovered."

"I don't mind getting these new weapons, as weird as they look." Kirito stated, "It's just…I feel like I was nothing more than a test subject to this DiZ guy, sent here to see if his assumption was right. Besides, based on what I heard about Sora, Donald and Goofy, it seems like they don't need our help in whatever troubles they might face. So why bring us here?" Asuna looked to one side, agreeing with what Kirito said silently.

"Rest assured, DiZ did not disregard Sora's strength." Yen Sid assured them, "However, what I have to say to all of you might help you understand why he brought you here."

"But what about me?" Yui asked, landing onto Yen Sid's desk, "You keep saying that mama and papa should be here, and so should Leafa, but was I suppose to be here, too?"

"All of you have a purpose in being here, including you." Yen Sid answered Yui. Yen Sid turned to Sora, Donald and Goofy, and asked, "Now then, have you seen the King yet?"

"Yes, we did, Master." Goofy answered, "But we didn't get a chance to talk to him."

"Yes...the King has been quite busy of late." Yen Sid muttered, "Therefore, it would seem that the task of instructing you five falls upon my shoulders." Yui flew onto Kirito's shoulder as they and Asuna listened intently to what Yen Sid had to say to them. "You have a perilous journey ahead of you." he warned them, "You must be well prepared."

"You mean, we have to go on another quest?" Sora asked, looking somewhat upset, "I was looking forward to finding my friend Riku, so we could go back to the islands." Kirito understood Sora's feelings, though he was not looking for a friend, but just for a way back home.

"Yes, I know." Yen Sid told them, "However, everything in your journey, Sora, is connected. Whether you will find your way home to the islands, whether you will return alone or with your friend, and whether or not the islands will still be there. And the key that connects them all is you Sora."

"I'm the key?" Sora asked.

Yen Sid turned to Kirito and Asuna. "This goes the same for the two of you." he told them, "Whether you are able to go back to your world again, whether you will reunite with your friends and family, and whether your world will be there again or not all depends on what you do." Kirito and Asuna looked at each other, very perplexed at what he was saying. Would their world be there when they got home? They looked at Sora, who held his hand out and produced his Kingdom Key Keyblade, adding to Kirito and Asuna's already-produced Keyblades.

"Chosen wielders of the Keyblade!" Yen Sid announced, "You are the keys that will open the door to light." Sora nodded in understanding. Kirito and Asuna looked to one another, then nodded as well. Yen Sid looked at both Donald and Goofy, who stood straight up in authority and nodded in unison.

Sora still had more questions to ask Yen Sid, particularly about what they had just discovered. "But wait a sec; how come the Heartless are still running around?" he asked. Goofy and Donald also wanted to know.

"Your past endeavors did prevent an immense effusion of Heartless from the great darkness, make no mistake about that." Yen Sid reassured them, "However, the Heartless are darkness made real, and darkness yet lingers in every heart. The Heartless are fewer. But while darkness exists in a single heart, it will be difficult to eliminate them."

The trio slumped, feeling dismayed at their efforts not completely stopping the Heartless. The others couldn't help but feel sorry for them. Suddenly, Goofy had an inspiration. "Gawrsh, that must mean that if everybody's heart was full of light, them Heartless'd go away!" Both Donald and Sora agreed in his words.

"How are you gonna do that?" Kirito questioned, "That sounds like an impossible thing to do." Sora, Donald and Goofy looked to him, then thought on the answer.

"I'm sure the answer will come if we look for it." Asuna stated, "It might be a difficult thing to accomplish, but I'm sure it's not impossible." Yen Sid nodded in agreement.

"Now, it is time to speak of the enemies that you will encounter." the wizard said to them. He waved his hand, and on the far end of the room, a bright circle appeared, and a duplicate of Donald Duck appeared out of it. Suddenly, the duplicate vanished, and a Shadow appeared in its' place. Kirito shuddered at that transition, as he had seen it in his nightmares. "If one such as you, Donald, yields to the darkness in their heart, they too will become a Heartless." Yen Sid warned them, "But you know this." The others acknowledged. Donald moaned as he looked at where his duplicate was at before.

Kirito thought about what Yen Sid described the Heartless. Was that what those dreams meant? Was that gonna happen to him and his friends and family, should they be swayed by the darkness? He turned to Asuna, who looked worried as she heard about the Heartless.

"The Heartless are always lurking and ever seeking to capture new hearts." Yen Sid explained, "Never let your guard down! Now then…" He waved his hand again, and another bright circle appeared, and in it was a monster just like the ones that attacked them at the station plaza. "At times, if someone with a strong heart and will, be they evil or good, becomes a Heartless, the empty shell they leave behind begins to act with a will of its own." Yen Sid informed them.

The circle with the Heartless disappeared as Yen Sid continued, "An empty vessel whose heart has been stolen away, a spirit that goes on even as its body fades from existence. For you see, Nobodies do not truly exist at all. Nobodies may seem to have feelings, but this is a ruse; they only pretend to have hearts. You must not be deceived!"

"Nobodies..." Sora muttered sorrowfully, "They don't exist."

"They sure hurt like they exist." Kirito said sarcastically, remembering how they attacked them.

Suddenly, three more of them appeared close to the five heroes, startling them. "Now then," Yen Sid continued, "the being you see before you is known as a Dusk. They are the most common form of Nobody. But there are others; some larger, some with frightening and unique powers. Be vigilant!" Everyone turned to Yen Sid and nodded. "On your journey, you will meet an alarming number of Dusks. They will all attempt to do you harm."

"We found that out the hard way." Asuna moaned, also thinking of the battle before.

The three Nobodies disappeared as Yen Sid continued, "Still, they are nothing but empty shells, destined to return to darkness. But..." He waved his hand again, and three more bright circles appeared, containing human-like figures in black coats, with black hoods that covered their faces. The group were startled at there appearance. "The beings before you now are different." Yen Sid told them, "These powerful Nobodies have formed a group called Organization XIII. It commands the lesser Nobodies."

"Organization XIII..." Sora repeated, something in his face said that they seemed familiar to him. He looked at Donald, Goofy, Kirito and Asuna, wondering if they knew who they were. They all shook their heads one after another.

"While Heartless act on instinct, Nobodies function in a higher manner." Yen Sid explained to them as they turned to him, "They can think and plan, and it seems they are working towards a goal. What that goal is, we do not know." The five heroes looked at each other, wondering what kind of goal it was. "The King sensed the danger, and journeyed forth to fight it." Yen Sid continued, "He found the dark realm's Keyblade, and with it, closed the door. Now he's traveling from world to world, fighting the Heartless as he seeks the answer to the riddle of the Nobodies and Organization XIII. Meanwhile, the Organization are making plans of their own, and their most recent actions are the reason why you, Kirito and Asuna, were brought here." Asuna and Kirito looked to one another, wondering what the actions were.

The three cloaked figures disappeared behind them. "Then I guess we better go find the King first!" Sora stated, both Donald and Goofy nodded in agreement.

"And while were at it, find that DiZ character so we can find a way to go back home again!" Kirito added, with Asuna and Yui nodding in agreement with him.

"But where could they be?" Donald asked.

"Well, we won't know 'til we look." Goofy answered.

"Yeah, and the King must know where Riku is, 'cause the two of them were together in the realm of darkness when we closed the door." Sora finished, "You know, after defeating Ansem."

Asuna looked to Kirito. "I guess we now know why we're brought here." she told him, "What's going through your mind, right now?"

"A lot of things." Kirito answered, "Everything that Yen Sid said about what DiZ told him, and what he said about what challenges we have to face. Not to mention that we were thrown into this mess because of a whim that DiZ had. Then there's the enemies we have to face; Heartless, Nobodies, and this Organization XIII. I get the feeling the nightmares I've been having before all this were a warning, telling me that I might have to face these sort of enemies."

"But I have a scary thought, and it's not one you're gonna like." Asuna told Kirito.

"What's that?" Kirito asked.

"If we were able to be sent to this dimension thanks to DiZ, who's to say the Heartless or this Organization hasn't figured out a way to get to our world?" Asuna predicted.

Kirito looked down in concern. She was right. If they were sent here, whose to say the enemy couldn't find a way back? Maybe DiZ isn't the only one who has a way for them to bring them back home. If that was the case, then they had no choice but to join Sora, Donald and Goofy in their journey to stop the Heartless, and find out what Organization XIII had in mind for them.

"I guess we should help these guys in defeating those enemies." Kirito concluded, "It is not only the safe thing to do, but it also might help us find DiZ, along with a way to get back home again." Asuna nodded in agreement, knowing that it was the right thing to do. "What do you think, Yui?" Kirito asked.

"If it's okay with mama and papa, then it is okay with me!" Yui answered. The two chuckled at her statement.

"So, before you go, you will need more suitable traveling clothes." Yen Sid said, drawing the group's attention. He looked at Sora as he said, "Those look a bit too small for you." He then looked at Kirito and Asuna as he said, "And yours should be better made for your next journey." All three of them looked at their attire, agreeing or confused at what they were wearing according to Yen Sid. "Through there, you'll find three good fairies." Yen Sid said, waving to a door to their right, "If you ask, they'll create appropriate garments for all of you."

"Gawrsh, Sora, you sure are growing fast." Goofy stated.

"Uh, I guess..." Sora responded, chuckling in embarrassement.

"Is that really necessary?" Kirito questioned, "I mean, our attire is already suitable for combat and for travel."

"In ALO, definitely." Asuna agreed, "However, I think we might have to get new clothes for this journey, just to be safe. Besides, I want something a little less old-fashioned." Kirito sighed, but he agreed with Asuna, all except for the old-fashioned part. Besides, it was her idea to have them dress up in their old SAO attire in the first place.

"You think I'll get a new look if I ask properly?" Yui asked them as she flew up to their head level.

"Maybe," Asuna answered, giggling.

They all entered the side door, where they saw three short, stout women with the same gowns, capes and hats, but they were red, blue and green each. Their names were Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather They were huddled together with their backs turned to the group, talking to each other.

"Me, you guys, Riku, and the King." Sora said, "I don't care who this Organization is or what it's planning. With the seven of us- I mean, eight of us- there's nothing to worry about. Right?"

"Yeah!" Donald agreed. Kirito counted off the people he said, and he came up with seven of them. Unless Sora was adding either Jiminy or Yui, he wasn't sure what the eighth person was.

All five of them walked towards the three women, drawing their attention. "Well, look who's here, dear!" Flora said, "Sora, Donald and Goofy! And I even see a couple of new faces!" She looked at the other two.

"I'm Kirito," he introduced himself, "and this is Asuna and Yui." The girls bowed their heads upon their introductions.

"It is very nice to meet the both of you." Flora responded, smiling at the two.

"Ooh, if your looking for clothes, you've come to the right place!" Merryweather stated as she and Flora brought Sora, Kirito and Asuna forward, Yui floated next to Donald and Goofy.

"I'll do the designing!" Fauna declared, waving her wand, and suddenly the three's clothing became green.

"Oh, that will never do!" huffed Merryweather, waving her wand, making their clothes blue.

"Now, now, dears." scorned Flora, turning their clothes red.

"But don't you like this better?" asked Fauna, making their clothes green again.

"Hold on!" said Flora, turning the clothes red again.

"Are you certain?" asked Fauna, changing the color to green.

"Blue!" cried Merryweather, making their clothes blue again.

On and on they changed the color of the clothes several times. Kirito, bored of all the color changing, looked up and saw a raven stare at them beadily before taking off. Kirito found the raven an ominous sign, but couldn't figure out why.

Finally, Asuna cried, "Enough of this already!" Kirito looked down, seeing each of them were in different colored attire; Kirito in blue, Asuna in red, and Sora in green.

"Aww, would you just decide?" Sora asked mournfully. All three fairies realized what they were doing and looked at each other, somewhat embarrassed.

"All right, then." said Flora, "Together now, dears. And no more squabbling!" The three of them waved their wands in unison, and all three Keyblade Wielders uniforms glowed brightly and transformed.

Sora's garments were somewhat like his old outfit, but it was baggy. His vest was black silver-lined, with yellow straps and was unzipped. It also included a black hoodie on the back. His short-sleeved shirt underneath was red and dark blue, and had silver outlines. His black and dark blue pants had more legging, and he had red bags on either leg, held by yellow straps. His shoes were big, black and yellow, and had straps that crossed it every which-way. He had on fingerless gloves which had studs on the back of them, and wrist-long sleeves. Finally, he wore his chain necklace with the crown on it.

Asuna's garments had some of the appearance of her original SAO outfit, but with several changes. Her top was about the same, but it was white with a blue and silver outline, and the center part of her uniform was a light blue with red outline underneath. The chest part was blue, with two pink, intersecting belts over her chest, and a silver heart connecting them, and yellow straps that wrapped around her neck. She wore white and blue-lined fingerless gloves, with detached sleeves that reached above her elbows. Instead of a skirt, she now wore tight, black shorts. Her cape became two strips of blue cloth that draped over either side of her hip, with a smaller blue strip hanging in the back, all tied underneath her top. Her stockings were the same color coordination as her sleeves. Her shoes were black and red, with silver armor pieces.

Kirito's attire was also somewhat like his SAO outfit, with some changes. He wore a gray and dark brown, high-collared shirt. His trench coat was still black and silver-lined, but it became knee-long, has a side pocket for Yui, and golden shoulder pads. He also wore two maroon intersecting straps across his chest. He wore a black belt with a silver buckle. His pants became slacks, and were brown. He also wore black fingerless gloves with elbow high sleeves and golden wrist guards. He wore a brown and gold piece of armor on his right forearm. His shoes were like his old, only black with dark brown stripe down the middle and dark brown straps, with silver buckles and golden toe-guards. Finally, he wore a necklace with what looked like a mini version of his Elucidator hilt.

(Cue KH2.5 OST 'Sora')

"Oh, my!" gasped Flora.

"Ooh, their lovely." said Fauna.

"Oh, yes! They all do look very dashing." praised Merryweather, who looked more at Asuna's, which had the most blue. Sora raised his hands, looking down himself at his new attire. Kirito looked at himself, feeling the piece of armor on his forearm, then lifting the Elucidator pendant he wore. Asuna turned to either side, getting every angle of her, then lifting the cloth pieces hanging from her hips, wondering if it was for function or for fashion.

Fauna also waved her wand to Donald, Goofy and Yui, and all the worn and stained parts of their attire suddenly faded away. "Hey, our attire is better!" Donald noticed.

"We made sure to clean your attire up a bit." Fauna assured them.

"Thank you so much, ma'am!" Yui thanked them.

"Well, it does feel comfortable." Kirito noted, now done fussing over his clothes.

"And they do look pretty sharp." Sora added.

"I think you two both look handsome." Asuna pointed out, "Plus, Kirito has more color on him. 'Bout time you had a look that was less monochrome." Kirito rubbed the back of his head, getting the usual attack on his lack of color for his attire.

"Now, those aren't ordinary garments." Flora told them.

"Each of them have very special powers." Fauna explained. Flora waved her wand, and a bright red orb appeared in front of both Sora and Kirito.

"Take the orbs, dears." Fauna asked, "And watch what happens." The boys looked to one another, then they touched the orb simultaneously. Both orbs were absorbed into their clothing. Suddenly, they were lifted off their feet and their clothes let out a burst of energy, and suddenly their clothes transformed.

"Woah!" Asuna, Donald, Goofy and Yui gasped in amazement. Their clothes changed color coordinations, now adding more red to their outer coats, pants, gloves and shoes. They also gained outlined markings on their leggings and sleeves, along with the bottom sides of Kirito's coat. What was more startling was that they were wielding two Keyblades now.

Both Sora and Kirito looked themselves over, and saw the extra Keyblade, which startled them. "Woah!" Sora gasped, seeing his new weapon.

"Wow!" Donald and Yui said together.

"Two Keyblades!" Goofy pointed out.

"A Dual Wield Form!" Kirito realized, seeing his new Keyblade, which looked like a cross between a sword and a gun, decorated with lion-like figures on his key and chain, "This will definitely come in handy!"

"This journey's gonna be twice as difficult as your last." Merryweather said to Sora, who already looked worn out at the thought.

"Why don't I have one?" Asuna asked, looking jealous as she saw the boys in their new looks.

"Your garments also have other powers," Flora answered, "but you will have to discover what they are as you continue on your journey." Asuna nodded in response, though deep inside she wanted to find her powers now.

"Ok, I'll do my best. And thanks a lot!" thanked Sora.

"I wonder what these new Keyblades are called?" Kirito asked as he looked at both his and Sora's new Keyblades. Yui also examined the Keyblades, then gasped in realization.

"What is it?" Donald asked her.

"I don't know how, but somehow, I seem to know the names of their Keyblades!" Yui realized.

"How do ya know that?" Goofy asked her quizzically.

"I'm not sure, but I can only guess that during the time we entered through the digital wormhole through DiZ's computer, I was granted access to all new kinds of information!"

"So, is it just the Keyblades you know about?" Asuna asked her.

Yui closed her eyes, processing all the info she had in her mind. "No. I have more information inside of me that I didn't realize I had before." Yui answered, "Not only do I know info on the Keyblades, but magic powers, Heartless, Nobodies, even special items."

"That's amazing!" Asuna gasped, Donald and Goofy sharing this reaction.

Yui floated over to Sora and Kirito, who heard what Yui said as well. "Sora, your Keyblade is called the 'Star Seeker'." Yui analyzed, "It is balanced, mainly towards strength, and adds more attack combos in midair." Yui then looked to Kirito's new Keyblade. "Papa, your Keyblade is called the 'Sleeping Lion'. It is similar in its' balance like Sora's, only your's gains extra attacks on the ground."

"Sleeping Lion, huh?" Kirito muttered, seeing his Keyblade.

"Wow, Yui. You can give us all the info for all the Keyblades and stuff!" Sora exclaimed in amazement.

"All that extra information you gained's gonna be really handy for our journey." Kirito stated, "Yui, we're counting on you!" Yui nodded and grinned, happy to help them out in that way.

"Oh, and there's something else for you," Fauna told them, "from Master Yen Sid."

"Oh boy!" Donald cheered as he and Goofy looked at each other. Sora and Kirito's clothes glowed brightly once more, and reverted back to normal.

"Then let's get going." Kirito told the crew, and as Yui dived into Kirito's pocket, they walked back to the main room.

Yen Sid standing at the moon-shaped window. He turned as they came in and beckoned them towards. Looking out the window, they saw something red and yellow with blue dome windows float outside the window. Kirito thought that it looked like a rocket ship of some sort.

"Hey! It's the Gummi Ship!" Donald proclaimed. The five of them dashed to the window to take a better look at the ship before them.

"So what is this thing suppose to do?" Kirito asked the other three.

"Its' our vessel that we use to travel to different worlds." Goofy answered. Kirito and Asuna were surprised at its' appearance, compared to what Goofy said about what it can do.

"So you guys ready to go?" Sora asked the group. All of them nodded, then they turned to Yen Sid, standing up straight in a line, Kirito and Asuna following them a few seconds later.

"Now, now, just a moment." Yen Sid said to them, causing them to slump slightly, "Because of your previous endeavors..." He spoke to Sora, Donald and Goofy as he said that, "...the worlds have returned to their original states. That means the pathways between them have disappeared."

"You mean, we can't just go straight to them?" Asuna asked. She stared at Kirito, who shrugged.

"How do we get around?" Donald asked as he, Sora and Goofy slumped in despair.

"Do not fear." Yen Sid reassured them, "If what the King suspected proves true, the worlds have prepared new pathways along which you may travel. These pathways may be utilized by unlocking special gates. How these gates are opened, I'm afraid I do not know. However, the Keyblade will serve as your guide."

The three Keyblade wielders looked at each other as Yen Sid continued, "When a beam of light radiates from the Keyblade, return to the Gummi Ship. Though the worlds may seem far apart and out of reach, they nonetheless remain connected by invisible ties. As do the hearts."

"Our hearts are connected." Sora repeated.

"That is correct." Yen Sid answered. Kirito placed his hand on his chest. He wondered if maybe his heart can reach out to all of his friends and family right now.

"Got it!" Sora understood.

"But be warned." Yen Sid warned them, "As you proceed, the Heartless and the Nobodies will be using their own paths: Corridors of darkness, to travel from world to world. They may be attempting to link these dark pathways to the gates between the worlds."

"Hey! That's not fair!" squawked Donald, placing a fist into his hand. Yen Sid nodded in agreement.

"Now then, that is all the information I can give to you." he finished, "Go forth, Sora, Kirito, Asuna, Donald, and Goofy. Everyone is waiting."

"Okay, let's get going!" Sora said to them. He turned to Kirito and Asuna, who suspected what he was thinking.

"Don't worry about us, Sora." Kirito assured him, "We may not like it right now, but we'll help you anyway we can. Besides, those Heartless and Nobodies sound like bad news, and we can't let them wander free."

"Plus, who's to say they won't find a way to our dimension." Asuna pointed out, "We might as well take care of them WHILE we search for DiZ, just to be safe."

Sora hadn't thought about the fact that the enemies might target their home, too. "Then I guess that means we should take care of Organization XII as quickly as possible, so that all of our friends, families and homes are safe." Sora decided, with the team nodding in agreement.

Sora thrusted his hand in the middle of the group. Donald and Goofy placed their hands onto Sora's, feeling the nostalgia from doing this before with him. Kirito and Asuna smiled at one another, then got in close enough to place their hands on top of the others. Yui and Jiminy hopped out to join in. The team was now officially formed and ready to go.

They then once again stood upright in a line as they faced Yen Sid. "Master Yen Sid!" said Donald.

"We sure do appreciate the help." Goofy stated as they all saluted him. They all dashed out of the main room, down the stairs and out the door entrance. Kirito noticed that Pete was no longer there anymore. He and the others looked up and saw the Gummi Ship above them.

Suddenly, a beam of light came from the ship, and landed on top of them. The light grew brighter around them, and suddenly they found themselves inside the Gummi Ship. Kirito had seen a couple of sci-fi shows involving space ships, and the interior definitely fit the part. The ship had three seats in it.

"Guess no one expected us to be here." Kirito assumed as Sora, Donald and Goofy settled into their seats.

"Don't ya worry. We'll ask Chip and Dale to build in extra seats for ya." Goofy assured them.

"Who are Chip and Dale?" Asuna asked. "They're the engineers for the Gummi Ship." Donald answered, "We'll call them later."

"We'll settle back here for the time being." Kirito answered, settling himself on the back floor, leaning himself on the wall. Yui flew out and fell onto Kirito's lap, with Asuna settling right next to Kirito.

(Cue KH OST 'Hand in Hand')

"Ok then, let's go!" Sora declared as Donald took control, "Onward to the next world!" The ship soared up into the air, and into the starry sky. Kirito, Asuna and Yui watched the scene change before their eyes, knowing that this adventure was nothing compared to what they had experienced before.

"You scared?" Kirito whispered to Asuna.

"Definitely." Asuna responded, "But with you here, I feel safe."

"Same here." Kirito answered, "With you, me, Sora, Donald, Goofy and Yui working together, I believe there's nothing we can't accomplish in this new dimension." Those thoughts kept surging through them as the Gummi Ship took them away onward to the next big adventure.