"There is a difference

In dreaming and pretending

I did not find paradise..."

"This must be it." Kira said, as the three approached a square opening in the base of a tree. They hadn't walked very far from where the Caterpillar had spoken with Kira, something Abigail was grateful for. Stepping into the darkness, they emerged moments later back into the room. It seemed as if nothing had changed, though all three could feel something different about it.

"Is it just me, or does it seem...darker, in here?" Abigail said, summoning her staff. Kira and Diez summoned their Keyblades, Diez because he knew the feeling of an oncoming battle well, and Kira more because she was following what the other two did, though she could sense something strange.

Behind them, the door vanished. Neither Kira, Diez, or Abigail noticed, however, because their eyes were glued to the Heartless that had just appeared. It towered over them, twirling an oversized pocket watch in the air. A Hatter's hat was pushed sideways on its head, so that a single white ear was visible. It's yellow eyes bored into Kira.

"Woah!" Abigail exclaimed, backing up slightly. "I've never seen a Heartless this big before." Diez glanced at her briefly, before moving his eyes back to the Heartless. It moved the watche over its head and swung it twice, before hurling it at them. Diez and Abigail moved to either side, while Kira backed up against the wall to avoid it. The clock crashed into the floor, creating a dent and sending tile flying.

"Kira!" Abigail screamed, seeing her friend trapped. She aimed her staff at the Heartless' head. "Fira!" Fire burst out of her staff, hitting the Heartless dead on. It roared, and turned, swinging the pocket watch just over Kira's head. The Heartless swing it above its head again, and brought it down.

But Diez was ready this time. He jumped up, landing on the watch and kicking it to the ground. The Heartless fell with it, and he let loose a fury of attacks. Abigail joined him, casting Fira and Blizzarra spells. As Kira stepped forward to help, she noticed the Heartless' hands twitch, and tighten around the chain.

"Watch out!" She cried, and only seconds later Diez and Abigail jumped away, the pocket watch swinging wildly in a circle. Kira dropped to the ground, and it missed her by inches. The Heartless caught it, and stood still for a moment. Then, suddenly, he swung it own on Abigail.

Caught by surprise, Abigail barely had time to scramble out of the way. It turned towards Diez, and brought it down in the same quick motion. Diez blocked it, though the force knocked him to the floor. The Heartless set it sights on Kira, but--

She wasn't there. As it had been attacking her friends, Kira had moved swiftly to the other side, so she was no longer against the wall. She swung her Keyblade at its legs, an the Heartless stumbled, landing on a knee. The pocket watch fell to the floor, causing a rather large dent to appear. Immediatly, Diez, who had recovered, ran towards the Heartless' hands, and whacked them, causing it to groan and drop the chain.

Kira's Keyblade stabbed into the Heartless' back, and it fell to the floor, barely hanging on. It reached for the watch, but Abigail, now standing, cast a wind spell, Aerora, and it whirled away across the room. As Diez dealt the final blow, the pocket watch and Heartless vanished together.

For a moment, they stood in silence, merely staring at the spot where the Heartless once was, until a voice interrupted them.

"Well done!" They turned towards the table, startled. But it was the strange, purple cat, smiling at them. "That nasty ticking was driving me insane....even though I'm already mad..." He laughed. "As a reward, I can tell you where the next corridor is." Diez stepped forward, as the girl's gasped.

"How do you know about the corridors?" The Cat's smile widened.

"Why, I know quite a lot about you, Diez, Abigail, Kira." All three of them were taken aback. "The mad often do have a bit more insight than the sane." He laughed again. "Now, the corridor is right through there." He pointed a paw towards a fireplace, with a small opening at the bottom. Kira nodded.

"Thank you, but uhm...I don't think we can leave yet." The Cat didn't falter, however.

"Oh, I know. You must seal the Heart. But first, Kira, what have you learned?" Kira stared at him, confused.

"What have I....learned?" The Cat nodded, still grinning.

"You had a talk with the Blue Caterpillar, did you not?" Kira hesitated, and then nodded. Diez's eyes snapped to her. He was about to find out what was bothering her. Abigail merely watched. "He told you that people are made up of experiences and memories, correct?" Kira nodded, looking very sad.

"And, because I have none, I am not a real person." Abigail stepped forward to comfort her friend, but Diez held his hand out.

"But you are a real person." Kira looked up, meeting the Cat's yellow gaze. "True, memories and experiences are important, but it is a person's heart that truly decides who they are." Kira stared, the revelation sinking in. She reached up a hand to gently touch where her heart was.

"My heart." She whispered, and smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Cat." The Cat grinned.

"The Heart of the world is over there." He pointed a paw to the door knob, still snoring. He began to dissapear again, his eyes winking out. "Good luck on your journey." And then he was gone.

Kira turned towards the door knob. She was the closest to it, and suddenly felt extremely confident and sure of herself. Riasing StarLight level with the keyhole, a stream of light shot out from the tip, connecting with the keyhole. There was a locking sound, and the light faded. StarLight vanished as Kira dropped her hand.

"Good job, Kira!" Abigail cheered, hopping over to her friend and swinging an arm around her shoulders. "You should have told us about that Caterpillar. I would have knocked him one, had I known." Kira laughed as they walked towards Diez, who was standing in front of the fireplace. Diez and Kira's eyes met, and he nodded in acknowledgement. Kira smiled slightly. Maybe he's not so bad after all.


"Mater Yen Sid told me to give this to you." He held up his hand towards Kira. It was empty, and she raised an eyebrow at him. Suddenly, different collored sparks flew from his finger tips, straight at Kira. They surrounded her, causing a small wind to play with her clothes and hair. The glows faded, and Kira felt slightly...different. As she looked at herself to see what had changed, (nothing on the outside), Diez explained. "That's magic. Abigail and I can teach you how to use." He smirked. "From that battle just now, I can tell you're gonna need it." And then he walked away, into the fireplace.

Kira stared after him, flabbergasted.

Nevermind. He is that bad.

Abigail, however, cheered.

"Yay! Now I get to teach you about magic!" She grabbed Kira's hand and, together, they joined Diez in the fireplace. A flash of light and a few cries of surprise later, and they were off to the next world.

/-/-/-/

On the cliff, the armored man, hooded girl and black haired boy stood, watching the three dissapear into the fireplace, via a swirl of darkness. With a wave of the armored man's hand, the mirror vanished. He turned to the boy and girl.

"Are we following them?" The girl asked, arms crossed. She did not like the idea of straying from her path of vengeance. The armored man shook his head.

"No. I have another you must follow." He opened a portal. "Be sure that he does not cross paths with them. I cannot have his interference." As the boy walked towards the portal, the girl followed, stopping to stare into the darkness.

"Is it him?" She asked, voice quiet. The man smiled behind his armor, and inclined his head. The girl grinned, throwing her hood back and unleashing her long, blonde hair. "Good."

The portal closed behind her.

"It was only a reflection of my

Lonely mind wanting

What I've been missing in my life..."