Chapter Two

Earth

Sora looked out the window and watched endless stars go by as the Gummi Ship whizzed by. He couldn't believe what was happening. He had just won, just got Kairi back, and he had lost her again. Again!

"Don't think so hard on it," he heard Riku say from behind. He looked up at him, "You'll feel even worse," he sat down next to him.

"Yeah, I know," Sora said, "But I can't help it...I never thought I'd be on this ship to go out and fight again. And here I am...no telling where I'm supposed to be going and..."

"Sora, look at this," Donald said, staring out the windsheild of the ship. They were approaching a world, "This is the only world with Heartless swarming about on it."

Sora gazed at the world. He didn't recognize it. It looked a little weird, even. It was merely a large blue sphere with spots of green all over.

"What is it called?" he asked.

Goofy typed away at the screen, "It's a world called Earth," he said, "Gawrsh, it's so big!"

"How do we figure out where to start looking?" Sora asked.

"Well," said the cheery chimpmunk, Dale, "The place where the Heartless are the strongest is in a place called...New...Jersey."

"Let's land there," Sora said. Riku nodded in agreement. The Gummi Ship swerved to a landing in a forest and the door swung open. Keyblades at hand, Sora and Riku walked out.

"Aren't you guys comming?" Riku asked Donald and Goofy.

"Well...uh...we kinda need to go get our weapons," Donald said, "We'll be back."

The door to the Gummi Ship closed again and was off. Immediately they were attacked by a swarm of Heartless. Small fry. They were easily wiped out. But more kept comming, like they were being created after each one was destroyed.

"They keep comming," Sora said between swipes of his keyblade, "We'll never win this way."

Riku didn't know what to say so there for didn't answer. He began to notice that there were Hearltess attacking the bushes. Why would they attack there? He then heard a scream.

He ran to the bushes and swiped away the Heartless. Then he pushed the leaves aside to reveal a girl. She wasn't very pretty and she was a little over weight. She was crying.

"Thanks," she sniffed.

Riku held out his hand, she took it, using it to help her stand, "No problem," he swung at another Heartless.

"You're not going to beat them all," the girl said, "They'll just keep comming. Quick, come to my house, you'll be safe there."

Riku nodded, "Sora, follow us," he said. And Sora nodded also and ran after them until they reached a huge house at the end of the forest. They ran inside and slammed the door shut, locking away the Heartless.

Sora's keyblade didn't disappear, "Is there anymore Heartless around?" he asked the girl.

"Is that what they're called?" she looked surprised, but in a good way, "So, they don't really exist only in a game, they're for real."

Sora and Riku looked confused, "What are you talking about?"

"You never heard of the game Kingdom Hearts?"

"A game?" Sora said, more confused than ever.

Her eyes went wide, "I thought you two looked familiar," she said, "You're Sora and Riku, from Destiny Islands!"

Sora and Riku were taken aback.

"Strange...how can this happen?" she asked herself, "You two are video game characters."

"I beg your pardon?" Riku asked, almost confused as Sora.

She rolled her eyes, "Follow me to my room," she said and she led them to one of the largest rooms in the entire house. She searched through some drawers and took out a case. On the case was Sora, staring up at Kingdom Hearts. Donald, Goofy, Kairi, and Riku and others were surrounding him. They both stared at the case.

"I don't get it," Sora said, his confusion not lighting up not even the slightest bit.

"You two are video game characters. You're supposed to be fictional in this world, yet, you're here. That's what is so strange."

"Oh," Riku said, understanding a little. He decided to get off the subject, "Why were you outside with all of those Heartless running around? Especially with no protection?"

"I saw your ship land and I wanted to check it out," then she thought for a moment, "Hey, if you two really are Sora and Riku...then where's Kairi?"

Riku looked at Sora, who looked down. He almost started crying again.

"What?" she said, "What happened to her?"

"She...was kidnapped," Sora said sadly, still looking down, "By Maleficent."

"Oh my goodness," she said, "I never thought Maleficent would do something like this again."

Sora shrugged, "It's really nothing. I came here looking for her."

"Why here?"

"Because your world is the only world with Heartless running around it."

"Oh, true."

Sora walked over to the window and stared out of it, "I wonder if she's ok."

"I'm sure she is," Riku said, putting his arm around him, patting his shoulder, "I wouldn't lie to you."

Sora smiled walked back from the window, "So, where do we start looking?"

"Oh, you shouldn't start looking now," the girl said, "It's almost night, that's when the Heartless come out the most. Why don't you wait until morning?"

"Is there room for us?"

"Of course there is, it's a mansion, silly," she put out her hand, "The name's Victoria."

The two of them shook hands with her, pleasant to know her.

"So, who's up for dinner?" she asked, "I'm about starved myself."

"I'm hungry," Riku stepped in.

"I'll go ask what's for dinner, you can come too if you like."

The two of them agreed it was a good idea to go and they followed her to the kitchen.