Author's Disclaimer: I do not own "Kingdom Hearts". It is property of Square Enix and Disney. I do not own anything of it from characters to items and places. All I own is Star. So... NO STEALING STAR! :) Enjoy~!

Dedication: This is dedicated to my beloved readers and my best writing pal, Megumi. Your writing inspired this!

Author's Note: This takes place a few months after "Kingdom Hearts II". Now, I'm a little rusty in the KH universe because I haven't played it in over a year, so please let me know if I make any mistake or such. But please tell me kindly. Constructive criticism is appreciated as well as feedback.

Author's Second Note: It just occured to while I was looking through my KH2 strategy guide, that Hallow Bastion was later renamed Radiant Garden, its original name. So, I'm putting down Radiant Garden in place of Hallow Bastion. Don't worry, the previous chapters will be corrected and they are currently being edited by a good friend of mine. She's good at editing. ^^ So expect grammer corrections and Hallow Bastion - Radiant Garden in the last chapters.

Old and New Friends

-Radiant Garden

Star walked around the town, keeping an eye out for the nobodies.

She thought she should do something to help Yuffie and her friends because of their taking her in and helping her out. So, she'd agree to help finish up with the restoration of the world. The others were pleased to hear that and they filled her in about the world. Yuffie was practically telling her the whole story of the world and of a kid named Sora. Leon stopped her, saying that too much information in one day would be brain damaging especially if the young ninja kept talking fast. So, for the past few days, Star learned more about the world she was in and more about the Keyblade Master Sora. The young girl had to admit it would've been too much to absorbed in one day and was grateful the others were breaking it down for her.

As for the world restoration, the fifteen-year-old was in charge of checking out the southern perimeter in the morning and in the evening. Cid would take of the nightshift, which was relieving to Star since she was afraid of the dark. While on her shifts, she found the town was very pleasant. She met new people and noticed like Huey, Dewey, and Louie, there were also talking animals - most she recognized but a few she didn't. Nonetheless, she found most of them friendly. A few of them were grumpy and quiet, but she brushed them off.

The fifteen-year-old walked around, observing her surroundings. She stopped at the edge of the town and looked up to the afternoon sky. She tried to find the moon. Back home, she could easily find the moon in the day because you could see its white crater surface in the sky, almost fading. She found she couldn't see it in Radiant Garden. She sighed.

"Hey, moon. You think you could tell my mom something for me?" She knew it seemed ridiculous talking to the moon especially when she couldn't see it. But the moon was always high in the sky and it was almost always in her sight as if watching her. To her, it was sort of an angel. "Tell her I love her very much and that I'm fine and that I'm going to go back home as soon as possible." She stopped and looked down at the ground. "I promise to go back to her." She breathed and lifted her face to the sky, hoping to see the moon. She smiled when she saw something in the sky. But her face fell when she saw it wasn't the moon or a falling star. It was some kind of ship that was spinning out of control…. And about to crash where she was.

Star yelped in surprise and began to ran.

The group passed by the stars and saw a glimpse of every world. Sora and Riku recognized many of them: Wonderland, Agrabah, The Jungle, Halloweentown… Sora grinned as he remembered his friends on those worlds. He glanced at Riku. It occurred to him that Riku may not have many pleasant memories as Sora did of those worlds. The Keyblade Master playfully hit his friend's arm.

"We only have happy faces on this ship!" Sora widely grinned.

Riku rubbed his arm. "Oh really?"

"Yup! Right, Donald, Goofy?"

"Right!" The two pilots chorused with smiles.

Kairi nodded. "I agree. So come on, Riku, lets see your happy face."

Everyone turned to stare at the silver-haired teenager. Riku didn't show it but he felt nervous under all their eyes. He coolly sat back and folded his arms.

Sora frowned. "Aw, come on, Riku! Happy face!"

They all crowded around him with wide grinning face that were ridiculous looking. Riku held back the laughter, but he couldn't for long. He knelt over, holding his stomach, laughing. When he sat back up, he was smiling.

"Yes!" Kairi punched her fist in the air. "Score one for us!"

"Uh, guys?" Riku said when his face relaxed. "Who's flying the ship?"

Sora, Kairi, and Riku turned to Donald and Goofy who in turn looked at the control panel. "Uh…" Donald's voice drowned.

At once, the gummi ship started to spin fast, making everyone jumble and tumble inside the ship.

"We're gonna crash!" Goofy yelled.

"WE KNOW!"

They all held onto anything they could and screamed.

"MAYDAY!" Sora yelled, "WE'RE GOING DOWN!"

Star managed to warned the citizens to take cover before the ship made a crashing contact. She ducked into an alley and could feel a powerful wind sweep through the town. She breathed when it died and poked her head around the corner. The crashed ship from what she could see wasn't grand or anything. It wasn't so small, seem just enough for less than ten people to squeeze in. She blinked. She held her dagger behind her back. Sure she didn't have any fighting experience, but she remembered Leon and Yuffie's tips plus she remembered what her mom said what to do with knives in emergencies.

"Hello?" She took slow baby steps towards the ships. She heard groaning and murmurs. Doesn't sound like nobodies…

A hatch opened and a young boy, around her age or a year older, poked his head out, his light brown spiky hair bouncing.

Star tried to hold back a laugh. She couldn't hold on to it any longer when a duck and a dog head popped up beside the boy. And it was quite obvious that they were stuck. Star let it out. She dropped her dagger and doubled over in laughter.

Sora took notice of the laughing girl. "Yuffie?" He called out to her. But then he noticed the hair was longer and brown. Nope, definitely not Yuffie.

"Hey, we wanna get out too!" Kairi yelled from inside.

"Well, hang on!" Sora glanced at Donald and Goofy. "On the count of three. One…"

"Two…" Goofy said slowly, chuckling a little.

"Three!" Donald yelled impatiently.

A miracle was in work because the three freed themselves and were in no time stretching on the bare ground. Sora quickly walked back to the opened hatch and assisted his girlfriend out of the ship.

"Thanks," Kairi smiled. Sora returned the smile.

"Hey, what about me?" Riku grabbed Sora's arm and jumped out. "Sorry to break that moment between you two."

"Its ok." Kairi said.

The five turned to Star who finally managed to stop laughing. Now getting a good look at them, she guessed the newcomers were Sora, Donald, Goofy, and two of Sora's best friends. "You're the Keyblade Master?" Star asked Riku.

Riku shook his head.

"I am!" Sora brought out the Keyblade to prove it.

Star was quiet before laughing again.

"Hey!" Sora frowned. "What's so funny?"

"She's thinking the same thing I thought when I found out you were the Keyblade Master." A familiar voice said.

The group looked around to see Leon.

"Leon!" Sora smiled.

"Gosh, its been a while!" Goofy said. Donald nodded.

"Sora, Donald, Goofy." Leon greeted each one. He turned to Kairi and Riku. "And you must be Kairi and Riku. Sora couldn't stop talking about you two nonstop."

Sora chuckled nervously. He blinked and pointed at Star. "Who's she?"

"This is Star." Leon said.

Star calmed down. She waved her hand at them in greeting. "Hi." She looked at Sora. "Sorry if I laughed, but from what I heard about the great Keyblade Master, I thought it would be him." She gestured to Riku.

Riku smirked slyly. "Nope, the Keyblade chose a knucklehead."

"Hey!"

"Knock it off, you two!" Kairi laughed.

Leon interrupted the humorous moment. "Well, we should head back to headquarters, nobodies are bound to be drawn -"

"To the Keyblade." Sora finished as he remembered very well what was drawn to it.

"Then lets go." Leon led the group into town.

"What about the ship?" Donald asked.

"Cid can fix it," Leon said.

Star followed closely behind Leon. She shut her eyes and pressed her lips together, trying hard not to laugh or show any sign of it. Boy, if she thought this world was dangerous, she was dead wrong.

At headquarters, both groups exchanged greetings and small talks. Star felt a little out of place to be honest, but she knew that not everything revolved around her. She smiled at their faces and when their eyes lit up with excitement.

"Oh!" Yuffie pulled Star into the crowd. "Have you met Star?" The ninja held the young girl in a tight embrace.

"Not formally," Kairi smiled. "I'm Kairi."

"Hi, Kairi." Star smiled.

"You know Sora, Donald, and Goofy." The red-haired said when she turned around. "Oh! He's Riku." She pointed at the silver-haired teenager Star mistaken for the Keyblade master. "He's the one you thought was Sora."

Star laughed nervously. "Sorry about that. I hope Sora didn't take it too hard."

"Don't worry, he's not like that." Kairi assured her, "In fact, he's really friendly." She paused. "Was your world destroyed too?"

Star shook her head. "I just woke up here in Radiant Garden."

Kairi blinked. "Just like that?"

The other girl nodded. "Can't explain what happened."

"Well, don't worry!" Kairi brightened up. "We'll help you!"

"Thanks," Star said. "To both of you." She turned to Yuffie as well.

Leon, who had left the room a few minutes earlier, came back with King Mickey.

"Your Majesty!" Sora grinned.

King Mickey exchanged smiles and grins to everyone. "Hey, everybody. Listen, I know we'll still worn out from fighting Organization XIII, but someone's taken their place now. And we won't be able to relax until we take care of them. As most of you know, the nobodies and heartless have infiltrated worlds and they've started disappearing like many other worlds did nearly three years ago."

"So, what's the plan?" Riku asked the king.

"Leon?" The king looked up at the man.

"Yuffie, Aerith, Cid, and I will see if there's anything up in the castle's libraries that could help us."

"And we'll keep an eye on our old friends." Cid said.

"Sora, I need you to revisit the other worlds. See if you can gather any information." The king said. "Donald, Goofy, Riku, you'll to assist him if you can."

"What about me?" Kairi asked.

"Kairi, I'm going to send you and Star on a different mission, if that's alright."

Star would've been more comfortable with Yuffie or Cid, but being teamed with Kairi didn't sound so bad. After all, Kairi gave a good impression and could tell she had a good heart.

"No problem, right?" The redhead glanced at her new partner.

Star smiled. "No problem."

"Alright, your missions will be given in the morning, for now, rest up everyone." King Mickey said.

"I think we'll be bunking rooms with the other girls," Kairi told Star.

Star shrugged. "I don't mind."

The redhead looked to where her two best friends were. "Come on!" She took the brunette's hand and they ran to the boys. "Guys, meet Star." Kairi grinned.

"Hey," The fifteen-year-old shyly smiled. She turned to Sora. "Sorry about laughing earlier, you caught me by surprise."

"Ah, it's alright. I get it all the time." Sora grinned goofily.

Star turned to the silver-haired boy. Riku didn't have a good chance to observe her before. That was a habit he now had; he didn't trust anyone too lightly. Xehanort taught him that two years ago. Riku was about to ask why she was in Radiant Garden when his eyes locked with her light brown ones. For a moment, he thought he saw hungry and dark amber eyes - the eyes that haunted Riku every other night in his dreams. He kept himself from gasping or making a noise. He looked away.

"Don't mind Riku," Sora told Star. "He's still grouchy because he's got a score of zero!" He laughed heartily.

"Wait 'till I have ten tomorrow." His best friend smirked.

Sora frowned and glared. "Hey -"

"Guys!" Kairi looked at them.

"Alright, you four," Aerith came along. "Its time for bed." Her soft motherly voice had them give in faster than they would've normally. "Kairi, you'll bunk with Star. Riku and Sora, Cid'll show you to your room."

"Aw, hear that!" Riku started messing with Sora. "We're roommates!"

"Great…" Sora's voice drowned.

The four bid goodbye and split up. However, Star noticed that she and Riku were not going to be on friendly terms. She sighed inaudibly. Did her mistaking him as the Keyblade Master offend him in some way?

Sora jumped on his bed and laid on it like he would in the snow. "Ah…" He sighed happily.

Riku shook his head. He laid on his bed, hands behind his head and staring up at the ceiling. In his mind he brought up Star's eyes. For a moment, they looked like -

"Hey, Riku." Sora said. "Ya think Maleficent came back?" He was hesitant with the question.

Riku was quiet. "She may have come back once, but I think two times is pushing it."

"Then maybe another scientist of Ansem." Sora tried not to bring up Xehanort.

"Yeah," The silver-haired boy muttered. "Maybe.""Good night, Riku."

"Night, Sora."

That night, Riku relived through another nightmare. He was running in the darkness, out of breath and legs burning but he didn't dare to stop. He could hear things all around him, deceiving whispers full of hunger. He fell through the ground and found himself lying on the ground on his back. He shut his eyes and groaned in pain. He opened his eyes, and green ones met amber ones before he fell again…

Riku woke up with a gasp. He breathed in and out, observing his surroundings. He sighed in relief when he was still in the room he and Sora shared. He looked over at his best friend. Sora was sprawled on the bed while snoring very loudly. He chuckled, but it came out dry. He looked out the window. Keeping his eyes on the glass, he laid back down and closed his eyes. This time, he had no dreams.

Star and Kairi whispered a few stories to one another. Star found Kairi's life fascinating from her tales. She was quite shocked to find out she was a princess. "You're a princess?" She asked.

Kairi shrugged her shoulders. "I'm just as shocked as you. But, its more like a maiden of pure heart. Princess is nickname really."

They both laughed.

"Are you parents worried?" The brunette asked.

Kairi tilted her head. "You know, I can't really say. It was as if the time Sora, Riku, and I were gone didn't pass. Its really strange. But, I'm a little relieved because I don't want to explain to them what really happened." She turned to her. "What about yours?"

"My mom must be in a panic," Star said, looking down at the bed covers. "I tell her everything. She must have the cops looking for me." She looked up. "Well, Your Highness, I think we ought to go to sleep. Early start tomorrow."

Kairi giggled. "We should. Good night, Star." She laid back down and pulled the covers up to her shoulders.

Star smiled. "Good night, Kairi." She pulled the covers to her waist and laid on her stomach, cheek pressed against the pillow.

As the girls slept, a hooded figure lingered by their window.

Author's Note: Yay! I overcame my writer's block. I knew playing Kingdom Hearts again would help. :) It'd be better if I palyed KH:CoM or KH, but origins are important. Now, I hope this chapter was up to your standards. If I messed up the characters please let me know and tell me how I can improve. Your feedbacks are much appreciated because they tell me how I'm doing. Thank you so much. Well, laters~!

Org13: Ha! Its not a filler in chapter. Score one for me~! *dances*

NinjaSheik: Why, thank you~! ^^

7/20: Chapter edited.