Kairi looked depressed, Donald and Goofy were bored, Mickey was lost in thought, Sora was having his biggest internal fight ever, and Riku was simply watching. Merlin had already left to continue working on the spell, leaving the others to their plans.

"How about we split up?" Sora suggested out of nowhere. When everyone had turned to stare at him, surprised, he continued. "Riku, Donald and I can go one way, and Kairi, Goofy and the King can take another Gummi Ship and look for another route." Objections immediately slammed his face. "Sora, no! We promised we'd never be apart!" "Sora, the other Gummi Ships are under repairs. We can't use them right now." "Aw, Sora, why'd ya wanna split up me 'nd Donald? We've always traveled together!"

Covering his ears and wincing at the yells, Sora surrendered. "Ok, ok, relax! It was just an idea..." He frowned, and everyone went back to their thoughts. "Well, let's go see if any more worlds have opened up while we've been here!" The King suggested. Most of their group nodded and headed for the door, once again Sora being the only one to hesitate.

Even with his back turned, Sora could feel Riku gazing at him, thinking critically. "I'll be out in a minute, Riku." He didn't have to look to catch the taller boy's nod.

As soon as the door had shut, Sora took a deep breath. He walked over to the bookshelf, where an open tome was glowing slightly. Staring at it for a second, Sora closed it and hid the volume away.

-

It was a grassy field the trio lay in, staring contently at the sky. "So, Kiara, what do ya wanna do now?" A small, skinny meerkat called over his shoulder to the lion cub on his side. "I dunno." She rolled over and laid her chin on her paws. Curious eyes gazed over to a bleak, almost grey area on the border of her father's kingdom. "Can we go check that place out?"

Timon and Pumbaa sat up, lazily drifting to see where their charge was asking. Timon let out a strangled yell and stood up immediately, turning to gaze fearfully at the lion cub. "Oh, no! We're not going near that place! It's outside the Pride Lands; your father would kill us!" He threw his hands up and turned around. "Let's go find some more bugs to eat, why not that? Pumbaa!" The warthog trotted over and Timon climbed onto his head, grabbing the bigger's ears.

"Come on, Kiara, I think I found a nice rotting log with a colony inside yesterday afternoon of those big blue ones Pumbaa likes…" Timon continued chatting over his shoulder as he and Pumbaa rode off, Kiara not moving. The lioness cub cast one last look at her father's friends before turning around and stalking through the tall grass toward the outlands.

-

A flash of light announced the arrival of the group, startling for a second the bleak silence of the dead, brown plain. Then Sora emerged, dark brown fur and all, followed by Donald and Goofy. He looked back in curiosity as to what the others would be in the Pride Lands. Riku was scrutinizing his own grey paws carefully, shifting unsteadily on his now four feet. Sora pouted as he realized the other was still taller. Next was Kairi, who tripped over her newfound legs, red fur reflecting the strains of sunlight as the girl adjusted. Sora looked around, as did Donald and Goofy. "Has anyone seen the King?" he asked, everyone shaking their heads no.

"Well, that's weird…" Sora wondered to himself. He felt a scratching on his paw, and wiped it off. A second later it returned, and he swiped at it again. "Why is this grass so itchy?!" he mumbled, tottering around. "What are you talking about, Sora?" Kairi asked curiously, now sitting on two legs and staring at her friend. "I don't know! Something's really bugging me!"

Riku let out a small noise of surprise, followed by a laugh. "Riku! It's not funny!" Sora cried out, stomping a paw down. "Sora, I think that's the King you're gonna step on if you don't stop moving." Sora froze. "Huh?!" He looked on the ground, trying to peer through the half-dead grass. Suddenly a small black dot raced up his arm and settled on the top of his head. "What!?" Everyone but Sora started laughing as a little black mouse with too-big ears stilled in his spot and stared at them with big black eyes.

"You've got to be kidding me…" Sora groaned, the mouse on top of his head squeaking in some kind of fit. "Your Majesty, we can't hear you!" The brunet whined at the King.

Mickey settled down, Sora guessed opting to seethe on top of his head. "Well, Riku, Kairi, these are the Pride Lands." He cast his gaze finally out over the open plains, and frowned upon seeing it in less than great condition. "That's weird…what happened? Goofy, Donald, I can't even see Pride Rock from here!"

"Me neither!"

"Nu uh here!"

"Huh. That's so weird…oh, well. What should we do?" He turned to see if Riku and Kairi had any ideas, to which they just shrugged. "Great. And I'm not sure which way it is… guess we'll just have to start walking." The group gave a general nod and followed as Sora turned around and began walking into the distance.

It was after ten minutes of walking that Sora groaned. "I can't see anything! When did the grass get so high!?" Kairi sighed. "Sora, would you relax!? I think we're almost through, look ahead!" Sora fumbled with the tall, sharp grass a moment (and an annoying squeaky mouse on his head), and then saw a few beams of light breaking through the shadows.

He let out a laugh and ran ahead, bounding over the stalks of dead plants until he came out into the small circular clearing. The sun was setting in front of him and it felt like finding the Door to Light all over again. He hopped around in the open space as the others eventually emerged, watching the Keyblade master with some amusement and some impatience (cough a certain handicapped mouse cough). Still smiling, Sora's ears perked up. Everyone else (that had ears, anyway) soon followed suit. The party fell silent as an argument became audible a few feet away.

"Stop it! Let me go!"

"You're not asking nicely…"

"I don't care! Let me out of here so I can go home!"

"Poor little girl, all lost and alone…"

"You're not any older than me!"

A pair of snarls was heard, followed by a thud. Immediately the group rushed forward, peeking silently through slits in the tall grass as two lion cubs were fighting in another small circle, the darker one obviously at the advantage. The second, pinned to the ground by the darker, had light fur and was sleeker, the female voice from the conversation.

"We should help her!" Kairi harshly whispered to everyone else, the two fighters oblivious to their audience as the girl managed to push off the boy. "No, Kairi, we should stay low." Riku responded quietly before Sora could say it. Mickey was squeaking something more on Sora's head, but everyone pretty much ignored him.

The brown-furred cub laughed lowly and back up. "I like you. You've got spunk. I'm Kovu." The girl stared warily. "I'm…Kiara…" He smiled easily. "So, what are you doing out here? It's a long way from anyone's home." Kiara wanted to run, but knew she couldn't outrun him. "I ditched. I was curious about what was out here." Kovu laughed. Kiara found herself liking the sound. "There's not much. And, I should warn you…" he trailed off vaguely, pulling in her curiosity, "my mother doesn't take kindly to strangers."

A pair of gleaming eyes watched from each side of the clearing as the two cubs chatted animatedly, each watching the other's child closely.

Kairi sighed and resolved to lowering herself to lie in the crunchy grass as the others watched the apparent conversation. There was no danger right now; they really shouldn't be eavesdropping like this… Blue eyes drifted shut as Kairi let out an inaudible yawn.

--

Kairi found herself floating in midair. She was back in her old body, somehow, and looking around, the redhead felt a weight drop in her stomach. Above her a giant black and purple hole set against a blacker sky was sucking up everything from old wood to tree parts. Looking down her heart wrenched. Sora, as he looked before their journeys began, was standing on the ruinous sand of their Island, surrounded by wreckage, barely standing. How did she know it was their old home? There was only a pitiful piece of land, and that marred by the storm overhead... Strangely, Namine was standing a short distance away, talking to Sora, perfectly fine and unaffected by the darkness overhead.

"Sora...I have to tell you the truth." The blonde said, a fist clenched over where her heart should be. "Namine, we have to get out of here!" Said girl only looked at the brunet sadly. "It was never me, Sora. Am I really the one you want to protect?" Sora, confused, called back: "Of course, who else would there be? We played together on the island...all the time." Namine shook her head sadly. "It wasn't me, Sora." Even from above, Kairi could hear the desperation in Sora's voice as clearly as if she was standing next to him. "What are you talking about?!"

Another figure appeared behind Sora, and he turned around as Kairi looked at another Namine. Both sets of blue eyes flew back to the first blonde before switching back to the copy, who before their eyes, transformed in a blur into Kairi. The Kairi that Sora and Riku had left on their Island over a year ago. She smiled at him, standing still in the great storm. Once again confused, Sora called out tentatively, "Kairi?"

--

Suddenly a paw was shaking Kairi, and the red-haired girl jumped up with a start. Riku was there, staring at her strangely. Her groggy blue eyes adjusted from the flashback, and she noticed that Sora, Donald, and Goofy were gone. Startled, Kairi shot up. Her gaze locked on the scene that had developed during her (what was it? daydream? nightmare? ...memory? hell if she knew).

A whole group was facing off tensely in the circle where two lion cubs had once been talking. On one side was the small female, a much larger and regal looking male, Sora, Donald, and Goofy; and on the other stood the dark furred male cub and a thin, sickly looking female. The adults were watching each other warily, the female's eyes sometimes darting to the trio behind him.

"Kovu, it's time to go back." She said sweetly to him, voice holding a slight threat behind it, eyes still focused on the wary male. "But, mom, I--" "Kovu, I said it's time to go!" The smaller lion shut his mouth quickly and seemed to shrink in his skin. He turned sad dark eyes on the girl, who was held in the grip of the maned lion, who didn't move except to watch the movements of the adult female. "Sorry..." he muttered under his breath to her before his mother picked him up with her mouth and turned to stalk stealthily away.

Kairi looked curiously at Kiara. The poor girl seemed ready to cry, both out of fear at what had just happened and that her friend was being taken away. It struck a chord in Kairi that something so sad should happen so soon. A few tense seconds passed as the lioness stalked through the tall grass, but eventually the male relaxed, followed by Sora, Donald, and Goofy.

With a tension-breaking nervous laugh, Sora spoke up. "So, Simba, what's new with you?" The lion turned to smile at the young cub and let out an easy laugh. "Well, Nala and I are married and this is our daughter, Kiara." He pushed forward the young female, who shied back into her father physically, but watched Sora and the others curiously. Simba cut his eyes to the side for a second. "So, Sora, I think you've found your friends?"

Beside Kairi, Riku let out a chuckle before stepping through the grass and into the clearing. Not exactly sure of what to do, Kairi followed quietly. "Yep. This is Riku," he motioned to the grey lion, slightly bigger than himself, who nodded silently in recognition, "and that's Kairi." Almost every pair of eyes focused on the reddish brown lioness cub and, caught off-guard, she simply nodded nervously in return. "And we even made it back to the Islands, for a little bit..." Sora trailed off and an awkward silence enveloped the group.

"Who was that?" Kairi questioned in an effort to break the silence. Everyone stared at her for a second. "I mean, who was that lioness?" Simba sighed. "She's one of Scar's old followers. Who knows what's going on with them nowadays. They were banished from the Pride Lands more than a year ago." Kairi's blue eyes focused on Kiara. "And the boy? Was that her son?" "It would seem so." Simba said thoughtfully. Suddenly he turned to face the young girl.

"And what were you doing out here? Timon and Pumbaa were worried sick, not to even start on how your mother and I felt!" Kiara faltered some. "I'm sorry. I thought it would be-I just-I-" Simba cut off her stuttered attempts with a sigh. "It doesn't matter. All that I care about is that you're safe now. Let's get back to Pride Rock, all. It's a fair amount of time to travel."

Sora nodded, as did Donald and Goofy, and when they set off, Riku silently followed. Kairi, catching onto the chain of command, so different than what she was used to, followed after Riku.

Meanwhile, four eyes watched from a few yards away, out of earshot of the large party. "This should be fun, eh, Xsujint?" A voice snickered in eagernss. "I think we should get back and tell the others first, Lyrxet, about the Keyblade Masters being in the worlds already."

"Aaaawww..." the first whined, "you take the fun out of everything. But fine, let's go. I bet Xia will be raring to go." A laugh was heard, but was cut off. "You know as well as I do that jYexrem won't allow it." The first sighed heavily. "Yeah, yeah. Let's just go spread the word, shall we? This world isn't even gonna be a problem for our forces when the Superior gets everything organized." A rustle was heard in the tall grass as the second nodded. "It should be easy enough, as long as the Masters are not present. And who knows? jYexrem, being what he is, probably already knows of their return."

Bursting through the half-dead growth came a dark grey lion, small in size but sleek for speed. The other followed, with reddish fur and more muscle, but calmer. Lyrxet shook his dark grey, almost black, mane and smiled darkly. Watching blankly, Xsujint stared at the other. "Soon. Kingdom Hearts will be made again, and we'll all have our hearts. jYexrem promised on his title as Xemnas' heir of the Nobody's Call that we'd win." A dark aura appeared around him, and his paws dug into the dirt in a clench.

"Lyrxet, please calm down. It wouldn't do for your Chaos to be unleashed now. We have to go inform the Order." Xsujint said plainly, shaking his dark red mane to emphasize his point. The aura then dissipated and Lyrxet relaxed. "Ok, let's go!" With a nod, Xujint opened a portal to the side of the pair and they silently exited.

(In another world...)

A door opened and two figures stepped through, black boots echoing slightly around the all-white room. The only other figure present was a boy with semi-long, dark brown hair that reflected the glow of the room. He turned as the two approached, both stooping into a bow as they neared. "Superior," the first spoke, "the Keyblade Masters have returned. There are four of them this time, though." A chuckle escaped the standing body. "Xsujint, Lyrxet, you both have done well. I know of the Masters. They will help us reach our goal, as they originally helped the fallen Xemnas." He cast a hand out over their bowed heads. "Go back to the Pride Lands. Watch them. Do not take action until you are ordered to do so."

They both nodded and stood up, wordlessly turning and walking into a summoned portal. The brown eyes of Number 1 watched, excited, as his subordinates left. As the shadows of the portal diminished, he smirked and turned to walk out a second door. It was time to inform the rest of 18th Order of the new party.

(Back in the Pride Lands)

Kairi was thinking as Sora chatted with Simba ahead. Her blue eyes were watching Kiara carefully as the cub sulked behind her father and to the side away from Sora. Riku was on Sora's left as the brunet caught up with the older lion on his right. Donald and Goofy followed behind Sora. Kairi brought up the rear, following behind Simba and Kiara. The youngest seemed to try to shrink into the dust as they continued.

"Hey, Kiara." She whispered. The other slowed, slightly turning her head to look over her shoulder at the other girl. Kairi nodded for her to back up, and Kiara slowly did. Simba and the others hadn't noticed, and Kairi spoke in a whisper. "So, what happened?" Kiara sighed, and began uncomfortably. "I snuck away from my baby-sitters and got lost. Kovu found me and we started talking. We were getting to be friends..." she trailed off then, looking at the ground. Kairi cast her a sympathetic look.

"Well, then his mom jumped out and in front of him. Then my dad jumped in front of me. They talked a little bit. Kovu's...the son of the leader of a rogue pack. They followed Scar, my great-uncle, when he was in power." She paused here, voice subdued. Kairi looked at her curiously. "Who's Scar?" Kiara jolted her head up and gave her a strange look. "Scar? How do you not know who Scar is?" All Kairi could do was shake her head. "Oh. Right. Scar was my great-uncle. A lion, the brother of my grandfather, a wise and strong and kind leader of the pride. He...killed my grandfather in a stampede so he could rule. Called it an accident. Everyone believed him, and he told them my dad had been killed, too."

Both looked as Simba as he continued to tell Sora the news of the Pride Lands since they last met. "And they believed that, too. But Scar was a terrible ruler. The herds died out quickly, and the pride nearly starved to death. But then my father came back. He defeated Scar, and took his rightful place as leader. Then he married Nala, my mom, and had me."

Kairi 'hm'ed thoughtfully. "But..." Blue eyes looked at the younger girl and the confused tone. "Dad says I shouldn't judge people on their past or the people they're with. But isn't that what everyone just did? Your friends, they immediately took my dad's side when our parents came out. And my dad was ready to attack that woman and Kovu, even though he hadn't done anything." Kiara lapsed into silence, and Kairi offered her thoughts.

"I think your father just wants to protect you. That's what all good parents want, is to keep their kids safe. He was afraid that lioness would hurt you, and tried to stop it. And Sora only took his side because Simba's his friend. Sora..." her tone softened, and Kiara looked up at her, "is a good friend. He'll give himself up before he lets anyone else get hurt." A flash of Sora falling to the ground, a faint memory of herself reaching out to try and protect a Shadow, and a picture of her and him, hugging. Kiara nodded. "You're probably right, Kairi. But what about Kovu?"

She sounded so distressed. Kairi snapped out of her flashbacks and nodded. "Kovu...it'll work out. Everything that's supposed to work out will, I promise." Kiara was awed at the other's conviction and assurance. "Maybe it will..." she mumbled to herself, letting a small smile show at the memory of a confident smile and captivating brown eyes...

Laughter floated through the air, several lion heads perking up at the familiar sound. A lioness scrambled to the cave entrance and looked eagerly out. She smiled widely and let out a laugh. "Simba!" Nala lept forward as her mate looked up, smiling. She met him, nuzzling his neck and he let out a chuckle in response. "Nala, look who's here." The lioness pulled back, and her eyes darted behind Simba to the once-again sulking and nervous looking lioness cub. "Kiara!"

Her look of surprise was quickly overtaken by worry. "Are you okay!? Where were you, what were you doing, I was so worried!" She pushed back and surrounded her daughter, and the girl shrunk back even more. "Oh, Simba, is she alright, I don't see any injuries." Simba stepped forward, stopping her circling and smiling at his worried mate. "Don't worry, she's fine. Look who else is here to visit."

Confused, her eyes darted to Kairi, who was closest, then to Donald and Goofy, then Riku, and finally her gaze settled on Sora, who smiled goofily in gretting. A gasp escaped before she smiled. "Sora, Donald, Goofy! It's good to see you all!" Quickly scanning over Riku and Kairi again, she asked "Are these the friends you were looking for?" Sora nodded proudly. "That's great!"

Four eyes, two blue, two black as shadows, watched from a distance as the conversation continued, one body fidgeting impatiently. "Lyrxet, be patient. jYexrem told us not to get discovered. We can't afford to get into a fight, we're way too outnumbered." The lion let out an aggravated sigh. "I know, I know. But I'm ready to go!" Xsujint continued to whisper. "Take a break and report to the Castle if you must." A 'tch' was heard from the growth. "No way. I'd get chewed out for leaving a mission right in the middle!" He couldn't see it, but Xsujint rolled his eyes. "Then be still and be quiet." Lyrxet 'hmph'ed and calmed down, leaning to rest him jaw on his front paws.

"Simba, I'll take Kiara to get cleaned up and fed." Nala said, whisking away the youngest before anyone could object. Simba laughed faintly. "So, Simba?" Sora asked, seriously. The older turned and became serious as well. "What's wrong, Sora? Why are the Heartless back and you all not home?" Sora sighed wearily. "There're more threats to the worlds and Kingdom Hearts. Organization 13 is back, and that's not all." "Sounds like you've all got a lot on your plate." Simba commented solemnly. Sora nodded. "Well, we'll keep the fort down here and the world safe. And we'll get word to you if we see anyone suspicious."

"Thanks, Simba." An awkward silence descended upon the gloomy group. Kairi, who had been hanging in the back, now stepped forward. "Those lions, Kovu and his mother?" Simba frowned immediately. "Don't worry. They've been here for a while. Without Scar, I doubt they're any threat."

(In another another world...)

A man stepped through a portal, his heavy boots echoing in the white room. Four others in similiar clothing turned their heads, hidden under hoods, to watch him. His form heaved a sigh as he began to address them. "Xehanort wishes for an alliance, Order. He says he will help us achieve our goal if we help him destroy the Keyblade Masters."

"It's a convenient offer. We can use him to destroy the others and after Kingdom Hearts is completed, we will take down the Masters." Another male spoke, his voice sharp and harsh. "But what if he wishes for us to destroy the Keyblade wielders before Kingdom Hearts is completed?" A girl asked, her light voice hiding her eagerness and scheming mind. "It is not part of our goal to destroy a pawn while it is still useful, Xamaris, you know that. And so does Xehanort." The first male nodded at the new voice. "Exactly, Xelcra. He knows that if he wants our help, he must help us first."

"But Draxian," the second speaker protested, "why might he not assume the same?" He turned to face him under the hood, and the man felt his strange leering smile. "Xaneth, it would not make sense. We need Kingdom Hearts, then we will help Xehanort. But if we destroy the Keyblade wielders first, there will be no chance for us and Xehanort has no allies."

"So, it is agreed?" The fifth voice spoke out, another female. Her statement ushered in total silence over the other four. "We will accept Xehanort's offer, and make it clear that we will have Kingdom Hearts first. Then we will destroy the Keyblade Masters as well as our other opposition." The four nodded silently. "Excellent."