Ok, before I continue, I should probably mention that while I'm going to try to stick close to the events of Dream Drop Distance the best I can, I may not be 100% faithful as far as continuity goes; I'm a little fuzzy on certain details. I'm sure that I'm not the only one who was confused by the plot of that game. Now then, let's get started!

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, The World Ends With You, any Disney movie or TV Show, etc.

Act I: Opening Moves

Chapter 1: Ambush in Traverse Town

Sora walked through the streets of Traverse Town. It was eerily quiet, which made sense, seeing as there was no one left in the town but him.

"It's weird," Sora said to himself. "I'm so used to seeing other people around here. It feels a lot bigger when you're the only one."

He had gone to the sleeping version of the town to visit the Dream Eaters that he had met during his and Riku's quest to unlock the Keyholes of Sleep. There were a lot them, probably several dozen. However, in the end, he couldn't take them with him, so he reluctantly had to say goodbye. One thing that continued to trouble him, however, was the absence of some other friends that he had made during his last trip to the town.

Where were Neku, Joshua and the others? Sora wondered as he strolled through the Second District. Did they leave this world after I defeated that Nightmare? Did they make it home, or did they…

Sora remembered what Neku had told him about the Reaper's Game: complete the assigned task before the timer runs out, or be erased.

"I don't know why anyone would want to play a game like that," he muttered. "And what's a "Reaper", anyway?"

"Well," Sora said with a smile, "I'm sure they have a good reason, but it's not a game I'll be playing anytime soon!"

XXX

"Does he always talk to himself like this?"

"I don't spend that much time spying on these people."

"…How much time do you spend spying on them?"

"Irrelevant."

"If you say so. Troops! Prepare to engage the enemy!"

"YES SIR!"

XXX

"Hellooooo!" Sora called out.

No response.

"Heeellllooooooo!"

Sora stopped shouting. "I don't know why I'm even doing this. I mean, it's not like there's anyone else here."

Suddenly he heard a scraping noise along the ground, and then he saw something move out of the corner of his eye. Before he even had time to think, he summoned his Keyblade and slashed through the air. The Shadow that had attacked him quickly disintegrated.

"I just had to say it!"

More Shadows began to spring up around him, along with Soldiers and Yellow Operas.

"Well, this brings back memories," said Sora. "Bring it on!"

The Heartless charged, and Sora met them head on. The Shadows were dispatched as easily as the first, with the last few being taken out in one stroke. The Operas attempted to keep him pinned down with lightning attacks, but Sora leaped into the air. He hit the wall, and jumped off it, using the momentum to meet the Operas in midair. By the time Sora hit the ground, they too had been dealt with.

"That's right," Sora boasted. "This Keyblade Wielder's not too old to learn new tricks!"

"Not too old to learn new tricks?" said a voice in his head. You're what, fifteen, sixteen?

"Wait, who the – Roxas?" asked Sora in disbelief.

In all the time that the Nobody had been inside his heart, he hadn't said a word to him. Indeed, sometimes Sora forgot that he was in there at all. Sometimes there would be a feeling, an emotion that didn't fit the circumstances, but they had never actually spoken. Except…

A lot of what happened during the last trip to the Organization's headquarters was still foggy in his head. This was in part due to the nature of the dream worlds, and also due the Organization screwing with his head. Still, he definitely remembered Roxas, and they had spoken. He had shown him something, something painful…

The Soldier Heartless surrounded him, attempted to cut off his escape. But Sora was ready; his Keyblade began to glow with power.

Ars Arcanum

Sora unleashed a series of powerful slashes, thirteen in all. Within in seconds, the Soldiers were no more. He surveyed the area.

"Well, I guess that's all of th-"

Suddenly a large whip-like object struck from behind, sending him sprawling to the ground. As he struggled to get to his feet, he fall a number of Dusks descending from the rooftops.

"Nobodies too?" As Sora asked this, a number of Large Body Heartless spawned both in front and behind him, trapping him in the Second District Courtyard. The Dusks quickly took up positions on the upper levels. He was surrounded.

Sora got ready for a fight, but suddenly both the Heartless and the Nobodies stopped, as if they were listening to something. After a moment, they suddenly vanished.

If the Heartless and the Nobodies are working together, Sora thought, then that's gotta mean that Xehanort is behind this!

But Sora did not have long to ponder this possibility, as at that moment a voice cried out, "There he is!"

Soldiers poured out of a nearby alleyway. Not Heartless Soldiers; these looked human, albeit covered head to toe in what look like lightweight, almost futuristic-looking armor, and carrying deadly looking guns.

"There's the Keyblade Master!" the same soldier shouted.

"Um, actually," Sora attempted to explain, "I'm not exactly a Keyblade Master; you see, I didn't pass the exam. My friend Riku, though, he's a-"

The soldiers opened fire, and Sora barely had to dodge before lasers impacted where he had been standing.

"Okay!" Sora shouted back. "I get it! Honest mistake! I thought I'd be nice and help! My bad!"

The soldiers move to surround him, and Sora knew that there was nowhere for him to run. But at that moment, he felt something begin to stir in his heart. Suddenly there was a burst of light, and emerging from was…

"Meow Wow?!"

The fat Dream Eater jumped up at Sora and attempted to lick his face. Sora tried to push it down. "Um, look, I'm glad you're here, but now really isn't the time!"

Sora, wondering why the soldiers hadn't shot him yet, turned to face them. As it turned out, they were just as surprised as he was, staring dumbfounded at the blue cat/dog/gerbil that cat just appeared in front of them. However, they quickly got over it.

"Set lasers to stun…shoot them both!" Shouted what Sora took to be the commander, as several Shadow Heartless appeared to tear the Keybearer limb from limb.

At that moment, Meow Wow began to breathe in. The Heartless flew into its gaping maw, and the soldiers were shocked to see their guns do the same. The Spirit then proceeded to grow to three times its normal size. Sora, remember this technique from the Dream Worlds, jumped on its back. Together, they launched themselves at the soldiers.

You might assume that a squad of trained soldiers armed with laser rifles would be more than a match for a boy armed with a giant key, riding a fat, blue cat-creature.

…

You'd be wrong.

XXX

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!"

Malfria was staring at the mirror in shock. Xehanort didn't have to be able to see her face to know that she was enraged.

Mainly because she was shouting.

"I mean seriously? I've spent months training those soldiers, and they're defeated by the flopping of some overgrown house cat?!"

"It's called a Dream Eater," Xehanort replied coolly.

"I don't care what it's called!" Malfria shouted as she turned towards him. "He's making us look like a bunch of fools! Without a certain degree of credibility, we can hardly hope to-"

At that moment, a Dark Corridor opened up nearby, and out stepped a familiar face.

"Well, what do we have here?" said Xigbar, walking over to where the other two stood. "Is the big, scary Malfria throwing a temper tantrum?"

Malfria chose that moment to calm down. "…No," she said. "I'm fine. I was just…surprised by the sheer stupidity of the past two minutes." She took a deep breath, and then smiled. "I'm ready to resume command."

"Well, ain't that just peachy," Said Xigbar. "Now if you'll excuse me…"

"Hold on, Xigbar," said Master Xehanort. "I believe that your assistance is required in Traverse Town."

Xigbar glanced at the mirror. "You've gotta be kidding me! No way! As if!"

Xehanort glared at him.

"Okay, fine, I'm going, I'm going."

XXX

"Retreat!" the commander cried out. "Retrea-! "

Several energy bullets rained down, striking Meow Wow and sending it and Sora tumbling.

"Never mind."

Meow Wow cried out and vanished.

"Well, looks like that cat's time is up."

Sora looked up as Xigbar leapt down from the roof of a nearby building. He landed lightly on his feet and brandished his arrowguns. All around him, soldiers laying groaning in pain.

"Don't worry, I doubt it's dead. It probably just returned to wherever it came from." Xigbar grinned menacingly. "You, on the other hand, I expected to be out of commission for a lot longer. As cliché as it sounds, people have died of a broken heart, you know."

Sora grinned as he got up. "Maybe I'm stronger than you think I am."

"Maybe," said Xigbar. "Probably. But right now, kiddo, your time is up."

Sora summoned his Keyblade. "I don't think so."

"Oh, so the kid thinks he's gonna walk outta this one. As if!"

Sniper Nobodies began teleporting in, clinging to the walls of the nearby buildings. The all leveled their weapons at Sora.

Xigbar smirked as he raised one of his own arrowguns. "Face it, kid. Your latest big adventure was over before it even began."

XXX

"Finally!" said Malfria. "Some genuine competence around here!"

To Be Continued

Next Time: Sora vs. Xigbar! Kairi's Training! Trouble in Radiant Garden!

Well, that was kind of silly. I mean, I wanted to include the Dream Eaters in the plot somehow after I saw the ending of 3D, but there really isn't a way to take Meow Wow seriously, is there? I'll probably have less of him in the future. Don't worry, the Dream Eaters won't take over the plot; they're just one of many groups with a role to play. For that matter, yes, that bit with Ars Arcanum is how I'm planning on doing Limit Breaks, Special Attacks and that sort of thing. Maybe not every time, though. I hope that works!

Also, thanks to darkhunter999 for giving my story its first review! To answer your question, I actually was planning on including a world based on that in the first place, although we probably won't get there for a while! I actually have something important lined up for that world… *laughs evilly*

Anyway, thanks for reading, and please remember to review!