"Irresponsible."

…

"Reckless"

Ouch.

"Careless."

Ok, we get it.

"Foolish!"

Ok you can stop now.

"Rash."

Now you're starting to get annoying!

"Thoughtless!"

Yeah, that's us.

"Uncontro-"

"I think they understand, sir."

"Very well then Leon. But boys, I think I speak for every one when I ask: What were you thinking?" Ansem the Wise said, leaning forward to the two boys and one girl sitting down in the chairs in front of his desk. Yuffie and Aerith stood to one side while Cloud and Leon and Merlin stood on the other. "Yeah you guys! What were you thinking?"

"Thank you, Yuffie, but I think its best if-"

"I just listen… yeah I know." Yuffie said sheepishly.

"Well boys?" Ansem said turning his attention to the children.

"We… just wanted to see what was out there." Sora said looking at his friends.

"Yeah, and we've been over the whole 'If they hadn't come sneaking around and happened to save me I wouldn't be here right now.' speech. Right?" Kairi asked with a look of, 'I don't see why were still here', written on her face."

"Yes, daughter, we have." Ansem said. Kairi clapped her hands together and stood up. "So we can leave!" She exclaimed whirling around to walk out the door. "Sit back down." The King said sharply. Kairi sat down with a sigh.

"Leon? This boy here is your apprentice?" Ansem said motioning to Sora who slunk down in his chair.

"Yes sir." Leon said showing no emotion.

"Well then I'll trust you'll administer the proper punishment."

"Hang on!" Riku said standing up. "Refresh my memory… Why exactly are we being punished?"

The King arched an eyebrow and Sora slumped down in his seat further. "Riku, you are a knight are you not?"

"Yeah."

"Then you are fully aware of all the rules."

"Yeah."

"Including the one that says: No one shall leave the city walls, unless given appropriate instructions or permission?"

"Oh."

"And were you given either of those things Riku?"

"No sir."

"Are we clear?"

"Yes sir." Riku said glumly slumping back into his seat muttering to him self.

"Riku, who's apprentice were you?" Ansem said sitting back. "Cloud-sensei was my teacher." Riku muttered in reply.

"I see. Cloud, can I trust that you will administer an appropriate punishment?"

"With all the respect possible sir. No."

Ansem arched an eyebrow. "And why not?"

"I've got a lot of problems to deal with and I don't need any more." Cloud said simply leaning back against the wall. "Great. So I'm a problem now." Riku said rolling his eyes. "Well then Leon? Will you deal with both of them?" Ansem asked. Leon nodded.

------------------------------------

"GROUNDED?"

"You can't be serious."

"I can and I am."

"SENSEI! That's the most childish punishment ever! Please! Just make us train for three days with no break!"

"Uh, yeah. I'll take being grounded." Riku said, looking down at Sora who was on his hands and knees. "Please Sensei!" Sora begged.

"Oh, don't think for a second this means you won't be training."

"What?"

"Maybe you forgot that Donald and Goofy were both here?"

"Yes. Yes I did." Sora said blankly.

"Ugh. Donald? Goofy? Would you come here please?" Leon said, looking up from his book momentarily. Both Donald and Goofy came into the room. "Yes?" Goofy asked looking up at him. "I want you both to escort Sora over to the Zero district and pick up these items."

"Escort?" Sora asked horrified. "I don't need an escort."

"Oh really? Your actions today state differently."

"Ooooh."

"Shut it Riku. I'm not going if they come along!" Sora yelled running to his room and slamming to door. "He complains about being treated like a child and then he acts like one." Riku said yawning and laying down on the bed in the living room, which was where Merlin slept.

"Should we get these things anyway?" Donald asked.

"No. He'll go." Leon said turning a page in his book.

"NO I WON'T!" Sora yelled. This was followed by a loud smash. It sounded expensive. Aerith walked into the room with a tea tray. "Was that my vase?" She asked, setting the tray down and handing cups to every one. "Yeah. Sora's throwing a fit because Leon is making him work with them." Riku said, jabbing a finger at Donald and Goofy. Aerith sighed. "And I suppose your going to make me be the mature one and go talk to him?"

"Yup." Riku said closing his eyes and humming.

"Fine." Aerith said striding over to the back door and opening it. "Sora?" And so the calm patient discussion of morals and virtue began.

---------------------

"Do you understand?" Aerith asked a confused Sora.

"Uh not really… I don't understand how we started this conversation on my manners and it ended up with you telling me about animal rights…" Sora said. Aerith sighed. "What I'm trying to say…"

"Emphasis on 'trying'," Sora mumbled. Aerith narrowed her eyes and continued. "What I'm trying to say is that you need to work on your behavior. And these people don't need to be escorts. They can be friends."

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Then go on." Aerith said pushing Sora off the bed slowly. Sora walked out the front door rubbing the back of his head with one hand. "Um, Sensei?" He asked. Leon looked up at him. "I'm…sorry." He said bowing his head. Leon smirked and looked back down at his book. "You wanna leave?" Goofy asked Sora halfway out the door. "Yeah… sure." Sora said smiling a little. They left and Aerith walked out the room with the remnants of her vase. "You work miracles Aerith." Leon said turning the page.

"Yes well I try." She said exiting the room.

--------------------

"So… Where are you guys from?" Sora asked taking the thirty potions from the items salesmen and setting them individually in the bag.

The two didn't respond at first they looked at each other for a while obviously trying to communicate telepathically. Donald had an urgent look in his eyes and Goofy remained blank. The Goofy turned to him with a big smile and said:

"We live in Disney Castle!" He exclaimed proudly. Donald was shaking his hands back and forth wildly. Sora produced a pouch of munny from his pocket and handed it to the shop owner. "Disney what now?" He asked, turning to them. "Where's that?"

"Far away! Very, very, very, far away!" Donald said hurriedly. Sora yawned and rubbed the back of his head with his hands. "Its late…" He said, changing the subject. "Lets get back."

The two newcomers both nodded and headed towards the borough steps. "So, did you always live with Leon and the others?" Goofy asked. Sora smiled softly and looked down at the stone steps. "No. Riku and I used to live in a small village just west of here. Then Riku left to become a knight and I followed once I completed school." Both Donald and Goofy looked at each other simultaneously. "Why'd you guys want to be knights anyway?" Goofy asked nearly tripping from missing a step. Sora looked over at him. "What do you mean? Being a knight is a huge honor for your family! Not everyone can be knights you know. Even if you do live far away you should at least know that." Sora said laughing. They both looked at each other and chuckled nervously. Sora's laughter bled into the sunset and far beyond.

------------------------------

Bam.

"Riku…"

Bam.

"Riku?"

Bam.

"Riku!"

Smashcrackdie.

"STOP IT ALREADY!"

Riku was persistently banging his head against the wall in Sora's room at Leon's place. He'd been forced to share the house so Leon could keep an eye on him and force him to be trained as well. Sora was lying on his bed.

"Its…." BAM. "So…" BAM. "BORING!"

"Duh, it's boring! We're grounded!" Sora said turning his head to face his best friend.

BAM!

"Ok, if you don't stop it in five seconds I swear I'll-" Sora was cut off by a maniacal glare from Riku. "I am bored out of my mind, I am going stir crazy, I have not seen daylight in three days, for Light's sake… LET ME KILL MY BRAIN CELLS!" Riku snarled. Sora put up his hands defensively. "Whatever."

It was quiet for a while, well, as quiet as it can get with Riku killing his brain cells. But the serenity was shattered by a loud THUMP outside the window. Riku looked up from his brain cell homicide in confusion. "What the…?"

Riku went over to the window, if you could call it a window. It was more like a square hole with boards covering it. There was a fairly annoying knocking sound at the window when Riku pried one of the boards off.

"What the…?" He repeated looking outside to the pouring rain. He let a chuckle escape his throat. "Oh, this is interesting. Sora? Your girlfriend's here." Riku got a pillow thrown at his head and Sora ran over to the window. "Kairi? What the heck are you doing here?" Indeed the redhead stood positioned outside the boys' window wearing a brown sheet over her head. "I came to bust you guys out! There's something I want to show you!" She said. Riku heard the phrase 'bust you guys out' and rushed over to stand by Sora.

"Go on." He said. Kairi looked confused. "That's it." She said. Riku clapped his hands together. "Works for me. C'mon Sora." He said prying the other boards loose and swinging his leg out.

"W-wait! Riku!" Sora exclaimed.

"What?" Riku asked looking up at him from the window sill.

"We'll get caught! Don't you think it's a little obvious?"

"No." Riku said shrugging. He hoisted himself out and onto the ground next to Kairi. "You comin'?" Riku asked. Sora scowled. "Fine." He climbed out the after his two friends. They both ran after Kairi who led them away from the house.