"So you guys were searching for me?" Sora asked the wizard and royal Captain in surprise and clear disbelief. The three sat with Leon and the others back in the Hotel in the second
district, their battle with the Heartless behind them and Traverse safe for a time.
The two nodded their heads enthusiasticly, from where he leaned against the doorframe Leon spoke up for the first time since the battle, his arm now supported in a makeshift splint.
"They, too, have been seeking the weilder of the Keyblade. Order's of their King" the man spoke softly, his eytes staring at the through his long low hanging bangs.
"It is true, the King sent us to find the weilder of the Key, and far as I can see that can only be you Sora" Goofy said with a chuckle, Donald nodded his head in agreement.
"I got the letter from their King myself, how else do you think I knew about the Keyblade? Anyhow you and the Keyblade would be put to much better use with them than here in quiet
little Traverse Town" Leon said convincingly to the boy.
"I don't know, are you sure --" Sora began to argue, but Yuffie interupted him.
"We have things covered here Sora, the Heartless and their leader are gone thanks to all of our efforts and now Traverse will finally have a chance to start fresh" Yuffie tried to assure
the boy, whom still looked unsure.
"But what if my friends, Riku and Kai --" the boy protested, but Leon silenced him with more reassurance.
"If your friends arrive here, you can be sure that we will send word to you. Besides there is the possibility that they might be on another world, and only these guys will get you there"
Leon explained to Sora, who glanced over at the two servants of the King in a new light.
"Its true, we have a rocket ship that flies us to different worlds, how else do you think we got here?" Goofy said with a chuckle.
"But we have one rule, and that is no frowning. This vessel runs upon happy faces, understand?" Donald said with an encouraging smile to the boy.
"Ya, Donald's right. You got to look funny like us, see?" the Captain said with a laugh bringing his head level with the wizard, who shoved it aside.
"Happy?" Sora questioned aloud, the boy's lips then began to twitch until a large goofy grin spread across his face that sent the entire group into a fit of laughter, even Leon
cracked a smile.
"Ok. Why not? Ill go with you guys" Sora said with a new enthusiasm.
"In that case we better introduce ourselves properly, I am Donald Duck" the wizard said, extending an arm.
"The names Goofy" the Captain said with another goofy chuckle, extending a hand.
"Sora" the boy said, the boy then brought his hand to rest on top of the others gathered in the center of the trio.
"All for one, and one for all!" Goofy shouted in excitement.
"On that note lets go, we have many more worlds to explore in our journey for the King," Donald said quickly, pausing when he saw the look Sora shot him, "And your friends of course"
the duck finished with a nervous laugh.
"I just wonder where Pluto could have gone" Goofy said behind them as they exited the Hotel, all waving back to Leon and the rest of his gang upon the balcony.
The Heartless Guardian stumbled through an alley cursing and muttering under his labored breath as he carried his partially destroyed form away from the lights of the town.
The creature's current form had been reverted back to that of Mayor Harn, minus part of the Mayor's face along with his left arm and part of his chest. The Heartless went
through plans of revenge in his twisted mind, burning the image of the boy fighting alongside the King's servants in his mind.
"Your day will come Keyblade warrior, just wait until this old Heartless gets back his strength, just you wait" spat the Guardian, pausing in his advance when a dog emerged in front of
him, a dog with yellow fur, floppy black ears, and a long pink tongue that dripped saliva onto the ground in a steady stream.
"Outta my way mutt" the Heartless growled, ready to kick the creature aside as it began to growl at him fiercly, suddenly a second figure emerged behind the dog, dressed in a dark
cloak with their hood pulled over their face.
"What have you found now boy" a soft voice emerged from under the hood, one of the figure's pale ghostly hands reaching down to pat the animal upon its head in a show of affection.
"You" the Guardian sneered, pointing one gnarled finger at the cloaked figure.
"So you know me" the figure stated, a blade emerging in its hand.
"Indeed, you have been the one the others have talked about, the one searching for the light. Well I hate to break it to you, but Heartless are not supposed to be in any light, you see
we prefer the darkness over everything. Why else do you think we fill the worlds with our power?" the Guardian asked, but the figure only shook their head.
"I am not one of your kind" the cloaked individual said softly, taking a few steps toward the Guardian, whom only smiled his twisted grin at her.
"Thats what you may think, my dear. However as far as I see you are no better than us, nothing more than a walking shell without a soul to fill its skin. Do you really think the Keyblade
warrior would assist you?" the Heartless said with a laugh, but the figure didn't find the words of the creature humorous in the least, and they nimbly sprang forward and sank their
blade into the creature, who disappeared in a cloud of shadow.
"Come on boy" the figure said without a glance back, walking off into Traverse with Pluto at their heels.