Beyond Distant Worlds

by AstralPhoenix929

With Organization XIII gone, Sora, Riku and Kairi are back home at Destiny Islands. Everything seems to be back to normal...Can't say the same for other worlds...Chapter 7 is FINALLY up!

6. Ch 5: Fateful Reunion

Kchan: Hey all! And welcome to chapter 5!
Naomi: Wooo
Kchan: Summer may be over now, but here the adventures are just about to begin!
Naomi: Let's get started then...Disclaimer.
Kchan: We DONOT own Fire Emblem OR Kingdom Hearts.

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Chapter 5

Fateful Reunion

Rhea woke up the next day to find her face in a book, literally. I fell asleep while writing again...she thought was rubbing her cheek, which had and imprint of her journal on it. She turned around to her bed to see Sora happily snoring on it. ...He's still...in here... Sora started muttering in his sleep reflecting his dreams.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door and a voice known as Serra's came from the outside. "Rheeeeeeaaaaa! It's time to wake up! You're usually up already, did you stay up real late last night!?!" Rhea looked at the door, and then at Sora, then at the door again, then back again. ...This could be bad...she thought. Sora muttered a groan hearing Serra's voice in his sleep.

"Hmm? What was that sound?" Serra started trying to turn the doorknob. "Serra, it's locked," came Erk's voice, "And just let Rhea rest. She deserves it after all." "Boooo, ok you're right. WAKE UP SOOOOOON!" And with that their voices couldn't be heard anymore. Rhea sighed in relief. With the last reply of Serra is what caused Sora to fall over the bed. "OOOOOWWWWWWWWW!"

"Good morning," Rhea said plainly, "Have a nice sleep?" "Noooo," Sora whined. "I had a nightmare!" he said while jumping on the fluffy bed again.

"That's veeery unfortunate, but you need to get out of my room. NOW."

"Huuuh? But you were so nice to me last night! It's like you changed back to your evil ways!" Sora laughed while jumping out of the bed, "What's that book on the desk? Your diary?"

"D-Don't touch it!" Rhea said grabbing it. "Geez like I want to know about your girly secrets anyways. You're just like Kairi. I can't wait for you to meet her!"

"Nevertheless, you still need to leave before someone finds out that you're here."

"Why? It's not were dating or anything," Sora pointed out.

"..." Rhea went to the door and opened it, "OUT." "GOOD MORNING!!!" Serra appeared in front of her. "S-Serra?!? You're still here?!?" "Yeah, but... what's HE doing in here?" Serra asked. "A fine question indeed," Erk commented.

"I just came here. Noisy people aren't allowed in," Sora said insulting Serra's loudness in the morning while walking out. "Ooooh, just came huh?" Serra said with a wide smile on her face. "Serra, it's just as he says," Rhea said. "Mmhmm, I beliiiieve you!" "Stop being annoying," Sora said still not too far away from the door.

"Erk! He just KEEPS insulting you! Are you gonna just stand by and allow it!?!"

Erk sighed.

"Anyway, are the others downstairs already?" Rhea asked. "Uh huh! They're all downstairs eating breakfast and getting ready to go!" "EATING BREAKFAST!?" Sora yelled, "NOOOOO!" he yelled again while running faster. "That kid really likes to eat huh?" Serra asked. "So it would seem," Rhea replied.

Sora ran down to where everybody was eating. "NO! What about me? Florinnnnnna! I'm hungry too!" Florina shyly hid behind Lyn. "Um...?" Lyn looked at Florina. "It's alright Florina. It's just Sora..." "Sorry if I scared you!" Sora tried apologizing, for what…he didn't know... "O-oh no, I'm sorry!" Florina said quietly. "Ah Florina, always as shy as ever!" Sain said. "Florina kinda doesn't like guys too much," Wil explained to Sora. "I-I'm sorry..." Sora then understood and smiled his trademark smile, "Don't apologize! I understand, I won't bother you anymore I promise!"

"It's not that she hates guys, it's that she's afraid of them, and you're pretty much a strange guy to her!" Serra said walking up with Erk and Rhea. Sora's eyes twitched. "Nobody asked you Serra..." he muttered audibly. "I brought Rhea everyone!" Serra said ignoring him. "Must you make everything an announcement?" Rhea asked. "It makes everything more fun!" "Geez Rhea, you're usually the first one up out of all of us!" Matthew said. "I bet she's been writing in her little diary late at night again!" Hector teased. Rhea turned her head away. "You still carry that around?" Serra asked. "I-I have to! My master wants me to keep record of everything I do!" she explained, "You should know that by now!" "It's good you still cherish his word Rhea," Kent said bluntly.

Rhea sighed. "It's not like I have a choice..." "What do you mean?" Sora asked while helping himself to some of Matthew's food. "All he does is tell me to do stuff! He just gives me a book and kicks me out of the house! 'Go explore the world and write down everything you see or do in this little book!' Old fool..." Rhea ranted. "She gets like that when her master is mentioned sometimes," Wil whispered to Sora. Sora nodded understanding. "I'm sure you'll complete the task!" "Thanks..."

"What shall we do after this Rhea?" Lyn asked. "I guess we should head on for the next town. Sooner or later we'll get a lead of some sort," Rhea suggested as Serra handed her breakfast. "Great! C'mon everybody eat, eat! We gotta hurry!" Sora said jumping up and down waving around flags that distinctly said: "HURRY AND EAT!" And with that they all sat down and ate.

"Ugh, I HATE sleeping on the ground!" Riku complained as he woke up and stretched, "and the smell of pine in the morning isn't helping!" "I guess it's better than being in a hostile area," Kairi said remembering the odd girl.

"I guess you're right..."

"Well looks like we have some choices. We can search around for Sora in this area and get some food or we can get some snacks and head out..."

"Yay, rabbits for breakfast!" Riku joked. "We're not going to eat rabbits! Maybe they have pastries here..." Kairi said.

"A nice pie WOULD be good right about now..."

"Yeah I'm sure they have that," Kairi agreed while getting up and dusting herself off. "They'd better," Riku said getting up as well.

Kairi just smiled as she went with Riku into the closest bakery.

This new town was just as active as the last one, but hopefully there were less heartless around.

"It's so noisy," Riku said putting his hand to his head, "How can they be so noisy in the morning?" He really wasn't a morning person. "If it wasn't I'd think there was something wrong," Kairi said as she watched a bunch of active kids come out of the bakery with some bread.

"At least the bakery has bread, but what bakery doesn't?"

"I'm hoping for some cake. Or anything sweet!" Kairi groaned as she walked inside with Riku. "Anything edible would be fine for me," Riku replied.

The two looked around the bakery at the all the different breads, fresh cakes and other desserts. "They...they actually have pie Kairi! THEY HAVE PIE!" Riku exclaimed, not caring about the looks he was getting from other customers. "Um yes Riku... let's calm down and see how much they cost," she said hoping the people would get a clue and stop staring.

"Let's see...this little paper here says the pie is 500 gold..."

"How much do we have?"

Riku checked his pockets only to find them completely empty. "That's right! I gave my 500 to that stupid peddler guy!" Kairi checked her pockets and dug out 150 munny. "This is all I have. Even if I did have my purse back at home it's not like this is currency here..." "Maybe we can just tell them it's some kinda rare gem or something-like we did last time," Riku said quietly so that no one else would hear their conversation.

Kairi nodded and went up to the cashier. "Excuse me, we'd like to buy that apple pie but we only have this on us," showing the munny when she said this. "And just what the heck is THAT?" the baker barked. "U-um we found it while traveling! A merchant near here told us it was a cross between gold and a diamond and told us one small one is at least worth 500 gold!" "Really now?" the baker took the little sphere and examined it. "It does, look rather valuable..." "Most would be lucky to even HAVE one of those! So says the merchant," Riku chimed in. "Well, if you say so, I'll accept it just this once, but next time, bring some gold!" the baker said. "Of course!" Kairi said hoping next time someone would be willing to trade gold for munny.

"I can't believe it! They actually have real food in the place!" Riku said as they left the bakery. "But that's the bakery. No telling what else they have," Kairi mused as she held the pie box. "Probably nothing but rabbits and deer. And probably gruel," Riku joked. "Ew..." Kairi said not wanting to think about that, "You're just trying to make me ruin my appetite so you can get most of the pie!"

Riku laughed. "Maybe." "That's so evil of you! Let's just say we're lucky we're not with Sora or he'd want half of the pie…I really do hope he's ok though..." Kairi said going from teasing to worrying.

"Hopefully that kid's found some help by now," Riku said. "If Sora heard you say that he'd be upset. You make him seem like a child!" Kairi laughed. "Well he acts like one most of the time!" "I know..." Kairi said happily like a lovesick child.

"??? Hey Kairi, if you stare off into space like that for too long, your pie's gonna get cold, and I'm gonna take it," Riku said. "Oh! Heh heh, sorry," she said while taking a bite out of her current piece, "We should stay a while and look for Sora!" "Yeah you're right, hopefully he's not too far," Riku said jamming the rest of his slice into his mouth. "Even if he is we can't leave until we find him!" Kairi said determined, in a Sora like manner. "Right, he might come here, eventually, if he's not here already." "That's true...Then we have to hurry! C'mon eat Riku!" Kairi said rushing him. She would look everywhere for Sora.

"Are we there yet?" "For the last time, we'll get there by nightfall," Rhea said patiently, for she was used to this sort of impatience from her previous travels. They had only been traveling for a few minutes and already some were starting to lose heart. "Man, my feet hurt! Erk! Carry me!" Serra complained. "I'd rather not," Erk replied. "Well when's nightfall?" Sora asked. Rhea looked up at the sky. "Judging by the sun's position, a long time from now," she said. "Well then let's walk faster!" he said now speed walking.

"C'mon Erk! Carry me!" Serra demanded.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I am NOT your slave."

"But you used to be..."

"I was NEVER your slave. You only paid me to get you to Ostia safely."

"...Isn't that the same thing?" "C'MON PEOPLE!" Sora who was a bit too far from them yelled. Kent found this very mediocre. "Rhea this trip..." he began. "I know, very different from our past trips, right?" "WHY ISN'T ANYBODY HURRYING!?" Sora yelled once again. "Yes..." Kent said while sighing. It was as if she took the words out of his mouth.

While walking the long hours the talkative people kept talking the walking people kept walking and the spikey weirdo kept being weird. But it made time pass by. "Hey Sora? You wanna carry me then?" Serra asked after finally giving up on asking Erk. "Instead of talking you should be walking if you're so tired!" Sora nagged, "C'MON YOU GUYS!" He continued yelling at the group, which was more than 24 feet away from him.

When it seemed like all hope was lost he saw salvation- or really just the town they were looking for. "Finally, I didn't think I could take any more of this," Rhea said. "Well he certainly is a lively one, isn't he?" Eliwood said cheerfully. "A little too lively. It's a shame he and Serra don't get along, they'd make the perfect pair." For annoying the heck outta me she thought. "But...maybe on the other hand, that's probably a good thing." "YAY, YAY! SALVATION! HERE I COME! KAIRI, RIKU!!" Sora yelled happily while running inside. "Somehow I don't think he heard any of that..." Lyn stated. "I guess that's a good thing then," Rhea said smiling.

All of them made their way inside the town. "Geez you guys! Traveling with you is like traveling with cows! I mean we could have been here earlier!" "Well maybe if SOMEONE had carried me we would've gotten here faster!" Serra said. Erk merely ignored the comment. "Well, at least we made it alright without any trouble...or...much trouble," Rhea said. "I'm going to start searching!" Sora declared. "I'm going too," Rhea said, "It would be no good if you got yourself lost...or into trouble." "No way! I'm not a kid, don't treat me like one!" "Alright, then Mr. Grownup," Rhea said, "Have it your way." "I'm hungry Erk, c'mon let's go find some food! And perhaps the inn!" Serra exclaimed immediately grabbing Erk and dragging him off in one direction. "I will!" Sora said proudly while walking off.

"Are you sure that was a good idea?" Kent asked. For some reason Sora always reminded him of Sain when they were children: nothing but trouble. "Of course it wasn't that's why I'm gonna keep an eye on him," Rhea explained. "Oh?" Lyn said suggestively. "I'll at least make sure he stays out of trouble anyway..." Lyn just smiled Kent on the other hand, "You wouldn't check up on anybody else, at least not like this before. Do you-" "I'm gonna go now before he gets too far away," Rhea said starting to walk. "…She likes him doesn't she?" Kent asked. "So it would seem," was Lyn's blunt reply.

"Geez, it's been HOURS already, I'm starting to think that Sora isn't here Kairi," Riku as he sat against a wall while Kairi paced back and forth. "We still haven't checked the lower area!" Kairi protested. "Lower area? What are you talking about? We checked everywhere!" "One more time! Please Riku?" Kairi begged like when they were children. Riku sighed. "Fine. No one could say no to a face as sad as that one." "Thank you Riku!" Kairi said while smiling. She still had it. "Riku?" a voice said in the bustling crowd of people walking.

Riku looked up. "That voice..." There Sora was, staring with his wide eyes at them, happy and even shocked. "Sora!" Kairi said happily. "I'm dreaming!" Sora said happily as he ran to Riku and pulled his hair. "Ow what the hell?!? That's supposed to be my job!" Riku said pushing Sora's hands away from his hair. "Just checking if you were real!" Sora said happily. Kairi couldn't help giggling.

"I was looking for you guys everywhere!"

"Same here. We were just about to start looking for you again-for the 5th time today!"

"I just got here. I had to travel with like 40 people!" Sora whined.

"What?!?! You got an army of these people behind you already?!?"

"Yeah but they're more like cattle. Want to meet them?"

"Of course!"

"More like cattle?" Riku repeated. "They were so slow and laggy as if they didn't even care that I was looking for you guys! And most of them only because they're annoying!" "Wow, can't wait to meet 'em," Riku said sarcastically. "I know but now that you guys are here I won't be lonely!" he said hugging them both. "Of course you won't!" "Yeah, yeah, just stop hugging, this is getting way too emotional," Riku said. Sora stuck out his tongue and hugged tighter before he let go. "C'mon their probably still back there!" he said while leading the way.

"Looks like somebody's finally come back," Hector pointed out as he saw someone approaching. "Oh it's Sora!" Wil said, "annnnnd? I think those are his friends!" "What?" Kent asked while facing the way of Sora and 2 other people almost in the same clad as Sora, "I thought he was just pretending he had friends here..." "Oh very funny!!! See guys? They're evil!" Sora pointed out.

"Why don't you introduce us Sora?" Lyn asked. "Oh this is Riku, he's really strong I guess and this is Kairi! She's a princess!" "You GUESS I'm really strong?" Riku asked crossing his arms. Sora ignored him. "These are Rhea's friends. Hey where's Rhea anyways?" "Oh she went sightseeing for a little bit!" Eliwood explained. "Oh fine," Sora mumbled, then got straight to introducing everyone on Rheas side.

"That's pretty sneaky trying to follow Sora like that!" Serra told Rhea as they walked back to the others. "Well I had to, otherwise he just would've gotten lost...but instead I lost him after finding you two," Rhea responded. "We're sorry! We'll leave you too alone next time!" Serra said grabbing but Rhea and Erk around the neck, "Right Erk?" "Leave me out of this," Erk said.

"Oh. Here comes Rhea...with Serra and Erk," Kent replied after Sora was done with the introductions. "I thought she was alone!" Sora pointed out himself. "I'm guessing Serra found her. She's good at things like that. That's why Erk can't escape," Matthew joked. "Rhea!" Sora yelled waving. Rhea slowly waved back. "Who are those two with him?" Serra asked. "Those would be the friends he was looking for," Erk answered.

They finally reached the others. "Sora, these are your friends?" Serra asked. "Yup this is Riku my best friend! And Kairi! She's a princess!" he said. "Hi, thank you for taking care of Sora I know he's a handful," she said while bowing. "Yo," Riku said. "Ah n-no he wasn't any trouble at all. It's nice to meet you too. I'm Rhea," Rhea said. "Yeah! He was a lot of fun to hang around! I'm Serra the greatest cleric in all Elibe, and this is Erk, my servant," Serra said introducing herself. "I am not her servant," Erk said. "Now that we found you guys we can go home!!" Sora said happily forgetting the issue of how. "Uh...Sora.." Kairi tried to explain. "Hm?" "Exactly HOW do you think we're gonna do that genius?" Riku asked, "We fell outta the freakin' sky!" "We have to find some kinda portal or something! That's how we got here! Right! Right?!" he said distressed.

"Calm down, there's sure to be a way for you to return to your world, we just need to find a lead somehow," Rhea said assuringly. "That will take forever and we can't stay here guys. THEY DON'T HAVE PLAYSTATIONS," Sora said as if that was the only thing that mattered. "What about your mom Sora?" Kairi said. "She's fine." "I think she meant...you know what? Never mind," Riku said.

Just then Rhea noticed Ninian staring at the sky looking somewhat frightened. "Hey Ninian, are you alright?" she asked. "Hm? Ninian? Is something the matter?" Eliwood said. "...I sense danger..." Ninian responded. "I see, everyone, be on your guard!" Eliwood ordered. "Danger? Again?" Kairi asked wondering if it was the same girl again. "Oh geez, don't let be her," Riku said. "Be who?" Sora asked.

All of a sudden, the sky grew very dark as several hundred black winged creatures flew over the town. "Hey look up there! Are those heartless?" Serra asked. "Yeah!" Sora replied, as they came from the sky. The people started noticing and started to panic. "This has to be the worst location!" Kairi deducted.

"Nooooooo! They're gonna swoop down and grab us up!" Serra screamed. "An aerial enemy...The only that'd really be against that is...Wil! Rebecca!" Rhea said. "We're on it!" Wil responded as he and Rebecca started to shoot arrows at the sky. "There's no way they have enough arrows to take them all down though..." Rhea said. "I-I'll help too! I can fly after all!" Florina said climbing aboard her pegasus, with lance in hand. "I doubt that will be enough though..."Kent pointed out. "I'll use my magic!" Sora declared.

"Erk you use your magic too!" Serra said. "I was planning on it anyway," Erk said with spell book in hand. "You can use your magic too right Riku?" Kairi asked. "Yeah totally! They don't stand a chance against me!" Riku said. "I beg to differ," came a voice. "What the? Who said that!?" Sora demanded. "Silly fool. Look behind you."

The group turned around and looked in shock as a gigantic horned heartless appeared behind them. On top of the heartless were two small girls. "Oh no..." Riku said. "It's the two girls! You person! You should get that small girl down before she falls!" Kairi scolded the eldest girl which was true considering the youngest was busy leaning over the side to catch a glimpse of the townspeople running. "If she falls, that's her fault!" Irene said. "Hey! Doesn't she look like..." Hector began. "Ebony hair, and her eyes are golden, just like a..." Rhea started.

"Girl, that's going down!" Sora said stubbornly as he ran towards the rhino heartless with his keyblade ready. "Sora!" Kairi yelled after him not sure what the woman had up her sleeve.

"You! You're a morph, aren't you?!?" Eliwood demanded. "Maybe, maybe not," Irene said playfully. "Answer me!"

"Aha! YOU must be Lord Eliwood."

"And if I am?"

"And YOU'RE Lord Hector!" Irene said pointing. "What of it?" Hector said. "Then that leaves Lady Lyndis..." "Why are you alive!?" Lyn demanded. "It's YOUR FAULTS THEN! It's YOUR FAULTS that Lord Nergal is dead! You killed him...all of you..." "This is impossible, we got rid of all the morphs..." Rhea said. "Well ya missed one! And now I'M gonna get revenge! I'm gonna destroy those who destroyed my Lord Nergal, and those who get in my way shall perish as well!" "No you wont!" Sora said finally reaching the heartless. "Thunder!" he said casting it on top of the heartless almost hitting Lucretia who in response death gripped Irene's arm.

"Now where did you get these heartless!?" Sora demanded. "Why do you care? And you let go of me!" "No," Lucretia said persistently. "Because! I have to get rid of them!" "Oh, you must be that kid Maleficent was talking about," Irene said.

"Maleficent!?!?" Riku repeated. "That's what I said is it not?" "She's behind this too?" Kairi asked. "You liar! She's gone!" Sora said in denial. "That's what you think. Thanks to her, I have ALL these dark servants, and in return she gives me quintessence so that I can revive Lord Nergal! Then this whole world will be turned to darkness!" Irene explained. Eliwood clenched his fists. "Your goals will never be accomplished!" he said. "It will be once I get rid of you!"

"Yeah well too bad you wont!" Sora said childishly while sticking out his tongue. "We'll see about that!" Irene said sticking her tongue out in return. "What the heck?..." Sora said shocked then returned the favor again. "Sora this is no time to act like you're in kindergarten," Kairi said. "Right!" Sora remembered then tried to reason one more time, "We'll let you go if you just tell us where Maleficent is!" "Why should I tell you? And I can leave anytime I want," Irene said smugly. "Thunder!" Sora yelled again this time casting it to the morph girl.

"Useless." With the wave of her hand the attack was sent into the sky where it knocked out a few of the flying heartless.

"I'm still not done!" Sora yelled as he swung his keyblade towards the heartless the morph was graced upon. "Hang on tight to me kid," Irene said to Lucretia. "Ok..." With that, Irene flipped off the heartless just as it was hit by the keyblade, causing it to disappear. "Hey!" Sora yelled. "Hmm, that thing had a lot of quintessence...I'll just be taking it then," Irene said. "Stop!" Eliwood demanded. "Quintessence? Where?" Sora asked as he looked around.

"Right here!" Irene said taking the heart just as it was about to disappear into the sky, "Thanks for supplying me with it! It'll be a real big help!" Sora felt rage come over him as he had just blindly help the enemy, " ..." "Stop it! You don't know what you're getting into! Maleficent will just use you!" Kairi said after seeing Sora who was currently trying to tend a broken ego. "You're just saying that because you don't have control over infinite creatures of darkness!" "You little brat! She's telling the truth!" Riku said. "Yeah right! As if I'm gonna believe you!" "You should, he knows!" Kairi defended. "I don't have to believe ANY of you! I got what I want, so I'm leaving now!"

"No don't!"

"Bye bye!" And with that the two girls disappeared in a swirl of darkness.

They had been transported into the forest. "Was that right?" Lucretia asked.

"Was what right?"

"What you did..."

"You mean serving my own needs?"

"While taking others..."

"As long as I bring Lord Nergal back, I'm happy, besides it's THEIR fault he's gone so they had it coming. And if I get rid of the ones Maleficent talked about she'll keep supplying me with the heartless then help me open the Dragons Gate."

"Why is he important to you?" Lucretia asked in her whisper monotone. "Because he gave me life! If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be here!" "But it's easy for someone not wishing to be born..."

"Hey just because you asked for my life story doesn't mean I wanna hear yours."

"But I never told mines..."

"And I thank you for that."

"You're welcome..."

"Good let's be going then, who knows how long it'll take to get my energy back..." I hate being so weak; just TELEPORTING makes me wanna faint...Irene thought. "There's always rest..." Lucretia suggested. "I have no need for rest! Every second or so, those idiots are getting closer to the Dragons Gate...Unless they haven't figured it out yet," Irene smiled wickedly.

"They always can..."

"Well that's why I'll make sure they never reach it!"

"..." Lucretia didn't say anything because she partially understood how Irene's mind worked. She wouldn't listen to anything she didn't want to hear. But in truth she felt as if that was wrong and selfish. "The sky is dull today..." Lucretia said quietly. "Stop looking at the sky and let's go Lillian." "Lucretia..." she said while thinking about what her last name was again.

"I can't believe one morph still exists. How could this happen?!?" Eliwood said as he paced back and forth in front of the others. After the heartless disappeared, everything calmed down, but there was still an aura of confusion, anger, and fear among the group. "Eliwood, you need to calm down," Hector said.

"But she's plotting on bringing Lord Nergal back! If that happens-"

"It'll be the end of all of us, yes we know."

"I wonder where this one was hiding all that time..." Lyn mused. She had never seen her before and apparently neither did the rest. "That doesn't matter! What matters is that we have to stop her!" Eliwood said. "But how? We don't even know where she is!" Hector said. "All we know is that she wants Nergal back," Lyn stated. "And apparently she's receiving help from someone named 'Maleficent'," Eliwood added. "And then those kids seem to know her," Hector added. Lyn looked over to the "kids" Hector was referring to who were currently a bit away from the group comforting Sora who seemed upset. "Should we ask them?" Lyn said. "I suppose we should, I mean Eliwood's already heading over there," Hector said.

Kairi along with Riku was trying to cheer the mentally wounded Sora from embarrassment. "It's ok

Sora! Riku would have done the same! Right Riku?" "Pffff if it were me, that brat'd be dead already," Riku bragged. "Whatever Riku!" Sora protested obviously not feeling better.

"Sora..." Kairi said sympathetically until she saw the 3 lords come to them. "What's wrong?" she asked. "Well, we would like to ask..."Eliwood began. "Tell us everything you know about that person that morph was talking about," Hector ordered.

Sora just stared at Hector then turned his head. "Maybe I don't want to..." "But we really need to know, that way perhaps we could defeat that person and the morph," Eliwood said. "Good luck with that," Riku said. "You guys!" Kairi protested. "Please. If we don't do something now it may be too late for all of us" Lyn reasoned but as usual neither Sora nor Riku budged. "We're fine. She's delusional Maleficent is gone. Alright? So stop asking," Sora scolded. "Apparently that isn't the case," Hector said. "Yes it is!" Sora childishly snapped back. He was in complete denial that she was alive...AGAIN. "Very well, we'll ask again at a better time," Eliwood said. "But!" Hector protested. "Peace Hector, let's go." "Bah..." And with that, the lords departed.

"Sora, Riku! What if they tell the rest?" Kairi asked. "So what? What are they going to do? Jump me in my sleep?" Sora said laughing at that. "That big blue one might," Riku joked.

Kairi stared at both of them in ridicule but decided it was best to let them feel like talking instead of forcing them. "We're all fine," Sora assured. "I could take him out anyway," Riku bragged. "Yeah right," Sora started, "You can't even kick my butt!"

"Uh, yeah WHO got 4 to zip again?"

"Aw that was a long time ago!!!" Sora yelled loud enough for people around to hear. "Ah whatever man! You wanna go now, huh? Wanna fight?" Riku said with a mild smirk on his face. "Yeah! You're on!" Sora said hyped up. "You guys! If you fight everyone will think we're crazy! If you're going to see who's better, just do some competition, anything but fighting!" Kairi scolded. "Yeah you're right, they probably already think Sora's crazy. And what kind of competition? You want us to go jousting?"

"Crazy!?" Sora said offended. "How about a simple one without weapons, " Kairi suggested. "Maybe we should ask one of them what kind of 'competitions' they have. What about that chick who helped you Sora?" "... Rhea? Yeah ok..." Sora decided he wanted to talk to Rhea. To thank her.

Rhea sat away from the group, writing in her journal. Eventually, she would be summoned by the lordlings to decide the next plan of action, so she figured while they discussed the mystery of the morph and the person who supposedly helps her, she'd just relax. "Rhea!!!" Sora's loud voice yelled breaking her peaceful aura. She looked up from her journal to see him waving at her frantically. "Oh! Sora...hi..." she said closing her journal.

Kairi and Riku soon came next to Sora in turn. "I wanted to thank you," Sora said smiling brightly. "Oh really? D-don't worry about it. Helping others is just...the right thing to do, right?" "Yeah!" Sora agreed, "Do you know any competitions?" "Competitions?" Rhea asked. "Yeah, I wanna prove to this guy here that I'm better than him and Kairi here doesn't want any 'violence'," Riku explained.

"I don't want them to get in any serious trouble," Kairi explained in turn. "I'm cooler!" Sora said in his somewhat flat explanation.

"Well, when most are trying to settle something they spar-"

"Let's spar then! You and me Sora!"

"BUT. That includes using weapons..."

"Rats."

"So, the only thing I could really think of is...either card games or...a race..." "Ok...GO!" Sora said while running ahead. "Hey that's cheating!" Riku yelled chasing after him. Kairi just sighed at the scene before her. "Riku is as childish as Sora..."

The rest of the group looked from the two boys zipping past them to the two girls, all giving them the "What is THAT all about?" look.
Rhea sighed as well. "I hope they know where they're going..." "They don't..." Kairi assured.

While the two boys were running the lordlings were watching. "Where are they headed?" Lyn wondered, "They can't be possibly trying to run away..." "It's getting pretty dark too," Eliwood pointed out. "Ah, they're big boys they'll be fine," Hector assured. "You don't sound worried at all..." "I agree with Eliwood on that," Lyn said annoyed. Hector merely laughed his loud, booming laugh. "I'm hungry let's go find some food." "Honestly!" Lyn said somewhat upset that food was the only thing on Hector's mind.

"I'm winning Riku!" Sora yelled running in the open space past the town. "In your wildest dreams shorty!" Riku said dashing past him. "Noooooooooo!" Sora yelled while he ran to catch up, before he knew it he was chasing Riku into the forest. "Hey slowpoke!! Exactly when and where are we supposed to stop?!?"

"Until I beat you!"

"I guess we'll be running a while then!"

"Shut up!" Sora snapped while running faster. "You know it's the truth!" "Is not! Shortcut!" Sora said while running to the side out of sight.

"What the hell you little cheater?!?!" Riku yelled taking a u-turn and trying to follow him. Eventually he could no longer hear Sora's loud footsteps or see his spikey head. "Now where the hell did he get to?" Riku asked himself as he wandered the woods aimlessly. "That way..." a monotone voice said.

"What? Who said that?!?" Riku said.

He looked frantically around the woods until he caught sight of the same blue-haired girl from earlier, "You!!" "Not me," she said while shaking her head lightly, "Him." She pointed at Sora who was unconsciously on the ground. "WHAT THE-!??! Sora!" Riku ran over to him, "What did your crony do to him?!?" "He..." Lucretia started.

"Ha! Now look who's ahead!" Sora yelled in lightning speed. Everything was so blurry he couldn't focus until he saw a blur of light blue he zipped right past making him look back. "That was-OMPH!" Sora yelled as he crashed into a tree and fell to the ground with a loud thud. "Now where the hell did he get to?"

"Did that..." Lucretia said quietly finishing her explanation. Riku twitched. "...Idiot. And you! What are you doing here, and where's your little friend?" "She's resting, I'm hungry..." Lucretia said simply as she headed towards the mushrooms nearby. "W-what are you doing?" "Eating," she said reaching for the mushroom. "Hey whoa, whoa, whoa! Don't eat those you crazy kid!" "But..." she said looking at the mushroom.

Riku walked up to her. "Do you see what color that is?" "White." "Well where we come from white mushrooms shoot out poison spores and kill you. ""..." Lucretia then directed her attention to a leaf that fell. "Leaves aren't food either." "..." "Do you not know what food IS or something?" "I..." Lucretia started trying to find the right words to come out of her mouth however, she was starting to get confused. Anything's food right? Anything to survive right?

She was so confused the words just come out her mouth, "Food is!...food…" "...Wow, you're exactly like that one lying on the ground over there," Riku said pointing behind him. Lucretia looked over at the corpse on the floor. "I know...I'm sorry..." Riku sighed. "It's not your fault...I think..."

That was the first time Lucretia heard those words so she really didn't know how to reply to them. With that she walked over to Sora. "Would you like him awake?" "Um, yeah that would be great," Riku responded to the not so normal question. "..." Lucretia took a moment to register Sora's face then playfully poked his swollen forehead, which got an unconscious cringe in response. Nope he's unconscious.

Lucretia then poked his stomach, which earned a giggle. "Bye..." she said to Riku and she walked away in a rush. "Ughh.." Sora groaned finally waking up. What was that all about...? Riku thought. He then brought his attention to Sora. "Have a nice nap, Sleeping Beauty?" he asked. Sora looked around for the girl but she must have left then he thought about the race. "I won!- Wait you think I'm pretty?" Riku nudged him with his foot, "Get up." Sora whined, "My head hurts! And you don't even care! I know! I'll go to Kairi!" Sora said in resolve as he got up. "What?!? You are NOT getting her mad at me for something I didn't do!" "But you ARE doing something! You're being mean ta mee!" Sora said childishly then switched to serious, "You're supposed to be my best friend, not those demented people."

"Demented people? You call those weird people demented?" "Yes! They tortured me with weird and rude questions at dinnertime, and conversation time! And sleep time!" "Even the quiet chick?" "Who? Oh the one with the purple hair! Um she won't even talk to me she's afraid of men" Sora explained forgetting what the real problem was. "Not her! The one who's always writing in that book!" "Oh Rhea?" Sora asked then dated back to the time they met, "She's a good person..." "I see...so then it's just the loud pink-haired girl to worry about?" "And the loud blue haired oaf too!" Sora pointed out referring to Hector. "I see, I'll take note of that then."

"Since I won you'll have to give your dessert to me!"

"What?!? You didn't win! You hit a tree!"

"That tree was the goal line! Riku's dessert for me!"

Riku sighed. "Any old excuse to win..." "Yeah, yeah! Better cough up your dessert at dinner time!" Sora said while running ahead. "Not if I eat it first!" Riku said dashing after him.

Lucretia walked to her partner who was resting under a tree. Or at least she was until Lucretia decided to pinch her cheek. "AH! Wha-?!? WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!?!" Irene yelled pushing Lucretia's hands away. "We should go," Lucretia decided. "What? I'M to decide whether we leave or not...let's go," Irene said standing up and dusting herself off. "Let's walk slow," Lucretia decided to test Irene's brain capacity for entertainment. "Why the hell should we do that? We need to get back to collecting quintessence as soon as possible!" "You'll hurt yourself..." Lucretia simply replied. "I'm fine!" Irene said stubbornly.

"You're like...him," Lucretia compared Irene to Sora.

"I'm like who?!?"

"Him."

"And WHO, might I ask, is HIM?"

"He is who he is."

"Argh! Stop trying to confuse me with your weird logic and let's go!" "Alright." "And what were you DOING while I was asleep?" "Looking for food," Lucretia replied bluntly wondering why Irene was so worked up about it. "Ugh, all you humans do is eat, eat eat, we've wasted enough time, let's go." "I didn't eat anything..." "Oh well, that's a shame. Just grab a piece of bark or a squirrel or something."

Lucretia was about to do that until she remembered Riku's word. "That's not food…" "Oh, you finally realize that?" Lucretia was somewhat angry she had been played and insulted but she decided to compromise. "We should get food in the next town." "Yeah, um, why?" "I need to eat. Like you need to find Nergal." "I don't need to FIND him, I need to bring him back," Irene corrected. Lucretia ignored the comment and started walking ahead in a slow pace. Irene rolled her eyes and walked ahead of her in a quick pace. "Be careful...you'll-" "I'll WHAT? AHHH!" Lucretia sighed as her teammate turned her head to get an answer only resulting in tripping over a huge rock. "Are you...alive?" Irene quickly got up and dusted herself off again. "Stupid rock!" She then kicked the rock only to later be in agonizing pain. "..."

"Kairi, Kairi! I won! What do I get?" Sora asked remembering the old days where if he won, which he admitted wasn't often, Kairi would always give him something. "You get nothing! Because you cheated and hit a tree!" Riku answered with his arms crossed. "But!" "No buts dude. You cheated, and therefore hit your face on a tree. So basically you got what you deserved," Riku said sticking out his tongue. "Kairi!" Sora said bringing attention on her. "Oh well...let's call it a tie! Since there was no goal," she reasoned.

"A tie!?"

"C'mon! Please? I'll bake you guys some cookies!"

"How exactly are you gonna do that here?" Riku asked. "I'll just ask. If I can't do it today I'll try next time!" she explained happily.

"I want strawberry filled!"

"...Chocolate chip." "Alright! Cookies for my best friends!" Kairi said happily as she walked over to Rhea to ask questions. "She meant me by the way." "If you say so kid...but she's still making chocolate chip."

Sora smiled happily at the fact that he was surrounded by his friends again. "Hey Riku. Tag!" Sora said pushing Riku and running towards the rest. "Sora if you hit a tree again, I'm seriously gonna laugh!" Riku said chasing him.

"Rhea! I was wondering if I could ask some questions..." Kairi said while walking towards her not noticing Riku and Sora running in the background. Rhea looked up from her journal once again. "Ok, sure," she answered closing it. "I was wondering if there was any way I could cook." "Cook?...Well, usually we carry a pot around-I believe it's over in Merlinus' carriage-but other than that..." "Great! So. Where's Merlinus?" Rhea looked around for where Eliwood was until she spotted him. "That's weird, he's usually following Lord Eliwood...he must be in his carriage or going around selling things then," Rhea answered. "It's alright. I'll wait."

"Ha, ha can't tag me!" Sora said cheerfully as people looked at him and Riku as they ran by. "Sora, get back here! This is seriously getting annoying!" Riku yelled. Sora then got an idea. He stopped allowing Riku to run right past him. "What the-? Dammit you gotta stop cheating like that!"

Suddenly, Riku stopped dead in his tracks. "No...way..." "No way?" Sora asked while walking over to Riku.

Riku stared in shock as a short man with a ponytail exited the carriage outside the town. "That can't be..." "You know him?" "It's that stupid peddler who sold us the map Kairi has..." If we walk away slowly, maybe we won't notice us...Riku thought as he started to slowly inch walk backwards. "RIKU! Watch where you're going you just bumped into me!" Sora complained. "Wha-AHHH!" The two boys tumbled over catching Merlinus's attention. "Is everything alright over there?"

"Huh?" Sora looked up to see the man Riku was talking about. "Oh! You're that boy everyone's talking about. Sora..." he then brought his attention to Riku who had his head down, "And you...have we met before?" "Uhhh, no don't think so," Riku answered. "Why yes we have! At the town back in Pherae! Remember? I sold you the map and you and your little friend gave me those remarkable pieces of...whatever it was you called them!" "..."

"You guys gave away your munny?"

"We needed a map, ok?!?"

"I would have never thought that YOU and your little friend were the friends that Sora here was looking for!"

Sora smiled. "We're really close. No seriously Riku get off."

"Oh right." Riku got up and dusted himself off. Sora got up and scratched his head. "So you already know me...but nice to meet you!" he said to Merlinus.

"Well it's nice to meet you again! And you're...who again?"

"Ansem."

"Ansem? Didn't he just call you..."

"That's his nickname for me."

"Ansem? Ansem!?!" Sora yelled angrily making people stare at them, again.

"Sora stop being weird."

Merlinus blinked. "Well it's very nice to meet you. Sora, Ansem..." And with that he walked off.

Sora waited until Merlinus was out of sight. "How can you lie and use that name!?" "I don't want him to know my name," Riku said coolly, "He creeps me out."

"But that means!"

"Means what?"

"Never mind. You can be just awful sometimes Riku."

Riku wrapped his arm around Sora's neck and gave him a noogie. "I know." "Oooowwww! No! Truce, truce!" Sora yelled wailing around earning him more curious stares.

"Oh! Is that him?" Kairi asked as she saw a man going towards the lordlings. "Yeah, that's him," Rhea responded. "Kairi, Rhea!" Sora said running towards them with Riku. "We saw this weirdo-"

"You mean that one over there?" Rhea asked pointing towards Merlinus. "Whoa! Look Riku!"

"Heh," Riku responded. "Is he traveling with us?" Sora asked hoping in his mind he was wrong.

"He's been traveling with us since yesterday remember? We met him in the other town, he kept following Lord Eliwood even then..." Rhea said. "I...never noticed" Sora admitted as he brain went blank in shock.

"Don't worry about it. He can hold weapons and items for you, but other I'd stay away from him," Rhea advised. "Why?" Kairi dared ask. "Well...for one, he talks...a lot. I believe Sir Marcus knows that better than anyone. And he tends to charge a bit much for his services," Rhea explained. "Wow. He IS weird." "Ehhhhh, just a tad." "But it shouldn't be too hard getting the cooking supplies from him right?" Kairi asked. "If you really want them I could ask for you." "Please?" Rhea smiled. "No problem."

"So we really get cookies!?" Sora said shocked. "Hopefully," Riku responded.

Rhea walked over to the lords and the merchant. "Ah! Look it's Rhea!" Hector said walking up to her then whispering, "Get rid of him kid." "I'll do my best," Rhea whispered back.

"Ah, Sir Merlinus?"

Merlinus turned his head to her. "Oh! Lady Rhea! I was just chatting with Lord Eliwood, Lord Hector and Lady Lyn!" Merlinus said cheerfully. Rhea looked over at Eliwood and Lyn who both had looks on their faces that clearly read,"Help us!" "Did you need something?" Lyn said in code, which meant, "Please hurry! Take him away!" "Ah yes! I was wondering if I could borrow the cooking tools?" Rhea asked. "The cooking tools? Whatever would you need with those?" "Uh...I need them to cook..." "You cook now too Rhea?" Hector asked shocked. Rhea sighed, "Anyway, is it alright if I use them for awhile?" "Well I suppose that would be alright, you're a pretty trustworthy person, just make sure no one does anything to them or I'll have their head! Well come along now." Merlinus led the way to his carriage. As Rhea followed, she turned back to the lords, smiled sweetly and quietly said, "You're welcome."

Lyn watched as Rhea went with Merlinus. "I wonder why she's taken up cooking but then again it's probably an excuse," she deducted. "Who cares? As long as he's gone," Hector said. "Perhaps, it would be best to um, continue our conversation elsewhere? Y'know..." Eliwood started. "In case he comes back? Good thinking." "Yes lets."

"So...what exactly are you cooking? Y'know dinner was served hours ago!" Merlinus asked curiously. "Um...I want to...bake cookies?" Rhea said hesitantly. "Ah, really? Who are they for?" So nosy...Rhea thought. "Ah, well...if they're a success, the whole group!" Rhea said. "Really? Well then, I can't wait to try them!...I think, anyway here you are." Merlinus handed her the cooking materials. "Thank you very much, Sir Merlinus!" Rhea said running off. "My pleasure!...Now, to go finish our wonderful conversation..." Merlinus said happily to himself.

"Hey that was fast," Sora said as Rhea ran up to them with the materials in her hands. "Yeah, I managed to leave before he started talking again. Anyway here you go." "Thank you," Kairi said while smiling. "It was no trouble," Rhea said smiling in return. "Are you going to eat cookies too?" Sora asked.

"Ah, I guess? If that's alright..."

"It's only fair. What's your favorite?"

"Say chocolate chip," Riku whispered to her. "No! Say strawberry filling!" Sora whispered back. Unknown to them Kairi heard. "Well, I actually like sugar cookies..." Rhea said quietly. "Me too," Kairi said as she walked off with the supplies. "Make lots of strawberry filling!" Sora yelled after. "NO! Chocolate chips!" Riku yelled. "Chocolate chip sucks!" "So does strawberry filling!" Kairi couldn't help but to sigh. Those two just never grow up.

"You're so immature Sora! Chocolate chips are the best!"

"No! Chocolate chip is so kiddy! And children would say they like that!"

"Why are we fighting over something like cookies?" Rhea interrupted.

The boys stopped fighting and stared at Rhea. "You're both acting like small children," she said.

"No I'm not." "Are not," Riku said crossing his arms. Rhea sighed. Just like children... she thought.

"Rhea you just don't know how to have fun!" Sora said in a concluding manner. "Yeah you're kinda boring," Riku admitted.

"B-boring!?!"

Rhea was used to Serra and everyone else calling her that, but now these people from another world? "You're not? So what do you do for fun then?" Sora asked hoping for some new ideas. "You just write in that book of yours right?" Riku asked. For the most part... bingo...

"Well, I'm always traveling so..."

"What would you do if you weren't traveling?"

"I guess I'd still be at home with master I guess..." she answered.

That reminded Sora of something. "Oh yeah! Mom! I wonder if she notices I'm gone..." Sora mused.

"Oh yeah! We've been gone for a while. Maybe they set up a search party," Riku said. "Um well," Sora started nervously, "I told Mom I was staying over your house the day we disappeared." "Oh great, so now it's my responsibility to take care of you," Riku teased.

Sora frowned at that comment. "I can take care of myself Riku!" "Yeah, yeah we've all heard that one before," Riku said. "Yes you have! And I've proven it! I haven't gotten in any trouble at all!"

"Oh really? No trouble you say?" "Yup," Sora said knowing there wasn't anything Riku could use against him. Riku brought his attention to Rhea. "So he hasn't pulled any pranks, or name-called anyone, anything that would make someone wanna hurt him?" Rhea shook her head.

Sora eyes widened in shock but not long enough for Riku to notice. She wasn't going to tell? "You're cheating! Interrogating people! I get to interrogate Kairi on behalf of your childishness!" "What?!? For your information, I've been on my best behavior," Riku said smugly. "Yeah right! I'll ask Kairi when she gives us our cookies but I don't even need to do that, you're already on charges for being a jerk!"

"What??! C'mere you!" Riku once again gave Sora a noogie, this time a little harder. Rhea couldn't help but wonder if they were like this all the time. "Ow!! no! my head hurts!" "I'm sure it does!" "Ah..." Rhea began, "Shouldn't you stop?" "He'll be alright. If he can stand up to giant heartless, he can take this," Riku explained.

"All I see is pain!!!"

"That's what your eyes WANT you to believe!"

Sora just started flailing around trying to get away from Riku.

"You guys.." a familiar voice said behind them; Riku quickly pushed Sora away, "He started it." causing Sora to fall flat on the ground. "...Actually," Kent said just staring at Sora, "I was going to ask Rhea her new orders on what we should do from here. Serra's complaining she wants to rest at the inn but Lord Hector wants us to quickly debate about the new morph then move out."

"But it's dark out already...he wants to debate now?" Rhea asked.

"He's rather ruthless right now..."

"I see...ok then, let's go..." Rhea then turned her attention back to two boys, "Um...I'll be back..." "Ow...o,k" Sora found himself saying. "Later," Riku replied. Rhea nodded and walked off with Kent.

"Do you think we're going to have to leave town?" Sora asked Riku sitting Indian-style. "Well, I dunno. Judging by what they say about the big blue guy, we might," Riku said putting his hands behind his head. "But I don't wanna!" Sora protested almost sounding as bad as Serra, "My feet hurt!" Riku sighed, "Tell me about it. Plus look how dark it is. Do they SERIOUSLY plan on traveling out somewhere?"

"All they talk about is bandits as if im scared of a moron with a butter knife." Sora said bluntly. Riku laughed, "Bandits? Are you serious?" "I know!" Sora said while laughing also, "They think a stupid bandit is going to make me paranoid!"

"Man, these people are weird!"

"That's why im happy I found you guys so soon! Any longer and I would have gone crazy!" "Anymore sleeping outdoors and I might go crazy!"

"Aw," Sora teased. "The high maintenance Riku actually had to dirty his perfect hair while sleeping on an ant filled tree while I slept in a king sized bed at a palace!"

"WHAT?!?! A PALACE?!?!? That is SO not fair?!?" "Heh, heh," Sora said smirking smugly, "I guess you just have bad luck!" "Tell me about it..."

Sora saw the troubled look in Riku's face and started feeling guilty. "Well don't worry! Just stick next to me and my luck will rub on you!"

"You mean your luck of bumping into trees? No thanks." "W-what!? No! That was an accident!" Riku laughed. "Yeah, 'accident.' You had it comin'!"

"It was the evil little girl! Seriously!"

"You mean the small one, or the crazy one?"

"The small one! She's the last person I saw before the world went dark..."

Riku laughed again. "Are you serious? The little one is harmless! She doesn't even know that you can't eat leaves!" He then got more serious, "That older one on the other hand, the one the others called a 'morph'..." "Her...you guys saw her before right?" Sora asked with a hint of curiosity. "Yeah, we saw both of them at the town we were at before this one..."

"What did they do!?"

"Oh you know, terrorize people here, send heartless there..."

"Maybe Maleficent really is alive..."

"I wouldn't doubt it. I don't think there's any way that kid is doing all this by herself..."

"But how!? I defeated her like 2 times already!"

"Maleficent has her ways, I guess..."

"But this one seems like a really stupid useless pawn! There's no way we can convince her." "Doesn't seem like it. She strikes me as the type who won't give up no matter who gets in the way or won't even listen as long as things go her way..."

"Like you!" Sora pointed out "What?!? No not like me! What are you talking about?" Riku said crossing his arms and pouting a little. "You were all like- 'Sora you suck! I'm going to the darkness, screw you sucker', and I was all like- 'no Riku you're so mean!'"

"Oh whatever!" Riku said finally sitting down Indian-style and muttering, "I don't sound like that." "Yes you do," Sora insisted.

"Guys!" A feminine voice yelled right after. It was Kairi running towards them with a basket.

"The cookies! Already?"

"It only takes a bit more than 10 minutes. You guys must have made time pass by quick," Kairi said while looking around, "Where's Rhea?" "Her friends of royalty summoned her," Riku explained. "Did something happen?"

"Apparently they're trying to figure out if we should just leave now and find out where those girls went or wait 'til something else happens or something."

"I see..."

"Did you make my cookies?"

"Of course!" Kairi said opening the basket, "They're still a little hot." "That means don't touch them or we'll have another one of your episodes Sora," Riku said.

"Better than a Riku hissy fit!" "I'll show you a hissy fit!" "I'm back!" came Rhea's voice as she walked over to them, "Oh, the cookies are ready?" "Yeah," Kairi said secretly happy Rhea came when she did, "Time really passes by."

"So what are we doing?"

"Well it took me a while to convince them-Serra helped a lot too-but we're gonna stay here for the night, but we leave first thing in the morning after breakfast," Rhea explained. "Alright!" Sora said happily while diving in to take a chocolate chip cookie. Riku sighed. "3...2...1..." "Ow! My tongue got burned! But I waited a minute!" "That's true..." Kairi said then she took out a canteen, which Sora happily took, "I brought water too."

"Good thinking otherwise Mr. Impatient here woulda lost that tongue of his!" Riku teased. "Hmph!" Sora said while drinking his water. "I brought you guys some too!" Thank ya very much," Riku said taking a canteen then a cookie. "Yes, thank you," Rhea said politely taking the canteen.

"Hey guys! I know what we can do!" Sora suddenly exclaimed. "Hm?" Kairi said through a mouthful of cookie. "Rhea, could I borrow a piece of paper?"

"Ah, sure," she said ripping out a blank page in her journal and handing it to him.

Sora then started to rip it to wide strips. "We'll all write our wishes on these papers and keep it! And every time we get a new wish we put it down! We'll keep doing it until the end of this journey!"

"What? What kind of idea is that?" Riku asked.

"See Kairi? Pity Riku- he has no dreams."

"I do so have dreams, don't be ridiculous."

"Like what?" Sora said bringing everyone's attention to Riku.

"Wha-Why should I tell you?"

"Fine put it on the paper! But expect me to peak at it in the end!"

"In that case...Can I borrow a pencil?" Riku asked Rhea.

"Pencil?"

"Or whatever you guys write with?" She handed him a pen then he started to scribble something on his strip of paper. "There!"

Sora by natural instinct tried to take a peek. "Here ya go," he gave Sora the paper then started writing on another strip. "Huh?" Sora said as he started reading it. "I'll show YOU who doesn't have dreams! That's why you'll never know what I wrote!" At the bottom of the paper was a little face sticking its tongue at while the word "Sucker!" was written next to it.

Sora had a feeling in his gut to shove the paper in Riku's face while calling him a jerk but he decided to keep those thoughts and not actions for the sake of being Sora. "Looks like Riku has something to hide. Maybe its about Kaiiiiriiii!" Sora teased as Kairi's face began to get as red as her hair. "Sh-shaddup!" Riku said turning his head away. "Heh heh," Sora snickered as he embarrassed his two best friends in front of Rhea.

Rhea couldn't help but watch in amusement as this occurred. Even in their current situation they're able to laugh and enjoy themselves. she thought to herself. "Are you going to write down something Rhea?" Sora asked interrupting her thoughts. "Oh! Yeah..." she then wrote on her little strip.

"Are you Kairi?"

"Of course! I don't want to miss out on all the fun!" "Here," Rhea handed her the pen she was using. "Thank you," Kairi said as she began writing hers down in her scratchy yet swirly cursive. "Your turn Sora!" she said smiling while handing the pen to Sora. "Alright!" he said writing his down. "I even have one to show Riku!"

He then began to write on another strip and show it to Riku, which bluntly had "Your hair is messy and dirty" on it with a happy face. "That can't be helped! There's no shampoo!" Riku pouted. "If there's a comb or anything like that I'd brush it," Kairi volunteered, she hated to see Riku get upset about his hair but she had to admit she knew how hard it was to keep up long hair, Sora just wouldn't understand. "H-huh??" Sora said abruptly. "Well we have combs...just not this...sham...poo you speak of," Rhea noted. "I guess we'll have to use clean water eh Riku?" "Yeah hopefully lakes exist in this world," Riku joked.

"Hey Riku while we're at it can I braid your hair too," Sora said annoyed that he was taking up Kairi's offer, somehow Sora couldn't help but get jealous at times like this. "I'll pass on that! Don't think I forgot about what happened when we were little!" "Hm?" Sora said acting innocent. "W-what happened?" Rhea asked curiously. "Well this one here saw Kairi and our friend Selphie braiding each others hair, then got the bright idea that maybe we should try it too," Riku began. "I-I was only 6!" Sora defended before Riku could go any further. "Makes no difference! Anyway, he couldn't figure out how they did it, and when he tried, he pulls out a big clump of my hair!" Riku exclaimed.

Kairi then burst out giggling. "I remember that! It was enough for a Brenda doll's head! And remember when we went to us for help and show us it? Selphie passed out screaming!" Oh geez they're all teasing me now! Sora thought. "It's not funny! You have no idea how long it took me to brush my hair until the bald spot couldn't be seen! OR how long it took that hair to grow back," Riku said looking at Sora. "Hissy fit!" Sora said in defense feeling as if Riku would a throw a bunch of rocks at him right now to make up for lost times- or hair for that matter. "Is not!" Riku said in his defense. Rhea couldn't help but giggle a little at the childish bickering of the two boys.

"Rhea! You and your friends should hurry inside its getting late!" a familiar voice known as Lyn's said in the somewhat distance. "Aw! But we were having fun!"

"We should do a slumber party!"

"Half of us aren't girls Kairi!"

"You'd better hope Serra didn't hear you say the words 'slumber party'," Rhea said, "It always ends in chaos." "C-chaos?" Sora dared ask. "Well every time Serra plans a 'slumber party,' some of the guys always play childish pranks..."

Kairi smiled determinedly showing almost a scary side of her. "We'll just have the men make sure that doesn't happen!"

"What, us?"

"Sorry I meant boys."

"H-hey!"

Kairi then smiled, "You'll do it right guys? It will be a nice turn on the boys!" "Don't change the subject if they're boys what about us!?"

"Yeah seriously!" "C'mon you guys. It's not like you can have a boy's night out because you'd be with...well...the boys...doing...who knows what." "Hey! We'd...she's right..." Sora admitted in defeat. "We'd better get going now, it is really late after all," Rhea said starting to walk. "Ok!" Sora said happily as he got up then lent Kairi and hand to get up, and surprisingly enough to Riku also.

Riku took it and dusted himself off. "We do get to sleep in beds right?" he asked. "Of course! It's an inn! Though with so many of us, we have to share rooms," Rhea stated.

"I wouldn't mind sharing a room with Kairi!" Sora said boldly to Kairi's surprise.

"Yeah...dude? You're a dude."

"Shut up Riku," Sora said, "You just want to hog her for yourself! I barely got to talk to her ever since I found you guys!" "It's ok Sora. I have a feeling we won't be going back home tomorrow."

"Yeah who knows how long it'll take. We don't even know HOW to get back yet."

"We'll find a way. I'm sure of it," Rhea said.

"We'll count on you then Rhea!" Sora said cheerfully, "If you let us down you owe us one!" "Yeah you'll totally owe us so you'd better keep your word!" Riku said. "Ah, ok? You have my word on it then."

They headed towards the inn to find everybody in the lobby debating the sharing issue. "Hey look they're back!" Serra announced. "We can see that," Erk replied. "How many rooms are there!?" Sora asked hoping it would be more than 12. "Well...enough for us to sleep in, but some of us have to share rooms," Serra said pouting. "Ok let's draw straws!" Sora said ignorantly. "Actually we kinda already decided," Wil said. "What!?" "Yeah but at least you guys get rooms to yourselves!" Wil said cheerfully. "And I get to share with Florina and Ninian!" Serra exclaimed.

"We're not sharing?"

"Aww I'm sorry! When we have a slumber party we'll definitely share!" Serra said cheerfully. "There's those words again..." Rhea said quietly.

Despite Serra's words Sora was real happy. "Good night everyone! "G'night!" they all said in unison. "C'mon Sora I'm tired, let's go find our room," Riku said stretching. "Yeah," he said nodding in agreement then faced Kairi and Rhea, "See you guys in the morning! And Rhea you don't have to worry about me waking up late! I'm going to be responsible so no one will have to baby me!"

Rhea smiled. "I have your word on that then." "C'mon Riku!" Sora said running off. "Yeah yeah, just watch out for doors opening," Riku said taking his time.

It was a nice and peaceful night, but it the morning it was a totally different thing. Other people at the inn were haggling Sora and his friends about their foreign clothes. "Exactly what region of Elibe ARE you from?" "What sort of fabrics are those?" "How many animals did you have to kill to make those?!?" "What's your name?!?!" The last question was mostly directed at Riku. "Disney, you wouldn't be able to find it, none!, and he doesn't want you!" Sora answered agitated, he didn't wake up with a Riku nagging him just so people could give him a morning Q and A.

"Just ignore them guys! They don't mean any harm!" Rhea called to them from the other side of the lobby waving for them to come over. "Oh there you are Rhea!" Kairi said admitting it was hard to see past the crowd. "..." Riku remained silent through all of this. Though he was aggravated and irritated from having to be awake so early he tried not to let the crowd get to him for if they did all hell would break loose afterwards. "My you guys are popular" Lyn said coming downstairs. "Not really they just want our clothes, and Riku" Sora added. "Well who wouldn't?!? Your dress is sooooo cute!" Serra exclaimed sliding down the rail, with Erk quietly walking down the stairs after her.

Kairi looked at her dress then came to a decision. "We need to change our clothes." "What!? Aw why! I look so badass!"

"Sora we're going to be here for a while, we may as well try to fit in to avoid attention."

"We're always going to get attention with Mr. Lather, rinse, and repeat!" Sora said insulting Riku while trying to get a point across. "Do you want a nosebleed this early in the morning Sora? I can arrange it," Riku said threateningly. Sora stuck out his tongue. "Is there any way we could go to a tailor or?" "Hector said we should immediately leave after breakfast and the tailor would take a while," Lyn replied. "I see..."

"We could come to an agreement though," Lyn said now gambling.

"R-really?"

"You, Sora and Riku have a meeting with me, Hector, Eliwood and Rhea and tell us all you know and we'll arrange the clothes," she said knowing Sora and Riku weren't planning on telling them any information today.

"Where's the orange juice?" Riku asked not really paying attention to the conversation. Sora just yawned not paying attention either, Kairi thought this to be a nuisance and yet a weird blessing; Sora and Riku would have objected saying anything if they actually listened to the conversation. "It's a deal!"

"Alright. Breakfast is that bowl of fruit on the table." "AH HA HA! AH HA HA HA! HA...that's funny," Sora said distinctly remembering eating a real meal for breakfast. "Thank you? Anyways I'll alert the lords so eat up," she said while making her way outside the door.

"Hey you didn't tell us where we eat breakfast!" "Right there," Rhea said pointing to the table. "Awww, no oatmeal?!? Oh well," Serra said picking an apple from the bowl and taking a bite. "Thank you," Kairi said while walking over there, "This apple looks fresh!"

The emotion on Sora and Riku's face was as predicted- complete horror. "What kind of breakfast is that!?! Wait! I know what's going on!" Sora said while pushing Riku from his side, "Your bad luck is rubbing off!" "WHat!?? If anything it's yours! Ah shoot I'm gonna be hitting trees AND doors next thanks to you!" Riku snapped back.

"I only hit one and it was Serra's!"

"So that means I'm gonna hit like 5!...Thanks a bunch." "That doesn't even add up!" Sora protested.

"Hector, Eliwood, good news!" Lyn said as soon as she reached them. "Those kids magically disappeared and we can all go home?" Hector asked. "...Merlinus disappeared?" Eliwood suggested.

"No," Lyn said aggravated already. "I made a deal with the children. We provide them with clothes and they'll tell us what they know." "What seriously?!?!" Hector's mouth dropped. "Nice work Lyn!" Eliwood said. "Thank you. And yes Hector, seriously. Maybe if you used tactic instead of force you'd know that but then again I guess that's why you have Oswin," Lyn insulted. "What is that supposed to mean?!?" Hector yelled. "Guys...not out here...and so early..." Eliwood said. "Very well," Lyn replied but part of her wanted to tell Hector what she meant, "So what shall we do about the clothes?" "Well we'd have to find a tailor somewhere right?" "Yes," Lyn said while nodding. "I don't think there's one here...This town's really small," Hector stated. "True it would be a miracle to find one. But at the same time we have to keep our end of the bargain. Let's have someone search around for one." "Let's make Merlinus do it. He knows about shops and stuff," Hector noted. "That's a sound idea," Eliwood agreed. "Alright," Lyn said.

"Too slow!" Sora said taking the orange Riku was heading for, as soon as Riku headed for an apple Sora took that too. "Seriously dude, you're BEGGING for that bloody nose," Riku said. Sora stuck out this tongue as he bit out of Riku's apple. Rebecca who has joined them only a few minutes ago after coming down stairs giggled. "Wow. You two act so cute!" "Yeah reeeal cute," Riku said drowsily. "How can you be so sleepy when you're the one waking ME up!" Sora protested.

"I couldn't really sleep because of YOUR horrible snoring!"

"I don't snore!!!"

"Guys," Kairi said reasoning. "Not so early!" "If that's what you wanna think," Riku said grabbing a pear.

As soon as Riku said that Lyn had came into the room. "Hello. Sora, Riku, Kairi. You guys and Rhea have a meeting with us now." "Huh? We do?" "Come on guys!" Kairi said while getting up. "But I haven't finished my pear yet. And I want my orange juice!" Riku complained. "You may take it with you," Lyn said and with that walked out. "Hey wait up!" Sora said.

All of a sudden they were all under a tree. "Alright we're here to discuss the recent issues-" "What!? What do you mean?" "What do you mean 'what do you mean?!?' There's a surviving morph kid out there trying to bring the worst being in all of existence back to life!" Hector said angrily. "Hector..." Eliwood said, "but he does speak truth. If Nergal is brought back to life, this world will mostly likely suffer, especially if he intends to bring the dragons back like he tried to last time..."

"Wait I'm confused!" Sora said hopelessly. "So this person Nergal. He created 'morphs'?" Kairi said trying to break everything down for her, Riku and Sora to understand. "That is correct," Eliwood said, "He used them to collect quintessence for him so that he could become stronger." "And what exactly IS quintessence?" Riku asked taking a bite of his pear, "that 'morph' girl said it a lot." "Quintessence is the very essence of a person's life," Rhea explained, "Without it...they die..."

"It's like a heart" Sora mused. "That's why she took that heartless," Kairi deducted. "We've already lost...some to Nergal's crazed ways," Eliwood said remembering his father, "and we want to make sure it doesn't happen again...that's why..."

Sora then got to his determined mode. "I understand! I'll do everything I can to make sure he won't come back!" "But Sora. If you kill heartless that will help her and I doubt you can defeat her she seems strong" "I'm strong too!" "But you gotta remember she's getting help from Maleficent," Riku added. "That's also something we want to talk about. Exactly who IS this Maleficent?" Eliwood asked. "She's an evil witch who used Riku! She uses people and she's going to use that morph girl!" Sora said furiously. Kairi nodded in agreement. "Yeah. She wants Kingdom Hearts." "Kingdom..." Eliwood started. "Hearts?" Hector finished.

"It's hard to explain but it's this moon in the shape of a heart," Kairi explained, "It's really important."

"And heartless! They're creatures that emerge when people lose their hearts and they start taking other people's hearts until they have the biggest one which is Kingdom Hearts!"

"And she wants Kingdom Hearts...why?" Hector asked. "Ultimate power," Riku said bluntly.

"Will Kingdom Hearts show up here?"

"Nah I don't think so. It has to have a lot of hearts!"

"So then, I assume she's strong," Hector said. "Strong with magic, can turn into a dragon, manipulative, the works," Riku added bluntly.

"What if she finds out Riku's here!?"

"She won't bother. Riku's stronger than that now!" Kairi assured. "Damn right. I'm not falling for her lies, ever again," Riku said determined. "Yeah right. We all know even a bug could manipulate you Riku!" Sora teased. Riku merely took another bite of his pear to prevent from saying something mean.

"So Maleficent is working with the morph. It's obvious the morph wants Nergal while Maleficent wants Kingdom Hearts...both a very bad idea," Lyn concluded.

"Yeah but there's no way Maleficent could care about what the morph wants."

"She won't care what happens to the morph girl as long as she gets what she wants," Riku added. "But there would be no way to convince the morph out of it. In a way she's blinded," Lyn stated. "No! We have to try! If she has so much feeling she must have some good somewhere! Besides she was looking over that one kid!" Kairi reasoned. "Yeah...the little one..." Riku said quietly. "So then...what we must do...is try to...talk to this...morph girl..."Eliwood said. "I dunno, if Nergal wouldn't even listen to his best friend, ol' Graybeard, chances are she won't listen to us," Hector stated. "Maybe we can convince the little girl to convince her!" Kairi brainstormed. "Isn't that kinda wrong?" Sora said nervously. "But what the older one is doing is wrong!" Hector added, "I say if she wants to play dirty we should too!"

Sora's right eye twitched a bit at that statement, "We'll do that on your own time, I'm not going to manipulate a little girl!" "Yeah that's pretty low Lord Hector," Rhea said quietly. "I want to make sure everyone is safe too, but if we do it like villains we'll be treated like villains," Kairi explained to Hector. "Right, so then we negotiate with the little girl to see if she can get the morph girl to stop what she's doing! Then maybe we can go after Maleficent as well!" Eliwood said determined. IF you can...Riku thought to himself. "But what if the girl doesn't want to negotiate?" Kairi mused. "Then we'll just have to put a stop to her," Hector said. "The morph or the kid?" Sora asked confused.

"The morph of course!"

"What if the girl tries to stop us?"

"What can a little girl do?!?"

There he goes again...Rhea thought. "She can cry, she can beg, she can plead, she can demise-"

"She's just a little girl! The one we need to worry about is the morph!"

"Hector! Calm down!"

"Bah!"

And with that Hector stormed off.

"Does that mean the meeting is over?"

"Sora!"

"It'd probably be best if hurry up though," Rhea said quietly, "Just let Lord Hector calm down a little and afterward Lord Eliwood could inform him on our decision, yes?" "Right," Eliwood agreed. "Oh yeah. By the way do you guys have any special doors anywhere?" Sora asked. "Special doors?" Eliwood repeated.

"Yeah for my keyblade. Any door with a big keyhole!"

"Well the only 'special' door I can think of is the Dragon's Gate..."

"What's that?" "That...was Lord Nergal's goal..." Eliwood quietly said, "It is a door, or a portal rather, to goes to the realm of the dragons. It is their world as they went there after the Scouring." "Scouring?" Kairi asked.

"Long time ago, humans and dragons got along with each other, however a great war tore them apart. That is known as the Scouring," Rhea explained. "All seemed lost for the humans until the 8 Heroes defeated them," Eliwood continued, "Dragons then went to another world, which can only be entered from the Dragon's Gate."

"So Nergal wants dragons?"

"Yes, he wanted the dragons so that he could steal their quintessence and become even more powerful," Rhea said.

"Alright I think I understand everything. This will be another adventure to go home! Again..."

"Look on the bright side, at least this time we have a whole army with us," Riku said, with no one able to tell if that were a compliment or sarcasm. "It's a blessing and a curse," Kairi pointed out making sure she made it seem Riku was saying a compliment. "I see, well then it's great to have you with us," Eliwood said.

"I just want to go home," Sora said making that clear. "And you will," Lyn said, "As soon as you help us."

"Right, the sooner we get this accomplished I'm sure the sooner your pathway home will become clear."

"Yup!" Sora said; deep inside him he kinda wishing Donald and Goofy were around with them, he would always be motivated and forced to smile- and behave too. "Well, with that said I suppose this meeting's over," Rhea said, "Better go fill Lord Hector in on the situation Lord Eliwood."

"Right."

"Where do you think that morph girl went?" Sora asked Eliwood and Rhea before they decided to walk out of the silly meeting. "Who knows? Possibly back to Dread Isles, but one thing's for sure," Eliwood started. "With us around she WILL come back to try to finish us off," Rhea finished. "Yeah right. She might be strong but I'll find some weakness! I always do!" Sora said not exaggerating.

Every battle he's ever had or at least a serious battle and not hack-n-slash, he's always able to find some way to defeat the enemy through strategy, even Riku. "Right, we'll surely find it," Rhea agreed as they walked off to Hector's location. "On another note where did Hector go off to?" Kairi asked. "To do some fe-fi-fo'ing, duh" Sora joked. "Pfff, I couldn't really care less, but what are we gonna do now? Are they gonna go to this 'Dread Isles' place? What about our side of their bargain?" Riku said finally more awake. "What do you mean Riku? We're helping each other out," Kairi reminded.

"Weren't they supposed to do something about our clothes or something?"

"I hope mines is as cool as the clothes I have on now," Sora said. "I'm curious about that too but I'm sure they need to find a tailor who can take our measurements."

"Kairi you're as skinny as a Vicky's Secret model! They probably won't know how to handle it!" Sora said snickering. Riku couldn't help but burst out laughing at this comment until he straightened himself up after getting a threatening glare, "I'm sure yours will capture your true...personality?"

"I hope so," Kairi and Sora said at the same time.

"...So we're going after the morph kid right?!?" Hector said excitedly as the trio came over. "Well...possibly..."Eliwood said quietly. "We're pretty much going by what we said earlier Lord Hector," Rhea explained confidently, "plus we're going to figure out a way for them to get home as well. However, we aren't exactly certain where she is now, so the best thing for us to do is wait for her to find us-which I am certain she will-again. Then we could possibly get her to tell us something more about this Maleficent because she most likely knows how to get them home."

"...You talk too much sometimes, you know that?"

"If only you'd paid attention," Lyn said annoyed.

"Too many children around, no offense Rhea."

Rhea merely crossed her arms and sighed, "There's still our part of the bargain though-they've already told us what we wanted to know..."

"That's right, the tailor..."

"There definitely isn't one in this town..." Rhea said. "How about Ostia Hector? I believe we're pretty close..." Eliwood suggested. "Bring them-to MY territory?!?" Hector said as if shocked.

"Uh, yes, because we're close to it."

"They're not going to bring the place into flames Hector," Lyn said. "Besides, if we can give Merlinus rights to set up shop there, then we can certainly allow 3 kids into Ostia," Eliwood said. "Not to mention most of our group consists of 'kids' anyway," Rhea added. "...Bah! Fine. I'll go tell Oswin..." "Good," Lyn said happy he wasn't causing an unnecessary argument.

"I guess I'd better inform Marcus then," Eliwood said as they both departed in different directions.

Lyn watched as they both walked off then walked off herself to the inn.

"I'm hungry!" Sora said directly out of nowhere, "What does a guy have to do to get some food around here?" "Usually they have to do odd jobs for people. That's the job of a mercenary," Rhea said walking up to the trio. "Mercenary for the day huh?" Sora said.

"Don't even think about it Sora, as if we could afford you doing something odd!"

"Oh it's not THAT kind of odd! Just take out bandits here, retrieve stolen items there..." "That's the kinda job for me!" Sora said soon after Rhea's response. "Oh yeah, you'd make on hell of a mercenary," Riku said sarcastically. "You too!" Sora said. "I know I would," Riku said proudly, "no bandit can withstand the might of me." "Wow, someone's...confident," Rhea said. "Don't worry he's not like that often," Kairi assured. "So where do we sign up?" Sora asked.

"Well since you're with us you're practically already mercenaries...congrats."

"That's the easiest test I've ever taken in my whole life!"

"I'll bet," Riku agreed. "And the only thing Riku didn't have to ruin his hair for!"

"Ha ha ha."

"Now let's go get jobs Riku!"

"Um, I don't think so; We have to leave soon," Rhea reminded them.

"We won't take long!" Sora said avoiding reasoning. "Unacceptable. You guys are strangers to a different world. You would have no idea what you're getting yourselves into. Besides, we'll be so busy fighting, you won't have need for jobs anyway."

"You act like I haven't been to different worlds before!"

Riku gave Rhea a look that read: Don't get him started. Rhea crossed her arms, sighed and remained silent. Just then Serra and Erk arrived. "Aren't you guys ready yet? The others are leaving now!" "What already!?" Sora said as if he didn't even listen to what Rhea said before. "It was mentioned that we'd leave first thing in the morning," Rhea said, "but because of our little 'meeting' we're running a little late." "Meeting?" Serra asked. "Ask Lord Hector," Rhea told her. Though I doubt he'd be willing to tell. "Ok! Well hurry it up!" Serra exclaimed dragging Erk along as usual. "Ok! Off on another adventure, eh?" Riku said getting up and stretching. "Yeah seems like it," Kairi said agreeing while standing up. "Let's head out then," Rhea said.

Sora got up and was already moping. "Don't worry Sora. Maybe at the next town you can start your personal adventure!" Kairi said trying her best to make sure Sora would take this journey they were already on seriously. "Yeah...Sora's Grand Adventure. Totally can't wait!" Riku said. Sora smiled at his friends' attempts. It really made him feel better. "Yeah! This time you guys will be here so it will be great!" he said making him wonder where Goofy and Donald were and if they were ok.

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Kchan: Thanks for reading chapter 5! We hope you enjoyed it!
Naomi: Stay tuned...
Kchan: Yep, stay tuned for the next chapter!
Naomi: Be surprised...
Kchan: Please continue to R&R! Goodbye!