Kairi slowly awoke to find herself somewhere very familiar. She recognized it from the neon signs and the beautiful night sky above. She was in Traverse Town, but that didn't make any sense. According to Yen Sid, she'd most likely be visiting worlds she'd never seen before given they no longer existed in the Realm of Light.

And stranger still… "My clothes…!"

Her outfit had changed entirely and now looked like the uniform of a keyblade apprentice. It was nearly the same as the sleeping maiden's in her heart aside from a few personal touches. She even had straps crossing over her chest, just like past keyblade wielders. Even though seemingly no-one had informed her of this uniform, Kairi somehow knew it and was proud to wear it. It had a replica of her charm in the center as a replacement for the wielding symbol. "This must be Yen Sid's magic…"

Looking at the charm on her chest, Kairi remembered to check her pockets and felt her heart sink, realizing her charm was gone. Not only that, her partners were missing too. "Sora! Riku! Where are you guys?"

"Hey there! You lost?"

Kairi turned to see a young girl around her age with strawberry locks, hugging a stuffed animal to her chest. "Oh, er, I guess a little…"

"You're Kairi, aren't you?"

"Huh? How'd you know that?" Kairi asked in surprise.

The girl giggled before leaning forward and taking her hand, causing Kairi to squirm slightly. "Hard not to know about the only non-Player in the Game! No wonder you're lost!"

Player? Game? What's she talking about? Kairi wondered. "I don't follow…"

The girl suddenly showed her own hand, revealing a timer counting down. "Players like me have a time limit for certain missions. If we don't complete it in time… I just wish my partner was here so we could get started!"

Kairi frowned seeing the girl's pitiful expression. She did have to find the world's keyhole to advance in the exam but couldn't just leave this girl to run out of time, there were clearly dire consequences to it. "Well, maybe I could help?"

The girl's eyes widened in surprise. "You would do that? But, we're strangers."

"All friends start as strangers."

Shiki smiled. "Aren't you forward? Well, you're not a Player and can't be my partner but… I know you'll be able to help me out!"

The girl linked arms with her new friend and they started walking down the street together.

"Oh, you haven't even told me your name!" Kairi realized as they entered the Second District.

"Oh, right! It's-"

Before she could answer, many strange-looking creatures appeared, surrounding them. They looked like creatures you'd find in nature, except that their features and colors were extremely over-exaggerated.

"Nightmares!" Shiki gasped. She snapped and another one of the creatures appeared next to her, it looked like a mashup of a porcupine and a cat. This one seemed to be her friend, right, those were called Spirits. "Show 'em your stuff!"

These creatures were part of the Realm of Sleep, where the trio had been sent to.

"In order to help those still slumbering, you must venture into the Realm of Sleep. There is where the dreams of words lost to darkness lie dormant. In these worlds, you will find seven keyholes that need to be unlocked. Doing so will both wake the world and grant you the Power of Waking."

"The Power of Waking?" Sora asked. "What's that?"

"It's a great power used to awaken both sleeping hearts and sleeping worlds." Yen Sid explained. "We will need it to retrieve those missing."

"And once they get this power, they'll be masters?" Riku asked for clarification.

"Yes. It is acknowledged that holding this power is one of the many ways to prove a wielder strong enough to be a master."

Sora grinned while Kairi nodded, a serious expression on her face.

"That being said, your exam will be an arduous one indeed. Like all your journeys before, you must face one of the many forms of Darkness. They are called Dream Eaters."

They saw two creatures appear. They were identical save for their colors and the symbols on their chests.

"Nightmares exist to create bad dreams and devour the ones filled with hope and joy while Spirits combat them, able to defeat Nightmares as a way of protecting those they care for. It would be in your best interest to befriend one of these Spirits. They'll not only help you on your mission, but also provide great companionship."

Once they'd finished off the Nightmares, Shiki and Kairi took a short break on the steps.

"So that little one's a Spirit, huh?" Kairi asked, watching Shiki carefully go around the spines in order to snuggle her friend.

"That's right, aren't they cute?" Shiki giggled. "You wanna say hi to Hui?"

Kairi nodded eagerly before trying to find the best place to pet the Spirit. Unfortunately, she didn't have as much experience as Shiki, getting her a quick prick on the finger. "Ouch!"

Hui whimpered in apology.

"It's okay, I know you didn't mean it." Kairi assured her.

Shiki nodded. "Why don't you take a break, girl?"

Hui nodded before poofing away.

"It'll be fine." Kairi assured her new friend, seeing a concerned look. "I can just heal-"

Suddenly, the wound was gone in a flash of green light.

"Oh! Thanks, Shiki!"

"Uh, that wasn't me. Looks like you got another new friend."

Kairi looked to where Shiki was pointing to see a little Spirit that looked like a potted flower. "Oh, hello. Did you heal me?"

The flower squeed slightly, bulb bouncing up and down.

"Thank you!" Kairi grinned. A Spirit that healed out of hope to help others, she liked that. "Can we be friends?"

As if waiting for her to say that, the Spirit gave a trill before shooting over to Kairi's side, nuzzling her cheek affectionately.

"Hehe, I guess that's a yes!" Kairi let the little flower rest in her cupped hands.

Shiki attempted to pet it too and the flower hummed, loving all the attention. "What are you going to name her?"

"Hm…. Maybe… Saki, because she's a beautiful blossom!" Kairi smiled.

Saki blushed before nodding in agreement.

"Saki it is!"

The two took a path through the backstreets to the Third District, taking our Dream Eaters along the way. Shiki was unusually quiet.

The moment they arrived, Shiki suddenly called out: "Okay, I brought you Kairi! Now you make good on your end of the deal!"

"Shiki, what are you…?" Kairi felt her heart drop when an all-too-familiar black coat emerged from the shadows. The Organization?! How could they be back?! And Shiki took me right to them!

The figure paid her little mind, raising their hand above their head as bright blue magic gathered.

"Hey! That wasn't part of the plan, you swore you wouldn't hurt her!" Shiki cried in anger, getting in front of Kairi.

"Don't-!"

But the girl had already thrown her stuffed animal at the person, knocking their spell off course and having it land beside the girls.

The person kicked the toy away before turning to Shiki in clear annoyance, slapping her away from their true target.

"Shiki!" Kairi called. She tried to run to the girl but the cloaked person suddenly appeared in front of her, placing a hand out.

The girl suddenly felt herself get very drowsy, just like in the ocean. "Mm… Why am I so… sleepy…?"

And just like that, she collapsed.

"Mmhm…" Kairi awoke to find her face laying against the cold pavement. She slowly sat up, remember what happened as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. "…Shiki?"

Shiki and the man in black were nowhere to be seen.

As she got up, she felt something soft brush against her cheek and turned to see Saki looking worried. "Oh, hey, girl. Were you worried about me?"

Saki nodded vigorously.

"Well, I'm alright. I just hope Shiki is too…" Kairi muttered, starting her search.

After about an hour of searching, Kairi wasn't any closer to finding Shiki or the man in the black coat. It wasn't a complete loss, however. Saki happily took out plenty of Nightmares, getting stronger with each one she defeated.

Eventually, Kairi sat down on the steps of Cid's shop in the First District, taking a small break. She thought back to Shiki saying she had some kind of deal with the Organization that required her handing Kairi over. Why did they want her so badly?

She remembered the last time the Organization had been after her. They'd tried to get her into darkness so she'd take out more and more Heartless for them. They wanted her to be their new keyblade-wielding pawn after they failed to lure Naminé back into their ranks. Could this be the same thing?

Then there was Shiki. Such warm friendliness couldn't be faked. Kairi knew a true friend when she saw one, and Shiki was just that. Still, for someone like Shiki to make a deal with someone from the Organization, she must be desperate. I hope we can help her out…"

Saki wasn't focused on what she was saying, rather the big double doors at the end of the street.

"Oh, that door doesn't…" Kairi trailed off as a door creaked open. "open…"

She'd never gone through that door before, not even in the real Traverse Town. She wondered if it opened because this was the Sleeping Realms and therefore must be partially a dream. Had the world sensed her curiosity and the door opened that way?

The Fourth District looked almost like a traveling circus had set up there. It had bright lights and big balloons shaped like Dream Eaters. Saki was quick to point out the one in her likeness, making Kairi giggle, "Yes, it's very cool!"

They walked up to a bright building to find a boy hanging out around the Moogle vendors.

He had baggy and hip clothes that reminded Kairi of Shiki. Could this be her partner?

"Excuse me, are you Shiki's partner?"

The boy looked over in confusion. "Maybe I am, maybe I'm not, how I 'poused to know? Don't got any memories left, yo."

"Huh? You lost your memories?" Kairi asked.

He nodded. "Name's Beat, that's all I know."

"…I'm so sorry." The girl whispered. She could relate to missing memories. How strange it felt not having them despite having lived through them. She'd lost friends like Roxas and whoever else she may have met at Castle Oblivion because of that.

"It sucks, but don't you pity me, yo!" Beat exclaimed, making a fist. "I'm gonna 'member no matter what it takes!"

"Missing friends?"

"Yeah, family too… Just gotta find some way to jog my memory…"

Kairi thought for a moment or two before thinking of an idea. Maybe Shiki was one of his friends and could help him remember. "Maybe Shiki could help, she's missing a friend too."

"Worth a shot!"

They walked into the Fifth District, another place Kairi had never been before.

They crossed a bridge to find a indoor botanical garden waiting for them. Kairi was about to go inside when she felt someone watching her. She looked up to see Shiki standing on the glass roof.

"Shiki! We finally found you!"

The girl tried to run and hide but Kairi had already made her way up with her powers.

"Kairi, why did you come looking for me?" Shiki asked in surprise. "I tricked you, just like that creep tricked me. He said he would take me and my partner home if I just brought you to him but… I'm sorry, I never should've trusted him."

"It's alright, you wanted your freedom. And even then, you gave it up to protect me. That's what true friends do." Kairi smiled gently, taking her hand.

"Hehe, guess you're right, friend." Shiki beamed before noticing Beat. "Heya, Beat!"

Beat frowned, clearly he'd forgotten Shiki along with everything else.

"Oh, so you know each other! Is he your partner?" Kairi asked hopefully.

Shiki shook her head. "Sorry, I'm teamed up with someone else."

Just then, Beat suddenly disappeared in a flash of orange light.

The girls turned to see the man in the black coat waiting for them.

"You again! Just leave us alone!" Shiki growled while Kairi summoned her keyblade.

Shiki was the first to leap at the figure, which led to her being thrown across the roof.

Kairi ran at the man who merely raised his arms, summoning a giant Nightmare that had a box for a body and a monkey head and limbs. It's hands were covered by boxing gloves that nearly blocked her sight of the man disappearing into a dark corridor. "You're in my way!"

Saki appeared by Kairi's side as the Hockomonkey gave a screech, ready for battle.

The two weaved around the punches before Kairi attempted to batter one of the gloves. She received a swift punch that sent her flying.

Kairi soon felt her pain vanish as Saki healed her. The light from Saki's spell was like a miniature sun. It blinded the monster and sent it tumbling back.

"He's on the ropes!" Kairi exclaimed.

Saki created a vine that tied tightly in the garden's chimneys. Kari used it as a way to slingshot herself onto the beast and deliver the finishing blow.

The Nightmare was enveloped in a bright glow before exploding into tiny shards of light.

The shards rained down and projected the forms of four people. Two she easily recognized. "Sora! Riku!"

Sora was with a small girl that looked somewhat similar to Beat. The girl suddenly looked upset before running away.

Riku was with a boy who looked somewhat like Sora with his spikey hair and baggy clothes. They looked to be fighting something, likely a Nightmare.

She was going to run to them when:

"Wait, Kairi."

Two spiky orbs suddenly appeared in front of her. Inside seemed to be identical Traverse Towns.

A thin boy with blond hair and violet eyes suddenly appeared beside one of them. He smiled, seeing Shiki walk up. "Shiki, Neku's been looking all over for you."

"And me for him." Shiki muttered, crossing her arms in distrust. "You know where he is, don't you?"

The boy smirked. "Guilty."

Just then, Beat reappeared next to the other orb.

"Beat! You're back!" Kairi grinned.

"Aw, there's no gettin' rid of me, yo." Beat smiled. Kairi's unending care nearly reminded him of someone dear to him.

"Shiki, do you know him?" Kairi asked.

Shiki nodded. "This is Joshua. He can be a pain but he's still our friend."

"Alright then." Kairi looked at Joshua. "I have some questions."

"I have some answers." Joshua replied. "First thing's first, you're probably wondering about Beat, right? I borrowed him to come see you, his dreams act as a portal for me, that's why I hang onto them. And then there's how I know your name. It's because I control this town since I made it with my dreams. Of course that means I have to know everyone in it, including you, Sora, and Riku."

"You know Sora and Riku? Where are they?" Kairi asked at once.

Joshua simply nodded to the two spheres. "They're trapped in separate imaginings of this world."

"So we're all split across different Traverse Towns…" Kairi realized. She looked eagerly to the portals. "Please, can we use your portals to get back to each other? It's really important we stick together!"

"I'm afraid not. They'll only work for the one holding on to Beat's dreams. And even if you were the one holding them, it wouldn't apply to Riku or Sora, meaning you'd have to leave one of them behind if you want to see the other."

"Oh…" Kairi deflated in disappointment. So it was impossible to meet up with them until the end of the exam. She and Sora were supposed to pass the exam and help Riku train. And Riku, he was alone with barely any training in magic or the keyblade, would he be okay? "I don't understand, how could we get split up again? This was supposed to be our first journey together."

"You might wanna ask that guy."

She looked to where Joshua was pointing and saw the hooded figure from before speaking to Sora.

The little girl with Sora called something back, pointing to the man before Sora asked something.

He took off his hood to reveal long silver hair and bright golden eyes. Kairi had never seen this man in her life and yet felt a cold sense of familiarity.

The man vanished along with whatever he'd summoned.

Kairi realized her new friends were sad too, facing their previous partners who'd also been taken from them.

"What's that Reaper-poser doing around my sister?! Rhyme! Rhyme, get away from him, yo!" Beat called to the girl.

"Neku…" Shiki whispered, looking to the boy that was with Riku. He looked worn out from the battle he'd just endured.

"Sora… Riku…" Kairi instinctively stepped between them.

The three stood together despite being in separate worlds as Joshua explained the world to them all.

"In their world, something happened that brought their existence to an end." Joshua told them, gesturing to the new friends they'd made as he turned his back to them. "To keep them from fading altogether, I gathered up the very last remnants of their dreams and looked for a place to give them refuge."

Existence came to an end…? Is that even possible? Kairi wondered to herself. After all, in this reality you were never really gone when you were destroyed. Whether it be your heart, body, or both, a piece of you would linger, the lucky ones had the chance to return to their lives. There was no 'end' to anyone, really. Just an end to the time they had being able to live with their loved ones. Kairi had to believe that, otherwise she wouldn't still feel Naminé in her heart.

"It was then this world appeared to answer my call, and Rhyme's dreams allowed us to reach it. Here, I thought they might have a chance, that the pieces of their dreams could make them whole again." The boy looked back at the trio. "Imagine my surprise when I realized dreams take bodily form in this world. It struck me, by linking their dream pieces back together, maybe I could make them exist again. Maybe I could give them another chance."

Sora said something, looking confused.

"It doesn't? Well, maybe this'll clear it up." Joshua smiled, he could apparently hear all of them across the worlds. ""By ourselves, we're no one. It's when other people look at us and see someone, that's the moment we each start to exist. All they needed was for someone to see them, to connect with them. And the three of you were a big part of making it happen."

So it was their bonds that allowed them to see each other and the ones they'd made with their new friends had solidified their existence. Of course, everyone was connected in their hearts, they were never without each other.

She then asked a question that had been bugging her a while. "Joshua… who are you?"

This strange boy seemed to be able to jump between the trio's world and communicate with them simultaneously. He was seemingly omnipotent.

"Let's just say… a friend." Joshua smiled. White angel wings sprouted from his back before he flew up into the heavens, leaving them to wonder what it meant.

Taking his place, a keyhole appeared. Kari remembered:

"In these worlds, you will find seven keyholes that need to be unlocked. Doing so will both wake the world and grant you the Power of Waking. It is acknowledged that holding this power is one of the many ways to prove a wielder strong enough to be a master."

Kairi looked at the boys who seemed to feel her presence as well. Riku gestured to the keyhole as if to say, "Well, don't just stand there."

Sora looked to Kairi and they nodded to each other, still taking the exam side by side. They each summoned their keyblades, doing their usual flourishes before a bright beam of light shot out, unlocking the world.

The keyhole opened wider to reveal a new world waiting.

"Race you!" Kairi smirked, wondering if the point would get across.

It must have since the boys were already running to the keyhole to beat each other. Kairi giggled before following them.