KINGDOM HEARTS REMAKE Chapter 1: Prologue Part 1: Dive Into The Heart, a Final Fantasy VII + Kingdom Hearts Crossover fanfic

I don't own Kingdom Hearts or any of the properties in this story. They respectfully belong to Disney and Square Enix. Okay, this a continuation or remake of KenobiTanoSkywalker who, who sadly had to quit fanfiction due to the events in real life. Much like another Kingdom Hearts fanfic that deserves a continuation, I thought this story had a lot of potential, so I thought I'd do it and present it on both Fanfic and Archive on our Own.

There will be a few changes, mainly a certain pairing I wasn't the biggest fan of. And the author did it only with a small vote instead of a poll as we have here. I'm not comfortable around same-sex couples. No offense. Oh, and for the opening theme for this game, he chose the song, 'Utada Hikaru - Final Distance M-Flow Remix." While I admit, it's a good song, I went with the Ray of Hope version of Simple and Clean. Can't go wrong with the classics. Although, I am looking forward to what the song opening and closing will be for when KH4 eventually comes out.

That being said, outside of that, I hope this continuation reaches the author's intentional goal. Please enjoy.

Prologue, Part 1: Dive Into The Heart

Shots of Sora falling in the darkness…

"I've been having…these weird thoughts lately…"

Fast-forwarded images of Sora on the beach, running to Riku, landing in the water to Kairi, seeing himself falling then falling himself, back into the dark…

"Like….is any of this for real?...or…n—no—NAFDSFASDSDG-"

Static stops the word from being finished as flashes of future events not happened yet appear briefly, including a blonde-haired boy falling in the dark, and Sora sitting on a tree with Kairi, right before he…

The events Sora just went through rewind themselves, going from Sora falling upwards, to Sora going back into the water, being sent back onto the beach, and falling downward again in the dark…

A new voice talks as Sora stops right at the very end, eyes opening and unsure of what to do, as he is frozen upside down…

"A tale anew…reborn as something else…"

Sora sees several hands in the dark trying to reach for him, one of them a hand with a black and white bracelet, and another one a black-gloved hand…

But before he could reach them, in the darkness below, he saw black specters floating up toward him, pulling him from the hands and begging to be pulled up…

What will you do…when you know the outcome?...will the story change…or will only hasten the inevitable?

Sora suddenly is thrust upward by the ghosts while still upside down, much faster than normal. He breaks the surface of the water…

Sora is flying upward into the sky, the difference between falling and soaring unrecognizable. The ghosts are pushing him up further in the sky, but soon, they all dissolve into smoke, and then into oblivion. Sora is confused, until he sees the skies darken, and looks up to see a dark, black hole sucking him up. Sora desperately waves his hands and panics in a vain attempt to escape it but is eventually pulled in.

He opens his eyes to see him flying into the void, having more control now. He's heading toward a light, uncertain of what it actually is. He also looks around to see that there are others flying with him in this vortex, faces he's never seen before, some he could never imagine. He also looks back to see Riku and Kairi flying behind him, but slowly falling back. Sora reaches for them but they can't reach him as he and the others pass through the light.

"When you walk away, you don't hear me say~! 'Please, oh baby~, don't go~' Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight~! It's hard to let it go~!"

Sora lands unceremoniously on a rooftop in a city he's never been to, the night sky above glimmering with lights. He sees various landmarks, including a huge clock tower above. He looks around, frantic to know where he is and where his friends are, but his head is throbbing, and as he holds it, he sees images down below, transparent images of…himself running around in the attire he wears now…and another all red outfit he's never had on before. He looks up to see people, the same ones from before he realized, all falling out of the sky like comets, like Sora was earlier. They fall close to the ground before arching and flying across the rooftops, so close that Sora can touch them. Sora decides to do just that, running to catch up with them as the last two almost come up to him. He jumps off the rooftop to grab onto the two comets, and the light that disappears from them gives way to two beings, strange beings that Sora has never seen before. One was a dog with buck teeth and a shield, another was a duck with a magic wand.

"Let's go!"

"You're giving me too many things lately~ You're all I need~ You smiled at me~ And said! And said! And said!"

However, now that the two weren't comets falling and flying in the air, all three realized that they were falling to the ground. The dog and Sora fell fast, while the duck tried to flap his arms frantically to get some air, but to no avail as he fell too. Sora covered his eyes as he was about to hit the pavement, but saw yet another bright light in his way, passing through it with ease.

Sora did land, but not on the ground. That was what the dog hit, and Sora landed on top of him. As Sora slowly tried to get up, the duck eventually fell on top of him too. Then, all three looked across from them to see dark creatures appearing before them, in a coliseum-like area on a bright sunny day. The two animal-like beings wasted no time, getting off of Sora to fight them off. The dog threw his shield at the creature, taking some of them out, while the duck threw his wand up and summoned a burst of lighting, taking out multiple enemies at once. One creature tried to jump Sora, and as Sora threw his hands up to defend himself, a weapon appeared before him, a sword shaped like a key, immediately killing the creature on contact. Sora had brief flashes of other types of swords, all similar in design.

"The daily things~ (like this and that and what is what~?) That keeps us all busy are confusing me~ That's when you came to me~ And said! And said! And said!"

Before Sora had time to contemplate what this was, he looked up to see the comets and people, again. Determined to free them too, he turned to the two new friends, who looked back at him and nodded. Sora dashed ahead, taking out enemies before him while the two provided cover. He jumped up on columns and stairs to get to the top of the coliseum, and jumped to grab onto another comet, and as soon as he made contact, a bright light enveloped them both.

"'Don't get me wrong, I love you, but does that mean I have to meet your father~?'"

A new figure appeared from the light as it left him. He was vastly different from the other two, a brightly-colored hero with a spider emblem on his chest, and a bigger one on his back. They also noticed that they were falling into a jungle, and before Sora could panic, he felt something pull him up. He looked up to see the man connect him to a line-like web on one hand as he used the other to swing around. He tossed Sora from his web line and he landed on a large, slick branch that he was able to skate down, while Spidey was swinging next to him, saluting him as he went. Sora smiled at him but turned the other way to see more comets flying next to him. Sora wasted no time, leaning forward to speed up. He only saw the end of the branch as the comets almost passed. Sora looked at the new friend, and the man came over and swung far to reach him. Sora jumped off the end of the branch, and the man used his webs to catch him and throw him farther to reach the last two comets flying by, as the light transported them again.

"When we are older you'll understand~ What I meant when I said, 'No, I don't think life is quite that simple~'"

This time, the comet's lights revealed two women, one red-headed who immediately smiled at Sora upon first sight, the other a platinum-haired woman who looked nervous. All three looked to see them falling in the middle of a desert. The redhead immediately latched herself to Sora and yelped at the sight, while the white-haired one drew her hands out, and ice came pouring out of her hands. She landed first and created an icy path across the dunes, twists and turns and jumps abound, while the other girl and Sora were along for the ride behind her, having fun. Eventually, there was a bump in the road (sand) and all three crashed into the sand. The redhead landed head-first and struggled to get her head out of the sand, while the white-haired girl and Sora landed on their backs across from each other. Each got up and laughed at being safe and sound until the sky darkened and more of those creatures showed up to surround them. The redhead looked scared, and Sora summoned his mysterious sword to defend both girls. The white-haired girl looked stressed and scared, and in a moment of haste, she sent a burst of ice around them, taking out the creature with icy spikes. Both Sora and the redhead looked stunned, but before saying anything, Sora felt himself sinking into quicksand. Fast. He fell through what felt like a hole below and saw the redhead reach for him before the hole fixed itself, leaving Sora alone.

"When you walk away, you don't hear me say~! 'Please, oh baby~, don't go~' Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight~! It's hard to let it go~!"

He fell through the darkness again, almost feeling familiar, until he saw the remaining comets below him. Sora readjusted himself and grabbed onto the three clustered together, grabbing them close. The darkness disappeared with another bright light, and again Sora found himself falling, this time with an ocean below him. The three comets revealed themselves as three new people, a young man with a scar on his face, an older gentleman with a red beard and hair, and another, a girl, with orange skin and strange hair?

They noticed Sora holding them tightly, and looked further to see where they were falling. The younger man pushed himself away from the group and sped up to land on a ship that he saw in the distance. Sora and the other two adjusted their route to follow him. They all landed as the creature appeared. Sora summoned his sword to fight but also noticed that the other three had swords of their own, each colored a bright blue. They all made quick work of the creatures, and they all saw the remaining comets fly towards them.

"Hold me~ Whatever lies beyond this morning~ Is a little later on~"

Before Sora had a chance to catch them, he felt a hand hold him back. Sora looked up behind him to see a threatening man with long silver hair and inhuman eyes stare back at him. Sora jumped forward and looked back, ready to fight, but instead of the man, he saw Riku, dressed in a strange suit, a much darker one, beckoning Sora to come. As Sora tried to summon to sword, he realized he couldn't and looked to see Riku hold it instead. Feeling dejected, Sora falls on his knees as Riku walks away, the darkness around them giving way to reveal another world, this time a threatening castle above. Many creatures surround him, ready to attack. Sora doesn't even feel the strength to fight back, but before the creature strikes, the remaining four comets land right next to Sora. He looks up to see to his right a blonde man with a large sword, a girl with a bow and a magic staff, and to his left another woman with dark hair and fists ready to brawl, and another man with a gun for an arm, firing at the creatures above.

"Regardless of warnings~ The future doesn't scare me at all~ Nothing's like before~"

Feeling renewed that people cared and helped him, they helped him reach the castle gates, holding off the creatures as Sora ran past. He burst the gates open to see Riku standing in front of a strange device…with Kairi lying unconscious in front of it! Sora looked determined to stop whatever this was and looked to see not only the four new people from before but EVERYONE he'd helped free. Feeling strengthened, Sora ran forward as the others held the creatures off and at bay, and as Sora leaped up, he summoned his sword out of Riku's hands and into his own, knocking him back.

"When you walk away, you don't hear me say~! 'Please, oh baby~, don't go~' Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight~! It's hard to let it go~!"

Sora looked back to see if Kairi was alright but saw flashing images of her in her usual self, but also as her…older? In different attires? He turned to see Riku flashing the same, appearing as a man with white hair, shirtless, and a strange emblem on his chest, a man with a black coat and long hair, a man his height with red and black armor and a dark helmet, and finally…an elderly gentleman appears very briefly and looked at his soul with a sadistic smile. Sora felt faint at the sight and fell. He doesn't hit the ground, as once again he finds himself falling in the dark. The last thing he sees above is the same long-haired man with strange eyes staring back at him, satisfied, before looking up and defending himself from the blonde man from before.

Sora felt tired and closed his eyes as the familiar darkness took him, falling past the bubbles surrounding him. He slowed his descent as his feet firmly touched a surface. As he stepped forward, a light emanated from his feet, and it grew into a large circular area, doves flying out. As he looked up at the doves, brief flashes of him older and in different attires appeared briefly. The platform revealed itself to be a stained-glass mural…

KINGDOM HEARTS REMAKE

Sora has been having….these weird thoughts lately…

Like…

He doesn't know if any of this is for real….or not….

He's had this dream for a while now. He doesn't understand what it means, why it keeps happening, what these creatures that attack him are, or what "door" he is supposed to open.

It begins as it always does: with a fall. He doesn't even know if he is drifting down deeper into the waters below, or if he is falling from the sky. It feels….peaceful to him. Like a sleep that has alluded him for so long, and he is only just now experiencing it for the first time. But soon enough, he wakes up standing on the bright beaches of Destiny Islands. It takes a moment for the boy's eyes to adjust to the sudden brightness, but once he does, he makes out the familiar area around him. Looking out into the sparkling waves, the cloudless sky looks as pristine as the water itself. But Sora is not focused on that; he is focused on the body that is standing out at a distance in the water, a person he knows very well.

As usual, the person turns to him and reveals himself to be his best friend, Riku, who looks at him intently, like he knows something he doesn't, and holds his hand out toward him, beckoning Sora to come and take it. Before Sora can even attempt to go to him, he sees the ocean at his feet reel back rapidly. Looking up, Sora can see that behind Riku, a gigantic wave is forming and violently approaching, the same wave he has always dreamed of, threatening to drag his best friend into its depths. Sora's feet are already running out before he can really make sense of it, the same scenario already becoming a muscle memory to him. Hopefully, this time will be different, and Sora can make it to his friend without the wave swallowing him up.

He's literally fingertips away this time before the wave comes crashing down on top of them. Sora is thrown back underwater, swimming against the current to become upright, and sees Riku still standing in the same position as before, like the firm statue that he is, still holding his hand out towards him. How is he able to do this?! It's yet another trick that Riku is able to do better than Sora, and while there's a pang of jealousy growing within Sora, he still resolves himself to try and save him. He tries his hardest to swim towards Riku, but the current becomes stronger, pulling him away, like the sea itself will not let him intervene, wanting to keep Riku locked away in the deep dark abyss all by himself…

Sora finds himself falling again….or maybe floating? He doesn't even know anymore, but soon enough, he sees the evening sky fast approaching, and he surfaces on the other side of the island, the bright day dissolving into an auburn dawn, the same kind of sky he and Riku like to sit at the bent tree and stare out into, along with…

He hears a voice behind him, and the third of their merry trio, Kairi, is calling out to him. It's weird, Sora thinks, that he can comprehend the sound of Kairi, but he can never understand what she is saying. Probably something about him being a lazy bum again.

Still, he goes over to her and catches his breath after being underwater for so long. He looks around to try and see Riku, but like the last several times, he isn't there. He looks out to the water, wondering if he is still down there, waiting for him…

He is loosened from this thought as Kairi points up into the sky, and they see comets falling to the earth below. They look so beautiful, the white-hot streaks painting the orange canvas of evening. Sora wishes this part of the dream could stay like this, standing there with Kairi by his side, watching the passing lights.

But, of course, it ends when he sees himself falling.

At this point, he doesn't even question it anymore, seeing himself hurtling down from the sky while he stands firmly on the ground watching it happen. Kairi looks just as confused as he does at the sight, and suddenly, Sora feels the ground beneath him come away, a hole in the sand that drops him down to the sky below (above?). Kairi tries to reach out to him, but the hole seals itself before she can reach it.

Sora can feel the wind blowing as he falls through the sky, the sleepiness he felt before coming back to him. He almost doesn't even feel the water as he splashes down, once again finding himself sinking down deeper in the dark. He wonders if Riku is down here as well…

He feels himself slowing down as he slowly collects himself. He can feel his feet landing on something solid, but he looks down and sees nothing holding him. He looks around, trying to figure out what this place is, this place that has frequented his subconscious the last several times in his sleep. As he takes a step forward, a bright light shines from where he stands, growing outwards to reveal a platform of sorts. He sees doves flying out as well, like the last time, flying from the light and into the surrounding darkness. He doesn't understand what they could mean, how this is happening, or what the girl on the platform is…

Wait.

Sora looks down at the platform and his eyes go wide. Previously, his dream REALLY begins here, with a glass-stained platform that contains a girl with hair as black as night, skin white as snow, and lips red as blood. She has a lovely dress, and a bitten apple in her hand, and on the sides of the platform are seven funny-looking men, all with different types of expressions staring back at him. To the very edges, he sees different animals as well, all linked to the girl in the middle. He is used to this by now.

What he sees now alarms him, because he realizes that something has changed…

It's still a stained-glass platform, but the scene is entirely different. There are three beings depicted at his feet. To the left is a man with an auburn head of hair and beard, tan robes, looking out into the distance with a thoughtful expression, his side of the platform hued in aqua blue, with a strange symbol surrounding him. To the right is another man, noticeably much younger, with a clean-shaven face, longer and curlier hair, and a scar on his right eye, and he was wearing dark robes. He has an angry expression, and his side is dark red, with another set of symbols surrounding him as well. And in the middle stands the third figure. Sora doesn't know who, or maybe what, she is, but it definitely wasn't human. She had orange skin, even more orange than the evening sky he had just fallen from, and in place of hair, her head held what he perceived as blue and white tails that ran to her shoulders. She was wearing a dark blue outfit, and both of her hands held two glowing swords, bluer than the waters he is forever surrounded by on his island, and her eyes were closed in a sorrowful expression. She stands in the middle of them, like a crossroads of the red and blue depicted by the two men beside her. Below her were not symbols like what were beside the men, but rather, Sora thought they looked like weird-looking helmets.

Sora doesn't know what to make of this. He wouldn't call any of this "normal," but the dream has had a predictable path in the past. This different platform indicates something new, something that he may or may not be prepared for. He wonders if anything else has changed, like the other platforms depicting different women in different dresses, or the voice he hears—

"Something's changed."

Sora's ears perked, and he nearly gasped. The amount of times he has heard the voice has caused him to know the words by heart. "So much to do, so little time." This has been what has greeted him the past several times he has ended up here. The changed mural was one thing, but this…

"Destiny….has been defeated."

Sora's brows furrowed. What did the voice mean by that? How can destiny be defeated? It's DESTINY! It's like the one thing that is a constant. Granted, he's read many of the books Kairi lends him about people or lovers who want to defy destiny to have each other, or to obtain something, but that was just fiction. No one can really…

Wait. WHO defeated destiny?

"Not just for one….but for all….that includes you, too."

Huh? Sora's destiny? Was…that a good or a bad thing? This dream has gone from weird to bizarre MUCH quicker than usual…

"But…perhaps it is only from a…certain point of view."

Sora's brows furrowed. What the heck did THAT mean?

"Nevertheless, the door…remains shut."

Ah, at least that hasn't changed. The constant theme of his dreams is a door that refuses to be opened, and how Sora shouldn't be afraid. He is the one who will open the door. But what door? There isn't any on Destiny Islands that won't open….

A light shone in the middle of the platform.

"Now, step forward."

Sora did so, going through the motions of familiarity. He silently is thankful that at least SOME things are still the same. He doesn't know how many more new things here he can take. The light disappeared, and to his left, right, and in front of him, three familiar-looking platforms arose.

"Even with this profound change, power still sleeps within you."

To his left, where the shield with the strange symbol would pop up, something else came instead, and the boy's eyes nearly popped out of his skull. In the place of the red and black shield that looked akin to that, he saw in books about knights in shining armor, the shield he sees before him now was something else entirely. It was much rounder, almost like a frisbee, with different colors surrounding it. Red on the edges, white in the middle, red again, and in the very middle was bright blue. In the center was a large, shining star. Sora didn't know why, but the sheer sight of it filled him with newfound resolve.

"You must still give it form…"

To his left, where the staff with the same mysterious symbol normally appears, instead made way for a larger, straighter staff. No defining features, no markings or symbols, but even still, Sora sensed a bubbling power coming from it.

"… and awaken the strength within you."

And in the center, where the shining sword with that very same symbol on its hilt would normally appear to him, instead was….something different. Instead of a grand sword was a much smaller device, silver and sleek, just slightly bigger than Sora's own gloved hand, floating in its place. Sora looked down at the strange girl's hands in the mural and saw that the same weapons were in her hands as well.

"Choose well."

Sora definitely wasn't sure if he could take this. There was a sense of uncertainty in him at just how…off this all felt. Things were similar to previous dreams, but different. They never alluded to destiny or change, and something inside him felt a change. Like…somewhere, far away, change came for him.

Still, he couldn't back down now. He's had this dream long enough to know that it doesn't end until he fights that dark monster at the very end, in which he usually uses, and wakes up feeling suffocated, the darkness trying to swallow him whole…

HEY! Maybe since this dream is a little different, maybe he can actually beat the monster this time! He was so close the last time, maybe now…

Sora eagerly looked around at the three weapons surrounding him. In the past, he has taken the previous shield, staff, and sword, using the different weapons to try and escape the dream he finds himself constantly in. But now, with these new weapons, he wonders if there could perhaps be any differences.

He starts with the new shield. He steps up to the platform and feels it with his hands. It feels as smooth as it looks, the curvature making it look like the world's most perfect circle. Sora would rather throw it like a frisbee than use it as a shield, to be honest. He could probably win a "who can throw the farthest" contest against Wakka with something like this. Perhaps, he could even…

"The price of freedom is high, always has been. But it's a price I'm willing to pay. If I'm the only one so be it, but…I have a feeling I'm not…"

Sora was stunned. This voice….this wasn't the voice from earlier, or from any previous dream. This was brand new, like a lot of things about this particular dream. And…the way the voice is speaking to him…he feels ready to fight a hundred men and win! But…

How high is the cost?

Sora heard the previous voice, the voice he was used to, speak next.

"The power of a guardian… A shield to repel all harm to those who cannot fight back… It rallies not only your own spirit but those around you… Is this the power you seek?"

Sora knows what the voice is asking. Usually, he picks from one of the three weapons and then is asked which he would sacrifice in exchange, and then the platform breaks, and he is off to the next one. But considering the strange turn of events this dream has taken, Sora decides to hold off his decision a little longer and inspects the other two weapons.

He steps off the platform and comes over to the one holding the new staff. As he holds it in his hand, there's a new power he feels, one of pure light. But also…

Sadness?

"I just want to do everything in my power to help. All of you…and the planet."

A new, female, voice came from holding the staff, and Sora felt the emotion in it. And…a tear rolls down his cheek, like…losing a memory he never knew he had. But, why would he cry over something he never…

"The power of a mystic… A staff that guides wayward travelers to the light… It can either ward off destiny…or lead them straight to it… Is this the power you seek?"

I thought 'destiny was defeated,' Sora thought confused. Why would he need to ward off or lead into destiny when there was no "destiny" anymore, from what the voice told him? He didn't know, but then again, barely anything in his dreams made sense. Still, he had one more weapon to check.

He proceeded to walk over to the final weapon, the weapon that this platform had already shown him from the girl holding it, and he wondered how it worked. It's like a science fair project, he noticed, as he rolled it around his hands and stared at the different buttons and grooves surrounding it, trying to see how to turn the blue blade on. He then sees the large, bulbous button in the middle, and presses it away from his body. The weapon sprung to life in a hum, surprising Sora, as the shade of blue was exactly the same as the mural made it out to be…

"If you define yourself by your power to take life, a desire to dominate and possess, then you have nothing…"

Another new voice, an elderly one, made itself known, and Sora wondered what it meant by it. He barely has anything in real life to possess anyway, the island not offering much and their parents not having much to provide for them. Despite this, Sora feels contempt for what he has, his friendship and happiness being more than enough to sustain him. Still, the thought of having and seeing more…

"The power of a warrior… A weapon for a more civilized age… It will either fend off the darkness…or bring nothing but terrible destruction… Is this the power you seek?"

Now having all the information he needed, Sora hopped off the platform to ponder his decision. He not only ponders what is best for him in that particular moment but also who he really is. He doesn't know or understand the "destiny" part of all of this yet, but he does like the light, probably because of just how dark the place he currently inhabits is. The power of a warrior sounds promising to him, to be able to beat back the darkness, specifically, the creatures here made of that darkness, and it makes him feel stronger. But, he could bring ruin and chaos with him, and that voice said that while the weapon is powerful, it could take life and bring destruction. Sora could never risk that for his friends. So, the choice was obvious.

Sora went to take the circular shield. The power to defend the things and people he holds dear is what he wants to always do. He wants to be there for Kairi and protect her, because she likes to find herself in trouble a lot, and Riku too, to prove to him that he can be strong too. He only hopes that he can be as brave as the shield voice he heard. He selects the shield and it disappears in a blaze of light.

"Your path is set… Now, what will you give up in exchange?"

Again, Sora pondered. He weighed the option of potential destruction with the mystery of destiny. It was the question of something he knows is potentially dangerous versus something he isn't sure is dangerous or not. However, the dream has made it clear that destiny would play a factor somehow, so he imagines that it is important. Something that he shouldn't throw away so easily. So, he made his decision. He went up to the smaller weapon and selected it, omitting the power of the warrior from him.

"You've chosen the power of the guardian… You have given up the power of the warrior… Is this the form you choose?"

Sora nodded, making his decision and preparing for what was next. The platforms soon dissolved and sunk into the mural. He looked around to see that, just as before, the glass was breaking away, destroying the platform he was on. On one hand, at least he was PREPARED for this part. On the other, he really HATES this part. The platform broke away completely, and Sora was freefalling in the dark once again.

Soon, he saw another mural platform come into view, and immediately, he noticed another change. Just like before, the mural was completely different. The platform he was about to land on had a picture of another lady in another dress, this time a brunette in a bun in a striking white light violet dress. Surrounding her were images of carriages, castles, and horses, and on the top, bottom, and the sides were images of strange glass slippers. Around the edges were images of people dancing. Beside her was a stairwell, and Sora didn't understand the importance of those images, but he recognized them time and time again. This time, what he saw was…not that.

For one, it looked upside down…or maybe Sora was upside down? Didn't matter, the point was, that the man in the image appeared upside down. He was a strange man, to say the least, wearing a brightly colored suit of red and blue, and large, white eyes staring back at him. In the middle of his strange suit was the insignia of a spider, and Sora noticed that around the edges, that same spider marking was there as well. On the top, bottom, and sides, there was also a very stylized "A" as well. What it stood for, Sora didn't know. The symbols were all connected by different kinds of webbing like he and the others saw in the shed on the islands. The last thing he notices is that on either side of the upside-down man's head, were two figures. On his left, surrounded by blue, was a girl with bright red hair, and on his right, in dark blue, was a ghastly figure, a dark creature with sharp teeth, a long tongue, and the same blinding white eyes the man in red and blue had. It was almost as if he was some sort of…dark reflection of him…

Sora lands on the platform, right in the middle of the spider emblem on the man's chest. As he lands, he feels the power he gained from before surging within him. Reaching out, the weapon materializes in his hand…

Well, rather, arm.

The shield fits like a glove, allowing very good maneuverability, plus, the shape of it allows him to attack AND defend at the same time. Very useful!

"You have gained the power to fight….."

Sora looks around to see a little blob of darkness rise from the ground, taking form as it stands. Sora has seen this shape many different times, as he has fought them here in this dreamscape innumerable times before. His friends find it weird how he uses his wooden sword and pretends to fight them as if they were there. If they only knew that it is just practice for the next time he sleeps…

"There will be times you have to fight…"

Another little monster, and another, and another…

"Keep your light burning strong…"

Sora gets ready for a fight, lifting the shield to his chest, and prepares for a strike. The first creature leaps up to strike from above, but Sora blocks the attack and propels it backwards. He then strikes another creature with a dashing hit, followed by a spinning side strike. The creature evaporates in a dark mist. The other creatures sink back into the ground and scatter around, being impervious to hits at the moment. One of them surfaces behind the boy.

"Behind you!"

Ah. So that hasn't changed either…

He spins back to hit the oncoming creature, and this continues for a solid minute of him fighting off more creatures, as he has become used to this kind of battle before. He also notes just how much more USEFUL this shield is, compared to the one before. He may have to construct something similar when he wakes up and challenges Riku to another duel using it…

Soon, the black creatures sink down into the platform again and envelope it in pure darkness, surrounding the boy. Even though he knows what happens next, it still scares him a little bit to have the darkness swallow him. He's scared that maybe this time, he won't wake up from it.

Maybe he should have gone with the staff…

He wakes up and finds himself on a familiar platform.

"FINALLY!"

There are no distinguishing marks on this platform, other than being pink with intricate designs.

And a familiar invisible door in the center.

Sora knows this part by heart. For some reason, the way to open this door and make it tangible is to open a simple chest and break open a crate. He never really understood this part of the dream. It was just too simple compared to everything else. He breaks things all the time! But soon enough, the door opens, and a shining light emanates from it, beckoning the boy to come through. Sora walks towards it, hoping that this part as well hasn't changed…

It did.

Before, this door led him to the wooden resting spot on the farthest side of the islands, where his three other friends, Wakka, Tidus, and Selphie, would each ask him a question. They seem like pretty weird questions to ask, but the questions have never changed, no matter how many times he's been here, so he doesn't really have a say in it, he guesses. All three of them would accept the answer without any follow-up or further explanation, which was VERY uncharacteristic of them in real life, but since it's a dream, it is what it is.

However, the place he currently is now was most certainly NOT the wooden resting spot.

He's standing out in the open, but before him stands a large structure, larger than anything he's seen before. Sora had to strain his neck to look up all the way at it just to get a sense of how large it was! It almost looks like a temple of some sort, with the entryway in the distance. To the sides are large statues of people holding more of those weird weapons that the girl from the first mural held, and one of the weapon options presented to Sora. He looked to the side to see other ginormous structures in the distance, lights shining from them. This was by far the biggest change in the dream he had had, and he couldn't comprehend how he could dream up something as interesting and big as THIS. Riku and Kairi would never believe him if he told them about something like this.

Well, maybe Riku. He always wanted to go to other worlds.

"Hold on…the door won't open just yet… First….tell me more about yourself…"

Really? You've asked the same questions over and over again. If you wanted to know more, you'd ask something else…

"Hey, Sora!"

Sora quickly turned around to see Selphie standing there in front of what he assumed were a set of stairs, the sun blaring behind her, casting a shadow on them both. Selphie was hyper and energetic, the only one who could keep up with Sora's antics sometimes. She was kind to everyone on the island, and she had a weird obsession with combining words to create new ones, like she was inventing them and would be the only one that would have the honor. But Sora also noticed that sometimes, when she thinks no one is looking, she appears sad and contemplative. He wonders why…

"What's most important to you?"

Well, that part hasn't changed, at least. Honestly, Sora was starting to get a little irritated at the turn of events. So many changes, big and small, have been happening, and yet, some of them remain exactly the same. He feels uneasy about all of this, and would rather have the exact same dream all over again, or a completely new one, just to ease the tension. In all honesty, he was far more interested in going inside this temple and exploring a brand new place than answering the same old questions. But, he pressed on and pondered…

What was most important to the boy? He's been asked that question before here, and the answers have differed here and there. The first time, he simply said he wanted to be number one, mainly because on that day, Riku beat him in a wooden swordfight again, and Sora was pretty upset for being beaten the umpteenth at it by the more skilled boy. The answer changed the next time when he was calmed down, and instead went to his prized possessions. He was proud of the collection of rare seashells and momentos he and his friends gather from the island every day, and he especially enjoys the gifts his friends give him, so he thought that was a good answer to give.

Now, though, he really thinks about what is important, because as this dream has shown him, perhaps he should change it up. While his possessions were valuable, and he was mighty proud of them, "Yes, Riku, his seagull egg collection WAS cool! Kairi even said so!"

"Friendship is important to me." He said proudly, and it was true. The source of his happiness is the happiness of others, and nothing makes him happier than making his friends smile and helping them. Even if he lost all of his valuables, he still had his friends to pick him back up and make more memories with him.

"Is friendship really a big deal?" Selphie retorted back. Sora was about to reply with a "Yeah, that's what you asked me," a bright light blinded him, and once it was gone and his eyes adjusted, his jaw nearly dropped.

It's one thing to be taken somewhere new once, but twice…

The large temple-like building, along with the other large building peppering the background, was no longer present. Instead, Sora found himself standing in the middle of a stone bridge, above a large lake with boats floating upon it. Far off into the distance, he could see a – what did his teacher call it? A dam? Weird. Why would someone build a wall to contain an ocean? It's the OCEAN! – dam near a mountain ridge. On one side of the bridge was a small village, with cottages, lamps, and a large fountain in sight. It looked quite cozy, and probably had a nice bed to nap out the rest of this dream so he could avoid the rest of it. But on the other side of the bridge is what quickly grabbed Sora's attention. It was a large castle, while not as big as the previous building, but beautiful nonetheless. It looked just like something from an old book that he and Kairi used to read as kids and marvel at the adventures of knights in shining armor going out into distant lands and saving people, and Riku coming in and lecturing them how none of that is real, and they should focus on whatever game they were playing. Still, they could see Riku's eyes go off into the distance, searching for something new…

"Eyy, Sora!"

Sora turned around again to see another of their group, Wakka, greet him. Even in his dreams, his blitzball is still by his side. Wakka was almost as competitive as Riku, especially when it comes to the game of blitzball. He dominates every time it is played, and everyone else quietly groans whenever he suggests playing because they KNOW he'll go on about winning. Besides that, he's a nice person who will look after them no matter what. However, he seems to have a problem with one of the characters from Kairi's books….the Al-Bhed, Sora recalls. Wakka never talked about why he never liked them…

"What do you want outta life?"

Again, the same question, and again, Sora thought deeply. Previous answers included becoming stronger, as again, he had gotten beaten by Riku one too many times, and his dreams occurred that same day. However, on a calmer night, he thought more clearly and said that he wanted to "broaden his horizons," which was more or less something his mom told him about he should experience new things, and he liked the idea of new, especially since the island was so small now that he and his friends have explored every inch of it. But now, with all the new things he's experiencing in his dream, and how he just saw a HUGE TEMPLE IN THE SKY, he thinks a new answer is in order…

"I want to see rare sights!" Sora said enthusiastically.

"Rare sights, huh?" Wakka asked suspiciously before yet another bright light blinded Sora briefly. When it was gone, he saw that the area he was in now was…

Not as grand as the previous two…

Before were large, otherworldly temples and castles, but here, he looked like he was inside a building, a bit bigger than the shack on the island. Still, it looked pretty interesting. A couple of tables were spread around to sit and dine at, there was a dartboard and some weird-looking machines with flashing lights and sounds off to the side, and in front of him looked like a kitchen of some sort, with different bottles all over the counter, a fridge to contain them, and a big glowing sign that said "Eggs and Chips." Whatever that means, "Weird meal. Who eats eggs and potato chips?"

"Sora!"

Sora turned to his left to see the last of his other friends, Tidus, leaning on the wall. Tidus was extremely proficient in sword fighting, and whenever Riku wasn't around, he'd ask Tidus to spar with him when he got the chance. Tidus was brave and always looking for a fight, promising to protect everyone on the island, no matter what. He's also Wakka's best friend and the two are nearly inseparable from each other. Even still, Tidus STILL can't beat Wakka at blitzball…

"What are you afraid of?"

The final familiar question to answer, Sora pondered once again. Before, he said that he was afraid of being different. He felt that way when he first met the group and didn't want to seem like an outcast to them, but pretty soon, he became fast friends with all of them, and the fear went away. Then, on a day when he lost a group game because he couldn't think on the spot and cost them the final point, he admitted he was scared of being indecisive. He couldn't think of being in a more serious situation and not figuring out how to solve it, but since he was a kid and had the attention span of one, that fear quickly drifted away. So now, he really thought about it. He wants to see rare sights and values friendship and wants to hold onto those moments forever. So what is something that could be the exact opposite of that?

"I'm afraid of getting old," Sora admitted. He knows that one day, he can't go on adventures with his friends, or move the way he is now, and that terrifies him. He wants to feel this freedom he's experiencing forever, but he knows that's not the way life works.

"Getting old? Is that REALLY so scary?" Tidus asked incredulously. Sora was about to retort about how valid of a fear that is when the final blinding light burst forth and stopped Sora dead in his tracks.

"You value friendship, you want to see rare sights, you are afraid of growing old…"

Your adventure shall begin at dawn. As long as the sun is shining, your journey should be a pleasant and unforgettable one…"

Sora was a little shocked at this. Usually, he was told that whatever grand adventure he would be on was either in the day or at midnight, but adventuring on the eve of the day sounded really exciting to him.

"The day you will open the door is both far off and very near…

Wait? How near?

Before he could unpack THAT, the light gave way to the familiar darkness of before, and he was now standing on a new mural platform, and just like the first two, this one was VERY different.

Before, this mural would have contained yet another woman, this time in a purple dress, surrounded by thorns on all sides. She looked as though she was in a peaceful slumber, which at this point, Sora was a little envious of. The edges contained deep red roses, and around her head, Sora could never really tell but he thought they looked like people, holding wands...

Now, he sees two women, standing back to back. The one on the left had a red head of hair, quite similar to the man from the first mural, but this time, her hair was in braids, and she looked like she was wearing winter clothes. Good thing, too, the whole mural looked like it was being frosted over somehow. The other woman on the right was strikingly different. She had hair as white as pure snow, and a glittering dress of her own. She looked saddened for some reason. On the edges were different snowflakes, something that comes very rarely on Sora's island, and around the girls were different people, including a man in a parka, another man with well-combed hair and a devious smile that a villain from those knight books would have, a reindeer, and….

"Is…is that a snowman?"

Before he had more time to ponder what it actually was, more dark creatures surrounded him. Sora has been through this part before and is ready for them this time. He brings his shield to his arm and begins to attack. The shield proves very helpful, as it blocks multiple attacks from the creatures, but doesn't cover all of them, as he feels himself get hit from behind, and staggers forward. Sora, a little annoyed and starting to feel overwhelmed, tries to slash at the creature with the edge of the shield, but he feels it slip from his arm and it flies out. He starts to worry that he is now weaponless and powerless against the dark creatures, but those fears are soon dashed as he sees the shield ricochet and strike every single creature in the area, making them all disappear. The shield then angles itself back to Sora, who nervously grabs it with both hands.

Yep. Whenever he wakes up, he is TOTALLY making a shield like this!

He turns around to see a stained-glass stairwell appearing before him, leading him to the next and final platform. Now, Sora feels himself becoming more and more nervous. Considering how many things had changed so far, he wasn't sure what that could mean for what lay ahead, and the bigger, stronger creature that was surely waiting for him. Or even worse, it is not the same monster as before, but instead a new, terrifying nightmare that can destroy him just as easily, maybe not even allowing him to wake up this time. He wasn't sure if he was ready for it this time, but he felt more determined than ever to face whatever challenge was waiting. He wasn't going to go down without a fight!

So, he pressed on to the final platform, and of course, it was different than last time.

This platform should have contained one final woman, in a bright yellow dress. However, the woman was not alone this time, as there was a beast next to her, a hideous monster by her side, looking threatening. Around the edges were different utensils for eating, like forks, spoons, and napkins, and the very bottom one depicted falling rose petals. Those petals probably came from the top, as a beautiful red rose was there, surrounded by strange-looking things, like a clock and candelabra, that… looked like they had faces.

But now, once again, the mural was changed.

There was no woman front and center, but rather a man. A man wielding a HUGE sword, bigger and broader than any sword Sora had ever seen. He had a sleeveless shirt and baggy pants, with blonde, spiky hair, and Sora could easily see this person on their island. He looks like the type that would live there, considering they wear similar things. Also…spiky blonde hair. Where has he seen that before?

The edges contained strange, multicolored orbs, with the top and bottom being the only ones that were white and black, respectively. And to the man's side, there were portraits of other people. A woman with black hair adjusting her glove, a black man with a beard looking determined, a woman with a pink bow and braids (wha…why were tears starting to fall from Sora's face as he looked at her?), and a weird looking….dog? He thinks it's a dog. Below those portraits were two other figures, but they were blurred. Sora looked perplexed at this. Usually, the murals were pretty clear and he could tell what certain things were. The first figure was hard to see, but it looked like the owner had black hair. And the second was shrouded in pure darkness, but it looked like that person had long hair, going way past his shoulders. Besides that, nothing out of the ordinary.

Now, to fight the monster.

Only….where was it?

By now, the monster would rise from the ground, towering over him, and try to attack him. Sora would defend himself and fight back, nearly beating him every time, but eventually succumbing to exhaustion and being swallowed by the darkness itself, and finally, waking up in a cold sweat. Right now, though?

Nothing.

And THAT'S what's scaring him.

I HATE YOU!

Sora's head was reeling from how loud the voice shrieked in his mind. It was another brand new voice, full of hatred and pain. Who, or what, was it?

"Uncle Ben!? Please, NO!"

"ANNA? ANNA, Please! No…"

"Marlene? Marlene…."

All these voices, so full of sadness and despair, Sora felt overwhelmed with the emotions as well. But…who were they? Why was he hearing them? What did they mean?

As he looked down to try and recollect himself, he saw something peculiar in the mural. Everything was the exact same, but… one of the images, the darkened being with the long hair, was missing. What happened to…

"Hello, Sora."

Sora yelped as he staggered and turned around to see a figure standing before him. He was tall, taller than anyone he ever encountered in real life. He wore black clothing, with silver pads on his shoulders. His chest was slightly exposed, with two black straps crossing over them. But what really struck Sora was his eyes. They looked…reptilian, like a snake. It was like he was staring at Sora's very soul, penetrating deep into his thoughts and heart. The very sight made the boy shudder. Whoever this man was, he was like darkness incarnate. Sora also noticed the hair, dark silver and long in length. It was at that point Sora knew that this malicious stranger was the very same darkened figure from the mural. How…how did he…

"I wonder if it won't change its mind…once I defeat you."

Sora's head was pounding again, as another voice, that man's voice, was heard. Visions appeared in his mind, blinking in and out, that depicted him with an EXTREMELY long sword, and Sora and him were… fighting?

Before Sora could stop to consider what this meant, and who this man even was, he felt a hand grab his wrist that was trying to comfort this temple. He looked up to see the man just towering above him. Sora could see that he was just barely up to this man's chest at full height. He also saw the sadistic smirk on said man's face.

"Careful now. That which lies ahead…does not yet exist."

Sora looked confused at what the man meant. Before he could ask, the man simply threw the boy back a little way, and Sora stumbled to his feet. Sora immediately brought his shield out, ready to fight this monster. "Who-who are you?"

The man smirked again. "We have met before, a couple of times. Before, I paid you no consequence. You were merely a diversion to me, a moment of respite in my ultimate goal. Yet, you proved yourself to be more skilled than I anticipated. For that, you have my respect."

Sora racked his brain to recollect any times he'd ever met this man, because with a face like that and a body that could tower him and his friends combined, he imagined he couldn't possibly forget him. But, he can't seem to place him for some reason. So…what were those weird visions from before?

The man continued. "But now, something's changed. There is no longer a destined path to follow, for me,…for him…" He turns to the boy. "…and for you."

There was that word again: destiny. But it feels different now, like when this man even mentioned it, the true weight of the word fell on Sora, and yet, he still couldn't figure out why.

"Before, I did not even consider you an afterthought. But now, with hindsight, you may prove useful to me." The man said with a sinister grin. Sora didn't know what he meant, but he knew that he didn't want anything to do with him.

"I don't know who you are, but there's no way I'd help you do anything!" Sora declared, feeling brave. The man didn't even change his demeanor for a millisecond at that.

"Yet, you already are."

Huh? What did he mean by—

With a flick of his hand, in the dark space behind him, five more murals appeared, and Sora instantly recognized them as the four women from all the previous dreams he has had, save for the current one. But the fifth one…Sora had never seen it before. It was a blond boy with spikey hair, similar to the man on the mural he's standing on right now, but considerably younger, wearing a white jacket grey pants, and holding a strange sword backwards in his hand. He appeared to be in a deep sleep, and while Sora couldn't quite put his finger on it, he felt like…

Like he knows him…

Sora looked increasingly worried as he looked back at the man. "Wh—how did you that? Do you know who they are?" Sora asked hesitantly. Despite his wanting to be as far away from this evil man as possible, Sora thinks that maybe, just maybe, he holds some answers to his dreams.

However, the man didn't provide anything useful, at least to Sora. "I never realized back then, but now I see. You have a gift, a power that is unique to no one but you. You are what I would consider…a "storehouse," for wayward hearts. They beckon to you, come to you, and you provide them a place of shelter inside of you."

…what? Just…WHAT? Sora wasn't even able to comprehend the sheer insanity of what this man was saying. Hearts…can't do that!

….right?

Sora had enough of this. "I don't believe you! Whatever you're doing, just stop it, okay? I want to wake up right now! I wanna see Riku and Kairi!" He said frantically. He was feeling overwhelmed by things he didn't understand. He just wanted to wake up and go back to his island, safe and sound right now. He started hitting his head and slapping himself. "Come on. Wake up, wake up!"

The man simply laughed at the boy's futile efforts. "Hmph. Maybe he was right. Perhaps…one who knows nothing can understand nothing."

He? Who's he? Any friend of this guy, Sora thought, should probably be avoided at all costs at this point. The man looked back down at the boy with a determined stare. "Sora, there is something you must do." Did Sora not just say he wanted nothing to do with this man? This guy's crazy!

"Leave this world, and go seek out the unknown. Find the ones closest to you, for you'll need all the help you can get." He pointed down at the mural, at the blond man with the sword. "Bring him to me, as well as all the others who would oppose me." He pointed back at Sora as he finished, "And…help me reach the Promised Land…Sora."

Sora was still reeling from everything. How could he even leave anywhere? They still didn't finish the boat that they had been crafting on the island. And go seek what? And who? He doesn't even know the blond man or the others he's seen here!

And…what did he mean by Promised Land?

Shaking his head, Sora reaffirmed his decision. "NO! Leave me alone!" He threw the shield he held like last time, hoping that it would hit something important. But the second he looked up, he was nowhere to be seen, and the shield was hurtling down into the darkness. Sora started to back away slowly, unsure of what to do until he felt something behind him. A VERY LARGE something…

"You misunderstand. For you see…" Sora felt a hand on his shoulder, and it felt like the air in him was being sucked out. "…you have no choice in the matter."

Sora turned around to see the man had disappeared again, but looking down, he saw his shadow had grown much larger than before…

And soon, that shadow started to rise…

Sora stepped back further and further backwards to get away, and as he tried to summon the shield, he realized that it was nowhere to be found. He threw it into the abyss to try and hit that mysterious stranger. He also realized that he couldn't move anymore. He looked down to see the darkness latch onto his foot and creeping up his legs.

He fell down on the floor, being bound to the dark as it surrounded him, just like every time he'd had this dream. He was left to look upwards to see…

"—but don't be afraid."

…the monster staring down at him, the giant that he has never defeated, the one who swallows him up, even now.

The darkness around him…

"For you are not alone…"

…continues to bind his legs, up beyond his knees down, and his arms are held still.

"When you fall, others will help you up…and they will look to you to do the same…"

He fell, his head now being bound to the darkness as it latches and spreads across his head and body.

"For you hold the mightiest weapon of all…"

He can't move a muscle, and the dark behemoth stands over him, leering ever closer, his bright yellow eyes peering down upon him…

"So despite how strange and different things are about to seem, never forget:"

The darkness has nearly swallowed him whole, as the monster's face is just mere feet from Sora.

"May the Force be with you…always…"

"Love will thaw a frozen heart…"

"With great power, comes great responsibility…"

"Survival can be a matter of luck or skill, and you can't rely on luck…"

"You are the one who will open the door."

As the darkness swallows Sora whole, he hears one final voice…

That man's voice…

"I'm counting on it….Sora…"

Sora woke up with a start. He shot up off the ground, rubbed his eyes, and breathed rapidly. His eyes were also stinging a little bit from the bright light above. As he calmed down slowly, he adjusted his sight and looked around to see that he was back home on his island, lying down on the soft sand. Sora silently thanked whoever had the power over dreams that he woke up this time, but still…

This dream has terrified him.

All those voices…so familiar. And that man. Even now, Sora still cringes at the thought of him. Yet, he somehow recognizes him. But how? They have never even met. And all this talk of destiny. What did it all mean? What sort of unknown would he seek out? There's nothing here. Never has been. And really, because of what he said, he's not sure if he even wants to see the unknown, if he's eager to have Sora see it. It would probably be…

"BOO!"

Sora yelped loudly and fell forward. He turned around to see his friend, Kairi, standing over him and laughing hysterically at the horrified boy on the ground.

"Gotha! Were you sleeping there AGAIN, you lazy bum? I knew I'd find you snoozing down here again. Come on, Sora! Stop sleeping around and play with us. We're bored!" Kairi demanded playfully. She kept laughing a little bit, but she could see that Sora was still very apprehensive, so she stopped. "You okay?"

Was he? He wasn't sure anymore, with all these dreams, but he needed to calm down. "Yeah, it's just…I had this really weird dream…"

"Yeah, well, you say that all the time! It's the same one, every time, from what you talk about!"

"NO! Not like this one! I mean, sure, it had a lot of the same stuff as before, but this time, things were different! There were these different people, and castles and temples, and…there was the man…he said that destiny was…OW!"

Sora held his head where Kairi slapped it, as Kairi knelt down to look eye-level at the startled boy. "Sora, those are just dreams! They're not real, silly!"

"It wasn't a dream! Or….was it? I don't know…" He sat back down on the sand and looked thoughtfully. "What was that place, and who was that guy? So…bizarre." He said, still trying to make sense of it all.

Kairi, meanwhile, couldn't really care less. "Yeah, yeah, sure." Sora looked up and just rolled his eyes. Kairi has always been the strong-headed one of the trio, believing that people should be focused on the here and now rather than daydreaming about other things, instead wanting to be in the moment. But still, like Riku, she still has that hope of leaving one day and seeing the world, as she was the one who thought up the idea of building a raft and leaving this island. Though, admittedly, it was mainly to stop Sora and Riku from yapping on about seeing new worlds all the time and for them to focus their energies on DOING something about it rather than dreaming it, but even still, she was just enthusiastic for the Excaliber project as they were.

"Yes, RIKU, it will be Excaliber, not Highwind!" He swore in his head.

Kairi walked over to the waters to stare out into the horizon, as Sora watched on. "Say, Kairi, what was your hometown like? You know, where you grew up?"

"Hehe, I told you all before: I don't remember," Kairi responded. Sora did remember, and he still found it weird. She just showed up one day, completely out of the blue, and no one knew how she or her parents got there. She was scared at first, seeing a lot of new kids and not talking much, but she eventually opened up and became good friends with all of them. Sora is glad to have met her, but even he still thinks the circumstances of her appearance here were still strange.

"Nothing at all?" Sora pressed.

"Nothing," Kairi replied.

"You…ever want to go back, if you could?" He asked.

"Hmmm…well, I'm happy here!" She answered honestly.

"Really?" Sora asked suspiciously.

"But, you know, I wouldn't mind going to see it, if it's out there somewhere."

"I'd like to see it too," Sora said back. He still has that strong desire to see those rare sights, to go out and explore, and would have said he wanted to see them all, but after what that dream man said, he still was hesitant to do so. He wanted to wait and see if this dream was a one-time occurrence, maybe it was just a stranger than usual dream and he would never see him again hopefully. So, he left it at that.

"So, what are we waiting for?" Kairi said excitedly.

"HEY! Aren't you guys forgetting about me?" A new voice emanated behind them, and they turned to see their other friend, Riku, walk up to them, holding a large piece of wood with one arm. "So, I guess I'm the only one working on the raft right now, huh?"

He lobbed the log at Sora, who caught it as his body rolled with it, as Riku walked up to Kairi. "And YOU'RE just as lazy as he is!" He said playfully.

Kairi giggled. "So, you noticed. Alright, we'll finish it together! How about we race to get there? The last one there has to clean the dirt out of the secret place! On my mark…" Kairi started. Riku just groaned and sat down, not really wanting to run after lobbing that wood all the way down here, and Sora just now recovered from both a very bad dream, and a log thrown at his face.

"Ugh, you kidding?/Come on, Kairi." They both said in unison.

Kairi ignored them. "Ready…set…go!"

Riku and Sora both looked at each other, with Sora giving him a look of 'you can't beat me, anyway.' And Riku stared right back with an 'In your dreams' look.

And so, they instantly got up and ran.

THESE were the moments that Sora loved, to play with his friends, and experience new things with them. He never wanted these moments to end, but after this particular dream, there was a small piece of doubt placed in his heart, something that he felt coming that wouldn't be good. But still, he needed to stay strong for his friends and protect them if anything came. He wonders if any of them have dreams as weird as these…

As he will soon find out, he isn't the only one, nor the only world in danger…

Now a few things, in case anyone is confused about the mural design descriptions. The author was kind enough to give us a better description of what they were rather from Sora's perspective:

1st mural: Obi-Wan on the left, blue representing the light, and the Jedi symbol in the foreground on the right. Anakin is on the left, looking angry, with a red foreground and the Empire symbol there as well. Ahsoka is in the middle, slightly below them, holding two blue lightsabers that act as dividing lines between them. The top outer symbol is the Jedi Order symbol again, the left and right symbols are the Republic and Separatist symbols respectively, and the bottom symbol is the Sith symbol, with the surrounding symbols being the other colors of the lightsabers (red, blue, yellow, green, white, etc), and the bottom half being clone trooper helmets.

2nd mural: Spider-Man hanging upside down in the center by a web. The symbols toward the bottom of the mural represent Mary Jane and Venom, and on the upper left and right are webs. The symbols on the top, right, and sides are the "A" for Avengers, and the surrounding symbols are the spider emblems.

3rd mural: Anna on the left side, looking up and hopeful, with Kristoff and Sven as the emblems on her side, while Elsa is on the right side, looking down and sad, with Hans and Olaf as the emblems on her side. They are both back to back, and Elsa's side looks significantly more frozen than Anna's, although it does look like it is creeping behind her. The top, bottom, and side symbols are snowflakes, and surrounding them are images of Arendelle Castle and a shipwreck...

4th mural: Cloud having the same pose as Sora, with Buster Sword replacing the Keyblade. The emblems around him are Tifa, Barret, Aerith, and Red XIII, and the two darkened emblems are Zack and Sephiroth. All around, the outer symbols represent different colored materia, with the top and bottom being the white and black materia, respectively. Towards the bottom, mako spores rise from Cloud's feet, like the Mako Reactor in Midgar.

Alright, when I first read this chapter I remembered being deeply intrigued by Sephorith starting to meddle with the events of Kingdom Hearts after the events of Final Fantasy VII REMAKE. And if REBIRTH has proven anything, it's that anything can happen now that the original path has been thrown out the window. So, what does this mean for Sora, Cloud, and the rest of the crazy universe that is Kingdom Hearts? And what of the villains? Stick around to find out as we take our first look at Arendelle.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Be sure to leave a review whether this is your first experience with this story or a return after the original author called it quits. I'd like to hear your thoughts. Also, be sure to leave a fav. and follow to show your support. See ya real soon!