"Chapter 4: New World, Ho!"

Would Bentley and Penelope do to be in this ship. I couldn't help but grin ear to ear at the thought. And I couldn't stop grinning because this ship apparently runs on happiness. Just the name of "Gummi Ship" was funny in itself, but I kept it to myself. I couldn't believe how many worlds I saw just by sitting in one place on the bridge of the ship. It made me wish the gang was here to see this. This place is amazing, Sora! Ever since I met you, I've seen and heard so many things that leave me shocked.""Glad you like the view, Sly!" Sora said, looking back at me with a smile."Personally, I never get tired of this whenever I come through here!"

I couldn't blame him for that. His world's are just amazing to even look at. "We'll be in Radiant Garden in a few minutes," King Mickey announced. I asked Sora, "What are we looking for when we arrive?" Sora then began to think for a moment, almost like he was trying to remember something. Hopefully what he was trying to remember is a way to this Yen Sid's tower. "Sorry, it's been a while since a path had to be opened manually for me," he apologized with a sheepish smile. How could a young adult like him be this cute? I bet he'd win an award for a Lolita Contest if it weren't for the spiky hair. "Gateways between worlds are opened by unlocking special keyholes with certain items. They sometimes need some time to locate them. Mostly, they're an important item."

"I see. So what item are we looking for?"

"It depends on the world and if it leads to Master Yen Sid's tower."

"I hope it's not a wild goose chase." Before I realized it, the sky outside was a sunset pink and yellow. Incredibly gorgeous.

"Like the view from up here?" Kairi asked, joining us. She had a reminiscing smile on her face. I looked down and I was surprised to see a floating town with a large, currently-in-reconstruction castle. It was magnificent from this high up.

"That's Radiant Garden."

"... Beautiful," was all I could say. It must be the most beautiful town I've ever seen.

I asked the group, "Does anybody have an idea of where we should start the search?

Sora then thinks for a moment or two again.

"Well, there are a couple of people that we know in Radiant Garden that we could ask for help," Sora said.

"And..." I looked down again. I could see a good sized opening in a street, but I doubt we'd allowed to park there. And no way am I jumping from this high, even with the parachute in my backpack. "How are we going to get down there?"

"Easy, I do this every time," Donald proudly stated. With a wave of his weird wand, there was a flash of light and suddenly, we were on the ground. The scent of flowers woffed my sense of smell.

I said, "I'm not even going to ask how you did that, Donald."

I then looked around the area that we managed to appear in. My initial reaction to Radiant Garden was exactly the same when I first saw the world from the Gummi Ship; it was just breathtakingly beautiful.

"Ah, Radiant Garden, wonderful that it's been fully restored," King Mickey commented.

"Restored?" I would like to tear apart anyone who would ruin such a beautiful place.

"That's part of the long story," Sora explained. I just nodded, still taking in the beauty of this world. I would love to take Carmelita on a date here.

"Let's go see everyone at the Radiant Garden Restoration Comittee," Kairi announced.

"If the people there are friendly, then sure, let's do that."

"Don't worry, Sly. Most of the members of the Radiant Garden Restoration Comittee are really easy to get along with!" Sora reassured, before giving a sheepish smile. "Well, most of them at least."

"Most of them?" I asked nervously.

"You'll see when we get there. Now, come on! We don't have time to waste!" Sora said with a voice full of eagerness.

The "most of them" part left an uneasy feeling in my stomach.

Speaking of that, as I followed Sora and the others, I realized that I was a little famished. I probably didn't notice because of the shift in the sky. But I didn't point out my slight hunger. We had something to do first.

After some walking, we reached a home well suitable for several people.

"Is this the place where the committee meets, Sora?"

"You bet it is," Sora said. "They're most likely inside right now."

"And you're sure that they'll be able to help us get to this Yen Sid's tower?" I asked.

"Well, it's best to at least give it a shot instead of not trying at all," Sora said. I guess I can't argue with that.

Sora eagerly opened the door. The inside was a mix between an infirmary, a cozy home and a lab. Sounds a lot like our hideout in Paris.

Inside were, I would say seven humans, one old guy with a beard and dressed like a goofy wizard, two girls, two boys that I could tell that I didn't want to mess with, an older guy at the computer desk, and a spiky, redheaded man. Interesting mix of people. I'm going on a limb that the younger blonde and the brunette guy were the people Sora told me that I might not get along with right away.

"Yo, gang!" the redhead greeted.

I wasn't expecting this many people. I guess we have a lot of introductions to do.

The other humans then turned towards us in surprise of hearing the redhead.

"Sora! Everyone! We weren't expecting to see you guys here!" A tomboyish girl with short, black hair said in the surprise.

"Sorry about the short notice," Riku said. "Something suddenly came up- more like someone came out." Riku glanced at me.

"Who's the blue guy?" the older blonde questioned. My nose scrunched a little. I already didn't like this guy's attitude.

"It's Sly," I told them, giving Sora a break from introducing me.

"Sora, you were saying these people may be able to help us."

"Ah, come on, Sly, give them a chance!" Sora reassured me. "I'm sure they'll be able to do whatever they can to help!"

"I'm taking your word for it."

"Over there is Yuffie and Aerith," Sora pointed to the two girls, "This is Cid," he gestured to the rude blonde, "these two are Cloud and Leon," we turned to the two tough guys, "this is Merlin the Wizard," Sora looked to the old guy (I almost laughed; "Merlin"), "and this is Lea, or Axel," he pointed to the redhead. That one seemed like the chill kind, someone I know I would like.

"And this is all one world? You know a lot of people, Sora!"

"Trust me when I say this, Sly. These guys were just the beginning of me meeting a bunch of different people in the worlds I've visited," Sora said.

I couldn't help but widen my eyes in surprise a bit. Sora actually knows tons of different people other than these seven? Just how many worlds did he even travel to?

"Well, nice to meet you, Sly!" the black haired girl, which I'm assuming to be Yuffie, greeted. The other girl Aerith waved with a smile.

"Quite a new friend you have there," Lea commented. "Where'd you meet him?"

"On the islands, actually," Sora replied.

"You met him there?" the brunette man, I'm guessing Leon, questioned.

"He came from another world. And that's why we're here."

"We need help in manually opening the pathway to Master Yen Sid's," King Mickey pointed out.

"Do you know anything about where we should look?"

"You need help in opening up the pathway to Yen Sid's?" Yuffie asked.

"Excuse me, but before we can try and help all of you, would it be alright if you told us why you need to find a way to open up that pathway, if you don't mind me asking?" Aerith asked.

"Master Yen Sid may know more about Sly's world," Riku explained.

"You see, Sly is not from any world we've visited before," Goofy added. "So we were hoping Yen Sid could help us."

"An unexplored world, you say?" Merlin inquired. "What might this world be."

"My home's called Earth," I told them.

"Never heard of that one," Cid commented. "Funny name too."

"It's not funny."

"Earth... You'd think that's a world far beyond where anyone has been," the spiky blonde Cloud commented. "If anyone may have knowledge about it, it's Yen Sid. Possibly Ansem as well."

"Ansem?"

"Ansem the Wise, the ruler of this world and a friend of mine," King Mickey explained.

Sora said, "That's part of the long story, and if I started it now, we could be here for a long time."

"Yes, and we can see that the reason why you need to seek Yen Sid for his assistance is most likely an urgent one and can't be kept waiting," Aerith said.

"If anyone has something connected to the gateway, Ansem may have a better idea," Merlin said. "I suggest going to see him."

"And where would we find him?"

"At the castle," Sora replied like it wasn't a big deal. What's with these worlds and castles? "The guards will surely let us in."

"Then we should get going. If I ever find a way back to this world after going home, I'd like to come back and see you again."

Thanks, Sly. And if I ever manage to run into your world, I'd like to come and see you there too," Sora said with a smile. Now that thought alone gave me something to be eager about.

"Oh, before you go," Leon interjected, handing me a card. "A friend of Sora's is always a member in our committee." The card looked like a standard member card.

"Thank you." I accepted the card out of satisfaction that we were pals and joy that they accepted me.

I asked Sora, "So which way is it to the castle? Maybe on the way you could at least start this long story I've heard so much about."

"Well, luckily for you, Sly, we all practically know the way to the castle from here like it's the back of our hands! We'll get there in no time!" Sora said with a confident smile on his face.

Of course he knew the way. He's probably been coming here for years. I hope this Ansem the Wise has the answers I'm looking for.

"And now, let's begin the long story, but I'll try to be as specific as possible," Sora began as we departed from the connittee headquarters. The way he said "specific" led me to believe that this story really was a long one.

End Chapter