The next second Sora, Riku and Kairi realised they were no longer on the island. Instead the three stood before a large tower that Sora recognised. He had been here before when King Mickey lead him, Donald and Goofy a long time ago. He wondered why Mickey had once more brought them here. Mickey gestured for them to follow. Sora began to ask a question, but he was silenced by King Mickey.
"Not now Sora. Your questions will be answered once we have made it to the top of the tower." Mickey told him. He then walked up the short staircase to the front door and knocked twice. The door automatically opened. And Mickey entered with Goofy and Donald close behind. Riku, Sora and Kairi stood there for a couple of seconds, not knowing whether to follow. The doors began to close again. Sora then made a move. He began to run toward the closing door. Riku and Kairi chased him and the three made it inside just in time. Mickey turned around and smiled. He was glad to see that they followed. The group were in a small colourful room filled with a couple of cabinets. At the opposite end to the entrance was another wooden door. Mickey headed to that door and opened it. Everyone followed closely as they all climbed the several spiral of staircases. Without trying, Sora was reminded back of when he, Donald and Goofy were forced to fight several heartless led by Pete. Kairi looked over the edge of the stairs. She could not believe how high they were. They all came to another closed door. Mickey opened it and allowed for them all to enter. Riku figured this was the second level of the tower.
"Can't you just teleport us to Yen Sid Mickey?" Sora asked. He was not looking forward to journeying right up to the top. The first time was tiring enough.
"Oh Sora, stop complaining." Kairi told him. "Besides, the exercise will do you some good."
Mickey ignored them and continued on. Sora had no choice but to follow. Just like the first room, Mickey opened the next door, revealing another spiral of stairs.
"At least this time we don't have to fight our way up." Sora thought. They travelled up the next set of stairs before coming to another door. This one was different to the others. Mickey opened the door revealing a much different room. This one contained more cabinets, drawers and even more, a desk in the centre of the room where a familiar face sat at. Mickey bowed to the wizard sitting at the desk as he stood up.
"It's great to see you once more my friend." He said to Mickey. "What brings you here?" he asked. Mickey looked shocked.
"You mean you don't know what is happening Master Yen Sid?" Mickey asked him. Yen Sid looked as confused as King Mickey. Sora came forth and ahead of the other and spoke.
"You mean you haven't heard anything about the coming darkness?"
Yen Sid shook his head. The group all put their heads down in disappointment. If Mickey had brought them here to see Yen Sid, it was because he believed Yen Sid would be able to provide some much needed answers. This obviously did not seem like the case. Yen Sid sat back down behind his desk and asked Mickey to explain what had brought them here. Mickey told Yen Sid about Lord T.E.O and his followers infiltrating the world of Destiny Island and attacking Sora, Kairi and Riku. The whole time, Yen Sid became more and more intrigued. Nothing showed he knew about any of these people of whom Mickey spoke. When Mickey finally finished telling him everything, he stood up from his desk and walked over to the window a couple of metres behind the desk. He looked out the window, thinking deeply.
"I'm sorry Mickey; but the people you described... they are not familiar to any known world in this universe."
Mickey put his head down as Yen Sid continued. "On the other hand, this is not the only known universe." Mickey's head shot back up with surprise. Even he was not aware of the existence of worlds beyond the worlds of their universe.
"But how are they Yen Sid? How are they from another universe?" Mickey asked him. Yen Sid turned back around and sat back down. He moved his hands around and in seconds six chairs appeared. Everyone sat down as Yen Sid spoke.
"I have only heard legends. As you know there are several worlds, many of which you have been to. But far from this world and the many in this universe are other separate universes with their own worlds. They are all different from one another. If it is true that someone found a way of travelling between these universes then everything will be lost."
Everyone was intrigued. They also wondered how it was possible for someone to journey such distances. The three people they faced disappeared without a trace. Sora, having been through so much knew that they had to do something. Mickey got to the point first.
"If this is true... I mean it is just a legend is it not? But then again legends contain some truth behind them." Mickey stated. Yen Sid nodded, though he was still unsure how or even who had opened the way of travelling between universes. There was another factor bothering Kairi. She brought this to the attention of the room.
"They attacked us at our home. If they are able to travel anywhere in the universes, what's to stop them from attacking us here?"
Yen Sid was about to answer, but like Mickey had done with Sora, he answered first.
"This tower has a protective barrier able to stop anybody from entering. That is why it was not as simple as just teleporting you all right to the top."
This caused Kairi's worries to settle a little more. She felt better knowing that they were safe here. Yen Sid then suggested for them all to stay the night while he and Mickey figured things out in private. He then called three names.
"Flora, Fauna, Merryweather!"
A door at the left side of the room opened and three fairies entered, one red, the second green and the third blue.
"They're all yours." He said to them. Sora, Kairi and Riku became shocked. What did he mean by the three of them were the fairies. Flora grabbed Kairi and led her to the door at the right side of the room. Sora became worried and was about to ask Yen Sid what he was doing with them. Before he could though, Merryweather grabbed him by the arm as Flora did with Riku and led them both to the same door. The opened and Sora expected to see Kairi. Instead he saw an empty room. As they entered the door closed again and locked.
"What has happened to Riku and Kairi?" Sora asked Merryweather.
"Don't worry. Yen Sid is just having us prepare your outfits. Now what colour shall you be?" She wondered.
"Dark blue isn't bad." Sora replied. Merryweather smiled.
"Yes, yes, that isn't bad either." She agreed. Sora was glad that it wasn't like last time when the three fairies kept arguing on the colour of his outfit. He felt like a toy being fought over by three sisters. He stood in place while Merryweather circled back and forth around him. She would lift one of his arms, then the other, nodding her head one minute, then shaking it the next. This went for quite a while before Merryweather finally hovered in front of him.
"Okay, this should be it." She said. With a small sway of her wand Sora watched as his outfit changed into a deep blue coat covering the dark blue armoured top, dark blue pants and black shoes.
"Done,"
Sora loved it. He wondered what Kairi and Riku would look like once the other fairies had finished changing them. The door opened and Sora made his way back into Yen Sid's study where Mickey, Donald, Goofy and Yen Sid awaited him. He noticed first that Kairi and Riku were not with them. They all just stared at Sora as he sat back down in his chair.
"We're just waiting on Flora and Fauna to finish dressing Kairi and Riku." Yen Sid told him. Almost as if it was speak of the devil, the door to the left opened and Flora entered with Kairi. She was dressed in a light pink and black sleeveless hooded top and skirt with black shoes.
"How do I look?" She asked Sora, sitting down at the chair next to him. Sora was speechless.
"You look magnificent Kairi." He eventually said. She blushed at his compliment. Straight after, Fauna entered with Riku wore was wearing quite similar armour to Sora. The main difference though was the sleeves on his coat were shorter and his outfit was a mix of light green and dark yellow. He smiled to Sora and Kairi as he took his seat. Now that their work was done and they had no interest in Yen Sid's important business, they exited back through the door at the right of the room. Yen Sid watched them exit before immediately turning his attention to the group.
"King Mickey and I have debated about this situation and believe that an old foe of ours has found a way to get to other universes. Sora; you Donald and Goofy fought his heartless and you and Riku fought his Nobody."
Kairi, the only one not knowing of whom Yen Sid was speaking of just stayed quiet and waited for Yen Sid to reveal a name.
"It can't be him. He can't be back. If his true form was turned into a heartless and a Nobody; both of which were destroyed-"
Mickey cut Sora off before he could say anything more. Sora felt a little frustrated with Mickey's interruption but listened to what he had to say.
"Sora, once both are destroyed, they revert back to their original form... Xehanort,"
"So I'm guessing we have to find him and stop him." Riku said. Mickey and Yen Sid both nodded. Sora jumped up from his chair, clearly excited for another adventure. "Well, what are we waiting for?"
Mickey and Yen Sid were glad to see Sora so eager. There was one question left unanswered. Kairi was the one to ask it.
"If we are to travel to a different universe, how are we supposed to get there?"
"That will all be organised tomorrow Kairi. It will be a tiring adventure and will be unlike anything you have faced before now. It is best that you three get some well needed rest and worry about everything tomorrow." Yen Sid answered. Sora sat back down. Yen Sid called Flora, Fauna and Merryweather back in. Each fairy entered, grabbed the same people as before and led them through the door at the right. One at a time, the door opened and then closed, allowing each to enter into a different room and be separated once more. Sora was a little disappointed about this arrangement. He and Kairi had just confessed their feelings for one another. He hoped to spend the whole time with her. Obviously that was not an option. He wondered if she was feeling the same way. At least Riku seemed fine with him and Kairi being a couple now, except for when they left him alone by the campfire. Sora looked around a found himself standing in an almost completely blue bedroom. Merryweather was not there at all. He was alone. He walked over and removed his overcoat, shoes and socks and got under the blue sheet covers. As he did, the light in the room automatically disappeared, leaving him in complete darkness. He felt slightly scared being left in such darkness. He rolled around, unable to sleep and worrying about Kairi more than anyone. He knew that he could trust Yen Sid and King Mickey. Still he couldn't help but worry. Before he knew it he was fast asleep.
Sora awoke in the same darkness he had fallen asleep in. He wondered how long how had been asleep for. There was no window, no clock, nothing to show him what the time was. He wondered if he should just try to get more sleep or get up. He was beginning to feel hungry as well. He sat up in the bed. As he did he was almost blinded by the automatic light returning. He got out of the bed and put on his socks, shoes and overcoat before heading to the door. He tried to open it. It was locked shut. He began to panic just as a familiar face appeared. Merryweather appeared right behind him.
"What is that you want Sora?" She asked him.
"I'm hungry. Could you please get me some food seeing that I am apparently unable to?" Sora asked kindly. Merryweather waved her wand and in an instant a bunch of different foods including sausages and other meats, fruits and vegetables appeared on a nearby table in the room. Merryweather disappeared again as Sora made his way over to the table and dug in. It was all delicious. He ate a lot of the meat and some of the chips. He sat back on the bed and watched all the food disappear right before his very eyes. I lied back down on the bed and closed his eyes. He could picture him and Kairi in the cave; there special spot, kissing each other. It was his fondest memory now. He opened his eyes and sat up as he heard the door. It sounded like it unlocked. He was not entirely sure. He did not want to try to open it and accidentally call Merryweather back again. On the other hand, if it was unlocked, he would be able to leave and return to Yen Sid's study. He took a chance and headed to the door for the second time. He turned the knob slowly. It turned easier and easier until the door began to open. He walked back into Yen Sid's study where Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Kairi, Riku and Yen Sid were waiting.
"I hope you had a restful sleep. You're going to need it." Yen Sid told Sora. He waited until Sora sat down before looking at Mickey. Mickey then took charge as Yen Sid sat back and listened.
"Yen Sid has arranged a spaceship that will get you to the closest universe from this one. We have found that universe has the best technology to travel to the other universes. Sora was glad to hear this. He began to wonder about this new universe and what it may contain to allow them to visit other universes. Mickey then jumped down from his chair and summoned his own keyblade out of thin air. It appeared in his left hand and he pointed it at the door where the group had originally entered. Everyone wondered what he was doing. He opened the door that looked like it led to another world.
"You can't do this alone. I'll be back soon." Mickey said. The door closed behind him. That was the last they would see of him for some time. Sora looked at Donald and Goofy and could tell that even they had no idea where their king had gone. In the meantime, Yen Sid called the three fairies one last time. He told them to lead Sora, Kairi, Riku, Donald and Goofy to the ship. The five of them stood up from their chairs as they disappeared from right beneath them. The three fairies led them to the door on the left. This time it opened and allowed everyone to enter a large hanger. When everyone was through, the door closed behind them. A large red and yellow rectangular space ship stood before them. It was much larger than any ship Sora, Donald and Goofy had travelled in before. The group walked along the platform. A few metres ahead a portal began to appear. Donald and Goofy stood in front of Sora, protecting him, Kairi and Riku.
"The King..?" Donald said. They both stopped guarding Sora as they saw King Mickey standing before them. He was not the only one. Standing behind him were six familiar faces. Sora recognised them all.
"This is the Restoration Committee. This is Tifa, Cid, Yuffie, Aerith, Cloud and Leon." Mickey said. Each of them came forward as they were introduced by King Mickey.
"It's wonderful to see all of you." Sora said. They all smiled back. King Mickey led everyone up a long ramp from the main platform and into the ship. Once everyone was inside the door closed up. King Mickey showed them around, showing them the different areas of the ship. There were bedrooms for each of them, a dining room and a kitchen with food. He then led Cid, Donald and Goofy to the main bridge to show them how to fly the ship. Once they were gone Yuffie began to ask questions.
"So what is going on this time? King Mickey told us that you were in trouble again and needed our help."
Sora led everyone back to the dining room so he could tell all of them the current situation. There was a large round table in the middle of a room, surrounded by cabinets and drawers against the walls. Everyone took a seat, except for Sora, who remained standing. Everyone stared at him as he stood there. There was a few seconds of silence before Sora explained how they were attacked and how Xehanort has joined forces with people from other universes. When he finished, the room was silent. There was a lot to take in. Donald and Goofy entered the dining room.
"Where's the king?" Tifa asked them.
"He has pointed us in the right direction. It's up to us now. Are you all ready?" Cid asked them. Everyone nodded.
"Good."
He left the dining room and returned to the bridge of the ship to take off. The ship lifted off and headed into space toward their first destination.