Chapter 1: A Cruel Game

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, Disney, Square Enix, or any of their properties, characters, or logos. This story is made solely for fun.

Foreword: This story is my first Kingdom Hearts based fan fiction, so I hope you all enjoy it. It follows the canon story up to Kingdom Hearts III with Re:Mind. I intend to introduce a lot of worlds from other Square Enix properties, Disney Movies, and accompanying series.

The Guardians of Light stood amidst the desolate wasteland of the Keyblade Graveyard. It had been a long and arduous journey through multiple realms, and at last the heroes had been victorious against the ambitions of Master Xehanort. They quietly observed the empty sky where the true Kingdom Hearts had appeared for some time before one of their number at last spoke up.

"It's finally over." Mickey Mouse shared a collective nod with his companions.

"...No" Sora shook his head solemnly.

"We'll find Kairi." His best friend Riku tried to be supportive. "Let's head back to Master Yen Sid. We can figure it out."

"No. I know what to do." The spiky-haired brunette inclined his head before turning to face the others, his expression surprisingly light-hearted. "My whole journey began the day I lost her. And every time I find her... she slips away again. I thought we'd finally be together. But she's out there, alone. Not for one more second."

"We'll go, too!" Donald waddled towards him.

Goofy beat his chest confidently. "That's right!"

"Thank you... Donald, Goofy... But this time, I have to go it alone!"

Mickey Mouse raised his concerns. "Sora, listen. The power of waking isn't to go chase hearts around. Even if you do locate Kairi, you might never be able to come home to us again."

"I will. And we'll both be back before you know it."

"Please..." the king implored.

"Let him go, Mickey." Riku placed a hand on the mouse's shoulder. "His heart and his mind are made up. Now, believe in him.

He hesitated before realizing there was nothing more they could do. "Yeah... Safe journey, Sora."

"Thank you." Sora raised his arm, causing the Kingdom Key to materialize with a glimmer of light.

A portal opened above their heads, allowing passage to a world that he had visited only a short time ago. Opening his eyes, he was met with the gorgeous blue skies and endless seas of the Final World. A single ball of light descended from above and took the form of a small creature, the same that had greeted him during his previous visits.

He watched as the cat-like Dream Eater appeared, stumbling slightly before catching itself. "Chirithy."

"Back so soon?" the creature cocked its head to the side inquisitively while noticing his quiet discomfort. "What's wrong?"

"Well..." Sora slowly began his story, explaining in great detail what had happened following his return to the Keyblade Graveyard, and ending with Kairi's tragic fate. Despite its childish appearance, the miniature monster listened to every word without fail, only stopping on occasion to ask a question. After what seemed like forever, the creature let out an audible sigh.

"Even with the power of waking, you can't just bring someone back."

"But Kairi's heart hasn't been lost yet! She's still with us, right?"

Chirithy paused momentarily. "Maybe, but this time, I'm afraid the situation is a lot worse."

Sora shrugged. "Hey, I've already restored six hearts. What's one more?"

"But that's not how it's supposed to work at all. The power of waking is meant to be used to wake and restore sleeping hearts, not to restore them after they've completely faded away from existence. You've done that six times before, and as a result, you've managed to greatly alter the course of history itself." it pointed at him accusingly. "You've broken a nature taboo."

He looked confused. "A nature..."

"A forbidden act." the Dream Eater clarified. "Break a taboo of nature, and you'll end up paying an extraordinary price."

"I've heard that before... So what's the price?"

"You'll lose your powers. You won't be able to use the power of waking."

The young Keyblade Wielder placed both hands behind his head and relaxed. "That's all? No problem."

"But that's not all. You yourself... Will vanish from this world. And without your powers, you can't return to the world you came from."

He clenched his fist, steeling his resolve. "I don't care." the creature jumped in surprise. "There's a lot I don't understand, but I know this is all I can do right now. I have to do everything I can to get Kairi back. That's the whole reason behind my journey."

Chirithy exhaled sadly. "... I can't stop you, can I?"

"Nope, I have to follow my heart."

"Hmmm... Well, then this really is good-bye, so listen carefully to me." it warned, earning a nod from the boy. "You'll return to the past again, but you won't be able to rewrite it this time. No matter what happens, you'll have to accept it and move on."

Final World

Sora opened his eyes with a start. He had been having that same dream for some time lately, in which he would relive the final moments of his limited existence. Every time, he would awaken in the empty void where he had been sent to as punishment for playing God. The serene skies of the Final World gave him a familiar sense of calm. It felt as if someone had covered him in a warm blanket following a run through the snow-capped Arendelle mountains. The feeling was calm and pleasant, yet at the same time he was aware that this was not the place he wanted to be.

He had no idea how long it had been since the mission to rescue Kairi's heart. During one visit to this world, he had recovered fragments of his own essence and returned to living flesh, but now that was no longer an option. He was barely a ghost wandering aimlessly among the clouds, but was his story truly over? The Final World was a limbo for those who were still bound to the living worlds, but true to Chirithy's words, he could not return without the power of waking. Was he dead? Who knew?

Following the trial of a lifetime, he and Kairi had spent a short time together traversing worlds while watching over their friends. Then, it happened. There was no escaping the hand of fate that day at the Paopu Tree. Surrounded by his friends and the person he cared about most, his time came to an abrupt end. It was to pay for committing the ultimate taboo.

"At least Kairi's back where she belongs." Sora stretched his transparent limbs before turning over in mid air, appearing as if were lounging on the beach.

As he pondered the current situation for what felt like the millionth time in who knew how long, he couldn't help but remember a particularly vivid dream he had not long ago. Nestled amidst the memories of his final days was something much darker... Recollections of a city at night, and the voice of a stranger with heterochromic eyes, the youth named Yozora. The clash of their blades felt so real, each injury accrued burning with very real pain.

Sora caressed his incorporeal stomach as if feeling the wounds before staring at his hands. "So much pain... Was it real!?" he rubbed two fingers against his head, as if trying to remember every single detail of the dream. "I... I just don't know."

After what may have been hours of playing the dream over and over again in his head, the Keyblade Wielder practically threw his arms in the air defeat. Pondering endless riddles did little to alleviate the situation. The Final World was a place of beauty and tranquility, but drifting endlessly without a single friend was frustrating beyond belief.

Knowing that Chirithy had once resigned to the same fate, and Aqua had faced even worse in the Realm of Darkness. Knowing this prevented Sora from complaining much, although it mattered little when there was no one around to hear.

Closing his eyes, he decided sleep might do well to clear his thoughts. "Do you desire a second chance?" a strange voice whispered in his ear.

Sora shot upright, his eyes fluttering open as he began glancing around nervously. "Who's there!?" he called out.

When there was no immediate answer, the boy pinched himself, wondering if he was having another dream. It had been so long since he heard any voice save his own, he might have simply imagined the whole thing, yet the sudden intrusion had been so vivid, he had actually felt someone's breath down his neck.

He slumped his shoulders. "Sheesh... Am I finally going crazy?"

"Maybe, or are you asking for my opinion?" answered the same voice from before, a snicker following soon after.

This time he was certain he heard it. The tone was strangely deep and distorted, almost as if someone was speaking through a machine. Even after being in solitude for so long, Sora still knew when he was being mocked.

He grit his teeth while trying to conceal his annoyance. "Who are you?"

"Oh my, what a face." the mysterious entity responded with a note of amusement.

"Stop playing around with me. How are you even here, and what do you want?"

"To think for a moment I was considering freeing you from this limbo. Oh well, maybe I'll just look for some other random soul to rescue."

Sora felt his heart skip a beat, his irritability from before all but gone. "You can do that!?" he raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

"Hmmm... Sounds like you're interested."

The boy clenched his fists. "This doesn't make any sense. I don't even know who you are."

"I assume you are not unintelligent. Did it ever occur to you just how strange it was, receiving a visitor in the Final World? Certainly you know that this isn't a place where normal people can just come and go as they please."

He exhaled in resignation. "Well, you're certainly right about that."

"Do you think I would have taken the time to travel to this world without good reason?"

"I suppose not." Sora relaxed his shoulders, his innocent gaze wandering off for a moment before sharpening with suspicion. "Wait a minute. Not to be rude, but doesn't this count as interfering in the natural order? My friend Donald's always saying how important it is not to meddle. Heck, breaking those types of taboos is how I got here."

"Very statute of you. I should've expected as much from you, Sora."

"I should probably be grateful for the compliment, but I..." he paused upon realizing something important. "Wait, I never said my name. How do you know who I am."

A short pause followed his question, though the stranger remained undeterred, "You've become quite famous, and you've met a great many people while hopping through worlds. Did it ever occur to you that I might be one of them?"

"I think I would remember a creepy, disembodied voice."

"Maybe you do, and you just can't remember..."

His eyes moved in the direction of the noise. "How do I know you can help me?"

"Like I said before... This wasn't just some random meeting. I was hoping that we could be of assistance to each other. Do you catch my drift?"

"You don't plan on doing me any favors without asking me for something."

"Very true. It wouldn't be very gentlemanly of me to give any false pretenses, so let's make this as simple as possible... Your friends... ... You do want to see them again, right?"

"Well of course... More than anything else... ... ... But, is that even possible?"

"Quite so. I know of a way to restore that which you have lost and make this dream a reality. However, there is something I require from you, first. Will you agree to my terms?"

"That depends. I'd rather take my chances here if this favor of yours involves hurting innocent people." Sora boldly stated his terms.

"It's nothing like that. I just want you to entertain me a little."

"Entertain you?" his voice wavered.

The stranger continued with an unseen smile. "There's a fun little game in which I'd like you to participate."

The Keyblade Wielder remained cautious. After meeting so many nefarious people in different worlds, he knew just how dangerous it was to trust blindly. There had to be something else. "And if I win this game, you'll help me get back to my friends."

"That's the gist of it. All you need do is survive the game, and only then will your wish be granted."

"Survive!?" he shouted. "What do you mean by that? I thought you said this arrangement was just a game."

"Oh, it is. Unfortunately, I can't guarantee you'll be the winner."

The conversation was quickly moving in a direction he hadn't completely expected. "This is going be dangerous, isn't it?"

"Well, you didn't expect a service like mine would come without risks. And besides, I know you're hardly a stranger to adventure. This is nothing you can't handle, and the reward is something you want more than anything else. Not to mention, I'm one of the few in existence who can grant your seemingly impossible request."

"I still don't know if you're telling the truth. There's also a lot you're not explaining." the boy rubbed his forehead tiredly.

The invisible being chuckled at his helplessness. "Where would the fun be if I did."

Sora raised his fists as if preparing for a fight. "And what will you do if I refuse!?"

"You'd be wasting my generosity. The truth is, I don't need you specifically. On the other hand, this may be your only chance to see your friends again." The boy's expression became somber, enticing the mysterious visitor. "Since you seem so adamant, I could just take my business somewhere else."

Sora sensed the being's presence shrinking as is it were slowly moving farther away. His mind began racing, and in a moment to desperation he began running in the direction he last heard the voice. "I'll do it!" he screamed, calling out into the endless horizon. "Do you hear me?! I said I'll do it!"

"Well, that was easier than I thought." the voice returned, this time coming from behind him. "It's a deal!"

He felt a hand rub against his left cheek, instinctively swatting it away. "Huh! Where are you?"

Rather than answer, the stranger caused a spinning vortex to appear beneath Sora's feet, pulling him into the shadows. While it resembled a Corridor of Darkness, he could feel no evil presence emanating from the swirling currents that surrounded him. After several minutes of feeling like he was falling, the walls of energy enveloping him subsided, revealing an amazing sight.

Sora found himself standing on a concrete sidewalk, surrounded by several buildings that towered over him like stone giants. The lights from the sprawling urban metropolis lit up the nighttime skies, and several cars roamed the open streets. While the atmosphere felt similar to San Fransokyo, the sights were unfamiliar... Or at least they were at first.

His thoughts returned to the vivid dream where he had battled the unstoppable Yozora, his eyes growing wide with shock as they settled on a structure standing out amongst the central square; the 104 Building.

"It can't be!" he gasped, subconsciously reaching a hand out towards the dark skies.

"Ah yes, you and that stranger visited this world, if only briefly. You fought on the roof of that building, and quite a sight to behold it was."

Sora turned to his right, but as expected he saw no one. "That dream... ... ... It was real!?"

"Indeed." the voice responded emphatically.

He stood up a little straighter, having grown tired of his cryptic host. "That's enough pulling my leg. Tell me what's going on. What am I supposed to do now?"

"You'll know soon enough..." he smiled at the Keyblade Wielder's irritation, knowing the boy couldn't see him. "It's been fun watching that handsome face contorted so perfectly with fear and doubt, but I'm afraid I won't be seeing you again until this little charade is over."

"You're just leaving me, now!?" he clenched his fists angrily.

"Pardon my rudeness, but I have more pressing matters to attend to... ... ... Oh, and one more thing."

Sora jumped as he noticed an eerie glow coming from his person followed by an unfamiliar weight dropping into his pocket. Startled, he pulled out a flat metal circle roughly the size of his palm. The back was blank, but the front bore a stylized crest shaped like a skull, set against a black background and bone-like symbols.

"Looks like some kind of pin. What's it for?"

"It's proof of your participation in the game. Better not lose it, Sora."

"I'll take your word for it." The Keyblade Wielder eyed it carefully before returning it to his pocket. "You say we might've met before, so what's with the invisible act? Who are you, really?"

"Let's just say... A friend... ... ..."

"Where am I!?" Sora reached out as if to grab hold of the being, only to grasp nothing.

"Until next time, I hope you enjoy your stay in Shibuya."

A mighty gust of wind came from all directions, causing him to shield his face, but upon regaining his bearings, the mysterious presence had vanished. Sora called out at the sky, not caring who heard his anguished cries, but there didn't appear to be anyone else walking the streets. It took some time to regain his nerves, after which he decided to approach the situation more productively. Sitting on the curb, he pondered the situation, something he had grown quite used to doing while trapped in the Final World.

He blinked in surprise, noticing for the first time that his body was no longer transparent. The Keyblade Wielder stared at his hands, finding comfort in their familiar color instead of the glass-like transparency he had become used to seeing for so long. Ever the optimist, he exhaled a breath he forgot he was holding in, and gave himself once over with a satisfactory smile.

"Well, I guess there's nothing more I can do. Just have to wait and see what happens..." as he said this, a vision of darkness enveloped his senses, and everything faded to black.

Enchanted Dominion- Forbidden Mountains

Pete paced the stone floor with mingled impatience, having been doing so for the last several hours. By now he had practically memorized every detail of the decrepit room, from the cold hard walls to the crumbling furnishings and tattered curtains. The chamber was barren and inhospitable despite having been the evil fairy's home for countless years, yet Maleficent hadn't dwelt in the castle for quite some time. The old structure stood amidst the Forbidden Mountains bordering King Stephan's Kingdom in Enchanted Dominion, one of the very first worlds to fall prey to her mad crusade to obtain the heart of all worlds.

After being defeated by Sora in the ruins of Hollow Bastion and losing Radiant Garden, she had traveled searching for a new castle from which to rule, only to fail several times. She had even attempted to seize the Castle that Never Was from the nefarious Organization XIII, but that world fell into darkness. Once the hunt for the book came to an abrupt end, she eventually returned home to her original base of operations.

"I can't believe dis. Everything we's been doin' lately hasn't gotten us diddly squat!" Pete grumbled, earning a scowl from his superior. "We finally find that stupid box, and it turns out some creepazoids in cheap Halloween costumes had it with 'em all along."

Maleficent sat upon a decrepit throne across the room, her literal seat of power within the aging fortress. "A minor inconvenience..." she stated nonchalantly.

"Ever since we began this search, nothin's gone right. Why didn't we jus' beat 'em up and take it for ourselves when we had the chance?"

"Imbecile..." The sorceress silenced him with a glare, her displeasure growing by the moment. "The Keyblade Wielder was formally a member of that loathsome Organization XIII, and it was painfully obvious those strangers were no ordinary humans."

"So!?" he retorted as if the one word explained everything.

"It would have been inadvisable to charge into a battle with minimal chance of success. We knew nothing about them, or what powers they possessed."

"I ain't followin'. Only that jerk with the eye patch had one o' those giant keys."

"Yet they all possessed the familiar magical essence shared by those who wield those accursed weapons. Sora alone once proved detrimental to our endeavors, and since then, the Keyblade Wielders have continued to multiply like vermin."

"But Sora's been outta da picture since the Keyblade War, and his friends are too busy searchin' for 'em to pay any attention to us."

The evil mistress sat back on her throne, composing herself. "And that is why we've spent the last year recruiting new followers to our cause. I have no doubt this grand alliance will prove much more beneficial to us the longer it remains hidden in the shadows."

"I was thinkin' that... So what if we don't got the box! Why don't we jus' take what we want? We already got those fellas manufacturin' thousands of Heartless using the techno-junk we stole from Hollow Bastion."

"Short-sighted as always, aren't you?" Maleficent grimaced at his clueless expression. "We will not act until we claim the Book of Prophecies, thus acquiring the means to destroy all of our enemies without fail."

"Why don't we jus' go with the original plan and crush those rotten do-gooders. I'm sick of waitin' around!" He stomped the floor with a pout. "Fat chance takin' over the universe when everyone else keeps beatin' us to the punch!"

She resisted the urge to blast the incompetent henchman, knowing it would do little to further her ambitions. Her fiery temper had proven a weakness in the past, along with overconfidence.

Despite being a useless coward with little ambition of his own, the cat was not entirely mistaken in his analysis. Her first plan had been based on the half-truths and machinations of Master Xehanort, and now a group of mysterious interlopers had claimed the Black Box she had spent so long searching for. With the desired artifact current out of reach, their plan had reached a standstill.

"What da heck is dat?" Pete shouted, pulling the evil fairy out of her reverie.

In the center of her throne room, a dark doorway had appeared, its sudden presence startling both villains. Her pet raven Diablo squawked loudly before ducking behind a rusted candelabra in fear. Maleficent stood up immediately, her scepter gripped tightly as a black-hooded stranger passed through the shadows. He was a slender man of average height and walked with an enthusiastic skip in his step, but his face remained completely hidden by the familiar darkness-blocking coat.

"Whoa, nice digs you got here." he greeted, taking a moment to observe the rusted furnishing and crumbling walls. "Must've been something to look at before the centuries of decay, am I right?"

He spoke like one would to an old friend, but his unwilling host was certain she had never seen him before. The fairy tapped her staff against the stone floor with a loud thud, conjuring several shining meteors which immediately gravitated towards the newcomer, bombarding him in a shower of magical sparks and light. Covering his head in a panic, Pete dove across the room to avoid getting caught in the crossfire, conjuring his barrier as he knelt down.

When the smoke cleared, the visitor emerged completely unharmed, not a single wrinkle on his black coat. "Is this how you treat guests in this world? The hospitality of your home leaves much to be desired, wouldn't you agree?"

"Save your prattle for someone else! Who are you?" the sorceress cut through his words like a knife.

"Not important." Her uninvited visitor let out an amused laugh, completely unaffected by her glaring daggers.

"Hey there, pallie! You can't jus' waltz on in here like that and expect a warm welcome." Pete took a step towards the man, stopping when his superior raised a hand. He glanced back at her. "We jus' gonna take this!?"

Maleficent fluttered her cape dramatically before sitting back down, though her annoyance did not subside. "You are clearly no ordinary intruder. The real question is: What do you want?"

"I have something you might find quite useful." The hooded man placed both hands behind his back and leaned back, producing a miniscule chest moments later.

"And what, pray tell, is it?"

He held it out for her to accept, though she remained still. "There's no need for such hostility. You can consider this trinket a gift of sorts."

"What kind of a gift?"

"Something that someone of your talents will certainly appreciate." he shrugged off her question, causing the woman to narrow her eyes.

"Very well, then... Bring it to me." The evil fairy motioned for her bumbling subordinate to take it, quietly observing the box as he crossed the room to her throne.

It was a dark blue color inscribed with ancient symbols which she vaguely recognized as a sealing enchantment, though the complexity was far beyond her expertise. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the crimson red lock adorning the front, shaped similarly to the crest of Disney Castle. Upon closer inspection, she noticed the ears were not round like those of King Mickey, but longer and taller, resembling a rabbit. She proceeded with caution as Pete handed her the box, her piercing gaze moving from the chest to the spot their guest had been standing only moments ago.

"What!?" she almost dropped the object upon realizing the intruder was missing.

Pete shuffled across the room, pushing over a table and glancing behind an aging suit of armor before scratching his head. "Hey! Where'd that scrawny dude get to?"

Maleficent closed her eyes for a moment before scowling, earning a puzzled expression from her companion. "He's gone." though her voice remained level, she looked positively livid.

"Well ain't that a bit o' bad luck." he shrugged. "Kinda weird, some guy just showin' up like that and punkin' out without so much as an introduction."

"He's clearly toying with us." she replied dismissively, barely noticing the object still clutched in her left hand.

"I'm still wonderin' what's in that box... You don't suppose it's dat book we've been lookin' for."

"Moron. I sincerely doubt it."

"Well dere's only one way ta find out. I mean, what harm could it do?"

The villains looked to each other as he said this. "Don't be so naive... Anything could be inside, and we know nothing about the individual who provided it."

"Well, I still say it's worth checkin' out."

"Perhaps." The evil fairy turned with a swish of her robe, gingerly carrying the box to her personal chambers with Pete following at her heels.

They entered a dark room filled with magic potions and countless dusty books, Maleficent placing the chest on the table while clearly uncertain of how to approach the situation. Being an evil villain with endless ambition, she was hard-pressed to trust a random stranger bearing a mysterious gift, yet curiosity still bubbled somewhere deep down within her. It was covered in several sealing runes, though she sensed no curses or magical traps. Placing her hand on the box, she slowly raised the lid, appearing surprised that it had opened without resistance.

"Fascinating..." she exclaimed.

"What's so interestin', now?" Pete lumbered over to see, prompting her to place her hand over the markings on surface of the container.

"The box was clearly designed with several protective spells built in through runic magic, and yet someone managed to dispel them, allowing us to see the contents."

"Maybe he's jus' really skilled with magic. I mean, you ain't no slouch when it comes time to that hocus pocus, neither."

"Indeed... ... ... But I sense there is more to it." she began, her face lighting up with realization. "It would've been impossible for an ordinary sorcerer to undo the lock, even with extensive magical knowledge. No, this individual may have possessed the ability to wield a Keyblade."

"So, it's not like we don't know 'bout ten people with that power. Enough o' all that static! Jus' tell me what's in it!"

"Wait, you simpleton!" she snapped, causing him to shrink back.

Maleficent reached into the box, withdrawing a single black tome from within. She snapped it open, her eyes widening in surprise a moment later. Slit-like pupils began darting back and forth, excitedly taking in every single word as she flipped from one page to the next, quickly perusing an entire chapter in a matter of minutes. Her companion remained silent as he watched over her shoulder, not understanding a single word.

"Very interesting..." she stated, her ghostly green face positively glowing with malice.

"That's all you gotta say!?" Pete grabbed the book, though he could not read the ancient script within. He turned it over in his hands before giving it a casual shake. "Don't see how this is gonna help us out. That's not a black box, so this can't be the book you was lookin' for, can it?"

"It's so typical of you to speak when in fact, you understand nothing." She snatched it back, an evil grin gracing her lips. "Perhaps this is not what I was seeking, but I believe some additional research may prove beneficial."

"Why should we bother!? Haven't we spent enough time chasin' windmills."

"What little is written here has already proven most enlightening." Maleficent ran a glowing finger across the first page, causing several more characters to appear in the previous blank spaces she touched. "And what lies beneath the surface proves there is much more to this volume than meets the eye."

The hulking toon slumped his shoulders. "Such as?"

"Information passed down from long ago... Secrets long forgotten from throughout history."

"History!?" he repeated with a confounded look.

The sorceress held up the book with both hands, her face alive with malicious intent. "Yes! The secret history of your world, and the fate of those who dwelt there during the age of myth... ... ..."

Disney World - Disney Castle

It was another beautiful day at Disney Castle, and Queen Minnie Mouse was busy attending to her duties in the absence of her husband. Now that Mickey, Donald, and Goofy were off searching for Sora; all she could do was prepare and hold down the fort until they returned.

The mouse queen collapsed into a chair in the castle library and clutched a large book to her chest. "Oh, Mickey..." she exclaimed with a note of sorrow, wondering to herself why they had to be separated so soon after his return.

Minnie cracked open the album and gazed at the photographs within, some containing people and places that she had not seen in quite some time. The oldest picture in the set was black and white and depicted her then future husband standing at the docks beside Pete's old steamboat. As she flipped through the pages, her eyes met more recent moments, including a group photo of the gang dressed in casual clothing, having a barbeque outside Goofy's house in Spoonerville.

She smiled at the memory. It had been over a decade ago, but these days it felt like another lifetime. The plots of Master Xehanort and his many incarnations had cast many worlds into chaos, so much that the memories of more peaceful times were superceded by the disarray caused by their more recent dilemmas.

"Your highness!" a familiar voice reached her ears, pulling her out of her reverie.

Minnie looked up to see Goofy's son Max, a dark-furred, anthropomorphic dog like his father. While the two shared an obvious family resemblance, Max was slightly shorter, had longer spiky hair, and a noticeably shorter snout. Like his more well-known father, the college-aged Goof also wore baggy pants along with the Disney Castle soldier uniform. A pair of large square teeth protruded from beneath his jaw line, but the younger guard's expression was typically more sharp and focused than his perpetually cheerful dad, a trait he had developed to differentiate himself from his family's reputation.

Once she had finished placing the album back onto the shelf, Minnie welcomed the young man. "You needn't be so formal with me when it's just the two of us. After all, your father and my Mickey have been friends since long before you were born."

"Well I am filling in for my dad while he's helping the king. It's an honor that you guys let me take the job in his absence."

"And we couldn't have picked a better man to fill his shoes."

Max hoisted a spear over his shoulder with one hand while saluting with the other. "I'm still sorry about letting those two evil dudes in the castle last time. Once they captured you, the rest of us started panicking."

"We were all caught by surprise, and there was nothing you could have done with everyone barricaded in the library. Even Sora and the others barely managed to deal with Maleficent and her cronies." she added kindly.

"Growing up, I was always embarrassed by my dad. Now I'm working extra hard just to live up to his example. Guess I'm not quite there, yet."

"Oh, don't be so hard on yourself. Let's let bygones be bygones, and focus on doing your best in the future. You got that, Max?"

"Of course, your highness!" he stood up a little straighter, causing the female mouse to frown and tap her foot in disapproval. "I mean, Queen Minnie!" he added quickly, earning a cheerful smile from Disney Castle's matriarch.

Minnie Mouse leapt from her chair, landing on the hard stone floor of the castle with a grace befitting her position. After adjusting the edges of her regal dress, she continued onwards to the double doors, a pair of living brooms pushing them open for her to proceed down the hallway. Despite the darkness having pierced Disney Castle's defenses in recent times, the grand structure looked as magnificent as ever. The hallowed halls of this old world had existed before her time, and would not doubt remain long after they were gone. Only a select few people were old enough to remember when it was built.

The young guard followed his queen a few paces behind, but she chastised him once more. "As I just finished saying before, you need not behave so formally." she giggled in response to his stiff countenance. "For someone who's supposed to be Goofy's son, you sure don't act much like it."

"I may look like my dad, but I was never a big fan of his... uh... antics." he began awkwardly.

"Why ever not? He's always been a very steadfast and loyal friend to everyone around him. You won't find a more dedicated soldier or a nicer person, no matter how many worlds you visit. The king said this himself, and he's been all around this big wide universe of ours."

"Nah, that's not really what I was talking about." he began nervously, earning a glance from the female mouse.

"Well, then what were you referring to?"

"My dad's a really great guy, but he has a tendency to embarrass me in front of the guys. If you know what I mean?"

"Oh, that's just Goofy for you! He always puts his full effort into everything he does, so it's only natural he takes his role as a parent a little too seriously."

"I just wish he'd dote on someone else for a change. I'm in college and he still likes to think of me as the same kid that used to believe in Santa Claus. Can you believe he still does!? It's like common sense completely escape him sometimes."

Minnie let out a high-pitched giggle, knowing full well that the big-bellied toy maker was real. "He certainly does have the heart of a child, but if he coddles you too much, it only means he cares. Being such a big-hearted fella, he probably doesn't know how else to express it."

The younger toon let out a sigh. "I know that. He's just a little bit too..."

"Goofy?" the queen finished with a knowing smile.

"I really walked right into that one, huh?"

She twirled around to face him, looking upwards due to her notably shorter stature. "Think of it this way: He's hasn't always been able to spend time with you because of his royal duties. I'll bet that he realizes this too, and gets carried away whenever he does get to see you."

Max found himself agreeing, even if the outcome wasn't ideal for himself. His father hadn't really been around in a long time, and he did miss him despite the two having drifted apart over the years. "Speaking of my dad, I never did get to meet those Keyblade Wielders that he's always talking about. They sound pretty awesome!"

"I'm sure you'll meet them some day, although due to recent events, it may not be under the best of circumstances."

"Tell me about it..." he ran a gloved hand through his messy hair, looking uneasy at the thought.

Before either of them could speak again, the duo was interrupted by the rapid shuffle of hurried footsteps as Daisy emerged from the nearby stairwell. While she wore her usual formal garb consisting of a dress and tiara, the female duck was noticeably ragged, her clothes wrinkled and her headpiece slightly astray. It was obvious from her heavy breathing and exhausted appearance that she had just ran a great distance, the trait becoming more noticeable as she broke down into a series of heavy pants.

"Oh dear, it looks like you've been overdoing it again." the female mouse placed a hand to her mouth and let out a light-hearted chortle.

Daisy took a second to catch her breath before looking up at the queen, glancing at her and the captain with a sense of urgency that ceased her giggles "I'm glad I found you two!" she blurted out, her large eyes widening in panic. "The Tome of Oblivion is missing!"

Minnie placed her hands on her hips. "Honestly, you're still doing this? This isn't time for another of your childish jokes."

"This isn't a joke!" The female duck shook her roughly, surprising her old friend, who backed away slowly. "I was inspecting the King's private study while doing the rounds earlier, and the book was missing from its hiding spot!"

The queen leaned in, her own face displaying the same sense of worry. "You're serious, now!?"

Max Goof stepped forward and raised his hand nervously, causing both women to look in his direction. "Excuse me..." he began timidly. "I don't mean to be rude, but would someone care to tell me what's going on? What this thing you ladies keep talking about?"

"It's really a long story, both figuratively and literally. However, it may be cause for concern if the object is truly missing from my husband's private quarters."

"We don't have time for this, right now. Just follow me!" Daisy snapped in an anxious yet demanding tone, her pace quickening as they proceeded down the castle halls.

The trio ascended several flights of stairs in an attempt to reach the castle's main tower more quickly, the journey taking some time due to the fact that they were moving on up while having started outside the throne room on the structure's ground level. Max hurried to keep up with the two females, who despite being small and wearing elegant dresses, were surprisingly light on their feet.

The substitute guard captain was often surprised him that his father's generation was so spry, despite being much older than they appeared, but at the moment he was more curious as to why they seemed so worried about something as trivial as a missing text.

They reached King Mickey's room several minutes later, a single guard having stood watch in their absence. He was a fat toon noticeably taller than Goofy, his rotund body shape covered by a thin chest plate bearing the Disney Castle logo. He also wore a knight's helmet on his large head, concealing his face from view. Daisy swept past the sentry with barely a backwards glance, closely followed by the queen herself. Max stopped midway through the door and smiled back at the portly spear holder.

"Hey PJ, they got you doing the grunt work too?" he greeted his best friend, casually flipping op the helmet visor to reveal a round face and pointy cat ears underneath.

The two buddies bumped fists before locking their arms. "How's it hanging, pal?"

"Same as always... Just tryin' to live down my dad's reputation by helping out the good guys, if ya know what I mean?" he suddenly looked ashamed by the thought. "I heard he came barging in here a few times recently. Must've really stunk for the rest of you, since he brought that evil, dragon lady with him."

Max couldn't help but notice how his friend's tone dropped, although he tried not to say anything. Pete Junior preferred to be referred to as "PJ" because he was named after his father, an unfortunate circumstance considering the latter was one of Disney Castle's biggest criminals. The younger Pete was pleasant, soft-spoken, and well-mannered, the exact opposite of his scheming and overbearing father. It was a little odd knowing that the two were related, but at the very least, it didn't seem like evil was genetic.

While there was a family resemblance similar to that of Max and Goofy, it had often caused problems for poor PJ. "It's gotta be tough having Pete for a dad."

"Say no more, man." the tubby guard shrugged casually. "My mom says he tried to stop being evil after they got married, so maybe he's not all bad."

"Well at least he's not a complete embarrassment like my dad used to be." Max joked, only to be interrupted by the sound of the door bolting shut behind them. He leaned over and whispered. "So, you have any idea what's going on?"

"Heck if I know, buddy. I ran into little Miss Daisy in the corridor one floor down, and she told me to make sure no one else came through here until she got back."

The two boys exchanged looks of concern as they heard faint whispers coming from the king's study, but neither were able to make anything out. In the room beyond, Minnie found herself collapsing into a chair, her sad expression speaking volumes. Daisy paced around the room with an anxious twitch, her normally carefree attitude having evaporated completely.

"Oh no, how could this happen." she lamented.

The queen had been unwilling to believe that the book was missing at first glance, yet a quick inspection of the room quickly made her realize how severe the situation really was. The secret compartment hidden behind the desk was empty, with no sign that the lock had been tampered with. Almost like someone knew where it was and how to break the seal. The only person with that knowledge was her husband, and he hadn't been home in months.

Furthermore, she knew that the knowledge contained in the lost text was something that very few people were allowed to possess. She never imagined someone would try to take it.

Daisy exhaled deeply, forcing a half-smile. "Well, I don't suppose whoever took it can do any harm." she tried to rationalize, not quite believing her own words.

"I don't know." Minnie stammered with a shake of her head, looking distraught as ever. "Mickey told me that the secrets kept in that book could easily shake the foundation of this world if our people were to discover the truth."

"The ancient history was supposed to remain a secret, but the knowledge alone won't be enough to cause any physical harm to anyone, right?"

Disney Castle's Queen gestured for her friend to take the opposite side of her husband's desk. "I personally believe that book could be harmful in the wrong hands, but it's more disconcerting that anyone could have been aware of the ancient events depicted in that book, let alone know that we possess the only written record of them."

Daisy had never read it herself, but she did know enough to catch the reference. "You might be right." she stroked her lower beak nervously. "The book itself has no power to speak of. I mean, our world's history won't just hand someone the key to universal domination. Maybe I overreacted earlier?"

"While I won't entirely disagree with your claims, Mickey told me long ago that there was more to that book than meets the eye. Perhaps hidden in its pages was an even greater secret that even we were never able to discover for ourselves." she hesitated for a moment before tightly clenching her hands. "He told me to defend it with my life, and now it's gone missing."

The female duck tried to remain calm. "Whoa, let's not jump the gun! Even if what you're saying is true, there's no guarantee that the thief will be able to decode the hidden messages."

"I would like to believe that, but after everything that's happened, I wouldn't be so sure."

The room fell silent for several minutes, but after wracking her mind for other solutions, Minnie realized that she had no other way of knowing what they were dealing with unless they contacted her husband. She swept past her friend and opened the cabinet, taking out what appeared to be a blue crystal ball. Daisy watched with interest as her friend returned to the desk, placing the orb atop a niche in the center that she assumed was made to accommodate it. The female mouse didn't bother to sit back down, instead reaching her hand into a pot of what appeared to be glitter.

She took a handful and gently began sprinkling it onto the surface of the talisman with her stubby fingers, causing the ball to glow brilliantly before revealing the familiar sight of her husband's face. The image of the king looked around curiously as if he knew he was being watched, before directing his gaze directly at Minnie as if he knew exactly where she was. He smiled pleasantly and waved before narrowing his gaze, knowing immediately that they wouldn't have contacted him unless something serious was going on.

In a world far away, Mickey looked into a strange void that had appeared next to him, seeing the image of her wife's lovely face. "I have a strange feeling ya didn't call just cause you missed me." the king's smile slowly fading away.

"I'm so sorry, dear. Is this a bad time?" she questioned in an apologetic tone.

Her husband shook his head. "Nope, I was just sittin' down for lunch." he raised his right hand, showing her a sandwich.

While relieved that he wasn't in danger, she couldn't help but feel bad at interrupting him. "Good, because there's something I really need to talk to you about. It's about a certain book."

As she spoke these words, Mickey dropped his food, working quickly to regain his composure. "Well, it looks like we do have quite a bit to discuss then." he closed his eyes for a second as if praying. "So, what about it?

"The Tome of Oblivion was discovered missing from the vault in your study."

"And only I know the spell to open it." he pondered out loud, looking unusually serious.

"That's why this theft has us in a fearsome little tizzy. Me and Daisy, both!"

"Hmmm... Do you have any idea who was behind it?"

"No, but if the wrong person managed to discover the secrets inside, the result could be incredibly dangerous."

"That's an understatement." he nodded sternly, his wife crying out in anguish.

"Oh, Mickey! What should we do!?"

The king stroked his chin with a gloved hand before answering. "Donald, Goofy, and I will take this information and report it to Master Yen Sid."

She leaned forward nervously. "Is it really that urgent?"

"Yup, it is! Like I said once before; there's more written inside that book than what you know. Master Yen Sid inscribed many secrets within, and only he knows all of the details. I'm sure he'll know what the thief was after, and maybe what we can do to help."

"What about the rest of us? How should we handle the situation around the castle?"

"It's not like you can make an announcement. Especially since so few people even know the book exists. Plus, I'd prefer if we keep things on a need-to-know basis."

She nodded in agreement. "Okay, but what will you do?"

"The boys and I will contact you once we return to the Mysterious Tower. Just stay calm and investigate the crime scene a little. See if you can come up with any more information."

Strength returned to Minnie's eyes. "Don't worry about things here. You can rely on me."

"I know." he returned her confidence before cutting off contact.

Shibuya - 104 Building

Sora opened his eyes, taking a minute to readjust to the light of day. A single glance told him he was in the same place where the mysterious voice had left him the previous night, though now the streets were packed to the brim with people, and the smell of car exhaust filled his nostrils. He stretched his arms skyward, feeling a sense of euphoria at seeing other people again, even if the crowds were a little more than he was comfortable with.

"Wow, I don't think I've ever fallen asleep on my feet before." he yawned, absentmindedly stepping into the street only to run afoul of a speeding car. "No, stop!"

The Keyblade Wielder raised his hands to defend himself, only for the vehicle to phase right through him, almost like a ghost. While relieved he was unhurt, the experience had caused a million questions to surface. Returning to the sidewalk, he was encountered a pair of girls wearing white collar shirts with red ribbons and striped skirts, assuming correctly that they had just come from school.

"Hey, could either of you girls tell me where I am?" he raised a hand to greet them, but the strangers walked past without so much as a sideways glance. Seeing a man in a black suit nearby, he waved a hand in front of the bystander's face without effect. "Huh!?"

Several more attempts to gain attention produced the same results, with his hand literally phasing through one man like the car had done only minutes ago. The experience left him exhausted, sitting disheartened on a curb near the department store. What was the point of escaping the Final World if he wasn't able to interact with anyone? Was this cruel irony the game his savior had offhandedly mentioned the previous night?

As he wallowed in these thoughts; a woman's shrill, obnoxious voice cut through the masses. "Oh dear, looks like there's still one left."

"Really? Looks like you're right. I thought the Conductor took care of all the players." answered a calm, male voice.

Standing across the street, ignored by the passing crowds were an unusual pair. The first was a young woman with short pink hair wearing thigh-high boots, a white corset, black short-shorts, and a navy-blue shirt bearing her midriff. Her companion was a tall, thin man with light orange hair slicked back into a messy updo. He wore tinted glasses and a black hoodie with a skeleton pattern. Most shocking were the thin, demonic wings growing out of their backs.

He noticed that two newcomers were staring right at him, cautiously turning to face them. "Wait! Can you guys actually see me?"

The girl walked towards him with an unsettling smile, her partner shrugging off the situation before following at a more leisurely pace. "Hey kid. How the Hell did you manage to reach the UG?"

"The UG!?" Sora instinctively took a step away from her.

"The Underground, stupid!" she repeated, appearing annoyed by his continued confusion.

Not one to be pushed around, he faced the pinkette with a defiant look. "Why don't you tell me who you are?"

"I don't see how that matters." she replied with a challenging smirk. "Unless you think you can make me!"

"Bring it on..." Sora prepared to summon his Keyblade, stopping as the man stepped between them. He grabbed the woman by the wrist, stopping her from striking the boy. It was another moment before the tension in the air fully subsided.

"Koki Kariya." the orange-haired male gestured to himself before casually wrapping an arm around his partner's shoulder. "This little ball of sunshine is Uzuki Yashiro."

"Huh?" Sora glanced between them.

"You asked for names, so I obliged." he replied, looking completely relaxed. Meanwhile, his companion's face was turning redder by the second like she was about to explode.

"Why'd you bother telling him our names!?"

"Common courtesy..." he responded, his words falling on deaf ears.

Uzuki faced the Keyblade Wielder with an angry look. "Enough wasting time! Let's erase the little bastard!" she lunged, only to be thumped in the back of the head by her companion. "Ouch... What was that for!?"

"You know we're not allowed to touch potential players. Only the Game Master is allowed to accept a direct challenge, and only on the last day of the game."

"The game..." Sora murmured to himself, his thoughts returning to the previous night's encounter with his mysterious benefactor.

He looked up to see the duo bickering, or more accurately, the girl yelling at her unperturbed partner while he stood quietly. While some would have ran while their enemies were bickering, the young hero seized the opportunity to learn more. He would not be intimidated.

"What kind of game are you guys talking about!?"

The two glanced at each other, Uzuki bringing a hand to rest on her hip. "The Reaper's Game, you stupid brat... We're the Reapers, and this IS the game!"

"Indeed... Now that the pleasantries have been taken care of, I do believe it's time we get started." Kariya added with an indifferent smile. He gave the younger Reaper a nod before facing the boy. "This time, please remember the rules."

"Don't worry, I will." she gestured forwards, causing a strange glowing insignia to appear beneath Sora's feet.

"What the..." Sora began, only to have the wind knocked out of him.

He landed on the sidewalk several meters away. The Keyblade Wielder felt his mouth slide open as he saw what appeared to be a gigantic blue shark rise from the spot he had been standing less than a second earlier, the creature gnashing its jaws angrily before sinking back into the ground like a Shadow Heartless.

"Damn, you interfering brat!" Uzuki screamed.

He looked up at his savior, catching sight of a teenager wearing baggy white shorts and a high collared purple-gray shirt. Standing roughly Sora's height, the youth had spiky orange hair and piercing blue eyes. Though remarkably thin, the newcomer possessed a sense of toughness and a cool aura, sporting a pair of stylish headphones around his neck. Sora's mind raced as the gears began turning, his eyes widening with apparent disbelief.

"Neku! Is that you!?" he shouted, earning the tiniest of frowns from his rescuer.

Neku Sakuraba blinked twice as if he didn't believe his own eyes, though a moment later his face was once again inscrutable. "Well, you're certainly the last person I ever thought I'd see around here."

The brunette jumped to his feet, looking almost excited. "What're you doing here?"

"I happen to live here. That's the question I should be asking you." he spoke, sounding mostly indifferent.

"Thanks a bunch! Maybe you can get me up to speed on what's going on after we get out of this mess."

The gloomy teenager frowned. "Save the catching up for later. We have bigger problems."

"No worries! I won't let them catch me off guard like that, again." Sora summoned his Keyblade and smiled.

"Grrrr! The Game Master said that headphones kid was supposed to be the only player this week." Uzuki screamed, summoning several wolf-like monsters to battle. "Who's this brat with the giant key and where'd he come from!?"

Kariya shrugged. "You're asking me? Maybe you should have let him introduce himself before attacking in a frenzied rage."

"Shut up!" his partner shot back, her face contorted with rage. "You just sit there and be useless as always. I'll take care of those kids!"

"Suit yourself." the male Reaper replied, completely immune to her hot-headedness.

"C'mon Neku. Let's fight 'em together!"

"Are you asking to form a pact?"

The brunette looked confused. "A what!?"

"Only those with player pins can form a pact to survive the game together." Neku slowly backed away as some of the summoned monsters turned in his direction.

Sora blasted one of the wolf-like creatures away with a ball of fire before pulling out the pin he had received from the invisible stranger. "So that's what these things are called, huh? This means I'm a player in this Reapers' Game thing?"

"Yeah, but a player can't survive long without a partner." he cringed as the Keyblade Wielder shielded him from harm again, accidentally stumbling backwards in the process. "We need to team up! Will you make a pact with me?"

"We're friends! Do you even need to ask?" Sora reached down to help him up, an supernatural glow enveloping the two players as their hands touched.

The pink-haired Reaper stamped her feet. "Crap, they've made the pact! I was hoping the Noise would've been able to erase them before it happened."

"So that's what they're called." he prepared to face the rapidly multiplying monsters, sparing a glance at his newfound partner. "Is that all there is to this pact-thing?"

"Yup..." Neku exhaled deeply, his eyes narrowing at the attacking monsters. "Let's do it!"

Sora prepare to strike, but the wolf Noise was blasted into nothingness by a series of scattering energy blasts fired off by his partner. The Keyblade Wielder raised his weapon as the shark-like Noise from before emerged from the asphalt with open jaw to greet him, staving off the monster's teeth just long enough to destroy it with a Thunder spell. The remaining wolves jumped at Neku, but the antisocial teen repelled them by summoning a wall of fire and conjuring a jagged piece of ice which shot from the ground, impaling his targets in an instant.

"Nice moves!" Neku nodded in acknowledgment before launching another flurry of bullet blasts at the Reapers, only to have them repelled by the male member of the duo.

Uzuki rolled up her sleeve. "That's it! I'll erase you kids with my own two hands!"

"You know that's not how we do things." Kariya reminded her, earning an irate sigh from his short-tempered colleague. He clapped a hand on her back. "Time for us to pull out for today."

"Fine... " the pinkette groaned, the duo disappearing seconds later.

A few moments passed in silence, though it was Sora whole ultimately spoke first. "So, care to tell me more about this game I'm suddenly being forced to play." he asked, forcing a smile which his acquaintance did not return.

"Yeah, we'll get to that. First, why don't you explain to me how you came to my world?" Neku began with a frown. "And more importantly... How you died... ... ..."

Shibuya - Conductor's Pad

Across the Shibuya River, another meeting was taking place in a location secret to even most of the Reapers. Hidden from normal view was a lavish room resembling a new-age club, complete with a bar and several shelves lined with expensive drink. The lighting was modest yet colorful, giving off an artistic impression. A beautiful woman sat on one of the stools, quietly enjoying a well-deserved cocktail.

Tall and buxom, she wore a white sleeveless collar shirt revealing her shoulders, white frills, and a black ribbon; over which was a short-cut black dress. Her outfit cut off above the knees, revealing the length of her legs and black knee-high stocking and white high-heeled shoes. She also had pale skin and long blond hair reaching partway down her back, the latter styled with a wave towards the ends. Her cold gray eyes were fixated into a sharp gaze, and a pair of square, thin-rimmed glasses gave her a scholarly appearance.

"I'm back, Konishi." a deep, smooth voice called out.

She was greeted her superior; a tall, gaunt man with a dark goatee, and long brown hair reaching to his shoulders. His clothing was somewhat dated, consisting of a black and gray patterned disco suit and white undershirt, the top button of which was undone to reveal a silver pendant. His eyes were hidden by dark sunglasses, and a pair of red headphones hung loosely around his neck. Megumi Kitaniji was "the Composer", the Reaper responsible for ensuring the game was played according to the rules, and issuing orders to the others.

Mitsuki Konishi straightened her glasses. "Mr. Kitaniji. Are you aware of the situation?"

"Indeed. It would appear there is a new player, and he has made a contract with our main target."

"The situation makes little sense." The blonde woman remained composed, though she displayed signs of discomfort. "We were absolutely certain you claimed all the other players as a fee for Mr. Sakuraba's game entrance."

"All of the other players in Shibuya were indeed erased." the Conductor replied, looking surprisingly smug. "It would appear this new one may be someone completely different."

"We haven't accepted any other players this week. How is this even possible?"

Mr. Kitaniji turned his back to her, concealing a rarely-seen frown. "Unorthodox as it sounds, the boy named Sora might've been brought here from another world."

While startled by his remark, she quickly tried to hide it. "Certainly such a situation would be a clear violation of the rules."

"Not quite... As the Conductor, it is my duty to be aware of such things. There are currently no regulations concerning players who were not born in Shibuya."

"In that case, I suppose there's nothing we can do... ... ... Or is there?"

"Perhaps I will speak to the Composer concerning this matter in the future. Nevertheless, the origin of one participant is not our concern." Her superior casually poured himself a drink, quietly sipping it before speaking again. " I needn't remind you, Konishi, of your obligation is to erase both the players? You are this week's Game Master..."

"I'll get the job done, sir." she bowed her head respectfully.

"Good. But to be safe, I'm requiring all Reapers to wear their O-Pins."

"Outlet pins!?" Konishi adjusted her glasses. "Sir, I know O-Pins enhance Reaper battle performance, but what about the side effects? All to punish one ignorant little boy? It's so risky..."

"Nonetheless, the Composer wills it. I, for one, am grateful. Haven't we already lost enough good men?"

"Yes, sir."

"Also, I'm putting the UG on Emergency Call."

"Emergency Call!?" She gasped softly her loss of composure rarely seen.

"Make the arrangements." Mr. Kitaniji ordered.

"Right away..."

This earned the tiniest of nods from her as he turned away, making a hasty exit from the room. She watched him go quietly, the speed of his departure and unusual orders leaving her feeling unsettled. Once she was certain he had gone, the female Reaper's gaze became cold-as-ice. Gone was the secretary-like demeanor she had presented only moments ago. She ran a hand down her face, a dark grimace gracing her beautiful features.

"Something's wrong... Why such alarm over some artless rebels. He's hiding something?" she pondered out loud, her suspicion growing by the second. "I need to act now. But not blindly. Every good plan starts with hard facts."

Note to Readers:

If you're not a fan, I don't tend to drag out the World Ends with You part for too long. I saw it as the perfect tie-in with the Shibuya setting, and also a good way to bring Sora back to life. Those who have played the game will understand what I mean. The main plot will involve a lot of Disney properties and even some Square Enix ones, so stay-tuned. I hope people enjoy the references to both.

I'm certain many people can guess who's the unseen benefactor is behind Sora's participation in the Reaper's Game. It should also be obvious who gave Maleficent that book from Disney Castle.

REVIEW if you would like to see more. I don't know how appealing the story is to fanfiction readers, but it would be nice to receive some suggestions for things people would like to see. After all, I've written ideas into stories based on reader reviews in the past.