Sora ran up the stairs in Master Yen Sid's tower. After he said goodbye to the Dream Eaters that he had created during his dive into the sleeping worlds, he was finally ready to begin his next journey. His heart was pumping hard within his chest from both the excitement of a new wondrous adventure and running up the steep steps of the tower. A large grin was plastered on his face, he could not wait to pair up with Donald and Goofy and take on the whatever dangers that the worlds had in store for them. The Trinity of Goofs was back, and it was time to kick some butt.

Sora burst through Master Yen Sid's doors expecting to see Donald and Goofy waiting for him there patiently, but only Yen Sid inhabited the room, with his classically etched frown.

"Sora, how nice of you to finally join me" Yen Sid said with his great booming voice. Sora scratched the back of his head and looked around the surrounding area.

"Did everyone leave already?" Sora nervously asked. His heart dropped into his stomach, he at least wanted to say goodbye to Kairi and Riku before they all had to part ways.

"Not quite, in light of recent events, I am straying away from my previous plan,"

Sora looked at Master Yen Sid quizzically wondering what he could possibly mean. There was an odd twinkle in the stoic wizard's eye as he gazed at the young keyblade bearer.

"You will find out soon enough, they should be here any moment," the old wizard chuckled.

"Move ya big palooka!" screeched a familiar raspy voice behind the doorway.

"I am sorry Donald, I was just looking out the window at how purdy the stars are, hyuck!"

"C'mon you two, we have to meet up with Yen Sid and be debriefed about this change of plan," the voice was feminine and sounded incredibly impatient about the star gazing that was happening right outside the door. The excitement that filled the tower was thick, everyone within was anxious to find out what Yen Sid and fate had in store for them.

"As I said, they will be here any moment," Master Yen Sid affirmed as the door opened into his study. In walked the familiar raspy voiced, highly temperamental, short, Disney Castle Court Magician in all his splendor. Donald was muttering to himself about constantly having to deal with nitwits and that he was just about ready to pluck out all of his feathers. After him walked in the tall dog man and Disney Castle's own Captain of the Knights, Goofy. He seemed happy like usual and was incredibly excited to start another adventure with his trio of friends. The final person who walked through the door made Sora's heart skip. Just seeing her auburn hair, vibrant indigo eyes and cute smile was enough to make him get a little weak in the knees and his heart to thunder in his chest. He had never felt this way before when she had entered a room. He always had symptoms of being infatuated with her, he could never deny that he thought Kairi was pretty. He would never admit to her, but he did have a small crush on her, but this feeling was something different. Something that howled within him and demand to be noticed. Gosh, what is wrong with me? Its only Kairi he thought to himself, but he couldn't quite shake the feeling.

"Now, I have had some changes of heart," Master Yen Sid's voice boomed over those in front of him. Everyone quieted their mutters and silent thoughts and turned their eyes towards Yen Sid. "I have thought deeply about the dilemma that we have at hand, the strength of Xehanort and his cohorts is undeterminable. I am afraid that the original training I had for Lea and Kairi under Merlin will be detrimental in the long run," he took a pause and looked into the young male face before him. "Sora, you will not be venturing with Donald and Goofy this time around," this sentence was met with Donald's loud high pitch quaking and Sora's exasperated 'whaat'. Kairi's was shocked for a moment until she realized what this implied. This journey that she was about to take was going to be with keybearer right beside her. Master Yen Sid began to wave his hands in attempt to silence the two loud mouths in front of him.

"Now, now, I realize that you three have a bond that can never be broken, but these are dire times. Think of this as a chance to expand your fighting repertoire, learn new fighting styles with new friends and comrades. We need a new strategy and we need all of the keyblade wielders to be more than proficient," his eyes scanned the two guardians of light before him. "Sora, you have lost the power of waking, and most of your power along with it. While you are not exactly weak, you are not as strong as you were before you started the Mark of Mastery Exam. Your failure in the exam has cost you a price, and since you have much to gain, I am pairing you with Kairi. Your job will be to train her while gaining your old powers back, I believe that this will benefit the both you,"

Sora's heart began to thud in his chest. I don't get to be with Donald and Goofy which is a bummer, but I do get to be with Kairi. Why can't all four of us go on a journey?

"Master, why are you separating us? Why can't Donald and Goofy come with Kairi and me?"

"Because young Sora, Donald and Goofy will be accompanying Lea. While he is experienced in the art of combat, he has much to learn about wielding a keyblade. What two better teachers than the ones who taught you so much on your first journey?" Yen Sid's eyes began to twinkle.

"Master Yen Sid, we only have one Gummi ship how are we gonna go separate ways?" Goofy pondered bringing forth his gloved hand to his mouth.

"You big palooka, Lea went to Twilight Town with Riku and the King originally when he and Kairi were going to train under Merlin. Then we grabbed her and brought her back here. So, Lea will probably bring back a ship for us to use," Donald quacked loudly in Goofy's ears. The court magician's eyes then narrowed slightly, and he chuckled mischievously. He whispered to Goofy "And probably a better ship at that, the Highwind is a little outdated,"

Goofy looked at Donald and a big toothy grin and snickered behind his gloved hands. While they were going to miss Sora, the chance to speed throughout space was highly tantalizing.

"Donald, Goofy, go to the landing on the tower grounds and wait for Lea there, I must debrief these two younglings,"

Donald and Goofy turned to Yen Sid and bowed. Both of them run up to his desk and shook his old gnarled hands. Sora watched as Yen Sid muttered something to the two Disney Castle residence, they both nodded and head toward the tower door. As Donald passed by Sora, he whispered something that he could barely hear.

"Be a good boy Sora, don't do anything that I wouldn't do," Donald eyed Kairi for a second then turned his gaze back to Sora. Sora blushed a deep red and couldn't believe what he was implying. Goofy stood at the door waiting for Donald to come to join him on begin their travels.

"Good bye you two! Safe Journey and good luck!" Donald and Goofy exclaimed at the same time.

"Now, you two," Yen Sid's gaze fell back on Sora and Kairi. They both stood up straighter than they had before and looked anxiously at the powerful, retired Keyblade Master before them. "In order to defeat Xehanort there are gather allies we must gather acting now to rouse them from their slumber We have discussed this before Sora. Your Mark of Mastery exam was conducted in the hopes you would acquire the power to wake them.,"

Kairi looked to Sora and as he bowed down. In all the years that she had known Sora she had never known him to fail. She knew that he was trying to cover up how he felt, but she could sense the shame radiating from him. She went to grab his hand and gave it a small squeeze. Sora turned his gaze towards her and gave her small squeeze back.

"Sora, when Xehanort almost made you his vessel he stripped you of most of the power you had gained by then. I suspect that you have already felt this. There's someone who lost his strength and found it again, a true hero to whom you ought to pay a visit. Perhaps he can point you in the right direction,"

Sora being the goofball that he is started to pose like great Greek heroes that he had seen on the Olympian Grounds. Kairi giggled at his antics.

"Maybe this hero has the key to restoring the power that you have lost. Now Kairi," his powerful stair bore into her soul. "You may find that points in your journey are exhausting or too much for you to handle. Look to the young man standing beside you,"

Kairi and Sora turned towards each other and studied each other's face. He gave her a reassuring smile and a gave her a thumbs up.

"Sora will be your support system and the much-needed pillar for you to rely upon. Just as Kairi will be yours Sora. I want you both to know that I would never have set you out on this journey if I believed it was beyond your power and capabilities. Kairi, Sora has embarked on a journey with no set skills and had to learn from Donald, Goofy and those who he encountered along his journey. Now, you will learn from him and those who you both meet. You will help each other become powerful and learn new abilities along the way. Go forth," Yen Sid said to the two. The both stood up straight and bowed towards the Master. Sora spun on his heel and ran out of the door. Just as Kairi was about to follow suit she heard softly spoken words.

"May your heart be your guiding key,"