Back in Traverse Town (Riku's and Cody Fairbrother's Story)

Riku and Cody enters the First District of Traverse Town)

Riku: Traverse Town? Why are we back?

(He hears footsteps behind him)

Cody: Joshua.

Joshua: Nice of you to join us.

Riku: What happened?

Joshua: Trouble happened. I was hoping one of you could help.

Riku: When did Sora and the other's get here?

Joshua: Bravo, Riku. Why can't they be this quick on the uptake?

Riku: Yeah, well. Sora's a little...

(They laugh softly)

Joshua: Now, let's get down to the problem. We've got a nasty Dream Eater on our hands. It keeps jumping between worlds. Not only that, it knows how to summon creatures like it--pretty powerful ones, too. The others are on a mission to stop it, but they need help.

Riku: The others? You mean Shiki, Dora-Nichov and their friends?

Joshua: That's right. They all found their Game partners, and Shiki is over fighting in the other Traverse Town. In fact, Sora and the other's are helping them out.

Cody: Good to hear. So what can we do?

Joshua: Actually, the Dream Eater just reappeared in the foundtain plaza. I sent Beat, El-Matadorq and their partner to face it.

Riku: I'm on it.

(Riku and Cody starts to leave)

Joshua: Riku, Cody. There's something else you need to know.

Riku: Hmm?

Joshua: These three Traverse Towns separated by the Portal... I was under the impression they were parallel worlds, but it looks like I was wrong.

Riku: Wrong how?

Joshua: That's where it gets tricky. After you, the others and Sora left, Shiki and Dora-Nichov crossed the Portal to join their Game partner. Did you notice Players have a mission timer inscribed on their hands? Well, when she got to the other side, Shiki and Dora-Nichov had more time left on her clock than her partner. And when Beat and El-Matadora's partner crossed over from the other side, They had LESS time left.

Riku: So time flows differently here and there? So what? That's true of any three worlds. Their home world would be running on a different time axis, too.

Joshua: Yes, I understand that. But if these Traverse Towns were parallel worlds, then time would flow the same in both. But it doesn't, ergo they are not parallel worlds.

Cody: You mean there's a past...and a future.

Joshua: No. Impossible. The worlds are clearly separate--it's not just time that sets them apart. As you yourself noted, every world flows at its own pace, which tells me that for all their similarities, these are two distinct worlds.

Riku: Distinct worlds?

Joshua: Yes...but this is all conjecture. It's like the same world imagined by two people. What does that tell you? That we're in...

Riku: A dream...

Joshua: Yes. Bravo again, Riku. In which case none of this may matter one bit to me or my friends. But to you and Sora, I think it might be a vital clue.

Riku: Right... Thanks. So you need me in the plaza?

Joshua: Wow. I'm running out of "bravos."

Riku: Be right back.

(Riku enters the Fourth District as Rhyme, Wang Dora, El-Matadora and Beat are fighting the Spellican)

Riku: Beat!

Cody: El-Matadora!

Beat: About time, yo!

Riku: Beat, what happened to your Dream Eaters?

Beat: Don't need 'em when I've got my Game partner. And I don't need you!

El-Matadora:

Rhyme: Oh, here we go again. Five seconds ago, it was, "Where's Riku"-- and now the act?

Wang Dora:

Beat: Bwaaah! Don't tell them that.

El-Matadora: Yeah!

(Rhyme giggles. The Spellican's face makes a slight twitch as it hovers in front of them)

Rhyme: It's so nice to meet you. I'm Rhyme. And this is Wang Dora. Riku and Cody, right? Sorry my partner's acting like a doofus.

Wang Dora: Even El-Matadora is little stubborn to you, because he found me before you go here.

(Riku dispels his Keyblade)

Beat: We are not! You always gotta go around and...and garnish our reputation!

Rhyme: Since when? You burned that bridge all by yourself. "Nobody raises his reputation by lowering others."

(Riku and Cody laughs)

Beat: Yo, Riku and Cody. You gonna sit there and let them get in my grill?

Riku: Sorry, it's just...you two are cut from the same cloth.

Cody:

Rhyme: I know!

Wang Dora:

Beat: I ain't made of cloth!

(Beat and El-Matadora laughs)

Rhyme: Beat looks and talks like a punk, but there's a heart of gold in there somewhere.

Wang Dora:

(The Spellican continues to twitch...)

Riku: Yeah. They're come through for us, so we know what you mean.

(...and twitch...)

Beat: There, see? I'm a--

(...and twitch)

Beat: Rhyme! You didn't just call me a punk again!

El-Matadora:

(The three laugh, sending the Spellican into a fit of rage)

Riku: All right, now we ruffled its feathers.

(Riku and Cody summons their Keyblade)

Riku: Ready to do this?

Rhyme & Beat: Yeah