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Prolouge

The Darkness, no matter how forcibly sealed it was, wouldn't ever go away. It was a fact that they, as Keyblade Wielders (whose destinies had them locked in the endless struggle against it), had to learn to face. Peace is a beautiful thing, but a fragile one, and while tranquility seemed to reign on their island home, there were shadows that they never could escape. For over a decade the darkness remained at bay, not only in their home but the homes of friends separated by millions of miles and stars, but slowly it began to creep back into the worlds. Out from under the door it slithered, infesting the universe from the edges onward. Early on in its conquest, word of the darkness was to be had, and sent to its would-be conquerors. As Lady Fate commanded, they would have to take up their blades and slay their immortal enemy, no matter silly reasons like age or family.

It is well-known (to those who know about these things) that the primary target of the darkness is the heart. It spreads through a person like an infection until it steals their very existence away…those taken by the Heartless cannot move on to wherever it is that others move on to in death. They're trapped in the dark, unable to find the light, anguished and tortured, haunted with the ravenous need for hearts. If they are destroyed then that's it. There is no afterlife, no peace after death. It is not painless and it is not honorable.

The hearts of the Keyblade Wielders draw these creatures like moths to a flame. These hearts are beacons in the dark, and where the Wielders go, masses of darkness are sure to follow, taking anything that stands between them and what they seek. Some say (those that posses the knowledge to say these things, that is) that the hearts of Keyblade Wielders are even more desirable to these dark, heartless creatures than the hearts of entire worlds, though this is mere speculation, for such experiments are never to be performed.

So, when the Keyblade Wielders heard that the Heartless were coming again, they knew that it was them they'd be searching for. With this knowledge, the three Wielders decided that their world would no longer be safe with them on it, and since they had to go out and fight anyhow, it would be in everyone back home's best interest if they didn't return until it was safe to. This they decided with high hopes—they'd beat back the darkness once before. But it was also a bittersweet decision, for this time there was more to be left behind. Families, children, whose place wasn't with their parents, combating darkness from world to world. It was a bittersweet decision, but a necessary one, and with a little sadness but hopes high, they kissed their kids goodbye and left to save the worlds.

The Keyblade Wielders aren't the only ones with exceptionally strong hearts. There is a rare thing called the Pure Heart, only known to exist to seven, and when functioning correctly is the only thing that is known to keep the darkness at bay. It is another story that the Keyblade Wielders play a part in—for you see, one of them also held in herself a Pure Heart, and had unknowingly, by staying in her world, prevented any invasion of the darkness, no matter how bleak the rest of the universe would seem. Unaware of this subconscious ability, she left with her comrades, and it was this very thing that led their world into darkness.

The darkness never stood a chance against the hearts of the children. Was it because of their innocence, or did their futures play a hand in it? Or was it thanks to every child in their world that it was partially spared? It's impossible to say. But while their world was crumbling, the frightened, guiltless children held enough light in their hearts to beat the darkness back. The world was broken and many had been lost…but all of the children had survived, and in this there was hope. The people left behind began to restructure themselves and rebuild, trying their hardest to forget what had happened, lest their memories bade it to return.

As the town's children grew older, they lost that special light that had protected them long ago. But among the child survivors, there were two who were special. They were orphans now, and because of the villager's reluctance to remember, they would grow up without knowing why. But they would remain this way, for as they grew, they didn't lose strength of heart like the others their age—their hearts grew stronger with each beat, and it was because of this that the darkness came.

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(725 A.I.)

(Destiny Islands)

The candle she'd lit hours previous wasn't faring so well, so with a quick whoosh of air Kyra blew it out and started anew. The flames licked their way up the match, trying to reach her fingertips, but she'd learned not to hold it too long the first time she'd lit one and it charred the tip of her nail. After igniting the wick she stubbed the candle out in the small cup of sand—kept nearby for such purposes—and watched the newly born candlelight stumble across the room like a baby foal. It didn't light up the room nearly as impressively as the overhead lamp, but the clock had long since struck nine, and the meager little home would not have electricity until after the next morning's sunrise. It was a ridiculous rule—lights were allowed when the sun was up, its warm rays more than capable of illuminating up the entire house, but not when it was so dark outside that they'd actually need them. Still, the stars shone brightly, and if all of the window drapes were drawn back it was enough to see by, but there was something about the dark that made Kyra shudder. It was an unexplainable, insatiable fear that had grown with her from childhood on, and fueled her constant need to light candles around the house when the electricity was cut. She would curse those who cut power to her home just to save a little munny had she known a life otherwise, but to Kyra, orphaned from her childhood on, it was just the way that she had to live. Orphans were presented with the bare necessities, a small home, running water, electricity from seven to nine, and a little munny allowance each week, but she was glad for what had been spared. There were many orphans on the Destiny Islands, but few who had anything to give to them. They had given all that they could bear to give, and for Kyra, it was enough.

Roundabout thirteen years previous, tragedy had befallen their small island. Details into what this tragedy was were hazy—those who were old enough to remember wouldn't talk, and those too young to remember couldn't even if they wanted to. The Destiny Islands were full of secrets, including those about the lineage of two particular orphans. The rest had learned of their parents some way or another, from records, or stories told to them by the aging. But for Kyra and Haru, it wasn't so easy…records of them didn't exist, and whenever they asked anyone for stories of their families, people became tight-lipped and grim. It was what had really bonded them all of these years, though the one thing that Kyra remembered from her life before was Haru; he was a constant presence, and a welcome one.

It was he who found her still awake in the wee hours of morning, staring into the candle as if it held all of her life's secrets. He sunk down onto the couch next to her, and rested his chin in cupped hands, staring off into the same vague direction as his best friend. After a few long moments of comfortable silence, he blurted out, "I don't get it."

"Hm?" She grunted absently, seemingly distracted by whatever it was that was holding her attention. Haru looked over into her blue eyes, but all he saw was a flickering flame.

"I don't understand why you're having a staring contest with something that doesn't have any eyes. I mean, I know I'm no challenge, but I think this is a little extreme…" He leaned back into the cushions shaking his frizzy red hair out of his face.

This wasn't new; in fact, it was an almost nightly routine. There was something in the fire that captivated her attention, and if he let her, Kyra would spend her night contemplating it. She'd told him time and time again that she saw something in the fire, that it had sparked memories long lain to rest. There was no way of knowing whether or not these memories were important at all, or even real, because no matter how hard Kyra stared, she could never quite grasp them.

She broke her visual contact with the candle to look over at him. "Why aren't you in bed? It's late…or early, rather."

Haru nudged her. "Because you're sitting on my bed. It's mine turn to take the couch."

"No…I'll sleep here tonight."

Their tiny home had only one bedroom, and so for the years that they'd lived together they rotated between taking the bed and sleeping on the lumpy couch.

"No way. Go to sleep, Kyra. And not in here."

"I can't."

Kyra was a tricky individual; by the morning she'd be a completely different person, happy and clever, but there was something about the dead of night that changed her. Haru understood; the dark had always made him a little nervous too, because of some little thing that he couldn't put a finger on. It was stupid, but it didn't change. Almost eighteen years old and they were afraid of the dark.

His final remark was a resigned sigh accompanying a mumbled good night as he headed towards the bedroom. But before he passed the threshold, Kyra's voice could be heard.

"I can't help it. My memories are there, but I just can't…remember." Her eyes were closed, tight, while she tried to see past the blackness.

Haru's past didn't bother him. He wasn't going to stress himself out trying to remember what would never change, but Kyra was stubborn and proud. She couldn't claim that she had much, but what she did have she held onto tightly. That included the memories of her past, however painful they may have been. That was another reason that he wasn't itching to recall them. Orphans don't have happy childhoods, no matter what.

"Maybe that's for the best."

"Maybe…"

He shook his head, knowing that he was getting nowhere. Throwing a glance back over his shoulder, he noted that Kyra hadn't moved. She continued to stare blankly into the small dot of the candle's flame.

She did fall asleep that night, after the hours stretched on and it seemed as if daylight would never return. And as she did whenever she managed sleep, Kyra dreamt. Her dreams were the only secret that she kept from Haru, the little piece of herself that she and she alone could hold close to the heart, well worn and familiar. And, in fact, each dream was familiar—they all had something in common. Or, someone, rather.

Her parents.

Nothing every really happened in these dreams; they were snippets of the mundane, the monotonous, and that was fine with her. But Kyra knew that her mother's blonde hair fell in gentle waves to her back—so much like her own, though long—and even though she had a deep way about her, she was strikingly beautiful. Her father shared that same concentrated look to him; he was taller than Kyra could ever hope to be, well-muscled, with blue eyes the color of the sea. Her own eyes were darker, like her mothers. Sometimes she saw them with a child, other times just on their own. Her dreams were surprisingly absent of sound, and sometimes the colors began to bleed together, like ink on the page of a book dropped into water.

She couldn't honestly say that they were her parents, but something inside of her knew. There were too many things that just fit…maybe, subconsciously she was creating things to soothe her secret, inner desires. It didn't really matter much—the past is the past is the past, and she had no use for it. Whoever they were they couldn't have been that great, having had gone off and died on her. She had a good life now, a house to live in, a best friend to spend her days with. Kyra didn't need parents, especially good for nothing dead ones.

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(704 A.I.)

(Destiny Islands)

(One week after the end of KHII)

Sora, Riku, and Kairi

How's it goin' fellas? I sure hope your time home has been as good as mine! No Heartless in sight, here or in any other world. It looks like we might actually get a break for now. But I'm afraid that takin' a break would be dangerous…after lookin' back at all of the trouble that the darkness caused, I realized that because of the World Order (the pact that keeps the worlds a secret from each other, in case you didn't know) the destruction was worse than it should have been. It would have been much simpler to take down Maleficent and Organization XIII if we could have gotten help from each of the worlds and didn't have to travel in secret.

After talkin' it over with some friends of mine, I've decided to retract the World Order. It was made to try and keep wars from spreadin' to other worlds, but it didn't really help! So, if you fellas don't mind, I could really use your help spreadin' the word about the darkness and the keyblades and other worlds. Maybe we can stop someone from doing what Xehanort did, and let the worlds exist in true peace.

I'm takin' a few days to get prepared, but then I'm comin' to Destiny Islands for ya. It'll be the first world we let in on the secret, so don't go blowin' your cover until I get there. Got it?

Ps. Don't worry about danger—this journey is gonna be the safest one yet!

The letter was read simultaneously by a trio, all the way down to the seal that served as a signature: a black circle with two smaller ones protruding out of the top, like ears. The three teenagers looked at the letter and then each other, each at a loss for words, until the one in the middle, a young man with brunet spikes and rich blue eyes crossed his arms behind his head and sighed. "Whew. When I saw the King's seal, I was worried it was going to be something really important."

"But it is important, Sora!" the trio's only girl protested, the zippers on her pink dress jingling as her hands found her hips. "The King wants our help to reveal the secrets of the different worlds!"

"We can travel without having to worry about the Heartless or the Nobodies," the third put in. He was the tallest, and probably the oldest, judging by physique alone.

"And I get to come this time!" Kairi said. "No more staying behind. I'll be by your side from now on. Always."

Sora looked over to find her eyes on him. They were a soft shade of indigo, which often looked blue in full light. Her gaze made him nervous; he found himself with a racing heart. Kairi gave him a reassuring smile, which he returned.

"Is that a promise?" he asked. She nodded firmly, but with a grin still spread across her face.

"Are you two forgetting something?" Riku asked, crossing his arms against his chest. "Mickey said he'd be coming in a few days, but we don't know how long it took for the letter to reach us. Maybe we should start preparing…"

Sora chuckled, having turned away from the spell of Kairi's eyes. "Preparing for what? All we have to do is travel around and talk to people—piece of cake!"

"Somehow, Sora," Riku said, shaking his head. "I don't think that it'll be that easy."

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None of these notes are important, if you'd like to skip them. But here's a little bit of an insight into my plans for this story and some of the choices that I've made. My newest project—a fic with a meld of past, present, and future, all depending on how you want to look at it. It obviously deals with 2nd Gen characters, but at the same time, will show flashbacks to our heroes to show how things ended up the way that they did. So expect both stories to continue as this story goes on. Trust me, they'll merge into one eventually. I thought that this format would be extremely fun to challenge myself with, and much more interesting than writing a KH sequel and then a 2nd Gen story, because it started as solely the latter. I toyed with posting, but eventually decided to, sort of as an eighteenth birthday present to myself.

Sorry to anyone who was actually reading and enjoying my other story, Remnants of the Past. It was being rushed through and wasn't being written to the best of my ability, and I couldn't allow it to continue. This one will be much better, at any rate.

Ps. Check out the forum I've created for this story if you want to hear more about the plot, the characters, or anything else. You can ask me questions and I'll be sure to answer them!