Author's Note

Hello! If you're an old time reader, welcome to something familiar but also vastly different. And if you're a newcomer, welcome to what will be a really fun, big, exciting, crossover supreme burrito of a story! It's Kingdom Hearts and anything else you want crammed into one epic story. This story will follow the events of Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix. It will have a bunch of original content in it and will also feature new and old characters. So, this, essentially, is a giant rewrite of my "Harbinger of Light" series. Herald and I stopped writing together, and I also wanted to rewrite the story with a new plot and with much better skill. My skill has improved immensely since last you read something on here, and this rewrite is going to prove that. So if you read "Harbinger" and loved it, then get ready for a wonderful story. If you're new, then you, too, get ready for a wonderful story! Either way, I really hope you all enjoy the ride!

When you finish the chapter, leave me a review to help me improve and see what you would like changed with the story, or where you would want it to go!

I would like to dedicate this story to Lucenthia. He's been one of my closest friends for a very long time. He inspired me to get back into all of this. So this entire story goes out to him. I hope you love it, bro.

Rated T for violence, mild language, blood, substance use, and adult themes.

Disclaimer for rest of the story: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or any other owned work that will show up within. This is merely a fan fiction written for fun by a bored author who should actually be studying.

Enjoy!

Chapter I

A New Adventure

I don't know when it all started … the darkness, I guess had always been there, suppressed for so long. Here I was now, thinking to when King Mickey visited us so long ago. I hadn't seen him in a year, and when he visited us, I was happy. I smiled. I felt so happy to be in my gummi ship again, to go out on a new adventure. Everything was really great. I was optimistic. I knew we would win.

Part of me likes to think I actually regret the journey that followed, but another part of me wants to finish this story, especially as I run forward, ready to embrace what could be anything, but most surely my death … as darkness stares back and our hearts merge.

~THW~

"No, Sora, you don't get it."

"Well of course I don't get it Kai! I suck at math. Why are we even studying? It's summer!"

Sora threw down his pencil and stretched before running off into the sand, barefooted and calling out wildly to his friend. "Come on, Kai! Stop being such a nerd and join us!" The ocean was brilliantly blue at noon, and it crashed onto the small little play island again and again. He enjoyed the feeling of the wind.

"Sora, school starts back in two weeks, and you almost failed math last term," Kairi said.

"Oh … well, er … I-I'll do better this time! But come on, it's summer still. Please?" He turned around and gave her over-exaggerated pouting lips. He twisted a foot in place for a boost. She giggled slightly, covering her lips with her hand.

"Okay, but just for today," she told him, smiling softly. He let out a whoop of victory before rushing out into the water. Their third friend, Riku, was already in the water, lazily floating with the waves.

"You two finally done studying?" he asked with a chuckle. His silver hair floated idly.

"I guess. It's so boring," Sora yawned.

"Hey! Math isn't boring," Kairi huffed. She dove into the water from the paopu tree. Sora smiled widely at her as she emerged. "And why are you smiling like that? All school subjects are fun!" Kairi's eye's narrowed when Sora laughed.

"Well, after seeing everything out there," he said with a wave to the sky, "I just … I just miss everything." Kairi swam to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Her hand was warm compared to the water.

"Sora …"

"But school really is so boring!" he exclaimed. Kairi splashed him violently while he pretended to drown from her fierce waves. Riku chuckled at them again. He bounced back into the fresh air.

"Can you really believe it's been over a year since we defeated Xemnas?" Riku asked them. He was staring up at the cloudless sky. Sora shook his dark hair, showering Kairi's face in the process, much to her discontent.

"Yeah, he was pretty tough to fight. I liked his swords a lot," he replied.

"Sora, really …?"

"Sheesh, Kai! I just liked how they were all shwoosh and zwoom-zwoom and stuff." Sora waved invisible blades through the air. The three of them broke into laughter. That was a sound they all had missed: their shared laughter.

"I'm just glad life went back to normal," Kairi said. After playing a bit in the water, they waded back towards the shore and lay languidly on the sand. Water seeped into their clothes. Many meters away, Tidus, Wakka, and Selphie trained as usual. It was really like they were thirteen again, not on the verge of seventeen.

"After saving the worlds twice, I really started to miss home." He said.

"Come on, Sora, now you're being too modest," Riku said, jabbing Sora in the arm, pushing him hard enough to tilt him off balance.

"Do you ever wonder if they're all thinking of us?" Kairi asked.

"Who?" Sora replied after sitting back up.

"The King, Donald, Goofy, everyone at Radiant Garden … the Princesses of Light, or even all the friends you made in each world."

"Well, I know they think of us. Because our hearts are all connected, and if one of us feels the other, I think they feel it back," Sora explained. "But yeah, I really miss them all."

"Come on, let's not get sad. Hey! I made some sushi at home. Let's have lunch, guys," Kairi said. Sora almost did a flip at the mention of food. Riku went and unfurled the blue blanket over the sand. Kairi grabbed the red cooler from the small shack and got everything ready. Sora's muscles tingled in excitement, his stomach growled. He bit his lower lip.

"Two boxes for Sora because he eats—" She was interrupted by Sora grabbing his boxes and chopsticks from her instantly.

"I love it when you make sushi, Kai," he said gratefully. He was already halfway done with one box by the time Kairi and Riku were even beginning their own. She was so perfect at this, he thought.

"Some things never change," Riku said.

"Ugh, his heart gets so wild when he's eating Kairi's sushi," Roxas said, grimacing and emerging from Sora's chest in a blue orb of light. In a second it had transformed into an ethereal form of Sora's Nobody. Soon after, Naminé appeared in a glow of gold.

"Come now, Roxas, you know how he is," Naminé said with a small smile. Her white dress flapped in the sea breeze. Both Nobodies stood before the trio.

"Yes, he has a heart and I'm very much reminded of it," Roxas said bitterly, shooting her a sharp stare. She sighed and walked around the shack towards another part of the island. Roxas silently followed.

"Um, are they always like that?" Riku asked.

"Yeah, Roxas is always so down. Kinda gets to me at times," Sora said.

"Naminé usually tries to soothe him. It works sometimes," Kairi explained. "Where we're all connected to Sora, it's like the two can always talk to each other."

"It's actually kind of freaky," Sora said with a shudder, finishing his second box. Kairi dropped her jaw. He patted his belly and smiled his signature smile.

"Sora! Do you even try to savor your food?" she asked snappishly. He walked into the shack and came back with his acoustic guitar. It was something he had been trying to learn since being home. He enjoyed the feel of playing it. Something about the music was nice and relaxing. He smiled at Kairi, thinking about how pretty her hair was in the sunlight, then he felt the blush creep up his face.

"I savor it in my stomach, Kairi. Best place for food." He laughed before strumming some random chords. The vibrations sang through his body and cried in the air.

"Do you actually practice?" Riku asked.

"Yeah."

"Doesn't sound like it …" Riku smirked.

"Hey! Better than you!" Sora exclaimed to his long-time rival.

"Hmm … maybe," Riku replied, and then laughed. Kairi joined in while Sora blushed again.

While Kairi and Riku talked about the upcoming term, Sora played his guitar, picking chords and licks at the steel strings. He would steal glances at the two of them, his eyes always leaving Kairi last. She really was beautiful, and finally spending a normal year with her really deepened his relationship with her. Riku, too.

"And I—"

"Please, do not start singing, I don't think I could handle that torture," Riku begged. Sora let his guitar fall to the blanket as he charged after Riku, now running away. Sora summoned the Kingdom Key to his hand and constructed a wall of ice in front of his best friend. Riku jumped and kicked off it, flipping backwards and willing his Keyblade to his hand, showering Sora in embers and bright flame. Patches of sand scorched to black char.

The boys—and Kairi not as often—sparred to practice their abilities. But it just wasn't the same as fighting hundreds of Heartless, Nobodies, or even the imposing Organization. And as Sora dodged and weaved through Riku's offense, he actually felt a part of himself missing that action, the adventure. But the worlds were safe, and that was what ultimately mattered. And also taking Riku down.

"Thundaga!" Sora cried. Arcs of electricity jumped at Riku and found their mark. The contracting muscles forced him to drop his weapon. Sora swept in and secured the battle.

"You know …" Riku panted heavily. They walked back to Kairi who was getting them some water ready. "I really hate Thunder attacks."

"Why do you think I use them?" Sora replied, thrusting a tongue out at his best friend. Riku shoved him playfully before they flopped down onto the blanket.

"And now I have to use the heavy-duty wash," Kairi said, feigning annoyance. "You guys always stink this thing up with your sweat."

"Sorry, Kairi."

"Yeah, sorry. But at least I don't stink like Riku!" Sora laughed, not afraid of Riku's glare. Eventually, Riku laughed, too. Sora loved summer for just this reason. Spending every day with his best friends, playing, swimming, fighting, and relaxing. He slowly picked at his guitar while Kairi listened. Riku simply lay down on the blanket, soaking in the sun. It was as if the tension and hardships of the previous journeys had washed out of Sora. Life felt great for the first time in a long time, and he wouldn't let anyone or anything take that from him.

Hours later, while the sun dipped itself into the water, the trio was napping calmly. With a loud yell, Sora woke up with a jolt. He sprung upward, followed quickly by Kairi and Riku. Falling from the sky with a great crash into the water was a gummi ship. It was large and red, highlighted with golden stripes. Highwind painted on the side. Sora felt his heart leap from his chest.

"My ship!" he yelled out. The muscles of his legs carried him in a dashing run to it. The ship idled up to the shore, coming to a peaceful stop. The sun had fallen beneath the horizon, painting everything a deep red. The hangar door opened and out stumbled three people, landing in a tangled mess in the sand.

"Watch it, Goofy!" came a quacky voice.

"Donald? Goofy?" Sora rushed to them. It was already a perfect day, but he felt like he just woke up again. His young body was revitalized with more energy at the sight of his old friends.

"Sora!" the jumbled mass screamed. The boy helped each of them to their feet. Donald was ruffling his white feathers, shaking sand out of anything he could. Goofy gave a wild shake, throwing his hat into the water, which he glumly retrieved. And then …

"King Mickey!" Sora yelled. He ran to the small king and gave him a big hug. He nearly toppled the regal mouse with his enthusiasm before backing up hurriedly.

"O-oh, sorry, Your Majesty." Sora quickly bowed.

"Oh, geez, Sora. You don't gotta be sorry," Mickey replied, before giving Sora his own hug. And right on cue, Donald and Goofy piled onto him, knocking them all into a heap in the sand.

"A-ah! Guys! I missed you, too!" Sora said wildly. He tried to breathe with the weight of his friends on him. He pushed at them until they rolled off. He sat up in the rising water and they hugged him.

"Gawrsh, Sora! We haven't seen you in so long!" Goofy's whiskers poked into Sora's smooth face. Donald's feathers did the same.

"Yeah! Have you been behaving yourself?" Donald asked warily.

"Haha, of course I have," Sora replied.

"Come on, fellas, we're here on a mission," the King said with a beckoning hand. Everyone followed him to the docks where they sat on the smooth wood.

"Your visit is really shocking, Mickey," Riku said.

"I know, and I wish I could've come for better reasons, but there's trouble brewin' out there, and I need you guys again …" The King paused and turned a solemn face to the water. It swelled softly beneath the dock. Sora felt concerned for King Mickey.

"I'm on my way," Roxas told Sora. His Nobody could feel that something was going awry. And within moments, Roxas and Naminé rounded the bend and briskly walked to the group.

"What's the problem, Your Majesty?" Sora asked, tilting his head and bending his feet in front of him.

"Cinderella and Snow White have went missing … and their worlds have vanished," Mickey explained. The teens all gasped.

"What! No, that can't be." Kairi clasped a hand over her chest. Sora knew that the other Princesses of Heart meant a lot to Kairi. He placed a hand on her shoulder and gently squeezed.

"I'm afraid it's the case, Kairi. They're gone, and I'm afraid the others will be targeted, you too." Mickey gave her a grave stare, and all his normal cheerfulness was just replaced by gray dullness.

"Who is doing this?" Sora asked.

"Maleficent," Riku answered as he stood up. "Who else?"

"I believe it's her, too," King Mickey said. "And I want to ask you all for help in stopping her."

"Count me in!" Sora excitedly said as he jumped to his feet. "I'm ready for another adventure to save some people and kick her butt!"

"At least you haven't changed, Sora," Kairi commented, standing next to him. The trio of friends looked down at the mouse.

"We're in," they all said.

"Then let's go. I'll mail your parents, so they know this time," King Mickey said. "Donald will take care of that. It's time for us all to go to Radiant Garden. To the Highwind!"

As Roxas and Naminé merged with their Somebodies, everyone walked towards the gummi ship. They were magically larger on the inside than the outside. One by one, everyone entered the ship. Sora stopped at the ramp and looked around at his home. He ran to grab his guitar. Twilight had taken over, and the first specks of stars began to litter the sky. He didn't know the next time he would smell this salty air, feel the breeze, the coarse sand or crashing waves. He jumped up and grabbed a fresh paopu fruit and then boarded the Highwind.

"Go get some sleep. I had Chip and Dale install some blocks for extra bedrooms. Sora, your room is still the same." King Mickey then walked into the cockpit to pilot the ship with Donald and Goofy. Sora led his best friends to the sleeping quarters.

"Hey guys," he said, stopping outside his bedroom door.

"What is it, Sora?" Kairi asked.

"Every time we've went on an adventure, we split up. All I know is I never want to lose you guys again. So here …" he held out the paopu fruit and put his guitar down. "Let's share this.

He divided the fruit up, and like the old tales, they shared the fruit, connecting their souls forever. Riku, who looked particularly exhausted, went to one of the new rooms, the automatic door whooshing up behind him. Kairi's own door zoomed down before her.

"H-hey, Kai …" Sora began. She turned around.

"Yeah, Sora?"

He thrust a bit more of the paopu fruit to her. "Will you share this last bit with me?" He blushed warmly. He smiled when she did.

"Of course." Red creeped up her face as they shared the last of the fruit together. Sora felt his heart beat at a thousand times a second. He smiled at her one last time before turning to his room. Then a hand grabbed him and spun him around. She gave him a hug.

"We'll never part again, I promise. It won't happen. I'll never leave you. Just don't leave me," she said into his ear.

"I promise, Kairi," he replied. She broke away from him and entered her bedroom. And he went into his.

Everything had been left the same, but cleaner. Everything was fresh, but all his belongings remained where he kept them. He placed his guitar in the corner before stripping down to his green underwear and silver necklace. The blankets enveloped him in the soft bed. He pressed a button and the lights went out and the windows cleared, showing space outside. All the stars that they passed shined into his room.

"It's not going to be easy, is it?" he asked his Nobody.

"Nothing ever is," Roxas replied.

"We'll be just fine. We always win. We'll win this time, too," Sora assured.

"I certainly hope so," Roxas said without his usual bitterness or sadness. Sora felt him go quiet. And he slept, too, easily and deeply.

And, perpetually, the stars and worlds just moved on …

~THW~

While Sora slept on his way to Radiant Garden, Maleficent strolled the corridors of the castle at The World That Never Was. She had just checked on two of her prisoners, Cinderella and Snow White. Her plan was to capture the remaining Princesses and unlock Kingdom Hearts. But for now, she had other matters to deal with. Her black cloak swept behind her, billowing over the cold tiles. Her pale green hand grasped her staff tightly as she ascended the stairs to the Altar of Naught.

There, she was greeted by those she would ally herself with.

"Hey there, hoochie mama, what's cookin'?"

"Shut up, fool," she spat. "I did not ask for your childish insolence when I summoned you here."

"Ouch, that hurts," Hades said with a hand over his heart.

She stared at them all, each one unique, each one able to help her in their different ways. Each one she could use or control, or simply have at a moment's notice. They were her tools, but of course she would always uphold her end of the bargains. She looked upon all seven of them and smiled.

"We are closer to our goals than before. Only five more of the Princesses remain. Once they have been collected, true power shall be ours for the taking," she said mightily, a cold cackle cracking through the air.

"I have promised each of you something in return for helping me, and I will make sure to deliver those things. We will discuss the plan in more detail, I assure you. For now, though, I require you to go about your job," she said, turning on the youngest of her allies. She stared the girl deep into her heart. The girl did not look away but Maleficent could feel the fear in the girl's mind and soul.

"Go child, you know what you must do, and do not fail me. I have eyes, Alexia, remember that."

The girl timidly nodded before creating a dark portal and leaving the group. One of the men looked after her with interest. He played with the cuff of his black sleeve, his black cloak blowing in the subtle breeze. Xehanort stepped out next to this man dressed in all black.

"All black is so boring," Xehanort commented with a sly smile. The man in black scoffed. The master swordsman across the Altar smirked. The fiery mage danced about, cackling about magic. A shadowed man wavered in and out, waiting for them to calm. Another removed his hat and fluffed his dark violet hair. Hades shot a fireball at the magician who fired another, much bigger one, back.

"Enough!" Maleficent screamed. The excitement died down.

She then talked with her allies, plotting the ruin to come.

Post Author's Note

Well, there it is, chapter one of the large scale rewrite. I hope a lot of you already notice a lot of changes. It's all for the better, I promise! I really want to dive into each character and really flesh them out. To me, Roxas has already changed considerably, which is great. I was 15 when I first started this story. I'm 21 now. Things have changed everywhere.

So, I'm glad you stuck this far. Now go the extra mile and leave me a review in that big box down there! They really help motivate me and also are good to show me what you want to see done differently. Give me criticisms, feedback, etc. What did you like, what did you not? What do you wanna see or not see? I want to hear it all. So leave me your comments!

It was really amazing getting back into this! I'll see you next chapter!

~TorNathan