Author's Note: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or anything affiliated with it. The rights to it belong solely to their respective owners.

Last Story:

Dexal, a wielder of the Keyblade, trained alongside his three friends Terra, Aqua, and Ventus. But when the worlds are threatened by the Unversed he departs, traveling apart from the other and trying to regain his memories from before he came to the Land of Departure, along with the answers to his own mysterious powers. After many worlds he found the truth: He had been an apprentice to Master Xehanort, and possessed the powers of twilight. The twilight allowed him to wield both darkness and light, for in his heart they existed as a single entity. Xehanort wanted this power because it would allow him to wield they X-Blade, and ordered Vanitas to kill him to gain them. Escaping in the form of a crystal, Dexal drifted through the Lanes Between until he landed on the Land of Departure.

After learning this Dexal succumbed a burning rage, awakening his powers and fighting Xehanort on Destiny Islands as revenge for harming both him and Ventus. Xehanort survived, and told Dexal to see what he had done to Eraqus, and then to come find him. Later Dexal learned from master Yen Sid that Xehanort had used Terra to strike the Master down, and he took Xehanort up on his offer. Traveling to the Keyblade Graveyard, he was reunited with Terra, Aqua, and Ventus, and fought alongside each of them in three separate battles. Using his powers of twilight, Dexal destroyed the X-Blade in the final battle and freed Ventus, later finding helping Mickey find him and Aqua in the Lanes Between.

After they were healed Aqua and Dexal resolved to find Terra and give Ven a safe place, transforming the Land of Departure into Castle Oblivion and placing him inside the Chamber of Waking. Leaving, Aqua and Dexal found Terra in Radiant Garden possessed by Xehanort, and fought him to free their friend. At the battle's end Dexal readied to levy the final blow against Xehanort, and they both stabbed each other with their Keyblades at the same time. Aqua saved them from the Realm of Darkness by sacrificing herself, the two of them ending up on the cobblestones of Radiant Garden. The story ended with Dexal and Xehanort taken in by Ansem the Wise, their memories wiped clean.

10 years pass...

Redemption

Ch.1 Building the Raft

I slept in the tree-house of Destiny Islands, my sleep as always plagued by memories of the past. "He's not as weak as you think... You'll always find your way back to each other... Just... put an end to me... You are through!" various voices said. My eyes snapped open, and I immediately sat up, wide-eyed and gasping. Eventually my breathing calmed, and I muttered to myself "Just a dream... Just a dream." Still, it helped little to erase the memories and guilt on my conscience. I held my hand in front of me, and slowly a Keyblade appeared in my hand. It was the Stormfall, the one given to me by Aqua and the last Keyblade I had power over left. Years had passed since that event occurred, but I still kept up my practice. I just hoped the day wouldn't come when I had to use it.

My name is Dexal, one of the last Keyblade Masters left in the worlds. I possessed the body of a nineteen-year old, though I should be much older. My hair is short and spiky, the color of silver. I wore black pants and a black belt with a gold buckle, a white T-shirt, black fingerless gloves and black leather dress shoes. My eyes were blue around the edge but reddened as they came closer, ending as the color of rubies around the pupil. I was tall, taller than the average person and almost as much as my lost friend, Terra. I had been staying here at Destiny Islands for eight years now, ever since I had left Radiant Garden in pursuit of my past. Too bad when I found my past it didn't make me happy.

A sliver of light fell upon Stormfall, and I looked a head to see that the island was beginning to lighten. Dismissing my Keyblade and stretching, I stood and walked out, climbing down the ladder and to the beach. The rising sun made the horizon glow golden, the waves sparkling and orange. I smiled; the sight of the morning waves was one of the few things that made me forget my guilt, and feel truly happy for once. But that was swiftly interrupted by a voice calling "Hey! Dexal!" I turned and saw Sora, who was rowing his way to the island. I raised an eyebrow. "Here so early?" I asked. He smiled. "Yeah, I can't wait to get the raft done!" he said excitedly.

I smiled and walked to the dock, waiting for him to get close. A while later Riku and Kairi's boats arrived as well, and we all began working on the raft. That was their plan- make a raft and use it to sail beyond the ocean to another world. I mentally knew that using just a raft would be impossible, but nonetheless the idea of reaching other worlds was one I embraced. It would feel good for a change of scenery. As the day passed we worked tirelessly to make the raft ready, and about some time near noon we all took a break. Sora went to the beach and lied down, instantly falling asleep.

He seemed to be having a rather strange dream, and stayed asleep even after the break ended. So, me and Kairi decided to give him his just deserts. Slowly we walked towards him, and I smiled at Kairi. "You sure you want to do this?" I asked, and she smiled. "Absolutely." I smiled and let her, and she stood behind Sora as he awoke. He sat up and looked at the sea, before yawning and leaning back down. When he did he saw her and jerked back up, saying "Whoa!" he turned and got to his knees, and Kairi giggled. "Gimme a break, Kairi," he said, and she stood.

"Sora, you lazy bum. I knew that I'd fining you snoozing down here," she said, and I chuckled. He looked over and saw me, and said "You were in on this too, Dexal?" "Serves you right for sleeping on the job," I said. "No! This huge back thing swallowed me up! I couldn't breathe! I couldn't-" he began. Before Kairi dropped a coconut on his head. "Ow!" he exclaimed, and she asked "Are you still dreaming?" "It wasn't a dream. Or... was it? I don't know," he said. He looked out at the sea. "What was that place? So bizarre..." "Not half as bizarre as you, Ven," I said, chuckling.

Sora looked at me confusedly, and I realized my mistake. "Who's Ven?" he asked. My eyes widened, and I said "Uh... forget about that! Just a slip of the tongue." He shrugged, before turning sitting and turning to Kairi. "Say Kairi, what was your hometown like?" You know, where you grew up?" he asked. "I told you before, I don't remember," she said. "Nothing at all?" he pressed, and she replied "Nothing." "What about you Dexal? You know where you were before you came to the island?" I gulped and looked away, saying "Sorry, nothing." "Either of you two want to go back?" he asked.

I chuckled and said "My home is gone. I tried to go back. But I couldn't." And it was true. I had tried to return to Castle Oblivion when I uncovered my past eight years ago, but the same thing that had caused me to remember kept me from getting there. So I was left with one world to go: Destiny Islands. Here I could hide away from the darkness and watch over Sora, Riku and Kairi. They had all, I found out, been touched some way by my three friends years ago. Sora held Ventus's heart, Kairi had been cast a spell upon by Aqua, and Riku was destined to inherit the Keyblade because of Terra. Their fates were altered by all of us; it was only right I look after them.

"Well, I'm happy here," Kairi told Sora, and I broke from my thoughts to look at them. "Really?" Sora remarked. "But you know... I wouldn't mind going to see it." "I'd like to see it too. Along with any other world out there. I want to see them all!" he said. "Be careful. Some worlds out there aren't very pleasant," I warned, remembering a world torn by war and filled with dead Keyblades. "Maybe, but I'm not scared!" he said defiantly, and I nodded. Kairi looked at him. "So what are we waiting for?" "Hey," we heard a voice say, and we turned to Riku stepped forward carrying a log. "Aren't you guys forgetting about me? So, I guess I'm the only one working on the raft," he said.

"Not at all, we were just taking break," I said innocently, and he smirked in disbelief as I sat down on the sand. He walked forward and tossed the log to Sora, who shouted as he tried to catch it. Kairi giggled and he looked at her, saying "And you're just as lazy as he is." She placed her hand behind her head and said "So you noticed. Okay, we'll finish it together! I'll race you!" she said. At that moment Riku had sat down, and while Sora went "Huh?" he said "What? Are you kidding?" "Come, not a race!" I protested. She smiled and said "Ready... Go!"

The three of us looked at each other before sprinting forward, trying to be the first to make it to the raft. Behind Kairi laughed, following. I could have ran flat-out and left them all in the dust, but after my most recent nightmare my energy was drained enough that Riku beat Sora and me. Sora pouted at losing again, and I smiled; the kid had energy and emotion to spare. "Okay, we need supplies to finish the raft. Sora, can you get them for me?" Kairi nodded, and she said "Okay, here's what I need you two to get: Two logs, one piece of cloth, and a length of rope. Got it?" "Got it!" Sora said, running off to find the materials. "Hey, wait!" she called, before groaning.

"What?" I asked. "I was about to ask him if he wanted your help, but I guess he doesn't. Do you mind helping him though?" she asked. I shook my head and said "Not at all." I looked around for the two logs, but as I came around the other side of the island I passed Wakka, who said "Yo Dexal! Feeling like a match?" I smiled and decided that I could take a detour, pulling a wooden sword from my waist and saying "Bring it on!" He grunted threw his ball at me, and I dodged before running forward, hitting him on the arm with the fake blade. He grunted and jumped back, throwing his ball again. It hit me on the chest and bounced back, and he smiled before throwing it again.

This time though I struck, hitting the ball and sending it right back at him. He shouted in surprise and wandered around a daze, and I ran up and jumped, hitting him with a vicious overhead blow to the skull. Wakka fell the ground and clutched his head, saying "Oh man, that really hurt." I smiled and put my sword back at me waist, extending my hand and pulling him up. "Just remember, I'm the oldest person on this island. And I've spent my whole life learning to fight," I said. He grumbled and said "Next time, I win though!" and walked off to see if he could win against Tidus.

Smiling, I shook my head and looked around, finding a log by the papou fruit tree. Later, a I saw another one by the beach and gave them both to Kairi, while Sora gave her the cloth and length of rope. "Thanks, guys! I found some things today. Here, take them," she said, handing us a each a Hi-Potion. "Want to call it a day?" she asked, and we both nodded. "Okay, it's getting late. We'll finish up tomorrow," she agreed. With that we walked back around to the island, seeing Riku at the usual spot. The sun had begun to set, and while Sora and Kairi sat on the tree I leaned against it next to Riku. "So, Kairi's home is out there somewhere, right?" Sora asked.

"Could be. We'll never know by staying here," Riku said. "But how far could a raft take us?" he pressed. Both Riku and I shrugged. "Who knows? If we have to, we'll think of something else," he said. "You've been to other worlds, Dexal. What's it like?" Sora asked me. "Depends on the world you arrive at. Each one is different from the other. There are jungles, deserts, castle ruins- the possibilities are endless," I told him. "So, suppose you got to another world. What would you there?" Kairi asked. I blinked in surprise, and said "Good question."

"Well, I haven't really thought about it. It's just... I've always wondered why we're here on this island. If there are any other worlds out there, why did we end up on this one? And suppose there are other worlds... Then ours is just a little piece of something much greater. So we could have just as easily ended up somewhere else, right?" Riku asked. Sora lied down on a branch, saying "I don't know." "Exactly. That's why we have to go out there and find out. Just sitting here won't change a thing. It's the same old stuff. So let's go," Riku announced. I looked at him, amazed by the maturity I heard from him.

"I never expected you to think about something so deeply," I said. "Yeah. You've been thinking a lot lately, haven't you?" Kairi asked. "Thanks to the two of you. If you hadn't come here I probably wouldn't have thought of any of this. Kairi, Dexal, thanks," he said seriously. Kairi said "You're welcome," and I nodded. After that we sat together in silence, watching the last rays of sun glisten on the waves. Eventually though we had to leave, and as Sora, Riku and Kairi rowed back to the mainland I went back to the tree-house where I slept, looking forward to finishing the raft.

Little did I know we never would.

xxx

And that ladies and gentleman, is the first chapter of Redemption. Why does Dexal only have power over Stormfall? What allowed him to again travel worlds eight years ago? Where we he go when the islands are destroyed? Keep reading to find out!

Please review! If you flame Liam Neeson will look for you, he will find you, and he will kill you. (I'm just kidding... or am I?)