Chapter Two is up and ready.

It's short, but I really like the ending. I think old fans will, too.

Word to the wise: I know what it'll look like, but I assure you, the cards only come into play at the doors, you know, when you unlock the next level in Chain of Memories and all that. Aside from that, cards are non-existent.

Enjoy.

Chapter Two: Rules of the Forgotten Fortress

The minute Ned stepped through the doorway of the castle, he felt like he had walked through the archways of Heaven. Instantly, he was reminded of the castle they had found three months ago. Every aspect of the hallway was white; even the goddam flowers were white, from petals to stem. The roof went up so high, you'd have to wear five pairs of platform heels and already be about seven and a half feet to just graze it. Up ahead, directly at the end of the hall, were a single flight of stairs.

He looked around. It was too quiet. He had expected whoever and however many people living there would be ready to descend upon him like a bunch of rats to a piece of cheese. There was no one there.

If only his presence could go un-detected for longer.

"So, you've finally arrived."

Too late.

There was another dark portal, and when it vanished, the man was there again, staring at him intently from behind his dark glasses.

"I expected you here months ago," he said, almost disappointedly, "But I suppose better to have arrived late than not at all."

"Who are you?" demanded Ned. If he was going to kick someone's ass, he at least wanted it to have an identity.

"Names are not important," was the reply, "But I guess if I must answer to something, you might as well call me No. 6."

"So you are with that No. 1 guy," Ned said, "Why the hell are you guys calling each other by numbers? Didn't your mothers ever give you names?"

The remark hit home. No. 6 made a snarl, and his fingers clenched up into fists.

"I would very much appreciate it if you did not make any discouraging comments at this time," he growled, "That is, if you want to see your friend alive."

Yet again, the comment had scored a reaction. Ned raised his Keyblade to defensive position.

"Where is she?" he demanded threateningly, getting ready to dish out the whoop-ass, "Let me see her, or I'm gonna stick this blade up your-"

"Take it easy, Lover Boy," No. 6 smirked again, "I enjoy the use of being able to walk freely. You will see your friend soon."

He stood back and thumbed towards the stairs.

"These stairs will lead you to her. But getting there, I'm afraid, is not that simple. Simplicity is not a strong suit within The Forgotten Fortress."

Silence. Ned cocked an eyebrow.

"'The Forgotten Fortress?'" he repeated skeptically, "You couldn't come up with a better name than that?"

"There are thirteen floors in this castle," No. 6 continued, not caring anymore for his comments, "Your girlfriend lies on the highest floor, in a deep slumber, soon to be awoken. All you need to do is climb these stairs, in order to get to her. No villainous creatures, no guillotines waiting for you on each floor. Just climb the floors, and when you get their, you two can go."

"Bullshit," Ned called immediately, "There's a catch. You said I had to take a major step. You said I had to do something important."

No. 6's smirk turned into an evil smile.

"Well…I suppose there is one teensy-weensy little detail I should tell you about…"

Ned glared at him as he began explaining the rest of the details:

"On each floor, you will be encountered by a single memory. These could be as fond as your first date, or as distant as your first scrape on the playground. It may even be some you don't remember. But a memory will present itself. However, not all of these memories are as…trusting, let's say, as others will-"

"OK, you're losing me, fast," broke in Ned, trying and failing to grasp the concept.

"As you progress through the Fortress, you must trudge through the clouds of memories and find the thing that is most important to you, something you thought you had forgotten, long ago. And let me be clear when I say that, if and when you do find it, it will change you immensely. And you will lose who you are as a result of it."

Ned took a moment for that to sink in. So this is what he had meant when he had said "to find is to lose" and vice versa. In order to find Ren and this mysterious "something", he would lose a part of himself. Was he ready to do this? Was he ready to lose who he already knew himself to be, in order to find someone he didn't? Was this really worth it?

As that thought entered his head, so did Ren's face. Her semi-crooked smile, her hair, her eyes. Everything he loved about her appearance and, with that, everything he loved about her in general. And the thought of how, at that very moment, she was up there, waiting for him.

And all negativity left him.

"Are you sure you wish to undergo this trial?" asked No. 6.

"Yeah," Ned stated firmly, "Yeah, I do. I'm ready."

"Then here are the rules," the man snapped his fingers and a scroll appeared, unwrapped. As he spoke, writing appeared on the scroll.

"One, and this is most important: Once you start up those stairs, there's no turning back. So, if you're going to do this, you need to be absolutely sure. Number Two: though these are your past, don't blame me if you suddenly run into a few…un-expected characters on your visits. You'll know them when you see them. And Number Three: Keep an open mind. These memories are trying to help you. Let them. Think you can handle all that?"

"Yeah, I got it. Can I go now?" Ned was getting impatient. The more he stalled, the more time it gave them to do what they wanted to Ren.

His opponent smirked again. "Good," he said, "Then you'll need this to continue."

He whipped something out and, in the blink of an eye, whipped it at the boy at a high velocity. Ned just as rapidly caught it, and examined it. He frowned.

"What's this, a card?" he asked skeptically. The card was short and rectangular- as all cards were, of course- and had a white cloud on it. If you looked closer, however, the cloud seemed to be covering something up…

"A memory," No. 6 answered, "A forgotten memory. Once you go through it, it will no longer be forgotten."

Ned stuffed the cloud into his pocket. Then No. 6 gave one final word.

"Climb the stairs, Ned, and go onward to your friend…but be prepared. The girl you knew may no longer exist by the time you get there."

He nodded, and then he warped off.

Here, Ned finally showed some sort of look between horror and dread. What were they doing to her? Was she hurt?

He ran for the stairs, suddenly ready to kick a little bit of ass.

-----

But what he didn't know was that he was being watched. From a dark, dark room, overlooking from a crystal orb, two shadowy figures watched the Keyblade hero ascend the stairs.

"'Bout friggin' time," the first- a male- said slowly, in a city-boy accent.

"He took his time," the other- a female- replied softly. "At least now, we can get these plans under way."

"Well, if you'll excuse me," the male stood up and began walking off when the female stopped him.

"Where do you think you're going?" she demanded.

"I'm gonna go and have a little fun with him while he's here," the other replied, "Wouldn't be a good host if I didn't keep our guest entertained, right?"

"We have our orders, No. 8."

To her dismay, her associate laughed harshly at her.

"Orders? I ain't takin' no friggin' orders from some toffee-nosed bastard like Jabba the Hutt over there. I been cooped up in this goddam room for three months waitin' for this kid to show up, and now I'm gonna go see if he was worth all the hell. Got that written down?"

"…Just don't have all the fun," was all she said in reply, "Remember, I like to play with my victims too."

In the darkness, the man grinned wickedly.

"Yeah, yeah… what's a little harm in some painless fun? Well, painless for us, anyhoo…"

Trouble is a-brewing. We shall see.

Again, old fans may have picked up who all three members are. With any luck.

That's all for now. I need to do a little more brainstorming.

Review please!