Kingdom Hearts II: Rebirth

By: Karma's Slave

Disclaimer: I do not own the Kingdom Hearts series; it is the sole properties of Square-Enix and Disney

Chapter Two: Hollow Bastion P1

"Why am I here? Wasn't I supposed to fade away but I'm back at this place again and it's different then when I last saw it" Roxas noted as he took a glance around the blue mosaic floor.

"Hello Roxas" a girl's voice called out to the nobody, "Huh...is that Kairi's voice again?"Roxas questioned

"No, Roxas. I'm not Kairi" said the girl's voice, "Who are you then?" he questioned

"Why don't you turn around and meet me for yourself" the voice answered and Roxas listened to the voice as he turned his body to not only a face someone who looked exactly like him but next this doppelganger.

There was a girl dressed in an Organization XIII coat, she had blue eyes that looked like his own but her hair was black and short and she kept smiling at him.

He didn't know her, did he? The more he stared at her, the sooner it all rushed back to him as the mental images of the girl flashed throughout his memory causing Roxas to look away from her while he puts a hand to the side of his head, "It's you...it's really you isn't it, Xion" Roxas then said, picking up his head to look at her.

The dark haired girl nodding her head as her smile grew bigger seeing that her best friend had remembered her.

Roxas suddenly embracing his friend which took Xion by surprise, "I thought I'd never you see again" Roxas then muttered as the friends hugged. "Oh that was mutual feeling Roxas" replied Xion as she then broke the embrace by stepping backward.

Ven couldn't help but smile as he watched the two reunited friends but when Xion pulled out of the embrace, Ventus then finally and formally introduced himself to Roxas "Hi Roxas, I'm the little voice inside your head" said the older boy, Ven also couldn't resist saying that to his body double

Xion tried to hold back a chuckle as she saw Roxas's reaction "What?" replied Roxas

The older boy just shook his head as he had a chuckle "Actually my name is Ventus but either way I am or in this case I used to be the voice inside your head." Ventus then said being slightly more serious than earlier

Before and after rejoining with Sora, Roxas was well aware that he was out of the information loop but now this made more evident.

Roxas turning to his fellow nobody "Xion what's going on here? And why does Ventus guy, look like me?" the Nobody questioned his friend but Xion didn't answer Roxas as Ventus metaphorically stepping in with, "I can somewhat answer of all your questions and for starters; not that it truly matters or anything but you're the one who looks like me" retorted Ven while Roxas simply crossed his arms over his chest and moved his head to look at the black open space in response.

"Oh great" thought Xion as she rolled her eyes in annoyance, "Are you two twelve?" she then asked the two boys as the female replica placed a hand on her hip.

"He started it" answered Roxas. "No, I didn't but technically speaking I am mentally 23 or 24 years old now or rather I should've of been" answered the other boy.

She sighed at the two of them "This is going to be a 'long' life together" thought Xion.

After boarding on to the Gummi Ship; I had taken the opportunity to tell Jiminy, Sora, Donald and Goofy that if they wished to know more about the time they have missed out on, that all they had to do was look into Jiminy's journal.

The small cricket looked from his book and then to me. I then mentioned to him how I used magic to make the journal grow and began to write our recent but semi forgotten adventure, "all the answers to your questions will be in there" I said.

But our conversation was interrupted as voices began to speak out from one of the control panels.

"Howdy, How all of ya doing'?" a high-pitched voice accompanied with static noises; spoke out from the speakers as, the foursome turned to the speaker as they tried to hear the voice

Soon another voice began to speak up but it wasn't as high as the other "It's your favorite Gummi engineers here, ready for duty. Chip..."

"...and Dale!" interrupted the high-pitched voice.

"Happy flying!" the two then said in unison as the static grew stronger.

"Well that seemed almost at random" Aqua oddly thought as she waited for the two voices to speak out some more as Donald was changing the frequency to hear Chip and Dale but the two were done. But the moment hadn't gone dull as a warning alarm went off seeing that the Gummi ship began to approach a new world.

Sora was the first to get look at it threw the monitor, "Only one?" commented the apprentice as he expected the Interspaces of the worlds to very filled with not one but many worlds.

"That's not good!" Donald commented as he took the gummi ship off auto-pilot to ensure they would have a safe landing.

The captain of the guard gazing at the map screens coordinates "Wait! I think it's a world we know!" Goofy then stated to the others.

While Donald and Goofy busied themselves at the controls, Aqua looking out the main gummi ship's window catching a glimpse at this world as they flew closer. The map showed they were here once before but nothing on the outer appearance of this world showed it.

Sora's blue eyes locked on to his keyblade master as he watched her deep in thought. "I can't explain it but Master Aqua just seems...sadder" thought Sora.

"And we are finally here" said Donald as the foursome then began to prepare themselves before disembarking.

Elsewhere In a room at the top of a dark tower in Hollow Bastion, Pete is searching around, "Maleficent! Maleficent!" he calls out to the dark magical being. Pete notices how empty the room is as he still finds no signs of the evil woman "Maybe they really did finish her off" Pete then says to himself.

The raven otherwise known as Diablo, Maleficent's familiar. The raven flies closer to the tower

"And this castle sure ain't what I expected. No shine, no nothing" observed Pete as he looked around the castle.

Diablo is almost at the room

Pete then looking depressed as still got no answer "Now what's gonna happen to our plan?" the large cat creature asked himself.

Diablo, swoops onto the ledge and surprises Pete

"Gah!"

On the other side of the Hollow Bastion, The town is bustling with activity. Moogles are flying through the air selling items, and people are at work trying to rebuild the town.

Aqua, Sora, Donald, and Goofy run in and gaze at the castle in the midst of rebuilding; "I have been here before" Aqua thought as her eyes were looking around and the keyblade master was having the biggest feeling of deja'vu.

"It's Hollow Bastion!" Sora then acknowledged in a raised tone of voice.

"Of course, No wonder why we didn't recognize the world; the last time we were here, Maleficent did some drastic rearranging, among other things" Aqua said as she thought back to the her Master had last said about Hollow Bastion. "Not to mention, who was here prior to that" Aqua added in her mind.

"Gawrsh, it looks kind of different now" Noted Goofy as he and the others could see machinery around the town as they began to enter wonder around the market place, Aqua mentally taking notes of the locations of the accessory shop and item shop.

"Well, why shouldn't it?" Aqua said to Goofy, "After all this world has been effected by darkness for too long; It certainly wasn't same with other worlds like Atlantica or Agrabah where the darkness was just getting started or even like Destiny Island has been destroyed in a few minutes because the door to the world's heart was in plain sight, only to be left in fragments" Aqua continued to explain "Seeing their world like this maybe indeed hard for some of its people but it must be also sign of relief that their nightmare is on its way of being over." The bluenette finally finished.

Donald nodding his feather head Aqua's words as he crossed his arms, "I hope Leon and the others are doing okay." he said as to change the subject; The mage reminding everyone of their friends and allies that are currently living in this world.

"Oh that's right. This is their world" Sora replied to Donald, "Master Aqua, we should go see them" he spoke in addition.

Aqua nodding her head, "I don't see why not" she replied.

As Goofy is cautiously looking around the area; he sees some Soldier Heartless on the roof of a nearby building "Uh-oh. Looks like we're gonna have to do some fighting'" pointed out Goofy

"Aw, you got to be kidding me; Things were finally changing" remarked Sora as he had taken Aqua's mini speech to heart. Out of their first instincts they summoned their weapons.

Donald was tempted to use a Fire spell but he was afraid that he'd miss he might set the roof to a flame. Donald now wasn't sure if blizzard would be enough and Thunder though powerful but could have a similar outcome like the Fire spell; Elemental magic spells could do more harm than good in area's with buildings and many citizens around.

The group of Solider Heartless looked to the foursome with their golden eyes, and then took off

"Spoke to soon" Aqua thought bitterly as they now chased the Solider Heartless; But the Solider Heartless had disappeared as the foursome had made their way further into the market place. "Damn it! We lost them!" Aqua said as Solider Heartless appeared to be slightly faster then she could recall.

"Uh-no, it's gone" said Donald as the mage duck now regretted not using a magic spell back when they were spotted on the roof.

"As much as I hate to admit it but they'll be back" Sora said to his teacher; "Yeah and mostly likely bringing more of them too" Goofy agreed with Sora

"That's the main problem with the Heartless" started off Aqua "They may not retain their minds but although they do oddly behave like a heart because they don't know when to give up." Aqua then remarked letting out a controlled sigh of her frustration. "Talk about your cruel irony" she said in addition, "But then again they are hearts wrapped in darkness, I suppose I should have been too surprised" her mind then stated with a hint of sarcasm.

"That reminds me Master Aqua, I have a question for you" Sora getting his Master's attention; Aqua locking eye contact with Sora "Why is it that the heartless are called heartless while you just said they act like they have a heart but they're mindless and have no body, except for Ansem." He said, stopping for a minute and then continuing.

"That brings me to my other question. Why our new enemies the Nobodies, the advanced ones Master Yensid was talking about act like they have a mind while they're one who are heartless?" Sora asked his Master.

Aqua could only blink at her pupil in response; even Donald and Goofy had a hard to time following that question, "What I mean Master, is shouldn't it be the other way around?" asked Sora.

The bluenette finally understanding what Sora asking, translation: Why aren't the nobodies called the Heartless and The Heartless called the nobodies?

Aqua reaching her hand to the back of her head pulling out her ponytail; so she could fix it "...uh well Sora. The Nobodies didn't even exist till few years ago and that's a vague estimated guess of when they did come into existence while the heartless have been called 'heartless' for longer amount of time." Aqua answering Sora's question "I honestly don't know, Sora, it's my contractual obligation is to get rid of them and keep balance. Not name them." Aqua then said just about comically snapping at Sora.

Breaking her attention from Sora and taking it too Donald and Goofy "Let's just look for Leon and others, now" Aqua then said as she walked head them.

"Geez, you just could have said, I don't know" Sora mumbled under his breath.

The foursome walked through the market place and spot an elderly duck holding some ice cream near a freezer, "Uncle Scrooge!" shouted Donald.

Aqua spotting the other duck dressed in a blue a shirt and black top hat, "I've met him before in..." Aqua said out loud but then became a hushed voice "…Radiant Garden" as Aqua had nearly forgotten Hollow Bastion's former self, a stupid mental mistake on her part.

"Err, who?" Sora then asked.

Goofy then turning to Sora and Aqua, "He's Donald's uncle; a business typhoon! Before the Heartless showed up, he traveled the worlds on a Gummi Ship with the King. He was helping' to set up a traffic system."

"Typhoon?" questioned Sora, "I think you mean, Tycoon Goofy" Sora corrected.

"A transit system!" Donald also correcting Goofy's mistake.

"What's with all that racket?" spoke an heavily accented voice spoke out to them.

Scrooge turns around and sees them, "Why, if it isn't Donald! And Goofy! Hello, lads! Aye, you all look hale and hearty!"

"So do you, Uncle Scrooge" replied Donald.

"Ah, if only I were..." Scrooge looks to Donald and then his eyes catch the sight of the bluenette keyblade master. "Aye lass, how are you? It's been quite some time since we've last met, right lass." Scrooge then said to Aqua, whom merely gave the older duck a smile and said, "I've been fine" Aqua hadn't expected him to remember her, after all it was only short encounter between them.

Scrooge McDuck then turning back to his eldest nephew, "I cannot seem to recreate my favorite old-time ice cream. I'd make it millions if I just got it right..." said the frugal but very wealthy duck looks at the ice cream bar in his hand, licks it, and looks disgusted "Terrible...!"

"I'm sure you'll figure it out Uncle Scrooge, you always did make the best ice-cream back home" Donald giving his uncle some comfort.

The foursome decided to move forward and let Scrooge McDuck get back to his business while they had their own to attend too whether it was Heartless or trying to find Leon and friends.

"Ya know, back in traverse Town, Leon could and did find us at drop of hat and that was even before we became friends and allies" commented Sora, "Then how come we can't find him as easily" Sora then said which sounded more like a complaint which was rare for Sora, excluding that time in Agrabah when he would stop complaining about the heat.

Aqua looking back to her student "Sora, First thing, Traverse Town was smaller than it appeared to be. Secondly, Leon kept tabs on us and even had strangers coming up to us to deliver messages" remarked Aqua as the bluenette figured that Leon gave out their descriptions Just on the off chance they returned to Traverse Town. Granted they had to due to circumstances with the Gummi Ship and Kairi.

"Oh right, I'd almost forgotten that" said Sora as he sheepishly closed his eyes and moved his hands behind his head.

"Actually you did forget" Aqua whispered to herself but didn't intend for Sora to hear it "huh, you say something Master Aqua?" Sora could have sworn he heard his teacher say something but the female master shook her head lightly and said, "Didn't say anything"

As they continued to make their way to the Borough, where some odd light pedestals appears and disappears, as if scanning for something

"Hey, what's going on?" Donald being the first to question, what they just saw.

"That's the town's defense mechanism." Spoke out a female voice.

The four look around and eventually see Yuffie on top of a building. They almost didn't recognize the ninja girl; without her standing out colors, as the girl now wore Black and white.

Sora smiles as he finally see's a familiar face "Yuffie!" the island boy calling out her name. Yuffie waves slightly, and sees something behind them, "Look out!" she then calls out the group of four. Sora's Keyblade flashes into his hands as a Dusk swoops in to hit him.

"Great, if it ain't one thing then it's another." Aqua then said as she kicked the dusk away from her and then quickly swinging her keyblade into and destroying the creature.

They are quickly surrounded by Nobodies but they disposed of them just as fast, and with some help from the defense mechanism.

"Hey, you guys!" Yuffie hops down to them "I see you all are still in top form."

Sora jokingly smirked "What'd you expect?" Sora pats his chest "Looks like you're doing okay, too." He then tells her.

Yuffie scoffed at the boy "Well, what did YOU expect?" returning with her own joke smirk.

"How are the others?" Donald speaking up, Yuffie smiled at the mage duck "We're all great!"

Sora then looking from his master to Yuffie "Hey Yuffie, have you seen the King and Riku?"

To be honest, Aqua wasn't sure about Mickey's whereabouts at the moment especially after Twilight Town. Mickey told her, he wanted to keep an eye on DiZ, The King then pointed out to Aqua how something about the red cloaked man that was seemingly familiar and he had to investigate further. As for Riku; Aqua knew Riku was trailing behind them using the dark corridors, as horrible as Riku's transformation was Aqua didn't deny the fact. It does make it easy for Riku to hide and sneak about The World That Never Was.

The dark haired girl then answering Sora "Nope" She starts to walk off but turns back "But I had a feeling I'd see you guys again." Yuffie added.

Sora imitating Leon's stance and putting his fingers to his forehead "We may never meet again, but we'll never forget each other." as he quoted the elder brunette's last words to Sora and Aqua at their last meeting in Hollow Bastion.

Yuffie then busted out laughing as Sora then too begins to laugh "Is that supposed to be Leon?" Donald and Goofy laugh along with the girl

Aqua didn't join in the group laugh as her attention was brought to area of the town they were in, "I know where we are and if my memory serves me correct, Merlin's house is around here." thought Aqua.

Yuffie then managing to compose herself "That was a good one, Sora." said the great ninja "Everybody's working on stuff over at Merlin's house. C'mon" Yuffie then extending an invite to the foursome as she headed off.

Yuffie runs around the corner; the others follow her and enter Merlin's House.

"I knew it" said Aqua's mind as she was the last to enter the house.

Cid is typing at a computer, while Aerith and Leon are standing behind him and watch him work

Yuffie then with wide and opened arms "Meet the Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee!" she announced to the foursome as if they were a worldwide audience and which had without a doubt captured the attention of the others.

Aerith being the first to greet the foursome "We missed you!" said the green eyed, light brunette as she held her hands together.

Cid taking a moment away from the computer to look at them "Well, if you ain't in top shape." But then went back to his work.

Leon looking to the foursome as if inspecting them "I knew it." he said.

Sora was confused "Knew what?" he asked the older man.

Leon then explained to Sora "A while back, everyone suddenly remembered you guys, all at the same time." As Leon mentioned the one thing Aqua hadn't mentioned to Sora, Donald and Goofy. Aqua let her own hand hit her face but then quickly dropped the hand to her side as she looked at Leon with some caution.

Alright, Aqua will admit that there was no way Leon could have know what happened; So there no reason to be mad but never the less she didn't expect that kind of reaction, She wondered if Where the other parties effected would remember the fact that Sora was absence for a year. If Aqua ever saw Naminé again, she'd have to ask about this.

Sora then wide eyed as he tried to digest this information, "You...remembered? Wait! Does that mean you forgot about us!" Donald now annoyed, himself "Thanks!" he said in his usual calm-mad tone of voice.

Yuffie turned back to the foursome as Aqua now faced everyone again "So where've you guys been all this time?" the black haired girl asked.

"We were sleeping'." Answered Goofy

Cid then stopping again "Where? In cold storage?" he said jokingly

Aqua, Sora, Donald, and Goofy act abit nervously, "Why do joke guesses always have to be right?" Aqua asked in her own mind.

"I've got a better question, why?" Leon asked Aqua; his eyes locking with the keyblade master's as he crossed his arms over his chest but Aqua wasn't letting Leon's accusing stare get to her.

Aerith only smiled at the group, "It doesn't matter. This is great. Everyone's together again!"

Sora now feeling the need to change the subject "So, um...we're trying to find Riku and the King. Have you seen 'em?" he questioned Leon, Aerith, and Cid shake their heads; Sora's head dropped down as he looks to the floor, "Right."

"Sorry." Aerith apologized "But let us know if there's anything we can do to help. Okay?"

"Okay. Thanks." Sora said to the light haired brunette flower girl.

Cid gets up in Sora's face, "Don't go thanking' us just yet."

Leon still keeping his eyes focused on Aqua "Hollow Bastion's got a problem. A big problem"

Aqua giving the brunette a big wide fake smile, "Let me guess, you've got a Heartless and Nobodies problem" as the fake smile faded and her tone of voice going right into 'No Surprise'.

"That's right!" Yuffie exclaimed in the same tone of voice.

Sora looked at the group "Sounds like you could use our help." Said the boy

"Then let's cut to the chase Aqua, Sora, Donald, Goofy. We were hoping the four of you might give us a hand around here." said Leon

Sora pats his chest proudly, "Like we're gonna say, no?" he tells Leon while Aqua looked to her pupil, "When do we not say no, Sora" the female wielder spoke out to her pupil.

Leon looking from Aqua to Sora "...I forgot who I'm dealing with." He then said to Sora and Aqua

While Donald had taken an offense to it "Hey...what do you mean by that?" said the Duck.

Aerith smiled at the mage duck, "Just think of it as a sort of Leon compliment."

Leon opens the door, "Follow me to the bailey" His glance focusing at Aqua "There's something you need to see." Leon then leaves the house, Merlin appears and getting in the way of the exit. "Oh! I thought it was you. Right on time!" said old wizard as took a quick looks at the foursome.

"Merlin!" greeted Donald and Goofy.

"The gang said they're gonna help out!" Yuffie said to the wizard.

Merlin looking absolutely thrilled "Splendid! We'll count on you!" he said to the group of four.

"Naturally, because fate really has it out for me, to do all of this" Aqua thought to herself sarcasticlly.

Aqua, Sora, Donald, and Goofy, "Right!" they all said in unison at Merlin.

Merlin looked to the flower girl "Ah, yes. Did you give them the cards, dear?" Asked the wizard

"Oh!" Aerith takes out four cards from her dress, "Here...they're presents for you. Leon thought you might like to have them." The flower girl said as she handed them the purple colored cards.

Taking her card, Aqua could feel a smile forming at the corners of her mouth as she looked at the card; Sora takes the card and flips it so he can read it "Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee Honorary Member!"

"Membership cards!" Donald pointed out

"Kind of cool, huh?" commented Goofy as Donald and Sora nod in agreement

"Thank you, Aerith" Aqua said to the Flower girl. The light haired brunette bringing her hands together as if she were praying and smiled at the keyblade Master.

Sora turns around to the door "Hey, thanks, Leahhh...huh?" sees that Leon is gone "Oh no! We're supposed to be at the bailey!"

"We'd better hurry then we don't need Leon getting irritable" Aqua then said as she turned to Yuffie, "Where is the bailey located?" questioned the bluenette. The dark haired ninja girl then told Aqua where they had to go.

Merlin looked to the young keyblade apprentice "Just a moment, Sora. What has happened to your magic, it doesn't feel as powerful from when we last met?" pondered Merlin while Sora had the face of a deer in head lights.

Aqua looked to Sora and noticed Merlin was right about Sora's magic, "Why didn't I notice it earlier?" Aqua mentally asked herself but she knew the real answer. She was too distracted by so many things that were going on; of course the keyblade master would slip up somewhere down the line. This had to be a form of a wakeup call to her; a sign for to focus on what's in front her. "How could I have been so stupid?" mentally yelling at herself.

"Huh...Oh, that's right..." Sora crosses his arms

"Maybe you lost some of it while you were asleep!" Joked Yuffie

"Technically before he fell asleep" Aqua mentally added while she felt like an idiot for not noticing Sora's lack of magic.

Merlin sighing at Sora, "Now, what am I to do with you, boy? I suppose I'll have to lend you a few spells, to start you off. But be careful with them!" Merlin giving Sora a warning as he took out his magic wand to help Sora.

Sora giving the wizard his big smile "Thanks, Merlin!"

"Come we really need to go now" said Aqua as she and Goofy were by the door.

"To the bailey and fast!" spoke out Donald as he joined the other two as he grabbed Sora by the arm and they took off to meet with Leon.

The foursome finally reaches the bailey and immediately sees Leon looking over the edge at the dark castle far in the distance. Moving closer to the brunette, Aqua was standing next to Leon with Sora, Donald and Goofy behind her.

Leon pointing out the window "Look at that" Aqua's blue eyes growing wide at the horrifying sight before her; she could feel her mouth involuntary open.

Sora takes a look too and it leaves him gasping in shock. Donald and Goofy hadn't re-acted any better.

"All those heartless, I knew this world was hit hard but I never imagined anything like this actually happening" Aqua told Leon.

Leon then began to explain "We want to restore Hollow Bastion to what it used to be. Who knows, maybe even something better. There's still a lot to do, but I'm sure we can handle everything; except...for that..." He points to the castle, then points to two Dusks walking in the direction of the castle "...and that."

"We'll handle 'em!" Sora speaking up for the group

"Well, that's good to hear. So Sora, do you know what's going on, then?" Leon then said to the boy. Aqua finding it hard to move her gaze from pit filled with a countless numbers of heartless to her student.

Sora nodded and began to explain "There's this guy, Pete, who's been going around plotting with the Heartless. But he's not smart enough to tie his own shoes. The ones we need to worry about are the Nobodies." Said Sora

"And those Organization XIII guys in charge, too!" Added in Goofy

"You called?" A deep masculine voice spoke out; Aqua freezing on sight as she heard that voice, "What's he doing here?" The keyblade master could feel her anger rising as she tried to keep herself in check.

Everyone but Aqua looking around and see no one; Sora runs out into an open area

"You're doing well." The same disembodied voice spoke out again. Sora then getting mad as he now demanded the identity of who was speaking, "Who's are you!" He unleashes his Keyblade.

"This calls for a celebration..." Several Dusks appear on the command of their leader. Aqua summons her keyblade; Leon readies his Gun-blade; Donald summoning his Mage staff and Goofy bringing forth his shield. Sora chases the Dusks through the bailey. The gate closes to keep the lesser nobodies inside.

"Keep them away from the gate" ordered Leon. Aqua protected the gate with lined with her fire mines, if any of the creatures got passed them. Aqua, Sora, Leon, Donald and Goofy help keep the Nobodies away from the gate as they fight off the onslaught of the lesser nobodies.

"Thunder!" cried out Donald as he and Goofy fought together. Leon held his own as he fought off the Dusks; Sora stayed closer to Aqua as they were fighting against larger group of Dusks.

Once all the lesser nobodies were defeated; Sora runs back out to the open area; Goofy and Sora follow. Aqua made a gesture to Leon telling him to stay by the gate, just in case of more nobodies showing up.

As the voice began to speak again "The Keyblade...a truly marvelous weapon. Were it only in more...capable hands..." A group of seven people laughing

"Show yourselves!" demanded Sora.

Seven cloaked figures appear and the central one raises his arms,

"Organization XIII!" called out Goofy.

And that was when Aqua made her entrance as she used her teleporting technique and appeared in front of Sora; Aqua was standing on the ledge as draft of wind began to gently making the long locks of blue hair fly off into the side as she held out her keyblade, locking her eyes on the central organization member.

Aqua then giving the central nobody a compassionate and warm smile "Now don't you all worry; My hands are very capable" Aqua said as she undoubtedly threatened them; Her tone of voice taking was mix of intimidation with dash of sultry as she still wore that smile on her face.

The Superior was almost amused by this as smirk crept up on his hidden face as he was locked in secret eye contact with the keyblade master.

"What!" thought the one eyed nobody as he looked at the woman before them, "I was told that bitch was dead!" Axel who stood behind Xigbar actually could see the older nobody clench his hand into a fist.

Sora, then taking on his fighting stance "Good. Now we can settle this!" as Sora closed his hand into a fist. Aqua using her free hand and getting her grip on Sora's keyblade her way of telling him to stand down.

"What a shame... And here I thought we could be friends" said the leader of the nobodies.

The Bluenette keeping her eyes on the leader, "Oh did you now and here I was under the impression that all of you just simply banded together to become giant pains in my ass." Aqua said

The keyblade master was expecting one of them to make of move. Prepared to fight them off but Aqua didn't let her surprise show as the moment she was waiting for didn't happen. Instead the organization began to retreat as they begun to disappear within the dark corridors as they laughed at the heroes.

"Stop!" screamed Donald as he runs to a set of stairs but as a single cloaked man appears before them, "What's the big idea!" demanded Donald. "Oopsy-daisy!" mocked the hooded man with the surfer accent.

Quirking an eyebrow, Aqua actually recognizing the voice, "No way, it couldn't be..." The female master then having mental flashback of that battle in the Keyblade graveyard,

"Why don't you leave with me and that way you can have your little fight with Terra"

"You two think you got some grand role to play? As If, your only here so that when I finish you off Terra can succumb to the darkness"

"Move!" shouted Sora

"Now, do you think that's polite, shutting me down like that?" mocked the organization member

"I said get outta the way!" Sora commanded

"As if!" said the hooded man; Aqua's eyes narrowed as she figure out the identity of this nobody, "Braig, that son of a..."

"You can talk all you want, but that won't change a thing." The hooded man taunted Sora.

"Then we're gonna MAKE you move!" threatened Donald.

"See, that would work if I were just any old dude.'Cept I'm not. I'm with the Organization. Nothing "any old" about me." Said the organization member

"Ha! Tough talk for someone who stood on the sidelines while his Nobody flunkeys did the fighting!" shot back Sora.

"I beg to differ, Sora" interrupted Aqua, "Once a flunky always a flunky; Out of everyone here, you would know, wouldn't you" mocked the keyblade master as she glared at the hooded man.

"Oh-No my dear, I think you got the wrong impression." The hooded man wags a finger at Aqua "So do you know it's me. Well just you wait baby you'll get what's coming to ya" Xigbar vowed in his mind.

"You gonna cry?" teased Sora, Aqua continuing to glare at the hooded man, The keyblade master had to congratulate herself on staying this composed no matter how much she wanted to rip this particular Nobody to shreds.

"As if! Why don't I remind you both, how tough the crowd you're dealing with really is?" the man then said to the island boy.

"Remind me?" question Sora as he goes into a deep thought; Sora snaps out of it and glares at the nobody.

"Oh yes, please do remind me" Taunted Aqua, She didn't know where this new attitude was coming from but Aqua wasn't going to deny that she liked it, even just a little bit. "What is it now? Seven to eight nobodies whom have already faded away" she added on.

Aqua was more than aware that she only killed two of the nobodies at castle Oblivion but the ones Riku told her about however Aqua wasn't opposed to the idea of embellishment to instill her intimidation to rest of the organization.

Ignoring the female master's remark; the hooded man laughs "That's RIGHT, he used to give me that same exact look"

"Why isn't he attacking us? Xemnas really couldn't have sent him to make chit-chat…or did he stay on his own?" Aqua thought to herself, "He?...is he trying to talk to Roxas?"

"I guess you think you can psych me out by saying really random stuff!" said Sora

"Gee... I just don't know." The man spreads his arms open as if challenging them to strike him. He soon gives up "Be a good boy, Sora" and then giving one more look over to Aqua.

"Wait!" called out Donald; He disappears as Donald tries to jump on him, "Nuts! He got away!"

Sora rubbing the back of his head "That was weird. WHO gave him the same look?"

"Was he really trying to stir Roxas into consciousness?" Aqua considered the possibility.

"Ya' know, I think he was just trying' to confuse ya." Noted Goofy as the four regrouped.

Leon finally joins with the others as no other anybody were being sent to the bailey's gate.

"Yeah, you're right. There's only one of me!" exclaimed Sora as he takes out his membership card and reads it, once again, "The Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee Honorary Member…" The card begins to glow Sora gasps and let's go of it. It floats in the air to everyone's amazement. The Keyblade glows

"Huh?" Sora not knowing what was happening.

"That's a new one" commented Aqua

"What's this?" as Leon finally came over to the others.

"Gawrsh, ya think...?" said Goofy

Light flashes from the Keyblade and the card. Wind blows through Sora's clothes and hair as a crown symbol appears on the ground beneath him. The card reveals a Keyhole and Sora locks it, opening a gateway

"Ohh...now I get it. That must've been the gate Master Yen Sid talked about." Said Sora

"Oh boy!" cried out Donald

"Sorry to run, Leon, but other worlds are calling." Sora then said.

Leon nods, "Organization XIII... They look tough. Be careful out there."

"I'd hate to leave here knowing about Heartless pit but with the Organization, it's a risk we can't make." Aqua then said to the older brunette. "We'll be back as soon as possible" Aqua tells him, in addition.

Leon nods his head at the Keyblade Master.

"See ya soon." Sora says.

Leon salutes them.

The cloaked members are now seated in a circular white room in various tall chairs

"The Hero of Light seemed quite shocked. Its 10 years too early for a child like that to wield the Keyblade" commented, Xaldin the whirlwind lancer.

"Well, that's good for us. Now he and the female will just keep obediently going on ahead." He points ahead "Just like someone of the light." Said Xigbar

Saix looking to Number Two, "If they don't, then they are of no use to us." Spoke Number Seven

"Well then, he might just entertain us." He pulls out some cards from his sleeve and chooses one, holding it between two fingers, "I'll pass out some cards" Said Luxord.

"Pick a good one for me! If you make me wanna go for it quickly; we'll be fine!" said Demyx

Xigbar looking to Number Nine "Well, aren't you the confident one. So if anything happens, you'll handle it?" he asked Number Nine in mocking tone.

The man abruptly sits up in his chair, Demyx then realizing what could actually happen "Huh? Me? Ya 'know menial work isn't really my thing..." He shrinks back down

"Stop this!" the voice of the superior demanded, the room went silent. "Acting like you have hearts... We feel nothing." He said to them as if they needed to keep being reminded but since the situation with Roxas, no one begged to argue.

Luxord then genuinely disappointed "How boring." He makes his card vanish into his hand. "There goes my entertainment."

Saix looked at all the members as his eyes roamed the room. "Those who forget our true goals will be eliminated." Threatened

"Everyone" They all look in toward the leader "The Keyblade master and apprentice are once again walking their paths. Let us plant some seeds in those paths." Xemnas ordered

"Go." All but the leader teleport away.

End Chapter