Chapter three: Discovery

The black portal spun from the air hitting the dirt with such impact that dust particles flew in every direction. Sora fell out of the portal landing with little comfort on his stomach. Axel walked calmly out after him, his keen gaze taking in their surroundings. Sora groaned as he stood up, wiping off his clothes as he glanced around the area also curious as to where they were.

"Hey this place looks familiar." He stated as he turned to Axel.

"Of course it does…Where is it?"

"I think Bell and Beast live here!"

Axel took his hand and placed it on his head. "I don't think this is the area I wanted to go to."

"But they might know where Riku and Roxas are!"

Axel sighed and followed Sora as he ran down a long path towards the tall castle in their midst.

Sora stopped running as he arrived in front of the big castle doors. Last time he was with Donald and Goofy the door wasn't locked, so he pushed on the wooden door, satisfied as it creaked open. Sora walked in seeing Lumiere and Cogsworth arguing. Before Cogsworth hit Lumiere, Sora blurts out

"What's going on?"

Cogsworth stopped in mid-swing. "He lit the tapestry on fire which spread into the kitchen and turned my lunch to ash!"

"It's not like I did it on purpose!" Cogsworth runs towards Lumiere about to tackle him when Sora jumps in the middle and separates them with his keyblade. Axel walked in, pausing beside the large doors a weird look on his face. Sora's keyblade disappears as he crouched down to their level.

"I really don't think this is worth tackling each other over." He laughed. Lumiere and Cogsworth glared at Sora as they both turned on him.

"I don't think you quit understand our situation Sora." When he was about to argue once more he realized he should ask why Sora was here anyways.

"Why its sure nice to see you again..Sora! But…why are you here?" The brown spiky haired boy stood up and pondered for a moment. "Well we weren't really here to see you." Lumiere jumped closer, nearer Sora's leg.

"You don't want to see us?" He looked about to cry.

"No no no it's not that, it's just we ended up in the wrong place." They could hear Axel's black boots tap against the floor as he walked in closer to the conversation. He ran his hand through his red hair looking rather frustrated.

"That's for sure. And now the portal won't work." Sora ran up to him shocked.

"What do you mean it won't work??"

"Watch." Axel said holding out his gloved hand in explanation. He cringed his fingers trying to make something come up. But there was nothing. He let out a sigh and sat on the castle stair case. Everything was shiny and clean inside. Bell knew how to keep a castle spotless. There was a light seen through a crack in a door. Sora knew they had to find help so he opened the door, causing a loud creaking noise to penetrate the silence of the castle.

"WHO'S THERE?!" Beast yelled making Sora fall over, it startled him so much.

"Oh it's you Sora." He helped him up.

"Sorry. I thought you were a heartless."

"Its fine. Sorry to barge in on you but we ended up in the wrong place and now we're stuck." There was a light tap of running on the tile floor as the conversation died off.

Bell ran in, holding the bottom of her dress up.

"Sora!" She said brightly and ran over to hug him.

"It's so great to see you! I love seeing old friends!"

"I'm happy to see you too." Sora replied. He loves seeing old friends as well, but there was no time to waste. They had to find Roxas and Riku. Axel wasn't the patient type. He walked into the room and grabbed Sora's arm pulling him out the door.

"Sorry to ruin your nice greetings but we've got places to find, people to hurt and friends to rescue." Axel is so demanding Sora thought. He wanted to find Riku and Roxas but it's ok to say hello.

"Ok but until we can find a way to leave, we should stay here." Bell and Beast heard the conversation and agreed that it would be ok to stay.



Roxas twitched in his sleep, rolling on his side as he shivered lightly. The cold ground beneath him did little to add comfort or warmth to his stiff body. Riku sat with his back against the stone wall and one arm resting on his knee. He watched Roxas silently from the other side of their small prison, contemplating their chances of escape. Letting his gaze flicker to the window, Riku noted the shallow light that fell through it onto the prison floor.

It must be three or four in the morning. He thought, studying the silvery moonlight pooling around Roxas. Roxas gasped lightly in his sleep, his hand clenching and unclenching themselves in tight fists. Riku frowned as he watched the other boy. Roxas hadn't said much since he had been brought back from wherever it was the Dawn members had taken him. Riku silently wondered if the jerks had done something to him.

Standing Riku walked over to him, noting how he shivered in his sleep, the movement of his eyes behind his lids and his strained breathing. Worry creased across his face as he kneeled next to the blond, placing a hand on his forehead. He placed his on hand on his brow, testing the two against one another. It was warm, warmer than usual. Riku pulled his hand away, glancing once more around the cell. It was cold and dank, not an ideal place for someone who had the beginnings of a fever. Green eyes took in every detail until finally coming to rest on his coat, lying in a pile near the wall.

He allowed a small sigh of relief; at least Roxas would get some warmth. He made to go towards it till he felt a soft but firm tug on his pant leg. Slight surprise sparkled in his deep green eyes as he looked down, seeing that Roxas had taken hold of his pant leg, holding it firmly in his grip. Roxas's lips moved lightly as if he were speaking but no sound escaped them. Now confused Riku moved closer to Roxas, hoping to catch what he was trying to say.

"Namine.." the words were soft, delicate and barely audible as they were spoken. Riku smiled lightly, removing Roxas hand before standing once more.

"You'll see Namine again." He assured him quietly, laying his coat over the sleeping boy. The creek of the distant door made him look up. Two of the Dawn members walked in, Ryuu and Koryuu.

"Good you're awake, that makes it easier for us." Ryuu said with that annoying smirk. Riku frowned, stepping in front of the sleeping Roxas in a protective manner.

"Calm down we're here for you this time not him." Ryuu told him, walking towards the cell door. The cell door opened with little more than a squeak. Riku glanced at Roxas but the sound seemed to not have penetrated his exhausted slumber. Ryuu walked in, Koryuu staying back beside the door. He immediately tensed, seeing the blond walk towards him, something silvery hidden in his sleeve. Green eyes narrowed, Riku stood his ground, hand raised

"Ah ah don't summon it or there will be consequences." Ryuu stated, the silver thing protruding from his black sleeve. It was a syringe, slender and long with some kind of blue liquid within. Ryuu squeezed it lightly, causing the liquid to drip to the floor, small splishes against the stone.

"Don't worry, It will only hurt for a moment." Koryuu stated, speaking for the first time. Ryuu glanced over his shoulder at his comrade.

"Don't lie to the kid Kory." He said before looking back at Riku. Riku took the situation in, coming to the conclusion that if he resisted either himself or Roxas would be injured. He took in a long slow breath, feeling slight anticipation as the needle glimmered in the moonlight. A sensation caught him off guard, sending a shiver up and down his spin. It as if the very air around him was shifting and moving in time with his own heart beat.

Riku blinked in surprise as he sensed something behind him. He began to turn only to feel a searing prick in his neck. A gasp escaped his lips as he felt the movement in his body leave and his limbs go numb. He fell to his knees with a soft thump, the world spinning as his vision slowly darkened around the edges. Ryuu chuckled, watching Riku as he sank to the floor, the effects of the drug running their course. Riku saw Roxas sleeping face looming before him before his vision gave way to darkness and he knew no more.



Bell was tired of the silence and broke it considering if anyone would like some dinner.

"We would love that!" Sora answered quickly nudging Axel's arm trying to coax a response out of him.

"Oh..Yeah. Sure.." He answered his tone dead bored. He got up and walked into another room motioning for Sora to follow him. They sat outside the dining room coming to a halt at the stair case. Axel seated himself on the marble stair case where the glass vases and crystal windows glistened in the sun light. It was so beautiful there. Sora sat beside him, ignoring the beauty around him.

"You think we'll get to Riku and Roxas in time?" Sora worriedly inquired.

"Don't worry Sora. I'll find a way..some how…."

Bell called everyone in for dinner as she set up the table. Sora offered to help and grabbed a pile of dishes to set on the table.

"Oh we don't need that much Sora." Bell told him. The sun was so bright that Sora couldn't see where he was headed for. Lumiere jumped in front of Sora not quit at the right moment and tripped him. The plates fell everywhere luckily not hitting anyone.

"Oops. Sorry." Sora apologized. Cogsworth hit Lumiere on the head.

"You idiot!"

"Uh no no its ok I've got it." Sora said picking up the broken plates, cutting his hands.

Axel rolled his eyes thinking how clumsy Sora was.

"You don't pick them up with your bare hands!" Bell ran in with a broom and cleaned it up.

"Oh Sora. Its quite alright. Please just sit down and eat." The dinner was served with steak and mashed potatoes. Every one pulled out a chair and sat down while Bell poured drinks into each glass. The sun busted out beams of light in the room not leaving a dark corner even the smallest of shadows. It was so nice and peaceful. Axel was finished with his food and had been for some time as he watched the others continue their meal. He played aimlessly with his fork, cheek propped up against his other hand.

How are we supposed to get outta here!! He tapped his fingers on the table rhythmically as he pondered. Sora glanced up at Axel from his warm meal of roasted meat and steaming vegetables, catching the others ponderous actions. He silently wondered what Axel was pondering as he bit into the soft bread he held. He noticed Axel flinch ever so slightly as his gloved hand flew to the back of his neck. Sora stood, slightly alarmed at the others actions as he walked over. He was even more alarmed when Axel pulled his hand away, uncurling his fingers to reveal a small onyx colored device with slight traced of blood on it.

Axel glared lightly, scrutinizing the device closely as he set it on the table. It was an odd shape almost like a small larva with tiny silvery wings. Along its body was bright blue markings in peculiar forms that he found himself puzzling over. He could feel Sora's curious gaze beside him as he too examined the device. Sora blinked lightly, noting that one blue marking in particular was flashing lightly.

"What's that?" He asked reaching towards the device.

"Don't touch it." Axel commanded too late. Sora pulled his hand away quickly as the strange device seemed to prop itself up, wings folding apart smoothly. Between the wings a small tube jutted out, and then a blinding light flashed forth from the tube, illuminating the room in an eerie glow. Sora covered his eyes well Axel peered through half closed lids that the strange lightly. It soon settler down to a dull glow, forming an orb in the air, within the orb were two people, each dressed in a black organization cloak much like Axel's.

"Ah I see at last you've noticed the little device we set on you number VIII." Chuckled Ryuu. Daichi smirked lightly

"Took you long enough." Axel smirked despite himself, rubbing his neck lightly

"So it was you two you bugged me." He concluded with a light glare. Sora glanced from Axel to the people in the screen, confused yet alert.

"Do you know them Axel?" He asked. Axel shook his head

"No I don't even though they do wear our cloaks." Daichi frowned lightly, folding his arms before him.

"We have a message for the keyblade wielder." He said, focusing his gaze on Sora. Sora blinked lightly in surprise, Axel just nodded in a knowing manner. Makes sense. He thought.

"Well what is it?" Asked Sora when the blue haired man didn't continue. Ryuu grinned in a manner that slightly disturbed him.

"We have a friend of yours, but if you want him back you'll have to come get him." Sora glanced down for a moment, clenching his fist

"Riku…you have Riku!" He shouted at them, anger glowing in his sky blue eyes. Ryuu chuckled, eyeing the angered boy as if making him upset was the funniest thing in the world. Axel stood, placing a hand lightly on Sora's shoulder.

"Don't give them the pleasure of your anger." He said, looking at him.

"We don't know for sure if they do." Sora nodded in understanding though he kept his fist clenched tightly.

"Having doubts are we?" Daichi asked with another frowned.

"Let me cut to heart any doubts that you may have." The screen changed to display a very drowsy Riku tied securly to a chair. His head lulled to one side as if he was too tired to hold it up. Sora gasped lightly when he saw his friend in such a state.

"What did you do to him?!" He demanded.

"Nothing, he's just drugged is all." Ryuu assured him, patting Riku lightly on the head. Sora watched wide eyed as Riku with great effort lifted his head. He gritted his teeth with the effort but managed to look right at Sora. He blinked several times as if to clear his vision. Sora…He thought, seeing his friend's angry, worried face peering at him through the screen.

"Riku! A-are you alright?" Sora asked, catching his friend's gaze. Riku managed a faint smile

"...Never better." He said sarcasm clear in his stugglinh tone. Axel watched all this with a growing feeling of foreboding. Something was not right about this.

"Sora you have to……be careful…..Roxas is.." Riku managed to get out, irked at his own inability to speak properly. Ryuu stopped him, clamping his gloved hand over the teen's mouth in a not to friendly manner.

"Riku!" Sora said, seeing his friend treated thus.

"Let go of him." He demanded. Riku glared as best he could at the man, which Ryuu in return merely grinned at him. He looked towards Sora

"Whoops can't have him ruining it. Just know that we're waiting in the darkness of the red star." He stated firming his grip as Riku tried vainly to bite his hand.

"Till then." Daichi told him with a smirk and a wave. The screen flickered, Sora gazing helplessly as his friend met his gaze then dissolved as the screen disappeared, taking his image with it. Axel, tugged Sora.

"Let's get going." He said, ready to leave now. Riku's words had sparked his interest. He was sure more than anything that when they found Riku Roxas would be close by.

"Alright." Sora responded, rubbing his arm across his face trying to be ride of his angry tears. Axel summoned a portal, rather pleased that he could once more as he stepped over to it. Sora paused, glancing over at Belle and Beast.

"Thanks for everything." He smiled as best he could though sadness emitted from his eyes. Belle stood, walking over as she placed a hand tenderly on his shoulder.

"I wish we could help." She told him softly. Sora smiled once more

"Thank you Bell but you've done enough." Bell nodded in acknowledgment stepping back as Sora moved towards the portal.

"Take care." She said. Cogsworth and Lumiere chimmed in their goodbyes and good lucks. Beast came to stand beside Belle.

"Come visit again and bring your friend." He said. Sora nodded.

"I will." He turned away from them, walking through the dark portal after Axel. It soon vanished, leaving the room quiet once more.