The rest of the flight was quiet, Sora sleeping peacefully was like some signal to let Roxas doze off too. Riku imagined that neither of them must have got much sleep. Being stranded with no food and really, the only decent bedding was the beach sand itself. He still wasn't sure if Roxas could still make portals, or if the blonde had just been hoping someone would eventually find them since otherwise he could have easily brought them back to the tower himself.

The ship had parked close to the castle hours later, well out of the eyes of the townsfolk. Roxas had apparently inherited Sora's inability to wake up quickly. Instead of rising to his own feet when nudged awake, he just wrapped his arms around Axel's neck, a wordless command to be carried. The redhead just chuckles and hugged him tight, silently complying. Riku didn't even try with Sora, the Shadow was stuck on him like a leach anyway.

Roxas had been given a new set of clothes by the three fairies before they left. Hanging on to his uniform would likely only cause trouble. But having worn the coat for most of his 'life' and Axel grown so used to it, the weight and embrace of the coats still gave them a weird sense of security sometimes. The fairies were kind enough to sort of fuse the coats as a spell into their clothes, able to change from the everyday clothing back into the coats if needed. Besides black hoods were much more effective for stealth than a vibrant red mane.

Roxas had color scheme similar to his Twilight Town wardrobe, mostly black and white, and the style itself more fit for traveling than just plain everyday city clothes. The darker pants did not swallow his feet, ending just below his ankle. Sturdy white running shoes. A white overshirt (with hood of course) whose sleeves belled around the elbows, the cuffs and waist with his signature checkerboard pattern. Underneath was a darkish grey tee with swirling gold lines in no particular design. A rich blue, four tailed scarf wrapped loosely around his neck. It wasn't part of the fairies' initial design. Just coming to on its own, but Roxas felt he'd seen one similar to it before.

Axel on another hand, had been more than happy to put some color back in his wardrobe after Riku was named a Master. Currently wearing an outfit similar to his favorite one from before he lost his heart, but with a few tweaks. Long sleeve black shirt, flame orange vest jacket, red cargo pants. Emerald bandana tied on upper left arm. And combat boots just because.

They were halfway through the bailey cavern just about to reach the hidden cave that housed the Garden of Remembrance when Sora shifted in Riku's arms. Riku did his best to keep a hold of the wiggly Shadow until Axel stopped walking, a curious frown on his face.

Riku stopped right behind him, "Something wrong?"

"I sense a disturbance in the flames…" almost like he was trying to sound like a cryptic old man. The Flurry glanced around for a moment then crouched setting Roxas down by Riku's feet. "Stay with them." Axel mutters, stepping a few paces away towards the rockface.

Axel called forth a handful of flames and tossed them through the holographic wall into the Garden. Nothing happened for a minute. Then, from thin air, right above his head a large bubble appeared, splashing down with all the wetness of being thrown into a pool. Axel's hair drooped with the weight, steam wafting lightly around him as if his fire was snuffed right out.

Riku barked out in laughter, the sudden noise startling Sora the rest of the way awake, he couldn't help it. Axel looked more like a pissed cat after a bath than gearing for a fight so this must be something he was used to.

The entire scene was enough to finally kick Roxas into gear, groggily watching Axel dive past the projection and come back with another blond trapped in a headlock. He was just about Axel's height with a hair-cut that looked something like a mullet, squirming like a fish to escape his captor.

"..Demyx?!"

Fifteen minutes later, Roxas and Riku finally pulling the literal polar opposites apart, not without more wrestling, some tickling, and another splash in the face, Demyx strolled with them as they started towards the castle again.

"I don't know man, I just literally woke up right in front of my door in there, if anything you'd think it would have been more towards the canyon.." The musician shivered for a second, catching Sora's attention again.

Roxas stumbled for a step when the Shadow jumped up to cling to his back, peering over his shoulder like a protective cat, Damn he weighed nothing like this.. Golden orbs staring into Demyx's face, assessing him.

The latter stilled. Caught frozen in the gaze. "I-is that..?"

"Yeah.."

"How..?"

"That's why we came here."

"He's not gonna.. Wha-what's he doing? Why is he staring at me?!"

Sora held his gaze a few seconds more, then leapt back to the ground, batted a paw against Demyx's hand and trotted off towards Riku again. The silverette laughs as the Shadow pushed against him, pawing to get picked up again. "Pretty sure that means, 'don't try and kill me again and we're friends.'"

"Wha?"

"Yeah, I know. But that's Sora for you." Riku shrugs giving into the brunet's insistent tugs.

After the fiasco of the Mark of Mastery had settled down Mickey had contacted the Restoration committee to inform them of their newly gained tenants, Leon had agreed to let them stay, the castle was mostly empty anyway, and they had shown themselves fully against Xehanort's plan now that they knew the whole story. Plus having a few more fighters was never a bad thing, and their knowledge and past research into the heart proved to be helpful.

It still didn't make it any easier for Riku to walk into the midst of the former Nobodies that tried to break him in Castle Oblivion. Sora apparently agreed. Even if he couldn't remember most of them thanks to Namine, it didn't keep the Shadow from hiding himself behind him. Or he could just be feeding off of Riku's unease.

The others themselves though, greeted Axel well enough, showed surprise and to some extent joy on seeing Demyx. But Roxas and the Shadow of his Other that clung to Riku's legs had pretty much stalled all other conversation and was the only reason Ienzo managed to pull Even from whatever project he was obsessing over to come hear the story.

"We had thought that the ones who didn't reanimate here ended up under Xehanort's thumb as Seekers of Darkness." Axel twitched softly at the thoughts of empty gold eyes staring him down, a heavy blade leaning against his own chakram making his arm tremble.

"But perhaps that isn't true for all." Even had given Demyx a quick once over before bringing the other four to his lab. The sitarist seemed more than happy to hang out with the others for now.

At first it was a basic physical exam, Sora kept squirming under the colder-than-a-normal-doctors hands. Roxas would wince but he was used to it. Sitting near Axel helped, being a natural space heater and all.

"Outwardly they are intact, except for mild malnourishment and muscle fatigue, but three days seems too short a time for this extent."

Riku groans covering his eyes. "Sora you idiot…" The Nightmare he was drawn into had affected Sora physically, he'd gotten tired easier and his magic was sorta weak. Yin Sid had said it was from his heart going so far asleep. Riku thought he was recovering! Most likely he had been pushing through everything to appear somewhat normal and wearing himself out to catch back up. Sora had done the same thing after they returned to the isle, too used to moving on to the next world as soon as needed to start watching him at mealtimes again to make sure he ate.. Actually what is he going to feed Sora when he was like this anyway?

Even paused when his hands brushed the chain. It made Sora flinch, leaning away and growling a low warning, but Axel saw the look. That scientific curiosity that usually meant bad things. Barely snarling out a warning at the man before icy hands clasped the silver again, eyes staring at it far too intently before it suddenly gained a light coat of frost. Heartless and Nobody reacting in an instant.

They both yelped cringing in pain. In twin synchrony, the two clutched at their chests, shuffling together till they stood back to back in defense. The sigil on Sora's back pulsed his wings ruffling in agitation, something fazing into existence on the blonde's shirt as well the scarf rippling on its own wind.

Riku jumped forward only to get slapped back by one of the blue tails, Sora putting up a spell that was awfully similar to his own Dark Barrier around them. They both looked panicked, pained, but also blank in a way? Roxas's eyes lacked focus or recognition, while Sora seemed near feral filling the room with growls.

"What the hell did you do frostbite?!" Axel snarls gripping the collar of Even's labcoat. The room warmed by a few degrees.

"Nothing! It was only enough magic for the feeling of cold. Like ice cubes pressed against the skin. I imagine it startled them more than anything. Just let it pass."

Axel growls again, letting go and moving back over at the pair. His extra heat was quickly getting rid of the frost on Sora's chest, but he turned it up a little more anyway. Slowly, gradually, the split halves visibly came too as the tails slacked and the barrier dropped. Roxas glancing at them all in drowsy confusion. Riku stepped over and rubs Sora's back earning a sleepy whine.

"Fascinating.. It seems Sora's heart had been damaged. Perhaps it was sectioned off already, to be prepared in a safe way to free the trapped soul within his when it wakes. But Xehanort's meddling shattered it prematurely. In the process, it seems to have given part of itself so that Thirteen could exist on his own. As consequence, both are incomplete at the moment, but show signs of healing."

"Incomplete?" Riku starts, "You mean Sora actually is a Heartless right now?"

"In a manner of speaking. At least more so than this Drive you've described. Which is also why Thirteen here is actually less of a Nobody than before. Now having a small fraction of a heart for himself. They are in between the in between."

"Wait, what just happened? You're saying I have a heart? How can I have a heart?!" Roxas still looked lost, his hand roaming over his chest, hunting for some telltale thump but finding none. "I don't feel it!"

"I was getting to that… An interesting point in this metamorphosis of you two, is that neither heart is actually being kept inside your bodies. Being incomplete as they are, it would likely destroy them, convert you fully into your respective halves and likely revert you back to the state you were when you were born."

Axel giggles softly. He had moved to lean on the table just beside them once he was sure they were fine, fiddling the switch for a Bunsen burner, "Return of the Zombie? Yeah I don't think you'd like that much buddy."

Even continues, well-practiced in ignoring the former. "Rather for some reason both hearts are being kept in those pendants, why them specifically I do not know, but like this they are still in contact holding the body and soul together safely."

"So, if we take off the necklaces…"

"I wouldn't know, but I don't recommend trying it. Disconnecting from the hearts, even in such weak states, may prove deteriative."

Riku's eyes drifted to Sora's crown. Was that why it wasn't coated in darkness like the rest of him? Instead of being smothered by it, his heart had taken refuge in something Sora kept just as close? Riku could barely remember a time the brunette didn't wear it after he first started to.

"So how does that explain the wings…?"

"That particular trait is more to do with his species as a Heartless. He was a mere Shadow when he lost his heart originally yes? Shadows are the weakest in its family, but are still closely related to Giga, Mega, and Neo Shadows." Riku nods still not seeing the point. "But Darkside are also in this family, as such I can only surmise his Darkness has evolved somewhat since that time."

Riku's gut clenched. There was long list of things that could have affected Sora's heart, a few of the bigger ones being connected to his own actions blaring towards his conscience. Boy it should be given a medal like Jiminy's! And then get it ripped right back away..

"Stop playing with that burner or I will make you its replacement when it inevitably breaks!" Even suddenly snaps, towards the redhead sitting beside Roxas.

Axel barely glanced at the academic, instead of complying he pulled the small gaslight closer and circled his arms around it like a shield. His cat-like eyes just daring for them to take it away. He looked exhausted all of a sudden. He didn't use that much power warming the room did he?

Roxas frowns softly reaching over and threading his fingers through the red locks, those bright green eyes slipping closed with a hum. "Still not dry.. Ax are you feeling ok?"

Even scrutinized him more carefully now. "When is the last time you had a proper bath?"

Riku raised an eyebrow at the question. He was pretty sure Axel took regular showers. Especially with heavy training sessions in their daily schedule. The pyro however turns away from him grumpily.

"Eight!"

Axel flinched and grumbles, "Ugh, before I faded I guess? I didn't think I needed them anymore since, you know.."

"Apparently you do. Go take one, now."

The red head sighs feeling too tired to protest, "'s there even a decent fireplace here..?"

"I'd rather you stay where you can be supervised. Aeleus is in the kitchen, I'm sure he would be willing to share the stove top."

Axel only grumbled shuffling out of the room, Riku looking after him confused.

Sora clung to Roxas when they were finally released, both looked pretty tired still. Even chalked it up to the stress of splitting and the state they fell into when he iced Sora's crown. The two days stranded didn't help at all.

In fact, Sora had just shown a new Heartless power. It seemed he could shrink down to the size of a normal Shadow if he was tired enough, currently laying on top of the blonde's head like a hat snoozing away again. (Kind of reminded Riku of Saturday mornings they spent together watching Pokemon. Only if Ash was blonde and Pikachu coal black.)

Roxas didn't even take notice that his scarf was swaying on its own again. He was too busy making sure his words made sense.

"See some of us with more base elements kinda get sick when we use magic to much. Zexion, Luxlord and a couple others usually did ok cause their powers are pretty much uh.. whatever the opposite of physical is? Tan-? Intan..? I don't know.." Roxas rubbed his eyes tiredly, "But when you get to the more fundamental ones like fire and water we'd have to pretty much recharge once in a while I guess? Like Demyx would nap in the tub or spend the day in Atlantica. Larxene would keep close outlets and kinda feed off of them. Axel usually likes to sit in the middle of a fire pit or near lava flows. Calls it simmering."

"I guess that makes sense, But stove top? That seems like a weak substitution."

Roxas shrugs turning the corner, the large man was indeed at the stove stirring a large pot of stew. The left rear burner was lit too, though nothing seemed to be placed on it. But looking closer there was something sitting in the direct flames like a coiled snake almost. After glancing at it the blonde set himself at the table yawning before laying his head down on his arms. Sora never even moved from his perch the whole time.

"You know there's not a lot of worlds that are required to take new forms in. Still some of them do it to you anyway. And I guess that once you're granted a new form you can use it anytime you want after some practice. In the Land of Dragons Axel gets changed into a little pocket dragon like Mushu, and sometimes it's better to use that to simmer in than trying to build a human sized fire. And easier to get back in control if he flares it up on accident."

Riku's eyes brightened at that. Personally he hasn't had a need to go to such a world yet, but Sora had stories of being both a merman and a small lion cub. (He had been curious on seeing that.) Hell if Sora was small enough to fit in a pet carrier it would make keeping track of him loads easier.

Riku sat with the two for a while, watching as they both drifted off to sleep. Sora wiggled at one point sliding down Roxas' head to curl up between his shoulder and the curve of his neck. The silverette couldn't help but smile and take a few pictures.

As much as he didn't want to leave them alone he knew they needed rest. And despite the venom towards the team alchemist both former Nobodies seemed to trust the people here. Riku needed to find Leon and the others, they needed to know Sora was out of commission. Plus he was very against a repeat of the beach incident if he could prevent it…

He was only gone less than an hour, he hadn't even let Leon call the others yet. But something slammed into him with the force of a charging Roadster. Riku gripped his head as images flashed by. Sora, darkness, himself… what was happening?! Leon was knelt beside him he knew but he couldn't hear him. Too focused on the images. But there was something else… he could hear.. a Meow Wow? Now he could see one. No not just any, it was Garfield. The first one Sora had made, painted all orange just like his cartoon namesake. Was he seeing Sora's dreams?

Riku leapt up ignoring Leon, who just ran after him anyway, he needed to get back to the castle.

I have a question about world transformations actually. Why in BBS was Ven only mouse SIZED?! I mean I can get that since it was originally a handheld and they had so much other stuff to do than make a completely new model just for the one world and the one character. Like Roxas didn't get a costume for Halloween town in Days either. But I'd like to hope that at one point they actually did plan to did give them new forms, maybe see concept art if there is any out there?