Hey guys. Sorry about the late update but I didn't realize I would be spending the weekend away from my computer. Oh well here's the chapter. Please review and suggestions about cameos are welcome. And this chapter marks the appearance of my first original character. Please say whether or not you want him to stay in the story. Other than that, enjoy!

Chapter 3: The Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee

Sora, Kairi, Leon and Yuffie walked down the street towards the small building the Restoration Committee were based out of. Kairi and Yuffie were still having a conversation that usually consisted of Yuffie asking Kairi questions. When they finally reached the building, Leon held the door open for everyone and let them in. Once they were inside everyone was greeted and introduced to Kairi. Leon introduced Sora and Kairi to the two new members.

"Sora, Kairi, this is Zidane Tribal," said Leon.

"Heya," greeted Zidane. He had longish blonde hair, blue eyes and a strange tail sprouting from behind him. Leon pulled Sora aside to give him some advice.

"Don't let him get too close," warned Leon. "He is an extremely skilled pickpocket."

"Hey!" exclaimed Zidane who appeared to have been eavesdropping.

"And a skilled eavesdropper," continued Leon. Sora looked over the other newcomer who had a huge sword attached to his back. He had broad shoulders and dark brown coloured hair. His piercing eyes overlooked the reunion taking in every single detail.

"That's Subeta," said Leon noting Sora's gaze. "He doesn't talk much."

Subeta glared at him.

"I talk when there is something worth saying," said Subeta gruffly. "Why waste energy on unnecessary tasks?"

Sora held out his hand.

"Nice to meet you," greeted Sora. Subeta eyed Sora's hand warily before shaking it.

"Nice to meet you too…I guess," replied Subeta.

"Does someone want to help with dinner now that we're serving for more people now?" asked Aerith.

"Don't look at me," said Cid.

"Nor me," replied Leon.

"I wouldn't ask either of you to cook," smiled Aerith. "Especially not after last time."

Everyone laughed except for Leon and Cid.

"What happened last time?" asked Sora with a grin forming on his face. Leon winced.

"Never mind," he mumbled. Sora realised he had never seen Leon wince which meant it must have been pretty bad.

"I'll help," offered Kairi brightly. Aerith eyed her.

"Can you cook?" asked Aerith.

"Sure!" exclaimed Kairi. Kairi and Aerith went to the kitchen while the boys sat down at the table except for Cid who continued to type away at his computer.

"Where's Merlin?" asked Sora noting the old man's lack of presence.

"Off somewhere that I don't really care about," replied Cid. "At least he's not blowing things up."

Conversations were cut short when explosions were heard from outside the hideout.

"What was that?" asked Kairi coming rushing in from the kitchen.

"I think Merlin's back," commented Cid.

"Heartless…" said Subeta. Leon opened the door and indeed there was a large group of Heartless outside.

"How-"Sora was about to ask before he was cut off by Leon.

"Don't ask," he told him.

"They're coming from the castle," informed Subeta, taking his massive sword off his back. Blue lines lit up the edges with power.

"Sora, Kairi, Subeta and me will head towards the castle to see what's going on," ordered Leon. "The rest of you stay here and protect the hideout."

"Why can't I come," moaned Yuffie.

"Because someone has to stay here to protect the base," he ordered. "Now come on."

Sora and Kairi summoned Oathkeeper and Destinies' Embrace respectively. Leon unsheathed his gunblade. They rushed out the door towards the castle while the others got their weapons and stepped outside to face the Heartless.

"Well now that I'm in this confounded world let's find Sora and Kairi," a tall, red-headed man grumbled as he ran through the streets of his former homeworld rather hurriedly. The man was indeed Lea and he wasn't in a good mood. He heard Heartless up ahead.

"How can the Heartless have attacked two different worlds at exactly the same time," he thought. "This can't be a coincidence."

The Heartless he had heard before appeared. It turned out it was not many Heartless, but one big one. Lea tried to summon his Keyblade but it wouldn't come to him. Lea growled. Summoning his chakrams instead, he went into a battle position. The Heartless, who looked like a lion infused with the back end of a bright red scorpion, roared shaking the street.

"What was that?" asked Sora pausing.

"Don't worry about it," reassured Leon. "The others will handle it."

"And besides," continued Kairi. " If it's Xehanort summoning these Heartless I would like to personally kick his butt."

"Why's that," asked Leon.

"Because he's messing with my homeworld," growled Kairi slicing a Heartless in half. Both pieces dissipated into shadow. They were making their way towards the castle a little slower than they would have liked to. Subeta was spinning his sword in massive circles destroying anything that got too close. He charged down the street in the direction of the castle annihilating all the Heartless in front of them. Sora and Kairi stared at him in awe.

"Let's go!" exclaimed Leon running off towards the castle. The others followed him, their path no longer obstructed by Heartless.

Lea had definitely found his least favourite type of Heartless. Not only was this thing annoyingly huge, but of all the Heartless that could have chosen to attack him it had to be the one that ate fire. Just before he had thrown a fireball that might have even made even Xehanort flinch at the Heartless' face only to have it swallow the fireball whole. It retaliated by spewing fireballs all over the place setting a few isolated buildings on fire. Lea recovered from the attack.

"Just die already," shouted Lea as the lion/scorpion hybrid swung its tail at him. Lea flipped out of the way of the tail and threw both chakrams at the Heartless' face. It yowled in pain as they flew across its face leaving shadowy gashes where they cut the skin. The Heartless covered its face with its front paws. He was killing it. But much too slow.

"I need to get to Sora and Kairi," he thought desperately. Catching his chakrams he began to retreat down the street. The Heartless uncovered its face with its paws and started following him.

"Look out!" Lea heard someone shout. He turned to see a girl of about nineteen years old running down the street towards the Heartless. She was carrying a giant shuriken that she used to deflect any fireballs the Heartless threw at her. When she was close enough it started swiping its tail in an effort to hit her. But with expert precision, the girl ducked under and over each swipe and threw her shuriken at the Heatless hitting various weak spots in the process. Eventually the Heartless dissolved back into darkness. The girl walked over to him.

"Who are you?" she asked eyeing him up and down. Lea still had his mouth open puzzling over the fact that a mere girl had completely annihilated a Heartless that had him retreating in a matter of seconds.

"I need practise," he thought.

"The names Lea," he said regaining his composure. "Got it memorised."

"Whatever," she said, walking past him. "If you're looking for people you might as well come this way."

Lea stared at her as she walked away. Running to catch up with her he asked her if she had seen Sora or Kairi.

"What, the two lovebirds?" she asked. "They're over at the castle looking for Xehanort."

Lea chuckled.

"I hope those two haven't done anything to embarrass themselves," he laughed.

"No."

"Well where are they?" Lea asked. "I've got to get them and get back to the Mysterious Tower."

"Right then, this way."

The girl ran off down the street in the direction of the castle.

"Wait aren't you going to tell me your name?" Lea called after her.

"Yuffie," she called back. "Hope you can keep up."

With that she ran off leaving a grumbling Lea to catch up to her.