Last time: Sora Awoke from his year long slumber, and has set off for Yen Sid's tower. What awaits him there?


Disclaimer: Check Chapter 1


The train ride took at most half an hour, all of which Sora slept through. When the train rolled to a stop at Yen Sid's tower, I shook Sora awake.

"We're here." The boy nodded, standing as Donald, Goofy and I left the train. He followed after us, but turned as the train vanished. He chuckled nervously.

"There goes our ride..." Shaking his head, Sora ran to catch up to us. We all stood at the base of the tower, and I raised an eyebrow. Some one was blocking the door with their massive bulk. Donald crossed his feathered arms over his chest.

"What's goin' on?" The male blocking the door didn't even turn around, just spoke.

"I sent some of my lackeys inside to see if the master of this here tower's as big and as tough as they say. Word id, he's a real powerful sorcerer. Which would make him the perfect bodyguard for me. See, it don't matter how how tough he is, once he's a Heartless, he'll do as I say!" Donald stepped back, and I snapped my fingers. Now I knew what was going on. With Sora's memories bieng restored, some of my own memories had changed. Sora had said they'd defeated Ansem, when he fully knew it was Xehanort. And now, I was forgetting who the enemy way. Shaking my head, I nearly missed Pete's response to Donalds confused squawk.

"That's right. They're those things that come outta the Darkness in folk's hearts. Why, with all those Heartless at her side, my dear friend Maleficent is gonna conquer everything! And since I got me a debt to pay, I'm goin' around to a bunch of different worlds and building an army of Heartless, special for her." He shook his head, and I had to bite back a laugh.

"Oh, why am I talking to you pipsqueaks anyway? Go on, Scram! I'm behind schedule as it is." Goofy shook his head.

"You oughta find something nicer to do." Pete tensed, finally moving out of the doorframe as he turned.

"Say's who?!" His eyes widened, surprised to see two member's of our group.

"Wha...AAHH! It's you!" Donald and Goofy stepped back, surprised to see Pete as he was to see them.

"Pete!"

"What're you two nimrods doing here?!" Donald glared.

"What're you doing here?!" Sora and I turned to Goofy, looking for an answer.

"You know him?" Goofy nodded.

"We sure do! Pete's been causing trouble for ages! His Majesty banished him to another dimension a long time ago. I wonder how he escaped..." Pete laughed, placing his hands on his hips.

"You wanna know how, eh? Well, Maleficent busted me out, that's how! And now your world, no, no, no, all the worlds, are gonna belong to yours truly! Cause Maleficent's gonna help me conquer 'em." We all smiled, and Sora shot me a look that said enough.

"Maleficent, huh?" It was too much, and we all broke out laughing. Pete didn't take that well, and he almost started fuming at the ears.

"What are you all laughing at?! Why Maleficent's power is so great that she..."

"She's toast!" Sora was just recovering from his laughing fit, and the look on Pete's face sent him straight back into it. I looked to Pete, still smiling.

"Sorry, but Maleficent can't help you anymore."

"Whaddaya mean?" The look on his face was too much, and we all started laughing again. Pete glared.

"You! So you're the ones who killed her!" Sora smiled, lacing his fingers behind his head.

"Well, we mighta had something to do with it." Pete snarled, bouncing up and down from one foot to the other in his anger.

"Heartless Squad! Round Up!" We all stepped back, and I glared at the Shadow's popping up from the ground. Sora summoned the Kingdom Key as I called my Daggers back from the void, and we leapt into combat. The biggest problem was one little Shadow that kept ducking underground, popping out only to trip us up. After at least a dozen falls from the creature, Donald had had enough. Sticking his staff into the ground, he unleashed a spell that knocked us off our feet.

"Break!" The Shadow was literally forced out of the ground and into the air, where it became an easy target for Sora to handle. As it faded away, Pete snarled at us.

"You just wait! Nobobdy, and I do mean nobody, messes with the mighty Pete!" Sora snickered.

"So, "mighty" Pete, who lives in this tower anyway?" Pete smirked, and I stepped closer to Sora in case the dogman was going to try anything else.

"Oh, ya don't know, eh? Well it's old Yen Sid. Course, he's probably a Heartless by now!" Donald gasped.

"Master Yen Sid lives here?!" He ran up the stairs, ducking under Pete's arm. Sora and I looked to Goofy.

"Yen Sid was the King's Teacher." Sora nodded, and we ran up the stairs after Goofy. Before the doors slammed shut behind us, I saw Pete staring at us with wide eyes as he tried to pick up his jaw. We fought through Shadow's and Soldiers, with little to no problems until we reached the Star Room. In there, we faced a dozen Shadows and a single Large Body. The Shadow's fell to magic easily enough, but the Large Body was having fun knocking us around. After Sora and I crashed into each other, I'd had enough. I turned to Sora.

"Give me a boost to get around that thing, I've got an idea." Sora nodded, and we ran at the creature. Suddenly, the boy stopped. I jumped off his shoulders, bouncing off the creatures head and slashing at it from behind. Still blinking in shock at the smarts of its target, the crazy thing faded away into a puff of black smoke. Donald stood, tapping one webbed foot.

"Heartless, Heartless, Heartless! Things haven't changed one bit!" Goofy tilted his head, and I dusted myself off.

"Well, it's a good thing we're on the job then." Sora looked to me.

"So, the worlds aren't at peace after all..." We continued up the stairs and into the Sorcerer's Loft. Donald and Goofy bowed to the ancient wizard, while Sora and I simply stood. Still bowing, Donald spoke up.

"Master Yen Sid, it's an honor." I nodded curtly, but Sora was more casual.

"Hey there." Donald and Goofy stared at the boy in shock, and the duck tugged the boy down by his shirt.

"Sora! Show some respect!" Yen Sid raised a hand, calming Donald down. He looked to me and Sora, and I could swear he lingered a moment longer on me. I stayed close to Sora, not trusting this man as far as I could throw him.

"So, you are Sora and Christina. Now then, have you seen the King yet?" Goofy nodded.

"Yes, we did Master. But we didn't get a chance to talk to him." Yen Sid nodded pensively.

"Yes...The King has been quite busy as of late. Therefore, it would seem the task of instructing the four of you falls upon my shoulders. You've a perilous journey ahead of you. You must be well prepared." Sora looked at the man behind the desk, and my heart cracked at his tone. Sora was just as tired of all this as Riku and I were. This wasn't fair.

"You mean...we have to go on another quest? I was looking forward to finding my friend Riku, so we could home together..." Yen Sid nodded, but I noticed something, almost sinister in his eyes. Was he trying to...no, he wouldn't, would he?

"Yes, I know. However. Everything in your journey, Sora, Christina, is connected. Whether you will find your way home to the Islands, whether you will return alone or with your friends, and, whether or not the Islands will still be there." I snarled. Now I knew. Yen Sid was trying to break Sora down. Clenching a fist, I glared at the Wizard but stayed my blade. Sora looked down at his hands, looking up as the Wizard continued in his speech.

"And the Key that connects them all is you, Sora." Sora blinked, jaw dropping slightly.

"I'm, the Key?" He held out one hand, and the Kingdom Key appeared. Yen Sid smiled, making me uneasy.

"Chosen Wielder of the Keyblade! You are the Key that will open the door to Light." Sora nodded, and I took a deep breath. Why was I thinking of flying off the handle at this guy with a rant? Yen Sid looked to Donald and Goofy, and they stood up straight with a nod. The Ancient Wizard waved a hand over the table, conjuring a thick book. He made it float into the air, and it spun towards Sora and I. It opened, landing on the edge of the desk.

"This Book contains valuable knowledge you will need for your journey. Study it carefully. Once you have all finished, we will speak of the enemies you will surely confront." I nodded, taking the book from the edge and returning to the staircase just outside the loft. We all plunked down in various places near the door, and I read out the passages Yen Sid had meant.

"The Beginning - Each Journey gives rise to chance encounters, and each encounter brings forth a farewell. When a farewell leads to a Journey, the Worlds open their Hearts. Those chosen by the Light, or ensnared by the Darkness. Friends that share the same bonds, though thier paths may differ. When you doubt the path trod thus far, when the hand you held is lost to you, gaze anew at the Heart that once was...for all the answers are within."

I looked up at Sora, for the boy had begun to pace up and down the stairs. When he waved a hand in a "continue" gesture, I nodded. Turning the page in the old book, I read the next passage.

"Interlude - A long Dream. A sad farewell, hanging in the air in that "world between". What is reality? What is Illusion? The path chosen by the young boy leads to his memories. When caught in the stream of the days and nights going past, gaze once more at your steps...for there all confusion will end."

Sora kept pacing, so I returned to my reading.

"The Fuure Story - Will the day come when this battle, born of confusion, will end? It is different things to different people. Can the reality be that which is hidden? The reason is mere existence. Still, memories can be believed. Be not afraid, entrust your body to the soothing waves of your memories. By and By, your fleeting rest will be over...and everything will begin." I shut the book with a loud thunk, making Sora stop pacing. He looked over the edge of the staircase, then turned on his heel and pushed open the door to the loft again. Donald, Goofy and I followed him in, and I set the book down onto the desk. Sora looked at Yen Sid.

"How come the Heartless are still running around?"

"Your past endeavours did prevent an immense effusion of Heartless from the great Darkness; make no mistake about that. However, the Heartless are Darkness made real. And Darkness lingers yet in every Heart. The Heartless are fewer, yes, but while Darkness exists in a single Heart, it will be difficult to eliminate them." The boys sighed, and even I couldn't supress the slight sag in my posture. Goofy started.

"Gawrsh, that must mean...if everybody's heart ws full of Light, them Heartless'd go away!" Yen Sid nodded.

"Now it is time to speak of the enemies you will encounter." He waved a hand to the far wall, and an Image of Donald appeared in the pillar of light. It then changed to a Shadow Heartlss.

"If one such as you, Donald, yields to the Darkness in their Heart, they too will become a Heartless. But you know this already, for the Heartless are ever lurking and seeking to capture new Hearts. Never let your gaurd down!" He waved his hand again, and the Shadow now stood alongside a Dusk.

"At times, if someone with a strong Heart and will, be they evil or good, becomes a Heartless, the empty shell that is left behind behind begins to act with a will of it's own." The Shadow suddenly disappeared, leaving the Dusk swaying alone in the pillar of light.

"An empty vessel who's Heart has been stolen away...A spirit that goes on, evem as it's body fades from existance. For you see, Nobodies do not truly exist at all. Nobodies may seem to have feelings, but this is a ruse. They only pretend to have Hearts, you must not be decieved." I clenched my fists, and despite both Griever's protests and my own better judgement, I snapped. Slamming a fist onto Yen Sid's desk, I glared at the old wizard with enough anger in my eyes to make him press back against his seat.

"That's not true. I don't care what rule book you go by, I don't care what sense of "good or evil" you use, Nobodies have feelings! I had to watch two people very important to me get thier Hearts broken because a person they LOVED was dying. The catch? They're supposedly HEARTLESS NOBODIES!" I stood there, sides heaving as Yen Sid looked at me like a deer caught in the headlights of a semi-trailer. After a moment, he recovered enough to answer.

"Now Christina, that's all well and good, but Nobodies don't feel anything. They've no heart, and so, they've no emotion." The Wizard winced, realizing he'd just dug himself into a deeper hole. Even Sora stepped back as I slammed my hand onto the desk once more, making the Wizard jump.

"The Heart doesn't give emotion. It's the SOUL that does. For you see Yen Sid, not everything is black and white, good or evil. There is a Grey Scale in the middle." I stepped back, my point made. Shaking his head, Yen Sid continued his explanation.

"Yes, well, now then. The being you see before you is known as a Dusk. They are the most common form of Nobody. But there are others, some larger, some with frightening and unique powers. Be ever vigilant. On your journeys, you will meet an alarming number of Dusks. They will all attempt to do you harm." The images of the Dusks vanished, but the pillars remained.

"Still, the Dusks are nothing but empty shells, destined to return to the Darkness. However..." He waved his hands, and three men in black cloaks suddenly appeared. We all took a step back, and Sora was beginning to look a little scared.

"The beings you see before you now are very different. These powerful Nobodies have formed a Group called Organization XIII. It commands the lesser Nobodies." Sora tilted his head.

"Organization XIII..." He looked at me after Donald and Goofy had shaken thier heads, and I nodded. His eyes widened, but he said nothing. I knew he'd try to get an explanation out of me later, but I'd handle that when the time came. For now however, Yen Sid had the floor.

"While Heartless act on instinct, Nobodies function in a higher manner. They can think and plan, and it seems they are working towards a goal. What that goal is, we do not know. The King sensed the danger, and journeyed forth to fight it. He found the Dark Realm's Keyblade, and with it, closed the door. Now he's traveling from world to world, fighting the Heartless as he seeks the answer to the riddle of the Nobodies and Organization XIII." The Images of the Organization disappeared, and Sora turned to face Yen Sid again.

"Then I guess we'd better go find the King first." Donald nodded, but tapped his foot against the ground.

"But where could he be?" Goofy shrugged.

"Well Donald, we won't know until we look!" Sora nodded, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Yeah. And since you don't know where Riku is, Chris, maybe the King does." I nodded, it was a possibiliy they'd run into each other after Riku had left my side, however slim it was. Yen Sid's voice jolted me out of my thoughts again, but his tone was much more amiable this time.

"So, before you go, you will need more suitable traveling clothes. Those look a tad too small for you. Christina, you'll need enchantments on the ones you wear now as well, so as to avoid any life threatening injuries." As Sora and I nodded, Yen Sid motioned towards a door on the other side of the room.

"Through there, you'll find three good Fairies. If you ask, they'll create for you more, appropriate, garments." Donald and I snickered as Sora began to pull on his clothing. The only one not laughing was Goofy.

"Gawrsh Sora, you sure are growing fast." Still tugging on his clothes, Sora didn't notice me until I'd trapped him in a noogie hold.

"That's becuase he's almost 17!" Sora blinked, then laughed as I dragged him into the wardrobe where the Fairies hustled and bustled, preparing various things. Sora stopped laughing and wrestled his way from my hold.

Me, you three, Riku and the King. I don't care who this Organization is, or what they're planning, but with the six of us, there's nothing to worry about, right?" Donald nodded, voicing his agreement very loudly.

"Yeah!" Flora turned to us, smiling brightly.

"Well, looks who's here dears! Sora, Christie, Donald and Goofy!" Merryweather smiled.

"Ooh, if you're looking for clothes you've come to the right place!" Fauna and Merryweather pulled Sora away from our little group, as Flora summoned me over.

"Wait just a moment dear, we must deal with Sora first." I nodded, and leaned back against the wall to watch the show. Fauna sent out the first spell, turning Sora's still too small clothes a shade of dark green. Merryweather shook her head as she sent out a spell.

"Oh, that will never do!" This spell turned Sora's clothes blue, and Flora looked to her sisters.

"Now, now dears." She sent out a spell of her own, turning Sora's clothes a dark pink. Donald snickered, these three just couldn't decide on anything!

"But don't you like this better?"

"Hold on!" Sora sent me a look, and I shrugged. He pouted at me, and I sighed. This kid.

"Are you certain?"

"Blue!" The Fairie's continued to exchange spells, before Sora had enough after another of Fauna's spells.

"Will you three just decide?!" The women gasped, then turned to eachother and nodded.

"All right then. Together now dears, and no more squabbling." All three Fairie's turned to Sora, casting a spell in unison. After the light cleared, Sora was staninf in black shorts, a dark blue tank top with a red pouch on the abdomen, and a black short sleeve jacket with silver shoulder pads. Red and golden bands criss-crossed over his shorts, and held up two bright red pouches. Sora nodded, letting the Kingdom Key appear in his hand. The Fairie's were smiling brightly, and I nodded.

"Oh my!"

"Ooh, it's lovely."

"Oh yes! He does look very dashing!" Sora blushed slightly at this, and I had to supress a giggle. When Kairi got her hands on him, oh boy! Flora turned away from her sisters and back to Sora.

"Now, those aren't ordinary garments." Fauna nodded.

"They have very special powers." Flora conjured up a glowing yellow orb, which hovered in front of Sora.

"Take the orb dear." Sora extended a hand, and the orb was absorbed into him. Merryweather smiled.

"And watch what happens." For a moment, nothing happened. Then all of a sudden, Sora curled into himself in midair, and with a flash of white, his clothes had turned red and there was a second keyblade in his hand. Sora jumped when he saw that.

"Whoa!" As the boys were examining the new clothes and keyblade, Flora turned to me.

"Now dearie, it's your turn. All you'll need is a few enchantments, since you're obviously quite comfortable in those clothes of yours." At my nod, she waved her wand. A golden shield appeared in front of me, then disappeared. Flora smiled, then turned to frown at Merryweather.

"This Journey's gonna be twice as difficult as your last." Sora sighed, head falling to his chest. Flora frowned at her sister, then turned to Sora.

"Your garments also have other powers, but you will have to discover what they are you continue on your journey." Sora nodded, and the second Keyblade vanished as he returned to normal.

"Ok, I'll do my best. And thanks a lot!" I echoed his sentiment, and as we left the room, Fauna spoke up.

"Oh, and there's something else for you, from Master Yen Sid." Donald smiled, and we ran off into the Loft one more. Yen Sid was standing at the window, and he motioned us over. I had to smile as Infinity came into view. I turned to Yen Sid.

"How did you find her?" The old Wizard smiled.

"My dear, never underestimate a little magic." I nodded, and the four of us stood up straight. Yen Sid raised a hand.

"Now now, just a moment." We all slouched a little.

"Becuase of your previous endeavours, the worlds have returned to their original states. That means the pathways between them have disappeared." Donald sagged over.

"How do we get around?" Yen Sid turned to the duck.

"Do not fear. If what the King suspected proves true, the worlds have prepared new pathways along which you may travel. These pathways may be utilized by unlocking special gates. However, I'm afraid I do not know how these gates are opened, but I'm certain that the Keyblade will serve as your guide. When a beam of Light radiates from its tip, return to Infinity. Though the worlds may seem far apart and out of reach, the nonetheless remain connected by invisible ties. As do our Hearts." Sora and I nodded, sharing a look.

"Our hearts are connected."

"That is correct Sora. But be warned. As you proceed, the Heartless and the Nobodies will be using their own paths, corridors of Darkness to travel from world to world. They may be attempting to link these Dark pathways to the gates between the worlds." Donald seethed, pounding his foot on the floor.

"Hey! That's not fair!" Yen Sid shook his head

"Perhaps, but it is the way things are. Now then, that is all the information I can give to you. Go forth, Sora, Christie, Donald and Goofy. Everyone is waiting for you." Sora nodded, and we all stood up straight. We all saluted the Wizard.

"Master Yen Sid!"

"We sure do appreciate the help!" We ran from the loft, and onto a transport beacon. From there, we boarded Infinity. She came alive as I settled into the Captains chair once more.

"Captain! Welcome home!" I smiled, turning power back to the engines as Sora loaded the Shield Program onto it's terminal.

"Good to be back Infinity, up for a flight?"

"Ready and awaiting destination."

"Head home Infinity, it's time to get this show on the road."


Hollow Bastion. This place, it's my home. But in a way, it's not. Regardless of that, it hasn't changed all that much over the past few years. The Town, after Nii-san led the people back home, is still the same as ever. The Castle however, fell apart after Maleficent abandoned it, leaving it to be repaired. As I walked behhind them, the boys ran to the ledge that overlooked the Castle.

"It's Hollow Bastion!"

"Gawrsh, it looks kinda different now..." Donald hopped off the ledge.

"I hope Leon and others are doing ok..." I nodded, heading down the stairs and into the Market.

"They're fine. It's only been a couple of days since I saw them last, so I'm sure they're still safe." I led the way into the Burrough, and jumped back with a yelp as the Town's defense mechanism popped out of the ground, scanned us, then faded away after flashing green. Donald looked this way and that.

"Hey! What's going on?"

"That's the towns defense mechanism. Cid set it up just last night, and it works like a dream." We all looked up to the nearby ledge, and Sora smiled brightly.

"Yuffie!" She waved, then gasped at something appearing behind us.

"Look out!" She tossed one of her shuriken, cutting down a Dusk that would have taken off Sora's head in one swing. We fought away the remaining ones, with the TDM helping out quite a bit. Once tthey were gone, Yuffie hopped off the platform and down to our level.

"I see you're still in top form." Sora smiled.

"What'd you expect? Look's like you're doing okay too." Yuffie smiled brightly, hands on her hips.

"Well, what'd you expect?"

"How're the others?"

"They're great! Everything turning out ok so far." Sora nodded, then turned to Yuffie as she was still hopping around.

"Hey, Yuffie, have you seen the King or Riku?" Yuffie walked towards Merlin's house, still smiling.

"Nope. But I had a fee;ing that I'd be seeing you guys again." Sora nodded, putting on hand on his face. I laughed as he tried to imitate Leon.

"We may never meet again, but we'll never forget each other." Yuffie raised an eyebrow.

"Was that supposed to be Leon? Well anyway, everybody's working on stuff over at Merlin's place, C'mon!" She led the way into Merlin's house, where Leon. Aerith and Cid were all hunched at a computer that hadn't been there the last time I was here.

"Meet the Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee!" Yuffie's fanfare caused the three near the computer to jump, and Aerith smiled.

"We missed you!" Cid smirked, looking happy for once.

"Well, if you ain't in top shape." Leon nodded, actually smiling.

"I knew it." Sora tilted his head as we walked closer.

"Knew what?"

"A while back, everyone started to remember you three, all at the same time." Sora crossed his arms.

"You...remembered? Wait! Does that mean you forgot about us?!" I bit back a laugh at Donald's rightly annoyed reaction.

"Thanks!" Yuffie walked over to Leon, then looked to Sora.

"So, where've you three been all this time?"

"We were sleeping." Cid scoffed.

"Where? In cold storage?" I knew he was bieng sarcastic, but I don't think the boys did, becuase Sora began to dance from one foot to the other nervously. Aerith shook her head at Cid, then turned back to us.

"It doesn't matter. This is great! Everyone's together again!" Sora nodded, biting his lip.

"So, um...we're trying to find Riku and the King. Have you seen 'em?" Nii-san nodded, and Sora immediatly pounced.

"Where?!"

"In here, two days ago." Sora sagged.

"Two days ago?! Oh man..." Aerith winced.

"Sorry. But let us know if there's anything we can do to help, ok?" Sora nodded.

"Yeah. Thanks Aerith." Cid got up into Sora's face.

"Don't go thankin us just yet, mini-spike." I stuck my tongue out at Cid, the old coot had just nicknamed Sora after Cloud. Leon leaned back against the wall stiffly.

"Hollow Bastion's got a problem, a big problem." I tilted my head.

"Lemme guess, Heartless and Nobodies."

"Yeah." Sora smiled lacing his fingers behind his back.

"Sounds like you could use our help."

"Then let's cut to the chase. Sora, Christie, Donald, Goofy. We were hoping the four of you might give us a hand around here." Sora thumped his chest with a fist, smiling proudly.

"Like we're going to say no?" Yuffie giggled, and Leon nodded.

"I forgot who I'm dealing with." Donald glared at the man.

"Hey...what do you mean by that?" Aerith smiled gently.

"Just think of it as a sort of "Leon Compliment." The man in question was already halfway out the door, and he turned with the door wide open.

"Follow me to the Bailey. There's something you should see." I ran after him, ducking around Merlin as the old Wizard appeared. I could vaguely hear him explain Magic to Sora again, and as Aerith gave the boys their membership cards. I was halfway up the stairs when Sora nearly bowled into me as he raced up the stairs. I shook my head, dusted myself off and led the way into the Bailey. Inside, Leon was leaning over the ledge that looked out across the Great Maw. He looked up when we entered the are, and pointed out across the fields.

"Look at that." Sora stepped back in shock at the sheer amount of Heartless just waiting at Villians Vale. Leon nodded.

"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 pointed to the castle, barely visible from our current location, and then into the Canyon, where two Dusks were headed towards the Castle.

"And that..." Sora nodded, looking up at Leon.

"We'll handle them." Leon smiled slightly at the boy.

"That's good to hear. Sora, Christie, do you two know what's going on then?" I nodded, hopping up onto the ledge.

"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, let alone stage an uprising. The one's we'll need to worry about are the Nobodies." Sora nodded.

"And the Organization XIII that commands the little ones too."

"You called?" I jumped from the ledge, calling my daggers to my hands. Sora bolted out into the open area, looking around.

"Who's that?!" He called the Keyblade, still looking around.

"This calls for a celebration..." Donald yelped, barely getting away as a Dusk swiped at his face. Goofy helped his friend up, then turned and knocked a Dusk out of the air with his shield. As the Dusks raced for the town gate, they met metal as Leon slammed the gate shut with a metallic "clang"

"Don't let them get past the gate! If they reach Town we're done for!" Sora nodded, and we jumped into action. After the Dusk's were gone, the Samurai's appeared. Sora and Leon were forced onto the defensive when one Samurai tried to take both thier heads off, but suddenly, Sora was behind it and the creature was falling onto the ground, beaten. I blinked in surprise. I'd thought that Reaction Commands weren't going to be a part of things here, but I was wrong again. As the last Samurai vanished, Sora raced back into the open.

"The Keyblade...A turly marvelous weapon. Were it only in more capable hands..." Six laughs rang out, and Leon and I ran out to stand behind Sora in case of trouble The boy in question snarled.

"Show yourselves!" We all looked up as six black cloaked figures appeared on the ledge above us. Xemnas, Xigbar, Xaldin, Saïx, Demyx and Luxord. Axel and Roxas had turned traitor, and the rest were all dead. They were down to less than half, and that was a good thing. Xemnas raised his arms, and Goofy raised his shield.

"Organization XIII!" Sora nodded, smirking.

"Good! Now we can finish this!" Leon grabbed Sora's hood, keeping the boy from running headlong into danger.

"What a shame...And here I thought we could be friends." They all laughed, and Donald yelled.

"Stop!" He raced down the stairs with us on his heels, as Xigbar appeared to block his way. Donald raised his staff in anger.

"What's the big idea?!"

"Oopsy-daisy!" Sora glared.

"Move!" The man ignored him.

"Now, do you think that's polite, shutting me down like that?" Sora snarled, and I glared at the man in front of us. Part of me was grateful fro Xigbar getting in our way, we'd have stood no chance against Xemnas at that moment, but the rest of me was very pissed off.

"He said to get out of the way!" Xigbar scoffed.

"As if! You can talk all you want, but that won't change a thing." Donald seethed.

"Then we're gonna MAKE you move!"

"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." Sora scoffed.

"Ha! Tough talk for someone who stood on the sidelines while his Nobody flunkeys did all the fighting!"

"Oh dear. I think you've got the wrong impression." Xigbar wagged a finger at us. Sora laughed.

"You gonna cry?"

"As if! Why don't I remind you just how tough the crowd you're dealing with really is?" Sora frowned.

"Remind me?" He shook his head, and Xigbar laughed.

"That's RIGHT! he used to give that same exact look!" Sora galred, grip on the Keyblade tightening enough to turn his knuckles white beneath his gloves.

"I guess you think you can psych me out by saying really random stuff!" Xigbar shrugged.

"Gee...I just don't know." He spread his arms as if challenging us to strike him, but he soon lowered them.

"Be good kids now!" Donald jumped up, trying to pounce on Xigbar before the portal closed. He ended up face first on the ground.

"Nuts. He got away!" As Donald dusted himself off, Sora crossed his arms.

"That was wierd...WHO gave him the exact same look?" I shook my head, I knew that Roxas had given Xigbar that same look, but Sora didn't. It was probably best to leave it at that. Goofy shrugged.

"Y'know, I think he was just trying to confuse you." Sora nodded.

"Yeah, you're right. There's only one me." He reached into his pocket, pulling out his Membership card.

"The Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee Honorary Member---" Sora gasped, letting go of the card as it suddenly beagn to glow. The Keyblade glowed in turn, trying to reach the card. Sora looked from the Card to the Keyblade, confused. Leon walked up behind us.

"What's this?" I turned to Sora.

"Sora, I think that's a Gate." The boy nodded, and we all yelped as a harsh wind began to blow through the Bailey. Donald and Goofy stepped away from Sora as a glowing crown symbol appeared below the boy. The card turned into a Keyhole, and beyond that Keyhole, I could see smoke and hear the cries of war.

The Land of Dragons... I was jolted from my thoughts as Sora sealed the open Keyhole, and his card reappeared in his hand.

"Ohh...Now I get it. That was one of the Gates that Yen Sid talked about." He turned to Leon.

"Sorry to run Leon, but other worlds are calling." Leon nodded, then frowned.

"Organization XIII...They look tough. You four be careful out there, ok?" We nodded, and Leon escorted us back to the Harbor where Infinity was docked. The boy's ran on ahead into the ship, but I lingered a moment longer. Leon smiled.

"See ya soon." He saluted us, and I clambered aboard my ship as it began to take off. We entered open airspace, and I frowned at the readings I was getting. I turned over my shoulder, calling to Sora. He walked over to the cockpit, and rubbed his eyes.

"But, how is that possible?" I shook my head.

"I don't know. Most worlds just don't vanish into thin air like that, so it's pretty strange." Still confused, Sora took his seat next to me. I turned Infinity around to face the Land of Dragons, and we were off.


A/N: Hope you all enjoyed this! I'm finally back in my element of writing KH Stories. The ending is a bit abrupt, but I like it. See ya soon!

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