Realm of Darkness, ?'s POV

It was about two years ago, from the Realm of Light's perspective, that the events of Castle Oblivion occured. Yet, I caught glimpses of what happened whenever someone or something managed to cross over between the two.

I saw Sora and my namesake, Riku, get dumped here after defeating the Organization's leader. I saw Riku come back, and find a tall, blue haired woman, before returning with her to the Realm of Light.

Also recently, I found the islands that Sora, Riku and the others grew up on appear here. I suppose that, whenever a world is consumed by the Heartless, it ends up here, in the Dark Realm.

So here I stood, for who knows how long, leaning against a branch the same way Riku did when they had a chat with...her, the girl I once mistook for Naminé.

My heart ached at the memory, which was weird; since I was made as an experimental copy, I shouldn't have real emotions, right? Yet I know what I 'felt'.

I heard a sound, the sound of something being carried by the waves onto shore. I looked over and saw a girl, with red hair streaked in yellow, and wearing a blue dress.

I rushed to her, hoping to find some company if she still lived.

I shook her gently, hoping that she's conscious, and that this is a chance I'd be able to...fix myself.

Slowly, she stirred. She opened her eyes even slower, and I could tell her vision was blurry. I laid her down on the sand and sat next to her, eyes closed, waiting for her to come to.

"Rise and shine," I muttered, unsure of how to be...well, how to interact with another person properly.

She sat up and wiped the sand from her back before blinking a few times. "Where...am I?"

"Destiny Islands," I answered, half-truthful. I figure she shouldn't know she's in the Dark Realm, if she doesn't already. "You washed ashore moments ago. Are you alright?"

She was looking around, like she'd never seen an island before. "Destiny Islands..." She said quietly.

I looked at her. "You have a name?"

She looked around some more, than looked me in the eye. I felt...held by her gaze, and for only a second, it felt as if her eyes bore into my very core...but that was just me being paranoid about seeing another person. At least, I hope.

"I'm Shelly." she said. "And you are?"

I looked away and closed my eyes for a second. "I'm a replica. Of a boy named Riku."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her tilt her head. "A replica?"

I nodded. "It's a long story." I stated simply. She shrugged. "Can I call you Repliku?"

My turn to be caught off guard. I blinked. "What?"

"Repliku. Not very original, but it could be your own name," she said.

I sighed. "Fine," I agreed. An identity has to start somewhere...

Zelia's POV

After our kidnapper left, I raised my head and took a look around. I look at my cellmate. "Who was that?"

He closed his eyes. "Kia is talented with poisons," he explained. "let's just say she and I...well, we never could get along. Now we're both trapped" He looked at me, and I could see through his smile. I saw the resignation in his eyes.

I glanced over at my staff, just out of Merifaz's reach. "If only there was a way for me to freeze these chains," I muttered.

"You can't without your staff?" He asked.

I nodded. "I can do something without it, but...it's thin ice that melts into water, too fast to help us right now."

Something I said must have set off a lightbulb. He grinned. "Then that's our ticket out of here," he said.

I tilted my head, "huh?"

"Me and Kia, we've fought each other a lot in the past. I know that her poison has one weakness." He explained. "Water."

My eyes widened in understanding. "Ahhh, I gotcha. Give me a second."

I closed my eyes and clenched my fists, focusing on the poisonous chain around Merifaz's robotic arm. A small, thin piece of ice formed on it, but that wasn't enough. It took longer than it normally should have, but the ice slowly grew and expanded.

I felt my face sweating from the effort. Just as the ice grew enough, my focus failed. I fell forward, held up by my own chains. I felt my breathing grow labored from the effort, and my vision blurred slightly.

Luckily, it was enough. The ice melted, and most of the water seeped into the poison needle on his arm. I saw the poison lose some of it's purple-pink hue. "Your turn, Merifaz. I need..my staff," I said. I was weaker than normal, and that took a lot more effort than it should have.

He nodded and started to pull on his chains. With a grunt of effort, he pulled again, and I heard one of the links in the chain weaken.

That's when he surprised me: his robotic arm transformed into a mace of steel that shattered the chain. He swung and broke the chains around his human arm, too. Then he turned to me and did the same to my chains.

We were free. I fell forward some, and he caught me. "Thank you," we both said at the same time, making me laugh some and him smile. "Now what?"

After making sure I could stand, I picked up my staff, and I felt the cold embrace that I was used to, numbing my aches and soreness.

Merifaz looked down. "Before I was captured, I was going to visit my buddy Aranmi. Now, I have a bad feeling about where he might be...I have to find him."

I closed my eyes for a second. "Same for me. I'm looking for my friend, Kairi."

Well, sort of. Hang in there, Naminé...I'll find a way to get your own body back.

?'s POV

I woke up and realized right away that I was in some sort of prison. I remembered the Heartless invading Destiny Islands. I hope Kairi and Ruby can forgive me for this...

Kairi. The thought of her name brough an ache to my heart. I had to leave them behind and allow myself to get captured. Reason being, I had a dream...well, it was way too real to be a dream.

Anyway, the dream or vision or whatever it was, showed me that my best friend Merifaz, as well as some girl I didn't know, have been captured by Maleficent and Merifaz's mortal foe, Kia, and was unable to get free. My vision showed him dying to her hand. I refused to let that happen.

Thus, when Heartless appeared at Destiny Islands out of a portal, of course I fought alongside of Ruby and Kairi. But when I found the portal, I leaped through, certain it would take me to Maleficent's tower where I could find my friend.

And now I was in a cage of golden light, and I didn't want to find out what would happen if I touch the cage. However, I did know that I have to escape this prison and find Merifaz. I summoned the dual Keyblades that I have: Jivo and Oriv, and struck the cage with all my strength.

The result was a CLANG that deafened me for a moment. I dropped my Keyblades and covered my ears with a shout that I could not hear, also dropping to my knees and squeezing my eyes shut.

After a moment, the sound stopped echoing, and my senses returned to normal. Though I was shaking slightly from what happened. "Okaaay...so how do I get out of here?" I asked myself verbally, as there wasn't even a scratch on my prison.

Someone entered the room then. The man wore a black coat that covered his whole body. His hair was long and blond, and his eyes were green. My stomach churned, as this was someone that Riku once told me about, though I thought he was dead. "Vexen..." I whispered in surprise.

He looked at me and laughed some. "Finally awake, are you? If you behave, we won't have to do anything...regrettable."

My fists clenched. I didn't respond, for I was cursing myself mentally. Sora and Riku once told us how Maleficent was in a power struggle to command the Heartless...against the Organization that Vexen belonged to. Now I was afraid that I won't be able to find Merifaz. "How are you alive..." I asked quietly.

Vexen laughed. "Someone left a rift in the Realm of Darkness when they crossed between our realms," he explained. "That rift allowed a select few of us to escape, and return to the land of the living."

Before either of us could say anything more, someone else walked into the room. A tall female with pink hair looked at Vexen and myself. "Vexen, weren't you working on another one of your expirements?"

Vexen glared at the newcomer. "What are you doing here Ximika?"

"Mika." She said sharply. "And Zexion sent me to check out that deafening noise."

Vexen shrugged and walked out. "Very well, then. I'll leave this one in your mpre-than-capable hands." It was hard for me to tell, but I thought I picked up a hint of sarcasm in that remark.

This Mika person shook her head and sighed. "That guy can be impossible to work with, I swear." She looked at me. "Sorry about that. I'm Mika, what's your name?"

Despite her attitude toward Vexen, she seemed rather friendly toward me. I decided to stay on the side of caution. "I'm Aranmi," I said.

She smiled. "Sorry if you don't trust us. Also sorry about..." she looked at the cage holding me, "this. Maybe we can help each other?"

I was now taken aback. "Why would you guys need my help?" I asked.

Mika tilted her head slightly. "This group is the throwaways of what used to be a powerful organization," she explained. "We want revenge against the ones who left us for dead. Help us, and I'll try and help you find your friend Merifaz."

I blinked twice in shock, both at the offer and her last few words. "How the hell do you know Merifaz?" I asked sharply.

She smiled. "I'm psychic. I can sometimes read people's thoughts. I usually try not to, but sometimes, it just happens." I nodded slowly. "I...see. So if I help you guys get revenge, you'll help me find my friend?"

She nodded, but stopped herself. "Well, I will, at least. I...can't speak for the rest of them."

"How many of you are there?"

"Seven: Vexen, Lexaeus, Zexion, Marluxia, Larxene, Riki and me."

I thought about it for a moment. Who knows what I might have to do if I accept their offer...but if I don't...how the hell will I find Merifaz? Or find Sora and Riku? Or reunite with Kairi?

I finally sighed. "I have your word?"

She nodded eagerly. I closed my eyes for a moment. "Fine. You've got a deal."

Sora's POV

The five of us finished fighting, and took a breather. After we all caught our breath, I guess it was question time. "So," Riku started. "Who are you guys? Only so many people can - or would - stand up to a Heartless army like that."

They introduced themselves as "Pit and Dark Pit, servants of the Goddess of Light". Aqua, Riku and I must have had the same idea at the same moment, but Dark Pit spoke before we could.

"Does Xehanort have two names or something?"

I shook my head. "Not really. But..." I explained the concept of Heartless and Nobodies to them, and how sometimes, Nobodies use the names of their Somebodies.

"Xehanort's Heartless was called Ansem, while his Nobody was Xemnas." I finished.

Pit nodded slowly, and I swear I heard him mutter, "what do you think, Palutena?"

After a moment, both of them seemed surprised about something. When Aqua questioned, Dark Pit answered simply. "Palutena is offering to meet with you three."

Now we're starting to get somewhere! :D

Shelly belongs to "Shelly"

Ximika/Mika belongs to "Axberiban Shine of Annoyance"

Thank you!

Update: well shit, forgot that someone else was meant to be in there. Fixed it now, thank you to the one who reminded me.

Riki belongs to "Number 15 Ugxs Dark Destroyer"