DDR HEARTS 2: DistorteD

By

Darkness Shade

Unknown Planet

"Shit, we just entered the atmosphere! Everyone strap in!" Ryan shouted, attempting to level out the Outlaw Star.

"We're all strapped in." Alia responded, "I'm unable to figure out why we can't regain control."

"I'm afraid I have not detected the source of the problem either." Gilliam added, "It would appear I'm going to get scuffed up again."

"Hold on tight, we're going in rough!" Ryan stated, seeing the ground rushing towards them, "Argh!"

With a mighty thud and crash, the Outlaw Star bounced a bit before skidding along the ground, pushing dirt and trees aside as it skidded to a stop.

"Oh thank god." Dark sighed, "Is everyone alright?"

"Systems seem nominal." Gilliam responded, "The atmosphere outside appears breathable as well, so repairs shouldn't be too much of a problem."

"I'm okay." Alia answered, stepping out of her control tube, "I still can't figure out why we lost control."

"I'm sure we'll figure out soon enough." Reps coughed, spitting up some oil, "Ick…I think I'd better go examine myself."

"Okay, I'll start working on some repairs; Dark, give me a hand, and Alia, see if you and Gilliam can't pinpoint anything that we could blame this on." Ryan commanded before heading outside.

"He certainly takes control when he wants to, doesn't he?" Gilliam quipped before running a full scan.

Outside, the damage looked worse than it actually was.

"That's good; it's mostly structural so we can just patch it up till we get to the others." Dark commented, "Cid should be able to help us get it back to normal then."

"Well, I still wish we didn't crash land again; last time we got lucky I suppose, that nothing hostile was around." Ryan joked, sighing.

"Well, so you say." Dark quipped, "It's not like I enjoyed outrunning them so we could get away."

"Anyway, I hope Reps is okay." Ryan stated, pounding out some dents in the armor, "He seemed a bit more damaged than he let on."

Later that night, Alia was cooking up some dinner for them while Reps was resting on the couch.

"You gonna be okay buddy?" Ryan asked, seeing Reps look a little out of sorts.

"Yeah, I just got flung up a little bit in the crash." Reps answered, "I just need to rest and let my body repair itself."

"Dinner's ready boys." Alia shouted, "Come on Dark, you can take a break from training."

"Not really." Dark sighed, entering from outside, "I need to learn how to use my new body correctly; otherwise I could become a liability."

"I know, but if you don't eat you'll just get worse than you would be." Alia replied, "Now let's eat guys and we can continue tomorrow morning."

After having a delicious meal and joking around, the group retired to their bedrooms for the night, unaware that something else was soon to join them.

Around six am the next morning, a huge burst of light lit up the sky as something else rocketed through the atmosphere much like the Outlaw Star had.

"The sun's up already?" Ryan groaned, rolling out of bed, "Stupid non-daylight savings time."

Getting dressed and heading outside to start working before the others woke up; Ryan noticed the ball of light careening through the sky.

"There's something you don't see everyday." Ryan quipped before he saw it crash some distance away from him, "I'd better go wake up the others…"

"So what do you think it is?" Reps asked, speeding through the forest with the others.

"Maybe it's some other poor soul that got yanked down here like us." Dark answered, "I just hope whoever it is is friendly."

Ryan soon motioned for the others to be quiet and slow down as he creeped closer to an outcropping where the ball of light had hit.

"Let's listen and see what we're dealing with before we just show ourselves." Ryan whispered, "I don't want anymore surprises."

Down below, Ryan could make out three voices; two of them sounded normal but the third voice was hard to make out as whoever it was had one hell of an accent.

"I told you to watch out for that asteroid." Said a human voice, "This is why I don't let you fly."

"Gawrsh, don't you think ya'll are being too hard on him?" said the second voice, having a bit of a southern drawl to his speech.

"Why you, I oughta…" the final voice started before just trailing off into undecipherable words.

"Well, they sound harmless." Reps whispered, "Let's go see if we can help them and maybe they can help us."

"I've got a bad feeling about this." Dark commented as the three of them walked down the hill.

"Hey!" Ryan shouted to get their attention before deadpanning as the three figures turned around, "YOU!"

"Who are you guys? And what's with the look?" said a human in his teens with spiky brown hair.

"ARGH!" Ryan shouted, "You bastard! You stole all of it!"

'This won't turn out well.' Dark sighed, seeing Ryan launch himself at the spiky-haired teen.

"Whoa, what's your deal?" the teen asked, blocking Ryan's attack, "Wait…I recognize that design; you have a Keyblade!"

Meanwhile, Reps and Dark met with the teen's compatriots and were trying to hash things out.

"While those two get acquainted, let's introduce ourselves." Dark started, "My name is Darkness Shade."

"My name is Donald Duck!" Donald replied.

"That's one thick accent you've got bud." Reps laughed, "I'm Reps."

"And the name's Goofy. Ha-yuck." Goofy replied, "What's with your buddy over there? He seems to not like Sora too much."

"There's some…animosity to be sure." Dark quipped, "It's a long story."

"Answer me! Why do you have a Keyblade?" Sora asked, knocking Ryan back and taking a defensive stance.

"I've always wanted to take you on you freaking copycat." Ryan grinned, "Squenix screwed me out of a lot of royalties when they completely changed the story I sold them about my adventures."

"Squenix?" Sora asked, "Who the hell is that?"

"Enough!" Ryan shouted, "I was the chosen one to begin with, not you!"

With that, Ryan lunged at Sora unleashing devastating blows in an attempt to take out his copy cat.

"You've flipped your lid dude." Sora shouted, tossing his Keyblade at Ryan and landing a hit, "Not so tough are you?"

"That's enough." Ryan murmured, apparently vanishing from sight.

"Where the hell did he go?" Sora shouted, looking around and then straight up, "How did he get up there?"

"Take this!" Ryan shouted, holding up his palms and forming an energy ball, before tossing it at Sora.

"Dude, calm down!" Sora shouted, struggling to hold it back and then knocking it away before getting punched in the gut by Ryan, "Ugh!"

"Shouldn't we step in?" Goofy asked, "He looks like he's going to kill him."

"Oh don't worry; they're both main characters so they won't die." Dark reassured him, "Just let Ryan work out his anger."

"How can you be so calm about this?" Donald asked.

"Look, just stop talking; the English language is bastardized enough without you running all over it." Reps sighed.

"Is that all you've got?" Sora chuckled, pulling himself up off the ground.

"Heh, not bad; it's been a while since someone could go toe to toe with me." Ryan chuckled, "Are you sure you want some more though?"

"Heh…don't worry. I've still got an ace or two in the hole." Sora shouted, "Ultima!"

'A Limit Break, eh?' Ryan thought, 'I won't be done in by that.'

With blazing speed, Sora dashed at Ryan and landed a sequence of blows that knocked our hero for a loop or two.

"Heh, not too bad, faker." Ryan panted, "But can you do this?"

Throwing out his left arm, Ryan summoned forth another of his Keysabers and spun them around before smacking Sora backwards.

"You…you can dual-wield?" Sora gasped in disbelief.

"You bet your ass, baby!" Ryan shouted, spinning them in circles, "Come and get some!"

"Heh…two can play that." Sora chuckled as Ryan dashed towards him, "Give me strength!"

"Gawrsh!" Goofy shouted as he vanished from sight, his power fusing with Sora's.

"You may be brave, but I've got valor!" Sora shouted, spinning his own dual Keyblades.

"Oh my God, that joke was terrible!" Ryan sighed, shaking his head.

"Wrong move." Sora quipped, dashing at Ryan and laying in to him with a multitude of swipes, before charging up and smacking him into the ground.

"Ow…you know, I'm almost worried." Ryan chuckled, "Dark! He wants a fight, he'll get a fight!"

"You got it! Fusion Wa-poh!" Dark shouted along with Ryan as they fused into Kurayami Kouki.

"You can fuse too?" Sora gasped, "That still won't help you!"

"Heh, we've heard that one before." Kouki chuckled, spinning his Keysabers at his sides, "Rolling Hell Wheels!"

Sora barely had time to react as he batted away Kouki's Keysabers and dashed towards him with a feral scream.

"Rawr!" Kouki shouted, dashing towards Sora, and just as it looked as if they were to collide…

"What the hell do you boys think you're doing?" Shouted a very pissed off-looking Alia.

At this, both Sora and Kouki lost their concentration, plowed into the ground, and split back into their normal forms.

"See?" Reps quipped, "I knew something would come along and stop this."

"I said I was sorry like a thousand times." Ryan sighed, "What do you want from me woman?"

"Do you know how stupid that was?" Alia shouted, chewing him out, "All of you; you're supposed to be the good guys and you're in-fighting?"

"But…but…" Ryan attempted to explain, "Copycat…"

"So what? It's not like this is the first time things have gone wrong for you, right?" Alia continued, "As for you other four, you're supposed to be their allies and you didn't do anything to stop this. How could you be so shameful?"

"Well gosh Ms. Alia, that Dark fellow said it'd be best to let him work it out of his system." Goofy explained, "We didn't think it'd get out of hand so fast."

"Come on hon, we all made up; why are you still so upset?" Dark asked.

"You all could've really hurt each other over some stupid petty thing." Alia sighed, "Could you really have lived with yourselves if that happened?"

At this the group of heroes grew silent and realized that they did indeed act very stupid.

"Look, we got off on the wrong foot but, I'm Ryan." Ryan stated, offering Sora his hand.

"And I'm Sora." Sora replied, taking his hand and shaking it, "So, do you know why the hell we're here?"

After some brief explanations as to what had happened, the small band of heroes set about fixing the Outlaw Star and helping stow the remains of Sora's Gummi ship.

"It's a mess but I bet I know someone who could fix it." Ryan quipped.

"You must be talking about Cid." Sora laughed, "That guy's pretty nuts when it comes to fixing stuff."

"I'm still confused though." Dark butted in, "If we know about the guys at Hollow Bastion and you do as well, then why haven't they ever mentioned that before?"

"Maybe they knew what might happen." Donald offered as an answer.

"I'll have to thank Alia for tweaking my hearing; you don't sound as garbled now." Reps replied to Donald, "As for your question, I don't think it's that simple."

"Well, once we get all repaired and stuff we should be able to find our answer." Ryan answered back, "Hopefully nothing else gets in the way before then?"

Twilight Town

"Hey, I think they're coming to." Ollette stated.

"Oh my, where am I?" Sonic grunted, "Damn tunnels of unknown darkness."

"Sonic? Are we still alive?" Shadow asked, "Oh hey, those guys are new."

"What guys? Hey, who's the girl in the pink clothing? I don't remember her jumping in with us." Charmy answered, lifting a girl off of her.

"You showed up just after she did." Pence answered back, "Maybe you can tell us what happened…"

Back in Space

"Man, this ship sure is a lot cooler than ours." Sora sighed, "Cid kind of screwed us over didn't he?"

"I believe that to be a compliment." Gilliam stated, "Regardless, it would seem that place you were from before has reappeared."

"You mean Twilight Town?" Dark replied, "I wonder how Hayner and the gang are doing?"

"You know them too?" Goofy asked, "Something wrong here."

"I'm beginning to suspect that something larger is going on as well." Alia dictated, "From my calculations, that energy signal we've been getting seems to be the cause of it; I've yet to pinpoint where it's coming from though."

"Well, then let's head for Twilight Town." Donald decided.

"Who died and made Mr. Aflac the leader?" Reps laughed, to which Donald fumed and made a lot of angry, jumbled words and noises.

"We've got nothing else to go on for now, so set a course for Twilight Town, Gilliam." Ryan commanded.

"Acknowledged." Gilliam responded as the Outlaw Star headed for the town bathed in eternal twilight.

Twilight Town: Train Station

As the gang of heroes slowly walked down towards the main common of Twilight Town, a commotion drew their attention as a short black mage came running by.

"H-help! The Sandlot! It's Seifer!" Vivi shouted as he ran past them, "Somebody please help us!"

"Sounds like we've got trouble!" Sora shouted, "Come on let's go!"

"Hey, I'm the hero here, buddy." Ryan interjected, "So let's go!"

Sighing, the rest of the group raced off after them towards the Sandlot.

At the Sandlot, the source of the trouble was a bunch of Dusks that apparently knocked the crap out of Seifer.

"Heh, I thought he was supposed to be a tough guy." Dark joked, before realizing the Dusks had turned their attention to them, "Damn! Let's do this then!"

After beating back the Dusks, Ryan and gang got knocked back as some bigger, not-yet-seen Nobodies decided to crash the party.

"Who the hell are those guys? They've got some pretty big swords." Ryan quipped, "Just have to hit them harder."

Winding up his Keysaber, Ryan hurled it at the Nobody, prying it from its sword and then yanking it for himself.

"Whoa, I feel funny." Ryan murmured as his eyes glowed red before he plowed through the Nobody with its own sword.

Not to be outdone, Sora quickly followed Ryan's pickup and used the enemy's own weapons against them as well.

"Impressive. Not many people can handle the Berserkers like that." Came a monotone, deadpan voice, along with a clapping sound.

Looking around for the source, the group spotted two people dressed in black cloaks, no doubt Organization members.

"I think you give them too much credit." Said the other voice, similarly deadpan but apparently female.

"By the way, have you seen a man named Tekka and another named Axel?" he asked, his voice showing no emotion whatsoever, "I expect he's here somewhere."

"Like I care!" Dark quipped.

"You see, those two are no longer acting in our best interests." The man continued.

"Is he with the Organization?" Goofy asked, "Seems kind of funny you guys would in-fight."

"Doesn't seem very organized for an organization, eh?" Reps chuckled.

"Don't let your guards down. Tekka and Axel will stop at nothing to turn you into a Heartless." The man added.

"Gee, thanks for looking out for us mister." Ryan huffed, "I'm sure we can handle ourselves without any advice from you."

"Glad to hear it." The woman responded, "Those two aside, it would break our hearts to hear something happened to you."

"Hearts? You guys don't have any hearts!" Donald replied back.

"True, we don't have hearts." The man said, pulling back his hood to reveal his face, tossing aside his blue hair, "But we remember what it was like. That's what makes us special."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Dark growled.

"We know very well how to injure a heart." The blue-haired man answered, opening up a doorway to darkness, "Sora; Ryan; you two keep on fighting those Heartless."

"Let's jump in after him." Sora whispered to the group, "Maybe he'll lead us to the Organization's world."

"Are you high?" Ryan asked back, "We have no idea where that could lead us to."

"Don't be reckless; do you want to end up like Riku?" The woman stated, pulling back her hood and showing off long, bright orange hair framed by a pair of headphones before the two bowed and stepped back into the portal, disappearing.

"Hey, wait!" Sora shouted, "What did she mean, end up like Riku?"

"Hey, how about you get out of my town now? You've caused enough trouble." Seifer's voice shouted at the group, apparently having come to.

"You asshole! You never change do you?" Ryan replied, 'Wait? Why did I say that?'

Dark looked at Ryan funny but shook his head before signaling to the group they should go.

"Riku…" Sora muttered, his eyes showing him zoning out.

"Fine! Have it your way." Donald replied, "Let's go guys."

"Hold it!" Seifer shouted.

"Make up you freaking mind!" Dark sighed.

"This goes to the strongest guy in Twilight Town." Seifer shouted, holding up a vaguely familiar trophy.

Sora pointed at himself and was about to say something before Ryan butted in.

"Like I need proof that I could kick you arse." Ryan chuckled, "I'm out of here."

Obviously angered by Ryan's comment, Seifer marched over, roughly shoved the trophy in Goofy's arms, and walked off with his little crew.

"Was it something I said?" Ryan said with grin before hearing his name called, "Huh?"

"Hey guys!" Pence shouted, "Oh, Sora! You're here too! Do you guys know each other?"

"You could say that; what's up?" Sora asked.

"Do you know a girl named Kairi? And someone named Charmy?" Pence asked.

"Kairi!" Ryan shouted.

"Charmy!" Sora shouted, before looking at Ryan and the two of them laughing, "That was weird; anyway, you bet I do!"

"There were also some crazy animals; you guys better come to the station then." Pence stated as the group headed towards there.

Arriving at the station, the group was flagged down by Hayner and Ollette.

"So, how do you guys know our friends anyway?" Dark asked.

Hayner and Ollette looked at the ground before explaining…

…"What a romantic story." Ollette stated in reply to Kairi's adventure so far.

"If you guys stick around, Sora and Ryan are bound to show up." Pence explained.

"Yeah, each one of them said they'd come back." Hayner added.

"Okay." Kairi answered.

"Sounds like an idea to me…even if something still seems weird about all this." Charmy answered as well.

"What took you guys so long?" Tekka's voice stated before he and someone who lookedsimilar to him appeared from a pathway of darkness, "Somehow I knew you'd be here."

"I tell ya, guys, you've got a lot of guts; jumping right into the darkness like that." Axel stated, slowly walking towards the group.

'Damn! Where's my blaster?' Charmy thought, looking for it, 'I must've lost it going through that stupid pathway.'

Meanwhile, Hayner and Pence attempted to stop them, but just ended up flying right through him.

As that was occurring, Sonic and Shadow were just getting back from looking around and pulled back the curtain, heading into the Usual Spot.

"Hey, did we miss…" Sonic started before seeing Axel grab Kairi, "Anything? Who the hell are you!"

"Wasn't planning on this…" Tekka sighed, "She's coming with us…and so are the rest of you."

With that, Axel tossed Kairi into his portal followed by a kicking and screaming Charmy.

"You bastard! Let me go! When Ryan gets a hold of you, he'll tear you a new everything!" Charmy shouted, trying to break his grip.

"That's what we're counting on." Tekka stated, "Now it's your turn, you two; make this easy."

"The hell I will!" Sonic shouted, dashing towards Tekka in a spin dash.

"That's quite the move you've got there." Tekka stated, stepping aside and dodging Sonic's attack before grabbing Shadow, "I don't want to hurt any of you, but if I can't get you to come peacefully, I'll just have to make you. Got it memorized?"

Grabbing hold of Shadow, Tekka jumped into his portal to collect their other prisoners.

"Shadow!" Sonic shouted, speeding into the portal before it vanished from sight…

"Kairi." Sora sighed, holding up a familiar keepsake.

"Hmmm, that might've been those two fellows we heard about." Reps surmised.

"Sorry." Hayner offered.

"Hey, don't worry guys." Ryan stated, "Those guys can handle themselves…and if that Kairi chick is half as annoying as Sora here, then she should be fine too."
"What?" Sora gasped, half in disbelief at Ryan's arrogance and half in shock.

"We've got to help them somehow though!" Dark shouted, accidentally knocking into Goofy who dropped the trophy, sending the shiny sphere placed on it rolling away.

The gang hurried to grab them, with Hayner, Pence, and Ollette grabbing the green, yellow, and red ones; meanwhile, Sora picked up the blue one as Ryan pulled a similar one from the pouch Scott had given him.

Stretching out his arm, Ryan, like the others, held out the gem in order to see the eternal twilight's reflection through it.

After a few moments though, both Ryan and Sora seemed to zone out…almost as if someone else was watching through them.

"Ryan?" Dark asked, "You okay bro?"

"Huh? Yeah, I'm okay." Ryan sighed, shaking his head to regain his senses.

"What about you Sora?" Donald asked.

"Yeah, me too." Sora replied in the same low tone as Ryan before sensing something.

Holding out his orb, both Ryan's and his began to glow and then float in the air.

"Hey, I know what this means." Ryan laughed, pulling out his Keysaber.

"Like hell; this is my job!" Sora shouted, pulling out his Keyblade as both of them did their move to open up the new pathway.

"They get along well don't they?" Dark joked.

"Tell me about it." Goofy mumbled, "Hoi-oi-oi-oi indeed."

"What just happened?" Pence asked.

"A new path is open; our friends are out there waiting for us." Ryan explained.

"Hurry then guys! Go save them!" Ollette shouted.

"Don't worry." Dark chuckled, grinning at her, "We'll be back with them before you know it."

Outlaw Star

"Man, we just keep missing people don't we?" Ryan sighed, "It's getting kind of depressing."

"Don't be sad guys." Donald offered.

"He's got a point; you guys are the key that connects everything after all." Goofy replied.

"Yeah, so don't worry." Dark added, "We'll find them; I know it."

"I know, just…disheartening, right Sora?" Ryan asked.

"Yeah…almost seems like it's our fault." Sora chuckled a bit, "We just need to keep doing what we always do."

"Couldn't have put it better!" Reps admitted, "So, any idea what to do now?"

"If I could have your attention, Gilliam and I have been studying that signal and we've got a lock on it." Alia stated as she entered the cockpit, "I can't say it doesn't surprise me since this is where you guys started to begin with."

"Huh? What is that supposed to mean?" Dark asked.

"Why, the signal is coming from none other than Hallow Bastion." Alia replied, "And from the look of things, something bad is about to happen."

"We'd better hurry then!" Ryan commanded, "Strap in and prepare for takeoff; Gilliam, let's go!"

"Acknowledged!" Gilliam replied, plotting a course.

Hallow Bastion

Arriving at the square, the group was shocked to see even more Heartless than usual…followed by those creepy Dusk Nobodies flying past them.

"Great; more trouble as usual." Ryan sighed, "We'd better go check on the others and see what's up."

"Sounds like a plan." Sora agreed, walking towards their house before recognizing someone familiar, "Cloud!"

"Ah, I had a feeling you'd be here; you've been chasing Sephiroth, haven't you?" Dark pried.

"Yeah…I'll get him. This time, we'll settle things." Cloud explained, "Me and the one who embodies all the darkness in me."

"I thought you looked kind of different." Donald answered.

"You guys must've seen him a lot earlier than we did, because he doesn't look too different to me." Ryan replied.

"Let me know if you guys see him." Cloud asked.

"Sure; what does he look like?" Sora asked.

"I can field that." Dark interrupted, "Silver hair, long sword, compensating for something."

"Okay…we'll see you later then Cloud." Sora replied.

"Be careful; he likes to mess with your mind and make you think the darkness is the only option." Cloud warned.

"Is something wrong?" Aerith asked, walking over to the group, "Cloud?"

"It's nothing, don't worry about it." Cloud responded, walking away, "I don't want you involved."

"Ah, Cloud is worried about you." Reps chuckled.

"Even if I go far away, I'll come back; you don't need to worry about those guys." Cloud answered, completely ignoring Reps.

"Go get things settled then." Aerith answered, "Go find your light. I'll wait."

With that Cloud walked off, leaving the group wondering about their wayward friend.

Later, at what apparently was now Merlin's house, the group of heroes entered to find some of their friends busy with something.

"Hey fellas, you're just in time." Cid stated, turning around to face them, "Leon's found something, so head on over to the Postern."

"What is it?" Sora asked.

"It's Anse's and Ansem's computer!" Yuffie shouted back.

"Hey, that'll come in handy trying to figure out some things…which reminds me." Ryan started, "Do you guys find it weird knowing both us and Sora?"

"Whatcha y'all talking about?" Cid asked, "We've known you guys for as long as we can remember; ever since we bumped into you at Traverse Town."

"Are you sure?" Dark added, "Absolutely positive?"

"Of course; you guys took those two down when they nearly destroyed the heart of all worlds." Yuffie replied, "You get hit on the head or something, you goof?"

"No, just…something isn't adding up." Dark replied, "Maybe Leon might know something."

"Well, I reckon you can find your answers at that computer, so skedaddle!" Cid shouted.

On their way to the Postern, they were interrupted by a voice asking them if they were with the Restoration Committee.

"Huh? Who said that?" Ryan asked, looking around, before three small women popped up out of nowhere, "Ack! Don't do that!"

"What's Leon doing?" asked the first one, dressed in some white and yellow-colored outfit.

"They're so cute!" Dark shouted, grabbing them in a big hug, "Can I keep them?"

"Hey, you big lug." Cried the second one dressed all in black, "Hands off!"

"Ahhh…" Dark sighed, letting them go, "You're no fun whatsoever!"

"I don't even remember what we were getting at." The third one dressed in a bright orange and yellow affair sighed, "We'd better get back to Boldo and Mal…"

At that point she was hushed by the other two and an awkward silence settled over the group.

After a small bit of chatting and fighting amongst themselves, the group warped away leaving our heroes to wonder…WTF just happened.

After taking out a few Heartless, the group arrived at the Postern, but with no Leon in sight.

"Over here!" Aerith shouted, standing on the other side of the platform, "We found their computer; the King and Yoshino are very interested in it."

"The King?" Donald asked.

"Yoshino?" Ryan asked in confusion, "Wait…Scott's here? Why the change to his assumed name?"

"I don't suppose Riku's with him is he?" Sora asked.

"Nope; maybe the King will know something though." Aerith suggested, "The computer could help too. Just go through that doorway to get to the study, he's waiting in there."

With that the group marched through the catacombs of the lab pathways and stumbled upon Ansemian and Ansem's study.

"I'm telling you, I know I heard something." Dark commented, "And saw something too; some kind of blue thing with antennae."

"I think you're just hallucinating." Ryan sighed, "Man, this place is a mess."

Looking around, Sora stopped when he gazed upon a picture containing a familiar face.

"Ansem…but who's that other person with him?" Sora asked, walking over to the picture.

"That's Ansemian; I guess in our world she'd be like your Ansem." Ryan explained, "Kind of weird that our ultimate boss was a female; that usually doesn't happen."

"It looks like there's a third person with them, but the picture's all faded." Goofy noted, "Wonder who that person could be?"

"Don't know; I don't like it though." Reps quipped before being interrupted by a female voice.

"I'm looking for someone." A girl dressed in black stated, "He's got really spiky hair."
Laughing, the group pointed at Sora.

"No, not you. His is much spikier." She explained, "I'll just take a look around."

Cut to about ten minutes later, the study is in even worse shape than it originally was with the girl sighing into a huff.

"Sorry to bother you." She stated before leaving.

"Damn, that girl has got issues." Ryan sighed, "Wait…could she have been talking about Cloud?"

"Ah, you guys made it." Leon stated, appearing out of nowhere, "And both of you to boot…color me impressed."

"Are the King and Scott, I mean Yoshino with you?" Dark asked.

"Shhh, you'll see them soon enough." Leon answered, "This should tide you guys over. The computer room is through there, so please be careful with it."

No sooner had they entered the room then Sora started going a bit crazy with the keyboard, pushing the buttons without any rhyme or reason.

"Whoa, calm down dude." Dark chided, "You want to break it?"

"Right, sorry; got carried away for a second there." Sora sighed.

"Whoa!" Goofy shouted, seeing something blue dash across the ground and the fall down with a thud on the keyboard.

"I knew I wasn't seeing things." Dark shouted, trying to tackle it and missing, smashing the keys recklessly.

"Attention current user, this is a warning. Further misuse of this terminal will result in immediate defensive action." Came a booming voice over the speakers.

"What the hell was that?" Reps quipped.

"I am the Master Control Program." The MCP explained, "I oversee this system."

Going to get up, Dark smashed a few more keys and set off the MCP's alarms.

"Dark!" the group shouted, "Stop it!"

"It's not my fault!" Dark shouted back.

"Decision gate reached; you are now under arrest. End of line." The MCP dictated.

"And how the hell do you propose you do that? You're a damn computer program!" Ryan laughed, "So do your worst…"

Leon looking around for anything suspicious noticed a laser beam charging behind the group.

"Look out!" Leon shouted, but too late as it hit the group and began to digitize them.

"I feel funny." Dark groaned as they were broken down bit by bit and transported to…

Space Paranoids: Delta Hidden Forbidden Pit Cell

"Ugh…why do we keep doing such stupid things?" Ryan sighed, coming to, "Where did we end up?"

"I don't know; where are the others?" Sora groaned, coming to as well, "Look, there they are."

Looking over themselves and seeing they'd change a bit, they heard a cry for help and saw that their friends had been surrounded by Heartless, albeit oddly looking ones.

"Come on guys, show them who's the boss!" Ryan shouted, before a human looking person in red light lined clothing and a young boy wearing black tattered clothing, his hair a dark shade of blue, and a scarf billowing in the breeze appeared before them.
"I am Commander Sark…and that is Cubia." Sark scoffed for a moment, "I wouldn't suggest any funny business."

"Peh, all talk." Sora huffed.

Saying nothing, Sark raised up his hand and electrified their friends as if to prove his point.

"Okay, we get it. Stop!" Ryan shouted, which elicited a grin from Sark before he escorted them to a holding cell.

At the cell, Ryan and the others were looking over themselves and how odd it was.

"We're all glowy and crap." Sora stated about himself, Donald, and Goofy.

"And why do we look like we just dropped out of some steam-driven punk sci-fi thing?" Ryan quipped about his, Dark's, and Reps' new look.

"What kind of world is this anyway?" Sora questioned, before being answered by a new voice.

"You're in a mainframe computer system…sort of." A male, responded.

"It was a computer system to process data." Came another male voice, this one a bit harsher, "Though it would seem something has gone wrong."

"It was originally a copy from the ENCOM Corporation that then had its hardware intertwined with that from the CC Corporation." The first voice explained, "This new user though customized it and then used it as Hallow Bastion's OS; for research and other endeavors. My name is Tron."

"And who's the happy fellow over there in black?" Dark asked.

"I'm Haseo; so stop pissing me off!" Haseo shouted at him.

"God! Someone's a touch irritable." Dark sighed, "What are we here for anyway?"

"We're under arrest." Tron stated, "Who are you though? Your configuration is interesting."

After a round of introductions, Tron began to piece together what was going on.

"I see; so you are users after all." Tron explained, "I had a feeling that Haseo there is a user too, but he won't ever explain it to me."
"Look, the sooner I find my friend and the sooner we fix this, the happier I'll be." Haseo growled, going to sulk in a corner.

"You guys should go before the MCP notices you." Tron explained, "Idle too long and you'll be de-rezzed."

"Is that anything like neutering? I ask because Dark here is way too friendly with the ladies, and well, we can't really do anything to lessen that." Ryan joked.

"If I could get this fixed, then I could send you back; but without power it won't run." Tron explained, pointing towards a console, "Get power and we can get you guys back."

"Then let's hurry." Haseo interjected, "The sooner these morons are gone the better."

After arguing who would unlock it and Tron being amazed at User abilities, the group made their way towards the power module mechanism.

After a rousing game of needle in the haystack and plenty of near misses, the power had been restored and the group was able to use the console.

"Good, let's get rid of these guys fast." Haseo grumbled, "They're only bringing us down."

"Aren't you full of sunshine?" Reps sighed, "What crawled up your arse anyway?"

"Hmph." Haseo huffed as he walked away.

"What's up with that guy Tron?" Goofy asked, "He seems really anti-social."

"I'm not sure, but I think something happened to him before our data streams merged together." Tron explained, tinkering with the console, "I think the fact that his friend is still missing has him on edge."

"I can understand that, but he really needs to mellow." Ryan quipped, "So, we heading back or what?"

"Yeah, you're all set. However, I have a favor to ask of you guys." Tron stated, standing up.

"No problem!" Sora shouted.

"You haven't even heard what it was yet." Tron stated, stunned at their easily gained help, "You guys really are illogical; you must be Users."

"Hey, you're our buddy now. We can't leave you hanging like that." Dark responded.

"Thanks…I need you to find the password to the DTD program; my original user should have it." Tron explained, "Find that and I can get back my functions again."

"Hey, we could probably find those files that we need, too." Goofy added, "So then, who's your User?"

"My primary user was Ansem the Wise." Tron responded, "Though the data files show the profile of a secondary user from CC Corp by the name of Ansemian; I wonder who she is?"

'I still don't get what's going on here…' Ryan thought, 'I hope we get an answer soon enough.'

"Ansem?" Sora shouted, "But…well…"

"Don't worry Tron; we'll get you that password." Donald stated, hushing Sora.

"Okay." Tron said with a nod, before the console's power fluctuated, "Uh oh, you better hurry; the MCP might catch on soon. I'll hold this as long as I can."

"Gotcha." Ryan answered back, logging in to the console and zapping them all back to the real world.

Hallow Bastion: Research Lab

As Leon desperately worked away on the keyboard trying to get his friends back, the same laser beam activated once again and with a burst of light the group was back in the real world.

"Hey, it worked!" Ryan chuckled, "Good job, Tron!"

After a quick explanation, Leon surmised that without the password, they were pretty much stuck, to which he did his trademark face-palm with the silent gaze.

"Hey, you aren't supposed to do that in this reality." Ryan joked, "We'll figure out that password no problem."

"I suppose, maybe the study has a clue." Leon responded, "If not, it's a wild goose chase."

At that, a voice asked what the group was chasing and was revealed to be the woman dressed in black from before.

"A hidden room huh? Clever." The woman stated, "I think I'll look around."
Following her back into the study, Ryan sighed as they found her ransacking it even further than she had last time.

"Man, she doesn't give up does she?" Dark quipped.

"We won't either." Donald stated, "We'll find that password somewhere."

Following her, the group saw her grab the portrait of Ansem and Anse and then punch the wall, hoping to find another secret room; however, she merely knocked the dust away…revealing what appeared to be text.

Looking over the wall, the group found what appeared to read: 'Hollow Main Security Door To Darkness'.

"Hey, that's that DTD they were talking about!" Sora shouted, "We found a clue."

"That's good to hear." Leon stated, walking over to them, "Any idea what it means though?"

"Hey, did I hear someone mentioning the Door to Darkness?" stated a familiar voice.

"I think they did." Replied a second, slightly higher pitched voice.

At this, the group turned to see standing in the door none other than the King and Yoshino.

"Your Majesty!" Sora, Donald, and Goofy shouted before being hushed.

"Keep it down guys; Org. XIII may be listening." Yoshino explained before closing the door.

Whilst Dark and Ryan walked over to Yoshino, Mickey got tackled by Donald and Goofy and a silly scene happened till everyone calmed down.

"So why the name change Scott?" Ryan questioned.

"Well, some things have changed." Yoshino answered, pulling back his hood, "I've had a bit of an adventure after all."

"Hmm, you do look a bit different." Dark quipped.

"I could say the same about you." Yoshino chuckled, "I see you've met Sora and you two are still in one piece. I guess I owe you a Coke, Mickey."

"I'll collect later." Mickey stated, "Regardless, you mentioned the Door to Darkness?"

"Yeah, we're trying to find the password for someone." Goofy explained.

"Password?" Mickey asked, a little confused.

"They mean a code of sorts." Yoshino offered, "I thought you were good at brainteasers Ryan, what happened?"

"Hey, we haven't been slacking off either you know." Ryan fired back with a chuckle, "Maybe you'll get to see a little later."

"Well, given what's happened with reality, the Door to Darkness could only be opened by the seven princesses or in this case, the seven from your reality and the seven from ours." Mickey explained.

"So you two know what's going on then? I'm not losing my mind." Ryan asked.

"Yeah, we can explain when you get back if you want, but right now you need to deliver that code to your pal." Yoshino stated, "Don't worry, we won't be going anywhere right now; we'll be here when you return. We'll explain everything after you get that data."

After verifying all the princesses' names, the group headed back into the Research Lab and returned to Tron.

Space Paranoids: Delta Hidden Forbidden Pit Cell

"Where are Tron and Haseo at?" Ryan asked, before the console began to twitch and make some noises.

"Hey, stop messing with that!" Reps shouted before all of them were teleported away to another place.

Space Paranoids: Omega Server: Conflicted I/O Tower Lumina Cloth

"This place looks weird; what's with the funky crowd?" Sora quipped.

"Welcome to the Game Grid; though I must state it's had a few changes." Sark's voice boomed from nowhere, "You've been subject to play a few games. Lose, and you'll suffer immediate de-resolution; win…well, nobody ever wins."

"Just get on with it, you creep!" Dark shouted, before three beams of light popped up in front of them, "Oh snap, could it be?"

Grabbing hold of the light, the program initiated and formed three brand-spanking new light cycles.

"Swish! This is going to be fun!" Dark shouted, "All badass like Cloud on Fenrir!"

"Uh oh, I think we've got company coming!" Ryan shouted, pointing to Heartless light-cycle look-alikes.

"Well, everyone find a partner and let's go!" Sora revved his cycle, taking off after Goofy hopped on.

Similarly, Ryan took off with Dark and Donald with Reps.

After taking out a number of the light-cycle Heartless, a giant tank style Heartless covered in creepy purple things launched a fireball at the heroes, nearly missing them and splitting the wall of the game-grid-arena-thing.

"Man, even for the author that last set of words was lazy." Ryan quipped, "I think we can get out that way guys; try not to get bashed into the walls!"

"Easier said than done!" Donald shouted, "Let me drive! I can handle this better than you!"

"If it's about as well as you handle the English language, I think I'll take my chances with my driving." Reps groaned, dodging an attack and plowing through some light-cycle Heartless.

"I wonder what those freaky purple things are." Dark questioned, smacking them away with his Keysaber.

"Maybe they're with that CC Corp. program…what was his name?" Sora responded back, "Cubia?"

"I think that's it!" Ryan shouted, "Just those two tanks in the way; I'll handle this."

Jumping straight up, Ryan spun his Keysaber around and reflected the tanks shots back, short circuiting them and making them break down.

Sora, knowing Ryan didn't have anywhere to land, jumped off his bike towards Ryan, used his inertia to toss Ryan back on Dark's bike, and then landed back on his.

"You sure took a risk there." Goofy chided, "You could've gotten hurt."

"Heh, I know; but having some type of debt from him is nice." Sora chuckled as the group pulled out of the grid and warped away.

Space Paranoids: Delta Server: Internal Disc Drive Mac Anu

"I see you guys made it out in one piece." Haseo huffed, "Good; for a second, I thought I wouldn't have any backup."

"Hey, you found Tron!" Sora shouted, "Is he okay?"

"I'm still processing…why did you come back here though? You should've just transferred the data." Tron explained, standing up.

"Oh…right. Well, we have the password anyway, so where do we need to go?" Dark asked.

"Delta Hidden Forbidden Input Output." Haseo stated, "Tron figured that'd be the correct place to go before we got hijacked by that red glowy freak."

"Hey Haseo, does the name Cubia mean anything to you?" Ryan asked, "We saw someone by that name earlier and then were attacked by these purple things."

"It was every Japanese schoolgirl's bad dream; attacked by thousands of purple tentacle things!" Dark shouted with a touch of madness in his voice.

"Ooooooookay; let's get going to that place you mentioned." Reps sighed, trying to block the mental images of Dark's statement.

'Damn, that guy is weird.' Haseo thought to himself, bringing up the area word at the Chaos Gate and teleporting the group to the necessary area.

After hashing it out with a number of Heartless, the group came to some large control room.

"Good, I should be able to input the information from here." Tron stated, bringing up the input device, "So, what's the password fellows?"

"Oh lord, let me pull out the list." Sora sighed, bringing out a digital list of the 14 princesses from both of their worlds and handing it to Tron.

"Goodness!" Tron gasped in shock, "This is some password!"

After entering it, Tron looked elated as he reacquired his abilities but started looking worried as the MCP's voice boomed over the system.

"Ah, finally, the files I've been searching for." The MCP stated, "Hmmm? What's this? A self-destruct program for the town? I wonder what that would look like."

"No!" Tron shouted, reconfiguring the password and sealing the area off from the MCP.

"Program! You altered the password." The MCP stated, quite upset, "Your insolence will cost this town."

"We've got to hurry back to the Root Town!" Tron shouted, "He's going to try and destroy it!"

"Right!" Ryan shouted, "Let's roll!"

"Whatever…" Haseo groaned, "What a pain in the ass."

Space Paranoids: Delta Server: Internal Disc Drive Mac Anu

"There!" Dark shouted, pointing to a large Heartless in the town square, "That's the thing causing the system problems."

"Wait a second…" Haseo stated, "I recognize that outline; KITE!"

"Arrrrrrrrgh…" The Heartless moaned, pulling out two large, three-pronged blades.

'"Get back? I don't know what I'll do?"' Reps thought, not seeing anyone else around him react to Kite's words, 'Am I the only one that can understand him?'

"Dammit! That bastard Cubia must be behind this!" Haseo shouted, "How the hell do we help him?"

"The only way we know how." Ryan stated, pulling out his Keysaber, "We've got to weaken him and try to rip his data from the Heartless. We're all technically data here so Reps should be able to jury rig something."

"Huh? Right! I'll see what I can do but I need some time." Reps replied, opening up his wrist com, "Tron, give me a hand with this!"

"Okay then; Donald and Goofy you provide back up for Reps, the rest of us will handle this guy!" Sora shouted, pulling out his Keyblade, "Let's go!"

"Azure Tiger Claws!" the Kite-Heartless PC mumbled, launching a frenzy of blades at our heroes who had trouble holding them back before batting them away.

However, they did cause some collateral damage as they took out some nearby towers and started an awful mess.

"Watch it guys!" Haseo shouted, "We can't let the town get damaged like that!"

"It's your damn friend, Haseo!" Sora shouted, "Don't you know any of his weaknesses?"

"Actually, now that you mention it…" Haseo stated, rummaging around in his inventory for something, "I think I do."

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Dark asked, "Use it!"

"You don't have to tell me, dammit!" Haseo shouted, tossing an Asian Mango at Kite, "It's his favorite!"

"Fruit?" Sora quipped, "You're throwing fruit at him!"

"It's working, see?" Haseo replied as the group watched Kite's PC munching on the fruit, oblivious to the group.

"This is our chance to knock him out!" Haseo shouted, pulling out a massive sword, "Let's go!"

"Jeez, he's bossy." Dark sighed, unleashing a series of slashes along with Ryan and Sora before Haseo finished it off with a jumping slash that sent the Kite-Heartless into a daze.

"You guys done with that thing over there?" Ryan shouted at Reps and Tron.

"We should be." Reps answered back, holding an orb-shaped device, "It should help pull the two of them apart."

"I've got the protocols set." Tron added, "Sora; you and Ryan should be able to use it now."

"Gotcha!" Sora answered back, taking the device from Reps and tossing it at the Kite-Heartless, "Ryan!"

"Do you access?" Ryan shouted, crossing Keys with Sora as the program initiated, leading to the Kite-Heartless screaming out as the two data parts were being divided.

"Are you sure that thing will work?" Haseo questioned, actually showing worry for someone for a change.

"It's the best we could come up with on such short notice." Reps replied, "Your friend should be okay but I don't know what'll happen to the Heartless."

"Not like that really matters to me…" Haseo replied, "Kite…"

After waiting patiently, Azure Kite's PC finally popped free of program and crashed nearby.

"Go check on him Haseo, we can handle the Heartless!" Dark shouted as the Heartless half of the program popped free, corrupted and fragmented without Kite's data to complete it.

After a few well-placed attacks and some humor involving binary, the Heartless was gone and the system seemed to have normalized.

"That should do it; let's go check on our friends." Sora replied, "I still don't get what those 0's and 1's had to do with ducks."

"It's all about the Christmas lights my friend." Dark chuckled as they headed towards the area where Kite's PC had landed.

After wandering past a destroyed boundary, Ryan and the others found Haseo helping Kite stand in a mysterious white space.

"What is this?" Donald asked, "It's so…quiet here."

"Arrrrrgh…" Kite groaned, holding on to Haseo as his data was still reassembling itself.

"I hate it when you do that right by my ear." Haseo sighed, "This place is like a secret room or something; a Black Box for CC Corp's program if you will."

"That program blew Kite through an impassible boundary and into a secret area?" Sora questioned, "Either that program was buggy or Kite there is more powerful than he looks. It's too bad he doesn't seem to speak English; I'd like to find out what happened."

"Arrrrrgh…" Kite moaned, letting go of Haseo as his leg reformed and soon hovered in place, "Arrrrrrrr…."

"He said that when the two of them were ripped from where they belong and thrown here into this combination of the two programs, Haseo was unconscious and so Kite left him with Tron." Reps translated, "While fighting that Cubia fellow, he was overtaken by…Gomora, whatever those are, and then the MCP fused him with that Heartless."

The group just stared at Reps; especially Haseo, who's face was a mixture of surprise and oddly…giddy wanting?

"You mean you know what he says?" Haseo shouted, grabbing Reps by the shoulder and shaking him, "Then can you find out why he clings to me so much? He may be my friend but…sometimes I wonder what he's thinking when he looks at me."

"I could translate if you want to ask him." Reps sighed, sweatdropping, "Not sure I want to know what it's all about though."

After asking the question, although with a lot of tense feelings in the air, Haseo turned to Reps for a translation of Kite's words.

"Um….uh….uh…" Reps stated, "Well, he…um…he, wow. Well, let's just say he likes you and leave it at that."

"What? What kind of answer is that?" Haseo shouted before the group teleported away, "You can't just leave me hanging like that!"

'Looks like I got them teleported just in time.' Tron thought with a sigh, 'Calming down Haseo isn't going to be easy…though I think my job will still be easier. Good luck guys.'

"Arrrrr…" Kite stated, putting his hand on Haseo's shoulder and smiling.

Hollow Bastion: Computer Room

"Okay, we're back!" Ryan shouted, "What's happening? Is the town okay?"

"I don't see anyone around." Sora replied, "The King and your friend don't seem to be here either; they must be out helping the others. Let's get going then!"

With that, the group began to make their way back towards the Postern, before being interrupted by a large beam of light that appeared from out of nowhere.

"That energy…that entrance…that song." Ryan seethed, his hand gripping his weapon tightly, "It's him!"

"Hmmm….well, well; this certainly is a surprise." Stated a silver-haired man with a huge, jet-black wing, "I didn't think I'd see both of you here; heh, it would seem that fool and his device have made things much more interesting."

"Who the hell is he!" Sora shouted, "And what device is he talking about?"

"That's Sephiroth." Dark growled, his fangs bared, "He's been the cause of a lot of trouble; as for that device, don't let him confuse you. He's probably trying to screw up your focus."

"Who? Me? Heh, I almost didn't recognize you; funny, you almost resemble me with those wings of yours." Sephiroth laughed, "Where's Cloud?"

"Like I'd tell you!" Sora shouted, "You're his dark half aren't you? Then find him yourself!"

"Heh, is that how he's explaining it? I guess he still has a small bit of light to snuff out." Sephiroth laughed, "I don't have any more time to waste on all of you; know this though: When I'm done with Cloud, I'm coming after you…we still have unfinished business."

With that, Sephiroth simply flew off into the air and away from sight.

"Gawrsh, that fellow is creepy." Goofy mumbled, visibly shaken.

"Tell us about it." Reps sighed, "Let's see if we can't find the others."

Coming to the edge of the town district, the group could do naught but stare with mouths agape that the unfathomable amount of Heartless that had overrun the area; their friends fighting valiantly but not seeming to gain any ground.

"Hang on guys; we're coming!" Ryan shouted, summoning his Keysaber and running to the field of battle with his friends in tow.

However, Ryan didn't get very far before being stopped by two cloaked figures.

"Leave this battle to us." Yoshi stated, "You guys need to go find our friends."

"But we can't just leave Leon and the others after all…they are our friends too." Dark replied.

"They can handle themselves." Mickey answered back, "We'll help too, but right now, I need all of y'all to go find the others."

The group of heroes looked at each other before Ryan and Sora winked at one another.

"Well, I can't argue with you Yoshi. You always were the realist." Ryan stated, turning to Dark and Reps, "You heard them guys, you're to go with me to help."

"He's right; Donald, Goofy, we need to head out right away if we're going to be of any use." Sora added.

"You can't be serious!" Dark shouted, winking at Ryan.

"I think he is guys." Goofy added, "Let's go then."

Nodding, the six of them sprinted off while Yoshi and Mickey were distracted and headed down towards the valley.

"Sorry Yoshi; you can settle this with me later but I can't just abandon them." Ryan shouted, "Feel free to wapoh me later if you want!"

Sighing, Mickey and Yoshi just shook their heads and smiled as the group ran out of sight.

The group didn't get too far however before being stopped by two portals of darkness, in which two known figures appeared.

"Demyx!" Sora shouted.

"Yuz!" Ryan shouted, "What the hell do you two want?"

"Oh man, they just always send the wrong gays don't they?" Demyx sighed, turning around and murmuring to Yuz.

"Don't you mean the wrong "guys"?" Yuz questioned, "We may have Sitar's, but I'm pretty sure my gate doesn't swing that way."

"Right, right…what the hell did I say that for?" Demyx groaned, "Anyway, Roxas! I know you're in there! Come on out buddy and stop all this foolishness!"

"Keydan! You can't just leave us like that; nobody leaves the Organization like that." Yuz added, "So just stop this and head back, okay?"

"I told you last time…" Sora started, pulling out his Keyblade.

"…that is not my name." Ryan finished, readying his weapon.

"Hey, that hurts my feelings you know." Demyx sighed.

"You don't have any feelings because you don't have a heart." Donald replied.

"Whoa, that's a bit harsh dude." Dark replied, "When did you become such a dick?"

"We do too have hearts…or at least remember what it was like to have them." Yuz interjected.

"Yeah right!" Sora spat, "You're just a Nobody…you aren't even a person."

"Hey, I'm not a fan of him and even I think that's crossing the line." Ryan responded.

"Very well…traitor!" Demyx shouted, pulling out a Sitar.

"If you won't come back, then you won't continue on either." Yuz stated, pulling out his own Sitar, "You'll pay for what you did to her!

"Her? Good job, Sora." Ryan sighed, "Oh well, you want a fight then? Let's rumble!"

"Dance Water, Dance!" The duo shouted as water clones of them formed around our heroes, threatening to drown them in a sea of stupidity.

"God, not these damn things again!" Dark shouted, knocking them back and forth before being dog-piled by a number of them, "Get OFF!"

Powering up and surging his energy, Dark knocked them backwards and took out the rest of them around him before locking his sights on Yuz.

"Oh dear, is someone mad?" Yuz grinned, raising up his Sitar, "Get ready for the main show!"

Swinging his Sitar around in circles, Yuz summoned forth giant walls of water that threw Dark around and threatened to drown him.

"Heh, why should he be the only one having fun?" Demyx cackled, spinning his Sitar and summoning up large orbs of water, "Drown!"

Sora and his group attempted to avoid being contained, but found themselves trapped in Demyx's balls without any air supply.

"Dark!" Ryan shouted, knocking Yuz to the ground and disabling his attack, "You going to be okay bro?"

"Pffft!" Dark spat, coughing up water, "The bastard!"

As for Sora and co, Donald used a few well timed Firagas to evaporate the attack and free themselves from Demyx's trap.

"Ugh…these clothes are dry clean-only too!" Sora shouted, "Roar! Power!"

With that, Sora combined with both Donald and Goofy and altered his weaponry; one Keyblade in the right hand and another spinning magically in his left.

"What the hell did you just pull?" Demyx shouted, "No matter! Dance Water, Dance!"

Not even phased by Demyx's clones, Sora unleashed a barrage of Firagas and slashes that put Demyx on ice.

Meanwhile, Dark and Ryan were catching their breaths as Yuz was running them ragged.
"Heh, I guess that's all you've got Keydan." Yuz spat, "You killed the only person who I cared for…I won't let you go for that."

"I keep telling you, our name is not Keydan!" Dark shouted, before coughing up more water.

"Mind if I cut in?" Reps shouted, landing a devastating kick to Yuz's noggin, cracking his headwear into small pieces, "Weak spot for massive damage baby!"

"Where the hell were you?" Ryan shouted, "We've been getting our butts pounded here, if you haven't noticed!"

"Sorry, I got delayed by something." Reps replies, "Besides, I think that did it; those two look like they're finished."

"Ugh...this can't be happening!" Demyx shouted, fading away into nothingness, "Ahhhhh!"

Meanwhile, Yuz lay there slowly fading away as well, a sad look on his face as he pondered something.

"Hmm…I wonder, is there a place for me after this? If there is…will you be there?" Yuz stated, before seeing an image of a pink haired girl, "Celica…I'm coming."

With that, Yuz silently vanished, his body no more than a memory now.

"What do you think all that was about?" Dark asked, "Who's this Celica person?"

"I'm not sure; the name sounds vaguely familiar." Ryan replied, "Could she have been one of our Organization members?"

"Do any other Organization members want some?" Sora shouted as he split back into himself, Donald, and Goofy.

"Whoa, calm down, dude." Reps interjected, "You don't need to instigate them after all."

"There you are!" Yoshi shouted, "What the hell's wrong with you?"

Walking over to Ryan and Dark, he gave each of them a scolding wallop and a chiding.

"Now you guys need to listen." Mickey started, "I know how you feel; this isn't the way to do this though. We'll take care of it while you guys do what we told you to."

Walking off, both Yoshi and Mickey were unaware of a small battle between some Heartless and Nobodies going on above them that caused an explosion, sending two large boulders towards our heroes.

"Lookout!" came the shout as Reps and Goofy knocked the two out of the way, the boulder smacking them and knocking them backwards.

"Goofy?" Mickey questioned as Sora ran to his side, checking for any signs of life.

Sora shook his head and sighed; "This can't be happening…this isn't happening."

As for Reps, his head was dented and sparks were shooting from his wounds as his body twitched.

"Reps?" Ryan questioned, looking for any sign he was okay, "Are you there buddy?"

"Yoshino….crackle….you…Bzzt…slacker…" Reps mumbled before his eyes faded, his body no longer twitching.

"You freaking crouton!" Yoshi shouted, "Why did you? No more."

Grabbing a hold of their cloaks, both Yoshi and Mickey tossed them aside and summoned forth their weapons.

"They're going to pay for this!" Yoshi shouted, leading the charge with Mickey close behind him.

Sora and Ryan lingered momentarily before shaking their heads in anger, swearing to make their enemies suffer for this.

Hollow Bastion: Deep Gorge

After a slightly amusing montage of the other heroes (and their antics) as they fought the Heartless swarm and dealt with other, more dangerous threats, Ryan and Sora had battled their way to them.

"How can we handle all of these Heartless?" Sora questioned, knocking back more of them.

"Don't give up guys!" Shouted the dark-haired woman, smacking Heartless back with her fists.
"Who the hell are you, anyway?" Ryan asked, knocking down some aerial Heartless.

"Tifa, but that's not important!" Tifa shouted, clearing a path, "Get going you guys!"

"Not more of these guys!" Sora shouted, knocking away some knight Heartless before being surrounded.

"Sora!" Ryan shouted, before a huge shockwave blew away the Heartless and out stepped a familiar blonde-haired hero.

"Heh…getting lazy on me?" Cloud quipped, readying his Buster Sword.

"Oh, were you fighting?" Ryan retorted with a grin, smacking a few dancing Nobodies away, "Isn't that a bit too easy?"

"Heh." Cloud shouted, dashing along the ground in bursts, clearing another path for Ryan and Sora, "I've got this, get moving!"

"Where the hell did Dark and the others run off to?" Ryan shouted, barreling through more Nobodies, "A little back up wouldn't be too bad."

"Heh, I thought this was easy." Leon shouted, slicing a path with his powered up Gunblade.

"Have you seen the others Leon?" Sora asked, making his way over to him.

"They're up ahead in the Crystal Fissure; I'm not sure what you'll find past that though." Leon responded, "Don't be reckless you two; you still need to find out the truth."

"Us? Reckless?" Ryan chuckled, "You must jest!"

Crystal Fissure

"Hey guys, wait up!" Ryan shouted, as he and Sora finally caught up with their friends, "I know we're in a hurry but fighting them on our own isn't exactly efficient."

"Sorry, I just got really emotional." Dark sighed, "We all did though; I mean…Reps."

"...and Goofy." Mickey added, looking down at the ground.

"You retarded idiots!" Came a familiar robotic voice, "What the hell is up with leaving me behind?"

"Reps!" Yoshi shouted, running over and smacking him in the head, "You dumbass; why'd you do something so stupid?"

"Unlike your squishy noggin, mine can be rebuilt you know." Reps replied with a grin, "I'll just let it get smashed next time if that's how you're going to act."

"What about Goofy?" Sora asked hopefully.

"He's behind me; I think I hear him now." Reps replied.

"Wait up, fellahs." Goofy stated, hurrying over to the group, "You know, you guys just left all of a sudden. You know I'm used to hitting my head all the time."

"Goofy." Mickey stated with a smile before turning to look out the Fissure's exit, "They're here. You guys better be ready."

Gorge of Exposition

"Who the hell is that?" Dark shouted, "He's all weird looking."

"I know her…and I'm sure Mickey knows that other guy." Yoshi replied, "That's Sakura."

"Xehanort…" Mickey mumbled, "He was Ansem's apprentice; he must've stolen his name after Ansem vanished."

"Heh, how long has it been since I abandoned that name?" Xehanort's nobody stated.

"Out with it, Nobody! Where the hell are our friends?" Sora shouted, "Riku, Kairi and the others."

"Yeah, I bet that crazy chick there knows where Charmy and the others are." Ryan growled, eyeing her intensely.

"We know nothing of your friends." Sakura replied, opening up a tunnel to darkness, "As for Riku…"

"Perhaps you should ask your friend the king?" Xehanort's nobody stated before entering the portal, followed by Sakura.

"Come back here!" Mickey shouted, dashing into the portal before it closed.

"He's far too impulsive." Yoshi sighed, "How the hell am I supposed to be his analog anyway?"

"Way to fall into their trap guys." Axel stated, appearing behind them with Tekka.

"It's a setup by, well, Organization XXVI I suppose." Tekka stated, rubbing the back of his head, "They're using you to gain hearts from the Heartless."

"That's Xenmas for you." Axel sighed, "X-E-N-M-A-S? Got it memorized?"

"Xenmas?" Donald asked.

"Hey, guys, I just realized it's an anagram for Manse…" Dark started before Ryan clamped his mouth shut, "Mmph!"

"You guys, you're the ones who took our friends." Reps shouted, glaring at Tekka.

"That's right. Name's Tekka, got it memorized?" Tekka chuckled.

"Tekka! Axel!" shouted two voices, freaking out Tekka and Axel and causing them to flee to the shadows.

Appearing were the same guys from before, the blue-haired man and the orange-haired girl.

"You two again?" Dark sighed, "What do you want?"

"I wouldn't worry; we'll make sure those two get the maximum punishment." The orange-haired girl stated, "Saix and I have a handle on this."

"Iroha! Quiet!" Saix shouted, "Regardless; your friends are in good hands…ours."

"Take us to them!" Sora shouted along with Ryan.

"Do you really want to see them that badly?" Iroha asked, "Prove it then."

Crouching down on their knees, Ryan and Sora got down on the ground and asked to see their friends.

"Heh…you really do care…so no." Saix snapped, calling forth some Heartless.

"You dirty sack of…" Dark grumbled, pulling out his Keysaber.

"Do you hate us?" Iroha asked, her voice deadpan, "Then use that hate and give us hearts; enough for a new Kingdom Hearts."

"That's enough Iroha!" Saix snapped again, opening up a portal to the darkness to leave.

"You aren't going anywhere!" shouted an angry, female voice as a lady dressed in black, a really fat dog-guy, and Boldo appeared in a bolt of lightning.

"Maleficent!" Sora shouted, pulling out his Keyblade.

"And Pete!" Donald grumbled, shaking his magic wand.

"Oh God, not him again…" Reps sighed, "Boldo, what the hell are you doing here?"

"Look, this isn't my idea; but boss-man made it clear you weren't to get taken out by those crazy fake-people." Boldo replied, "Teaming up with those two just seemed like a fit."

"Silence you overly-glitzed excuse for a henchman!" Maleficent shouted, forming a fire wall between her group and the heroes, "I'll take care of these empty shells."

"Never thought you'd help us." Sora quipped.
"Jive turkeys, you've got the wrong idea here!" Boldo shouted, "We'll be the ones to finish you, not them! This ain't over!"

With a blast of light and a shot upwards, the group was teleported to the Outlaw Star as the Nobodies overtook the group of unexpected allies.

"Hmph." Saix muttered as he and Iroha left.

?

"Where are we?" Ryan grunted, pulling himself up and seeing the others looking around, "Are we in the path of darkness?"

"It looks familiar, so I'd say that's a good guess." Yoshi explained, "Hey, who's that?"

Looking to their left, they noticed another person in a black cloak set down a blue box before leaving.

"Wait!" Sora shouted, "Who was that?"

Picking up the box, Sora took a photo and held it out to examine it, while Donald pulled out what appeared to be an ice cream pop of some type.

"Hey, it's the group from Twilight Town." Goofy stated, "Hayner, Ollette, Pence…and…uh…"

"Roxas." Sora finished.

"…and Keydan." Ryan added, "It just popped into my head; are they who those guys were talking about?"

"You sure that's their names?" Reps asked, before seeing Dark and Donald splitting the ice cream in half, "The hell? Should you guys be eating that?"

"Mmmm, it's salty…" Donald started, "Wait…"

"Then it's sweet." Dark finished, "That's pretty tasty."

"I think I've got a hold of your ship guys." Yoshi explained, "Let's head out."

Outlaw Star

"Okay, so, Mickey bugged on us but Yoshi's still here." Dark stated, "So start spilling it; what the fudge-cakes of Fantasia is going on here?"

"Short or full version?" Yoshi asked, sitting down.

"How about the one that explains things without dragging the story on much further?" Alia suggested, bringing out some drinks.

"Ah, excellent idea." Yoshi quipped, "Well, I noticed the distorted effects beginning about twodays ago…"

Flashback: Yoshi at Hallow Bastiontwo days ago

"What is this strange feeling?" Yoshi murmured to himself, "Cid said the radar couldn't analyze the signal, but that it was coming from some strange place that was supposedly sealed off."

Jumping from rock to rock and flying across chasms, Yoshi soon found himself in a trippy black and white room.

"What is this place?" Yoshi asked, his voice reverberating of the walls.

"I see I'm not the only that was drawn here." Came a high, squeaky voice from behind Yoshi.

Turning around and drawing his Keysaber, Yoshi was confused to see what appeared to be…

"Mickey Mouse?" Yoshi asked, his head tilted to one side, "Is my bandana too tight again?"

"Nope; this must be the work of that mysterious gate I found." Mickey stated, "Come with me and I'll show you."

"I guess I can trust a 3-foot tall mouse." Yoshi sighed, following Mickey down a bright pathway.

The Cardinal Gate

"Man, that music is creepy." Yoshi stated, "What the hell is that thing?"

"Best I can tell; it's some device the Organization acquired." Mickey answered, "The writing indicates it as the "Cardinal Gate" That's all I can make out though."

"Hmmm…let me translate here." Yoshi stated, reading the Japanese scribbled over the five holes in the gate, "Suzaku, Seiryuu, Genbu, Byakko, and Kinjinshi? It seems there are four guardians of the central one…which is situated right over Hallow Bastion."

"Golly, you can read that?" Mickey gasped, "Well, I did find this while searching the area; can you tell what it is?"

Taking the silver and gold block in his hands, Yoshi turned it over and around until he noticed a symbol on it.

"Ah ha!" Yoshi stated, pointing at the symbol on the brick and above Kinjinshi, "They match! I'm not sure we should put it in though without the other four though; I would suggest finding the other four first before we add this to get rid of it."

"How can we find where they are though?" Mickey questioned, "They could be anywhere."

"I'm sure some plot device will show up; why are you here though?" Yoshi asked, looking at his short companion.

"Well, best I can figure, this device here is messing up all the worlds and pulling together those that are closely related." Mickey stated, "Apparently your world and our shared enough commonality to cross over."

"Then that would mean that…Sora." Yoshi sighed, "I really hope things don't go as bad as I think they would."

"What do you mean?" Mickey asked, "Does Sora's counterpart here have some issues?"

"With Sora? Oh man, you don't know the half of it Mickey." Yoshi replied, "Anyway, let's seal this up so no one can get in here till later and start looking for the four locations of the other blocks of the Cardinal Gate."

"Sounds like a plan; let's go discuss with the others then." Mickey answered as they sealed the gate and headed back to Leon's place.

Outlaw Star: Present

"And that's about it." Yoshi explained, pulling out a map, "These four areas should have the pieces we're seeking."

"Well, I know I'm going; but we can't leave Hallow Bastion defenseless." Ryan stated, "I think Sora and Dark should come with me and the others stay with Yoshi here."

"What gives?" Reps huffed, "Why leave me alone?"

"Fine, you whiner." Ryan grumbled, "But I want you to focus any down time on repairing yourself, last thing we need is to have you blow a circuit permanently. I don't exactly have the parts to rebuild you way out here afterall."

"Good thinking." Goofy stated, "If those block thingies are as powerful as Yoshi here says, then all the power we need has to take them on. Yoshi is staying with us so we can handle whatever Heartless come our way."

"That was actually rather clear cut for you, Goofy." Donald said, eyeing Goofy oddly, "Did that rock do something to your brain?"

"Okay you guys, knock it off." Sora interjected, "We'll head off and take care of these things."

With that, Yoshi handed Ryan the map and teleported back down with Goofy, and Donald.

"Gilliam, see if you can cross reference this to any of our maps and find the nearest one." Ryan asked, placing the map into side panel slot.

"Roger; I've found four potential matches and the nearest one's course has been plotted." Gilliam responded, "If you could take your seats, we'll initiate warp."

"I wonder what kind of places we'll find with our worlds combined like this." Sora asked.

"I don't know, but whatever they are we can be certain of one thing." Dark replied, "It's going to be DistorteD!"

""We're the DJ of this gig, eh?"" Ryan sighed, "You just had to add in that final joke, didn't you?"

Ryan's only response was a rumbling thunder of laughter from out of nowhere, showing the author finally got one back on Ryan.

"What am I going to do…" Ryan stated, shaking his head, "…with you."