Kingdom Hearts: Hearts Desire

Chapter 8: Battle for the Kingdom, Sora's Duel and Kairi's Choice

"Sora." A voice had been calling to Sora for what seemed like years now. The place he was in was black, eternally dark. Sora moved forward though, never tiring, never feeling anything but that he had to go to his destination. "Sora. The time has come." The voice called, and a bright light appeared before Sora, and the shapes of worlds he never knew existed were shown, with a tall man in the center of them all. "Your destiny is unfolding faster than we expected, you too must adapt to your surroundings. The fate of all life hangs in the balance, you must not fail Sora." The worlds around the man, who was unrecognizable at this time, began to vanish in black puffs of smoke. "Your enemies shall not hold back, they shall not falter. But do not be afraid Sora." Sora didn't feel afraid, he urged the voice on with his thoughts. "The door... Is opening...The door... You alone have the choice Sora. To close the door, or open it. Only you can choose."

"What door?" Sora asked, voice quiet in the pitch blackness. "What door are you talking about?"

"Do not be afraid... The door is opening... Keyblade... Keyblade... Keyblade.. Keyblade. Keyblade! Keyblade! KEYBLADE!"

"Sora!" Sora woke up, shooting straight up from his position on the floor, sitting up breathing deeply. Worried blue eyes looked at him. "You were shouting something, and you summoned your keyblade." The voice was none other than Kairi, who looked down at Sora with confusion plastered across her face.

Sora's eyes were drawn to his keyblade, The Ultima Weapon, which was tightly gripped in his hand. "The door is opening..." The words made no sense to him, which door? Kingdom Hearts was gone, and as far as he knew, no one else was trying to create one. "Keyblade..." What did his dream mean? Could his dream be linked to the Legion of 7? Sora shook his head and starred up to the red headed beauty before him. "Sorry about that." He smiled his trademarked smile, rubbing the back of his head. "Weird dreams you know?"

She sighed deeply, giving him a small smile, stood him up, and pushed him out the door. "Kairi? Why are you pushing me-"

"Because I'm going to change!" He gave her this look that screamed 'Can I at least get my things?' "You can get your stuff when I'm done. Bye!" She closed the door, locking it behind her. Sora continued to stare dumbfounded at the door.

"By the way." Called a voice from the kitchen, Sora looked to see Riku. Riku sat at the kitchen table, newspaper in hand, sipping on coffee. "We're going to land in a few hours, I'd suggest cleaning up a little. And put the keyblade away." The keyblade shimmered out of Sora's grasp, yet he still starred at Riku with a look of perplexed curiosity.

"What?"

"Where did you find a newspaper?"

KH:HD

The gummi ship landed just outside of the market district on Radiant Garden. Sora stepped out proudly on the streets and looked around the world he knew so well. The town seemed to be going under construction, there were buildings all over that were halfway built and the area was filled with the sounds of power tools, yelling, and the sounds of progress. The castle in the distance looked to be just started on reconstruction. The broken areas were being fixed up and it looked as though the whole castle were going to be rebuilt in some way. Sora starred down proudly at the sight before him, as Kairi gazed down in awe of the world she used to call home, Riku starred at the castle, a look of sadness mixed with rage easy to see.

"What's wrong Riku?" Kairi asked, giving him a soft punch on the shoulder. "Don't like the castle to much?"

"This castle? Yes." He said, averting his eyes from the sight. He raised a finger and pointed to it. His face contorted with rage at the sight of the castle. "That's the place where I gave into the darkness. That's the place where Malificent used me as a pawn. That is the place where I nearly killed both of you. And that is the place where Xehanort's Heartless took my body. That is the place I despise." Riku finished with a sigh, looking down towards the ground and turning away from the sight.

Sora grasped his friends shoulder, turning Riku to face him. "Riku," Sora said, looking his friend in the eyes. "That's all in the past, quit focusing on what you did wrong but look at what you've done right. You saved me and Kairi from the Organization. You threw yourself into Kingdom Hearts to prevent the destruction of all those worlds. Sure you've messed up a little, nothing that can't be fixed." Sora smiled and turned back towards the sight below. "Besides," He began, moving off down a close flight of steps. "You gotta focus on the here and now."

"What a knucklehead." Kairi murmured as she faced Riku as well. "Stop sulking so much, Sora was right, everything you've done wrong can be fixed." She went up and gave Riku a quick hug. "So we'll fix it together okay?"

"Right." Riku said. The hug only lasted maybe a second, but it still made Riku slightly uneasy. Why should his friends forgive him so easily? He had almost killed them both, yet they acted liked nothing happened. I have some strange best friends. He thought as he followed Sora, Kairi at his side.

Down below in the streets, the streets were busy with people, busying themselves with the construction. Most of the shops were open and busy, and customers were shouting to have their voices heard by vendors. All in all, the world seemed to have exploded with people, more people than Sora thought could live in the town.

"Wow." He said as he pushed his way past some men, who were arguing about which of the new bars would be the best. "I didn't know this many people could be crammed together." Sora was happy to see the Garden this way though, and he wondered where he could find Leon and ask him any questions about the Legion of 7. "Excuse me." He said to two men around their age. One was Sora's height, he had a head of blonde hair that covered his forehead. He had blue eyes and a mouth that could turn from a smile to a frown in a heartbeat.

His companion was a few inches taller, built like Riku, and also had blue eyes and blonde hair, though his was much shorter and covered in a gel that formed flat spikes on his head. They both wore strange green and red uniforms, the pants, overcoats, and gloves green and the trimming, hats, and boots red. The two almost could have been brothers. "I'm telling you, Seventh Heaven is going to be the best place to get a drink! How could you even think for a second that Aces High Style Club is going to be good at all?!"

"I'm going to tell you for the thousandth time then, Seventh Heaven is going to be a boring place for old sad guys go to drink their miserable lives away! Aces is going to rock!"

"Hello?" Sora asked again, sounding rather impatient.

"What! Old men! Are you calling me old?"

"I'm calling you boring!"

"I should beat your sorry-"

"Hey!" Riku shouted at the two, who jumped and turned to the three in question.

"Can we help you?"

"We're looking for Leon." Said Sora, looking at the two men. "Seen him around?"

"Why are you looking for the General?" Asked the shorter man, who looked at the three in surprise.

"General?" Sora said in confusion. "Since when has Leon been a General?"

"You know General Lionheart?" Asked the taller man now, eying the three with mistrust.

"Of course we do!" Sora said as he pointed to Riku and Kairi. "I'm Sora, and that's Riku and Kairi."

"Sora..." The shorter man said.

"Kairi..." The taller man said. The two then looked closely at the two, leaving Riku standing in puzzlement. The taller man blanched loudly, and punched his companion on the top of his head, and proceeded to bow to Kairi, right arm across his chest.

"What the hell was that for?!"

"Don't you know who this is?" The taller man said in frustration. "She's Kairi Haru, daughter of King Stephen and Lady Summer! She's the princess you idiot!" This caused the smaller man to blanch as well, and bow deeply to the princess in question.

The smaller man's head poked up, looking at Sora, then Riku. "Then that means..." He began slowly, then his face flooded with excitement. "These are Sora Hikari and Riku Asa! Keyblade masters!" At once the two bowed even deeper, looking almost ridiculous . "I apologize Key Masters. I should have known at once who you were."

The taller man then stood up to his full height, the shorter man following suit. "Allow us to introduce ourselves. I am Private Ashton Malcolm. My friend here is Corporal Michel Zio. We're apart of the Radiant Garden Military."

"When did Radiant Garden get a military?" Sora asked, looking surprised at the two soldiers. He had been gone a month and Leon had already set up a military and started reconstruction on the town and castle? Talk about working hard. He thought.

"Well the General and Council set up the military about a month ago. Well a month and a half really, but at that point there was just a few guys in training, but now we have 59 members, recruiting more every day." Said Ashton, looking to Kairi. "Of course things would go quicker with the lovely Princess here."

Michel slapped his friend upside the back of the head. "Don't get any ideas, only royalty can marry royalty genius." Michel looked over to Kairi with an apologetic look. "Sorry about that, he thinks he's 'God's gift to women.'" He then rounded on his friend again. "Besides she's what? 16? Are you some kind of pedophile!"

"Of course not," Ashton said. "And what do you mean 'only royalty can marry royalty'? Her father married her mother and she was a commoner!"

"Drop it Ash!" Michel once again slapped Ash upside the head. "That's an order." He said smirking at his friend.

"Whatever." Ash said, looking towards the Keybladers. "We can take you to the General. Follow us." The two then turned on their heels and walked towards the castle, the three islanders close on their heels.

Kairi caught up with the two and began walking next to them. "You seem to know a lot about my family." She said, turning to Ash. "I can't remember anything about them." She said sadly.

"It's in our job description my Lady." She flinched at the title. "To get in, we have to have basic knowledge of the royal family and how they ruled. I'm sure that there are other people who can give you more information. The royal guard were great friends to your parents, though most are long dead." Said Ash, turning back towards the castle.

"Yeah, plus there was that Ansem guy, he was your fathers most trusted adviser. Though he died when the castle was overrun by the Heartless." Michel said, looking to Kairi. "I'm sure someone will be able to give you answers my Lady."

"Could you not call me that please." Kairi said, slightly annoyed at her new title. "I'm the same as you. A regular, average, everyday, human being." Who happens to be a Princess of Heart and a Keybearer. She thought to herself.

"Umm..." Ash began looking to Michel.

"Is that an order my Lady?" Michel said in confusion. Kairi face-palmed at the question.

Further back, Sora and Riku followed a few steps behind, catching minor parts of the conversation in front of him. "Not what you expected?" Riku asked, amused at the expression on Sora's face.

"With the town? No. With these guys? Kinda. With Kairi? Yes." He said, sour look on his face. He didn't like the fact that these two referred to Kairi as 'my Lady' nor the way that Ash had hit on her earlier. "You think Leon would be upset if I knocked them around?"

"Probably not." Riku laughed. "What's the big deal anyway. You like her. She likes you. Why don't you just go tell her how you feel?" Riku elbowed his best friend the ribs. "What? Is the Keyblade Master, slayer of evil, key that connects everything, Sora afraid of Kairi?"

"Yes." He responded immediately. "You remember that time I accidently knocked her in the water when we were 6?" Riku nodded, smiling at the memory. A 6 year old Sora had pushed a 6 year old Kairi 'accidentally' into the waters on the children's island. She had come out wet and steaming mad, and pushed Sora into the shallow end on accident, nearly breaking the poor boys leg. "I wouldn't force an angry Kairi on Xemnas."

"Why would she be mad idiot? Didn't I just say she likes you?" Riku said, looking up towards the castle. "Think of it. Sora and Kairi Hikari, rulers of Radiant Garden." Sora laughed a bit and shoved his friend. "I'm just saying Sora." He clasped Sora by the shoulder and shoved him forward. "Get up there!"

After a few minutes of walking, the group found themselves at the base of the castle, large and imposing as always. "The General should be inside, probably the library or the entrance hall overseeing something." Said Ash, looking towards the group. "Michel and I have to finish up our shift and we're off the clock for the night. So we'll probably see you around."

"Yay," Michel said unenthusiastically. "12 more hours of wondering aimlessly through the streets! My favorite past time!" He pumped his hands in the air tiredly. "Think the General would be kind enough to let us have a day off?" He said to Ash as they moved back towards the city.

Sora looked up at the castle and smiled. "Well there's no time like the present right guys?" He said as he grabbed his friend's arms and dragged them through the front doors. Inside, the place was drastically different than Sora remembered. The entrance hall was now covered in sheets of plastic, workers moving and shouting. The entire building was being redone it seemed. "Excuse me." Sora said to one of the workers.

"Yeah kid?" The man said, looking almost annoyed at Sora's interruption.

"Mind telling us where Leon is?" Sora said as he motioned to Riku and Kairi.

"General Leon?" The man scratched his chin in deep thought. "I think he's in the throne room. When you see him, tell him ol' Dario needs another round for my boys got it?"

"Will do." Riku said as he moved towards a large set of doors at the end of a long hallway and atop a flight of steps. The throne room was about the same as the entrance hall, everything covered in a sheet of plastic. Only five people were in this room though, each sitting around a small table in the center of the room. Sora recognized three of the people immediately as Aerith, Yuffie, and the new General. The other two were unknown to him.

When the doors slammed shut behind the group, Leon raised his head and smiled softly. "Well," He began as the others turned their heads. "Seems like one prayer was answered. And here I thought Gods were only myths."

"Sora!" Shouted Yuffie, as she ran towards her old friend, catching him in a tackle like hug. Sora barely managed to keep his feet as she spun him around and let him go. "And Riku to!" Although she didn't really know Riku, she knew he was a friend to Sora, and a friend of Sora was a friend of hers. So like Sora she ran and hugged him. "And if it isn't the little princess." She said as she went to hug Kairi.

"Yuffie." Said one of the unknown men. "You might want to let the three have some breathing room." The man was short, standing a mere 5' and round as a pumpkin. He had a walrus mustache across his face, and he seemed to smile a lot. "I am most happy to make your acquaintance, I am Mr. Josiah Matchlock. I'm running the reconstruction of the town as you see, and so I've been given a chair on the council."

"Council?" Sora said, looking to Leon for answers. "There's a council now?"

"Technically there always has been," Leon said, moving to the front of the table to lean against it to talk to Sora, Riku, and Kairi. "There haven't been many board members willing to fill the spots until now. There are five seats, each person doing a specific job. Aerith here is our head Doctor, she oversees the clinics and hospitals around the area and keeps us up to date on what medical supplies we need. Yuffie is in charge of the people in a sense. She makes sure complaints are met with solutions and problems are solved quickly. As Mr. Matchlock already said, he's the on site manager of the majority of the reconstruction process, without him we'd have basically a dead city. I'm running our military strength, making sure that our people stay safe. And Mr.-"

"Please General." The man said, looking at Leon dead in the eyes. "I would like to introduce myself if you don't mind." The man was tall, 6' and crafty looking. His eyes were a deep gray that seemed to stare into your soul when he looked at you. His hair was brown with traces of gray in them. "I am Sir Alistair Ray. I was once a friend to your father Princess, and was named Warden of the Ax long ago. I served with the Royal Guard and helped your father on many occasions. I am currently serving as the Master of Coin, I determine what we buy and sell and how to raise money and taxes efficiently."

"You knew my father?" Kairi saidin shock. Sora saw Leon shoot the older man a look of hatred. Apparently the dislike of this man wasn't only in him. Sora looked at him and saw something... Off about him. Sora didn't trust the way the man presented himself. A certain air of superiority clouded the man, the look in his eye when he looked at Kairi was one of boredom and amusement.

"Yes I knew your father very well." Alistair said, smiling slightly at Kairi. "I dare say he trusted me with his life."

"You know he did." Leon said suddenly, eye's alight with hatred. "You know damn well he did, and yet when the time came to protect him, you weren't there! So where the hell were you anyway?!" Leon's face was contorted with rage, hands in fists shaking violently as though it took all of his strength not to punch the man in front of him.

Yet Alistair seemed unfazed by the outburst, he merely sighed in mock annoyance. "General," He began, looking at Leon with the same bored stare. "We've had this discussion, I was out fighting in the streets when the King was murdered. There was nothing I could do."

"To hell with that! You should have been by his side! You should have-"

"Squall!" Yuffie shouted, looking at Leon with slight disappointment. "That's enough both of you. I'm getting sick of having to break up these fights between you, and I'm sure Kairi doesn't want to hear this right now." Yuffie looked to Kairi.

Leon's face then turned to pity as he looked at Kairi. "Sorry." He said, looking to the ground. He looked back to Alistair, anger written across his features. "I need some air." He then turned and headed to the door.

"Leon wait!" Yuffie called, reaching for her friend.

Sora touched her on the shoulder lightly and said "I'll go after him. You guys watch Kairi." He sped off after Leon. He barged through the doors, head whirling for any sign of the General. After a few words to some workers and some rather unhelpful directions, Sora found Leon perched on one of the balconies, eye's trained on the town below him. "Having fun?" Sora asked as he stood next to his friend, eye's also trained on the town.

"I'm sorry Sora." Leon said quietly, face emotionless as usual. "That man just is everything I despise. A politician, a liar, a cheat. But we need him. I hate a man that I need to protect all of these people." Leon got quiet for a moment. The whole world was silent it seemed.

"So?"

Leon looked affronted by the question. He starred at Sora with shocked eyes. "Leon there are times when you're going to have to face the facts, Alistair might be the worst guy in the world but who knows? Maybe he's actually the thing you need. Think of it as a battle strategy Leon. You need him like you need men to run an army, so you might as well work peacefully beside him, right?" Sora's smile was contagious, as anyone who had met him could tell you, and this smile was no different.

Leon smiled lightly and began to laugh softly. "You know," He began, eyes turning back to the city. "I never thought I would hear something reasonable come out of your mouth. Thanks Sora."

"Anytime Leon." Sora said, and for a few moments, there was silence between the two allies, when Sora peered over the edge of the balcony. "You know," He began, smiling and backing up to the door, taking a running stance. "It's been awhile since I've tried this."

"Tried what?" At the word 'what' Sora ran at full speed and jumped right off the balcony, scarring Leon beyond all belief.

"Sora!" He called, body half dangled from the balcony, when he smiled at what he saw. Sora wasn't falling like he had thought, instead he was gliding through the air like a bird, spinning and laughing the entire time. "Feh," He began, turning back towards the door. "I suppose I'll look after Kairi while he's away."

KH:HD

Sora laughed as he glided, it felt so good to do this again. He had gone an entire journey and hadn't even given it thought until the battle with Xemnas. But the relaxing feeling it gave him was something else entirely, it was exhilarating, like battling powerful opponents or traveling to new worlds. He spotted a familiar sight and decided to land. When he touched down, he was in the place where he fought and killed Demyx. He looked around, small sad smile across his lips.

Of all the things Sora didn't like about his adventures, it was the killing he hated most. He had killed people before, but he didn't like to think on it. Sure Heartless and Nobodies were not technically alive, but he didn't like to dwell on destroying them either. Sora's eyes caught a flicker of movement and he instinctively summoned his Keyblade, The Ulitma Weapon, the long weapon fitting in his grasp comfortably.

Out of the shadows stepped a Heartless. This Heartless was one Sora had never seen before, it was as tall as him and as wide as a bull. The creature had arms that ended in long, scythe like blades, and had a cartoon like head in the shape of a skull and a hood and cloak. These were the Pale Scythe Heartless. Sora saw that six other Pale Scythes were appearing, along with Shadows, Guard Heartless, and Large Bodies. "Great." Sora said as he took his fighting stance. "All alone against these Heartless. It's almost unfair for them." He smiled and charged into battle.

He decimated Shadows left and right as he tried to reach one of the Pale Scythes. He jumped over a Large Body and slammed his Keyblade in it's back, the large Heartless destroyed on impact, using the hit as momentum, he slammed the mythical blade into one of the arms of the Pale Scythe, stopping his momentum and leaving him suspended for a moment.

A moment to long. Another Heartless raked its scythe like arm through Sora's back, cutting a light wound in him. He flipped off the arm and brought his Keyblade down on the creatures head, destroying it completely. He landed and went right back into the fight. Flipping, slicing, cutting, blocking, dodging, casting spells, constantly fighting off the never ending waves of enemies. Still, he began to wear down, and with no allies he couldn't use any of his drive forms. "That's it!" He called to the hoard of dark monsters. "Time to finish you! Thundaga!" The lightning spell destroyed at least a fourth of the small hoard, and he charged in, Firagas blasting from the tip of his Keyblade, eradicating Heartless in small groups until there were none left.

Panting hard, he reached into one of his many pockets and drew out a handy Elixir that he kept on him for situations like this, and let the magical potion heal and energizer him. "Well that was a nice warm up." He said, letting his arms drop to his sides.

"Ready for the main event kid?" Said a voice from above. Sora looked up and saw a sight he hoped to never see again. It was Zachariah of the Shadows, standing as though he were brand new from the fight yesterday. "Good to see your as strong as ever." He said, smiling lightly, cruel look in his face. "I'm gonna make you pay for what you did yesterday."

"Yeah we beat you once! We'll do it again!" Sora called, standing at the ready.

"We?" Zachariah said mock confused. "I don't see a 'we'. I see a you, and you stand no chance against me!" Then he charged, his large knives going for the kill immediately. Sora knew this was going to be more difficult than yesterday. This was a duel for his life.

KH:HD

Kairi sat next to Alistair, waiting for Riku to come back from wherever he was off to. The duo were alone in the throne room, sitting in silence around the table. Alistair's eyes were trained on her and it made her feel like she was being interrogated. "So..." She began slowly, unsure of what to say.

"I'm glad your back Princess." He said, looking at her. "We really could use you in this situation."

"What?" She asked. She was a little taken aback at his abruptness. "What do you mean?"

"Well," He began, searching for words it seemed. "I mean that you are royalty, the last of your fathers blood line, making you the only heir to the kingdom. Sure the council can do a lot but without you, no real decisions can be made. There's no adviser either so we're all just going on popular vote, which is difficult considering some of the points we don't know anything about. We're reaching in the dark here and we could use the boost of having the Princess around and you could pick an adviser."

"Alistair," She said, more in shock than she thought. "I'm 16. I don't know anything about running a kingdom, let alone make decisions to decide it's fate."

"That's what we're here for Princess, we guide you. Of course we'll have to wait until your 18 before you can ascend the throne, and then there's the issue of who you'll marry and-"

"Hey." Said a voice from behind them. It was Riku, who at this point in time was shooting Alistair a look of hatred. "How about you let Kairi decide on what she's doing and not plan it out for her. If she wants to take the throne when she's 18, then she will, until then, sit down, shut up, and leave her alone."

"How dare you." Alistair said, affronted by Riku's tone and words. "I am a council member and the old friend of her father. I might as well be family-"

"You're not her family." Riku said coldly. "You don't even know her, so how can you talk to her about running a country when she just got here? Leave." Riku said, tone as icy as a blizzard. Alistair sat, stone in a seat. "Now!" Barked Riku. Alistair stood up, bowed to Kairi then left without a look back at them.

"Riku..."

"I hate it when people try and use others for there own purposes. It happened to me to many times, and I will not let others decide your life." Riku smiled at her lightly. "Especially on your love life."

Kairi blushed at that, turning redder than a tomato. "Speaking of you-know-who." She said, standing up and looking out a nearby window. "I wonder what he's up to."

KH:HD

Sora dodged yet another knife from Zachariah, thrown at his head. The battle was mostly at a standstill, Sora would attack anytime he left himself open and dodge when he was attacking. "What's the matter Zach?" He said, taking cover behind one of the pillars. "You don't seem to be as strong as you were boasting about when we beat you."

"Trust me kid." He said, throwing five knives at once at Sora, who rolled out of cover to block them. "We're just getting started!" Zachariah jumped down from his perch on one of the out the perches along the rock wall, and charged with his duel long knives. Sora met him in mid air, Keyblade smashing the knives as the two seemed to dance in mid air. The two landed on the ground, but they did not separate, they continued to circle and swing at each other, neither gaining any headway on the other.

"You aren't as tough as before." Sora said between slashes, he was throwing all of his might behind each slash now, trying desperately to break his guard. "If this is all the Legion has to offer than you might as well quit now!" Sora said as he preformed and excellent down cut to emphasize this statement. But Zachariah was gone. He had vanished before the attack had struck!

"Now you've pissed me off." Said a voice from behind. Sora turned and saw Zachariah standing beside on of the pillars, body giving of an aura of darkness. "I'm going to show you the power of the shadows kid!" His coat blew off his body, torn to shreds from the power he was releasing. His arms seemed to be consumed in shadows, as they covered his entire body. His face became nothing but a featureless shadow with bright yellow eyes. "I believe you got a taste of this form yesterday." He said, stepping towards Sora slowly. "The cornerstone prevented the actual use of this form though. Meet my Shadow Stage!"

He charged at Sora, and before Sora could even act upon this, he was on him. Slashing wildly at Sora, who could barely keep up a block. He was moving so fast that Sora could barely see the next attack coming. As quick as the assault started, it ended. Zachariah jumped back 10 feet and starred at his enemy. "Time for another new trick." He said, raising his arms up to the sides. "Infinite Shadow Swords!" His knives became coated in a similar darkness to his body, blacker than night. "Grow!" The shadow blades extended to 10 feet long, and he swung one in a sideways slash at Sora. He blocked and attempted to block the second slash, when the blade shifted from straight to a diagonal, going past the Keyblade and shooting directly into his shoulder!

"These are shadows not swords! Nothing about them is linear kid." Said the Shadow Zachariah, as his blades continued to shoot out at Sora in strange angles. Sora blocked as best he could, but the shadows ignored his attempts and slashed him at any point he could. He jumped back and blocked both shadow blades as the aimed for his chest. He flew back as they pushed him in the rock surface and crushed him into it, leaving a large crater where he landed. The shadows retracted to their original forms, their master walking forward. "So this is the power of the Keyblade master." He said, looking at Sora with those dead yellow eyes. "Without your friends or that cornerstone, you're nothing but a kid with a fancy toy." He raised his knife up, pointing directly at Sora's heart. "Time to-"

Sora jumped out at him, moving faster than lightning itself, striking Zachariah in the crown of the head, cutting him down to his neck! Sora flipped over and shot seven Firaga spells at him, each making explosive contact! He landed and began panting heavily, blood pouring from his wounds. "Heal." He said quietly, as the curaga spell did its job, closing wounds from all over his body. When he stood up and looked back, his foe was gone, seemingly destroyed from the onslaught that Sora caused. "It's over."

Suddenly, pain shot through the right side of Sora's chest. He blanched in pain and looked down to see a long, blade like shadow sticking out of his chest. The shadow retracted out and Sora turned, grasping his chest. Zachariah stood yet again, standing as though Sora never even harmed him. "But... How?"

"I'll admit," He said, examining his blade, looking as though nothing were wrong. "That should have killed me, you split my head down the middle and hit me with some pretty hot flames. But you see kid." He looked to Sora, and white teeth shone in a smile across the darkness, making him look more like a monster than before. "This form makes me damn near invulnerable, the shadows heal me. Now die!" He tossed his knives aside, letting them return to their original, none shadowy form. His arms outstretched in front of him. "Shadow Annihilator Blast!" A large black and purple orb appeared in front of him, and shot itself at Sora.

"Reflega!" And the shield appeared right as the world exploded.

KH:HD

"Riku!" Kairi shouted as she saw the massive blast in the distance. "What is that?"

"I don't know." He said as he looked over at the blast as it began to diasppear. "But something tells me Sora was involved in that." He said as he took off towards the door. When he arrived at it and was about to rip it open, Leon pushed the doors open and rushed in.

"Did you see that?" He asked as the two nodded. "I'm going to go check it out, you two stay here."

"Are you kidding?" Riku asked, shoving his way past the larger man. "We both know Sora was probably there, I'm going to go check it out. You watch Kairi." Riku then turned on his tail, and ran outside the doors, trying to make it to the location before it was to late.

"Well?" Kairi said as Leon looked back to her, her hands on her hips, foot tapping annoyed on the ground. "Are you going to stand there all day or are we going to save Sora?"

"I can't let you go out there." He said, arms crossing his chest. "It's to dangerous and I have to protect you. We're going to-"

"You can stay here Leon, I'm going to go save my friends. Now you can come or not, your choice." She said as she ran out the same door Riku did, her Keyblade summoned into her grasp along the way.

"When did I get stuck with babysitting duty?" Leon asked himself exasperatedly as he took off after his princess. You better still be alive kid. He thought. Your more important to us than you think, especially to a certain princess.

Mean while, back on Sora's end. A large dust cloud encircled the place where he had once stoo, Zachariah standing still, looking for any sign of life in the dust.

"Thundaga!" Shouted a voice from inside, and a barrage of lightning flew from the sky, striking Zachariah's throwing knives and dual knives, destroying them all. Sora stepped out of the dust, unfazed by the attack Zachariah had made. "Without your knives, you shouldn't be as big of a threat." He said, standing back into his fighting position.

"You said that I wasn't a threat last time when I kicked your ass kid." He said, pointing a hand forward. "Die." His arm extended, shooting out as fast as a bullet, and the hand closed around Sora's throat in an iron like vice, chocking him. "I'll just have to kill you like this then."

Sora's face began to turn red, lack of oxygen making him dizzy, he attempted slashing at the arm, but to no avail. There three arms to swing at, his vision becoming black. Am I going to die? He thought to himself. I can't die... I have to... Survive... For... Kai... ri...

His thoughts became clouded, his body going limp. Then a loud noise sounded, a shout, and he could breathe again! His vision came back as he landed on the ground with a thud, breathing so deeply that his lungs hurt. He looked at Zachariah and saw a large hole where his face should have been, and looked up at the top of the canyon and saw three figures. Leon, Riku, and Kairi were standing at the peak, Leon's Gunblade smoking at the tip. "Guy's!" He said hoarsely, happiness written across his features.

"You two go help him out." Leon said, eyes still trained on the Shadow Legionary, who's head was reforming slowly. "I'll take care of him." He fired his Gunblade again, landing a shot in the body this time, blowing a large hole in the chest this time, staggering the Legionary.

Riku and Kairi, moved to Sora's side as Leon continued to blow holes in Zachariah. "Sora!" Kairi said worriedly, looking over his wounds. He was bleeding almost all over now and coughing up blood. "If only I knew a cure spell." She muttered angrily to herself.

"Breast... pocket..." He said, raising an arm to point in the area of where he was speaking. She acted at once, reaching and pulling out a Hi-Potion.

So that's why he has so many pockets. She thought as she made him drink the potion, his body healing accordingly. He stood up, Keyblade appearing in his grasp once more and surveyed the scene. Leon had abandoned the shooting and was now slashing at Zachariah, who was turning to land a hit on the General.

"Kairi, you stay here." Sora said as he turned to Riku. "Not going to pass out on me again are you?" He said smirking at his friend.

Riku snorted. "I'm more worried you won't get to fight in this round." He said, summoning Way to Dawn and charging with Sora into the fray. All three of the warriors seemed to be to much, they were all slashing and smashing, casting spells and firing shots, and it seemed the Legionary's armor couldn't take anymore hits.

In a scream of pain and a burst of shadows, Zachariah sat on the ground, blood trickling from his mouth, panting. "Damn you..." He said quietly. He looked up and saw three Keyblades and a Gunblade pointed at his face. "Umm... Parley?"

"Tell us what we need to know." Said Riku, who pointed Way to Dawn close to his nose, his eyes going crossed to keep looking at it. "What are you planning?" He demanded.

"Me personally or..." Kairi smacked him on the head with the flat of her blade. "Ouch! Okay okay I'll tell you... We want hearts." He said rubbing his head. Now looking at the three Keybeares in turn. "Do you know how much power hearts hold? With enough hearts, enough power, one could per say, become a god... A God more powerful than anything imaginable."

"You're deluded, no man can become a God." Leon said. "God's don't even exist." Sora thought about it for a moment, and he had actually met gods in his time, though now didn't seem like the time to say it.

"True no man can, but my King is no ordinary man. He's practically a God like that fool Nathaniel or my Captain haha!" He began to laugh then, and that left the four hero's stunned.

"Night Slash." Said a voice, and Sora saw from the corner of his eye, something black and scythe like, cut into Leon's back. He yelled in pain, and Zachariah made his move, kicking Sora in the gut and jumping over the group to jump to the top of the chasm. There at the top, stood the man from Donald's projections, one katana free and held at his side. Zachariah jumped up to meet his ally.

"Boy am I glad to see you Raven." He said smiling at the taller man. The man known as Raven, didn't bother to remove his hood, or even give his friend an answer. He stood and watched at the three Keybearers took stances and Leon grunted in pain, large bleeding cut in his back.

"Zachariah." He said, not taking his eye's off the sight below. "They interrogated you. What did you tell them?"

"Nothing important." Zachariah said shrugging, taking a few steps forward. "Nothing to be concerned about. Now with you here, we can beat these brats no problem."

"I see." Said the hooded man, who still didn't move. "In that case." And in one fluid motion, he forced his katana right through Zachariah's chest! Zachariah blanched in pain, blood flying from his mouth, shock evident on his features. The warriors down below were in just as much shock. "Your mission was to kill the Keybearers, and you failed. You even gave up information in the hopes of keeping your life. The Captain sent me here to eliminate you, you have no use to the Legion anymore."

"Please Raven." He said, falling to his knees as Raven drew the blade from his back. "Please..." Raven then reached a shadowy hand into his chest, and ripped out a heart black as night, as Zachariah's body slipped away into nothingness. The Heart hovered in his grasp for only a moment before vanishing into a black aura.

"How could you?!" Sora called up at the man, rage steaming out of him. "He trusted you!"

"He was your friend!" Kairi yelled, looking just as angry as Sora. "And you killed him!"

"What difference does it make?" Said Raven, sheathing his katana on his belt. "You were going to kill him anyway, why is it so bad that he died quicker at my hand? He was foolish to trust in me, believing in others is a waste of your time and power."

"How can you say that?" Sora said, shaking violently now. "Nothing can stop me when I fight for my friends! I'll stop anyone who tries to hurt them! How could I live with myself otherwise?" He said, moving forward, pointing his Keyblade at Raven. "You're the one who's weak, killing your friends like that."

"You speak of friendships and power, yet you still think that that is real power. We are all soldiers in one way or another, I followed my orders just as you were going to. In this way; we are the same."

"We're nothing alike!" Riku shouted at him. "We aren't murderers who kill their friends!"

"How hypocritical Riku." Raven said, boredom ringing in his tone. "How many times did you attempt to kill Sora? You and I might as well be the same. You killed how many innocents for Maleficent?" Rage shone in Riku's face then. "Know this children." He said, a Corridor to Darkness appearing behind him. "Bend your knee to the true King, for he is coming." And with those words, Raven vanished.

KH:HD

The next few hours were spent in goodbyes and explanations of what had happened, and the journey the trio had ahead of them. "Please Princess." Said Mr. Matchlock, worried expression across his face and sweat coming from his brow. "Please stay here where it's safe. We have guards to protect you and the kingdom needs a strong Queen like you."

"It's your call Kairi." Said Leon, who was leaned against the wall, shoulder pressed against it. "Stay or go, we all know you decide."

"Thank you for your kind offer." She said, bowing to the council and two soldiers in front of her. "But I think I'm not ready to run a kingdom yet. Besides," She wrapped her arms around Sora and Riku's shoulders. "These two knuckleheads need me. I can't let the Legion of 7 destroy other peoples homes."

"The Princesses word is law!" Shouted Michel as he bowed. "All hail Kairi Haru, first of her name, soon to be Queen of Radiant Garden!"

Ash punched him in the head. "Give it a rest would ya?"

They all shared a laugh as the trio boarded the Gummi Ship and headed off to a new destination, no matter the cost of what was to come.

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen! I'm late as usual! But I made the longest chapter I've ever produced (confetti blast and applause) Thank you thank you! But now on to a short narrative! I have good news ladies and gents! At the 10th chapter of this story, I'm going to release the "What if?" Saga, which is where I create stories based on what if's of Hearts Desires. I'll give you a hint on what the first one's going to be about. Kairi never leaving Radiant Garden. Should be a blast!

Also, be sure leave some reviews on this, or other chapters, not bad ones please. If you don't like it, don't read it. Now on to the preview!

One Legionary down, Six to go. Our hero's make some time to visit Beast to warn him of the oncoming assault that's bound to hit, but what they find is far more shocking than they thought. Riku has to face a ghost of his past, and Sora has to save him from a friend and fight off a foe.

Next time on Hearts Desire: Battle for Beasts Castle! Riku's Hidden Trial!

I have to fight for them, they're all I've got left! I'll protect everyone with my power!

-Riku Asa

The Doctor, Signing off.