Last time it was a conflict of heroes as Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune refused to give back Sora and Kairi's heart crystals. The two Outer Senshi kept insisting that the two heart crystals may be the ones they were looking for, and they were willing to let Sora and Kairi die in order to keep the crystals and, so they thing, the talismans within.

Riku, Aiden, Roxas, Tuxedo Kamen and the Inner Sailor Senshi all tried to convince Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune to return the heart crystals, but the Outer Senshi wouldn't relent in their belief that, for the greater good, sacrifices needed to me made. It looked like there would be a fight, but then Sailor Neptune announced that the two heart crystals weren't the ones they were looking for after all. The two Outer Senshi gave the heart crystals to Riku and they left, leaving our heroes and allies with a feeling of mass confusion.

But then Kurayami came back for one last round. Yet our heroes triumphed over the dark hybrid; Riku and Aiden used their Drive forms, while Roxas stopped Kurayami cold in her tracks, with Sailor Moon delivering the finishing blow that reduced the creature back to the baseline Shadow and Diamon Seed from which it came from, both of which were destroyed completely.

All the while, Nikolai was watching the fight unfold via the computers in the lab of Professor Tomoe. The Hakonian warlock then revealed that he was only there to gather information on The Death Busters, just to see if they were a threat to Maleficent. Satisfied that there was no threat, Nikolai left with some stolen information, while Tomoe and the Death Busters continued their dark work in their world.

Our heroes then returned the heart crystals to Sora and Kairi just as time was on the verge of running out. Kairi woke up, but Sora's wounds were still killing him. Usagi then used the power of the Silver Crystal to recharge Kairi's healing magic, which she used to save Sora. With both of them alive and well, all seemed right again, but the adventure is far from over. 'Nuff said, on with the show!

Chapter 10: A Bright Future Ahead

"I can't believe those two!" exclaimed Kairi. She and Sora were listening to Riku, Aiden, Roxas, Naminé, Usagi, Mamoru, Rei, Ami, Mako and Mina as they told what happened while the two of them were unconscious.

"They were going to do it!" said an irate Kairi, "Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune, they were going to let us die!"

"If I'd been there I would have gotten the heart crystals back," said Sora, "I would have made them give the heart crystals back, somehow."

"If you were there," said Roxas, "then this wouldn't have been as big a problem."

"I know," said Sora, "but I still would have tried."

"Me to," said Kairi, "no way I would have let them get away with our heart crystals, talismans or no talismans. But I'm glad that we didn't have them in us after all."

"Just what are the talismans anyway?" Sora asked.

"We really don't know what they look like," said Ami, "but if we find them, we'll know them when we see them."

"Sort of like what's happening to me," said Aiden, "I saw the new Princesses of Heart in my vision, but I can't remember them. But if I meet them face to face, I'll recognize them," he looked at Usagi, "just like I recognized you, Princess Serenity."

At that, Usagi blushed and smiled brightly.

"But what happened after Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune left?" Kairi asked, "how did you beat Kurayami?"

"We used our new Drives to slow her down," said Riku, while Aiden nodded in agreement, "while Roxas froze her in place."

"And then Sailor Moon blasted the creature into oblivion," said Aiden, "and then we came back here and woke you up."

"And Usagi used her magic to help me help you," said Kairi to Sora, "and here we are."

"Uh-huh," said Sora as the both smiled, "here we are."

"Well I'm glad you both are alright," said Riku.

"Me to," said Aiden, "things would be boring without you guys."

"Things would be even more boring for us," said Naminé, "Roxas and I would cease to exist without Sora and Kairi."

"You didn't tell us that!" said a surprised Mako at the revelation, while everyone else looked shocked.

"You didn't ask," said Roxas, "but yes, if Sora and Kairi died, then so would Naminé and I."

"Speaking of you two," said Kairi, "just what have you been up to since you first merged with us?"

"We've been in the back of your minds and in the middle of your hearts," said Naminé, "you would have heard us talking to each other, if you knew what to listen for."

"So we could one day talk to you if we wanted to?" Sora asked, "after you go back into us that is."

"You're going back into them?" Aiden asked.

"We won't be able to stay outside our original selves for much longer," said Naminé, "now that their hearts are back in balance. But we belong with them, just as they belong together, and Roxas and I belong together."

"We all balance each other out," said Roxas.

"I guess that makes sense," said Aiden, while Riku nodded in agreement.

"But we're not going back to ourselves just yet," said Naminé, "there's something Roxas and I each have to do before we go, something very important."

"Kurayami managed to summon and control a lot of Heartless," said Roxas, "it's only a matter of time before more Heartless show up in this world, so I think it would be a good idea if we looked for this worlds' Keyhole."

"We won't have far to look," said Riku, "I have a feeling on where it is."

"I feel I know where I is too," said Kairi, "I sort of felt something when we first got here."

"Let's wait until you've rested a bit more," said Naminé, "best not to take chances."

"What do you have to do before you go back into Kairi?" Mina asked.

"That's something I'm saving," said Naminé, "wouldn't want to ruin the surprise."

"In the meantime," said Mako as she stood up, "I think we're all in need of some snacks."

"You're the best, Mako-chan!" said Usagi.

"She makes the best snacks," said Mina as Mako went to the kitchen.

"Snacks sound pretty good right about now," said Sora, while Kairi, Riku and Aiden nodded in agreement.

A few minutes later Mako came back with a large tray full of homemade snacks, which everyone found absolutely delicious.

"This is great," said Sora, "just as good as the stuff this guy we just met makes, and he was a great chef."

"Anyone I know?" Mako asked, "and does he look like my old Sempai?"

"No and I have no idea," said Aiden.

"You know," said Kairi, "you're going to think I'm crazy, but I kinda feel sorry for Kurayami. I mean, she was a very intelligent creature who could think for herself. Had things been different, had she had a heart, she could have used her abilities to do great things.

"I feel sorry for Kurayami as well," said Usagi, "I feel sorry for anyone that can't feel anything but hate and anger. A life without happiness and love is no life at all."

"That's true," said Riku, "but I'm glad that Kurayami is gone, for more than the obvious reasons. She was a Heartless that could think, and that alone made her more dangerous than any Heartless we've faced before."

"That one Heartless that called itself Ansem could think," said Kairi, "the one that started this whole mess."

"True," said Riku, "the Heartless of Xehanort nearly ripped the universe apart in order to get to Kingdom Hearts. And don't get me started on what I have to say about Xemnas."

"When you're right, you're right," said Sora. He stood up, "I think I'm back to normal now."

"Same here," said Kairi as she stood up, "I think we can go find the Keyhole now."

"So where is it?" Aiden asked.

"You've got to be kidding me!" said an exasperated Rei as everyone approached Tokyo Tower, "It's here?"

"That's what I sensed when we first arrived in this world," said Kairi.

"What is it about this place that attracts so much trouble?" Mako asked.

"Just now we had that fight with the Death Busters on Usagi-chan's birthday," said Mina.

"You mean the one where the enemy thought I was Sailor Moon," said Usagi in a suspicious tone, "and you and the others fooled them by 'assuming' my mantle."

"That's the one," said Mina.

"The enemy correctly guessed that Usagi-chan was Sailor Moon," said Ami.

"They were going to kill Mamo-chan if I didn't hand over my heart crystal," said Usagi, "and they nearly got it."

"But then Mina-chan dressed as Sailor Moon," said Mako, "she completely fooled the enemy."

"And I did a very good job," said a slightly smug Mina, "if I say so myself."

"But you still need to work on your presentation," said Usagi, "just looking like me and saying my words isn't enough. You need to mean them, believe in them in your heart."

"I thought I did that," said Mina.

"Well if they ever try to kidnap me again," said Mamoru, "or if we need two Sailor Moons, we know who to ask."

"I think it's the Keyhole itself that's the cause of all the trouble," said Riku, "the reason why so much danger happens around Tokyo Tower."

"We won't know until we find it," said Sora. Just then his Keyblade, as well as Kairi's, Riku's and Aiden's appeared. The four Keyblades then dragged them towards the center of the plaza underneath the tower. Directly underneath the center of the tower appeared a large white outline.

"That's a Keyhole?" an amazed Ami asked.

"That's right," said Sora.

"And it's another big one," said Riku.

"I think it's bigger than the one in Dream Valley," said Aiden.

"And the ones in Magix and in The Hidden Leaf Village," said Sora.

"The four of us then?" Kairi asked.

"Make it five," said Aiden, "you up for it, Roxas?"

"That's why I'm still here," said Roxas as he summoned his two Keyblades. The five of them aimed their Keyblades at the giant Keyhole, shooting out beams of white magic that converged in the Keyhole. It flashed and vanished with a loud 'Click!'

"And that's that," said Sora as he and the others put their Keyblades away.

"That's it?" Mako asked, "I thought it would be more spectacular."

"I'm afraid that's all you're going to get," said Roxas. He then walked over to Mako, "but you should reach for everything you want. The world is your oyster, if you try hard enough." He then hugged Mako, "everything works itself out in the end, even love."

"You're sure about that?" Mako asked.

"As soon as you're ready to let go your old Sempai, it will," said Roxas. He gave Mako a reassuring smile.

"You okay with this?" Kairi whispered to Naminé.

"Just so long as he keeps his lips to himself," said Naminé, "Roxas can hug anyone he wants."

Roxas then walked and stood in front of Sora, "it's been great seeing you again, Sora."

"It's been great seeing you to," said Sora, "you think one day we can really fight together?"

"That and more," said Roxas, "when you're ready to listen to yourself." He and Sora shook hands and he vanished back inside of Sora.

"I'm gonna have to go soon as well," said Naminé, "but there's one more thing I want to try first." She walked over to Usagi and Mamoru, "I know exactly what to do now," she touched their foreheads, "so think of this as a farewell gift," her hands glowed brightly as she used her magic.

Usagi and Mamoru then gasped in shock as buried memories were unearthed. After several seconds, Naminé stepped away from them, "I hope you enjoy those memories for the rest of your lives, both this one and the next." She smiled and then walked over to Kairi, "been nice seeing you, Kairi."

"Been nice seeing you to, Naminé," said Kairi, "when do you think Sora and I will be able to talk to you and Roxas?"

"As soon as you are ready," said Naminé. She and Kairi touched hands and she vanished.

"That was weird," said Mina.

"Weirder than normal for us?" Mako asked.

"We haven't been normal in a long time," said Ami.

"Oh my goodness!" said a shocked and surprised Usagi, "I remember!" she looked at Mamoru with joyful eyes, "I remember how we met!"

"You hit him on the head with a balled-up test paper," said Rei, "Duh!"

"That's not what she meant," said Mamoru as he also looked at Usagi with joyful eyes, "she remembers how we met as Endymion and Serenity!"

"I remember that time at the lake," said Usagi, "and how we kept sneaking behind our parents backs so we could be with each other, and then they finally relented, so we could date in public."

"And then there was the time I asked for your hand in marriage," said Mamoru, "you never looked more beautiful that day."

"You we also beautiful," said Usagi, "that day when you asked me to marry you, that was the happiest day of my first life."

"Mine as well," said Mamoru. With that they embraced and kissed.

"Oh, now I get it," said Aiden, "Naminé tried to revive their memories from a past life earlier, but it didn't work then, but it worked now."

"That's wonderful that they remember," said Kairi. Riku and Sora nodded in agreement.

Just then a portal appeared behind Sora, Riku, Kairi and Aiden.

"Now what?" exclaimed Rei.

"What the heck is that!" exclaimed Mina.

"Fascinating!" said Ami as she used her pocket computer to gather data on the portal, "this is a doorway to another universe!"

"That's our way out of here," said Sora, "But why didn't King Mickey contact us first?"

"Maybe it's a trap sent by Maleficent," said Riku.

"Doesn't smell like a trap to me," said Aiden.

"It's not a trap," said Kairi, "I can tell."

"If that's the case," said Sora, "then we'd better get going before it closes up."

"You're leaving so soon?" Usagi asked,

"I'm afraid so," said Kairi, "but we'll come back someday if we can."

"Who knows," said Sora, "maybe someday you'll come visit our universe."

"That would be nice," said Mamoru.

Everyone then said their goodbyes. "You two are going to be alright," said Kairi to Usagi and Mamoru.

"Definitely," said Sora.

"Oh we know we're going to be alright," said Mamoru, "we're going to be parents someday."

"To a real brat," said Usagi, "but Chibi-Usa will turn out alright in the end, I hope."

Riku then spoke to Ami and Rei, "you both have what it takes to make your dreams come true. Just hold onto those dreams and keep them close to your hearts, and you can't lose."

Aiden and Mina just looked at each other awkwardly.

Finally, everyone said their goodbyes. Sora, Kairi, Riku and Aiden stood in front of the portal, all of them prepared to step through together.

But then Aiden walked back to Mina, "this may be my only chance, so," with that he kissed her. Mina was startled at first, but then she kissed him back.

"You will come back, right?" Mina asked as they broke apart, "you're not going to leave me hanging her forever?"

"If I ever get the chance, you'll be the first I come running to," said Aiden. They kissed again, and Aiden walked back to his friends.

"What was that all about?" Sora asked.

"Just something you missed while you and Kairi were out to lunch," said Aiden, "I'll tell you all about it later." He then rubbed his wrists in his manner, "alright, let's do this!" With that the four of them stepped through the portal, which closed up after them.

"This had to have been our weirdest adventure yet," said Rei.

"Yeah," said a slightly dazzled Mina, "but what an adventure."

Sora, Riku, Kairi and Aiden emerged from the portal and instantly knew that they had made it by the sight of the dazzlingly white walls of the immense throne room of Disney Castle.

"SORA!" exclaimed Donald and Goofy as they tackled and hugged their wayward friend.

"Guys!" shouted Sora.

Pluto then ran over and tackled Kairi, showering her with his affections.

"I take it this is normal?" a surprised Aiden asked.

"I've given up on the concept of normal a long time ago," said Riku.

"Sora! Riku! Kairi!"

They looked and saw King Mickey running towards them.

"Your Majesty!" said the three Keyblade Wielders.

"Welcome back, guys!" said The King.

"We were worried sick over you," said Queen Minnie as she and Daisy ran over.

"But you're back," said Daisy.

"It's really lucky that we figured out what was keeping you away," said The King.

"Maleficent's curse," said Riku, "She did something to mess up the portals."

"But it was the nature of the curse," said Yen Sid as he walked over, "that is what we failed to understand until recently. It was my former apprentice who discovered that it was we that were keeping you from returning home."

"What do you mean?" Kairi asked.

"It really was our fault," said King Mickey in a regretful tone, "every time I contacted you after locating you on a different world, the communication spell I used would trigger the curse. The curse would then change the exit point of the portal, sending you to a random world.

"But then I realized what we were doing wrong. Instead of contacting you after locating you, as I did before, I simply sent you the portal first. Now that you're home, the curse is broken, and we'll make is so Maleficent can't curse you like that again."

"That does answer a lot of questions," said Aiden.

"But how did Donald and Goofy get here before and we didn't?" Kairi asked.

"It was our combined efforts," said Yen Sid, "my apprentice, myself and several others who fought through the curse without fully understanding it, it drew back to this world those who were originally from it."

"That's us!" said Goofy, while Donald nodded in agreement.

"And there's another question answered," said Aiden.

"Oh, that's right," said Sora, "your Majesty, this is Aiden Mackenzie, The Keyblade Alchemist."

"I've been looking forward to meeting you a lot," said The King as he held out his hand.

"So have I," said Aiden as he shook The Kings' hand.

It was several hours later, after Sora and the others told The King, The Queen and everyone else of their adventures, that The King had prepared a portal that would send Sora, Riku and Kairi back to their homes on their Earth.

"I just know my parents are gonna kill me," said Riku, "that time we left for The Hidden Leaf Village, I was supposed to clean my room that day."

"You think you're in trouble?" Sora asked, "My mom's got to be worried half out of her mind, we were gone for so long. And I was supposed to do the dishes yesterday and the laundry the day before."

"It was actually only a few days," said Kairi, "but yeah, our parents are likely to be really freaking out that we didn't call them."

"I have been in contact with your parents," said King Mickey, "they know that you had been on an extended mission, and that it would be weeks before you returned. But you're back now and everything's alright."

"Almost everything," said Kairi. She looked at Aiden who was standing by himself, a slight unsure look on his face.

"This is all still so new to him," said Riku. "I don't think any of us has seriously thought about what Aiden was going to do."

"He left everything he had behind on his world," said Kairi, "and now he has to start all over."

"Well he's not starting over alone," said Sora as a really great idea came into his mind. He walked over to Aiden, "you okay?" he asked.

"A little overwhelmed," said Aiden, "it's kinda weird to not be in danger all the time."

"We're definitely safe here," said Sora, "I sealed this worlds' Keyhole myself."

"But what about your world?" Aiden asked.

"That too," said Sora, "I sealed my worlds' Keyhole almost immediately after Riku and I got back after defeating Organization XIII."

FLASHBACK

"It was here all this time," said Sora as he, Riku, Kairi, Donald, Goofy and King Mickey, stood on the path leading to the Secret Place, the same cave where he, Riku and Kairi drew on the walls when they were younger, the same place where Sora first met the then unknown Heartless of Xehanort, the same place that had that mysterious door.

"All this time we were playing next to the Keyhole," said Kairi as they all entered the cave. In the chamber with the opening at the top where the wind whistled through, she saw all the drawings she, Riku and Sora made on the wall.

"That's new," said Riku, pointing to a picture of Sora and Kairi sharing the Paopu fruit.

"I'd say it's our best work," said Sora.

"Uh-huh," said Kairi.

"Sora," said The King, "it's time."

"Yeah," said Sora. He summoned his Keyblade and aimed it at the mysterious door. Immediately a white outline appeared on the door.

Sora shot a beam of white magic at the Keyhole. It flashed and vanished with a loud 'Click!'

"And that's that," said Sora, "our world is safe from The Heartless."

END FLASHBACK

"It'd be nice to have a safe place to live," said Aiden, "some place I can call my own, for a while that is."

"Well you can live with me for as long as you'd like," said Sora, "until we help you find your own place."

"Don't you live with your mother?" Aiden asked, "won't she mind?"

"We've got loads of space at our place," said Sora.

"Well," said Aiden hesitantly, "I guess if it's okay with your mother, then yes!"

"You're gonna love it where we live," said Sora, "and you're really gonna love the islands where we vacation at."

The King then summoned the portal, "and it's safe this time."

"Thank goodness," said Riku, "home, soft beds, showers and pizza, here I come!"

"Save a slice for me," said Kairi. With that they went through the portal

"You ready?" Sora asked Aiden.

"As I'll ever be," said Aiden. With that they went through the portal; one to return to his familiar life, the other to start a new one.

The end of chapter 10.

The story isn't over yet, fellow readers and writers, so stay tuned!