::Disclaimer:: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or any of the original characters. Credit goes to Square Enix and Disney. This story was co-written by Grayangelhikari, Belladonadarkraven, NeoJecht, and icefire5689. For character art, visit the gallery of Belladonadarkraven, Grayangelhikari or icefire5689's Deviantart account page!

~Okay another concept that was difficult to add into the story was the 'memory spheres'. After talking about it, we decided to throw it in. (I'll explain later lol)! Again, I apologize if the posts appear choppy, it's been extremely difficult to paste them in the proper order! Anywho, here's the next chapter!

Sora stepped out of the portal. They had appeared where they had started earlier in Midgar.
"So... why are we right here?" Yuki yawned. "We've already been here, aren't we going somewhere new?"
"In a second.." Sora looked at the city. "It's kinda neat that we were able to go to where Cloud's from, huh Riku."
"Sure," Riku shrugged.
"Done fantasizing?" a voice said. Out of a wisp of black mist, a man with short red hair stepped out. He folded his arms.
"You're with that one girl!" Sora's eyes narrowed.
"Very good, doesn't take much to fool you does it shorty? No, technically I'm not with "that one girl" but in a sense. Depends whether I feel like going to the meets," the man grinned.
Sora looked back at his friends, confused.
"Sheesh, not very friendly today are you? Here, how about I ease up the tension with a proper greeting: Hi, the name's Rebel." he said, extending his hand. Sora didn't shake so he pulled it back. "Okay.. Well, might as well cut to the chase. I'm willing to give you guys a sort of clue, for starters. How does that sound?"
"Why should we trust you? What's the catch?" Sora questioned.
"Nice one," Rebel said. "Can't fool you. There is no catch, this is just a bit of advice or information, for your benefit. Let's see, how much do you know about "that one girl"?"
"Not much.." Sora admitted.
"Good. This," he gestured to their left and a black mist shot up from the ground. "will lead you to a little information about the group. It couldn't hurt to find out a little, right? Isn't that why you guys were sent on this 'mission' in the first place?"
"Hey how did you-?"
"That's not important. Last chance, take it our leave it."
Sora looked at the group and shrugged.
"Let's give it a shot. If it's trouble we can get out," Riku answered. Kairi nodded in agreement.
"Fine," Sora turned to Rebel.
"Oh, good," Rebel smiled. "Enjoy." A black mist engulfed him and he was gone.
"I don't think this is such a good idea, Sora," Riku turned.
"Yeah. But it couldn't hurt to look. We could leave the girls here, they'd be safe with Tifa, then check it out to be safe."
"No, we're all going," Kairi cut in. "If something were to happen, it's better we all go, then be separated."
Sora gave Riku a worried expression. Kairi folded her arms, waiting for a reply.
"Okay fine," Sora gave in. "But if anything happens, we're getting you guys outta there and somewhere safe. I'm not even sure if those two should be able to come alone. They kinda just stowed away."
"Oh, c'mon," Yuki objected. She pushed past them and walked into the mist. Amu followed close behind.
"No- ah- wait- uugh!" Sora groaned.
"Looks like we have no choice now. Let's go," Roxas said. Namine grabbed his hand and they walked through.
"Okay..."
The remainder of the group followed inside.

Silph watched the group leave. This wasn't good. They were heading straight into Sorrow's realm. From what she knew about her nothing good could come from going near her. Still, she had orders, and she wasn't about to give up her mission just because Sorrow was a freak. She opened a portal to leave Midgar and follow the faint trail Critter had left behind.

o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o

The mist continued to lead them until they arrived at a small dark town. Sora stepped out by Guillotine Gate and smiled, glancing around the familiar town. The girls smiled looking at their changed outfits. Each of them were now in what looked like different Halloween costumes.

"Yeesh, this place is eerie.. where are we?" Yuki asked, clinging to Riuki.
"Halloween Town," Sora grinned.
"You've been here?" Kairi asked.
"Sure, but it's been awhile... I wonder where Jack is? Let's go look!"
Namine cocked her head. "But shouldn't we be doing something else first?"
"Right, the clue.." Sora lowered his head. "Fine... let's ask around too, see what information we can get."

Kairi and Sora continued to lead, searching for anybody in the town to talk to.
"It's creepy isn't it? Feels like a ghost town," Yuki shivered.
"I could name a few people who would love to hear you say that," Sora snickered.
"No," Kairi said. "It's a little quiet though don't you think? You've told me about this world once and the people here. But there's no one here.. Is there some sort of a meeting?"
Sora paused and began to think. "Hmm.. you have a point. Let's try the lab and Jack's house, he's usually at one or the other."
Sora rushed over to try Jack's house, then rushed back shaking his head. "Locked. Let's try the lab then."
Kairi nodded and followed Sora to the door. He knocked first, then waited. No answer.
"Maybe they didn't hear?"
He tried again. Again, no answer. He began to turn the doorknob but it stopped. "Nope. Huh. Wonder where they've gone?"

Yuki continued walking with Riuki, constantly looking over her shoulder as if something were following or going to pop out at any given moment.
CRASH!
A trash can fell down in the corner by Town Hall. Yuki screamed, clinging to Riuki.
"It's okay," Sora said calmly, walking over to see what happened. They heard three voices conversing with each other.
"Shhhh!You want to give us away? Stop shoving!"
"I'm not!"
"I told you we shouldn't have left our other spot!"
Sora moved the can out of the way and looked behind.
"Aah!" Three small trick-or-treaters clinged to each other.
"Lock? Shock? Barrel?" Sora raised an eyebrow.
"Eeeek!" They jumped and turned around.
"Oh it's just you." Lock smiled smugly.
"What are you guys up to now? Where is everybody?" Sora began questioning.
"Shut up, they're going to hear us!" Shock hissed.
Suddenly there was a loud wail, more menacing than sad.
"Oh crap! One's found us!" Barrel began running.
"Let's get out of here!" They scrambled out of sight.
"Bizarre," Sora folded his arms. "Wonder what got into 'em?"

The wailing gradually grew louder and then went silent. A cold chill filled the air.
"Look!" Yuki screamed, pointing to Guillotine Gate. A dark shadowy creature was trying to get through to the other side. The creature was covered in black, with dark, thin wings. It had what looked like dark hair, partly covering up the face, hiding it in shadow. It glided from bar to bar, looking for a way through.
A dark spot formed on the ground below it then crept up, engulfing the creature completely. It seeped through the bars to the other side and returned to its previous form.
"What is it?" Kairi stepped back.
Sora squinted his eyes, watching the creature. "I think it's a heartless," he said, summoning his keyblade.
As the heartless crept closer it seemed to bring a sinking feeling with it. "If it's just a heartless, it shouldn't be too much of a problem," Sora ran toward it. The heartless slowly turned and raised an arm in his direction. Dark aura began to turn around it. Sora jumped up and slashed down at it. The heartless cringed and disappeared in a wisp of black smoke. Sora stood up and shrugged, dismissing his keyblade.
"Is that why everyone's so afraid here?" Kairi said, watching the spot where the heartless was.
"There may be something bigger then that," Namine replied. "Like a leader."
Sora nodded. "Yeah. Let's go get Riku, he should be okay now."

o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o

Silph stepped into a clearing in a patch of woods. The trees around her all had doors with different holiday shapes on them. There was a trail to her right and she began following it towards Halloween Town. As she came out of the woods and into the graveyard she heard something. A moaning wail that made the hair at the base of her neck stand on end. "Sorrow," Silph whispered. It might not have been her that she heard, but the sound seemed to make her feel hollow and without purpose. At that moment winged figures began to materialize all around her. They moaned and wailed as they seemed to glide towards her. Silph shook the darkness she felt and reached out for Heartbreaker. It appeared in her hand and began to glow. She gently tugged one side of the heart shaped handle and the heart and blade split. In one hand she held half of the heart and the keyblade's blade. In the other, half of the heart and attached to it a glowing blade of white. She pointed this at the closest heartless and it screamed before shattering into pieces. The other heartless watched their comrade's scattered pieces glow white, then begin to rise, spinning, into the air. Then the shards stopped, pointed towards the other heartless, and sped towards them. They slammed into them and horrible shrieks filled the air. Some fell and disappeared into nothing. Those that remained made a fast retreat. Silph glared at them as they fled. Something was up. "Is Sorrow trying to kill me?" she asked herself. Heartbreaker faded from her hands as she began walking forward again. "Stupid form of attack. Since when can darkness overcome the light?"

o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o

They pushed past the gate and into the woods next to the graveyard. A mist had settled low on the ground. Yuki shut her eyes, still clinging to Riuki.
"Sora," Roxas looked toward the gravestones. "There's something over there."
Sora froze. A cold chill filled the atmosphere along with the familiar sinking feeling. A figure began to emerge from the fog and stopped in front of the gravestone. It was a girl with long silvery hair and a torn white dress. She had a black ribbon tied across her eyes like a blindfold.
"W-Who are you?" Sora asked, surprised. Yuki slowly began to walk back, keeping a good distance from the strange girl. Roxas stepped in front of Namine. The girl paused, studying each of them individually.

Her eyes stopped when she came to Roxas. "So you're the organization member." She spoke with a soft, chilling voice. "A nobody."
Roxas didn't respond. He summoned Oath Keeper and Oblivion, eying her cautiously. The girl ignored him and continued on. She then looked down toward the ground. She lifted her hands, removing the black ribbon around her eyes. She opened her eyes, focusing on the group. Kairi froze. The girl's eyes were a solid black, with silver irises.
Sora glanced at Riku, his eyes wide. "I can't move," he said, struggling.
"I can't either," Roxas struggled.
Yuki screamed and shut her eyes tight. Riuki looked around, confused. The girl studied Riuki for a moment, then stopped in front of Roxas. She held up her arm and a dark aura began to spiral around her hand until it formed into a solid claw-like weapon. Her arm rested at her side and she walked forward, stopping feet away.

She raised her hand slightly and lunged forward at Roxas who was struggling to move.
"Don't," Ruiki ran in front of Roxas.
Roxas, finally able to move, pushed Riuki out of the way while dodging the girl's attack. The red orb fell onto the ground next to them.
"You okay?" Roxas asked Riuki. Riuki only nodded slightly.

The girl slowly turned toward them and readied her weapon for another attempt. Roxas started to get up but was once again, unable to move.
"Sheesh, you need help already?" A familiar voice said. "C'mon, I thought you could do better then that."
Roxas looked around, the voice sounding familiar. "Axel?"
A wall of fire shot up from the ground, separating the group from the girl. Axel walked forward and grinned. "In the flesh. Well, sort of. Anywho, let's getcha guys outta here first, then we can talk."
Axel summoned his chakrams. He threw them one by one toward the girl. The weapons flew around her then back, creating a large ring of fire surrounding her. Axel caught the weapons and dismissed them. The ring of flames slowly advance toward the girl. "Let's go," Axel raised his hand and a large black portal opened around the group.
The girl swiped at the fire and backed toward the center to avoid it. The flames slowly began to die down, but by the time it cleared, the group was gone.

The group fell out of the portal and onto a hard floor. Roxas took in a breath. "Thanks Axel," he got up and looked around.
Axel turned. "Okay, first off," Axel whacked Roxas across the back of the head.
"Ow- hey!"
"What was wrong back there, huh? Sheesh, after everything before and you act like this is your first fight."
"Yeah," Roxas admitted, rubbing the back of his head. "Hold on... how are you here?"
Axel shrugged. "It's complicated. If you really want to know, you should probably ask Namine. But that's not important. What you should be focusing on is what you are up against."
"What do you know about them?" Sora asked.
Axel paused. "Not much," he shook his head. "But they're different."
"Different?" Sora questioned. "How?"
"This group seems to have a whole new purpose. But whatever it is, I don't know. All I do know is that you should watch your backs."
Sora nodded.
"So, what do we do now?" Roxas asked.
"Keep looking for answers," Axel folded his arms. "You might find something here."
"That's what the other guy said, and we ran into that one girl."
"Well if you keep your guard up Roxas, you might not be beaten up by a girl this time."
"Hey!"
Axel laughed. "Anyway, you guys should get going. Good luck." He began to fade into a red light, disappearing completely.

Riuki looked around at the group to see if they were as confused as he was. "Who was that?"
Roxas bent down and picked up the orb. "Axel." He answered. "He was a friend of mine. But how..." He faced Namine. "he died, right?"
"Yes," she replied. "But DiZ had me do it before Sora woke up. Gathering some of the memories from the Organization, I was told to contain parts in spheres like that," she gestured to the red orb.
"So, he's not really back?" Roxas looked down.
"No," Namine said. "It's still him, but he's only a memory now. DiZ was hoping that maybe we could use their power if we ever needed to. They were taken so they wouldn't fall into the wrong hands."
"How do they work?" Kairi asked.
Namine shook her head. "I'm not really sure myself, DiZ altered them somehow."

There was a loud explosion coming from behind. The group quickly turned. In the distance, there stood a ruined castle on top of a black mountain. Toward the center of it was a giant green pillar of fire that seemed to erupt out of nowhere. It sunk down and disappeared.
"What was that?" Amu cocked her head.
"That..kinda reminds me of someone," Sora paused. He looked off to the opposite direction. There was a tall white castle with a drawbridge at the entrance. "Well, there's two ways to go from here. Either the creepy castle to the right, or that big white one to the left."
"We should maybe go find out what caused that explosion first," Riku said. "I think you're right, it does seem familiar."
Kairi nodded. "Then what are we waiting for?" she smiled.

o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o

Silph managed to keep up with the group. It was hard work since they seemed to move all over the place. If it weren't for Critter she wondered if she would have been able to keep up as well as she did.
Looking up at the castle she had to sigh. "Great," she said. "Lam and Lem territory." Those two were just a sorry couple of whiny brats. She wasn't sure how Passiva could take them seriously. They usually caused more problems then they fixed. Apparently that's what must be going on right now, because of all the noise.

o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o

"This job is too hard." Lam moaned, making sure that he still had eyebrows. Both he and his brother barely manage to get out of the castle courtyard before Malesicent could fry them to a crisp.
"We need to go back to Passiva and get an easier one," Lem moaned.
There was a wispy sound and Rebel appeared in front of the boys, folding his arms. "And where do you two think you're going?"
"To get another job," Lem said.
"Wanna trade?" Lam asked.
Rebel laughed. It was a mystery why Passiva had given them the job to eliminate Maleficent. After the fall of the Organization, she had tried to take their stronghold. Maleficent threatened the Order once Passiva successfully acquired the castle. She returned to the Enchanted Dominion and remained there ever since, waiting for her chance to return. "Too hard huh? Heh, I knew you two weren't cut out for the job. And it's fairly simple too."
"No it's not!"
"You try getting rid of that witch."
"Right. You two," He motioned for them to come. "Follow me. We'll try again."
The two boys began to back away. Rebel grabbed them by their collars and they disappeared.

~As I mentioned before, I was hesitant in adding the 'memory spheres' but they ended up serving a purpose later in the story.
Before we knew about the released worlds in
Birth by Sleep we all discussed worlds we would like to see, or would most likely see in future Kingdom Hearts games. Among these was the world of Sleeping Beauty. There's been the return of some worlds such as Halloween Town and Land of the Dragons, but also a few new ones we decided to test out ^_^

I'll get started on the next chapter!