A/N: Still a few chapters left to go! But maybe I'll finish today? Hopefully?

Chapter Eleven: Moving Forward

Aurora and Edym sat on the floor, leaning against the wall of Master Yen Sid's tower. Since they'd been reunited, they hadn't moved far from one another. Lea, meanwhile, was leaning against a bookshelf, while Phoenix sat in a chair Yen Sid had magic'd up for him.

Donald, Goofy, Riku, and Mickey were watching Sora, who was still asleep, leaning against the wall next to the windows.

The worry in the room was dense. No one knew if Sora would awaken.

"Seven lights… Thirteen darknesses… Master Xehanort has been busy," Yen Sid, who sat at his desk, said.

Aurora looked up at Sora, before drawing her knees closer to her chest. (This couldn't have been what you meant… was it?) she thought, her left hand grasping the ribbon around her right wrist.

Donald went to say something, but Goofy stopped him, shaking his head.

"Aw, Sora. Don't tell me your heart's sleeping, too," Mickey said.

"No, Mickey. This affliction is not the same," Yen Sid said, turning slightly to look at his ex-apprentice.

"Can we do anything for him?" Riku asked. Aurora sat up slightly, her eyes widening.

"Aurora?" Edym asked.

"On one of the worlds I was on, I… I began healing someone's heart. Perhaps…" She stood, walking over to Sora and kneeling next to the boy.

"It will not work, Aurora," Yen Sid said, causing her to stop, and look at him. "In the Mark of Mastery exam, Sora and Riku were to unlock seven Sleeping Keyholes. By doing so, they would awaken those worlds from their prison of slumber, and also acquire the power to free a heart from its sleep. Riku, you unlocked those Keyholes within Sora's dreams. Therefore, it stands to reason that you now have the power to awaken Sora's heart," Yen Sid explained. Aurora sat back on her heels, and looked up at her boyfriend.

"You want him to dive back into Sora's sleep?" Mickey demanded. "But Master, Sora's heart is down in the darkest abyss. If Riku's not careful he might just get trapped down there with him." Yen Sid stood, walking over to them. "No, I'll go instead," Mickey decided.

"But… if what Master Yen Sid said is the truth… Riku stands the better chance," Aurora said. Everyone looked at her in surprise, and Aurora turned to look at the sleeping boy. "You're right, Your Majesty. Sora's heart is deep within the darkness. But Riku spent a lot of time in both Sora's dreams and the darkness. He's built a resistance to the darkness." Aurora looked up at Riku. "So, he has the best chance." Riku smiled, giving her a small nod.

"Very wise, Aurora," Yen Sid said. Riku glanced around, looking at everyone, before turning to his best friend, and smiling slightly.

"Mickey… I really appreciate it," he said, turning to the king. "But… I have to do this."

"Riku…" Mickey muttered, worried.

"Look at his face," Riku said, turning back to Sora. "Sleeping like nothing's wrong—like there's nothing to even worry about."

Aurora glanced down at Sora again, and giggled.

"He really does look peaceful, huh?" she said. Riku snickered, nodding.

"He's always been like that," Riku said. "The three of us would agree to work on the raft, and then this guy would go take a nap on the beach! You see, it's my job to keep him on his toes. Besides, what kind of Keyblade Master sleeps through his test?" he added. Aurora giggled more at that, shaking her head.

"To be honest, you did, too," she said. Riku stuck his tongue out at her, making her laugh, before he looked back at Sora.

"I'm doing it for me, too," he added, growing serious. "Sora saved me once. And… I heard him call my name. He needs me."

"Hm… there's something real strong that binds us to each other," Mickey said, glancing at Aurora to include her in the group. He turned to look at Riku. "Even in the darkness, you can reach him. All you gotta do is follow that connection!"

"Gee, we're all connected to Sora!" Goofy said brightly.

"You said it!" Donald added.

"And if the darkness gets ya, I promise I'll bail you out," Lea said.

"Not without back up he won't," Aurora added. Edym, who walked over and was standing behind his sister, nodded with a grin.

"Tch, whatever you two. 'Dark Rescue' is my middle name," the ginger said with a smirk.

"Guys, thank you. Sora and I will be back soon" Riku said, standing straight up. He bowed to Master Yen Sid, before moving a bit away from Sora and summoning his Keyblade.

Aurora stood and walked over to him, giving Riku a tight hug.

"Be careful in there," she said.

"I will be," Riku replied, giving her a sweet, gentle kiss. She then moved, stepping back and to the side, to allow Riku a clean shot. He pointed Way To Dawn at Sora, and both boys began to glow, before a sphere appeared in front of Sora. Inside was clouded with black and purple smoke.

The light grew brighter, and Riku vanished. Aurora closed her eyes, watching as the path to dawn that symbolized Riku's heart was super imposed over the beach that represented Sora's.

All was quiet for a moment, before Yen Sid sighed, siting once more. "Aurora."

"Yes, Master Yen Sid?" she asked.

"May I see that locket of yours?" he asked. Aurora moved so that she was in front of Yen Sid's desk, and hesitated, before pulling it off, handing it to the old wizard.

"What is it?" she asked, watching as Yen Sid studied the outside of it.

"I had noticed Riku was wearing it's twin, and I had sensed magic coming from it. You and Riku are connected, corrected?" he asked.

"Well… yes. Our hearts connected when we first met. Then… after the Organization's defeat last year…" she blushed slightly. "We shared a Paopu fruit."

"I see," Yen Sid said with a smile, opening the locket and seeing the picture inside, the one of Aurora kissing Riku's cheek. Aurora blushed more at that, looking away, as the wizard's face softened. He closed the locket and handed it back to her. "These two lockets contain powerful magic. It appears, when one is in trouble, it will lead it's wearer as close as possible to the other locket wearer. The connection you share with Riku has made that spell more powerful, allowing it to break the borders between the worlds, much like a Star Shard."

"Really?" Aurora asked, her eyes widening. "But… how?"

"Wait! You bought those from a shop in Kurain Village, right?" Phoenix suddenly asked. Aurora nodded.

"Yeah. Maya had suggested them, saying it'll always keep him close," she said. Phoenix chuckled.

"Then it's probably some kind of spiritual magic. She told me a lot of their authentic wares comes straight from Japan and the Kingdom of Khura'in," he said. Yen Sid nodded.

"It does feel more like a spiritual spell, rather than any other kind of magic," he agreed. Aurora looked down at the locket, and smiled warmly, before clipping it back to her choker.

"Well, then… I guess I have to thank Maya when I get home then," she said warmly.

Warmth suddenly washed over Aurora, and she turned, looking over at where Sora lay. The light in his heart was shining bright once again. Aurora closed her eyes, and smiled when seeing Sora's, as well as Roxas's, Ventus's, and Xion's were all back to normal.

In a shower of light, Riku appeared, laying on the ground next to Sora, who was beginning to awake.

Riku hadn't stirred though.

"Master…" Aurora began, getting worried.

"Riku will awake shortly. He is just taking care of some unfinished business, I'm sure," Yen Sid said. Aurora nodded, walking over and kneeling next to Riku to wait.

"What's this?" Riku wondered out loud, pulling a sealed bottle from the water that lapped at his feet. He was standing on the beach of Destiny Islands, at sunset. This is where he'd been transported after freeing Sora from that dark armor and locking a Keyhole in his heart.

Then he'd been asked questions by Roxas, a boy who looked just like Roxas, and a girl who seemed very familiar.

Now, he was finding this bottle.

"You were not the visitor I expected," a familiar voice said from behind. Riku glanced over his shoulder, before turning fully, gasping slightly at the man before him.

"DiZ!" he gasped, before catching himself. "I mean… Ansem the Wise. What are you doing here?"

"Perhaps I wanted to atone for events of the past, even if no apology can undo the harm I have wrought," Ansem said, walking down to the water, before stopping. "I felt… that I ought to leave at least something behind. So I digitized myself and my research, and hid them within Sora."

Riku glanced down at the bottle in his hand.

"So this is… data?" he asked, looking back up at the man.

"Yes. A clue, I hope, to finding yourselves or your lost friends in your hour of need. The heart has always been so quick to grow. Each exposure to light, to the natural world, to other people, shapes this most malleable part inside of us. Nobodies are not different from us in that manner…"

"Sora was the only one able to return to his human form without destroying his Nobody. That is a statement to the love in his heart for other people, and the bonds that tie them together. Perhaps… he has the power to bring back the hearts and existences of those connected to him—to recreate people we thought were lost to us forever. But… those people will not be the same without a Healer to repair and balance the light and dark within their hearts," Ansem explained.

"A Healer… Xehanort mentioned Healers, too," Riku said.

"Remember when you asked I allow young Aurora to be sent home? I told you it was impossible, that she'd be in more danger at home, and that her destiny is intertwined with Sora's, all thanks to her heart connecting to one close to Sora's," Ansem reminded him, glancing at the young man. Riku looked away, but nodded.

"Like everyone else, Aurora has a role she will play. Aurora is a Healer."

"But… what does that mean? What are Healers?" Riku asked.

"They are exceedingly rare now, but Healers existed long ago, before the time of Keyblades and the Keyblade Wars. There were many Healers at that time, and they would mend damaged hearts, bringing a balance between light and darkness to not just the hearts, but the world overall. They had great magic, and were known as Harbingers of Peace. It was said their powers were granted to them by Kingdom Hearts itself.

"One day, a man of darkness, whose name has been lost to the pages of history, gathered together a group of like-minded individuals, and they began to hunt and destroy Healers. They wanted to use the light of Kingdom Hearts for their own plans, and had to rid the world of the Healers to do so. One by one, the Healers fell to these beings of darkness, until finally, they were completely wiped out. Then, the group moved on Kingdom Hearts.

"In order to protect itself, Kingdom Hearts locked itself away, and granted the x-blade onto an individual pure of heart and mind. The wielder of the x-blade named it such, to mark the end of the Era of Healers. He defeated the beings of darkness.

"But then, as you know, the Keyblade Wars began. Without the Healers to safe-guard the balance of the world, everyone wanted the light for themselves, and the worlds fell to darkness.

"Every so often, Kingdom Hearts will grant the abilities of a Healer onto an individual, giving them great potential for magic as well. Unfortunately, each time this happens, darkness would rise, once more, and ravage the new Healer and their family. It is no coincidence that Aurora's older brother lost his heart and nearly his individuality," Ansem explained.

"But then, Aurora met you, and her heart connected with yours, connecting her with Sora as well. By doing this, you did not put her in more danger. You saved her from the dark fate she and her family surly would have fallen to."

"I… oh…" Riku muttered, unsure of what to say.

"Sora will have the power to bring back those connected to him, but it'll be Aurora's power that'll heal their damaged hearts. She will be the key in that." Ansem smiled slightly. "The rest is in there," he added.

Riku glanced down at the bottle in his hand, before smiling. "Alright. Thanks. Thank you," he said.

"Of course. Now why is it that you are here?" Ansem asked.

"Uh… I kinda need to wake Sora up," Riku said. Ansem turned to look at him.

"Don't tell me he's gone to sleep again?" he asked.

"Yeah. What'll I do with him?" Riku replied with a chuckle.

"What, indeed?" the older man said, and the two of them laughed.

"Never fear. Sora is safe," Ansem said.

"Huh?" Riku asked.

"He's not here. You see, by defeating the Nightmare imprisoning Sora, you freed him."

Riku gasped. "You mean… the Sora wrapped in that black phantom?"

"Then, you came here, and you were questioned by three young people. That was the final key to awaken him. Sora is awake. You can go home now," Ansem explained. Riku smiled warmly.

"Really? Thank you."

He turned to the water and summoned Kingdom Key, which he had received at the end of the last battle. He pointed it out over the water, and a light flashed in the sky, forming a Keyhole. He unlocked it in a flash of light, and began to float in the air, with Ansem watching him.

"Young man! I do not believe you ever told me your name," Ansem requested.

Riku turned to him, confused for a moment, before letting out a soft breath, remember how he had told him his name was Ansem the last time he'd seen him.

"It's Riku," he said with a smile, before floating away.

Aurora reached forward, gently pushing Riku's bangs out of his face. Edym was sitting on the ground next to her, his arm over her shoulder supportively, while Mickey and Yen Sid stood on Riku's other side. Lea was sitting on a chair backwards, his arms resting on the back, at Riku's head.

"Mmm…" Riku mumbled, turning his face into Aurora's hand, before opening his eyes.

"Riku!" Aurora said warmly.

He blinked, looking up to see those five looking down at him. Then his eyes widened, and he shot up.

"Sora!" he yelled.

"Hey, Donald! Come on, you're hogging it all!" Riku looked over to see the back of Sora, standing at a table. Goofy, Donald, and Phoenix were seated at the table, and it was overflowing with sweets and tea cups.

"Oh, calm down, Sora, and drink your tea," Donald replied.

"Gawrsh, it sure is yummy!" Goofy said.

"Hm… I think I like coffee better," Phoenix muttered, looking into his tea cup.

"Hey!" Riku snapped, getting all four of their attention. Sora quickly turned, and Aurora had to bury her face in her hands to contain laughter.

Sora was wearing a pointed party hat and a pair of funny-face glasses. (Where did he even get those? And WHY!?) Aurora thought as the younger boy pulled them off.

"Riku…" Sora said, sounding relieved. "Your safe! Riku!" Aurora moved away from her boyfriend just in time to dodge Sora's flying-tackle hug. Riku's arm's flailed as he tried to keep his balance.

"Wait," he finally said once he had his balance, causing Sora to pull back a little. "Haven't we got this backwards? And why are you having a tea party?" he demanded.

"Your safe, Riku!" Sora yelled, hugging him again. Riku put a hand to his head, like he was getting a headache.

"Ugh. Never mind." He looked at the boy again. "You okay? Feeling all right?" he asked. Sora sat back, and grinned at Riku.

"Yeah, I've never been better," he said. Aurora shivered, goosebumps springing up along her arms, while Phoenix's eyes narrowed slightly, the Magatama in his pocket glowing slightly. The cousins glanced at each other, realizing what Sora was doing.

(He's not okay… but he's hiding it. That's probably the reason for the tea party and the get up and his over-reaction to Riku being okay…) Aurora thought.

"I was watching what was going on in my dream," Sora continued. "And I could hear your voice the whole time. Thanks, Riku." He then turned to love at everyone. "Thanks, everybody!"

Sora glanced around, before suddenly looking up at Yen Sid. "Oh yeah! Did we pass the test?" he asked excitedly.

Yen Sid smiled, but Aurora could see some sadness behind it.

"You performed truly admirably, both of you," he said.

The boys grinned at each other, before jumping up, standing at attention in front of Yen Sid's desk.

Lea took his place leaning against the bookshelf again, while Mickey, Donald, and Goofy lined up on one side of the desk, Aurora, Phoenix, and Edym on the other side. Yen Sid sat in his chair, and cleared his throat.

"More than anything, I am grateful to have you both, and Aurora as well, back from Xehanort's deception unharmed. And I am grateful to Lea, Edym, and Phoenix, whose spontaneous actions turned the tides." Lea scoffed slightly, while Phoenix gave a nervous chuckle, rubbing the back of his head. Edym simply grinned.

"I am also deeply sorry, for failing to perceive the danger, and throwing you headlong into a perilous test." He closed his eyes for a few moments, before looking back at the two boys. "This experience has revealed many hidden truths, and we must gird ourselves for the great clash with darkness that lies before us. I believe we need a new Keyblade Master. One with a new kind of power."

(Just… one?) Aurora thought as she turned to look at the boys.

"Sora and Riku, you both deserve the honor. However, one of you braved the realm of sleep again to unlock the final Keyhole, and save a friend. Riku." He turned to the silver haired boy. "I name you our new true Keyblade Master."

Neither boy reacted for a moment. Then, Sora's eyes grew wide, and he grinned, before turning to his friend.

"Way to go, Riku!" he cheered, throwing his arm over the boy's shoulders. Riku was forced to crouch slightly, due to the difference in his and Sora's heights.

"Y-yeah…?" he muttered, sounding in shock. Aurora almost didn't hear him over Sora's ecstatic laughter.

"I knew you were gonna pass with flying colors," Sora said brightly. "This is just so awesome!"

"Gee, Sora, you're kinda acting like it's you who passed," Goofy said.

"I told you Sora still needed some practice," Donald said.

"Riku, you okay?" Aurora asked. He blinked and looked up at her, nodding, while Sora bickered with Donald.

Riku then turned to Yen Sid. "Really? I'm a Keyblade Master?" he asked. He glanced at Sora, who nodded, letting him go. Now that he seemed to be overcoming his shock, Aurora tackled him in a hug.

"Whoa!" he cried, stumbling slightly.

"I'm so proud of you!" she cheered as the Royal entourage walked over.

"Congratulations, Riku!" Mickey said as Aurora moved to Riku's side, keeping her arm around his waist.

Riku let out a hesitant chuckle, before smiling warmly.

"Thank you, Mickey," he said. He then looked around at everyone. "I owe it to my friends," he added, a smile breaking out across his face.

"Ah, I'll catch up with ya in no time, flat," Axel said.

"What!? You wanna be a Keyblade Master?" Sora asked, shocked.

"Yeah. I mean, I came here to learn how to wield one," Lea admitted.

"Whaaaaaaat!?" Aurora and Edym gasped in shock.

"YOU!?" Riku and Sora said at the same time.

"Hey, thanks for the vote of confidence," Lea replied sarcastically. "You know, I was gonna come swooping in, Keyblade in hand! But I just couldn't get mine to materialize," he sighed, looking at his hand. "Must be in the snap of the wrist or something," he said, trying the same hand motion most of the Keyblade wielders used to summon their blades.

In a blaze of fire, a Keyblade appeared in his hand. His eyes widened, and he let out a tiny "oh."

The hand guard was one of his chakarams, while the blade looked to be made of flames, which curled at the tip into the blade's teeth. Hanging from the chain was a tiny version of the handguard.

"WHOA!" Even Master Yen Sid stood from his chair in shock.

Once everything had calmed down, Yen Sid turned to Aurora.

"And you, Aurora? What will you do now, that you know what it is you truly are?" he asked. Aurora looked up at him, before looking down.

"This whole time… I've been trying to follow my heart. That's what's worked for everyone else, and lead them to where they're meant to be," she said, stepping forward. She glanced back, looking between Phoenix and Edym, then Riku and Sora. "The issue is… my heart doesn't know what it wants. I've worked so hard to earn my attorney's badge, and I love standing in court with my cousin and everyone else at the Wright Anything Agency. But… I also love Riku, and as a Healer, it is my duty to heal damaged hearts, and bring the worlds back into balance once again. My heart's undecided." Aurora closed her eyes, remembering her time in the Wizarding World, and what the Mirror of Erised had shown her. (Erised. Now I get it. It's Desire, spelled backwards…) she thought. She then opened her eyes, looking at Master Yen Sid.

"I think… what I want the most… is to help people. Be it by standing in the court room, healing their damaged heart, or protecting them from the creatures of darkness. So, maybe… I need to forge a new path. Master Yen Sid…" She stepped forward and bowed to the older man. "If you'll have me, I would like to become your apprentice. I've been told by Merlin and many other wizards that I have great potential for magic. So… please. I'd like to learn more," she said.

"Whaaaaat!?" everyone in the room, minus Yen Sid and Aurora, gasped, staring at the girl in shock.

Yen Sid stroked his beard, studying the girl.

"Merlin and the others were correct. You do have a great potential for magic. I have heard from Mickey and your friends how powerful you are, and I must say, I am quite impressed with how much you've learned, considering you are largely self-taught." Yen Sid closed his eyes in thought for a moment, before nodding. "Alright, Aurora. I will accept you as my apprentice. But know this; Magic is not an easy road. It is fraught with challenges. And you are simply prolonging the choice you will eventually have to make."

"I know. Thank you, Master," Aurora said, bowing to the man.

"So… Aurora. Are you going to tell us anything about what happened when we last visited The Legal Age? You all just kind of… rushed us out," Sora said as he, Aurora, Riku, Mickey, Donald, and Goofy walked down the stairs of the tower. Edym and Phoenix had returned to The Legal Age, to explain what was happening to her parents, before Edym joined Lea for training with Merlin (not Keyblade training, but he did want to become a stronger fighter).

"Nope. Sorry, Sky Boy. You'll just have to be forever curious," Aurora said with a grin.

"What? Hey, come on! I thought the other one was Sky Boy!" Sora complained.

"You're all Sky Boy to me," Aurora grinned, ruffling the pouting boy's head. Riku laughed at that, shaking his head, while Mickey, Donald, and Goofy all looked confused.

Finally, they reached the door, and Sora stretched, walking ahead of the others.

"Do ya have to go?" Donald asked.

"Well… I did doze off… I just have some stuff to take care of," Sora said.

"Are you gonna be okay?" Aurora asked.

"Yeah. I won't be long," Sora said, not turning to look at the group.

"Be careful," Mickey said.

"Very careful," Riku added. Sora grinned, looking over his shoulder.

"Right. See you soon." He summoned his Keyblade, and a Keyhole appeared in midair. Light shone from it as Sora unlocked it, and he disappeared.

After Sora left, Yen Sid sent Riku on a mystery errand. Donald and Goofy were waiting outside for their friend, and Yen Sid had called his former apprentice and his newest one to his office.

"As my apprentice, Aurora, I will grant you new clothes, and objects that will help you in your studies," he said, waving his hand. A neat pile of clothes appeared on the corner of his desk, topped by a thick, leather-bound book, and a gold crescent moon pendant. "You may change in the side room."

"Yes, Master Yen Sid," Aurora said, taking the bundle and slipping into the side room and changed.

The outfit consisted of a black, quarter sleeved tunic and plain black slacks. She retained her work boots, choker, wrist band, ribbon and ring, and had pinned her attorney's badge to the collar of her shirt. Over all of this was an emerald green cloak hemmed in gold. Crescent moons and stars were embroidered all over the cloak in gold and silver shiny thread, and the interior of the cloak, as well as the hood, was made of silver silk. Aurora had decided to let her hair down, which had grown to a few inches past her shoulder, and she wore the golden Crescent Moon pendant around her neck, hung from a silver chain. The chain was long enough that the moon hung level with her stomach.

Taking a deep breath, she picked up the book and stepped back into the office. Yen Sid nodded with a smile, before growing serious.

"The Keyblade Wars of yore plunged the true Kingdom Hearts into darkness, and the x-blade was shattered," Yen Sid said, speaking to both his former apprentice and his newest one. Mickey crossed his arms, while Aurora listened carefully. "But the light still shining in the hearts of children rebuilt the world that we know today. And the light from the broken x-blade was divided into seven, to protect the number of natural pure hearts in the world."

"Seven pure lights," Mickey said.

"The Princesses of Heart?" Aurora asked.

"Indeed," Yen Sid nodded. "Those seven pure hearts form the very source of all light in the world. If they are lost, the world will again give way to shadow. Thus, even if we deliberately avoid finding our seven lights to avert another Keyblade War, Xehanort will still target the seven princesses in order to forge the x-blade."

"So… there's gonna be a clash between seven lights and thirteen darknesses… and there's nothing we can do to avoid triggering the Keyblade War?" Mickey asked.

"Wait, but… Xehanort seemed to think my existence as a Healer a threat to his plan. Does that mean the x-blade can't be formed, so long as I'm alive?" Aurora asked. Yen Sid looked at her.

"Your existence means the x-blade cannot be formed but by the proper means," Yen Sid explained. "But even so, you have the power to bring balance back to the worlds, and if there is balance, the blade will not be formed." He then turned and looked at Mickey. "As for your question, to protect the seven pure hearts, we will need seven lights strong enough to stand against the thirteen darknesses."

"So we're missing one guardian of light," Mickey said thoughtfully.

Just then, the door opened, and the two turned towards it.

"Riku!" Aurora said brightly.

"You're back," Mickey added.

"That's right," Riku said with a smile, before turning to the wizard. "Master Yen Sid, I brought you the 'guest' you asked for but…" he glanced back. "You never said why."

"Huh?" Mickey asked.

"You!" Aurora said in delight, darting over as the 'guest' walked in. She threw her arms around the newcomer, giving them a tight hug. The newcomer grinned brightly, hugging her back.

"I have come to learn that you, too, can wield a Keyblade," Yen Sid said once Aurora had let the newcomer go. "I am glad you are here, Kairi."

A/N: Errr… Sorry if most of this seems like an info dump?

You cannot convince me Sora was okay after everything he'd been through he was acting a little over the top there, even for Sora.