The Resolve of All

Chapter 13: A Dark Excursion

"Kairi...?"

She was so drowsy from her previous encounters. With all of the dangers in the world, it was just a little easier to sleep a little longer...

"Kairi... I need to talk to you..."

"Huh...?"

"Please... listen..."

Kairi then found herself in a bright white room... It seemed like a safe place... She turned her head slightly and noticed a girl who looked remarkably similar to herself, but with angelic blond hair... She was wearing what looked like a white night gown and sandals...

"Kairi... do you remember who I am?" She asked.

A single name wandered into her mind. "Namine...?"

"Yes." Namine confirmed with a nod and a smile. "Kairi... I need to tell you something... something important."

"Alright." Kairi began to listen intently.

"The connections we have to other people are the key..." Namine revealed. "A long time ago... some things happened... and three friends were torn apart and they all met tragic ends..."

"That sounds familiar..." Kairi mentioned.

"Kairi... You need to help them too." Namine stated.

"Who were these people?" Kairi inquired.

Namine tilted her head to the side and gave a little giggle. "You actually met one of them a long time ago... so did Riku and Sora."

Then a memory flashed back in Kairi's mind... this blue-haired woman was protecting her from these monsters and the King was there too...

"I remember now! Her name was Aqua and I gave her flowers and I..." Kairi trailed off touching the charm necklace around her neck.

"That's right." Namine confirmed. "It's because of Aqua that you can wield a Keyblade, and also it was because of her that you were led to Sora."

"What?"

"Whenever you're in trouble your light will lead you to another... remember?" Namine reminded.

"Yeah... she sensed that I was important and she was right..." Kairi smiled.

"I know this may be dangerous... but you and Sora need to find her." Namine responded.

"Find her? Where is she?" Kairi pried.

"Aqua has been lost in the darkness for over a decade... but you'll need her for the trials ahead." Namine informed her. "Your friends will know where to start... good luck..."

And the dream began to fade... but just before she woke up Kairi shouted. "Namine! What about you?!"

WAAM!

Then she woke up with a jerk and her head slammed against something real hard and it really hurt!

"Owowowowowow." She rubbed her head.

"Geez Kairi, and you thought I had thick head."

That familiar voice perked the red-head to her senses, and she was met with a boy with a goofy grin while he was rubbing his forehead where she had hit him.

"Sora!" She hugged him. "I'm glad you're back."

"Uhh... I'm glad you're here too Kairi." Sora returned the hug.

They both were in the room next to Yen Sid's Study, Kairi was still snoozing so Sora came in to check on her, slamming heads was not what he had in mind though.

"Kairi, are you okay?" Sora asked.

"As long as I'm with you..." She whispered. "Oh! I'm fine Sora."

"Yen Sid said he needs to talk to us; come on." Sora grabbed her hand getting her off the cot.

The two teens let themselves into the study to find the familiar sorcerer sitting in his usual chair staring at the Keyblade Sora dropped off on the table. Kairi and Sora then noticed that Lea was here as well, but he looked saddened and depressed, was he alright? The three of them took their place to listen to what the former Keyblade Master had to say.

"Hmmm..." Yen Sid scowled at the situation at hand. "...This Keyblade belonged to an old friend of mine by the name of Master Eraqus..."

"Who's that?" Sora inquired.

"Someone who I thought was struck down long ago by Xehanort, but this Keyblade may prove otherwise..." Yen Sid replied.

"I just found it lying there in the sand back in Destiny Islands." Sora responded. "Do you think it could mean anything?"

"It could mean everything." Yen Sid retorted. "It is definitely a clue on what we should do next."

"What we need to do is find my friends." Lea piped up with a grimace.

"Lea, I have already told you that Roxas, Xion, and Drex are lost-!"

"They're not gone!" Lea hissed. "I was just with them! They can't have just disappeared! Use your all powerful magic or something!"

"I cannot. The darkness interferes with my magic and divination." Yen Sid responded. "We must focus at the matter at hand, and find more guardians of light to combat Xehanort."

"Easy for you to say..." Lea calmed back down but still seemed flustered.

"Master Yen Sid?" Kairi piped up.

"Yes?" He turned his attention to her.

"I think we should look for a woman named Aqua." Kairi stated.

"Aqua?" Lea and Sora said in unison.

Yen Sid nodded and remembered from Mickey's theories and tales that she could be saved next. "Indeed we shall, and this Keyblade is proof."

"How so?" Sora questioned.

"Before Aqua was lost from the Realm of Light, she became a Keyblade Master herself and I can only assume that this blade was what she wielded. If I may further theorize, she cast this weapon aside as a clue to her location." Yen Sid explained. "Across an ocean this weapon has traveled, the shores of the Realm of Darkness is the only place she could be..."

"Then I'll go and find her." Sora volunteered.

"Not a chance." Lea replied. "You won't last two minutes without me saving you."

"So be it." Yen Sid stated. "Lea... be Sora's guide in the darkness and bring Aqua back to us. Consider this your make-up, if you're successful Sora... I will dub you a true Keyblade Master..."

"Really? Well then you better believe that I'm ready this time!" Sora gave a smug grin.

"And after that, we can look for my friends too." Lea pressed.

"Of course." Sora agreed.

"What about me? Can I go?" Kairi chimed in.

"No... It wouldn't be safe. Xehanort and his forces are short one princess, you're simply too crucial to be wandering the dark realm." Yen Sid stated.

"But I can fight! And I'll have Sora and Lea by my side!" Kairi pleaded. "I've played the helpless little girl long enough... let me do my part!"

"Kairi..." Sora was impressed by her spirit.

"...Hmmm... very well." Yen Sid nodded. "If you've felt so strongly about this, perhaps this is the best course of action. But I must warn you... Heartless, Nobodies, and the Organization will all attempt to do you harm, be vigilant."

"We will." Kairi noted and thanked the sorcerer.

"I can create a corridor directly into the Realm of Darkness, let's go." Lea motioned.

"Come on Kairi." Sora grabbed her hand.

"Farewell." Yen Sid waved off.

"WAK!" He quaked.

"What's wrong Donald?" Goofy asked while he found the court wizard in the library of Disney Castle.

"The King is back in the sleeping worlds!" Donald informed.

"Sleeping worlds? Did he go to take a nap?" Goofy responded.

"No! He's been missing!" Donald quaked some more. "We have to find him!"

"What's going on?"

Riku had let himself into the library because of the conversation he heard between the two. "Where's the King?"

"Ask him yourself." Donald pointed to the tiny cricket on the desk.

"Oh! You're Riku; Cricket's the name, Jiminy Cricket. And I saw the whole thing." Jiminy stated. "The King and I were discussing something and a portal opened up and he deduced it led to the Realm of Sleep."

"And he just ran off?" Riku inquired.

"Well... portals don't usually open up by themselves you know, so the King went to investigate." Jiminiy replied. "He does have quite a habit of doing that..."

"Looks like we should check up on him." Goofy stated.

"No. I'll go find him by myself." Riku responded.

"No! We are going to help too!" Donald quacked. "Goofy and I are tired of being on the sidelines, we're coming too. End of discussion."

"Well alright then. Let's go find the King." Goofy grinned.

Riku chuckled as he made a portal to the Realm of Sleep. "Fine, let's go."

"Kind of an unlikely trio if you ask me," Jiminy shrugged. "Good luck!"

Skyler was complete again, thanks to his friend... but everything seemed the same. He looked exactly like his Nobody, but his earrings were gone.

He contemplated his purpose as he roamed a hallway in their headquarters. What was he supposed to do? Just carry out Xehanort's wishes like a good little boy?

"This is wrong... what are we doing...?" He whispered.

Just then Mark had turned a corner and bumped into Skyler. "Oh, it's you."

"What's going on?" Skyler inquired.

"Well..." Mark rubbed his neck. "I've got good news and bad news."

"What's the good news?" Skyler replied.

"Mona has returned and I won't be destroyed for the replica's failure." Mark informed him.

"Mona...? Okay... what's the bad news?"

"She's not being very cooperative..." Mark responded. "Saix had to... teach her a lesson..."

"What do you mean?" Skyler pried. "And what happened to Drex?"

"He... was part of the lesson..." Mark answered.

"Tell me." Skyler demanded.

Mark sighed. "They're going to break him Skyler... I don't like it but... they're making him suffer... If Mona doesn't help us... if any of us don't help Xehanort..."

"They're going to kill him." Skyler finished.

"...Yeah. It's a real shame. I still want to consider him my friend but... what do they get out of torturing him...?"

"Our loyalty, but it can't be helped even though he doesn't deserve this... *chuckle* You know Mona fell for him?" Skyler mentioned.

"Tch, I saw that coming a mile away." Mark grinned. "...But anyway... The Master says that war is coming very soon... so... what are you going to do?"

"...I know exactly what I'm going to do."

The Realm of Darkness was cold and dark... as it should be... It seemed to be covered by a thick mist, and surrounded by twisted, dark trees in the background. A mysterious vortex is seen in the distance, surrounded by dark thorns.

Kairi, Lea, and Sora were cautiously wandering the Dark Realm, on guard for anything that might jump out and attack.

"Have either of you two been here before?" Lea advised. "Whatever you do, don't stop moving or the darkness will overtake you."

"Kairi's a princess of heart right? So her heart is full of pure light, she'll be safe." Sora replied.

"Heartless will be drawn to her like crazy, not to mention we all have Keyblades..." Lea groaned.

"What was that?!" Sora pointed as they all summoned their own Keyblades, Kairi's being Destiny's Embrace.

"What was what?!" She questioned.

"I think there's something behind that rock..." Sora noticed. "...I'm going to check it out. Watch my back."

"Sora, be careful." Kairi prayed.

"Just be quick about it." Lea reluctantly agreed.

Sora made his way near the huge rock and disappeared from his friends' sight as he searched the other side of it. Moments passed and anxiety had risen... what was taking him so long?

"Sora? Are you alright?" Kairi's voice was filled worry.

"Stay close. Let's see if he's okay." Lea consoled.

Kairi agreed as they slowly headed closer and closer to the boulder in question when suddenly...!

"Guys! I'm alright!" Sora grinned as he revealed himself from the other side of the rock.

"Oh... thank goodness... I was really worried Sora!" Kairi pouted.

"Aww... I'm sorry... will this make up for it~?" Sora grinned.

Before Kairi could even react, the brunette advanced towards, tipped her chin upwards and kissed her...

Surprised at this gesture, Kairi stiffened at first then melted into his arms, happily returning the kiss.

"Uhh... you two really think this is the time to be... you know what, never mind, I'm used to it by now." Lea tried his best to ignore him until they finished up.

As they were still in a passionate embrace, Kairi was running out of air so she tried to end this blissful moment and pull away... but Sora forcibly pulled her back in and tried to French-kiss her.

Kairi resisted, wondering why Sora was so aggressive in the first place... and then suddenly Sora pulled away and grabbed Kairi's throat.

"What? No tongue?" He smirked.

Kairi choked. "Sora... what are you doing...?!"

"Sora! Let go of her!" Lea dashed at them intent on separating the two.

But then Lea was blocked by a barrier that had formed between them, so his attempt to stop him was quelled.

...Then the illusion was dispelled and Sora's clothes and hair had changed...

"No..." Kairi cried.

"Oh... looks like the little girl has lost her way..."

Those sweet sky-blue eyes had faded and evil golden orbs took their place...

"I'd be more than happy to take you away from here..." And then Vanitas just laughed...

A/N- Cliffhanger! Donald and Goofy are finally off the bench! But why did Mickey enter the Realm of Sleep? What could be happening to Drex and what is Skyler going to do? And Vanitas... he's real bad here... Reviews=Update :)