Well, my plan was two chapters a week. Thanks to work, that hasn't been happening. I'm still gonna do my best to get these chapters out faster, though. Thanks for being patient with me.

Chapter Notes/Revisions and Alterations: Extended Scenes and Roxas' removal to be replaced by his plotline later.

Chapter 14: Twilight Town

Blissfully unaware of what had been occurring elsewhere, Sora and Aqua were on their Riders making their way through the Lanes back to Yen Sid's Tower. They were chatting to pass the time, as they still had a couple of hours left before they reached their destination. "So, Aqua, what were your friends really like? I mean, Yen Sid told us their stories, but who were they to you?" Sora asked her. She didn't respond for a moment, dwelling nostalgically on her thoughts.

"Ven was like a little brother to the rest of us. He was a lot younger and we were all protective over him. We loved him, and I think we were the first real friends he had." she began, smiling at the thought of the younger boy who had always trailed behind them. Sora nodded, understanding what she was saying.

"That's kinda how I feel about myself with Riku and Kairi, except for the being younger part. They were my first real friends, and they've always been looking out for me. Even Riku, who lost his way for a little while…." he trailed off. To her credit, Aqua did not pry into Riku's past and instead continued answering his original question.

"Jack was always the quietest. To me, he always seemed overly mature for his age. I would often find him staring silently into the distance, as if seeing far off memories that he just wanted to forget. I asked him a couple of times about his past, but he never wanted to talk about it. Despite that, I always trusted in him, and he never let me down." she explained, her thoughts turning to her wayward friend. She could not help but wonder where he was and what he was doing. She silently hoped that he was not leading with his emotions and getting into trouble.

"So he had a past that he didn't want to talk about. Were you ever able to learn more about him?" Sora asked hesitantly, not sure if it was a touchy subject. After a moment, Aqua nodded.

"He never said anything, but I picked up on a few things. He's a year younger than Terra and I, but he excelled in his training. In no time at all, he had caught up to us. It was as if he had gone through training before. I never said anything, but I knew better than Terra. He thought that Jack was cheating off of him." she finished with a laugh at the memory. Sora smiled and glanced over at her.

"And Terra? I saw the way you were speaking to his….Will, or whatever, back in the Graveyard. You two were more than friends, weren't you?" he pressed. Aqua sighed, but slowly nodded.

"Yes. Time brought us together, and Jack helped too. He could see the way Terra and I were around each other and went out of his way to make sure we were alone. As much as I love Ven and Jack, Terra is the one I…." she trailed off as the lump in her throat began to choke her words. Sora looked down in sadness, knowing well what she was going through.

She was echoing his own feelings for Kairi. For all that they had been through together, he still had not told her how he truly felt. He had faced down Ansem and Xemnas and even the thought of Xehanort did not scare him, but he found himself too afraid to tell Kairi the truth.

They flew on in silence for several minutes after, until Aqua stopped her Rider dead in its tracks. Not paying attention, Sora crashed into the back of hers with a cry of surprise. She turned back and looked at him silently, and he could feel her glare penetrating through her helmet. "Sorry…" he offered, meekly holding up his hand. Shaking her head, she turned back toward the front.

"I'm picking up a trail….of dark energy. It's leading that way." she explained, before pointing to their direct left. Sora narrowed his eyes, not fully sure where they were without the Gummi ship's navigation equipment.

"What's over that way?" he asked her. She paused and looked down at her scanners for a moment.

"A world I'm not familiar with: some place called Twilight Town." she replied. Sora's eyes lit up.

"I know the place. You think the Organization's there?" he asked her. She shrugged her shoulders.

"It's possible, and it might be worth checking out before we head back to the Tower." she said. Nodding in agreement, the two adjusted course and made their way speedily toward the nearby world.

TWILIGHT TOWN….

(Afternoon Streets, Kingdom Hearts II)

Having landed near the train station, the two began making their way to the town's lower areas. Aqua spent the walk looking around in surprise. "This place is so peaceful. I wonder what Xehanort would want here…" she muttered. Sora nodded, looking around as they walked.

"I have some friends here. Hopefully they can tell us if anything's going on." he said and took a turn down a side alley. Aqua raised her eyebrows and followed him.

"I have a feeling that you leave friends behind in every world you visit." she said, a hint of humor in her voice. Sora laughed and glanced back at her.

"Well, you're not wrong." he said, smiling. They walked through the alley until Sora took a sharp right and walked through a shabby doorway. Aqua looked around cautiously before following him.

Once inside, the two found three teenagers spread out on old sofas and makeshift chairs. "Hey, guys!" Sora greeted them jovially. The three turned and smiled upon seeing them.

"Sora, welcome back! It's been almost a year, man! Where've you been?" the boy wearing green colored clothes said. Sora turned to Aqua.

"This is Hayner, Pence and Olette. They helped me take down Xemnas and the Organization last year." he told her, pointing them out individually. Pence laughed quietly.

"Help is a strong word. We more or less stood around while they found a way into another world." he replied. Olette stood up from the sofa and looked kindly at Aqua.

"I'm Aqua. Pleased to meet all of you. Sora and I are here to…" Aqua began to say, but Hayner cut her off.

"Join the Struggle Tournament? It starts this afternoon, Sora?" he asked, looking at Sora hintingly. At the mention of the Struggle, Sora's face lit up comically and he turned to Aqua with a smile so big that it left his mouth agape. She rolled her eyes and stared at him until he remembered why they were there. He then dropped his smile and slumped his shoulders forward.

"Oh, right. We can't. Aqua and I think someone may be in the town who wants to do it harm. We tracked them here, and we need to find them as fast as possible." he mumbled in a monotone voice. Seeing his childlike reaction, Aqua smiled slightly and looked away.

"Just like Ven, a child at heart forevermore." she mused. The three teens looked at each other for a few moments, until Pence spoke.

"People have been reporting seeing cloaked figures in the other alleys, and Seifer's gang claimed to see someone enter the old mansion. We didn't go out there though. We figured they just wanted attention." he explained. Aqua looked over at Sora.

"Old mansion?" she asked him. He nodded.

"Yeah, it's complicated. Long story short, my memories got messed up and I slept for a year while some people put them back together. The pod I slept in was in that mansion." he explained.

"So it's a place of interest to you." she replied. He nodded. "Alright, we'll start there then. The three of you should warn everyone to stay from the mansion for a little while, just in case." she decided and addressed the teens. Hayner, Pence, and Olette nodded.

"Be careful going out there by yourselves." Olette told them. Aqua and Sora nodded, before turning around and walking back out to the alley.

"I don't like what I'm hearing." Aqua said once they were on their own.

"What do you mean?" Sora asked, taking the lead and making for the tram common area.

"We suspect one of Xehanort's minions to be here, and the townspeople have seen a cloaked figure in the place in town that holds the highest personal significance to you. This is starting to feel like a trap." she explained. Sora listened to her and nodded.

"Alright. So what do you want to do? Call for backup?" he asked her. She shook her head.

"No. Riku's still at the Tower and that's hours away. If they're laying a trap, it's because they need the element of surprise. If we take that away, then we should be fine." she replied. Sora looked back at her uneasily.

"Are you sure you want to go in there without a plan? What if something goes wrong?" he asked her. She smiled calmly as they reached the giant hole in the town wall that led to the woods.

"Trust in me, and trust in our friends. You should know better than anyone that you are never alone." she replied. They made their way through the woods and within minutes could see the mansion ahead. (end Afternoon Streets)

"Does it look any different?" Aqua asked. Sora looked at the mansion for a moment and shook his head.

"No, it always looked abandoned before. If there is a trap, it's inside." he replied. Aqua nodded and fearlessly started walking toward the doors. Still unsure about walking in with no plan, Sora nevertheless followed the more experienced Master.

Aqua did not hesitate as she reached the doors and pushed them open. Seeing a vast empty room, she and Sora stepped inside. Still seeing nothing, they walked out to the center of the room and stopped.

As if on cue, the doors slammed shut behind him and a magical barrier erupted upon them. Sora whirled around but saw no one by the doors. He then turned back to front with Aqua as two dark portals appeared before them. Out of them stepped both Xemnas and Ansem Seeker of Darkness. "So predictable, you light-bearers are." another voice proclaimed. They then looked up to see a cloaked figure standing on the balcony above. A moment later, the figure leaped over the railing and landed nimbly between the two hulking vessels. When he pulled back his hood, Sora's blood boiled upon seeing Young Xehanort. The younger vessel stared back at Sora with a confident smirk.

"Braig and Isa hatched this plan to gather you here, but could not be here themselves. You see, they failed in their recent mission and are receiving their punishments for doing so. We true Xehanorts have come to take you away to your true destiny, Sora. Come willingly, and we will allow Master Aqua to leave with her life." he offered, extended his hand toward Sora. The two stared silently at the three vessels for a moment, before simultaneously summoning their Keyblades.

"I don't think so." Aqua declared, narrowing her eyes. Young Xehanort laughed, unfazed by the move. He then shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, then. It looks like I get to have some fun, after all. Take them." he replied and motioned to the other two. Ansem and Xemnas immediately advanced. (The 13th Dilemma, Kingdom Hearts II)

Aqua and Sora shared a quick glance before they both charged. Sora leaped in for a Keyblade strike and could see Ansem preparing to block him. However, a burst of ice energy surged in from the side and struck the vessel, knocking him off balance. Mouthing a quick thanks to Aqua, Sora reached Ansem and struck him with a mighty slash.

Aqua returned her attention to Xemnas, who studied her silently. She tried to ignore how much the vessel looked like Terra and ducked low as he struck at her with an Ethereal Blade. Standing back up, she faced his offensive and blocked every strike he sent her way. He growled angrily as he went at her again, swinging his blades wildly. Aqua waited until the last moment and cartwheeled behind him. She then plunged her Keyblade into his back and cast out Firaga. The spell exploded immediately and sent Xemnas flying onto his face. Smiling for the moment, Aqua looked over to check on Sora.

As she did so, Xemnas teleported behind her and threw a wall of electricity up. She was caught in the blast and fell off of her feet with a groan. Hurriedly standing back to her feet, she raised her Keyblade and cast forth a burst of lightning. Xemnas nimbly dodged it, but the lightning struck the mansion's back wall and exploded. The ensuing debris struck him from behind and caused him to stumble forward. She took the opportunity and swung her leg around, kicking him across the face and following it up with a Keyblade strike. He managed to catch her blade in his hand and gave her a malevolent stare. He then turned and threw her into the nearest wall. She crashed through it with a cry and disappeared into the next room. Without hesitation, he gave chase.

Sora saw her fly out of sight but could not take his attention off of Ansem. He lunged forward and swung his Keyblade, only for Ansem to dodge it and punch him in the face with lightning energy. Sora groaned and stumbled back a few steps, buzzing from the energy. He quickly shook it away and readied his Keyblade again. Ansem crossed his arms and smirked confidently. In another moment, the dark Seeker dashed forward in a blur and Sora barely managed to roll out of the way. Ansem came at him again, and this time Sora cast a dome of reflective magic around him.

Ansem crashed into the barrier and fell back with a groan, and Sora immediately took the opportunity. He ran forward and leaped overhead, slashing Ansem as he front-flipped over him and sending the vessel crashing into one of the staircases. Sora allowed himself a laugh, until something struck him painfully in the back. He groaned as more strikes followed and launched him into the air. He whirled around as he descended, seeing that Young Xehanort had joined the fray.

He landed and slammed his Keyblade against his new opponent's own Keyblade, staring at him through the blade lock. "This would be so much easier if you would come willingly. We do not wish your friends dead, Sora. They will be needed for the clash that is to come." the vessel said calmly. Sora shook his head.

"Xehanort won't have his X-blade, and he won't have me!" he declared. Young Xehanort merely smiled, and Sora saw Ansem dash forward out of the corner of his eye. Before he could react, Ansem's attack struck him and sent him flying off of his feet. He landed on his back with a crash and groaned in pain. He slowly stumbled to his feet and could see the both of them walking toward him. They were done playing around. They intended to subdue and take him. Aqua was still nowhere to be found, and Sora knew that he could not defeat them both alone. (end The 13th Dilemma)

(Battle Theme 2, FFXV Episode Ignis)

He then heard a rumble behind him, as if something had slammed into the front doors covered in the magical barrier. In another moment, the doors exploded with such force that they were blasted off of their hinges and a cloud of dust and smoke filled the doorway. Both Sora and his opponents turned back to the doorway. At that moment, a Keyblade emerged from the smoke and flew through the air with such speed that it struck Ansem and sent him off of his feet once more. At the same time, a burst of lightning emerged and struck Young Xehanort before he could deflect it and likewise knocked him back.

Sora looked into the smoke and could see a hooded figure walking toward him. As the figure came into view, Sora could see the same camo pants and hooded vest of the man who had helped fend off the attack in Radiant Garden. Without a word, the hooded man walked up and placed himself at Sora's back, protecting his flank. The man called his Keyblade back to his hand and adopted a battle stance. Standing back-to-back with him, Sora knew who he was. "Jack, right?" he asked, looking over his shoulder.

The man reached up and pulled back his hood, revealing his face to Sora for the first time. Sora could see his brown hair and the side of his face that bore the scar, and Jack wore a calm look of composure. He did not look at Sora. Instead, his gaze was upon Ansem who had taken up a position facing him. Young Xehanort likewise stepped forward facing Sora, and the two Keyblade Wielders found themselves pinned between the two vessels.

Sora readied himself for another bout, and heard Jack's quiet but firm and deep voice speak from behind him.

"I am at your side. Stand ready." he stated.

"Ah, so you have finally chosen to emerge into the light, Wanderer?" Ansem asked. Jack narrowed his eyes and tightened his grip on his Keyblade, holding it backhanded in a ready position.

"Despite all, yes. I stand with Sora and the denizens of this Realm. Xehanort will be more than just defeated; I will see him destroyed." he growled. Sora glanced back at him, and could see the older man slightly nod. With that, the two leaped forward in different directions.

Trusting Jack to cover his back, Sora focused all of his attention upon Young Xehanort. Their Keyblades clanged together with such force that his arms began to ache, and he managed to spin aside. Young Xehanort's strike hit the empty air and caused him to stumble forward. Laughing out loud, Sora cast a Firaga into his back. The vessel dashed forward and charged his Keyblade with dark energy. Sora waited for his impending strike and tried to deflect, but the dark energy shattered his defenses and struck him directly. He slid backward and fell to his knees with a groan of pain. He struggled back to his feet as Young Xehanort charged again.

As the vessel's Keyblade began to fall, Sora felt strong fingers grab hold of his shoulder. A moment later, he was yanked out of the way and Jack stepped in front of him, blocking the strike and pushing forward in a furious offensive assault that kept Young Xehanort back-stepping. Sora found himself marveling at the strength in the older Keyblade Master, knowing that Jack had been fighting far longer than he had.

Seeing him in action for truly the first time gave Sora hope in their quest. Perhaps they would have the means to defeat the Organization after all. However, at that moment, Sora saw Young Xehanort look over at Ansem. The other vessel was rapidly approaching to help his comrade, all thought of Sora forgotten. Jack's attention was on the enemy in front of him, and such was his skill that Young Xehanort could not penetrate his defenses as their weapons mercilessly clashed again and again.

Acting with haste, Sora dashed to Jack's side and covered them both in a reflective barrier. Ansem's attack struck it and Sora groaned in an effort to maintain it. Jack turned and placed his hand upon the barrier, empowering it enough to blast Ansem back into the air. However, it cost him as Young Xehanort used the distraction to slash him in the upper leg. Jack grunted quietly and clutched his wound for a moment, until Sora ran forward and engaged the vessel again.

He looked up to see Ansem descending toward him again. "You should have stayed in the shadows, forgotten and alone. You do not belong with these heroes of light." the vessel growled. Jack leaped up and met his attack in the air, his eyes narrowed in contempt.

"I agree, but it will not stop me from helping them destroy your master. At least I have finally broken his chains over me." he replied and spun in the air, sending Ansem plunging to the ground with a crash.

Jack landed standing atop him with the tip of his blade at Ansem's throat. The vessel laughed calmly with his hands raised in surrender. "So you think…" he muttered as a dark portal opened in the floor. Jack immediately stepped out of it and watched the vessel sink into it and disappear in defeat. He looked over to see Sora holding his own against Young Xehanort and nodded in approval at the boy's fortitude.

Sora locked his blade with Young Xehanort's for a moment, as Jack came leaping overhead with his Keyblade reared back. Young Xehanort quickly dashed out of the way and Jack's attack struck the ground. Seeing his defeat, the vessel smiled nonchalantly and snapped his fingers. To his surprise, Xemnas did not answer his call.

"He isn't coming. He wasn't prepared for what the two of us could do." Aqua explained as she emerged from the hole she had made in the wall.

"Two of you?" Sora asked in surprise. Aqua nodded as Kairi emerged behind her, battle worn and out of breath, but unscathed. "Kairi!" he called and went to run to her, but Jack grabbed hold of his shoulder, his gaze still upon Young Xehanort. (end Battle Theme 2)

Sora nodded and looked back at the remaining vessel as the two girls reached his side. "Congratulations on this small victory, warriors. It has given us a sample of what is to come, and we have tasted the strength of light's guardians." Young Xehanort told them. Before Sora could reply, however, they felt another presence: one much darker and more powerful. (Strange Whispers, Birth by Sleep)

They heard an old grizzled voice chuckling with laughter as Young Xehanort backed into a dark portal and vanished. The four turned their attention to the balcony, where yet another figure had appeared. However, this one they knew well. "Such an entertaining show you put on. However, I am disappointed with what Sora showed here today. Would you still have triumphed, had this exile not shown up to win the battle in your stead?" Master Xehanort announced, directing his words directly at Sora and casually glancing at Jack.

"We won this battle together. If you doubt my strength, then come down here and face us now!" Sora dared him. Xehanort chuckled again and placed his hands behind his back.

"A tempting offer, to be sure. However, the time has not come. You must finish gathering the Seven and I yet require the last of the Thirteen. But rest assured, I shall have what I need soon enough. It will not be long before your light is consumed by my darkness." he replied, throwing the notion away easily.

"Brave worlds from your balcony far away from our blades." Jack growled venomously. Xehanort smiled and turned his gaze upon the Wanderer. However, he offered Jack no words and continued addressing Sora.

"I see you are assembling a team. I would be careful of the company you keep, my boy. You never know who a person truly is, even while they guard your back. Every person has their secrets, and all secrets eventually come to light." the old man replied, smirking knowingly at Jack as the young man said nothing further. With a slight grunt of disappointment from Jack's lack of response, Xehanort turned away from them. "Until next we meet, my boy." he muttered and disappeared through a portal of his own. (end Strange Whispers)

With Xehanort gone, Sora turned and hugged Kairi. "Master Yen Sid said you had been taken." he said as he held her close. She sighed.

"I was, but luckily there was another prisoner and he helped me escape." she explained, looking up at Jack and smiling. The Wanderer crossed his arms as he and Aqua watched the two for a minute and then faced each other.

"What did you do?" she asked him, and he immediately avoided her gaze.

"I found Terra." he said evasively. She raised her eyebrows.

"Yeah, and?" she pushed him. He sighed and shook his head.

"I broke into Xehanort's stronghold to try and get him out. I got captured, but Kairi and I managed to escape." he explained. She listened to his words with a mixture of surprise and irritation.

"You found Xehanort's stronghold? Why would you go in alone? Were you trying to get yourself killed?" she asked, hitting him on the shoulder. He stepped back from her and hissed in pain, having forgotten about the wound on his leg. Realizing he was hurt, Aqua bent down and examined his leg. As she did so, she heard him quietly speak, not wanting the others to overhear.

"I was prepared to die to try and bring Terra back. My death would make up for all of the harm I've caused." he muttered. She rolled her eyes.

"None of this is your fault, Jack. Stop thinking that it is." she told him firmly. He offered no counter-argument. Instead, he looked away with defiance in his eyes. "Jack, I mean it. It's not your fault." she said knowingly. He shook his head.

"You don't know…" he began, and she cast a fire spell onto his wound to cauterize it. He stopped speaking and winced in pain. "That stung more than usual…" he mumbled. She nodded knowingly and cast a cure spell upon it to soothe the pain.

"Good. Jack, stop hiding behind this guilty conscience or whatever it is you're doing. You miss Terra and Ven, as do I. You blame Xehanort, as do I. So stop blaming yourself and do something about it. You've seen that you can't do this on your own. We need the others, and they need you." she said, standing up and forcefully looking into his eyes. She could see the flicker of uncertainty in his hazel eyes, but it was growing dimmer. Aqua sighed and put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "We will get them back, I promise." she assured him. Jack nodded and looked away once more, though she knew he had been convinced.

"There is so much I need to tell you, things I never said. But not now. Right now we need to be gone from this place." he told her. She nodded as Sora and Kairi walked over. Despite having chosen his side, Jack still felt an overwhelming urge to hide his face beneath his hood again. (Something to Believe In, Epic Score)

Sora looked at the other man fully for the first time and extended his hand. "It's really an honor, Jack. I've heard so much about you, and seeing you in action really makes me hope I can be as strong as you one day." he greeted. Jack stared back at him silently for a moment before taking his offered hand.

"You are strong, Sora, but you are uncertain. Your own skills are formidable, but you are not as confident in them. You lack confidence, and I lack surety in our victory. There is much that we each can work on bettering." he greeted the younger man. Sora nodded.

"You really saved me there, though. Thank you." he replied. Jack nodded.

"I had only hoped to get here in time. As soon as Kairi and I escaped from Xehanort's dungeons, I heard tell of a scheme being hatched to draw you in. The trap here was an obvious one, and I can draw only one conclusion for why you fell for it." he explained.

"What conclusion?" Sora asked. Jack looked knowingly over at Aqua.

"You sprang the trap in hopes of luring me to your rescue." he said directly to her. Aqua met his gaze without concern.

"Despite how wayward you have been lately, I knew you wouldn't leave me to fend for myself. My plan was to bait you out here and convince you to stay with us." she explained. Sora's eyes widened.

"Are you going to?" he asked hopefully. Hearing the longing in his voice, Jack couldn't help but smile slightly. In spite of that, he nodded.

"I promised Terra I would stand with you in the coming days." he confirmed. Sora laughed out loud at the prospect of Jack joining the party, but Aqua's thoughts were of other things.

"His Will said you had spoken to him. If you made that promise in the Graveyard, why did you not come back after that?" she asked him. Jack looked at her and crossed his arms.

"I did not promise his Will. I promised Terra himself. He came to me in the dungeons of the fortress. He gained control, for a time, and we spoke. He…convinced me to stop standing alone and instead aid those standing against Xehanort." he explained. Upon hearing that, Aqua closed her eyes and could feel her emotions welling up inside of her.

"Then he's still in there." she whispered.

"Yes. But there is something else you should know." Jack continued. She opened her eyes again and looked at him, knowing by his expression that it was troubling news. "It is not just Terra that Xehanort has under his thrall. Aqua, he has the Master as well." he revealed.

Her eyes widened in horror at the thought and shook her head. "How is that possible?!" she exclaimed. Jack sighed.

"Terra's Will told me that the Master's heart took refuge in Terra's after his demise. It follows that when Terra and Master Xehanort were reconstructed following the defeat of Ansem and Xemnas, Master Eraqus was reconstructed as well. Terra told me that upon reconstruction, Xehanort took him and made him into a vessel before he even awoke. The same likely happened to the Master." he explained. She did not know what to say. Not only was Terra among the Seekers of Darkness, but so was Master Eraqus. She could not bear the thought of facing both her lover and father figure in battle. Knowing how troubling it was, Jack pulled her into an embrace and held her.

"I am sorry. They are not here, but I am. And I will stand by you as we work to bring them back. That much, I promise." he told her quietly. She nodded, comforted by her friend's presence and stepped out of the embrace a moment later. With that, they turned back to Sora and Kairi. Sora, still slightly in awe of Jack's presence, was scratching the back of his head nervously.

"So, uh….where to next?" he asked. He and Kairi looked to Aqua and Jack, who glanced at each other with amusement.

"Yen Sid's Tower. There is much we need to discuss." Jack said. Aqua nodded in agreement, and with that the four prepared to leave Twilight Town behind.

Alright, that's that. This was actually one of the highlights of the original story, and writing this again made me realize for the first time how important this scene was. The first time that Jack and Sora truly meet, the beginning of a friendship that spanned the entire series. I wanted to take extra care with that and I hope it turned out well. Thanks for reading, leave a review if you can and I'll see you next time!