Here is chapter 14! Enjoy!

There seemed to be a lot of awkward silences lately. We all sat in the group room after Sora left, and then everyone headed off to their own rooms silently until Kaden and I were the only ones left. My jaw was locked up tight. Kaden…what happened?

They were talking about old times and the mission against the Heartless in Radiant Garden came up. It kinda went downhill from there…

I felt a fire light in the pit of my stomach. We're going.

Huh?

We're going after Sora. After everyone is asleep.

I don't think that's such a good idea…

Fine. I'll go myself.

Katie, settle down. Everyone is having trouble right now. Sora is just following what his heart is telling him.

Well, I am too! I protested. You have no idea how hard it is to watch the one you love fall apart from the inside out! I clenched my teeth together and left the room before the tears could start falling. Kaden stood alone in the dark and closed his eyes.

Actually…I do.

I crept out the window and took off into the night, crying and wanting nothing more than to escape the horrible, confusing, messed-up thing known as life.

There was a huge chasm. There was fighting…hatred…pain…a blinding light…

I jerked awake to find myself in the Woods, lying in the shadows. The moon's light glided palely through the foliage. I had flown there after leaving the inn and had fallen asleep. Stress and hurt were more exhausting than I thought.

My mind flicked back to my dream. It was almost like a vision. The last dream I had came true. I had found my Solstice again and been attacked by it. What if everything that happened in my dream just now would happen later on?

I sighed from all the overwhelming crap that was going on. Suddenly, I heard a noise coming from somewhere close by. I turned my head toward the sound. A Shadow crawled out of the trees. It looked at me briefly, cocking its head as if asking me something. Then it slinked off toward the mansion. I followed it out of curiosity. Once it reached the main entrance to the manor, it sank into the ground and crawled underneath the door.

I growled. You couldn't have picked a sneakier, more wyvern-friendly way to get in? I looked up at the mansion for another entrance. Hovering up as silently as possible, I pulled open a window above the main doors and crept inside. The darkness was eerily quiet and I felt my Heartless instincts immediately adjust to the new setting, allowing me to see as if it were broad daylight. I peered down from above, surveying the large, lobby-like front room. The Shadow was waddling across the ground toward the staircase. Once it was on the second floor, it entered the room on the right. I glided over and kept following at a distance.

When I entered the room, my eyes bulged. There was a descending set of stairs that led to a section of the house that looked completely different. I hesitantly walked down and stepped through a doorway. Inside was an odd room with a large computer and some sort of chamber with a machine hanging above it.

I looked around confusedly as I walked over toward the computer screen. On it was a program similar to Cid's that showed the darkness level, but this one was on a universe-wide scale. I stared in horror at the small, scattered specks of darkened area that showed the Heartless level. This was getting serious.

The Shadow looked quickly at me, then disappeared through the Corridors. I saw a flashing icon on the bottom of the computer screen. With slight difficulty, I used my snout to move the cursor over it and click on it.

A small screen popped up on the computer that read 'TRANSPORTER OFF'. Curiously, I moved over the 'ON' button below it. I clicked. There was soft, whirring noise behind me. I looked back to see a red beam humming down through the chamber-like space. I couldn't believe it. Melissa didn't have a gummi ship. This was how she had been getting around! She had a transporter inside the abandoned mansion!

I cautiously approached the beam and stepped underneath. I had no idea where it would lead. Curiosity killed the cat was all I could think to myself. Good thing I'm not a cat.

When the flash of light form the teleporter vanished, I found myself on a cliff which used to overlook Hollow Bastion Castle. Now it was just rubble. I stepped out of the chamber there and stared in shock. These two worlds were connected to each other by that transporter. That's how Melissa had been getting back and forth so quickly.

I walked over to the edge of the cliff to see what was left of the castle. My stomach dropped to my feet. The entire ground was white. And not white like someone had come and painted it. White like it was completely covered in Solstices. They coated the ground, all sleeping as an enormous mass, all seemingly waiting for something…

I breathed heavily in panic and dashed for the transporter beam again. Once I was through, I dashed outside and took off straight for the inn again. Kaden had to see this. We weren't just up against light here. We were up against an army.

I landed quite ungracefully on the windowsill and began freaking out. Kaden! Kaden, wake up! You have to come with me right now! This is serious! I accidentally started growling quietly from the excitement. Kaden, get up!

He wearily opened his eyes and looked around, puzzled. Huh? What's going on?

Big stuff! Huge stuff! Bad stuff! Come on!

What are you talking ab-AAAAH! I grabbed him by the arms and soared out the window. He screamed as he dangled from my claws high above the town. I didn't have time to be annoyed. I flew us right to the mansion and flapped right through the window I had entered before, landing on the second floor. Kaden tried to reorient himself but I used my head to shove him toward the door on the right.

Aaah, I'm going! I'm going! he murmured angrily. He pushed open the door and looked down. Wow.

That's not the bad part! Go down!

He walked down the staircase and into the computer room. I was anxiously on his tail the whole time. Katie, you're freaking out. I can see you shaking! Are you OK?

Just touch that beam right there. I motioned toward the transporter ray. He looked at me skeptically and then walked through it, beaming himself over to Radiant Garden. I followed him through. When I appeared on the other side, Kaden gaped.

She's been teleporting back and forth the whole time! No wonder we can't keep up with her!

That's still not the bad part, I told him, standing at the edge of the cliff. Look…

I swear I could hear Kaden's heart jump when he walked up next to me. He stared, absolutely terrified, unable to say anything. I glanced at him nervously. Now do I have permission to freak out?

We have to tell them, Kaden demanded, eyes still locked on the field below. They have to know what's coming.

But how, Kaden? If you haven't noticed, we can't exactly talk!

Well, you got Roxas to figure out who you were, right? Maybe we can show them somehow.

Yeah, like by showing them, I perked up. We have to bring them here…Cid! That's it! Cid is still here in Radiant Garden!

What about everyone else? Kaden wondered.

We'll have Cid call them here. We can all meet up.

Ok, sounds like a plan.

Let's go! I took off as Kaden leapt onto my back and I headed for Merlin's house, where Cid would surely be staying.

Won't Cid be annoyed that we woke him up? Kaden asked.

I stared straight ahead. For something this important, I don't think he'll care.

We got to Merlin's house after a few minutes. Kaden peered into the window. Yeah, he's asleep alright. He fell asleep right at his computer…it's kinda sad actually.

I pushed the door open slowly. It creaked and slowly sprinkled moonlight across the floor. I crept toward Cid's flopped-over body. He was snoring loudly.I turned back toward Kaden skeptically. You sure this is gonna work…?

It was your idea! he yelled. I sighed and turned back to Cid. I bumped him in the back gently, trying to stir him. He didn't budge. I pushed harder. Still no response. I jabbed him this time, shoving him forward. He screamed and leapt up, scaring the metaphorical pants off of me and Kaden. I jumped back and roared in shock, which caused Cid to turn around and yell even louder.

Grab him! cried Kaden. Cid dashed to a pile of junk in the room and grabbed something out of it. He turned toward me with a war cry, pointing a huge spear forward. I yelled as loud as I could.

He has a lance!

GRAB HIM! Kaden screamed. Cid charged forward and jabbed his pointed weapon at me. I stepped to the side just in time. I frantically hovered a few feet off of the ground and grabbed his lance to keep him from swinging it around. Then I shot out the door, carrying Cid, who was dangling from the handle. He cursed and yelled at me as I flew. Kaden had leapt onto my back and looked uselessly at the man.

He hung there, flailing for awhile, but then he grunted as he pulled himself up. Then he proceeded to barrage my face with smacks and punches, which were mostly useless against my rough skin, but I couldn't see where I was flying. Kaden, do something! I shouted.

Like what?

Anything! I can't see!

Kaden ran up onto my head but stood there, not sure what to do without hurting him. Cid went after Kaden. He yelled and tackled him onto my back, throwing punches which Kaden barely dodged but were then hitting me in the back. He was probably loud enough to wake the whole world, including the Solstices.

Kaden, he's too loud! I cried. We gotta do something! I struggled to hover down to the ground and land. Once I finally did, Kaden jumped and pushed Cid onto the ground, who was still screaming bloody murder. Looking around and finding nothing else to use to shut him up, I shoved the handle of the lance into his mouth. It greatly muffled the sound but he wasn't calming down at all.

I'd say this mission is not going to end well, Kaden gulped, holding the stick in Cid's mouth.

What can we do? I wondered. I stared down at the spazzing Cid. Maybe he just needed to realize it was us and calm down. Although, we did pretty much kidnap him in the middle of the night…

Let's just haul him to the cliff kicking and screaming, Kaden groaned, still holding the lance down into Cid's mouth. We're almost there.

There's no way we can get him over there like this, I shook my head. Just let go of the lance.

Huh? Are you nuts?

Just trust me, I replied. I've known him longer than you.

OK… Kaden hesitantly relaxed. Cid burst into a sitting position, spewing the lance out of his mouth. We both let him freak a little and take in the situation before we did anything. I waited hopefully. Finally, he glared at both of us.

"Why in the name of all that's good would you drag me out here in the middle of the night? I thought you were with the others!"

I ignored him and started walking toward the cliff. Kaden was right beside me. Cid grumbled to himself as he scooped up his lance and trudged after us. When we got to the cliff, we waited for Cid to catch up. He looked at us confusedly as we waited on either side of him. "What is it I'm supposed to see, huh?" he asked. He walked slowly over to the cliff and gaped. "Oh man….oh man…"

Never fails to amaze, I grinned.

"We gotta call everyone else. First thing tomorrow morning, we're calling them and telling them. They gotta get over here right away."

And it all works out, I smirked smugly. Just like I told ya.

Well, if the one who got pummeled in the face says it worked out OK, I can't argue.

"This is crazy! Crazy…" Cid mumbled to himself, shaking his head in distress as he headed back toward town. Kaden turned and followed behind him. I lingered a moment before circling around and walking after Kaden and Cid. I stopped and looked back over the cliff when I heard voices. I got down low to the ground and peered over the side of the rock. I gasped in shock to find Melissa and Sora walking below.

"I've been tracking Heartless patterns. They're all grouping together to lead one last assault against the light," Melissa was explaining. "With this army of Solstices I've slowly been gathering, we can take them all out in one fight and then the Heartless will finally be extinct."

Sora didn't say anything, only looked down at the ground as he plodded beside her. She looked over at him. "You know, I could tell you kept quiet because you didn't agree with the others, but I expected you to be a little more talkative once you were away from them. Are you OK?"

"I hate that castle," he growled. Melissa looked over at the ruins of Hollow Bastion's stronghold.

"Well, good thing it got destroyed then, right?" she smiled.

Sora stared down hatefully at the ground. "No. I hate it for falling down." Melissa was taken aback. "It killed her."

"Who?" Melissa looked over with a pained expression.

"She was my sky, my heart, my everything. We were all in that castle when it collapsed. She was the only who didn't get out."

Melissa had paled. "I-I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I had no idea." She looked down at her shoes like Sora, unsure what to say next. My throat closed up as I turned and dashed back to Kaden and Cid.

Hope you enjoyed! I know that I always get a kick out of the Cid scene XD Please review! Also, I just posted a new story called Living and Dying. It's very different from my other stories, but it's probably my best one yet (or one of the best, anyway.) Please give it a read and tell me what you think of it :) thanks for the support, like always!