Roxas blinked as the light around him faded away. He looked around and found himself within a large brown metal chamber with a strange assortment of glass tubes in alcoves all around on multiple levels. He was on the lowest level of the massive room. Before him hovered the black egg-like crystal with red fire pattern on it with a series of twinkling lights around it as it spun slowly. It suddenly shone brightly and streaked into room.

"Hey! Wait!" Roxas shouted as he chased after it, running along over the strange catwalks until the crystal flew straight up towards the ceiling, only to stop on the top floor and then fly off out of sight. Roxas huffed in frustration.

"Great." He mumbled before he quickly leapt up onto the side walls and started running up the sides until flipping over at the top and landing on the upper level. He turned and looked over the edge, grinning to himself.

"I've still got it." He chuckled to himself.

"Got what?"

Roxas whirled around, startled, and crashed face first into someone. He staggered back a little and saw a petite young blond haired, blue eyed, woman wearing a sleeveless red dress with floral patterns and two long red gloves with a pale pink cape. Her legs were covered by patterned white tights, and she wore pointed red and gold boots. At her side was a thin sheath for a sword. She was blushing slightly with her arms over her chest. Roxas had crashed into her small, yet perky, breasts and appropriately he had a nose bleed.

"Ah! I'm so sorry ma'am! I didn't mean to-…" Roxas stammered, turning a bright shade of crimson as he turned away from her and covered his nose in embarrassment.

"No-no-no it's my fault. I was standing too close to you." The woman said quickly. Roxas was now slumped over and didn't respond.

"Perhaps if we started over?" She asked, placing a hand on Roxas's shoulder and moving around in front of him.

"Hi, I'm Terra Branford." She said extending a hand. Roxas looked up at her, his face not as red, and extended a hand.

"I'm Roxas." He said as they shook hands. Terra (Final Fantasy VI) smiled appreciatively.

"So how did you get here, Roxas? I've been trapped in this awful place for a long time. I'd just about given up hope that anyone would come here." Terra said.

"My friends and I, we found a crystal and it brought me to this world." Roxas said, the girl nodding understandingly.

"Oh so you're the one who opened the doorway. Then I owe you a great debt, Roxas." Terra said as she turned and pointed towards a door on the far end of the chamber. The door had the crystal floating in midair in front of it, still twinkling with light.

"So these are your dreams?" Roxas asked as Terra looked at him and nodded.

"You know you're in a dream?" She asked curiously.

"Yeah. Those friends I mentioned and I've been searching for another friend of ours that was kidnapped from the real worlds. We're trying to rescue her." Roxas explained.

"I'm trying to rescue someone too. A friend named Serah." Terra said. Roxas instantly recognized the name Serah.

"Wait, Serah? As in the girl kidnapped from Balamb Garden? That Serah?" Roxas asked, startling Terra.

"You've been to Balamb Garden?" She asked excitedly.

"Yeah, my friends and I agreed to help Ren, Vincent, the Turks, and Shera find you and Serah." Roxas replied. Terra breathed a large sigh of relief at this.

"Thank you Roxas, but I'm not the only one missing. There were three others too besides me." Terra explained, as Roxas tapped his chin.

"Three others? Well we found three more crystals, so I imagine that my friends ended up where your other friends are. We can find them together." Roxas said as Terra smiled and they started walking towards the door.

"Then let's hurry. I hope we can make it in time to help them." Terra said. The room suddenly darkened slightly, causing the two to freeze mid step.

"What was that?" Roxas asked worriedly but Terra looked even more concerned, almost petrified.

"Oh no, he's back." Terra whimpered.

"Who's back?" Roxas asked, summoning his Keyblades for security.

"I dunno, let me see!" an unfamiliar voice said before a small floating blue ball of energy weakly fluttered down. Terra's eyes widened in shock before quickly grabbing Roxas and leaping back, away from the sphere before it detonated in fantastic explosion of blue energy.

"What was that?" Roxas asked as he caught his breath.

"What was that? Was it a bird? Was it a plane? NO it was a GOD!" an insane voice said with odd mixtures of mockery and rage as the oddest of figures floated down in front of them. It was a man in an outfit composed of primarily red and yellow fabrics, a mismatched jumble of stripes and polka-dots. He wore a red and white striped ruffle around his neck and a red cloak with a yellow and red inner-lining. His face was covered with white make-up with red make-up around his eyes. He had blonde hair tied back into a tight ponytail, accentuated by a feather extending from it.

"Kefka!" Terra gasped as the man smiled darkly towards her. Roxas stood in his battle stance next to her.

"Well hello again my dear! Have you missed me?" Kefka Palazzo (Final Fantasy VI) asked almost gleefully.

"H-how did you get here?" Terra asked as she backed up behind Roxas who remained in his battle stance.

"Friend of yours?" Roxas asked.

"Not at all. He's something much worse." Terra replied as Roxas nodded.

"Don't worry, I get it. He's your Nightmare isn't he?" He asked. Kefka seemed insulted.

"Nightmare? Puh-leas! I'm no ordinary Nightmare! I'm a Night TERROR!" Kefka laughed with dark glee as he started floating slightly off the ground.

"Well no matter who you are, you're not going to harm Terra! I won't allow it!" Roxas challenged.

"That so, Roxas?" a voice asked from out of nowhere. Roxas recognized this voice and his eyes widened. He and Terra whirled around behind them to see a figure dressed in the Organization XIII robes and leaning on his shoulder against a nearby wall.

"Wait, I know that voice!" Roxas exclaimed as the figure stood up and reached for his hood.

"Have you been a good boy, Roxas?" Xigbar asked with a grin on his scarred face as he pulled the hood back.

"Is he your Nightmare?" Terra asked but Roxas sighed and shook his head.

"That's not possible with me I'm afraid." Roxas replied, earning a confused yet worried look from Terra.

"How?" Terra asked.

"Let's examine the evidence!" Kefka said in a mockingly serious tone.

"Sorry pretty lady. See this Roxas here ain't even the real thing. Even if he was, he still couldn't have a Nightmare or a Night Terror. To have either one would mean he had a heart. And Roxas and I both know he doesn't have one. Ain't that right, Roxas?" Xigbar asked as Roxas glared challengingly at him.

"Roxas…you don't have a heart?" Terra asked confused.

"No. I'm what's called a Nobody. I'm only the shell of another person. But that doesn't mean that I'm not ready and willing to protect you." Roxas replied, not taking his eyes off of the Freeshooter.

"Then what does he mean? You're not the 'real thing?" Terra asked.

"Ooh! I-see-a-poser!" Kefka chortled in a sing-song voice.

"I'm the real Roxas. You'll just have to believe me on that. If anything, this Xigbar's the imposter. The real Xigbar faded into darkness just recently. I saw it happen." Roxas said, causing Xigbar to chuckle.

"Me? Fade into darkness? As if! I forgot just how nutty you can be kiddo." Xigbar said as he stretched out his hands and summoned his twin arrow guns known as Sharpshooter.

"Where's Xion, Xigbar? And where's Serah and Kairi?" Roxas asked.

"This one's reminding me of a little kitty I once had. It curiously wandered into my room…and was ANNIHILATED when it sniffed my boots!" Kefka chuckled insanely.

"Yeesh now I see how this guy would be your Night Terror." Roxas mumbled.

"Kiddo, you're asking way too many questions. Looks like you're gonna have to be taught a lesson in curiosity." Xigbar said as he dropped into his battle stance.

"Don't try it, Xigbar!" Roxas warned, pointing his Keyblades at both Xigbar and Kefka.

"EWW aren't you a pesky little runt! It's time to send the children to BED!" Kefka growled insanely, before conjuring a sphere of ice and dropping it onto the ground, causing it to spin rapidly before launching forward towards Roxas. Roxas was stunned however when Terra blocked the attack, her hands glowing with blue energy as she intercepted.

"I won't let you get away with it! I won't lose hope!" Terra warned but Kefka threw his head back in laughter. (Battle Music Cue: The Fierce Battle –arrange- - Final Fantasy VI, Dissidia Final Fantasy OST)

"Ooh-ho-ho-ho-ho! Hopes aren't worth DIRT! I'm gonna destroy, EVERYTHING!" Kefka laughed.

"We'll have to work together if we're gonna beat them, Terra." Roxas said as he and Terra stood back to back, Roxas facing Xigbar and Terra facing Kefka.

"Right." She replied, her hands still glowing blue. Xigbar suddenly warped away but Roxas knew where to look and sure enough, standing atop one of the glass tubes he saw Xigbar reappear with his guns ready to snipe them from afar.

"MOVE!" Roxas shouted, as he and Terra leapt in opposite directions just before a high speed bolt of energy impacted on where Roxas had been standing mere minutes ago. Roxas glanced up at where Xigbar was sniping from and immediately pointed his Keyblade at him, firing off small spheres of white light. Xigbar blinked in surprise as the bolts flew towards him and was forced to warp away, reappearing near Terra, firing more bolts at her but she evaded the bolts and thrust her hand towards the Freeshooter.

"GET AWAY!" She shouted, firing a large wedge of ice at Xigbar, but he warped away before it hit. Roxas however quickly had to dodge a sudden rain of lightning bolts. He turned and saw Kefka dancing around nearby, cackling.

"Dance! DANCE!" Kefka chortled as Roxas continued dodging bolts of lightning. Roxas then scowled and started twirling his Keyblades together like a fan blade.

"You first!" Roxas shouted as thirteen shields of light appeared in the air around Kefka, causing the Mad Mage to stop for a moment curiously before suddenly hopping around frantically as he dodged and weaved past beams of pure radiant light being fired from the shields.

"ROXAS!" Terra shouted, catching the Nobody's attention but all he saw was Terra looking around frantically. Then it occurred to him.

"Where's Xigbar?" He asked looking around frantically. He then noticed Terra gasp and leap towards him, her hands glowing blue again before pointing towards a wall where the Freeshooter was defying gravity by standing perfectly upright (well, if you cocked your head to just the right angle, he was standing upright) and lining up a shot with one of his guns. The second Terra pointed at him, a sudden rain of fireballs appeared out of nowhere from within the ceiling, raining down on Xigbar who quickly warped clear, only to reappear near the two, flying past in a strafing attack with both guns aimed at the pair, leaving rows of glowing pink bolts of energy behind before he disappeared. Roxas quickly leapt between the bolts and Terra, releasing a Reflega to block the bolts. Roxas was searching for Xigbar again when he heard Kefka let out an insane laugh. He and Terra both turned and saw Kefka launch a massive block of ice at them.

"Come-on! COME-ON! COME-ON!" Kefka shrieked insanely as the block stopped in midair between him and Terra and Roxas. Terra's eyes widened, knowing the attack, and grabbed Roxas, pulling him clear of the ice block before it suddenly exploded into hundreds of bowling ball sized pellets, scattering like a shotgun blast.

"Thanks." Roxas said as Terra caught her breath.

"We've got to end this." Terra said as Roxas nodded.

"You're telling me!" Roxas replied. Suddenly Xigbar reappeared with one of his guns aimed at Roxas, a grin planted firmly on his face.

"Take this!" Xigbar shouted before firing off a large, blue bolt of energy at them but Roxas knew the attack and quickly batted the bolt away. He then hurled Oathkeeper after the bolt. The Keyblade overtook the bolt before swinging around and batting the bolt again in another direction. This time he threw Oblivion into the bolt's path, intercepting the bolt a third time and batting it to behind one of the glass tubes where it hit something. That something was Xigbar, who tumbled out from behind the column.

"Heh, not bad, Roxas!" Xigbar said with a grin before disappearing.

"Now where did he go?" Roxas asked, looking around.

"I think we've got bigger problems!" Terra exclaimed as Kefka reared back his right hand, a ball of fire forming around it.

"Whaddaya think of this?" Kefka asked insanely as he hurled the fireball towards them but Terra blocked the fireball with her bare left hand before swinging her right hand down at the ground and then up towards Kefka, sending a bolt of fire flying across the floor. Kefka tried to dodge but the fire hit him head on, resulting in a huge fiery explosion. At the same time, Roxas spotted Xigbar, standing upside-down in midair, both guns aimed directly at him.

"You're putting me to sleep, slacker!" Xigbar grinned as Roxas charged towards him. Xigbar started firing volleys of bolts at Roxas but the Key of Destiny swiftly deflected them without stopping.

"Alright, that's enough!" Roxas shouted as he leapt into the air, allowing the pillars of his Faith attack to form. The pillars started spinning before they spun outward and unleashing a bright flash of light. When the light faded, Xigbar was on the floor, his guns out of reach.

"Okay. Now we're talkin'." Xigbar said towards Roxas with a grin. Roxas started approaching the fallen Freeshooter, but at that same time, he heard an explosion which shook the room. Roxas looked up to see Terra come flying in from across the room and land hard on the ground nearby, knocking her out cold. He then saw Kefka floating down towards the ground, laughing with glee.

"All this destruction is EXHILARATING!" Kefka declared. Roxas stood frozen stiff, watching as the Mad Mage stood over Terra's unconscious form.

"What's it gonna be, Roxas?" He heard Xigbar ask. Roxas looked back at the Freeshooter, confused.

"You gonna finish me off and let your friend succumb to her worst fears and nightmares? Or are you gonna jump in and rescue her and let me go?" Xigbar asked with a dark grin on his face, daring Roxas to make a choice. Kefka, however, laughed with glee.

"It's already too late! She can't overcome her fear! She was born with the power to DESTROY! And that's all she can do! Destruction Incarnate! That's what she is and, that's what she always will be!" Kefka declared as he started floating in the air.

"You're wrong, Kefka." Roxas said, earning a curious look from Kefka.

"Terra's powers might seem like destruction to you, but they're protection to me. She can use her power to defend those she cherishes. Power in itself is nothing, but power in the hands of the right person can either end life, or preserve it. It all depends on who wields the power and right now…guess who has it all." Roxas said looking at Terra, lying on the ground.

"Blah-blah-blah-blah. You're not even worthy to clean my boots! Now it's time for you to learn why oppose rhymes with dispose!" Kefka exclaimed as he raised both of his hands which started glowing red.

"No. He won't."

"Huh?" Kefka muttered as he looked down and saw Terra glaring at him defiantly from the ground.

"Roxas is right. I may have the power to destroy, but I can use that power to destroy anything or anyone that would threaten everything I care for! I can use my powers of destruction, to protect!" Terra said as she climbed to her feet, a blue glow forming around her. Kefka was unsure of what to make of her newfound courage and seemed puzzled yet amused at the same time. Roxas however was smiling proudly towards Terra, when he noticed, in the corner of his eye, Xigbar warp away with his guns.

"TERRA!" Roxas shouted but it was too late. Xigbar had appeared behind her and fired off a volley of blue bolts towards her. At the split second the bolts impacted into her, the glow around Terra instantly grew bright, forcing Roxas to shield his eyes. When he finally looked back, what he saw amazed him. Terra was glowing with white light but she had changed dramatically. She was now covered head to toe in pink fur, her clothes either missing or hidden beneath the fur and her hair had grown thicker and longer, right down to her thighs. Her hands and feet now had sharp claws on them. What was more impressive was that she was turned facing towards Xigbar, and that the bolts he had fired at her were suspended in midair.

"Whoa." Roxas muttered in awe.

"No more running!" Terra said as she waved her right hand across in front of her, sending out a volley of holy spheres towards Xigbar, who attempted to flee but was hit by all five spheres. Terra then started barraging him with fireballs, not noticing Kefka as he attempted to sneak up on her.

"Oh no you don't!" Roxas shouted as he intercepted the Mad Mage and hit him with both Keyblades, knocking him into the air. Roxas quickly leapt up after the now disoriented Mad Mage and hooked the tooth of Oblivion around his ankle, launching him through the air towards where Xigbar was being barraged by fireballs. The two evildoers collided with each other as Roxas landed next to Terra.

"Now's our chance!" Roxas exclaimed as Terra's hands started glowing with white energy.

"Oh perfect light! I want to end this!" Terra exclaimed as a swirling sphere of magic enveloped both Xigbar and Kefka before exploding, sending the two villains flying towards them.

"My turn!" Roxas exclaimed as he leapt into the air, a pillar of white-blue energy surrounding him and his Keyblades held to his sides. A disoriented Kefka and Xigbar were suddenly frozen in midair near where Roxas was floating.

"You're finished!" Roxas exclaimed as he thrust Oblivion straight up into the air. As he did, more pillars of energy rained down from overhead, striking Kefka and Xigbar repeatedly. It was his Magic Hour Limit Break. (End music) Finally the pillars stopped raining down and the two, now smoldering, bodies of Xigbar and Kefka dropped out of the air, Xigbar flopping down almost lifelessly onto the ground while Kefka landed on his back.

"Inconceivable." Kefka muttered as he started to climb to his feet, Roxas and Terra staying on their guard. However they saw a cloud of black smoke and purple energy appearing around him and gradually engulfing him. Kefka started staggering towards Terra, an exhausted yet determined expression on his face as he started to slowly vanish.

"Such magnificent power, and you use it to preserve. How revolting." Kefka said before he completely vanished. Roxas and Terra stood staring at where Kefka had vanished for a moment when they heard a weak chuckle coming from nearby. They turned and saw Xigbar, lying on his side, glaring at Roxas with a dark grin on his face.

"Well now…looks like I'll have to try and do better next time." Xigbar said as Roxas scowled down at him.

"What do you mean, next time?" Roxas asked but Xigbar's grin widened and his lone eye started to close.

"You'll see. Be a good boy n-." But Xigbar didn't have the chance to finish his sentence as he died mid-breath. Roxas and Terra stood staring at Xigbar's corpse for a while before, in a bright flash of light, Terra reverted back to her normal form.

"Roxas…I want to thank you." Terra said, turning to the Key of Destiny.

"For what?" Roxas asked, curiously.

"You gave me hope. You showed me how I can use my powers to protect instead of destroy. For as long as I can remember, I've feared my powers. Then when I arrive in these worlds, my fear took the form of Kefka. But now I know that I can and will use my power to protect. I can protect everything." Terra said as Roxas smiled up at her.

"Glad to hear it." Roxas said before they noticed a flash of bright light come from nearby. They both turned and saw Terra's crystal, floating in midair over a door.

"Come on, Terra. Let's go find our friends." Roxas said as he and Terra started walking towards the door, leaving the world behind them.

End Chapter 21.

And now, a personal appeal to the fanfiction community from Star Tours Traveler.

Don't worry this isn't some life shattering issue, just me asking for some help coming up an idea.

One of the worlds in a future installment of the RKH saga will, have Sora and Riku both turning into dogs, (Spoiler: It's a world based around the 101 Dalmatians animated film) and seeing as how I have little knowledge of the various dog breeds, I'd like to ask for your help in deciding what breed of dog Sora and Riku would be.

If you would please leave at least 2 recommendations for Sora and at least 1 for Riku. My reasoning for those numbers will be revealed in the chapters they appear.

You may submit your recommendations via Review or PM.

I will decide which of the recommended breeds is the winner.

The winning selections will be featured in the fifth installation of the RKH saga "Kingdom Hearts: The Forgotten Worlds" (and this is only the third installation) and the screen name of the person (or persons) giving a winning selection will be given the appropriate credit at the end of the chapter in which their selection appears.

Thank you and keep R&Ring…

Star Tours Traveler.