Me: Let's get this party started!

Organization 13: YAHOO!

(Balloons and confetti fly everywhere around my office, as Axel and Roxas blow air horns and Demyx jams out on his sitar)

Me: (smiles at the camera) Hey shadows, Miss Oblivion J back from the dead with the grand finale of Arc 2! I'm sorry it took so long to post, but I'm back!

Xigbar: That's good. We were worried you wouldn't come back or worst.

Me: Like YOU of all people have the heart to worry.

(Xigbar snickered)

Saix: We don't but, if we did we'd be glad you're writing again.

Roxas: Yeah, of course, we're glad you're back! Not to mention the story is just about to get even better from here on out! So, come on let's get started!

Me: Fine, Mister Hyper-Pants, then how about you do the disclaimers.

Roxas: Miss Oblivion J owns nothing of Kingdom Hearts by Square Enix and Disney. Only her plot and OC!

(Xion jumps from out of nowhere, startling everyone, as she finally arrives)

Xion: (smiles mischievously) Also, this chapter is the end of Chain of Memories and continuation of Days!

Roxas: (turns to his friend) Xion! Don't scare us like that!

Xion: (rubs the back of her head) Oh, sorry about that, Roxas.

Me: (giggles) Okay, now that everyone in the organization is all here, we can begin the chapter! I hope you guys enjoy the last chapter of Arc 2!

Chapter 36 - The Beginning of the End

I've never taken a real vacation since leaving Traverse Town long ago. Sure I wasn't at home, which is what a vacation is and all, however, I was always stressed and running for my life back then. So, I didn't know what a REAL vacation felt like. Although that night before, Uno and Dix had announced a vacation day would be held the next day, so we could relax and recover from all the missions they had thrown onto us recently.

Which brings us to October 6, 51xx, the vacation day that would forever be remembered as the turning point or the day everything shattered to pieces. A change for better or worse, where a story ended and began…..

It was early in the morning when I woke up to find everyone was gone. I'd stayed up all not writing in Pal, trying to catch up on entries, which lead me to fall asleep at four o'clock in the morning. Of course, I didn't plan on sleeping the whole day, but I was tired at the time. I would have slept forever if not for a rude awakening.

"NICHOLAS HIKARI RIDER!," a loud female voice shouted. "GET UP!"

My eyes jerked open, jolting up to see who it was. I'd thought it was Pawna, who called my name yesterday morning until I woke up or Iris, who'd woke me up from my wonderful dream two days ago. However, when I met the yellow eyes of the voice's owner - I found my best friend standing in front of my mat, with her hands on her hips.

Most people would have been mad at me for sleeping in, however, Ashley wasn't mad or sad, instead, she was excited or at least that's what my powers could tell me within my half-awake state. Maybe it was the way her antennas moved eagerly, or how her eyes were wide and alert with joy. Even if her scarf was shorter, she still wore it in a different style every day, with today having an infinity scarf style. Even though I was half-awake, I still could tell she looked beautiful as ever before.

"Come on, you've rested enough! It's our day off! We shouldn't be spending it in the manor! We should be out elsewhere relaxing!" She shouted, before grabbing my hand, beginning to pull me up. "Come on! Come on!"

"Sorry" I yawned.

Now on my feet, Ashley let go of my arms allowing me to stretch them into the air before I rubbed my eyes. Taking a quick glance around our dorm, I noticed we were the only ones in here. "Where is everyone?"

"Mare, Joker, and Iris went back to Neverland, hoping to find some gold and recruit Pearl's crew into becoming allies of Mushroom 13. Meanwhile, Roku, Queen, Bishop, and Vier are off in so world called Arendelle, going to figure skating. As for the others, I don't really know where they are. However, what I can tell you is that we're the only ones here except for King, who's snoring like a grizzly bear in the lounge," She explained, giving me a harsh stare. "I've been waiting forever so we could hang out together like we used to! And, you're sleeping like a lazy bum!"

"Sorry, I went to sleep late. It won't happen again," I said, sheepishly before noticing that my dog friend wasn't in the room either. "Wait a second. Where's Pluto?"

"Iris brought him along to Neverland since he couldn't come with us on missions. She thought it'd be good for him to be out of the house. I just hope she doesn't lose him," Ashley said, a tad worried.

"She won't lose him. I'm pretty sure Pluto isn't that hard to find even if he goes off elsewhere," I assured, grabbing Pal from underneath my pillow. "Meanwhile, where are we going for vacation?"

"Beast's castle."

I froze making sure I heard that right (and not just because I wasn't fully alert). Beast's castle had good and bad memories, however, there was one thing Ashley wanted to go there for -

"No way are we going there! You just want to read in the library like last time, bookworm!" Ashley snorted at the nickname. "Sorry, but I'm not sitting in boredom as you read a million books," I denied. "How about a world we can have fun together in?"

"Fine, how about…" She hummed to herself, fixing her scarf. "... Halloween Town."

"Stressful. Last time we went there was by accident, but we still ended up in them horrific costumes." Ashley giggled. "Halloween Town is my least favorite world. That's not very relaxing in my option," I said, shooting down another option.

"Then where else?" She wondered, completely out of ideas.

Sighing deeply, I retreated to my mind, We need someplace calm and chill…. Where could we go? Destiny Islands? No, we don't even know if it's back. Traverse Town? No, right… it faded away. Hollow Bastion? NO, I don't want to deal with Neal and his lackey's again. Wonderland…. No TOO wacky! I went mad just being there last time with Sora, Donald, and Goofy… No thank you! Not the best place for a vacation!

I exhale. There has to be someplace to -

A light bulb switched on over my head. Ding!

Jumping up and down, I began to become excited about finding the perfect place to hang out at! "Then, why don't we go to the beach? Didn't some teenagers say that they couldn't wait to go back to the beach next summer vacation? Why not we go to Twilight Town and chill out at the beach," I told her.

"Sure, let's go!" Ash shouted, grabbing my hand, beginning to drag me out of the dorm.

"Okay, but let me eat first, then we can go," I say, causing her to groan in disappointment. Half of me resisted laughing, while another gave a small chuckle at the fact that this was the happiest I've ever seen her in a while.

Two friends, an explorer and a fighter, paired up into an unstoppable duo since the day we first met. When Ashley was blue, I was always beside her. If things didn't go as planned, I was there to pick her up, visa versa. Once she was excited and jumping up and down like a child, so was I!

We were unstoppable, yet not for long -

~ X ~ X ~ X ~

Arriving in Twilight Town, many people would think it would be noon here already, however, stepping out from the corridor of darkness, Ash and I found ourselves greeted by a rose pink sky telling us it was early morning. We were just outside the Twilight Station, looking around for anyone, yet it was completely vacancy of any citizens or Heartless.

"Where do you think the beach is?," I wondered.

"Ummm... maybe the beach is on the other side of town? I mean we're always in the main part of town or the undergrounds, so if anything the beach has to be somewhere we haven't looked yet," Ashley wondered, walking toward the clock tower. "Why not we take the train! Maybe it'll take us to where we want to go."

"Lead the way," I agreed, tailing after her.

Within the train station, not many locals were around, making it easier for us to sneak in. Heading toward the train tracks, one trains sat awaiting departure as another began to press on heading to an unknown location. Locals were hurrying to catch the train before it took off. As we neared the train, slowly the doors began to close, causing us to race into the last booth before the doors shut completely. Ashley made it inside on time, while I kind of made it on time, if not for getting one of my antennas caught in the doors, which made me yelp. Pulling harshly, I managed to break my poor antenna free.

While I was stuck in the doorway, Ashley had already walked away gazing out the window, watching where we were going. Once I came up to her, we peered out at the small town watching people below walking around or running, probably heading off to school, work, or just exercising. We stopped at several places, yet none of them was our stop. It wasn't until a long discussion about different types of magic that we ended nearly missing our stop -

"All passengers for Twilight Beach, get off now. This is our last call!." a male voice on the intercom announced.

"Uh-oh!" Ash said, realizing time was almost up.

"HURRY!," I yelled, jumping off the seat.

Quickly, we rushed off the train just before the doors shut tight. After that, the train made a loud honk before carting away to its next destination.

I watched the bus for a second longer, then turned around becoming completely amazed by the scenery! From the bus stop looking down below, I saw a wide staircase stretching all the way down to the beach. From there peach sand covered the area, far and wide, littered with footprints of other visitors in swimsuits, walking and running around. Sand was everywhere until reaching the shore, where waves crashed gently from the ocean, going in and out as the sunlight glistened onto the water.

All I could hear was voices - locals talking and seagulls squawking, that I didn't hear my best friend at all. Or was it my thoughts that blocked her voice out completely. I was starstruck seeing the beach for the first time, lost in my own world, that I couldn't quite recall anything going on around me.

"Nico, are you listening!" Ashley demanded.

Jumping at the sudden shout, I jerked toward my best friend. "Huh? What? What did you say?," I asked.

"I was telling you that we should find a hidden place to relax. That way no one can bother us," She reminded me. "Even if no one here can hurt us, I think it's best we stay away from the others, so we don't cause a ruckus. We want to relax, not be hunted down."

"Right." I give a slight nod, descending down the stairs. My best friend followed closely behind. "Then how about we get going! We don't have all day to stand around! Let's go!"

Rushing down the stairs, our feet hit the burning sand, as we hurried off and tried to avoid visitor's eyes. We searched the whole west side then walked back toward the east side, before coming upon a vacant oasis near the edge of the beach, where a high hillside sat up above and we were far away from any locals.

"This location is perfect," Ashley said, glancing around at the hillside behind us, where a beach house sat. "And, no one can bother us." She began to hop up and down, "This is going to be awesome!"

While Ashley cheered with glee, I, on the other hand, felt concern with her behavior and why she was so excited. I knew she was happy to have a vacation day, but there was something else about her attitude today that didn't happen until I told her about going to the beach.

That's when it hit me!

Ashley had never been to the beach unless you count Destiny Island, but that world was taken over by darkness at the time. When I think about it, Ash lived in Hollow Bastion where no beaches existed. I guess it's only natural to be excited and amazed when you never saw something before. The same happens to me in Marluxia's garden, since I'd never seen flowers before. I was fascinated at the sight of the garden, the same way Ashley as of right now was fascinated by going to the beach.

I chuckle to myself. Ash is the best when she's happy. It's like the whole world stops just to see her happy. I look at my journal, I should write something.

Taking out my pen, I began to flip through pages in Pal -

"Nico, we can't have fun if you're busy writing!" she scolded me, once snapping out of her daze. "Drop the journal and let's go swimming."

I looked at her, coyly. "Huh? Drop it? No way! I can't do that. I can't just leave them here!" She gave me a dark glare, causing me to see that I wasn't winning this battle whatsoever.

"Fine, but where should we put it since we're going swimming? We need a place where no one can steal it?," I said, holding Pal tightly. I didn't like this idea of leaving my journal anywhere, but next to me. Sure I'll lead it to someone, but I never like leaving it in a place and never touching it again.

"Okay, how about..." Ash looked around, then found the perfect place. "...under this rock," She said, before lifting the giant rock to reveal three small crabs, who quickly rushed off toward the water realizing their cover had been blown. "No one would disturb your journal under here, and once we're about to go home we can find it right where we left it."

I groaned and moaned, not wanting to leave my precious journal, but knew I had no choice. We had come here to relax together, not write all day long. Even if every part of my being said not to do it, I gave in to my friend's request.

"... Fine. I'll Pal here." I place Pal and my pen under the rock before Ashley slowly put it down. "But, remind me to come back and get it okay."

Ash nodded, before going back to her hyper self.

"Alright! To the waters we go!" she shouted, grabbing my hand and dragging me to the water.

Beginning to swim around, Ash and I went way out into the ocean racing each other to see who was the fastest. Ashley had thought she'd be faster, yet I ended up winning the race which ended up making her want a rematch. The second race to shore, Ashley beat me and we ended up with a draw.

Afterward, we began to build a sandcastle together, having a small castle with a moat surrounding it and a stick drawbridge. The castle was the best thing anyone would see until a giant wave washed it all out. (Maybe it wasn't a good idea to build the sandcastle near the shore.)

Two-quarters past noon, Ash and I began to collect seashells as we walked through the shoreline. During our walk, we found an unoccupied snack shop full of fresh food. We didn't want to rob the whole place, so instead, we ended up grabbing two sea salt ice creams and three candy bars for a small snack. Everything was fine until footsteps began to approach the shack, causing us to dash out of the back door to avoid detection.

Once we were out in the open, we continued on our way, exploring more of the beach. Several locals were heading home, as evening began to dawn upon us. The sky's bright blue had faded to a bright orange, as the sun began to set toward the main town, meaning our vacation was almost over and tomorrow we'd be back to work. Back and refreshed, ready to fight Heartless and protect the balance. It was kind of disappointing to only have a day off, but Uno wants us back on duty before anything else happening to the worlds. Starlight might have been Jade Mafia's target and Organization 13 was busy with Kingdom Hearts, but the Realm of Darkness was falling to shambles! With Heartless on the loss in every world, the realm of light was slowly fading away like before. Darkness was still pouring in from gaps along the realm of Darkness, and without Nevermore's powers, Mushroom 13 were left to work endless hours to fix this mess.

Tomorrow is going to be hectic, I sighed to myself.

Glancing at Ashley, I found her fixated on the ocean waves, as they began to crash upon the shore. Her current emotion was still happy and it made me feel happy as well. Together, we watched the waves for a moment, before something felt off.

I don't know why, but it feels like someone was watching us -

Taking my eyes off the ocean, turning around and looking back, I searched for a human or any reaper out there, yet inside only found a red fox watching from the distance.

"Hey, look over there! Isn't that the red fox we saw from before," I shouted, catching Ash's attention. Quickly, she turned around to see him. However, once we spotted him, the fox stopped sitting and began to scamper away.

"Really the fox is still here? Is this the world he lives in now?" Ashley wondered. "D-Do y-you think his owner is around here?"

"Maybe! If they are, then we should follow him! Come on, let's go after him!," I shouted, about to dash after him, if Ash hadn't grabbed my hand, holding me back. Suddenly a wave of anger and sorrow filled my senses, leading me to turn back toward my best friend. She looked at me coyly, holding my hand tightly.

"L-Lets not follow him today…. I-I don't want to go on a hunt for him yet. We'll find his owner another day, but for right now, how about we go back to town. We only have an hour until curfew, so let's spend it in town," Ash says, a tad nervous.

"But, we never see the red fox in town! We shouldn't waste our chance!," I said, trying to reason with her. What's with Ash? She usually always wants to know about mysterious people. So, what's the deal now?

"...I don't want to find his owner anymore, because I already know whom he belongs to!," She answered, finally letting go of my hand.

I stare at her, my eyes wide open in surprise. "You do?"

Ash went silent for a brief moment, averting her eyes and beginning to stare back at the ocean. "Back in my homeworld, the red fox was a residence there, but he was as well a pet owned by a scientist, who worked with Xehanort and many others on an experiment that sent Radiant Garden to its doom. They opened the heart of my world leading to the fall of the kingdom of light three years later. The owner of that fox is dangerous and beyond insane. If it wasn't for them…. Radiant Garden wouldn't be Hollow Bastion."

Suddenly Ashley's emotions changed turning into rage. "I don't want to see her… not yet. She is the one person I refuse to see from my past," she vowed.

I try to speak, but no words come out feeling Ashley's emotions turn to nothing, but sadness and fear. She turned back to me, wiping her eyes of tears.

Part of me wanted to know whom she was talking about, but knowing Ashley she never wanted to tell the whole truth. Neither did I at times, but keeping Cross a secret was different (...right?). From the first time Ashley told me of her past it wasn't much, yet now I have a feeling she is recalling more things and not telling me. I feel isolated from the truth - something I want to know and understand. However, I'm on the outside and have no way to open the doorway to the truth, with Ash wanting to keep out of her past.

A voice called out inside me. I want to know the truth.

I felt myself freeze up, hearing the voice scream louder. I want to know this person Ashley is talking about…. I need to follow the fox… he must be going to town or maybe the place we were last at the mansion? What if the scientist is hiding there! I have to follow that fox!

Quickly, I grabbed her hand, starting to pull her along. "Then, we don't have to... let's just go to town and explore around there," I told her, but it was all a lie because I wanted the truth and I'd do anything to find it.

It was the first time I'd done something so cruel and felt like an utter betrayal. Of course, at that time, I was acting selfish and let my curiosity get the best of me.

That was my mistake. Because you see, for every wrong committed, you soon find yourself paying the ultimate price.

~ X ~ X ~ X ~

Back in town, Ashley and I walked around on the rooftops seeing the locals getting ready to head home and many others working to get that last sell of the day. We stole some more ice cream, talked a bit about what our next mission would be for tomorrow. Yet every second, I kept looking for the fox until finally deciding to go to the last place I could think the fox and owner would be if not in the around town.

Though the broken wall and into the woods, Ash and I strolled through the area in awe at the new autumn colors.

Unlike the first time we arrived here, the woods wasn't it's usual emerald leaves that the trees bared in the summer, however instead the leaves had lost their green shades turning red, orange, or yellow fluttering off the trees and hitting the ground. Bird songs echoed in the woods, making the area more lovely and vibrant.

Crinkling through the sun-kissed leaves, Ashley skipped ahead of me beginning to kick piles of leaves up in the air. She giggles, as leaves rained down all around us. "It's a shower of colors! A beautiful autumn rainbow! It's so pretty!"

I chuckled from behind her, "You always said you loved this season. Is this why?"

"Of course! The leaves falling to the ground, changing colors, and making way for another season. I enjoyed this as a human when I could build a huge pile full of leaves with Ienzo, then at the end of the week we'd jump into it and leaves would go everywhere! It was so epic!" She exclaimed.

"Maybe when more leaves fall we can make one together," I suggested.

"Yeah, we should," She agreed, continuing to dance in the leaves.

Exiting the dark forest, we came into the open area between the woods and the gates that lead to the mysteriously abandoned mansion. For a slight moment, we stopped exchanging each other nod readying to explore the mansion. We headed for the gateway ready to explore, while I was ready to find the fox's owner.

This is it!, I thought happily. The moment of truth.

Suddenly the birds went silent and flew off into the sky. Something had startled them! What's going on! I turned back hearing quick and light footsteps were approaching too quick to just be kids running around. Not to mention only one pair of steps. Something was coming!

Being the first to notice something was wrong, I began to feel a tad panicked. It's nothing… right? Ashley didn't sense any massive wave of darkness so it's not a Heartless, so no one is here.

That's when someone did appear -

A figure in a black coat was running at us!

"Firaga!" they shouted, as several fireballs came racing at us.

"Ashley!," I shouted, getting her attention.

She tried to turn around, "Huh?"

I pushed her out of the way of the attack, just as the fire hit the steel gates. At that moment, Ash knew what was going on and turned as white as a ghost.

The organization member summoned the Kingdom Key to their hands, as their hood fell down to a familiar girl's face -

Xion! My eyes went wide seeing the replica. She's in Twilight Town today, but we never saw here around town or the beach? Did she just get here! I worried, staring at the fourteenth member.

"Nico, what do we do?" Ashley demanded, breaking my thoughts. Her voice was trying to sound fearless, yet still trembled with fear that I could sense. Fear that was growing stronger each second.

Most times I'd tell Ash and the others to fight, but we've never been up against a keyblade wielder only other Heartless. Everyone I saw on my journey had made the same mistake by choosing to fight a stronger target, especially Sora! So, I knew there was only one way out.

"Run for it!," I shouted.

We started to dash away from the brick wall, rushing for the woods in hope of escaping the replica.

"Oh no you don't, get back here!," Xion shouted, putting her keyblade into the air. "Thunder!"

Suddenly lightning hit the ground randomly, causing us both to jump and dodge the bolts. I looked up waiting in search of other bolts when one appeared over us causing me to scream.

"Reflect!," Ashley yelled, sending the lightning away from us and back at Xion. The replica jumped out the way, firing off blizzard trying to freeze up.

My best friend rushing toward the attack, with a flame in her hand."Firestorm!," she shouted. Just then, a full wave of fireball fired away melting the blizzard and hitting Xion back into the gates.

"Alright!," Ash cheered in victory.

"Ash, we have to go!," I told her, pulling her arm, but stopping as I saw the replica moving.

Quickly, Xion recovered, picking up her keyblade and growling. Slowly, she got to her feet, rushing toward us. Before she got close, Ashley shot an aero blast at her, knocking her away, yet the replica recovered in mid-air, casting a spell. "Balloonga!" She shouted, hurling balloons at us.

My best friend put up a barrier, taking the blast, yet this time the barrier shattered on the last balloon, sending us back. "Ahh!"

I groaned, slowly getting up from the ground beginning to shake off the blast. Helping my best friend up, I looked at Xion, as she landed on the ground, panting lightly. I look at Ashley, " Are you okay? What happened?"

"I'm fine, but I used up all my magic. We need to go NOW before we die!" she barked.

Wasting no time, we raced to the entrance of the woods, about to be safe and well. Then my body began to weigh down and became unable to move as I was forced to the ground, at the entrance of the woods. This wasn't normal weight, this was a spell called Gravity.

My eyes widened in horror.

Noticing I wasn't with her, Ash turned back to see my situation. She gasped, beginning to race back to me. "Nico! Get out of there!" she yelled, frantically.

I tried to move my arms and feet to get up, yet nothing happens. "I'm stuck! This spell is too strong for me to break!"

"T-Then -" "Strike raid!," Xion yelled, which sent my eyes to go even wider.

I knew that move. A spinning attack Sora used all the time on targets far away. Now, it was about to be my demise. I closed my eyes, By the gods, please I don't want to die!

"NICO!"

Just as the spell wore off, I found myself being pushed me out the way. Opening my eyes and getting to my feet, I turned back -

As the Kingdom Key, slice through Ashley's being, causing me to freeze up. Paralyzed, I watched my best friend disappear into nothingness, as small lone heart went into the air.

What…. No… no...no..no..no… NO! My antennas fell back before tears filled my eyes.

"Ash...ley," my voice cracked. "No… this can't be. This has to be a dream! I'm dreaming, I have to be! Ashley! Please, I can't lose you too! Ashley, come back!"

Tears trickled down my face, as I sniffed trying to hold back my emotions. The heart vanished into thin air. Please… don't go….

"One down. One more to go." I heard Xion say, yet didn't care.

My body grew heavier even if the spell had worn off, causing me to fall to my knees and onto my hands like weights were on my back. But, this hurt more than weights ever could. Slowly, I began to cry lightly to myself feeling dread take me over. This can't be real! Ashley… NO….S-She...killed her… Now I'm facing the same fate like every other Heartless in existence….

I look up slightly seeing a fireball approaching me readying to end me. I could easily run away, try to escape to another world or go back to the Realm of Darkness. Yet my body was numb and the only thing I wanted was this nightmare to be over.

….

...

"Isn't it a little early to be burning leaves!" a male voice shouted, coming from right above me.

I jerked up, opening my eyes to see that the fireball was being parted into nothingness, by a red-cloaked figure in front of me. Once the fire was gone, the figure raised his arms out, blocking Xion from me, yet I didn't know why he would?

"Who are you? Why are you protecting that Heartless?," Xion demanded.

"The same with you. Why are you fighting the Heartless! Why kill the ones who can't even protect themselves!" the man yelled, despite his soft voice. "You can't just attack those weaker than you!"

What? Who is this guy? Why is he doing this… Slowly, my head began to hurt as memories clouded my mind. There was one of shadow Sora when we made our promise, then Riku crying at the door to Kingdom Hearts, then Kairi stood there at first, before another girl with blond hair - Namine took her place.

Slowly, my eyes began to blur as I watched the person in front of me, but everything was getting hazy with an endless episodic memories. My head pounded, as my vision became black.

As the shadow became unconscious, Nico's savior picked him up from the ground, starting to hold him within his left arm like a baby. "Don't worry shadow. You're safe now," he told him, staring down at the shadow before looking up at the keyblade wielder.

Underneath the man's red cloak, his yellow eyes stared back at the fourteenth member with unforeseen anger. "What should I expect from a Nobody who has any emotion," the figure said, summoning a simple flame to his free hand. "You don't have any right to kill Heartless who aren't harming anyone!"

"Do you have any idea what a Heartless is! They're darkness! It's my job to destroy them and collect their hearts so that they don't reform! Are you nuts to protect such a monster!," Xion shouted. "But, I guess the darkness took you long ago didn't it," she smirked.

The man smirked, "Maybe it did or maybe it didn't. Regardless to say, but with great apologize, dame of the keyblade, because the only monster I see here is you! With all respect, how can you kill those who only want to be whole just like you!"

The fourteenth member snarled, "Heartless can never be whole again unlike us Nobodies! We're smarter, braver, and soon one day we'll be human again! If we're the monsters, then what does that make you the peacekeeper?"

"No, but I won't let you hurt people that have a right to live!" he shouted.

"If they have the right to live, then you have the right to die with them. My mission is to take out Heartless, but if you don't want to let them go, then I'll be happy to take your heart as well," Xion threatened, getting into her fighting stance.

The man smirked, shaking his head. He extinguished his fire, beginning to turn around. "I'm not here to fight, so I bid you farewell."

Suddenly the stranger waltzes off into the woods, leaving Xion perplexed and pissed off.

"What? Hey, get back here! Unhand that Heartless!" the fourteenth member yelled, dashing after him into the woods. Looking around, she didn't see him whatsoever but wasn't going to let the man get away. Leaving the woods, Xion hurried to find the nuisance who stopped her from killing the shadow - yet didn't know at all that she'd passed right by him.

Up in the trees, the man deeply sighed to himself, watching the organization member exit the woods in the distance. Waiting five to ten minutes the man made sure that the coast was clear, before deciding to come down. Jumping from the treetops, the man began to float down, safely reaching the ground unharmed and still holding the unconscious shadow within his arms.

Peering down at the Heartless, the man hugged the shadow tightly to his chest. "Poor shadow," He whispered to the unconscious "child". "Don't worry, the master will help as soon as we get back. Then they'll be nothing to fear."

"YO!," a deep voice yelled.

The hooded man turned around, glancing behind him to see the same red fox Nico and Ashley had seen earlier, however, this time he was slowly glowing white. The fox's paws became arms, while his hind legs transformed into legs. His tail vanished as he slowly rose up into a standing position, while his body morphed into a young dark tan skinned male in his mid-twenties. The fox was gone, while a man with curly, ginger locks along with black fox ears stood in his place. He was dressed in a black bandana, a green t-shirt, black, baggy pajama pants, and black slippers.

"Nice to see you ran off without me. Didn't have to leave me behind y'know, Brandy," the vulpine said, walking over toward him.

The hooded man gritted his teeth, seeing his so called "partner". The vulpine came to a halt beside him. "Could you not call me by that nickname, Phoenix. I'm not in the mood," he said, holding the shadow closer to him.

"So, she can call you out your name and I can't," the vulpine -Phoenix - said. "Lame."

The hooded man remained silent, staring into his accomplice dark brown eyes. He was in no mood to deal with games or disagreements when they had more important matters. Looking down at the shadow, he exhaled taking in the fact that one out of a million - he could at least save one Heartless before they both died.

"Looks like he is out cold. What happened?," Phoenix asked.

"A keyblade wielder targeted the two shadows for some reason. But, since they're only Purebloods I don't understand why she was trying to kill them." He exhaled. "Sadly, I could only save one of them, since the other one died before I could intervene…. I should have been quicker." The hooded man bowed his head, completely ashamed. "I let the master down…. It's all my fault."

"Yeah, it is your fault, but that's not going to solve anything. The "Key" was surely disobeying orders, how would we have known that? If anything, we should be glad that at least one lived. Even if we were meant to bring two." Phoenix peered at the shadow a bit longer. "...but one is good enough for the experiment, I guess."

The man nodded in agreement.

"Come on we need to get back home before he wakes up. The master has been waiting for us for too long now. She's probably worried sick that we up and left like that. Let's go," the man says, summoning a corridor of darkness, with his free hand.

Phoenix gave a devious smile, "Right behind ya, Branden."

With that, the two men crossed over into the corridor, heading back to their master, with only one shadow instead of two.

( Arc 2 End )