Chapter 36: Masters, Meetings, and Digital Dilemmas

It didn't take long for Yen Sid to point Mickey in the right direction. All it took was a little magic to track Aqua down, along with Sora and some fella with fluffy hair that looked just like cotton candy. It turned out they were off on some giant ship with a built-in town, the likes of which Mickey had never seen before. 'Course, with worlds filled with talking objects and space aliens floating out in the cosmos, maybe it wasn't so strange.

One crash landing later, and he discovered that he'd already missed her by a hair. Luckily, one of the ship's inhabitants pointed him in the right direction. Turned out she'd left for Traverse Town after resting at the local Inn. So, after a quick wave goodbye, Mickey zipped down the wooden steps, squeezed his way through crowds of sea turtles, Dalmatians, a couple pirates, and seven dwarfs, and scurried down the gang plank to the outskirts of town.

Passing walls of Gummi Ships of various colors, he soon made it to the big, double doors leading into the town's First District. 'Course, due to his small size, he had to hurl himself at the doors to slip through. Just one lunge, and he knocked them wide open and tumbled head-first towards the cobblestones below. With a yelp, he threw out his hands and cushioned the blow before swinging his feet out and standing up straight. He brought one of his hands above his forehead and looked back and forth, skimming the immediate area.

It'd been about a year since he last dropped into town, but it had barely changed at all. Tall, crooked lampposts glimmered with a soft, orange light, giving the place a warm, inviting sorta feeling. Glimmering signs grabbed his eye, and he glanced from an image of a basket stuffed with apples, oranges, and bananas, to shining gold emblem shaped like a spear with two curved spikes sloping down along the sides. The word 'Jewelry' served as a reminder that the little shop sold accessories. 'Course, these days, he doubted Cid worked there anymore.

All sorts of chatter filled the air, from the squeaks and 'kupos' of a Moogle trio fluttering around a top hat-wearing mailbox to the trumpeting of a big-eared baby elephant trudging down the nearby steps. A man dressed in nothing but a loin cloth grunted and crawled around on all fours, while a chubby, brown warthog trotted around with a meerkat riding on his back. Any one of 'em seemed like a good place to start—after all, Traverse Town was huge, and finding Aqua could be like searching for a needle in a haystack.

In fact, he was just about to approach the elephant when a familiar voice broke through the crowd. Tail twitching, Mickey spun around and brought a hand up to one of his big, round ears.

"He used a toxin to attract those women?"

"Yes. It was utterly disgraceful, and that's not even the worst of it! Fiore DeRosa was a horrid lech, hardly a man at all. Why, he'd take the women he wooed and use them to extract even more of that dreadful poison, all so he could claw his way into the Eternian forces."

Toxin? Mickey gasped, scampering closer to the sound. All the while, a bubbling, twisting feeling rose within his chest. His eyes slammed shut, and he drew in a sharp breath. His brow creased, his hands quivered. Sure, he didn't know the full story, and by the sounds of it, that fella wasn't around anymore, but just hearing it from afar turned his face red hot. How could anybody, even a villain, treat innocent people as lab experiments?

It was just like Xehanort, and at that thought, all the hot air blew outta him, and Mickey's gaze dropped to the cobblestones below. Shaking his head, he rounded the corner, spotting a clustering of round tables beneath an overhang held up by four pillars. White candles flickered at the center of each table, many of which were filled by unusual locals. A muscular man dressed in yellow sat across from an equally bulky fella in a red top, with his black hair fixed into a ponytail. Just a couple yards away a little brown fawn, a grey rabbit, and a skunk all ducked beneath their table, and off in the far left corner, he spotted a head of blue hair.

Now, how many people in the worlds had blue hair in the first place? Taking a huge gulp of air, Mickey scurried into the restaurant, swerving between passersby. A Moogle with a red bowtie swooped over him with a menu in hand, and Mickey swerved to the side, continuing towards the table. As he drew closer, he spotted two more figures at Aqua's side. The shadowy tendrils oozing off the first figure's shoulders coupled with his glowing eyes were a dead ringer for Sora.

Across the table, Mickey noticed a young man with fluffy, blonde hair styled into a pompadour, the other fella he saw back at the tower. He wore a blue jacket with a fuzzy collar, black elbow-length gloves, baggy pants and black boots, and leaned back in his seat with a coffee cup in hand. Even with Mickey skidding across the floor, the man kept his eyes fixed to Aqua, chatting away. Luckily, Mickey came to a stop before he could crash into one of the chairs.

The downside was that all that running squeezed the wind right outta him. Now that the adrenaline had worn off, he bent over and started panting like crazy. He gasped, wheezed, and gripped at his chest, and by the time he caught his breath, Aqua's twisted into a glare.

"So that's it? They were just tools to him?"

"Yes, and unfortunately, that included my dear Edea…"

Aqua slammed her hands down on the table. "How could he be so blind?!"

Setting his cup down, the man scooted his chair closer, giving her a soft, almost apologetic look. "I know, I know. Fortunately, DeRosa is gone, and—" He stopped, peering down at Mickey. "Ah, can we help you, sir?"

"Hm?" Aqua looked down, and a smile immediately flashed across her face. "Your Majesty! What are you doing back in Traverse Town?"

The man reached for his chin, raising an eyebrow. "Ah, so this mouse is a king…"

"Yup!" Mickey giggled. "But you don't have to be so formal, Aqua. I'm just glad to see ya."

"Oh, of course, Mickey. My mistake."

"Wait. You're King Mickey?" The man gasped, straightening his posture and leaping out of his seat. He adjusted his collar, took a bow, and cracked an enormous smile. "Ah, well, I'm Ringabel, and it's a pleasure to meet you."

Mickey tilted his head. "Gosh, am I really that famous?"

"Absolutely! I've heard all sorts of stories from the locals. Why, a while back there were three young ducklings manning the item shop, and they said that you'd gone missing!"

"Oh, that, well…" Gee, word sure spread fast. Wearing a lopsided grin, Mickey chuckled and tapped his fingers together. "That's 'cause I was lookin' for a way to stop all the Heartless. I was gonna try and close the Door to Darkness, but…" He paused when he saw Sora sink down in his seat. "Well, that doesn't matter right now. I'm just glad I found ya!"

Sora's claws tapped on the table for a couple seconds. He propped up his head with his left hand, and dug into his pocket with his right. After plucking out his notepad, he leaned back in his seat and started writing. 'But how'd you know we were here?'

"Oh, I got a little help from Master Yen Sid's magic. 'Course, you were still on the ship when I left."

"Then your timing is impeccable." Ringabel scooped up his coffee cup, taking a small sip. "Still, I can't imagine you came all this way for simple conversation."

"Well, I sure wouldn't mind, but…" He sighed, toddling over to Aqua's seat. "Truth is, I got somethin' real important to tell ya."

Aqua covered her mouth, eyes widening, and then her eyebrows knit together. Turning sideways in her seat, she bent down to Mickey's level. "Did something happen?"

"Sorta! But it's not really a bad thing. It's just a little complicated."

"Complicated?" She slid out of her seat, nudging it towards the table. "Well, if it's as important as you say, then maybe we should discuss this in private. Is that all right with you, Ringabel?"

Ringabel nodded, clasping a hand over his chest. "By all means! Please, Aqua. Don't let me keep you."

"Thank you." She smiled. "We'll try to hurry back before you leave, all right?"

"Oh, don't hurry for my sake. If this is where we part ways, then I wish you and Sora the best of luck on your journey." He raised his cup and winked. "Though I certainly wouldn't object to seeing your beautiful face one last time."

Aqua's only response was a short, soft laugh before she moved out of the restaurant and wandered over to the nearby steps. Shortly after, Sora hopped down from his chair and scrambled at her tail, stopping just once to point at the stairs. Seemed they already had a meeting place in mind, and seeing how they still had so much to talk about, it'd be silly to wait around. So, after giving Ringabel a quick wave, Mickey dashed after his pals. They brushed past the Accessory Shop and took a sharp turn around the corner, stumbling upon a damp, dark alley with a distinct salty smell. Barrels and crates lined the narrow brick walls, and Mickey threw himself on top of one of the shorter crates, while Sora and Aqua plopped down on the neighboring barrels.

x.x.x

About a minute passed without a word. Aside from the swishing of his tail, Mickey sat perfectly still. His brow furrowed, then relaxed, and after a couple more seconds, he scooted to the edge of the crate. He took a deep breath, straightened his back, and looked straight into Aqua's eyes. It was difficult to tell what he was thinking, but his expression alone made one thing clear: whatever news he wished to share, it was serious. Why else would he travel all this way? The question was, what sort of news was it? He said that it wasn't particularly bad, but that still didn't explain much.

Fortunately, he broke the silence before long, as a soft but warm smile formed along his lips. "Well, I got some good news for ya!"

Sora's eyebrows quirked, and a gigantic grin flickered across his face. 'Really? Then let's hear it!'

"Aw, you're lookin' pretty excited, Sora! Not that I blame ya." He chuckled. "See, I got us a new ally, and it's someone real special."

Hmm, then who could it be? Aqua's eyebrows knit together, and she gently stroked her chin. "Did you finally meet the Replica?"

"Yup, I sure did!"

No sooner had Mickey finished than Sora sprung up like a Jack-in-the-box, smiling even wider than before. He mouthed something so fast it was difficult to make out his words, then hastily scribbled a message that smothered the page with dribbling ink drops.

'You mean he's okay? Then what about Naminé? Or how 'bout my Nobody? Didja see him?'

Grabbing his shoulder, Aqua let out a sound like a sigh crossed with a laugh. "Sora, slow down. I'm sure Mickey will explain everything."

"Aw, it's okay! You can ask as many questions as ya want." Mickey paused, folding his arms. "But I haven't seen any Nobodies except for Marluxia and Larxene, and there's no way you'd have a Nobody half as mean as those two."

'And they're way too old.' Sora huffed, and his lips pulled back to reveal his dagger-like teeth. It only lasted for a brief moment before he blew out a puff of air and continued writing. 'Well, you'll know him if you see him. He looks kinda like…' Licking his lips, he doodled a stick figure with little dot eyes and a tiny smile. It didn't end there, though. Squinting, he sloppily scribbled the hair, and Aqua scooted closer, peering over the page. She tried to make out the details, but his hands kept getting in the way. Still, at a glance, the spikes looked a lot smaller than Sora's, swept off to the side, almost like—

She reeled backwards, gripping her hands into tight fists. Was that really what Sora's Nobody looked like, or was it just a result of Sora's penmanship? And if that was the case, what did that mean for Nobodies in the first place? They were supposed to be the bodies left behind when a person lost their heart, so wouldn't Sora's look the way he did as a human? Unless there was some other reason. Ven's heart did rest inside of him, and yet…

"Aqua?" At the sound of Mickey's voice, she almost jumped, but as her mind returned to reality, she smiled and shook her head.

"I'm all right." She looked to Sora, making a mental note to ask him about his Nobody later. "Anyway, what was that about the Replica?"

Springing to his feet, Mickey tipped his chin up and gestured wildly as he spoke. "Well, like I said, he's back on our side. He had a little trouble with those Nobodies, but the two of us worked together to stop 'em once and for all, and now he and Naminé are safe at Yen Sid's tower."

Aqua didn't think it was possible, but Sora's eyes grew even wider than before. 'So how're they doing? Nobody's been picking on 'em, right?'

"Aw, don't worry! Me and Yen Sid'll make sure no one ever hurts 'em again."

Wiping a hand across his forehead, Sora fell back against the wall. 'Good, 'cause the two of 'em could use more friends.'

"That's just what I was thinkin'. Those poor kids have been on the run for so long, and I can tell they've got all kinds of worries." His smile shrank, and his gaze dropped to the ground. "What they need is somebody who can lift their spirits and make 'em see just how special they really are."

"And if anyone can help them, it's you," said Aqua. "You're just like Ven, always cheerful, and I think a positive attitude can go a long way."

"Well, it's just like my pal Mary says—a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, so as long as ya live life with a smile, you can face even the darkest of circumstances." His eyes drifted up towards the sky, and he sat back down, dropping his hands in his lap. "But anyway, I guess I oughta get to the point: we know what the Organization's planning now."

"You mean Kingdom Hearts? Sora told me all about it." Aqua looked down, pursing her lips and lowering her brow. "And it's a problem, isn't it? We can try to save the worlds, but as long as we face the Heartless, we'll only be helping them in the long run."

"Oh, so you already knew… Well, the good news is, we got a plan to slow things down."

"And is there anything I can do to help?"

"There sure is! See, all we gotta do is stop usin' our Keyblades for a while, and—"

Aqua's boots hit the cobblestone floor. "Stop using my Keyblade? Mickey, don't you realize what you're saying?" As a Keyblade Master, she couldn't just abandon her weapon! How else would she seal the Keyholes? And what else could she use to combat the Heartless?

Mickey sighed. "I know it sounds crazy, but it's the only way we can stop 'em from collecting more hearts. All we gotta do is pick up some new weapons for a little while and save our Keyblades for the Keyholes. If we can do that, then there's a chance we can hold 'em off for a few months."

"…I see." Her Master's Keyblade materialized in a flash of glowing petals, and she fixed her eyes on the weapon, squeezing the hilt so tight that her fingers ached. After losing her armor, her original Keyblade, her friends, and her home, her Master's weapon served as a reminder of a time long past. It symbolized her role as a Keyblade Master, as Eraqus' successor, and a defender of the light. But given the circumstances, was it truly fair to keep wielding it? After all, Mickey raised a good point.

She gazed at the sky, and her eyes flitted across the array of twinkling, white dots overhead. To those worlds, the Keyblade was a sign of hope. A light to pierce the deepest darkness. Still, the fact remained that every heart freed by her weapon only hastened the Organization's plans. Logically, it was reckless to continue carrying a Keyblade. Foolish, even.

But sometimes the mind and heart clashed like two opposing blades, waging a war between logic and emotion. All those years of training ingrained a strict set of morals within her. She was to use the Keyblade with pride, keep her light shining bright, and protect the balance between worlds at all costs…

And perhaps that was the most important part, that the safety of the worlds sometimes necessitated sacrifice.

She slowly sank down once again, and her Keyblade fizzled out of sight. Sitting with a slouch, she stared at her empty palms. "I want to help you, Mickey, but it's not as simple as it sounds. Perhaps it's just stubborn pride, but I've been using a Keyblade for so long that the idea of abandoning it feels wrong, like I'd be giving up a piece of myself."

Pouting, Sora gripped the edges of his barrel, dragging it closer to Aqua. He extended his arm, but just before his hand touched her, he yanked it back and curled his claws against his palm. Seeing this, her lips perked ever so slightly, and she slid closer, ruffling his hair. "It's all right. I know it has to be done."

"Hmm." Mickey crossed his little arms again, tipping his head to the side. "I know how ya feel, Aqua. Keyblades have been a part of our lives for so long that it's… kinda scary to set 'em aside, but I know that if we don't do somethin' soon, then Xemnas will get Kingdom Hearts no matter what."

She winced, back arching and shoulders hunching. "And no one should have control over that many hearts. It doesn't matter who he really is…" Whether Xemnas was Terra, Xehanort, or someone else entirely didn't remove the fact that he risked throwing all the worlds out of balance. And then what?

"See? It's not about giving up our duties. I think it's because we're Keybearers that we gotta do this, 'cause we're the only ones who can make this choice."

"…You're right." Her voice started soft, but as Mickey's words sank in, she straightened her posture, looking down at the little mouse. Her fingers wrapped around the emblem that rested above her chest, and she spoke words both loud and firm. "If stopping the Organization means setting my Keyblade aside, then that's the way it has to be. I'm just not sure what I'll wield in its place."

Flinging himself off the barrel, Mickey strolled over to Aqua with a spring in his step. "Well, don't worry about that! Yen Sid and the fairies already whipped something up for ya." He reached behind his back, revealing a sparkling sword. Its silver hilt glimmered with three small sapphires. Curls of blue metal rose up from the handle like waves crashing over its sleek, curved blade, which melded in with the color of the waves, as if the weapon itself was forged from water.

As she took the sword from Mickey, her fingers brushed against the hilt. Raising it level with her head, she shifted it in her grip, and to her pleasant surprise, it felt light, almost weightless. One would think that such a lightweight weapon would shatter like glass with even the slightest impact, but when she tapped the blade against the wall behind her, she heard a dull clang. The blade remained stiff and rigid, as sturdy as steel. Was it an enchantment that made it so easy to wield?

It had to be, in which case, she owed both Mickey and Yen Sid her deepest gratitude. They must have known how difficult it would be to adjust. True, she could have sought out a weapon's dealer, picked up an ordinary blade, and enchanted it herself, but the fact that they'd prepared such a lovely gift sent her spirits soaring. Standing tall, she swung her arm in an arc, and the sword glided through the air with a swift, smooth motion. With that, whatever doubts had piled up inside her crumbled into dust, carried off by a gentle breeze, and she knelt in front of Mickey, speaking in a soft, hushed tone.

"…It's beautiful."

Mickey slipped his hands behind his back and kicked at the pavement. "Aw, shucks. We just wanted to make sure you got somethin' special."

"I can tell." She looked to the blade, and a gentle smile crossed her lips. "But Mickey, a gift from a friend is always special. The fact that you went the extra mile means a lot to me, and I promise I'll cherish this sword wherever I go."

After all, it was just another symbol of the bonds between friends, the mark of an unbreakable connection.

x.x.x

Three days passed in what felt like an instant. Repeated trips to the station bore the same results. Fluctuations. Distortions. Ripples and buzzes. For now, the clock tower had returned to its original state, but who knew how long it'd last?

Truth be told, Riku felt like a sack of bricks. He sank down into the couch cushions, sitting limp with his eyes glued to the floor. A line of photographs stretched across his lap, and with a sigh, he started scooping up the pictures, his eyes blearily skimming over them. One image showed the clock tower as it had appeared the night before, its bells removed, its structure changed so that instead of a ledge, it bore a wide open space with pillars separating the green, pointed roof from the tiled floor. Another photo showed red circuits crawling across the pavement and white beasts stretching and contorting. But when Riku looked to the third picture, his breath hitched, and he squeezed his eyes shut.

It looked the same as ever. The bricks lining the plaza returned to their rust color. A green train breezed by in the background, and orange and blue met at the horizon, heralding the arrival of the sun. A fourth photo showed the clock tower at a slant, its bells tilted, captured just as they started ringing. The cream colored ledge returned, as did the clock with its elaborate, circular patterns. It was as if the place had never glitched in the first place.

Like it was all just a nightmare. But it wasn't.

His fingers tightened around the corner of the picture until it bent. Setting the stack of images on the armrest, he reached up to rub his temple and fell back against the cushions. Sooner or later, his friends would walk in, and then what? The answer was obvious: he had to come clean, but how? How the heck could he pull it off without crushing them in the process? He'd gone over it a hundred times in his head, but no matter how hard he tried stringing the phrases together and no matter how many times he told himself to grin and bear it, he couldn't shake the chill creeping across his skin like a swarm of scurrying spiders.

A deep chime reverberated overhead, counting down to the inevitable. Clouds passed over the barred ceiling, and the entire room darkened, its colors shifting from bright and lush to muted and dull. Muddled voices seeped into the room, so soft he couldn't make out a single word. An ear-splitting creak made him writhe, and when he looked up, he spotted Hayner, Pence, and Olette entering the Usual Spot in a silent procession.

Riku tried to force a smile, but his lips barely moved. "…Hey, guys."

"Hey." Olette mirrored his expression, taking a seat on the far left side of the couch, while Pence trudged behind her, cradling his camera near his chest.

"We, uh… got some new photos." To demonstrate this, he reached into his pocket, digging out two images and passing them along.

Upon seeing the photos, Riku immediately cringed. One showed Hayner standing at the station's front steps, gazing up at something with his arms bent and his fists clenched. The other showed two small, green-roofed spires sitting at the sides of a glowing clock face. So they'd seen it too…

Without a word, Riku picked up his stack of pictures and passed them off to the others. Looking across the room, he watched Hayner stare at the dart board, his back facing the others. Aside from the slight trembling of his fists, he remained frozen.

"Hey, Hayner…" Riku trailed off, and Hayner just shook his head. After taking a look at the photos, Olette pushed away from the couch and hurried behind him. She reached for his shoulder, and he tensed.

"…I'm fine."

Olette huffed, placing her hands on her hips. "Then why are you brooding?"

"I'm not brooding." He sent her a fiery glare. "Just leave me alone, Olette."

"I'm not moving until you tell us what's wrong."

"But what good will that do?" He whipped around, striking the dart board with his fist. One of the darts wobbled out of place and tumbled to the floor, and he snarled, scooping it up and jabbing it back in place. "Face it, guys. Nothing we do's gonna make a difference. These changes are gonna keep getting worse, and nobody else cares."

Pence gulped, fidgeting with his camera. "But what about Seifer? He knows what's going on, so couldn't we just—"

"You really think I wanna work with Seifer?" Hayner snorted, cracking a stiff smirk.

Olette grumbled. "This is a lot more important than some silly rivalry. Believe it or not, he's just as scared as you are."

Riku's eyebrows shot up. "So what's going on with him?"

"It's his friends… Rai, Fuu, and Vivi are all acting like this is normal. It's just like everybody else."

He wheezed a hoarse laugh. "They must think he's nuts… No wonder he's so scared."

"Well, I'm not," said Hayner, and Riku slapped his palm over his face.

"Hayner, you're not fooling anyone."

"But—"

"We're all scared," said Pence. "I mean, the town keeps changing, and we all did that… flickering thing. Well, except for Riku."

Shuddering, Olette pushed the photos aside. "And now even the station's changing. It's like everything about Twilight Town's disappearing, and soon…"

"Soon there might not be a Twilight Town." Hayner spat his words, and each pierced Riku's chest like darts.

He cringed again, shutting his eyes so tight he saw stars. His mouth ran dry, and he once again felt spiders skittering across his arms, neck, and spine. Was that how it'd end? Were his memories gonna consume the whole town? At this rate, it wouldn't surprise him. Not with the islands replacing the beach, the Coliseum dropping in on the Sandlot, and the clock tower caught between two forms. In spite of the circumstances, Riku started to laugh, but his laughter rang hollow.

"It's insane, isn't it? Blocks falling from the sky, buildings and people flickering… But let's say I knew why this was happening. Would you guys want the truth, even if it hurt?"

Hayner raised an eyebrow. "Wait, you mean you know? Then what's the hold up, man? You can't just keep us in the dark!"

Riku scooted forward, pressing his palms against his thighs. "I'll say it again. Are you okay with the truth, no matter how painful it is?"

"Just tell us already!"

His words echoed. A soft whoosh sound blew through the air, and for a split-second, everything in the room grew fuzzy along the edges. Blinking rapidly, Riku rubbed is eyes, but when he looked again, everything looked sharp and smooth. There was just one problem: Hayner's body was completely still. He didn't blink. He didn't breathe. He just stood there like a sculpture, and Riku leaped out of his seat.

"Hayner!" He waved a hand in front of his eyes, but they didn't follow the motion. His head whipped over his shoulder, and he focused on the others, but found them equally stiff. Both wore unwavering grimaces. Pence's hands covered his ears, while Olette's arms coiled around her shoulders. Dead silence hung over their heads. The trains didn't whistle. The bells didn't chime, and the alley outside lacked the sounds of footsteps, laughter, and mechanical hums.

"W-what's going on…?" Another glitch? He spun around, eyes darting all across the Usual Spot in search of anything suspicious, but nothing else had changed. He saw no Blox. No Heartless. Nothing out of the ordinary, aside from his frozen friends.

And then, just as he turned to face Hayner again, a deep voice called to him.

Riku, you must stop this at once.

"…DiZ." His shoulders shot up, and he bristled. "Did you do this?"

Yes. If I had not intervened, then you would have brought undue stress upon my creations.

"Right, and that's all my fault." Crossing his arms, he sneered at the ceiling. "Look, even if I don't tell them, they're gonna find out sooner or later."

Nonsense. I have every intention to keep the corruption at bay.

Riku scooped up one of the photos, holding it at eye level. "Then how do you explain this?"

For the next few seconds, not a single sound passed through the Usual Spot, save for a soft groan. It took about a half minute before DiZ finally spoke up and said, Perhaps it is worse than I feared. No matter; I will work to contain the corrupt data.

"If you could contain it, then how come you didn't try it before?"

It is due to interference from the data itself. Even now, I can only project my voice, when it used to be quite simple to display my entire image.

"And the freezing?"

A precautionary measure to maintain the illusion. It would be catastrophic if they ever uncovered the truth.

Riku slapped his hand down on the armrest. "Yeah, just one problem: they're already catching on. It's hard not to when your whole body gets distorted."

So this is what it's come to… Perhaps I should erase their memory and spare them the pain.

"Don't even think about it."

Oh? But I thought that you wished to end their suffering.

"Not if it means stripping their memories away!" His breathing grew heavy, and he gnashed his teeth, trying to withhold the urge to shout. If he blew up now, they wouldn't get anywhere. He just needed to cool down. Let DiZ's words wash over him. "Look, they deserve to know why this is happening."

But they are programs. Convincing duplicates, perhaps, but at their core, they are beings of data.

"So what? It's not like they act like mindless robots."

As I'm well aware. Don't forget that I created this world.

"And you're the reason it's falling apart."

DiZ's voice sharpened. Don't be absurd. If you had cooperated in the first place—

"Well, I didn't, and nothing's gonna change that."

DiZ moaned. You're as persistent as ever…

"And you're as obnoxious as ever." Riku grinned, though it faded mere moments later. "I bet you just want to wipe their memories to make yourself feel better. I mean, if you hadn't copied my data…"

You are right about one thing; we cannot change the past. Nonetheless, I will not have you shatter what little stability remains.

With a sharp breath, Riku slammed his eyes shut and clenched his teeth. Once he got a hold of himself, he spoke with a steady tone. "You call this stability? My friends are terrified because their world's falling apart, and I think it's time they learned why. At least that'd help them understand—"

You are becoming too attached to them.

"Are you really that surprised?"

DiZ sighed once again, his voice softening. Just remember that this is only temporary, Riku. Sooner or later, you will have to— He stopped abruptly at the sound of a moan, and Riku's eyes snapped towards Hayner. His fingers twitched. His chest started to rise and fall, and his hands flew up to his head, digging into his wiry hair.

"Ugh, my head…" Stepping back, he let his arms drop and looked around. "Did anyone else hear weird voices? I could've sworn…"

"Wait, you heard it too?" said Pence. "Good, so I'm not going crazy."

Olette covered her mouth. "But there isn't anyone else here…"

"Yeah, and it's only been a few seconds since I asked Riku to clue us in." Hayner tapped his chin. "Unless the town's freaking out again…"

Riku heaved a hefty sigh. The fact that Hayner still remembered the glitches was a plus in his book. It meant that DiZ hadn't done anything stupid just yet. Still, that didn't explain how they heard him in the first place. Another bug? He scratched his cheek, half-tempted to ask, but in the end, that'd only delay the inevitable. The fact was, he needed to speak up before DiZ had any second thoughts.

So, with a shrug, he said, "Don't worry, Hayner. I already took care of it."

"Whatever you say." He plopped down next to Riku, tucking his arms behind his head. "So, you gonna talk? I think we've waited long enough."

Riku gulped, then took a deep breath. It was now or never, really. He'd already convinced himself to let it all out. Now wasn't the time to get cold feet. He just needed a good starting point. A way to ease into the subject.

Peering across the couch, he spotted Pence fiddling with his camera again, and a light flashed inside his head. "So, you guys remember what Pence said about copying and pasting?"

"Yeah, but what does that have to do with anything?"

"It has everything to do with what's happening. And that's because…" He looked down, and in that moment, his stomach twisted and tangled into tight, suffocating knots. Those metaphorical spiders ran circles around his neck, scurried up and down his back, and sank their teeth into his flesh. His throat constricted, like it was trying to trap the words inside, and he shook his head frantically, trying to shake the haze swirling inside his skull.

Because the fact of the matter was, "This world's part of a computer." And no amount of delays would change that.

Silence followed. Riku didn't dare to look his friends in the eyes, but soon he heard a low, gruff laughter, rising steadily by the second. Next thing he knew, somebody slapped him on the shoulder, and when he looked up, he spotted Hayner wearing a crooked grin.

"Good one, Riku. Now what's the real story?"

"The one I just told you." His words carried a sharp edge, like a freshly polished sword, and he clamped his jaw shut, taking slow, steady breaths. How else was he supposed to explain this? "Look, I know it sounds crazy, but I'm not making this up."

Hayner scoffed. "Well, if this place is a program, how come it looks so real? I don't know about you guys, but I sure don't feel like a zeroes and ones."

"And I never said you were!"

"Oh yeah? But if what you say is true, then that means we're just a bunch of code! And I'm not—" He winced, squeezing his hands so tight that his knuckles turned white. His cheeks puffed up, his face turned bright red, and he looked like he was about to blow up at any second.

A tiny voice in Riku's head told him to back down, but it was too late to give up. He'd already opened the floodgates, and now it was time for some damage control. So, even with the knots in the pit of his stomach and even with chills racing down his spine, he reached for Hayner's shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze.

"…You're real, and so's this town."

Barely a second passed before Hayner swiped Riku's hand away. He said nothing, and neither did the others. Olette's eyes dropped to her lap, and she squeezed her hands together. At the same time, Pence picked up a photo. His brow furrowed, and he pursed his lips.

"…But if we're in a computer, then aren't our feelings just AI?"

"Hmm…" Riku's eyes slid shut, and he folded his arms, tipping his head towards the ceiling. "Maybe it is just programming, but the fact that you're able to question it proves that there's more to you than your coding."

Olette shivered. "W-well, I don't think there's any other way to explain what's been happening. If we were real people, our bodies wouldn't have distorted. And all the Heartless you killed always broke into pixels."

"And the blocks look like messed up graphics," said Pence. "I hate to say it, but I think Riku's right. How else do you explain what's been happening?"

"But…" Hayner gulped, biting his lip. "No, we can't explain it. And the fact is, Riku hasn't been affected by any of this, which means…"

"…I'm sorry." Riku gazed across the room, fixing his eyes on the dart board. "I would've told you sooner, but I didn't want to hurt you."

"Hey, I don't blame you." Pence managed a weak little laugh. "Who wants to hear that they're part of somebody's computer? It's a lot to take in, and I bet it's been really hard keeping it all to yourself."

"You got that right. This whole time, I've had to keep making up excuses, and believe me, it wasn't easy."

"So what's the real story, Riku? I guess it could be a virus, but those worlds…"

"It's not exactly a virus, guys. See, the guy who made this program copied a bunch of data from my memories."

Pence glanced at the photo again. "And that lines up with all the new places we've seen."

"Right. But that data got corrupted, and now it's going out of control."

"No kidding." Hayner's eyes narrowed, and he struck his knee. "So, what? Are the memories gonna keep eating our home?"

"I don't know." Not the most reassuring words, but what else could he say? DiZ claimed he could contain it, but he'd yet to do so, and if the bugs got worse, who knew if he'd even come close? It was too ambiguous. Too unpredictable, and Riku couldn't just feed them lies. Especially when one dismal fact remained.

"Truth is, I'm just as responsible as he is." He hung his head and shifted to the side. "If I hadn't lost my memories, none of this would have happened. You wouldn't have had to worry about glitches or Heartless…"

"But we wouldn't have met you." Olette cracked a small smile. It was odd, to say the least. How could she be so cheerful? Riku reached for the side of his neck, brow furrowing and unfurrowing.

"Sure, but wouldn't you be happier that way? You wouldn't have to worry about the truth, and your home would be a whole lot safer."

"But you're one of us now, and I can't imagine what it'd be like without you."

Pence nodded. "And even if things have gotten kinda hectic, it's still been fun trying to solve all the mysteries."

"…Yeah." Hayner sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "But that doesn't make it any easier. The fact is, our home's still in danger, and now we've got this to deal with." His arms wrapped around his torso, and he slouched. "And if we're in a computer, doesn't that mean we could get deleted? Or maybe even reprogrammed. Our lives aren't really in our hands, and they never were."

"It's true," said Riku. "DiZ could reprogram you, and he could probably delete you if he wanted, but if he ever tried, he'd have to deal with me. I'm not letting him treat my friends like tools."

"…So you really care about us? Even if we're—"

Riku slapped a hand down on his back. "C'mon, Hayner. I'd have to be pretty shallow to ditch you guys over something like this."

"But you've got real friends out there, like Kairi."

"And I've got real friends sitting right in front of me." He gestured at the others. "Look, I've befriended ducks, dogs… I'd even trust my Replica, and he almost killed me once."

"Seriously?"

"Yes, and it's because I learned to look past his appearance and see the good buried under his resentment." At least, that's the gist of what he got from his memories. Everything remained a haze, save for brief flashes of a purple, cage-like monster, the snow white halls of Castle Oblivion, and a bleak, stony landscape where a coffin-shaped Heartless dwelled. "And that's the thing: a good friend sees you for who you are. Sure, you might be made of bits and bytes, but I'd say you've got just as much heart as anyone else."

"…And you're not just saying that to make us feel better?"

"Heck no. I'm saying it because it's how I feel." Which, come to think of it, sounded awfully sappy. Heck, now that he'd gone and opened his big mouth, a part of him fully expected his friends to laugh.

And leave it to Hayner to meet Riku's expectations time and time again. Once a fuming, scowling mess, he let out a weak chuckle, jabbing Riku's ribs with his elbow. "Man, you've really gone soft."

Riku pushed back, of course, before crossing his arms and grinning right back at him. "Hey, somebody's gotta cheer you guys up. Sora'd probably be better at it, but I at least get points for effort, right?"

"Of course you do!" said Olette, clasping her hands together. "I won't lie, I'm not happy about this. Just the thought of being somebody's program terrifies me."

"And I don't blame you. Like I said, there's a reason I kept this a secret."

"I understand, and I'm still not sure what to think, but just knowing that we've got someone here to support us makes a huge difference to me."

"She's not the only one," said Pence. "And you know, if this world is somebody's program, then maybe it won't be too hard to fix it. All we'd really have to do is find whatever bug's causing the problem. It'd be like beating a boss in a video game."

Hayner smacked Pence's shoulder. "Man, you're sure taking this better than the rest of us."

"Actually, I'm still just as scared as you are, but I don't think we have time to worry right now. There's just too much going on."

Riku hummed, resting a fist below his chin, while his fingers rapped against the armrest. "Well, what I said before still stands. Besides, I still owe you guys that training session."

"Then what's the hold up?" Hayner sprung to his feet, smirking and cracking his knuckles. "I say we train now and worry about this whole digital thing later."

"Fine by me!" Pence slid down to the floor. "But the last one to the sandlot's gotta buy us ice cream." Grinning, he bolted towards the door, and Hayner barreled right after him.

"Hey! I never said anything about ice cream."

As the two burst out into the alleyway, Olette and Riku both shook their heads. To think that just a couple minutes ago, they'd all started panicking over the truth, and here they were, back to their usual routine. It was almost like nothing had changed. Soon Olette made her way towards the front gate, stopping halfway beneath the cloth curtain to wave at Riku.

"Well, aren't you coming?"

…Yep, business as usual had returned in a flash, but who was he to complain? With a faint ghost of a smile, Riku nodded and took one last look at the couch. He waited for her to slip outside and for the sounds of his friends' voices to die down. As soon as the silence returned, he grabbed the photos, arranged them in a stack, and stuffed them into his back pocket. With his eyes fixed to the sky, he then strode to the center of the room.

"So, you still plan to wipe them clean?"

No… You handled the situation far better than I had anticipated. DiZ paused. But remember what I said, Riku. This is a temporary retreat, and soon you will have to resume your duties as Keybearer.

"I know that, but—"

All I am saying is that you shouldn't become too attached to this world, for doing so will only bring you pain.

Riku shook his head, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "I know I'll have to say goodbye sooner or later, and that's why I want to make the most of the time I've got left. If I can at least save this world…"

You can try, but I will warn you now: If we cannot remedy these glitches ourselves, then I will be forced to pursue a new solution, and I doubt you will like what it entails…

"Oh yeah? Then just try me."

He waited for about a minute, but no answer came. Not a sound filled the air, save for the humming of the tram tunnel outside. Rubbing at his brow, Riku finally squeezed through the gate, but as he turned towards the Sandlot, something brushed past him and slipped into the tunnel. Against his better judgment, he slipped into the darkness, but all he saw was a flight of vacant steps.

TO BE CONTINUED

END NOTE: Let me tell you, this chapter drove me nuts. I went through so many edits, revisions, and rewrites before I ultimately decided to just leave it be. The section with Riku took a lot of consideration. At one point, I considered having a more somber ending, but decided that given the circumstances, the Twilight Town kids would rather focus on the big picture and save their doubts and unease for when they're by themselves. So they aren't exactly accepting their status as data 100%, and I may write scenes delving into their individual reactions for Side Stories.

The Ringabel cameo ties into the Love's Vagrant portion of Side Stories, but I kept his appearance here brief, just enough to show what Aqua had been doing off screen while everything else was going on.

There's only one chapter left before I start the final arc of TYB. The final segment will feature a much speedier progression of time, but I won't say much else beyond that. Still, next chapter should be fun, as you'll finally get to see what Roxas is up to. It's certainly been a while!