A/N: As I mentioned in my previous KHxRWBY story, I've had an idea to do a long crossover fic for quite a bit now. I hope you guys enjoy! I do not own RWBY and KH, and mild spoilers ahead for KHX!

"I have come to realize that your fates are intertwined like no other—hence I have chosen you four. This task ahead of you is far different from your past endeavors. There is very little we know at the moment, but nevertheless we must proceed. I am afraid we have little time to waste. As each day passes by, a possibly even bigger threat than the one we just faced looms on the horizon. Only this time, I fear the Light and the Darkness may not be so forgiving. Pack your things and bid your farewells. Report back here by nightfall. I will brief you in further detail and send you off"

"Yes, Master"

"Gawrsh, Sora, do ya really hafta go without us?" Goofy said with a concerned frown.

"Yeah! We're a team! We're supposed to stick together!" Donald interjected in indignance.

Sora shot them an apologetic smile "Sorry guys, but Master Yen Sid's already formed a team for this one. As much as I want you guys to tag along, I can't override his decision"

Mickey's ears flattened in sadness and worry "I understand, Sora. But won't you at least say goodbye to Riku and Kairi before you leave? I'm sure they must be worried about you"

The spikey-haired brunet's smile turned painful "I can't, Your Majesty. Master told us to finish our preparations as soon as possible. We're bound to leave tonight, so I don't think I can wait for them to return"

The King and his loyal subjects exchanged worried looks. Sora's fingers twitched, barely able to restrain himself from clenching his fists. He hated acting nonchalant at the notion of not seeing his best friends one last time before embarking on another journey. Goodness, he'd absolutely love to see them and spend time with them even for just a few hours.

If only things between them remained uncomplicated…

The boy gritted his teeth. Now was definitely not the time to be carried away with those thoughts…

"Are you okay, Sora?" the King asked, taking a tentative step towards him.

Sora nodded rapidly, although he was honestly not sure if the motion was meant to convey an affirmative response or to preclude his mind from generating more unpleasant thoughts "Yeah, I'm fine, Your Majesty"

Goofy, his ever supportive, optimistic, and kind-hearted comrade, approached him and wrapped him in a strong hug. Donald and the King shortly followed suit.

The boy stiffened at the contact at first, but relaxed and returned the embrace a few seconds later. The four stood there and held each other for minutes. Sora's heart warmed; even if the last few months were a bit rocky with his best friends, he still had other people who genuinely, deeply cared about him. The mere thought made the brunet snap his eyes shut, fighting back tears that were starting to form in the corner of his eyes.

"Take care of them for me while I'm gone, will you guys?" he mumbled in Goofy's shoulder.

"Of course, Sora" the King reassured.

"You betcha!" Donald added.

"Sure will!" Goofy finished.

The following smile that stretched across Sora's lips was genuine.

"So, I guess it's gonna be a while before we get to do this again, huh?" Axel remarked sadly as he stared at his popsicle stick.

Roxas shot his male best friend a sad smile "I guess so"

Xion rested a hand on the blond's shoulder, causing him to shift his gaze towards her "Do you really have to do this, Roxas?" the raven-haired girl asked with a deep frown.

Roxas' smile faded. If it were up to him, he would never, ever leave his best friends ever again. Just months ago, by some miracle, they were blessed with a second chance at life. But this time, they no longer had the question of "Am I real?" hanging over their heads. For the first time in their existence, they were now able to live their lives without constantly questioning if they really possessed hearts or not. They could just be themselves and do everything friends were supposed to do. And for the last few months, that's exactly what they did.

But now…

The blond rested a hand atop Xion's extended one. He gave her a reassuring squeeze before answering "Yeah, I really do. Master Yen Sid wouldn't choose me for no reason. And besides, I promised Sora that I'd help him in whatever way I can to return the favor. This'll give me a chance to do just that"

Axel shook his head, though this was unseen by the blond "You know Sora isn't like that, right?"

This time, Roxas did turn to face him "Yeah, I know. But I still want to help him"

Silence reigned. Roxas altered his gaze between his best friends. Axel just kept staring at his popsicle stick, while Xion returned to watching the Twilight Town sunset with a fake expression of impassivity.

With a deep sigh, he let his gaze drift downwards to his shoes that were dangling off the clock tower's edge.

"Look, I don't like this any more than you two do, but this is something I have to do. I just got you two back, and the last few months with you guys have been so much better than I could've ever imagined. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to protect this, to protect you two. And if that means I have to go on another quest without you, then so be it. I'm not going to let anything take our friendship away from us ever again. Not if I can help it" Roxas declared firmly.

It was rather out-of-character for the normally-reserved blond, but he found that he didn't care. These were his best friends. He would do anything to make sure they don't suffer again.

He was broken from his thoughts when the wind was knocked out of him by someone from his left. He turned and saw Xion, her arms wrapped around his neck and her face buried in his shoulder. He responded by wrapping his own arms around her waist and holding her close.

A few moments later, the blond felt a hand rest on his other shoulder. He craned his neck and saw his grinning red-haired best friend nod at him.

"Visit us when you can. And you better call us often" Xion mumbled from his neck.

Roxas returned Axel's grin and laughed "Of course"

"Running off again, eh?" Terra chuckled "Can't say I expected it so soon, but I understand"

"You've grown so much, Ven" Aqua commented warmly "We're very proud of you"

Ven scratched the back of his head in embarrassment "Thanks Aqua. You don't have to keep reminding me, you know?"

Aqua giggled and reached out to ruffle the blond's hair, eliciting a whine from the boy "Of course I do! Who else is going to remind you that you're an amazing person, especially after…everything we've been through" the bluenette's tone softened at that last part as a faraway look replaced her gentle expression.

Terra and Ven's expressions took on a more serious note. Things have gotten better over the last few months, but they still couldn't say that they were fully recovered, especially in Terra's case. At the conclusion of the battle against Master Xehanort, the three returned to the Land of Departure and sought to honor their fallen Master. They did so through various ways—erecting a grave for him, tending to the gardens where he used to spend his pastime, expanding the library, and even seeking out potential Keyblade apprentice candidates.

But despite all of that, the pain was still there. And some of them were able to move on at a much quicker pace than others…

Ven shook his head and forced a smile "It's okay, Aqua. That's all in the past. Our focus is the future now"

Aqua's warm smile returned, while Terra only nodded stiffly.

A few moments later, Aqua's smile flipped into a frown "I'm worried though, Ven. It's very rare for more than one aspiring Keyblade Master to be assigned to one particular world. Master Eraqus sent us across different realms, and Master Yen Sid did the same with Sora and Riku. We were never asked to be in just one place at the same time" Aqua hummed in thought "Whatever Master Yen Sid wants you to accomplish, it's either very important…or very dangerous"

"I agree" Terra added with a nod "Watch yourself, Ven. I don't like this 'mission' of yours, but I trust in you and what you're capable of"

"Thanks, you two" Ven thanked with a smirk.

Aqua went up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, enveloping him in a comforting embrace. He wrapped his arms around her waist and reveled in her presence.

"Come back to us, Ven. If you ever need anything, and I do mean anything, please don't hesitate to contact us. We'll do whatever we can from our end" Aqua whispered in his ear, tightening her hold on him.

Ven squeezed her in return "I will, Aqua. Thank you. Look after yourself, and…take care of him for me"

He felt the bluenette smile into his shoulder "Don't worry about us. We'll be fine. Just…don't get hurt too much okay?"

"I won't" Ven answered with a silent chuckle to himself.

The raven-haired boy stared at his palms. It had been months, but the feeling of not being…gripped by the darkness was still somehow…foreign. He no longer heard the maddening whispers that urged him to hurt others. He no longer felt the temptation to disarm those around him, and make them suffer the most painful forms of torture possible.

But most importantly, he no longer felt compelled to do someone's bidding for fear of being punished.

In other words, he was no longer just a tool.

He was now his own…person.

And it felt…odd.

Master Yen Sid had given him a mission, but unlike his former master, he did not threaten him or 'condition' him with dark magic.

Odd…

And on top of that, he was meant to fight alongside Ventus—the same boy he had been convinced to believe was his mortal enemy, the same boy who he spent his entire life trying to…eliminate.

Very odd indeed…

But perhaps with this journey, he'll be able to find out why things have become what they are.

And why he was still alive.

He clenched his fists and stood from his bed.

It was time for answers.

"I am certain you're all wondering what task lies ahead of you" Yen Sid began "As I mentioned, you four were chosen for a purpose. And perhaps it is best if I begin by detailing just exactly what purpose that is. Ventus," he beckoned, turning to meet said boy's gaze "I must ask, what do you remember from the time before you were brought to Master Eraqus and Master Xehanort?"

The question caused the blond to furrow his brows. He spent a moment to mull over his master's inquiry—until now, his past was a rather murky subject. He tried asking Chirithy for assistance, only to find out that his familiar's memories reflected his own ones. Apparently, the memories and abilities of one's familiar solely depended on its connection to its owner. In other words, his Chirithy was as clueless as he was about his origins.

"Not much, Master. Chirithy knows just about as much as I do, and I don't really know who else to ask at this point" Ven confessed sadly. At the mention of its name, Chirithy suddenly popped up and planted itself onto Ven's shoulder. The blond smiled when his familiar nuzzled his cheek.

Yen Sid nodded "I see. While that is unfortunate, I believe all hope is not lost yet on that" the older man then reached into his pocket. A moment later, his hand emerged clutching what appeared to be a…red flower? He held out the object for his four students to see.

"A flower, Master?" Sora asked with a raised eyebrow, not quite understanding the significance of the object.

"A rose, Sora. More specifically, a rose petal" Yen Sid intoned "Riku and Kairi found this in one of the worlds they explored" if anyone noticed the expression of hurt that briefly flashed across Sora's face, no one said a word "It still possesses traces of magic, and may answer a few questions. Ventus, if you will" he said as he held out the petal towards Ven.

Ven gingerly plucked the petal off his master's palm with his thumb and index finger. He held the petal near his face to get a closer look, curious to see as to what his master wanted him to look at.

Suddenly, the rose petal glowed white. Ven brought his other hand up to shield his eyes from the blinding light. Moments later, the intensity of the light died down, which allowed him to refocus his gaze on the object. It was then he noticed that the rose petal felt…warm. It was the kind of warmth that was soothing, gentle, and comforting. The sensation filled him with a sense of peace and calm.

Out of nowhere, the boy hissed and clutched the side of head in pain, his eyes snapping shut in the process.

"Is there a need to maintain the Unions?"

"Yeah, in that case, who's to say that the Nightmare you saw belongs to one of us? It could belong to anyone in our Unions"

"I hope…I hope we can all resolve this soon…"

"Ventus?" Ven opened his eyes and saw his master staring at him concernedly.

He looked around him and saw the same expression of worry on his peers as they looked at him—Sora's brows were knit together, Roxas was frowning, Chirithy cuddled up closer to him, and Vanitas…looked as indifferent as one could possibly be.

The boy shook his head to steady himself "I'm okay. But Master, what is this?"

"What happened, Ventus?" Yen Sid asked, eyeing him critically.

"I…I heard voices" Ven stammered "I could understand some words, but I have no idea what exactly they were pertaining to"

Yen Sid let out a deep sigh, and to everyone's surprise (except Vanitas), the older man stood from his chair and turned his back to them. He walked forward and came to a stop just in front of the room's only open window.

"The King and I are convinced that that particular petal is actually a conduit for a message. The kind of magic shrouding it is one that I myself have never seen with my own eyes. From what I know, the magic is meant to preserve an object through time, and will only be fully responsive once said object finds its way to the right hands. Otherwise, the secrets being protected by the magic will never be revealed"

"But Master, how come it responded to me? Are you saying that I was meant to possess this petal?" Ven asked.

"Partly, yes. That is why I asked if you remember anything about your past" Yen Sid turned around to look the blond dead in the eye and began to walk back to his desk "I am inclined to believe, Ventus, that whatever message that petal intends to convey, ultimately involves you in some way, form, or fashion" When Ven narrowed his eyes in confusion, Yen Sid gestured to the familiar perched on his shoulder "Your Chirithy is why. As you may have noticed, typical modern-day Keyblade wielders no longer have familiars. As a matter of fact, out of every student I've ever had, you are the only one who has an assigned familiar. I'm sure you are already aware, but your Chirithy is a Dream Eater, and Dream Eaters typically only exist within certain worlds. They also possess abilities exclusive to themselves, as Sora would know. Now, Ventus, if you would, please hand the petal over to your Chirithy"

Ven did as instructed. Chirithy gingerly grasped the petal with both hands, and closed its eyes as it brought the object to its chest. A few seconds of silence passed, everyone in the room watching the familiar intently. Shortly after, the creature spoke, its eyes still closed.

"This…it feels…very familiar. It's…calling out to me…to Ven…it's asking us to seek it out. To find it…to help it" Chirithy said.

Yen Sid hummed after a moment of silence "Only a being of great power has the ability to perform such magic—one that is able to communicate a message of some sorts across realms. Neither I, nor the King, can even comprehend just what kind of power. What we do know however, is that whatever that petal is trying to tell us, may more or less explain what has been happening to some worlds as of late. Roxas, I'm sure you've felt it too? These…disturbances in the Darkness?"

Roxas nodded grimly "Yes, Master. Something just feels…out of place lately. I wasn't quite sure if I should be worried, as the 'disturbances' were barely noticeable sometimes"

"May I ask you to describe further?" Yen Sid requested "Did you feel as you did in the past whenever you sensed something in the Darkness?"

Roxas shook his head "No, not really. What I've sensed lately is very different from anything I've ever encountered. I've never felt anything like it, not when I was still with the Organization, and not even when Xehanort was in the height of his powers"

Yen Sid nodded "And that is why we must take action while we still have the chance to. We believe that our discovery of that petal and the recent oddities in the Darkness are not unrelated. While I was unable to decipher the petal's message myself, I was able to trace a world which it may be linked to. This is where you four come in" He gestured to them "Your task is to travel to that particular world and find whatever you can that will help us uncover the truth behind the petal's message"

"Which world, Master?" Sora inquired.

"It is a world called Remnant. It has nearly fallen to utter darkness, as creatures of evil roam freely just about everywhere. But there are brave, capable warriors called huntsmen and huntresses who seek to defend Remnant and its denizens. This particular setting is quite convenient for you four. Due to the nature of the petal's magic, it is wise to assume that we are not the only ones seeking to solve Remnant's mysteries. Given so, I advise you to hide your identities as Keyblade wielders indefinitely, as we have yet to know what truly lies ahead. Instead, work closely with huntsmen and huntresses, or become one of them if need be. Doing so will provide you with a better opportunity to carry out your task without raising too much suspicion. This is a delicate matter, so make sure it stays strictly between the four of you. For all we know, those who seek to disturb the balance between Light and Darkness yet again may already have an advantage over us" Yen Sid instructed.

"Yes, Master" Sora, Roxas, and Ven answered.

Their teacher turned to Ven "Ventus, I leave the petal in your care as it seems to respond to you and Chirithy. Use it as a guide as you traverse the world of Remnant" He turned to Sora "Sora, the powers you have gained in your previous quests will be of exceptional use to you and your friends. Use them wisely" He then turned to Roxas "Roxas, your unorthodox abilities and powers of Darkness are invaluable assets. But take great care from falling victim to them" Lastly, he turned to Vanitas, who was just staring absently into the distance "Vanitas, you possess extensive knowledge on different worlds that even I do not have, as well as remarkable combat skills. They will serve you and your team well. It may be argued that there are others who are perhaps more suited to take up this endeavor. But I personally believe that your skillsets and unique connections with each other will allow you to succeed"

His apprentices nodded (even Vanitas managed an almost imperceptible movement of his head) in response.

Yen Sid continued "As I mentioned earlier, huntsmen and huntresses are capable fighters. They are skilled with various weapons, and are even able to perform magic…to a certain extent. While I recommend to not use your Keyblades, I do encourage you to use your magical powers instead. They should draw less attention than your actual weapons would. And, since this is what seems to be another grueling journey ahead of you, this will also serve as your Mark of Mastery Examination. Upon your return, you will all be granted the status of Keyblade Master. Also, I would like to apologize" the older man shot his confused students a sad smile "My knowledge on Remnant is limited at best. I'm afraid you will have to figure out the workings of the world itself on your own when you arrive there. Should you require any assistance, do not hesitate to call on any of your friends. Be wary of your surroundings, and use every tidbit of knowledge you can absorb to your advantage. Lastly," he grabbed an envelope from his desk and held it out towards Sora who took it "take this as a parting gift. It should make adjusting to Remnant a little easier" He then shot his students a more genuine smile "I wish you a pleasant journey"

Sora, Roxas and Ven bowed and said "Thank you, Master"

As they headed off to retrieve their things, the three blue-eyed teens exchanged a look with one thought running through their minds.

It was going to be quite the journey ahead of them.

Little did they know, that they were about to set in motion a chain of events that may either restart the Keyblade War…

Or preclude it for good.

A/N: I have to admit, the biggest challenge in this chapter was writing Vanitas' part. I will go more into detail regarding several things (e.g. how Vanitas is still alive, what happened to his powers, what happened between Sora, Riku and Kairi, etc.) as the story progresses, so please bear with me. I honestly find writing angsty Sora fun, because most fics I've read in the past portray him as a generally happy, cheery person. I'd like to explore and see what a sad/more dramatic Sora would be like.

Anyways, this chapter is simply meant to explain why the four Keyblade wielders are required to go to Remnant, which I hope you guys understood. In the next chapter, the guys arrive in their destination. See you then!