Of Keys and Hammers

by zcritic88

In a realm beyond, the Four Chaos has taken notice of a realm tied close to the heart. They squirmed into the darkness and sought to corrupt if to reach a prize beyond the light. Will the Light of Order, be able to repel this ancient evil?

31. Evil from Across the Realms

In the district, the vast group was reduced to that of Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Sora, Riku, Kairi, Aqua and a tired out Ken. Riku asked. "Ahriman was responsible for all of this?!" Sora nodded. "And... he wanted to know about Roxas... but... that lead to more questions." The boy felt a head ache as Mickey asked. "We can't let him do what he wants, what ever it is will mean more trouble for all of us."

The rest of the group agreed as the plan was in motion, Sora had Goofy and Donald follow him to a train. "We will be back, if we can find a way into that world... we can stop Ahriman before tomorrow." Donald and Goofy yelped and followed as Aqua felt there was more reasons for her trip. "I'm not sure if this town can survive another attack like this." Ken looked to the scorched buildings and promised her. "It won't! Those Monoliths wouldn't go down and I don't think keyblades would cut it." Kairi agreed and had her hands at her hips to lecture. "But firing melta shots and throwing... I think it was a grenade of light took care of that one." Riku cringed. "Or smashing the monolith so hard that it might as well have not been there."

Kendry looked exhausted and worn out. "But that obelisk was impossible. Garland is sounding like he is two crystals away to doing something big and cataclysmic." Aqua pointed towards his house. "I know, its tiring just to think about it," She smiled to both him and Kairi. "The two of you have done excellently despite the pitfalls. Well done." The students appreciated it, Ken yawned. "Thank you Miss, I'll go get some rest." He left the group be, Aqua looked decided on the next day and asked Kairi. "If you see Kendry or Ana again before I do, tell them that the three of you have the day off."

The student gave a small bow. "Thank you Master, a lot this can't wait anymore." Aqua agreed to that and smiled with Mickey as Riku asked. "Now we need to figure out how Garland knew about these things... they are no coincidence." Kairi shrugged. "Someone told him this would happen and he... doesn't seem to be lying. Sora... please don't go after Ahriman alone."

At Twilight Town, with in the mansion.

Sora, Donald and Goofy watched Pence type something up as Hayner fully agreed with what he was told. "Looks like it's about time someone beats that guy up." Olette agreed with him. "That Sorcerer messed his friend up and those Necrons would have killed someone."

Pence typed the password. "Sea Salt Ice-cream." PEW! He spun his chair back and announced. "It's all set." He looked upon the three worried. "Don't go rushing into that other world yet; if Ahriman expect all that, he might be expecting us following him right away."

Sora understood that. "What did he want with Roxas in the first place?" He folded his arms and felt a presence feeling conflicted, Hayner shrugged like that wasn't the part he cared about. "What ever the reason, he hurt Roxas by going into things better left unknown," He yelled out to the unknown. "Roxas, if you can hear us, we got you're back."

The presence Sora felt seemed calming down as a beam into the virtual world opened up, Goofy promised the teenagers. "We will be back in a jiffy." The trio went into the beam and into the virtual world, with in ruins, Sora felt warm in the heart and wondered. "Roxas really did know them." Donald wanted him to snap out of it. "Come on, let's find the corridor and get out of here."

Sora agreed with that as a curious thought came to be. "If Ahriman came here... then he was interested in Organization XIII. Why he wanted to see Roxas that badly... but what is he going to do with that info?" He followed his friends to a passage way down a hall, finding no corridor, the boy walked close to the corner and asked. "Hey what gives?!"

Donald placed his hand on his forehead as Goofy answered with similar annoyance. "They figured out that corridor was going to be a problem and closed it up." Sora felt sheer annoyance and tightened his fists. "And we can't find another way into that world because the Realm of Darkness could still be one daemon filled nightmare. What are we going to do?" Donald answered that with his own patience being low. "Nothing here, come on!"

The trio went back the way they came and back into the real world. Olette was the first to guess by the annoyed expressions. "They closed that door?" Sora and Donald nodded as Goofy sighed. "Yep." Olette snapped her fingers. "Darn it. Now what?" Sora sighed and had his hands on the back of his head. "If we come back empty handed, they will feel as down as the rest of us." Hayner agreed with that and advise as Pence got up. "There isn't really anything we can do about it now. Is... there something else going on?" The trio nodded as Sora looked defeated. "There is, but it isn't something you should worry about." The party of six concluded that there wasn't much of anything for them in the manor at the manor and took their leave, wanting to check the bistro for anything new.

In a rebuilding Radiant Garden.

Aqua guided Kairi and Anatesis to the near outskirts of town during a late afternoon, the Stormcast asked out loud. "That was what the lad's move turned into?!" Aqua nodded and looked back to the rest of the town. "A... dark move, He is just going to keep kicking himself over that until he gets it right." Kairi felt the pity. "And a lot of us are going to finally head back out there. Is he just going to stay behind to deal with that?"

Ana shook her head. "That's a bad idea even if he has this Bryn at his call." She looked interested in an adventure. "This Olympus sounds promising of answers if we are to stop Garland." She smiled wide with an eagerness for battle. "Herc might give me a reason to go all out without killing anybody by accident."

Aqua approved of the intent. "You're pretty powerful compared to any of us, so they could use the help." She stopped to think about it and heard a long yawn from behind, finding Kendry looking refreshed if a bit drowsy. "Haaaa! Sorry about being grumpy at the end Miss. I over heard Ana talking about Brynhildr, I always feel her waiting out there for me to go on another adventure, even after flying her towards some pretty scary things." He asked his teacher. "Miss, you said you need to go to that wizard tomorrow? May...may I come with you? I'll stay around the town if we know Ahriman isn't going to show up."

Aqua sighed and answered without hesitation. "No one's stopping you, but this isn't a lesson trip," Ken accepted that. "I just need to stay away from shotlocks for a while. I don't exactly need THAT move anyways and if I just keep doing it over and over-" He stopped as Kairi gave him a thumbs up. "That could be dangerous if something like that Darklurker shows up in real life while you are doing that."

Anatesis agreed. "Very!" Aqua nodded with another warning. "Or because you did use that move. Someone will take advantage of that." She calmed herself with curiosity. "I... do... want to meet Brynhildr. She's your gummi ship?"

Ken nodded, noticed something and broke into a smile, the three turned around to find a scarred gummi ship resembling a valkyrie giving off a beep of joy. The boy returned it back and rushed to her to give her an embrace. "Bryn! I'm sorry for not seeing you lately." The trio watched the affection and the signs that she had an intense battle, the Gummi Ship flashed a light on the cybernetic arm, Ken looked upon at his injury and sighed. "I had to fight against that Warmaster and he was the reason I was given a new arm. Can we not talk about that?" The light ceased its flash as Anatesis whistled. "Ya sure gave her a fine name."

Ken listened and gasped. "Bryn, how rude am I?" He stepped back and introduced the Stormcast. "This is the person I kept telling you about. Anatesis. She came back from her home to help us against the coming Chaos." The Gummi Ship flashed red lights as Ana answered. "I'm afraid we might still be having that, though that whole invasion was put to a halt thanks to you." The red lights became blue as Kairi stuck her tongue out silly. "It still isn't over." Kairi and Ana approached the ship to give her respect as Kendry had one more to introduce, he smiled towards Aqua. "I don't know what Magi was thinking when he did what he did, but I'm kind of glad this made Bryn who she is."

The teacher approached the gummi ship and asked. "These kinds of ships are what is used to travel between worlds today?" She felt like she really needed to catch up as Ken introduced his ship. "Bryn, this is Aqua. My teacher for the keyblade stuff I been learning and she is the reason I was able to pull that off." He blushed like he was confessing something. The lights of the ship flashed to a pattern of green lights that looked like a smiley face. The flashes took the form of a surprised face, the ship noticed Sora, Donald, Goofy talking with Riku, Mickey and a stalwart Dracoth. The group turned around and Aqua felt there was a change of plans. "I want to know more about these. Thank you for introducing yourself Bryn."

She asked. "Have you tried, talking with the others?" The lights shifted to an uncertain face, like she tried something she shouldn't have. Ken gasped. "You did and you think they are acting up because of you?! Bryn, it's lonely out there. Go talk to them more." The ship's lights changed to a closed eyed smile, Bryn took flight out to the unknown and left the four to meet up.

Riku felt he was having a head ache. "So we have no way into that world. Great, who is to say Ahriman isn't working with her now and are plotting something together. Gathering a cabal of villains is the next thing on their list." Mickey nodded to that. "Now we really need to stop Garland. Ahriman and Maleficent have most of the organizations secrets and they are going to use that for-" Sora guessed the rest. "To find Kingdom Hearts?! Here we go again." The dull tone spoke the rest as Ana moved into the conversation. "So it looks like most of us are heading towards Olympus while Lady Aqua takes her trip to that town I hear about. There might be one complication and her name is Brynhildr." Kendry nodded. "She wants to fly again and I... promised that I will keep out of trouble while Miss does business." The group had no problems with that as Kairi smiled tauntingly. "That would mean I get to go out on my adventure again! Ha." She promised the boys proudly. "I'll send a picture if the place is cool." She cheered loudly. "Together we will get to the bottom of this mess!" Sora's defeated mood lessened and he joined in. "Yeah, let's all do it together!" The group laughed about that, a resolve to last for the day.

In a lobby with in a black and white castle.

The Replica watched Ztardon carry away an ice chests worth of fish and a bucket of clams as Ahriman approved and finished a small lesson. "And with their only way here barred, we are free to do as we please." The Replica understood and kept his thoughts under control. "Because after that, Sora wants to kick your butt. You're not going to pull what you already pulled on me?"

Ahriman raised a finger and answered. "This is the problem, if that person Roxas knows about is that shrouded from his mind... yet he holds that person close... why?! This isn't something I could manipulate as easily as I did with bringing you back from the grave." He placed his hand under his chin as the Replica pressed his right fist on the palm of his right hand. "Because that person is different from what happened to me. But what?!" He asked. "If...you, can find that link, would it be worth bringing another person up for this scheme of yours?"

Ahriman listened as he sensed something coming. "I could, but when you are over generous, people will become dependent on you. Unless you are a god, you will only be able to provide what you can. Think about what you can actually do for others before you force yourself into a binding of which there is no going back from. With this small choir, I neglect one important aspect about you that might have been useful right about-" RIIIIIING!

Ahriman went to the door as an intruder alarm blared, the Replica took out his sword to join on the defense and was given orders. "Don't waist your effort now. Allow me to handle this." The Replica refused. "Oh come on, who could be coming here no-" ROOOOOOOOOAAAAAR! A combined, hellish roar answered his question as Ahriman ordered in a harsher tone. "You're skills are commendable, but it is far from ready against these foes! Remember where you stand."

The Replica felt the fear in his heart and nodded in obedience. "D...don't get killed." He ran to his room and left Ahriman to make his way to a large two part room, finding Maleficent and Pete's forces being quickly cut down by fifteen knights on mutated steeds that rushed through a bridge. The Sorcerer focused his mind and appeared before the knights, he raised his staff and summoned a disk, ready to take the knights head on, the emblems look familiar and Maleficent asked spitefully. "Friends of yours?" Pete laughed nervously as he asked. "We just.. want to know since these fellah's are looking all... chaosy."

Ahriman tapped his staff and caused his ten rubric marines to appear out of thin air along with ten terminators. "They are not kin of mine! Dismiss your forces and I will demonstrate." The shadow like heartless sank into the ground as the knight like heartless were dispatched by the intruders. Maleficent raised her staff and gave the rubrics a green super natural glow. "This will aid them, do not disappoint us."

Ahriman snapped his fingers and eight of rubrics rapid fired their guns as two others fired super natural fire at the knights. The knights raised their shields, felt the impact of bullets that melt through their armor and felt a burn from the fire. One of them ordered. "They hold chaotic fire! Take that sorcerers head!" The knights roared as the terminators whirled their autocannons and fired their shoulder mounted missiles.

The knights realized the amount of fire power was ready to do them in a barrier of the arcane and darkness shielded them. Ahriman backed away and asked. "But... ho-" He sensed two powerful presences nearby and nearly quaked as Maleficent was in an agreement. "They have masters supporting them." She smiled slyly. "Isn't that right Xehanort?" Step! Step! Step!

A white haired man in a scientists attire, a masked boy with red and black armor approached, with them was a being the most terrifying; crawling from the hall way. A blackened winged demonic beast with three heads, each one resembling an aspect of Khorn, Tzeentch and Nurgle, being ridden by a horned black knight with a blacken shield and a massive red sword. Ahriman looked astonished from under his helmet at the dark lord. "Wha...how... what is a Lord of Chaos Undivided doing here?!" The knight aimed his sword upon him. "CLAIMING THIS HUSK OF A FORTRESS FOR MY OWN AND YOU WILL CEASE YOUR PALTRY ATTEMPT AT DEFENDING THIS KEEP IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU, SORCERER! Dorghar, lower yourself and guard the outer castle!"

The steed lowered himself to the platform as the Chaos Lord kept a glare upon Ahriman. The scientist watched the Chaos Lord jump onto the platform and advised. "Archaon, perhaps there is a much more suitable way to make use of these...squatters." Archaon agreed with his partner in crime. "There is, Xehanort, leave this Tzeentch worshiping mortal to me."

Ahriman took offense to that. "I serve no god! You... you are... not-" He was feeling confusion as Archaon introduced himself. "I am not from the realm you came from! I am the Grand Marshal of Chaos, from realms that would seem primitive to you." Ahriman shook his head and felt something connected. "So that is why-" He felt a thought nearby and looked upon Xehanort, realizing quickly who he was. "You... you were the lord of this castle?!"

Xehanort folded his arms and stoically answered. "In a past life, I was and today, I still am." Archaon lowered his blade. "But we are feeling generous and decided against slaughtering you for this insolence." Xehanort nodded to that. "And allowing you four and your minions to remain as... guests." He turned and requested from Maleficent. "You are to meet us at the Altar of Naught, I have a preposition for you that you were keen on anyways." Maleficent stepped back as Pete felt the menacing presence from the masked boy, the witch accepted. "We are, but it is for a greater purpose?" The scientist nodded as Ahriman teleported his rubrics away and requested to the witch. "While you, Pete and the rubrics stay on the balcony, I will have to deal with my own preposition."

The two listened and let Ahriman teleport them out of the way, the sorcerer held his staff in hand. "You think me as but a simple sorcerer that knows little of the universe, Xehanort? You have no idea how long I traveled the stars in search for knowledge, I am not some subordinate to dance to your tune!"

Xehanort hovered, drew out his keyblade and caused a shadow beneath to take form as the masked boy stepped back and laughed at Ahriman. "And you couldn't figure your way around the worlds?! HA!" Archaon glared at the masked boy as Xehanort had the two step back, he formed a barrier and taunted the Sorcerer. "We will see where you stand Sorcerer."

The man readied for battle and in his right hand formed a sinister keyblade, Xehanort flew after Ahriman in fast speeds and swung, the Sorcerer's disk flew back to avoid, Ahriman looked down and watched a shadowy demon attempt to upper cut him. The seeker of darkness vanished in shadows and tried to strike the sorcerer from behind, Ahriman turned, parried with his staff and noticed the shadow demon rushing after him. Ahriman glowed and disappeared behind the man, swinging back at him with his staff, Xehanort disappeared into the shadows with the demon. Leaving the sorcerer to try and focus. WOOSH!

The shadow demon burst from the shadows along with the scientist that shot to Ahriman like a bullet and let loose a two swing combo. Ahriman took it and jabbed with his staff, Xehanort vanished to dodge as the shadow demon leaped at the Sorcerer. BOOM! An explosion of darkness came, Ahriman vanished to the side, raised his staff into the air and let loose a storm of warp fire. The shadow demon blocked the fire from his master, Xehanort shot a dozen orbs of darkness at the Sorcerer that aimed his free hand and let loose a barrage of blue bolts of energy, pushing through the orbs and knocking Xehanort back. He growled to Ahriman. "Submit!" The shadow demon flew high into the air and shot a massive orb of dark energy that warped the surroundings and pulled against the Sorcerer. Ahriman sparkled in power and flew towards the orb that tried to collide with it. PEW!

Ahriman disappeared and once again appeared behind the scientist that watched the orb collide into the ground and explode in dark blue power. "Clever, perhaps this is why you held onto this place for so long." Parry! The two clashed weapons once more, the barrier broke apart and the two ceased their sprawl.

Ahriman called a truce. "You have a plan to rise back to glory and this is to see if I am of any use to you?" Xehanort dismissed his keyblade and shadow demon. "And it is the reason you are not wasting anymore resources on this... game." Ahriman nodded as his disc lowered to the ground and vanished, leaving the sorcerer to look up the balcony. "Precisely, the fact that you are not allowing me to simply read you like so many others have is enough reasons for me to listen."

He took interest in Archaon. "You are at much a loss about the worlds as I am?" The Everchosen nodded back. "That I am, Sorcerer, but it takes much to keep you from cowering. What have you wrought?"

Ahriman had a small resume to verbally explain. "Pilfering the knowledge of this castle and towards the secrets of the worlds that my... partner showed me." The masked boy snickered to that. "Oh we're sure you were learning about nothing. What else are you hiding?" Ahriman sensed a vast void of negativity as Xehanort coughed to to the boy. "Vanitas, while you are here, you are to restrain yourself! I have a task for you soon." He politely requested. "Come, it is about time we begin."

In a room in the castle.

The Replica tried to read from a comic book as he listened to destruction ensuing. Feeling trapped and terrified to the unknown as a quiet knock was heard, he felt a presence that was familiar, but not trusting. He opened to find a skittish Ztardon looking behind him in paranoia and extended his hand left hand. "He who's fate is unknown, take into vision who is welcome in this room! Hurry!"

The Replica placed the book away and asked. "Orders from Ahriman?" The shaman nodded. "And in my own interests." The Replica obeyed and took the hand with his left, he had a vision of himself, the many Tzaangor and Ahriman. He aimed his hand to the door as the Tzaangor chanted. "Bindings of will power, see these images and allow only they to pass the confines! Until this soul deems another worthy of entry." He cawed loudly and caused a symbol of a fist to form in front of the door, a glow of blue and surrounded the room, giving the Replica a feeling of safety.

The boy felt the Tzaangor let go and asked. "Ztardon, what that was about?" The shaman jumped and tabbed his feet. "Master... met three of great power and among them is something of pure malice. He thinks you need sanctuary from that... at least."

The Replica rolled his eyes. "Great, want to bet that one of those three was someone who actually owns this place? Ahzek... please know what you are doing." Ztardon felt something forcing its way with in, it ejected out. The Tzaangor laughed maliciously. "Master knows, I think it is appropriate to learn of the corridors." He looked upon a corner of the room. "The way in and out... at you leisure."

The Replica smiled to that and went to put on his black coat. "Just so I can get out of here without risking running into what ever creeps are in this castle. Is this Ahzek's order as well?" Ztardon rolled his eyes. "He simply asked me to tutor you when he cannot." The Replica laughed sinisterly and put on his black coat over his disguise. "He wants me to be along for his plans... and at the same time, both of you want me to be free. Someday I will figure out what this all means... maybe then-" He shook his head and asked. "So... how do I open a corridor?" The Tzaangor pointed to the corner. "Focus your will and your desire, the path will open."

At the summit of the castle.

Xehenort looked upon the black sky and felt something was missing as Maleficent and Ahriman waited. Archaon noticed Vanitas trying to focus his vision towards something and ordered. "Pay attention, for you will be let loose soon enough." The masked fiend obeyed. "I wouldn't have to if someone wasn't trying to hide something from us, aren't we oh Sorcerer of Dust."

Ahriman sharply turned to him and wanted to strangle him. "That secret is under my care and you are to NEVER address me as that again." Vanitas dismissed that with sarcasm "Sure thing, I'll stay out of your business, dusty." Ahriman glowed blue as Xehanort stoically called both of the two out. "We are aware that Ahriman committed an act... forbidden upon nature and is using the results for his own agenda. That is why we gather and why... we are not tearing each other apart."

Maleficent knew who the man was talking about and had her advise to Vanitas. "Keep your friends close... and your enemies closer." Archaon agreed with that and stood next to Xehanort to announce the plan and raised his burning sword into the air to shout. "BEINGS OF DARKNESS, WE GATHERED HERE BECAUSE WE HEARD THE CALLING! TO SEIZE THE HEART OF ALL WORLDS WITHIN THIS REALM! TO REACH KINGDOM HEARTS AND MAKE IT OUR DOMAIN!" Ahriman and Maleficent were nearly knocked back by the booming voice as Vanitas kept himself to the corner, Archaon lowered his sword, yet not his tone. "BUT TO OBTAIN IT, WE MUST OPEN THE WAY!"

He looked upon Xehanort, who had a tale to tell. "A long time ago, a great war had broken loose upon the world before it became the worlds. That war was for a key to open the way into Kingdom Hearts, the Χ-blade. That war engulfed the entire world and plunged it into chaos, shattering the X-blade into twenty fragments. The seven lights that open the way to the darkness... and the thirteen fragments of darkness." Maleficent knew what the lights were. "The Princess's of Heart?! But where do we know of the thirteen hearts of darkness?"

Ahriman placed his hand under his chin and knew of the concept. "Thirteen hearts bound to the worst of human nature?" Archaon agreed with the Sorcerer on that one. "Bound to their ambitions, their greed, their violence, their hopeless stagnate minds, those thirteen are divided!" Ahriman felt the words divided as a truth. "Much like the Four Chaos." Xehanort nodded to the knowing sorcerer. "But would those darkened hearts ever unite?"

Archaon shook his head and asked the cabal. "Not so long as they are allowed to scatter on their own. Is your wish for Kingdom Hearts the same as they who stand beside you?" Ahriman and Maleficent didn't even need to look at each other, the witch smiled smugly. "Of course not, only a fool would believe that." Xehanort gave a smile in that regard. "But perhaps we could simulate those thirteen hearts for that end."

Ahriman asked with a chuckle. "And how are you going to have twelve of us do what ever you say? Duplicated yourself and take over our hearts? Use your past lives as your willing pawns?" Xehanort's stare upon Ahriman became eerily annoyed. "That would be far too complicated and ridiculous to execute. No... the idea is before us, what of the blackened hearts that would not care for who wields the power of Kingdom Hearts? For those that simply wish to see the worlds burn and would make it so?"

Archaon answered with a question. "Those who's agenda do not hinder our own? That would be easier to control and separate the followers from the leaders." Vanitas answered that. "Or those who's hearts are tainted by the touch of Chaos." Xehanort pointed to him. "Exactly, once one goes down that path, they either rise as avatars of terror... or damn themselves."

He asked Ahriman. "You, who acts on ambition has taken a heart down upon that path?" The Sorcerer denied it. "I only teach him how to be his own free person, if he wishes to go down the path of darkness, it will be alone." Archaon dryly laughed. "Something so simple would draw someone cast aside so cruelly towards Tzeentch. He only serves you and your minions out of necessity."

Ahriman confessed to that. "When he finally has the wits and will to break from me, then will he show the ambition of the heart" Xehanort listened and asked on opportunity. "That... makes him a candidate. What other secrets have you uncovered?" Ahriman answered proudly. "Perhaps of another assistance for my plans, I have... acquired the knowledge of the Organization you gathered before from the one surviving member remaining. Through him... I learned of a distorted memory that has not been archived."

Xehanort closed his eyes, had memories of a certain project and answered. "I may know what you talk about. But before we begin gathering those candidates, we have a complication." Maleficent knew who he was talking about. "Sora and his friends would most certainly seek to stop us, they were shaken by the war against Chaos... but they still have not fallen."

Ahriman laughed boastingly. "The Imperium's lap dogs are already dead or... in no further position to hinder us. They would not be able to reach us here anymore, we have plenty of time to gather while they struggle to learn."

Xehanort agreed with just as much hubris. "Ah, but amongst them is one who could undermine our plans if she is allowed to. She who had traveled across many realms to return home. Vanitas... you may leave." Vanitas mockingly saluted and opened a corridor. "She'll get the message alright. Ha!"

He walked through it as Archaon considered the meeting over. "I have my own for the bearers of light, me and my Varanguard will be gone by morning." Swoop!

Dorghar flew to the summit and awaited his master to get on, leaving the two in staves and robes, Maleficent glowed in green fire for her own plan. "I was on my way to acquire an ally, he would be etiquette among the thirteen." WOOSH! Ahriman was left alone as Xehanort spoken of a name. "Xion...that is what you saw."

Ahriman suppose it was and advised him. "I know the location of Xion's demise, it is how I brought my ward back from oblivion. With a simple manipulation of time, the clock can be set back. But... we are to time ourselves at just the moment. It is directly underneath the one Imperial soul remaining and dispatching of her would make her even more of a threat again." Xehanort laughed amused. "One of them actually fell to darkness?!"

Ahriman rolled his eyes underneath his helmet. "It is slightly more complicated than that, but she gave up her light to dispel the taint of Chaos that was unleashed... by a daemon I am familiar with. As of now, that Sister of Battle is broken and she is to stay broken. I read into the memories of one of the guardians of these worlds, that is how I acquired the knowledge."

Xehanort agreed and asked. "What of that daemon? What do you know of it?" Ahriman answered and let a corridor open up. "A Daemon Prince that lurks with in the shadows, we are to not involve him with our plans. They are beings of darkness that gave up their humanity to become the instruments of the Chaos Gods."

That Xehanort understood. "For just one of them could unmake our plans and devolve it into pure chaos." Ahriman nodded. "It is a mistake another Sorcerer made. Sanity is a blessing. Now we can travel, for dusk comes." The two traveled into the darkness for a ritual unspeakable.

At a room.

The Replica opened a hole into the darkness and cheered. "YES! Finally." Ztardon nodded and chirped. "Excellent, do you know where it will take you?" The Replica nodded. "Towards the one town I know... he won't be coming to anytime soon. It's one of the reasons I went fishing and hunting over buying... what wouldn't even be close to what you got."

Ztardon pointed a finger and cawed. "So you do have your own plan!" He gave a respectful bow and walked backwards to the doorway as the Replica pointed back. "What I do from here isn't your business! You got what you wanted." The Tzaangor wasn't arguing and opened the door to travel through. "You learn fast."

The door closed, the Replica stepped into the corridor and ran as fast as he can, the one moment of true freedom from a mundane choir and freedom from the burdens of reality. A light was at the end of the tunnel, he rushed out to find himself in an alley way that lead to a vibrant, colorful town that was under gorgeous stars. The replica took off his coat, his sun glasses and hid under his hood, finding an ice cream stand that had two teenagers, one looking dog like and another looking cat like, waiting next in line. The dog like teenager noticed another coming. "Wow, check this one out P.J."

P.J turned and was impressed. "Nice duds!" He waved. "Hey!" The Replica waved back and kept his face in the dark, adjusting his voice to sound a bit younger. "Hey, I heard of about the ice cream here. Is it any good?" P.J nodded. "Ha! Totally, right Max?" Max nodded and felt there was another ice cream buddy to be had. "We come here every other night. What's your name?"

The Replica quickly thought one up. "Dupmic, the names Dupmic." The teenagers were fooled and welcomed him in, Max chuckled. "Well Dupmic, we got a late night arcade and no one is around to stop us. Think you can handle it?" The Replica took the challenge and readied his munny pouch, smiling to his options. "Totally."

At Twilight Town's tower.

It was the cover of night and two sinister figures standing before a ripple of shadow and warped distortions. Xehanort recognized the fuzzed vision before him. "So it was here it vanished off the face of the earth and from the memories of those who held it dear." Ahriman sighed and focused his will. "So much of Xion was wiped away that only a sliver trace of it existence was kept with in the subconsciousness. That boy really didn't wish to let it go, this might take much more than turning back the clock to make Xion remotely stable. Temporal manipulation is a delicate procedure as it is."

Xehanort cared little for that. "It will be stable, for its existence will have a different purpose." Ahriman understood and felt his fingers slipping from something. "A potential candidate much like the other and where his ambition will guide him." He relaxed his fingers and felt he was in a grip of something. "I think I got a tether of its essence." Xehanort felt the presence and tightened his grip, the two pulled and from the warped distortion, a body of ice formed, melding itself into what appears to be a young girl.

Xehanort crushed something with in his grip, Ahriman watched the distortions flicker away as the scientist explained. "So she would not defy us like she had before. Her memories will be brought to a slate, only you and I will know of her existence, for that will all she will know and envy. Is there one of the four that feeds off isolation and despair?"

Ahriman nodded and adjusted his hands. "Nurgle, it takes a desperate soul to seek company from him, he welcomes all, in spite of the madness." The ice vanished, the two looked upon a still girl with short black hair, the sorcerer picked her up and let the man know. "It is done." He looked around to find no one watching as Xehanort kept a corridor open and guided him. "Now let's leave before someone notices." The man disappeared as Ahriman followed, back to the realm of nothingness.

At an arcade.

The Replica finished a rabbit themed, honey dripped ice cream cone and watched Max and P.J play an odd fighting game that featured some characters he read about in a comic. Max was playing as a man in an iron futuristic suit as P.J picked a hulking green man. PEW! PEW! PEW! POW! The Hulk finished off an Iron Man with a mighty punch, ending a game with Max hiding under a hood in defeat and P.J dancing wildly in celebration. "Oh yeah, who smashes?" Max muttered. "Hulk smashes."

He turned to the hooded boy putting on sun glasses for what was assumed to be good luck. "Dupmic, you're saying you never played one of these in your life?" The Replica shook his head. "It's... complicated, but my Dad mostly got me books, including comics and manga. So it isn't that bad when I can tell who most of these characters are."

He took Max's place at the two person arcade machine and put in a couple coins. "Like this one." He moved over to a man in a mostly red suit with blue highlights, the red portion of the suit looked to be themed like a web and the man had black spider emblem to go along with the attire. "Peter Parker, also known as Spider Man. I wonder how he plays in this game." P.J had an adrenaline boost and put more coins in without a care. "Ha! Don't matter to me, P.J smash!"

The two picked a stage resembling a city and began battle. At the word fight, P.J went to the buttons like a fiend and caused Hulk to jump towards Spider Man to let loose a combo. The Replica adjusted his joystick upward and pressed a button to cause Spider Man to shoot a web to the ceiling and swing past Hulk, P.J knew what was coming. "Oh let's see how you can swing out of this!"

He caused Hulk to head butt against Spider Man to send him flying, Hulk let loose a combo again, finishing Spider Man off with a leap that brought down a Hulk driven meteor. SMASH! The first round ended. The Replica felt he gotten a strategy down and watched Hulk charge again, he had Spider Man slow Hulk down with web shots and went in for a quick hit and run combo. Tricking P.J into having Hulk charge after Spider Man, the Replica went for the web swing, dodged Hulk and had him slowed for another hit and run combo. The Replica pressed a button and smiled aggressively as Spider Man let loose a finisher that knocked Hulk out for the second round. Leading to the tie breaker. P.J tried to time the charge as the Replica had Spider Man jump over the Hulk, knock him into a combo and use the web sling to slow him down, using speed and hit and run to bring Hulk into another finisher. FLASH! "Player 1 wins!"

P.J's jaw dropped. "Wow!" The Replica folded his arms, felt his pockets were loose and sighed. "Hey, being hyper aggressive has its perks... but-" His smile became smug as he folded his arms in victory. "I can think two steps ahead of that. Good game."

Max looked at the time and cringed. "Eek! Look at the time." P.J turned and gasped. "Uh oh!" The Replica looked to find the time a couple hours short of midnight and sighed. "Well, that's that." The two teenagers agreed and went out with the Replica, wanting to get back home as Max casually in a calm manner thanked his new friend. "Sorry we couldn't show you more of the town, Dupmic, but this was fun."

The Replica agreed and felt relaxed. "It beats fishing and digging up clams. You two are alright. Hmm." He walked off in an attempt to look cool. "Maybe next time, I'll bring some comics along and try to come earlier." P.J looked forward to that. "Ha, that be cool dude." Max observed and wished the Replica off. "We will see ya." The Replica nodded and felt the parting, giving the most genuine smile he had in his whole existence as he went to the alley way, put on his black coat and thought to himself. "I'm stuck with a name that stupid until I can drop it, but it was so worth it."

His coat was on and he focused his ambition and desire to learn into making a corridor back home. He walked through it and traveled to the otherwise with ease, finding himself in a familiar lobby that reeked of death and flies. He took a whiff and looked around to find an image of nightmares, a sickly pale, bloated, humanoid demon with open sores, maggots wriggling with in the flesh, exposed entrails and a near fatherly smile that was comforting a teenage girl with short black hair and blue eyes. "And the wanker didn't even know you got up to explore?! That's a shame little Xion." The girl watched a tiny demonic puss ball of limbs and horns playing around in its own filth and asked depressed. "It isn't just him, why does everyone around me act like I don't exist?!" The demon rolled his beady red eyes looking just as confused. "Does it matter? We are here and we see you just fine."

The Replica wanted to scream and spoke at the insanity. "What the hell is this?!" The girl heard him, turned around and revealed ocean blue eyes, she asked desperately. "You are actually seeing me?!" The Replica nodded and was too terrified of the demon to draw his weapon. "Y...Yes." The demon gave a deep chuckle and smiled towards him. "She needs the company, even someone as foolishly ambitious as you would suffice."

The Replica felt petrified and was distracted by a tackle of affection, he felt Xion embracing him and instinctively embraced back. "H...Hey Xion." The girl looked up to him. "Yes?" He asked as he tried to look away from the demon that was being amused. "Do you mind if I try getting to the bottom of this, after that... I'll show you more in the morning."

Xion gave a wide, charming smile, like a little sister. "I would love to." The boy let go and watched her go back to the demon. "We are going to see what all this is about. Thank you for talking with me Bubon." The horned demon nodded back, looked like he was warmed in his rotten heart and watched a horned Sorcerer approach the room in horror. "If you feel alone again, I'll be here."

The demon and his smaller kin disappeared without a trace as the Replica turned to find Ahriman looking upon Xion. "Azhek, did you have something to do with this?" The Sorcerer looked around and ordered. "Not out here." He lead the children towards the warded room. With in, Xion was looking at all the books with glee as Ahriman answered. "Yes, I found information of another like you and sought to repeat the ritual with a... assistant of mine that was counting on that happening."

The Replica asked back. "But, you had you own plans for this since you were pretty jolly about owning this real estate yesterday." Ahriman chuckled and looked upon the jolly, if slightly foul smelling girl. "You could say... I'm the reason you were able to see and touch her. Xion." The girl turned around and looked at the otherworldly attire. "Hmm?" Ahriman lowered himself to explain. "Because of some instances in your past life, that I never delved in, you're memory has been reset. My... assistant, who you probably saw, considered to make your current condition much worse. But as the Replica said, I had my own plans. You are to not speak one word of this out of this room and should you go out on your own, you are to pretend that the world isn't aware of you... unless you find more anomalies like you and I." The Replica smiled to the rest of the plan. "Once that happens, we can mark it off as a glitch and deem it too late to do something about it."

Xion sighed. "But this does mean most of the people here wouldn't know about me or see me... if they do, they are going to pretend not to." Ahriman nodded and instructed the Replica. "In your closet is a spare mattress that was intended for something else. Repurpose it!" The boy did as instructed and realized what the something else was, tensing into a frown and taking it out, he laid it next to the window and put a pillow on top. "There, it's a bed, like its suppose to be, not a place for hostages."

Ahriman raised himself and gave no comment. "For now, you two share this room until further notice. Replica, what happens with her is on you, do you understand?" The boy nodded. "Clearly, I know what to do tomorrow."

Ahriman hoped he does and left for the door. "The Tzaangor may have found a pathway somewhere, so that should be your only task. Good night." He opened the door and walked past it, the Replica sighed. "Good night."

The door closed as Xion asked wide eyed. "What are we going to do?" The Replica answered and laid down on his bed. "Town, you need that thing washed and you need something more fitting for when we go out to the outer worlds. What Azhek didn't count on... or he might have, was we can go out at any time I want." Xion laid on something semi comfortable and looked forward to that. "You don't trust Ahriman?"

The Replica shook his head. "He was one of the people who brought you back and messed around with your head and he is keeping me around for what ever... puzzle box plan he is up to. But..." His eyelids half closed. "But it was nice of him to pull some strings under the other guys nose. If... some one asks about me, I'm Dupmic." He cringed as Xion thought nothing better. "It's better than being called a Replica. You thought of that name by yourself?" The Replica laid down exhausted. "Yes, now gets some sleep." Xion closed her eyes and felt her mind sailing. "Good night."

During a bright morning at Radiant Garden.

Sora, Donald and Goofy gave their goodbyes to Kairi, Aqua and Mickey at the exit of the town, the spikey haired boy noticed Riku, Ana and Moonfang coming. "So we need to find Herc and tell him about Garland." He smiled to Kairi and brightened her day. "I hope the next world is as fun as the last one." The warm smile radiated as Riku was talking something to Ana. "It could work for Moonfang to be with us even in places where she can't come... but what Merlin was suggesting sounds... extreme."

The Stormcast agreed and petted her willing Dracoth. "She connects with my heart and becomes a personal summon." She asked Aqua. "Lady Aqua, permission to see that summon stone?"

The keyblade master nodded and gave it to her. "What are going to do with it?" Ana held it close and placed it around Moonfang's neck, she aimed her hammer like keyblade at the pendent, it glowed with the stone and the Dracoth's heart. "Something unheard of until now, Lady Aqua." The Dracoth roared in valor as she and the pendent faded in star like light, the light connected with a storm like glow with in Ana's heart. The Stormcast's eyes gave off a glow mixing the two together and felt like two feelings became one. "Ha!" She smiled under her helmet and towards Riku. "Me and Moonfang will lend you our strength as we travel to Olympus."

The boy was near envious and decided against a desire. "I want to know more about those Dracoths." He turned to Mickey and wished him luck. "I hope you, Aqua and Yen Sid catch up." Donald smiled to that as Goofy wished the two being left behind luck. "Take care." The group gave a parting and split, leaving Mickey and Aqua behind, the mouse asked her. "Are you sure you want to take a gummi ship?"

Aqua nodded eagerly. "This how we travel between worlds these days and Bryn interests me. You can go take the train while I wait for my other student to wake up, he is normally early." Mickey understood and readied to leave. "I'm sure he is awake, I'll see you soon."

With him leaving, Aqua went to the main district to wait, feeling an odd presence watching her, she drew her keyblade out as she felt the eyes coming from the shadows. WOOSH! Aqua felt purple chains coming at her from the left and right, she rolled to her front and dodged two that crawled from the ground. She landed and was snared by four more, two tying her feet down and two tying her arms down, she pulled and thrashed as she noticed a figure silently walking from an ally, a certain red figure that had a keyblade ready. Aqua glared and pulled. "What is a freak like you doing here?!"

Vanitas asked back. "What are you doing here? Isn't there something you were suppose to do? Or did you put you precious friends to the sideline like I thought you would?" Aqua gritted her teeth and tried once more to pull, the chains were not letting her, she sensed the sadism that spoke. "It took you so long to get here and that's what you were doing." Vanitas raised his blade in the air for a strike. "I have message to deliver, the Darkness is coming whether you like it or not. Say hi to it fo-" PEW!

Aqua noticed a snipe shot from the south west corner, puncturing Vanitas in the chest and pushing him back, she and the fiend turned to find a sight that was less than comforting. A blonde boy in a brown jacket, purple shirt and black pants, Vanitas saw a cybernetic arm that held onto a gun like keyblade that aimed at him and was giving off smoke, on the boys other arm was a burning keyblade. Aqua wanted to yell at her student to run, Ken yelled out to Vanitas. "Get out of my town! Didn't you see all the wreckage? It doesn't need anymore havoc."

Vanitas turned towards the boy as Aqua helplessly tried to break free, he asked in an extremely disrespectful tone. "Who are you?" Ken spun his burning blade to flicker out an ember as he refused to answer. "Get out of my town or I'm aiming for your head." Vanitas looked at the keyblades, the awkward pose of a melee and ranged keyblade and laughed at Aqua. "HA! Is this what you were wasting your time on?!"

Ken had something to verbally shoot at. "I'm the reason she didn't leave yet and that's my teacher you're disrespecting." Vanitas found it more hilarious as Ken felt the gaze was upon his burning blade, the boy hissed to him as Aqua's mouth stiffened, she shook her head to warn him not to talk about the keyblade. The boy didn't get the warning and barked. "Yeah, yeah, where did I get a cursed keyblade like that? I shouldn't be running along with it. Tell me something I haven't already been told and get lost before I pull the trigger."

The laughter stopped as Vanitas realized the boy wasn't running and was in over his head. "Okay, how about this." PEW!

Vanitas vanished, Ken yelped and shot himself to the otherside of the district, dodging a swing and landing with his keyblades ready. He fired as his feet touched the ground, Vanitas's image stilled as the beam made contact, Ken jumped to his right and parried with his burning blade, parried the reappearing foe and was being pushed back as Vanitas coldly announced. "You're not coming out of this one alive."

Wack! He upper cutted and sent the boy flying, Vanitas went in for the kill as Aqua noticed a faint wind pushing her student back. Ken dodged with a flow of wind aimed his burning blade downwards and looked to be in pain, Vanitas aimed to shoot out a black orb with a fire in the center.

STAB!

BURST!

The fire close in to a figure that burst into flames, Vanitas looked astonished. "Wha-" Woosh! He turned to a corner he been, finding a flame expanding to as if it let something through and finding the boy rushing to another corner of the town, firing a charged shot at his foes stomach, causing a rather stinging feeling of pain. Ken placed his two blades together and yelled. "Eat this, you psycho!" Vanitas disappeared and appeared to the left of the boy, looking done with his tricks and readying a stab. Ken jumped back as both Cadia's Light and Firekeeper's Wish gave off a glow, one in light and the other in ashes, he stabbed the ground and gave off a flash of light. Vanitas felt blinded for a moment and found himself in a fog of ashes and cinders. "*PFF! You call that a finishe-" He realized what the boy did and heard the sound of chains being broken. WOOSH!

He turned, saw Aqua flying after him him with just fury, jumped out of the way and out of the fog cloud. PEW! He parried against a laser beam and realized he was cornered, he jumped back and caused a corridor to open, giving both a chill in their spines as he left in silence. Ken flashed back to a few silent gestures Aqua tried to give him and was given a sharp. "Kendry!"

The boy frowned and cringed. "Yes Miss?" He was met with a scolding gaze, Aqua asked. "What did you think you were doing?!" Kendry answered with his nerves functioning. "I was shooting first and thinking later about, how was I going to get to those chains with him after me. Then how I was going to shake him off, knowing he isn't dumb to let me." The scolding look didn't lessen. "So you used something like a smoke bomb to do it, using a flash of light so he won't see you in the ashes as you made a run to free me." Ken nodded. "I don't think that's going to work again." He looked across the town. "Daemons, looneys ready for war, monoliths... I don't like seeing this town get wrecked. Where else can we go?"

Aqua snapped her fingers to demand focus. "Kendry, pay attention." The student stood firm, the teacher had another on the list. "And he wasn't helping this place recover. If you didn't come and done that... it might have gone worse. Thank you."

Kendry guess that wasn't why he was being lectured. "But he knows me and things are reversed now?" Aqua nodded. "And if he is showing up...this means those other two I spoke of are somewhere among the worlds. You're good at escaping, think about that idea before you go out on your own and get yourself in a mess like that." She exhaled and smiled. "Are you ready to get going?"

The boy smiled back. "Yeah, there is a small detour on the way, maybe I will keep him from coming back if this thing we need... hadn't been blown up. Ha." He took out his gummi phone and texted. "The others need to know, both of the guys you talk about are pretty bad news." Aqua appreciated it and followed. "That would help them out. We will talk about this more when we get to the town, okay?"

Ken nodded and texted. "Town got hit by V. A and X might be around." He showed the text to his teacher, who approved. "They'll figure that out." Kendry sent it and lead the way out. "I hope they do."

With in the lane between.

Sora, Donald and Goofy noticed their gummi ship sailing more adventurous than they expected, heading towards the world they sought. Bleep! Sora picked up the phone and asked. "V, A...X?! What does tha-" He stopped thought about and nodded. "Oh. Those three we were told about. Vanitas...Archaon...Xehanort?!"

Donald and Goofy worried, the shield bearer asked. "Did something happened?" Sora nodded. "More trouble besides Garland." He felt himself close to the world and readied. "Let's hurry and find Herc." PEW!

In a flash of light, the trio found themselves under a mountain ledge, much to their surprise, the trio looked around and Sora asked. "No fanfare?" The boy poorly mimicked a trumpet and Donald tried to listen for it, he didn't hear it. "Uh-uh." Sora felt like he was losing it as Goofy looked around. "Nope, looks like we missed the Colosseum."

Donald had his hands at his hips. "Sora, you were the one driving." Sora laughed nervously and had his right hand behind his head. "I was a little off again. Sorry!" He gave a small flex in a gesture. "We'll find him, but we need to go!" He lead the way to the mountain, Donald asked. "Up the mountain?" Sora turned around and agreed. "Yeah, "Up" is the usual direction." The duck realized it was going to be a long trip as Goofy looked on the bright side. "Well, never hurts to have your head in the clouds."

Sora agreed back. "Exactly!" He walked off ahead, Goofy chuckled as Donald pouted, Sora let him know. "Hey. We're leaving!" The duck yelped, realized he was falling behind and followed, towards the sound of brief fighting, finding at the end of the tunnel, a structure with a couple columns and a blue marked floor, a heartless swarm of three knights, four shadows, a fat soldier and winged armored fiends were being quickly over run by Riku and Ana, the silver haired boy focused, hovered and fired a barrage of dim fire balls against the vast swarm as Ana crushed the fat soldier with a quick combo, bull rushed the shadows and caused her keyblade to change shape into a metallic axe. SWOOSH!

A cleave of lightning wiped most of the horde away, leaving the ones Riku was clearing out as the left overs. The trio let the arrivals know they were around. "Riku, Ana." The two noticed them, Ana looked high up the mountain as Riku had a rivals like smile to Sora. "Beat you to this batch, you think we got sent to this part of the world for a reason?"

Ana nodded and found no set of stairs. "It's that text Riku, you were quick to know what the letters mean." Riku agreed with that and was tempted to try something difficult to believe. "Vanitas was trying to attack Aqua and we know Ken wouldn't be able to handle him alone. Xehanort is lurking in the shadows plotting something again, but it is Archaon that kept you anxious. You... think he would come here?"

Ana felt it in her bones. "When ever civilization, order and... gods are in one place, him and his minions are not far behind. Beware the Varanguard, they are beyond any heartless or nobody you battled before."

Sora looked up the wall and knew what Riku was thinking. "But what are they?" Ana looked at Donald and Goofy with an idea. "I only battled them once, they are Archaon's personal elite. Hand picked as the best of the best, a Chaos Lord... even a Daemon Prince... the things most who follow chaos seek to become, are nothing before the Varanguard. We should hurry and travel, find some civilization and warn them." She asked the four in an attempt to change the mood. "Ya need a lift?"

Sora and Riku refused, the spiky haired teenager asked his friend. "Race you to the top?" Riku took the challenge. "Ha! You're on!" The teenagers went to a wall and ran up, Ana questioned the physics, dismissed her keyblade and let Donald and Goofy hold onto her. "This is going to get bumpy."

She flew high and followed the boys racing up the mountain, Goofy and Donald held tightly as the boys dashed to their right and kept racing, neck and neck as the Stormcast followed in flight, up to where they reached a ledge over a circled marking of dead trees. Ana placed the two down and let them follow as she turned around to find more marvelous structure, walking backwards and feeling someone watching beside her. "Such a place that reaches the heavens." She turned to follow the rest of the group, Sora and his friends looked upon the world bellow, a distant city and a lush field.

The group felt at a loss from the climbing as Goofy voiced something. "I think we might be goin' in circles." Riku doubted that. "We climbed all the way up so-" He turned to find a cave, then to a passage bellow, he felt lost thinking about it. "We are going into a maze." Sora felt it was mutual and asked. "Did I make a turn at the wrong rock?" The boy shouted to the vast unknown. "Hey, Hercules! Where are youuu?"

Riku and Ana noticed with in the vast sky, a bolt of smoke descended down, right in front of the cave. Sora, Donald and Goofy turned to see what appeared, with in the smoke, a familiar fast talker spoke. "All right. I know I doted my I's, crossed my T's and zeroed the hero." The smoke cleared, revealing an old foe Sora had dealt with, a blue humanoid with his head a light in a blue flame, wearing a black toga. Hades asked without a care and looking incredibly bored, even with Riku and a figure that resembled a demigod. "So what gives? Who could possibly be trying to give me a migraine by yodeling that yutz's name?"

He looked more at the trio first, Sora asked just as bored. "Really? Hades?" Hades sighed. "Oh' it's just you. Oh vey." He gave attention to Riku foremost, then to Ana. "And ya friends. Nice to meet ya, Odin rang?" Sora and the group were not amused, the boy had his hands at his hips. "It's just us? Even for you that's cold."

Hades wasn't having it, approached and pointed down at him. "Don't forget-" His fire and skin became red. "I can always turn up the heat!" Goofy asked as he was looking around. "Wait. If Hades is here, then where is Herc?" Hades asked and was roaring to Goofy in the red glow. "What is everyone's infatuation with that dolt?!"

He cooled back to blue and turned around to ignore them. "You know what? Never mind. Never mind. I'm cool. I'm good. Because..." His voice darkened. "Wonderboy'll be outta my hair soon enough." The five drew their weapons out, Sora accused. "So you're up to no good again!" Goofy agreed with that. "Of course he is." Donald agreed as well. "You bet." Riku readied his blade with a simple thought. "How can anyone scheme in times like these?" Ana held onto her hammer firmly. "Because he is another petty one, that's how."

Hades turned back to them to deal with the hostility. "Whoa, easy- what is this Sparta? Kind of on a schedule. Don't have time to deal with the old fire and brimstone." He shoo'd them away and left Anatesis annoyed as he turned back in waiting for something. "The whole cosmos is basically waiting for me to, you know, conquer it!"

Sora, Donald, Goofy and Riku with drew their weapons, the spiky haired boy mocked. "Poor Hades. He thinks he can actually pull it off this time." Riku raised two fingers and showed a third, Anatesis puffed her cheeks and dismissed her weapon, seeing the three fingers telling her enough. "It's like dealing with a grot boss. No matter what ya do, they never learn."

Hades yelled out to the sky. "Where are my Titans? Show me your power!" The sky rippled, the ground rumbled. Sora, Goofy and Riku readied to confront what was approaching as Donald hid behind, Anatesis braced herself, finding a skinny giant of ice, a round giant of lava, a round two headed rock giant and a massive twister with red eyes. The giant of ice and wind blew against the five upon seeing them. Pushing four of them back and causing Ana to try and push against the force. The mountain bled lava and added a mixture of heat that Hades reveled in. "Ahh! Love the breeze!" The wind became stronger than the four could endure and they were blown away screaming. Ana gasped, took flight and went after them.

Hades felt the storm ended, turned around and scratched his chin. "Ahh. That sent 'em sailing." He realized the direction the group were flying towards might be a complication. "Sailing right to where I left..." He chose to stop caring and went towards the Titans. "Eh, no biggie." He instructed. "Nice work, boys! So, back to the whole cosmic coup thing?" Rumble! The four went to climbing the mountain, Hades waved them off as a corridor opened.

He heard the ripple and stopped, feeling he was annoyed enough. "Ugh. Really? Are you kidding? Geez Louise. Seriously, when it rains, it pours." He turned to find two figures coming out. "Okay, who's the new pest?"

Maleficent and Pete stepped out, the fat cat greeted him smugly. "Hey, now, that ain't no way to say hello, especially to you're old friends." Hades was even less impressed. "Oh, perfect. Now I gotta put up with you two. Funny, I don't remember you doing me any memorable favors. So, you can keep your Heartless this time. I'm going back to my original plan. All right?" He tried to convince them to leave. "So...toddle-oo! Exit's thataway," He became more sarcastic. "Hey, it was great seeing ya!" He nearly burst into a tune. "Happy traaaails!"

Maleficent wasn't amused. "I have my own business to attend to, but we are here to ask regarding a Horned King you have heard of." Hades rubbed his forehead and asked. "Let me guess, red robe? Horns? Working for some bone head that wants to steal my turf? A turn coat just dropped by a while ago singing about that Nagash." Maleficent answered calmly. "Then you know the threat he is to you. All I ask is for a means to undo his bindings to this Nagash and rid us of a complication."

Hades tapped and thought. "Hmm... a god of death, a god of death. Ah, I left some doodad at home that could throw him off, a skull tied to some thread for what I get to a chat with Thanatos. You're looking for that?" Maleficent squinted her eyes. "Possibly. If I were, that would be where in the Underworld?"

In Twilight Town.

Xion watched the Replica adjust his blue hoodie and cursed something he did. "I spent most the munny I scavenged right before you showed up. Just... explore, get a good sight, because the next time we come here, it's going to be for a mission... that's hopefully important."

Xion looked around and was enthralled by the flashing lights. "We are going to go shopping together?" The Replica nodded. "And I know a store where the shop owner doesn't care what you look like or would care what the clothes are for as long as he gets his munny. I'll be out getting posters set up in the mean time, if anyone... asks, I'm you're brother." Xion smiled widely like a little sister. "Okay big bro."

She took off towards a variety of sights and left the Replica feeling warm. Xion waved at the many towns people and saw that they were unaware, feeling alone once more and noticing white wiggly creatures flying away from the top of a bell tower. She looked more curious and sneaked across, at the base of the tower, she found a blonde boy in a brown jacket and a pair of black pants, taking a lecture from a brown haired girl in a black shirt and red pants. "It been days since you made that slip up Ken, but... good work stopping that Warmaster."

Ken blushed and spun a cybernetic finger. "I shouldn't have gave Wanda my phone, sorry about blowing you off Olette." The girl felt it was water under the bridge. "But you showed me that video Kairi made about that fight between you two. Wow." Her emerald eyes shined. "Wow. Now she has a teacher and everything, bet that hooked Sora in." Ken snickered. "Totally! They are dorks together and someone is so going to catch them in that act." Olette felt the mischief and giggled. "You're going to get beaten up again if they catch you treating this like a show. I just hope that moment happens here."

The two high five each other in understanding what was promised. "I'll be sure to not leave my phone behind and get the camera ready just in case it happens away from here." Olette whistled to ask. "Me and the guys are going to the bistro later for a bite to eat, do you think you're teacher will let you goof off?"

Ken shook his head. "Taking all the studies too seriously is what nearly got me into trouble and due to some scary things happening again-" His eye lids dropped in annoyance. "this time is something that will make sure I'm dead, I ought to lighten up and keep an open ear anyways."

Olette agreed with him on that. "It stinks that the sword used to keep the other town safe is gone, but there isn't a point to mope now." She winked to him. "We might share some mysteries we found across the town." Ken looked forward to that. "I'll see you in an hour."

Olette walked past Xion without concern for who was there, being among the many who were unaware of her existence. The boy noticed something, wanted to say something and was more confused. "Did... she knew you were there?" Xion gasped and asked astonished. "You can actually see me?!" The boy gasped back and asked. "She isn't the only one that couldn't?" He looked more confused, shrugged it off and look a look at her. "What's your name?"

Xion gasped, smiled and let her eyes shine. "Xion, you're name is Ken?" The boy nodded. "Kendry, but I like the short name. Do... you need help with that... problem? Because Olette wouldn't have done that if she knew you were there."

Xion doubted he could help her with that. "I might... but I don't know where to start. Could... you help me with something else?" Ken guessed by the black coat. "Clothes shopping? Are you saying that coat is the only thing you have?" Xion blushed, looked like she wanted to cover herself and yelled at him embarrassed. "Don't ask that." Ken cringed ashamed of himself. "It.. wow, I'm sorry for asking." He took out his munny pouch and lead the way. "You pick and I'll pay, deal?" Xion blinked and nodded. "Deal!"

At the Mysterious Tower.

Aqua finished her story to Yen Sid and apologized for being late. "And I had to get comfortable from going from Azyr, to that... Planet Killer and to the town. That's why I waited a couple days before coming here." She smiled to the wizard. "It's been a long time since I been here in person. It's good to be back." Yen Sid smiled proudly to a fellow teacher. "You have taken a major step that comes with being a Keyblade Master, there is nothing to be ashamed about having students of your own." His smile lessened to a fact. "But with the catastrophe Abaddon has wrought, the hearts scarred because of him, Ahriman's attempts to uncover things best left with in the unknown and Xehanort's return upon the worlds being a certainty with his minion let loose, any further delay would have been unacceptable in these tiring times. With the path to that world closed, that could be the Pandemonium we seek."

Mickey agreed with that. "And if Xehanort and Archaon are hiding there, they will know if we try coming for them. We don't know where to start with that, but with you here... we can at least try." Aqua understood. "We need to figure how to wake Ventus up, his body is safe from even time, but his heart... I can't go back to him without his heart. Otherwise, what would have been the point. You're majesty, please tell me there you found a clue?"

Mickey had one to speak of. "There might be one I been trying to figure out. When me and the others went to battle Zagor... someone came out of Sora to fight with us... he calls himself Roxas. Sora's Nobody. While a nobody is split from their other half, it normally looks like their whole before they turned to a heartless... with some differences." Aqua and Yen Sid listened to that, the woman asked. "And how does Roxas have anything to do with Ventus?" Mickey was more confused about that. "Roxas... looks more like Ventus than he does Sora. You wouldn't be able to see any differences. But why?!"

Aqua tried to think about it and felt the imaginary wires in her brain shorting out, her brain ached from various questions trying to speak out, a mellow voice answered through her mouth. "That's a mystery I need to see for myself, I knew Sora stopped the destruction Xehanort wrought... but for him to help with this?" She giggled and felt her mood lessening for the other issue. "We owe him much more than he is given already. But...it would be impossible for him to be a help with the other issue. Terra. Mickey, Yen Sid... do you know what became of him?"

The wizard shook his head. "I have not, although Mickey has suspicions, moments before the Heartless disaster came." Mickey nodded. "A young man was taken in by Ansem the Wise as an apprentice... that man... kind of looked like Terra and had the name...Xehanort." Yen Sid agreed with how that was confusing. "He claimed to have no memories and coincidentally, the other with that very name... disappeared. You know the full extent to this mystery?"

Aqua nodded and her lips curled. "Those two Xehanorts are the same person. Xehanort took Terra's body and heart, he only lost his memories because I was trying to stop him and save Terra... I...fell into the darkness because of that." Her mood lessened. "If I tell the others about him now, Sora and the others would put themselves into danger to try to save Terra. I don't know how to get Xehanort out of Terra, do any of us?"

The two shook their heads as Mickey realized. "Stopping Xehanort and saving Terra sounds like it is going to be the toughest part." Aqua felt the most agonizing part of the ordeal. "And despite what his body and heart endured, despite how it was blasted by Chaos. Terra is still in there trying to fight it." She tried to keep herself strong, Mickey promised her. "We are here for you and we are going to save Terra... we just need to figure it out."

Aqua felt the vow comforting. "We will tell them about this after we save Ventus. I'll go find Sora when he is done dealing with... Garland and... see if they all got the message about who V, X and A meant. Kairi and Ken got much to learn." Yen Sid agreed with that. "Commendable as they are, they are not ready to confront something as foul as Vanitas. If one of your students had to resort to trickery to free you, then how will the other fare?"

Aqua imagined Kairi's issues. "Her attacks are that of light, but Vanitas would have his own tricks to overwhelm her. I shouldn't have let her go off by herself." She tried to contain an over protective urge as Mickey advised to her. "But it sounds like Vanitas only came after she left and didn't know where she is, it also sounded like Ken did hurt him."

Aqua kept the urge contained. "It's just one trip and Kendry knows enough about Vanitas." She felt content to the plan. "I'm sure he knows to let Kairi know." She smiled to the mouse. "Once I talk with Sora about this, we will be a step closer to stopping this madness. I'll go see what Kendry's doing and wait out the day."

Mickey and the wizard wished her a good day, the mouse asked his mentor. "Seems like for every piece we put together, we find more we didn't see before." Yen Sid agreed and placed his hands together. "Patience is the solution towards obtaining the knowledge." Mickey noticed there was a thought in mind. "You are thinking about the Slann again? This would have never happened if that one didn't give Aqua a hand." Yen Sid pondered. "A Keyblade is not needed to activate the Heartstones vast power, but would the Forces of Order allow such a limit?" Mickey shook his head. "Ha, no... but that might be part of their own plan."

At a clothes shop in Twilight Town.

Ken looked upon the Moogle awkwardly and watched a series of texts he typed. Kairi's message shown at the top. "Vanitas tried to attack our teacher?" Bellow answered. "Yes, yes he did. If you see a psycho in black and red, that's him and you should run. You're a bigger target compared to me." The text bellow showed the heart of a rival with a common interest. "No, you should run if you were the one to peeved him off." "Lol" Bellow the text was a face that looked like an emoji with rolling eyes. "Thanks for the warning, I'll think of something to get away if I see him. A flash bomb sounds like something I can do with the right adjustments." Ken smiled to his finishing text. "You're welcome."

He heard a cover being undone and was given a whisper. "Ken, do you mind if you have a look at this?" The boy answered and went in. "Sure thing, Xion." Entering a small room with a mirror, seeing Xion in an attire that look charming to him. A grey shirt that was under a black vest, complimented by a pair of blue jeans with black belt straps around the legs and side pockets. To finish the attire off were a pair of black boots, Kendry whistled and gave his approval. "You look tough."

Xion blushed as Kendry walked out the door. "That Moogle can see you fine. Have a good look at yourself before I make the purchase." He readied a sum of munny and stood before the Moogle. "Give her a minute." The merchant gave off a kupo and watched Xion walk out with her attire. "Did you make your purchase? Kupo?" Ken looked to Xion smiling to him in approval, the boy gave the Moogle his munny and felt warmed by the sound of a girl spinning and hopping. The two left the store and felt introductions were finished.

Xion giggled and followed Ken to a restaurant. "Thank you for the help, this means a lot." Ken turned around and walked backwards to have another look at her. "I just paid for it, the rest you did by yourself. So... what else are you doing here?" Xion sighed. "I came here with my brother, Dupmic, he'll be very happy that he doesn't have to work so hard for me." She saw movie posters and felt it was a trail as she asked. "What brought you here?"

Ken answered with a mutual smile. "Because, my teacher had something important to do and I thought I come along to at least not stay in the same town for so many days in a row." Xion blinked and asked. "Teacher... for what?" Ken raised his cybernetic arm and shined a gun like keyblade, it looked wider at the blade and had a wider nozzle, with sharp looking blades for teeth. "Wow. Cadia's Light have... evolved again. Ha...it's a keyblade that use to be an ordinary weapon called a lasgun, me and two others had two days of learning before Miss had to go do something pretty important and she let me do what I want while I wait. We learned a lot from her in those couple days than we did while on our own during a week." Xion's eyes sparkled, she closed them and smiled. "You're teacher sounds amazing." Ken appreciated the compliment. "Miss really is."

Xion opened her eyes and knew she had to leave the boy be. "I think I can find my brother from here. I'll try to talk him into letting me stay around a little longer." Ken went to blushing and turned to leave. "Either way, see you later. We might do something fun sooner rather than later." Xion blushed back. "I won't mind what ever you want to do." Ken had one idea and held to it. "It's something anyone would do when they get something new. I wonder if there is a firing ring in this town." The two split apart, Ken felt he had an hour remaining until the lunch meeting and drooled to the thought, noticing by an alley way a group of people he hanged out with, talking about their own affairs.

Lauriam finished a conversation with Medy and Dorlu as Elrena wiped tears from her face. "And that's how that war ended. The heroes from a galaxy beyond ours, gave everything so ours wouldn't have to bare anymore of their scars." Dorlu sighed and asked him. "Yet you fear another war is on the horizon?" Lauriam looked up to the sky. "The town was attacked by another from the same galaxy as the Black Legion, with a simulacrum of a force... alien. Aeleus, Dilan, Even, Elrena and I combined were unable to scratch them. We need a plan if something like this is coming again."

Elrena wiped her face. "Ienzo got the idea and a way to take care of the Orruks... while keeping them happy. Lea and Isa need to know and we can't have them goofing off in times like this." Medy noticed a kid with the rather wide, gun like keyblade and a cybernetic arm. "Sheesh, what else has this war cost? A leg?"

Ken felt the stranger cringing and approached. "That's not funny. A lot of good friends and people that made a difference. You're not wrong to think another is coming."

Elrena turned to the boy and warned him. "Stop talking about it! We get it, there is another bunch of Chaos wackos from another world that is going to be just as bad as what we say." Ken tried to and asked. "So you all are... getting something together for that? Do you-" Elrena stopped him. "No, you already got enough on your hands and it looks like the others are having the same idea we are."

Lauriam smiled sweetly to the boy. "You don't need to be involved with... dubious affairs like this. Ienzo is the one holding our reins for the moment. Is... this the third time that weapon evolved into something grander?"

Ken relized the man counted when the lasgun became a keyblade and nodded. "It... is... ha..after I outsmarted a psycho that was threatening my teacher. All this war stuff is starting to get to us." The four agreed to that as Elrena growled. "Fine, we'll keep an eye out for anything fishy going on in this town and pass it around."

Dorlu suspected and felt enough time was spent. "Providing it hasn't already. Which was why we seek as much of our old... companions as possible?" Lauriam had ill news for three. "One is our enemy, Braig has... disappeared and the other is acting on his terms. That is providing if any of us have the power to do something anymore."

Elrena sighed and asked Ken. "Some of us have the weapons we were using during that... gap, while others don't. Don't you have something you need to do?"

Ken nodded and wished her luck. "I do, I'll let you guys know if there is something confirmed. See ya later." Elrena gave a mutual parting and let the kid go. "That can help if you or the others go out exploring. Thanks kid."

Ken left the adults be and went to the train station to find Aqua reinvigorated, he reported to his teacher with a respectful bow. "Miss, Kairi got the news and she knows what to do if... he goes after her. There isn't a whole lot to do, but it sure is pretty." Aqua noticed the form the keyblade took and felt something radiating. "You and that keyblade have such a close bond, that this was inevitable."

Ken figured. "It happened when I stood up to people that were trying to kill me and sent them home...rather than go the eye for an eye route, it happened again after I used my brain to win a fight I wasn't ready for. Miss, there has to be a place I can test this out and see what is new." Aqua agreed with a smug tone. "There is, but don't think of this as a lesson." She drew her keyblade out and dashed towards the boy, Ken yelped and parried back, feeling more weight in comparison, yet he was being pushed back. He shoved back, shook Aqua from him and shot himself back, he aimed with one hand and felt a clear aim. PEW!

He pulled the trigger and watched a beam fire out, not in a spurt but like it was an automatic. Firing a steady beam that Aqua dodged with a graceful flip. Both watched it make contact with a wall and burned through it, Kendry let go of the trigger and saw how it would help as a gaping hole remained. "That can go through more than one layer in a heart beat." He smiled like there was no hard feelings. "Thanks for helping me test it out Miss. How was your meeting?"

Aqua tensed and wished her student didn't ask. "I found a clue to help one of my friends, but that shouldn't involve you. What have you done?" Ken had three on his list. "I caught up with one of Kairi's friends, agreed to some lunch at that Bistro I hear so much about and I helped a girl get some new clothes. Looks like we are done otherwise?"

Aqua agreed with that and relaxed her mind. "For now since Sora has the clue I'm looking for. Anything specific Kairi said about what she would do?" Kendry found a bench and answered. "She took something that worked and she is going to make it into something she can use." He imagined it and felt intimidated as Aqua envisioned a flash of light that is complimented by something much more aggressive. "She would sucker punch...wow." He mentally counted down something. "Won't be long till she surprises us again. Miss is... there anything about the worlds you visited a long time ago?" Aqua had a few in memories. "Goodness that's a long time ago and seeing those worlds in the realm of darkness didn't help." She tried to pick which one to make a tale of, if to kill an hour.

Near the Mansion of Twilight Town.

Xion adjusted her vest and spun as a familiar voice caught her by surprise. "Wow. You didn't steal that, did you?" Xion turned to the disguised replica, folded her arms an answered. "I didn't steal it, a boy bought it for me."

The Replica was surprised back. "A random dude saw you and helped you like that?" He had a brotherly suspicion. "He didn't try peeping at you when you were changing... did he?" Xion had no idea why someone would do that and cringed. "Ew! He didn't go into the changing room with me until I asked him to." She felt angry from the thought and something formed in her hands, a key like sword, she and the Replica were surprised, the girl had a smirk. "But he was way too nice to do that. Did you get the munny anyways?"

The Replica jingled his pouch. "Yep and just enough so we won't have to have the stuff the Tzaangor have. They are... creative at least." He felt a corridor open up and heard a questioning. "Hmmmm?"

The Replica turned to find Ztardon looking inquisitive and noticing Xion. "Hmm, nothing personal little one." He asked the Replica. "Seems the...anomaly isn't as dire as we expected. Can she be trusted to wander the town?" The Replica didn't see why not. "If that guy can be trusted to not take advantage of her, she's free to find out more in my book. Do... you want something?" Ztardon nodded. "We found something and require you. Come, prove yourself more than just an errand boy."

The Replica took the chance and put on his black coat as he gave Xion instructions. "Don't be near the creeps and tell me everything this guy does when I get back." Xion would double her task. "He has a keyblade that shoots! I'll fight him instead and learn more from that."

The adopted brother gasped and approved. "We could use that information." He went with Ztardon. "She's good. Let's go." The two went into the corridor and disappeared, leaving Xion to turn back to the town and realized nervously. "How am I going to explain this to him?!"

In a smoking city next to Olympus.

Hercules was on a ledge and dusted his hands from a task he was doing. "Phew!" He heard the sound of four screaming and turned to find Sora, Donald, Goofy and Riku falling his way. Hercules jumped towards the closest two, Sora and Goofy, as a winged figure in silver armor caught Riku, both missed Donald. Hercules landed on lower ground as the angelic figure watched Donald have his shirt caught by the teeth of a golden lion statue. Sora dangled from Herc's right and told Goofy so. "See? Found him."

Herc watched Riku jump off the angel as Goofy agreed. "I guess this counts!" The group of four listened to Donald demanding. "Get me down!" Hercules and the angel looked up to find Donald struggling and throwing a temper, the angel let the demi god know with a feminine and Norse sounding voice. "I got 'im." S

he fluttered to pick the duck up as Hercules realized she was something he wouldn't see everyday. "So this is a valkyrie?" The angel landed to drop the duck and shook her head. "Nah, just a Stormcast Eternal." Riku introduced. "Hercules, this is Anatesis... or Ana. She was helping us try find you."

Hercules didn't mind that. "You, Sora, Donald and Goofy literally dropped in. Gotta say, I'm impressed." Donald took the compliment. "Thanks!" Goofy had his own to give. "Liked the catch." Sora appreciated the save. "Yeah, thanks Herc."

He looked around to find a city on fire. "But's what's going on, how did this happen?" Hercules sighed annoyed. "Take a guess. Starts with an H." Ana growled and drew out her hammer like keyblade. "Hades is nothing but a trouble here. We met that hot headed slouch on the way and that's how we got blown ere," Riku felt a foe that was over exerting himself and closed his eyes annoyed. "Something about... conquering the whole cosmos."

Herc was even less amused. "All of it, huh? Nice of him to show a little self restraint." Ana chuckled to that. "At least he didn't get the idea of conquering two." She imagined something with odd amusement as Herc vowed. "Well, what ever he's planning. I'll send him running back across the Styx." He had his fists at his hips like a hero and Sora mimicked. "Ha! That's our Herc."

The party of six traveled as one and the demi god asked. "So Sora, is there a reason you guys are visiting? I'm guessing it's not just for the cheese and olives." The peril of a long fall nearly clouded a memory as the spiky haired boy gasped. "Oh yeah, Garland." Riku chuckled to that. "Glad you didn't get that distracted."

Donald agreed with that. "That would be our Sora." The spiky haired boy folded his arms and thought of an excuse. "Hey, we knows what's important." He asked Hercules. "Have you seen Garland around lately? We found out he escaped the Realm of Darkness and has been trying to cause trouble across the worlds... or getting something that would help him do that. We think he was coming here next." Hercules looked disappointed. "So the guy wasn't what he was making himself out to be-" He was in thought about that. "I haven't seen him at the Colosseum, nor here. I'm sorry for not being a help."

The group felt the disappointment, Donald noticed something dancing out of the flames, mixing distorted fire with darkness as a two faced mirror emerged to fire destructive bolts around. "H..Heartless!" One of the bolts hit a statue of Herc that was in the central district and caused it to fall in a thud as the fire took a dark body, long and with may maws spewing fire across their limbs, a total of eighteen, the group barring Herc sensed a familiar presence mixed in with the heartless, if the two faced mirror wasn't enough, Riku was the first to draw his weapon and call them out. "Mixed in with Chaos Daemons!" Ana shook her head and felt the others readied themselves. "So we still have them around?" Herc advised against asking. "Let's talk later." Sora agreed as his two disk keyblade took form. "Right... once we've dealt with those guys."

Sora and Riku knocked four of the flaming heartless each near a column and flowed around to snare them into a twister as Goofy bashed into two and Donald conjured an ice storm. Hercules and Ana rushed into the eight together, the Olympian pushed through the eight combined breath of fire and disrupted the formation with a charge, giving Ana the chance to cleave through the eight with her keyblade. The ice pelted against the flamers and brought a chill to the eighteen, the mirror like heartless shined over four of the dissolving flamers and spun to project an image of four that looked good as new. Sora flew to the left as Riku flew to the right. The spiky haired boy caused his keyblade to split into two disks as the silver haired boy floated and flew into the cloud of ice. Sora flung his disks at the mirror like heartless to quickly dispatch it as the cloud of ice gave off a dark glow and bombarded the swarm with more accurate hail stones. Goofy knocked as many of the dwindling into the pile with Hercules as Ana back flipped and swiped a wave of star light, it took the form of a Dracoth that pounced upon the swarm with a breath of lightning and used her claws and teeth to carve into four. Reducing the eighteen to a meager five that were quickly dispatched by fast, high tech disks that boomeranged back. Sora caught the disks with style as Riku fell on top of the dracoth, Moonfang sniffed the air as the five weapon wielders withdrew their weapons.

A woman's voice yelled from above. "Hercules!" Swoop! The group turned around and found a white winged horse carrying a woman with a purple dress and long brown hair that was tied to a pony tail, along with a certain chubby satyr. The horse landed and let the two off, the woman went to Herc with relief. "You're okay!" Herc went to the woman with his own relief. "Meg!" The woman looked to where the battle was and cringed. "Boy, that didn't look so fun." Hercules agreed with that. "No, not with the heartless. Were just lucky our friends showed up." Meg noticed a familiar trio along with three new arrivals. "Well whaddaya know. Guess I owe you all a big one for coming."

Sora, Goofy and Donald felt charmed as Riku got off of Moonfang and Anatesis kept watch of something, feeling as if the strange heartless were just the beginning. Hercules advised to his girlfriend. "Meg, you need to stay someplace safe. We'll search the city and make sure everyone manages to get clear of the fire." Phil cringed and pointed to him. "That's the problem Herc, this fire didn't just burst from Hades, three dudes on crazy horses came charging the walls from the north and knock the whole thing down with some weird red monster." Meg agreed with that and looked scared for Herc. "And they didn't suffer a scratch. That's when the heartless showed up acting... weird. I think they are looking for you. Be careful, Wonderboy."

Anatesis caught the words and asked. "These three and their horses... are they black in armor and have markings that look like an eight pointed star?" Meg nodded. "They certainly aren't from Troy." Phil agreed with that. "Those guys at least know how to prep up."

Riku closed his eyes and wanted to curse. "Please don't be the Varanguard, not here." Anatesis hated to worsen the mood and advised to Herc. "No regular chaos knight would do something that reckless. The fire isn't the only thing we need to fear for."

The demi god agreed with that. "I know." He asked the six fighters. "So, you guys in?" Sora took the answer without hesitation. "Of course were in!" Donald answered boldly. "We're heroes!" Goofy nodded to that. "Mhmm!" Riku answered boldly. "There is no way we are going to let those things have their way." Ana approved of that. "They are going to get worse than a boot up the rear." Meg wished the five luck. "Break a leg then heroes." She went to the winged horse as Herc asked the satyr. "Phil, you should go with Meg." The satyr agreed to that and followed on the horse with the woman. "Sheesh this is going to get ugly fast." Herc petted the horses neck as he made sure the riders were secure. "You gotta keep them safe!" The horse neighed and took flight away from the burning city, the group heard a little girl scream. "Help! Ss..someone!" Goofy raised his ear towards the groups right. "Hey, I hear a voice."

Herc looked to the direction and asked. "From which way?" Goofy pointed to a tall building. "Over that way!"

The demi god squinted his eyes and found a small blonde girl in pink wears clinging onto a pillar of rocks that teetered over the edge of an inferno, yelling. "HEEEEELP!" The group watched the girl try to move and nearly slipped, Sora tried to rush to the rescue as Ana disapproved. "We aren't going to get there in time." She ordered her Dracoth. "Moonfang, see that no one jumps Herc or Riku and help them rescue the towns people." She grabbed onto Goofy and Donald and lowered herself with an order. "Sora, get on my back, you'll know what to do." The spiky haired teenager did as ordered, like a loyal soldier.

The wings glowed of holy light as Herc found a path to their left to travel, rushing into the conflict with Riku and the Dracoth. Ana flew fast as Donald and Goofy yelped against the speed, Sora hanged on and focused, the girl was slipping and fell. The boy vanished and leaped to catch the girl with his left hand and using his other hand to form his keyblade and shoot out a torrent of water, dosing the fire out and landing safely. The little blushed sweetly, looked up to the teenage gratefully and giggled. "Thank you for saving me."

Smooch!

He was given a kiss on the cheek and let the girl down, stuttered like a charmed hero. "Y..eah, no prob." The girl giggled and walked away to safety as Ana landed to drop Goofy and Donald off. The Stormcast sighed and was smiling to the boy. "Being a hero is busy work, but it's nice when the people are grateful like that."

Sora agreed and felt warm in the heart as Goofy and Donald stood stable. "We better check and see if anyone else needs us." Donald and Goofy agreed with a combined "Yep!" as they heard a familiar foe from across a way. "Well, if it isn't Sora and pawns of order." The four looked to find two enemies approaching, Sora called them out. "Maleficent! Pete!"

The other three drew out their weapons as the boy asked. "Are you the reason the Heartless are here?!" Ana had another question and was ready to deliver judgement. "Are you the reason the Varanguard are in the city?" Pete nearly flinched as Maleficent answered stoically. "Certainly not."

Pete noticed something odd about Sora, looking shaken from hearing the name Varanguard, he asked his superior. "Say, Maleficent, I dunno about his sidekicks," he pointed to Sora. "But kid keyblader here looks like he's way scared of fighting the darkness, than last time we saw him." The boy felt bothered as Pete suggested. "I say we rough him up while we still can."

Sora gritted his teeth as Ana glowed like the storm, Maleficent refused the suggestion as she sensed the greater threat. "Waste no time with the boy. He's in consequential to us. We have a far more pressing matter to attend to." Pete folded his arms and looked like he forgotten something, he remembered. "Oh! We gots to find the door to the underworld and get that-" Maleficent ordered him. "Be silent, you fool!" Pete cringed as Maleficent felt enough time was wasted and went to a reformed corridor. "As for you four... we will meet again... when I have time for such trifles." The goon agreed with that and taunted. "Yeah, and youse better get your act together before them." He followed his superior into the corridor. "Later twerps!"

Ana boomed like the storm. "HALT!"

She took flight and flew to the closing corridor, missing and crashing to a wall like a bolt of lightning. She turned to find Sora looking hurt by what was said as Donald asked, wanting to bring some comfort. "Sora?"

The boy took a deep breath and looked back. "It's fine... I can take it." None of the group were buying it and Goofy asked. "Gwarsh, it sure don't sound like it. Did Pete saying mean things bother ya?" Ana shook her head and listened to Sora answering again, folding his arms. "It's fine! I can take it." The Stormcast exhaled and asked. "Sora... lad, I know you and your friends seen things that would keep you awake at night and I seen the memorials. You are never meant to fight the Forces of Chaos, that would take its toll on anyone," She took off her helmet and caused it to vanish, revealing a very human face that was worried for him. "It's alright to admit that it is. Ya nearly lost a friend yesterday and you're scared for Herc and the people in the city."

Sora felt the stormy light and nodded. "I... knew the peace wasn't going to last. It...never does." The defeated tone chilled Goofy and Donald, Sora looked on over to a stairway leading from an overlook to deeper in the city. "Come on, we got to catch up to Herc and Riku before... they do."

He lead the way down the stairs to a district in the town, they felt a rumble, fiery heartless crashed through, resembling black orbs with a tiny head separated from the body. A total of nine burned as their tiny heads reunited with the body. Sora surrounded himself in water and flew after the fiery heartless as Ana charged against four, with Goofy and Donald keeping some of the heartless distracted, the four dispatched the swarm and saw a road engulfed in fire. Ana adjusted her wings and readied to fly the group across, Donald advised against. "Don't do that again."

The Stormcast asked the three with a raised eyebrow. "I'm waiting for a better idea." Goofy tried one and approached the fire with his shield, he pushed it against the fire and felt it bounce away, he announced. "Fellas! I just got a crazy idea!" Ana conceded respectfully as Sora spoke of it. "The shield!" Goofy placed the shield down for him and his friends to use as a sliding platform as Ana took flight. "I'll make sure you don't slide off to bigger danger." Swoop! Goofy kicked across the ground and slid across the flame, deeper into a town under attack.