Please tell me how you are enjoying the story!
My original intent was to correct grammatical errors.
But I rather think this has evolved into an all-out rewriting.
I have so much in store for this plot and it has me EXCITED!

Chapter IX
The Master Returns

The trek back to my room was quite a trip.
I felt like I was fading with each step.
When we finally reached my room, Roxas pushed it open and shoved me through.

"Hit the hay man, you need sleep."

I grunted in appreciation and fell forward on the bedspread, burying my face in the pillows.
After a moment of breathing the freshly laundered bedclothes, I rolled over and stared at the canopy.
Then a thought crossed my mind.

"Roxas… are you upset with me?"

He looked up from the chair he was reclined in, "What?"

"Are you upset with me?"

He gave me a look of confusion, "Why would I be upset?"

I closed my eyes, and thought for a while. I reopened them and turned my gaze on him, "About being my Nobody?"

His eyebrows knit together in genuine bewilderment, "Why would I be upset about that? Its not exactly something I can change."
He sat forward and laced his hands together, "I'm part of you, you're part of me."

I smiled sheepishly and chuckled, "I don't know what's up with me lately. I feel like I've done wrong to everyone I know. Like… you have some reason to be upset with me because I'm not something… more." I let my arms fall open on either side of me, "I wish I were better than what I am y'know? There's a lot of things I regret about who I am."

Roxas grinned, "That's what has been bothering you?" He stood and walked to the bed, "Dude, you really are too hard on yourself. You're a great guy. You've done so much more than anyone could or would ever ask of you. The best thing about everything you've done? You did it all because you wanted to."
He knocked on my forehead, "The only thing you need to work on, is how gullible you are."

My head snapped up as I glared at him, "What was that supposed to mean?"

Roxas tucked his hands behind his head and grinned goofily, "Oh, nothing… you wanted to know why you felt like you've done wrong to everybody, I was just saying that you're gullible."

I growled at him and flopped onto my bed, "Whatever man, good night and get some sleep." I rolled over onto my side and said, "You know it's true what they say about dumb blondes…"

I felt a dull blow to my lower back, "OUCH! YOU SON OF A-"

My door banged open, "WHAT IS IT? WHAT'S WRONG?" Kairi burst in looking shocked.

I jumped up and smiled widely, "Ummm… Hi Kairi! It's just Roxas and I fooling around."

Kairi squinted at me, then at Roxas, "Roxas? How are you here?"

Roxas grinned wider than ever, "Long story." He looked sideways at me, "Which I'm sure Sora would like to tell you all about it."

She looked back to me questioningly, "Okay, spill?"

"Well… shortly after I came back to my room earlier, I had another one of my dreams. I fell onto the bed with a terrible pain in my chest. When I awoke, I fought a someone wearing armor. He said his name was 'Ventus'.
He said that if I could beat him, I would gain all of his powers."

"And did you?"

"Yes. I used Valor Form and he threw the battle shortly afterward."

Her eyebrows lifted as she whistled, "Wow. I didn't realize you were that intimidating Sora."

Roxas choked back a laugh, then quickly hid his grin.

"Thanks a lot Kairi. I didn't know you had such faith in me."

"Oh you know it. So, are you guys done roughhousing or do I need to stay and supervise? Actually… I think I will spend the night in here." She sat down on my bed and pulled the band out of her hair.

"W-what?!" I shouted, "Y-you can't… I m-mean, why would you want to spend the night with us?"

She shrugged, "Maybe because you're my boyfriend and you have a guest? When was the last time we got to spend time with Roxas like this?"

"Woah now! Why am I your excuse?" He shot to his feet, "If you two want to spend the night together, you can leave me out of it. I ain't gonna be your alibi."

Kairi pouted, "What's wrong, afraid of girls or something Roxas?"

I started around the bed and slipped on a pillow. My face bounced off the corner of my mattress and I fell backwards.

Kairi rushed around the bed squeaking, "Sora! Are you alright?"

I sat up and stared at her. Through my dazed mind a single thought surfaced, wow… she's beautiful.
"I-I'm fine... just a little headache."

Roxas stepped toward me and whispered, "I'd get up off the floor. And if you were waiting for the opportune moment, that was it."

I glared at him then turned back to Kairi, "I uh, don't think you should sleep in here... Roxas and I were going to have a man-to-man talk..."

Roxas' face went blank. Kairi glanced at him and snorted, "What could you two possibly talk about that I'm not supposed to hear?"

I shook my head, "Nothing that would interest you i'm sure."

Kairi threw up her hands and shouted, "How are we supposed to have proper relationship if you keep on acting like this?"

I shook my head and said, "Acting like what?"

"Like you're keeping secrets and hiding stuff! Do you think I haven't noticed?" Her hands on her hips, she sat on my bed again, "I'm staying in here tonight."

I looked at Roxas who was nodding his head, "Fine with me, I've not have the chance to hang out with you both."

I rolled my eyes, "Alright, you can stay in here. BUT we all need to get to sleep, it's 3:30 am and we have to leave by 2 pm."

Kairi groaned and flopped back onto the bed, "Alright. Make sure you set an alarm, you know how Riku gets about being on time."

I stood there staring at her for a few minutes before she asked, "What? You laying down or what?"

"That's MY bed Kairi."

"Yeah, your point being…?"

I gestured at the bed again, "THAT is MY bed."

"Yeah, and YOU are MY BOYFRIEND. You gonna get into bed, or are you gonna play prude all night?"

Roxas snorted and lay back on the sofa.
I glared at him and crawled up into the bed beside Kairi, "Stop laughing butt-munch."

"Sure, when you stop being funny moron."

Kairi womped me with a pillow and threw it at Roxas, "Girls, you're both pretty; now can we get to sleep now?"

I rolled my eyes and plopped back on the bed.
Man, I miss my room; with the glowing stars and planets that plastered the ceiling. And my blue lava lamp in the corner.

One thing kept bugging me about all of this… Who was our enemy?
It certainly wasn't these dreams I keep having.
How do you fight a dream anyway?

I looked over at Kairi who was already close to nodding off.
She looked back at me and smiled.

"What's wrong?"

"Hm?"

"What's wrong Sora? You look concerned."

I grinned, "Nothing Kairi. Just… thinking."

"Well, what are you thinking about?"

"I don't know who our new enemy is, and that bugs me immensely." I turned and stared at the canopy above the bed, "The past two times I set out like this… I knew who I was fighting and why."

I lifted my hand and made a fist, the keyblade appeared.

"All of the things I have to do, are because of this weapon."

Kairi smiled at me and mimicked my action, her own keyblade materializing in her grasp, "You're not alone this time Sora. You have Riku and I with you."

Roxas' sleepy voice sounded from the sofa, "You have me now as well!" His own keyblades raised in the air.

I couldn't help but smile in spite of myself. Here I was fretting over things that have not happened, and might not happen.
At that moment, something happened that has never happened before.
I choked up. Such an upwelling of emotion overtook me that I was unable to speak for several moments.
When I finally did speak, I could only say, "Thank you… thank you both for being there for me."

Kairi smiled warmly and let her keyblade vanish, "You don't have to thank me Sora. I love you."

Roxas pulled himself to a sitting position with a grunt, "I may be your Nobody, but I still consider you a friend Sora. What are friends for?"

I laid my head back on the pillows and searched for Kairi's hand with my own.
As soon as her fingers laced with mine, I felt the deep relaxation of sleep creeping over me.
I was dimly aware of Kairi's hand relaxing in mine as I drifted off into the darkness.

I woke with a start at the sound of someone pounding on my door, "WAKE UP!"

It startled me so badly that I rolled from the bed and cracked my head on the carpet and groaned out loud.

Kairi sat up and screeched, "WHO IS IT?!" Then she looked over for me, "Sora? Are you alright?"

Roxas was nowhere to be seen.
I used the bedspread to pull myself upright and shouted at the shaking door, "Who the HECK is it?!"

"Its RIKU, who else could it be? Get your spiky butt up! I can't find Kairi and we got places to go!" Riku's voice sounded through the door.

I yelled back, "Hold on a minute! I'm up!"

Giving Kairi a sideways glance, I motioned to the bathroom, "You might want to get in there."

"Why? Afraid of what he might think?" She grinned.

"No, I'm more worried about what he might tell people."

Her mouth formed a wide 'O', then she stood and shot to the bathroom.

The door rattled again, "Don't make me come in there after you Sora, because I will."

"Hold your horses Riku, I just woke up."

He growled, "No kidding?" The door shook again, "Get moving man, it's almost 2:00!"

I jerked and turned to the clock sitting on the night stand, and sure enough it said 1:58 p.m.

I grabbed my clothes and hauled them on.
Roxas appeared from nowhere beside the bed, "What's going on?"

I rolled my eyes, "Two o' clock, have to get to bookin' I'm supposed to go see the king today."

"Ok... let's get goin' then."

I heard Riku stomp away, "Find Kairi and get her going to, I want you both in the Great Maw at 2:30pm SHARP!"

Just then Kairi stepped out of the bathroom grinning ear to ear, "I take it he still doesn't know I was in here?"

Roxas giggled as I groaned, "I sure hope not. He tells anyone here that you and I shared a room alone, the ribbing will never stop."

My Nobody cleared his throat, "You two weren't alone, I was here with you. Being a Nobody doesn't make me insubstantial."

"I doubt anyone will see it that way. You're technically me, so in essence she and I spent the night alone."

Roxas shook his head and headed for the door, "let's go guys."

When we finally reached the ravine, Riku was standing outside his ship frowning like mad.
"About time! It's 2:37, we got places to go."

Kairi elbowed me in the ribs, "Should you tell him or should I?"

"Tell him what?"

"That the reason we were late was because you were pulling me out of your bed?"

I paled, "No, no no no… let's not tell him that."

"HAHAHA! I was just kidding Sora."

Riku rolled his eyes, "Are we gonna' go or are you two gonna' start makin' out right here?"

I grinned at him, "Nah, you don't have tickets for the show."

He rolled his eyes again and ran up the ramp and into the ship's belly.

I gazed around at the blue crystal canyons glittered like an ocean in the afternoon sun.
Kairi was also staring at the walls around us.

I turned a wide smile on her, "Beautiful isn't it?"

She nodded and whispered, "Yeah it is."

I kissed her on the cheek and said, "But not quite as beautiful as you."

She turned to me with a smile, "How long were you cooking that one up?"

I grinned, "Long enough, how's that?" Kairi grinned back, "Needs work, a little bit too clichéd."

I scowled, "Hey, I made that one up myself."

"Sure you did." She released my hand and sprinted up the ramp.

I growled and jetted off after her.

Riku was walking around on the Gummy Ship's roof, obviously inspecting the Moogle's work.
He waived and said, "ANSEM WASN'T KIDDING! NOT A SCRATCH ON HER!"

I grinned and yelled back, "GOOD, LET'S GET MOVING!" He nodded and disappeared through the upper hatch.

I ran inside and jumped into the pilot's chair.

"Who told you to drive?" Kairi asked as she slid into the co-pilot's chair.

I grinned, "I did."

Riku walked up beside me, "If you scratch my ship, you'll find that the Heartless and I have something in common." he sat down next to me and smiled.

He reached over in front of me and pressed a red button labeled 'Ignition'.

I rolled my eyes and said, "Buckle up."

His eyes bugged out of his head, I mashed the accelerator pedal to the floor.

Kairi squealed as the ship literally shot into the sky.
The world outside of the viewport wheeled and turned on itself like a washing machine.
After several seconds I tilted the controls slightly and the ship leveled off.
I punched some coordinates into the computer and read out loud, "Estimated time of arrival... one hour, twelve minutes."

I turned my chair, "So... what shall we do in the mean time?"

Riku shrugged, "I guess we wait." Kairi grimaced, "You guys are no fun."

I cocked my head and glanced at Riku, "Why don't we have a little sparring match?"

Riku shook his head, "Not a good idea, I haven't repaired the simulator yet."

"What's wrong with it?" Asked Roxas who had suddenly materialized behind my chair.

Riku flinched in surprise, "Roxas?! Where did you come from?"

He smiled, "Long story. What's wrong with the simulator?"

"Uh… The computer is not parsing the environmental data correctly for its maps. I've tried hard-resetting it and reinstalling the data, but nothing seems to work."

"Okay, have you tried replacing the focusing matrix? We had similar problems in The World That Never Was. I remember Vexen complaining about it for hours."

"No, I haven't tried that. That won't do us much good now though, I don't have one on board."

"I guess you're in luck then! I actually have one in my storage from the castle. Vexen didn't realize that the reason the matrix wasn't working was because I switched out the good one for a bad one."
Roxas laughed, "He had to rebuild it twice!"

The rest of us laughed with him as he handed Riku a small gray box with a large crystal lens on one side, "This should be an easy replacement. Just pull the old one out after you pull the retaining clips."

Riku nodded and headed down the hall.

I hopped up and headed for my own room, Kairi followed close behind.
"Where are you going? The simulator is to the right?"

"I need to grab something out of my bag. A thought just crossed my mind."

"What?"

"Do you remember that keychain that Leon gave me when we arrived the day before yesterday? The one he called 'Windshear'?"

"Yeah… what about it?"

"It looked strangely familiar to me, and after my battle with Ventus I think I know why."

The door slid open with a mechanical hiss. I stepped through and opened a cabinet to my right where my black bag sat.
I sifted through the piles of potions and ethers for a little yellow pouch where I stored my keychains.

Of course it was laying at the very bottom.
I fished out the little green stone and quickly clipped it my keyblade.
The form changed in green and blue sparks to leave behind a shape that looked almost like Ventus', but not quite.

"I can see what's wrong with it already, its backward."

"It's not backward, it's meant to be held differently."
I slipped my hand into the guard and switched it into a reverse grip.
"Ventus used one just like it, same reverse grip. That's why I wanted to get a look at it. I had a feeling that Merlin may have based this one on Ventus' blade, turns out I was right."

Roxas walked through my door, "Well, looks like my bright idea was wrong. It's not the focusing matrix. He needs a whole new hard drive."

Riku's voice sounded over the intercom, "Everyone report to the bridge."

"We must have arrived." we walked back into the control room.

Once we touched down and the ramp extended, we all filed outside.

Kairi gasped at the garden, "WOW, I didn't know you could grow hedge in that shape!" she said gesturing to a large green drummer boy.

"It wasn't grown that way, it was trimmed." Roxas piped in.

"I know that! I'm just surprised that someone would take the time."

I shook my head and turned to the white marble castle that towered above us, "I think we should check the library first, Mickey is likely to be there."

Riku nodded and walked through the garden entry door.

I gripped Kairi's hand and led her up the dark stairwell. My boots echoed sharply in the enclosed tunnel, I glanced back at Kairi then back to the stairs.

Riku reached the top and said, "Where is the Library?"

I pointed to the left, "Follow the hall, go straight to the end."

He nodded and followed me.

We passed the door to the King's Throne Room and Kairi stopped, "What's in there?" She was looking up at the door's sheer height, "Surely that's not the entire door?"

I shook my head, "No that's just for looks, and don't call me Shirley."

She glared at me, "Must you quote movies at everything I say?"

I shrugged, "I think it's funny."

She grumbled, "I don't."

"Come on, you two argue like an old married couple!" Said Riku angrily

"Now who's quoting movies?" I said smiling. Riku threw up his hands and stormed off toward the Library.

Riku reached the door first and knocked, "Entre vu!" Said a voice in a bad French accent.
Riku pushed it open and walked in with Kairi and I tailing him.

"Oh my goodness!" Minnie squeaked. "Sora, Kairi, Riku? Is it really you?"

I nodded smiling widely, "Yes Ma'am!"

"This is so unexpected! How long are you planning to stay?"

I shook my head, "I just need to speak to the King about something, do you know where he is?"

Minnie smiled, "Yes, he is currently in the Hall of The Cornerstone, shall I escort you there?"

I shook my head, "That won't be necessary, I know the way." She nodded and turned back to her desk.

Back in the hallway Riku grabbed my shoulder, "What's the Hall of The Cornerstone?"

I pressed my hand to the gigantic yellow doors of the Throne Room and said, "Under the throne room. It's a bit of a secret."

"Why?"

"There's a globe of light in the middle of the room that maintains a barrier against the Heartless. As long as the Cornerstone is here in the Castle, they cannot enter."

Riku nodded and walked over the the other handle of the door. I gave him a questioning look, "What? I'm gonna help you open this thing."

I shook my head and said, "Watch." I leaned on the handle forcing open an average sized section of the door, "Both doors open during formal events."
Riku nodded and stepped through.

Kairi gasped, "LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THIS PLACE!"
The high vaulted ceiling was roughly two stories tall and as large as a football field.
Walking to the other end of the room must've taken fifteen minutes.

When we finally reached the throne Riku made a point to look around dramatically, "Where is it?"

"Hold on, don't get your britches in a wad." I grinned and walked to the Throne and pressed a small green button under the right armrest.
The Throne folded and slid away with a large section of the floor revealing a white staircase. I gestured to it, "Shall we?"

Riku started down the stairs with me.

I stepped off the stairs and peered into the gloomy hall, "Is anyone here?" I called loudly. When no one answered, I called again, "King Mickey?"

A great gust of wind roared across the room, nearly blowing Riku and I off our feet.
Kairi grabbed my arm and squeaked, "What is happening!?"

I shook my head and summoned the Kingdom Key, Riku and Kairi followed suit.
"Who's there?"

The hair on my neck stood as a dark chuckle filled the room.
A figure in a black cloak stepped out of the darkness. My stomach squirmed. He was holding a Keyblade.

The voice that sounded was smooth and deep, "So… you are Sora." He said with mock interest.
"I was expecting someone with your reputation to be a little older; not the whelp that stands before me."
He gestured at Riku, "You must be Riku. You have lost the Darkness that once coursed in you, a pity."
Then he turned to Kairi, "Ah… Young Kairi. It has been many years since I last laid eyes on you. I doubt that you remember me."

He dismissed his keyblade and waived one hand in the air, instantly the gloom brightened.
The figure lowered his hood to show a bald head and aged face.

"I am Master Xehanort."

I summoned my second keyblade, "You're the cause of all this. The reason my home was destroyed three years ago."

He laughed again, "My boy, It was not I who caused the destruction of your little island. The credit should go to the man standing beside you, is that not correct Riku?"

Riku growled and brandished The Way To Dawn, "Your Heartless hoodwinked me! I wanted to see new worlds, not destroy mine!"

Xehanort lifted his keyblade and pointed at us, "You mean OUR world. Destiny Island was once my home as well."
His blade vanished from his hand and he crossed them both behind his back, "I abandoned the islands many years ago, solely because they were of no use to me any longer. Not unlike yourselves."
He smiled wide enough to show his unnaturally white teeth.
"I'm sure Ventus has made contact with you by now of course. As soon as his heart sensed my return, he should have stirred inside your heart."
He pointed his open palm at me, "Whatever the case, I need my former apprentice back. Ventus! Come forth!"

I doubled over in pain suddenly. A pressure rose in my chest and grew until it felt like my heart was going to explode.
I cried out and fell to my knees.

"Sora!" Riku dove past me and fired three blasts of blue fire at Master Xehanort, "Fight him!"

The pain was so bad that my vision began to blur and change color, "I'm trying! The pain… It's too much!"

Kairi dropped to her knees beside me and grabbed my shoulder, "Sora, I'm here! Tell me how I can help?!"

"I don't know what's going on! It feels like my heart is going to burst!"

Roxas rushed forward and started taking swings at Xehanort from every angle.
Surprisingly enough, Xehanort dodged each swing as if Roxas were moving in slow motion.
He couldn't get one blow to connect on the old man.

I dropped to my face again, the pain increasing in ferocity until I felt like I might vomit.

"AAAAAAAAAAAUUUGHHH!"

Riku looked back at me with pure panic on his face, "Kairi! Get him out of here!"

As soon as her hands went under my abdomen, I felt something break inside of me.
Around my body there glowed a nebula of green energy.
A single ray of light shone from the center of my chest and reformed into a humanoid shape.
When the light faded away, there stood Ventus.
His face contorted with anger.

"Xehanort!" Ventus roared.
He charged the old man with speed unlike anything I have seen before.
It was like he were made of wind.
A look of satisfaction crossed Xehanort's face.

Xehanort's keyblade appeared in his hand and blocked Ventus' strike.
He moved as if his foe were moving through cold syrup.

"Ventus! My old apprentice, it is so good to see you again. It has been many years."

"TRAITOR!" Ven shouted again.

"You abandoned the training I set before you and joined my oldest foe, tell me whom is the true traitor here?"
He casually flicked his wrist and sent Ven flying like a ragdoll.

"You are still not strong enough to face me boy. It seems you have learned nothing these ten years."

Xehanort smiled in a bemused way and teleported behind Ven, "Too slow my young apprentice." and grabbed him by the back of his head.

My vision suddenly blurred and I was transported to another place and time.

Ven charged Master Xehanort. Xehanort dodged and grabbed Ven by the back of his helmet and held him over the edge of a cliff. Ven struggled wildly, swinging his keyblade back and forth trying desperately to strike his former Master.
With an evil smile, Xehanort cast Ice and froze Ven's body solid.
Then he casually dropped him over the cliff without a second glance.

My vision returned. Pure rage overtook me and I took off at a sprint straight at Xehanort.
I started wildly casting fire and thunder spells faster than I could even process.
Xehanort dropped Ventus and teleported beside me.
Before I realized, Xehanort pushed me to the ground and held his keyblade to my throat, "Such power. If you were ambitious enough, you could become a great Keyblade Master in your own right. Why not join with me? I could use a new apprentice with skill like yours Sora."

I growled back, "Never."

"Very well, I shall not require an answer of you right now."

I grabbed my fallen weapons and swung at the old man, again he teleported out of my reach.

"You have a strong heart, and a will to match it."
He took a step back and a mist began to form around his outline, "I shall speak with you all again soon, until then I fully expect you to keep improving."
He then vanished like mist in the wind.

I turned to Ven, "How are you here?!"

Ventus growled and gestured where Xehanort had been standing, "It's his doing. I have no idea how he knew! Everything is because of him. His ambition is what ruined my life and so many others!"
Ven threw his keyblade on the ground and clenched his fists.
"Whatever it is he's planning, we have to stop him."

Ven fixed his eyes on mine, "Please understand Sora, this man is not like Xemnas or Ansem. He will not hesitate to destroy entire worlds to see his plans come to fruition."

Roxas frowned, "This guy is the real deal then?"

Ven nodded, "Yes. I can't tell you enough how powerful he is."
He stood there shaking with rage for several moments. Finally he said, "If you ever need me or my power, I will be ready Sora."

He slowly became transparent then a beam of light shot into my chest.

I turned to Riku, "Looks like we have some serious preparation to do."

Riku nodded

"SORA!" I turned to the staircase, "I knew you'd show up eventually!"

A small figure wearing a black cloak rushed down the stars.

"Your majesty!" I smiled, I bent down and pulled him into a hug.

"Sora..." He said after I released him, "We need to talk."

I nodded, "Yes we do."

Whew! This is probably my longest chapter to date.
I do hope it is satisfactory!

This is Soulless1 signing off. Until Next Time!