Xion looked down at her feet as they walked through the hallway, mulling the idea over of a friend. It seemed like a very valuable title indeed, with many responsibilities to uphold, and yet, Sora had given it to her so easily. She could, no, she would do all the things he said about friends for Sora, that was what being friends meant. It was her newfound purpose, and it made something alight within her.

That red-haired girl, the one always by her side, she was her friend too. Xion made a promise to her, they made each other laugh, and they always listened to each other, she even gave her the special charm. Those memories weren't her own, but they drove her all the same.

"Hey Xion, I was wondering, do you remember where you came from?" Sora asked, making her glance up.

The boy sorted through the world cards while waiting for her response, picking out the sandy desert. He realized then that the memories of past worlds would only get harder from this point on.

Xion thought for a few moments and then nodded. "Yes… An island."

"That's funny, I live on an island too." Sora smiled, turning to her. "Er, a few islands, I guess. Yours must be in a different world."

"Oh… so, do you think you know a way to get us home?" Xion asked. The redhead would tease her even more if she knew Xion had been taking a nap for so long…

"You don't need to worry about that! I'll help you both!" Minnie's voice suddenly cried in Sora's head, making the boy shout in surprise.

"Sora, what's the matter?" Xion gasped slightly, catching him when he leaped back.

The boy shook his head with a smile. "Sorry, Your Highness, I sorta forget you were there!"

"It's alright." Minnie giggled. "I should've warned you, hm?"

"Who are you talking to…?" Xion asked, raising an eyebrow. Was she supposed to be hearing something too? She felt a bit left out...

"Oh, right, you can't hear her." Sora remembered while the girl looked at him quizzically. "I'm talking to a Queen! She became friends with me not too long ago, just like you!"

"Oh! So, friends can speak to each other through their minds?" Xion asked wide-eyed. She quickly shut her eyes. "I can tell my other friend I'm safe then!"

Sora laughed along with Minnie. "No, no! That's not how it normally works! Her Highness is really skilled in magic, and she's using it to talk to me until she finds me! She's gonna take me home, and I bet she can find your home too!"

"That's right!" The Queen tagged on to him.

Xion opened her eyes, looking a bit disappointed but then nodded with a small smile at the prospect of getting home. "Well… it's worth a shot."

The two walked up to the door and Sora held the card aloft before it vanished in brilliant light.

In the past, while Hades and Jafar spoke, Sora had been left behind in the palace of Agrabah. The two had said they were off to find the keyhole, and that he would have to stay put.

Hades has wanted Sora to stay at Hollow Bastion, of course, but the boy would not stop bugging him to bring him along. He had found Kairi, but not Riku, so the hunt was still on. He had tried to leave the palace, but there were guards blocking every exit, not to mention the squawking nuisance that was Jafar's pet bird that always reminded him he'd be in serious trouble…

So, he resigned to practicing with his sword while he waited for Hades and Jafar to return. Suddenly though, he heard a slight whispering along with chattering coming from nearby. He narrowed his eyes in confusion before sneaking over to the pillar that sounds were coming from.

"I need you to distract him… can you do that?" A femine voice asked softly.

There was a chattering in response, making Sora frown. Was this lady talking to what he thought she was? His curiosity got the better of him and he peeked behind the pillar.

He was immediately attacked with a screech by what he thought the chattering was: a monkey! "Ahh! Stop it! Stop, I'm sorry!"

Through the monkey's arms that were trying to cover his head, he saw a pretty young woman in turquoise gasp in shock. "Abu! Let him go!"

The monkey glared back but she gave him a reprimanding stare. He obeyed her then, after trying to snatch Sora's crown necklace which he failed to do once Sora jerked away.

"Who are you guys?" Sora mumbled, rubbing his cheek to get rid of the pain. "And why are you sneaking around?"

"My name is Jasmine." Jasmine introduced herself as the monkey climbed up on her head. "And you've already met Abu. We're here to find a friend…"

"Oh." Sora grunted in surprise. "Is your friend one of the guards?"

"No.."

"One of the servants?"

"Well, many are my friends, but I'm not looking for any of them at the moment."

Sora wrinkled his nose in confusion. "Wait, are you here for Iago…?!"

"No!" The girl laughed, and the boy soon joined her. "I'm looking for a young man named Aladdin."

"HEY! I heard my name! Is Jafar back?!" Iago suddenly squaked from somewhere close by, he was on his way.

Jasmine gasped in worry, grabbing Abu in her arms and running down the hall. "Oh no! I'm sorry, we have to go! Goodbye!"

"Okaaay…?" Sora mumbled, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

"Hey kid, what'd you call me for?!" Iago growled, flapping up to him.

"Um…" Sora glanced in the direction of Jasmine's escape but then away from it. She didn't seem dangerous, and Jafar was someone he didn't exactly like either, it made sense she wouldn't want to be seen by his minion... "Nothing much, I just have a question…"

Sora was in his dark form as Xion held off heartless from behind with her matching sword. They sliced through the hoards with ease, Sora let himself go wild with the power he now possessed, despite not meaning to.

They panted after they were done and the dark form melted off Sora as quickly as it had come. The boy felt a bit lightheaded, feeling drained. It was just withdrawl from using the Darkness, he thought, as Xion quickly recovered from using none of it.

"I was wondering how you can transform like that?" Xion asked. "Not only your clothes, but your whole character changes too…"

Sora wondered if he should tell her about his journey and glanced at the ground. "It's… kinda hard to explain, I don't think you'll get it…"

"Even if I don't, I'm still here to listen if you need me to."

Sora looked over to see Xion with a kind smile walking by his side. She already knew how to be a good friend, it seemed. "Thanks…"

"Do I know an Aladdin?" Iago grunted in response to the boy. "Sure I do. Why do you ask?"

Sora looked up to him expectedly. "Well, I-"

"Aladdin has escaped the dungeon!" A guard suddenly announced, running into the room.

"WHAT?!" Iago cried while Sora paled slightly in realization. That girl, her friend Aladdin, he was a criminal, why else would she have been sneaking around like that? Did she plan on letting that friend out of the dungeon and back into Agrabah? What if they were a thief? Or worse?

"Outta my way, I gotta find Jafar!" Iago growled to the guards who parted for him.

"Uh, me too!" Sora cried, running past them. Instead of following Iago, the boy ran into the busy streets, searching for Jasmine. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the bright fabric of her outfit and turned to see she was with a young man that wore ragged attire, Aladdin. He gave her something shiny and a sword before saying something. She nodded to him and they parted ways, Aladdin going into the crowd and Jasmine running out of Agrabah. Sora followed the man as he ran to an empty street, hiding behind a few crates while Abu ran on ahead.

Sora slid to a halt after hearing Hades and Jafar speaking and quickly hid himself in a empty stall until they'd passed. In that time, Iago alerted Jafar of Aladdin's escape and was sent with a group of heartless to track him down, they said something about being a prince?

Just as the boy thought he was off the hook though, Hades suddenly snatched him up and threw him to the ground once they'd left the area. "Ouch! Hey! How'd you find me?!"

"The hair, genius." Hades chuckled, pointing to his spikes. "It's a dead giveaway."

The boy gave a moan in annoyance when Hades tried to smooth them out. For a moment, it worked, but then they sprang right back up again.

Hades rolled his eyes and then began to walk while Jafar went in the opposite direction, most likely to search for Aladdin.

Sora trotted by him like a lost puppy, looking up at him for a moment before asking: "Why's this guy Aladdin so important to Jafar? He seemed really upset when Iago told him he was gone."

"Ya' see, Aladdin's a Prince of Heart: one of seven the darkness is having us collect in order to get what we want, powers, and our safety from its wrath… the whole shabang." Hades shivered as if terrified of darkness. "That man's heart is dark as night, like all the rest of the princes, he's a thief to boot. Everytime I catch one, I don't feel too bad, cause it's making their world a safer place!"

Sora nodded slightly.

"The only reason I was able to locate Kairi was because I found another prince before and the darkness owed me for it. To find your other friend…"

"We have to capture another!" Sora realized.

"Bingo. Think you can do it, champ?" Hades smiled down at him.

Sora was surprised he entrusted him with such a task but was determined to succeed in it, after all, it was to find Riku! "You can count on me!"

"... So… what happened to Ansem after he was defeated...?" Xion whispered after Sora had told her the reason why he could use the darkness so well: Ansem.

Sora shook his head a bit sadly. "Nothing much. He's still with me, I saw him earlier in the castle. He wants me to fall to the darkness in my heart…"

"... to possess you again." Xion finished softly in realization. She saw Sora place a hand to his chest, gritting his teeth as his dark suit formed.

"I thought I would have a choice to use the darkness in me but it… it takes me over me in the blink of an eye and I lose control of myself. What if because of that… Ansem takes over me again?!"

Xion suddenly grabbed his other hand and shook her head. "That won't happen. Not when I'm here. I'll keep you tethered to the light until you can see Kairi and Riku again, then we'll all help you with it."

"And I'll do the same for you!" Sora promised.

"Thank you." Xion smiled, though she wasn't as sure she'd be able to survive without the darkness empowering her.

"Ah, so the little rat returns…!" A slimy voice cried, making the children jump and get a bit closer to one another.

"Jafar!" Sora recognized at once, seeing the man appear before their eyes in a puff of red smoke. He summoned his sword with Xion following shortly after.

Xion narrowed her eyes. Sora didn't trust him, clearly, so neither did she. "What do you want?"

"It is rude to demand something before you've introduced yourself..." Jafar walked closer to the girl, summoning his staff before using it to lift up her chin, scrutinizing her.

Xion quickly tore her head away when his eyes seemed to bore into her very heart, if she had such a thing.

"She's my friend, so leave her alone!" Sora growled, putting himself in front of Xion and pointing his blade at the sorcerer.

"Is she now?" Jafar chuckled lightly, flinging his staff into the boy and shoving them both to the ground. "Tell me, Sora, do you know what your 'friend' truly is? What she will do once you've fallen to your darkness?"

Xion frowned in confusion. What did he mean? She was… just like Sora, wasn't she?

"Cut it out!" Sora yelled in a dark aura, running at the man with his sword drawn.

The golds clanged together as Jafar blocked with effort while Sora was empowered by his darkness, his strength fully unleashed in defense of his friend.

Xion's sword vanished in the doubt of herself. Just what would she do if Sora fell to darkness…?

Hades had demanded Sora prepare and practice at Hollow Bastion before facing the Prince of Heart, and had Pain and Panic watch the boy so he wouldn't try anything.

The two imps could easily shapeshift, so they were great practice to spar against. They changed their forms various times, increasing difficulty from being a small rabbit to a massive bear. A man was involved in that spectrum, of course, Panic playing the main role and Pain being his sword, which got him wacked many times, to which Sora apologized for if it was an extremely hard hit.

Eventually, it was time to actually face and capture Aladdin, they knew since a dark corridor had appeared in front of them.

Sora gulped, nervous despite having trained for hours.

He took each of the imps hands and they walked him through. They stood a bit away from a young man who peered over a hole, seemingly watching a fight of some kind.

"Y-You can do it, Sora! W-We believe in you!" Panic whispered to him, proud of the boy and giving him a shaky thumbs up while Pain nursed his wounds.

"Knock 'im dead, kid." Pain grunted, still thinking he was a thorn in his side but had warmed up to him slightly.

"Thanks guys." Sora smiled back at them. He took in a deep breath and summoned his sword before grabbing Aladdin by the arm and yanking him back.

The man whipped around in shock but relaxed slightly when he saw Sora, smiling weakly. "Oh! Sorry, I thought you were that fiery guy… but you're just a kid! My name's Aladdin, what's yours?"

Sora blinked in surprise. He had expected the man to immediately go into battle or brush him off as if he was nothing, that's what he thought someone with a heart full of darkness would do anyway. But he had already met many of those and not realized it. "Um…"

Aladdin then noticed his sword and his eyes narrowed slightly. He backed away. "Are you with them..? Jafar and that guy?"

"Yeah. And I have to capture you, so…" Sora glanced at the ground, unsure what to say.

"...That's weird." Aladdin mumbled, making the boy glance up. He then noticed his 'captor' was looking confused. He laughed slightly. "It's just that look you have's the same one a lot of the kids in Agrabah have had: they're unsure about doing something they may regret later, like hurting people or stealing… but just like you, they know they have to do it to survive and to keep their families safe… Someone really important's on the line, huh..."

"Yeah, my friends, Riku and Kairi. Riku's missing and Kairi's in a lot of danger, I have to rescue them but I can't without capturing you!" Sora called. He didn't know why he felt alright with confiding in the man. Maybe because he used to be one of those kids in Agrabah? Maybe he still was one of those kids…

"I see." Aladdin muttered, realizing then how worried Sora was, he would've been the same way if Jasmine was in danger. He made up his mind. "Well, to beat a criminal, you gotta be one!"

The man suddenly zipped around Sora and the boy's crown necklace was off his neck.

"Hey!"

"First rule of the streets! Keep your eyes sharp and your body quick!"

Sora grunted in shock and confusion before jumping to get it back. He eventually got it back but he was so glad that Aladdin had shoved him gently to the ground before pinning him with his bare foot. "Next rule: always have your guard up!"

"Stop it!" Sora huffed in frustration, using all his force to kick Aladdin off. He then flipped up and swung out his sword which the man merely leaned back from.

"Third, don't work smarter, not harder!" Aladdin called before leaping down the hole and grabbing onto a hanging rug that gave him just enough grip to pull himself up when it fell. "And finally!"

Sora landed, using the same trick Aladdin had. He then took one of the man's rules to heart, reflecting a beam of light onto a nearby golden mirror and shinning it into his eyes.

Aladdin stumbled back just in time for Sora to knock him hard on the head. He could hear the man mumble: "don't get caught…"

Sora felt guilty, Aladdin had barely fought back, he actually gave the boy pointers on how to beat him! And that last rule… Aladdin had let that last rule slide so he would be able to save his friends…

Xion saw Sora had made little headway despite being in the darkness. She winced at him fighting like a savage animal, unrelenting. She wouldn't let Sora fall to his darkness, no way! She ran to the boy who dodged another beam from Jafar. "Sora, snap out of it! You can't give into the darkness!"

Sora ignored her entirely, growling like he had never done before.

Xion was about to grab him when she suddenly had a feeling that Sora knew how to do this. All he needed was a reminder on the rules... and she somehow knew them! "HEY! What's the first rule of the streets?!"

The boy didn't respond, glaring intently at Jafar.

Xion saw a beam come from behind her friend and she quickly tackled him out of the way. "Keep your eyes sharp and your body quick!"

Sora gave a grunt in confusion, looking up at her. That face… it was Kairi's face… He wanted her to smile…

"Second rule! Always have your guard up!" Xion leapt in front of him before blocking with her sword and hitting back the beam.

Kairi wouldn't smile… if he was like this… Sora realized, his ragged breathing slowing. Neither would Riku or Minnie or Xion, and he wanted to make them proud so… he had to get out of this!

"Third, work smarter, not harder!" The girl ran up to Jafar before grabbing his massive cloak and wrapping it around him, jerking him to the ground. "And lastly…!"

"Don't get caught..." Sora finished, slamming his foot on Jafar who only laughed. Despite the boy being back to normal and not embracing the darkness, it seemed amusing to him… "What's so funny?"

"That silly little line about your friends, it rings true with this one." Jafar grunted, looking up at Xion. "Don't you see, Sora? She's pushing you deeper into the darkness you fear…"

"Th-That's not true!" Xion gritted her teeth in anger and shock. It couldn't be! She had helped Sora get out of it! She was the opposite, wasn't she?

Sora looked confused and slightly worried at that prospect but shook his head before ending Jafar swiftly.

Vexen had been watching his little creation travel with Sora throughout the worlds, observing her progress as well as Sora's increase in using the darkness… But he had grown wildly impatient, this was taking too long…

Xion laughed while Sora was gushing over how cool she looked fighting Jafar as they went down the hallway, Sora jogging as he told and demonstrated.

The boy's own laugher slowly declined a few moments later though, feeling dizzy and sick. He gripped his head before nearly falling over as he had before.

"Sora, are you alright?" Xion and Minnie both asked at the same time, making the boy wince in suprise.

He forced his usual smile before sitting down by a pillar. "Yeah! I'm fine, I just… gotta rest for a few minutes..!"

Xion looked at him with concern and tried to sit down beside him but noticed that he winced even more, despite trying to hide it. She sadly glanced away before walking down to the other end of the hall. "I'm going to rest over here, just call me if you need anything, okay?"

She turned back to see Sora was whispering softly to where she couldn't hear since she was a bit away now. Right… He had the Queen, and she was there for Sora all the time… She's probably a better friend to him than me... Xion thought before slumping down at the other end of the hall, putting her head on her knees.

Sora was indeed talking to the Queen. The happy face he'd put on for Xion was so she wouldn't feel guilty or worry about what Jafar had said. The dizziness was real though, and he took the opportunity to tell the Queen what had happened.

"... If she really is pushing you deeper into the darkness... then you have to part ways." The Queen sighed.

"What?!" Sora cried in shock, almost not whispering. "Sure I enter the dark suit whenever she's close but… that can't be her! There's no proof it's her!"

"There's no proof it isn't her either…" Minnie replied sadly, regret in her voice. "And the way you've been feeling so weak…!"

"Xion's my friend. She'd never hurt me like that! And she said she'd help me stick with the light!" Sora insisted. "I'm not abandoning her!"

"I know, Sora… I'm only saying this in case it gets worse before I arrive." The Queen assured him. "I don't want to lose Xion either…. Just be cautious when you're around her, please…"

"... Okay…"

Across the room, Xion wanted to hear what they were saying, but knew it wasn't her place to listen in on their conversation. She gave a sigh.

"Feeling lonely, are we?"

Xion gasped in surprise, knowing that voice. She turned to see Vexen, the man who had created her, but she didn't know that. "What are you doing here…?"

"I have a proposition for you." Vexen answered with a sickly sweet smile.

The girl glared, turning away from him. "No thank you!"

She was about to run to Sora to alert him but Vexen then spoke again.

"That little island girl misses you terribly, you know!"

Xion's eyes widened in shock, turning around quickly. "W-What?"

"Yes, we've been watching over her in your stead… She's in this castle, roaming her own memories!" Her creator smiled, seeing the girl look worried for someone that didn't even know she existed. "And yet, here you are, wasting away with some dull-witted boy…"

Xion was still reeling that her friend was actually here. She could see her, talk to her, hug her and laugh with her again! "Where is she?! Please, let me see her!"

"That's why I'm here!" Vexen announced. "I'll reunite you two if you simply do one thing…!"

"What?"

"Turn your blade against Sora." The man hissed with a smile.

Xion felt herself grow cold. "No, I can't-!"

"You won't be killing him!" Her creator interrupted with a lie. "All you need to do is go against him! Just one fight and that is all it will take to see your beloved again…!"

"B-But he's my friend…" Xion whispered.

"That may be but how can he compare to someone you've known all your life? And you know you can't compare to his other friends."

The girl was silent, glancing down at her boots with a resigned look.

"Just one fight, and your journey will be complete." Vexen whispered, dropping Kairi's good luck charm into the girl's hands.

Xion had no time to ponder why he'd want them to fight or if she even should, she quickly shoved the charm in her pocket after hearing Sora call to her, unaware that someone not wearing the Organization coat had been watching her from afar…