If Our Hearts Unite

Chapter 33: The Connection

Sora paced the stained glass, her mind trying to come up with a way to find the last two remaining fragments of Kairi's heart.

"At this rate, I'll return to my time without having accomplished anything." She looked up at the void, seeing the outside world through the eyes of her past self. She'd seen all this take place before. She knew in the end she and her friends would win out… but Kairi would still be lost.

"There's gotta be a way… two more fragments. Perhaps I can trace the hearts of two more guardians… but how?" She held her chest. "Everyone always tells me to just my heart and let it lead me to the right path. Follow my heart..."

She sensed a familiar light with her. Riku's warmth seemed to call out to her, and he lifted her hand up, catching the sparkle of the ring he had given her. She could sense him there, the small piece of his heart caught in the stone.

"Our hearts are connected…" her smile bloomed. "I just need to trace the connection."

She took off the ring and held it palm out. It started to glow and float in place and she extended her keyblade. The ring glinted and a path seemed to open. In the dark void Riku's heart glowed like a beacon, welcoming her.

"You're never far from my side are you, Riku?" She smiled and snatched up the ring before floating upwards. Her heart sailed through the void, until she was greeted by the familiar sight of Riku's heart. She scanned the depictions engraved there: Namine, Mickey, and Ansem. Those three figures had helped shape Riku into the man he was today, so it was no wonder that their hearts were connected to his.

She noticed a fragment of it missing… a piece of his chest hollowed out in the shape of a keyhole. Her ring glowed again and she smiled in response. She stretched her keyblade out, a light shooting into the keyhole and releasing a flood of light that encompassed her. Sora closed her eyes and let herself sink into his warmth.

Riku…

~Meanwhile~

"Sora…"

Riku's heart felt as if it were being stretched a hundred miles long. There was an ache that was undeniably his fears for Sora who was trapped in another dimension fighting off a great evil. He knew he couldn't rush to her side just as yet. Sealing up Kingdom Hearts was the priority, and a job that couldn't be ignored. He needed to have faith, needed to believe that Sora, Donald, and Goofy could handle Xehanort on their own.

"Be strong, everybody!" Mickey encouraged, sensing the darkness lingering despite their efforts to keep Kingdom Hearts from unleashing its power.

"What'll happen…" Axel wondered aloud. "...if we can't stop it?"

"You're really gonna ask that now?" Roxas grunted, her dual keybades rose high despite her shaking limbs.

"Just seemed like the only time to ask." He sideglanced with a small smile.

"I don't know what'll happen," Aqua answered, her head lowering a fraction to contemplate the aftermath. "... but there's no question in my mind that this is the true Kingdom Hearts. I can't imagine what'll happen if he succeeds."

"Maybe if we hold it back long enough, it might vanish." Venus hoped, a bead of sweat dripping down her temple.

"No, only the X-blade has the power to stop it." Terra grit his teeth.

"But…" Venus' innocent blue eyes stare into the dark abyss of Kingdom Hearts. She'd just gotten her friends back… she didn't want to lose them again.

"We all need to trust Sora!" Riku declared, his arm steady and mouth firm. The ache in his heart had eased, as if he could feel her strength and power inside of him.

"That's right!" Mickey agreed, and the group all shared nods of agreement.

The hope they shared wasn't enough, however. Darkness spread to every inch of kingdom hearts, blackening the sky with its power. Keyholes from various worlds opened, all interconnecting in the sky. It was a sign that the fate of the world they stood in, was the fate for all worlds.

"Do you see that?" Axel shuddered out and lowered his keyblade. From Kingdom Hearts came a group of dark vestiges, the empty shells Xehanort had created for his purpose. They floated in the sky as if to guard Kingdom Hearts from outside interference.

"What in the…" Roxas took a step forward but was knocked off her feet, but a sudden gust of wind. Axel snagged her arm, and then Xion, who also flew backwards from the powerful wind.

"Hold on… WHOA!" The three were tossed skyward.

"Lea! Roxas!" Venus cried out as she too was hoisted up off her feet. Terra snagged her hands and Aqua his waist, but it was too late. Soon the entire group was sucked into a whirling tornado.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Axel finally managed to stop as the lot of them floated in the sky. The wind kept them skyborn, but it was hard to balance as a stray wind could easily send you flying. Xion learned it first hand as a stray gust tossed her about.

"Xion!" Roxas propelled herself towards her, saving her from being tossed into another world.

"Whew, thanks Roxas."

"Everybody group together!" Riku called out from the center, his keyblade at the ready. The dark vestiges circled around them, threatening with onslaught.

"We're trapped!" Venus said with alarm.

"Stay calm," Terra soothed, taking her hand. "We all have to work together."

"That's right, trust our bond! Xion, Mickey, in the center! We'll use our magic to protect the group." Aqua told them and focused her power.

"Right!" Mickey nodded and helped Xion to the center to form a core. Around the core, the remaining guardians formed a combative circle and prepared to fight. "Are you ready, Riku?"

"Yeah! Let's do this!" Riku held his heart, Sora's light burning within him and strengthening his courage and resolve. As the vestiges attacked, the group blocked and then countered. Riku's hair whipped around his face, but he stayed focus on the target ahead of him. Once he saw an opening, he unleashed a powerful combo that forced his opponent backward.

"Nice one, Riku!" Xion encouraged and with the help of Aqua and Mickey brought up the large barrier to protect from the fierce counter attack.

"My turn!" Roxas said, her blue eyes glinting as her dual blades slashed the air with wicked precision.

"Someone's making up for lost time!" Axel grinned and unleashed a massive flame to push back his own opponent.

"Can you two flirt later, and concentrate?" Xion complained as one of the vestiges brought through. She led it up skyward and prepared to strike back.

"Xion!" Venus signaled her. Xion knocked her opponent downwards towards Venus who unleashed a powerful wind spell, and kicked him back up again. Roxas was there waiting, and she focused her power into one ultimate attack that sent the vestige careening away from the group.

"Nice one, you two!" Xion complimented.

"You too! Thanks!" Venus side-glanced at Roxas and gave her a sly smile. "Beats sleeping, doesn't it?"

"Oh you've no idea." Roxas smirked back and the two bumped keyblades before whirling around to focus on the battle again.

Riku saw an opening, and took it. He led four vestiges away from the group, then unleashed a dark fire attack. He'd hoped to at least take one out, but all four kept flying towards him. He blocked their attack, but their combined power weighed heavy and he could feel himself losing ground. Refusing to give in, he gave it all he had, whipping his body around in a whirlwind attack and breaking their formation apart.

Riku…

"Sora?" Riku's eyes glanced around. He could have sworn he heard her voice. He didn't notice Sora'sapparition form emerge from his heart. In her palm she held the next shard, her eyes glazed over from the memories she'd seen.

The day Fenrir was born, Xehanort had been by Eraqa's side as promised. The two had looked so happy, and in love, and the boy was the perfect mesh between the two. A single tear slipped down her cheek as she collected the piece and took in her chaotic surroundings. She didn't have time to remorse for the young couple. She had to travel to the last heart, and find the final piece.

She let out a quick yelp as the next attack blasted through the barrier and sent her companions flying. The backlash scattered the bulk of them across the sky and into different portals. Sora stayed with Riku, the two of them doing their best to stand firm. Mickey struggled to regain his form, and failed to see the vestige coming in for the attack.

"Mickey!" Riku pushed his friend out of the way. The momentary shift sent Sora's heart toward Mickey, just as he was hit by the attack and sent careening into another portal.

"RIKU!" Sora shouted sheltered inside Mickey's heart. She could feel his despair and fatigue and struggled to help him to his feet. "Come on Mickey, stand up! We have to help the others!"

Mickey grunted and stirred, for a moment he thought he'd heard Sora's voice… urging him to go on. Sora always seemed to be the most hopeful of them all, even with things were at their darkest. It was fitting that he was hearing her now when he was facing a huge uphill climb.

He got to his feet, his inner strength and connection with his friends keeping him going. He stood against the small army of dark vestiges, pushing them back even as they flew at him one by one.

He took one step, then two, pushing forward even though his body wanted to give out. Sora cheered him on, her light and voice giving him strength as if she were standing there with him.

"That's it, Mickey! Push them back! You got this!"

"That's right! No matter how far…" Mickey grunted, his eyes narrowing on his opponents. He felt his strength growing, and the light inside him pulsated with raw power. "The light will connect our hearts!"

"Yeah!" Sora grinned and raised her own keyblade up to give him just that little extra boost. "We are, all of us, TOGETHER!"

The light was blinding, erupting out like an explosion of euphoria across the sky. The beam from mickey's keyblade seemed to stretch on for eternity as it cut through the darkness, dispatched the vestiges, and cleared his path.

Absolutely drained, Mickey felt his body collapse. Sora floated down to him, keeping him from plummeting.

Mickey's eyes squinted and he spotted the girl smiling sweetly down at him.

"Sora?" He felt her hug him tight, and protectively. "What are you doing here?" It was then he saw the odd glow around her form. A spectral form… "is it really you?"

"Mmmm… I traced the connection, from me to RIku, and then Riku to you." The heart shard floated up into her palm. "That makes seven, all the lights I needed. I'll handle the rest."

She let him go and took the shard with her upwards. A brilliant light shone around her, and her astral form vanished.

"Sora." He watched her astral form disappear and he landed on his feet. Tears burned in the back of his eyes when he realized what this meant. Sora had gone to the past to save Kairi. Everything that Young Xehanort had spoke of would come to pass. "What have you done?"

~With Sora~

Sora stepped into the past, and the familiar sight of The Land of Departure. Eraqa held Fenrir to her chest, the boy looking to be no more than two. In front of her was a cloaked figure and she stared at him with narrowed speculation.

"What do you mean he'll betray me? Xehanort would never fall to the darkness."

"Hmmm?" Sora looked around for Xehanort and frowned. Well this was odd. Xehanort was nowhere to be found. How could this be one of HIS memories?

"I'm afraid he already has, Eraqa…" the stranger told her with a deep sigh in his voice. "You've seen him with one of these, haven't you?" He motioned to his cloak. "They're specially designed for traveling through dark portals. He's been sent on a Dark Road, one that there's no turning back from."

"He told me the cloak was just a precaution… He would never use it hastily. He seeks answers to-"

"I know full well what he seeks answers to. He seeks a world made of pure light… a place where you and your growing family can be kept safe. I'm here to tell you there's no such thing. In the end his findings will only bring darkness upon the world, and destroy the love and trust you've built."

"Why should I believe anything you tell me? You're a stranger, and I've known Xeha most of my life. I'd hardly choose a stranger over him." Eraqa set her son down on his feet, urging him to stay behind her. The baby fussed and clung to her cloaks, his big honey brown eyes full of fear.

"Mama…"

"It's okay, Fenrir…" Eraqa soothed her son, running a hand over his full head of silvery hair. She turned hard eyes onto the stranger. "You need to go now!"

The stranger sighed heavily and shook his head.

"He said you were a stubborn one. It's a shame, I was hoping I wouldn't have to do this the hard way." He held his hand out, a keyblade forming. Eraqa's body went on high alert and she unleashed her own blade, ready to defend.

The battle was quick and painful to watch. Eraqa was sorely outmatched by the dark stranger. She lay crumpled on the floor, struggling to stand.

"Do us both a favor and stay down, okay?" He patted her cheek and laughed as she swiped at him. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of Fenrir. I've got the perfect place for him. A world where he can fulfill his destiny, and help form another."

"His destiny… wait… where are you taking him?" Eraqa let out a sound of distress as the stranger plucked her child up around the waist. The baby wailed, holding his arms out for her. "No! Please! Don't take him from me!"

"Now, now no need to fret, my dear." He hefted the child up into the crook of his arm and waved a hand over his face, putting him into a deep sleep. "You'll soon have more kids to take his place."

"Fenrir! Stop!" Eraqa got to her feet, her keyblade in hand. The dark portal opened and the stranger stepped inside with the sleeping babe. "Give him back! NOOOOOO!"

Eraqa made a leap but the dark portal closed and she collapsed to the ground. Beside herself Eraqa curled up into a ball and wailed. Moments later Xehanort sprinted up the steps and rushed to her.

"Eraqa! What happened? Fenrir… where's Fenrir?"

"Gone… he's gone…" Eraqa clung onto him, her hands feeling the leather of his cloak and she clenched her teeth. "A man from the darkness took Fenrir. Said he was going to bring him to a world where he can fulfill his destiny and help form another."

"This man… What did he look like? I'll find him, Eraqa, I'll bring our son back."

"How? By going into the realm of darkness?" She lifted her head and glared at him. "Haven't you traveled down that path far enough? Haven't you sought and searched enough!?" She shoved at him and got to her feet. "You should have been here! Why weren't you here, Xeha!?"

"I'm sorry I-"

"You're sorry?!" She sobbed and shook her head. "Sorry isn't going to bring back Fenrir. Sorry isn't going to erase the fact that you chose your hunger for knowledge and adventure over the family you were supposed to protect."

Xehanort remained silent… he couldn't argue with her.

"I guess what that man said was right…" Eraqa whimpered and stared at her hands. "He said you would choose the darkness over me. He said that you would betray me and break the love and trust we have."

"I would never… Eraqa!" He took her by the shoulders. "You mean more to me than anything. I stayed away because I thought I was protecting you from the darkness. I'm getting stronger and learning to control the darkness. Soon it won't have any effect on me, and I can travel to the realm of darkness and save our son."

"You're stupid!" Eraqa screamed at him and pushed away. "I could smack you for being such a dumb, moronic fool! You can't control the darkness! Nothing and no one can control it! It has a mind of its own! If you let it take hold, let it grow and get stronger then it'll just consume you!"

"You only say that because you fear it." He glared at her. "I don't blame you for that, but I'm going to prove you wrong. I will find our son, and when I do I will bring him back and we'll be a family again. I promise."

Eraqa shook her head and turned her back to him.

"I fear by the time you return… I won't recognize you at all. Goodbye, Xeha"

Xehanort clenched his fists as he watched her walk away. He turned the opposite direction, and opened a dark portal leaving her and The Land of Departure behind him.

~End of Flashback~

Sora shuddered as the memory closed and she took in her current surroundings. While many questions from the memory buzzed around in her head she had only one goal in mind.

With the help of Mickey's light Sora connected the various portals and worlds, until he sky glittered and wove together in a cluster of constellations. Seven lights from the hearts of her friends shot out from their respective portals. The shards of kairi's heart floated out and once struck by the light of the guardians they came together to form a beautiful crystalized flower.

"Whoa…" Sora smiled and flipped backwards to gage a little distance. The crystal heart floated up, a beam of light shimmering and creating yet another keyhole. Sora unlocked it, and from its shimmering light Kairi emerged whole, and safe.

"Kairi!" Tears of joy spilled down her cheeks as Sora glided to her. Kairi's eyes opened, and she smiled as the first thing she saw was her best friend.

"Sora!"

The two girls embraced, Sora clinging to her tightly as relief swam through her. Her body shook and she felt Kairi's gentle hands soothed and stroked her back.

"I'm so glad you're okay, Kairi." Sora sobbed and pulled back wiping at her tears. "Sorry… it's been one emotional day."

"I know… thanks for saving me, Sora." She wiped the tears for her. "I'm sorry to have caused you so much trouble."

"You could never cause me trouble, Kairi.' Sora laughed and sniffed.

"Hehe… uh oh." kairi glanced up and saw the dark form circling overhead. Sora saw it and scowled. Her tears immediately dried as she realized their fight wasn't over yet

"You up for this, Kairi?"

"Oh yeah…" Kairi whipped out her keyblade. "I'm ready for him this time!"

"Heh," Sora smirked and matched her stance, the two girls facing down the last remaining Xehanort vestige. "Alright, Xehanort, time to finish this once and for all!"

~Ask Briry~

Briry: Oooh only a few chapters left! *Does a little dance* I'm so excited!

Next Chapter: Hello and Goodbye