Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 9

"This is Hollow Bastion!" Sora looked around in confusion.

"What you see is not real. It's the world of your memory," a voice called…the same one he'd heard in that in-between place where he'd woken up.

"My memory?" he asked warily.

"The things you remember from your time at Maleficent's castle became a card, and that card made this world. You've seen everything here before, haven't you?"

Sora looked around, he'd seen the outside of the castle only once, Riku had taken him on the whole tour shortly after he'd woken up that first time. "So what now? Am I going to learn something? Maybe meet someone?" he asked. Other than the voice it was eerily quiet…too quiet.

"You would meet the people in your memories. Ordinarily."

"What does that mean?" he demanded, getting frustrated. "Hey! I'm asking you a question!" he yelled at the sky but it remained quiet. Sora frowned but then began jogging for the doors, where were the Heartless?

Everything was still and quiet but the castle was also somehow…smaller? Where there should be long hallways there were rooms, nothing between them. He ran into small groups of Heartless but nothing like the numbers he remembered. He opened a door with a new card and froze on the threshold.

"Everything IS just how I remember it. Even this room..." he whispered, staring at the two beds. He stepped closer, running his fingers over the blankets on Riku's, fighting the urge to cry.

"It must be nice being back in your old bedroom. Think of all the memories..."

Sora snorted and shook his head. "You do know I was asleep or cursed most of the time, right? Maleficent gave us this room, why would I want the reminder?" he didn't want a reminder, he wanted Riku…even his Heartless was better than nothing.

"So she did. And you lived here, tempted and changed by the Darkness she offered. You cast away your home, your friends, everything... But at least they gave you a nice room."

"Who are you?" Sora demanded. "You need to check your facts. I woke up in this room, I didn't ask for any of this." He stopped, pressing a hand to his chest. He shivered, he felt different since Ansem, even when fighting beside Riku's Heartless he'd noticed it, that it was easier to get angry.

He left the bedroom, not wanting to see it anymore, making his way higher into the castle. "No one here, either... There's nothing but Heartless in this castle." If these were his memories then where was Riku? To see him again….even if it was only a memory… "Voice! I know you're watching, so what's going on? Where are the people from my memories?"

"Do you want to see them?" the Voice asked, and Sora frowned.

"Of course I do."

"But you cast them aside."

"What?" what was he going on about? Sora hadn't cast anyone aside. Okay…he'd thought Kairi, but that had just been a trick, he remembered Kairi and Riku together. Did the voice think…he was Riku?

"You dreamt of the outside world, and you passed through the door to Darkness. Behind you, you left family, friends, home…everything…all for him."

"Riku? He was in trouble! Of course I reached for him. He's my best friend, I wasn't just going to let him get swallowed up. Yeah, Maleficent felt creepy but nothing felt bad about learning magic, how was I meant to know? I didn't ask to be cursed or possessed! I never want to touch the Darkness, I won't!"

"And what do you have to show for it all? First your home, then the Dark. Your Heart is empty - like that room. Like your memories. That's why you don't meet anyone. Your Heart is hollow - except for the residual Darkness."

"You're wrong! I will never accept the Darkness!" he yelled, breathing heavily.

"Really? Then what do you call that around you?"

Sora frowned and looked down. "No…no…." he had to calm down! He could literally see Darkness rising from his skin. He slammed his eyes shut, forcing his breathing to calm down. Ansem was gone, why was this happening? It seemed to take forever but eventually he opened his eyes and found everything normal.

He looked around and then took off running, he wanted out! He opened the last door and skidded into the Castle Chapel…where Maleficent had died…and there she was, waiting.

"I knew you would return, Sora."

"Maleficent! You're alive?!" he looked around warily.

"You haven't been paying attention. I am but a figment of your memory."

"Of all the people I could run into, it had to be you," he grumbled.

"But of course. After all, your heart is steeped in Darkness, far more than I ever imagined with how hard you resisted. You can only see those who exist in that same Darkness... Ah, but I am not the denizen of Darkness you truly wish to see, am I? No, you want to see dear Riku."

"No..." Sora shook his head, backing away from her.

"Be grateful you have someone to keep you company. Your Heart is empty. Were it not for the Darkness it contains, you would be completely alone."

"That's sounding pretty good right about now," he snapped. It wasn't true, it wasn't! His Heart wasn't empty. He had to get out, find the King and Kairi.

"Come, now. You once turned to me to sate your desire to learn, to become stronger. You want me here. Who but I can grant you the Darkness you long for, whether you admit it or not?"

"You're right," Sora whispered. "At first all I wanted was to learn, to be strong like Riku and fight at his side. I didn't understand what you were doing to us, the Darkness you wanted to bring out. I didn't really trust you, but I never thought you'd curse me. Never again. You and your Darkness have nothing to offer. All we did was lose ourselves bit by bit... I'm finished with all that. If I'm stuck seeing people like you, people of the Dark... I'll take you out one by one."

"Then you mustn't forget to destroy yourself last. For, like me, you are one of the Dark. As is Riku, will you destroy him too?"

"No, Riku turned back, he fought Ansem. Neither of us is belongs in the Darkness! Maybe Riku gave in, in a moment of weakness, but that doesn't matter. He did what he did to keep me safe! He…he died trying to save me and I will never give in to the Dark, I won't betray his memory like that." He stood tall, and he felt the Keyblade appear in his hand, settling into a defensive stance.

"So you hate the Darkness enough to fight it. Oh, the agony you must feel! Then let me end your pain, Sora…end it forever...with the wondrous power of Darkness!" She yelled, body changing, and Sora gulped as he faced a dragon. That…wasn't fair.

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"Good tidings, friends. Today is a momentous day," Xemnas proclaimed. "I am pleased to announce that a new comrade has been chosen to wear the coat."

Kirux looked at the others, seeing Vexen smirk as Demyx adjusted his seat. It was strange, everyone had been called to the meeting, even those assigned to Castle Oblivion.

Xemnas looked down toward the floor and Kirux followed his gaze. A small, cloaked, figure walked into the room and stood in the centre with its hood up.

"Number XIV. Let us all welcome one of the Keyblade's chosen."

Talking broke out among the others but Kirux just stared down at the figure. It was hard to tell at a distance but he thought they were shorter than him. Keyblade…the word was familiar…Luxord had mentioned that, but it was more than that. Like he should know it. Why didn't he remember anything?

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Kairi slumped down against the wall, taking a few mouthfuls of water. She was tired, sore, and just…heartsick. Riku was dead and Sora was trapped in the Darkness. If she hadn't got caught up fighting those Heartless and had been with Riku…surely the two of them together could have fought Ansem, could have found a way to free Sora without anyone dying.

Could Sora and the King really be in the Castle? What would she say to him when she saw him? Nothing that had happened was Sora's fault but would he believe that? She remembered the look in his eyes at the Door… she had to find him.

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"Axel!" He looked around, but only saw Demyx and Xion in the room, until Saïx walked in.

"Axel already left," Saïx told him as he walked to the window

"But...this ice cream stick that says WINNER... I have to ask him what I won," Kirux looked down at the stick in his hand.

"Wonder what it's like there, anyway. I've never been," Demyx spoke up, strumming his sitar.

"Kirux, starting today you will be executing missions alongside Xion. Pay extra attention to the intel I've prepared for you in the mission briefs," Saïx looked between them and Kirux glanced at Xion who still wore their hood up. "Today marks your first time out on a mission together. We need you to eliminate a specific Heartless. Kirux, you are in charge."

"Me? Oh...alright," he agreed. He was in charge? He had never been in charge before; he was the newbie…except now Xion was newer.

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"Why do you shun the Darkness?"

Sora paused, looking around the empty white room he'd found himself in. Of course the voice was back. "I know you heard me, every word I said to Maleficent," he called in response.

"Darkness is your weapon. It is time you learned you must accept it."

"What do you mean?" he couldn't help asking, he could feel it inside his Heart now.

"Stop resisting. Accept the Darkness. You have no choice..." a man appeared in an aura of Darkness and Sora staggered back. He'd never seen him before and yet he still recognised him. "...if you are to serve me again!"

"Ansem," Sora stared at him in horror, no, it wasn't possible!

"Oh. You seem surprised," he smirked.

"All you've talked about is the Darkness. You wanna pull me back in...so you can play puppet master. No way!" Sora glared at him, he would not let him use him, not again.

"Clever boy. I knew you'd be the one to most appropriately serve me. Riku's Darkness may have been stronger but your Heart is far more vulnerable. And now, surrender to me again!"

"You're crazy! Not a chance!" Sora called his Keyblade, slashing at Ansem who absorbed the attack with his hand before blowing Sora back.

"Did you really think you could do me harm? A weakling like you couldn't defeat anyone. You need me to be strong."

"You're wrong! I don't need you at all. I didn't ask you to possess me. I fought beside the King in the Realm of Darkness and I did it without you or the Darkness."

"You are weak. You need Darkness. Surrender. Bow to Darkness. Bow to me," Ansem demanded, and Sora shook his head, feeling suddenly dizzy.

"That's not gonna happen!" he snapped, settling back into a defensive stance.

"Only the Darkness can offer to you all of the strength that you will need."

"You're wrong!"

A sphere of light floated down and hovered around Sora who straightened, eyes widening.

"Your Majesty?" he whispered.

"That's right! Remember Sora, you're not alone," the King promised before the sphere fused into Sora's chest. "Listen close. The Light'll never give up on you. You'll always find it, even in the deepest Darkness!"

"I got it," he grinned, readying to fight Ansem. "I won't lose to Darkness. Not today."

"You think that feeble little Light can save you from the Darkness that I command? You shall feel my dark powers - in your bones!"

"Give me all you've got. I'll give it right back!" Sora yelled at him before launching forward.

Ansem glared at him but then launched balls of Darkness at him. Sora dodged, hitting one back with his Keyblade. He would not lose, he would not give in. He dodged everything he could, relying on his speed, blocking what he couldn't. Ansem was physically stronger than him by a lot. Still, Sora managed to get his own hits in until eventually they were at opposite ends of the hall.

"What, that all you got?" he panted.

"It seems to me that you are intent on resisting the Darkness. All right. Then see it for yourself." He held out a card…like the one that had brought Sora to this place.

"Huh?" why would Ansem give him a card?

"This is a card crafted from your memory. Advance through the world it creates and soon, you will understand... Chasing after Light is not the way. It will not give you distance from the Darkness. There is no running from the Darkness."

"I'm not running," he denied. He wasn't going to run, he'd face whatever Ansem could through at him. "Give it. I'll enter the world and in the end, if I haven't given in to the Darkness... Then I win."

Ansem tossed him the card and Sora caught it easily. "I have one more gift for you," he smirked, clenching his hand.

Sora gasped, dropping to the floor, writhing in pain as a dark sphere formed inside his chest. Then it was over and he lay panting on the ground before rolling to his hands and knees, pushing himself to his feet. "What'd you do?!"

"I simply tempered the Darkness that yet remains in your Heart."

"You still think that I'll use Darkness?"

"To use it or not is your choice. I'll be waiting, Sora...for you to sense it and yield to the Darkness in your heart!" and with that he was gone.

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"This place is, like, a hundred times better minus all the bossy co-workers, am I right?" Demyx smirked as Kirux joined them.

"Bossy co-workers?" He asked flatly, not understanding.

"Yeah, the "dream team" that got shipped off to Castle Oblivion. Dreamy for me, because they're gone!"

"Oh..."

"Too bad you and Poppet didn't get to spend more quality time with them," Xigbar chimed in.

"Poppet? Who's that?"

"Xion, of course. Who else, kiddo?" Xigbar waved at the silent Xion.

"My name's not "kiddo"," Kirux told him even as Saïx entered.

"Kirux, get to work. You will be teamed with Xion again today."

"We sent a total of six members over to Castle Oblivion. That's about half our number," Xigbar was loud enough for Kirux to hear as he prepared.

"No use fretting the absence of others. They simply lose this round by no-show," Luxord shrugged, shuffling his cards.

"I love days when Larxene is out. I can sit around playing sitar...instead of gopher!" Demyx was cheering as they left.

How was it they seemed to feel something about the others being gone? Was it truly an act? Why did they bother? He did wonder when Axel would be back, he had a list of questions for him.

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Sora watched as Mickey's image faded away. How did the King have so much faith in him? Whatever Ansem had done to him, the Darkness felt stronger and that scared him. He could literally smell it on himself! He just wanted to find Kairi and take her home; it didn't matter what happened to him after that. He wished they'd never even thought of the raft, that they could have just been happy on the Islands. He wanted Riku back.

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Vexen, Zexion, and Lexaeus stood together in the Basement meeting room of the castle. Vexen paced back and forth, waiting as Zexion thought about everything.

"I have identified the scent. It is Sora," the youngest of the three finally announced.

"Sora, you say? Has he emerged from the Realm of Darkness?" Vexen asked curiously. How had he managed that?

"His existence…it was once doubled in the Darkness."

"Fascinating..." Vexen murmured. "That's why you mistook him for the Superior. The dark power given to Sora facilitated his escape from its realm."

"What I want to know is why he appeared here in Castle Oblivion," Zexion frowned, and Vexen smirked.

"That's really quite simple. His existence resonates with that of another hero, or should I say heroine?"

"Kairi is in the castle?"

She arrived earlier. Marluxia is already guiding her through the Castle's particular rooms in order to utilise their 'gift' to meddle with her Heart."

"Without even bothering to consult us."

"It seems he desperately wants the Keyblade master for himself…What a foolish plan, indeed. Kairi is not such an interesting existence. The entity that holds true value…is Sora, the hero of Darkness." And he had a wonderful idea to use the boy for.

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"Hey, I wonder if there's anything we've forgotten..." Donald spoke up and they all looked at him.

"Hmm... If we did, what would it have been?" Goofy asked in confusion. "I can't think of anything, so maybe that means that I really am losing my memories."

Donald looked sad at that and Kairi shifted nervously. She didn't want to forget, she couldn't. What would happen if she forgot Sora and Riku?

"But whatever they were, they couldn't have been very important memories, right?" Goofy continued.

"Right, or else I don't think you would have forgotten it," she offered, even though she wasn't so sure about that.

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Donald looked at Kairi as they headed for the next room, worried about her. Something was really distressing her. Was it the maybe lost memories? She had to know she'd never forget Sora or…or…Ri…whoever that other boy was. Maybe they'd forget them since they didn't know them, except as brief enemies, but Kairi had known them for years, loved them. It would be fine.

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"I've got someplace to be again today, so go on ahead without me," he turned to head towards the clock tower.

"K...Kirux..."

"What?" he turned and stared at the hooded form. "What did you say?"

Xion faced him, not that it mattered when he couldn't see anything. Though the voice suggested Xion was female. "Your name...it's...Kirux, isn't it?"

"Yeah, Xion. ...That's right," he was shocked but then Xion turned to RTC, and he walked away, buying his ice cream before heading up to sit on the clock tower.

He sat alone on the clock tower, eating ice cream and thinking, shaking off a flashback of when he'd received his name. "My name... Was that the first thing Xion's ever said?" he'd never heard her speak before.

Kirux looked up at the sky, it seemed bluer than usual. It was called Twilight Town for a reason. Something about the colour blue…it was like it should be familiar but when he tried there was nothing.

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Mickey was worried about Sora. He'd been so unstable in the Realm of Darkness and now confronted with Ansem…he had to get to him! How long could he hold out with what little help he was able to give him? What was keeping him out of that Castle?

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"Huh?" Sora stared at the blond man dressed totally in black standing in the hallway.

"I take it you're Sora," the man said, and Sora shifted his stance a little.

"Are you with Ansem?" he asked warily.

"You are half correct. Let us say that he is not the Ansem with which you are familiar. He is Ansem and he is not Ansem. Perhaps a "Nobody" best conveys the idea."

"Ugh, riddles are a pain. Just tell me!"

"He belongs to neither the light nor the dark but walks the twilight between."

Sora frowned, he did not like the sound of that.

"Catching on now? Oh yes, you also stand in between the light and the darkness. It appears we have much in common."

"Maybe... Like you said, there really is Darkness left inside of me from him. But so what? Darkness is my enemy!" he called his Keyblade. "And you stink of it!"

"Oh ho! So it's a fight you want. Very good…I shall take you on!"

Sora lunged and slashed at Vexen, but he blocked it with his shield. Sora struck again, but was blocked, the stranger laughing.

"I find, coursing through you, there is a Darkness of formidable power growing! Well worth the trouble of aggravating you. All this excitement has provided me with invaluable data."

"What?!" Sora backed away but not fast enough, staggering dazedly as the shield glanced off his head.

"Many thanks, Sora!" he smirked and then vanished.

"It was a trick all along," Sora grimaced, casting a Cure spell. The only good thing about being possessed was suddenly knowing more spells. Maleficent hadn't started teaching him healing, if she'd ever been going to. What had been her plan for them? Get them to give into the Darkness and then what? Ansem had told him Riku had kidnapped two of the Princesses for her, taunted him with that. But what good would they have been to her without the Keyblade Ansem had used?

Sora shook his head and pushed on, there was no point dwelling. He hoped the Princesses were okay but there was nothing he could do if they weren't.

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"Xion, I didn't know you could use the Keyblade," Kirux stared at the blade in her hand but then shook his head. No, Xemnas had called her the Keyblade's chosen that day.

"Yeah...neither did I," she stared at it and then it vanished.

"You did great," he told her, like Axel had told him when he did something well. "In fact, you deserve a little something extra," he decided.

"Something extra?" she asked as they walked towards the station.

"Yeah, the icing on the cake. C'mon. There's this place..." he led her to the ice cream stall and bought two before they went up to the top of the tower. He showed her where to sit and they sat next to each other with their ice cream.

"How'd you find such a great place? And what is this?

"Sea-salt ice cream," he answered and she looked over at him. "Well? Go on, try it."

"Okay..." she took a bite, thinking for a bit. "It's sweet. But kinda salty, too."

"It's really good, right? Me and Axel always meet up here for ice cream after work," he took a bite of his own before brushing back a few strands of hair that had come loose. "Sea-salt is Axel's favourite."

"Sounds like it's yours, too!" Xion giggled.

"Yeah. I don't remember it very well, but Axel said he brought here my very first day with the Organization. And then he bought me some ice cream again after my first mission. Said it was the "icing on the cake"," he explained.

"A little something extra?" she smiled, and he nodded, feeling dizzy for a moment. Her image seemed to blur for a second into someone familiar but he couldn't quite make them out.

"Exactly," he made himself say.

"You guys must be close."

"Axel's my first friend," he told her and yet…that didn't feel right.

"Your...friend? Kirux, do you think I could be a friend?"

"When Axel gets back, we'll ask him. Then all three of us can have ice cream together."

"Okay!" she smiled again, and they sat quietly, watching the sunset and eating their ice cream.

What was wrong with him? Was he…remembering?

TBC…