A/N: And now we're finally on the next chapter! I've been occupied with a lot of things, whether personal stuffs or working on other fics etc. I've still been coming up with some new ideas for stories but sometimes I struggle in how I'm going to progress them. It's not easy doing an in depth story with proper execution. Trust me, I do my very best.

Chapter 11

I Won't Stay Behind

"Master Aqua," Madera came over the Master's throne next to Marina. "You called us?"

Master Aqua turned to face the two teenagers. "Yes, I did."

"What's going on?" Marina asked.

"I've received a message from Yen Sid. The King's formal master." Aqua walked up the young Keyblade wielders. "He's given me some important information about a new Organization led by Nerissa."

The two felt a jolt in their stomachs after hearing about Nerissa. "Nerissa, the Mistress of Darkness?" Marina first spoked.

"She's still alive?" Madera asked in disbelief.

Aqua lowered her head in sadness. "Unfortunately yes, and she's planning on creating a world of darkness, one that avoids light."

"But that will cause severe destruction to our universe!" Marina stated.

"We know, and that is why Master Terra and I have made a decision. We need you two to go after the Organization and see what they're up to."

"You mean, you want us to travel to other worlds?" Madera asked. This was something new for them since they have never traveled to other worlds before.

"Only for this mission," Aqua made clear. "We've unlocked the pathways to certain worlds for you to visit. Remember, you can't tell anyone there are other worlds."

"Yes ma'am," Madera and Marina stood up straight and nodded.

"You may have to encounter the darkness, but fear not as your armor will protect you." Aqua turned to face Madera. "Madera this could be your chance to prove yourself, I would name you master in a heartbeat, but I can't when you're so in lust for power. Your Master Terra once went through the same hardship when he succumbed to the darkness, and I know you don't want to repeat the same mistakes he made."

Madera instantly shook his head. "Definitely not ma'am. I promise, I'll prove that I am worthy of the Mark of Mastery." The young burette walked out of the room to begin his mission. Leaving Master Aqua and Marina alone in the master throne room.

"Now Marina," Aqua walked up to her daughter. "As I just said this is Madera's second chance and I wasn't lying. However, I can't help but feel that his darkness will get the better of him. I need you to keep an eye on him just to be safe."

Marina raised a brow. Why does her mother feel the need for her to watch over Madera? "But mom, Madera can handle himself, we should have faith in him."

Aqua placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "It's not that I don't trust him, but rather I'm concerned for his well-being. The darkness can have a negative effect on a person's heart if they don't know how to control it. I want you to make sure that he doesn't lose control like he almost did earlier."

The young Keyblade Master looked into her mother's eyes. She knew those eyes all too well. They were the eyes of a woman who's experienced this situation before. She remembered the time she told her about what happened to her Uncle Terra and how he let the darkness consume him which led to Xehanort taking over his heart and stealing his body.

Of course, Marina would never let that happen to Madera. She'd made sure of that.

The young Keyblade Master nodded. "Of course mom. I'll make sure Madera is in good condition during his mission, when he comes back he'll have full control of the darkness, I just know it!"

Aqua smiled at her daughter, though she looked more like her she still had her father's optimism. "Good," she embraced her daughter one last time before she would head out on her journey. "Be careful out there sweetheart."

"I will," Marina hugged her mother back.

Viento laid on his bed with his hands behind his head, thinking about what happened earlier. Although he was happy that his sister became a Keyblade Master, he felt bad that his best friend Madera didn't. He knew how much being a Keyblade Master meant to him, he'd watch him train hard every day so that he would ace the Mark of Mastery.

But now he failed which really broke his heart. Viento could tell just by seeing the look in Madera's face that he was really disappointed. He's been training under Uncle Terra for as long as he could remember. They've practically grown up together, as Marina told him about the time Uncle Terra took him in back when we were very young. The three of them have been close friends since. They played together, laughed together, and watched the stars together. They've always been so happy together that he can't even remember the last time Madera was so upset. Seeing him so down in the dumps felt so different considering the fact that Madera was always the one cheering Viento up. He looked outside the window to see that Madera was talking to Uncle Terra about something before heading out.

The young spiked hair boy decided to go down to wish him good luck on his journey. He got off from his bed, when he discovered a mysterious person in his room. "I'd hurry up if I were you kiddo." an unknown figure in a black coat was standing next to his exit door, leaning against his dresser. Viento jumped as he noticed the man's present.

"Who are you?" he asked. But the figure ignored his question.

"Your pal Madera will become a different person the next time you see him." the man said a scrunchy old voice like he was in his 40s.

"Look I don't know who you are, but you don't know Madera like I do." Viento told off the mysterious figure. Who does he think he is? Acting like he knows his best friend.

"Is that so?" The figure tilted his head. "Then let me ask you this, if Madera is the same guy you know, then why did he lose control of his darkness during the exam?"

That last sentence caught Viento off guard. "How'd you know about the exam?!"

"I'll be the one asking the questions here okay?"

Viento took a minute to think it through, he knew there had to be a good explanation as to why Madera lost control back there. "Well...that's because he made a mistake. He knows what he did was wrong, there's no way he'll do it again."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that kid," the man wagged his finger. "After all, mistakes don't just happen once."

"What do you mean?" Viento scrunched up a brow.

The man let out a chuckle. "I've seen this before. There were other guys like him that repeated the same mistake over and over, and trust me it was not pretty."

"Other guys?"

"Oh yeah!" the man nodded greatly. "Guys who lost themselves to the darkness. It was a tragedy for sure. There's no doubt that Madera will end up like one of them."

It can't be true. Viento didn't want to believe what this man was saying. It's just not possible for Madera to end up like those guys that man mentioned. "That won't happen!" the preteen exclaimed with his fists clenched.

The man summoned a portal made of black and purple swirls. Was this a portal made of darkness? "Then you should warn him. Before it's too late." The mysterious man said his final words before exiting through the portal. Viento felt his heart drop, he still didn't get what was that all that about. What was that man up to? Was what he just said about the possibility of Madera losing himself to the darkness true? Either way, there was one thing he needed to do, and that was warning Madera. He couldn't afford to lose his best friend to darkness, not ever!

Madera smacked his armor plate letting out a bright flash of light, revealing his keyblade armor. He was equipped in a suit from head to toe of bronze and golden armor with a maroon cape.

He threw EarthBreaker in the air and watched it transform into a glider in a flash of light.

He hopped into the glider and rode off to the sky, without noticing the young boy who tried to stop him.

"Madera wait!" Viento called out but he was too late. He watched as Madera flew off in the sky and disappeared in a blink of light.

His head lowered to face the ground. Now what was he going to do? His best friend was bound to be another victim to the darkness and he'll lose him for good.

No that won't happen.

Viento turned to his left shoulder and looked at the armor shoulder pad. His parents told him to not use it unless it was for an emergency, but this was indeed an emergency. His friend was in danger and he needed his help.

"Sorry mom and dad," Viento said apologetically before smacking his armor plate.

In a flash of bright light Viento was equipped from head to toe in his armor. It looked similar to his father's but more golden in color. Viento looked down on his armor and was impressed by it as he's never seen his own armor before. "Cool!" he thought.

He lifted up his Keyblade and watched as it turned into a glider just like Madera's. He jumped into it and rode off to the sky as he exited to space. Unknown to him that his mother and sister witnessed the whole thing.

"Wait Viento!" Marina called out but was too late. Her brother had already left this world.

Master Aqua placed a hand on her mouth. "Oh no! Marina, you need to get your brother back! We can't allow him to get lost in the universe!"

Marina nodded. "Right mom!"

She smacked her own shoulder pad armor and in a flash of light, she too was equipped with her keyblade armor. It was a sky blue color that revealed more of her curves. She threw WaterFall in the air and it transformed into a glider, and immediately hopped on.

"Be careful out there sweetheart. And watch out for the Organization." her mother warned.

Marina gave her mother a final nod before flying off into the sky.

"What do you mean our kids are the new guardians?!" Riku asked in rage.

Mickey put his hands up in surrender. "I wouldn't tell you if it wasn't true."

"Riku, you know the King would never lie to us." Kairi pitched in.

Riku placed his hand on his forehead in confusion. "Yeah but...I just can't believe it!"

"I know that this is a lot to take in. I wasn't expecting this either, but this is how it has to be right now."

Hana was sitting on the couch with Kairi, sobbing at the news about her children.

"My babies…!" she cried.

Kairi rubbed her back in comfort. "Don't worry Hana, wherever our kids are I'm sure they're fine."

"But if Nerissa is creating a new army of heartless, how are they gonna protect themselves without keyblades?" Riku asked as he sat down on his chair. As this stress was making it hard for him to stand.

"If their hearts are strong enough, then they'll earn the rights to gain a keyblade. All we can do for the time being is hope for the best." the king suggested.

"My only concern is Yume," Kairi folded her hands in worry. "Knowing that Nerissa is after my baby's heart…That's what scares me the most." The redhead tried not to cry but it was no use. She couldn't fight the tears.

"You don't need to worry Kairi." Mickey assured the worried mother. "Donald and Goofy will be looking for her. She's in good hands.

Kairi placed her hand on her chest in relief. "Thank goodness!"

Mickey jumped onto the couch next to Kairi. "Speaking of Yume, there's something about her I think you should know."

"What do you mean?" Kairi asked the mouse king.

"Kairi, have you and Sora ever wondered why Yume has blond hair?"

The redhead woman looked back the time her daughter was born. "We did at first when she was born, but it didn't matter to us."

"Well it's said that only the purest maiden of the light will inherit golden blond hair. The last maiden to obtain that heritage was a young woman named Hikari."

"Hikari?" Riku and Kairi asked in union.

"She was the last purest maiden before Yume. She was also the first ruler of Radiant Garden." Mickey explained.

"You mean...she's my ancestor?" Kairi said astounded.

"That's right," Mickey nodded.

"But why is it that now Yume became a recent purest maiden?" asked the slivered-hair man.

"In order for an offspring to inherit a purest heart they have to be female, and the parents have to have a strong light within their hearts. With Sora's strong heart and Kairi's pure light, Yume was automatically given an extraordinary pure heart that obtained more light than an average pure maiden. Prior to that, they're hasn't been a couple to bear those possessions to have a purest child." Mickey stated in detail.

"So that's why the organization wants her heart? Because her heart is the only purest there is?" Kairi asked, putting the pieces together.

"Unfortunately, yes." the King nodded sadly. "Riku, Kairi. I'm sorry you had to hear about this at this time. But our focus right now has to be getting the old guardians back together. We have to inform them about Nerissa and the organization."

"And our kids. Will we see them again?" Riku asked in concern.

Mickey gave a bright smile. "Eventually yes, but I can't guarantee that it will be anytime soon. Like I said, all you can do for your children is to trust them."

Hana wiped her eyes with a piece of tissue paper. "All they wanted was to travel to other worlds. And now they're in harm's way. They didn't deserve this."

Riku comforted his wife as he wrapped his arms around, rubbing her back and giving soft shushes.

Then an idea popped into the King's head. "Say. Do you three remember the last time you saw your children?"

Kairi pulled out a letter from her handbag. "Yume did leave me this letter. It says: Dear Mom, I'm sorry for running off without your permission, but I had to check out the awful storm that was disrupting the small island. I couldn't risk the raft being destroyed on the night before the trip. Please don't worry about me, I'll be okay. I love you." -Yume"

"Katsuro and Aina left the same letter too." Hana recalled.

"That means…!" Riku came up with the conclusion.

The three parents along with The King, went to check out the small island from afar. Just as they thought, it was gone.

A/N: The next chapter might take a bit more time, considering how much effort I have to put in it. These chapters take a lot effort to write so they're not half-baked. And there might be times where I'm just not in the mood for writing. So please bear with me.