Of Keys and Hammers

by zcritic88

In a realm beyond, the Four Chaos has taken notice of a realm tied close to the heart. They squirmed into the darkness and sought to corrupt if to reach a prize beyond the light. Will the Light of Order, be able to repel this ancient evil?

70. The Search of a Balance

At the Islands, Sora looked upon an laying Kairi and tried to check on her. The girl was completely exhausted from her ordeal and had a few shaking fits, Riku looked rather worried, yet saw that Mickey and Yen Sid were not. "Is Kairi going to be okay, after that?"

The wizard closed his eyes and smiled. "Hmm, it's just a fascinating turn of events." Kairi wondered what that was. "If you think so, is there something wrong with me?"

The wizard shook his head. "No, what you have performed is a Miracle no short of what a Princess of Heart is capable of." He opened his eyes and recommend. "However, you would need some time to adjust to your threshold." He asked Sora. "Some of her friends should stay here and keep watch until she recovers."

Sora pointed to himself as Sharpedo hesitated to go in the water, Aqua wondered about the strange creature and asked her student. "Kairi, once you and Sharpedo did that, I sense Archaon's presence vanish, what did the two of you do?"

The Princess thought of it and felt she heard someone talk to her, she nodded. "Okay Namine, thanks for making that less confusing." She answered. "It was something to make sure Archaon and those of Chaos, stay away from the islands. A union of Light and Darkness, enough so he can stay away from this place, after what we done to get away, he is going to be out to get us." She realized something and cringed. "Darn it, that means he could show up on the other worlds at any time!"

Riku cringed to that and was ready to take off. "Then we got to move fast, you say someone with an experience with Dark ought to do?" Ken felt a ding and offered to come along. "Yeah and we know just the guys."

Aqua felt the idea in mind and asked. "Ana, could you talk to the guys from the Realms about what we need to do?" The Stormcast nodded and looked upon the four. "We need to get back to this world called the Land of of Departure, you've all been a mighty help, but we need just a bit more."

Loru guessed. "You wish for us to return to the realms, tell our people of what is occurring and muster an army?" Ana hummed. "Exactly! Among other things we need to address to Wanda and the others, I'll see what I can't do for Halvek. Archaon has taken enough lives as it is." Began growled and agreed. "There isn't much of a guarantee I'll be of much help getting an army, my Sons would blow a steam vent if they see me out of nowhere. I'd also think Nagash won't take too kindly to seeing ME free from him."

The Eidolon pressed his fingers at his forehead and insist. "Should we address this at the Realmgate?" Aster' los clicked. "Yes, we have no time to waist." Loru agreed with that and had his fellow elementals assemble. "Ana, meet us at the world as soon as possible, we'll try to discuss the politics while you do so." Ana saluted. "I will be there as soon as possible Loru. Have a safe flight."

The four enveloped into their elements and flew to the sky as pillars. Aqua gave the order to the departing group. "Come on, we'll talk about what we need to do and how to do it at the Bastion. We need to be descrete as possible." The crew agreed with that and took off, Goofy waved to Sora. "Take care while your here!" Donald asked Sharpedo. "Make sure they don't try anything funny." Sora immediately blushed as Kairi was too tired to be annoyed.

The group left in a hurry to their duty, Sharpedo noticed someone swimming out of the water and groaned. "Shar." "Mar?" Sora looked to find the strange aquatic rabbit, being lead by a green barnacle. "Cra" Splash. "Zer?" Kairi saw Clawitzer emerge from the shore in front of her and was a little embarrassed to introduce them like this. "Hi guys, I didn't want the meeting to go like this." Cradily wiggled to Sharpedo and helped him get in the water as Azumarril tried explaining something, Kairi felt someone was translating and did so to Sora. "Apparently something was going on from this side, early in the morning and that was how that Keygate showed up like it did, someone came here and made our escape route with the power of the keyblade."

Sharpedo was tugged from the tree and barked, he flopped to the water and Cradily confirmed it. Kairi translated. "Sharpedo said a black haired girl and a boy in a hoodie that I know of, showed up to do that, but they got attacked by a Nurgle Daemon. Cradily only saw one, but he found it too weird."

Sora realized who Sharpedo was talking about. "Her?" Kairi tilted her head. "Was there something you didn't have the time to tell me?" The boy nodded. "Yeah, there was a girl Roxas remembered from a while ago, something happened to her and she got brought back through something. Some people could see her and know she exist, but others can't," he frowned. "Someone had something to do with that and it took till Ken found out about her that more of us start to find her again."

Kairi growled. "and I know someone terrible enough to do that." She laid back. "I guess once my legs start working, you ought to go thank her, so I can get thank her." She asked Sharpedo. "Where did Xion go anyways?"

The shark pokemon blinked and answered in a "Ar!" Kairi snapped her fingers. "Shoot." She started to feel glad for one thing. "Anyways, if it wasn't for you, Xion and Dupmic, we probably would not have escaped Pandemonium with our lives. Thank you Sharpedo."

Sharpedo smiled like it was no problem, Clawitzer tapped him on the fin in congratulations and Azumarril cheered to him on a job well done, Cradily gave a cartoonish smile and tilted his head to Sora. The boy guessed. "You guys were the ones who helped Kairi stop that Eidolon and save the islands, who are you guys?"

Kairi and Azumarril smiled to each other, thought of a plan and giggled, the Princess answered. "Well, since you asked." She announced them like one reciting a tale. "They are an Explorer Team from a far away world, where creatures called Pokemon lived. They are Team Seafarers and they like exploring the seas." She petted Cradily on the head. "This is Cradily, the more laid back member of the team." Cradily asked something that could be interpreted as. "What's up?" She pointed to Clawitzer. "That's Clawitzer, the more precise and cautious of the team. He's good at using that claw to shoot." Clawitzer bubbled a greeting and snipped his pincer. Sharpedo yawned tired as Kairi addressed him. "That's Sharpedo, the muscle of the group, we might have had a misunderstanding when we first met."

Sora wondered why, had a good look at Sharpedo, teeth and all and started to understand that he wasn't something someone would want to find in dark waters. "You must have gave a scare. We're not use to someone looking like you, showing up to help us." Cradily made a good guess to Sharpedo with something that Sora felt like it meant. "They were use to finding someone like that Sea Witch," He looked to Sora and spoke something foreign.

Azumarril cracked her knuckles and vowed something, raising her fists in a promise. Kairi felt the promise quite fierce. "And that is the leader of the team, Azumarril, she might not look like it, but she can pack a punch." Azumarril nodded and pointed out the head band on Sharpedo's head, Sora looked at the band and of the stone. "That's something special Sharpedo can do?" Sharpedo nodded. "Shar."

Kairi finished translating. "That's a mega stone, Sharpedo can do a trick called Mega Evolution, it's like of like the form changes we do, except it affects his body. It makes him more powerful, but it could drive him out of control from the power. That's why he only does it at the approval of the team. They are the ones he can trust to know when and when not to use it." Sora decided to sit down and relax. "So you guys are a team to coordinates that. What do you all do as an Explorer Team?" Azumarril was glad the boy asked and took out her bag to use for visual aid.

In the shrubbery.

Xion watched the groups return, the aftermath with the dead body and of the urgency. She sat on a branch to think about if it really was a good time to introduce herself. "Azummaril just told us the whole thing. Now is the perfect time." She gasped, turned and found Roxas sitting on a tree, he gave a pretty warm smile, the girl was nervous. "That's so many people at once, I... came here because I had a scary dream." The boy guessed. "It involves Chaos and a world ending?"

The girl nodded. "What did you find up there?!" Roxas listed the many. "Where do I start. At first, it was kind of typical of our usual dangers, although Garland's tricks were pretty intense. He didn't want us to ruin his fun and he might have been loco too. But, things started going wrong when we got to the second tier and met some old demons of our." He looked on at the duo at the tree with the pokemon. "If Kairi didn't come as she did, Sora might have ended up losing his mind. That's how the Forces of Chaos can strike here," he pointed to his head. "to get to here." he pointed to his chest. "It got worse when they fought Abaddon, the guy responsible for most of our problems happening in the first place before Archaon and Xehanort showed up."

He shook his head in disgust and in terror. "That Everchosen, is completely insane and we don't have a lot that can take him down head on. Right when Sora, his two friends and Havlek got Garland down and were about to seal him away, Archaon showed up and did the things you saw. We had to get out of there. Ana's probably going to be the one who buries the dead and most of us are going to have nightmares."

Xion cringed. "Sheesh, so that Dream was something that would have happened to all of us if you didn't get out of there. So where are the others going?"

Roxas guessed. "They are probably going to look for something and use that trick we saw to keep Archaon and his goons away, it's a short term answer to the bigger problem, but it keeps the worlds safe from him. Where ever he goes, death is going to follow. We've also found some clues about what Karla and Baldred talk about, about how we need the Darkness to do anything about the Chaos gods, that trick you did with Sharpedo... proved it if Ken's episode didn't."

Xion gasped. "Ken!? What happened with him?" Roxas folded his arms and answered. "Abaddon pushed him and he unleashed every bit of rage and sorrow you can imagine. It became the Black Flame, he gets scary when pushed into a corner." Xion didn't wish to joke about it. "He has buttons that got pushed, then he finishes a war." She contemplated addressing that issue and looked upon Sora and Kairi, she decided on something, with confidence. "I'll go find him as soon as I get this over with."

Roxas nodded with a serious frown. "He's back on the job immediately after all that, he needs a break before he goes off on another mission." He gestured to Xion to do the thing she needed to do. "But he'll manage before too long. This is the first time you done this on your own?"

Xion nodded and approached the two. "Olette helped me with the last one, but now it's time I make the approach. Thanks for talking into this." Roxas waved like it wasn't a problem and watched.

Xion watched Azumarril show a sand drawn map of squigglies, showed off a couple trinkets and finished it off with the showing of a silver wing. Sora was guessing. "So you go on treasure hunts, rescue people who get lost trying to find stuff and sometimes, you meet interesting people?"

Azumarril felt like that was the story, Kairi added in. "Some places could be more scary than others, the last place they went to before all this happened was a place called Ultra Space." Sora was completely blown away by the sheer insanity. "What kind of place is that anyways?"

Sharpedo noticed Xion, gave a cartoonish happy expression of the eyes and cheered. "Shar" (Hi buddy!) Azumarril turned around, looked around and found no one. "Mar?" Sora turned to find Xion approaching, is putting a couple things together and was looking at Xion like he owed her. "Hey Kairi, I know this sounds weird, but could you do something for a friend of mine? Roxas knows her."

Kairi hummed and tried to look around, she squinted her eyes and guessed. "Wow, this is terrible." She smirked, looked to Sora and pressed her hand with his, she closed her eyes in preparation. "Xion, if you can hear me, I'm ready to finally meet you." Sora and Sharpedo saw Xion be astonished, she didn't expect Kairi to be that expecting an eager, much like the last ones before, she approached, placed her hand on the center and closed her eyes. To her surprise, she found another person, sharing the same spot as Kairi, a blonde girl in a white dress, the two looked upon each other in curiousity, the blonde girl quickly got over her shock and smiled to her.

Xion opened her eyes and found Kairi opening hers and being pretty astonished that worked. She snapped her fingers and realized. "I know where this came from," Sora hummed. "You started this in the first place, Kairi."

He smiled and teased her, giving her all the credit, Kairi blushed and hummed as Sora noticed someone approaching from behind him, he heard a laugh. "Ha! Welcome to the club ladies, I got some explaining to do," Sora and Kairi turned to find Roxas acting a little smug, Namine flickered by Kairi's side and smiled at him. "She was a close friend of yours and she still is." She winked. "Even if you two don't remember everything and even if things won't quite be the same as before, that friendship is the same it was."

The onlookers looked to each other awkwardly and Namine invited her sit with them. "You must be Xion? We've been waiting for you." The black haired girl pointed to herself awkwardly and took a seat next to her, Roxas sat next to Sora so thing won't get awkward. With a little silence, Kairi exhaled. "Xion, you don't know how much you've helped us. I wasn't so sure if we would have been able to escape as clean as we did if it wasn't for you, Sharpedo and that one boy who better show himself!"

Xion cringed to give her bad news. "Dupmic isn't going to hear that, he left once he was sure you guys were safe," She puffed her cheeks. "Jerk." She asked the Princess out of concern. "So what happened to your legs? Was it a hard run?"

Kairi shook her head. "No, I had to get my friend out of the danger they were in and my heart made it happen. It was a lot of that power than I'm use to using, the others are busy trying to make sure a couple things don't go wrong when we go on our next adventure. We'll start going once I can start walking again." She addressed the awkwardly staring trio of Pokemon, who only understood that Kairi was talking to someone, she asked. "Azumarril, Clawitzer, Cradily, there is someone I want you to meet."

At the train station.

Yen Sid listened clearly to what was reported by Riku. "So that, is what befell Garland." The silver haired teenager nodded, feeling sorry for his enemy and being scared for him. "There is only so much a brain can take when dealing with those things and there is nothing we can do about it." Yen Sid agreed with that. "Though, Garland may have been a great enemy, his fate is pitiful, do not expect him to be the same if you ever meet him again."

Ken felt an odd fury in his heart. "How can anyone do that to someone and sleep at night?" He sharply turned. "On second thought, all it takes to do that is to let that goodness you had go. To throw it out, I'm heading to Twilight Town, that's where Baldred is and he can help keep that town from getting sacked."

Aqua wanted to stop her student from rushing off. "Kendry." The one armed boy tilted his head. "So, how are we going to do it?"

Mickey thought of it, and gasped. "Ah ha! Riku, you know of the keyholes to the Heart of the Worlds?" The boy nodded. "The ones Sora closed up? Once they are locked, they can never be unlocked." He picked up on the bigger plan. "But, we can still commune with that heart? Perhaps, share some of it's power to keep the forces of Chaos out? I know exactly where Radiant Gardens is at, but we need to find Karla." Ken directed. "She's down in the sewers, on the first pipe to the left. You can't miss her, how far away is the keyhole from the town?" Riku answered with regret. "Far away, you know that old castle in the distance?" Ken understood that as Mickey insist. "Donald, Goofy and I will see what we can do on our end at our world. Ven, do you want to come with us? Just in case something weird happens?"

The awkward boy guessed he could come along. "It will be nice to see that place again." Riku asked Aqua. "The upper reaches of the castle brings back some bad memories, I could use the back up." The Keyblade Master thought of it. "But, that would leave Ken to travel alone, again." Ken sighed. "Miss, I won't be alone, we've seen how strong Baldred is and he is the only one of two users of the Dark that we trust." He winked. "Besides, their isn't much out of the town either, I'll be in sight."

Aqua felt those were good points, Riku had one warning. "You will be, but the town is also close by the world Xehanort and the Dark Seekers are using for a base. What you do will keep Archaon out, but not the other one. Neither of them are people that we want to see have their hands on Kingdom Hearts and they are the biggest problems we have." Yen Sid agreed with that. "Kendry, your heart is strong, but it is susceptible to Darkness, whether it is through bad luck or the machinations of the Darkseekers, it cannot afford to be exposed to it anymore than it is needed."

Ken agreed with that. "And my little secret isn't going to help against that. Is there anything else I need to know, Sir?" The wizard shook his head and readied a spell. "Nothing, you haven't already learned. I will be back in the tower, if you need me again." He tapped the staff and disappeared in a puff of light smoke.

Riku summarized the objective. "Alright, we find the keyholes, closed or not, we do what we need to do, keep our main worlds safe and then we'll go talk to Lightning about her problem with the Skeksis. Sounds like an easy job for the day." Ken agreed with a salute and saw the train to Twilight Town arriving. "Good luck guys."

He entered the train and left the party to their own plans. Aqua asked Riku. "So, what am I going to expect when we find Karla?" The teenager listed what he remembered. "She's obviously a witch, she's weird compared to the one we know more of and like her, she could be dangerous. At least if Karla falls into the wrong hands, so far she's done nothing but help us. So you could take my word for it if I say, you can trust her." Aqua considered that. "If you say so."

At Twilight Town.

Ken took a moment to enjoy a morning sky and to appreciate the rather quiet, tranquil atmosphere of the town. He nearly fell asleep on the front of the train station, realized his eyes were closed and forced himself awake. "Ken?" He turned to the noise and found Olette with a spike base ball bat, the boy yelped. "Eek! Why did you bring that?"

The girl answered with a flip of the wrist. "Because I've felt that weird things are happening." She approached him for a rather gentle embrace. "It's good to know you guys are back, we've been worried for you all." Ken appreciated it, blushed and hugged back. "It's good to be back."

Olette blushed and was the first to let go and saw the exhausted look in his eyes. "So, what brought you here instead of back home?" Ken lead into town and answered. "Me and the guys want to do a little prep before we start our next big mission. We've found out that one of the big bad evil guys is a total nut job and if we aren't careful, he could sack this town while we are gone. Believe me, it won't be pretty."

Olette was wondering who Ken was talking about. "He's that bad huh?" Ken gestured that they are dealing with a complete screw ball. "Totally, so I came here to look for Baldred, look for anything connected to this worlds heart and try something so that guy doesn't come here. It will buy us time and give us a moment to breath."

Olette wondered. "Why do you need Baldred for that?" Ken turned around, walked backwards to take to her face to face and answered. "Because Light and Dark are needed. We're kind of fighting a war so you guys don't get dragged into it." The girl heard the word War and pouted. "Ken, since when was the last time you got to act like the rest of us kids?" Ken answered with a complaining tone. "Besides figuring out what Miss wanted to do with some sweet armor, I haven't had the chance for two days." He asked. "You happen to know what the latest style is? I'm asking for a friend."

He flipped and Olette thought about it. "Let's see, I think it's belts and coats now. But there is a discount on any head wear, not a base ball cap." Ken had that noted. "Cool, anything interesting happened here while I was away?" Olette nodded and remembered the previous day fondly. "I got Xion to meet Pence and Hayner yesterday, she looked like she enjoyed every moment of it."

Ken made the turn to the alley of rough necks and is quickly realizing something, he gasped and blushed, he owed someone something. "Her world keeps getting bigger with each day. I'll bet pretty soon, that issue of hers will be a thing of the past."

Olette notice the blush and was feeling jealous. "What are you thinking about?" Ken confessed. "I don't think this gate way we found, showed up on it's own. I think someone might have made that in case we needed to run and we did." He wondered. "But how would she know of that?"

Olette thought of it too. "There would have been no way she would figure it out, not unless she was thinking about you all." She imaged it was part of the reason. "The only way to be sure, is to find her and ask her that. There is one other thing that happened while you guys were away."

She and Ken reached to a hide out and watched a particular knight stretching his arms and giving a pose in praise to the sun, on his head was a crown. Ken gasped and asked out loud. "Where did he get that?"

Olette noticed a certain blonde woman leaning against a wall, with her arms folded, smiling like she completely expected them to show. "From a daring feat that we're too chicken and smart to even think of trying." Ken quickly turned, was a little relieved to see Elrena and asked. "What did he do?"

Baldred heard the question and approached as Elrena answered. "Get this, this brave idiot sneaked into THAT world, got past the creeps using it and took some of his stuff back. He would have gotten this sweet sounding sword of his, but it didn't want to go with him. That was when... Ahriman, showed up and tried to cave his skull in when Baldred stilled his spells, if Olette and a friend of hers didn't tell any of us, Isa wouldn't have had the balls to go get him out of there."

Ken gasped and was completely amazed. "Wow! He came prepared," he wanted to thank Elrena and to a greater extent, the gang for watching out for the Undead, Elrena saw a teenage boy wanting to give affection and stepped back. "Hey, hey. Baldred did most of that and Isa isn't going to show up just yet." Ken pouted. "Come on, it isn't like we haven't been on a couple of adventures together." He asked. "So how is Lauriam and the guys doing?"

The woman snickered and shrugged. "We're going to get our butts chewed out by Exrirsa soon, if you're back and if some of us saw the explosion in the sky, then that means something hit the roof and we'll be seeing more of the aftermath, soon enough."

Baldred approached and asked. "You're task to vanquish that evil knight was successful?" Ken nodded. "Yeah, but at a cost. Archaon showed up when Sora, Riku, Kairi and Mr. Halvek beaten Garland, the Everchosen dragged Garland into the Realm of Darkness where... Chaos stuff is around and we had to get out of there. That is why me and the guys are searching the hub worlds for something." He is feeling horrified to explain more. "We also found out about what Archaon is up to, give it a while before someone else comes here to deliver the message, either Sora or Riku can say it better than I can."

Elrena pointed at him. "Mr. Face the Black Legion by himself is scared of that guy?" She considered it and cringed. "Wait, Sora's scared of him?" Ken emphasized with the whites of his eyes showing. "All of us are and that is why I came here to look for someone with the Power of the Dark that will have a lot of reasons to help us."

He looked to Baldred and calmed down. "If we don't set up the ward, Archaon and his goons might show up while we're all away and that's something we don't want. Baldred, the one who is so close to understanding the Dark, will you help us keep this lazy little town safe and let it see one more sunset?"

Baldred saluted to him. "You have the word of this self made Monarch! But how?" Ken answered. "By finding the keyhole of this world and using the Light and Dark, get the worlds heart to keep the Chaos away. But where?" He thought of it. "Apparently it is somewhere very important to the world." He thought of it and looked to the clock tower, Olette hummed and folded her arms. "Good guess. Me and the guys didn't see that and that's one of our favorite spots."

Ken snap his fingers as the knight hummed. "Hmmm. Hmmmmmmm." Elrena cringed. "Oh no." Olette hummed. "Hmmm. That gets followed by a bad idea, right?" The woman nodded. "That was the last thing His Highness thought of before going into that Mansion and taking his trip. Apparently though, the way to that world is on the other side of the computer, so as long as you idiots don't use that, we should be good."

Baldred corrected her. "Karla made the way that time. But that Mansion holds a lot of secrets otherwise, perhaps.. that is where the keyhole lies?" Ken hummed. "Hmmmmmm. You might be on to something, since it's early in the day, we got a lot of time before those creeps notice."

Elrena wasn't going to stop that. "If you find it, great. It's the one place around this town that no one, wants to look. In the mean while," she decided to wait. "I'll get the guys ready for their scare fest. I can't believe we are going to ask HER!"

Olette shrugged and lead the way. "That's going to be your problem today. Good luck." Baldred followed her. "I'll be back shortly, don't go acting like a Crestfallen now." Elrena wanted to know what that even is. "Crestfallen," she found as something to keep her mind busy. "you guys either sound incredibly amazing, or incredibly pathetic." Ken wondered. "Crestfallen? Are they people who partook in the journey, didn't have the wits to go out on their own and kind of need to ask for help?"

Elrena realized why that was an insult. "You seriously think we're those kinds of guys?" Baldred nodded. "You've acted like them, until a crisis loomed. That is the most painful part, is there? When the Guardians comes here to spin the tale, you will be given a choice, take responsibility for your potential, or abandon the worlds. Which will you choose?"

Elrena was about to blurt out something and bit her tongue. "...You know, I think I'll give that answer to the guys. Get on out of here, you got worlds to protect." Ken gave a small salute and took off with Olette, Baldred marched on and left the woman by herself. She noticed someone on the bench, Exrirsa looking upon her with something of a smirk, Elrena smiled back in defeat and joined her for a seat. "You mind if I confess something?"

The Adeptas Sororitas didn't. "Something you've heard of was brought to your attention? It is better to admit why than to deny it, things will happen sooner, than later." Elrena took a deep breath. "Okay, I'll start with what you need to know from the Gap. Once upon a time, I was a complete bitch and one of the scariest people in this Organization. Me and Lauriam thought to use a girl with special powers, to get Sora wrapped around our finger." She raised a finger and expected burning judgement. "We were horrible to that girl and I was was enjoying tearing at Sora's head with some fake memories. He went ahead alone, from his friends and I thought I had him right there, until the two doofuses showed up and together, they gave me what I deserved."

Exrirsa nodded and her smirk turned to a frown. "You've certainly did. Sora slain you as the end result." Elrena asked. "Now, we know that Sora and his buddies fought back against the rest of the Organization and wiped us out, some were scarier than me." She raised her voice. "What the heck did Sora see up there, to make him scared?"

Exirsa answered that. "Is it not obvious? Our greater enemy, seeks something that would unmake us all." The frown turned to something mimicking terror. "We are fighting something, beyond a usual adversary. Daemons, heretics, those who wish to use them for their own gain and the wicked hearts who might be smart enough to see the Abyss before them. That, leads to infighting and that infighting is our greatest advantage." Elrena felt that made sense. "Not something we aren't use to, but the smart ones are caught up in the worst of the stuff and are thinking... when to turn tail? Because one wrong move and they aren't going to be much of a problem for the wack jobs." She exhaled. "If the Guardian's plan works, that would mean the worse of the wack jobs won't be an immediate problem. But, those that aren't really aligned to Chaos are stuck having to come here alone, that someone is going to find that out and he'll have to look elsewhere for what he wants."

Exrirsa felt that was assuring. "For his own sake, he would. I have eyes all around. Now that the confession is done, what... kind of hobbies do you actually do?" Elrena thought it would be interesting to have some girl talk. "Oh, I like collecting things, you ever seen the-"

At the sewers of Radiant Garden.

Riku and Aqua found it rather barren, no grots and no Dark Witch, only glowing words on the ground. Aqua read it out loud. "Find the place of triumph. Karla." She asked. "How did she find out about that?" Riku answered. "Child of the Dark. She's probably not really human. People might think the wrong idea after what happened last night. Those crazy grots found a Bad Moon and went with it after helping free Dragon Hackah, now he's out there and it sounded like he is pissed." Aqua nodded. "It's news to no one for an Orruk, but if we don't find Karla soon and get this sorted out, a misunderstanding is going to happen." Riku agreed and lead the way out of the sewer and to the castle.

Even more unsettling is the serene feeling of peace. The two jumped to the upper tower, found a window to the chapel and found Karla acting like she is taking a stroll. Aqua found that strange as Riku called. "Hey, Karla!" The witch spun and had her hands pressed together as the two descended down. "Yes, Light Bearer? Is it not such a wondrous day?"

Riku confessed. "It... does feel good to not have a Heartless jumping you. Did... you find out we were wanting to find you?" The witch nodded. "Indeed, I had a small dream last night. Of a day where angels grace themselves upon the world, one of the purest light and the other." She snickered. "Well... you've heard of Dark Miracles before? The shadow that shields you from the gaze of evil."

Aqua signaled a time out. "An angel with the Power of Darkness, along side one of The Light? Do you have an idea of what happened with us?" The Witch lead the way. "I know not, but do tell." The Keybearers followed her across the canyon, Aqua started with her recap. "We've taken down Garland, but what happened after, left us with more. We want to keep that what from coming here while we find a more sure way to stop the Dark Seekers from wrecking our worlds. You were right."

Karla turned her head. "Whether you desire it or not, we need The Dark. But not just any Dark, but one that desires to be alongside The Light. Now, this skinny little Witch is but an anathema... but I suppose I would do for the task ahead." She asked. "Has Kendry brought up his little visit?" Riku nodded. "That Kiln was amazing and as soon as Ana finishes her business at the Land of Departure, we're keeping that thing stored for more use. Ken apparently has a strong soul in the world of Dreams that if he can transpose it, will unlock amazing power. But that isn't why you asked. Did you have anything to do... with how he decided to use the Black Flame?"

Karla gasped and laughed. "Ha, ha, ha, ha! So he's discovered when to use it? And to think he came to me to expel that from deep with in his heart!" She shrugged. "Not, that it is with in my power. Once you accept the Dark, it becomes apart of you, it is not my place to force it out." Aqua gasped. "Wow. So that was what lead to that advise? He didn't want it in the first place, but once things happened as it did, there was no stopping the Darkness from coming." Riku finished the recap. "And the Darkness came for Abaddon. Then it and the Black Flame, returned to the shadows of that kids heart. Right now, he's looking for Baldred to do a similar task to ours. Finding what's left of that Keyhole and through Light and Dark, keep the world in balance, which will keep that maniac away."

He felt goosebumps as the group found a room of many glass prisons. Karla's tone kept unchanged. "The Everchosen? The Greatest Slave to the thing you call Darkness!" Riku nodded. "Hatred, despair, insanity and a desire to crush anything that resembles hope. What I don't get," He folded his arms. "What I don't get, is why would Xehanort want to work with this guy? That guy is just as horrible, but even he would know how this would bite him in the rear." Aqua guessed. "Archaon probably has him on a leash through sheer power, he controls the Forces of Chaos and can decimate us all by himself. Xehanort has his knowledge, access to the Darkness he knows and leverage that keeps us from bringing him to justice a lot sooner, that arrogant man is going to find a way to outsmart Archaon and take control the first chance he gets."

Karla hummed. "Such is the nature of man. One's wants can blind you to what is around it, the power of a Master is what he seeks again." The three entered a steam punk room, looking worn from time and partially dismantled, the remains of a device, awakened in Riku. "There it is!" He approached it. "This is where it happened, when the Keyhole, leading to the Door to Darkness, opened."

Aqua guessed. "Back when you were working for Maleficent and went too far?" Riku nodded. "Yep and when Xehanort's Heartless turned me into a host to attack Kairi and Sora. No matter what changed now, doesn't change the past. But now we need to figure out how to open the way to the Worlds Heart or the Keyhole."

Karla approached it and wiggled her finger. "Anyone, could lay claim to being a Master of the Dark. But unless they are born from it, they will never truly understand what it really means." She turned to them with a calmed smile. "Why claim the Power of Humanity if you are just going to lose it? Or to prove the gods right to fear the Dark? That is how the True knowledge was lost to you all and how you learned to fear it as The Monster!"

Riku felt it made sense. "Rather than the monsters lurking within it. Taking care of those, is why we fight it." Aqua felt the words were strong. "But what is going to happen when someone reaches the point of no return? When Ven and I saw what happened to Abaddon, when we saw Ken sit there, we assumed the worst. "Riku agreed. "I did too. I don't care what any one says, that power just... destroys, it takes and it shows things we should not know. There is always a price, that is the lesson you and Baldred are teaching us until we get it through our heads and look at the idiots who don't want to jump in or think any of it is a good thing."

Karla nodded, laughed and aimed her hands, shadows formed, a white ring spun and the Abyss opened. "You, who have transcended the Dark, found your way back to the Light and learned that the Light does not need to be gentle. The sun rises and the sun sets, the Dark is never far behind." She turned to him and offered a hand. "Come, let us welcome the True Sun Rise upon this land. So they may witness true balance."

Riku was about to take the offer without hesitation, something about the door way felt, welcoming. Aqua cringed. "Riku, think about this before you go in. She just opened that with no effort." The boy agreed and turned his head to her. "That is the scary part, she done that after her speech. Do you want to come with us?"

Karla kept silent, yet Aqua knew she was enjoying the moment she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "*Ha*" She opened them and approached the Witch. "We'll, it's our duty to get in there and see it for ourselves." She helped Karla by the hand, looked her firmly in the eyes and let her lead. Riku followed close and found, a silhouette of a heart, behind a locked seal, he felt a beat and the feeling of a heart that seen hard times, Aqua felt it as well and asked. "You know what to do?"

The boy nodded, called upon his blade and focused. "Yeah, it hears us." He calmed down in a zen and radiated like the morning sun, Karla let go and felt the light behind the door, radiating, her form enveloped in dark and a white aura radiated, two wisp like eyes appeared and stared at the light, like a shadow to flame. The light became entwined to shadow and caused the void to blend with it. Thump! Thump! Thump!

The fragment of humanity stepped back as the rising light basked an aura around Riku. The boy asked. "Hey, there is something out there that wants to disrupt the balance of the worlds and plunge it all into Chaos. We need a beacon of Harmony, to keep the Chaos out, will you lend that?"

The light flickered in response shined around and caused grey clouds to form, making way for a light behind the mountains, radiating across a vast sea. The shadows bend to the light as the sun rose, Aqua had a fond memory of the sea. "This was what the world was, I don't know how long it will take before it will see this again. But it needs to hold onto that hope." The wisp giggled as the sun reached above the mountain and caused a shadow to swipe to them, in a flash of dark, the three found themselves back in the gate way.

The hole into the abyss became that to light, rippled and let loose a shine of light. The wisp watched the light form a long stretch of shadow and reverted back to the witch upon the light gracing it. The hole disappeared, yet the three felt a calming harmony, singing in a melody that echoed. Karla sighed. "So it is done, it might not seem much, but the Everchosen is going to have to look towards a power bound to the Worlds if he wants to make his presence here. Even the Sorcerer, will have an ordeal if he wants to return here."

Riku sighed. "Thank goodness, now let's get back to the town and tell the guys why we done this?" Poof! "Yeah, why did you guys come all the way up here?"

Aqua yelped and turned to find Yuffie appearing in smoke, at the stair way leading to the lower floor, Leon followed and is completely puzzled. "Why up here? And did you cause that spark of light?" Aqua tried to answer as Karla tilted her head. "Yes, we did. We've created a melody of Light and Dark, with the slumbering heart of the world. It dreams of a day, where this land will be grand and I hope one day, it will be made so."

Leon cringed. "Dark?!" Riku stood in between the two groups. "More specifically of harmony, of a balance. We need to talk, we found out something you all need to worry about."

At Twilight Town's Manor.

Ken was impressed by the tale Baldred shared. "That is one way to get in an out of there under their noses. If that sword didn't rat you out, I'd say they would have never noticed until the stuff was missing. You might have also ticked off everyone who cared about that."

Olette found it incredible. "When strength won't work, you find a way. Now Ken, what did you saw up in that palace?" Ken recalled. "At first, nothing that isn't usual. Some weird black smith heartless and the Archfiend of Fire that showed up, healed after that tough fight and gave me, Mr. Halvek and Began a good challenge. Once Rubi and the other Archfiends turned into one, Sora, Miss, Halvek and Goofy kicked it's butt. Then we fell into a trap where we had to deal with some real nightmares. Like fighting in a narrow place like this house." He stepped to the Foyer's left most door and opened it to prove a point. "Like, one bad turn and you're fighting for your life. Replace any of those with the Planet Killer and you get how they connect. I fought a giant spider that took advantage of the narrow tunnels and won. Then, me and Ana fought against a weird one."

Olette imagined what Ken gone through in the tunnels and realize that wasn't the weird. "How weird are we talking?" Ken looked in the door and found a dinning room. "Like...being at the Keyblade War, kinds of weird. It's apparently how the X Blade that Norty wants so bad, broke into the fragments in the first place. How hearts like Kairi's happened and is how our biggest clue to pushing the Chaos gods out is going to be found, the Fragments of Darkness that could be making up a heart."

He marched in and looked around and behind the pantries, Baldred helped with the search, though he was less delicate with the furniture. Thud! "How in the blazes does that involve you?" Ken gently put the cup board back and looked under each one. "That's the funny part. It doesn't. During that trip into the nightmares, the Forces of Chaos caught wind and tried messing with some of us. Sora and Kairi got hit the worst, Olette you'll be surprised what they had to go through."

Olette looked worried for her two friends. "I don't want to imagine it, Sora has had some pretty rough episodes as it is and Kairi took some things that went on hard. If they want to talk about it, me and guys are here." She checked under the table and asked. "And the forces of Chaos thought to make you think you're some chosen one or something?"

Ken was baffled. "I guess, it was too specific and some weirdos were calling me the X blade. If I want to learn about that, I look from a reliable source and not from some freako who's made a habit of tricking people into doing dangerous things."

Olette sprang to an idea and thought out loud. "So... where should we look for that data?" Ken and Baldred looked behind the curtains, the Bearer of the Curse asked. "The Bastion? Or perhaps." Olette found nothing under the table and stood up. "The computer in this place? The Bastion and the manor are the only places where Ansem the Wise would have that info. If you have somewhere to be very soon after this, me and the guys would get that while you go save the worlds."

The males found nothing and Ken considered the room a dead end. "There is something a friend of mine talked about that can't wait now, the more help we get, the better we'll be." He turned to lead out. "Is there anything of notice here besides a free date?"

Olette blushed, had her hands at her hips and laughed. "Ha! Well, some of us have learned to cook. But no, there is nothing really important here." Ken tapped his foot and asked. "Keyhole where are you. We got a world to protect."

Click!

He heard something above, looked to the stair way and turned around, he high jumped and left the less than agile friends bellow. Olette and Baldred looked above, the girl asked. "Did you hear something weird?" Ken looked bellow. "Yep." He summoned Cadia's Light in caution. "It's up here," he looked to his right and saw something move in the shadows, something with red eyes, it was escaping and revealed an open door with something white. "Shadey?"

The two caught up with him and saw the strange room, Baldred took his katana and lead the way. "Nothing like this, is coincidence. Be ready for anything if I get attacked." The teenagers respected the decision and let him cross first, they saw him be astonished by something, they hurried in and found a white room with an empty pod in the center. Olette's lips gave off a silence. "Wow."

Ken felt the room was important for something and looked around. "We've found a mystery, but is it what we are looking for?" Thump! Thump! The boy heard the heart beat and thought to look behind the pod, finding a forming keyhole of light as if, the world had heard the boy's plea. Olette hummed. "Well, it looks like it is." Ken guessed. "Or that it showed itself, but is this real?"

Baldred considered that and took out his chime. "I think I can unveil that if it is a foul thing." He summoned a glistening eye and waited, it simply floated to the air and did nothing, the undead hummed. "It is real. Shall we?"

Olette stepped back as Ken approached the keyhole, closed his eyes and tried to focus, Baldred used his chime to give off the essence of dark. Ken heard the heart beat reach for him and he used Cadia's Light to form a connection, nothing seemed to happen. Olette tapped her foot. "I don't think anything's happening." Ken opened his eyes to see that and asked. "What gives? I give light and Baldred gives the dark, that's how it was suppose to work since Kairi did that with that scary shark."

Olette found that didn't make any sense. "Scary shark? It had dark powers?" Ken shook his head. "No, but apparently he is dark by his nature and he bit into the gateway." He remembered the Black Flame and had one more confession. "I... think I know why this heart doesn't trust me. While up in there, I went into the Nightmare of the Planet Killer of the moment Traverse Town got murdered. The light wasn't enough and Abaddon kept pushing me by attacking the others." He felt angry thinking about it. "I couldn't let him and then... it happened. The Black Flame came and helped me, with that, I pushed that monster away from them and charged for the final blow like a lance of light." He sighed to a recent past glory. "I felt the light the others gave to that blow, and Abaddon was pierced by it, before the Black Flame claimed him."

He tapped on his metal arm and Olette refused to accept that as the reason. "Like you had much of a choice, Abaddon was going to kill Sora and the others. You talk like that flame was an angel, instead of a demon." Baldred gasped and channeled a divine light. "Perhaps, that is not what the heart trusts. Kendry, you know what is at stake for the worlds?"

The boy nodded. "If Archaon shows up here, he is going to have everyone killed, just to spite us." His tone lessened. "I love this little town. It's so pretty and the people here are nice." He felt rather calm. "I want it to stay pretty, I want to have those afternoons if I can." Olette felt the tone weird. "Are... you okay?" The Undead felt something flickering as Ken felt a strange echo in his heart. "I... want to keep watching over this place." He aimed Cadia's Light once more, it sparkled in stars and radiated the night. Ken asked the girl. "How's been your morning?"

The girl was oddly drawn to it. "Nothing too special, I haven't gotten up early to see the sun rise, it's one of the few times in the day where it isn't always twilight, but the stars are a nice change to the sky. If you got the chance, do you want to see that sky with me?"

Ken felt his heart speak. "I'd like that, I've seen the night sky so many times when I was little. It's quite nice to know even under the dark, there is a light that comes with it." He turned to the radiating sign of a heart as the power of night wiggled in, the holy chime jingled and with that. The three found themselves in a sand box in town, Baldred saw the glowing lights and looked to the night sky. Ken and Olette, found themselves close together and almost falling over on their backs in a trance, seeing the dark sky with the stars.

It was like they could stare at it for hours. In a few moments, the stars turned and circled around the sky. Baldred snapped out of the trance and found himself in the white room, the keyhole bend the Dark and Light like they were one, the teenagers were lost in a hypnotic trance as the mixture turned into feathers, it scattered in a pulse, glistening black feathers blew across the winds and the white room felt more tranquil. On the que of the scatter, the teenagers snapped out of it, stared at the white ceiling and sat up, seeing the keyhole glisten away like star light. Ken felt like there was only one thing in the shadows of the world and exhaled. "Phew! That got weird. Olette, can you hear me?"

The girl shook the trance out. "Brr! You were zoning out there, you heard what you were saying?" Ken blushed. "About, how I like this town and I'd that I want to protect it so it can stay nice? Then we kind of just... laid on the sand box like a couple of kids." Olette groaned. "Because we are! All this war stuff you have to throw yourself into is making you forget that." She stood up and offered to help the boy get up. "So, you're ready to be one again? Take some time off and see the town?"

Ken nodded. "Yeah, I think I should." He took the offer and was given an affectionate shoulder hug, the Undead hmmed and turned. "If that is to be, may I make a suggestion?" The teenagers were listening, Ken asked. "I kind of want you to stay over in the town until Sora and the others get here to hear your story. Then, we can go see Lightning together."

The Undead found that fair. "You've finished your task, now you get to explore at your leisure. I still have my own though." Olette lead them out of the manor, as they walked past the gate, the girl asked the boy. "So, what else did you find on your adventures?" Ken went to his bag and showed off his hat. "I got this from an Ork and the guys say I should dye this. I'm thinking purple."

The Undead decided to leave the teenagers be as the girl looked at the undershirt in the jacket. "I think I know where this is going." Ken nodded with a proud blush and took his jacket off, he put the hat on, the girl gave a thorough examination. "I think Hayner might have some stuff to dye that hat. You'll look nice, especially with that jacket." She smacked her lips in temptation and Ken offered to hold her hand. "Thanks for the tip, let's go tell the guys what we found and the ideas we made." Olette took the offer. "We are in for a new discovery that might save the worlds."

At the castle in Disney Town.

Mickey lead Ven into the Chamber of the Cornerstone of Light, showing on a floor in the corner something covered in dust, he rubbed it off and revealed a keyhole. "There it is." He turned to the boy. "Now we got to wait for Riku and Ken to call us when they are done." Ven folded his arms. "Right, we don't trust anyone else besides those two."

He felt a little tension left. "But at least, by the end of the day, we'll know these places will be fine." "Ya' Majesty! Someone came by to help!" Mickey and Ven turned to find Goofy entering, by him was his son Max, who couldn't believe a particular plan and had his hands in his pockets as he slyly assured someone. "See, Dupmic, it's easy if you got connections."

A boy in a purple shirt with a blue hoodie and an orange pair of pants, he looked at Max like he might have simplified a rather complicated situation. Mickey hummed. "Never met you before, how did you figure out we been needing help with something?" The boy confessed. "I might have helped with a certain gateway and overheard what is needed to be done to keep certain creeps out. I've initially planed to sneak in, but after telling the Captain's son about this, he thought of something better." Goofy promised his king. "Dupmic ere was someone we met at the theme park the other day. Hi-yuck."

The hooded boy approached, saw the keyhole and explained. "I might have gotten my hands on a couple suspicious tools, one is something I call the Shadow Bolt, a spell that attacks your shadow and when it does, it will send you flying. The other." He showed the aura of a familiar power in his hand. "Is something I picked up while trying to help Ken stay out of trouble. Transposed from the Darklurker, if you heard of it and the Core of the Lich. Would that work?"

Mickey nodded to that. "I guess it could, Dupmic, would you help me out while Ven keeps watch?" The hooded boy summoned a feathery, polearm of a keyblade and focused, channeling the aura of death and giving the keyhole a strange shade of black. Mickey focused with his blade and caused the shade to turn to grey. In a moment, the group found themselves in a strange, monochrome world, with those caught in the radiance, looking a little like an old cartoon. Goofy remembered the tone before. "It's like that time Me and Donald went back in time with Sora." The echoey sound gave a vibe to it as Ven is thinking about what this one means. "This looks like it can use more color."

Mickey had the thought of a colorful world in mind. "That's what the balance means, light and dark are part of the same shading. With those together." He focused and caused the old art style to splash in color. "A picture is made. That is how you create an art, through a little black, a little white and any color you can think of to go with the tone."

Thump! Thump!

The sound of a heart beat and film rolling filled the groups ears, the rolling film, disappeared in an echo and a balance was felt, the art style faded back to reality and Mickey felt a little better about his Kingdom staying protected from those who seek it's ruin. Dupmic dismissed his blade and ceased it's glow. "That was easier than I expected." Goofy laughed to that. "Probably because his Majesty talked about this 'ere before. Finding someone who can help was the harder part. You must be the fella that took care of that Lich too?"

The boy nodded. "Yep. So what now?" Ven didn't think it would hurt to answer. "Now, we got to get back to the Bastion and hear what Lightning has to say. This gave us another clue that finding this Fragment of Darkness is a good idea. We need that to take care of our bigger problem."

Dupmic cringed and guessed. "And you want someone to stay behind in case someone, not aligned to Chaos, comes knocking?"

Mickey nodded. "We would have asked if you want to come along, but from what I've heard, where we are going is pretty dangerous." Dupmic sighed in defeat. "That makes sense. I'll have to tell Xion about that, to clarify something. I might have sent a friend to help someone search for what they need to find in Twilight Town, I... might tell you why I act like this, when I can."

Goofy guessed the boy was hiding something, but insist. "You'll tell us when you feel it's the right thing to do. So now what?" Ven guessed. "Ice cream?" The group agreed to an ice cream trip before getting by their day.

At Destiny Islands.

Xion holding onto Azumarril like she was a stuffed animal, as Sora finished a horrific story. "And that's the last thing we saw before we reached the end of that. Then we only had Garland left." Azumarril asked something that Xion understood. "That was probably what that nightmare was about. If you keep that lunatic out of these worlds, me, Dupmic and the others would keep the rest of the Darkseekers from causing trouble. I swear on that!"

Sora and Kairi appreciated the vow and looked at the morning sun, pretty exhausted. Kairi asked. "We've been hearing about this one world that could be pretty dangerous, if you can give us a couple more days, we'll see what we can't do to have you and your brother on the team." She felt her legs working again, yet felt like she didn't want to move, Xion raised an eyebrow and asked Namine. "How long have you guys been out, taking care of Garland?"

The nobody counted. "..A whole day actually." Sora yawned and was in a rather tranquil trance, Xion knew some tired heroes and got up to dust the sand off of herself. "If that's happened, then these two out to have some alone time. Namine, Roxas, would you watch over them? I'll go check to see if the main worlds are taken cared of for you?" Roxas got up with Namine. "We will, but I think these two need a moment alone."

Cradily knew what that meant and wiggled to the sea to meet with Clawitzer, Azumarril giggled and gave the humans a goodbye, on the promise that they'll keep watch from the sea view. Sora blushed as Kairi rested her head on his shoulder. "We'll. Yawn Be fine in a couple hours. Thanks for seeing if we're okay, guys. I appreciate it."

Azumarril waved as she and her team let her know not to mention it. Sora asked the black haired girl. "Hey Xion. Yawn" He realize he himself was yawning. The girl guessed. "You want me to find Ken and see if his mission is done? There isn't much more I can do to help right now?"

Sora hummed. "Well... that and seeing if he or anyone else can help you meet with more people, it's stinks how you need someone else to get by with that." Xion sighed. "It does, but if he's busy, I'll still be fine knowing I made a lot of progress." She got up. "Thank you for being the help I need. I'll be sure to keep returning the favor."

She giggled at the obvious couple and turned to leave, Roxas and Namine promised their other halves that they'll be back shortly. On the path leading to the raft out, Xion flipped and walked backwards to smile at the two. "I can't believe all that happened in one morning." She squeed as Namine cheered. "I know, that's amazing!"

She and Roxas passed a smile to each other, the boy asked. "If we get the chance soon, we might finally get to do that thing we've been wanting to do." Xion knew what that was. "It's been so long since we've done that. Heh!" She looked forward to that with an attempt to get back some nostalgia, Roxas and Namine saw a couple tears drip from her eyes as they reached the raft back.

She slowled her breathing and admitted. "Roxas, if you didn't pass that word to Ken, I wouldn't have been pushed to get as far as I did. So much of this feels... right." Roxas laughed to that. "Don't mention it, it's good to know you're back with us. Sometimes, you got to push yourself along for things to get better."

Xion agreed with that. "It just feels good to be alive." She wiped her eyes and Namine approached her to give her a hug, Xion hugged back, feeling the warmth made the joy more sweet. Roxas joined in the group hug for a moment, they broke it and Xion made a vow. "No matter what, I'm always at your side. Even if life gets hard, if we keep sticking together, we can make this life feel... like it's worth it."

Roxas promised back to her. "If you ever feel down again, we'll be here waiting for you, you just need to ask." Namine agreed. "Those feelings we have, even if you don't remember it all, are always going to be the same as it was." She winked. "This means there is one more of us you need to form a connection with, at least before. Riku." She warned Xion. "He is the most sceptical and it might require him having to hear Sora and Kairi out. He's also the most busy."

The black haired girl listened and gasped. "Riku?!" She looked around and asked the two. "Before I go, there is something I need to tell you two. This is something... Dupmic, is trying to hide to get by." Namine guessed. "He's really that Replica of Riku that the members from Organization XIII used to get to Sora? He disappeared after helping Sora deal with Marluxia... or Lauraim's Nobody, and tried to prove himself as his own by killing Riku. BUT that ended in his undoing." Her smile turned to a frown. "I've known that after a couple of encounters. Unlike you, he remembers that and I might know about how the two of you came back."

Xion exhaled. "That how, is Ahriman." Roxas. "Ahriman?! Were you the thing he was trying to pry open from my head?" Xion gasped. "He hurt you?!" The boy nodded. "Just so he can learn about those Organization guys. What else happened?" The black haired girl started to feel guilty. "I woke up, no one knew I existed and I think I nearly ran into the wrong crowd had Dupmic not come to notice me. apparently, Ahriman was the reason that didn't get worse and that I was able to get help."

Roxas looked to the distance in disgust. "And he had to work with the other person who might have remembered you to get his results." He turned to Xion. "But why did Ahriman let the two of you go? Someone like him would not have allowed that to happen unless it was intentional." The black haired girl scratched the side of her head. "That's what I want to know. But right now, me and Dupmic cannot face him, I'm a bit worried of what he is doing since we're out of his sight. Thankfully, that thing you're all doing should keep him busy."

Roxas thanked that. "Yeah, but we still need to take him down when we can, no matter the why. You need to have Dupmic spill the beans about himself to us if he is ever going to break from what ever Ahriman told him."

Xion agreed with that. "The problem is a lot of things Ahriman has told us had some truth to it. It isn't going to be that easy." She turned with a task in mind. "Thanks for letting me tell you that. Roxas, if Ahriman had hurt you over some world domination scheme, I won't forgive myself for being the result of that."

The boy gasped. "Xion, that was not your fault. I'm worried about why he needs you for that scheme, I don't want something bad happening to you again." He had his hand at his chest. "I don't know if I could take that again." The girl promised him. "It won't, not as long as I can keep fighting." She turned to the raft without any regrets to that. "Roxas, Namine, I'll be at Twilight Town when it is time. I got something to ask of Ken."

The blonde girl wished her luck. "We'll see you soon. Thank you for everything you've done." Xion waved and with a determined smile, dashed to the raft, jumped on it and rowed. Leaving the two alone and to get back to their other halves, Roxas couldn't say he didn't find the determination satisfying. "What have we done?"

Namine pushed through some leaves. "We've answered what she asked and told her what she needed to hear. She's going to do some good and I thiiink, we might be able to keep that promise if our next adventure goes well. For now, let's enjoy the sunset, Xion is pretty fierce." Roxas agreed with that and was the first to see Sora and Kairi tapping their heads together in sleep, he found that cute as Namine looked up to a tree branch. "I think, that will do."

At Radiant Garden's Committee center.

Cid dropped his stick as Leon, Yuffie and Aerith were horrified, the engineer asked. "That crazy son of a bitch wants to kill us all?!" Riku nodded. "And if we didn't do that thing with the worlds heart, he would have came for this place while we were out saving the worlds."

Karla ceased her playful tone and clenching her fist. "That is why we must not dawdle over this, for if Archaon obtains the Heart of All Worlds, nothing will stop him." Lightning leaned against a wall with her arms folded and looked quite furious. "Like hell, we're going to let him."

Aqua approved of the determination and asked. "That is why we are looking for clues about how a Heart of Darkness can actually exist. Lightning, I've heard you talked about the Skeksis like they are bad news, what are they?" The pink haired, one woman army knew she didn't have many options. She suggested. "A race of bird people that have been messing up their world with the Darkening, there are more things I want to tell you, but it can wait until we can go." She guessed. "They could lead to that clue, can lead me to rescuing someone close to me and if they destroy their world, they'll become our problem."

Riku considered it a deal. "Give us until the evening and we'll get going. We just got back from that kind of adventure." Lightning hmph and readied to leave. "You got the evening, or I'm taking off without you, the world is pretty far and is nearby this weird one with the theater."

With her gone, Leon asked. "So what do you want us to do about the bigger problem. That... next war we've been feeling is inevitable now." Riku scratched the side of his head. "I'll have to ask Yen Sid and the others about it as soon as we can. We got the Skeksis and a promise I made to these guys at this city that can't wait. Be ready if we ask for more help. Ana's trying to get that sorted out." Yuffie saluted to the keybearers. "We will be ready when you are."

Riku, Aqua and Karla gave their goodbyes and left, alone, the Keyblade Master requested. "I'm going start gathering the others and get back home to see how Ana is doing. If you got something to do, do it now." Riku understood as Karla readied to leave. "I will be around if you need me again." She smiled to the two. "Do take care." Aqua smiled back. "You too," Riku considered that an improvement and when Karla was far away, asked Aqua. "Do you mind if I go tell Ken what's up before getting the two sleepy head awake?"

The Keyblade Master signaled him. "I don't. Stock up, rest up and be ready by sundown." Riku understood, he and Aqua parted ways for their own duty.

At Twilight Town.

At a park, Ken had a purple military hat drying out in the sun with in a zip lock and finished explaining. "So, that's why I came here." Hayner nearly wet himself as Pence sat on a bench in disbelief. "That's insane." Olette agreed with her friend. "Completely, but I think there might be something we can do to help. We need to crack down the history on the Keyblade War and see what really happened."

Hayner was deciding on which area to visit. "Now which computer ought to have the data?"

Ken noticed someone approaching from the street, a rather busy Riku who heard that part. "What are you talking about?" Ken twiddled his fingers. "We think this Ansem the Wise guy, would have some info on the Keyblade War and these guys think that while we are out on our next mission, they can help dig it up."

Riku thought about it. "I think he took most of his research to the Mansion after his students overthrew him. That would be your best bet, I also got the chance to ask Lightning about that Skeksis issue, it sound promising as well." Ken relaxed and asked. "If you give me six hours, I'll be ready. Any further report?"

Riku hesitated for a moment and suggested. "We got told that the world is nearby the one with the Muppets. If someone can scout ahead, that could be helpful, you know of the trick the Iron Snakes ship can do?"

Ken felt a ding. "I think Bryn and I could try something to get in and back in a flash. If I go on ahead, mark the place and have Bryn share the info, we'll be a Light Speed away." Olette groaned. "Ken, what did we talk about a while ago?" The one arm boy snickered. "I know, cut back on that war stuff. But, it feels like this won't be that." Olette hoped so and had her hands at her hips and squinted her eyes. "Good, you got a good heart. Don't forget that."

Ken found the attitude cute. "I won't." He and the girl exchanged a hug, they broke it quickly and went to their duty, Ken asked. "That same Gang is all ready to hear about what happened, so Exrirsa can finally do her thing. Would you do that while I go talk to Bryn?"

Riku felt that would kill the time. "If it can get those guys on our side for a while, when you finish, meet up at the home base." Ken hummed, waved goodbye to his friends and took off, Riku asked the three. "I'm guessing he also did that thing he came here for too?"

Olette nodded. "Baldred tried using the power of the hex while Ken used light, but it didn't quite work. So they switched it around, a miracle for the power of the Night, me and Ken might have... seen the night and it looks like that date is going to wait."

Riku blinked. "The night? Did Ken act weird about it?" Olette shook her head. "Not really, but he went into a zone while trying to call that out. From a vow to protect this town and why he wants to protect it. It was kind of beautiful." Riku smirked. "Was it?" He asked. "Once we take off, you can do what you need to do." Hayner snickered. "You can count on us to hack that computer!"

With that, Riku parted and ventured down the roughneck street, finding Exrirsa overlooking something, Elrena was telling the rest of the gang what she guessed. "And if THAT was what got him of all people scared, then it's bad news for all of us." Most of the gang listened to that well and Medy asked. "No way Sora would get scared like that. How many of us got our butts kicked by him?"

Lea answered that. "You all got your butts kicked, I might have helped him before deciding to go out with a bang. Heh!" Riku couldn't believe it. "So this was how you were going to get their attention, Resira?"

The Adeptas Sororitas turned to Riku as Baldred was cleaning his katana, she asked. "And what say you? Was the ordeal at Pandemonium true?" Riku couldn't argue with her on that. "We've found out that Archaon is a complete maniac who has a deep hatred for the gods, he wants to kill everyone to see to their end, has done so and sense it didn't work, he wants to try it again, using Kingdom Hearts." Medy jumped to that. "Kingdom Hearts to do what?!" Isa tapped him on the shoulder to get him to calm down. "To bring about, the end of all things."

Riku nodded. "That's not the worst part. Me and Sora, can not even scratch him. Archaon has that kind of armor, both of us, Kairi, Ken and even Goofy and Donald, could not do anything that mattered. We had to run from an illusion of him when he was apart of the World That Was." He asked. "Think about that, now think about how Archaon can bring an army of madmen like him and those daemons... Sora and I were able to keep that thought down, but Ken definitely didn't. The two of us kind of lost our will to talk for a moment."

Lauriam's mouth dropped and Dorlu had his hand under his chin. "That is not favorable to anyone. You and Sora alone, had brought order back to the worlds and this is the one foe you are no match for." Elrena nodded to that. "Yeah, that sucks." Lea asked. "Guys, huddle!"

The gang huddled and spent quite a bit of time discussing the topic, Medy was shaking like a leaf, Isa was losing some composure and for a moment, Riku heard Lea being absolutely serious about the topic. Lauriam suggested. "If we are to do something about this, we should take our chances with her." Elrena bopped him in the nose. "That's what I've been saying." The gang shouted in unison. "Break!"

Exrirsa stood up on hearing that and asked. "So you think that you truly know the scope of our foe? Hmm." She had a lecture in store. "Some of you may be adept fighters, but as disorganized and unskilled as you are, you will just get slaughtered. I will have to remedy that." Lea asked. "By what? A boot camp?"

Exrirsa nodded. "Precisely. You are to head to the struggle pit, immediately. I wish to see what am I dealing with before I encourage some cooperation." She asked the teenager. "Riku, do you seek further aid for something?"

Riku looked at Baldred with a weird crown and his felt a bright radiance with in. "Actually, I do. Baldred, we got a job you can help with." The Undead finished polishing his blade and stood. "Excellent." He waved to the gang. "Don't get yourselves killed, this is but the start of something wonderful." Lauriam waved goodbye. "I think it will be, you brazened Revenant."

Riku was having an idea of what happened and asked. "Oh, if you can pass the word to the guys at the castle, we're looking on data about the Keyblade War, anyone of you know?"

The group gave a no, Isa promised. "We'll call Ienzo, he's the only other person besides you people, that bother with us." Riku could see that. "Thanks, for that."

The boy and the undead went off, Riku had the chance to ask. "That crown was the one you've talked about and that thing has nothing but the light, how did you find that?"

Baldred looked rather proud. "I've went to that forsaken world, stealth my way into that castle and with a little aid from Karla and the Shaded One, I've nearly taken the crown without anyone noticing. It wasn't until I tried to claim my Moonlit Sword, that it's seething spirit... foiled most of my escape. If someone didn't tip those fellows over there off to where I was going, that Sorcerer would have done me in through the blunt end of that staff. I know of the Homeward Miracle, if you're interested."

Riku wanted to shake the man's hand. "Many people would sooner jump off a cliff than to set one foot in that world. Not bad, you used Profound Still to stop Ahriman's sorceries and didn't...consider he is built different?" Baldred nodded. "Of course I did." Riku smiled with his lips closed. "Not bad at all, so what does the Homeward Miracle do?" The Undead answered. "It's a simple, but useful one, you see-"

In the Lanes Between.

Ken placed a metal tube with an open hatch in the engine component, under the instruction of a screen Bryn provided. The boy watched the components connect, felt his heart beating in sync with the machine spirit and took out a collection of light crystal blocks. "So, all I got to do is put these in, close the hatch and we get light speed." He carefully placed each one in to make sure they fit in and used a curved glass tube to finish the upgrade, with that, the hatch closed. The gummy ship lit up from a finished modification and Ken turned to his seat. "And like that, we are done." He saw a screen light up and show an interstellar map of many worlds he has visited, he slowly had his finger on the one called Muppet's Theater. "Lightning said the world is nearby, we can tell if the world is that by the look of it. If this Light Speed works, then we can save a lot of time, if the guys can use the upgrade."

He asked. "What are the calculations for it?" The gummi ship showed a screen that shows a blip moving quickly across the lanes and to the world of notice, with the rest being a collection of question marks, Ken read it and answered. "This can work if we find the world and it will only work if the route is the smoothest? Since we didn't run into anything on the way, I saw this one is smooth. Traveling into Hyper Space, works like he said."

The Gummi ship flashed a question mark, Ken knew what he said. "I should show you the movie. Han Solo spoke of something like this in the film. The reason we got to go the long way first is because without those calculations, we would run into an asteroid or a sun going super nova or a black hole. That will end our flight really quick and in the worst way possible."

He strapped on and was feeling more and more excited. Bryn revved up her engine and in a minute, the stars turned into lines, Ken was pushed against his seat and felt a fast shot through the void of space. In a minute, he found the colorful world of a city with a theater and the slight fantasy he just lived through, he wanted to cheer like a young child and tried to hold it back. "I can't believe we just did that! Now, let's see where is where."

Bryn saw a mystical gate with an opened keyhole and flew into that, the travel was a little heavy on the heartless ships, yet upon entering a grassy asteroid, was more confusing foes, flying bats with laser eyes. Bryn fired her missiles and noticed rocks opening their mouths and tried to suck her in, Ken turned the wheel in the opposite direction and felt he was managing the rough terrain rather smoothly. In a few moments he was out of the asteroid and saw a world on the horizon. One that looked bizarre and alien, mixing temples, desert, a swamp and the faint view of a palace, the world looked like it was twisting, it looked dark.

Ken could tell by looking at it, that the world is going to be a rough one to venture in, he turned to notice a strange movement of three suns that could be aligning in the span of a couple days. "She wasn't kidding, what have the Skeksis been doing to this world?" He wanted to take a step into the world and see things for himself, he felt some common sense stopping him. "...If I just go in there, those bird brains are going to notice I'm alone. Come on Bryn, let's find a route back."

The gummi ship agreed and turned around to find a gate going around the asteroid path and further down the route of the Muppet world. WOOSH! Then, out of nowhere from the right, was a flying cluster of silver swords, with a golden skull shape hilt and aetherical energy of gold, they flew into the gate at high speeds and Ken is recognizing the energy. "What is..." He gasped as he sensed the great power and a single drive. "No way! Bryn, chance course, we're chasing that spell!"

The Gummi ship charged her engine in sync to the order and chased the swords, following it into what looked to be a giant space station. If there were heartless ships in the way, the swords made quick work of them or left stragglers for Bryn to finish off, the swords and ship a zip across the tunnels with little trouble and reached an colossal chamber with a circular battle station of round heads with blue eyes looking upon the two forces. The swords circled around it and flew above as Bryn spun and fired missiles and las fire upon the many openings and missiles, upon reaching the top of the pyramid like structure, they saw hatches open to reveal high tech, gun like monsters that fired more shots. Two of the swords flung to them and gave Ken time to see the heartless emblem at the sides and at the top, a satellite like creature that orchestrated the upper stations shots. It shot a wave like beam at Bryn, she dived down and used her missiles on the turrets as her las canons fired at the main creature, the swords split apart and chopped off the turrets with them. With the turrets destroyed, the swords converged into one mass as Ken pushed a button, Bryn opened a hatch on her nasal to reveal a third las cannon and in a triple beam, finished it off. The station, still moved, Ken and Bryn realized they were not done. "There's got to be one more part connecting this, we take it out and we will clear the way."

Bryn dived down ahead of the vengeful swords and reach to the lower half of the pyramid, flat, leg like clamps uncurled and the bottom half opened a hatch to reveal a yellow antenna, it shot three straight beams and rotated to move them, some clock wise, some counter counter clock wise. Ken noticed several, glowing yellow power stations and whispered. "Those are it, we take these out, we'll be finished!"

Bryn focused her las cannons on the turrets and fired her missiles as the swords noticed, dived down with them and flew into one of the power stations, ripping it apart and ran a lap around the remaining to finish off the mechanical monster. Ken had Bryn flew back at the sight of an explosion and watched the heartless release a captive heart as it vanished. With that done, Ken searched his pocket for a crystal and watched a giant hatch open, revealing something that made the boy and even the swords, pause in awe. The ruined remains of a planet, encircling them seems to be giant, spectral keyblades and in the center were giant mountains before something, on the horizon was a large sun. The swords sensed something and in a flask of steel, flew to the strange world. Bryn followed it and readied something, Ken unbuckled and stood up with a keyblade in one hand and the crystal in another. "Endless Spell of Awesome Swords, the chase ends."

In a flash of light, Ken found himself in a canyon and saw from the sky, a stream of swords diving down after something ahead. He heard the sound of a battle and rushed to the noise, in an opening with a distant collection of strange swords sticking out, was a group of tribal men and women, with cat like pets with the insignia of Chaos, fought against the mystical swords that made no effort to cut through them. Ken heard a familiar braying and saw a bray shaman, channeling dark power and using it hold the swords in place, by the shaman was a pale, minotaur like monster, with a large spear and a shield.

The minotaur ordered shaman. "End it!" The shaman tensed in the dark power as the minotaur taunted with elegance. "Lord Archaon knew the light of justice would seek our heads. You are far from home, little swords, the winds that birthed you are not here to shelter you from us." Ken approached, the minotaur smelled something and turned, very surprised by the sudden boy with the blade and was pleased by the arrival, one of the tribal men was ready to lead a charge and was stopped by a gesture from the minotaur, the hulking thing approached and spoke. "As are you, boy. Run back to the nipple of the one you call a Paragon, you might live another day."

Ken drew out Firekeepers Wish and stared back at him without much of fear. "Not without those swords." The Minotaur smirked. "Such bravado, but will you-" he charged. "keep that up!"

The minotaur jumped shield first, Ken jumped back charged his burning blade and shot with Cadia's Light for rather heavy fire, the boy readied to throw as the Minotaur dashed, spear first. Ken side stepped, cringed in a panic and hurled his sword, the Minotaur considered that a joke at the complete miss. "You call that a-" He realized as Ken's cringe is hiding a wide smile of a successful plan. Turned and watched as the blade impaled the shaman and caused him to burst into flames, instantly killing him and letting the swords loose. "...Clever."

He bull rushed a back stepping Ken with his shield, keeping his eye at the swords that seemed aimed at him, the keyblade vanished and the one armed boy used his wind magic to get a far distance away. PEW! PEW! PEW!

Cadia's Light cut into the Minotaurs hide, greatly annoying him to a potential threat, he sprinted forward and rolled to avoid the swords. Ken balked as he felt he was in control of the battle. "Is that all you got," He ran side ways and tried to calculate the minotaurs surprising speeds. "Is there anything you really know about me besides how I'm smaller than ya and only got one real arm?"

The Minotaur side jumped to where Ken was running and sprinted a shield smash, Ken flipped and readied to prepare a trap as the foe answered with a rather enthused tone. "I was only half mocking you, you hold your Teacher close to your heart. Like she is you mother, I wonder if she truly has what it takes." He leaped again and Ken flipped, landed on his feet and slid with his fingers, the Minotaur demanded. "Show me the fruits of her labor, for you delved into a realm best left Unknown."

The Minotaur kept charging and try to intercept the boy that skid around him and use environment to make quick openings, who ever the foe was, he has had experience in fighting heroes one on one. The cultists watched in awe, rather than trying to fight.

Ken felt something and a sudden urge to get far away from the Minotaur, something coming at the foe like a freight train. SMASH!

The Minotaur quickly used his shield, to no avail, he was flung across the wasteland with extreme force, one that created a shock wave of wind that sent the tribesmen flying, the sword pushing through and Ken bracing himself, he was pushed back a couple feet and was nearly rendered blind by the dust, he lowered his arms and saw a large figure in black limped, armor that had brass as the dominant color and gold for the highlights, the figure had a cloak to match and a keyblade that looked much like a large sword with key like teeth. The figure coldly ordered the Minotaur. "Begone!"

The Minotaur cringed, opened two corridors, one for his minions and one for himself. "Y...You haven't the last of me." He readied to flee. "Consider your days numbered!"

The forces of chaos turned tale and ran from one presence, Ken forgotten a particular warning and spoke. "Wow!" Like that, the armored figure turned to him as the strange swords floated closer, like an audience, the Lingering Warrior asked. "That thing knows you, who was he talking about?"

Ken felt the particular warning of not wandering off and running into trouble, pulse in his consciousness, he answered as he tried to think his way out of danger. "I think he heard of me or has heard that me and a friend of mine were taken in by a great teacher." He is seeing familiar patterns between the armor, Ven's armor and Aqua's armor and feigned ignorance. "I didn't think there was anyone else here. Thanks for getting rid of that guy."

He placed the crystal in the barrel packet of Cadia's Light and approached the swords. "Now if you'll excuse me, I got something I want to bring back to Miss and the others. These swords are something called an Endless Spell and this came here to fight guys like them. The Forces of Chaos." He asked the swords. "That's something we want as well, to stop the Forces of Chaos from destroying the worlds. You can't do this alone, none of us can. But together, we might stand a chance, so." he aimed. "are we going to make this easy?"

The swords glistened to the mention of Chaos as a foe and melted, converging into one ball of quick silver, Ken felt like the orb was looking upon his weapon and to the weapons littering the distance, Ken turned his head and realize those were keyblades. He quickly turned to the orb and felt it was looking upon him, the orb took the shape of a fully metal keyblade, nothing too ordinary save for a hilt resembling a skull, a long tip and teeth that looked like a horned symbol of the female, it pulled and multiplied, one blade looked like it had teeth, the symbol of the female, one looked to have teeth in the symbol of a side ways 4, one looked to have a teeth as curved disk for teeth and space between it and an orb, one looked to have teeth the symbol of the male, one looked like to have curved teeth, resembling an axe blade, and one who looked to have more straight forward teeth, although the second one was curved. The swords banded together and dived after the boy, Ken flipped and spun to the direction of the swords, he aimed Cadias Light and took the challenge. "You're mine!" Streams of light tethered around the swords and caused them to direct towards the keyblade, in an instant, each one was absorbed into Cadia's Light and filled the crystal with a golden aura.

Ken exhaled, took the crystal out and put it in his bag, he turned to the Lingering Warrior, he wanted to show the thing he came for and heard the Lingering Warrior speak. "That pose you couldn't be talking about-" He shook his head and yelled. "You are the second one to come here!"

Ken blinked. "Second, what are you-" the Lingering Warrior flowed to him like wind, sword first, Ken side stepped from one slash, then spun to dodge another, shooting the Lingering Warrior and flipping to avoid the third rush. The Lingering Warrior let his keyblade turn into a whip that lashed the surroundings like a storm, smashing into Ken and sending him flying, the boy was dazed, shook it off and saw an orb of light appear from the Lingering Warrior, the orb hovered to him and fired. Ken stabbed the ground and summoned a pillar of stone to puncture it, pew! The Lingering Warrior flickered through a square ripple and swung the great sword, Ken attempted to parry with his blades and was sent rolling, the Lingering Warrior charged again and Ken summoned a flicker of fire as he got on his feet.

Boom!

The explosion pushed the Lingering Warrior to the side by an inch and gave Ken a second to inhale air, he back flipped to avoid the attack and used Cadia's Light to rapid fire, the Lingering Warrior jumped back to avoid the some of the shots and slammed his blade to the ground. Ken notice something rumbling from the earth and used his air magic to push himself away from a mighty pillar of stone, Ken focused mid land, swiped an circle of flame and used it to fire a ray of burning light on the Lingering Warrior. He speared into the Warrior as a ray of light and flipped behind it's back, he fired an orb of chaotic fire as a finisher.

The Lingering Warrior flipped his blade and turned it into a motorcycle like glider, he got on and zoomed across the arena. Ken used that moment to breath out and breath in. He saw it fly at him, side stepped, watched and side stepped as it rushed to him again, the Lingering Warrior reverted the glider back to what it was and did his flow slash combo, Ken repeated the rolls and had to breath, he flung another fire ball at the end of the combo and on impact, turned it into many that whistled all around like fire works, he saw that the Lingering Warrior was not slowing down and he unleashed a rather fast feeling combo. Ken took the option of running for his life and forming wind magic as the warrior came close, he ignited, jumped with a twister of flame and pressed his blades together to form change them into hot beam shooting pistols, he fell upside down and used the melta shots, the Lingering Warrior turned his blade into a crossbow and had to avoid the shots that were starting to melt through the armor. Ken spun his pistols together in super heat and used it to vaporize a shot, he merged the pistols into a missile launcher and launched the projectiles.

Whistle! The Lingering Warrior sprinted from the heated torpedo and turned his weapon into a canon that readied a giant blast of power. Ken pressed his lips together, looked to a stone pillar and flowed straight to it, far away from the blast that made a crater. Ken counted down a second and saw the ripple once more, he let himself fall, he enveloped himself in mist, reverted his blades back and dismissed Cadia's Light for Firekeeper's Wish. With a stab to the ground, he called forth a thick fog and used it to get away from the Lingering Warrior and reposition himself, he called Cadia's Light once more, stabbed the ground with Firekeeper's Wish and let it lend the power of flame as he held the lasgun like one a rifle. The mist cleared and he saw the Lingering Warrior standing there, the boy felt the pressure lessen, the warrior wasn't attacking. Ken relaxed, posed his blade on guard and slowly reached for his second blade, the Lingering Warrior recognize something and gently placed the tip of his blade on the ground, holding into the hilt with a nostalgia. "That power, it is like hers... yet..." Ken nodded and appreciated the air he was allowed to breath. "It's my own, Miss taught me the ropes... but this is still my own. If I say her name after all this, I might be putting her and the others in danger." He asked with caution. "That is what I'm feeling right now, but, do you know what you scared off?"

The Lingering Warrior answered coldly. "An agent of Darkness. Of the End of All things." Ken nodded. "Of Chaos itself and he is working along side a looney named Xehanort. I don't know if that guy knows the full picture, truly, but both he and Archaon are going to doom us all if we don't stop them."

The Lingering Will of the land agreed with that and was assured of something. "You are Aqua's student. She would encourage this." Ken felt he could trust the warrior. "Yep. No matter what we find in the Abyss, those like her would be ready to put it down. Do... you want me to pass word about this? I think she would like to know?"

The Lingering Will shook his head. "No, if things are to be set right, she must not come here." Ken asked. "Then I'll tell her, while looking for that Endless Spell, I followed it to a weird place and got into a fight with the Forces of Chaos," he gave a face that looked terrified. "and help came to drive it off. That help told me that I ought to leave for my own good."

The face was rather convincing to the Lingering Will. "There is nothing else for you here, that evil knows you and will return again in greater forces." Ken kept his timid facade. "Y...yeah. I better get going before that happens. Keep yourself safe, they'll know you too." The Lingering Will stood in silence, without much worry, Ken gave the warrior a salute and took off with his prize.

In the Castle That Never Was, with in a prison hold.

Xehanort was near the point of exhaustion as he finished constructing a vessel for the artificial purple heart. A hulking mass of black armor, with horns, a goat like head, a belly of of a fang maw, demonic leathery wings and a great axe. He allowed the heart to enter the vessel, it ignited in purple fire and animated it. The reborn demon approached and looked down at him, impressing him more and more. "You've came from that world, what would possess them to create a heart so... volatile? Smelter?" The Smelter Reborn flapped it's wings and was eerily calm, the Dark Seeker felt the aura of indifference and ordered. "Patrol this Castle, see that the others know of your might."

The Smelter Reborn marched on, ignoring a sudden Vanitas that had a report. "Whew! I hate to be the poor fool who has to fight that." He passed word. "Those idiots have found a pretty interesting world to keep all to themselves and Archaon took off to deal with that wannabe and the Heroes. I think it is time we see what's going on."

Xehanort exhaled and asked his minion, with a tired and annoyed tone. "What kind of world did they find this time?" Vanitas hummed. "That's the fun part, it's already darkened most of the way and who ever was in charge of it just... let it happen. I also caught wind of Ahriman wanted to snoop around in there, apparently he's hiding the fact that something happened in this castle." Xehanort cared less for his rival's ordeals. "That would be a first time Ahriman has let his guard down."

RRRRRWAARGRRRRGWAARK!

The sound of Dorghar took their notice and they used a corridor to get to the arena, finding an Ahriman with an annoyed demeanor and a battered Keenfist before a scorched Archaon. Ahriman tilted his head and asked. "The Guardian's of Light proved irksome, Everchosen?"

Archaon roared out at him. "Those insects evaded my wrath, but Garland is in the Darkness he sought to escape. In time, he will be made a use when the Dark gods have their way with him." He asked. "Have you accomplished more research?"

The Sorcerer raised two fingers. "Yes, but both have lead to ill news. For some reason, that Undead Knight came crawling back here to reclaim his belongings, among them was that Crown that held a powerful Light. The Light called Hope, it is a treasure he must have held dearly among all others. He would have made it off with that sword as well, if the seething entity didn't rejected him on the first instinct."

Vanitas asked. "So you let him get away? Or did you crush that gnat when you had the chance?" The Sorcerer groaned. "I was going to vaporize him before he used his dark hex to halt my connection to the Warp, apparently the Profound Still works that way. So I did the one thing any Space Marine worth his salt would do," Vanitas and Xehanort looked at the big staff and imagined the simple method of beating someone senseless with it. The Darkseeker was surprised. "But?"

Ahriman felt there was no point in hiding the rest of the story. "But he predicted that, somewhat and tried to use a miracle that if I don't know any better, was going to bring him back to what ever he calls home. As you can tell, he was about to become a past issue when someone came from a corridor and pulled him away." He waved his hand like it was something beyond his basic control. "Only a powerful sorcery and some intervention, could explain how a person like him would get past every horror with in this world and take what he wants. The Sword is locked behind a runic barrier that will turn him into a Spawn if he tries that again!"

Vanitas signaled that Ahriman slowed down. "Woah, woah. A hollowed husk like him was able to do all that?!" The Sorcerer laughed at him. "If you keep underestimating the hearts from that Dead World, you will find out what makes their hearts far stronger than you can imagine." Xehanort gave the Sorcerer credit. "And the abominations they would unleash. And the other news?"

The Sorcerer turned to a fuming Archaon and answered without fear. "Just that for some reason, the Warps loose grip upon certain worlds have been weakened to point of being severed. A balance, if you will is keeping them from being available to me and I presume anyone who has a deep allegiance to Chaos are also forbidden into those lands."

Archaon ignited himself. "You have to be pulling another joke, there is no possible way for them to achieve that so soon." Vanitas quickly realized one of the reasons as Xehanort smirked to the Everchosen to ask. "Have the Guardians of Light feared you that much? Interesting." Archaon growled. "As they should, they know that they are in a war against me."

Ahriman nodded and reversed the tactics. "And because you've made yourself more known with an army that would lay waste upon the Worlds, they sought to secure their homes from any future attacks. If you wish to do that, you'll have to sever the warding and that can only be done from the inside."

Xehanort nodded. "And our only means of orchestrating that have been lost to the Light. They are lost to us now and the only thing of importance is hoping across the worlds by now."

Keenfist cringed and kept leaning before Archaon. "That one, has hopped across a particular world that me and my Untamed Beasts had sought to encamp, he was chasing an Unbound Spell and was proving himself... capable." The Everchosen asked. "Which one?"

Keenfist raised a finger. "The youngest one, before I could fully commit, a Warrior who Lingered upon that world, drove me off with a great power... comparable to a Champion." The Everchosen calmed his aura down. "A Lingering Will? What world were you in?"

The Ogroid recalled as the Darkseeker was realizing something, the minion answered. "One littered with discarded, rusted Keyblades." Xehanort asked. "The Keyblade Graveyard?!" He contained some concern and rage. "That place?!"

Archaon turned to him. "It appears so, why does that concern you the most?" The Darkseeker blew out some air. "It is the place of the Keyblade War and it is a place, crucial for our plans. If the Lingering Will of that world still lives, he will continue to be a sledgehammer towards the goal."

Archaon laughed sinisterly. "That, he would. But we will deal with him when we have the time." He ordered the Ogroid. "Keenfist, bastion yourself and your forces around the world's perimeter, I will provide you with the means of shelter from the harshness of space and you will monitor everything that occurs in that world. Do not fail me again."

The minion sighed in relief and stood up. "We shall not, Grand Marshall." He left for his task and left the Darkseekers with the Sorcerer and the Everchosen, the Grand Marshall asked the Darkseeker. "Now what if your report? I take that it is more successful than ours."

Xehanort had one. "That Heart brought life into a body I constructed and Reborn Smelter, rooms the castle halls, the other research material brought upon more mysteries that will be focused on later. The Guardians of Light are on the move and every attempt the Worlds had to resist, come from them."

Ahriman tilted his head. "One of which is about to be visited by Maleficent and her cabal. I seek to join them in that endeavor, for it's properties have apparently taken interest in the Guardians. The Secret of Balance." Xehanort knew what Ahriman was talking about. "A balance between Light and Darkness, so they've finally stooped themselves into searching for their own answers of the Dark?"

That was something that brought Archaon to order. "That answer will be their undoing, I care not how you make it so, but ensure it. Perhaps this will bring you one step closer to wresting control over this Castle?" He laughed to that and Ahriman turned to leave. "Providing we don't pillage the knowledge first. Ztardon and Zonir are to join me, let's see who makes the milestone first." He left with a chuckle.

Xehanort glared at the Sorcerer. "You know not, the seed that was planted." He turned to leave. "One day."

Archaon allowed him and Vanitas to leave. "We shall see, Xehanort, we shall see." The two got far away from the Everchosen's sight, Vanitas asked. "So how are we going to sabotage Ahriman's scheme to power?"

Xehanort pointed to him. "You will check this world and halt the Guardian's journey, I will pay them a visit once we are certain that they are looking for this... True Dark." he founds the term rather bold. "All they've seen from the Darkness is as is. If they hoped to find something that won't lead them to their doom, they've already lost their minds."

The minion opened a corridor to leave. "They'll be dead before they get the chance to regret it." With him gone, Xehanort formed his own to depart on an investigation.

At the Land of Departure.

Ana focused upon the Star Shard and activated the Realm Gate, Wanda approached Loru with scroll and was pretty devastated of the loss of Halvek. "All of the brilliance from the Kharadron and he was slain like... nothing." She confessed. "I never had the chance to really talk with him, being busy in with patrol and making a settlement. But now we're on own again."

Loru agreed with that and unrolled the scroll. "Not for long, not so long as there are good people in this realm, fighting this Chaos." He quickly read the requests. "Began, you are to present Halvek to his kin, as soon as Lady Aqua arrives, she will direct you to were the United Airlords are stationed. They will know what they have to gain in stopping Archaon from reaching his goals and will have more personal reasons to want his head."

The Fyreslayer King understood and had Halvek wrapped up in a preservative blanket. "He's cost them an irreplaceable asset, that's going to earn a grudge." The Eidolon nodded to that. "In time, the Forces of Chaos in this Realm will meet their end." He approached the gate as Aster' los approached it with a promise. "Quetartsa shall learn of this, we will be at your side."

Loru nodded and promised Wanda. "I will lend as many of the Hollow Knights as I can and then request more regiments for your artillery. We could be gone for a while," Wanda saluted the Draksworn. "Aye, but we'll hold the Realms for as long as we can. I know once you get through the politics, we'll have the Alliance of Order at our side."

That was something Loru could guarantee. "The Eidolon is an avatar and will send the message to the Deepkin and Aster' los and Quetarsta would waste no time, while we need to consider many things with in the order, a common agreement is not one of the problems." Ana guessed. "It's how many of us are going into this war and how this could take a toll when we have to fight the Forces of Chaos all over again. Began has the hardest task out of any of us."

The Fyreslayer grumbled, sat down and folded his arms. "Woopie do. Will ya get going already." Ana nodded and guided the three across the Realmgate, Wanda heard someone coming and turned to find Aqua and a Ven with a rather grim Stitch. The General waved. "Welcome back, I was told about what happened."

Aqua half smiled to news in a rather tiring time. "We've made sure the four connected worlds are going to be fine and I've heard Ken is experimenting with something that will help us with our next adventure. It's official, we're heading into another war."

Wanda could see the tiring feeling and adjusted her hat. "That is a common thing in the Realms. If the folks at Radiant Garden signed up for this, then we have more of a chance at surviving. Ana will tell ya the rest of the details for what we're going to expect." Ven was feeling depressed as he asked. "But now we're going to have to figure out how to stand a chance against the Everchosen along with Xehanort's tricks."

Wanda considered that the more outrageous part. "To think that a while ago, y'all were trying to prepare yourself for the Darkseeker. Now you find out he isn't the only problem the Realm has." Aqua agreed to that. "That's why I'm going to call Merlin after our next adventure, we all need to be prepared to fight more dangerous foes and try out our more dangerous stunts. I just wish we have more time to deal with both our problems."

Ven agreed with that. "We all got a wake up call that we need to keep working at it, it's how we're going to do it that is the real issue." Began grunted in a nod and noticed something strange with Halvek's body, a glistening shine of golden light, on the bodies chest. "Well, I think that load of burden is going to get a little lighter."

Stitch hummed, saw the glow and raised his ears. "Halvek?" The keybearers turned to the scene and saw something emerge from the body, a heart of gold. Aqua and Ven approached in a trance, the Fyreslayer stood up and asked Wanda. "Tell Ana that I'll be helping someone lend a hand."

The General didn't even pretend to understand most of the context and asked. "Could it be that he is wanting to help us from beyond?" The Heart glistened, Aqua slowed her breathing. "Or... he could be wanting to help us before he goes on a trip?"

Ven signaled Stitch. "Stay here." The alien crouched and kept guard of the Kharadron's body, he felt something petting him, the heart floated to the gates of the castle, Began let the keybearers follow the heart and entered the castle. The Fyreslayer followed them in and watched the heart guide them to an uninteresting hall way with in, the duo were confused as the Undead Dwarf approached the heart and breathed out flame. The heart took shape, into the Navigator that was, the Kharadron thanked him. "It was about time, that venture couldn't have gotten any better than it did when that Three Eyed mad man showed up." He looked at the keybearers and they felt like he was smiling. "Those four did wonders in saving me soul from the jaws of Hell. They're going to need all they can get if they want to overcome their trials."

Ven rubbed his arm. "But what can we do about it?" Halvek pointed to the Wayfinder's shoulder pad. "A lot of things still, but they won't happen unless they have the finest equipment in the Realm, a good set of armor can withstand a fierce sword and the impact of a gun."

Ven gasped as Aqua asked. "The Keyblade Armor? That technique was kind of lost and only our Teacher knew how to make it. That was what we were trying to find out, using the Genji Armor to find the clue." Halvek guessed. "That fancy suit?" He laughed. "It would help, but how are you going to make the armor ya got? Ya don't got a forge."

Aqua felt the Kharadron had a point and snapped her fingers. "Darn it! And after I promised them all I'd get to it." Ven realized. "We don't even know any that could work with that." Halvek agreed and found a particular door. "No, ya don't. If the Keyblade is symbiotic to your heart and if the armor that goes with it is connected to it, then it would require the hand of a heart to make a forge." He opened it and revealed a dusty hobby room with some old carvings and tinker toys. "No Kharadron worth their salt would be without one and my cousin over there would tell ya that every Duardin who have ever lived, keeps a forge at home for when a grudge needed to be settled."

Began laughed to that. "At least for our weapons." Aqua followed Halvek into the room, it was nothing truly special, she drew out her teachers keyblade and asked. "I... can make this place into the Forge Room, but to do that, would require Halvek's heart."

The Kharadron turned to her and confessed. "At least it would require a Kharadron's touch to make it ideal. This is a perfect opportunity, Miss Aqua and my ol' eart wouldn't take it if ya missed this chance. Allowing that would go against everything my people, both of the Sky and of the Ground, stand for." He asked in his earnest. "Will you take that offer? All I ask, is that you give Archaon and Xehanort what's comin to them."

Aqua felt her eyes light up and she put her free hand to her chest. "All that for a war? Halvek, there is more to this than just that." The Kharadron approached and asked. "Oh? That was just the payment, a simple promise that I know you will keep." Aqua began imagining a group of teenagers filled with unbridled joy and saw a keyhole of metal reveal itself. "We've all vowed to protect the Worlds, from those who seek to use the Darkness to ruin our lives. That vow, brings us all together, it brings together something... like a family. One day, when this is over, we can look towards the future together as a family. This place, could be the start of that."

Halvek touched the hilt of the blade and approved of the thought. "It will still be a lot of hard work, but it will give you a strive to keep going."

Aqua agreed and felt more bubbling from her heart, the keyblade began to shine as the wielder took a vow. "By the heart of our worlds, it holds the will to overcome the unknown! By the will of our hearts, we continue to fight on, even when the unknown beats against us, like the tide! We fight on because of what we hold dear, that which connects us to the heart of the worlds." She called to what is beyond the keyhole. "Now more than ever, we make our stand! We will show those who seek oblivion and destruction, what we are! Oh heart, let yourself be known, for here and ever after!"

Light flowed from the key and made contact with the hole, Aqua turned her wrist and heard the lock. She lowered the blade and watched the light shine, the dusty room shifted to her will, in one corner, a shelf in the upper right became a forge, the table became an anvil, a hammer and a cooling bucket of water, the unimpressive room formed a stone floor, a cloudy metal wall and a ceiling of a stary, moon lit sky, in the upper center of the room. In the left of the room, appeared many five crystal stands, awaiting something, in front of the stands is something of a crystal computer, with measurements and the power to control depth. Ven stepped in to marvel the room and Aqua looked to it in pride. "Beautiful."

The forge lit it's embers, like it was awaiting for the chance to be used, Began felt amazed by it as Halvek laughed to a finished business. "That connection went beyond what I imagined. Well done Lass." He had a closer look and almost fell over from the emotions, Began approached to help him stand. "Easy, this is only the beginning, the armor must still be made after all and I don't think they have any ideas of what it should look like."

Halvek did his best not to cry in joy. "With a little imagination and the right materials, it will be pretty suitable in the end." He started to flicker as he looked tired from his adventure. "It could be a long ways away before the young ones would have the gear of their own. I'd like to see the end result once ya get the chance." He stood proudly and asked as he glowed in light. "Ya know any place where I can get a good drink? This has left me a little peckish."

Began cringed. "I don't know if this Realm has anything worth ya pallet. Ya really think there is any bar around here that would prove me wrong?" Halvek stubbornly set his sights on his goal. "I'll bet there is." The Wayfinders stepped out of the way and Halvek went to the door, he turned to them proudly. "Best of luck to y'all. It's been a pleasure doing business with ya." Aqua tried not to cry. "It was, thank you." Ven waved goodbye. "I hope you find what you're looking for, see you around."

Halvek nodded and turned to leave, he and his heart vanished in the Light, Ven smiled to the scene as Began grunted. "May you watch over us from the highest point in the sky." Aqua lead the group out, closed the door and whispered to Ven. "We're going to have this be our surprise when the others get here. We got some work to do." The rather deep tone gave the boy a rather interesting vision, him and Aqua working together to carry on a legacy that the current generation would appreciate.

They left the Castle and found Ana talking with a newly arrived Ken with a golden crystal. "You followed the Quick Silver Swords to the unknown and ran into what?" The boy answered with a pretty chilling memory. "A fight with the Forces of Chaos, then some help came to drive it away and he asked me to leave for my own good."

Ana groaned and put her free hand on her head. "Kendry, you've made yourself on the top of the list for the people Archaon want's dead and his partner wants to turn you to them! You got to stop wandering off like that."

The boy got defensive. "Hey, if I wasn't there, they were going to kill the spell! It wants the same thing we do." Aqua dismissed her blade and asked. "And that would have been a waste of a spell." Ken yelped and turned, looking like he was going to get in trouble, the teacher still gave him a frown of a lecture. "You did what your heart wanted and that was going to help us. But you're pretty dangerous and they know it too. We're going somewhere that might require different parties and I want you to listen to the others."

Ken understood firmly, his teacher turned her frown into a smile. "Once the others get here, I got something cool to show you. The Kiln's in the lobby if you want to turn that spell into something you can use?" The one armed boy asked nervously. "Or, we can take it with us and I'll ask those guys at the Bastion if I can take that Marilith Core. Mix it in with fire."

The crystal radiated and caused a strange keyblade to appear, floating in mid air like it was outraged by the idea. Aqua was the only one who flinched to the blade and Ken asked the spell. "You know what you can do if your on fire? I seem a Marilith use a cool trick that will make you incredible," The keyblade melted into a blob, like it was asking something, the teacher approved of her student's plan. "That would deliver the results we need, once you are transposed into this power, you can become more than a spell."

The blob quickly vanished and the crystal's glow looked anticipating. Ven guessed. "Quick silver, that's mercury right?" Aqua nodded. "Yes, a liquid metal. Did it turn into a keyblade when it saw one?"

Ken nodded. "Oh it did." The keyblade master connected the puzzle. "So that explains why it's teeth looked like the symbol. Kendry, alchemy is a pretty touchy subject. You use something, to create something."

Ven added in. "And if it is an endless spell with one of the cores, that could go beyond what you expect." Ken agreed with that as he noticed Mickey, Donald and Goofy arriving. "But, since the swords went in pretty easily, I don't expect things to blow up once we get to it." Began laughed and went to pick Halvek's body up. "Okay, I hope you know what your playing with."

He lifted the body and asked Wanda. "You there, help me and Ana change the coordinates and I'll see what I can't do." The General agreed to it and went with the Fyreslayer King on the procedure, Ana lead the way in as the mouse asked. "So anything in particular happened?" Aqua held off on saying her surprise and answered. "Mmm Maybe, when is Kairi and the others going to get here?" Donald shrugged. "I don't know, Riku was suppose to be picking them up."

At Destiny Islands.

Sora and Kairi felt they were in a dream of being in an endless sky, overlooking a vast ocean bellow, sitting on a cloud and not having a care in the world, they didn't feel weird at all that their position hasn't changed since they fell asleep. Then they heard a voice. "Sora, Kairi, you've been in that spot all morning?"

They woke up, found themselves before a blue, mid day sky and a blue sea, they looked above to find Riku looking down at them, smirking like he wanted to make fun of that and showing off his gummi phone. "Don't make me use this. We got some prep time to get done before the evening."

Kairi laughed and shook her head as Sora lighten his blush and asked nervously. "Could you not make that public, they'll never leave us alone." Riku tried not to laugh at them and let the two get up. "You're kind of a celebrity, so how was your break?"

Kairi kept holding Sora's hand and answered. "Pretty relaxing, Xion also paid us a visit and we had the chance to talk, about a lot of things." She asked. "Did you find anyone that might have seen her?"

Riku's mood turned a little disappointed. "Nope, I was busy trying to pick up someone who wanted to come along for our adventure and I've had Ken scout for us. Bryn might have found some info that could help us get to where we need to go as soon as possible." He pressed a couple buttons and showed a schematic for an engine. "Light Speed, with this, our ships can travel between worlds we've been to in only a fraction of the time."

Sora gasped. "Cool, what do we need to make this?" Riku turned to lead them. "A couple light gems to be the fuel and some blocks that look like the engine. We're meeting up with Aqua before we head to the Bastion to finish resting up. Maybe Xion might go there once her friends tell her that we took off from that town." Kairi guessed. "She might and she might get mad at you."