[It appears that one of the coats has been defeated.]

"Yeah...by his own friend."

[I can assure you, though they are part of the same group, there is no kinship among their ranks. All of them are beings that had no right existing in the first place, thus to destroy them would be more merciful than allowing them to exist unnaturally.]

"That's not right. Even if they're mean, no one should be destroyed like that!"

[So you say, however I wonder if someone else would offer you that same mercy.]

"..."

Leaving the town of Twilight behind Sora kept his head lowered, the image of Vexen's demise rang in his head ever since he stepped out of the town of Twilight. Even though his conversation with Jiminy had eased some of the pain, he could almost hear the screams echoing in his ears.

Instinctively, he placed his hand around his neck, not knowing why, but he felt a pain from his head, as though he was forgetting something. Instead he reached into his pocket to glance at Naminé's good luck charm, glancing down at it he smiled fondly at the memory it was tied to.

He nodded to himself, reaffirming his conviction, storing the charm back into his pocket as he walked down the hall towards the next door.

"Hm?" The card within his pocket began to glow, the card that was given to him the first time he entered the castle. The card that held the image of his home long before it fell to the monsters that overran it's shores.

Lifting the card over his head, it began to glow, and the door opened before him as it did before. As he stepped into the light, he felt a familiar bliss that made his heart feel at ease.

"Heard you burnt Vexen to a crisp." Larxene remarked as she walked towards Axel glancing into the crystal ball. "Nice work. I say good riddance to that blabbermouth."

"So, were you aware of Marluxia's little plan to persuade Sora as well?" Axel asked, as Larxene placed her hand on his shoulder with a knowing smirk.

"Well duh. We had to be sure if you actually had it in your bones to take out a fellow member. Poor little brat, at least Vexen helped push him to hurry it up."Larxene remarked mockingly. "He wants to see Naminé, so we just give him to her and she works her magic to make him believe whatever we want to. Isn't that great?" she turned her head towards the more petite girl sitting nearby, both hands grasped on her sketchbook.

"Come on you, aren't you happy? You're going to be seeing your best friend after all these years after." Larxene mocked with a smile on her face, walking towards her.

"I'm...glad." She mustered out, avoiding the taller woman's gaze.

Larxene curled her lip upwards, as she lifted up Naminé's face to look at her directly, "But I'm warning you." Larxene's summoned her knives, close enough so that they were just touching Naminé's throat. "You'd better not do anything to mess this up, otherwise we'll be doing this the hard way. Do you understand me, little one?"

Naminé shivered, her eyes reflecting fear as her voice trembled. "I...understand."

"Good girl." Larxene said mockingly as she placed her hand on Naminé's head. "All you need do is layer Sora's memories, and bring his heart closer to you so it'll be easier to break when the time comes. Then he'll be yours." She remarked turning towards Axel resting his back against the wall with crossed arms.

"Naminé's been making good strides in unraveling Sora's memories, soon enough he wouldn't even be able to recognize himself. Once the brat enters the next floor he'll be ours, just make sure she doesn't mess anything up." She informed as she disappeared into the darkness, leaving her alone with just Axel in the room.

"Sora..." Naminé murmured as Axel glanced at her new picture, something that looked to be a coastline, but it was shaded all black with a white distance. "Please, hurry."

"Say, Naminé. Have you noticed? Marluxia doesn't seem to be around." Axel remarked as Naminé lifted her head towards him.

Naminé just stared at him.

" I'm just saying that there's no one here who would want to get in your way."

Naminé simply returned to her drawing causing Axel to smirk in amusement.

"So that's how it is..." He glanced towards the Crystal ball, watching as the boy walked towards the next floor, looking up towards the door in curiosity. "Good luck Sora, looks like you're gonna need it."

Sora covered his face as the light shone directly into his eyes, for a moment he thought that he saw a familiar silhouette standing before him, she was taller than he. Having her back turned towards him as she stood upon the water across from him, in her hand holding a funny looking weapon.

A girl?

He questioned, but the confusion faded as he realized where he was. The girl that once stood before him disappeared before his eyes, leaving him with a sadness that he couldn't place.

"I..I'm not going crazy, am I?" He asking looking around standing in the middle of the coat of the island, where he frequently took naps. "This is our island...where Naminé and Riku and I used to play together. Am I home?" He asked as he place a hand over his heart, as tears threatened to fall from his eyes. He could feel Jiminy jump onto his shoulder, patting his cheek comfortingly. "Sorry Sora, remember, we're still in the castle, it's just like with that other town."

"But it feels so real, it's exactly how I remember it." Sora remarked as he lowered his head.

"Heeeey!"

He turned his head abruptly as Jiminy jumped back into his hood, three children about his age were running towards him with happy expressions on their faces.

"Whassup, Sora!" The tall one greeted with a broad smile on his face.

"So, whatcha wanna do today?" The girl with brown hair and a yellow dress questioned as she place her hands behind her back with a playful expression in her eyes.

Sora just stared at them, uncertain of how to respond.

"Hm? The there looked at him curiously.

"Is something wrong?" The girl questioned.

"We got food on our faces?" The tall boy asked. "Do I have food on my face?" The tall boy glanced down to his smaller friend, shook his head.

"Please, Wakka."The girl giggled, glancing at the taller boy. "Only Tidus could be dumb enough to not notice food stuck to his face." She and Wakka giggle playfully as Tidus snapped at her.

"Am not!"

Wakka, Selphie, Tidus... are those their names?

"Oh hey, we were going to the obstacle course today, you wanna come with us?" The taller boy, Wakka asked as his two friends began to bicker.

"Ah," Sora was taken aback for a second, reflexively rubbing his head in embarrassment, "No thanks, maybe some other time."

Wakka looked at him curiously. "You hit your head again?"

Sora immediately shook his head, "No, uh..." his words faltered as nothing else came to mind. What was he suppose to do here, why had he come back to the islands in the first place. There had to be a reason, something more than just what he saw.

"Ohhhhh, I know..." The girl in the yellow dress, Selphie mused mischievously as she stared at sora. "You're thinking about HER again!"

The smaller boy, Tidus laughed out loud obnoxiously, crossing his arms, "Ohhh, I get it. Yeah, he's a total zombie when she's on his mind."

Wakka simply played along, though his eyes were sparkled with amusement. "That would explain why he's actin' all funny towards us."

"I bet you want us to take a hike so you two can be ALONE, huh?" Selphie accused as she stood directly in front of him.

Sora just shrugged his shoulders, "Ummm...yeah, I guess." He went along with it.

Selphie just sighed, turning back to her friends. "All right, all right. We'll disappear for awhile. Good luck finding her, cowboy."

"We'll try to be quiet while we SPY on you!" Tidus mocked as he stuck out his tongue, being dragged away by his friends.

"Don't worry about him, we'll keep him check." Wakka promised as he and Selphie were dragging Tidus away by the collar of his shirt.

Tidus struggle under their grasp. "Hey guys I'm only kidding! Lemme go!"

"See you later, Sora!" Selphie waved as the three soon disappeared before his eyesjust as they were about to reach the cove.

Sora stared at the place that his friends once stood, feeling an emptiness grow within his heart. He looked back to where the children ran towards, a fondness growing in his heart. For a moment, he thought that he saw someone else on the on the shore, a tall man, with dark hair looking out towards the ocean, disappearing only a moment later as he as about to look his way...

...

Jiminy remained on Sora's shoulder as the two walked around the island for a little while, as eventually Sora was walking towards a tree with Star shaped fruit located on it's branches.

"Hm?" Sora stopped for a moment as saw a familiar silhouette, a person with blonde hair and funny looking clothing that sat on the tree looking out towards the sea. He could feel a familiar warmth, a smile of pure joy, an embrace that made him feel safe...

But as soon as he was close enough, just like the rest, the boy disappeared as he was about to reveal his face towards him, leaving Sora to stand alone on near the tree. Leaving a stronger sadness than the rest, as though a part of him vanished.

"What are you looking at Sora?" Jiminy questioned, "There's no one there."

"You sure?" Sora asked as Jiminy nodded. "Kinda feels like I'm going crazy here, there are these people that appear, and then keep disappearing. I can't place any of them, but when they disappear it feels terrible..."

The cricket saw the confused expression on his face, "Sora?" Jiminy questioned he jumped out of his hood again. "Did ya know those kids?"

"No...I don't think so...but they knew who I am." He couldn't place their faces, but all of a sudden he felt sad, lifting his head with a sadness in his eyes. "Maybe, they were people who were lost to darkness when the Islands disappeared."

Jiminy stepped onto his shoulder,"It's certainly possible. If that town was a part of your heart, maybe this place is like as well. Those people are apart of your heart."

"Part of my heart?"

Jiminy nodded with a smile on his face. "Even though they fell to darkness and you can't remember them it doesn't mean that you've forgotten about them completely. This world is proof of that, if weren't an important part of your heart they wouldn't be here." Jiminy reasoned simply.

"Ah," Sora glanced at Jiminy who had a comforting smile on his face. "Then maybe I did actually go to that other place, but it fell to darkness so that's why I can't remember it anymore." He simply sighed, glancing towards the ocean. "I hope I can find a way to remember who these people are..."

"Hey, Sora. What's going on?"

Sora was taken aback, he flinched for a moment as he turned around. A light blinded him for a second, revealing a silver haired boy with a bright smile on his face."Do I...Do I know you?" he asked.

Jiminy immediately whipped his head at his friend in shock.

The boy just laughed, believing his friend was joking around, "Gee, thanks for remembering me. Stop messing around Sora, I literally just saw you."

"Huh?" Sora tilted his head in confusion, clutching his heart, "Hey," He questioned hesitantly. "Are we friends?"

The silver haired boy glanced at him in confusion "What are you talking about? We've been friends since we were kids."

Sora lowered his head guiltily, within his heart, he could help but feel happy being near this person. His heart knew that, but even so he couldn't recall this person's name. "So you're someone important to me?" he asked.

"Someone important to me"?"The silver haired boy remarked with a chuckle. "Sounds like you still half asleep." Brushing off what his friend just said.

"Maybe I am, this whole thing just feels like some weird dream..." Sora murmured.

Jiminy glanced at him with concern in his eyes, he patted Sora's cheek but the boy was unresponsive.

The silver haired boy just laughed it off, "You're such a kid. How are you gonna take care of HER if you act like that?"

"Her?" Sora's words were cut off by a powerful shaking, the entire island shook, almost causing him to fall to his feet. "What's happening?!"

"How should I know! Whatever it is, it can't be good! I'm gonna go warn the others!" The silver haired boy remarked, running towards the cove.

"Wait, Ri-" His eyes widened for a moment as could almost recall that boy's name, but it felt as though something prevented him from saying it aloud. The silver haired boy turned towards him with a knowing smirk on his face.

"I know, I know! It's your job to look after her. Go, Sora!"

Sora's eyes widened for a moment, as the boy soon disappeared just as his three friends did. He shook off the fuzziness in his head as Jiminy jumped back into his hood the moment Sora began sprinting to find his other friend.

...

"I have to keep her safe…" Sora reminded himself of the words the silver haired boy said to him. "Huh?" He turned to see a blonde haired girl in a white dress, smiling warming as she glanced at him.

"Naminé?" Sora asked walking towards hesitantly, uncertain.

"Sora... You really came for me." Naminé smiled as she she held her hands together.

Sora smiled comfortingly. "Of course, I did, I promised didn't I? That I would protect you?"

"Yes." Naminé smiled I wanted to see you, too. But this isn't right. I messed up. I wanted to see you... But this isn't the right way." Naminé said somberly. "I hurt you, I hurt you so many times, yet, you kept coming after me."

"Naminé?" Sora questioned.

"I was so lonely for so long I just couldn't bear it anymore. So I called out to your heart and had you come all the way out to this place. When you said my name, I was so happy so happy, but..."Naminé's words faded as she turned away from him, loosening the grip on hand. "but to your heart I had to…"

"Don't worry." Sora shook his head. "I'm here now."

"Except, I'm not supposed to be here." Naminé confessed.

"Huh? What are you talking about Naminé?" Sora questioned. "You're right here, right now- ah." Sora gasped as a powerful dark aura radiated around Naminé.

A large dark sphere hovered in the sky as the islands cracked under it's pull. The sky turned black, lit a night with no stars as each island began to break down.

"The island!" Sora called out as the land masses were lifted under his feet. He glanced around hastily as he felt an odd sensation of deja vu.

"Sora, I don't really exist inside your heart...I never should have existed anywhere. But...I wanted to, within your heart I wanted to exist so badly."

Sora couldn't understand what she was saying, they knew each other since they were children, they played together, fought together, made important promises together. "What... What are you saying? What's gotten into you? Weren't we inseparable, always together?" Sora spoke softly, but was still confused. "Then when you went away, I looked for you... I came here so I'd never lose you again. Tell me, was it really me you wanted to see?" Naminé asked, lowered her head.

"What are you saying, of course it was! I know that I've forgotten so many things, that even within this castle, there are still other people and places that I can't even place anymore." He placed a hand over his heart. "But you were always there within my heart, I remembered you, because you're my best friend, remember?" He smiled brightly, as she lifted her head, a smile tugging at her lips as she glanced at him.

"That's right, I was that special person who you wanted to see again, wasn't I?" She said bitterly to herself.

"What are you talking about?" Sora asked in confusion. "Of course it's you, Nami-" he gasped suddenly, as for a moment, she was replaced with a girl with red hair. He cradled his head in pain, recalling words that his mind couldn't recognize.

...

It's my lucky charm, be sure to bring it back to me.

...

"Who…" Sora murmured, a painful sadness erupting in his heart. "Who was she? I can't remember...but, I know her...I know who she is."

She gripped her hand tighter, a dark aura radiating off of her; a darkness that began to creep around him as well. For a moment, Naminé was replaced with that boy with silver hair, smiling as his voice spoke over hers. She lifted her hand towards him, smiling brightly. "You promised didn't you?" The two voices said, "That we'd be together forever?"

Sora ran towards her, reaching out to her as the darkness began to consume them both, as he was close enough to almost touch her hand, he passed through her. Turning to see that his childhood friend had disappeared before his eyes.

As Naminé disappeared, replaced with a terrifyingly familiar black monster who bore a hollow heart, rising from the darkness at their feet. Sora gasped as he realized that he'd seen this monster before, but where? Reflexively, Sora summoned a barrier but he could feel fear engulfing him as the giant monster slammed it's hand down sending everything into darkness...

/Notes/

-Hm, it would be a real shame if something were to mess with Sora's memories...oh wait.

:3c