Chapter 54

While on the Gummi Ship, Sora was tapping his finger and feet rather impatient while the others looked worried.

He finally face Donald and Goofy and said, "We should go to the realm of darkness!"

"No way.", said Donald.

"You can't go there until you get the power of waking!"

"Who cares!", said Natsu. "Why does he need it if this Aqua is not even asleep!"

"Natsu agrees with me.", said Sora.

"Natsu thinks with his fists not with his head.", said Gray.

"You shut your mouth, frosty!", said an angry Natsu.

"Come on, we have to do something!", said Sora. "If we don't act, the Organization's gonna win!"

"Everyone, calm down.", said Wendy. "Let's think this through."

"Wendy's right!", said Jiminy as he appeared on Sora's shoulder. "Sora, do you even know how to get to the realm of darkness?"

Sora then looked stunned upon hearing that.

"He's right.", said Laxus. "How do we get there if we don't know how."

Sora then pulled out his Gummiphone and said, "Well, Riku and the King do."

"They won't tell you.", said Donald.

"Then I'll ask those mages that are with them."

"They won't know either!"

"Nope, not until you complete your own mission.", said Goofy.

Sora slumped back into his chair and sighed. The then yelled with annoyance. "This sucks!"

"Yeah! This does suck!", said Natsu.

Suddenly, the Gumminphone started to ring and Sora immediately answered it.

"The King?", wondered Donald and Goofy.

"Riku?", wondered Sora.

But the one who appeared on screen was Ienzo.

"Is this a bad time?", he asked.

Everyone sighed with disappointment.

"Ienzo.", said a disappointed Sora.

Ienzo looked confused and then said, "So, we have some news about Ansem's Code and the replica we need for Roxas's heart."

"And…?", asked a curious Sora.

"First, the replica. Even is still missing, but we found some of his research. I'll see what I can learn from it."

Levy then appeared and said, "Yeah, it's really difficult to make a body. The Raijin Tribe tried doing it, but it failed."

"How could you not get? I thought you were good with knowledge.", asked Gajeel.

"I decipher stuff. I'm not a scientist!"

"Anyway, you've got our thanks.", said Jiminy.

Ienzo then continued. "As for Ansem the Wise's data, we've discovered a very interesting passage. I'll read you exactly what he wrote."

He then said, "I have discovered three unique hearts inside of Sora's. One is Roxas. The second has been with Sora for nearly as long. And a third has resided in Sora's heart for even longer-most of his life, in fact. This is a truly astonishing discovery. While these hearts have now melded with Sora-grown silent and indistinct-Sora retains the memories of all three. The memories have been compartmentalized-each placed in its own 'box' so to speak. I surmise the hearts can be awoken, provided that each of them is returned to the box that contains the correct memories. Unite the heart with its memories, and provide it a suitable body within which it may flourish, and I believe any or all three of these people can be made real again."

"Roxas and two more?", asked Sora.

"Yup.", said Levy. "Got any ideas on who the other two are?"

Sora thought for a moment, then said, "Oh. Thanks. Ienzo. Levy."

"Certainly.", said Ienzo. "Take care." He then hung up.

"That report didn't make any sense.", said Natsu.

"Three different hearts…", said Donald.

"One of them is Roxas…", said Erza.

"The other one must be Ventus.", said Goofy.

"You're gonna believe what Vanitas said?", asked Donald.

"Well, uh...it's kinda all we got to go on."

"But, who's the third?", asked Lily.

"Do you know, Sora?", asked Gajeel.

Sora shook his head.

"'Cause Sora can't count.", said Donald.

"Hey! That's not related.", said an annoyed Sora.

"Why is teasing Sora your 'go-to' thing?", asked Lucy.

"Cause it's funny.", he answered.

Everyone then laughed as they continue to ride in the Gummi Ship.

On the shores of the Realm of Darkness, two people were sitting near the water, staring at the ocean. One, was a man wearing a black coat and he was sitting on a large rock. Next to him on the ground, was a girl with short blue hair. She was wearing a black and navy blue, high-collared halter top, a black corset with two pairs of white laces and black shorts. She has two pink straps intersecting over her chest, with a silver badge over the intersection. On her arms are white bell-sleeves and tan, fingerless gloves. She also wears a small, segmented piece of armor on each of her upper arms. She wears black stockings reaching about halfway up her thighs, leaving a small area of bare skin. There are two strips of blue cloth draped over each of her hips, along with a smaller, white strip of cloth tied around her waist and draped in the same manner. Her silver boots are pointed and armored, with a sharp "hook" on the outer side of each. Her name was Aqua, one of the three missing Keyblade wielders.

The man then asked Aqua, "Tell me, will you stay here?"

"I can't shake the feeling that these waters touch another shore I've visited.", she said.

"The Destiny Islands."

Aqua looked surprised. "You've heard of them?"

"Yes. They are quite lovely-a far cry from this wasteland."

Aqua smiled and stared at the ocean. "I'm staying. Someone will come for me."

"These waters are the in-between of dark and light, its shores the margins of day and night. They brought you and I together, so why not also you and another?"

"Yes."

The two of them continued to stay on the beach. Over a while, someone appeared on the beach.

Hearing the footsteps, Aqua turned and said, "Who's there?"

The one that was approaching them was Ansem Seeker of Darkness.

"You…", said the hooded man with surprise.

"Master...I must have a word with you.", he said as the hooded man took off his hood, revealing to be a man with straight blonde hair and red eyes.

This man was Ansem the Wise, the Ruler of Radiant Garden and former mentor of apprentice Xehanort. Aqua then became cautious when Xehanort's Heartless appeared.

"'Master'?", he said with disgust. "So now you mock me."

"Do you recall those experiments of the hearts you bade me cease?", Then walked towards Ansem. "Among the test subjects was a girl. She had lost her memory, just as I had. But...you can reconstruct memories. You did with Sora. I believe you have seen the girl's memories."

"What is your question?"

"Where did you put the girl?"

"What girl?"

Xehanort's Heartless then smiled. "Very well…" He then reached for Ansem. "If you won't tell me here…"

Before he could grab him, Aqua came up and slapped Xehanort's hand away.

"I think you should go.", said Aqua as she stood in front of Xehanort's Heartless, ready for a fight.

Xehanort looked unsurprised. "A lost guardian of light?" He then smirked. "You wait here...for the King and his fool."

A swarm of darkness appeared behind Xehanort and his Guardian came from hit. It then hit Aqua really hard with its fist, sending her flying. She dragged her feet on the ground and she stopped flying.

"Where's your Keyblade?"

"Don't need it!"

She then ran after them. When she got close to them, she jumped in the air and kick the Guardian's face. She then landed her hands on the Guardian's shoulder and launch herself in the air. But the Guardian quickly grabbed her foot and lifted an upside down Aqua.

Ansem the Wise quickly ran up to them and said with a worried tone, "No more! I'll go."

"You are wise.", said Xehanort's Heartless.

Without the two of them noticing, Aqua had already broke free of the Guardian and hit Xehanort's Heartless with a kick, but Xehanort had blocked the attack with his arm. She then landed near the water.

He then smirked while putting his arm down "Poor thing. I mustn't leave you with nothing."

The Guardian then created a dark ball of energy with its hands, making Aqua a little cautious. When it was done, the Guardian blasted the ball squarely at Aqua's chest, sending her flying into the ocean while she screamed. Ansem tried to run after her, but it was too late and she was gone. He then fell to his knees.

"Let's go."

"Damn you!", said a furious Ansem the Wise.

"She's not dead. Be grateful that I showed her mercy."

Meanwhile, Aqua was floating down into the water. The dark energy that hit her chest started to spread purple darkness all over her body.

"What...is this feeling?", she wondered as she continued to sink down while her body was completely covered with darkness.

In an unknown snowy location, an angry Vanitas was wandering in a blizzard.

"That bastard…", he growled. "How dare he got pass me and threw me to whatever this place is. And I was so close on getting Ventus's heart back! This happen because it was those damn idiots for befriending those monsters. Next time I see them, they're gonna wish they were dead when I'm done with them!"

Suddenly, a figure started to emerge from the blizzard and headed straight towards Vanitas.

Seeing the figure, Vanitas shouted, "Who's there?"

When Vanitas got a better vision of the figure, it was a Yeti.

The Yeti smiled and said with joy, "Welcome to the Himalayas!"

Vanitas, who looked annoyed and did not care about the Yeti, blasted him with his Keyblade and send him flying.

"Why is it so easy to make my day even more crappy.", he said with annoyance as he summons a dark corridor and pass through it.

At a rocky area, Xigbar was standing around, watching the area, until a dark corridor appeared near him. He then saw Vanitas coming through the corridor. He was covered with snow on his shoulders and head.

"Hey kid. How'd it go?", asked Xigbar sarcastically.

"Not now, I am not in the mood.", Vanitas growled.

"Oh, come on-"

Vanitas then punched Xigbar in the through and walked away while Xigbar choke and cough really hard until he collapsed onto the ground.