Chapter 81

After waking Ventus up, along with returning the Land of Departure to its former glory, the group return to the Mysterious Towers to reunite with the others. The people that were there were Sora's group, Riku's group, Aqua, Ventus, and the training team. Yen Sid was sitting at his desk.

"At last, we are all assembled.", he said. "First: Sora, Riku, Donald, Goofy, Mickey, Earth Land mages, I cannot thank you enough for what you have done."

"It was nothing.", said Sting.

"It was kinda fun!", said Lector.

"Fro thinks so too!", said Frosch.

"And you, Aqua and Ventus: we are fortunate to have you back."

"Thanks.", said Aqua. "I only wish we could have returned to help sooner." She then faced the others. "We're grateful to all of you for rescuing us."

"Thank you.", said Ventus.

"I feel bad for letting you guys down.", said Mickey. "We tried but we still haven't found Terra."

"Don't. He studied with Master Eraqus, just like us.", said Aqua. "He's our responsibility." Ventus agreed with a nod.

"Mickey told me that you saved me in the realm of darkness.", said Riku. "I should have gone to help you right away. But I was too inexperienced. I'm sorry. I know that I let you down."

"Hey, man. Don't be like that.", said Sting. "It wasn't your fault."

"He's right.", said Aqua. "It was my choice to make."

"Did ya know Riku's a true Keyblade Master now?", said Goofy.

"That's wonderful."

"The King, too.", Donald joined in.

"Good for you!"

That made Mickey feel a little embarrassed.

"But Sora needs work."

"Yeah, rub it in…", said an annoyed Sora.

Some people laughed.

"Would you stop criticizing him.", said an annoyed Lucy while the others gave angry glares at Donald, making him nervous.

"You have no right to complain about his powers when you don't have it either.", said Gray.

"Why are you people trying to make me angry!", said Donald.

"Because it's funny.", said Natsu.

Everyone then laughed again while Donald just grumbled to himself.

"I'm happy to see that you haven't changed one bit.", said Aqua.

"Huh?", question Sora.

"Sora, you probably don't remember…"

"Umm… Uhhhhhh…" He then gave an embarrassed smile.

"It's okay. You were just a little boy when I met you."

Sora then smiled with relief.

Seeing that he felt left out, Lea gave a small cough. Everyone then turns their attention to the training team.

"Ah yes.", said Yen Sid. "Let us not forget our new Keyblade wielders. Lea, Kairi, you have made tremendous strides." He then looked at the mages. "And thank you for helping them."

"These two did a really good job during their training.", said Mirajane.

"Their training made them manly!", said Elfman.

Hearing that, everyone gave a sweat drop.

"You always say the weirdest things.", said Lisanna.

"Hey there.", said Lea. "And that's 'future Keyblade Master'-"

"Kairi?", said a surprised Aqua while interrupting Lea. Lea then stopped out of surprise while Aqua went up to Kairi. She then got a closer look at her necklace while Kairi looked confused. "Incredible! It is you."

"Huh?"

"You met Kairi, too?", asked Jellal.

"You know her?", asked Mickey.

She then faced Mickey and said, "When you and I first met in Radiant Garden, the Unversed tried to attack a little girl. Do you remember?"

Mickey became shocked. "Oh, gosh! That little girl was Kairi?"

Kairi just stood there with a surprised look on her face.

"I guess it must've worked-the spell that I cast on you."

"What spell?", asked Macbeth.

"I cast a spell on her necklace that will protect her from darkness. I can still feel the magic energy."

"I'm sorry.", said a guilty Kairi. "Those days are hazy for me. But it sounds like I'd have been in trouble without you."

"Please. You were really, very little. Anyone would forget, hazy memory or not."

Lea then coughed again and everyone was looking at him.

"What's wrong, Lea?", asked Mirajane. "Do you need a cough drop?"

"No.", he answered. "This is all very touching, guys, but where do I fit in? Ven looks just like Roxas-or is it Roxas looks just like Ven?"

Ventus took notice of this.

"What does he mean by that?", asked Lisanna to Sorano.

"How should I know?", answered Sorano.

Lea sighed. "And now I have to explain all of that to him-which is in itself a crazy long story-and, apparently everybody already knows everyone, and this is an insane amount to get memorized!"

"You talk too much.", said Natsu.

"Aye.", said Happy.

"But your hair is like fire!"

"Fro thinks so too!", said Frosch.

"You're missing the point!", said an annoyed Lea.

"Sorry, Lea.", said Ventus.

Lea gasped. "You remember me?"

"Yeah, 'course! We're friends. I can't believe you became a Keyblade wielder just like me."

Lea seemed happy upon hearing that. "Yeah…"

"Axel, you know Ven?", asked Sora.

"Axel?", question Ventus. "Who's Axel?"

"My head hurts.", said Natsu.

"Aye…", said Happy.

"See, see, see?", said an annoyed Lea. "Major brain-ache."

Jiminy then appeared on Sora's head. This surprised Lea.

"Huh?! Who the hell is this?!"

"Not to worry, folks.", said Jiminy. "To help us out, I've given each of you a Gummiphone. They've got summaries of everything that's happened so far. That way, you can read up, if you'd like. And if anyone has any questions, we can call each other."

"That's our Jiminy.", said Donald.

"He's always prepared.", said Goofy.

"This is a nice reunion.", said Mirajane.

"That's love for ya.", said Sherria.

"Welp, we've got our seven guardians.", said Mickey.

"Yeah.", said Sora. "But...I do wish that Roxas, and Namine, and Terra could be here with us too."

"Since when do you mope, Sora?", question Riku. "Come on. Terra's gotta be with the Organization. Which means we'll have a chance to save him."

"Leave it to Ven and I.", said Aqua. "We'll bring him home."

"Yeah, I made Terra a promise.", said Ventus. "I said I'd be there for him when he needs me."

"And I'll figure Roxas out.", said Lea. "Don't know how, but...I'll get him back."

"Namine is right here, safe with me.", said Kairi as she put her hand on her chest. "I know that we'll find a way to help her. Trust me-I'm not giving up."

"Kairi's right.", said Mickey. "We're all in this together, Sora."

"And Donald and I are no Keyblade wielders, but we'll always be right there to help keep ya steady.", said Goofy. "We've got your back, not just now, but always."

Sora smiled upon hearing that.

"Three half-pints make a whole!", said a smirking Donald.

"No, it doesn't.", said Charle.

"That again?", said an annoyed Sora with a smile.

Everyone then laughed again.

"Don't forget that we're here.", said Orga.

"If I recall, you're the one who wanted our help.", said Rufus.

"We want to see this to the end.", said Jellal.

"We're gonna give it our all!", said Lucy.

"I can't wait to fight them!", said Natsu. "I got tired of them speaking about stuff."

"Yeah, it got pretty annoying.", said Gray.

"Just remember that these guys are different from us.", said Erza.

Yen Sid interrupted. "It is a shame that all of our friends could not be here. But our seven guardians of light have united. Perhaps you might say that we have more than seven guardians, with Donald, Goofy, and the Earth Land mages. Given time, I know the others will soon stand with us."

"Yeah.", said Sora.

"Today, you recuperate. On the morrow, you journey to the fated place."

"Right!"

"I'm fired up!", shouted Natsu.

"We can't lose this fight.", said Erza.

"Xehanort and the Organization are the enemies.", said Jellal.

"Let's see if they're just all talk.", said Rogue.

"If you guys don't die, have a drink with me!", said Cana.

After the meeting, everyone returns to their respective worlds to get some rest. The next day, they'll be going to war.

Outside of the towers, Ventus and Aqua were sitting on the steps while looking at the night sky.

"The stars here are so beautiful.", said Ventus. "I noticed it when we arrived."

"Yes.", Aqua agreed.

"We've gone without this for so long."

"I know."

"I remember dreaming a lot. Of you and Terra. Of Sora and his friends too, I think. And there were some more people I didn't recognize. Oh, and I saw these weird animal creatures! It's like...I've been part of some big adventure."

"I've been places, too." Aqua then gave a serious look. "But pretty soon...things'll be back to normal."

Ventus then grabbed his green Wayfinder and held it up into the sky.

"Let's share stories when Terra's back."

Aqua smiled and did the same thing with her blue Wayfinder.

"Yeah."

In the Tram Commons of Twilight Town, Maleficent and Pete were wandering near the theater area of the commons.

Pete came up to her and said to her, sounding annoyed, "I've had it with this stupid treasure hunt. Every box we've found has been nothin' but a bust."

Instead of being angry, Maleficent said calmly, "I agree. Our search ends today."

Pete became shocked. "What-a-huh-now?!"

"You cannot find the unfindable. The box does not exist."

"I knew they was takin' us for a ride."

"Silence, imbecile. I mean the box does not exist now."

Pete looked confused. "Is that some kinda riddle? Just where we s'posed to be lookin'?"

"Light and darkness are fated to clash. A Keyblade War is upon us. We need only wait for that destined moment. No matter the victors, the box will be revealed."

"That's it?! But when's my big moment?"

"You will have it soon enough. Once I possess the box, our real work can begin."

She then summoned a dark corridor and passed through it. Pete then ran after her.

At the clock tower in Twilight Tow, Lea was sitting on the ledge of the tower. He was just sitting there, eating Sea-Salt Ice Cream while looking at the sunset. He also had two more ice creams in his hand. He looked depressed.

"Well, Roxas…", he said. "I shoulda been there for you by now, but here we are."

"Shouldn't you say good-bye to your real home?"

Lea became surprised as his old friend no enemy, Saix, came up to him.

"Why…", said Lea as Isa sat next to him.

"I'm not here to fight.", said Saix. "Relax."

Saix grabbed one of the ice creams from Lea's hand. Lea became annoyed and tried to take it back, but couldn't.

"Hey!"

"You can't eat all this. Why did you buy three of them? One for Roxas...and two for good luck?"

Saix then took a bite from the ice cream.

"I dunno. Because I felt like it, okay? Why are you here?"

"Got it memorized? Back when we were still friends, we used to sneak into the castle."

"Yeah…"

"And we made a friend there, a girl. We apprenticed to Ansem the Wise to rescue her."

"Yeah, and we failed. One day she was just gone!"

"You gave up."

Lea seemed to disagree with that statement. " I did not give up. One day we're apprentices, the next Ansem the Wise has up and vanished, the day after we're Nobodies, day after that we're doing icky jobs for Xemnas. I couldn't keep up with you."

"Following Xehanort's Nobody was the only way to discover what happened to her. She was his lab rat."

"So? You found her? I helped you rise up the ranks, so I hope it paid off."

"I'm afraid not. Nary a trace. I started to wonder if we'd imagined her. Maybe she never existed. And then, in time, I awakened to a new purpose. I realized I could be stronger."

"Well, then, you blew it! Wise up already and just quit."

"Face it. Roxas is just like our other friend. Gone forever. You need to accept that."

"You wish. I'm getting her back. All of 'em! Especially Roxas! I'm even dragging you home."

Saix had just finished eating his ice cream.

"The marks under your eyes. They're gone."

"Yeah. Don't need 'em."

He then stood up from his seat. "Always told you they'd stop you from crying. The upside-down tears."

"Would you get lost? I'll clobber you tomorrow."

Saix smiled. "I expect no less."

A dark corridor appeared and he disappeared. Leaving a sad Lea on the tower.

On the Destiny Islands, Riku was sitting on the beach, watching the sunset.

"How long have you known that I was with you?"

Riku took notice of who it was. It was the replica version of his younger self that he met in Castle Oblivion. He, too, was sitting on the beach next to him.

"You did save me.", Riku answered with a smile. "I think you came along for a reason."

"I didn't make much of myself as a replica.", he said. "I was a failure, and after you and Sora moved on, my body fell to ruin and the darkness took my broken mind. I was all ready to give up and let it happen, and then you showed up."

"You took that as a sign?"

"Maybe. I'd rather face my end with you than in darkness."

"That's...what you want?"

"Yeah. But I'm not done yet. Got one last thing to see through."

"Take the time you need."

The two of them continued to watch the sunset.