YEHA!! Finally I'm back!! Sorry for the long wait; I was extremely busy... Dang Biology semesters... Anyways, I also apologize in advance, as this chapter might be a little bit boring; there's not too much action in it, and I really suck at introducing characters. Nevertheless, I'm going to try... Please go easy on me... I promise I'll try to make the other chapters more interesting. Oh, yes! And I must also accredit Demon Hunter Anamae for encouraging me to do this fanfic and assisting me when I was in a real jam. Thanks, DHA!

WOW!!!! 16 reviews already!! I feel so loved... ^_^

jennifer-valentine - I'm glad you loved this story so far... And yes, I'm just as disappointed about my SR2 Outtakes; It was my best fanfic! *sniff*

Bloodthirsty - FWEE!! I'm glad you like it! Thanks for reviewing!

Demon Hunter Anamae - Again, thank you so much for your support and assistance, and vanquishing my writer's block (for now, anyways)! Thank you!! ^________^

Ryu - I'm really glad you liked it. Thanks for your review. BTW, your question has already been answered via e-mail - it all started when Fallen Templar saved me from the rabid Director in my SR2 Outtakes...

MB - Yep, I'm continuing now! It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who likes both Kingdom Hearts AND Soul Reaver.

Fallen Templar - Hey, FT! ^_^ It's good to see that you've finally started your own account! And I'm honoured that you put me in your fave author's list! ^_____________^ BTW, I'd like to see what you'd put in your Bio in your profile... I don't know why, but I usually like reading those; some people say interesting things in their Bios...

Rocker Baby - Yes, you SHOULD'VE had more faith in me. Ah, well. That's okay. *hugs RB*

My, rather violent, are we? LOL, yeah, Riku IS quite a dish... It's a shame that he became a bad guy for some time... But, at least he became good again in the end. And I must say, his voice sounds surprisingly mature for a 15-year-old...

ShadowHawk - Yeah, don't we all hate cliff hangers? But this fanfic is now being continued!

Syvia - Here's a new chapter for you! ^_^

Silveriss - *gasp* You haven't played Kingdom Hearts yet?? You should try it! If you're into Squaresoft, Disney, and crossovers, then you'll love it! Oh, yeah, and thanks for reviewing! ^_^

Infinity kazier - Yes, I'm writing more right now. I'm glad you like it.

LadyRune - Yes, it DOES somehow seem right, doesn't it? That was why I felt so compelled to write a crossover with these two games. Besides, they're my most favourite games.

Jazzmaster - I'm glad you enjoyed it, despite the fact that you found it a little strange at first; I guess I thought it ironic how, of all games, I wanted to combine a morbid, gothic tale with a Disney-ish, "cute" story... I guess I just wanted to do this because it was the most unlikely combination.

Raven-Marrs2000 - OK... I guess because you had put "to be continued" on the last chapter of your story, I had thought it was going to be continued. Oh, and just for future reference, "antagonist" means the "bad guy", and "protagonist" means the "good guy".

Angel-chan: Okay, now, with all that said and done, on with the fanfic!!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sora gawked with a horrified fascination at the shady figure before him. He couldn't tear his gaze away from those fiery eyes. The white flames glared back in return. They seemed to narrow at him, and then the silohette stepped forward. Its foot made a strange scratching sound as it touched the ground again. Sora slowly lowered his gaze and averted his attention to the foot that came into view. His jaw nearly dropped when he saw that it wasn't a foot; it was some kind of hoof with two very large taloned toes. Whatever this thing was, Sora knew it wasn't human. As the whole figure came into clear view, Sora began to hate when he was right.

The creature was indeed not human, though its form was somewhat humanoid. It seemed to resemble a man to some extent, but it had no skin and had blue muscles that were completely exposed. It had black hair, like that of a human, but where the abdomen would have been, there was a gap from the lower chest to the pelvic bone, leaving nothing more than an exposed spinal cord to hold the anterior and posterior ends together. Around the lower half of its face and upper chest was a brown cloth. It had three taloned fingers on each hand, and these claws seemed to have blood stained on the tips...

Not wanting to be in a vulnerable position should this thing suddenly attack, Sora scrambled to his feet.

"Wh-What are you?" he wondered outloud, hoping the creature could speak. Perhaps he could learn more about this world if it could.

The creature glared at him suspiciously. "I am what I am," it icily replied in a dark, masculine voice with an archaic tone. Whatever this thing was, "it" can certainly be classified now as male. "But answer me this," the dark figure continued, "Who — or what — are you, and how did you come here? You are clearly not from Nosgoth; your apparel is quite unusual, and your... 'comrades' —" he gestured toward Donald and Goofy — "are not exactly of local populance."

Offended at this, Donald jumped in front of Sora and resumed a fighting stance. "Oh, yeah?!" Donald exclaimed, "Who do you think you are, ya monshter?!" With that, he charged at the blue creature, much to Sora's objection.

A "hmph" came from the creature, and he merely pushed his cloven hand against Donald's forehead and held him back at arm's length, watching as the impatient duck flailed vainly in a pathetic attempt to land a hit on him. Finally, pushed beyond his impatience, Donald pointed his staff at the cloven hand and shouted "Fire!". At that, a fireball shot from the wand and struck the aforementioned target, burning it. The creature stumbled back a bit, slightly taken aback by this bizarre phenomenon.

What sorcery is this?! he wondered. He quickly regained his cold composure and glared at the duck, and then the trio watched in fascinated horror as the wound immediately healed itself.

"First of all," the creature replied, slightly angered, "I am not a monster; if I were, I would have killed you three on a whim. Second, I am Raziel, and do not forget that."

Goofy cowered behind his shield. "Gawrsh, this guy sure is scary!"

"Raziel, huh?" Sora said, ignoring Goofy's comment. "I'm Sora. And these guys are Donald and Goofy." Donald folded his arms across his chest and glared, while Goofy waved shyly behind his shield. "Uh, anyway," Sora continued, "What did you say this place was again?"

"Nosgoth," Raziel replied.

"Uh, Naz-wut?" Goofy blurted.

"Nosgoth," Raziel repeated. He turned his back to the trio and began to walk away. "And if you plan on wandering around in Nosgoth, I would advise against it; this place has become even more dangerous than it already has been ever since those strange creatures mysteriously appeared."

"Strange creatures?" Sora inquired.

"Yes. Those creatures you had just encountered. They are ravaging this land, and I must destroy them, for Nosgoth's sake."

"Wait!" Sora called out. Raziel stopped and turned his head. "We know what those things are, and we're trying to stop them, too. But we obviously can't do this alone... Say, Raziel, you think maybe you could join us?"

"What!!" Donald and Goofy cried in unison.

"Uh... Trinity huddle!" Donald shouted.

"Will you excuse us, please?" Sora said politely to Raziel as the three huddled into a tight triangle. Raziel folded his arms across his chest and waited patiently as the trio discussed.

"What are you doing?!" Donald whispered loudly at Sora. "We don't know if we can trusht thish guy!"

"And besides," Goofy contributed, "He's scary!"

"And Halloween Town wasn't?" the weilder of the Keyblade retorted. "C'mon, guys. I know that he looks suspicious, but right now, he's our only chance; he knows more about this world than any of us! Besides, I think we'll need all the help we can get when facing the Heartless. Did you see how he defeated so many in one blow?"

"I shtill shay thish ish a bad idea."

"Uh, gawrsh, Donald, I think Sora's got a point. Maybe we should let 'im join, y'know?"

Donald sighed in reluctant submission. It was clear that the decision was unanimous. "Oh, alright," he sighed.

The trio broke up their huddle and faced Raziel. Sora stepped forward and cleared his throat. "S-So, uh, after much... discussion, we agreed to let you join us..." A pause. "If you want to, that is..." he quickly added.

Raziel thought for a moment, and then nodded slowly. "Very well. I suppose I shall join you in your quest." Suddenly his expression grew stern again. "But know this: simply because I am joining you does not mean I trust you. And if I sense betrayal from you in any way, our alliance is over."

"Deal." Sora replied. Donald and Goofy gulped. What had the Keyblade master gotten them into?

~to be continued...

Angel-chan: Yes, I know this particular chapter was lame, but I was basically trying to write around a writer's block, and that's hard. Dang, I get writer's blocks so often! -_- And I'll try to make the chapters longer next time. Remember, no flaming, otherwise, you'll have to answer to him. *gestures toward Fallen Templar, who is looking stern as usual* Oh, yeah, and one more thing: *clears throat and takes a deep breath* MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!