#I'm sorry for the REALLY long wait, I've been extremely busy, that…and I had a huge case of writers block, so, anyway, here ya go!#

Chapter 11: The duel

"Alright, Stand Back!" Makoto yelled as she stretched her arms out in front of her. Sora, Donald, Goofy, and Usagi stood by and watched. As this began to unfold, Usagi began to think of things she hadn't before.

'I'm so glad that Makoto's alright, if she made it, then the others must have as well! But wait...the Heartless...our world...Does she know that it's gone...?' Usagi looked up as Makoto yelled, striking the Boulder and sending it flying. After it was out of sight, Makoto looked at the group and smiled. Usagi smiled back, but then returned to her thoughts. 'If she doesn't know, should I tell her? And how did she survive in the first place...? I didn't even think about it at first. I was so happy she was alright, I couldn't even think strait...but right now...?'

"Hey! Usa!" Makoto's voice rang, bringing Usagi out of her thoughts.

"Hm, oh yes, coming!" Usagi blushed a bit as she ran towards Sora and the others as they moved through the newly made passageway. Sora took a look back at Usagi and smiled. As he did, his eyes began to glow a grey, but then turned back to normal...Sora didn't, nor did anyone else, notice this change.

#Time Gate#

Selenity sat watching her daughter. A frown sat upon her face.

"Are you alright, your majesty?" Pluto asked walking in from the shadows of the Time Gate

Selenity sighed and shook her head.

"It is becoming worse then I thought it would become...Mamoru is falling more and more to the dark and..." Selenity paused as she looked back to the scene before her.

"...And what of prince?" Pluto asked worriedly.

"He continues to fight the darkness, but I don't know how long he can continue on like this..." Her voice trailed off.

"Perhaps we should send one of the scouts off to help him?" Pluto proposed, but Selenity shook her head.

"It wouldn't be enough..."

"Will he survive...?" Pluto asked after a moment of silence.

"I don't know..."

#Back to Wonderland#

"What do you want with me" A scared Alice asked fearfully as she sat in one of many chairs. She knew this place; it was the Tea Party Garden. To the left, behind her though, was a large yellow house with one door. She sat around a large table, with an assortment of random chairs. Amarant pulled his hood now down, showing his flaming red hair. He sighed and looked at her.

"Listen, In all honesty, I don't want you. All I'm after is the Keyblade."

"The Keyblade...Oh!" Alice suddenly realized what he was talking about, remembering the blade in Sora's hands when she was being taken.

"Yeah, that kid has it. They say that it's supposed to have great power...if I can get a hold on it, then I'll be able to..."

Alice stared at him waiting for him to continue. Amarant looked to the ground, and then turned away.

"Forget I said anything..."

"No...Will you please tell me?" Alice was startled by her boldness, but this man seemed deeply troubled, and she wished to help.

"...A friend of mine...was taken..." Alice gasped as Amarant turned to her, a tear falling down his cheek, "He was taken by the heartless..."

"The heartless?"

"Creatures of the night...A witch, Maleficent, told me of the Keyblade, and said that it could be used to bring my friend back."

"Who was he...?" She was becoming braver with her capturer; he didn't seem to want to hurt her, and she, for some reason, felt safe around him.

"...Forget what I said, I've already said too much...besides...we have company" As he looked to the walkway leading into the garden there was a loud crash. A few seconds later Sora, followed by Donald, Goofy, Usagi, and Makoto ran in, weapons out, ready for battle.

"Alright Amarant, let her go!" Sora yelled, pointing the Keyblade at him. Amarant said nothing as he looked at the group before him. He chuckled lightly to himself than looked at them.

"Listen kid, I didn't want to do that, I don't even really want her here, you can take her away if you want" he said in an off manner way. Sora was taken back by what he said, but his stern face returned as he lowered his Keyblade.

"What's the catch...?" He asked in a hard tone. Amarant chuckled to himself.

"I'm that easy huh, he could always see those things too...alright, the catch is, that you stay" Usagi looked at Sora, as did the rest of the group.

"What?" Sora asked.

"We have a duel...the winner...gets that key of yours..."

"What!" Usagi and Goofy yelled. Makoto looked at them with a confused look, then back to all that was unfolding. Sora looked to the ground, as if in deep thought.

"Sora...I don't like this" Donald said worried. Usagi looked to him as Makoto walked over to her.

"He's not considering it, is he? I mean this guy feels real strong...much stronger then he looks." Makoto said in a hushed voice to Usagi. Usagi sighed, and turned to Makoto.

"I don't know Makoto...he...it's the way he is...if he feels that it'll help someone he'll do it..."

"Like Mamoru..." Usagi winced at the name as she looked sadly at Makoto. 'That proves it...she doesn't know..."

"If I win...will you leave, and let me and my friends go?" Sora asked breaking the silence.

"Of course, you have my word as a man of honor" he said bowing to Sora. Sora turned to the group behind him, and then he took a look towards Alice. Alice had a look that seemed as if it were pleading for him not to do it. Sora sighed as he looked at the Keyblade. The Keyblade glowed, as if signaling it was ready whenever Sora was. Sora smiled and looked directly as Amarant.

"Alright" Sora said. Everyone turned to him with a look of shock.

"Sora!" Goofy yelled.

"No! You can't!" Donald yelled soon after. He ran up and grabbed Sora's arm, pulling him to eye level with Donald, "You can't do that!"

"Donald I have to, if I don't, he'll keep Alice hostage...I have no choice..."

"Yeah but..."

"Let the boy go Duck" Amarant said as he chuckled, "He's a big boy; he can make his own decisions"

"You stay out of this!" Donald shouted, "Sora" He said becoming calm again, "Sora, listen, you can still change your mind, we can take him!"

"Even so...I have this feeling I need to do this." After a few minutes, Donald sighed and looked up at Sora.

"Fine, but you better take care of yourself! ...and take this" He reached out his hand to Sora. Sora looked at it confused for a minute, but took his hand in his. At the touch of Donald's hand Sora felt a rush of power enter him. It was quick, and it felt as if a blanket of fire had been draped over him, and then taken off. As Donald took his hand away, Sora looked at his hand, and then back to Donald. Donald smiled and tapped his nose.

"Think of it as your first magic lesson" With that Donald walked over to Alice. He glared at Amarant as he walked past him, making sure he didn't do anything.

"Don't worry Duck, I don't pull tricks like that" After Donald had Alice taken to one end of the room. Sora and Amarant turned towards each other. "Tell the others to leave" Amarant stated as he nodded his head in their direction.

"We won't leave!" Usagi yelled, "We won't interfere, and we won't leave"

"If you wish...Alright boy, here comes the fire!"

Amarant quickly rushed towards Sora, he was fast as he slashed his blood red claw in a downward motion. Sora barely had time to swing the Keyblade up to defend against it. Again Amarant slashed, this time from the left, Sora quickly rolled to the right and out of harms way. As he caught a glimpse of Amarant, he saw that his back was wide open. Sora quickly swung the blade down, the Keyblade glowing with a bright red light. Still, Amarant's speed proved great as he moved quickly and blocked Sora's strike. After the block the both jumped away from each other. Sora stood ready next to a bright pink arm chair. Amarant stood on top of the table, his claw in front of his face.

"Interesting...you're better then I though you'd be" Amarant said.

Sora grinned and positioned himself better, "You're not too bad yourself".

Quickly the battle began again as it was Sora who struck first this time. Sora ran in with a cry as he swung his blade in a crescent motion as he moved as he swung. The blade came in contact with the table as Amarant jumped and pushed off of Sora's back. Sora's head slammed into the table, causing his thoughts to get all jumbled as he stood confused, a sitting duck. Amarant came in quickly, no one was sure it even happened until they heard Sora cry out. In an instant Sora was kneeling on the ground, his left hand over a section of his arm just below his shoulder that began to bleed heavily.

"Sora!" The group yelled.

"Amarant stop!" Alice yelled.

"I can't stop, now now! It's over!" Amarant yelled as he came in for one final blow. Sora looked on helpless as the claws came towards him.

"Sora!" Donald yelled, "Think Fire!"

'Fire...?' Sora's mind wondered as he looked up at Amarant. Time seemed to slow down suddenly as he began to feel the blanket of fire over him again. Sora looked down at his Keyblade and saw that it was beginning to glow with a fire red light. Sora raised the Keyblade towards Amarant. Time quickly sped back up as Amarant saw the Keyblade, with no time to maneuver out of the way.

"Fire!" Sora yelled as a giant fireball came from his extended Keyblade. The fireball hit Amarant head on, flinging him back and into a wall. Sora stood, though it was with difficulty as he limped over to the fallen assassin.

"Finish it" Amarant said quietly. Sora looked down at him, and held out his Keyblade in front of Amarant's face. Amarant looked to Sora's blank face and closed his eyes, awaiting the impact. Sora looked as if he were in his dark form, and for a moment, Usagi, Goofy, and Donald thought he was. Suddenly a fireball came from Sora's Keyblade, and hit the ground next to Amarant's head. Amarant opened his eyes slowly, looking at Sora as he smiled.

"From the moment someone's born, they have the right to live...besides...that was a good fight" Sora grinned as he said his words, but soon after his smile faded as he fall to the ground on his back. As soon as he hit the ground the group ran over to him. Usagi bent next to him as Donald took out his staff, ready to perform a spell.

"He's lost too much blood!" Makoto yelled as Goofy began fumbling around in many pockets for some type of potion.

"I've got it!" Donald yelled as he cast a Cure spell on him. Instantly he wound closed and Sora began to sleep peacefully. As this was taking place, Amarant had moved away from the group and was sitting in one of the many tables, his head in his hands.

"Amarant? Are you alright?" Alice asked, walking up to her. Amarant looked at her with something no one had ever seen; Amarant had tears in his eyes.

"It like what he did...He didn't want to hurt me...even after he beat me he wouldn't let me die..."

"What do you mean?" Alice asked confused.

"Please...Let me help..." Amarant asked as he picked Sora up. The others looked at each other, and then to him.

"I know you must not trust me, but i know a safe place, I can explain myself there, and we'll be safe from the heartless...please, trust me..." Donald stepped forward to protest, but Goofy stepped infront of him.

"Alright, but no funny buisness, deal? Ahuk?"

"Deal" Amarant smiled as he turned and walked ahead of the group. The others following slowing and causiously.

"Um...Makoto?" Usagi said silently.

"Hm, yeah? What is it?"

"Can I talk to you, when we get to where ever we're going?"

"Yeah, of couse Usagi! You can talk to me about anything!" She walked of, catching to the others. Usagi sighed and looked up to the sky.

"You have to make this difficult...don't you mother?"

#There! Thought I forgot huh? Nope I'm still here. It's not much of a chapter in my opinion, but hey, it's something. Tell me what you think, well anyway, till next time! ...Whenever that is...#