---Sora53: -sigh- Short, late chapter.
Fans: You can't be spending that much time on puppy patrol!
Sora53: I am...they're even harder to take care of once they're born!
Fans: Go figure.
Corita: Aw, it's okay, Sora53! If there had to be an excuse for such a pathetically short chapter, puppies are a great one!
Sora53: Really?
Joe: No.
Sora53: Meep.---

Disclaimer: I don't own KH OR CoM. Either! That's how sad I am! I own Corita...and the shortness of this chappie! There's been so much Sora/Donald/Goofy goodness lately because I'm trying to fit it into the timeframe of the game...it's hard O.o

Riku turned his head slightly to watch Corita as she rubbed her eyes. Taking her hands away and blinking a few times, she sighed.

"Are you okay?" She asked gingerly after her eyes had somewhat adjusted to the bright hallway.

He gave a weak smile. "Not bad. How about you?"

"Never better." She said sarcastically. "We're doing a great job of fighting the darkness."

"Don't talk like that." Riku said bitterly. "We need to keep going, no matter what."

The two continued slowly up the hallway, brooding over their situation. About halfway up, Corita stopped dead in her tracks, much to the displeasure of who'd been walking behind her.

"Corita! What's wrong?" Riku asked.

Corita didn't respond. She merely stood there, her brown hair reflecting the light of the hallway. Then, she turned around gracefully and grinned at her friend.

"Larxene's gone."


"You!" Marluxia snarled as Axel appeared before him. "How DARE you show yourself here, traitor!"

"Traitor?" Axel asked almost politely. "I haven't a clue of what you're talking about."

"You and your meddling! He was almost ours! The Keyblade Master was within reach!"

"Right. Your 'big plan'." Axel mocked, causing Marluxia to quiver with rage. "You use Naminé to rewrite Sora's memory piece by piece. He becomes her puppet. Then, using Naminé and Sora, you and Larxene overthrow the Organization. Did I get it right? 'Cause that would make YOU the traitor, Marluxia. Not me."

"You eliminated Vexen!" Marluxia roared.

"If memory serves me correctly, it was YOU who ordered me to." Axel said lazily. "I had to be sure you two trusted me."

"You've been investigating us from the start! A double agent...!"

"Anyway, I believe you told me to 'rid us of our traitors.'" Axel said with a slight smile. In a flash of light and fire, Axel's weapons appeared in his gloved hands. "I always follow orders, Marluxia."

Marluxia glared at Axel, and Axel watched him closely. Both eyes were filled with anger and hatred, and Marluxia gave a soft laugh.

"You're making a big mistake." Marluxia warned softly.

"Larxene already paid the price for disloyalty. It's your turn, Marluxia."

"Go ahead and strike." Marluxia growled. With a wave of his hand, someone appeared in front of him almost instantly.

"Naminé?" Axel asked. "You think cowering behind your little mascot will stop me?"

Naminé trembled slightly as her eyes turned to the razor-sharp weapons in Axel's hands. Her eyes turned to Axel as he continued to speak. "She can keep you company in the void. Farewell, Marluxia."

"I'm not so sure about that. Right, Sora?" Marluxia asked while still facing Axel.

"Huh?" Axel asked. Marluxia grinned as soft footsteps grew louder. Sora ran up from the stairwell into the hallway, and as he ran towards the group (with Donald and Goofy close behind) Marluxia boomed, "Sora! Axel is willing to harm Naminé just to get at me! Destroy him!"

Sora reached out to grab Naminé's hand as he approached her, but both she and Marluxia vanished before he could reach her.

"Marluxia...he must've kidnapped Naminé while we were climbing up here..." Sora said softly as Donald and Goofy caught up with him.

"Well, well. Looks like Marluxia made you his puppet after all." Axel said lightly.

Sora turned his head to look up at the towering red-haired figure before him. "Never. After I finish you off, he's going down too."

"Hmm..." Axel said softly, crossing his arms and looking down at the Keyblade Master. Sora glared at him, and Axel's eyes filled with a strange emotion...Axel was always hard to read, but his expression made it even harder as he watched Sora.

"Listen, Sora. We've got more in common than you think." Axel said calmly. "I'd rather not fight you...but I do have a reputation to think of!"


Riku blinked a few times as Corita skipped merrily around the hallway, singing a song he was sure she'd just come up with.

"She's gooooone! She's GOOOONE! She's GOOOOOOOOONE!"

"I hate to interrupt this special moment of yours, but who the heck is Larxene?" Riku asked.

Corita stopped skipping immediately once she remembered that Riku was watching her. Blushing, she walked back over to him, her head staring at the floor.

"No one important...hey, we should keep going! We have more dark baddies to fight!"

"2 minutes ago you were discouraged and depressed, and suddenly you're skipping around the hallway...you're insane."


"You're not too bad, Sora. Looks like it was worth saving you after all."

"Saving me? What are you talking about now?" Sora asked, suddenly unnerved.

"Sorry. I'd HATE too kill the suspense. See you around." Axel said merrily.

"Axel!" Sora cried as the spiky-haired unknown vanished into thin air.

"Sora! We need to get to Marluxia!" Donald yelled.

Sora was still staring at the place where Axel had been standing moments before. "What did he mean...?"

"SORA! GET THE LEAD OUT!" Donald shrieked as he and Goofy started pulling the dazed Keyblade Master forward.

"Oh...sorry. Let's go!"

The trio ran up the next flight of stairs, panting heavily. Maybe they were just tired from the battle with Axel, but these stairs seemed longer...steeper...

"Marluxia!" Sora yelled as he finally reached the top. Donald was pulling Goofy along, who'd stumbled a few steps down.

"So, Sora. You've destroyed Axel." Marluxia said with a grin. "I should thank you...or perhaps I should thank the power of the Keyblade? How I long to make that power mine!"

"You're insane." Sora growled. "Let Naminé go!"

To Marluxia's side, Naminé stood watching Sora with pleading eyes. Marluxia gave a soft laugh.

"You cannot win as long as she is in my hands. Naminé... Erase Sora's memory!"

"What?" Sora, Donald and Goofy gasped at the same time. Naminé looked up at Marluxia.

"But...if I do that..."

"Yes." Marluxia mused. "If you uproot the memories you've planted in his heart...then Sora's heart will collapse and his memories will be torn asunder.

"Sora's heart..." Donald said softly.

"...Collapse?" Goofy finished.

"I'd prefer the Keyblade master unmarred...but even a riven heart can be rebuilt with time. Sora will yet be my slave. Do it, Naminé! Obliterate his memory!"

"NO!" Naminé roared loudly, causing Marluxia, Sora, Donald and Goofy to look at her in shock.
"Sora forgave me for all those horrible things you made me do to him. I don't care what you do to me...I won't hurt Sora!"

"Then you'll pay the price..." Marluxia growled, his voice dangerously soft. Sora stepped forward, staring unblinking at Naminé. His voice, despite how hard he tried to keep it strong, trembled slightly as he said, "Do what he says, Naminé! Erase my memory!"

Sora53: DUN DUN DU...
Fans: -attack Sora53 with Watermelon lollipops-
Sora53: Oo WATERMELON? Whose favorite lollipops are those?
Joe: -holding 98632 watermelon lollipops- Corita's...
Sora53: O.o Okkkkkkaaaaayyy.
Corita: Watermelon! -eats a watermelon lollipop-
Naminé: Don't I get a favorite lollipop?
Sora53: Sorry. You haven't been a member of my posse for long enough.
Naminé: DARN IT!---