Sora53: Erm, yes, late chapter. Erm, yes, short chapter.
Fans: -sigh- now we must kill you.
Sora53: Wait! There's a reason! My mom moved the computer into the living room, so I don't get a chance to write as much.
Corita: She did what!
Sora53: Isn't it sad!

Disclaimer: I don't own KH or CoM. I own Corita and 8 puppies :D Do YOU own 8 puppies? Yep, that's what I thought.

"Riku! Wait for meeeeee!" Corita cried as she ran clumsily through the sand. "Where are you going without me! I'm supposed to be your partner it...what was it? 'Fighting the darkness within'!"

Riku, who was about 30 feet ahead of her, stopped dead in his tracks. Corita skidded to a halt to prevent yet another crash, yet in the process tumbled to the ground once again.

"STUPID SAND! STUPID CASTLE! STUPID DARKNESS!"

"...You're feeling bitter right now, aren't you?"

"What do you think?"

Riku remained silent. He surveyed Corita with a strange emotion in his eyes, unreadable by the one who was being watched by it.

"You think this whole thing is a joke, don't you?" Riku asked quietly.

"Me!" Corita roared. "You were the one using darkness in the battle against Lexaues!"

"...what...?"

"Youthought I didn't notice!"


"I've decided, Naminé." Sora said calmly after he'd thought it over in silence for a while. Naminé, startled by his sudden words, turned back to face him with a look of apprehension.

"And?"

"Put me back the was I was."

Naminé's face fell ever so slightly; still, it was full of happiness. These mixed emotions lingered as she spoke to him, "Of course! Who needs false memories, right?"

"So, how exactly are you going to do this?" Donald asked nervously.

"Simple. Follow me." Naminé said lightly. She turned away from the group and began to walk forward. Shrugging, the trio followed the blond-haired girl as she led them down another hallway.

The bright whites of the hallway seemed to dance with the blue glow from the lights and the statues of flowers. After a short walk, the hallway opened up into a much larger room. Sora, Donald, and Goofy shielded their eyes as the bright room loomed before them.

"Here they are." Naminé said merrily. She had headed over to a large contraption, shaped like an opened flower.

"What...what exactly are they for?" Donald asked.

"Well, you just hop in and they'll sort out your memories!" Naminé responded. Her mood seemed to have taken a turn for the better ever since Marluxia had been defeated. "You'll be fine. It'll take some time, but I'll take care of you."

"But when we wake up, we won't remember you anymore..." Goofy said sadly.

"Don't worry, guys!" Jiminy chirped from his perch on Donald's head. "I put a note in my journal to thank her...that way we won't forget!"

"Good night, Naminé" Goofy said brightly.

"Good night." She said happily. Goofy, Donald and Goofy headed off to the other contraptions on the other side of the huge room, leaving Sora and Naminé alone.

"You too, Sora." She whispered.

"No problem." Sora said boldly, turning to face her.

"You know, Sora...It may have started with a lie, but I'm really glad I met you."

"Yeah...me too. When I found you...even when I first remembered your name, I was so happy...the way I felt was no lie."

"Goodbye." Naminé said softly.

"No, not goodbye!" Sora said. "I'll find you again after I wake up. Then we'll be friends for real! Promise me, Naminé."

"You'll only forget." Naminé said in a slightly joking tone.

"No, never." Sora responded. "Even if you take apart the chain of memories in my heart, the links will stay there. This memory will always be inside me somewhere."

"I guess you're right." Naminé said, smiling.

"I promise I'll see you again, Naminé." Sora said with a grin. He hopped lightly into the giant flower-like machine and turned back to face Naminé.

"Sora..." Naminé muttered with a touch of bitterness. "The loose links will sink into the darkness in your heart. You won't be able to just reach in and pick the one you want. But there's another promise you made — a promise to someone you could never replace. She's your light. The light within the darkness. If you can remember her...all the memories lost in the shadows of your heart will come into the light."

"Another...promise?" Sora asked softly.

"Look at the good luck charm." Naminé said, her voice soft yet powerful. "I changed its shape when I changed your memory. But when you thought of her, it went back to the way it was. Remember..."

Sora reached deep into his pocket, and pulled out what he felt there. Everything seemed to fade away into whiteness...the only things that existed were he, Naminé (who was next to him) and the object in his pocket.

A small, star shaped charm...

Suddenly, his mind was flooded with memories. Shaking his head, he tried to sort them out as they came flooding back. Before him were all his friends...Leon, Aerith, Yuffie, Cid, Selphie, Tidus, Wakka...

Another familiar face floated to the surface of his memory...it was taking shape before him...crossed arms, a deep stare, silver hair, aqua eyes...Riku had joined the group of those he'd remembered.

Looking down at his palm again, Sora noticed something sticking out from behind the good luck charm. Realizing just how much stuff his giant pockets held, he moved his other hand over and lifted the charm up to see what was beneath it.
With a pang of guilt, he realized what it was. He looked down at his Thalassa shell, the red Thalassa shell given to him by his sister...

Sister?

Tufted brown hair, sky blue eyes...the image of Corita appeared next to Riku, along with another guilty pang from Sora. How could he have forgotten them all?

In the distance, behind them all...

A teenager his age, with dark red hair and blue eyes like his...

"Kairi!" Sora yelled, and the image of Kairi nodded.

All those he'd forgotten watched him, and Sora's guilt grew. There was nothing he could do now...but never forget them again.

"Naminé?" He cried, as he turned to watch the girl next to him. She was growing fainter, her voice softer.

"Don't worry! You'll forget me..." She said calmly, "But we have our promise, so I can come back to you."

"A promise is a promise." Sora agreed.

"One day it'll be our light, the light that brings us together. I'll be in your heart until that time comes."

"I know." Sora said as he watched Naminé fade into the light. "Forgotten, but not lost."

Sora53: I cried. I sobbed.
Fans: That's the end of Sora's story? Oo Sora Fangirls: NOOOO!
Corita: Yay! Sora remembered me!
Fans: -.- you just had to add in that stupid shell.
Sora53: What, you don't want that to be the end of Sora's story? I'll sing you the credits! "Wheeeeen you walk awwaaeeeee"
Everyone: RUN AWAY!
Joe: I love it!
Sora53: "REEEEGARDLESSS OF WARNINGSSSSSS..."