Namine looked up at her captor. Her face one of calm, although what she was about to reveal made her heart grow cold.

"There is a shadow within one of Soras memories. Due to me rearranging the links of his memory one of the world cards became defective. The people of that world are no more to him, since he can't remember them. However, the world in which they came from is still in his memory."

Vexens eyes narrowed at the news. Once again Marluxias ideas had backfired, but now all of them would suffer the short end of the stick if he didn't set things right.

"So what is the shadow of?"

"It is of the hateful memories of one he has forgotten. His hatred towards that person still shines strong, but since he cannot remember that person the feelings manifested themselves into a new being. Since it is created only from negative emotions it is now out to destroy anything it meets. It also... it also merged with a form that fell into the castle's basement several days ago, I wiped it\'s memory clean, tried to get it lost, but it..."

"So it became more powerful by absorbing something that fell into the castle?"

"Yes, and it's growing in power still….."

"So it's a mindless killing machine then isn't it?"

"I'm afraid not" Riku Replica interrupted, "When I met it it seemed capable of talking and thinking on its own. Maybe it's just so accustomed to the thoughts that Sora gave it that that is all it thinks about."

Vexen was shocked, how did Namine know so much? His Riku Replicas understanding of the beast was believable, but how did Namine come across such information? If she met a monster with the abilities to bat around his creations she would have been killed outright.

"The thing that bothers me however is how you know so much of this… "Shadow" Namine. Would you care to enlighten me as to how you know?"

Namine hung her head ever so lightly before answering.

"Because I knew this would happen. It was either let the monster be born or be abused or even killed by Marluxia. I tried to warn you with the drawings. I even used my magic to plague you with that nightmare you had."

Vexen was aghast. It was all because of this girl? Heh, Namine was not only his greatest burden but now she was their savior. She told them of the danger. She was warning them. But why was she? She was a prisoner of the castle, being as clever as she was Vexen thought that she would go to any length to get out.

Maybe he was wrong? Perhaps… she really did want to help them?

Vexen kept his glare upon the young child. One of his hands turned to fists as he kept his stare.

"Fine then. You've been a bane, now you'll help me instead. But if you even dare try to desert us before the beast is dead I will slit your throat."

Namine held fast to the threat. Riku Replica tightened his grip upon the soul eater, but after a look from Namine he relaxed once more. If there was one thing, he wasn't going to let Namine get hurt, no matter what happened. After a stagnant silence Namine nodded her head.

"Good."

At that moment however a familiar whirl sounded within the room. Vexen looked over his shoulder and discovered that Larxene and Lorenzo had come back. And judging by the condition of Lorenzos face she had to do a lot of convincing to with the blonde over to their side.

"I see that you're back."

"No thanks to your stupid clone."

Lorenzos eyes rolled to Larxene, not caring that a thin trickle of black blood was dripping into the sockets. She gave her a look that suggested she was hurt.

"Now Larxene, you agreed to come, didn't you?"

Larxene snapped once again and brought her claws up to swipe Lorenzos face once again. But her hand was caught firmly by Vexens own.

"Enough of this foolishness Larxene. If you did come on your own, you must have a condition that you want to fill out with me… correct?"

Larxene huffed and pulled her arm away from Vexen. Her emerald eyes clearly showing frustration with Vexen and his toy.

"For an old fart you sure know what's going on. I'll only help you defeat Marluxia if you get me a higher rank within the Organization."

"Fine then, you can take Marluxias place once we kill him. And… for the record, I'm only thirty two."

Larxene glared at her superior and spat out yet another insult.

"Keep care of yourself in the lab once in awhile then Frosty."

"How very caring of you." Vexen said with a mock smile, "I see that you're finally coming around."

It was Lorenzos turn to restrain Larxene from lashing out. Lorenzo then dryly stated to the rest of the individuals in the room.

"This is only between us here. Vexen, I know that you might want to share this with Lexaeus and Zexion. But the fewer who know, the better. As one might say, great minds think alike Vexen."

"Indeed," Vexen smiled, "Perhaps in the end you'll be my successor Lorenzo."

"Well then," Larxene interrupted, struggling in Lorenzos hold. "Since we're all buddy buddy and on good terms, why not let me go now?"

Lorenzo scanned to her creator. Upon seeing Vexen nod Lorenzo released her grip upon the Unknown and Larxene quickly gained distance from her once captor.

Riku Replica then stood once the dust had settled.

"I fought that thing before. It managed to get the best of me. I think even a veteran like Vexen will have trouble going against it."

"Well if that's the case," Vexens stance became one of cold once more, "We'll develop a plan to take out all three in one blow."

"Three?"

"Sora, Marluxia, and the shadow."

#5464576587687687987976 (because scene changes can be weird)

Marluxia handled his scythe as he walked amongst the halls. Larxene hadn't shown up in the past day. And Vexen was acting even more strange. Perhaps it was a ploy to let him get his guard down? While he waited for the keybearer was Vexen and his motley crew planning to strike him down when he least suspected?

He sighed as he shouldered his scythe and sat down upon a nearby chair. Looking down at the marble floor he allowed his mind to wander. He was going to overthrow the Organization, he was sure of it. He would take Sora, and use his battered mind to make his own personal fighter. No one had a chance against the keybearers power, he was sure of it.

But what if there was someone who could?

He quickly brushed the radical thought from his head. The only thing that was heard was the very tip of his scythe scraping the marble floor.

Such beauty the floor had. And yet, something so hard could be ruined by the slightest thing. He looked at the scrapes his scythes had made.

He hoped he had greater strength than the marble.

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Sora and company found themselves in the outskirts of the world. Looking back at the city Sora let a gasp of relief and fatigue escape his lips.

"We made it out of there guys…"

Goofy fell on his behind and rubbed the soles of his shoes.

"Glad to hear it too, I thought I was gonna get flat feet."

"Flat feet aren't bad!" Donald exclaimed as he sat next to the dog. At that moment Sora grinned and fired back.

"But Donald, you were born with flat feet!"

Donald grumbled as his other friends laughed. Miraculously cooling down Donald then took a look at his surroundings.

"Hey… there's no vortexes around here..."

Upon hearing the statement they all examined where they were. Indeed, aside from the occasional seaweed clump or blue rock, there was nothing out of the ordinary. Jiminy then piped up.

"Well, since this place looks secure, why don't we spend the night?"

"Are you crazy!" Donald retorted, "That, shadow could be out there!"

"I.. agree with Jiminy Donald." Sora stated his idea, " I mean, the door's nowhere in sight and who knows how late it is." He turned to Goofy. "What do you think?"

He was met by a dog that looked like he had been sleeping for the past millennia.

"Well, there's your answer Donald."

Donald once again grumbled as Sora and Jiminy laid down to catch a few Z's. Soon however, he was won over and drifted off into sleep.

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The beast looked down upon the four. Its eyes glowed malevolently as it began to lumber along the sandy floor. Its eight tails kicking up sand as it went along. When it was barely a hundred yards away it crouched down and looked at its prey. The four were sound asleep. It was so perfect. Even though it was not strong enough to take them out head on it was given the opportunity to kill them with no opposition. But as it took a step its body fumbled.

Why was it doing this?

Why did it want to kill them?

Why?

The monsters red eyes turned back in their sockets and it fell upon the seafloor with a thud.

Why?

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Sora was woken up abruptly. By what, he didn't know. Looking out into the murky depths of the water he knew that it was nighttime in the world. The Moon above giving enough light to ensure he didn't trip over his friends as he searched for the cause of his awakening.

He didn't have to walk far to find out.

It seemed as if the water flowing about him stopped. The sound of his footsteps kicking up sand and bubbles ceased. It was quiet as the grave.

And from that silence, there was a voice.

A haunting melody. A beautiful one. There was no words, only different pitches, as if the voice itself were music.

Sora peered into the darkness. What was causing that song? Who was singing it? And, why did it sound familiar?

Someone began to walk out from the murk. It was a girl older than he was, perhaps sixteen or seventeen. Her outfit was a white dress with a navy blue halter-top of sorts. Her skin was tanned, and had a strange hue of lavender to it. Her hair was ebony black, and her eyes red as rubies.

The girls beauty captivated Sora. Who was she? Why was she here? These were questions he should have asked but instead he asked a question most boys did.

"What's your name?"

The girl stopped singing. She smiled and acknowledged the question.

"My name?"

Sora only nodded, and the girls smile became wider.

"Vanessa."