Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I am not Square Enix or Disney, and therefore I am not worth multimillions and I am not making any profit from this whatsoever. Obviously. And tragically.

ONE: Set the Stage; No Exit

"Hollow Bastion is… ?"

"Maleficent has that base covered. Its inhabitants are either dead or scattered throughout the Worlds."

"I see. In that case, is it safe to assume that you've obtained what I asked for?"

"I have the boy, if that's what you're talking about. Had to transport him to Olympus myself."

"You never disappoint, Hades, my friend."

"I'm not your friend, big guy. I own your soul, in case you forgot."

"I did not."

"Good. And since you won't be in the living realm for a while, I'm going to put him to good use until you make your ever-so-triumphant return."

"You'll train him?"

"Yeah, he's got to know how to fight, doesn't he? I mean, it's a nasty world up there and down here. And since you've already tainted him, I'll finish what you started."

"Indeed."

"The kid's a scrawny little thing, but if we're lucky, he might turn out to be a match for"— a flash of angry red—"Hercules. Pfft. Demigod my flaming head of hair."

"Do what you will, but remember: he is mine. You'll have to find another puppet once I return to claim him."

"Yeah, yeah. We'll talk business when you actually have a corporeal form."

"It won't be long. Expect me at the Coliseum."

"Of course. It's been a pleasure as always. Take care, eh? Enjoy death while you can."

He was not yet as tall as Hades's elbow, though, in his defense, the god had unnatural height.

"I've got a contract for you."

"What for?"

"You work for me, I help you along. Now sign it. In blood, if you please."

"Why Hercules?"

"It's to your benefit if you just do as I say, I assure you."

"You can't beat him yourself, is that it?"

"You'd do well to mind your tongue, pup."

"Heroes do not falter, boy."

"I'm not a hero."

"Ah, but you're an antihero."

He opened his eyes and immediately fought down the urge to turn to the side and vomit in a spectacular display of nausea. He tentatively moved a finger, staring resolutely at the opposite wall and refusing to shut his eyes despite the brutal onslaught of sensory information. Grimacing slightly, he pressed a cold hand to his face and inhaled deeply.

Without moving his head, he took in his surroundings. Stone, torches, more stone, trophies.

Coliseum Lobby.

His memory summoned images of a battle, a keyblade, Sora. A bruised, battered, very defeated Sora.

Then Cerberus, that tri-headed, flea-infested, spittle-for-brains—

Cerberus. The Gatekeeper of Hell. Sent by Hades.

"Accidents happen."

He ground his teeth. He wanted out. Now.

The world flashed a blinding white as he made to stand. Vertigo threatened to topple him, but a silent desperation drove him on.

He wanted out, he wanted out.

He stumbled outside into too-cheery daylight, staggered to the steps of the World Exit. He blinked up at the tall double doors, felt freedom beckon him on the other side. His hand reached out.

Please.

Then hopelessness crashed down on him, the tide dragging him out to a black sea.

"Ha," he breathed, half-lidded eyes the color of a falling sky.

He turned back to the Coliseum, sat down on the steps, and was silent.

"You called for me, sir?"

"Yes, yes." The man turned and beckoned impatiently. "Come in, there's something I want to discuss with you."

He stepped into the room and closed the door softly behind him.

"Sit down, sit down. And do make yourself comfortable."

He moved to sit on a plain, high-backed chair, his feet dangling a few preadolescent inches above the ground, his entire form calm and slack.

Tea was offered and politely refused. Lamps were lit and the soft blue light chased the shadows to obscure corners of the room.

"I hope you'll forgive me for my brashness, but there are pressing matters that I must address."

"Yes, sir."

"It's come to my attention that you no longer have any living blood relatives?"

The boy shook his head, expression blank.

"I see. I am sorry for your loss, of course. Your mother's death was, in every regard, unfortunate and we all mourn her passage."

He cast his eyes downwards and started to swing his legs with subtle petulance.

There was a pause as the man observed him. Then, as if a final judgment had been made, the conversation continued albeit a bit gracelessly. "Who have you been staying with?"

"With Cid, sir."

"Ah, Mr. Highwind. Without him, none of our transportation devices would function half as well as we would like them to."

He nodded.

"And how is life in his household?"

"S'very interesting."

"Oh? How so?"

"Well…" The boy studied his shoes, which were untied, laces fraying at the tips. "He lets me in the hangar when he's working on his ships. He says someday he'll fly far away and into the sky and beyond. He says he'll bring a star back for me."

(The man hid a knowing smirk.)

"But whenever something falls off or goes on fire, he says a lot of words that I'm told not to repeat. I don't know what they mean though, and none of the grown-ups will tell me."

He leaned back into the chair and stared at his hands in his lap. His skin was a pale, eerie blue in the light. "Sometimes Squall and Aerith come over, and they bring Yuffie too. She annoys Squall a lot. He never says anything, but I can tell, 'cause he gets all silent and doesn't smile at anything when he's mad."

"But I assume that you, Gainsborough, Kisaragi, and Leonhart are good friends?"

"Yes, sir," he said. He heard the man mumble something under his breath.

His gaze falls on a cup of tea, its contents untouched. "Cid drinks a lot of tea too. He says it's calming, but I don't think so, because he almost always sounds angry. Aerith says it's because he used to smoke a lot and now he doesn't. I don't know why anyone would want to smoke though. I tried once, when Squall dared me to, and I thought I was going to die. Cid found out and he got really mad. He said he'd make me smoke a pack a day until I learned my lesson, but I guess he lied."

He stopped talking and glanced around the room.

"Is there a problem?"

"No, sir. S'just a bit dark in here."

"Pay it no mind; the darkness cannot hurt you."

"I know that, sir."

"Do you really?" The smile was predatory. "I see that your mentor has been teaching you well."

The boy nodded, his face still barren of emotion, legs still swinging like a kept child.

Orange eyes assessed him once more; he was perfectly and chillingly empty.

"Well then. Cloud, I have a proposition for you."

Eyes flickered open, panic flashing briefly.

His breathing slowed.

The calm before calamity.

"Hey, are you all right?"

He looked up to see a motley crew of boy, dog, and duck. He did not blink as he stared into eyes mirroring his own.

"Yeah," he lied.

He wanted to add, "I'm fine," but he had never meant it anyway.

Notes: FINALLY. :collapses:

If this chapter was confusing, I apologize. I have a tendency to leave names out, because I feel it's too blatant. I think it's clear who's who, but then again, I may be wrong. I like to give you guys SOME credit though. You're not all brain dead like me, fortunately.

So. The ubiquitous I'M SO SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG PLEASE FORGIVE ME. Seriously though. Much props to whoever's still reading. I know I would've given up on me.

When writing this, I kept slipping into the present tense, and I may not have caught all the mistakes, so feel free to correct me! I'm just so used to writing drabbles in present.

And a hardcore THANK YOU to all reviewers! Mysteryguy12 for being the first, wyrd for pointing out my lapses in grammar, Phantom Fox, alescA, and AquilaStrife (times four for reviewing all my other stuff too!). Oh, and nicetoknowyou89, but not really, 'cause she's a loser in real life. Hahaha. Double the gratitude if you were a reader of the original Forsaken as well. A huge OMGYOUROCKSOHARD to all!

12.03.06