Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 18

"Herc!" Sora called even as he blasted through a group of Heartless and Nobodies.

"Sora!" the hero called back in relief, sending another group flying.

"What's going on?" he made it to Herc's side and they went back to back.

"I don't know, they just started swarming the city yesterday. I'm glad you got the message."

Donald wouldn't be happy that he'd gotten a modified ship communicator from Cid and given it to Hercules, World Order and all that, but the son of Zeus knew about other Worlds so where was the problem? At the moment, it was saving a lot of lives, Thebes was a thriving city and it was being overrun.

"Hey! I remember you talking about Riku, is he okay?"

"He should be waking up now," Sora answered before launching himself at a group that were doing something he didn't want to see the result of. Surely there was no way they were doing this without someone being behind it. It didn't seem the Organisations style so who else?

"Oh. Well then, let's finish this and get you back to him!" Hercules grinned, and Sora nodded.

,,,,,,,,,,

They ran into the plaza before Central Station and were suddenly surrounded by more of the white beings. They got ready to fight them, Riku calling Soul Eater only to stare at the weapon in confusion, it felt…different. He shook it off and went after the strange creatures, they didn't seem to be Heartless but he didn't know what else they could be.

There were too many of them…and they were all weak, tired. He hadn't felt so weak since he'd woken in Hollow Bastion alone that day. The idea of using the Dark powers she had taught him scared him, but it should be possible, at the moment though it didn't feel like it. What had happened to him?

He shook those thoughts off and refocused on the fight. Riku tried to cover for them as Donald went down, but Goofy soon followed, and Riku was soon driven to his knees, falling back against Goofy. He was panting for air, unable to raise his blade…they were going to die…

He watched in exhausted shock as a small black covered figure quickly dealt with their attackers. The shape was familiar…

"Your Majesty?" Donald asked hopefully.

"Shh! You gotta board the train and leave town! The train knows the way," the King answered, Riku recognised the voice from when they'd been in the Realm of Darkness even though he was keeping his back to them. He held out a pouch, finally looking at Riku and smiling at him. "Here."

Riku took it and the King ran towards Market Street.

"Your Majesty..." Donald called after him.

The King..." Riku murmured, looking down at the pouch, finding it was full of Munny.

"Now we know he's okay!"

"The King was locked in the Realm of Darkness, right?" Riku asked to clarify since things were a little foggy, he figured because he was still tired, at least he hoped that was why. Had he been hurt or something and been in that thing to heal?

"Uh-huh." Goofy nodded.

"Maybe…he knows how we got out, how I ended up in that pod," Riku shook his head, he could think about that later. "I've got to find Sora, then we can go home."

"Of course, Kairi's there waiting for you," Goofy agreed, and it was a relief to hear she had made it home.

"What are you two going do?"

"Gawrsh, Riku. Do ya have to ask?"

Riku stared at him in confusion.

"We're coming too! Sora is our friend, we have to find him!"

"Right," Riku nodded, shoving his hair back, away from his eyes.

Knowing they would help him was a relief, he would need the help since he hadn't travelled the Worlds before. Maleficent had just sent him places, he didn't want to try using the Darkness like he had to get Kairi from Hook's ship. Could he still use the Darkness without being possessed? No…he could feel it inside his heart. He was free of Ansem, but not the Darkness. Maybe…that was why Sora hadn't been there? No…he wouldn't have abandoned Donald and Goofy even if he thought Riku was lost.

"Come on, we hafta board the train!" Goofy called, turning to the station.

"Right," Riku straightened up despite the lingering tiredness. What was wrong with him?

They rushed inside the station, looking around.

"Wait up!" Hayner called as the three locals ran into the station.

As much as Riku wanted to hurry, they had been the ones to tell them about the King being at the station so they should listen.

"Hey, Riku…"

"What?" he asked, curious.

"Nothing, but..."

"We came to see you off. It just seemed like something we oughta do," Pence spoke up.

"Oh...really?" he was surprised, they didn't know him, but Pence seemed sincere. "Thanks," he offered awkwardly. He'd never been good with people other than Sora and then later Kairi. He looked around at a ringing sound.

"You should hurry and get your tickets," Olette explained, and he nodded.

"Right," he went to the teller, pulling out the Munny pouch.

He didn't see Olette's reaction, but Donald did. "What is it?" the magician asked.

Riku turned to see what they were talking about, seeing her pull out an exact copy of the pouch he had.

"They're the same," Goofy agreed.

"Yeah," she seemed very puzzled so they must not be all that common a design?

Riku turned back at the clearing of a throat. "Three tickets, please," he asked politely, handing over the money and accepting the tickets. "I can't help feeling like we won't see this town again..." he murmured as he joined the others.

"Why not?" Donald asked him.

"You're thinkin' too much," Goofy advised him, and Riku snorted but shrugged.

"Bye," he told the other teens as Donald and Goofy boarded the train.

"Hey, Riku. You sure we haven't met before?" Hayner asked, and Riku hesitated before nodding.

"Positive. Why do you ask?"

"I dunno," Hayner shrugged uncomfortably.

Riku blinked and reached up to touch his cheek, feeling wetness there. He was…crying? He quickly brushed it away but they'd seen it.

"You okay?" Olette asked in concern.

"Of course, I don't know where it came from," he shrugged it off.

"Pull it together," Hayner chuckled.

"Right... See ya," he offered a small wave as he boarded the train, taking his seat as the door closes. He pulled the blue crystal out of the pouch and stared at it. "Why am I sad?"

"Don't worry Riku, once we find Sora, we can visit again," Goofy told him, and Riku nodded.

,,,,,,,,,,,

Sora stared at the pod he had watched over for almost a year, it was strange to see it empty. The whole mansion was empty, he had no idea where DiZ had gone and didn't really care as long as he didn't endanger his friends. He'd hoped they'd still be there when he got back but they were gone and he had no way to track them off World. Merlin probably did, he'd have to go see him.

He heard someone approaching and tensed, but he recognised the scent and relaxed again.

"Sora?"

"Here Mickey," he called, and the King entered the room.

"I got your message, I gave Riku the Munny Pouch and sent them off on the train for their safety."

"The train?" Sora looked at him, confused.

"Hmm, it'll take them to Master Yen Sid at the Mysterious Tower. It wasn't that long ago, they're probably still there, you can catch up to them. If they aren't, he can tell you where they went."

Master Yen Sid…one of the few people Merlin had specifically told him to avoid. Great. "I have something I need to do first. What about you?"

"I'll keep looking into the Organisation and slowing them down. Be careful and get to them quick. We didn't exactly talk, but it's obvious they're worried."

Sora nodded and then left the mansion.

,,,,,,,,,

Yen Sid studied the three before him. He was well acquainted with Donald and Goofy through Mickey. The boy was a stranger and a concern. That none of them knew where the Keyblade bearer was, was incredibly worrying. He had expected the boy to be with them and yet apparently they didn't remember even separating from him or ending up with young Riku.

He was no longer possessed, but Darkness lingered around him, quiet for now but for how long? He did not wish to see another Terra and at least…no…someone had performed the Keyblade Inheritance Ceremony with him. It could not be young Sora, he would not know how, though it did raise the question of how Sora came by the Keyblade, the ceremony, or some other way? Riku would need to be tested, guided to denounce the Darkness that still held power over him, preferably before his Keyblade fully manifested.

The coming troubles would be a good test, worded as a quest to find Sora. So he explained about Nobodies and the Organisation before sending them to the three Fairies for new clothing. The old ones looked rather ridiculous with how he had grown, unless that was the style for the young now?

,,,,,,,,,,

Riku sat in the gummi ship, glancing at his new clothing occasionally. It was very different to anything he'd worn before and he wasn't sure yet what he thought about it. There was a black short sleeved, hooded jacket with gold buttons and a checker pattern along the hem that he'd left unzipped. Under that was a white shirt with a high V-neck. His trousers were blue and cropped in length, accented with a thickish black belt, with the same checker pattern as the jacket, what was it with the Fairies and that pattern? To finish it off he had black fingerless gloves that went up almost to his elbows and black and black high-top boots. It was a lot darker than anything he'd worn, except that strange outfit the Darkness had given him anyway.

He shoved his hair back again, he hadn't allowed them to cut it, only accepting some hair ties to deal with the majority of the mess. Kairi always cut their hair and it felt wrong to let anyone else do it.

Hopefully, Sora wouldn't laugh when he saw him. He sighed and leant his head back against the headrest as Donald flew. Why did he care if Sora liked his clothing of all things? Shouldn't he be more worried about if he'd forgiven him? If he'd even want to see him? How much did Kairi know about what had happened? She was a Princess of Heart, would she hate him now?

Seeing Pete had been a shock, he'd only met him once at the Castle, shortly after Maleficent had found him. He hadn't thought much of him then and his opinion hadn't improved. Pete had definitely been shocked and confused to see him with Donald and Goofy, fighting against the Heartless. He might not be the brightest but they couldn't just leave him to cause trouble wherever he went. Who knew what he might get up to without Maleficent there to guide his actions.

Maleficent…his emotions and thoughts were…complicated when it came to her. He still felt guilty over her death, even if he hadn't been in control when he'd stabbed her. She'd used him to do her work, but she had treated him well, had been protective…he thought that maybe she had genuinely cared about him. What he'd done under her tutelage had been evil but there had been good times in the Castle too.

Yen Sid had given them the task of finding Sora, because the Keyblade bearer was needed, not that he needed some scary old wizard to tell him that. Or to tell him to find his best friend, did he think he wouldn't look for him? Riku was scared for Sora, the King…Yen Sid…no one seemed to have any idea where he was. Surely they should know where he was or where he'd been due to his fighting the Heartless? What if…no, he would not even think about that, Sora was fine.

"Are ya okay Riku?" Goofy asked, sounding concerned.

"Fine," he offered a smile that was more of a grimace. How could they just accept him the way they had? Weren't they mad at him for everything?

A screen on the console in front of Donald suddenly turned on, showing two faces. "Howdy, Guys! How ya doin'?"

"It's your favourite Gummi engineers here, ready for duty: Chip..."

"...and Dale!"

"Happy flying!" They said in unison and Riku just stared, okay…

He leant forward to see the map they had left on the screen and frowned. "Only one destination?"

"That's no good!"

"Wait! I think it's a world we know!" Goofy pointed and Riku's heart sank, why that one?

,,,,,,,,,

Riku leant against the wall of the strange house, unable to look at anyone. Why did it have to be Hollow Bastion? And people that Sora knew so well?

"Sora?" The young woman, Aerith, asked Donald, and Riku refocused on the conversation. "He's been coming by on and off all year. Having to travel alone was really hard on him."

"Yeah, he's had to replace his clothes how many times?" the younger girl, Yuffie, snickered.

Riku slumped in relief, it was good to know that Sora had had somewhere safe to rest while they were asleep. Wait….

"YEAR!" Donald and Goofy shouted together.

"Um…" Yuffie shifted nervously.

"Almost a year," a new voice called, a man with a scar on his face walking in.

"Leon," Donald greeted.

Leon nodded and then looked at Riku, studying him. "So, you're Riku," he then offered his hand, surprising Riku but he took it. "Good to finally meet you. Having you asleep for so long was torture for the kid."

"Do you know where he is?" Riku asked, and Leon shook his head.

"You only just missed him. He said when he went to the Mansion you were all gone."

Riku groaned and banged his head against the wall, great. Were they going to spend the next year just missing each other? A year….huh, he was eighteen now, he didn't feel any older though, even if he had grown.

"Merlin might know where Sora was headed," Leon offered.

"Where's Merlin?" Goofy asked, and everyone shrugged.

,,,,,,,,,

Sora looked around carefully, not seeing or detecting anyone. It was late, she was probably asleep, but she deserved to know. He climbed easily up to her bedroom window and knocked softly on the glass. It only took a few minutes for her to appear at the window, eyes widening in shock.

She vanished again and then reappeared, dressed. She opened the window and looked out, frowning when she didn't see anyone. "Riku?" she whispered, and Sora shook his head but offered her a hand. She took it and they vanished, reappearing at the Paopu tree, Sora providing a little light via magic.

He gasped as she hugged him tight, hugging her back. "I've missed you," he whispered.

"I've missed you both. Sora…I remember everything."

"Yeah, Riku's awake."

"Then where is he?" she asked, excited, and he shifted away from her.

"Ummm…."

"Sora," she crossed her arms, glaring at him, and he sighed.

"I wasn't there when he woke up, there was an emergency. When I got back everyone was gone. I'll find him, I promise. Merlin gave me a spell to help. I just…" he looked down and then her hand was resting against his cheek and he leant into her touch.

"You'll find him." She hugged him again, and he leant into her.

"You really think so?" he asked quietly, and she lifted up on her toes to kiss him.

"I know you will," she told him with a bright smile, and he couldn't help smiling back.

,,,,,,,,,,

Donald set the course for the new World that had appeared, flying carefully, shooting down any Heartless that crossed their path, taking his frustration out on them. He'd really hoped the Hollow Bastion group would know where to find Sora. It was good to know that Sora had them when they were sleeping, that he hadn't been alone the whole time. He wanted the full story on what had happened to them but the group had insisted that Sora explain the rest because he'd know what was safe to tell them. Safe!?

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Merlin sighed as Sora slumped at the table, frustrated, and he didn't blame his apprentice. He was rather having an unfortunate amount of bad luck when it came to catching up to his companions. He had not had the chance to see them when they had stopped by unfortunately, he'd like to get a look at young Riku, make sure there were no lasting ill effects from his possession. He had seen such things before, unlike Yen Sid, though he did wonder how his old student had taken meeting Riku.

"Come now Sora, cheer up! You'll find them. Now then, I have a new spell to teach you."

That cheered him up some, Sora was always eager to learn more magic. He'd been considering whether or not to teach him certain spells, but Sora had shown no ill effects from learning to open the Corridors or any aspects of his vampirism. He had not wanted to learn that, but after feeding from his friend Jane, Merlin had insisted, seeing the increased struggle he was suffering from in order to keep from biting anyone. Leon and Cloud had both volunteered as test subjects for him to learn to feed from without hurting his donor. Cloud hadn't even blinked when he'd been told about Sora, admitting he'd sensed the change.

,,,,,,,

They ran up the mountain, heading for the summit, trying to find the army. They were going to fight an army, was that what Sora had been doing during their time apart, when Riku had accused him of messing around? He'd never fought an army before! He glanced up at the cry of a bird, seeing a hawk fly over them, following its course and seeing it land on Shan-Yu's shoulder at the top of the summit. Okay, one man would be fine…and then hundreds of Heartless appeared, hovering over the edge of the cliff.

Riku summoned Soul Eater and readied to fight, hearing the others spread out. He wished they had fought together more or that he had Sora's easy way of falling in with others, but they'd have to do their best.

The hawk flew off Shan-Yu's shoulder as he cleaved the air with his sword. "Attack!"

The Heartless charged down the mountain toward the group. Riku took a deep breath and threw himself into the fight, slashing at any that came near, Goofy covering him, and Donald using magic to keep the numbers from overwhelming them. He was hesitant to use magic, scared of the lingering Darkness. Right when he thought they might win, Shan-Yu sped down the mountain with another group behind him.

"Riku!" Donald yelled, pointing, and Riku spun around.

He saw Ping readying the cannon…aiming at the towering snow covered cliff, and his eyes widened. "Run!"

They took off as the rocket hit the mountain, the snow beginning to fall, forming an avalanche that swept away everything in its path.

,,,,,,,,,,,

Sora crept along the ledge, looking down at Axel, watching him. Without any memory of Xion, would he be an enemy or ally? There was no sign of Naminé with him so Sora hoped she was safe. He saw Axel pull out a seashell, staring at it in confusion. Sora hesitated but then dropped down, Axel spinning around at the soft noise he made sure he made when he landed.

"The imposter!" Axel readied to fight, and Sora held his hands up, making him pause.

Sora pushed his hood down and green eyes widened, which meant that for some reason, working out who the imposter was, was tied to his memories of Xion. "Axel," he greeted.

"You're the imposter? Man…" he shook his head in disbelief.

"You knew that a while back," Sora told him. "Is Naminé okay?"

"She said she had some things she wanted to do and I wasn't going to take her back so she left," Axel admitted. "Wait, how did you know… Okay, what's going on?" he demanded.

"Does the name Xion sound familiar?" Sora asked gently.

Axel frowned, rubbing his forehead.

"Do you know who gave you that seashell?" he pushed as gently as he could, wondering if memories of her could be brought back. "Xion, Organisation member XIII. She was an imperfect Replica, made using data from me and Riku taken at Castle Oblivion. That's why she could wield a Keyblade. She was your best friend, you used to sit on the clock tower in Twilight Town and eat sea-salt ice cream together. But she began to destabilise, absorbing some of Riku's scattered memories."

Axel was listening at least, looking confused.

"She agreed to give Riku his memories back and left the Organisation. You were sent after her to either bring her back or kill her…but you couldn't do it. When she disappeared, everyone's memories of her vanished, except mine. You don't remember her, but something's lingered."

"Even if I believed you, so what?" he crossed his arms.

"You really want to work for a group that ordered you to kill your best friend?"

Axel chuckled darkly. "In case you didn't know, I'm a Nobody, we don't have emotions, so why should I care?"

"Then why did you keep the shell?" Sora shot back. "Do you really believe the Organisation is there to get your hearts back? Cause it doesn't add up. If that's what you want then I know a really powerful Wizard you can talk to. If anyone can work it out, it's Merlin."

Axel stared at him, looking stunned, and Sora discreetly sniffed the air…he smelled surprised too. So much for no emotions, surprise was an emotion! So if you need a heart to feel emotion, then how could a Nobody?

"You do feel emotion, you're not faking that surprise, I can tell." He moved closer and pressed a hand to Axel's chest, he felt the physical heart pounding away, felt him stiffen in alarm. He might lack a 'heart' (and Sora doubted that), but the body still had a physical one. After all, Nobodies were formed by the body left behind when a Heartless was created. "I saw the two of you once, eating ice cream in Twilight Town together. That kind of friendship doesn't exist without emotion Axel. I know everyone says Nobodies can't feel, that you don't have hearts, but that's wrong!"

Axel stared at him in disbelief, running a hand through his hair. "You're…something else kid."

"Not a kid," he rolled his eyes.

"Look, even if I agreed with you, there's no such thing as resigning from the Organisation. They'd come after me and it wouldn't be a happy ending."

"There's places you could hide and if you did leave them, we'd protect you. Just think about it." Sora grinned and then vanished, teleporting away.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Axel stared at where Sora had been and then shook his head. The reports on his abilities were definitely way out of date. Should he believe him, that he'd had a friend he couldn't remember? Wouldn't be the weirdest thing he'd ever heard of. What did it matter? Dangerous enough to have let Naminé go. To try and leave would mean death or being turned into a Dusk and that was not a fate he wanted.

TBC…

So Riku's outfit is his one from KH3, in case it wasn't clear or anything. Since he's being dressed by the fairies i decided to go with it. Sora's is so different because it's the Fairy Godmother making his, she has different taste and has asked him what he wants to.