Vixen: Okay, I have a headache right now. Riku, you know the drill.

Riku: Vixen doesn't own Kingdom Hearts, or any of the characters from there. Only people she can lay claim to is Tora and a surprise person later in the chapter. Enjoy!


I kept my eyes closed, willing the pain, the tears, to go away. How could he do that to his friends?To me? I wanted to scream, but all that came out was a soft moan of disbelief; my mind didn't want to except the possibility that Riku had turned away from his friends. I had seen the exchange, had heard him and Sora fighting, but my heart didn't want to believe that he had truly turned away from us.

Slowly, I opened my eyes; a magestic castle met my sight. But before I could look around more, a slight scratching sound met my ears. For a moment, I was paralyzed with fear; because I recognized that sound. It was a sound that could send a shiver of dread through the bravest heart; a sound filled with the blackest of hopelessness and despair. It was the sound those creatures had made; the ones that had captured my islands, destroyed my home. Slowly, I turned around, and saw... nothing; absolutely nothing. Relived, I faced the other way, and screamed.

A small black shape was before me; almost childish, yet the blank yellow stare held a sinister quality; a strong hunger even, as if I had something that the creature desired, and it would do anything to get it. Indeed, I knew it was I that it wanted, for the antenna on it's head were focused directly on me, and they were quivering in aparent anticipation, as if nothing in the world was more important to it then I was. I tried to flee, but time seemed frozen; all I could do was view this thing; this thing of darkness.

As if on an unspoken signal, hundreds more appeared, and the trance was broken. I turned heel and fled; but it seemed as if they had been waiting for that, because as soon as I took flight, they started toward me, like a black tide of despair, and darkness. As I flew around corners and passageways, I had not a clue as to why I was fleeing them, but I knew that it delt with the hunger in the first creatures gaze; I knew, that if they caught me, somehow, I would be worse than dead.

I swiftly came upon a pair of large ornate doors; and reaching them, I saw a black heart with a firey red X through it. But when I reached for the handles, they stayed fast; and with a feeling of despair, I realized that they were locked.

Turning around, I realized that the monsters were almost upon me. Felling defeated, I closed my eyes, sinking to my knees; and awaited my death; just thinking of my friends, and Riku's face swam across my mind's eye. I was certain that this would be the last time I saw his beautiful sea-green eyes. With a deep pain in my heart, I waited for the Darkness to bring my end.

But it didn't come.

Instead, the sounds of a fight met my ears. Calling on a courage that had almost been forgotten, I opened my eyes, and was met with a magnificent site.

The creatures were being driven back, were actually being slaughtered by an enormous lioness; and though she was the same color as the monsters, one look into her deep violet-blue eyes gave me courage that she was not in league with these things of darkness. But I was taken aback by what happened next.

"Please, Tora, help me!" She cried. The lioness had spoken to me; had used my name. I couldn't make heads or tales of this, but I did know one thing: she may be of a different race, but a living, breathing creature was pleading for help in a battle that was quickly turning against her.

I searched around in haste, trying to find anything that would work as a weapon, when suddenly, I froze. Next thing I knew, all of my senses were much sharper, and I felt much stronger and more agile, and my body felt like it had stretched; and I could no longer stand on two legs. All thoughts of finding a weapon forgotten, I lept at the nearest creature in a rage of pure blood lust, and it gave in easily, too easily for my need of blood; so I turned to deal with the next one.

After all the creatures had either been killed or put to flight, I turned to speak with the black lioness; but I spied a pool of water in the corner. Realizing how thirsty the fight had made me, I bent my head to drink. Something seemed wrong, but I took no notice until my thirst had been abated. But as the ripples cleared, I saw what was wrong. The reflection was not that of a white haired fifteen year old girl; but that of a silver tiger with bright violet eyes.

I spun around to confront the other cat."What have you done to me?" I growled, the threat very clear in my voice.

The lioness met me with a level gaze. "I have done nothing, Tora," she said; "But ask for your help; which you readily gave to me. You just believed in yourself; and that allowed your inner beast guardian to reveal herself, my mistress."

This news startled me, but the title she gave me confused me even more. As if to answer my unasked question, the lioness transformed into a black cat; she turned into my Yami.


"Now do you understand? You must leave here as quickly as possible, Tora, before the Shadows consume your heart." Yami finished, a look of worry upon her face.

I had heard what she said, but I couldn't believe it. "Let me get this straight," I said, getting up and starting to pace. (Thankfully I was just a fifteen-year old girl again.) "Those creatures that attacked our islands are called Heartless?"

Yami nod her head. "Those whose hearts have been taken by the Darkness. They crave the hearts of other people; even the hearts of worlds. That is why they destroyed the Destiny Islands," she said.

"And they're searching for seven princesses?" I asked.

"Yes, the Princesses of Heart."

I had no reply for her answer, so I went to my next point. "And Sora is this Keyblade Master?" Once again, I received a nod from my trusted companion.

"Yes, the Keyblade's chosen wielder. And the Heartless have great fear of the Keyblade, so they seek to destroy it and it's user."

I could sense that she was holding something back, so I asked her. "Is there anything else?"

With a reluctant sigh, she answered me. "Yes. Legend states that their are four masters of the Keyblade, three representing aspects of the Light, and the fourth for the Present. One represents Light; another Darkness, and the last is Twilight. It is my belief that Sora is the denizen of the Light."

"But where are Kairi? And Riku?" I asked her; pain filled my heart at the thought of my brother's face, so caring and kind.

"I do not know Tora, I'm sorry," Yami said. I looked at her, hoping that she was kidding; but I could see the sadness in her eyes. She was telling the truth.

For a long time, the only sound was the steady trickle of water. But something seemed to be tugging at my heart. Once I gave my full attention to it, a vision was swept before my eyes.

I saw Riku and Sora; they were in a strange town, and there seemed to be a heated discussion being exchanged. But right behind Riku was a Shadow Heartless.

I wanted to scream, to give some sort of warning; but Sora cut through the creature with ease. That was when I saw that he wielded the sword from my dreams. It did indeed look like a key.

"Tora?"

I snapped my head around to look at Yami. "I saw them," I said. "I saw Riku and Sora."

Yami just smiled. "Then you must go to them. I will help you. There will be many Heartless to deal with; but you can transform into the silver tiger anytime you wish." She looked over to a small table, "And for protection in your human form, you will need to learn to fight with these kunia. And to use the power of the tiger again, just relax and focus on the white tigress that is your guardian."

I picked up the daggers that she had indicated. They were sharp, reminding me of cats claws.

"Are you ready?"

"Yes, I will get my brother back. No matter the price."


In a new world,
I'm taking in a new view.
My friends are missing,
My home is gone;
And I am far away from you.

I vision of you,
You are in a different place.
But you are not the same,
Your eyes have grown colder;
And there is something dark in your face.

I will travel a thousand miles,
I shall know no rest.
I know you would do the same for me,
I am the closest to your heart;
I need to find you, so I will take this quest.


Vixen: And there you go. Torah's name is cleared up now; and the plot line is starting to move away from the game. Next time, Tora discovers that in order to help those closest to her, she will have to take a plunge into darkness...

Tora: If you want to know what that means, then stay tuned.

Yami: And in case you haven't guessed, I'm in the picture now; Vixen owns me. So don't touch, or I'll scratch you.

Kairi: Oh, and the review button doesn't bite; so just click on it and leave a review. It makes all writers really happy to know that people like their stuff.