"Gosh Iya, I can't think you enough for bringn' them here. You must be tired." King Mickey said as he and Iya walked down the cobblestone streets.

You have no idea. Iya thought grimly. "I'll recover soon enough." She said with a blank smile.

"I brought you out here to give you the Gray Nocturne, Iya." King Mickey said stopping to face her.

"Why couldn't you give it to me in Merlin's house?" Iya inquired.

"Sora and Riku need to catch up with their friends before they leave." King Mickey held out the Gray Nocturne. "Here, Iya, the Gray Nocturne is yours." He handed Iya the keychain. A beautiful silver keyblade appeared in Iya's right hand.

"Wow…" The Keyblade suddenly started to glow and another Keyblade appeared in her left hand. Iya examined her stunning new weapons. "And here I thought I'd be the one with all the answers…"

------

"Wait'll you see 'er, boy!" Cid bragged as he slapped Riku hard on the back. "My pride an' joy! A work of genius! Ha, Ha!" Riku just gave him a small smile still feeling the sting from that "friendly" pat on the back.

"Riku, can I speak with you for a minute?" Tifa summoned him over to her spot by the computer saving him from Cid's endless bragging.

"What is it?" Riku asked as he sat beside her.

"It's about Sora…" Tifa said. The look in her eyes made Riku's blood freeze. "The darkness in Sora's heart is beginning to manifest. We need you to keep a close eye on him. Thousands upon thousands of Heartless are looking for you three, especially Sora because…"

"The darkness…"

"Yes, but his heart is in a fragile state as it is. He was under great emotional stress during his j ourney. He just hides well." Tifa gave him a sad smile. "Just watch him and don't let him do anything irrational. You know as well as I do Sora's known to act on impulse."

"Yeah, he can be a real idiot sometimes." Riku added. Tifa just smiled weakly.

"Keep an eye on him." Riku nodded firmly. "But there's one more thing…"

-----

Sora stashed himself n a corner watching all his friends wander about talking to one another. That nagging feeling of doubt still clawed at his heart. Darkness…Darkness…was all he kept thinking about. How? Why? What did this mean? For a second he wondered if they were even telling the truth.

"Gawrsh, Sora you okay?" Goofy asked. Sora gave his good friend a weak smile.

"Yeah I okay. You need something?"

"Leon wants to see ya." Sora glanced across the room. There he saw Leon dark and brooding as usual. He thanked his friend with a smile and crossed the room to see Leon.

"You wanted to see me." It was more of a statement than a question. Leon nodded somberly. "Well…?"

"There's more to this journey, Sora." Leon's voice was thin. Has he been crying? Sora wondered. "Iya may not have mentioned it…Sora, there's a good chance that you might not come back after you seal the gates."

"What do you mean?" Sora asked sitting in the chair beside him. "Leon?"

"Sora …you, Riku and Iya… might die…" Those words hit Sora like a wrecking ball.

"Does Kairi know? What about Riku does anyone else know? What did they say? What-"

"Sora…" Leon interjected. "Everyone knows as for Kairi well…" He nodded his head toward the general direction of Kairi who was with Aerith outside. She was crying and Aerith was doing all she could to comfort her. Sora sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. I would give anything to see my friends happy especially Kairi. Even if I have to give up my life! "Sora…" Sora gazed up at Leon and the made eye contact for the first time since they started talking. Leon's eyes were bloodshot and desolate. So he has been crying…"For what it's worth…you've always been like a little brother to me…" Leon said quietly. Sora could only muster a tearful smile in response.

--------

Iya and King Mickey walked in. Everyone stared in awe at the glimmering silver Keyblades in Iya's hands.

"The Gray Nocturne…times two…" Yuffie squeaked. Riku and Sora stood together and called their Keyblades to their hand. The three of them held their weapons in front of them in unspoken oath. A powerful silence shook the room and crushed them all.

"You with us?" Riku asked. His face was hard and calculating but Iya kept the same soft stoic expression. She nodded silently. Sora returned it just the same. He placed his Keyblade in the center, Riku placed his on top of Sora's and lastly Iya placed hers a top of theirs.

"We're in this together. "Sora said resolutely. "For good."

---------

Finally! I got it. I promise I'll update sooner. Once again I apologize to those who were waiting. Espeically NightRaven 13!

HEY!!!

This is the ever-so-benevolent Shadowlily. I have come with an announcement. No I'm NOT canceling this fanfic! I'm just going though a dead spot (in case you haven't noticed). With school, surgery, band, doctor's appointments, keeping up with my prescriptions, Color Guard and keeping my grades up, I'm lucky if I get to get on the computer much less write. So my apologies, I hope you understand.

Thanks!

Shadowlily