Not long after Tarzan had run off to find Sora had he returned, his face thoughtful. "Upset," he explained. "Needs alone time."

Kairi almost wondered if it would be good for her to go after him instead, but she decided to heed his request.

Terra was right. The keyhole must be sealed.

They made it to the waterfalls before noon, which was a great thing, considering how massive they were.

"Should have brought our bathing suits." Ventus commented, looking over the edge of the cliff and down into the river below.

"No time for a swim, I'm afraid. Let's get to work." Aqua reprimanded.

"Where do you think it is?"

Riku snorted. "Well, if you ever played a Zelda game, you would know there's always something good behind the waterfall."

"Yeah, but this isn't a video game." Replied Terra. He summoned his keyblade, pointing it out the waterfall. "Hmm, it's not out here though."

"It's not a dosing rod," Riku scoffed. "It's not just going to pop up like that."

"Okay Mr. Master-for-a-year, how do you think we should find it?"

Kairi broke off from the group as they argued, examining the face of the cliff where the waterfall began. It was about 80 feet up, at a 90 degree angle. If they wanted to get up to the top, they would have to find another way.

Then she glanced down, her eyes widening as she spotted a cave mouth, and a narrow path to it. "Let's check down there!" She shouted back.

Everyone hurried over to see where she was pointing.

"Ooh, good eye, Kai!"

She grinned.

"What did I tell you? Behind the waterfall." Riku gloated.

"Yeah, you can rub it in when we find it."

The cave mouth ran the length of the waterfall, one wall just being solid water. Eventually, the small path opened up into a wide wall of ledges and caverns.

"Well...guess we explore." Riku stated, looking for footholds in the rock. "Everything is wet, so be careful."

"That's what she said," muttered Ventus, before getting elbowed in the gut.

They spread out, climbing their way up the rock face and traveling down short tunnels to dead ends. "There's nothing here!" Whined Ventus laying on a ledge, "Not even any treasure!"

"Just keep looking," Aqua tried to motivate. "The cavern is big."

Jane, of all people, had made it her personal mission to scale the wall up the the top of the cavern. It had taken some time, but once she made it, she called down from above. "I think I found it! This cave runs deeper than the others!"

Using her instructions, everyone made their way up to her, and found themselves standing at the entrance to a much bigger, much darker tunnel than the others.

"Well?"

"Kinda scary." Kairi admitted.

"Scarier than fighting heartless in a graveyard?" Riku mentioned with a snicker.

"No, that was the worst. Thanks for reminding me."

With that, they delved deeper into the caves.

"It's creepy," Commented Ventus, agreeing with Kairi. "I'm expecting some nasties to just pop up."

"Oh don't say that Ven!"

Finally, the tunnel spilled out into a large room, with an open ceiling. An ancient looking tree stood directly ahead of them, covered in vines and glowing blue butterflies.

But more astoundingly, there was Sora, looking pissed to high hell.

"Sora's spot! Secret place!" He looked ready to fight. "Leave!"

"We're not here to hurt you," Riku said, taking a step towards him. "You remember me? Riku? Riku friend?"

Sora relaxed slightly. "Like Riku." He agreed.

"And Riku like Sora. Riku also likes Terra, Aqua, and Ventus."

They were making progress. Sora wasn't growling at their names now.

But it still unbelievably painful for Aqua, who did her damndest to get ahold of her emotions. "Sora...you know we would never hurt you. This...this was an accident, and I'm so so sorry."

Sora wasn't so eager to accept her apology. He huffed angrily.

"Why never come? Come for Sora?"

It was just as she feared. "We didn't know you were here!"

"Last place was! Never left!"

"We looked for you for three days!" She insisted, tears freely flowing.

"Look for Keyhole much longer..." he muttered.

It was a low blow, attacking their sense of duty.

"Please Sora. We made a mistake. If there had been any inkling that you were safe, we would have kept looking, but...there was just...nothing. Please, we have missed you so so much and we want you to come home!" She stepped forward, her arms open wide. "Please..."

He crawled backwards, closer to the tree, startling the butterflies. "Too late. No saving Sora."

"No saving...?" Aqua whispered. "You mean the creature hunting you?"

He didn't respond.

The butterflies caught Kairi's attention, and she saw what others didn't. Carefully, she stepped closer to him. "Sora..." she said soothingly.

Her voice got through to him, and he looked at her, pleading her to take his side.

"Do you remember why we came?"

"Keyhole." He said simply.

"That's right, and you found it!"

He cocked his head slightly, then looked over his shoulder.

The butterflies had fluttered out of the way, revealing a keyhole in the middle of the tree.

"Will you help me close it?" She asked, summoning her keyblade.

He nodded, crawling towards her and placing his hand upon hers on the hilt. A beam shot out and entered the keyhole, locking the world.

Finally, their job was done.

Sora looked up to Kairi, sadly. "Leaving?"

"Not without you," she insisted, resting a hand in his shoulder.

He shook his head, extracting himself from her touch. "Don't belong. Not safe."

"Of course you belong with us, Sora." Aqua added. "We're your family."

It seemed the conversation would have to be continued another time. Jane shouted out in surprise as a shadow appeared from the entrance of the cave. The same cat as before, with an attitude to boot.

Tarzan grabbed Jane and pulled her behind him.

"Guard!" Aqua called, summoning a barrier.

Before it connected to the ground, Sora slid across the ground and got between them and the cat, the barrier closing behind him.

"No!" Cried Kairi.

"Drop the barrier, Aqua!" Ventus begged. "He can't be out there alone!"

But before she could even do anything, Sora summoned his keyblade, in all of its horror.

Riku looked sick at the sight.

The cat leapt, ready to attack. Everyone cried out in protest, all afraid to lose him after finally finding him.

But surprisingly, Sora stood against the attack. The claw-like tendrils on the keyblade came to life, stretching and swiping at the cat, piercing its hide, and tearing it asunder. Like teeth, the keyblade devoured the creature, even its essence, until there was nothing left.

Sora panted once it was all over, and then fell to his knees.

"Sora!" Cried Kairi.

Aqua dropped the barrier instantly, running to him.

He coughed and heaved, like he was going to become sick, but he kept swallowing it back instead.

Finally, he passed into unconsciousness.

"What the hell was that?!" Terra yelled. "I've never seen a keyblade do that!"

"I don't think they're supposed to." Said Aqua, checking his vitals. "Something is very wrong with his heart. That's why his keyblade looked like that."

"Well, at least he's free from being hunted now." Riku noted.

Tarzan grunted, drawing their attention. "Leopard not hunter. Not first to attack him."

"Wait wait wait," Terra spoke up, "are you saying that there have been other beasts like this after him?"

"Many. Come from one."

Resolved, Aqua turned Sora over on his back. "I know we shouldn't force him to do anything, but at this point, we have choice. We have to bring him home. Maybe Master Eraqus or Yen Sid...or even Ansem the Wise could help him. And he's not safe here."

Terra agreed and stooped to pick him up.

Jane spoke up. "I'm sorry we'll be parting like this, but thank you for all your help."

"It's our job!" Ventus said a little proudly.

"We'll definitely come to visit. I'm sure or Master will want to investigate this creature a little more. We can even bring you stuff you miss from London."

"That would be marvelous! Now you better get a move on! I hope you the best!"

Sora thankfully stayed asleep the whole trip back. They loaded him on the ship first while the boys got to work dismantling the camp. His breathing was harsh, but he did not stir.

Kairi knelt by his side, as he laid on the floor, a blanket under him.

"You okay?" Aqua asked, seeing her face wrinkled with concern.

"I'm just...confused. Mostly worried, but...Sora himself is easy to read, but there so much mystery involving him...it's hard to think."

"I understand." Aqua sat next to her. "I'm sorry we didn't tell you guys about him earlier but...we really thought he was gone forever."

"I don't hold it against you. But still..."

"Yeah..."

"You know...last night, Sora and I talked over dinner. He mentioned he remembered me from Radiant Garden. You guys visited when I was little?"

"Yeah, pretty often. Though, usually Master Eraqus, Terra, and I would talk with Ansem the Wise, while Sora played in the courtyard, under the observation of the guard, of course.

Kairi smiles softly. "I love the courtyard. My grandma used to take me there a lot. I bet I did know him back then."

"Did you explain that you lost your memory?"

"Yeah. He was sad about it, but I'm sure we'll make new memories."

Aqua hummed in agreement, her gaze going back to Sora. "In fact...if there truly is darkness stirring in his heart, it's probably best that he's around you. You'll help him heal, right?"

She smiled softly. "Yeah, Sora's safe with me."

Radiant Garden.

Or what it once was.

In just the span of 24 hours, the heartless army had decimated the town. Those that hadn't turned into heartless had fled anyway possible. Shoddy gummi ships took off towards Traverse Town, jammed packed full of civilians. The walls to the fountains broke, and water flooded in, flowing backwards from the overwhelming influence of the darkness.

A witch in a black robe paced the hall in the chapel, contemplating the changes she'd make to the castle.

"Radiant Garden's Castle, just as promised." Her visitor said.

"My my, when you said you'd get it for me, I didn't believe you'd actually do it. Though, you seem much more capable to achieve your goals than I first imagined. This seemed like a walk in the park for you."

"It may have looked effortless, but it was no small feat. This world is fiercely guarded by its people and warriors of the keyblade."

"Then why bother with it at all, if it was so full of light?"

The other hummed, "this world is unique. Its keyhole is incomplete, and therefore, there is no way for it to fall to the darkness. In order for the keyhole to be complete, the seven Princesses of Heart must be assembled."

"As you said before," Maleficent drawled. "The objective you have given me to complete."

"Correct. Three of the Princesses are here already, I sense them in the castle, hiding. The fourth will be brought here later this evening. Two more will be easy to find, and the last…the last would be difficult, but I have a plan for her."

"And if I gather these princesses and reveal the keyhole, what then? Why should I even be listening to you?"

"Trust me, my dear. Once everything is in place, you shall know untold power. Not just over this world, but all worlds. Can I count on you, Mistress of Evil?"

Her smile was disgusting, filled with unspeakable evil. "Of course, there's no one better for the job."