I don't own KH or FF. Not much to inform you on. Does anyone else think that kingdom hearts should include Cinderella and Snow white's worlds? They didn't have any major destructive villains but it would still be fun. I mean the others got to have their own worlds why can't they? I would once again like to thank my loyal reviewers. I really didn't expect to get this many. Thanks.

Chapter 4

Our old home

The group forced open the towering wooden doors that marked the entrance to town. It took all of them to pry the door back long enough to slip inside. After all the doors had been designed to keep out evading heartless.

There weren't many people remaining in the town. Some had stayed behind but most had returned to their original worlds. Even though over a year had passed this place still held a feeling of home.

"We're back!" Yuffie sang and pranced down the street. She grabbed a lamppost and used it to swing back towards them. "Hey everyone!" There was only silence. "What gives?" Yuffie jumped down from the lamppost and looked up to the sky.

"There's nobody here." Aerith whispered so quietly that they could barely hear her.

"Not true kupo!" They all jumped back in surprise. A small moogle was at their feet standing on the cobbled road. It's peachy color was bright against the dark road. "What brings you back kupo?" None of them were exactly in the mood to describe what had happened.

"We're on an errand for Merlin." Aerith covered.

Cloud, who had insisted on having Leon carry him, slipped down to the street and hid behind Cid's leg. "Well not to worry kupo," continued the moogle oblivious to Cloud's presence. "The town is now heartless free." It suddenly yelled. "Cut it out kupo!" Cloud giggled and swatted at the moogle's fluffy red pom-pom again. It wobbled lazily in the air causing Cloud to clap his hands in joy. The moogle scowled and marched off mumbling, "Why does everyone touch my pom-pom?" Cloud hung his head obviously upset that his toy had just walked away.

Cid was the first to break the long moment of silence. "Tifa's wait' in for us in the accessory shop." He headed towards the shop ignoring their confused looks.

"She knows about all this?" Yuffie questioned and followed on his heels.

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The door to the shop was stuck from disuse. It didn't open until Leon delivered a swift kick to its center. They stepped inside the small room. It had always been too small but now with all of them inside it was just crammed. The shop was dark the electricity had been shut off long ago. The shelves had been emptied off all items. The fireplace was full of nothing but ashes. Yuffie ran her hand over the counter top and scowled. Her hand had turned black with dust. At least it wasn't as cluttered as the small house they had worked out of here.

Leon leaned against a musty wall. "I thought you said Tifa would be here."

"Up here!" A feminine voice called. They jumped and looked up through the square opening in the ceiling. Tifa was looking down on them with a delighted smile. "You're late." She slid don the green ladder and placed her hands on her hips. Her clothes were mostly black. They noted that she still wore her gloves, always ready for a fight. Her hair was shoulder length and dark brown. It went perfectly with her mahogany eyes.

"Teef!" Cloud ran forward to see her. Tifa bent down to look him over. She still wasn't sure on all of the details in his situation, but as long as she could help she was satisfied.

"I finally caught up with you." She looked past Cloud when she saw the tattered end of Vincent's cape. She rose back up to her full height and stared at him blankly. "Vincent…I-they never said you were here." He gave her a slow nod.

"I didn't know you would be here either." There was a long moment of awkward silence.

"C'mon guys lets go." Yuffie waved her arms for attention. "This is so dull."

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They had traveled through the second district without a problem. It was much different from the first. The hotel was open for business along with all the stores that lined the streets. Aerith smiled remembering the day they had met there with Sora and the others. Those were darker times.

Leon stopped and turned to her. "You and Yuffie and Cid go to Merlin's old house. The rest of us will go through the passage way through the tunnel." She agreed and took Cloud's hand leading him and the rest of her group towards the third district. Leon watched them leave. "Let's go." He led them through a large house.

The upper windows were made of stained glass. The structure itself was made of pure white marble. They walked through the adjoining rooms ignoring most of their contents. The fact that there were numerous puppies running about was the only thing that they really noticed.

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Aerith Yuffie and Cid were standing in the third district. A wooden door marked with a fire emblem stood before them. The door didn't have a handle. It didn't need one.

"Fire." Aerith commanded and held a hand out before her. Flames shot from her fingers and encircled the door. The spell was activated and their entrance opened. Cloud ooood at the sight, making him all the more eager to go in.

It was a strange set up. Inside it was like a gloomy cavern. The room was large and circular and filled with water. In the center was a small island with a decaying house perched on top. There was a soft sound like an owl's hoot that echoed continuously off the stone walls.

They were standing on a small patch of sand. The only way to reach the old house would be to cross the large stone platforms. This would be no easy task because the platforms drifted back and forth in the calm water. Yuffie giggled. This was easy stuff to her. She bounded across the stone slabs with ease. She added extra flips to make it all the more fun. Within moments she was on the other end. It was as if she never left the ground. She waved for the other two to follow.

Cid took Cloud from Aerith and motioned for her to go first. Aerith looked nervously at the moving rocks but jumped to the first one anyway. It was easier than she remembered it being. Just to be safe she kept her arms up at her sides for balance and made her way across. She jumped the final platform and landed under a small sign like structure. An owl was carved into it its right wing had broken off and it went along with the looks of the house. She knew the image was supposed to mean something but she never knew what.

Cid landed beside her and set Cloud down. The child wobbled and blinked his eyes. The trip had made him dizzy.

"Hurry up you two," Yuffie disappeared around the side of the house. Aerith looked the house over. Where the front door had been there was nothing but old boards. They had been placed there as a type of barricade and prevented entry. But on the side of the house a large chunk of the brick wall had been smashed out. The only think that stood between entering was an old tattered curtain.

They ducked inside. The room was empty and even dirtier then the accessory shop. There was only a small circular platform in the center where the table once sat.

"It has to be here." Yuffie said scanning the room once again. "It couldn't have just walked away." Oh but it had. Aerith pointed to a large black smear on the floor.

"Heartless." She murmured. "They've taken it." She felt angrier then she had been in a long time. "Those thieving monsters!" Yuffie patted her shoulder.

"We'll find it. It wasn't taken that long ago." To their surprise Aerith suddenly jumped and looked franticly around the room. Something felt terribly wrong. This place no longer felt safe.

"Where's Cloud?"

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Kairi absentmindedly kicked a few pebbles into the water. She had gone with Leon into the passage. She was fairly soaked because the only way in was to swim through at least five feet of water. A bunch of rocks made up the only land they could stand on and remain dry. She looked at the odd mural on the wall. It shone blue and it was decorated with small golden stars and a large moon. She remembered this place from before.

Leon marched down from a winding stone stair case. At the top there was a lift that led up to Merlin's old house. But it could only be activated by Merlin's magic. "Any luck?" He asked.

"Nope." Kairi kicked another pebble. Tifa was starting to do the same but only adjusted her gloves. Vincent stood beside one of the brightly glowing torches in the tunnel. They must have been magic since they hadn't gone out in years.

"Perhaps we should head back to the others." Vincent directed the statement to Leon. Tifa nodded. Vincent didn't usually speak unless necessary. Maybe something was wrong. Leon was about to agree when they heard voices screaming overhead. Their message was clear as a bell.

"Cloud, where are you!"

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Aerith had taken Yuffie and Cid into the old house but, Cloud had stayed outside. This place was much too interesting to ignore. He wandered unknowingly around to the back of the house. There was a large stack of crates pushed up against the side of the hose. He tried to mount them but stopped and jumped back to his feet. A strange creature was hobbling away. In its hands was a fat book with a strange phrase printed across the cover.

The creature wore what seemed to be a metal helmet. It's fingers were long and sharp with red tips. It was wearing a strange blue and red outfit. Cloud was intrigued and started to pursue this odd little thing. He didn't remember ever coming across a heartless before.

CHINK-CHINK

A strange noise stopped him. He turned and saw a golden orb rolling past. It was materia. He followed after it instead. No mater how fast he pattered after it he couldn't catch up. It rolled from the island and into the large moat that surrounded it. He stumbled through the mossy grass and leaned over the water.

It was dark and murky but he could still make out the faint golden glow of the orb. He reached into the water with his left hand ignoring how damp his sleeve was becoming. His fingers closed around its smooth surface and he hauled himself into a sitting position. He stared into its crystal like surface in amazement. It was beautiful. He spun it in his fingers until a strange image flashed over it' reflective surface. He shivered and looked slowly over his shoulder.

"Umph---" A strangers arm latched around his stomach while a gloved hand smothered his mouth. The materia dropped from his grasp and landed with a soft plunk in the water. He wriggled angrily in the others tight grasp trying desperately to escape or at least scream.

He growled enraged as a cloud of black, purple, and blue smoke swirled together before him. He pushed against those restraining arms and tried desperately to move away from the darkness. Whoever had him stepped into the darkness and they vanished together without a trace.

"Cloud, Where are you!"

Oh no I lost Cloud. Where on the planet did I put him? That's going to be a problem when I try and turn him back isn't it? I couldn't resist including the pom-pom thing. A moogle actually said that in the kh game and I figured it would be fun. Oh who will rescue our beloved Cloud? If I don't update again tonight I may not do it until Saturday. Sorry school sucks. It all depends on how much homework they give me. (Seriously who do you think stole Cloud.)