Ahahahaha oh boy! I'm pretty dang excited about this chapter, I gotta say. For while the first half of it is pretty standard, its second half is where things really start to go off the rails and I'm sooooo glad to have finally gotten to it! But I won't spoil any of that for you right here. You'll just have to read on to find out what happens... ;) Enjoy!


Chapter 20: Immortals

'Cause we could be immortals, immortals,
Just not for long, for long
And live with me forever now,
You pull the blackout curtains down,
Just not for long, for long,
We could be immortals

As a stark contrast to the chaos that beset the city and its residents earlier in the day, night falls peacefully over San Fransokyo. In light of their hard-won triumph over the Heartless, it's a sort of calm that the members of Big Hero 6, as well as Sora, Donald, and Goofy, certainly welcome. With no rampaging monsters to distract them, the collective group makes their way back to the garage to plan out their next move when it comes to finding the Key. A goal that the young heroes of Big Hero 6 are more than happy to assist the trio in accomplishing considering the invaluable help they've offered them thus far.

"So once you guys get all 13 of those Keys," Hiro begins, ever curious. "What exactly are you planning on doing with them?"

"That's a… good question…" Sora exchanges a quizzical look with Donald and Goofy. The most the pair can offer him is a set of shared shrugs, an obvious sign that they're just as clueless about their endgame as he is. Not that they could really divulge that information if they did have it, lest the world order be shattered completely. "We don't really know. But what we do know is that we need to get them all before Organization XIII can."

"Organization XIII?" Go Go glances back at the trio. "What's that, some kind of gang?"

"A gang of villainous scoundrels, bent on complete and utter world domination!" Fred zealously spins around to walk backward. "Am I right, or am I right?"

"You're… not too far off, actually," Sora admits. "Whenever somebody from the Organization shows up, they bring nothing but trouble with them."

"Ya know, maybe they're the reason why Heartless started showin' up here in the city in the first place," Goofy points out. "They had to've come from somewhere, right?"

"Which means that Organization member could still be here, looking for the Key too!" Donald pipes up urgently.

"And that means they could bring the Heartless back again to attack the city," Sora concludes, every bit as serious as his companions.

"Well if they do, then we'll be ready for them," Hiro says, resolved. "Right, Baymax?"

Oddly, the robot doesn't answer. Instead, his attention is focused on the nearby street they're passing by. Or rather, what's speeding down it toward them.

It flies behind them all in a flash, though as it turns a broad corner down the next street, they're all able to see it clearly just as Baymax had just seconds before them. Countless small, black, yet gently glowing cubes, converged together in a large, writhing mass that hovers on its own accord somehow. It continues swiftly down the street, paying no attention to the baffled group watching it with balking, baffled stares.

"Uh, w-what the heck is that thing?!" Wasabi squeaks, alarmed.

"Looks like you guys weren't wrong," Go Go says to the trio. "Those creatures are back for more."

"Then let's give them what they're after," Honey Lemon's tone is resolved as she pulls a chem ball from her purse. "It's time for a lesson."

"Chaaaaaarge!" Fred bellows, rushing forward to meet this newfound threat. Wasabi, Go Go, and Honey Lemon quickly follow after him, and Hiro nearly does the same. At least until he catches another look at the mass of cubes, now arranged into the three-dimensional shape of a heart, positioned atop a building not too far away from their current location.

"W-wait!" He gasps as his helmet's visor offers him a timely scan of their latest foe. "Guys! This one's not like the others!"

Despite this warning, the other members of the team don't hear him, still running ahead to fight the cubes. Hiro makes no such move to follow them however. Instead, worry fills him at the mere thought of having to face the very first threat they'd ever tackled together as a team all over again. "It can't be…" he whispers incredulously. "Microbots...?"

"Microbots?" Sora asks, overhearing him. "You know what they are?"

"Well, they're different from the Heartless," Goofy notes, scratching his head.

"But they still look like they're here to cause trouble, just like the Heartless!" Donald scowls up at the distant mass of darkened cubes.

"N-no, that's not-" Hiro cuts himself off with a leveling sigh. "Microbots are designed to do whatever you think via a neural transmitter that communicates whatever you're…" He trails off, quickly realizing from their absolutely blank expressions that the trio isn't following his technical, complicated explanation. "Uh, they're kind of a mini-bot I invented. Some… bad stuff happened and I thought that meant they were totally gone. But those new enemies are way too similar. Which means someone's controlling them. The question is who." Hiro pauses once more, his already palpable dread increasing tenfold as he remembers all too well exactly who had controlled, or rather stole, his microbots before. And, even more painfully, what that theft had cost his friends, his family, himself, both at the start of it all and at the end. "No way…" he mutters, trying to believe that it isn't true, that it can't be true. And yet… "Could it be…?"

"Hiro?" Sora leans in, concerned.

Pulling himself out of his anxious thoughts, Hiro looks up, his expression set and stern with newfound determination to set this right. Regardless of whoever might be behind it. "I'm gonna go back to the garage and look into this. You guys mind helping out the rest of the team out here?"

"Of course," Sora smiles. Donald and Goofy nod alongside him. "After all, we need you taking care of all of the sciency stuff so we can take care of the Heartless."

"Right," Hiro agrees, more than happy to help his team-and his friends-in any way he can. "Baymax," he turns to his robot. "Stick with 'em. They might need your help."

"All right, Hiro," Baymax steps forward to join the trio as they begin to set out. "Sora, Donald, Goofy, I will be your personal healthcare companion."

"Thanks, Baymax," Sora readily accepts the robot's aid. Especially given how he's already more than proven himself in a fight earlier that day. "We're in good hands. Now, c'mon, everyone!" he beckons the others forward so they can join the rest of Big Hero 6. "Let's move."

By now, the mass of microbots has moved from its original position, the members of Big Hero 6 following suit as it speeds through the winding city streets. Because of this, Baymax and the trio have already lost sight of the others as they part ways with Hiro, leaving them largely on their own to find them and their new foe. While that's their main priority, however, they find that getting to it will be anything but easy. Especially as Heartless begin to appear around almost every turn.

"Aw, come on!" Donald huffs, annoyed as they come face-to-face with a particularly large horde of the creatures. "Not again!"

"Just when ya think ya got 'em all, they always manage to come back," Goofy scowls, just as exasperated as he pulls his shield out.

"Whatever's controlling those microbot things must have something to do with the Heartless too," Sora muses, knowing that the likelihood of the Heartless reappearing now can't be a mere coincidence.

"That's exactly what I was thinking too," Hiro suddenly pipes up over the intercom system. "If we can find out who that is, then I think it's a safe bet that we'll be able to stop them both.."

"Find out who's behind all this. Sounds easy enough," Sora agrees. "Don't worry, Hiro, we're on it."

"Thanks, I knew I could count on you guys," Hiro says, allayed.

"But how are we supposed to do that?" Donald shoots Sora an incredulous look amidst firing off a thunder spell to help clear the crowd of Heartless besetting them. "We don't have any idea who's sending these Heartless or those microbots!"

"Well it's bound to be someone from the Organization," Sora counters as he knocks down a few Heartless himself. "That narrows it down at least a little, right?"

"Yep, to about 13," Goofy notes, blocking an attack from one of the winged creatures. "Unless they got any new members we don't know about."

"I sure hope not," Donald grumbles. "Dealing thirteen is bad enough."

"Tell me about it…" Sora mutters, dreading the thought of any possible additions to that treacherous group. Especially since they seem to have their sights dead set on him as their potential thirteenth.

"I am unable to scan for Organization XIII," Baymax reports, fending several more of the creatures off on his own. "However I am able to track our current target… there."

The robot points to a tall building afar in the distance, where, sure enough, the swarm of microbots shifts and shimmers, even as the members of Big Hero 6 try their best to damage it. An effort that doesn't do much as the mass of cubes doesn't even budge, even under the countless strikes hitting it at once.

"The others need our help!" Sora exclaims, already rushing through the horde of monsters ahead.

"But what about the Heartless?" Goofy asks, exchanging an alarmed glance with Donald.

"Leave 'em! We've got to go!"

Baymax is the first to act on Sora's call onward, his thrusters kicking up as he flies through the crowd of Heartless, knocking most of them aside in the process. While they're stunned by the sudden blow, Donald and Goofy readily follow suit. They join Sora in catching a lift from the robot, narrowly latching onto his hands as their young companion takes his back. And with his trio of passengers in tow, Baymax takes off, rocketing to the skies so they can all get a better view of exactly what they're dealing with.

For its part, the microbot mass remains stationary, allowing the members of Big Hero 6 to attack it tirelessly, though still to no avail. Still, the young heroes are more than relieved to spot a familiar crimson bot closing in, carrying an accompanying trio that's more than ready to join in on the fray.

Just as Baymax flies high above the microbots, Sora takes the initiative, diving off the robot's back with his Keyblade at the ready. He strikes the writhing mass squarely, his Keyblade slicing through several of the unseen bonds connecting the cubes together. And yet, as he rebounds away from it to stick a solid landing on the building's rooftop, he quickly finds that his heavy attack is nowhere near as effective as he thought it would be. The cubes ripple and waver briefly, though they just as quickly weave themselves back together into their steady, heart-shaped form, not at all impacted by what should have been a devastating blow.

"What?" Sora asks, baffled. At the same time, Donald, Goofy, and Baymax come to join him on the roof's surface. "No fair! Why can't we hurt it?"

"It's because they aren't microbots!" Hiro exclaims over the intercom, finally able to glean more about this new threat now that he's back it back to the garage. "I just scanned them again and those things aren't what I invented. They're… well, I don't really know what they are, but we've gotta take it down."

"Uh, yeah, that's what we've been trying to do, genius," Go Go dryly remarks as she skates to a grinding halt near the trio.

Wasabi chimes in as he slices his laser blades at the cubes repeatedly. "But we aren't exactly making a ton of progress on that front…"

"It's like it's impenetrable!" Honey Lemon adds. She lobs a chem ball at the writhing mass, though the palpable explosion it creates still does nothing to disrupt its form. "None of our weapons are working against it!"

"Our shugyo didn't prepare us for the combined power of millions of tiny evil CUBES!" Fred wails, flailing his arms dramatically.

Amidst the team's rising frustration, Sora stops short as he notices something none of the others do. Not even Donald and Goofy, standing right beside him, catch sight of it as they discuss their predicament among themselves. But Sora sees it clearly as he lifts his free hand to look at it: that same dark, yet radiant glow swirling over his open hand, the harbinger of the peculiar new power he now possesses. It's as if it's asking him, encouraging him to use that power now, to call upon it to put an end to this persistent threat. And certainly, there's a very high likelihood that it could do exactly that if he does. It's already proven to be more than enough to cut through massive crowds of Heartless with ease; who's to say it couldn't do the same with a swarming horde of mysterious cubes?

And yet, just before he can willingly, eagerly let that power loose, he hesitates. He hesitates when he remembers his pair of companions still standing alongside him, when he thinks about what they might say, about how they might see that new magic.

About how they might try to stop him from using it if they do see it.

So instead of leaning on that magic, however helpful it might prove to be, Sora ultimately, begrudgingly decides against it. At least as long as Donald and Goofy are around to see him use it. "Hiro, you got any leads on that thing?" he asks instead, slipping his hand behind his back as the magic begins to slowly fade from it.

"I'm starting to," Hiro confirms, working at a rapid pace on his computer to gather as much information as he can as quickly as possible. "Somewhere inside of that thing, there's a core. It's what powers the whole cluster. And if my data is right, attacking that core is the only way to really damage it."

"Oh, now you tell us…"Wasabi huffs as he takes a bit of time to catch his breath.

"Would have been great to know that a LONG time ago," Go Go scowls, her hands on her hips.

"A predictable weakness for a boss like this," Fred muses, briefly throwing back the head of his suit. "We've gotta hit the Darkubes where it hurts!"

"I'm sorry, did you just say 'Darkubes'?" Wasabi asks, eyeing him incredulously.

"Yeah. They're dark, they're cubes," Fred reiterates. "I call 'em like I see 'em. Every baddie needs a cool name!"

"Yeah, that's not cool," Go Go rolls her eyes.

"You know, if you guys are having that much trouble, maybe I should head back down there to help," Hiro offers, hopeful. Even so, the members of his team are quick to turn that offer down.

"No, Hiro," Honey Lemon shakes her head. "We don't know what this thing is or what it could do next. You should stay there so you can help us get an edge against it."

"Yeah," Wasabi solidly agrees. "Figure out a way for us to beat this thing!"

"But guys," Hiro protests, desperate to do something more than simply sitting safely at a computer while his friends are in harm's way. "I can't just leave you out there all alone against that thing."

"Hiro," Go Go's voice is stern, even as she eyes the cubes above them all warily. "We are a team. And teams delegate. We need you at the garage. We trust you, so you trust us."

For a moment, Hiro still hesitates on the other end of the intercom line. Despite being the unofficial leader of Big Hero 6, he's well aware that he's the least combat-ready among them, usually having to rely on Baymax sticking close by his side in most dangerous encounters. But that's never stopped him from wanting to stand by his friends, no matter what they might face. And yet, perhaps this time, the best way for him to do that is just as his teammates are imploring him to do: to stay put and offer his aid in a different way entirely. By uncovering intel that could very well spell the difference between success or defeat.

"Fine," Hiro finally agrees with an accepting smile. "I'll look for a way for us to expose the Darkubes' core. As long as they aren't actively attacking, then we should have plenty of time to-"

"L-looks like you spoke too soon!" Wasabi suddenly cries as he narrowly uses his laser blades to fend off an unexpected attack. Said attack came from the Darkube horde itself, and it sends out several more in succession after it, it's dark tendrils whipping out at the startled group below it.

"W-what's it doing?!" Goofy asked, blocking one of these fierce strikes with his shield.

"And why now?!" Donald adds as he fires off a quick water spell.

"Whoa, this thing's energy readings are off the charts now!" Hiro exclaims, his computer blaring red before him. "Whatever's happening can't be good. I'm almost done pinpointing the core, but if you need me to help-"

"Nah, it's ok, Hiro," Sora assures, brandishing his Keyblade against the cubes rushing his way. "We're on it."

Hiro lets out a bit of a disappointed sigh on the other end of the line, but ultimately he agrees. "Right. But be careful, everyone. Stick together; don't let that thing split you up!"

"Copy!" the members of Big Hero 6 and the trio all simultaneously proclaim as they get to work.

Baymax flies forward first, his large hands blocking off the brunt of the wide-ranged tendrils the Darkubes send flying forward. Several smaller streams slip past him, however, besetting the others as they do their best to find them away. Wasabi cuts through them as steadily as he can while Go Go launches one of her disks on the offensive, though the mass itself still refuses to be broken down so easily. Honey Lemon's various chem balls only narrowly push the cubes back, and a generous stream of fire from Fred does more or less the same. Despite taking down its outward attacks, the downed cubes always swiftly return to the horde they came from, replenishing it constantly. And likewise, despite their steadfast line of defense against this swarm, Sora, Donald, and Goofy find they aren't having much luck against it either.

"Whoa!" Goofy cries as a sharp swath of Darkubes suddenly nicks his shield hard. The blow is enough to send the shield flying out of his grip, though before the cubes can hit him, Donald supplies another wall of defense in the form of a timely ice spell. Still, Goofy has no time to thank him for the save before another torrent of Darkubes shatters the wall of ice before them both. Yet it doesn't get a chance to reach them before it's stopped once more, brutally pushed aside by something that slips by the pair so fast that they barely see it. They barely see the burst of darkened light that saves them, nor do they see where, or who it might have come from.

"Huh?" Goofy glances around, confused. "What was that?"

"I… don't know," Donald frowns. "Sora, did you see that just now?"

"See what?" Sora asks, keeping his tone even and steady enough. Fortunately, the aura of magic surrounding his hand has diminished, and both of them grip his Keyblade tightly now as he uses that to block off more Darkubes. A seamless transition from the risky move he'd just made to help his companions just in the nick of time.

"...Never mind," Donald grumbles as both him and Goofy get back into the fray. As they do, Sora allows himself a small sigh of relief. It hadn't been much, but even using the tiny amount of magic that he had just now felt good, it felt liberating. And, it made him want to unleash so much more of itif he only could.

Despite their best efforts to push the Darkubes' swarm back, the members of Big Hero 6 soon begin to find themselves fatigued from such a seemingly endless onslaught. Their weapons do nothing to wear it down like it's swiftly starting to wear them down, something that they're reminded of all too well when the surging Darkubes converge back into their full, massive collection once more. As they do, their ongoing assault is put on hold, though as for how long the much-needed standstill might last, the group below has no idea.

"This is starting to get really old, really fast," Go Go remarks with an irritated scowl.

"Freddie's getting frustrated!" Fred huffs in cross agreement, flame spitting out of his suit.

"We need a better strategy," Honey Lemon says, bracing herself for another attack. "Otherwise, we're just wasting our strength out here."

"Well, if anybody has any better ideas than what we've been doing, I'd love to hear 'em!" Wasabi exclaims diffidently.

"If only we knew where to strike…" Sora mutters, carefully looking the Darkube cluster over.

"Wait! Sora! I got it!" Hiro excitedly announces through the intercom. "I'm sending you an AR software update. It'll show you where the core is-the Darkubes' weak point. And since we now know where to attack it, I'm coming to help!"

"Wait, Hiro-" Sora stops short, wincing as a sudden burst of noisy static ripples across the intercom. At the same time, his AR visor flashing a bright, sharp red as it fails to pinpoint any sort of core like Hiro said it would. "Huh?" Sora frowns, confused by the strange interference. "That's weird. Is it busted?" Unsure of how to get the device working properly again, he looks to the Darkubes once more, only for static to continue rolling in across the visor, disrupting the display and Sora's vision along with it. However, as he happens to glance down, he quickly notices another disconcerting sight: a lone figure, clad in an all-too-familiar black coat, slowly making their way across the roof toward the group. "Uh, Hiro?" Sora begins warily as he keeps his sights set on that unknown figure. "Who's that on the display?"

Strangely, Hiro doesn't answer. Goofy does instead, stepping forward to stand supportively by Sora's side as Donald does the same. "That's not on the display," the captain says sternly, raising his shield. "He's really here."

"The black coat… He's back?" Go Go mutters incredulously. Both her and the rest of Big Hero 6 all vaguely recognize this mysterious figure who'd been spotted more than a few times around the city just prior to the Heartless sieging it. Something that, in retrospect, can't simply be a mere coincidence.

"Are you done messing around?" the hooded figure finally speaks. There's an air of haughty confidence in his tone as he addresses Sora in particular.

"Wait… that voice…" Sora stilled his Keyblade, recognizing that voice almost instantly. After all, it's one he's heard many times before and would know just about anywhere. Even now, when it makes no sense to be hearing it here. Even so, he strains to get a better glimpse of exactly who that dark hood is hiding away, hoping against hope that he's wrong somehow. "It can't be…"

"Hold on," Wasabi interjects. "You know this guy?"

Before Sora can really offer an answer, Fred cuts in with his usual round of on-the-nose narration. "And now… enter the supervillian!"

"He definitely has the vibe…" Honey Lemon agrees, a chem ball already in her hand and at the ready if need be.

The mysterious figure lets out something of a dry, mocking laugh at this as he finally removes his hood. And the very moment he does, at least for Sora, everything else comes to a grinding halt altogether.

"R-Riku…" he barely manages to choke out. He wonders if the AR device or his eyes or something else entirely is playing tricks on him and he desperately wishes that they are. Yet despite that wish, the boy standing across the roof from him still doesn't change. "But… how-"

"Riku" holds up a hand to silence him, his already knowing grin deepening as he regards the shocked expression Sora sends his way silently. Sure enough, he certainly seems to be Riku, though even upon a first glance, he's clearly different. His fairly new clothing has been, of course, replaced by the Organization's tell-tale black coat, and at the same time, he looks strangely younger by at least a year or two. His silver hair is once again longer as it used to be, and, most disconcerting of all, his eyes, which should be a familiar, easy turquoise, are now a stark, bitter yellow instead.

"N-no…" Sora whispers, so quietly that none of the others hear him. His mind swiftly whirls through the myriad of distressing thoughts filling it at the simple sight of "Riku". Being here, looking like this, after everything that's happened, after everything they've been through. And yet out of all those countless, crushing thoughts, one still persists above them all. "I-I thought… I thought I was the one they wanted…"

And by all accounts, he knows it would be better if he was the one they had. Especially if it's in the place of one of his two closest friends who seems to have fallen into the Organization's sinister clutches instead.

"Riku" still says nothing as he turns his attention toward the small data chip that he pulls out of his pocket. The chip itself is drenched in a clear, shadowy aura just as much as the Darkubes still swarming above him are. "As if this stupid Key hunt wasn't already enough of a hassle…" His cool smile finally falls into annoyance as he looks over the chip, one that Hiro also managed to catch sight of as functionality finally returns to Sora's AR visor.

"Wait… W-where'd he get that?" he asks incredulously, zooming in on the familiar skull etched onto the side of the chip.

"Hiro?" Sora shakes his head to clear it. He struggles to ground himself back into the more urgent matter at hand, even if his sights never leave "Riku" all the while. "Do you recognize that thing?"

"...Yeah," Hiro hesitantly admitted. "That's the first chip I made for Baymax. It's full of combat programs." Upon hearing this, the other members of Big Hero 6 all let out a round of startled gasps. Each of them are quick to recognize the chip and immediately understand just how downright impossible it is for it to be here. Especially considering what it's supposed fate had been.

"Programs?" Sora asks, finally breaking his gaze away from "Riku" to exchange a confused glance with Donald and Goofy.

"Yeah, they tell Baymax how to react," Hiro explains. "Together, they're basically what makes Baymax… well, Baymax."

"So what you're sayin' is… they're like his heart?" Goofy wonders quizzically.

"Kind of?" Donald ventures even if he isn't quite sure himself.

At the same time, "Riku" looks over the chip once more, glancing between it and the Darkube cluster above him almost thoughtfully. "Not quite ready…" he muses, turning away from the group and to the cubes instead. "More then!" With that, he tosses the chip up, right into the Darkubes, which eagerly swallows it into their ever-shifting form. Without any apparent reason to linger, the unmistakable shadows of a dark corridor begin to converge around "Riku", though Sora isn't about to let him leave so easily. At least not without some kind of explanation behind all of this.

"Riku!" He rushes forward to catch him, though the dark corridor disappears before he can even get close. And yet, while Sora continues anxiously looking around for any signs of "Riku" reappearing, the others are met with a much more urgent sight instead.

As if reinvigorated by the attack chip now in its possession, the Darkubes' form shifts once more, reshaping themselves over and over again as they take on a sharp, warning glow. The members of Big Hero 6 all take up fighting stances, Donald and Goofy doing the same, especially as the Darkubes lash out for their first attack. And yet, if there's one thing none of them see coming, it's the sheer speed of that attack as its tendrils all whip down toward the young heroes at once. It brutally knocks just about each of them aside before any of them have so much of a chance to retaliate, though fortunately, they don't have to as Baymax does so in their stead.

The robot rockets forward, his sturdy armor allowing him to take more than a few heavy hits from the Darkubes as he collides with the bulk of the cluster in an attempt at striking the core buried somewhere within it. And yet, he accomplishes little as the Darkubes react harshly, tossing Baymax away with little effort.

"Oh no," is all the robot has to say just shy of his hard collision with the rooftop, one that fortunately doesn't land too much damage to him as much as it does to the roof. Even so, the members of Big Hero 6 all panic upon seeing Baymax fall, even amidst their attempts to recover from the Darkubes' attack themselves.

"Baymax!" they all shout in unison, rushing to pick themselves back up and hurry back into the fray. And sure enough, they bravely do so, with Go Go launching her megalev discs as Wasabi fires off a series of quick laser blasts toward the mass in hopes of slicing through its swiftly-moving tendrils. At the same time, Honey Lemon and Fred team up to use their respective abilities in tandem to try to freeze the cluster entirely. All valiant efforts that prove to do little against the Darkube's endless, aggressive onslaught.

For their part, Donald and Goofy do their best to aid the cause, sending an ice spell and a shield flying toward the Darkubes respectively. However, they quickly notice that Sora hasn't joined the fight, even as he seems every bit ready to do so with his Keyblade held as tightly in his grip as it is. But instead, he turns away from the ongoing brawl, his sights set on the city as he frantically surveys it, desperate to catch so much as even a glimpse of "Riku" within it.

"Where is he…?" he mutters to himself. Dread fills him more and more with each passing second, even as his companions run over to his side to interrupt his anxious search.

"Sora, come on!" Donald calls urgently. "We have to help the others!"

"Those Darkubes aren't holding back and neither should we!" Goofy agrees just as sternly.

"B-but we need to find Riku!" Sora turns to his companions, distraught. "I don't know what happened, but the Organization must have done something to him, a-and I can't-we can't just-"

"Aw, don't worry, Sora!" Goofy warmly reassures. "We'll figure out what happened to Riku. And we'll help him too!"

"But right now everyone else needs our help first!" Donald reminds, nodding back to the still-struggling team behind them.

Sora hesitates, torn between searching the city and the much more immediate threat the Darkubes pose. But in the end, he can't really argue with his companions' stance, especially as he watches the members of Big Hero 6 all be tossed back by yet another brutal blow. As much as it pains him-and it certainly does pain him to think that his best friend might have fallen victim to the Organization's treacherous schemes in such a short, unknown amount of time-"Riku" will just have to wait. "Right," he nods, resolved as he turns back to the fight. "Let's go."

The trio does exactly that, rushing forward toward the Darkubes and helping their fallen friends back up along the way. Fatigue and injury clearly weigh heavily upon the group of young heroes, their morale low as none of their attacks seem to do any sort of damage whatsoever. And yet their spirits are lifted in more ways than one as they watch the trio hurry on ahead to confront the Darkubes in their stead. And as the only absent member of their time finally arrives just in the nick of time.

"Guys! I'm here!" Hiro announces, emerging onto the rooftop from the lower floors of the building's interior. He wastes no time hurrying to rejoin his teammates, knowing that they'll need all the help they can get in a battle this intense and dangerous. "Is everyone ok?"

"Define 'ok'," Wasabi deadpans, massaging his sore shoulder.

"We'd be better if we could actually beat this thing once and for all," Go Go says, glaring up at the Darkubes.

"We should be able to if we strike its core," Hiro says, turning to the trio. "Sora! The core's position should be showing up on your AR device now, do you see it?"

Sora pauses, though only for a beat, to focus on the AR display. Which, sure enough, pinpoints an exact target moving frantically around inside of the Darkubes cluster. "Yeah! We'll-"

He stops short, however, as the Darkube cluster suddenly begins to waver. The energy rippling through its massive form strangely stops entirely, and with it, so too do their movements. All at once, the cluster begins to fall apart, cubes spilling from it and leaving nothing hoving in its place other than a single, larger, dark red cube: the core.

"What? It stopped?" Donald frowns, confused.

"Do ya reckon this might be some kind of trap?" Goofy asks, eyeing the core suspiciously.

"I don't want to wait to find out," Sora says, charging forward to attack the core. And surprisingly enough, he manages to do so, landing a heavy enough blow to defeat and dismiss the Heartless inhabiting it in one fell swoop.

As the core dissipates, the attack chip also falls out of it. It skids across the roof and ultimately comes to a stop on the far side of it, in the direct line of sight of Big Hero 6. "Baymax…" Hiro sighs wistfully. Bittersweet memories fill him as he remembers exactly what, or rather who had been lost alongside that chip in the first place. And yet, unlike the chip, he shows no signs of returning. Still, Hiro can't help but rush forward to reclaim it to, at the very least, hold onto one small remnant of his lost friend all the same.

Yet just before he can, another hand reaches in to take the chip instead.

"Oh, this isn't for you," "Riku's" tone is calm as he snatches it away. "At least… not until we're done."

Still, Hiro lashes out, wanting nothing more than the chip as he swings a fist in an attempt to take it back. "Riku" easily dodges the impromptu attack, however, deftly leaping away before making a solid landing atop the building's HVAC unit, in full view of all the others. And as soon as Sora sees him, he doesn't hesitate to make an attempt to try to make some sort of sense out of a situation that, by all accounts, doesn't make any at all.

"Riku, i-is that… really you?" he asks, admittedly nervous, especially as "Riku" looks down at him with an icy, leering grin. "Why do you look like that?"

"Looks are deceiving," "Riku" replies evenly. "But the heart? It never lies. Come on, Sora. You know it's me."

Sora can't help but flinch at this, "Riku's" all-too-familiar teasing tone filling him with doubts he wishes he could shake. Doubts that he forces himself to shake as he tries to reason, really more with himself than anyone else. "I know Riku wouldn't do this. Not without a good reason."

"A reason?" "Riku" chuckles lightly. "When did that ever matter to you? We've been trying to one-up each other ever since we were kids."

"W-what…?" The mention of their childhood spent together catches Sora off guard more than anything else. A childhood filled with memories that are so precious to both of them that they can't be faked or replicated. Which means, if he has those memories too, this has to be the real Riku, and yet... some small, persistent part of Sora's heart knows that can't possibly be the case. As much as he looks and sounds and even somewhat acts like Riku, the aura and intentions surrounding this Riku are dark, malicious, and cruel. A far cry from the calm, kind, and caring heart he's always known the real Riku to have.

Donald and Goofy share his suspicions as they leap forward to their young, shaken companion's defense. "Don't listen to him, Sora!" Donald boldly exclaims.

"That coat means he's with Organization XIII!" Goofy adds, shield raised. "And that means he's not really Riku!"

"N-no, that's right…" Sora says softly, still awash in a mix of dread and doubts and rising hope that are all starting to become too much to bear. "H-he couldn't be. Riku would never-"

"Never join the Organization?" the other Riku finishes coyly. "Then maybe you don't really know me as well as you thought. Then again, it's not like I can really blame you. You don't seem to know yourself that well either, Sora."

"What are you talking about?" Sora asks, trying his best not to let show just how anxious and uneasy this entire encounter has him feeling. "I know myself just fine."

"So you say," the other Riku smirks. "But if that's true, then what's taking you so long? You already know you're bound to join our side one way or another; so why don't you just speed things along for everyone and do it already?"

"Not this again…" Sora groans, frustrated with contending with this Riku, whether he be real or fake. Especially as he serves to remind him, yet again, of the very fate he's absolutely determined to avoid at all costs. "How many times do I have to tell all of you? I will never, ever be part of the Organization, and neither would Riku! Which is why I know that, whoever you are, you're not him!"

The other Riku simply scowls down at Sora for a moment, seemingly unamused before he breaks into a small, confident smirk. "Smarter than you look. But if I'm really a fake, then what does that make you, Sora? You're going around, acting like you're one of the guardians of light, but between that scar and those cracks on your Keyblade, I'd say you've got more of the mark of a seeker of darkness instead. So then, who's really pretending to be something they're not around here?"

Such a cruel, callous remark is more than enough to push Sora over the edge, something that Donald and Goofy pick up on from the severe expression on his face alone. But what neither of them see is the aura of darkness and light, mingled together as it begins to mist over his Keyblade-bearing hand once more. "S-Sora…?" Goofy ventures, though neither him nor Donald really get much of a chance at calming their young companion down.

Instead, Sora acts on his rising anger, letting out a loud, furious shout as he leaps forward, his Keyblade ready to strike the other Riku as he easily allows himself to forget the resemblance this duplicate even bears to his best friend. The attack doesn't land, however, as the other Riku side steps out of the way before calling upon his own darkened Keyblade to evenly meet Sora's next strike.

"Enough!" Sora shouts harshly, sending the imposter a hateful glare. "Who are you-really!? Why are you even doing any of this?! Are you after the Key?"

"Of course, I am," the other Riku scoffs, rolling his eyes as he blocks another heavy swing. "Why else would I even bother coming here in the first place if I wasn't? We've let you get away with far too many of them already. But this time, that's all about to change!" The other Riku lashes out, swinging his Keyblade wide and fast and catching Sora in a forceful blow backward in the process. He lands back onto the roof itself, Donald and Goofy rushing to his side as they all glare up at the other Riku just as he pulls the attack chip out once again.

"A heart, recreated from data," he begins, going off on a seemingly unrelated tangent entirely. "Who would've thought it'd be this easy to create? Still, I guess it's not that surprising. After all, that walking balloon over there has a 'heart'," he casts an uncaring nod over at Baymax, who lingers, protective and close, by Hiro's side. "Or at least that's the nonsense I'm supposed to believe."

"Where'd you get that chip?" Hiro speaks up, stepping forward. "That's mine, I made it!"

"Oh, well, I'm sorry about that," the other Riku's tone is dry, unsympathetic. "But I promise I'll put it right back where I found it."

Hiro's eyes widen at this, especially as he remembers exactly where he'd left that chip to begin with. "W-what do you mean?"

"You'll see," the other Riku grins as he turns to leave. "Anyway, I think I'll be getting back to work now. Got a certain Key to track down. Unless, of course, you all beat me to it first."

On that oddly ominous note, the other Riku disappears into the darkness once more, much to Sora and Hiro's shared protest. "Wait!" they call after him, though of course, it's to no avail. He's gone, and with him, so is the attack chip. His purpose confirmed, but his plan to achieve it still completely unknown.

"We gotta stop him!" Hiro urges as he turns to Sora first, then to his team. "Guys, we-" He stops short as he glances over his friends, all of whom are clearly beleaguered and beaten by the preceding battle. Baymax does his best to tend to their various injuries, but even so, the robot's healthcare intel is easily able to confirm that they'll all heal up much better off of the field.

"You are all suffering from acute exhaustion," Baymax notes. "I recommend rest."

"Rest? No way!" Sora counters, still clearly on edge even now that the other Riku is long gone. "We have to go after him and figure out what he's up to and stop him from getting the Key and-"

"Sora," Hiro interrupts much more calmly. "Baymax is right. We won't stand a chance out here if we don't take some time to heal up first. Let's regroup."

The tired members of Big Hero 6 agree, all of them following Hiro as he leads the way back to the garage. Donald and Goofy start to do the same, at least until they notice Sora lingering behind.

"Sora," Goofy begins, his tone and expression both fretful. "What that other Riku said about your scar and your Keyblade…"

"You don't think it could be true," Donald finishes, worried yet stern. "Do you?"

"I don't know," is what Sora wants to say. Because in truth, he doesn't know, just as much as he doesn't know if the darkness on his hands or his newfound power have anything to do with the Organization's claim to his heart either. And yet, outside of a few factors that, as far as he knows, might not even be connected after all, what other proof does he really have outside of a single nightmare or the persistent harmful rhetoric the Organization's members always seem to be so skilled at? The sparse scraps of evidence he shows now pale in comparison to his own hope that it's all a lie, as well as his willingness to do everything in his power to resist it even if it isn't. And as far as he's concerned, that's all his companions really need to know too. At least, for the time being.

"No," he turns to them, his expression a solid mask of unyielding resolve. "Not for a minute. He was doing the same thing Ansem and Xemnas and even Xehanort did before. They're just trying to trip us up, distract us with something that isn't even real so we'll waste our time worrying about that while they get the rest of the Keys."

"But what if it is real?" Donald presses apprehensively.

"It's not," Sora counters as evenly as he can. But he doesn't look either of them in the eyes as he says it. "I know it's not. I-I mean, if it really was true and I knew it was, then wouldn't I at least tell you guys about it? I mean, the scar and my Keyblade were one thing, but I wouldn't keep something like that from you. You both know that just as much as I do." And yet they don't, because he hasn't. And the mere thought of that alone makes every word he says to them feel like an increasing weight of guilt bearing down upon him, threatening to crush him completely in the process. But it's a weight he knows he has to bear all the same.

"Mm, maybe you do have a point…" Goofy notes hesitantly.

"I do," Sora nods, desperate to end this conversation as quickly as possible as he presses on ahead. "Now, c'mon. Let's get all rested up so we can finally get that Key!"

As tired as they are, Donald and Goofy don't argue as they follow Sora, leaving the rooftop behind so they can catch up with Big Hero 6. And yet, as they do, none of them happen to see a particular pair standing silently in the shadows of another building, observing from afar and waiting for their own moment to finally make their move.


A solemn sort of feeling permeates the garage the next morning, the previous night's chaotic events still weighing heavy on most everyone, even after resting and refreshing themselves anew. Yet, not all of their spirits have entirely bottomed out yet, as Fred speaks up first to hopefully raise the morale of the forlorn group.

"C'mon, you guys!" he boldly leaps forward. "What's with all the long faces? Did you forget that we WON!?"

"Fred, not now," Go Go shakes her head disapprovingly.

"...You said his name is Riku, right?" Hiro starts the conversation over again, looking to Sora inquisitively. "And you know him?"

"Yeah-well, I know a "him"," Sora says, an undeniable edge of bitterness in his tone at the mere thought of the other Riku.

"That one is a fake!" Donald stomps his foot petulantly.

"And that fake one's with Organization XIII," Goofy explains. "That group of bad guys we were tellin' you about earlier."

"Ok, so assuming that all makes sense," Wasabi says, still a bit lost. "How'd he get Hiro's chip?"

"And what did he mean about recreating a heart?" Honey Lemon adds, just as confused.

"And why'd he send those Darkubes to attack us in the first place?" Go Go finishes, wanting to get to the bottom of all of this.

"Well, for starters, he's after the same thing we are: the Key," Sora begins. "So I guess the Darkubes had something to do with that? But I have no idea what he meant with the whole 'recreating a heart from data' thing. These guys-they show up, and instead of fighting fair and square, they go for the heart and say things to try and get under your skin." He lets out a small, somewhat ashamed sigh, knowing that the other Riku had done exactly that to him the previous night, his sharp words cutting far deeper than he should have ever let them. "They're cowards. And now they're doing it to you too. And that's our fault…"

Donald and Goofy mirror Sora's disappointment, but it's something Hiro didn't necessarily accept as he speaks up with newfound hope instead. "No. This could be good. That chip might finally be able to give me some answers."

"You said you made it, right?" Sora asks, curious.

"Yeah," Hiro's tone turns somewhat somber as he glances over at the robot standing alongside him. "This Baymax-he's actually the second model. Uh, no offense, Baymax."

"I am a robot. I cannot be offended," Baymax assures.

Hiro offers him a brief smile at this, though it ultimately fades as he divulges the rest of his solemn tale. "It's… a long story. But the first Baymax and the chip I made vanished into another dimension along with the microbots. But now, the chip's back… So… the first Baymax might be back too."

"Oh, Hiro…" Honey Lemon speaks softly. "Do you really think…?"

"I-I… don't really know," Hiro closes his eyes, shaking his head gently. "But…" He trails off into a small, sad sigh, the mere thought of seeing the original Baymax, the Baymax that Tadashi had built, filling him with far too many thoughts and feelings to even count.

"Those who suffer from a loss require support from friends and loved ones," Baymax points out, looking to the group gathered before him so that they can offer Hiro just that. And yet, they don't get much of a chance to as the entire garage is rocked by a shockwave that likewise shakes the entire city as a whole.

"What was that!?" Go Go demands as she and the others manage to steady themselves.

Hiro wastes no time in finding out, rolling over to his computer to dig up whatever information he can. And that information comes quickly in the form of another news bulletin, reporting that sure enough, the Darkubes have returned in full force and are besetting San Fransokyo and its innocent residents once more.

"It's time to finish this," Hiro says firmly as he turns to face the others. "We're taking those Darkubes down, for real this time."

"And we're getting that Key!" Sora adds, just as resolved.

"The final battle is upon us!" Fred dramatically proclaims as everyone gears up to set out to face that battle head-on. "Who will win? The band of brave and noble heroes? Or the dastardly forces of evil?! Let's FIND OUT!"


Just as they had the night before, the Darkubes cluster together atop another skyscraper, it's core safely tucked away inside it. And yet, unlike before, the group that comes to confront it feels much more prepared, more determined than ever to put an end to its violent siege on the city once and for all.

"Hope it's learned some new tricks," Go Go remarks as they make their approach toward it.

"Yeah, now it's gotta face all of us," Wasabi adds just as confidently.

"Together!" Honey Lemon chimes in brightly.

"Freddie wants to DESTROY!" Fred exclaims, zealous and eager.

"Our probability of success is-"

"You don't have to crunch the numbers, Baymax," Hiro interrupts with a determined grin. "It's not the sum of our parts that matters; it's the sum of our hearts."

"Yeah," Sora warmly agrees, ready to face whatever tricks the Organization might throw at them next. So long as he has his friends, both old and new, to stand by his side through it all.

"The sum of your 'hearts', huh? Which adds up to what?"

As soon as they hear the other Riku's voice, the entirety of the group is instantly on their guard, though his position is largely unknown. At least until he moves to dive down from the wind turbine he's standing on far above the rooftop. "Show me!" he challenges, slicing his Keyblade across the Darkubes' core as he flies past it. While he lands squarely on the roof, the Darkubes immediately fall apart once more, a tactic that throws everyone off even more than they already are.

"Almost there…" the other Riku holds the attack chip up, a shadowy aura still surrounding it as he kicks a few of the fallen Darkubes aside carelessly. "This pile of junk collected the data we needed. The terror of being attacked without warning… the despair of having no place to run… the longing for vengeance… All emotions that, if put to the right use, could just end up leading us to more than a few of those Keys…"

And just like that, the other Riku's plan suddenly makes much more sense. The Organization clearly knows, just as well as anyone, that the Keys to the Kingdom are tied to emotions. Which is why collecting data, doing their research on the emotions that can bring them about, is something that seems right up their alley. And yet, the realization hardly satisfies Sora, especially since he'd been the one to gather three of them so far firsthand.

"But a heart's more than that!" he counters firmly, the others all agreeing as they chime in.

"It's working together!" Wasabi brazenly proclaims.

"Smiling at something funny!" Donald and Goofy chip in together.

"Trusting friends," Hiro adds, smiling to his own.

"In every heart," Sora finishes, still filled with unshakable resolve. "There's hope. And that hope is the reason why you guys will never win!"

The other Riku says nothing to this, instead taking a pause to glance around, almost as if he's waiting for something. Ultimately though, he lets out a disappointed sigh, shaking his head as he looks back to the chip in his hand. "Still nothing? I would have thought that some gushy inspirational outburst like that would have definitely gotten that Key to show up. Oh well. Guess some other emotion is the ticket instead. And if that didn't work," His already ominous grin widens as he summons a dark corridor high above him. "Then I'm sure this will bring plenty of emotions-and that Key-out instead…"

As the dark void fills the sky, it also begins to pull the fallen Darkubes to it, eagerly swallowing each of them up. While everyone else watches with growing dread and confusion as to what this turn of events might bring, the other Riku readily commands his sinister intentions onward. "First, we need a vessel," he says as the Darkubes continued to surge into the portal to retrieve just that. It doesn't take them very long either; for soon enough, they re-emerge from the dark corridor in a thick, heavy amalgamation, one that shimmers with harsh and heavy crimson energy.

"What's going on?" Go Go asks, staring up at the cluster suspiciously.

"Another Darkube form?" Honey Lemon wonders, confused.

"Doesn't look as bad as the last one," Fred notes, somewhat relieved.

"But it could be a trick!" Goofy warns, both him and Donald as well-aware of the Organization's usual malicious tactics as Sora is.

Hiro, on the other hand, is the first to notice the Darkubes' cluster starting to diminish a bit, revealing at least a piece of what they've gathered: a large, inflated white hand, one that he recognizes instantly. A sheer spark of both fear and grief courses through him as he realizes exactly what's about to happen here. A spark that only grows as he watches the others all ready their weapons for the inevitable fight ahead.

"W-wait!" he interjects anxiously. "That's… Baymax. The first one."

"What?!" Sora quickly glances back at the Darkubes cluster as it starts to peel away more and more. And as it does, it fully, finally reveals that Hiro is indeed right, even if none of the others want him to be.

The Darkubes have certainly recovered the original Baymax, though in the process, they've twisted his robotic form with the very same sort of darkness they're composed of. Much like the second model, he's clad in similar steady armor, though instead of a heroic crimson, this armor is painted in a shade of cold shadows, threatening horns poking up from both his shoulder pads and his helmet. And even more alarming is the mass of Darkcubes encasing one of his arms, still very much alive with their usual violent energy, even if their new host doesn't seem to be at all.

Needless to say the other members of Big Hero 6 are just as shocked as Hiro is to see the original Baymax brought back in such a warped way for such a horrific purpose. Even as the newer Baymax stands loyally by his side, Hiro can't help but look to the model he'd thought he'd lost forever, knowing that this is the last way he could have ever wanted to see him again. "Baymax…"

"Don't bother," the other Riku scoffs, clearly not done rubbing salt in the wound. "This puppet has lost his heart. He won't wake up."

"He's not a puppet!" Hiro brazenly runs forward, refusing to let this cruelty go on any longer. "Baymax-he's like my family! Please! Just… just give me back my friend!"

Of course, the other Riku simply regards this plea with another callous sneer, though his response does admittedly catch Hiro, as well as the others, off guard. "Yes… I did promise I'd put this back where I found it, right?" He holds the attack chip up, allowing darkness to overtake it as it pulls it toward the lifeless original Baymax. His otherwise empty data port opens to receive it, sliding the chip in before sealing itself shut, allowing the robot to awaken once more. Though just like his sinister armor, as his eyes light up in a bright, bitter blood red glow, it becomes clear that this Baymax is clearly just a twisted shadow of the caring healthcare companion he's supposed to be.

"That Key should be making an appearance any second now," the other Riku confidently muses. "Especially since you're going to be the one to make it show up, Sora."

"For you?" Sora scoffs resiliently. "Yeah right."

"But you've already gotten your hands on three so far, haven't you?" the other Riku asks knowingly. "It's almost a guarantee by now that you'll be able to access the next one too, especially now. After all, sadness, loss, they're just as powerful emotions as any, definitely powerful to bring a Key out somewhere, so why not here? Which is why you're going to make those emotions happen… by destroying Hiro's friend right in front of him."

With that, the other Riku vanishes into another dark corridor, though not before Sora rushes forward to try to stop him and his vicious tricks in their tracks. "Wait!" He stops short, however, the moment the other Baymax jolts into action, his wings and thrusters both propelling him into the air at a breakneck speed. Without hesitation, the members of Big Hero 6 prepare to counter him, especially as he makes an aggressive beeline for one of their own.

"Hiro!" the young heroes all shout in worried unison. Not caring about the fact that the foe they now have to face is indeed a form of Baymax, they all charge ahead to stop him. Though with the Darkubes assisting him, they don't get very far before they're all flung aside carelessly. The trio hurries to Hiro's defense next, having a bit more luck in holding him back, though he still pushes them back aggressively. At least until the second model flies in with a heavy blow to knock his dark double aside, sending him flying over the side of the building.

And yet, he doesn't stay down for long. Baymax's dark double slowly hovers back onto the rooftop, the Darkubes clinging to his hand now formed into the shape of a sinister claw. Though Donald and Goofy rush forward to momentarily fend off the threat, the members of Big Hero 6 all hesitate to fight a former iteration of their mutual friend, as Sora hangs back alongside them.

"Tell us, Hiro," he glances over at the still distraught boy. "What should we do?"

It's a question Hiro doesn't really have much of an answer to, at least not at first. And yet, as he takes another look between the two Baymaxes-the one standing at his side and the one that no longer can-ultimately, he knows exactly what must be done. "Baymax means everything to me," his tone is steady and stern as he steps forward. "But that chip isn't who he is. I already made this mistake once before. Tadashi wouldn't want there to be a Baymax that hurts people." Hiro pauses briefly, though his treasured memories of his brother, the desire to make him proud even still, push him forward, just as they always do. "Sora… he has to be stopped."

"Ok," Sora firmly agrees. "Then let's do it!"

"Yeah!" the members of Big Hero 6 all cheer in unison. They rush forward, weapons at the ready, coming together as a team to save the day, just as they always strive to do. Still, before any of them can attack the dark version of Baymax, he reels back into the air away from Donald and Goofy's struggling attempts at holding him off. Without even engaging any of the young heroes running for him, the robot flies off, plunging down into the city to add onto the already palpable threat the re-emerging Heartless pose to it. Big Hero 6 wastes no time in chasing after him, intent on putting a stop to this ongoing disaster and, if at all possible, restoring the original Baymax back to the way he should truly be.

Donald and Goofy aren't too far behind the team in heading back down into the city below and Sora runs just a small pace after them. At least, until a familiar voice stops him dead in his tracks. "What's the rush?" the other Riku says as he reappears on the far side of the roof. "You're in such a hurry to stop that stupid robot, when you should be racing to find that Key instead."

"The Key can wait," Sora offers the other Riku a severe glare as he turns to face him, his Keyblade held tight in his grasp. "My friends come first!"

"Tch, typical," the other Riku rolls his eyes. "It's always about your friends, isn't it? Guess it's a real shame then, that they don't really need you. Not like how you need to be needed by them."

"W-what?" Sora asks, his voice not as steady as he'd like it to be. "I don't-"

"Don't waste your breath trying to argue," the other Riku interrupts impatiently. "I'm trying to speed this whole thing along for everyone, and you're not helping. So, if you really want to help your friends so much, why not tackle this problem at its source?"

Initially, Sora doesn't quite pick up on what he means. Though he soon understands as he glances over the edge of the building he's on. Down below, his friends are engaged in a brutal brawl against the other Baymax, a fight that, Sora quickly remembers, is only happening because of the cruel tactics of the Organization member standing right in front of him. "Great idea," his grip on his Keyblade tightens as he steels himself for a different battle entirely. "Why don't I?"

The other Riku's already constant smirk deepns with some unknown satisfaction as he summons his own familiar Keyblade. Sora's first swing comes right after, one that the other Riku readily dodges as he lashes out with his own, hardly even seeming to care as it's parried away. A few brief, yet sharp clashes between the blades ensue, neither of them landing any real damage as their duel gets off to a rhythmic start.

Soon enough, however, the other Riku decides to change the pace up a bit, deftly leaping out of the path of another wide swing to land atop a lower, nearby rooftop instead. Though he's caught off guard by this, Sora doesn't hesitate to give chase, jumping over to meet him Keyblade first in a strike that only hits the roof itself as the other Riku seamlessly teleports to another building entirely.

"Augh! Stay still, will you?!" Sora shouts, running after him once more. The other Riku says nothing as he easily dodges yet another attack, though strangely all the while, he seems to be making no effort to land any of his own. Instead, he's more content in letting Sora continue to chase him, the two of them bounding above the city in a rapid, frenetic pace in a pursuit that seems to be going absolutely nowhere at all. Much to Sora's quickly growing frustration.

"What are you doing?!" he yells, finally pausing as he watches the other Riku reappear atop the building right in front of him. "If you want a fight so badly, then just fight me already!"

"I will, as soon as you actually make it worth my while with a real challenge," the other Riku sneers, unimpressed. "I thought after all this time you'd finally learn how to put up a good fight, Sora. But here you are, still running around in circles and swinging your weapon around like it's some toy. Just like you always used to do when we were kids."

This callous comment alone is enough to infuriate Sora even more than he already is just by the unfolding fight alone. And this time, he doesn't hesitate to make that fury known as his Keyblade finally lands against the other Riku's in a heavy, brutal swing, one that he repeats over and over again, each in rapid, heated succession. "Stop pretending to be him!" he demands, his Keyblade landing in perfect percussion with every word. "You're NOT him and you'll never be him! No matter how hard you try to act like it! Y-you're just… just a FAKE!"

Something about this fierce proclamation finally breaks the calm composure the other Riku usually carries. Bitter rage floods in to take its place, rage that he thoroughly acts upon as he sends Sora flying back hard with a single swing of his sharpened Keyblade. In the process, the AR device goes flying off of his face, thrown off the side of the building by the sheer force of the attack until it's completely lost to the city streets below.

"You were the only one who never said that I was-" the other Riku stops himself sharply, suddenly. His hands rest in tight, trembling fists as he shakes his head, as if to clear it from some unwanted memory gone by. "I am not a fake," he starts again, his voice surprisingly quiet, though still shaking with anger as he slowly approaches Sora to come in for another attack. "The only reason you're even saying that is because you know… You know that I'm better than you. I always have been… and I always will be. Without your friends to always be there to hold your hand, to hold your heart, then it's so easy to see just how weak you really are. Face it, Sora, you're nothing."

As that constant goading, grating grin takes its place on the other Riku's face once more, something inside Sora suddenly snaps. Any form of restraint he might have shown against someone who looks so much like one of his closest friends shatters entirely. In an instant, he's on his feet, dark and light energy blooming around both of his hands, around practically his entire body as he lunges forward, letting out a furious shout as he raises his Keyblade high for an unforgiving attack. And strangely, it's an attack the other Riku doesn't even try to block or dodge, instead almost welcoming the devastating blow, even as it knocks him back brutally.

The other Riku lands on a lower rooftop, hitting it hard and painfully. Yet that pain hardly even seems to matter to him as he maintains his steady, cocky grin, even as Sora lands on the rooftop just a few feet away from him. For his own part, Sora's still clearly livid, his Keyblade shaking with the rage that ripples through his hands as an uneven aura of both shadows and light continue to envelop him all the while.

"So," he begins, his tone uncharacteristically icy as he aims the tip of his Keyblade at his foe. "Who's weak now?"

The other Riku simply smirks at this, hardly phased by Sora's practically vicious attack or his unrelenting manner as he notices something truly satisfying. "You are," he accompanies his short, ominous answer with a simple nod over at the windowed wall to their left. Though quite suspicious, Sora hesitantly follows his gaze there, only to find a sight that brings everything to a grinding halt.

For standing there, etched into the glass is indeed his own reflection. Complete with stark, unmistakable golden eyes staring right back into his.

Sora stumbles backward the moment he sees it, blinking hard in the hopes that he's merely seeing things. Yet when he looks again, his now horrifically yellow eyes remain. He even goes as far as glancing at his Keyblade, catching another glimpse of his reflection, albeit a cracked one, in its silver surface. Even there, his eyes are still painted that awful shade of amber, not a single speck of the blue he knows should be there instead to be found.

"N-no..." he chokes, his already racing heart picking up even more as he looks down at his hands. His Keyblade disappears as he frantically pulls one of his gloves off, only to find something that nearly makes him sick. The small blot of darkness that's only really ever rested on his palm before has spread, seeping down past his wrist and onto his arm as some of it begins to leak onto the other side of his hand as well. The case is exactly the same for his other hand, both of them now entrenched in the shadowy evidence of a secret he's been desperately trying to hide from everyone. Including himself.

"That's some new power you have there, Sora," the other Riku taunts as he begins to pick himself up, leaning against his Keyblade for support. Despite his injuries, a cold, knowing grin still hangs on his face, one that Sora barely even bothers to regard as he opts to fearfully stare at his reflection once more. "But I guess you didn't know: all power comes with a price."

A price, and a heavy one at that. For while he's been freely, eagerly using that new power, desperately feeding off of the illusion of momentary strength it's provided him with, he's failed to see what that power is really doing to him in return. What it's costing him, what it's taking from him and what it's filling the holes it leaves behind with instead. Only now that he can clearly see the dark pall cast over his heart, caused by that power, a power he's so willingly, foolishly used, does he realize that it isn't the surprising blessing he'd thought it was at all. It's a curse.

His breathing shudders harshly, his darkened hands held close to him as he takes a shaky step backward. Another look over at his reflection reveals his eyes are still so yellow, so unlike his own that they nearly make him look like someone else entirely. He's all but forgotten the other Riku as his own rapid thoughts soon gave rise to panic. He finally tears his gaze away from his reflection, back toward the city instead for any signs of Donald and Goofy, out of a sheer, desperate need to have someone to lean on at a moment like this. Yet he doesn't find them in the streets below, as the fight they and the members of Big Hero 6 are all caught up in is taking place on the other side of town entirely. And in light of that, his hand twitches toward his pocket, toward the Gummiphone, knowing that he has to tell Riku, the real Riku, that something is wrong. He has to tell him, he promised he would, and yet-

He has no idea what he'd even say. Or what he'd show him. Or what excuse he'd be able to give as to why he's kept this hidden for so long because when it comes right down to it, Sora knows he has no good excuse. He's secreted the warning signs away, pretended as though they don't even exist for so long now that he'd essentially convinced himself that there's nothing to worry about. But now, clearly, there is, even if he doesn't know just how severe or serious or what it even really is to begin with. The only thing he really does know is that he has to tell them the truth: Donald, Goofy, Riku-they all have to know. He has to tell them… and yet he can't. He can't bear the thought of genuine fear sparking in Donald and Goofy's faces if he shows them his new dangerous power. He can't bear the thought of hearing the disappointment, possibly even anger in Riku's voice for him barring the truth from him, a truth he should have known about from the very beginning. He can't bear the thought of all of this pointing toward his worst fear being true, the thought that his heart truly is starting the long, agonizing, endless fall into darkness, the thought that Xehanort had been right after all.

The thought of becoming the thirteenth vessel.

And that single, solitary thought alone is exactly why he needs to tell them… and exactly why he can't.

As awash in his frantic thoughts as he is, Sora doesn't even notice as the cityscape suddenly shifts around him, dissipating into a warm, golden aura instead. In fact, he hardly even pays any attention to the familiar, gentle voice that calls to him once more, posing yet another question, just as it's done three times before.

"Is there conflict in your heart?"

He barely even feels cognizant as he offers his answer in the form of a simple nod, unable to deny the surging tidal wave of conflict crashing over his heart repeatedly. Yet for his honesty, he's still rewarded as the light disappears, and leaves a shimmering Key behind in its wake.

It's only as he feels that Key's weight in his hand that Sora lets out a small gasp, finally breaking out of his thoughts to glance down at the prize he's somehow won. And yet, he doesn't even have a chance to revel in the fact that he's earned it before it falls out of his grip entirely.

The attack is so sudden there's no way he could have seen it coming. A blast of heavy dark energy strikes him squarely in the back, sending him flying across the rooftop and ripping the Key out of his hand in the process. Pain lances through his shoulder as he lands on it, rolling sharply before skidding to a stop just shy of the roof's edge. The Key falls only about a foot or so in front of him, and even as disoriented as he is by the unforeseen blow, he still tries to reach for it all the same. That is, until his approach is stopped by a sudden foot slamming down hard onto his hand, crushing it to the ground in the process.

"Hm, looks like you dropped this," the other Riku remarks with a dry smirk as he picks the fallen Key up. "Maybe I should hold onto it for safekeeping instead."

"N-no!" Sora protests, struggling to pick himself back up and reclaim the Key before it's too late. "Y-you can't-"

"Oh, don't worry, Sora," the other Riku proudly slings the Key over his shoulder as he calls upon a dark corridor to take his leave. "I'm sure you'll see this Key again… once you've finally taken your proper place within the Organization that is."

"S-stop!" Sora shouts, rising as much as he can to do something, anything to keep the Key from falling into the wrong hands like this. He even goes as far as firing off a haphazard blast of light and dark energy, as much as he hates to even think about that treacherous sort of magic anymore, but the other Riku easily deflects it by using the innate power of the Key now held in his possession.

"Still, thanks for all your help, Sora," the other Riku glances over his shoulder one final time. "We couldn't have gotten it without you."

With nothing more to say, he disappears into the darkness, the Key going right along with him. "Wait! Please!" Despite his body still aching from that last attack, Sora forces himself to his feet, desperate to follow, to take the Key back, to finally put an end to all of this. And yet, before he can even get close, the dark corridor disappeared into thin air.

And just like that, the Key is gone.

Sora collapses to his knees in the very place the dark portal had been, his eyes wide as he stares in disbelief at the rooftop beneath him. And with that disbelief comes a torrent of countless other emotions: shock, anger, grief, any of which would certainly be strong enough to bring a Key about… that is, if this world's hadn't already been claimed. And yet, what rises above all of the rest was an unshakable sense of shame, so deep and heavy that Sora feels as though he's drowning in it and being crushed by it all at once. And as engulfed in that shame as he is, he doesn't even notice the trio arriving on the roof group to meet him.

"Sora!" Donald and Goofy call in worried unison, jumping down out of Baymax's grip to rush over to him. The robot lands after they do, though he likewise joins them in hurrying over to Sora's side, all three of them immediately noticing just how distraught he clearly is.

"Sora, you have sustained a heavy blow to your shoulder," Baymax points out evenly. "In addition, your abnormally high heart rate, involuntary full-body trembling, and shortness of breath are all signs of distress that point towards an oncoming panic attack."

Donald and Goofy's already immense concern only doubles for their young companion upon hearing this. Sure enough, he's shivering uncontrollably, his breaths coming out in sharp, harsh gasps as tears start to well up in his eyes-which, unbeknownst to him, have somehow turned back to their usual blue yet again. "S-Sora, what's wrong?" Goofy asks softly, both him and Donald placing comforting hands on their young companion's shuddering shoulders.

"Why'd you go off on your own like that?" Donald asks just as worriedly. "What happened?"

Sora doesn't bother looking up at either of them, shaking his head as a few of his building tears come dangerously close to falling. "I-I… I lost it…" he finally mutters, his voice so tight and small that it's barely even audible.

"Lost what?" Goofy asks, confused.

"T-the Key," Sora struggles to even admit it, choking back a sob. "I had it, it was right here," he glances down at his hands, admittedly glad he'd thought to slip his gloves back on before his companions arrived. "B-but then… R-Riku-no, not Riku-caught me by surprise a-and took it and I tried to stop him, b-but I couldn't-he just… I-I… t-the Key… it's… gone…"

Donald and Goofy exchange a forlorn glance at this, both of them instantly understanding just why Sora is so upset. After all, the loss of a Key to the Organization is something they haven't faced before, and after already claiming three of them so far, it had seemed as though the chances of it ever happening were slim. In many ways, they'd grown content, complacent in the idea that they'd find them all that they never even bothered to consider what might happen if one of them happened to slip out of their hands. A possibility that's now become a frightening reality.

"Aw, Sora…" Donald begins, genuinely sympathetic. "We… we're sorry we weren't there to help you…"

"B-but don't worry!" Goofy encourages. "We've still got three Keys and the Organization only has one-well, 'least as far as we know…"

"One…" Sora softly repeats. He finally stands, his hands balling into tight fists as his grief gives way to anger. "O-one that they should have never gotten in the first place… but they did. A-and I just… I let it happen! Don't you guys get it?! This is all my fault!"

"No, it's not!" Donald protests firmly.

"Sora, we know ya didn't mean to lose the Key," Goofy agrees. "A-and like Donald said, maybe if we had been there to help you, that other Riku wouldn't have gotten away with it in the first place!"

"Well it doesn't matter now…" Sora says glumly, absently wiping a few of his pressing tears away. "No matter whose fault it is, it's still gone…"

At this, Baymax suddenly speaks up, a hint of what almost seems like genuine concern entering his otherwise steady robotic tone. "Sora, Hiro asked me to be your temporary healthcare companion. That means that you are my patient. I would like to help."

Sora lets out a small, sad sigh, glancing away from the robot as he rubs his sore shoulder. "Thanks, Baymax, b-but… I don't think there's anything any of us can do about this…"

Even so, Baymax persists, doing so in a way that catches Sora completely off guard as the robot's steady arms fold him into a secure, comforting embrace. "You will be alright," Baymax calmly assures. "It is okay to cry. Crying is a natural response to pain and loss."

Upon hearing this, Sora is unable to stop himself from caving completely, his held-back tears finally falling as he tightly returns Baymax's hug in full. Donald and Goofy are quick to join in, more than willing to offer their dejected young companion some much-needed support at a time of crisis such as this.

Still, it ultimately doesn't last too long as the immense clamor of the battle still raging on down in the city streets below soon carries up to the top of the building they're all on. As the group hug disbands, they all head over to the rooftop's edge to see what's happening. Sure enough, the members of Big Hero 6 are all still deeply embroiled in their fight against the other Baymax, a fight they're clearly struggling to win. With the dangerous edge the Darkubes on his side, the dark robot is practically unstoppable, flanked by a sizable army of Heartless that continue to swarm the city on all sides. As spread thin as they are, the young heroes mutually have a hard time standing strong against this overwhelming force, to the point that it's clear they won't be able to hold out much longer against them.

And as Sora watches all this unfold, he readily lets his tears fade away, allowing them to be replaced by a sense of righteous resolve to set things right. "The Organization already won once today," he begins sternly. "But we can't let them win twice. You guys with me?"

"Yeah!" Donald cheers, more than glad to see Sora's usual verve return.

"Of course!" Goofy chimes in just as daringly.

"Yes," Baymax answers simply.

"Good," Sora finally smiles as he turns back to the action down below. "Donald, Goofy, you guys go help the others. Baymax, you're with me. Let's finish this."

The others all firmly agree with this plan as they all set off, Donald and Goofy hurrying to get back down into the streets to offer Big Hero 6 some much needed assistance. At the same time, Baymax rockets forward, allowing Sora to leap onto him, Keyblade summoned and ready, as the two take flight to face the other Baymax head on.

It doesn't take them very long to find the dark robot either as he hovers high above the rest of the action going on down below. Still, what he doesn't see coming is Sora and Baymax as they fly in for a surprise attack, the former firing off a heavy fire spell while the latter pummeled into his dark double with a strong, well-timed punch.

The other Baymax reels back, but shakes the pair of blows off quickly, retaliating by launching a burst of Darkubes at them, an attack that Baymax takes the brunt of, shielding Sora from it and in the process allowing him to fire off another round of magic at the dark bot. He makes sure to avoid even coming close to using any light or dark magic, knowing just how risky practicing it can now be. So instead, he opts for ice, hoping to freeze the other Baymax's Darkube claw entirely. This tactic proves effective, though only for a brief moment as the cubes easily bust out of the ice to spiral out toward the pair in a heavy, wild swing.

Despite Baymax's best efforts, he isn't able to completely dodge this attack as the mass of Darkubes strikes him hard, sending him flying back across the sky. Likewise, the heavy jolt of the attack is enough to knock Sora off the robot's back entirely, sending him into a freefall toward the city streets far below. Yet instead of panicking, he decides to take advantage of what would otherwise be a perilous situation as he notices the other Baymax flying past him toward the ground.

Acting quickly, Sora turns his fall into a dive, his Keyblade pushing him through the air as he uses a small aero spell to give him a boost in the right direction. Baymax seems to understand his intent, flying in after him, but not interfering as Sora willingly falls toward the dark robot. His Keyblade connects with the other Baymax's back squarely, slamming into the dark bot with enough force to break his armor's wings entirely. Unable to keep itself airbound after such a heavy blow, the other Baymax plummets just as the second model flies in to safely catch Sora before he can begin falling again.

The pair doesn't get very far, however, before Baymax jolts to a sudden stop midair, all thanks to his dark double latching onto his leg with his Darkube claw. The other Baymax throws him down hard, though for his own part, Baymax does the same as he catches the dark bot's leg in a similar tactic on the way down. The two robots grapple with each other as they fall into a rapid plunge from the sky, leaving Sora with no other options than to hold onto Baymax for dear life as the robot wrestles against his dark double.

Fortunately though, Baymax gets exactly the edge he needs in this fight as he wisely utilizes his rocket fist just in the nick of time. The robot sends it flying right in the face of his dark copy, beating him back and allowing Baymax to finally right himself in the air just before him and Sora hit the ground. In their place, the other Baymax crashes down to it instead, his armor damaged beyond repair as he lay there, unmoving and defeated at last.

With the dark robot downed, the Heartless swarming the city likewise begin to die down, allowing the members of Big Hero 6, as well as Donald and Goofy, a chance to rush over to the center of all the action. They arrive just as Sora and Baymax land before the beaten bot, the battle finally over, though it comes with a victory that feels more bittersweet than anything else, in more ways than one.

"Guys…" Sora begins breathlessly, almost apologetically as the others all rush forward. Though one leads the pack as he makes a beeline for the defeated dark bot. "Hiro…"

Hiro stops short just a few feet shy of the other Baymax, his teammates falling in line right beside him as they look over their fallen former friend. "So… did we stop him?" Wasabi asks apprehensively.

"Safety mode kicks in if he's put under too much stress," Hiro lets out a solemn sigh as he steps closer to the other Baymax. "So he's probably just in stasis. But… we'll have to destroy the chip if we want to be certain."

"But… are you sure?" Honey Lemon frowns fretfully.

"Yeah, dude," Fred agrees. "You don't need to go that far."

"Maybe we can find another way," Go Go suggests, but even so, Hiro isn't hearing it.

Instead, he gently accesses the other Baymax's data port, hesitating only for a moment as the attack chip slides out of it before he takes out of the fallen bot. Darkness still swells around the chip, yet another reminder of just how much this Baymax had been forcefully morphed and warped into something he was never meant to be. "It's the right thing to do…" Hiro says, watching as the Darkubes begin to dissipate from the other Baymax's arm. In a similar way, the dark armor he'd been wrongfully vested with steadily disappears as well, vanishing into nothing more than the shadows composing it to begin with. And in the wake of those shadows, all that remains is the simple, white, huggable design Tadashi had first designed: the original Baymax.

Hiro can't help but smile as he looked over his once-lost friend, placing a gentle hand on him as he remembers the agonizing moment that had separated them to begin with:

"Hiro, I cannot deactivate until you say you are satisfied with your care-"

"Please! No! I-I… I can't lose you too…"

"Hiro. I will always be with you. Are you satisfied with your care?"

"...Y-yes. I… I'm satisfied with my care…"

And he had been, and he still is. Satisfied with the care and support and friendship that Baymax has always offered him, both old and new. Which is exactly why Hiro has every intention of returning that care in full. "Tadashi would have wanted the same thing," he says, to his teammates, to himself, and to the other Baymax. Even if he knows the fallen robot can't hear him.

"But Hiro," Sora interjects earnestly. "Isn't that chip like Baymax's heart?"

Hiro nods, yet there's still a small, hopeful smile on his face as he turns to the other Baymax once more. "It's ok," he says, placing a hand over his chest. "Baymax is here." In the very same place Tadashi is, where those who had been lost always make sure to live on, their memories carried by those who remain: the heart.

Which is why Hiro feels essentially no grief as he snaps the attack chip in two, knowing that even despite its destruction, the Baymax his brother had built will live on. Both in his heart, and, perhaps, outside of it as well.


"Ow...?"

Right on cue, the robot inflates into activation, his round eyes opening to take in the large group gathered in the garage before him. A group that he greets with a calm, cordial wave, a far cry from the fabricated malice he'd been fueled by before.

"Hello, I am Baymax, your personal healthcare companion."

The burst of relief and joy that fills the garage at this is immediate as everyone breaks out into bright, elated smiles. Sure enough, Hiro's plan has worked, and in record time too, for all it took to bring the other Baymax back, outside of a few other minor patches and repairs, was to make a copy of the data chip the second model now possessed. And with that chip now installed in his own port, the original Baymax's healthcare database, personality, and even memories are now completely restored in full. A fact that Hiro readily celebrates by racing forward to hug the friend he'd thought he'd lost.

"Hey, Baymax," he whispers warmly as the robot envelops him in a caring, familiar embrace.

"Hello, Hiro," the original Baymax bids his primary patient a kindly greeting. At the same time, the second Baymax steps forward to join in on the hug, securing Hiro on both sides as he gladly welcomes the bots' shared embrace.

At the same time, the other members of Big Hero 6 all revel in the original Baymax's return, Sora, Donald, and Goofy easily joining in on the celebration as well. "Two Baymaxes?! AWESOME!" Fred cheers, pumping his fist excitedly.

"Definitely a major upgrade," Go Go grins, genuinely impressed.

"Two heads are always better than one!" Honey Lemon chimes in.

"Especially if those heads belong to two robots," Wasabi adds with a small laugh.

"Yeah! This is great, Hiro!" Sora exclaims brightly. "So, uh, do you think we could maybe take one of them with us?"

"Uh, that's a no," Hiro chuckles as both Baymaxes release him from their hug.

"What? Come on!" Sora pleads, albeit insincerely.

"No," Hiro crosses his arms with a playful smirk. "Who's gonna repair him if he gets broken?"

"Definitely not you," Donald sends Sora a wry, teasing look.

"Hey!"

"Besides, he's my personal healthcare companion, remember?" Hiro adds lightly.

"Aw, I guess you're right," Sora sighs, disappointed. "Still, it'd be really cool to bring at least one Baymax along with us to find the rest of the Keys. I bet if we did, we wouldn't end up losing any more of them, at least…"

"Oh that's right," Hiro's tone turns sympathetic at this. "We heard about what happened with the Key-"

"And we're so sorry we weren't there to help you, Sora," Honey Lemon says just as earnestly.

"Don't be," Sora shakes his head. "It's not your fault." "It's mine," he wants to add, still firmly believing that painful sentiment. But even so, he refrains on that front, for now at least.

"But even if we didn't get the Key-" Donald begins, holding a small smile.

"We still appreciate all you did to help us try to find it!" Goofy finishes warmly.

"Is there anything we can do to help you get it back?" Hiro offers. "It's the least we can do after you guys helped us save San Fransokyo. And Baymax."

"I can still scan for strong emotional impulses to assist in finding additional Keys," the second Baymax points out.

"My scanners are capable of doing the same," the original Baymax nods in agreement.

"Yeah! Let's keep this magical macguffin hunt going!" Fred daringly proclaims.

"A-as long as we're done diving off the sides of skyscrapers, consider me there," Wasabi says with something of a weary smile.

"Just point us in the right direction," Go Go agrees as coolly as ever. "And we'll be ready to go."

"Thanks, you guys," Sora smiles, genuinely grateful for their kind willingness to help when they really don't have to. And when they really can't to begin with. "But… finding the rest of the Keys, and trying to get the one we just lost back, is something we need to do on our own."

"Are you sure?" Honey Lemon asks worriedly.

"You're not just saying that because of that guy in the black coat, are you?" Go Go raises a suspicious eyebrow.

"That dude's no match for the ultimate team power of Big Hero 6!" Fred exclaims, an air of challenge in his tone.

"It's… not just him," Sora sighs. "It's a whole group of other people who are just like him. The Organization is a problem, and it's one that we need to take care of. Which means…"

"It's time for us to go," Donald finishes where Sora leaves off.

"Yeah…" Goofy nods, just as forlorn.

A beat of sad silence passes among the members of Big Hero 6 at this, but ultimately, Hiro is the one to break it as he steps forward to the trio with a fond, reassuring smile. "Well, if your minds are made up, then… I guess we can't stop you, can we?"

"Guess we can't," Go Go offers the trio a wry, yet respectful smirk. "Though not for a lack of trying."

"Make sure to come back and visit us any time you can!" Honey Lemon chimes in sweetly.

"You guys are welcome here any time," Wasabi nods in solid agreement.

"Yeah! You're like members of the team!" Fred quips. "Wait… does that mean we have to change our name to… 6, 7, 8, 9-Big Hero 9?!"

"Eh, doesn't have the same ring to it," Wasabi shrugs.

"It really doesn't…" Honey Lemon shakes her head.

"Well, I guess this is goodbye," Hiro opens the garage door for the trio, standing alongside the pair of Baymaxes as they both offer them a wave of farewell. "Good luck out there there, you guys. If you ever need any help, you know where to look."

"Thanks, Hiro," Sora smiles as they begin to set off on their way. Donald and Goofy return the two Baymaxes' kindly wave, one that the other members of Big Hero 6 all send back their way in turn. "See you guys again soon!"

"Yeah," Hiro nods warmly, calling out to the trio one last time as they make their way down the street. "Oh! By the way, even if you didn't get this one, I hope you guys are able to find the rest of those Keys you're looking for!"

"Yeah…" Sora's hopeful manner finally fads at this as he turns away, a familiar sort of shame settling over him instead as he looks down at his hand. And at the very small specks of shadow just starting to peek out from underneath his glove upon it. "So do I…"


Despite their bright, spirited parting with Big Hero 6, the levity doesn't last as Sora, Donald, and Goofy make their way down one of San Fransokyo's quieter streets on their way out of town. With no Key to be found anymore, they have no real reason to linger in this world, especially when the pressure is on, now more than ever, to beat the Organization in finding the rest. Yet even so, Sora's pace in particular is slow, lagging even, something that Donald and Goofy pick up on just as much as they do the fact that he's much quieter, much more solemn than usual. The reason behind his saddened silence is obvious, yet even so, that reason hardly satisfies the pair as they still make an effort to break him out of it all the same.

"Sora," Goofy begins gently. "Are you ok?"

Sora lets something of a bitter, incredulous laugh out at this, one that soon breaks into a defeated sigh as he shakes his head, still refusing to glance back at the pair. "How can I be? One of the Keys is gone, a-and… and it's all because of me…"

"Stop saying that!" Donald scolds sternly. "It's not like you just handed the Key over to that other Riku!"

"No, but I might as well have!" Sora argues, finally turning around to face his companions. "Everyone's depending on us to get these Keys, all of the Keys, and I just… let the Organization have one, like it was nothing!"

"B-but didn't you say you tried to stop him from taking it?" Goofy asks, still remaining calm where his companions aren't.

"Yeah, and a lot of good that did me," Sora scoffs harshly. "You guys can talk all you want about how we've already got three of them, or how we'll get more of them, but none of that matters now! The Organization has one, a-and that means they can-they will get more-" He abruptly turns away from the pair again, his shoulders shaking with an oncoming sob that he fiercely fights back by wrapping his arms around himself tightly. "They'll get more, m-maybe even all of them, and that means that Xehanort will win, and if he wins, t-then that means that I… I'll be-"

He stops himself sharply, unable to even voice the horrific possibility out loud lest it somehow become an even more horrific reality right there on the spot. Still, the domino effect the loss of even a single Key could have is undeniable, to the point that Sora wonders-genuinely fears-if there's any way to stop it at all. Because if they can't stop it, if even more Keys continue to fall into the clutches of darkness, then really, there's no telling what disastrous turn things could end up taking. Both for the worlds… and for him.

Still, despite Sora's clear hopelessness, Donald and Goofy refuse to share it, instead sharing the resolve to pull their dejected young companion out of it. "Sora…" Donald begins much more evenly this time around, both him and Goofy stepping forward to comfort him in any way they can. Even so, before either of them can get another word out, Sora interrupts them, his voice much softer, somehow even sadder as he keeps his back turned to them all the while.

"Donald, Goofy…" He lets out a small, shaking sigh as he briefly considers staying the course he's been on for so long now, the course of keeping it all safely tucked away as a series of well-kept secrets. And yet, he knows he can't anymore. Not now, not when so much is at stake. "I-I… t-there's… something I need to tell you guys…"

The pair exchange a glance at this, both of them equally confused, though they offer their young companion their full attention regardless, intent on listening to whatever it is he has to say. And yet… despite his willingness to finally put everything out in the open for the first time, ultimately Sora doesn't get a chance to say any of it at all.

For just before he can, the telltale clamor of an emerging group of Heartless suddenly fills in the space behind them, a massive horde of the creatures materializing from the shadows along with it.

"More of them?!" Donald asks incredulously, not hesitating to pull out his staff.

"But I thought we got rid of all of 'em here!" Goofy exclaims, just as baffled by the sudden show of monsters.

As caught off guard as he is by the ambush, Sora wastes no time in summoning his Keyblade, falling in line behind his companions as they rush forward to take the Heartless head on. And yet, just as he's about to properly join them in battle, he's abruptly stopped altogether the moment he runs into some unknown invisible force. A transparent wall, blocking off the entire other end of the road and keeping him from rejoining his companions, no matter how many times he fiercely slams his Keyblade against it.

"Sora!" Donald shouts over his shoulder amidst firing off a string of spells. "What are you doing?! Get over here!"

"W-we could really use your help!" Goofy adds, wavering under his shield as a group of winged Heartless beat away at it.

"I'm trying!" Sora protests, swinging his Keyblade against the invisible wall once again to no avail. "But I-I don't-something's wrong! It's like I can't-"

"Can't help your friends? What a shame that must be…"

The moment he hears this familiar voice, Sora freezes, both out of shock and out of immediate anger, his Keyblade hanging above his head in a swing he doesn't bring down as he steals a sharp glance over his shoulder instead. Sure enough, just a few feet behind him, a dark corridor forms, and out of that corridor steps just about the last pair he could have ever expected to see here.

"Maleficent! Pete!" Sora immediately turns his Keyblade on the villainous duo as they emerge from the dark portal. Donald and Goofy can't quite join him in standing against them given how tied up they are with the swarm of Heartless besetting them, but they're every bit as dumbfounded to see these familiar foes as Sora is.

"Ah, Sora…" Maleficent greets, her tone falsely cordial. "What ages have passed since we last met?"

"Wha-huh?" Pete frowns, confused upon hearing this. "But… wasn't it just a little while ago that we were in that jungle and you-"

"Silence, you buffoon," Maleficent impatiently glares at her henchman before easing back into an icy smile as she looks over at Sora once more. "But oh dear, it seems as though your friends there seem to be in quite the predicament. The Heartless really can be such a bothersome rabble, aren't they?"

"You mean the Heartless that you came here with, right?" Sora scowls, not loosening his grip on his Keyblade for an instant. "What do you even want anyway? If you're after the Key, then sorry to disappoint you, but it's not here anymore."

"Key?" Maleficent merely raises an eyebrow at this. "I have no interest in any sort of Key."

"T-the black box, then?" Sora ventures, remembering the pair bringing it up before. "'Cause if you are, we don't know anything about-"

"The black box is no longer my most pressing concern," Maleficent coolly interrupts, her malicious grin deepening as she finally gets right to the point. "Rather, I'm after an entirely new prize instead… you, Sora."

"M-me?" Sora stills, completely caught off guard by this. And yet he doesn't have time to press Maleficent for any further answers as the panicked cries of his pair of companions immediately reach him right after.

"S-Sora!" Goofy shouts, dropping to one knee out of sheer exhaustion and various minor injuries. "There's too many of 'em! We really need your help!"

"And soon!" Donald adds, frantically casting some healing magic the captain's way amidst several attack spells aimed for the Heartless. All of which are clearly starting to waver and weaken as the magician begins to wear down from the creatures' relentless attacks as well.

Upon seeing his friends in such peril, Sora wastes no time in beating against the barrier keeping them separated once again. Though much like before, his Keyblade does little to break it, much to his increasing aggravation, especially as he hears a goading laugh coming from behind him.

"Aw, what's the matter?" Pete taunts, snickering. "Your fancy Keyblade ain't enough to bust down some fancy magic force field thingy?"

"Get lost!" Sora shouts, fiercely turning back to the pair behind him. " And take those Heartless with you!"

"Oh, we have every intention of leaving," Maleficent says smoothly. "And fret not; to show we mean no ill will, we'll even call the Heartless when we do. But if, and only if, you agree to come along with us, Sora."

"And why would I ever do that?" Sora asks, eyeing the pair suspiciously.

Maleficent lets out something of a small, coy chuckle as she nods back to the ongoing brawl behind him. "Because if you don't, then your precious friends will certainly perish under my pall of Heartless. And all the while, you'll stand by, powerless to do anything to help them as you watch their lives fade right in front of you, leaving you completely and utterly alone."

Thoroughly tired of whatever kind of mysterious, sadistic game Maleficent is trying to play with him, Sora instead opts to take a more direct approach instead. "Yeah, right!" he shouts, rushing for the villainous pair with his Keyblade at the ready to strike. And yet, as he brings it down, he does so not on either of them, but on yet another transparent barricade blocking him from landing any sort of hit against either of them. Not that he doesn't try as he continues striking at the invisible force over and over again in a furious attempt at ending this chaos on his own terms instead of Maleficent's.

"Whoa, you weren't kidding with these magical walls, huh?" Pete mutters to Maleficent, impressed. "It's like he can't even touch us!"

"Precisely," Maleficent smirks before she coldly addresses Sora once more. "Perhaps I didn't make myself completely clear before…" She raises her scepter, dark energy pulsating through it that also ripples across the invisible barrier before her. The force of that energy is more than enough to knock Sora back as he tries swinging at the wall once more, roughly throwing him against the other one that's still preventing him from giving his friends the assistance they desperately need. "Allow me to reiterate," Maleficent says, sending him an authoritative glare. "Either you surrender yourself over to me, or the king's fools, your dearest friends, pay the price for your stubborn insolence. The choice is entirely up to you."

Despite the hectic battle they're still embroiled in, Donald and Goofy hear this cruel ultimatum clearly, and the moment they do, their shared concerns immediately fall away from their ongoing fight and toward their young companion instead. "No! Sora!" Donald swiftly turns away from the Heartless to run toward the invisible barricade, Goofy following not too far behind. "Don't listen to her!"

"Y-yeah! You don't gotta worry about us!" Goofy assures, especially as Sora glances back to face the pair with wide, alarmed eyes. "We can handle a few Heartless just fine, you know that!"

Sora doesn't even get a chance to respond before another Heartless enters the fray, a massive, shadowy beast that slams to the ground right in front of Donald and Goofy just as they're a few feet shy of the invisible wall. The resounding quake the monster causes knocks them back quite a bit, but the Heartless gives them no time to recover as it immediately attacks, lashing its large, clawed hands at the pair repeatedly. And as he watches some of those brutal swings actually land on the pair, Sora finds that all he can do to try to stop it is merely beat against the wall keeping them apart, this time with his bare fists. All in a desperate, yet futile effort to rush to their aid in a moment when they needed it most.

"Time is running out, Sora," Maleficent chimes in, her voice cool and calm, frustratingly so. "I can afford to wait as long as you'd like, but I doubt your dear friends have the same luxury…"

Sora can't help but flinch anxiously as he watches the large Heartless toss Donald and Goofy back painfully, the other creatures swarming them in what's undeniably turning into an incredibly unfair fight. Especially as the pair begins to wear down more and more from both exhaustion and injury alike. "Why are you doing this?!" he demands, turning back to Maleficent and Pete. "What do you even want with me?"

"Oh, that's easy!" Pete grins obliviously. "Maleficent here says she's gonna-"

Maleficent immediately stops him, swiftly swinging her staff out in front of him to silence him before he can say too much. Her brief, annoyed scowl quickly shifts back into her steady, confident smile, one that only infuriates Sora more and more with each passing second. "Now, now, all will be revealed in due time," she assures patiently. "After all, I can't just go around divulging all of my ingenious plans before they have a chance to even really begin. That would ruin the surprise."

Sora lets out a small, irritated huff at this, though he quickly realizes he has no time to press for any further answers as he hears another round of his companion's pained shouts behind him. The large Heartless is in a full-on rampage by now, to the point that Goofy's shield and Donald's magic can do little to stop it, much less protect themselves from it. Despite their courageous, tireless efforts to stand strong, they're losing this fight. And as this horrifying realization sets in, Sora knows that there's really only one thing he can do in place of actually rushing in to help them himself. "I-if I go with you, you'll call the Heartless off?" he asks diffidently, sending Maleficent a distrustful glare all the while.

"Absolutely," she nods, her sinister smile spreading even wider upon hearing this.

"How do I know you're not lying?"

"My dear boy, what reason have I to lie to you?" Maleficent lets out a small, almost gentle gale of amused laughter. "I came here seeking one thing, and one thing alone. And once I have that which I seek in my possession, then neither I nor my heartless will have any reason to linger in this world any longer."

"J-just as long as I go with you, right?" Sora presses, wanting to make sure he has every last base covered. Especially if he's going into whatever Maleficent has planned completely blind like this. "You promise you'll leave them alone?"

"You have my word," Maleficent agees, her tone surprisingly sincere.

Yet even so, that doesn't mean Sora necessarily believes she'll keep that word. But then, he steals another look back at Donald and Goofy. The pair is at their limit by this point, both of them struggling to simply remain standing as the Heartless continue swarming all around them, ready to finish off what they've started. Still, even amidst all this, they manage to notice the fretful, fearful look Sora sends their way. A look that immediately tells them exactly what he's planning on doing far more than words ever could.

"S-Sora!" Goofy yells in frantic alarm.

"No!" Donald shouts, just as panicked, especially as Sora silently turns away from them once more. As he prepares to bargain his freedom for their safety.

For a moment, he's silent, his eyes closed as he lets out a small, soft sigh. He's started the unknown straight in the face more times than he can really count by now. And each time, He's done so boldly, brazenly, probably more recklessly than he should have. But now, he faces an entirely different kind of unknown, one that offers him no other options, no other ways out but to simply accept it and see what comes next. And for the sake of two of his closest, constant companions, that's exactly what he intends to do.

"Fine," he finally says, shortly and simply. He lets his Keyblade disappear as a sign of his surrender as he looks to Maleficent squarely, his expression showing not a trace of fear. Because really, it isn't her that he fears; it's all of the unnecessary pain and peril she's put his friends through, the suffering they've undergone while he's helplessly stood by, unable to help, that he truly fears instead. "I'll go with you."

"No!" Donald and Goofy cry in horrified unison. Without hesitating, they try to break through the heavy line of Heartless around them once more, their various injuries all but forgotten as they race forward to stop this horrendous transaction from taking place.

And yet, as far as Maleficent is concerned, the deal is soundly struck as she readily calls forth a dark corridor to take her leave, and her "prize" along with her. "Very good. I had a feeling you'd be… agreeable on this, Sora," she smirks deviously as she lets only one of the two invisible barricades down. The one that would keep Sora from entering the dark corridor rather than the one that still keeping him from offering his companions a proper goodbye. "Then let us be on our way."

"Yeah!" Pete adds, just as smugly triumphant. "You're comin' with us, kid!"

"Not so fast," Sora counters sternly. "The Heartless go before we do. You promised."

"Hm, so I did," Maleficent scoffs, waving her hand with little concern. As she does, the Heartless all disappear entirely, finally freeing Donald and Goofy from their violent, relentless siege as Sora takes their place, albeit in a different sort of way entirely. "Now, if that's quite all, I do believe it's time for us to go."

"Right…" Sora sighs, though he still takes a first step toward that awful unknown all the same. Even if his companions refuse to let him submit himself to it so easily.

"Sora, wait!" Donald shouts, both furious and distraught as he pounds against the invisible barrier. "Don't do this!"

"W-we're ok now, see?" Goofy adds, just as panicked. "You don't have to go with 'em!"

"Sorry…" Sora doesn't look back at either of them, his admittedly anxious sights set on the shadows of the dark corridor right in front of him instead. "But I do…" After all, he nearly adds, whatever is about to befall him is exactly the kind of punishment he believes he deserves for letting a Key slip out of their possession so easily.

Not wanting to waste any more time, Maleficent silently motioned for Pete to enter the dark corridor first, which he cheerfully did since their success was now all but assured. Even so, for her own part, Maleficent remained, her smile malicious and icy as she beckoned Sora forward, knowing she had him exactly where she wanted him. "Come, child," she urges patiently, proud of her successful scheme. "Your future awaits you."

A future that's all but uncertain now, just as it always seems to be anymore. And, with no choice left but to honor his end of their bargain, Sora glumly, quietly, obediently followed her to see whatever it is that future has in store for him.

"Sora! Stop!" Donald orders, intensely pounding against the barrier that, no matter how hard they tried, simply refuses to break.

"P-please…" Goofy solemnly pleads, the tears starting to well up in his eyes matching Donald's quite well. "Don't go…"

Even so, Sora keeps going, saying nothing to either of them as he continues to approach whatever mysterious, no-doubt disastrous fate Maleficent has in mind for him. And yet, just before he takes that final step into the future, into the unknown, he briefly turns back toward his pair of desperate, dejected companions.

And offers them one small, sad, silent smile just before he disappears into the darkness altogether.


AhahahaHAHAHAHAHA OH MAN LIKE I SAID WE'RE FINALLY OFF THE RAILS! Yep that's right, with this we plunge headfirst into what I like to think of as Keys' second act. And what a second act its going to be... Either way, don't you just love cliffhangers? I sure do! Can't wait to see where this one is going to lead (even though I already know, let's just say the next chapter is going to be... a lot.) But for now, feel free to let me know what you thought of this one in the REVIEWS! Until next time! :D