The Grey Ancient

by Ancient2

This is the Kingdom Hearts storyline through Riku's point of view. It's a take on who he is, where did he come from, and 'what' he is. Neither of the Light, nor the Darkness. So then where does he belong?

34. Chapter 34

Connections and Reunions

Radiant Garden

Riku had landed the Gummi Ship just outside of the town. Taking the town gate's into Marketplace like they usually would. The place had nearly returned to its former glory, retaking its name as Fountain Court. The area pass the Fountain Square had returned, bringing back the town's Aqueduct area, the town's irrigation system, and past that power Reactor area as well. With both their return, Radiant Garden Town was thriving.

"This place..." Jenova's eyes flinched, admiring in silent awe the flowers, fountains, and waterways that surrounded the vibrant town. "Is much brighter than it use to be."

"You've been asleep in the realm of darkness for over a year now. This world is almost completely recovered from its fall into darkness." Riku replied back to her. The buildings were certainly in better condition than last year, along with this world's heart. "But it's not completely whole yet. There are still a few hearts of this world's denizens missing."

"And the Summons are still Sleeping..." Jenova concluded as she Sensed Radiant Garden's world heart.

"How did you know that?" Mickey asked.

"Hmph," Jenova smirked but only replied, "it's a secret."

"Huh?"

"Come on, we should check in with Merlin and the HBRC for some clues." Riku suggested, changing the subject of his family's lineage.

"Right! We've gotta deliver these vestments to Kairi and Lea!" Mickey pointed out as started heading on ahead, towards the direction of the Borough. "Merlin could probably help me with my Keyblade, too."

"..." Riku couldn't help but smile at Mickey's positivity. Riku and Jenova watched Mickey go on ahead a bit before Riku looked back over at his grandmother. "My mother and brothers are most likely there, too. Are you going to be okay?"

"I wouldn't be surprise if they already know I'm here." Jenova commented, looking on ahead towards the Borough.

"It's going to be all right. I'm right here with you."

"I know..." Jenova looked over at her youngest grandson with the smallest smile filled with genuine gratitude, before looking on ahead again. "This isn't going to be pretty."

"Probably."

"..." Jenova took a moment, gathering herself and her courage, before taking her first step.

Riku was soon to follow after her. Walking alongside Jenova as they caught up with Mickey. They slowed down their pace for Jenova as she looked around. This all being almost a new experience for her after being in the darkness for so long.

It was strange... Jenova's influence over the Darkness was strong, and yet it didn't smother the Light around it. It was tame and held no desire to choke or corrupt the frail Light around it. She didn't even have the stench that usually abused Riku's nose that most influenced by the Darkness had. If Riku didn't know better, it could have been mistaken for the night.

"..." But eventually their stroll had to come to a end as they finally approached Merlin's house. Riku could Sense Merlin's heart and the main HBRC members' hearts present inside...along with his brothers whom seemed to be on guard. "Right... Here we go."

"Let the chaos reign." Jenova monotonal-sassed as Riku opened the door.

"..." Riku had opened the door in what felt like minutes slowed down. Time seemed to be under the influence of Slow as the three of them looked at the feel of the room inside.

Merlin's eyes were wide with shock as he overpoured his tea- its excess dripped to the floor. Loz and Kadaj were protectively in front of their mother, Aeris, while Yazoo stood in front of his mother along with blocking off Yuffie. Yuffie, on the other hand, had no intentions of being protected as she remained in a ready stance. Her hand itching for her shuriken. Leon and Cid right by the group, blocking off the door to the other room with their weapons out.

"..." The whole room was silent and windup that a pen dropping would set everything off.

"What a reception," Jenova said, breaking the silence with the chimes of her chuckle. "I'm flattered."

"Everyone calm down." Mickey raised his hands to the aggression in the room.

"Guys chill." Riku said, trying to break the tension.

"Do you even know who is standing next to you?" Yazoo questioned in his monotone voice that Riku recognized as Yazoo practically screaming 'have you lost your mind?'

"She's family."

"She's a being of pure darkness."

"Mostly darkness. Mostly." Jenova corrected Yazoo's error of information.

"You're a monster." Kadaj sneered back at her, making her eyes squinch like an adult ready to reprimand a child.

"Watch it." She warned him. After all these years of raising him, she will not tolerate such disrespect.

"You took us from our home! You broke apart our family!"

""That" is not entirely true..." She was not the only one at fault for all this. Jenova refused to take all the blame.

"You lied to us for years!" Kadaj was almost screaming.

"You lied to yourself." Jenova sneered, her arms crossing over her chest.

"!"

"Enough." Riku said to the both of them, before looking back towards his grandmother. "Stop antagonizing him."

"..." It wasn't her intention to rile Kadaj up. Jenova had a lot of emotions going on right now and was having a hard time putting them into words. And her only cooping mechanism was being on the defense.

"..." Her heart was in chaos and she was having a hard time expressing herself, but Aeris could Sense what she was going through. Or perhaps she was the only not on the defensive to even take a moment to try and Sense it. Jenova's heart was vulnerable, insecure and nervous at being united with her grandsons again. Scared of being rejected again and left alone in the realm of light that had changed from the one she had once known. Aeris could Sense her fears- she could Sense her pains... It made Aeris brave enough to approach her.

"Mother?" "?!" Loz and Yazoo's eyes widen in alarm as their mother broke formation and left the protection of their barricade.

"Mother, don't." Kadaj tried to reach out and pull her back to safety, but Aeris was already in front of Jenova. Riku acted as a median between the two ladies to keep the peace, just in case. Ready to jump in between them if things started to go down.

"Child of Ifalna." Jenova greeted to Aeris.

"Mother of Sephiroth." Aeris greeted back.

"..." The tension was high.

"You lead your son down the path of darkness."

"I gave him all his options. It was the path he had chosen for himself."

"It was the path you had no right to chose for my sons."

"I didn't choose."

"But you didn't stop it either."

"..."

"..." The whole room was quiet, the air felt thick enough to choke.

"We're the same."

"?!" Jenova wasn't expecting that kind of response from Aeris. Anger, blame, and accusations of taking away her children's choice to choose the Light, sure. She had braced herself for Aeris to call her a Monster. But she wasn't expecting that declaration.

"As much as I hate to admit it, we are both the same."

"And in what way are we the same?"

"We've both been hurt." And Aeris was talking about more than the fading scar on her stomach or the scar that ringed around Jenova's neck.

"!"

"We have been captured, caged, and had things that are most precious to us stolen." Aeris reasoned, finding grounds for understanding. "And worst of all, we have hurt those who are dear to us once before."

"..."

"I'm tired of pain." Aeris declared, pressing a hand tightly over her heart. "And I refused to feed the cycle anymore."

"..." Jenova looked down at Aeris's outstretched hand then back up at her.

"I'm willing to be the bigger person and move on pass this. How about you?"

"..." Jenova's arms remained crossed. She will not move until the little Cetra understands this. "I cannot and will not change what I am."

"I know. I will not change, either."

"Hmph, all right then." Jenova tense arms' relaxed and unwind as she took Aeris hand. The two Ancients of Darkness and Light alignment shook each others hands, accepting one another. And in turn, building up the foundations of forgiveness and forming bonds again- old and new. "It would seem I'm already growing fond of the way you are now."

"(Chuckle) It took you long enough." Aeris teased, with her laugh the room had relaxed. Kadaj, Yazoo, and Loz still on edge but willing to give Jenova another chance- perhaps for old times sake, or just for their own sakes.

"Well, I'm glad you two finally made up." Mickey said, happy for the reconciling family. "I'm sure you ladies have a lot of catching up to do."

"(Gentle Laughter) Yes." "So it would seem." Aeris and Jenova commented to Mickey at the same time.

"Well, we've got a lot of catching up to do, too. The Organization is on the move again and we were wondering if you guys had any luck deciphering the data from Sora on your side." Mickey explained to Aeris and the rest of the HBRC members in the room. Then he walked over to Merlin who was now busy trying to wipe up his spilled tea. "But first, I was kinda hoping you could help me power up my Keyblade, Merlin."

"Oh my, goodness, what ever for?" Merlin questioned with the wiggle of his mustache and re-centered of his glasses as Mickey pulled out his Kingdom Key D Keyblade. Mickey's Keyblade was already powerful as it is, there wasn't much Merlin could do for it on his own.

"The Heartless were a lot stronger in the realm of darkness than what we expected. My Keyblade was damaged and Riku's was broke in half before he gained a new Keyblade. It was incredibly powerful." Mickey explained what happened to them. He was a little disappointed at how outmatched they were. "I guess we should have powered up our Keyblades before we left. We had completely underestimated our opponents residing in the dark realm."

"Hmm, I see. That must have been a harrowing experience for you two." Merlin said, running his hand down his beard in thought. "Riku. Let me see your new Keyblade."

"Sure?" Riku walked over to Merlin, Aeris and the others leaning over to look in curiosity as Riku summoned his Braveheart Keyblade.

"Oh!" "Whoa!" Aeris gasped and Yuffie yelped in alarm at the sight of they Keyblade.

"A Keyblade of both Light and Darkness." Merlin stated in fascinated awe. "There hasn't been a Keyblade of balance like this in ages..."

"Is that a problem?"

"No, my boy. In fact, this could be the key we need to turn the tides of power."

"How?"

"Mickey. Can you pull out your Star Seeker as well?" Merlin requested, ignoring Riku's question.

"Sure." Mickey replied, pulling out more than one Keyblade at a time wasn't a hard task for Mickey. But he was confused as to why. "What do you need it for?"

"Aeris, my dear, can you come over here for a bit?" Merlin asked, ignoring the questions yet again. "I'll need your assistance."

"Of course." Aeris complied, all ready getting what Merlin was trying to do.

"What exactly are you doing?" Yuffie asked, with a quirked eyebrow as Merlin and Aeris circled around the two Keyblades on Merlin's table.

"Dark and Light are a delicate balance. One cannot exist without the other, and they are stronger together than apart." Merlin explained as he looked down at the two Keyblades, preparing his Magic along with Aeris. "In order to make a stronger Keyblade for you, Mickey, we are going to fuse your Keyblade from the dark realm and the one from the light realm together."

"Huh?!" "Whoa!" Riku and Mickey jumped back a bit in surprise.

"Is that even possible?" Leon questioned in awe.

"How the heck are you gonna do that?" Cid wondered with a little bit of doubt. This mystics and magic mobo-jumbo was a little over his head. He'll stick with his computers and engineering, thank you.

"With Magic!" Merlin answered in excitement as if it was the most obvious answer. Merlin held out his wand over the two Keyblades where he stood on the opposite side of the table. "Get ready, my dear, this is going to take a lot of concentration."

"All right." Aeris nodded, holding a hand over the Keyblades were she stood on the right side of the round table.

"Allow me to help." Jenova volunteered her assistance as she held her hand out over the Keyblades, taking her place on the left side of the table.

"?!" "?!" Aeris and Merlin looked over at Jenova, surprised at her offer.

"You'll need the power of darkness in order for this to work."

"Right." Aeris knew Jenova was right, nodding to her in gratitude. "Thank you."

"Get ready, ladies." Merlin said, beginning to pour his Magic into the Keyblades.

"Gahhh." "Ahhh." Jenova and Aeris focused their powers into the Keyblades, holding on as their Magic lit the room in blinding Darkness and Light. Through the chaos of energy in the room, the Keyblades began to come together, a natural resistance and constricting friction opposed them during the process. But they continued to push through it.

"Just a bit more, ladies! We're all most there!" Merlin said in encouragement. His Magic was beginning to run low, and he began to sweat and shake. But he pushed himself on, knowing that he had to hold on. The fusion was almost done, they just needed a bit more. "Wahh!"

"Ahh!" "Ahhh!"

The Light and Darkness began to swirl around each other, before finally coming together and exploding out into the area. Knocking everyone but the three back.

The deed was done. In the place of Star Seeker and Kingdom Key D stood one Keyblade. One made of the Keyblades' Light and Darkness, but stronger than both. Star Cluster.

"Whooaa." The room unconsciously said in astonishment as the magic show died down and all that was left was a new Keyblade.

Aeris had a slight coat of sweat coming from her forehead. Jenova seemed to be the most coolly composed. Merlin on the other hand was a tired wreck.

"Oh, my." Merlin's knees buckled and gave out. He grabbed on to his chair and slid in before he fell.

"Merlin!" Aeris crossed over to him in worry. He wasn't as young as he use to be, the amount of Magic it took to fuse a Keyblade must have taken a lot out of him. Usually it took the heart equivalent of a world's heart to make a new Keyblade, let alone fuse two.

"I'm quite alright, my dear. I just need a moment." Merlin assured to her as Aeris placed worried hands on his shoulders to help him in his chair.

"You need to take it easy, young man. Staying in place for so long has made you weak."

"Haha, Young Man?" Merlin couldn't help but chuckle at that. "I haven't been called that in a long time."

"Are you going to be all right, Merlin?" Riku asked in concern as he approached the table.

"I'll be just fine, my boy. Nothing a nice cup of tea and a good night sleep can't fix." Merlin insisted, picking up his cup of tea with a slight struggle and taking a sip before addressing Mickey. "Give your new Keyblade a feel, king Mickey. See how you like it."

"I already love it." Mickey assured to Merlin, appreciating all the trouble he went through to make it for him. As he held the Keyblade in his hands, he could already feel all its power through his fingertips. "It's truly amazing. Thank you, Merlin. Thank you, ladies."

"Hmph." "You're welcome." Jenova and Aeris nodded to him.

"May it be your guiding key." Merlin said waving a hand over Mickey and his new Keyblade in blessing.

"Nice new Keyblades, fellas." Yuffie complimented. "You should head over to the Moogle Shop to see if they can make 'em stronger."

"They can do that?" Riku asked, followed by Mickey in curiousity.

"Really?"

"The Moogle's Forge in not to be underestimated," Leon informed them. "If you have the material, they can make the upgrades. You should check it out before you leave."

"Right, thanks guys. We'll do that later." Riku nodded to them before looking over at Merlin. "I'm sorry to bother you again, Merlin. But could we ask for one more favor?"

"Hmm?"

"Oh yeah!" Mickey, picking up where Riku was going with this, pulled out the suitcase he was carrying. Both Riku and Mickey placed their respective suitcases carrying Kairi's and Lea's vestments on Merlin's table. "Master Yen Sid had these vestments made for Kairi and Lea."

"We were wondering if you can hand these to the two of them for us."

"Well that's no trouble at all. What a lovely gift for them to celebrate the unlocking of their Keyblades." Merlin commented in good cheer as he stored the suitcases with him in a poof of smoke.

"Kairi unlocked her Keyblade? That's great!" Riku was really proud of her, it had barely been two days since she started her training along with Lea.

"Yes, the two of them are making amazing strides." Merlin said in admiration of his young students, looking over to the round top door on the side wall that wasn't there last time Riku was here. "I used my magic to furnish a special training ground so they wouldn't need to rush their study of the Keyblade. I made this place after a part from my homeworld, The Sword in the Stone. A Fragment place where time doesn't matter."

"You're a great wizard able to manipulate time itself and yet fusing a Keyblade tired you out?" Jenova pointed out in interruption. Slightly teasing at Merlin.

"Oh give me a brake! I've got a lot of Spells going on right now!" Merlin huffed with a pout, scrunching up with his arms crossed. "It's not my fault you all have been stretching me out."

"Heha, sorry." "My bad." Mickey and Riku apologized to their contribution to Merlin's exhaustion, rubbing the back of their heads in awkward embarrassment.

"Oh, it's fine. Anyways..." Merlin brushed off their worries before getting back on track. His eyes twinkling with admiration and pride as he returned to his thought. Looking over to the door where Kairi and Lea were training. "Kairi is training so hard to become a Keyblade wielder like the three of you. She's determined to no longer wait on the sidelines. She wants to get out there and do her part to help out. With her drive she's already ready to face off against Lea tomorrow."

"They're going to face off with each other tomorrow?" Mickey asked, slightly worried.

"Of course. The two of them need to get a feel of wielding their Keyblades, not just summoning them. What better way to practice than in a controlled battle ring?"

"I wish we could see their match." Riku was disappointed he wouldn't be able to see their fight and congratulate them for their great progress. But... "But we've got our own tasks to fulfill, too. Can't afford to fall behind on schedule."

"Understandable. That's quite commendable of you."

"Speaking of fulfilling tasks," Mickey said, looking over at the HBRC members. "Did you guys have any luck deciphering the data?"

"Mmm, not much." Cid admitted, rubbing the back of his head in frustration. "But we've got some help on the case."

"Help?" Riku was slightly confused? Was he referring to Chip and Dale back at Disney Castle?

"Yup. Some young whipper-snappers are giving us a hand back at Hollow Bastion Castle." Cid explained. "Use to be Ansem's apprentices, too."

"?!" Riku tensed in alarm. Whether Cid meant apprentices of Ansem Seeker of Darkness or Ansem the Wise did not matter, either one were once members of Organization XIII. "How?"

"Riku. Lea wasn't the only one returned whole again." Aeris explained, she kept her voice calm so as to say they were nothing to worry about anymore.

"..." But Riku wasn't completely convinced, he had to see for himself. "We'll go check it out for ourselves. We have some questions that need to be answered anyway."

"Do what you have to do." Leon said, his arms crossed as he sent them off with his blessing. "But don't do anything reckless."

"We'll be okay. We're just going to ask some questions. Right?" Mickey replied before looking over at Riku. He knew that they were on bad terms with the past Organization members, especially Sora and Riku. But if they had become whole again and turned a new leaf like Lea, Mickey didn't want them opening up any old hostilities.

"Right..." Riku got what Mickey meant. It's not that he held a grudge or had a bone to pick with them, he just wanted to see if they turned into people they could trust. "We'll be heading out now."

"Wait. Before you go." Merlin called out, halting them before they headed out. "I have a gift for you, Riku."

"For me?" Riku was a little surprised. They had come for help with Mickey's Keyblade and information, he did not expect to be receiving something as well. Riku could feel the build up of Magic in the air in front of him before the poof of smoke even appeared. Grabbing the object from the smoke before it even cleared out. It was a orange charm with the Dream Eater Spirit Sigil on it. "A Heartbinder?"

"Yes." Merlin nodded in confirmation. "Sora may have an amazing gift at forming connections and bonds with the hearts of others, but you have formed many connections as well. Think of this as your own good luck charm that will make that gift stronger."

"..." Riku looked down at the Dream Heartbinder in his hand, holding it tighter before placing it close to his heart. "Thank you, Merlin. I promise to take care of it well."

"We should head out now." Mickey suggested over to Riku.

"Right." Riku nodded in reply but turned over to his grandmother, Jenova, one more time. "Are you going to be fine?"

"Don't worry about me, child." Jenova commanded to her grandson. "Continue on the road you have chosen."

"Then bye for now." Riku said in farewell. "I'll come back for a visit later."

"Don't be surprised if she looks different than what you remember." Aeris playful warned as she joined over with Jenova. "Watch out, your grandmother is going to have a whole new look."

"I am?" Jenova slightly quirked her eyebrow at Aeris with her arms crossed.

"Of course. You are in need of some clothes, and the two of us are in need of a ladies-bonding time." Aeris insisted, barely holding back her playful glee.

"..." Riku was glad that his mother and grandmother were starting to get along so quickly. But the idea of going on a shopping spree sounded like a slow torture to him. "... Have fun, ladies."

"We will." Aeris guaranteed that they would have a goodtime. There was nothing like a new look to signify a changing point in your life. Mickey and Riku headed out the house, Aeris waved off to her son. Praying for good fortune on his journey ahead. If he was returning back to the realm of darkness, he would need all the help he could get. "Oh wait, Riku. I forgot to tell you something during all the commotion."

"Yeah?"

"I like what you've done with your hair." Aeris complimented noticing the changes it had taken during the short time of the Mastery exam. It seemed a little longer, and a lot more spikier than before. It looked good on him.

"?!" Riku was caught by surprise at the sudden compliment, but greatly appreciated it. Especially after the subtle roast his family was giving him about it before. "Thank you."

"Good luck." Aeris waved her son off with a smile.

"Thanks." Riku gave a quick wave back as he closed the door behind them. Mickey and Riku took the path down the Borough-or Castle Town as the residential area was once known as- towards Hollow Bastion Castle.

The Ravine Trail and The Great Maw no longer there, as the many homes and fountain area had returned. The Bailey had restored to the back to the castle walls square, known as The Central Square. The Center Square had three paths. They had come from the East side, where the residential area dwelled. To the West was two flight of stairs, one on each side, leading to the Entryway that was once the Ravine Trail and the Crystal Fissure. From there where The Great Maw once stood now was Outer Gardens back to their former glory with no longer a sea of Neo Heartless. And from there, where Maleficent and Pete once resided in building in the Dark Depths, now had returned to the Purification Factory.

But that was not where they needed to go. They needed to take the path to the Northwest. Past the Gardens that was once the HBRC's Restoration Site, and head east up a flight of stairs to the Castle Gate- now returned to it's formal name, Front Doors. Where Hollow Bastion Castle resides. At the castle gate, guarding its entrance, were two faces they hadn't expected to see again.

"!" "!" And judging from the other two's reaction, they were surprised to see Mickey and Riku, too.

"Lexaeus, Xaldin. I wasn't expecting to see you two again." Riku said, slightly on guard.

"Hmph, the feelings mutual." Xaldin huffed.

"We do not go by that name anymore." Lexaeus replied, his stern face unable to look at Riku for long. Riku could Sense in his heart the feeling of guilt. It was strange. More strange than the return of their hearts.

"I see you're whole again. Good for you." Riku lightly comment in friendly conversation, before getting back to all seriousness. "Are you still apart of the Organization?"

"No." "No." Both Lexaeus and Xaldin responded without hesitation, looking Riku in the eyes.

"..." Riku could Sense no lies in their hearts. They no longer wore the black coat of Organization XIII and dawned their castle guard uniforms. But more than that, the physical proof was in their eyes. They lacked the yellow iris of the darkness's influence that came from Xehanort. "Your eyes have no darkness in them."

"As it should be, once we became recompleted again." Xaldin replied.

"Recompleted?"

"The reason we are here is because you, Sora, and your friends defeated our Nobodies, thereby "recompleting" us when the artificial Kingdom Hearts was destroyed and our world was mostly returned." Lexaeus answered to Riku. His head turning away in shame for a moment along with Xaldin. "We had cast off our hearts by choice, make no mistake, but we didn't know that Xemnas- or rather, Xehanort- was deceiving us."

"So you fellas are working against Organization XIII?" Mickey came to conclude but needed the confirmation from them to be sure.

"Yes." Xaldin answered as both of them looked back towards Mickey and Riku, and nodded. "Xemnas and Xehanort have no hold over us anymore. We're just students of the heart, exactly the same as we were before all of this began."

"Exactly the same as you were before?"

"Are there any others from the old Organization XIII that have returned?" Riku asked, finishing what Mickey was leading to ask.

"Outside of from the members that "weren't" former apprentices of Ansem the Wise we are not sure of. Out of Organization members that were: Dilan, myself, Ienzo, and Lea have returned. However, Even has also returned but has yet to awaken again and Lea has confirmed that Isa and Braig has rejoined with Xemnas and the Organization."

"Even? Ienzo?" Riku had recognized Isa as Saïx and Xigbar as Braig from the time back during his Mastery Exam, and could concluded that Xaldin was most likely Dilan from what Lexaeus had just said. But the other two he couldn't recognized.

"You would know them as Vexen and Zexion from your time in Castle Oblivion."

"?!" Riku tensed unconscious from the bad blood he had held for what they had done to him and his Replica back in the castle's basement floors. His voice became hard and his fists clenched. "Those two are back?"

"Whatever has happened between you and them is in the past." Dilan stated, silently telling Riku that he shouldn't hold grudges since they are different people now. Just as they won't hold past grudges on him.

"..." Lexaeus looked away, feeling otherwise as his past actions seemed to still guilt him. His pride making him feel more responsible and remorse for his Nobody's actions.

"We also have friends we want to bring back to this world, just like you. And to do so, we have to work together." Dilan insisted to Riku in reason. "That's why Ienzo is working so hard to decipher the encrypted data that Ansem the Wise had left in Sora that you have found."

"..." Riku knew that Dilan was right, he was not petty enough to not see reason through his grudge. And besides, if Axel could change to their side and they welcomed him, why not the other Organization members too? Riku should welcome the help that was no longer working against them and let the past against their other-halves go. Besides...he had hurt them just as much as they had hurt him. Riku had turned to Lexaeus, ready to let bygones be bygones. "What's your real name?"

"..." Lexaeus looked at Riku with his naturally stern eyes, realizing that this would be their new proper introduction. "Aeleus."

"Aeleus. Nice to meet you." Riku tried the name out on his tongue, holding a hand out to greet Aeleus. "I'm Riku. Let this be the start of new beginnings for us."

"?!" Aeleus looked down at Riku's outstretched hand questionably before looking back at Riku. It could not be that simple. "You no longer hold a grudge?"

"You wrecked me and I wrecked you. Let's call it even." Riku shrugged before looking at Aeleus in all seriousness. "I'm willing to look ahead and put the past behind me."

The question was if Aeleus could do the same?

"..." The thing was he wanted to be forgiven, but his guilt made it hard for him to forgive himself. But if the ones he had hurt were willing to give him a chance to redeem himself, who was he to not put the work in to prove to himself and them that it was the right choice? "The road to redemption is hard. But I am willing to take that path since you have offered it."

Aeleus took Riku's hand and they shook on it.

"Right. Let's work together to get our friends back." Riku nodded, glad that they could have a fresh start again.

"Speaking of friends," Mickey said bring back the topic of his and Riku's task. "We could really use your help with finding some clues. We're looking for the location of past Keyblade wielders: Aqua, Terra, and Ven. So were retracing their steps back to before they disappeared. Do any of you have recollection of them coming here before their disappearance?"

"Two of them had come here." Aeleus said, trying to remember exactly what happened on that night. "Aqua and Terra. This is were they disappeared."

"!" Riku's eyes widen at this news. The trail had taken them to where it all went down.

"Can you tell us exactly what happened?" Mickey asked, his anticipation keeping on the edge of his toes.

"Terra had arrived here first. There was something different about him. Soon after Master Aqua had arrived on the scene. We could not hear what they had converse from our place guarding the castle gate." Aeleus explained as the memory began to trouble him. "But we grew alarmed as Terra grabbed Master Aqua by the throat."

"!" "!"

"He had let her go soon after, but then they began to fight as both drew their Keyblades. There was a terrible darkness coming from Terra. Master Aqua must have sensed this before us. Both had fallen into the depths of darkness. Terra had stabbed his heart with his own Keyblade and fell into darkness and Master Aqua jumped in after him, but neither had come back from it."

"Soon after as I went over to investigate it along with King Ansem and Braig the next morning, a new stranger had appeared from the dark depths, lying unconscious. A young man with white hair calling himself Xehanort. He had no memories other than his name. Next to him was Master Aqua's Keyblade Armor and Keyblade, but no sign of her." Dilan said, finishing the story for Aeleus. "And from there you know how the story goes. Xehanort became an apprentice, stole Ansem's identity, and goes on to form Organization XIII."

"Xehanort…" "!"

"Can you please show us the place where this all happened?" Mickey asked.

"I will show you the way." Dilan volunteered, leaving at least Aeleus to guard the castle gate. "It all happened in The Central Square. Come with me."

"Right." "Thanks." Both Mickey and Riku nodded to Dilan in gratitude, doing the same for Aeleus as well before following Dilan.

Dilan had taken them back down to The Central Square, gesturing with his hand that it all went down in the center before heading back to his duty to leave them with their investigation. The day was almost over and they were losing light. Mickey and Riku walked over to circle in the center of the square to look over the area.

"So this is the place." Mickey said aloud, Riku thoughts following in after his.

"Where Aqua fell into the realm of darkness after she dove in to save Terra."

"Yeah, she said he was acting strange." Mickey replied.

"Strange how, exactly?"

"She sensed darkness in him, and they ended up getting into a big fight." Mickey said, summoning up from what Aqua had last told him and what Aeleus and Dilan had said happened afterwards.

"Right. And in the aftermath, the two of them disappeared." Riku was trying to piece what they knew together to try and see the big picture. "Around the same time, the guards found a stranger with white hair lying unconscious here in the square- a man calling himself "Xehanort.""

"Ansem the Wise took the stranger in, but that was a mistake. Xehanort betrayed his master, stole his research, and along with his fellow apprentices, separated his heart from his body." Mickey added in, trying to piece together the timeline of events. "Xehanort's heart took his master's name, "Ansem," and traveled to the past to give his younger self instructions. He even briefly had control of you."

"..."

"His empty body stayed in the present, took the name Xemnas, and founded Organization XIII. Their goal was to prepare thirteen vessels for Xehanort's heart."

"Until we put an end to the Organization." Riku added in, continuing on the timeline of events. Resting his hand on his chin as he sort his thoughts out. "But all the while Young Xehanort had been visiting the future to choose thirteen vessels of his own- hearts with strong enough ties to him to begin a new Organization, the real Organization XIII."

"..."

"And now they're looking for a fight with us." Riku concluded, but some of the pieces were still missing. Hus hand returning back to his side as he looked back at Mickey. "But what happened to Terra? I thought you said that Aqua saved him."

"Yep, she did." Mickey replied with a hard look on his face as he stared at the area in question in front of them. Not as happy with the news as Riku had thought he would be. His fists clenched at his side. "The problem is we didn't notice. You remember the end of the Mark of Mastery exam, when Master Xehanort made his grand return? That's the Xehanort I remember. He was already a pretty old man then. But how do you explain Ansem and Xemnas, his Heartless and his Nobody? Isn't it strange how young they look? Why aren't they old men? It's because Xehanort was using a different body when the split happened."

"?"

"That face from the portrait I mentioned- it wasn't just some stranger that Ansem the Wise took under his wing. It was the young man whose body Master Xehanort possessed."

"No way!" It hit Riku like a brick. "That was Terra? Master Xehanort was using Terra?"

"Yep." Mickey finally turned to look at Riku, calming down as they both were following the same idea. "Master Xehanort told us "another on our list" belonged to him. He was talking about Terra. Turns out, Aqua saved more than just her friend that day."

"Okay, but Master Xehanort is an old man again now." Riku pointed out. "Where did Terra's body go?"

"Hmm..." Mickey thought about this for a moment, before an idea hit him. Making Mickey jumped in the air in eureka, pointing up with a finger. "(Gasp)! It's 'cause Master Xehanort's collecting vessels! He claimed to have two of our seven lights. We got Sora back, but Terra must still be on Xehanort's side."

"He's with Organization XIII?" Riku troubled over this as he placed a hand under his chin again, they needed to plan their next course of action. "We should warn Sora."

"Yep! And Merlin, too."

"Yeah." Riku smiled at that and nodded. Sounds like a good plan.

They took the East path back to Castle Town- or the Borough as Riku remembered it being called- heading to Merlin's House to give the old wizard a heads up. The sun was almost set by the time they had made it to Merlin's House. They entered the residence with a knock. The place has become less occupied than when they had last left it.

"We're back!" Mickey announced their return, looking around to see that there was only Cid, Leon, and Merlin present. "Huh? Where is everybody?"

"Aeris is still out with her mother-in-law and Yuffie and the boys had decided to follow them from behind to make sure they stayed out of trouble." Merlin explained. "How did your investigations at the castle go?"

"Very informative." Mickey answered before he got somber. "Unfortunately, we've also got some bad news."

"Turns out Terra is one of Xehanort's vessels that he had taken possession of when Aqua fell into darkness trying to rescue Terra." Riku explained.

"Oh, my. That's simply dreadful news. Dreadful indeed." Merlin voice deepened in somber as he ran a hand down his long beard, contemplating what their next course of action should be. "What of Ventus? Any news about his whereabouts?"

"No." Mickey sadly shook his head. "We only could find information of Terra and Aqua's location."

"Well, then, perhaps..." Merlin said as he gathered his thoughts. "The two of you should retrace Ventus's steps. We now know of Master Aqua's and Terra's situation, but Ventus remains lost and unknown. Riku, Mickey. Head to the worlds that Ventus had once visited before his disappearance and see what you can find."

"Yeah!" "Right." Mickey and Riku nodded, ready to head out to do just that.

"Don't forget to head over to the Moogle Shop before you go." Cid reminded to them as they headed out the door.

"Thanks, Cid. Later everyone." Riku waved back over his shoulder as the two of them headed out the door. Heading East toward the Fountain Court, they made their way to the Moogle's Shop.

Business seemed to be booming in the Marketplace. Even Uncle Scrooge McDuck's ice-cream shop, along with his Gummi Ship Shops was thriving with Radian Garden's comeback. Although he had left this world to start up a new chain of businesses on Twilight Town with his great-nephews manning the Gummi Shop there.

Going up to the Moogle manning the shop's counter, they began checking the shop's inventory.

"Let's check out the Moogle's Keyblade Forge and then restock on our items." Mickey suggested.

"Sounds good to me." Riku went to the Moogle's Workshop, checking out their Synthesize Items and Keyblade Forge. Synthesize Items uses materials to synthesize new items. That could be useful for later. But the Keyblade Forge could power up their Keyblades- turns out Mickey and Riku's Keyblades were eligible for upgrades.

"Look! We can power up our Keyblades. This is great!" Mickey was happy by the news, looking through what resources he would need. "Looks like I'll need some Flourite and Wellspring Shards."

"Same for me." Riku commented, looking through their resources. "We got varying Wellspring items from the Heartless back in the realm of darkness, and even some Soothing Shards from those Water Cores. But we need some Flourite."

"No problem. Turns out we can buy that from the Moogle Shop."

The Moogle Shop had items, weapons, and more. Restocking on Hi-Potions and Ethers before buying out on Flourite resources. They had bought 8 of them to be on the safe side. A going at 500 Munny a pop, the Flourites did a good number on their wallets. But at least they had gotten a Moogle Postcard out of it. Riku had won a Lucky Ring out of it, which would be useful for gathering resources later. It was a lucky win for them.

It didn't help their Munny supply that they also splurged on armor and accessories. Riku had purchased a Guardian's Belt, Power Band, and Aegis chain while Mickey had bought a Guardian's Belt and Elven Bandanna. While Mickey splurged more on the accessories: buying a Sorcerer's Ring, Valor Ring, and Skill Ring to equip. Riku, on the other hand, just bought a Buster Ring for himself- equipping the Lucky Ring he had just won along with it.

With the resources they had their Keyblades could only be upgraded so far: Mickey's Star Cluster up to Rank 4, and Riku's Braveheart up to Rank 3.

"We'll have to look for Damascus later." Mickey pointed out as he looked through what they needed to upgrade their Keyblades further.

"Yeah, and I need a few other items, too." Riku replied, wondering where he was going to get some Betwixt and Twilight Stones.

"Boy, you two sure went on a Shopping binge." Came the sudden appearance of Yuffie as the town's nightlife began to light up. "And I thought the other two were bad."

"Yuffie? Fellas?" Mickey was a little surprised to bump into those four here.

"I thought you guys were tailing Mom and Grandma?" Riku pondered why they were here with Aeris and Jenovas nowhere is sight.

"We were." Yuffie groaned, exhausted from the boring stake-out and tailing from a distance. "But Aeris and grandma-grey just headed back to Aeris's house. We'll follow them in a second, once we get some distance."

"How did it go?"

"Ugh, it was boring to watch for the most part. It took everything in me to hold my position."

"To leave or to join them?"

"Surprisingly both."

"I still don't trust her." Kadaj commented in, clinching his fingers into his crossed arms as he looked ahead towards Castle Town.

"You're gonna have to let go and give her a chance, Kadaj." Yuffie groaned in exhaustion as if they been having this conversation before. She rubbed her forehead between her fingers. "She's done nothing to harm Aeris all day and she hasn't shown any ill intent. It looks like she wants to start over again. You might want that, too, for closure's sake."

"Tch…"

"Ugh, I'm so bored..." Loz groaned, tired of tailing two ladies on a shopping spree for so long. "Can we go home now?"

"Yeah, we're done." Yuffie had to agree with Loz on that part, she was bored and tired as well. "Yazoo. Carry me."

"You can walk yourself." Yazoo replied, unmoved by her whining.

"But I'm tired, and I'm a princess."

"Funny how you only acknowledge that title whenever you feel lazy." Yazoo gave the subtle hint of a smirk as her cheeks puffed out an she stomped around.

"Oh, quiet, Yazoo! I'm a Ninja above all else!" Yuffie huffed.

"Then the little ninja can walk home on her own legs." Her pouting actually got the smallest of chuckles out of Yazoo.

"Sorry to interrupt your flirting." Riku said, drawing Yuffie and Yazoo's attention.

"..."

"We are not fli-" Yuffie denied with her fists on her hips, noticeably blushing.

"Hey, Yuffie, I need a solid." Riku said, interrupting midsentence to change the subject.

"Depends on the solid." Yuffie countered, not agreeing to anything until she knows the fine detail.

"You know that Master Metal you have? Let me barrow it for a bit."

"Well, yeah, but what do you need it for?"

"Resource hunting."

"Fine. Here you go." Yuffie reached into her pocket and tossed Riku her Master Metal. As normal accessories go, it wasn't that special. However, it has the Lucky Strike charm applied to it that made enemy resources drop chance increase. Making it worth its weight in gold.

"..." Riku caught it in the air, equipping it with his other accessories. "Thanks."

"Yeah, yeah. Here, you might need this, too." Yuffie reached into her pocket again and threw a Gold Ring at Riku. It's ability to draw in more munny might come in handy for the two of them. "But I want them back when you're done with them. Plus interest."

"You got it." Riku smiled a little from her demands as she huff and playfully pointed at him. "We'll be back later."

"Have fun you two." Yuffie waved goodbye to the two of them as they headed for the town's gate.

"I can't make any promises there." Riku waved back to Yuffie and his brothers as him and Mickey returned to their Gummi Ship. As they prepared to take off, Riku looked over to Mickey. "Any ideas where we should start?"

"Well, the last place I had heard of Ventus visiting was at Mysterious Tower before heading off to the Keyblade Graveyard to fight Vanitas."

"Vanitas?"

"Yup. Master Xehanort had tried to create the x-Blade by splitting his former apprentice, Ventus, in two in order to create two beings of pure Light and Darkness. One being Ventus of pure Light, and the other being Vanitas of pure Darkness. Together, their clash would create the x-Blade. But Master Xehanort's plan had failed and Ven and Vanitas had gone missing."

"You mean to say that they had never returned from the Keyblade Graveyard?"

"Well, not exactly. Vanitas had disappeared, but Ven had been brought back to the Master Yen Sid's tower unconscious by Aqua. His heart had been badly damage and he was unable to wake from Sleep. Aqua said she would take him somewhere safe before going to confront Terra."

"Do you think she might have hidden him on previous worlds he had visited?"

"Maybe...It's worth a shot to check it out." Mickey said, open to Riku's suggestion. Looking through his memory he tried to recall Ventus's tracks. "Before he had gone to Master Yen Sid's Tower, Master Yen Sid had said he had come from Neverland."

"All right, to Neverland." Riku set a course through the Starlight Way Galaxy, firing through asteroids as they made their way to Neverland. Finding Flourites among the asteroids they blasted through. "I'm a little upset now we spent so much munny buying all those Flourites before."

"Look on the bright side, at least we found some Damascus among those asteroids, too!" Mickey pointed, looking at the positive.

"Right..." Riku agreed, it was a good find. Too bad they had only found 2 Damascus among 12 Flourites. "We're here. Let's land on the Seacoast."

Neverland

It was early morning, the sun just rising over the horizon. They landed down on the coast of the island, the sea bombarded on uplift of island, slowly to eat away with time, as flourishing vines and grass bloomed alongside the cliff on the other side of the seacoast path. Once they walked on land, Mickey shrunk down the Gummi Ship to hide in pocket for safe keeping. Just in time as footsteps could be heard coming from the path around the cliffside.

"Come on! I heard it land over here!"

"Slow down, I'm not good at running!"

"!" Riku recognized those voices. He knew who they were before they appeared around the corner. "Slightly, Cubby!"

"Huh, Riku!" Cubby jumped a bit a long with Slightly, surprised to see him but glad to at the same time.

"Well, aren't you a sight for sore-eyes!" Slightly greeted with a big grin.

"Good to see you guys. Whoa!" Riku greeted back, before Tinker Bell came storming in from behind them. Flying at Riku at full speed, catching him by surprise, before circling around in excitement. Her bell-like chimes greeting him as fairy dust poured on him. "Hey Tink. Nice to see you, too."

CHIME, CHIME

"You know these fellas, Riku?" Mickey asked.

"Yeah, from a while back." Riku said before introducing his friends. "These are the Lost Boys: Slightly and Cubby, along with Tinker Bell."

"Well nice to meet you guys. My names Mickey." Mickey said to three, introducing himself. If they were a friend of Riku's then they were definitely a friend of his.

"Nice to meet you, Mickey." Cubby greeted back to Mickey as they all smiled at the new friend.

"Where is everybody else?" Riku asked, looking around to see that the other Lost Boys weren't following them.

"Mean old Captain Hook is up to no good on Mermaid Lagoon, so Peter Pan and the others went to give 'em an old One-Four." Slightly said, throwing punches in the air to explain. "But what brings you fellas here? Up for raising up some trouble with the Lost Boys?"

"Afraid not this time." Riku had to decline the offer. As tempting as it was, they were here on business.

"We're looking for clues on the whereabouts of our friend, Ventus." Mickey explained to them. "Did you guys ever see him? He also goes by the name Ven."

"Huh?!" "Oh!" Cubby and Slightly's eyes popped open wide in recognition of the name.

"!" "So you guys do know him?" Riku and Mickey's spirits raised, they might have just found a clue already.

"Yeah we remember Ven." Slightly answered. "He was loads of fun."

"Can you remember the last time you've seen him?" Riku asked them, hoping that this lead would go somewhere.

"The last time we saw him, he was taking a nap over here. It felt like he had come from out of nowhere." Cubby said, rubbing his head from under his bear-pajama hood. "He was looking for a shooting star with us. But we split ways halfway-around to go find Hook's treasure with Peter Pan while Ven continued searching for the star with Tink."

CHIME, RING, RING

"..." Tinker Bell was jumping around and kicking her feet in the air as she explained to Riku what had happened to the two of them after they split up from the Lost Boys and Peter Pan. Most that didn't know Tinker Bell couldn't decipher her chiming voice, it was the listening of her heart that made her words ring out true. "So you and Ven had made your way to Indian Camp before Hook pixie-napped you and you were rescued by another young man with a strange sword?"

CHIME, CHIME

"What? A Keyblade?!"

"That must have been Terra!" Mickey concluded. "He must have come here at a different time from Ven and another location."

"Tink, could you show us the way?"

CHIME

She nodded with a smile, circling around Mickey and Riku once before flying off a head. Waiting for a moment, looking back for them to follow.

"Hold on, fellas! If you could help us out a moment!" Slightly said, halting them as he ran up to the three of them. Cubby following a little behind Slightly, unable to run as quick as his friend. "We'd really appreciate it!"

"Need some help with something?" Mickey asked.

"Yeah. It's one thing if it was just Hook causing trouble. But another fella in a black coat was stirring up trouble with him, too." Cubby explained, huffing out a breath for a moment.

"A black coat?" Riku gasped in alarm as his fists clenched. "The Organization..."

"We gotta help these fellas out first!" Mickey insisted.

"Right!" Riku couldn't agree more.

Tinker Bell, Cubby, and Slightly had joined their fighting party. Before continuing on along the path, Riku opened the chest behind them and grabbed the Panacea inside it. There was a Moogle Shop hologram not too far from where they started, but there was no need to shop right now. They had to head to Mermaid Lagoon. However, they didn't walk too far ahead from the Moogle Shop before a swarm of Heartless had popped up from dark smoke in front of them.

"Heartless!" Slightly battle called, pulling out his slingshot as Cubby grabbed for his club.

"Everyone get ready!" Riku commanded as he summoned his Braveheart to him. It was just a mix of Shadows, Soldiers, and Toy Troopers Heartless- but Riku had learned not to underestimate them. Striking through the first few, Riku unleashed a Thundaga as he made his way into the center of the hoard. "Thunder!"

"Yay!" Mickey was slicing through the Heartless with his Star Cluster; Slightly was knocking Shadows down with his slingshot; Tinker Bell was flying through the air, kicking a few Soldiers with her feet; and, Cubby could be seen rolling through the area knocking down Heartless like bowling pins.

Before long all the Heartless were defeated, and the rewards gathered to Riku as his Lucky Ring and Master Metal drew them in. The resources were his for the taking.

"Thank you tiny, little ring." Riku said unconsciously down to his accessories for gathering some really good resources for them.

"What?"

"Nothing." Riku brushed off in slight embarrassment. Mickey wasn't suppose to hear that. Changing the subject, he began walking on ahead again. "Let's go, the others still need help."

"Yay!" They all cheered with a chime from Tinker Bell in agreement. Riku had continued on ahead, a little northeast before finding another chest again with a High-Potion and making the groups way to Rainbow Falls: Base.

It was a lovely area, although it was covered with Pirates, Air Pirates, and Toy Troopers Heartless. But the group had fought their way through, and Riku had found two chests with a Megalixir and Damascus in them.

But at last they had made their way to Mermaid Lagoon. Captain Hook was fencing off with Peter Pan, his rapier crossing blades with Peter Pan's knife as Pan came at him in the air. Hook's ship anchored off not too far from the lagoon, ready to set sail whenever the captain returns. Having enough, Hook pushed Pan back, jumping back as well to create some distance and join back with the black coat wearing stranger.

"Blast that Peter Pan and his Lost Boy brats!" Hook sneered with a huff, before looking back at his new black coat wearing partner. "Are you sure this black box is worth all this trouble?"

"Oh yes." Answered Luxord with a grin as he kept his arms crossed. "I heard that this black box contains a great treasure unknown to all others."

"Ha! If that be the cast then that Treasure will surely be mine." Hook declared, his mustache curling with his grinning smile.

"Not if I can help it!" Countered Peter Pan, pointing a finger at Hook in declaration of stopping him. "You've torn up Neverland's islands long enough after your last treasure hunt goose-chase!"

"Hook, Luxord!" Riku called out as him and his group joined up with Pan and the other Lost Boys.

"Riku!" The other Lost Boys greeted him with joy at his timely arrival.

"Who are you?" Peter Pan asked with a quirked eyebrow, he had never seen this guy before on Neverland.

"Riku. I'm a friend." Riku quickly introduced him, readying for a fight as he kept his eyes on Hook and Luxord. "We're here to help."

"I'm Mickey. We'll help you take care of these two."

"Well then, the names Peter Pan. Good to have you on board, friends." Pan said, easily accepting them as friends through his easygoing nature. "Let's get him."

"Blast you, Riku! I have no time to be playing around with you, I have a treasure to get to." Hook hopped on to his dingy-boat to head back to his ship. Leaving behind some Pirates and Air Pirates Heartless to face, before turning to Luxord. "Deal with them for me!"

"Hmph. Very well." Luxord only smirked in confirmation as Hook rolled off back to his ship.

"Luxord! Why are you doing all this?" Riku asked, demanding for an answer.

"Not that it's any of your concern, but I'm looking for a black box." Luxord nonchalantly informed Riku, not really caring to hide any secrets.

"But why? What's in it?"

"No one knows. There's no certainty that it even exist." Luxord answered, pulling a card from his sleeves as he twirled it about in his fingers. "But that's no concern of mine. I'm just following orders."

"Why even join back with the Organization?" Riku couldn't understand what reason could make Luxord side with Organization XIII again as he looked into his yellow eyes. The sign of Xehanort's darkened heart resting inside him. "You had the chance to be whole again, I can't see the reason why you would give that up."

"You seem to be missing the point. There is no reason. I'm just here for the game, and to see where the cards fall." Luxord smirked, snapping his fingers as Gambler and Dusk Nobodies appeared at his command. He made his retreat through a Dark Corridor and left them with the Heartless and Nobodies.

"Oh great." Riku groaned as his grip tightened on Braveheart.

"Everyone stick together!" Peter Pan instructed as the enemies came charging at them.

It was a wave of confusion and chaos the Lost Boys scattered about dealing with their own groups of Heartless and Nobodies. Riku and Mickey would have to assist them individually before the group of enemies finished off their health.

"Riku, they need help!" Mickey warned.

"I'm on it." Riku placed a hand over his heart, calling for his Link to his Dream Heartbinder. "Dream."

With a flash of light from his heart, Riku's Komory Bat came flying in with a squeak. Crashing down into Riku's arms for a hug, almost knocking him off his feet. Flying around him to place its claws on Riku's shoulders from behind, it took them both off in the air with a Dark Aeroga surrounding them.

"Come on. Take this!" Riku began Bat Tackling at the enemies with a dark dive above, tearing through a Heartless or a Nobody before moving on to the next. Before Supersonic Thrashing through the center of a group of enemies. "Bye!"

"Thank you!" "Thanks." Nibs and Cubby thanked Riku for the save as he tore through their group of enemies. Now freed from their batch of adversaries, they joined up with Riku to help the others.

"Hey! I could use some help here!" Slightly called out, blocking the attacks of Pirates and Dusks from attacking Tootles.

"Sorry!" Riku said to the swarm of Heartless and Nobodies as he Bat Tackled them away from Slightly and Tootles. "You're done."

"Dream." Riku Bat Tackled the group a few more times before his Link timer went out. Using his Finisher, Riku unleashed Komory Bat Kite onto the field. His Komory Bat let out a screech, calling out other Dream Eaters to rain down on the field, eliminating most of the enemies in the area.

"Thanks for the save!" Slightly two-finger saluted to Riku as Tootles nodded in gratitude. Once the Link was over, Pan, Mickey, Tinker Bell, and the other Lost Boys joined back up with Riku.

"Help!" Cried out the twins, the last two stuck in a fray.

"We're coming!" Pan called out to them as he charged on ahead, flying to their rescue. "Lost Boys! We've got 'em on the run!"

"Bangarang!" Battle cried the Lost Boys along with Riku and Mickey.

The last strike of the battle being won by Riku. In their victory Riku was rewarded with Finder Heartbinder: A link able to call forth the Lost Boys to Riku's aid.

"That was amazing! You two really know how to fight." Pan complemented them from his spot in the sky. His smile not lasting long as he thought of their next course of action. "But the fun's not over yet. Those two are still up to no good. We've got to stop Hook before he digs up the whole island again."

"Any idea where he could be heading?" Mickey asked.

"Hmm. Nope. Not a clue." Pan answered with a hand rubbing his chin, before gliding off a bit. "I'm gonna follow after Hook from the sky. Think you fellas can keep up on land?"

"Heh, you bet." Riku smirked, rising to the challenge.

"Tink, give them a hand." Pan said over to Tink who nodded and circle around Riku and Mickey, giving them fairy dust. "That oughta help you get around a lot faster."

With the help of Tink's fairy dust, they had gain the ability to Glide.

"Catch up with you guys later." Pan nodded to them before flying through the sky, calling for the other Lost Boys to follow him. "C'mon Lost Boys!"

"Right!" The others followed after Peter Pan as he roaster crowed in the air, leaving behind Slightly, Cubby, and Tink to follow with Riku and Mickey.

"We should go on ahead before we fall behind." Riku said over to the group whom nodded in agreement.

"Right!" Mickey agreed, following along with Riku and the others.

Riku explored the Mermaid Lagoon for a bit, even diving into the Lagoon to see what wonders lied below. Mickey being the only one to follow as the others waited on land, stating that they "didn't have any fish lungs" to join them. Their was an Elixir hidden in a chest below its waters. Large shells and coral decorated the bottom of the lagoon along with shiny pearls, but there was no mermaid in sight. Most likely hiding away from the danger of Hook.

Resurfacing Riku had found a chest with the means to build up his Aero magic to Aeroga which he used to dry Mickey and himself off. Along the cliff path he found a chest giving him the skill of Blitz and a chest on top of the cliff which contained a Adamantite.

Going on ahead they made it to Jungle Clearing, which had a few Pogo Shovel heartless and Dusks by the huge dead and hollowed tree in the center of the clearing. There was one chest containing a Wellspring Stone, but the area for the most part was clear sailings. The group made their way to the Gully were a big chest containing the Map of the Island by the area where they came from. And one more smaller chest further off near the path to Indian Camp, right next to a Hologram Moogle Shop, containing a Writhing Crystal.

The Moogle Shop was a great short resting place. Mickey and Riku had a moment to power up their Keyblades: Mickey getting his Star Cluster up to Rank 5 and Riku catching up to him at Rank 5 as well with his Braveheart.

The short brake was well needed as they came to Indian Camp.

"I know this place." Mickey said recognized this spot.

"You do?" Riku asked, not remembering Mickey ever telling him about coming to Neverland.

"Ha-huh. This is the place where I lost my Star Shard and Vanitas had abducted me to the Keyblade Graveyard."

"Huh? Then-" Suddenly Luxord remade his appearance again in the center of Indian Camp. "!"

"Quite a lot of trouble you're going through to stop Hook from finding a box that might not exist." Luxord taunted at the group.

"Quite a lot of trouble you're going through looking for a box that might not exist." Riku countered, staying on guard.

"Hmph." Luxord smirked at the comment. "We all have our parts to play and I'm just playing mine. Now if you gents just point me in the right direction, I'll be on my way."

"We ain't got your stinky black box!" Huffed Slightly, Tinker Bell angrily ringing in agreement.

"I've certainly haven't seen it." Cubby added in with the shake of his head.

"Besides, Hook would have found it by down from the last time he dug up the place." Slightly pointed out, unconsciously giving Luxord all the information he needed.

"So then, if it's no longer buried on the islands, there's a possibility that someone had already found it."

"!"

"Why don't we check your Lost Boys' treasure to make sure you aren't hiding it."

"Wha-" "Hey! Stay away from our stuff!" Cubby flabbergasted while Slightly barked at Luxord at the same time.

"Hmph." With the snap of his fingers more Gamblers and Dusks showed up as he made his retreat into a dark corridor, heading further into the island. "Finders keepers."

"Hey!" Slightly huffed, trying to go after him but was blocked by Dusks.

"C'mon, we gotta go after him." Riku commanded, railing his team together as they fought through the Nobodies. Striking through the enemies and finishing the rest with a Thundaga, Riku and the group ran on ahead after Luxord.

Fighting through the Toy Troopers and Gamblers and Dusks that blocked their way along Peter's Hideout- finding two chests along the way with a Wellspring Crystal and Mega-Ether as well. Following the path into the Cliff Path area where Pogo Shovels, Pirates, and Gamblers blocked their way. Storming through the hoards as Riku found a chest that powered up his Fire magic into Firaga- which wasn't really needed since he already had that and the Dark version of the spell, too. But the Hi-Potion stored in the chest near east ground level of where they were going was much appreciated.

Finally they had made their way to the Cove. Where Hook was confronted by Peter Pan and the other Lost Boys. The area was covered with holes and Peter Pan was on guard as the Lost Boys stayed behind him. Hook on a small island isolated by water from the rest of the Cove. He had his foot triumphantly onto of a large treasure chest that he had just dug out. Pogo Shovels and Pirates guarded Hook's front.

"Alas, the spoils of war is mine." Hook proclaimed an dramatic melancholy sarcasm. "To think that you lot would struggle so hard to rout what was rightfully mine."

"It's not yours, Hook. That's our treasure." Pan corrected, still on guard as Hook held their precious treasure chest hostage. "You have no right to take anything from that box."

"Oh, but I do, me lad. For you see, you could be hiding away something that is rightfully mine."

"You're a pirate, Hook. I doubt most things you find are rightfully yours." Pan countered. The little bit of sass going unappreciated by Hook.

"All treasures are rightfully MINE!" Hook stomped his foot on the chest and waved his hook around. "And no scurvy brats are going to say otherwise!"

"!" Peter Pan and the Lost Boys looked on in alarm as Hook laughed and opened the treasure chest with his hook.

"What?" But there was nothing of value there. No black box, no jewels, no gold or doubloons. Just a bunch of useless old wooden toys. "There's nothing in here but useless junk!"

"It's not useless junk!" Pan said, insulted by his words. "It's filled with the things that we treasure. Not something for the likes of you, Hook."

"Grrr. Blast you Peter Pan!" Hook huffed, kicking the treasure chest shut and pulling out his rapier sword. "You'll pay for making a mockery of us!"

"So the black box wasn't on this world either." Luxord said, coming in through a corridor on the side of Hook. With this world being a bust, it was time to move on in search of the next. "It's time that I depart."

"Huh? What!" Hook huffed in alarm and slightly betrayal that his newly formed partner would abandon him with this lot. "You're abandoning ship?! Coward!"

"Looks like it's just you, Hook." Pan taunted with a smirk as the tides had turn.

"Don't count me out just yet, boy." Hook sneered, before pointing at them with his hook. "I've still got the Heartless on my side. Go give them what for, lads!"

Suddenly the sounds of a ticking clock could be heard coming from the waters. Hook flinching at each tick and tock coming closer.

TICK, TOCK, TICK, TOCK, TICK

"That sound..." He looked around in a rant, trying to find the source of the sound. But it kept getting closer and closer...until it was directly behind him. Looking down below by the waters near his feet was a grinning crocodile with the sounds of a clock coming from his belly. Hook jumped and cried out in a fright. His previous bravo long since gone. "(Gasp)! No! Not again! Smee! The retched Croc is back! Smeee!"

"!" Riku's eyes widen in surprise as he watched on with Mickey. Wondering if he should stop Hook or help him. His heart was slightly conflicted but he found himself laughing inside as Hook practically ran on water back to his ship with the crocodile leaping after him in the waters. It's tick-tock sounds slowly going away with it.

"Smee! Start the ship! Smeeeeee!" Hook's hollering far away in the distance.

"C'mon men, let's get our treasure back!" Peter Pan commanded the charge, crowing like a roaster as he charged in the air after the remaining Heartless.

"Yeah!" They all shouted charging in with Pan. The fight was a short one, especially since Riku had used his Finder Heartbinder to rally up the Lost Boys.

"Bangarang!" He called out as he placed his hand over the light coming from his heart. The wind blows with a mix of summer and fall leaves as the Lost Boys rally to Riku from the winds.

"BANGARANG!" They battle cry in response.

Riku sent out a Bear Roll command to Cubby who barrel rolled around the area, knocking the Heartless around. While the other Lost Boys fulfilled the Lost Boys Strike command, firing at the Heartless with slingshot bombardment. This kept up, tearing through their foes until Riku unleased their Finisher of Bangarang.

"Shout out to all my Lost Boys!" Riku called them all back to him, as they came to his side for the final charge.

"We Rally!" They all shouted as they arrow charged through the Heartless in front of them, finishing off the final opponent.

"Hurray!" "We did it!" Shout all the Lost Boys in victory as Tinker Bell danced in the air.

Peter Pan had flew over to the small island, looking into the condition of their treasure chest.

"Look's like our treasures okay." Pan smiled in relief.

"What's in it?" Riku asked in curiosity.

"Just some treasures of mine and my friends."

"Huh?" There were wooden toy swords, mallets, a bow and a club. But what really had drawn Riku's attention was one strange wooden sword. "Is that a Keyblade?"

"Yup. It sure is, it belongs to an old friend of mine." Pan answered with pride.

"..." This was no actual Keyblade, but a toy most likely used for training. As Riku picked it up in his hands to investigate with care- taking to account that this wooden toy was cherished by someone and should be handled as such. It looked to have had a number done on it as make-shift tape had been used to but the two broken pieces together. On the handle of the Keyblade was carved in the name 'Terra.' "Did this wooden toy belong to Terra?"

"Nope, it belonged to Ven."

"?!"

"He said that it was something one of his best friends gave him. He carried it around like a keepsake but was okay with parting with something so special because he didn't need it as long as he had his friends, Terra and Aqua. They still had best memories to have ahead of them."

"..."

"But what happened to the keepsake?" Mickey asked, saddened by the condition of the wooden keyblade.

"Some jerk by the name of Vanitas broke it in half in front of Aqua, saying that Ventus didn't need Plan B friends anymore." Pan huffed in angry at the thought of the memory.

"Oh no."

"That's awful." Riku's fists clenched at the mere thought that someone had actually did that.

"Yeah. But don't worry. We have an even bigger chest to show Ven when he comes back for another adventure." Peter Pan assured, certain that Ven would return to play another game again.

"Do you have any more memories of the last time you saw Ven?" Riku asked.

"Hmm, not much. He said that the shooting star that Tink found actually belonged to a friend of his and wanted to hold on to it. But when Tink gave it back to him, he took off in a ball of light like a shooting star that shot out all around the place." Pan reminisced with a hand under his chin.

"That must be when my Star Shard took him to Master Yen Sid's Tower before he went after me at the Keyblade Graveyard." Mickey concluded.

"But he's not there anymore, and he not here either. We got to go back further for clues." Riku deduced to Mickey, before turning to Pan, Tink, and the Lost Boys to say goodbye. "Thanks for all your help. We've got to go now and look for Ven elsewhere."

"Don't worry, you'll find him." Peter Pan was certain of that. "And when you do, tell him he's always got friends waiting for him."

"Will do!" Mickey said with a nod and a thumbs up.

Before heading out in their Gummi Ship again, Riku grabbed the items from the three chest hanging around the Cove. Acquiring a Ether, Megalixir, and Mega-Potion before heading off again. They drifted in their Gummi Ship for a moment as they thought about the next course of action. They had followed Mickey's connection to Ven all the way to Deep Space but there was nothing there.

"Are you sure this is the right place, Mickey?" Riku asked as there was nothing around them but the distant stars.

"I'm certain this is the spot where his light stops for a bit." Mickey was sure of this as he placed a hand over his heart. "If I remember correctly, Ven had met his friend, Stitch, around here."

"Stitch? Did you say Stitch?" Riku looked back at Mickey in his seat, not fully sure he heard him correctly.

"Yeah?"

"I know how to find Stitch."

"You do?!"

"Yeah." Riku pulled out his Keyblade, pointing it out the ships window as he looked for Stitch with his heart. "May your heart be your guiding key... I got him!"

"You opened a path?!"

"Yup. Let's go." Riku took off with the Gummi Ship, rolling through the asteroids with the ship's blasters as he made it to a world he has never been to before. It was a warm, tropical place of islands that reminded him of Destiny Islands. "What is this world. Feels an awfully lot like my islands."

"I've never been to this world before. But lets find out about it together!"

"Sounds good to me." Riku replied with a grin as he entered the world with their Gummi Ship. "I already have a friend down there."

It was early afternoon, just after high noon, as they touch down in a jungle clearing. Tropical birds could be heard as the palm and coconut tree foliage covered them from the harsh sun as the ocean wind breeze through them.

"Gosh, where are we?" Mickey asked looking around only seeing jungle and more jungle. "We could get lost in here."

"We won't get lost." Riku assured him. "Just go any direction and you'll hit the ocean after a while."

"You sure seem confident about all this."

"It's nice to live on an island with no large cities." Riku replied, talking from experience. "!"

Suddenly there was skittering coming from the foliage ahead of them. But Riku wasn't worried, there was no darkness on this world and he recognized the heart approaching.

"(Pant, pant, pant)." Came the sounds of a sniffing nose with skittering feet as the blue fluff Riku had come to know made his appearance from the greenery.

"Stitch? What is it?" Came the unfamiliar voice of little girl Riku didn't know.

"Riku!" Stitch hissed out with excitement before crawling up Riku's leg to circle around until he reach the spot on his shoulder.

"Hey, Stitch, long time no see, you ball of fluff!" Riku laughed unable to control himself as Stitch tickled him awfully as he moved.

"Huh? Who are you guys?" Asked a little girl around the age of 9 with black hair and brown eyes. She was wearing a red dress with white leaves on it along with a pair of sandals.

"I'm Riku."

"And I'm Mickey, nice to meet ya!"

"Are you guys aliens?" The girl asked with the tilt of her head as she looked them over.

"Uh..."

"..." Riku remained silent, letting Mickey tackle this one.

"Sorta?"

"Frienndss." Stitch declared to the girl, insuring her that they were okay.

"Well... If you're a friend of Stitch then you're a friend of mine! I'm Lilo. Lilo Pelekai."

"Nice to meet you Lilo."

"What are you guys doing in my backyard?"

"Looking for a friend, I guess." Riku awkwardly replied, rubbing the back of his head before talking to Stitch. "Hey, Stitch, do you know a person named Ven?"

"V- Ven. Friend!" Stitch replied, jumping up and down on Riku's shoulder.

"You've seen Ven?!" Mickey asked in excitement.

"Ven help Stitch escape... helped me find my family." Stitch struggled to find his words. "Just like Riku and Sora helped Stitch find his way back home again."

"You found your family, Stitch?" Riku asked, happy that Stitch was able to find his way back home again after he got lost on Radiant Garden. Most likely his world had fallen to darkness during Organization XIII's plans to make an artificial Kingdom Hearts.

Stitch crawled off of Riku and headed toward Lilo, giving her a side hug.

"This is my family. I found it all on my own." Stitch clarified as Lilo hugged him back. "It's little, and broken, but still good."

"Yeah, still good." Lilo hugged him back tighter, before letting him go again as they faced their new friends. Mickey and Riku were struggling not to tear up from the sheer movement of pure goodness. "You guys lost your friend?"

"Afraid so. We were trying to retrace his steps to find out where he could have gone."

"What does he look like?"

"A boy a little under Riku's height wearing black and white with blue eyes and spiky hair." Mickey explained what his friend looked like. "The last time he was around Stitch was in Deep Space."

"In that case, why not ask Dr. Jumba. He was probably there too." Lilo said in advice, gesturing for the two of them to follow her. "Come on to my house. He should be there with Pleakly."

"Thanks for the help, Lilo!" Mickey thanked her as they began to walk away.

"Where exactly are we anyway?" Riku asked, not getting a clear answer before and this world's heart was singing like the beat of a drum.

"This is the island of Kaua'i." Lilo replied in answered. "Welcome to Hawaii."

Windward Islands

They followed her out of the jungle for what felt like a minute until they reach the backyard of her strange house with many connecting tiers reaching towards the sky.

"Your house is...different." Riku commented, trying to find his words that wouldn't sound rude as they circled around to the front.

"Yup. It's the best." Lilo smiled back at Riku before turning back to the house as she put her hands around her mouth to shout. "Hey Jumba! Where are you?!"

The sound of clattering can be heard along with the stumbling of large feet and grumbling approached from the garage. Who came out was not what they expected. It was a large, bulky alien with six eyes and small tendrils under his nose that looked like a mustache. He was wearing white shorts and a hat, along with a Hawaiian shirt and sandals. And sunglass that were sitting up on his head.

"What is it, little girl? We're on our way to the beach for tanning." Dr. Jumba asked with his thick accent.

"Iii got the Sunscreennnn!" Came the singing tone of another alien that was obviously a yellow alien with one big eye and wearing a wig. His hands and feet only had three fingers and toes, too, with cupping on the tips. He was wearing a sundress with sunglasses resting on his wig and carrying a tote bag. Their disguises clearly not that subtle. "AHH! A human! We've been discovered!"

"Actually they're aliens, too." Lilo stated.

"Oh thank goodness." The one eyed aliened sighed out in relief as he relaxed a bit. "Hello, I'm Pleakly. And this grumpy six eyed giant is Dr. Jumba."

"Riku." Riku introduced himself.

"Hi, I'm Mickey." Mickey waved in introduction before getting to business. "Dr. Jumba, do you recall ever meeting a fella by the name of Ven before."

"(Cough, Cough) Oh my, yes. I have not heard that name before in a long time." Dr. Jumba chuckled.

"When was the last time you've seen him?"

"(Sigh) That would be a couple years back. When the High Council had placed me under arrest for creating 626." Dr. Jumba groaned as he ran a hand along his head from the stress of the memory.

"626?" Riku quirk an eyebrow at the thought that Jumba assumed that they knew what that was.

"He means Stitch." Lilo answered, swaying around in place with a smile.

"?!" If what they were implying was true than Dr. Jumba had successful created an artificial life with a Heart. "You created Stitch?"

And if Stitch was Experiment 626, then that means their might be 625 other experiments roaming around.

"I design Experiment 626 to be unstoppable." Dr. Jumba declared with pride. "He's bulletproof, fireproof, and can think faster than any super computer. Can see in the dark and move things 3000 times his size. His only instinct: to destroy everything he touches."

"You created Life just for the sheer purpose of destruction?" Riku was disgusted that his friend Stitch had been created by a guy who only wanted to create a monster.

"Heh, just a little one. But it doesn't matter, Stitch's heart has overcome his destructive programming." Dr. Jumba explained before taking a slightly disappointed tone. "He was suppose to backup sewers, reverse street signs, and steal everyone's left shoe."

"What? Why?" Why would he even want Stitch to do that?

"Eh, I'm an evil genius." Dr. Jumba shrugged off. "But 626 had grown beyond my expectations and calculations as his heart developed to create a purpose of his own choice. It was fascinating data to watch 626 whom had nothing, not even memories to visit in the middle of the night, go out and find his own. He had found a place to call home, a family to call his own, and has created many memories along the way that can never be replaced."

"Ohana!" Stitch said, one word explaining everything.

"..."

"But I digress. 626 and I were to be taken to a high level prison by the Grand Councilwoman under the escort of Captain Gantu and his ship." Dr. Jumba said, telling his story. "Ventus was a young Keyblade wielder that had found his way on the ship and helped Stitch escape in a Police Cruiser. Saying that no one should be imprisoned just because their heart was made differently than others."

"..."

"I have not seen that young man since."

"So Stitch had found his way here and has lived on this world since then?" Riku asked in conclusion.

"Oh no, Stitch was loss in Deep Space for nearly 10 years."

"What?!" Riku was alarmed by the information, silently demanding for an explanation.

"626 had engaged his H-drive in a damaged space cruiser. The jump into Hyperspace had taken him to a place between realms. Where his heart Slept until it found its way back to the realm of light. He had exit from Hyperspace here around 2 years ago when the High Council picked up his signal." Dr. Jumba told what had happened, summarizing to get the story over with. "In short, they sent me and Pleakly to capture him. But things happened, bonds were made, and in turn the two of us were sentence to exile here."

"This is an exile?" Riku looked around, noting that they were exiled on a tropical island paradise.

"Eh, there are worse places to be banished." Dr. Jumba shrugged before tipping his sunglasses over his eyes. "Now if you'll excuse me. We have an appointment with the beach."

"Right behind you, pal." Shouted Pleakly, putting sunglasses down over his eyes as he ran off to follow Dr. Jumba.

"..." They all looked as the two aliens headed down the road towards the beach.

"Was that any help?" Lilo asked.

"A little. But that still doesn't tell us if our friend, Ven, is here or not." Riku said, appreciative for her help but they were still at a dead end.

"Maybe we can look around. See if he's anywhere on the island." Lilo suggested. "Maybe even get some ice cream along the way."

"That sounds like a great idea! Let's look around." Mickey like the suggestion.

"Hold on." Lilo said, running in front of them to stop them from going any further along the road. "You can't go in to town looking like that."

"We can't?"

"Riku is fine. But if you went into town as you are you might cause a panic." Lilo explained before running into the house. "We have to give you a disguise."

"A disguise?" Mickey was starting to feel nervous as they could hear her rummaging around the house with loud noises of chaos.

"I found something!" Lilo cheered in victory, before running out with Mickey's "disguise." It was nothing more than a straw hat that covered his ears and baggy white Hawaiian shirt with red leaves on it to cover his tail. "There! Now you'll blend in!"

"I feel kinda funny looking like this." Mickey admitted as he looked himself over.

"You look like a tourist." Riku teased a little with a light chuckle. Getting a chuckle out of Stitch as well.

"You look fine." Lilo assured to him. "Come on, let's go into town."

Lilo and Stitch had taken them further down the road where they turned right, into town. After leaving the residential area the first row of stores they had bumped into was a hardware and general store. A young woman who looked like a older version of Lilo with wave brown hair came from around the counter she was manning to meet them at the door.

"Lilo? Where are you going?" She asked, rightly concerned that her little sister was going around with strangers. The sight of Stitch made her feel a little easy though. If there was one thing Stitch would do, it was look after his Ohana.

"Hi Nani! I'm showing my new alien friends around." Lilo waved at her sister. "This is Mickey and Riku, they're looking for their friend."

"..." Riku and Mickey waved a Nani a little nervous as she looked them over. Mickey's hat almost came off and exposed a bit of his mouse ears, quickly putting it back on with a blush. They were strange, she would admit, but they weren't giving her any bad feelings and they looked to be accouple of nice guys. Her heart told her she could trust them.

"Okay. Make sure you stay out of trouble and be back at home by 6." Nani instructed to Lilo, leaving no room for buts.

"You got it." Lilo replied with a small wave as they continued on ahead. They had passed a few more stores and a small park before they had made it to a mom-and-pop coffee shop until they ran into another figured that Lilo and Stitch knew. "David! Come meet my new alien friends."

"Owu'a, you sure they're aliens?" The guy named David asked as he looked Riku over with a quirked eyebrow.

"Huh-ha. He landed in our backyard in what Stitch had called a Gummi Ship."

"!" Lilo's replied made Riku do a doubletake. His eyes widened in surprise. "You actually saw that?"

"It's hard not to notice such things when you're on an island."

"Great." Riku groaned. "And I thought I was being careful."

Who else had seen him landing?

"Don't worry about it too much, friend, this place tends to draw in people from outer space." David offered to Riku in sympathy. "Are you two showing them around?"

"Yup. They're looking for their friend." Lilo answered back with a nod and a smile.

"I thought you had dance practice today?"

"It's sandwich day."

"..." Nobody but Stitch knew what that meant.

"All right, but it's tourist season. Watch out for the roads." David lectured in concern before continuing on his way and waving bye to the two strangers. "Bye. I hope you two find your friend."

"He certainly was a nice guy." Riku commented as they waved off the young man in a Hawaiian Shirt and shorts with sandals, rocking a nice cut of black surfer's hair.

"Yup, that's David for you. He's Nani's boyfriend." Lilo replied. "She likes his butt and fancy hair."

"Wha-"

"I know. I read her diary."

"Pfft." Riku tried to hold back a laugh. Lilo was a young bottle of energy with no filters. "You know, for someone who said we needed to be in disguise, you certainly have introduced us as your alien friends a whole lot."

"Only to the friends I know." Lilo shrugged in counter. "Come on, the grocery store is just up ahead. Let's get some ice cream."

They had all made their way to the grocery store. Going in for the relief of AC, but coming out rocking a pair of sunglasses with a ice cream cone in their hands. Stitch was walking up on his hind legs so he could carry and enjoy his ice cream cone.

"Thanks for the ice cream cone, guys." Lilo said thanks as Riku and Mickey paid for everyone's snacks as a treat.

"No problem." Mickey said in no worries.

"Thanks for showing us around." Riku added in.

"I've been meaning to ask. Where did you all come from? If its not that much of a secret." Lilo asked as they continued their walk along the sidewalk. If they went a little further on their path they would reach the beach.

"I came from a world with a castle." Mickey answered vaguely.

"I came from an island world just like this."

"Really? You don't look like you do." Lilo pointed out as she looked Riku over with a tilted head, still excited that they had something in common.

"I never tan. It's a genetic thing."

"Oh? Do you guys surf on your island?"

"Hmm, no, just fishing. Boats are more of a big thing where I'm from than here."

"Oh, we have that, too! It's just called-" Lilo began to talk before she was interrupted by a car that stop beside them as a lady shouted out at her from the window.

"Hey Kid! Where's the beach?!" Calling out to Lilo in question, being slightly rude to a stranger in a middle of a conversation.

"..." Lilo just stayed silent, and pointed in the direction of the beach.

"Mahalo!" Shouted the lady as she waved in thanks, driving off in the direction that Lilo had pointed her to. Lilo slightly cringed as the lady got the word wrong.

"..." Lilo was going to just brush it off as they continued on the road and crossed pass the right turn road towards the beach.

"Is that a normal occurrence here?"

"You don't get tourist on your islands?"

"Not really. My islands kinda quiet."

"Lucky for you." Lilo groaned a little in envy.

"Well, my islands aren't as pretty as yours."

"(Giggle) Thanks!" The compliment to her home made Lilo smile. But as they finished their ice cream and Stitch returned to walking on all fours, they were interrupted again by another- more obnoxious- man in a Jeep on the other side of the road.

"Hey, speak English? Which way to the beach?" The man asked as his wife waved at them from the passenger's seat.

"..." Lilo said nothing and pointed at the road behind her. He didn't even thank her as revved his wheels along the road. Lilo continued on, taking them down another pathway to the beach, one less traveled by tourist. Passing a barber shop/post office that was having its porch swept by a woman in a polka dotted apron with her wavy hair tied back.

"Aloha, Lilo." She greeted and stopped sweeping as they passed.

"Hi Lonni!" Lilo said back in hello, but continued passing through to get out of her way. "Are they still testing the sirens today?"

"Ae," sighed Lonni. "Any minute now."

"Good."

"?"

Lilo just ran on ahead, leaving the rest to follow. It was easy to keep up with her due their longer strides, but they were still confused at what she was up to. She had ran around the sand path to the Lifeguard's Hut to head into the beach from another less traveled path. Gesturing for them to stand along side her as she faced the people along the crowded beach. Jumba and Pleakly could be seen further back on the beach, unable to get a closer spot among the crowded beach.

"Oh look, a real native." A lady pointed out to her friend beside her.

"Attention tourist!" Lilo shouted, grabbing everyone's attention as she pointed towards the siren a little off the beach. "That is a tsunami siren! I warns people when big, 100 foot waves are coming! When you hear it, you better run! And I Mean Run! 'Cause they move faster than the speed of sound! And THAT is your only warning!"

"Aww, isn't that cute." One female tourist commented, as another took a picture of Lilo. The crowd belittling her warning.

Lilo had grabbed Stitch and Riku's hand, dragging them further onto the beach with their backs facing the ocean. Mickey had followed after them in confusion. Lilo had let go of Riku's hand once they had found a good spot and then helped Stitch raise on his hind legs.

"Sit up. Now put your arms out." Lilo quietly and calmly instructed to the three of them, joining along with them with her arms stretched out. Before shouting at the crowd again. "Tourist! Prepare To DIIEEE!"

"?!" "!" Riku was caught off guard by that statement, and Mickey was alarmed- not feeling the lack of killing intent in Lilo's heart like Riku could. Or the fact that Lilo's heart was running on humorous and vindictive-spite. Suddenly it all clicked for Riku as the sirens went off.

"Huh?" Stitch's ears twitched up in confusion at the sirens. And the beach went into utter chaos.

People screamed as they ran for their lives, leaving everything behind on the beach as they stampeded off to safer grounds. Jumba and Pleakly surprisingly joining in with the crowds as they fled.

"That girl control ocean?"

"How should I know!" Pleakly shouted back at Jumba, the supposed expert on this world lost in the dark. "Ahh!"

Stitch laughed cynically as they watched the chaos he helped cause ensue from their safe spot by the ocean. Riku and Mickey, unfortunately along for the ride, slowly lower their arms with slight remorse for the trouble they had just caused.

However one man stood in position as the beach stampede chaotically ran pass him. One tourist ramming into him a full speed, surprisingly the tourist was the one that fell on the ground as the man remained unmoved. He was a big guy of dark complexion, bald with sunglasses and wearing a suit and black business shoes. In one hand was a briefcase, the other hand sported a tattoo on his knuckles that said 'Cobra.'

He looked at the tourist who bumped into him, for a moment, before looking back at Lilo and them as the tourist ran off. The beach was now cleared with just them. He quirked an eyebrow at Lilo through his sunglasses. Lilo and Stitch's arms lowered in shame as he silently reprimanded them.

"If you lived here you'd understand." Lilo sighed out.

"Lilo." The man voice slightly sighed out in exasperation.

"If I said I'm sorry that would be a lie."

"We'll have to have a discussion about this with your sister later." The man with the name Cobra tattooed on his knuckle announced to Lilo with no exceptions. "But in the mean time. We should discuss the stranger in the room."

"?!" "?!" Riku and Mickey slightly straightened their backs in attention and a second of fear for the man in the suit.

"They're not strangers, Mr. Bubbles. They're my new friends." Lilo insisted, standing in front of Riku and Mickey with Stitch, arms open to defend them.

"I wasn't talking about them."

"?" All four of them were confused.

"It would seem I underestimated your tracking ability." Came a deep smooth voice from behind the four of them.

"Huh?!" Mickey instantly turned around, along with Riku. Jumping back further onto the beach grabbing Lilo and Stitch as they put some distance between them and the new arrival. Pulling out their Keyblades and putting out an arm to protect Lilo from the sudden threat that appeared behind them. Stitch growling at the strangers as he stood in front of Lilo as protection.

"Xemnas." Riku growled through his teeth. "Why are you here?"

"Studies of the heart have brought me to this world where a being artificially created has a heart based on pure destruction." Xemnas said nonchalantly in his soothing voice as he eyes Stitch between Riku and Mickey. Stitch growled at Xemnas declaration about himself, his hairs standing up in anger.

"Stitch's heart is more than just that. Although he can sometimes be mischievous and a bit on the playful side, he is many things. Stitch has a heart capable of loving, caring, and showing compassion for others." Riku stated coming to Stich's defense.

"But Stitch is a being born from the purpose of being a monster. Beneath all those pieces of his heart lies a base programming- a chaotic instinct to wreak havoc on the worlds." Stitch growled at Xemnas's accusations, but slightly lowered his ears in sadness and self-doubt as the thought that what if what he said actually rang true.

"Stitch wouldn't do that, he's a good person." Lilo was the one coming to Stitch's defense now, leaning over the others to face the stranger that was saying hurtful things about her family. "He's not the same as he use to be."

"And what makes you say that?"

"Because he has Ohana now!"

"!" The others eyes widen at her declaration. The meaning brushing over Xemnas's head.

"And what is Ohana?"

"Ohana means family, family means nobody gets left behind." Lilo answered back. "Stitch use to be lost, scared and alone, and didn't know how to deal with those feelings other than to lash out. But he's a part of our family now. It's little and we don't have many toys, but he'll never be alone again and we'll raise him to be good. And we'll always remember him. We remember all our family."

"I see... this Ohana is an important key of the heart, as you say." Xemnas pondered Lilo's words, placing a hand over his heart. "However..."

"?"

"What if you were to take away this Ohana? How fast would a heart crumble?" Xemnas questioned to her, his arm stretched out in her direction. His words frightened Lilo, and put Stitch and Riku more on guard with rage. "Won't the heart fall to despair and darkness for what it has lost? Being alone is a power of its own, just like this power from Ohana. I would deeply desire to see the results."

"There will be none of that." Stated Mr. Bubbles as he silently made his way passed the four of them, getting between them and Xemnas. "This is not your world, and you are not welcomed to cause trouble here."

"And you are going to stop me?" Xemnas quirked an eyebrow, laughing under his breath at the notion. "You barely can keep up with my movement."

"I've been watching you since the moment you stepped on this world. You are not the only one I've sent off this world packing."

"!" Xemnas didn't know why, put he felt a chill as Mr. Bubbles dropped his briefcase down on the sand.

"Let me illuminate to you the precarious situation that you have found yourself." Mr. Bubbles took two steps forward and clinched his knuckles, causing them to crack loudly. The sound making everybody get a chill up their spines. "I am the one they call when things go wrong. And things have indeed gone wrong."

"..." They was a silence in the air, the others were in a standstill as they waited for Xemnas to make the first move.

But he had chosen to withdraw himself.

"It would seem I can no longer continue my research of the hearts and vessels on this world." Xemnas stated as he retreated back into a Dark Corridor. "I will have to find associates that have studied upon the subject more deeply than I."

"..."

"I'm afraid that you will not find your friend, Ventus, here on this world." Mr. Bubbles claimed to Riku and Mickey without looking back as he pickup his briefcase again. "I wish you both luck at finding your friend."

"How did you know his name?" Mickey asked slightly unsettled.

"I've been keeping an eye on you two since you landed down."

"If Ven isn't here than we should move on with our search." Riku declared, seeing that there was nothing else for them to do here. "Thanks for the help. Can you make sure Lilo and Stitch get home safe?"

"I plan to."

"You're leaving already?" Lilo said, sadden to see them go so soon.

"I'm afraid so. Time is short and we gotta find our friend before someone like Xemnas does."

"All right... Good luck. Hope you two come back soon with your friend." Lilo waved goodbye to them. "Maybe next time we could visit your island."

"I'd actually like that."

Stitch crawled up Riku to his shoulder again, giving his a gentle headbutt in farewell.

"Bye, friend."

"I'll see you later, Stitch. Maybe with Kadaj and the others."

"Come back soon, Riku." Suddenly Stitch reached out his arm, waiting for Riku to hold out his hand as he dropped a Ohana Heartbinder in Riku's heads. "I'll be there when you call for help. I won't leave you behind."

"!" Riku was touched by Stitch's words, they really meant a lot to him. "Thanks, Stitch..."

… Later around twilight ...

Radiant Garden

Riku and Mickey had returned to Radiant Garden around the end of the day. Checking in to see how Zexion was doing with deciphering the data- or Ienzo as they heard he was called now. When suddenly Mickey's Gummiphone went off as they made it to The Central Square. There was a call coming in from Sora.

Mickey picked up, wonder what was up.

"Oh! Hiya. Sora!"

"Your Majesty!" Goofy and Donald greeted Mickey on the Gummiphone with excitement. Hinting that Sora had probably not been meaning to call him.

"Hey!" Sora complained, trying to squeeze his way back to his phone between Goofy and Donald. "Wha…? Wrong number?"

"No, Riku and I are visiting Radiant Garden." Mickey said, giving Sora the benefit of the doubt that he was probably calling Hallow Bastion Castle of the HBRC and the signal got mixed up. But this might work out. They had been meaning to call Sora and the others to warn them about what they had found out. "Actually, we were just about to call you guys, but it looks like you beat us to the punch."

Mickey moved to the side, so Riku could see the phone screen too. Riku kneeling down on one knee to be on Mickey's level.

"Sora, is something wrong?" Riku asked. If Sora had been meaning to call someone else then he must of have a problem he needed their help with.

"I wanted to pick your brain." Sora asked, pondering if the course they were trying to take was plausible. "In order for us to recomplete Roxas, he needs a body, right?"

"..." Mickey and Riku thought about this for a second. Sora actually brought up a good point, this was a problem.

"Yeah, to put his heart in." Mickey looked over at Riku, both of them wondering if the other had any ideas? Both of them tossed through their brains for a moment, trying to find a solution. They thought and they thought, Mickey wasn't coming up with any ideas.

"Hmm," but it was Riku who had the thought come to him as he rested a hand under his chin while he pondered. "(Gasp)! Replicas..."

"Huh?" Sora was confused. Not knowing what the Replicas were. More like- he no longer remembered them...

"Well, replicas are basically human."

"Uh, what?"

"Oh, yeah... You wouldn't remember." Riku knew that it wasn't Sora's fault, his memories were rechained back together the best way they could. Placing a hand over his heart, Riku reminisces about his Replica who he now carries in his heart. "The previous Organization XIII developed "replicas": realistic vessels to place hearts in. They're so real, in fact, that you'd actually mistake them for people. And with hearts, the replicas will become people."

"Cool, but if we get our hands on a replica, will Roxas look like himself when he's recompleted?"

"Yup. The replica takes the form of the heart inside it." That was a good question. Sora was on roll when he has his heart and mind set on something.

"That's perfect!"

"I'll talk to Ienzo." Mickey suggested to Sora. "He was in the Organization back then, so he might know more."

"Great. Thanks." Sora was just about to hang up and trust to leave this to Mickey and Riku. But then a thought came to him that had Sora on edge a little. He looked over to Donald and Goofy. "Wait... Do you guys think they're after replicas too?"

"No, they definitely said "a black box."" Goofy pointed out in correction.

"!" The mention of a black box had Riku on his toes, along with Mickey who was holding the Gummiphone up. "Who's that?"

"The Organization and Maleficent." Sora answered as if they should know that, until it suddenly hit him that they had forgotten to tell Riku and Mickey about this. Donald and Goofy realized that they had forgotten, too, and were disappointed in themselves. "Ah- Oh..."

"I guess we forgot to mention it." Donald admitted in apology.

"Aw, it's okay. But there's something you guys should know about one of their members." Mickey assured to them that it was all right, everyone has been busy. There was no harm in forgetting and at least they had told the two of them now. But now they had to warn the three of them about Terra.

"Huh?" Sora looked in curiosity, along with Donald and Goofy.

"We have discovered that Master Xehanort is using Terra's body as one of his vessels from when Aqua and Terra had both fallen into darkness at Radiant Garden. We're all ready here, investigating for more information." Mickey said over to Sora, Donald, and Goofy. "So, let the rest of us worry about Roxas and Naminé for now. You journey on, and keep an eye out for Terra."

"(Exhale)-" Sora barely got a breath out before Donald and Goofy pushed him out of the way to answer Mickey in his place.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"Stop that!" Sora huffed before hanging up the call. Making Mickey and Riku laugh a bit at their antics. Mickey turned off his Gummiphone screen before looking back at Riku.

"They don't change, do they?" Mickey smiled at how well the three of them got along. Riku got back up on his feet again, grinning down as there was a laugh in his voice.

"Nope, that's their best quality."

"Welp, we gave Merlin the vestments for Kairi and Axel." There wasn't much to do in Radiant Garden now except check in for information. "Let's go stop by Ansem the Wise's study."

"Right."

*** Bonus Story ***

Radiant Garden

… Later a bit after Riku and Mickey left Merlin's House to head to Hollow Bastion Castle ...

"Well, that settles it, we can't leave you looking like that." Aeris stated, clapping her hands together in front of her. Aeris looked to Jenova with a slight excitement that she would get to play make-over. "Any preferences on what you want?"

"I want that man's jacket."

"!" Leon's eyes widened as he flinch for a moment in surprise. Jenova was pointing at him with eyes that said she was getting that jacket, taking it right off his back if she had to.

"Hmm, how about we go find something like it. Something a bit more feminine for you." Aeris suggested, gently shepherding Jenova out the door and away from her friend's favorite jacket.

"Mother, I don't think-"

"It's fine, Kadaj." Aeris said, not allowing any objections. Regardless of the past, Jenova was still family and deserved a chance. Not to mention was in desperate need of clothes. Aeris could tell by the exposed feet and not so fitting black coat that she wasn't wearing anything else. "We're going out for a bit. Behave yourselves."

That last bit was meant for all her boys.

CLICK

The door shut behind the two. Leaving the rest in the room to worry how two beings of polar opposite alignments would fare together.

"Geez, those two are an accident wanting to happen." Yuffie commented, breaking the silence in the room. She looked to Kadaj, Loz, and Yazoo with a mischievous grin. "Wanna following 'em?"

"..." "Okay!" Yazoo said nothing but stared while Loz fist bumped in the air in excitement. He couldn't wait to play a little game of stakeouts and spies.

"Yes. I still don't trust that woman to be up to any good. Nor do I feel safe having her around mother." Kadaj declared, crossing his arms.

"Yuffie. Boys." Leon called out to them in warning.

"You brats best stay out of trouble." Cid lectured to them.

"But Jenova IS trouble. And I won't have it harming my mother." Kadaj declared as he walked out of that door.

"I'm honestly just here for the train wreck." Yuffie declared with a shrug, following after Kadaj.

"Hey wait up." "..." Loz ran out to catch up with the other two. Yazoo calmly walking out after them. The others in the room hoped that he would be the median of the group to keep the other three out of trouble.

"Do you think Aeris might be in danger around that woman?" Leon asked, noting that the boys might have had a point.

"If Aeris was in danger she would not have left with her." Merlin stated simple as that, trusting Aeris's judgement and having faith that she could take care of herself. He took a sip of his tea, lightly warming it with Fire.

Back with Aeris and Jenova, Aeris was gently guiding her mother-in-law through Castle Town towards the Fountain Court. The Marketplace tinted with a hint of orange and gold as twilight touched the sky. Aeris and Jenova had gathered a lot of attention to themselves as the people and the area gawked at the two contrasting beauties. One giving off a radiant warmth and gentleness, while the other gave off sophistication and lethalness. But they also were staring at the fact the tallest beauty was new around the area and long beautiful platinum hair but sadly lacked any shoes.

"The staring eyes of nosy creatures, how I despise them." Jenova sneered, her eyes squinting in annoyance. Aeris placed her arm in Jenova's as she walked beside her, their height difference making it slightly difficult. But her husband was slightly taller than his mother so it was no trouble for Aeris.

"Please pardon them. They're just curious at the arrival of a new face. We still have hearts returning to this world." Aeris said, silently asking her to forgive the stares.

"They're following us." Jenova pointed out, not talking about the staring pedestrians.

"I'll have to ask of you to just ignore them, please." Aeris groaned, already Sensing that Yuffie and the others had followed them. They were trying to be stealthy and keep their distance, but their hearts gave them away to the two Cetras' Senses. "They're just being a bit overprotective."

"Shouldn't you be wary of me as well?"

"I am wary of you. But more than that, I want to get to know you."

"..."

"We're here." Aeris announced, jotting Jenova out of her thoughts as they came to the first store on the block. "Let's check this store, first."

The went into the store together, the chime of the door's bell announcing their entrance. It was a small clothing store, run by two ladies. It was cozy and the atmosphere was nice as the twilight light from outside the window gave the store a glow.

"Welcome to our store!" Greeted the lady manning the floor. "How can I help you ladies?"

"My companion here is in need of some clothes, preferable for someone of height."

"Certainly. May I recommend our line of dresses by the window. I'm sure that...they'll meet your...preference..." The lady began to tail off as she looks Jenova over. Noting her lack of shoes and the strange black coat that was small on her. But her eyes had zoned in on the slight sliver of a scar that ringed around Jenova's neck. Her mind began to wonder with imagination on how Jenova could have gotten it. The implications she had come up with and the fact that the customer could even survive such a wound that made the scar sent a cold sweat to the woman. It also made the clerk question who could have given her such a scar? Fear began to grip her heart.

Jenova could Sense this. It made her cringe at the store clerk's reaction and feel self-conscious. But Jenova wasn't the only one that could Sense the heart.

"Ma'am." Aeris sternly called out to her. Drawing her eyes back to attention and away from Jenova's neck. "We would like to see your accessories, too. Preferably chokers, if you have any."

"!" The store clerk's eyes widen in realization, beginning to feel guilt at openly staring at the poor woman's scar. She probably felt conscious about it and her staring was blatantly rude and made the customer feel uncomfortable. She felt terrible about it, and wanted to make it up to her. "I- I think we have a new shipment in the back. It'll give you more options and designs to match with your outfit. I'll go get them. Please, take your time looking around."

"..." Jenova watched as the poor clerk speed walked to the backroom, determined to find that new shipment for them. More than likely, they were suppose to put it out tomorrow.

"She meant no harm." Aeris said in comfort, knowing the feeling of being self-conscious about a scar. It was a sensitive subject and at times could make you feel vulnerable. But the woman had held no ill intentions and didn't mean to judge. For the most part, she was purely concerned.

"I know..."

"Let's just have some fun and find you something to wear." Aeris said with cheer, trying to perk up the situation. It had worked a bit, getting a small smile out of Jenova as she looked around.

"We need to find something that screams out to you. Do you have a preference in color?" Aeris asked as she looked through the racks. Jenova was admiring the outfits hanging up along the walls.

"Dark."

"Of course." Aeris slightly groaning, but started to laugh to herself as she thought how alike this mother was to her son. "Why am I not surprise?"

Jenova began walking along, looking back and forth from the choices on the side of the wall and the racks of clothes lining on the other side of them.

"Do you care for dresses?"

"I'm rather fond of them." Jenova admitted.

"Hurray. We have another thing in common."

"!" Suddenly a group of dresses lining up on the wall caught her eye. Most of them were floor-length slim dresses with extravagant trim linings and various V-necks of revealing cleavage. But there was one style of dress in the lot that truly caught her fancy. It was a simple floor-length slim and dark blue dress that petaled out at the bottom and had feathers rimming around the generous V-cut. The V-cut was generous enough to show some skin, but not enough to show any cleavage as leather straps crossed along it. It's color was mostly black with a hueing of dark blue. The sleeves were long and were made to fit like a glove as they held in place as they triangle on the hand and ring around the middle finger to hold them in place.

"Find anything you like?"

"This one will do."

"Oh! That's Edea Kramer's "Witch" line."

"I like her style." Jenova commented as she looked down at the dress in her hand. It was tall enough to just slightly kiss the floor on her. "I think I would like the dark purple version, as well."

"Try it on. You can wear it out." Aeris suggested, taking the dark purple dress off the wall for her. Gesturing with her head the dressing room around the west wall.

"..." Jenova walk off, a little nervous at going by herself but she managed.

Aeris walked up to the counter to ring up their purchase while Jenova changed.

"I'd like to buy two of this dress, please. My companion will be wearing out the other."

The lady ringed her up as the other that went to the back finally returned.

"Here are the chokers you asked for, miss."

"Hmm, they're all lovely. But my companion prefers dark colors." Aeris said, looking them over. She was rather found of chokers herself, dawning a string choker at the moment. She had to brush off the colorful ones- even the brown ones that she was so fond of. But what had caught her eye was the thick, black lace choker. "I'll take the lace choker. Do you have it in any other dark colors?"

"Yes, it comes in a dark blue, purple, and green."

"Great. I'll take one of each." Aeris paid for the purchase, holding on to the black lace choker while the lady at the counter bagged the everything else. Jenova had came out, looking amazing. She was holding her previously warn black coat, caringly it in her arm as she approached. Her light steps indicating that she was still barefooted. "Oh wow, you look amazing."

"Thank you."

"Did you find anything else you liked, or shoes?"

"No."

"That's all right, we can look elsewhere. We still need a few more things." Aeris assured to her, before holding out the lace choker to her. "Here."

"!" It was a lovely accessary that complimented her dress and covered up her scar. "Thank you..."

"You're welcome. Us Choker Lovers have to stick together." Aeris said jokingly with a smile, holding her neck out to show off hers while she swayed around a bit with her hands behind her back. The scar disappeared under the lovely lace as Jenova put on the choker. "Let's go check out another store."

"Very well."

"Bye ladies. Thank you for your help." Aeris waved goodbye to the store clerks as they headed out.

"Thank you for your business!" They replied back in turn.

The two of them had headed off to the next store. Aeris leading their way to a shoe store. The store's bell ringing at their entrance. However, this time the clerk at the counter left them to their own devices.

"Alright we're bound to find shoes you like somewhere here." Aeris was certain of this. There were so many varieties that one of them was bond to be Jenova's preference.

"..." Jenova looked around as Aeris followed, slightly giving her some space as she searched. Jenova looked and looked, but none of the options seem preferable for battle let alone walking for long. The boots probably would have worked, but she wanted something more breathable. That's when she saw the black Gladiator sandals with a slight heel and a dark blue silk cloth that acted as a guard and cushion between half-the-top of the foot and the sandal straps. "This is the one."

"Huh? But... those won't give you enough protective cover."

"I've stomped down enemies in larger heels than this, before."

"Oh..." Aeris didn't really know how to respond to that. But her concerns were still present. "But you'll need something when it get's colder. Here. Why not these?"

"..." Jenova looked at the black Chelsea boots in Aeris's hands with a slight quirk in her eyebrows. "I'll look like a witch in those."

"A warm witch in the winters." Aeris countered.

"..." Jenova was incapable of being harmed by the cold. Her time in the dark realm had made her immune to it. But Jenova couldn't tell Aeris that, she refused to admit it, but she couldn't resist the sparkle in Aeris's eyes. "Fine..."

"Hurray." Aeris smiled in cheer. Grabbing Jenova's hand she walked over to the far side wall where other products than shoes were displayed. "We should get you some other essentials as well. You'll need some socks for those boots. Not to mention some pajamas and undergarments.

The latter wasn't too hard, as long as it was black Jenova didn't really care. Making it easy to just buy the packs. Aeris ended up grabbing some socks and a black lace trim nightgown as pajamas for Jenova. But while Aeris was doing this, she noticed Jenova looking a pair of dangling earrings. They were black earrings with a dangling black feather on their end, reminding Aeris of the ones her husband sometimes left behind from his one wing. Making Aeris wondering if Jenova had any wings too?

"I'll get this for you, too." Aeris said, picking up the earrings for Jenova as she went to ring up their purchase at the counter.

"It is not necessary."

"But it would look great on you." Aeris reasoned as she paid. The clerk bagging everything but Jenova's sandals. Aeris walked back to her, handing Jenova the sandals and earrings while she held on to the bag. "Besides, it's your first time back in the realm of light in a long time. I want to treat you."

"..." Jenova would not argue with her and just accepted the gift. Putting on the gladiator sandals as they gave a clicked on the floor. As for the earrings, Jenova had only put on one.

"Just the one?" Aeris tilted her head in slight confusion.

"I prefer it this way."

"If that's how you like it. It still works." Aeris commented, realizing that the look did work for her. "Are you hungry? Let's go get some ice cream from Uncle Scrooge's shop."

"I don't really need to eat."

"Doesn't mean you shouldn't enjoy yourself."

"..." They had left the store. The sun starting to go down as the town's lights began to turn on.

"I bet you've never even had ice cream before." Aeris predicted as they made it to the fountain in the center of the square.

"I cannot say that I have."

"Then you're in for a treat. Wait right here." Aeris had lead her to sit on the edge of the fountain as she ran over to get them some sea-salt ice cream. Jenova looked on in silent curiosity as Aeris came back, holding out one of the ice cream bars to her. "Try it. I'm sure you'll like it."

"..." Jenova took the ice cream bar from Aeris. Looking it over in her hand as Aeris moved to sit beside her. With a hesitant bite she learned the joys of a salty-sweet cold treat. "It's good."

"Right? I knew you'd like it."

"..."

"The sun's already set and the stars are coming out. Time sure does fly by."

"Why are you being so nice to me?" Jenova asked, not wanting to go along with the small talk as Aeris's actions that day went against all that she thought Aeris would be like to her. "Don't you hate me?"

"No...I don't hate you. I just...want my family to be together."

"And you consider me apart of that family? After I had played a part in breaking it apart?"

"You're the mother of my husband. Being unable to accept you would be the same as denying him, too."

"..."

"It's getting late. We should head back." Aeris said, getting up on her feet again taking her unfinished ice cream with her, looking back down towards Jenova. "If it's all right, I would like to talk with you some more."

"..." Jenova looked up at Aeris for a moment, looking in her eyes, seeing something there. She got on her feet to join Aeris. "All right."

"Great. We can go back to my house and share a cup of tea. There's still so much I want to talk with you about."

"Riku will be leaving soon." Jenova stated in a reminder to Aeris as they were leaving for to Borough and going further away from Riku. "Don't you want to say goodbye?"

"Hm," Aeris shook her head with a content smile as she looked to the sky. "He'll be back. He always comes back from his adventures. I'll see him soon."

*** Author's Notes ***

Notes: Radiant Garden is located the Starlight Way Galaxy in my story, but belongs in a different worlds circle than the one Sora follows. Radiant Gardens is connected to a worlds circle with Twilight Town connected in it but is located on the opposite side of Twilight Town. Neverland- on the left of Radiant Garden- and Windward Islands (where Stitch had landed on from Deep Space)- on the right of Radiant Garden- are located in the circle as well. For Neverland I followed the same layout in Birth by Sleep along with item locations for Ven- with a few liberties. Fun fact, I named Stitch's world after the nickname of the eight main islands of Hawaii, the Hawaiian Windward Islands- since Lilo's island, Kaua'i, is a part of the eight.

I also used the deleted scene from the Lilo & Stitch movie- because it was funny. And yes, I made Cobra Bubbles the OP character of the game. You don't fuck with Mr. Bubbles. Lol, I wish memes would be birthed by this.

(Jenova's new outfit is based off Edea Kramer's dress from Final Fantasy VIII. Look up her bio sometime, you'll find a fun fact.)

(Neverland Lost Boys: Fox= Slightly; Rabbit= Nibs; Bear=Cubby (original name Curly); Raccoons= Twins, no real name; Skunk= Tootles)

Story-wise: Sora, Donald, and Goofy head off to Twilight Town then go to Toy Box as Riku and Mickey head off to Radiant Garden then investigate Neverland and Windward Islands along the same timeline. Riku and Mickey are able to visit two worlds while Sora and them are on Toy Box, because one world was slightly chaotic from darkness while the other was peaceful.

For the Moogle Workshop/Keyblade Forge: I combined Shooting Star and Kingdom Key Keyblade upgrading resources for Mickey's Star Cluster; and, Oathkeeper and Oblivion Keyblade upgrading resources for Riku's Braveheart. I will go more into detail on that in another chapter- this Author's Notes is already long enough.

Their Rank with the Moogle Shop is already maxed out, unlike Sora when Kingdom Hearts III starts, with everything present except for the cuisine dishes that won't appear in shop until Sora gains stars in Little Chef's Bistro.

In my storyline I gave Riku the Link ability in his Command Menu as well. It felt kinda left out that Sora had this ability and yet not Riku or the other Keyblade wielders. Sora wasn't the only one that made connections and friends on other worlds, I wanted to imply that in story along with bringing back old characters I had introduced Riku to during the course of this story. I hope you all like it I took a lot of time building the menu commands up. Like Sora, Riku will be given 5 Heartbinders during his adventures in Kingdom Hearts III. I'll reveal them and their command menus below in the Author's Notes as they come along in the story. Two will be the same or close to the same as Sora's, but the other three will just be inspired by Sora's remaining Heartbinders. I will not spoil anymore and leave the readers to figure them out for themselves.

Heartbinder #1: A orange Heartbinder with the Dream Eater Spirit sigil on it.

(First Heartbinder: Dream Heartbinder, Komory Bat Kite (Element Dark)= A blue stain glass window showing a Komory Bat as air and stars float around the logo. It changes to a Komory Bat between a Meow Wow and a Necho Cat during the Finisher.) Given by Merlin.

Music changes to the Dream Eater theme from Dream Drop Distance as Komory Bat comes in flying into Riku's arms in excited joy. Before latching on to his shoulders from behind and taking him off the ground.

(/_\) Komory Bat Kite (Finish): The Komory Bat will let out a screech that will call out to other Dream Eaters, making them rain down on the area.

(X) Bat Tackle: Diving down on the enemies with a tornado of air.

(O) Supersonic Thrash: The Komory Bat will flap its wings, unleashing a powerful wave of wind that will damage the surrounding enemies. Also acting as a shockwave as well.

Heartbinder #2: A green Heartbinder with a Lost Boy's Slingshot as the sigil.

(Second Heartbinder: 'Finder Heartbinder, Lost Boys (Element Aero)= a orange stain glass window showing Cubby, Slightly, the Twins, Nibs, and Tootles surrounded with a autumn colored leaves around. It changes to a circling wind as the Lost Boys change into a roaring side charges, their clubs and slingshots raised in the air.) Found after fighting off the first group of Nobodies and Heartless on Neverland.

The battle theme from Neverland world in Birth by Sleep plays as a wind blows with leaves of summer and fall blow around the area and the Lost Boys appear from the light answering the call of Riku's "Bangarang" by responding with a roaring return, "Bangarang."

(/_\) Bangarang (Finish): The finisher shows Riku raising his Keyblade in battle cry "Shout out to all my Lost Boys!" calling all the Lost Boys to him that roar out "We rally!" as they all charge at the enemies a head, unleashing an arrow of Aeroza as a tornado of wind swirls out from around them damaging enemies in the surrounding area.

(X) Bear Roll: Cubby curls up into a ball, rolling around the area and critically damaging the enemies. Knocking them down like bowling pins and stunning them as an effect. (After use it has about a one second cooldown).

(O) Lost Boys Strike: Usually the Lost Boys would scatter about the field, locking on to different enemies. But at the use of this command they will all strike at the same time with their slingshots, unleashing a bombarding damage to the enemies around the area.

Heartbinder #3: A yellow Heartbinder with Stitch's plasma blaster as the sigil.

(Third Heartbinder: 'Ohana Heartbinder, Stitch (Element Thunder)= green stain glass window showing Stitch with a lightning bolt stain glass logo on the far left corner. It changes to a Stitch revealing all four of his arms as he fires off his plasma blasters and shots occasionally during the Finisher). Deep Space, at Captain Gantu's ship where KH first introduces Stitch and Grand Councilwoman. But now Stitch is on the world of Windward Islands where Riku is given Heartbinder by Stitch.

The battle theme from Deep Space world in Birth by Sleep plays as a lightning shoots out and a galaxy and stars pop out with Stitch. Stitch crawls around Riku and jumps off the tip of his Keyblade bursting off a orb of light and stars around the Keyblade as he jumps back to Riku side as he pulls out his plasma blasters, leaving a green aura around Riku.

(/_\) Plasma Encounter (Finish): The finisher shows Stitch and Riku shooting up into the sky which spawn meteorites the spin outward, creating a galaxy in the sky. Riku calls down five shots of plasma in the area before calling down a more powerful beam of plasma on top of him and Stitch.

(X) Plasma Surge: Both Riku and Stitch flip during this command and shot at each other with a beam of dark light from Riku and a beam of plasma for Stitch. The Surge command will have Riku dash over to wherever Stitch, shooting out a arrow of plasma as soon as Riku is done dashing. Leaving behind a dim beam of light. Completing a closed box of light will spawn stars on the corner of the box with the middle creating flashes of energy that damages the enemies inside. After the initial shot, blue will cover the inside of the box and the plasma will make up the borders of the box, now damaging at the outside borders instead of inside the box.

(O) Jump: Allows Stitch to jump into the air along the Plasma Surge. Stitch can jump up to three times while in the air before hitting the ground, giving his Plasma Surge more 3D range.