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?

36. Chapter 36

Author's Notes: RAX, thank you for the information. I didn't know the original voice actor for Xehanort died. That actually breaks my heart. There's nothing wrong with the new voice actor, the change just caught me off guard, I though that it was just a contract issue and they just couldn't bring him back. I already knew that Ansem the Wise's voice actor had passed away years ago so that didn't catch me by surprise much, his new actor did pretty good filling in his part. But still, it's such a shame to lose such talented actors, they will be greatly missed by their fans and their voices shall live on in their work.

The Final Trips Before the Long Journey

… Early morning on Radiant Garden …

"..." It was just before dawn, before the sun touched the horizon. Jenova had wondered the silent streets of Radiant Garden's town. The denizens of the world still sleeping in their homes and the streets empty. All was quiet except the gentle flow of the aqueducts and clicking of her gladiator sandals. The birds were just starting to rise. Jenova had found herself wondering along the Central Square as she waited for this world to rise. Basking in the temporary moment of silence. Being trapped in a meteor crater; captured by Shinra; and, locked away in the realm of Darkness, she knew what dead silence was. However, compared to those long moments of silence, this silence was rather comforting. She was alone in this silence but at the same time she didn't feel alone, not anymore. It was a nice feeling...

"So this is the Dark Harbinger returned from the dark realm?"

"..." Or so she was alone. Jenova turned around to face the stranger that called to her from a name she hasn't heard in a long time. It was a old man, of tan complexion and yellow eyes tainted by the darkness. He had a white goatee beard and a bald head, his hands were crossed behind his back. He stood across from her on the other side of Square with a grin that looked to be permanently plastered on his face. The world's heart hissing to Jenova's ears the name Xehanort.

"It's such an honor to meet you, the last of the Ancient race. I've heard a great deal about you, Jenova." Xehanort said as he bowed in greeting to her, before gesturing with his hand. "You who've taken the fate of the worlds into your own hands and harnessed the darkness to rained down on the worlds from above. Like a Asteroid of darkness to strike down on worlds with weak hearts, plummeting them into darkness. And yet the worlds will come to wonder where this great calamity had faded to as they whisper your legend and legacy."

"..." Jenova did not care to correct him about calling her the last of the Ancients. But most of what he had spoken was close to the truth. "I'm surprised that anyone not from this world would still know about me."

"Indeed, how could they not? You were a necessary balance to the worlds order."

"Necessary?"

"Yes." Xehanort's grin grew wider. "After you disappeared countless worlds were lost from the realm of light. Never to be seen again as their hearts were crushed by the weight of the void."

"!" Jenova's eyes harden as he mentions things that were lost from knowledge of those in the realm of light. "What do you know of the void?"

"I know how easily a weak heart can spread and contaminate others like a plague. Such weak hearts can bring down many worlds around them. And just like you did long ago, someone must contain them. Just as you, I have taken up the burden to remove such weakness."

"It's heavy..." Jenova said, placing a hand over her heavy heart as she warns Xehanort not to take such things lightly. "The road you are seeking is a heavy burden to bare."

"Which is why I can't do this alone." He held out a hand, beckoning for her to take it. "Jenova, join with me. Destroy this realm's weakness once and for all. Become what this realm needs once more. Become the Calamity from the Sky."

"..." Jenova looked away from him, refusing to go down that world again.

"You hesitate, Jenova? But remember your despair." Xehanort said, tempting Jenova with his persuasion. "You who had for many lifetimes witnessed the worlds die. Whose father's father had bared witness to the Keyblade Wars and what damage they have rot. Forced to watch many worlds fade into the void regardless of your intervene. We must bring back the x-Blade to stop this. Become one of my Thirteen of Darkness. This is your only chance to make it end."

"..." Jenova looked at his hand outstretched to her and then back to his eyes. It was almost laughable that this man...this young creature...would think that an ancient Cetra like her would need a piece of his heart to be stronger. Or the fact that she would even give up her body just for that heart fragment to do as it pleased. "No."

"!"

"I will not help you."

"..." He couldn't fathom that she had said no. His hand lowered as his eyes filled with a grief as if he had watched a Legend fall on its feet. "Jenova, who have you become?"

"I have become tired and no longer wish to fight this battle that wasn't my right to start."

"It is the right of the strong to lead the weak."

"I disagree. This is the road I have chosen for myself now."

"..." Xehanort crossed his hands behind his back again, his eyes looking at Jenova with disappointment at such a waste of her darkness. She would have been a perfect vessel, but he had no means to force her into his cause. And he couldn't afford to fight her. Regrettably he would have to drop this. "Your heart has grown too weak, Jenova. But mine his strong. My vessels will finish this."

"And if you succeed, are you prepared to pay the price?" Jenova asked Xehanort as he was about to retreat into a Dark Corridor. Reminding him on the many natural taboos he had already broken for this objective.

"It's the road I have chosen for myself." He shot her own words back at her, disappearing into the Dark Corridor and from this world.

"..." The sun was beginning to rise. "The road you have chosen will not lead you anywhere. Only to loneliness and pain."

She walked away towards Castle Town.

… Meanwhile, with Riku and Mickey …

Riku and Mickey had rest on Enchanted Dominion before heading out again on their Gummi Ship for the world of Cinderella. The path there wasn't far from where they were and after a good rest Riku felt like the day was going to be a good day. Sora and the others were more than likely already heading to see Merlin over in Twilight Town to check on Pooh and the others. While Mickey and him were about to visit a new world and grow stronger. He had a good feeling about today.

"Mickey, we're here." Riku announced to his teammate. "Should we head to the castle? Cinderella is probably there."

"Right. Hold on, I'll use my Keyblade to guide us along the path that Ven took." Mickey suggested, summoning his Star Cluster as he opened the Keyhole that Ventus had taken into this world through their connection of friendship in his heart. The light shined out from Mickey's Keyblade and then brightened as it consumed them and the Gummi Ship in its light.

"...?" When the light had finally faded, they looked around to see that they were in a room inside of the castle. The fancy designed hinted that it was a room fit for royalty. However, the room and the things in it were strangely colossal. "Where are we?"

"We should be in the castle?" Mickey replied just as confused as Riku.

"Yeah, but- why is everything so huge?" It was like they were under a Mini spell.

Castle of Dreams

"Oh wow, somebody new! Never saw you two before!" Came an excited voice from behind them. Jumping down from the vanity dresser above them, came a mouse dressed in red: down to his shoes, shirt, coat, all the way to his hat. It wasn't surprising that he was small compared to this world.

"!" What was surprising was that he was the same size as Riku.

"Now, now, now. Look, little guys. Take it easy." The mouse said to calmed their nerves as he approached. "Nothing to worry about. We like you. New friends, yes?"

"Uh, sure." Riku agreed with a nod, along with Mickey, easing up just a little to the friendly mouse.

"My name is Jaq."

"Nice to meet you." Riku greeted back in return. "I'm Riku."

"And I'm Mickey."

"Zugk-zugk. Okay, Ri-Ri, Mic-Mic. Need something? Ask Jaq!" Jaq declared with a puff in his chest, before leaning in towards them. "So what brings you to the castle?"

"We're looking for a friend- huh?" Riku paused as he felt a rumble in the ground and the sound of a muffled voice approaching. He got on guard. "Someone's coming."

"..." Only for the door to open to reveal Cinderella in her light blue princess dress. Her golden hair done up in a elegant bun as she wore her royal crown. "Oh dear!"

"!" Riku was slightly alarmed by Cinderella's colossal size, last time he had seen her they were on somewhat equal terms in height- Cinderella being a little taller due to their age difference. But she smiled, gently walking over to them as she sat down on her knees to be more on their level.

"New friends. Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you." Cinderella chimed with a smile before looking them over with curiosity. "How interesting... You're not so different from Jaq and the others, but I haven't seen a mouse like you before in a long time."

"Mouse?" Riku quirked in eye at her phrasing. But it would explain a lot about their size. If this world saw them as friendly mice than this must be this world's way of keeping the world order. And if they were following the path that Ventus's heart took, then he more than likely was seen as a mouse, too.

"It's a pleasure to meet you two. I'm Cinderella." Cinderella greeted them with a smile as she pointed to herself with her fingers with one hand over her heart. Before resting her hands on her lap. "It's the strangest thing, but it feels like I've meet you before."

"We've never met officially, but I've seen you once before back at Hollow Bastion." Riku admitted. "I'm Riku."

"Mickey, here. It's a pleasure to meet you, princess."

"Back at Hollow Bastion? Oh! Then you must be friends with Sora." Cinderella deduced with a smile as they nodded in confirmation. "I haven't seen him in so long. How is he doing?"

"Fine for the most part. Hopefully, he's staying on track." Riku replied with a slight grumble before getting back on topic. "Princess, we could really use your help with something."

"Anything. How can I help?"

"We're looking for a friend, Ventus. Have you heard of him?" Mickey asked.

"Ventus! Oh, I know him."

"You do?" Mickey and Rku chimed together in anticipation.

"He was the nice mouse that helped me finish my dress so I could go to the ball." Cinderella said, reminiscing as she took on a sad smile. "He was a good friend. It was such a pity that I couldn't wear that dress to the ball."

"How come?" Riku asked.

"My wicked step mother pointed out that my dress was made of things that my step-sisters threw away and they ended up tearing up my dress." Cinderella sadly admitted. "My friends had worked so hard to make that dress for me, and it was completely ruined."

"(Gasp)!" Riku and Mickey gasped in shock at her story.

"That's evil." Riku said, his fists clinched in frustration at Cinderella's pain. "How could they do something so terrible?"

"Jealously can be a nasty thing sometimes. It may even lead you to do things that you'll come to regret later."

"..." Riku could relate to that...

"But don't worry too much about it for my sake. I was still able to go to the ball." Cinderella assured to Riku, sensing his growing concern over her past situation. "With the help of Fairy Godmother and a nice young man named Terra, I got to go the ball in a new dress and dance with Prince Charming. It was completely wonderful."

"You seem really happy about going to that ball?"

"Oh course, it was my biggest dream!" Cinderella replied in response. "Back when I lived with my step-mother, Lady Tremaine, and my step-sisters, Drizella and Anastasia- I use to dream about going to one of the castle balls as they worked me day and night."

"Dreams are a powerful thing. But that sounds like more of a wish than a dream."

"Hmm, everything starts with a wish. But the problem with most people is that they dream about something instead of really doing it." Cinderella clarified to Riku. "Even as I worked day-in and day-out, I still worked hard at making my dream come true. But sometimes you can't do it alone. And during those times it takes the helping hand of friends to reach your dreams. And I was lucky to have such wonderful friends."

"Aww, stop, stop. We like you, too, Cinderella." Jaq said in a bashful fluster as Cinderella smiled at him.

"Thanks, Jaq." Cinderella said to the friendly mouse before turning back to the other two. "I'm sorry, but I haven't seen Ven since then."

"Oh... Well, that's okay. We'll just look around a bit for him." Mikey said to reassure Cinderella.

"All right. I hope you find Ven soon." Cinderella wished them luck. "I wish that I could help. But sadly, I'm on a short break- which is almost over."

"You're still being worked hard?" Riku asked in slight concern, worried that Cinderella might have traded one bad-situation for another.

"(Chuckle) Well of course. I'm a princess." Cinderella replied with a content smile. "I have a meeting with some Officials in the Courtyard and so much more things to do to keep the kingdom rolling. Just because I got to go to the ball and meet my true love doesn't mean my dreams are over. There's so much more I'd like to do. That's the thing about dreams: once you've made one dream come true, you can go follow another dream."

"Yeah..."

"Cinderella!" Came the call from afar down the hallway. "It's time to go!"

"Ohh, I guess my break is over." Cinderella slightly pouted as she looked to the door at the approaching female's voice. A voice that was so familiar to Cinderella that once upon a time would fill her with dread to hear, but now was like a reassuring companion.

"There's still enough time to have a light Brunch before your meeting if we hurry now! Cinderella!" Came the voice again, coming closer. The voice was loud but not exactly shouting or filled with aggression.

"Well, duty calls." Cinderella happily sighed before turning back to the others. "Jaq, you better show them around. Maybe you can help them find Ven."

"Leave it to me!" Jaq accepted his task with a fist bump to the chest.

"Thank you, Jaq." Cinderella thanked him as she got back up on her feet again. "I will see you all in a little while then."

"Cinderella!" The voice called much closer, right outside the joining room in fact.

"All right, all right, I'm coming!" Cinderella called out to the voice as she left the room. Leaving those remaining in the room in a moment of silence as they could hear the door to the joining Wardrobe Room close.

"Wow, I guess she's got her hands full." Riku commented as they saw her out.

"Yep, work, work, work! Royal duties of the castle keeps Cinderella busy!" Replied Jaq with a nod.

"She didn't seem to mind much, though."

"No, not Cinderella. She works hard. She's always worked hard. She's got dreams- big dreams. Dreams for this kingdom that's gonna come true!"

"That sounds nice. Kinda reminds me of a few people I know."

"Friends of yours?"

"Friends and more." Riku added on with enduring grin.

"Come on. Follow me. You gotta see the castle. Zugk-zugk." Jaq said as he started walking towards the closest Mousehole.

"R-right." Riku and Mickey followed after him into the Mousehole.

It was a cozy mousehole, a lot more spacious and lit than Riku thought it would be. The inner woodwork structure took over most of the area along with a small coating of dust that couldn't be reached by the maids. A few cobwebs littered the upper corners of the walls. All seemed normal and not out of place, except the few forks stabbed into the woodworks and the stashes of cheese wheels.

"That's our cheese stockpile. Really good, Aging really well. Want some?" Jaq offered to them.

"Uh, no thanks." Riku declined.

"Tempting...but I'll have to decline." Mickey said no as well.

"What's with the forks?"

"Make-shift lift, hoist us up where we can't reach. Shoots us up really high. Zugk-zugk." Jaq answered to Riku. "Come, come. Much to see, much castle ground to cover."

"Right." Riku nodded in agreement, but as they stepped further in, Soldier and Helm Body Heartless made their appearance. "!"

"Heartless!" Mickey called in alarm as he summoned his Keyblade.

"Oh, no! They're back!" Jaq sounded the alarm, running over to grab a sitting fork. Using it as a weapon, it looked like a giant spear in his hand. "You ain't going to cause no trouble here. Ri-Ri, Mic-Mic, let's get 'em!"

"Yeah!" Riku was a little surprised that Jaq would join in the fight, but was more than happy for the help. Letting Mickey and Jaq handle the Soldiers, Riku went straight for the Helmed Body. Finishing it off with a combo. "Sorry."

"Light!" Mickey had cast Holy, finishing off the rest of the Heartless in one go. "Is everyone okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. You guys are good. Finished off the bad guys real quick." Jaq said, complimenting them in amazement.

"Are you guys having trouble with the Heartless?" Riku asked in concern.

"Not so much, no. They started to come recently. Nothing we can't handle."

"..." The Heartless were drawn by the pure light of the Princesses of Heart's heart. With the presence of Heartless and yet the lack of many hordes, Cinderella must be losing her power of Light.

"Come, come, we should keep moving. Lots of ground to cover and not enough time in the day."

"Okay."

They continued on into the mousehole- Riku grabbing the chest with a Hi-Potion in it next to them before continuing on. There was a few uplifts of stone structure that acted like large steps for them that lead to the next mousehole opening. They didn't go far, it honestly only took them into the next room over from Cinderella's Room, the Wardrobe Room.

It was a nice room with a giant walkthrough wardrobe closet on one side and a lounge area on the other side. A long couch for one to sit at while deciding what to wear, and a nice sitting area with decorated chairs and a table to cater to guest. A few outfits rested along the arm of the couch, dresses that didn't make the cut as Cinderella decided what to wear today. The room was nicely decorated, and well lighted by the crystal-like chandelier above.

For the most part there was nothing for them there. Except for the lone hologram Moogle Shop parked by the left side of the couch. Riku paid it a visit and grabbed a few items, along with visiting its Workshop. Going through the Keyblade Forge, Riku was able to power up his Braveheart to Rank 9- only stopping because he lacked a Electrum and 2 Wellspring Crystals to make it to Rank 10. But they were powered up to as high as they were capable, and were as ready as they could be to face whatever this world had to throw at them.

"Come, come, let's head down to the Antechamber." Jaq suggested to them as taking the Hallway in the living area of the castle would take too much time and would most likely alarm the cleaning staff.

"Yeah." Riku agreed, trusting Jaq's judgement. He knew the area better than them. So if he suggested that they should head down to the next floor, then they were heading down to the next floor.

Entering the Mousehole again, the tunnel circled along Wardrobe Room's frame. There were many mousehole openings leading to hidden spots in the Wardrobe room, but none of them lead to where they needed to go. Taking them along a three-sides of a square path until they had to jump down to a lower level. The tip end of a fork catching them as they jumped down and hopped off to the lower floor. Fighting a few Heartless and finding a chest with another Hi-Potion in it along the way. Riku also took note of the strange spiderweb hording blocks of cheeses in its sticky web. Whether that was by accident or the spider had a love for cheese, Riku would never know.

On the lower floor, Riku found a chest with a Pulsing Crystal in it. And another one with a Hungry Crystal inside it hiding on the other side of a corner. Taking the mousehole out, they found themselves in the Antechamber. It was now further into the afternoon, and the sun had already reached it's highest peak as it shined through the windows. A colossal hologram Moogle Shop stood in the corner of the Antechamber, but was too big for them to interact with.

The walls were aligned with columns and structure art. On the opposite wall corner of the Moogle Shop was a chest containing a Thunder spell in it. Nothing Mickey or Riku needed. Although the chest containing a Electrum on the corner wall next to it was a big help. The doorways were lined with pulled-back royal red curtains, and a long red carpet decorated the floor. The doorway on the west wall lead into the upper Foyer floor of the Ballroom, while the doorway on the south wall lead to the Corridor. A long stretch of hallway decorated with open red curtained windows on one wall side and mirrors with one unlit hanging candelabra on the opposite hall wall. Oil paintings aligned the turning hall paths of the Corridor, greeting you before the long straight hallway. Riku and Mickey were just about to run out into the hallway when Jaq stopped them.

"Wait, Ri-Ri, Mic-Mic! Be careful of Lucifer!" Jaq warned them.

"Roos-a-fee?" Riku wasn't sure he was hearing Jaq right.

"I think he said, "Lucifer"." Mickey corrected, which Jaq nodded in confirmation.

"Lucifer is cat-cat! He's mean...sneaky... Comes to the castle all the time. He'll jump at you, bite at you!" Jaq said as if he were telling a scary story.

"What kind of sick person name's their cat Lucifer?" Riku said, honestly flabbergasted.

"Cinderella's step-mother. Lucifer was her cat-cat."

"Was?"

"We must be careful in the open."

"R-right... I got it." Riku nodded, still a little concern at Jaq's use of past tense.

They walked out, a little less gun-ho, and more cautious after Jaq's warning. The Corridor seemed like it stretched longer than before. Riku swallowed the lump in his throat that wasn't there before. It felt like an hour by the time they had passed by the first window. Riku knew that it was only their minds playing tricks on them because they were on edge. But what was there to be scared of? They have fought Heartless, and Nobodies, and Darkness the likes of which most have never faced before. What was there to be scared about a single cat?

"!" Just as Riku thought that a breeze had pass by him on his left. He looked over in alarm... The curtains danced a little as the window they had just passed that wasn't open before was now cracked open. He felt a tingling shiver crawl up his back. Long before he saw the looming shadow silently coming in from behind them. He slowly turned his head around, looking up. "..."

A dark cat, with yellow glowing green eyes was grinning down at them with a raised clawed paw.

"!" Riku's eyes became larger as the cat's grin became wider. "Look out!"

Riku got out the warning at the last second for the other two to dodge as the paw came down on them.

"Look out! Lucifer!" Jaq cried out, making a run for it. "Run!"

"!" He didn't have to tell them twice, Mickey and Riku were booking it. Lucifer gave chase after them, playing with them as it snickered and pounced at them. There was nowhere to hide, no where to take cover in that long stretch of hallway. All they could do was RUN!

"Ahh!"

"Barrier!" Riku casted Barrier on Jaq and himself, dashing to Jaq when he couldn't run away in time as Lucifer jumped at him. The Barrier protected the two of them and knocked Lucifer back a bit, putting more distance between them so they could run away. That's all they really could do: Run and Dash out of the way or Barrier when Lucifer jumped or scratched at them.

"Thanks, Ri-Ri! Jaq thought he was a goner!" Jaq loudly sighed out in relief as they continued to run down the Corridor.

"Any time." Riku replied before they had to Dash and Roll out of the way from another one of Lucifer's pounces. "Guh! Why is this cat so evil?!"

They haven't done anything to this cat. And have never met it before in their life for it to harbor a grudge or hold resentment against them. It was certainly well fed and had no reason to see them as food. For the most part all of its actions hinted towards this cat toying with them for its malicious amusement.

"Why do cats ever need a reason to be evil?! Just run!" Mickey retorted back at Riku.

"Didn't you say Minnie had a cat?"

"That's a kitten, and at least Figaro's cute!" Mickey huffed back at Riku's sass before having to put up a Barrier as Lucifer started targeting him. "Barrier!"

"Isn't that Geppetto and Pinocchio's cat?"

"Different cat! Jiminy use to talk about him back at Disney Castle and Minnie fell in love with the name!" Mickey explained as they ran, forced to call upon his Barrier again as Lucifer came back at him with his claws. "Ahh! Go back to the pits of Hades from which you came from!"

"Woe, Mickey. Sounds like you really don't like cats- Oh Light!" Riku was about to tease before suddenly exclaiming as Lucifer snuck in behind him and got a good slash at Riku's back with his claws.

"Ooh! Not thinking so highly of cats now, are you?! You all right?!"

"Yeah! Guh, that stings!"

"Hang in there, we're almost at the end of the Corridor!" Jaq informed them like a light at the end of the tunnel. The reached the end of the hallway and turned the corner towards the exit. But unlike the doorway they had came from, this doorway actually had large closed French doors. And no mouseholes for them to squeeze through. "Oh, no! We're trap!"

"We got it!" Mickey and Riku said together as they pulled out their Keyblades and pointed it to the doors.

"Isn't this a discourtesy to use our Keyblades this way?" Mickey rhetorically questioned for a second. Sure, a Keyblade can open any door. But wasn't it seen as a little disrespectfully to the Keyblade wielders before them who used their Keyblades to open worlds and hearts just to use theirs to open a door that they couldn't push?

"Do you want to stick around with the cat from Hades?" Riku retorted back.

"No thank you." Mickey instantly replied, getting over his worries real quick. Together they used their Keyblades to reveal the doors' keyhole. It was unlocked but using the power of their Keyblades they pushed the doors wide open. As the doors opened, Riku was rewarded with the Wonder Heartbinder, allowing him to call for Cheshire Cat as an ally. Ironically running away from one cat to connect with another. "It's open!"

"Let's go, let's go, let's go!" Shouted Jaq as they ran through the doors. Lucifer catching up to them by the time Mickey and Riku's Keyblades got the door open. Jaq ran into the lower Foyer floor passed the upper floor cover and across the carpeted stairway with the others, screaming. "Ahh!"

BARK, BARK, BARK!

YOWL!

BARK! BARK!

"!" Coming to their rescue was an old bloodhound, running down the stairs and chasing after Lucifer. Barking after Lucifer as he ran off into the Corridor towards the Courtyard- cracking the doors open with his body as he desperately tried to get away. While the bloodhound smacked the doors open with no resistance, giving Lucifer a taste of his own medicine.

"Hurray! It's Bruno, we're saved!" Jaq cheered in relief as they all tried to catch their breath.

"Who was that?" Riku asked with a hand over his chest and the other rested on his knee as he bent over, trying to catch his breath. Mickey was in a similar position as the adrenaline was slowly leaving their body.

"That's Bruno, Cinderella's dog. Very loveable. Good dog, we like Bruno."

"I like Bruno, too. I've never been more happy to see a dog in all my life." Riku admitted as he finally calmed his breathing, before suddenly turning to Mickey. "Please don't tell Pluto."

"I won't tell him you won't, pal." Mickey said, admitting that he was having the same thought.

"Cats are evil!" Riku declared to the world.

"That's what I been trying to say!" Mickey said, sorta happy that someone finally gets it.

"Come on! Now that Bruno's taken care of that mean old Lucifer, let's have a look around." Jaq suggested.

"Good plan." Riku nodded in agreement.

Due to their size, looking around the Foyer took some time. Along the stairway sides, under the upper floor covers were two chests. The one under the upper floor cover on the right side of the stairs had a Potion in it. And the one along the wall on the left side of the stairs had Strike Raid skill in it. Up the stairs to the right there was another chest by the balcony with a Soothing Crystal in it. And along the upper wall on the left side of the stairs was a chest with a Hi-Potion in it.

The doorway on the upper floor lead into the Ballroom, and Riku knew that with their size it would take them all day to look around there. Deducing that if Ventus was there, someone would have found him by now, he decided to take the other path- going back down the stairs and into the Corridor that lead out into the Courtyard. With Bruno and Lucifer more than likely long gone, it should be clear for them to pass through.

The Corridor was a long stretch of hallway with many columns lining its path and a red carpet stretching over its floor. It was long by normal standards, but at the size they were now it stretched into a mile. And along that long stretch of Corridor was littered hordes upon hordes of Heartless.

"Oh, no! There's so many of them!" Jaq shouted in alarm.

"Yeah, no. None of that. I'm not in the mood." Riku declared, putting his foot down. He just got done running from a large cat down a long Corridor, he wasn't about to fight his way through an even longer one. Taking the bite on his MP he use his Link to summon his new Heartbinder ally. "Wonder!"

The echoing of a humming resonated through the Corridor, honing in around Riku's shoulder as a wide grin appeared into existence. Soon eyes began to appear along with the humming grin, only to be followed by the head it belong to, swaying with the non-existent beat as a dark and light purple striped body of a cat connected it all. Cheshire Cat had arrived.

"(Chuckle) Need some help?" Cheshire Cat asked over to Riku, leaning on Riku head with little care to his comfort. Before lying along Riku shoulder as he got comfy for the fight ahead.

"You're done." Riku taunted to Soldier and Helmed Body Heartless as he Jumped over into their groups. Using Cheshire Cat's Tea Time attack, causing Cheshire Cat to chuckle as Pots and cups of tea came raining down on the enemies around them. Instantly defeating a few while also barely damaging others. Riku ended up having to cast it two more times before having to Jump out of there as the remaining Heartless came in for the attack.

Using Cheshire Cat's Card Flush attack, the cards that came out of Cheshire Cat's non-existing sleeves circled around Riku as they grew before launching out their random attack. The first time Riku had used this attack it had healed him, the second time it attacked him, only to heal him again the third time, the fourth time it attacked the enemies, and on the fifth it boosted Riku's attack power. It was a double edge sword that Riku had no means of controlling. The field was in total chaos as Riku continued Jumping around with Cheshire Cat, switching between attacks.

Soon Riku's Link Gauge was about to deplete, and they had already stormed through more than half way through the Corridor. Riku decided to send Cheshire Cat off with his Finisher, Off With Their Heads. Cheshire Cat began to hysterically laugh with a wide grin as he started fading away. Leaving nothing behind but his head as he laughs, unleashing a relentless blitz of slash attacks around the Corridor until nothing but his grin is left. And with a chuckle that fades away, too.

With Cheshire Cat's help, they had cleared out most of the Corridor, leaving nothing but a few Heartless at the end of the long stretch.

"Sorry." Riku taunted as he began Shotlock targeting the Heartless as his depleted MP gauge recharged. Unleashing projectiles of Dark Drive on the enemies. Jaq was attacking some Heartless Soldiers with his fork, clearing off most of the weaker pawns.

"Riku!" Mickey called over for Riku, hinting for them to do a combo. Going with Mickey's plan of attack, Riku joined up with Mickey to launch their Double Duel attack on the remaining Heartless.

"Bye." Riku said as their Dark-Light spinning attack took out the last Heartless, clearing out the Corridor.

"Oh, boy! We did it!" Jaq cheered with a jump.

"Yeah!" Mickey cheered along, too. "Let's keep going."

"Right." Riku nodded to the two of them as they headed out the door into the castle's Courtyard.

It was a lovely courtyard with cleanly cut greenery and a square pool area gracing its center. As the sun started to dip in the sky a small party or gathering seem to be going on under its warm light. Riku, Mickey, and Jaq rushed down the castle stairs into the courtyard so as not to bring attention to themselves and alarm the giants wondering around.

They wrapped around the stairway, staying along the courtyard's walls as they took cover behind the bushes from the walking guest. Riku and them had circled around from the left side, finding a chest with a Pulsing Crystal on the side of the stairway. Following the wall further down, they found another chest by the corner of the east and southern walls, containing a Slow spell in it. Passing the gate to fully circle around the Courtyard to see what had to offer, while still taking cover from the guest wondering around. Along the large door in the center of the west wall, was a big chest containing a Map of the castle area- something they could have used earlier. And on the other side of the stairway was another chest, containing a Wellspring Crystal. With that gained, Riku only needed one more Wellspring Crystal to power up his Braveheart to Rank 10.

As they explored all the corners of the Courtyard, they finally took a moment to truly look around. By the square pool of water was a jolly old man, laughing with his round belly as he drank a toast along with a slightly younger, skinner older man whom still had black color in his hair and mutton chops that formed into a thin mustache. The portly older man was slightly bald with grey hair with bushy eyebrows and mustache. He was wearing a cream-colored suit with gold buttons, matching epaulets and a single stripe on the sleeves and white gloves. While the thin man was dressed in a high-collared lilac suit with tasseled, silver epaulets on each shoulder, a silver belt with a blue, seemingly jeweled buckle, a red sash over his left shoulder and right hip, and a monocle on the right side of his chest for his right eye.

"Who's that?" Riku asked. The one in the cream colored suit looked important. "Is that the King?"

"Yup, yup. That's the King and the Grand Duke. Real big shots. Run the kingdom like a power house those two do. The Grand Duke more rational side to the King's passionate side."

"I guess you would need both to keep the place running smoothly." Riku commented as he looked over at the guest of Officials further off on the other side of the Courtyard, being served beverages by passing waiters as they discussed policies with Princess Cinderella and Prince Charming. Close to Cinderella's side was her loveable Bloodhound, Bruno, resting on the grass after chasing off Lucifer. But standing slightly behind Cinderella was a young woman with red hair wearing a pink dress with fuchsia bodice with a lighter pink skirt and fuchsia slippers which she wore with white collar and petticoat and a sunny colored hair bow in her tied back red ringlets. From the looks of how close she was to Cinderella, she was more than likely Cinderella's Lady-in-waiting. "And who is she?"

"That's Cinderella's youngest step-sister, Anastasia. She works in the castle as Cinderella's lady-in-waiting."

"!" That's one of Cinderella's horrible step-sisters?! "But I thought Cinderella's step-sisters were terrible to her. Why would she want one of them to stay by her side?"

"No, no. Turns out that Anastasia was more sympathetic to Cinderella and her situation than we realized. But it was hard, real hard, for her to show it passed her mother and sister's bad influence and scheming." Jaq explained. "She struggled, not as hard as Cinderella, but she still struggled. Now she works hard at taking care of Cinderella. She keeps Cinderella on track while also makes sure she doesn't work so hard anymore."

"..." Riku looked to Anastasia in a more relatable light. "One who was unfortunately brought up in the darkness and yet still found their way back into the light despite its influence..."

"What- what?" Jaq tilted his head in confusion.

"Nothing..." Riku shook his head, telling Jaq not to worry about it. "Hey Jaq, is there anywhere else that Ven might be?"

"Welll," Jaq scratched his head in thought. "He might be back at Cinderella's old place, back at the Tremaine Manor?"

"Where is that?"

"Hmm, down the road out of the castle, passed the Forest. "It's a bit of a long way."

"Thanks Jaq. We'll check it out." Riku said in return. Knowing that they couldn't trouble Jaq anymore with taking them all the way there, they decided to get there on their own. Riku began to walk off with Mickey, waving goodbye to Jaq as they headed to the Courtyard's gate.

"Zugk-zugk?! You're walking all the way there?! Hey, wait-" Jaq tried to called to them but they were already gone.

Riku knew Jaq said that the way back to Cinderella's old home was a long way away from the castle, but he never realized how long until they started walking. What must have taken Cinderella an hour or two hours to get to the castle's ball by carriage must be like a two days journey on foot for them at their current size. It was already nightfall and they hadn't even reached the Forest yet.

They ended up having to set up camp along the road side for the night to continue their journey the next morning. Luckily Riku had purchased Tent items at the Moogle Shop before. That night, Riku had Sensed Sora and the others hearts arriving on a world close by to Mickey and him, a world called Arendelle. He also could Sense two strong Lights residing on that world. Hopeful with them around, Sora and the others weren't getting into too much trouble.

At morning Riku and Mickey continued their journey again, finally reaching the Forest by high noon. But it was nightfall again by the time they reached the outskirts of the Forest towards The Chateau of the Tremaine Manor. They were exhausted, relieved at finally making it there, and tired of walking. The grounds around the Forest outskirts had been cleared and dirt covered for carriages to safely travel through. There was a fountain that was turned off, and a sitting bench not too far from it. If they continued down the dirt path it would take them to the front of the Tremaine Manor.

"Oh thank goodness, we finally made it." Mickey sighed in relief.

"Finally." Riku couldn't help agreeing with the sentiment, until something hit him. "Wait... Mickey, couldn't you have used the light to just teleported us here?"

"I can't teleport blindly. I have to have a guiding light or a heart to mark a location. Using the Light to teleport blindly might end me up somewhere in space."

"Oh..." Riku was slightly relieved that was the case. If it had turned out that they could have just teleported there, he didn't know what he would do.

"Oh dear, what are you boys doing here?" Came the gentle voice of the old fairy in blue.

"Huh? Fairy Godmother?" Riku was surprised to see her here, but not too surprised since this was her homeworld.

"It's so good to see you again, Your Majesty, Riku. But why so small?" Fairy Godmother asked as they were as small as a mouse compared to her.

"We were following the path that Ven's heart had traveled on this world." Mickey explained. "You wouldn't have seen him, have you? Or met him before?"

"No, I'm afraid not. The only two Keyblade wielders I've ever met on this world were Terra and Aqua." Fairy Godmother answered as she sadly shook her head, unable to help them in their search. "Oh, but if you fellows are so small while following his path, this world's order must have saw fit to disguise him as a mouse."

"Well, I am a mouse." Mickey stated, seeing the reasoning behind the world orders choice on his part. "But Cinderella also thought that Riku was a mouse- and Ven, too- why is that?"

"There so much of the world to see when you're so small. Perhaps this world wanted the three of you to see the bigger picture of what was happening around you."

"I think I get it, but... I think I've seen enough of this world as it is." Riku groaned, after walking for nearly two days to get from the castle to Tremaine Manor, Riku was just about done with being small.

"Oh my, maybe this will help." Fairy Godmother pulled out her wand, clearing her throat before calling forth the magic within her as she waved her wand around. "Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!"

"!" Her magic sparkled and circled around them, bringing them back to there normal sizes. Riku couldn't describe how relieved he was to be tall again.

"There. That's better." She smiled at her work, before remembering to remind them. "Oh, but I'm afraid the spell won't last. This world's order has saw fit to make you small, so small you'll return as long as your on this world. Before long the spell will be broken."

"We won't need it for long, thanks." Riku replied. "We just want to look around the manor for any signs of Ven."

"Well, I'm not sure you'll find much there." Fairy Godmother informed to them. "The only one left in that manor is Anastasia Tremaine."

"Only Anastasia? What happened to her sister, Drizella, and their mother, Lady Tremaine?" Riku asked.

"Oh, I'm afraid they had lost their hearts to darkness long ago." Fairy Godmother sadly explained in pity but also feeling they got what they deserved. "Their jealousy of Cinderella had grown so great that it consumed them and drove their hearts to try and harm Cinderella. But their darkness consumed them, causing them to become Heartless. Master Aqua had defeated their Heartless, but their hearts had been lost to the realm of darkness. Only Anastasia's heart returned to the realm of light."

"... Only... Anastasia..." Riku thought and thought, until he built up the courage to ask. "What do you think of her, Fairy Godmother?"

"I think she is a poor child that lost both of her fathers too soon, father and step-father, and was not raised in a loving environment." Fairy Godmother spoke honestly, pitying Cinderella's youngest step-sister. "She was raised around bad influence, scheming, and prejudice that masked itself as social standing that left her craving for genuine love. Her mother and sister had taken her down the path of darkness. But it was thru the sympathetic compassion and conscience of her heart that she had found her way back despite their influence and even sough to reconcile with Cinderella on her own. I have great sympathy for that child."

"..."

"I beg to differ." Came the smooth voice of black coat stranger from a Dark Corridor.

"!" The others turned to the stranger with long spiky pink hair and yellow eyes in alarm.

"She is a dark spot, adding a stain to a precious gift. Allow me to remove her from that gift's presence."

"Who are you? Are you with the Organization?" Riku asked, getting on guard.

"Hmph. Now what would give that away?"

"The black coat and yellow eyes scream "New Organization" member."

"My name is Marluxia, and yes, that is correct." Marluxia said, placing a hand over where his heart would be, in introduction. "How interesting it is to finally get to meet you, Riku."

"Get to?" Did this guy know him?

"A shame you were handled by the Basement team and never got the chance to meet me, because I remember you exceedingly well. Although...it's those memories I'd soon erase."

"You mean back at Castle Oblivion? I don't remember ever running into you."

"Nor should you. We were both at Castle Oblivion but you never faced me. Nor will you ever, for that matter."

"?" Did this guy not come here to fight?

"Now, if you'll permit me, I've come to ask a favor."

"Favor? Not interested."

"Please hear what I have to say." Marluxia requested of him to not judge before hearing what he had to say, and Riku could understand that. If this guy had not come here looking for a fight, the least Riku could do was hear him out. "I'm sure you've noticed..."

"I've noticed a lot of things. You're gonna have to be more specific."

"My apologies." Marluxia rested his fingers on his forehead, shaking his head as he sighed for a moment. Perhaps he was being a little too vague. "But you should know that maiden in the castle. Cinderella, is the very light of this world. I would hope that you'd guard her from its darkness."

"The only darkness I see is you."

"You misunderstand. All the Organization seeks is balance. You must understand, our ultimate objective is not to clash with the light. We seek to complement it. Use that Keyblade...to keep Cinderella safe."

"From what? The only thing that could possibly harm her here, is you!"

"Hmph. Perhaps, I expected too much of you. After all, one who has given themselves to the darkness once before, would not care for the light that they stain around them." Marluxia mocked with a knowing grin, his words biting deeper into Riku than he cared to admit.

"!" Riku's heart stung, it stung a lot at Marluxia's cutting words. But he had no time to wallow in the pain as Marluxia summoned Reaper and Dusk Nobodies into the area as he retreated back into a Dark Corridor. They were surrounded and had no choice but to fight their way through. Summoning his Keyblade, Riku groaned as he would have to fight after walking all day. "(Sigh) Could you guys have possibly picked a worse time?"

"I don't think they appreciate the timing, Riku." Mickey commented as he summoned his Keyblade as well. "We'll take care of this, Fairy Godmother."

"Be careful, boys. I sense a darkness coming." And on the tip of her warning, a Chaos Carriage Heartless appeared. "Oh, dear!"

"Let's go!" Riku shouted, ready for battle. Clearing out the smaller enemies, he continually casted Thundaga, taking care of the Dusks. "Thunder!"

As he casted, more Nobodies appeared, and the Chaos Carriage ran wildly around the area, smacking them around with its carriage and ramming at them. Riku casted enough Thundaga to unleash Thundaza on the field, along with a Dark Firaga. But the Chaos Carriage was made of some strong stuff, and more Reapers arrived on the scene. Having enough of having to play 'Dark Roll away from the carriage', Riku decided to pull out the big guns.

"Beast!" Riku calls, placing a hand over his heart as he calls upon his Link to Beast through his Rose Heartbinder. A cold wind blows from behind him, freezing the area. A frost covers the ground as Riku turns to Beast stomping in, appearing from crystals of ice shards and snowflakes.

"Riku!" Beast calls his name, standing back to back with Riku, letting out a roar that sends a blast of a Blizzard chill through the area. His frosted mane waving about like frozen flames releasing sparks of snowflakes.

Beast had unleashed Blizzaga Roar, pushing the enemies back as its Blizzard wave stuns the area with its frosted touch. Taking advantage of the enemies' stun, Riku and Beast bombarded them with Blizzaga Claws, leaving behind broken ice crystals of the fallen enemies and Blizzard impacts on the ground in their wake. Frontal Stalagmite of Ice spikes took care of the enemies that Riku's keyblade and Beast's claws couldn't reach. The temperature dropped drastically around the area, and the enemies were slowed down by the frost that covered the area.

All that remained in the Blizzard covered area was the Chaos Carriage, it's wild rampaging slowed down by the chill. Deciding to end this last remaining enemy with Beast's Finish, Riku called upon A Prince's Frozen Heart. Beast jumped into the air, curling into himself as a bright light comes from his heart and he faded away with a massive Blizzaza coming out from him and consumes the area. Leaving a large impact of Ice covered the area that froze the barely hanging on Chaos Carriage that touched its ground.

"You're done!" Taking the final blow, Riku smashed the frozen hearts into tiny crystals of Ice with his Keyblade.

"Is it over?" Mickey asked as he hesitated to lower his guard.

"Yeah." Riku replied, putting away his Braveheart. The frost that covered the area slowly melted away.

"What do you think he meant by "guarding" Cinderella from the darkness?"

"I don't know." Riku was just as confused as Mickey. From what they had seen so far, there was no Heartless, that could actually harm Cinderella back at the castle. What other darkness was he talking about? "Hm?"

Suddenly a royal carriage being lead by a white-greyish horse was making its way from the Forest clearing. As it passed them, Riku could Sense the heart of someone that he recognized back at the castle's Courtyard... Anastasia. The carriage carried on towards The Chateau of the Tremaine Manor, ignorant of their presence.

"!" When Riku Sensed her heart from up close, he could Sense the light coming from it but could still felt the stains of darkness from within it like a past scar. Could this be the darkness that Marluxia was talking about. "Oh, no."

"Riku?"

"I think that guy is after Anastasia."

"Oh, dear!" Fairy Godmother gasped with worry.

"We gotta go help her!" Mickey insisted.

"Yeah!" Riku nodded, not having to be told twice as they ran off after the carriage to The Chateau.

The carriage stopped in front of the Tremaine Manor's doors. The Coachman ready to get up and open the doors for the lady inside, but she insisted for him to remain seated from within. Opening the doors herself, revealing a more relaxed state after a long day of work. Anastasia sighed out as she step down from the carriage. She had relaxed her red ringlets during her drip back from the castle, placing her hair into a bun as she got out of the carriage.

Walking over to the coachmen, she nodded and waved to him in gratitude for the ride home and then walked over to the head horse, leading the carriage's royal team of horses. She pat his nose with gratitude and sympathy for the past lack of love and treatment that she failed to give this horse along with her sister and mother when the horse was under the Tremaine Manor's care. He originally belonged to Cinderella's father, who later gave him to her as a gift before his untimely death when she was a little girl. And sadly, he had been treated poorly just as Cinderella had been.

"Thank you for the ride, Major." Anastasia thanked the horse which shook its head a little to fix its mane before rubbing his head along her hand in no hard feelings. The relationship between Anastasia and Cinderella's horse had slowly repaired and mended overtime through hard work and dedicated care. "Same time tomorrow?"

The horse nodded, taking off to lead the royal carriage back to the castle as Anastasia waved them off from the safety of her manor's porch.

Or so she thought.

"Oh dear... He's seems to have forgotten what you've done and what you truly are." Marluxia said in subtle accusation as he appeared behind Anastasia from a Dark Corridor.

"What do you mean by that? Who are you?" Anastasia stepped away, recoiling in fright from the stranger.

"Forget about your life at the castle. You know where you belong, and it's not with Cinderella. Now..." Marluxia held out his hand to her as Reapers began to surround her.

"!" Anastasia gasped in fright as she felt the darkness creep up from under her feet. More frightening than being surrounded by a stranger and strange monsters was going back to that dark realm of endless darkness and loneliness. "N-no! I don't- I don't want to go back! I-"

"Hmph." Marluxia knowingly smirks as he watches Anastasia fall to her knees, giving in to her despair as the darkness starts to creep up and draw her further in. Because as much as she feared going back into the darkness, somewhere deep inside her she still felt that she deserved to be in the darkness for her past actions. "Fall into darkness... We can't allow you near our pure light now. Your presence would only cast a pall over it."

"Anastasia!-" Riku called out to her as him and the others ran over to Anastasia to rescue her. But Marluxia blocked them as he stepped out from a Dark Corridor in front of them.

"Show some decorum."

"Marluxia!"

"The girl is going back to her dear mother and sister. You should let her be."

"And why is that?" He must have lost his mind if he thinks they were going to just let Anastasia fall back into the realm of darkness again.

"Because Cinderella is far too important. Inside her castle, she must remain on her pillar, and live out her days untouched by the darkness from her past."

"And never see anyone from her family again?" Mickey retorted, angered by Marluxia's logic and the implication behind it.

"So Anastasia has to disappear just for reconciling with her step-sister! That's like...locking her in some prison for just existing!" Riku growled in rage.

"That is exactly what it's like." Marluxia said as if their feeling were insignificant to the facts. "Cinderella's heart holds the powerful magic of dreams and light. And yes, her power of light has started to fade. As has other princesses. And, if the past stains of darkness from Anastasia are the cause of Cinderella's fading light due to proximity, then to preserve her... Anastasia is doing the Organization a disfavor."

"And what disfavor is that?"

"Let's say we're keeping Cinderella on the shelf. An extra pawn in case you fail to find the remaining guardians of light, and we have occasion to call on other hearts of light instead. A New Seven Hearts to fill out the ranks."

""New Seven Hearts"? You mean the Princesses of Heart?"

"Yes. Seven who inherited the princesses' light after their role was fulfilled." Marluxia said before looking off into the star filled sky. "But it would seem, she has already passed on her light to another."

"So, you don't care about Cinderella or Anastasia. You guys just want to use them for your own purposes!" Riku shouted at Marluxia, having enough as he reached out for Anastasia's hand. "Well, you're done here!"

"Hmph. I should have known you would make a scene. Very well, then it's lights out for you." Marluxia held out his hand as he sent out a wind with pink petals at Riku, casting Sleep on him.

"!" Riku felt the tickle on his nose as the scent gave him an itch.

"It would seem that you're a sound sleeper as well- What?" Marluxia began to chuckle in taunt before realizing that Riku wasn't going down.

"Sorry. I'm more resistant to Magic than others." Riku taunted back at him with a grin. Ones Magic would have to be as strong as world's Magic in order to have a status effect on him. Or they would have to be of a Magical Being bloodline and older than Riku, but that was besides the point.

"How vexing of you." Marluxia smirked as he retreated through a Dark Corridor, leaving this world for good.

"..." Riku was sure that Marluxia wasn't coming back, he was still annoyed that he left his Reaper Nobodies behind. Ignoring them for now, he turned to Anastasia who needed his prior attention. Gently grabbing her wrist he began to pull her out of the darkness. "Get up. You can't give up like this."

"Huh?" Anastasia came to from her despair, slightly flustered as she was confusion of her surroundings for a moment. She looked up at Riku with wary confusion. "Who are you?"

"A friend." Riku answered, looking at her with understanding eyes. "One who had fallen to the darkness once and found the way back again, just like you. You can't give up and give in to it now. Not after how far you have come."

"..." Still scared but with a determination in her eyes, her hand gripped on to Riku's wrist as well. Resisting the darkness' pull as she fought to get up, helping Riku pull her out of the darkness. She couldn't give in to the darkness now. Not while there was so much for her here. Not while there was someone waiting for her. Anastasia was launched off her feet for a bit from the resisting pull once she was out of the darkness, Riku helped steady her. A relief came over Anastasia as the weight of the darkness no longer tugged on her body and heart. Catching her breath, she looked over at Riku. "T-thank you..."

"Don't worry about it." Riku said as he got in front of her, standing between her and the remaining Reapers. "Take cover for a bit."

"O-okay." She ran to hide around the corner of the manor as Riku and Mickey pulled out their Keyblades to take care of the Nobodies. There were only three of them, and the fight wasn't long. Once the fight was over, Riku was rewarded with a Buster Band +. Anastasia who constantly peaked around the manor's corner to make sure they were okay shyly asked, "are- are they gone?"

"Yeah. You can come out now." Riku replied as he put away his Braveheart.

"Thank you so much for your help. I don't know what I would've have done if I had..." Anastasia couldn't even finish the thought. If she had fallen back into the realm of darkness she would be devastated and with little hope of finding her way back out again. The thought truly chilled her. "Please, can you tell me your names."

"Riku."

"Mickey."

"Riku, Mickey, thank you so much. My name is Anastasia Tremaine." Anastasia introduced herself with a curtsy like a proper lady of noble blood. "Fairy Godmother, I'm glad to see you again."

"I'm glad you're alright, dear." Fairy Godmother smiled in relief before she turned serious. "But this incident does not bold well. We must inform the others about this."

"We'll tell Master Yen Sid about this once we head back." Mickey assured to her.

"Then I'll report this back to Merlin." Fairy Godmother stated, with a lift of her wand she disappeared in a sparkle of light and shot up off the world. "Stay safe, dearies."

"..." The three of them watched as her light shot off into the night sky.

"She's a nice person. Much nicer than I deserve." Anastasia finally said, breaking the silence.

"What do you mean?" Riku asked.

"Well, I once got my hands on her magic wand after finding my way back from that awful darkness and used it to help bring my mother and sister back at the cost of Cinderella's happiness." Anastasia sadly admit, looking down and holding her arm in shame of her past actions. "My mother and sister plotted to get revenge on Cinderella by stealing her happiness and manipulating Prince Charming into marrying me. But I couldn't do it... I couldn't stand taking Cinderella's happiness and dreams away. The guilt was too much for me. And I did not truly love Prince Charming, I didn't want to marry him. So I stood up to my mother and sister and said no, stepping aside for Cinderella. But they didn't like that."

"I'm not too surprise. What did they do after that?"

"They attacked me."

"?!" Riku couldn't believe what he was hearing. "But they're your mother and sister. How could they possibly do that?"

"Their jealousy and rage was too great. The desire for revenge consumed their hearts with darkness that they no longer cared who they hurt to get it." Anastasia sadly told her story. But a heartfelt smile came over her at the memory in amazement as she placed a hand over her heart. "But Cinderella... she protected me. She stood in front of me as my mother and sister's darkness turned them back into Heartless as they fell into darkness. She believed in me. She believed that I was only going through with my mother's plot because I was also emotionally abused and manipulated by my mother just as she was. She saw the kindness in my heart that I didn't even believe was there. A kindness that had pulled me out of the darkness."

"..."

"Once I got the wand again, I reset everything back to the way it was before. It wasn't my right to change things with magic anyway. Cinderella had worked hard to find her happiness and make her dreams come true. My mother and sister had fallen into the darkness by their own action and no one else's, just as I had. They will have to find their way back on their own."

"I see. But what happens now? What did you do after that?"

"I got to make peace with Cinderella, and she invited me to stay in the castle with her and be her Lady-in-waiting. I accepted the position, but decline the offer to stay in the palace. My home is here." Anastasia replied, looking longingly up at the manor that she had been raised in. "And as horrible as my mother and sister were, they are still my family. I miss them. And I hope for them to find their way back home soon. So I'll stay and keep the place nice and warm for them until they do."

"So you're going to live here on your own?" Riku said with pity and concern for her.

"Hmm, not alone. I still have Lucifer with me." Anastasia smiled at Riku, waving off his worrying in a silent way of assuring him that it was all right. "And I had hired a few servants to help keep the place up. I have no idea how Cinderella had done it all on her own for so long. She truly is a hard working and amazing person."

"Don't sell yourself short, you're an amazing person as well."

"Thank you, but I'm not so great compared to Cinderella." Anastasia bashfully scratched her cheek before resting her hands in front of her. "I owe Cinderella a great deal of gratitude. She had helped me find my courage to reunite and reconcile with my true love again."

"True love?"

"He's a baker, and my mother had a prejudice against his social standing. "A lady should not be infatuated with one of such low birth" she would always say. She refused to allow us to be together and tore us apart. Cinderella was the one to reassure me that he was a good man, regardless of what my mother thought, and encouraged me to follow my heart." Anastasia recollected with a smile. "She even helped give me a make-over to build up my confidence and gave me the courage to find him again."

"I see, that's good, I'm glad for you." Riku truly was happy for her, she deserved her own happily-ever-after. "So are the two of you still dating?"

"Dating? (Chuckle) We're engaged." Anastasia blushed at the thought.

"That's great."

"Congratulations!" Mickey cheered for her at the happy news.

"Thank you. It's a shame he isn't here for you to meet him. He goes early and comes back late from the bakery. The two of us live here in the manor. But when mother and sister finally returned and if they still don't approve of our relationship then well just move and have our own happiness without them." Anastasia said with rising determination.

"I'm sure the two of you will be just fine. Your hearts are strong." Riku was certain of that.

"Thank you- Oh!" Anastasia gasped in alarm as the sparkling magic of Fairy Godmother circled around them and they began to shrink. "What's happening to you two?!"

"The spells wearing off. We're turning back to what we once were."

"Oh no!"

"Don't worry. Everything is going to be okay." Riku assured to her as Mickey and him kept getting smaller and smaller. "Take care. Keep following your heart, Anastasia."

"I will- !" Before Anastasia knew it, they were gone. Small as a mouse again, and slipping around the bottom porch step, out of her sight. Anastasia looked around into the night covered grounds for them, but they were nowhere in sight. Even if she couldn't see them, they were still there. She called out to them, knowing that they would hear her. "Take care, Riku, Mickey. Thanks for everything."

She curtsy in goodbye and ran up the porch stairs into the manor. Mickey and Riku saw her off safely from the bottom of stairs until she made her into her home.

"She'll be alright. She has a good heart." Mickey assured to Riku.

"Yeah... Want to look around the manor for a bit?"

"Might as well. See if we can find some clues."

"Ri-Ri, Mic-Mic! Thank goodness we found you again!" Called out Jaq as he ran over to them.

"Jaq? What are you doing here? Why aren't you back at the castle?" Riku asked in concern that Jaq possibly followed after them from the castle all this time and they didn't even notice him.

"I took a ride here with Major, trying to find you guys." Jaq explained. "Why did you walk? You could have just taken a carriage ride. Much, much quicker than walking."

"..." Riku and Mickey's mind went numb as they were stunned to silence.

"Fellas?" Jaq called to them in concern as they fell on their knees.

"..." Riku and Mickey said nothing, Mickey starting shaking his head in frustrated annoyance as Riku could only let out a silent scream. Hindsight was a dick.

"Aww, cheer up, fellas. It's not so bad. You made it, right?" Jaq said, patting their backs as he tried to cheer them up.

"What about you? How are you going to get back?" Riku asked, finally breaking out of his silent frustration.

"Ah no worries." Jaq waved off his concern. "I'll just take a ride back with Major once he comes to pick Anastasia up for work in the morning. For now it'll be a visit for old time's sake. You guys still need a guide to show you around, yes?"

"Yeah... That would be really appreciated." Riku replied, slightly exhausted from the emotionally roller coaster he had just been through.

"Leave it to Jaq!" Jaq declared with his chest puffed out. Walking passed the two of them, he headed for the side of the manor wall passed the porch stairs. "We can go in through the hole around the stairs! Come, come!"

"All right." Riku and Mickey followed as Jaq rejoined their party. Before going through the Mousehole, Riku checked out the corner of the manor to make sure he didn't miss anything. And a good thing he did, turns out there was a chest containing a Thunderstorm spell-skill in it, hiding along the back wall.

Going through the Mousehole, Jaq had guided them back up into the manor and into the Wardrobe room. They had circled around, trying to search every nook and cranny for any clues of Ventus. Taking the Mousehole tunnel ways to reach higher area openings into the Wardrobe Room they couldn't reach on their own, facing some Soldier and Helmed Body Heartless along the way.

From the ground level, Riku had found a Blizzard spell in a chest under a table in the corner of the room- nothing he needed, so he kept on searching. Rolling along on a red ball of yarn, that more than likely belonged to Lucifer, Riku used it to reach up a stack of large gift boxes of dresses and shoes to get a small chest with a Wellspring Crystal in it- finally, the last piece he needed to power up his Keyblade. He even used the ball of yarn to roll over a few Heartless while he was at it. Crossing over the room with it to help climb up a large stack of books, Riku Dark Dash over to a table top resting in the corner by the door. A flat and round flower pot rested on its top, along with a chest his size, containing a Ether.

Taking the Mousehole opening, resting behind the table clock, Riku found a chest containing a Pulsing Crystal along its tunnel way. The Mousehole tunnels were more dreary here than the ones at the castle, a lone unlit candle was most likely used to light and warm up the tunnel. Blocks of cheeses still rested along the cobwebs. Riku and them took a fork- jump up to reach another path of the Mousehole, finding a chest with a Potion along the way. As well as chests with an Ether and a Thunderstorm spell then another fork-jump up. Taking the Mousehole out back into the Wardrobe Room, they found themselves on top of the bookshelf. On top of the books, Riku had found another chest containing a Zero Gravity spell- a skill he had already learned from his time during the Mastery exam.

They had searched the entire room, but there was no sign of Ventus there. Jumping down from the bookshelf to the center of the room, they tried to regroup themselves.

"There's no sign of him here." Riku declared what they were all thinking.

"Let's check Cinderella's old room. That's the last place he could possibly be." Jaq suggested.

"Yeah." Riku nodded. It sounded like a great idea. But as they were heading back for the Mousehole, the slow sound of the door creaking open stopped them in their tracks. From the crack in the door peaked out the grinning head of Lucifer, hissing at them in a malicious snicker. They were all alone with no one to save them. All here for his amusement. "!"

"Lucifer!" Jaq cried out in alarm.

"Aw crap, the cat is back!" Mickey shouted, just as alarmed as Jaq.

"Die you evil spawn of SATAN!" Riku pulled out his Keyblade, he was in no mood to be scratched up again. He lost his cool for a moment as he charged at the charging cat.

"Ri-Ri!" Jaq called in alarm as his friend charged at the large cat.

"Time to learn to pick on somebody your own size, cat!" Mickey roared, charging in along after Riku.

"Mic-Mic!" Called out to them to come back. But they weren't listening, groaning at the predicament he sagged his shoulders for a moment before pulling out his own fork for battle. "Ahh, what's the use. Time to play, Lucifer!"

Lucifer roared at them as they came charging at him, leaping away from them as Riku shot at Dark Firaga at him.

"Take this!" The blast of magic made Lucifer jump onto the table counter. Using the advantage of the high ground, Lucifer jumped down at them, forcing the team to scatter. Dashing back at the cat, Riku began hitting Lucifer with a combo attack. Making Lucifer hiss in pain and annoyance as he lunched down to try and swipe at Riku with his claws. "Barrier!"

But Riku blocked Lucifer's attack, pushing his Barrier shards out as an attack. The pieces discombobulating the cat for a bit as he was seeing stars while his head was spinning. Riku took that moment to come in for an attack. Lucifer eventually pulled himself together and began to circle around them, waiting for an opening.

"Thunder!" Riku halted the cats insistent running with a Thundaga, discombobulating Lucifer again. They all came in, attacking Lucifer while he was immobile. The cat came back, body slamming at them to crush them under his weight. But they had all rolled out of the way. While he was down, Riku jumped on his back, riding Lucifer around like a bull. Lucifer insistently tried to knocked Riku off by jumping around. But Riku held on tight. "Come on!"

Lucifer kept wildly jumping around until he unknowingly ran head first into a table, knocking himself senseless. Finally letting go, Riku jumped off for the attack. Striking Lucifer with a Firaga.

"Take this!" The blast was enough to knock the sense back into Lucifer and he started running around again, trying to pounce at them. Riku began shooting Blizzaga at him as Lucifer continued to keep his distance. "Freeze!"

Lucifer tried to body slam at them again, giving Riku another opportunity to ride the bull again.

"Gotcha!" Riku taunted as he held on until Lucifer ran himself into a wall and discombobulated himself again. Jumping off the cat, Riku finished the fight with one final combo. "You're done!"

YOWL!

Having enough of the beat down, Lucifer ran out of the room again with a yowl.

"That was amazing! I haven't seen Lucifer run away like that in a long time." Jaq complimented as everyone put away their weapons.

"Nothing to it. It was about time somebody taught that bully a lesson." Riku replied. "Thanks for help back there, Jaq."

"Yep! You had my back before, so I've got yours. That's what friends do, right?" Jaq said with a smile. "Ri-Ri and Mic-Mic are my good friends!"

"Right. You're our friend, too, Jaq." Riku replied with a smile as well. "Now, let's head over to Cinderella's old room."

"Zugk-zugk!" Jaq replied in agreement as they ran into the Mousehole by the large dresser.

On the way up to Cinderella's Room, they had found a chest containing a Potion in it along the tunnel away. Cinderella's Room was located at the tallest place of the manor- more like the attic. It was small and scarcely decorated. Nothing more than a work desk, a bed, and a small nightstand with a single candle to light and warm the cold room. A large open window with no curtains on it let in the cold air. But also gave way to a beautiful view of the palace.

In the room Riku had found three chests containing a Map of the manor, a Magic Recipe, and a Stun Edge skill. But no sign of Ventus.

He wasn't there.

They had run out of clues.

"He isn't here." Mickey said, deflated as he took a seat along the open window seal. He looked out a the castle wondering if Ventus dreamed along with Cinderella as they gazed out at the castle.

"Jaq-Jaq is sorry that Ven-Ven wasn't here. But I hope that Ven-Ven's dreams came true just like Cinderella's." Jaq said over to Mickey, as he joined him sitting along the window seal. Riku joined them as well, looking out at the night sky and the castle.

"Dreams?" Riku tilted his head at Jaq, curious at his words.

"Ven-Ven once told Jaq-Jaq that his dream was to become a Keyblade Master along with his friends." Jaq explained. "Ven-Ven was good friend. He worked hard, very hard. And kept on believing. I hope that all his hard work and believing finally payed off for him."

"Yeah...me, too."

… The next day ...

The next morning Riku and Mickey had left the world of Castle of Dreams after watching from Cinderella's Room window Jaq and Anastasia safely leave on the royal carriage with Major back to the castle. The two of them heading back to The Mysterious Tower in the Gummi ship to give Master Yen Sid their report.

The Mysterious Tower

"We're back, Master." Mickey greeted his Keyblade Master as Riku and him entered Master Yen Sid's study.

"Ahh, welcome back you two." Master Yen Sid greeted their arrival with a nod. "What news do you bring from your journey?"

"Not very good news." Mickey sadly admitted forlornly as he shook his head for a second. "We looked through all the worlds that Ven has visited and still found no sign of him. And it would seem that the Organization is keeping an eye on the Princess of Hearts as potential Guardians of Light in case we fail to gather our seven."

"Hm!" Master Yen Sid's eyes widened at this news. "I shouldn't be so surprised. If Master Xehanort has been planning this Keyblade War for so long, it would make since that he would have a backup plan. Tell me, how were the Princesses of Heart that you visited?"

"That's the thing, Master Yen Sid, their power of Light has faded." Riku answered. "Physically, they were doing fine and happily living their lives on their worlds, but... It's like their power as Princesses of Heart was leaving them."

"Hmm, that's no surprise. It would seem that it is time for the previous Princesses of Heart to pass on their Light to the new Princesses of Heart." Master Yen Sid explained. "As it has been done for many generations."

"Their powers are being passed over to new Princesses of Heart?" Mickey questioned aloud.

"Are the other Princesses of Hearts passing on their powers to new Hearts of Light?" Riku asked, concerned over his princess friends' conditions.

"No. Princesses Jasmine and Belle's power of Light have shown no changes and still shine brightly for the time being. And Kairi and young Alice's Light are still as powerful as ever." Master Yen Sid explain. "Princesses Snow White, Aurora, and Cinderella were the oldest of the previous Seven Princesses of Heart. And holding back the door to Kingdom Hearts back in Hollow Bastion has taken a toll on their powers. As their power of Light has weakened, it was time to pass the power over to another to guard the light."

"Do you have any idea who the new Princesses of Heart they had passed their powers to are?" Mickey asked.

"Hmm, hearts that are close to them and yet a world apart." Master Yen Sid answered but with no real knowledge of the New Hearts of Light's identities. "I believe Sora and the others may have already stumbled upon them as I have Sensed a great Light coming from the worlds they have visited."

"..." Yeah, Riku had Sensed something like that, too. But he couldn't put a finger on it. Could it be that the worlds next to Snow White, Aurora, and Cinderella's worlds had been given their power of Light and the new Princesses of Hearts resided there? It made sense.

"For now, you should leave the matter of the Seven Princesses of Heart be. Are the two of you ready to face the darkness again to find Master Aqua?"

"Hmm, just about." Mickey said, ready to go but wanting to restock on their items before heading back to the realm of darkness. "But shouldn't we wait for Sora and the others to arrive before we head out?"

"I'd prefer not." Master Yen Sid said as he shook an oncoming headache away. "I fear Sora might try to stage a half-baked rescue if he were to hear you two were going to the dark realm again. He must gain his power of wakening before facing such darkness or his light could be lost to us forever."

"..." Sora was brave, but he wasn't suicidal. There's no way he would just jump into the realm of darkness guns halfcocked.

"Hm?" But as they were discussing this, like being summoned by the mention of their names: Sora, Donald, Goofy, and Jiminy had arrived. "Oh."

"Sorry we're late." Sora waved at the three of them as him and the others came in.

"It's okay. You got here as fast as you could." Mickey assured to them. Besides, they had just arrived not too long ago as well and were not kept waiting for long.

"Welcome back. How did it go guys?" Riku greeted them as they all began to exchange information. Sora going first as he seemed to have a lot on his mind as he crossed his arms in thought.

"The Organization claims to have their thirteen darknesses." Sora finished up his story as he told them about his groups adventures on other worlds.

"Do we believe it's true?" Mickey asked Sora, genuinely curious if they could trust the Organization's word or not.

"Umm...I don't know, but there's something else they keep mentioning." Sora said, finally freeing his arms again as he looked over at the group. "They're after a "New Seven Hearts," which seems to be code for "let's go bother more princesses.""

"Well, as the original princesses of hearts' time for protecting the pure light has ended, they have passes the light to others." Master Yen Sid began to explain to the others what they had missed from Riku and Mickey's previous discussion. "Our enemy must certainly be cognizant of this. If the "New Seven Hearts" is what they wish to call them, so be it."

"..." Sora thought about this new information, but something wasn't adding up for him. "But Kairi hasn't passed on her power. Is she one of the new seven?"

"She must be." Mickey said, agreeing with Sora's conclusion. "But still, she chose to wield a Keyblade and fight with us as one of the guardians of light."

"Yeah..." Sora seemed concerned by this. No doubt worried that Kairi would be one of the Organization's targets as a "New Seven Hearts".

"We haven't found Terra yet." Donald regrettable informed them that their search around new worlds bore no signs or clues of Terra's whereabouts.

"Hey, at least we've tracked down Ventus." Goofy said, looking on the bright side of things. This news caught Mickey and Riku by surprise. "Vanitas told us that he's inside Sora's heart."

"And so did Ansem the Wise in his data, so it almost certainly must be true." Jiminy said from Sora's shoulder, adding in more information to back up Goofy's claim. Donald and Goofy nodded in agreement.

"That's great! Now we can rescue Ven." Mickey said, happy by the news. He was feeling rather down when Riku and his search bore no fruit. He was glad that if they couldn't find anything, the others did.

"Maybe, except Aqua's the only one who knows where he's hidden." Riku pointed out. If they couldn't find Ventus's body hidden on any of the worlds he had previously been to, then Aqua must have hidden in the only place she would know to look. "We still have to find her first."

"..." Sora listened on seriously, as a spark from his heart called out from him to speak. "I'll go."

"What?!" Goofy and Donald jumped back in alarm at Sora's sudden declaration.

"Is that wise?" Mickey said with worry. Sora was not prepared to face the darkness of the dark realm. He shouldn't take going there lightly.

"You need the power of waking, Sora. Do you have it?" Master Yen Sid asked.

"Uh...no? Probably not." Sora admitted, slightly embarrassed by this fact.

"Without that power, you are not ready to face the realm of darkness." Master Yen Sid put his foot down, refusing to have Sora needlessly risk his life on a half-baked rescue.

"C'mon..." Sora whined, but Riku could clearly see that it wasn't just Sora that was protesting inside Sora's heart. This heart inside of Sora's was so much like Sora. And to have them both pouting at Master Yen Sid's words like he was a dad saying they couldn't go out to play, Riku couldn't help but laugh. Sora didn't take too kindly to his laughter. "What's so funny?"

"Sorry. Master Yen Sid knows you a little too well." Riku couldn't help but grin as he looked back to Master Yen Sid. "He said you'd try to stage a half-baked rescue."

"!" Sora jaw dropped in shock as Donald and Goofy laughed at him from behind, along with Mickey. Sora was embarrassed by the whole situation. But sadly enough it wasn't all his fault. It was the heart inside him that burst out the declaration and was demanding to go rescue his friend Aqua, consequences be damned. But Sora was still a little bit hurt by his friends' teasing laughter. "Yeah! Laugh it up!"

"Sora, I know you're volunteering because you're worried-about me and Mickey." Riku said, cutting Sora some slack from the laughter before Sora began to pout.

"Yeah..." But it was more than that. And Riku was nice and understanding enough to not call Sora out on that. He placed an understanding hand on Sora's shoulder in support. "(Gasp)!"

"Well, thanks." Riku gave Sora a small smile, wondering when the difference in their height changed so much. The two of them had grown up a lot- especially Riku, apparently. But now was the time to act like the big brother, for Sora's sake. "But, the power of waking's important. You can come to the rescue once you've got that. Sound fair?"

"..." The room was silent, hoping for Sora to see the reasoning behind Riku's words.

"Yeah. All right." He did. And gave his friend a smile to see them off. "But be safe. No reckless stunts."

"Yes, sir." Riku nodded with a grin, knowing that he could be just as reckless as Sora was at times. And Sora knew him well enough to know this as well. But Donald, Jiminy, and Goofy would disagree as they started whispering to each other behind Sora. But not really whispering and more like quietly shouting.

"Sora's the reckless one." Donald stated to Goofy while Jiminy stood on his head. The two of them nodded in agreement.

"No, not exactly." Jiminy countered. "He just doesn't think."

"If only he listened to Master Yen Sid the way he listens to Riku. That would be a good start." Goofy whispered back to the three of them. Not even realizing that everyone in the room could hear them, and the guy they were talking about was looking right at them with his arms crossed.

"I'm listening now." Sora stated, startling the three of them as turned around to see Sora's stern face. Everyone else in the room couldn't help but likely chuckle at their antics.

"Very good." Master Yen Sid said as his chuckles stopped, bringing the rooms attention back to him. "Sora will continue his journey to build his powers, while Mickey and Riku will focus on the search for Aqua."

"Yes, sir!" The whole room responded, standing in attention.

… Some time later …

Sora and the others headed back to the Misty Stream Galaxy to explore a new world, called San Fransokyo. While Riku and Mickey headed to Radiant Garden in the Starlight Way Galaxy to prepare for their journey back into the realm of darkness.

Radiant Garden

"We're here." Mickey stated as they touched down on Fountain Square. He looked over at Riku as they had arrived on his true homeworld, knowing that their was so much that Riku probably wanted to do. "What do you want to do first?"

"We should prepare and take care of our equipment before we do anything else first."

"You got it, pal." It made sense, they were already in Fountain Square/Marketplace. Mind as well get the things they needed to get done here, first. "Wanna head to HBRC Headquarters after we're done?"

"Sounds good to me." Riku said in agreement as they headed over to the Moogle Shop.

Going to the Moogle's Workshop, Riku was finally able to use the Keyblade Forge to max out his Braveheart to Rank 10. He had forgotten to do so before they left Castle of Dreams, and wasn't in too much of a rush to get it done until now. As they had returned to Moogle Shop in Radiant Garden, they had gathered more resources than they had the first time they visited. With their large gathering of resources they were able to upgrade their equipment. Mickey was able to trade out his Guardian's Belt and Elven Bandana for a synthesized Cosmic Chain and Divine Bandana. While Riku was able to change out his Guardian's Belt and Power Band for a synthesized Cosmic Chain and the Buster Band + they had been rewarded back in that fight on Castle of Dreams.

Their Accessories were a little bit more tricky. Mickey easily traded out his accessory items for their better Synthesized counterparts. Switching his Sorcerer's Ring for a Wisdom Ring; his Valor Ring for a Orichalcum Ring; and, his Skill Ring for a Skill Ring +. Riku, on the other hand a little bit of a struggle deciding with Accessories would replace his equipped set. Master Metal and Gold Ring would have to return to Yuffie and he had no more use for Lucky Ring. Sure he had a Crystal Regalia, stronger and ready to take one of their slot spaces. But the Buster Ring he had before was clearly weaker compared to an Orichalcum Ring, and he still had one more empty slot to fill. Deciding to Synthesize the Orichalcum Ring to equip instead, he had finally chose to synthesize a Star Charm in the empty slots space.

Buying all the items they would need, plus some, they were now ready to face the dark realm again.

"Well, that settles that. Anything else you need to do before we depart, Riku?" Mickey asked over to his friend.

"Do you mind if we leave for the realm of darkness tomorrow? I still have a some business to take care of here." It'll take some time and they might as well get some rest before they face the darkness ahead of them.

"That's all right with me, Riku. We probably should be properly rested before we depart again." Mickey replied, agreeing with his request.

"Thanks, Mickey." Riku knew that they needed to find Aqua quick, and appreciated that Mickey was sparing the time for his selfish request.

"Don't worry about it, Riku. That what friends are for, right?"

"Hmnh." Riku let out a small smile and nodded in agreement. "Yeah."

The two of them made their way out of Fountain Square and headed to Castle Town. The morning was almost done and the day was young. As they made it to HBRC Headquarter, most of its members were there but Merlin was still out at Twilight Town. Cid was working at the computer in the back with Leon looking over his work with the door to the backroom open. Aeris was sitting at the table with a cup of tea while reading through a book with Kadaj sitting across from her. Yazoo wasn't too far standing in place with a book of his own near the big pile of books on the floor, seemingly somewhat bored with what he was reading by the look in his eyes. Loz was struggling with his own book also as he sat on the floor leaning against the wall away from the others.

Those in the House turned to look to them as they came in.

"Oh." Aeris smiled at their arrival. "Welcome back you two. How have you been?"

"We've been visiting the Princesses of Heart on their world and have slowly been learning that cats are evil." Riku groaned in a half-joking answer.

"That's understandable. Cats are the devil." Leon declared from the other room in agreement.

"(Chuckle) This coming from the man that was able to successfully summon Diablo AND contain him." Aeris teasingly pointed out to Leon.

"That was a dark day." Leon groaned with a sigh. It truly was a dark day. Diablo even warned him not to summon him, but he was young and did it anyway, and had barely held the Summon back from consuming their homeworld in his darkness. Leon's strength had proven himself worthy enough to earn Diablo's respect and the right to Summon him whenever Leon needed him. His actions alone was enough to put Leon in legends, but in all honesty it was just a terrible day for Leon.

"Geez Leon. Is there anything else you've Summoned that we need to worry about?" Riku half-joking-half-seriously asked, joining along with his mother in the teasing.

"Well, there was Cerberus-" Leon almost divulge all his past secrets before he caught himself. "Don't change the subject on to me. Were you able to find Ventus?"

"We discovered that his heart has been resting inside of Sora. But only Aqua knows where his body is located?" Mickey answered.

"Yeah. Our side of the data was hinting somethin' like that, too." Cid sighed out, running a hand through his hair in slight annoyance. "They just couldn't make this easy for us, huh?"

"It'll be all right." Aeris said in small comfort. "All we have to do is find Aqua and then all the rest will fall into place."

"Speaking of Aqua, we're planning to go back to the dark realm soon to bring her back. Once we're done here." Riku informed to the room, before directly addressing his mother. "How are Kairi and Lea doing?"

"They are coming along great with their Keyblade training. And will be finish soon..." Aeris answered, proud of their progress and hard work. But still worried. "Riku...we're sending them off to fight the darkness too soon. They're not ready yet."

"I know." They haven't even obtained the power of waking yet. It had taken Sora and him years of fighting and training to get where they are now with their Keyblades. Riku wished they could give them more time and real combat experience before they face the big league, but they didn't have much of a choice. "The Organization isn't giving us any better option."

"Hmm, you're right. All I can do now is pray for their safety. Yours, and everyone else's." Aeris said, closing her eyes for a moment as she prayed with all her heart.

"The sentiment is much appreciated. Don't worry too much, mother. Mickey and I will bring Aqua back, and Sora is still out there training to unlock his power of waking. And together we'll all bring Ventus and Terra home." Riku gently said to his mother in reassurance.

"I know you will." Aeris looked over to her youngest son with a small smile. He had come so far and she was so proud of him. She only hoped that it was enough to keep him safe.

"Huh?" Riku looked around, noticing that someone other than Merlin was missing from Headquarter. "Where's Yuffie?"

"Oh, she's somewhere in town. Her father is visiting Radiant Garden today."

"Her dad? The Chief of Wutai?!"

"The very same."

"And grandmother?"

"She didn't come into town today, dear."

"Tch, I had some things I wanted to ask her." Riku sighed at the slight inconvenience. But silently looked on the bright side since it means that he would have to go to her. "Hey Kadaj, Yazoo, Loz, can I barrow one of your Bikes?"

Since the Mastery exam, Riku's brothers have been busy trying to get motorcycles similar to the one that Riku had exposed them to in the dreamworld. Cid has successfully replicated motorcycles for them based on their request. Engineering large monster size machines and calling them a Bike- that even had weapon slots on the sides. They were sleek, dark, and mean looking bikes that his brothers loved showing off and that Riku wanted one for his own so bad.

"Not a chance, brother." "Sorry. Mine's being repaired." "..." Kadaj, Loz around the same time. Yazoo said nothing and just looked at Riku.

"Don't be so stingy, guys." Riku groaned at their replies. Leaning over to look into the other room, he called over to Cid. "This wouldn't be a problem if I had one of my own."

"It ain't your birthday. Either pay up or get off my back." Cid said over his shoulder at Riku with a gruff, brushing Riku off with a air wave of his arm. He was a little too busy to be making toys for brats.

"Done." Riku was more than happy to comply if that meant he was getting a two-wheeled beast of his own. "I like your work and you're the best at what you do, Cid."

"Way to butter me up, Squirt. I might actually make time to get started on your bike." Cid huffed back with a shrug of his shoulders.

"You seem a little more busy than usual, Cid." Riku pointed out with interest.

"Yup. Along side HBRC work and decoding Ansem's data, the Royal Academy is starting up again." Cid announced over his should with a smug grin.

"The Royal Academy? You're starting work as a professor there again?" Riku was glad at the news for Cid. His grin got much bigger.

"Darn-tootin'! I'm gonna be showin' brats how a real engineer makes quality work again!"

"That's great. I'm glad for you, old man." Riku chuckled with a grin.

"Yeah, well, I ain't the only one going." Cid stated before gesturing with his head over to Yazoo and Loz. "Them boys are planning on going to the Academy. Been studying for the entrance exam."

"Loz, Yazoo, really?" Riku was a little surprised by this, but mostly caught off guard. Loz certainly wasn't dumb in the slightest but wasn't exactly the academic type, and not a lot kept Yazoo's interest long enough to hold him down.

"I want to be part of the Royal Guard." Loz stated as his reason, going into the Royal Academy's Fighting Department. Leon had also been following the same path when he was at the Academy. And was probably more than likely asked to be a teacher by the Academy's department. "Being Royal Guard sounds like so much fun."

"..." Well that explains it.

"I just want to see what they have to offer." Yazoo said, already memorized what he was reading and bored of it. "While also keeping Loz out of trouble."

"..." Kadaj stayed oddly quiet through all this, his hands balled up in a fist.

"Well, that's good for you two, but I still need a ride." Riku stated before turning around and playing with one of his brothers' strings. "Oh well, I guess there's still stuff I need to do around town. Maybe I'll go find Yuffie and finish my business with her."

"You can borrow my bike." Yazoo yielded.

"Really? Thanks." Riku grinned over his shoulder. Yazoo was so easy to read, even if his expression barely changes. "But I still have some things to take care of with Yuffie."

"I'll walk over with you." Yazoo insisted. Although his voice remained monotone, he left no room for objections,

"Well, I'm gonna head over to get a room at the Inn and hang around Fountain Square for a bit. I'll meet up with you to head out in the morning, Riku." Mickey said, seeing himself out as Riku had things he needed and wanted to take care of with his family.

"Right. See you tomorrow, Mickey."

"Are you staying here for tonight, Riku?" Aeris asked as Mickey left to do his own thing.

"Yeah."

"Great. I'll have dinner waiting for you when you get back." Aeris happily clapped her hands together. "Don't stay out too late."

"Yes, ma'am. I'll be back soon." Riku said, walking out with Yazoo silently following him.

The two of them leaving Castle Town and made their way towards Central Square. The bikes that Cid had made for them were too large for the roads around Radiant Garden Town, so the boys mostly used them around the outskirts of town and traveling the long distance to other places on Radiant Garden's world. The three of them had taken a liking to riding and had used Dark Corridor's less for getting around. The three of them had their bikes stored in the returned rundown church that their mother use to frequent for her flowers. They would have to walk a little ways to get there. But it would seem that their path would be hindered as they ran into Yuffie in the Central Square, arguing with her dad.

"For the last time, Dad, no! I'm not going back home! Why are you even here, Dad?!" Yuffie huffed, stomping her foot down in protest.

"I have business at the castle." Godo Kisaragi gave that as a reply. He held his back up tall and his arms crossed behind him in the pose of a strong, noble leader- contrasting with his more loud and rebellious daughter. "But it would seem I also have to collect my unruly daughter. I am impressed with all that you have done so far. But isn't about time you return to Wutai and take your position as princess? You have a duty to your people and the responsibility to take over the Pagoda Tower. Our custom and traditions dictate this."

"CUSTOM, CUSTOM, CUSTOM... I'm so sick of hearing that!" Yuffie shouted back at her father. "It's so stupid!"

"Yuffie!"

"I'm not going back with you, Dad! I still have things I need to do here!" Yuffie said, putting her foot down.

"I see... Is this because of one of them?" Chief Godo looked over towards Riku and Yazoo, finally bringing attention to their presence.

"Wha-?!" Yuffie finally noticed them as well at her father's comment, turning red with embarrassment and a blush at the implication behind her father's words. She swiftly turned back to her dad with an angry huff. "NO, Dad! I'm doing this for me!"

"I see. So this is your own resolve." Godo said, becoming for serious as he got into a fighting stance.

"D, ...Dad?"

"I'm glad you made it this far, Yuffie!" Godo stated, truly proud at how much his daughter has grown and how far she has come while their world along with himself were lost to the darkness. But if this was the path she has chosen for herself, then he will see if she is strong enough to take it. "I'll answer you by having you try your skills against me! Hold nothing back. Come as if you're trying to kill me! If you don't...then I'll have to kill you!"

"H...hey!" Yuffie hesitated, unable to hold up her shuriken against her father.

"What are you doing?!" This was no time to hesitate! Is this how much her resolve was worth?! "OMNI-Change!...…. !"

"!" Yuffie's dad had used a Transformation skill, changing into a monster similar to Asura, a technique that was passed down from the line of Chiefs for many generations. A technique that the cocky tomboy Yuffie was unable to sit still long enough to learn. The heads would rotate before attacking, each face holding a different attack. A great power was coming from him through the Transformation. And he was not holding back his punches. Off the bat he had tried to Poison Yuffie with a Bio2. Realizing she couldn't hold back either if she wanted to win this, let alone survive, Yuffie flung her large Shuriken at him. "Take this, Dad!"

"!" Riku grew alarmed as father and daughter starting to battle against each other along the Central Square. He tensed, ready to summon his Keyblade as he was about to jump in and break them up. But Yazoo held out his arm in front of Riku and stopped him. "What are you doing, Yazoo?!"

"This is her battle to face. We must not interfere."

"But-"

"Do not insult her by getting in the way."

"..." Riku looked at his brother who kept his eyes on the fight. Yielding to his brother choice, Riku calmed himself and watched the battle from the sidelines. Yuffie was quick, moving around the area as she caught and flung her Shuriken around at her father, dodging his attacks while taking the blunt force of some. She had dodged his Sleep, Mini, and Bio2 spells. But still ended up tripping around his Demi3 spell, and forcing to block as his face turned red and he attacked with his Beast Sword and Trine. His Beast Sword attack shook her up a bit, but Trine's triangle of Lightning that surrounded her was more of a hard hitter that she couldn't block.

"Ahh!" Yuffie cried out in pain at the shock. She didn't have the means to cast Barrier. So wiping the blood from the side of her mouth, she got back into the fray. "Ghh!"

They kept throwing punches at each other, back and forth. But Yuffie knew that she would have to end this soon, although her father's heads turned and landed on random, one of them could cast Cure2 and she did not want to go through all this again. They kept each other on their toes. Until finally, Yuffie claimed the victory as she launched herself in the air and striking down at her dad with her Limit Break. Upon his defeat, Godo changed back, falling to ground in exhaustion. Yuffie was in the same boat, but with her victory she had learned her Ultimate Limit, All Creation.

"...(heave)….(heave)…" Yuffie was lying on the ground, huffing for breath.

"...(huff)…..(puff)…." Her father, Godo, in the same position.

"O...old coot... n...….ot...bad..." Yuffied huffed out in compliment.

"You've...….also...….improved..." Godo shot back.

"Hah...Ha, ha...…." Suddenly Yuffie started to laugh, her father joining in with her.

"...Heh, heh...…" This whole situation felt like old times.

"Ha ha haaaaaaa….!"

"Waha haaaaa…!"

"..." Suddenly Riku could see the resemblance between father and daughter and couldn't help but sweat-drop at the situation. Seeing that the battle was over, Riku thought it was fine to step in now. Casting Curaga with Yazoo around the two of them.

"!" Yuffie and Godo jumped back up instantly at the relief of the Curaga.

"Thank you for the heals, young Yazoo, and...I'm sorry, I don't believe we've ever met before." Godo said, thanking the two of them in gratitude before looking over to Riku as a new face.

"Riku, sir. I'm the youngest brother."

"Ahh, yes. You're mother was still carrying you the last time we met. You've grown up well." Godo complimented before turning back over to his daughter. "It's time I gave this to you, Yuffie…"

"!" Yuffie's eyes widen as she caught what he threw at her in her hand, recognized the Materia/Gem he had just handed to her.

"This is Leviathan Materia. Take it." It was a newborn Materia made from its maxed out parent Materia, but was still powerful nonetheless. It was a Summon Materia passed down through the Chiefs family and the one who takes over the Pagoda Tower. Yuffie had earned the right to carry it now.

"Dad, why?" Yuffie's hand began to shake as held onto the Materia. The revelation was killing at her. "You had such Materia... And what 'bout the rest of the Pagoda masters? You have all this power... and yet Wutai was the first to fall!"

"!"

"Are you satisfied being cooped up in your tower?" Yuffie said accusingly.

"Yuffie…!" Godo called to her daughter to hold her tongue, but Yuffie was having none of it. She walked up closer to her dad.

"You too, dad...! You could have helped put a stop to darkness before this world had fallen! And kept Wutai from becoming a lost memory!"

"..." Godo stayed silence, patient for his daughter to get out what she wanted to say. This must have been building up inside her for a long time. Godo had known his daughter since the day she was born. And although she turned out to be tomboyish and cocky; she was still a friendly, helpful, and optimistic young girl, willing to help out any in need. But beyond all of that was her unyielding desire to restore Wutai to its former glory.

"You had done nothing and Wutai was lost to the darkness. Most of its people still yet to return to the realm of light..." Yuffie said, lowering her head in sadness and shame at failing to protect her people. Even her mother... Her head shot up as she looked at her father in rage. "How dare you?! Da-chao Statue and Leviathan are ashamed!"

"Yuffie!" He called to his daughter, but the rage was lacking in his voice. Only silent acceptance. "Forgive me... It's all my fault..."

"!" Her eyes widened, she hadn't expected her father to admit such fault. The Pagoda floor masters would be shocked if they heard this.

"Losing Wutai...plunging our city into darkness. It was all my fault..." Godo admitted in defeat, revealing the emotions that had been building up inside him since their world's return from the darkness. "Yuffie… I am the same now as I was before when the darkness was rising on our world. But, after I lost Wutai, I began to think... Is strength, only for defeating the enemy? ...or just something to show-off to others...? Might begets might. That's the same way as the Heartless..."

"...…." Yuffie bowed her head, sympathizing with her father's feelings as a Chief and a pillar for his people and the weigh such a responsibility bared. Godo turned away from his daughter as he spoke more.

"I know you've been looking for Materia for the good of Wutai. But the reason I hid my strength, was also for the good of Wutai... And now, I realize both are necessary..." Godo said, his clenched fists shaking by his side. "Strength without determination means nothing. And determination without strength is equally useless...!"

"Dad..." Yuffie looked up at her dad, his back still turned to her. "I cannot go home now. Not yet, not until mom and the others are back. Leviathan has yet to awaken again. I will not rest or leave HBRC until Wutai and the rest of our world is fully restored."

"I know..." Godo grinned with pride for his daughter away from her sight. Before turning around and addressing the other two platinum haired boys in the area. "You there, please take care of Yuffie! I perceive that you all have both determination and strength!"

And one of them might possibly be his future son-in-law, but he wasn't going say that aloud.

"..." Yazoo said nothing, barely tilting his head in a nod as Riku just signed with a shrug, running a hand through his hair.

"All right, I don't mind."

"Hey! I can take care of MYSELF just FINE." Yuffie huffed in protest, stomping her foot with her cheeks puffed out as she rested her hands on her hips. "Why are you two even here anyway?!"

"I just came looking for you to return this. Thanks for the borrow." Riku said handing back Yuffie's Master Metal and Gold Ring to her. Along with his Lucky Ring as an extra. "Plus interest, as promised."

"Done with them already? Whoa! Is that a Lucky Ring?! Those are really hard to come by! Where did you get this?!"

"Moogle Mail." Riku replied, before reaching in and grabbing all the extra Magic spells/Materia they had found along their journey and didn't need. "Here. These are also for you."

"Whoa, baby! Interest is booming today!" Yuffie did a jump and twirl in excitement.

"It's not much, they are pretty weak level spells."

"That's fine. They can be used and grown into something more powerful with experience." Yuffie stated, brushing off his concerns. Then she turned, looking over at the other platinum hair brother. "And why are you here?"

"Hmph, none your business." Yazoo replied, giving off the smallest sliver of a grin.

"WHAT?!"

"Go, Yuffie!" Godo said, reminding Yuffie of the conversation at hand. "For the sake of strengthening Wutai!"

"R-right." Yuffie flustered, remembering that her father was still there. Walking over to him, she ready to see him off before he headed into the castle. "Dad..."

"I'll take care of the Five Sacred Gods until you return!" Her home was always waiting for her, whenever she was ready to return. "Go! And come back alive!"

"...…." How else was she going to come back? A Heartless? Maybe she shouldn't joke about that. Wiping away the tears that were starting to form in her eyes she gave her dad a respectful bow and a cheeky grin. "Of course!"

"..." Godo turned around, ready to continuing heading over to Hollow Bastion Castle when he suddenly stopped again. "Yuffie, wait a minute."

"?"

"The Materia your friends all have... After the battle is over, you think they'll still want it?"

"Dad...!" Yuffie gasped as if shocked before it instantly turned into a large smirk. "Hehe. Who knows."

"Go! Survive till the end! And return! With the Materia!" Godo commanded over his shoulder, revealing where Yuffie's love of Materia came from.

"Heh, heh...you bet!" Yuffie nodded with a thumbs up.

"..." Godo continued walking up the stairway towards the castle again, giving a fist pump in the air as he left. Leaving his gleeful daughter behind at the Central Square and two flabbergasted young Ancients.

Yuffie had accompanied them for a bit, following Yazoo and Riku down the west flight of stairs to Entryway. All the way to Outer Garden where the crack in the town's wall was hidden by the forest trees. Exiting through the crack to head over to the old church where the brothers had stored away their bikes. There were only two bikes present- turns out Loz wasn't lying about his Bike being under repair. Handing Riku the keys, Riku road off with Yazoo's bike, heading off for The Forgotten City of the Ancients while Yazoo and Yuffie went back to Radiant Garden. The ride there was long and pleasant break for Riku to get away from it all for a moment.

The Sleeping Forest welcomed him in, allowing him safe passage through its haze covered trees. Reaching the Forgotten City of the Ancients didn't take too long once he entered the Sleeping Forest, gardens of coral litter the city. The empty city's silence only broken by the gentle winds and the flowing streams that made a soft hymn in the air, not interrupting by the roaring pipe of his bike. It wasn't hard finding Jenova, out of all the spiral and horn shell shaped homes that filled the Ancients' City, Jenova had chosen one not too far in but closer to the middle layer. Her home was the only one with light on inside a smoke line rising from its chimney opening. She had chosen this home to be able to protect the Ancient city from intruders while also enough inside the city to conveniently explore its streets.

As Riku pulled up to her home, he found her outside practicing with her weapons on a target. She was using her power over darkness to levitate seven Seax knives around her, shooting them out at the target while also pulling them back to halo around her from behind. Jenova stopped what she was doing as she heard him come up and turned off his ride.

"Nice knives." Riku complimented. They truly were. Dark blades with Cetra designs engraved on their metal and blacks handles resembling the spiral shells of the Ancients' home with a deep blue and black cloth that wrapped around their handle. Weapons that had been made from the lost craft-smiths of the Forgotten City of the Ancients... "Do they have a name?"

"Nova Aeon, or Nova Absolute, whichever you prefer." Jenova replied. "You've come a long way for a visit."

"I just wanted to see how you are doing."

"You did not just ride all the way out here only to check on my wellbeing..." Jenova pointed out. All of her grandchildren could use Dark Corridors, and Riku wasn't an exception. "What are you trying to get away from?"

"?!" Riku's eyes widen for a second, before he closed them with a smirk. He should have known Jenova would catch on to him, there wasn't much he could hide from the women in his family. "I'm just heading back to the Dark realm soon, and wanted a moment to prepare myself."

"You're going back...?" A subtle hint of worry was detected in Jenova's voice.

"I have to. There is still someone there waiting to be rescued. And we don't know how much longer she can last..."

"..." He was right. Even if this person was a normal human with a strong heart, without any protection against the darkness their hearts would be consumed by it the longer they were exposed. The same goes for the light...

"Are you doing okay?"

"I'm fine, child." Jenova signed as she looked over at the damaged target. "I'm just refreshing myself."

"It's been a few years since you've last had your body, how did you get by then?"

"I had a Guardian Heartless that would look out for me."

"Oh...what happened to it? Did a Heartless destroy it."

"Kadaj."

"..."

"Come inside for a bit." Jenova commanded as she put her knives away and walked into her home. "I have something to give you before you go."

"Hm?" Riku followed his grandmother into her home. The place was cozy, with stairs that spiraled up with the shell onto the higher floor where the sleeping area aligned the wall across from the kitchen and dinning area- with one closed off area which was the door to the bathroom. The fire from the fireplace kept the place warm as the smoke escaped from the hole in the shell home acting as a chimney. The floor was kept clean and covered with carpets and rugs. The place was scarcely decorated and kept spaciously open, but it was comfy enough. Jenova gestured for Riku to sit at the table while she went over to the bed-stand in the sleeping area. She had came back, placing something on the table for Riku.

"Here. Maybe these will help ease your trouble." Jenova had placed a Cosmic Art accessory on the table for Riku. "It'll give you strength when your power alone is not enough."

"This is... This will really help out a lot. Thank you Grandmother." Riku said, replacing his Star Charm with the new, stronger Accessory.

"And take this." Jenova held out a Dark Chain armor in her hand for Riku to take. "May it protect you from the darkness, when your heart can no longer endure its depths..."

"..." Riku gently took the Armor from her hand, appreciating the kindness in her gesture. "Thanks... This really means a lot..."

"Be warned, Riku. Just as one needs to protect their heart from the darkness, they must not forget to protect themselves from the light as well."

"Huh?"

"The light can be just as harmful as the darkness. There isn't much time to explain this to you since you're leaving soon, but always remember... From the Light all hearts have come from and to the Light all hearts will return to."

Riku had left Jenova's house after resting for a bit, returning back to Radiant Garden's town and heading home to Castle Town. It was getting dark, so he silently let himself in, placing Yazoo's bike key on the table by the door for him to collect later. He was walking down the hallway about to call for his mother or check the kitchen for his siblings before when suddenly caught the tail-end of a conversation coming from the Livingroom.

"It's just... I feel lost, mother." Kadaj sadly admitted, struggling to find his words as Riku silently listened in from the hallway. "Riku is running around on his "Keyblade adventures" and Yazoo and Loz are getting ready to head off to the Royal Academy. While I'm... I'm still here... What about me? What do I want to do with myself? ...It feels like I'm being left behind."

"Kadaj…"

"I don't care for the Royal Academy...and I don't want to stick around with the HBRC forever... It's feels like there's nothing for me here... Help me, mother. I'm so lost."

"What do you want to do, Kadaj?"

"I don't know."

"Hm? I don't think that's true."

"?"

"It seems to me that you don't want to be held down at one place for long." Aeris deduced, reading into the hidden meaning in his words. "You're your own person, Kadaj. With interests that are different from your brothers. And these interests will take you down a different path than them."

"!" Kadaj turned away from his mother, looking down in his inner conflict.

"Hm? That's a good sign." Aeris placed a comforting hand on Kadaj's arm. "It seems to me that you're just scared of growing apart from your brothers. That the bonds of your heart will break if you move further apart. But the bonds between our family is greater than you can imagine. And there's nothing that could break us apart..."

"But I don't know what to do. I feel stuck." Kadaj shook his head as if to chase away the negative thoughts.

"Then go. Your heart knows what it wants to do. There are so many worlds out there, maybe it's time for you to go see them."

"Mother...?"

"Kadaj, the moment me and your father had escaped from Shinra I was just as lost as you are now. I was scared of the big world around me and the endless skies. It made me feel so small and lost. My heart slowly opened up to it and I had discovered things that I loved about it but I was still too afraid to do anything about it. I felt so weak and useless to the world. But there was a helping, loving hand that reached out to me, seeing something in my heart that made me believe I could do anything. Everything..." Aeris eyes softened at the beloved memory before returning back to her son. She hung an arm around Kadaj and pulled him in close. "There's nothing wrong about wanting something different for yourself, Kadaj. If you don't care for the Royal Academy, then don't go. If you don't want a permanent position in HBRC, then don't take it. You don't even have to be a Keyblade wielder to travel other worlds and help people. You can do things the way your heart wants you to do things. Be everything you want to be. You don't have to be one thing set in stone. I'm your mother, but also a member of HBRC and the flowergirl of Radiant Garden. Even I traversed the worlds not so long ago."

"What made you stop?"

"I'm waiting for someone."

"..." Kadaj could understand the unspoken meaning behind her words, Riku did, too.

"Don't worry about your brothers so much. The four of you are more alike than you realize and yet still so different. Before you know it, the four of you will be walking along the same path again." Aeris said, rubbing his arm a bit in comfort. "And no matter how far you all go. This will always be the home waiting for you..."

"Mother...thanks..."

"..." Riku hadn't meant to listen in on their conversation, he really didn't. But the moment seemed too important to disrupt it by announcing his presence. But he felt for his youngest older brother's plight. At times he felt at lost with what he wanted to do with himself as well. More than anything, he wished for the best for his brother. For all of them.

Author's Notes

Notes: Castle of Dreams world is based off of both Ventus and Terra's storyline and follows their chest item location, with some liberties to the item content and added in areas of the castle to embellish more of the present time on that world from the time during Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. Riku storyline through the world of Castle of Dreams is a slight homage to Disney's (2002) movie Cinderella II: Dreams Come True and Disney's (2007) movie Cinderella III: A Twist in Time.

Don't get me wrong, I love cats- British Short-Hairs are actually my favorite type of cats- but just like people, there are cats that turn out to be little shits and Lucifer was no exception. The same goes for dogs, too. But I really love dogs the most.

Also, Beast's Link summon was actually my favorite Heartbinder that I had made. I'm hoping that the game developers might one day incorporate something like it in Kingdom Hearts IV. On that note as well, I'd really love if they found a way or if they made a new world to visit based off the original Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles game. That would really make my day. Dear God, that game was amazing for its time, and its Wii sequel couldn't compare to its GameCube original.

At the end of the chapter is a little shoutout to Final Fantasy VII's Wutai Pagoda side-quest, where Yuffie gets her Ultimate Limit Break and Leviathan Materia.

Storyline: Sora and the others briefly visit Merlin on Twilight Town for Sora to go into the book of The 100 Acre Wood and visit Pooh and the others, before heading off on the same night to Arendelle. (Where Sora and them will spend a little over 2 days at) While Riku are on Castle of Dreams looking for Ventus and checking in on Cinderella. Both teams later meet up at Master Yen Sid's Tower on The Mysterious Tower, Riku and Mickey arriving earlier than Sora and his team. And later before Riku and Mickey take the journey back into the Realm of Darkness, they head over to Radiant Garden for a day to prepare. Meanwhile Sora and his team head over to San Fransokyo.

On another note, going on outside of Sora and Riku's teams notice, Vexen has already turned against the Organization- conspiring along with hidden Chosen against them. And had convinced Demyx to join them and act as their secret carrier between them and Hollow Bastion- around the time Riku's team was on Dwarf Woodlands and Sora's team was on Kingdom of Corona. Backstabbing the Organization and stealing one of their spare Replica bodies. Ansem the Wise had been rescued from Ansem Seeker of Darkness and returned to Hollow Bastion- the day before Riku and Mickey returned to Radiant Garden- to help continue their research and redemption- though they did not interact with Hollow Bastion Castle during their visit to realize this.

Mickey's Equipment: Before / After

Weapon:

Star Cluster / Star Cluster

Armor:

Guardian's Belt / Cosmic Chain

Elven Bandana / Divine Bandana

Accessories:

Sorcerer's Ring / Wisdom Ring

Valor Ring / Orichalcum Ring

Skill Ring / Skill Ring +

Riku's Equipment: Before / After

Weapon:

Braveheart / Braveheart

Armor:

Guardian's Belt / Cosmic Chain

Power Band / Buster Band +

Aegis Chain / Aegis Chain (but will change out for Dark Chain when need be)

Accessories:

Lucky Ring / Crystal Regalia

Gold Ring /Orichalcum Ring

Master Metal / Star Charm (soon changed out for Cosmic Art)

Heartbinder #5: A purple Heartbinder with Cheshire Cat's grins and laughing eyes as the sigil.

(Fifth Heartbinder: Wonder Heartbinder, Cheshire Cat Smile (Element Chaos)= A green stain glass window showing a Cheshire Cat as small playing cards, flowers, cakes and 'Drink Me' bottles fly down all around the logo. It changes to a Cheshire Cat's head rolls along his shoulders with a grin as purple smoke seeps out from the logo during the Finisher.) Received after successfully escaping Lucifer in the castle's Corridor on Cinderella's world: Castle of Dreams.

The music changes back to the Wonderland theme from the first Kingdom Hearts as Cheshire Cat comes humming in on Riku's shoulder, starting with his smile then his eyes and head, then the rest of his body. Laughing as he asked Riku if he needs some help.

(/_\) Off With Their Heads (Finish): Cheshire Cat laughs with his wide grin as he fades away. Leaving nothing but his head as he laughs, unleashing a relentless blitz of slash attack on the enemies until there's noting but his grin left. Which fades away too.

(X) Tea Time: Random Pots and Cups of tea will fall from the sky onto the enemy, whether it lands a critical hit or not is chaotically random.

(O) Jump: Jump around with Cheshire Cat on Riku's shoulder to move around or to avoid oncoming attacks

([]) Card Flush: A Flush of Cards will come out from Cheshire Cat's nonexistent sleeves. The Cards will grow bigger and circle around Riku once where they will either heal Riku, Fly at the enemies and damage them with a Cut attack, give Riku a boost, or hurt Riku.