Once more in the corridor of darkness, Akari could feel the warmth of her necklace. She removed a hand from around Ven's waist and gripped it.

No matter what, I'll never forget the friends I've made

She smiled, happy. Suddenly, Ven veered sharply and Akari found herself losing her grip. Strong winds were blowing them off course.

"Akari! Hang on!" Ven shouted, grabbing her hand. He quickly gained control of his board.

"Ven! Over there!" Akari pointed to the thinly opened portal in the small corner. It was their only chance to get away from this strange wind. Ven nodded and shot off, diving right into it.

Akari closed her eyes as she felt the harsh wind push her away from Ven, but she clung to him tightly as he soared into the blue eye of the portal.

Akari awoke in a badlands area. She rose to her feet and turned around, confused.

"What...happened?"

"Nothing." A voice replied. Akari's blood ran cold as she turned around to see the Masked Boy.

"Vanitas!" The boy nodded.

"So...it seems you learned my name on your little adventure. Did you take care of my brother?" Akari tilted her head.

"Your brother?" Her eyes widened and Vanitas nodded.

"That's right. So, how's Ven? Did you also teach him darkness?" Akari grabbed her necklace.

"No! I don't have darkness! It's light." But her voice was shaking. If she could see through Vanitas's mask, she would've seen the smirk that now crossed his face as he walked towards her.

"Anyone can fall to darkness. Your little charm won't save you." He summoned his keyblade in a whirl of darkness and Akari shook her head.

"There's no way that's a keyblade! Keyblades are weapons of light!" She shouted. Vanitas shook his head.

"I send you away for a few moments and you're already brainwashed." He scoffed. "Figures. But I guess I'll just have to undo that mess." He approached Akari, his grip tightening on the silver handle of the keyblade. Akari backed away, but there was nowhere to run.

Everything around her was deserted, a badland. Still she picked herself up.

"There's nowhere to hide and nowhere to run." Vanitas called but she still turned and fled. He let her, a grin under his mask as shadows formed around him.

"What an idiot child. But still useful...very useful."

Akari ran and ran as far away as she could get from Vanitas.

No! No darkness!

Finally she saw something. A bunch of gray things in the distance. She sprinted to it, as fast as her short legs could carry her, but as she got closer, she began to recognize it. Her legs began to slow and she panted, trying to catch her breath, but it was stolen away again by the sight that lay before her.

"What...what is this place?" She murmured.

"A place of emptiness." Vanitas replied. She whirled around and saw him, masked and standing before her. "You didn't really think you could get away from me?" Akari glared at him, breathing harshly while he just stood before her, smug.

"Why are there keyblades here!" She gestured to the dull colorless blades stuck to the ground. They were all muted, nothing like the keyblades Mickey, Terra, Aqua, and Ven had wielded. Not even like Vanitas's keyblade.

They're lifeless

Vanitas glanced at them.

"Ah, those are the keyblades of the fallen wielders. Long ago a great war took place here. Keyblade wielders took up their blades in order to fight over the pure light of Kingdom Hearts."

"Kingdom Hearts…" Akari echoed, lost. Vanitas nodded.

"That's right. And when the dust settled, Kingdom Hearts was sealed away, and the fallen wielder's keys remained here. Dead and empty, not a speck of light or darkness in them." Akari's eyes widened and she began shaking.

"But, WHY!" She shouted, questioning him. "Why would they do that. Keyblades are light!" Vanitas shook his head, and a grin formed under his mask.

"That's where you're wrong. Keyblade wielders are just regular people. They too can fall to the darkness." He gestured to his own

keyblade. "Anyone in this world is susceptible to power, including you, Akari." He drawled out her name and she shook her head.

"No!" Akari ran over to a keyblade and drew it from the ground. It didn't feel at all like what Aqua' blade had felt like, and it was as big as Akari but she glared with resolve and put her whole weight in picking it up. It was, in fact, not heavy at all." Vanitas laughed.

"You idiot. That keyblade is lifeless. It can't protect you!" Akari's grip tightened on the dead blade.

"It may not be able to protect me, but the light will!" She clutched her necklace and closed her eyes. "My friends will protect me! Sora, Riku, Kairi, Mickey, Aqua, Ven,Terra, and everyone else I've met" She looked down at the necklace and saw the smallest spark of light.

Kairi...you're with me…

Vanitas suddenly seemed to turn dark. Shadows enveloped him as his rage grew. Akari backed away fearfully.

"What a stupid thought. Here I thought you would learn something, but it appears the only thing that will make you learn will be watching your friends die." Akari's eyes widened and Vanitas flicked his hand. A strong wind suddenly picked up. Akari lost her grip on the dead keyblade and it flew away.

"No! You can't send me away again!" She shouted, her voice being lost against the wind. Vanitas laughed.

"You can't fight me!" The wind picked up, becoming stronger, but Akari grabbed her necklace.

"Kairi! Aqua! Everyone! Please help!" Tears began flying but she gripped her necklace tighter as she felt the wind grow stronger. A bright light suddenly flickered in her necklace. It grew brighter and brighter, enveloping the small girl. Vanitas's eyes widened.

"NO!" Akari felt herself getting warmer, and as she began completely encircled, she saw her friends. With a soft smile, they grabbed her hands, Ven, Terra, Aqua, and Kairi, and the light grew brighter.

Akari's eyes began closing.

At last, she could rest, and let the light rest with her.

Somewhere out there, spread out among different worlds, three friends and a small child stood. The mystic blue haired woman felt a spark, and pulled out her good luck charm, a blue star shaped piece of metal and glass. She hugged it close to her chest.

The swift blonde haired boy felt his pocket begin to burn slightly, and he pulled out his own green charm, one given to him by his friend. It was glowing dimly and he looked up at the sky.

The strong brown haired man felt warmth in his heart, and he pulled out his orange charm. It seemed to be burning , but like a nice soft warmth. His eyes drifted to the stained glass and he thought of his friends.

The small red haired child, her heart full of light, felt something soft envelop her while she slept. Her blue eyes opened, and she glanced down at her teardrop pearl necklace. It glowed, the same way it had when the woman had cast a spell on her. She thought of her friend and a smile crossed her face.

Take care, Akari.

The three wielders, wind, water, and earth, all lifted their wayfinders to the sky.

Whatever it takes, to save our friends