Hey guys! Sorry this one is late I had just finished college and everything was crazy trying to get the grades. On the plus side, I'm going to Uni in September! Yay! Anyway! Now that it's summer, I should have more time to write!

Poll results from: Who do you think Charlie should end up with?

Sora: 4

Ryan: 1

The author should decide!: 1

Neither: 0

Looks like Sora is winning. Keep voting!

A Quest to Find Missing Friends Arc

After Sora had consoled Charlie, the group continued up the stairs. Meanwhile, on a floor higher up, sat a young girl, drawing in her book. As the heroes make their way to the third floor, Donald began to think that journal entries and camera footage don't disappear in thin air. This caused Sora to stop walking and voice his concerns.

"What if… it's more things?" Sora asked out loud.

"Huh?" Donald asked.

"Something else other than the journal entries and my camera?" Charlie asked.

"Goofy and Charlie were telling us about another castle we'd been to… but none of us really remembers it. Do ya think… Could it be that we don't remember because we're losing our memories?" Sora asked.

"Losing? Our memories?" Donald asked in confusion.

Jiminy popped up again and remembered about the first black cloaked guy had said: 'In this place to find is to lose, and to lose is to find.' Jiminy concluded that he was talking about their memories. Sora then realised that if they keep going, they would lose more memories. No wonder it's called Castle Oblivion.

"So the higher we go, the more we'll forget? Does that mean everything and everybody will be forgotten?" Donald asked.

"Riku and Kairi too…" Sora said sadly.

"No! I refuse to forget about Ryan!" Charlie started to panic.

"Do you want to go back?" Donald asked them.

The teens looked at each other sadly. If they go back now, they will have whatever memories they have left. But what if Riku, Ryan and King Mickey are really here? Goofy jumped in and told the teens to not worry. He told them that they may forget about where they've been or what things they've seen, but they won't forget who their friends are.

"I don't know…" Donald doubted.

"C'mon, Sora, Charlie, when you guys turned into a Heartless, did you forget about me and Donald?" Goofy asked.

"Of course I didn't!" Sora replied.

"I couldn't even if I wanted to." She smiled.

"There ya go! No matter what happens, you won't forget your friends." Goofy assured them.

Sora and Charlie looked at each other before turning to a worried Donald. They thought for a moment and Goofy was right; their friends are too important to them to forget. After realising this, Sora and Charlie said a thank you to Goofy for helping them realise this.

"So, if there's nothing here that can make you forget about your friends… then we have nothing to be scared of! Let's go!" Donald marched towards the door.

"But when we turned into a Heartless… Who was the one that took forever to notice and kept clobbering us?" Sora smirked.

"Yeah! I still haven't gotten you back for that, Donald." Charlie also smirked.

Donald stopped and slowly turned around. He asked Sora and Charlie how they didn't forget about that. The Court Wizard then jumps up and down as he babbles angrily. The others couldn't help but laugh. One thing Charlie didn't want to forget were moments like these. It was time to move on and Sora held up a card to the next world and entered.

Charlie couldn't help but gaze in awe at the sight before them. The architecture of the place was amazing! Two giants of gold stood at either side to an entrance bearing their swords above the doors.

"What a place!" Charlie's eyes lit up.

She ran ahead towards the coliseum. She turned around and waved at the boys to hurry up. They caught up to her but something caught Donald's eye. He runs over to a notice board claiming there's an announcement. Sora, Charlie and Goofy join him and Jiminy hops down from Sora's hood to read it.

"Hmm… It's for some sort of contest. They're calling it the 'Olympus Coliseum Survival Cup.' Contenders have to run an obstacle course, battling each other along the way. And listen to this: 'The great hero Hercules will also compete for the Cup.' It says here he's never been beaten." Jiminy read.

"Sounds like fun. Why don't we enter, too?" Sora suggested.

"I though you'd say that. Whenever there's a contest, you're rarin' to join up." Goofy smiled.

"I think it's a great idea!" Charlie jumped for joy.

Donald then asked the teens if they were going to join up even if he and Goofy didn't and of course Sora agreed. And so, Donald and Goofy tagged along anyway. Jiminy halted their plans and read more of the announcements. Apparently, only contenders that pass the preliminary round can enter. That obviously wasn't going to stop them so they ran off to sign up. Suddenly, a figure in a black cloak with blue skin appeared and read the announcement.

"'Hercules is a model of true strength and gallantry – the perfect hero'?!" Hades read and suddenly becomes red with fury.

"Oh, he's perfect all right. PERFECTLY INFURIATING! Just thinking about that little sunspot makes me boil! HOO, I'd like to drag him into the Underworld!" Hades ranted.

"Which is why you hired me."

A man wearing a torn, red cape and has blonde, spiky hair stepped into the scene with barely an expression on his face. Hades reminded the man, Cloud, that his job was to take out Hercules in the games. Once Cloud has Hercules cornered, he needs to finish the job. And if Cloud does his job, Hades will restore his memories agreed. Cloud then leaves.

After receiving the Key of Beginnings card, Sora and Charlie explore the world to find the Lobby. They defeat plenty of Heartless and Charlie was sure she was mastering these cards by now. And by the look of Sora, he was pretty much getting the hang of it as well.

"Sora, wait a second." Charlie stopped in her tracks.

"What's up?" Sora asked.

"I'm just going to change my deck around. You know, to make it easier for me." She started fishing in her pockets and started to arrange them.

"Oh, I should really do that, too." He smiled sheepishly.

After sorting their decks out, with Charlie adding more magic cards to hers, they continued on. The two teens had just realised there were so many rooms! And you can tell which one of the teens were getting more and more frustrated with this.

"Why are there so many rooms?!" Charlie gritted her teeth.

"I'm sure it's not that far." Sora assured her.

It was as if their prayers were answered, that the two had found the right door. Sora used the Key of beginnings card and finally entered the Lobby. When they entered, there stood in front of them was a satyr. Who was shocked that they had already finished the preliminaries. Sora said they did and now they want to compete in the Cup.

"Well, you came to the right place. Not that you stand a chance against Herc." The satyr told them.

"Why not?" Donald asked.

"Give us a chance!" Charlie argued.

"Two words. You ain't heroes!" The satyr said.

"You're wrong!" Sora objected.

"Yeah, he said three words." Goofy added.

Charlie had to resist laughing because this was a serious situation. Sora argued that how they prove they are heroes if they are not given the chance? Suddenly another man walks in. It was obvious this guy likes to train as you can see his muscles clearly. This must be Hercules as he knew the satyr known as Phil. Hercules defended Sora and his friends claiming that they did clear the preliminaries and deserve a shot at the Cup.

Phil was reluctant but Hercules also gave him the option to cancel the games. Sora asked why and Hercules had told them that the preliminaries were so hard no one else was able to finish. Sora then had an idea and a smirk grew. The make teen the gave an ultimatum that if the four are able to compete then Phil won't need to cancel the games.

Phil was still hesitant on the idea but gave up. He started to explain the rules and suddenly Cloud enters the Lobby, claiming to be a new challenger. Phil was excited that the competition was getting interesting. Sora rallied the morale from his friends and Phil explained the rules.

"Rule #1! First one through the obstacle course wins! Rule #2! In the event of a tie, a battle will determine the winner! Rule #3! You can interfere with your opponents on the course! And finally… Rule #4! All challengers have to give it everything they got!"

Charlie nodded to Sora and the challengers line up. Phil tells the contenders to get ready. And when the satyr said go, everyone ran onto the course, while Sora was given the Key of Guidance card. Somehow, Hercules and Cloud had stormed ahead and the Keyblade Wielders had lost them.

"Come on, Sora! We're gonna get left behind! I want to win this!" Charlie waved at him.

Sora had learnt by now that Charlie is very competitive. Not that it's a bad thing, he just trusts her to try and win this for them. But he couldn't help but smile at how silly she looks, jumping up and down to hurry him up. She clicked her tongue and grabbed Sora's wrist before dragging him to the right door.

When they entered the Key of Guidance Room, they had found Cloud. Goofy mention that it was nice of him to wait for them. But Charlie wasn't so sure. Why would Cloud, who seemed confident about this competition, wait for them during the course? Charlie had her guard up and glared at him. Something wasn't right.

"He's not waiting! Remember Rule #3? 'You can interfere with your opponents on the course!'" Donald reminded them.

The group summoned their weapons. Charlie was ready for anything! Sora realised something and stated that Clod was going to narrow the field. But Cloud looked… disinterested. He told them to put their weapons away as he's not looking for a fight and told them to move on. Obviously, Charlie didn't trust him as she continued to glare.

Donald wasn't going to decline his offer and they started to walk off. Charlie kept her Keyblade and this didn't go unnoticed by Sora. He knew she had a knack when something was off so as the challengers passed each other, Sora turned around and asked Cloud if he was sure.

"I'm not here for the Cup. Just Hercules. Today he loses more than just the competition"

Charlie's eyes widened as everyone gasped. So this is why. Sora understood what Cloud meant but asked why. Cloud only responded that this was business and that they should stay out of it and win that Cup.

"We're not going to win this way." Charlie stepped forward as Sora summoned his Keyblade.

"Do you realise what you're doing?" Cloud asked.

"Rule #3 you can interfere with your opponents, right? You're not the only who wants to fight Hercules." Sora smiled.

"Big mistake." Cloud says.

This wasn't going to be easy and Charlie knew that. She just hoped the boy's cockiness doesn't cost this battle. Maybe they underestimated Cloud? Sure enough, Cloud was ready for them as he stepped away and watched the heroes closely.

Sora had performed Strike Raid immediately to get the battle started. Charlie watched Cloud's every move and then the enemy mention jumped into the aim and at her! Charlie Dodge Cart wheeled out of the way just in time.

Charlie fished in her pocket for her deck and managed to make a sleight. Her Keyblade glowed and she ran at an incredible speed. She slashed then ran and slashed at Cloud again. This repeated two more times as she performed Slash and Dash. Luckily for Sora and Charlie, Cloud didn't really have many cards with high values on them, so it was easy to card break.

Saying that, as Charlie began her combo, Cloud went and did a card break against her! As she was left disoriented, Sora watched in horror as Cloud dashed and attacked her. Sora had used a fire card to distract him which worked. Cloud left Charlie on the floor as she whimpered. She struggled to search in her pockets but managed to find a cure card. She used it and was healed.

Charlie stood up and had found a Goofy card bouncing on the arena. She ran and collected and used it to summon Goofy. Goofy performed a Goofy Tornado before he vanished. Sora and Charlie could tell the Cloud was getting weaker and as a last resort, Cloud stacked three cards and he started to have electricity crack around him. Sora saw this and luckily used a card break against him. Eventually Sora and Charlie had beaten Cloud.

Suddenly, Cloud disappeared! Charlie gritted her teeth knowing she had let him escaped. Jiminy popped out from Sora's hood and told the group that he was heading for the finish line. Charlie had already ran off after him before Sora even noticed. He rushed after her knowing that Charlie was going to be careless about this.

"Charlie! Charlie, wait up!"

Before she knew it, she had gotten herself all the way here. She was so riled up, she had left everyone behind. Sora managed to keep up with her but had to rest before he could say something. After he regained his breath he first looked at her disappointingly. But then that look turned into worry.

"Are you okay? It looked like Cloud hit you pretty bad."

There he goes again. He couldn't stop worrying about her. She didn't complain of course, she thought it was kind of cute to have him worry over her like that. It felt comforting. She replied with a smile but Sora knew her long enough that her smiles can mean shes trying to cover it up. Sora just kept giving her a worried look until she tells him she's okay.

"I'm fine it's just… I thought I was strong enough for him, you know?" She looked away, disappointed in herself.

"You are strong, Charlie. Just not physically. You have strong magic skills and a strong heart." Sora smiled and he held her shoulders.

"Thank you, Sora."

Her heart swelled. She couldn't help but feel like this towards him but it's not right and she knows that. Sora encouraged her to keep moving. After all, they have to chase Cloud before he gets to Hercules. Charlie shook off her emotions and ran towards the finish line.

They were too late! As everyone found themselves towards the finish line, there were two figures ahead, Hercules and Cloud. But as they ran closer, it looks like Cloud was struggling to even stand! Maybe Cloud bit off more than he could chew?

"You lost! Give it up, Cloud!" Hercules said.

But Cloud managed to stand. He claimed he's not giving up yet. Hercules couldn't guarantee Cloud's safety if they continue to fight like this. Cloud retaliated by saying Hercules should be worrying about himself as he's slowing down. On closer inspection, Charlie agreed. Hercules was breathing heavily now. Charlie looked at Sora and he returned her gaze with a nod.

Sora and Charlie summoned their Keyblades and ran to Hercules's side. They were going to back him up during this fight. Charlie was in no way of letting Cloud go, especially after learning his intentions! Hercules was rather surprised to see Sora and Charlie on his side.

"Get all the back up you want. I'm going to finish you and get back my memories!" Cloud claimed.

Sora and Charlie gasped. He's missing his memories? Out of the blue, a voice was heard, telling Cloud not to spill the beans. Everyone located the source of the voice to a guy with blue skin wearing a black toga and his hair was made of a blue flame? Charlie thought it was unusual but Cloud had called him Hades, and he wasn't happy to see the God either.

"Looks like you oversold yourself. All you did was wear him down. This doesn't look good for your performance rating… Let me put it this way: You, my spikey-haired friend, are fired." Hades said.

"But… my memories! We had a deal!"

Charlie's eyes grew wide. She was wrong about Cloud all along. He wasn't going to kill Hercules just because he wanted to, Hades had made a deal with him that if Cloud took out Hercules for good, Hades would grant his memories back. But Hades question Cloud if he really believed if he could get his memories so easily. Charlie knew this was a setup. Cloud was about to start a fight.

"Out of the way! I'll take care of Irk-ules myself!" Hades interrupted.

The sky turned dark. Charlie braced herself as the arena turned red. Fire burned furiously in the Lord of the Underworld's hand. He then blasted the four heroes and Cloud away! Hercules struggles to stand.

"Rule #5! It's never too late to enter the games." Hades proclaimed.

"You just made that up!" Charlie argued.

"Hades, you were behind this from the start!" Hercules concluded.

"Cloud may have failed to take you out, but he did break you down. Time for plan B. Pack your pita, Herc, 'cause you've just won a free trip to the Underworld – paid by me!"

Sora was already on his feet and ran over to Charlie and gave her a hand up. Everyone ran back to Hercules to aid him. Hercules protested. But Sora argued that how could he and Herc go against each other if the son of Zeus was in the Underworld? This gave Hades an idea to take Sora as well! Hades then reminded the group Rule #6 stating that there aren't any rules!

The battle started and Charlie knew that Hades is weak to ice. But she didn't want to use all her Blizzard cards just yet. Sora charged right in and performed a combo of physical attacks. She decided to join in with her own physical attacks. She then used a Blizzard card and two attack cards, performing Blizzard Raid, which was super effective against him.

Hades retaliated with a giant Firaga Ball. Charlie pushed Sora out of the way and quickly Dodge Cart Wheeled. Sora performed Strike Raid and surprisingly Hades wasn't difficult to hit. A Goofy card appeared and Sora quickly grabbed it while Charlie distracted the God. The male teen used the Goofy card to have the Captain of the Royal Knights to perform Goofy Smash.

This was easy, a little too, easy. This wasn't right. Hades then hovered in the centre of the arena. He stretched his arms out and blasts of fire had spread outwards from his hands. The Lord of the Underworld spun around and the teens fled around them to avoid getting burnt. Hades was red hot which made his defence rise,

Charlie had stacked two Blizzard cards together and performed a Blizzara before physically attacking again. Hades lost the red colour and returned his skin to the blue from before. When the God focused on one teen, the other would jump in with physical attacks. It was a good system as soon after, Hades was defeated and Sora was given a Hades card.

The sky had returned to normal and the Olympus Coliseum was back to its cheery self. Phil had caught up and had told Sora and the gang that the games were cancelled. When asked, Phil responded that everyone was tired. Sora asked about his match with Hercules but it wouldn't be a fair fight now that Hercules was weakened thanks to Hades. So, Herc had asked Sora if he could wait until he rested up and then have a match. Sora agreed.

"Then it's settled!" Hercules smiled.

Jiminy, who had stepped away from the fight, called Sora and Charlie over, telling them that Cloud was regaining consciousness. Everyone walked on over and Sora asked if Cloud is okay. Cloud was blunt about it but he said he was fine. He stood up and apologised for messing up the games. Cloud turns around and starts to leave but Sora stops him.

"Hey! Hope you get your memories back! Forget about what Hades said. Sometimes the tiniest thing can make you remember stuff you forgot years ago. If it's an important memory, there's no way it could ever be gone forever. That's what I think anyway." Sora spoke.

"Nice speech." Charlie whispered into Sora's ear.

Cloud didn't say anything. He just summoned a card and tossed it to Sora. The teens took a closer look at it and it had a picture of Cloud on it. Cloud had given them the chance to summon him whenever they need it in exchange for helping him out. Charlie guessed it was Cloud's way of saying thanks. Sora asked if Cloud wanted to join them instead but the blonde responded he wasn't interested.

"Well that was rude." Charlie rolled her eyes.

"Come on, let's go." Sora said and they all left.

When everyone returned to the castle, something plagued Donald's mind. He wondered out loud if the King was doing okay, causing everyone to stop and Sora to ask why bring it up. Donald had to reassure himself that he hadn't forgotten him. Goofy asked how that went for him and Donald replied happily that it was good because he remembered that he and Goofy are on a quest to find him.

Goofy remembered and recalled that King Mickey helped save everyone by staying on the other side of the Door to Darkness. Sora also remembered he was with King Mickey on the other side of the door as well. Charlie remembered that Ryn was also with them both. She never understood why he stayed behind but it must have been a pretty good reason. Sora concluded that you can't really forget important memories, after all.

"That's good. 'Cause I don't want to forget…" Donald said worriedly.

The group continue upwards. Meanwhile, on a floor hire up, Axel was watching through a sphere and speaking to another figure wearing the black cloak. This one was female with blonde hair. Her hair was short yet had two strands standing up. Her eyes were a turquoise coloured and filled with malice.

"You seem pretty interested in this Sora and Charlie." The female spoke.

"Are you telling me you're not, Larxene?" Axel replied.

The female, known as Larxene, giggles and states she hasn't decided yet but what intrigues her is what Axel sees in them. Their conversation goes on how Sora and Charlie had become a Heartless at one time. And once you become a Heartless, you lose your mind and feelings and they are consumed by darkness.

"Right. But not Sora and Charlie. They held onto their feelings, even as a Heartless. And there's only one other man who's been able to do just that." Axel explains.

"It's the strengths of their hearts… That's what interests you. Why the Keyblade chose Sora's heart and why Charlie became a Sorceress of Light." Larxene concluded.

"To unlock the mysteries of the heart. Isn't that the organization's mission?" Axel said.

All Larxene did was snicker.

Well that's a wrap for that chapter! I'll try posting more regular updates of chapters in the future. College was crazy from the last few weeks but it's over now! Please keep voting guys, unless you want Sora to be with Charlie? Who knows, I like both Sora and Ryan anyway :) Well, see you in the next chapter!