Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 22

Harry ducked and then blocked her blow. "Aqua please! I don't want to fight you."

"Give Ven back!" she snarled in return.

"There's nothing for me to give back! The piece of his Heart merged with mine, Aqua. His Heart will have healed by now. Think Aqua! You know where his body is. Just take us there and we can wake him up." He rolled out of the way of a blast of ice. "Please Aqua, I don't want to do this."

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Riku kept up the attack, he had to trust that Harry could handle himself against Aqua…a Keyblade Master. Harry may have had his Keyblade longer but he hadn't been fighting with it against Heartless and Nobodies for that time, and yes, that did worry him.

He could hear Harry yelling something at Aqua even as he cast Dark Fire at the massive mass of Heartless holding Mickey hostage.

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Harry rolled out of the way of a barrage of spells, throwing up a shield to block those he couldn't dodge. He had to find a way to get through to her! He reached deep into his Heart for the part of himself that came from Ventus.

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"Our probability of success is- "

"You don't have to crunch the numbers, Baymax," Hiro told him, walking forward. "It's not the sum of our parts. It's the sum of our hearts."

"Yeah," Sora nodded, facing the Replica who smiled at him, tauntingly.

"Which adds up to what?" he asked from where he was perched on a windsock above them. "Show me," he demanded, leaping down, Soul Eater slicing through the Darkubes core. He landed on the ground, dispelling his weapon as the Darkubes disintegrated. He stood, a piercing grin on his face, and held up the chip, which brimmed with Darkness. "Almost there."

"What?!" Just what was he up to?

The fake Riku kicked a few of the blocks, which moved slightly, glowing a faint red. "This pile of junk collected the data we needed... The terror of being attacked without warning... The despair of having no place to run... The longing for vengeance..."

"A Heart's more than that!" Sora snapped at him.

"It's working together," Wasabi agreed.

"Smiling at something funny," Donald and Goofy said together.

"Trusting friends," Hiro murmured.

"In every heart, there's hope," Sora grinned.

"Yeah!" the group yelled in agreement.

"You're right," he agreed, shocking them all.

"Huh...?" Sora was really getting worried now.

"That's why I made sure our creation fought YOU. Now the data contains a complete heart," it smirked at him.

"A heart made from conflict? That can't be real," Sora denied.

"What was it you said? I only have to see it for it to become real? So, let's see it." Riku turned toward the Darkubes and raised his arm. A dark portal appeared in the sky and the Darkubes began to float, being pulled as if by magnets into the portal, some glowing red, and others, green. "First, we need a vessel."

Once the Darkubes had all gathered into the portal, they returned in a single round mass, all glowing red with lightning bolts dancing around its outside. It descended slowly, pulsating.

"What's going on?" Go Go asked warily.

"Another Darkube form?" Honey Lemon suggested.

"Doesn't look as bad as the last one," Fred chuckled nervously.

"It could be a trick," Goofy summoned his shield.

"Usually is," Wasabi sighed.

"We can stop it!" Donald cheered.

The Darkubes began to recede and a white arm emerged from the mass of blocks, surprising Hiro.

Sora summoned his Keyblade. "Yeah."

"Wait! That's...Baymax," Hiro stared in horror, and Sora frowned.

"What?!" he looked from Hiro to the Darkubes.

"No way." And yet as they receded further…it really was Baymax but clad in a deep purple suit with spiked pauldrons. His right arm was covered in miniature Darkubes shaped in an oversized fist. He landed in front of Replica Riku.

"Baymax..." Hiro groaned.

"Don't bother. This puppet has lost his heart. He won't wake up," Riku smirked, and Sora nearly jolted at those words, remembering them from Monstro.

"He's not a puppet! Baymax, he's like my family. Please! Give me back my friend," Hiro yelled.

Riku laughed darkly. "Yes... I did promise I'd put this back where I found it." He lifted up the red chip and Dark Baymax's port opened as Riku inserts the chip. The port closed and Dark Baymax's eyes glowed red, probably not a good sign. "But there's one piece missing. Sora, you're the one who's going to complete this heart."

"Yeah, right," he denied.

"You can't have a heart without sadness...without loss. You see, you're going to destroy Hiro's friend right in front of him." And with that he vanished into a Corridor.

"Wait!" Sora called but it was too late.

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She attacked the boy who dared to take part of Ven's Heart. Over and over she attacked but he would dodge and shield. At least the other was being kept away by the Heartless, the same with that worthless King.

He stood before her and then his image wavered and Ventus was standing before her, hand outstretched. "Aqua please," he begged, and she staggered back, eyes wide.

"Ven?" she shook her head, no, it wasn't real…he…she staggered, dropping the Keyblade from suddenly lax fingers, everything going black.

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Harry lunged forward, catching her before she could hit her head or fall back into the dark water behind them. It had worked, he hadn't been sure it would. Maybe hitting her with an Earth spell was cheating, but she was the far more experienced combatant. He made sure she was deeply unconscious before turning to help Riku defeat the Heartless trapping the King. With that spell having worked so well…

"Expecto Patronum," he whispered. It was more difficult to cast than normal, likely due to the location, but soon the silvery light exploded, taking form as a large lion, and attacking the Heartless, weakening the tower form.

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Riku stared as a silver lion attacked the tower but it was weakening the Heartless so Riku doubled his attack. He felt them shift, trying to get behind him, and then he felt another body back-to-back with him for a second before moving away, dealing with those Heartless. Had Harry beaten Aqua? Sure enough, the next attack he launched, Harry was at his side.

The tower shook and then broke apart, Heartless scattering, Mickey flying out onto the sand, yelping as he flew through the air.

"Mickey!" he called in alarm, rushing to his side. Harry knelt on Mickey's other side, sure hands checking for injuries on the unconscious form.

"No broken bones or obvious wounds," Harry assured him, before casting a low-level cure spell.

"Aqua?" he asked

"Unconscious," the other teen reported. "We need to get them both out of here."

Riku nodded, he could get them out…but would Harry agree? They didn't have time to look for a door out though, not with Mickey and Aqua unconscious. He took a deep breath and stood, extending his hand, reaching for the Darkness, watching a Corridor open. He glanced at Harry to see his reaction and green eyes were wide but…in awe?

"Can you teach me that?" he asked, and Riku was shocked.

"Really?" he asked, and Harry grinned.

"Looks useful."

Riku relaxed and nodded. "I can try. We should go now," he said, and Harry nodded.

Harry walked over to Aqua and Riku watched as she floated up off the sand. And Harry wanted to learn from him? He picked Mickey up, holding him easily. He led Harry into the Corridor, wanting through it as quickly as possible, unsurprised to find himself on a very familiar sunlit beach.

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Sora's Gummiphone started to ring and Jiminy leaped onto his shoulder as he pulled it out.

"Sora, somebody's callin' us on the Gummiphone," he pointed out, even as Donald and Goofy walked to Sora's chair and Sora answered the call.

Dale appeared on the screen way too close to the camera. "We got baaad news," he wailed.

"Huh?" Sora blinked at the screen.

Chip yanked Dale away from the camera. "We totally lost contact with the King and Riku! They're all on their own in the Realm of Darkness!"

"Whaaat?!" they all cried out.

"They aren't alone, they've got Harry with them too," Sora pointed out, but the others weren't comforted by that. They didn't feel the connection he did to Harry…would he lose that when Ventus left him?

"Chip, how do we get to 'em?" Donald demanded.

"NOW we can ask?" Sora glared. He hadn't liked them going from the start, not without solid plans to get to them if needed…like they needed now.

"It's not like we can use that big old door anymore. It's completely gone."

"Yeah, we closed it after beating Ansem," Sora sighed.

"And we certainly can't ask the King or Riku," Jiminy nodded.

"'Cause you wouldn't LET me ask," Sora pointed out, grumpy over having been ignored before.

Dale pushed Chip out of the way. "Only King Mickey can open a door to the Realm of Darkness."

"Huh?"

Chip pushed Dale away and Jiminy hopped down. "It's because he has a special Keyblade of Darkness. He figured out how to make it open the way."

"Oh..." Sora sighed.

"Gawrsh, what'll we do then?" Goofy asked, and Donald groaned.

"May my heart be our guiding key," Sora whispered. Riku was his best friend, his Dream Eater, their Hearts were connected…and Ventus' Heart was connected to Harry. Between those links, it would work, it had to. "It'll show us the way."

Sora stood and summoned the Keyblade, aiming it ahead of him, closing his eyes. The tip glowed and a portal opened outside the ship.

"A gate!" the others called, and Sora opened his eyes to see it.

Sora dismissed his Keyblade and took his seat. "But where does it lead?" he wondered.

"It doesn't matter! Go!" Donald yelled.

"Hurry, Sora!"

"Okay." Sora easily piloted them through the gate.

They ended up under a bright warm sun, walking along a very familiar beach.

"Why do you think that gate took us here?" he asked in confusion, only to summon his Keyblade as a Dark Corridor opened ahead of them.

He stared in shock and relief as familiar silver hair appeared but didn't release the Keyblade in case…no, the hair was the right length and he was taller than the Replica. In his arms was a small figure and then another emerged from the Corridor, the black hair a relief as well.

"Riku! Harry!" he yelled, rushing across the sand, even as Riku turned to him, startled.

"Sora," Riku smiled, kneeling down.

"Your Majesty!" Donald and Goofy yelled, rushing passed him to reach their King.

Sora reached Riku, hugging him, feeling Riku hug him back. "You're okay? We were coming to find you."

"I'm okay," Riku told him as he let go, turning to where Harry was lowering a woman onto the sand.

"Is that Aqua?" he asked, able to feel…oh. Sora could feel the Darkness clinging to her, her outfit seemed darker than the vague memory of her that he had. He rubbed at his Heart, feeling a pain, and Riku's hand rested on his shoulder.

"Sora?"

"I'm fine," he promised. "Ven," he whispered, and Riku nodded.

Harry knelt beside Aqua, pressing a hand to chest, frowning.

Sora knelt opposite him, worrying his lip. "Is she alright?" he asked.

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Harry could feel the Darkness infecting her and it just wasn't right. He pressed his hand to her chest, probing deeper.

"Is she alright?"

Harry looked up at Sora, seeing the worry in his eyes, and for a second it was Ventus kneeling opposite him. "She didn't willingly give in," he told them both. "It's like she was drowned in it."

Riku knelt beside Sora, looking her over, leaving the King to his men. "It's got a firm grip on her."

"But she's still fighting," Harry told him. He took a deep breath, he knew Vanitas could draw Darkness out and into himself, he'd never had a reason to try and it kind of scared him to consider it.

"Harry?" Riku called, and he looked up at the other teen, seeing his concern.

"I think I can get it out of her," he told them.

"And how risky is that?" Sora asked.

"It's something Vanitas could do; I've never had a reason to try."

"Harry…" Riku looked at him in concern.

"I have to try," Harry told him.

Riku stared at him before nodding, drawing Sora back.

Harry offered a shaky smile before focusing on Aqua.

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Mickey slowly opened his eyes, surprised to find Donald and Goofy leaning over him. They cried out in relief, hugging him, and he hugged them back. "Where are we?"

"Destiny Islands. Riku carried you out. We were really worried about ya."

Mickey nodded, looking around, relieved to spot Riku and Sora in the sand nearby. Then he saw Harry leaning over a figure on lying still…Aqua! He staggered to his feet and towards them, only to freeze in shock, watching as Darkness began to rise from her body…and into Harry's. The teen was breathing hard, brow furrowed in concentration.

"What's he doing?" Goofy asked.

"Pulling the Darkness out of Aqua," Sora answered softly.

"And taking it into himself," the worry was clear in Riku's voice, if anyone would understand the risks of what he was doing, it was Riku.

Harry was balanced between Light and Darkness, like Riku…would that balance be broken by what he was doing? Could they get Aqua back and lose Harry in return? He knew Aqua would never believe that to be a fair trade.

Harry gasped, the Darkness sinking into him, half falling forward, and Riku lunged to catch him.

"Let me help Harry, let me share the load," Riku told him, a hand gripping his shoulder.

"Let us help," Sora butted in, putting his hand on Harry's other shoulder.

"Sora…"

"It's not gone Riku. Anti is but…there's something else now in its place. Which means I've got a good chunk in me already. What's a little more?" Sora's grin was shaky and Mickey looked back at Donald and Goofy who shifted but nodded. Why hadn't they told anyone!

Harry looked up at them, but didn't seem to be really focusing, though he slowly nodded his head. The Darkness slowly spread out until it was reaching all three of them, the parts going into each far smaller than what Harry had been trying to take on alone.

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Sora grit his teeth, feeling the Darkness sink into his body…into his Heart. He tried to keep it away from Ven's sleeping Heart only to feel someone else stir, two someone's, pulling the Darkness into themselves, most of it anyway. The rest settled into Sora, sparing Ventus. It hurt! He'd never had to take in outside Darkness before…he'd been drowned in it himself though, in the exam. They couldn't leave Aqua like that…and they couldn't let Harry shoulder it all himself either.

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Riku accepted the Darkness, pulling in as much as he could to spare the others. He took it and worked on turning it to Light. He would never succumb again! He opened his eyes as a hand covered his, finding glassy green/blue eyes struggling to focus on him. He smiled at the other teen, not sure if Harry was really seeing him or not. He glanced at Aqua and was relieved to see the last of the Darkness rise from her body, her outfit now lighter in colour.

It stopped and he breathed a sigh of relief only to lunge to catch Sora, who crumpled. "Sora!" he cried in alarm.

Harry caught Sora's other side, his eyes now clear and focused. "Is he alright?"

"Sora!" Donald and Goofy called out from behind them.

They lay him on the sand, Harry pressing a hand to his chest like he had with Aqua, only to jerk back in shock. "I…what? How…"

"Ventus isn't the only other Heart in Sora," Riku told him, assuming that was what he'd sensed.

"One other male and one female," Harry told him, and Riku winced, pressing a hand to his head. "Riku?"

"Female…" he shook his head. "I…a girl…black hair…" he blinked as it faded away.

Sora moaned, head shifting in the sand, and then his eyes slowly opened, Riku relieved to see no change to bright blue eyes. "Ow," he mumbled, and Riku laughed.

"Next time, leave it to us," Riku told him, helping him as Sora tried to sit up.

"Are ya okay Sora?" Mickey asked.

"Yeah," Sora nodded. "Aqua?"

"Sleeping," Harry answered after a second.

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She opened her eyes slowly, feeling warm for the first time in forever. The sky above was blue, the waves she could hear were calm, and the sand beneath her was soft. In the haze of the light from the Destiny Islands, Aqua saw Ventus and Terra leaning over her.

"Aqua!" they both called her name in relief.

"Ven... Terra..." she whispered in relief.

The haze started to clear and the images of Ven and Terra became that of two teenaged boys and then a third joined them.

"Aqua?" Harry called her name in concern.

"It's you..." she murmured, shocked to see Harry again, he looked a few years older now. her gaze went back to the other two boys. Silver hair…Riku. So the other boy, was Sora? They'd grown and changed so much.

"Thank goodness. You're awake!" a familiar voice called and she turned to see Mickey watching nearby.

"Mickey..." She looks around, still sitting on the sand. "Are these...the Destiny Islands?"

"That's right," Mickey nodded.

"When did they fall back to Darkness?" she remembered being on the beach before but then the Islands had vanished back to the Realm of Light, how had the returned to the Darkness?

Riku shook his head with a smile. "You're in the Realm of Light," he told her.

The revelation struck a chord, the emotion welling up inside her, the weight of the loneliness and despair that she had been holding onto for years suddenly exiting her body in the form of tears.

Seeing that, Sora extended a warm hand, gripping hers firmly, proving it was real. "You're home." His smile was infectious.

"You're home!" Donald and Goofy cried, rushing forward to hug her, Mickey joining them.

"Welcome home," the King grinned.

Sora grabbed hold of Goofy and they all released a relieving laughter.

Aqua looked between them all, she couldn't believe it but it seemed it was really true. She was free. She looked over at Harry in confusion, from the little he'd said, she had thought his World far away.

He smiled at her. "Hi Aqua."

She blinked at him, they'd…fought? What had she done? "Harry…"

"You weren't in control Aqua, it's okay," he told her and she opened her arms to him. Harry stared at her before falling into her embrace. "I'm just glad you're safe."

"Thank you," she whispered.

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"WHAAA-?!" Demyx half yelped and half wailed until Vexen clamped his hand over his mouth.

"Quiet, you dunce!" he hissed, looking around warily, and Demyx pushed his hand away.

"But, dude, why would you pick me?" he demanded, confused by Vexen.

"I cannot let the chosen catch wind of this, understand?"

"Oh, I see! It's because I got benched!" He wagged a finger in Vexen's face.

"I got "benched" too!" Vexen yelled, and Demyx covered his mouth.

"Hey! Quiet!"

Vexen looked around again and Demyx let up. Vexen coughed awkwardly, regaining his composure, and sighed, turning away from Demyx.

"Okay, man, look. Real talk? Backstabbing those guys would be stupid. If they find out, we are yesterday's toast. I mean, what's in it for me?" Demyx demanded.

"Forgiveness."

"Huh? For what?" he asked in confusion, what had he done that needed forgiving?

"Men like us…in the pursuit of science, we sometimes make terrible mistakes. Lose sight of our mission to help people. But now I can help someone with my research. Now, I can atone."

Demyx narrowed his eyes. "I'm not a scientist," he pointed out, turning away, but Vexen rushed after him.

"Wait, wait, wait!" he grabbed Demyx by the shoulder.

"C'mon, dude. I'm useless, I'm chicken, we're not friends. I can count the number of times you and I have hung out on one hand-LESS than one hand! I didn't even KNOW you in the old life!" he denied.

"Fine, FINE! But listen." He waved him closer and Demyx rolled his eyes but leant in so he could whisper in his ear.

"Huh? No way!" he couldn't believe it.

"It's true. The whole thing was HIS idea."

"Huh? No stinkin' way," Demyx shook his head.

"He wants to atone too. But, he is one of the chosen, so his hands are tied. Hence my actions on his behalf, hence my need for you to act on MY behalf should all go awry. As you said, we are far from friends. No one would ever suspect you."

Okay, that made some sense. "Hmm... So I'm not doing any fighting?" he wanted to be sure of that.

"Correct. And more importantly, no bench warming."

Demyx smiled and did a small leap. "Ha! Yeah baby! Sign me up." He swung around making happy fists in the air as Vexen rolled his eyes, but he didn't care. "Yes! Demyx time."

TBC…