Hey everyone,

So, this chapter is going to cover:

The Traverse Town gang talking with Sora

Sora and Kairi's talk where she gives him her lucky charm

Sora going back to Hollow Bastion to close the Keyhole

Sora talking with the Gang before he leaves for the End Of The World

And that last world, simply because it's so bloody massive, will be part of another update later down the line. I'm not sure if it will be next month or sometime later, but I will write it. I'm also not sure if it's going to be just one chapter or multiple, again because of how massive the world is as well as all of the Ansem fights that take place.

And NO, I will not be describing Ansem's giant ship form. FORGET IT!

Let's just do this,

Venquine1990

Chapter 64

Heartfelt Conversations

1st of February 1996

Destiny's Haven

Remus' POV

"Quick question, did you encounter any Heartless on your way out of that world?"

Sora shakes his head and answers his mother's question with Just more Shadows, nothing much. This makes us all sigh in relief.

And the movie proves that it doesn't really care for this exit either. It had faded to black when Sora and co were running out of the castle. And now it shows the four of them back at Traverse Town.

They're in Cid's place together with Leon and the others.

"Tell me what happened."

Leon tells Sora before the camera changes its angle. And while the movie shows Sora, Donald and Goofy talking, Sora raising his arms up a few times, no voices are heard.

Then it focuses back on Leon's face and upper body as he says:

"So the darkness is flowing out of that Keyhole …"

It turns to show Aerith seated sideways on a bed and Yuffie standing next to her as she speaks: "No wonder there are more and more Heartless everywhere. The only way to stop them is -."

The camera had zoomed in on the faces of both girls as Aerith leaves her line hanging. Then it moves around Sora as he finishes the sentence and asks:

"Seal the Keyhole, right?"

The camera turns to look at Leon over Sora's shoulder as he says: "Maybe. But no one knows what will happen once it's sealed."

The camera turns to look at Sora from up-close as he angrily argues: "Well, we can't just stay here. We have to do something. I've got a friend back there."

"Not anymore. I was already lost to the Realm of Darkness and trying to find my way through by then."

Riku sadly tells his boyfriend. Sora pulls him close and Riku , who has gone to sit up and sit with his boyfriend again, lies his head on Sora's shoulder.

And while Sora gently, in an effort to reassure himself, runs his fingers through Riku's hair, the movie continues to play.

It turns back to focus on Leon again as he says: "That's right. You have one more friend to worry about."

"Like I hadn't been worried about you all the time since I first got to Traverse town. I didn't get why Leon said it that way back then and I still don't."

Sora softly grumbles, more to himself than to others. But Riku just lovingly pecks him in the side of his neck and this brings a smile back to the brunette's face.

"Riku's Keyblade must have been born of the captive princess's hearts – just like that Keyhole you saw."

As Leon says this, the camera turns down to show his legs and Sora's. And, as if the blade knows that one of its own was mentioned, it appears in Sora's hand as the camera moves back up to Sora and Leon's face.

Leon looks away from Sora and the camera shows that he's looking at Kairi as it focuses on her.

"Of course, without Kairi's heart, it remained incomplete."

The camera focuses back on Leon. "Once that Keyblade was destroyed, the princesses' hearts should have been freed."

This time the camera looks at Sora from just over Leon's shoulder, even though the brunette is leaning against the wall of the room.

"Don't worry, Sora. If anyone can save your friend, you can." And as he says this, the camera focuses solely on Sora, who nods in agreement.

Sora then moves over to talk with Aerith, who says: "I thought the Keyhole would strengthen the Darkness.

I mean, the darkness is strong, but still … It's almost as if someone is holding the Darkness back."

The Chasers look at Sora in shock and Katie whispers a soft No. Sora nods and reminds her of how he said that it was complicated.

I myself also feel amazed and think: "Those six Princesses, even though they've just been awoken from having their hearts taken, are staying back there to keep the Darkness at bay?"

And while I feel majorly impressed, especially with Alice who I believe is the youngest of them all, I watch the movie.

Sora moves onto Kairi, who tells him: "Even in your Heartless form, I knew it was you."

Then he moves onto Yuffie, who was watching out the window. She turns around and says: "Not sure why, but the Heartless are getting stronger. New types of Heartless are popping up all over the place! If anything happens to us, I know we can count on you, Sora."

"You're the ninja and the adult here!"

Katie snaps and Alicia continues:

"Not to mention you know Traverse Town better than Sora. That's your responsibility."

And Sora's reminder that he's the Keyblade Wielder doesn't change the girls' mind, which makes the young brunette smile at them gratefully.

Finally Sora returns to talk with Leon.

"It seems the other princesses have been freed as well. Jasmine apparently hasn't returned to Agrabah. I suspect the others are still in the castle, too."

"How does he know that?" I can't help but ask and Sora answers:

"I think he sent Merlin out to check on the worlds he knew they were from."

This answer makes sense and I shrug before the movie continues.

The trio steps outside and instantly Yuffie's statement is proven correct as several aerial Heartless and even a Knight Heartless appear before them.

The group fights off the lot, Donald and Goofy distracting the Knight Heartless while Sora jumps over its shield to attack and strike it in the back.

They run down the staircase and while a few more Heartless, including a few that look like they'd be perfect for next year's Halloween Feast at Hogwarts, appear, the trio ignores this group and rushes through large doors.

They enter the First district and head upstairs, past the Accessories shop and over to Cid, who is standing next to an empty market stall.

"Cid, I need to go back to Hollow Bastion." Sora states as soon as they stop in front of him.

"I don't think I can let you do that, kid. The Heartless are multiplying by the minute. They'd eat your ship up." Cid grumbles softly, rubbing a thumb across his nose as he speaks.

"Now there's a responsible adult. Maybe not one who knows the whole story, but at least someone who is willing to share responsibility with others."

A few years ago it would have really surprised me to hear Jessica talk like that. But after everything that James and Lily helped me to see, I understand where she's coming from.

"Then what can we do?" Sora asks the older blonde.

"Simple. Go around 'em instead of through. install a new navigation gummi and take a new route." Cid answers the young Keyblade Wielder.

"I wish you could have done that on a few other parts of your journey." Sirius sighs.

"Actually, in Agrabah, I did find a secret passageway. I wonder if it was the magic of the Cave of Wonders that kept the movie from showing that."

Sirius sighs in relief, I find myself deeply curious about this Cave of Wonders and the movie continues to play.

"A new gummi? From where?" Sora asks and Cid answers:

"The secret waterway. When I came here 9 years ago, I stored it there incase I ever needed it."

The man turns around and mutters: "Never thought a kind would be the one to use it!"

Sora thanks Cid and the trio head into the Second District. They jump down from the upper platform and before any of the new Heartless can spawn, they enter into the Alleyway.

Here several more of those Halloween-based Heartless as well as a few that wear purple witch hats appear to block their path.

But several powerful strikes from the Keyblade, Shield spins from Goofy and magic attacks from Donald break up each blockade created by the Heartless.

The trio enter the sewer and swim into the Secret Waterway, only to find out that they're not the first ones there.

"How did she get there?" Lily asks worriedly.

"She told me later. Aerith had helped her down there. She thought it might help Kairi calm down as she was apparently still somewhat overwhelmed by all that had happened."

I really can't blame the young girl for this.

Donald and Goofy stay behind in the deeper bits of the water as Sora swims over to where Kairi is standing on the rocky shoreline.

"What a mysterious mural … It's almost hypnotizing." As she says this, she stares into a tunnel that has the depiction of a beautiful sun in the far back of the tunnel's wall.

Sora moves over to the other side of the tunnel. As soon as he arrives, the sun itself lights up and a small globe of light bursts from the center of the painted orb.

As the small burst of light leaves the painting, it changes from a fully visible sun to a crescent moon.

A shudder runs down my back, yet at the same time I'm glad that it's just a crescent moon and that this is only a movie.

At the same time I can't help but feel curious as to whether seeing a full moon on such a large screen might affect me or not.

I decide that, especially with the large group that is here with me, it's better not to try and find out.

Sora holds up both his hands to obtain the small star-shaped bit of light, which turns into a Navi-Gummi as soon as the light hits his hands.

He moves back to where Kairi is still standing and says: "Let's go back and join the others. We should rest up."

"Okay." Kairi agrees.

Sora shouts at Donald and Goofy that they'll take "Merlin's route" back. The dog and duck swim ashore.

As they pass the two friends into the stone archway and staircase behind Kairi, the young girl speaks up.

"A light at the end of the tunnel …"

"Oh, your grandma's story, right?" Sora asks her.

Kairi turns around and the startled look on her face proves that she had been lost in thought, that she had forgotten that Sora was there.

"That's right. We were together."

"You know what's funny?" Sora asks as he moves over to stand closer to the young red-haired girl. And he goes on:

"I looked everywhere for you, but you were with me all along. Finally, we're together, Kairi. Now, it's time to get Riku back."

"Bloody hell, I suck at choice of words." Sora's groan makes us all laugh. And because his words give me a strong sense of nostalgia, I can't help but quip:

"Give yourself a break, kid. You were only fourteen. And even at that age, you did a lot better than that doofus you call a father."

"HEY!"

Sirius shouts, but I ask him: "Am I wrong?"

My answer is an annoyed pout, another classic.

"You think it'll ever be the same again between us? Riku's lost his …"

Riku grimaces at this, yet then Sirius says:

"You know, that really was one of the reasons I was so hesitant to tell James how I felt and that he was my mate by Veela destiny.

And obviously, you both followed into my footsteps. But then again, every group of friends who grow up together from childhood into teenager years into adult life go through this and ask themselves – and each other – questions like this.

The answer? No.

Things change, people change, situations change. Everything in life changes, mostly when we get older. It just depends on how much we let these changes affect our bonds of friendship.

If they're good changes, we should embrace them.

If they're bad changes, we should work hard to eliminate them.

And if we can't, we just have to learn to accept that.

Not always the easiest thing to do, but – still."

I really, genuinely wish that Molly could see and hear Sirius now as this speech would have thrown all her arguments and complaints about him out the window.

Then I silently decide for myself to convince Albus to let me borrow his Pensieve – or maybe take Molly to the Room of Requirements – to show her this memory.

"When I turned into a Heartless, you saved me, remember?"

As Sora says this, the movie screen changes. Instead of Sora and Kairi in the tunnel, it shows Sora with his eyes closed and floating in the middle of a black screen.

"I was lost in the darkness. I couldn't find my way. As I stumbled through the dark, I started forgetting things – my friends, who I was.

The darkness almost swallowed me.

But then I heard I voice – your voice."

Sora opens his eyes as this is said and the movie returns to the duo standing in the Secret waterway. Sora finishes his statement:

"You brought me back."

The movie focuses fully on Kairi as she says: "I didn't want to just forget about you, Sora. I couldn't."

And something about her words gives Sora a realization as he exclaims:

"That's it! Our hearts are connected. And the light from our hearts broke through the darkness. I saw that light. I think that's what saved me.

No matter how deep the darkness, a light shines within. I guess it's more than just a fairy tale."

"Way more." We all turn to Ventus as he says this.

But the boy merely shakes his head and tells us that it's a story for another time.

"Well, let's go."

"She's not serious, is she?" Alicia asks, yet her teammate tells her to just let Kairi be a good friend and to trust Sora to take care of her. Alicia shrugs.

"You can't go." Sora says, even shaking his head.

"Why not?" Kairi asks, her voice full of annoyance.

"Because it's way too dangerous." Sora argues.

Many of us turn to him and he summons his Keyblade as a response.

"That's not going to be your argument for everything, is it?" James asks his son.

Sora shrugs and says: "Not just mine, really. It's kind of a trouble magnet, really."

"See, I told you guys. I don't go looking for trouble, it find me. I may not have had a Keyblade up until now, but it's still a fact."

Many of us burst out laughing at Jessica as she exclaims this. And while I consider her excuse weak at best, I just let her be and watch the movie.

"Come on, Sora. We made it this far by sticking together. You can't go alone."

Kairi tells her best friend her right hand holding her left elbow behind her back.

"Kairi, even if we're apart, we're not alone anymore. Right?" Sora seems to both try to reassure his best friend and convince her at the same time.

The camera focuses fully on Kairi as she asks: "I can't help?"

"You'd kind of be in my way." I really don't know if Sora is kidding or not, because the camera is still focused on Kairi, who giggles and consents.

"Okay. You win."

Then the camera turns to waist height for both of them, with Sora's right side on the left of the screen and Kairi's left on the right.

Kairi grabs Sora's hand and puts something in it. This something is shown to be a star-shaped object made of flower petals with cross-stitches holding the petals together and a small woven band at the top. A face is also drawn on the top petal.

"It's my lucky charm. Be sure to bring it back to me."

And as she says this, she leans forward and puts her hands in her sides.

Sora smiles and takes a firm hold of the charm as she assures her: "Don't worry. I will."

The camera moves to a much further angel, showing the both of them as well as the shore line they're standing on. It slowly moves from left to right as Kairi asks:

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Sora reassures her before the camera returns to focus on Kairi's face.

"Don't ever forget. Wherever you go, I'm always with you."

Then, as the two of them want to head up the staircase, Sora notices something.

"Hey, Donald! Goofy! Get down here! I found another White Trinity!" He shouts up the staircase.

The duck and dog run down and the trio put the tip of Sora's Keyblade and Donald's Staff up against Goofy's shield.

Magic erupts from this union and a chest appears within the center of their triangle. Sora taps it open and two items pop out.

A star-shaped gem and a keychain.

Sora catches the latter, while Donald catches the former. Sora's eyes widen and he mutters:

"Wow, this one's powerful."

And he quickly switches the keychain on his Keyblade for the new one.

Then, as the group of four head up the staircase, the screen fades to black.

Yet when the movie resumes, it looks strange and worrisome. A path made of sand that turns to the right halfway through is shown in the top left corner and slowly moves across the screen.

And while there is no voice, dialogue shows up at the bottom. Someone calling:

"Sora … Kairi …"

"Wait, is this?" Sora asks shocked. We all turn to him, but the only hint he gives that he understands this strange scene is him tightly grabbing hold of Riku's hand.

And that instantly helps me to understand. We're about to watch what Riku went through while he was in the Realm of Darkness.

Instantly all our eyes are glued to the screen.

The pathway keeps turning all over the length and width of the screen until it comes to cover the better lower half of the screen.

And while footsteps are now heard, there is still no sound of a voice. Yet the dialogue is still there.

"Is this the afterworld?"

And finally Riku enters the frame, yet he stumbles and almost falls as he walks. And the movie again has moments of slow-motion – or perhaps it moves erratically to emphasize how drowsy and dazed Riku is feeling.

A white aura covers the boy as he fists his hand in an effort to keep himself strong. The movie focuses fully on his face as he states:

"I'm not ready. Not yet. Not until I see Sora and Kairi one last time…"

As he says this, the silver white aura fades from his body.

Then another bit of dialogue shows up on screen, actually flashing across the upper half of the screen instead of being down below like before.

"Riku, can you hear me? I'll be there soon."

"Maleficent?" Katie asks in concern. But while Riku shakes his head, he doesn't elaborate.

Riku turns around, a renewed sense of strength shown in his form as he asks: "Who is that?"

The movie shows Riku standing at the far left of the screen and staring into an empty black void. Yet within his void, new dialogue shows:

"I have the other Keyblade – the one that belongs to this world.

I've been trying to get through to you, but the Darkness in your heart kept me away."

As this person speaks, the camera turns around Riku's form with a bit of a tilt. It turns both right and somewhat down as it shows the dark empty void, the path Riku is on and finally Riku himself as he asks:

"Who are you? What's happened to me?"

The camera moves and tilts itself to look at Riku from down near his ankles. And within the dark void above and behind him new dialogue appears:

"Your heart won the battle against the darkness, but it was too late for your body."

The camera keeps moving and turning to the left and up, now showing Riku from the right, his face still aimed at the same dark void and turned away from the screen.

And from his feet down to the floor, new dialogue appears: "That's why you're here – in this place of Darkness where hearts are gathered."

For a moment it looks as if the screen will fade to black. But it doesn't and Riku turns to look down at the floor as he asks:

"So what do I do?"

The camera angle changes and turns to look at Riku from the back, showing all of us the long sandy path that twist and turns and seems to go up an invisible hill or something.

And again, in the top of the screen, dialogue appears:

"The Door of Darkness will open soon,

But it's a door we can't enter.

It has to be closed from both sides.

To do this, you need two keys

And two hearts."

"You're kidding, right? There's no way they can just expect you to stay in there. That's the Realm of Darkness!"

Lily snaps angrily and James mutters: "Augusta is going to give whoever that is a piece of her mind if they ever meet, that's for sure."

"And I'll gladly give them a piece of mine as an appetizer." Lily growls. I notice that most of the gang from the other realm cringes at this and realize that they know this person.

This intrigues me as the movie continues.

"Maybe you're here for the same reason I am.

Maybe it was fate."

"Outside of Lady Destiny, SCREW FATE!"

James, Lily and Sirius all chorus with Jessica at the end.

This startles the girl, but then they all burst out laughing.

"Fate, huh? You seem to know everything, don't you?" The movie is fully focused on Riku's upper torso as he mockingly asks these questions.

"Thank you!" The same group choruses. Yet while Sirius, Lily and James are looking at the screen, Jessica is looking at our Riku directly. This startles the young man and Sora snickers at his reaction.

"Then tell me:

Are Sora and Kairi okay?"

The movie focuses solely on the empty void that is all around the sandy path. Yet as new dialogue appears, an image of Sora is seen running closer and closer.

With a shock I realize that this isn't the void around Riku, but an image of how Riku sees Sora within himself, within his mind or perhaps even his heart.

"Don't you feel the echoes of their hearts?

You already know the answer.

Look inside your own heart."

And I get proven right as the movie shows Riku's face, a calm, relaxed smile on his face and his eyes closed.

He opens them and states: "Okay."

Before the whole screen gets covered in a bright white light, indicating the end of the scene.

When the movie resumes itself, Sora, Donald and Goofy are back with Cid and the man says:

"You found it? All right, I'll go fix up your ship."

The man leaves and the screen fades to black. As the movie resumes, Cid walks back.

"All set! You can get going any time. Kid, I gotta say, I wish you didn't have to face all this danger."

"You and me both!"

James and Sirius chorus.

The trio thanks Cid and jump down the platform before they run for the huge doors that lead out of Traverse Town.

As they enter the Gummi Ship, the camera changes back to computer view as we've started calling it.

Chip is shown at the top left of the screen and he says: "There's a new warp hole near Traverse Town."

Dale appears and replies: "I wonder where it leads. Hmm. Some weird power is emanating from the worlds."

And before they vanish from the screen, Chip states: "Might be worth revisiting some places again."

"We actually did that. I guess, in video game terms, you can say that we grinded levels to become stronger. I wonder if – ah."

Sora laughs at the end of his explanation.

We look at the screen and the movie seems to have changed drastically. The speed of the movie has increased amazingly and only short scenes are shown.

The Gummi ship flying from world to world and the trio fighting off against some of the toughest heartless there as they traverse through them.

"Yep. A training montage. Classic." Lily grins. I vow to ask her to tell us more about these later and watch the movie.

Finally, after about twenty minutes of this montage, the movie slows down in speed again as the Gummi ship arrives at Hollow Bastion.

The trio disembark and arrive back where they started; at the Rising Falls. There Beast seems to have been waiting for them.

"Where's Belle?"

Sora asks and the Beast answers:

"Still in the castle."

The camera aims slightly upward and shows the group of four standing on the right of the screen as well as a good portion of the castle in the far back, the rest of the castle blocked by the rising falls and the stone platforms.

"Against her will?" Goofy asks concerned.

The camera focuses on Beast who answers:

"No, I think she stayed for a reason.

The other princesses are inside as well."

The camera is aimed at Donald and Sora, with Sora the forefront, yet it's also aimed down, showing the top of Donald's beak as he wonders: "I wonder why?"

"Let's go ask them."

Sora suggests and Beast replies:

"You may need my strength.

I'll go with you."

And so the group of four head up and to the castle. Yet instead of them heading for the Lift Stop, they head for the library.

There, while Beast walks ahead of them and they find a woman who is standing in front of the very first bookcase that is situated at the upper floor.

I recognize the young woman as the one who was shown to regain her heart earlier on.

"Belle!"

Beast exclaims as the young woman turns to face him. He moves over to her and the two embrace as they are about to start dancing or something.

Yet then Belle notices that they have company and while she remains close to Beast, she says:

"You've come to seal the Keyhole, right?

Please, be careful. The darkness is raging deep inside.

We've been holding it back, but we can't hold out much longer."

"That's incredible. They've been held captive for weeks if not months and still they try their best to keep the darkness at bay and the worlds safe.

Anyone else would have just tried to get home as quickly as possible, just to forget the ordeal these young women have been through."

Lily mutters softly. I can't help myself, I just know that Albus is going to love hearing about this.

"To be honest, while they were born Princesses Pure of Heart, they lost that power after all of this.

It was passed on. Kairi really is the only one who kept her power, but that's because she chose to be a Guardian of Light and a Keyblade wielder."

"So they're back to their ordinary selves?" Jordan asks, but Sora laughs and says:

"Oh trust me, there's nothing ordinary about Belle or Jasmine. You'll see during my second journey."

And while I hope that somehow we'll be able to learn of this, when the time comes, we continue watching the movie.

"We'll take care of it."

Sora assures Belle. The young brunette woman smiles and says:

"This is for you. Use it for the face the Darkness, as the Beast has."

And she hands him a keychain with a rose at the end.

Sora seems to study it, yet then he tells her that his current blade is stronger. Belle accepts this and states: "I just want you to stay safe to the best of your ability."

Sora nods and the trio leaves, waving goodbye to Beast.

AN. I'm implementing a new way to skip through the traveling between parts of a world. It's to make this whole thing easier to write and read.

Travel Skip

The trio reach the Castle Chapel where they first fought Maleficent. Yet instead of the evil fairy, they find the other five princesses who are standing in two groups on either side of the wider part of the chapel.

Sora quickly passes over the safe point to regain his health and his magic and then approaches two beautiful blonde women dressed in gorgeous blue ballgowns.

"The one on the left is called Cinderella and the one on the right is called Aurora, though she's also known as Briar Rose."

Katie introduces the two. And when we notice that Terra, Aqua and Ventus are nodding, Terra explains: "We met them during our own travels. We went to their worlds."

We turn to Sora, but the young man shakes his head. I shrug and we all turn back to the movie.

"We've been waiting for you, Keyblade Master." The one called Cinderella states.

Sora seems genuinely worried and confused as he asks: "Where's Ansem?"

"Gone." Cinderella answers him before the other, Aurora, continues:

"When the Keyhole appeared, darkness poured out of it.

It swallowed Ansem, and he disappeared."

"Though Ansem is gone, the flood of darkness hasn't stopped.

We're working together to hold it back."

Cinderella continues where her fellow blonde left off.

And Aurora, who seems genuinely frightened, states:

"I cannot forget the look on his face.

As the darkness engulfed him, he was smiling."

"That is just sick and wrong on so many levels."

Angelina shudders. Yet Sora grimaces and says:

"Just wait, it'll get worse near the end."

I'm really unsure if I even want to know.

Sora turns to the other three princesses and heads over to them.

"You already met Jasmine, obviously."

Sora nods at Katie's statement and tells her that they met Alice already as well. Then Aqua, somewhat, steals Katie's thunder as she says:

"And the one in the center of the group is Snow White. I met her during my travels." Terra and Ven nod to indicate that they did the same before we resume watching.

"Sora, please hurry! Darkness is pouring from the Keyhole."

Alice continues:

"It's all we can do just to hold back the Darkness."

And Snow White finishes:

"I don't know how long we can manage even that."

Yet Sora reassures them all:

"All right, I'm on my way."

Snow White replies:

"We're counting on you, Keyblade Master.

In the meantime, we'll do what we can, too."

"Why do they keep calling you that?" Alicia asks Sora, who shrugs and says:

"At the time, I was the only Keyblade Wielder they knew." This answer makes logical sense, even if the teacher within me disagrees.

Sora thanks the three young ladies and heads into the passageway that leads to the highest platform of the Lift Stop.

There, and inside the Grand Hall, they encounter a lot of really large Heartless, such as the Knights and Huge Bodies. Witch-like Heartless seem to accompany the latter group each time they spawn.

Yet Sora, Donald and Goofy, who obviously grow stronger from these fights, win against each of these Heartless with a reduced amount of effort.

And as the trio head up the first staircase, Sora stops, turns around and looks up before he says: "Hey, there are chests on those upper platforms."

And after a fight against another Knight Heartless, the trio gain access to two chests, one that contains a dark gem and another that contains a Keychain with a dark crown at the end.

Sora, again, compares the keychain to the one attached to his current Keyblade and mutters: "Wow, they're both really, really strong."

He puts the dark crown keychain in his pocket and the trio want to head for the keyhole, when Sora spots another one.

He rushes over and when three little puppies jump out, he mutters: "That's got to be the last of them. Pongo and Perdita are going to be thrilled when I check up on them later."

Donald and Goofy nod and the trio enter the Keyhole.

The inside of it is actually a realm that is covered in the same coloring as the Keyhole itself. And like water, the colors seem to float around the realm and the room in obscure and confusing ways and patterns – or perhaps without any real pattern.

Yet before I can fully grasp the weirdness of this realm, I see something that shocks and horrifies me.

It starts out as a mere vision or an apparition, but as it takes another few steps, a huge Behemoth of a Heartless, with the Heartless emblem on its chest, appears.

The beast's tusks grow up towards the sky and bend forward near the tips. The beast has a horn on the top of its head and small, beady yellow eyes.

Most of its head and shoulders is black-furred, as are its lower legs and the lower part of its stomach. The rest of its body is an off-colored white.

At one point as the camera switches between its appearance, Sora, Donald and Goofy standing ready and it taking a battle position, another Heartless emblem is slightly visible behind the beast and appears to be on fire.

With a shock I realize that this must be the Keyhole that is emitting all that darkness and that this beast is the Keyhole's guardian.

At first Sora, Donald and Goofy really struggle against the beast, even with their incredible amount of strength, potions and healing spells.

But then, with Sora tries to make an areal strike, he hits the beast on the horn and it instantly becomes obvious that this is the Heartless' weak spot.

Sora conveys this to his friend and tells them that they need to get onto the being's back.

The trio runs around the huge being to its back, which confuses me, but then I see that the being's hind legs are shorter than its front's legs.

Instantly, right as Sora uses this difference in height to his advantage, I get their strategy. And the sight of them now just struggling to stay on the beast's back, but otherwise easily attacking and weaking the huge Behemoth has me breath a sigh of relief.

And when the being is defeated, it fades away in the same way it appeared. Yet as it fades, a ring falls from the tip of its horn and Sora catches and pockets it.

The trio then head over to the burning Heartless Emblem.

"Now let's go and seal that big Keyhole." Goofy encourages his friend.

Yet before Sora can summon his Keyblade, a voice comes from the fiery green doorway behind the trio.

"Sora. You did it."

Sora turns around and the trio walks back through. And on the platform where he fought Riku-Ansem and freed Kairi's heart, he finds Leon, Aerith and Yuffie waiting for him.

"Okay, how did they get up there?" Jordan asks, his voice sounding full of disbelief. Sora shrugs and tells her to just wait.

"What are you guys doing here?" Sora asks, clearly sharing in Jordan's confusion.

"We came in Cid's ship." Yuffie, who is seated on the balcony banister on the left answers him.

"This is our childhood home. We wanted to see it again." Aerith continues the explanation.

"It's in worse shape than I feared. It used to be so peaceful…" Leon mutters, more to himself than to Sora, as he looks around.

I can definitely emphasize with the younger adult as I felt the same way the first time I laid eyes on Godric's Hollow, a few years after that fateful night.

"Don't worry. If we defeat Ansem, all should be restored. Including your island." Aerith reassures both Leon and Sora, who exclaims:

"Really?" Aerith nods, yet Yuffie lowers her head and says:

"But, it also means goodbye." Sora turns to her as Aerith explains:

"Once the worlds are restored, they'll all be separate again."

Yuffie finishes it all up and softly mutters:

"Everyone will go back to where they came from."

"Then I'll visit you guys with the gummi ship."

Sora says, trying to cheer her up.

Yet the group seems to know something he doesn't.

"It's not that simple." Leon says as Yuffie turns her head around and asks:

"Before all this, you didn't know about other worlds, right?"

And before Sora can answer, Aerith continues: "Because every world was isolated. Impassable walls divided them."

"The Heartless destroyed those walls. But if the worlds return, so will the walls."

"Which means gummi ships will be useless." Leon ends the explanation.

Axel turns to Roxas and Xion with a cheeky grin on his face and says: "Funny, I didn't notice a single wall while we travelled between worlds."

Yet Riku, who is also grinning despite the somber tone of the movie, rolls his eyes and argues: "You guys were using other methods and you know it."

Axel shrugs, his two friends giggle and laugh and the movie continues.

"So you're saying we'll never …" Sora seems unable to finish the sentence.

Aerith nods and Yuffie, Sora and Aerith all lower their heads in regret.

Then the movie changes angle and focuses solely on Leon and Aerith as Leon says:

"We may never meet again, but we'll never forget each other."

And Aerith, who lies a hand on her heart, continues:

"No matter where we are, our hearts will bring us together again."

And while the whole scene feels wholesome and heartfelt, Yuffie pulls a stunt similar to the twins as she jokes:

"Besides, I couldn't forget you even if I wanted to." And the fact that she waves her hand in front of her face while she says this completes the joke.

And while it's unclear if Sora's joining in on the joke or not, he asks her: "What's that supposed to mean?"

Then Donald calls out to him: "Sora!"

And Goofy shouts:

"Hurry! Come and close the Keyhole!"

Leon speaks up and says:

"Sora, good luck."

Sora turns to nod at him and then runs for his friends and the Keyhole.

Again the trio reach the Keyhole in the weirdly colored space. The Keyhole itself is now alight with purple and white flames.

Sora aims his Oathkeeper Keyblade at the Keyhole and a beam of light connects the two before the sound of a lock falling into place is heard.

The line of the emblem lights up and sparkles before the whole Keyhole – the symbol first and the actual Keyhole after – disappears.

The screen fades to black in the shape of an actual keyhole and when the movie resumes, Sora, Donald and Goofy are again standing in front of five of the seven princesses.

Alice takes the lead as she says: "Thank you, Sora. I think the darkness has begun to weaken."

Jasmine takes over and says: "But I can feel a powerful darkness growing somewhere far away."

Aurora looks worried as she says: "It's the heart of the darkness. It must be where Ansem went."

And Sora firmly tells the group: "Then we'll take the gummi ship and deal with both Ansem and the Heartless."

"A worthy answer, Keyblade Master. We offer this power to aid your battle." Cinderella compliments him.

The five of them stretch their arms out wide and a bit of light, that looks to be burning brightly, shines from all of them.

Sora lets the bursts of light enter him from his own chest and whispers: "Wow thanks, my fire magic feels much stronger now."

The five Princesses nod, a smile on most of their faces.

"Sora, your courage can bring back our worlds." Snow White tells the young brunette.

"Once the darkness is gone, all should return to its original state." Aurora adds to this hopeful statement.

"Kairi will be back on the island?" Sora asks the five of them.

"Most certainly. And you should be, too." Cinderella answers him.

Yet Sora argues: "I can't go home 'til I find Riku and the king."

Then he turns to Donald and Goofy and says: "Let's go check up on Belle."

And the three of them head out of the Castle Chapel and down to the library.

Yet when they get there, they find that Belle's not alone.

Leon is standing in front of a bookcase that is on the left in front of the staircase heading up to the upper floor of the library.

"This was once Ansem's castle. He was widely respected as a wise man. But Darkness took him. He began experimenting with people's hearts.

Heh, some wise man. So much suffering and ruin, and for what?"

Sora clearly doesn't have an answer and so Leon just turns back to the bookcase.

"Why do I get the feeling there's more to this story than meets the eye?"

Jessica ponders softly, almost to herself. Sora smirks at her and says:

"There is. I found out myself halfway through my second journey."

Again my hope that we will get to join in on this grows as the movie resumes.

Sora moves over to the bookcase that is standing parallel with the staircase where he find Aerith. "Sora, you should read this." She tells him.

"Read what?" Sora asks confused and Aerith answers:

"It's the rest of Ansem's report. Maleficent must have collected it."

And with that she hands him four more papers numbered 2, 4, 6 & 10.

"Well, that's certainly interesting. But, well, I don't know about you guys, but I've gotten enough of an information overload for a bit. Anyone else care for another break?"

Yet Roxas argues Sirius' suggestion and asks: "Would you mind if we keep watching? If anything happens, we'll be sure to let you know or call you guys."

The Black-Potter family looks at each other and Jessica answers: "I wouldn't mind. I just want some alone time to recover and get used to my new tails."

Everyone nods and the family moves into the Special room on the left.

Yeah, yeah, I know.

More will happen. There's another tournament and there's the whole fight against Xemnas. But I'm just going to let the current visiting group mention that to the family once they get back.

And don't worry, I won't put in another break chapter. I'm just going to let Remus tell us how much time has passed before the lot of them return.

Though that will be next time,

Venquine1990

PS. Sorry that the end of this whole thing didn't fit into this month's update. I didn't start writing until the 25th of April.