Special Thanks to kawaii uke27, A guest, Howl3, Mlanie762, and acrossthegalaxies! Your reviews are what inspired me to continue this story!

Reviews are life!

I do not own KH despite the number of years I've dedicated to it.

They waded through the sand as they made their way to Agrabah. Lea walked in silence as he barely registered Sora's rambling about the people he was excited to see. As he walked, he looked around in case he happened to see anything which could point them in the right direction. He wiped the sweat from his brow, cursing his black cloak for attracting the heat even more.

"We're not really here, yet I'm dying of thirst." Lea gave a dry laugh. "Unfair."

Riku rolled his eyes and replied, "We're almost there Lea, just wait a little." Sora paused in his storytelling to grab onto Riku's arm. "I'm really thirsty too Riku, I wanna get there sooner so… I'll race ya!" Not even bothering to wait for a response he took off giggling as he ran.

Really, they're going to run in this heat!? Lea looked at Riku in disbelief. Riku glanced at Lea, an exasperated yet amused look on his face. He shrugged as if to say 'That's Sora...' then took off after his friend. Lea stared at them both still unable to comprehend how they were willing to run in this heat.

I'd rather not get left behind…or out done. Determined to beat them both, Lea took off with a smirk on his face. I'll beat both of these kids.

Arriving at Agrabah Lea collapsed on the ground of the bazar out of breath feeling as if he had fought a hundred heartless.

"I won." Riku huffed out not looking too worn out, but for his slightly heavier breathing. Sora sputtered out "Get Real! I so won that! Back me up Axel!"

Lea sat up slowly and stared at them both murderously. "Don't...Ever…Make…Me…Do…That...Again" He laid back down as he struggled to catch his breath. He closed his eyes then opened them as he realized something wasn't quite right. He shot up, interrupting the banter between his two fellow Keyblade wielders. Lea spun around cautiously. Why is everything so quiet…there's no one around.

"What is it Lea?" Riku asked, noting his odd behavior.

Lea turned to him, a grimace on his face. "Why is there no one around? There should be at least the people in Roxas' and Sora's memories. Yet there's nothing. The place is abandoned…"

Riku furrowed his eyebrows contemplating the situation. "Well…it doesn't really matter at the moment. We'll keep our eyes open, but we have to keep moving forward- "

Sora interrupted his childhood friend exclaiming, "Let's go to the palace! I bet they'll be something there!" Riku gave a nod of assent as he said, "It's a good place to start looking as anyway I guess." Lea crossed his arms over his chest, still feeling worried by the lack of presence in the world.

"Okay, but I still think there's something really off. I feel it in my gut man." He patted his stomach for emphasis before beginning to walk off towards the palace, it's magnificence seen even from their slight distance.

The three quickly made their way to the gates. Lea saw a woman dressed in a revealing blue outfit. Sora seemed about to shout a greeting when he stopped. "Maybe she doesn't know me…if she's just a memory like in castle oblivion... Ah man! It'd suck to have everyone forget me again!" He exclaimed with a pout.

His question was answered as Lea saw the woman turn towards them. She looked at them one by one, when her gaze reached Sora, a smile grew on her face as she ran over. "Sora!" She shouted. Happy to be recognized Sora gave her a smile and replied. "Heya Jasmine!"

She looked at Lea and Riku then turned to Sora. "Who are your friends? Where are Donald and Goofy?" Sora placed a hand on Riku's shoulder and introduced him. "This is my friend Riku! Remember when I was looking for someone! This is him!" He then stretched to place his other hand on Lea's shoulder. "And this is Axel. He's actually looking for someone too! Have you seen a guy with blonde hair, blue eyes? Kinda pale and quiet too?" Lea shrugged Sora's arm off and said, "Actually, my name's Lea" he emphasized."Got it memorized? Anyway uh..."

"Jasmine" She replied

"PRINCESS JASMINE" Sora clarified.

Wow really, who cares Sora, not me. "Thanks kid." Lea deadpanned. "Anyway, you seen a grumpy shorty around. His name's Roxas by the way, he might be wearing an outfit like mine..." He stopped as she saw recognition in her eyes. "You seen him!?" He asked unable to keep the twinge of hope and slight desperation out of his voice.

Jasmine bit her lip and replied, "I saw someone with a cloak like yours run into the Alley... I couldn't see his face, as it was hidden..."

"No, this is great! It's gotta be him!" Lea shouted, ecstatic at the piece of information. "Thanks for your help princess!" Lea took off towards the location she had specified.

Roxas, I'm coming! I promised I'd find you just wait for me.

"LEA"
"AXEL"

Lea stopped abruptly turning around to face the two. "What? Come on!"

Riku ran up to him and stated, a grim look on his face. "Don't rush off into this, we don't know if it's him. Who else could it be! It's gotta be Roxas!"

Riku frowned at him. "Still, just remember what Master Yensid said, this is unknown territory. Anything could happen."

Lea rolled his eyes and placed his hands on his hips. "I know that oh wise Keyblade Master. I'm being careful okay?" With that he turned and ran off once again.

It's gotta be him. It just has to be.

Just as they were about to head into the alley, shadows emerged around them.

Their Keyblades materialized at once. "Heartless!" Sora shouted. Not now, I don't have time for this! Lea screamed in his mind. Just as they all prepared to strike they paused in confusion.

"...What are these.." Riku whispered.

The beings before them were no heartless or nobodies, and definitively not dream eaters. These creatures shrouded in darkness with glowing yellow eyes attacked at once.