A\N: heres another short chapter to advance the plot. im giving up guys

Eleanor blinked the spots out of her eyes as the light magic cleared and Agrabah gave way to the Gummi Ship interior, and all its flashing and buzzing familiarity. Sora's hand was still wrapped around hers for a moment before he smiled and his fingers slipped from hers so he could check the flashing and buzzing panels at the front end of the ship. Donald and Goofy made their way to his sides and when they all had their backs turned she finally let out a nervous shaking breath. She ran her fingers through her hair and bit her lip.

"You okay? You've sure been spacing out a lot lately." Sora's voice was closer than she remembered. She was sure that when she hadn't followed him he had come back across to her. His hand slipped back into hers and he smiled. "Come on let's just go sit down. Donald is looking where we need to set a course next and-"

She stole a glance over at Donald and Goofy before turning her full attention on him. "It was a graveyard."

He gave her a strange look.

"What Xemnas showed me. He took me to a graveyard for thousands of keyblade wielders, a battle that took place in the ancient past." She watched as he glanced over to the others as well before leaning in closer to her. "He told me there was darkness in you, and me, but hearing about you is what broke me. I think the doubts.. It was too much with the shadows. He told me you'd surrendered to the darkness before. Told me you'd do it again without regard."

He swallowed a lump in his throat before he nodded. "I sacrificed myself for my friend. I don't think that exactly qualifies as surrender. It's part of that long story from before, but I was eaten alive by the heartless. The shadows were everywhere. It hurt a lot. But my friends, they pulled me back to the light." He pulled her hands up towards his chest. "You gotta understand. I didn't keep it from you on purpose or anything. If you had asked I would have told you."

She looked up from his hands. "Yes I know but all it took was a seed of doubt. Xemnas is stronger than anything we can handle now. Even together. And the Nobody from the Cave of Wonders is stronger than any others we have seen aside from Xemnas."

"And what about the one who helped out?"

"Axel?" She shook her head. "He seems capable but it's hard to say where his loyalties lie exactly. He made sure I was safe, and kept his promise. But, he did also say he was looking for someone who couldn't be found and he needed you alive to do it. Which sounds.. Vaguely threatening."

"Oh yeah, sure that's comforting." Sora rolled his bright eyes. He hesitated. "Do you trust him?"

She sucked in a breath. "Tentatively and until he gives me a reason not to."

"Then so do I. That's something right? We've got a ally on the inside. More or less." He paused. "And you're good?"

Eleanor managed a smile. She was searching his face again, tracing the familiar lines with her blue eyes and fighting the urge to run her hands through his hair. "I am okay though. Everything is just getting jumbled up. It's hard to keep it all straight. First I was overwhelmed by the worlds and now I am thinking about.. everything else. I lost sight of what was important for a minute, but I think I've found my light again."

"Try not to think about it all at once." Sora touched her cheek lightly. "That get's overwhelming fast. You know we're all here to help with the burden and I'm not, er, that is I'm not going anywhere at all."

She smiled and leaned into his warm touch. "Yes I know. I'm already feeling more solid thank you."

He hesitated before he touched his forehead to hers with a grin. "You're welcome."

"Hey we gotta problem over here!" Donald's voice squeaked and they both turned.

"Yeah you might wanna come over here." Goofy turned as Eleanor and Sora stood and made their way across the deck of the Gummi ship.

Sora peered over Donald's shoulder as he clicked away on the console. "And what's the problem?"

After a few clicks of Goofy's fingers on the beeping panels, a map of the worlds popped up on the screen with a few bright red lines criss-crossed across the stars. Donald waved his hands up at the map. "Looks like Chip and Dale have been tracking the movements of the Organization somehow. These red lines are where they've been coming and going, er I think."

"And the shadowy world up top?" Eleanor pointed up to the top of the cluster of world and stars, where a blurry shadow was cast above another smaller shadowy world. "What's that then? And the big thing behind it. I've never seen anything like that on the map before."

"The one that's completely covered up is Twilight Town. That's where we woke up, and there's folks we know there." Goofy said with a worried look on his face. "Don't know what's wrong with it but that's really worryin'. I don't think we can get there until whatever that darkness is clears up."

Sora hummed and crossed his arms over his chest. "We'll have to worry about Twilight Town when we can get there. We'll check back on it later. But what's the other?"

"No idea what it is. Never seen anything like that before. The darkness is completely blocking our scanners but.." Donald clicked a few more buttons and the map zoomed in closer to one of the worlds with a red line leading up to it. "This is the bigger problem."

She let out a breath. "I recognize that world. Is that..?"

Goofy's hands touched Eleanor's shoulders. "Mmhm. Looks like there's an Organization member botherin' Jack back in Port Royal. You feelin' up to goin' back so soon? I know we've had a rough couple of days but looks like your home world needs some help. Do ya think you can handle it?"

Eleanor laced her fingers together as she felt her heart stutter a little. "Jack's in trouble, is he?"

Sora leaned in a little closer towards the screen and touched his chin with jittery fingers. "We're close enough to get there fast right? Then let's get there before anything bad happens. We'll be ahead of the curve this time, there won't be anything the Organization can do there without us knowing." He turned back to Eleanor and held his hand out to her. "What d'ya say? Time to get back to work finally, right?"

She bit her lip and stole a glance to Donald and Goofy. They were waiting for her, Donald's foot was tapping impatiently on the floor of the ship but he waited for her to let out the breath she had been holding. "Yes, you're right. Let's go. Quickly. If there are heartless then we must bring light back to the world, right?"

Goofy gave her a warm smile. "Atta girl."

Donald nodded and tapped at the keyboard and the Gummi ship zipped into the stars. It was a strange sense of normalcy, even if they were returning to Port Royal and Eleanor was terrified it would be too much. She was scared that the worst might be happening but she was trying her best not to think about it. Sora seemed to sense her anxiety and took her hand. He pulled her back to the chair they had been sharing and smiled. It felt like it had been forever since they were nestled together in the tight space, but he managed to slip an arm around her shoulders and held her close. She sighed and settled into his side.

"We're gonna get there soon. Everything will be fine." He muttered like a mantra over and over again in her ear as the Gummi ship sped towards her world.

The flash of light that brought them back to Eleanor's home world was the hardest to open her eyes from. Somehow the salty smell of the sea and the sting of chilled fog forced her eyes to remain shut. She had dreamt of it too many times to face the reality of being back in Port Royal, not after the shadows of Hollow Bastion. There was a part of her that was worried that if she opened her eyes the opposite would be true, that she would still be dreaming of Sora's brilliant eyes, none of it would have been true and she was about to be arrested by the guards. It took her a long while, and Sora's comforting hand on the small of her back to remind her he was actually there, for her to crack her eyes open slowly. The moonlit fort where everything had started was immediately overwhelming and she fell to her knees, tears pricking at her eyes. She ran her eyes over the rain-slicked stones under her knees and looked up to Sora.

"Hey, hey! It's fine." He knelt in front of her and took her hands in his. A smile lit his face. "I'm here and so are you."

She was trying to stop the tears from welling up in her eyes as her hands wrapped around his. "You brought me home. I thought for a moment that I'd dreamed it all."

He gave her a tight smile. "Yeah, nope. It was all real."

She turned up to him and ran her fingertips along his jaw. "This place gave me you too. That's more important to me now"

He leaned into her fingers. "It sure did." He was quiet for a moment before he nodded to the stairs at the other end of the stone.

The sounds of shouts and swords clanging against one another made them all turn. Donald and Goofy's weapons were immediately in their hands. They stole a quick glance backwards. Sora's bright eyes narrowed towards Port Royal. Absentmindedly, he helped Eleanor back up and she steadied herself before he took a few steps towards Donald and Goofy.

"Someone needs our help? Those sounds are coming from the town?" His voice was low. "Like last time?"

Goofy nodded quickly. "Just like last time."

Sora turned back to Eleanor, who had steadied herself and wiped all the tears from her face. "You good?"

She nodded. "I'm fine, I just got a little overwhelmed I'm afraid. The Organization is here though. That's all that's important." She tried to smile but she knew Sora could see through the veil of confidence without even trying. "Time to get to work."

She kept her eyes on Sora as they rushed down the moss covered stone steps. His hand was still warm and solid and wrapped around hers as she half slipped and half tripped off the last step. Port Royal was too familiar but it was as though there was a haze over her memories. Everything was hard to reach and she couldn't quite think straight. They skidded to a stop in the wet dirt in front of a raging battle and she almost ran into his back as they all stood to assess the situation. A group of Nobodies had surrounded the swordsman, but he was losing against the otherworldly monsters. However the Nobodies were somewhat commonplace at this point, but what was shocking were a pair of skeletal pirates they thought had been completely taken care of with the end to the cursed treasure the last time they were in Port Royal.

"Jack?" Sora shouted into the mess of ghostly white nobodies and pirates. "You uh.. Doing okay over there?" He bounced on his toes a little as he spoke.

"What's goin' on here?" Goofy cupped his hands over his mouth to make his voice louder than the clanging of the swords.

"And I thought these pirates were all gone." Donald crossed his arms over his chest.

"Yes? I mean no. Who..? Zola right? I am certainly not doing well. Care to assist." His dark eyes turned on the group and met Eleanor's like a lightning strike. "Oh."

"Zola?" Sora said indignantly.

A blast of fire from Donald's wand made quick work of the weak Nobodies and Sora rushed in with his shining weapon to defeat the pirates with the light like they had the first time. Dramatically, Jack strolled out of the sparks and over to the group with an odd look on his face, leaving the fight to the trio and sheathing his sword in a dramatic flurry of fabric and clinking of rings. He looked her over with his sharp eyes but didn't say anything.

"Hello Captain." Eleanor's voice was quiet.

"What did you do to your hair?" He said quickly, his hands floated around his own hair vaguely and a complete deflection of any sort of sentimentality. "It was so long before."

"It got cut off by the leader of the Hun army in China. What else?" Her voice wavered. She took a moment to study his thin form before she rushed forward and threw her arms around his middle. "I missed you so much Jack."

"Oh naturally. Why didn't I think of that meself." Jack's dark eyes avoided hers and he ignored the sentiment again. He glanced over at Sora as he dragged Eleanor along in a quick circle as he turned his critical gaze on him. "And you're.." He waved his arms and hands in his direction. "Shorter than I remember."

Donald and Goofy laughed as he crossed his arms over his chest and let out a breath.

"Sure thanks." Sora rolled his bright eyes.

"Alright. Let go kid. I can't breathe with you clinging like that." Jack pushed the crying girl off of him. In a quick gesture he ran his hands over her hair and let out a breath. "I'm glad you're.. still in one piece etcetera. What brings you back so.. er.. You know I figured you wouldn't be coming back. The whole find your destiny amongst the stars, sacrifice yourself for the kid from your dreams bit sounded pretty final. Er.. Speaking of. Did you bring any treasure?"

She smiled through the tears that were still slipping down her cheeks. "I think you mean, welcome home and good to see you."

"I meant what I said." He smiled, despite himself and his voice dropped as he leant towards her. "He kept you safe?"

"Oh yes." Her voice was breathless. "More than that."

"Hm." He hummed lightly. Just like that the quick conversation was over and he turned back to the others. "Well tell me later, we're about to have company." He nodded over to the dock where Elizabeth had crept down from the Black Pearl. She eyed the empty space and sighed.

"Are the monsters gone?" Elizabeth asked quietly as she joined them on the rain soaked dock. Her long hair and her floral printed dress blew lightly in the breeze and she smiled. "Oh Jack you didn't tell me we had guests!" She rushed towards them all. "Hello Sora! Good to see you again, even if it is because of these monsters."

Sora shrugged. "We always seem to show up when there's monsters so we're sorta used to it by now. It's good to see you too."

"Where's Will?" Goofy asked, looking around a little as if he would come down from the boat too.

"Monsters. Er, and William. That reminds me. We could use that key of yours since it's here." Jack strolled forward and flexed his fingers and pointed down to Sora's hands. "We seem to have a problem-"

"Will has gone back to the Isla de Muerta and has not returned." Elizabeth crossed her arms over her chest and gave Jack an impatient sigh. "Will you accompany me on a short trip there and back to check on him? Jack isn't to be trusted considering he insists he had nothing to do with the cursed treasure becoming a problem again isn't that right Captain? I cannot trust him until he at least tells me the truth."

"That is an unfair accusation. Me hands are clean in this, metaphorically speaking." Jack started but glanced at his dirt smudged knuckles. "I haven't left Port Royal since the pirates began appearing. Cross me heart."

Eleanor took a half step closer. "You must be good Jack, are you telling the truth?" She whispered.

"I must be nothing."

"Promise you didn't touch that treasure?

"I don't make promises, but I didn't touch that gold."

She searched his face briefly before nodding. "Okay, I believe you. We'll just have to figure out who did then."

"Well, gawrsh. Why did he go back there?" Goofy asked Elizabeth, just loud enough to distract Eleanor and Jack from the scowl that had darkened his features.

"To check on the treasure to be sure it was still there and the cavern still sealed off, as we left it. But that was days ago and he hasn't returned." She sighed. "I fear the worst but I cannot sail alone."

"We can sure help, right Sora?" Donald squeaked.

"That's what we're here for anyway." Goofy grinned as they both turned to Soa.

"Well I'm sure we can help fight but none of us know the way without Jack's compass. I and I know I'm not so good at sailing anyway." He set his hands on his hips and turned his bright eyes on the Captain. "What d'ya say Jack?"

He rolled his dark eyes. "Those bright blue eyes may have sway over me first mate kiddo but they will most certainly not sway me, saavy? I am not a hero and I won't be risking my neck for William Turner again anytime soon. Not after all the trouble it was last time." He paused and wiggled his restless fingers before sighing. "I will however have part in this venture for the sake of the treasure promised me." He added when Eleanor gave him a disappointed look. "But only as the Captain, not fighter and not babysitter, understood? And now if you'll excuse me."

Jack pushed past her and made his way to the Black Pearl which was bobbing lightly in the waves alongside the deck. Donald and Goofy followed quickly and Eleanor turned to Sora.

"There's something off, I don't like it. Something doesn't feel right here. The cursed pirates and the treasure and the Organization." She said as he took her hands in his and pulled her towards the ship. "And my memories too Sora, they're all fuzzy and I don't know what to think. Being here is hugely overwhelming."

"Hey, try not to think about it all at once Eleanor. You're here and solid and everything is okay. And! You get to go back on a ship and maybe you could show me how to steer it again." Sora leaned in closer to her and grinned before tucking a curl behind her ear. "I don't think I remember how."

"I'm certain I don't have my sea legs anymore." She admitted quietly.

Sora stopped suddenly in front of her and he was suddenly incredibly close to her, the bright moonlight bouncing off of his cheeks. "I'm sure you'll be fine."

She searched his eyes, all different shades of blue and shining brighter than she had seen them in a long time. "I missed you." She said quietly.

"I've been right here." He smiled a little before he seemed to get jittery and uncomfortable under her probing gaze and took a half step backwards. "It's gotta be like riding a bike, you just get on and it all comes back right?" His tone was light and had lost the breathy edge and he cleared his throat. "Now come on let's get going before Will gets hurt or something right?"

Eleanor bit her lip and nodded. "Yeah sure."

A few hours dragged by. Jack had set Sora back up at the helm, which is all he wanted. He and Donald and Goofy were all excitedly gathered around together, in an excited huddle, talking about the ship. She was completely entranced by his excitement, almost like they had only just met and she had never seen his eyes lit up. The feeling of the wind in her curls and the mist from the ocean on her face was the most comforting and grounding feeling she had had in a long time. She was feeling solid and present and whole again. She stole a glance back at her friends from where she sat at the bottom stair beside the cabin with her knees pulled up to her chest. They were completely occupied with one another, so when the captain coughed at the huge carved door of the cabin, Eleanor was able to disappear unnoticed inside with him.

"Well let's hear it all then. What are the other worlds like. Come on spill the beans love I don't have all day." Jack's voice had a sharp and almost rude edge to it. He leaned back up against the large desk in the cabin with a thud and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Be nice. I've had a rough couple of days." She stole a quick glance around the cabin of the Black Pearl before she sighed. "You've been being naughty, it's shinier in here than I remember." She picked up a golden cup sitting in a pile of jewelry.

"That is not nearly the point. The point is somethin' has you vexed and if it's the other worlds or that kid I think I have half a mind to keep you here."

"Oh Jack you do care." She hesitated before meeting his probing gaze. "It's not Sora, gosh no he's wonderful. And the other worlds are fine. I just had a bit of a brush with some dark magic." When he didn't say anything she sighed. "The reason we're here is there is an organization of evil people who are collecting hearts and spreading this darkness. The leader took me into this other realm and-"

"And where was the boy when that was happening?"

"Fighting. We were all fighting. I thought it was his fault at first but after everything I realized it wasn't anyone's fault. It was my fault for wandering off." Eleanor's eyes fell back to the golden cup in her hands. "Before that everything was wonderful. I thought I might be.. Well that is to say he was my light. Is my light and I would have done anything for him. I still would. I feel its my destiny to protect him. That's why the key chose me. But just to see his eyes closer, to feel his hands on my hands. The way his heart beats when he's so close.." Her eyes slipped closed.

"Eleanor." Jack warned.

"I'm sorry. I just can't put into words how he makes me feel." She looked up to him with a sympathetic smile. "I'll stick to facts not feelings. We were in a strange world when it happened. We were separated. There was this huge fight with the heartless and nobodies and I was under the protection of the King when I ran off. You know I have a habit of well, running off and getting into trouble."

"The.. King?"

She waved him off. "He's the King of whatever land Donald and Goofy come from. It's not really important."

"Oh of course. Not important at all."

"Trust me. I was taken by the leader of the Organization while Sora and the others were attacked elsewhere. He took me to a dark world where he explained to me that I was never meant to.. Well that is I was never meant to have this blade but there was this ancient war. And someone who escaped the death and destruction gifted it's light to me as some sort of effort to preserve it I suppose and-"

"You've lost me." Jack shook the confused look off his face and took a quick couple of steps towards her. "Listen though. None of that mumbo jumbo matters a lick to me. Just that you feel safe and confident where you are. That boy, as long as he's keeping you safe and that key.. thing.. is helping you fight the darkness then you don't have to explain much else to me."

She opened her mouth to respond when the Black Pearl rocked violently on the waves under them. Somewhere on the deck, scrambling footsteps and a few shouts signaled something was wrong. They exchanged a look and Jack sighed. He pulled his sword and pistol off the desk behind him.

"I suppose we should go check on your friends and be sure they haven't run my ship into anything." Jack sighed again and pushed past her.

"Wait just a moment." She grabbed hold of the back of his jacket. He turned back to her with an impatient expression. "I just wanted to say, that despite everything, I have missed you Jack. Very much."

He rolled his dark eyes. "Yes well, same."

He was gone in a flourish of coats and belts. Eleanor stumbled on to the deck after him only to run face first into Sora's chest as he rushed down to get Jack.

"What's going on?" Jack asked harshly. "We felt a bump. What are you lot doing to my ship."

"Nothing!" Sora exclaimed. His hands subconsciously found Eleanor's elbows. "We were doing just like you showed us when something rocked the boat!"

"We were hoping you could tell us, you are the captain after all!" Donald scrambled down the stairs from the deck above where Goofy was still manning the helm. "We felt a bump and thought we did something wrong."

Jack groaned. "Did you?"

"They didn't do anything, that was all me." A hooded figure at the other end of the deck stood with his arms crossed casually over his chest. "I needed to get your attention somehow and seeing as how you didn't seem to notice my Nobodies trailing you." He sighed when no one spoke. "Stay silent if you want, we'll meet again soon enough. You're all hot on the trail as it were, but it's no use. The hearts will belong to us regardless, I would bet on it."

"Bet on us losing?" Sora asked, taking a quick step in front of Eleanor and towards Jack. In a flash his keybade appeared. "Not likely."

The hooded man paused and let out a long breath. "Just keep running little mice. We have laid out quite a complicated maze for you to traverse. See you soon." With that he was gone through a dark portal.

"The Organization?" Jack asked.

"That'd be them." Sora affirmed.

Eleanor glanced off the deck and the shadow of the Interceptor loomed out of the misty clouds. "Look, we're nearly there." She took a few steps towards the railing and glance back up at Goofy, still dutifully manning the helm with a worried look on his face. "Jack?" She curled her fingers into the carved wood nervously.

"I'll steer us in. I sense our dear William may be in a bit more trouble than he expected." He strolled smoothly up the wooden stairs to relieve Goofy of his duties. Donald followed quickly after him, squeaking something quickly about how he knew Goofy couldn't handle steering the ship anyway.

"Hey you good?" Sora's voice was soft at her ear and set his hand on the small of her back. "I noticed you had a distant look on your face and that's usually not a good thing."

"Yes I'm fine." She set her chin in her hand and leaned onto the railing. "And you? How was being temporary Captain again?"

He laughed before he hopped up onto the railing so he could sit beside her. "Basically the best thing ever?" His hand wrapped around the rigging beside him to keep him balanced.

"Best since the last time?"

"Just about the best." A soft smile lit his face and he took her hand in his. "I can't imagine how much you must have missed all this. The ocean and everything."

She hesitated again. "Yes well, I had someone to make it easier didn't I?"

He flushed. "The ocean where I'm from is so warm." His voice softer then she expected it to be. "We have these beautiful beaches, palm trees and everything. And sometimes the sun is so hot it makes it hurt to walk in the sand without shoes." A soft laugh bubbled out of his chest before he cleared his throat and turned down to her. "I uh, it's pretty different from this ocean. I miss it."

Eleanor shifted her hand so she could lace her fingers in between his. "I know you do."

He slipped down from the railing and touched fingers to her cheek briefly. Warmth flooded her chest and her breath stuttered before he was gone as fast as he had leaned in. She watched him rush up the stairs to help Jack with a delightful flush on his cheeks and a smile. She bit her lip and turned back to the quickly to the quickly approaching ship, bobbing ominously in the waves and let out another long breath.