Sora let out a groan as he came too, the brunette blinking as he woke up.

Mumbling to himself, he rubbed his hand underneath his eyes, his room coming into focus. Through the darkness, he found his alarm clock, the bright red letters reading eleven fifty. Sora raised an eyebrow; what the?

"Right . . . the letter . . ." he yawned, moving slowly to sit up, stretching as he did so.

As much as he didn't want to get up, as much as he didn't want to go wandering around in the forest – unarmed – to meet someone from Organization XIII; he knew that he wanted too . . .  he wanted to know what was going on here.

"He better not try anything," Sora mumbled, pushing himself out of his bed, the cold hardwood floor beneath him.

Still not used to not having his Keyblade and his magic skills around him, his hand moved across his bedside table as he tried to locate his old flashlight. Finding the hard plastic, Sora let out a groan, throwing the device onto his bed when he realized it was out of batteries.

"Just my luck," he groaned, fumbling through the darkness for his closet doors.

Luckily, mom went to bed early tonight, Sora mused, wincing as his foot hit the leg of his desk.

Finding his closet and opening the door, Sora grabbed the clothes he'd left lying on his hamper, quickly throwing them on. Pulling on the short white and blue coat he wore when he first met Donald and Goofy – this was too weird – he silently made his way over to the overlarge window. His cerulean eyes looked around his darkened room; he slowly eased the window up, throwing his leg over the ledge.

--

Sora's eyes roved the streets, the streetlights flickering over his head as he made his way down the cobbled street, the town behind him.

He was a Keyblade Master – he shouldn't be scared . . . no, that was the wrong word. Nervous?

He nodded to himself . . . yes, maybe that was it.

It wasn't often he went out to meet his supposed enemy empty handed.

No Keyblade or Donald and Goofy . . .

Sora took a deep breath, jumping out of his thoughts as the streetlight (the last one before the forest) ominously flickered out before him. Standing in the darkness, the warm light of the town behind him now, Sora turned towards the dark forest, the crunch of the fallen leaves and twigs beneath his feet. He frowned as he slowly moved forward, reaching into his pockets for the folded up letter.

You have no idea what I want to do to you, Sora thought, remembering the hastily written words.

What did Axel want with him?

Deep in thought, Sora made his way past the brightly coloured sign claiming the dark forest behind it to be the Destiny Forest. Sora didn't pay the bright sign any colour, he'd seen it so many times from when him, Riku and Kairi would hike up the forest path before they were allowed to head to the Island by themselves. Fingering the letter in his pocket, his shoes snapping fallen branches as he kicked up the dirt while his cerulean eyes stayed locked on the horizon above the tree line.

"I wonder what he wants," Sora mused as he started up the hill, the trees hiding the moon from view. "I mean, he can't do anything, right?"

Sora sighed, a frown adorning his features. Crossing his arms across his chest, narrowing his eyes as the wind picked up as he neared the top of the hill. Breaking away from the trees creaking eerily in the wind, Sora paused. Standing on the top of the hill, his back to Sora, red spiky hair giving him away was Axel.

"Hello . . . Axel."

The red haired Nobody turned around in mock surprise. "What have we here? The Keyblade Master that screwed everything up . . . how nice of you to show up."

Sora fought down the urge to roll his eyes. "You left me no choice, really. What do you want?"

Axel crossed his arms across his chest, frowning as he approached Sora. "Whatever you did – somehow you managed to change the past," Axel shook his head, circling the brunette. Sora watched Axel with narrowed eyes, his eyes never leaving the dark clad man. "Now, what did you do?"

Sora glared at him. "I didn't do anything!"

Axel paused, glancing at him, eyebrows raised. "You didn't do anything . . . well, then who did? Your little Princess of Heart? Your friend from the darkness?"

"It wasn't them!" Sora said, shaking his head. "I didn't know where they were . . . and Riku hates me now and Kairi . . . Kairi . . . she's gone," Sora shook his head, thinking of the red haired girl made him worry. "Merlin . . . he sent us back in time to the Disney Castle . . . Donald disappeared for a little while . . ."

"Wow, wow, wow," Axel stopped, roughly grabbing the brunette's shoulders. "You went back in time?"

Sora nodded, surprised by the anger radiating from him. "Yes, we went back to stop Maleficent from taking over the castle," Sora grudgingly offered, brushing Axel's hands from him. "Donald – being Donald – disappeared on us."

Axel groaned, bringing a hand to his forehead as he mumbled incoherently. Sora blinked, brushing away Axel's hands as he moved away, out of reach. Crossing his arms in front of his chest, Sora raised an eyebrow as Axel continued to mutter to himself. "It can't be that hard to fix . . . we just need to head back to Disney . . ." Sora trailed off.

Axel, hearing the Keyblade Bearer's quiet voice, turned back around. He fought down the urge to roll his eyes – but failed – as he heard the feeble excuse the brunette was able to come up with. At the mention of the Disney Castle, he couldn't stop the laugh that erupted from his lips. Sora raised his eyebrow, eyes narrowed as Axel laughed about him, shaking his head.

"What is it?" Sora grumbled, tapping his foot in annoyance. "What's so funny?"

Axel sighed, ending his laughter. "You think it's that easy? You just head off to the Disney Castle and fix everything? Don't make me laugh kid."

Sora frowned. "It was just a suggestion."

Smirking, Axel raised up an arm, holding his gloved hand out. Ignoring Sora for a second, he concentrated on the empty spot before him. His cerulean eyes narrowed as the wind picked up, the wind rustling around behind him, the darkness started to stir. In a swirl, the darkness started to appear in front of him, stopping moments later. The smirk still on his face, he dropped his hand and turned his attention back to Sora.

"Try your suggestion out then – head for the castle."

Sora raised an eyebrow, doubt clouding his mind. Hadn't Axel just told him that going to the Disney Castle wouldn't change anything? Why had he suddenly changed his mind? Sora looked dubiously at the dark portal – how could he trust Axel? He was part of Organization XIII after all. "How can I trust you?" Sora finally said. "You said it wouldn't work."

"It won't," Axel shrugged. "But, why don't you see for yourself?"

Sora glared at the red haired Nobody but didn't say anything. Stuffing his hands back into his pockets, he turned his back on Axel. He didn't need to hear these riddles. He'd find another way to locate Donald and Goofy – they'd come looking for him in the Gummi Ship, right? Then they'd find Kairi and Merlin and they could fix the past again.

"I don't need this," Sora grumbled, starting down the hill. "I'm sure Donald and Goofy will come."

"They won't," Axel said, shrugging as he closed his hand into a fist, the dark portal disappearing. "They can't."

Sora froze in his spot. Slowly, he turned around to face Axel again, his face shrouded in the darkness. "What?"

"Donald and Goofy will not be able to help you – you are alone."

Sora's mouth opened and then closed; what were you supposed to say to that?! Axel smirked, he knew he would get that reaction from the once Keyblade Master. "What do you mean they won't be able to help? The Disney Castle should be fine."

"Should being the key word," Axel shrugged, turning his back on Sora, staring at the dark churning water miles below them. "You changed the past – where in the past were you?"

"We were . . ." Sora blinked, a couple steps behind Axel, his thoughts catching up with his mind. "at the construction site for the Disney Castle . . ."

"Exactly!" Axel shouted suddenly, whirling around to face Sora. Sora's eyes widened at the sudden vibrancy in Axel's tone. "You were at the Castle . . . the building grounds for the Castle. The Disney Castle – there isn't one. It never existed."

Sora's eyes widened – it felt like he had been punched in the stomach again. That seemed to happen a lot to him lately, and he only wanted a normal life. "It never . . . existed?"

"That's right," Axel said, stopping before him. "The Disney Castle does not exist. Donald and Goofy – if they are out there – know nothing of you, nothing of what once was. They never worked for King Mickey, they know nothing of other worlds, and they are content wherever, whenever they are."

Sora blinked, trying to think through what Axel said. Even if he found Donald and Goofy, they couldn't help him. Shaking his head – hoping the news Axel had given him would disappear – he closed his hand up into a fist as he stared hauntingly at the dark trees before him, the sleeping town below them.

Now what was he going to do?

He was back at square one again.

"Well, I suppose I owe you thanks then . . ." Sora trailed off, grudgingly. He didn't want to owe an Organization member anything.

Axel's eyes narrowed, watching the Keyblade Master grumble under his breath, his back to him. He shook his head. "The only thing you owe me is to fix what you screwed up."

Sora snorted. "Right, I obviously know how to do that. The Disney Castle doesn't exist . . . Donald and Goofy are of no help and I don't even know where King Mickey is."

Axel fought back the laughter that was about to erupt at the Keyblade Master's assumption. King Mickey . . .

"They might not be of any help . . . but there is someone who might be on the same track . . ."

Sora paused, shooting a half glance back at Axel's silhouette. "And you couldn't have mentioned that earlier . . .?"

"It must have slipped my mind," Axel shrugged, fixing Sora with his penetrating stare. "If you're interested – you know where I am, I'll see you after school tomorrow – today – then."

Sora's mouth hung open, his eyes narrowing as Axel gave him one last glance – plus a smirk? – before he summoned another darkness portal and backed into it, disappearing in the process. As the portal disappeared, leaving Sora standing alone in the darkened forest, he let out a yell of frustration as he threw his hands up, turning on his heel before heading back towards the town, kicking the weeds standing in his way.

--

Light footsteps echoed off the cobbled street. Hands clasped behind their back, a small hum escaping her painted lips, she struggled to keep the phony smile in place as she skipped through the bustling street. She smiled to the people she passed – who could miss her multi-coloured outfit? – her features bright, but her dark eyes calculating.

This was easy . . . too easy. If only their plans didn't get messed up now.

Humming to herself, she stopped in the middle of the street, dropping her arms to her sides. Her face serious, she plunged her hand into her pockets as if looking for something. Slowly, she made her way to the stone wall, her dark eyes watching those around her. Taking in the loud chatter and the way they seemed to move so purposely through the crowd, she wouldn't be remembered, stalking off into the unused alleyway.

"Just like clockwork," she mumbled to herself, as she stole down the alleyway, out of sight, melding into the shadows.

It was the same everyday. In her bright multi-coloured clothing she would go to work out in the streets doing the odd jobs here and there.

Anyone will hire a pretty face, that's what she had been told.

Her nose curled up as she thought of that with a scowl, rolling her eyes. Why did it have to be her? The youngest, she had been told. She would much rather be out in the field, working hand in hand with the enemy – learning their every tick. Running errands for those whose pockets were well lined, eavesdropping to catch a clue what was going on.

She hated being the youngest one!

Halfway down the alley, the noise of the crowd muted as they rushed to and fro about their business on the busy street, she stopped. To the left, in the shadow of the lights, was a wooden door, a poorly built one if you asked her. It looked like a discarded home – there were a lot of them down the back alleys. Who would willingly live there?

"I'm back," she called, pushing the wooden door silently open. You would think it would creak loudly, right? "Anyone here?" she called, latching the door shut.

"We're here – you're late, again."

The dark haired woman huffed, unzipping her pink t-shirt sweater, tossing it in the direction of the coat rack, but missing, the sweater fell to the floor. Running a hand across her features, trying to wipe the mascara and lipstick off – it didn't seem to work much to her disappointment. Brushing her hand against her short skirt – she cringed as she did so, how she hated skirts! – she moved across the room, her frown getting bigger as she weaved behind the bar and through the swinging door.

"So what," she grumbled as she swung the door open, scowling at the three people sitting around the beat up table. "Where's the old man?"

The brunette glared at her from his position at the head of the table. "The Princess needed his assistance."

Rolling her eyes, she dropped heavily into the table. "How stupid is she – she doesn't even know she's being used."

The brunette waved her comment aside. "Bitch about her later, we don't have much time; we've got to leave soon."

"Fine, fine, whatever. Did you figure anything out yet, there's no way to get around the General right?" she grumbled, casting a hauntingly look at the woman in question. "I'm still mad at you, by the way."

"There will be a small window of opportunity later tonight, under the cover of darkness –"

"Our window span is a little under two minutes –"

"Two minutes?!" The dark haired woman hissed, narrowing her eyes. "What the hell? I'd like to see anyone get in and out of that castle in a span of a couple minutes."

"If you don't shut up, we'll just leave you out." Her comment died on her painted lips. "You know what'll happen if we're found out, so you work alone when you leave here. The plan is . . ."

--

"What's with you today, jeez?"

Sora jumped out of his thoughts, blinking as he looked around him. The sun shone down on him as he sat on the porch steps as Zell's house, his science textbook in front of him, his notepad still empty. Zell was lying on the porch, using his textbook as a pillow, shooting glances at Penelo as she swung her legs back and forth on the porch swing, her fingers flying over her laptop.

"Hmm, just thinking," Sora said, casting a glance back at the Penelo, his thoughts a mile away.

Zell waved a hand lazily at Sora before dropping it heavily to the porch again. "No worries, you're a pro at Science anyway, didn't you get an eighty-five on the midterm report?"

Sora blinked, that was years ago though, although he couldn't tell him that. "Well . . . I suppose so . . ." he finally said, slumping against the railing.

Penelo looked momentarily up from her computer. "That's no reason for him not to try – unlike you," she shot her twin a look, aiming a kick at the large book under her brother's head. "You goof off to much."

"Stop that," Zell commented, shooing Penelo's flipflops away. "What about you – why aren't you studying?"

"I did that already," Penelo pushed her bangs out of her eyes. "We've known about it all week anyway, you brought this on yourself."

"What're you doing then?" Sora asked.

Zell groaned, glaring at Sora. "Don't ask her that – she'll just give us another lecture."

Penelo glared hauntingly at Zell, aiming another kick at the unused textbook. "I don't care if you fail, mom will kill you; so whatever."

Zell glared at her, sticking his tongue out, ignoring Penelo's comment of real mature. "What're you doing then?"

"Larsa's birthday's coming up – I'm trying to get tickets for Nobodies Order, they go on sale at eight."

Zell bit out a laugh. "I can't see Larsa listening to that, you know? Say, get us some tickets too? Sora'll want to bring Sefie right?" Zell cast a glance back at Sora, raising his eyebrows, a lazy grin on his face.

"Pervert," Penelo grumbled from behind her laptop, aiming another kick at her twin – who deftly caught her foot this time. "Sora's not like you, he's a lot nicer!"

Zell stuck his tongue out. "I like fun and girls . . . so sue me –"

"They might one day," Penelo grumbled, jerking her foot away from her brother's grip. "I didn't invite you anyway – go find your own computer."

"We only have one and guess who has it?"

Sora shook his head, drowning out the idle chatter of his . . . friends. School had been the same as always – a pop quiz in mathematics (which he knew he failed) while his English teacher dropped an ISU project on them. Like he had time for any of that! All of that seemed irrelevant to him as he cast his cerulean eyes down at his watch.

Almost eight now . . .

He frowned. When he had gotten home, it didn't take long for the phone to ring. Thinking it was his mother calling, he had picked up the phone; she was probably running late again. He blinked when a dark, sharp voice said if he wanted to find his friends he was to come to the mansion at the top of town by dusk.

Not long left now . . .

"What's with you, man?"

Sora jumped at the sound, wincing as he jerked back, hitting his head against the wooden porch. "Oww . . ."

Penelo sighed. "Zell you're such a jerk, how do you stand him Sora?"

"I'm not sure," Sora said, rubbing the back of his head. "But, I should go; I have a lot of studying to do. I'll see you later." We won't be friends then.

Zell frowned as Sora stood up, collecting his forgotten science books from the porch. He raised an eyebrow, waving bye to Sora as he mumbled a goodbye. "What's with him?" he asked, turning back to look at Penelo, crossing his arms across his chest. "What happened to him?"

Penelo shrugged, looking over her laptop. "He's been strange all week . . . he doesn't seem all there – ah! They're on sale now!"

Zell winced as Penelo let out a squeal, her fingers flying across the keyboard. Girls . . . he'd never understand them!

--

Sora's cerulean eyes glanced up at the mansion in front of him. He shouldn't have been surprised by the grandeur of the place; it was the Organization after all. The mansion towered above him, the bricks completely white – just like the Nobodies they commanded, with an iron fence staking off its territory as the encroaching evergreen's pressed up against the neglected fence.

It was times like this he missed his Keyblade . . . although he was getting used to life without the weapon.

His footsteps crunched under his feet as he made his way up the neatly kept lawn, the mansion towering above him with every step. His eyes never leaving the front door, Sora came to a stop in front of it, raising his fist to knock on it.

The door opened. Surprised, Sora stumbled forward; he hadn't expected that one.

"Good. You showed up – keep up, boy."

Sora frowned, crossing his arms over his chest as he glared at the red haired Nobody. Axel brushed past Sora, heading down the steps before starting across the lawn. He didn't need to look over his shoulder to know that the Keyblade Wielder was annoyed, glaring at him most likely. But, he knew the kid would follow him – he was interested in what was going on.

Sora slowly followed after Axel, his hands balled into his fists as he followed Axel at a distance, his eyes narrowed as he watched his back intently. He followed Axel around the large mansion so that the moon eventually shone down on them, the white mansion behind them. Sora stopped half way across the lawn, raising an eyebrow at Axel. Didn't he know there was a cliff there?

Axel eventually stopped at the edge of the cliff, a sheer – fifty foot? – drop to the dark waters below. Axel glanced down at the dark water, the moon illuminating it, the Destiny Islands in plain sight. Without looking behind him, he beckoned Sora to him; he knew the kid wouldn't come to close – he hadn't made his intentions clear yet.

King Mickey had taught him well.

Hearing Sora's hestitant footsteps behind him, Axel turned around. Fixing Sora with his piercing glare, he pointed vaguely in the direction of the Destiny Isles. "This is where it all started."

Sora blinked at him; he knew that. "Yeah . . ."

"Now, you listen to me," Axel started, the light tone in his voice gone. "Did anyone follow you? Does anyone even know you're here?"

Sora shook his head, forcing down the urge to roll his eyes. "Why would I tell them, they're not my friends."

"Good," Axel trailed off, his dark look receding slightly. "Now, you are not to step foot back on this Island until you fix this – you understand me? You fix this and I don't want any more trouble from you."

Sora nodded slowly. "How am I going to fix this anyway? You already said Donald, Goofy and King Mickey would be no help –"

Axel held up a hand, cutting Sora's speech short. "They will not help you. But, people will. Those who are on the same track as you."

"Someone else remembers?" Sora shouted. Finally, a ray of chance! "Who? Who is it?"

Axel shook his head. "Do not get to excited; they do not remember you, they will not know you. However, you are to join their cause, how you do it I do not care. Do not draw attention to you – you're not the only one on the line. I do not want this coming back to me – they know where I am now," Axel said, his tone turning sour at the end.

Sora nodded, waving Axel's comment aside. "Fine, let's get this over with. How am I getting there – by swimming?"

Axel glared at Sora, shaking his head. Slowly, Axel brought his hand out, calling forth the darkness. Sora didn't say anything as Axel called upon the darkness, watching it appear – spellbound maybe? When the darkness stopped, swirling as it waited, Axel finally glanced back at Sora.

"This will take you to those like you, now, hurry up."

Sora glanced at the portal warily. "This better not to a trick."

It's not," Axel said with force. "It'll take you to people you used to know, a town you visited often. Get in."

Sora nodded, glancing at Axel's face for any sort of giveaway. Not seeing anything, he nodded, moving towards the portal. Stopping before it, strands of darkness reaching out for him, he took a deep breath, casting a quick glance at Axel. "You better not be lying."

Axel said nothing, watching as the once-Keyblade Wielder stepped into the darkness. As Sora started to disappear into the darkness, Axel cast a glance at him – locking eyes with him, Sora almost gone from view.

"You'll find this out sooner of later, but one last thing. King Mickey cannot help you whatsoever . . . he doesn't exist, there is no King Mickey anywhere – he's dead . . ."

Then, Sora was gone, leaving Axel standing alone behind the white mansion. Shaking his head, Axel turned, heading back to his mansion.

Now, to see how this would all unfold . . .