Floor 3

Olympus Coliseum

Sora walked up to the third floor door and pulled out another World Card. The words Olympus Coliseum were on top. He held the card up and the door opened. He looked at Donald and Goofy before stepping through.

The three of the walked through a city that resembled what Sora remembered as Ancient Greece. There didn't seem to be any Heartless activity. Donald stopped as he noticed something on the wall.

"Look, an announcement!" he motioned over Donald and Goofy.

"Well, I'll be," Jiminy jumped into view. "It's for some sort of contest. They're calling it the Olympus Coliseum Survival Cup. Contenders have to run an obstacle course, battling each other along the way. And listen to this: The great hero Hercules will also compete for the Cup. It says here he's never been beaten."

"Sounds like fun," Sora read it over. "Why don't we enter, too?"

"I though you'd say that," Goofy laughed. "Whenever there's a contest you're raring to join up."

"You're going to compete even if we don't, right?" Donald asked.

"Uh-huh," Sora nodded.

"Guess we'd better tag along then," Donald sighed.

"Hold it, everyone," Jiminy said. "There's more. Only the contenders who finish the preliminary course may enter the main competition. It says the preliminary course is just ahead."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Sora asked. "Let's go!" Sora picked Jiminy up and they ran for the course. After they had left a large man walked up to the board. He wore black robes and had blue fire for hair. He was Hades, Lord of the Underworld.

"Whoa-whoa-whoa, wait just a minute!" he shouted. "What is this? 'Hercules is a model of true strength and gallantry…the perfect hero'!" The fire around him turned red and shot up a few feet. "Oh he's perfect all right! Perfectly infuriating! Just thinking about that little sunspot makes me boil! I'd like to send him to the Underworld…permanently!" He had smoke coming from him.

"Which is why you hired me," came a menacing voice.

"That's right," Hades smirked. "You're my man, Cloud." The owner of the voice walked up to Hades moving the spiky, blonde hair away from his eyes. "Your job is to beat Hercules in the games. And once you've got him cornered, finish the job. Do that for me and…"

"You restore my lost memories. As we agreed," Cloud glared at him.

"You have my word," Hades smirked again as Cloud walked off.


Sora had found another sign saying just what the preliminaries were. He would have to defeat some Heartless. Sure enough three Shadows, five Powerwilds, and two Large Bodies appeared before him. Sora summoned the Keyblade and now it was in its Olympia form. Sora decided to make the first move and ran at the Heartless. He raised the Olympia high above his head and then brought it down onto one of the Shadows. The others were able to leap away.

A Powerwild let out a scream and jumped at Sora, arms spinning quickly. Sora blocked the attack and kicked it away. A Large Body came from nowhere and crashed into Sora sending him to the ground. Sora dodged the attacks of two Shadows. He struck back and sliced through both of them. The Powerwilds were on him in seconds. He rolled back and up onto his feet.

"Blitz!" Sora called out his newest attack. He let out several strikes from the Olympia really fast and really strong. He was able to destroy three of the Powerwilds. A Large Body let out a strange scream and began running at Sora. Sora jumped to the right and swung the Olympia backwards, cutting into its back. The Large Body was not destroyed and spun around its large gut knocking Sora away.

With loud screeches the remaining two Powerwilds were on Sora in a second. Sora brought his foot up and kicked one away but the other slashed into his chest. Sora screamed in pain and brought the Olympia straight through the Powerwild. The other Powerwild and the Large Bodies, sensing how exposed the Keybearer's heart now was, charged at him.

"Donald!" Sora shouted and brought the card out of his pocket. Donald appeared and unleashed a powerful Thunder spell on the three Heartless. The Powerwild was destroyed but the Large Bodies were simply stunned. Donald healed Sora and then disappeared into his card. Sora ran at the Large Bodies and leaped over them. With one quick slash, he killed them both. Sora sighed and Goofy and Donald were pulled out of there cards. They nodded at each other and started running.


Sora, Donald, and Goofy kept on running until they saw someone ahead of them. The person was very short. Upon closer inspection they saw that this person was half-man and half-goat. This was Phil.

"Huh?" Phil turned around. "Where did you come from? Don't tell me you guys finished the prelims!"

"We sure did," Sora grinned. "And now we want to go for the cup!" The man looked the three of them up and down.

"Well, you came to the right place," he said after a while. "Not that you stand a chance against Herc."

"Why not?" Donald asked.

"Two words," Phil started. "You-ain't-heroes."

"You're wrong!" Sora shouted.

"Yeah, he said three words," Goofy nodded.

"Not that!" Sora rolled his eyes. "I mean, how can we prove we're heroes unless you give us a chance?"

"He's right, Phil," someone else walked up. A very large man in old Greek armor. "They cleared the prelims. I think they deserve a shot."

"Hmm…you got a point there, Herc. But still…" Phil tried to argue.

"Of course, we could always cancel the games," Hercules suggested.

"Cancel them? What for?" Sora asked.

"Old Phil's prelim course was so hard, no one else could finish it," Hercules explained, giving Phil a sharp look.

"Is that right?" Sora asked. "Then it's settled. Let us compete, and you won't have to cancel the games! How about it, Phil?"

"Okay, you got me over a barrel, so fine," Phil turned back around. "Here's how it works, kid…"

"It's Sora, not kid," Sora said sternly. He'd gone through the same thing with Cid.

"All right, all right," Phil sighed. "Sora, since your team and Hercules are the only contenders…"

"They're not," Cloud's voice came from behind them. "The games have a new challenger. Name's Cloud."

"The more the merrier!" Phil assured him. "Now the games will really be something to see!"

"I'm looking forward to this," Hercules smiled. "Don't expect me to pull any punches though!"

"Hey, as long as you don't expect me to take them!" Sora grinned. Sora turned to look at Cloud. "Let's give it our best."

"Whatever," Cloud looked away.

"Okay, let's get this show on the road!" Phil shouted to them. "But first I gotta explain a few rules. First one through the obstacle course wins! In the event of a tie, a battle will determine the winner! You can interfere with your opponents on the course! And finally, all challengers have to give it everything they got!" Phil moved and Sora, Hercules, and Cloud got into position. "All right, enough with the spiel. On your marks, get set, go!" And they were off.

Cloud ran almost too fast for Sora to see and soon he was way ahead of them. Sora urged Donald and Goofy to run faster and soon they left Hercules behind. After running for another couple of minutes Sora saw Cloud leaning against a wall, not moving at all. He looked as if he was waiting for something.

"Gawrsh, that was nice of him to wait for us to catch up!" Goofy said as they stopped as well.

"He's not waiting!" Donald yelled. "Remember rule number 3: You can interfere with your opponents on the course!"

"He's looking to narrow the field," Sora said as he summoned the Olympia.

"You can put that away," Cloud said without even opening his eyes. "I'm not looking for a fight with you, so keep walking."

"See? He was waiting for us to catch up," Goofy said assuredly.

"Well, we've caught up," Donald started walking again. "Let's take him up on his offer and keep going!"

"I don't see a downside…" Sora sounded slightly disappointed. The three of them began walking again. Sora sighed and turned around. "Listen, are you sure?"

"I'm not here for the Cup. Just Hercules," Cloud turned his back on them. "Today he loses more than the competition."

"You don't mean…" Sora started but it was quite clear what Cloud meant. "But why? What did he do to you?"

"This is business," Cloud's voice was starting to sound irritated. "Stay out of it. Go win your Cup." Sora simply stared at Cloud and then raised the Olympia. "Do you realize what you're doing?"

"I can interfere with my opponents, right?" Sora smirked. "You're not the only one who wants to fight Hercules."

"Big mistake," Cloud whispered before pulling the Buster Sword from his back. Sora made the first move and ran at Cloud. Cloud blocked Sora's attack and jumped back. He brought the Buster Sword down and Sora blocked with the Olympia. Cloud pushed forward and broke the stalemate then, using his free hand, landed a powerful punch into Sora's stomach. Sora doubled over and Cloud knocked the Olympia right out of his hands. Sora started running at Cloud.

Cloud thought Sora was crazy, attacking without a weapon. At the very last second Sora summoned the Olympia back to his hand and cut deep into Cloud's side. Cloud clearly did not like being surprised and healed himself quickly. With a yell Cloud leaped toward Sora and brought the Buster Sword up at an odd angle. Sora couldn't block from that angle and was barely able to dodge. While he was off balance Cloud spun around and raised his foot, slamming it into Sora's stomach. Sora was thrown back and hit the ground hard. Looking up he saw Cloud moving at him very quickly. He pulled a card from his pocket.

"Goofy!" Sora shouted. Goofy appeared before him and held up his shield. Sparks flew from the shield when Cloud's blade crashed against it. Goofy ducked and then hit Cloud in the side right where Sora had cut him. Cloud winced slightly as Goofy disappeared into his card. Both Sora and Cloud stared at each other for a moment before rushing forward and locking in combat once more. Cloud brought the Buster Sword around hard and Sora was knocked back.

"Now you'll see just what you're dealing with," Cloud told him. A great red light shined all around Cloud. "Cross Slash!" Cloud slashed his blade horizontally in the air leaving a fiery streak and then did the same vertically creating a blazing cross in the air. Cloud pushed his hand forward and the cross was sent right toward Sora. Sora brought up the Olympia to block but the attack was to powerful and knocked him clean off of his feet and bouncing along the ground. He was unmoving after that.

Cloud sighed and walked toward Sora's prone form. As he began to reach down Sora suddenly leaped up and sliced into Cloud's side in the same exact spot as before. Cloud winced and backed away. With a sneer he disappeared.

"Where did Cloud go?" Sora asked after his opponent vanished. Jiminy, who was sitting on Sora's shoulder pointed behind them.

"He's heading for the finish line!" he shouted. "We'd better go after him!"

"Right!" Sora nodded and ran off.

Sora wasn't exactly how long he had been running. He knew it had been a long time, his sides and legs were aching with pain. He heard someone up ahead.

"You lost! Give it up, Cloud!" Hercules shouted to Cloud, who was kneeling on the ground. Cloud's hand was placed over the wound Sora had given him.

"We're not done yet…" Cloud stood defiantly.

"I can't guarantee your safety if we keep going like this!" Hercules told him.

"Better worry about yourself," Cloud smirked. "Looks to me like you're slowing down a bit." Hercules tried to hide it but he was breathing pretty heavily. Sora ran to Hercules and raised the Olympia.

"Don't worry! I'll back you up!" Hercules seemed surprised but Cloud simple looked annoyed at Sora's intrusion.

"Sora?" Hercules asked.

"Get all the backup you want," Cloud growled while raising his sword. "I'm going to finish you and get back my memories!"

"Your memories?" Sora asked in near shock.

"Now, now, Cloud, we don't want to spill the beans," came a sly voice. Hades appeared in between them.

"Hades! You!" Hercules shouted in anger.

"Looks like you oversold yourself, Cloud," Hades shook his head. "All you did was wear him down. This doesn't look good for your performance rating. Let me put it this way: You, my spiky-headed friend, are fired."

"But…my memories!" Cloud raised his sword higher. "We had a deal!"

"Did you really think you could back all your lost memories just like that?" Hades laughed. "Get a grip!"

"Why, you…" Cloud started.

"I said, you're through!" Hades shouted. "This time I'll take care of Irk-ules myself!" Hades unleashed a blast of fire that knocked them all backwards.

"Hey!" Sora ran back up to him.

"Rule number 5! It's never too late to enter the games!" Hades laughed.

"Hades, you were behind this from the start!" Hercules accused.

"Cloud may have failed to take you out, but he did break you down," Hades walked slowly toward Hercules. "Plan B. Pack your pita, Herc, 'cause you've just won a free trip to the Underworld, paid by me!"

"Hold it, hothead!" Sora ran between the two of them.

"Sora, no!" Hercules started to get up but fell again.

"Come on, Herc," Sora smiled. "How can we go one-on-one if you're in the Underworld?"

"Good point, kid," Hades said. "I guess you'll just have to go with him! Rule number 6! There are no rules!" Hades was faster than Sora anticipated and was upon in a heartbeat. Hades drew his hand back and punched Sora across the face. As Sora was falling to the ground Hades opened his hand an unleashed a great stream of flame that knocked Sora back and into a wall, hard.

"Hades!" an incredibly loud scream, filled with intense anger turned everyone's attention to its owner, Cloud. His eyes were glowing a bright blue color and sparks of red energy were coming to life around him. He raised his Buster Sword over his head and for a second something like fear flashed on Hades' face.

"Sora won't be fighting alone Hades," Hercules said as he pulled his blade from its sheath at his waist. Hades only growled in anger before letting loose two great blasts of fire. Hercules leaped out of the way but Cloud simply held the Buster Sword in front of him and the fire was deflected into the air. Hades prepared another attack when he felt someone kick the back of his head with great force. Hades faltered from the blow and looked back to see Sora with the Olympia raised.

"Do you really think you have a chance?" Sora smirked. Hades shouted before creating three large balls of fire and throwing them forward. All three of the warriors dodged them but Hades motioned with his arms and the fireballs turned in midair and started for them again. Sora ducked and the fireball flew over him. When he stood back up he saw the fireball was still coming for him. Sora concentrated and fired a Blizzard spell but the fireball's explosion still blew him down to the ground. Hercules brought up his hands and stopped the fireball in midair. Hades clutched his right hand shut and the fireball exploded sending Hercules flying. The third fireball came at Cloud at an incredibly high speed. Cloud stood his ground and unleashed a blast of lightning. The two attacks cancelled each other out but the force of the explosion knocked Cloud off of his feet and sliding along the ground.

"You can't defeat me! I am a God!" Hades shouted and the ground shook along with his anger. Cloud and Hercules jumped back to their feet quickly but Sora struggled. Hades began flying into the air with a fiery tornado spinning around him. To Sora's surprise Hercules ran forward and grabbed the bottom of the tornado with his bare hands. With an amazing show of strength Hercules lifted the flaming tornado and spun it over his head with great speed. Hades was thrown from the top.

Cloud let out a scream and a single black wing erupted from his back. He flew up into the air as fast as he could and slammed the blunt end of his sword hard against the back of Hades' head. Hades was sent toward the ground and right before he hit Sora raised the Olympia and struck Hades as hard as he could. Hades crashed into the wall of the coliseum and it crumbled around him. Hades emerged from the rubble battered and beaten but still ready to fight. He rushed for Sora with an insane amount of fire erupting up behind him, blind rage on his face.

"I don't think so Hades! The Keybearer will not fall to you!" Cloud flew down toward Hades as fast as he could, his Buster Sword brimming with cackling red energy. He brought it up over his head as he placed himself between Hades and Sora. "Omnislash!" The Buster Sword became a blur cutting into Hades more times than Sora could count. Following the final slash Cloud let out a yell that pierced Sora's very soul. He pointed the Buster Sword forward and a gigantic beam of energy blasted forth from it. Hades was not able to dodge and the attack hit full force.

"No!" Hades shouted as he stood once more but that fighting edge was no longer there. Cloud's attack had taken him out. "I am a God! One day all of you will fall before me! I will defeat you all!" With that Hades disappeared in a wall of flame.


"What? The games are cancelled? How come?" Sora shouted at Phil about fifteen minutes after his fight with Hades.

"Three words! Everyone's pooped!" Phil shouted back.

"Wait a minute, that was only two…"

"You gotta be kidding me!" Sora interrupted Goofy. "What about my match with Hercules?"

"I'm sorry, Sora," Hercules said, his voice sounding strained. "But you wouldn't want me to compete in this condition. Let's have a match when I'm fit again. Can you wait?"

"Okay. I'll hold you to that," Sora promised.

"Then it's settled!" Hercules cheered.

"Sora, over here!" they heard Jiminy. "He's coming around." They all ran over to Jiminy where Cloud was getting back to his feet.

"You okay?" Sora asked.

"Yeah," Cloud brushed them off. "Sorry I messed up your games." He nodded to Phil and then turned and started walking away.

"Hey!" Sora stopped him. "Hope you get your memories back! Forget about what Hades said. Sometimes the tiniest thing can make you remember stuff you forgot years ago. If it's and important memory, there's no way it could ever be gone forever. That's what I think, anyway." Cloud seemed to think for a moment and then tossed Sora a card.

"That's for you," he started walking again. "For helping me out."

"Sure you don't just want to come with us instead?" Sora asked.

"Sorry. Not interested," Cloud kept walking. Sora looked down at the card. The name Cloud was on the top. Sora pocketed the card and a door appeared next to him. He waved goodbye to Phil and Hercules and him, Donald, and Goofy walked through.


Sora, Donald, and Goofy walked through Castle Oblivion toward the stairs to the next floor. Donald stopped suddenly.

"I hope the king is okay," he said, voice thick with worry. Sora and Goofy stopped and turned toward him.

"Why bring that up all of a sudden?" Sora asked.

"I just want to make sure I haven't forgotten about him," Donald said with his head lowered.

"And?" Goofy asked.

"I still remember perfectly! Goofy and I are on a quest to find him!"

"Yep!" Goofy nodded. "The king helped save the world by staying on the other side of the door to darkness."

"If Goofy still remembers, then I won't forget anytime soon," Donald laughed.

"And me, I'm looking for Riku," Sora added. "He was with the king when the door closed. That was easy. I guess we really can't forget the most important memories."

"I hope not," Donald sighed.


On a much higher floor of the castle, Axel watched Sora's actions very closely. Yet another person in a black coat stood behind him. Except this person was a female with blonde hair reaching down to her shoulders and bright blue eyes.

"Wow, Axel, you seem pretty interested by this Sora kid," she said.

"And you're not?" Axel shot.

"I haven't made up my mind," she told him with a smile. "But I would like to now what is on yours."

"He became a Heartless, Larxene, and you know what happens to people who do."

"People who lose their hearts also lose their minds, their feelings. They're consumed by the darkness," Larxene replied.

"Right. But that didn't happen to Sora. He held on to his feelings, even as a Heartless. Only one man ever managed to do that."

"So it's the strength of his heart that intrigues you, the heart chosen by the Keyblade."

"What makes his heart shine like that? What sleeps in his its most secret depths?"

"The heart is a mysterious thing, Axel."

"Maybe so. But unlocking its secret is the whole reason we, the Organization, exist."


"So except for our friends, we're forgetting everything bit by bit…" Donald observed as they walked toward the next floor.

"Hmm, I wonder what we just forgot?" Goofy asked. "I can't think of anything. Guess I must have forgot it. But whatever it was, it must not have been that important!"

"Right, or else you wouldn't have forgot it," Sora smiled. He reached into his pocket and pulled out Kairi's charm. "See, look at this."

"What's that?" Donald asked.

"It's a good luck charm Kairi gave me. It's special to her so I promised I'd return it. I'll never forget that promise. That's why I'll never forget Kairi." Sora placed the charm back in his pocket and turned around. "I wonder what she's doing now…"

Then he could see her. Well, his memory of her. Kairi seemed to stand only a few feet in front of him. Wait, the memory flickered. It flickered again. Kairi's image was being… replaced. Replaced by a girl with blonde hair and a white dress.

"What?" Sora shook his head. The memory faded away. "Oh…Who was that?"

"Hello, you still with us!" Donald shook him.

"Huh?" Sora jumped slightly. "Oh, nothing. Never mind." Sora waved it off. Yes, it was nothing. He probably imagined it.

"Well, let's keep going," Goofy pointed toward the door.