Spyro liked the cats. Even in his current state—lost somewhere deep, cold and dark—they would chase around him. Once, he thought they had turned into a wreath of fire, and his heart almost felt reachable. Even when they left again, a warmth still lingered all about him, soothing the pain.

But then the boy came. The boy with coal for eyes. Magnetic, horrible orbs of obsidian that dug into what little was left of his spirit and ripped his will away. He wasn't even shackled anymore, but still bonds held him to the cold stone room in the cold stone castle and left him alone to feel the wreckage of his heart becoming just as cold—just as hard.

He had fallen to tears once or twice, but had no lids to block them. They dribbled down like rain, leaving glittering splashes on the floor.

The more that boy saw him, the less he felt, the farther away the world seemed from his weeping heart—if he still had one at all. The cats had come and gone, their faithful light shining so close, but remaining unattainable.

It was in this state that she, whatever she was, had found him.

She looked a bit like a bipedal canine with huge ears and eyes. Light pink fur covered her small body, and two antennas stretched from her large head. Spyro tried to murmur something, but all he could make now were hisses and dull roars.

"Shhhh, Angel help," the thing murmured. "Nuggi wakka! No tell muka! Boogie-boo hurt if you say!"

I don't think you can help me, little...whatever you are...

But then the singing started. Exotic, gibberish. But it seemed to peel away the layers of confusion and hurt around his struggling consciousness. The pain was there, but the urge to fight it was stronger. He could do this. Would do it.

He had to.

It was strange to fight without a tail, claws, teeth, or horns. Still, leaping, darting, swiping with the keyblade-thing... It was the most in control I'd felt in this new body—this new world.

I was almost grateful for it, but sad as well. When had fighting become such a large part of me that I felt empty without it? Or was it just something that helped me make sense of a deranged world?

Sora, the idiot, distracted me. I would have dodged that swipe, honestly, my legs were already bending in preparation to jump. But then Sora was there, slashing his own weapon down in a great arc and into the beast's arm.

My eyes widened.

"Hold him there if you can!" I shouted, voice challenging, before I jumped.

My new set of feet hit shadowed skin, and I ran right up the arm.

With a great tremor, the other hand crashed into the arm I was standing on a mere foot behind me. If I'd been my normal self I'd be sans one tail and plus a lovely black and pink pancake. I slipped my arm back and blindly swiped my keyblade behind me. The hopelily that hung from the hilt created a light swishing sound as the tendrils whipped through the wind.

"Thunder!"

I had no idea where the shout came from, but a warm fire sprang into my chest, the familiar presence of my elements.

Behind me, a few fingers were blasted away only to reform.

The arm I was on began swinging. Sora couldn't have forced it still forever. It swung me down and away from my quarry. Gritting sharp teeth, I sprang up and dug my forepaws into the shadow of the shoulder.

Hands without claws did me little good, and with a screech I fell. For an instant my keyblade rematerialised, piercing the creature's arm, and I grabbed hold. I squeezed my eyes shut, terrified, as the blade jarred above me.

My wings, why were they gone? I needed them, even before I learned to fly. Back when height didn't scare me, when the ground was always a simple glide away.

Now I was terrified. The air wound around me—now an enemy. The ground loomed below, my possible death. The black sky stared down at me, starless, wrong, uncaring, unobtainable.

Smooth material slipped from my hand, and I was sent into a free fall. Instinctively, I jerked my shoulders back, but I had nothing to catch the wind, nothing to ride upon.

Then I felt hands grab my torso as I tumbled backwards, butt landing on something almost soft.

A groan sounded beneath me, and I turned to discover Sora sprawled under me, looking understandably miserable. But hey, at least my claws and blades were gone, right?

Stumbling to my feet, I looked at him shakily. "Up and at 'em, big boy, I'm not that heavy."

"Er... Never said you were?" He tilted his head in a way that reminded me of Spyro, and I couldn't resist a grin.

"Good boy. Now, I believe we have a little problem to deal with."

"Little?" He grumbled, forcing himself up on his absolutely ridiculous foot-armor-things. Honestly, I'd seen apes with better fashion sense.

"Cynder, you know if you land on those shoes you don't need to worry? It looks like you have some with the special padding..." He gestured at my feet.

I glanced down, noticing my 'shoes' were just as gargantuan as his, only pink, black and silver. Totally better, even if the world does love to color me a complete hypocrite.

Our conversation was interrupted with a great crash as a huge sphere of purple energy slammed into the fragmenting earth a few feet away.

I looked at the huge monstrosity, then at my own suddenly frail body, then guiltily at Sora.

"Hey, porcupine," I glanced over his ridiculous head-fur. If it were any stiffer I swear it'd make the best weapon in the world. "Up for lending me a paw?"

"Porcupine?"

"Want something worse?" I asked sweetly.

"Er, porcupine's fine? I guess?"

"We understand each other. Good. Ready to go, porky?" I didn't wait for an answer, it was plain in his azure eyes.

Reaching my hand to the side, the long shaft shadow-sparked into existence. "Hey, big blackie, you look about as sentient as an ape's..." I glanced at Sora, feeling guilty—he seemed so damn childish, "...butt."

"Aww, trash-talking something that doesn't seem able to hear isn't any fun at all!" I whined.

Sora stared at me before we ran at it, together brandishing our lovely fancified house keys. I think I heard him mutter something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like, "First world problems, folks, first world problems."

"Blizzard!" Ice flowed from my blade, covering the puddles of darkness around the creature and freezing the scattering of small shadow-beasts wading in them. Sora shot me a confused look, but went to skating around and smashing the little things, and I even thought I saw a small smile creep over his lips.

Hello, misplaced aggression. Meet little unable-to-feel monsters. I think this is the start of a simply beautiful friendship.

I slammed a foot back into one, scattering bits of shadowed ice. I grinned, quite feral, and shot a blast of fire at the big monster's head. The next time it tried to swipe at me I carved a large chunk out of its palm and a few fingers to boot.

Jerking my keyblade forward, I twitched it up, inviting the ice to follow and form a ramp. "Sora, push me hard as you can."

He looked confused, but did it. Leaning down and forward, I threw my keyblade back and shouted "Wind!" like it was the most natural thing in the world. A twister formed behind me, shooting me forward and then up. I raised my keyblade, slamming it down and straight through the head I landed upon.

As the great beast dissipated, I spun into a backflip and landed quite comfortably on my feet. I could feel the spring in these shoes; maybe there was an actual reason for the size?

But then the rest of the fading world shattered. Dizzy, we were slammed into the air.

I shut my eyes tight, trying to pretend I was flying as the world I was just getting used to, getting a little fond of, vanished around me.

Riku stood on a little island, staring at a castle. The very air of this place was charged, different, and it sent electric joy through his veins.

"I did it," he whispered, awed. "I'm on another world..."

"Indeed you seem to be."

He turned, eyes widening at how close to a dragon the women looked. It looked like she had horns, and a black cape fluttered like wings around her.

"Who are you?"

The tall, imperial woman's eyes assessed him. "I am known across the worlds as Maleficent. Who, if I may inquire, are you?"

"Riku."

"And why have you appeared on my doorstep without my consent?"

"I don't know. I was home, then it was like I was drowning in darkness...but now here I am."

She eyed him as a wolf would. "The darkness did not hurt or weaken you?"

"No."

"Hmm. Perhaps I can help you. It sounds as if you wish to see other worlds, yes?"

"The first thing I need is to find my friends. They...they didn't come with me and they're not strong enough to face any danger alone."

"Of course, child." The women smiled at him in a way that reminded him quite eerily of a viper coiled to strike. The hair on the back of his neck prickled and stood on end, but he did his best to ignore it. He could look after himself, after all. Besides, he could bail at any time.

If she could help him...

Then he would just have to take that risk.

In a city of ash and dark fire, a white head looked towards the sky. A mane and tail tumbled around her, covered in dust and drooping. Around her, the land was cracked.

She was alone; horribly, horribly alone.

And then she saw the comets. No—they were animals. Strange, bipedal animals. One was shimmering in sparkling light, the other soothing dark.

Humans. Off-Worlders. Judging by the strength of their magic, key-bearers as well. Wise old eyes studied them, and hope budded in her chest.

Maybe, just maybe, they could hold salvation for a goddess, and all those who depended upon getting back here. If not, they could lock the keyhole so she could do it herself.

She remembered a prophecy from long ago, and it gave her hope.

'Dark and Light together guide the lost ones towards their sun

Only all together can this world return again to one.'

She used her magic to slow their fall, drawing them to her. The female was the first to awaken, eyes widening slowly, and she muttered something in a croaking voice.

"Well now I've seen everything, and more besides..."

Your journey has begun.

Dawn awaits, make your way to meet it.

But do not be afraid,

For in your heart of hearts there lies the mightiest weapon of all...

Take it up and let it guide you.

Trust it, because it will not lead you astray should you stop to listen.

...

I've become a silhouette some nights,
Invisible, untouchable, unreachable.
Everything is leaving, fading out of sight,
Oh, so unattainable.
But maybe, just maybe you'll lead my way tonight.

Worlds are lost and worlds are saved.
A whole world is alive in your eyes today.
After all the darkness we can brave,
Maybe things can turn out okay.

Shackled in the dark, alone and wide awake.
In my eyes there comes some firelight,
To fight for all our sakes,
To help us make our way tonight.

I've become a silhouette some nights,
Invisible, untouchable, unreachable.
Everything is leaving, fading out of sight,
Oh, so unattainable.
But maybe, just maybe you'll lead my way tonight.

Ghosts of memories chase all around me,
Remind me of the good times so long ago,
When my heart could be so free,
When the world seemed something I could know.

Believe in me and I'll chase away the bad times,
Singing songs tonight by fierce firelight,
Of times spent on little games and children's rhymes.
I'll find you so once again the world can feel right.

(A/N:

Non-canon/LOC characters seen in this chapter:

Angel/Experiment six-two-three: A small creature from Stitch: The Series with the ability to turn others evil with her enchanting lullaby. However, the reverse of the spell nudges them towards good. For the purpose of this story, her song does not work as well when she's off her own world, but is still a force to be reckoned with.

Manfred Bloor: A hypnotist from Charlie Bone. With a stare like coal that can, and has, made someone loose their identity for years, he is powerful.

The Three Flames—Aeries (red), Sagittarius (yellow), and Leo (orange): From Charlie Bone. They were once proud leopards who belonged to the great Red King, but when he planned to permanently turn himself into a tree he turned them into three 'common'—though he term does not really apply to them—housecats. They are red, orange, and yellow. They have the ability to run around something and turn into a ring flames, warming and healing them. They have saved several hypothermia victims, pulled Charlie Bone's soul out of a painting and even saved someone who was recently drowned. Their fur gives off a soft glow, and they tend to help children wherever they can, trying to avert mischief. They are very intelligent and can always sense someone's intentions.

Princess Celestia: From My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. A strong goddess with wings and a horn, she raises her world's sun come dawn and is capable of doing the same with the moon. Now, she is alone on a broken and desolate Equestria. The capital was called by all those she sent away "The City of Ashes" because of the great fire that raged there. Her world lies near collapse, and her little remaining magic is all that prevents it from vanishing all together.)