Technically a double upload because I updated both fics at once. Go me!

So, the Olympus Coliseum was spontaneous, and so was almost everything in this chapter. It's all things I wanted to put in but wasn't sure where, and suddenly it all came together. I was so excited writing! Hopefully next chapter will be soon.

psychicshipping: Thank you for understanding! Lazier than Demyx...I like that. So true.

bug349: thank you so much for always commenting. You keep me moving forward.

Sora, Axel, and Xion were sitting at the tower, eating ice-cream together.

"I guess Xire isn't going to make it?" asked Xion, not sounding too unhappy. Axel just shrugged.

"It doesn't matter," said Sora. "I like Xire well enough, but, something seems right about just the three of us, doesn't it?"

Xion smiled and took another bite of her ice cream, looking out into the sunset

Sora, Riku, and Kairi in Destiny Islands at sunset, Sora's arms folded behind his head as usual, leaning against the paopu tree. Riku's right beside him, arms crossed in front of him, also leaning against the paopu tree. As usual, he looks like he's deep in thought. Kairi's sitting on top of the tree, enjoying the scenery and occasionally stealing a glance at Sora

Xion held her ice cream just in front of her mouth, looking at Sora. "Uh, yeah," she said quietly.

Axel chuckled a bit. "You're never scared to just say what's on your mind, are you?"

Sora shrugged. "Why censor myself? You should always just say what you feel, right? No use in hiding anything, especially around your friends."

Axel suddenly looked a little uncomfortable and ran his hands at the back of his head.

"Even at the expense of someone else?" Sora jumped a bit and turned to see Xire there, an antagonistic smile on her face. "You know, sometimes the truth hurts."

"A lie can hurt too," said Sora. "And it usually hurts everyone involved."

She shook her head. "That's just the type of thing idiots like you say."

"Hey! Take that back!"

Xire smiled and crossed her arms. "Oh? You wanted the truth so bad, so there you have it."

Xion and Axel both scooted away. Xire and Sora fought like this often. Sora was always unafraid of giving his opinions, and Xire usually had a rebuttal.

"This is why I just like the three of us," said Sora, turning his head to ignore Xire. Xire growled. "You know, if I had a heart, I'd find that really offensive!"

"But you don't, so what's the problem?"

Axel almost choked on his ice cream. Xion looked away a little sadly. Xire looked ready to light him on fire.

"You know, kid, you really make me angry sometimes!"

"Oh? I thought you needed a heart for that."

Xire rolled her eyes. "I give up on you, kid."

"You are fighting a lost cause. You won't find a harder head than his."

"Hey! Thanks a lot Axel!" Sora turned to Xion. "You'll stick up for me, won't yah?"

Xion shrugged. "Truth is, you are pretty hard-headed most of the time." Xire stuck her tongue out at Sora in victory. "You win this round," said Sora, and they all laughed. Sora looked up into the sky…

And there were stars there. The three of them sat in silence for a while, just looking at them—what had Terra said? They were the light from other worlds, shining down on us like lanterns. That moment was just perfect, because the three of them were together.

And it was the last time they were together.

And here…this tower…that's where he's spent his last summer vacation…

"Sora?" whispered Xion. "Geez kid, I didn't really mean any of it," said Xire. "There's no need to cry." Sora stood up abruptly. "I…I have to go," he said, starting to turn, and then he lost his balance, and started to fall…

A girl with light blue hair and blue eyes trudged slowly through the sand. She closed her eyes and tried to pretend that the water she heard was somewhere else, somewhere else she had been that existed in the light, rather than in this dark and perpetual night. Finally, the girl came up to a rock and rested against it.

Aqua looked up at the moon, the single source of light in this darkness. She was so close to the light now, she could feel it. But she couldn't make it. She was still trapped here.

She had wandered around the dark margin for ages, thinking she'd finally find here way out, but everywhere she went, she could only find ways back into the darkness. Was darkness really that vast and controlling?

The man in the black coat had disappeared. Where to, she didn't know. Half of her hoped he had escaped, though she knew it was more likely he had been taken by the darkness. She cursed herself for ever leaving him alone.

Sora…she closed her eyes and pondered. That boy she had met so long ago…was he really the one out there protecting the realm of light? She hadn't given him a keyblade, but apparently another chose him anyway. She hoped that somehow, he'd be able to reach out and help Terra and Ven.

And me…she clenched her fist and tried to stop the flow of tears, but she couldn't. She just couldn't…couldn't. She couldn't keep this up for much longer, being trapped here in the realm of darkness. After all this time, she was so close, and yet her situation seemed as hopeless as ever. Was she just going to die here? Fade away into the darkness?

Aqua slowly wiped the tears from her face. It wasn't often she acknowledged her sadness like that, but it was happening more frequently. If she didn't get out of here soon…

Wait a minute. Aqua looked up at the sky again. She felt something…but there was nothing there. She instinctively put a hand over her heart…

"Who's there?"

A voice said, faintly, "I'm Sora. You…you're his friend, aren't you?"

Aqua stiffened. Sora? His friend? A million questions ran through her mind, and she blurted out, "Who…who are you talking about?"

"I don't know…"

Suddenly, Aqua looked in front of her and saw…Ventus!

Ven held out a hand. He looked just as sad and weary as she did, but he was trying to smile despite it all.

"Aqua…stay strong for me. Promise, okay?" Aqua nodded, reaching out for Ven's hands. It disappeared as she touched it, and she desperately grasped the air. "Ven, I'll come for you, I promise!"

Ven nodded, tears coming from his eyes as he disappeared. Aqua stood there, realizing that her heart and Ven's had just touched, thanks to that boy…Sora.

But what did that mean? Was he coming for her? Was she going to be saved? Would Ven? Would Terra…?

She gulped back the tears. Stay strong. She turned and stared into the darkness without fear. She'd find a way out. She'd find the door to the light, one way or another.

She took out her wayfinder and grasped it tightly. "There's always a way," she whispered to herself.

"Xemnas, you say?" Yen Sid cosed his eyes. "Warrior of destruction…" he sighed. "This does not bode well."

Everyone had come back to Yen Sid's after the show in Olympus Coliseum. However, he didn't seem to have any idea what was going on either.

"What is it?"

"As to Xehanort's plans, I cannot quite say. However, I have a feeling that they're not going quite as smoothly as they should be. Hearts are unpredictable; not realizing that was always Xehanort's biggest flaw."

"That's good for us," said Kairi. "So what's the bad news?"

Yen Sid was quiet. He merely stared past them all at Hotaru, who was leaning against the back wall as if trying to blend in with it.

"I sense no darkness about her," said Yen Sid. "Hotaru poses no threat to any of us, but to our enemy." Yen Sid still looked nervous.

"There's something you're not telling us," said Riku angrily. Yen Sid didn't respond. Riku slammed his fists on the table. "You know about Xehanort's past, don't you? Why don't you just tell us what he's planning now?"

"You must comprehend the present before you try to delve into the past."

"I thought we needed the past to take on Xehanort!"

"You must also save your own heart before you try to save anyone else's."

Riku's eyes widened, then he glared hard. Yen Sid returned the glare, still unmoving. Finally, Riku turned and walked out.

"Riku, wait!" said Kairi, but he brushed right past her. She turned to Yen Sid, and he nodded. "Go. I will tell Mickey of your next location." Kairi, Donald, Goofy, and Hotaru all left.

"Why can't we tell them?"

"To what end?" he asked. He turned his head and looked out a window. "The stars don't speak to me as they once did. That the hearts of worlds should fall silent like this…it is most disconcerting.

"I myself am unsure as to how best help Terra, Aqua, and Ventus. Sora is the key, but…there is no safe way to reach him. The darkness is stronger than ever, its influence spreading father and farther…Hotaru confirms it."

"Huh?"

"A revolution is coming," Yen Sid spoke gravely. "Either everything will be saved…or plunged to permanent ruin."

Riku stormed out of the castle angrily. Then he looked up at the stars and sighed. He was being stupid and impatient, as usual.

"Riku?"

He turned at Kairi's voice, and saw everyone behind her. "I'm sorry. I know. I'm just tired of us not getting anywhere. I'm tired of us not knowing what's going on."

"I am, too. Trust me."

"I just don't get why he keeps going on with these mind games."

The all sat in silence for a moment. Then Hotaru spoke up. "Maybe…it's something we have to figure out for ourselves. Maybe the truth is plainer than we think."

"Huh?"

"Fighting the Organization right now seems like our only way forward. We have no choice. Whether we see the bigger picture or not, the worlds are in danger. We'll get there."

"But…"

"I agree with Hotaru," said Kairi. The girls smiled at each other. Hotaru turned. "Ah, you know, we could tell you a bit about what happened before," said Goofy. "Huh? Really?" said Riku excitedly.

"Calm down," said Donald. "We don't know everything. In fact, we hardly now anything. King Mickey was the one involved mostly."

"Mickey?"

Goofy nodded. "Yep. He was taking that there mark of mastery exam when all the sudden, strange monsters started popping up everywhere."

"You mean the heartless?"

Donald shook his head. "No, they were different. Goofy and I didn't see many of them, but Yen Sid had a special name for them…uh, what was it Goofy?"

"Uh…unvase? Unbirths?" "No, that wasn't it…"

"Skip that part!" said Hotaru.

"Wack! Hold your horses," said Donald. "Well, anyway, there were these three other guys with keyblades: Terra, Aqua, and Ventus. We never met Terra, but the other two we met here while waiting for Mickey to come back."

Riku crossed his arms. "Terra…now why does that name sound familiar?"

"What were they like?"

"We only saw them once," said Goofy. "But, you know…Sora sort of reminds me of that Ventus kid."

"Three other keyblade wielders…well, what are the odds of that?"

"Oh yeah!" said Goofy. "Those three were some of the ones that needed help! That's what Naminé said, right? Something about them being connected to Sora?"

"Naminé?" echoed Kairi. Donald and Goofy briefly outlined what had happened with Jiminy's Journal. "We didn't catch all of what happened at the end, though. Only Mickey knows the whole story, and Yen Sid is probably making him keep it to himself."

"Oh boy, what if Yen Sid found out we told you?" said Donald, putting his hands around his beak. Riku frowned. "Connected to Sora's heart…"

"That's it, then…" said Hotaru softly, closing her eyes. "The truth we're looking for…we are getting closer to it. The truth lies inside all of your hearts. That's what Yen Sid wants you to find."

"The truth?" a voice echoed around them. The all looked in different directions, but didn't see anything, Then a corridor of darkness opened in front of them, and a figure in an organization coat walked through.

"Saïx," said Kairi angrily, her keyblade coming to her hand.

"The truth is," he said coldly, "that everything may be doomed."

Twilight Town…

Sora turned at the last second and landed from his fall right on his feet, keyblade out and ready to fight. Xire was the first one to get to him.

"Sora! Are you o—

Sora slashed his keyblade towards her. She quickly backed away, noting the look of pure anger and anguish on his face. Then, realizing what he was doing, he dropped the keyblade. It disappeared as it hit the ground.

"I thought…there were heartless…neoshadows…and that girl…" he shook his head. He opened a corridor of darkness and ran through it. Axel and Xion came running past Xire, who just stood there, stunned. She couldn't be sure—she had only seen pictures of him—but for a moment, she could have sworn…

Sora looked just like Roxas…?

Mysterious Tower. Again.

"What do you want?" asked Riku angrily. Saïx held up his hands. "I come in peace. And call me Isa. I no longer answer to the Organization."

"And why do I have trouble believing you?"

Saïx—Isa—sighed. "You remember Axel, right? When he and I joined Organization XIII, we had planned to betray them. But, I got caught up in getting a heart, and Axel…he befriended Roxas, and in the end decided to help Sora." Isa held out his hands pleadingly. "I want to help rectify my mistakes. I actually came here to talk to Yen Sid."

"Oh really?" said Kairi angrily. Isa looked to her. "Kairi…you wouldn't remember, but Axel and I knew you when you were really little. We used to help out your grandmother a lot. Well, I would while Axel would sit around and crack jokes," Isa said, his voice cracking a bit. "Funny that a princess was sitting under our nose back then…" He quickly shook his head and adopted his normal demeanor. "I can give you any information about the organization you need, if that's what you want."

"All right, what are they planning?" asked Riku. "Honestly, I'm not sure if there is a plan. So far, we've merely been doing the same things we did before—sort of. We've also been trying to collect the princesses of heart," said Saïx, his eyes focusing on Kairi. "Most of the other members seem like their minds aren't completely there—as if they've come back broken somehow."

"That explains what we've seen, but…"

"Please, there is little time. There are two worlds that you must set out for immediately. Things will become clearer then."

"All right," said Riku. "Just tell us this, then: what's the deal with Xemnas?"

Isa frowned. "That is precisely what I'm trying to figure out. Xemnas is not running the organization. Neither is Ansem. It seems as if Xehanort has disappeared completely. Perhaps he no longer has use of the organization, or…his plans lie elsewhere.

"The worlds you must go to now are Beast's Castle and Atlantica. You'll find some answers there."

Donald raised his staff, unconvinced. "How are we supposed to trust you?" Isa smiled. "I suppose you can't. But I am the one who assigns missions in the organization; certainly, you can see the use in that?"

Mickey came out at that instant. They filled him in on what Isa had said, and Mickey nodded. "Those are the same worlds Yen Sid told us to go to…all right then, Isa. Yen Sid sensed you come; he wanted to see you anyway."

"Perfect."

Everyone walked past Isa, still looking at him suspiciously, except for Hotaru. She reached up and touched the x-shaped scar on his face. "Be careful," she whispered. He frowned. "Have we met?"

"No, but I sensed the power of the moon inside you. It reminded me of someone…" she sighed. "Someone I can't even remember. Goodbye."

Isa looked after her for a moment, then turned his gaze back towards the tower. He was going to get to the bottom of this.

Lea…

Isa swallowed down his guilt. He had just sent Axel to Castle Oblivion to keep him out of the way.

Axel groaned. "Geez. Why do you keep sending me there? Do you have any idea how much time and energy goes into navigating that place?"

"There are secrets there that still need finding. It's not as if you're doing anything else."

They both stared into each other's eyes, trying to read the other's thoughts. Too much had happened before; neither could really trust the other. Axel came very close to saying something, to look for some small inkling of the Isa who had been his closest friend, but decided against it. In the end, he couldn't really trust Isa, could he? Or should he say Saix?

Neither of them stated anything about whether it was a private mission or for the organization. Neither could really bring themselves to say which.

Axel's just too unpredictable, decided Isa. Not only that, but if the organization did remember anything, than they would be watching Axel and waiting for him to betray them. No one would suspect Saix, who had been one of the most loyal members of Organization XIII.

Sorry Lea...

This chapter was so fun and so sad to write. First I started with the UsagixRei nostalgia, then...I randomly threw in Aqua. I almost cried writing that part-I watched the scene with the wayfinders from BBS, and then watched her part in blank points, and almost lost it T-T but I thought I should put that there so you know that Aqua is alive and will be touched on more in a little bit.

While writing this chapter, I realized something funny: Donald, Goofy, and Mickey, the ones who would recognize that Roxas looks like Ventus, have never actually laid eyes on Ventus. I had some fun with this; honestly, the gap between what the main characters know and what the audience knows is astounding. Why won't Yen Sid release the details? Perhaps, as Hotaru said, there's something to be figured out first...

And holy crap Isa! That was random too. But it fit in well.

This must be what it's like to be Nomura...