Sora knew there was someone behind him. He didn't bother to turn around to find out who.
"You've got a problem here, you know," a familiar voice told him.
"I know. I wasn't expecting you to show up. I thought the Council stayed upstairs."
"Oh no. No, even we come down once in a while, though few people can ever tell."
"Interesting. Which particular problem were you talking about?"
"You've got your people, Swordsman and his people, and those that Sand can spare, all needing to get to Twilight Town. That's a lot of people to port, even if they all did it themselves. It'd be noticed, and would raise suspicions."
"There isn't any alternative except to do it in small group starting now. There's not long left though. Sunset was just a few minutes ago."
"Let me offer a less conspicuous solution."
"And there I was trying not to count on your help," he smiled back. "What can you do?"
"I can do two things. How about have the Arcology materialize on the same hill you were taken on, just outside of town, and I make it appear as if someone's been taken in while you and your small army go out?"
"I didn't know that was possible, but it's a perfect solution."
"There's one downside. You'll all have to get ready to go now, and make your way down to the ground floor. I can have it cleared so no one else finds out, but you're all going to have to be there."
"Good thing I have a plan in place for quickly getting word out." He uncovered his markings, tapping the one of the Arcology. In moments, Zemyx, Dog, Danny and King were all present.
"Something's happened, I assume?" Danny asked, noting the presence of what was, to him, a stranger.
"We've got a new plan to get out," Sora told them. "Get word to all people taking part to go to the ground floor immediately. As soon as everyone's there, let me know."
"What then?"
"Then we all leave. It's the same way people are taken, but sort of in reverse. I want you all to make sure everyone is there, because once we're out, anyone else will have to port out, and there's to be no use of the Port Agency for this at all."
"We'll see to it. See you there, Sora." Danny turned to the other three. "Dog, you go with King and round up Sand's people. Zemyx, you and I will go to Swordsman and do the same. Lets go now – we don't want to be late for the party now, do we?"
"Some party," Zemyx snorted as they left.
"That was neatly done," Sora's friend murmered after them. "You slipped it in without a problem. Are you sure you weren't counting on me to intervene?" she asked with an arch look.
"Me? Would I ever try to plan for a Council member to do something like this? I mean, it would be really risky to get involved."
"You're terrible," she laughed.
"Oh, I don't know," he grinned impudently. "I thought I had it perfect."
"I think I know where I'm placing my bets for the outcome of this."
"Oh?"
"It wouldn't be much of a bet if I told you the outcome, now, would it? Besides. I'm not meant to be here, remember."
"You were here? I'm afraid I don't remember, I have the most terrible memory lately."
"I was right, you're terrible. I'll handle what you need for you, but that's all I can do this time."
"Sure thing. Leave the rest up to me. I'll have this solved in no time."

"Roxas!"
"Quiet! You'll alert the Heartless!"
"I don't think we have to worry for long," Jamie hissed back. "Quickly, have a look at this."
"What, have a look at what?"
"That," Jame replied, pointing.
On the hill in the distance, there now stood a vast black tower that rose into the sky, a sky that surrounded and masked the top in a mass of roiling dark clouds with lightning in. Sparks from it occasionally shot down the outside of the tower, tracing random patterns. There were windows, but all were darkened.
At it's base, several darker door-shaped holes had opened. They seemed to suck at the eye, but what caught the attention more than the tower or the holes were the people leaving from them. Leading them was Sora.
"It looks like the cavalry has arrived," Roxas murmured, faintly amazed that Sora had actually managed to pull together a fair army.
"We'd better hurry then. We don't have many ways down yet."
"Never mind making more. Let's start moving people out already. The sooner we get them out, the more we save from that hoard. And I want a word with Sora as well."
"Sora is a little busy right now," someone said, appearing nearby with a sucking sound. "I'm Dog."
"You're not wearing the collar."
"I don't need to any more. Sora helped get me the rank up I've been after. He's also asked I stop by to find out what you're up to, answer questions, that sort of thing. Speaking of questions, what's with the matressess?"
"They're safe ways out for the people inside. We don't have many yet."
"Why do you need them?"
"There's a few buildings we can still get into safely. We get the people to the rooftops, where we've made a network of planks, ladders, and such so there's plenty of routes to the edge of the town."
"I see. I think I can have some people lend a hand and build some more for you. You're going to need more than this."
"You've come at a perfect time for it. It doesn't matter what kind of matress is used, just as long as it's a safe way down and out."
"Understood. I'll get back to Sora in a moment and relay this, he's already setting up a camp for the refugees, but before I go back, any questions you've got?"
"Just one for now, the rest can wait. Where did he get an army from?"
"Oh, he made a few more friends. All but a few of his own people are present, some are on loan from another First, and a fair amount are being led personally by their own First who agreed to help out."
"Useful. Now, how about that help?"
"On my way to get it now," he replied, vanishing again.
"We lucked out," Jamie said.
"Or Sora has perfect timing." He glanced back at Sora's force. "The Arcology's gone."
"I imagine they kept it around only for as long as they need. Why don't we go back to work?"
"Leave it to Dog, we ought to start moving people out. Sora's friends will probably help direct people to the various exits."
"What afterwards?"
"Then we get to join in their fun with the Heartless," he smirked back.

"I don't think surrounding the town is going to make much difference here. Heartless aren't too bright, they're more likely to try to overwhelm us with numbers."
"No seige then?"
"Sorry Swordsman. I'd like to leave the town intact if I can help it."
"What happened to a good old loot and pillage?"
"We're not here to do that, remember?"
"Oh well, guess if nothing else, we get a good fight."
King entered the tent in the camp they were planning in.
"I've done everything I can, Sora, but I still can't be certain if it's worked."
"But if it has?"
"Then we should all be able to hurt them as much as you can. I'm going to make a few more checks though." He left them again. King never did stick around for long.
"Excellent. Everything's going according to plan."
"There was a plan?" Seifer asked. He'd come along as the commander of Sand's forces, as Sand himself wasn't able to directly help. "I thought we were just making it up as we went along."
"It's called active change," Sora told him airily. "There's a plan, it just gets changed actively as better ideas come along."
"Isn't that the defenition of making it up as you go along?"
"Of course not. When you make it up, there's no real plan."
"They seem remarkably similar to me."
"Coincidence," he shrugged. "How's the camp coming along?"
"I've got my men building a palisade," Swordsman answered, then seeing Sora's blank look, continued, "A wall of sharpened logs in the ground. It isn't going to be perfect, but with a stupid enemy, it won't make much difference. And it won't leave much of a mark on the ground here once it's taken down again. Your Second insisted on taking over the field kitchen, so the townsfolk will have decent food, and there's tents and temporary structures to server as shelters being put up as we speak. I sent some scouts out with the other groups of forces to bring back any useful intel we can get."
"That's more words than I've heard you use since I met you."
"I know. I save them up for times like that."
Dog ducked his head into the tent now.
"We're getting the first refugees from the town coming in now, Sora. There's a Miss Kairi with them who says to tell you she got the message from Roxas, and that she's expecting a visit from Axel. Apparently you'd understand."
"I do. Thanks Dog."
"Sora, you never cease to amaze me," Seifer said as Dog left. "Not only did you get word out to her, but you managed to tell her who she'll see you as."
"Told you I'd find a way. I'm going to go see her."

Sora found out that Kairi in one of the large pavillions since the shelters hadn't been finished yet. He made certain she'd see him as Axel, then made his way to the pavillion and in. Almost as soon as he got in, he was greeted with Kairi almost jumping on him, flinging her arms round him.
"Sora!"
"Hey, Kairi. Guess you know it's me this time."
"Roxas got your message to me, he explained everything."
"I hoped he would. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, never mind me, what about you?"
"I'm perfectly alright, no need to worry about me. Donald and Goofy didn't come with you?"
"They're helping guide everyone else out. I came on ahead. I knew you'd be here."
"You're going to have to let me go though. I've got to go handle the Heartless again."
"I know. Come back safely, Sora."
"Of course I will. When have I ever not come back safely?"
"Well, don't make this the first time you don't?"
"I'll be careful, don't worry."
"Uh... excuse me?" someone asked behind him. There was a first ranker there. His markings identified him as Rue, the one Sand had been talking about before.
"What is it?"
"Forgive me intruding master... but some of the Heartless have somehow managed to sneak behind the camp and our forces are under attack."
"Can they hurt the Heartless?"
"Yes master, they have managed to destroy several, but it seems to take much work. It was suggested you join them to assist."
"You'd better go," Kairi told him.
"I'll be back before you know it," he replied. On his way out, he paused, and glanced back at her, then at Rue. "Do you have any other things to be doing, Rue?"
"No master, I'm here trying to make myself useful."
"Would you stay with Kairi for me then, and make sure she's safe?"
"You don't need to do that Sora, I'm sure I'll fine," she protested.
"Set my mind at rest, so I don't have to worry?"
"Oh... alright, then. I guess I can deal with it."
Sora nodded and left.
Rue turned to her. "How may I help you, mistress Kairi?"
"Do you have to do that?"
"Mistress?"
"The master and mistress."
"I am bound by the rules I know, mistress Kairi. You and he know each other well. He is of a position that holds great power among us, and it is rightful that he, and by extension you, are treated with proper respect."
"Would you stop? Just use my name."
"As you wish."
"Do you suppose you can get me something to eat? I could do with a warm meal."
"I will fetch one at once."

The defences at the rear of the camp were minimal, as they hadn't expected to be attacked from behind. In spite of that, their forces held off the Heartless, perhaps not easily, but enough to prevent their entry.
Sora calmly walked through the fight, occasionally destroying a Heartless that strayed too close, meeting up with Swordsman, who held a giant sword in both hands, and was carving up huge swathes of them with relative ease while taunting them.
"Fancy meeting you here, Sora," he commented, delivering another blow to several Heartless.
"I thought I'd lend a hand," he replied, handling a few more of his own.
"These Heartless aren't much of a challenge, you know."
"There'll be stronger, don't wory. I saw a few of them. It's the big ones you've got to watch for, they can soak up more."
"Oh good. A challenge."
"If I could interrupt your fascinating discussion, I thought you should know we have two hours to dawn," Seifer told them, joining them.
"Will we be able to get everyone out in time?"
"Don't panic Sora. Dog and those with him have finished making exit routes, they're guiding, and in some cases porting the remaining residents to safety. They'll be fine, though apparently there's someone among them who resembles you, and is refusing to leave, and has a young boy with an odd spear with him."
"Ah, that'll be Roxas and Jamie. They'll probably join in our fun come dawn."
"You're taking this awfully calmly."
"What's there to get excited about?"
"Aren't you even worried?"
"Not really."
"What's up?" Swordsman cut in. "You're not getting cold feet, are you?"
Seifer feigned shock, "Me? Never!"

The attack on the encampement was quickly broken, and defences in that area reinforced in case it was tried again. Word was sent to the other, lesser encampments of other forces around the town to do the same, as the last of the townsfolk took refuge in the main one.
Their forces were then split, one part assigned to defence of the camps, one part as the reserves which were split around the camps, and the last part that would be personally led by Sora and Swordsman.
They stood watching the town, awaiting dawn. Sora felt nerves coming on, but quickly banished them. They'd only unsettle him.
Roxas stood to his right, having joined them by now. He looked calm, showing nothing else.
To his left was the hulking figure of Swordsman, and beyond him, Jamie, holding his spear like a staff, butt of it on the ground.
It was eerily quiet. Not a sign or sound of movement from the town, and only the faintest clinks and rustles from the men and women who'd taken up arms with them, adjusting arms or armour.
The sky began to grow light, the starry black quilt of the night sky retreating to the stains of oranges and yellows, then finally giving way to sunrise.
The shadowy black mass of Heartless in the town began to shift.
Sora drew on his power, using it to amplify his voice so all would hear, and bellowed the command to charge into battle. Not a single person hesitated, bearing down on the town.
They were met on all sides by Heartless before they reached the edge of the town, Heartless after Heartless, Heartless climbing over Heartless. It was like an unending sea of them. He could feel already that some of their allies had been lost to them. All that could be done was to put the Heartless created from them to rest, or if they became a Nobody, hope they still fought alongside Sora.
Swordsman lost his cheer from earlier, having to work hard to stop from being overwhelmed by them, even with the massive reach of his giant sword, and the sheer power he could put behind it. Jamie backed him up, hurling bolts and arrows of air, fire and lightning sizzling through the air at them.
Roxas and Sora pushed forward. Their keyblades were still the most effective weapon they had against the Heartless, and carved through them like knives in hot butter.
The mass of Heartless forced them apart though. They were smart enough to avoid attacking them directly, Roxas because he had no heart to consume, and Sora because they knew he possessed strength enough to command them. This made it easier for them to fight, but harder for the others.
"Sora!" Swordsman bellowed. "I could use some help over here!"
Swordsman was surrounded, kept safe only by the reach of the sword, and vast wild swings keeping them at bay.
Sora thrust a hand out, shouting, "Fire!" causing a fireball to annhiliate a small group of Heartless. He followed up with lightning, shot directly from the keyblade, and chained through as many Heartless as possible. It was like watching dominos fall.
He cleared a path to Swordsman, brutually but efficiantely decimating any Heartless in his path until he stood back to back with the giant.
"I owe you one," he called down.
"Don't mention it – this is what allies do, right?"
"And friends as well. How are you holding up?"
"Don't worry about me, I've got the keyblade. Fall back with the others, at least then you'll have help to fend them off."
"But Sora-!"
"We need every hand we can get, and that means you too!"
"Alright," he growled back sullenly. "But I'll have you know I could have lasted longer."
"Of course. That's why I had to come help out. Keep safe."
"You too."
Sora then continued to push forward, glancing over at his Nobody.
Roxas was not as calm as he'd appeared shortly before, spouting long strings of curses at them, emphasising them with blows from Oathkeeper and Oblivion. It was entirely possible the curses were having as much effect as the keyblades were.
Someone else called, "Fire!" behind him, in a familiar voice.
"We heard you could use a hand," Goofy told him, bashing a few nearby Heartless aside.
"Glad to have you with us."
"Hey, fighting Heartless is what we do best, right?" Donald reminded him.
"Come on then guys, let's go to work."
He felt far more confident with his old friends at his side than he did for all the others with them. Even if it was going to be a long and hard battle.

The fighting grew tougher as they entered the town through the remaining unblocked routes, fanning out along all alleyways and streets to flush them out. The tighter quarters made it more difficult to handle them, especially for those who weren't accustomed to it. Through it all though, Sora and Roxas strode through purposefully, not letting a single one get away, nor anything stop them. Roxas might have had two keyblades, but Sora had the Arcology's power, and was drawing on every bit of it to remove any Heartless stupid enough to get in their way. Which was a lot of them.
Finally, the last of them were cornered in the central plaza, and there, stood in the center of them all, was Sephiroth himself.
"Oh god," Seifer breathed. "You didn't tell us we were up against the Grandmaster."
"We're not. He's just using the Heartless."
"He looks ready to lash out at any one of us."
"Anyone who wants to stay behind is welcome to. I'll take them on alone if I have to."
Roxas' look spoke volumes. He wasn't going to leave Sora now, and neither Donald or Goofy looked likely to change their minds either.
Sora didn't bother waiting for a reply, instead continuing onward.
The Heartless now turned on him, no longer leaving him alone. They focused on him without regard to any other, but even with all of them, they didn't have the strength to stop Sora now. Not while he was blazing with power barely contained, focused and amplified through the Keyblade to be a devastating force against any Heartless. Sephiroth had claimed he'd need it. He hadn't been wrong. Their use of the Arcology's power had been one of the key factors that pushed the Heartless back this far. Sora wasn't about to let up now.
The last of the Heartless hoard was destroy by his own keyblade, leaving Sephiroth stood waiting for him. He was still smirking.
"What now, Sora?" he asked. "Will you now destroy those above you just as ruthlessly in order to gain further advancement, until you challenge me? Or will you challenge me now?"
"What do you hope to get from this, Sephiroth?"
"I already have what I wanted. Your power exceeds all others of your rank, and not a few of those above you. You're a considerable threat to me now. So I must know what your next course of action is."
"Right now? I plan to make sure the town is safe, you're gone, and the residents can come back to their lives."
"And more long term?"
"I haven't decided yet. I've still got a lot to learn about being a First, I've got to account for everything that I've done here because of you and your Heartless, and I've still got Jamie to bring into the Arcology, among other things."
"Guess, then."
"In the end, you and I will probably end up in conflict, and I'll probably come after you. But right now, I really couldn't care less. I'm tired, and I want to get this sorted out before I just go to bed."
"I need a definite answer."
"Well I don't have one. Now get out."
"Watch your tongue, boy. I still have power over you through my Arcology. One step out of line, even the slightest sign you're acting against me..."
"Oh, spare me the threats and go away already, before I change my mind and come after you now."
"Very well... but remember your place."
Sephiroth ported himself away, leaving Sora fuming irritably.
"You know, Sora, you're getting yourself in a lot of trouble lately," Roxas told him, coming up behind. "Would you mind a suggestion?"
"What?" he snapped back, then calmer, "Sorry. I didn't mean to do that."
"Don't worry about it. Anyway, it's simple. Bring me in as one of your own. At least then I'll be able to get in and out of the Arcology at will, and on hand if you need me."
"I thought you didn't want any part of it."
"I don't relish the idea of going through it any more than you did, but I think you'll benefit from having me around. Besides, at least if I'm one of yours, you can override anyone trying to exploit my presence there."
"Fair point."