"Alright, that's another world down!" Sora exclaimed.
"I guess that coliseum is next?" Balle asked. Sora's reply was cut off as the ship began shaking.
"Huh?" Goofy asked as they all watched space zip past them.
"Hey, wait a minute..." Sora muttered. "Is the ship moving all on its own?"
"Yup!" Goofy said. "Looks like we're headed toward Hollow Bastion." Balle looked out the window to see the ship entering a portal of some sort. After entering the portal, it looked as though they were in some long hallway, with a light at the end. Once they got to the other side, they saw Hollow Bastion come into view.
"Time to see what's up." Balle said as they landed.
"I wonder what's up." Sora thought out loud as they walked through the Borough. They turned the corner to Merlin's house when 3 Soldier Heartless ran out the door and vanished. They all let out sounds of surprise before rushing in.
They saw Merlin sitting on the ground, gasping for breath on his backside. "You alright Merlin?" Balle asked as he helped the wizard up.
"Yes, yes I am Balle," the wizard replied. He looked at them with a frown. "Well, now... took your time, did you?"
"Oh, was it you who summoned us, Merlin?" Goofy asked.
"Yes, yes." the old wizard confirmed. "But it seems I used too much power in doing so, and those infernal Heartless..." he let out an annoyed sigh.
"So what's up?" Sora asked.
"Well, I happened to stumble upon this in the Zero District." Merlin said with a snap of his fingers a book appeared in his hands. He handed the book to Donald and they all looked at the cover.
"Pooh's storybook!" Sora exclaimed happily.
"That's right." Merlin said with a nod. "I know you're a good friend of Winnie the Pooh, Sora - that's why I summoned you. And when I did, I was attacked by the Heartless. Of, course I fought back with some rather powerful magic, but then I began to fear the book would be damaged, so I..." he trailed off. "Now, just a moment. Leon and the the others need to hear this too. I'd better go find them. Be back in a jiffy." he said as he disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"I wonder how Pooh is doing." Sora wondered.
"Wanna find out?" Donald asked with a sly smile.
"Yeah!" Sora replied with enthusiasm.
Donald opened the book for Sora. Sora got ready to enter the Hundred Acre Wood. "Sora!" Goofy shouted.
"Cover for me!" Sora commanded, giving Goofy a thumps up and got back into stance. A bright flash occurred, making Goofy and Balle cover their eyes. Donald had to close his eyes. Balle opened his eyes and found that Sora was gone.
'Well, we're not doing anything so...' "Hey guys, I'm gonna take a nap, wake me up when Sora or Merlin gets back." Balle said.
"You sure love your naps, Balle!" Goofy commented with a chuckle. Balle smiled sheepishly.
"Hey, what can I say, Papa loves him some beauty sleep." Donald and Goofy laughed and nodded. Balle sat on Merlin's bed and leaned against the bedpost. He closed his eyes and entered his subconsciousness.
Balle opened his eyes to the familiar scenery around him. His Station. Something felt... off. Balle glared at the surrounding darkness. "I know you're there." he shouted. Before him, a familiar cloaked figure stepped out of the darkness. "Alright, buddy. Who are you?" Balle demanded.
"You mean you haven't figured it out yet?" the figure asked. "You really are dense!"
"Shut up, Nobody!" Balle growled. The person laughed at him.
"Well, then let's go over the basics." he said. "1. I'm a Nobody."
"Obviously." Balle growled.
"Temper, temper." the cloaked person taunted. "2. I'm in your heart. Any of that ringing a bell?" Balle blinked and his eyes widened. "Yeah, that's it..."
"You can't be..."
"But I am."
"You're... my... Nobody?" Balle asked. "But... how?"
"How what?" his Nobody asked. "How am I here? How was I created? Be more specific, will you?"
"How were you created?"
"When you sacrificed yourself to save Kingdom Hearts." he said simply. "The explosion from fighting a masked assassin stole his and you're heart, but the people who all respected you... when they cried for you, they each gave you a part of them. In essence, they gave you a part of their heart." Balle's Nobody slowly raise his hands towards his hood and lowered it. Balle stepped back. It was like looking in a mirror. He looked exactly like him, only a few minor differences. Firstly was his eyes. While Balle's were scarlet red, his Nobody's were brick red. And lastly, was a scar running across his face. "And I was born as Lexbal."
"Lexbal?" Balle repeated. "But, if you're my Nobody, then how are you here?"
"I merged with you."
"You merged with me?" Balle repeated. "How? Why?"
"How? It was easy, all I had to do was come into contact with you."
"And when did that happen?"
"During your Awakening." Lexbal said. "In fact, I was the trigger for your Awakening. Since I had already gone through it, it forced you to do the same."
"Why?" Balle asked.
"Why? Because we are becoming one." Lexbal explained. Balle still looked confused. "The dream of all Nobodies is to become whole. Nobodies are only half a person. But the only way to become whole is to become one with your Somebody. In my case, you."
"So you just wanted to become whole?" Balle asked. Lexbal nodded. "So you're an Organization member?" Lexbal shook his head.
"I was. A long time ago." Lexbal pointed at his face. "See this?" he asked indicating his scar. "Their leader gave this to me. For turning traitor."
"Do you know what they're planning?" Balle asked him. Once again Lexbal shook his head.
"I left before they unveiled their master plan."
"So, why did you turn traitor?" Balle asked.
"To become whole." Lexbal replied. "I searched for a long time, and eventually stumbled upon your world."
"So... what will becoming whole do?" Balle asked.
"Well, its already been happening." Lexbal told him. "How do you think you were so skilled with the Keyblade with absolutely no training? It's because I've been training for years. Have you noticed how you have been enormously more mature and intelligent than usual? That's my personality blending with your's. It seems some of my memories are becoming your's as well."
"Like remembering Twilight Town." Balle said in realization. Lexbal nodded.
"Bingo! Twilight Town was my home." Lexbal looked upwards. "Looks like it's time for you to go."
"What?" Balle asked. "Wait!"
"We'll talk again some other time. And one more thing... Beware of your Shadowside..." Lexbal's voice echoed.
"Balle!" Donald cried.
"What? What's happening?" Balle asked bolting up. He looked around to see Donald staring at him and Goofy nowhere in sight.
"Heartless!" Donald responded as he ran out of the house. "Get Sora!"
"Right!" Balle shouted. He ran over to the book, unsure of what to do. He grabbed the book and started shaking it. Sora comically fell out, landing on his rear end.
"What was that for?" Sora whined, rubbing his backside. Balle was about to respond when Donald did so for him from outside.
"Sora! Balle! Hurry up!" the duck shouted.
"Donald?" Sora yelled back in concern. He quickly ran out of the house, Balle following him. They ran out to see Soldiers everywhere. They quickly joined the fray and soon there were no more.
"Sora, did you get the book?" Goofy asked. Sora's eyes widened as he ran back into the house.
"No!" Balle shouted. "It's gone!"
"Relax, Sora." Balle said as he reached into one of his side pouches. "I've got it." He handed the book to a relieved Sora.
"Thanks, Balle." Sora replied thankfully.
"You should go and check to see if Pooh's alright." Goofy suggested.
"Good idea." Sora said as he entered the book. Suddenly Merlin appeared in a puff of smoke. The old wizard looked around.
"And where did Sora run off to?"
"Well, you see..." Balle started.
"He's in the book isn't he?" They all nodded. Merlin sighed as Sora re-emerged from the book. "Couldn't be bothered to wait up for an old wizard, eh?"
"Sorry about that..." Sora said sheepishly. "Pooh's just fine by the way."
"That's excellent news." Merlin said. "This book is one of the world's most cherished elements. I'd been meaning to tell Leon that I'd found it."
"It's a good thing that Balle saved it then." Goofy commented.
"Yes, yes..." Merlin agreed. "Now, the book isn't all that's cherished... This is for you, Sora."
He held out his hand and a charm with the picture of a baseball bat on it, appeared in a puff of smoke. He handed it to Sora.
"What's this?" Sora asked, looking at the charm.
"If you, or Balle, focus your heart, you only need to saw the word and an ally will help you out in battle," Merlin replied.
"Oh like Balle's Dark Magician Girl?" Goofy asked.
"I suppose." Merlin said, not really knowing what he was talking about. "Now go forth, with your friends by your side! I will transport you back to where you were before I called you."
"Thanks, Merlin." Sora said as they were beamed up by the Gummi Ship.
A/N: I wasn't looking forward to naming Balle's Nobody Beallx or something more stupid like that. As for Balle's 'Shadowside... I'll need to make some decisions.