A/N: Hello everyone! Welcome back to Re: Kingdom Hearts.

First…

Clara the Clear: Honestly, I would have some sort of pairing for Penelope in 358/2 Days… only if it were that simple. Because of Penelope's heart, it is impossible for her to be able to have a nobody nor can she have a Heartless version. The way her heart is makes it so if the darkness tries to take over, it won't work.

However, it doesn't mean Penelope won't be in 358/2 Days. She actually has quite a big role- especially with helping Roxas with his missions.

Silent Searcher: I agree. I feel bad for Riku. Especially because Ansem won't leave him alone. And how can Axel see her in the shadows. You see, the light spirit has made it so Penelope has an undetectable presence, and she can't be detected unless you find out she's there.

Axel has detected Penelope's presence and can figure out when she's there. If he wanted to, he could tell Marluxia and Larxene that's she's there, but he hasn't- As they'll find her presence eventually, as in pretty soon.

Like usual, I own nothing, excluding Penelope as I own her.

Here's chapter 4!

XxXxX

Chapter 4: Penelope's Story Pt 4

"So, Tatl. Are you sure I'm not going insane?" Penelope asked the light spirit, fearful that she might be going insane.

"Once again, my name is NOT Tatl. And you aren't. You haven't been entering the rooms like Sora and Riku have with the cards. You've been entering with my assistance without the cards; therefore, it makes the rooms look like what they see from their memories to them and a big, white, empty room to you."

"Does the basement look big, white and empty?" The light spirit only replied to Penelope, "Really. No. If you didn't know, there's somewhat of a rivalry between those on the upper and lower levels. Personally, the ones on the lower level are less sneaky… Excluding Vexen of course. He doesn't shut up."

Penelope raised an eyebrow at her. "Pardon? You're telling me that you do know their names and ranks?"

"Like Ansem, I know all that there is to know. In fact, the reason I look like this to you is because I'm unable to move from my position. I've only successfully moved from my spot once as of late, and that was recently." The light spirit told Penelope.

Penelope stopped before asking, "Just who are you? And why are you helping me?"

"I can't tell you my name, nor who I am, but I am helping you simply because I can." She answered. "Anyway, shall we go to the basement and do some spy work?"

"Sure, I guess." The light spirit and Penelope hid in the shadows before going lower in the basement, and Penelope had to adjust to the light, as it was fairly dark there, but she made sure to listen carefully to the conversation.

"You detect something in the castle's lowest basement?" One of them asked. "Are you sure its not a Heartless? Explain Zexion."

Penelope could see them clearly now. The youngest out of the three had steel-blue hair and blue eyes, and his hair was covering one side of his face though it was short in the back.

The eldest one (who Penelope found rather creepy), had long ash blonde-ish hair and green eyes, and he looked rather scary.

Then the tallest and biggest one out of all of them was rather square-jawed and had wavy, chestnut brown hair that stayed up and blue eyes. And they were all wearing the signature black cloak.

The youngest one, who Penelope assumed to be Zexion, began speaking. "I picked up two scents. The first was Maleficent."

"A double created from a card." The one who spoke before Zexion added.

"And the other scent belonged to…" Zexion didn't get to finish, as he was interrupted when the room began to light up a bit more, and the tallest one said, "Marluxia and the others must be up to something above-ground."

Penelope quickly figured out which one was Vexen when he began shouting. "Those disrespectful hooligans, sneaking around above-ground! They have no sense of solidarity!"

Zexion stared at Vexen and asked, "Um...may I continue?"

Well, Vexen was still shouting. Convenient. "And the way they speak to their elders! They hardly spare me a second glance, let alone offer a word of greeting!"

Penelope saw the light spirit face palm. "I can relate to him in ways, as I'm not noticed sometimes. However, does he have a mute button?" She asked the light spirit.

"No. Only if he did. Then this room would be much quieter." The two went back to listening.

"Yes, greetings are vital. That's why our goal for this month is to make sure to say hello-..." Zexion was cut off yet again by Vexen.

"Never mind! Just get on with it already!" He shouted at him. The third person seemed to be in surprise and in tears, thinking, "Vexen… I had no idea you felt so disrespected…"

Zexion was finally able to continue. "The other scent belonged… to Riku."

"Riku?!" Vexen asked in shock. "But that's impossible! He and that king were lost when they ventured beyond the door to darkness!"

"But there is one thing...His scent is very similar to the Superior's. So similar, that they're almost exactly the same." Zexion told them.

"Maybe they're using the same cologne?" Vexen suggested. Zexion slumped in response.

XxXxX

Riku was walking through a white hall of Castle Oblivion, Ansem's words repeating in his head.

"But you need to be aware...of the scent of darkness permeating your bones."

Riku stopped and tugged on the collar of his shirt before laughing at the words and losing a bit of confidence when he said, "Permeating my bones, huh? Maybe there is no turning back…"

He heard Mickey's voice. "Riku."

"Your Majesty...do you really think I can reach the light?" He asked, having some doubt in himself.

"Don't worry Riku." Mickey told him, trying to calm Riku down.

"What if I open my eyes, but still only see darkness?" Riku asked Mickey, sounding worried.

Mickey appeared behind him...well, not in a solid state, but he appeared behind Riku, telling him, "Don't give up on yourself!"

Riku saw Mickey, who told him (which was a bit awkward, but whatever), "Who cares what you smell like? Believe in yourself. And brush your teeth! Then give yourself a good scrub in the bath...and you'll feel much better!"

Riku was silent, staring at Mickey (considering he appeared rather holographic). "Oh, this? I'm sorta fuzzy 'cos I'm still far away."

However, that wasn't all Mickey had to say. "Riku…Fight the darkness in you! It won't be easy…but…even in the darkest darkness, there's always a little bit of light. Never forget that."

Riku continued to stare at Mickey and Mickey smiled back at him. "You and I have seen it! The far off, welcoming light inside the door to darkness…It'll show you the way."

Riku was now staring at the ground, worrying Mickey, and he began to say, "So please…"

But Riku rubbed his eyes a bit after closing them and looking at Mickey, telling him, "Your Majesty. Give me some credit. I'll be alright."

"Oh yeah." Mickey laughed at the end, and Riku told him, referring to Ansem, "He's not gonna get his way."

Mickey smiled upon hearing this and held his hand out to Riku. "Let's make a promise. I'll get to you as soon as I can."

Riku was surprised by this, except considering that Mickey was rather Holographic at the moment; the handshake kind of didn't work…sadly.

"My hand passes right through yours. Does that handshake count?" Riku asked. Mickey fist pumped.

"We shook hands through our hearts. We're connected, you and me. I'll always be by your side." Riku smiled and his eyes glittered a bit upon hearing this.

"Thank you, your majesty."

XxXxX

Penelope was still listening to the conversation between Vexen, Zexion and Lexaeus (The light spirit told her his name, because Penelope kind of forced her into it).

"Riku was once with the darkness. Perhaps that made him half-dark." Zexion hypothesized to the other two. "And that's why I mistook him for the superior. Not because of his cologne."

"All right already." Vexen said, rather annoyed. Though it was his fault for bringing cologne up out of the blue.

"Then it was strong dark power that facilitated Riku's escape from the realm of darkness. How ironic." Lexaeus, who actually spoke this time, said as he finished a puzzle.

Then Vexen went to speaking. "Even if so, he is a very unique specimen. I'll have to collect more data."

"Did he just…" Penelope began to ask. The light spirit nodded. "He did."

"You've ignited Vexen's passion for science." Lexaeus pointed out to Zexion.

"Once he takes an interest in something, he'll never let it go." Zexion added before saying something else. "What I want to know is why Riku appeared here in Castle Oblivion. And without any help…"

"That's really quite simple. His existence resonates with that of another hero." Vexen replied.

As Lexaeus put his puzzle back together, Zexion asked, "Are you saying Sora called him here?"

"Just like light and shadow." Lexaeus said.

This must've interested Vexen, as he chuckled before saying, "If Marluxia obtains Sora, then we need to only acquire Riku."

"Pardon?" Penelope asked. Then she realized the plan after putting the pieces together.

"Oh no. I need to warn Sora." She told the light spirit.

"Its no use. He's too far in the castle to warn him now. You need to try and prevent it…unless Sora is the one to stop them."

Penelope sighed at this. "Fine, fine. Let's go."

The two left the room through a portal.

XxXxX

(NOW WE CAN GET TO SORA'S PART.)

After finishing Agrabah, after trying to find Riku and Mickey, they left onto the next floor.

"Sora?! Another world?!" Donald and Goofy asked him after the comment he made at the end.

"You said we'd stop if we couldn't find any clues." Donald told him.

"Did I say that?" Sora asked them.

"Uh-oh! Is the Oblivion spreading?" Donald asked in a bit of panic.

Sora made this somewhat stupid look before saying, "Just kidding. I was just remembering."

"…The feeling I had when I entered this castle. I knew we'd find something here. And I still feel it here in my heart." With a hand on his chest, Sora told Donald and Goofy, "If we give up cos we're afraid to lose our memories…I know we'll regret it forever."

Goofy had this happy look on his face and Donald put a hand (or wing…or something) behind his head and told Sora, "You took the words right out of my mouth!"

Jiminy said, "I guess there's no stopping you…"

"That's right. I'm going to find Riku and go back home…to Kairi." In his memory of Kairi as he looked at her charm, Sora suddenly saw a second girl…and it wasn't Penelope.

"Huh?" Sora asked. Suddenly, he shouted, "I REMEMBER!"

"Huh?" Donald and Goofy asked him.

"What are you shouting about, Sora?" Donald questioned him.

"Just now…I was…I was thinking about finding Riku…and going back home to our island to Kairi. And I remembered. There was another girl who I was friends with."

"You mean besides Riku and Kairi? Like Penelope? Well I'll be!"

"No, it wasn't Penelope, I can tell you that." Sora told Jiminy.

Jiminy went to rewriting his journal. "Well then. Seems to me that's the first time you ever mentioned her. I'd better add that to my Jiminy Memo. I'm starting it over from scratch. It'll be much better than the old one!"

Donald was rather unamused. "Stubborn little bug." He muttered.

Jiminy went to being a reporter. "What was she like?"

Sora went to describing this third girl. "She was quiet. And…oh yeah. She was always drawing pictures. She drew pictures of us all the time."

"What was her name?" Donald and Goofy asked him.

"Her name is…um…I can't remember." Sora answered, seeming rather sad.

"Well, there's no rush! Let's keep going- maybe it'll come back to you later." Donald said, trying to cheer Sora up.

"A-hyuck! Maybe our lost memories will come back too!" Goofy added.

"Come on. Let's go!" Sora told them.

In the upper parts of the castle, Larxene and Axel were watching through security cameras, with Penelope watching them from the shadows…though Axel knew she was there.

"It looks like Sora's memories have taken root." Larxene said with a smirk on her face.

"Just as we planned. And Marluxia's checking on "it"?" Axel asked her.

"Yeah." Larxene answered. She got up and stretched. "Well then…I'm off to play with Sora."

Axel tossed her over a card, which she caught. "Oh yeah. I'm supposed to give him this." She said, examining the card.

"…I shouldn't have to tell you, but…don't break him, Larxene." Axel told her.

"You don't trust me?" She asked him. "I know when to let up. I'm not stupid enough to break my toys."

Axel went over and sat on the couch, waving a hand. "Just thought you might've forgotten. Remember, Sora is the Key. Even after we've finished the official plan…we'll need him..."

Axel's face grew dark when he finished. "…If we're going to take over the Organization."

Before Larxene left, she advised him. "Keep that under your hood, Axel, until the time is right."

"Of course." He said as she left. However, then he smirked before saying, "You would have been wise to do the same…Larxene. As for you…"

He was able to pull Penelope out of the shadows once again, and she groaned.

"Dammit. How come you can't just, I don't know, NOT see me?" Penelope asked, rather irritated with Axel.

"Marluxia and Larxene may be unable to see you, but I can." He told her.

"I know. However, you have other intentions, don't you Axel? You're not really on their side, are you? You're just acting like it." She pointed out.

Axel applauded her. "You're smarter than you look. However, I suggest you keep an eye on your friend. Just don't let me catch you up here again, okay?"

Before the light spirit took her into a portal, Penelope said, "No promises."

Penelope went to check on Sora, hiding in the shadows.

"So, Sora…" Sora stopped.

"Have you remembered your friend's name yet?" Donald asked him.

"Um…nope."

"That must be driving you crazy!" Sora told him.

"But…I do remember the slogan from the flyer I saw the day she left. "Biggest bargain sale in the universe!""

"You can't remember anything useful, can you?" Donald asked him.

"Awww…When that poor girl hears you've forgotten her name, why…It'll just…It'll break her heart."

Sora, Donald and Goofy were surprised to see another person (Larxene). "Who are you?"

"Are you enjoying your stay in Castle Oblivion?" Larxene asked them, a smile on her face as she crossed her arms.

"A black cloak! You're with Axel, aren't you?" Sora asked.

"Clever. I'm Larxene." She greeted. "You know…I bet its nice to peel away all the worthless memories and awaken the true ones that lie deep in your heart."

"You were talking about a girl…Do you know her? Tell me!" Sora ordered Larxene.

"So demanding. Is that any way to ask for information?" She asked him.

"Well…um…How about…please tell me, your Majesty? Err…"

Donald stared at Sora in shock. "SORA!"

"I-It just came out that way! Anyway, tell me if you know her!" Sora yelled at Larxene.

"I think you can guess the answer to that." She told him.

"…No way. You mean…she's here?" Sora asked.

Larxene smirked at him. "Smart boy! The bad guys are holding her somewhere deep inside the castle."

"Wha?" Sora asked in surprise.

Larxene summoned her knives. "And you're the hero, so of course, you have to save her. Although…I'm a bad guy, so you have to go through me!"

Throwing her knives at Sora and startling Donald and Goofy, it was about the time that Penelope appeared. And when Kairi's charm fell off of Sora…

There was something seriously wrong about it…

Almost like someone went in and changed it.

XxXxX

A/N: This was practically a Penelope chapter, so that's why it isn't Sora nor Riku's.

Also, the battle with Larxene will be in the next chapter…as well as other events as I can't exactly order the events as I am using the manga to help me write this.

I also got this rather late. Sorry!

Anyway, like usual, review if you'd like, please don't flame, leave me a suggestion of how I can improve or ask a question!

I will see you all in the next chapter.

Ciao!