Star was quiet throughout the trip through the darkness. She kept her eyes closed and simply followed Xemnas by ear alone. However, even she was not in thought as deep as Asher's. He had set his body on a sort of autopilot, retreating to the deepest caverns of his mind. He wanted to talk to Axel, to get Axel's opinion on Xemnas' behavior.

"So, what do you think, Axel? What's his angle here?"

Axel shrugged uninterestedly. "I think he's telling the truth. He wants his heart back. Is it so hard to believe that Kingdom Hearts can only be spoken to by a heart? After all, what IS Kingdom Hearts but a collection of the hearts of those that have passed on?"

"I guess. Still…I don't know. Should I trust him?"

"What other choice do you HAVE, Asher?"

"I guess you're right. But…what do I do after that? I can't just leave Kingdom Hearts after helping him to get his heart back."

"And why not?"

"Because, I have to correct the imbalance that caused the Heartless to begin assaulting innocent worlds in the first place. And I have to get you your heart back."

"The second reason is a good one. The first one…do you even know what the imbalance is?"

"Well, no."

"Then maybe that's what you should ask Kingdom Hearts before you decide to ask it to correct it. After all, how can you fix something if you don't know what it is?"

"Well, you can't."

"Exactly. Just…be careful, Asher. Kingdom Hearts doesn't give freely. It takes things in return."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean exactly that. Kingdom Hearts gets something in return for what it gives. It doesn't ask. It just takes. You don't get to choose what it takes."

"I…see. Thanks for the warning."

"If you were smart, you'd let the girl talk to Kingdom Hearts. To save your own skin."

Asher smirked. "C'mon, Axel. You know I'm not that smart."

Axel chuckled. "No, I guess you're not. Just be careful, and remember what I said."

Suddenly, Asher's mind was forced back into his consciousness. Xemnas had stopped. "Here we are, children."

Together, Asher and Star began to say, "I'm not a—"

Xemnas either didn't notice that they were speaking, or he didn't care. "Behold, the endless abyss. Within lies the heart of all worlds: Kingdom Hearts."

Asher rolled his eyes. Why do I feel a speech coming on? he thought to himself. He looked over at Star, who was as apprehensive as he was.

Xemnas continued, "Look as hard as you are able. You will not find even the smallest glimmer of light. From these dark depths are all hearts born. Even yours."

Xemnas stopped, and thought for a moment. He chuckled. "Sorry. I got caught up in a bit of…nostalgia. Now, Asher…look over there," he said, motioning with his hand. "That door. That large door there…that door is the Door to Darkness. Speak to it, and you will speak to Kingdom Hearts itself. Now, I must warn you. Do not trifle with me. If you do not retrieve my heart, I kill the girl. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Xemnas. I understand."

"Good. Now, go."

As Asher walked toward the door, Star called her Keyblade. Xemnas' glance did not shift. He simply said, "Don't try it, girl. For your own sake."

She relaxed her arm and let the blade disappear. Now obviously wasn't the time.

Asher began to hear a voice in his head. Hello, Asher.

He decided that Kingdom Hearts must speak telepathically. Perhaps it could read his thoughts? "Hello, Kingdom Hearts."

Tell me something, Asher. Why have you come?

Kingdom Hearts obviously spoke very simply. Maybe this way of speaking and listening was how it found out the intentions of people who came to it. Asher decided to speak politely and frankly.

"Because I seek something, Kingdom Hearts."

You seek the tall one's heart. We know this.

"I also seek something else."

Oh? And what is that, Asher?

"I seek knowledge, Kingdom Hearts."

I see. This is something that people normally seek elsewhere. No one has come to us with a quest for knowledge before. It intrigues me.

"There is an imbalance in the worlds, Kingdom Hearts. Surely you have sensed it."

We do not know of this 'you' you speak of. However, I have noticed an imbalance. You wish to know something about this imbalance?

"Yes. I want to know what caused it."

Is it not obvious?

"To me, it is not obvious."

I see. It should be. The imbalance was created.

"By Xemnas?"

Xemnas…the tall one. No, not by Xemnas. By his Other.

"His Other?"

Yes, Asher. By Xehanort, his Heartless and original self. He gave his heart to darkness to study the Heartless, and so created an imbalance. He furthered the imbalance by amassing grand armies of Heartless and conquering worlds, searching for Kingdom Hearts.

"I see. Kingdom Hearts, I wish to correct this imbalance, but…"

But you do not ask our help. Why not? You must know that I could restore balance.

"Yes, but there is a problem. Xemnas has kidnapped a woman, one that I love very much. In order to save her, I must retrieve Xemnas' heart, or he will kill her."

Then, you are fortunate.

"What?"

Have you not figured it out yet? I thought it would be very simple.

"Figured what out?"

That restoring the tall one's heart is what will correct the imbalance.

"Oh. Then…can you do that?"

Once again, this 'you' you speak of cannot be identified. However, we are able to help. We shall restore the tall one's heart now.

Asher looked behind himself as Xemnas grasped his chest and staggered forward a step. Xemnas gasped. "My…my heart? Is this my heart? It is! At long last! I am Xehanort once more," he said, holding out his hand. "Thank you, Asher. And now, I shall return your fiancé, as per our agreement."

The card holding Trista hostage appeared in his hand. He was about to flick his wrist when the card suddenly evaporated.

Xehanort stood in disbelief. "What? What trickery is this?"

Asher choked in alarm. "Trista? NO! What happened to her?"

The echo of Axel's voice resonated in Asher's head. "Kingdom Hearts gets something in return for what it gives. It doesn't ask. It just takes. You don't get to choose what it takes."

"Why did you do that to me, Kingdom Hearts? To her?! Why?!"

In time, you will understand. Is there something else that you request?

Somehow, through his pain, Asher was able to remember. "There is another whose heart I want restored. Axel."

Axel is trapped in your memories. However, this task will not be difficult.

Asher felt dizzy, as it seemed as though his head was being scrambled to pieces. Axel's body slowly began to materialize next to Asher's. Surprised, Axel looked down at his hands, then looked at Asher and smiled. "You did it, Asher! Asher? What's wrong? Oh, no…it took HER, didn't it?"

Asher just looked down at the ground.

"I'm so sorry, Asher."

Asher looked back up at the door. "And what will you take THIS time, Kingdom Hearts?"

Nothing. We require nothing.

"Are you sure?" he asked spitefully.

I would advise you to watch your tone, Asher.

Axel spoke up. "I? We? So, which are you? An 'I' or a 'we'?"

It makes no difference. I am we. We are I. I am many, but we are one. I am Kingdom Hearts, and we are the hearts of those who have passed.

"A disturbing concept."

Is it? I suppose it could be. The human brain is not so insightful as the human heart.

Asher sighed. "Let's go, Axel. Kingdom Hearts obviously won't help us anymore."

Do not mistake yourself, Asher. We have helped you more than you know. Muse on this. You will find your answer sooner than you think.

Axel and Asher left Kingdom Hearts behind them as they walked toward Xehanort and Star. "Ah, Axel. Still alive, somehow, I see. Well, if you'll all excuse me, I really must be going. I have…much to catch up on."

With that, Xehanort vanished.

Star looked solemnly at Asher. "Asher? About Trista…"

Asher sighed. "I know, Star. I saw what happened. Kingdom Hearts took her."

"Kingdom Hearts TOOK her? Why?"

Axel shook his head. "Don't know. It just told him he'd 'understand later.'"

Star frowned. She approached Asher consolingly, holding out her hand to him. "You know, if you want to talk…"

"Forget it, Star. Right now, I just need to be alone. No offense, Axel."

"None taken. I think now that I've finally got my heart, I'm going to go see Sora. He's where I'll find Roxas. It would be…good to see him again."

"I see. Goodbye, Axel. Hopefully, we'll see each other again soon."

Axel smiled. "Yeah. You're a better friend than I thought you'd be. And a better person."

"Thanks. See you around."

Axel nodded, and summoned a portal through the darkness. Without a hint of fear, he stepped through.

"Star?"

"Yeah, Asher?"

"I'm sorry I keep pushing you away. I just…"

"Don't worry about it."

"Okay…I'll try not to. We should get you home."

"How?"

Asher shrugged. "How else?" He was obviously implying a dark portal. "But…we left the ship in Feudal Japan, didn't we?"

"Yeah."

"We should really take that back to your home."

"Asher, HOW? I don't HAVE a home anymore."

"Yes, you do. You'll have one, now. Kingdom Hearts fixed the imbalance. Your home will be restored now."

"How does that happen?"

"Sometimes, Star, it's best just not to ask questions," Asher said with a sigh. With that, he opened a portal through the darkness back to the Gummi Ship. The two stepped though.

Back on the ship, Star sat in the captain's chair, worrying. At first she was worried about what he family might think of her missing, and what Brandon's family might think about him not coming back…but now she was just worried about Asher. He still hadn't come out of his room. She decided to knock on the door. "Asher, are you alright?"

"Actually, Star…" he opened the door. "I'm better than alright."

"Huh?"

"I finally figured out what Kingdom Hearts was saying, Star. Why it took Trista. Why it said that I would understand. I do understand. I know what I have to do now. But…I'm sorry."

"You're sorry? Why?"

"Because I won't be able to keep a promise I made to you. The one about helping you tell Brandon's parents about his death."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I've kept so many of my promises, but…this one I won't be able to."

"Why not?"

"Because I finally figured out what I have to do, Star," he said as though it were something obvious that she was missing. He summoned his Keyblade. "Thank you, Star. For everything you've done for me. I'm truly grateful. If you see Axel again…tell him…I'll see him on the other side."

Star took a frightened step back. "What? What are you talking about?"

"Goodbye, Star."

"Asher?!"

Asher drove the Keyblade through his heart. He fell to his knees, his heartache turned to physical suffering. Blood leaked from the wound, the flow slowed by the blade so that it merely trickled down his cloak. With the neurons in his brain ceasing the firing that had kept him alive for nearly 18 years, Asher smiled. "Trista…I'm…coming…for you." Warmth overtook him, and the world around him went dark. His body went limp.

Star barely managed to keep from vomiting, becoming nauseous at the sight of the blood on the floor and Asher's chest. "Asher? Asher! Asher, get up! Please, get up! This…this can't be happening. This is just a dream, that's it. Soon, I'll wake up and Asher will be there and everything will be just fine. We'll go and tell Brandon's parents that he's dead and I'll show him how to catch Pokemon and train them. We'll become the best battlers in Kanto, and everything will be fine. Just fine."

This isn't a dream, Star.

"You! You're the one that started me on this stupid quest, aren't you?"

Yes, Star. And you have done well.

"Done well? What do you mean, done well? Bring Asher back!"

I cannot.

"You can't? Aren't you Kingdom Hearts? You brought Axel back! Bring Asher back!"

Asher is at peace.

"First Brandon, now Asher? Why are you taking everyone away from me?"

I have taken nothing from you that has not given itself willingly. Brandon's body was destroyed by Sephiroth, and so I took in his heart, to a place where he could be at peace. Asher desired to be with she who he loves, and so I took him to a place where his love could be eternal. As one day I shall take you in, and your children, and their children. Kingdom Hearts is a place for lost hearts and souls. Kingdom Hearts is the beginning and the end. You have come so far, and done so much, and yet you still do not understand. However, that is to be expected. You cannot understand. You will not understand, until your own time has come.

"What do you want from me?"

I want nothing. I can want nothing. I can only do, and say. Go, Star. Be with the ones you love, and take heart that those who are gone are not lost. They are watching you, from the other side.

Star nodded sadly, tears welling in her eyes. She bent down toward Asher's frame and saw a small paper in his hand. Scrawled in almost illegible chicken-scratch was a note. Reading it, she could almost hear Asher's voice, as if he were reading it to her himself.

"Star,
I forgive you for any mistakes you may have made. You have truly been a friend to me. Though we only knew each other for a short time, I felt we had the bond of true friendship, like I did with Brandon. I know I'll meet him on the other side. I'll tell him that you miss him. Don't worry about telling Brandon's parents about what happened. I have another note in my pocket that will explain everything to them. Don't blame yourself for what happened to him anymore. It's as much my fault as it is yours, anyway. Be careful, kid. It's a big world out there, even where you live. And remember: Don't be sad. Don't cry about us dying. Instead, laugh about the funny things we did while we were alive, smile about the happy things, and curse the bad times. Remember us alive and we'll be alive in your heart. After all, that's where your friends really are. Now, I've gone to where I can be with the one woman who belongs in a very special place of my own heart. Don't worry about me, because I'll never be happier than I will on the other side.

Yours truly,
Asher"

She grabbed the second note from his coat pocket, but decided not to read it. Turning away, she threw the first on the ground in frustration. Then, she noticed some more nearly incomprehensible text on the back.

"P.S.:
No fancy funeral for me, Star. I want my body shot out of the airlock into space, but close to a planet, so it can become a meteor. I always thought that'd be really cool."

Star couldn't help but laugh. Well, she certainly didn't want to deny a crazy man a crazy burial request. She turned to prepare Asher's body. The Keyblade had vanished, and now that it was not blocking his wound, Asher's blood had begun to spill on the floor. Thinking, she drew Arcanine's Pokeball and summoned it.

"Ca….nine?"

"Arcanine…I need you to help me move Asher's body. We need to get him over inside that room," she said, pointing at the airlock.

Arcanine nodded, and gently lifted Asher in its mouth. It flinched at the taste of his blood, as if it caused an urge to bite down, but it held its own. It walked over to the airlock and set Asher's body down on the floor. "Thanks, Arcanine. Return," she said, calling it back.

Star walked over to the airlock and pressed the button to shut the door. He hand lingered in front of the button to open the outer door to space. She had seen a planet nearby, and knew that Asher's body would fall toward it. Another tear fell from her already stinging eyes. "Goodbye, Asher."

With that, she pressed the button, and Asher's body soon became a beautiful ball of fire descending toward the planet.