AUTHOR'S NOTE—This will be the last update, thanks to everyone for their patience and cooperation! I especially would like to thank the person that made me realize just how much I needed to do this (though unfortunately I have no idea if said person has a fanfic account, as they sporked through LJ.)

Oh, yeah, and I guess I should explain myself about the last chapter. Riku DOES NOT like Aanyx. The ONLY reason he kissed her was to see what she would do. So if you're hoping for ANY romance between the two, write it yourself, because it ain't happening in this story. They have a hate-hate relationship that goes back all the way to KH 1, which will be explained as the story continues.

So again, thanks for everyone's cooperation, and I hope you enjoy the new and improved ATJ!

~The Last Day~

Aanyx groaned in her sleep, attempting to squirm away from whatever was poking her side repeatedly. "At least she's not dead…" A familiar voice mumbled. Another tsked, "Heyner, stop bugging her!"

"Shh! She's waking up!" A third voiced hissed.

Indeed, Aanyx had slowly begun to wake as the voices conversed, sluggishly remembering where she was and why the voices didn't remember her. She sat up, the world a colorful blur of earthly tones. "Whutimeizit?" Aanyx groaned, fumbling around for her glasses or contacts case. "Quarter after 13. Are you alright?"

"Yeah, we found you in the middle of the sandlot!"

"Smells like she's been there all night, too…"

"Heyner!"

"No, it's fine. Um, I'm Aanyx." She mumbled, blindly attempting to put in her contacts. Finally able to see, she offered the three a friendly smile, "Sorry for any trouble."

"Not at all! I'm Olette—this is my house." Indeed, Aanyx recognized the tan walls, clay tile, and leather furniture of The Den, though pretended not to know, "It's very…homey…"

"Thanks. Oh, and this is Heyner and Pence."

"Nice to meet you all." Swinging her legs off the couch Aanyx pried herself off the leather and walked around, looking at all the pictures she remembered being taken, each void of two faces—Neither she nor Roxas were known in this universe. Attempting to hide her depression, she turned towards Olette, "The three of you must be good friends."

"For the past two years, yeah."

"So what's your story?" Pence asked as Aanyx flopped back onto the couch. 'Should I tell them?' "I don't really wanna talk about it…" She looked down, fiddling with her thumbs. Olette pressed a steaming mug into her hands, a minty smell wafting up at her. Aanyx smiled in thanks and took a sip—her famous mint tea. "Well, you look like you could use a nice, soothing bubble bath." Olette offered. Aanyx smiled thoughtfully, "Actually, that does sound nice…if it's not too much trouble, that is…"

"Not at all!" Aanyx set the mug down and was led upstairs to the bathroom. "Take as long as you'd like—I'll go find you something to wear."

Aanyx sighed, attempting to relax in the scalding water. She couldn't, her mind filled with a raging storm of turmoil. "Roxas…" She muttered, pulling her knees up to her chest and resting her chin atop them. Olette came in after a timid knock, holding a stack of folded clothes. "They're my cousins, but they should fit you just fine."

"Thanks." When she made to leave, however, Aanyx turned toward her, "…Olette…?"

"Yes?"

"I know this may seem like a strange request…but could you…brush my hair?"

Olette smiled warmly, "Come into my room once you're done."

"Thank you…"

Aanyx dressed into jeans and a grey sleep shirt, padding on bare feet over to Olette's room. "I kicked the boys out, so it's just me and you."

"You didn't have to do that."

"You looked like you needed a girl moment." Olette shrugged, grabbing the hairbrush from her nightstand and gesturing for Aanyx to sit on the stool. The time passed in silence, Aanyx thinking and Olette working the brush through the long, wavy tresses of auburn. At long last, Aanyx cleared her throat, "I lost my best friend last night." The brush froze a beat before continuing downward, "Oh?"

"His name is Roxas…I'd known him for years…and then someone came and took him away…"

"I'm sorry…" No more was said, and when she was done Olette put Aanyx's hair up in a high braid, tying both ends off with black scrunchies. Aanyx made to stand, when she was suddenly enveloped in a hug, "Be strong, Aanyx. I'm so sorry for your losses, but we're all tested in life."

Aanyx could only nod, realizing that her journey was the final test set by Her Darkness, Her Lightness, and Kingdom Hearts Himself.

"Thank you again…for everything…" Aanyx smiled, grabbing Olette's hands. Olette nodded, "Come back and see me some time—I'd love to hear how your journey goes."

"I will." Aanyx promised. She waved goodbye, heading deep into the forest before creating a portal. Walking through, she soon found herself staring up at a large, crooked tower. Frowning, she walked up, attempting another portal. Nothing. "Am I REALLY supposed to climb this whole damn thing?"

"You've gotten lazy, child." A booming voice echoed through the air. Aanyx rolled her eyes, "No, I just hate stairs. Aeroga!" Keeping her wind spell below her feet, Aanyx zipped up the stairs, leaving Dusks and Samurai in her wake should Sora arrive while she was still talking to the wizard.

Only after she entered the room did her feet once more touch the ground, and she gave a polite incline of the head, "Now aren't you glad I'm not out of breath so we can discuss this?"

"I know why you are here."

"Yeah, yeah, see the future, blah, blah, all knowing, blah." Aanyx interrupted, "Look, I don't exactly have a lot of time, so can you get me with him or not?"

"Perhaps."

"You know, I like the other you so much better…" Yen Sid merely chuckled, a thick book appearing on the table. "I will tell you exactly what I will tell him. This book contains valuable knowledge you will need for your journey. Study it carefully. Once you have finished, you may enter the next room and await Sora there."

Grumbling, Aanyx flopped into the chair and began to read.

The Beginning

Each journey gives rise to chance encounters, and each encounter brings forth a farewell. When a farewell leads to a journey, the worlds open their hearts. Those chosen by the light, or ensnared by darkness. Friends who share the same bonds, though their baths may differ. When you doubt the path trod thus far, when the hand ou held is lost to you, gaze anew at the heart that once was…for all the answers are within.

Interlude

A long dream. A sad farewell, hanging in the air in that world between. What is reality? What is illusion? The path chosen by the young boy leads to his memories. When caught in the stream of the days and nights going past, gaze anew at your steps…for there all confusion will end.

The Future Story

Will the day come when this battle, born of confusion, will end? It is different things to different people. Can the reality be that which is hidden? The reason is mere existence. Still, memories can be believed. Be not afraid. Entrust your body to the soothing waves of your memories. By and by, your fleeting rest will be over…and everything will begin.

"Okay, so that was a waste of twenty minutes. I already know Sora's story, Yen Sid. And why, pray tell, do you have something written by a Nobody?"

"Those questions cannot be answered by myself. No go, child, for Sora approaches."

"Yeah, I definitely like the other you better." Aanyx mumbled, though entered the room nonetheless.

"Oh, dear, you can't possibly fight the worlds in that!"

Aanyx slapped her hand over her forehead, "Flora…Fauna…Merryweather…whichever the hell you are…don't you dare even think about dressing me up! I need to find a place to hide!"

"But you need something much better than that!" The fairy insisted. In a flash of magic, Aanyx's clothes changed. She now wore a green tank top, khaki cargo capris, and a charcoal sash around her waist. The black scrunchies were replaced with green hair ties, black studded earrings in each ear, while her shoes were a kind of converse, right high-top and left low-top, with green butterflies on the rubber toes of each shoe. Her key-shaped pendant, rather than attached to a black choker, now sat on a golden chain around her neck, dangling just above the top of her shirt.

"I'm afraid there's not much we can do with the hair, dear."

"Hey, it's actually NOT half-bad! Thanks, ladies, but now I REALLY gotta hide."

"Up to the circle you go, then, child." Another fairy said, lifting Aanyx so she sat on the edge of a large circular hole in the roof. She waited there, kicking her heels into the wall as she watched Sora's outfit change.

She let out a loud snort of laughter as he was given Cinderella's dress on accident, only to gasp and roll back out of the way as Donald looked up at her. Realizing her hair was still hanging in sight, she quickly pulled at it, causing it to fly up and thwack her on the small of her back.

The incident was forgotten as Sora was instructed on his new outfit and taught the use of his Valor Form, so Aanyx returned to an upright position at the ledge, waiting for the opportune moment to strike.

Just because she was stuck with him didn't mean she had to make it pleasurable, did it?

She highly doubted it.

Sora gave a salute to the three faries, turning towards the door, only to suddenly find his vision blocked by the lovely coffee stain on the carpet. "MMMPHH?"

"Perfect landing, as usual." Aanyx muttered, striking a pose and planting her foot into the back of the spiky mass of hair. She then lifted her arms above her head in a wide 'V' shape, "ALOOOOOOOOHA! Your official guide to hell has arrived!"

"Guide…to….hell…?" Donald asked, confused. "Gawrsh, do ya think she's workin with Hades?" Goofy asked behind a gloved hand. Aanyx crossed her arms in an 'x' shape over her chest, making a sound much like a buzzer, "Steeerike One!"

"Did the King send you?"

"Steeerike Two!"

Attempting to catch her off guard, Sora suddenly sat up, causing the mysterious—and apparently violent—girl to go airborne once more. This, however, merely caused her braid to smack him straight between the shoulder blades, causing him to fall face-first as Aanyx landed in a crouch on the window ledge. She jumped to stand in front of Sora, grabbing him by the necklace and snarling, "Strike three."

Shoving him away, Aanyx then proceeded to heave the heavy oak door open, "I'd hurry it up, if I were you. The sooner we get out of here the sooner we're done." Slamming the door behind her, Aanyx leaned against it, refusing to break down. 'Damnit, why did they have to look so similar?'

"I say we leave without her." Donald said, his voice carrying through the door. "Gawrsh, but we don't even have a ship, Donald."

"So what? She could be dangerous—I'm not letting her go with us! She could be part of this Organization XIII!"

"Aw, c'mon Donald. If she's here in the tower then Yen Sid trusts her. And he's the one who trained the King, right?"

Aanyx scowled, bile rising once more in her mouth. She refused to let this get to her, instead banging her fist on the door thrice. "Hurry up in there, you morons! It's not like we can stop for a sandwich or anything. Do you WANT the worlds to submit to Darkness? No? THEN HURRY THE FUCK UP!"

Gathering some satisfaction at Donald's obvious discomfort to her swear, Aanyx smiled and turned to Yen Sid. "Don't be so hard on Sora."

"Why not? He's the one who had to wake up!"

"And it was Naminé, was it not, who re-ordered his memories?"

"Yeah, but that's because she was forced to mess them up in the first place by Marluxia."

"Then it was this Marluxia's fault that the Nobody is gone."

"I know that but if you expect me to be—" Aanyx quickly cut herself off with a scowl as Sora cleared his throat, standing straight and giving a short bow to the old wizard, "Yen Sid."

"Aanyx." He replied in the same edged tone, returning the bow before turning to the others, "This is Aanyx; she will be your guide through the worlds."

"What?" Donald squawked. "The worlds have changed since you last traveled; they are once more in their proper orbits, and will be difficult for an inexperienced hand to get to."

"Yeah, so that means you have to respect my authority, Duck." Aanyx mocked, pulling down one eyelid and sticking her tongue out immaturely. Donald pulled out his staff, though both straightened out again at Yen Sid's warning glance. "Aanyx, boys, if you'd follow me…"

The four followed behind obediently, though not before Aanyx gave her best glare to the trio…only to return to her passive, expressionless look as Yen Sid gave the slightest of coughs. For that small, minuscule moment of a glare, Sora cowered below her. Aanyx had to conceal a grin; Who would've though she'd be so willing to imitate Xemnas' glare?

As Yen Sid explained how travel via Gummi Ship had changed since Sora had used it last, Aanyx began to wonder just what her fellow Organization members were up to. Was Axel still with Xcaiy? Did Xiggy still like singing oldies as he used the surplus Neoshadows as target practice?

"Aanyx?" The warm, comforting hand on her shoulder and worried voice made her snap out of her thoughts, and she looked over to see a blurry Sora, Donald, and Goofy waiting for her at the door. Her contacts stung her eyes with unshed tears, brought upon by the thoughts of home. She scowled at the trio, "We're wasting time…Hurry up and get on the Gummi already, dumbass!" She marched right past them and jumped out through the window, using another wind spell to cushion her fall. She paused just outside the doors to the Gummi Ship to rid her eyes of the tears as she looked up at the castle's window, Yen Sid standing and watching her. She raised two crossed fingers to her brow and saluted to the old wizard, and she could see him smirk and nod as the trio raced out toward her. "How did you survive that? We must've been ten stories up!"

"Because of magic, idiot. Now hurry up before I take off without you."