I breathed a little easier as I adapted to my lion form, knowing the Organization wouldn't show in such a vulnerable time. Sora looked at me worriedly, ears drooping as he approached. I could tell he wanted to apologize, opening his mouth and making it half-way through a word before snapping his muzzle shut once more. He dropped a little lower to the ground, finally settling on, "…Sorry…"

"Hey, they made their choice." My reply was stiff, curt. I was glad my voice hadn't cracked, steeling the bravado to look at him, "Family or otherwise, they made their choice. And if you hadn't fought back either one of them could have killed you. It was self-defense. Look, let's just not talk about it, okay? You wanted to see Simba, right?" I turned towards Pride Rock, barely registering the ripple of energy in time.

Pools of Dark Matter surrounded us, harsh grey light erupting from each one. Sora called his Keyblade, but I let out a warning growl, "Don't. Put it away." My fears were confirmed when the Dark Matter took shape—each a wiry-coated white wolf, faceless and mouthless from the black Nobody Symbol on each wolf's head.

Sora did as bidded, crouching lower, "What do they want?"

"They won't say." But as soon as I'd spoken the echoing, indistinguishable voices spoke through our minds. The trio let out various grunts of discomfort at the sudden breach, each flinching, but I kept my glare at the wolf in front of me.

Milady may not pass.

I narrowed my eyes, explaining the questions I knew would be coming soon, "They're Wolf Nobodies—a lesser Nobody breed. They used to be under Xcaiyet's command but now that she's gone they turn to the next highest Number. When I was in the Organization, I was XVI—just above Xcaiyet and K…and Narexk. They must think I'm their master."

Sora let out a soft 'oh' and I returned my attention to the leader, "Stand down."

Milady may not pass. Pain. Suffering. Danger.

It wasn't uncommon for lesser Nobodies to warn their masters of danger. I thought through the options before turning my head slightly, "Donald Goofy, go and see if everything is all right at Pride Rock," then, returning full attention to the wolves, "Two of you will accompany them. Do not attack any threat unless either Somebody do so first or otherwise ask for assistance. Avoid your own deaths as much as possible. You will obey any command given by them until the four of you return." Keeping the contact, I added mentally, 'and no other time. Unless I say otherwise, do not accept a single command from any Somebody—no matter whose they may be.'

As you wish, Milady.

Two of the wolves broke ranks to follow the turtle and bird. I flopped to the cool dirt, turning my attention to Sora, "Relax. They won't hurt you."

"Can we trust them?"

"They will obey me."

He sat across from me in the circle of Nobodies, tilting his head to one side, "How can you be sure?"

"Because I treat them like beings. Recall I told them to avoid death—I make sure they are safe from any major danger. It is the nature of a Lesser Nobody to regard their own welfare in order to please those of us with corporal forms. That's how it's always been. But I treat them more as subjects than pawns. Their loyalty and trust that I won't send them to their deaths keeps those of a higher ranking from being able to order them as well."

"So if Luxord wanted to order a Wolf Nobody—"

We would not obey Milord of Fate unless Milady said otherwise.

I smiled at the lesser Nobodies, "Thank you, I couldn't have said it better myself. If you desire, you may return to your businesses. You have my word I shan't leave until the others return."

We take our leave, Milady. Be careful, Keybearer.

"We will," Sora was hesitant to reply, glancing at me as though worried they'd bite his head off or something. The wolves bowed and left in swirls of Dark Matter.

I studied the boy carefully, "I thought you didn't like Nobodies."

"Well—"

"Don't deny it. You're only slightly better than Donald about it. I've seen it."

"Well, you're a Nobody too. I just kinda realized that they aren't all bad."

I stood and circled him, keeping my expression indifferent, "Aren't all bad," I echoed, "And what about the ones forced to fight against you? What about the lives taken by that very Key? Ever thought of that, Keybearer?" I created a portal of Darkness, not stopping at his confused "Aanyx…?"

"If there's danger here, you won't find it from my Kin. Nor will you find hope in the Darkness beyond the Light." With that I walked through, making sure to close the portal behind me as I returned to my human form in the swirling world of Betwixt and Between.

"Back for more?"

I was actually a little surprised to see Riku still sitting there, torque around his neck and wrists, neck, and ankles bandaged in white cotton. I raised my eyebrows, "Making friends in the Darkside again?"

"If I am it's probably your fault again."

I tilted my head to one side, smirking in recollection, "Ah, yes, I remember now. What was it you'd asked? 'Are you a guide from another world?' Really, just because a girl shows up to explore…"

"Yeah, and thanks to your little 'advice' I ended up stuck in Darkness."

"When I told you to jump into Darkness, it was with the hope you'd go away and leave me the hell alone. Apparently that's been my undoing, as I haven't been able to get rid of you since. Though if it makes you feel any better—"

"Bet it doesn't."

"—you messed up my life just as much as I did yours, thanks to your little voice-changer stunt. But hey, I'm just the pawn, right? Just the tool to get your precious boyfriend back…" I ignored his little interruption and circled around him, stopping behind the invisible wall behind the boy to inspect his bandages. "You know, Albino, you could have made a valuable ally."

"Funny, I was going to say the same about you."

"Then let's have a little bet, you and I. A spar—You win, I save Sora from every little threat that comes his way till judgement day. I win, you take me to DiZ and don't interfere while I kick his sorry bandaged ass. Either way, you walk off into the sunset with your little Princess Spikes happily ever after to sort out whatever your little love triangle entails." Riku frowned at that, "What's the catch?"

"I'm in need of some amusement, and Princess got boring after months of traveling with him." In one swift movement I pulled the torque off the boy, portaling the two of us into an arena deep within a cave lit by torches. I unzipped my Organization Cloak with ease, shucking it off as Riku cured his injuries. He kept his own cloak on, looking my way warily, "Matter of interest, what was that thing anyway?"

"Oh, just a little invention courtesy of Vexen's experiments. The Torque of Hearts, as he called it. It takes one's magic and binds them through it. No doubt you felt the heart-wrenching feeling every time you resisited? That was the darkness you've so desperately tried to seal away." I knew he was going for distraction, but I also knew he wouldn't expect me to willingly fall for it. I rambled about how the torque worked to basically turn the wearer into a Heartless and thus create a Nobody of corporal form, turning away from the boy and welcoming the Darkness into my system.

I could feel Riku's movements as he quietly advanced, calling Soul Eater as I busied myself with hanging my cloak on the wall of the cave. He sprung an attack and I portaled away in the same instant, morphing my whips into a boa staff to block the next attack. He was fast, I'd give him that—perhaps the plan would work to his favor after all…

When my adrenaline was at its peak I broke off, turning to defensive and knowing he would easily gain the upper hand. Riku didn't disappoint—I soon found the staff knocked from my grip, blade to my throat as he panted before me. I smirked, clapping audiably in the otherwise soundless arena, "Well played, Albino."

"Do you yield?"

"Aye. I'd be a fool to try further and push my luck right against that blade there." I nodded to Soul Eater, still against my throat. He pulled it away slowly, confusion evident in his stance. I grinned more broadly, "Very well, a deal is a deal. I shall protect Princess till judgment day." Portaling away, I left the connection long enough to let my last statement echo behind me, "Though perhaps you ought to have thought on when that judgment day will be before we agreed on anything."

-u-

I allowed the familiarity of my lion form take hold as I tumbled to the ground between Sora, Simba, and the monstrous Heartless. "Aanyx?" I ignored the confused brunette and turned to the King, "Sire, this is your fight. I won't interfere if you don't wish it. But I can help—this Heartless will fall faster if there is strength in numbers."

Simba nodded, "Help would be great." I bowed to him before turning to Sora at last, "I'm about to give you an upgrade. How do you usually tap into your drive forms?"

"I just—"

"Don't tell me—just do it." Sora closed his eyes in concentration, and I sprung at him, letting Dark Matter fly. I'd only done it successfully with Roxas once, but I'd seen Sora do FusionDrive transformations plenty of times. 'Okay, Roxas, if you're there at all, now would be a great time to show up and help me out here…' In a flash of Dark Matter I was suddenly in a vast colorless plane, steadied by a pair of hands and a familiar chuckle, "Easy there, Aan. Doesn't take much leap!"

What happened? Aanyx?

Sora's thoughts echoed through the whole area I quickly realized was Sora's subconsciouss. I kept a grounding grip on Wisdom to make sure he wouldn't disappear and concentrated on contacting Sora, "Calm down, Spikes. I'm here with you—I gave you a Drive Form. Don't loose concentration; I'm lending you my power to fight that thing."

Whoa—I've got three Keyblades! Thanks a ton, Aanyx!

"Don't loose concentration!" I scolded before breaking the connection. I hugged Wisdom close, glad to at least have one part of him with me, "I miss the Organization," I admitted sadly, "I miss the good days when it was just you, me, Axel, Xcaiyet, Dem, and Kat. I'm so homesick, Wisdom…"

But then the jacket under my cheek turned from blue to off-white, the hug returned with gusto, "Me too, Aan. I miss all of you—but I'm here now, and so are you…" And it was that sudden change of color that made me realize he was here, just like old times, hugging me like he'd done on my last day at the Organization. And as I felt his hand smooth against my hair, I realized his form was solidifying—completing itself. "…You're merging with Wisdom…"

"I know."

"Will I see you again?" I pulled away just enough to look him in the eye, refusing to cry. Roxas smiled and shook his head, pulling out of the hug to grip my shoulders, "You're always so strong, Aanyx. Even after everything you've been through…how could I possibly give up on all of you now?"

My body was being forced away—the fusion was dissipating. I looked worriedly at Roxas, "I'll find a way. I may not know what I'm doing, but we'll be a family again," I vowed before the darkness consumed me.

I tumbled none-too-gracefully to my paws just in time to see Simba deliver the final blow. I smirked and bowed as he passed, glad the others were at least smart enough to follow my lead before following towards Pride Rock…

-u-

"—your quest ever be done?"

"I'm not sure. I think…as long as I have the Keyblade…I'll have to keep fighting."

"That's a good way to put it," I grinned as I entered the den. Both lions turned towards me excitedly, "How is she?"

"Sleeping. It's still not quite time yet, but it will be soon. The lionesses are with her now…" I paused to yawn widely, dropping into a lazy stretch as I continued, "You'll be a good father, Simba. There's no doubt about that." I bowed to him before turning to the others, "Well? Are we going or not?"

"Yeah, we'd better get going."

"You'll come back soon?"

"Sooner than you think! Can't wait to see the cub!" Sora grinned as we left towards the gummi. I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, well, bear in mind we've still got five more members of the Organization to wipe out, plus both Albino and Miss Princess to find."

"We?" Sora stopped in his tracks. I rolled my eyes and turned to him, "Don't get all sentimental on me now, Spikes. I'm in this for my own gain, remember?"

"Then why'd you give him a new drive?" Donald asked suspiciously. I rolled my eyes again, "Because he's no good to me dead. We've gone over this, Duck. And don't think this means I won't bail if it gets boring, because I will. Now can we go, please? Much as I like being a lioness I don't much care for the food choices…"