LoneStar: "Another day, another chapter to knock out and rewrite."

Talis: "You've really taken on a task, rewriting this story as you have, LoneStar."

LoneStar: "I'm well aware of the task I've undergone, but it's worth it. I have to stop procrastinating when it comes to these things."

Xaltis: "No kidding, but I have no doubt you can do it."

LoneStar: "Thanks for the vote of confidence, you two. Now let's get to it, shall we?"

Talis: "That's the spirit! Now, while LoneStar gets pumped over yet another chapter down, I'll just remind you all that he doesn't own Kingdom Hearts, Square Enix, or anything so related, except for myself, his other OCs, and his originally designed Keyblades and swords, of course."

~~~~~~TKtK~~~~~~

Previously, in TKtK…

"Sir, yes, sir!" Yells of submission came from the entire squad as they scattered to carry out the latest directive.

"So, I see you're back in town, Xaltis. How are you?"

"Master, you act as if nothing ever happened, as if the events of the past year or so were all nothing."

"In all my years in this world, I've learned two things: defend yourself, and always forgive. There's no reason to hold a grudge against someone you love for a wrong they've done you because, chances are, they've probably beaten themselves up countless times already for it."

"Well, you're definitely right about that last part. And I haven't quite finished the self-abuse either."

"And why not, Xaltis? It's all in the past. You're reformed, are you not?"

"I think so, but I'm not exactly sure of myself anymore. I was sure when I first started as a Knight. And I was sure when I turned away from the Royal Court. But now? It's like I've started all over again, but I don't know what to do this time. What am I supposed to do, Master?"

"Well, to start, how about you go greet your little brother? He's just arriving now."

"How can you tell?"

"I've been training knights in this facility for years. You think I don't know when someone enters it? Now go, and come back later so we can talk."

"I will, Master. Thank you for your words, and that fight. It was exhilarating."

"No problem, I wish I could get into action more often than that. You woke up my fighting spirit. So thank you as well."

Xaltis ran off to the entrance of the training grounds to greet his brother while Markos stopped walking to ponder the latest events. 'So, all three Knights have returned to the Royal Court, eh? I wonder what the universe has in store for our Kingdom this time around. May the Heavens guide us all.'

Chapter IV: The Knights' Quest

Bellatolucis Training Dome

Lusevera, Hikari Lux Lucis

12:43 F.M., June 8, 1BSF (6AR)

Xaltis, under the advice of his Master, was still heading towards the entrance of the training arena, searching for his little brother. "Kalin!" he called out. "You there?"

Kalin rode into the arena on his hoverboard, a displeased scowl crossing his features. "How the hell did you get here before me? And how did you do that?"

An innocent smirk curled the lips of the older triplet and, with a smug voice, he replied, "What could you possibly be talking about, Kal? I just beat you here, fair and square."

"Don't pull that with me, X! What was that spell you did? I know I felt wind!"

"Wind? Ohhhh, you mean like this? Aero!" He pointed his sleeves at the ground as he yelled the common spell and flew up into the air again. He waved down at Kalin. "Hi, Kalin!"

"Man, get down from there! We have a job to do, remember?!"

"You can't make me, because I can fly and you can't!"

"I don't need to fly, because I've got this!" Kalin drew Ensho and pointed it in the air in the direction. "Ensho Hakai Yoso, Destruction – Element Ice!" Kalin started shooting ice shards at Xaltis, who dodged them with expert skill, almost as if he were born in the sky.

"Hey! Stop shooting ice at me!" Xaltis kept dodging the shards, but with increasing difficulty, as Kalin started shooting them faster. "Seriously, Kalin? Stop – shooting – ice – at – me – ow!" He fell to the ground after being hit by a shard he didn't see. He made a face at his little brother, then brushed his hair out of his eyes. "Ng...that one hurt. Now I'm mad!" Xaltis summoned Absolution and pointed it at Kalin. "I'm gonna beat you down for that!"

"Xaltis! Didn't I tell you to come back to talk to me after you found your brother?!" Markos walked over calmly with a slight frown on his face, but there was no mistaking the mirth in his eyes. "Anyway, no need to apologize. I just came to tell you that..." Markos stopped suddenly and looked up into the moonlit sky, seemingly searching for something amongst the dark clouds. "...the door has been opened."

Both brothers looked at their former teacher with the same amount of confusion. "Door, Master?" Xaltis is the first to respond.

"What door, Master Markos?"

"Oh, I fear I have been unclear with you, and this is rather unexpected as well. I'd rather do this explanation with your brother involved, so..." Markos clapped once and the trio disappeared from the arena in a flash of light.

Knight Garage, Knight Quarters, Arceo Citadel
Lusevera, Hikari Lux Lucis

12:45 F.M., June 8, 1BSF (6AR)

Another clap sounded in open air outside the brothers' garage and the three men reappeared on the lawn. "I believe your brother would be in here, correct?"

"More tricks, Master? You have got to teach me that one!"

"Later, Xaltis. Right now, we have important things to discuss." Markos walked forward to the door and leaned into the doorway. "Talis! Are you in here?"

"Come on in, Master! I'm just working on the bike again!"

Markos walked into the garage, followed by Xaltis and Kalin, who still wore their bewildered looks, both awed at the display of magic their Master just performed and confused as to his reticence.

"OK, Master, why do my brothers look like they just got their minds blown?"

"Because I told them something they didn't understand. Now that you're all here, I can tell you. Now I told your brothers that the door has been opened. They don't understand. Do you?"

"I don't think so...what 'door' is it that you happen to be referring to, Master?"

"You all have a lot to learn yet, but first, let's get comfortable. Do you have chairs in here?"

"Yeah, in the next room. Follow me."

The four warriors walked into the next room, led by Talis, and each took a seat, getting more comfortable on the soft chairs the Knights keep in the garage. "OK, now that we're all here and comfortable, what did you want to tell us, Master?"

Markos began his tale, his voice low and wizened. The brothers leaned forward in their seats, paying rapt attention to the man as he spoke. "I guess I do need to explain myself. The best place to begin, of course, is at the beginning. Long ago, the worlds in the universe were autonomous and completely separate. No creature or human could pass between worlds in any way. However, due to events unforeseen, the worlds soon became connected by paths known as Corridors of Darkness."

"May I interrupt you for a second, Master?"

"Yes, Kalin?"

"Are you saying that there are worlds outside of this one?"

"Yes, that is indeed what I'm saying."

"OK, just making sure I heard you correctly. Please continue."

"Thank you. Now, as I was saying, due to unforeseen events, the worlds became connected by darkness, and dark beings known as Heartless began to use these pathways to steal the hearts of man and beast, all in the process in searching for the ultimate power source in each world, the world's heart."

The eyes of Xaltis and Talis hardened in understanding as they remembered the short lecture thy received at the Station of Awakening the night before. The eldest brother spoke up, asking, "Worlds have hearts? Does that mean that our world, Hikari Lux Lucis, has a heart as well?"

"Yes, Xaltis, this world has a heart as well, and that is what the Heartless are after."

"I think it's my turn to ask a question. Why do Heartless seek the heart of the world? Is there some ultimate purpose?"

"Glad you asked, Talis, for that is where the focus of my tale will turn. As the Heartless feed on the hearts of others, their numbers grow immensely. However, for the most part, they are mindless creatures. They are instinctive creatures, their sole purpose being to look for hearts in order to increase their ranks and strength."

"So what's to stop them from taking everyone's hearts?!"

"If you let me finish my explanation, Xaltis, you'll know the complete story on Heartless. Now, all the Heartless in the universe seek to steal the heart of a world in order to turn its people into Heartless as well and to stay 'alive,' in a sense. When Heartless steal the world's heart, the heart itself goes to a place known as Kingdom Hearts. No one really knows what Kingdom Hearts is, as no one has been able to even stand before it in centuries, but what is known is that 'The Heart of All Worlds,' as it is sometimes known, is completely pure light. No darkness can stand before it and survive. When a world is lost, any survivors of the Heartless assault are sent to another world, one that lies in between the light and the darkness. Hikari Lux Lucis, despite its name, is one of these Crossworlds, as they are called. That's why our population grows faster than expected, sadly. The worlds fall apart and leave survivors of such events on Crossworlds, lost and confused. The rest of the worlds are transported to a place unnamed by anyone I know, and I'm not quite sure what resides there..."

"So, that explains what the Hikari Lux Lucis Transition Center is for! Makes sense now...but then, Master, how do we get the worlds back?"

Master Markos turned to Talis wearing that frown that the triplets knew all too well; he was thinking...a lot. "When you say 'get the worlds back', what do you mean by that, Talis?"

"What else could I mean? I mean, making sure that the worlds return to their natural state, with all their people returned from being Heartless? Is that possible? How can we do it?"

"I see you have your mind made up...and you two?" Markos looked at Kalin and Xaltis.

"I see that as kind of our destiny, Master, seeing as how we have these and everything." Xaltis and Talis summoned their Keyblades. "At least, that's what the Voice told us."

Markos could almost hear the capitals in that statement so he asks, "What voice, Xaltis?" The older man's voice was full of interest at the statement Xaltis made.

"The voice that spoke to Talis and me when we were on that platform...what was it called again?"

"The Station of Awakening, I think it was."

"Right. Thanks, Talis. As I was saying, at the Station of Awakening, there was a Voice that told us that we have to do this because we were chosen by the Keyblades. There's no choice in the matter for Talis and I, but I want to do it, anyway. To make up for all I've done, you know?"

"This voice you heard, what did it sound like? Was it male or female? Was the voice rough or gentle? Can you describe it for me? Either of you?"

"Well, it was definitely a woman's voice..."

"Gentle, like a mother guiding her child..."

"Whoever the Voice belonged to knew we would be there and wanted nothing more than to help us..."

The frown deepened on the swordmaster's face as he responded, "This is very interesting...if I remember things correctly from my studies, what you two experienced is known as a Dive into the Heart."

"Can you explain that, please? In a way that the one person in the room that has no idea what you all are talking about can understand?" Kalin was starting to look quite perturbed at seemingly being left out of the conversation with all the terms that he didn't understand and events he hadn't experienced.

"Of course, Kalin. First, I want Talis and Xaltis to explain their first experience in a Dive."

"Well, it was like this. Talis and I fought each other hard at the Citadel, matching blow for blow. I couldn't believe how strong he'd gotten; I was proud of him. And as I started to become more and more proud of him, I remembered where it all started and thought about how crazy I was being. I looked at Talis and he was just so powerful...I didn't know whether I could beat him anymore."

"I saw that look in your eyes, brother, and that's why I paused, if you remember that, too. I saw the remembrance in your eyes and I knew that I had a chance to save you. That's all I could think about at that point, was how to save my big brother from what he'd become. So I thought, and thought, and thought..."

"As the memories of my past came flooding back, I started to remember the path of destruction that led me to where I was at that point, and that nearly drove me to tears. To think, I could have been crying in the middle of a heated battle. Me! Xaltis! Crying! I figured the only way to pay for what I had done to all of you, to my family, friends, and homeland was for Talis to defeat me in battle, and for me to die honorably. So I continued to fight, silently hoping he was still mad enough to strike me down."

"Thankfully, you weren't so lucky. At that time, I had already forgiven you. Right before I made the final strike, a voice came to me...now that I think about it, that voice sounded the same as the one in the Station...I wonder if she knew all that would happen. Anyway, the voice told me that 'there is a choice to be made. You can save your brother, but only if you truly wish it, deep in your heart. For your hearts are connected, as comrades and as brothers. There is no changing that. Do you wish to save your brother, Talis?' I answered, 'Yes I do, so very much; at this point, nothing matters more.' The voice returned and told me 'Make your brother accept the light and he will be saved.' The word 'light' made me understand. Xaltis' heart was full of darkness, sure, but it wasn't consumed, which meant there was still good in him, light that needed to be augmented. That's where the Quintessence came in."

"And that's when Talis brought me back. By defeating me with light instead of with simple swordsmanship, he allowed me to see that I didn't have to die out there. He made a way out for me. When the Quintessence Limit was over, he asked me, in a voice not entirely his own, 'Do you wish to return home?' Of course I answered, 'Yes, but how do I face everyone I hurt?' Talis told me 'Just trust me, brother, and we'll return together.' That's when he held out his hand. Once I grabbed his hand, everything went dark, as if I just got knocked out."

"That happened to me, too! I thought it was some kind of adverse reaction to the amount of darkness in the area. Now I know different."

"Anyway, when I woke up, a Voice called out to me, and gave me a choice. Now that I think about it, it was the same voice as in the Dive, you called it? It said, 'Xaltis Knight, you now have a rough road of penitence ahead of you for your actions. Betrayal is grounds for destruction. However, your family seems to believe otherwise, so you are presented with a choice. You can face the road of penitence alone, without returning home. Or you can return home to face your family and friends.' Knowing that there's always a catch, I asked 'What's the rub?', to which the voice responded, as if talking to others, 'This one has got a brain; I like that.' and then back to me, the voice said, 'There will be a task ahead of you both upon your return home, a task that will take you further than you've ever been, but you need to be ready to face it nonetheless. Evil is coming, and shadows will fall, young Knight.'"

"Can I stop you for a second, X?"

"Sure, T, what's up?"

"Where was I when all this happened?"

"I don't know...asleep, I guess? I couldn't really see anything, so I have no idea. But I didn't feel your presence around either, so I don't know if you were even there at that point. Anyway, after thinking about it for all of five seconds, I decided, obviously, to come home and face everyone, regardless of what the result would be. I had to face the consequences for my actions. The Voice I heard, in hindsight, sounded quite pleased that I made that decision, which I'm glad for. After that, however, I just fell asleep again, for quite a while."

"I suppose that's where my story begins again. When I...woke up, I guess, I was in a dark room with one door in front of me. Something just told me to walk through it, and when I did, I saw so many of my memories, from the beginning of training all the way to my fight against X at the Citadel, in little windows along a long hallway. It seemed like the hallway would go on forever until I reached some stairs, glowing stairs. As I walked up, a voice called out to me; this time, it sounded like you, X, just calling my name, waiting for me to find you. I started running at that point, because I wasn't about to lose my brother again, but when I reached the top of the staircase, no one was there, just a door. Another door separating me from my brother, and I wasn't having that. I ran through it, and was struck by a blinding light as soon as I passed through the doorway; I couldn't help but close my eyes. When I opened my eyes and adjusted to the sunlight, I couldn't help but be surprised. Sunlight! There had to be a catch, especially since when I looked around, the place looked exactly like the Shadow Desert; never would've ended up back there without Xaltis, or so I thought."

Just when Talis was getting deeper into his story, a frantic knock came at the door of the garage, followed by a familiar pink-wearing Knight sibling.

"Guys! You gotta come quick! There're shooting stars!" Before any of the men in the room could respond to Carla's rushed summon, she ran back out of the room.

"Is she really calling us out there for some stars?" Xaltis' voice came out in an exasperated sigh. "I want to finish the story!"

"You'd better go, you three." Markos stood as he advised the Knight triplets. With a knowing smile, he added, "You never know what you might overlook."

"Master?" Kalin tentatively approached Markos with his question.

"Yes, Kalin?"

"Why are you so cryptic all the time?"

"It's simple; I know how smart you three are. You always end up figuring out what I mean...and besides, can't keep up with the enigmatic teacher schtick if I'm straightforward, now can I?" With a wink and his trademark grin, Markos disappeared from the room in a flash of light, leaving the Knight triplets confused and disoriented.

"Well," Talis blinked then pointed his thumb toward the door, "you heard the master, guys; let's go check out what Carla was talking about, huh?" Talis made his way out of the door to see why his sister raised such a fuss.

"Wait up, man!" Kalin and Xaltis followed after him almost immediately, unaware of the dark presence that watched their whole conversation.

The person, clad in only black, their face covered by a black hood, stepped out of the shadow of the corner. "Something I can use to my advantage...an interesting bunch, these three, now that I see them together, especially the blue-haired one...I must tell the master..." The dark figure then faded into a Corridor of Darkness.

~~~~~~TKtK~~~~~~

Castle Gates, Arceo Citadel
Lusevera, Hikari Lux Lucis

12:57 F.M., June 8, 1BSF (6AR)

"Carla!" Talis reached the front of the castle only to find his sister just outside the gates staring up into the sky. "Carla!" He moved closer to her side, attempting to reach her through her seemingly entranced state. "Why'd you run off like that?"

She simply grabbed his face and pointed it towards the sky, her face darkened somewhat. "Look."

Talis allowed her to move his face up and observed the sky with her, somewhat surprised but not really. "So there are shooting stars…this isn't something new?" He turned to his sister, his face scrunched in confusion. "What's the big deal, sis?"

While the pair of siblings stood confused, Markos appeared, as he often did, seemingly from nowhere. His mouth was set in a thin line but his eyes were fierce. "This is worrisome," he muttered to himself before turning to Talis, "you know what it is, unless you weren't listening to my story..."

The young man's face was stricken with horror and fear when he turned back to face his teacher. "You mean to say these shooting stars are...? ...more worlds are being destroyed?!"

Kalin and Xaltis finally caught up behind them, just in time to hear Talis' exclamation. "Did you just say...?" "More destroyed worlds?!"

Carla looked around at them all, confused since she hadn't been around to hear the explanation in the Garage. "What's this about destroyed worlds?! Those – " she pointed to the sky, "those beautiful shooting stars are dying worlds? Worlds can die?"

Markos nodded, his face unchanged. "Indeed they are, but in fact, I don't remember the last time I've seen this many at once." The older man scratched his chin, his mind distracted. "This is worrisome – wait, what was that?!"

His exclamation made the teenagers jump in surprise. "What was what, Master?"

Markos pointed in the direction of the Shadow Desert. "I know you've only recently returned but there's something you all need to attend to out there. Go...go there now, the three of you are needed out there immediately. I must talk to the Queen about this. Carla, go find your sister and bring her to the Throne Room."

With a "Yes sir!", Carla saluted, nodded firmly and headed back in the direction of the castle to search for the fifth Knight sibling. As Markos turned to face the three Knight brothers yet again, he sighed, almost sadly. "It seems your quest has begun, boys. Now go to the Shadow Desert and once there, you'll know what to do. We'll be waiting in the Throne Room when you get back."

Kalin smirked in his older brother's direction. "Xaltis, you wanna ride your board or what?"

Xaltis gave a quick smile, "You know it. What are we waiting for?"

Talis grinned as well, "Then, let's get out of here, you two; we've got a job to do."

"You know it!" Kalin, Xaltis and Talis give a triple high-five and close their eyes. "Kaiso." "Takuetsu." "Shogeki." Talis' trademark bike appeared in front of him in a flash of light as Kalin's and Xaltis' hoverboards appeared in their hands. "Time to go!" Talis yelled then straddled his bike and revved the engine, speeding off into the first moon's light, followed by Kalin and Xaltis on their hoverboards.

Left in the dust was their teacher, Markos. As he turned to face the palace of Hikari Lux Lucis, a gravelly voice penetrated his senses. "May I come into Hikari Lux Lucis, Markos? You know I need your permission."

Markos' consciousness moved to his own mind platform, even as his body simply appeared deeply in thought. A figure, shrouded in darkness, waited on the other side of the platform for him. "What do you want here? And how are you even still around?"

"That's not important. Let's just say I've got some unfinished business. Just grant me permission to enter your world; I have a different mission this time."

"If I grant you permission to enter my world, you mustn't take a single heart. If you do, I'll kill you myself."

"I'm hurt, Markos, I thought I was your friend." If Markos could see the other person's face, he had a feeling he would see a teasing smile.

"Don't screw with me, I know what you're capable of and I won't let you harm anyone. Promise me that things are different this time, and I'll grant you entry."

"Fine..." Resignation was the most evident emotion in the other person's voice. "I promise that I won't harm anyone once I enter your world."

"Get in, do what you have to do, and get out, got it...old friend?"

"Of course, Markos, of course. You know I don't waste time."

~~~~~~TKtK~~~~~~

Talis: "Oooh, ooh, I know who that is! It's- Kalin and Xaltis jump him so he won't spoil the secret

LoneStar: "Thank you very much, smarter Knight brothers. He almost ruined my question for the readers. Special mention to anyone who can correctly guess the identity of the voice speaking to Markos at the end of the chapter. And in case this question is raised upon reading, no, the two dark figures in this chapter are not the same person."

Kalin: "Sorry about Talis, LoneStar, he's a little antsy lately and no one knows why..."

Xaltis: "We took good care of him though...hehehe..." points to a tied up Talis with tape over his mouth

LoneStar: "Geez...he needs that much restraint? Thanks, guys."

Kalin: "No problem, LoneStar. Hey, when are you showing up in this story of ours?"

LoneStar: "I haven't even decided if I will yet! Don't ruin it!"

Xaltis: "Am I gonna have to tie him up too?"

LoneStar: "That won't be necessary, X, it's fine. To the readers, again, sorry for such a long wait for this chapter. I really wanted to get it out sooner but school got in the way. Thanks for being patient. Salus in Lux Lucis!" =)