Last time we found out that Sora and Kairi have mere hours before their wounds end up killing them. Ami finished her tracking program that found out where Kurayami was. Our heroes left the comatose Sora and Kairi under the care of Naminé, Luna and Artemis.

But the baddies found Kurayami first. Nikolai, Eugeal and Mimete tried to reason with the Diamon/Heartless hybrid, but Kurayami revealed her intentions of ruling the universe herself. Back in Tomoe's lab, the mad scientist stated that he was content to allow events to play out, while revealing that he had his own hidden ace to play should things get carried too far out of control.

Our heroes found Kurayami's hideout and entered the dark labyrinth, only to realize that they had been lured into a trap. 'Nuff said, on with the show!

Chapter 7: The Dark Labyrinth

Just then Sailor Mars, Riku, Aiden and Roxas all sensed something bad was about to happen.

"Look out!" they all warned, but it was too late to stop a black mist from surrounding and blinding all our heroes.

They all experienced a sensation of disorientation and dizziness. Their blindness was combined with a lack of a sense of direction, like being in freefall and not knowing which way was up. But then their sense of balance was restored and they all found themselves on solid ground again.

Slowly but surely, sight returned to Riku's eyes. He looked around and realized he was in a different part of the labyrinth. With him was Sailor Mercury and Sailor Mars. They all looked around in confusion at their new surroundings.

"What happened?" Sailor Mars asked. She closed her eyes and extended her senses, trying to use her ESP to find the others.

"That mist must have been a teleportation spell of some sort," said Sailor Mercury as she scanned the area with her computer. "I can't detect where the others are

"Divide and conquer," said Riku, "Kurayami thinks to weaken us by separating us."

"Well I don't think she did a good job of that," said Sailor Mars, "if she really wanted us separated, she would have made sure we were all completely alone. I can sense the others. I don't know where they are, but they're still here, somewhere."

"I agree," said Riku, "there's more to this than we can see. This maze has got to be one big, multi-layered trap."

"Well I'm not detecting anything that would reveal that this is a more complex trap," said Sailor Mercury as she finished scanning with her computer, "as far as I can tell, this is just one big maze. But that doesn't mean that Kurayami can't use her powers to create traps wherever she wants."

"Maybe the whole place is a trap," said Sailor Mars.

"Nothing would surprise me at this time," said Riku as he summoned his Keyblade, "all we can do is find the others."

Just then several Neo Shadows appeared in front of them.

"Did you ever get the feeling that someone doesn't like you?" Sailor Mars asked as she aimed at one of the attacking Heartless, "Burning Mandala!"

"I've been getting that for a while," said Riku. He then jumped ahead and took out the Neo Shadows, then ran forward to another group of Heartless ahead, with Sailor Mercury and Sailor Mars right behind him.

"I'm really starting to dislike these things!" said Aiden as he destroyed one Neo Shadow after another, with Sailor Venus following him. She used her heart-chain to trip one Neo Shadow, then trapped another which Aiden destroyed with his Keyblade.

"How long have you been fighting Heartless?" Sailor Venus asked after destroying this group of Heartless. They started running through the maze again, keeping their eyes open for the others.

"Not long really," said Aiden as they stopped to catch their breath. The area was free of Heartless for the moment, so the two of them could rest, "it's been…" he thought about it for a second, "good gods! It's been only a few days since…"

"Since what?" Sailor Venus asked, but the she regretted asking, for she could tell that Aiden was remembering something very painful.

"Since my parents were murdered by The Heartless," said Aiden in a neutral tone.

"Oh," said Sailor Venus, "I…I didn't know. I mean, you, Riku, Kairi and Sora said that your home town was destroyed and a lot of people you knew were turned into Heartless, but…" she blushed, "I'm so sorry I made you remember this."

"No, it's alright," said Aiden, "it helps me if I talk about it to someone. I guess this is as good a time as any. Nearly everyone in my town was turned into a Heartless, but my parents were among the few that were killed outright.

"Only myself and my two best friends survived. I probably would have committed suicide out of guilt, if Kayle and Travis weren't there to help me keep a grip on reality. But the three of us were alone, completely isolated from the rest of our world. All the phone lines were cut during the attack and none of us knew how to use a wireless to call for help.

"I'd still be pretty messed up in the head, if Sora and the others hadn't showed up out of nowhere," he then laughed, "you know, the first thing I did when I met Sora, Riku and Kairi, was try to kill them, I was that messed up in my head."

"You're joking!" said Sailor Venus.

"I wish I was joking," said Aiden, "I admit I was more than a little disturbed at the time, but my friends, both old and new, they helped me get through my own personal hell."

Just then another group of Neo Shadows attacked. Sailor Venus ensnared them with her Love-chain, allowing Aiden to easily destroy them. But then a Large Body appeared on a level of the three dimensional maze above them. It jumped from its position, intending to land on Aiden and Sailor Venus.

Aiden pulled Sailor Venus out of the way, then transmuted the path of the maze they were just standing on, creating a large hole that the Large Body fell into and got stuck in. Aiden then destroyed the offending Heartless and transmuted the path back to normal.

"That sure is amazing," said Sailor Venus.

"It's a simple Transmutation," said Aiden as they continued on the path, "any alchemist worth his salt can do it."

"But you're no mere alchemist," said Sailor Venus in an insisting tone, "are you."

"You're right," said Aiden, "I'm different, in more ways that one. My friends and I, we were naturally adept at Alchemy enough that if we caught the attention of the authorities of our nation, they would have drafted us, by force if necessary, into becoming State Alchemists."

"And that's bad?" Sailor Venus asked.

"Depends on how you look at it," said Aiden, "on one hand, a State Alchemist is funded by the government and has a high level of authority and the freedom to pursue Alchemy as they wish, within reason. Though there have been rumors that some State Alchemists use their authority to practice unwholesome ideals and unethical experiments. But like I said, those are only rumors that have never been publicly confirmed, yet I believe them somewhat.

"Oh the other hand, a State Alchemist has to obey orders from both the government and the military, and sometimes those orders involve doing things one would later regret. There were rumors that the government would purposely start a war with a neighboring country, just to expand the territory of The State. The military would then send in State Alchemists to wreck so much havoc that the 'enemy' would give up.

"My friend Travis believed these rumors and so much more. He believed them so much that he grew to hate all State Alchemists with a vengeance. He'd still be hating them, if we hadn't been saved by four State Alchemists, well, three actually, and one of them happened to be an unofficial national hero.

"Eventually Travis grew to tolerate State Alchemists as a necessary evil. But what really surprised me was that he and Kaylee both decided to become State Alchemists after I left our world to join with Sora and the others."

"And now you're here," said Sailor Venus.

"Yep," said Aiden, "here I am, with a Keyblade, and all sorts of Alchemic knowledge in my head, as well as the memory of a new set of Princesses of Heart, but I won't remember the faces of all of them until I meet them one at a time, wherever they are.

"I recognized Usagi and one other, but there's still five more, and there are those who would destroy entire worlds to get that information."

"Well you don't have to worry about Usagi-chan," said Sailor Venus, "the other Senshi and I are prepared to die for her in necessary. We already did come to think of it, but we all came back to life, and if necessary, we can come back again."

"If anyone can defy death," said Aiden as he looked at Sailor Venus, "it's you Sailor Senshi. And let's not forget that Usagi has Mamoru."

"Now there's someone who would fight his way through hell and back for her," said Sailor Venus, "and she'd fight her way though hell for him as well." She sighed, "I wish I had someone that devoted to me, someone I can be devoted to."

"I'm sure he's out there somewhere," said Aiden. He then realized that Sailor Venus was looking at him with adoring eyes, "umm…" said Aiden as he blushed, "I…err…wait, there's more Heartless coming!"

Fortunately he was right as another group of Neo Shadows attacked.

"I really don't like these things!" shouted Sailor Jupiter as she used a judo throw on a lumbering Large Body, sending it off the path and crashing down several levels of the three dimensional maze. She then kicked an Invisible in the head, destroying it.

"How'd you get so strong?" Roxas asked as he dueled a Zip Slasher, waiting for it to spin and thrust before moving in to attack and destroy it.

"I had to be tough," said Sailor Jupiter as she delivered an elbow chop to a Neo Shadow, "I lost my family when I was young. My parents set up a trust fund that's allowed me to have my own apartment and buy whatever I needed to get by.

"I learned how to cook, clean, sew, everything I would need to live, all by myself. I was pretty much self-sufficient when I first met Usagi-chan and the others, and they helped me realize that I don't have to be alone."

"But why are you so strong?" Roxas asked as he destroyed the last Heartless in the area, then delivered a Strike Raid to a Dark Ball that tried to sneak up behind him.

"A lot of jerks picked on me because I was different," said Sailor Jupiter, "if it wasn't because I was an orphan, it was because I was tall, or an early bloomer, or just because someone felt like it for some sick reason. Believe me when I say that there are a lot of people in the world with no concept of human decency."

"I've heard as such," said Roxas, "I guess living that way really would make you feel isolated."

"I really did fell alone," said Sailor Jupiter, "alone and helpless. So I learned martial arts so I wouldn't feel helpless, and found I was really good at it, like almost everything else I've tried to do."

"Make's sense," said Roxas, "now, what's this about Sora, Riku and Aiden looking like your old Sempai? Remember, I saw and heard everything that Sora did."

"I guess you did hear me say that," said a blushing Sailor Jupiter, "well, there was this upperclassman in my old school whom I liked, really liked. We dated, but he dumped me and I took it really hard. It really sucks because every time I see a cute boy, I see something in that boy that reminds me of that jerk who broke my heart, and I still can't let go of him."

"What about me?" Roxas asked, "do I remind you of the jerk who broke your heart?"

"Not really," said Sailor Jupiter, "I'm not attracted to you at all, not that way, and I'm not being insulting, 'cause you are exceptionally cute."

"Thanks," said a slightly unsure Roxas, "I guess."

"And I was just teasing you earlier," said Sailor Jupiter, "I know that you and Naminé are together. I wouldn't dream of coming between you and her."

"Try telling that to her," said Roxas.

Just then more Heartless appeared and the two of them resumed destroying the dark creatures. "I never liked these things in the first place!" said Roxas as he fought two Neo Shadows.

"You'd have to be crazy to like them!" said Sailor Jupiter as she charged up her lightning attack, "Sparkling Wide Pressure!" she electrocuted three Invisibles with that blast.

"This place is endless!" said Sailor Moon as she and Tuxedo Kamen tried to find their way through the three dimensional maze and locate the others.

"That creature certainly has a sick imagination," said Tuxedo Kamen. He then looked at Sailor Moon reassuringly, "we'll get through this, Usako."

"I know, Mamo-chan," said Sailor Moon, "I know we'll find the others, and save Sora and Kairi, and eventually beat the enemy. I know this, because I know that one day, and I don't know if it's in a few years or a thousand years, we'll surely be married, and definitely in a thousand years, we'll have our own family."

She sighed, "you know what? I miss Chibi-Usa. I know she was a brat and she always tried to get you for herself, but I do miss her."

"I miss her to," said Tuxedo Kamen, "and I didn't mind the fact that she tried to steal me from you, because despite that, despite the nightmares from the future, you were always in my heart."

"Oh, Mamo-chan," said Sailor Moon. The two of them were about to kiss, when Tuxedo Kamen whiled away to bash a Neo Shadow in the head with his cane, destroying it.

"Do you creeps mind?" exclaimed Sailor Moon as she kicked another Neo Shadow in the head, sending it over the edge of the path they were on, "we're having a moment here!"

"I know that voice anywhere!" said Sailor Mars. She, Sailor Mercury and Riku were on another level of the maze as they heard Sailor Moon shouting.

On another level, Sailor Venus and Aiden also heard Sailor Moon, while Sailor Jupiter and Roxas also heard the mildly absentminded Sailor Senshi.

"Sailor Moon!" shouted Sailor Mercury, Sailor Venus and Sailor Jupiter.

"Girls!" shouted Sailor Moon as she saw everyone.

"How are we going to reach you!" Sailor Jupiter asked as she looked out across the different levels of the maze, "we're all over this place!"

"We could try jumping," said Aiden.

"That's not a bad idea," said Roxas.

"I don't think the girls have the Super Glide ability," said Riku.

"Then it is a bad idea," said Roxas.

"Just wait a moment," said Sailor Mercury as she worked on her computer, "I've been scanning the maze. Despite it's dark nature, there is a mathematical order to it. I'm imputing the areas I've been in so far, and from that data I can create a full map that can lead us back together."

She then finished typing and waited for the numbers to finish calibrating, "there! Now, I just need to input everyone's location…" she typed in more data, "okay, I'm going to give everyone directions that should lead up back to the start of the maze."

Everyone heard Sailor Mercury's instructions, and within a matter of minutes they were back at the beginning of the labyrinth.

"You're the best, Ami-chan!" exclaimed Sailor Moon as she hugged Sailor Mercury.

"Amazing," said Sailor Mars.

"Fantastic," said Sailor Jupiter.

"Incredible," said Sailor Venus.

"Oh, you guys," said a blushing Sailor Mercury.

"It's great that we're all back together," said Aiden, "but we're right back where we started."

"Sora and Kairi are running out of time," said Roxas, "we have to find and beat that Kurayami."

"I think I know which way to go," said Sailor Mars, "I'm sensing a trace of magic that leads into the maze."

"I sense it to," said Riku.

"Same here," said Aiden, while Roxas nodded in agreement.

"It's like someone already blazed us a trail," said Roxas, "someone was here before us."

"But who?" Sailor Jupiter asked. Everyone else was equally dumbfounded.

"Well I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth," said Sailor Venus, "I say we follow this trail and hope for the best."

"But it could be a trap," said Sailor Mercury.

"That's a distinct possibility," said Tuxedo Kamen, "but we have to try."

"I say we take that chance," said Sailor Venus.

"I say we don't," said Sailor Jupiter, "we need to think this through." Sailor Mars nodded in agreement.

"We need to be cautious," said Sailor Mercury, "that trail of magic could have been made by Kurayami."

"It could be a death trap," said Riku, "but we won't know if we don't try."

"And if we don't try," said Aiden, "Then Sora and Kairi are as good as dead anyway."

"I say we try," said Roxas.

"I also think we should try," said Tuxedo Kamen.

"Me to," said Sailor Moon, "we have to save our friends."

Just then Kurayami's disembodied voice filled the air, "your friends were dead the moment I took their heart crystals, and you are already dead too. It's just a matter of time before I take your heart crystals as well."

"Come and get us, bitch!" snapped Riku.

"I'd love to," said Kurayami, "but I have another game to play."

"No more games!" shouted Sailor Mars.

"Oh but this is a fun game," said Kurayami in a taunting manner, "you'll like it, for it'll be the last game you'll ever play!"

Just then Riku, Roxas, Aiden and Sailor Mars sensed danger approaching.

At the same time, Sailor Mercury's computer detected something terrible, "there's a massive pulse of dark magic approaching! Brace yourselves!"

Everyone tried to find a place to take cover, but the incoming curse hit them like a thunderbolt, knocking them all out, except for Roxas, whom was completely unharmed.

He looked around to see that Riku, Aiden, Tuxedo Kamen and the Sailor Senshi were all unconscious. "What did you do to them?" he shouted.

"I've placed them in their worst nightmares," said Kurayami, "they're currently being terrorized by their worst fears, their greatest nightmares; only I've made them twice as worse. It's only a matter of time before their hearts succumb to the darkness, or they die, for if you die in a dream, you die for real.

"But I'm curious; why are you still awake? You should be playing my game as well. Why aren't you playing? Don't you like games?"

"Only the ones with a fair set of rules," said Roxas through gritted teeth.

"Well how about a different game then," said Kurayami, "there's nothing you can do to help our friends, so why not play with me directly? If you can defeat me, then your friends will wake up. And of course, if you defeat me, you can have back the two heart crystals I took.

"Then again, this all depends on you finding me first. And you don't have a whole lot of time then, do you."

"Oh I'll find you alright," said Roxas, "I'll find you and break your head open!" he summoned his two Keyblades and ran into the maze, following the trail of magic. Within minutes he had reached the 'center,' where Kurayami was sitting on a chair, holding the two stolen heart crystals.

"How'd you get here so quickly?" a surprised Kurayami asked.

"Someone already showed me the way," said Roxas, "I just needed to look for it."

"Those bastards," muttered Kurayami, "they did this!"

"Who or what are you talking about?" Roxas asked.

"Never mind," said Kurayami as she stood up and placed the two heart crystals in her purse, "you found me, so the first part of the game is over and won. Now comes the really fun part. I owe you for kicking me in the head earlier," She summoned her sword of darkness, "so, shall we dance?" She took up a fighting stance.

"I never learned how to dance," said Roxas as he took up a fighting stance, "but once I've destroyed you and saved all my friends, I'll have all the time in the world to take lessons." With that the two of them leapt at each other and began dueling.

Sailor Moon and her fellow Senshi found themselves in nightmares, in their normal attire, that had a common theme; abandonment.

For Ami, she was isolated by her scholastic genius. She was at the top of every academic standard of excellence in the world. Everyone knew who she was and how smart she was. Yet for her fame and popularity among her academic peers, she was alone without a true friend, and being alone among the world is worse than being in solitude.

For Rei she was abandoned by her loved ones, by the death of her mother and the neglect of her father, and worst of all, she had no friends. Those who did talk to her said abusive things like how weird and bizarre she was, and worst of all, that nobody loved her.

For Mako, she witnessed the death of her family, followed by the pain and humiliation of being dumped by her old Sempai. To make it worse, she was being filmed and seen on international television, so the entire world saw her shame.

For Mina, she was ignored by everyone around her. No matter what she did or how loud she screamed, no one paid any attention to her.

But of the Sailor Senshi, the one in the most pain was Usagi, for she saw her friends and loved ones leaving her forever.

The only one who's pain was equal to Usagi's was Mamoru. He was once again reliving the nightmare where Usagi was killed on their wedding day. But this was worse, much worse, for instead of seeing Usagi die from some unknown force, Mamoru saw himself, standing at the altar with Usagi, then he pulled out a knife and stabbed her in the heart. Mamoru saw the look of shock and denial in Usagi's eyes, and the look of vicious triumph in his own eyes. The scene of betrayal was almost more than Mamoru could stand as he witnessed over and over again his betrayal of his soul mate.

As for Riku and Aiden, they were reliving their worst memories on a repeating loop; for Riku he saw himself giving into the darkness and betraying Sora and Kairi to Maleficent. For Aiden, he witnessed his parents deaths over and over again.

But their torment wasn't as bad as Usagi and her friends. Riku and Aiden knew that this was a curse that was torturing them, and that they knew that they had to break free if they were to survive.

They both then realized that something was wrong. There was a new element to their nightmares that wasn't part of their memories. Both Riku and Aiden saw a Heartless that had been hiding just out of sight in the corner of their eyes.

Said Heartless was a Bookmaster-type; a small magic using Heartless that hovered with a large spell book. It was chanting a continues spell that was surely the cause of their torment.

"Bastard!" shouted Riku and Aiden in their dreams as they attacked the Bookmasters and destroyed them. With a start they woke up.

"That was god awful!" said Riku.

"That bitch had no right to do that to us," said Aiden as he wiped the nervous sweat from his dream from his brow, "I'll kill her!"

"It'll have to wait," said Riku as he looked at the still unconscious Sailor Senshi and Tuxedo Kamen.

"They're still under that things' spell," said Aiden, "how do we wake them up?"

"Perhaps we can help," said a strong, female voice. Riku and Aiden looked and saw two tall women walking towards them. They were dressed as Sailor Senshi, but their uniforms were different.

The first woman, who had short blond hair and blue eyes, wore white, yellow and dark blue, with a blue choker with a yellow star and gold earrings. Her tiara had a pale blue stone in it.

The other woman had long green hair an dark green eyes. She wore white, green and dark blue, with a green choker with a yellow star and gold earrings. Her tiara had a light green stone in it.

"It's a good thing we showed up when we did," said the girl with blond hair.

"Who are you?" Aiden asked.

"I think I know," said Riku in a tone that was slightly accusing, "but that can wait. How can we help Sailor Moon and the others? How can we wake them up?"

"The same way you woke up from your nightmares," said the girl with long green hair, "destroy the Heartless controlling the nightmares."

"But the Heartless we destroyed were just part of the nightmares," said Aiden. He then blinked, "unless…"

"Unless that was just a proxy," said Riku as realization hit him, "an extension of the real thing. There's a real Bookmaster around here somewhere!"

"There!" shouted the girl with green hair. Riku and Aiden looked up to see an actual Bookmaster one level up from them. It then hovered on its book, trying to get away.

"No you don't!" shouted an irate Riku. He threw a Strike Raid that separated the magic using Heartless from its book. It landed on the ground, where Riku then stabbed and destroyed it.

Almost immediately, Sailor Moon, the other Senshi and Tuxedo Kamen woke up.

"What the…what just happened?" Sailor Mercury asked.

"It was so real," said a stunned Sailor Mars, "that nightmare. I know now that it was just that, a nightmare, but it was so real."

"I felt like I was dieing," said Sailor Jupiter, "in my heart."

"Me too," said Sailor Venus, while Sailor Moon, Sailor Mercury and Tuxedo Kamen nodded.

"You were under the influence of a Heartless," said the woman with blond hair, "and it made you live your worst nightmares."

"The creature tried to destroy you in your sleep," said the woman with green hair, "and she would have succeeded, she knew exactly what to look for in order to hurt you."

"You two!" said a surprised Sailor Mercury.

"You know them?" Aiden asked.

"They're the other two Senshi we talked about," said a slightly annoyed Sailor Jupiter.

"So they're also Sailor Senshi," said Riku.

"Indeed we are," said the Senshi with blond hair, "Sailor Uranus."

"Sailor Neptune," said the Senshi with green hair.

"Why are you here?" Sailor Jupiter asked in an accusing tone.

"Well, we did help wake you up," said Sailor Uranus.

"They did," said Riku, "but we probably would have figured it out eventually."

"Maybe," said Sailor Uranus in a doubtful, "but probably not in time."

"We sensed that the Death Busters had unleashed a Diamon of incredible power," said Sailor Neptune, "and that it was more than you Inner Senshi could handle."

"We were doing just fine, thank you very much!" said an irate Sailor Mars.

"Yeah!" said Sailor Jupiter.

Just then Aiden noticed that someone was missing, "where's Roxas?"

"Did he get taken by that monster?" Sailor Jupiter asked.

"No, I think he was still awake," said Riku, "and he went on ahead."

"The trail of magic is still there," said Sailor Mercury as she scanned with her computer.

"Then we'd better hurry," said Aiden, "I've got a feeling that Roxas is in way over his head."

"I feel that he's in danger to," said Sailor Mars.

"Then let's get going already!" said Sailor Venus.

"Right," said Sailor Moon. She then looked at the other two Senshi, "Sailor Uranus, Sailor Neptune. I know we have our differences, but this time we have to work together. The whole world and our friends are in danger."

Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune looked at each other as if silently discussing the matter. Sailor Uranus then spoke, "Alright, we'll work together, this time."

"And only so far as it doesn't interfere with our mission," said Sailor Neptune, "but you are right, Sailor Moon, that creature has to be stopped, no matter what."

Sailor Moon smiled and nodded.

"Right then," said Sailor Mars, "we'll work together."

"But I'm keeping an eye on you two," said Sailor Jupiter.

"You do that," said Sailor Uranus, "so long as I get to keep an eye on you."

"Fair enough," said Sailor Jupiter.

"Why's everyone all tense?" Aiden asked Sailor Mercury in a hushed tone, as everyone ran into the maze, following the trail of magic, "you'd think you Senshi would accept all the help you can get in a situation like this."

"Remember what we talked about earlier?" Sailor Mercury asked, "Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune are also looking for the three talismans that reside in pure heart crystals."

"As far as we know, they only want the talismans in order to keep them safe," said Sailor Mars, "but they're willing to let the people whose heart crystals the talismans are in die in order to get the talismans."

"They're willing to let innocent people die in order to get what they want," said Sailor Jupiter, "and they would have let Usagi-chan die if her heart crystal was one that they were looking for."

"You mean…?" Riku asked.

"If Sora's and Kairi's heart crystals have talismans in them," said Sailor Mars, "then Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune will take them and let Sora and Kairi die."

At that both Riku and Aiden were at a loss of words as they followed the magic trail into the center of the maze.

The end of chapter 7.

Next chapter, our heroes confront the dark creature. Will they be able to defeat Kurayami in time to save Sora and Kairi? And will they be prepared for the sudden but inevitable betrayal of their uncertain allies? Reviews will be rewarded with cake and pie. See you next time!