Author's Note: Wooo hooo! Another update for you guys! This is what….three days in a row now?

Zephyr: I think so.

Me: You're no help at all, you know that?

Zephyr: Yes I am!

Me: *rolls eyes* Anyway, here's chapter seven! I'm hoping to finish chapter 16 of Re: Kingdom Hearts, so be looking for that update. Just think guys…Three months and three weeks til KH3D is released in North America. I'm super stoked!

Zephyr: I'm the one who got you out that mess with Maleficient.

Me: No you weren't.

Zephyr: Yes, I—

Ren: Shh! She took care of it on her own.

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or any Final Fantasy characters mentioned in the series or this fanfic. I only own Apolla, Zephyr, and Ren.

Chapter Seven: Working Together

"Apolla, Zephyr, Ren," Roxas said as he opened his front door. "What are you all doing here?"

Roxas was surprised to see the trio here at this late hour, considering all the Heartless and Unversed that had appeared. They had just gotten home themselves from fighting them off, and we relieved when they disappeared.

"May we come in?" Apolla asked.

"Sure, come on in."

Apolla, followed by the boys, walked in and headed for the living room. They sat down on the couch, and were joined by Roxas and Xion.

"What brings you here this late?" Xion asked.

"The King's letter," Ren simply stated. "We really need to talk about it, and what to do next."

Roxas shifted in his seat a little. Xion scratched her head.

"So," Roxas finally said. "You know now?"

"Only what we remember from the stories," Apolla said. "And what we read from the letter."

"You figured it out on your own? Just from the story?"

Apolla and Zephyr nodded. "You guys always use your own names in the story when you tell it. So I assumed it was all true. Tonight kinda confirmed it."

"We need to speak with the King," Ren asked.

"Why?" Xion asked.

Apolla looked at her feet. "Because…because they—"

Zephyr intervened, knowing how hard it was for his sister to talk about it. "They took our parents. Terra and Aqua, too."

"Who took your parents, Zeph?"

"Xehanort, and some creepy looking old hag."

"WHAT?" Roxas and Xion both exclaimed. They were shocked to hear this, considering they had helped defeat him.

"That's not possible!" a voice behind the group exclaimed.

Everyone jumped. No one noticed the door open and shut. They turned and noticed that Ven had joined them. "How? How is he still alive?" He turned to Roxas and Xion. "We defeated Xehanort with Sora, Riku, and Kairi. He can't be alive!"

"He said something along the lines of 'it's amazing what darkness can do to a person'," Apolla said.

"Ven, what are you doing here anyway?" Roxas asked.

"I was looking for Terra and Aqua. They went over to Riku's and never came back to the apartment." Apolla winced as he said this.

"They were taken, too," Zephyr said quietly.

"No," Ven said. He flopped down onto one of the armchairs.

"I'm sorry," Apolla said. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't suggested that we go after them, that we go help them, none of this would have happened. All our parents would be home. Terra and Aqua would be home. Xehanort was gonna take us, and Dad tried to save us. Only to be caught."

"Apolla," Xion said. "You can't blame yourself. None of you can. If Xehanort truly is back, then they would have been caught anyway. Or worse. You're lucky that they were only caught."

"When we first fought him, he was really strong," Ven said. "If he's back, then your parents are gonna need all the help they can get."

"Ven and Aunt Xion are right," Ren said, standing up. "We can't give in to what Xehanort said. Our parents need us. Terra and Aqua need us. I don't know about you two, but I'm gonna do all I can to help them. Even if we aren't Keyblade Masters like they are, we can still try."

"There's still hope," Zephyr added.

"That's the spirit!" Xion said.

"We can't give up on our parents," Apolla agreed. "Otherwise, their sacrifice would have been in vain. And the worlds would be in jeopardy. They already are as long as Xehanort and the hag are around."

"So, what's the plan?" Roxas asked.

"We need to speak to King Mickey," she said. "He needs to know that things are worse than he realized. Then, we'll find out where we can get weapons that we can use on the Heartless and those blue creatures, find out where they are keeping our parents, and go after them."

"Then help them get rid of Xehanort once and for all," Zephyr added.

"Hold on," Xion said. "One step at a time. First, you guys need to get off the island. After talking with the King, you should probably speak with Yen Sid."

"He can tell you more about what you're going to be up against," Roxas added.

"Alright," Ren said. "Now that the plan's laid out, do you guys have a way we can get to them?"

No one answered right away. After a moment, Ven said, "Well, I can transform my Keyblade into a glider, and transform my clothes into armor at the push of a button. But, you guys don't have Keyblades."

"Or armor," Apolla added.

"We used to have a Star Shard that the King gave us," Xion asked. "But not anymore."

"A Star Shard?" Ren wondered. "That sounds familiar."

"Really?" Roxas asked. "Oh, yeah. Your parents should still have theirs, Ren."

"Yeah, but…I don't think that I can face my mom."

"You've gotta try," Apolla said.

"Besides," Zephyr said. "We'll be with you the entire time."

Ren nodded. "Thanks guys."

With that, the trio waved good bye to Roxas, Xion, and Ven, and headed in the direction of Ren's house.

xxx

"Ren!" Naminé cried as he entered the house. She ran up to him and hugged him. "Thank goodness, you're alright." She was practically sobbing.

"It's okay, Mom," Ren said, but he knew it wasn't.

"I was so worried. Where's your father?"

Ren looked at his feet. Apolla and Zephyr mimicked him. "He's…he's not coming back, Mom."

"What?"

"He was captured, along with Uncle Sora and Aunt Kairi."

"Terra and Aqua as well," Apolla added.

"No," Naminé said. "By who?"

Zephyr folded his arms. "By an old hag, and Xehanort."

"What? That can't be!"

"He pretty much said that the darkness brought him back."

"We went to the island to see if we could help them," Apolla said. "They were taken while trying to protect us."

"We've got to talk to King Mickey about what's going on," Ren said.

"How do you know about the King?" Naminé asked. She knew she never told them. Unless…

"The letter that he sent to our parents," was Zephyr's answer.

"We need to see him, Mom. Things are worse than he thought, and he needs to know that. And Uncle Roxas and Aunt Xion said you had the only way of getting to him. They said that you had a Star Shard."

Naminé took a moment to take it all in. Then, taking a deep breath, said, "We knew something like this would happen. We should have told you sooner."

"But you did," Apolla tried to reassure her aunt. "The stories."

"Yes, but we never thought you would catch on. We planned on telling you when you were older, mainly because your parents didn't want to tell you. For your own safety."

Zephyr thought about it for a moment. "So, you're not mad that we know?"

"No. In fact, I'm relieved."

"Wait, you wanted us to know?"

"Yes. Especially your Uncle Riku. He's been wanting to tell you all for some time now."

"Why didn't he?" Apolla asked.

"It was because of the darkness," Ren stated, remembering the story and his father's part in it.

Naminé nodded. "Your father didn't want you to end up like he did, Ren. But Sora asked him not to say anything, mainly because he wanted to protect you all, and because he knew that if you found out the hard way, Ren, that you would be able to overcome the darkness."

"Just the way that Dad had done?"

"Yes. Sora and Kairi didn't want you to be afraid of walking the streets without being attacked every which way."

"Well," Zephyr said. "At least we know the truth now. Without assuming."

"Yeah," Apolla agreed. "But, we kinda already knew, didn't we?"

Ren nodded in agreement. He now understood why they were keeping under lock and key about everything they had done. He was kinda relieved that his parents had wanted to tell him. And now he wanted to show that he wouldn't fall into darkness.

"Mom," he said. "I promise you right now that I won't let myself fall into darkness. I promise I won't give in!"

Naminé smiled. "I know you won't." She walked over to a glass case and pulled out a star shaped orb. "Here. This will get you to the King. You have to be careful, though. It can be quite unpredictable if used the wrong way."

"Is this the Star Shard Aunt Xion mentioned?" Apolla asked.

"Yes. The King had entrusted this one to us after Xehanort had been defeated and your Uncle Riku became a Master. That way, if there was trouble in one of the different worlds, he or your father could get there faster.'

"How do you use it?"

"You just hold it in your hand like this," she said as she showed them. "And concentrate on the place that you want to go to. But you have to keep your mind on that one place, or else it won't work. It will take you somewhere completely different."

"Where does the King live?" Ren asked, taking the Star Shard from his mother.

"Disney Castle," she said. "Now, hurry! You don't have much time. There's no telling what Xehanort is planning."

The three friends nodded.

"Alright," Ren said. "Keep thinking 'Disney Castle' guys. Hold hands."

Apolla and Zephyr did as they were told. Ren held the Star Shard up, just like his mother had shown him, and in a bright flash of light, they were gone.

Naminé watched as they left. She looked around and found her sketchbook and a couple of pencils, and immediately grabbed them. She left the house and made her way over to Roxas and Xion's place.

Apolla, Zephyr, Ren, she thought. Please be careful. Please be safe.

xxx

Donald Duck was walking around the grounds of Disney Castle with his childhood sweetheart, and Queen Minnie's Lady-in-Waiting, Lady Daisy. They were walking through the gardens, where they found a sleeping Captain of the Royal Knights.

"Goofy, wake up!" Donald shouted.

Goofy didn't wake up. He kept snoring, sleeping soundly. Donald nudged him in the leg, but his friend never woke up.

"Goofy!" he yelled again, but nothing happened.

Out of frustration, Donald cast Thunder, and Goofy was wide awake. He yawned.

"Good mornin' Donald, Daisy," he said.

Dasiy giggled. "Good morning, Goofy."

"Get up, Goofy," Donald said. "The King needs to see us."

"Okay," was Goofy's answer.

Goofy got up and started to walk off with Donald and Daisy, but suddenly stopped when he saw something flash behind him. "Uh, Donald?"

"No lollygagging, ya big palooka!" Donald called behind him. Daisy turned around and saw what Goofy was trying to tell Donald about.

She tapped Donald's shoulder. "Donald, look!"

And Donald did. At the exact moment he turned around, in place of a flash of light were three kids, two boys and one girl. The girl had black hair and purple eyes. One of the boys had long, spiky silver hair, and green eyes, and the other looked just like…

"Sora!" Goofy exclaimed. He and Donald began to run towards the group.

They only stopped short when the boy they thought was Sora said, "Huh? I'm not Sora."

"You're not?" Donald asked. He looked closer at the boy and said, "You sure look like him."

"Gawrsh, did you forget who you were?" Goofy asked. He was worried.

"No." Then it hit the boy. "Oh, no, I'm not Sora. That's my dad. I'm Zephyr."

"Oh. Well, I'll be! I didn't know he had a son!"

"And a daughter," the girl added, giggling. "I'm Apolla."

"I'm Ren," the silver haired boy said. "I'm Riku's son."

"It figures," Donald murmured.

"What brings you here?" Daisy asked.

"We need to speak with the King," Ren said. "It's urgent."

Donald and Goofy looked at each other, worry growing on their faces.

"Well, we were on our way to the King's study," Daisy said. "You can come with us."

"Thank you very much," Apolla said. "Um…what are your names?"

"Oh, sorry," Goofy said. "We're Donald, Goofy, and Daisy."

"Hi there," Daisy said.

Donald nodded, and then said, "Come on! Follow us!"

The three friends followed Donald, Goofy, and Daisy out of the gardens and into a long hallway. They passed by a pair of huge double doors. It was barred by a purple barrier.

"Where does that lead?" Zephyr asked.

"To the Throne Room," Donald said. "But hardly anyone goes in there."

"Oh."

"We're here."

In front of them was a pair of red double doors. They were pretty big, but not as big as the doors to the Throne Room. Donald knocked on the door.

"Your Majesty, may we come in?"

"Come on in," a voice called from behind the doors. With that, Donald opened the door and everyone filed in.

"Your Majesty, you have some visitors," Goofy announced.

Sitting behind a desk was a mouse, probably about half the size of Zephyr. He looked up from the letter he appeared to be writing. Upon looking at the kids, he said, "Sora?"

Zephyr shook his head.

The King nodded. "I thought not. You must be Zephyr, Apolla, and Ren."

The three friends looked at each other, surprised that he knew who they are. "How—how did you—?"

The King chuckled a little. "Your parents told me about you all in their letters to me. Sora warned me that you looked like him, Zephyr."

"Yeah," Zephyr said, scratching the back of his head. "I get that a lot."

"And Ren, you kinda look like Riku, too."

Ren folded his arms across his chest. "Really?" he wondered.

Apolla shook her head. "Wait a minute! Let's talk about the problem at hand!"

"What's that?" The King asked.

"It's our parents," she said. "They've been taken. Terra and Aqua, too."

"What? By who?"

"An old hag with horns," Zephyr said.

"And Xehanort," Apolla added.

"WHAT?" The King, Donald, and Goofy all exclaimed.

xxx

"I see," the King finally said.

Apolla, Zephyr, and Ren told them about what happened on the island, including the fight with Maleficient (Donald and Goofy had informed them that is the witch's name) and Xehanort's mentioning of the darkness bring him back.

"You sure it was him, though?" Goofy asked. No one wanted to believe he was back.

"Positive," Zephyr said. "In those stories they'd always told us, Uncle Riku said that there was a certain feeling that one felt when they were around him."

"And wasn't pleasant," Apolla added. "That's for sure."

"Then things are definitely worse than I had originally thought," the King said.

"Ven had told us it would probably do us good to speak with Yen Sid about what happened," Ren said.

"Hmm. It's a good idea."

"But where is Yen Sid?" Zephyr asked. "And how are we gonna get there?"

"Master Yen Sid lives at the Mysterious Tower in Twilight Town," Donald said.

"And we have the Gummi Ship," the King said. "That can take us there."

"Great!" Zephyr exclaimed. "Let's go!"

King Mickey, Donald, and Goofy looked at each other, hesitating to let them embark on that adventure.

"Please let us go with you," Apolla asked, sensing their hesitation. "If anything, we should be the ones to get our parents back."

"It kinda is our fault," Ren added.

"I'm not sure," Donald said.

"You don't have Keyblades, or anything to defend yourselves with," the King added.

"We may not be Keyblade Wielders," Apolla said. "But we can still fight. Our parents and our friends taught us how. We'll use whatever we can."

The King took a deep breath. Just like her father, he thought.

"Alright, then. I don't think there's any way we can get ya to stay, huh?"

"Not really."

Goofy chuckled. Looking at Donald, he said, "Kinda reminds ya of Sora, huh?"

"Yep," Donald agreed.

"Welp, let's get going," the King said.

The group followed King Mickey to the Gummi Hangar. Everyone started to pile into the Gummi Ship, with Donald heading to the cockpit to start up the engines. Apolla, Zephyr, and Ren just took a seat and buckled up. They were kind of excited at the thought of getting to see other worlds.

Once everyone was buckled up, Donald called for blast off. The hangar door opened, and they took off.

Apolla, Zephyr, and Ren looked out of the windows of the ship, staring out into the space around them. They could see the outline of Disney Castle as they sped off in the direction of what they assumed was Twilight Town.

But Apolla couldn't help thinking that what happened with their parents was only the beginning. I wonder if this was such a good idea after all, she thought. We don't even have Keyblades. How are we going to fight the Heartless? Maybe we should have just stayed home.

She shook her head, knowing that thinking like that wasn't going to save her parents, or the Princesses of Heart. She knew she had to be strong. But…am I?

A/N: So, it was pretty long, huh? This chapter mostly wrote itself, but hey, when you really get into a chapter, that tends to happen. You guys are also probably wondering "Hey, why don't they have Keyblades yet? They experienced their Awakenings." Soon, my reviewers and followers, soon. All in good time. Maybe next chapter.

Zephyr: Good, 'cause I don't want to use a toy sword the entire time.

Apolla: Be patient! Xanthe will get to it when she does.

Me: Thank you, Apolla. Anyway, I was thinking about this, and decided that I may try to slow down on posting chapters for this fanfic for two reasons: 1) I'm going to be working on some drawings to post on deviantART for you guys (now that I have an account); 2) I'm thinking of catching Re: Kingdom Hearts up, because I'm thinking of letting Pyn have a cameo. But I want to try and get it finished up so that I can do that. So, like I said, updates for Next Generation will probably slow. Other than that, reviews anyone?