I don't own Kingdom Hearts

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Sora was relaxing on the beach. The past two weeks had been fun, if frustrating. He met Larxene, then found out she was an Organization member. It had taken quite awhile for him to get past that, but she would tell him more about his keyblade tomorrow.

He just wished he could figure out how to build a gummi ship. Larxene could only offer her power occasionally right now, he just wasn't used to channeling her energy through his body, and dark portals weren't always safe for someone who has so little darkness within him. It was funny, ever since he left he'd been trying to return. Now that he was here, he couldn't stand it.

The island was wonderful, he could just lay here for years if he wanted to. The rest of it though, wasn't so pleasant. He was up to his neck in homework, and had in fact stopped doing it. Many of his old friends were long dead, consumed by the heartless. His parents seemed to think he couldn't take care of himself. He'd fought heartless, nobodies, and everything in between. He had saved worlds and dueled Sephiroth, and they still treated him like a child! He'd stopped going home after they tried to lock him in, not for punishment either, they just didn't think it was safe for him to be out. Not when "those weird black things" could "come back at any time." He'd had to blow a hole in the wall to leave. These days Kairi, Larxene, and Riku were his only relief. Riku had, like him, grown dissatisfied with the islands, and Kairi wanted to see her home town of Radiant Garden. Donald and Goofy had abandoned them here to rot, on orders from the King to "not disturb the worlds." Larxene and him got along well enough, at least when she forgot who had killed her. She wasn't exactly friendly, but she usually managed to either cheer him up with stories of the Organization, or else tick him off enough that he forgot his problems. They'd been working together for a while on how to synthesize gummi blocks. They still had no clue.

While he laid there, his head against the papau tree, he heard someone behind him. He saw Riku approaching as he turned around. Riku spoke, "Everything has come full circle hasn't it. We wanted to leave, and the heartless freed us, but once we were free, we all tried to get back. Now we're back, and we want to leave again."

"Yeah…but Riku, this time, I have no intention of ever coming back." "I don't either, but who knows, we may end up coming back anyway." Another voice spoke from behind them, "Hey guys, what is that in the water?" Sora turned around, "Kairi, how long have you been listening?" he asked, exasperated. "I just got here. What is that?" she asked, trying to direct his attention to the matter at hand. Sora walked over to the shoreline, finding a message in a bottle. "Hey, this is the King's seal." He ran back over and opened it.

Sora,

Something is happening, the darkness is growing again, but I don't know who is causing it. The heartless are becoming too much for us, so we're calling for anyone who can help. I'm sorry to drag you from your home, but I have no choice. Donald and Goofy will be there to get you tomorrow.

Mickey (The King)

P.S. I wouldn't turn down anyone else who might help so bring anyone you want!.

Riku and Kairi were reading over his shoulders. Sora smiled, looking at each of them. They decided to stay on the Island that night, so that they could leave together.

Sora woke up…or so he thought. He looked around and realized that he was back in the Station of Serenity. Larxene walked towards him with all the arrogance of a cat crossing a courtyard. "Alright Sora, since we leave today, I can't have you leave a complete weakling so we'll begin now." She took on a somewhat lecturing tone, "The keyblade absorbs a being's essence or a portion of it after killing the being. A complete essence can manifest as I have. A fragment provides only power, having no mind of its' own. An example is your so-called Anti-form, which is the embodiment of all the heartless you have killed. When a complete being is absorbed, it will manifest from exposure to darkness, which weakens the chains of light binding it, or

because of the presence of a strong emotional urge triggered by a person, place, or object. I was released by the first method, seeing as we were in the realm of darkness, and a keychain formed to represent my power. When you placed blood on the keychain and linked it to your keyblade, you released me by moving my essence from the keyblade to yourself. Others may be released in time.

"How do you know about anti-form, and why hasn't that happened yet? Something should have released someone!"

"Some may have been, but without blood they won't appear to you as I have. As for your so-called 'anti-form;' I've spent the past two weeks in your memories. I know almost everything you do. I left you early memories untouched, I only watched events after you obtained they keyblade. I don't care about anything before that. I only know of two other people you've definitely absorbed, but anyone strong willed could be there."

"Who do you know about? Besides that, does this mean I'll be stuck listening to whoever I free?"

"No, only me. I'm the one who will be teaching you, so I have full access to your mind. The others will be here, but they will only talk to you if you call them, only I can speak to you whenever you want. They will be in a sort of anti-chamber, they basically sit around, doing what they want, until you need to see them. Wielding their keyblade also calls them into your mind so they can help guide you to use it properly. First though, you must learn how to harness a being's power. We'll start simply. Draw your keybl--"

"Who are they!?"

"You'll find out once you free them, remember, I just have to keep you alive, I don't need to help you otherwise. Now summon the keyblade."

Sora called his keyblade to him, and it was in it newest form. The Savage Nymph glowed in his hand. Its' counterpart spoke to him, "Touch the kunai on the keychain, give it blood." Sora pressed his hand against it and blood poured out, the keychain glowed as the blood seemed to soak into it, electricity poured into his hand, he screamed from the pain of it. "Focus on the lightning, embrace the pain it brings, let it pour through you. You cannot force it to obey you, you have to take it into yourself and guide its' power." Sora slowly allowed it to flow unhindered, like blood flowed through his veins, until the pain disappeared altogether. He channeled it towards his hand, the electricity and magic forming sparks before his hand. Slowly, the energy gathered towards his palm. An electrical sphere, small, but real, formed in front of his open palm. "Now Sora, sense the electrical potential in your target, here. " She threw a kunai in front of him. "Try to sense the energy building up around it. Reach out with your magic, just magic, no lightning, and draw more in. Focus the electrical energy inside the kunai." Sora used his magic to strengthen and focus electrical energy in the kunai. "Now, reach out with your lightning towards the kunai and release it." Sora reached with his electricity towards the kunai, and felt the responding pull of the kunai's charge. Then he let go of his power, and the electricity jumped into the kunai, lighting the hall with the bolt's glow momentarily. He felt exhausted, falling to his knees. He looked at Larxene, she was smiling, and did he see a touch of… pride in her face. As he fell into blissful unconsciousness, Sora heard only three words. "Well done, Sora."

Sora awoke on the beach tired. He was hoping he wouldn't have to do that again soon(or ever). He wondered how Larxene could do it so effortlessly, he'd seen her perform the technique before(on a smaller scale) when she was particularly angry at him. "Hey Sora!" Well that was a welcome voice, even if a little annoying, bloody duck. 'He's my friend, I shouldn't think like that.; 'A friend who abandoned you because Riku had the keyblade, a friend who abandoned you here without hesitation at a certain mouse's command?' 'Well, he had to! I mean…' 'You mean what? They are friends, yes, but can they be trusted. If you ever oppose the King, who will they support?' 'Why would I oppose Mickey? We're on the same side!' 'When darkness is gone, people see the shades of grey. When you defeat the heartless, who is to say that Mickey might not decide that you're a shade too dark?' 'That won't happen! Mickey isn't like that!' 'We'll see…' "Sora! We're heeerrree1" Donald yelled obnoxiously. 'Stop it!' "Hey Donald! It's so good to see you!" 'Why couldn't he have sent Leon?' "Shut up!" he shouted that last sentence at Larxene, who was laughing hysterically. Donald looked hurt, "Alright, Sora, I'll be quiet…" It was rather pitiful, and as

Larxene's laughter redoubled, Sora quickly apologized. "No Donald not you, it was, uh…I thought I heard Riku laughing?" Donald looked skeptical, but went along with it. "Alright then, let's go!" Once they reached the gummi ship(the default ship) they found Goofy, Kairi, and Riku waiting there. Riku smirked and yelled over "Your ready to go Sora?" Sora grinned, "Yeah!" They all got in the rather cramped ship. "Why didn't you use a larger ship?!"

Goofy grinned sheepishly, "Well, we only expected you!"

"Let's just go; are we going to Disney Castle?"

"No, Radiant Garden." Donald answered, sounding upset.

Kairi looked concerned, "What's wrong?"

"Disney Castle, well… we lost it!" Donald was near tears, thinking of his home being overwhelmed by heartless.

"I'm so sorry!"

"It isn't your fault, we just weren't strong enough."

"But--"

Riku interrupted her, "No Kairi, we couldn't have done anything; all we can do now is take it back."

Kairi only nodded, determination gleaming I her eyes. As they approached Radiant Garden, Sora could see a large amount of heartless near the Dark Depths. 'Not another army!'

'Looks like it, and because of that, we'll be training more tonight, understood?'

Sora slumped resignedly, earning odd looks from the others. 'Alright…' They were dropped off near Merlin's house. Yuffie welcomed them enthusiastically, her normal cheerful self. He smiled at her behavior, following her inside. Leon welcomed them with a nod. Around him were several others: Cloud, Tifa, Cid, a figure wearing a blood red and black outfit with a large gun at his side, Merlin, and the King. The King spoke, "Alright now everybody, now that Sora's here, we can begin. As you are all aware there is a massive force of heartless heading our way. We have to stop them now! Others may join us later, but this will have to do until then. Leon, I want you, Cloud, Yuffie, and Tifa to handle the Darksides protecting their rear. With them out of the way Cid can bring his gummi ship in and strike the main force from behind. Cid, you'll only have time for one or two runs, so make them count. After that, they'll be waiting for you with aerial heartless, so don't push your luck. I'll handle the behemoth's leading the attack. I want Vincent to let loose on the Opposite Armors protecting the main force from the flanks. Sora, Donald, Goofy, Riku, and Kairi, will lead the attack on the main force, mostly neo-shadows. Merlin will enchant objects to assist, as well as healing the injured. Once anyone finishes their job they join this group. Tomorrow, we attack! I want everyone to be ready by 8:00 tomorrow!" Sora was wondering where the kind welcome had gone, he just got here, and now he had to fight a major battle, this wasn't normal, usually he got stuck on some long journey to defeat an evil villain , and then he fought a huge battle! He shrugged and followed his team out. He could feel Larxene moving around in his mind, no doubt preparing him for a long night of training.