A/N: Yay, it's the first update of this story for 2011! WOOT! Lol, Happy New Year people! *Whistles* 377 reviews…Almost to 400...Wow. I am awestruck by the number, and I thank you my lovely and devoted readers and reviewers! You guys are my motivation to keep writing, and I appreciate all of you for that, no lie. You guys are so awesome, so thank you for being awesome! I really don't think I have anything else to say…Hmm…If I did, then I forgot…Grr, I think I did, but I can't remember! Ah, screw it, I'll think of it by the end of this chapter! Now, go on ahead and read, review, and enjoy!

Disclaimer: Ok, let's get this in our heads one more time; I OWN NOTHING, EXCEPT THIS STORY, AND MY OC'S! ANYTHING KINGDOM HEARTS RELATED IS NOT MINE, EXCEPT FOR MY OWN COPIES OF THE GAMES!

"Ven…Ventus!"

"The boy's heart is sleeping….It is almost as though his heart has left. Should it return he may very well wake. Should it not, then he may sleep like this for all eternity. Ventus's heart hangs in the balance. It sleeps in the place between light and darkness…that means he will be looking for a friend-one who believes in him to show him the way home."

"I know it's a lonely place, but you'll be safe. Terra and I will be back to wake you up before you know it."

"Aqua…put an end to me."

"-ey, I think she's comin' around now!"

"Hey, you okay?"

"Hope?"

"Princess Hope, can you hear us?"

Hope's eyes fluttered open to reveal Sora, Donald, and Goofy all staring down at her with worried looks on their faces. She frowned slightly, moving to sit up, wincing and groaning in pain as she did, Sora moving to gently push her back down. "Woah, take it easy…"

"Ugh, what…happened?"

"You mean you don't remember? You got knocked out by the Hydra. Luckily, we were able to get rid of it right after you got hit." Sora said, giving her a grin.

"Gawrsh, you sure had us worried there for a second." Goofy stated.

She smiled and laughed tiredly. "Sorry…But where are we?"

"Well, we were at Disney Castle, where Donald and Goofy, and the King live, but we have to go talk to Merlin about something, and drop you off to Aerith."

She frowned. "Why?"

"Because we think you might be a bit more hurt than you look. We just want Aerith to make sure that nothing's broken or anything." Sora explained, giving her a smile.

"Ok…and why do you need to talk to Merlin?"

"The Heartless are all over the Castle and the Cornerstone of Light's in trouble thanks to Maleficent!" Donald exclaimed.

Hope's eyes widened slightly. "The Cornerstone Of Light is in danger?"

Sora frowned. "Do you even know what it is?"

"Of course I know what is! Merlin told me about it when I was younger. It's what protects your castle from darkness, right?" Hope asked, the question being directed to Donald and Goofy, both of them nodding. Her face became serious. "The stronger the darkness is there, the weaker the cornerstone becomes. You better hurry up to Hollow Bastion."

"Actually, we're already here." Sora said, "We were just trying to see if you would wake up first before we go down."

She smiled. "Well, I'm awake now, so let's go."

Sora helped her up over to the transporter, and they were beamed down in front of Merlin's house. Sora helped Hope walk inside. "Anybody home?"

"Merlin!" Donald called.

"The castle's in danger!"

Merlin poofed in behind them. "What is all that racket? Ho-ho! I thought-oh, it's you!" His eyes widened when he saw Hope. "Good heavens, girl! Where on earth have you been? You've been gone almost a whole year!"

She laughed. "It's a long story, one for some other time. And I've already been back here at least twice, you just didn't bother to come greet me like the others did."

"Merlin, is it alright if Hope stay's here? She sort of wore herself out during our last battle and I think Aerith needs to check her out for broken bones." Sora said.

"Well, just don't keep her standing up like that! Go put her on the bed! Aerith should be back from getting some groceries in minute now." Merlin said. Sora complied, setting Hope down on the bed. She gave Sora a tired smile.

"Be careful, yeah?"

He grinned. "No problem!"

Hope laughed as Donald began to explain everything to Merlin, the duck not even noticing they had poofed away.

Several minutes later, Aerith walked into the house, Leon right behind her. Her eyes widened when she saw Hope, dropping the bags she had in her hands and running over to Hope. "What happened to you?"

"I got knocked into a wall by a giant monster. Sora made me stay here so you could make sure I was okay. He thinks that I might've broken something, though I doubt it." Hope said, wincing slightly as Aerith made her lay back on the bed.

"You might have broken something judging by the way you look. You look exhausted…"

"Well, that's what happens when you use a bunch of strong magic…You lose energy…" Hope explained.

Leon leaned against the headboard of the bed, his arms crossed across his chest. "You shouldn't have left."

She shot him a glare. "You should've kept your mouth shut about me not being here all the time. Telling that to Sora was not necessary, and you know that."

"I was just saying that so he would see that you weren't a travel person. And you being here right now in this condition proves it."

"Are you saying that I deserved this?" Hope asked, gesturing to her sore and exhausted body. "Are you saying that getting hurt is supposed to teach me a lesson?"

"Well, I hope so."

"Why are you treating me like I'm a little kid? In case you've forgotten, I'm 21 now, a year younger than you are. And last time I checked, you weren't my guardian, so stop acting like you are."

"Is it a crime for me to be concerned about our worlds-"

"Don't!" Hope screamed, holding a finger up to silence him, sending him a dangerous glare. "Don't you dare even finish that sentence. We've already had this discussion, and you know what my reasons are for not staying here to take care of all these problems."

"I'm afraid I don't, because you only mentioned mistakes. You didn't explain what you did exactly, and I'd like to know what happened. You disappeared all the sudden, depressed and lonely, and then you're back here after almost an entire year of being gone. Was it because you had to confirm that little piece of hope that they were alive and somewhere else out there?"

Hope stiffened, Leon's hard stare intensified, and Aerith quietly stared at the two. "Shut-up, Squall…"

"So that's why, isn't it? Because you thought that Isa and Lea-"

She shot up and slapped him, his head whipping to the side, his hand going to his now reddened and stinging cheek. "Don't…you dare say their names like you're disgusted. They were your friends too, so don't you dare be so hateful towards them like that. Because if you even dare to say another word about them that's so spiteful, so help me, I will not hesitate to do more than just slapping you, do you understand?"

His eyes softened slightly as he continued to rub his stinging cheek, regretting the things he had said before. He moved over to the door and opened it, walking out and slamming it behind him. Hope sighed, turning to glance at Aerith, who had several potions and elixirs in her hands. She handed them to Hope, who drank 2 potions and one elixir, bagging the others for later. She sat down on the bed, her head in her hands. "Aerith?"

"Hm?"

"I'm sorry you had to see me yell like that…"

Aerith smiled at her friend softly. "It's okay, Hope…"

Hope leaned back against the wall, sighing softly. "Is…Cloud around?"

"He's right here."

Aerith and Hope looked over at the doorway to see Cloud Strife, in all his glory, leaning against the door casually, his eyes closed and his arms crossed across his chest. Hope smiled. "Hi, Cloud…"

He walked over to her, grabbing her arm and pulling her up. "Come with me. We need to talk."

"Uh, okay?"

They walked out of Merlin's house and towards the outskirts of town, to the cliff that over looked the canyon of the Great Maw. Cloud stood, arms crossed across his chest and his eyes closed. Hope stared out at Villains Vail as they stood on the cliff, before she glanced at Cloud and smiled jumping up and wrapping her arms around him, surprising him slightly. "Cloud, I'm so happy! When we left here, and got to Traverse Town, we all thought the worst had happened to you! I'm so happy that you're alright…."

Cloud hugged her back quickly before prying her off of him. "I'm sorry…"

Hope frowned. "You don't have to apologize for anything, Cloud. You didn't do anything wrong. Now, what is that you wanted to talk about?" Hope asked, taking a seat on the cliff, her feet dangling over the edge.

"…Sephiroth's out there somewhere."

Hope stiffened slightly, her eyes widening as she heard the generals name spoken. "So, he's alive, huh?" Cloud nodded his head, and Hope sighed. "The way you said it makes it sound like it's actually a very bad thing. What's going on, Cloud?"

"When our home was taken over by the Heartless…I fell into darkness. And it was because of Sephiroth that I did. He told me to give into it, and…I listened to him. He said that I could save everyone if I gave into it. But…I was stupid enough to fall for it. I've been searching for Sephiroth so I can defeat him, and get rid of the darkness within me once and for all."

"I see…So that's what happened to you. Did you ever find your way back to the path of light?"

"Barely…It's hard to stay on it, when I still have darkness inside of me. It's hard to not fall off of it and into the dark. But when I defeat Sephiroth once and for all, I don't think it will be so hard anymore. It won't be such a struggle."

"Cloud."

"Hm?"

Hope stood up, and summoned Hope's Sky. "The Light…Your light is there inside of you. I think that you need to search harder. Look closer into your inner darkness, because in the deepest darkness, there is always a light there. But…Sephiroth isn't easy to fight. I know. He taught me every battle skill I know. So, if I find him first, I call dibs on fighting him first."

Cloud smirked slightly. "Whatever, as long as I can get rid of him." The two were quiet for a minute until the blonde spoke up again. "I heard what you and Leon said to each other."

Hope sighed, frowning sadly. "Are you going to tell me that I need to stay here, too?"

"No. If you made mistakes that you think you need to make up for, then you should do that before staying here permanently."

She smiled. "Cloud…thank you…"

"You're welcome…Hope."

A/N: WAH! School starts up again tomorrow, and I don't want to go back! OMG, I just saw the first commercial for Coded on TV! I screamed and my parents came into my room thinking I was dying. Lol, I can't wait till it hit's the stores so I can go buy it! Hope you enjoyed this! LATER TATERS!