A/N: Hm…It's weird, because all of the sudden ideas for this story have suddenly come to me. I guess it's a good thing, but I don't feel like it is…Meh, whatever, at least I even update :D! Say, does anyone know how many chapters a story can even have? I have yet to find out, and I really don't feel like making this a two parter story. But, yeah…So I guess the action get's back in this chapter, not really sure, since I'm writing this note before the rest of the chapter :P But…yeah…GO CHECK OUT MY FANDUBS ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL! LINK IS ON MY PROFILE PAGE! Okay, so on to the story! And expect a nice little surprise, something you've all been waiting for (you guys probably already figured it out, huh?)

Hope: Okay guys, allow me to refresh your memories; Twilight does not own Kingdom Hearts, or any of the characters. She does own me, this story, and any of her other original characters.

Axel groaned in pain as he limped over to the wall of a building, sliding down against it. This wasn't supposed to happen. Saix wasn't supposed to find him. And now, because he had let his guard down, Saix had surprised him and ambushed him, taking Kairi away with him and leaving Axel behind, beaten and unable to stop him. With what little energy he had left, he managed to make a dark portal to Hollow Bastion, exiting out into an alley way, which was where he was currently. Upon finding Axel, Saix had questioned him of Hope's whereabouts. Of course, being the stubborn pyro he is, Axel refused to say, which was what earned him all of his current injuries, courtesy of the Luna Diviner.

But now that Kairi was in number VII's possession now, Axel's plan was a failure.

He could picture the look on Hope's face when he told her everything. Oh, he was in for it. Hope would never forgive him for leaving her behind and losing an important person of Sora's.

His exhaustion took over, and before he knew it, he was asleep, dreaming that he was sitting in the middle of a flower field, surrounded just by a calm bright light.

"You came." Axel's eyes widened, "What's wrong?" A familiar, echoing voice asked from behind him, causing him to stiffen as he propped an arm on his knee. "Hm? You seem sad."

Axel laughed slightly. "Sad. That's pretty funny, considering that I can't be sad."

Quiet laughter sounded from behind him, the person resting their back against his. "And why is that?"

Axel frowned slightly at the question. "Because, I'm a Nobody. A being that was never meant to exist. I have no heart to feel with. No…emotion."

"Is that so? Well…You remember what emotions feel like, don't you?"

"Yeah, I 'remember'. I can only remember what they felt like."

"But if you can remember what they feel like, then you are technically feeling them."

He scoffed, "You're just trying to make me feel better."

"Maybe I am," Arms gently wrapped around his neck from behind, carefully hugging him. "Or maybe I'm just stating the truth."

Axel shook his head. "But…it's not the truth."

"Only if you see it that way. The way I see it…is if you can remember what pain, sadness, anger, and love feel like…than you can feel. When you remember them, it's sort of proof that there's something inside of you making you remember them."

"Like my head?"

She giggled for a moment before becoming silent. The topic on him being able to feel was moved onto a different matter. "So…why did you come?"

Axel stared at the ground thoughtfully for a minute before opening his mouth. "I'm not really sure…why I did. But why are you here?"

"You don't want me here?"

"No, it's not that…it's just…Aren't you angry with me?"

"Why should I be?"

Axel blinked, shrugging his shoulders. "I…don't know. Actually, I think I wanna be forgiven…"

"By who?"

"You."

She moved away, releasing him from behind and standing to her feet, moving around to stand in front of him, her back facing him. A mysterious breeze blew by, causing the back of her duster and hair to flit around. "Why do you want my forgiveness?"

"It's my fault…you're in danger."

"Is it? How so?"

"I didn't know what Xemnas was planning to do to you or with you…I didn't know that he would try to kill you so he could get what he wants. It's my fault that you're having to run and hide."

"You say that you cannot feel anything, and yet…you're regretful now."

"…"

Hope finally turned around to face him, her lilac eyes bright as she gave him a smile. "I never blamed you at all, Axel. Not once have I blamed you for the situation that I'm in. If anything, I have you to thank for not being held against my will anymore, Axel. You came and took care of me, and kept me safe. And that's all that matters."

"But, I-"

"You're talking as if you let me die or something. I'm not dead, Axel! I'm very much alive. And like I said, I never blamed you. And I never will." She moved over to him and held a hand out, a sea salt ice cream in it. She grinned. "We're best friends, remember? I'm yours, and you're mine. Never forget that." She put the ice cream in his hand and turned around, beginning to move away.

He shot up. "Wait! Where are you going?"

Hope stopped and looked at him over her shoulder. "There's a big battle to be fought very soon. And I have to see to it that everyone's kept safe. Don't worry, we'll see each other soon, only if you want to."

"A battle? Don't you dare think that you're the only one that can-"

"I know, Axel. I'm not going to fight it alone. I know I can't. So don't worry about me. You'll see. Everything's going to be…all right, in the end." She gave him one last smile before walking into a bright light and disappearing.

'You'll see. Everything's going to be…all right, in the end.'

"Momma, why do you and Leon always argue?"

Hope looked up at Ienzo as he sat in the small patch of flowers in the Old Church, surprised at the question. "Why do you ask?"

"You always seem so sad after you guys argue."

She gave him a small smile, putting both of her hands on his shoulders. "Sometimes, when grownups disagree on certain things, they argue. Leon and I don't really agree on…a certain thing, and that's why we fight. But don't let it worry you, okay? Everything will be all right eventually, sweetie."

He smiled as she patted his cheek, pressing a kiss to his head. The peaceful aura around them was calming.

Suddenly, the doors to the church slammed open, footsteps entering. "Well, well, if it isn't the Princess and the brat."

And suddenly, the peace was gone, shattering into a million pieces like glass.

Hope's lilac eyes narrowed as she stood up and glared at their visitor, grabbing Ienzo and pulling him to her side. "This is a sacred place. You're not welcome here!"

"You think you can tell me what to do? Heh, as if! I'm not going anywhere, Princess. I've got orders from the boss man himself to take you down and bring you back, conscious or not."

Hope growled slightly, glancing down at Ienzo. Gently, she nudged him towards the side where several broken columns laid. Ienzo ran over to where Hope had quietly directed him, hiding behind the columns, peeking out to watch her and Xigbar.

The Free Shooter looked over at where Ienzo was, a wide smirk appearing on his face. "Still the same, aren't you? Protecting the little pipsqueak before anything else."

Hope clenched her jaw tight as she pulled out a pair of new gloves that Yuffie had found and given to her, making sure they were on tight enough before she shook her right hand, a small spark appearing around it. Though she wanted to summon Hope's Sky, she decided against it since it added extra weight on her movements, lowering her speed which was needed in order to dodge Xigbar's attacks.

She hadn't been taught hand to hand combat for nothing.

"Heh, this'll be fun!" Xigbar said, summoning his arrowguns with a smirk and getting into a stance like Hope had done. She made a sound of frustration before she ran forward with incredible speed, Xigbar blocking her attack with his guns. She moved her other fist quickly and socked him in the jaw, throwing him off balance. She hit him again and again until she suddenly stopped, raising her leg back and aiming it at him. To Ienzo, it seemed to happen in slow motion as Hope's foot connected with the Free Shooter's jaw.

Xigbar grabbed Hope by the neck, his guns giving her a bit of a shock, sending her flying backwards into the patch of flowers. She landed with a grunt, getting back up quickly and wiping the small bit of blood from her mouth. He chuckled slightly as she glared at him, a spark collecting around her right hand as she shook it before it suddenly disappeared and Hope ran forward, doing a leg sweep to knock Xigbar down, only to have him leap up and dodge it, landing several feet away. He smirked again, only to have it knocked away as Hope's fist connected to his jaw, sending him flying back near the wall. Hope followed after him, jumping from the wall and off a column before she kicked Xigbar backwards. He did a small flip to get back to his feet, ducking down as Hope tried to kick his face again, only to have her other foot meet his face as she did a back flip. She landed again and tried to hit him, only to be blocked by his guns.

"Heh, still as feisty as ever, I see!" She simply glared back and he grunted as he pushed back, shooting her, and injuring her successfully. She was slow for the moment, giving him an opportunity. He raised a foot and kicked her back.

"AH!" She slid back in a defensive position, making the mistake of letting down her guard for a minute. Luckily, she ducked down in time, Xigbar's fist and gun connecting with the column that was behind her. She knocked his arms away and grabbed him by the front of his coat, placing both of her feet on his chest as she crouched on it as they flew. She let go of him and kicked him down, earning a pained grunt from him as his back connected with the floor. Suddenly, Hope's ankle was in his grasp, earning a surprised gasp from her. He spun her around, knocking away several pews with her body, earning a pained cry from her. He spun her around and around like a rag doll before releasing her towards the wall at the very front of the church. She did several skillful flips, landing on the wall with ease, flower petals flying off of the flowers at the breeze her body had caused as she went flying by them. She stared at Xigbar as the petals flew, the man smirking at her worn out form.

She moved her footing around before she pushed off of the wall, flying right at Xigbar. Said man tried to block her but he was too slow, and Hope grabbed a hold of the front of his cloak, giving a battle cry. "YEEEEEEAAAAAHHHH!" She slammed him down onto the floor, running with him as she used him to knock away a pew or two before she launched him up into the air, flying up after him and throwing him to the ground, sending him flying down into a pile of debris and several pews.

Hope landed carefully, Ienzo running over to her with a smile. Hope returned the smile, until the sound of rubble moving was heard, causing her to look over shoulder and stare.

Xigbar had his guns aimed at her, a somewhat regretful look on his face a for a second before it disappeared. "Sorry, Princess. Looks like I've got not other choice!"

Things seemed to happen in slow motion as he fired, two large and dangerous arrows heading straight towards her and Ienzo, who she grabbed and put behind her. But before the arrows could even touch her, a small, black hooded figure jumped up in front of her, a key like sword knocking the arrows away.

"Looks like we made it just in time!"

Leon came running over to her, Gunblade drawn and in front of him. He glanced at Hope over his shoulder. "You okay?"

She nodded stupidly. "Y-yeah…"

Leon nodded, looking back at the Free Shooter. "All right, who are you? And what do you think you're doing shooting at innocent civilians in a holy place?"

"Hah! You think I'd tell someone like you? As if! You got lucky, Princess," Xigbar said, pointing at Hope, "But that doesn't mean that this is over. He'll just keep sending us until we get you." With that said, he opened a portal and moved backwards into it, Leon shouting for him to stop, but he was already gone by then, portal and all.

"Who was that guy? How does he know you, Hope?" Leon asked, turning around to look at her as he put his Gunblade away.

"I….I don't…" Everything was beginning to get blurry and spin in her line of vision. She could distinctly hear Leon say her name before she felt the air rushing past her, a soft groan escaping her lips as she fell. Leon caught her before she could hit the ground, her head lolling to the side as he held her unconscious form in his arms.

Ienzo looked near tears, the hooded figure noticing and moving over to the child, pulling the hood of his coat off. "Don't worry! She's just asleep. With a little rest, she'll be better in no time."

"Let's get her back to Merlin's so Aerith can heal her." Leon said, standing up with Hope in his arms and heading for the doors. "It's a good thing that you were around, your Majesty. Otherwise…well, things would be pretty bad."

Mickey smiled at Leon as he put his hood back on, Ienzo grabbing the mouse King's hand as they exited the church. "I'm just glad that we made it in time before anything could get worse."

"That guy…You wouldn't happen to know who he is, would you?"

"I'm positive that he's a member of Organization XIII. And I don't doubt for a second that they'll come back."

How true that was.

A/N: Okay, so Axel we'll probably make his presence known pretty soon, either next chapter or the one after that. Sora, Donald, and Goofy will definitely be back next chapter, and of course, we get to deal with the computer and Space Paranoids (not really sure if I'm sending Hope in or not, so let me know what you would like to see, kay?) So…review and stuff…LATER TATERS!