Okay everyone. Welcome back to the JOD story. I wasn't planning on starting this one first, but things ended up working out this way.

I don't own Kingdom Hearts and/or Disney.

Jason is mine.

Mortem belongs to YamiChaos27. Yami also did the segment with his character, with some editing from me. All credit for that part of the chapter goes to him.

Chapter 1: Getting back up

JASON'S POV

SAARIN 10, 92 KA…

Oh, my head. Felt like the kaiju had a dance party inside my skull. As I sat up from where I was I noticed several black bags lying around me, all covered with bumps and looking like they had various items inside. Wait a minute. I knew those kinds of barrels. Trash cans. Oh, come on. I was in a trash alley?

Getting up I brushed some pieces of trash off my blue jacket and stepped out to get an idea of where I was. The buildings, the trains, the clock tower. My eyes widened as I recognized this place. "Twilight Town," The name slipped out of my mouth as I looked around. I hadn't spent long here, but it had been thanks to Scrooge that this world had become important.

As I made my way down the sloped path I thought about what had transpired. Worbazz, I was so stupid. Why didn't I make sure Clair destroyed that stupid cube when we had the chance? We made our enemy stronger without intending to, and now Scrooge and Clair were lost to who knows where? Even Jiminy was gone, and I had been unable to do anything to stop it.

I thought of heading to the Bistro that Scrooge owned, but I paused at that. How could I go around people when I had been used as a weapon not long ago to hurt others? It felt unreal that I had been forced to hurt others. How many people were now dead because my mind had been turned off on a madman's whim? Was I even a person?

Or was I a weapon?

Turning away in the main square I headed further into Twilight Town trying to find somewhere I could be alone. Well, more alone than I already was. I missed my friends so much, but I had no way to find them. What was I going to do?

Turning down another alley, I noticed a little more dirt and grime on the walls and street. There were fewer people here, so I could tell I wouldn't be disturbed. At the end of this alley was a huge gaping hole in the ground which probably led to the sewers. Last place anyone would look for me.

Jumping down inside I headed deeper until I couldn't see the light anymore. There, I sat down on the ground and buried my face into my knees. What now? I had no Keyblade, no way of getting around the other worlds, or of even fighting Madsane. Especially not when he can take control of me on a whim.

"Why are you sitting here?" A voice then asked.

Not bothering to look up to see who it was, I just said, "My problems."

"Sitting in the sewers doesn't seem like the best way to fix them. What happened to the boy trying to learn who he was?"

"I found out who I… wait. How do you know what I was… Maslih?!"

Not lying. Standing over me was the mysterious armored figure I had met before in what had seemed like the afterlife. His armor was still golden with a magnificent cape that gave a regal air to him, and his helmet was still in the form of a lion. No, an eagle. Ugh. Magic.

I was surprised when he took a seat next to me. "Jason, tell me."

I was not the type of person to open up to anyone, though my travels I had learned to do otherwise. Plus for some reason Maslih just felt like a person who understood me unlike anyone else, so I began to tell him what happened. I told him about how we learned our world's leader was actually our enemy, how he ended up with the Tesseract we were supposed to have destroyed, how I ended up being used to hurt others, and how I could no longer call my Keyblade to me.

I wouldn't have blamed him if he had spoken harshly about what had happened, or even told me I deserved it.

"What would you tell me to do?" He asked.

Okay, I admit that caught me off guard. I was not expecting him to ask me a question like that. "Maslih? I don't understand."

"If I was in your situation, what would you tell me to do?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"Jason."

Somehow, I got the impression that I wouldn't get anywhere unless I answered his question. Come on. Think. "I… I guess I'd say what are you going to do about it? I mean, moping around isn't going to fix the problem-"

"Then why did you come here to mope?" Even though I couldn't see his face I could tell Maslih was concerned. "Jason, I know this is hard, but in life you will be expected to face many hard things. It is tempting to give up when life punches you in the face, but that will not help you become better. If you truly wish to make things right in your life, then you must learn to get back up when it is hard. Never give up. Do you understand?"

"But, my friends-"

"Are alive." That got me to my feet, but the armored figure kept speaking. "Each of you must now embark on your own journey to become the heroes you need to be. For now, know that I am watching them just as I am watching you, Jason Norman. What will you do now?"

"First thing I need to do is figure out how to get my Keyblade back. Without it I can't fight against Madsane."

"You didn't need it before. Why do you think you need it now?"

"I cannot fight the Heartless without a Keyblade."

"There are many who disagree. Many who have never held a Keyblade, and yet choose to fight the Heartless. If they can clash with such enemies, then why are you not able to?"

Hey, he's right. I did fight before I had my Keyblade. Though when I first encountered the Heartless I only survived because my weapon came to me. If I were to… wait. The Radiant Garden Restoration Committee. They can help.

First I had to get back there.

"There's lots of help in this town to get you back to Radiant Garden, Jason." It seemed like Maslih was smiling under his helm. "And now you have the advantage of working in secret. Now, I believe it is time for someone to wake up."

Huh? Now I was confused. Before I could ask him I heard someone groaning in my pocket. Reaching in, I was surprised to pull out a familiar face. "Jiminy?!"

My appointed conscience let out a yawn before looking at me. "Jason. Are you okay? I mean-" His words got cut off as I held him close in a hug. Hey, the little guy had been there for me through thick and thin.

Eventually I lifted him up to my face. "J-Jiminy? Did I… hurt you?"

"... You threw me away like a piece of lint." He looked down.

"I'm so sorry Jiminy. I was-"

"I know you weren't yourself Jason. I've been with you long enough to know that you wouldn't throw me away of your own choice. That action is on Madsane, not you."

"How did you get back to me?"

"Well, while you were fighting your cousin I moved from her pocket to yours. Wait a minute. Where are we? Last thing I remembered was you finally woke up from your mind control."

"Twilight Town."

He did a double take. "Wait. Isn't that where-"

"Yeah, but what we need to do now is find the Old Mansion. We need to call for a ride to Radiant Garden."

MORTEM'S POV

I found myself panting with exhaustion and pain after another session of practicing with my mutation. Damn this thing is strenuous. My arm hurt like hell, I had a massive headache, and I was so tired that I collapsed on my knees. This power was proving difficult to get the hang of. My arm emitted red sparks as it reverted back to normal again.

"Are you sure you should be using that thing?" Leroy asked me. "It's clearly quite hazardous to you as much as it is to your enemies."

I gave him a firm gaze. "If I don't get a handle on this… virus or whatever it is, it could take me over without warning."

"Maybe… but you really shouldn't push yourself. Even my, and my cousin's, lifting strength has limits, and we were engineered. You're only human, and while you are strong, you're not invincible. And this just doesn't seem like a power you should be using very often if it puts this much strain on you."

I grumbled in response realizing his point. "If nothing else, this will serve as a good last resort option." I looked at my arm, and thought about his talk about limits. If that nosy drone we encountered on Harthyrn was telling the truth, it would seem that my limits have dwindled since Madsane found me. I couldn't help but wonder if that was why I'm having such a hard time now. I'm certain I had used this power before, but did I have this much trouble before? I know that since I had only just reawakened it I had probably just grown unaccustomed to it, but still. "Whatever the case, I can't afford to take any chances. I want to make sure I can control this power well enough before I attempt to nab any of the remaining princesses' hearts."

"Do what you want. But just know that you won't be able to reclaim your memories or get back at Madsane if you strain yourself too much."

I looked at him as a question came to mind. "You know, I've been wondering something. Why are you still siding with me? Wasn't that loon the one who made you accompany me on my mission in the first place?"

"Yeah. But one can only listen to Jailhouse Rock so many times. It's much more fun causing mayhem with you than with that old coot."

"I'm not interested in mayhem! I just want to see that wretched fossil destroyed, and my memories back! If you are going to be a problem-."

"Relax!" the monster said. "I'm sure with the Guardians now fully aware of what we know about Madsane, I'm sure they'll figure out a way to help us give him exactly what's coming to him, whether they do it knowingly or not."

As he said that I could help but think back to my conversation with the Guardians.

FOUR HOURS EARLIER…

I had left Leroy in the caverns at the outskirts of town with the magic locket as a precaution so that they didn't try to take the pure hearts from me while I still needed them. I approached the guards who had instantly readied themselves for combat, not that I blamed them. I tried to assure them that I was only here to offer the Guardians of Light information. Unsurprisingly, they were skeptical, but they agreed to call the Keybearers when I told them that Kairi didn't have to attend so that they wouldn't have to worry about me taking her heart. So here I was, sitting in the library of Radiant Garden castle with Namine drawing her pictures, the castle guards staring intently at me with their weapons out, and the scientists, including Ansem himself, gazing at me with caution and curiosity.

As we waited for the Guardians to arrive, I looked at the pictures on the table, and I couldn't help but feel annoyed at how some of them depicted events that happened to me recently. The vision I had about a mad doctor from my past, beheading Red Skull, the Unversed I summoned using Jason's darkness. There was even stuff that happened in Harthyrn, like the mysterious drone that seemed to know me, the caging of the berserk clone children, my fight with Jason, and my mutation which included a disembodied face that I assume was supposed to depict the voice I was hearing. It seemed that she really was using her memory powers to keep track of what was going on with me.

I found myself so uncomfortable with this that I just couldn't help but voice my opinion. "Did you really have to have all these drawings out? It's disturbing, knowing that you're drawing things depicting my life."

The blond girl looked at me with a somewhat sheepish expression. "Sorry you feel that way. I'm just trying to understand the people connected to Sora and Kairi's hearts so that we can better help them in their struggles. I do it for Jason and Clair too."

I still don't get what they mean by 'connected to their hearts', or how a couple of encounters with them apparently gave me a weak connection to them yet just strong enough to allow Blondie to view my memories. I scoffed at her. "And how exactly could you possibly help me?"

"Well, maybe we could figure it out if you'd just let us help you instead of stealing other people's hearts."

"Fat chance! I already know your 'memory manipulating' powers won't work on me for whatever reason, so as far as I'm concerned you're useless to me."

Her expression seemed to sadden in response, which I felt a sting in my heart at the sight for some reason. "It doesn't have to be this way, you know."

"Well tough luck! Things almost never seem to go my way because other people keep screwing me over. Why should I trust you and the Guardians not to do the same? I can't trust anyone to do anything for me!"

Namine was silent for a moment before she suddenly giggled. "Well, you seem to trust Leroy well enough, at least." My eye twitched with annoyance as I couldn't think of a response to that. Truthfully, I wasn't sure why I trusted him. All I could do was stare at that face of hers, the one that reminded me of Silverhead. And after a minute it seemed that she read my mind. "Thinking about that girl again?" she said almost smugly.

I grumbled in response but something compelled me to answer. "I just can't figure out why three different people seem to share her face. Is there a story behind that for you three?"

Namine thought for a moment before responding. "Well, of the three of us, Kairi is the original. I was her Nobody, born under... special circumstances, but I had developed my own heart, distinct from hers. And Xion was originally a Replica created from Sora's memories of Kairi, but like me developed a heart of her own."

Well, that was interesting to hear, but it still left one. "And you have no idea how Silverhead fits into all this?"

She frowned. "I'm sorry… We just don't have enough information to even come up with a theory right now. All I'm certain of about her is that she plays a very important part of your life."

I sighed in exasperation. I was right! These guys are useless! And they think they can help me? I'm better off sticking to capturing the princesses. I'd have probably just left right then if I didn't need them to get back at Madsane.

Just then, the Guardians of Light finally decided to show up. Terra, Aqua, Ventus, Lea, Isa, Roxas, Xion, Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Riku, Sora, and… surprisingly Kairi. They all gave me a firm stare.

Glancing at the princess, I said, "Well aren't you bold, Keyblade Princess? I'm surprised you actually had the nerve to show up, despite me clearly stating you didn't have to."

The crimson head shrugged. "I guess I trusted you enough not to break your word that you wouldn't try to take my heart this time." Well, I suppose her trust was valid in that regard. One thing I refuse to make myself is a liar. When I give my word, I have every intention of sticking to it.

"Well, I'm touched that you actually trusted me at all."

Both Sora and Riku stood in front of Kairi protectively, which was understandable. "Alright, Mortem," Riku spoke while pointing his Keyblade at me. "Out with it! What do you want?"

"Relax! I just wanna share some vital information with you, and then I'll be out of your hair… for now at least, don't think this means I've given up."

"And why should we trust whatever you have to say?" asked Roxas.

"If you can't take my word for it, then ask Namine. She's looked into my memories of these events." Everyone looked at the memory witch, who promptly nodded.

Mickey then came forward. "So what is it you wish to share?"

"First I need to ask: What do you know about Anton Yeller, aka Doctor Madsane?"

"Not much." Riku said. "Mostly what Leon, Cid and Merlin told us. He seemed friendly up front, but something seemed… off to me."

"You'd be right to be suspicious of him," I told him. "That device that he claimed was supposed to bring Jason and Clair back home, the one I destroyed, Yeller was the one who sent me to destroy it."

Everyone looked taken aback by this. Sora was the one to ask the obvious question. "But why would he do such a thing?"

"Would it help if I told you that that device was never meant to work in the first place?" A watched them process what I said to see what conclusions they would draw to. Everyone had a thoughtful look on their face, some twisted into either anger or confusion.

One of the scientists, Even I believe his name was, then spoke. "I thought those blueprints he sent looked unusual."

Another scientist, I believe Ienzo, added, "I was confused as to how it would work."

"So are you saying that this Yeller person never intended for them to return home?" asked Ventus.

"Exactly," I replied. "He had already lied to his people that Jason and Clair were dead. They practically worship him like a god in human form, so anything he claims they'll buy. He gave them fake schematics to give them false hope, and then had me destroy the device just to cover his tracks. He didn't even tell me that it was his design nor that it wouldn't have worked anyways." I had my fist clenched in anger, subtly letting them know that I despise being used like that.

Terra grunted in anger. "That kind of deception is really reminding me of Xehanort right now."

"Funny you should mention that," I said, "because apparently before his demise, Xehanort actually made contact with Yeller."

"WHAT!" everyone yelled at the same time.

I then proceeded to tell them what happened on Harthyrn. About the doctor's deception, the Tesseract, what he did to Jason and Clair, and his Neo Thirteen. I left out my encounter with the mysterious drone, the caging of the berserk children, and my mutation, though I had feeling Namine would tell them about those later.

The mouse king held a hand over his eyes. "Gosh. All those poor people."

"I can't believe someone would do something so cruel to his own people." Xion looked at her friends for comfort. Something told me that, being a Replica, hearing about clones going on a rampage as a result of their creator's programing might've unsettled her greatly. I also noticed Kairi position her hands over her heart before the Hero of Light put an arm around her.

Balling his hands into fists, Riku said, "We should've seen it sooner. We should've known that Xehanort would've had a backup plan, and would've made contact with someone else in case something unexpected happened."

"Nothing we can do about it now." Aqua said. "We can't change what happened, but we can work to stop him now."

"Yeah." Terra agreed with her. "We won't let that scientist ruin the worlds like Xehanort did."

"All for one, and one for all." The duck wizard also smiled.

Then Ansem himself approached me with a stern expression. "Why are you willing to share this information with us?"

I looked at the old man and replied, "I have my reasons. All you need to know is that Leroy and I have cut our ties to that bastard, and he's currently number one on my revenge list. I just need you to be on alert and fight Madsane and his Neo Thirteen whenever you can. And if possible, figure out a way to tarnish that fraud's reputation with his people, so that when I kill him he doesn't die a martyr! But don't get the wrong idea! This doesn't make us allies. I still need the princesses' hearts, and I know you will still get in my way. I just figured the more enemies he has the better it is for me."

"Right!" Lea said as he rolled his eyes. "We're just a means to an end, aren't we?"

"Be thankful that unlike the likes of that mad doctor, I'm more upfront about my intentions."

Isa then spoke. "What I'm wondering is, why did he send you after the seven hearts in the first place? I doubt he actually wanted you to recover your memories, and probably didn't even think it would actually work."

He had a point there. I never did question what the doctor would get out of it. I was too focused on what they could do for me that it never crossed my mind. "He never told me. Not that it matters because he's not getting them! I'd send him burning in the depths of Inferno if he ever tried to take them from me!" What was this 'Inferno' that slipped from my tongue?

"Now, now. Watch the mouth. We have ladies present." Lea quipped as he looked at me. "Besides, I'm the master of burning things. Got it memorized?"

"Lately the only thing you've been able to fry is your food." Isa deadpanned at him.

The pyro then looked at him. "Come on. Give me a little credit. I still take care of any stray Heartless."

"With Roxas and Xion."

"Hey, it's a team effort."

I rolled my eyes before opening a dark corridor behind me. "Well, I've said everything I came here to say, so I'm out of here. You all just be on your guard and do what you will."

I turned toward the portal, but before I could enter, Namine grabbed my attention. "Wait! Just one more thing before you go!" I turned toward her and saw that she was holding one of her drawings. This drawing was depicting a very familiar object. "I highly recommend that you keep this close. I have a feeling it means something to you."

I stared at it for a moment before grumbling. "Whatever." And with that I left.

PRESENT…

All in all, the meeting went pretty smoothly. Hopefully those Keyblade Meddlers will do what they do best towards Madsane.

Still, I couldn't help but think about what Isa mentioned. "Leroy, why do you think the loon sent me after the pure hearts? Something tells me he never intended for me to actually recover my memories."

The monster thought for a moment. "Hard to say. It could've just been an excuse to use you as a distraction for Jason and Clair, while at the same time testing them as Neo Thirteen candidates." Yet another instance of him using me as a tool. "But on the other hand, he could've had his own plans for them. What these plans could be is anyone's guess."

I sighed. "Well whatever the case, he won't have them. Not only do I still need them, but I won't allow him to gain such an asset."

"If you say so. By the way, what do you want me to call you?"

"Excuse me?"

"That drone called you Cain. So do you want me to start calling you Cain?"

I thought for a moment before shaking my head. "No. At least not until I know for certain what that name means to me." After all, whether or not it is indeed a name I went by before Madsane gave me the codename Mortem, I was uncertain at this time whether it was my first name, last name, or some other alias. So until I remember my name legitimately, I'd rather stick with Mortem for now.

Leroy shrugged. "Suit yourself. You should probably take a break from this training. Like I said, your mission will be for naught if you strain yourself too much."

As the red monster lied down lazily, I couldn't help but think back to my exchanges with Namine, which were interesting to say the least. Learning about the reasons why she and Xion shared Kairi's face was enlightening, but the fact that she still had nothing on Silverhead was frustrating. And then there was that drawing she showed me.

I pulled out the object that was depicted in that drawing. I've had this thing in my pocket since I was found by the doctor, but thanks to my memory loss, I could not for the life of me figure out what it was or why I have it. At first sight, it just looked like a piece of junk, which I felt of pang of guilt for even thinking that for some reason. Normally, I'd throw something like this away, but for reasons I couldn't fathom, I just could not bring myself to do it. The way Namine told me how she believed this thing means something to me… I couldn't help but wonder if she had an idea what it could be.

I sighed. No sense dwelling on it now. If it really is that important, I'm sure I'll remember where I got it from as I capture the princesses. I put the object back in my pocket as I decided to take Leroy's advice and rest up for now.

Next time we'll get to the path that has to be taken to get back on their feet, and prepare them for the challenges that are coming their way.

EDIT 3/18/20: Added a scene of Jason reuniting with Jiminy. Fixed some formatting and grammar.