Disclaimer: not mine

So, when I posted the last chapter, I was just publishing my first book, now I've published two with a third in the works. And the first book has been republished as a second edition. Not bad for one year. I even did well in my classes. So of course, I've signed up for a heavier class load next year, maybe not the best idea but we'll see.

Chapter 31

Sora tugged at the shirt, glad to be rid of the scratchy material and X on the one he'd gotten from that store. He didn't know where Neku had gotten it, he was just grateful and had fun torching the old one. Hopefully, he'd been quick enough to keep from being tracked. So far, no one had shown up but how long would that last? Interestingly…he hadn't had a bought of sudden falling asleep since returning to Traverse Town, so was it the Organisation guys causing that somehow?

Roxas was worried too, then again, he knew more about the Organisation than Sora did…or maybe it was that he had more experience, their knowledge was about the same since they had opened communication. But Roxas…he was scared of them in a way Sora wasn't, angry yes, but scared too. Roxas had kept back a lot of his personal memories dealing with Xemnas and Saïx and he had every right to do that but…it did make him concerned.

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Aerith watched Kadaj with his daughter, unable to help smiling. She had never known him on Gaia, she had been with the Lifestream by then. But she had helped him and his brothers accept their fate and become part of the Lifestream as well. She should have realised when she had woken in Radiant Garden after Gaia's destruction that others may have as well. Especially after Cloud faced Sephiroth again. It wasn't all that surprising they'd ended up on different Worlds either.

Sora…Sora reminded her a lot of Zack and a Soldier father would explain a lot with how fast he had learned and his beating Cloud in a fight, but there was no hint of Mako in him, not like with Riku. It was subtle but there, though he lacked the eye shine from what she'd seen. And he didn't heal the same way from the injury he'd had to have surgically fixed, although there were extenuating circumstances there.

He looked up and offered a hesitant smile and she smiled back at him, moving to play with the baby.

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Riku dodged a blow, blocking another with his Keyblade. His Dream Eaters were fighting around him as well but he was otherwise alone. He'd been waiting for Joshua when they appeared. He felt his magic surge, merging with his Dream Eaters, feeling the shift that came with it in his thoughts and emotions. He'd gotten used to it, to a point, and it didn't hurt that he felt even more protective of Sora in that state even if he didn't know why. But…Joshua said one of the Traverse Towns was a dream…maybe…this was the dream and it was Sora's. That would explain a lot and make getting home a lot more difficult.

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Mickey sighed and set the book down. He'd hoped the castle might have something on the Sleeping Worlds but there was nothing. With Xehanort definitely back, Sora and Riku were in danger, they had to get to them.

He'd hoped with the Organisation dealt with, that they'd have peace. The kids deserved it after what they'd already been through. But then they'd had to run from their home because of Kairi's adopted mother and the attitude of their world towards Sora and Riku's relationship. Thankfully, they hadn't lost everything but they could have. And now Xehanort was after them.

He shouldn't have let the exam go forward, not with the parameters Master Yen Sid had set. Yes, the Power of Waking would likely be needed for Ventus but they didn't know for sure. If anything happened to those two…

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Ienzo sat on the bed, his throat aching, but it seemed to be simply the memory of the injury that had…killed him. Or well, killed his Nobody anyway. He felt so strange, everything was so bright and overwhelming. A nice girl called Aerith had looked him over and said the wound was healed but would leave a scar.

Aeleus was still unconscious but they seemed to think he was physically alright. He had a long mark down his chest but it was sealed over and already beginning to scar, so why had his own wound been so fresh? He had been killed first after all. And apparently Axel…Lea had woken before both of them, had left and no one knew where he was. Ienzo found the idea of seeing him had his heart racing with fear.

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Merlin worked the spell very carefully, not wanting it to literally or figuratively blow up in his face. Really, he should wait longer, but whatever trouble the boys were in was getting worse and so he was attempting it now. All he needed was to make a small opening, just enough for the boys to get through. Sora knew his magic and Riku would too since he had healed his surgical wound.

He just had to find the correct Sleeping World first.

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Luna put the book aside and moved to the window, staring out at the town. She missed her son…sons really. She knew Kadaj was worried about them as well, though he was better than her at hiding it. Finding out he was originally from another World had been a surprise, that he had once been the enemy of many of those in this World had been a bigger shock. She'd had no idea he could fight, at least not that well. It had been Noctis who had taught the boys to use their wooden swords.

She knew why Sora was so good at magic. Once an Oracle, always an Oracle, even in a new life gifted by the Astrals. Noctis hadn't remembered, neither had his parents, not that they had been his parents this time. That Aulea was the reason they had left hurt; the woman would have been her mother-in-law back on Eos. The bloodline of Oracle and Chosen King combined, even if born to new lives, had ensured Sora was magically powerful, likely explained his affinity for combat as well.

Noctis had never remembered and she thought that was a kindness given all the pain he had experienced. She wished he could have had his friends by his side again but if they had been reborn, it had not been on the Islands or if they had, then not in the same time period. They had gotten more time together in life, had grown from childhood friends to lovers and spouses.

Should she tell Sora? Would it change anything? She no longer had her magic; she was just a normal woman in this life. But was it possible that Sora had something of Eos' magics and if he did, could he learn to wield them? Kadaj had died on his homeworld and woken on Destiny Islands as he had been before he died, which was why he retained everything and could pass it to his children. Really, there should be nothing for Sora to have inherited and yet…

She looked up as Kadaj joined her. "How did you tell Riku the truth of your past?" she asked, and he looked at her in confusion.

"After he told me what he'd been through, I had to. He carries Jenova cells, though a lot weaker than I do, but it's enough to sense. Thankfully, Mia has even less. I know the way I treated Riku growing up in unforgivable and yet he's forgiven me. Knowing that Sephiroth is here, hunting Cloud…"

"That's why you're training," she murmured, and he nodded.

"I had Cloud commission a new blade for me but unlike him and the others, I've aged. They seem unchanged from when I met them. And that means I am at a serious disadvantage, especially of Sephiroth realises I'm alive. And if he realises who Riku is…"

"He'll go after him," she finished, and Kadaj nodded.

"The good thing about a Soldier's metabolism is that I just have to start training for it to kick back in."

"I thought you were looking a little trimmer," she grinned, and he chuckled.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

She hesitated but then took a deep breath. "You're not the only one with secrets," Luna admitted.

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Sora was relieved when Joshua dropped down from the nearby roof and strolled over to him. He knew there was no guarantee he could do anything but he was their best bet at finding a way out. He could feel Roxas' suspicion towards Joshua and he could understand it, he had a lot of secrets and was powerful but Sora could feel he was genuine.

"Sora," Joshua nodded and then sat beside him. "I think I can make a breach between the two versions of Traverse Town, at least for a second or two, but no more. One exists within the other in a way, it is a dream within a dream."

Sora frowned in confusion. "Someone in the dream Traverse Town is dreaming another version of the Town?" he asked, and Joshua nodded.

"The split happened when you and Riku arrived which means one of you is the dreamer and the other is trapped in that dream. Which is what is making this so hard, if they were simply parallel to each other creating a bridge between them would be much easier."

"We only need a second," Sora told him, "we just have to touch Keyblades to activate the exit."

"Nice shirt," Joshua smirked.

"Neku gave it to me, beats having a target on my chest."

"So far, they haven't tracked you here, but they will eventually. I need some time to work this, so stay in this area."

"Sure thing."

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Cloud stood across from Kadaj in the Maw, watching as Kadaj tested his new sword. He'd never had the chance to spar with someone else with Soldier enhancements. Vincent was the closest but he used firearms, not blades. He'd only ever faced Kadaj in battle so sparing was going to be interesting. Though, he looked very different to how he had back then so that helped. Kadaj was older, older than Cloud now. He was also dressed very differently, his hair even shorter too. And his new sword was nothing like the double bladed one he once used.

"Ready?" He asked, and Kadaj nodded.

Just a few days of exercising had begun firming up muscles not used in something like two decades. Soldier enhancements and Jenova cells made sure of that. But he was still approaching forty, older than any Soldier had made it to. How would that affect his abilities?

And then Kadaj lunged, Cloud bringing his sword up to block.

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Yen Sid stared out at the stars, lost in thought. He was concerned about the exam; they could not afford to lose Sora and Riku. Xehanort was moving faster than even he had expected. Could he interfere in the exam? Best to assume he could and would. But to what end? Would they attempt to kill the two or something else?

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Kairi collapsed, breathing heavily. Training was exhausting but she was determined to keep at it. She'd thought she'd improved while training with the boys but it seemed she still had a long way to go. And training with Axel…Lea was not something she was keen on, though he didn't seem to be either. He barely looked at her while training. He had experience in fighting but she'd had a Keyblade longer and used it in battle. Plus, he was having to adjust to being human again.

And she could see it, he was different to the guy who'd approached her that day on the beach, less abrasive, his eyes not as cold. But did that really mean they could trust him? He'd only helped Sora to keep Roxas safe, he'd wanted to turn Sora back into a Heartless to get Roxas back. Did he still want him back?

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He frowned in annoyance but there was also some respect. He had not expected Sora to catch on but it seemed he had. He had worked out how they were tracking him and managed to slip the net, for now anyway. As for Riku, that was more perplexing but it seemed that he was actually within Sora's own dreams. How he had managed that was the question. It made reaching him more difficult but they had ruled him out so it didn't matter as much now. Sora was the target and if Riku remained in his dreams then he would simply be dragged deeper with him.

Though, for the plan to work they needed seven Guardians of Light, who would take their place if both were lost? His older self obviously had a plan for that, he appeared to have a plan for everything.

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Joshua had never done something like what he was about to attempt. This was very different to saving the others by bringing their dreams to safety, and even then, they were still stuck playing the Game. If he'd been paying more attention when the two arrived, he might have been able to keep the World from splitting the way it did, placing some of them into the deeper dream version. He was now fairly certain that Sora was the one dreaming the second version and Riku was trapped within it. The way he interacted with the Dream Eaters was the biggest clue, no one else could do what he did. Plus, their symbol was on the back of his shirt, had he somehow become a Dream Eater himself? Was that even possible?

It didn't matter, he just had to give them their few seconds and they could return home. He wished they all could but it wasn't possible.

He began to work and then felt power reaching for Traverse Town, not a Dark power no…it felt almost familiar…it lingered about both Sora and Riku…but different to the magic that had brought them to the Sleeping Worlds. It was searching for them. An ally then? If they could work together then his plan had a greater chance for success.

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Leon watched Merlin work, the wizard was sure he was close to locating the boys, had said something powerful had reached out to him in return. Aerith was ready if they were injured. They had no way to know what they'd been through but Merlin was ensuring they would come to Radiant Garden, not Yen Sid or anywhere else. For now though, they'd keep Luna and Kadaj busy, just in case they were hurt.

He was worried about them, couldn't help it. He hadn't wanted to like Sora when he'd met the kid, had known someone so young didn't stand much of a chance, but Sora had surprised him. No matter what was thrown at him, Sora just came back stronger. He kept up a brave face, but Leon could see the toll it had all taken on him, the pressure he'd been put under by those like this Master Yen Sid. He was doing better since reuniting with Riku and Kairi but it hadn't fixed everything, Leon doubted anything could. They'd seen more than any kid should but thanks to the Heartless and those like the Organisation there were a lot of kids like them, they just didn't have Keyblades.

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Riku stood, Keyblade in hand, ready to move. He'd only have a second to act, Joshua couldn't give them more than that. But there was no guarantee where exactly Sora would appear so they'd both have to move fast to meet up and connect their Keyblades. The plaza was empty, no Dream Eaters around either thankfully, the last thing they needed was to be slowed by having to fight.

There! A shimmer of something…Riku launched forward and saw the blurry form of Sora do the same. They both had their Keyblades extended towards each other as they ran. Already, he could feel the power waning, Sora flickering. NO! He found an extra burst of speed even as Sora bounced off a wall and then he heard the noise of Keyblades hitting. He threw his free hand up to cover his face as Light exploded.

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Sora spotted Riku near the fountain and launched forward, sprinting at full speed, Keyblade extended. He leapt, hitting the wall and bouncing off of it to cover some more distance. He could feel Merlin's magic mixing with whatever Joshua was doing so hopefully it'd last longer. Riku's form wavered, the magic beginning to fail and he pulled every last drop of magic he could to increase his speed, feeling Roxas helping him. He heard the clink of Keyblade against Keyblade and then the world exploded in a blast of Light.

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Kadaj felt the magic and ran into the room, throwing his hand up in front of his face as Light flooded the room. It faded and there was the sound of two thuds. He blinked the spots from his eyes and then lunged forward as he saw his son sprawled on the ground, not moving, Sora opposite him, Leon already kneeling beside him.

He carefully felt for injuries before rolling Riku over, pulling his limp form into his arms. "Riku?" he called his name softly, but Riku's head just rolled limply to rest against his chest. "Come on son, wake up," he urged. "Sora?" he called to Leon.

"Not waking either," Leon answered.

The door opened and Luna rushed to her son's side even as Cloud moved towards him and Riku.

"Why aren't they waking up?" Kadaj asked, looking to Merlin who was frowning.

Merlin knelt down and took Riku's hand, doing…something. And then his son gasped in a deep breath, back arching, eyes snapping open. He scrambled wildly, struggling, and Kadaj loosened his hold, not wanting him to think he was being restrained.

"Riku, it's alright son, you're safe," he called and panicked eyes met his, it took a few seconds for recognition to kick in and then Riku went limp.

"Dad?"

"I've got you," he promised, moving a hand to gently push stray strands of hair back from Riku's face.

Riku frowned in confusion and then he was struggling to sit up. "Sora!"

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Leon held Sora; relieved Merlin had been able to wake Riku. Luna was holding her sons' hand in hers, her other hand stroking through his hair. Their clothing was strange and they looked…younger. But even as he watched, they shimmered, aging back to how they should be. Magic then.

Merlin moved over to them and soon Sora was snapping awake as well.

TBC…