This was only one of the first steps. Eventually, he'd find what he was searching for and complete the mission that he'd spent lifetimes on. For now, he had loyal companions that would practically look to him for support now that they'd lost their hearts. The group included his fellow scientists, two palace guards, and two young intruders who'd simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"… Xehanort, are you alright?"

His eyes focused on the young girl in front of him. She had golden eyes with dark scars on her face. He gritted his teeth in anger, the more she 'cared' the more it felt like she just wanted to be on his good side.

"I thought we agreed you'd tell me before you do anything drastic, that's what friends are for, remember?"

Dagrun halted when he suddenly summoned his keyblade, one they both knew well. "I am…"

"Do you finally remember who you truly are? Or… Could it be? Has Ventus regained control?" She pouted, not liking his silence. "Answer me, Xeha-AGGGH!"

"That isn't my name anymore." Dagrun stared at him wide-eyed. The look of genuine confusion and near fear was almost entertaining. She never showed her true emotions despite them being 'best friends'. She collapsed to the ground.

The boy glared down coldly at his new Organization. "With him gone… He has no use it. So it'll be mine. …. My new name…. Ansem."


"We can only assume Xehanort's motives at the time being, only he shall ever know the full meaning behind his want for the Keyblade War."

Kairi, Sora, and Riku stood silently, listening carefully to Yen Sid debrief them on thier enemy.

"I knew him, long ago. He, our friend Eraqus and I trained together. I was the elder classman to the two and so served as their mentor. Back then, I was so focused on my studies and then duties as a Master to see he was falling deeper and deeper into the darkness. Until it was too late, and he murdered Master Eraqus to ignite a war and gain the X-Blade."

"X-Blade?" Riku repeated softly.

"The key to Kingdom Hearts. It was something Xehanort spent his life learning how to forge…"

Kairi felt a pit in her stomach at the word, at even the thought of Xehanort. She never wanted to mess with him again. … Again? "Yen Sid, you've told us Master Xehanort was the reason all our journeys occurred.. Is it possible we've ever met him?"

"In a way." Yen Sid muttered softly. "You knew him by his two halves: his Heartless, Ansem, and his Nobody, Xemnas. Both of which you defeated, possibly starting Master Xehanort's reformation."

Kairi felt her heart drop. I'm the reason Xehanort's coming back to hurt the worlds… to start the Keyblade War…? "I-I didn't…"

"It's okay, Kairi. You did good." Minnie assured her. "Ansem and Xemnas had to be defeated, no matter the consequences. Even if Xehanort returns, we can take him on together!"

"Minnie is right. But you alone will not be able to stop him." Yen Sid said gravely, looking between the two trios.

Kairi nodded in understanding. There were many people Xehanort had hurt in the past, people who could help take him down. But they'd all gone missing like Eraqus' apprentices. The apprentices no one would tell her about. "Are you sure you can't tell us any more about the missing wielders, Yen Sid?"

Yen Sid's eyes narrowed in seriousness. "I'm afraid not, Kairi. You know why."

"Right, my heart may not be able to handle it but- but that doesn't matter!" Kairi insisted.

"What do you mean it doesn't matter?!" Dasiy suddenly cried in anger and Kairi realized everyone was looking at her now. "You could get hurt!"

"Or worse!" Clarabelle chimed in.

Kairi felt a hand in hers and looked to see Riku with Sora next to him. She felt even more guilt enter her heart. If she remembered all these people at once, they could probably awaken sooner but there was always the risk something could happen to her in exchange. "Right… I just… I want to help the missing people connected to my heart. Naminé and everyone else, I owe it to them to remember."

"Well, you don't have to do it all at once." Riku reminded her gently. He didn't want to lose her right after he got her back.

Sora nodded in agreement. "All you've gotta focus on now is the Mark of Mastery, right, Yen Sid?"

Yen Sid nodded. "Though their memories will certainly help, you must first be named a master to gain the rights to use the power to awaken those missing."

Kairi nodded slowly. Right, I have to become a master. If I don't… I can't help anyone. That's why I can't let anything distract me, especially not the darkness. For some reason, she knew if she was distracted by darkness other than her own or Sora's, it would be an instant failure…

"But this is all a formality, right? Kairi and I have already proved ourselves." Sora insisted. "I get your doubts about me since it took me so long to learn how to control my darkness and come to terms with what I did but Kairi-"

"He's right, Sora. I do need to be tested." Kairi insisted at once. "… I don't have as much control over my darkness as you do, the way the Organization almost had me in our last journey is proof of that. And yes, I may have gained control at the end but that was only because my friends needed me. If only myself was on the line… I don't know what would've happened."

"Kairi…" Riku whispered while Sora's eyes widened in disbelief.

"So, I need to be tested." Kairi smiled shakily. "I can only become a master once we're sure I can accept the darkness both out and inside my heart. Plus, that'll help me to deal with the other memories in my heart as well."

Yen Sid nodded faintly, remembering how decades ago, another young woman had been denied mastery because she'd seen the darkness threaten a dear friend and opted to check on him rather than complete her exam. The man had his doubts on Eraqus' plan to have all darkness erased from a wielders' heart by the time they came of age even back then. Now that he'd seen Sora's many feats and overall better mental state after accepting his darkness, these doubts were justified. "A sensible effort indeed."

"In that case… I'm in! I can teach you how to accept your darkness no problem!" Sora assured his friend.

Right, Sora has lots of experience and cares about me, Kairi smiled. I know he'll think of the best way to accept this part of me.

After that was said and done, Riku finally asked a question he'd been dying to this entire time: "Yen Sid… are you sure I should be in the exam as well? I'm not even trained…"

"That's the whole reason you have to come with! Experience is the best teacher, Kairi and I would know." Sora grinned, wrapping an arm around him.

Kairi nodded, perking up a bit at the reminder they'd all be together. She couldn't fail if she had Sora and Riku at her side! "Even if something bad happens, we'll be there to protect you!"

Riku gave a grumble at that. "But I'm supposed to be the one protecting you guys, not the other way around."

Sora and Kairi exchanged looks before laughing.

Riku blushed in embarrassment. Right, they'd learned that they could just protect each other so everyone remained safe. He just… didn't like the idea of putting them in harm's way thanks to his own shortcomings.

"You know Riku is definitely gonna beat us at training, right?" Sora whispered.

"Oh yeah." Kairi nodded in agreement. "I wouldn't be surprised if he came out of this a master too! He's so strong-"

"And super smart-"

"And-!"

"What are you two whispering about?" Riku asked in slight jealousy of their bond. Why didn't they want to share anything with him anymore? Was it just too intimate now that they'd spent all this time together without him?

"Uh, nothing!" Sora cried, both blushing.

"Ahem."

They looked back at Yen Sid with sheepish expressions.

"Are we…?" Before Sora could even finish, Kairi and Riku took each of his hands. "We're ready!"

"Very good." Yen Sid nodded. He stood up then, raising his arms as a bright light filled the room. "Then, let the examination begin!"


When they opened their eyes, they found themselves standing on a familiar beach, the island they'd often played on. They didn't look or feel any different, but knew this must be the entrance of the exam

"Ah! Look!" Sora suddenly gasped, running down the shoreline.

Kairi and Riku quickly followed when they spotted what he had.

"It's Exialabur!" Sora gushed, trying out hoisting the sail on their little raft.

Riku crossed his arms with a playful smirk. "Don't you mind Highwind? I won the race so I got to name it."

"Either way, it's our raft." Kairi sighed in content. Looks like they'd be sailing together after all. She showed them her wayfinder."We finally get the chance to sail away, together. I know we're all connected by our hearts but… I can't wait to go on an adventure with you two actually here beside me."

Sora smiled faintly, knowing for certain she meant them all now that Ansem wasn't influencing his perception. "Me too."

Riku gave a nod. The three of them together, that was how it was always meant to be.


The three were enjoying their raft when Kairi caught a glimpse of lighting and then noticed the growing dark clouds. "A storm's coming!"

It rolled in too fast for any of them to furl the sails or grab onto something tight. Lightening struck the raft, breaking off the mast and taking Sora with it.

"Sora!" Riku and Kairi yelled before the raft hurtled into a boulder. They tried to grab onto each other but were quickly ripped apart.

"Kairi!" Riku yelled, seeing the girl slip off the raft after knocking her head against the boulder. He dove in after her.

"Hang on, you guys!" Sora jumped in after them.

Riku swam towards Kairi, reaching desperately for the girl as she sank deeper and deeper. I… I can't reach!

He suddenly felt a firm hand on his shoulder and turned to see Sora had followed hands. They nodded to each other before linking arms, using their combined strength to get to their friend.

Kairi's eyes slowly opened as she felt her charm float out of her pocket. Her limbs were too heavy to catch it and her body was sunk deeper and deeper.

The charm wrapped itself around Riku's wrist as he struggled against the current. Kairi! We can't lose her again, His arm tightened around Sora. We can't!

Hearing Riku's thoughts, Sora's eyes widened when a large keyhole suddenly opened beneath the three, pulling Kairi ever closer. This can't be the exam, we're not supposed to be separated! Riku, we gotta save her!

Kairi saw her friends swimming towards her, reaching for her. She reached with all her might as her vision blurred.

A hand reached out. Was it Riku or Sora? She couldn't tell…

Almost there… We've almost got you… Just grab my hand…

The girl lunged forward with all her might after hearing the calm voice, grabbing on to the hand. The moment she did, everything went dark.

And sleep…